Untitled- STILL

Chapter One: Fear

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Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I'm glad people are anxious to see my darker Rogue. Rest assured, though, you will see her good side. Sorry it took so long for an update. This house has been a frenzy! I'm moving, so I've had to paint, clean, and whatever our house. Now it's on the market, so buy it! _ Oh, and I failed to mention that for fan fiction purposes, Carol was part of the X-Men. She was recruited instead of Rogue.

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Home. It was a funny word. Jean Grey was always told that home was where the heart is; it was safe and full of love. Home was supposed to be somewhere that no malicious being could tear apart. Despite her parent's teachings, Jean began to lose faith in the home that she once found solace in. Though she was home again, it would never be the same. Her home was destroyed, Xavier disappeared, Carol was in a coma, and Evan left. Everything was falling apart.

She and her roommate, Katherine (or Kitty as her family and friends had affectionately dubbed her) Pryde were painting the walls of the reconstructed institute in absolute silence. Both of the girls didn't dare say every worry that was running through their minds- what if the damage couldn't be fixed as easily as the crumbling institute?

Of course, it wasn't like Jean was able to share her true feelings with the younger girl, anyway. Being an older, more responsible member of the team, she had to act like an adult. That meant spoon feeding meaningless lies to all her teammates. She told everyone that it was all right, that Xavier would be found, Carol would wake up, and that Evan would come back. She knew it wasn't the truth, but somehow the lies kept everything together.

Things had changed, and the residents at Xavier Institute would never return to their innocent lives. The world knew their secret. Perhaps Evan had been right to hide with the Morlocks. Jean had been captured. She knew what torture the human race would like to put mutants through. Yet, because of Xavier's dream, she kept fighting. Her heart was encased in fear, but she fought for the very same people who fought against her. Would there come a day when the humans won?

"Penny for your thoughts," Kitty said, casting a sideways glance at her friend.

Jean almost dropped her paintbrush in surprise. "Don't scare me like that!" she scolded.

She frowned. "Like, sorry. You were just so deep in thought, and I was just wondering what you were thinking about."

"It's okay," Jean replied. "I was just thinking about, you know, Scott..."

Scott had finally professed his true feelings for Jean when the X-Men rescued the captives at Area 51. He was so relieved to see her that he kissed her and told her everything she meant to him. Ever since that moment, the two had been inseparable. They looked to each other for comfort when they weren't doing their best to comfort their teammates. With all the sadness surrounding the team, Jean honestly hadn't been happier.

"I wish I knew what it was like to be in love..." Kitty sighed dreamily.

Jean grinned. "It's heaven. Scott's just been... wonderful."

"But you weren't smiling."

"Huh?"

Kitty shook her head. "You weren't smiling a while ago. You must've been thinking about something different."

"What are you talking about?" she asked. "And why does it matter anyway?"

She shrugged. "I was just concerned, that's all." Blue eyes pierced through Jean's emerald gems. "You looked, like, scared... is it about Area 51? Carol? Evan?"

Jean shook her head. "No. Don't worry about it, Kitty. It's over now."

Despite her words, the redhead felt a shiver travel up her spine. It wasn't over, and she knew it. It was only the beginning.

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"A high-security governmental facility was rumored to have been breached last evening. An explosive was found planted in the building. Though it is a top-secret area, the information leaked a few days ago. While the bomb could have totaled the building, specialists were able to disarm it. While no one was available to comment, inside sources have informed us that security is increased, and guards are on their watch for further danger. The question remains, however: Who planted the bomb, and why did they do it?"

Raven swore under her breath. "Turn that shit off," she snapped.

Toad look up from his place in front of the TV. Rogue was sitting on the opposite side of the couch, trying to keep as far away from Todd as she could. A building flashed across the screen, and it caught his eye. "Hey, Boss Lady, wasn't that the place where you, Wanda, Fred, and Rogue were put in? After that Sentinel attack?"

"Yes," she replied tightly.

Rogue met her mother's eyes and quickly looked away. She could clearly see the question etched in the woman's face. "That errand ya asked me about... ah completed it."

Mystique glared at the television screen. She wanted to murder that reporter, and more importantly, the many people working at Area 51 who were supposed to have been dead. "It hardly seems relevant now. One out of hundreds."

Toad cast the two women a quizzical glance. "What the hell are you two babblin' 'bout, yo?"

"Nothin' that's any o' y'r business," Rogue snapped with a roll of her eyes.

"Will you just shut up?" a girl asked. She was lying on the floor with her head resting on her elbows. Her cropped hair was an unusual shade of magneta, and her eyes were a piercing green. Bones protruded from her skin in various places, robbing her of any normal human appearance. Sarah Rushman, or Marrow, as everyone called her, wasn't the resident ray of sunshine. As the boys had said, the boarding house didn't need any more sarcastic bitches. "I'm trying to watch this!"

"Some one tried t' blow a buildin' up," Rogue snorted. "End of story."

"Bitch," Marrow snarled.

"Ugly."

"Will you stop fighting already?" Lance asked, annoyed.

"Oh and you an Pietro were always getting along?" she asked. Lance began to reply, but Rogue only rolled her eyes and began to walk out of the room.

Fred walked in from the kitchen and accidentally bumped into her. She just shrugged him off and stomped upstairs. He looked around the living room, meeting the many confused and angry faces. "Uh- I think I'm gonna make myself another sandwich. Anyone want something?"

