AN: Here it is: Chapter Seven! This one was really fun to write! I bring in a character from the comics here. :grins:
Anyways, thanks again for all your support! I've got some really good stuff planned for a sequal. It'll answer alot of the questions and fill some of the holes that X-3 left us with. I'm getting the best reviews I've ever gotten on here and it is really encouraging!
Enjoy!
Chapter 7: Runnin' again
She didn't really know where she was going. All she knew was that she had to get away from the mansion, and fast. She raced out the front door, no one really stopping her. After she pounded down the front steps, she looked around, deciding which way to go.
I have to leave, was the only thing she could think. I can't stay here with that monster right there in my room.
Rogue was devastated. The only woman she had ever considered family outside the X-Men was one of their bitter enemies. It was hard to consider. At first she thought it was a joke the shape shifter was playing on her. And then, suddenly it made sense. All those times she thought her mother was watching out for her when she wasn't around. She probably was. Gawd. I shoulda known.
Gambit's bike was parked right in the middle of the drive. Now if I can just remember how to hotwire a motorcycle…
She was amazed at how quickly she got it started. It roared to life underneath her. It felt quite awkward to be on a bike that big. The one Logan had bought her months ago was so small compared to this thing. Of course, Gambit was a pretty strong guy.
She cruised down the drive and onto Graymalkin Lane. Where should I go? She thought.
Just go, the voice in her head told her.
Go far.
The sound of a motorcycle starting startled Remy as he sat in the Rec Room. Logan sat across from him, his eyebrows raised as soon as he heard the sound.
"Dat's m'bike," Remy said, rising to his feet. He ran to the window. All he could see was the tail lights as it turned the corner onto the street.
"Rogue," Logan said.
"How y'know dat?" Gambit asked walking towards the door. Logan followed him.
"I taught her how to hotwire a bike as soon as I bought her one."
Gambit opened the door, Logan one step behind him. "Where y't'ink she's goin'?"
"I don't know. But I can track her." With that he sniffed the air. "She's headed south. Shoulda known."
"Whatever y'say, mon ami," Gambit shrugged and followed the man.
She stopped at a truck stop in Pennsylvania, somewhere in the Poconos. She'd gotten lost somehow and started heading north.
As she got off the Harley, a guy getting out of a convertible watched her. She didn't really pay him notice until he called to her. "Hey! Nice bike!"
"Thanks," she answered.
"I like women who can handle one of those," he said, winking at her.
"Sorry, sugar. If you knew me you wouldn't be interested," she said, walking into the restaurant.
"Can I at least buy you a coke or something?" The kid was a tall blond, and his accent screamed California Surfer Dude. He took the door out of her hand and held it for her.
"I s'pose it won't hurt."
They sat down at a table. Rogue looked out the window half expecting someone to have followed her.
"So where are you from?" The kid asked.
"Mississippi."
"You're a long way from home."
"I'm goin' ta school up here," she stated. "I was just headin' home for the summer."
"Hey, I'm headed to a school myself. Xavier's. Ever heard of it?"
Rogue's eyes went wide. "You're kiddin' me."
"Nope."
"You're a mutant?"
"Yeah. If that offends you-"
"No!" Rogue almost shouted. "I am too- I mean, I used ta be."
"Oh," He looked relived. "Is that where you're coming from?"
"Yeah." She started playing with her hair.
"Then you probably know my brother."
"There's a lot of kids there," she said with a laugh, "but I'm sure I do. I'm Rogue, by the way."
"Alex. Alex Summers."
"Summers?" Rogue's eyes went wide. "Oh my Gawd. I'm sorry."
"Why, because my brother's kinda wound tight? Don't be, I'm used to it." Alex said with a laugh.
"You- You don't know, do you?" She looked down at the table.
"What? What don't I know?" He said, knitting his eyebrows.
She let out a deep sigh. "Scott," she swallowed, "Scott's dead. I'm so sorry." She was nearly in tears remembering the deaths of her former mentors.
"What? Is this some kind of new student joke? I mean-"
"No. Gawd, I'm so sorry." She put her hand over her eyes.
"Wow. Either you're a really good actress or no one bothered to call me."
"It happened so sudden. We're all kind of reeling from it." She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt. "Now I feel just plain awful."
"Hey, it's okay," he said placing a hand on her shoulder. "I haven't talked to him in years. We haven't been real close for a long time."
"I really am sorr-"
"It's alright," he said, forcing a smile. "I just wish someone would have told me."
"If it makes you feel better, I doubt anyone knew 'bout you. The Professor's gone too. So is Jean."
