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Knock, knock.
"Just a minute," came the muffled reply.
John was never a patient man, and tapped his foot, waiting. Finally, the door swung open and his eyes widened. His eyes dropped to Rogue's strappy heels up her slim pale legs to her knee length matching deep purple dress, with its tight corset-style top. His gaze lingered on the snugness of her cleavage before passing over the dark cross intertwined with the celtic moon pendant she always wore, to her amused face.
"See somethin' ya like?" she drawled.
John slowly smirked. Marie held up a hand.
"Nevermind." She pulled on her black bomber jacket, flipping her hair out from underneath as she stepped out of her room, closing the door. She looked at him in askance.
"Ready?"
When he didn't answer, Rogue huffed and shifted her weight as he was rescanning her form. She finally grabbed his arm and stalked off down the hall, "I'll take ya a picture, now come on."
John stared at her behind all the way to the garage, a goofy little smile on his face. When they reached the garage entrance however, as the door slammed shut, he pulled sharply on her arm, spinning her towards him. She looked at him startled. He simply studied her face, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist.
Meeting her gaze he finally spoke, "You look beautiful."
Rogue snapped her jaw shut. She hadn't realized it was gaping, but there you go. Slowly, she gave him a small smile before pulling away. She tugged on his arm, walking backwards.
"Right back at'cha, sugah."
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Marie pulled off her helmet as John slid off the bike before her. Setting his own helmet on the seat he just vacated, he grabbed hers in one hand and her hand in the other, helping her from the bike.
Professor X allowed them use of all his vehicles and while most of the X-men preferred the Aston Martin or the Jag, or even the environmentally conscious Hank and the Prius, but John, and Logan, preferred the Ducati.
They had just finished seeing Ender's Game, the movie. Someone finally got it together and made one based on the popular book, and their minds were pleasantly occupied in digesting all they saw. John suggested they see the current romantic comedy, but Marie had shook her head, seeing John wasn't entirely enthused about the idea.
Marie smoothed her mussed hair before taking John's proffered hand.
He glanced her from the side of his eye. "Sorry, if I scared you back there."
She gave him a bemused look. "Scared?"
He smirked. "You were clutching me pretty tight." He lifted a brow, "I guess I'm simply that irresistible."
Marie rolled her eyes, but still smiled. "Yes, that's it. The semi rushing at us as you sped through that red light had nothing to do with my utter terror."
"I disagree. It was totally yellow. Semi drivers are completely anal."
Rogue grimaced. "Well, that's a nice visual," she muttered.
They stopped outside the restaurant he was taking her to. He leaned her back against the brick wall, cornering her. Marie felt her breath catch as he leaned in close.
"I'd be happy to paint you another…" he breathed near her ear. She shuddered, turning her head towards him as he did the same. They were a breath apart when—
SCREECH!!Their romantic haze was disturbed as a figure whooshed past them and down the alley-way. It was broken entirely at the commotion on the street when they turned in time to see someone dashing across the street. A car was careening towards them and laid on the horn as their brakes squealed. The figure froze in the middle of the street, staring at the car seconds from hitting him.
Rogue was making to lift off toward him, when suddenly the dark figure raised his hand, sending a gust of sparking energy towards it, slowing its progress even more sharply, squealing to a stop right before him. Then he was off.
As he ran past them, Rogue gasped. John's eyes met hers, confirming it wasn't only her who saw it. Though it was dark, they both clearly saw they figure had black skin. John's eyes flashed fire; Rogue cocked her head at him. They only did that when he was Pyro, in the heat of battle, as it were.
Making a split decision, John grabbed her hand, "Come on." They took off down the alley after the mysterious figure. He was zooming farther and farther away however, his speed astounding. Rogue and Pyro glanced at each other, an understanding passing between them a second before she lifted into the air, gripping him around the waist and pulling him into the air with her.
They zoomed several meters over the dank passage, Rogue keeping not too far from the ground since she knew John wasn't exactly scared of heights, but didn't like then when he had no control.
The dark figure grew closer and they saw him sending dark blasts of sparking energy at his prey, her dark hair flowing behind her as she darted around, occasionally waving her arm and sending his dark blasts into the side of the building.
Suddenly they came upon the street and she disappeared amidst the crowds. Seeing the dark figure ready to plow through the crowds to find her, Pyro took a chance and ignited a flame before sending it into a garbage bin in front of him, blasting it sideways and directly into the dark figure's path.
