Six Months Later
Jean, Ororo, Scott, and Xavier watched reverently as Logan kneeled beside Rogue's grave, pressing his cheek against the cold stone. It hadn't been a full year yet, but nine months has passed from that exact date since they had all watched Marie die. Scott had come up with the idea that they should visit her grave, and plant flowers in the earth. Logan, when told of their plan, had wanted to go alone, but the X-Men had convinced him of otherwise. Well, not really convinced. Given no choice is more like it. Scott had put a lock on all of his cars, and Ororo had threatened to catch him in a hurricane if he left alone.
Birds chirped surreptitiously around Logan, sensing if they were too loud, he'd shred them to pieces. A cold wind blew throughout the cemetery, causing Jean to shiver and Scott to wrap his arms around her.
She'll always be in your memory, Xavier reminded Logan telepathically, feeling the moment was too solemn to be disturbed by verbal words.
Logan growled low in his throat, not turning his head. I want more than her memory. I want to touch her, to tell her that- he stopped, grabbing fistfuls of grass in his hands and crushing it.
You can't go on like this. You can't keep - blaming yourself. Logan, it wasn't your fault.
She couldn't absorb me! Logan snapped back at him, frowning. Her powers just stopped. Have you figured out why that happened? Why I couldn't save her?!
Xavier paused for a long moment, folding his hands sadly in his lap. I've researched it, and I can't find an explanation for it. Maybe she- he stopped short, knowing he almost said the wrong thing. Logan, he resumed, rushing his next words to cover up, Engaging in your feral activities isn't going to bring her back.
Logan finally snapped his head back, glaring hard at the professor. Maybe she what? He roared in his mind, not allowing the insinuation to be dropped. Maybe she wanted to die? Maybe she didn't want me to absorb her? Is that what you were going to say?!
Xavier lifted his hands in the air helplessly, his dark eyes gazing intently, sympathetically, at Logan.
Snarling, Logan rose from his feet and rushed past the professor, cursing at him in his mind.
Scott, sensing that he missed something, whispered quietly in Jean's ear, "What was that all about?"
Jean shrugged, squeezing his hand. "I think they just had a telepathic fight." Scott nodded in understanding. He and Jean had those frequently, and they, too, usually ended in that similar fashion.
Rogue opened her eyes wearily, feeling the tension in the room. Magneto had his hands pressed to his forehead, and was muttering at the wall. Narrowing her eyes to focus, Rogue decided she must not be the only one going crazy. Straining her ears to listen to this one man conversation, the words "I can't leave now," registered.
Her heart thudded excitedly in her chest as a different voice answered, "You have no choice. The Brotherhood already thinks you're using this experiment as a front to stay alive. They were angry enough when they found out you sacrificed Mystique. Now, they're calling for a new leader. If you don't get out there and calm them down, a mutiny is at hand."
Magneto sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as he glanced at Rogue. Quickly, she closed her eyes as if sleeping and twitched her fingers. "But, in all places, why did it have to be across the country?!" he yelled in a whisper.
"They want you out of your comfort zone," Rogue now recognized the voice as Pyro's, he had deflected to the Brotherhood a few... wait, how much time had passed? "They want to see if you are still the leader you once were."
Erik hissed at St. John, slamming his hand against the wall. "Yes, I'm even better goddammit. Fine. I'll go. She can stay on her own for a few days."
There was a long pause. "So, it's true. You do have Rogue in captivity."
Erik groaned, running his hand over his face, "Yes, I do. The experiments aren't exactly turning out as I'd hoped."
Pyro knocked on the wall tauntingly, "Can I see her?"
Raising his eyebrows slightly, and sending another cautious glance Rogue's way, she watched through slitted eyes as Magneto lifted his fingers to his left and pushed something. A large hole appeared in the wall, allowing Pyro to walk through. Excitement buzzed through her fingers as she realized there had been an exit the whole time, and now Magneto was leaving.
St. John stepped in and gazed at her for a long moment. His eyes shifted toward the dumbwaiter and snorted at the tranqs. "Valium?"
"Among others," Magneto muttered, running his hands through his balding hair.
Pyro eased toward Rogue, settling inches from her face. "Sweet Marie," he whispered in an undertone, brushing a lock of her hair away from her face. It took all of Marie's willpower not to draw herself away. "If only you had come with me."
Rogue felt a slight pressure at the back of her head as his hands groped her backside. Rogue shuddered slightly, still appearing to be in a trance. Hearing the sound of clothes crinkling as he stepped away from her, she allowed herself to breath normally again.
"So," Pyro muttered, pushing Magneto out the door, "We don't have much time."
Erik tugged at his ear, nodding. "Yes, let's go."
As soon as the door closed, Rogue snapped her head up wildly and wriggled around in her chair. The ropes were loose now, since Magneto had just allowed her to walk around the room; one sharp tug and they fell away. Gripping the arms of the chair, Rogue tried to push herself to her feet and wobbled, cursing. A clash of metal hitting the floor rang through the room suddenly, causing Rogue to wince in fear. Relief flooded her as she realized the room must be soundproof, but still.
