Disclosure: I am nothing but a humble freak, playing with the lives of characters whom far surpass me in depth and adventure. In other words, they're not mine.
The Girl, the Animal, and the Thief ch. 5
By Threnody
Defenseless.
She was always at someone else's mercy. For as long as she could remember. Now not even her own head was safe.
She kicked her feet in the dirt, swaying the tire swing. A bit of her house was visible in the distance, but darkness lay beyond. The air was bright, washing everything in yellow and glinting off the fallen, autumn leaves. Rogue glanced up, seeing only the oddly natural darkness above her. A breeze blew, twisting the tire swing lazily around.
There was no memory. No knowledge. All there was in her world was the house and the swing. It was all that she wanted, all that she needed.
A pressure built in the distance, a rumble slowly growing. She clasped her hands over her ears, trying to block it out. The pressure built, stabbing through her temples. She cried out, clutching the tire swing as it began to spin faster and faster. The rumbling separated, coming at her from all directions. Voices. All of them shouting. All trying to be heard over the others. Some in languages she didn't know, but understood anyway. She whimpered, curling on herself as the darkness engulfed her.
Bits and pieces of herself came back to her. She was a mutant, an outcast among outcasts. Untouchable. She was always alone, always useless and in the way. She wasn't smart, she couldn't fight, couldn't even comfort someone's pain. She always failed and always was failed. The darkness slowly ate at her, swallowing her until she couldn't even see her own skin. She welcomed it, longing for silence.
A hand shot out, roughly grabbing her shoulder. She gasped, jerking upward. The temperature dropped rapidly and painfully bright light shone all around. She blinked tentatively and fuzzy images gradually came into focus. There was white everywhere, with one dark human shape in front of her.
"What the hell are you doing?"
His voice was gruff and vaguely familiar. Rogue blinked a few more times and he came into focus. A scowl met her gaze and snow spattered his curly hair. A smoldering cigar rested between his lips, his grip firm on her shoulder. His name floated into her head.
"Logan?" Her voice sounded far off, like she was hearing herself underwater, or through a thick pane of glass. Everything was surreal and unnaturally bright, her breath came in ragged puffs of steam.
"Yeah. Now, what do you think you're doing?" He yanked her up and Rogue stumbled out of something. More frowning and blinking revealed the truck and trailer he'd owned when they'd first met. Somehow it didn't seem right to be here, but she couldn't place what was wrong.
"Logan…what's going on?" A frown creased her brow as he dragged her towards the cab of the truck.
They were suddenly in the car. Trees and shapes whizzing past, but the car itself remained motionless. Disorientation quickly faded and she turned her gaze over to Logan. He was leaning back, one hand resting on the steering wheel, the other he held his cigar in front of him, studying it with a lazy smile.
"Don't you know yet, darlin'?" He smirked slightly, watching the smoke rise and swirl languidly around the roof. "We're runnin' again."
Thunder rumbled in the distance behind them, growing closer. Rogue leaned out of the window and looked behind them. A dark spot was slowly eating up the sky on the horizon. She turned back to Logan but he didn't seem concerned about it.
"What is that thing, Logan?" Her teeth chattered with the cold and he began to fiddle with the heater. The situation rang of familiarity, but the memory would not come.
"They're trying to get you, darlin'." He stared impassively at the road that moved beneath them. "They're gonna try to kill you."
Rogue's heart pounded in her chest. Who were these people? Why couldn't she remember anything? "Why are they trying to kill me?" Her voice shook as she spoke.
"Oh, I imagine it's for their own survival." He leaned out the window, casually tilting the side mirror to watch the approaching blackness. The rumble was growing louder. "The only way they're gonna live is if one o' them offs you."
"Aren't you going to help me?" She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the biting cold. He chuckled and placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"I can't fight all your battles for you darlin'. You gotta learn to fly on your own." Without warning the hand on her shoulder pushed her violently out of the car. The door opened effortlessly and she cried out as she fell. Pain shot through her and she wondered why Logan wouldn't protect her.
