Author's Notes: Gambit makes a short cameo, but isn't even mentioned by name. I love his character, and would have spent more time on him, but wanted to keep the focus on John and Rogue. This was the hardest part for me to write--and I'm not sure how well it worked. But, there's a bit more Pyro/Rogue in this one and hopefully it works.

Rogue dropped down onto the couch beside John, watching him from the corner of her eye to see what he would do. They had stayed out until 3:00, alternately watching the lights and the stars. John had told her more about himself last night than she suspected he had ever told anyone, and she was worried how he would react to her presence now.

She hoped the talk would bring them closer, but with John, one never knew.

"Hey," she said softly.

John's eyes stayed focused on the news program he had the television turned to. "Hey," he said back.

"Sleep well?" she asked innocently, traces of a grin pulling at her lips.

His eyes rolled incredulously in her direction at that, and he held back a smile himself. "Oh, like a rock."

"Good," she said cheerfully, sounding pleased. She was functioning on less sleep than she probably ever had--but she was strangely energized. "You want to do something today?"

"Not particularly, no," he told her lazily.

"John," Rogue sighed. "You don't have to talk to me only at night, you know."

"I don't have to talk to you at all," he pointed out, picking up the remote and changing the channel.

"Well, no, but I'm glad you are." Rogue looked over at him. "I didn't have any nightmares last night," she told him.

"That's because you didn't sleep last night," John said wryly.

"I had a few hours, and they were pure bliss."

John turned to look at her, and gave a sad smile. "At least it helped one of us, then, huh?"

When he moved to turn away again, Rogue placed a gloved hand on his cheek and held him in place. "This is deeper than what you're telling me, John. This isn't just you being mad at me--this isn't about your past. Something else is going on with you--why won't you tell me?"

John sighed and leaned back against the couch. He pulled out his lighter, and held it tightly in one hand--staring at it but not playing with it. "I can't stop thinking about what he said," he told her finally--so softly she almost didn't hear him.

"What who said?" she asked him, praying it wasn't who she thought.

"Magneto," he said.

"John, no," Rogue started, she turned John to face her again. "He was just trying to get to you. Ignore him."

"I don't think I can, Rogue," he said.

"You have to!" she shouted, bringing herself back in control when several students spun to look in their direction. "You have to," she whispered fiercely. "He's evil, John."

John looked at her, and she thought for sure she was reading him wrong, because that looked like pity in his eyes. "No one is completely evil, Rogue. Magneto has a story, like all of us--and at least he's acting. He's trying to make a difference."

"We ALL are," Rogue told him.

"Are we?" he demanded. "The first thing they teach you at this school is how to hide. And I don't want to hide who I am."

"I don't either, John--but until things get better we have to."

"Things aren't going to just GET better, Rogue," John cried. "We have to make them that way."

"And you think Magneto is doing this?" Rogue demanded. "He would be happy if everyone who was only human were dead. That isn't better."

"Sometimes I think anything would be better than this."

Rogue trapped his head between her hands, forcing him to meet her gaze. She searched his eyes for something she had a feeling she wouldn't find. "You don't believe that," she whispered desperately.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Rogue and John jumped apart at the voice, and looked up to see Bobby Drake staring at them with a mixture of confusion and amusement.

"Bobby," Rogue said in surprise. "No, no of course not. We were just talking."

"I could see that," Bobby said, casting an assessing glance in John's direction.

John began to fidget under his stare, and started to click the lighter open and slam it shut. Rogue placed a hand on his arm to calm his almost frenzied movements. The fact that it worked didn't escape Bobby's attention.

"I have--things to do," John said abruptly. "See ya later, Rogue--Drake."

Bobby watched his friend walk away in bemusement, and then sat down in the seat he had vacated. He turned to Rogue. "You want to tell me what that was about?"

"Nothing, we were just talking," Rogue said again.

Bobby watched her uncertainly. "You're not telling me something. Yesterday, we both thought John would never speak to either of us again. And today the two of you are closer than I've ever seen him get to anyone. What happened, Rogue?"

Rogue sighed. "I'm telling the truth, Bobby. We were just talking. But we've been talking a lot."

"When?" Bobby asked incredulously. "This is one of the first times I've even SEEN John since we got back two weeks ago."

"We talked last night," Rogue told him reluctantly. "We had to work some things out."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Bobby demanded. "I have things I need to work out with him too, Rogue, but you told me to give him space."

"I know I did, Bobby," Rogue said. "And I'm sorry about that, but I still think it's for the best."

"John is MY best friend, Rogue. I've known him a lot longer than you, I think I should talk with him."

"Be that as it may," Rogue said, somewhat harder. "It isn't what he needs right now."

