Disclaimer: Nope, not my X-men. D:
AN: Wow! I actually have reviews? I never realised how great that would feel! Thank you so very much to everyone who reviewed, you made my day!
In fact I was so pleased about the response, it made me get this one done quickly. :D
Section two: Paranoia
Rogue woke up the next morning and groaned as the sunlight invaded her vision. Within two seconds though, she was standing up and checking the window. Still locked. She rubbed her head tiredly, trying to work out when exactly she'd fallen asleep. Her plan had been to lay there awake and try and catch him creeping in. Obviously she'd drifted off whilst waiting. And since the window was still locked, it was doubtful he'd come in at all.
More than anything she wanted to find him in her room one day so she could actually confront him about what the hell he thought he was playing at. She had no way of contacting him, or letting him know how much she was growing to despise him and his little visits.
About a month ago she'd started leaving notes out in her room for him to find, placing them where he'd usually leave his. They were pretty much just telling him to do one, but using lots of less pleasant words. Unfortunately this only seemed to encourage him, since he started replying to the notes and such.
Since then she'd been flat out ignoring him. Maybe he'd think she wasn't even finding the notes or reading them if she just pretended he didn't exist. It's like parents always say to their kids about bullying, 'Just ignore them and they'll lose interest when they don't get a reaction.' Yeah right. That's just wishful thinking, surely.
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Gambit shivered slightly, tugging the ratter tatty black scarf tighter around his neck. It was literally freezing out here. He'd watched his surveillance camera closely last night but she was evidently wary, since it took forever for her to fall asleep. Eventually he'd gotten too bored and cold to wait any longer, returning to the Acolytes base to get some much needed shut eye.
Now, determined to make up for last night, he'd gotten up really early and was out in the snow once more. Hopefully he'd get within range before she woke up; he loved watching her morning routine. He'd place bets with himself about which clothes she'd choose, and whether she'd go down for breakfast that day, just to keep himself occupied.
He ducked behind some bushes not too far from the institute, but close enough to a well used road for his footprints to not be suspicious. Sitting himself down and trying not to care that the snow was soaking his clothes, he fished in his pocket for the little monitor.
It took him a few minutes to tune the picture enough, but he smiled to himself once his angel came into focus. The way she was lying, her hair had spilled out on the pillow beneath her head, and those delightful white streaks had drifted back amongst the auburn to look like some kind of imperfect halo.
He was surprised as she suddenly woke up and scrambled to the window. Did she know he was watching? He felt his heart rate pick up and then slow once he realised she was just checking the lock.
Oh yes, the lock. It amused him greatly that she thought even for a minute that a mere bolt on her window might keep him out. True, he couldn't get into her window now without making a lot of noise, but all he had to do was slip in through the window next to hers and pick the lock on her door. He'd make a point of leaving through her window though, since he had to leave he bolt undone for that. And it was great to see her belle eyes widen every time she noticed the bolt wasn't how she left it.
A lump of snow tumbled from one of the branches over him and slid down the back of his neck, causing him to curse and almost drop the monitor. He really needed to invest in better equipment, so he could just watch her from the base. This was getting ridiculous.
Settling himself again, with a shiver, he messed with the aerial to regain the picture and frowned when she was no longer in the room. But the bathroom door was closed, which meant she was probably showering. He was half tempted to sneak in there again as he'd done a few times before, but he didn't want to push his luck. As cold as he was now, he'd be clumsier, probably making more noise than usual. Most of Xavier's people might have left but that damn Wolverine was still lurking around… and he didn't really fancy the guy's claws through his chest.
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Rogue emerged from the steam filled bathroom wrapped in a towel and trying to figure out what she was going to do today. As much as she would have denied it, she already missed the others.
With a sigh she stepped to her closet and pulled out some black jeans and the green top Kitty gave her. The hairs on the back of her neck raised and she looked around the room. Recently she'd been feeling like someone was watching her all the time, but her curtains were closed so she shrugged it off. Gambit was just making her paranoid. Bastard.
Still, she changed quickly, feeling more comfortable once she was fully clothed and gloved. She tugged her new belt through the loops on her trousers, lots of practice keeping her gloved fingers from fumbling with the buckle.
She ran a brush through her wet hair, not bothering to dry it. No one was here anyways, why bother? It wasn't enough of a reason to dissuade her from applying her make up though. She glanced around the room one more time, and then made her way down to the kitchen.
It was so weird with the mansion so very quiet. It definitely needed more than one teenager at a time to make a place this big feel comfortable.
