14
Detention ended and Rogue sat there a little longer. After everyone else had gone. She still hadn't figured out what she was going to say to Gambit. Or even, if he'd been in a fight with Duncan.
Realising, the only way to find that out was to go find Gambit, Rogue picked up her bag and left out the back way like Gambit instructed.
Rogue glanced around outside for Gambit, then, eventually saw him by a tree. He didn't move as she approached him. She didn't see any signs of a fight on him either. His face was kind of unreadable. That made Rogue feel uncomfortable.
"Hey," she said, as she approached him.
She couldn't hear any other students about, so she was glad about that.
"Bonjour," Gambit said, still not letting anything show on his face.
Rogue wondered if he was mad at her for getting caught with his phone. Or for getting detention and making him wait.
"I… Sorry I'm late out," Rogue said, looking away, unsure why she was apologising. She seemed to be doing a lot of that lately.
Gambit shrugged his shoulders. "Don't mind de wait. Something happen today cher? You look a little uneasy." He asked.
"Erm, well, you know, school." Rogue said, still not meeting his eye.
Gambit snorted at Rogue's reply. Was she really not going to tell him.
"No, Cherie. I never actually been to school. Moi eyes, remember." He said.
Now Rogue glanced at him, well, his sunglasses.
"Oh, right." She said, looking away again. Why did she feel so guilty?
"Listen, about you givin' meh lifts ta school and all, I really think you should stop doin' that." Rogue said.
"Oh really? Why?" Gambit said, tilting his head to one side.
He saw the guilt written all over Rogue's face, but all he felt was annoyed and angry.
"Well, the other kids, they, erm…" Rogue began to mutter.
"They what, Cherie?" Gambit asked, hoping she'd just come out with it.
"They think we're together when we're not." Rogue said.
"Aren't we?" Gambit asked. "You agreed to a date. Seems we be datin' to me." He said.
Now Rogue glanced at him, shock in her eyes.
"One date doesn't mean we're datin'!" She snapped.
"Non, but one little flirt with de football captain, and you're an item." Gambit said, anger winning over. He'd given her plenty of chances to tell him. Plenty.
Rogue's face went from anger straight back to shock. "You… know about that?" She asked.
"What can I say, Cherie. De students like to gossip." Gambit said, now beginning to walk away towards his bike.
Rogue watched him go, stunned at learning that he knew about her and Duncan. She then ran to catch up with him.
"It wasn't like that, alright!" Rogue snapped behind him. She had no idea why she was trying to justify herself.
"Non, then what was it like?" Gambit said, not really caring for the answer. Soon she wouldn't be returning to that school again, ever. Even if that meant he was going to be in trouble with Magneto, he'll make him understand his reasons.
"I was sick of people callin' meh a slut!" Rogue snapped.
"So you flirted with de football captain? Cleaver Cherie." Gambit said bitterly.
"No, you're understanding this all wrong." Rogue said.
Gambit suddenly stopped, then turned on his heel so fast, Rogue almost bumped into his chest.
"What've I got wrong, Cherie?" he snapped at her, "De fact that you flirted? Or de fact that you wanted dat football chump to take a swing at moi?" he demanded to know.
Rogue, again, looked shocked and horrified. "It… It wasn't like that." Rogue muttered.
"No? Those messages tellin' moi to keep away, he ain't the reason why?" Gambit huffed, returning his back to Rogue again and walking off.
Rogue felt so frustrated at the situation. She didn't realise Gambit had overheard a few students talking about her and Duncan. She should have realised Gambit would have found out. Why didn't she just tell him what happened?
She began chasing after him again.
"Yes, they were. But I never told Duncan ta go after you. He came ta that decision on his own!" Rogue snapped.
"Oh really? You weren't mutterin' somethin' in his ear ta make him wanna fight me? Oh, and just for the record," Gambit said, turning once again on his hell. His glasses fell down and his eyes sparked dangerously, "dat chump of yours, he and his pals woulda had no chance 'gainst me."
Rogue's shoulders dropped. "Gambit." She pleaded. But he had took off again. "Gambit," she called after him, not running this time. "Gambit," she called again. "Remy, please just stop!" Rogue cried out, her voice almost breaking.
Gambit did stop, hearing Rogue's voice break, but he never turned around.
"You ain't listenin' ta my sida things." Rogue said.
Gambit huffed, "They gonna be any different?" he asked.
Rogue sighed, glad he had stopped. She took in a large breath, trying to hold the tears back. "Look, ya told meh not to let people push meh around. All those comments, that I was a slut, just because you had ta claim meh as your own, they just got ta meh, alright. I wanted em ta stop!"
"Oh, so dis is moi fault, huh?" Gambit questioned, glaring at Rogue over his shoulder.
Rogue found some strength from somewhere. It wasn't a lot, but it was something. Maybe, it was the anger at Gambit's constant flirting when she'd told him to stop. But, she just couldn't find the strength to be all angry at him. She had hurt him by what she'd done after all.
"You wouldn't stop flirtin' with meh after I told ya countless times ta stop. Ya did kinda force ma hand." Rogue said.
Gambit snorted and kept walking.
"I went ta Duncan 'cause I knew he could make em stop. I know, flirtin' with him was a dumb idea, but I didn't know what else ta do." Rogue said.
"You coulda found another way to make em stop. Told em you were with me-" Gambit began to say, turning to glare at her again.
"That wouldn't have made em stop!" Rogue snapped, close to tears.
"Why? Why was bein' called a slut botherin' you so much anyhow? If you woulda just let it lie, they woulda moved on." Gambit said.
"Cause… I just couldn't take it. Mystique, she… I… I don't know how ta talk to guys normally, Remy, ok." Rogue said, looking away and trying to hold the tears back.
Gambit didn't go anywhere, wondering where Rogue was going with this. He doubted it would make much of a difference though.
When Rogue felt she could hold back the tears and noticed Gambit was still there, she began again, only, she couldn't look at him. "The only time I talked ta a boy, the only time Mystique let meh, was when she needed somethin' from them… She'd… find something they wanted ta lurk 'em in. Usually, that was me… She… taught meh how to flirt. For years, had meh practice, even when I didn't have ma powers." Rogue shrugged, "I don't know how ta talk to a boy normally, Remy." Rogue said, now eyeing him. She couldn't keep his gaze though and looked away again, feeling pathetic. "She'd line them up, use meh like a puppet. Say all sorts of things 'bout meh… What I'd do. What I was like… I couldn't even speak sometimes when I didn't like their hands goin' places." Rogue snorted, "Although, I never let them go far. Mystique always got mad at meh when I refused em." Rogue said, looking down at the ground. She didn't think she could say much more.
