Disclaimer: Don't own x-men or any of the characters, expect Embers, he is
my creation. Please just read the fic. Move along there is nothing to read
up here that you don't already know.
Oh ya any city or town names in this fic, I made them up.
READ THIS!!!! Authors Note: Ok problem. I wrote this but you are seeing these memories from Logan, but a very key point happens with out Logan seeing it so in seeing these images, Rogue adds in some her own memories to fill the void. OK. Now you can read. Enjoy. :)
Drifters
Chapter 3: What's In A Name? Part 3
It's Getting Hot In Here
3 Years Later (from the last part.)
" Stay in the truck Stripes." Logan said sternly, as he closed the door to the blue paint chipped truck.
" But." Rogue began to protest.
" NO." he yelled. Ever since Rogue hit the age of nine or ten Logan became very protective. The fact that her powers hadn't manifested yet was probably the reason.
Rogue huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. Frowning and giving Logan one of her best death glares, to which Logan smiled and walked away. Leaving a very pissed off Rogue in the truck.
' Dam him.' Rogue yelled in her mind. She was 11 years old and was suppose to get her powers when she was nine or ten. Given the fact today was her birthday and Logan every year managed to leave her somewhere and come back in a bad mood wasn't helping her bad mood one bit.
Rogue slumped back in her seat and closed her eyes taking deep breaths trying to calm down.
But the fact that she was in some city she never heard of, stuck in a truck. All that and the fact that she had just hear a woman scream.
" HELP!!!" She heard the woman call out again.
Rogue looked around to see no one. She did see a dark alley and could have sworn she heard another sound emit from the alley.
Never being one to sit and wait the 11 year old girl got out of the truck only dressed in a pair of gray baggie sweats, a long sleeve dark blue shirt, black gloves that covered all of her hands and part of her wrist, and a pair of open toed flip flop sandals. She had short hair just a little above the shoulders auburn hair, with her trademark white streaks framing her face.
Rogue ran into the alley without a second thought. She saw what she originally thought was a woman was actually a teenage girl about the age of 15 or 16. She had long gold blonde hair, green eyes, wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt. She had tears running down her cheeks.
Some punk kids about 18 or 19, were surrounding her. One was going through her purse. Two were laughing and shoving each other. Another was getting pretty close to the trembling girl. And the last one was looking right at Rogue.
They wore all black, a few had spiked bleached hair, and others had silver spikes on their clothing and the one looking right at her wore a leather coat and combat boots. He must have been there leader.
" Get lost kid." He said angrily. The other four stopped to look at Rogue and smiled, sending chills down Rogue's spin.
" Leave 'er alone." Rogue managed to find her voice after a few seconds. 'Oh GAWD if there were anytime for meh t' get mah powers now is th' time.' Rogue prayed as she took off her gloves and threw them to the ground.
" Are ya kiddin' meh?" Another asked in an accent much like Rogue's.
"No." She said in a cocky tone, praying that the training her and Logan had would help her in real life. Slowly she took a step foreword.
" No?" The others all looked at each other and then laughed, turning their attention back to Rogue.
" Ah said: leave 'er alone." Rogue repeated finding more courage each time she opened her mouth. She then took another step foreword.
The leader of the group took up her challenge and was right in front of Rogue before she knew it. He was a good two feet taller then the 4'11in. Girl. He then slowly bent down to her eye level with a cocky grin.
The next thing Rogue knew was she felt a huge pain in her stomach and she was laying on the ground and the major pain in her stomach keeps increasing. She heard that girl scream again, ' Gawd dat voice is annoying.' Rogue thought to herself trying to forget the pain. Then Rogue felt herself being lifted up by one of them, as she coughed.
She knew she had coughed up blood by the foul taste left in her mouth. " Let her go." A new voice reached her ears. It was male but they didn't sound all mean like the others. Some one else laughed, and then she felt herself being thrown.
" You want her Embers you catch better catch her." The one holding Rogue called out to the guy, as Rogue was in midair. " Just don't burn down the city again."
The fear of where she might land snapped her out of her thoughts. As she felt strong arms catch her. She knew it wasn't Logan, that's all she needed to know, so she began to struggle.
" LET MEH GO!" Rogue yelled and before the guy could do anything, Rogue shoved her hand into his face. The instant her hand came in contact with his face Rogue had no idea who she was. She screamed out in pain at the new force making its way into her head.
Flashes of fights (' Stop it Steve. I don't want any trouble.') A giant fire, ('I'm sorry I didn't mean too.I'm sorry.') a car crash (' Hey mom you ok.MOM!!!' * Crash* glass breaking every where, a body got smashed.) A school she never knew existed (' hey Max!' A girl called out. ' Hey babe.' He called back. ' Cooper bro what's up?' A jock asked. ' Not much.' He shot back. As he continued walking down the hall.) A father walking away ('Hey dad where ya going?" Max called out to his father's retreating form. ' Out.' Was his dry reply. ' look dad I know you and mom have.' But he was cut off. ' Look son your mom and I have tried to talk things out, but what does talking solve?' With that Max's father left.) There was fire, a lot of fire (' I can't control it!' Max yelled out. ' Someone help. It's to much power.') There was so much fire; everywhere she turned it was there.
Rogue finally found the strength to pull away. Her hand reluctantly pulled away, almost as if there was a magnetic pull. Once her hand was removed both of them collapsed to the ground. The guy she now knew a Max Cooper was no temporally out of it but she new he would be up in a matter of minutes. Rogue slowly rose to her feet, and manage to grab one of her gloves before she felt completely lost, again. Who was she?
