Hi! I'm back! Right, so here's chapter 8. I think I'm losing my touch. I'm just a little bit too chipper to be writing angst right now... Well, I really hope you guys like it. Review, review people. I just love getting them (so long they are nice... which they all are!) as they give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. Also, if you guys wanna see more Jean/Rogue fics, you've gotta write some! So, read, review and write! (Please don't flame me... i'll lay off the angst soon!)
Disclaimer: The Ring and Hannibal in no way belongs to me. Heck, I haven't even watched them. Too scary for me. Oo, the f-word is in here. So, be warned! :D
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(3 weeks since the last chapter.)
"Hey Rogue, wake up."
Marie opened her eyes and saw Sam poking her lightly with his shielded fingers.
"Ow! That's hot!" Marie yelped as Sam touched her again. His hand was shielded in the kinetic/thermal shield that was his mutant power.
Sam shrugged and the golden light that surrounded his hand blinked out.
"Sorry. I didn't want to scare you when I woke you up."
Marie nodded and rubbed her eyes. Around her lay flowers, some wilted and some not, empty popcorn bowls and DVD cases of various horror movies.
"Good morning sunshine!" Hank vaulted over a table and landed gracefully on the arm of the couch Rogue spent the night in. "I didn't want to wake up last night after you fell asleep. Going to sleep after watching The Ring isn't the easiest thing to do."
Marie shivered a little and the flower that was touching her bare knee wilted. Behind her, the phone suddenly rang and Marie yelped and dives away from it.
Sam laughed and threw the carrot he was eating at Rogue. It fell onto her bare leg and wilted immediately. Sam snickered and picked up the phone.
"Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning." He greeted. "Oh, hi Mr. Summers. Jean? Yeah, she just finished breakfast. I'll go get her."
Hank nudged Marie with his foot.
"Breakfast is getting cold, and since you're the last to wake you're doing dishes."
Marie groaned and stretched as she stood. As she walked to the washroom, she passed Jean and they exchanged glances. Rogue no longer had to look up at Jean. The full three inches that she had grown was a definite side effect of absorbing Jean, and while Jean's memories and powers had faded a week ago, the height had not. Marie bowed her head, avoiding Jean's calm green eyes and quickly walked out. Behind her, she heard Jean sigh a little before picking up the phone.
"Hi Scott..." Jean's voice faded, and as Marie scurried into the washroom, she blew out the breath she was holding.
"Nothing to deal with..." Rogue muttered to her self as she quickly crammed her toothbrush into her month and brushed vigorously.
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In the kitchen, Rogue sat around with Sam Gurthie, Alison Blair, Remy LeBeau and Piotr Rasputin. These were just some of the students that stayed at the school this summer. During the days when Rogue still possessed Jean's powers, Marie had secretly scanned the other student's minds to see if they knew the true cause of the physical contact. Thankfully, no one did and neither did anyone pry. Lately, the students had even warmed up to Rogue.
These were the students who were more or less ousted by their families. As such, they were all very open to welcoming other such 'discarded' individuals. During the past two weeks, the various students shared their mutant ability training mishaps. It was almost a contest between them, and Rogue certainly held a sort of status as she was the only one ever to incapacitate a teacher.
"I think my blowing up of Scott's sound system should be just as good. I mean, what was it? Digital surround sound? His system could blow your cloths off, but no, I blew it up first." Alison tipped her head in a cocky manner as she recapped the time when she single handedly demolished the X-Men leader's home theatre system. Alison's power allowed her to convert sound into light, lasers or photon blasts, and as such, kareoke was now banned to her.
"Well, he didn't faint." Piotr pointed out.
Alison made a gloomy face.
"But did you see what I did? It was ground zero! Even the couch was fried!"
There was a collective hum of disagreement and Alison sat back and muttered,
"Damn Rogue, knocking out Grey is going to be tough to beat."
Rogue gave a small, wry smile.
"It's not that great."
Alison narrowed her eyes and peered strangely at Rogue.
"You know, I'd kill to have your power." She chomped down on the pop tart she was eating and continued, crumbs dropping from her lips. "I mean, look you're three inches taller. That means some physical attributes of the people you touch can stay in you. Man, I'd love to have that. I could go around shaping myself this way and that way. Hmm... Brook Shield's eyebrows, Sandra Bullock's nose... forget plastic surgery! You got it set babe!" Alison hooted with laugher.
"Right. And that's enough sugar for you." Sam grabbed the two other pop tarts still on her plate and bit into them.
Rogue smiled a little. The past two weeks had been quite a turn around for her. Hank's movie tests confirmed that her powers were triggered by fear, and Rogue could now otherwise touch others.
Remy, a young mutant from New Orleans seemed to capitalize on this. He was constantly trying to cop a feel, and even now was running his foot against her calf. Marie gave him a polite smile, but pulled her leg away.
Xavier wheeled in.
"Well, I think it's time we prepare for our trip to the beach. Rogue, do you need help with the dishes?"
Marie shook her head.
"I'll be fine. I'm feeling a little tired Professor, so I hope you don't mind if I stay home today." Out of the corner of Rogue's eye, she couldn't help but notice the dismay in Remy's face.
"Sorry to hear that. Next time then."
Rogue nodded and began piling the dishes into the washer as the others dashed out to get ready.
---
Jean flipped through her and Scott's photo album. She had just finished talking to Scott, even though it was more him talking than her. Jean had moved back into her room to give Rogue more space. Now, she sat on the queen-sized bed, alone and surrounded by photo albums.
"Jean, you stupid idiot. Why the hell did you have to go and kiss her?" Jean slumped back against the headboard and tossed the album away. "Fucked up two good relationships. What the hell were you thinking?" Jean berated herself. Jean grabbed the other pillow on the bed and pressed it onto her face. She hid her misery well from the students but didn't know how long she could keep it up. Jean reached out and picked up another album. She pushed the pillow away and looked at the new album she held up. It was the album of her and Scott during their high school years. What a happy high school sweetheart couple they were. Picture perfect. They had gone to school together and trained together as the first of Xavier's students. Scott and Jean were suppose to go get married and have happy, bouncing babies.
But no. A kiss of death Jean had dealt, and Scott had no idea of the things that were happening now between her and Marie. The telepath couldn't tell Scott yet, but dreaded the idea of faking love around Scott when he came home. Sniffling, Jean turned over and closed her eyes. It bothered Jean that Rogue wouldn't talk to her now, and she constantly felt sick from the sense of loneliness that overwhelmed her day after day.
A soft knock came from outside.
"Jean? It's Charles."
Jean sat up and readjusted her hair while wiping the stray tear that had somehow escaped her eye.
"Come in." Jean telekinetically opened the door and watched her mentor wheel in.
"We're going to the beach soon. Are you sure you don't want to come?"
Jean nodded as she began piling her albums together.
"Yes. I have to work on my presentation to the Senate. Mystique organized another meeting as Senator Kelly and wants me to speak."
"Jean, that's not for another three months."
Jean smiled weakly.
"I just want to be prepared."
Xavier sighed and moved his wheelchair closer to Jean.
"You need to talk to her. This is hurting you both."
Jean smirked a little.
"She avoids me. And besides, she's fine without me. Hank helps her with her powers now and she's no longer alone. She can touch people now. She doesn't need me."
Xavier sighed again.
"Marie is not fine. Her mind is in a state of confusion and denial."
Jean looked away.
"I wouldn't know." After experiencing the mental block Rogue had sent against her, Jean never again tried to read her young friend's mind.
Xavier frowned. This wasn't something he could intrude more on more, but wished for the first time that he didn't have morals regarding the use of his own powers.
Go review. But be nice? 8D