Gambit picked up on that. "You really felt like a whore for Mystique?" he questioned.
Rogue nodded her head.
"That why it bothered you so much?" he asked.
Rogue closed her eyes in response. She didn't need to answer.
"Look, I really ain't good with people. I only know how ta flirt with guys and I've hardly ever spoken to girls. Well, only catty one's that hate meh 'cause I'm flirtin' with their man and stealin' him away from them… I never really had any friends. Never really been able ta have a proper conversation without there bein' some sorta hidden agenda." Rogue said.
"You think dis sob story gonna excuse you from what you done?" Gambit asked, still annoyed.
Rogue shuck her head, no. "I know I was playin' with fire. I… wanted ta take your advice. Ta stick up for maself. The only way I knew how was by, well, findin' the biggest fish in that place and manipulatin' em… I… said a lot of things. A lot of stupid things. But once I got goin', it all started to fall like clockwork… It fell completely outta ma control." She said.
"So what? I'm supposed to go easy on you cause you know you messed up?" Gambit asked, folding his arms over his chest as he faced her.
Rogue shuck her head, no. "I never meant for things ta get so outta hand… I know I flirted with ya first, but ya just wouldn't stop flirtin' and ya wouldn't listen ta meh. Then, I just couldn't stand bein' called that and… well, you know… I made a mess a things… I'm sorry." Rogue said, feeling at a complete and utter low.
Gambit sighed deeply as he glanced away from Rogue to think. He'd known about her background. Knew he probably should have stayed clear, but he hadn't. He kind of had himself to blame for this too. But, did that really excuse her? She knew what she was doing was wrong, but she still did it anyway, no matter that the reason. But then, Rogue not knowing how to talk to people, he guessed that was something that she couldn't help. Couldn't control.
He knew that she was a complicated one. The only times when he'd really gotten her to open up to him and have an actual conversation was either, when he put pressure on her, using his charm or when she was at a low after extensive use of her powers. Besides that, they'd never really had a real conversation without flirting before. That, or without her being mad at him over some stupid thing. Maybe that's why she kept pushing him away. Because she was scared about what would happen if she was left in a room with him when all she knew what to do was flirt or get aggressive with him. He had to admit, if her trying to be nice resulted in flirting, he would eat it up. When she was aggressive, it kept him at bay a little, but not too enough to make him give up.
When it came to her talking to Magneto and the others too, she seemed to always have an attitude about her. Sure, she could use her manners, but she's always been blunt and straight to the point. Like this morning, when she'd told Pyro and Colossus what happened last night. It was like she was almost reciting a script. A to do list. Like it had been a job she just needed to do. Then, she'd began flirting with him when he teased her.
This girl was going to be the death of him. He looked back at Rogue, seeing how defeated she still looked.
"So what you gonna do to fix it?" Gambit finally asked, not having the answer.
Rogue glanced up at him, then looked away, thinking.
"There are a few girls who are actually interested in Duncan. I was gonna get them close ta him. Take the attention off meh." Rogue said.
Gambit nodded. He seen her match up that cheerleader and jock before so he knew she was capable of it.
"And what about moi?" He asked.
Rogue glanced, sorrowful at him. Then shuck her head, no. "I don't know how ta fix that. Least, not yet." She said, then looked down at her feet.
Gambit huffed. Rogue spreading rumours about him wasn't the only issue. "I don't think you'll be comin' back to school Cherie." Gambit said, earning a confused look from Rogue. "De X-Men, I overheard em sayin' they gonna go talk to dat Professor of theirs. Have him check out to see if you be a mutant."
"What?" Rogue gasped.
"Oui. Mags ain't gonna let you come back if they know that. It'd ruin his plans." Gambit said.
Now Rogue searched the ground, desperate for answers. "But, it's only been two days. I haven't even used ma powers. Least, not since last night and Kitty was none the wiser. The Brotherhood got expelled so they're not around."
"Non, but de red head be jealous. She don't believe dat you just so happened to get de whole school to like you like dat. Not without a charm." Gambit explained.
"I… I don't wanna leave." Rogue said.
Gambit shrugged, "Maybe it be for de best. Not like you ain't gonna flirt again." Gambit said, refusing to look at Rogue.
He felt hurt. Extremely hurt by her. And, he realised, he did feel like a bit of an idiot himself since he'd apparently pushed the girl into flirting with someone else just to try and get away from him. He thought he had everything under control when it came to her.
"No. I can't stop now. If I do, I'll never learn how ta be normal!" Rogue said.
Gambit shrugged. "You could learn a thing or two from de Acolytes." Gambit offered.
"But… then I'd be trapped. I don't wanna be trapped." She said.
"We're always trapped in one way or another." He said.
"Remy, Remy please. Ya can't tell Magneto. Ya can't."
"I already lied for you once, Cherie. What did that get me?"
"I know. I know alright!" Rogue snapped, "I've been stupid. Reckless, but please… I want this. I really want this."
"But you don't need dis."
"What do I need then Gambit? Ta go back ta bein' at someone's beckin' call? Get told when ta bark? Who ta bark at? Who ta bite? What kinda life is that?"
"It be one dat keeps you alive." He said.
Rogue looked away for a moment, thinking. Then, she got an idea. She searched through Kitty's memories. Rogue snorted at what she learned. "Just stayin' alive ain't livin'. The X-Men, their Professor, he can only find a mutant if they're usin' their abilities." Rogue said.
Gambit raised his eyebrow at that. "How'd you know that?" he asked.
"Kitty's memories. I can go ta school tomorrow, get the attention off meh by gettin' Jean and Duncan together and I just won't use ma powers. The X-Men won't know I'm a mutant and they'll back off." Rogue explained.
"Easier said than done." Gambit muttered.
"Oh trust meh, I'll get it done." Rogue said, then thought about the other thing he'd mentioned. "Even… if that means goin' back ta bein' called a slut." Rogue said, looking defeated.
Gambit snorted, "You only got that reputation for flirtin' in de first place."
"Yeah," Rogue said, eyeing him, "Guess I'll just have ta learn ta stop doin' that."
Gambit was feeling bad for Rogue again. She couldn't help who she was. What Mystique had moulded her into. But she was trying to change. To become something more, someone different than what Mystique had made her be. He had to admire that. And the fact that Rogue was being honest with him without his charm affecting her or her guard being down because of her mutation. But then, this conversation had been forced. It didn't seem like she'd open open to him like this if he hadn't pushed her. Was it always going t be like this?
