Learning to Deal
I don't own X-Men Evolution (or X-Men for that matter) characters or anything concerning the show, comics, ect. No suing! Be civil in reviews (if there are any).
Yeah, I know, I'm late. This every other weekend thing that I had planned out didn't quite work out for me. However, marching season is over with so I can now update more often and I'm back to writing. Thank you all for your patience.
Also, I would like to point out to those who keep telling me to put Rogue with Morph or someone, I said in my summary, "Perhaps ROMY later." Perhaps is the keyword in that statement. I may or may not have Rogue go with anyone. Just letting you all know that it is still up in the air.
What was she supposed to do? She had no idea where he lived so she couldn't go see if he was alright and it wasn't as if he would want to come near her ever again after what happened.
Rogue sighed, pausing in her wiping of the table. This really sucks!
The bell rang on the door, announcing customers causing Marian to look up from her bookkeeping. By the look Rogue saw on Marian's face, it would seem that Lucas and his little gothic posse were back for their after school lunch.
Glancing over her shoulder, Rogue saw that Morph was among the group. He seemed back to his normal outgoing, smartass self yet he kept throwing caution glances at Rogue's back.
Turning back to Marian, Rogue shook her head and gave a pleading expression. With an understanding smile, Marian took up a notepad and went to take the group's order.
Taking a bin of dirty dishes to the kitchen, Rogue set it down in the sink and began to run the water so that she could quickly wash the dishes before the rush hour hit. With such a limited amount of people working at the diner, everyone had to chip in on more than one chore.
Once the sink was full of soapy water, Rogue realized that she had to leave her gloves and rings behind the counter so that they would accidentally get knocked into the water like the last time.
While behind the counter, removing her gloves and rings, Rogue heard someone approach her from behind and take a seat at the counter.
"So," came Morph's unmistakable voice, "that was the reason why you don't like people touching your face."
Rogue didn't answer or turn around to face the teen. She didn't want to face him, not after what happened just the other day and in front of so many people…
"How do your powers work?" Morph inquired in a voice that was just a little above a whisper.
Slowly Rogue turned to Morph and approached him, leaning in a bit but still maintaining her distance. "They work whenever Ah…," Rogue began, glancing at Lucas to see him watching them curiously. The look on Lucas' face made Rogue think better of telling Morph exactly how her powers worked. "Jus' like how they did yesterday, Morph," she finished.
"Well," Morph grinned, playing with one of his longer strands of hair, "in case you were wondering. I woke up at about 8:30 p.m. last night in the comforts of my own bed and I felt as though I had just gotten run over by a truck. Then I stayed up until about 2:00 a.m. before I finally got back to sleep only to wake up at 9:35 and get to school late."
She couldn't help it, Rogue began to laugh because no one that she knew ever joked about having been absorbed by her. It was a major relief for her to hear someone to just talk about her powers lightly and make it into a joking matter rather than something it was; dangerous.
"But you're feelin' better, right?" Rogue asked, after calming her laughter.
Bowing his head until he was eyelevel with Rogue, Morph answered in all seriousness, "Yes, I'm better. You don't need to freak out like I was going to die or something; after all, I'm standing right in front of you."
With a small smile, Rogue nodded, but her smile vanished as Lucas approached them.
"Morph, your food is waiting for you," Lucas told his friend then glanced at Rogue. A most charming yet untrustworthy smile crossed his features. "Having a good day Rogue? Hopefully, it is better than the performance from yesterday."
Rogue gave Lucas an icy glare before turning to retreat back into the kitchen.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Morph gave Lucas a little shove, which made the Scottish teen a bit angered.
"That was among the stupidest things to say to her face, Lucas," Morph informed the taller male in a dead serious tone. "If you truly want her to join with us against your father then you better find another way to get on her good side because Rogue obviously doesn't want to be reminded of the damage her powers can do to others, in case you haven't noticed."
Grabbing Morph's wrist, Lucas began to twist it backwards slowly. "Do not speak to me like that ever again Morph. I know what I am doing with the girl; she'll come to us, eventually, when given the right persuasion…" The implication left little doubt in Morph's mind of what Lucas might have going through his mind.
"Hey, when I joined your little club, you promised me that no one would ever get hurt due to our powers. Don't you dare harm Marian or Timothy, they've done nothing to any of us," Morph pointed out, defensively. "They're like a second family to me Lucas and I swear that any harm that comes to them and is your doing, I'll kill you myself."
