Disclaimer: X-Men Evolution belongs only to those who had the amazing sense to create it before I came along.
Title: Slowly
Summary: Love can be a scary thing—how powerful it is, what it can do to you. Not to mention, how much it can hurt.
Author's Note: So Remy is going to make an appearance in this chapter. Again, I apologize that he is not going to be his cocky self, but his position doesn't really afford that. I tried to make him as close to his person in Evolution as I could while still maintaining his professionalism. Also, I don't pretend to know French, so I ended up having to look some up on the internet. Therefore, I apologize about any mistakes that anyone may notice in that part.
You may also notice a few puns. I can't help it. I do like adding these bits of subtle humor in there, so please forgive me. I am trying to sort of fast forward as much as I can allow to get to the 'good stuff,' as I call it. That just means passing by some of the average, everyday action. I know it may be a little boring/uninteresting at the moment, but just hang in there. Everything will begin to play itself out in time.
Also, as just a side note, and I don't mind spoiling this because it isn't of any real importance at all, there could have been more qualified characters to take the place of the guidance counselor, but I believe having Raven Darkholme fill the role was just too ironic and sweet. I just had to do it. ^.^
Chapter 2
- The Witch's Warning
"Rogue!"
Her head snapped in the direction of the voice and her grey eyes refocused. Her name had been called at least three times, but she had only heard it this once. She glanced to either side of her, as if she had missed something terribly important, which she more than likely had.
"Thank you for joining us," the voice with a deep Louisiana accent commented.
She finally spied Remy LeBeau, the teacher's assistant that was much too handsome for his own good, loitering near her desk, his arms crossed in a not-so-patient manner. She slouched farther down in her seat, wanting more than anything to simply disappear. She groaned and attempted to brush some of her hair in front of her face to veil her shame from the one person who mattered to her in that room.
Classes had resumed on the following Monday, two days since the opening match, much to the dismay of those that had partied too hard that weekend due to the Xavier Institute win. Even though some of the students were certainly using class time to catch up on much needed sleep, it seemed that the instructors were a little bit more lenient regarding this inappropriate action. The lessons they had also scheduled seemed to be less intensive than normal.
It wasn't that Rogue was a lazy student. It was just that she preferred to fly under the radar. Therefore, it looked a lot of the time like she wasn't even trying. Even in her favorite class, French, believe it or not, she appeared disinterested. Of course, though, she couldn't claim that it was her favorite due to the academics.
"Rogue, please find the correct location on the map to this phrase," Remy instructed again. "Où est l'hôtel?"
He strolled past her desk and toward the front of the classroom, where a giant map hung so everybody could see it. There were outlines of buildings and roads. Rogue strained her eyes to read the gibberish that labeled each location.
"L'hôtel est à votre droite," she drawled, more in a southern accent than a French one.
When Remy sighed, she knew she had gotten the answer wrong. The class chuckled again at her mistake, making her even more embarrassed. Remy shook his head, his shaggy crimson mane barely flapping with the motion.
"Miss Sefton, would you please give me the correct directions?" Remy drawled. There wasn't any annoyance in his voice, merely disappointment.
Amanda Sefton was one of the girls in class who hadn't signed up just for the hot TA. Well, perhaps that had something to do with it, but she actually preferred to learn the language, as well. "L'hôtel est à côté de la gare," she pronounced with perfection.
"Oui. Très bon." Remy smiled. "At least we know that someone is learning something."
The class laughed again, and this time it blended in with the bell tolling the end of final period. The students stood up in a hurry and rushed to escape. Remy strode over to the desk, where the actual professor of the language sat and worked on papers or lesson plans most of the day, so that he could read off the assignment for the evening before the room was emptied.
"Study your directions and the map at the end of the chapter," he announced. "There will be a quiz at the end of the week. And please complete the exercises on this hand out for tomorrow." He placed a stack on the corner of the desk.
Rogue took her time gathering her things. Her mind kept reflecting on how she had looked like a complete ass in front of the class. Well, forget the class—in front of him. She manhandled her bag over one shoulder and clomped toward the door of the classroom in her heavy black shoes.
"Rogue, if I could see you for just a moment," Remy called her back.
Rogue stopped in her tracks, sighing inwardly, and backtracked to the desk. She didn't appear too pleased, but that was mostly her berating herself for her earlier stupidity. She watched him shuffling up the stack of hand outs with his dexterous fingers and taking his sweet old time, as they were very much alone now except for the head professor.
