Summary: Italics are either thoughts or past memories. This chapter is told in Rogue's POV.

Disclaimer: Story inspired by katjen's Bad Touch. Characters by Marvel. Stanza is from Shakespeare's Sonnet 137.

Chapter 3: Kaleidoscope

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Somewhere

The road stretched ahead, a grey ribbon glaring from the overhead sun.

New Orleans

Restless…she would stare out the window for hours, mirroring her movements when she was alone at the hotel. Pacing the room, hand on the doorknob, her tote slung over her shoulder. Ready to leave.

Melody was restless as well. She disappeared at night now, returning with eyes shinning, desperate.

Rogue stated the obvious first.

She agreed.

They went to a part of town where the dirt was apparent on the street and the people. Dark browns and blacks, dried cracked mud on the doors and tires of the cars. Brown dust floating up with each footfall. Cajun territory. Children dressed in bright colors, Scarves wrapped around heads. Hair in dreads. The men leaned over the porches staring at them as they passed. Their walk led them to a mansion with stately pillars and warped glass windows. Here the characters were dressed in armor…and heavy leather. Arched eyebrows at them and their hands on evident weapons.

Whistle. "hey petite' y' wan' a see a good tine?"

"Fuck off". Rogue snapped.

" Woo smat soutrn' mouth' here". Laughs echoed around. "Com' on peitite, tha's no soutrn' hospitality".

A blond leered as they approached the steps. Hooded eyes slided down their bodies.

"Infi- crack", Melody slapped him across the face. Rebuffed, the blond rubbed his arm and glared hand placing his hand on his gun.

"Wo' Peir' leave' her be" an amused voice chuckled out.

An older man came to the door…"what up Lucas?" Greeting the man in a smartass way, Melody slouched against the pillar nonchalant to the dozens of glares upon her.

"No powers I see", he grinned " always the tough on' eh'?"…slight chuckle, "what can ah help yo' with?"

"This is Jessie" she introduced Rouge quietly. "I'm leaving or-"

"We" Rogue interrupted. Hand on Melody's shoulder. Lucas smiled and beckoned them inside and led them to an enclosed porch.

"Indeed", wine was brought out with strawberries floating in the fluted glass.. "Your favorite….he intoned toward Melody and motioned for them to sit in the plush chairs," and this information for my happy benefit to know?" Rogue took the glass swallowing the sweet liquid.

"I need someone to watch my things, and Becca's". Melody stated coolly. She swirled the drink and brought it to her lips.

"Wha' is this'…Rogue gestured.

"I know Lucas from my sister"…Melody responded apologetically.

"Promised her to watch ove' tha' for sur' Lucas uttered unaffected by the interruption. With an elegant smirk, and a smooth movement with his hands he produced a set of keys. "Transportation perhaps my dear?"

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They walked away, a dozen pairs of eyes following their exit. Mutters and curses could be heard. Melody walked quickly, her mission accomplished. The area was familiar. Rogue stopped in mid- stride…. the memory was there but she could not grasp it. What was this..Remy..Gambit? Melody threw her a questioning look noticing Rogue not moving.

"It looks familiar, he was from here." Rouge stared at a woman with beaded dreads walking by. "Tante?"

"He was?" Melody frowned. "I don't know much about this clan…my sister did though. She trusted them. I don't know why, bunch of thieves." She tossed her thumb back…"Lucas took an interest in my sister. Too close of an interest I think." A dark look crossed Melody's face as she glanced over her shoulder.

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Mississippi

The convertible was shiny, new and modern. "Heated seats, six disc CD player, auto car starter all we need is a martini maker", Melody giggled breathlessly. "Yoah ta' yung' ta drink" "What you ain't of age either, she scoffed". This was new; driving, wandering and looking around. Pull down this road or turn down here? They drove into Mississippi, stopping at the river. Cody's river. Rogue relinquished her covering clothes and slipped on a suit. Her private hideaway in her head, this is where Cody was. Tiptoed to the edge of shore. The mud warm and gooey between her toes. She grinned, just like when she was ten. Slopping her way through the mud she climbed onto the embankment and reached for the tire swing. Jumped onto the rope and began to swing. Rogue leaned back stretching her feet toward the sky, enjoying the breeze across her face. She flung her self off the swing, closed her eyes and yelled. It felt so good!

"Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo"

Cool water chilled her skin, enveloping her cleansing off the sweat from the long drive. Her feet touched the bottom, she pushed her arms up, kicked to the surface.

"Sweet, sweet, sweet." Melody chortled from the shore. "How did you know about this place? It's not on the map." "Ah silver spooned girl", yelled Rogue, "the best sometimes is free!"

Floating on her back, the water rushed in her ears creating the roaring sound of the river. Rogue drifted toward the shelter of the willow tree. Green branches waved, like a hand beckoning her back to swing again. She could make out the detail with each leaf, the red vein flowing through. Treading water and feeling the riverweed tickle her toes she watched as Melody with a look of horror on her face peer in. "I think I just saw snake" Squealed "Jessie you crazy".

Rogue laughed. The sound bounced down the river.

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Somewhere

She rather die than let Melody drive. The girl did not comprehend the speed limit. "I'm old enough" she whined "let me drive". "This is new fo' me too, but yoah insane." Rogue retorted. With her powers Melody apparently anticipated everything and because of this, her last driving attempt ended up with cops chasing them in Chattanooga. Pouting she propped her feet on the dashboard. They had this argument at least twice a day. "You should put some sunscreen on whitey" Melody muttered in defeat. Popping a CD in, Melody crossed her fingers and stuck her tongue out. Never content not to have the last word.

"Straight out of Compton' busted through the speakers. Now she was on a hip hop track frame of music.

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Elsewhere

The miles past underneath them and with it came calm. On the road, her problems, and the nightmare of the last few months began to fade. Confidence began to grow within her. With Melody around it wasn't hard for this to occur. She was optimistic and not afraid of Rogue. Rogue began to keep a journal. Just like a tragic angst riddled teenager, Rogue wrote about Remy. Sat down one day and realized she could not remember his hands. Rushed through her things found the worn tablet and frantically wrote down how they looked and felt sliding across her skin. Her pen skipped over the paper documenting the scars on his palms, the quickness of his movements. When the pen finally stopped, Rogue felt the tears drop off her face onto the paper. Melody found herrocking by the window in their hotel room and panicked when Rogue would not speak.

One night she told Melody about Raven, Remy and the group of mutants. Haunted she told about her poison skin, her death, and the hunting for the mysterious Erik. The intimacies of Remy, she kept secret. At the end, Melody sat legs crossed and wide eyed afterwards. "You felt him..?" A nod. "Jessie" she whispered "that is amazing. "

The hotels were the nicest; Melody requested the penthouse each time, calling ahead attempting her French accent. "So you can get sun on you other than you face" was the explanation. She bent over backwards to insure in what her mind would make Rogue feel comfortable. In her mind, the more room, the more comfortable Rogue would feel.

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North Carolina: The Outer Banks

Dance clubs Melody loved them…Rogue would not go often waiting till she came home before falling asleep. She had packed various books from Melody's apartment and read reverently, furthering her fondness for poetry. Love poetry. Shakespeare was her new obsession, his plays and sonnets.

Thou blind fool, Love, what dost thou to mine eyes,

That they behold, and see not what they see?

They know what beauty is, see where it lies,

Yet what the best is take the worst to be.

One night Melody disappeared and was not home when Rogue woke up in panic. Over shadowed sunglasses, hair sticking in a frizzy fro, Melody had come home at five am. Stumbled in the room and declared "I had some wine...no, no maybe it was some weed." Laughed "I think I'm actually tired." Rogue frowned, stimulation overload for Melody was not the answer. At times, Melody would clutch her temples in pain, trembling from her power at times. That's why she moved she explained once. She had to use up what was burning inside.

