AN: Next chappie!
Disclaimer: I only own Terry, so far. Everything else belongs to Marvel and their respective owners. Thank You.
Take Away My Skin
Chapter 11 Mission Succubus
It was three days later, and Soda and Rogue had become almost inseparable both at school and at home. Soda became a lot more relaxed, almost a little too relaxed. He was beginning to develop more of an attitude towards Logan, which did not go unnoticed by the other instructors or that other students. Rogue found this change somewhat annoying, and she knew that if Soda took it too far and things got out of hand, Logan would go berserk. However, she decided not to get involved. It was strange how much his confidence level had jumped since Rogue and him talked that night. Even the blonde's progress with his powers improved. However, the couple thought it was best to keep their relationship a secret. At least until they were read for the scrutiny of their peers. Regardless, in the past few days Soda had become much less of the recluse he had been previously. This struck their house mate's curiosity. However, none of them would dare question either him or Rogue. Especially not Rogue.
Soda sat outside on this particular day. He was perched on a branch of one of the many trees located on the mansion's property. The day had felt rather long, and he found it difficult to focus at school. His attempts to leave the mansion to go and hangout with his new friends, the brotherhood, were always thwarted by either Rogue, or another disastrous Danger Room session.
His punishment sessions had slowed down some, but he still had to contend with the group session with the other members of the Alpha team. Recently, their training sessions had been on tactics which they would need in order to fight their enemies, and deal with their enemies powers. Rogue had refused to attend the last session they had, and Soda did not know exactly why. Sometimes the goth's behavior was puzzling.
He sighed and jumped out of the tree, landing somewhat gracefully on his feet. The long and seemingly countless hours of training seemed to be beginning to pay off. Well, at least a little bit. He sighed and wandered off to find his new girlfriend, Rogue.
Rogue sat at the table in the kitchen staring into the full coffee cup she had placed in front of her. She had taken a real liking to the caffeine filled beverage as of late. She ran a hand through her long hair as she contemplated her actions over the past few days. The other mutants at the mansion had been commenting on how happy she seemed lately, and the attention was kind of starting to bother her. Usually no one really went out of their way to make casual conversation with her. She sighed and took a sip of the quickly cooling coffee.
Carol walked into the kitchen her long blonde hair thrown up into a high ponytail. She rested her elbows on the counter and leaned over attempting to irritate the other girl. "What's up Rogue?"
"Tha sky," She replied taking another sip from her mug before placing it back down on the table.
"Haha, funny," She replied sarcastically. She stood up and opened the fridge. "You need to lighten up Rogue, God have some fun around here. It's not like anyone is holding you back or anything."
Rogue rolled her eyes at her house mate's heartless comment. "It's hard ta have fun when yar trapped inside yar own skin Warbird," Rogue replied walking over to the sink and dumping out the reminiscent of her coffee.
Carol smirked at this this comment. "Hmm, I guess you're right. Sucks to be you," She commented then taking a big gulp of milk straight from the carton, and then placing it back on the self n the refrigerator. "But unlike the other people in this godforsaken shit bucket, I can see how you envy everyone, well except one golden boy we all know," She hinted with a sly smirk painted onto her face.
"Golden boy?" She questioned raising an eyebrow at the teammate.
"Soda," Carol replied slamming the refrigerator door closed. "If you ask me I'm not surprised. You two spend a ridiculously large amount of time together, but honey come on. There is no way a boy that gorgeous is gonna sit around and waste his time with a river rat like you," She ranted poking the goth in the chest at the last part.
Rogue snorted and turned to walk away not in the right mood to deal with confrontation. Then, suddenly, that last phrase hit her full force. "What did ya jus' call meh?" She spat turning to glare at the blonde.
"Nothing," She sing songed playing innocent.
"Only one person eva called meh that," She hissed walking up to her, almost too close for Carol's liking. "How do ya know Gambit?"
