Hello Everyone!

Chapter 10 :) Yay, yippee, whoohoo!

Nothing to say here except I have no idea when I'll work on chapter 11

Hope you enjoy and R&R! as always

Explosions of Every Kind Chapter 10: Keeping Secrets

Rogue refused to tell anyone what had happened. After her outburst at the Professor she declined to acknowledge that she actually went back and took his advice. No, she was too proud for that.

Now, she merely stalked around the mansion, hands in her pockets, head down, and thought silently to herself. Other students had noticed her change in behavior, but after everything she had recently been through they thought it smart not to pester her.

It had been two days since Gambit kissed her and she was staying as far away from him as she could. When he had awoken from his mini-coma he had found Rogue to be gone, along with a rug and a book. Gambit had smiled to himself, realizing why the rug and book suddenly disappeared. He knew no one would have come running in because when he got bored he liked to cause "small" explosions, even if they got him in quote on quote trouble. It entertained him when Rogue wasn't around.

Gambit, usually up on every event of Rogue's life, had astonishingly not known of her training with the Professor, in the infirmary when Xavier mentioned it he was certain she wouldn't have anything to do with it for some time, as a result he was unaware of her newfound control…. everyone was.

It was almost noon, and seeing as it was the weekend, just about everyone was still in bed. However, Rogue had had troubles sleeping and was up bright and early, still in her pajamas although. At the present moment, she sat at the dining room table with a mug of coffee that had no doubt gone cold by now and a half eaten Danish. She was lost in thought or maybe she was trying to harness someone's power? Either way, her concentration had broken when Scott walked in. He looked over and saw her almost in what looked like a trance with her eyes glazed over.

"An angel is like you Kate and you are like an angel," he said as he sat across the table from her. Scott hoped that would get her to look up.

"Huh?" she snapped out of her funk, then remembered, "Oh, uh…yeah." Then, Rogue shook her head a bit as if clearing it of everything she had been previously thinking in preparation for a new conversation.

"How've you been?" he asked gingerly.

"As well as one can be thought t'be doin'."

"I heard you had a little breakdown in the Professor's office," he hoped he didn't bring that up to quickly and force her to retreat back into her thoughts and away from their conversation.

She pretended a laugh, "Y'could say that."

"Well if you need anything I'm here."

"Okay," her voice was emotionless. She sounded like this whole experience, Scott thought, hadn't hardened or softened her but that it had taken no effect on her. But then again, Scott also knew she was very good at hiding her true thoughts and feelings. With that, he smiled at her and left. She had already fallen back into her self-induced daze before he had had time to exit the dining room.

This time she was thinking. Thinking of methods to help her stay calm, focused, and connected to a psyche (or more than one) during a battle. So far, she had nothing. One thought kept protruding into her contemplation: the Professor could help. 'No!' she would tell herself. 'I'm strong enough to do this myself.' She also knew it wasn't a matter of being strong, but proud. And man, Rogue was proud!

She hadn't tried connecting with anyone in her head since smashing the vase, but now that she wanted to join with them for a temporary time their voices had become much louder in her head, giving her on-going headaches. A side effect that Rogue hoped was short-lived. Because even with avoiding Gambit in the mansion, she could not avoid him in her head. Rogue kept hearing suggestive things whispered to her in a thick Cajun accent, and when she turned to punch Gambit in the face or elbow him in the gut, the room she would be in would be empty.

But since everyone was in bed it seemed, except Scott, Rogue was ready to try again. She surveyed the room and listened carefully for footsteps incase a student or teacher had woken up. When she deemed that no one was there or coming she attempted to relax her mind, she'd been a bit on edge since the kiss. 'Breathing,' Rogue thought, 'I'll start with breathing.' She took a particularly long inhale through her nose then exhaled through her mouth. She repeated this several times until she could actually feel her pulse slow. Next, Rogue closed her eyes. It was as it was the last time she had dared to enter her mind: blue mist and slightly animated shadows. But they were still floating about without a purpose, still trapped, still shut in. Knowing that made Rogue feel sick to the point of clutching her stomach to keep from vomiting, but she couldn't think of that now. She wasn't sure who she was looking for, if anyone at all. But right then, her feet started fleeting under her and her breathing became shallow. 'No!' she thought, 'Maintain control!' Rogue's eyes started darting back and forth frantically; she was losing control, and fast.

"No!" she shouted aloud and gripped the dining room table with both hands, "Just breathe," she reminded herself. Inside her head, her feet slowly started walking again but her breathing refused to return to normal. 'C'mon Rogue,' she thought to herself. She explored her mind at a half run half walk pace with her breathing still not all the way back to regular. But now, she knew who she wanted to find, someone with a power a little less destructive: Kurt.

However, she wasn't completely calm and it was as if her psyches felt it, and 'why shouldn't they?' Rogue thought, 'After all they're in my head.'

Soon, she had regained her slow rhythmic breathing, much to her satisfaction. Then she began her search. Rogue saw Jean still staring out her window, but decided to go past her without conversation. Next, she saw Gambit. (Outside her mind in the dining room, her fists clenched at the sight of him.) He was sprawled out on a couch, like how he had been two days ago, only in here he was lighting a cigarette and playing a game of cards, just waiting to see Rogue.

