Disclaimer: I own nothing but me . . .but I could be for sale at a price.
Distribution: Ask and you can theft.
Well, well, aren't our characters in a little predicament. It was all kinda sad, huh? Well, we join them in the middle again . . .
* * *
"Bobby?.Bobby? Bobby?! Please answer me, oh God, please answer me." Rogue reached forward under Iceman's collar and felt, there was still a pulse, but it was fading quickly.
She had to do something, now. Right now. What the hell could she do? She felt hands touch her shoulders, "Rogue?" It was Wolverine, "Rogue?"
She twisted and looked at him, "When I did what I did I projected my power right?"
He frowned, "What do you . . ."
She cut him off, "Right?"
He nodded, "I guess so."
Rogue reached round and pressed the red button in the centre of the metal disk. It fell off into her palm, and she dropped it, "Logan please give me your hand." He barely hesitated and he pressed his palm to hers.
Much quicker than ever before he felt that cold sensation in the pit of his stomach. His knees gave out and she wrenched her hand from his grip.
Storm held Nightcrawler's head on her lap as she watched, Cyclops watched too with one hand on his friend's shoulder. All three knew there was nothing they could do, so they merely watched from behind.
Rogue closed her eyes and leaned forward placing her hand just above Iceman's chest. This time she didn't pull; she pushed. Using all the strength that she possessed she pushed. She pushed the power inside of her out of her and into him. She watched as the blood stopped trickling from the wound across his chest, as the colour returned to his cheeks, and the glazed look faded from his half opened eyes. His breathing deepened again. His eyes opened, "Rogue?"
She sobbed, "Bobby? No, don't touch me. You can soon though."
"Rogue!"
Rogue turned to see Storm sat with Nightcrawler, he was gasping, and blood was streaming from his mouth, "Oh God!"
She moved over and held her hand over his chest; she pushed again. She pushed from her and into him. Except that there was nothing left in her to give. The tears started in her eyes again. This man had saved her life and now he was going to die.
She looked down and tried to push, but there was nothing. There was nothing at all until she felt someone grab her other hand. Logan. She felt that familiar sensation of her absorbing his powers, his memories, his life force.
She looked down at where the claws jutted from, just above his knuckles, which showed a sudden bruise. She pulled her hand from his again and pushed into Nightcrawler. This time she felt it, and she heard him gasp as he could breath again, as the sensation of drowning faded. Rogue stood and looked down at Nightcrawler sitting up, and at Iceman, smiling at her. She smiled back, and then everything went black.
* * *
Iceman rushed over to her, "Oh God is she okay?"
For the first time he noticed the burns over one of her arms and down the side of her face. Storm moved quickly, "Yes, she just drained the power from seven mutants at once and one before that. Then she pulled power from Logan and gave it to you and Kurt. Her body has probably had enough for one day."
Iceman picked the disc up off the floor and turned her over. Her uniform was made specially, with a patch in the back so that this could be placed and removed easily. He held it over her skin until it fixed itself and then he turned her back into his arms and stroked her face. There were burn marks all over her cheek, up one arm and down her back and shoulder the uniform had been burnt right through. Pyro! Iceman almost growled. The bastard!
He picked up Rogue; "I'm taking her to the jet. Once it's locked down, I'll be back to help clear up the mess.
* * *
After making sure that she was comfortable, Iceman returned to the building. Logan had recovered quickly; his healing powers returning almost immediately after Rogue had let go. The other X-men were checking the other mutants for signs of life, he didn't care if there were any or not. He was looking for one. His eyes fell on Pyro. He checked to make sure that all the others were occupied then he dragged the unconscious body of his former friend round the corner and away.
He saw Magneto, but he wasn't interested in the older man. He was angry with the bastard who had burnt his girlfriend. He sat Pyro against the wall; next, he fixed his hands to the wall with ice. After a few slaps round the face, Pyro started to come around, "Uh . . .God my head."
Iceman nodded, "Really, I wonder how Rogue's going to feel when she wakes up?"
Pyro suddenly snapped back to full consciousness, he realised where he was and who had him, "Hey, what're you doing?"
"Don't know yet. But I'm starting to get an idea. Did you see what you did to her? You burnt her and she was trying to help us."
