'Nother short chapter but I promise the next one will be longer and will go somewhere :)

Trying to find a glove that fitted over the cast was a nightmare. It was hard enough trying to get gloves to match what I wore normally but the only thing that would fit was a garden glove which looked atrocious. So, several days later, I resorted to wearing a sock over my hand, much to the amusement of many.

"Yeh feet are down there, kid," said Logan when he saw me.

I glared at him and grabbed a bowl from the cupboard to make myself some cereal. "Unless you want me 'accidentally' touch you, Logan, keep your mouth shut."

"Your skin doesn't bother me so the threat doesn't work."

I felt my cheeks warm, as they did whenever he mentioned that he didn't see my skin as toxic. I hurriedly turned away from him and busied myself with making breakfast.

"Rogue?" called Ororo as she walked into the kitchen. "Can you meet me in the study once you've finished your breakfast? You should come, too, Logan."

I surreptitiously glanced at Logan over the edge of my bowl. He was getting bacon out of the fridge, unfazed by the prospect of touching my skin. I, however, had a racing heart and was a little light-headed at the thought.

"What are we doing today?" I asked, taking a mouthful of my cereal.

"Something along the lines of hypnosis," she answered.

Logan snorted. "I don't think makin' Rogue dance round the room like a chicken will help, 'Ro."

"There's more to hypnosis than that, Logan." She cast him a scathing look as she left the room.

"If looks could kill," I said, "that one certainly would've."

Twenty minutes later, after Logan had eaten three helpings of a full English breakfast and downed a liter carton of orange juice, we were in the Professor's office. Logan was sprawled on the Chesterfield sofa, Ororo was perched on the edge of a leather armchair and I was lying spread-eagled on the rug, gazing up at the ceiling with my glove, sock and scarf off and feeling a little naked. I'd already spent time performing the breathing exercises, wondering what Ororo had planned.

"Right," she said. "I want you to close your eyes and imagine someone touching your skin."

I swallowed, fear spiking in my chest despite the fact I knew nothing dangerous was going to happen, and closed my eyes, breathing slowly and deliberately as Ororo had taught me. I imagined Logan getting off the sofa, sitting beside me and taking my unwounded hand in his, the feel of his skin against mine. Would I be able to feel his pulse, racing like mine did when I looked at him? Would his hands be smooth or rough to the touch? Would he be happy that I could touch?

His hand trailed up my arm, skimming the sensitive crease of my elbow, up past my shoulder, along my collarbone and down, coming to a stop over my heart. Then he leant forward, nearing closer and closer, the smell of sandalwood and cinnamon and cigar smoke overwhelming and his hazel eyes closing and…

"Rogue?"

My eyes flew open to find Ororo still on the edge of the armchair but Logan was sat next to me on the floor, his hand hovering an inch or so above mine. I shrank back, colliding with the coffee table.

"And that's what we have to overcome," said Ororo. "If anyone is too close, you immediately leap away. If we can stop that and desensitize the fear then we'll be on the right track."

I scowled at her as I shuffled back into the middle of the rug. "Next time, y'all tell meh if someone's gonna be near meh or y'all regret it." I inwardly cringed at my voice, the fear bringing out my accent.

"Would you have done what I asked if I'd told you?"

I chewed my cheek, realizing what she meant. "No," I said grudgingly.

"Exactly."

She looked thoroughly pleased with herself as though she had proved something. I glanced at Logan who shrugged.

"Now, I want you to stay as calm as you can whilst Logan holds his hand above yours."

The fear was thick in my throat but I fought it back and took deep breaths as Logan held his hand steady above mine. There wasn't even the slightest tremble. I was shaking like a leaf. I kept pulling away and it was several times before I was vaguely comfortable with his hand being so close.

It was also several more sessions and days later before Logan was able to touch my hand fleetingly without having to instantly take his hand away. In that short moment, I felt the roughness and warmth of his skin against mine and was able to admire the darkness of it compared to mine instead comparing the shades of my gloves.

Somehow, Jubilee got wind of this which ended up with me spending my Saturday afternoon in the mall, shopping for dresses when I could be catching up with homework.

"I can just wear the red dress I wore for Christmas," I said as she dragged me from yet another shop.

"It's Illyana's sixteenth, chica," she said as though it were the answer to everything. "You can't wear that to Peter's sister's sweet sixteen." She led me into a small boutique-style shop. "You've gotta have something cool which screams 'I'm almost touchable'."

"I'm"-

"Zip it. Find a cool dress that we agree on and I promise I'll get off your back." She threw me a sly grin. "Anyway, we need a dress to say to Logan that you're not a little girl anymore."

"Jubilee!" Was it that obvious? "We're just good friends."

"Oh, really." She rolled her eyes. "Now, find a dress."

I sighed and began browsing around, trying to find a dress that would cover my skin as well as compensate for my stupid cast. I'd tried on various dresses with billowing sleeves but I looked as though I was drowning in them.

My hand brushed over something that felt velvety even through the silk of my glove and I looked round to see a simple black dress on the hanger. It had an asymmetrical sleeve design, no sleeve on the side of my cast and a full length sleeve on the other. Checking that Jubilee was occupied, I took it off the hanger and headed to the fitting rooms at the back of the shop. I changed out of my clothes and shimmied into the dress, a difficult task with my clumsy cast.

I was shocked at the result. The dress's neckline and nicked waistline emphasized my curves but didn't overindulge them and the length was long enough for comfort. Weirdly, the cast didn't look odd with the dress, nor did my glove. I could wear a pair of funky printed tights and some patent heels with it, something I'd been wanting to try for a while.

"Now that's a dress that'll get Logan's heart going, chica."

I nearly leapt out of my skin.

"Jesus Christ, Jubilee!" I exclaimed as I whirled round to find her stood in the doorway of my cubicle. "Can't you knock?"

"I saw you sneak off so I thought I'd better come and have a look." She eyed me closely. "You're gonna have to get that dress."

I turned back to the mirror and ran my hands over the fabric. "I guess I'll have to."

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