Under My Skin
Chapter one
By: CptnPlanet
Authors note: I don't own the X-men. And also I did some changes to this chapter, nothing major, so if you want to read it again and tell me if it's any better that would be awesome. Great talk Thanks for the Reviews they really help me on my writing, and for me to continue writing. Thanks a bunch.
Rogue pulled the shiny chain, locked tight against her wrists and ankles; it was a normal thing for her to do under the circumstances. Testing, waiting to hear some kind of chance for the chain to give away under pressure. But it was looking hopeless as the chains were thick and looked as good as new, not a rusted spot in sight.
It was dark, except for the little light at the end of the hall indicating that it was night. Three people were walking in her direction; well two were walking, from the little light she could tell that the on in the middle was unconscious. They must be bringing in another mutant. It was a normal thing among this hell hole where she was trapped, because it was a common thing for people to die in the arena, they had to constantly bring in new ones. She had been trapped like this for a long time. . . Well as long as she can remember.
She didn't have any memory before she got caught and captured to this place. She woke up naked, with only one word on her mind. Rogue.
What kind of a name was Rogue anyway?
She was one of the lucky ones. She had seen that sometimes they decide to kill mutants out right, baked on a stake, or their head severed from there body. And they called her evil?
The collar around her neck hurt, as she watched as they clipped the collar on to what looked like a girl no older than 15. They then proceeded to clip the manacles on her wrists and ankles exactly as they had done with Rogue and everyone else unfortunate enough to get captured. She didn't know exactly what they were for, but once they were on, they never come off.
As she dropped her hand from her throat the chain rattled and one of the flash-lights rounded on her, making her wince at the bright light.
One whistled, "Damn, if I didn't know you were a demon, I would take you straight to bed." She heard him chuckle, "I do like you on your knees though."
Rogue narrowed her eyes at the man. "Why don't you come in here and show me big boy?"
Don't show them any weakness. Don't drop your gaze. He is weaker than you.
Most of the guards that worked here left all of them alone, there was an occasionally beating, taunting, and slanderous remarks; but they all remained on the other side of the glass.
The other man with him shoved him, making the flash-light drop to the floor. "You know we aren't supposed to open the cages for ANY reason. So don't even think it."
He growled as he picked up the dropped flash-light and stalked down the hall.
His friend just sighed as he watched his partner walk back out the door past the cages.
"Don't try to cause any trouble."
He waited as if he expected her to answer him, but she just kept her eyes locked with his, battling internally for dominance; until finally he too walked away.
Rogue crawled to her cot, the small blanket and pillow she had for the hard ground. She leaned against the glass wall with her arms around her legs and her forehead on her knees. Closing her eyes, she tried to let some sleep take her.
She woke up several times during the night, every time someone snorted in their sleep, every time someone moved, and every time the guard came down every hour to check on the mutants, it was a routine thing because often times she would be roused by suddenly getting electrocuted, or they would tighten the chain and start beating on you if you were half asleep. So as a defensive reaction she would become wide awake at any little noise.
This time it was because the new girl across from her was just waking up. Shifting and groaning as she tried to shake away the effects of the drugs in her system.
"Where am I?" She asked to no one in particular, and no one answered back. Talking wasn't allowed, it was a rule that one learned fast. The black haired little Asian girl seemed to just realize that chains were cuffed around her. As she tried to use her powers (Or that's what it looked like to Rogue) she became more and more panicked.
"I don't understand! Why aren't my powers working?" She screeched, making Rogue wince.
Rogue kicked her foot against the glass, making it shake, and gained the little girls' attention.
"Would you keep your noise down?" Rogue hissed quietly, it wasn't to save the girl from humiliation at the hands of the guards it was because her screeching voice gave her a head ache.
The little girl looked at her, tears now running down her face because she was scared. Rogue use to be scared too, now she doubted anything would scare her.
"I'm not supposed to be here. I was just going out with the others and- . . . and- . . . Nothing. I don't remember anything after!"
She sobbed against her hands, and Rogue gave a disgusted snort.
"What's your name?" The girl asked her. Rogue ignored the question and continued to pretend to sleep.
The girl wasn't deterred. "My names Jubilation Lee, Jubilee."
