Warning: Rogue's in for more heartache as the tide turns. Reunions and plots.

It was a few weeks later and Kitty was sorting laundry. Most of the students had gone to some concert and firework display. Normally she'd be with them but lately, a sense of melancholia had gripped her. Not wanting to ruin anyone's night, she opted to stay home.

To fill her mind, she chose to help out with the laundry that had been piling up recently. It was a pretty basic system and she had come across a few items belonging to Rogue. She brought them up to their shared room and as she laid them on the bed, she had inkling to check her wardrobe.

Rogue had left earlier, without any explanation, as usual and there had been no clue as to what outfit she wore.

Kitty knew she shouldn't snoop. Rogue was a very private person. She hated anyone rifling through her belongings, but the urge to check wouldn't fade.

What harm would it do? She thought to herself. All it would take was one quick peek...

The dress wasn't there and there was no way such a garment would be folded or stashed away. Even so... she checked the drawers.

No, there was no sign there either, which made it safe to assume that she'd taken the dress and had very specific plans for it. How those would be accomplished was another headache she definitely didn't want to take on...

XxX

It was late when she found that her roommate had returned and any questioning would have to wait until later. The only way Kitty had realised was due to a full bladder waking her up and then there were the clear signs of residence in the other bed, along with stray belongings littering the floor. Rogue was in a deep sleep, a little smile on her face.

It was several hours later that Kitty woke to a quiet conversation from the other side of the room.

"No, ah just woke up. You really gave me a workout. We'll have to do it again. Soon? You bet."

She gave a giggle and hung up, unaware of her audience.

Kitty had never heard such a sound come out of Rogue.

She decided to 'wake-up' allowing her body to stretch as she yawned. Her actions caught Rogue's attention. "Morning. When did you get in?"

Rogue grinned. "Ah'm not sure. It was real late."

"Rogue, who is it you're seeing?"

Rogue shook her head. "No-one you know."

"Is he a mutant?"

"Yes." She gave a long sigh.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"What's he like?"

"What's with all the questions?"

"Can't a friend ask about the guy her friend is seeing?"

"We're not really 'seeing' each other. We're just..." she broke off.

"Just?"

Would it be too coarse to say we were just sleeping with each other? No labels, no boundaries, just pure sex?

Kitty was still waiting for an answer. One Rogue had no intention of giving.

XxX

Rogue continued to see Gus, keeping their liaison secret. It wasn't that she was ashamed of him or anything. She wasn't. But she liked having something, someone that was just hers.

Even so, she felt prompted to ask, "Do you want to meet the others?"

He raised a brow at her. "Why would I do that? It's not them I'm interested in."

Boy, did he know just what a girl needed to hear.

"Besides, what would you say I am? The 'Friends with benefits?'" He grinned at her.

"Maybe not, but if ya did want to meet them?"

He shook his head. "Trust me Rogue, let's not complicate things."

She did trust him and that was alright.

XxX

Meanwhile, Irene had been in contact with Mystique. She'd been having visions about their mutual daughter. Usually, the outcome was clear but recently, the future was shaky. Something was coming. Something important for everyone but particularly Rogue and Mystique. The only trouble was it wasn't clear if Rogue would be able to face it.

She'd known from the first vision that the girl had the potential for great things. How awful would it be, if the girl wasn't around to fulfil it?

Perhaps it was time for a little... intervention?

XxX

Rogue's absences were steadily garnering attention.

The young students missed their confidante and while her attendance and concentration never faltered in training, the X-Men were looking to do some more team building exercises.

"We spend so much time training, when do we have time to just hang out?"

Kitty brought it up with Rogue on a rare evening in.

"Sure, what do you have in mind?"

Kitty hadn't been expecting such prompt capitulation. "Erm, like I don't know. We were supposed to think of ideas and talk about it over dinner."

Rogue shrugged. "Fine. Whatever."

The girls were the last to the table and at first glance of Rogue's appearance; Bobby did a double-take.

