Kitty's petite fist smashed against the alarm clock on the bed side table as it blared loudly. Squinting at the 6AM flashing on the annoying thing, the teen groaned and rolled over to go back to sleep, only to find a mass of black hair poking out from the duvet.
Squealing in surprise she leapt up only to trip over the the sheets and land hard on the wooden floor. Scowling at the sore bump on her head she - calmly pulled herself up. It was only when she got another, bashful, peek at the bundle of hair, did she remember last night's ordeal and that, said bundle of hair was in fact Rogue. 'Um, Rogue, are you awake?'
All she received was a groan, proving the girl was somewhat responsive. That was good at least.
There was a thump against the bedroom door and kitty squeaked already jumpy from before, 'Kitty?' a muffled voice called.
'Yikes! I totally forgot Bobby was coming to pick me up. Quick get under the covers,' she panicked and flung the duvet over rogue's curled up form, 'Not a sound.' She whispered to the still sleeping Rogue - as if the girl would start talking any minute.
As suspected, she came to meet the boy's smiling face as it opened, but before the door could open fully, Kitty jammed it with her foot and blocked Bobby's view with her body.
'Hey, you ready for breakfast? But I'm guessing not considering you're still in your...' He trailed off. Kitty blushed, now very conscious of her hair.
'Yeah, just give me a few minutes, 'kay?' she said, slamming the door in his face before he could reply.
'Ok, so breakfast is now, but I'm guessing you don't want to go down-so I'll bring you something up later,' Kitty rushed as she hurried to dress and organise her stuff, 'Um, if i can't I'll send Jubilee, besides that there's some snacks under the bed and - uh - you have my cell. Don't worry, I won't tell the professor, so... Bye!" And with that, she was gone.
Rogue rolled over, eyes fluttering open in acknowledgement and drifted back to sleep.
'So what's up with you?' Bobby asked as the two walked down the hallway to the canteen.
'Nothing,' She shrugged, 'How's Dr Grey holding up?'
'She woke up last night.' Bitterness was evident in his voice, already she was free to roam as if none of it ever happened, why? Bobby couldn't help but doubt the professor's confidence in the woman, 'Kind of weird actually...' Kitty hesitantly slid her hand into his, blushing as she did so, 'One second she was lying on the slab and next she's literally right behind me!' He shuddered at the memory. Just as he said that, the red-haired woman in question passed the couple sending an unnerving smile in their direction before gliding up the stairs.
'Creepy,' Kitty laughed, once the woman was no-longer within hearing distance, 'but I am glad miss grey is alright.'
'Yeah, I guess.'
...
'Uh, you seen Rogue lately by the way?'
Kitty shivered, catching her mistake saying yes before the word could pass her lips, 'No, why?'
Rogue was so deep in sleep, she didn't hear the turn of the door knob, and most certainly didn't feel the shadow blocking the sun's rays shining through the window. One sharp, red fingernail flicked the black locks covering her face. The silhouette cocked it's head in speculation.
The only sound in the room was her light breaths as she slept, face serene besides the slight crease of her brow, which was the only proof her body still ached.
'Soon...You'll remember.'
Afternoon came quickly, and Rogue finally woke to the rustling of a rapper. Dazed, she sat up, recalling the events of the night before, she tensed as her eyes landed on kitty nibbling a packet of crisps as she flicked through a magazine on the floor.
Kitty was completely engrossed until Rogue crawled out of bed and into the bathroom to freshen up. Kitty turned at the sound 'Oh, hey! Your awake. Didn't want to wake you up. Jubes is bringing up some food now.' Rogue nodded her appreciation as she exited the bathroom with a towel over her damp face, but came to a frightened halt as Kitty screeched. 'Rogue, y-your hair!'
Her head was still throbbing too much to concentrate, And she lifted her face from the towel. 'O-m-g, your face!'
What?
Kitty leapt up and dragged her to the full mirror on the opposite wall; for a few moments, the pair just stood there. Rogue too a deep breath at Kitty's pointing and turned to look at herself properly. Her hair was jet black, now down to her waist at uneven lengths, although the streaks stayed, they were darker, slightly less noticeable - well that explains the migraine, she thought. Her skin was still sickly pale, but not so bad. In-fact, Rogue could remember this similar appearance to when she was a child.
"You look so much...younger-but older, if that makes sense." Neither were as frightened by the transformation compared to regular humans, weirder things occurred everyday.
