A/N: THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS. I MADE SOME CORRECTIONS ON THE MISTAKES THAT YOU GUYS NOTICED. LIKE PIETRO FOR EXAMPLE. YOU WERE RIGHT; HE WAS BEING A LITTLE TOO NICE. ANYWAY, HERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER AND THE REVISION OF HIS CHARACTER. BUT HE WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE TO BE NICE BECAUSE IF I PUT HIM DOWN AS A JERK, HE AND ROGUE WILL BE FIGHTING AND IT'LL TURN INTO A LANCE THING SINCE HE'S THE NICE ONE HERE. HOPE THIS MAKES SENSE. ANYWAY, ENJOY AND MORE REVIEWS.



~*~

"Pietro, where were you?" Rogue demanded as she walked in the kitchen and found the speed demon seated around the table.

"Around." He said, shrugging his shoulders; not even looking at her.

"Well, you were supposed to help me train two hours ago." Rogue declared, getting incredibly annoyed for being stood up.

"Well, sorry. I couldn't make it." He replied nonchalantly.

"And you couldn't tell me so you just stood me up?" She asked.

"Well, if you say it that way.."

"Pietro, you know how important training is to me. Was it that hard to run over here and tell me? I would have said it was okay." Rogue frowned.

"Rogue, this isn't like the X-men. We don't do training and we don't have schedules." He replied.

"I know that this isn't like the X-men but I need to learn how to control my powers." She insisted. "I'm not trying to change anything."

"Well, it seems that lately you have been trying. I mean, come on, every week, we take turns training. So, basically, we're becoming the X-men." He retorted.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I don't appreciate you trying to take over the Brotherhood and turning it into another replica of the Xavier Institute. My father wouldn't approve of this." He declared angrily.

"Your father has nothing to do with this. Now, since when did I try taking over the Brotherhood, huh, Pietro? All I asked was for someone to help me train once in a while."

"Well, maybe you asked for too much." Pietro said as he shook his head and stormed off.

Rogue sat down, her chest heaving, as she tried to control the tears from trailing down her face.

"Okay, what was that about?" Lance asked as he walked into the kitchen.

He had heard everything and never had he seen Pietro that bitter or cruel to anyone. He may have been egotistical and selfish and somewhat rude on occasions but he was not malicious.

Something was up.

"Nothing." Rogue sniffled as she hastily wiped the tears with the back of her hand.

"He didn't mean it." Lance said.

"Right. I'm sure he was just joking." Rogue said as she hastily stood up, walked over to the fridge, and poured herself a glass of juice so that he wouldn't see that she was crying.

"Rogue. He didn't mean it. He probably is just having a bad day." He explained.

"Okay, whatever you say."

"Rogue, look, I'm going to go talk to him and find out what the hell is wrong with that kid. Now, you stay here." He said as he stood up and walked to the backyard where Pietro was.

Lance sauntered over to Pietro and practically shoved him. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. What's your problem?" Pietro replied.

"You, Pietro. Why the hell did you talk to her like that? You might as well have slapped her across the face." Lance declared angrily.

"Hey, I didn't mean it like that."

"Right, you didn't. I don't get you. Why are you being so cruel to her? She didn't do anything you're accusing her of." Lance said, frowning at his friend.

"Lance, give it up. And why do you care so much? Why the hell do you have to defend her?" Pietro retorted.

"Because she needs someone to take care of her. As powerful as she may be, Rogue is breakable. God, I thought you understood. I thought you cared."

Pietro sighed heavily. "I do care."

"Some way to show your affection." Lance rebutted. "Look, I don't know what's going on with you but you better do something because Rogue barely cries and you just made her cry today. That girl is like a sister to me and I am tempted to strangle you to death or until you apologize. But I'm going to be a man and expect you to be the same and ask her for forgiveness." Lance declared as he stood in front of Pietro, a determined look on his face.

"Whatever." Pietro answered rudely.

"Pietro, do not give me that crap! You're taking that act you put on a little too far." Lance declared.

"What act?" He asked.

"I know you better than anyone. I see right through you. I know you like her. Now move your ass and do something before it's too late. You already hurt her enough for one day." Lance ordered angrily.

"Fine!" Pietro muttered grudgingly as he dashed off and walked back into the house just as the front door slammed shut.

************************************************************************

"Rogue, wait!" Pietro called as he ran after her.

