Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, events referenced, or fictional places used to bring the plot of this story to life.
It's been over a year…sorry.
Chapter Six
Trapped In a Bottle
X-_X-_X
Rogue still didn't know when tea time was the next morning when she awoke twisted in a knot of nerves. She rose, glanced at Kitty's sprawled out form, and left her room in a subtle flurry of movement. She washed and dressed that morning in a somewhat daze; her life was tuning in and out like a bad radio.
Everybody she passed by in the hallways she felt paranoia towards. Would she be like the majority of them soon? Able to control their mutation and go about their daily lives with easy grace? Would she be able to shake hands with a new friend or hug an old one? So many thoughts thrilled through her head. Until she was on her way to the medical lab she didn't truly believe that what was happening to her was actually happening.
No one truly looked at her in the hallways. They were used to her going about her own solitary ways. Soon she'd have the ability to interact with anyone she wished to, however there was also the question of whether she would actually wish to.
"Morning, Doc," Rogue mumbled with more false benevolence than she intended to. The doors closed air tight behind her and her heart gave a heavy thump in the process.
"Ah, good morning Rogue," McCoy replied with great optimism. "How are you faring?"
"Ah'm okay, Doc," Rogue replied. "I'm supposed to be down here for Dr. McTaggert's thing right?"
Rogue felt anxious now, she didn't see Moira or the Professor and she wondered at how the process was going to go.
"I'm afraid you are slightly early my dear," Hank replied. His large blue face twisted with some concern. "I believe Dr. McTaggert plans to time this operation so that she can celebrate with tea."
"Operation?" Rogue asked, she put some faulty strength into her voice. "I do not believe that Ah was told about an operation?"
Beast waved his hand through the air. "Oh I'm so sorry, my dear. I simply meant this play, this scene, this little plan of ours, nothing more."
"Huh," was all Rogue replied, putting a hand to her hip and turning around. She walked around the lab a little and looked at the instruments on the tables.
"Wait," said Rogue, her accent drawling. She turned back around to look at Dr. McCoy. "When tha hell is tea time?"
Hank chuckled jovially. "I'm afraid it's just a couple hours from now. Dr. McTaggert like to take tea at the same hour that those in Scotland will be taking tea, no matter the time change. Tea is most generally in the afternoon."
"O.K." replied Rogue, she waved a hand in the air. "So Ah can go right? It's not like Ah'm needed in an empty lab."
"Actually, Rogue," began Hank. He took his glasses off and removed a clipboard from one of the stools stationed at his lab tables. "I'd like to speak with you for a few moments."
He motioned for her to take a seat on the stool near him.
"No thanks," Rogue said stiffly. "What dya need to talk to meh about?"
Beast sighed deeply. "The X-GAN is an instrument."
"Yeah?" asked Rogue. She was hoping that this conversation wasn't going to be some philosophical learning experience. She wanted the bare facts. What is going to happen to her? That's what she wants to know.
"What I mean to say, Rogue, is that this isn't going to last forever-."
"Dr. McTaggert already told me that it evolves to your body after awhile," Rogue's tone was bordering on petulance. She was starting to feel queasy over this whole ordeal, and the strong willed woman did not like feeling queasy over anything.
"Rogue," Beast sighed heavily. "Please let me finish, what I'm trying to convey to you is that while I know how technology can evolve and be used, as I am a scientist, I also know how it can fail."
Rogue remained silent. He wanted her to be silent after all.
"I don't want you to adjust to this machine and forget about working on your own mind,"
Beast looked at her with what must have been a world of compassion. Rogue didn't want it though. She had already thought this process through over and over again, at least what she knew of it.
"Don't worry, Doc," she replied. "I know what I have to do. I'd do almost anything to get back what Ah've missed out on for years."
"I know you will do good, young Rogue," Beast said as she moved towards the doors.
"Thanks, Doc."
