Author's Note: Hello everyone, I'm back at it again! Here's a new ROMY story for you all. Projected to be four chapters, already written out. This will surely go a lot faster than my other Romy work, Cape of Our Hero, which I'm still working on. First chapter is a little slow, but will pick up at the end. I just wanted to get a sense of normalcy, and I hope that shows through.

I also want to make mention of the M rating. The story is more so of a "pushing-it" T rating, but its better to be safe than sorry. There are some trigger warnings that I will make when we get to those specific chapters, hence the overal M rating to be on the safe side.

Per usual, please drop a review and tell me what you think! I'd love to get some input on this story and where to go from the ending when I get there. Also don't forget to favorite and follow or just drop me a PM if you want to talk or collaborate. :)

Story Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men: Evolution or any of its characters or referenced plots from any of its seasons.

Please Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Free, But Not Quite Free

Rogue:

It really was a beautiful day; the sun was starting to set for the evening, its orange brightness dulling considerably. In the opposite direction of the sun, I could see hues of blue peeking over the horizon, signaling nightfall elsewhere. Tall and short buildings lined the road – pharmacies, grocery stores, cafés, boutiques, and even a pizzeria.

Everything was just... serene.

"Rogue, are you even listening to me?" my brunette companion complained from my side.

Kitty Pryde was a wonderful friend to have around, so much to say that she would be considered my best friend. However, she tended to ramble a lot, thereby giving me time to think.

"Sorry Kit, was just thinkin'," I said.

"What about?" Kitty asked, genuinely interested.

"It's just a beautiful night," I truthfully stated with a slight smile to my face.

"That's it?" Kitty pried. "No juicy gossip?"

Since when did I ever have any gossip to share? I considered it one of my proudest traits to refrain from gossip, whether it be mine or another's. "Sure, because I got gossip to share, Kitty," I snidely replied and rolled my eyes.

"Like, I mean… the Brotherhood has calmed down; from what Piotr has told us, the Acolytes have been disbanded; Magneto is basically under wraps; Apocalypse is gone…. So, what do you think about in your spare time, Roguey-dear?" Kitty fished for an answer.

"Well, recently I've been thinkin' 'bout drainin' a certain brunette chatterbox," I looked to Kitty expectantly.

"Hey now crazy ass!" Kitty backed away and playfully put her hands up in defense.

We both laughed as I raised my gloved hand. As the days became warmer and warmer and the season began to change, I started wearing light sweaters over tank tops and t-shirts to remain nice and cool. I often wore skinny jeans or a stylish maxi-skirt. When fall rolled back around, I would go back to wearing my comfortable sweaters. In either case, it was easy to remain chilled through the warming climate.

All the while, the damn gloves remained the same. Never changing. Never gone. A curse and a blessing all the same, depending on who was standing in front of me.

But, I was way passed dwelling on the bad parts of my mutation. The professor and I had certainly made some progress in locking away the different psyches that were in my head – it's not like I needed any of their wits or mutations to get out of a situation, seeing as how quiet the mutant and human world was for the moment. And even though I could feel the space in my mind that was full of these psyches, which weighed heavily on me, it was nice to have my own thoughts separated from everyone else's.

That aside, I pulled myself back to the conversation. "You mentioned somethin' 'bout Piotr, right?" I asked with a smirk.

"Yeaaaah?" Kitty asked, and I could see the tips of her ears reddening ever so slightly.

"I saw y'all talkin' the other day. Lookin' a little chummy if ya ask me," I pointed out. And it was true, there was certainly chemistry between the petite young lady and the gentle giant. Simply the way they made eye contact and smiled ever so slightly over the breakfast table was an indicator of that.

At this, Kitty's face was beet red. "I thought you didn't do gossip?" she tried to argue.

"There's a difference between gossip and best-friend talk," I replied cheekily.

"He's too old," Kitty replied after a while.

"What? That's seriously what's stoppin' ya? For God's sake Kitty, you're gonna turn 18 in a month!" I said in a baffled tone.

"Easy for you to say," Kitty muttered under her breath.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" I asked defensively.

"Well, like, let's not forget about the time you ran off with an evil Cajun to New Orleans," she sing-songed.

"Rem-Gambit wasn't evil per se," I shot back. My voice rose slightly and I could hear my own Southern accent coming out. Rogue, that was the wrong part of Kitty's argument to oppose and you know it! "Regardless, you an' Big 'Ole Pete aren't even that far apart in age."

Kitty seemed to contemplate what I was saying, seeming to forget the red-eyed Cajun she had previously brought up. However, I was stuck wondering about why I was left thinking about the infamous Remy LeBeau. Stop it, Rogue.

As we continued to walk the quiet roads of Bayville, we happened upon a small café and my stomach grumbled. The smells wafting from the compact building were practically calling my name. Kitty, not so much. "C'mon Rogue, the mansion's doing spaghetti night!"

"You go along then, I won't be long. Just wanna grab one of these pastries… and a sandwich… and those salads are looking pretty good too," I peered through the window. "I think I'll just eat here," I finally resolved.

"Suit yourself, just don't break curfew again or Logan might actually kill you this time," Kitty said over her shoulder as she walked quickly in the direction of the mansion.

I simply waved her off, knowing she would have a safe trip to the mansion.

I walked into the quaint café and noticed the delicious smell from outside only increased upon arrival. Pastries were plastered behind clear windows behind the counter – anything ranging from sweet to savory. The scent of cooked meat made my stomach rumble as well as the faint hint of coffee that surrounded the inside of the building.

