A/N: So, I only recently began writing this story again as I have lacked inspiration completely, nothing has come to me and it has been so difficult to just go on in life knowing I had left you all hanging.
Lies, all lies!
It was so fun, torture is great. But doing nothing is horrible so I am back! Hear the trumpets sound! Anyone watch project runway lately, I have been so addicted to that show because I design and create clothes, it is great to watch for ideas. I make myself my own challenges.
I am so tired of living in cheap, crappy, roach infested apartments. You all probably know what I am talking about, working at dead end jobs for the tiny amount of cash they throw at you every two weeks and then getting some of that amount out of your check for health insurance that only pays for three dollars or so of surgery.
That's it I'm moving to Canada!!!
(Psyche & Telepathy & Cody speak)
;Flashback;
Disclaimer: I do not own X-men Evolution, I however own a life size cardboard Gambit that is covered with many kisses.
Chapter 9: Distorted
Two hours earlier
Her full weight tried to rip her arms from their sockets. Gravity attempted to pull her down, her palms ran with sweated as she firmly gripped the warming bar. She began to swing her feet in dramatic circles, enjoying the uncontrollable jerking of her body round and round. Using all of her remaining strength she tried to pull her small form above the monkey bars.
Two uncovered claws clamped around her bare legs and helped push her up. Rogue's bright green eyes looked down, seeing her own childhood body clad in nothing but a sleeveless shirt and small shorts wasn't shocking. Nor were the blue, three finger hands wrapped around her calves, boosting her high above the brightly colored bars.
Just the joyful atmosphere told her where she was. She looked into the kind, yellow eyes of her brother, at the peaceful surroundings of her young friends frolicking around the playground. All of them with the same carefree air that only a child could have. At the moment nothing bad could happen.
She didn't notice a small Scott, his unshielded blue eyes caught upon his shoes, as they kicked at the smooth sand. Lonely without his red headed love.
But Rogue knew where she was, and it wasn't real.
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I raced quickly to the bathroom, and began searching frantically in the cabinets until I found the green bottle of mouth wash.
"Get'em off me! Get'em off me!" I squealed furiously, before chugging the noxious liquid.
I swished it around in my mouth. My face turning mottled red and my eyes watered like rivers as I tried to rid myself of the "Summers disease" I deemed so unworthy to be mixed with my own saliva.
'Oh god, Ah think Ah used tongue!'
I cringed, swallowing some of the antiseptic for good measure. I spat the mouth full out and drank some more, knowing one swish wasn't enough.
Bobby peered into the bathroom, oblivious to all that had occurred in the foyer, "Someone call Poison Control! Rogue's trying to kill herself again!"
A well aimed kick to the groin shot from the bathroom and Ice boy fell over, groaning in extreme pain.
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The river tumbled forward over rocks, twinkling in the bright sun. the humid air blew softly through the tall, green grass. Mosquito's buzzed in lazy circles, enjoying the heat around them. A small breeze threw the old swing against the Oak tree it was tied to, it's chains screaming in protest at it's lack of freedom.
His blonde hair twisted and flew about his head, his small body slumped over the edge as he watched the water shoot by him.
Rogue ambled toward the young boy, picking her way over rocks and pushing past tall-grass. "Whatcha watchin', Cody?" She said, staring inquisitively at him. Her small, chubby fingers twirling a fat curl around them.
Technically Rogue had never known Cody as a child, only brushing against him at the party where her powers manifested. But here, right now, everyone seemed to be a child. Carefree, worriless.
"Somethin's wrong," He mumbled, his brow furrowed in confusion.
He pointed to the images in the water and they silently watched as the person they inhabited floated upside down. He looked up at her, "Yoah in heah, so ya can't be doin' this."
Rogue shoved her fingertips into her mouth and gnawed upon the nails worriedly. 'Somethin' was wrong!'
"Ya have to go back." Cody whispered, "Ya don't understand. It's scary out there Cody." He smiled. "Yeah. But ya can't stay in heah forevah, jus' 'cuz it's safe."
