Disclaimer: I own nothing; I'm a poor student who owns nothing quite
literally.
Distribution: Sure just tell me where you want me . . .it.
Thanks to my wonderful beta reader who makes sure I don't make a complete prat of myself . . .well I do that a lot anyway, but he minimizes it.
Okay, I know that I'm the most terrible person like ever, but it's here now so please don't kill me, new chapters have gone to beta so it shouldn't be long.
* * *
Rogue forced herself to her feet amid a sea of scattered cereal. People came running into the kitchen, seven or eight students, among them Ju and Kitty, who had been pretending not to watch cartoons with the younger kids, Logan and Ororo.
Logan moved forward and helped her to her feet, "Are you okay?"
Rogue nodded and indicated the others, "Something just happened. I should tell you, we need . . ."
Logan got the message; he nodded and started shooing the other kids out of the room. Ororo came forward and put a hand on Rogue's arm, "What happened?"
Rogue was about to answer when Bobby came into the room, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts, "Are you okay? I heard you yell."
Rogue looked to him, "I'm fine. Just . . ." Logan came back into the kitchen, "It's just . . .I don't know exactly what happened . . ."
Her voice trailed off and she seemed to be deep in thought for a second, Bobby took her hand, "Just tell us from the beginning."
Rogue met his eyes, taking comfort in how calm he was being when she felt anything but. She nodded, "I . . .came down to get us some breakfast. I was looking for cereal for Bobby. I couldn't find it for a minute and then I looked in all of the cupboards. It was on the top shelf in that one," she pointed, "I reached up but it was too high. I remember thinking that I would have to go and get a chair, but I stretched one more time and I reached it.
"Then I reached down to put it on the surface top. Unfortunately, the surface top was about two feet lower than I thought it would be. I looked down at the floor and saw that my feet were not standing on it. I was floating above it."
She looked around at the others, Logan cleared his throat, and looked a little doubtful, "Are you sure? I mean after what happened yesterday . . .it could just have been a blackout."
Rogue shook her head impatiently, "I might be tired and a little achy, but I'm perfectly sane. I know what happened."
Ororo was frowning as she thought. Bobby was looking at the floor as though it could give him answers; he had not let go of her hand. Rogue felt her self flush, "Don't you believe me?"
Bobby's attention snapped back to her, "Yes of course I do," he said dismissing the very idea that he might not, "I'm just wondering how."
Rogue shrugged "I have no idea."
"I think I might."
She gripped his hand, "How?"
Bobby looked very serious, "There's something you should know. Yesterday, when you drained those mutants . . ."
Logan tried to cut him off, "Bobby I don't think that this is the time."
"Oh, I think that this is the perfect time." He turned back to Rogue, "Yesterday, two of the mutants . . .they died."
Rogue's face showed a look of pure horror. After a second, her legs gave way and Bobby held her up, "It's okay, it wasn't your fault, it was in self defence, you know that. It was either them or all of us." Her eyes weren't focussed, "Rogue? Rogue! Listen to me," Rogue brought her eyes back to him, "It was not your fault. Do you hear me? It was in no way your fault. You saved at least two lives down there and possibly more. Are you listening? It was not your fault."
Rogue was a little dazed and pressed her hands to his chest as he pulled her to him, "Y. . .yes."
Logan and Ororo looked at each other, both very faintly embarrassed to be witnessing something as intimate as what was obviously between these two. Logan felt his heart ache for her. Someone like Rogue, who had never wanted to deliberately hurt anyone; this kind of guilt was hard to bear.
After a second, the two seemed to become aware of the two by-standers; Rogue felt a stab of guilt, she didn't deserve comfort, she moved away slightly but took Bobby's hand and did not let go. He turned to face Logan, "You said that two of them died?"
He nodded and looked to Ororo, "Yes, Logan and I checked them all with Kurt and Scott. Two died."
Bobby nodded, "What powers did they have?"
Logan thought for a second, "A telekinetic and . . ." his thought picked up where Bobby was going, " . . .and one who could levitate."
Bobby nodded and smiled slightly, "Right. So . . .is it possible that Rogue has held onto their powers?"
All eyes turned to Ororo who shrugged, "I . . .I guess it's possible. The real test would be . . ." she turned round and picked up an apple. "Rogue?"