Beast watched her leave the lab with an almost indiscernible look on his face. However there was pride in his eyes. He knew that the girl, woman rather, would do great things with the world.
X-_X-_X
Rogue emerged from the medic lab and into the more traveled part of the house with less than enthusiasm. She didn't want to wait around waiting for Moira to be ready for her. She was so anxious she couldn't decide what she wanted to do next. She ended up wandering in the entrance hall.
"Rogue!" suddenly came a shout in the form of an all too familiar peppy voice. Kitty was descending from the stairs still in her sleeping pajamas. She was mussed up prettily and looked like she was ready to enjoy the day.
"Kitty," greeted Rogue distractedly.
"Like, what are you doing up so early?" Kitty asked. "Sleep in once in a while!"
"I have a thing this morning," replied Rogue, she refrained from wringing her hands.
"Oh?" asked Kitty. "Another session with the Professor?"
"You could say that," replied Rogue, she followed Kitty into the kitchen.
"Yeah?" Kitty replied. "Kurt going with you again?"
Rogue stopped short. Every so often Kurt liked to go with her to the sessions, to offer his brotherly support. Normally he's end up annoying her so much with all his concern that she didn't get anywhere's with the professor anyway.
Kitty didn't mind Rogue not responding. She continued her thought anyway. "I bet you, like, could think of somebody else to come to your sessions, hmm?"
Rogue stared Kitty down with her eyes. "What?"
"I'm saying that I bet you would, like, like it if Gambit came to your sessions," Kitty grinned obnoxiously after saying that.
"Shh!" Rogue motioned fiercely. "No one here knows besides pretty much you!"
"Really?" Kitty asked absently. "I guess that makes sense, I haven't, like, told anybody about Piotr and I either. I don't think many people would be willing to handle it."
"Yeah," replied Rogue. She eyed the door.
"Wait," Kitty scrunched her eye brows as she licked yogurt off her spoon. "You haven't told Kurt?"
"No," replied Rogue quickly.
"Really? Dude, Kurt's going to freak!" Kitty squealed and looked at Rogue with melodramatically terrified eyes.
Rogue remained silent. Why did Kitty have to bring that up?
"You should probably talk to him, Rogue," said Kitty, wagging her spoon at Rogue.
"Yeah," she replied. "Maybe I'll go do that right now."
Rogue released a breath when she left the kitchen. She did have to talk to Kurt; however Kitty had given her an idea. And while she hated to admit it this idea would make her feel better.
She was going to see if she could get Gambit into the mansion while she was getting fixed up with the machine. Kitty did give good thought to the fact that Rogue would feel better with somebody she felt close to there. Also the fact that Gambit would prove a good distraction was good.
X-_X-_X
"Kitty! Kitty!"
Kitty squealed and accidentally phased her hand through the jar of jam she'd been holding. It fell to the linoleum ground with a decisive shatter. She snapped her fingers and ruffled her nose in consternation.
"Kurt!" She yelled back at the blue furred boy who had just entered the kitchen.
"What?" He paused a moment, and stood still, his German voice resounding of the kitchen. "Kitty! There's no time for that! Rogue just told me something very important!"
Kitty looked at Kurt, and then raised an eyebrow. "Kurt, what did Rogue, like, tell you?"
"Kitty," Kurt came close to her, his eyes wide and his blue fur ruffled uncomfortably. He began speaking in a hushed whisper. "Rogue, mein sister, is dating…Gambit!"
Kitty really tried, valiantly, to hold her hilarity in at Kurt's shock, but it really was in vain. Kurt glared at her as doubled over in giggles, though was mollified when she accidentally phased herself through the counter.
"It's not funny, Kitty!" Kurt exclaimed. "She could get hurt, or injured! The professor must know at once!"
"Are you saying Rogue can't take care of herself?" asked Kitty. "Because I'm pretty sure she, like, can."
Kurt paused. "Well…nein. However what if he's using her?"
