Still Holding Out For You
By Lady Trunks
Part 10
Rogue Le Beau- Well, it ain't no December (which you haven't sent me the 3rd chapter yet), but I'm glad you like it.
Lucky439- Thanks for the compliment Chica. Glad you like it.
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It was a rather jubilant group of mutants that arrived back at the mansion. They entered the hanger and were greeted by the site of Professor Xavier and Mystique waiting for them. "Very good work X-Men." Xavier congratulated them. "And as a reward, since there is no school tomorrow you may stay up late tonight." There was a chorus of cheers at that.
"Just be prepared for a training session at 6 a.m. tomorrow." Logan told them. A chorus of groans, which caused Logan to grin, met that pronouncement. "Just joking." Which was met by even more groans.
"Yo. Mr. Logan, you really shouldn't joke. It's just not natural." Todd said. Logan growled at him which caused the boy to let out an 'eep' and duck behind Fred's considerable bulk. This caused Logan's grin to widen even more.
"Well, I believe that I will retire now." Professor Xavier said. "Why don't you all go and change into your regular clothes. You'll find some pizza in the kitchen ovens." Once more cheers echoed through the mansion as the kids took off running to their rooms to change, leaving only the adults and Rogue.
"Rogue, are you alright?" Mystique asked her daughter concernedly, noticing that something seemed to have upset her.
The girl gave a wane smile. "I'm fine. Just a bit of a headache. I think I'll go ahead and go to bed. Good night." The look didn't leave Mystique's face, but she didn't try to stop Rogue as she headed up the stairs, considerably slower then the other kids before her.
Rogue went into her room, where Kitty had already finished changing out of her uniform. "Better hurry Rogue, or Freddy and the boys will eat all of the pizza before we get there."
"I'm not hungry. I'm going to bed."
"Are you sure?" Kitty asked her, frowning slightly.
"Yeah. Have fun though." Rogue said, forcing a smile to reassure the girl. Kitty seemed convinced and with a shrug the valley girl left the room and hurried to the kitchen to ensure that she could get a slice or two of the pizzas.
She arrived into the kitchen, and was immediately greeted by Pietro. "Where's Rogue?"
"She's not coming down. She said she wasn't hungry."
He frowned at that, "I knew something was wrong." He muttered.
"What was that?" Kitty asked, a puzzled expression on her face.
"Never mind. I've got to go." With his plate of pizza slices in one hand and two sodas in the other he went upstairs and knocked on Rogue's door. "You decent?"
There was a noticeable pause and then a voice answered. "Yeah. Come in."
"Damn. I knew I should have come sooner." He joked as he entered the room. She gave a small smile, but it seemed rather strained. With just a glance he could tell that she had been crying, despite her attempts to cover it up. He sat the pizza and drinks on the dresser then went over to where she was sitting on the bed. He sat in front of her, looking into her eyes. "So what's wrong?"
At his words her defenses seemed to crumble and tears filled her eyes. Without another word he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him where she proceeded to cry into his shirt. He stroked his hand soothingly down her back, and just let her get it out. When the tears finally stopped, he leaned back and looked into her eyes once again.
"This is about that dumb woman that attacked you earlier, isn't it?" Pietro asked shrewdly.
Rogue drew in a ragged breath and wiped her sleeve across her eyes. "No. Yes. Kind of. She called me a monster." her voice hitched on the word and she paused a second to compose herself before continuing. "The worst part of all is that she's right." Pietro looked ready to protest at that, but she continued on. "My touch can kill. All I can do is hurt people. Take and never give. I hate this. And I keep hoping that somehow I'll magically learn to control it, but sometimes I just want to give up."
"I'll admit that it sucks that you can't touch," she snorted at that understatement, but he shot her a look and continued, "But we have to believe that everything happens for a reason. You were born with these powers for a reason. And you might not know what it is now, hell you might not ever know, but there is a reason. I'm sure of it. You can't give up. Because you, and me we're a team. And I'm not going to give up on you, so you're not going to give up on yourself."
She smiled reluctantly at that. "That's very philosophical of you Pietro. Never would have known you had it in you."
"Yes, well I'm a very deep and sensitive person. Now if the emotional crisis is over, I've got pizza and it's time for "That 70's Show"." He got up and got the plate of pizza and Rogue found the TV controller and switched the TV on.
When Kitty peaked in a while later it was to see Rogue lying down using Pietro for a pillow, both of them laughing. With a smile she pulled her head back out and rejoined the others.
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I don't write just for the reviews, I'm also in it for the money... of which there is none. Wow, what an epiphany. (That was a very subtle request to review. ^^ I've been told that my subtlty needs work.)