All The World I've Seen Before Me Passing By

by The Wanlorn

L/R CHapter TWELVE up! Umm. Oh, yeah, it's back to 'normal' for this chapter. No, Nire, I think...

4. A Strange New Girl

Chapter Four - A Strange New Girl

"No.  No, no, no, no, no, no, no."

"They're good kids, they'll listen to you - they're terrified of you."

"As well they should be.  What happened to 'only one person at a time'?"

"Don't worry, Kitty and Bobby won't be difficult.  No one would because everyone's afraid of you and your temper."

"No."

"Yes.  End of discussion.  They start Monday."

"I can't believe this," Logan muttered.  The Professor had just informed him that he was adding two more to Logan's self-defense class - Bobby and Kitty.  Now, he would have to start holding real classes.  This sucked.  He expressed that sentiment.  "This sucks.  What else do you want?"

"To discuss you joining the X-men team."

"What if I don't want to?"

"That's what we're discussing."

"Well I don't."

"So I gathered from the expression on your face.  But we need someone of your fighting ability."

"I don't care."

"You would get to fight real enemies more often."

"I'd have to wear a pansy uniform."

"Rogue's joining as soon as she graduates.  I've already talked to her.  Wouldn't you feel better if you went along on the missions and knew she was okay?"

That changed everything.  Damn him!  "Well… Maybe.  Do I have to take orders from Scooter?"

"He's the team leader when I'm not there."

"Great.  Take orders from a pansy."

"Good.  See Scott about getting a 'pansy' uniform."

"Wait a goddamned second," Logan growled.  "I haven't agreed yet."

The Professor just smiled.  "You did as soon as I said Rogue was on the team."

"Stay the hell out of my head."  Logan stalked out of the Professor's office, muttering, "Scooter's gonna have a field day with this."

*  *  *  *  *

He was right, Scott was having a field day.  Logan finally just snatched his uniform and stormed up to his room.  Everybody who was in the halls flattened against the wall as he stormed past.  HE threw the uniform into his closet and flopped down on his bed.  He pulled out his copy of Great Expectations from where he hid all his books.  If anyone ever found out that, number one, he knew how to read, and number two, he only read the classics, he would probably die of embarrassment.  He needed to calm down, and hopefully, this would help.

"Great Expectations?"

Logan snapped the book closed.  Damn, he hadn't heard Rogue come in.  What were the odds?

"What?" he growled.  "You got a problem with that?"

"Down, boy," she grinned.

"If you tell anyone…"

"Don't worry, Ah won't.  Your dirty secret is safe with me.  But could ya imagine Mr. Summers' face if ya started droppin' lines from classics in your arguments?"

"Well I prefer people thinking I'm the brawn without the brains.  So why are you here?"

"Oh, Ah was walkin' by an' Ah saw all the traumatized people.  Ah knew it musta been you, so Ah came ta see what was wrong."  Logan arched an eyebrow.  "Well, when ya have a whole hall of people quakin' in their shoes, Ah start ta worry."

Logan got on his knees and pulled his box of books out from its hiding place under his bed and put it on top of his sheets.  "Wheels convinced me to join the X-Geeks team.  One-Eye's giving me hell about it."

He lifted the layer of concealing clothes off his books.  Before he could stop her, Rogue had grabbed the box and was digging through it.  Most of them were new - he couldn't really bring much in his trailer, and then it had blown up.  All he had managed to save - and keep over the past two years - was his dog-eared copy of - no, it was too embarrassing even to think about.  Oh no no no.  She was pulling it out.

"Rome and Juliet?  Looks like it's been read a lot.  Ah never woulda pinned ya for a closet hopeless romantic."

"I'm not," he growled at her, a growl that would have sent anyone else quaking back against the wall.  Of course, Rogue just smiled.

"Mr. Summers would think he'd died an' gone to heaven if he found out."

"Don't.  You.  Dare," He ground out.

She smiled sweetly at him.  "Don't worry, Ah won't.  But now Ah know who to come to when AH need help on mah English homework."

"Don't you dare tell anyone else…"

She smiled sweetly once more and gave him back his box.  "So now you're one of the X-Geeks?"

Logan repacked his clothes and shoved the box back under his bed.  "Yeah."

"Cool.  So am Ah, when I graduate.  Only two more months to go.  An' guess what!  Ah'm pretty sure Ah'm gonna be valedictorian!"