"And what do I get outta all of this? A bollackin' when it's all up in de air by Magneto? Or worse?" Gambit said.
Rogue glanced down, thinking. Then sighed, "Ya can tell the others ya slept with meh." Rogue said.
Now Gambit really was confused. "Come again?" he said.
Rogue looked almost disguised by her own conclusion. "It's what you want, isn't it? Ta be able ta hold it over everyone's head. Ya beat the challenge of tamin' the untouchable Rogue. Keep quiet and help meh out at school and I'll… back up whatever story you wanna tell." Rogue said.
Gambit laughed. Actually laughed bitterly. "You really think I'm that low? That easily swayed. I told ya, I work for moi keeps." Gambit said, glaring disgustedly at Rogue.
Rogue just seemed to shrug it off. "I'll do whatever ya want." Rogue said, glancing away from him. She couldn't believe it had come down to this. That she was really so desperate to sell herself like that.
Gambit seemed to be just as disappointed in her now. "No deal."
Rogue felt those tears prick at her eyes again. She couldn't face Gambit anymore. Didn't even think she could move. Had she really messed everything up so badly that she was going to have to go in a cage again?
Rogue never realised that Gambit had stepped forwards, until he was tilting her chin up to look at him.
"You tellin' moi you wanna get away from Mystique. From what she made you. You be bargin' yourself to try and win me over, it's pretty much de same thing as what you do when you flirtin' cher." he said.
Rogue's eyes were wide and vulnerable as she took in what he was saying. She guessed he had a point. When she flirted, she was indicating that she'd give her body or powers away in exchange for something in return. Gambit dropped his hand, sighing.
"I ain't sayin' flirtin' and barginin' ain't bad things. Just de reasons you chose to do em, they be wrong." he said.
Rogue shuck her head, at a lost for what to do.
"I don't know what to do Remy," she admitted.
"Do what I advised you to do de first time we had an issue." Gambit said, not wanting to spell it out for Rogue what it was he wanted to hear. If he did, she might not learn anything.
Rogue was a bit confused about what he was saying. She tired to think back to what advise he had given her in the past. Then, she got it.
"You mean, at the basketball court? Ya told meh, if I don't know something or understand something, just ask ma team for help?" Rogue asked.
"Dat be de one," he said.
"You mean, I don't need ta bargain with ya? I could just ask for ya help?" Rogue said.
"You could give it a try," he said.
Rogue felt like an idiot now. She was sure she'd been asking for Gambit's help all along, but...
"Remy, will ya help meh?" she asked.
Gambit stared at Rogue, thinking. There had been quite a lot of damage done to their relationship just because she didn't just come out with what went wrong in the first place. Instead, he'd had to reveal that he knew about it to get her to even consider what it was she was going to do to get out of the tough situation she'd placed them in.
But, if he just turned around and told her no now, it would defeat what he'd just tried to teach her. Or more, get her to remember. He guessed that he really was going to have to spell it out for her after all.
"I'll keep quiet 'bout de X-Men, cher," he said.
Rogue went to sigh, seeming relieved.
"But," Gambit said, putting her on edge once again, "You really need ta realise what it is you done wrong."
"I know, I know. I flirted when I shouldn't have. I-" Rogue began to say but was interrupted.
"Non, cher. That ain't de biggest mistake you made today," Gambit said, looking down at her, letting his sadness show. "You messed up. Made a mistake. Mistakes can be forgiven and handled cherie. What your gonna find though is if you lie to de people who tryna look out for you, well, that ain't something that can easily be forgiven."
Rogue thought about this. She didn't think she had lied to Gambit, but, then again, she hadn't told him straight out about what happened today.
"You shoulda just told me from de start what happened today. Woulda saved us a lot of trouble. Could have even gone to de ladies durin' class and called moi to let moi know what de problem be 'steada just tryna push me away." he said.
Rogue shuck her head, "I thought I was doin' the right thing. Protectin' ya."
"Non, you were lookin' out for yourself cherie. What you gotta realise though is dat there ain't just you anymore you need to worry 'bout. You got a team now. If you get found out, we all do and we all suffer. You goin' 'round, spreadin' dat rumour 'bout me, well, as you learned de hard way, it caused a problem 'cause I doubt dat jock's just gonna let dis fight he wants ta have drop." Gambit explained.
"I know. You don't need ta drive meh ta school though. Or pick meh up. I can just ride myself." Rogue said.
"And what about if I be out and about on a mission and de jock decides he wants to fight then, hmmm? It blows my cover and de consequences could be dire." Gambit said.
Rogue hung her head, having not thought about that one. Gambit sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Look, do what you gotta do to make dat rumour go away, non. If you need help, tell me! And if not me, Pietr or John. I'd stay away from de pussycat and bucket head though. You know they'd only make it worse." Gambit said.
Rogue nodded, figuring that one out.
"Oh, and one more thing," Gambit said, "if your wrong 'bout the X-Men findin' out you're a mutant, you're on your own." he said, now beginning to walk away.
Rogue watched him go. The last thing he said seemed... almost fair to her. She'd gotten what she wanted. Got him to keep quiet about the X-Men so she could still go to school. But, she'd never felt as horrible in her life as she did at that moment. Gambit knew what she had been saying about him. Was obviously angry and annoyed by it. And then, he'd become pissed at her because she didn't tell him about it herself because he thought she didn't care nor trust the team. Although he'd come around and decided to help her out, Rogue felt like she was on her final warning from him now. If she didn't start changing, didn't start trusting her team, then she was going to lose the support of people, well, she couldn't have survived without. Even though Gambit was giving her another chance, Rogue actually felt scared and upset. Scared and upset of actually losing Gambit as an ally. Although, she didn't want to admit it because of his constant flirting, she couldn't deny that he had helped her out when she really needed it. She really didn't want to lose him, but, the issue was, she had no idea how to make things right between them.
Gambit stopped walking, looking back over his shoulder at Rogue. "You comin' or what?" He asked.
Rogue followed him, climbing on the back of his bike and holding on as he took them back. He didn't say a single word to her since.
Xxxxx
Rogue had gone straight to her room. Gambit had took off without even glancing back at her. She'd let him go. She had been a little on edge that he'd just upped and disappeared. She wondered if he'd decided to go and tell Magneto after all. Either way though, she was emotionally drained and just needed a moment alone to collect her thoughts.
But, of course, that didn't last long. There was a loud thumb on her door. Rogue closed her eyes, hearing the irritated growl. At that moment, she felt at a total lose. She figured Gambit had gone and told Magneto everything and now his lacky was here to bring her to him. She felt anger brimming within her as she yelled out "What?" at her door.