Rogue nodded, "Yeah, I know. Try to . . .bring it to me." Rogue stared hard at the fruit, she tried to pull it towards her, after a few seconds she stopped and breathed deeply, "I can't."
Bobby sighed, "Well I guess that kills that theory."
Ororo frowned, "Not necessarily. Rogue, when you floated, you weren't trying to float. You were trying to get something. It was the desire that lifted you off your feet."
"I guess it was, yeah."
Ororo nodded, "Exactly. You looked then like you were trying to pull the apple towards you. Don't. Want it in your hand. Want to be holding it. Try that."
Rogue held her hand, palm up in font of her, and she silently asked for the apple. It moved across the room and landed in her palm. She took a shuddering breath in, "Oh God."
Bobby saw her panic, "What?"
"I stole their powers. I killed them and I stole their powers." Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Bobby wrapped his arms around her and he turned to face Logan and Ororo, "I think it may be time to get the Professor's input here."
* * *
The X-men were again all assembled, this time they were sitting in a lab and it was about eight thirty at night. Tests had been done on Rogue's blood. It turned out that the mutations were permanent. Bobby thought that it might have been better for Rogue if they hadn't been. She was having trouble with the whole 'I killed them' thing as it was. They hadn't told her yet, that she had these powers for good.
The Professor sighed deeply but smiled at Rogue, "Don't you two lead eventful lives?" Rogue smiled weakly and gripped Bobby's hand tighter, "Rogue, I know that you are having difficulty with the events of yesterday. You have to accept that it was not your fault. You and your allies were being attacked; they were trying to kill you. That is not murder. That is self defence."
Rogue nodded, "I know, I just need . . ."
"Some time." He quickly moved on to minimize her discomfort, "We have learnt that these powers are . . ."
Rogue cut him off, "Permanent."
He nodded, "Yes. How did you know?"
Se shrugged, "I just . . .when I look back on it, I felt it. I felt them die and I felt their powers come to me. It was like something was stretching between us, and there was a snapping sensation, I felt it in my stomach. That must have been the actual moment when I . . ."
"When you took their powers in and they died." Rogue looked down as she nodded and tears filled her eyes again. "When you take a mutants power, they hold onto it; they fight for it back. When they stop fighting, you take it into you. It's that simple."
Rogue nodded, "I guess so."
The Professor wasn't quite sure how to broach the next subject; there didn't seem any delicate way to do it, "Rogue, these new powers. You'll have to learn to control and use them."
Rogue's head snapped up, "No."
The Professor shifted awkwardly, "I understand your reluctance but they are valuable gifts, even though it's hard you must see . . ."
Rogue stood, "No. I won't. I will not learn to use a mutant's power that I have stolen from them and killed in the process. I won't."
"Rogue . . ."
"No!"
Rogue turned and walked out of the room. The Professor turned to Bobby, "Give her some time, and then see if you can talk to her."
Bobby nodded, "I'll try, but if she really doesn't want to I wont try to force her for . . . you know, the common good."
The Professor smiled, "I didn't think you would."
Bobby nodded to the others and followed Rogue; she'd have gone to their room.
* * *
Rogue sat on her bed, curled up like a small child. Ankles crossed, arms wrapped round them. They wanted her to use the powers, the powers that she had killed two people for. She had killed. She knew it wasn't as simple as that deep down, but for now she was just trying to deal with the pain; the pain of knowing that there had been two deaths because of her, the fact that people were alive because of her didn't break through, she was just hurting.
Rogue hugged her knees tighter, why did it hurt so much? She hadn't meant to kill anyone. She hadn't even wanted to seriously hurt anyone, she had just reacted out of fear and panic and anger at what had been done to Bobby. She was debating whether to go and find him when the door opened and he stood there.
Bobby walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. She wrapped herself around him and held on. He knew that it would be pointless to try to tell her again that it wasn't her fault. Yet. She needed to cry, to let it out, just to let it out. But she didn't seem to want to cry.
She must have held him for half an hour, maybe longer. Then she moved to kiss Bobby, to take comfort from him. He kissed her back. After a few seconds she yanked her shirt over her head. She needed him, she needed him to make her forget, she might not deserve it, but she needed it . . .
