Y'all know the dilly yo that I don't own any of these characters and Marvel does instead... damn those bastards
Author's Note: I deeply apologize to my readers of my negligence of this story. I have been extremely preoccupied with school and have found absolutely no time to write fanfction. I have a feeling that the updates will come slower, though encouragement always helps ;) At least, that it has always made updates happen faster in the past. I speak of experience. I do not have any time to actually respond to reviews today so I apologize for that too. I'm a wretched person who shouldn't even be writing fanfiction. I shall try harder but I cannot make any promises as my homework readings are piling up as high as Mount Everest. So, read, enjoy, review... the last being rather important. Perhaps, it will help me find my muse for this story! Cheers and kisses to all!
On with the story...
Breaking the HabitSitting cross-legged on her bed with headphones on her ears, she closed her eyes and began to wish. She wished that she were a stronger person. She wished that she could deal with the situation better. She wished that her parents would just realize the pain she was going through. She wished that she wasn't caught in the middle. She wished that she wasn't to be blamed for her parents' divorce. She simply wished that things were the way it was before.
Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder and upon opening her eyes, she stared into the comforting eyes of her best friend.
"Kitty doing okay?" He questioned and gave her a small smile.
Taking the headphones off and with tears hanging off the corner of her eyes, she simply hugged Kurt tightly. He held her close as he whispered soothing German phrases, none of which she understood; but she was grateful nonetheless.
"Kitty, don't you think it's time you talk to her?" Kurt asked softly.
Immediately, she pulled back from him and glared at him. "It's none of your business, Kurt."
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It has been two days, Kitty..."
"Kurt, I said this isn't any of your business. What's between me and her has nothing to do with you so get off my case about it." Kitty snapped angrily.
"She means vell. You know that..." Kurt began his defence.
"If she did, you wouldn't be here in her place, now would you?" Kitty argued.
"If you vould only talk..."
"Kurt, just stop defending her, alright? Just stop it! The way I see is that frankly, we were never friends. She never liked me from day one when she joined the team. She always thought of me as this annoying valley girl. She didn't care about me, about us the day she left the team. And I don't care what the circumstances were. She could have called. She could have sent more than just Christmas cards. But the fact of is that she never thought of me as a friend!" Kitty yelled heatedly.
"Kitty...that's not true." Rogue spoke up from the doorway. Taken aback by her sudden appearance, Kitty quickly recovered as she scowled at her former roommate.
"Ah never meant to desert ya, Kitty. It was never my intentions...we just needed to get..."
"I get it, Rogue. You don't have to explain it to me. You and your boyfriend needed to get away from all of this. You guys didn't want the responsibilities we face every day. You wanted to pretend that life was normal. It didn't matter what we went through. It didn't matter that we face persecution every day. It didn't matter that we go through hell! Nothing about us mattered to you! I finally get that we were never friends. I finally get that I was just some annoying perky girl that was blinded by the idea of friendship with a cool uncaring person like you! So, don't pretend to be here for me when you haven't been for the last two years!" Kitty cried and promptly got off the bed.
"Kitty, please...Ah'm really sorry. Let's talk about this." Rogue pleaded as she approached the younger mutant.
Glaring at Rogue, Kitty pushed right past her and walked out of the door, but before she left, she hissed, "Just stay out of my way from now on. We aren't friends then and we aren't now!"
The tears streamed down her eyes as Rogue watched Kitty leave furiously. Quickly, Kurt took his sister into his arms and said, "She's been through a lot, Rogue. She'll come around."
"She hates me, Kurt..." Rogue mumbled as she embraced her brother.
"She has a lot going on in her life... trust me, she'll come around eventually." Kurt said unconvincingly.
"She hates me... and she has every reason to." Rogue simply said, and there was only silence after that.
-xoxo-
Upon entering their room, he heard light crying coming from the dark blue covers. Immediately, he went to her side and got down on his knees to face her. "What's wrong, chere?" He asked concernedly as he gazed at his sobbing girlfriend.