XxXxXxXxXx
Logan had just slammed the truck door shut, as he left a very pissed off Rogue alone in the truck.
It was a farley nice day, so Logan wore a navy blue t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans.
He walked over to the post office around the block. He still hadn't told Rogue about the fact that every year he sent her mother, Raven, a letter. This year he wrote:
Raven,
Another year, huh? Well Rogue is now eleven and every year her attitude becomes more and more like yours. But she has yet to receive her powers, which makes me believe that Destiny can't see everything meaning we still have control over are lives. I don't know about you but I like the idea that I can control what goes on in my life. Take care.
Logan
Logan brought out some stamps and sealed the letter, then mailed it without a thought. He then noticed someone was staring at him. He chose to ignore it for now and left. Still the guy in the corner followed him closely.
The guy was thin yet muscular, black t-shirt, blue jeans. He wore a black hair and some funky jewelry, in Logan's opinion, and a leather coat.
Logan decided to end this little came of cat and mouse, so he took a sharp right down an empty alley.
The man quickly followed around the corner, the second he turned the corner, Logan was ready, he grabbed the other guy by the neck and threw him to the wall.
" Who the hell are ya, bub?" Logan asked slightly growling.
*Shwink* Logan brought his claws dangerously close to the guys neck.
" Hey take it easy." The guy gulped, putting his hands up in surrender. " You're Logan Wolf, right?"
" What's it to ya?" Logan snapped back, again growling.
" I was sent to give you this." The man slowly reached into his coat pocket and dug around a bit. Then slowly brought his hand out.
He handed a small box with brown wrapping, and handed it to Logan, then slowly walked away.
Logan looked down at the box in his hands, it read: To Marie.
Logan looked around but saw no one, but he knew she was watching. Just then Logan heard a deadly scream and new instantly it was Rogue. ' OH SHIT!' he thought as he growled under his breath and took off running in Rogue's direction. Dropping the package.
He reached an alley where he knew she had been only to find a girl lying beaten on the ground, with a once white but now blood stained shirt, and jeans. A punk teenager was lying on the ground, with red hair, and a red shirt, and black pants. He was slowly moving but Logan was to worried about Rogue to go and help him. ' Dam it Stripes where are ya?' Logan then began to slightly sniff around, for Rogue. He found her scent and took off running.
He found Rogue stumbling down the sidewalk with a leather jacket on, and was missing a glove on her right hand.
" Rogue." He called out, but she didn't stop, she just kept on walking.or trying to at least.
" Hey Stripes." Logan called out again, grabbing her shoulder, but a sharp pain ignited from Rogue.
Rogue was then surrounded by a huge inferno of flames. Rogues remained in the center, unaffected. Her eyes growled a bright yellow; her once deep emerald eyes were now red on yellow. Logan couldn't look her in the eye her eyes were flaming with rage.
Her body was sweating from the heat, which gave her a glossy appearance, causing her clothes to stick to her skin. Her hair was moist but flared out from the waves of heat.
She had lost her sandals and stood there bare foot facing Logan, with her arms lying life less at her sides, glaring at Logan with a smirk on her lips.
" Leave me alone." The voice that came from Rogue's lips was and wasn't Rogue. It was a mixture of hers and the guy's voice.
" Stripes. let me help you, just calm down." Logan said rather calmly. They were in the middle of the street and most people had left the area already. The few that stayed to watch were watching from a pretty safe distance.
" Logan." Rogue alone said in a week voice.
" Come on Rogue, calm down. Well talk about this, how were going to deal with your powers and all." Logan began to walk slowly up to her.
Rogue was fighting the other guy in her head, she wasn't too sure what but something Logan said made it upset.
" What will talking solve." That voice exploded and the once dieing flames surrounding Rogue ignited and drew power from her rage. Swirling flames surrounded Rogue, slowly burning her once gray sweats into shorts, and the shirt under the coat became a tank top. For some reason the jacket was unharmed.
Logan was thrown back a good twenty feet, and on top of that he was thrown into a guy about 18 or 19 with hair the color of fire. He wore a red t- shirt, and black pants and boots, that's when Logan realized he was the guy from the alley. He was frowning as he looked at the 11-year-old child turning the town of Grant into a giant Barbecue.
" What did ya say to her?" The guy asked, looking somewhat amused at Logan.
" To calm down so we could talk." Logan said bitterly, unsure why he answered the punk's question. As he reached behind his neck to feel a gash wound on the back of his neck that had just finished healing.
" If what I think happened, happened then that would of set me off too." He frowned again, and took a deep breath and closed his eyes as if trying to repress a bad memory.
*Shwink*
The kid opened his eyes and had three razor sharp claws in his face. Logan was barely taller then the punk. " What's your name bub? And what business do you have here?" Logan growled deep in his throat, glaring daggers at him.
" Friends call me Embers, I'm a mutant, an' that girl dere did something funky to me, plus I tried to help her earlier and I think I made it worse, so I want to make it better. Second I want to get my coat back form de kid. If you must know, that is." Embers said smirking.
" Well Embers you're going to help me or I'll kill you if you take another step closer to her." Logan's growl deepened and he moved his claws closer to his neck to prove his point. "Seein' as how part of you is in her, how do I stop her?"
" Well one way to help us both out is to let me fight her so she will be weakened, so then the flames will die down and so will she. So what exactly is her power?" Embers asked a little grateful that Logan had sheathed his claws.
" Well they just manifested, but her power is when ever any living thing that touches her skin she absorbs their power, memories, physical abilities and life force." Logan said as a chill ran down his spin at the thought.
" That's rough.well lets get to work than shall we." It wasn't a question just an invitation to go and save the damsel in distress aka Rogue.
