1
Author:
Riauna
Story:
Marie
Summery:
Rogue had a life before the X-men, one where she was only known as Marie. Now, after two years of living among the X-men, she is finally ready to tell how Marie became the Rogue.
Disclaimer:
I do not own X-men, Marval, or any of it's characters. I'm just a broke ass 20-year-old bum trying to write a story.
Chapter One
With a White Picket Fence
"Ah have neva told anyone about mah past, about who ah was before ah became the Rogue. Ah had a family once, with a white picket fence and a little fuzzball for a dog. His name was Rusty, but that was back before everything went crazy. Back when ah was Marie. What has been five years feels like an eternity, and even with that ah can still remember things as if it were only yesterday. Ah honestly don't know what ah would have done if ah had not met Logan in that bar. Probably be dead in a ditch somewheres. Ahm glad mah mama can't see me now, she would be so disappointed.
You woulda loved mah mama, everyone did. Specially papa. She was his world, and he made sure she knew it. Mah mama made the best apple pies. Sometimes, when ah was good, she would let me make em with her. Ah don't really like cookin, ah don't have that gift with food. But if ah could have anything in the world, it would be one last afternoon with mah mama making homemade apple pies.
Ah was ten when mama got sick. She neva told me, but ah knew. Wether it be from her sudden pale complection, or the deep bags that settled just under the eyes. She lost alotta weight that year, skin an bones almost. Daddy would sing to her though, every night. He would talk of far off places and promise to take her there when she got better. Mama would smile and nod, I think she knew...mama was neva gonna get better, and mah daddy would neva show her the world.
It was mah 11th birthday, ah was so excited. Daddy had gone to the store to pick up mah birthday cake leavin mama and me at home. I remember, cause it was me who went to wake mama up. She slept so late into the days, ah just wanted to spend some time with my mama on my birthday. Have ya ever seen a dead body before? Felt the chillin hand of death just by being too close. Ah wish ah could of saved mah mama, wish I could of breathed the life back into her. All ah could do was cry as mah tiny hands reached for her larger ones. Even in death mah mama was the most beautiful creature to ever grace the earth. Her long auburn hair framed her face, her eyes closed neva to be opened again. She didn't look dead, just in peace. That didn't stop me from crying.
Ah don't remember when ah climbed onto the bed to lye beside mah mama, ah only know that when mah papa got home, ah was curled into a tiny ball under my mama's lifeless arms. Ah had stopped cryin by then, but evidence of mah tears were clear from the red puffiness of mah eyes. That was the first time my daddy eva hit me. Yanked me by mah arm right off the bed and threw me into the wall. Said ah had no right to be near her. Said ah was disgracing her by crying, by wanting to be near her. I was only 11-years-old, and my daddy beat the shit right out of me."
Rogue paused for a moment, after all this time she still could not forget the look of hate she saw in her father's eyes. Pure hatred mixed with crazed fury. Rogue knew, if her mother had lived, things would never have gotten to where they were. But she died and the bitter part of Rogue hated her for it, for leaving her all alone with noone to care for her but a distraught father who would soon after become nothing but an abusive alcoholic. She was suddenly brought out of her thoughts by the comforting hand that now rested on her shoulder.
"What was her name?" Ororo Monroe, the resident Weather witch asked softly. Rogue smiled weakly before closing her eyes.
"Priscilla...my mothers name was Priscilla" Ororo smiled gently before urging Rogue to continue with comforting squeeze on Rogue's shoulder.
"Shortly after mama died, daddy phoned mah aunt Carrie. He said that mama's death was too much for him, he needed help. Aunt Carrie was their that night. Ah had never been around her much before then, she and mama had too many...differences. Still, Aunt Carrie wasted no time in trying to correct the "horrible job" my mama did in raising me. Ah was too much of a tomboy, always out bringing home pet toads and salamanders. She insisted we all move back home with her. That's how ah ended up in Caldecott, Mississippi. Ah didn't mind moving, neva was very good at making friends so ah really had nothin to lose.
Daddy stopped working, spent his days locked in his study with cheap whisky on his breath. He only came out when Aunt Carrie made him. Usually it was to punish me. Seemed no matter what ah did or how hard ah tried, ah always managed to come home with some hint of mud on me. Real ladies don't get dirty, that's what Aunt Carrie said anyways. But daddy, he would take it further. He blamed me for mama's death, cursed me for lookin like her. Said...said ah had her eyes. Deep pools of emerald green. He would rip chunks of my hair out just for having her hair, after kicking me repeatedly in the stomach while Aunt Carrie watched. My eyes would never leave her as ah listened to her high pitched laugher. Afterwards, she would spit in mah face, tell me ah deserved every beating.
Eventually ah learned to just stay away. Can't catch a beaten if ya not home. Sure, ah would still get it later, but later to me was betta then sooner. Ah would stay by the riverbanks until long after the sun went down, even had mah own spot in the trees. Ah never showed anyone my sanctuary...not until Cody."