She landed face first in the mud. Rain spattered on her, soaking her thoroughly. She pushed herself up, wiping the mud out of her eyes. The scenery had changed entirely. Everything around her was a dull, empty gray. Even the mud that was slowly being washed away by the rain was a deep gray. A vast change from the stark white her eyes had become accustomed to. She glanced around, trying to figure out where she was. Impassive brick buildings stood around her, cutting a jagged outline against the bright sky. A long, muddy walkway led to a single, huge smokestack. A mangled, metal gate barred the way.
The courtyard was desolate save for one figure. Rogue got shakily to her feet, she couldn't remember who this man was, but she knew to fear him. His crimson cape fluttered slightly behind him and he seemed untouched by the falling rain. An odd helmet covered his head and his cold eyes stared intently through her.
"Did you really think this fight was over?" He spoke in Polish, but she had no difficulty understanding him. "We've a job left to do, my dear. Humanity will bow before our might. With me, you will never be made to feel inferior again."
He stretched out a benign hand towards her, a cruel smile hinting at his lips. His words enticed and tempted her, the desire for power growing from an unknown source within her. She took a hesitant step forward, but the mud pulled at her feet seeming to root her in place. Fear trembled through her as scenes of memory began flashing through her mind. There was a ship, a blue woman, and a beast. Rogue was tied down and then there was pain.
The rumble sounded behind her and she slowly turned to look. The blackness was growing nearly filling the sky. The man was suddenly in front of her and Rogue didn't have time to react as he grabbed her roughly by the throat. She gasped and struggled for breath but her body would not respond, her arms remained motionless at her side as he tightened his grip.
"You are a weak child. You always were. The future of homo superiors has no place for those without the strength to take what they want."
A strangled cry escaped her and a burning sensation spread through her lungs. She was going to die. But the knowledge did not seem to bother her. There would be silence. Peace at last. She smiled slightly as her vision began to grow dark. At last she could be alone.
"Don't leave us, chere."
The voice echoed around her and movement flooded back into her limbs. A desire to live grew within Rogue as images of people she loved filtered through her mind. Her eyes snapped open wide and she glared at Magneto's face, twisted with rage. She wasn't strong enough to escape him, but there had to be some way around him. She couldn't give up yet. Not when she would be leaving people behind. Her fading vision rested on his odd helmet, a sense of its importance tickled the back of her mind. She reached up and yanked it off his head. He cried out in pain and flung her away, clutching his head. Rogue fell backwards squelching deeper into the mud.
"Ah'm not gonna die so easy!" Rogue shouted into the rain, struggling to stand up. The mud seemed to latch onto her, sinking her lower.
"I will not be denied!" Magneto cried out, throwing himself on top of her, hands at her neck, though his grip wasn't as strong as before. She raised her bare hands, hesitating only a moment before gripping his skin, fighting back with the only power she had. Flesh connected with flesh but nothing happened.
"Your 'gift' will do you no good here, child." He laughed down at her. "Now lay down and die like a good little mutant."
Rogue's eyes rolled back and she struggled for breath. The darkness seemed to be retreating and an odd sense of despair flooded her. As though without that rumbling blackness she had no hope at all. She cried out slightly, a strangled sound, reaching for the black as it grew smaller. Despair fled as she realized it wasn't receding but gathering strength. A light shot out of the darkness, hitting Magneto directly on the forehead. Rogue relaxed as he was pulled off of her and flung far into the distance. The light lowered, slowly making its way toward her. She did not fear it, but merely regarded it with passing curiosity. The rain stopped, and the gray surrounding her faded, the background blurring. A slight smile graced her lips and she anticipated the peace she knew was approaching.
It would never come. A hand shot out of the mud, tightly grasping her ankle. She gasped and tried to struggle away, but it held her fest. The hand began sinking into the mud, pulling her with it. She cried out as fear filled her, clawing desperately around, trying to find anything to anchor herself to.
"Help! Somebody help me!!" She had sunk to her waist now, the light that had been approaching her, that had promised her hope and peace, had dissipated. Cold and biting darkness surround her and she sank completely into the mud.
