Southern Comfort
Chapter 7: My Trust in You
By: Rogue-Slayer13
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of X-Men: Evolution, they belong to their respective creators.
Summary: Takes place from Cajun Spice and forward. Rogue returns with the X-Men, and Gambit decides to go abroad for awhile. What will happen when they run into each other again?
Note: Whole sentences in italics are thoughts, and single words are emphasis.
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Rogue walked into the Danger Room, a few nights after the card game with Kitty and Gambit, to find Logan standing next to the professor.
"What are you doing here?" asked Rogue.
"Chuck thinks you're ready for the next step," replied Logan.
Rogue gave the professor a questioning look.
"We've cleared away the majority of the psychic static from your mind," explained the professor. "The only way we'll know if it works or not is if you try to make contact with someone."
Rogue seemed hesitant of the idea.
"It's okay, kid. You're not gonna hurt me," said Logan.
Famous last words. Rogue looked from the professor to Logan once more before taking off her gloves.
"Go on," encouraged Logan.
Rogue took a deep breath before placing her bare hands on Logan's face. At first there was nothing and Rogue dared to hope her powers were in check, but within a few seconds the all too familiar tingle of her powers appeared, and she quickly pulled her hands away with a defeated sigh.
"Ah knew it wouldn't work," stated Rogue sadly.
"Don't give up, Rogue," said the professor as wheeled his chair closer to her. "These things take time, and a number of things could've caused this. Nerves perhaps."
"If it's because Ah'm nervous then it's never gonna be in check." Rogue turned and hurried out of the Danger Room.
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Kitty walked into her room, and instantly knew something was wrong. Rogue was sitting outside on the balcony railing with a shoe box resting on the railing beside her. Kitty slowly walked outside and came to stand next to her room mate. Glancing down at the shoe box in between them, Kitty saw that it was filled with various things Gambit hand given Rogue.
"It hasn't helped," said Rogue, not looking at Kitty.
"Huh?" Kitty still wasn't quite sure what was wrong.
"The professor wanted me to see if Ah could touch Logan, and Ah couldn't."
Rogue sounded like she'd been crying, and Kitty's heart went out to her friend.
"Maybe it'll work next time," said Kitty optimistically.
"There isn't gonna be a next time." Rogue looked over at Kitty. "Ah can't handle the disappointment."
Kitty glanced at the shoe box once more before looking back up at Rogue.
"Does this mean . . .?" Kitty left the question unfinished.
"The next time Ah see him is gonna be the last." Rogue got up and headed back into the room. "I'm gonna go for a walk. Can you get rid of those for me?"
"Sure," replied Kitty as Rogue walked out of the room.
Kitty turned her attention back to the box, and couldn't help, but feel sad. Sighing, she picked up the box, and looked at it's contents: a couple of playing cards, some Mardi Gras beads, several photos that she herself had insisted on taking of the couple, and a few other mementoes. It wasn't much, but Kitty couldn't help, but feel like it had the potential to be something great.
Rogue might be ready to give up, but I'm not. Kitty put the lid on the box and walked back into the bedroom.
Kitty quickly stashed the box under her bed before hurrying downstairs.
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Rogue came back from her walk just in time for lunch. She wasn't really in the mood to eat, and luckily for her, she didn't have to. A few moments after Rogue came into the kitchen, Scott and Jean ran in.
"Everybody, suit up!" ordered Scott with far too much enthusiasm for Rogue's taste.
"Vhy?" asked Kurt around his mouthful of sandwich.
"I'll explain on the Blackbird," said Scott as he and jean rushed back out of the kitchen.
"Is there some sort of rule that says all leaders have to be like that?" asked one of the new recruits.
"I think Scott just likes the feel of the stick up his ass," replied Rogue which got smiles out of everyone present.
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"Shit!" cursed Rogue as she finished putting her uniform on.
"What?" asked Kitty.
"I can't find my gloves."
"Don't worry about them. Cerebro said it was hostile activity." Scott headed toward the jet. "We don't have time to find them anyways."
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"Care to explain why ya drug us to an empty parking lot?" asked Rogue as she and the X-men got out of the jet.
Scot looked around, and sure enough, it appeared that they were in the middle of a parking lot in the warehouse district of town.
"Cerebro said there was a large amount of mutant activity in the area," said Scott. "This place should be crawling with mutants." Scott sounded a little disappointed.
"Well unless you count, like, the rats, which are probably a side effect of the exhaust fumes, there aren't any mutants here," said Kitty.
"I wouldn't be so sure, Half-pint," said Logan as he sniffed the air.
A low growl caused everyone to turn and see Sabertooth, along with Pyro, Colossus and standing behind them.
"Very perceptive," commented Sabertooth.
Rogue, noticing that Gambit was missing, decided to see if she could find him. Unfortunately, Sabertooth and Wolverine got into it, which caused both sides to start fighting with each other. It took Rogue several minutes, but she was finally able to sneak away from the fight. Spotting a large scaffold, Rogue decided to climb so she could get a better view of the fight. If Gambit was around, she'd be able to see him.
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You can't break up with him up here. Said a little voice (her own) inside Rogue's head as she climbed the scaffold.
Why not? The harsher it is, the less likely he'll come back and get hurt. Rogue reached the top of the scaffold and surveyed the fight below.
You know damn well that isn't true. The voice was getting annoying at this point and Rogue decided to ignore it completely.
Not spotting Gambit down below, Rogue turned to leave, only to walk straight into someone.
