25
The X-Men had decided they should take Tabitha back home so were calling it a day. They all noticed Risty was gone then. Rogue and Colossus said they would look for her and give her a lift back home. They saw the X-Men off then wondered around the mall after Colossus let Rogue put her bags in the back. At least they had managed to get some new clothes like she wanted before the end of the day.
Rogue and Colossus had been wondering around the mall for some time before Rogue decided to check out the female toilets.
Rogue had called out Risty's name and waited for a little while to see if she would come out of the occupied stall. But it was a woman she didn't recognise.
Rogue sighed, about to leave the toilets when a voice that sent shivers down her stipe stopped her.
"Hello Rogue," said Mystique.
Rogue turned, seeing the woman who had just come out of the stalls had transformed into Mystique.
"Mystique? What are you doin here?" she demanded to know.
"I could ask you the same question, dear. Why, out of all the places you could have gone to, did you run off with Magneto?" Mystique demanded to know, stepping forwards.
Rogue went to run towards the door, but Mystique moved fast, slamming her hand on the door and keeping it shut.
"Touch meh and I'll scream. The Acolytes will be in here to stop you fast than you know it." Rogue said, backing away.
"I'm not here to drag you back with me Rogue. You've made it pretty clear many times over that you want to explore and interact with people. So fine. Explore all you want." Mystique said, folding her arms across her chest as she eyed Rogue, still looking pissed.
Rogue was confused. Mystique was… letting her go?
"What game you playin'?" Rogue demanded to know.
"Oh, I'm not playing any games here Rogue." Mystique said, "If you want to go to school and attempt to make new relations, then fine. But just remembered what happened the first time you got too close to someone when your powers first manifested."
Rogue felt her fear and anger turn to upset.
"You're talking about Cody?" She demanded to know.
"Yes, I am. A while back, I told you something that I probably shouldn't have, but I did it because I thought it would soften the blow." Mystique said.
Rogue shuck her head, not liking this. Mystique's mind games. She was always so confusing.
"What are you talking about?" Rogue demanded to know.
"Cody never recovered from his coma. He's still in it." She said.
Rogue was still. "But… that was almost two years ago."
"Exactly. Three years ago in a few weeks' time. I never told you because I didn't want to hurt you."
"You lied to me." Rogue said.
"To protect you."
Rogue glanced down at her hands as if they had morphed into some crony, old witch's hands. "You had meh touchin' people when ya know I coulda put em in a coma for that long? You used me! You lied to me just so you could use me! Again." Rogue said, backing up some more until her back was against a wall.
"I gave you a purpose. You will never be able to have a normal life Rogue. Your mutation, it's too strong and uncontrollable. The people I had you touch, they were scoundrels who deserved to be put down and you know that. You saw it in there memories. But who does Magneto have you touching, hmmm? Your team mates? The X-Men? Innocent men and women? I might have used you a little Rogue, but at least what I did didn't make you into a monster!"
Rogue fell down on her knees, shaking her head. "No! I-I have touched some of em, but they're alright! They're fine! They're up and walkin'."
"Maybe this time. But who knows, Rogue. They might not service the next time. Just ask Cody if you want to know more. Well, his doctor that is," Mystique said, presenting Rogue with a piece of paper with the name of a hospital on it.
"How do I know your not liein' ta meh? About Cody? About him still bein' in a coma?" Rogue demanded to know.
"Talk to the hospital yourself. You will see that I am not lying." Mystique said, stepping away from Rogue.
"One more thing before I leave you Rogue. Your life might seem perfect now, but, when things do start to go wrong, and they will… Irene and myself will be waiting for you." She said, her face becoming softer as she said that. "When you need us, we'll be there for you. You are our precious little girl after all, and all we did, all we ever did was try and keep you safe. My number is on the back of that card. If you ever need me, call."
Then, Mystique turned into a raven and flew out of the open window in the female bathrooms. Rogue stayed sat on the floor, staring at the card. She hated this. Mystique had entered her life once again and turned everything upside down. Rogue moved to the sinks, splashing her face with cold water to try and get rid of the evidence that she had been crying.
xxxxx
While Rogue was gone, Gambit approached Colossus.
"Gambit, did you find Risty? We are currently looking for her." Colossus asked.
Gambit shuck his head, "She vanished. Best tell Rogue you just spoke to her and she got a lift off her folks."
Colossus' eyes narrowed on Gambit, "Why are you following Risty? And why do you want me to lie to Rogue?"
Gambit grimaced, "I believe Risty maybe Mystique. I don't have any solid proof of that yet so I don't want to go makin' any accusations. I don't want to have Rogue behavin' differently 'round de girl either. She might give us away that we be on to her if she knows. Then, Mystique could just create another façade and we'll be back to square one."
Colossus didn't like it, but he understood Gambit's reasoning. So he agreed to keep quite. He passed Gambit back the remaining of his money before he disappeared.
Rogue came out of the toilets and he feed her the line like Gambit asked him to. He noticed that Rogue's face was wet, but didn't question it. Rogue forced a smile on her face and decided to keep quiet about Mystique. She had no idea what would happen if she told Colossus that she had been here. And she especially didn't want to tell Magneto who might just lock her up again and stop her from going to school. So, she just smiled and pretended that nothing was wrong even though she had Cody on her mind the entire trip home.
