Author's Notes: Alright...here we go. I'm really really nervous about this because I'm going to try something (writing-wise) I haven't before. We'll see how it works out. Anyways, welcome to Chapter One of One Year, the sequel to To Hold You Close! Rogue and Logan are back again with many faces you've seen before and a few you haven't. It's going to be an interesting ride, that's for sure! Um...I'm not one hundred percent sure when the next update will happen, but I'll try and get a consistent update schedule for you guys. Until I post again, please enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men.
One Year
Chapter One
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"We're going to have to join them eventually."
"I know. But can't we wait just a few minutes longer?"
"Well, you know I'm in no hurry."
Rogue giggled against Logan's chest as he held her close to him. They were curled up on his bed, barely visible to each other in the dim lighting. Outside, the half-moon cast enough light to brighten the window and its surrounding area, but not much else. It was a quiet moment of peace, away from the wild excitement and partying of the rest of the mansion. Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters was outdoing itself on preparations for the New Year, and the noise faintly drifted to even Logan's room. At this point in the night, there were perhaps ten minutes or so until the final countdown, which meant the two had been hiding out for nearly an hour.
"It's probably been too long."
"Yeah, you're probably right."
With a sigh, Rogue started to pull away from Logan. His arms tightened around her and curiously, she craned her head up towards his. It was already swooping down and his lips met hers, softly. She smiled against it and felt his lips curve in return.
"Happy New Year."
"You're a bit early."
"Yeah well, I just want to get a head start on it."
Logan chuckled at her words, and held her against himself for a moment longer. His large hands made their way through her hair, twisting around the fateful white streaks. For a moment longer the two remained this way, still, quiet, two separate beings who understood each other too well, and then Rogue poked Logan in the ribs.
"Five minutes!"
"Alright, alright."
They pulled away from each other, slipped off the bed and found each other again. Hand in hand, they left Logan's room and made their way back to the festivities.
"10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!" Sparkling cider glasses were clinked, the young couples kissed, and Jubilee launched a fire works spectacle that put all other shows in the area to shame. Logan dipped down and gave Rogue a quick kiss, and she caught Kitty and Bobby in a liplock of their own. Hank had slipped over and pressed a kiss to Storm's cheek, to which she blushed against.
The celebrations raged on, late into the night until eventually everyone crashed in the huge rec room, the best slumber party in the history of the mansion. As she lay curled up in a sleeping bag next to Logan, Rogue couldn't imagine feeling any happier. She grinned with anticipation for what the new year would bring for her and Logan.
"Happy New Year."
"Now you've got it right. Love you."
"Love you back."
Over the next few days things settled back into the routine at the mansion. In the four months that had passed since the events at Safe Haven, where the X-Men had battled the threat of Mister Sinister, and in the three months that had passed since graduation, things at the mansion had reached a new level of normalcy. For starters, the five junior members of the team who had graduated were considered full members of the X-Men, and all five had agreed to stay and help teach the incoming mutants.
As it currently stood, Storm and Scott essentially ran the school, one at a time typically, while the other went out for interviews and recruitment. Logan continued his position as a defense instructor, though he was usually only put in charge of the advanced classes. Sage, a mutant who had worked for the Professor quite some time ago and had been found at Safe Haven, stayed at the mansion as well, helping out with the defense classes as well. Peter continued his art classes, and Rogue, joined by Kitty, ran the ethics discussions. Between Hank and Warren, several science classes had sprung up, focused mostly on genetics, as well as doctoring. Bobby held a more curious position, one that could most accurately be described as a counselor, or even a therapist. His classes held mostly the newer mutants, and generally dealt with accepting their mutanty, as well as accepting the thoughts and actions of humanity. These students and their discussions tended to segue nicely into the ethics classes. Alex had chosen to stay at the mansion, mostly due to his brother's request, but he tended to float around. More often than not he could be found helping Sage, but if Scott was out recruiting, Alex typically joined him.
It was a good arrangement, and the school was thriving, still in the wake of the failure of the Cure that had rocked the mutant population.
And January remained mostly mild, which meant that it was difficult for the young mutants to pay attention. The X-Men had their hands full with keeping control, while still keeping eyes and ears open for any apparent threats. With the knowledge that Magneto was gone, most concern was minimal, though knowing his children were out there troubled Rogue from time to time. Overall it was easy to merely continue through life, and settle into the consistency of the routine.
Three and a half weeks later, that all changed.
"Hey Rogue, check it out." Peter nodded towards the television and Rogue looked up from her lunch to the news break.
"Turn it up," she called, wrinkling her forehead. The word THREAT? was in red block letters next to the newscaster. Bobby, who was closest to the remote, obliged and suddenly the voice of the newscaster filled the room. After his first words, the entire room was silent and focused on the screen.
"…And word of this new threat has gotten out thanks to the doctors at our own local hospitals. It seems a mysterious illness has began slowly spreading throughout New York this past week, but more and more cases are being reported. As of today, there's already been fifty reported cases, all of which are mutant-related cases. Here's Candace with more."
"Thanks Bill. I'm standing outside the New York Memorial Hospital where three more cases of this illness have just been reported. I couldn't get any real definition of what the illness is, but it seems to only affect mutants. Now, I'm told there's no need for any real alarm for normal humans, but anyone who is a mutant is being asked to report their nearest hospital to be check for signs of the illness."
