Double Dilemma

Chapter Two – Avoidance

Professor Xavier gave me a little nod, and I took the hint that he and Stark had a private matter going on. Damn, Tony Stark was much cuter in person, Jube was going to be pissed that she had gone home. She had been drooling over him for quite some time, following what he was doing all the time too. I smiled a little to myself, then headed to dinner. No one knew that Stark was here, and I assumed the professor had asked him to come at dinner time so that he could keep him a secret for at least a little while. I decided to keep my mouth shut, and I figured the Professor might appreciate it.

Once I reached the dining room, I grabbed a little bit of food, too upset to have my normal appetite. I found a little table in the back corner, and watched everyone as the poured in through the backdoor from the backyard grounds. Suddenly, there were too many people in the dining room, and I decided to take my dinner into the kitchen to eat by myself at the island. Logan was busy helping Storm distribute the food, and wouldn't have noticed me slipping by in the crowd of students who were looking for their dinners.

Usually, I would help them, I was the oldest "student" that remained at the mansion for the summers. I had spent last summer and the school year before that doing private lessons with the professor so that I could begin teaching a beginners training class, and officially joining the x-men. The only reason I still considered myself a student for the summer was my "special" meeting with the professor three nights a week, and my training. X-men never stopped training, in fact I had a training session in the morning, with Logan. So I wouldn't be able to avoid him forever.

I was finishing my dinner when Logan walked in, carrying a large plate of food.

"Oh, hey kid," He said casually, trying not to be awkward – but he was failing.

"Hey, I was just about done," I replied, getting up and getting rid of my trash.

"C'mon kid, don't be like that," He said, "C'mon, come with me tonight – it'll be fun."

"She can't tonight, Logan," Professor Xavier replied for me as he rolled on into the kitchen, "She has something she's doing with me tonight. And you do too, I was hoping you didn't have too much planned."

"Nothing big, Professor," Logan replied, "What did you have in mind? You want me to do the leg work for some new project?"

"Ah, you could put it that way," He replied smugly, "I just thought that you would be a good fit to be a guide to a visitor that's come to help us."

"Why me?" Logan asked, "Rogue or Storm are a whole hell of a lot better at rolling out the welcome wagon than me."

"Well," The professor said as Stark walked in the door.

"Oh, no," He said, "This? I'm all set to help you guys out – but setting me up with Wolfy over there. No offense, I'm a huge fan – it's just I'm not really into whole big sweaty muscular clawed thing. I'd be much more comfortable with Storm? I think is what you call her? Or - Hi, Tony Stark, but you know that, don't you?"

"Rogue," I went to shake his hand and he took it, kissing the back of my gloved hand charmingly.

"Why can't Rogue show me around?" He asked the professor as he dropped my hand, the professor exchanged what could be misconstrued as a simple exchanged looks with Logan.

"Fine," Logan replied audibly to their silent conversation.

"Come along, Rogue," The professor wheeled out of the room and I followed him to his office.

I sat down in my usual spot on his couch I pulled off my glove and relaxed a bit as the professor settled in behind his office.

"Are you ready, Rogue?" He asked politely, and I nodded – bracing myself.

This was the summer I was going to do it, and the professor had very graciously agreed to help me out. I was going to control my skin, I wanted to be able to touch people, and I was sick of wearing so many layers all the time, especially in the summer. The last day of classes I had asked the professor to help me out, and he had set me up with a schedule of coming to his office after dinner three times a week. He would help me sooth my mind, and occasionally I could feel my skin relaxing. When tested, I would lightly touch the professor. The most I had made was very slowly sucking the life out of him, rather than just doing it slightly quicker.

"Have you been doing your exercises on the nights that we don't meet?" He asked and I nodded.

"Every night before I go to bed."

"That's very good," He replied, smiling, "I genuinely think that you will be able to master your power. From what I can understand, it is very much a mind over matter situation. Your anxiety level when it comes to your mutation will not help you in the case of trying to control it."

"Ok," I replied, and he nodded.

"Close your eyes, Rogue," He smiled kindly, and I closed my eyes, trying to go to a peaceful place.

Of course, as soon as I tried Logan's voice was echoing through my head, joined only by my own insecurities. I tried to combat it, Logan making the crack about having a man that couldn't touch me.

"That's enough, Rogue," The professor said, I opened my eyes to realize that he had long since pulled out of my head, "We won't be able to continue the lesson tonight. You're much too on edge, darling."

"I'm sorry, Sir," I replied and he shook his head patiently.

"It's quite alright, Rogue," He replied, "It seems it isn't nearly your fault, but that of a certain Wolverine friend of yours."