The two headed back to the base, arriving shortly after Gambit arrived back. He was in the kitchen, cooking dinner when they walked in. It looked like he'd been there a while.
"Bonjour." He said, shooting them both a smile, "Where you two been?" he asked.
Rogue became uneasy seeing Gambit in the kitchen cooking. Her mind had been so fixed on what Mystique had told her, she totally forgot all about him. And now that he was stood before her, Cody just kept rushing to her mind.
He was looking at her expectedly. Rogue blinked a few times as she tried to come back to herself and remember his question.
"Shoppin'. I'm gonna go put ma clothes away." Rogue said, taking off almost at a dash as she left the kitchen.
Gambit frowned at the door she left through. He thought things were alright between them. After what she'd been saying to Risty earlier, it sounded like she was coming around to him. So why did it seem like she was avoiding him?
Colossus had watched Rogue leave too. She had been quiet in the car ride back and he'd asked her about it, but she just said the girl's had worn her out. Now, he believed it may have been something to do with her relationship to Gambit. Maybe she was still thinking over how she could have a working relationship with Gambit. Maybe she had run off from Gambit again was because she was shy or nervous. He did not know.
Honestly, there were other things that happened today that were on Colossus' mind.
"Does Magneto know about Risty?" Colossus asked.
"He's aware." Gambit said, now seeming like his good mood had been disturbed.
"There are new mutants at Xavier's mansion. He will want to know." Colossus said.
"Oui, and he'll also want to know how you found dat information out." Gambit said, frowning.
Magneto had, of course, become aware that Colossus had been giving Rogue lifts to school. He still believed he was watching over Rogue, which Gambit was, but not fully.
Colossus put his head down. "Perhaps it would be best if Rogue were to make him aware of this new information."
"Then she might be in trouble," Gambit said.
Colossus looked a mix of frustrated and irritated, "Then what do you suggest? We say nothing?"
"Non, nothin' good ever come from keepin' things from dat man." Gambit said, knowing full well he had lied to him for Rogue before. It was a huge risk he had took and one which he had to stop taking.
Gambit put down the knife, turning to Colossus.
"I think we should tell 'em de truth. He might be disappointed, but I can't imagine he'll be too upset considerin' we did nothing wrong. De X-Men still oblivious to us. Worst that could happen be a slap on the wrist and a warnin' to keep away. But, de issue is, he's gonna want to speak to all of us. Rogue doesn't know 'bout me watchin' her or Risty." He said.
Colossus, again, looked annoyed by Gambit's actions. "You could confess to her what you have been asked to do before she learns it for herself." He adviced.
"Don't think her figurin' it out on her own or me tellin' her gonna change her reaction." Gambit said.
"I believe one will be less damaging than the other." Colossus said.
Gambit decided that he didn't want to have this conversation. "I'll go in. Speak to de man first 'bout trackin' dis girl Risty who may possibly be Mystique. You and Rogue best follow after since he's gonna know where you been and who you been with." He said, leaving for Magneto's office.
Xxxxx
There was a knock on Rogue's door. Rogue wiped away her tears and fanned her face. She told whoever it was they could come in. It was Colossus, which was nothing strange or bad. But the look on his face looked troubled.
"Rogue, I believe you best come with me." He said.
Rogue raised her eyebrow at Colossus' troubled look.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"We will have to inform Magneto that we were out with the X-Men." Colossus said.
"Oh…" Rogue said, thinking. "But, don't he already know?" Rogue said, feeling nervous and a bit dumbstruck at the news. She really didn't want to tackle Magneto right now. Not after what she'd just found out.
"I'm afraid we will have to tell him of the new recruits the X-Men have." Colossus said.
"Oh, yeah, that's right." Rogue said, sighing. She'd forgotten about that.
"Gambit is currently with Magneto now, giving him his report." Colossus said, feeling annoyed that he was withholding information from Rogue.
"Oh!" Rogue said, not completely understanding why he was telling her that.
"Gambit had some business to do today which he needed to inform Magneto of. Unfortunately, what he has to inform Magneto of involves mentioning us shopping with the X-Men." He said.
Rogue was really confused by this. "But, why? He wasn't at the mall today. How does he know we were with them?"
"He was for a brief time. I saw him while we were separated. He would not tell me what it is he needed to report to Magneto," Colossus lied, "but he did warn me he would be telling Magneto about the new recruits as well so that we can approach Magneto and inform him ourselves what we have learned about the X-Men today." He said.
Rogue still didn't completely understand what was going on. Gambit had been at the mall today? But she hadn't seen him? Why would he ask where they had been if he knew where they were? Why did he have to tell Magneto? Was she going to get in trouble?
Rogue rubbed at her eyes, wishing the day would end. It felt like she'd reached her limit on all the crap she could take for one day.
"Come on. Gambit is with him now, finishing his report. We best see Magneto straight after to inform him of the new mutants at Xavier's. He may not be so upset to learn this information." Colossus said.
Rogue followed Colossus out, keeping her head down as she walked to her doom.
Xxxxx
"So you have been abandoning the duty I gave you to track this Risty character to see if she is Mystique? I do not believe that is what I asked you to do!" Magneto said, clearly annoyed.
