Replay: Slow Motion

Installment 2

Rogue took her usual spot at the back of the room and sat down. "Oh Ah almost forgot,"she thought aloud looking down at the glove still in her hand and put it back on. She then looked up and noticed Pietro had entered the room and that he was staring at her most peculiarly. She felt awkward under his gaze and looked in the opposite direction, only to find herself face to face with him in a matter of seconds.

"Roguey, whendidyoulearntocontrolyourpowers?"

"Say wha?" she questioned, not necessarily confused by his fast speech but rather the question itself.

"Howcanyoucontrolyourpowers?"

"Maximoff, slow down. Ya ain't makin a lick a sense."

"Howandwhendidyoulearntocontrolyourabsorbtionpowers?" Rogue tilted her head and quirked an eyebrow at this. 'What's he playin' at?'she wondered and then sighed.

"Ah don't have control of mah powers Speedy." Now it was Pietro's turn to look confused.

"Then how did you touch me just now in the hallway?"

What are ya talkin about?"

"You slapped me with your bare hand in the hallway."

"No Ah didn't.''

"Yes you did. You had your glove off and you hit my hand with yours." Rogue looked down at her now gloved hand. 'Did Ah….No. That's impossible.'She shook the thought from her head.

"Ah don't know what ya are up to Pietro, but Ah don't like it."

"I'm not up to anything." He replied looking hurt. 'He seems sincere enough' she thought while observing him.

"Pietro, Ah don't have control of mah powers," she said saddened, "no matter how much Ah wish that weren't true." Her head flopped down and she stared at the desk. 'She doesn't believe me' herealized 'and she looks so sad.' Pietro looked down at her sympathetically then shook his head. 'Since when do I care about Mrs. Anti-Social?!?!'he questioned himself. He couldn't stop himself from feeling sorry for her. He wanted her to believe him.

"Touch me." he said, not much louder than a whisper.

"Excuse meh?" she said looking up into his eyes and saw them filled with something she never thought she'd see in them.

"Touchme." he said slower. "If you don't believe me, touch me." Now he was the one becoming lost in the gaze of her eyes.

"Ya're crazay." she stated looking away. Like before, he zoomed over to the other side of her and the two were once again face to face.

"No Rogue. You touched me out there, even if it was for the briefest of moments and nothing happened. You may not believe me, but I know you did. Touch me and find out."

"Ah could kill ya."

"That's ridiculous. If something DOES happen then you can pull away." he said and Rogue could see the sincerity in his features and by the way he was talking. 'He actually thinks that Ah can touch him?'

"Ah…ah don't know Speedy…" she said hesitantly. Uncertain of whether or not to believe him. Whether or not to take the risk. Whether or not she was setting herself up for disappointment.

"Well I do…" he said reassuringly and took her hand in his and began to remove her glove. He seemed so sure. So genuine. Rogue made up her mind.

"…Alraght." she breathed. Once he had completely removed the glove they sat there just staring at one another. Finally, Rogue brought up her hand to reach out to the speed demon, who leaned closer to her. Only inches away, both took a big breath, Pietro closing his eyes. 'This is it.'she thought. 'The moment of truth….'

The two jumped at the sudden sounding of the bell, and their gaze went to the door where both Lance and Scott were walking in.

"Watch it Summers." Lance said threateningly.

"Watch yourself." he replied then looked up to see Rogue sitting at the back of the room. "Hey Rogue."

"Hi ya Scott." she said, not knowing how he would react to how close her and Pietro were at the moment.

"Sup Lance?" Looking up she saw that Quicksilver had made his way to his desk at the OPPOSITE end of the room from her. He gave her a short sideways glance, and then returned his attention to Lance.

"How's it going?" Scott asked sitting in the seat in front of Rogue.

"Ah don't know…" she replied softly, folding her arms and letting her head rest atop the desk.

TBC>