* * *
Bobby lay flat on his back and Rogue lay next to him. He grit his teeth. This could not go on, whether she wanted to or not; she had to deal with this. Why was she mad at him? Had he done something? Rogue rolled over to the other side of the bed and grabbed the bottle of water that they kept there in case of waking up thirsty. She opened it and Bobby held out his hand, "Here."
She passed over the bottle but she did not look at him, "Thanks." Rogue took a drink of the now ice-cold water and held the bottle out to him again, "Do you want some?"
He shook his head and glanced at the clock, they had been making lov . . .no they hadn't. They had been having sex for over two hours. She hadn't looked at him, she had kept her eyes closed mostly, and when they were open, they weren't looking at him.
Bobby squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head as though trying to clear his thoughts, "Rogue, we have to talk about this."
Her voice was innocent but she didn't look at him, "About what?"
Rogue moved to climb out of bed, but Bobby put a hand on her arm and she stayed, "Don't. Don't pretend like you don't know what I'm saying. That's not fair. You didn't even look at me."
Rogue fought back tears, "I . . .I don't know what you . . ."
"Yes, you do know." Bobby crawled over her and reached for his shirt, "If you don't wanna talk to me, then fine don't but don't lie to me. That's not fair either."
Rogue saw the pain in his eyes. She felt a stab of guilt, "I'm sorry."
Bobby fastened the front of his jeans, "Don't be sorry, just tell me what I did," he held out his hands.
Rogue frowned in confusion, "What you did?"
"Did I say something wrong? I want to help you get through this, but if I said the wrong thing then I'm sor . . ."
She cut him off, "No . . .no that's not it." She climbed out of bed and grabbed her robe, "I . . ."
Bobby saw her shoulders shake and stopped dressing, "What? What's wrong, let me help you."
She whirled round to face him, eyes flashing tears on her cheeks, "I don't deserve it! I don't deserve you! I killed two people and everyone is being so kind to me. I don't deserve to have you . . .love me. Do you understand? Two people are dead. Maybe they liked milkshakes, or taking long baths, but it doesn't matter now, because they're dead! I don't deserve to be comforted, I don't . . ." Her voice petered out.
Bobby felt his heart ache. Rogues shoulders shook as she buried her face in her hands. He slowly moved over to her and pulled her to him.
Rogue pushed against him pulling her, "No . . .I don't . . .you shouldn't . . ."
She pushed against his hands, he fought against her trying to hold her, "Rogue, stop it, just stop it. It's okay. It'll be okay. Just calm down, please, calm down . . .Come here . . .stop fighting. Just come to me. Please let me help you."
Rogue stopped fighting although she kept her arms wedged against his chest, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to kill them. I just . . .I saw you. You were bleeding and I thought you were dead."
"But I wasn't. I'm here."
"I thought you were going to leave me and that I was going to lose you."
"You're never going to lose me. I swear it. Just . . .come here."
Rogue held out for a second and then moved her arms around his neck and held him tightly to her.
Bobby stroked her back. And then she did cry. She cried so hard that Bobby was almost afraid. She clung to him and just cried. Bobby picked her up and carried her back over to the bed. They lay together, her clinging to him like someone drowning and he let her cry.
* * *
Bobby could tell when she stopped, and when she calmed down a little. Eventually he felt her start to trace patterns on the front of his shirt. "Are you okay?"
Rogue shook her head, "No. But I will be, I'm better."
He kissed the top of her head, "I have to tell you something."
"What?"
"I need you to know. I did something."
She looked at him, worry etched on her face, "You can tell me."
"Do you remember anything much about yesterday?"
"I remember seeing you, cut and bleeding. I remember the feeling. That pulling sensation I get. I reached out, and then it was like I lost control. I felt something hot touch me and then I saw Pyro. I started to take his powers before he could hurt me. Then I pulled, out of them all. I . . ."
"Okay," he ran his hands up and down her arms, "Well, Pyro did hurt you."
"What? I'm fine."
"Logan healed you. Pyro tried to stop you and he burnt you. It went straight through your uniform, one side of your face, your shoulder, and your back. You were badly burnt.
Rogue eyes went wide, "Wow. Thank God for Logan and his healing powers I guess," she touched his face, "For more than one reason."
