I don't own Xmen comics, movies or characters.

Author's note: This story while following some of the movies is definitely AU I am playing with powers and the plot. Also I should warn you there is abuse in this story. I will not go into detail and it happened before the story really begins. Marie will remember some of it as I believe there is no epiphany, abuse effects a person for life. I will deal with this as gently as I can but if this is the type of thing that bothers you please steer clear of this story. I have no wish to cause anyone pain.

Chapter 1

"Alaska!" Marie declared with a smile toward the boy who lounged on her bed. He smiled at her, a look on his face of pure adoration.

Marie felt herself smiling in return. Cody was the best thing that had happened to her in a long time. She looked forward to seeing him every day. Seeing him was the only thing that kept her here. It was what stopped her from running.

He was everything she wanted to be. Innocent, honest, good. She had been content to admire him from afar, was shocked when she found out he liked her too. How could he? She was nothing like him, she was tainted, damaged. He wouldn't understand the shame that burned in her.

"Isn't it awful cold up there?" He asked.

Marie smiled and laid down next to him on the bed, bumping him with her shoulder. Sure it was cold but that was part of what made it perfect. She could find a small town that wasn't too populated. She could cover up, no one would look at her body, she wouldn't have to worry about being touched.

She didn't like being touched…not like…she shook off the thoughts. She wouldn't think about that right now. Not with Cody near her, looking at her with concern and affection. She smiled at him.

"Would ya go with me?" She asked. If he wanted to maybe they could leave now? Before night fell, before the touching began.

"Ahd go anywhere with ya." Cody told her softly and started to lean in. She stared at him wide eyed, her heart beating. He was so beautiful, so pure. She felt his lips touch hers and it was the most wonderful feeling in the world. She wanted to hold this feeling forever. She wanted to hold on to him forever.

She closed her eyes and leaned into his kiss. The tingling began slowly, she didn't know what it was at first. It felt like heaven and she wondered if every kiss invoked this kind of feeling.

How long this went on she wasn't sure, it didn't stop until Cody fell away from her and began to convulse. She opened her eyes and saw blue veins retreating into his skin as his body shook. She jumped from the bed in horror. She couldn't tear her eyes from the sight of him, couldn't make a sound, couldn't move.

'Marie?' She heard Cody's voice but didn't see his lips moving.

She began to scream at the sound of his voice in her head and she knew without a doubt that she had done this to him. She was poison, tainted, she had known it. Why did she allow him to kiss her? Why did she inflict herself on him? She knew better!

'Ah wanted to kiss you Marie.' His voice sounded in her head.

Marie sank to the ground, her arms covering her head, still screaming.

'Ahm scared Marie please stop screaming and talk to me.' Cody pleaded.

Marie gulped and closed off her cries with great effort.

"Ahm sorry, Ahm sorry, Ahm sorry…" She whispered over and over.

'Ah know.' Cody told her. Why wasn't he screaming at her? Why did he seem sad and not angry.

'Cause Ah know now Marie. Ah know ya didn't mean to. Ah know how ya've suffered...' He whispered to her. Tears ran down her face, shamed and horrified, she was no longer speaking her sorrow but in her head she whispered her apologies over and over.

"We need an ambulance right away!" A voice cried but Marie didn't look up, didn't want to see the look on her mother's face. Her mother would look at this as proof of the evil in her. Proof that it wasn't her husband that was warped.

'Marie?' Cody asked in a concerned voice.

Marie didn't answer him she just rocked murmuring her guilt and sorrow to him in her mind.

Her mother finally hung up the phone and approached her.

"Ah always knew there was something wrong with ya. Knew there was a reason Mark stopped touching me. Ya bewitched him. You're a mutant and now ya've hurt this boy. Ah want ya out of my house!" Her mother told her in a calm smug voice.

Marie looked up at her in horror. She had always known her mother hated her. Blamed her for what daddy was doin, but Marie had always had a part of her that didn't believe it was her fault. Was her mother right? Was it her fault?

'No, Marie…not ya fault...Ah didn't know…Ah wish Ah had known.' Cody said in her mind.

"It is mah fault Cody, Ah didn't want to believe it but now Ah know." Marie whispered.

Her mother snorted at her words. "Crazy too. Get out!" She yelled.

Marie stood up and walked toward the bed that Cody lay on. He had finally stopped convulsing. His face was peaceful but he wasn't there. It was like she was looking at an empty shell. She reached out a hand wanting to touch him but stopped afraid she would do more damage.

'Ahm not gone Marie. Ahm with you.' Cody told her and Marie took a deep breath before standing and walking slowly toward her bedroom door. She didn't look back, she didn't take anything with her. She just walked out the door, tears running down her face as she started to walk.