Kitty rolled hers eyes. "Listen Kurt, don't like, worry about it. It's Rogue business and I get your worried but you have to let her do what she wants to do, okay?"
Kurt didn't answer, he bounced on the balls of his feet, his tail twitching nervously. It was obvious his concern and affection for Rogue was great, no matter how misguided it may be. Kitty sighed and walked forward some.
"I'm going to go out of the kitchen," said Kitty slowly. "Then I'm going to find Rogue, then, like, I'm going to have a conversation with Rogue, and when I get back here to, like, finish my breakfast you should be calmly some where's else."
Kurt scowled and nodded. He did not like the most recent turn of events in his life.
Kitty smiled triumphantly and yawned her way out of the kitchen. She mildly wondered where Logan was, she hadn't seen him all morning. As she pushed on the kitchen door, not bothering to phase out she though of something positively wicked and turned around for a moment.
"Oh, Kurt? I'm dating Colossus."
"Vhat!?"
X-_X-_X
"Rogue!" squealed Kitty phasing through the bathroom door unmethodically.
"Kit!" half shouted Rogue, dropping her toothbrush with a small jump.
"Kurt's, like, about to jump out of his fur!" Kitty laughed.
Rogue shifted uncomfortably. "He's my brother, Ah can't just not share things with him."
"I know," chortled Kitty. "It's just-,"
"Ah'm thinking about trying to get Gambit over here for my lil' appointment," Rogue brushed on in a somewhat sterner voice. She visibly steadied herself against the sink, and her arms itched like she wished she could cross them across herself.
"Really?" asked Kitty, she phased fully through the door. She stood sort of unsurely, her eyes open a little wider.
"Well, not, um…it's a lil' ridiculous Kit, never mind," Rogue shook her head absently and turned her head towards the mirror. She had a faint rose tint to her cheeks.
Kitty stood up straight and pointed her finger at Rogue. "You want him here, as like, support right?"
"Yeah," Rogue admitted with a sigh. "Ah know, it's clingy and flaky, an' all…"
"No, no, no!" Kitty said waving her hands; Rogue took a step back away from her. "It's not Rogue, I promise! Just because you think he might, like, be good for you here doesn't mean it's like a flaky thing. I promise Rogue, it'd be nothing but a good thing if you asked Gambit to come!"
Rogue looked at her a little doubtful. She wasn't the sort to act in the way that she presumed someone like Kitty would act. She felt like it'd be nice to see Gambit while she was receiving the construct but she felt a little foolish for feeling as such.
"Look, Rogue," Kitty said, she put her hands on Rogue's shoulders and didn't mind when she shifted uncomfortably. "Call Gambit, I think he'd love being asked to come over. Never mind the fact of what you think this makes you look like. Having Gambit come over will make things public with the other X-Men, something I think Gambit would be thrilled to do."
"We'll see, Kit," Rogue said, shrugging out of Kitty's grasp. "We'll see."
X-_X-_X
The grand staircase in the X-Men mansion is a grand structure. The wood is solid and sturdy, a great thing when the foundations are put to a test. The basic outlet of the descending stairs a late seventeenth century French design that Charles Xavier especially enjoys. The great structure is a tool that is walked on every day, and it has witnessed interesting and monumental things in its day.
The entrance of an enemy onto its premises, one whose reception is not taken as enemy, is however a new occurrence for that particular wood.
Gambit was nervous, and actually surprised that he made it have way up the staircase before being assaulted with the presence of hostile X-Men.
"Gambit!" Cyclops stopped, startled at the top of the stairs, having been walking from the boys wing to meet Jean in the girl's. He shoved back, flattening himself against the wall, a hand on his sunglasses, he was ready to remove them and enter into battle with Gambit if the need arose.
"Merde," muttered Gambit, he looked around him mildly anxious to find some way to better his situation. Perhaps he should have rang the doorbell as opposed to his nonchalant walking in on the premises. "Now listen to Gambit? O.K.? Gambit supposed to be here, homme, and-."