"When did you stop listening?" I asked nervously.

"I only listened long enough to hear the remark from your friend," He said kind as ever, "It was clear to me immediately, such a careless remark from someone who means so much to you would have trouble calming yourself down."

"Professor, why would he say something like that?" I asked curiously for insight, and the professor shrugged.

"It could be anything," He replied, "But most likely, when speaking of the wolverine, he bites back when he feels he's been attacked. I assume he realized he had gone too far, and apologized?"

"He did," I replied, "But what did I sat to attack him? We were joking around and then all of sudden he…"

"I do not know, Rogue," He replied.

"Of course you do."

"I do not wander into the minds of this mansion uninvited," He replied, and I nodded.

"I know," I replied, and he seemed reasonably satisfied with that, "So why is Stark here, if you don't mind me asking, professor?"

"He'll be spending some time here updating our systems," He replied, "I've asked him to take a look at just about everything from security to our training rooms. Plus, having him hanging around for the summer may come in handy."

"He's staying the whole summer?"

"He's here until his job is done," He replied cryptically.

"You're not going to give me anything more, are you?" I asked and he just smiled smugly.

"No, I don't think you expected me to either," He replied, "But, I am going to give you some homework for tomorrow."

"And what is that?" I asked.

"In addition to your usual exercises," He said, "I want you to try and shed some layers. It's summer, relax, Rogue. Your skin will not be able to relax enough if it doesn't see the light of day."

"Ok," I replied, and he nodded, "That will be it for tonight, Rogue. Don't worry too much about your exercises tonight – just try and let the wolverine's comment out of your head, ok?"

"Ok," I replied, and headed off to bed.

The next morning I woke up early, and went down to have breakfast before the crowd. I had training at nine, with all of the other mutants about my age, which meant Kitty, and Warren for those who had stayed the summer. It was a small training, and Kitty was very much the outsider. I prayed to God that Warren, my friend would be able to block both Kitty and Logan, who was our combat teacher. Warren usually did a good job distracting Kitty so she couldn't get too near to me, and then Logan would assign what was going on, then spend the time with me. That was what usually made me love training: I got to kick ass, and got what seemed like Logan's undivided attention. Well, maybe today would be ok – If I just did my best to forget what had happened. Survival.

"Morning," Warren smiled as he met me halfway to the danger rooms.

"Hey," I gave him my best fake smile – but luckily he just let it slide.

"So what's ol' Wolverine got in store for us today?" He asked me, usually I knew.

"I don't know."

"He didn't tell you? I thought he told you everything."

"Well he doesn't."

"Whoa, you guys get into a fight or something?" He asked, "Lover's Quarrel?"

"Shut up, Warren."

"I will do no such thing," He replied, "If you don't make a move – I will."

"Seriously? I'd like to his reaction to that," I smiled a little bit, "And exactly what kinda move could I make? I can't even touch him."

"With your body? The way he looks you up and down?" Warren teased.

"He does not."

"Honey, he does."

"You may just be the best gay best friend in existence," I replied, and he smiled.

"What else am I here for?" He said, "Just remember you're the only one who knows…"

"You're the only one who knows about Logan."

"Everyone knows about that," He replied, "Except him."

"You're the only one I really talk to about it," I replied, "And I think people tend to assume about you."

"Assuming isn't knowing."

"Would it be so bad if they did?"

Warren didn't respond, and in fact didn't say anything else all the rest of the way to the danger room. I felt bad for him, we had talked about it before. His reasoning for not letting anyone know was that he was already a "freak" due to his mutation. His reasoning was that his mutation was strange enough, he didn't need anyone thinking he was any "freakier" or stranger than he was. I had told him that that was ridiculous, but when and if he came out was not my decision or my job to decide. My job was to love my friend, and be there when he needed me. But, I could see the pain in him, keeping it locked up. Then, I'd see the happiness when he was just with me and he could be himself.

We walked into training and Kitty was already sitting in the booth, waiting. We came in and Warren dutifully went right up to her and started chatting away, while I went over and sat quietly a little ways away from them. I looked up at the clock, we had been a few minutes late – but Logan was always late to morning trainings. He wasn't much of a morning person.

"Mornin," Logan said less than enthusiastically as he walked in.

"You seem cheerful this morning," Warren had already stepped into his surly straight mask.

The reason for Logan's unhappiness waltzed right through the door just behind him in the form of Stark. He smiled playfully, clearly Logan was still set up taking him around – showing him the ropes. No wonder Logan's boxers were in a knot – he absolutely hated who he would refer to as 'people like Stark'. People the world just kind of handed things to.