"Oh hi, you must be new here, I'm Bobby."

His good natured remarks earned laughs from his friends and wry glances from everyone else.

"Ha-ha Drake, why don't ya cut the comedy and stick to whatever else you do."

"So how come you've decided to grace us with your presence today?"

"Enough Bobby." Scott shook his head. Something in Rogue told her she needed to rebel against the pseudo command.

"To answer your question, since y'all asked so nice, Ah had no prior engagement, so Ah thought Ah'd come and see what Ah've been missing. Kitty tells me you're all talking about spending quality time together."

Scott gave her a look. "Well, yes, we were going to discuss that."

"Then go ahead. Ah'll pitch in when Ah've got an idea."

Ideas were being thrown around. Paint-balling, scavenger hunts.

Rogue's mouth twisted into a half sneer. "Ah thought the idea was to have some down time?"

Scott felt irritated, although he had no reason to. "Well, what do you suggest?"

She gave a sigh. "Movies, dinner out. Bowling?"

He frowned, aware that the whole table was listening to their talk. "I'm not sure it will be a good idea having such large groups outside the institute. There are still a lot of people on edge."

She shrugged. "Then re-programme the Danger room into a bowling alley? Ah'm sure it can be done. Or set up a few rounds of badminton. Everyone pitches in something, winner takes the lot."

"Hm, well I see no harm in a friendly competition. Though I'm not sure if money would be the best solution."

"Doesn't have to be money you're staking. How about we all write down ideas, pick one out of a hat. They can be anything from a box of chocolates to, let's say two weeks off laundry duty."

This earned a lot of support and the match was set for the weekend. Everyone had to supply their 'prizes' by ten A.M that Saturday, with the games starting at 10:30. There were quick fire rounds to eliminate people early. Then it was the best of three and best of five. The scores were kept by Hank and Ororo who watched from the sidelines, until the team were whittled down.

"And next up is Rogue and Scott."

The room intensified with energy. Neither had really spoken since word spread that Jean and Scott were officially dating. For Rogue, the lack of respect had been an issue. Neither Jean nor Scott had taken the time to give her a heads-up that that was where they were heading. Not that either one would ever think they had done anything wrong, she added bitterly.

Both took their positions and began the match. Scott and Rogue parried well, lunging extensively, stretching their bodies to reach the ball before the other could.

Part way through the game, a change came over Rogue. It was barely noticeable but the demeanour altered. The friendly game became a bitter competition. Scott wasn't expecting it and it threw him off balance. Rogue continued, relentlessly, throwing herself around the space, hitting corners and edges.

"Hey, take it easy Rogue."

She didn't hear him and her attack intensified.

By the time Scott was ready to break, sweat was pouring down his body, whereas Rogue barely glistened. He was about ready to collapse.

XxX

Later, Rogue was called in for a 'chat' with the Professor. She'd taken the time to wash after the game, not noticing how quiet the room was. The others were a little intimidated and sensed there was more to the match than a friendly competition.

"I wanted to discuss your performance just now?" Charles spoke professionally, aware that there were matters to be addressed.

"What about it?"

He had prepared a copy of the match to replay for Rogue's sake. "I believe you were, overly aggressive."

Rogue looked puzzled. "It's just a game."

"Perhaps but you seemed to take it far more seriously than everyone else."

She shook her head. "You guys ask me to be more social, yet when Ah am, you complain about it."

"That ain't being social kid. There's rage there. Are you sure you weren't taking the advantage to even up some scores?"

She turned to Logan, her eyes blazing. "What the hell do you mean?"

Logan met her stare-for-stare, refusing to be intimidated, all the while surprised at the strength of her reaction. "You and Scott. I know you wanted more, but he didn't reciprocate."

The fire dimmed and hurt took over, forcing her to grab hold of the arms of the chair in which she sat. Her nails dug in deep and somehow that feeling sustained her. She took a deep breath, and responded in a despondent manner. "So you think Ah'd do something to hurt him?" She looked to see everyone's eyes on her. "Wow."

