***
Disclaimer – I don't own X-Men: Evolution
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Corporal Intangibility.
Sounds complicated, doesn't it? Two words long, Twenty-one characters long, Twenty-one, including the space. Doesn't it look like the kind of word that would have a paragraph long definition? Probably. It's used to identify a mutant ability. In easier terms, you can cancel out space between atoms, allowing yourself to move through an object. In other words, phasing through an object.
It could be a scary power. If you lost control of it, you could probably end up phasing yourself through the ground and end up falling through the Earth.
It could be a cool power. You could walk through walls, doors, reach into the fridge without opening the door.
It could be a bad power. People could accuse you of bank robberies. You could easily walk into a bank, and right into the safe. But you wouldn't do that, would you?
Imagine if you had a glimpse of this power and you had no idea what it was. Would you be scared? What would you do?
I think, at first, you would be afraid.
Don't you agree?
***
Rogue gasped for air as she raced down the streets. A burning feeling in her leg muscles made them feel stiff as she continued to run. Her legs felt as if they were now lead, but that didn't stop her. Nothing could stop her now, as she ran as if someone were chasing her.
Memories from the girl, Kitty, were still fresh in her mind. Tears stung her eyes as she silently wished they would go away.
She started to cough, which slowly slowed her down. She fell to her knees gasping for air while hiccupping and coughing all at the same time. It made her lungs feel like they were on fire. The aching feeling in her legs were still present along with the dull feeling of pain located in her clenched fists.
"Make it all stop." She whispered, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. "Make it all stop."
"Rogue!" A male voice call from down the street. Rogue got to her feet and spun around to see a guy she had never seen before running up the street. The minute she saw the X on his chest, she knew what he was. He wore a red visor over his eyes, reminding her of a Cyclops.
"Stay away from me!" She yelled, running off again. Thoughts raced through her mind, some hers and some not. Her sore legs made it hard for her to run as fast as before and before she knew it, a gloved hand grabbed her arm. "Don't touch me!" The guy that had grabbed her arm was startled when her arm passed right through his hand. She stumbled forward, even more confused now.
"Let us help you." He said, reaching out for her again but she shook her head violently. "Please—" He reached out for her again but this time she hovering her still swollen bare hand in front of his face.
"Just stay away. I can and will hurt you if you try to touch me again." Her tears seemed to have suddenly vanished. "I don't know what is going on a-and I—"
"Scott—Rogue!" A red head wearing a black spandex outfit with a green triangle going down the front and back appeared a few feet behind Scott.
Rogue's jaw hung loosely when she saw that the red head was at least seven feet up in the air. "You're all mutants."
"And so are you." Jean said gently, giving her a warm smile. "Just like Remy. But we can help you if you let us and don't run away from your powers like he did."
Anger flashed in Rogue's eyes. "Just leave me—" She let out a short scream as she felt herself falling. She looked down to see the ground rising up and her falling into the paved road.
***
There's nothing better than falling into a sewer. Wait, yes there is. Unfortunately for Rogue, falling into a sewer is where she ended up.
"Ew!" She groaned holding her breath against the foul odor. "What a place to end up in, Rogue." She mumbled to herself. "I guess this is where your life is ending up anyway." She paused. "And look, you're talking to yourself." She slowly got up and before she knew it, a weird noise and a puff of smoke appeared before her. She screamed and fell back down, on her bottom. When she looked up to see a blue fuzzy guy looking down at her, she didn't do anything. She just stared and felt herself shivering. "What do you want with me?"
He held out his hand, which looked like it only had three fingers. "Meine.. My name is Kurt." He smiled down at her. "Need a lift?"
"No!" She slapped his hand and stood up on her arm. "When will ya stupid X-Men learn to leave a gal alone."
"You're confused. Afraid too, ne? You're a mutant." He gave her a shrug. "Deal with it and come with us. It's a lot safer than living outside in a world full of mutant haters."
"I rather take my chances."
"Have it your way." He still gave her a friendly smile. "But remember, there's a place for you at Xavier's institute."
"An asylum?" She asked, wrapping her arms around herself. She looked away from him. "No thanks."
"It's a place for mutants." He raised his brows at her. "You are one now, you know."
"Yes, I know." She snapped, glancing over at him. "God, my life is like an unscripted soap opera." She rubbed her temples as the memories that didn't belong to her faded into the back of her mind, leaving her with a headache.
"Why don't you go back with us?" He asked, not condoning her condition. "You don't have to stay, or make a decision just yet."
"No." She snapped, rubbing her temples harder.
"Why?" He questioned staring at her. "What do you have to lose?"
She looked at him half surprised as he held out his hand. She stumbled back. "Don't touch me."
"So will you come?"
"Fine." Before she could say anything else, something from behind him reached out, snaked its way around her waist (his tail..) and before she knew it, she was back on the road. "I told you not to touch me." She shoved him back.
"Rogue." A weak voice came from behind her. She turned around to see Kitty standing behind her, smiling. "How does it feel to be a mutant?"
Rogue just blinked dumbly at her. "I know what you did last summer.." She realized, remembering some of the memories she had seen. And then, her eyes rolled up into the back of her head and she fainted, Kurt barely catching her before she hit the ground.
***
"Stay away from me!" A pillow whizzed past Hank McCoy's head followed by a glass full of water. The sound of glass smashing against the floor could be heard out through the medical wing.
"Rogue, please calm down."