The blackened figure yelled something loudly, and had it been in English, Rogue was sure it would have been a curse. Zooming down before the character could regain his senses, she dropped John on his feet, and reached her hand out to the character.
"Rogue, no!" John shouted.
His shout alerted her target of her presence and the dark figure spun facing her. She gasped at his eyes; they were void except for flames. He growled angrily and shot dark blasts at her, hitting her in the stomach. She was thrown back, landing on John. They both quickly stood.
Pyro threw out his hand sending a blast back at the figure. Rogue stared stunned as the blackened form merely stood there as he seemingly absorbed the fire Pyro sent his way. Glancing at John, she saw he was just as stunned.
Rogue took action then, realizing only she could stop this new mutant, with John's attacks nullified. She flew up and around in an evasive movement, dodging repeated blasts by her target. She mentally thanked John when he diverted an imminent attack she wouldn't be able to avoid. Apparently he figured if the dark figure could absorb fire, than his blasts were fire based and John could manipulate those.
When she was close enough, John sent a torrent of fire at the figure, distracting him. While the figure was busy absorbing the attack, Rogue flew in behind him and laid a bare hand on his back. She cried out, pulling her hand away as his 'flesh' burned hers.
John heard her over the roar of the flames and stopped abruptly. Wincing, Rogue determinedly pressed her finger to his searing skin and activated her power. She watched briefly as the dark figure's charcoal coloured skin melted away, revealing natural tan skin and a head of jet black hair, before removing her finger as she screamed, flames consuming her.
Distantly, she heard John calling out to her and the tan figure slumping to the ground, as her skin started burning, searing from the inside out. Flames erupted from her hands and her eyes clouded with white.
Through the excruciating pain she tried hard to call on her training, turning whatever power she happened to absorb off, but it wasn't happening. She started to panic. She called out to John, her voice coarse and shrill from the flames engulfing her.
When she felt to the ground, John was there. He caught her in his arms, unaffected by the searing heat of her flesh with his immunity to high temperatures. He calmed the flames shooting from her hands in small bursts.
Slowly, she became numb. No longer was there pain, but her blackened skin remained. Her fiery eyes focused on John's.
"John?" her voice came out gravelly. She looked at her hands.
"Yes, Marie, I'm here."
"John, what is this?" she asked still looking at her hands.
John briefly looked at the bare form of the previously blackened figure, still panting and kneeling, staring back at him.
"I think it's a side effect of his ability." He looked down at her. "It should wear off soon." John fingered her hair. It has survived the flames, and he smoothed it down. "Are you alright?"
Looking up from her blackened skin, she nodded. "It doesn't hurt anymore. He must have immunity to heat as well."
Nodding John, shifted her more securely into his arms and stood.
"I can stand, John."
Reluctantly, he set her on her feet and they approached the man, about their age. John shrugged off his leather jacket and handed it to the kneeling figure. He took it warily but covered his naked lower half.
"Who are you?" John asked.
The figure was still wary and said nothing.
"We're not going to hurt you," Rogue added, grimacing when her voice came out gravelly and menacing.
John spoke up again, "She's right. We're the good guys. Who were you chasing?"
The man looked down and away. "I am Roberto DaCosta," he started in a cultured accent. "I am searching for a group called the Hellfire Club."
John glanced at Marie and they frowned. Emma Frost was the White Queen of that organization, they knew.
"Why?" Rogue asked, forgetting herself.
The man glared. "They took my Juliana."
Another look shared between John and Marie, then, "We're the X-men. Charles Xavier could probably help you out," said John, before he pulled his x-com device from his pocket and turned away to speak on it.
"John, good. I was just about to call—"
"No time, Professor," John interrupted. "We've got a mutant here, another fire one."
"Splendid. I just received a report on one in the area. Bring him in immediately."
"It'd be better if you brought the jet. Rogue absorbed his powers and he's currently a little bare and she's, well…a flaming piece of charcoal."
"Ah. Alright, Storm is on her way."
John hung up the device and turned to see Marie kneeling before Roberto.
"—not my father. I have no father; he abandoned us; my mother and I," Roberto was saying.
"I'm sorry. So this is why they want you? You're a legacy and all that?"
Roberto nodded, "And for my abilities." He stared wide-eyed at her. "Did you take my powers? For good?"
Rogue grimaced and shook her head. "No. I absorb abilities only for a short while."
"Oh," Roberto added, sadly.
John knelt next to Rogue. "Storm's coming with the jet."
Roberto stiffened. Rogue noticed.