"What should a mutant expect from the illness?"
"That's the big question. As of right now anything resembling a fever, cough, or feeling faint seem to be symptoms. The most obvious thing it's resembling now is the common flu, but doctors are worried it could lead to something more. There's also worry that it could spread to humans, and no one knows how it may react that way."
"Ok, thanks, Candace."
The news report continued, but the mutants stared at each other, wide-eyed. Bobby eventually moved first, turning the volume down. Next to him, Kitty gripped her pencil so tightly he knuckles started turning white.
"So…" Peter finally spoke, breaking the uneasy silence.
"Maybe we'd better talk to Scott," Rogue finally answered. She pushed away her lunch, her stomach feeling too heavy to eat now. "I don't like the idea of an illness that only affects mutants," she added as she started to stand up.
"I don't either," Bobby agreed, finally turning the television off as he rose. The four of them left the room, leaving the others there to speculate. As they made their way through the mansion, Rogue's mind traveled back to her time at Safe Haven, and her chance meeting with Magneto. He had mentioned something about being injected with a virus, a corruption of the Cure that was supposed the stop a mutant from being a mutant. But the Cure hadn't been released since it was discovered to be a failure, and everything at Safe Haven had been destroyed in a huge explosion. Rogue couldn't puzzle out a connection.
"I know, I saw it too," Scott said as the four piled into his spacious study room. Actually, it was the office that he and Storm shared, but the white-haired woman was out on a recruitment, so only he was currently there. Closer inspection revealed his younger brother, Alex, was also in the room.
"Well, what are we gonna do about it?" Bobby demanded.
"Can we do anything about it?" Rogue clarified.
"I don't know," Scott admitted. "Since it's only just been released to the media, there's been no specific details released at all."
"The report said all mutants should report to a hospital. Are we supposed to do that?" Kitty asked quietly.
"Not yet," Scott shook his head. "We're essentially isolated here, and we know there hasn't been any sort of outbreak here yet. Storm's due back in about two hours. She might have heard something about it too, though she's in California right now. Maybe we'll find out what's been going on in the West Coast."
"Should we make the call then, to have a meeting when she returns?" Peter asked, beating Rogue to the question. She tried to hide her surprise at his urgent tone as Scott answered.
"Yes, absolutely. We could assume this is merely a flu virus that only attacks mutants, but we can't rule out the possibility it's a man made disease that can seriously harm mutants. I don't know what sort of action we can plan on taking, but we're definitely going to at least have some sort of a plan. Especially if someone here comes down with it."
"Alrighty then." Bobby rubbed his hands together. "Two hours then. We'll see you in the conference room." At Scott's nod, the four younger mutants left the room, quietly murmuring among themselves.
"Well, we need to find out who's heard what," Rogue began, "and to stop any panic attacks before they happen."
"Agreed," Peter said. "We should split up - some to find the others, and some to water any fires that may be springing up."
"Ok, Peter, you and Rogue go find the team members while Kitty and I will make the rounds among the younger mutants to see what can be done." Quick nods confirmed Bobby's suggestion, and he and Kitty left. Kitty cast a backwards glance over her shoulder, but Rogue wasn't sure if it was aimed at her or Peter.
"Should we also split up?" she asked then, turning and quirking an eyebrow at Peter. He paused, then grinned, a bit too brightly.
"Yeah, probably. I know who you want to talk to anyway." He chucked at the slight blush that rose in Rogue's cheeks. "I'll find Warren - I'm sure to find Hank as well then. You know, you'll probably find both Logan and Sage in the Danger Room."
"Sounds good," Rogue replied, grinning at her friend. "You know me too well."
"Hey, what are friends for?" Peter turned to leave, but turned back. "Hey Rogue?"
"Yeah?"
"I…well…I know you're worried about this, but don't be. It's probably not as big a threat as they're making it out to be. You know the media loves causing worry, and especially anything that puts mutants in a bad light."
"Yeah, it's just…" Rogue trailed off, her grin fading as her thoughts returned the dying Magneto she remembered. She didn't catch Peter's hesitation, or realize that what he'd said wasn't his initial thought.
"What?" Peter's concern turned to curiosity at her pause.
"No, nothing," Rogue shook her head, forcing a grin. "Go find Warren and Hank. I'll bet they'll find this really interesting. I'll catch you later." She turned and headed towards the Danger Room as Peter shrugged and headed his own direction.
There was a ferocious fight brewing as Rogue peered into the Danger Room. Since the arrival of Sage, Logan had a constant sparring partner, as both loved the challenge the other provided. Rogue had originally insisted that she could spar with Logan, but he simply wouldn't. At any rate, it was more often than not an even match between Logan and Sage, but that didn't mean it wasn't interesting to watch. In this particular instance, they had to be nearing the end, as both were dripping in sweat, and Sage had a nice three-tiered rip in her suit.
Rather than risk life and limb - though she knew she was quite the formidable fighter herself these days, stepping in the middle of those two wouldn't be pretty - Rogue waited outside, watching the sparring match from a safe vantage point. While she had to admire Sage's skill at fighting, Rogue found herself mostly watching Logan. Concern for the situation at hand drifted away as she admired his strength, his barely constrained brutality, the way his muscles flexed when her launched an attack….