Embers got stone still, as if focusing his energy. Arms at his sides, then he slowly brought them up only bending his elbows. From his elbows up to his arms were still. He took a deep breath, and then looked to Logan. " So, pal what's y'ere name?"
" Wolverine." Logan said reluctantly. " What do you think you're doing, bub?"
" Well you can't take the heat, so.I'm going in after her." Embers tried to give Logan a do it my way or else look, but Logan wasn't caving so easily.
" If any harm comes to Rogue I will personally hunt you down." Logan spoke through his teeth.
" She will get hurt but I'll keep her alive. Oh and you might want to stand back." Embers let out and before Logan could protest Ember yelled out bringing his arms above his head and a similar flame surrounded him, and he took off toward Rogue. (A/N: Like in DBZ when they go super sayain, only with fire, and no change to their eyes or hair. Actually sort of, red on yellow eyes, their hair turn a blood red color.)
Logan could only look on and frown, but he decided to still try and get as close as he could with out getting barbecued. 'Dam.' He thought angrily, as the flames pushed him back.
Rogue and Embers were now both in the center of the inferno. A raging fire hungrily consumed anything in its path.
" Get lost." The twisted voice roared from Rogue's mouth, as did the flames. Rogue's hair now glowed a fiery red, her once auburn hair was more red, and the white streaks had now become a blood red orange.
" Not yet baby doll." Embers yelled out right before he charged at Rogue.
Hoping to get the jump on the girl, Embers charged at her head on. But unfortunately Rogue at this point was Embers in away. She anticipated his attack, by bringing up a flaming shield to reflect him.
Embers couldn't stop in time he wasn't expecting her to use her, his power like that. He was violently thrown back into a brick wall causing a very human like imprint behind him.
Moaning lightly Embers brought his hand to his head, and checked for any blood. Seeing none, he powered up and charged a smirking Rogue.
A volley of punches and kicks were exchanged both easily dodged and blocked only a few made contact with each other.
Logan was stuck on the sidelines, watching Rogue and Embers fight. When out of the corner of his eye Logan saw a fire hydrant, a sly smile appeared on Logan's lips as he walked over to it.
Rogue saw this and quickly grabbed Embers by his shirt and flung him at Logan.
Logan was to focused at the task at hand that he didn't realize until the last second that Embers was being hurled at him.
*Thud*
*Crash*
*Clang*
Logan found himself on the ground knocked into two or three garbage cans with Embers lying on top of him.
" Get of me Sparks." Logan said gruffly.
" It's Embers." He said as he got up to look at Rogue. Some how this little girl had his power and mind and yet she was better are using them then he was, this made him mad to say the least.
" Any other brilliant ideas?" Logan asked as he stood up and looked onto the desolate street that had been destroyed all because of one eleven-year- old girl.
" Ya just on but it ain't so brilliant." Embers said reluctantly as he whipped away some of the blood on his lip.
" Well what is it?" Logan asked then slowly began to walk toward Rogue. Whom had her back to the two and was attempting to leave.
" Well what we do is I'll distract her, and you jump 'er. See ah figure that if you can remind de girl who she is den are problems are solved. And I get my jacket back." Embers then took a step toward the girl.
" What? No, there has to be something better."
" Why not?" Embers asked rather shocked.
" How 'bout I rip that fire hydrant, so she can't burn anything else down, and she can't use.your powers." Logan said as he looked to the fire hydrant from before.
" Wrong. That won't work Claws." Embers stated angrily, causing Logan to reluctantly stop.
" And why not?" Logan slowly turned around, to face a frowning Embers.
" Have ya ever poured cold water on anything really hot before?" Embers questioned a tad annoyed.
" Ya you get a hell of a lot of steam. SO?" Logan was now officially annoyed.
" Which is hotter then the fire itself. We would all melt from de heat, before the water would over take the flames." Embers stated, and Logan just growled. " So I'll distract her and you jump 'er. Lets go.on three. One."
" Hold up." Logan shook his head he didn't like Embers plan one bit.
" Two."
" I said."
" Three." And with that he was off for round two against Rogue.
" Y' again." It was more Rogue's voice this time but Embers was still in her.
" Ok girlie ya damage my jacket an' ah won't play nice this time." Embers was trying to catch her off guard but to no avail.
" Don't call me girlie." And with that the fist were flying.
Logan watched and waited for the right moment to make his move.and there it was.
Embers was concentrating his energy into a fire ball that he could hopefully fire at Rogue and then stun her long enough so Logan could pin her down. She wasn't anticipating it because it was something he had never tried before.
He fired it at her at a deadly speed, and his aim was perfect. He hit her right on her left shoulder. Causing her to drop down from the force.
Logan wasted no time as he sprang into action, he charged behind her and in one slick graceful movement Logan managed to grab Rogue from under her arms, which made her cry out in pain. That's when both Logan and Embers realized the fireball Embers had shot at her had broken through the thick leather jacket and she was bleeding badly.
" Oops." Was all Embers could say. Rogue began to struggle regardless of the pain shooting threw her left shoulder. Though for some reason it was healing rather quickly, but slow compared to Logan's regeneration powers.
" Hey Stripes calm down, it's me Logan." Logan spoke softly, to her. Keeping her pinned down. " Sparks hold her.and watch her skin. No need to make matters worse." Logan said in his usual gruff tone. As Embers held arms at her sides and forced her into a sitting position.
Logan then got as close to Rogue's face as he could. " Rogue listens to my voice."
" Stay away." She screamed as tears rolled down her cheeks. Still continuing to struggle.
