Disclaimer: I don't own any characters except my characters. Which are quite a few this time around. Let's try it this way: I don't own any Marvel characters that happen to show up in the upcoming chapters and which I'm sure you'll recognise without any need to name long lists.


Foreword

(warning: angsty rant ahead)

The way the writers handled Decimation and depowered mutants was, to me, very disappointing. Why couldn't depowered mutants such as Jubilee or Dani Moonstar be kept in the fold? Most of them are experienced fighters; surely they could be of some use even if not in direct fight. Or at least be kept as teachers (even if Emma could still be in character kicking Dani out, the rest should have vetoed the move)! Accepting the reasoning of 'if you're not a mutant, you can't be around mutants' is almost like saying if you don't fit with [insert class of people], you can't be around [that class of people]. It's the most moronic, discriminating line of reasoning ever to be embraced by a team of heroes fighting discrimination!

Now, I can understand the whole 'ship them off to safety, away from the target set on us', but that only holds while the X-Men are under attack, because afterwards… it's just plain discriminating. Not to mention that the X-Men were in fact kicking depowered mutants out of one frying pan (under the attacks of super-villains) and into another frying pan (under the attacks of regular humans). And not even bothering to drop by and check on them. It's basicaly: 'we're oh-so-dangerous, so go away and fend for yourselves against minor danger; oh and don't bother to call, because we'll be too busy.'

By shooing away all depowered mutants, writers are basically saying that a. if you don't have powers, you're not interesting, and b. if you don't have powers, you don't belong with the other mutants (oh, and c. mutants stick with mutants, depowered stick with depowered, and regular humans stick with regular humans, no mixing allowed and let's not have our heroes raise red flags against it). What happened to the dream of humans and mutants living in harmony? Why did the writers forget about that basic foundation stone and replace it with 'if they don't have powers for kick-ass action, kick them out or give them new ones'? If the X-Men can't give the example… they end up being as elitist as Magneto's Brotherhood.

Right, rant almost over now…

I strongly disagree with the two (three) points above. I believe depowered mutants are interesting, they still belong with the other mutants, and they have a range of fights ahead of them as worthy and exciting as the X-Men's (without need for replacement powers). To prove my point, I have enlisted the help of a very much depowered and flatscan Jubilee (no vampire mess either) and of… well, no spoilers just yet. I'll mention it later on.

Anyway, canon is followed up until M-Day and Civil War, which is when things start going AU.

Oh, this is still a Romy story first and foremost. It was imagined as such from the very beginning but you know Jubilee: if there's a party, she'll crash it and make sure it's as fun as it can be.


The Proposal

1. Lonely Nights

Rogue shivered in pleasure when Remy's hand touched her back. It was pure ecstasy, the tingle caused by his expert fingers. She moaned as the fingertips brushed softly down her spine, all the way down to her lower back, where his fingers were suddenly replaced by his lips. Rogue gasped and arched her body, but as she turned around in bed to face her one true love and kiss him back with interest, she found herself facing a darkened window. She had been dreaming.

Flopping back with a frustrated grunt, Rogue fought the tears that welled up. She and Remy hadn't touched skin to skin in almost two years and a half. God, it was eating her alive! They still held occasional couple therapy with Emma but, seriously, why did they bother? They couldn't touch safely not even in the psychic landscape, no matter how many times Emma told them they should be able to, that it was only their own expectations that brought the barrier out of the physical world and into their minds.

Rogue sniffed and looked at the alarm clock. Five am. Better get up as she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, not after that dream. God, she'd give away her right arm just to sleep through the night in Remy's embrace. Skin to skin.

All her life she had craved that intimacy of skin to skin contact. And Remy! Ever since she had fallen for him that she'd known, without the slightest doubt, that being with him would be beyond bliss. She had hungered for it, imagining what it would be like to touch him, to feel his touch, to... touch! She would pleasure herself, whispering his name to the pillows. It had been painful, not to be able to act on her desires.

But after Valle Soleada... After experiencing true bliss, how could she ever go back on it? It was just agonising, to remember the gentleness of his touch, the thrill of fulfillment, and to know it was gone forever. Sometimes she wished they had never had those nine months of paradise. Everything else felt too much like hell afterwards.

She dragged herself to the shower. When had they last embraced, even if not skin to skin? They kept drifting more and more apart. The water ran hot over her body. His breath was hot too, as were his hands. Only a different type of heat, naturally.

"T' Hell wi'this!"

Drying herself quickly, she put on her uniform and rushed out of her room. What use was moping around in the dark, anyway? Hadn't she been brooding just now that they didn't embrace anymore? Hadn't she wished she could trade one of her arms for the both of his? Well, maybe it wasn't skin on skin, but at least they'd be together!

Rogue could already see his surprised face. See his lips morph into one of those 'why didn't I think of it earlier' smiles. She didn't even knock, so wrapped up in her day-dreaming.

His bed was empty.