"Non, but I be doin' it for Rogue's sake. I think we need to know for certain if this girl really is Mystique. If she is, then she's becomin' Rogue's closest friend and that's gonna 'cause problems later on down the line." Gambit said.
Magneto sighed, rubbing his closed eyelids. "I understand your reasoning Gambit. What I do not understand is why you did not clear this with me first."
There was then a knock on the door. Gambit felt panic rise in him. They were too early.
"I ain't finished." He said.
The door opened though and Rogue and Colossus were on the other side, both seemingly having their heads down in shame.
"Can this wait for five more minutes?" Magneto asked them.
"Yes sir." Colossus said.
"Then take a seat and wait." Magneto said, using his powers to close the door on both of them. He then stood up and began pacing his office, feeling frustrated.
"I told you to follow Rogue for a reason. I do not want her spending too much time with the X-Men for her to become corrupted. You were supposed to be watching her. Guiding her away from trouble and now she has become so friendly with them that she is meeting them outside of school! I am not pleased Gambit. Not one bit. In fact, one of the only reasons I agreed to letting her go was because I thought you would be there looking out for her!" He said.
Gambit hung his head, "It be hard to spy on her and tell her what to do and not to do without gettin' caught." Gambit explained. "I can't just reveal myself and tell her who to speak to and what to do. She'd go runnin' for the hills if I did. She'd think we be treatin' her just like Mystique was and she don't want that."
"I understand your point, however, you are a brilliant manipulator. You should have found a way to keep her further away from the X-Men than she currently is." He said.
"I'm good, oui. But I can't control people Magneto. The X-Men are friendly and let on to her. I can't change that. Rogue's not behind de door though. She knows to be careful 'round em and she has been." Gambit said.
"Then how do you explain her recent outing?" Magneto asked.
Gambit didn't actually have an answer for Magneto. He hadn't even asked Rogue why she agreed to go shopping with the X ladies. He did know what they knew, however.
"I can't answer that. But trust me, I been watchin'. Rogue knows what she's doin' and can handle herself. She ain't gave anything away."
"Then let's hear this from her." Magneto said, opening the door.
Colossus and Rogue stepped in, looking uncomfortable.
"Well?" Magneto said, glancing between the two.
"You are aware of where we have been this afternoon?" Colossus asked as a conversation starter.
"Yes!" Magneto snapped, "Now get to the point!" he said, glaring at Gambit, then back at Colossus.
Rogue noticed that. She questioned why Magneto looked so pissed and why at Gambit?
"We discovered that the X-Men have gained a few more new mutants. We were out with two of them today." Colossus said.
"And, what of their abilities?" Magneto asked.
Colossus seemed to become uneasy, but kept his ground. "I'm afraid we were unable to discover that information. We did learn that their names were Tabitha and Amara."
"That's it!" Magneto snapped at Colossus.
Rogue saw that Colossus was about to take a verbal beating from Magneto and she didn't like it. So she stepped in before she really thought of the consequences.
"Actually, no. Tabitha Smith goes by the code name Boom Boom. She can psionically create pure orbs of plasma, fiery-like energy which usually take the size of a marble. She can detonate them within about a two ta ten second time range, making them like tickin' time bombs. The other girl, Amara, goes by the name Magma. She has geothermal powers that grant her the ability ta move tectonic plates underground. She can also call forth molten rock from the earth's core causin' her ta have control over lava. She can also turn her body ta fire, though, I'm not too sure how that works. They're startin' at Bayville High next week with a few other students that just came ta Xavier's." Rogue said, sounding like she was a machine as she repeated the information.
There was a long pause. Rogue glanced around all the men who seemed to be looking at her a bit dumbfounded. Rogue worried that she'd just revealed too much.
"Really? You discovered all of that?" Magneto asked.
Rogue glanced back at him now. Magneto looked intrigued by what she said.
"Erm, well, yeah." Rogue said, glancing back at Colossus and Gambit. They both seemed uneasy.
"And how did you discover this information? I cannot believe they would simply tell you of their abilities." Magneto said.
Now, Rogue realised her mistake. "Oh, well," she said, bringing her hand up to her head as if she was trying to hid what her own mind from Magneto who's eyes seemed to pierce straight through her.
"I guess, erm, it was just floatin' 'round ma head. Maybe I got it from when I absorbed Kitty. I mean Shadow cat." Rogue corrected.
Magneto looked very cunning and very dangerous. "I see. And you did not feel this information was relevant to share before now?"
"Erm, well I… You know it doesn't always work like that. I have ta go fishin' for the information or it comes ta meh in dreams or-" Rogue began to say.
"I don't believe this information did come from Miss Pride." Magneto admitted. "So, do you wish to save yourself a punishment and simply reveal where it is you received this information?"
Rogue grimaced. She didn't want to be locked away in her room again. She also didn't want to put Colossus's sister at risk. She was scared. But, she figured, there was no way out of trouble now.
"I… might have accidently absorbed Tabby earlier today." Rogue said.
Magneto looked extremely dangerous as his eyes glared out from under his helmet.
"Nothin' bad happened!" Rogue snapped out, shaking her hands in front of her. "No one noticed." She said.
"Really? No one noticed an unconscious body after you touched her?" Magneto asked, obviously being sarcastic.
