Rogue arrived back home and began walking around the grounds for some peace. She saw Scott leaning against a tree and she decided to go up and surprise him. But as she walked closer she saw the reason for the pained look on his face; a very intimate moment between Logan and Jean. Rogue's heart settled sadly inside of her as she walked up to Scott, putting a supportive hand on his shoulder.
"Nauseating, isn't it?" Rogue said.
She could see Scott's heart was breaking inside, though he put up a tough front.
"I'm losing her, Rogue," he said softly.
"Oh, I wouldn't be so quick to assume that. Yeah, she's attracted to him, of course she is. He's dangerous and gorgeous and completely unavailable. Listen Scott, she grew up with you, she loves you. She has a teenage rebellion fantasy with Logan and once that's fulfilled, then she'll realize that she truly loves you."
He chuckled sadly. "I only wish it were that simple. But he really cares for her. I can't even pretend he's being an asshole using her for a one night stand."
Rogue sighed. "Well after he saved my life during the whole Magneto drama, he woke up to see her face, and she told him I had a crush on him and he…said his heart belonged to her."
Scott let out an almost angry sigh. Rogue put her hand on his shoulder again.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
"It's not your fault," he said.
She floated up a little so she could put her chin on his shoulder and hugged him from behind, both of them looking at Logan and Jean.
"You know something," she said flirtatiously, "Two can play that game."
Scott smiled and turned to her.
"What are you implying Rogue?" he said with a smoldering look.
She flashed him a flirtatious smile. She put her hands up in front of her, and he put his hands up against hers.
"Nothing gets under a person's skin better than a little competition," she grinned.
"Tell me what to do."
"Start by calling me Marie."
"Let the games begin."
XxX
Letting no one in on their mission, Marie and Scott started out very subtly at first, trying not to be obvious and give away that their relationship was a setup. She told no one, not Jubilee, not Ororo. Marie, who already dressed and carried herself very sexually, only made it that much harder to be subtle. A few days after he and Marie had caught Jean and Logan together, Scott awaited his new partner in crime in the meeting room along with their fellow X-Men. Yet when she finally strolled in, Jean became the last thing on his mind.
"Morning," Marie said and sat down beside Scott.
She looked to Jean and sure enough, she was sitting by Logan. How could she expect any of them to believe she felt no real attraction to him? It was scandalous enough that Jean had broken her engagement to Scott for another man, a man who hadn't made any promises to her really, but then to flaunt it…Marie had no real issues with Jean, but she felt that was shallow. Then on top of all of that, Jean would never really come out and admit any of her feelings for Logan. She was with him, more or less, but wouldn't confirm anything. The entire thing was preposterous.
Scott distracted Marie and caressed her face, which was the first time Logan noticed something between them and felt anger pool deep in him.
"Scott, Storm isn't feeling well, will you go with me today? There's one of those marches against mutants and I need some backup."
"You got me," he said, the flirtation in his eyes evident.
"Great," she smiled back and then looked to Jean and Logan. "You guys can cover the classes today, right? Along with Jubilee and Bobby?"
"Sure," Jean said, not entirely sure what was budding between the two of them.
"Great," Marie said. "So can you be ready in twenty five minutes? The Brotherhood will most likely be there as well as the mutants fighting for their own rights."
"Got it," Scott said. "I'm gonna go ahead and get my gear on."
"K, I'll wait for you," she said as he left.
XxX
"Alright, alright, break it up!" Marie said, breaking up the rallies of people holding signs up against mutants.
"Uh excuse, me ma'am, the police are here for a reason," a cop said to Marie.
"Oh really?" she replied coolly. "Then HELP the mutants."
"Rogue," Scott said, coming up behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Calm down, there's not any immediate danger-"
"You're right, I'm sorry," she said, then looked up at the cop. "I'm sorry. It's just that as far as I can see, the cops are NON-mutants. We are the X-Men, here to protect both mutants and non-mutants, and you all seem to think than being a mutant means you're invincible—well you know what? Not all mutants are like us. Some have-"
"Rogue, Rogue, it's okay," Scott said. "First Amendment, right to free speech and assembly, it doesn't matter if he likes mutants or not, it's his job to protect. So take a deep breath and let's go back to fighting for our rights and their rights."
Marie nodded. "I apologize," she said to the policeman.
"It's okay," Scott said, taking her aside. "It's all right. Kiddo, you feeling alright?"
"Don't call me kiddo," she said, smiling, feeling slightly dizzy. "You're not even supposed to be calling me Rogue-" she began to slip to the floor.
"Whoa!" he said, catching her. "Alright, something's wrong with you, I'm taking you back-"
"No! I'm not going back until the cops and everyone else go home."
"Then breathe," he said.
She brushed beside him to defend a fifteen-year-old mutant from a child telling her what a mistake against nature she was.
"Okay, come on, it's okay," Marie said, pulling the mutant away from the religious child. "Honey, she's twelve, don't listen to her, she's twelve," Marie said as the fifteen-year-old mutant's eyes filled with tears. "It's alright, come here," she said putting her arms around the girl.
The Christian child was still shouting words of the Bible to them.
"Child!" Marie said, still holding the girl. "You're not saying anything that'll change us, you're only afraid of what you don't understand! So go preach to somebody else!" she said calmly, but firmly.
"How do you do that?" the girl asked.
"It's what I do. I'm Rogue. What's your name?"
"Katie."
"Okay, Katie. Don't listen to these people. Look I know it's hard but it can consume you and hurt you so badly."
"Are you…Rogue of the X-Men?"
"Yes."
"Wow, you're…really famous. I've seen you in magazines and television. There are websites about you."
"Yes, there's so much pornography on the web about me you wouldn't believe it. You'd be amazed what they can do with photoshop."
The girl laughed and Marie gave her another supportive hug. They were interrupted by the shouts and the chants of the protestors. Marie wondered where Scott was. For several long minutes Marie tried to work through the people until finally Scott came back with a ham sandwich for Marie. She laughed and took it.
"You're such a sweetheart," she smiled, taking it.
"I care about you, Marie. You've got to take care of yourself. Just because you can fly doesn't mean you're not still human."
"You can fly?" Katie asked.
"Yeah, that's a long story. This is my friend, another of the X-Men."
Scott smiled warmly at Katie.
"Well, if you've read anything remotely like my bio you know I ran away from home."
"Oh, I have a home, a good one, honestly. My parents are both mutants."
Marie nodded. "Good."
"Are you two…a couple?" Katie asked shyly.
Marie looked at Scott, then back at Katie.
"We're all dear friends. All of us."
"Weren't you…I mean I read that you were engaged--" Katie said to Scott.
"Yes, but things change," Marie said. "Listen, sugah, you be safe, and don't let the bastards of the world get you down, alright?"
"Thank you," Katie said, walking off.
"Okay, eat this," Scott said, shoving the sandwich in her face.
"Yes, sir."
"Sit down with me," Scott said, leading Marie to the steps. "You've gained a lot of new mutations and you're controlling your own. You have to keep up your strength more than normal people to keep all these abilities as strong as they need to be and for you to do everything you're so stubborn to do."
Marie chewed and smiled. "Thanks," she said. "Anybody ever tell you how cute you are when you're worried?"
"Oh, I'm cute all the time, thank you," he said and she smiled.
To Be Continued~~