It wasn't until both pairs of eyes finally came to rest on their bare hands, linked together. Skin touching skin. No barrier. Rogue froze in shock. She couldn't breathe, the turmoil of emotions rippling beneath the surface of her watery gaze, threatened to overwhelm her. The girl's mind was racing a mile a minute and she couldn't-
'Why are you helping me? Is this because of-'
'It isn't guilt,' Kitty interrupted, 'I didn't know I'd fall for him, he was my friend and so were you, and I know your angry...but can we...I don't want to lose your friendship. I really am sorry.'
Rogue thought about everything kitty had done for her, including being the first to befriend the girl with deadly skin, and realised although deep down, the bitterness would still be there, a black stain. But she could forgive her. And well, lets be honest, it wouldn't have worked out with bobby anyway. Something told her, he wasn't the one, just like Cody hadn't been the one.
Jubilee came in with a tray of food, texting on her phone, oblivious to the emotional exchange as Rogue smiled in response 'It's ok.'
'Hey guys, whipped up a feast! got nachos, popcorn, sweets, soda, chips and leftover's from dinner!' Jubilee announced as she set down the tray of food and laid the plates out on the rug, then gestured to rogue as she added, 'By the way the Wolverine's been looking for you, so has Ice-boy, but I told him you hadn't come back yet - oh, nice hair - and I suggest you don't go, like, anywhere. Kids are starting to come up with some stories about how you ran away and the X-men are all focused on Jean, but they're not happy either.'
'Oh yeah! Dr. Grey is back...ish.' Kitty grinned.
'So, where the hell did ya go chica?' Jubilee prodded, shoving some nachos in her mouth.
Rogue swallowed her bite of lasagne, hard, 'I, uh, went and took the cure. I- I don't know why I came back though, I should probably leave soon."
'Ah don't worry about it, stay as long as, in fact it'd be great if you just didn't.' she replied, non-chalant to the confession.
'You crazy? Storm will loose her mind when she finds out!'
'Well it's not like she can kick you out.' Kitty added, 'Besides, if worst comes to worst we can just keep you in here. No one will really notice.' She winked. Jubilee high-fived her in agreement, the two already planning how they would alternate rouge between them like this was some kind of mission.
'You two are crazy.' Rogue shook her head, a wry smile creeping on her face.
'That's what makes us great friends. Now eat up chica, you lookin' like death.'
Again, for the second time that day there was a knock at the door and the three girls looked at each-other, trying to decide who would answer. Kitty volunteered as tribute considering it was her room, and abandoned the bowl of popcorn to open the door.
Sigh, 'Speak of the devil and he shall appear... It's Wolverine' she muttered, stepping aside, 'He knows you're here.'
Rogue sighed as well, and got up, taking the plate of cheesy lasagne with her in hopes he would leave faster. She stepped under his intense gaze as he looked her over. It took him a long few moments to say anything, so she took another bite of food allowing the swell to waft towards him. He swiped the air in irritation 'When did you get back?'
'Last night.'
'You did it then,' He leaned against the door frame, even bent low he towered over her, it was kind of attractive. Rogue nodded, unable to meet his eyes as she swallowed a lump of emotion, 'you ok?' Logan's voice lowered.
She swallowed as she struggled to keep her emotions in check.
~I'm not your father, I'm your friend~
"I-It. I mean, I'm fine. Really.' She stumbled. God did she wish she could tell him the truth. That she was terrified, that it had hurt, that she couldn't remember how she got back. She wanted him to comfort her, but she knew, crossing that line of accepting comfort to asking for it, was one she wasn't willing to cross, especially when it came to Logan. So Rogue nodded, standing there with her lasagna trying to give the best pokerface of her life.
Gently, he lifted her chin until she had no choice but to meet his gaze. 'Why didn't you come to me?' And he meant it. If she came to him with a fuckin' splinter he would have dropped everything and hightailed it to hank with her in his arms, just for that. For once in his life he cared...At that he glanced down at the dog tags still nestled in the valley of her breasts. She was his. She knew that right?
"You were busy...Dr Grey was..." Apparently Not.
Before Rogue could even blink, Logan's head dipped until his lips were brushing against the shell of her ear and touched the chain as low as it could go before it disappeared under top, 'You ain't Jeanie, Rogue. And she ain't the one I gave 'em to. Do you understand?" His growl sent a shudder down her spine. That's new.
Honestly, she didn't understand, but she would take what she could get. A smile crawled its way back on her face, and she blushed the deepest shade of pink as her two now best friends dragged her back into the room, with the excuse that it was 'girls night'. Saving her from doing anything embarrassing in front of her long time crush.