"No, I mean, she fell into some speakers straight after she accidentally touched meh. The contact was only really brief so she didn't completely pass out. Everyone thought she hit her head after she fell and broke the speakers. I managed ta make em think that she'd been electrocuted by the speakers which was why she felt so weak. Besides, the X-Men were more worried about Tabby revealin' their secrets ta meh by talkin' 'bout lasers and a danger room. None of em think I'm a mutant." Rogue said.
"The girl touched your skin!" Magneto snapped at Rogue.
"Yeah, but they don't think I'm a mutant! They think I got a skin condition." Rogue explained.
"Do you really think the X-Men are that stupid?" Magneto asked.
"Well, yeah! Considerin' they thought ma burn mark was a reaction ta someone touchin' meh. Trust meh, they believe I got a skin condition and nothin' more. They don't know that I touched Kitty or Tabby. They just think I'm… Well, cool." Rogue said, feeling extra guilty now that she was betraying there trust. If she wasn't physically hurting them, then she was revealing all there secrets. She really was a monster.
Magneto looked towards Gambit for confirmation seeing as Rogue seemed to be off in a daze. Gambit nodded his head in agreement. At least, he was pretty sure the X-Men weren't onto her.
"I see," Magneto said, thinking. "You mentioned lasers and the danger room. What exactly was said?"
Rogue shrugged, "I think Tabby was just comparin' ma touch ta bein' hit by a laser in the danger room they got in that mansion of there's. Well, the electric shock from the speakers, I mean, since she believes that's what happened. Do ya know about the danger room?" Rogue asked.
"Yes. I am aware of Charles' training methods. Quite interesting, considering he is a man who believes peace is the way forwards." Magneto said, rolling his eyes.
Rogue frowned at that. From Kitty and Tabitha's mind, the training was just to help them control their powers. But, if so, why did she have a memory of Tabitha saving Kurt from a cliff side? How was that helping them to control their powers? How was having lasers shot at them helping them learn to control their powers? Well, maybe in dodging and destroying lasers, but why lasers?
Magneto could see Rogue thinking what he had expressed over in her head. He was kept pleased by the dilemma running over her face. It was a good sign that she was coming to see things his way. Even if his blackmail might have been the reason why she was still with him, it was still a good sign. He would change her thoughts yet.
"I do not believe I know what the danger room is." Colossus said.
"The danger room is a metallic dome within the X-Men mansion. It is designed to train the X-Men for war." Magneto said.
"That's not really the purpose they use it for though." Rogue said.
"Don't they?" Magneto asked, glancing strongly at Rogue who looked very unsure.
"It's a large circular dome inside the mansion which can change it's appearance. It can become a field, or an airport or an obstacle course. It's really top a the range technology really. The X-Men do all sorts in there. They practice savin' each other. Walking through walls that suddenly appear. Takin' out lasers that are aimed there way. All sorts. But, how come you don't know what it is, but you do?" Rogue asked, looking in between Colossus and Magneto. "It wasn't in those files ya gave meh either."
"I am aware of it because it is metal, my dear. That and I helped Charles redesign his mansion to suit raising young mutants quite some time ago. Frankly, it was my idea to have them practice using their abilities in such a manner." Magneto said.
"But… why don't the Acolytes know about it?" Rogue asked, folding her arms.
"The information in the files you received were from Gambit." Magneto said, eyeing Gambit, again, seeming to become annoyed with the Cajun.
He was questioning how, in such a short space of time, Rogue seemed to know a lot more about the X-Men than a professional thief who's job it was to gain intel such as new recruits and what activates the X-Men were up to.
Gambit saw Magneto's questioning eyes. He'd gathered what his boss might be thinking and he didn't much like his name being discredited.
"I had an idea something like dis danger room be inside. I ain't ever been able to get inside the mansion to know completely what it was. Too risky with that blood hound's nose. Especially since you want us to remain unknown." Gambit said.
"Yet, it appears we now have someone who can access the inside of Xavier's mansion. At least, in part." Magneto said, his eyes now falling back on Rogue.
Nobody in the room, except Magneto, liked where he was going with this.
"What you gettin' at?" Rogue finally asked.
Magneto snorted, "It appears your idea to spend your time with some of the X-Men may not have been such a terrible idea afterwards. I am not saying that I want you to spend all you time around them, however, your mission now is to discreetly gather information from the X-Men."
Rogue face dropped, "Ya want meh ta absorb the X-Men?" Rogue asked.
"I said to be discreet. I still want you to remain hidden and not to become exposed. However, if an opportunity does present itself, such as being able to blame a broken speaker for why one the X-Men suddenly has a concussion, then rip however much information you can from there minds and report it back to me as soon as you possibly can." Magneto said.
"What 'bout Xavier? He could be searchin' for mutants with Cerebro. Lock in on Rogue usin' her mutation to gain us information. It be too risky, non?" Gambit said.
Magneto went back to glaring at Gambit. He had just seemed to cause issue after issue tonight. That never used to happen.
But, his Acolytes had a point. "As I said, if you see an opportunity where you know you will not be discovered, by Charles or anyone, then you take it and report back. Do I make myself clear?" Magneto asked.
Rogue grimaced, not liking her new task. But, from what Gambit had said, it sounded like she didn't really have to follow through with the job after all. "Yes sir." She said.
"And, I want you to file a report on the new X-Men you have absorb." Magneto said.