"It's okay. She works with the Professor."
"She is a…mutant?" Roberto asked.
Rogue nodded. "She helps other mutants, like us. And humans, against bad mutants."
John's mind wandered. Suddenly, he stood. The other two looked up at him.
"I'm gonna go grab my bike. You two alright here?"
They nodded.
"Good. I'll be right back."
Ten minutes later, the x-jet arrived, landing atop the building to their right. Rogue looked up as John's face appeared over the edge. Storm came flying out a second later and whooshed down to land in front of them.
Roberto stood, watching the new mutant fearfully. Storm smiled warmly.
Holding out her hand, she said, "Hello. My name's Ororo. You can call me Storm."
Roberto warily took her hand. "Roberto," he replied.
"A pleasure to meet you. Now, I don't want to alarm you, but parking around here is a nightmare so I'm going to need to give you a lift up."
Roberto looked up and then back at her. She smiled reassuringly. He nodded. Storm gripped his hand tighter and with his other hand gripping the jacket tight around him, they lifted off. Rogue soared up after them, landing next to Pyro on the rooftop.
She smiled at him, her white teeth a stark contrast to her blackened appearance. He smirked back.
"Once we get him some clothes you can use my jacket. It's fire-proofed," he offered.
"Thanks sugah."
Pyro laughed. "Wow, your accent really does not go with that voice."
"Oh, shush." She pouted.
John stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her searing hot skin, unaffected. "Here, you want it to end sooner? Just take a bit from me."
Her darkened forehead shot up. "I don't think it works that way. One power canceling out the other?"
"Won't know till we try," he added right before he pressed his lips to her blackened ones in a searing kiss.
After a few seconds she tried to end it, but he held fast. She knew what he wanted, but didn't want to hurt him. He finally lifted his head. "Do it. The Furball'll salivate over our findings."
"Yeah? And then Storm'll fry our ass for even thinking it." She countered.
"Hey, she doesn't need to know." He gave her his most charming grin. "Come on. And quickly before Storm starts yelling at us anyway." His gaze intensified. "I want you to," he added softly.
Biting her lip, she grimaced, giving in. "Alright, but step back so it'll be quick."
John smiled satisfied and stepped away from her dutifully, just their hands touching. Rogue concentrated briefly, feeling the pull immediately as she did. John gasped and she pulled away. He stumbled and she caught him. He panted looking at her as she steadied him.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Rogue! John, are you guys coming?" Came Storm's voice.
"Just a second," Rogue called. "Are you sure?" she asked, turning back to John.
"I'm fine." His gaze was busy searching her form.
She glanced down and saw she was still blackened.
"It didn't work."
"Try and suppress it," John said. "It seems to be fueled by fire so try and force it from your skin."
Rogue concentrated. Nothing happened. "I can't."
John nodded. "That's alright. Come on. I just remembered I left some flame-proof clothes in the cabin."
Rogue nodded, looking down. John wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Hey," he lifted her chin with his finger. She looked up at him, sadly. "What's wrong?"
"What if I'm stuck like this?" she asked. "Like with Ms. Marvel."
"No way, that chick went into a coma and you held on to her much longer than Sunspot over there." John nodded up the ramp. "And he's doing fine." They reached the top of the ramp and he faced her. "You'll be fine, love." A hint of his Australian accent peeked through. "Alright?" he ducked his head to try and meet her reluctant gaze.
Rogue felt a small smile curve her lips at his coaxing and she nodded. Pyro being sweet was an oddity, but was quite endearing.
"So…that was some first date," he continued. Rogue laughed outright at that. He smiled and led her over to the changing area. "Next time we'll have to actually eat something more than popcorn."
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A/N: Alright, I'm sorry if I didn't make it clear, I sometimes get ahead of myself, but yes Hank's little experiment worked and Rogue can now control her absorption of powers.
I decided I needed a little action/adventure/plot with my Ryro, so I hope you guys all liked it. I have the Marvel Encyclopedia for X-Men Volume 2 at my disposal, so it's coming in handy with this story. You will find out more about Roberto in the next chapter and how Rogue and Pyro deal with it. An actual mission, yay! And I'll manage to include some snarky, brooding Pyro since that's why we love him;P
And the mysterious figure Roberto(Sunspot, for those of you who wish to look him up;P) was chasing may have a little duel with Rogue, I don't know, we shall see;D
Please Review and let me know what you think. I have TWO fire mutants now to discourage ridiculous flaming(redundant, I know.)