She hit the ground softly, dust rising in swirling clouds around her. The earth beneath her glowed yellow with the sunlight and warmth spread through her, melting the bit of the icy darkness that remained. She placed a bare hand against the dirt and grass and lifted herself onto her knees. The tire swing swayed slightly in the breeze and the autumn leaves danced around her. A white streak of hair blew into her vision and she turned to see her house standing not far in the distance. A far off rumble sounded and she glanced up. The same darkness from before was nothing more than a pinpoint in the sky, but she could sense it growing stronger.
A figure emerged from the house. He leaned against the porch railing and watched her silently. Rogue pushed herself to her feet and stumbled toward the house. Fractured thoughts ran through her head and she tired desperately to piece them together. People and memories flashed in her mind, but she didn't know if they were hers or not. She reached the bottom of the steps and stared up at the young boy. His expression was blank as he met her gaze and she waited for a name to accompany the recognition.
"David?" She gasped, eyes widening. She remembered. The first boy she ever kissed. The first person she ever hurt. Sadness filled her. He'd been in a coma for three weeks. When he'd woken up they'd tried to keep her from seeing him, but she'd snuck out at night. She had to know if he was ok, if he could ever forgive her. She still remembered the look of fear and disgust in his eyes. It was the same look he was now giving her.
He turned, heading back into the house. Her heart lurched. She wanted to explain to him what happened, to have him understand. Most of all, she wanted him to forgive her. Because she couldn't forgive herself until he did.
"David! Wait, please!" She pounded up the steps, catching to door just as he entered and followed him into the house.
She stepped into her room. The familiar map with the trek to Alaska pinned to the wall. She looked behind her but the door was closed. Confusion slowly abated and she let her gaze wander around her room. Everything was just as she remembered. The same books lying on the shelves, same bed sheets, and a slight clutter from where she'd hurriedly stuffed her belongings into a large army green duffel bag.
She frowned and sat on her bed, hugging a stuffed bear tightly to her chest. There hadn't been room to pack the bear. There had barely been time to pack at all. She could hear them shouting downstairs, yelling at her parents to do something about their freak of a child. Her parents. Even they had seemed to fear her. Especially her father. He had taken it rather hard that his child was a mutant. A fact her never failed to remind her of whenever he was angry, which had been quite often towards the end. She had a feeling that his fear of touching her was the only thing that kept him from expressing his anger with violence.
"Somethin' bothering you, darlin'?" Logan stood in a dark corner, the end of his cigar glowing a pale red.
"You shouldn't smoke in the house." Rogue murmured, hugging the bear tightly. "Momma wouldn't be happy."
He chuckled gruffly and sat down next to her on the bed, leaning on his knees. "D'you really care what your Momma thinks at this point?"
"Ah don't want Momma to hate me." Her voice was small and trembled. Inexplicable fear ran through her. Home didn't feel right.
A rumbled sounded outside and Rogue turned toward the window. There was total darkness beyond the glass. She had no fear of it, only a desire to let it encompass her. To stop everything.
"What is it Logan?" She kept her gaze on the window and the urge to let the blackness in grew more intense inside her.
The man's head snapped up, glaring suspiciously at Rogue. He stood, grabbing her arm and lifting her up with him, drawing her attention away from the window. She blinked and met his gaze and odd look on his face.
"Logan? What are-"
He rested his fingertips on her lips, silencing her. She instinctively jerked away but he caught the back of her head in his hand. He pulled her to him, resting his forehead on hers. Her heart pounded in her chest and her breathing stopped. For the past year any contact involved nothing but pain. Fear had frozen her. His touch thrilled her, sending chills of excitement down her spine. But it was an empty connection. Something was wrong. Everything was wrong. His breath was ragged against her cheek and his skin burned against hers.
"Time for round two, darlin'." His grip on her neck tightened and he roughly pulled her toward the door. She stumbled slightly raising her hands to brace her collision with the wall. She didn't understand what was going on. How could he touch her skin? Why was any of this happening? Anytime it seemed she was getting close to remembering, the surroundings would change and she would be lost again. Was there something purposefully trying to stop her memories?
Logan yanked the door open, darkness laying beyond. He grasped her shoulder and shoved her forcefully through the doorway. "Good luck, kid."