Sniffing, she said, "Ah hate being back here..."
"Oh...ma belle amour, c'mere." He instructed and got into bed with her. Wrapping his arms protectively around her, he asked softly, "Tell me what happened."
"Kitty hates me... and it's all my fault. Ah should have been a better friend... but how can ah explain t'her how much ah feared this place in the last two years? How can ah expect us to ever be friends again? Ah'm a horrible person." She sobbed into his chest.
"Non, y're not a horrible person. Y're the most beautiful person dis Cajun knows. I'm sorry we had t'come back here." He apologized since he realized that the only reason why they came back to the institute was because of him.
"Sugah.. ah don't mean it like that. Ah'd do anything for ya... remember? It's just that ah didn't expect it to be so hard... and then, gosh, when is the professor gonna come back? Ah hate all this waiting around. Ah hate not knowing what's happenin' to ya. Ah hate the fact that ah can't help you wit' it. Ah hate seeing ya like this. And ah don't think there's even that many pills left. Remy, ah just hate all of this." She said frustratingly.
"I know, chere. I hate all dis too... y' don't have t'be here for me for dis. Y' don' have t'stay wit' me. Dis isn't your problem, it's mine and mine alone." He said quietly as his hands loosened slightly around her waist. However, while his loosened, hers tightened around his waist.
"Don' ya even start! Ah ain't going anywhere. Ah promise ya once 1 and ah don' make promises lightly. Plus, ah love ya... don't ya want me with ya?" She questioned softly.
"If I had it my way, y' would never leave my sight, chere." He answered firmly.
"Then, your way it is." She stated strongly.
"You're too good t'me..." He murmured and kissed her lightly on the lips.
"Ain't ah just the perfect girlfriend?" She asked coyly.
"Oui, absolutely perfect." He agreed and kissed her deeper this time. He gently rolled her over onto her back as he laid on top of her. Fumbling with the button of his jeans, he managed to pull her shirt up and over her head. He would stop their heated moment though as he looked down at her skeptically and asked, "No bra, chere?"
She giggled at his query and answered, "Never in the bedroom again."
He chuckled at her enthusiastic response and the two would spend the rest of the afternoon doing various activities in various positions in bed.
-xoxo-
Kicks after kicks hit the poor pitiful punching bag as she grunted with every kick she made. Drenched in her own sweat, she was in a pair of kickboxing pants and a black tank top. It was almost midnight and she couldn't sleep so that would explain why she was taking out her stress and energy in the Danger Room.
As unbelievable as it sounded, the Danger Room was the only part of the Institute that she missed dearly. Sure, she had complained about Logan's six a.m. sessions or Cyclops' four a.m. ones, but she missed having a place where she could take out all her frustrations. The adrenaline that rushed through her body while she trained gave her a fire and strength that she didn't think existed in her. But every time she returned to the Danger Room, she would be reminded that she was a stronger person than she had originally thought.
"Kind of late, isn't it?" A voice asked from the entrance. She whipped around and found her looking into a pair of ruby sunglasses.
"What are you doing up?" She asked in return, while the beating of her heart slowed down.
"Couldn't sleep." He shrugged.
"So, ya thought ya start the Danger Room session early? Isn't four a.m. already harsh enough on the youngsters?" She teased him and picked up the bottle of water to chug it down.
"Har. Har." He mocked sarcastically.
"Lighten up, Cyke. Trust me, it ain't gonna kill ya." She jibed him further and wiped her mouth clean with the use of her arm. To any guy, this action might look rather repulsive but for Scott, he only became more enchanted by Rogue and it reminded him how much of a free spirit she possessed.
He walked towards her and picked up a towel off the floor. "So, you still haven't answered my question. Why are you training so late?" He asked and threw the towel to her.
She snatched the towel and answered, "Just needed to work off some energy."
"I see..."
"Right..."
The awkward silence arose but Scott would not let it last for long as he asked boldly, "So, why are you back here?"
