Chapter Eleven: Back to Normal?

x x x

I know I talked about illustrations, so there's a couple up here: I've actually experienced an overdose on sleeping pills myself, so that's pretty much taken verbatim from my own experience. Granted, everyone's body will probably have a different reaction to that. I, for example, am very intolerable to medicine, so it probably hit me harder than Rogue might have been affected. Medically, from what I understand, is that your heartbeat increases at first and then because the medicine is such a depressant, your heartbeat actually slows down until it stops and you die. And the quivering and green-purple, that also happens for one because you're cold, and for two because your body is trying to fight off the medicine.

x x x

The room was silent except for the rhythmic beeping of the EKG machine as Rogue slowly became more aware of what was happening around her. All was quiet in the ICU. It was morning; she must have slept through the night after they pumped her stomach. She had overdosed on sleeping pills, after all. Gambit lay in the chair beside her hospital bed, sleeping, and Wanda in another chair, doing a crossword puzzle. She looked up suddenly and smiled. "Hey," she said softly.

"Hey," she replied with a small nod. "Ya'all stay here all night?"

"Two nights, actually," Wanda replied. "You slept for quite sometime. The doctors were really worried. They were worried you might go into a coma."

"Ah'm really sorry," she whispered. "Ah just… felt so guilty. Ah guess Ah kinda lost it for a while."

"I know you didn't really want to die." Wanda said. "Hey, if it makes you feel better, I attempted suicide once, too. It was a long time ago. I don't remember why, but I guess we both have demons to fight. And I know a few people who even succeeded. Sometimes things like that just… happen. I know I've been kind of a pain to you, but I'm glad you didn't die. Rogue, you're stronger than that and you know it."

A single tear fell down Rogue's cheek. "Thanks."

Groaning cut into the silence as Remy stretched out, yawning, like a languid lion. He looked up and smiled. "Mornin', Sleepin' beauty," he drawled.

She grabbed his hand, scared, and squeezed it hard. Not able to take it anymore, she burst into tears. Gambit, surprised, got up and pulled her into an embrace. "Ah'm so sorry," she sobbed.

He wasn't sure how to respond. Someone so strong and dynamic suddenly had become weak, dependant, and full of despair. He was used to Rogue's bossy attitude and clever comebacks. He was used to her harsh words and lovely laughter. Not these tears, and not the black charcoal smeared on her lips and down her chin. He thought he was going to lose her and John. He had never been so scared in his life. He held her tightly and responded, "Just don't do dat ever again, chere. Ever."

"Ah promise," she said, pulling away and wiping her tears.

Wanda smiled. "I'll leave you two alone."

Words weren't needed. Rogue wasn't concerned about seeming too in love with Remy anymore. It seemed so trivial when the fact was simple: She needed him, and from what he told her, he needed her, too. They just hugged each other, listening to the encouragingly steady beep of the machine. She was going to be okay. They all were.

x x x

It took a few days before John woke up, but he did come back. He never mentioned anything to Rogue about the incident, and she suspected that Remy had tactfully told him about that night. Even if he was a creep, he wouldn't make her feel bad after that. It would several days, if not many more, for Rogue to forgive herself. She learned that even with the collar, it hadn't stopped her power. She had to learn to control that dark part of herself that made her hang on- that little seed of murder that Mystique had planted and patiently waited for it to bloom.

The house became pretty quiet since the incident, Magneto, Anna, and Dr. Moreau working as diligently as ever on their project. Sometimes the Acolytes ran into town for some errand, but mostly they stayed at home, helping the adults. Genosha became more and more like their secret base every day, and they all knew it wouldn't be long before their plan was carried out.

Innocently. That's how the day had begun for the Acolytes as they chowed down at a local pizza parlor. Gambit and Rogue sat across from each other, bickering about what toppings they wanted on their pizza, as Wanda, John, Colossus, and Pietro watched in amusement.

"Well, how 'bout barbeque chicken?" Remy suggested. "How bad can dat be?"

"That's not even real pizza!" Rogue objected. It hadn't taken the couple very long to continue butting heads, even over something so insignificant as a type of pizza.

"Well den what do you suggest?" he asked testily.

"How 'bout Hawaiian?"

"Fruit on a pizza!" he exclaimed incredulously. "Are ya out o' yoh fuckin' mind? No way, Hose!"

Folding her arms across her chest, Rogue glared daggers in return. "Fine, then, what 'bout pepperoni?"

"Pepperoni?" He turned to John. "Pepperoni? She t'inks Pepperoni is good on a pizza? Dis is pizza! P-I-Z-Z-A. You don' just put pepperoni on it. Dat's way too boring!"

Wanda rolled her eyes and turned to the flustered waiter. "We'll just have two large cheese pizzas."

"Your kids are going to be fucked up," Pietro remarked with a sip of his Coke.

Rogue, still huffing over the pizza, snapped in response, "Yeah, well, he wishes he'd get close enough t' make mah babies."

