Summary: Italics are either thoughts or past memories. This chapter is told in Rogue's and Melody's POV. Rogue and Melody took a road trip running from their pasts. Melody calls Iceman Vanilla in this chapter. Get it? Ice, Ice, baby. Ha hahah oh well.

Disclaimer: Story inspired by katjen's Bad Touch. Characters by Marvel. OH Stan Lee.

Chapter 4: Infinity

Melody's POV

When she was six, she was once told that she could end it all.

Maryland- miles outside of D.C.

It cascaded around her, passing harmless through her but destroying everything in its wake. She let the blast carry her; vaguely feeling random things strike her as she streamed through the air. That thing blasted at Jessie and the crowd around them. Stupidly, she panicked and let the blast hit her.The wind whistled through her ears and despite the roaring sound, she could still hear screaming. Jessie screaming. Melody's mind raced. Jessie frozen, deathly pale, hands upward, the little girl lying crumpled on the ground. She had fought the momentum as she flew through the air but was unsuccessful. Her body continuing to twist and she was unable to stop. Her momentum slowed a fraction and her body arched downward.

She slammed unceremoniously into the bricked building. Ow! Brick and wood jabbed into her sides, the sole of her foot. She had lost a shoe in the blast. A pricey shoe at that. Shards of metal and sharp non-descriptive items jabbed the underside of her calf, the softness of her elbow. Felt the material shred at her clothes. Something very heavy fell on her head.

Get up. Move move move what the fuck are you laying down for? GET UP. Melody propped herself on her elbows, coughed as dust and dirt entered her lungs. Gagged as the powder caked her mouth. The debris vibrated and the rubble shuddered creaking ominously around her. Muffled voices and explosions could be heard. Like murmurs in the dark, a voice whispered in her head.

No she would not listen. Frowning at her thoughts she squinted into the darkness.

Ah hell. Her hand groped in the darkness, exploring the enclosed space. Gingerly her fingertips skittered over concrete then connected with metal. The warmth of the blast had softened the beam. Those robots packed a punch. Her hand gripped the side of the bar pushing upward breaking the surface. Gritting her teeth she pulled back her arm and with strained muscles she began punching out.

Blackness became dimmer and light burst through as her fist connected with air. A rush of sounds greeted her.

"It's moving "

"Something's under there."

"Halt- mutant" the tinny robotic voice hissed through the air.

Mutants in uniform. At least half a dozen. X's across their chest, back. A guy made entire of ice. Another with dangerous claws jutting out of his hands. One-eye guy over there standing next to a telepath. Melody's body flinched when she recognized the energy pattern. Something akin to fear snagged her heart.

The robots were all around them, firing and dropping silver discs that exploded on impact. A blast hit and ricocheted off a glow of energy the red head had used as a shield. It deflected wildly in the air and knocked into a blue furry mutant. He cart-wheeled in the air, spinning around like a rag doll before cracking his head soundly off the ground. The iced mutant jumped into action, yelling at the fallen mutant and shot a sheet of ice forming an impressive shield over the furry one as another blast erupted from the sky. Words of order barked from the visored mutant.

Melody pushed her arms up and began to climb through the ruins, another blast shook the foundation. This one came from the one eyed mutant. It caught the nearby wood on fire, right next to her. Hey!

Frustration bubbled up. I'm right here! "What are you guys trying to accomplish?" erupted from her mouth.

They turned and stared rather stupidly at her half wedged in the building. With a burst of strength Melody shot out of the building landing cautiously away from the group.

"Jesus you're alright", the iced mutant stammered. His voice echoing disbelief.

Of course she was alright. What could harm her, she thought dully.

Lightening crackled behind Melody. She neatly side stepped the near blast. Another robot, stepping forward, metal feet clanking across the ground. It knocked aside debris and hovered towards her. Its robotic ticking issued the warning to "halt mutant."