" Come on kid fight. You're better then that." Embers said in her ear.
" Come on darlin' remember who you are." Logan encouraged her.
" No he's dead I killed them, both of them dead. It was all my fault. I couldn't control it.. PLEASE GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!" The voices were switching off and on. The Embers inside of her was lost and confused, he blamed himself for someone's death.
" Look ignore it. It was a long time ago and nothing you can do can bring them back. He's dead. And so is the girl." Embers said coldly. After he said this Rogue struggling to get out of Embers hold lessened, and became more of a struggle to regain control of her body.
" Stripes come on focus."
" No leave meh alone, GET OUT OF MAH HEAD!" Rogue yelled at the top of her lungs as another inferno raged out of her. Sending Logan and Embers flying back.
Logan looked up to see Rogue standing alone in the street with a small faint glow about her. Her head was down in shame and her shoulders dropped. Her knees bent and wobbling to hold herself up right. She then slowly raised her head and caught Logan's eyes. Her hair regained its auburn and white stripes look, and her eyes regained their emerald beauty. They started at each other for a few moments. " Logan.ah'm sorry.ah didn't stay in th' truck." Rogue said before she collapsed on the street.
Logan got up and comforted her, her breathing was slow but he knew she would be fine. So Logan just held her. Embers reluctantly made his way over to the two. " Ya know Claws.we don't make such a bad team."
Logan looked up and smiled at the boy. " Ya guess you're right."
" Hey Max." Both Embers and Logan looked down at Rogue, whom was barley awake. She met Embers gaze and smiled " Your dad would have been proud."
" Maybe, kid." Embers smiled then sat next to the two and scuffed up Rogue's hair a bit. She then yawned and fell asleep.
" Logan." A deep woman's voice made both of them snap their heads around to face a woman dressed in a black shirt and jeans with red hair falling free. " You forgot this." She said and put down the package that Logan dropped in his hastened search for Rogue. She turned and began to walk away but then stopped. " This is not only the right life for her, but it is also the best." Raven then walked away, both Logan and Embers watched until she was gone.
Neither of them said a thing about her after she left. Embers grabbed the small brown box, and Logan picked up Rogue. They walked back to the truck. Logan then carefully set Rogue in covering her with a spare blanket, and then walked over to Embers, he was sitting alone on the sidewalk staring at the almost destroyed city.
" It looked like this after the fire, that I caused." Embers said emptily. Logan felt that some where deep down he wanted to know what had cause those things to happen to Rogue and what had made her calm down, so he sat next to him and listened. " I was about eleven. My father and mother had recently gotten a divorce. When I asked him to stay and talk about it he asked me 'what does talking solve?' I didn't see him for about a week, but he came back, and took me out for one last guy's night. I don't fully remember it, but I do recall that I got my powers dat night. We were walking out of the Pete's Grill and all of a sudden I got really hot. My father thought I was getting sick so we headed home." He took a sharp breath.
" But on are walk back my father and I were jumped. The muggers took his wallet and gold watch, they beat him, I tried to get them to stop, but they wouldn't listen. I just kept yelling. Then finally something inside me snapped.I was swallowed by a giant flame, I could feel the heat all over my body; I could feel my clothing slowly burn away. My eyes became a red on yellow, and my hair was a flaming red. I couldn't think strait; all I could see was the look of pure fear on those jerks faces of the monster that I had become. I just yelled out, I couldn't control my powers yet, I set the whole block on fire, I killed two people, and one being my father the other was a little girl. I remember yelling out 'I couldn't control it, it was too much power.' I was so confused. I could control fire, and for some reason I can heal rather quickly because of that, that's why I don't burn. I had to get fireproof clothing. " The whole experience was replaying before Embers eyes and there was no snapping him out of it, until he relived it fully.
" When I finally regained control, I looked on in horror at what I had done. They said some old wiring in an old building caused the fire but most knew different, they just didn't say anything. They tried to reassure me that I could do any thing, and they said my father had died from a blow to the head, but I think he wanted to make me feel better. The little girl was eight years old, I told the family the whole truth. They said they didn't blame me, they new about mutants. Turns out the mother of the little girl could control water. And it was her fault that we had a flood ten years back before that. So she didn't blame me. Turns out she was very open about death, said it was just her daughters time. That didn't make me feel any better. I wanted them to hate me. but no one did..Over half of this town is populated with mutants and the others fully accept them..After a while I could control my power, so I decided to help people that couldn't help themselves. Just doing little things. Then I met Rogue and I had to relive it. I'm glad though, something like than shouldn't be forgotten." Embers then snapped out of his lost state, and looked over to Logan and smiled. " So where are you an' de girl goin'?" Embers asked his off and on accent returning, trying to change the subject.
" Don't know. Out of here at least. I don't know how many people would want us around after.." His voice trailed off though.
" You'd be surprised. I think they might be upset, but no one will show it. If you're ever in town again, look me up." Embers rose to shake Logan's hand. " Logan."
" Max." Both men smiled, Logan then turned around and headed for his truck. " Hey Sparks.Every one has a past, it just depends on how we deal with the future that matters. But what happens in out past makes us stronger so we can face the future. Remember that." Logan smiled then got in the car a roared up the engine.
" Keep them claws sharp so next time we can have us a fair fight. Oh and tell Rogue she can keep the jacket." He called out over the loud engine.
" Will do." Logan called out as he drove off to the next town.
Authors Note: Hallelujah I'm done. This chapter took me forever to write, I rewrote it twice, but I am happy with this version the best, and if you don't like well tuff luck. Please review and let me know what you think. In the next part, I will fill you in on 'the school'. And that will be the last part to chapter 3. (hopefully.) So until then, happy reading. : )
Oh ya any city or town names in this fic, I made them up.
