PyrusAngel: Well many of you have asked so here he comes. Piotr has arrived.
Disclaimer: No I don't own Marvel or Disney (Yet) even though I've asked very very nicely.
Review...
They all nodded and rushed to the cars and motorcycles and it was only until they reached the street lights that the creepiness seeped away. As a pair of blue eyes watched them all seperate and disappear into the early morning light.
Chapter 9: The New Kid
After that night most of the group forgot about the phone call and went back to life as it was, but not Rogue. She was still very, very skittish at the coffee shop, at school, and even at home. She was cautious around everyone, her body language and jumpy attitude were enough to put people she didn't know on edge.
"Stripes!" Logan called out, Tuesday after a full day of skittish Rogue.
"What'cha want Logan?" She asked, running up to him though her eyes were still scanning the room around her.
"What's happened to you? You look like a frightened rabbit."
"Really? Ah didn't notice." she said, absentmindedly bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Logan watched her until he got frustrated with her constant bouncing and stopped her by placing two heavy hands on her shoulders, which caused Rogue to jump.
"LOGAN! Don't do that!"
"Rogue really what's happened?" Logan asked again looking Rogue right into her eyes, but it was the bruises on her arms "And where did you get those?"
"Dey ain't nothin' Logan..." Rogue yelled back, though the bite in her voice was ebbing away.
"Rogue...just tell me."
"Sorry Logan Ah..." but before she could say any more the bell rang, "Gotta go" She finished before ducking under Logan's arms and racing to the locker room.
Rogue sighed as she walked to math class with Wanda. They had been walking in silence but as they passed the history wing Kitty ran up to them squealing.
"KIT!" Wanda yelled "SHUT UP!"
"Oh like sorry but like Professor Xavier called and said YES." Kitty squealed as she pulled Rogue into a spinning happy dance.
"Really?" Rogue asked skeptically.
"Like yeah! We get the ballroom and the grounds, but not the upstairs." Kitty explained.
"Well yah should l'ahke go tell Kelly." Rogue 'fake' squealed back.
"OMG your like RIGHT!" Kitty squealed before racing down the hall, "See you at lunch!" She called back.
"Ah swear dat girl beh missin' a screw or two." Rogue grumbled rubbing her head.
"I know what you mean, but I'll see you later I'm almost late for class. See ya!" Wanda called before disappearing down the history wing.
Rogue shook her head once again before heading up to the math wing. She made it just as the bell rang to Mr. Worthington's classroom where he had just turned around from writing the problem of the day on the board. Mr. Worthington frowned at Rogue as he put his chalk down.
"That was close Ms. Darkholm please try not to be late to my class."
"Yes, sir." Rogue grumbled, before racing over to her seat.
Needless to say math wasn't that much fun for Rogue since Mr. Worthington called on her every chance he got. By the end of class Rogue was about ready to throw up her hands and scream. She sulked all the way to the art room where just one deep breath of the clay, charcoal, and paints snapped her back to her normal, just as someone walked in behind her.
"Sorrah," said the large dark hair boy that towered over Rogue, who was a decent 5' 10''.
"Oh Rogue." came Paint called as she came out of her supply room, "I see you've met Piotr."
"Piotr?" Rogue asked before looking back at the guy.
"Da." He said nodding his head, "I start today."
"Russian?" Rogue asked as she sat down at a new canvas.
"Da." Piotr nodded.
"Alright you two I know this is your independent study, but this painting idea has to encorperate nature." Paint explained simply "Due in two weeks for the Carnival."
Rogue instantly reached for her dark paints only to see Piotr reaching for the same case, she smirked.
"Go ahead I have my own." Rogue offered, Piotr hesitated a moment before nodding and taking the pack.
Rogue turned and went the other back room where her black art bag hung alone. She pulled out the set before returning to her canvas. Piotr had watched her silently clearly in thought.
"Why is it you leave your bag there? Do you not draw else where?" He finally asked Rogue just as she sat back down.
"Let's just say mah mom ain't dat happy w'th mah talent." Rogue grumbled as she began painting dark brown across the bottom of the large canvas.
"Oh..." Piotr said trailing off until he turned to his painting.
"But Ah ske'tch when Ah can." Rogue added nodding to her back pack where her sketchpad could be seen, "Us'ally on da roof durin' mah study hall."
"Da! When be this study hall of yours?"
"Fifth period just befor' lunch."
"Da I has dat one too. Do you mind if I accompany you? To sketch of course."