"We should stop meetin' like dis, chere," commented Gambit with a grin.
It took Rogue a moment to figure out that Gambit was talking about the first time they met, but when she did, she smiled.
"Ah guess so," replied Rogue.
"So, why aren't you fighting with de rest o' dem?" Gambit gestured with his head toward the X-Men and Acolytes.
Rogue shrugged, before a thought came to her.
"Ya'll ain't followin' Sabertooth now, are ya?"
"I sure as hell ain't," replied Gambit.
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Scott looked up and saw Rogue and Gambit standing on the scaffold. He immediately assumed they were fighting, although he wasn't sure why there wasn't a lot of contact between the two of them.
"Rogue, hurry up and absorbed him already!" called Scott into his com link.
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"We should probably put on a show for dem," said Gambit.
"Probably," replied Rogue as he com link went off again.
"Rogue! Are you listening to me?" came Scott's voice.
Rogue ignored and looked back at Gambit.
I'll have to tell him after this is over. Thought Rogue as she and the Cajun took up fighting stances.
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Scott watched from the ground as the two Southerners "fought" each other on the scaffold. The whole thing was taking far longer then it normally should have , seeing as how neither Southerner wanted to hurt the other one. Scott was beginning to get impatient and when he saw that he had a clear shot at Gambit he decided to take it.
Kitty glanced over in time to see Scott put his hand to his visor. Quickly looking in the direction he was aiming, Kitty saw Gambit and Rogue on top of the scaffold.
"Scott! What are you doing?" asked Kitty as her fellow X-Man took aim.
"It's taking too longer," replied Scott. "I've got a shot, and I'm going to take it!"
Kitty ran forward and tackled Scott just as he fired. The blast missed Gambit, but hit one of the legs of the scaffold, shattering it to pieces. Kitty watched in horror as the scaffold lurched forward.
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"This is really pointless, y'know?" said Rogue as she dodged a punch from Gambit.
"I know, but de kiddies like de show," replied the Cajun.
Suddenly the scaffold gave a violently lurch forward. Gambit quickly shoved Rogue away just as the motion of the scaffold leaning, sent him stumbling back and over the edge.
"REMY!" Rogue raced forward to find Gambit hanging onto the scaffold, but just barely.
"You called me by m' name," said Gambit with a grin.
"Swamp Rat, now is not the time." Rogue's voice was full of worry, and all thought's of breaking up with him were pushed aside.
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"Why'd you tackle me? I had a clear shot!" exclaimed an annoyed Scott as he got to his feet.
Kitty was too busy watching Gambit, who had become a friend of her's over the last several weeks, dangle from the edge of the scaffold to reply.
"Rogue, pull him up," said Kitty into the com link.
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"Did you hear me, Rogue?" Kitty sounded as worried as Rogue felt.
Rogue looked from Gambit to her un-gloved hands before replying.
"Ah c-can't."
"What?" asked Kitty from the ground.
Gambit gave Rogue a questioning look.
"Ah can't. Ah don't have my gloves on."
Suddenly one of Gambit's hands slipped, leaving him with only one to hold onto the scaffold with.
A little yelp could be heard from Rogue's com link.
"I'll, like, go and get Jean, or Kurt, or someone," came Kitty's panicked reply as she ran off.
Gambit looked up to Rogue who had tears in her eyes.
"Shouldn't I be de one cryin', considerin' I'm closer to slammin' into de ground and all?" asked Gambit trying to make light of the situation.
"Ah wanna help you, Ah really do, but Ah touch ya, you'll get hurt."
"Chere, de ground's gonna hurt more de you," replied Gambit calmly, despite the fact he could feel his other hand slipping a bit.
Rogue reached out as if she were going to grab Gambit's wrist, but she pulled back with a sob.
"Ah can't do it!" Rogue began to full out cry.
"Chere!" Gambit raised his voice a bit to get her attention. "You won't hurt me." Gambit spoke the last part forcefully, but calmly.
"But Ah will, and if Ah hold on too long, you could die, and Ah can't handle that–"
"I trust you, Rogue."
This got Rogue to look at Gambit in shock.
"I trust you," repeated Gambit. "I know you're not gonna hurt me."
Gambit's hand slipped off of the scaffold, but Rogue's grabbed onto his wrist at the last moment. Rogue looked down to where her hand was touching Gambit's bare skin without her powers kicking in.
"Mind pulling me up, chere?" asked Gambit, snapping Rogue out of her daze.
"Of course!" Rogue pulled Gambit back onto the scaffold, and he sat down next to her.
"I knew y' could do it," said Gambit as he pulled Rogue into a hug.
"Ah nearly let you die in the process though," replied Rogue, still in shock.
"De risk was worth it, non?"
Rogue smiled and hit Gambit playfully on the chest.
"You're crazy."
"Like, oh my God!" exclaimed Kitty as she and Kurt appeared at the top of the tower. "I'm so glad you're both alive, and like . . . touching?" Kitty sounded unsure about the last part.
"I zought you couldn't touch," commented Kurt.
"Ah couldn't, until just a little while ago," replied Rogue.
"Come on," said Kitty as Gambit and Rogue got to their feet. "I'm sure the professor will want to, like, hear about this."
Kurt put an arm around Kitty and Rogue, and wrapped his tail around Gambit's arm before teleporting them back to the ground.
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To Be Continued . . .
Kind of a crappy chapter, but oh well. Thanks again for all of the reviews! They're all trs bon.
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