"Is it alright if I do it at the weekend? If ya want meh ta keep tabs on the X-Men and also explore their minds, I'm gonna need time." Rogue said, feeling like she already knew the answer and was already defeated. She'd used the last of her energy tapping into Tabitha's memories to explain the new X-Men's powers. She couldn't keep going.
Magneto saw how fatigued Rogue looked. It seemed she was wobbling a bit too. She had done good work today gathering this information for him and it seemed like she was becoming more willing to do his bidding since she handed in the report on Blob all on her own.
He nodded his head, agreeing to Rogue's terms. That surprised her, but she took it. Rogue and Colossus were dismissed from Magneto's office with no punishment for going shopping with the X-Men which now seemed to be an alright thing for Rogue to do if she wanted to. Rogue retired to her room, wanting to be alone for the rest of the night.
xxxxx
"I am still not pleased you saw fit to monitor this girl, Risty, without informing me." Magneto said, returning to eyeing Gambit.
Gambit stood looking irritated himself. Tonight had not ended well for him at all.
"You told me to look out for Rogue, I did what I though was right." Gambit said.
Magneto sighed, "I want you to take more of an active role in monitoring Rogue." Magneto said.
This got Gambit's attention. He raised his eyebrow as he turned to face the man.
"Go back to dropping her off at school and picking her up. Become a part of her friendship groups. Do whatever you need to do to gain more control over her circumstances. She may have stumbled upon some valuable information without being caught today, but I do not believe she will be so fortune next time. You, however, maybe able to help opportune moments for her to absorb the X-Men to appear. And, you maybe able to discover if this Risty child is, in fact, Mystique in disguise and be able to get Rogue away from her safely. Do you understand your role Gambit?" Magneto asked.
"Clearly." Gambit said.
Magneto nodded his head, excusing Gambit. Gambit went back to finishing dinner. His mind was on Rogue again, but not so much her personally, but more, how she seemed to have shown him up. He hadn't wanted to put down information in the files that he wasn't one hundred percent certain on. But now, he was rather envious of the knowledge Rogue knew. It was putting his name to shame.
When dinner was ready, Gambit set it out. Everyone came and took their plate, but he noticed someone didn't show up.
"Did you knock on Rogue's door?" Gambit asked Colossus.
"Yes. She said she was not hungry at this present time and that she wanted to sleep." Colossus said, sitting down.
Gambit thought about that. Rogue had looked tired when she had been in Magneto's office. Something didn't sit right about that to him though. He placed her food on a tray once again, informing Colossus that he was going to try and get her to eat which the friendly giant had no problems with and left for her room. He figured he was going to have to speak to her tonight anyway. If not about her ignoring him earlier that morning and then this evening and having doubts about his reasons for wanting to date her, then to convince her to let him start taking her back to school.
Gambit knocked on Rogue's door.
"I'm not hungry." Rogue called out from the other side.
Gambit opened the door and found Rogue lay on her side on her bed. Her shopping bags had been left to one side, unpacked. Her back was to him so he couldn't see that she had been crying, but he knew something was up. He opened her door further and began to step in.
"Rogue?" He called.
Rogue turned her head slightly, seeing that the door had been opened. Rogue climbed off the side of her bed, never showing her face to Gambit as she didn't want him to see her crying. She moved to her window staring out of it.
Gambit felt a bit upset and annoyed that Rogue moved to the farthest side of the room from him. He took a step in, placing her tray on the side.
"Thanks for bringin' ma food, but I'm not hungry." Rogue said, cuddling herself as she hoped he would just go away.
"What's wrong Rogue?" Gambit asked.
Rogue closed her eyes, wishing he would just leave her alone. It had been hard enough convincing Colossus to leave her be, now she had to try and convince Gambit and she knew it wasn't going to be easy.
"Just a long day. I'd like ta be alone please." Rogue said, still not facing him.
Gambit was puzzled by Rogue's reaction. Why was she still avoiding him if she might like him? What was wrong with her? Why did she always have to be such a puzzle piece.
He began to move around the bed and closer towards her,
"A problem shared is a problem halved-" Gambit began to say, but Rogue became pissed.
"Gawd! Will you just leave meh alone!" she snapped, twisting her body more so she couldn't be seen.
Gambit stopped in his tracks.
"Not when something's clearly botherin' ya. What is it?" he asked.
"Just the psyches," Rogue said, reaching up and touching her head. It was somewhat of a lie, but she just needed him to go away.
Gambit didn't completely believe her either. Not since she'd been pushing him away all day.
"I can help to calm 'em." Gambit said, moving forwards with an outstretched hand.
Rogue smacked that hand away.
"I don't need your help! I just need ta be left alone. Now will you just get out!" Rogue snapped, turning her body away and moving away from Gambit as far as she could.
Gambit was… in shock. Of course, Rogue had snapped at him before about him touching her but… he thought, after their date…
He became annoyed.
"Why you pushin' moi away Cherie?" he asked, his voice dangerously low. He remembered telling her how she always did this. Always pushed him away. She'd talk to Colossus and Risty about her problems, but she always pushed him away. She said she didn't. This, right here, just proved that she did. He had opened up to her about it! He'd practically asked her to let him in and she was pushing him away again.
"'cause ya ain't listenin' ta meh! I wanna be alone so just leave meh alone." Rogue said, her back still to Gambit.