"Rogue..." Charles' voice was too calm for this moment.

She snarled, "No, don't you dare try to smooth this over. What happened to getting people's sides before accusing someone of being that cruel?"

Her voice was growing louder.

"Pipe it down kid."

She saw Logan's stance. He was torn between his instincts to protect and defend. Only this time, she was the assailant. "No, you obviously think Ah'm dangerous. You've got a duty of care to the rest of the students here. They need to know to avoid me, in case anything happens."

As she left the room, she allowed the doors to fully crash against the wall, enjoying the crashing sound it made.

XxX

Any efforts she had made previously to be sociable were cut off. She stopped engaging in conversations, took her meals alone and made sure that Kitty was fast asleep before retiring and being one of the first up in the morning.

She only spoke when it was necessary and never to Jean or Scott.

Logan tried to speak to her about it after a few days but found she wouldn't budge.

"You can't be telling me you want to risk the others' safety by forcing them to interact with me?"

"Kid, you need to stop this."

"Stop what? Being myself? Ah can't do that Logan."

"Look, what happened between you and Scott..."

She snapped, snarling at her mentor. "What did happen with him? You obviously know more about it than me."

"You need to curb that attitude Rogue. It gets old."

She squared up to him; any fears of disrespecting him had fled. Any thought that he was like family to her, vanished. He was the aggressor and it was time to fight back. "What attitude do you think Ah have Logan?"

He refused to back down from the confrontation. He refused to back down from the confrontation. "We get it, you're hurt, but isolating others won't help that pain go away."

She dead-panned. "Ah'm not isolating Logan. Ah'm protecting. You should understand that."

XxX

Dear Scarlett,

Things are all going wrong. The people Ah thought Ah could trust have turned against me. They have chosen Jean and Scott. Ah knew it was bound to happen, but not this soon.

They clearly think Ah'm a threat but when Ah do what Ah have to do, they don't like it. They want me to talk to them, as though Ah trust them but Ah can't do that anymore.

The thing with Scott isn't what they think. They all assume Ah'm jealous that he chose her over me. That he finally admitted he was wasting his time with me. Ah could understand that but that's not how things are. Ah was the one pursuing him. Ah admitted my feelings. Ah accepted my limitations and found a solution. All he had to do was own it. But he didn't. He'd rather go for the obvious childhood sweetheart angle. He didn't even have the decency to let me know they had finally admitted their feelings to themselves and each other. They've got everyone cheering that their finally a couple and then they'll be rubbing their happiness in everyone's faces, cherishing 'moments', planning their first date, their second, their first time. She's got all the happiness he has to offer and they'll probably expect me to be supportive. That Ah should cheer them on; deny that there was ever anything between Scott and Ah, so they could feel guilt-free enough to enjoy a happy future.

Well Ah won't do it. Ah won't lie to them and applaud their relationship. Ah won't celebrate and congratulate Scott for finally growing the balls enough to admit that he wanted Jean more than he ever wanted me.

Ah won't make things harder on them, Ah have too much pride in my own worth for that, but Ah won't bend over backwards to accommodate them.

They messed with the wrong girl and now they have to pay.

XxX

Weeks had passed. Mutant hate crime was on the rise and Xavier's students were key targets. Despite many consultations with the Principal, Charles continued to be frustrated. There was no sympathy to be had, no empathy.

Some of Magneto's team were approaching others on his behalf. One of them being Logan. Piotr had approached him with an offer to join the team and receive sanctuary from those that would persecute him for the way he had been born and for the crimes others had dealt to him.

Logan refused the offer, citing he would never be a lackey, enslaved to Magneto's whim.

Rogue was another one, this time approached by Pyro. Her answer was of a similar vein.

"Ah will never work for Magneto. Ah will continue to stay at Xavier's until Ah'm pushed out."

This caught Pyro's attention. "Why would your father push you out?"