Glancing down angrily at the object that had almost caused her recaptivity, the small key almost took her breath away. Where had that come from? Then she remembered how Pyro had pressed close to her, assuming he was physically assaulting her, but had only slipped the key into her shirt. Why? Rogue didn't care now, only stooped over and picked it up in her hands.
Pressing the walls with her fingers in the spot she had just seen Magneto positioned, Rogue desperately tried to find the small cove he had pushed in order for the door to open. Crying out in frustration at her failure, Rogue kicked the wall, and leaned her head against it. She was becoming exhausted too soon. Suddenly, the door gave way to a bright aluminum covered hallway. Sending up a grateful thanks, Rogue ran through the corridors, stopping at intervals to rest and breathe.
The feeling of liberation was forming at the back of her mind, but now, fear was dominant. She had to get out alive.
Two Months Later/ One Year & One Month Since Rogue's Captivity
Logan raised his eyebrows slightly at the ruffian, coolly puffing on his cigar. "Get the fuck away from me," he uttered in a careless tone, leaning back on the bar stool.
The man before him was huge, in moderate standards. Large, oversized muscles bulged from his t-shirt, and blue veins popped from his neck and arms. "Get the fuck away from my woman," he replied hotly, sweat forming above his brow.
Snorting, Logan gestured at the female standing inches from him, her hand hidden between his thighs. "What makes you think she won't come chasing after me?" The guy's eyes bulged in hatred; this was exactly with Logan wanted. Cracking his knuckles in anticipation, Logan stared at him, challenging him.
Fortunately, the guy took a great swing at Logan's head, missing as the man-beast ducked skillfully under, pulling away from the woman's hands. Standing on both feet now, Logan stepped forward and sent his fist straight toward the faltering man's nose. He felt the cartilage shatter under his touch, and a slow smile creeped across his face. "Want to keep going?" He asked, dodging his inferior opponent as the man blindly swung his overtoned arms over Logan's head again.
In answer, Logan sunk his adamantine fists through his chest, sending the guy flying into the opposite wall.
"Hey!" the bartender cried, slamming his hands against the counter. "Stop it, or I'll call the police!"
Rolling his eyes carelessly, Logan stretched his hands, dissatisfied with the fight. It had ended too easily. Next time, he'd have to find someone more worthy. Cracking his neck on one side, he grabbed his leather jacket from the counter and shrugged it on his shoulders, ignoring the 'my hero' look the whore at the bar gave him. Gathering up the money he'd won that night, Logan began his striding exit, but stopped at the door. In the hallway, there was a mirror, and for an instant he had glanced in it, and what he saw almost made his heart stop.
Marie was sitting in a dark corner of the bar, her dark eyes gazing intently on him. At least.. it looked like Marie, except.. it actually looked as if she had risen from the dead. Not wanting the apparition to end, for this was as close as he'd come to seeing her, Logan refused to tear his eyes away from the glass, until his curiosity got the best of him. Heart thundering loudly in his heart, the blood rushing through his veins, Logan turned away from the mirror, focusing his eyes on the spot where she would be. And, there she was. Marie never blinked. Her dark brown hair flowed out across her shoulders, and her two white streaks were pulled back behind her ears. Chocolate brown eyes searched in his own eyes, and it seemed as if she were seeing everything he'd done this past year. Suddenly, the corners of her mouth drew up slightly in a smile, and her hand lifted itself from the table, in a sort of half-wave.
Logan almost passed out from shock. Without a word, he took a step toward her, relief, love, and fear striking him all at once. Now, he didn't care if she was an apparition. He wanted to hold her. His view was rudely blocked by the guy from the fight, the blood drying on his nose. "Where do you think you're going, pal?"
"Get the fuck out of my way, bub," Logan growled, throwing him off to the side again, unsheathing his claws as the booth in the corner was just that; a booth in the corner, and no Marie. Hands trembling non-stop, Logan's claws retreated back into his skin, and he turned, charging out in the street, a roar bursting from his lips.
Professor Xavier closed his eyes, frowning slightly as Logan's fierce anger mentally slapped him in the face. Since his unexpected arrival just two days ago, Xavier had been keeping an eye on him using cerebro. Now, Logan seemed to be extremely disgruntled and shaken, which was a deep contrast to his usually macho satisfied feeling as he left bars. But, Xavier knew better than to focus too much on him. Suddenly, another mutant presence flew past Logan's, and Xavier caught his breath for a second. Centering in on the mutantous presence, he probed the thoughts of that person, sweat breaking out on his forehead at the tumbled emotions lashing out at him. Eyes shooting open, chest heaving heavily, Xavier lifted Cerebro from his head, the tingling sensation still lingering. That mutant... that was Rogue.