Steps
After school, Kitty and Rogue parted ways to start their work. Kitty headed to the greenhouse, Ororo could usually be found there, while Rogue headed for the Danger Room, one of Logan's favorite places. She walked down the corridor, her shoes clicking slightly on the metal floor. She stopped at the door, and after checking the user code, realized that Logan was inside. Rogue sat in a nearby chair, doing her homework, while she waited for Logan to finish. An hour later, Logan emerged, battered and sweaty.
"Hey Stripes, waiting for me?" Logan asked with a smirk.
"Yeah, I was hoping we could start training early today, if you don't mind."
Logan's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Never had Rogue requested to do any form of training. Rogue tried to smile like there was nothing going on, but it didn't work, "Is there something going on that I should know about? If so you'd best tell me now, I'll find out sooner or later."
Rogue blinked, "No. Nothing's going on, I was just hoping we could start early. I really want to practice control over my powers. Honest."
Logan raised his eyebrows. He knew she was lying and that he would find out whatever she was trying to hide eventually, but until then he had no choice but to play along, "Okay Stripes, I'll play along. Give me ten minuets."
Rogue nodded and sat down in a nearby chair, finishing her homework while she waited. "He knows. God, I really need to work on my lying skills."
After her training, Rogue dragged herself to the Rec. Room. Logan had decided to not only practice her control, but also run several simulations before letting her leave. Rogue felt nothing but pain. Her body was covered with bruises, cuts, and burns while her muscles refused to respond to even the simplest of commands. To make matters worse, her head ached terribly from all the thoughts and memories she had absorbed from Logan. She collapsed on the coach, hoping to find some relief from the pain. Only good thing that had seemed to come from this entire experience was that she now knew for sure that Logan was indeed in love with Ororo.
"Rogue, oh my god, guess what! Ororo is so in love with Logan!" Kitty ran excitedly jumped onto the coach.
Rogue readjusted herself to make room for Kitty, "How'd you find out so fast?" Rogue asked curiously. Ororo definitely wasn't the type that blurts out that kind of information.
"Well first I asked her about simple stuff, you know just to make her feel conferrable, then I mentioned Evan."
"Well that was real smart," Rogue interrupted.
Kitty raised her arms in defense, "I swear it was an accident. I like wasn't even thinking, but it worked out for the best. She started crying," Kitty got a look of utter fear, "I've never seen her cry before, it was like so creepy. Anyways, I got her calmed down and she started telling me how everyone has been so supportive of her since Evan left." Kitty got a huge grin on her face, "I knew this was like the perfect time to ask about Logan, so I asked if Logan had been helping her out or not. And you know what, she blushed! I mean it. She was so totally red. She told me that every night Logan comes over to help her water and constantly offering to do stuff for her." Kitty started to giggle, "It was so cute! Anyways, how did it go with Logan?"
"Well he likes Ororo, that's for sure. I swear the man hardly thinks of anything else. He's afraid to ask her out cause he thinks she'll turn him down, so he won't make a move." Rogue gave a little shrug and sighed, "I tried thinking of how we can hook them up, but I keep coming up blank, what about you?"
"Ditto. Love letters are like so obvious, and if we try the blind date routine they'll know it was us."
They sat in silence then suddenly Rogue jumped up, "I've got it! I'll talk to Logan about it. I'll tell him that I saw the memories and that I know he likes her. That right there will catch him off guard. Then I'll find a way to force him to ask her out."
"What if it doesn't work? You could get into so much trouble. Logan doesn't really seem like the type that likes to talk about his emotions and stuff" Kitty asked concerned.
Rogue shrugged, "If it doesn't work then we can always come up with a new plan. No harm done."
"Are you sure, it sounds kinda risky…"
"No problem. Just let me talk to him."
Rogue exited the Rec. Room. She glanced at her watch and smiled, it was only 6:00, she had time to run down to find Logan, talk to him about Ororo, and then be back at the mansion before dinner. Logan usually would work in the garage on his motorcycle until dinner. Unless of course he decided to go drinking, which meant he wouldn't be back till tomorrow morning. Hopefully he would still be there. Rogue ran across the mansion grounds towards the garage.
"Hey Logan, you in here?" Rogue called out.
She heard his head hit something metallic then cuss, "Yeah, what?"
Logan crawled out from under his bike and climber to his feet. He was covered in grease, and looked utterly confused to see her. Rogue smiled slightly, "Um, Logan I wanted to talk to you about something I saw earlier, when I absorbed your powers…" Rouge suddenly found herself at a loss for words. Despite what she had told Kitty she was scared to death at the thought of actually confronting Logan about his relationship with Ororo.
Logan frowned slightly; usually Rogue would never talk about what she saw in other people's minds. The fact that she wanted to must mean it was important, "Well, what was it exactly?"
"Oh, shit. I have no clue what to say!" Rogue slimed nervously, "Um…it has to do with you and Ororo. I know how you feel towards her."
Logan shrugged, "Yeah, we're friends. Big deal. Now if that's all I have work to do…"
Rogue looked away, "Logan I'm not stupid. Those thoughts of yours were a little more than friendly material."
Logan's eyes narrowed, "I don't see how any of this is your business," he growled warningly.
"I want to ask you something, why haven't you asked her out?"
"That's is none of your business. I suggest you drop it Rogue."
Rogue winched at the sound of her name, Logan never called her that unless she he was serious. "Too late, can't back off now," Rogue turned to look at Logan, meeting his eyes, "Not until you tell me why."
"You want to know why? Fine, it's because I don't deserve her." Logan yelled angrily. Turning away from her he started to leave the room.
"What?" Rogue said taken aback. Of all the answers to that question that was the one she had least expected. "Logan, that's crazy. She likes you…if you would just talk to her then…"
Logan spun around angrily, "It's none of your business, why is it so hard for you to understand?" Logan walked over to her, his face just inches from hers. His voice dropped to a dangerous tone, "I'm going to tell you this once, and you better listen good, leave it alone."
With that Logan left.
Rogue stood there, utterly dumbstruck, watching Logan storm off. He was mad, madder than she had ever seen him before. Usually when he was mad he would go to the Danger Room to blow off some steam, "Looks like he'll need to spend at least a week in there," thought Rogue bitterly. Kitty had been right; this was a stupid idea.
Slowly Rogue crossed the grounds, she didn't feel like going inside yet, so instead she headed to the gardens. Sitting on a bench, she leaned back and listened to the sounds of the oncoming night. The sun was just starting to set, casting a red and orange glow around her. She watched it set, felling all her tension ease out as the sun fell and stars began to fill the sky. Closing her eyes she felt herself relax, her anger towards Logan disappear, and her fleeting pain vanish.
Suddenly a sharp noise broke the silence. Rogue jumped up, glancing around nervously, "Must have been a deer or something." At first Rogue didn't think anything of it, but then she heard another noise, this one closer. Then she felt someone or something watching her, studying her. Rogue all of a sudden found herself running towards the mansion. Suddenly she heard a noise directly behind her, and a sharp pain sent her falling into blackness.