Author's Note to Cat2fat900: I am very glad you enjoy this fic, and my OC. So far you are the only person who has read my story, I hope to get more, but since you are the only reader so far, you get what you want. This will be a Rogue/Nightmare fic, or Roguemare as you say. I like that name too. Thank you for your input.
YOU ROCK!
It stood in the lone silo of the hidden fortress, huge and powerful. It's metal surface gleaming in the darkness. The Sentinel.
Trask stood in the chamber with his creation. This was the only one that was somewhat intact after the ordeal with Apocalypse, and his men have been repairing it ever since.
Now it was almost complete, again. And the fateful day would come, when it would rise again, to destroy the X-Men.
Trask's eyes closed tightly when he thought about them.
The X-Men. The only people that stood in his way of ridding the world of their kind. If it were not for them, nothing would be in his way of mutant annihilation.
However he planned to change that.
His men kept their tools at work, trying to take away any imperfection.
He yelled up to them, "hurry along! We can't move so slowly! The end of the X-Men is at hand!"
The students of the Xavier institute stood in the danger room. Nightmare stood among them, waiting for the session to start.
It was surprising that he was willing to participate, being a new student and all. All of the new recruits just watched during their first time in the danger room. However he requested that he join in.
He stood with his hands behind his back, waiting to hear what this lesson would teach.
All the students were quiet when Beast called for their attention.
"Alright everyone," he said, "today's lesson will be a simple review on the use of teamwork in difficult situations. The reason for this will be to get our newest member used to the danger room."
They all looked to Nightmare; many of them thankful that this lesson seemed like it would be an easy one today.
Nightmare however was not pleased. He preferred a challenge. Still he did not say anything.
"Now," Hank continued, "seeing as Nightmare is new here he will need someone with more experience to join with him. So I will ask one of the older recruits to team up with him."
This made Nightmare even more irritated. It was like they were treating him like an inexperienced child.
With all due respect, he was probably a little more adult than most of the older teens.
He had to grow up at a very young age. He may have been in the body of an eighteen-year-old, but he had the mind of some one much older. He just did not wish to show it sometimes.
Hank than asked, "so who would like to partner up with Nightmare?"
Every one was silent. It was still obvious that the students were nervous around him.
Nightmare waited to see who would be his ally in the lesson at hand. But no one stepped up.
Rogue looked around at the other students. She felt this was very cruel.
True Nightmare was odd, but he did not disserve to be treated like an outcast. He just had some mental problems. In a way every one has a little insanity in them. Nightmare's madness was just harder to control.
Still she was nervous around Nightmare herself. But she did not want to make herself a hypocrite by keeping silent.
She stepped forward and said, "Ah'll partner up with him."
Hank looked at her and smiled. He felt the same way Rogue did about Nightmare.
"Very good," he said. "Now while the rest of you partner up we will get started. Everyone will be in groups of two. If your partner is defeated, you both loose. So everyone, be on your guard, and do your best."
And so the students began to pair up as Hank headed for the control room.
So much commotion went on as Nightmare turned to Rogue.
"Why did you wish to team with me," he asked.
Rogue looked at him. She tried not to make herself seem afraid.
"Ah don't know," she claimed.
The cloaked madman knew she was not telling the truth. However in this case he did not question her any further.
He was rather intrigued by this Goth. How strange she was. She was unlike everyone else in the Institute.
This made him determined to learn about her. His addiction for mental excitement had returned.
But as strange as it seemed that was not the only reason. He did not know why, he just had to learn about her.
Nightmare kept his gaze on Rogue for a long while. When she finally noticed she became unnerved.
"What are you looking at," she asked.
Nightmare smiled to himself, under his black mask, instantly thinking of a way to cover up his reason for staring.
"How does ones skin get so pale," he asked. "Don't tell me you're allergic to sunlight."
He said this in a teasing manner.
Normally Rogue would react to that with offence.
However this time she gave a quick chuckle through her nose.
She retorted sarcastically, "how does one get as creepy as you."
Nightmare chuckled at her statement. He leaned over to her and said, "a quick thinker, I like that."
He looked away from her and towards the control room, waiting for the lesson to start.
Rogue tried not to look back at him.
'Ah think Ah may have made a mistake,' she said in her mind as Hanks voice called down from the control room.
"Alright," he called, "every one get ready, the simulation will begin now."
The lesson had gone on for a while. Two teams had already been eliminated. However Rogue and Nightmare had not seen anyone yet.
They moved around through the Simulation City that was created as their arena.
Both walked in silence. Rogue was surprised that the madman wasn't acting the same way as he did when he was introduced to the X-Men.
Still she had a feeling like he was watching her the whole time.
She had to break the silence between them. It was driving her insane. She expected this lesson to be a little louder than this, but since they had not seen any action it was pretty quiet.