She tripped over the cobblestone and grasped the wrought iron fence to keep from falling. The air was thick and muggy, so strong she could feel it around her. Her gaze wandered around as buildings and people slowly came into focus. There was an old feeling to the city, as though the brick buildings around her had seen a hundred generations come and go. Beautiful, vibrant colors surrounded her. The city sounds were distant, as though she were hearing everything through a thick pane of glass. She was standing on the patio of a café that she had never been to, yet knew completely. Café Du Monde. New Orleans.
She had spent countless summers drinking Italian sodas on the patio, running around with her sister, playing games. She recalled moonlit nights, sitting around laughing, the alcohol warming her through. She was with Remy and her sister. They weren't supposed to be together, it wasn't acceptable. But that only made it more exciting. And it made Bella Donna happy. Her sister loved the Thief.
Rogue shook her head, her grip on the cold metal tightening. This wasn't right. She didn't have a sister. And none of these memories were her own. She'd never even been to New Orleans, but the images around her were bright and clear in her memory. They weren't hers, they couldn't be hers. Where were her memories? Where was Marie?
A woman's laughter interrupted her thoughts and Rogue's head snapped up. She sat in the table next to Rogue, but she hadn't noticed the woman before. Her voice rang clear over the muted background noise, sending shivers up Rogue's spine.
"Well, well, well. Little lost, aren't you girlie?"
She was lost. She barely knew who she was, and all she had was a head full of thoughts and memories that weren't her own. Her eyes searched the skies for the comforting darkness, but it was nowhere to be seen.
"They'll be no help for you here. I'm much too strong for dat." Rogue looked down into shining emerald eyes. Hatred filled the woman's visage, leaving her otherwise pretty features ugly. All at once the memory came rushing back to Rogue. The warehouse. The fight. The feeling of helplessness. Touching the woman and not letting go.
"Victoria Claire." Rogue gasped. Slowly it filtered back to her and she was able to distinguish what memories belonged to the other woman. Though her own remained hidden from her.
Victoria scoffed dryly. "What's left. After you got done with me dere weren't much to show for it. Little too convenient for you though."
Rogue frowned in confusion and took a seat at the café table. "What are you talking about? It was an accident."
"Like hell it was!" She pounded a fist into the table, denting the metal. "You may like to think you're the sweet, innocent victim, but you'll never hide the truth from me."
Rogue's frown deepened and the background noise slowly faded. The buildings and streets in the distance became blurry and out of focus. She met Victoria's glare, a desire burning within her. Rogue had to know, had to remember to be at peace.
"How would you know anything about me? Even I can barely figure out who I am. So how would you know?"
Her cold laughter barked out, echoing in Rogue's ears. "You don't know? Of all the ironic, cruel twists of fate. How fittin' for you."
At this point Rogue was starting to get rather angry. It had been hard enough dealing with the confusion of trying to sort out everyone else's thoughts and memories. Now this woman was taunting her, toying with her. Rogue's fear faded as annoyance filled her.
"If you ain't gonna say anything useful, then I'm gonna leave. I've got a lot of stuff to figure out and I think I can do it fine without you." She vaguely wondered where this attitude was coming from, but ignored the small nagging.
Victoria crossed her arms, grinning smugly at her. "And where exactly do you plan on goin'? Wander around the streets of N'Orleans, knowing where everything is but not knowin' why? You'll find me at every street corner. T'aint somethin' you can escape."
They sat in silence. Rogue stared at the green drink in front of her, battling the desires within her. She desperately craved answers. She was barely aware of why all these voices were in her head, or why everything kept changing. Her awareness had slowly become stronger, but here it was difficult to tell where she stopped and Victoria began. She wasn't even sure there was a clear line anymore. Everything had blurred.
The ice shifted in the glass, sending the cherry sinking to the bottom. She'd never seen a drink like it before. But she didn't have to taste it to know it would be minty, that it would burn a trail down her throat and leave a tingling sensation in her mouth. It was her favorite drink, yet she'd never had it before.
Rogue clutched her head and leaned on the table. "What's goin' on? Why the hell is this happening to me?!"
