Togue Fluff
Chapter 3: I'll Stand By You
A/N: Oops! I just realized I forgot the "I don't own anything" disclaimer. OK, X-Evolution characters belong to WB
and "I'll Stand By You" belongs to The Pretenders. The song sounds so much like the relationship Todd and
Rogue would have. This takes place after the events of "Impact". Yeah, I know Togue wasn't going on in that
story line. Think of it as an AU. Another Polish lesson! Babka = Grandma. Enjoy the song fic.
Rogue had been avoiding everyone all day at school. Even her friends. Even Todd, her boyfriend. Todd had a good idea what
was bothering her. Everytime he approached her she just said she didn't want to talk. Period. He could tell she felt like crying, but
was keeping her tears to herself. It made him feel like crying too. He hated seeing her in pain.
After school, Rogue walked home alone. Todd followed her from a distance. This wasn't like her at all. If she walked, she
usually waited for him or rode along with Scott, Kurt and the others. Todd bounded up to her. "Marie.."
"Todd, just leave me alone." she said it with a catch in her voice.
"Marie," he gently took her hand. "You've been alone too long. We both have. Come, on, you know you can tell me anything."
"I killed someone, Todd! I fucking killed Mysique!"
"Come here." he put an arm around her waist. "There's a bench over here. We can sit down and you can just tell me
everything."
Oh, why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
They had no sooner sat on the bench when Rogue burst into heartbreaking sobs. Todd wrapped his arms around her and held
her close. He murmured to her and stroked her hair. "It's OK, babe, I'm here for you."
"He called me a murderer." she sobbed.
"Who did?"
"K-Kurt."
"What! I'll kill that little blue bastard!"
"Todd, no."
"He made you cry!"
"And I killed his mother. I deserved it."
Todd rubbed Rogue's shoulder. "Mystique," he said. "does not deserve to be called a mother. Any more than mine does.
They're-watcha call 'em-incubators. Egg donors."
"You don't talk much about your mother."
"She's not even worth thinking about. If it hadn't been for Babka, I probably would've been dumped on a garbage heep as soon
as I was born. After Babka died, Vixen still kept me around."
"Vixen?"
"That's what everyone called her. I don't think it's her real name, but I forget what Babka called her. Anyway, Vixen kept me
'cuz she found out you could get food stamps and welfare checks if you had a kid. Combine that with what she was getting for
turning tricks and she could keep herself in crack for a good long time. I sometimes wish she had cared enough about me to give me
up for adoption." He sighed. "But we're supposed to be talking about you."
"It's OK. It takes my mind off it." She hugged him. "I don't wanna go back just now."
"We can stay out here just as long as you need, baby. I'm not going anywhere."
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
Cause I've seen the dark side too
They sat for hours on the park bench. Todd would just hold Rogue untill she cried herself numb. He said nothing, but stroked
her midlength coppery hair. He toyed with the strand of white that shot through it. He was torn between wanting to comfort Marie
and finding Fuzzface and beating the snot out of him. No one hurt his girl. "What do I do now?" she finally said.
"I wish I had all the answers for you, angel."
"Don't call me that." Rogue felt very less that angelic at the time.
"You'll always be my angel, Marie, don't ever forget that."
"I liked it, Todd. God help me, I liked it! I liked watching that bitch shatter! After all she's done to me and everyone else, I was
only sorry that she couldn't feel the pain of being smashed on the rocks! I liked snuffing out another life! What do you think of your
angel now?"
"I think my angel is hurt and needs me. But I can't help you if you push me away. I love you, Marie."
"You could love a murderer?"
"Could you love a fly-eating pickpocket?"
"Todd..." The tears were coming again.
He held her. "I love you, Marie. Nothing will ever change that." He kissed the top of her head. It was getting dark. As the sun set,
a heavy breeze blew up. They both shivered and huddled closer.
When the night falls on you,
You don't know what to do,
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
"I'm just so damn mad." she said. "Mad at Mystique, mad at Kurt, mad at myself, just everything!"
"That's OK." he said. "Just be mad. Nothing wrong with that."
"When did you become a psychiatrist?"
"When someone thought I was worth talking and listening to."