Carol smirked, this game was rather amusing. It was just too easy to push Rogue's buttons. "Oh Gambit and I are old friends. That is all you need to know Roguey. My life before the mansion is of no concern to anyone but myself," She stated sitting up on the counter next to the fridge, her legs dangling off of the edge of the counter and kicking the cupboards underneath with her heels.
Rogue glared at the blonde, "Whateva Carol," She said turning to leave the kitchen again getting fed up with her antics.
Carol chuckled a the goth's retreat. "That's right you walk away. I wonder if you can touch anyone else, or is it just Soda?" She mused leaning back against the upper cupboards.
Rogue turned again and glared at her. "How do ya know anythang abou' that. Ah specifically told Beast an' tha Professor not ta tell anyone abou' that," She spat starting to grow extremely angry by Carol's seemingly never ending meddling.
Carol smirked at this small outburst. The amused expression on the blonde's face seemed to intensify the anger now coursing through Rogue's veins. "Who said they told me? I am very capable of finding things out on my own. When I went to the med lab for a checkup and I stumbled upon your file. Well, I couldn't help but take a peek," She replied stretching her arms up and letting loose a small yawn. "Besides, it was lying open on Beast's desk, I didn't know it was that top secret," She expounded her sly smirk never leaving her features.
"All medical files are confidential Warbird! Only tha student, the Professor, Terry, an' Beast have access to those files. Ya had no raght!" Rogue yelled, feeling her face getting hot from her anger.
"I read Soda's too since it was lying right beside yours, even though it was closed. I just couldn't resist, I was intrigued by yours," She admitted pushing more of the goth's buttons.
"Do ya have any idea what confidential means Warbird?" Rogue hissed at her blonde team mate in anger. "It means do not look if ya are not that person," She exclaimed extremely pissed off at the careless invasion of her privacy.
Carol shrugged not really caring for anything the other girl said. She was just enjoying the fact that she had hit a sore spot. "Oh well. Don't worry, I won't tell. Just be careful no one else notices you and Soda." She said with a wink. "I know I have."
Rogue eyes her suspiciously, controlling the rage that was previously threatening to overtake her. She took a deep breath. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, you know," Carol continued playing with the ends of her long hair. "The way he looks at you, the way you look at him. When you walk together, his arm slips around your waist. Also the lack of fear he has when making physical contact with you, and the carelessness of it all," She said reveling in the fact that she was pushing almost every button the southerner possessed all at once.
Rogue glared at her, "That's none of yar buisiness Carol. Who ah go out with, or who ah am hangin' out with are none of yar concern."
"Well then maybe I'll just snatch him up from you them. I mean, I am the prettier one," She teased with a laugh.
"If ya try, ah'll make it so that ya can' even rememba how ta breathe," She spat venomously, her emerald orbs ablaze with rage that Carol had not quite meant to stir up within her gothic house mate.
Regardless, Carol laughed at her words. "Big threat coming from someone your size. You couldn't hurt me if you tried Rogue," She taunted.
"Then how abou' ah drain ya completely dry," She spat back locking eye contact with the blonde.
Carol took a calming breath before leaning back. She new at that instant that she had maybe taken thing just a little too far with her last comment. "Why should you care? It's not like he's gonna stick around forever," She said shifting slightly unable to stop the word vomit that now flew from her mouth before she even had any time to think about it.
"Who says ah will either?"
"Whatever Rogue. He's so much better than you, he's out of your league," She spat out mentally cursing her snake-like tongue. Rogue was a loaded gun, and right now it was like she was holding the barrel at her head begging Rogue to pull the trigger.
Rogue reeled her fist back unable to stop herself. "If ya so much as look at him in tha wrong way ah will..."She cried as she brought her fist down. However, she was cut off before her closed fist could connect with the blonde's face.
'X-Men, meet me in the war room immediately," the Professor's voice echoed through their minds from his short telepathic message.
Carol sighed in relief, "Saved by the bell," She sang flying up over Rogue and out of the kitchen as quick as she could.
Rogue growled and slammed her fist down on the granite counter top. "I hate her!" She yelled to the empty room.