He put his hand on top of hers and linked their fingers, "I wanted you to get something. You may have hurt people but you did it accidentally and out of panic. After I saw what he had done to you, I went to find Pyro. I froze his hands to the wall and we had a little chat. I told him to stay away from you. He wouldn't listen so I smashed one of his fingers. And I did it on purpose."
Rogue didn't know what to say, "I . . ."
"So now do you think you're the one who doesn't deserve me?" Bobby looked away from her eyes.
Rogue touched his face, pulled it back to her she kissed him hard, and fully, "You were angry when you saw what he'd done that's all, you were afraid for me. It doesn't mean that you did something terrible. Okay, maybe looking back it would have been better not to, but it was a spur of the moment thing . . ." He cut her off with laughter, "What's so funny?"
"You ever listen to your own arguments?"
She smiled, "I get it. I just . . .I know . . .there wasn't anything else I could've done at the time . . .but I still . . ."
"I know. You have to believe that though. You couldn't have done anything else. You saved me, and I took revenge on him for you. Maybe we were both wrong, but I'd do it again."
Rogue looked into Bobby's face, remembering him bleeding, "So would I. As bad as I feel, I would do it again to save you."
Bobby kissed her. She slid her hands up his back taking his shirt with her.
* * *
Bobby pulled back from the kiss as they both relaxed slowly into each other's touch. He laid his head on her shoulder expecting to feel the sheets on his face, but instead he felt air. He opened his eyes and saw that they were only about a foot from touching the ceiling, "Um . . . Rogue?"
"Hmm?"
"Umm . . ."
Rogue opened her eyes and felt the lack of pressure on her back where the bed should have been. She turned over and Bobby fell down with a shout. When she realised where she was she fell down too.
She lay next to Bobby where she'd fallen gasping, she looked over and met his eyes, he was gasping too, "I . . .I think it's time to get a grip on these powers."
Bobby nodded his eyes watering, "I think you may be right."
She saw that he was in pain, "Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?"
Bobby nodded, "You could say that." He reached underneath him, "I fell on the water bottle."
Rogue tried not to laugh, really she did.
Distribution: Sure just tell me where you want me . . .it.
Thanks to my wonderful beta reader who makes sure I don't make a complete prat of myself . . .well I do that a lot anyway, but he minimizes it.
Okay, I know that I'm the most terrible person like ever, but it's here now so please don't kill me, new chapters have gone to beta so it shouldn't be long.
* * *
Rogue forced herself to her feet amid a sea of scattered cereal. People came running into the kitchen, seven or eight students, among them Ju and Kitty, who had been pretending not to watch cartoons with the younger kids, Logan and Ororo.
Logan moved forward and helped her to her feet, "Are you okay?"
Rogue nodded and indicated the others, "Something just happened. I should tell you, we need . . ."
Logan got the message; he nodded and started shooing the other kids out of the room. Ororo came forward and put a hand on Rogue's arm, "What happened?"
Rogue was about to answer when Bobby came into the room, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts, "Are you okay? I heard you yell."
Rogue looked to him, "I'm fine. Just . . ." Logan came back into the kitchen, "It's just . . .I don't know exactly what happened . . ."
Her voice trailed off and she seemed to be deep in thought for a second, Bobby took her hand, "Just tell us from the beginning."
Rogue met his eyes, taking comfort in how calm he was being when she felt anything but. She nodded, "I . . .came down to get us some breakfast. I was looking for cereal for Bobby. I couldn't find it for a minute and then I looked in all of the cupboards. It was on the top shelf in that one," she pointed, "I reached up but it was too high. I remember thinking that I would have to go and get a chair, but I stretched one more time and I reached it.
"Then I reached down to put it on the surface top. Unfortunately, the surface top was about two feet lower than I thought it would be. I looked down at the floor and saw that my feet were not standing on it. I was floating above it."
She looked around at the others, Logan cleared his throat, and looked a little doubtful, "Are you sure? I mean after what happened yesterday . . .it could just have been a blackout."
Rogue shook her head impatiently, "I might be tired and a little achy, but I'm perfectly sane. I know what happened."