"That's great!  So, who's taking you to the prom?"  Logan was jealous, even though he didn't want to admit it.  He wanted to take her.  Stop thinking like that, damn it!  She's just a kid compared to you!

The happy shine faded from her face and her eyes dropped.  "Ah'm not goin'."

"Why not?  Didn't that Bobby kid ask you?"

"Yeah, but Ah turned him down.  Now he's goin' with Kitty.  No, Ah'd make too many people uncomfortable.  Don't even try, Logan.  Everyone else has already tried ta convince me ta go."

"Ah, but none had the charm I do.  Who gives a shit if you're gonna make a couple of assholes uncomfortable?  It's not like you're going to get another chance to go to your senior prom."

In truth, she was regretting the decision, now.  "Well, who would go with me now?  I can't go alone."

Dream come true for Logan!  "I'll take you.  I'm the only adult not going, you're the only senior.  It makes sense."

"You'd do that for me?"

"Sure I would, darlin'.  You deserve it.  If it weren't here, I'd show up at your door with a limo.  You'll get the works."

Marie still looked unsure.  Did she want to stay in her room - and feel sorry for herself all night - or did she want to go with Logan?  That was certainly a dream come true.  And he wouldn't really be taking her out of pity but because he was a good friend - at least, that was what the Logan in her head was saying.

Aren't you two supposed to be cleaning up the poolroom?

"Think on it, kid," Logan told her.

"Okay.  We'd probably better listen ta the Professor, now."

"Oh, make him wait a bit."

"Logan, just 'cause ya don't mind getting' in trouble doesn't mean Ah don't.  Make me do all the work if ya want, but Ah'm goin' now."

Logan trailed down the hall after Marie.  He shot glares at everyone who went by, making them cringe against the wall.  They were mostly little kids, not even thirteen yet.  He was so intent on scaring everyone who passed that he didn't notice Marie had stopped in front of him and ran into her.

"Oof!  Why'd you stop?"

She stood before him, hands on her hips, with a glare to rival his own.  "Stop scarin' the little kids, Logan."

"I'm not," he protested, even though he knew full well that he was.

"Yes ya are, an' ya know it.  Quit it an' leave 'em alone."

"You ruin all my fun," he muttered.

"Marie just smiled sweetly at him and resumed walking.  She was probably the only person in the world who Logan would listen to.  He tried to shoot one more glare at the closest kid, but Marie somehow sensed it and said, "Knock it off."  Logan had no choice but to growl and follow her.

*  *  *  *  *

"Argh!  This sucks!"

"What sucks?" Logan stuck his head in Rogue's door.

"This stupid, retarded English homework!"

"Well what is it?"

"Ah have ta read a passage from Twelfth Night and rewrite it in my own words.  That's freshmen stuff, an' they're makin' seniors do it!  An' the sad thing is, Ah can't do it!"

"Let me see."  Logan took the book from her hand and she pointed out what she was supposed to be doing.  He read it quickly, then explained it to her.  "Antonio thinks that Viola is really her brother, Sebastian.  He's saying that he saved her and defended her.  Then, when he was arrested, she denied knowing him.  Viola has no clue what he's talking about because she really doesn't know him."

"Mah Gawd, how do ya do that?"

He shrugged.  "I don't know, I just do.  Do you want the rest?"

She nodded eagerly and he resumed reading and explaining.  Rogue had her English homework done in record time.  Logan sat on her chair while she finished the rest of it, flipping through the book and reading some of the better parts.

"Hey Logan?" Rogue's voice broke the silence.

"Hey what?"

"Where ya serious the other day?"

"Which other day?"

"When ya said…" she paused.  "When ya said ya'd be willin' ta take me ta the prom?"

Logan put down the book.  "Uh huh."

"Really?  Ya wouldn't mind?"

"Really, kid.  I wouldn't mind.  Why?  Do you want to go?"

"Yeah, Ah do."

"Okay.  Do you want me to drive you and your friends to the mall to get dresses."

"They already got theirs a long time ago.  It would just be me."

"You don't want your friends to give you opinions?  I'm sure Yellow Jacket has tons of them."

"Nah.  Can we go next weekend?"

"Sure, kid."

"Hey Roguey!"  Jubilee - Yellow Jacket - bounced into the room.

"See ya later, kid."  Logan made a quick escape.  He couldn't stand Jubilee - she was too bouncy and didn't listen to him when he told her to scram.  She wasn't scared of him, and that pissed him off.  HE heard Jubilee ask, "So?  Are you going with Wolvie?"  Then he was too far away to hear more.