"Because you were greedy!" Victoria's voice was barely above a poisonous hiss. "You got a taste of a life you could never have. And then you stole it from me. You killed me!"
Guilt burned into Rogue's stomach. She couldn't deny the truth of what Victoria was saying. She remembered holding on longer than she should have. Had she really killed her? With Victoria sitting right in front of her it was difficult to picture her dead.
"Dead to de world." Rogue blinked in surprise. Could she hear her thoughts? "As long as you've got me trapped inside here, I'm as good as dead."
Victoria slowly rose from the table, a dangerous glint in her eyes. Rogue's pulse increased and she tensed in her chair. Magneto had tried to kill her. Would Victoria do the same?
"I told you," Rogue's voice trembled. "It was an accident."
"It was an accident that you savored my memories? My stolen memories. It was an accident that you took from me everything you couldn't experience y'self?!"
Her face was now inches from Rogue's, the anger palpable between them. Her brown eyes widened as memories played clearly through her mind. The room was dark, scents of jasmine permeated the air. She was wearing nothing but a thin silk camisole and satin panties, showing much more skin than she had in a long while. Fingertips brushed her bare shoulder and she responded without thought as the arm slipped to her waist. He leaned into her, pushing her gently down to lie on the bed. His weight rested comfortably on top of her, his warmth filling Rogue where she hadn't realized she was empty. He buried his head against her neck, his hand exploring her stomach. His lips trailed kisses down her skin, sending shivers through her. A content moan escaped her lips. When he spoke his voice was deep and thick with accent.
"You are beauty made flesh. Je t'adore, Victoria."
Rogue gasped and her eyes snapped open, realization hitting her. She was sitting at the café, Victoria glaring at her. Rogue trembled and her heart raced for new reasons. She had felt things she could only imagine, things she didn't even realize she could. Rogue couldn't completely interpret the mind and feelings of an adult, but she knew she craved more. She desired more of those fabulous feelings.
"Do you know who that was?" The woman turned away from Rogue, shaking with rage. "That was my husband. My lover. You've got no right to those memories!"
Her words rang true in Rogue's head, but at this point the girl didn't care. If she couldn't remember herself, then what did it matter? She leapt at the woman, reason and logic had left her. All that remained was a desire for something to define her. She didn't care if it wasn't her true self, she just didn't want to be empty anymore.
She hit Victoria with a strength not her own. The woman went flying, crashing through several tables. She lay still for a moment before pushing herself to her feet, a feral smile upon her lips.
"If you want 'em, you're gonna have to take 'em. And it ain't gonna be so easy this time."
Rogue rushed her again, determination predominating her thoughts. She was focused solely on finding an identity, on gaining stability in the fractured state her mind was in. this time Victoria was prepared for blocking and dodging Rogue's attacks. Power surged through Rogue, along with abilities she'd never possessed before. She kicked out but only met air as the woman jumped away. Victoria smirked and Rogue returned it. She used her forward momentum to swing her leg around, slamming powerfully into the blonde woman's abdomen. Victoria went flying across the street, colliding with an old building and sending brick and dust shooting everywhere. Everything around Victoria remained focused but the city around her blurred obscurely.
Rogue's feet lifted off the ground, a cold and uncharacteristic laugh followed her as she literally flew across the street. Victoria lay in the rubble, shaking her head. Rogue grabbed a handful of the blond curls and dragged the now screaming woman high into the air. Her callous laughter rang out over the woman's cries and the wind blew through her hair.
"Now this is somethin' dat Ah could get used to!" Rogue laughed out, not noticing the beginning change in her accent. Victoria managed to land a few punches, but they mere glanced off the nearly invulnerable girl. Rogue began her descent at breakneck speed. They both cried out as the cobble stone street cracked on their impact. The young girl wasn't fazed for long and was soon striking blow after blow. Her hands were soon covered in blood and Victoria was struggling less and less.