Rogue could only stare at this guy. She had just met him and he wasn't scared of her and wanted to spend time with her. She turned back to her canvas to hide the half smile that graced her face.
"Sure sughar, knock yah self out."
"Guys." Paint interrupted "Painting remember?"
Piotr and Rouge smirked and chuckled to themselves before turning back to their canvases. Rogue was deep in thought that she didn't realize the class had ended until Piotr stood up. It was only his sudden movement that made her jump out of her chair and race out of the room realizing she was late to Science.
"Sorry Paint got to go!" Rogue yelled hoping Hank wouldn't be to mad at her.
By they time she got to Hanks class everyone was paired up in their new science partners and Hank stood there frowning at Rogue. She glanced around noting everyone was in pairs of two,"Shit".
"Rogue...I am extremely disappointed in this tardiness, and it appears everyone has been already paired up." Hank scolded as he glanced around the room, while Rogue sighed in relief.
That relief didn't last long for mer seconds after Hank had said that Remy sauntered in waving one hand up to Hank before going back to his seat. Rogue could only bite her lip at the vain popping out of Hank's head.
"MR. LEBEAU! Your working with Ms. Darkholm on today's project." Hank announced before going back to help Jamie and Sam with the assignment.
"Remy ain't complainin'" He announced as he came up behind and took her hand.
"Get off me Swamp Rat!" Rogue growled throwing his hand off of hers before moving to join Kurt and John, Remy close behind her.
Rogue could tell instantly they where dissecting a frog just by the smell that was permeating the room. She held her nose the closer she got, only to see John smiling wickedly the poor dead animal. She shook her head when Kurt looked up and frowned.
"Remy..." Kurt said in a warning voice.
"Kurt." Remy said flatly, as he sat across from Kurt and pulled the frog over to himself reading over the instructions surprisingly fast.
Rogue helped as much as Remy would let her, but for the most part he did all the major dissection while she was left to identify everything. It was nasty and he was very, very close to Rogue, which made thinking difficult. Rogue was so deep in thought that she didn't realize what Remy was doing until Pyro had slapped Remy's hand inches from her ear.
"What do ya think yahr doin, mate?" Pyro growled.
"Just a b'aht of fun." Remy grinned wickedly.
"Dat child tried ta put a frog leg behind your ear." Kurt growled.
"EWWW," Rogue squealed whipping around and punched Remy in the shoulder, "Dat's disgusting."
"Just had tah wake yah up, chere." He replied just as the bell went off.
"Im'mature, con'ving," Rogue began slamming her books onto the lab table before raising and disappearing out the door.
Remy attempted to follow her, but Hank forced him to clean up the frogs. Remy begrudgingly complied and grumbling went on to his next class. Rogue on the other hand hadn't even stopped in with Logan, she just went straight to the roof. Upon opening the door to the roof how ever she was shocked to see a large person sitting with there back to her, and a sketch pad on their lap. Rogue did have to wonder long who this man was be for he turned toward her a smiled.
"Ah Welcome Rogue." Piotr smiled patting the place beside him, "This is a marv'lous hiding place is it not?
Rogue couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up from within her, but none the less she joined him at the edge of the roof top. She looked at his sketch and was shocked to see a woman standing upon a roughly sketched balcony. Rogue was so fascinated with the woman's old styled pink dress that she almost missed Piotr's next words.
"...in a dream of mine." Piotr had been saying when Rogue finally tuned back in.
"What?" Rogue asked startled.
"Do you now her? This was in a dream of mine." Piotr repeated now laying the sketch so Rogue could see it fully.
Rogue studied the figure. The woman's face was hidden, but she had a slender frame like that of a dancer. She also had long brunette hair that was pulled into a high pony tail that swirled and curled all the way to the woman's mid back. The dress hugged her til her slim waist, not a curvy figure but an hour glass shape none the less. The dress itself was layered soft pink material that made Rogue think of only one person that she knew of.
"Maybe...A friend of mine, but I'd have to see her face to be sure."
"Join the club..." Piotr said trailing off, "her name?"
"Kitty," Rogue said as she pulled out her own sketch pad, "I dabble in portraits...it does always turn out good."
"People are difficult." He agreed as he picked up the sketch and continued.
"I've stuck with nature scenes and animals though the animals usually turn out worst then the people, though Paint tells me they're getting better."
"Why is she called Paint?"
"Because she's always covered in it," Rogue laughed.
"Da..." He nodded "I'd be Soot. I'm always covered in the black stuff." Rogue couldn't help but giggle as Piotr showed off his black fingers.
