Logan was in the hallway. He had finally come back to her, and her insides turned with nervousness and happiness. She had run up to him where he stood next to Jean and hugged him, almost not being able to contain herself enough to make sure there was no skin contact, and seen in his eyes a relief that she was still there. Did he think she would have run?
"Hey, kid."
He smiled at her warmly, gently brushing a gloved finger past the streak in her hair, just as he had done before he left. She flashed him the biggest grin she could muster up, then drawing back, scolding herself for her immaturity. Logan already thought of her as a kid, there was no need to make her seem like a kid with a crush.
Rogue had so many questions she wanted to ask him, so many things she wanted to know, but before she got the opportunity to start picking his brain, people started gathering up around him. Apparently she was not the only one who wanted to greet him and query him about his journey in search for his past.
Her disappointment shone strongly through all the layers of clothes, though no one noticed, and she silently snuck back up to her room, reclaiming the spot on her bed which she usually reserved for thinking. She wasn't a kid. She may be young, but the voices in her head had made her, forced her to become more mature. Not many people had seen what she had, the combination of Magneto and Logan screaming along with her own rebellious voice in her head had made life close to unbearable some times, and both Xavier and Jean were painfully aware of this. They had seen this tormented girl shy away from human interaction, and the connection which they though she had had with Bobby had only made her more convinced that her presence could only hurt others. He had tried to touch her, told her his power would protect him. And she had believed him, watched him as his cold hand lightly grazed her neck, caressing her. Rogue hadn't cared that it was his hand that was touching her, and not someone else's, she was just revering the feeling of having someone touch her without all the pain and death that usually followed. But as it seemed Bobby's power could only protect him so far, he had ended up in the infirmary for two weeks, and she had been devastated. She did not belong among these people, she thought. She would only hurt them.
She was still there. Logan had seen her run down the stairs with the biggest smile plastered on her face, and he could hardly believe it was her. Strangely, he felt himself take pride in the strength she was showing, knowing there were not many around him who could pretend to think that they knew what it was like to live with a mutation like hers, or that they would survive themselves were they faced with this challenge. One minute she was there, hugging him and the next she was gone. He hadn't seen where she disappeared to, but he had a pretty good idea. Finding her, however, was not an option, as the people around him were asking questions at a terrifying rate. But it could wait, he had someone he needed to talk to first.
"What do you mean, she quit school?"
Logan's voice was nearing his trademark growl, and Jean knew it would be difficult to get through to him. He had always represented the angry, emotional man for her, and that was one of the reasons why she had chosen Scott. She couldn't imagine how anyone would want to have this fight with him every time he heard something he didn't like.
"Rogue had been going through some difficulties lately. The Professor and I both agreed to her wish to take a break from school to get her life back into order."
The Wolverine looked appaled, but refused to let Jean deep enough into his mind for her to see whether that was because Rogue wasn't in school, or if it was her mentioning the difficulties she had been through.
"But she is still here?"
"We wouldn't kick her out on the street, Logan. She can stay here for as long as she wants."
"And what…"
His voice trailed off, trying to imagine what it was that could have happened to make Marie want to quit school, although he knew the answer all too well.
"Bobby. He tried he could help her control her power, that his power would protect him. It didn't."
Logan nodded. He couldn't help but wonder at the small sting of an unidentified feeling as he thought of that little brat touching her. Touching his Marie. Jean instantly raised her head in a protective manner, obviously having picked up on his thoughts.
"I know you feel you need to protect her, Logan, but be careful. These past events have rendered her quite.. fragile. No one would like to see her hurt, least of all you, I know this."
"Are you saying I will hurt her?"
"I am saying that you need to be careful. She has had quite a few voices in her head now, Logan, that may make her actions somewhat.. different to how she normally acts."
She didn't need to tell him that. Marie had his voice in her head, a part of him. She probably also had nightmares, and having lived with them for years, this was nothing he would want her to experience.
A knock on the door woke Rogue from her uneasy slumber, and in her familiar Southern accent she voiced a sleepy response to the sound.
"Go away, Bobby. I'm not in the mood for this today."
"Not in the mood for what exactly?"
The door had opened with a crack and Logan's indignant voice was followed with a look of disapproval.
"Logan!"
Rogue quickly positioned herself upright on the bed, her eyes full of surprise, staring the man whose dream she had just been having.
"I believe I asked you a question, kid," his voice more playful now.
"It's, uhm.. Bobby. He kind of won't get it into his head that I don't want to talk to him."
"Understandable," Logan nodded. "Why would anyone really want to talk to Bobby?"
She laughed then, for the first time in a long time, and found tremendous pleasure in the fact that his eyes lit up at this. He may still see her as a child in need of his protection, but she could pretend otherwise. Just for now.
Sitting down next to her on the bed, his eyes facing forward in a contemplative manner, she took the opportunity to study him. He was beautiful, not only attractive in the feral type of way, the way that displayed his animalistic side every time he got emotional.
His head turned to her then, and noticing her staring, his eyes became unreadable to her.
"Why did you quit school?"
Rogue turned her gaze downward at this, and wanted to shy away from the subject, even though she knew this was impossible. She may have insight into the Wolverine's head, but he could see through her like no one else could.
"Jean also tells me you're spending most of your time alone."
She still decided against speaking, her brow furrowing as she contemplated the answers on her own.
"Hey, Marie."
He reached his hand out to turn her face towards him, but she jumped at the movement, and quickly moved to the other side of the bed. That was when she noticed his hands, gloved for the occasion. She smiled at this, and Logan put his hands up in the air smilingly.
"You like them?"
She nodded, feeling both frustrated, elated and like a vulnerable child at the same time. Maybe he was right to call her kid, the turmoil inside of her was something was something an adult would be able to control, she thought, though she knew this was not true.
"I missed you Logan."
Rogue looked at him intensely, willing him to see what was on the inside, and for a second, she felt he had.
"I missed you too, Marie."
As the silence that followed made Logan prepare to leave, he was surprised to feel two gloved arms tangle around his neck from behind, Rogue's lips barely an inch away from his ear as she whispered something to him.
The feeling of having her so close to him made Logan's breath unsteady, and he let silence engulf them for a long time before responding.
"I promise."