Rogue narrowed her green eyes at the girl. "Look, I'm going to give you some advice, stop talking."
"You don't talk to anyone else?"
Rogues jaw clenched. "No."
"Why not?" At least she had stopped sobbing.
Rogue didn't answer; one of the guards must've heard all the noise and was headed this way. Rogue hid further into the corner as far away from the door as she could. Then she gasped in horror as the little girl began knocking on the glass.
"Excuse me." The girl, Jubilee, waved to the guard.
"What are you doing?" Rogue hissed.
"I'm not supposed to be in here! I haven't done anything wrong!" The girl yelled loud enough for the guard to hear.
The guy next to Jubliee growled at her for causing a disturbance in his sleep.
The guard came up to Jubilee, "Sit down, and be quiet."
"No, you see there has been some sort of mistake. You see I'm at a school and if they find me gone they will be really worried about me." Jubliee tried to get out quickly.
The guard stared at her and repeated, "Sit down, and be quiet."
"But-"Jubilee tried again to explain to the man, but he pulled out the stick, the one that brightly glowed with power at the end of it, and stuck it through one of the holes in the glass.
Rogue winced as the little girl screamed, and screamed again. She fell to her knees as he touched her electrocuting her over and over again. He was taking brutal to a new extreme and on a 15 year old who was chained up.
"STOP!" Rogue screamed at the man, standing up pulling against the chains. Neither she nor the guard expected anything like that.
But he did stop only to be turned on Rogue, "You've never been defensive of anyone, demon." The man said wonderingly as he slipped the stick in her cell tapping it near her feet as if threatening her. "Why start now?"
Rogue growled at the man. She didn't know where it was coming from, usually she just let everyone figure it out what was to become of them themselves. It must be because they never captured a child before, so she felt like she had to protect her. Even though Rogue knew she really couldn't do anything from here.
The man just chuckled clipping the glowing stick back onto his belt, "Even when you growl at me like that, you're still so beautiful."
Rogue recognized his voice then; he was the one who had brought the mutant in earlier, the one who had stormed off earlier.
Don't taunt him. You will only make it worse for yourself.
"You make me want to puke." Rogue said not listening to the voice inside her head.
He laughed, "We'll see, I bet I can become your best friend in this place."
"I don't want 'friends.'" She really should stop talking to him.
"You have been in here for a long time. I bet you wouldn't mind my pleasurable company."
Rogue sneered, "Yeah, you obviously don't know what my power is then do you? I could kill you."
The man laughed again, "Oh no, you see, I've watched you for a long time, you can absorb other mutants powers. I'm not a mutant, AND as long as that collar is on and around your neck, it prevents you from using any powers on me."
Rogue reached up to touch the smooth collar around her neck. Was it true? Did her powers stop working if she had this on?
She stopped pulling against the chain. Her hands were at her sides, "What's stopping you?"
"My superior," he glanced down at the hallway, the guard behind the glass allowing people in and out. "We aren't allowed to make any sexual advances toward the women, it's one of the big rules, and one our boss thinks we need to follow to a tee. He only wants you are here to fight or die; entertainment for all humans."
"But you know that don't you, you've fought for survival in the arena for a long time now." He laughed, taunting her, hitting her where it hurt. "Tell me how it feels to kill your own kind?"
She growled out, reaching to kill the man leaning against her cell, not succeeding she kicked the glass hard making it sway dangerously. He had succeeded in getting her, and now she was showing weaknesses, coming to people's defense. She was making mistakes. . .
The man just laughed, pulling out a little device and pressed a button on it, the chains pulled her back, slamming her into the metal wall. Her hands were by her neck, but far enough away to where she couldn't touch anything around her body.
"I will have you. And you will know it when you are like this." He laughed as he waved back going back down the hallway to where his superior sat. "Until then, stay that way for some punishment."
After a while the girl, Jubilee, whispered a slight 'thank you' before she started crying.
Rogue wished she could cry too, but her tears, had dried up long ago, and now all Rogue could do was sit there and stare at the crying girl.
"Logan!" Someone had called his name. He turned annoyed at just getting back to the mansion and he was already getting called on the carpet by the head mistress.