"I'd be the Dark Artist...all my things are so very dark, even Paint agrees."
"Why so?" Piotr asked, Rogue made a thought and looked up at the sky.
"I don't know...my life probably." She thought frowning slightly, "I was never the happiest of children."
"Dat is depressing.." Piotr offered putting a hand on her shoulder for comfort, "Was dere a time you was happier."
"Yes, but Ah don' remember it very vell."
"Vell try tah remember, you might surprise yourself."
Unbeknown to the pair there was a soft clicking noise from the door, and then a scurrying feet which were quickly drowned out by the bell ringing. Rogue groaned before shrugging of his hand and packing up her things.
"Come on," She said waiting standing and waiting for Piotr to do the same, "Time for lunch."
They made their way down into the crowded halls until they had made it to the lunch room. Rogue stayed with Piotr as he got his lunch. They talked about the random people who walked by, about their favorite artists, what the rest of their day would look like, and even what the lunch food was like. Once Piotr had finally gotten his lunch Rogue led him outside to where the rest of the group was already located.
"Woooo Rogue who did you find?" Tabitha asked eyeing Piotr.
Everyone seemed to be having similar miss givings about Piotr once the pair had finally moved to sit down among them. Kurt's eyebrows where raised, Lance was whispering into Forge's ear while Forge continued tinkering with his machine. Fred continued stuffing his face, Kitty and Jubilee where whispering and looking back at Piotr, Wanda and John where laughing at everyone else's face.
"Guys. This is Piotr Rasputin." Rogue introduced.
"Hello." Piotr greeted with a nod of his head.
"Piotr these are my friends. Kitty, Jubilee, Lexa, Tabitha, Wanda, John, Forge, Lance, Fred, Todd and my brother Kurt." Rogue explained naming everyone around the circle.
"Pleasure to meet yah." Piotr said bowing his head causing Kitty and Jubilee to giggle softly.
"So Pete...can I call you Pete?" Kitty asked.
"Of course Katya." Piotr said with a smile.
"Katya?" Lance asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Da." Piotr said with a nod causing Kitty to giggle softly.
"I like it, but either way Pete are you like Russian?"
"Da." Piotr said eating his sandwich slowly.
"Where were you before you came here?" Kurt asked.
"I was in Russia. I moved here with my sister."
"That's really cool." Todd chimed in.
"Yeah dats sooooo sweet." came a chiding voice.
They all turned to see Belladonna and Jean standing behind Kitty and Jubilee. Kitty shifted uncomfortably as she didn't look up at the other girls, choosing instead to stare deeply into her pudding cup. Lance and Kurt's eyes narrowed at Bella and Jean, while Piotr looked positively confused.
"Thank you...I think." Piotr said brows furrowed.
"Kat heard your all plotting for the Carnival. Wanna share?" Jean asked snidely ignoring Piotr
"Not in you life." Kitty growled eating her pudding silently.
"Oh now don' beh dat way Kitty" Belladonna remarked spotting Jubilee's worried look, "Jubs what ever are yah so worred about? Yahr actin' lahke a cat in a room fil' with rockin' chairs."
"I am not!" Jubs retorted shifting herself so she sat between her bag and Belladonna.
"Now, now Ah don' believe dat for a second." Belladonna stated shaking her head.
Out of no where Jubilee's bag was snatched away by Rahne who had been hiding behind the tree the entire time. She smirked back at Jubs while handing the bag over to Belladonna and Jean before racing back to the others.
"Now why don't we just see what you've been up to" Jean says wit a smirk as she riffles through Jubilee's bag.
"You can't do that!" Todd yells jumping up to take the bag back.
"What'ya gonna do 'bout it small fri?" Belladonna asked catching Todd by the wrist and tossing him back on to the ground.
"NO!" Kitty yelled as Jean pulls out one of the sketch pads.
Tabitha was snarling and looked ready to pounce, Fred and Forge were the next to stand, while Jubilee and Lexa were helping Todd up. Rogue frowned and moved a hand to her boot, but Kurt put his hand over her's stopping her.
"Oooo. Seems like you found it Jean." Belladonna grinned.
Jean smiling evilly flipped through the book, but before Bella or Jean could see the entire sketch book Piotr appeared and grabbed the bottom of the book. His steel like grip keeping the book closed once again. Jean looked at him in pure hatred, while Kitty and Jubilee gazed upon him with hope.
"Dis is not yours."
"Its not yours either but finders keepers." Belladonna stated trying with Jean to pull the sketch pad out of Piotr's grip.