The door opened. Rogue didn't bother getting up off her bed. Instead, Sabretooth walked in and placed a laptop down on the end of her bed.
"Late again, mouse." he growled.
"Gee, didn't realise I had a curfew." Rogue said sarcastically as she glanced questioningly at the laptop.
"You've got work to do, so get on it!" Sabretooth snapped at her before leaving her room.
Rogue sat up at that point and reached for the laptop. Her conversation with Magneto was starting to come back to her now. She sighed, opening the laptop and the file on Kitty Pride. She just stared at the picture of Kitty for some time. She'd hardly even spoken to the girl, but already, she'd been kind to her. Trying to save her life and trying to extend her friendship out to her. A part of her almost felt guilty for breaking into her privacy and writing about her, even though, she hadn't even started doing it yet. But she guessed she'd have to.
Rogue sat cross legged on the bed and began to mediate as she entered deeper into her mind and into the mind of Kitty Pride.
"Seriously? Your, like, really going to just like go around my mind and report everything back to that icky creep?" the psyche of Kitty Pride asked Rogue.
Rogue sighed in the form of her own psyche. As she glanced besides her, Kitty was stood there, her arms folded and her face pouting with annoyance.
"I have ta," Rogue said, not hiding the fact that she felt sad and awful about it from Kitty. It wasn't like it was going to change the psyche's feelings towards her anyway.
"You don't have to. Your just choosing to." Kitty said.
"What do you think will happen if I don't?" Rogue suddenly snapped at Kitty.
"So what? He'll just, like, stop sending you to school. Hey, from where I'm standing, that's a blessing." Kitty said.
Rogue snorted at Kitty as a memory of her in her old school appeared. She was hiding in her locker, scared of some girls coming after her. Rogue could feel the fear and utter need to escape coming from Kitty.
"Sure it is for you. For me, I ain't ever been ta school." Rogue replied, watching Kitty's memory.
"No way? Like, really? That must be so cool!" Kitty said.
Rogue took her eyes off the unfolding memory to glance at Kitty's psyche. "You've not explored much of ma head, huh?" Rogue said.
"Well, no. You do keep us all locked up you know?" Kitty said.
Rogue began to think about what it had been like in her head. A lot of her psyches were always fighting against her prisoners so they could break out and gain control over her body. She actually didn't remember Kitty being aggressive much after she calmed down and realised, she was just a psyche. She'd heard Kitty yelling through the prison walls she'd created, but that was pretty much it.
"Why haven't ya tried breakin' free of ya prison? Tryna take control over ma body?" Rogue asked.
"Well, dur, it's not my body. And I am just a psyche after all. Even though you might have stolen my memories and powers, it doesn't mean I'm going to try and do the same. I'll, like, respect your privacy and all. I just hope, well, that you'll respect mine." Kitty said, glancing down at the girls who had just pushed her and locked her in her locker at her old school.
Rogue huffed as she watched the memory. Hearing Kitty's speech, it made Rogue feel even more guilty over what she was doing.
"Magneto's asked meh ta file a report on all you know about the X-Men and, well, I guess whatever information I can get about you. Your likes, dislikes, abilities, all sorts." Rogue said.
"You know, I don't understand why your, like, with that creep. I could tell earlier that you, like, didn't want to do this. Is it because he was offering you touch? Well, the Professor who I live with, he helps mutants, like, learn to control their powers. And he isn't some crazy, old man who's hell bent on world domination either." Kitty said.
Rogue chuckled at that. That was one way to describe Magneto. Then, Rogue became thoughtful. With everything that was going on today, she'd forgotten about Magneto's offer to touch. She wasn't too sure why she was hesitate to take it. Or why she didn't just say yes straight away.
"Well, dur, because you know he's a mental case who can't be trusted." Kitty said.
Rogue glanced at Kitty raising an eyebrow at her.
"Whoops," Kitty said, covering her mouth. "Sorry, I didn't realise I was, like, responding to your thoughts. I thought, you were, like, speaking aloud or something. Gee, I wonder if this is what Jean feels like?" Kitty said to herself.
Rogue smirked at Kitty. "It's alright. I'm pretty sure your thoughts about Jean just then were meant ta be your own thoughts, but you just spoke them. It does get pretty confusin' when ya workin' with the mind."
"Yeah, I guess I'm no psychic." Kitty said. "But, seriously! The Professor is. He could definitely help you with your powers and he won't try and, like, blackmail you or anything." Kitty said.
Rogue glanced down at Kitty's memories. One memory of where she was on a floating metal asteroid appeared. Rogue became very interested in this as she watched Kitty in a jet with Mystique and some of the other X-Men. They were trying to land and fight the Brotherhood off so they could rescue the mutants that Magneto had kidnapped. Rogue had to take a moment there as she saw what he had done to Scott Summers. She saw Mystique pissed at Magneto and fighting him too. She wondered what the hell was going on. She knew what was happening, but, just knowing about this Asteroid M business was really realising a lot of questions for Rogue. Magneto had tried kidnapping and turning the X-Men into mindless soldiers to follow his every command so that he could start a war. Was this the reason why he wanted her? Did he want to put her through this machine so he'd have another mindless solider?
"Yeah. Crazy right?" Kitty said, watching the memory with Rogue. "He tried to change some of us and create, like, an army or something. We, like, managed to stop him, but he really did a number on Scott's mind at one point. You don't know about this?" she asked, "I mean, I know you weren't there, but he never told you about this?"
"No," Rogue said, watching as Scott and Alex Summer's managed to take down the Asteroid.
"So, you like, don't even know who it is your working for?" Kitty asked.
Rogue glanced back at Kitty then, not holding back how questioning and thoughtful she was. She guessed it couldn't hurt to talk through what she was thinking with the girl seeing as she was pretty much giving her the option too since she didn't want to take over her mind. Everyone else in her mind probably knew what she was thinking anyway, so why not her.
"I was hidden by Mystique for a long time down south most of my life," Rogue said, glancing down at the pool of memories that now showed one of hers. She was alone in a house in Texas, reading a book Irene had given to her and looking miserable. "I was never allowed ta go out or go to school. She literally just kept meh hidden for, well, so she didn't have to actually care for me. If I didn't speak to anyone or give myself away, there were no issues." The memory changed to show one where Rogue had broken out of her parent's house anyway and was being cornered by Mystique who was pretty much dragging her back to the house. "Whenever I did go out, she or Irene would come find me, drag me back and we'd move. I'd get locked in ma room a lot and, well, I was kinda miserable," Rogue said, an image of her just before Magneto freed her appeared where she was sat in her room, staring at the metal bars on her windows.