"Non, you been pushin' mon away all day! Dis mornin', ya ran off to school without even battin' an eyelash my way. Then you go shoppin' with de X Freaks. What for? To avoid me some more? So you didn't have to come back-"
"I needed clothes." Rogue said, getting a bit irritated that he was accusing her of doing something like that. She hadn't gone shopping to avoid him! Well, she didn't think so. She honestly needed clothes.
"Now, your lockin' yourself away. Tell me to leave you alone. What gives, Rogue? I thought we made progress last night? What the hell happened since then?" he asked.
Rogue closed her eyes for a moment briefly. Mystique had happened. Well, Mystique and her skin. Rogue opened her eyes again, sparing a glance over her shoulder at Gambit. Her eyes were very cold and distant as she said:
"No Remy, we didn't. Same thing that always happens 'tween us happened. You tried wooin' meh, worn me down and I gave in just ta shut you up for a while and give meh a break. I don't like ta be touched, Remy. Never have, never will. Nothin' was gonna happen and nothin' will happen 'cause I don't want it to." Rogue said, thinking of how what she was saying was kind of true. She didn't want to hurt Gambit and she wasn't going to let him get hurt by her. So, she was going to make it happen so that he didn't get hurt.
Gambit felt hurt. He knew Rogue said something along those lines last night. About nothing happening between them, but… he didn't believe her then. She was looking at him like her mouth was saying one thing, but her body was saying another. Now, he could just see how cold her eyes were. It felt… different this time.
"Cherie," Gambit plead, "I know your liein'. I know you like the touch." He said, going to reach out for her again, "You ain't gonna hurt moi and I ain't gonna-"
Gambit wasn't expecting Rogue to grab his arm and launch him across the room and out of the door.
Rogue tapped into Blob's powers for only a second. She knew he was going to fight her. Knew he was going to push her. He always had been stubborn like that. Always did make her feel somewhat hopeful when it came to being normal. But this time… her gut instinct, the one that had been screaming at her not to let him in, not to touch him or else something bad would happen, won over.
She used Blob's power to force the get him away from her dangerous skin. Then, when she noticed she'd actually managed to throw him out of her room, she left Blob's mind and jumped into Magneto's. She forced her door closed and merge it with the wall.
Rogue felt a sharp pain in her head as Magneto instantly kicked her out of his mind. She cried out and grasped at her head and she shrunk down on the floor. Getting into Magneto's mind was always hard. She'd only absorbed a little bit of him so his psyche wasn't as fully formed nor as powerful as the others. But, the psyche of Magneto that she did have always stayed in his cell and always was rude and aggressive in kicking her out when she tried entering his mind. It hurt, actually, when he thought against her. It was obvious he had some experience fighting off psychics before because he knew just where to hit to make it hurt.
Rogue sighed and crawled back onto her bed. She didn't much want to be in Magneto's nor Blob's head really. There was one that she'd been debating entering, but it scared her.
Gambit, getting up from the floor, just stared at Rogue's door. Yes, she'd thought him off a few times before when it came to his touch, but she'd never used someone else's powers against him. He was… really taken back by Rogue being so distant and throwing him out like she had done. He could see she was in an emotional state, but she always let him in in the past. Why was she pushing him away now? Did she mean it? Did she really not want anything between them? But then, she liked him, didn't she?
Gambit got up off the floor, brushed himself off and stormed off to his room pissed. He'd received enough earache for the day. Sure, he could just blast her door down and demand to know why she was pushing him away, but he'd had enough. He was trying, he really was, to get her to like him. To feel safe and comfortable around him. And here she was, throwing him out for however many a time while he was trying to be there. He felt used. Under appreciated. Angry. He walked straight into his room and slammed his door.
Xxxxx
Rogue finally did it. She finally visited the mind she'd avoided for years. Rogue entered Cody Robinson's mind.
"Hi Cody," she said as a fourteen year old blonde haired boy stood before her. He looked awkward and shy. Rather the same as the first time she'd meet him.
"Oh, errr, hi Rogue. How's it goin'?" he asked, his Mississippi drawl sweet and so comforting.
Rogue closed her eyes just taking in that sound. The sound of an angel.
"It's going…" Rogue said, trying to talk to him. Trying to be calm, but her tears came down her face. How could he be so kind after what she did.
Cody, who had been crouched over the memory pool, stood up and faced her fully as Rogue wiped at her eyes.
"You alright?" he asked.
Rogue shuck her head, no.
"Erm, Cody… There's something I gotta tell you and your gonna hate me for it." Rogue said.
"What is it?" Cody asked, looking scared.
Rogue closed her eyes again, pained at what she guessed was going to happen.
"You remember when I told you that you came out of that coma two weeks after I put you in it?" Rogue asked.
"Yeah," Cody said.
"Well, I just found out that… Cody, you're still in that coma."
Nothing was said between either of them for a while. Rogue watched Cody take in the information. It looked as if it was sinking in slow.
"I'm so sorry!" Rogue said, "I didn't know! And I never wanted ta lie to ya. It was Mystique. She told meh back then you came outta it, then, she popped up again recently and told meh everything. I just called the hospital ya in to confirm it and, oh gosh, Cody, I'm so sorry. This is all ma fault!" Rogue said, covering her face as she began to cry.
