Hey ya'll

Hey ya'll! Thanks for the reviews, glad you liked the update. :D

More action in this chapter, promise :P The last chapter was more of a filler chapter :P

-UltimateGammy91

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Chapter Three – New Discoveries: Part 1

Several hours later…

They touched down on French soil by dawn, France time. Cyclops ordered that they try to hide the Blackbird away from the village they were supposed to be interrogating, so not to cause any unwanted attention or trouble with the locals. Storm landed the Blackbird on the outskirts of a forest not a mile away from the village where it stood inconspicuous in the thick forest cover but easy enough to find again if they needed to leave in a hurry. Each X-Man covered their uniforms with a civilian coat, with the exception of Kurt who adjusted his image inducer and Scott who swapped his visor for a pair of ruby quarts sunglasses. Along with the civilian look, six motorcycles which had been stored in the back of the Blackbird were wheeled out onto the road. It was understood that if they just appeared out of no where at this time a day, six strangers all in matching coats and peculiar appearances, they would be prone to suspicion by the villagers. The last thing that they needed was a French anti-mutant welcome. Mounting a motorcycle each, they made their way along the gravel road towards the village at a steady rate.

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"Vould find more cheer in a graveyard…"

Rogue gave a small snort of a chuckled as she replied her brother's awe-filled words.

"Ya said it."

The village was simple. That was it. Simple. It had little warmth or charm about it. The streets, which were half cobble stone and half cement roads, were bare of civilians while the houses stood only two stories high on either side of the narrow roads. A few odd cars, all small and well suited to the narrow street ways, were parked here and there but the majority of transport seemed to be either motorcycles or bicycles. Daylight was not far off and a deep fog had already descended upon the village. The only lights that this place provided in this fog and near-daylight were the old fashioned street lamps and the odd window here and there. The X-Men stared down the narrow street ways, having only just parked their bikes together on one side of the road, but neither of them said very much. The village spoke for itself.

"Okay team, I think we should start heading towards the mansion-"

"And where do ya suppose it is Cyk?"

Cyclops made to answer but stopped before words could even form. They hadn't been given specific coordinates to the mansion, the Professor had only been able to track down the specific location of where the village was. Though this set them back a little, it didn't discourage them. Finally, Pulse spoke up, pulling his coat collar a little closer around his neck as the cold began to nip at his ears as he spoke.

"Maybe we should split up and find someone to give us directions?"

Scott frowned though you couldn't really tell with his shades on. He pursed his lips in thought before answering, his arms crossed over his torso as he spoke up again.

"We would be drawing attention to ourselves…"

Rogue rolled her eyes. "Some fearless leader ya are…" She came to stand beside Scott before speaking.

"Scott, it's barely dawn now. There ain't no one out here t' draw attention from. If we split up an' walk around a lil' maybeh we'll fahnd someone t' help us fahnd that mansion?"

"And somewhere to eat. I'm starving!"

Kurt clutched his stomach with a sad mock-pout across his lips. He appeared a tall, lean young man with unruly black hair and silver-blue eyes but underneath all the beauty material, he was still the same old Kurt with an appetite that could match the infamous Blob. Rogue just shook her head with a small smile while the others just rolled their eyes knowingly. Scott however, like the leader he was, kept his "Leader's stance" as he replied, authority thick in his voice.

"The Professor wanted us to find the girl as fast as possible. We can think about food later, Right now-"

"Right now we're pretty much lost. Don't see how it could hurt if we split up an' look for directions."

Logan stood in a similar stance as Scott, but there was less of a stick-up-his-ass attitude behind his posture. Suddenly, everyone seemed to remember that Logan was second in command, for at that moment, Kurt spoke up.

"All in favour of Logan's game plan, raise your hand and say 'I."

Scott scowled irritably as everyone raised their hands and said 'I' in agreement. He was reluctantly overruled, however, before the six split up to find help (and food), he reassured his leadership (and pride) by ordering that they meet back at the bikes in two hour's time. Though they rolled their eyes at him, they followed in order and broke away from each other in twos. Rogue and Kurt simultaneously went off together while Logan and Storm went one way, Cyclops on his own in another direction and Pulse disappeared before anyone really noticed which way he went.