"So uh" she said, trying to think of anything she could say to end the silence, "what's with the name Nightmare anyway?"
She rolled her eyes after thinking of such a stupid question.
Nightmare stopped moving and looked at her.
"Why do you want to know," he asked.
Rogue shrugged. "Just curious."
Nightmare nodded.
"Remember," he said, "curiosity killed the cat."
The Goth gave him an annoyed look, and the madman only chuckled.
"Forgive me," he said. "I find that statement foolish myself. My curiosity is what has kept me alive for many years. I find it a vital thing to mankind."
"How's that's," Rogue asked.
"It has always been a simple fact," he answered. "Curiosity is what has motivated man to search the darkest corners of our world."
He began moving again. Rogue continued walking beside him. She was becoming very interested by this strange young man.
She smiled to herself as she walked.
"That was pretty cool, how you told off Jean," she said.
"Could see right through her," Nightmare said. "Everything was handed to her as a child. Never once did she have to deal with hardship. Never to know the experiences of those who have struggled. If she didn't have her popularity she would be nothing more than a whore on the streets."
Rogue began to rub her upper arm. It was so creepy. Nightmare seemed to know about Jean even though he never met her before.
"How do you do that," she asked.
"Do what," Nightmare asked.
"Get into people's heads," Rogue continued. "How do you know so much about people with out ever really meeting them? Ah doubt your powers give you the ability to read minds."
Once again Nightmare turned to her, but this time he turned so he stood in front of her.
The Goth stopped dead in her tracks. Her discomfort slowly began to return.
"I observe," he stated. "I listen to people, and watch what they do. I check their bodies, what do they ware, how do they move. And I ask questions, to satisfy my undying curiosity."
Rogue wanted to step away from him, but she couldn't. There was just something about him that stopped her from moving away from him.
"I know a lot Rogue," he said stepping closer to her. "You for example, I know you. You are an outcast; afraid to be near people for reasons unknown to me. I can see it in your eyes. The way they welled up with terror every time someone steps near you. I saw it when the elevator became crowded with these students on our way down here."
Rogue wanted to tell him to stop. But she didn't.
"Tell me Rogue," Nightmare asked, "why are you so afraid to get close to people?"
Normally Rogue wouldn't answer such a question to a person she didn't know, but in this case she couldn't help herself.
"Mah powers," she said.
Nightmare cocked his head.
"What do you mean," he asked. His voice was not demanding. It was calm and gentle, but still with that demonic nature.
For reasons unknown to Rogue, she wanted to tell him.
She slipped off her glove and held up her bare hand.
"If Ah were to touch somebody Ah could end up killing them," she said. "Mah powers make it so if Ah touch somebody Ah absorb their life force, their memories, and if they're a mutant Ah take their powers."
She slipped her glove back on. Hoping that Nightmare was satisfied.
He wasn't. The next thing he said sent a chill down Rogue's spine.
"That is not the only reason," he claimed.
Rogue eyes turned wide. In all her days at the institute she had been keeping a secret from her friends. The true reason why she was afraid to get close to people. She had never told anyone about it. But somehow Nightmare knew she was keeping something.
Rogue tried to cover it up. "It is the only reason."
"No it isn't," Nightmare stated. "I can sense it. It eats away at you every so often doesn't it?"
Rogue shook her head and let out a stern, "NO!"
Nightmare declined from his next question.
"Very well," he said, "I won't ask you again. That is until you are ready."
He turned away and continued through the simulation city.
Rogue took a deep breath before she continued to follow her teammate.
But as soon as he started moving he stopped.
Rogue stopped with him.
"What's wrong," she asked.
Nightmare held his finger up as if signaling her to be quiet.
"One moment," he said.
He took a few steps forward to get a better look of something Rogue couldn't see.
"Over there," he said.
Rogue looked to where he was pointing. It was one of the buildings not too far away. The third window to the right on the third floor.
It was Iceman, trying to keep hidden as he kept watch.
"What an idiot," Rogue said. "You can see him as plain as day."
Nightmare nodded.
"That's because he's only a decoy," he said.
Rogue looked at him questioningly.
The next thing she knew, Nightmare pushed her aside as Cannonball came zipping out from the shadows of a dark ally nearby.
Nightmare quickly dodged him.
Cannonball hit the wall of another building and deviate upward towards the sky.
He hit the ceiling of the danger room and fell back to the ground.
Nightmare watched as he fell back to Earth.
The blond haired boy hit the ground hard and laid there for a minute or two.
Rogue watched this in disbelief.
While she stood in her shock Nightmare stood over Cannonball.
"Have you ever tried to sneak up on a madman before," he asked. "It is very difficult as you have just discovered."
