I do not own X-Men: Evolution or Marvel in any way, shape, or form. All I own is my idea. Please do not sue, for it will just be a waste of time and money in trying to find a lawyer. Thank you.
Dismay
((( Rogue, I'd like to see you in my office. )))
Shivers slithered up Rogue's spine as the Professor Xavier's calm, collectible voice echoed within the thin walls of her fragile psyche. She absolutely hated it when telepaths verbalized their thoughts and unexpectedly projected them into others' minds. Not only did it violate her privacy in numerous ways, but petrified her, as well. 'Ya would think Ah would've learned by now... livin' in a school for mutants for almost two years.' She quickly sent a reply, saying she would be right there.
She jogged down the stairs, passing a few of the New Recruits who examined her, completely bemused and dumbfounded. With black mascara running down her flushed cheeks and a red nose that desperately needed blowing, she must've looked something remotely close to a court jester. She disregarded their rude stares and kept on.
The door to the Professor's study opened, revealing a grim faced Xavier sitting at his desk, quite motionless. With his hands folded on top of the stack of papers lying before him, he looked like he meant serious business. Rogue stepped inside and sat down on the leather chair he gestured towards. The door shut, sending a gust of wind her way that chilled her bare feet.
'Why isn't he talking?' The silence between the two was incredibly loud. It was almost more than Rogue could stand. 'Does he know?'
"Yes, Rogue," he answered gravely. "I do. And I cannot say that I am terribly thrilled at the thought of one of my students---an eighteen-year-old senior---being a mother to triplets."
The tears were beginning to flood back. Ferociously, she fought them back. "Ah'm sorry, Professor... How much do ya know?" she asked through the sniffles. 'What is with mah emotions lately?'
"I do not try to probe my students' minds for everything, as you may believe. I'd much rather have them tell me their problems themselves. But when thoughts are as loud as yours, one cannot help but pick them up. On top of that, everyone at the Institute has noticed you've been... notably depressed and pessimistic lately. Some believe you are putting on a bit of weight and that is what has been making you so grouchy. Others believe it is that you feel betrayal from your mother, Mystique. Only the good doctor, Jean, and I know the truth."
Rogue grabbed one of the tissues he handed her and dabbed at her watering eyes. "Ah'm just---there's more." She paused for a moment before adding, "But Ah can't talk about it. At least not right now."
Her headmaster smiled. "I know. You can talk about it in your own time."
She nodded her head and slowly stood up to leave. "But Rogue---" She turned around to face the handicapped, old man. "Just remember," he continued, "we are all here for you. No matter what."
Rogue wiped her eyes again and flashed a slight grin as she exited the office.
"Hey Stripes."
Logan's voice caught her off guard. She half-expected everyone to either be in their rooms, or in the recreation room. She whirled around to face the burly Canadian, trying as best as she could to cover her face. She didn't want anyone to see that she had been crying. He raised an eyebrow and took a sip of his beer before asking, "Why were ya in Chuck's office?"
"He was givin' meh some advice on a project Ah'm doin' for school," she lied. The fibs were starting to come naturally to her, without event the slightest thought to them, and frankly, she was becoming concerned. 'What am I becoming?' The various voices trapped inside of her head answered her. A liar. 'Shut up. What else was Ah supposed ta do?' she asked herself. 'Tell him? He would've been furious. Ah'm not ready for all that yet. Ah mean---Ah'll tell everyone... eventually.'
She started to argue with the voices, forgetting that Wolverine had been talking to her.
Wolverine eyed her doubtingly. "Is somethin' botherin' ya, Stripes?"
She stopped the bickering and answered with a simple, "No." She cringed at the second lie. Nervously, she played with her leather glove. "Ah've---Ah've gotta go." She headed down the hall, leaving him alone to sort out his own thoughts.
And for the first time he could ever remember, Logan questioned himself: 'What has Rogue ever been so edgy about?'
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"Ah'm fat."
Rogue frowned as she turned around in front of her full-front mirror, disgusted with her body. Her breasts had grown to the size of which they both could fit in her hands, and her stomach clearly bulged without her shirt on. She felt huge and unwanted. Not that anyone had ever been interested in her before... for the exception of Cody, but she doubted he hardly even remembered her. There was also that arrogant Swamp Rat, but she would rather think of anything else than of him.
Kitty shook her head as she watched her friend study herself and sigh with displeasure. "Rogue," she said, "you're like, twelve weeks pregnant---with triplets! What did you expect? To have a totally perfect figure or something?"
She glared at her friend menacingly. "You're not helpin' much, Kitty. Ah can hardly fit in mah pants anymore and all mah shirts are gettin' pretty tight. Ah feel as big as a house!"
The other girl giggled a bit.
"It's not funny!" Rogue protested.
"Sorry." Kitty sat there, thinking for a moment before she smiled deviously. "I, like, have a plan."
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"Remind meh ta never let ya drive meh anywhere ever again!"
Rogue combed through her hair with her the long fingernails she had recently been blessed with as she and Kitty hopped out of Jean's SUV. The valley girl slung her pink, feathery purse over her shoulder and beamed. "It wasn't that bad," she said as they walked up to the entrance of Bayville mall.
"Not that bad!? Kit, you ran three red lights, didn't stop at any of the stop signs, and phased through ten cars that you almost hit in the process!" she said, counting the number of faults Kitty had committed while on the road.
"They were being too slow, Rogue!"
"Why couldn't you just wait like a normal person instead of phasing and almost givin' meh a heart attack?"
"What's so wrong about phasing?"
"Ah'll never understand ya preppy mind," Rogue kidded.
The two walked past the food court and a few stores before finding themselves at JC Penney. Not realizing that it was a sale day, the pair was dragged along by the crowd fighting their way into the small department store. Eventually, they found each other and pushed their way past everyone and into the maternity section. Rogue couldn't help but notice the evil glares she was receiving as she followed Kitty down the aisles of clothes.
"Look at those girls, not a day older than my Stephanie."
"Kids having kids. It's just not right."
"What is our world becoming?"
Rogue just ignored the people's loud whispers of disapproval and kept walking, trying not to let their words get to her. She turned to see if Kitty was listening to the public's mumblings about pregnant teenagers, but the petite girl was too absorbed into shopping. A few shirts, pants, and jumpers were slung over her arm, all in dark shades. Rogue smiled. It felt good to have a best friend who was always there for you.
'If only Ah could touch.'
- So, that's chapter nine. Hope you liked it. Sorry about not writing sooner. I have to share the computer with my dad and brother. I also had severe writer's block, and am starting to get sick with something. Hopefully I'll start writing the next chapter soon, because I have a four day weekend and don't have to go to school! Yay! Sorry again. Hope you review. Note: (((blah blah))) means telepathic talk. Note 2: I do not own JC Penney. Thanks. Buh bye! xmengirlzrule -
