You must not fail me.
All she ever wanted...
Leave her alone!
was to be acknowledged...
An assassin has no feelings for burdens.
not to be looked down upon.
Hey look, it's Spots!
To be loved by someone.
Leave us alone, freak!
No such wish had ever come true...
So you're Rose.
until now.
"Rose!"
The voice rang through her ears, even as she pulled her pillow tightly over her ears. She had not gotten much sleep last night so her mood was not very high and the obnoxious pounding on her door did not hep matters. She just wished it would-
"Rose, come on!" A young, teenage girl with flowing chocolate hair and round, brown eyes had phased right through the bedroom door. "It's time to wake up."
"Kitty?! What are you babbling about?" Rose unwillingly lifted her spotted pillow off her face and sat upright, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "It's not morning yet, is it?"
"Yeah." Kitty strode past the bed and spread the curtains wide, letting strong rays of golden sunlight into the dark room that stung at Rose's eyes. "You weren't having nightmares again, were you?"
"Ugh. Sort of." Sitting on the bed, Rose could still feel the heaviness of sleep deprivation as her eyes slowly became accustomed to the rays of bright light that extended across he room. "What is that you want, Kitty? After all, there has to be some reason you woke me up? Or do you just like to?"
"Well actually," the young girl walked back to the front of the bed and smiled shyly. "I kind of do."
Rose glanced up at the smiling girl and could not resist smiling too. Ever since she had arrived at this school for gifted youngsters, she had become a sort of mentor that the girl relied upon.
"Actually, there is another reason." Kitty continued, peering down at the spotted pattern on the comforter.
"And?"
"Huh?"
"What's the other reason, Kitty?" She stifled a yawn and caressed her legs patiently.
"Oh yeah." Kitty mentally shook herself out of her stupor, her brown locks flying everywhere. "Professor Xavier wants to see you."
"Oh, wait- WHAT?" Rose leapt out of bed and began to frantically search for her pants, coat, and boots. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I don't know." She helps locate each article of clothing and threw them to Rose. "I guessed I just zoned out."
"There! How do I look?" Rose had on long black pants, white boots with silver laces, white gloves, and a metallic silver blouse with a black jacket zipped up over it. She had also managed to brush her golden-brown locks that caressed her white face with golden-brown eyes and soft pink lips.
"Good. Oh by the way, the Professor's" Kitty began but Rose was already gone. "in Cerebro's room. "Geez, does she always have to be in such a rush?"
As she fled down the halls, Rose soon found herself lost in her nightmare.
You are an assassin, the white demon smirked. and as such you have no emotions.
Her pace quickened in her building fury.
Why do you insist on defying him? the blue minion sneered. You're one of us.
No I''m not! These thoughts fueled her fury, blinding her eyes.
Hey look, here comes Spots. Let's go somewhere else so we don't catch her disease.Rose mentally screamed in her head. I didn't ask for this curse. I just want to be-
No, I'm not contagious!
SMACK!
Rose, quickening her pace in the fury of her thoughts, did not pay attention to where she was going. As a result, she ended up crashing into someone and landed on the floor, hard.
"Ouch! Hey, watch where you're," Rose stood up and gently began rubbing the spot on her head that had banged up against the wall. She glanced up at the person she had clashed into and stopped short.
"Watch where I'm going? Why don't you watch where you're going? You were the one who bumped into me after all." The owner of the voice was of medium height and extremely muscularly built. His hair was shaped like a black W and connected to the assortment of facial hair on his chin. The man wore a white tee-shirt with a leather jacket and blue jeans. His black eyebrows were raised as he offered his hand to Rose as she nearly collapsed from what appeared as shock. "Hey, are you alright?"
But as he reached for her shoulder, Rose leapt back reflexively and banged herself up against the wall, again.
Noticing that she was shaking and that he was watching her suspiciously, she began to speak.
"Thank you but," Rose pulled herself upright once more from the floor, trying to smile casually. "I'm alright. I can get up."
"Is that so?" He answered unconvinced, but was unable to question further.
"Ah. I was wondering who you were conversing with, Logan." A middle-aged, bald man had wheeled out of the room behind the other man in a wheelchair.
Professor Xavier! Rose was startled to see the professor there, thinking he was going to be waiting for her in his office, as usual. The only other place he usually was was... Cerebro! Of course! So that must have been what Kitty was trying to tell me. Wait. Did he say Logan? As in...
"Rose," the sound of her name broke through Rose's mental rant as the professor watched her curiously. "I would like to introduce you to Logan, also known as Wolverine. He just returned from a journey up north."
Yes. She stared at the man and nodded mentally. I know who he is. Just not where he's been. The north, huh? I wonder what he's been doing up there.
"Logan, this is Rose Silverstone," Xavier continued, oblivious to her thoughts. "also known as Silver Cheetah. She is one of our newer recruits to the school. Actually, she arrived not too long after you left."
"Huh," Logan was still observing Rose as if it was not just a coincidence that they just missed each other. "So what's your power, girl?"
Girl? Rose grinned deviously. I'll show him my power alright, but not everything, just this."Don't move, actually move back against the door. There, now don't blink." Rose smirked, then disappeared out of sight to reappear a second later holding something in her fist behind her back.
