Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story. I'm also not making any money from this story.
When Hank comes into the kitchen to make a sandwich, Rogue is the only other person there. She sits at the counter on a barstool eating a bowl of pasta and reading what appears to be a romance novel from what he can see of the cover. After exchanging the obligatory greetings, Hank goes about acquiring the necessary elements of a truly spectacular sandwich and contemplated something he has wondered about for a long time. Finally he decides to ask Rogue about it, despite her habitual avoidance of the subject.
"Rogue? May ask you a personal question?"
"Go ahead, sugar."
"Why is it that you will not reveal your true name?"
She looks up at him as if judging if he really wants to know. Apparently she decides that he does; after a moment she speaks again. "Let me put it this way. You're Hank McCoy, but you're also the Beast, right? They both describe who you are."
"Yes, I suppose so. Please continue."
"Well, what if ya decided ya didn't want to be Hank McCoy anymore? That ya just wanted to forget about him and who he is? All ya'd have left is the Beast, and ya wouldn't want people to keep calling ya something ya weren't. Did that make any sense?"
He considers for a moment, reviewing her explanation in both hypothetical and practical terms. "It certainly would, if I found myself in that situation. But, if you don't mind my asking, for what reason would I wish to abandon the persona of Hank McCoy?"
She drops her gaze to her half-finished bowl of pasta. "Maybe ya changed so much the name didn't fit anymore. Maybe ya didn't like who ya were as that person. Maybe ya wanted ta start over, be someone else." She still refuses to meet his gaze. As he contemplates her words, he realizes that the situation applies to him quite well. After the manifestation of his mutation and his drastic change in appearance, there are always times when he feels like he's an entirely separate person from who he used to be.
"I believe I understand, Rogue. I think I can even relate." Her eyes dart back up to meet his, and it feels as if they are sharing a bit of vulnerability, something quite private. He smiles at her and she returns it and focuses her attention on her book once more, and the moment is gone. But it is far from gone in the mind of Hank. The more he thinks about it, the more he realizes that he and Rogue have in common more than team affiliation. Both of them are much different from who they were as a result of their mutations, and both often feel isolated from others because of these differences. He realizes that this conversation has brought him a deeper understanding of Rogue, something which may develop into an unbreakable friendship. It's odd, he thinks, that such a short conversation can hold so much meaning, can change his perspective of someone he has fought beside for many years. He finishes his sandwich and starts to return to his lab, but pauses to give a friendly farewell to Rogue, who returns it cheerfully enough though she doesn't look up from her book.
On the way down to the lab, he contemplates one last thought: maybe there is more meaning behind Rogue's actions and behavior than anyone realizes.
When Hank comes into the kitchen to make a sandwich, Rogue is the only other person there. She sits at the counter on a barstool eating a bowl of pasta and reading what appears to be a romance novel from what he can see of the cover. After exchanging the obligatory greetings, Hank goes about acquiring the necessary elements of a truly spectacular sandwich and contemplated something he has wondered about for a long time. Finally he decides to ask Rogue about it, despite her habitual avoidance of the subject.
"Rogue? May ask you a personal question?"
"Go ahead, sugar."
"Why is it that you will not reveal your true name?"
She looks up at him as if judging if he really wants to know. Apparently she decides that he does; after a moment she speaks again. "Let me put it this way. You're Hank McCoy, but you're also the Beast, right? They both describe who you are."
"Yes, I suppose so. Please continue."
"Well, what if ya decided ya didn't want to be Hank McCoy anymore? That ya just wanted to forget about him and who he is? All ya'd have left is the Beast, and ya wouldn't want people to keep calling ya something ya weren't. Did that make any sense?"
He considers for a moment, reviewing her explanation in both hypothetical and practical terms. "It certainly would, if I found myself in that situation. But, if you don't mind my asking, for what reason would I wish to abandon the persona of Hank McCoy?"
She drops her gaze to her half-finished bowl of pasta. "Maybe ya changed so much the name didn't fit anymore. Maybe ya didn't like who ya were as that person. Maybe ya wanted ta start over, be someone else." She still refuses to meet his gaze. As he contemplates her words, he realizes that the situation applies to him quite well. After the manifestation of his mutation and his drastic change in appearance, there are always times when he feels like he's an entirely separate person from who he used to be.
"I believe I understand, Rogue. I think I can even relate." Her eyes dart back up to meet his, and it feels as if they are sharing a bit of vulnerability, something quite private. He smiles at her and she returns it and focuses her attention on her book once more, and the moment is gone. But it is far from gone in the mind of Hank. The more he thinks about it, the more he realizes that he and Rogue have in common more than team affiliation. Both of them are much different from who they were as a result of their mutations, and both often feel isolated from others because of these differences. He realizes that this conversation has brought him a deeper understanding of Rogue, something which may develop into an unbreakable friendship. It's odd, he thinks, that such a short conversation can hold so much meaning, can change his perspective of someone he has fought beside for many years. He finishes his sandwich and starts to return to his lab, but pauses to give a friendly farewell to Rogue, who returns it cheerfully enough though she doesn't look up from her book.
On the way down to the lab, he contemplates one last thought: maybe there is more meaning behind Rogue's actions and behavior than anyone realizes.