Ororo was frowning as she thought. Bobby was looking at the floor as though it could give him answers; he had not let go of her hand. Rogue felt her self flush, "Don't you believe me?"
Bobby's attention snapped back to her, "Yes of course I do," he said dismissing the very idea that he might not, "I'm just wondering how."
Rogue shrugged "I have no idea."
"I think I might."
She gripped his hand, "How?"
Bobby looked very serious, "There's something you should know. Yesterday, when you drained those mutants . . ."
Logan tried to cut him off, "Bobby I don't think that this is the time."
"Oh, I think that this is the perfect time." He turned back to Rogue, "Yesterday, two of the mutants . . .they died."
Rogue's face showed a look of pure horror. After a second, her legs gave way and Bobby held her up, "It's okay, it wasn't your fault, it was in self defence, you know that. It was either them or all of us." Her eyes weren't focussed, "Rogue? Rogue! Listen to me," Rogue brought her eyes back to him, "It was not your fault. Do you hear me? It was in no way your fault. You saved at least two lives down there and possibly more. Are you listening? It was not your fault."
Rogue was a little dazed and pressed her hands to his chest as he pulled her to him, "Y. . .yes."
Logan and Ororo looked at each other, both very faintly embarrassed to be witnessing something as intimate as what was obviously between these two. Logan felt his heart ache for her. Someone like Rogue, who had never wanted to deliberately hurt anyone; this kind of guilt was hard to bear.
After a second, the two seemed to become aware of the two by-standers; Rogue felt a stab of guilt, she didn't deserve comfort, she moved away slightly but took Bobby's hand and did not let go. He turned to face Logan, "You said that two of them died?"
He nodded and looked to Ororo, "Yes, Logan and I checked them all with Kurt and Scott. Two died."
Bobby nodded, "What powers did they have?"
Logan thought for a second, "A telekinetic and . . ." his thought picked up where Bobby was going, " . . .and one who could levitate."
Bobby nodded and smiled slightly, "Right. So . . .is it possible that Rogue has held onto their powers?"
All eyes turned to Ororo who shrugged, "I . . .I guess it's possible. The real test would be . . ." she turned round and picked up an apple. "Rogue?"
Rogue nodded, "Yeah, I know. Try to . . .bring it to me." Rogue stared hard at the fruit, she tried to pull it towards her, after a few seconds she stopped and breathed deeply, "I can't."
Bobby sighed, "Well I guess that kills that theory."
Ororo frowned, "Not necessarily. Rogue, when you floated, you weren't trying to float. You were trying to get something. It was the desire that lifted you off your feet."
"I guess it was, yeah."
Ororo nodded, "Exactly. You looked then like you were trying to pull the apple towards you. Don't. Want it in your hand. Want to be holding it. Try that."
Rogue held her hand, palm up in font of her, and she silently asked for the apple. It moved across the room and landed in her palm. She took a shuddering breath in, "Oh God."
Bobby saw her panic, "What?"
"I stole their powers. I killed them and I stole their powers." Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Bobby wrapped his arms around her and he turned to face Logan and Ororo, "I think it may be time to get the Professor's input here."
* * *
The X-men were again all assembled, this time they were sitting in a lab and it was about eight thirty at night. Tests had been done on Rogue's blood. It turned out that the mutations were permanent. Bobby thought that it might have been better for Rogue if they hadn't been. She was having trouble with the whole 'I killed them' thing as it was. They hadn't told her yet, that she had these powers for good.
The Professor sighed deeply but smiled at Rogue, "Don't you two lead eventful lives?" Rogue smiled weakly and gripped Bobby's hand tighter, "Rogue, I know that you are having difficulty with the events of yesterday. You have to accept that it was not your fault. You and your allies were being attacked; they were trying to kill you. That is not murder. That is self defence."
Rogue nodded, "I know, I just need . . ."
"Some time." He quickly moved on to minimize her discomfort, "We have learnt that these powers are . . ."
Rogue cut him off, "Permanent."
He nodded, "Yes. How did you know?"
Se shrugged, "I just . . .when I look back on it, I felt it. I felt them die and I felt their powers come to me. It was like something was stretching between us, and there was a snapping sensation, I felt it in my stomach. That must have been the actual moment when I . . ."