Rogue blinked. "Where am I?" She stared at the blue haired man. "Planet of the blue apes?"
Welcome Rogue to my institute for people gifts, just like you. A bald man in a wheelchair rolled over to the side of her bed. She stared at him.
"It wasn't a dream?" She looked down at her hands. The one she had cut up when she smashed the mirror was now neatly wrapped up.
"I'm afraid not. Your mutant ability intrigues me, Rogue."
"Want to trade?" She asked dryly.
"This is a gift you're going to have to learn to live with."
"Gift?" She made a face. "Sure, if that's what you want to call it."
He chuckled. "You remind me so much of your friend, Remy."
"He's not my friend." She suddenly snapped at him. She looked down at the white blanket that covered her legs up. "Not anymore, at least."
"Do you understand your.. power?" He asked, choosing his words better this time. She looked up at him with her grey-green colored eyes.
"I know what happens when I touch people." She shrugged, "Not completely."
"You have the power to absorb a persons memory, and if they have one, their power. Upon skin-to-skin contact, you absorb them and render them unconscious."
"So I'll never have real physical contact again?"
His brown eyes stared at her. They looked serious, and sadness was hidden behind it. "I'm not sure Rogue. But I promise you that if you stay here, we can help you."
"What's the point if I can't ever touch anyone?" She looked down at her bare arms and shuddered.
"You can stay here with people just like you."
Anger flashed in her eyes. "Just like me. A mutant." She mumbled with disgust.
"I see you haven't adjusted to the idea of mutants yet." He said sadly, as if it were an insult to him. "I'm here if you need to talk."
"Oh great. Talking to a telepath. Why don't you just read my mind?" Remy told me about this place before he left. She stared at him with a blank expression. I think I might give this place a try but under one circumstance.
What's what? He asked, somewhat amused and happy that she was willing to give his institute a try.
I ain't wearin' spandex.
***
"This is your room." Rogue walked into the room behind the Professor and a white hair woman, Ororo.
"Holy smithereen. This room is bigger than the one I have at Irene's." She gasped looking around. "This is mine?" She stared at her duffel bag that had been placed on the neatly made bed. "Apparently."
"And these are for you." Ororo was holding two boxes. She placed them on the bed. "This one contains your uniform—" She glanced over at Xaiver. "—But Charles said you don't have to wear it if you don't want to." Rogue smirked. "And this.." She picked up the second box. "Is just for you. Open it."
Rogue opened it to find at least five different pairs of gloves in there. There was a brown pair, a black pair with Velcro around the wrists, a black pair that went down to the elbows, a pain white pair that felt like silk and another pair of black ones except they didn't have Velcro; they were made out of a stretchy material. She smiled at them both.
"Thanks." She picked up the black pair with the Velcro and slipped them on. She was wearing a dark green sweatshirt and black pants. "I guess this is goin' to take a while to get used to." She glanced over at the Professor. "You trust me to stay?" She realized looking down at the gloves. "How do you know I won't runaway?"
"A feeling." He smiled at her as Ororo walked over and stood by the door. "You know when to do the right thing."
She stared at him, half offended.
"Don't worry. I think you'll fit in here." Ororo smiled at her but she still wasn't convinced. "Give it time."
Time. Rogue smirked. That was something she had a lot of.
***
Later that night Rogue sat in the kitchen finishing up her sandwich. To her, it had no taste. She ate it within a few bites, barely tasting it. She was still in shock a bit, and denial too. Since earlier she kept spacing out. Her thoughts only on her mutation. She got up from the table and set the plate carefully down in the sink.
"What made you change your mind?" Kitty stood in the doorway with her arms crossed. She yawned. "I didn't expect you to join so easily. Do you, like, have something up your sleeve?"
Rogue just stared at her as she walked over towards the door. "You're in my way, Katherine."
"It's weird. Y-your power." Kitty said, unsure of the wording. "You can find out any information out of anyone.. and see their memories. And their pow—"
"I know. But the consequences aren't so grand." She brought up her gloved hand and rested it on Kitty's shoulder. "Now, if you don't mind, Kitty-cat, I want to go to sleep." Kitty stepped aside.
"But why did you change your mind?"
Rogue just shrugged as she disappeared down the hall.
***
"God, this place is so big." Rogue comment as she finally found her room. She walked inside, quietly shutting the door behind her. She walked back her bed and over to the balcony doors. I think they want me to escape from here. The Southern opened the glass doors and walked outside onto the balcony. She sat up on the balcony. It's a nice night out.. She inhaled and slowly exhaled as she looked up at the dark sky. Thousands of stars were scattered across the pitch-black sky. For what seemed like the hundredth time that day, she found herself wondering about Remy. I know you're somewhere out there Rem-Rem and when I find you, you better run.
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Part three completed: December 2, 2003
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Thanks for reviewin' y'all. This part and the last part suck major cookies but that's okay. The next part, 'Rivals' is gonna ROCK your SOCKS! And Lance isn't even going to be in it! Just kidding, but the next part (well.. three parts literally) shall be interesting.
If I do use Rogue's real name (actually, she doesn't have a real name in Evo..) it will be Marie. I rather.. get a thousand brain freezes than use Anna Raven. It's so PUNNED.. Even Pyro would agree with me there. (Y'know Anna Penguin [what's her real last name? Somethin' like that..] person played her in the movies and RAVEN.. which is MYSTIQUE'S real name.
Alright. No more pointless babbling..
Read and review!