"Enough," Cyclops said, he was uncertain if he could take the Cajun on his own and he began to call out with his mind. If only Jean or the professor could hear him they could activate the rest of the X-Men. While there hadn't been fights in a while an enemy was certainly not a guest on the premises.
"Look here, y' have no need to spoil y' big boy undies, no?" Gambit raised his hands up in a peace motion. It was all tedious to him, except Rogue, Rogue was the one thing here not tedious to him. "Rogie asked Gambit to come up here and-."
At that moment Gambit was cut off once more as Jean came sprinting from the adjoining girls wing, a hand held to her head. All at once he was thrown up into the air, where he wavered for a minute before being tossed ungracefully onto the floor of the entryway.
He swore and uprooted himself in a more graceful movement. More X-Men began to pour out from the halls. "Gambit you have gotten y'self into sometin' now, no?"
He looked around himself, at this rate he was going to have to flee the premises and sneak in. He was already late, and didn't want to quite take that alternative. They'd find out he was there again anyway. He really wished that he knew exactly where he was supposed to be heading, he might have a strategy that way.
However Gambit knew there was going to be some major obstacles when the next gentlemen made his appearance.
Wolverine stopped at the top of the stairs, his gaze taking in the scene with unconcealed disgust. He looked down at the Cajun and rolled his eyes. He crossed his arms and heaved a breath. "Right. Iron Ass's errand boy's supposed to be here."
The rest of the students looked around confusedly while they processed what Wolverine had growled at them. How could an enemy be allowed into the mansion, the trail head of all their work and power? Some of them looked towards Cyclops for guidance. He was a good leader; there were those that admired him.
"Alright," said Wolverine louder. "All of you! Out! You have danger room sessions to get ready for, all of you!"
Gambit never thought in all of his burglaring life he'd be glad to have Wolverine growl orders into air. He approached the stairs, adding an easy smile to his sarcastic lips. "Wolvie, how pleasant t' see you again, no?"
"Don't push it, bub," Wolverine growled back, extending his claws. "You're here because stripes wants ya' here, no other reason."
"Ah, Logan, thank you very much," came a more calm and eloquent voice. "Gambit, I am glad you decided to come, however upstairs is not where we are headed, downstairs actually."
"Professeur," Gambit murmered. "Merci."
"We'll be taking an elevator to the medical laboratory," the professor responded, smiling. "I believe young Rogue is already down there."
Gambit fell in stride along side the professor. The red headed woman standing beside the professor caught his interest. He hadn't scene her before, and she certainly seemed like a newer addition to the mansion. Rogue's wonder doctor perhaps?
"Enchante," Gambit said, nodding his head towards the woman in a bowing motion.
"No need, Cajun," the woman responded. She kept her eyes on the hallway in front of them, not bothering to shift her gaze. "You're as charming as your father."
"Hahn," muttered Gambit. "A friend of N'Awlins then?"
"Hardly," snorted the fine Scottish lady. "You'll find that my technology is highly sought after. By those paying for it and by those that aren't."
"Ah," Gambit managed to reply. Wolverine snorted from behind them, making Gambit worry about the safety of his spine. If it wasn't for the lovely and enchanting southern belle waiting for him, Gambit would certainly not stay any longer in this snake den of sorts.
"No need to worry, Mr. LeBeau," said the Professor as they all loaded into a spacious elevator hidden in the wood of the wall. "We'll be there in a moment."
"Dieu, Merci."
X-_X-_X
"Young lady," Moira said unkindly. "This is a piece of technology that is almost alien to this planet. This is your responsibility and your honor now."
The red headed doctor was holding up a delicate looking circlet. It was about an inch thick and seemed very malleable and flexible. Rogue looked at it and realized that in reality she didn't feel anything towards it. The day was going by as it usually did and this foreign object didn't instill anything special in her. She only felt nervous; there was no miraculous surge of power or energy.
