Sorry it took me so long! I just had my exams and I don't think I did that well...v_v Anyway, onto the good news! I updated! Yay! ^^ LOL. I'm weird, I know. ^^

Chapter Three: Choosing a Side

With a heavy exasperated sigh, Rogue dropped herself onto her bed, making it squeak from the force of the added weight. With another sigh, she rolled onto her back and stared at the vast lime green [1] ceiling of her new bedroom, the recent events flooding her already full mind.

What was wrong with Mystique? She was Rogue's mother, was she not? So she would never hurt her adopted daughter in any way, right? She would never lead Rogue towards the wrong path, right? And, she would always be there for her daughter, right?

Wrong.

She wasn't the one who raised Rogue. Irene was. When Mystique was nowhere to be found, Irene was there for Rogue throughout the years as she grew up. Though Rogue wasn't her biological daughter, Irene had treated Rogue with care as if she was.

The way Mystique talked to her...It was like she didn't give a damn that Rogue was her only daughter. She acted as if Rogue was merely another disposable pawn in one of her many plans to get what she wanted.

Raven had told her that she always knew about Rogue's special gift. But she only waited for the right moment to reveal it.

'A little too late for that, though...' Rogue thought bitterly.

Mystique also said that she wanted Rogue to join her team, The Brotherhood of Mutants. When Rogue replied that she wasn't ready to join any team, Mystique started saying things in hopes of getting Rogue to join her.

She had said that Rogue wouldn't have to keep running away anymore. She would have a home. This made her consider the blue-mutant's offer.

Yet, Logan said that the X-Men offered the same thing. Rogue turned to glance at Kurt and saw the hopeful look in his eyes.

Seeing that Rogue was having second thoughts, Mystique added that she would be safe with her; that she would take care of her.

Wolverine said that they could give her protection; that "not a strand of hair on her head would be harmed". Again, Rogue looked at Kurt...There was something about Kurt that just made you feel like you could trust him.

Irritated that Nightcrawler was destroying her attempts at getting the brown-haired mutant to join her, Mystique spat at Kurt telling him that he was her only son yet he had gone over to the "wrong side".

Kurt was apparently shocked at this. He was petrified in his place. Mystique, his supposedly enemy, was the one who gave life to him? The blue mutant, who had several attempts at destroying the X-Men, even trying to kill them at certain points, was his mother? He had looked at the other blue mutant as if she was crazy. He even tried to convince her that she was lying.

But she wasn't.

When Kurt wouldn't believe her, Raven then repeated that he _was_ her son. She even asked him if he wanted to join her.

Not surprisingly, Kurt strongly declined the offer, saying that he would be loyal to his team. To add to his decision, he took a step away from Mystique as he said this.

Mystique had turned to Rogue this time, asking her again if she was going to join her, this time with more force.

The reaction of Kurt at learning that the blue mutant was his mother, his biological mother, Rogue got the idea that she _was_ bad news. After all, what kind of a mother abandons her child and is willing to fight against him if the moment came?

Rogue told her that she was joining the X-Men.

Surprisingly, Mystique didn't take Rogue by force. She just threatened her two children, telling them that they chose the wrong side and that they will regret their decision. She had turned into a dark brown eagle and flown away.

Once Rogue had sorted out all her thoughts, she was finally getting some deserved rest when the door to her room opened and a boy with dark blue hair poked his head in.

"Rogue?" Kurt said, opening the door completely and coming in with a pillow, a blanket, and a nightgown in his arms.

"Yeah? I'm here." Rogue replied, sitting up. She suddenly noticed how big her room really was. She took note of the royal green (A/N: LMAO! Is there such a color as "royal green"? *shrug* Oh well, you get the idea. ^^;) curtains draping from above the windows. To the right of her bed was a white dresser, which was most probably still empty at the moment for she didn't have any clothes with her. On the left side of the room was a dark green couch which could seat (or is it "sit"?) three and it was placed in front of the windows. She looked down and saw the she was lying down on a simple four-poster bed with a dark green comforter and white pillows.

'They seem to have known that I would join them.' Rogue smirked.

"I was just seeing if you were still awake." Kurt explained, making his way towards the couch at the side of the room.

"What are you doing?" Rogue asked with a questioning eyebrow.

"The Prof. told me to stay here with you tonight, in case you needed the company." Kurt replied, depositing the pillow and blanket on the couch. He then walked towards Rogue and handed her the nightgown.

"I thought it'll be more comfortable for you," He said with a smile. "I borrowed it from Kitty. Though it might be a bit short for you..." He added grinning sheepishly.

"Thanks." Rogue said, giving Kurt a small smile. She wanted to ask who Kitty was but decided against it. 'I'll probably meet her tomorrow anyway.'

"By the way..." Kurt started, unsure of what to say.

"Yeah? Go on." Rogue said.

"Um...There's something I need to tell you..." Kurt started, moving his right hand over his left wrist. "This isn't really what I look like. This," He said, motioning to his watch. "Is an image inducer I use to hide my true appearance."

"Really? Is there something wrong about your true appearance? What do you really look like?" Rogue asked curiously.

To answer her question, Kurt turned off his image inducer.

-=-=-=-=-

[1] - Did they show Rogue and Kitty's room already? If they did, I already forgot. ^^;

I can laugh insanely already! *grins* Yay! ^^

Review please! ^^