Rogue felt like someone was walking over her grave, a cold-shivering that gripped her soul in a vice. She always got this feeling when a psyche took control. She watched the river as the body whose eyes they saw thru lept at Scott and kissed him. Cody reached to touch the river, but it wasn't a river anymore. It was a mirror with a film of water thrusting atop it. His fingertip pressed to the face of the mirror and his voice whispered in her mind, "Ya can't avoid that Cajun forevah."
And then she was thrown into possession of her body with one word mumbling past her lip.
"Shit."
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Late that night I sat on the tip-top of the Institute's roof, brooding about life's misfortunes. As I occasionally like to do.
I took a dramatic swig of Root beer and stared out over Bayville, it was really a tiny place. About the same size as Caldecott, which meant it was the size of an old hovel town in the middle of a swamp.
At that moment I really wanted a beer, but I could not find Logan's alcohol safe and I really didn't want to go into Remy's room to get a bottle. I leaned back and stared up at the stars in distress, Jean's psyche had hidden in shame for the last few hours somewhere in my mind. I felt sorry for her, it was unfair to be so cooped up inside someone else's mind and not have the real physical connection humanity needs.
I know I had dealt with that for years and later tortured myself with it.
Sure, her and Slim made out a bunch in my mind (shudder), but I don't think it felt the same as it did in reality. I put the bottle down and ran my fingers through my hair, it was starting to get really cold outside. Fall was beginning and the winds were staring to move in at night, but the days were still sunny and it was much nicer then the sweltering heat of summer.
"So, ya can touch?" I jumped in surprise and looked to my side, Logan stood in the entrance of the stairs, smoking a cigar. "Let's not make a big deal 'bout it." I mumbled, he came closer.
"But it is, it's somethin' you wanted for a long time. How come you didn't say anything?" I shrugged, I had thought Logan would be the least offended by my secret. He was always so aloof, but now he seemed extremely hurt.
"Ah didn't think it would mattah." He nodded and blew out a large ring of smoke, "If it don't matter than I guess I shouldn't congratulate you." I heard him thunder down the steps and slam the door behind him. I wrapped my arms around myself and never felt so alone.
After an hour of reviewing all the mistakes I seemed to have made over the years, I decided to jump into my squishy bed and huddled down in the covers. As I walked down the hallway- OF SHAME- everyone who had seen my unintentional display of "affection" with Scooter stopped and stared.
Those who had not been in the foyer, were filled in by the whispers which tickled their ears. I kept my head down and my eyes on the floor as I headed toward my room.
Unfortunately I ran into a man-wall, which seemed to have a spiky blue tail. I looked up into my brothers sapphire eyes, he had gotten so tall, I hadn't even noticed how much he'd grown. He spread his arms wide and I flinched, thinking he was going to yell at me about lying by omission. But he just wrapped his bare, furry arms around me and squeezed tightly, whispering in my ear, "No objections."
I sighed and buried my cold nose in his warm neck, choking on my tears and trying to draw breath. He really was choking me.
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I rushed into my room, all that freely given affection made me nervous. Everyone had watched Kurt hugging me with little smiles on their faces. I smiled happily when I reached my sanctuary, until I saw the two girls sitting on my bed, one completely pissed off, the other looking pathetically depressed.
Wanda's arms were crossed over her still flat belly, her lips twisted in an expression of extreme displeasure. Kitty's lips were pulled down in a rarely seen frown, her face lacking that brightness it always has. I couldn't believe I had put that expression on her face, Wanda's wasn't really a surprise. And since she had moved in the other day, she seemed to always be in my room.
"Why the hell didn't you tell us?" Wanda hissed, my eyes widened. Damn she could sound creepy.