A black cloud hung over the room. Mystique glared at him, and stalked off. Lance stared. Toad flicked his tongue back and forth. Marrow pointedly ignored him. Blob looked around, feeling awkward. "Uh- right. Guess not, then."

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Rogue slipped under the dark comforter with a sigh. She just wanted to relax, but she couldn't help replaying last night's events. The blood- the gunshot- the sick feeling of smugness as she pulled the trigger- all of it was haunting her as if to say, "You're a bad girl."

It had t' be done, she reprimanded herself. That's what Momma an ah do- all the ugly, dirty, an necessary thangs everyone else is too afraid t' do.

But did that make it right? Rogue found herself asking that same question over and over again. She killed many times before. So why did this murder hit home?

Because it felt good... Carol accused her. Just like you felt when you killed me. You liked it. You're a sick little bitch, you know that don't you?

Rogue massaged her temples as a headache surfaced. It always happened when Carol started shouting in her head. Just go away!

Remember? You felt all that power with me. You enjoy flying and super-strength and being able to get in a brawl without a scratch to show for it. You're happy that you took my powers, my life, and my identity!

She tried to ignore her, but it wasn't easy. How could she shut out the same questions she asked herself every day since she joined her mother's cause?

Ah only enoyed it cuz it was revenge... she said.

Who are you trying to convince? Carol snapped. Me or you? You're a murderer and you should pay for what you did to me!

"Shut up!" Rogue screamed, though this time her voice pierced the dark room and echoed throughout the boarding house.

She could clearly hear the comments ascending from the living room.

"There she goes again, yo."

"Another episode?"

"I can't count how many time I've lost sleep because Little Miss Plantation Princess was duking it out with that girl in her head. I wish I would've been around to fight Danvers. Maybe then she'd be dead and the bitch would shut the hell up!"

"Chill out, Marrow."

"And I thought Wanda was the only psycho bitch in this house."

"You mean besides Mystique?"

"Speaking of which... Yo boss-lady! Aren't ya gonna check up on Roguey or somethin'?"

"Mind your own business, you worthless amphibian!"

"Yep, she definitely ranks up there as the top crazy bitch."

Rogue wondered how they would react if they knew she could hear every word they said. She doubted they would care- Marrow, at least, would take delight that her insults were received. Only Lance might feel guilty. Then again, he had become so jealous over Rogue's sudden superiority in the team that he might enjoy causing her some pain. On many occasions, Lance had complained that "Just because she's Mystique's little pet she gets to boss everyone around."

"You try doin' mah job, Lance," she hissed. "Killin' people is no treat. Havin' people stuck inside mah head sure as hell ain't an occupational perk."

With that statement, Rogue's mind returned to the gruesome memories of Bolivar Trask's demise...

Rogue floated above the sea and watched Trask's body drift further into the water. The ocean breeze ran it's icy fingers across her body. Rain and blood-soaked hair flew forward, pasting itself to her pale cheeks. Pink liquid dripped dangerously close to her lips. She shivered involuntarily in the cold night.

The water spit into the air, and her nostrils were filled with the smell of salt and blood. Bile rose to her throat as the sickening reality of what she'd done washed over her. She vomited and cried, all the while hearing Carol's haunting voice in the back of her mind.

"For your crimes..."

"Rogue, darling, are you all right?"

She looked up, startled. "M-Mystique! When'd you come in?"

The woman offered a weak smile. "Only a few minutes. I heard your cry. Is everything okay?"

She nodded. "Carol just stopped in f'r a friendly visit."

Golden orbs dripped with sympathy. Raven didn't know what to say. She wished she hadn't asked Rogue to absorb and kill Danvers- or at least to have held on so long. The opportunity to destroy one of the X-Men was just too sweet to pass up. However, the assassin did not know that the murder of the nation's adored superhero would tear Rogue apart. Mystique only wanted to see what would happen if Rogue held on- if she could retain Danver's powers for longer or even forever, Rogue would be an even greater asset to the team. The experiment seemed to work- that is, until Carol began trying to take over her body and filled the girl's mind with words of hate.

If Mystique could take it back, she would. The pain that it had caused Rogue outweighed the power it could give their cause. She would never again ask Rogue to hold on for so long.

Pushing sentiments aside, Mystique cleared her throat. She couldn't afford to waste anymore time with silly emotions- business was business. "Area 51 is off-limits for now since its attempted demolition. We'll have to set our sights else where."

Rogue wasn't surprised at how quickly the mood of the room had changed. Mystique was as notorious for changing personalities as she was at faces. The all-business persona had been a regular for years. Rogue looked at her foster mother. "An where would that be? Gyrich?"

The woman shook her head. "Marrow took care of Mr. Gyrich a few nights ago. Right now, Area 51 is our prime target, but I under-estimated their security. We won't be able to make a second attempt until we get better weapons and have a better plan. I'll work on that, but for now..." Mystique paused, pulling a metal collar from behind her back and holding it up in the air like it was some disgusting organism. "Dr. Moreau."

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I'm sorry if Jean seemed OOC. She's not one of my favorite characters, but she seemed like the best one to use for this chapter. I hope this isn't too confusing. Be patient for Remy's appearance!