*  *  *  *  *

"So?  Are you going with Logan?"  Jubilee bounced around Rogue's room.

Kitty walked through the door.  "Yeah.  Are you?"

"C'mon chica!  Give us the goods!"

Kitty sat on the side of the bed.  "We all know you've got a major crush on Logan."

"Yeah!"  Jubilee finally settled on the chair Logan had just vacated.  "And Kitty's getting to go with Bobby," Kitty blushed slightly, "so…?"

"Well if ya would let me talk…" The two shut up immediately.  "Yeah, Ah'm goin' with him."

"You go girl!" Jubilee interrupted.

"Look, ya guys.  It's just as friends.  Gawd, it's Logan."

"It's a step up, Roguey."

"Yeah."  Kitty smiled at her.  "We're both working our way up."

"Difference is, ya actually have a chance with Bobby.  Logan'll never see me as anythin' more than 'the kid'.  Remember that."

"But he's taking you to the prom."

"Because he's mah friend, Jubilee.  He wasn't gonna go, an' Ah wasn't."

Jubilee sighed in disgust.  "Whatever, Roguey.  Hey!  When're you gonna get your dress?  Let's the three of us go right now!"

"Nah, Ah wanna go alone."

"How're you gonna get there, you who can't pass the written drivers test?"

"Shut up!  The thing's evil.  It's not mah fault.  An' Logan'll drop me off next weekend."

"Why don't you want our help?" Jubilee pouted.

Kitty smacked her.  "Because Logan can't stand you, duh!"

"Who, me?  But I'm not that bad!  Who wouldn't like lil' ol' me?"

"Everybody!" Rogue and Kitty chorused.

"Besides them!  Hey, Roguey, are your parents coming to the graduation?"

"Jubilation Lee!" Kitty exclaimed.

"Don't worry, Kitty.  She's Jubilee - ya have ta expect a certain number of inappropriate outbursts every day.  Ah've been keepin' in touch, but… ta graduation… Ah don't know."

"You should invite them, Roguey."

"What do you think, Kitty?"

"It's your decision.  How do you feel?  Nobody else can make that decision for you."

Rogue rolled her eyes.  "Trust ya, Kitty, ta not give a straight answer.  Ah'll ask Logan.  He'll give me a straight answer."

"They are your parents.  Wouldn't they want to come?"

"Ah don't know, Jubes, Ah don't know."

"Hey, I think St. John's putting in a movie.  Let's go watch."  Kitty, always the peacemaker, had come up with the perfect solution to distract everybody.  The three girls ran down to the lounge, the whole conversation almost forgotten.

*  *  *  *  *

Logan's first real class wasn't that bad.  Kitty and Bobby were both afraid of him, so they listened and didn't cause trouble.  It was really a combination of Rogue and Logan teaching.  Logan taught attacks and Rogue did defense.  All in all, it worked pretty well.  The two future X-men weren't all that bad, but they weren't all that good, either.

Logan taught them everything he was required to teach quickly.  Then he moved on to teaching them dirty tactics - and how to defend against them.  He and Rogue would demonstrate the moves in slow motion, and the two would try to copy it.

It wasn't as bad as Logan expected.  Although he hated to admit it, the Professor was right.  He could do this, even if he didn't want to.  Of course, on the plus side, he was getting paid, so he didn't have to ask the Professor for money anymore.  He had to admit it wasn't a bad thing, after all.

*  *  *  *  *

"Hey Logan?"

"Mmm?"

Logan had started to sit in Rogue's room while she did her homework.  To Rogue's amazement, he was smart.  If she had a question, the odds were he had an answer.  He would sit in her chair, reading a book, while she sprawled across her bed, doing her homework.

"Do ya think Ah should invite mah parents ta mah graduation?"

"Do you want them to come?"  He put down his book, this conversation needing his full attention.

"Ah don't know.  Ah mean, Ah've talked ta them a few times, but the people here are more mah family."

"Well, would they want to come?"

She looked at him helplessly.  "Ah don't know.  They might…"

"What did your other friends say?"

"Jubilee says Ah should.  Kitty says Ah should do what Ah want."

"Well, why don't you call them and see?"

"Ya think Ah should do that?"

"I think you should do what you want to do."

"Ah think Ah'll go call 'em now, before Ah lose mah nerve."