"Now that was out of the blue..." Rogue commented, slightly surprised by his question.
"Seriously, Rogue, why did you two come back here?" He persisted.
"Scott, ah'd rather not get into it." Rogue said and walked around him to head for the door.
"I think I deserve to know... I am in charge after all." He said, a little too proudly.
She stopped mid-step and turned around to face him. "Don't power trip on me Scott Summers. Fine, you're in charge while the adults are gone, but once they're back ya won't be anymore. And don't ya push me into anything ah don't wanna tell ya! Frankly, ah have enough goin' in this messed up head of mine and ah don't need t'add you to the problem too!"
"I'm... I'm sorry, Rogue. I shouldn't have pushed you like that." He apologized remorsefully and looked away from her.
"Good gawd... it's alright. Just give me some space and why we're back has nothing t'do wit' ya, sugah, so ah ain't any of your concern." She informed him bluntly with which he flinched slightly from hearing her words.
"Fine...but you're wrong about one thing." He said softly.
"And what's that?" She asked, with her arms crossed.
"You are my concern; and whether or not you like it, it's my decision to care about you, and I do. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to head to bed now. Good night." He ended it briskly and walked out of the Danger Room before Rogue could reply. Taken aback by Scott's honest words, she suddenly felt horrible for the way she snapped him just now. She hadn't realized that Scott cared about their friendship so much. Her attitude towards him merely reminded her of how she treated Kitty and how well that friendship turned out. She made a mental note to apologize to Scott later for the last thing she needed around the mansion was another person who hated her.
"Thought I smelled ya." The unmistakable gruff voice of Logan said from the doorway.
"LOGAN!" She cried with more enthusiasm than even she realized. He grinned and walked towards her, which she in turn ran towards him. She threw her arms around his muscular neck while he froze upon the skin-to-skin contact. Noticing that he wasn't responding at all, she untangled her arms and stepped back and saw that his face was completely white.
"Ya can tell the blood t'return to your face now. Ah didn't hurt ya, if ya didn't notice." She said, amused with how frightened Logan looked – a sight she never thought she'd ever witness.
"What the hell just happen, girl?" He growled while all his senses came back to him.
"Ah can control it now. Surprise!" She answered brightly.
"Well, I'd be damned... how'd that happen?" He queried.
"It's a long story but the gist of it is that Remy helped me out with that." She replied, still grinning from ear to ear. Oh god, how she had missed Logan.
"Ahh... figures. So where's de Cajun hidin'?" Logan asked while he scanned the room.
"He ain't here. He's sleeping."
"Hmm... so guess his smell is coming for you as well." He commented and regretted it as soon as he did.
Rogue's grin disappeared while her cheeks grew a bright pink. "Umm...yeah. So how was your mission?" She changed the subject immediately.
"Success, brought home a tin man." He replied curtly.
"Tin man?" She queried, confused with his answer.
"Colossus. Former Acolyte. Buddy of the Cajun's." He described.
"Ohh... Piotr. Well, where did you guys pick him up from?" She questioned.
"Russia. Chuck just had t'bring him back." Logan growled slightly and rolled his eyes.
"Ah'm sure he's nice." Rogue assured him.
"He was a former acolyte."
"So, was Remy."
"Your point, darlin'?"
"Logan!"
A round of chuckles emerged out of the end of their conversation as Rogue gave Logan a big hug again which he returned the sentiment by gently patting her back with one hand.
"Good to have you back, Kid."
"Good to be back." She replied, and it was the first time she truly meant her words.
-xoxo-
Gripping his hand tightly, she gave him a reassuring squeeze before bringing her other hand up to tap on the grand oak door. The nervousness in the pit of their stomachs only made him feel that this was all a deja-vu. There have just been too many damn times that I'm in this position, he thought bitterly.
'Come in,' Professor Xavier's voice entered their head.
They opened the door and stepped in, upon receiving the confirmation that they were welcomed. "Rogue, Remy. How great it is to see you." Xavier greeted brightly and motioned for them to take a seat on the chairs in front of his desk.