A small portion of Rogue cried out in horror, but it was overpowered by the bloodlust she now felt. She had power she couldn't have imagined as her bare fists pounded into the woman's delicate face. Satisfaction filled her with each blow. She was so entranced in the fight she failed to notice her hair lightening to a brilliant blonde, or as it began tightening into ringlets. The memories flooded through her, becoming stronger. She knew of a lover's touch, a sister's embrace, and the joy of a casual handshake.
Victoria had stopped struggling and Rogue hesitated. A triumphant smile played on her lips and she met Rogue's gaze with a cold stare. She coughed, blood spattering onto her already wet lips. "I win…"
The blood on Rogue's hands shone brightly and the little voice became suddenly louder. She cried out, scrambling away from the near dead woman. Panic flooded her. Her? Who was she? Why couldn't she remember who she was?
"No! It's not supposs'd to work like dis!" She gasped and covered her mouth. It wasn't her voice; it wasn't even her own accent. "If I defeat you, den I win an' I'm in control. Dat's de way it work!"
The woman gave a gurgling chuckle, her eyes slowly closing. "With ev'ry blow you became more an' more like me, girlie. An' you ain't strong enough to fight me off anymore. S'only a matter o' time now."
The young girl desperately tried to wipe the blood from her hands, but no amount of effort seemed to remove the red stain. The world bean spinning around her, colors and shaped blurring together. She felt as though she was shrinking and her strength of will was fading. It would be easier this way. She would no longer have to face the fear of others, though she couldn't remember why they would be afraid of her. She would finally be at peace from hardships she didn't want to remember. Maybe there was a reason her mind had forgotten herself. Rogue heaved a sigh and let her eyes close.
"Please, chere," the voice echoed in the nothingness that surrounded her. "Please don't do this. I don't want to lose someone else. Rogue…"
Rogue.
Her eyes snapped open and she was standing beside the tire swing. That was her name. How could she have forgotten her name? Things slowly came trickling back to her, and she stood there for what seemed like an eternity. She knew who she was again. She could remember why everyone feared her. But things still weren't quite right. She felt fractured, as though pieces of her were missing, and other pieces weren't her own.
The darkness rumbled above her, closer than ever. She smiled slightly, knowing where she had to go. Her friends were worried about her, they weren't giving up on her. She had once desired strength above all else, she wasn't about to go down now.
She took a few steps and stumbled, the nothingness threatened to overtake her. She gritted her teeth and continued toward the house. They always seemed to fade after a while. Maybe if she could hold on long enough it would get easier. After what seemed like ages she made it to the porch, but pieces of it were missing, like holes in her memory of home. She stepped carefully, trying to avoid the holes, but the kept moving. Her world was unstable. A smile tugged at her lips, just the kind of playing field she was used to.
She finally made it up to her room, dizziness overwhelming her. Her heartbeat pounded in her chest as the voices that were always in the distance grew louder. They were fighting again, trying to take control. Her gaze fell upon the bed, lips trembling.
"This is where it all began." She was relieved to hear her own voice.
"And this can be the place where it all ends darlin'."
She turned unsurprised to see Logan standing off to the side, and odd look in his eyes. "Why are you here, Logan?"
"I'm always here, Rogue. Ever since the first night you touched me." He took a few steps closer, stopping only a few inches away from her. "It's getting close to time. Only one chance."
"What are you--" She broke off as a thunderclap sounded outside her wall. The darkness slowly seeped through, bleeding away a large portion of her room. Fear gripped her for a moment and she stared wide-eyed into the swirling blackness. A figure began to take shape, but disappeared when Logan placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at him, confusion playing on her face.
"You don't have to go back, y'know." His voice was soft and deep, sending shivers down her spine. She glanced at the bedroom door where the voices of the others came, slightly muted. "You don't have to worry about them. I'll take care of you."
He raised his bare hand, gently cupping her face against his palm. A sigh escaped her lips and she leaned into his touch. This was something she'd always longed for. Not only for his touch, but for him to see her as more than just a child. More than just the kid he promised to take care of.
"It could always be like this. Together we could find the strength to overcome the others. You wouldn't have to worry about being afraid." He leaned down, trailing kisses along her jaw and eliciting a soft moan from the girl. "You wouldn't have to be alone."