"And what he needs is you?" Bobby asked quietly. "Just what is going on with the two of you?"

Rogue sighed, and looked into Bobby's worried eyes. "You have to trust me, Bobby. I'm trying to help, John--we shared a connection when I touched him that you wouldn't understand. And I need to be the one who does this, not you."

After a moment, Bobby nodded. He knew that when Rogue touched someone she took their memories as well as their powers, and he supposed it would make sense that she now knew John better than anyone. "Okay," he said. "I'm sorry I'm snapping at you," he added. "This whole thing is just getting to me. I miss not having John to talk to."

He didn't say it, but Rogue guessed he missed having her to talk to as well. She regretted that she hadn't been spending enough time with him lately, but it was John who needed her now--and he had to be her priority. Bobby had others he could fall back on, but John only had them, and he didn't even want to admit to that.

Rogue reached out and grabbed his hand. "It'll be okay," she said with a brave smile. "We'll work this out."

________________________________________________________

Rogue was trying to read her new Stephen King novel, but her eyes kept straying towards her open door. Most of the students were asleep by this point, but she had a feeling John wasn't one of them. And for some reason, she couldn't sleep knowing he wasn't. The thought that he would sneak out again tonight without her kept her awake.

He didn't have to walk passed her door to get out, and she wondered briefly if maybe he had gone the other way so he would not have to see her. She didn't like him out there alone, but short of camping outside his door she could see no solution. This time, he would just have to come to her.

She really hadn't expected him to, though. And she was surprised when she felt someone watching her--and looked up to see him standing in her doorway, smiling in that careless way she'd missed these last weeks.

"You coming?" he asked simply.

He left without waiting an answer, and Rogue growled and slammed the book closed--irritated because he already knew she would follow him. She crept down the stairway after him, and was startled when she reached the bottom and John grabbed her hand. He tugged her towards the main door and pulled her along behind him.

She didn't protest, liking the pressure of his hand around hers. Sometimes Bobby held her hand like if he wasn't careful it would break, but John had no such illusions. He ruthlessly pulled her along in his wake.

When they made their way out of the 'gate and started in the opposite direction of last night, Rogue dug in her heels. Irritated, John spun to look at her. "What?" he asked.

"Where are we going?"

"We're going somewhere else tonight," he said evasively.

Rogue looked mildly suspicious. "Where?"

John shrugged. "Somewhere you'll probably hate, but I'm taking you there anyway." He grinned at her. "You've got to live a little."

He reached out and adjusted the collar of her jacket, meeting her eyes as he did. "And no worrying about hurting anyone with your powers, alright? Tonight no one matters but us."

Rogue thought it was probably dangerous, but she liked the way that last part sounded. "Why would I worry about hurting someone with my powers?" she asked suspiciously as he started to pull her along again.

"The place where we're going is . . . well, it's a bit crowded. But you'll be fine. We'll have fun. Trust me." He grinned at her then, and Rogue decided that was the least trust-worthy grin she'd ever seen.

"You certainly seem to be in a good mood, what happened?" Rogue narrowed her eyes.

"I realized something when we were talking today," he said. "Life's too damn short to spend it sulking."

"You weren't sulking, John. You're going through a tough time and avoiding the issues will help no one--"

"Who's avoiding them?" he asked. "I've got it all figured out now."

Rogue's eyes narrowed again. "Why do I find that even more worrying than when you were sulking?"

"I thought I wasn't sulking?"

"You were sulking a little bit."

John rolled his eyes. "Alright look, here's the deal--I want a night to just be with you and not have to worry about anything else? Is that so much to ask?"

"No," Rogue said uncertainly, wondering at how she was supposed to keep up with all his moods.

"Then let's go." He resumed pulling her along.

"Where are we going again?"

"A dance club," he told her. "I used to go there all the time when I first went to Xavier's."

Rogue gaped at him. "The Professor let you go to a dance club at fifteen?"

"Well, no," John said with a laugh. "I made sure no one knew about it. It was just a good place to get away."

The club was a few blocks away from the mansion. It was called "Joey's Place" and looked remarkably bright and clean. They got a table in the back, and sat down to watch the people dance. Alice Deejay was blaring from the speakers, and the overhead lighting kept switching from green to blue to red. Rogue thought it was actually kind of cool--she hadn't got out much since moving into the mansion.

Discreetly, she turned to look at John again. He was quiet now, playing with his lighter like usual and she wondered for a moment if this whole happy-go-lucky thing was just an act he was putting on for her. That would be very un-John-like, though--because he hated pretending.

"What do you think?" John asked her suddenly.