"Hi Professor. It's nice t'see ya too." Rogue responded, a tad shyly.
"Bonjour Professor." Remy simply said, while he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"So, what do I owe for this fine visit? What brings you two back after two years?" He questioned, and assured them with a smile that he was merely asking out of curiosity and not of interrogation.
"Well... we..." Rogue began and looked over at Remy, not sure what else to say.
"It's my problem, chere. Ain't your place t'speak on my behalf." He told her gently, and the Professor's expression became slightly weary.
"I hope it isn't your powers, Rogue... seems like you have them under control from what I can detect." Professor Xavier said with a questioning brow arched.
"Non, it's not her, Professor. It's me or... my powers t'be exact." Remy said softly and his gaze cast onto the floor.
"I... don't quite understand." Xavier stated, while trying to pick up what was the cause of their distress but since Remy's mental shields were surprisingly powerful, he couldn't break through the barrier.
"I've been losing control of my powers. Can't seem t'stop blowing t'ings up. Don't know how t'control it." He explained simply while Rogue took his right hand into her own.
"When did you lose control? As far as my knowledge goes, you have always had impeccable control of your mutant ability." Professor Xavier said.
"Not always... was a time when my powers first manifested dat it took me a while t'get control of it. And really don't know how I lost de control now, but it's been about two weeks perhaps..." Remy answered not too eagerly.
"And he's been taking these pills t'keep them in tact, though Professor, we're running short on them." Rogue explained and handed the quarter-filled bottle of round pills over to the Professor.
"What are these?" He asked while he examined the medication.
"Don't know, but dey work for de most part." Remy answered.
"Where did you get them?" Professor Xavier asked, while as every second went by he became more worried and intrigued by this new dilemma.
"I... I'd rather not say." Remy responded.
"Remy, if you need my help you are going to have to tell me the whole story." Professor Xavier stated gently.
"It's alright, hon. Just tell him." Rogue encouraged softly.
"Essex," was the only word Remy provided.
"Essex?" Professor Xavier queried.
"Dr. Nathaniel Essex is where I got de pills from. T'ough, he didn't get 'em t'me, it was an old team mate of mine dat did." He explained further, though only creating more questions than giving answers. So, he continued with his explanation. "When my powers first manifested, I didn't have anyone t'turn to. Dis man... Essex found me and he offered t'help me if I helped him wit' what he needed. And wit' help of pills like dese and some ot'er training, my powers came under control. Den, Magneto came along and offered me a position as an acolyte, and since my contract wit' Essex was up, I jumped at de chance. Den, all of a sudden my powers are messed up and I called up a former team mate t'get dese for me, but dey aren't working like dey used t'. I have t'take more and more and de effects keep lasting shorter and shorter..."
"And what's why we're here, Professor. We need your help." Rogue finished.
Charles Xavier remained pensive as he thought thoroughly about the situation. Finally he said, "I am going to retain three of these pills and return the rest to you. I will discuss this with Hank and we will see what is the make-up of this medication and how they affect your powers. You will have to be thoroughly examined by Hank as well, and samples of your DNA will need to be obtained. I will inform you when we are ready for you in the medical laboratory, which I think, will be in a couple of hours. In the meantime, please do not inform anyone else of this current situation just yet. Most importantly, we will help you with all we can, just trust us." The Professor ended.
Rising out of their seats, Rogue reached over to retrieve the bottle that the Professor had in his extended arm. He gave it to her, and Remy said, "Merci, Professor."
"There isn't any need for that, Remy. We're all a family here." Professor Xavier responded warmly.
"But thank ya, nonetheless, Professor." Rogue said and gave a small peck on top of the Professor's head.
"Thank you, Rogue, for that sentiment." He said and couldn't help but get a bit teary at the realization of how far his unhappiest student had come.
Remy took Rogue's hand and they two gave the Professor one last smile before turning around to leave his office with a newfound hope. Little did they know, that it was actually a newfound false hope.
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