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Rogue and Kurt had not been walking long but it visibly became lighter out in the sleepy streets. Dawn had come but the fog diminished the sunlight. Rogue and Kurt kept in close proximity as they walked around the narrow streets but their search proved unsuccessful. Not a soul was awake this time of day and frankly, Rogue and Kurt alike, could see why. Rogue let out a large yawn, covering her mouth with her gloved hand as sleepy tears glazed over her eyes. She was starting to feel the symptoms of jetlag. Kurt on the other hand had nothing but food on his mind. Rogue heard a loud gurgle come from her brother's stomach as they passed a closed local Café on the street. Rogue gave him a sympathetic look as they simultaneously stopped in front of the window. He had his nose pressed against the window, his breath turning to vapour against the glass as he stared in through the window, pouting. Rogue let him stand there a moment before gently tugging at his arm and pulling him away from the window. He gave an audible mockery of a sob as they walked away, making Rogue chuckle amusedly.

"Ya really hungry huh?"

"I'm starving!"

He spoke this thickly with a German accent, clutching his belly as it gurgled hungrily again. Rogue rolled her eyes but smile with amusement. There was usually nothing that could come between him and his stomach, and though it often disgusted her how much he could stuff in his mouth, she knew how painful it was for him to be denied his love of food. She herself was growing increasingly hungry but she had better restraint than her poor brother.

"The minute we find a place zhat's open can we please get something to eat? I don't think I can take zhis much longer!"

Rogue nodded.

"Promise. But let's keep goin' okay? Sooner we find someone for directions, the better."

"Ja. The better."

They continued to walk onwards, Kurt grumbling about his stomach now and again while Rogue just continued to yawn sleepily. Slowly, to their luck and relief, people began to emerge from the village houses. They approached people who came their way, Rogue speaking for the two of them for she was fluent in French. Curiously however, no matter how kindly she asked about the mansion, the reaction was generally the same; fearful. They became anxious and babbled away short answers in French like "I don't know of any mansion around here" or "I- I know nothing" and "I'm sorry, I can't help you" before walking off at a quick pace, making every effort not to look back at them as they walked away. Finally, after an hour of looking, the two decided to take a break and to Kurt's utter delight, they found a small Café and sat down to get something to eat.

They sat themselves down at a small table inside, out of the cold, and while Kurt ate heartily practically everything that was on the menu, Rogue kept to a cup of coffee and a banana and cream crêpe. They ate and drank in silence, neither one really attempting to make conversation, one, because Kurt was too busy stuffing his mouth full of pancakes and two, Rogue was too lost in thought. Finally, when Kurt was satisfied and full, he turned to look at his sister. She had barely touched her food but took to sipping from her coffee while her gaze was lost out the window. Kurt moved forward and waved a hand in front of her face to distract her. Rogue blinked and turned back to him only to take another sip from her coffee and stare at her plate. Kurt raised a questioning brow at her before speaking.

"Are you alright?"

Rogue's head shot up, as if surprised. She relaxed before speaking again.

"What? Oh. No ah'm fahne. Just thinkin'."

Kurt nodded but before he could speak, her gaze returned to the window. He spoke up to get her attention this time.

"Are you sure you're alright schwester?"

Rogue turned her head back to meet his gaze. Her brow was furrowed in thought while as she spoke, her voice became vague and distant.

"Don't it seem strange to ya that no one wanted t' give us a straight answer?"

Kurt furrowed his brow.

"I guess so. But maybe they really didn't know what ve were asking?"

Rogue shook her head.

"They were too nervous. They must've known somethin'. They jus' don't wanna tell us."

Kurt nodded but said nothing more as a waitress arrived with a second plate of food for Kurt. He tucked into it happily and was on his third mouthful when he turned back to his sister only to find the same vague look across her face. Sighing, he swallowed and put down his knife and fork before reaching across and resting a hand over his sister's. She jumped slightly but relaxed not a moment later. It was a chain reaction for her to flinch involuntarily at any kind of contact that she wasn't anticipating. She saw hurt flash across her brother's face for a moment. He knew of this habit well and Rogue knew as much. Rogue gave a small apologetic smile and squeezed his hand in reassurance but it was not enough for him. He spoke cautiously, his voice low enough only for her to hear.

