Chapter 1:
The rain fell steadily over Bayville as the residence of Xavier's Institute began their day. The kitchen was loud and messy as the younger students crowded the room chatting animatedly with one another. In a rare moment everyone seemed to be smiling instead of arguing. Kitty Pryde nearly skipped into the full room with a large smile glued to her face with Kurt Wagner following close behind his expression, a replica of Kitty's.
The duo sat together at the kitchen table whispering to one another when Rogue wandered in slowly reading her book as other students jumped out of her way. Rogue took a seat beside Kitty still refusing to look up from the text in front of her. Logan poured a cup of coffee and slid it across the table to where Rogue sat. She mumbled a thank you but her eyes still refused to meet her mentor standing in front of her.
"Stripes," Logan said to which Rogue peaked up for only a moment to indicate she was listening. "No books at the table."
"Okay," she said but continued on with her novel. Without warning, Logan snatched the book out of her hand causing Rogue to jump to her feet in a fighting stance. "Hey!"
"I warned you," he said calmly, setting the book down beside him. "You can have this back when you finish breakfast."
"Well I'm not hungry anyways, Kitty dragged me down here. Can I please have my book back?" Rogue pleaded with the older man. It was at that moment Logan took the time to look at his favorite student. Her hair hung limp in front of her face, her eyes had dark circles looming beneath them and skin paler than normal, despite her attempt to hide beneath heavy makeup.
"Come on, Monsieur Claws," Remy Lebeau, better known to most as Gambit, spoke up on behalf of his younger friend. It was only shortly after the fall of Apocalypse that he showed up on the doorstep of the Institute with a duffle bag in hand and a lopsided grin asking for a spot on the team. He was ecstatic to see his old friend Colossus had joined and therefore had someone to vouch for him. Much to his surprise, Rogue was the one who was the deciding vote when she said yes.
It had taken over a month for Remy to coax an actual conversation from Rogue but the two had become friends. They would find each other on the roof, Remy with a drink and cigarette in hand and Rogue with a book and mug of warm coffee. There was a silent understanding between the two of them. A connection of sorts. The two would spar and battle it out within the mansion's gym but when it came to training simulation they fought best together.
"Just give the fille her book," Logan sent a glare at Remy who simply returned his gaze with a bored expression.
"Hey Rogue," Jean spoke up before Logan had a chance to retort. "The Professor wants to see you in his office." Rogue heaved a heavy sigh and forced herself to her feet.
It had been nearly a year since the defeat of Apocalypse and with that came more mental turmoil for Rogue. Forced to repeat her senior year of high school and the ever growing headaches that seemed to be getting worse with every passing second lead Rogue to more sessions with Professor Charle Xavier than she cared to receive. Despite Apocalypse stealing the powers that Rogue acquired, the psyches remained in her mind. Oftentimes, shouting degrading slurs at the young girl.
The worst part had come from the strife between her and the team leader, Scott Summers. Once she held a crush for the man who was her first friend on the team but now they couldn't be left alone in a room without an argument breaking out. Scott accused her of being afraid. It had been nearly a year since Rogue used her powers - her last victim had been a young boy with the ability to control energy. There were now one too many personalities in her mind preventing sleep and practical team training sessions.
Logan tried hard to keep Rogue involved despite her ever growing tendencies to be alone. She was getting better, he would remind the Professor. That is, until she discovered the treacherous snake better known to the members of the mansion as Mystique, had manipulated and lied to the girl for years. Rogue was used against her will for the advantage of Mystique. There had yet to be a day gone by that Logan didn't blame himself for Mesmero controlling one of his students, he had let his guard down and Rogue had been the ultimate sufferer.
Rogue grabbed her coffee mug from the kitchen table and snatched her book back from Logan who had placed it beside his plate. He sent her a glare but didn't respond knowing full well that the last thing Rogue wanted to do was have the Professor poke around in her head for the umpteenth time this week.