Pyro shook his head, "But that's the thing isn't it Bobby? There isn't actually an 'us' anymore. I'm not on your side; I'm with them. I can't be on your side anymore. We aren't going to get anywhere. Not the way the Professor does it. We'll end up in cages. It's not happening if I can help it. The humans don't matter anymore."
Iceman shook his head, "How can you say that people don't matter? What the hell happened to you?"
"We're the next stage, they're about to die out, maybe slowly, but die out they will. And when they're gone, we'll be what's left behind, and no one will be arguing over people anymore. It'll just be our kind. I'm just looking to speed it up a little."
"You can't. Not this way."
Pyro's glare hardened, "Try me."
"You burnt her. And she was your friend."
Pyro smirked, "I would've liked more, she always had a thing for me you know."
Iceman flared up and froze Pyro's actual hand, fingers spread apart. "Well, the best man won. Here's the thing. If you ever come near her again, if you ever hurt her or even try, I will make sure that you die slowly and very painfully."
The smirk didn't leave his face, "You don't have the guts."
Iceman smiled, "Don't I?" For a moment, he hesitated, and then he saw Rogue again in his mind, her body and face burnt by Pyro. He raised his foot and kicked it against the wall. Right on top of the mass of ice that was Pyro's right hand. Pyro screamed in pain and Iceman removed the ice. The screaming increased, "Believe me I do." Pyro was now missing his smallest finger.
Iceman turned away and rounded the corner. As soon as he was out of sight of Pyro, he was violently sick. That wasn't the sort of thing he ever wanted to do again, but it was worth it if it meant that Pyro was kept away from Rogue, at least for a while. The screaming brought the others coming round the corner; Storm was first, "What happened?"
Iceman righted himself, "I froze Pyro's hand, and then I smashed one of his fingers." Storm's mouth gaped as he walked away and headed back to the jet.
* * *
Bobby sat by Rogue waiting for the other's to come back. He wasn't happy with what he'd done, he would never be happy with hurting anyone, but he couldn't let Pyro hurt her and get away with it, not after what she'd done. She saved him, saved them all.
Logan climbed up the ramp and spotted the two of them. "Hey."
"Hey."
"You all right?"
Bobby nodded, "Yeah. Just a little queasy."
"Not big on the inflicting pain."
"I didn't do it to hurt him, I did it to stop him coming after her again, as you know this wasn't the first time."
"You telling me there wasn't a little revenge involved?"
Bobby looked at him steadily, "Maybe a little."
"I get that."
Bobby was surprised, "You do?"
"Sure. You saw that someone you love was hurt and you hit back. Most people do it."
"So what do you think? Am I a bad guy now?"
The smile was back on Bobby's face as Logan replied, "Not as bad as me."
"How're you doing?"
"Huh?"
"Well I wanted to thank you. Apparently you're the reason I'm still here, at least in part."
Logan smirked, "She loves you, even if I'd said 'no' which I wouldn't she would probably still have taken it."
"Still . . .you said 'yes'. So thanks."
"Hey, you think she would've ever forgiven me if you'd not survived."
Bobby smiled this time very sincerely, "Stop trying to make it sound as though it's nothing and accept my thanks."
Logan was taken aback for a second, "Your welcome."
Sensing Logan might become uncomfortable, Bobby changed the subject, "Are they all alive?"
Logan sighed, "No. Two of them are dead. They may just have been weaker or maybe she unconsciously focused harder. Either way, the girl who could fly and the guy who you were fighting, telekinetic, those two. We can't call the police, it's still murder, and there are no laws to govern a mutant killing another mutant in self-defence. Rogue would be arrested. We can't risk it. Two counts of murder, can't risk it. Storm says that maybe we shouldn't even tell her. Just call an ambulance for the injured ones and go. No one will ever be able to prove that we were here, we have a whole school full of people who'll testify that we were teaching lessons and that you were in them."
Bobby shook his head, "I won't lie to her."
Logan nodded, "I didn't agree anyway."
Ororo, Scott and Kurt boarded the jet, Logan turned around, "Are we ready to get out of here?"
Ororo held up the files, the disks and the hard drive, "We got what we came for."
* * *
Bobby couldn't believe that it had only been last night that he and Rogue had talked about how they were going to be okay. They all were. Thanks to her. Bobby didn't know how she'd done it, but somehow she'd tapped into an incredible amount of power. Bobby flinched when he thought about how she'd feel tomorrow, when he told her that she'd ended up killing two people.
