Rogue tugged at Logan's arm with all her strength but couldn't stop him from charging at Cole, his blades gleaming in the moonlight. He lunged for Cole but he quickly dodged and sprang into a fighting stance.

"Are you INSANE! I would never hurt Rogue!"

Logan's feral nature had taken him over completely and he spat.

"Bullshit! I don't believe you!"

Logan ran up to him and gave Cole a hard punch in the stomach. The pain was agonizing and Cole fought the urge to wince and address the pain. He stumbled back a bit and spit the blood out of his mouth.

"Fine! Have it your way!"

Cole uppercuted Logan and turned around and kicked him in the jaw. Logan stumbled back a bit; surprised that he couldn't dodge them. He readjusted his jaw and cracked his neck.

-This could be fun-

"Not bad kid but you're going to have to do better than that!"

Rogue had been watching the whole scene with horror. Cole's lip was bleeding and she could tell a Black eye was forming. She rallied up her strength and tried once more to pacify the angry man.

"LOGAN STOP IT!!! YOU BASTARD STOP!!!"

Wolverine immediately whirled around in surprise. Rogue had NEVER talked to him that way. He looked at her puffed face and could tell that she was pissed.

"Stripes..."

Rogue clenched her fists.

"Don't you fuckin 'Stripes' me! I told you to stop!"

She whirled around, her back to him.

"You're too damn impulsive!"

Now, both Cole and Logan were looking at her, both forgetting about Pietro who, during the fight, went inside to rally the Brotherhood. She began to briskly walk towards the exit of the property and like a love struck young boy, Logan followed her, calling for her to stop. She whirled around.

"DONT FOLLOW ME!!! WHY BOTHER COMING AFTER ME IF YOU DONT LISTEN TO ME!"

She ran off and Logan stopped in his tracks. There was no use in going after her, she knew the area well and could easily hide from him. He, instead, refocused his attention on to Cole. Cole looked at him angrily.

"WELL! Aren't you going after her! If you don't I will!"

Wolverine's angered had died down to shame but Cole's remark rekindled the feeling. He ran toward him and grabbed Cole by the collar, lifting him in the air.

"WHAT_WAS_THAT!"

His teeth were clenched as he said it and he pulled back his fist, ready to strike.

=Logan, Stop!=

Cole had closed his eyes, waiting for it to connect but it didn't. He opened them to see Logan grunting in dissatisfaction, not at him, but at something else.

=We have Rogue with us let him go and return to institute=

Yet another grunt escaped his throat and he returned his attention to Cole.

"I'll be seeing YOU later."

Logan promptly threw Cole on his ass and stalked off to his bike. Without another glance in Cole's direction, he sped off.

Cole was livid but couldn't do anything but grind his teeth. Then he heard footsteps running his way. He turned and saw Freddy, Pietro and Lance looking down at him.

"Where is he!"

Cole's face contorted with anger.

"Where is he? WHERE IS HE! HE just beat my ass! WHERE WAS HE!! WHERE WERE YOU!"

Cole got up and stepped threateningly at Pietro. He put up his hands in defense.

"I was getting reinforcements!"

Lance stepped forward.

"Calm down and let us take care of those bruises man."

Cole was fed up with it all and grabbed Lance by the collar.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!"

Lance looked at him, surprised.

"Nothing man, just her whacked out teacher beating you into a bloody pulp. Get it together!"

"Bullshit! Something's up and you're going to tell me!"

Lance began to get scared until he was rescued.

"He wont tell you. I will."

Cole turned around and his eyes grew wide.

"You're...."

"..Mystique."

She tossed back some of her hair and posed elegantly.

"And I can tell you everything you need to know. The whole truth."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~

"YOU INCONSIDERATE JERK!!!"

Logan winced at her heated comment. She had been cussing him out on the way home and was now handing his balls to him on a platter. There was a LONG line outside of the door of eager students who were holding in their laughter at Rogue getting the best of Logan.

"But Marie-"

"DONT YOU 'BUT' ME LOGAN!"

If this had been any other student, he would have stood up and put her in her place, but this was his heart and he couldn't help but feel like a bad child. She breathed in.

"AND ANOTHER THING-"

"Now WAIT A MINUTE!! YOU SNUCK OUT!! You should have been HERE!"

"Rogue, Logan stop. I would very much like for you two to go to your rooms. That is quite enough. I believe you've made your points."

She crossed her arms and pouted like a baby.

"No I haven't! If he had listened, he would have known that it was Sabertooth and that Cole was watching over me until Pietro got help!"

She scowled at him and crossed her arms. He shrugged apologetically.

"I over reacted, forgive me please."

She looked at him and the expression erased her anger, she had berated him enough. Rogue breathed out and sighed.

"Its okay, ahm just a bit peeved, sorry."

She smiled lazily and turned to the professor.

"Ah'm sorry ah lost mah head. I also should've told you all were I was going."

The professor smiled and wheeled to the door.

"Its alright Rogue, you have feelings for him and I know he's very dear to you."

She nodded gravely and they made their way to the door. Logan stood up and composed himself, noticing that they had left but not really paying attention. He was angry and Sabertooth would suffer his wrath.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~

Cole stood with his fists clenched tightly.

"Well then woman. What is it? What the Hell is going on!"

She chuckled a bit and looked at Pietro for a split second and then back to Cole.

"Simple. We don't have anything to hide. In fact, your dear friend Rogue is the one who's hiding something."

He turned his head to the side in confusion and then a look of disgust ran over his features.

"Right, like I'm going to fall for that shit again!"

She scoffed and crossed her arms.

"Think about it Cole. Why does it seem that there is always a fight when she's around? Do you even REALLY know her, the real her. Do you even know her real name?"

His jaw tightened and his heart began to strain. She was right, he knew nothing except she was from the south and she was a street runner like himself. Mystique continued.

"Look, she's with some rich guy who claims that he cares about her future and her 'problems'. All of its a lie. He doesn't care, that maniac that hit you was putting on a show to make her feel like she is important to them when she's not. Rogue is just a pawn in their little scheme. We are here to stop him and help all of the people he has manipulated!"

His rage began to roar as the thought of Rogue being used replayed itself in his head. He breathed in solemnly.

"So, if what you say is true, how can I help her?"

His tone was even and Mystique walked up to him slowly.

"By making the right choice, and I'm going to let you choose from two."

She grinned and put her hands on her hips.

"So, Cole, what do you say? After all, what do you have to loose?"

His mind immediately thought 'nothing'. But he had no idea that the wrong choice could cost him everything.