Great job Pietro, he said mentally slapped himself for being such a jerk.

She heard him perfectly but refused to turn around.

"Rogue!" He yelled again as he caught up with her.

She stopped short, refusing to turn and face him. "What do you want?" She asked her back still towards him.

"Where are you going?" He asked as he looked at the duffel bag, in her one hand.

"Where do you think I'm freaking going?" She asked angrily as she whirled around. "If you wanted me to leave, you should have just said so and I would have gone. God! I fought your sister so that I could stay. And now you humiliate my by insulting me and treating me like shit."

Pietro looked away; obviously guilty. "Look, about that-"

"Save your breath. I don't want to hear it." She snapped. She glared at him angrily, her anger seeping through her words.

"So you're just going to leave? That easy?" He asked, somewhat surprised.

"Well, yeah. Wanda doesn't want me here and you obviously don't either. So, what the hell am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know. Give a fight. Get mad. Something." He was desperately trying to say something smart but unfortunately, no words of wisdom came to him and he was stuck to one word sentences.

"I don't stay where I'm not wanted. I thought Wanda was just being selfish again but not you seem to agree. And as for fighting, I already did enough of that. Besides, do you know that I could kill you in a heartbeat?" She asked her eyes deadly.

"Oh. No, I didn't. Rogue, listen. I didn't mean what I said. I was having a bad day and I'm sorry." He said quietly.

"So, you thought that it would be okay to take it out on me? Roguey's all powerful now, why not use her as my personal punching bag." She said; her voice filled with sarcasm.

"I said I was sorry." He insisted.

"Well, it isn't good enough Pietro!" She exclaimed angrily. "It doesn't matter. I'm leaving."

"Wait!" He said before she could turn around. "I don't want you to leave. You're wanted here."

"Why? Because you'd miss treating me like crap? You'd miss someone to pick on? Why not use Todd? You know, it's bad enough that Wanda hates me. You just had to join in her little fun, didn't you?" She asked accusingly.

"Hey, this has nothing to do with my sister."

"Well, then, what is it? All week, you've been moody and sarcastic and snappy!"

"Look, I'm sorry. It's just the guys-" Pietro stopped and sighed as he ran his fingers through his silvery hair.

"What the hell do they have to do with this? Is this what you all think? So, they put you up to this?" She demanded, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"No! I was just being mean." He explained.

"More like an ass, actually." She said as she folded her arms in front of her; her face in a scowl.

"Ok, I was being an ass." He answered. "It's just the guys...they think ..think that I like you."

"So, you thought the only way to prove them wrong is treat me like crap." She declared, getting even angrier.

"Yeah. Look, I'm sorry. The guys were right."

"Right about what?" She asked.

Boy, was she going to make this hard for him.

"About me being a jerk, being stupid, liking you. Now, can we just go back inside because I'd feel terrible for making you leave." He said hastily, practically running out of breath.

Hopefully, she didn't catch the "liking you" part, Pietro thought as he waited for her response.

Rogue sighed, and shook her head as she walked towards him.

And then, she slapped him across the face.

"That's for thinking that you can treat me badly because you like me and you don't want the guys catching on." With that said she stepped around him and walked into the house without another word.

Okay, she definitely caught the "liking you part, Pietro thought as he rubbed the spot where the palm of her hand painfully collided with his face.

"I'll make it up to you." He mumbled as he followed her.



~*~

A/N: I'M STILL WORKING ON THE BAD GUY. APOLCALYPSE SEEMS TO BE THE BEST OPTION SO FAR. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON HIM BUT COULD ANYONE TELL ME IF HE WAS HUMAN BEFORE BECAUSE I READ SOMEWHERE THAT HE WAS. SOME OF THE FIGHT SCENE IDEAS LIKE ALL OF THEM GANGING UP ON ROGUE IS A GOOD ONE TOO BUT I NEED A REASONABLE EXPLANTION AS TO WHY THEY'RE ATTACKING HER.

ANYWAY, THE WANDA/ROGUE FRIENDSHIP WILL BE INCLUDED AND SO WILL MYSTIQUE. THANKS FOR READING AND TRYING TO HELP ME OUT WITH THIS THING. I'M JUST NOT GOOD WITH THE WHOLE X MEN THING. I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE WHOLE STORY.

HOPE YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER. SOMEWHAT SHORT BUT ANYWAY, MORE REVIEWS PLEASE.