"Hey, welcome to the Black Rose Café, what can I get for ya?" The barista asked.

She did not seem phased by the heavy makeup I wore, and continued to smile at me. It was contagious just enough for me to give a slight smile back. I briefly scanned the menu. I asked, "Ya guys do 'to go' orders?" I didn't want to eat Jean's spaghetti today, but I also wouldn't mind eating dinner in bed and reading a good novel.

"Sure do! What'll it be?" she asked.

I pondered for another moment more before deciding. "Can I get the steak and cheddar panini with your Caesar salad?"

My mouth was practically watering already.

"Absolutely! Anything else?" the barista asked.

I snuck a peak at the pastries in the window and I just couldn't help myself. Don't resist it, Rogue. "Can I also get a slice of the raspberry-lemon cheesecake?"

"Yes, ma'am. Your total is gonna come out to be twelve dollars and seventy-nine cents."

I handed her fifteen dollars and she gave me the respective amount of money back, and I tipped her two of my dollars. "This place is so lovely," I said while looking around the small modern complex. Some chairs and tables lined one side of the café, while more comfortable couches and recliners sat against the other side.

"Well, we get good business, so we must be doing something right," she said. She handed me a bag that had all of my orders inside and said, "Thanks for stopping in tonight! Hope to see you back!"

I said nothing but gave her one last smile.

As I walked alone to the mansion, the night progressed, and street lights continuously lit up. I lost my mind to my thoughts as I walked the quiet road home. I thought of the summer and the next danger room session with Logan. I thought of the book I was going to read when getting home, as well as the warm food that rested in my hand. I dared not to think too far into the future, nor too far into the past, for either was dangerous territory.

Lost in my thoughts, it took me mere moments to realize that someone had grabbed me. How had I not noticed that someone was even following me?

They grabbed me from behind and locked me in an iron grip that was sure to leave bruises lining my forearms and from the stature of my captor, I could tell it was a man – a man who was taller and stronger than I was. He was a man that was keeping my wrists strained. "Don't even try it," his deep voice stated. "I know what you are."

I tried screaming, but he soon put a cloth over my mouth and I tasted something coppery.

In the back of my mind, I could hear Logan's voice: Take away their mobility, then their sight, then their air. I could do none of this and a small tear formed in my eye, but I would not will it to fall.

What was this man going to do to me? Surely, if he knows what I am, he knows who I am, and he wouldn't dare touch me in any sort of way.

So, just what the hell was going on?

My head felt fuzzy and my eyes began to droop. As the copper taste in my mouth increased, my legs continuously lost their feeling, and I knew that I could do nothing whatsoever.

Later:

The body wakes up in many ways. Some people wake up because they smell something in the air that brought them out of unconsciousness. Some people wake up because they hear something. Others wake up because someone is trying to do so. In each case, the body takes its time to wake up in a peaceful manner and come to consciousness at the mind and body's own will.

Well, that was not what happened today.

I abruptly woke in a spasm and sat upright. I looked around to my surroundings and found that I was in a cell. Three concrete walls surrounded me with one wall containing steel bars. I stood up and walked to those bars. Dragging my legs under me, I almost fell from how woozy I was.

Chloroform. It had to be chloroform.

There was also something heavy around my neck. It felt almost like a dog collar.

Oh no. Professor Xavier only showed us the collars once, but the jist was easy to get. The collars were to suppress a mutant's powers.

I tried to open up my mind and recall anyone's voices – Kitty, the Professor, Scott, Kurt, Logan… hell, even Gambit! I tried to conjure up anyone and everyone I had ever drained and none of it worked. I had lost my connection to them and to my mutation. I was alone.

I began to hyperventilate, but I did not dare to scream out for help. The people who took me – whoever they are – could have an agenda and I wanted to prolong that for as long as possible. But… I was defenseless. My skin, my poisonous skin, was gone and I had no protection from whatever was to come.

Fuck.

Okay Rogue, make some assessments about how to best get out of here.

I sat back on the ground and cleared my mind of all thoughts. Now was not the time to start freaking out. Stay frosty, Rogue.

The air was cold. It was cold enough to where I had to wrap my arms around myself to hold back the impeding goosebumps. There were only a few fluorescent lights that illuminated the room in different shades of grey. In the corner of my cell, there was a camera, which I assumed was watching my every move. And near where I originally woke up, there was a plastic cup full of water.

Directly looking at the camera, I poured the contents of the water onto the ground and threw the cup threw the bars of the cell defiantly.

If they're going to try and drug me, then they're going to have to do it some other way or to just let me die. I wasn't going to take anything they were going to give me.

In the far corner of the room, I saw a steel door. That must be the way out.

Now if only I knew…

Suddenly, the heavyset door opened to reveal two men, both wearing white lab coats. What a cliché. "Ah, you're awake! Glad to see you are doing well, my dear," one of the men said. He had a full head of hair that was ever so slightly greying from its original jet-black color. He was skinny and wore oval shaped glasses. Behind the glasses were a set of kind blue eyes, but I did not fall victim to the kindness. Contrary to him, the other person in the room was blonde and seemed young, maybe mid-twenties. His stature was a little more built and his arms seemed well defined through the lab coat he wore.

"Save the endearments for someone who cares," I sassed him.

"So, you prefer to go by Rogue? Or maybe Anna Marie? I can already see that this will not be a pleasant encounter then. And here I was, coming to you to give you some good news," he and his accomplice sauntered closer to my cell.