Disclaimer- You really think I would be spending my time writing random stories if I owned all this?
Reviews (These are only the ones from chapter seven, so if I missed you, my apologies)
Sinister Bra- Yeah, I cannont see a normal mother-daughter relationship with Rogue and Raven. I agree, it just isn't there. It would be nice for them to get along and dance in Lilies, but that isn't an option. Rogue has been hurt to many times by the women and Raven isn't completely heartless but she does priotize her plans and benefits over anyone else's. She could try but she just has no idea how to go about being a mother.
Ish- Yep, Mystique tends to screw with everything.
MAG (I'm getting lazy, lol)- you will just have to wait, I'm afraid to say.
Nettlez- High five right back. Thank you very much.
Chapter 8- Absense and Return
She woke the next morning without a nightmare. It was a small blessing in the current state of things. She lethargically got dressed and applied her make-up. Today she could tell the difference between her purple eye shadow and the dark circles that were usually found around her eyes. Another small blessing.
Rogue put gloves on as a final touch as she headed downstairs. Irene was making coffee in the kitchen. Morning greetings were exchanged as Irene handed over a mug. It took only through the fist sip for Rogue to notice an absence. Before she could even ask Raven said, "She's gone Rogue."
"What?" Rogue immediately asked. Gone could mean many things.
"She is gone for a week and a half at least. She had business. It seemed urgent," Irene elaborated.
Business. That made Rogue want to laugh. Owning a pet shop was business. Going to your cubicle from nine to five was business. Terrorism and murder was not business in Rogue's book, no matter how much money was involved. "Fine," she replied flatly.
"She didn't to leave you. It was important." Irene stated. Rogue had the feeling that these were Irene's assumptions rather than reality.
"I don't care. I'm glad that she isn't here," Rogue replied.
"I know." Irene said with a sigh.
After about ten minutes Irene got up and left the kitchen. However she returned only about a minute later holding a grocery bag. She handed it Rogue stating, "Before Raven left, she wanted to give this to you." Rogue opened the bag and saw the contents were two items. One was a box of hair die; a couple of brown shades darker than her own, and the other was a bottle of make-up remover. It was quite possible that her mother was hinting at something.
"Your moth-eh-Raven felt that-considering the circumstance of your departure and current mutant standings- that it would be best if-"
"I wasn't recognized," Rogue finished.
Irene nodded, "you don't have to of course, but I do agree with Raven that perhaps it would be best if you weren't as-"
"I understand. Don't worry about it," Rogue interrupted again. Irene merely nodded again.
Rogue closed the bag again and headed up to her bathroom. She saw no reason not to start now. Almost an hour later she emerged, dark wet hair falling around her head and her pale face devoid of make-up. Her newfound plainness would ensure that not only would she not be recognized, but also she probably would hardly be noticed at all. That of course was the intention. Rogue went back downstairs to find Irene reading a book on the couch. Her eyes instinctively darted towards Rogue as she shuffled into the room, fingers paused on a line of bumps. She said nothing as Rogue went over to the shelf to pick up one of her old novels. When she found a preference she settled in the large comfy chair beside her foster mother. Irene's fingers picked up their travels across the white page. That action was all it took for Rogue to be thirteen again, safe in her house before all the madness had engulfed her. There was no mutant politics, no nightmares belonging to others, no invasion on her body. Ignorance was bliss.
The next ten or so says were much the same. Rogue picked up her old habits and chores around the house, pretending she had never left. She just didn't' have school anymore. In a small corner of mind Rogue knew that this was just some pathetic façade. However that corner was small enough to ignore. Pain loomed at the edge of her mind, but she continued to push it away. She just wasn't going to think about it. Rogue knew that she was going to eventually forget and everything would be okay.
IT was a Friday when Mystique returned. Rouge was making dinner (a chores she did often when she was younger) when she heard the door open and shut. Only one person she knew of would come straight in without knocking. Wincing, Rogue pulled out a couple more pieces of chicken and dumped them in with the rest. The murmur of voices drifted through the kitchen.
When everything was set, Rogue went to the living room and announced that dinner would be ready in 15 minutes. She spoke only to Irene, having glanced over at Mystique once and not looked back since.
"Okay dear, thank you." Irene replied warmly as though she thought she could set the mood for the evening.
Rogue turned to return to the kitchen, but Mystiques voiced halted her steps.
"Do you have to do that?"
Even though she knew she would regret the question later Rogue asked, "Do what?"
"Act like I'm something unpleasant on the bottom of your shoe." she replied, anger touching her voice.
"You don't really want me to answer that do you?" asked Rogue in a sardonic tone.
Mystique glowered, and Rogue returned the look full force, green narrowed eyes challenging yellow. Tension seemed to roll into the room like a thick fog. A sudden beeping from the kitchen startled all three women. Rogue whirled around to deal with the offending alarm. No one stopped her this time.
Ten minutes later three places at the small table were set and filled accordingly. Only the small tings of silverware were heard in the house during the meal. Irene seemed to have forgone her usual mediator role tonight.
After dinner, Irene stood up and went to gather dishes, but Rogue stopped her. "Don't worry about it," she said," I've got it."
"I can-"
"No Irene," Raven put in, "We got it." That replacement of 'I' with 'We' was most defiantly not lost on Rogue. She, if possible, frowned even deeper than before.
In the kitchen Mystique picked up a towel stating, "you wash, I'll dry." Rogue nodded, not really caring. She wasn't about to start a blow out over dishes.
When they were almost through, Raven stated in a confident tone, "After we are done we are going for ice-cream. You and I are going."
This odd statement took at least thirty seconds to register in Rogue's head. Another half minutes was needed after that for her to find the words to reply.
"What?" she asked blinking more than was necessary.
Still drying a frying pan, Mystique repeated her previous statement. The pan was the last dish to be dried, so as soon as it was placed back in it's rightful spot, Mystique looked back at her daughter still standing there staring at her and said, "Come on then. Get your shoes, we are going now."
Rogue still refused to move. All she could think of to say was, "Are you serious?"
"Yes. Let's go."
"No."
"What?"
"No. I'm not going with you."
"Yes you are."
"What do you want? Where are you going to take me?"
"I want ice cream. I'm taking you to an ice-cream shop."
"I don't believe you."
Mystique squinted her eyes, trying to control her temper. She was about to speak when Irene's voice rang out from the doorway of the kitchen.
"Go with her Rogue. It is okay, I promise."
Rogue started at her for a moment before nodding and going for her shoes. Irene's promises were far from gold, but Rogue had precious few people she could depend on. It was getting hard to distrust everyone. Plus Irene had raised her pretty well, and never would put her in extreme danger that she knew of. The question was now, "how much did Irene actually know?" or "was Rogue completely wrong?" Either way Rogue was in the passenger side of a small car looking out the window and trying to fight the feeling that she was being set up.
A/N
Okay guys and dolls, I am back from vacation.
I apologize that I am updating this story without the important part that is coming but I promise I will have it up soon.
Many apologies on lack of editing. I am lazy and my beta doesn't have interent for a while since he just moved. I promise i will edit and re-post later.
As a side note- writing angst is very diffucult on a beautful beach.
Another side note- My other story should be updated soon as well.
Leaf