Marie watched the trees that passed the truck in a blur. The trucker who had been kind enough to give her this ride talked incessantly about nothing in particular. Marie didn't really answer his questions. She knew better than to be too friendly. The man seemed nice enough but she had learned that could change in a moment.

'Ah don't think he will hurt ya Marie.' Cody told her.

'That's what ya said about the last guy and look what happened.' Marie told him mentally. She had learned to talk to him in her mind and not out loud the first day. People looked at her weird when she talked to him out loud and she didn't like to be looked at.

'It was an honest mistake.' Cody told her rather huffily. Marie smiled a little bitterly. The man had looked grandfatherly, he had seemed nice until he had one hand squeezing her throat and his other hand on her crotch. What she learned after draining him still made her shudder.

She leaned her head on the cool glass of the cab. How many had she killed now? How many were in her head locked up? She didn't like to think about it, didn't want to know. Cody was the only one she allowed out. The only one she talked to. He was her conscience and she needed him. Without him she would be washed away in the need her anger and power gave her.

She closed her eyes in shame. Even now something inside of her urged her to take off her gloves and touch the man beside her. To feel that rush, that power flow into her…

'Stop it Marie. That's not ya.' Cody said confidently.

'It is me Cody. Ya should know that by now.' Marie told him.

'Ah've told ya before Marie Ah love ya. Ah know ya probably better than anyone could considering Ah now live in ya head and Ah know ya don't want to hurt anyone.' Cody claimed confidently.

Marie didn't bother arguing with him. It did no good. How many times had she tried to kill herself? He took over every time, stopped her, made her live when she desperately wanted to die.

She had tried to jump off a bridge when she first left home, that was the first time Cody had taken over. She hadn't even known he could do that. Another time she had held a razor to her wrist in a dingy hotel room, that had been after the first time she had killed a man.

Finally she had tried to let one of the would be rapist have his way, antagonizing him into a frenzy. She hadn't thought Cody would drain the man but he had. He had taken over and used her power on the man. He had let go soon after but both of them had seen what the man had planned to do, what he had done to many others and Marie had touched him again, finishing him off.

Cody had felt guilty after that one but she had told him it was her fault. She had caused the situation, she had pushed him into a corner.

They had settled into a semi comfortable companionship. Cody was her conscience, he kept her from surrendering to the darkness of the anger and hunger. He also made sure she didn't try to end her life.

She only stole when she was out of options. Right now she was out of money and a voice whispered at her that the trucker who jabbered on to her happily had to have some money. It had been a couple of days since she had eaten and her stomach was reminding her that she needed food.

'We'll figure somethin' out Marie.' Cody told her confidently. He had such a sunny disposition. He always saw the best in the world in spite of the horrors he had experienced since being trapped in her mind.

'Ah know sugah, Ah know.' She told him. She really wasn't to sure but she didn't want to spit on his optimism.

"I'm stopping in Laughlin. There's a cage fight I'm itching to see. A fighter by the name of Wolverine. I've seen him before. The guy is something to see. He takes such a beating you think there is no way he could possibly win then he all the sudden comes from behind and wins. He'll be down on the mat covered in blood then all the sudden standing and growling, looking like death…It's a sight to see I tell ya." The man told her.

Marie only listened to where he planned to stop. Laughlin was as good as anywhere else she supposed.

'Cage fights! How cool is that? Can we see it Marie? Please?' Cody begged.

Marie smiled genuinely.

"Ya think ya can get me in?" She asked the trucker. He had told her his name but she honestly didn't pay attention.

"I think maybe I could do that." The trucker grinned at her then began to talk more about the fights. Marie didn't pay attention but Cody was enthralled.

She let Cody have control and settled herself back into the darkness of her mind.

'Ya have to see this guy Marie, he's awesome.' Cody enthused rousing Marie from the peace she had settled into. He never let her stay there for long. It worried him. He feared she wouldn't come back. Sometimes she was tempted not to come back but she didn't want to burden Cody with her tainted skin so she came back when he asked.

Marie looked around the bar and wondered briefly just how Cody and the trucker had gotten her in here. She smiled down at the water in front of her. Cody would never let her drink a beer he was too good for that.

She brought the glass to her lips and surveyed the crowd. She wished for the solitude of her mind. She hated crowds. She didn't like being touched. Cody had more control over her skin than she did. He could easily touch people. She could too at times but she never knew when the hunger would start and she would take just a little bit…a little taste that turned into more.

She put the glass down on the bar and pulled her coat tighter around her. The crowd roared and curiosity got the better of her and she looked toward the cage. The man inside had his back to her. His muscled arms grabbed the cage and sweat gleamed on his skin. He had black hair in an odd style. He was hairier than most men she had seen. She tilted her head in contemplation.