Her vision blurred. She began to shake. Rationality slipped away. Fuck it, rationality left when it shot at Jessie. Yelling up at it "you didn't' care that it was a little girl." This was just the icing on the cake of her life.

Melody let herself hum up with power and sprinted toward the robot. Her entire body pulsated with power. It was all around her. The mutants, the opened power line, the robots themselves. With a swipe of her hand she seared the nearby demolished street light. Picked it up and flung it through the air hitting the robot in the center of its chest. Electricity crackled around the entry. A white haired woman was deflecting lightening toward the entry rapidly in shot-gun bursts.

The gigantic metal hands groped at its metal chest. Garbled "unidentified item thrown" "unknown entity." Cja;IJ.

Fell over crumbling over it's knees. A big toy solider falling down. Just another man's plaything.

The feral mutant leaped over neatly towards its head - snictk - and there was no head. With a growl, his turned toward her, eyes narrowing into slits.

Another blast and a small capsule dropped out of the palm of an outstretched robot, clunking to the ground and emitted a bright burst of light.

Blinding them. Not her, she could see with out sight.

Melody's feet fluttered briefly over the ground skipping over the blasts and debris. A yelp and blast of cold air. He was in danger, the icy mutant. He was oblivious to the robot behind him.

"Hey, she yelled "Vanilla, move it".

Vanilla turned. Surprised on his chiseled features as sight was restored. Raising her hands she let the energy release within her, emitting a white blast of light by their sides. The blast was swallowed up into the light. Relentless the robot's hands began pounding dully against the shield. Vanilla upturned his hands and shot out a remarkable wall of ice from his fingertips. The icy water crawled upwards halting the fists flowing up its body. Stilling its movements. The robot teetered on one leg. With a loud groaning of metal it fell over shattering like glass.

The cold seared across her face, her hot breathe steamed in the air. His white coated eyes turned to her, mouth hanging open. Melody drew a deep breath; the whoosh of wind blew the cold across her face lifting her hair up around her shoulders. Flashed a grin at his expression.

"Yah keep looking at me like that your face is going to freeze this way," Melody winked. A goofy smile popped over Vanilla's face.

It felt so good to let loose, not to pent up what she could be.

"Merde!"

Her head whipped around toward her native tongue. There! Over there. The mutant with the coat. Flinging the red squares. Wait cards. French swearing. He leaped around acrobatically from the attacks. Flicking the cards that emitted a pink glow at the towering robots. Exploding like hearts into the air. Jessie leaning over clutching her chest. Melody found herself moving before she could stop.

Melody flew from Vanilla and landed neatly by him. He turned, coat swirling around his body. Mouth opened in an 'o'. It was right over him, the robot thing on wheels. She felt the hand come down and she released the energy enclosing them in a white bubble of energy. It's hands landed thudding the air around them. Pressing down upon them. Clenching her fists she crushed the robot, miming her thoughts as she gestured with her hands. The robot emitted a high pitched squealing noise. The mutant swore loudly clapping his hands over his ears. She felt something trickle down her neck. Someone was screaming right next to them? She was screaming. A loud shuddering noise was heard through the shredding in her head. Then the screaming stopped.

Opening her eyes, she found her self lying on the ground, hands clenched at her side. A soft voice was talking to her. Lazily she placed it as Cajun. Rolling over to her side she saw that the robot was laying in pieces beside them. Running her clenched hand up her neck, she touched the warm liquid that trickled down. Drawing her hand and looking down, Melody laughed. Blood. I can bleed after all.

"Cyclops the girl is over here 'Vanilla was shouting.

The coated mutant looked curiously down at her. She could feel his gaze.

"Psylocke, Phoenix over here."

"Great more freakin' codenames, real original" Melody rolled her eyes. Must be the "thing" to give yourself a ridiculous pseudo name.

Another blast shook the night.

There all gonna get killed.

