Chapter 2, "You Can't Lose Me"
By: RogueBHS
A/N: Here's chapter 2 of "I'll Be." I'm sorry it took longer than my other updates, but the inspiration for how to set this chapter up just didn't want to come. As well, my internet was down for around a week, so that put a crimp in my updating schedule. I tried typing this up once, but didn't like the way it flowed, because there was no way to end it properly, so here's my second attempt at this chapter.
Rogue looked up as a shadow crossed over the small form of Magnolia, and smiled at the friend with whom she had shared a midnight snack two nights ago. Ororo took a seat on the ground next to Rogue, and glanced briefly at the cover of the book Rogue had just set aside. Stroking the head of Magnolia, Ororo gestured with her other hand to the historical romance book with a smile. "Enjoying the day by keeping your nose in a book hmm?"
Rogue laughed softly, and shrugged. "Atleast Ah'm readin outside instead o' cramped up in mah room right?"
Storm nodded. "It is an improvement." Looking around, Storm admired the area of the grounds Rogue had chosen to read in. Rose bushes were near by, and their scent was carried over on the occasional breeze, something Rogue would enjoy. There were plenty of trees for shade, since the day was forcasted to be warm, and benches were scattered about for seating. Unless of course you were Rogue, who prefered to simply lean against a tree trunk while sitting on the lush grass.
Rogue took a deep breath as she leaned her head against the tree trunk, and closed her eyes for a break from the bright sunlight. Having Scott's powers, even turned off, had a curse. Too much time in the sun gave her a killer headache. Sighing, she knew she'd have to head in soon, which was a pity. Feeling Ororo's gaze upon her, Rogue cracked open one eye, then the other to look at her friend. "What? Do Ah have somethin' on meh?"
Ororo shook her head. "No. I heard you sigh, and looked back at you. Is something wrong Rogue?"
"Jus' gettin' a headache is all. But Ah don' wanna head inside is th' thing. Its too nahce out. Besides, there's nothin interestin' t' do inside."
Storm nodded briefly in agreement, then an idea struck, one that was more commonly something Rogue would suggest. "Perhaps we could go in town then." When Rogue gave Storm her undivided attention, she continued. "There's the mall, or the movies. Goddess knows you and I haven't gone and done anything together lately."
Rogue smiled and glanced at Magnolia. "Sounds good t' meh, Roro." She yawned, then pushed herself away from the tree. "But...We wouldn't have much time. Ah'm supposed t' train with Wolvie in an hour or two."
Ororo rethought the idea, then looked at Rogue. "Then we'll go afterwards. I'm up for an evening out myself, and I need a few things anyway."
Rogue nodded. "Sounds even bettah. Give meh a chance t' wind my mind down some more...an' t' spend some quality time with mah best friend." She smiled as she stood up to stretch out a bit.
Standing herself, Ororo tilted her head just a tad to the side. "Best friend hmm?" The weather-goddess smiled broadly. "My sentiments exactly."
Rogue laughed as she looked at the outfit Ororo had tried on. It was similar to something Storm would've worn in her punk phase, and definitely not something the goddess would wear now. "Ro, Ah don' think that's what ya need if you're lookin for a new outfit."
Storm looked in the mirror, and had to agree. The bright blue top did look good though, and she thought about trying it on with something else. Glancing at Rogue's reflection in the mirror, she smiled. "And what might you suggest?"
Rogue turned and looked at the racks of clothes, then started walking through, occassionally picking something out, only to put it back. Ororo had wanted something new to wear on the nights when she joined Rogue and Scott out on the town or to clubs, and it had to be something good. Ororo watched in amusement as Rogue started plucking a few shapeless pieces in various colors off the racks, and raised an eyebrow when 3 pieces were thrust at her with an order to try them on.
Slipping back into the dressing room, Ororo slipped on what she soon found out were black pants rather than a skirt, and a sapphire blue spaghetti strapped top. Looking at the other piece, it took her a second to realize it was a vest rather than another top, as it didn't appear to be open in the front...until you saw the lacings that kept it together. Walking back out to where Rogue was standing, she turned slowly in a 360 spin for approval.
Smiling at her own handy-work, Rogue watched Ororo look in surprise at the mirror reflection. The black pants had seemed flowing on the hanger, but on Ororo fit similar to the flare-leg jeans that were advertised on the wall to the left. The vest added a hint of modesty to the outfit, but also added an extra bit of flare too. Ororo's own lips curved in a smile as she turned at looked at Rogue. "I do believe this is much better than the other. Don't you?"
Rogue nodded. "Yep. Ah wouldn't o' picked it off th' racks if Ah didn'."
Ororo studied Rogue critically for a second, then turned. "I think perhaps you need something else to wear clubing don't you?"
Rogue held up the other clothing she had picked off the racks. "Ah'm ahead o' ya on that one sugah. Ah jus waited for ya t' finish first." Smiling, Rogue slipped into the dressing room next to the one Ororo had used, and changed into what she had grabbed.
Ororo was already back in her jeans and t-shirt when Rogue walked out of the dressing room, and turned to see what Rogue had choosen. Ororo, like most would, had expected Rogue's trademark green, but there was no green at all to this outfit.
A black pair of jeans with ripped-out knees and white leather lacings down the side hung low on the hips, showing off Rogue's bellybutton, a rarity for her. The top was a black halter, and had Ororo wondering what had Rogue dressing this way all of a sudden. Luckily, there was a knee-length black...thing...that she had slipped on. It bared most of her shoulders, but still managed to cover her arms down to the wrist, and cover some of her bared stomach. Intwined in the black fabric were metalic-like threads of a blood red, and they reflected the light, adding the only bit of color in the outfit.
Rogue turned slowly like Ororo had done, smiling. "What do ya think?"