She left and was back five minutes later.

"They're comin'."

"It only took you that long to give them directions?"

"Mr. Summers' emailin' directions to all the parents."

"That's good, kid.  Your homework all done?"

"You're worse than a parent, Logan."

He grunted, and she smiled to herself and returned to her homework.  Logan's eyes wandered around the room, finally settling on his book.  He picked it up and began to read again.

*  *  *  *  *

Saturday morning, Logan and Rogue got in the jeep, and Logan drove them to the mall.

"So, kid, why don't you want your friends along?"  He was glad of that - he probably would have ended up strangling Jubilee.

Marie shrugged.  "Well… if Ah invited Kitty, then Jubilee would want ta come.  An'… well… she would be tryin' ta get me ta buy a sexy lil' dress that shows way too much skin for me.  Plus, Ah know ya can't stand Jubilee."

"You shoulda just invited Kitty, kid.  That yellow-jacket chick would have understood if she's a true friend."  What the hell did he know about 'true friends'?  Marie was his first.

"It's just easier this way.  Besides, Ah like goin' places with ya."  She smiled shyly at him.

"I like going places with you, too, kid.  You're good company.  If you still want to go to Alaska some time, I'll take you there."  That was a totally random promise that caught him off guard.  Why had he said that?

When they got to the mall, Logan got out of the jeep, too.  Marie just looked at him with a slightly raised eyebrow.  She had been working on that ever since Logan left the first time.

He scowled at her.  "Don't look at me like that.  Contrary to popular belief, I won't die if I set foot in a mall.  I need to get a tux somewhere, don't I?"

"Jeez, don't get all defensive, Logan"

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled.  "Meet you in the food court for lunch at noon?"

Rogue agreed, then they went their separate ways.  For Logan, getting a tux was the easy part.  Into Mr. Tux, rent the damned uncomfortable thing, and out again.  Put it in the back of the jeep - carefully! - and back into the mall.  He had to find a graduation present for Rogue.  She didn't need anything for college - she was doing some correspondence shit.  Whatever.  As long as she was close to home - who was he kidding?  Close to him - he really didn't care.

There was nothing in this damned mall that looked like Rogue.  Wait!  Right there!  Leather motorcycle jackets!  Score one for Wolverine!  She'd love one!  One in her size, one in her size, there's got to be one in her size.  Bigger… smaller… shit, he was getting near the end… jackpot!  Last one!  He paid for it, dashed out to the jeep, and hid it under the seat.  That was perfect!

He glanced at his watch.  Whoa - he was actually ten minutes late.  He hoped he could convince Rogue he had been there, looking for her - otherwise he would never live this down.  Ever.

"Hey Logan."  Oh fuck.  He'd recognize that southern drawl anywhere, even in this throng of people.  Of course she wouldn't already be in the food court - she was a girl.  "Ah was worried ya would be waitin' for me an' pissed."

Her eyes were sparkling with barely suppressed laughter.  He grunted at her.  "Go ahead and laugh.  It's only ten minutes - I was busy.  Any luck?"

They happy light faded a bit from her eyes as she shook her head.  She had looked in the department stores, even tried a few thing on.  But, everything had been too skimpy, shown too much of her lethal skin.  Especially this one, beautiful dress she absolutely loved.

They ate some shitty fast food - burger places in food courts made even worse food than regular fast food joints.  At least, as far as Logan was concerned, they did.  Logan glared and growled at every mall rat who walked past and tried to flirt with him, scaring them away.  Couldn't they see he was with a girl?  Okay, so she wasn't his girl - even if he wished she was - but still…

"Are you gonna look around some more?"

Rogue nodded, but before she could ask when he was going to come pick her up, he asked, "Mind if I walk around with you for a while?"

"Uh, no.  Ya done?"  Rogue threw away the rest of their lunches and walked out of the food court, with Logan trailing behind.  She smiled slightly to herself when she heard him growl at some passing people.  She tried to ignore the dress as she walked by the display window, but she was drawn to it like a magnet.  Her fingertips grazed the glass without her consciously raising them.  She was imagining how it would look on her, how it would feel, and how Logan would think she looked in it.

Don't even think like that, she scolded herself.  You're just 'the kid' ta him, an' that's all you'll ever be.  He needs a girl he can touch, ya know that.

She jumped when Logan's heavy hand dropped on her shoulder.  "Didja try it on, kid?"