"What's the matter Professor?" Scott asked once everyone had made it down to the War Room. Well, he majority of the X-Men anyone. Soda remained unaccounted for. This did not impress Scott at all.
"For the last few days Jean, Emma, Terry, and I have been tracking a rogue mutant on behalf of Magneto," He began, causing the students to whisper to each other at the mention of their enemy.
The professor held his hand up to silence them. "Some time ago, Magneto approached this girl, she refused and attacked him. Now it appears that she has attacked a small village in Scotland," He continued folding his hands and resting them in his lap. "We must stop her. Unfortunately, we will have to ally ourselves with the acolytes for this mission," He concluded.
The room broke out in groans and protests from the other students. "But Professor, We've always been able to handle mutants ourselves, what is so different about this one?" Terry pointed out receiving the comfortable thoughts coming from her team mates. She wasn't to fond of the idea herself.
"Yeah, whats next? Ze brotherhood?" Kurt asked.
"The more manpower we have the better," Logan stated crossing his arms over his chest.
Xavier nodded at this statement, "Yes, members of both teams skills may be needed on this particular mission."
"So Alpha team, suite up and prep the Blackbird. Also Warbird and X23 are coming along with us,"Logan finished turning and leaving the room.
Everyone followed Logan's example. "Rogue," The professor called out before the goth could leave the room.
Rogue turned to look at him. "Yes Professor?"
He wheeled over to her. "Find Soda, his talents may be required for this mission. I think the experience may do him some good."
Rogue nodded, "Yes Professor."
It was not long until the X-Men arrived at the small village just outside of Glasgow Scotland. Rogue had, had no problems in tracking down her way word boyfriend, and he was actually quite excited that they were going on a mission. He would not stop fidgeting he was so hyped up. The small village seemed unharmed, but then again, appearances can be very deceiving. Terry carefully landed the Blackbird and opening the ramp for their team to exit the large aircraft.
"Ok X-Men, look around and see if you spot anything suspicious, or if you find the Acolytes," Scott ordered looking around at his surroundings.
Rogue rolled her eyes, "Oh yes masta," She muttered under her breathe. This comment made Soda laugh.
"Lookin' ain't gonna be necessary mon ami," A voice spoke from the tree line. Gambit walked out from the shadows of the tree, and smiled at the group. "We're already here."
"I only see one of you," Logan remarked eying the cajun suspiciously.
"We split up, but Pyro, Colossus, and Sabertooth are here as well," He stated walking closer to the group. Logan growled at the mention of his rival Sabertooth. This caused X23 to tense up at his side. Usually whatever got under her mentor's skin, also got under hers by association.
Terry nodded to the cajun, "So have you found anything?" Terry asked mentally scanning the area for any stray thoughts.
Gambit shook his head, "No," He replied turning and walking away from the two instructors. "At least Gambit hasn't," He commented continuing to walk in the opposite direction. X23 couldn't hold back the growl that had been building up in her throat.
Rogue rolled her eyes, "Since when does Gambit eva find anythang relevant," Rogue commented quietly to Soda assuming that no one else heard her.
"Bonjour Chere," Gambit said right next to her ear, making her jump in surprise. "You seem so surprised to see Gambit. Didn't you miss him?"
Rogue rolled her eyes again and her hands resting at her sides. "No swamp rat, ah didn' miss ya, not one bit," She retorted tucking her hair behind her ears.
Gambit frowned, but recovered quickly, "New costume I see. Gambit like," He commented slyly, his trademark smirk appearing on his face.
"Well Gambit can stick mah fist 'cause Rogue don't lahke Gambit no more," She spat turning and glaring at the older man.
Gambit pouted, "Oh but chere, Gambit still like you," He said playing with the ends of her hair.
She snorted and pulled away from him. "Stuff it swamp rat."
Gambit opened his mouth to retort, but a steel plated hand came to rest on the cajun's shoulder. The hand belonged to Piotr, or Colossus. "You heard the girl comrade. She is not interested," He stated taking a step away from the other man.