He knew very well that she wouldn't have done it on purpose, not if she'd known what she was doing. She'd just panicked and over done it a little. Like he had with Pyro. Bobby knew that he shouldn't have done that. But he couldn't regret it, it had been time to show Pyro that it wasn't only the bad guys who could cause others pain. Sometimes the 'good guys' could too. And when it came to Rogue . . .well he just didn't regret it.
He had a feeling that it wasn't over. Magneto would keep coming back, so would Mystique and John and maybe even the others. It didn't matter; they'd keep fighting back.
Bobby strapped Rogue into the chair and took the one behind her. He wanted to sit with her, but his last experience of what happened when Rogue wasn't strapped in was not favourable.
It was late when they got back to Westchester; Bobby declined help with Rogue. Strom had examined her; the burns were only superficial and she was probably just exhausted from the energy it had taken her to do what she had done.
They had been talking about it all the way home. That kind of power was not easy to come by. Ororo and Scott were talking about it quite excitedly. Bobby just wanted to get her home.
He lifted her gently and carried her upstairs. He laid her on the bed on a towel and stripped her down. Someone obligingly had cleaned the sheets and now she was covered in black soot. He filled a bowl with warm water and washed her completely. He felt as though he had to get rid of the remnants of this mission. He was going to have to tell her that she had killed two mutants.
He carefully froze the burns on her skin, making sure it wasn't cold enough to burn. Just as he slipped her under the sheets, there was a knock at the door. He opened it to see Logan stood there, "What's up?"
"You gotta minute?"
Bobby stepped back from the door, "Sure."
"I thought I would . . ."
Bobby remained silent. Logan moved over to the bed, "I'll turn round while you take off that thing she wears."
"Why?"
"You think I'm gonna let her stay burned?"
Bobby smiled gratefully, "Sure and thanks."
Logan turned and Bobby moved her carefully on to her front, removing the disc, he was careful not to touch her skin. Making sure she was covered he stood up straight, "Okay."
Logan placed his hand on the shoulder that wasn't burnt. All the veins on his face stood out immediately. Bobby waited until the count of four and then he pulled Logan off.
They stood and watched as the burns healed. Rogue stirred and moaned softly. Logan smiled; still a little out of breath. "I'll see you guys tomorrow," he said as Bobby re-attached the disc.
Bobby nodded, "Thanks again."
"Your welcome."
Logan closed the door behind him. Within a minute Rogue had turned over, "Bobby? BOBBY!"
Rogue yelled out, Bobby moved over to the bed, and slipped his arms around her, "Hey, I'm here."
She pulled his to her, she was crying, "Oh God, I thought I lost you."
"I thought that I'd lost you too."
"You almost died, you almost went away. I thought that you were gone."
"I told you that I wasn't going to leave you. And you made sure that I kept my promise."
She pulled back and ran her fingers over his cheek and pulled his face to hers, she touched her tongue to his lips as he moaned. She pulled away the sheet that separated them, pulling his body to hers. Bobby pulled away, "You're tired, and you've had a long day . . ."
She looked into his eyes, "I want you."
He smiled and looked up to the heavens, "Oh thank God."
She laughed, until he pulled her to him firmly and kissed the breath out of her, while trying to get out of his clothes.
* * *
Rogue crept out of bed the next morning. She stretched; it had been a long couple of days. As it was Sunday, she decided to hurry down stairs for a little breakfast; something that they could have in bed.
She dragged on a robe and opened the door just as Bobby was waking up, "Hey, where're you going?"
"You weren't supposed to wake up. Breakfast in bed, meant to be a surprise."
Bobby closed his eyes, "I'll be surprised."
Rogue left and went downstairs to the kitchen. She looked around for Bobby's favourite cereal. She knew that there was always some in store. Looking at the top shelves of all the cupboards, she spotted it. Damn! Rogue reached up, stretching to grab the box. A second later her fingers closed around the box and she lifted it easily off the shelf. She was pleasantly surprised, and reached down to put the box on the surface. But she couldn't . . .the surface was about two feet lower down. She looked down at the floor. He feet were not touching it. She yelped in surprise and shock as she fell back down.