"Oh, Ah don't really want it."  That sounded like a feeble lie, eve to herself.

"Okay.  You can't even expect me to come close to believing that, darlin'."  Damn!  It had slipped out again!  "You're practically drooling over it.  Go try it on."  He couldn't stand the longing look in her eyes.

"Ah couldn't.  Ah mean…" She drifted off, gesturing helplessly.  The dress she was drooling over was this light powder blue.  It had spaghetti straps and an open back with thin strings crisscrossing it.  There was no way in hell she could wear that.

"Why not?  Buy some sweatery shawly wrapy thing to go around your shoulders and some satin opera gloves.  If anyone has a problem with it, well, fuck them."

"Well…"

"Just try it on."

Logan ushered her in before she could come up with any more protests.  Since there was little else she could do, she did what he said.  Oh, wow, did it feel good on her!  It fit like a glove.  It looked pretty damn good in the little mirror, so she went to look at it in the dressing room mirror.  It did look great on her!

Logan echoed her unspoken sentiments.  He was leaning right outside the door, and let out a low whistle when he saw her.  Damn, she looked sexy!  "Damn, kid!  That looks good on you!"

"Really?"  She turned to face him, nervously smoothing down the front.

"Really.  C'mon, let's pay for it."

"But… Logan…"

"Marie, you can't tell me you don't want that dress almost more than life itself.  I can tell bu the look on your face."

"But… Logan… The back…" She turned around to show him.

"Marie, if you want that dress, I'll figure something out so you won't feeling uncomfortable.  I promise."

Marie bit her lip and nodded.  "Okay, Logan."

She changed back quickly.  Then she stood for a moment, regaining control of her emotions.  When Logan made a promise, he kept it.  No matter what.

When the price came up on the price register, Marie's mouth dropped open in shock.  She hadn't looked at the price tag.

"Logan…"

"I'll pay for it, darlin', if you can't."

"Ah can, it'll jus take ages ta pay off."

She handed over her credit card, and they left.

"There's a little shop near the mansion Ah can get a sweater and some gloves.  Ah can get Jubes and Kitty ta take me."

"Okay, kid, but I don't mind if that's what you're worried about."

She smiled at him.  "Ah know ya would tell me if ya didn't want ta.  No, they'll be pretty mad cuz Ah didn't want them ta come.  Ah have ta placate Jubes somehow."

They walked in companionable silence for a bit.  They walked by Filene's, and Logan happened to glance inside and see the bathing suits.  That give him his brilliant idea.

"Hey, Marie.  How about a skin-colored bathing suit-that's-not-a-bathing suit?"

"What are ya talkin' about?"  She looked at him like he had lost his mind.

"For under your dress.  You know, one of those things a gymnast wears."

"A leotard?"

"Yeah, one of those things."

"Hey, that would work!"  Rogue couldn't help it anymore - a tear trickled down her face.  Oh no, bottled emotions time.

"What's wrong, darlin'?  What'd I say?"

She shook her head.  "It's not your fault.  It's just, nobody's cared so much…  Ya coulda just left me at the mansion, Logan, an' left.  End of story.  But ya didn't.  Why?  Anybody else woulda freaked if they saw me with that much skin showin', but ya didn't.  Why?"

Logan put an arm around her shoulders.  "C'mon, darlin'.  Let's walk outside."  He took her garment bag and walked her outside, rubbing her arm.  Damn, he sucked at comforting people!  "Because you're Marie, darlin'.  You've got that thing about you that…  I don't know…  Because I do."

"Ah'm sorry, Logan.  But it's really only ya and the Professor who…  Ah'm sorry."

"Don't be darlin'.  I-" He was interrupted by a scene unfolding in the parking lot.

A girl in very strange - very ancient-style - clothing was being harassed by a bunch of street punks.

"Damn it!  I'm jus' tryin' t' get  t' th' freakin' mall t' get some fuckin' normal fuckin' clothes!"

"I don't think so.  We don't let freaks like you on our turf."

"Fuck.  Off."  The girl ground out.  Sparks of fire began to pour from her fingertips.

"She's a mutie!" one of the punks yelled.  "Get 'er!"

"Hey!" Logan yelled.  He handed Rogue her dress, and his claws popped out with a shinkt!  Where the hell had this protective instinct come from?  Maybe it was because she looked to be about the same age as Rogue when he found her, and was wearing the same color cloak.  The girls was much more travel-worn, though, as if she had been on the road for years.