Pulling herself into a cross-legged position, Melody closed her eyes. Shimmering. They were all shimmering. The clawed mutant he was a healer. She could feel his body thrum with energy. The telepaths fuck more than one. Melody let her power release over them. Hiding them.

They can't hunt us if they can't detect us.

Overhead the robots were circling, confused.

"Oh my stars and garters"

They flew away. Sliding through the air, eyes continuing to scan the ground with searching lights. A pause in the air then sirens wailed up from the smoke. Crying pierced the night. The cheerful sound of the carnival was gone. The fire continued to burn.

Her eyes were still glowing from the recent exertion, her muscles ached. Shakily Melody stood facing the circle of questioning eyes.

"Psylocke, Storm, White Queen, go look if you can provide assistance to the survivors", barked Cyclops. The leader of the group.

An elegant voice. "Right away Cylcops" . "Storm" raised herself in the air and she was followed with cautious glances in Melody's direction by a purple haired Asian and a blond woman whose eyes shot fire at her. What the hell?

The red head approached softly, "are you alright? Repeating the mantra from the iced one earlier.

"Stay back telepath." She shakily put her hand out warding her off. Melody closed her eyes. She felt the glow encompasses her, attempting to reach her mind. Fingers of energy softly reaching out. Her mind was mush. What just happened?

Snickt .The noise caused her to freeze. "Watch what you say darlin'"

"Back off Wolverine! She's confused, man she just got blasted out of the sky."

A smile tugged at her lips at the sound of the voice. Vanilla is sticking up for me.

Opening her eyes, the reason why she was standing with them hit her. Melody clasped her hand to her mouth and let out a shriek "Jessie!" Fuck! Too long just standing here. Jessie can take care of herself, but not when she was helpless. Not when she was rocking the other week. Wouldn't talk. The hollowed look in her eyes had returned. The look of despair Melody knew well.

They had enclosed her with their looks. Worried face on the blue furry one, concern evident in the eyes of the red telepath, glare from the visor of the Cyclops guy and Wolverine. Red eyes flickering at her.

The red eyed man opened his mouth. " gotta starin' problem' petite?"

"My name is Phoenix," the red head repeated in the same gentle tone. Phoenix threw a glance toward Wolverine. "We won't hurt you Jessie." She took a tentative step closer to Melody.

Irritation welled up inside. She was not a china doll, she wouldn't break. She couldn't. No matter hard she wanted to.

"My name is not Jessie, its Melody" she snapped. "My friend needs –I got separated, she need's help." Wasting time Mel. Hand over her eyes. Phoenix reached out her hand toward her forehead. Melody batted it away.

"Whatever, I'm not playing this game" she flew away not even a glance back. Yells for her to stop she blocked them out. Words whispered out of the sky to her.

"Let her go, she's scared - does not know how we can help. "

"Jean?"

"I can't read her mind….."

"We will find her again- Gambit let's move."

"Gambit." Repeating the familiar word. A word that Jessie had repeated to her over sleepless nights. Jessie eyes shinning with tears.. head tilted reverently towards the sky……Gambit REMY. She thought Jessie was crying out his name in fear not in longing.

Arching up toward the sky she flew up then back rapidly toward the ground. Their bodies and faces now a blur. Landing with a skip she ran up to the red eyed mutant.

"Your Gambit?" she questioned.

A smirk across the handsome face. " be it may petite". A subtle glance toward Jean, short nod and then the lazy smirk. "got' lo's of question's droite?"

Cajun. Jessie's past and future. Right in front of her.

Walking up to him, she stood on her toes and gently pushed his hair away from his ear. His eyes on hers the entire time. Tilting her head to the side she whispered what she knew Jessie wanted.

"Elle vous sent toujours. Neanmions la sentez-vous. Si oui, ne bleesez pas notre Rogue."

Wide flickering eyes bored into hers. His hand reached rapidly to grasp her shoulder.

He grasped air.

Melody was gone.