* * *
Distribution: Ask and you can theft.
Well, well, aren't our characters in a little predicament. It was all kinda sad, huh? Well, we join them in the middle again . . .
* * *
"Bobby?.Bobby? Bobby?! Please answer me, oh God, please answer me." Rogue reached forward under Iceman's collar and felt, there was still a pulse, but it was fading quickly.
She had to do something, now. Right now. What the hell could she do? She felt hands touch her shoulders, "Rogue?" It was Wolverine, "Rogue?"
She twisted and looked at him, "When I did what I did I projected my power right?"
He frowned, "What do you . . ."
She cut him off, "Right?"
He nodded, "I guess so."
Rogue reached round and pressed the red button in the centre of the metal disk. It fell off into her palm, and she dropped it, "Logan please give me your hand." He barely hesitated and he pressed his palm to hers.
Much quicker than ever before he felt that cold sensation in the pit of his stomach. His knees gave out and she wrenched her hand from his grip.
Storm held Nightcrawler's head on her lap as she watched, Cyclops watched too with one hand on his friend's shoulder. All three knew there was nothing they could do, so they merely watched from behind.
Rogue closed her eyes and leaned forward placing her hand just above Iceman's chest. This time she didn't pull; she pushed. Using all the strength that she possessed she pushed. She pushed the power inside of her out of her and into him. She watched as the blood stopped trickling from the wound across his chest, as the colour returned to his cheeks, and the glazed look faded from his half opened eyes. His breathing deepened again. His eyes opened, "Rogue?"
She sobbed, "Bobby? No, don't touch me. You can soon though."
"Rogue!"
Rogue turned to see Storm sat with Nightcrawler, he was gasping, and blood was streaming from his mouth, "Oh God!"
She moved over and held her hand over his chest; she pushed again. She pushed from her and into him. Except that there was nothing left in her to give. The tears started in her eyes again. This man had saved her life and now he was going to die.
She looked down and tried to push, but there was nothing. There was nothing at all until she felt someone grab her other hand. Logan. She felt that familiar sensation of her absorbing his powers, his memories, his life force.
She looked down at where the claws jutted from, just above his knuckles, which showed a sudden bruise. She pulled her hand from his again and pushed into Nightcrawler. This time she felt it, and she heard him gasp as he could breath again, as the sensation of drowning faded. Rogue stood and looked down at Nightcrawler sitting up, and at Iceman, smiling at her. She smiled back, and then everything went black.
* * *
Iceman rushed over to her, "Oh God is she okay?"
For the first time he noticed the burns over one of her arms and down the side of her face. Storm moved quickly, "Yes, she just drained the power from seven mutants at once and one before that. Then she pulled power from Logan and gave it to you and Kurt. Her body has probably had enough for one day."
Iceman picked the disc up off the floor and turned her over. Her uniform was made specially, with a patch in the back so that this could be placed and removed easily. He held it over her skin until it fixed itself and then he turned her back into his arms and stroked her face. There were burn marks all over her cheek, up one arm and down her back and shoulder the uniform had been burnt right through. Pyro! Iceman almost growled. The bastard!
He picked up Rogue; "I'm taking her to the jet. Once it's locked down, I'll be back to help clear up the mess.
* * *
After making sure that she was comfortable, Iceman returned to the building. Logan had recovered quickly; his healing powers returning almost immediately after Rogue had let go. The other X-men were checking the other mutants for signs of life, he didn't care if there were any or not. He was looking for one. His eyes fell on Pyro. He checked to make sure that all the others were occupied then he dragged the unconscious body of his former friend round the corner and away.
He saw Magneto, but he wasn't interested in the older man. He was angry with the bastard who had burnt his girlfriend. He sat Pyro against the wall; next, he fixed his hands to the wall with ice. After a few slaps round the face, Pyro started to come around, "Uh . . .God my head."
Iceman nodded, "Really, I wonder how Rogue's going to feel when she wakes up?"
Pyro suddenly snapped back to full consciousness, he realised where he was and who had him, "Hey, what're you doing?"
"Don't know yet. But I'm starting to get an idea. Did you see what you did to her? You burnt her and she was trying to help us."