The punks ran off.  Instead of turning to him gratefully, she was furious.

"I could've handled 'em!  I didn't need any help!"

"Whoa, easy there.  What's your name?"

"Fuck off."  The girl started to walk away.

Rogue wasn't thinking, so she ran up behind the girl and grabbed her shoulder.  "Hey-"

The girl flung Rogue's arm off her shoulder.  "Do not touch me," she hissed icily.

Logan was pissed.  Nobody treated his Marie like that.  And the look on her face - a 'how did she know?' look - tore his heart.  "Hey bitch," he grabbed her shoulder.  "Don't-"

Almost before Logan could blink, the girl whirled around and pinned his arm behind him.  "I said don't touch me.  I don't like being touched.  What don't you understand about that?  Nothin' personal, just don't touch me."

She let go of Logan's arm and stepped away.  Marie put a restraining hand on his shoulder.  "We're sorry.  Ah'm Rogue an' this is Logan.  What's your name?"

The girl looked suspiciously at them, then said, "Nire."

"Who're you with?" Logan growled.  "Good guys or bad?"

"Nobody right now."

"Which would you choose?"

"Easy Logan," Marie muttered.  "She's too young ta be with either side.  You're bein' an ass."

"Good guys," Nire glared.  "You gotta problem with that?"

Marie spoke up before Logan could say any more.  "Ya need a ride?"

"You gotta place I can stay for a while?"

"Sure."

"You're crazy, Marie," Logan muttered.

"You got normal clothes I can have?  Or at least borrow?"

"Yes, girl," Logan said exasperatedly.  "If you're coming, get in the jeep."

Nire glared and got in the backseat.  Rogue carefully laid her prom dress in the trunk and got in the front next to Logan.

"So, you guys goin' back t' th' mansion?" Nire asked.  Logan and Rogue just gaped at her.  "Well, Rogue and Wolverine, right?  Where else wouldja be goin'?"

"Yeah," Rogue said.  She was too polite to ask how the girl knew that.  "So why are you out on your own?  Did your parents kick you out?  You can't be more than sixteen."

"Fifteen.  An' my reasons 're my own."  Nire fell silent after that, responding to everything with grunts.

"Jeez, Logan," Rogue whispered at one point.  "She's even worse than you."

"Got that right," Nire said.  "I'm tellin' ya right now, don't take anythin' I say in offense.  I'm not a social person, I don't like people.  It's best t' leave me alone."

As soon as they got in the door of the mansion, Jubilee came bouncing up to them.

"Hey Roguey!  Hey Wolvie!  Who's that?  Wow, you sure are dressed funny.  I'm Jubilee."

"If you want t' see your next birthday, fuck off."

Before Rogue could come to the rescue and distract Jubilee, the yellow-jacketed girl had said "okay" and bounced off.

"How'd you do that?" Logan asked before he could think better of it.

"She knew I was dead serious.  You'd nevuh do anythin' t' 'er 'cause it's piss off Rogue.  Now can I get some clothes?"

Rogue handed Logan her prom dress and told him to put it in her room.  She could handle this.  Logan looked positively relieved.  Rogue got Nire jeans and a t-shirt.  She was fat, but Rogue was pretty sure it was all muscle.  She directed Nire to an empty room where she could change and stood outside the door.

When she came out, Nire looked normal.  Her other clothes were in her knapsack on her back. M Rogue brought her to the Professor's office.  He told them to come in before they even knocked.  He told Rogue she could leave, so she left to show Kitty and Jubilee her prom dress.  The Professor could deal with the strange girl.

*  *  *  *  *

Nire didn't even want to think about what had just happened.  After that incident, she went to the mall to buy some clothes, and those damn punks had to show up.  She could have kicked their asses and relieved some of her aggression, but no, Logan had to show up and scare them off.  Oh well, at least she was going to meet the X-men.  Maybe they would let her stay.

Now she was standing before Professor Charles Xavier, the man himself.  She would try to be polite to them.  He drove his wheelchair around his desk so he was right in front of her.

"Hello, my name is Professor Charles Xavier."  He extended his hand for Nire to shake.

She almost repeated her bit about not touching, but then just shook his hand.  "I'm Nire.  Pleased to meet you."

"Likewise.  So, do you have parents?"

"Yes."  Nire could feel the Professor trying to search her thoughts.  Luckily, she had anticipated this, and had set up a faVade.  "Look, I really don't like people picking through my thoughts.  Could you just look enough to ascertain that I'm telling the truth, please?"

