Author Note: This is a Bobby chapter.

Disclaimer: Don't own X-men or X-men by products.


There were a few things that were stopping Bobby from enjoying his food.

One, he was a bit of a picky eater and eating something he can barely pronounce usually was a red flag for him. But heck, if she liked it, he will try it.

Two, he didn't know how to use chopsticks. Where were the forks in this place?

Three, his good friend sitting across from him was stuffing her face with chicken pad thai.

Bobby looked at Rogue in fascination and horror. She ordered the family plate and was scarfing it down like it was going to be her last meal. He didn't know where the woman stored it all. She was so lean and petite. His eyes traced her body. Oh right, that's where she kept it.

He cleared his throat trying to clear his mind from those thoughts. Shouldn't he be over his teenage hormone phase? Come on it was only Rogue. Sure she was sassy, smart, laughed at his jokes which automatically meant she had a great sense of humor and curvy in all the right places. Bobby coughed swallowing his food the wrong way. Darn it, his mind went that direction again.

"Ya okay?" Rogue took a break from devouring her food.

Bobby cleared his throat straightening up again. Don't mess it up Robert…

"I'm fine. "Bobby said taking a mouthful of rice. "I was just thinking about…Kitty yeah, Kitty."

Rogue smirked "Come on her food ain't that bad. Sure da gal needs some flavor…maybe even lesson on how not to phase the pot into the stove." Rogue shook her head. "Ah wonder how that happened."

"Maybe she thought putting the pot closer to the fire would make her vegetable soup cook faster?"

Rogue frowned "The Pollock painting on the walls was soup?"

Bobby smirked "I think the key words is, was."

Falling into banter with Rogue was easy. He was comfortable with her and didn't feel like he had to impress her. With Jubilee it was always about mischief, with Amara it was trying to be romantic. Rogue was more like dinner at home while snuggling on the couch type of girl. Maybe pull up a horror movie, or something Gothic he wasn't sure. They could also just enjoy silence together. She was different from his other girlfriends.

Wait hold a minute, girlfriend?

Bobby shoved more food into his mouth to try to ease his mind. Okay, for one Rogue was not his girlfriend. Rogue was just a friend he took to get some Thai food so they can get to know each other. He just wanted to talk to her about her day and her debate team. Maybe figure out who this older guy was. Yeah, this was totally platonic, trying to get to know each other type of date.

God darn it Robert this is not a date, he told himself.

So what if he found her totally hot?

Bobby shifted his eyes back to Rogue. He looked on how her hair had become longer over the year, growing just passed her shoulders. The white locks framing her heart shaped face perfectly. The cupid bow lips that were painted in purple. He wondered how her skin looked under all that white makeup. He was tempted to know.

In a totally platonic way of course.

Bobby cleared his throat again.

"Ya got something stuck in ya throat?" Rogue tilted her head her green eyes shining at him.

Bobby suddenly felt uncomfortable in his pants. "Yeah, I am fine…just not use to something spicy."

Rogue shook her head her mouth doing an 'o'. "We coulda got something else."

"No , no" Bobby shook his head. "I wanted to try something new…I mean" He placed the coconut curry in his mouth trying not to wince at the fiery inferno in his mouth. He wasn't kidding about the spiciness. "It's good."Bobby smiled turning his tongue to ice. He hoped that cooled it down.

Rogue beamed " Ya isn't it?" Rogue sighed her smile dropping "But I sort of miss some homemade stuff ya know?"

"Well we can always have what Kitty made back home. I am sure they will be plenty left."

"Nah, Ah mean home, home. " Rogue sighed again "Southern cooking."

Bobby mentally kicked himself. Why didn't he think of that? He could have brought her to some southern cooking place. Get her full on corn bread. Then maybe they can get some deep dish pizza another time. They can totally share each others home town specialty with each other. This was about getting to know each other right?

"Next time we can go to some Southern restaurant."

Rogue frowned "Ah don't know." Rogue looked around seeing the restaurant being crowded. She rarely went to places like this unless it was an emergency. Kitty's cooking was definitely an emergency.

"Too much skin." Rogue said staring at the other restaurant goers.

Bobby can see her slowly pulling away from him. He tried to get her back "Come on Rogue. What happened to Road to Bad-ass-a-tude. One is trying not to care so much about other people. You are cover enough, you will be fine."

Rogue frowned. "Small steps Bobby. Ah isolated myself for more than five years."

