Author Note: Chapter 5 cause I'm procrastinating on homework.
Disclaimer: Don't know there is these rumors around saying I own X-men. Seriously I don't, promise.
Rogue scanned the empty room. The seats were faced inward in a circle. A podium stood in front of the classroom. She sighed; yep she got the right room. After the events of yesterday she was really considering not doing the debate team. She didn't know who she would punch next. Rogue leaned against the dorm frame and rubbed her temples. Maybe she should leave for the safety of the team? When she turned around to leave the room she bumped into something solid and warm.
"Woah there!"
Rogue rubbed her nose and looked up. In front of her was a man holding a box. The man lowered it slightly to reveal his face. Rogue held in her tongue, it was Prof. Todd. Now she really couldn't leave.
"Where are you going?" Prof. Todd said putting the box on the back of the podium. "You aren't running away are you?"
Rogue sighed and crossed her arms. "Yeah, Ah came ta say Ah still don't think it is a good idea."
"Are you having cold feet? Now, I thought you were much tougher than that…"
Rogue clicked her tongue "Pssh, trust me it's for their safety. Ah punched someone just the other day due to a…disagreement…"
Prof. Todd sat on one of the chairs leaning back. He crossed one leg over and stared at Rogue. She had her makeup layered thick again. She had black ripped pants and a purple shirt tied in front. He tilted his head in wonder if the Goth look was a phase, coping mechanism, or a lifestyle. He smiled to himself thinking it probably all of the above. He stared at her hands that were under her arms. Interesting, did she always wear gloves?
"Well…I don't allow punching the opponent but I'm pretty sure debating and snippy remarks can release some anger that normally is bottled up." Prof. Todd smiled and did a hearty laugh "Think of it as anger management of sorts…"
Rogue sighed, she didn't know if this Professor was stupid or didn't care about the wellbeing of his students. Rogue walked over and pulled up a seat. Once she sat down she huffed. If it wasn't for her 'small steps to living life' policy she would have giving her Professor an eye roll and a good look of her back as she walked out. Though due to this policy which Kitty alternatively named 'Road to being less emo' and Bobby's alternative name of "Road to Bad-ass-a-tude", names which she both hated she was stuck to at least try out the debate team.
People slowly rolled in. Some of the faces she recognized as people in her classes, while others were new faces, maybe upper class men. One woman was short, just slightly higher than the podium. She had long black hair and piercing hazel eyes. Rogue couldn't help but think of her as a fragile doll. The fragile doll made of china that you placed on mid shelf afraid that top shelf will cause it to fall. The woman brought an air of importance around her. She slowly walked up to the podium and stepped on the box. So that's why he brought da box…Rogue thought.
"Now shut up and listen up maggots…" The woman started
And like the doll image was shattered.
"I'm Linda your slave dri-, I mean President." She gave a sweet smile "This is the debate team that we just started last spring semester. Here we will debate issues involving the current political and social issues of the world. The issue can range from sex, race, war and even the best brand of cereal." She frowned "Johnny!"
A red head boy stiffened. He turned to gaze at the small female.
"I said pipe down unless you want this podium as a new bumper sticker on your ass…." She gave a small grunt before returning her attention to her audience " So, we start with introductions. First our advisor, Professor Todd"
Professor Todd stood up and the room turned to him. He cleared his throat. "Most of you know me but I see three new faces in the room. " He gave a quick glance to Rogue " I'm the Law and Society Professor, and teach other courses that most of you slept in " He looks at the red head boy. " I got my bachelors in Cornell and got my law degree in Stanford University. I worked as a lawyer in New York City before deciding to teach. Been teaching here for two years now "He shrugged "I don't know why but I thought I was better suiting teaching people how to argue instead of arguing myself." He sighed. "Now due to the arguing skills of Ms. Rodriguez I got coaxed into being the advisor….now I'm stuck babysitting. Try not to make my life too hard ok? " He gave a dazzling toothy smile before sitting back down.
"Todd is sort of a genius and graduated early in law school and undergrad. Guess his age" Linda spoke.
"25!"
"37!"
"10!"
"Nowhere below 70!"
Prof. Todd gave the red head boy a glare who snickered in return.
Linda rolled her eyes. "He is twenty eight. The other officers please stand up…" She moved her hand to signal them to stand.
Three people stood up in the room out of seven people. One of them was a red headed boy who was causing mischief through-out the meeting.
"The annoying soulless ginger is John, due to running un-against he sadly became Vice President. The black hair guy with bad skin is the treasurer Tim and the blonde amazon woman is the secretary Diana."
John spoke up "Don't we get to introduce ourselves" He raised his hand for effect.