The Professor looked nonplused that she had known.  "Of course.  My apologies.  Are you a runaway?"

"No, I just need someplace to crash for a while."

"Why did you leave your parents?  I'm correct in assuming you are alone, right?"

"Yes, you are.  But I'm afraid my reasons are my own.  Sorry."

Thankfully, the Professor respected her privacy.  "Okay.  If you are staying here, you'll have to go to school.  It's just classes in the mansion."

"Fine by me."

"And, unfortunately, the only open room with furniture is Rogue's, so you would be rooming with her."

"As long as I have a bed of some sort, even if it's merely a chair."

The Professor sighed.  "Look, do you know what her power is?"

Nire nodded.  "Sure.  She sucks the life force out of anyone her skin touches.  If that person happens to be a mutant, she gains their powers for a while."  The Professor stared in unabashed amazement.  "Which reminds me - has she tried yoga?  That might help her control her powers."

"All right then, I'll have her show you where her room is.  Now, why do you think yoga would work?  Meditation hasn't, so far."

"Because.  Yoga is a form of self discipline.  It's deeper than meditation."

"Hmm.  Come in, Rogue."

Rogue opened the door and walked in.  "Yes, Professor?"

"Your room is the only one with only one person in it and furniture.  Nire is going to be your roommate until she leaves."

"Professor…" She unconsciously fiddled with her gloves.  "There's only one bed."

"The floor or a couch or a chair or something is fine with me," Nire put in.

"Please show her to your room, Rogue."

Rogue nodded.  She would do what the Professor asked, even though she knew Nire would freak out once she discovered her power.  And one of the other kids was certain to tell her.  As they walked down the hall, Rogue decided to get that unpleasant confrontation out of the way right now.

"So, did the Professor tell ya what mah power was."

"I already knew."

That was not the answer Rogue was expecting.  "And you're okay with roomin' with me?"

Nire shrugged.  "Why not?  Can't hurt me through clothing."

Rogue was flabbergasted.  The girl who hated people was perfectly willing to share her room with someone who killed with a touch.  Rogue had only know n her for a few hours, and already she was an enigma.

*  *  *  *  *

Nire made herself a bed on the floor.  When Rogue went to dinner, Nire stayed in the room.  She wasn't hungry at all.  The fresh memories had totally killed her appetite.  To pass the time - and to try to help her forget - she started her juggling ritual.  Hopefully, by changing the words a bit, she could make herself forget the one they were about.  Rogue came back into the room right after dinner.  She had spent all of dinner trying to convince Logan that she didn't mind Nire staying there.  She stood, entranced, just inside the door, watching Nire juggle.  Nire didn't even notice her.  The girl had ten balls and an apple going in the air.  The apple was slowly getting eaten.  She had her back to Rogue and was totally lost in thought.  When she happened to turn around and see Rogue, she almost lost the rhythm.  The next two balls she tossed went wild, flying out in front of her.  She managed to catch one with her foot and fling it back into the group.  The other one, she just missed, and it rolled across the floor.  But she was deceptingly agile for one of her size.

"Toss it back in, will ya?" she asked Rogue.

Rogue did as she asked, and Nire continued her juggling.  She used her feet to pull off her shoes and socks, and wiggled her toes.  She used one foot to pull her knapsack closer and open it, rolling out a couple more colored balls.  AS she used her feet to toss them into the circle, she muttered to herself what they stood for.

"Red for the blood that was spilt,

"Yellow for sun never to shine,

"Blue for skies forever in darkness,

"Black for the death of me and mine."

She noticed Rogue's odd look.  "I'm morbid, okay?

"Purple for flowers at the funeral,

"Golden was his blessèd shine"

Now her hands were moving too fast to see, the balls a blur of color.

"Silver for eyes that will never see,

"Forever dead, if only to me."

The balls dropped one by one into the open bag at her feet.

"Wow," Rogue breathed.  "That was awesome."

"Yeah, thanks."  Nire dropped her pack on her 'bed'.  "Is there some sorta quiet place outside where no one will disturb me?"

"Sure."  Rogue led her outside and left her in a place that suited whatever purpose she had.  Rogue dearly wished she knew what Rogue was doing, but it was made clear that she was not wanted and whatever questions she asked would go unanswered.  Rogue knew better than to pry.

