Okay, here is chapter two. I hope you like it.
Chapter Two: Afraid to Touch
Earlier that same day…
Rogue again was having another one of her training sessions with Professor Xavier with Logan as her guinea pig, but that wasn't one hundred percent true because Logan had volunteered. Truth was he would do anything for Rogue. As always during these sessions she had closed her eyes and concentrated. She had learned different forms of meditation that helped in her endeavors to control her powers, and she had achieved some success, but her main problem was trust, more in herself than anyone around her.
An hour had gone by as she held onto Logan's hand and still nothing. She had not absorbed him at all. This was a record for her. In the past the longest she had gone was just under twenty minutes before she felt the pull. Once she heard the ding of the old grandfather clock in Professor Xavier's office she knew it had been more than an hour. Suddenly she pulled away as her eyes shot open.
"Rogue, what are you feeling right now?" the professor asked her as if he didn't know.
"Ah still scared," she said. "But I didn't feel anything that time."
"Then why did you pull away, Darlin?" Logan asked her.
She thought for a moment before answering. "Because I was afraid. I thought ah'd hurt ya if a held on any longer."
"Logan," Professor Xaiver said looking over at his long-time friend. "Are you feeling any fatigue or weakness of any kind?"
"No, I'm just worried about Rogue,' he said. I tried to hold out a hand to her, but she just folded her arms. "You did good, kid. Don't you see that?"
"Ah know that in mah head, but…" She stopped losing the words that were in the front of her mind just a moment ago.
"Rogue," Professor Xavier said wheeling his chair close to her. "Controlling your power is not just physical. It's psychological as well. Once you learn to trust yourself then you will be able to completely control your powers."
"That's what Emma said, ah know, but…" she said. She looked over at the two men in front of her. They both had concerned looks on their faces. "Ah'm a little tired right now. Would it be okay to pick this up tomorrow?"
"Of course, Rogue," the professor said. She couldn't leave his office fast enough. She ran upstairs with her hands still hidden. She had forgotten her gloves in the professor's office, but she was not in mood to go back and get them.
She entered her room and plopped down on her bed. She uncovered her hand and just stared at them. She had lasted a whole hour without her powers kicking in. Now she wondered how much longer she could have lasted if she had not let her insecurities get in the way. She could touch, that much was certain, but still she couldn't trust herself enough not to hurt anyone.
Rogue was lost in her own thoughts when Kitty came phasing through the door. Sometimes Rogue just wished Kitty would just walk into a room just like anyone else. There was a number of times Kitty accidentally walked in on her in the bathroom, but there was no way Rogue could stay mad at Kitty. For all her faults Kitty was her best friend and was always loyal to her and wasn't afraid to get close to her. Kitty just treated her like any normal girl, and Rogue felt good about that. Of all the kids at the institute, Kitty was the only one who was never afraid to be around her.
"Hey, Rogue, how did your session go?" Kitty asked as she threw her school bag on her bed.
"Alright, ah guess," she said and picked up her book off the nightstand.
"Details please," Kitty said, getting up from her bed and walking over to Rogue's bed. "Last time you said you lasted almost twenty minutes. So was it like longer this time?"
"Yeah, it was, okay," Rogue snapped at her looking annoyed. Then she looked up to see the hurt look in her best friend's eyes. "Look, Kitty, ah'm sorry, but ah just don't feel like talkin' about it."
"Okay, so I'm going to like get a snack," Kitty said rubbing her growling stomach. "Can I bring you something?"
"Naw! Ah'm fine," she said, but in a way she wasn't. All this time and it finally seemed like she was getting a handle on her powers, so why was she so afraid of it now. She knew the professor was right about one thing. It wasn't just physical. It was psychological.
Kitty entered the kitchen with her stomach growling more than ever. She was in need of a roast beef sandwich and whatever junk food she could find, and even as hungry as she was she was still concerned about Rogue. She feared that her sessions weren't going well, and Rogue wanted nothing more than to be able to touch without the fear of killing someone.
Kitty admitted to herself that even she was a little fearful at first to be around Rogue, but once Rogue joined the X-Men and they became roommates they bounded over time. On the spectrum they were a 180 from each other, and anyone who didn't know them wouldn't believe that they were best friends. It had just turned out that way. Kitty truly believed that it was because they were so different. She was pretty much a girly-girl and loved shopping for clothes and trolling the mall for boys. It was not Rogue's thing at all.
She was much more content hanging out at the gym working out. Rogue helped Kitty to toughen up and be more assertive, especially during training and battles, and Kitty was able to help Rogue nurture her more feminine side. It still stunned her that they were best friends, but Kitty realized just how much when she started dating Lance. Everyone else was against it, but Rogue gave Kitty her full support. Even when Kitty and Lance broke up Rogue never pulled an 'I told you so.' They just had a good cry together.
Now it seemed that Rogue needed her support, and she was willing to give it. She just hoped Rogue was willing to take it. After Kitty had gotten her snack she was going to go lay out by the pool and relax, but just as she left out of the back door to the kitchen she heard familiar voices, that of Logan and the Professor. She knew eavesdropping was wrong but she just couldn't resist and held her ear to the door.
*"I'm worried, Charles," Logan said. Kitty could hear the crack from a beverage can. It could have been a soda, but knowing Logan it was more than likely a beer. "Somethin' is goin' on with Stripes."
"Yes, you are indeed correct, Logan," Charles said as Kitty heard the soft hum of his wheelchair. "I do believe she has a handle on her powers, but she is letting her fear over take her progress."
"That ain't good, not for Rogue anyway," Logan said and Kitty could hear him gulp down the drink. Normally she would have just phased her head through the door to get a better view of what was going on, but she didn't want to be seen. The two men probably already knew she was somewhere nearby with Logan heightened sences and the Professor's mind reading abilities, but as long as they weren't calling her out on anything she would remain in stealth mode.
"Yes, I know, but you also know we can't push her," Charles said. "I believe she will learn to trust herself more as time goes on. This is new territory for her, and remember that she hasn't been able to touch without fear for years. It will be an adjustment."
"I have to agree with you there," Logan said and Kitty heard another pop of a can. "Doesn't mean I'm less worried about the kid."
"I would expect no less of you, especially about your star pupil," Charles said.
It cracked a chuckle from Logan. It wasn't often that Charles Xavier made jokes. The best one Kitty remembered is the time the Professor fixed Kurt's holowatch to make him look like a girl. He would never be able to live that one down, especially when Kitty let it slip to his girlfriend Amanda. It was the one and only time Kitty remembers the Professor playing a practical joke.
"I just don't like seeing the kid stuffer like that," Logan said. She heard him gulp down another drink.
"And with our new recruits coming tomorrow," Charles said
"I thought we only had one," Logan said.
"Yes, well, Mister Rasputin has recommended that we give our old friend Gambit a trail run."
"No way, Charles, that guy is bad news, and I don't want him anywhere near…"
"It may be good for her," Charles said. It seemed he was the only one who could reason with Logan. "You may not know it but he and Rogue did form a bound during their time in New Orleans."
"He kidnapped her," Logan said trying to reason with Charles.
"Perhaps it started out that way, but it ended very different," Charles said. "Rogue hasn't spoken of it, but I sense that she has certain feeling for Mister LeBeau."
"Well, he just better keep his hands off her," Logan said as Kitty heard his claws come out. "Or he won't have hands."
Kitty had a look of excitement about her face and she sneaked away from the door and walked out to the pool area. She was so excited now. Her best friend was about to get the surprise of her life.
That's the end of this one. I hope you like it. Next chapter coming soon.