"Gee, that's like, extreme." Kitty said, biting her nails.
"I get what ya mean about school, but for me, it's a blessin' in disguise," Rogue said, now shifting to her sat with Risty, laughing at something she'd said. "Magneto was offerin' me this in exchange for ma services. The things I've done for Mystique, well, they ain't morally right most of the time, or so I'm told by all the other psyche's she's told meh to absorb. I kinda figured, if I'm gonna do bad things, why not do em where I get something out of it. Going to school, meetin' people, makin' friends, it's all I've ever really wanted."
"But, you could, like, totally still go to school and do all the things you want if you were with the Professor. And, you wouldn't have to do anything illegal. Well, I guess we're talking you doing illegal stuff here." Kitty said
Rogue smirked at that. When Kitty was talking about the Professor, a short memory of her feeling overjoyed because of something the Professor had just told her appeared in front of her. Rogue smiled at Kitty's memory. It did seem nice. It didn't seem like Kitty was actually lying either about what the Professor was offering. Rogue actually considered her life with if she lived with the X-Men. Being able to actually just do all the fun things she wanted without having to do all the sneaky, underhanded stuff.
But then, as Rogue thought of something, or more, someone, the memory pool changed with it. The first memory that appeared was when she was sat on Gambit's bike in the ally way after her first day of school. Gambit was holding her gently, seeming to be concerned and thinking. No words were said as Rogue pretty much remembered them all and felt the emotion that flowed from that memory. She had been panicked and scared and Gambit had been there. He'd got her out of there and worked with her so that she could still go to school.
The pool quickly changed to her most recent memory of him where they were stood pretty close together on the school grounds and he was explaining to her how her actions affected others. Affected him, she realised. If she was to take up this offer to go and join the X-Men, where would that leave Gambit? She wasn't too sure. But she knew he had put his neck on the line for her quite a few times.
The pool changed to the first time he helped her by hiding that basketball player more and him, again, close to her and holding her, telling her she could turn to him for help if she didn't understand something.
Another memory of him smiling at her as she thanked him for her school supplies appeared. Although that was a happy memory, Rogue felt sad.
"That's the guy who gives you lifts to school, huh?" Kitty said softly, glancing at Rogue. She now knew all of those moments she shared with Gambit.
Rogue didn't turn to see Kitty watching her. Her gaze was fixed on Gambit.
"He could come too. The Professor has more than enough space at his mansion. Well, I mean, it does get pretty crowded at times, but, there's still rooms spare and all." Kitty said.
Now Rogue looked at Kitty. She was still thinking about Gambit though. If she asked, would he come with her? Or was that crossing the thin line she was already on with him?
"I...I've got reasons why I can't leave Magneto. At least, not yet." Rogue said, glancing back down at Gambit's face in her memories.
The one where they had an argument earlier today replayed. He had helped her so much by covering for all her mistakes and lying to Magneto for her. She didn't think she could just up and run away on him. Not when he was trying so hard to help her. She felt... like she owed him. Like, she needed to try and prove that he, going out of his way for her, was worth it. And if she just dropped that bombshell on him now that she wanted to up and leave for Xavier's, she had no idea how he'd take it or what he would do. Plus, she was just talking to one of the Professor's students, not the Professor himself. What if she got there and he rejected her? Plus, she'd still be in Bayville where Magneto and Mystique were and she was sure Magneto would be vengeful. If she ever did decide to leave the Acolytes, she guessed she'd have to leave Bayville and run far away where she hoped neither Magneto nor Mystique could find her. But both of them had said, and seemed to have their ways. If she started running, she doubt she'd never stop.
"Oh," Kitty muttered.
"Yeah, things are pretty complicated for me." Rogue said, forcing all of the memories she was sharing out of her head so the pool went blank. Suddenly, she felt like she'd over shared with one psyche too much.
She guessed that she'd made up her mind. She was sticking with Magneto for the time being. At least, till she could smooth things over with Gambit. And, well, until she knew she could leave without having the Master of Magnetism out to get her. And, as long as she knew Mystique couldn't get her hands on her again. Yeah, there were a lot of things that would need handling before Rogue could go anywhere and she hadn't even realised how trapped she was until she'd been offered another lifestyle.
And living with Magneto meant that she was going to have to play nice, no matter how pissed at him she was for going all out in his attack against her on Sunday. And what he wanted her to do was to gather information on the X-Men. But, a part of her, didn't want to invade the X-Men's privacy. Not when Kitty had been so nice to her.
"Look," Rogue said, thinking, "I need to make this work and play face with Magneto. He wants meh ta get information on the X-Men from your memories and he knows I can get it whether you want meh to or not."
Kitty gritted her teeth, "Can you?" she asked.
"Yeah, if I really want to. It'd hurt both of us though if I have ta force ma way to the information." Rogue explained.
Kitty seemed to swallow, looking upset and scared, "Well, as much as I don't want to be hurt and all, I can't give up information on the X-Men. Not when they've done so much for me. Or, well, at least, I won't hand it over to you willingly." Kitty said.
Rogue was rather astonished by what Kitty said. She was terrified of getting hurt, but she was still willing to endure it if it meant she could protect her teammates. Rogue thought back to what Gambit had said earlier about her needing to trust them or else they'd get hurt. She wondered if he was telling her that if she got caught at school, he would get hurt? She didn't want that. She didn't want anybody hurt. All she'd wanted was just to make friends and...
"You'd... really get hurt for your friends?" Rogue asked.
"Well, I don't want to. But yeah! Like, totally. They'd do the same thing for me." Kitty said.
This Kitty girl, Rogue thought, really was something. She was going to get hurt for her friends. Is that what friendship was? Getting hurt for them? Is this why everything was becoming so difficult? Because she didn't realise that, when you actually made friends you wanted to keep, it meant getting hurt? Was Gambit her friend?
"I... don't want to hurt you," Rogue admitted, not meeting Kitty's eyes. "I...never wanted to hurt anyone," Rogue admitted, thinking about the other psyches.
"You really don't belong here, you know?" Kitty said, trying to see Rogue's face.
Rogue let a half hearted smile loose on her face at that. It was hard to be happy though when she'd just figured out that she (and Gambit) were sacrificing a lot for what she wanted. That she was going to have to make sacrifices more than just letting Irene and Mystique go if she wanted to keep going to school and making friends.