"When you took their powers in and they died." Rogue looked down as she nodded and tears filled her eyes again. "When you take a mutants power, they hold onto it; they fight for it back. When they stop fighting, you take it into you. It's that simple."
Rogue nodded, "I guess so."
The Professor wasn't quite sure how to broach the next subject; there didn't seem any delicate way to do it, "Rogue, these new powers. You'll have to learn to control and use them."
Rogue's head snapped up, "No."
The Professor shifted awkwardly, "I understand your reluctance but they are valuable gifts, even though it's hard you must see . . ."
Rogue stood, "No. I won't. I will not learn to use a mutant's power that I have stolen from them and killed in the process. I won't."
"Rogue . . ."
"No!"
Rogue turned and walked out of the room. The Professor turned to Bobby, "Give her some time, and then see if you can talk to her."
Bobby nodded, "I'll try, but if she really doesn't want to I wont try to force her for . . . you know, the common good."
The Professor smiled, "I didn't think you would."
Bobby nodded to the others and followed Rogue; she'd have gone to their room.
* * *
Rogue sat on her bed, curled up like a small child. Ankles crossed, arms wrapped round them. They wanted her to use the powers, the powers that she had killed two people for. She had killed. She knew it wasn't as simple as that deep down, but for now she was just trying to deal with the pain; the pain of knowing that there had been two deaths because of her, the fact that people were alive because of her didn't break through, she was just hurting.
Rogue hugged her knees tighter, why did it hurt so much? She hadn't meant to kill anyone. She hadn't even wanted to seriously hurt anyone, she had just reacted out of fear and panic and anger at what had been done to Bobby. She was debating whether to go and find him when the door opened and he stood there.
Bobby walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. She wrapped herself around him and held on. He knew that it would be pointless to try to tell her again that it wasn't her fault. Yet. She needed to cry, to let it out, just to let it out. But she didn't seem to want to cry.
She must have held him for half an hour, maybe longer. Then she moved to kiss Bobby, to take comfort from him. He kissed her back. After a few seconds she yanked her shirt over her head. She needed him, she needed him to make her forget, she might not deserve it, but she needed it . . .
* * *
Bobby lay flat on his back and Rogue lay next to him. He grit his teeth. This could not go on, whether she wanted to or not; she had to deal with this. Why was she mad at him? Had he done something? Rogue rolled over to the other side of the bed and grabbed the bottle of water that they kept there in case of waking up thirsty. She opened it and Bobby held out his hand, "Here."
She passed over the bottle but she did not look at him, "Thanks." Rogue took a drink of the now ice-cold water and held the bottle out to him again, "Do you want some?"
He shook his head and glanced at the clock, they had been making lov . . .no they hadn't. They had been having sex for over two hours. She hadn't looked at him, she had kept her eyes closed mostly, and when they were open, they weren't looking at him.
Bobby squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head as though trying to clear his thoughts, "Rogue, we have to talk about this."
Her voice was innocent but she didn't look at him, "About what?"
Rogue moved to climb out of bed, but Bobby put a hand on her arm and she stayed, "Don't. Don't pretend like you don't know what I'm saying. That's not fair. You didn't even look at me."
Rogue fought back tears, "I . . .I don't know what you . . ."
"Yes, you do know." Bobby crawled over her and reached for his shirt, "If you don't wanna talk to me, then fine don't but don't lie to me. That's not fair either."
Rogue saw the pain in his eyes. She felt a stab of guilt, "I'm sorry."
Bobby fastened the front of his jeans, "Don't be sorry, just tell me what I did," he held out his hands.
Rogue frowned in confusion, "What you did?"
"Did I say something wrong? I want to help you get through this, but if I said the wrong thing then I'm sor . . ."
She cut him off, "No . . .no that's not it." She climbed out of bed and grabbed her robe, "I . . ."
Bobby saw her shoulders shake and stopped dressing, "What? What's wrong, let me help you."
She whirled round to face him, eyes flashing tears on her cheeks, "I don't deserve it! I don't deserve you! I killed two people and everyone is being so kind to me. I don't deserve to have you . . .love me. Do you understand? Two people are dead. Maybe they liked milkshakes, or taking long baths, but it doesn't matter now, because they're dead! I don't deserve to be comforted, I don't . . ." Her voice petered out.
