Masks

Disclaimer: I disclaim.

I often have wondered if every person perceives themselves as what they wish to see, and not what they really are. I've always thought this to be a "yes"; I mean, just look at Jean and Scott. But sometimes, a person can't just perceive themselves by other people's views; we each think of another as we want to, and often not how they truly are.

Take Kitty for instance. Little miss Katherine Pryde, start pupil of Bayville High and your classic pink bubblegum Valley girl. We all see her as the runt of our litter, as a little sister we have to protect. But if you've been inside her head, like I've had to do many a time, you'd see that she isn't just what we think she is. She's dark, cruel, violent, and vicious. Or at least, she pictures herself as this. To her, she's just another world dictator behind a mask. But she's not the only one who thinks that.

Jean, I hate to admit, can be OK. When she wants to be. Most often she is everyone's favorite; the girl next door who's perfect in every way. A Barbie on display for the whole world to love. But her head is a rather twisted place. Have you ever seen that movie, "The Cell"? That's Jean's head. It's so warped and twisted with her thoughts of being perfect that it scares you. If she's not careful, she'll end up destroying herself someday. Seriously, this girl needs either a reality check, or a vacation from her life.

I can't see what Scott sees in her. But then again, Scott is just a misguided guy. He's got his heart in the right place, really he does. But he's got trouble's releasing those feelings. So, he goes for what he "thinks" will make him happy. And our brave leader, king Scott, finds that in Jean. But hey, if I'd lost my parents in a plane crash and hadn't even known my brother was alive for practically 10 years, I'd take anything that would take me back.

Kurt's another one I think needs a lot of love, the poor guy. I means, even though he's my brother, I just can't get close to him without feeling like I'm "too" close. He's really a good guy, funny and sweet, and who has your back. But that demon doesn't just have his appearance; his got a demon in his head. I wonder if it'll ever come out, or if it's just sleeping, a part of him he's learned to suppress until it gave up the fight. But whatever it is, I hope it never takes a hold of Kurt.

And me? What can I say? I'm the Rogue. A stranger without a past, a cold drifter who can't touch a life, let alone a hand or cheek. Everyone else sees me as out-of-touch and dramatic. But why should I bother getting close when I'll just get pushed away again? It's been that way since I was born: my birth mom gave me up, Mystique didn't even care for me, Irene was a part of my life that doesn't even matter now, and as for relationships, I have to forget them. Sure, the Cajun tries, but I don't want to hurt Remy, no matter how much he insists that he's not afraid or how much he annoys me. I don't want to nearly kill him like Cody. And why would he want me? I'm bitter, dark, and tired of the mask I live under; I'm tired of the perfect world of the Xavier Institute.

So, that's us. The X-Men. Sworn guardians of human kind, the same people who hate us and fear us. The same people who give me strange looks in the halls, who deceive me, and who shun me. But, it's just my part in life. Someday, we won't have to hide behind our masks. But that day I can only dream about. Because I know it'll never come.

Some people perceive themselves as what they hear, see, or know. But little perceive themselves by what they feel. But what do feelings matter in this world? All that matters is the mask you put on every day, to hide your flaws. To hide the real you.

We all wear a mask.

AN: Ok then...I personally don't really like this, but you tell me what you think.

-Rose