I couldn't stop staring at Kitty, she sat in a little pale yellow Babydoll dress, with matching pantaloons. Her hair was down and brushed to shine, the small waves to her elbows. She looked so vulnerable without anything on her feet, her ankles were so pale. Her face was downtrodden and betrayed looking. "Kitty, Ah'm sorry." I said, "Ah know Ah shoulda told ya'll, but Ah didn't think Ah could."
She looked up and smiled softly, "That's okay, I think." Wanda rolled her eyes, "No it's not, if we are your friends, you should be able to tell us anything."
That was the single most strange thing I had ever heard Wanda say.
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Five days later
I stepped out of the shower, making sure not to slip on the floor. Sometimes showers feel nicer than baths, having the water pulse furiously on your back and working out all that tension. I wrapped a big fluffy blue towel around my body and looked up at the mirror, absently watching streams of water drip down my face.
Remy hadn't spoken to me in a week, only doling out hurt and confused looks, I felt that I had kicked his puppy. He would stare at me intently, like he was trying to figure something out. I lifted a corner of the towel and pat my face dry.
"Don't you get it Rogue, he thought you two were friends at least and he's got the total hots for you. He probably knows you used to crush on Scott and is wondering why you were smooching him. Maybe he thinks you still like Scott instead of him." Interjected the psyche of Kitty.
"Ah think that's the most intelligent speech Ah've ever heard yah give, Kitty." I said, shock written over my face. "I'm deeper then most people think. And I've been practicing keeping 'like' out of what I say. At least I was before you sucked me up."
"Oop's, sorry about that." I replied, the corners of my lips pulling down in an expression of remorse. She shrugged and was silent. I went to the closet and reached for a long-sleeved shirt and pants. . . my usual gear, but stopped.
What did it matter anymore? They all knew that I could tap my powers down, they'd seen me jump Scott. Oh what shivers racked my body at that horrendous thought. I grabbed a calf length, Sage colored sundress, it was made of a thin linen and lightly hugged my body. But it was long enough for me not to become paranoid. I slid it on and grabbed a thin violet cashmere sweater, the sleeves were to my elbow and it closed with one jewel button.
I forcefully thrust myself past my glove drawer and slipped on a plain pair of Moroccan slipper-shoes. Then twisted my hair up with a pair of wooden chopsticks and allowed some curls to frame my face. I felt naked, it was strange to step out of my room so lightly dressed. And it took me three try's to do it. But I took a deep breath, and tried not to hyperventilate as I closed my room door behind me.
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I pushed open the kitchen door, for a moment everyone was enthralled with what they were doing or making plans for the day with their friends. Until Jaime looked up and in his complete shock split in two, which is really something you can't get used to. I flinched as Jubilee dropped a plate of pancakes and it smashed on the tile floor. The incessant chatter of so many teenagers stuffed in one room dimmed to silence.
If I were her I wouldn't have extended the hand of friendship. I wouldn't have complimented someone who, if given the chance, would have destroyed her perfection out of a juvenile jealousy. But she really is as freaky nice as everyone say's.
"You look gorgeous, Rogue." Jean said, despite my slobbering all over her boyfriend a week ago. My instincts urged me to say something nasty to her, but I was trying to get over how much I wanted to be her. "Thank you." I replied graciously. The ice was broken and the surprising compliments flowed in. I assume that means I looked like swamp water before.
Speaking of.
I looked around for Remy, but instead saw Bobby fidgeting and flushing as he stared at me. "What's wrong sugah? Do Ah look lahke a freak." He shook his head, "No, your beautiful."
I was oddly touched by this, he said it like I had always been. Like I hadn't needed to dress this way to be beautiful. I reached over impulsively and hugged him, the inside of my elbows touching his bare arm. The feel of human flesh was so strange after being denied it for so long. For some reason this made Kitty turn it into a group hug and that is when I started to freak out.
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A/N: Short chapter I know, but I figured I might as well have it short and update, instead of leaving it for months. I hope this chapter makes sense and is enjoyed, even if Remy drool isn't in it. He will be in it next chapter though, so please...
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