Rogue snapped herself back into reality as she realized the match was over, Logan and Sage were laughing and shaking hands. She felt her face heating up and had to giggle to herself. Thank goodness no one was witnessing her little spying session -
"You can come in now," Logan called and Rogue felt her blush deepen. Of course Logan knew she was there, he could smell her. Feeling a bit idiotic, Rogue opened the door all the way and stepped into the Danger Room.
"You both worn down enough I can take you single-handedly?" she asked, smirking.
"Never," Sage replied, her smile warm towards Rogue and laughter in her voice. Rogue's smirk turned to a grin as well, and she walked towards them, her original purpose for being here returning to her mind.
"Well, there's something up, but I really think y'all oughta clean up first," she began. "No offence but…" Rogue gestured towards them and held her nose for emphasis.
"Come on, we're not that bad," Logan growled, but Rogue caught the playful note in it. He advanced on her, rubbing his hand over his face to mop off the sweat that glistened on it.
"Yeah, right," she said, rolling her eyes and taking a few quick steps back. "Seriously Logan, go take a shower right now."
"Right this instant?" he asked, moving closer, holding his sweaty hands out to her.
"Yes!" Rogue answered, eyeing his hand warily.
"Leave the poor girl alone, you sweaty oaf," Sage called as she disappeared into the locker rooms.
"You let her get away with those insults?" Rogue smirked, quirking an eyebrow. "Since when have you gotten so soft?"
"There's always another match," Logan admitted, a keen gleam in his eye. Rogue laughed and he turned. "Back back shortly," he called.
"Yeah, make sure you're clean," Rogue called back, blowing him a kiss. As he too disappeared in the locker room, Rogue wandered around the empty Danger Room, her mind wandering back towards the situation at hand. She couldn't remember Magneto's exact words, which was annoying her to no end. Not that she really thought the two were related, but it did seem a little odd nonetheless. Of course, if it was the same virus, why did it take four months to be released? And who would have done it?
"So, what's going on?" Logan called out as he returned. She glanced over at him and suddenly lost her train of thought. Rogue loved how he looked just out of the shower, still slightly damp, with something of a wild animal look. It also helped that he was only wearing jeans, pulling his shirt on as he approached her.
"You do that on purpose," she accused, speaking before thinking.
"Do what?" Logan feigned innocence, but his smirk gave him away.
"Distract me," Rogue answered as he closed the distance between them.
"Do I?" Logan asked, tilting her head towards his so he could kiss her.
"No PDA in the Danger Room," Sage complained as she appeared. They pulled apart, neither looking guilty, but instead rather impish at being caught.
"It happens," Logan said, which Rogue thought was great improvement for him. It wasn't terribly long ago that he had wanted to keep their relationship a secret. She definitely wasn't complaining about this.
"Anyways," Rogue continued, her mind regaining its focus yet again as she slipped her hand down to catch Logan's as the three of them exited the Danger Room. "There's a situation brewing. It was on the television, something about a flu that's only affecting mutants. Scott's trying to get everyone together when Storm returns from some recruitment so that we can see what's up."
"A flu that's only affecting mutants?" Sage's face turned serious. Rogue immediately wondered what Sage knew about the events concerning Magneto and Safe Haven. She had said that Magneto was brought there after being sick, but still…
"What are they saying about the mutants who have it?" Logan asked, his eyes darkening.
"Nothing yet. All other mutants are supposed to go to the hospital to be checked out though. It may just be a flu, but it could always be some sort of crazy scheme that's out to get mutants." Rogue shrugged. She squeezed Logan's hand and he held onto hers more tightly.
"Ah, never a dull moment," Sage murmured. Logan caught Rogue's eye and the two smirked at each other.
"I just don't see what we can do at this point," Hank was saying logically to the mutants gathered in the conference room. "There's no leads, no obvious attack. We're going to have to wait it out and see what happens."
"But you know that someone in power is gonna come after us. The school isn't exactly a huge secret anymore. I mean, not everyone knows about it, but enough people do that we could be targeted somehow." Scott's comment sobered everyone.
"Well, the good news is that I didn't hear any reports of it in California," Storm eventually said. "That means it hasn't made it's way that far, at least. So perhaps it will be contained to this area, or this coast at least."
"Maybe," Warren contended. "But illnesses have a way of traveling. For all we know, only mutants can get sick, but humans could be the carriers. Just one human who's been in contact with it could potentially infect an entire area."
"Is that possible?" Kitty asked, her eyes wide. Warren nodded, as did Hank.
"It's not likely," Hank added, "but I think at this point we can't rule anything out."
"Ugh, I hate this whole not knowing thing!" Rogue muttered, and the murmurs in the room agreed with her.
"Well-" Sage begin, but she never finished her thought as cell phone started to ring. "Sorry," she said, looking down to turn it off. Her face turned ashen as soon as she saw the caller.
"Sage? Who is it?" Storm asked, immediately concerned.
"It's…it's one of the Safe Haven numbers." Sage's voice was only a whisper.
"What?" "How is that possible?" "Are you sure?" Voices of the X-Men clambered over one another in the unwelcome shock this news provided.
"Answer it." Rogue's voice rose above the surprised voices, strong and steady, though she was gripping Logan's hand as if it were a life-line. Sage paused for just a minute, then did so.
