This chapter has to be dedicated to KatSin who reviewed every chapter in one go! Seriously amazing!
The Brit returns
Rogue's eyes snapped open and she sat up, She looked around slowly and realised she was in the med-lab. She sighed missing John already, then she noticed a note addressed to her on the table beside her. She picked it up and read it aloud already knowing who it was from.
'Morning babe,' Rogue said doing a bad impression of John. 'I'll be back soon and I love you.'
She held the note close and grinned, momentarily forgetting about everything, only remembering the fact that she had John.
She slipped off the bed, more like a table, and grabbed her dressing gown. She let her hair down her braid ruined and made her way to her room to have a long hot shower.
Rogue ignored the stares as she made her way through the halls. She guessed they had heard about Copycat and the fact that she had a yellow and purple cheek probably didn't help the staring. She turned a corner and stopped in her tracks when she saw a patch of dried blood in the carpet by the tunnel door. Her thought first went to John, did something happen to him? Then she realised it was probably from Copycat, the psycho.
For once you're right Rogue. Vanessa's velvet voice purred.
Shut you're mouth Blondie. Cody chimed in.
Vanessa talk and I'll hurt you. John threatened while Logan growled and Erik chose to ignore the situation.
Rogue gritted her teeth and closed her eyes to concentrate on blocking there thoughts out.
I think that's from the blue guy.
At Vanessa words Rogue stopped her attempt to block them out.
'What blue guy?'She spoke aloud too panicked to think them. Then she saw it, Vanessa slashing Nightcrawler's throat.
Rogue gasped stumbling backwards, hitting the floor. She closed her eyes and blocked out the voice's ignoring there sympathy.
No this couldn't be happening, it had to be wrong, Kurt couldn't be dead. She balled her hands into fists digging them into her ribs trying to block out the memories of that night. First Jubilee and now Kurt how many more people would she kill? Who would be next in line to die because of her selfishness Kitty, Logan, Bobby?
The thought of Bobby's death stung Rogue more than the others.
'Rogue?' she looked up to see Storm staring down at her. She felt sick, she knew about Kurt and Storm. He was the first person anyone had know Storm to have a romantic relationship with. The weather witch would never forgive her.
'Are you ok?'
'Em…yeah.' she quickly got to her feet, pushing past the women and ran to Xavier's office she needed to check with him to know if it was the truth, for all she knew it could be another one of Copycat's sick games.
You should have more faith in me Rogue. The velvet voice purred in her head.
Shut up you bitch!
She ran through the lounge ignoring Kitty as she called her name. She burst into Xavier's office where he was with Moria MacTarrget. Moria quickly jumped away from Xavier as if she had just been doing something illegal.
'Rogue?' Xavier sounded startled, as if he didn't expect her that was a first. 'What's wrong?' Even as he asked he scanned her mind.
'Rogue?' she spun to see a breathless Storm standing in the doorway her eyes wide with confusion and concern.
'I'm sorry.' She whispered before pushing past the women and running to her room.
-()-
Scott walked along the halls about to get to the mounds of English papers he had to grade. He made a note to try and never be absent from classes so long again.
He turned a corner and someone smacked into him. He caught them before they hit the ground.
'Rogue? Where are you into in such a hurry?' he smiled making sure not to mention the night before. The Professor had told him everything and he had sworn not to breathe a word.
His smile faded when he saw Rogue was crying. She tried to push past him he grabbed hold of her.
'Hey what's wrong?' he asked.
'Let me go Scott!' she shouted attempting to push past him. Slowly she stopped trying to fight him off and began to sob in his arms.
'Kurt's dead.' Scott froze, and his mind went straight to Jean. He quickly pushed thoughts of his fiancée away and tried to comfort Rogue.
'What happened?'
'Copycat.' That little psycho, she had ruined so many lives in one night.
-()-
Mystique stepped out of Magneto's metal room into the forest, her temporary home. She couldn't help but wonder if Pyro was back yet, she was going to have to make sure he didn't visit Rogue again this week.
'Visiting the metal man again?' Mystique jumped and looked around for the source of the voice. 'Jeez darling you're jumpy today?'
She sighed when she finally recognised the British accent. She looked up in the trees to see Toad hanging upside down.
'If you'd been here the past few weeks you'd feel the same.' She explained as he landed on his feet. She gave him a smile, they didn't hug he had attempted before and ended up with a few broken fingers.
'What's on you're mind darling?' he grinned.
'Trust me Mort you don't want to know.' She said making her way through the woods Toad quickly took into step beside her.
'You know I like the gossip love,' She tried not to laugh. 'Barbie getting to you?' He asked using his nickname for Copycat.
'She's dead.'
'Dead?' he was surprised, everybody thought of the girl as invincible.
'I killed her.'
'I know the girl could be annoying love but did you have to kill her?' she chuckled.