"Yeah mate. I think she told ya off already. Maybe she'd like me instead," Pyro joked with a chuckled teasing his team mate as he came up on Gambit's other side.
"Shut up Pyro," The older man growled, pushing Piotr's hand off of his shoulder and storming away from the small group.
Rogue smiled at Colossus, "Thanks," She said crossing her arms over her chest.
"No problem little one," He stated patting her gently on the head as he shifted out of his metal form. "Anytime."
Soda eyes Rogue curiously recalling all three men from their training sessions. "What the hell was that about, and who was he?" He questioned her as the continued on their search, separating themselves from the others. "Why does he talk in third person?" He asked when they were out of earshot of their other team mates.
Rogue rolled her eyes, "Gambit is a player who should learn ta get out of tha fire before he gets burned. An' ah have no idea why he talks in third person. He jus' does," She commented more to herself than her new boyfriend. "His name is Remy LeBeau, he's from Louisiana. We went out for a while, but ah caught him cheatin' on meh with someone else. He said that he loved meh. Some kind of love huh," She said a frown tugging at her lips. She quickly covered it up with her mask of indifference.
Soda's jaw dropped, but she quickly shut it again before she noticed. "That's harsh," was all the blonde could muster.
Rogue scoffed at his response. "Ya think? Then again, for a playa lahke Gambit, it's probably hard ta be with a girl that ya can' even touch," She stated bitterly. Soda could tell that talking to Gambit had touched a very raw nerve. She was silent for a few minutes before she sighed and turned to look at him. "Ah bet tha only reason ya're with meh is 'cause ah can touch ya," She spat.
Soda was shocked, be retained his composure. Her comment angered him, but he didn't want to make the situation anymore tense than it already was. "For the record, I love you for the person that you are. Even if I couldn't touch you, I probably would have asked you out anyway," He admitted honestly, not even faltering over his words.
"Seriously?" She asked quirking an eyebrow up at him.
Soda nodded, his trademark grin appearing on his face. "Yeah. You're fun to be around, and I like how you don't treat me like I am stupid," He said walking closer to her. "So stop feeling bitter about your life. There is nothing you can do about it. Live in the moment and don't look back. That's how I roll," He stated with a chuckle.
Rogue couldn't hold back the laughter that bubbled out of her after his last statement. "That's how ya roll huh? Where on earth did that come from?" She asked doubled over from laughing rather hard.
"Lance says it all the time. It's a really, really bad rock pun," He admitted still smiling. "I think it's funny, besides, I wanted you to laugh. To cheer you up." He admitted honestly.
She smiled, "Well, it worked."
Before he could reply, Rogue's comlink lit up and Scott's voice floated out of the small plastic object. "Rogue, we've found something. You and Shockwave better get over here quick."
Rogue sighed and held down the button on her communicator, "Alrahgt cyke, we're on our way," She replied back and turned walking in the direction they had come from.
"Where are they?" Soda asked trailing behind her.
Rogue shrugged, "How should ah know. It can' be that hard ta find a group of teenage mutants wearin' spandex," She stated with a chuckle.
Soda stopped, thinking for a moment. "Yeah, you're right."
Rogue shook her head, "C'mon," She said looping her arm through his. "We're on a mission rememba? When Cyclops finds somethin', he expects us ta be there quite quickly."
Soda rolled his eyes, "Typical stick up his ass Summers," Soda commented as the two of them navigated their way back to the clearing where the Blackbird had landed before they split up.
"Let meh guess, anotha quote from tha oh so eloquent Avalanche?" She remarked looking around for her team mates as they approached the large jet.
"Definitely," He replied with a grin.
Rogue smiled and closed her eyes, concentrating on using the tiny amounts of Logan's hearing abilities that she had obtained over the years. "That way," She stated, and bolted in the direction she had pointed. Soda barely had time to register her words before she took off after her, catching up rather quickly.