READ THIS!!!! Authors Note: Ok problem. I wrote this but you are seeing these memories from Logan, but a very key point happens with out Logan seeing it so in seeing these images, Rogue adds in some her own memories to fill the void. OK. Now you can read. Enjoy. :)
Drifters
Chapter 3: What's In A Name? Part 3
It's Getting Hot In Here
3 Years Later (from the last part.)
" Stay in the truck Stripes." Logan said sternly, as he closed the door to the blue paint chipped truck.
" But." Rogue began to protest.
" NO." he yelled. Ever since Rogue hit the age of nine or ten Logan became very protective. The fact that her powers hadn't manifested yet was probably the reason.
Rogue huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. Frowning and giving Logan one of her best death glares, to which Logan smiled and walked away. Leaving a very pissed off Rogue in the truck.
' Dam him.' Rogue yelled in her mind. She was 11 years old and was suppose to get her powers when she was nine or ten. Given the fact today was her birthday and Logan every year managed to leave her somewhere and come back in a bad mood wasn't helping her bad mood one bit.
Rogue slumped back in her seat and closed her eyes taking deep breaths trying to calm down.
But the fact that she was in some city she never heard of, stuck in a truck. All that and the fact that she had just hear a woman scream.
" HELP!!!" She heard the woman call out again.
Rogue looked around to see no one. She did see a dark alley and could have sworn she heard another sound emit from the alley.
Never being one to sit and wait the 11 year old girl got out of the truck only dressed in a pair of gray baggie sweats, a long sleeve dark blue shirt, black gloves that covered all of her hands and part of her wrist, and a pair of open toed flip flop sandals. She had short hair just a little above the shoulders auburn hair, with her trademark white streaks framing her face.
Rogue ran into the alley without a second thought. She saw what she originally thought was a woman was actually a teenage girl about the age of 15 or 16. She had long gold blonde hair, green eyes, wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt. She had tears running down her cheeks.
Some punk kids about 18 or 19, were surrounding her. One was going through her purse. Two were laughing and shoving each other. Another was getting pretty close to the trembling girl. And the last one was looking right at Rogue.
They wore all black, a few had spiked bleached hair, and others had silver spikes on their clothing and the one looking right at her wore a leather coat and combat boots. He must have been there leader.
" Get lost kid." He said angrily. The other four stopped to look at Rogue and smiled, sending chills down Rogue's spin.
" Leave 'er alone." Rogue managed to find her voice after a few seconds. 'Oh GAWD if there were anytime for meh t' get mah powers now is th' time.' Rogue prayed as she took off her gloves and threw them to the ground.
" Are ya kiddin' meh?" Another asked in an accent much like Rogue's.
"No." She said in a cocky tone, praying that the training her and Logan had would help her in real life. Slowly she took a step foreword.
" No?" The others all looked at each other and then laughed, turning their attention back to Rogue.
" Ah said: leave 'er alone." Rogue repeated finding more courage each time she opened her mouth. She then took another step foreword.
The leader of the group took up her challenge and was right in front of Rogue before she knew it. He was a good two feet taller then the 4'11in. Girl. He then slowly bent down to her eye level with a cocky grin.
The next thing Rogue knew was she felt a huge pain in her stomach and she was laying on the ground and the major pain in her stomach keeps increasing. She heard that girl scream again, ' Gawd dat voice is annoying.' Rogue thought to herself trying to forget the pain. Then Rogue felt herself being lifted up by one of them, as she coughed.
She knew she had coughed up blood by the foul taste left in her mouth. " Let her go." A new voice reached her ears. It was male but they didn't sound all mean like the others. Some one else laughed, and then she felt herself being thrown.
" You want her Embers you catch better catch her." The one holding Rogue called out to the guy, as Rogue was in midair. " Just don't burn down the city again."
The fear of where she might land snapped her out of her thoughts. As she felt strong arms catch her. She knew it wasn't Logan, that's all she needed to know, so she began to struggle.
" LET MEH GO!" Rogue yelled and before the guy could do anything, Rogue shoved her hand into his face. The instant her hand came in contact with his face Rogue had no idea who she was. She screamed out in pain at the new force making its way into her head.
Flashes of fights (' Stop it Steve. I don't want any trouble.') A giant fire, ('I'm sorry I didn't mean too.I'm sorry.') a car crash (' Hey mom you ok.MOM!!!' * Crash* glass breaking every where, a body got smashed.) A school she never knew existed (' hey Max!' A girl called out. ' Hey babe.' He called back. ' Cooper bro what's up?' A jock asked. ' Not much.' He shot back. As he continued walking down the hall.) A father walking away ('Hey dad where ya going?" Max called out to his father's retreating form. ' Out.' Was his dry reply. ' look dad I know you and mom have.' But he was cut off. ' Look son your mom and I have tried to talk things out, but what does talking solve?' With that Max's father left.) There was fire, a lot of fire (' I can't control it!' Max yelled out. ' Someone help. It's to much power.') There was so much fire; everywhere she turned it was there.
Rogue finally found the strength to pull away. Her hand reluctantly pulled away, almost as if there was a magnetic pull. Once her hand was removed both of them collapsed to the ground. The guy she now knew a Max Cooper was no temporally out of it but she new he would be up in a matter of minutes. Rogue slowly rose to her feet, and manage to grab one of her gloves before she felt completely lost, again. Who was she?
XxXxXxXxXx
Logan had just slammed the truck door shut, as he left a very pissed off Rogue alone in the truck.