"Bonjour chere."

She tried to walk by without talking to him, but obviously that wasn't his plan.

"Y'come t'see Gambit?" he continued.

"No," she whispered, not wanting to have to deal with him in here as well as out there.

"I t'ink you did."

"You'd be wrong, Swamp Rat."

He stood up, discarded the cigarette, and walked straight up to Rogue. Sweeping white bangs out of her face he said, "You know you're very beautiful Ro-"

She cut him off before he could say her name, "Where's Kurt?"

Gambit shrugged his shoulders, and she walked away from him.

"Wait," Gambit called out to her. Rogue turned her head, but didn't stop her feet. "Your brother is dat way, chere." He pointed with his finger to the way he was trying to indicate.

Rogue nodded her head and thanked him.

She wondered through the fog, seeing many shades at once then none at all. Suddenly, she saw a tail whipping back and forth in the sapphire haze, a tail that matched the color of the haze. She walked up behind him and said, "Kurt?"

Much to her surprise, he turned around with a shock and yelled "Rogue!" very happily, then gave his sister a bear-hug. She was stunned, but hugged back. When she did, her eyes suddenly opened and she saw the dining room once again.

"Touch," she recognized, "that's how Ah connect wit' them." Then she rolled her eyes, "How ironic." After that, she used Kurt's power and teleported to the backyard with a little squeal of happiness. Next, to the front yard, where she accidentally landed in the angel fountain, soaking the bottom of her pants. Rogue was almost too excited to notice and popped back into the dining room where she found an uninvited guest waiting for her.

"You," she said, "Leave!" Rogue stood in front of him on the other side of the table pointing to the door.

He reached over and picked up her mug of cold coffee then took a sip before he answered, "No."

"Leave," she repeated, not as harsh.

"I want t'talk, chere."

"Gambit, Ah got nothin' t'say t'ya!"

"Then answer me just one question," he offered.

"Will y'leave after."

"Maybe," he said slyly.

Her nostrils flared in anger but she replied, "Fahne."

"De teleportin' now, de smashed vase two days ago. Y'planning on telling anyone?"

She shied away from him. "Not yet. Ah just got how t'do it."

"Rogue-"

"Y'know y'r in mah head again!" she snapped at him. "All because a'your dumb kiss!"

"I'm sorry chere," he said.

She was too mad to hear this. "Y'must think y'r something special don't you? Gambit the charmer, Gambit the womanizer, Gambit, Gambit, Gambit!" At this, she broke down and fell to her knees.

"Chere!" He rushed around the table to her side, "Rogue-"

Tears had formed in her eyes, but she refused to let them roll down her cheeks. "Look at me," he directed in a soft tone. When she wouldn't he placed his gloved finger under her chin and turned her face towards his. "Listen to me Rogue." She shook her head; she didn't want to hear what he had to say. "I love you."

"No!" Rogue threw her hands over her ears, "Don't y'remember what happened last time y'said that t'me?"

"I don't care," he panted, "you and I know it's true!"

She shook her head back and forth in a dreadfully violent manner. "Rogue!" he caught her by the shoulders and spun her around to face him, "Do y'feel the same way?" They both knew the answer, but instead of replying Rogue ported away. But, unfortunately for her, Gambit was holding her and came along for the ride.

They appeared in the angel fountain coughing from the cloud of sulfur gas that followed. The waterfall from the crown of the fountain poured onto their heads, soaking them. "Y'can't run away from me," he told her.

Rogue glared at him then said, "Watch me!" But right before she ported away again Gambit grabbed her wrist and went with her.

This time, they found themselves on the roof of the mansion.

"Rogue, listen to me," he started.

"No."

"We need t'talk." When she didn't reply he continued with a softer inflection in his words, "Whatever y'r going through I'm not leaving y'r side."

"Look where that got ya," Rogue whispered more to herself than him.

"Rogue-"

"No!" She wouldn't hear anymore and she suddenly bent down and swung her leg under him, causing him to fall on his ass and tumble down the slant of the roof.

"Ahhhhhh!" his voice was heard descending from the gutters he'd caught onto but that had bent and broken beneath his grip.

When Rogue realized what she'd done she slid to the edge which he disappeared over yelling, "Remy!" Leaning over the rim of the roof she saw Gambit dangling from a balcony that lead into a room on the second floor. "Y'r not injured?" Her voice sounded relieved.

"Dat's a matter of perspective, Chere," Gambit huffed through swinging himself up onto the balcony. "Now come down here."

She glowered at him from the roof as she jumped down to the balcony, but they both knew she was genuinely concerned.

"Y'know sooner or later Xavier will find out."

"When Ah want him to," she commented.

"You've been acting different, y'really think he doesn't already know?"

"You didn't."

"I do now…y'should tell him. He could help."

She looked down at her feet. Gambit knew she was too proud for that, but he was determined. Whatever was best for her he would make happen, and he was sure this was best.

They both heard a sudden noise and turned their eyes on the bedroom doorway. "He's right," Xavier wheeled out onto the balcony with them, "I could."

Rogue had the expression of a deer caught in headlights.

Did you expect that to be the Professor's room?

I don't think so!

What'd you think?

Leave me a review and if you have any ideas for future chapters let me know! I always like suggestions

Til next time!