Soda had no where near the speed or agility that Rogue possessed and only managed to keep up for a short period of time. The extensive training sessions that Rogue went through were probably to thank for those abilities. He found himself running out of breath and having to slow down immensely. He admired his girlfriend's stamina and agility. He definitely would not want to be on the receiving end of one of her kicks or punches. He'd take doing hand to hand combat with Logan over Rogue any day. After a few minutes of rather painful running, on Soda's part, the pair finally caught up to the rest of their team. They stood near the edge of cliff alongside the Acolytes. The mutant they sought after was caught between the two teams, and the large drop behind her.
"You have no where to run Cecilia,"Terry called reaching out the girl.
"Come with us peacefully, there is no need for a fight," Scott called standing next to Terry, trying not to intimidate the girl.
"Why should I go with you?" She snapped, glaring at the two leaders of the X-Men with rage clearly evident in her eyes.
"Look lady, we just wanna talk," Wolverine stated in his usual gruff tone. Soda could tell that the feral man was resisting the temptation to release his claws. He remained in his position slightly behind Scott with X23 at his side. She had crouched down low, and was poised to strike if need be.
Seeing this cause a sinister grin to appear on the dark hair girl's face. "Go ahead Logan, let 'em out," She stated as her blue eyes began to glow a bright shade of purple. "Let loose the animal that dwells inside of you," She called. Her voice had changed substantially. It was a lot deeper than it had been before and it seemed to echo around the group of teenage mutants.
Almost as if on cue, Logan's claws slid out of his knuckles. As quickly as this happened however, he retracted them. The process continued to repeat 'causing the gruff man a fair bit of pain. "Get out of my head," He snarled in an animalistic fashion. The older man was taking beep breaths rapidly in an attempt to remain in control of himself.
"Scott," Rogue whispered appearing next to him. "What is happening?" She asked eying the woman whose eye's were still locked upon her feral mentor.
"I don't know Rogue, but I can't move," She replied quietly.
That was definitely an unusual response from their nearly fearless leader. It definitely was not the answer that she had been anticipating. She turned to Terry, knowing that the blonde had heard their small exchange. "Well?"
"She's somehow controlling the men, and toying with their minds," She said running a quick mental scan over their small group. "Us woman seem to be unaffected by her powers," Terry explained narrowing her eyes at their now opponent. "She has mental shields, I can't break them," She stated after a few moments.
"Any bright ideas?" Carol asked eying the other female's curiously. "I mean, none of us can really do anything without knocking her off that damn cliff. Not that I'm against that, I just don't think the Professor would like that," She said crossing her arms over her chest.
"Maybe we should try talking to her," Jean suggested.
X23 snorted at the idea, "Yeah, that really worked when Scott tried it," She replied sarcastically.
"I have an idea!" Kitty cried. "However, it really only involves the use of myself, Rogue, and Carol," She explained looking at the men still in a trance-like state. Logan, and Sabertooth kneeling on the ground holding their heads in agony. She had no idea why, but X23 did not look happy by the turn of events.
The feral girl's ears twitched as if she heard something that the others could not. This was entirely possible with the girl's enhanced senses. "Let's hear it," She spat, "I can't take this anymore," She snarled covering her ears with her hands, as her claws popped out of her knuckles. "That sound if driving me crazy," She growled her eyes turning a dark shade of red.
Kitty winced at the sound of her voice. The girl she'd come to know as Laura, hadn't been entirely that unfriendly to the older girl. Kitty shook it off, "Well.. I can phase up from the ground beneath her, and hold her in place. While I do this Carol can fly Rogue up behind her, and Rogue can absorb her and knock her out," She explained keeping a careful eye on their feral team mate, as her discomfort did not seem to change.
Rogue nodded at this plan feeling quite sympathetic for the younger girl. If she could ease her suffering, she would do anything in her power to do so. "I agree."
Carol nodded as well, not liking the idea of teaming up with Rogue after their altercation in the kitchen earlier. "Sounds like a plan."
Storm nodded in agreement with their quickly formulated plan. "Then we've reached an agreement. I will survey the situation, and if it doesn't work out, we will launch a full scale attack on her. No use talking to her peacefully if she wished yo harm us," The weather witch stated jumping into the leader role since Scott was stuck in his trance.