"What do you want?" she asked awkwardly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
"I was a little worried about your progress in this class." He finally looked up at her. "I know this is my first year here, but I feel that you have it in you to do better."
'Is he talking down to me?' Rogue was nearly insulted at the way he seemed to be addressing her. After all, he was only like five or six years older. She crossed her arms over her chest, her stubbornness taking over.
"I'd like to see how you do on this upcoming quiz. If you'd be willing, I would like to start a private session outside of class in order to give you any special attention you may need," he offered kindly.
However, Rogue did not receive it as nicely as perhaps he had meant. She furrowed her brow, put off. She would have surely subdued these raging emotions in her if she had known about them. But, she was as taken off guard by her response as he was.
"'Special attention?'" she inquired incredulously. "Listen, I don't know what you mean by that, but I am not some sort of pity party."
"Rogue, that is not what I me-"
"Good thing you are volunteering for this because if I have to suffer then so do you." She ripped one of the papers with the exercises on it out of his hand and stomped heatedly to the door. She spun back around to put in one last word before departing. "You want to see me outside of class now, Professor LeBeau? Then it's a date!"
Rogue continued to fume down the halls, winding this way and that, her destination intent on her mind. She didn't even stop when she nearly barreled into Kitty coming out of a classroom. As Kitty's final class of the day was a mathematics course taught by the school's founder Charles Xavier, she had formed a fairly good relationship with him and tended to remain a few minutes after just in order to chat; and, Rogue knew all of this.
She was able to link Kitty's arm at just the precise moment in order to drag her along, as well, without so much as a falter in her step. Kitty, quite taken off guard, had no choice but to follow. She was spun around so fast that the pleated grey skirt that was sanctioned with all of the girls' school uniform flew up dangerously high.
"Rogue!" Kitty protested. Yet, her friend did not cease until they had turned another corner that had infinitely less people than all of the others had. Kitty was finally able to break free and attempt to make some sense of her kidnapping. "Rogue, what is going on?"
Rogue seemed breathless, but not from her hasty journey. She hesitated, unsure. "I yelled at him."
"At who?"
"Remy," she said at first. Then she shook her head, correcting herself. "Professor LeBeau."
Kitty bit her lip. "Are you crazy? You can't yell at a professor."
"But that's not the worst of it." Just going on Rogue's expression, Kitty thought her friend had killed somebody. It looked as if Rogue was going to be sick. "I think I might have asked him on a date."
"What?" Kitty had been all prepared with her response, but this was not what she had been expecting Rogue to say. She paused and let the information soak in. Then, she smiled. "What?" she said again, but this time it was much more excitedly and heartily.
Rogue uttered a sound of disgust then spun on her heel and headed toward the girls' dormitory with Kitty in tow. Rogue was still too busy trying to comprehend all that had taken place in class. Kitty, on the other hand, had a newfound interest.
"I think I'm just being dramatic," Rogue insisted as she breezed through the halls. "I'm turning into you."
"Like, thanks a lot."
"He wants to set up some tutoring lessons or something," Rogue clarified. "He thinks I am not utilizing my potential. I called it a date before I stormed away." She shook her head again, in utter disbelief of her stupidity.
"So are you going to agree to the lessons?" Kitty asked.
Rogue stopped and turned and looked at her. "Of course," she said as though there were no other option. Then she began walking again.
"Well, it just so happens that I have a date, too," Kitty shared with a smile.
Rogue did not seem as immediately interested. She was still brooding over her own issues. Besides, it wasn't uncommon that Kitty would be given such proposals. "Kurt finally get to you?"
Kurt Wagner was their mutual friend. It wasn't a surprise that he had asked Kitty out again, as he had had a fairly public crush on her for over a year now. Kitty just never showed any interest in him other than friendship. Perhaps he had finally been given a chance, though.
"No. His name is Pietro Maximoff."
Rogue stopped and turned toward her again. "The one from the soccer match?"
"Yes." Kitty giggled. Then it was her turn to resume their pace.
"I thought he attended Bayville. How is that going to work?" Rogue questioned.
"Not anymore apparently." Kitty mused for a moment. "It turns out he transferred to Xavier Institute the day after we met. Today was his first day."