Rogue smiled over at him. "It's nice," she said. Then she looked at him wryly. "But we're hardly living yet. I thought you were going to show me a good time?"

John stood up with a grin, and grabbed her hand to pull her from her seat. Rogue rolled her eyes, it was just like him to not even ask if she wanted to dance. He pulled her close and she wrapped her arms around his neck, not caring that the pace of the song playing wasn't slow.

"What is this, John?" Rogue asked, wondering why her voice was shaking. Something about being this close to him was exhilarating.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "The only thing it can be--two friends dancing."

"Right," she said breathlessly--her eyes catching his as he pulled back. They seemed to be caught there for a moment, and Rogue thought that he might even kiss her. Shaking, she pulled herself away from him. "I have to go to the bathroom," she told him quickly.

John just grinned at her and tapped that damn lighter against his lips. She spun quickly, and headed across the room, certain staying near him even an instant longer would be bad for her health. And probably her sanity.

John watched her go and sat back down at their table. Then he wondered what the hell he thought he was doing. If he kept it up, he was sure he would ruin both their lives and not just his own. That morning, though, when they had been talking--even though they'd disagreed on every single point he'd felt a connection to her. One he had never felt with anyone else--and one he didn't want to lose.

"John!"

John's head snapped up at Rogue's shout. Even though most of it was swallowed by the loud music he still heard her. He caught sight of her across the room, struggling in the grip of some guy in a trench coat and sunglasses. He was trying to get her out the back door.

John gripped his lighter and took off after them. He reached the doors just a moment after Rogue had been pulled through them, and tackled the guy to the ground the instant he was on the other side--wondering vaguely as he did so why Rogue had not simply touched him and sent the creep to his knees.

John gripped the guy by the shoulders and slammed him angrily onto the concrete. "What the hell are you doing?" he demanded.

"John, don't--Stop!"

Rogue's voice reached him through his anger and he pulled back. "Rogue, what--?" John trailed off when he realized Rogue had reached out and touched him, without her gloves--and he didn't feel a thing.

He backed away, moving himself away from both of the strangers that led him here.

Rogue smiled mischievously, and with a blink, her eyes were suddenly yellow.

"Mystique," John whispered.

The grin stayed in place even as her skin began to fold back to be replaced by the scaly blue surface that was her true form. The guy he had tackled to the ground had stood and was dusting himself off, sending John almost comically reproachful glances.

Then Magneto came floating from the alley's shadows.

John backed up, holding his lighter defensively. "What do you want?" he demanded.

Magneto smiled enigmatically. "To help you, of course."

John told himself to turn around, find Rogue, and get back to the mansion. But he couldn't. Despite all the horrors he had been told--he was fascinated with Magneto.

"Help me how?" he asked suspiciously. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the guy by Mystique take out a deck of cards, and toss them from one hand to the other.

"You're not happy with Xavier," Magneto said kindly. He stood before John now, and walked a few steps closer.

John didn't back down even as he came to stand right in front of him.

"Join me, Pyro. And I will give you the freedom you seek."

"John!"

The shout was Rogue's again, and since John could still see Mystique grinning at him beside Mr. Casino Dealer, he was guessing it was the real one this time. He started to turn to face her but Magneto grabbed his arm. Before he could protest, Magneto had placed a small piece of paper in his hands.

"Think about it," he told him quietly. Then he motioned for the others to fall back.

Rogue reached him just as they disappeared into the dark.

"Are you okay?" she demanded. "I saw you rush out the doors and thought something was wrong--and then, my god--what is Magneto even doing here?"

"I'm fine," John said, turning to face her. "He didn't hurt me."

"We have to get back to the mansion," Rogue said. "We have to tell the Professor."

John grabbed her arm as she turned to head back through the club. "Rogue, wait--I don't think we should say anything about this."

Rogue's eyes widened. "What? Have you lost all leave of your senses, John? That was MAGNETO."

"I know who it was, Rogue," John said patiently. "But he wasn't here to cause trouble and I don't see why we should bother anyone about it."

Rogue studied him with some suspicion. "What did he say to you, John?"

"Nothing much, you got here just a few minutes after me. Look, I agree we should head back, but promise me, promise me you won't mention this."

"John--" Rogue said, starting to shake her head.

John took her hands in his and forced her to look at him. "I've never asked you for anything, Rogue. But I have to ask you now--keep this between us. Just for a few days."

"Why?" she demanded. "Why are you protecting that monster?"

"He isn't a monster, Rogue," John said patiently.

"You don't know him like I do."

"Promise me," he demanded.

Rogue had the worse feeling everything she'd built with John over the last days was hanging in the balance, so she did the only thing she could-- "I promise."