"This will require all the dedication you can muster and all the hard work you can perform."
"Ah got it," said Rogue somewhat tersely. She had been sitting through the same mock lecture the last quarter of an hour. It was time to do what she had committed herself to doing. It was time that she learn to do what she could never do.
It was an honest, pleasant surprise to see Gambit descend with the professor and the Scottish doctor. She hadn't thought he would pick up on her somewhat subtle (and in her opinion: pitiful) plea for comfort. He was a rogue, as she rogue it was a strength and a calm to have him besides her.
There wasn't really a crowd of other people present. The Professor was smiling softly from across the room, his wheelchair molded into an observationally resplendent corner. Beast was monitoring Rogue's heartbeat and brain function (something she thought was wholly unnecessary). Remy was besides her, and she was upon the cold steel of the flat center table.
Kurt had intended to stay with her in the beginning however several factors led to his some what skittish exit. Moira had immediately taken a shining to his fur (as she had to Beast) and had suggested that he likewise take part in the experiment as well. Unkeen on the idea he had looked to Rogue for solace but had however been unable to not feel awkward around the Cajun.
He left with sweat on his brow; Rogue had to stifle a laugh. It was the only enjoyment since she's entered the medical lab. Kitty had attempted to cajole Rogue into letting her remain in attendance but her flighty and flaky movements had a more nauseating effect on Rogue than a calming one.
"I am, unfortunately, unable to remain stateside for any preliminary findings we have, child," Moira said she had slipped on gloves and was holding the construct with a more delicate hand. "However Dr. McCoy assures me that he will be able to keep me updated as to your progress and the constructs."
Rogue let out a breath (the professor letting a small grin appear) she had been concerned that she'd be subject to McTaggert's prodding and poking. She was relieved that Beast would be the one that would be there to help with it from the medical point of things.
Gambit looked strangely serious as he watched the female doctor in front of him and the device that she was holding. His aunt Mattie had never taught the children in her care to rely on many contemporary medicines and experimentation hadn't lent a kind hand to his feelings either. He would watch it's use on Rogue closely.
Rogue looked over at him slowly, as if sensing his thoughts. She was more intent on getting some sort of feeling from his expression than his thoughts. She was ready for this doing to be done.
"O.K." Rogue said, she waved a hand through the air. "Let's get this show on the road, Ah wanna' leave with my youth."
Beast chuckled and Moira's expression didn't change.
"Of course, Rogue," the Professor chimed. "We of course don't want to take up anymore time than required."
Rogue looked at him as if expecting his statement to be some seedling of sarcasm but the polite smile on his face didn't give any indication of such. "Thanks," she said, somewhat grudgingly.
"Ankle or wrist," Moira inquired.
"What?" asked Rogue, somewhat caught of guard.
"Do you want the construct on your wrist or on your ankle," she said again. "It is not that hard of a choice."
Rogue ignored the snobbish tone and responded "Ankle."
Moira reached forward and grabbed Rogue calf before Rogue could offer it to her. She pushed Rogue's pant leg up and grabbed her bare flesh.
"Hm," Rogue started to speak and stopped. The doctor did have gloves on. Rogue took a couple breaths to convince herself that it didn't matter.
Gambit eyed her.
"So," he said almost coyly. "That's got to go right on th' skin no?"
Moira looked up at him. "Of course."
She bent back down to being wrapping the flexible band around Rogue's leg. "Of course it does to have the full effect."
Rogue nodded.
"Hmm, I expect it does probably make you feel uncomfortable, child," she continued on.
Rogue looked up with a bit of surprise. It almost sounded like an apology. Gambit eyed her and grinned. Rogue smiled back.
"Done."
"What?" asked three voices at once. Beast, Rogue, and Gambit were all surprised at the speed of implementation.