"Good morning, all," He smiled at me, Kitty looked like him walking in meant she'd won the lottery – he didn't notice, "Sunshine over here's just showing me around – no need to act differently than you normally would."

"Metal-Face here's here to observe," Logan told us, "The Professor wants him to see what he can do about upgrading our systems for us. Making things more life-like and such, get you guys better training."

"Metal-Face? Really? It's Iron Man, actually," Stark replied, stepping closer to Logan, "'Metal-Face?' Well, I'm sure there's no need to point this out, but that's more of what you are. Isn't it? Adamantium, right? Not to mention the healing powers, I'd love to take a look at some of your blood—"

"Get in line," Logan mumbled under his breath.

Warren turned and smiled at me, chuckling as Logan and Stark stare each other down for a second. I was nervous – they'd tear each other apart before the day was over.

"The three of you, into the danger room for a warm up," Logan peeled his eyes from Stark's to look over at us, "Bring him with you."

"Me?" Stark replied and Logan nodded.

"I figure you can get a better feel for it if you get in there yourself," He replied and Tony nodded, pushing a button on his metal bracelet.

"Good idea, Blades, we don't all come with our super powers built in," Stark said as his suit popped out of the bracelets, coding him in his weapon laced shell.

"It's hand to hand combat," Logan told him, "No weapons, you'll destroy the chamber."

"Oh," He replied, "Well for protection then. Unless you want to leave this face up to Angel-boy? Something tells me the ladies will disapprove of that."

Needless to say, training was particularly entertaining that morning. I had never understood Stark's charm before. In interviews and speeches and things that Jube had made me pay attention to – he had always seemed so stuck up and sarcastic. In person, actually realizing how quickly his brain worked, there was something attractive to it. There was definitely something attractive to a mind so highly functioning that he could come out with such things so quickly. I mean, there was no arguing his genius. Maybe that was just what happened to people who were rocket scientists since infancy. They became so bored with everyday things that they didn't have enough to do constructively with their brains.

Logan had left training with us, and left Stark to work his magic with the electronics. He had said just as we were leaving that he wanted to do a bit of snooping around to see what he was dealing with before he could figure out how to make it better, which he could 'definitely do' he just had to know where to start. I walked with Warren back up into the mansion portion of the school, avoiding Logan who was a few feet behind us. When Warren broke to go to his room and clean up, I nearly bolted to my room.

I took a shower and cleaned up the sweat from training, then stood in my room in my towel. I kept thinking about what the professor had said about letting my skin breathe a little bit more. But, I couldn't risk hurting anyone. I couldn't control my powers any more than I could a couple weeks ago when I first went to the professor. With little ones like Reilly and Mikey running around, I had to be careful. I went to my dresser and put on my bikini – then threw on my usual get up before heading out to the grounds.

It was a hot summer day, and the Professor and McCoy had taken some of the school age kids to have some fun off campus for the day. I believe they had taken them to the lake for the day. Storm was watching the younger kids, as per usual, and I snuck out to the backyard, just into the woods to lay out a towel. Then, stripped down to my bathing suit and laid out in the sun. The sun, light breeze, and everything else felt weird to my flesh. I knew the Professor was right – I needed to get used to it if I was ever going to be able to control my power, I could feel my power rippling as the wind hit me. Soon I was able to calm down enough to fall asleep, in the sun – and woke up to a whistle.

"Soaking up some sun there, Rogue?" Stark was just about standing over me.

"I thought Wolverine was supposed to be showing you around," I replied, trying to cover up.

"Well he was clearly keeping me from some of the best views," He commented, smiling charmingly at me, "Sunshine went into the mansion for a break. He told me to wander around if I wanted. So I was taking a lap around the area, and spotted you."

"From?"

"The sky," He replied, "The fancy suit, it lets me do that. So what're you doing out here? All alone? Away from everyone? Showing off some serious poisonous skin…"

"I'm working on trying to tame it," I told him, because who cared, "Don't tell anyone. The professor thought it'd be a good idea to let my skin get used to being in the open."

"Secret's safe with me," He smiled, then quipped, "That much skin? And Xavier didn't stick around to watch you himself?"

"Well, that and I figured a nice tan might make me feel better," I admitted, "I think he was thinking shorts and a t-shirt."

"Hmmm, well it really is a shame to cover up a body like yours the way you do all the time. There might be a little more incentive than the professor's wallet to stick around after all."

A/N: So, there's chapter two, hope you guys enjoyed it (Thanks for the reviews for chapter One)... and as you guys might be able to tell, things'll be steaming up pretty quickly… Leave me a review, and I'll update as soon as I can :)