DISCLAIMER: Marvel's, kiddies.


"What the hell is this?" Rogue demanded, plucking at the material. "Is this spandex? Oh hell no!"

"Rogue, please," Scott was saying, "It allows for the best mobility on the field."

"Do you know what this does t'cellulite? Ah won't be caught dead in this! And these colors, they're so…tacky!"

"Do you have any better suggestions?" Scott barked, finally reaching the end of his patience. He had been arguing with Rogue for the past hour, trying to get her to put on the uniform and practice in the Danger Room. Hank had given her a clean bill of health two days ago, and she had refused to become an active participant on the team. She made Bobby look like a little angel. He was currently smirking in the corner, watching Scott grow more and more infuriated with every passing moment.

"Yeah you can shove this brassy piece of plastic straight up your-"

"Rogue."

She dropped the uniform and turned around. The Professor had that fatherly, stern look on his face she had grown to hate. It was the same he gave her when she wasn't participating in their sessions. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him challengingly.

"Ah won't wear that," she said.

"All the X-men wear spandex. It allows for best interaction with powers."

"Then shouldn't Ah go naked?" she growled. Bobby's smile grew wider and he nodded enthusiastically.

"Child, please," Professor said, rubbing his forehead. He looked weary. "This isn't open for discussion. Put that on and perform the tests. If you are going to be an active part of this team-"

"Ah don't want to be part of this team, period!" she cried out. Her face was volatile. She picked up the uniform and threw it across the room before storming out.

"Professor," Scott said, "I know it's not my place to say anything but-"

"Not now, Scott," Xavier said. "We need to give her more time. She's not adjusting well."

"She wants to be with the Brotherhood!" Scott insisted. "Is it safe having her here?"

"She won't betray us, Scott. She's just scared."

"Looked more like pissed off, to me," Bobby remarked. The Professor gave him a stern look, and he quieted down.

"Bobby go ahead and run through your exercises. Let's see if we can't get something accomplished today, hmm?" the Professor said. Bobby groaned but he obeyed and Scott programmed in a light course for him.

"What's going on with her?" Scott asked. "Some days she seems almost normal. Other times she's like this."

"I am not sure. I can't reach her telepathically. Something has scarred that child's mind very badly. I have work to do," the Professor said, and wheeled himself out of the Observation Deck. Scott grit his teeth together and watched Bobby.

Rogue stood outside the room, heart pounding. She had wanted to put on that spandex monstrosity. She had almost won. But Rogue felt strong. She had beaten her. Even if it did piss of the X-geeks. Especially Scott. Rogue felt something bitter in the back of her throat as she thought of him. And Jean. She pushed those thoughts away till she could analyze them better.

Scott said she wanted to be with the Brotherhood, but did she really? She hadn't liked it there. Half of them were certifiably insane, and the other half, well, that was even scarier. True she had had Mystique and Destiny, but was it worth it? Here, at least, they worried about her. The Professor seemed nice enough. He wanted to help her. But she couldn't tell him. She couldn't let him know her secret.

"What secret?" Rogue demanded. "You can't hide anythin' in mah head!"

She laughed. Yes, it seems I can.

"What do you want with me?"

Not me. I want nothing with you. You are just the vessel.

"Get." Rogue said, through gritted teeth, "Out. Of. Mah. Head."

You put me in here, 'sugah'.

"No Ah didn't!"

Oh, poor little Roguey doesn't remember? No matter. Soon will be the time. Soon you'll be no more but a petty little afterthought.

"Fuck you!" Rogue spat. "Ah am in control. Not you."

"Are you alright?" Rogue looked up. Jean was looking at her, face full of worry. She was wearing spandex.

"Peachy." Rogue said, dryly. "Ah need air."

"I think you should lay down. You look pale."

Her! We want her!

"Ah'm fine."

Kill her. We want blood.

"Whatever you say. We're only trying to help you, here, you know."

You know you want to hurt her. Look at her. She's everything you hate. Everything you can't be. Just one touch and you can be her. Take her. Take it all. All that power!

"You don't know anything!" Rogue shouted, before turning and running down the hall. She kept laughing. She was always laughing.

"Whoa!" Warren said, catching her as she rounded a corner, before she could barrel into him. He held her by her arms. "You don't look well." Rogue's eyes were wide, unfocused. He had angel wings. Why couldn't she think straight? Her eyes blurred. She was taking over. Rogue forced her hand up, onto Warren's smooth cheek. She saw his eyes go wide and his mouth twist in agony. She let go. But it was enough to regain control. Warren slumped down, his wings protecting him.

She fought off his psyche as it roared at her. She saw images. Jean. Purple. Crying as his parents bound him in leather straps to keep his wings hidden. The day they drove up to Xavier's and left him there. The man with the fangs. Playing catch with Bobby. Flying, freedom. The sadness.

She felt pain in her shoulder blades. She had to get of there, before they saw her. Before they saw what she had done. The blood trickled down her back as the wings struggled to free themselves from the skin and clothes. She touched her shoulder, and her hand came away sticky. So much blood.


Always stained.

"Ah don't want to hold on, Momma," she screamed. The girl was fighting her, clawing, screaming.

"Don't fight it!" Mystique yelled. The girl stopped struggling. Rogue thought she was stupid. That was meant for her. She gripped the girl's face tighter.

"It hurts. Ah'm killin' her!" Rogue screamed. Mystique grabbed her hand, spreading her gloved ones over Rogue's own.

"Don't let go."

"Momma!" Rogue started to cry. She could feel the memories as she stole them. It had never been like this before. She wanted to let go. Why wouldn't Momma let her let go? She tried to fight her, but she was weak. No, she was strong? The girl was strong. Why wasn't she fighting? Why wasn't she screaming? She felt the liquid. The girl was bleeding from the nose, the mouth, the eyes. So much blood. All over her hands. Mystique stepped back and Rogue snatched her hands away. But these weren't her hands! What was happening to her?

Mystique grabbed her face. "You know what to do?"

Rogue nodded. But she didn't know. But Carol did.

"I'll take care of the body."

Another nod. She wanted the blood off her hands. Her blood. No, Carol's blood.


She was at the end of the driveway, panting hard. The wind pulled at her wings. She wanted to fly. But she was heavy, so heavy. Scott was running after her, yelling. Shooting at her. Why wouldn't the gate open? She tugged it.

"Rogue, stop! Please!" Scott yelled. She heard someone punching numbers on the electrical keypad, and the gate slid from her hands. She tried to run, but someone grabbed her.

"Leave her alone!" Scott yelled.

"Sorry, mon ami," then there was blackness.