AN: This one goes to eleven…. Hi, just me. Okay, we get a little bit of the funny back in this chapter, a little romance, nay so much angst, and a brief musical interlude. Something for everyone! For those of you fretful after last chapter: trust me! I love these two crazy kids! : ) Disclaimers du jour: I don't own… well, I don't wanna ruin the surprise for the musical interlude, so I'll hold off till the end.
Xavier's eyes snapped open. He knew Quicksilver was in the building, but his involvement with Rogue had brought with it a marked improvement in her mental health, so he'd decided to allow it and monitor Rogue for any signs of distress. The swell of panic with which he had just been hit definitely constituted distress.
Logan, Ororo, Rogue's room, now, please, he transmitted, receiving affirmation from both while he himself moved to her location.
Last time he'd touched her for ten seconds and passed out, but by using both hands, he'd increased the surface area, and with it, the effectiveness of Rogue's power. She was too shocked by the action to do anything for a moment, then tried to scramble out of his hands, but he'd managed to maintain his contact with her face.
"Pietro, stop," she said, trying to push him away. "I'm hurting you, stop it!"
His head nodded, like he was about to fall asleep, and he smiled.
"Sorry, stripes," he said, "But as you've probably noticed by now, I really don't take rejection well." Pietro's hands slipped away, and his eyes rolled back into his head as he hit the floor.
"Pietro? You idiot!" Rogue shouted.
Idiot nothing! Pietro crowed in her head, I'm a genius! This is perfect.
Rogue smacked her forehead.
You're lying unconscious on my bedroom floor, in what alternate universe is this perfect?
The one in which we get to be together, duh.
Rogue sighed, kneeling down and picking up Pietro's limp body. You really need to quit doing this.
Why? You presented the problem, I solved it.
Rogue rolled her eyes as she managed to get Pietro's body up onto her bed, falling on top of him just as Logan kicked in her already broken door.
Uh oh, thought Pietro as Logan's claws came out.
"Logan, this so ain't what it looks like," Rogue said, standing. Logan seemed unconvinced as Rogue picked up Pietro's feet and put them up, pulling his shoes off.
"One side, stripes," Logan growled, advancing. "Me an' the speed demon are gonna have a little chat."
Um…Pietro thought. Rogue spun around ungodly quickly to face Wolverine, unintimidated by muscle, claws or temper.
"Only speed demon here right now is me, Logan, and if you wanna have a chat then start talking." He ignored her, continuing to approach the bed. At least he did, but faster than thought, Rogue was in front of him.
"Hey! You see any gloves, chief?" she snapped, getting right up in his face. "Now unless you wanna join Quickie in his little nap you'll back the hell off and stay away from my boyfriend!" Rogue winced at her own words even as Pietro's glee radiated through her head, and, maybe, some glee of her own.
Good, sweetie, get it off your chest, Pietro soothed.
"Which he's not."
You're so sexy when you're in denial. Logan just glared.
"I said one side, stripes."
"You take one step closer and you're gonna need every drop of that healing factor, 'bub'!" Rogue snapped, baring her teeth.
Marry me? Pietro piped up.
"Quiet, Pietro!" Rogue said out loud.
"Well it looks like someone's feeling better," Ororo said, leaning against the doorframe. "Logan, do you think you could put a lid on your paternal instinct to kill please?"
Logan growled but stepped back as Ororo stepped towards Pietro. Rogue bristled.
"Relax child, I'm not going to hurt your friend, I just want to check his pulse." Rogue stood down and let Ororo pass.
I never knew you cared, cupcake! Pietro beamed in her head. Rogue hated to admit it, but she had to admit the return of Pietro's voice in her head was not at all unwelcome, and as she looked with concern at Pietro's prone form.
Relax, luscious, I'm fine. I am fine, right? Pietro asked. Rogue glared, her arms crossed, her tapping foot going nearly fast enough to light the floor on fire.
I don't know if you're fine, and you need to settle on a damn pet name if you're gonna use one.
Her foot stopped and a gasp escaped her as Pietro gave her the equivalent of a mental caress.
When did you learn to do that? She sighed, a shiver running down her spine.
Not sure. At least I didn't have to start all over from the beginning.
You remember everything? She asked.
Dreams, games, nightmares, you trying to kill Summers, running with you, it's all still here. See, stripes, it only gets better.
"Well, his pulse is steady, slow for him though, I'm certain," Ororo said, brushing her white tresses away from her face. "How long did you touch him?"
"Just for the record, the lunatic touched me, but I'd say between ten and fifteen seconds, no longer, but he used both hands…"
Xavier entered in his chair, fingers steepled as he thought.
"The increased area of contact will probably facilitate both a longer retention of Pietro's personality and powers by Rogue, as well as an increase in the duration of his coma. Dare I ask what was going on, Rogue?"
"He'scrazy, that'swhat'sgoingon," Rogue spat out, Pietro's power accelerating her voice again.
"Crazy, I'm crazy for feeling so lonely… I'm crazy, crazy for feeling so blue…." Pietro sang. Rogue groaned as having a song stuck in her head was taken to a whole new level and went to go find her gloves, lest she have more than one person rattling around in her skull. Pietro continued, relentless, "I knew you'd love me as long as you wanted… Worry, why do I let myself worry? Oh crazy, for thinking that my love could hold you!" Everybody, come on, lover, I know you know the words.
Sorry, Rogue thought dryly, it may come as a shock, but Patsy Cline is rarely played at goth clubs.
Oh, like there's a goth club within an eighty mile radius of Bayville. Sides, you know who sings it, now sing along.
No.
Suit yourself. Pietro thought, throwing in a mental shrug as Rogue pulled a blanket over his body, trying to make him relatively comfortable. Xavier, Logan and Ororo went outside to discuss the situation as Rogue sat back down on the bed, snapping the straps on her gloves. She looked over at Pietro's unconscious face, which she could swear somehow retained an expression of triumph as his voice in her head came round to the second chorus, crooning with unexpected soul.
"I'm crazy, for thinking that my love could hold you, I'm crazy for tryin' and crazy for cryin'…"
"And I'm crazy for loving you," Rogue sang quietly with him, stroking his face with gloved fingers.
AN the second: …and I don't own "Crazy," as performed by Patsy Cline or anybody else. Sorry, I couldn't resist. We've still got a ways to go yet, so nobody's doomed, I promise. Depending on when I have to work tomorrow (heh, today rather), chapter twelve will either be up tomorrow afternoon or tomorrow night. Copious thanks to anybody following this story or giving it a second glance, you flatter me beyond words.