I'm loving writing this story! And I love the reviews, thanks so much! I've always loved Rogue's character because she's the one that doesn't quite fit in, she's very different and I can relate to that. And Angel is kind of in the same place she is yet their characters are so opposite in the sense that he compliments her and to me, is the perfect one to swoop in (no pun intended) and rescue her! Keep the reviews comin and I'ma definitely keep the updates comin too!
Xoxo 3
The day was perfect. Rogue couldn't stop smiling, even as she sat through two hours of Sociology and then an hour and a half of Physics, Warren's smiling face played through her head and made her smile even more. She found herself doodling little shooting stars and hearts on the margins of her note paper. Just then, as class period ended and the signal sounded for lunch, Rogue practically leapt out of her chair. Grabbing her books she hurried out into the hall, looking around anxiously for any sign of Warren.
"Looking for me?"
She heard a warm voice sound from behind her. She smiled softly as she turned and his sky-blue eyes met hers. "Hey." She said somewhat shyly, her cheeks flushing pink as she caught his warm scent surrounding her.
"Hey yourself! How was Physics?"
"Surprisingly good; I usually can't concentrate…but today I was on top of it."
He smiled approvingly at her. "Good! I'm proud of you, Beautiful."
Her cheeks flushed even redder and she ducked her head, avoiding his eyes.
Reaching out, he took her hand. "So. Lunch, then?"
She nodded eagerly. "I'm famished!"
He through his head back, laughing. "I don't think I've known a woman who loved food as much as you do; I like it."
The two of them headed off, hand in hand towards the dining room and kitchen. As they passed through the dining room, several pairs of curious eyes and astonished looks followed them. Among them were Logan and Storm. At Logan's questioning glance, Rogue just gave him a small smile as she followed Warren into the kitchen.
"Well, a lot of curious people I see."
Rogue laughed nervously a bit. "Yeah well…most of them probably don't know about me and Bobby…" she trailed off, her stomach twisting a bit at the thought of her ex-boyfriend.
Sensing her discomfort, Warren pulled her close to him with one arm curled around her shoulders and kissed her forehead. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Rogue." He whispered gently, watching her hazel eyes as they saddened.
Rogue shook her head, smiling up at Warren; the sadness and concern in his eyes melted her heart. She still couldn't fathom how one person could have so much gentleness, compassion, care and sweetness…especially when it was directed at her. Pulling her crimson glove off, she reached up cupping his face in her hand. The warm smoothness of his skin against hers always made her shiver. Caressing his cheek with her thumb, she couldn't tear her eyes away from his steady gaze.
"You better be careful, Rogue." He breathed.
She cocked her head, giving him a quizzical look. "Why?"
He bit his lower lip, the sexiest smile touching his lips and reaching his eyes. "Because if you keep touching me like that…you just might bewitch me into falling in love with you."
Rogue's breath hitched at Warren's last words. Her fingers paused momentarily on his cheek. She fumbled for something to say, suddenly feeling she had to break the penetrating silence that suddenly felt deafening. "Well I…honestly highly doubt that." She answered lamely.
Warren watched her intently. "I don't think it is…" He bent his head lower, trying to get her to look at him. "I think it's very likely to happen."
Rogue shook her head, her hand slipping from his face as she wrapped her arms around herself; Warren sensed her drawing within herself; a defensive shield stood between them. "You think that but it's not true. The only reason you think that is because right now things aren't complicated…confusing. Or dangerous."
Warren felt a pang in his chest as Rogue closed herself off to him; he didn't want her to feel the need to protect herself from him; it was killing him to see her distancing herself from him and in an attempt to reassure her, he took her hand, pulling her closer to him. "Hey now, what's that supposed to mean, huh?"
She shook her head, trying to ignore the warmth of his skin against hers as his fingers tightened on hers, tugging her towards him. "Warren just because we can touch now doesn't mean that…" she trailed off, her voice faltering as she realized the possibility that this may very well not be permanent. The thought of having to revert back to being isolated from any human contact was frightening enough…but the thought of not being able to be near Warren…not being able to touch him; it sent a shuddering pain through her entire body and her knees gave out just slightly.
"Hey, whoa!" Warren's voice grew alarmed as Rogue lost her balance and teetered slightly. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he supported her against him. "Hey…nothing's gonna happen ok?" He tilted her chin upwards, looking in her eyes. "I'm not gonna let anything happen to you and even if this thing comes back…er, affects me I guess I should say, I'm not going to leave you just because of it; I mean nothing's perfect, Rogue and everyone hits rough places in the road of life in general…what matters is that we have each other now and we can work through this…together."
Rogue's heart skipped a beat as she listened to Warren. His words were so earnest and sincere, she felt herself settle into his warm embrace…then turning her hazel eyes to his she looked at him fully and earnestly. She was scared to death, knowing that taking the chance to trust him was risking her heart being shattered again. But the look in his sky-blue eyes compelled her heart and she took the leap of faith. "Do you promise?"
He smiled, feeling his throat tighten with emotion as he saw this woman, completely terrified yet willing to trust her heart to him. "Yes, Rogue…I swear it on my life. I will always be here for you…and everything that I have, everything that I am…it's all yours."