"Thank Goddess you're here! One of the kids is missing and I need you to track where she's gone." Storm, the pride and joy of Charles Xavier, had lost a kid.
"She probably just left." He turned ignoring her request, what he wanted was sleep.
The white haired Goddess grabbed his arm and turned him around, forcibly. "Logan, I know Jubilee. She wouldn't just up and vanish into thin air like that. Not when you know how hard it's been for people like us out there."
Logan sighed she just wasn't going to let up until she had her way. "Alright, where's the last time you saw her?"
"When she was sneaking out with the other kids to go to a club called 'Club 8.' Jubilee and some of the younger kids like to go there to dance. The rest of the kids came back at 12, she didn't. I've been looking ever since."
"What about the others?" Logan asked, sliding his arm through the brown leather jacket.
"I have Kitty and Peter watching the kids, in case something happens. Hank and Bobby are out searching for her right now." Storm told him quickly following him out the door.
"Bobby?" He glanced at Storm, "That boy is no tracker. And nobody is going to talk to Hank because he's a mutant."
"You would be surprised Logan. You're hardly ever here anymore, you don't know what progress the x-men have made."
"No I've seen what it's like out there in the world, Storm. And I can tell you that the X-men aren't making a damn bit of differ-"He stopped mid-sentence as he caught sight of a man in a trench coat leaning against one of the cars. "Oh yeah." He muttered.
"Storm, this is Gambit." He muttered, "Come on, Gumbo. We have to go find a missing student."
The white haired witch gave Logan an annoyed look, "Ororo Munroe, I run this school." She said putting her hand out to him as a welcome.
Remy gave a charming smile, and then grabbed her hand but instead of shaking it, he pulled her against him. He was a good half a foot taller than she was, as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Remy Lebeau and the pleasure is all mine, beau."
Under the dark skin, Storm blushed. She wasn't use to anything like this.
Logan ruined it, "Come on, get a move on, I don't want to trail getting cold."
The loud engine of his motorcycle roared to life, "Storm you stay here, I'll be sending Bobby and Hank back to you."
Remy let go of Storm with a sigh, as he also hopped on his motorcycle and followed after Logan. Storm didn't realize until after both men were out of sight that Logan was giving orders, and told her to stay here.
Storm sighed, yup, Logan was back.
Logan stopped in front of the Club called Cub 8, sniffed around, he knew it was useless before he did it, but trying to make out all the different scents just wasn't possible.
"Logan! Your back!" Bobby raced towards him. No matter how old Bobby got, the kid was always going to be a kid in Logan's eyes the guy had way too much of a baby face.
"Yeah for a while." He nodded turning off his motorcycle; Remy was behind him doing the same. "You two found out anything?"
Bobby was no longer interested in Logan, summoning up the man behind him. "No," Bobby said as if he was paying attention. "The manager is inside refuses to talk to us."
"That was probably my fault, Logan." Hank said sadly.
It was the toughest on him of the X-men because of how he looked. He was big and blue, with hair all over his body. A beast was the most appropriate thing he could call him. Funnily, that was his X-man code name.
"That's okay, you two can go back to the mansion now, and we will find her from here." Logan nodded to Remy next to him.
"Who is this?" Hank nodded to the new person.
"Gambit." Remy told him curtly, missing all the charm he had displayed on Storm earlier.
"A. . . Friend of yours?" Bobby asked Logan.
Logan just scowled, "Go home Bobby."
Hank tipped the hat he was wearing to Logan first, and then to Gambit as he parted.
Gambit gave a two fingered salute.
"Think you can get in there?" Logan asked Gambit.
"Absolument." He smirked, "They just weren't asking nicely enough."
"Then it's all you Cajun."
"I have people who will be looking for me." Jubilee whispered out to her, as quietly as she could so they wouldn't get caught.
Rogue lifted her head, "Do you?"
"They are called the X-men. Do you know who they are?"
Rogue's head was pounding against her temples, it was starting to become a normal thing. "I'm 'fraid not."
"Well, they are a group of really powerful mutants, and they run this school for people like us." Jubilee sniffed. "It was first started by a man called Charles Xavier, who believes in mutant and human equality. But he died before I ever came to the school."