It was a farley nice day, so Logan wore a navy blue t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans.
He walked over to the post office around the block. He still hadn't told Rogue about the fact that every year he sent her mother, Raven, a letter. This year he wrote:
Raven,
Another year, huh? Well Rogue is now eleven and every year her attitude becomes more and more like yours. But she has yet to receive her powers, which makes me believe that Destiny can't see everything meaning we still have control over are lives. I don't know about you but I like the idea that I can control what goes on in my life. Take care.
Logan
Logan brought out some stamps and sealed the letter, then mailed it without a thought. He then noticed someone was staring at him. He chose to ignore it for now and left. Still the guy in the corner followed him closely.
The guy was thin yet muscular, black t-shirt, blue jeans. He wore a black hair and some funky jewelry, in Logan's opinion, and a leather coat.
Logan decided to end this little came of cat and mouse, so he took a sharp right down an empty alley.
The man quickly followed around the corner, the second he turned the corner, Logan was ready, he grabbed the other guy by the neck and threw him to the wall.
" Who the hell are ya, bub?" Logan asked slightly growling.
*Shwink* Logan brought his claws dangerously close to the guys neck.
" Hey take it easy." The guy gulped, putting his hands up in surrender. " You're Logan Wolf, right?"
" What's it to ya?" Logan snapped back, again growling.
" I was sent to give you this." The man slowly reached into his coat pocket and dug around a bit. Then slowly brought his hand out.
He handed a small box with brown wrapping, and handed it to Logan, then slowly walked away.
Logan looked down at the box in his hands, it read: To Marie.
Logan looked around but saw no one, but he knew she was watching. Just then Logan heard a deadly scream and new instantly it was Rogue. ' OH SHIT!' he thought as he growled under his breath and took off running in Rogue's direction. Dropping the package.
He reached an alley where he knew she had been only to find a girl lying beaten on the ground, with a once white but now blood stained shirt, and jeans. A punk teenager was lying on the ground, with red hair, and a red shirt, and black pants. He was slowly moving but Logan was to worried about Rogue to go and help him. ' Dam it Stripes where are ya?' Logan then began to slightly sniff around, for Rogue. He found her scent and took off running.
He found Rogue stumbling down the sidewalk with a leather jacket on, and was missing a glove on her right hand.
" Rogue." He called out, but she didn't stop, she just kept on walking.or trying to at least.
" Hey Stripes." Logan called out again, grabbing her shoulder, but a sharp pain ignited from Rogue.
Rogue was then surrounded by a huge inferno of flames. Rogues remained in the center, unaffected. Her eyes growled a bright yellow; her once deep emerald eyes were now red on yellow. Logan couldn't look her in the eye her eyes were flaming with rage.
Her body was sweating from the heat, which gave her a glossy appearance, causing her clothes to stick to her skin. Her hair was moist but flared out from the waves of heat.
She had lost her sandals and stood there bare foot facing Logan, with her arms lying life less at her sides, glaring at Logan with a smirk on her lips.
" Leave me alone." The voice that came from Rogue's lips was and wasn't Rogue. It was a mixture of hers and the guy's voice.
" Stripes. let me help you, just calm down." Logan said rather calmly. They were in the middle of the street and most people had left the area already. The few that stayed to watch were watching from a pretty safe distance.
" Logan." Rogue alone said in a week voice.
" Come on Rogue, calm down. Well talk about this, how were going to deal with your powers and all." Logan began to walk slowly up to her.
Rogue was fighting the other guy in her head, she wasn't too sure what but something Logan said made it upset.
" What will talking solve." That voice exploded and the once dieing flames surrounding Rogue ignited and drew power from her rage. Swirling flames surrounded Rogue, slowly burning her once gray sweats into shorts, and the shirt under the coat became a tank top. For some reason the jacket was unharmed.
Logan was thrown back a good twenty feet, and on top of that he was thrown into a guy about 18 or 19 with hair the color of fire. He wore a red t- shirt, and black pants and boots, that's when Logan realized he was the guy from the alley. He was frowning as he looked at the 11-year-old child turning the town of Grant into a giant Barbecue.
" What did ya say to her?" The guy asked, looking somewhat amused at Logan.
" To calm down so we could talk." Logan said bitterly, unsure why he answered the punk's question. As he reached behind his neck to feel a gash wound on the back of his neck that had just finished healing.
" If what I think happened, happened then that would of set me off too." He frowned again, and took a deep breath and closed his eyes as if trying to repress a bad memory.
*Shwink*
The kid opened his eyes and had three razor sharp claws in his face. Logan was barely taller then the punk. " What's your name bub? And what business do you have here?" Logan growled deep in his throat, glaring daggers at him.
" Friends call me Embers, I'm a mutant, an' that girl dere did something funky to me, plus I tried to help her earlier and I think I made it worse, so I want to make it better. Second I want to get my coat back form de kid. If you must know, that is." Embers said smirking.
" Well Embers you're going to help me or I'll kill you if you take another step closer to her." Logan's growl deepened and he moved his claws closer to his neck to prove his point. "Seein' as how part of you is in her, how do I stop her?"
" Well one way to help us both out is to let me fight her so she will be weakened, so then the flames will die down and so will she. So what exactly is her power?" Embers asked a little grateful that Logan had sheathed his claws.
" Well they just manifested, but her power is when ever any living thing that touches her skin she absorbs their power, memories, physical abilities and life force." Logan said as a chill ran down his spin at the thought.
" That's rough.well lets get to work than shall we." It wasn't a question just an invitation to go and save the damsel in distress aka Rogue.
