Always
By Lady Trunks
Chapter 1

Dedicated to Lucky439. Sorry it took so long chica. It's going to be longer than I thought (It's become a chapter story instead of the one-shot I had planned), but I think it will meet all of your requirements. ^_^ Eventually.

Need to know: Pure fluff. Seriously, it was written for fluffy-ness and nothing else. Slightly AU. Rogue and Pietro are 17 and the others are aged proportionately. They're also juniors in high school, so Lance, Scott, and Jean have graduated (buh-bye… actually they'll still be in here, just not in high school… Lance graduated!! Yay!!). Rogue doesn't have control of her powers, but she does have Miss Marvel's powers (if you really think you need to know how she gets them, tell me in a review and I'll put in a flashback or something. Until then, just know that she does have them). I'm not sure where this fits in, after Hex factor because Wanda's in it. Beyond that I'm making it up as I go. No DoR, but mutants have been exposed, and the X-Men (and BoM, unless I decide differently) are known to be mutants (this will be important later, probably. Did I mention that I'm making this up as I go along??). Anything not clear let me know and I'll clarify in future chaps.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything but Pietro... Even if that's not official. Marvel just can't let go. ^^ (I never remember disclaimers, but I did this time. I guess to make it official I should say "X-Men: Evolution and all subsequent characters are © of Marvel, KidsWB, and Cartoon Network." But that's rather boring so I would rather just say that Pietro is mine.)

*****

The sound of mocking laughter drifted over the school yard, causing Rogue to look up from her sketch pad and glare at the group of four girls that were standing a few feet away. Seeing her glancing in their direction, one of the girls leaned over and said something to the others. Though she couldn't make out their words, the tone and the pointed looks in her direction made it more than obvious that she was the topic of their conversation. It required all of the Goth's self-control not to go over and give them a piece of her mind (and maybe even an introduction to her two fists). She fought the urge down though, after all, with her new powers it would be entirely too easy to squash them like the bugs they were.

You would think that she would have been accustomed to the ridicule by now.. In the years since the 'outing' of mutants, little had changed in the public's reaction to them. Those that were known to be mutants were met with fear, hostility, and often even contempt. Despite that, it still stung to be hated for something that you had no control over.

She forcefully turned her attention back to the picture she was sketching, but after a minute she gave up any hope of concentrating on the drawing with the laughter coming from behind her. With a last scathing glance in the direction of the four girls, she began walking across the lawn towards the doors of the school. A sudden wind made her stop in her tracks.

The sounds of screams came from the group of girls as the wind proceeded to blow dirt all over them before it faded away as quickly as it had begun. Rogue glanced over her shoulder to see the site, and a small smile crossed her face before she turned back around… and came to a sudden standstill as her eyes locked with a familiar pair of blue eyes that were in right front of her, causing her to jump slightly.

"God, Pietro! Don't sneak up on me like that!" She said, her arms still in held in front of her protectively as a response to the surprise.

"Sorry," He said quickly, but an unrepentant smirk belied the words.

"You really shouldn't be using your powers in school anyway. Are you trying to get into trouble?" She chided.

He waved a finger in front of her face, "They can't catch me if they can't see me."

She sighed in response, knowing that it was useless arguing with the speed demon. "What can I do for you, Pietro?"

"It's not what you can do for me, but what I can do for you."

"Is it really now?" She asked giving him a considering look.

"Yes. I know that you don't have a date for prom."

"I wasn't aware that I wanted one." She said dryly. She shifted her books to the side to a more comfortable position before turning her attention back to the boy in front of her.

"Of course you did, but being the shy girl that you are," she snorted at that, but he continued as if she hadn't done anything, "you were too intimidated to ask me. My stunningly good looks do have that effect on people sometimes."

"I'm sure they do," She said rolling her eyes.

"So, I'll pick you up at 6." He said resolutely, nodding his head.

"I never agreed to anything."

"What girl would turn me down?" He said, flashing a smirk.

"A sane one?" She asked dryly, turning and making her way back towards the school.

He easily kept pace with her rapid stride. "Well, then you have no reason to say no do you?" He mocked, his voice coming from behind her ear.

She spun around and glared at him. "It would be best if you remembered that I can beat you into a pulp without breaking a sweat." She stalked towards him eyes narrowed menacingly.

"Am I supposed to be scared because of that whole super strength thing?" He asked mockingly. Widening his eyes, he proceeded to do his best to look afraid. He quickly dropped the look and stepped forward. She stood her ground, glaring at him through the hair that always managed to find its way in front of her eyes. He reached his hand out and brushed her hair away from her face before she had a chance to react. "You can't hurt me if you can't catch me."

"Sounds like a challenge." By this time there were only inches separating them, as both glowered at each other, challenge issued.

"Oh, it is." He drawled.

"Well, let's do it then." If looks could kill, Pietro would have been a puddle on the ground.

Suddenly his expression changed, the death glare melting away into a smile. "You know, you're really sexy when you're mad."

In response, Rogue turned her back to him and stomped her foot in agitation, which caused his smile to widen at the childish gesture.

"I hate it when you do that! I'm fighting with you and then you go all 360 and say something NICE! It's so frustrating!" She said, twirling around to face him once again.

He grinned at her unrepentantly. "I know. Why do you think I do it?"

She narrowed her eyes at him not willing to let him off the hook that easily. She gazed into his eyes which were positively twinkling in delight, and realized how futile it was. With a regretful sigh gave in and let the anger drain away.

"I need to get inside. It's almost time for the next class to start." Rogue said, turning towards the door once again. A hand firmly grabbing her arm stopped her from moving.

"You never answered my question. Pick you up at 6?" He asked her.

"You know, most guys ask girls to the prom more than a weak in advance."

"Losers." He said off handedly, brushing it aside as unimportant. "That's only for guys that are worried that someone might tell them no."

"Oh, so I see how it is. You just assume that I'll say yes? That no other guys would ask me? Well, I'll have you know that you aren't the first to ask me."

For the first time since his arrival he lost the confident look on his face as it was replaced with one of surprise and not a little jealousy. "Who-asked-you? Did-you-say-yes?"

Seeing his reaction, Rogue couldn't resist a smile. "Oh my god. You're jealous."

He pouted and looked suspiciously like a disgruntled child. "I am not. I just want to know who it is." 'And a good defense for when I kill him,' he added silently.

"You are! I can't believe this. The great Pietro Maximoff is jealous!" She was clearly enjoying the situation. He shot her an annoyed look, but refrained from commenting. Instead he turned his back on her, the very essence of offended male.

Rogue rolled her eyes at his response, but was secretly touched that he cared that much about her to feel jealous that someone else had asked her to the dance. Either that or he was not taking the seemingly rejection well. "I said I was asked, I didn't say that I accepted."

He turned back around to face her, this time with a satisfied smirk on his face. "So you will go with me." He said like it was already a matter of fact.

Instead of arguing, she just nodded in response. Sometimes it's just easiest to give in, after all.

"Good. I'll pick you up at 6 o'clock. Wear something skimpy."

"The better to drain you with?" She asked him dryly.

"Oh, right." He got a contemplative look on his face. "On second thought, better wear something that covers you completely, that way my hands can roam freely."

"I only said yes ten seconds ago, and I'm already regretting it." Rogue mumbled loud enough for the boy to over hear. He wisely refrained from commenting, and the two headed back into the building.

TBC

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Ah, fluff. More to come. Tell me what you think... And, yes there might just be a plot to it. Maybe. I'll update when I can but I'm working on two other fics now also, so we'll see how it goes. But this was fun, and if it stays that way it will write itself (with the magic pencil... um, keyboard).

^_^