"It's a simple procedure," replied Moira as if she were speaking to plebeians. She stripped her gloves off.
Gambit let out a sharp bark of laughter.
"More preparation that needed," mused Beast, he looked at his monitors doubtfully. There was no visible change in Rogue's stats. "How do you feel Rogue?"
Everyone in the room turned to look at Rogue, though Remy looked on with a vaguely concerned expression on his face. Rogue was looking around and down at herself with an anxious look.
"Professor?" she asked, her normally sassy voice subdued and worries. "I don't feel any different, I don't think it's working!"
Gambit stepped closer to her, the mild alarm and panic in Rogue's voice edging him on. What did she mean it wasn't working?
"There's no need to be concerned, Rogue," replied the Professor, he too had come forward in a speedily manner. "It's not a cure, it's an aid. It will respond as you respond."
"When you attempt to subdue your powers, The X-GAN with attempt to subdue your powers," added Dr. McTaggert. "The X-Gene does not need to be cured; I would not develop a cure for it."
"Thank you," said Rogue.
Gambit reached forward and wrapped his arm around her, interjecting a snappy comment.
Rogue laughed heavily and hopped off the table with grace, her pant leg obscuring the X-GAN.
"Time to get going, swamp rat?" she half asked, dragging on his trenchcoat.
"Lead the way, Mi'lady," Gambit quipped. He saluted Dr. McTaggert cockily and Rogue nodded to the professor.
She turned. "Thanks Doc," she said to Moira. "I mean it."
Moira let out a soft smile. "Tea, Charles?"
"Why yes," Charles replied. Heading towards the elevator behind Rogue and Gambit. "Would you like to join us Hank?"
"In half a moment, Professor," replied Dr. McCoy. He switched monitors off that had started beeping with Rogue's departure and typing on others.
The professor smiled.
"Rogue," he said. "This starts your future."
Rogue said nothing, she couldn't. Her throat was constricting and she was smiling from ear to ear.
X-_X-_X
It was much later on into the afternoon when Gambit made an important decision and an important stop on his departure of the mansion. He didn't need to use sensory perception to know that the Professor was alone, and the Professor didn't need telepathy to know what Gambit wanted to talk about.
"You really are a Gambit, Mr. LeBeau," said the Professor.
"I've made an important decision," replied Remy. He was standing straight, and slouch of his gone.
"What do you need from me, Remy?" asked the Professor.
Remy didn't note the casual use of his first name, but he did make it a point to look the Professor straight in the eye. "Remy need yur' solace."
"Just my solace?" asked the Professor.
"Non," replied Remy. "I should be sayin' this ol' swap rat here needs y' to do something much more. Remy's gonna join the X-Men."
The Professor wasn't startled.
"Gambit don't have no contracts anymore," Gambit went on. "Not wit' Magneto, not wit' no one. Gambit is free to do as he damn well please."
"The team will have a hard time accepting you," said the Professor.
"Gambit don't care," came the immediate response. "Rogue is gonna' need me, she's going to need "I" and a lot more besides."
"I was hoping you were going to say what was on your mind," replied the Professor.
Gambit remained silent. It was an easy question of his. Was the Professor going to let him into the sacred circle of his? Or were a life full of misdeads going to keep him out?
"Gambit, Remy LeBeau," began the Professor. "This institution will never turn away a mutant in need of shelter, or a mutant who strives to do what is right. I only have one response to you: Welcome to the X-Men."
Gambit slouched with relief and turned to the door. His trench coat flared out behind him. "Remy'll be back," was his parting line. He threw a hand over his head, and the Queen of Hearts floated over to the Professors desk. "Remy'll be back soon."
The Professor smiled as the door to his office closed.
"Excellent hand Gambit."
X-_X-_X
It's been awhile my friends, I apologize.
This story has a plot, and I have finally discovered that plot. Thank you for your reads and reviews, the next chapter will not be so long in coming.