Pyro shook his head, "But that's the thing isn't it Bobby? There isn't actually an 'us' anymore. I'm not on your side; I'm with them. I can't be on your side anymore. We aren't going to get anywhere. Not the way the Professor does it. We'll end up in cages. It's not happening if I can help it. The humans don't matter anymore."
Iceman shook his head, "How can you say that people don't matter? What the hell happened to you?"
"We're the next stage, they're about to die out, maybe slowly, but die out they will. And when they're gone, we'll be what's left behind, and no one will be arguing over people anymore. It'll just be our kind. I'm just looking to speed it up a little."
"You can't. Not this way."
Pyro's glare hardened, "Try me."
"You burnt her. And she was your friend."
Pyro smirked, "I would've liked more, she always had a thing for me you know."
Iceman flared up and froze Pyro's actual hand, fingers spread apart. "Well, the best man won. Here's the thing. If you ever come near her again, if you ever hurt her or even try, I will make sure that you die slowly and very painfully."
The smirk didn't leave his face, "You don't have the guts."
Iceman smiled, "Don't I?" For a moment, he hesitated, and then he saw Rogue again in his mind, her body and face burnt by Pyro. He raised his foot and kicked it against the wall. Right on top of the mass of ice that was Pyro's right hand. Pyro screamed in pain and Iceman removed the ice. The screaming increased, "Believe me I do." Pyro was now missing his smallest finger.
Iceman turned away and rounded the corner. As soon as he was out of sight of Pyro, he was violently sick. That wasn't the sort of thing he ever wanted to do again, but it was worth it if it meant that Pyro was kept away from Rogue, at least for a while. The screaming brought the others coming round the corner; Storm was first, "What happened?"
Iceman righted himself, "I froze Pyro's hand, and then I smashed one of his fingers." Storm's mouth gaped as he walked away and headed back to the jet.
* * *
Bobby sat by Rogue waiting for the other's to come back. He wasn't happy with what he'd done, he would never be happy with hurting anyone, but he couldn't let Pyro hurt her and get away with it, not after what she'd done. She saved him, saved them all.
Logan climbed up the ramp and spotted the two of them. "Hey."
"Hey."
"You all right?"
Bobby nodded, "Yeah. Just a little queasy."
"Not big on the inflicting pain."
"I didn't do it to hurt him, I did it to stop him coming after her again, as you know this wasn't the first time."
"You telling me there wasn't a little revenge involved?"
Bobby looked at him steadily, "Maybe a little."
"I get that."
Bobby was surprised, "You do?"
"Sure. You saw that someone you love was hurt and you hit back. Most people do it."
"So what do you think? Am I a bad guy now?"
The smile was back on Bobby's face as Logan replied, "Not as bad as me."
"How're you doing?"
"Huh?"
"Well I wanted to thank you. Apparently you're the reason I'm still here, at least in part."
Logan smirked, "She loves you, even if I'd said 'no' which I wouldn't she would probably still have taken it."
"Still . . .you said 'yes'. So thanks."
"Hey, you think she would've ever forgiven me if you'd not survived."
Bobby smiled this time very sincerely, "Stop trying to make it sound as though it's nothing and accept my thanks."
Logan was taken aback for a second, "Your welcome."
Sensing Logan might become uncomfortable, Bobby changed the subject, "Are they all alive?"
Logan sighed, "No. Two of them are dead. They may just have been weaker or maybe she unconsciously focused harder. Either way, the girl who could fly and the guy who you were fighting, telekinetic, those two. We can't call the police, it's still murder, and there are no laws to govern a mutant killing another mutant in self-defence. Rogue would be arrested. We can't risk it. Two counts of murder, can't risk it. Storm says that maybe we shouldn't even tell her. Just call an ambulance for the injured ones and go. No one will ever be able to prove that we were here, we have a whole school full of people who'll testify that we were teaching lessons and that you were in them."
Bobby shook his head, "I won't lie to her."
Logan nodded, "I didn't agree anyway."
Ororo, Scott and Kurt boarded the jet, Logan turned around, "Are we ready to get out of here?"
Ororo held up the files, the disks and the hard drive, "We got what we came for."
* * *
Bobby couldn't believe that it had only been last night that he and Rogue had talked about how they were going to be okay. They all were. Thanks to her. Bobby didn't know how she'd done it, but somehow she'd tapped into an incredible amount of power. Bobby flinched when he thought about how she'd feel tomorrow, when he told her that she'd ended up killing two people.
