Replay: Slow Motion

Installment 4

Rogue was overwhelmed with emotions and she wasn't sure which one was currently the strongest. Concern- for the mutant Remy who now lay unconscious in her arms. Disappointment- in herself for being so stupid. Anger- at Pietro for tricking her. Not to mention the undeniable loss of hope she felt. For one glorious moment she thought fate had given her a break. Looking down at Remy she realized she should take him somewhere. He would recover; the contact had not lasted long, but he would be unconscious for awhile. 'Ah'lltake him back to the mansion.' Rogue picked him up. 'But if Ah do that, then Ah'll have ta explain ta the proffesa what happened….' Maybe she was being a little selfish - but if Logan were to find out that the guy had been trying to make the moves on her, he would not be recovering anytime soon. So she re-thought where she could take him. 'Not the hospital, not all doctors are mutant friendly.'She looked back down at him. 'Ah'd take ya to your home sugh…if Ah knew where that was.'she added. Running out of options she decided. 'Well, tha Brotherhood ain't too far from here. Besides… Ah've got a bone ta pick with acertain speed demon.'

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Thump Thump Thump

Thump Thump Thump

"Todd knock it off already!" Lance shouted from the living room.

Thump Thump Thump

"I ain't doing nuthin yo!" he called as he continued leaping all over the place.

"KnockitoffbeforeIcomeinthereandmakeyou." threatened Pietro.

"Huh? What was that? Didn't hear you – yo!" The thumping became louder.

"He said…" Todd was grabbed by the collar of his shirt, "knock it off." The Blob kept his grip on his far too energetic teammate while chowing down on a foot long sandwich in his other hand.

"Thanks Blob."

The thumping started again.

"TODD!"

"What? It ain't me yo!" an innocent Todd said. "Someone's at the door."

"No one ever visits the Brotherhood." As soon as the words left Lance's mouth a gust of wind rushed past him followed by what sounded like an "I'llgetit." Pietro opened the door.

"Roguey?" he questioned. Surprised to see her there and curious about who was with her. Rogue's fist promptly hit him in the face. "What the hell was that for??!" he asked. By now, the rest of the brotherhood had made their way over to the door.

"Ya know damn well Maximoff!" she exclaimed stepping in the door.

"Hey Rogue - what's up?" Lance asked.

"Ah need your help Lance." she started.

"Yousurehaveafunnywayofaskingforit." Pietro received a death glare from Rogue. 'WhatdidIdo?' he wondered. 'She's right pissed. Guess maybe I shouldn't have just taken off after class…and who's that guy she's with??!!'

"His name's Remy," she said looking down at the man in her arms "he needs a place to stay and recover…"

"And why should we help him yo?"

"Cuz he's a mutant and he's hurt!" she yelled, furious that they would even have to ask. She then turned to Lance, who she always found to be the most level headed and compassionate of the group. "We got attacked by a mob a couple a blocks down…"

"Areyouokay?" The question slipped out of his mouth before he could stop himself. 'Where did that come from?'

"Fahne." she replied coldly. "So can Remy stay here or not?"

"Hmph. What's wrong with the institute?" snorted Blob. Rogue sighed.

"Look, you guys were closer okay…" she said looking away.

"It's alright Rogue. He can stay." Lance answered.

"WHAT?!?!" came the voices of the three other Brotherhood members.

"Look we're the Brotherhood of Mutants, and that means, we take care of our own." Lance said taking Remy from Rogue who gave him a grateful smile.

"Thanks."

"Not a problem Rogue." He carried the mutant into the living room and placed him on the couch. Freddy lost interest and turned his attention back to his sandwich.

"Sweet. FREEDOM!" yelled Todd who began leaping up the stairs. Only Pietro was left in the hallway with Rogue whose gaze hadn't left the mutant lying on the couch.

"So how'd he get hurt?" Quicksilver asked arms folded.

"Ah'll tell ya how he got hurt!" she said, anger apparent in her tone. "Ya lied ta meh!"

"But I…"

"Save it Maximoff!! Ah don wanna hear it!" and she turned and walked out the door. Before she could make it out of the yard though, Pietro had caught up to her.

"Rogue wait! What do you mean I lied to you? What happened?" she hated what he was doing right now. He was acting concerned again. It almost made her feel bad.

"Ya told me Ah could touch people…" 'Huh? But she can. Why is she mad about this…?'

"Didhetouchyou?" he asked. Rogue didn't reply and avoided eye contact. "He did, didn't he!?" 'Is he angry?'

"That ain't the point…"

"Didhehurtyou? Becauseifhedid..."

"No Pietro. YOU hurt meh." she was getting annoyed and angry. 'This "I care" routine is getting old'she thought. Pietro looked hurt.

"What did I do?" he asked slowly.

"Ya lied ta meh. And Ah'm sick of having to repeat mahself. If ya hadn't told meh that Ah could touch we never would have kissed and…" Pietro did not hear the rest of what she said after that. 'KISSED? KISSED!? He kissed her?!?!?' His thoughts wandered, picturing that guy and what he might have been trying to do. Rogue noticed that he was no longer listening and sighed. "Ya don't even care do ya?" she asked him.

"Sorrywhat?"

"Look, Ah don't know why ya lied ta meh, and Ah don't rightfully care." she said sounding defeated. "All Ah really care about is that Remy's okay. So regardless of what ya think of meh, or what your grudge against meh is…take care of him alright?"

"But Roguey…"

"Please?" she looked up at him with pleading eyes. Eyes that looked like they were about to fill with tears.

"Okay." he said, watching her already start to walk away.

"…Thanks…" and then she was gone. She was upset with him, and it actually hurt. And she was upset because that guy had kissed her. Making a fist Pietro thought 'I'll take care of him all right…'and made his way back into the house.

TBC>