What she didn't except, however, was Cody to walk towards her and place his hand on her shoulder.
"Hey," he said, "it was an accident."
Rogue still just couldn't face him.
"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" She kept repeating.
She felt Cody take hold of her hands and move them off her face. She felt forced to look at him then. Cody had a soft bittersweet smile on his face.
"Come on," he said gently as he led Rogue over to the memory pool.
They jumped, Rogue just following. Whatever Cody had in mind, whatever he wanted to do to her, well, she deserved it. So she just followed.
What she didn't expect was for him to bring her to the same place where she had first placed him in a coma. That hurt her, a lot. Rogue looked under the tree where she had kissed Cody and placed him in a coma. They weren't there just yet. Cody pulled Rogue further under the tree. He took off that Jock jacket he was wearing and lay it on the floor before taking a seat on it under the tree and gently pulling her down with him. Rogue sat beside him like he wanted, but couldn't look at him.
Cody wrapped his arm around Rogue's shoulder.
"I know you never meant to hurt me Rogue. I've been in your mind long enough to know you truly regret what happened." He said.
Rogue closed her eyes then. She just felt so ashamed of herself. Of what Mystique had made her do.
She felt Cody pull her into his side as he sat back against the tree.
"It's been a while since you last visited me." He said.
"I know. Things have been…well, busy." Rogue said, feeling uncomfortable cuddling up to the guy she put in a coma. She knew nothing could hurt him here. Not that she hadn't already done that to him in person, but his psyche was safe.
"I know. I try to give you your privacy, but things slip through. You ran away from Mystique, didn't you?" Cody asked.
"Yeah. From one crazy person into another though." Rogue said.
"Magneto. He's not forcing you to date guys though and touch them, is he? I know that was hurtin' you before. Filling your head with a load of psyches." Cody asked.
"No, not really. He wants meh to absorb some people called the X-Men though. They're good people! I really don't want to do it, but…"
"He's blackmailin' you." Cody said.
"Yes," Rogue said, trying to hide in Cody's shirt.
Cody rubbed her arm as he held her.
"You're happier though. Much happier than you was with Mystique?" he asked.
"I…Well, I-" Rogue said, "Why does it matter that I'm happy or not! Cody, I stole your life away! I'm a murderer." Rogue said, pulling away from him.
"I don't think that."
"How can't you?" Rogue demanded to know.
"Because Rogue you're still the same girl I fell in love with." He said.
Rogue glanced at him at that. He'd told her he loved her before and she'd loved him. But then, she'd hurt him and she never understood how he could still love her.
"Listen Rogue, you were in a tough spot when I met you. But you still found a way to go after what you want. It's part of the reason I was attracted to you." He said, scratching the back of his head and blushing a little. "What happened between us, it was just an accident. And yeah, it sucks that it happened, but… I don't blame you Rogue. Maybe Mystique and Destiny since they could have stopped us from kissing each other, but, well, they wanted me gone, didn't they?" Cody said, glancing away.
"They were scared of you Cody." Rogue said, turning around towards him more. "Scared that you were going to take me away from them and honestly, I would have left them for you in a heartbeat! But… if I'd had known-"
"I know," Cody said, smiling softly at her, "We've had this conversation a few times. Nothing's changed Rogue. Not even with knowing I'm still in a coma somewhere. I know who and what you are. I knew it was dangerous to be with you but… I love you Rogue."
Rogue closed her eyes at that, "Sometimes, love's not enough."
"Well, in my case, it's all I have." Cody at smiling at Rogue.
"I took your life away from you. Your future. You shoulda been in college by now. Met some nice girl. You should have a football scholarship! Marriage and kids in your future, but-"
"Rogue, what's done is done. You need to stop beating yourself up about it! And hey, visiting once in a while never hurts too. Not much happens here, you know." Cody said, smiling at that.
Rogue looked away again, feeling guilty. She just couldn't do right by this man.
"I'm sorry… Honestly, I was avoiding you. I just… Remembering what I did to you, well, it makes living so difficult! How can I just keep on living a normal life when I'm a monster and you, a lovely, smart, kind guy can't even live the normal life he's entitled to?" Rogue said.
Cody placed his hand on Rogue's shoulder again, "Rogue, I don't hate you for having a life. I want you to have one. If you didn't well… I guess I wouldn't live either. You don't stop going on for the people you love. You live for them. And I need you to live for me Rogue. You're out from underneath Mystique now and that's great! That means you don't have to sneak out as much as you used to. Heck, you went shopping today with some friends, didn't you? How long have you been wanting to do that, huh?" Cody asked.
Rogue scoffed happily, "Years," she said.
"Exactly! Your free now Rogue. Well, much freer than you were before. And you have people who actually care about you now. Those guys, Peter, John and Remy was it? They all care about you. Genuinely." He said.
"You have people who care about you too!" Rogue said back to him.
"Yeah, and I'm sure they're living their lives as well. I wouldn't want anyone to stop enjoying their life just because I'm in a long sleep, you know? Please Rogue. I know how much you hate yourself for what happened and how much you beat yourself up about it. But please, and I've asked you for this before, please keep living your life and enjoying it!" he said.
Rogue scoffed happily at that, tears falling from her eyes as she cuddled her legs to her chest.
"I'm tryin'… I'm actually in school now." Rogue said.