Embers got stone still, as if focusing his energy. Arms at his sides, then he slowly brought them up only bending his elbows. From his elbows up to his arms were still. He took a deep breath, and then looked to Logan. " So, pal what's y'ere name?"
" Wolverine." Logan said reluctantly. " What do you think you're doing, bub?"
" Well you can't take the heat, so.I'm going in after her." Embers tried to give Logan a do it my way or else look, but Logan wasn't caving so easily.
" If any harm comes to Rogue I will personally hunt you down." Logan spoke through his teeth.
" She will get hurt but I'll keep her alive. Oh and you might want to stand back." Embers let out and before Logan could protest Ember yelled out bringing his arms above his head and a similar flame surrounded him, and he took off toward Rogue. (A/N: Like in DBZ when they go super sayain, only with fire, and no change to their eyes or hair. Actually sort of, red on yellow eyes, their hair turn a blood red color.)
Logan could only look on and frown, but he decided to still try and get as close as he could with out getting barbecued. 'Dam.' He thought angrily, as the flames pushed him back.
Rogue and Embers were now both in the center of the inferno. A raging fire hungrily consumed anything in its path.
" Get lost." The twisted voice roared from Rogue's mouth, as did the flames. Rogue's hair now glowed a fiery red, her once auburn hair was more red, and the white streaks had now become a blood red orange.
" Not yet baby doll." Embers yelled out right before he charged at Rogue.
Hoping to get the jump on the girl, Embers charged at her head on. But unfortunately Rogue at this point was Embers in away. She anticipated his attack, by bringing up a flaming shield to reflect him.
Embers couldn't stop in time he wasn't expecting her to use her, his power like that. He was violently thrown back into a brick wall causing a very human like imprint behind him.
Moaning lightly Embers brought his hand to his head, and checked for any blood. Seeing none, he powered up and charged a smirking Rogue.
A volley of punches and kicks were exchanged both easily dodged and blocked only a few made contact with each other.
Logan was stuck on the sidelines, watching Rogue and Embers fight. When out of the corner of his eye Logan saw a fire hydrant, a sly smile appeared on Logan's lips as he walked over to it.
Rogue saw this and quickly grabbed Embers by his shirt and flung him at Logan.
Logan was to focused at the task at hand that he didn't realize until the last second that Embers was being hurled at him.
*Thud*
*Crash*
*Clang*
Logan found himself on the ground knocked into two or three garbage cans with Embers lying on top of him.
" Get of me Sparks." Logan said gruffly.
" It's Embers." He said as he got up to look at Rogue. Some how this little girl had his power and mind and yet she was better are using them then he was, this made him mad to say the least.
" Any other brilliant ideas?" Logan asked as he stood up and looked onto the desolate street that had been destroyed all because of one eleven-year- old girl.
" Ya just on but it ain't so brilliant." Embers said reluctantly as he whipped away some of the blood on his lip.
" Well what is it?" Logan asked then slowly began to walk toward Rogue. Whom had her back to the two and was attempting to leave.
" Well what we do is I'll distract her, and you jump 'er. See ah figure that if you can remind de girl who she is den are problems are solved. And I get my jacket back." Embers then took a step toward the girl.
" What? No, there has to be something better."
" Why not?" Embers asked rather shocked.
" How 'bout I rip that fire hydrant, so she can't burn anything else down, and she can't use.your powers." Logan said as he looked to the fire hydrant from before.
" Wrong. That won't work Claws." Embers stated angrily, causing Logan to reluctantly stop.
" And why not?" Logan slowly turned around, to face a frowning Embers.
" Have ya ever poured cold water on anything really hot before?" Embers questioned a tad annoyed.
" Ya you get a hell of a lot of steam. SO?" Logan was now officially annoyed.
" Which is hotter then the fire itself. We would all melt from de heat, before the water would over take the flames." Embers stated, and Logan just growled. " So I'll distract her and you jump 'er. Lets go.on three. One."
" Hold up." Logan shook his head he didn't like Embers plan one bit.
" Two."
" I said."
" Three." And with that he was off for round two against Rogue.
" Y' again." It was more Rogue's voice this time but Embers was still in her.
" Ok girlie ya damage my jacket an' ah won't play nice this time." Embers was trying to catch her off guard but to no avail.
" Don't call me girlie." And with that the fist were flying.
Logan watched and waited for the right moment to make his move.and there it was.
Embers was concentrating his energy into a fire ball that he could hopefully fire at Rogue and then stun her long enough so Logan could pin her down. She wasn't anticipating it because it was something he had never tried before.
He fired it at her at a deadly speed, and his aim was perfect. He hit her right on her left shoulder. Causing her to drop down from the force.
Logan wasted no time as he sprang into action, he charged behind her and in one slick graceful movement Logan managed to grab Rogue from under her arms, which made her cry out in pain. That's when both Logan and Embers realized the fireball Embers had shot at her had broken through the thick leather jacket and she was bleeding badly.
" Oops." Was all Embers could say. Rogue began to struggle regardless of the pain shooting threw her left shoulder. Though for some reason it was healing rather quickly, but slow compared to Logan's regeneration powers.
" Hey Stripes calm down, it's me Logan." Logan spoke softly, to her. Keeping her pinned down. " Sparks hold her.and watch her skin. No need to make matters worse." Logan said in his usual gruff tone. As Embers held arms at her sides and forced her into a sitting position.
Logan then got as close to Rogue's face as he could. " Rogue listens to my voice."
" Stay away." She screamed as tears rolled down her cheeks. Still continuing to struggle.
" Come on kid fight. You're better then that." Embers said in her ear.