"I used to be annoyed by Kurt. His teasing, the way he'd call me sister in this saccherine sweet voice. Now when he looks at
me, he seems to wish I'd just drop dead. I wish I could."
"Don't think like that, Marie. Look," He removed his left wrist band and showed her his wrist. "See the scar? I did that when I
was young and stupid. If I had succeeded, I would never have known you."
"Bet it makes you realize how precious life is." she said bitterly.
"Actually, yeah, it does."
"I killed someone, Todd."
"We covered that."
"I wanna scream!"
"Scream then! I won't mind."
"I wanna break something!"
Todd went through his backpack and pulled out a calculator. "Here. It doesn't work anyway." She grabbed the calculator and
snapped it in half. She threw the remains against a tree and stomped on the remaining pieces. "Feel better now?"
Rogue slumped back into Todd's arms. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be." He stroked her hair.
"Do you think what I did was wrong?"
"Marie, I'm the last person you should come to to decide what's moral or not. I'm a thief, a punk. If I had been a girl, I probably
would've wound up whoring the streets like my old lady before me. Stepdad Lee woulda pimped me out. No doubt about it."
"He hurt you even worse that Mystique hurt me. And you didn't kill him."
"Had no way to. He was bigger and stronger than me. I think they had a gun somewhere, but frankly, guns scare me. It was
easier to just run away."
"I once told you I'd kill him if I ever met him. Now that I have killed someone, I don't know if I could."
"He's not your problem anyway."
"Yes he is! Todd, if you're hurt, I hurt!"
He smiled wryly. "I was thinking just the same thing about you earlier."
She held on to him. "I want this feeling to go away."
"I know, angel, I know." This time, she let him call her that.
So, if you're mad, get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
And hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
But I'm alot like you
The first stars were comming out. "What do I do now?" she said rhetorically. "I can't be sure
the X-Men will let me stay with them now. We're not supposed to kill."
"You can come back to the boarding house anytime you want. Wanda has your old room, but, um,
youcansharemine."
"I don't think I'm ready for co-habitation with you just yet, Sugar, but thanks for the invite."
"Marie, don't worry." He squeezed her shoulder. "Xavier knows how you feel. I don't like the guy
much, but I can't see him tossing a student out on their ass. And Kurt, I can't stand him either, but
the fact is he cares for you very much. Remember when he wanted to duel with me for 'besmirching
your honor' is how he put it. He'll forgive you, in time."
"What do I do 'til then?"
"Right now, you wait."
"Will you wait with me?"
"Forever, Babe."
When you're standing at the crossroads
Don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
Cause even if you're wrong
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
"I have to go now." she said.
"I'll walk you."
"Thanks."
The street lamps lit their way to the X Mansion. The couple walked hand in hand. Ever so often she
would tense up, her gloved hand squeezing Todd's just a little to hard. "Easy, yo." he said. "I might
need that hand someday."
"I'm sorry."
They stood outside the mansion gates. Todd took both of her hands in his. "Marie, no matter
what happens, I want you to know I love you and I'll always be there for you."
"Oh, Todd..." She embraced him. She kissed the top of his head. He kissed her collar bone. "I
hate sayin' good-bye to you."
"You know where to find me if you need me."
"I'm so lucky to have you as my boyfriend."
Todd blushed bright red. "Hey-uh-I'm pretty lucky to have you as my girlfriend."
"I'm goin' through a pretty tough time here, Todd. This might not be the last time I bring it up."
"Marie, I understand. You need me right now. And I'll be there whenever you need me. In fact,
call me later tonight. Tell me how you're feeling. Tell me if I have to beat up anyone for you."
Rogue laughed. She had thought she would never laugh again. Todd proved her wrong. "I love
you, Todd. Good-night."
"Night, Marie. Kocham cie."
They parted ways after a final embrace. Todd stuck his hands in his pockets and walked back
to the boarding house. Usually when he was alone, he hopped. He just wasn't in a hopping mood tonight.
He knew there was no way this was going to be settled easily. There would be more tears, accusations
and screaming fights. Rogue would need someone to comfort her, and he'd be there to do it.