The three girls in question nodded and took their positions. Once Kitty had disappeared into the ground, Carol and Rogue flew over the edge of the cliff and did a large loop, so that they were positioned behind her in a way that the raven haired woman could not see their approach. However, once Kitty grabbed a hold of the older girl's legs, Cecilia freaked. Her concentration had been broken and the trance that had fallen over the men had lifted. Just as Rogue got close enough to her, both Carol and Rogue were thrown back by an intense energy blast that had been emitted from Cecilia's body.
"X-Men, attack," Scott ordered firing one of his intense optic blasts at the dark haired girl. The red beam slammed into her chest and almost sent her flying off of the cliff.
Kitty had let go and rejoined her now focused team mates. Numerous attacks were fired at her, but she managed to doge them by mere inches. Her agility was astounding. Without warning, Gambit threw about ten charged cards at the girl's feet causing the ground beneath her to crumble under the explosive power. Without a chance, Cecilia fell along with the large chunks of earth and disappeared below their line of sight.
Cyclops turned on the cajun, "What the fuck was that LeBeau?" He snapped earning some shocked looks from his team mates. Their leader wasn't one to use that kind of language.
"De X-Men have dere orders, an' we have ours," He explained glaring at the other man. "Magneto wanted her dead, and dat's what Remy did. If you have a problem, take it up with Mags mon ami," He replied crossing his arms over his chest not intimidated by Scott.
"You Acolytes always think you can just squash everyone," Terry snapped jumping on the cajun's back as well. Terry was definitely an anti-violence person, and like to try and help. However, when she lost her temper it was scary.
"Oh, don't say that you miss me already," The silky voice of Cecilia called to the bickering group.
They looked towards the cliff in shock. They had all seen her fall. She was suspended in the air, bat like wings now protruding from her back. "I grow weary of you pathetic X-Men," She spat her eyes beginning to glow purple once again. She raised her hand, and energy blast forming in her perfectly groomed appendage.
Suddenly, Rogue landed on the girls' back, "Not this tahme sugah," She said placing her bare hands on the other girl's face. Cecilia screamed, and thrashed around as every vein on her body stood out, as Rogue's did as well showing her powers had been activated. Rogue managed to hold onto the girl, and the group below watched as Cecilia quickly lost energy. The two mutants crashed into the ground, sliding over the earth and skidding to a stop just in front of the group. Their jaws dropped as the goth stood up and brushed herself off. "That definitely did not go lahke ah planned," She said checking over herself to make sure that she was not injured in some way.
The group gaped at their team mate's actions, especially Soda. He had never witnessed Rogue using her powers before. It was kind of scary, but sexy at the same time. "Rogue, your eyes are purple," Jean stated vaguely forgetting her team mates ability. Rogue had rarely used her abilities since her power surge.
"Ah still have her powers Red," She spat stating the obvious. She placed her hand on her head when she realized hat it had been part of Cecilia's psychi that had responded. She took a deep breath to regain control of herself. "Ah've managed ta lock away her mind, but her powers still remain," She stated quoting the Professor.
Scott nodded in satisfaction. "Well, let's get her back to the jet. Mission accomplished. Good job X-men," Scott stated contently.
"Yes oh brave and fearless leader," Terry teased walking passed him and leading the way back to the clearing.
Carol hefted Cecilia up over her shoulder, grunting at the added weight of the unconscious girl. She quickly followed Terry's lead, moving quickly. The group did not know how long Rogue's powers would affect the black haired woman. Rogue looked at her retreating team mates, and the Acolytes. Her eyes specifically landed on Gambit, who's expression was a mix of fear and disgust for her actions. Rogue quickly looked away ashamed. Soda noticed this and glared at the older man. He walked over to Rogue and wrapped a possessive arm around her waist. He turned his head back shooting another dirty look at the cajun, and then kissed the top of Rogue's head.