Bobby held his tongue. He needed to change subjects. "So who was the guy who drove you home the other day?"

Rogue paused trying to remember back. She rubbed her forehead thoughtfully. "Ah, ya mean Prof. Todd? He is just my advisor for debate team, also Laws and Society Professor."

Bobby let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. Why did he feel relieved? Maybe because he didn't kick Rogue's teacher where the sun don't shine like he wanted to, Rogue would have killed him. No, that wasn't it. Bobby decided he should turn off the logical part of his brain. It wasn't that useful anyways.

"Right."Bobby smiled "A Professor, good."

"Don't worry, he won't snitch. "Rogue shrugged. "At least Ah think, he knows it's the institute for mutants. "Rogue sighed rubbing her forehead.

Bobby dropped his chopsticks. "What?"

Rogue rolled her eyes "Ah told ya he won't tell the college."

"But-"Bobby remembered what happened in Bayville High School.

"He said he won't "Rogue shrugged

"You trust him?" Bobby frowned.

Rogue scowled "Not really, there something…."Rogue wanted to say off but if she did Bobby wouldn't trust her next words "Doesn't matter, Ah'm trying this new thing, it's called trusting people."

Bobby frowned "I just don't-"

"Look Popsicle, Ah can handle myself" Rogue pointed to herself. "So ya can butt out."

There goes the stubbornness. Bobby sighed.

"Fine. "Bobby grabbed his chopsticks and tried to sneak pad thai from Rogue's plate. The noddle fell on the table. "Darn."

Rogue shook her head "Ya know they have forks?"

"What?"

Bobby tried really hard to pay for the check. He even asked for combined checks. But Rogue said if he didn't let her to pay for her part she turn him to a refrigerator. He kindly let go of the check, so much for that plan.

Bobby stared at the institute as Rogue parked Kitty's van. Somehow he sort of wish he wasn't here. Don't get him wrong he loves the institute and being an X-men. But he just didn't want to be here now.

He just wanted to put the keys in the engine, turn the car on and drive somewhere anywhere, as long as Rogue was with him. Maybe they can travel across country, visit Mississippi but first Boston. He missed his parents even if they didn't agree with the whole mutant thing. They accepted him, but not truly, they still had a sore spot about the dangers of being a mutant and hanging around them entailed. But not accepting the danger is never accepting him. He wondered what his Dad think if he brought Rogue home.

His blue eyes shifted to Rogue as she stomped ahead of him towards the institute. Her shoes crunching against the falling tree leaves. He looked down placing his foot where she had been. He frowned, he wondered if he would ever be truly an X-men. He still was in the New Mutants team. It reminded him how really young he was.

Rogue was in college.

Rogue was an X-men.

Rogue was a woman.

He was, Bobby Drake from Boston who still had boyish good looks. He was in his last year of high school. He was just seventeen years old, turning eighteen in two months. Rogue was already an X-men at sixteen. She already proved herself a valuable asset. The whole apocalypse thing and all. All Bobby really did was make the danger room into his personal ice skating ring. Bobby frowned, could he ever catch up to her? She was ahead of him, not by feet, or by miles, but by galaxies.

Bobby shook his head. No this was the Iceman, he would not have such thoughts. If he wanted something he would do his hardest to get it.

"Hey Bobby, thanks for dinner." Rogue said taking off her fall coat as they entered the foyer of the mansion. "It's good to have some decent grub around here."

Bobby smiled "Hey next time's my treat." Bobby placed his hands inside his pocket. He didn't wear the jacket. The cold never bothered him anyways.

Rogue smiles, a toothy grin he never saw her use. Maybe it was his words, or the timing but the clouds parted in the sky letting the rays shine through the mansion's windows. Rogue seemed to be at the right spot, at the right moment letting the light illuminate her. An ethereal glow was casted on her, making her features just that more breathe taking. Bobby held his breath. She looked like an angel, no a goddess, he thought.

"Yeah, maybe next time…" Rogue spoke turning around and heading to her room.

Bobby stood there in silence.

Crap.

Double crap.

Robert Drake wanted Rogue.


Author Note: Okay so, Romy shippers please don't hate me! It will be Romy eventually. This is a story that will have some romance but it isn't the main focus. The focus is Rogue getting control of herself, powers and self esteem included. I know this chapter was a little...boring than the previous chapters. -Shrugs-. I promise it will pick up eventually.

Did anyone catch a reference? Tehe, if you did please comment~! Thanks everyone for the support.