"Hello? Yes, this is Sage, but who are - Moira?" Sage almost dropped the phone, and Rogue felt her breath catch in her throat. Moira MacTaggert was not only the doctor who had taken care of the Professor, but also a geneticist who had supposedly died at Safe Haven. "Hold on, let me put you on speaker…" Sage's hands were shaking as she pressed a button, and held the phone out towards the full table. "Moira?"
"Yes, hello." The familiar voice, tinny through the speaker phone, filled the now silent room. Rogue frowned at the obvious weariness in it.
"How is this even possible?" Storm finally said. "Rogue said you were inside the building when it exploded." All eyes in the room cut to Rogue, who could only stare at the phone.
"Well, I would have been, but after she and the others with her left, things were very quickly taken out of my control. Is Rogue there?"
"Yeah," Rogue said, before she could stop herself. "So what happened after we left you with the Director?"
"Well, we were having an argument over what had happened, more or less, when we were interrupted by two mutants. I believe you know them as Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch?" Rogue stiffened at the mention of Magneto's offspring. "Well, Quicksilver just sort of…scooped us up and we were out of the building before I even realized it."
"I saw them running away…" Rogue admitted. "I didn't know…it was too hard to make any details out."
"He took us to a small building a short distance away, and down a trapdoor into some tunnel, where Magento and the Professor were." These words caused another collective gasp. "I don't know exactly where we were, but it had to be underneath the Safe Haven building, because we felt the explosion, and several of the tunnels we tried to go through were blocked by rubble."
"Wait, you didn't try to escape from them?" Bobby's surprised voice cut through the monologue.
"Obviously you have never come across the Scarlet Witch and her powers," came Moira's wry response. Rogue had, and she grimaced.
"She's powerful," she muttered to Bobby, who sat back after seeing her face.
"At any rate, we finally got through the tunnels to the chamber they wanted. It was a small space, divided into two rooms. The first held the remains of many horrendous experiments, as well as notes and disturbing pictures of the experiments, and the second room held a woman. She was obviously contained in a sealed off, plastic covered area of the room."
"Did you know her?" Sage asked, her eyes bright.
"No, but Magneto did. He said he had been brought to this very place, and had experiments done on him that also were done on her. Magneto's children questioned Brent Jackson severely on this, but he denied any knowledge of it, saying that this was Windsor's - Mister Sinister - pet project. After a bit more…insistence, he added that Malcolm was the only other person involved.
"Who's Malcom?" Scott interrupted.
"Don't know, and Jackson wasn't telling anymore. He did say the mutant's project name was Infectia. We stayed there for quite some time, the siblings talking frequently to Magneto, but his illness kept him from being able to do much. Some point later, Jackson risked the odds and let Infectia loose. The siblings would have nothing to do with her, allowing for Jackson to make an escape. The Scarlet Witch was furious about this, and left for some time, leaving Quicksilver to watch me, Charles, and Magneto. I don't know how much time passed before the Scarlet Witch returned, saying things would be taken care of. Not much later, three more mutants returned with Infectia. I believe one of them knows you - he calls himself Pyro."
"John?" Bobby and Rogue spoke at the same time; a simultaneous, incredulous tone. Their eyes met briefly, shock and sorrow passing in the look.
"Yes, he and the other two mutants, calling themselves Multiple Man and Magik returned with Infectia, but not Jackson. The Scarlet Witch was furious, of course, but there was nothing she could do. At this point I found out that-"
"Wait, did you say Magik?" Peter suddenly interrupted the story. His face was filled with an emotion that Rogue could only describe as fear. "Can you please describe her?"
"Um…" Moira faltered for a moment. "She's young, long blond hair, bit of an accent. Did I tell say that Magik was female?"
"Peter?" Storm looked questioningly at him. Now fear and worry filled his features.
"No, please continue," he finally said. A brief pause and Moira resumed her tale.
"Let's see…oh, I found out that Infectia was the carrier of an extremely dangerous virus. I was able to look through the notes that were in the first room of the chamber. It appears that this virus is deadly to mutants. Infectia was dying from it, and I suspected that both Pyro and Magik suffered from it as well."
"What?" Peter's startled voice cut through again.
"Well, I'm not sure, I haven't been able to really monitor them. But Infectia is nearly dead from it now, and the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver have commissioned me into doing research about it. Something about how Magneto is demanding it of them. What I've been able to tell so far is that it is specifically designed for mutants, but I'm afraid that…I'm afraid I've also contracted it. And it doesn't make sense that I should have."
"So wait a minute…if you've been held hostage, how are you now calling us?" Scott's tone was suspicious.
"Like I said, I've now been commissioned to work on the information behind this virus. And I've just been recently allowed to call for outside help, because this is too big for me. First, since I'm afraid I've got it, I haven't been able to work as much as I'd like to. Second, it's come to the siblings realization that when Jackson took Infectia outside, she apparently released the virus into the public. I guess it's been spreading rampant among mutants."
"No way…" Kitty breathed, and Rogue felt her own mouth drop open in shock. Her suspicions may have been right after all. Complete silence held for a moment.
"So…why call me?" Sage asked. "What can I do?"
"Well, the phones underground here only call other Safe Haven lines. And so I hoped that the number to your phone still worked. I only wanted you to relay my message to Charles' colleagues, but it seems luck is with me since you're already there."