He turned and for a moment his eyes met hers. A shock ran through her and she felt her loins tighten in awareness before an old shame rose up in her. His opponent attacked punching him in the gut and breaking the spell.

Marie took the opportunity to turn away and put her head down on the bar, her arms and hair hiding her face as old demons reared their heads.

'Ya wanted it, Ah can tell.' Her father was telling her as he pulled up his pants and left her room.

Marie had cried silently. Had she wanted it? It had kind of felt good at first, the way he had touched her…but she had been so ashamed at the pleasure that she had told him no and tried to push him away. It was wrong. Daddy hadn't taken her protests well and his touch had become rougher until she was screaming for him to stop. No one had saved her. Not her mother down the hall, not the police, not the neighbors. No one heard her.

'Marie…Marie…please Marie…it wasn't ya fault. It's natural for a body to react to stimulation, it didn't mean you encouraged it. Ya told him to stop, ya screamed for ya mother. Marie please…it's not wrong to feel attracted to someone…Marie…' Cody tried to reason with her. She could feel his anguish and she didn't like that. Cody should never be sad.

'Ahm sorry Cody. Ah should have turned ya down when ya asked me out. Ah've caused ya nothin' but pain.' Marie told him.

'Ah can't deny Ah wish things were different. Ah wish Ah would've known what that bastard was doin'. Ah knew you were hurtin but Ah didn't know what was goin on. If Ah had Ah would have took ya away. Ah would have run with ya, we would've went to Alaska. Ah love ya Marie. Ah always have.' Cody told her.

'Ya loved me at that moment Cody but Ah can't help but wonder if ya would have still loved me if Ah hadn't stolen ya from ya body.' Marie said. She had learned that she didn't actually take someone's soul she just took an impression of them at the time that she stole them. If Cody had been allowed to live he may have outgrown his crush. He was a good boy and wanted to save her but Marie couldn't help but wonder if he would have ever grown to love her in real life.

'Ah would have Marie. If Ah can love ya in here Ah would love ya out there.' Cody told her vehemently.

Marie didn't argue. The voices in her head were stuck in time. They didn't grow and change with age and circumstance. They were a snapshot of a certain time and that was all. Cody at the time of their kiss had loved her, wanted to be her knight in shining armor. Would Cody want that now if he ever came out of the coma?

'Ah would!' Cody again declared and Marie didn't argue with him. She slowly lifted her head from the bar and took a drink from her warm water. The crowd had quieted and she looked back at the cage to find it empty. How long had she sat there with her head on the bar?

'It was a while Marie.' Cody told her.

She looked around her and saw that the bar was starting to clear out and cursed herself. It was never a good idea to leave when everyone else did. She should have snuck out earlier. Now she would have to be vigilant so she wasn't attacked.

She saw the man she had seen in the cage at the end of the bar. He didn't look at her and she was glad. She didn't want that shaming feeling to overwhelm her again. She made to stand up when she saw some men approaching him. They were covered in bruises and Marie guessed they had lost to him in the cage.

"We want our money back!" One of the men growled putting a hand on the man's shoulder, attempting to turn him around. He didn't turn, instead he took another drink of his beer calmly and ignored the men behind him. This seemed to anger the men even more and one of them pulled a knife.

Marie didn't even think before she yelled for him to look out. He turned at her voice and gave her a quick look before being stabbed in the gut by the knife wielder. Marie didn't like the looks of this and began to fiddle with her gloves.

'Should Ah help him?' She asked Cody.

'He can take care of himself. Ah watched him fight Marie he is one bad ass!' Cody told her with excitement in his voice.

Cody was right. The man had the others on the ropes in moments. That was until the man behind the bar pulled a shotgun on him.

Marie gulped and took off her glove. She looked for a way to sneak up on the shotgun wielder but turned when she heard a metallic sound. She looked at the fighter and saw three long blades sticking out of each hand. He sliced through the shotgun like it was butter and the bartender threw up his hands in surrender.

The fighter growled and walked slowly out of the bar. Marie sat there stunned as she watched him go.

'Don't just sit there go after him!' Cody demanded.

Marie still sat there. Cody snorted and took control.

'He can protect ya Marie. Ya need him.' He told her as he made her body follow the man.

Marie hadn't seen another mutant in her travels. She had seen a lot of things but not a mutant. She didn't fight Cody, even though she was not sure she wanted the man to protect her. She was capable of protecting herself and that man made her feel things she didn't want to feel. Still he was a mutant and she was curious.

Cody had her sneak into the back of his camper while the man walked into the woods. Marie was almost sure he was taking a leak and mentally wrinkled her nose. He could have done that in the bar.

She was under a blanket before Cody gave her back control.

'It'll be okay Marie. Ah can't be ya knight but Ah know this man can.' Cody told her.

