Author's note: Chapter 2 was meant to be the last chapter. However, I have decided to write one more chapter to make the story have a more complete ending. Thanks for reading. As always, the characters belong to their rightful owners and are not mine. This chapter is quite romantic. I'm not sure but maybe it is even more romantic than I wanted it to be. I still hope you enjoy and please review.
It was afternoon break at Xavier's Institute for Gifted Children, which was, in fact, a school for mutants.
A certain female mutant, by the name of Rogue (also known as Marie) sat lonely, isolated and by herself on a wooden bench outside.
It was the bench Bobby used to sit with her when they had their talks. Now, the area seemed eerily vacant without him – without his voice and ice blue eyes.
She absent-mindedly nibbled at her afternoon chocolate muffin and sighed, wondering how Bobby was…
"Rogue?" a male husky voice said.
Rogue almost jumped, suddenly, as she was startled out of her reverie.
"Ah Dr. McCoy," she said. Why was he here?
"May I sit down?" he said as he gestured at the chair.
"Yeah. Sure," she said and swallowed before asking the question she had on her mind. "How – how is Bobby?"
The Beast smiled before patting her on her shoulder.
"Relax," he said. "There is good news. Bobby is up. Actually, he has been up since morning. And, well – he wants to see you."
"Oh really?" Rogue's eyes suddenly lit up. Boy, she was excited. Yet – a part of her was also afraid. Perhaps, uncertain of how to react.
"Yes Rogue," he said. "After all, it has been almost three weeks. He has woken up a little early. But never mind."
"That's sound great!" she said.
"Why don't you see him after eating the muffin? The Medlab is open to you."
"Okay," she said. "Thanks Doctor. I'll do that."
Hank just smiled before standing up to walk back to the mansion.
Rogue stood, her fingers poised over the buttons for entering the password to open the doors of the Medlab.
Should I enter or not? Would he be mad at me? I'm not sure of what to say. But if he is mad at me - why would he want to see me?
Just do it.
Beep. The heavy metal doors immediately unlocked and slid open after she entered the password and pressed ENTER.
She looked in and smiled slightly.
Bobby was all propped up by a small hill of white pillows. But otherwise he looked almost normal. He had changed back into his comfortable and baggy T-shirt.
"Bobby!" Rogue said. She rushed over and emotionally embraced him and he returned her hug.
"Rogue," he said as he hugged her back, careful not to touch her skin. "Glad to see you."
"I'm so sorry Bobby," she said as she pushed him away and gazed into his clear blue eyes. Their power was amazing, even after the ordeal.
With that one look, his eyes melted her doubts away. They were so honest and sincere. They were like emotional lasers, piercing to her soul and saying to her directly, I forgive you.
"It's okay," he said finally after their eye-to-eye communication.
Realising his care for her, Rogue replied with water in her eyes, blurring her vision, "I don't want to hurt you ever again. I don't think I can touch your skin ever again."
"Rogue," he whispered in her ear as he leant close. "It's okay. May be we don't have to touch. Maybe we just care for one another in words. Or maybe we can touch, just not the way that we think."
"I don't know," she said.
He pulled her close. Touching her gloved hands in the process.
"Trust me Rogue. I've changed. I've been doing some thinking today. We can get closer. By words. By knowing each other. By doing things for one another," he said.
"You mean that we don't ever touch?"
"It doesn't mean that necessarily," he explained. "It isn't possible to touch you as any normal human being but it doesn't mean I can't or we can't care or love you. It's just in a different way. The most important thing is that we care for you – in here."
He pointed to his heart.
Rogue shook her head. "I'm not so sure I understand. This doesn't sound like you."
"Rogue," he said as his eyes looked into her earnestly, pleading her to understand. "We have to be realistic about this. Your skin is a part of you. Let's not try and overcome it but move around it."
Finally, Marie nodded. "Okay."
"Good," he sighed. "I'm glad you understand."
Marie reached over and gave him one final hug.
"Thank you Bobby," she said softly. "Get well soon."
He smiled. A warm one despite being called the Iceman.
"I'll see you," he called after her as she exited through the door.
As Marie sat on her bed that afternoon, she pondered his words in her heart. In his heart, he did care for her, but perhaps it did not have to be expressed by touch but by his deeds and by him being her close friend and forgiving her. Actually, it sounded fine to her. Maybe one day they will be married? Who knows?
Marie smiled – knowing that Bobby would be okay.
Suddenly, something bumped into her head as she leaned back on her pillow. Her hand reached over to grab the object. It turned out to be her book, which she never finished reading.
Then, she opened its pages and found the book marked page, and began reading.