Rogue sat nervously in front of Professor Xavier, Gambit, Jean and Ororo. Bobby was currently in the medical room, lying in an unchanging sleep. Professor Xavier watched over her kindly and leaned forward slightly in his wheelchair.
"Rogue, we want you to know that we will help you in any way possible."
"Ah've been fine so far sir, ah can cope by myself." Rogue bowed her head.
Jean rolled her eyes and Ororo shifted faintly. It was frustrating but pitiful.
"Please Rogue, we only want to help you, only if you stay for a few days, it would be…eventful." Gambit muttered eventful under his breath.
"Ah don't know… maybe." Her green eyes flickered in distress.
"Decide in the morning, you should sleep on it." Xavier smiled kindly and turned to Ororo, "Now Storm, could you kindly show Rogue to her room?"
Storm nodded and pulled Rogue by the arm up the stairs, taking care not to touch her skin. Jean sighed hopelessly while Gambit walked away, a cocky smile on his lips.
"Time Jean, that's all it shall take." Xavier said grimly.
"This," said Ororo while opening a white door, "is our room!"
Rogue gazed in wonder as a blue and white room came in to view, two pristine white beds stood on opposite sides of the room. Lace curtains shifted slightly in the light breeze and a huge balcony spread out before the French windows. She was stunned, never before had she seen such beautiful quarters.
"Are ya sure ya want me to stay in here?" Rogue twisted her hands.
"Of course! Now we need to go shopping!" Ororo bounced in anticipation.
"I… I don't have any money…" Rogue trailed away.
Ororo pulled out a credit card and grinned mischievously, Rogue smiled shyly and felt herself being dragged away again.
Gambit and Wolverine sat in the dining room table playing a good "fair" game of poker. Remy discreetly slid another card up his sleeve and whistled airily. Logan growled threateningly.
"Look Cajun, you put one more card up your sleeve and I'm gonna shove 'em…"
"Stormy! Where you going chere?" Gambit said loudly.
Logan sat up at Storm's name.
"Shopping Gambit. Don't come." She tapped her foot impatiently.
"Goodbah Remy." Rogue's southern accent drifted through his head.
"Bye… Rogue." He grinned impishly.
Logan rolled his eyes and waved a timid goodbye to the former goddess Ororo.
Remy mimicked him cheekily by rolling his eyes while he shoved another two cards up his sleeve.
Rogue hopped off Ororo's motorbike and smiled pleasurably.
"That was fun! Now what shops?" she giggled.
Ororo hooked arms with Rogue's sleeved arm and dragged into every shop there was. Rogue enjoyed every minute, loving the fact she was being treated like a friend and not a mistake of humanity.
Unknown by Ororo and Rogue, they were being watched by a pair of demonic yellow eyes. A woman of strange appearance lay hidden carefully in the shadows. Waist length red hair and royal blue skin contrasted sharply. A black halter neck and ripped black leather skirt was all she wore, plus knee length boots. Sharp white fangs showed through her evil smile as she watched the two fast becoming friends skip out of a shop with countless amounts of bags.
"Soon Rogue, soon you shall be mine and you will become of the most fearsome band of mutants on this earth… The Brotherhood!"
The woman morphed into a blonde haired, blue-eyed lady and walked hastily out of the shopping mall.
Rogue turned over in her soft bed, sighed and for the first time in God knows how long, she smiled. For once things were going her way, she had a roof over her head, food and even the voices in her head had calmed for a while. Her shopping trip with Storm had been a blast, though Rogue had the strangest feeling that they were being watched.
Deciding that she couldn't sleep, Rogue got up and shoved on her dressing gown, walking out of Ororo's room. She pattered down the hallway, not really knowing where she was going. Rogue's eyes froze when a muffled yawn was heard from right next to her.
"Hey chere, what you doin' up at dis hour?" Gambit stretched idly.
"Ah wanted to see the sunrise." She stuttered.
"Come with me mon ami." Gambit took her gloved hand and dragged her up to his room. Rogue resisted at first but soon gave in to his purposeful dragging.
They entered Gambit's somewhat messy room and he climbed out of the window. Rogue simply flew out and gingerly sat next to the young thief. She did not really want to see the sunset, but she did want to spend some time with Gambit. A beautiful orange and pink glow rested on their faces. Remy sighed in pleasure but noticed that Rogue's face was twisted in concentration.
"Rogue?" He questioned.
She looked up and smiled dazzlingly.
"Sorry, the voices… ya know. How's Bobby doing?" Rogue asked guiltily.
"He's fine, a little shook up but fine." Gambit looked down at the vast grounds.
His devil red eyes flashed in recognition and hatred. A royal blue figure with long red hair was sprinting over the grounds.
"Who's that? Another X-Man?" Rogue asked shyly.
"No, that's Mystique! I'll explain later, but for now can you lift me down there?" Remy asked hastily. Rogue nodded and lifted him with ease, soaring down to the pitch-black grounds below.
"Mystique! What you doin' here? You know you're not welcome!" Gambit yelled.
"Ah my dear Remy, I see you've found what I want…" Mystique stared at Rogue hungrily. "Out of my way thief."
"No!" Remy jumped between Rogue and Mystique.
He pulled out a playing card and charged it, throwing it at the elusive Mystique.
"Gambit you romantic fool! The girl can do nothing for you!" She screamed while morphing into Gambit himself.
Rogue looked on with a look of terror as Mystique morphed into Remy. She wanted to help but she did not know which Remy to punch. Rogue took a deep breath and flew into the air, she had no choice, she had to take a gamble. She dived down and slammed one of the Remy's into the ground, knocking him unconscious.
The other Remy cackled evilly and his skin turned blue and his hair turned red.
"No! Oh Gambit, A'm so sorry!" Rogue cradled Remy's head in her lap.
"Well done Rogue, you shall be a useful member of my team." Mystique purred.
"Ah won't go! Not after ya'll let me smash Remy!" Rogue screamed.
Mystique sighed in impatience and brought out a spray can.
"Well, we can do this the hard way or… wait, there's only the hard way. Goodnight Rogue." Mystique sprayed the contents of the can into Rogue's shocked face.
Rogue slumped to the ground next to Remy and Mystique hauled her over her shoulder. She then walked casually out of the mansion grounds as if she hadn't just tricked an out of control mutant into hurting another mutant and kidnapping somebody.
After some time, Remy sat up and rubbed his temple.
"Oooh, methinks Remy had too much to drink last night…" he grumbled.
Memories of last night came rushing back to him. He bolted upright and ran as fast as he could to the mansion and Professor Xavier. Only one thought coursed through his jumbled mind, Rogue and Mystique.