'Ah don't need a knight Cody. But Ah would like to learn more about him. Maybe Ah can learn to control this hunger better.' Marie replied and settled herself to sleep.

Logan was not happy. Sure he had won quite a bit of money, gotten quite a few good battles in. He had let Wolverine out more than usual but his animal was not soothed. Wolverine growled and paced in the cage he kept him in. It was that damn girl. She couldn't have been more than fifteen, how she had gotten in the bar he wasn't sure and really didn't care. Wolverine wanted him to go back and get her.

He had felt her stare and turned to meet her eyes. She was the picture of youth and innocence and Wolverine had rattled his cage at the sight of her. He had seen the desire in her eyes, reveled in it even though he knew he shouldn't. She was a kid and he didn't even know how old he was.

He was a bastard but he had never been a pervert. Still something about her had the Wolverine screaming at him to take her. He couldn't draw his eyes from hers. He saw a look of shame enter her brown eyes. Sorrow so deep it made him want to howl. If his opponent hadn't punched him at that moment he would have unsheathed his claws and tore his way out of the cage and ran to her.

What would he have done then? Held her tenderly? Soothed her sorrow? Logan scoffed at himself. Wolverine wanted to fuck her, he would have hurt her eventually. It was good he had left. Good those assholes had confronted him.

He hadn't been able to leave till then. He had watched her secretly all night. Saw her through the cage with her head down on the bar. Watched her look around the room and saw the momentary look of fear as she realized the bar was clearing out.

Logan shook his head. She was safe, he wouldn't allow himself to think otherwise. Besides even if he went back chances were she was gone. He hit a pot hole while his attention was not as sharp as it should have been. The truck bounced and he heard a yelp from the camper. He immediately pulled over.

He threw open his door and walked around to the camper throwing the door and pulling back covers to reveal the girl from the bar. He was shocked but didn't let it show through his anger. Wolverine in his head began to purr happily as her scent hit his nose. Magnolias….

He grabbed her arm roughly and pulled her out of the camper. She didn't protest as her feet hit the ground. He said nothing as he slammed his camper door shut and moved back to the cab. Wolverine slammed at his cage, demanding that Logan let her in the cab.

"Shut up!" Logan growled as he slammed his door shut and started the engine.

He looked out his rear view window as he pulled away and saw her standing there. Her hood pulled up and her shoulders slumped. She began to walk slowly in the direction he was going.

"Fuck!" He cried slamming his hands against the steering wheel and pushing down the brakes. This wasn't a good idea. Wolverine wanted her…he was dangerous to her. Still he couldn't leave her out to freeze. He would take her to the nearest town and drop her off. He just had to keep his animal on a leash until then.

The girl walked up to the passenger door and stood there. Logan snorted before leaning over and opening the door for her. She stood there looking at the ground until Logan finally told her to get in.

She clambered into the truck and sat as far from him as the seat belt would allow.

"I don't like people sneaking rides. I'll take you to the nearest town but that's all." Logan told her grumpily. Luckily Wolverine had calmed down and was now purring contentedly. Logan almost snorted at the sounds the animal was making in his heads. He had to admit though he did like her scent. It was soothing.

He saw her pull off her glove and blow into her hands. He reached over intent on bringing them closer to the heater. She jerked away from him and it offended him. Sure he was a bastard with an animal in him but she didn't know that and he wasn't making a pass at her or anything.

"I ain't going to hurt ya kid. I was just trying to help you warm up." He told her.

"Ah don't like people touching me." She told him putting her gloves back on.

Her voice was like music, her southern accent exotic. He loved it and Wolverine begged him to get her to talk more.

"You hungry?" He asked. Wolverine snarled and he tended to agree with him. That was hardly a conversation starter. The girl proved it by merely nodding her head.

He reached into the glove compartment, trying to ignore how she moved as far away from him as she could get. He handed the beef jerky to her and she accepted it reluctantly. He couldn't help but notice how she ate though. She was obviously hungry. He would have to stop at a diner and get her some real food.

"The name's Wolverine." He told her expecting her to reciprocate. She was silent so long he began to think she wouldn't tell him her name.

"Rogue." She finally told him.

"What kind of name is that?" He asked a little angrily. Obviously she had made up a name and didn't want him to know her real name. It aggravated him. Wolverine didn't care and just waited to hear her voice again.

"What kind of name is Wolverine?" She asked him belligerently.

Logan couldn't help it, he smiled. She had some fire. He was glad to hear it.

"Logan." He told her not hiding his pleasure at her spunk. Again she was silent and he wondered if she would tell him her real name. He had just began to think she wouldn't when he heard her soft voice.

"Marie." She whispered.

He didn't push her for more, didn't think she would give him more. He settled in to silence as they traveled through the night.