"They're dead?" His eyes went wide. She nodded solemnly. "Damn. I always liked Jean. She was so nice."
"Then you're not gonna believe what happened."
"You seem awfully worried about her. I thought you'd be more concerned about yer bike," Logan said as he stopped the car to get another lead on Rogue.
Gambit shrugged. "You seem worried 'bout 'er, too. Y' like her or somethin'?"
"No," Logan said, glaring at the boy. "I promised I'd always take care of her."
"Mebbe it's time y' give someone else dat chance, hein?" Remy smiled.
"What, you like her?" Logan raised an eyebrow.
"Oui. If she'd give me a chance."
"If you can calm her down, I'd be willing to consider that," Logan said as he started to move again.
"Why? Y'gonna step in and gimme de talk?" He smirked.
"Only if she kicks you," Logan stopped again. "Now shut up. I'm trying to concentrate."
He still couldn't believe his brother was dead. He'd been sitting here in the booth across from Rogue talking for hours and it still hadn't hit him. He just couldn't believe that Jean had killed him. Sweet, Jean. The girl he'd been jealous of his brother for.
"So what's your power?" Alex asked, forcing a smile.
"Well," Rogue started, looking down at the table. "I don't exactly have one anymore."
"The cure, huh?" Alex asked, frowning.
"Yeah," she answered. "Officially the stupidest thing I've ever done."
"Why's that?"
"I couldn't touch people without killing them."
"Oh," Alex said. He paused for a moment. "I still don't see why that's-"
"Turns out being human in a school full o' mutants, not the easiest thing."
"I see," Alex took a sip out of his drink. "So they gave you a hard time?"
"No." She played with the napkin on the table in front of her. "I just don't feel like I belong in the only place I've ever had to call home."
"'Course y'belong," a familiar voice said from behind her.
Rogue turned around quickly. "Remy. How did you-"
"I 'ad some 'elp." He jerked his head in the direction of the front counter where Logan was leaning. "So, y'gonna come 'ome, or am I gon' t' 'ave t'bribe y'?"
Rogue smiled. I don't know what it is about this guy, she mused, but I don't think I'm gonna get rid of him so easy. "Maybe."
"Who's de 'dude'?" Gambit asked, eyeing the young man across from her.
"Alex Summers." Alex stuck his hand out, expecting a handshake. Gambit just nodded. Logan recognized his last name in an instant.
"Alex was just on his way to Xavier's." Rogue said to Remy, smiling pertly.
"Bon." Remy really wasn't interested. "'e can come back wit' us."
Rogue looked out the window. "I'm not goin' back, Remy."
"Don' break m'heart, chere," Remy pleaded.
"Hey," Alex interrupted, "If I'm in the middle of a lover's quarrel-"
"Not even close," Rogue interjected.
"Dat 'urt, chere," Remy put a hand over his heart.
Rogue laughed. "Alright. Since I s'pose you're not gonna leave me alone 'til I come back, I'll go. On one condition."
"Oui?"
"She leaves."
"She came here for you, Rogue," Logan said walking over to the table.
"Yeah. Ta rub salt in my wounds," Rogue said quietly.
"I don't trust the bitch either but at least hear her out. It took a lot of balls ta come all the way to tell you," Logan protested.
"Fine." She grabbed her things from the booth.
Logan looked at Alex. "You follow me in what ever ya came in." He pointed to Scott's RX8.
"Nice ride," Alex said, gaping.
"Ain't mine," Logan said, not wanting to tell the poor kid who's it was. He walked toward the door. Alex followed.
"Come on, chere," Remy said to Rogue. "Y'can ride wit' me."
Rogue followed him to his bike and climbed on behind him.
It was well into morning by the time they returned to the mansion. For Rogue, the ride home was torture. For one, she didn't know how to take Mystique. The fact that she was falling for the man she was hanging on to wasn't helping.
The sun was coming up when Rogue got to her bedroom. She found it empty, just like she had hoped. Gambit followed her into the room. She plopped down on her bed, sleep threatening to take her the minute she lay down. Gambit sat next to her on the edge of the bed. He carefully pushed a strand of white hair out of her face.
"Get some sleep, chere." He placed a kiss on her forehead.
For the briefest of moments, she felt electricity surge through her system. In that instant, she knew she should give him a chance.
She also felt a thought come through with his kiss, but dismissed it as her imagination.
So innocent. Nothing hidden behind it, like with Bobby. No expectation of anything else.
J'adore cette fille.
J'adore cette fille.- I love this girl.