"Don't do that you mindless twits!" John yelled pulling with Piotr now.
"Not in your life you outback reject."
"Don't say that about him!" Wanda and Rogue yelled joining in the pulling match.
The battle continued with each team pulling harder and harder on the sketch book until...RIPPP.
"NOOOO!" Jubilee yelled clamoring up, tears in her eyes as, she dove for the ripped art work that was now falling to the ground.
"Well that was a waste." Belladonna concluded before walking away.
Jean looked down her nose at Jubilee before throwing her half to the now torn sketch book into the mud as she walked away. Both making it a point to step on each piece of paper in their path, but in the middle of their stride back to the table Remy appeared. He grabbed them both by their upper arms and escorted them to the table before walking back toward Jubilee's crying form. Tabitha looked up from rubbing Jubilee's back shocked to see Remy standing over them.
"Are yah alright petite?" He asked helping Jubilee and Tabitha up.
"No its all ruined." Jubilee sobbed holding the muddy ripped pictures to her chest.
"Oh Jubs." Kitty cried before running and hugging her best friend, "We can do them again."
"N-N-N-ooooo!We can't! I hadn't taken pictures of them yet I can't do all that work again!" Jubilee sobbed even harder.
"They're not that badly smudged." Tabitha comforted picking up another piece of paper that tore in half again as it was moved "...or not..." Jubilee only cried harder.
"Petite. Don' beh like dat." Remy comforted her, brushing her tears away, "Remy know yah can do it again."
"Dah! I could help." Piotr offered.
"He beh reall'ah good Jubs." Rogue supported as Jubilee sniffed loudly.
"I-I don't know you guys I mean...they saw them..." Jubilee pointed out.
"Jubs has a point..." Wanda confirmed sadly.
"What? We ain't gonna do it?" John asked confused, "buh Ah liked mine."
"I'm sorry John...It's all my fault." Jubilee cried even harder now.
"Non Non petite don' cry." Remy comforted but Jubilee pushed him away.
"Remy why you even here?" She asked, "It was your stupid ass girlfriend who did this!"
"Petite..." Remy said softly but Jubilee backed away from him, visibly angry now.
"NO this is your fault just as much as its theirs! Go AWAY!" Jubilee yelled.
"Yeah!" Tabitha yelled agreeing with Jubs her fist in the air, "Get before I make you, get!"
Remy slunk back from the pair visibly injured by their words. He looked around but not one friendly face was there in the group. Accepting his defeat he bowed to them all before turning in a flurry of coat tails and wind just as the bell rang. Jubilee collected the last of the drawings before following Forge and Fred to their next class.
"Guess we're not doing the Carnival after all." Kitty said with a sigh before walking dejectedly to class.
Piotr watched her go silently before making his way to find his next class while Rogue, Tabitha, and John made there way to the theater. John drug his feet, while Tabitha reapplied her make up. By the time they made it, Remy and Belladonna were already on stage. They snuck into their seats only to realize this wasn't your normal theater acting exercise.
"...Ah'm tah'red of all yah stunts Bell." Remy yelled.
"But Remy Ah love yah!" Belladonna yelled back.
"Well Ah don' luv yah Bell dat's why AH left N'w O'rlands!"
"But Ah came here tah be wi'dth yah Rems."
"Non. You came her'e tah stalk Remy, and Remy tired of dis Bell!"
"Don' do dis Remy! AH-Ah love yeah."
"Yah only luv yah self, Bell." Remy spat before rounding and leaving the room leaving a shocked Belladonna on stage alone.
"Bravo! Bravo! Cajun!" Wade yelled standing and clapping.
"Shut it!" Belladonna screamed until Wade was standing behind her a knife to her throat.
"This is my theaters swamp witch. You don't tell me what to do." He growled before tossing Belladonna to the ground and looking up at the class. "Class new game: This" gesturing to Belladonna "Is your ninja. Attack to capture not kill. NOOOOWWWW GO!"
They all jumped and a fight broke out on the stage though Rogue hung back with Wade her mind a thousand miles away. Rogue seemed to drift through the rest of the day and the walk home to the shop. Once in the shop however the only thing Rogue did was look for Remy. To ask him why he did what he did, and why he had even tried to help Jubilee.
None of those questions got answered since Remy didn't come into the shop that day, or the day after that. By the time Rogue had gone to bed her worry about Remy had intensified, though Rogue's inner conflict over why she was so worried about him made her push all thoughts, including Remy, to the back of her brain as she closed her eyes to sleep.