"That's great! Hey, maybe you can graduate and go on to college or something like that." Cody said.
"Ha, I doubt it. Magneto wants to out mutants and when he does, I doubt he'll still let me go. I'm only there really to spy on the X-Men and absorb them when I can… But Cody, if what happened with them happens with you…" Rogue said, shaking her head, "I don't think I can keep going. Not everyone's as great as you."
"I don't think what happened with me will happen with anyone else. I mean," Cody said blushing as he glanced away, "It was your first time, erm, kissing a guy when it came to me, wasn't it?"
Rogue chuckled at that. "Yes Cody. You were ma first. First kiss. First love." Rogue admitted.
Cody looked chuffed with that information and still shy.
"So, erm, you've got a thing for that Remy guy, haven't you?" Cody asked.
Rogue's face dropped.
"It's not like that! I mean, he wants it to be like that, but it can't be! And I won't-"
"You know you're not in a relationship with me anymore, right?" Cody asked.
That stung.
"I-" Rogue tried to say, but Cody just smiled at her.
"You know, I honestly don't think he sees you as a challenge. A player, maybe, but… your one wonderful woman Rogue. You just… make a guy want to be his best around you." He said.
Rogue looked away at that, "Ha, guess Mystique did teach meh how ta make a guy jump through hoops for me."
Cody huffed, amused at that, once.
"I don't think you should push him away. I know you're scared and all 'cause you just found out I'm still in a coma, but… he really likes you Rogue. And if you like him, then maybe-"
"Stop! Stop right there! I took your life away! You can't move on or fall in love with anyone 'cause I took that from you! I'm not just gonna go off and fall in love with-" Rogue began to rant.
Cody grabbed hold of Rogue's hands that were waving all over in the air and brought them down into her chest.
"Hey hey…Rogue. As much as I'd love to say that maybe I'll jump out of the coma I'm in and coming rushing to your side to sweep you off your feet, well… I don't think that's going to happen any time soon… Possibly, not ever," Cody said, looking down.
"Oh Cody…"Rogue said, a tear coming back to eye. She thought back to how they had discussed how the physical Cody might have been feeling when they thought he woke up two weeks after she kissed him. Cody had been trying to reassure her then that his physical self would have still loved her, just didn't know how to find her.
Rogue had been moved by Mystique and Destiny by that point. She tried returning back to visit Cody, but never did get a chance to see him again. She even went to his parents' house and it looked like he had moved.
"Rogue… I want you to be happy. Honestly, I do! And, if this guy makes you happy, then I think you should go for it!"
"Cody…" Rogue said, just, not knowing what to say.
"It's fine Rogue. Just do what makes you happy. Live for the both of us, alright?" Cody asked.
Rogue closed her eyes and nodded her head. She turned to stare out over the Mississippi river that had the sun setting over it. It was a few hours before their younger selves would show up here and seal their fate.
Rogue found herself thinking about what Cody had told her to do, to keep living her life as normal the best she could. He'd been telling her to do that for years. Telling her she owed it to him to go and live her own life for them. She guessed it was part of the reason she was so determined to escape Mystique. To go to school. To make friends. She just… well, wanted to live and be happy like Cody wanted her to be.
Her mind went to Gambit and how he seemed to just want to make her happy. And he did, most of the time. But…
"Cody, I really don't want to get close to him. I don't want to put his life at risk like…" Rogue trailed off.
"I get that," Cody said, wrapping his arm back around her, "But he knows about your skin, doesn't he? And you're most certainly aware. Who knows, maybe everything will work out alright."
Rogue shuck her head, "It still doesn't feel right, you know? It feels kinda like I'm cheating on you." Rogue said.
"Rogue, I love you and all, but we've not been a thing for a long while. All I am is just a psyche. A more advanced memory I guess. You can't make a life with a memory." He said.
"What if… What if he hurts me? What if I hurt him?" Rogue asked.
"You felt the same way about me at first, didn't you?" Cody asked.
"Well, sorta. I mean, I was more worried about what Mystique would do to you if she found out we were seein' each of. I was scared I was endangerin' your life." Rogue explained.
"But ya were also scared I was gonna break your heart?" he asked.
"Well… Not had many people ta love me proper in ma life." Rogue said.
"I think you need to let him in. Tell him about us. About what happened. About what we used to be. I mean, he's helped you outta a lot of tough situations before, right? He's been good to you and he's still tryin'." Cody explained.
Rogue just couldn't get past the feeling that she was betraying Cody though. She wasn't, he was right, but… It was so hard and frustrating.
"I know it's gonna take time for you, but trust me. Giving love a second shot, well, my gut tells me it's the right thing to do. The thing you need." He said
Rogue leaned further into Cody. They didn't need to say anything else at all. They could simply just watch the sun set before their younger selves arrived. Cody wanted to know the details of her life so far since she'd last caught up with him and she couldn't refuse him. She filled Cody in on everything that had happened since leaving Mystique. After she finished, that was when the sun had set and neither of them wanted to stick around any longer to see the end of the memory.
Rogue kissed Cody on the lips before leaving his prison. She promised to try and visit him more often. Cody said he'd understand if she couldn't but that he would be there, waiting for her stories once she returned.
Rogue returned to her mind, waking up around three am in the morning, tired. She sighed, laying her head back down on the pillow and trying to get some sleep.