As he spoke, Iceman came down from his hiding place. He walked over to Cannonball and helped him to his feet.
"How did you mess that up," he asked his partner, "we planned the whole thing out perfectly."
"I don't know," Sam insisted, rubbing the sore spot on his head. "He saw me coming."
Bobby was about to speak again before he looked over to Nightmare.
Luckily they were still in the game, and saw that their opponents were ready to fight.
Rogue stood next to Nightmare, her face looking as if she was ready to rumble.
The two boys stood facing the Goth and the Madman.
The two teams circled around each other. Each person waiting to see who would make the first move.
In a flash Cannonball revved up his powers and launched himself at Nightmare, again.
The cloaked figure tried to move out of the way. Cannonball managed to nick his right shoulder as he zipped by his opponent.
Nightmare felt the hit and spiraled to the ground, sliding a few feet before stopping.
Cannonball adjusted himself a little so that when he hit the wall he bounced back towards Nightmare.
The young madman rolled out of the way, dodging the hit by mere inches.
Meanwhile Rogue was up against Bobby.
She kept her eyes focused on him, waiting for him to make his move.
"This wont be easy," Iceman claimed, "you know I don't like to loose."
"Well you better get used to it," Rogue said as she knelt on the ground and spun, tripping him in the process.
Iceman shot out his powers at Rogue.
She jumped out of the way. She bounced her feet off a nearby wall and turned with her foot towards Bobby.
The boy saw her attack coming and moved out of the way.
Rogue could not stop as her foot hit the ground hard, bending the wrong way as she landed.
She stood back up; a throbbing pain lingered in her ankle.
Bobby took advantage of this.
He grabbed on to one of Rogue's arms and twisted it behind her back.
It hurt. She ground a little as she felt the uncomfortable force.
"Say uncle," Bobby said in a teasing voice.
Rogue didn't say anything. She just tried to reach the boy with her free arm.
"Come on Rogue," Bobby pushed, "say uncle."
Nightmare watched this as he faced Sam.
A sense of anger filled up behind his eyes.
As Cannonball went in for another attack, he dodged and ran to Iceman and Rogue.
He grabbed on to Bobby's hand and twisted it, not so it was behind his back, but still in front of him.
The hold was five times worse than the one he had on Rogue.
He knelt to the ground groaning in pain.
Nightmare put his face close to Bobby's and said, "it is one think to defeat your opponent. But to humiliate them is unacceptable."
Bobby tried to free his hand, but he could not. It felt like his whole arm was going to be wrenched out of its socket.
"Give up," Nightmare said, "and I will let go."
"ALRIGHT," Bobby yelled out, "I give! I give!"
Nightmare let go.
Bobby rubbed his hand and looked over to Sam who was looking on in shock.
Beast's voice came in over the intercom. "Bobby and Sam have been eliminated."
The two boys looked up towards the intercom.
"I don't believe this," Bobby said as Sam and he walked towards the exit door.
Rogue watched them leave before turning back to Nightmare.
"Thanks," she said rubbing her arm.
"There is no need," Nightmare stated. "You should never humiliate and opponent. I merely did so to teach him a lesson."
Rogue nodded. She continued to move through the city, but her ankle hurt very much.
She limped as she walked. The pain was too much to bear at this point.
Nightmare saw this.
He did not say anything. He just walked over to Rogue and took hold of her arm.
Rogue was about to yell at him for touching her, but stopped as he wrapped her arm over his shoulder.
"Lean on me," Nightmare requested.
Rogue did as was told.
She looked at Nightmare as they moved.
'I don't get it,' Rogue thought in her mind. 'No murderer is this humane.'
They did not speak for a while. They simply moved through the simulation city, looking for another team to fight.
Jean and Scott watched as Roberto and Ray moved towards the exit door of the danger room.
This was the second team that they beat today.
They always made a good team when they fought together. Something made a strong connection when they teamed up.
"Looks like we might win this one today," Scott claimed as Jean came floating back towards the ground.
Soon Beast's voice came on the intercom again. "Simulation will be changed in three, tow, one."
And after the count the city around them faded out, and was now a big rocky area.
Scott and Jean watched as it changed, bringing their attention back to each other when the transformation was complete.
"So," Jean began, "who's left in this contest now?"
"Don't know," Scott declared. "We'll just have to keep on our guard, until we're done for today."
They looked about the rocky area.
"Where do you want to go know," Scott asked the red head.
However she was not the one to answer the question.
"Let us make the decision for you," came Nightmare's voice.
They turned around to see Rogue and Nightmare standing nearby. They did not even hear them coming.
Jean lifted herself into the air.
Scott was about to go in for an attack, when he saw that Rogue was leaning against Nightmare, and keeping the wait off her left foot.
"What happened," he asked.