He captured her lips with his own, kissing her with a passion she had only dreamed of. His arms surrounded her in a tight embrace and comforting warmth filled her. She could stay like this forever. Safe, warm, and loved.
The darkness rumbled again and she broke the kiss. The unshed tears broke through, rolling down her cheeks. It wasn't real. No matter how much she wanted it, she knew Logan would never do this. He wouldn't hold her like that. He wouldn't encourage her to run away.
"It's as real as you need it to be, darlin'." He squeezed her hand, looking pleadingly down at her. "You don't have to hurt anymore."
She desperately wanted to give into the temptation, but the desire to make the real Logan proud was stronger. She'd rather spend a lifetime without Logan loving her back than stay trapped in her head with the shell of him that was left in her head. She wanted to experience her real life. She wanted to learn to control herself, not run away from who she was. It was the only way to find peace.
"Ah'm sorry, Logan." She turned from him, focusing on the darkness that continued to grow. She no longer feared it, but accepted the hope it offered. The figure began to take shape again and this time recognition dawned. Though he was nothing more than a vague outline of gray against the black, she knew it was the only person who could actually help her through this.
"Professor…" He raised a hand toward her and Rogue reached tentatively forward.
"Marie!" Her hand halted and she turned to look back at what she realized was only an illusion.
"My name is Rogue now."
She tightly grasped the Professor's hand, crying out at everything flooded her again. The voices screamed in her mind and countless memories flashed before her, faster than Rogue could interpret them. The melded and swirled, pulling at her as she desperately fought against them. Their strength was incredible, but Xavier held tightly to her, the first real thing she'd since it had all began. Rogue cried out, holding onto as many of her own precious memories as she could. And suddenly all was silent.
She was aware first of a throbbing ache at the base of her skull. Voices murmured around her, though she couldn't distinguish what was being said. Temperature came next and she relaxed as the cool fabric rested against her skin. Every part of her body seemed to be screaming at her in pain, but she felt more relieved than ever. She was alive. She was awake. She had control.
"Rogue?" It was the man they called Professor Xavier. "Rogue, can you hear me?"
Assuming he was talking to her she frowned and struggled with her unusually heavy eyelids. She blinked up at the blurring shapes with emerald eyes.
"Rogue?"
Closing Note: Heh, I'm evil, I know. The worst part is you're not gonna find out until chapter 8 what happened to her. You'll find out why next chapter. Keep in mind the secondary characters in this chapter might have seemed a little OOC, because they were only the imprint left on Rogue's mind, and therefore seen through a heavy Rogue filter. I really liked the way this chapter turned out. Hopefully you do as well. Let me know what I did right, what I did wrong, or what you might like to see. Inspiration from reviewers is always a good thing. The next chapter probably won't be up until late June, early July. I'm really sorry about that, but I've got finals. And college level art classes take up a whole lotta time. I've had so much painted absorbed into my pores that if I get too close to a lot radiation I might turn into a paint mutant. It's really that bad.
So who is Amy? Go read "When This Fic Author Gets Bored" part one and deux. Be prepared to laugh. Cause its on crack.
LiRA-- You're bored? What is this bored you speak of? There are quite possible over a million fanfics authored at this site, I myself have 7 others besides this one. Go read them. Or write one of your own. Or read a book. Or take a pottery class. The possibilities are endless. I don't remember the last time I was bored.
Cherryblossomjen-Yes, I found 'bunch of ninjas' incredibly amusing as well. Thanks for reviewing each of the chapters.
StarStealer-I hear you, big time. And agree completely. There's much too much sap with Bobby/Rogue. Gambit is a million times better. Now go read the comic books!
Cosmo-Queen-You break my heart. Go read the comics. Or at least watch X-Men: Evolution. They did a pretty good job with that show.
To everyone else: Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews. You really inspired me to keep going. I love you all! One more thing, if anyone has a written or read a good fanfic out there where Rogue doesn't gain control of her absorption abilities, please let me know. I think I've found one other besides my own, and that's just not right. Its one of the most integral aspects of her character! And I don't mind the possibility, I'd just like to read more fics that use that aspect of her character. And I'm done.