"But I'm stuck here. And I've got friends I don't wanna see hurt either," Rogue said, now looking at Kitty. "Magneto... doesn't completely understand how ma powers work. Or, at least, I don't think so. But he does wanna know something that ain't in those files. So, do you think you can help meh find something juicy, but, well, something that won't hurt you or the X-Men? It doesn't have to be something big at first. It could just be something small, but... he is gonna wanna know the big things the longer I'm here." Rogue said.
Kitty sighed, scratching the back of her head, "Boy, I really wish, like, the Professor or Scott were here or something. They'd know what to do in this situation."
Rogue thought for a moment about what could be passable. "Can ya tell meh about Lance?"
"What?" Kitty exclaimed, blushing.
"Your relationship with Lance. I could just say that you were thinking only about him and it's not like you're really discreet about you two liking each other." Rogue said, holding her hands up in the air.
"Really?" Kitty said.
Rogue then re-laid the memory of what she saw in the school gym when their principle had given a speech. The way Kitty and Lance had been flirting.
"Oh boy, it really is that obvious!" Kitty said, sounding mortified.
Rogue laughed at Kitty. "It ain't that bad. Now, come on. Tell meh 'bout how you two first met." Rogue said.
xxxxx
A knock on her door had brough Rogue out of her meditation. She was feeling extremely tired after hearing Kitty speak about Lance for so long. She barely even realised, at first, that it was a knock at her door that had disturbed her.
"Rogue?" Colossus called out.
Rogue didn't say nothing, just looked at him as he opened her door. Wondering what he wanted.
"Dinner is ready. Are you joining us?" he asked.
Rogue was just blinking at him, confused as she slowly took in what he was saying. She'd glanced at her clock, realising that she'd been talking to Kitty for hours and that it was getting late. Colossus had seen Rogue seemingly in a dazed state. She didn't seem to be doing well. He wondered what was wrong with her.
"Oh, yeah. I'll, like, be right there. Just give me a minute." Rogue said in a valley girl accent and forcing a fake smile on her face.
Colossus nodded and left her alone.
Rogue sighed after he left. As she was brought back into her own world, she wondered if Gambit had told them about what happened today. Well, she guessed if anyone knew what happened today with her at school, she would have already been locked in her room.
Rogue… wasn't too sure she actually wanted to face people at that point. She'd already caused so much trouble at school. She didn't want to cause it where she lived as well.
But then… something Gambit said earlier came to her mind. But then, hiding from everyone wasn't going to make things any easier on herself nor Gambit. She guessed, actually, if she locked herself in her room and didn't come out, it would actually raise more questions.
Rogue stood up and headed to the kitchen. She felt on edge, expecting Gambit to be in the kitchen and for it to feel a little awkward to be in the same room with him after today. But, to her surprise, it was Colossus in the kitchen instead.
"Hey," Rogue said.
He sent her a smile from the kitchen.
"Well, hello Shelia. So what'd you get up to at that school of yours today? Cause anymore trouble?" Pyro asked, looking thrilled to see her.
Rogue glanced down. She didn't really want to tell them that she had gotten into a fight with her best friend, argued with cheerleaders, flirted with the football captain to shut said cheerleaders up while also getting the rumour of her being a slut to go away. Then, became the most popular girl in school since the cheerleaders wanted her to join them and the football captain wanted to date her. Then got detention. Then had an argument with Gambit after detention because she'd spread the rumour around that he was possessive and she wasn't interested in him. Yeah, she didn't much feel like sharing that. But… shouldn't she answer the question.
"Erm, not really. It was just work and people gossipin' a lot. I guess nothin' out of the ordinary." Rogue said, taking a seat opposite Pyro.
"Oh, come on!" Pyro said sitting forwards, "There must have been more to your day than that? Make anyone cry? Break any hearts?"
Rogue felt taken back by Pyro's constant questioning.
"Leave her alone, John." Colossus said as he placed a plate in front of Rogue.
"Awww, but she always has the best stories." Pyro complained.
Rogue decided to follow Colossus' lead and try and get the attention off her day at school.
"John? Is that your real name?" Rogue asked, already knowing she had his full name stored away somewhere in her head, but she couldn't be bothered to look for it.
"Aye." John said, sitting back now in his chair. "What's yours Shelia?"
Now Rogue blushed, "Rogue." Rogue said.
"No, I mean your real name." Pyro said.
"I… don't use it. Rogue's the only name I've got." Rogue said.
"Surely you've got to use your real name for school." Pyro said, "You'll tell your new class buddies, but not your teammates?" Pyro asked, although, didn't seem to be too hurt by her not telling him her name.
"No, I'm down on the register as Rogue. Lehnsherr is ma second name, but that's made up." Rogue said.
"Lehnsherr. Ha!" Pyro said, "Looks like bucket head's adopted you, huh, shelia."
"Wait, what?" Rogue said, raising her eyebrow.
Colossus came to sit besides her. "Lehnsherr is Magneto's surname. His full name is Erik Lehnsherr." Colossus explained for her.
"Oh," Rogue said, realising that Magneto had made a move to own her. She didn't much like that.
"Crickey! At least you two aren't related by blood, huh?" Pyro said.
Rogue snorted at that, "Yeah." Rogue muttered, unsure what else to say to that.
"I would like to know what happened with the other students, if you don't mind my asking. How were they all after last night's events?" Colossus asked.
"Oh, they all believed that it was faulty fireworks." Rogue said, "They quickly moved on from gossiping about that to another thing, so, they're all none the wiser."
"I expected Charles to do as so." Another voice came.
All three sat at the table now looked towards Magneto who was stood in the doorway.
Sabretooth entered the dining room passed Magneto, took his plate and left. Magneto went to do the same, but before he left, he eyed Rogue. "You will inform me of any changes and of any other disturbances involving mutants. Do I make myself clear, Rogue?" Magneto said.
Rogue nodded her head.
"Good," Magneto said, "And have you begun with your reports?"
"Not yet," Rogue said, seeing Magneto become rather unhappy at this, "I, erm, just came out of Kit-, I mean, Shadowcat's mind when Colossus' knocked on ma door. I'll write up what I know after dinner.
Magneto nodded his head at that. "Have any of you seen Gambit?" he asked.
All three shuck their heads no. Rogue found this interesting, but also a bit worrying. Where had Gambit gone? What was he doing?
Magneto just seemed to nod and walk away. Rogue glanced around the table and saw that no one had really changed in learning Gambit was missing.
"Errr, shouldn't we go and look for him?" Rogue asked.