"You did good," He said in her ear comforting her inner turmoil.
She smiled sadly. "Thanks," was all she replied.
In less than ten minutes, The X-Men had all boarded the jet, and they departed the Scottish isles and headed back towards their home in Bayville, New York.
It had been a umber of hours since the X-Men had returned to Bayville, with the strange mutant Cecilia in their possession. Much to the Acolytes disappointment. Their mission had failed, and Magneto was sure to be very disappointed in the four men. Xavier had been in the infirmary with their comatose captive for nearly an hour now, not that any of the teens were complaining. In all honesty, she gave most of them the creeps, especially the boys. He had scanned her mind for anything Magneto would be interested in, but came up empty handed. Laura and Logan had wondered off for some sort of training exercise to settle their unease and to work out some of their pent up anger. The other house members were either in the den, or helping Ororo and Terry prepare dinner in the kitchen.
Rogue sat alone in her bedroom contemplating the events of their somewhat successful mission. Her thoughts mainly revolved around Gambit's reaction after she had taken Cecilia out so easily, and unexpectedly. It was some what out of character for her, but drastic measures needed to be taken sometimes. Rogue sat at Kitty's vanity, staring at her reflection. The purple glow had disappeared from her eyes, and the raven haired girl's powers had long since dissipated. She sighed tucking her hair behind her ears, "Am ah really that terrifyin'?" She asked her reflection secretly hoping that the mirror would somehow answer her.
"No Rogue, you're not," Soda stated from the doorway. Rogue jumped and turned to see her boyfriend leaning against her open door frame with an amused look plastered on his face. She relaxed and leaned back slightly, turning to look at him. He smiled softly at her, "What on Earth would make you think that?" He questioned quietly closing the door behind him as he entered the room.
She sighed looking down at the floor. "Ah am jus' so sick of people tensin' up when ah touch 'em or avoid havin' contact with meh at all," She confessed. "Ya were tha only one who didn't," She said turning around and facing the mirror once again.
Soda shrugged. "Their all assholes. Whoever makes you feel bad about yourself doesn't deserve your time," He commented walking up behind her. "I know you're a great person," He said wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.
She smiled resting her left hand on his arm. "Ya always have a way of makin' meh feel better."
"You are most welcome," He replied happily, kissing her on the cheek, and detangling himself from her. "So that's why you didn't go to the last 'know your enemy' training session," He said using finger quotes. "'cause it was Gambit?" He inquired curiously.
Rogue nodded, "Yes. Despite what everyone aroun' here thinks, Gambit an' ah were really close once. Until ah caught him cheatin' on me of course. It's obvious what happened ta us afta that," She concluded wrapping her arms around herself.
Soda nodded understanding where she was coming from. "He seems like a pain in the ass to me," He stated grabbing the chair from Rogue's computer. He spun it around and sat on the plastic surface.
Rogue smiled again, "Yeah, that he can be," She said her thoughts trailing off to something completely different. Her smile faded, and a frown replaced it. "Carol knows," She mused playing with the ends of her hair.
"Carol knows what?" He asked swiveling the chair back and forth.
"About us," She expanded turning around again, so that she was facing him again. "She went on this whole ridiculous spiel 'bout how ah'm not good enough for ya an' how she's goin' ta steal ya away from meh," She explained with a sigh. "Ah'm sure she just does it ta get a rise outta meh, but it steal feels really shitty."
Soda nodded, "For sure."
She slammed her fists down on the wooden bench of the vanity. "She's lahke ten tahmes worse than Jean ever was."
Soda chuckled and stood up walking the two steps closer to her. "Don't worry about her. She's not worth it," He replied giving her a quick peck on the lips. "She's just jealous that you have such a great guy and she doesn't," He concluded with a smirk.
Rogue playfully slapped him on the chest , "Always tha optimist 'et Soda."
"Hey if I'm not who will be?" She questioned raising an eyebrow at her in curiosity.
"Ya got ah point there todey," She said affectionately.
"Oh god let's not start this again.."
Next: Lost and Found