*  *  *  *  *

It was one in the morning, and Nire still could not get to sleep.  She was a natural insomniac, and it didn't help that he was not sleeping next to her.  She missed the heat of his body, the warm feeling she got when he curled his arm protectively around her as she snuggled into his side.  How dare he do that to her!  She would be crying from the loss right now, if she were not so consumed with rage.  And yet, her fingers itched to take out her dagger and go to the bathroom to cut her arms.  The physical pain of the slices was better than the mental anguish, and it seemed to help relieve that mental pain.

Nire was about to act on that when she heard Rogue roll over and the sound of soft, muffled crying began.  Nire tried to ignore it - she knew better than most that when someone was crying like that, the last thing they wanted was for someone to find them.

Nire cursed her luck, too.  She had thought that she would be able to remain aloof until she was ready to leave.  The problem was, she had a soft spot for crying people, for depressed people.  Perhaps it was because misery loves company, but the one thing that could get through the block of steel that was her heart and melt it a bit was someone in a worse situation than her.

She fought against the urge to offer what solace she could  until nearly quarter of two.  Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.  The protective instinct, the one that had finally broken her heart, was much too strong.

"Hey, Rogue.  Are you okay?"

Nire could see Rogue's silhouette sit up in bed and dash the tears away.  "What?  Oh.  Yeah, Ah'm fine.  Sorry if Ah woke ya."

"Nah.  I'm an insomniac - haven't fallen asleep yet."  Nire sat up.  "Nobody who's been crying for 45 minutes is okay.  What's wrong?"

"Nothin'."  But Rogue had the strangest, strongest urge to spill her guts.

"Sure ya don't wanna talk about it?"  Nire got up and kneeled by the side of Rogue's bed.  "Believe me from experience, it helps a whole hell of a lot."

"It's jus' that time of th' month.  Mah hormones are in overdrive."

"'Kay.  G'night then."  Nire went back to her bed and lay down, in all appearances, going to sleep.

Rogue, however, somehow knew that she was still awake, still listening.  How the surly introvert had transformed into this caring person, Rogue could not fathom.  Yet, she knew, in an inexplicable way, that Nire could be trusted.

"It just gets ta me, sometimes," she began softly.  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nire sit up.  "Ah mean… as long as Ah'm covered bah clothin'…"  Why was she talking?  She hadn't known this girl for even a full day.  Yet, she could not seem to stop.  "It's not like Ah have some contagious, deadly disease.  Ah get tried of seein' pretty much everybody move away when Ah come near.  It's bad enough Ah won't ever have a boyfriend…"  Rogue started to cry again, even though she was embarrassed to do it in front of Nire.

Nire got up and sat on the edge of Rogue's bed.  She started to stroke her hair - that's what he had always done for her when she was feeling bad, and it always seemed to help.  "You love him, don't you?"

"Who?" Rogue sniffled, trying to stop crying.  After all, she was older than the girl by almost three years, and should be the more mature of the two.

"Logan.  That's pretty much what brought this on, right?  I wouldn't be surprised if you cry like this every night."

"How did you know?"  Rogue asked, shocked, her mouth opening before she could stop it and deny it.

"Experience, mostly.  And being able to see what is right in front of my face."

"It doesn't matter, though.  He's got to be twice as old as me.  He'd never see me as anything more than a kid."

"Are you blind, girl?  He loves you more than life itself."

"No he doesn't.  Ah'm just the kid he swore ta protect."

"I'm tellin' you, he loves you as a woman.  He's just terrified of that feeling.  And age doesn't matter.  My ex was more than twice my age."  Nire closed her eyes for a moment against the pain of that fresh wound.

"So why is he your ex?" Rogue was slowly bringing herself under control.

"None of your damned business," Nire snapped.  "Anywho, it's probably bedduh you don't believe me.  If you said anythin' now, he's freak out."

"Why do ya say that?" Rogue sat up - the girl had her interest.

"Well, 'e's not really an open-up feelings-oriented guy, right?"  Rogue nodded.  "So 'is own feelin's are prob'ly freakin' 'im out, anyways, so findin' out you reciprocate 'is feelin's would most likely send 'im runnin' again."

"How d'ya know  that?"

"Let's just say I'm good at reading people, okay?"

Nire began to him a soft tune, and Rogue felt herself getting tired.  She felt like a little girl again, but it wasn't a bad feeling.  Within a few minutes, she had lain back down and gone back to sleep.