Rogue's POV

The voice of the man calling for Sherry was still ringing in her head. She knew he loved her. They came to carnival to celebrate her promotion, and to get a candy apple, one dripping in caramel heavy too hold in one hand. He watched Sherry's arm got blown off. Part of him kept denying it. The other part kept replaying the spray of blood that landed across his face.

Oh gawd. Rogue ran with the crowd. Arms wrapped around her sides. In actuality she drifted with the crowd after Melody had shoved her aside and flung herself in front of the blast. Melody. Her stomach swirled with nausea stumbling to the side of the road, Rogue leaned against a car and retched. Melody was dead. Remy was out there too. Was he dead? Wearily wiping her hand over her mouth she spat out the bitter taste.

Sweat pored off of her body, down her gloves. The fire was getting stronger. Flames licked the skyline, speeding across the wires igniting the telephone poles. The town was engulfed, trapped.

Leaning against the car, Rogue closed her eyes.

Down by the river……….

It was cool here. Hard to believe that she was actually here a few weeks ago. Rogue scanned the shoreline. Laughter drifted behind here. Cody. Her feet were bare. She jogged down the grassy hill. A flash of orange caught her eye. There by the grove of willow trees. A head of carrot colored hair.

"Hey girly, long time no see"

"John ah need yoah help". She held out her uncovered hand.

The fire was great, but Rogue learned that if she attacked it in small portions, she could control it. First she had created a path for the crowd to escape through. Several took it as an attack when she gestured with her hands and the fire parted. Rocks were thrown; she had to duck behind the car she had climbed on top of.

It was not raging as much or with the amount of intensity from earlier. If John was here she had no doubt he would properly let it fry everybody.

Turning herself to face the exit she had come from, Rogue ran to where she has seen Remy's cards. Where Melody was shot to.

Pushing the fire away from her body. Lightening crackled over head. Voices. A soft gentle tone. Jean?

The X-men. They were here. Her chest heaved. She could not take this much longer. This was too much. Salty tears streamed through her eyes. Raising her hands she gestured to push the wall of fire separating her from Remy.

Nothing happened.

"No!" Rogue shrieked. John's power had faded. Collapsing to her knees she stared blindly into the fire. It glowed. Two circles of light appeared shining brighter than the flames. The robot. Leaping to her feet she rolled to her side, barely missing the missile fly at her. It towered over her. Covering her in its shadow. Those huge hands reached down to crush her. Bent her face in just like that little girl.

Let it. Melody's dead. Her only friend, gone. Is this what Raven met? Is this how bad it could be? She bent her head awaiting the blow.

A crack. Melody was there. Melody was alive! Arms up and swinging at the hands. Cracking its face, screaming into it the entire time. Her face shiny with tears.

"What"

CRACK

"were"

SLAM

"you"

SHRRRRRIP

"thinking?"

Rogue watched as she put both fists together and slammed with a yell into its chest. Knocking it down with a huge thud. Relief flooded her to see the girl alive. A strangled sob escaped her lips. Melody whipped around. Her arms and hands were covered in blood. Her tears streaked a path down her dirt covered face.

"Why did you do that?" Melody chocked out. "They can see your power!"

She rushed toward her and grabbed her arm yanking her up roughly.

Melody's small hand grabbed her wrist. She ripped her glove off. NO!

Rogue screamed "Melody NO!"

Her hand enclosed Rogue's.

When she was six, she killed her mother.

Author's Note: Ok, Ok No ROMY yet. Please don't shoot. There is a method to the madness. In the next chapter answers will be revealed regarding Melody's past plus Rogue and Gambit meeting again. Please send any questions my way. If there is anyone left out there! Thanks for the reviews.

Translations: rough mind you

Elle vous sent toujours. - She still feels you.

Neanmions la sentez-vous. Do you still feel her?

Si oui, ne bleesez pas notre Rogue." - If so, don't hurt our Rogue.

Next chapter: Melody's past. Melody's connection between her and Gambit. Rogue and Gambit meet again.