Note…

Blah – narration

Blah – thought/French phrases

Blah – telepathic/internal banter

Three

Soft music wafted in the air mixing with the light incense Bender had liked to burn while he and Rogue meditated; even as psychic residue in her mind the quiet telepath was insistent that she focus on controlling her psyches.  Unlike some of the psyches, Rogue liked having him in her head-it meant that even though he was dead a piece of Bender lived on. It was comforting in its own strange way. 

For once the Goth was happy to get away from the other Acolytes and the reality facing them all.  There were many things Rogue was willing to rationalize to stay in Magneto's service-she couldn't leave Asli, Remy or even John alone here.  But she wasn't willing to kill not even while fighting the good fight.  Rogue knew well enough that the others didn't have her morals-she'd been in each of their minds.

"Focus." Bender's voice echoed through her mind abruptly bringing Rogue back to the task at hand, "Deep breaths Rogue, let it all go.  Empting your mind is the only way to begin this."

"I'm tryin'," Rogue answered him silently, "It's kinda hard when your thoughts are clomping around like elephants wearin' tap shoes."

A smile lit the Goth's face-she could feel Bender laughing inside her mind, something he had hardly ever done in life but now relished thoroughly.  Rogue's head shot up as a knock sounded at her door. "Are you going to answer that?" Bender asked.

"Depends who it is," Rogue answered aloud then cursed herself-the last thing she needed was the other Acolytes thinking she was crazy.

Rising stiffly from the hour she had spent sitting on the floor in the lotus position Rogue moved to the door and swung it wide.  "What do you want Swampy?" she lifted an eyebrow in response to Remy's perma-smirk.

"Chère do Remy's ears deceive him or are you talkin' to yourself?" he leaned against the doorframe with practiced ease, "If you wanted company all you had to do was ask hein."

The Goth shook her head wondering where the sensitive young man who had whispered calming words to her in the darkness had disappeared to. It didn't take a mind reader to know that there was more to Remy Labeau than just the over-confidant, joking, womanizer that he let everyone see and it frustrated Rogue that the Cajun couldn't just drop his shields.

"Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" Bender piped up from Rogue's subconscious, "Maybe you should take your own advice?"

A frown creased Rogue's face as she digested the telepath's bit of helpful advice; letting down her guards was easier said than done.  "Chère?"  She looked up and Remy's face was once more full of the compassion he had shown in New York, "Dose voices of yours getting' too loud?"

"Nah," she offered the Cajun charmer a small smile, "Bender's just giving me some advice on my love life."

Remy's smile widened, "Chère has a love life?"

It was Rogue's turn to smile slyly, "Oh yeah Swamp Rat, I can see the guys beating the door down to win a chance with the untouchable girl."

"Den Chère had better get her eye sight tested," Remy's voice was light but Rogue could sense a hint of strain amongst the joke as if he didn't want to make the moment more serious than it already was, "Remy is here."

"Remy…" Rogue moved away from the door and her team-mate-the look in his eyes told her everything she didn't want to know, "We can't…I'll hurt you…You'll hurt me…neither of us are masochists. You deserve better than that."

Instead of leaving with his metaphorical tail between his legs like Rogue hoped Remy stepped inside her room and shut the door behind him.  His red on black eyes still earnest and searching Rogue's green orbs, "Chère, let Remy decide what he deserves hein.  He told you dat he'd kiss you one day and Remy…he…I meant it."

Rogue held her breath as he moved close enough to touch but frustratingly stayed just out of reach.  His gloved hand lifted to Rogue's face with infinite slowness- for a second the Goth thought her heart would hammer through her chest before Remy reached his goal-but eventually he took her face carefully in his hands.  Their eyes locked as they stared at each other from inches away leaving Rogue intensely aware of the fact that Remy's hand was gripping her chin.  Even dazed Rogue could see Remy moving closer and closer as if he would kiss her.

A need to protect Remy-if only form himself was all the spurring Rogue needed to she tear out of Remy's grasp, "You were gonna kiss me weren't you?" she asked putting a few more inches between their bodies her face beginning to flush with anger; she was the Rogue she had to stay apart from others to protect them, "Who says I want any more of you in my mind Swamp Rat?  You have no right to pull that snake charmer routine on me!"

"Chère…" Remy face fell as Rogue's righteous anger washed over him.

Rogue had never seen the young man look so vulnerable, so utter lacking in confidence but now was the time to push him away before he got any closer-before they fell any further.  Meeting Remy's ruby and obsidian eyes Rogue steeled herself; she would be the strong one, "No Remy. Whatever this is…it isn't going any further…find another chump to charm 'cause the Rogue isn't buyin' it."

A cold stillness crept into Remy's posture before Rogue's eyes; and the Goth had to clench her fists to keep from reaching out to him and pulling the Cajun close once more. Remy's flirtatious façade returned once more as if he was shrugging into an old coat and he offered Rogue a stiff half bow before turning around and walking out her door.  Like a deer caught in the headlights Rogue stood and watched him leave silently holding back her tears. If not now he'd do it eventually when he got tired of the challenge; she told herself wrapping her arms around her body to block out the loneliness she felt.

"You'll never know now," Bender's voice popped up once more-after all he had had a front row seat for this little drama, "Will you?"

Rogue scowled at her very own Jiminy Cricket and threw herself onto her bed pulling her pillow close to catch the stray tears, "Just leave me alone."

"You already are Rogue." Was Bender's parting shot as he retreated into Rogue's subconscious.

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Wincing as she walked into the chrome filled kitchen of the Acolyte base Asli pulled the bottle of painkillers Hank had given her out of her pocket.  Beast had been very clear that she was only to take them every six hours if she felt pain-it had only been three hours but the pain in her shoulder still lingered.  Just the thought of the X-Mansion was enough to increase the ache in Asli's body if not her recent immobility.