And when, when the night falls on you baby,
You're feeling all alone
You won't be on your own
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me to your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
Chapter 3: I'll Stand By You
A/N: Oops! I just realized I forgot the "I don't own anything" disclaimer. OK, X-Evolution characters belong to WB
and "I'll Stand By You" belongs to The Pretenders. The song sounds so much like the relationship Todd and
Rogue would have. This takes place after the events of "Impact". Yeah, I know Togue wasn't going on in that
story line. Think of it as an AU. Another Polish lesson! Babka = Grandma. Enjoy the song fic.
Rogue had been avoiding everyone all day at school. Even her friends. Even Todd, her boyfriend. Todd had a good idea what
was bothering her. Everytime he approached her she just said she didn't want to talk. Period. He could tell she felt like crying, but
was keeping her tears to herself. It made him feel like crying too. He hated seeing her in pain.
After school, Rogue walked home alone. Todd followed her from a distance. This wasn't like her at all. If she walked, she
usually waited for him or rode along with Scott, Kurt and the others. Todd bounded up to her. "Marie.."
"Todd, just leave me alone." she said it with a catch in her voice.
"Marie," he gently took her hand. "You've been alone too long. We both have. Come, on, you know you can tell me anything."
"I killed someone, Todd! I fucking killed Mysique!"
"Come here." he put an arm around her waist. "There's a bench over here. We can sit down and you can just tell me
everything."
Oh, why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
They had no sooner sat on the bench when Rogue burst into heartbreaking sobs. Todd wrapped his arms around her and held
her close. He murmured to her and stroked her hair. "It's OK, babe, I'm here for you."
"He called me a murderer." she sobbed.
"Who did?"
"K-Kurt."
"What! I'll kill that little blue bastard!"
"Todd, no."
"He made you cry!"
"And I killed his mother. I deserved it."
Todd rubbed Rogue's shoulder. "Mystique," he said. "does not deserve to be called a mother. Any more than mine does.
They're-watcha call 'em-incubators. Egg donors."
"You don't talk much about your mother."
"She's not even worth thinking about. If it hadn't been for Babka, I probably would've been dumped on a garbage heep as soon
as I was born. After Babka died, Vixen still kept me around."
"Vixen?"
"That's what everyone called her. I don't think it's her real name, but I forget what Babka called her. Anyway, Vixen kept me
'cuz she found out you could get food stamps and welfare checks if you had a kid. Combine that with what she was getting for
turning tricks and she could keep herself in crack for a good long time. I sometimes wish she had cared enough about me to give me
up for adoption." He sighed. "But we're supposed to be talking about you."
"It's OK. It takes my mind off it." She hugged him. "I don't wanna go back just now."
"We can stay out here just as long as you need, baby. I'm not going anywhere."
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
Cause I've seen the dark side too
They sat for hours on the park bench. Todd would just hold Rogue untill she cried herself numb. He said nothing, but stroked
her midlength coppery hair. He toyed with the strand of white that shot through it. He was torn between wanting to comfort Marie
and finding Fuzzface and beating the snot out of him. No one hurt his girl. "What do I do now?" she finally said.
"I wish I had all the answers for you, angel."
"Don't call me that." Rogue felt very less that angelic at the time.
"You'll always be my angel, Marie, don't ever forget that."
"I liked it, Todd. God help me, I liked it! I liked watching that bitch shatter! After all she's done to me and everyone else, I was
only sorry that she couldn't feel the pain of being smashed on the rocks! I liked snuffing out another life! What do you think of your
angel now?"
"I think my angel is hurt and needs me. But I can't help you if you push me away. I love you, Marie."
"You could love a murderer?"
"Could you love a fly-eating pickpocket?"
"Todd..." The tears were coming again.
He held her. "I love you, Marie. Nothing will ever change that." He kissed the top of her head. It was getting dark. As the sun set,
a heavy breeze blew up. They both shivered and huddled closer.
When the night falls on you,
You don't know what to do,
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
"I'm just so damn mad." she said. "Mad at Mystique, mad at Kurt, mad at myself, just everything!"
"That's OK." he said. "Just be mad. Nothing wrong with that."
"When did you become a psychiatrist?"
"When someone thought I was worth talking and listening to."
