Multiversed

Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: Sorry about the wait between chapters I'm just not 100% on how much further I'm going to draw this story out. I'm thinking this is going to be one of my shorter fics at around 10-15 chapters.

Six

Extending one hand in a timeless gesture, Rogue waited for Tony to take it as he processed that the stubbornly-nameless Rogue just told him her name.

No one knows her name.

No one but Logan and now, him. Tony Stark.

She trusted him with something she's never trusted another soul with – to his knowledge – and all after taking a brief spin through his thoughts and memories. Either his science-y soul touched her in some previously undiscovered way…or she got more from him than he ever intended to let her see.

Taking her gloved hand in his bare one, Tony clasped it firmly giving her a rakish grin as he tugged her towards the stairwell that led down to his private floors.

"I think we're going to need somewhere more comfortable to continue this conversation." Was all he said, watching as she carefully reined in the tears swimming in her eyes after her little digging expedition.

"That's the best idea I've heard all day." She said with a watery laugh, tucking a stand of her now falling-down hair behind her ear. "And it's been a long one."

"Tomorrow's not looking any better." He admitted. "You're going to have a go-around with the Director in not too-many hours from now."

Rogue just made a little non-committal sound in her throat as he led her into a luxuriously-appointed bedroom. Raising a brow she shot him a look as he laughed.

"It's not mine, Scout's honor." He said holding up his hand not currently occupied with holding onto her.

"You were never a Scout." She laughed at his mock-saddened look as they each took a seat on the couch across the room from the tempting bed that she's refusing to look at as long as Tony and all his many ideas about things he would like to do to and with her – thanks memory download, for those rather vivid mental images – in the same room as herself and…well…any flat surface.

She sobered, thinking about what she found in his memories. What made her trust him with a huge thing to her – her real name or part of it anyway.

"You were alone." She said, looking deep into his solemn gaze. "So very alone."

"Poor little rich boy?" He jested, uncomfortable with the knowing in her eyes. It's wonderful – and terrible – that he'll never be able to hide anything from her. That he'll never have to worry about her getting upset because she didn't understand him. Because right now she probably understands him better than anyone else on the damn planet.

"No." She shook her head, reaching up and smoothing one gloved hand down his scruffy day-old beard growth. "Just a sad little boy, left all alone when his mom died."

Tony cleared his throat. "You, ah." He tried again. "You saw all that?" That is what brought tears to her eyes.

"I didn't just see it." She said looking off into the distance behind him, her eyes vague. "I felt it. It's a cocktail of emotions I'm very familiar with. I've lived with them along time." She gave him a crooked smile. "Ah was adopted, ya see. An' then when mah mutation…" she trailed off again, shaking her head to clear it. "Mah parents who were raisin' me kicked me out an' told me the truth. That mah mother left me at a hospital with only a blanket wrapped around me. Ah know the pain, and rage, and sadness that comes from abandonment very well. It jus' keeps happenin' to me, ya see. Over and over and over again."

"Logan?" He asked, thinking about what she had to say to the shaggy mutant in that holding cell. "He walked out on you too. At least I only had to deal with it once."

Curling her legs up under her she gave a little laugh.

"From mah own experience Ah would have to say that it doesn't get any easier the more it happens. You hurt, you cry, you get mad, and then…" she shrugged, letting him fill in the rest of it.

"You just get numb." He supplied pressing a kiss to the back of the hand he still held. "How're you doing with that?"

She giggled, the caress tickling.

"I've been better." She admitted. "Comin' here, seein' him again." She sighed, closing her eyes. "I could've done without doin' that for the rest of my life. But when it came down to it, livin' and seein' him again or dyin' and not… Well we all know what I chose."

Tony stroked one thumb across the back of her knuckles.

"You planning on staying?" He arched a brow. "Fury's going to ask you in the morning, well later in the morning. It's not the best gig in the world but the company," he gave her a cheesy grin. "Really can't be beat."

She gave another little giggle before rolling her head on her neck and heaving a sigh.

"I suppose." Rogue said, rolling her eyes as he pretended to do a little victory dance without letting go of her. "That doesn't mean I'm gonna hop on into bed with you mister." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Your background wasn't all I picked up from you."

He felt himself blushing despite himself. He'd already figured out for himself that Ms. Rogue is a virgin…a scary enough prospect for a playboy. Being someone's first is a big deal, or should be. Throw her knowing all his dirty – very dirty – thoughts about her luscious self and scary became rather intimidating.

"I figured it was worth losing my shot with you for you to trust me." He said at last.

"Ah know." She said with a soft smile. "Ah know."

"Well," Tony rubbed one hand on the back of his neck. "We both should probably get some sleep and I'm not about to make you go back down to the cells. I'll just leave a message for Steve and Mr. Growly-Pants about where you are so they don't panic when your cell is empty. This room is yours, if you want it."

Rogue shooed him from the room, staying propped on the doorframe for a moment.

"I'll be fine." She promised. "Just going to shower and get some sleep, like you said."

Tony gave her a wicked grin. "Sure you don't need any help in the shower?"

"I'm very sure I don't need an unconscious Iron-Man in mah shower, yes." She said drily, rolling her eyes. Giving him one last fleeting look, she turned to leave as he stood with his hands in his pockets and watched. Before she could talk herself out of it, Rogue whirled around and darting over to him gave him a quick kiss before dashing back into her new room and slamming the door behind her.

"Jarvis," Tony said, still dazed over the completely unexpected caress. "I think I'm in love."

"Very good, sir." Came the dry answer from his AI and constant companion. "Should I have your tux pressed or do you plan on eloping?"

Snorting at the wise-assery coming from his computer, Tony walked down the hall to the room adjoining Rogue's. His master bedroom.

"I said I think I'm in love. Not that I've suffered a massive brain trauma." He shot back at JARVIS. "I need at least a week before I propose. She's a runner. Can't spring these things on her too fast."

"Very good sir."

R ~ & ~ T

Next up: Rogue and Fury, plus Rogue vs. Logan in more than one way. Also more Rogue & Tony fluffiness. It's going to be a long one next chapter….