"It sounds like they are really making a difference." She said as she pulled against the chain, to make her point that she was not serious about that statement.
"They are trying to." She sounded offended. "Not all humans hate us."
"I wouldn't know." Rogue muttered, since this was all she knew.
There was a brief awkward silence between them.
"Are they going to make me fight?" She whispered.
Rogue stared at the frightened girl, "Yes." If you're lucky.
"Have you killed anyone? You know, in the Arena."
Rogue didn't answer, but the truth was she had. And she had done it again and again. Had would do it again just to survive as long as she could, but one day they were going to find another, more powerful mutant than her, as they were probably getting better and better at kidnapping mutants.
If she was left alone it wasn't so bad, they get a shower every day, though not a private one, and given meals three times a day. Other than the mutant down from her, who could duplicate himself as much as he wanted to; overwhelming opponents in the Arena.
"Do you know exactly where we are?" Rogue asked Jubilee maybe they could escape, if she could count on that guy coming back to visit her. If her powers worked as they should then she could knock him unconscious. However, if he was telling the truth about her power being prevented by the collar, she would have to kill him.
Jubilee shook her head at her question.
"Do you know when your friends will show?"
Again, Jubilee shook her head looking down to make sure that the guard at the gate hadn't been hearing them. "But they couldn't have taken me far. We must still be in New York, so it shouldn't take them long."
"Yes but we can't count on that. What's your power?"
"I can create fireworks, but they aren't working right now."
Because of the damned collar. Shit.
"Well let's hope for the best." And pray that this all works out, because if they weren't lucky they would all die.
"Well, did you get anything out of her?" Logan burly arms were crossed across his chest.
"Oui, but I'm thinking you aren't going to like it none." He pulled a cigarette out from its case.
"Just tell me." He said as he watched the Cajun light the cigarette.
"The girl was probably taken by some humans. They capture mutants and they battle them, kind of like a dog fight, mon ami." Gambit shook his head. "The people can bet or they can come watch the fights. But sadly it is only by invitation only. Also the girl has no idea where it's at, only that it's somewhere in the city. They say only the rich and powerful get in."
A mutant hating group, capturing mutants and battling them like animals. "Rich and powerful, huh? I think I know where we can get an invitation from."
"And where is that, Mon ami?" Gambit raised a skeptical brown brow.
"Come on, bub, we are going to Worthington Industries."
Logan and Gambit walked into the palace of Worthington Industries.
Out of all the suits that were coming in and out of the office building, it was no wonder that Logan and Remy both drew the attention of the security guards, dressed in jeans and a shirt, muddy shoes, and a ragged appearance.
"Yeah we need to see, Warren Worthington." Logan said the name carefully.
"And do you have an appointment with Mr. Worthington?" The security guard asked skeptically.
"No, but he will make time for me, if you just call him."
This time Gambit gave and amused but skeptical expression.
"Very well, but I'm going to have to ask you to wait right here."
"Fine." Logan said curtly. "Tell him the name's Logan."
As the security guard walked away, Remy slid up next to him. "You have friends in high places?"
Logan snorted, "No, X-men have friends in high places."
"Aww, then the mystery is revealed." Logan watched as Remy inspected one of the paintings.
"I'm not going to have to tie your hands together, am I? To keep you from stealing anything?"
Remy snorted, "Not likely, I get paid for a job more than this would sell for."
Just don't go stealing anything Cajun."
Remy grinned, as the officer came towards them, "I make no promises, mon ami."
"I apologize for the delay, sir. Mr. Worthington will see you now." The guard said quickly.
Warren Worthington was a mutant, but no one except the X-men and his father knew anything about it. He stretched out the white wings, from their long imprisonment against his back. Even since he had taken over his father's company, he hadn't had the chance to stretch his wings out and fly.
'The Angel' that was his name once, now he was just known as Warren Worthington.
The door opened, and Warren glanced back to see Logan come into the room.
"Am I interrupting?" Logan raised a brow at the state of his undress.
Warren laughed, "Not at all, my friend, you were taking so long getting up here. I thought maybe you weren't coming, so I decided to stretch my wings."
As he said it, his wings opened wide in the huge room.
