'But...'
'No, Marie don't!'
'John, I can do this. I owe Jean.'
'You owe them nothing. Nothing.'
'Please, just go. Find Magneto. Don't get caught.'
'You can't absorb Logan in time.'
'I have his power already. I knew I learnt this for a reason. But...'
The phoenix would have to disappear. That would mean.
'I love you. This is goodbye.'
She broke from his grip and ran towards Jean, maintaining Logan's healing power. Logan didn't notice but continued to walk towards Phoenix. Rogue was glad as the redhead was now distracted. But she knew Rogue was coming. Rogue screamed in pain as her body separated. Logan was right, it didn't matter that he could heal, it was the fact he could feel it. The pain was agonizing but Rogue continued. Logan turned to her and shook his head.
'Don't kid.'
'Gotta try.'
She and Logan reached Jean at the same time.
'You know what to do Logan.'
She reached out and touched the phoenix. It hurt, a lot. More than having her body blown apart. The phoenix entered her head screaming. Rogue and Jean sank to the floor. The blue furry mutant appeared next to Logan and handed him the needles. He stuck one in Jean and one in Rogue. She felt the phoenix slowly slip away. And then everyone else slipped away. She fell to the ground and her eyes turned towards the crowd. She could see Pyro and Magneto in the distance. She mouthed go. He nodded and they left.
'Kid?'
'See, I'm still good.'
'Yeah, you're great. Thank you.'
'I did it for her.'
'Jean?'
'Yeah, she doesn't deserve to die. No-one deserved to die.'
Tears filled her eyes. She sobbed, the tears falling fast.
'It's not fair.' she whimpered.
'What?'
'I lost everything. I'm the only one who lost everything.' She lifted up her hand, staring at it. 'I'm human.'
-xXx-
Rogue sat in the infirmary and Hank checked up on her. Alcatraz was being fixed and the situation was forgotten. Hank was now a UN Representative. Warren was a teacher. Kitty and Bobby were an item. Storm was headmistress. Logan and Jean were engaged. And she was sitting in the infirmary for the past week refusing to move in. She couldn't. She may have saved them but she couldn't forgive Storm. She felt a personal vendetta against her. She looked up as Hank nodded and walked out. Logan came in, arms folded across his chest.
'You're free to go now kid.'
'Thank god.'
'Do you have anywhere to go?'
'Nope.'
'Why don't you stay here?'
'I tried to kill half the people here. Yourself included.'
'But you didn't.'
'I understand ya'll are forgiving, I mean you guys welcomed Jean. But I don't want to be here.'
'Fair enough. You still mad at me?'
'No.'
'I care about you kid. Remember that.'
'I know. Bye Logan.'
'Stay safe Marie.'
She stood up and walked out. She headed towards the entrance and walked. She walked and walked. Eventually she got a cab. She had nothing left. Pyro had clearly stated that if she ever was human, there was no way he could take her back. She sighed entering a park. She looked around until she found who she was looking for. She sat down opposite him, eyeing his chess pieces.
'Seems like you're in check, old man.'
'Yes, so it would seem. How did you find me?'
'The x-man are very capable.'
He chuckled shaking his head.
'Actually I contacted them. I wanted to thank you. You didn't think I would abandon you?'
'I thought...I don't know what I thought.'
'Being human changes things. Besides, I'm starting to doubt how permanent this cure really is. Watch.'
He moved a hand forward. One of the metal chess pieces moved forward slightly. She smiled.
'Now if you excuse me, I have things to do. Don't worry I'll keep in touch. Here, something to keep you going.'
She took an envelope and shook it. Money.
'Thanks.'
He nodded, picked up his briefcase and his coat and moved away. Rogue sighed and reset the chess pieces. Someone sat opposite her. She looked up and gasped.
'Pyro!'
'Hey Rogue.'
'What...you told me that if I was human...'
'Hey, it's okay, I changed my mind. I'm allowed to aren't I?'
'Yeah.'
She reached out a hand and he took it. He smiled at her touch, not flinching.
'Things were a little, chaotic at Alcatraz and we didn't get to talk. I never meant to hurt you and I should of trusted you. I should have known you wouldn't betray me.'
'Of course I wouldn't. You mean to much to me.'
'I was thinking we could move into together. I found an apartment and a job in New Orleans. I'm leaving tonight.'
'I'd love to.'
'Hey, what ever happened to Mystique?'
'Oh, um...I shot her with a cure gun.'
'What?'
'She gave me a blue eye, a broken rib and took you away from me. Should have killed her, actually.'
He smirked. She smiled back.
'I'm sorry, about Callisto.'
'I really miss her.' she sniffed.
'How's Jean?'
'She's engaged. To Logan.'
'They keeping the mansion open?'
'Yeah, Storm as the new headmistress. The x-men carry on.'
'At the cure center. I'm sorry I punched you. You have to know that even though I was pissed I still felt bad about busting your lip. Why didn't you just talk to me?'
'I was scared. Your psyche told me you'd probably torch me.'
'You're going to get your powers back.'
'I know.'
'Come here.'
They stood up and wrapped their arms around each other. He leaned his face towards her and kissed her. It felt weird without the pull but still wonderful.
'Hey Rogue...'
'Mm.'
'I love you too.'
-xXx-