'There is a lot you don't understand. She tried to kill Pyro.'
'I'm not surprised. What he do? Spill her nail varnish?'
'No, she didn't like the fact that he didn't want a relationship.'
'Our Pyro not wanting a relationship? I recall all the bloody bugger would talk about is that x-man when he came.'
'Seems he still loves her.' She pressed her lips together wondering what the man would say if he knew the truth, he wouldn't be as understanding as her he would probably hurt the child.
It was at that moment she saw John walking towards them, she suppressed a sigh when she saw he could barely carry himself, he would be sleeping all day again as usual.
When he stopped and feel to his knees Mystique darted for him Toad quickly following.
'Pyro? Are you ok?' she bent down to him and began pulling him to his feet
'I'm ok I just… had a close call last night?'
'What does that mean?' she asked a dangerous tone in her voice.
'We got carried away.' He said in a small voice.
'For Christ sake Pyro! I warned you to be careful and you almost get yourself killed.' she shouted still supporting his weight.
'I'm fine.' He mumbled shifting away from her.
'You can barely fucking walk.' She shouted as he leaned against a tree for support.
'Well a three hour walk will do that to you!' he snapped, she was about to hit him across the head when she remember Toad was there.
'Is someone going to bloody well tell me what's goin' on?'
Pyro looked up and smiled when he saw the man. 'Toad? Thought you were in England?'
'Thought you were smart enough to remember trying to change the subject doesn't work on me?'
Pyro looked at Mystique and they had a whole conversation in that look.
'Fine,' he sighed standing up straight. 'Can I sit down before we dive into explanations because I might collapse?'
'It would be a good enough punishment.' Mystique said pushing past the boy heading to his tent.
-()-
'You're bloody kidding?' Toad shouted on his feet, 'You let the kid do this?' He shouted at Mystique who shot him a glare. John sighed pinching the bridge of his noise.
'I can not control what he does!' she snapped back. John thought about stopping their argument, then he realised it was better Toad got the brute of her anger.
'Like bloody hell you cant.'
She got to her feet poking him. 'Look Mortimer, it is not my job to baby sit everyone who joins the brotherhood!' With that she stormed off.
'You're a fool Pyro.' Toad mumbled staring after the shape shifter.
'I didn't ask for you're opinion.' He snapped lying down on the bed.
Toad turned to face him. 'How do you think this will go?'
'Really Toad I've heard this all before.'
'Well I'm gonna fecking tell you again cause it don't bloody well seem to be sinkin' in! You and you're x-man will last for a while but what happens when we go to war! You gonna kill her?' John stayed silent. 'Are you?'
'No!' he snapped knowing the man would not stop. 'Look Toad you don't know anything! You haven't fucking been here,' he jumped off the bed and pushed past the man. 'So just drop it.'
-()-
Rogue had finally stopped sobbing, after what seemed like an eternity. She was sitting on the bed with blood shot eyes as Scott passed her a glass of water. She thanked him and quickly downed the drink.
'I'm guessing you know everything.' She said once she had finished the glass.
'Xavier really didn't have a choice but to tell me after what I saw.'
She sighed. 'Yeah I guess, it just seems like more and more people know about this "secret".'
He smiled. 'I won't tell anyone.'
'You hate me don't you?' she knew it was the truth, how could he not. She was with the "enemy".
'What?' he sounded shocked, but she couldn't see his expression as she had her eyes firmly locked on the ground. 'Why would I hate you?'
'Because I'm with John?' to her surprise he took her gloved hand, he was never a touchy person. She looked at his face and search for any sign of hatred but saw none.
'Rogue I couldn't hate you for being happy. If I had a chance to be with Jean…' he trailed off, if only she could see behind those glasses, she would see all the pain. 'I wouldn't care what side she was on, what she had done. I'd just love her.'
'Oh… I just didn't think…'
'That stuck up Scott would understand,' he smiled. 'I've changed Rogue, even if I didn't want to.'
'Thanks Cyke.'
'No problem Marie.'
-()-
Logan sat in Xavier's office staring at the ground, so Nightcrawler was dead. He felt a sense of lose, he had always like the little blue fellow even if he was a bit strange. He knew Ororo would be heartbroken.
'You sure Chuck?'
'I am Logan.'
'How's 'Ro doing?'
'Not well.' The man sighed.
Logan thought of Rogue, she would be heartbroken and destroyed. He silently got to his feet and left Xavier's office. He needed to go see Rogue.
He arrived outside her bedroom door a few minutes later. He was about to knock on the door when it opened to reveal Cyclops.
'Scott?' he asked wondering if he was going crazy.
'Logan.' He gave the man a small nod and walked past him. What the hell wake Cyclops doing in Rogue's room?
'Hey kid.' He called stepping into the room. She appeared from the bathroom, her eyes puffy and red.