"Something tells me this isn't the only thing zhat is bothering you."

Rogue raised a brow at him perplexedly.

"No. It's just ah'm curious why these folks don't seem t' want t'-"

"Is it about Gus?"

Rogue's eyes widened but her expression was still full of confusion as she asked vaguely.

"Why would ah beh bothered by Gus-?"

Kurt shrugged uncomfortably as he picked at a sausage with a fork. He was silent for a moment before speaking.

"I don't know. Maybe because he can touch you without your powers being an issue-"

"Shh!"

Rogue's eyes shifted about the small Café they were squashed into but none of the few people in the room made any indication they heard anything. She turned her gaze back to Kurt, her gaze set in a scowl as she spoke.

"Be careful. Ya should know better than anyone that sayin' anythin' lahke that can draw unwanted attention. An' as for Gus, ah couldn't care less about whether or not he can touch meh."

Kurt flushed red but there was still an undertone of curiosity in his voice under his cautiousness as he spoke up again.

"I was just wondering. Kitty was-"

"Kitty was what?"

Kurt gave a weak smile as the scowl across his sister's face deepened. He knew there was no way out of answering truthfully so he replied quickly.

"Kitty said something about Gus being interested in you…"

Rogue slumped back in her seat, her arms crossed and a brow raised. She was most clearly unimpressed by his answer. After a moment's silence, Kurt began to justify himself with words.

"Look, I was concerned. I wanted to know-"

"If ah fancied him too?"

Kurt scratched the back of his head nervously, a blush still evident across his face as he continued.

"Yeah, kinda. It's just, I don't know, he's a nice guy and everything but I wasn't really sure you-"

"Ah don't."

"You don't what?"

Rogue rolled her eyes but continued.

"Ah don't lahke him that way. As a friend, sure, but ah don't lahke him that way."

"So…even though you could probably, you know, be with him. You wouldn't?"

Rogue smirked as the blush across her brother's face tripled in his uncomfortably embarrassed state that he turned nearly tomato red in the face. "Boy, that image inducer does wonders." She leant forward and rest her elbows on the table to hold her face up in her hands before speaking. There was an undertone of tease in her voice as she spoke up in a mockery of an innocent tone.

"Why whatever do ya mean by 'be with him' brother?"

Kurt blushed crimson but glared at her as she sniggered at him amusedly. When she stopped sniggering, he replied.

"You know vhat I mean schwester."

Rogue chuckled as she replied.

"Of course ah do Kurt. But really, ah can'te see mahself with him. He's nahce enough, ah just don't see him lahke that. If he turned out t' beh mah only chance at bein' close t' someone. Ah wouldn't take it. It would only be selfish."

Kurt was struck silent by his sister's words. There was an uncomfortable couple of minutes of silence between the two. Finally, Rogue, who was more than happy to relieve the tension and discomfort of the moment, spoke up. Standing from her seat she tucked in her chair as she spoke.

"Look- ya stay an' finish ya breakfast, ah'm gonna head out an' look f' someone who can help us out. Okay?"

Kurt gave a small frown, a worried frown, before speaking.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come?"

Rogue waved her hand dismissively and nodded.

"Don't ya worry none, ah'll beh fahne. Ah'll come back here before we have t' meet up with Scooter, okay?"

Kurt nodded before she turned on her heal and left the Café. She thanked the waitress who served them before stepping out into the cold. Rogue felt the cold air wash over her face as she let her shoulders drop with a sigh. The uncomfortable tension in the air that had gone on during that conversation was lifted. Her first intention for leaving Kurt in the café was forgotten as thoughts of what Kurt had said plagued her mind. She turned quickly on to the narrow pathway, clutching her coat close to her as the wind raced past her while she walked. Her thoughts began to take over her again while she paid little attention as to where she was going. Kurt's words rang through her mind continuously. Kitty had been the same on the matter of Gus ever since they found out what Gus's powers were.