"I had a little trouble with your metal detector." Logan claws came out with a 'schikt.' "Luckily I had a friend there who helped me out."
"What can I do for you, Logan?" Warren sat down in his chair behind his desk.
"I need to know if you have any invitations, from people who hate mutants." Logan asked him, letting his claws slide back into his skin.
Warren laughed coldly, "I have plenty of those. Why do you want to go to one of those?"
"Because last night one of Storms kids were kidnapped and people have been talking about others dueling them in the pits lie dogs." Logan said disgustedly.
Warrens light blue eyes widen, his angel like face was openly shocked. He reached into a draw and pulled out a box full of invitations, and began flipping through them.
He laid three letters out as he took the rest and shoved them back in the box. "These are from people I don't know. All three of these are from the Friends of Humanity, which is why I have chosen to reject them. But none have even hinted about what the details of the event are."
"Mind coming with us we probably won't get by without you." Logan state gruffly.
"Absolutely." He grabbed up his button up shirt and jacket.
Pressing a little button on his desk, he yelled, "Becky, have the driver meet me out front in 5 minutes."
"Right away sir." Becky said suspiciously breathless.
Rogue grunted as the chains once again pulled her tight against the wall, so the asshole did come back. She had been waiting for this day. She watched as the familiar guard walked down the hall, whistling a merry tune.
"Did you miss me?" He chuckled as he openly the glass door, as if it wasn't locked at all.
She fought against the cuffs, as he came to stand in front of her. He wasn't very tall, nor very bulky, not even in an athletic way. If it was a fair one to one fight, she had no doubt that she could take him.
He reached up, his hand skimming over the rags that she called clothes, to cup her breast in a harsh grasp.
Come on power, please work.
The blonde haired man smiled as she winced. His smirk widened as her green eye went to his hands and began to struggle anew as he slipped the utility belt fell to the floor, she watched as the gun slid to the floor, securely locked in place with his belt. Rogue wanted to cry.
Don't show weakness.
He began to unbutton his pants.
"What no foreplay?" Rogue sneered. "I'm warning you, you shouldn't touch me."
His upper lip curled as he spread her legs apart. His hand making bare contact with her thigh; all his memories, of his wife and kids how they left him, how he was picked on at school; all of it flowed into her. He hated mutants, hated them with a passion, because he blamed them for the loser he was.
He fell to the ground in an unconscious pile. She almost died with relief.
"Now what do you plan on doing?" It was a man next to her cell asked.
"Try and get out of these chains."
She kicked Robert Duvuall over quickly and began to search for the device he had on him. With her toes she maneuvered the device out of his pocket. And she, again with her toes, tried to get the right buttons that would free them from this hell.
Without looking she pressed one of the buttons with her big toe.
All the occupants in their cells chains tightened, drawing them all back against the wall.
"Sorry." She muttered as she got angry looks from some of the occupants.
"I can't see it." She said defensively. And I'm shaking like crazy.
Rogue pressed another button. The guard's metal gate swung open.
"Jesus, this girl is going to get us caught before she can even free us." Came from down the hall, suspiciously like the multiple man.
"Wait let me see if I can see it, maybe I can guide your foot there." The black man next to her said, "I have heightened senses, so I can tell you where to put your foot."
It made Rogue feel better that at least one other person could still use their gifts as well.
Rogue turned the device facing the man, and pushed it a little closer, but not out of her foot reach.
"Okay I think I see it," He sounded triumphant. "Now from where your foot is, keep it going toward you."
Slowly she did as he asked, until she heard him say stop. Slowly she lowered her foot to press the button.
"Okay now, back towards me." She again did as he asked until he said stop. "Don't press yet, move your foot over to the left just a bit . . . more. . . Okay now press."
She did and all of the mutants' manacles clasped open.
When she was down on the ground again, she shakily picked up the device, holding it with both hands so she wouldn't drop it as she hurriedly opened all the doors to the cells. For the first time in what seemed like years she was going to be free this time she would fight until they killed her.
She bent down to get the gun out of Robert Duvuall belt. The guy was a jerk; with one last kick in the stomach at him. Rogue hurriedly followed the mutants out of the cells.
"Follow me I know the way out."