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Logan was reading the newspaper at the table when she arrived. He offered her a smile and a grunt of "Mornin' Stripes," before dropping his gaze again, though he was no longer reading. He was getting worried about Rogue recently. She was looking more tired as if she couldn't sleep for some reason, and she seemed edgy.
He glanced up again as she grunted an inarticulate response and flopped down across from him with a steaming mug of coffee.
After the Apocalypse ordeal, everyone had treated her as some kind of hero, but he'd noticed that the more they piled the praise on, the more she seemed to want to disappear. He understood that she didn't like to be in the spotlight too much, and he couldn't blame her.
At first he'd just thought it was leftover awkwardness about the situation that was causing her to be a little withdrawn. And then when she'd asked him to fix that bolt across her window he suspected she was worried someone was going to try and get in. If there's one thing he knew about this mansion it's that the windows did not rattle. With his oversensitive hearing a constant rattling like that would have driven him mad. Or at least caught his attention.
It was who she was worried about that he couldn't put his finger on. For a seventeen year old girl she had way too many enemies. It was probably just a precaution in case anyone tried to get in. But he wasn't sure.
"So what you gonna do today, kid?" he asked easily, his voice not betraying even a hint of his concerns. Her eyes flashed up to meet his as if she'd zoned out for a while, and she shrugged half-heartedly.
"Ah dunno," she blew a damp strand of white hair from in from in front of her eyes and took another sip of her hot coffee. "Don't really feel like being cooped up in here all day, so Ah might go down to the library and try an' make a dent in the Christmas homework mah teachers were so kind to give us."
He chuckled faintly and nodded. "Need a lift?"
She shook her head, "Nah, thanks though." She still found snow something of a novelty after growing up in Mississippi, though she wouldn't say that out loud. Draining the rest of her drink, she dumped the mug in the sink and threw Logan a smile as she left the room.
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Not wanting to freeze to death, Rogue decided she'd better dry her hair before heading out. That done, she started fussing about in her room, tidying things here and there, rummaging through her closet... even bothering to paint the nails she'd later hide beneath her gloves.
In fact it was a couple of hours before she realised she was procrastinating. Slightly alarmed at her own actions she frowned. There was no way he was making her nervous to go out alone. She was The Rogue for crying out loud.
With a determined grunt she tugged her gloves over her now dry, shiny black nails and grabbed her long, dark coloured coat and book bag. She wouldn't let him get to her.
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Walking through the snow covered streets she tried to look casual in case he was watching from somewhere. Ugh, that was paranoia for you. He was probably off working for Magneto somewhere, not thinking about her at all. Yeah.
Pushing him from her mind yet again, Rogue walked into her favourite café to get some lunch and hopefully get her thoughts onto something more productive.
Halfway through a particularly delicious bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich, she was beginning to feel a little better. His written comment about keeping her company was bugging her a bit though. Did this mean he was finally going to put in an appearance?
Did she really want him to?
Maybe it was safer if he kept his distance. At least she could pretend to ignore his little game that way.
Groaning internally, she realised he'd gotten into her thoughts again. He was going to drive her mad! Finishing her food and grabbing the half empty bottle of water she hurried the rest of the way to the library, determined to bury herself in her work.
That plan was fairly successful but all too soon she'd completed every assignment she'd been given. Huh, who'd have thought she'd actually be wishing for more homework?
Her weary jade eyes lifted to glance around the nearly empty library, and she stretched her stiff neck. It was dark outside the windows and she wondered how long she'd been working. Locating a clock she discovered it was nearly ten and was mildly surprised. She had really focused for a while but now her worries were beginning to seep back in.
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Gambit was freezing again. He always seemed to be lurking around in the snow these days. Ah, but it was worth it he thought with a sly grin.
He'd been busy getting some stuff for Magneto for the most part of the day, and had engaged in a rather nasty row with Piotr about how much time he was spending away. They didn't know what he did with this time, but it was none of their business. As he'd loudly told Colossus. At least he still got his work done. He could juggle the two things easily enough so there was no problem, right?
He sighed, stamping his feet in the dark alleyway to try and keep warm, silently cursing Rogue and how long she was taking. He'd been standing here for an hour now, after he'd followed the little tracking device he'd put under the collar of her coat the other night as she slept.
He glanced down at the little device in his palm, his eyes flashing excitedly as it showed she was approaching. It wasn't long before the familiar rhythm of her steps in the snow reached his trained ears and he tensed, readying himself.
It was time they had a little face to face meeting.
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