Gus, or Augustus, had appeared at the mansion only about eight months ago under invitation form the Professor. Apparently he had been under the Professor's service as an underground X-Man, working the cities and keeping tabs on anything that might be of interest to the Professor and the X-Men. The Professor had called him out of the 'underground field' to help back at the mansion. Though he took some classes as a substitute teacher, his prioritised job was with maintenance work around the school grounds. The mansion, not long ago, had been turned from an institution to a fully fledged school for mutants of all ages. The grounds had been expanded with new buildings, more levels and an abundance of new students that had taken lodging in the school. Hence, the need for more staff and supervisors. Gus was one of many new X-Men that had been recruited over the last year. His powers however, were of greater interest. He had the power to produce disruptive pulses from his eyes which could disable any system both mechanical and organic. He could scramble electronic systems within moments and in the case of mutants, he could disable mutant powers within a certain distance from him. Kitty had so conveniently suggested that it would prove to be a great opportunity for Rogue as did Gus himself. Though he hadn't said anything about it, Rogue could tell from the carefree way that he acted around her that he wouldn't be objective to the idea.

Rogue let out a sigh of annoyance. She wished she did like him like that sometimes, just to make it easier on all of them but she knew she couldn't force herself to like him. Despite craving touch without her powers getting in the way, she knew it would only be selfish and unfair to Gus if she willed herself to attempt a relationship with him for only that reason. Though she got along with Gus fine enough, it wasn't enough.

As these troubles continued to play in her mind, Rogue failed to notice where she was stepping .Hence, when an old woman who carried a heavy woven basket filled with groceries in her arms, she was so oblivious to her presence that she collide with the old woman. Rogue cried out in a startle as she knocked into the old woman, the basket of groceries falling to the floor. Luckily however, Rogue managed to stable the woman and herself on their feet, grasping her covered arm firmly to keep them both from falling. When they were stable, Rogue began to apologize in French.

"Madame, je suis tellement désolé! Je auriez dû voir où j'allais-" (Madam, I am so sorry! I should have watched where I was going-")

"Do not worry my dear, I'm quite alright."

The woman giggled, as if amused by Rogue's babbling in French, while Rogue stared dumbfounded on the spot. Raising a brow she replied, curious and confused.

"Ya…speak English?"

The elderly woman smiled pleasantly. She was a stout old woman, about a head shorter than Rogue. There was a certain pleasantness about her face that Rogue couldn't help but notice. Though she was wrinkled about the face and her hair was streaked grey and pulled back in a loose bun of curls, she was quite pretty. Or at least, had the impression that she was once quite pretty in her youth. Her eyes were a soft amber colour that drew warmth from the cold like a flame while she kept herself warm draped in a long maroon skirt while a pair of garden boots covered her feet and a thick brown overcoat covered the rest of her plump form. Her face wrinkled a little more as she smiled before speaking.

"I am English dear. And you are…American I believe? Somewhere in the South?"

Rogue nodded dumbfounded but quickly shook herself when she returned to realisation. Looking down she found vegetables and fruit scattered across the pavement and instantly felt guilty for being so thoughtless while walking. Blushing slightly out of embarrassment she bent down to pick it all up again as she spoke.

"Ah am so sorry for this- Ah'll pay ya back for any damage done t' the food-"

The elderly woman's silvery chuckle stopped her from speaking any further. She looked up as she piled vegetables back into the basket while the woman spoke.

"Do not worry dear, there was no real harm done. It is only food."

Rogue didn't really know if that was intended to be sincere or cheerfully spiteful but nonetheless she began to apologise again. The woman shook her head dismissively but smiled and reassured her once more that she was in no way angry with her and that she had apologized enough. Rogue was finishing re-packing what was salvageable of the vegetables as she spoke up again.

"Are ya sure? Ah could run down t' the nearest supermarket to buy anythin' ya lost-"

The woman smiled and shook her head as Rogue stood up with the basket in hand. Finally, she spoke up.