"Don't look at me like that!" waltzing in her low riding jeans, stomach and skin glittering from lotion. Throwing her self in the nearest chair hand on chin "you should come its fun!" "Ya always gotta do drugs?" Rogue glowered "No…I don't', Melody replied flippantly, but it was some good weed." Trouble with you", a huge yawn and with a turn she fell right asleep on the bed, glasses on and all. Sprawled out, mouth open and arms twisted around her head. Muttered, vous devriez venir et le danser est ainsi amusement. Rogue pulled a sheet over her and pulled the blinds. Melody needed to sleep, often she got only two hours a night.

Rogue's morning fell into a routine. Go out and order breakfast. Cold ice tea and cereal. Sugar rush. Strumming in the sugar the spoon gently clicking against the glass. Let the cereal dissolve into a gloopy mess. Rogue smiled to herself this was her favorite breakfast. The smile faded into a frown. Or was it someone else's? Shaking her head, she began her latest interest; people watching. The couple over there. Elderly ,obviously married. The wife poured the tea. The husband crinkled his eyes and patted his wife's hand in thanks. Touch so simple. Rogue eyes lingered at the gesture. His heart pounded underneath his shirt. A sharp snap, and cool liquid poured over her gloved hands. The couple turned and stared curiously at Rouge. She looked down at her one hand grasping the broken glass. The waiter hurried over, apologizing picked up the shards, and offered to get a new drink. Rogue stood stammered out a no and left. She could still feel the couples's eyes on her.

She walked to the beach and took off the airy pull over and let the sun touch her shoulders. Drew in a shuddered breath and sat on a dry patch of sand. It was early, and not too many people were out. Trailed her fingers in the sand, drawing out his name in a loopy scrawl.

It was late when she got back, Melody was still asleep, and half sprawled off and on the bed. Rogue stood in the doorway and listened to her slow and steady breathing. She should go with her to the dance clubs. Melody was a good dancer and curiously she attracted attention with her body and hair. Plus she could make sure she didn't cause any trouble.

Rouge fell asleep out on the balcony. Music and light awoken her. Melody was up and had decided to shower. Her hair was plastered to her head. She would not meet Rogue's eyes.

"Had fun las' nigh'?"

Guilty Melody looked down," at least I slept" took a comb and ran it through her bright red and purple streaked blond hair.

Rogue sat down on the edge of the bed. "Gotta be a better way to release yoah energy".

The comb stopped in mid-pull, and then continued its downward trek. "Find me something and I will".

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Maryland

Maryland: Silver Springs the sign read. Just on the outskirts of the Washington D.C. Tonight their trip had landed them at a carnival street fair. The night was bustling. The air permeated with the smell of cotton candy, popcorn, corndogs and funnel cakes. A small Ferris wheel spun lazily in the air the bucket seats swaying in the sky. Posters plastered around poles promised fireworks for later that night. Twinkling lights were strung around booths and tents illuminating the faces of the people. Rogue walked by booths that advertised face painting and bobbing for apples, games with prizes, cheap plastic toyor a goldfish. A bingo tent crackled with the noise of each word and number read. The night was clear, not a cloud in the sky, hot and muggy.

Rogue wearily dragged her feet and slouched in the nearest empty bench. They had been there for hours and Melody had caused several scenes. A little boy thought she was a performer and Melody proceeded to dance clapping her hands to the circus music, grabbing Rogue and twisting her around. Spinning around for at least fifteen minutes. The crowd laughed and applauded. "Thank you, thank you we are here for one night only "Melody bowed and Rogue embarrassingly followed suit.

The entire town was lit up from the carnival. The town consisted of duplexes, and ranch houses it was quaint, Rogue wistful started at the shadowed porches. Remembering a long ago foster home. The carnival flowed a low humming of noise consisting of conversations, live music and occasional ebb from a helicopter overhead. The excitement had not slowed Melody down. Compared to Rouge, she was standing up, staring at the bright sky aglow with artificial lights. Hair tied back with a band, head slowly rotating from left to right. Melody frowned and looked over her shoulder at Rogue.

"Something' not right."

"Wha's wrong?"

"I'm not sure."

Perplexed Rogue stared at her turned back.