"Whatever,' John retorted with a smirk. "Ya sure were doing some baby-making last night."

"We were not!"

As it took the rest of the Acolytes to tear Rogue away from Pyro, Wanda reflected on many things had changed since the incident, and yet it was still the very same. That's when the doorbell sounded.

The Acolytes stopped their fighting immediately as two familiar figures were seated in a neighboring booth.

"What are Red and One-Eye doing here?" Pietro inquired.

Rogue hid herself behind the menu. "Maybe they won't notice us."

Of course, that false hope shattered as Jean turned and spotted them. "So we meet again," she said, glaring at Rogue.

She shrugged. "It's a small world after all."

"We know what you're up to," Cyclops snapped, walking towards the Acolyte's table. "And you should know that we plan to stop it at all costs."

Gambit yawned. "Is our pizza ready yet?"

"What makes you think you can stop us?" Wanda asked evenly.

"We always stop you," Jean replied.

"Ah think ya'all oughta mind y'r own business," Rogue interjected. "We're only fixin' this place up after the government imprisoned mutants here."

"And creating your own mutant base for war, isn't that right?"

"Dat's completely right, ol' Scotty. But I don' see how any o' ya can do on damned t'ing 'bout it, seein' as how Magneto owns dis place. We could kick ya out in minutes."

"I'd like to see you try!" Cyclops challenged.

Remy rose from his chair and slapped his hands on the table menacingly.

"Oh, control y'r testosterone levels, boys," Rogue snarled, mediating. She smiled sweetly. "Look, we're just tryin' t' have some freakin' pizza, an Ah'm assuming ya'all are doin' the same. Why don't we agree t' disagree so we can all eat our food in peace?"

"I'm surprised they let you out," Jean snarled. "After all, you're a walking disaster. How many more lives did you ruin today?"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, here we go again. Ah didn't think ya could be so petty, Grey."

"I didn't think you could play so innocent, after all that you've done."

Gambit encircled her waist with his arm protectively. "Why don't you just leave her alone?"

Scott glared and grabbed Jean's arm. "Let's just go somewhere else."

"You better watch your back, X-Geeks!" John shouted as they left the parlor.

Rogue sank into the booth with a heavy sigh. "Past, meet present. Past, fuck any chance of me ever havin' a normal life."

"Don't worry about them," Wanda replied. "They're just idiots."

"Ah guess so," she said dispassionately.

x x x

Subject: Your daughter

Mystique,

While I realize that you are no longer the caretaker of Rogue, I thought I might inform you that a few nights ago your daughter attempted suicide. It was quite unexpected, as she took sleeping pills after an accidental absorption of one of my students. She was in the ICU for two days, but I am glad to say that she is better now and has no repercussions from the overdose. I assume the grief of her power taking Carol's life force for good and most likely the trauma from being separated from you led her to such a bold decision. If you would like to still make amends with your daughter that is fine. But know this: she is part of my team and I won't stand to see you play mother dearest with her now. Blooming friendships with my daughter and a student of mine have led her to become a little happier, and I won't stand to see you ruin it like you do to everything else.

Sincerely,

Magneto

P S I know what you sent Rogue here for, but I assure you, I have her eating out of my palm now.

Mystique swore loudly after reading the e-mail. She wondered, was that the warning that Irene had given her? She knew her daughter had always been depressed, even more so since the Danvers incident, but she never would have believed that she would ever attempt to take her own life. "Stupid girl," she growled. "Right in the middle of our plan, and you have to have a crisis like this?"

She couldn't call her. No, that would be too suspicious. She had to pretend that she and Rogue had nothing to do with each other anymore. Still, she longed to talk to her daughter. She opened up a new e-mail, knowing that it too would probably be ignored like the last one. At that exact moment, her inbox was filled with a new message.

Subject: I'm sorry.

I realize that Magneto sent you an e-mail. Please, let me explain. I thought John was going to be another Carol and I sort of… overreacted. I'm sorry to worry you. As for our plan, the ball is still in their court. The power amplifying collar has been successfully created (and I even have one and it works wonders!), but I'm still waiting for the completed power mimicking collar. Don't you worry none about me. I'm fine now, really. And I even have someone here to keep me company. I know, I know, you'd hardly approve, but I like him. Well, I better go.

Love,

Rogue.

Mystique didn't bother to reply. So, she was just moments away from her plan coming into fruition. As soon as she got her hands on the collars, she could truly impersonate Magneto and use his base and his minions for her own plan. Then she and Rogue would rule the mutant paradise left in the world's ruins. It was only a matter of time before Rogue would assassinate Magneto and the chips would fall into place.

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I realize that this may seem kind of cheesy… what with everyone pretty much ignoring the attempt. I will try to focus on fixing what was broken in later chapters, but for right now, it just kind of seems in character for everyone to gloss over it like it didn't happen.

More coming soon! Loves and Kisses, Free.