"Well, what can we do?" Hank asked.
"What I really need is another mind to compare notes with," Moira admitted. "There are some blocks that I'm facing here in understanding this virus. The siblings want me to create a cure, but I can't do that until I get all the information behind it. I need help."
"Well…we have minds aplenty," Hank said. "What can you tell us?"
"No, not over the phone. It's much more complicated then that," Moria said. "I need you to come here - I'm not allowed to go anywhere."
"So you're asking us to willingly expose ourselves to this virus?" Scott demanded.
"If we can make the cure, it won't matter."
"And if you don't?"
"The virus is already out there. It still won't matter."
"We should go." Surprised faces swung to Logan, who was clenching his jaw. "I've had about enough of stuff like this. We need to put a stop to all this screwin' around with mutants and cures and viruses." Rogue's face paled at the anger in his tone.
"Moira, I'm afraid we need some time to talk about this," Storm interjected gracefully. "Is there anyway you'll be able to call us again in an hour or so?"
"I…I think so. I'm really counting of your help." Her voice was fading, getting harder to hear.
"I know," Storm replied. "And we want to. We just need to sort out logistics."
"Alright. Expect a call in an hour then."
"Thank you," Storm said. There was a click signifying Moira had hung up, and after a moment Sage pressed her own phone closed. The room remained silent, every mutant trying to absorb the information.
"I don't like this," Scott finally said. "I don't want anything else to do with that place."
"Me either," Rogue admitted, and Alex nodded his own agreement.
"Nothing good can come out of going there," he added.
"Well, maybe," Warren objected. "If the virus that's been on the news is the same virus that this Infectia has, we've got a big problem on our hands. Especially if Moira has contracted it. That means humans can get it, and you know everything will go to pieces then."
"Are we sure it's not some sort of a trap?" Bobby asked. "Can this doctor really be trusted?"
"I think so," Sage said softly. "Her past may be checkered, but she was always a friend of Charles, and so I think she is ultimately on the side we are on." There was another pause as this sank in. Peter, who had been fidgeting this whole time, finally stood up, his face strangely determined.
"We need to go and check this out," he said firmly. "And I will be going." Silence greeted his response.
"Um…why?" Rogue finally asked softly. His expression and intensity about the whole matter worried her.
"Do you remember my sister?" Peter asked her. Surprised, Rogue nodded. "She was supposed to attend here herself, but her powers had manifested earlier than expected and she had trouble arriving here. I'm afraid the girl with them, the one called Magik is my sister. Why I believe this is simple. I once told her all of us had code names, and she wrote that she would like her code name to be Magik. It could be a fluke, but I need to see if it is indeed my sister."
"Well," Hank said after a brief moment. "I should also go then, because this sounds like something that's right up my alley. Between Peter and I, we should have things covered, right? No need to risk everyone."
"I don't know…" Storm was shaking her head. "That's a long shot, Peter, and I still wish we didn't have to risk getting anyone infected, but-" Storm was abruptly cut off as the mansion's alarms went haywire.
"What the hell?" Scott exclaimed, and the meeting was suddenly forgotten as the mutants made a mad rush towards the windows and doors.
"Mr. Summers!" Jimmy suddenly appeared in the chaos. "Mr. Summers! There's a woman with blue skin on the front lawn who wants to talk with Rogue!"
"Oh hell," Logan muttered. "What does she want now?"
After most of the confusion was sorted out, Mystique sat in the center of the large rec room, surrounded by the members the X-Men, sans Alex who was keeping the rest of the mansion's student population busy elsewhere.
"I don't see what the problem is," Mystique said, pouting at the mutants before her. "I don't even want to talk to you. Just Rogue."
"And as I said, whatever you want to say to me, you can definitely say in front of all of us." Rogue didn't trust Mystique, that was for sure, and despite having the powers she did, she also didn't want to be alone with her. Mystique had a way of subtle manipulation about her and though advantageous when she was fighting on the same side as Rogue, it also made Rogue uneasy.
"Not that we'd let you anyway-" Logan begin, but stopped as Storm shot him a look. Mystique's yellow eyes flashed.
"You're all very paranoid," was her only remark.
"And perhaps that's for good reason," Storm answered smoothly. "So now tell us, just what is it you need to tell Rogue so desperately?"
"I don't need to tell her anything," Mystique responded just as smoothly. "I merely came to ask you, Rogue," and those yellow eyes slid over to stare her down, "a favor."
"A favor?" Whatever Rogue had imagined Mystique wanted, it certainly was not this, and her surprise showed in her voice. "What sort of a favor?"
"I need help finding some things. They are of a very…fragile nature, you could say. I have an idea where a few are, but I know for sure that one is missing."
"Wait, slow down, what are you talking about?" At Logan's outburst, Rogue pressed her hand to his, causing him to sit back in his chair. Mystique didn't even look at him during his outburst, keeping her gaze on Rogue, though her lips twitched.
"I had a…friend, a long time ago, who was a mutant also. She had the ability to look into the future, and, quite accurately, see the possibility there. Eventually she wrote these future events down in thirteen books and placed me as guardian of the books upon her death." Mystique paused, frowning slightly.