"What? Seek out the ragin' Cajun?" Pyro asked, then laughed madly, "No, he's probably with some shelia entertaining her for the night if you know what I mean." Pyro said, raising his eyebrow at Rogue.
"Gambit does tend to disappear at times. He can handle himself though and manages to stay out of trouble. He will be fine." Colossus reassured Rogue.
Rogue blinked a few times, taking this information in. So, Gambit could just up and leave whenever he wanted to without consequence? Well, she could do the same, so she didn't see why he couldn't. But… he was seeing someone? Rogue sat back, kicking herself. Of course, he was seeing someone. She knew what type of guy he was from the moment she met him. She felt so stupid for not figuring out where he'd probably ran off to sooner. Or that she'd even bothered to show concern for why he was missing.
"So, have you gave into him yet? Or is that why he's probably off with some other shelia?" Pyro asked, leaning forwards towards Rogue, admiring her as if she was Christmas morning.
"Erm, no." Rogue said, feeling uncomfortable. Gambit had said that he wasn't going to spread lies that he'd slept with her. So, she didn't see the point in lying when he wasn't.
"Wouser, so the Cajun's given up the challenge, huh?" Pyro asked.
Rogue shrugged, not knowing the answer, but kind of believing so. He had been pissed at her after all.
"Never thought I'd see the day when the Cajun meet his match." Pyro laughed.
Rogue just sat in silence, unsure what to say.
"You really are a legend you know!" Pyro said, pointing at Rogue.
Colossus saw that Rogue was becoming small and not eating her meal.
"Leave her to eat." Colossus said.
"Sorry mate. This information's just so juicy." Pyro said, still laughing.
Then he glanced towards Colossus and saw that the tall Russian wasn't amused. In fact, he looked annoyed and like he was about to slug the fire bug.
"Oh, I forgot, that show with the dinosaurs in it is on. I best not miss it." Pyro said, before picking his plate up and leaving.
Rogue realised she was now alone with Colossus. She guessed she should say something, but she wasn't too sure what.
"So, you are enjoying your time at school?" he asked.
Rogue glanced up at him, taking in what he'd asked her. "Erm, yeah." Rogue said, not too sure what more to add to that.
"Are the classes alright? Are you getting on with your studies ok?" he asked her.
"Yeah, I guess so…" Rogue thought for a moment, "I mean, I'm kinda struggling with maths. I thought maths was just all numbers, but they're using letters as well and it's kinda throwing me a bit."
"That sounds like Algebra." Colossus said.
"Algebra?" Rogue asked.
"Yes, normally, the letter stands for an unknown number. To figure out the rest of the equation, you have to discover what the missing number is." Colossus said.
"Really?" Rogue questioned, kind of surprised by what Colossus had just told her. So that's what the letters meant?
Colossus nodded his head, "Usually. It all really depends on what the question is asking you." He explained.
"I, erm, well, I have a few math's questions from today and yesterday that I was struggling with back in my room. Erm… do you think you could maybe help me with my maths?" Rogue said, turning red. Gambit had advised her to ask for help when she needed it though, so this was a start. Maybe, it'd make him see as well that she was listening to what he had to say and give him reason to keep quiet.
Colossus only smiled at her, "Of course. After we have eaten, I will help you with your maths the best I can. I do not know how helpful I will be, but I can try."
"Oh, trust meh." Rogue said, smiling gleefully up at him, "I could use all the help I could get."
Rogue finished her meal then ran back to her room to collect her maths books like she said she would. When she came back, Colossus had cleared the table and made a space for them to study.
"Here, I was taught to work in reverse. Rather than working forwards by multiplying, then subtracting, you would do the opposite." Colossus explained.
"So, multiply turns inta divide and subtracting turning inta adding?" Rogue asked.
"Yes! I believe they do it this way as you have to understand what was already added to the answer by the other numbers and once you break down the answer, you will know what number the letter is." Colossus said.
"That… actually makes a lot of sense. Your good at this! Thank you." Rogue said.
Colossus smiled down at her. "It is not a problem. Are there any other subjects you are struggling with? Perhaps I can help you with them too." He said.
"Erm, not really. I'm only really gettin' in trouble with ma maths… I… am kinda strugglin' ta socialise though." Rogue said, glancing away.
She wasn't too sure if what she was doing was right, but she'd gone there now anyway. No turning back now.
"Oh, are the others bullying you?" Colossus asked, looking almost murderous.
"Well, no. Not really. At least, not anymore." Rogue said, feeling ashamed and looking away.
Colossus watched Rogue, unsure why she seemed so uncomfortable. He could only assume that she was being bullied. He despised most of the youth he had come across while he had been in town. They were not the kind of people he believe Rogue should be around.
"How do you mean?" Colossus asked.
Rogue sighed, then began to tell Colossus the story of how the school came to call her a slut. She didn't really want Colossus to know all the mistakes she'd made, but he did seem like a reasonable guy and he did know Gambit. Rogue thought that, maybe, if she explained her situation to him, leaving out the parts where she and Gambit were lying to Magneto, Colossus might just be able to advise her on how to stay on good terms with Gambit. And after all, Gambit had said that she needed to start trusting her team. Doing this, opening up about what happened today in school, when, that was something she never really did. It was definitely taking a huge leap of faith for her. There was just something about Colossus though. Maybe, it was how he'd been so kind in helping her with her math's homework or how he'd seemed to just support her when it came to other things like helping her avoid getting into trouble by being late to her training sessions, that just made her feel like she could trust him.
"Do they still call you, erm, that word?" Colossus asked after sitting there and quietly listening to her story.
"Well, no. I kinda managed ta get outta that today." Rogue said, not feeling ready to talk about her second day at Bayville High.
"Gambit was wrong to do what he did." Colossus said.
Rogue frowned. It… kind of bothered her that Colossus had said that about Gambit. But she guessed that's only because he had heard only half the story. "Yeah, I guess. But I was in the wrong too by flirtin'. Gambit did tell meh not ta flirt 'cause it'd only draw attention to maself when I was tryna keep a low profile… He said to say he was ma boyfriend so that no one hit on meh and things didn't get outta hand by someone touchin' meh." She explained.
"Yes, I do believe you were also in the wrong to flirt, but Gambit must simply understand that he cannot just claim someone as his. You have turned him down many times. He should accept your decision and leave you alone." He said.
Rogue smiled at that. It felt kind of nice to have someone on her side. But again, she felt guilty because she knew she had done wrong by Gambit.
"There's more." Rogue said, still never meeting Colossus' eyes.