Rogue mulled this over, something not sitting right with her. "Don't you find that a little strange, Kitty?"
"I find it romantic," Kitty corrected, ending the conversation right there.
They pushed through the set of double doors that led into the common area of the girls' dormitory. There was a nice fireplace for those harsh winter months. Various seating arrangements were scattered about the space. Bookshelves contained reading materials, as well as different games. A few tables offered surfaces in which to conduct these activities and more. Two separate staircases led up to the rooms only accessible on the higher floors, while a single hallway branched off of the common area for the ground floor bedrooms. The same layout was given to the boys' dormitory, as well.
Having just entered, they nearly collided with a student and a teacher pair that were loitering just within the doorway of the dormitory. In all honesty, it probably wasn't the smartest place to be standing around, but it was also obvious that the common area was quite crowded that afternoon.
The professor turned at the interruption, having caught sounds of the two girls skidding to a halt. Instantly, she was recognizable as Professor Raven Darkholme, the short tempered guidance counselor and biology instructor. "Oh, it's you two." She sounded rather disappointed and bothered.
The female student turned at this, as well. She wore the school uniform in a fairly sloppy manner. That was apparent straight from the start. The white blouse spilled out of the top of the pleated grey skirt. One of the white knee socks slouched low on her shin, while the other remained upright. The black bow at her collar was not even tied correctly; and, the black blazer was wrinkled and unbuttoned. She had shoulder length dark hair that was kept in similar disarray, but, behind a mask of black makeup, the most piercing blue eyes. The expression on her face revealed how unenthusiastic she was to actually be there, and the dress code violation black choker she wore around her neck showed her rebellious and carefree attitude.
"Have either of you seen Miss Grey?" Raven Darkholme inquired, though not showing the least bit of interest. "She's been requested to introduce the new student to the social scenes of the school."
Kitty appeared more eager to meet someone new than to answer the instructor. "Welcome to Xavier's. I'm Kitty Pryde and this is Rogue." She held her hand out in a friendly greeting.
The girl glanced back and forth between the two roommates and even stared reluctantly at the offered hand. Raven didn't look too thrilled with the exchange either, but that was more than likely due to the fact that she was being completely ignored. She pretended to find interest elsewhere in the papers she held in her hands. Eventually, the new student was lulled by Kitty's friendly smile and shook her hand, though not as enthusiastically.
"Wanda," she introduced sullenly. "Wanda Maximoff."
Kitty's jaw dropped, much against her will, for the action alarmed Wanda slightly. Wanda ended up recoiling just a bit.
"What is it?" she asked unsurely, her suspicions appearing to run too high.
"No way. You must be related to Pietro," Kitty exclaimed.
Something flashed in Wanda's eyes. It was brief, but apparent. Her expression dropped into one of disdain and a dark cloud seemed to hover over the small gathering. "I'm his sister."
Kitty didn't seem to notice. "He never told me he had a sister."
Wanda came in close. It was actually a slightly threatening gesture, which Kitty caught onto straight away. The smile dropped from her face. She backed up a good step or two. But even so, Wanda closed in.
"Stay away from Pietro," she warned in a low voice. Then she glanced upward at Professor Darkholme then stormed off.
Raven looked slightly annoyed at having to chase after the new student. "If you'll excuse me." She followed at her own leisurely pace.
"What was that all about?" Rogue inquired carefully once the other two were out of earshot.
Kitty shook her head, staring after them, as well. "I don't know."
She made a snort of disgust and began ascending one of the staircases with Rogue right in line. They were roomed on the fourth floor, the highest level in the entire institution.
"It's hard to believe they're even related," Kitty continued, though appearing to be contemplating this more to herself than to Rogue. "He…well, he is just not like that at all."
"You make him sound perfect. Maybe too perfect?" Rogue suggested. She didn't know what had caused Wanda to go off like that—probably just some sibling rivalry, she had considered at first. But again, something didn't sit right with her and this whole situation.
Kitty didn't seem to take her input too well. She shot her a sour expression and shook her head again. In her mind, she was still trying to imagine how it might go. Granted, she wasn't entirely sure she could legitimately call it a date. After all, it was just for a private lunch on school grounds during regular school hours. Even so, she wasn't about to give up on the possibility so easily.
"Just wait until you meet him, Rogue," Kitty explained distantly, "you'll realize that Wanda is acting like nothing but a…a witch."