He knew very well that she wouldn't have done it on purpose, not if she'd known what she was doing. She'd just panicked and over done it a little. Like he had with Pyro. Bobby knew that he shouldn't have done that. But he couldn't regret it, it had been time to show Pyro that it wasn't only the bad guys who could cause others pain. Sometimes the 'good guys' could too. And when it came to Rogue . . .well he just didn't regret it.
He had a feeling that it wasn't over. Magneto would keep coming back, so would Mystique and John and maybe even the others. It didn't matter; they'd keep fighting back.
Bobby strapped Rogue into the chair and took the one behind her. He wanted to sit with her, but his last experience of what happened when Rogue wasn't strapped in was not favourable.
It was late when they got back to Westchester; Bobby declined help with Rogue. Strom had examined her; the burns were only superficial and she was probably just exhausted from the energy it had taken her to do what she had done.
They had been talking about it all the way home. That kind of power was not easy to come by. Ororo and Scott were talking about it quite excitedly. Bobby just wanted to get her home.
He lifted her gently and carried her upstairs. He laid her on the bed on a towel and stripped her down. Someone obligingly had cleaned the sheets and now she was covered in black soot. He filled a bowl with warm water and washed her completely. He felt as though he had to get rid of the remnants of this mission. He was going to have to tell her that she had killed two mutants.
He carefully froze the burns on her skin, making sure it wasn't cold enough to burn. Just as he slipped her under the sheets, there was a knock at the door. He opened it to see Logan stood there, "What's up?"
"You gotta minute?"
Bobby stepped back from the door, "Sure."
"I thought I would . . ."
Bobby remained silent. Logan moved over to the bed, "I'll turn round while you take off that thing she wears."
"Why?"
"You think I'm gonna let her stay burned?"
Bobby smiled gratefully, "Sure and thanks."
Logan turned and Bobby moved her carefully on to her front, removing the disc, he was careful not to touch her skin. Making sure she was covered he stood up straight, "Okay."
Logan placed his hand on the shoulder that wasn't burnt. All the veins on his face stood out immediately. Bobby waited until the count of four and then he pulled Logan off.
They stood and watched as the burns healed. Rogue stirred and moaned softly. Logan smiled; still a little out of breath. "I'll see you guys tomorrow," he said as Bobby re-attached the disc.
Bobby nodded, "Thanks again."
"Your welcome."
Logan closed the door behind him. Within a minute Rogue had turned over, "Bobby? BOBBY!"
Rogue yelled out, Bobby moved over to the bed, and slipped his arms around her, "Hey, I'm here."
She pulled his to her, she was crying, "Oh God, I thought I lost you."
"I thought that I'd lost you too."
"You almost died, you almost went away. I thought that you were gone."
"I told you that I wasn't going to leave you. And you made sure that I kept my promise."
She pulled back and ran her fingers over his cheek and pulled his face to hers, she touched her tongue to his lips as he moaned. She pulled away the sheet that separated them, pulling his body to hers. Bobby pulled away, "You're tired, and you've had a long day . . ."
She looked into his eyes, "I want you."
He smiled and looked up to the heavens, "Oh thank God."
She laughed, until he pulled her to him firmly and kissed the breath out of her, while trying to get out of his clothes.
* * *
Rogue crept out of bed the next morning. She stretched; it had been a long couple of days. As it was Sunday, she decided to hurry down stairs for a little breakfast; something that they could have in bed.
She dragged on a robe and opened the door just as Bobby was waking up, "Hey, where're you going?"
"You weren't supposed to wake up. Breakfast in bed, meant to be a surprise."
Bobby closed his eyes, "I'll be surprised."
Rogue left and went downstairs to the kitchen. She looked around for Bobby's favourite cereal. She knew that there was always some in store. Looking at the top shelves of all the cupboards, she spotted it. Damn! Rogue reached up, stretching to grab the box. A second later her fingers closed around the box and she lifted it easily off the shelf. She was pleasantly surprised, and reached down to put the box on the surface. But she couldn't . . .the surface was about two feet lower down. She looked down at the floor. He feet were not touching it. She yelped in surprise and shock as she fell back down.
* * *