For a moment, Rogue stood by the door, unable to understand. The bed was made. Had it just been so or hadn't it been slept in? Maybe he had got up early too. Maybe he couldn't sleep either.

Or maybe he had spent the night somewhere else.

Body rigid with shock, Rogue closed the door almost gently.

With someone else.

Her muscles stiff, she made her way to the kitchen.

Somebody he could touch.

She needed a cup of coffee. Yes, a good cup of coffee should clear...

Skin to skin.

...the matter.

"Good morning!" Rogue jumped a little at Hank's cheer. "Pardon me, for I had no intention to startle our Southern Belle. Isn't it uncannily early for you to be out and about?"

Hank stopped whatever he was doing and looked at her in silence for an awkward moment.

"Ah couldn't sleep," she forced.

"Ah, I fear you are not alone." Remy! He must be talking about... "Scott has just gone outside with the same allegation."

Maybe she should ask...

"Ya're awake too."

"I've been working," Hank shrugged dramatically. "But I intend to have myself a long, reinvigorating nap later on."

And Remy?

"So... ev'ryone else is..."

"Either asleep or out, I suppose." He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Should I surmise you are searching for someone in particular?"

Holding her breath, Rogue decided she'd check the garage. For his bike. He could have taken it only a few moments ago though. She really shouldn't jump to the worst conclusion every time.

"No?"

She could check the cameras if his bike was gone. Find out when he had left.

"Well, then..."

The sound of bike engines reverberated through the silence of the building.

"Ah, Logan and Gambit must have arrived. Good, good." Hank winked at Rogue. "Scotty would have been particularly mad if those two were to accidentally miss the meeting."

Frozen in place, the screaming echoed in her mind: out all night with Logan. Out all night!

"Rogue," her face snapped towards Hank. "Are you feeling well? You've become a bit pale..."

Rogue's attention snapped to the kitchen door the moment Logan opened it. They were laughing about something, she couldn't quite catch what, and both men stopped when they saw her. Were those guilty looks on their faces?

"Bon jour, ma cher." Such a wide smile when he usually just frowned and grumbled all day. God, she felt sick!

She didn't even think, she just burst flying through that damn door, sending both men scrambling away.

How could they? How could HE! God, God, GOD! Why was she so stupid? Why did she have to keep on carrying that stupid flame for that... GOD! Why did he have to hurt her? On, and on, and on! Why couldn't he just love her and stay by her side? Even in spite of...

Rogue stopped the onward movement to find herself miles up in the air. It was unbearably cold, up here. She took a few deep breaths to steady her mind, calm her thumping heart.

Even in spite of. Why did she want to shackle him at her side though? Wasn't it cruel of her when he had needs she obviously couldn't fulfill?

Even if he had sworn to love her and to always be there for her.

Unlike tonight, obviously. Unlike so many days when he snapped at her and accused her of... she didn't even know what of! Some petty complaints that he really shouldn't have, not if he loved her as much as he claimed to. Because if someone had good reasons to complain, that was her, not him. She was the one suffering, trapped by her own powers, while he wandered about free as a bird.

God! It was too cold. Slowly she started her descent. She needed time to... Wait, what time was it? Scott's meeting was set for eight, right? Darn, she hadn't put on her watch.

Better just go back anyway.


"What was that all about?"

Gambit looked at Logan and shrugged. How the hell should he know! Rogue was always in a rotten mood anyway. It seemed as if it just got worse with every passing month. Sure, she mellowed down anytime there was some sort of attack and he got hurt... unless, of course, she decided he had waltzed into danger of his own reckless decision. She could spend days grumbling over his recklessness and selfishness, putting himself in danger as if nobody would care if he died. Didn't he realise how much he hurt his friends and family when he risked his life for a cheap thrill? Though she really meant he was hurting her. And why had she morphed into this suffocating mother-hen? She'd only be pleased if he somehow turned into an indoor hermit who avoided using knives for fear of cutting himself. It was ridiculous!

"I dare say something has upset our dear girl."

Or, as usual, a very specific Cajun someone. And to think he had come in in such a great mood. Merde!

"Beer?"

Gambit shook his head at Logan's offer. If he were to drink something, it would be stronger than beer. Better to just hit the sheets and sleep the irritation off.

"So what have the two of you been up to?" Beast asked, referring that Scott had got up particularly early and been upset at noticing their bikes were nowhere to be seen. "He may have been concerned you might attempt to escape our morning meeting."

Who cared! He headed towards the door, ready to go up to his room. Logan was just opening a beer, saying Spidey had needed a couple of hands on deck but that, right now, he was going to follow the Cajun's lead and get himself a shut eye.

"Oh, Gambit…" McCoy called. "At eight o'clock, the two of you. Right?"

"Tais-toi, homme!" It was barely 5.30, so what was the big deal? It was as if anything he did these days caused nothing but distress. "I said I be dere, so I be dere!"


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