"And?" Rogue prompted, unsure why she did. She saw Peter fidgeting by the doorway, knowing he wanted to be out looking for his sister. This was surely just a distraction from the more important problem of the Virus sweeping the country, Rogue knew. But she found herself being curiously drawn into Mystique's story.
"I kept careful watch over them, of course. I divided them, as directed, and checked in on them every few months or so. But as time passed with nothing happening, I grew neglectful in my duty. Eventually, it became every few years before I checked on them. And since aligning myself with Magneto, well, I hadn't checked on them at all. But I have gone back now, and I can't find any of them." Mystique was really frowning now, her gaze serious.
"All thirteen are gone?" Rogue asked incredulously.
"Nice," Bobby snorted, and Kitty elbowed him in the side as Rogue and Storm shot him glares.
"No, not all thirteen," Mystique shook her head. "I think that…only one is truly missing. But most have been shuffled around, as they will after time. I've really lost track of them, I suppose you could say."
"But what do I have to do with any of this?" Rogue asked.
"I need you to help me find them."
"What?" Logan did stand up this time, his gaze incredulous. Rogue simply stared at Mystique, not catching the calculating look Sage was giving the both of them.
"Me?" Rogue shook her head. "Why me?"
"Because these Diaries…you're mentioned prominently in them Rogue. And if what I suspect is true, that the one that is truly missing has fallen into the wrong hands, it could prove disastrous for everyone, but especially you. Since the other ones have disappeared for the time being, it would be just as easy for anyone else to get their hands on them. Imagine, just knowing the future like that!" Mystique's hands were clenched into fists and her gaze hardened. Rogue tried not to shrink away from it.
"Have you read them?" she finally asked. Mystique's mouth broke from it's serious thin line to a small smile.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "I never asked to know what was in them. I only know what I was told by her, of her own will. She asked me not to read them, so I didn't."
"Mystique." Sage's voice finally caused the yellow-eyed gaze to leave Rogue. "What was the name of the mutant who wrote these predictions down?" Mystique stared at Sage for a minute before smiling, a hint of malice in it.
"She went by the name Destiny. The books are commonly called the Destiny Diaries, though she referred to them as the Books of Truth." Sage's face didn't change after hearing this, but she settled back into her seat, seemingly satisfied.
"What would you do if I told you I wouldn't help you?" Rogue asked. She didn't like the thought that her future was already written down, and also that the wrong hands could get a hold of it but…she also didn't want to work with Mystique.
"But you're not going to, are you?" There was no note of triumph in her tone, but Rogue heard one anyway.
"Marie!" Logan hissed under his breath, and Rogue shuddered slightly against it. This whole things was crazy, she knew. There was already a mission that was holding the X-Men's attention, but still…
"Rogue?" Storm quietly called Rogue's attention to herself. "Are you seriously considering this?" Rogue bit her lip, looking around the room. Peter had stopped fidgeting, his serious gaze on hers. Bobby's face was expressionless, but Kitty was staring at her, wide-eyed. Warren was looking down at the carpet, his wings rustling slightly. Storm and Hank, side by side, waited for her response. Sage hadn't changed positions, but her interested gaze was on Mystique, not Rogue. Scott, standing behind Mystique, was shaking his head and Logan…he was only looking at her, confusion in his face.
"I…" Rogue started. Mystique's eerie yellow gaze was back on her, and the back of her neck was starting to prickle. Even knowing what that meant, Rogue couldn't easily swallow the idea of these diaries. "I don't like that those diaries are out there," she finally admitted. Mystique's eyes gleamed with triumph now, and Logan opened his mouth to talk.
"I don't either," Scott suddenly said, preventing Logan from speaking and causing all eyes to turn to him in surprise. "Why should our futures already be written out? Why shouldn't we be able to control them? That's not fair. That means every action done can be justified with 'well, it's inevitable' which cannot lead to good things."
"Pretty much how I feel about it too," Rogue said, surprised not only to have backup on this opinion, but by who was providing the backup. She felt the anger growing in Logan and hurried to continue on. "And I totally understand why it's bad if…I don't know, the government or something gets a hand on them, but that doesn't matter as much to me. I just don't think it's fair to any of us to have our lives already taken care of. I especially don't want to think that things happen to me because some mutant wrote down that they would." Rogue cut her gaze to Logan, and knew her words stuck a chord in him.
"I don't think that's something any of us want," Storm said softly. "But Rogue, would you seriously go look for these Diaries? With Mystique?"
"Who said only she would go?" Sage interrupted.
"Because I'm only inviting her," Mystique snapped. The triumph Rogue imagined she held previously was fading; her body was tense.
"What made you think I would help you without bringing a few of the X-Men along?" Rogue asked sweetly, causing Mystique's jaw to clench.
"Then the invitation doesn't stand," she ground out, standing up.
"Sit down." Sage stood up now, and her voice held no kindness to it. Rogue stared at her in surprise. "Storm, I believe we now have quite a few things to talk about. I suggest that Cyclops stays here with Mystique, and we all retire to another room." Scott flinched at his not-oft used codename, and Rogue her forehead wrinkle in confusion. Storm stared at Sage for a moment before nodding herself.
"Alright?" she asked Scott, who nodded. Mystique sank back down into her chair, glowering.
"What the hell was that, Sage?" Logan demanded as soon as they were in the next room over.