"So? All it is is super-sonic speed." Logan crossed his arms cockily, not realizing that something was missing. "You're not the only mutant that can do that you know. Was I suppose to be impressed?"
Rose did not answer as she rocked on the balls of her feet, grinning.
"What are you grinning about?" Logan frowned at the jubilant mutant, then the professor began to chuckle to himself. "What?"
"Why Logan, I believe you have misplaced something of value to you." The professor remarked, still chuckling to himself.
"Something of value?" Logan echoed, confused as he inspected himself. Then as he examined his chest he realized what was missing. "Where did my tags go?"
"Oh, wait." Rose was unsuccessfully trying to contain her mischievous laughter. Then held out a long, silver chain with two silver dog tags dangling off it. "Do you mean these?"
"How did you?" He stopped himself and shook his head. "Never mind. Just give them back."
"Why?" She teased, shaking the chain. "Is this necklace important to you? Even though I have to say it matches your eyes quite nicely."
"This isn't a joke." Logan took a step closer, his eyebrows were knitted in frustration. "Give them back."
"If you want them so badly," She taunted as she flashed out of sight and reappeared by his ear, whispering. "then come and get them."
"I don't have time to play with a little girl like you." He growled menacingly, spinning around but Rose flashed out of sight again and again, reappearing at different places, dangling the tags. Logan grounded his teeth together as he listened to the mutant's footsteps until-
"Well what-" But Rose was cut short as Logan's hand clenched around her throat, her body pressed against the wall.
"Give. Me. Back. Those. Tags." He growled through bared teeth, looming over the choking girl.
"Logan!" The Professor had wheeled next to them and looked up calmly, yet warningly at Logan. "I believe that is quite enough."
Logan looked down at the Professor, still glaring but his expression soon softened and he nodded. But before he could release her, a violent shaking overcame his limbs until his hand was forced to release her.
Rose dropped to the floor still gagging and glared at Logan. How did he- More importantly why did he have to be so aggressive? Even though I was taunting him, it does not allow him to be so irrationally violent. He could have strangled me if the Professor wasn't here, even though I could of handled him myself if...if I wasn't so overcome by fear...like then. I hate aggressive jerks like him!"Sorry, Professor." Logan apologized to Xavier, even though he was still angry at the girl. After all, she was the one who started it by stealing his tags so it was she that should be apologizing, not him. "I guess I overreacted. What did she do to me, anyway?"
"Why don't ask Miss Silverstone yourself?" Xavier's solemn eyes gazed up at Logan, scrutinizing him. "Of course, it would be proper to apologize to her first."
"Why should I?" Logan demanded angrily. Then he glared down at Rose, the one who began it all, still coughing on the floor.
"Even though Rose was the one who instigated this," the Professor explained wisely as if he could read his thoughts. "it did not give you the right, Logan, to hurt her. After all, she is an X-Man and that means that she is also a part of this family now."
"Don't bother, Professor." Rose lifted herself off the floor, coughing lightly, and narrowed her eyes at Logan."I don't want his apology unless he actually means it. Even though, I honestly don't think I would accept it even then."
"Fine, then I guess I don't owe you an apology." Logan smirked, but it was soon replaced by a flat line as he remembered something. "What did you do to my arm back there, girl?"
"What do you mean?" Rose inquired innocently. "I thought it was just your arm having its daily spasm."
"Don't try to fool me, girl." Logan warned, still glaring at her. "I know you did something."
"And what exactly is this something that I did?" Rose demanded, her arms were crossed defiantly against her chest.
"Alright!" The Professor wheeled in between them as they continued to glare at each other. "That is quite enough, both of you."
"Sorry, Professor." Rose apologized, finally breaking eye contact with Logan and glanced down at him. "I shouldn't have let him get to me like that."
"That is quite alright, Rose." Xavier smiled at her, then glanced at Logan, who was still glaring. "You are not the only one at fault here."
Rose nodded and looked at the man who had almost guessed the full extent of her powers. Well maybe not the full extent, but close enough...a little too close.
"Sorry, Professor." Logan was apologizing as he finally broke eye contact with Rose. His eyebrows were still pulled together in frustration at this little girl. His expression softened as he peered down at Xavier. "I shouldn't have let my anger get out of control like that."
"No you should not have, Logan. I hope that you will remember to keep it under control. After all," Xavier flashed a knowing smile, addressing both of them now. "I am leaving the care of the school and the children to you, Logan and Rose, of course."
"Sure, wait...WHAT?!" Rose cried. Watching the school was fine and all but with him?!
"I don't think that is a good idea, Professor." Logan agreed, not liking the idea either.
"I will hear no objections, from either of you." Xavier warned, ending the conversation there. "While Jean and Storm find the mutant and Scott and I visit an old friend, you two will watch over the school, together."
"Yes, Professor." Rose answered while Logan just grunted.
"Good." Professor began to turn down the hallway, then stopped, "Oh and remember, you two are part of a team. So work together instead of arguing."
Rose and Logan shared a look before they watched the Professor wheel himself around the corner.
"I guess it's just us now." Rose remarked quietly.
"Yeah." Logan replied, then glare at her. "But, just remember, you're new here so don't get in over your head, girl."
"So much for teamwork." Rose mumbled as she watched him disappear around the corner too. "How am I ever suppose to get along with a devil-horned jerk like him?"