She had spent most of the last three hours at her computer digging up Intel on Graydon Creed.  Asli's digging had been very well rewarded. With a quick shrug she tossed two more of the little white pills into her palm and then jerked them into her mouth swallowing them dry. "That's not very healthy." Mystique's cold voice interrupted Asli's silent gagging.

The hacker turned and offered the metamorph a contemptuous look, "Somehow I don't' see giving advice as one of your specialities."

 "It's not," Mystique pushed some of her flaming red hair away from her face to level her yellow eyes on Asli uninterrupted, "I was never the mothering type."

Seeing her chance Asli smiled coldly, "What was it Meatloaf said? 'Two outta three ain't bad'?"

The shocked look on the blue mutant's face was well worth three hours of sitting still but like a professional Mystique recovered quickly, "Parents try hard but some children just can't be helped, ask your own."

It took all of Asli's self control not to show how close to the bone Mystique's taunt had cut; instead she offered the older woman a blank face and emotionless tone, "So why are you here? Was there something you wanted?"

"Indeed there was," Mystique moved as close to Asli as either woman would allow fully aware that the hacker would not step back, "What ever little plan you've come up with to free yourselves of Magneto is doomed so give up now like a good little girl."

Asli frowned wondering just how Mystique had gotten wind of all her double dealing, "I don't know what you mean.  I'm a loyal solider."

"Don't feed me that bullshit," Mystique hissed drawing still closer to Asli, "You're no more loyal than I am.  I didn't know until I got here whether it was you or the Cajun…but you're definitely the brains behind it.  I know you won't listen to me to save your own skin but you do show an overwhelming attachment to my daughter…"

Without thinking Asli darted a quick hand out and grabbed the blue woman by the throat; she lowered her own voice to a growl, "You had better not be threatening Rogue-she's been through enough thanks to your mommy dearest routine."

"I've only ever done what I thought best." Mystique shoved Asli away but the hacker's reflexes caught hold of the metamorph once more, "In the end you'll do the same-but be warned if you go against Magneto there will be death."

Clenching her fist Asli let go of Mystique and met her eyes, "I'm not afraid to die."

"I know you aren't," the blue woman shook her head with what could best be described as tiredness and admiration, "But you won't be the one to die if you turn against him…Rogue will. Destiny has seen it. Are you willing to pay that kind of price?"

Asli's mouth dropped; Rogue had told her about the blind woman who raised her, the one who could see possible futures.  Despite her natural urge to distrust anything Mystique said Asli doubted that Rogue's mother would have returned to Magneto out of simple boredom.  "I'll let you think about it for a while.  I have to help Erik prepare for Washington."  Mystique turned and left the kitchen abruptly.

Conflicting thoughts warred in Asli's mind-could she afford to ignore the warning just in case Mystique was telling the truth for once in her life? How much longer could they all stay under Magneto's thumb before he broke them?  "Petite?"

Asli spun on her heels not the least surprised that she hadn't heard Remy sneak up on her; there was something off in the mutant thief's stance but Asli was damned if she could pin point what it was.  "Something wrong Rem?"

"Do you think she's lyin'?" his eyes were drawn tight with concern-he had overheard Mystique's warning, "If we do this will Rogue die?"

Asli sighed and shook her head letting her friend see that she was just as lost as he, "I don't know Remy…I really don't.  I can't loose any more friends…"

Moving on his silent feet Remy got to Asli's side before the tears could start, wrapping her in the hug of a protective older brother so that she couldn't see the resolution come to his handsome face; "Don worry none Petite, you won't as long as dere's breath in dis Cajun's body."

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As always I don't own the song 'Make You mine' it's Heather Nova's

Heather Nova – Make You Mine

You're the one I think about time after time
You're the one who comes to me, visions in the night
I want to complicate your feelings
I want to heat you up inside
Yeah, I wanna make you mine

I'll be your sun coming up, I'll be your dog days
I'll be your new morning, kiss you baby
I'll be the bluebird singing, I'll keep you warm
I'll take you deep in, take you deep in

Gonna make my bed beside you
in the bluebells of your soul
Gonna slip into your river and linger in your shoals
And when the stars are bright like fireflies
And the night is black as coal
Yeah, I'm wanna make you mine

I'll be your sun coming up, I'll be your dog days
I'll be your sweet honey, kiss you baby
I'll be the bluebird singing, I'll keep you warm
I'll take you deep in, take you deep in

On another side of time before the sea runs dry
On another side of time where the love runs high
I'm gonna make you mine, make you mine, make you mine
I'm gonna make you mine, make you mine, make you mine

I'll be your sun coming up, I'll be your dog days
I'll be your new morning, kiss you baby
I'll be the bluebird singing, I'll keep you warm
I'll take you deep in, take you deep in

On another side of time before the sea runs dry
On another side of time where the love runs high
I'm gonna make you mine, make you mine, make you mine
I'm gonna make you mine, make you mine, make you mine

On another side of time before the sea runs dry
On another side of time where the love runs high
I'm gonna make you mine, make you mine, make you mine

*Looks around to make sure Ishahalfandhalf is stoneless* Muahahahahahahahahaha! How's that for a cliff hanger?

Ish – See I can do Romy…sort of…in a really angsty way…I'm not that evil…I'm just the 'diet coke of evil'. 

Star-of-Chaos – Yep I plan on making ole one eye suffer big…and well there might be more Romy to come…but I can't bring myself to just let her fall into his arms…even if they are tanned and sculpted and…ummm…where'd my thought go?