"A show of power," Sage responded. "Mystique's trying to one-up us somehow, and I'm merely letting her know whatever she's trying to do won't work. Now, Rogue," and she turned to her, "are you serious about wanting to find those diaries?"
"Yeah," Rogue nodded, not looking at Logan. She couldn't explain it to even herself…it just seemed like it was something she should do. That, of course, made her suspicious it was written down that she would do this, which gave her reason enough to want to find them and…do something about them.
"Then here is what I suggest. We split into three groups. We need a group here at the mansion of course, to continue lessons and to keep up protection, especially with the threat of the Virus out. We need a group to go and help Moira deal with the Virus. And we need a group to accompany Rogue and Mystique on the search for the Diaries." Sage looked at Storm and Hank.
"I don't like it," Hank shook his head, "but that's the best plan for it."
"It's going to create a lot of hassle, having ourselves so divided," Storm admitted. "But I don't know how else it can be arranged, since we need to be in three places at once."
"I know how to solve it - we just don't play these games with Mystique and throw her the hell out," Logan snarled. "Listen Marie, I get what you're saying about not wanting to have the future written down, but you can't really trust her."
"Of course I don't trust her!" Rogue looked at Logan in surprise. "So of course you'll come with me."
"Oh no," Storm interrupted. "Rogue, those two do not play nicely. The whole situation would be tense enough without that. If you go look for the Diaries, Rogue, Logan wouldn't."
"What?" Logan growled at Storm. "I'll do whatever the hell I want."
"Logan," Hank said warningly, taking a step closer to Storm.
"Hey, if we're going to split into groups, then who's going to deal with the Virus?" Peter asked impatiently, breaking Logan's glower. Hank looked over at him.
"I am, of course," he said.
"No." Sage spoke up emphatically. "Logan should go with the group to see Moira. Logan and Peter, and Warren."
"Say what?" Warren asked loudly.
"Scott should stay here at the mansion, of course. He knows how to run it smoothly, and Hank needs to stay here as well. And of course Bobby will stay."
"I will?" Bobby asked, surprised.
"And Storm and myself will accompany Rogue, with Mystique. And Kitty as well."
"Me?" Kitty looked shocked.
"I don't understand," Storm said. "Why Logan to go see Moira? And why not Hank? He has the greatest amount of knowledge in that area. Warren can stay and help if any of the students get injured here."
"No. The virus is getting out to be too big of a known threat. Humanity is going to be coming here soon enough demanding who-knows-what because of it. If we refuse to let out students be caught up in all this mess, which I believe we will, that in itself will look very bad on us. And since the government knows of Hank's intelligence, as well as his involvement here, if they arrive and he's not here, it will look very bad indeed. We won't be able to tell them where he's gone and needless suspicion will be raised. Warren's learned quite a lot from him already - between that knowledge and Moira's own, they should be fine." Sage looked around. "And Logan, because they might appreciate the power from him. Besides, he's already expressed interest in ending the whole mess with cures and viruses."
"Well, why do I have to stay here?" Bobby asked. "Why can't I be out doing something?"
"Don't you think you'll be doing quite a lot here?" Storm asked softly. "There's going to be even more fear now, and you have quite the presence here as it is."
"Will Mystique go along with it?" Rogue interjected. "Having four of us go along with her?"
"I'm not giving her a choice about it," Sage answered. "She came here knowing this would happen. The X-Men work as teams." A dark look passed her face before she continued. "Mystique allies herself with whoever will help her when she needs it, you know that Rogue. This is just how it's working out this time."
"Oh." It made sense, but at the same time… Rogue rubbed her temples, confusion whirling around. There was so much going on, too many things happening, too many plans to cope with and not enough time to take it all in.
"Well, I don't agree with it." Rogue looked up at Logan. "I don't agree with any of it. We should just deal with the Virus - that's what's important now. Let Mystique play her games elsewhere." He glanced down at Rogue. "It's not worth getting involved with her yet again." Logan looked around the room once more and then left.
"What a surprise," Warren said drily. Rogue glared at him.
"He'll come around," Storm murmured. "He has to, because we need to deal with this and he needs to help."
"Why is finding the diaries so important right now?" Kitty asked softly. "So important that we can't wait until after dealing with the Virus?"
"Mystique said one is definitely missing," Sage explained. "Don't you think whoever found it might conclude there are others? And look for them? The consequences could be disastrous."
"I'll go talk to Logan," Rogue said, standing up, catching a look passing between Bobby and Kitty at her comment. "As for everything else, let's go with what Sage suggested. Don't you think, Storm?" She looked at the white-haired woman for verification. After a moment, Storm slowly nodded.
"Peter and Warren, along with Logan-" Storm looked pointedly at Rogue, "-should leave to see Moira tomorrow. For the rest of us, we'll wait until we're more together and leave when we can."
"I knew things were too calm for it to last," Kitty muttered. Bobby squeezed her shoulder gently, but didn't say anything. When he glanced over at Peter and Warren, they only shrugged.
"Such is the life for us," Hank said, almost sadly. Storm gave him a small smile. Rogue sighed, feeling the absence of Logan.
"You'd better convince him," Peter whispered to her as she stood and strode past him to the door. "I don't want to waste any more time."
"I know," Rogue said sadly. She looked back at the room.