"If you would really like to help dear, you can carry this to my home. It's not far, so it should not take long."

Rogue nodded vigorously and followed the old woman with the basket in her arms. As promised, they needed only walk down the lane before the old woman stopped in front of a small shop. Rogue eyed the front of the shop with interest as the old woman unlocked the front door.

"Madame Marian's Antiques…"

The woman turned around and smiled warmly at Rogue as she let the name of the shop slip from between her lips in a vague whisper. Rogue returned the smile uncomfortably before following Madame Marian into the shop with the basket still in her arms. As soon as she entered, the overwhelming smells of burning tea leaves engulfed her sense and nearly made her swoon but she kept herself steady. She followed Madame Marian past several shelves full of old antique vases, glass cases and countless hard back books, past odd megaphones covered in dust and old radios that would never play again. The room was warm, the walls bathed in a honey gold colour while the furnishings were wood polished and old fashioned. It was like walking into the past.

"You can set that on the table there my dear."

Rogue broke out of her thoughts only to realise she had stopped to look around the room. Beside her, surely enough, stood a polished round wooden table with a muslin cream table cloth placed over it. Rogue set down the basket carefully on the table as instructed before turning to look around the room again. Her gaze wondered about the room in a transfixed state of awe and fascination. Again however, Madame Marian, as she assumed her to be called, broke her out of her daze of wonder.

"Would you like to come into the kitchen for some herbal tea my dear? You look awfully pale and cold. I'm sure it would do you some good."

Rogue whirled around to find Madame Marian standing in the doorway, she guessed, was to the kitchen. She had lost her brown coat and had donned a woollen cardigan of maroon that was long and draped past her knees but her garden boots were still on her feet. Rogue quickly eyed her watch. She had a little more than half an hour before she had to head back to the meeting point, she didn't see how it could hurt to stay for a little while.

"Uh…that would be great. Ya sure ya don't mahnd?"

Marian let out another silvery chuckle before turning around and heading towards the kitchen. Rogue followed in tow, the woman's silence was her only answer. Not five minutes later, Marian ushered her to a comfortable seat at the kitchen table and busied herself about the room. When Rogue attempted to ask if she needed any help, she only smiled and told her to just keep herself seated and that the tea would be ready soon. Rogue watched as Marian boiled a brass kettle on an old fashioned stone and pulled out two sets of cups and saucers from a near by shelf and placed them before her. She did this silently, her fingers nimble while her feet were quick. Not too long later, she returned to the table with the boiled kettle in one hand and a glass jar of tea leaves in the other. Rogue quickly took the kettle and placed it on a set out cork mat on the table. Marian thanked her before placing two pinches of tea leaves in each cup before grasping the kettle and pouring hot water into the cups. Rogue wrapped her hands around the cup's rim, feeling the warmth through the fabric of her gloves despite the thickness of the material. She watched as the tea leaves swirled in the water before it polluted the clear water to a murky reddish-brown colour.

"It should be good to drink in a moment my dear. Tea leaves need time to settle."

Rogue looked up at Marian and smiled sheepishly. She didn't know why but she couldn't help but feel comfortable and yet awkward at the same time around Marian. She felt in some way like she had seen this woman before but the common sense within her reminded her that she didn't. It was confusing.

"So, what is a young girl like you doing in a place like this? I would not think anything in this village would provoke interest from anyone of your age."

Rogue smiled feebly. Suddenly she remembered what she had set out to do in the first place. She eyed Marian thoughtfully before choosing her next words carefully.

"Ah'm here with some friends, jus' passin' through. We're actually lookin' for a place not far from here, a mansion. Would ya happen t' know of any that are near here?"

Marian smiled in what Rogue suspiciously guessed was a knowing way. She tucked back a stray curl of greying brown hair before replying as she sat herself down in the wooden chair opposite her.

"Yes I believe there is a mansion not far from here. Not too far off the outskirts of the North side of the village."

