i'm the new, i'm the new, new model
i've got nothing inside
better in the head and in bed
at the office
i can suck and i smile
new, new, new model
-Marilyn Manson, "New Model"
She felt that Rogue was coming before the woman ever entered the room, of course. It was what she did. Despite the fact that her powers were inactive, at the moment, it didn't change the fact that the woman was a mutant. Genetically.
And Sage, of course, could sense a mutant a mile away.
But she was presently engaged, and saw no reason to look up; therefore, she continued reading about string theory as a theory of quantum gravity. She was willing to believe that it filled in the gaps where the previously established mathematics of nature, or what were the generally accepted mathematics of nature according to the men in charge, seemingly failed…
"Sage, ah need an opinion."
… but she had yet to be convinced that the theory's application in this realm wasn't simply one of convenience—a clever, and entirely hypothetical, situation that was devised…
"C'mon, it'll only take a minute!"
… simply for that very purpose—to reconcile the formerly irreconcilable facts of gravity with the ideas that formed the basis for quantum physics, in order…
"Will ya just look at me, girl?"
… to secure the egos and sense of well being of a community of balding white men who could not handle the simple idea that they might not understand the universe as it is. Much in the same way god had filled the gap for humanity for eons, really. Not that the idea didn't hold merit, but—
Rogue, or Anna, as she now wished to be called, cut her thought off completely by snatching the book, with an immense psychic flash of something that could only be called "petulance," from her hands.
Slowly, the mutant formerly known as Tessa looked up.
The southern woman stood before her… clad in very little. Sage, of course, was accustomed to the spare state of superhero attire, as well as the clinging quality it tended to exhibit. But this was something entirely different.
And the other woman held her book, now closed, in both hands, green eyes blazing.
"You did not save my place," Sage felt the need to inform her, despite the fact that it mattered little. She knew she was on page one hundred and twenty three. Line fifteen.
"No, ah did not," Rogue sniffed back. "Just look at me for a minute, won't take ya that long. Ah need another woman's opinion!" As she said this, the irritation seemed to leave her, and she made a quick spin, to show the entirety of the ensemble. What there was of it.
"Ororo will be home in no time," was the only reply she found within her to make.
Anna sighed at her, putting the book on the table before her and leaning on it with both hands, so that the top half of the black, silken thing she was barely wearing exposed an alarming amount of cleavage. "Just tell me, is this gonna do the trick or ain't it? Ah'd be too embarrassed to try it without askin' someone else first."
She did not look embarrassed now. Not in the least.
Sage cocked her head, quickly. She could barely see the other woman's legs, but it was enough to know that the lower half of the negligee did little to cover them. They were shorts, cut high at the thigh, and sitting very low, a minimum of four inches below her exposed navel.
Intriguing, somehow.
She stood and moved around the table, to where she could see more clearly.
Without meaning to, she picked up on a mild flash of panic from Rogue. "Ya need to stand up to look at me?"
But they were now standing at eye level, facing one another, and it did prove to be a better vantage point. Rogue's camisole top was cut short as well, just above the navel, and it had sleek, thin straps, like cords of silk. The material shone and shifted in the light—processed silk, far too much sheen to be raw. But it contrasted dramatically with the pale skin of her long arms and toned midsection. The curve of her lower belly disappeared eventually under the cover of the abbreviated shorts. Sage noticed the way the feminine form seemed constructed so as to lead the eye along it, its curves drawing the eye as flashes of color in a painting might. Very unlike the angular masculine form, which seemed far less artful, when viewed in this light.
A pleasing configuration of light and dark, curve and line. She found herself interested in what might lie beneath the spare material clinging to her teammate.
"Yes," She replied, eyes moving inch by inch over Rogue's half-dressed form. "This gives me a better view." Rogue's long, ivory legs were under her gaze now, the lean muscle of them exposed under the spare cover of the shorts. Strong, yet undeniably exhibiting that same softness of line and curve as the rest of her.
"Well, come on then," Rogue appeared to have conquered her uneasiness with her usual southern fortitude, and took Sage's hand and pulled, as a child demanding an answer, "what's the verdict?"
Sage's attention now turned to the hand on her own. Warm and yielding, soft flesh pressed against her own. She had not realized until just now that she was often cooler than the average human. Rogue's warm hand, however, made it difficult not to notice the difference in body temperature. Or the softness of her pale skin. Did her own skin have this feeling to it?
