Chapter 1: Marie

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Life sucked.

Marie plucked handfuls of grass from the ground behind the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, and tossed them in a pile grumpily. She'd come back here for comfort, as this was the only home she had and the Professor didn't mind her hanging around. But she didn't belong here now. This was a school for mutants, and Marie was definitely not a mutant anymore.

Not that she fit in better anywhere else. Classes were over at Xavier's, so she could just sort of fade into the background and avoid the professors and the few students still around.

Thank god Bobby wasn't one of them. He'd graduated a few months ago. He and Kitty had a tidy little apartment in Boston, not too far from his parents, with whom he'd reconciled. They were creating a nice life for themselves. The jerks.

Marie's head popped up as the distant rumble of a motorcycle interrupted her thoughts. He was back.

She got to her feet and brushed off her jeans, hoping the tank top she was wearing didn't look too childish. Not that it mattered what she looked like. No one paid attention, least of all Logan. But she couldn't help fiddling with her hair and checking her reflection in the windows on her way back into the school.

Storm raced by her in the hallway, practically knocking her down.

"Sorry, Rogue," she called over her shoulder without stopping. It was the first time Storm had called her Rogue since her return to Xavier's. Storm was clearly distracted. Wondering what it could be, Marie hurried after her. She followed her to Professor Xavier's office, and before Storm shut the door Marie caught a glimpse of all the professors, and Logan, standing in a semi-circle before Xavier's desk. Logan must have brought important news.

Marie tip-toed up to the door and pressed an ear against the dark wood, knowing it was foolhardy. The Professor would probably sense her presence, and she'd be discovered. But he was a funny man, very trusting, and she had a feeling he wouldn't mind if she knew some of their secrets. She strained to hear the conversation.

"There was nothing left of them," Logan said in his low, familiar voice, and Marie could feel her hands tremble at the sound. She couldn't believe that he still affected her this strongly. "I mean, nothing. It was just like you said, Storm, just like last time. One minute the three of them were holding guns on the bank customers, the next—they just disintegrated."

"Were you able to speak personally to any of the witnesses?"

"Yeah I spoke to the bank manager. She was a mutant herself and had heard of the X-Men, so she didn't mind talking to me. She said it was like the robbers were run through a wood chipper right before her eyes, only the pieces were too small even to see." Marie held a hand over her mouth, revolted by the mental image.

"That makes three reported instances of people spontaneously disintegrating, in all cases criminals in the act of committing a crime. We have a mutant vigilante on our hands, my friends. One who is extremely powerful and has little regard for human life."

"And who is also invisible," Logan put in sourly.

"Indeed. Storm, I need you to reach out to our government contacts, and find out what they know. Wolverine, Nightcrawler, I want you to go underground. See if you can get a hint of any major criminal activities being planned. Something where people are in danger—a bank robbery, hijacking, something of that nature. This vigilante has a talent for scoping out these crimes; maybe we can catch him or her at the next one."

Marie heard their footsteps far too late. Nightcrawler never made a sound, of course, but Logan's heavy boot fell to the floor just a second before she saw the doorknob turn. She scrambled back and tried to look like she was just passing by, but failed utterly.

"Marie!" She froze in her tracks. "What do you think you're doing?" Logan growled. She slowly turned towards him, and looked up. His sideburns and beard were shorter; she noticed the change right away. He looked neater than usual. But when her eyes met his, all other thoughts fled. He was looking at her like there was nothing else in the universe that could distract him. He looked at everyone that way, but it always unnerved her.

Especially when those hazel eyes were filled with anger, like now.

"Oh, hey Logan," she said with a stupid, nervous laugh. "Welcome back?"

"Is there a reason you were listening at the door?" Marie noticed Nightcrawler had disappeared; he hated arguments of any kind.

"Is there a reason I shouldn't be?" she answered, putting a hand on her hip. Sometimes he was too much.

"I can name a dozen damn reasons—hey, what are you even doing here? You don't go to school here anymore."

"School's out, Logan," Marie rolled her eyes, trying to disguise her hurt feelings. "That's not why I'm here. And by the way, you don't have to sound so happy to see me. I just…. I didn't know where else to go." His face softened entirely at that, and Marie thought she might melt from the kindness in his eyes. That was a look that few besides her ever got to see.

"Well, this is as good a place as any. You staying out of trouble?" He started walking and Marie fell into step beside him. This was where she really belonged, she realized, and this was the reason she had returned here—to be by Logan's side again. She peeked up at his still-scruffy face and smiled.

"There isn't a whole lot of trouble to get into when you're not around."

"Yeah, well, that's why I don't want you listening at doors." Marie realized they were walking to the garage. He was already leaving, then. As they entered the enormous attached building, she spotted Nightcrawler perched on top of a sleek, blue two-seater.

"Logan, I'm not a child anymore. You can't block me out all the time."

"Yeah? Call me when you've graduated high school."

"Logan, stop." She grabbed his arm—his bare forearm, with her bare hand. She tried to ignore the thrill it gave her, and tugged sharply. "Would you take me seriously for just one second?"

"I don't know what you want from me," he said plainly, giving her his full attention again. Marie gulped and dropped her hand before speaking.

"I want to go with you. I want to help you."

"Even if you were older, you know I'd have to say no. Without any powers, you'd just get in the way, kid—Marie. I have a job to do; I can't be looking after you, too." He cupped her face in his hand, and Marie closed her eyes for a moment. "I'm sorry." Then he left, zooming away in his sports car with Nightcrawler on his right side, where she should have been.

Rogue had become Marie for Bobby, but he didn't want her. Rogue and Marie would have both died for Logan, but he didn't need either of them.

Somehow, somewhere, she would find the place where she belonged, and people she fit in with. And she wouldn't need her damn powers—if you could even call them that—to do so.