Something flashed in Lucas' eyes as he released Morph's wrist. "Fear not Morph, I have no intention of harming Marian or Timothy since they're the only form of family that I know of," assured Lucas with a charming grin.
"If you say so Lucas," Morph sighed.
"I do say so."
Where are you? I know you are out there somewhere…
"Charles? Charles?!"
Professor Xavier snapped out of his mind hunt as Ororo's voice was reregistered in his mind. Removing Cerebro's helmet, the good professor turned to his oldest student.
"Charles, you weren't looking for him again were you?" Ororo inquired, glancing at Cerebro's screen to see a picture of David at one corner and Lucas on the other.
"I was," Xavier admitted, swerving back around to the screen. "I have to find him Ororo and right the mistakes that I made with David, but with Lucas in control it is hard to track his location. Lucas is keeping a low profile, using his powers sparingly or not at all."
Approaching the screen, Ororo glanced around at all the shaded areas of the world that the professor had already scanned for his son but found no trace of him.
"What do you suppose he is doing right now, professor?" Storm questioned, looking about the screen to see where Rogue was supposedly located and seeing that it was not shaded.
Charles sat back and sighed, rubbing his eyes. "He is most likely waiting and plotting his next move to either come after me or to lure me into his clutches again. Although, Lucas may not seem to have a reason to come after me since he is now in control of David, Lucas knows that if given the opportunity I can possibly help bring David back into control."
"And Lucas fears this," Ororo finished.
"That I cannot say." Shaking his head ruefully, Charles turned his head to Ororo. "Was there something you needed from me?"
Ororo snapped up as though recalling something. "Do you know where Kurt and Kitty are? They didn't come home with the other students and no one knows where they are."
He was late! He was just any other man, late for a meeting that he set up. She was thinking of leaving, in fact, Kitty half-believed that she should leave and let the Cajun deal with trying to find Rogue on his own…
"Bonjour."
Speak of the devil, Kitty thought bitterly as she turned around to find the Cajun standing there with his hands stuffed in his trench pockets. Probably holding one of his trademark cards. "You're late," Kitty informed him.
"No, by Gambit's time Gambit is on time," countered Magneto's boy, holding up his wrist to show his watch. "Well now, might you be tellin' me why blue boy is waiting for you by de school doors?"
Kitty was a bit surprised that Gambit had noticed Kurt's presence but she soon corrected herself, Of course he would notice someone like Kurt lingering about on his own. "Kurt is waiting so that I can tell him if you agree or not."
Remy felt the feeling of intrigue flaring throughout his mind, the girl obviously knew something. Now, wha' could she possibly know? Remy wondered lightly.
"So, you want to do me and Kurt a favor?" Kitty asked, noticing that the Cajun was unusually quiet as he eyed her with amused eyes.
"Dat would depend upon wha' the favor is and who de favor involves," Gambit shrugged, trying to sound a bit disinterested so that the girl would just tell him all that she knew without putting up much of a fight.
"It is a yes or no question," Kitty told him, putting a hand on her hip.
With a devilish grin, the Cajun nodded his agreement. "Certainly, I would be more dan happy t' lend a helpin' han' if it has to do wit de fille, Rogue," Remy clarified.
"Oh don't worry about that, it most certainly has to deal with Rogue," assured the Chicago girl.
"Den Gambit is all ears."
Taking a deep breath Kitty began her tale. "We have found Rogue, but in exchange for this knowledge Kurt had to promise not to try to go after her. So, since we're unable to go after Rogue we want you to go and see Rogue."
Gambit almost smirked, "So instead of takin' a chance, you two send de Gambit to retrieve de Rogue."
"Not to retrieve her," corrected Kitty, defensively. "We only want you to go see her and talk with her. If you want to try and bring her back then that's all up to you but we just want to see how she is doing."
"Of course," Remy agreed even though he truly disagreed as he could see in the girl's eyes that she really wanted her friend brought back home. "Are dere any…special questions you wish t' ask de fille when I see her?"
"Here." Kitty held out a piece of paper with a bunch of questions scribbled down in blue ink. "You can just give that to her if you don't want to actually ask them to Rogue's face."
Taking the paper, Gambit read over the questions quickly and snorted. "I'll be glad t' ask her de questions. Is dere anyt'ing else or are you goin' t' tell me where I can find de Rogue?"
"She's in South Carolina."
Thank you to: Fiona12690, xpoisonedxangelx, DaughterofDeath, pinapplehead, ME, ishandahalf, TheDreamerLady, Me 55, and EmeraldKatsEye