"What's wrong with you?" Anna complained, removing her hand and putting both of them on her hips, tapping her foot impatiently.
Fascinating, how the warmth of her lingered. Was the entirety of the woman's body so warm? The expanse of skin at her midsection did appear to be pleasantly flushed with blood, in its pinkness, which would leave it warm to the touch. Sage took a step forward, and placed her hand at Rogue's waist. Yes. Very warm. Hard, muscle under the skin evident. Yet the skin itself, soft and smooth to the touch. She slid her hand upward, until she could feel both the silk of her shirt, and the smoothness of her skin, comparing the qualities. She had never noticed, on herself, but the two did bear striking similarities.
Rogue, for her part, was utterly frozen. Sage could feel something coming off of her in waves… something like fear… but also a certain excitement. As if the fear was somehow arousing. Or the arousal frightened her. Of course, the woman had only recently been able to experience the touch of another human being, and the experience was, logically, intensified for that. When one's senses are deprived for so long of a certain sensation, the returned use of that aspect of the sense naturally appears to intensify the sensation it grants. Rogue was a sensual woman, she knew that from the personality profile she had long ago established for her teammate. But she had never considered the effect of lengthened sensory deprivation—particularly one of such an emotional nature as deprivation of human contact. Most humans craved such contact.
She had never been familiar with that, or any other such craving, personally. It simply wasn't in her nature. But that wave of emotion, of sensation, from Anna, left her curious. It was an extremely powerful thing. Could such a small touch elicit such a response from anyone? Or only from one who had been so long deprived of said sensation? Did it make her appreciate the loss of her powers, that she was able to feel such things—or did the fear she felt come from a fear of touch, from a fear of the arousal of the senses it brought her?
"Your powers. Do you wish they were back, at times?"
Rogue's face came to life, at the question. Discomfort, but not with Sage's hand this time. Obviously, with the thoughts her question had brought to the front of her mind. "Ah… ah guess so," she admitted.
Sage leaned closer now, until their bodies were touching, front to front. Despite the similarity of their builds, though, admittedly, Anna had a more ample chest than she, it was not uncomfortable. They seemed to fit together, as two pieces of a puzzle. "I thought so," she put her cheek next to Rogue's now, feeling the warmth radiating from her freely now, as her mingled fear and excitement grew. She experienced it only though the other woman's projection, however, unfamiliar with the overwhelming sensory flood her proximity was causing. But she was curious, now. "I'm glad you have this chance, at least. To know what it's like."
"What… it's lahk?"
She could feel that Rogue was clear enough on what she'd meant. The woman was purposely "playing dumb," as they said. And she was relaxing now, even going so far as to move her head slightly, brush her cheek against Sage's, as if to intensify her own sensory experience. But Sage elaborated for her, despite the fact that she knew it to be unnecessary. "Yes. I admit, I wonder myself. When I feel it coming from you so strongly, this intense sensation you experience at the touch of another." She was surprised to find her hand tracing lightly up and down Rogue's side now. Although she could not remember giving it the command to do so.
She felt her shiver now, though, pressed against her so near. Despite the warmth between them. It was not a cold shiver, clearly. "It makes you nervous." It wasn't a question.
"A little," Rogue breathed, very near to her ear.
"But you like it." Again, not a question.
She nodded, quickly "yes."
Sage found herself at a loss, for a moment. Her body seemed to grow warm, from the inside out, her skin to come to life where Anna's hot breath fell on her. And she knew that her curiosity would madden her, if she did not discover what it was. This sudden, anomalous attraction she had to the other woman's skin. To her fear. "Would you like to show me what it's like, Anna?"
AN: Ok… I admit, I'm creepy at times. Send hate mail to xbeaubier@hotmail.com :P Thanks Sue!
Silver: Sorry about the romance poisoning! I figured two funny, one sweet (ish…,) one creepy, and one that's just self-indulgent (oh like the whole idea isn't…) would be a pretty well rounded lot, though. Anyhow… Warren is really pretty! /Flame on!
Peanut: God… can't you just see her face if Paige walked into that room… hahaha oh god, what a laugh. Shower scene part deux… oh the possibilities!
Fata Morgana: Actually, I expected most people to find the whole Kurt/Warren thing mildly disturbing… But *I* thought it was sweet. Might be that creepy thing in me again though…