"Its a little dark. Or was that the point?"
Rogue laughed softly. "That was th' point. Everyone's so used t' meh wearin' green, an' half o' what Ah own probably has green on it somewhere, so Ah went fo' a change. An' if Ah wanted, Ah've got those shades Beast gave meh back when Ah couldn't control Scott's powah that Ah could add."
Ororo had to admit the darker coloring did suit Rogue, and would be a nice addition to her closet. Glancing around, she looked for one last thing for Rogue, and started walking around, looking at the accessories. Rogue admired the fit of the clothing in the mirror, occasionally glancing at Storm in the mirror, wondering what she was up to. When Ororo returned with a red metal chain-looking belt rather than gloves, Rogue smiled. Taking the offered belt, Rogue put it on over the coat-type piece and fastened it where it would hang loosely, but still do its job.
Grinning, Rogue reached for her purse and pulled out the black sunglasses she normally wore, putting them on, just for kicks. Ororo smiled, and touched Rogue's arm. "I do believe we both have winning outfits for the next time we go clubbing..."
Rogue nodded and went back into the changing room, putting back on the jeans, shirt and gloves she had on before. When she opened the door, Ororo was paying for her things at one of the two cash registers, so Rogue headed up to the other, putting the outfit on the counter to be rung up before she spoke to Storm. "What'dya say we go grab somethin' t' eat? Ah'm starvin."
Ororo nodded as she put away her change. "I am too. Any preferences?"
Rogue shrugged. "Not really. There's that Italian place downstairs next t' th' food court. Ah've heard it was pretty good."
Ororo shook her head. "Mmm. Italian just doesn't sound good." She picked up her bags, waiting for Rogue to finish with the cashier. "We could just eat at the food court, I suppose."
"Sounds fine." Her own bags in hand, Rogue followed Storm out of the door and onto the second-floor of the mall. As they headed down the stairs, Rogue looked around, then pointed to a punk/goth shop on the right. "Ah wanna take a look around there aftah we eat. Ari said they have some cool silvah jewelry there."
Ororo glanced at the shop, then laughed softly. "As if you or I need it. But this trip is for fun, and looking around in there would be just that."
Rogue nodded, then took a look at the fast-food places in the food court. "Its a good thang we've been walkin...Aftah eatin heah ya'd have t' work out lahke crazy t' burn th' calories."
Storm shook her head, laughing. "Unless of course you're a mutant and have the high-metabolism that goes with being one. Right?"
Rogue nodded again and then looked to Ororo. "Where you gonna eat?"
Ororo pointed to the Chick-fil-A even as she headed in that direction, leaving Rogue to either follow or find her own place to eat. Rogue, who wasn't in the mood for chicken, headed towards the pizza place instead.
When both of them had their food and had found a table, Rogue sank gratefully into a chair as she put her bags down. "Sometimes Ah forget not even bein' nigh-invunerable c'n keep meh from gettin' worn."
Ororo glanced at her watch. It was only 7 PM, but they had been shopping for roughly 3 or 4 hours, walking or standing the entire time. Looking up at Rogue, she smiled. "The punk store, a shoe store, then head back to the mansion?"
Rogue nodded as she cut the huge slice of pizza in half. "Sounds good t' meh, Roro."
They ate in relative silence, occasionally saying something about a guy who had walked past or about the items they had bought. Glancing up as someone shouted out, Rogue's green eyes searched for the trouble, and found it half the food court away. Standing and leaving the food behind, Rogue headed that way. Ororo stayed put, simply watching what was going on.
As a larger man, probably the size of Bishop, pushed a smaller one into the crowds, Rogue's eyes narrowed. Staying in the crowd, she used Wolverine's sense of smell and hearing to enhance her own. The smells of the food and sounds of the crowd almost overwhelmed her before she managed to tune in to the sounds and smells of the two fighting. The larger man was a mutant, no doubt about it. The smaller wasn't. It was time to intervine when the big man started to punch the other senseless.
Grabbing the arm before it could punch again, Rogue turned on the strength she had gotten from Ms. Marvel, as well as the invunerability and seventh sense. The man stopped, shocked. When he saw it was a woman who stopped him, he stood up, and tried to yank his arm away from Rogue unsuccessfully. His power wasn't super-strength, she realized, and found out soon enough that he was a telekenetic as she went flying backwards. Stopping herself with her power of flight, she slowly went closer to the man.
"Ah'd recomend ya stop now, sugah. Ah don' wanna put ya in a lotta pain."
The man laughed, a cruel sound on the ears. "You? Put me in pain? I think not. You're nothing but a woman."
That was the wrong thing to say. Rogue had always been willing to go toe to toe with any of the men, and now was no different. Using telekenesis herself, she lifted him off of the floor. Not wanting to risk hurting anyone in the growing crowd, she lowered him back down, then used telepathy instead, convincing him through suggestion that he didn't want to cause any trouble here. His shields were pathetic, so the suggestion took root, and he left peacefully.
Turning to the smaller man, Rogue knelt down, examining the damage even as the mall police came over. When they asked who had done it, Rogue pointed to the man who was walking directly into the office to turn himself in. Surprised, they looked at her, now realizing she was a mutant. As she stood, one of them thanked her.
Smiling, Rogue shrugged. "It was nothin." When the policeman looked suprised, she gave no elaboration, simply headed towards Storm. The crowd parted for her, but she took no notice, picking up her trash and bags, she smiled at her friend. "Lets get back t' shoppin, what'dya say Roro?"
Nodding her approval, Storm picked up her own bags and trash. "You did good Rogue. And shopping is what we came here to do is it not?"
Rogue didn't answer, just smiled broader as she looped her arm through Storm's and headed towards the punk shop, fully intending to buy herself something else new.