Rogue's eyes kindled with relief but something kept her from excusing herself to leave. She found herself rooted in her seat as she stared back at Marian with wonder. There was something about this woman and this shop that awoke something familiar in her but she could not name or describe it. So she stayed and waited for her to tell her what she felt she needed to know.

"Drink up dear, the tea should be ready to drink. Not too hot now I hope."

That, she didn't really need to know but Rogue stayed hopeful as she grasped her tea cup and took a quick sip. Strangely however, the moment the hot liquid touched her lips, she felt herself warm almost instantly. The cold that had marred her covered skin forgotten as she became content with warmth. She took a larger sip as Marian began to speak again.

"You said something about coming here with friends? Did they lose you my dear?"

"No, uh, we decided to split up to look for someone who could give us directions. Would ya mahnd givin' meh some directions to the mansion? Mah friends an' ah would really appreciate it-"

"Of course, of course dear. But do drink up that tea up first, it'll go cold and course in this cold."

Rogue eyed Marian curiously but did as told. She practically sculled the rest of the tea down her throat before reaching forward to place the cup on the table. However, before it even touched the tablecloth, Marian reached over and took Rogue's empty cup.

"May I?"

Rogue stared perplexedly at Marian for a moment before handing it over. Marian began to twist the cup in her hands, examining it with a thoughtful expression across her aging face. Rogue remained silent for a good while before speaking. Her voice was half-joking, but curious as she spoke up.

"Are ya readin' tea leaves?"

Marian smiled and nodded, her gaze never leaving the cup as she explained further.

"It is a small hobby of mine."

Rogue chuckled. She never really did believe in magic, at least, not divination. Palm reading and tarot cards at parties were always good for laughs but tea leaf reading?

Rogue shook her head slightly. She did not believe in it but she did not want to offend Marian after all her kindness and hospitality. Finally, after a few more moments of silence, Marian let out a thoughtful hum of what Rogue suspected was fascination. Rogue spoke, her voice good humoured but curious all at once.

"Have ya predicted mah untimely death?"

Marian chuckled with amusement as she turned the cup again while she spoke.

"Do not worry dear. You won't be dying any time soon. Not for a while if I'm correct."

Rogue's smile diminished as her brow furrowed in confusion as she remained silent. Marian continued to look at the tea leaves, humming contentedly before finally speaking.

"Hmm…a new challenge lies in your path…but your future is clouded with uncertainty…my, my. How peculiar…but indeed, love does move in peculiar ways I suppose…"

Rogue raised her brow suspiciously, utterly confused by Marian's words.

"Excuse meh?"

At this Marian placed the cup back on the table and looked back at Rogue for the first time in a while. She smiled kindly while Rogue continued to look baffled and suspicious. Smiling still, she replied the younger woman's confused look.

"Tea Leaf reading is a favourite of mine."

Rogue raised a brow at Marian before replying. Her decision to be patient with Marian was forgotten as she spoke coldly.

"And is crystal ball gazin' somethin' ya favour too?"

Marian smiled again for possibly the hundredth time in that single hour before standing and making her way out of the room without another word. Rogue sat baffled in her seat for a moment but wasn't left to wait long before Marian returned to the room. She approached Rogue coolly before reaching out and placing two things on the table before her. A folded map that was worn at the edges but looked relatively new sat on the table while a key no bigger than Rogue's index finger laid on top of it. Without invitation, Rogue reached out and grasped the small iron key in her hand and fingered it curiously. She eyed it a good couple of seconds before turning to look up at Marian who still stood beside her, watching.

"What are these for?"

Marian smiles down on Rogue before speaking.

"The map is to lead you to the mansion and the key…you'll know."

Not a moment later, Rogue found herself being lead out of the shop and back into the cold streets of the village. Marian bid Rogue goodbye quickly, wishing her and her friends luck on finding whatever they were looking for before returning inside. Rogue wandered down the streets in a daze of confusion and wonder.

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OH MY GOD THAT TOOK FOREVER!! Lol so much for constant lengths of chapters. Ah well, I bet your all happy I posted such a long chapter. Next chapter, I promise that they will find the girl :D REVIEW!!

-ultimategammy91