Rogue had to pause for the second time. Cody...he was even harder to discuss then her mother. Cody had been just a child, he never deserved his fate. Rogue wanted to laugh bitterly into the evening air. She had always imagined having this conversation with the Professor or Jean, but like all undeserving victims, death had claimed them as well.
"We can stop if you would like...if it's too much." Rogue shook her head, she had already started, a story like this could never go unfinished.
"Ah was 12, and Cody was just one year younger then me. Cody was always such a sweet kid. Neva asked about mah bruises, or made fun when all the other kids would. Cody stuck up for me, defended mah name to anyone who dared to argue, Cody was mah best friend. Though it took awhile. Ah thought Cody was just like the others, only pretending to be mah friend so he could play some sort of prank, but Cody proved me wrong.
For three weeks strait Cody baked me muffins every morning and brought em to school for me. Each time a hint of blush would cross his cheeks as he awkwardly offered them to me. Me, the freak long before ah had this stupid curse. But Cody didn't care, he just wanted to be mah friend. He should have ignored me like the rest of em, but how was ah supposed to know...how was ah to know that ah had poison skin?
He was mah first kiss...did ya know that? Ah had taken him to mah riverbank sanctuary. Ah just wanted to share with him a part of me...to return him. He loved the riverbank, even found his own separate spot in the trees. Ah remember though...the night it happened. The sun had just set revealing a sky full of dancing stars. To us...it was still early, but Cody liked it when ah stayed out late with him. He never said anything...but he knew what happened when ah went home. That night Aunt Carrie threatened to call the police if ah wasn't home at a decent time, but Cody was persistent. He fought so hard making up any excuse to make me stay. That was when he got his final great idea.
A kiss...he said he wanted to kiss me. Ah was young, ah didn't know...oh Gawd! Ah swear ah didn't know. If ah had...ah would have told him no and rushed home for mah beating, but as ah said, ah was young.
Ah didn't feel anything at first, just the warmth from his lips touching mine. But then...it was this pull...ah could feel his body weakening beside mine as his energy left him. Ah could see his memories, feel his emotions, breath his life. And for a moment...I swore that ah was Cody Robbins. When ah realized that Cody wasn't moving ah...ah panicked. Ah climbed the tallest tree and cried. Aunt Carrie carried out with her promise, for it was the police that came an found us. Cody didn't die...but he hasn't woken up either. Cody still sleeps in Caldecott General Hospital, a child stuck in a teenager's body. Ah took away his life...an he was just a child."
Rogue's eyes stared blankly ahead of her as she hugged herself tightly on the garden bench. Storm was now standing before her, a sad look upon her face. She wanted to hug Rogue, cry with her, and tell her that everything was ok. But Storm knew...Rogue didn't need that hug yet, she would, but not until her story was told. Only then could Rogue cry freely in the arms of a friend.
"Daddy was so mad. He just didn't understand how he could have a...a...Mutant for a daughter. Aunt Carrie said it was the devil's work, that ah was bein punished. She locked me in mah room that night while she and daddy discussed what to do with me. Ah will never know what they had in store for me the next day...
Daddy came up to mah room that night, this time he carried the whisky bottle with him. Ah vaguely remember much of what happened that night, only the loud shatter of glass as the bottle hit mah head mixed with the sticky pool of blood that surrounded mah head. Ah screamed for Aunt Carrie to help, screamed for anyone...but noone, not even Cody could save me. Ah was scared...ah thought ah was gonna die and...ah grabbed the bastard. Mah hand gripped his arm and ah didn't let go till he was good and dead. How long till Aunt Carrie found the body I'll never know, ah climbed out the window and neva looked back.
Rogue once again closed her eyes as a way to try and control her emotions.
"Rogue?" Storm whispered her name so softly Rogue almost didn't hear it.
"Do you think differently now...now that you know what ah am?"
"And what would that be Rogue?"
"A killer." Storm didn't respond at first, she hadn't expected all of this when Rogue had first decided to open up. She figured Storm had her skeletons but...this was so much for one girl.
"Your not a killer...you were defending yourself." Rogue found herself once again laughing out loud full of bitterness.
"Ah wanted him dead, ah wanted him to suffer...and now, ah tell you this. Ah don't regret it! Ah should, but ah don't!" Rogue sat up, her arms still clutched around her small frame.
"What...what happened after you left?" Rogue paused for a moment, her eyes seemed to cloud over, Rogue knew...it only got worse.
"Raven Darkholme...it was three weeks after runnin away and it was while savaging near by trash can for food that ah met her. Ah didn't know it then...but Raven Darkholme would forever change who ah was forever. For ya see...if it wasn't for her and Destiny...ah never would have met him."
"Who's him?" Storm asked quietly. Rogue smiled, as if reliving the only happy memory in her entire life.
"Remy LeBeau."
Alright, love it, hate it? Let me know. And thanks for reading:)