"Go, go." Sage waved her on. "We'll take care of things here. You talk some sense into your beast." Everyone chuckled, except Hank who coughed slightly. "Oh, no offence Hank, you know that," Sage added on. Rogue did smile then, and she quietly left as the room filled with a bit more laughter.
She found him outside, despite the January chill. Over the weeks since New Year's, the mild weather had been fading and it had been steadily getting colder. The visible puff of her breath was only another reminder of this.
"Logan, it's cold." Rogue muttered as she came up behind him. He didn't turn, which surprised her. She caught her arm in his and leaned against his side, looking up at his profile. His jaw was clenched tight. "Logan?"
"I don't like this set-up, Marie." His voice was deeper than normal, gruffer, if that was possible. "Dealing with this Virus was going to be bad enough, but Mystique is a whole different story."
"I know you don't like her, and that you don't trust her. But what ulterior motive do you think she might have?"
"I don't know, and that's even more reason why I don't think we should have anything to do with her. Even though it does deal with all this future crap."
"I know you don't like it either," Rogue began after a moment. Her voice was slow and measured. "The idea that the future could have been written down, and we're just following along. I don't want to think that we met in Laughlin City because some mutant wrote down that we would. I want to think that we met entirely by chance. And that we were drawn together because of who we are, not what was predicted who knows how long ago. And I really don't want to think that what happened to you happened because it was written down…" Rogue shivered and Logan suddenly turned, eveloping her in his warmth. His head was down, his cheek pressed against hers, and she was shocked to feel the dampness on it.
"If that were true…" his whisper rumbled against her, and Rogue felt her heart go out to him, this man who was still not whole, but trying so hard to be, if only for her.
"Oh, Logan," she whispered back, unable to do much other than hold him to herself.
"What's worse," he suddenly said, "was that she said you were important in those books. There's so much going on now…I don't want to think about what might happen to you. I lost you for a week, Marie, and I nearly lost my mind because of it. I can't let anything like that happen again."
"Logan…" Rogue whispered again. They stood there, in the chilly air, as twilight dimmed to night, holding each other in silence. Eventually Logan shook his head, pulled back, and peered down at her.
"You really want to do this?" he asked gruffly.
"I really do," she answered. "Those diaries need to be found and collected up and then…I don't know, but we'll think of something to do with them. First things first, we have to make sure no one else can have access to that information. And Logan, don't worry about me being with Mystique. Storm and Sage are gonna be there too."
"And Kitty," he said, a smirk playing around his lips.
"Yeah," Rogue sighed. "And Kitty. But it'll go fast. And you'll go with Peter and Warren and get things with the Virus and its cure taken care of, and before we know it, we'll be back together here at the mansion. No more than six months, if even that long."
"Hn." Logan grunted at her optimism.
"Can we please go inside now?" Rogue asked. "I can't feel my face." That finally made him smile, and he chuckled the whole way back to the mansion.
Curled up in Logan's bed, Rogue watched sleepily as he strode about the room, throwing a few items into a small bag. It was past midnight, and the rest of the mansion was quiet with slumber, but Logan's growls filled his bedroom.
"Aren't you packed yet?" Rogue asked him. He paused, looking over at her as if surprised she was still there.
"Yeah," he muttered, "Just looking for something."
"Can I help you look for it?" Rogue asked, moving to throw back the covers, though she detested leaving the warmth.
"No," Logan continued moving about. "You stay there." Smirking, Rogue did as she was told, and curled back into the covers. "Ha!" Logan growled with triumph, and pulled something out of a drawer. He attached a long silver chain around his neck, and turned to face Rogue.
"Found it?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow and smiling. He smirked back and crossed the room to the bed. She sat back up, and he stood at the side of the bed, looking nervous. "So…?"
"Well…" he started, then rubbed his hands together. Her attention was drawn to the silver chain he had attached around his neck, from which dangled a small circular object. She leaned forward, her brow wrinkling in concentration as she reached out for it. It looked like a ring, made of some sort of thick metal, silvery-black in color. The band was wide, but plain.
"What's this?" she asked, her curiosity evident in her voice, her eyes now drawn to his hands, cupped around something.
"Like I was saying earlier tonight," he started again. "I lost you for a week once before. I don't know how long we're going to be apart now, but I don't want you to…well, I don't know. Here." He opened his hand and held it out to her. Rogue reached for it, and drew out another silver chain, identical to his except for length, from which also dangled an object. It too looked like a ring, made of the same thick, silvery-black material as the one he had. The band was smaller, more feminine, and plain as well. Eyes wide, Rogue stared up at Logan.
"I…" was all she could get out. Logan gently removed it from her hands, and opened the clasp on the chain. Leaning forward, he gently placed it around her neck. It settled in easily, just a slight weight.
"This, right now, tonight, is a promise between you and me, Marie." His voice was more tender than normal. "No matter what happens to us, we will find our way back to each other when these problems have been dealt with.. Marie, I promise you that I will come back to you."
"Logan I…" Unbidden, Rogue's mind flew back to how the back of her neck prickled earlier that afternoon when talking to Mystique about leaving to find the diaries. She chose to ignore the thought. "Of course I will come back to you." He smiled then, a soft smile, unusual for him, and leaned in and kissed her gently.
"Good," he said against her lips, and kissed her again.