She shrugged, desperate not to reveal the pain that was slowly tearing her apart. "If Ah ever get to the stage where Ah can't be handled or controlled Ah guess. Don't worry Johnny; you don't need to protect me anymore."

He was confused. "What are you talking about?"

"There was once a girl in an institution. You protected her from the pervert that was meant to care for her. You brought her with you when you left Alabama for New Orleans. You protected her when some scum would have forced himself on her. You called her Yanna. Ah couldn't protect you though and we were separated. Ah don't know how you came to work for Magneto but Ah know you're better than that Johnny. You can do anything you want to do, as long as you believe you've got the guts to pull it off."

XxX

Rogue overheard some of the younger students talking about the mutants that lived in the sewers, who weren't as physically fortunate as they were.

Her mother had always told her to think of others in need and however bad things seemed, there were always people who had it worse. The world didn't stop because you were in pain. It continued. Pain wasn't necessarily a personal thing. It attacked any and everyone. It didn't discriminate.

Rogue had taken the meaning to be her mother's veiled attempt to get her daughter to stop feeling sorry for herself and instead use that energy to help others. In doing so, she would find ways to help herself.

So she checked out discount stores, buying up things that were long life and endurable. She listened out for stray pieces of information from the kid whose code name was Berserker. He'd been the one to seek out sanctuary from the sewers when they had been ousted. She took details and directions and set the date for her first foray into the sewers.

On that first visit, she was met by the one called Caliban. He assessed her dispassionately.

"I know who you are. I always know."

Rogue ignored the shiver that traced her spine. This was not the time for nerves. "Then you know why Ah'm here."

She placed the food products in the lock-tight box to his side.

"It's not much but Ah can bring more another time. It's not charity either. You helped us when we needed it. It's a fair exchange of labour."

He nodded. "Your offering is welcome."

"Ah can't promise a regular thing. But Ah will return when Ah can."

"We will look out for your next visit."

XxX

It was quiet when she got home, meaning she could get to the laundry and grab a shower before anyone noticed and could start giving her shit.

She hadn't considered Logan's sense of smell. Despite her washing her clothes several times, even leaving them over the balcony to dry, he still caught hold of it. He kept quiet about it, choosing to follow her sporadically. He clocked her times at the sewers, visits to a particular apartment and the occasional visits with Risty. Yes, she was back for now. He considered it convenient that she disappeared when all the trouble hit the fan but knew that some parents were legitimately extreme in their reactions to the mass mutant outing.

He wasn't sure what to make about the visits to the sewers. He'd followed downwind and had been approached by Caliban.

"How long has this been going on?"

"A while." He replied.

"We didn't know."

"That she was helping us or that there were others like you?"

Logan hated feeling the discomfort. He hated feeling wrong-footed. "My priority is to the kids at the school. But that doesn't mean I'm not concerned about others."

Caliban was philosophical. "There are always those that suffer. You should not concern yourself with us."

XxX

Rogue continued to source out discount stores, looking for other items that would be suitable. She learned that there were a mix of boys and girls, men and women living there and sent appropriate purchases along with the food parcels. Having returned from a store-run, she was sorting through the items when Logan and Charles appeared in the garage.

"Need a hand?"

She paused before answering. "Ah've got it, thanks."

Charles' tone was even. "You know, it is quite admirable what you're doing. I wonder why you didn't see fit to tell us."

"Would you have cared?"

"Of course I would care. Rogue... I really don't like this disconnect that's happening. I want to understand."

"Why does it matter?"

"It matters because I care about you. We all care about you. I dislike seeing anyone in pain."

She shook her head. "You know what Ah hate? Ah hate the fact that you're all scared of me. That you think Ah'd attack Scott out of spite. Ah hate that all of you celebrate that Jean and Scott finally got together, as though what happened between Scott and Ah never happened. Ah hate the fact that he didn't even have the decency to give me a heads-up that they were finally getting together and Ah hate that y'all condone it and chew me out for being hurt."