"I used to be annoyed by Kurt. His teasing, the way he'd call me sister in this saccherine sweet voice. Now when he looks at
me, he seems to wish I'd just drop dead. I wish I could."
"Don't think like that, Marie. Look," He removed his left wrist band and showed her his wrist. "See the scar? I did that when I
was young and stupid. If I had succeeded, I would never have known you."
"Bet it makes you realize how precious life is." she said bitterly.
"Actually, yeah, it does."
"I killed someone, Todd."
"We covered that."
"I wanna scream!"
"Scream then! I won't mind."
"I wanna break something!"
Todd went through his backpack and pulled out a calculator. "Here. It doesn't work anyway." She grabbed the calculator and
snapped it in half. She threw the remains against a tree and stomped on the remaining pieces. "Feel better now?"
Rogue slumped back into Todd's arms. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be." He stroked her hair.
"Do you think what I did was wrong?"
"Marie, I'm the last person you should come to to decide what's moral or not. I'm a thief, a punk. If I had been a girl, I probably
would've wound up whoring the streets like my old lady before me. Stepdad Lee woulda pimped me out. No doubt about it."
"He hurt you even worse that Mystique hurt me. And you didn't kill him."
"Had no way to. He was bigger and stronger than me. I think they had a gun somewhere, but frankly, guns scare me. It was
easier to just run away."
"I once told you I'd kill him if I ever met him. Now that I have killed someone, I don't know if I could."
"He's not your problem anyway."
"Yes he is! Todd, if you're hurt, I hurt!"
He smiled wryly. "I was thinking just the same thing about you earlier."
She held on to him. "I want this feeling to go away."
"I know, angel, I know." This time, she let him call her that.
So, if you're mad, get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
And hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
But I'm alot like you
The first stars were comming out. "What do I do now?" she said rhetorically. "I can't be sure
the X-Men will let me stay with them now. We're not supposed to kill."
"You can come back to the boarding house anytime you want. Wanda has your old room, but, um,
youcansharemine."
"I don't think I'm ready for co-habitation with you just yet, Sugar, but thanks for the invite."
"Marie, don't worry." He squeezed her shoulder. "Xavier knows how you feel. I don't like the guy
much, but I can't see him tossing a student out on their ass. And Kurt, I can't stand him either, but
the fact is he cares for you very much. Remember when he wanted to duel with me for 'besmirching
your honor' is how he put it. He'll forgive you, in time."
"What do I do 'til then?"
"Right now, you wait."
"Will you wait with me?"
"Forever, Babe."
When you're standing at the crossroads
Don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
Cause even if you're wrong
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
"I have to go now." she said.
"I'll walk you."
"Thanks."
The street lamps lit their way to the X Mansion. The couple walked hand in hand. Ever so often she
would tense up, her gloved hand squeezing Todd's just a little to hard. "Easy, yo." he said. "I might
need that hand someday."
"I'm sorry."
They stood outside the mansion gates. Todd took both of her hands in his. "Marie, no matter
what happens, I want you to know I love you and I'll always be there for you."
"Oh, Todd..." She embraced him. She kissed the top of his head. He kissed her collar bone. "I
hate sayin' good-bye to you."
"You know where to find me if you need me."
"I'm so lucky to have you as my boyfriend."
Todd blushed bright red. "Hey-uh-I'm pretty lucky to have you as my girlfriend."
"I'm goin' through a pretty tough time here, Todd. This might not be the last time I bring it up."
"Marie, I understand. You need me right now. And I'll be there whenever you need me. In fact,
call me later tonight. Tell me how you're feeling. Tell me if I have to beat up anyone for you."
Rogue laughed. She had thought she would never laugh again. Todd proved her wrong. "I love
you, Todd. Good-night."
"Night, Marie. Kocham cie."
They parted ways after a final embrace. Todd stuck his hands in his pockets and walked back
to the boarding house. Usually when he was alone, he hopped. He just wasn't in a hopping mood tonight.
He knew there was no way this was going to be settled easily. There would be more tears, accusations
and screaming fights. Rogue would need someone to comfort her, and he'd be there to do it.
And when, when the night falls on you baby,
You're feeling all alone
You won't be on your own
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me to your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you