" Come on darlin' remember who you are." Logan encouraged her.
" No he's dead I killed them, both of them dead. It was all my fault. I couldn't control it.. PLEASE GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!" The voices were switching off and on. The Embers inside of her was lost and confused, he blamed himself for someone's death.
" Look ignore it. It was a long time ago and nothing you can do can bring them back. He's dead. And so is the girl." Embers said coldly. After he said this Rogue struggling to get out of Embers hold lessened, and became more of a struggle to regain control of her body.
" Stripes come on focus."
" No leave meh alone, GET OUT OF MAH HEAD!" Rogue yelled at the top of her lungs as another inferno raged out of her. Sending Logan and Embers flying back.
Logan looked up to see Rogue standing alone in the street with a small faint glow about her. Her head was down in shame and her shoulders dropped. Her knees bent and wobbling to hold herself up right. She then slowly raised her head and caught Logan's eyes. Her hair regained its auburn and white stripes look, and her eyes regained their emerald beauty. They started at each other for a few moments. " Logan.ah'm sorry.ah didn't stay in th' truck." Rogue said before she collapsed on the street.
Logan got up and comforted her, her breathing was slow but he knew she would be fine. So Logan just held her. Embers reluctantly made his way over to the two. " Ya know Claws.we don't make such a bad team."
Logan looked up and smiled at the boy. " Ya guess you're right."
" Hey Max." Both Embers and Logan looked down at Rogue, whom was barley awake. She met Embers gaze and smiled " Your dad would have been proud."
" Maybe, kid." Embers smiled then sat next to the two and scuffed up Rogue's hair a bit. She then yawned and fell asleep.
" Logan." A deep woman's voice made both of them snap their heads around to face a woman dressed in a black shirt and jeans with red hair falling free. " You forgot this." She said and put down the package that Logan dropped in his hastened search for Rogue. She turned and began to walk away but then stopped. " This is not only the right life for her, but it is also the best." Raven then walked away, both Logan and Embers watched until she was gone.
Neither of them said a thing about her after she left. Embers grabbed the small brown box, and Logan picked up Rogue. They walked back to the truck. Logan then carefully set Rogue in covering her with a spare blanket, and then walked over to Embers, he was sitting alone on the sidewalk staring at the almost destroyed city.
" It looked like this after the fire, that I caused." Embers said emptily. Logan felt that some where deep down he wanted to know what had cause those things to happen to Rogue and what had made her calm down, so he sat next to him and listened. " I was about eleven. My father and mother had recently gotten a divorce. When I asked him to stay and talk about it he asked me 'what does talking solve?' I didn't see him for about a week, but he came back, and took me out for one last guy's night. I don't fully remember it, but I do recall that I got my powers dat night. We were walking out of the Pete's Grill and all of a sudden I got really hot. My father thought I was getting sick so we headed home." He took a sharp breath.
" But on are walk back my father and I were jumped. The muggers took his wallet and gold watch, they beat him, I tried to get them to stop, but they wouldn't listen. I just kept yelling. Then finally something inside me snapped.I was swallowed by a giant flame, I could feel the heat all over my body; I could feel my clothing slowly burn away. My eyes became a red on yellow, and my hair was a flaming red. I couldn't think strait; all I could see was the look of pure fear on those jerks faces of the monster that I had become. I just yelled out, I couldn't control my powers yet, I set the whole block on fire, I killed two people, and one being my father the other was a little girl. I remember yelling out 'I couldn't control it, it was too much power.' I was so confused. I could control fire, and for some reason I can heal rather quickly because of that, that's why I don't burn. I had to get fireproof clothing. " The whole experience was replaying before Embers eyes and there was no snapping him out of it, until he relived it fully.
" When I finally regained control, I looked on in horror at what I had done. They said some old wiring in an old building caused the fire but most knew different, they just didn't say anything. They tried to reassure me that I could do any thing, and they said my father had died from a blow to the head, but I think he wanted to make me feel better. The little girl was eight years old, I told the family the whole truth. They said they didn't blame me, they new about mutants. Turns out the mother of the little girl could control water. And it was her fault that we had a flood ten years back before that. So she didn't blame me. Turns out she was very open about death, said it was just her daughters time. That didn't make me feel any better. I wanted them to hate me. but no one did..Over half of this town is populated with mutants and the others fully accept them..After a while I could control my power, so I decided to help people that couldn't help themselves. Just doing little things. Then I met Rogue and I had to relive it. I'm glad though, something like than shouldn't be forgotten." Embers then snapped out of his lost state, and looked over to Logan and smiled. " So where are you an' de girl goin'?" Embers asked his off and on accent returning, trying to change the subject.
" Don't know. Out of here at least. I don't know how many people would want us around after.." His voice trailed off though.
" You'd be surprised. I think they might be upset, but no one will show it. If you're ever in town again, look me up." Embers rose to shake Logan's hand. " Logan."
" Max." Both men smiled, Logan then turned around and headed for his truck. " Hey Sparks.Every one has a past, it just depends on how we deal with the future that matters. But what happens in out past makes us stronger so we can face the future. Remember that." Logan smiled then got in the car a roared up the engine.
" Keep them claws sharp so next time we can have us a fair fight. Oh and tell Rogue she can keep the jacket." He called out over the loud engine.
" Will do." Logan called out as he drove off to the next town.
Authors Note: Hallelujah I'm done. This chapter took me forever to write, I rewrote it twice, but I am happy with this version the best, and if you don't like well tuff luck. Please review and let me know what you think. In the next part, I will fill you in on 'the school'. And that will be the last part to chapter 3. (hopefully.) So until then, happy reading. : )