Then pausing, he bit his lip nervously as he continued. "…that is…if you'll have me."
Rogue couldn't hold back any longer, tears shining in her eyes; she glanced at the floor, trying to compose herself. She felt so happy, meeting his gaze then as a brilliant smile shone in her eyes and the tears spilled over. "The only…gift I will accept…is your heart." She said finally.
Warren's own eyes shown with tears of joy and he took her by the shoulders. "Then it is yours, completely and forever! You had it from the first moment I looked in your eyes."
Rogue's lip quivered as tears poured forth freely. She reached her hands up, grasping his arms as a soft sob escaped her lips; she could hardly contain the pure joy she felt.
Seeing her looking so happy and so beautiful, Warren couldn't keep his lips from hers any longer. Stepping towards her, he cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips gently to hers.
Rogue was breathless as his mouth captured hers. Frozen for a moment, shock overwhelmed her. Her very first kiss in years, she'd forgotten what it was like yet as Warren's lips moved against hers, she couldn't imagine how her first kiss could've come close to this; it was heavenly. Suddenly, her mouth responded and she crashed her lips more earnestly to his, her arms flew around his neck as she pulled herself as close to him as she could possibly get.
Warren's heart raced as he felt her aggressiveness in her embrace and the hungry need in her kiss. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and mentally swore he'd never let go. They were so lost in each other that they didn't notice Storm and Logan standing in the doorway, each looked on, frozen in shock. Suddenly, Storm managed to clear her throat weakly.
But neither Rogue nor Warren seemed to notice; they held each other tighter and their kiss deepened with passion. Logan fidgeted uncomfortably, clearing his throat loudly which at length, caught the couple's attention. At the sight of Logan in her periphery, Rogue broke the kiss (very reluctantly), her cheeks reddened as she gasped for air, her chest rising and falling as her heart still raced vigorously.
Logan found his voice first. "Ok. First off, who the hell are you? And second of all, how in the hell are you still standing on your own two feet; by all bets, you should be passed out on the floor, unconscious."
Warren shrugged, smiling. "I know, so I've heard…we can't explain it either." He gestured between himself and Rogue.
Storm finally found her voice, gasping. "Rogue! This is…this is amazing, how'd it happen?"
"I really don't know, honestly. I…it was the night that I saw Bobby cheating and…"
"Whoa, whoa wait back up, ice-boy was cheating on you!" Logan sputtered angrily.
"Logan it's alright it's over."
"I'm gonna kill that little bastard!" Logan practically growled.
Logan really, it's fine I'm…well I'm definitely over it…and I've got something way better than anything I ever had with Bobby." She turned an adoring glance on Warren, the young man blushed but smiled.
Logan watched the exchange, seeing the plain look of love radiating in Rogue's eyes. He remembered what it was like and a painful twinge in his chest reminded him once again how alone he was.
"Well! This is definitely exciting!"
"It's odd though…because my powers are still present, it's not like the cure kicked in again…because I still can't touch anyone else without them being affected but…Warren is the exception somehow; I can touch him to any extent so far and he's fine."
"To any extent, huh?" Logan's voice hinted as he eyed the young man suspiciously.
"Logan!" Rogue sputtered. "It's …oh my god, it's nothing like that. Besides that's…none of your business!" Her cheeks flushed, exasperated and embarrassed.
"Hey kid, you may be nineteen but I'm still like the only brother you've ever had and I take that role very seriously…if I find out that this punk's been bangin you, I swear…"
"Oh my god, Logan stop!" Rogue clamped her hands over her ears. "Storm can you please tell him to shut up? This is embarrassing!"
"Logan, Rogue's nineteen, she's old enough to make her own decisions and some things you just don't share with anyone! Even if they're like family so, stop probing her, please? You're making me feel awkward and I'm not even the one getting all the embarrassing questions." Storm shook her head vigorously. "Well Rogue, even though Warren seems to be unaffected by your mutations, we still need to run some tests; see if we can figure out exactly what it is that enables his immunity to your powers. I don't wanna take any chances on not knowing how this thing is affected by him; I want to know everything that causes the change."
Rogue nodded. "Alright."
"Right now, Logan and I have some things to discuss but maybe sometime later this evening after classes you and Warren can meet me down in the clinic?"
Rogue glanced at Warren for confirmation; he nodded his agreement.
"Alright it settled then, we'll see you both later then."
Turning, Storm exited, Logan close behind her.
Rogue sighed, laughing a little nervously. "Well, that was a little awkward…if not completely disconcerting."
Warren laughed then. "Yeah, kinda awkward having Logan interrogate me like that, considering we've never even come close to…"
Rogue shook her head. "It's all good though; I mean he's just being a big brother, I know him…and he knows me and how I am."
Warren nodded, smiling. "Well that's good, I'm glad." He ran his fingers through the streak of white hair that fell into her beautiful hazel eyes. "So um…where were we again?"
Rogue blushed as she smiled shyly. "I don't know…" Flicking her hair out of her face with a toss of her head, she eyed him with a playful and slightly seductive smile. "Why don't you remind me, Angel."
Warren flashed his dazzling smile as he leaned in. 'god, I love this woman.' He thought to himself as his lips met hers and he felt the warm smile of her lips against his.