Rogue then proceeded to tell Colossus about her day. How she had snapped at her friend and then flirted with one of the most popular guys at school to get people to like her and stop calling her that word. She told him how it had worked, but how things had gotten out of hand quite quickly. How she made Gambit seemed like a stalker and how she now had the attention off all the cheerleaders and football jocks. She explained how she managed to get them to back away slightly due to saying she had a skin condition, but then how Duncan had almost forced himself upon her by dragging half the school outside. She then told Colossus about how Duncan wanted to fight Gambit after school and how annoyed he had been with her when he found out what rumours she had been spreading about him.
After she finished, they sat in silence and it was killing her.
"So… do you think I'm a bad person?" Rogue asked, finally breaking the silence. She had to know what Colossus thought. She was tempted just to read his mind, but she needed to know his reaction to her physically as well.
"I do not believe you are a bad person. I think you have simply made a few mistakes." He said.
Rogue snorted at that.
"I do not like the sound of this Duncan Matthews. I do think you were wrong to flirt with him. I do not like the idea of you hanging around him." He said.
"That makes two of us. I'm plannin' ta bring his, well, girlfriend into the picture tomorrow. Get them two back together and all rather than have Duncan focusing on me." Rogue said.
"That sounds logical, but also tricky. Playing with people's hearts, it is not a good thing, Rogue." Colossus said.
Rogue looked down in shame. "Yeah, I know. I just can't seem ta help maself! I just can't stop flirting!"
"You are not flirting now." He said, drawing attention to the fact that they had just sat there and had quite a long conversation.
Rogue blinked, realising that their conversation had seemed to be one without flirting or bargaining. She glanced at Colossus, amazed by that. Had she generally just had a conversation with a guy where she didn't need to flirt or bargain with him to get what she wanted? And he was still there, listening to her problems and, possibly, might help her try and solve them? She really was making progress. Maybe Gambit was right. Maybe she really did have to open up to the team and trust them to be there for her. But, her team and people at school were different.
"Yeah… but, I can't just go openin' up ta people like this at school." Rogue said.
"You are not sure how to talk to people?" he asked.
"Well, no. Not really." Rogue said.
"But you have a friend, Risty, who you can speak with like this?" he asked.
"Yeah, but that's just Risty." Rogue said.
Colossus thought about Rogue's situation for a moment. "You need to tell this boy, Duncan, that you are not interested in him and ask the cheerleaders to leave you be." He said.
"Yeah, but I don't wanna just say go away ta them. If I piss off the popular kids, they'll make ma life hell." Rogue explained.
"So, you wish to be able to remain friends with them, but not close? Sort of, have small talk with them, but not in depth conversations like this?" he asked.
"Well, yeah. I mean, I think I can manage a bit of small talk with the cheerleaders, but when it comes to Duncan, well, I guess I'm kinda worried about that." Rogue explained.
Colossus nodded his head, seeming to be thinking. "I'm afraid, I do not have any great advice for you on how to handle Duncan. All I can really advise is that you try and remain clam around him and politely decline his advances. If, you can perhaps, remind him of his affections for his girlfriend, which, I must state, is very disgraceful behaviour from him to be flirting with another woman whilst he is supposed to be loyal to another!"
Rogue smirked at Colossus' anger. He really was a noble guy and it was quite cute. He composed himelf again and continued.
"I believe, the best person you can turn to if you do struggle with Duncan would be Remy." Colossus said.
Rogue snorted at that and sat back in her chair. "He's mad at meh right now and gone for the night. I don't think he'll help meh."
"Gambit has his... faults. However, I believe, if you were to ask him for help when you are struggling, he will be willing to." Colossus said.
Rogue thought about that. Thought about how Gambit had just wanted her to ask him for help and not bargain with him before when she asked him to keep quiet about the X-Men to Magneto. But then, he had sort of given her her last warning. It felt like he was telling her that she was already on her own to clean up the mess she made and not to bother roping him into any more lies.
"Yeah, we'll see." Rogue said.
Colossus stood up, saying
"I believe John is in the wreck room playing games. We can join him there." Colossus said.
Rogue smiled and at Colossus, but shuck her head, no.
"I told Mags I'd get the information I learned written up so I best do that before I get inta trouble." Rogue said, thinking the best thing she could do for everyone would be to not piss the boss off. She wasn't too sure how it would affect the others, but she just guessed it would.
Colossus didn't seem to mind. In fact, he looked understanding. They parted ways, saying good bye for the night as Rogue went back to her room and set the laptop up.
Xxxxx
Gambit couldn't believe his luck. He had broke into the school to look at Risty Wilde's file. There had not been a lot of information on her or her family. Not even an address. The reason placed on her file was that she had just moved from England and that her parent's where moving around.
The rest of her file didn't seem to matter. It had no dirt on her.
Gambit didn't like it. Seeing as he had no leads yet though, he returned to the base.
When he entered, he ran into Magneto.
"Should I know where you have been tonight?" he asked.
Gambit shrugged, "Just following moi instincts." He said.
Magneto proceeded to lead Gambit to his office. "Tell me what you've found." He said.
"That's the thing, I ain't really found anything. There's this student who's shown an interest in Rogue. English, just moved her apparently." Gambit said.
"You believe it could be Mystique?" Magneto questioned.
"Maybe. I went through the girl's file but found nothing out of the ordinary." Gambit said.
"Mystique is a master at covering her tracks." Magneto said.
"I figured. I ain't threw lookin' inta this girl though. I'll find out if it is her or not." Gambit said.
Magneto nodded, "Is Rogue aware?" he asked.
"Not yet. I didn't want to tell her just yet encase she gave the game away and we lost track of Mystique." Gambit explained.
Magneto nodded his head, "Very well. I was wondering why I had not received a report on how Rogue is fairing at school. Is this the reason?" Magneto asked.
"Mostly," Gambit lied, "She seems to be getting on alright. The popular kids have started to show an interest in her, but she's backing away from them."
"And the X-Men?" Magneto asked.
"She's been friendly towards them, but nothings come of it. She seems to be keeping away from them too." Gambit explained.
"So she is doing what I asked and staying out of trouble?" Magneto asked.
Gambit was glad he'd learned how to lie a long while ago. "Oui, she be doin' just fine." He said.
Magneto nodded then excused Gambit.
Gambit was going to head back to his room, but he realised what it was he was going to attempt to do tomorrow and realised he'd need to set something up before he retired for the night. Then, as if on que, he saw the man he was after.
"Yo Pete," he called. Colossus turned to look at him, "You got a minute?" he asked.