It was bad enough it seemed nobody understood her but now everyone feared her. Her running gait slowed to a menacing stalk as she flung open the door to her room, breathing heavily.
'Well done…. Your power is unprecedented….'
"Stop it!" she screeched, her hands grabbing her tousled hair. "What did you do?!" Silence. For once her head was silent. "ANSWER ME!"
'I helped you get away from that pretentious, know it all leader of yours.'
"No… You... You made me attack him!" she hissed. The voice only chuckled.
'I only helped you do what you wanted to, Rogue. You know I'm only here to help. You sent a message back there, you told all of them to back off and they got it.'
She took a few calming breaths. "Don't-" 'Don't do that… Alright… Ah can handle myself...'
'I beg to differ…. Everybody needs someone Rogue. And you've got me.' Her chat with the enigma in her mind wasn't easing her migraine. She shakily lowered herself onto her bed, drawing her knees to her chest. She couldn't handle much more strain on herself. The migraines were debilitating.
She jumped a little as the door creaked open. 'Am Ah I EVER granted peace….' she thought in agony, turning to see a meek Kurt. She opened her mouth to tell him to leave, but she has no voice. Her mouth shut and she bit her lip. Fear and concern laced her adoptive brother's features.
"Rogue! Are you alright?!" he cried, leaping to her side in one fluid motion. 'Poor boy… I bet he drew the short straw….' 'What…' 'Your 'friends' certainly aren't eager to deal with you, especially after your performance. You must burden them terribly.' Rogue turned her face from her adoptive brother, attempting to simply shut him out.
"Rogue…. Vat's going on?!" he asked in a heavy German accent. She took in a deep breath. She wasn't sure herself so it'd be hard to explain to Kurt.
"Ah don't know… Ah don't know what happened. All Ah know is that…" She had no words. She was as confused as he was. Not to mention afraid. Her powers were starting to jerk out of her control again.
"It's alright. We're not mad at you! You've just got to let us in, ya know? Ve can't help you if you don't." he said worriedly. Rogue felt herself become less tense as she gave Kurt a small smile. She wasn't sure when he had matured so much. He hardly wore his hologram watch, only wearing it to school under the professor's wishes. As Rogue reflected briefly she felt like everyone she knew had grown and changed, except for maybe her.
She shrugged, her shoulders snapping spastically. "Look, if Ah knew what was goin' on I'd be glad to tell ya, but..." Kurt waved his hands and flashed a grin.
"Vell, vhy not find out together?" Rogue snorted and took a stiff seat on her bed.
"Ya ain't gotta come along for the ride, Kurt." She sneered. Kurt was unphased by Rogue's usual attitude.
"You're my sista. Vhere you go, I go." Kurt responded firmly. Rogue rolled her eyes.
"Siblin's by adoption, remembe?." Her face became particularly sour at the thought of Mystique. The women had put them both through hell on more occasions than she's like to admit. Kurt's kinship was the one silver lining.
Kurt only chuckled. "Even if it's not the same blood coursing through our veins, I'll alvays think it so. Besides, ve both survived Mystique. That counts for something." Rogue shivered.
"Don't mention her." Kurt sighed and pulled the tired girl to him in an embrace which she was glad for. After the hug he gaze her a quick nod and headed for the door. Hesitant, Rogue called for him.
"Ah, Kurt?" He turned quickly, surprised Rogue had reached out for him. "Is Scott... Is he alright?" Kurt smiled.
"Of course! He doesn't have a glass... Chest." Rogue found herself rolling her eyes at Kurt's dry humor as usual. His face sobered up as he continued. "If anythin he's worried. We all are, you should go talk to the professor about this. He can help sort things out in your head." Kurt offered solemnly. Rogue nodded as he exited, thinking it over to herself.
"Doesn't seem like such a bad idea."
She heard the familiar 'bamf', as he teleported. 'Don't go see that wretched professor.' The voice stated. Helping her out was one thing, but she wouldn't be bossed around by anybody.
'I'll do as I please.' She responded hotly. 'Say what you will about students, but you will not talk about the professor to me, do you understand?'
'You cannot strike fear in me. But do as you wish. He'll read your mind and find out about any and everything.' Rogue snorted, ending the the mental conversation.
She meekly peeked out of her door and glanced around nervously. She didn't want bump into anyone. She stealthily stalked towards the Professor's office, making it there without seeing any of her Danger room disaster audience. Unfortunately, as she rounded the corner she ran smack into Jean and Scott. Her voice caught in her throat as Jean looked at her worriedly. 'Is she scared of me?'
'Of course they are…' Rogue swallowed hard as Scott and Jean shared a concerned look. 'Ah'm not gonna attack either of ya.' She thought bitterly.
"Rogue! Rogue are-" The younger girl cut Scott off.
"Yes. Ah am and Ah'm Sorry." she said quickly, burning under their gazes. Jean made a move to reach out to Rogue who shrank back.