Their trip was slowly ticking its way up north. Rogue slid her feet up and down the sidewalk drawling non-descriptive patterns. Deep breath. Bring it up she urged, she won't argue. "How bout we hit New York next. There's this dance club.-"

"New York?" Melody's voice was further away. Rogue lifted up her head, noticed that she had walked further away and now was standing by a street light on the corner. Rogue joined her titling her head to the sky as well. Something dark flickered through the sky. Another blurred movement. Squinting her eyes. "Didja see that?"

Melody's eyes were now shining completely white. "Jessie let's get out of here." She turned and quickly began to jog in the direction of the carnival again. Melody repeated her uneasy from earlier "something's not right." The job became a run. The run turned into a sprint. Rogue's knees jarred as her sandals slapped across the cement. Mid-sprint Melody stopped and Rogue slammed into her, knocking them both down. Melody quickly got to her feet and yelled "it's all around now". Frustration evident in the tone of her voice.

A flash of light so blinding, Rogue yelped and threw her arm over her eyes.

An explosion, the air became acrid and a wave of heat blasted through her skin lifting her up. The heat singed her hair. Screams rose up through the smoke as lights went off down the street drifting with the billowing smoke. Melody was yelling. Smoke and dust clouded her lungs burning. Rogue coughed violently, sides heaving. Loud noises now. The ground rumbled beneath her. Her teeth clicked together inadvertently biting her tongue. She spat out the blood. Screaming for Melody, Rogue got to her feet. Hands were reaching out of the smoke. People where running, blinded by the fire and the noise. She flung her arms up over her face.

A slip of skin. Don't touch don't' touch don't touch. The flicker of subconscious No what, what was that oh fuck, Sherry oh fuck where is Sherry. To the side gotta get to the side.

Melody emerged from the smoke her two bright eyes shining. In her arms she was clutching something. Her arms and shirt were shiny. It was a child. Melody was holding a child; the shiny stuff was blood covered her arms and the child's face. Sobbing she laid her down gently. The child's head was crushed in as though a huge thumb had pressed down. Eyes unfocused staring. Melody arms were wrapped around the still figure.

"Come' on, why not WHY not" her voice rang in a hollow cry.

Sobbing Melody pulled her arms around her. Rouge grabbed them "yoah bleedin'?" "No," gasping for breath Melody bent over hands on knees "ah was holding them up"- huge it was huge "the building fire it toppled over something knocked it over but they were already dead." Why, I can't see? it burns..Sherry. Rogue fell to Melody's side.

A strong breeze blew the air around them. The smoke went up spiraling in the sky. A rumble and a drenching rain poured over them. The fire hissed from the rain. Eyes shining Melody looked up and muttered "mutants."

A jagged lightening bolt struck something unseen and splintered off showering the sky with sparks.

A card- no

A red card- no it can't

A red card exploding into the air.

The ground gave way. her vision snapped into focus, her heart began to beat painfully in her chest. Her grip tightened on Melody's arm. Pounding in her ears. Feeling her mouth open. Breathless. His name came out. "Remy."

Melody gapped at her spun around and grabbed Rogue's hand pulling her up "this way. Th-"

Rogue's feet twisted around her body was dead weight and they both fell again. "Melody, its "–her voice caught in her throat.

A shadow fell over them. Lowering itself through the smoke were hands. Huge, the size of her body. Shiny purple and smooth, bending and stretching toward them. Stopped their movement and a circle of light appeared on the palms. A low hum filled the air. A voice, robotic and metallic cold. "Target acquired."

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Author's Note: This is AU story following the story Bad Touch, however unfortunately not a in between story before Solitaire. I honestly don't know where I was going with the story and I wanted to write Romy. So some ideas are tied with Solitaire and this story line. I'm branching off from New Orleans…MCA might pop in. Plus I'm tying the friendship – obvious Rogue never had any…with my OC, Melody. Sorry IvoryZoe!

I hope I don't lose your interest. This chapter took forever for me to write, and rewrite and rewrite. Hehe. Thanks for the reviews. I hope it's making some form of sense.

Next chapter : X-men