"Ah just sprained mah ankle," was all Rogue said. In her mind this was no time to be chit chatting.
Scott stood there. A look of concern formed across his face.
"Maybe you should sit the rest of this lesson out then," he commented.
Rogue was not interested in those words.
She took herself away from Nightmare's side and limped over to Scott.
"Ah don't think so," she said. A smile formed on her face showing that she wanted to keep fighting.
Scott smiled back at her. Rogue had always been strong. He sort of admired her for that.
"Alright," Scott said, "but I'm not gonna go easy on you."
The two began to circle each other, much like when Rogue fought Bobby.
Jean watched from where she floated in the air. A hint of jealousy formed on her face.
Nightmare looked up at her and said, "I guess that leave you for me."
Jean looked down at him. Her jealousy was replaced with rage, remembering what Nightmare had said to her.
She let out a blast of her psychic energy, knocking the madman flat on the ground.
He stood back to his feet only to have Jean lift him up in the air. She began to spin him around with her mind, wanting to punish him for his insult to her.
On the ground Scott finally made his first move. He aimed his visor at a rock wall above Rogue and blasted it.
She jumped out of the way of the falling rocks, ignoring the pain in her ankle.
Scott had hoped she would dodge.
As she was distracted by the falling rocks Scott grabbed her by the arms and pinned her against a nearby rock wall.
"Had enough yet," Scott asked in a teasing voice.
"Not at all," Rogue claimed.
She wrapped her right leg around Scott's and pulled with it, causing him to fall to the ground.
She then slipped off one of her gloves.
Hoping to "finish him off".
But Scott was ready for that.
He caught Rogue's right foot and pulled so she was on the ground as well.
And in not time he had her pinned.
Back up in the air, Nightmare was still spinning. Jean was not going to stop there.
With a simple twitch of her eyes she took her power away from Nightmare allowing him to fall back to the ground.
He landed on the ground and remained motionless. Not one muscle moved.
Jean floated towards the ground and landed so she stood over him.
"That's for calling me white trash," she said.
She then looked over to Scott who still had Rogue pinned to the ground.
She smiled at this. It looked like they had won another fight.
Rogue looked into Scott's visor as she struggled. She could not loose this fight. If she did Jean would never let her live it down.
It took her mere seconds to find a way out of Scott's grasp. She didn't eve think before acting.
She lifted her face up to his, and kissed him, touching his face with her skin.
Scott became shocked. He did not expect this to happen.
He groaned slightly before passing out.
Rogue pushed his unconscious body off of her and looked over to Jean.
The red head looked at Rogue with rage and jealousy. She couldn't believe Rogue just did that. It did not matter to her why the Goth did it, she had to pay.
"You bitch," Jean said in a voice full of anger.
With one wave of her hand she raised a huge rock into the air.
Rogue's eyes focused on the rock. She had no doubt that Jean would crush her with it.
Jean readied her hands, about to use full force to throw the rock at Rogue.
But it was then that Nightmare had risen from where he fell. He was not unconscious at all. Just waiting for the right moment to strike. And now seemed like the best time.
He grabbed hold of Jean's arm and squeezed.
Jean dropped the rock as she felt the pain surge through her arm.
"This is how you try to prove me wrong," Nightmare asked.
Jean didn't answer him. Instead she took off into the air, with Nightmare still holding on.
He kept his grip tight, not letting go until she surrendered to him.
Jean spun in the air, but it was no use. He would not let go.
In a last desperate attempt she lifted a rock the size of a basketball off the ground, pulling it towards Nightmare at full force.
Nightmare saw the rock coming, and figured this was the best time to release his grip.
He let go and once again fell towards the ground.
The rock kept flying and hit Jean in the stomach before she could stop it. She was lucky it didn't kill her.
She hit the ground a short time after Nightmare did, but the cloaked madman was the only one to stand up.
"Jean and Scott have been eliminated," came Hank's voice from the intercom.
Nightmare looked at Jean as she lay helpless on the ground, breathing heavily from the blow.
"You brought forth your own downfall," he said. "You keep up your ways and you will learn that lesson in a much harsher manor."
He turned to walk away. He seemed much more calm now, hoping that Jean had learned something today.
Sadly she did not.
In a fit of rage she let loose a burst of her powers towards Nightmare.
He felt the force against the back of his body as he was pushed forward.
The energy slammed him head first into the rock wall nearby, knocking him out instantly.
"Oh mah God," Rogue said as she saw what Jean had just done.
She looked at the red head.
Jean's eyes were full of anger. She seemed to have no regret for what she did.
Rogue took her attention off of Jean and put it on Nightmare.
The young madman laid on the ground. A small amount of blood was running from his head.
He was stuck in the darkness of his mind, as Rogue ran to get Beast from the monitor room.