Bobby felt his heart ache. Rogues shoulders shook as she buried her face in her hands. He slowly moved over to her and pulled her to him.
Rogue pushed against him pulling her, "No . . .I don't . . .you shouldn't . . ."
She pushed against his hands, he fought against her trying to hold her, "Rogue, stop it, just stop it. It's okay. It'll be okay. Just calm down, please, calm down . . .Come here . . .stop fighting. Just come to me. Please let me help you."
Rogue stopped fighting although she kept her arms wedged against his chest, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to kill them. I just . . .I saw you. You were bleeding and I thought you were dead."
"But I wasn't. I'm here."
"I thought you were going to leave me and that I was going to lose you."
"You're never going to lose me. I swear it. Just . . .come here."
Rogue held out for a second and then moved her arms around his neck and held him tightly to her.
Bobby stroked her back. And then she did cry. She cried so hard that Bobby was almost afraid. She clung to him and just cried. Bobby picked her up and carried her back over to the bed. They lay together, her clinging to him like someone drowning and he let her cry.
* * *
Bobby could tell when she stopped, and when she calmed down a little. Eventually he felt her start to trace patterns on the front of his shirt. "Are you okay?"
Rogue shook her head, "No. But I will be, I'm better."
He kissed the top of her head, "I have to tell you something."
"What?"
"I need you to know. I did something."
She looked at him, worry etched on her face, "You can tell me."
"Do you remember anything much about yesterday?"
"I remember seeing you, cut and bleeding. I remember the feeling. That pulling sensation I get. I reached out, and then it was like I lost control. I felt something hot touch me and then I saw Pyro. I started to take his powers before he could hurt me. Then I pulled, out of them all. I . . ."
"Okay," he ran his hands up and down her arms, "Well, Pyro did hurt you."
"What? I'm fine."
"Logan healed you. Pyro tried to stop you and he burnt you. It went straight through your uniform, one side of your face, your shoulder, and your back. You were badly burnt.
Rogue eyes went wide, "Wow. Thank God for Logan and his healing powers I guess," she touched his face, "For more than one reason."
He put his hand on top of hers and linked their fingers, "I wanted you to get something. You may have hurt people but you did it accidentally and out of panic. After I saw what he had done to you, I went to find Pyro. I froze his hands to the wall and we had a little chat. I told him to stay away from you. He wouldn't listen so I smashed one of his fingers. And I did it on purpose."
Rogue didn't know what to say, "I . . ."
"So now do you think you're the one who doesn't deserve me?" Bobby looked away from her eyes.
Rogue touched his face, pulled it back to her she kissed him hard, and fully, "You were angry when you saw what he'd done that's all, you were afraid for me. It doesn't mean that you did something terrible. Okay, maybe looking back it would have been better not to, but it was a spur of the moment thing . . ." He cut her off with laughter, "What's so funny?"
"You ever listen to your own arguments?"
She smiled, "I get it. I just . . .I know . . .there wasn't anything else I could've done at the time . . .but I still . . ."
"I know. You have to believe that though. You couldn't have done anything else. You saved me, and I took revenge on him for you. Maybe we were both wrong, but I'd do it again."
Rogue looked into Bobby's face, remembering him bleeding, "So would I. As bad as I feel, I would do it again to save you."
Bobby kissed her. She slid her hands up his back taking his shirt with her.
* * *
Bobby pulled back from the kiss as they both relaxed slowly into each other's touch. He laid his head on her shoulder expecting to feel the sheets on his face, but instead he felt air. He opened his eyes and saw that they were only about a foot from touching the ceiling, "Um . . . Rogue?"
"Hmm?"
"Umm . . ."
Rogue opened her eyes and felt the lack of pressure on her back where the bed should have been. She turned over and Bobby fell down with a shout. When she realised where she was she fell down too.
She lay next to Bobby where she'd fallen gasping, she looked over and met his eyes, he was gasping too, "I . . .I think it's time to get a grip on these powers."
Bobby nodded his eyes watering, "I think you may be right."
She saw that he was in pain, "Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?"
Bobby nodded, "You could say that." He reached underneath him, "I fell on the water bottle."
Rogue tried not to laugh, really she did.