"You, you should go see the professor about what happened…" She suggested, sensing the mental distress crackling off of the girl.
"Yeah. Ah'm on my way to do that." There was a silence between all three of them. She nodded awkwardly and hurried around them, her throat closing with embarrassment.
Her hand trembling she knocked on the professor's door. There was a bit of shuffling inside and then the door opened to reveal Logan. Rogue exhaled piteously, taking a few steps back. He sighed, his eyes tired and concerned. "Speak of the devil, Stripes…"
"Rogue, please come in." said the professor. Logan shuffled aside and allowed her entrance, leaving to give them privacy.
Rogue forced a timid smile and sat before him. Professor Xavier was probably the most un-intimidating man Rogue had ever known, yet she trembled before him. He smiled reassuringly. "Rogue, what is it you wish to talk about?"
'He knows already, he's probing your mind like crazy.' the voice hissed. Rogue winced.
'He'd never read my mind without permission.'
Rogue thought for a moment to articulate herself. "Ah… Ah thank I had a relapse in the Danger Room today." she said slowly. The kind man's eyes narrowed, and his lips pursed.
"A relapse? Tell me what happened."
"It was a normal Danger room session, and… Ah don't know. I was sparring Scott and…"
'Choose your words wisely, Rogue.'
"Ah felt sick and just wanted it to be over, even if I forfeited. Scott was just pushing me to do my best. All Ah wanted was to stop and… Ah used his powers." she confessed.
The professor took it in for a moment. "Without skin contact, I gather? I'm glad you came to me. What were you feeling when it happened? Were you angry, frustrated?"
"N-No, no… I didn't want to hurt him."
'Yes you did.'
"Ah just wanted it to stop…." The professor nodded in understanding.
"Perhaps I should probe your mind… See if your captured personalities are resurfacing-"
"No!" she said quickly. A little too quickly. His brow furrowed in confusion and concern. "Ah just have a migraine, professor. Ah've been having them lately, and the idea of you going in there doesn't sound too comfortable." He smiled uneasily.
"Say no more. If you're feeling oddly again, come talk to me. I'm always here." Rogue smiled gratefully, wasting no time getting to her feet and exiting.
On her way out, a certain comely, red haired psychic was on her way in. Their eyes met, but Rogue tore hers away, her stomach suddenly turning as she hurried away..
'She really is sickening isn't she?' Rogue didn't respond. 'You could take her out.'
'Enough. Ah will not hear anything like that.' The voice was quiet for a moment that is until Jean was out ear shot in into the professor's office.
'But you must hate her, she has taken the one thing you've ever wanted away from you.'
'…..Hmm.' '
Tell me... Show me how that makes you feel.'
She drew in a large breath, memories of Juggernaut flashing through her mind. In a fit of fury and despair her fist crashed into the wall, leaving quite the dent. 'That's what you want to do…' Rogue shut her eyes, and thought of disappearing.
Suddenly she was enveloped with the smell of brimstone, and she had arrived in her room. "Wh-What?"
'I told you, I'm here to help you….' She opened her mouth to respond but all her energy just disappeared instantly. She wobbled to her bed, her legs sweeping from underneath her.
'Rest.' Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she fell forward.
Her manicured nails tapped the counter with anticipation and impatience. He had been alone for ages. She was starting not to believe his claims about his unbeliavabe discovery. Wisps of auburn hair fell into a scowling face as she tucked it behind one ear. There were many thing Mystique was graced with, patience just wasn't one of them.
Finally, the severe faced man appeared with a leering glare. "Yes?" He replied smugly, delighting in Mystique's apparent irritation. She rose to her feet, smoothing out her leather ensemble.
"Finally! What have you been up to? Dicking around in that room for hours and you still haven't revealed your 'Master Plan!'. She scolded haughtily. His smirk faded in annoyance.
"Your involvement is not required. If you are unsatisfied you can leave. Every plan you've come up with has gone excellently..." Mystique was gritting her teeth now as she stalked forward. She found herself halted by an invisible barrier. She exhaled, letting the tension flow from her body.
"Very good." He continued with a cool smile. "But if you must know, with my vast psychic capabilities I am infiltrating this mutant prodigy's mind. By befriending her I can unlock her true potential, she will be the ultimate weapon." Mystique cocked her hands on her hips.
"And just what mutant could that be?"
"A lost little mutant girl who calls herself, Rogue." Mystique's heart skipped a beat.
"W-What did you say?"
"Is that a problem" his tone dared Mystique to defy him.
'Rogue…' She took a deep breath. "You better pray she doesn't find out what you're doing Artemis, or all the potential will be flung back into your face." Mystique warned. He only smiled.
"I'm shaking." Seething, Mystique stalked past him. "She's falling deeper and deeper into my grasp…." He chuckled. 'Soon…'
A/N: Repost!