'I'm guessing you know about Kurt.'
'Yeah I heard, I wanted to see if you were ok, are you?'
'Peachy.' She said sarcastically walking to desk and began rearranging papers.
'Look kid if you want to talk-'
'I'm fine Logan,' she turned her back to him. 'I just… want to be alone.'
'Ok Rogue, I'll see you later.' He slowly backed out of the room hoping she would call him back.
'See you around Logan.'
-()-
It was a Monday morning and Rogue was getting ready for class. She wanted nothing more then to stay locked in her room but Scott wouldn't let her. She couldn't help but wish Logan was the one she who was helping her instead but she would never be able to tell him, he'd never understand.
She tied her hair back and slipped on a pair of white gloved to match her white cotton jumper. She took a deep breath before grabbing her bag and making her way to class.
As Rogue walked the halls she couldn't help but think all eyes were on her, talking about Jubilee, Kurt and more importantly John. She hugged her books closer hoping to get some comfort from them, luckily she had John's Zippo in her pocket.
'Hey.' Bobby appeared by her side smiling down at her and she quickly relaxed.
'Hi.' He quickly took her hand and placed a wistful kiss on her cheek. Rogue didn't have time to feel guilty about her cheating ways all she cared about was keeping Bobby near for the day and having that sense of calm that always washed over her when he was near.
'Missed you.' He whispered in her ear.
She laughed. 'It's only be a day.'
'I know.' The way he was looking at her, it made her blush. She looked straight ahead, hoping he didn't see her burning cheeks. They were about to walk into Scott's class when Bobby stopped and pulled her close to him. Rogue froze and felt her breathing smooth and Bobby's lips hovered centimetres from hers.
'I really did miss you.' Her heart was beating fast, not the same way it did when she was with John but it was still an intoxicating feeling. His hand cupped her face being gentle of the bruises.
'I believe you.' She breathed. Bobby's lips quickly pressed against her and in that brief second his emotions passed to her.
He pulled away a heartbreaking smile on his face. Still holding her hand he half lead, half pulled her into the classroom. Rogue took her seat in a daze her mind whirling from Bobby's emotions.
She had known he loved her but she had no idea just how… much. The think that surprised her most was the fact just how much she liked the fact. She knew it was wrong on so many levels, in the end it would hurt her and Bobby more but she didn't care. He loved her, truly, deeply loved her.
-()-
John walked through the halls of Xavier's school for the gifted, he had made a decision and he was going to do it now before he backed out. Toads words had really set in, he was right, something had to give. He and Rogue couldn't continue to do this dance on a balancing scale, it had to tip one way or the other, and he was going to make sure it fell the right way.
When he reached his destination he stopped outside the door, reconsidering. Was he really willing to take this risk, what if it didn't work out? No he loved Rogue and she loved him but there was always this doubt. What if she didn't love him? What if she was just using him as a toy, something to practice on?
'No.' he said firmly quickly burning the though, Rogue loved him and this was the only way to make sure they could be together and that nobody would be in danger. He was about to knock on the door when the familiar voice of Charles Xavier spoke.
'Come in John.' He sighed and stepped into the room. Xavier was sitting behind his desk grinning here to ear.
'I guess you know why I'm here.'
'Yes, I do indeed John.'
'So what's the answer?'
-()-
Rogue was tired as she walked back to her room after dinner. She had spent her whole day with Bobby, she felt like nothing could touch her when she was with him.
She was so deep in her thoughts about Bobby she didn't notice someone was behind her until arms wrapped around her waist. She was about to scream when there hand clapped over her mouth.
'Guess who?' she instantly relaxed stopping herself from biting down on his hand when she heard John's voice. He removed his hand from her mouth and turned her to face him his hands never leaving her waist.
'You shouldn't do that Johnny.' She whispered, afraid that one for the students would appear in the hall.
'It was too tempting,' he lowered his head burying it in her neck. 'You're too tempting.'
'John stop! We don't want a repeat of last night.'
'Maybe we do, it was fun.' She rolled her eyes.
'Come on.' He pulled away, grabbing her hand dragging her along with him.
'Em… John, my room's the other way.'
'Who said we were going there?'
'What?'
'We're going out tonight.'
I have to thank KatSin, Pace1818, L1NA3, hotbritt5000, Prince cl0ud9 and Princesakarlita411
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I know it was short but I'm building up to something here.
I hope I got Toad right, he is one of my favourite characters but I've never been able to quite write him.
I know even more tears, I don't think I have gone a chapter without Rogue crying but sometimes people have to get broken to change and the name of this fic is 'I Watched You Change'.
I'm planning for the next chapter to be just fluff, no depression, no crying (ok maybe a little) and no angst yay! *frowns realising has never written a chapter full of fluff before* This could take awhile.
So please review, the more I get the faster chapters get written!