Linda narrowed her eyes "No, cause you are side characters and are lucky I even mentioned your name John…"
John slumped down on to chair. Punching bag was the first impression Rogue got from the ginger. He was definitely the punching bag for the brunette.
"Ok, so today as our first meeting we are going to give you guys a topic. It's a small topic which will allow you to get a feel on how to make a good argument." Linda stepped down from her box and grabbed bunch of stripes of paper from her backpack. She slowly handed everyone a piece of paper and gave a long look when Rogue grabbed hers.
"Everyone open up their topics…" The brunette instructed
Rogue sighed and opened the piece of paper. Inside there was two words 'Romance-Defend'. Rogue looked at the word confused, what kind of topic is romance? She looked at the brunette whose eyes seemed to be focused on the imaginary lint of her sweater. Luckily John spoke up.
"What the hell Linda are these topics?"
Linda finally removing the lint looked at John. She gave him a look one part pity the other part frustration. The one the farmer gave old yellow before he shot him in the back of the head. Linda sighed and decided to answer John's question.
"You will be defending or against a certain genre of book. You have to explain why the genre is the worst, or the best. Romance, supernatural, adventure, and fantasy. You can use books as examples. Yeah, I know how hard it would be for you John since you don't read but there always audio tapes." Linda shrugged "Next Wednesday we will start the debate. We will only keep them thirty minutes long, two per session. There is an evaluation afterwards…" Linda took the last paper and put it in her pocket. "Okay now, you are dismissed. Run along, I want to go home…" Linda said picking up her backpack and heading out the door.
Rogue walked to her chair while people slowly fizzled out of the room. She pouted; she had to defend romance books. Rogue never once picked up a romance novel. Maybe she had a little romance here and there in her books, but it was never the main focus. How can she torture herself with something she could never have? She sighed, she guessed she had to steal a book from Kitty.
When she placed her backpack on she felt a small tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see her Prof. Todd staring down at her. She took one step back wondering why her cheeks felt hot.
"So how do you like it so far?" Prof. Todd asked
"Well, the president is" Rogue tried to think a nice way to say it. "interesting"
Prof. Todd smiled "She is a little firecracker that one…." Prof. Todd sighed "Hope she didn't scare you…"
Rogue smirked "Ah have friends that have fouler mouths than her…" She shrugged instantly thinking about Logan. "Though Ah did find something interesting…"
Prof. Todd placed his trench coat on and rolled its sleeves up. Rogue watched him carefully. Now with the trench coat on, he sort of reminded her of someone. She didn't know who but, she knew if she edged off a couple of years from the 's face the image would be complete.
"Ah figured out ya age. Don't know why it mattered but…Ah didn't think you would be-"
"So old, I always thought I looked a little young for my age, as well as devishly handsome…" Prof. Todd smirked.
Rogue held her tongue and decided to say the exact opposite of what she was thinking. "So young… I thought ya be at least forty years old…"
Prof. Todd feigned injury and put his hand over his chest. "You wound me Ms. Alder. I like to think I don't look a day over twenty five." He grabbed his backpack and looked at Rogue. "Would you like a ride back to your house?"
Rogue raised an eyebrow. Wasn't it a little odd for a teacher to drive their student back home? Then again Logan was her teacher back at the institute and he always gave her a ride there and back places. As much as she wanted to say no, she knew it was in her best interest to say yes. She needed to start learning how to trust people. She could at least learn to trust her Professor.
"Yeah…it's about twenty minutes from here…." Rogue said getting her book bag and walking out the door.
's car was an old Toyota, something around the late 90's. The car looked in good condition from the outside but it sort of squeaked and whistled at odd times. Rogue held on to her seatbelt for good measure, almost out of habit from Kitty's driving. The ride was in complete silence for the last ten minutes, the atmosphere a little too awkward for Rogue's taste.
"Sooo…." Prof. Todd looked around the big fields and large mansions "I didn't know you were well off…"
Rogue shook her head still staring out the window "Ah'm not….The Professor….Ah mean my guardian takes care of many of children that don't have a home or….need a little help. He is the one that is rich. We are just lucky he helps" Rogue hoped by calling out her guardian The Professor, Prof. Todd didn't connect the dots. "Turn right here…"
"Well he sounds like a good man…so are you…" Prof. Todd tried to choose his words carefully "in a place where children go when their parents don't come back?"
Rogue turned and looked at Prof. Todd. He gave her a quick look at the corner of his eyes before looking at the road again. Rogue scowled at his word choice. "Ya mean orphanage? Nah, it's more of a boarding house…yeah boarding house. Most of the people have parents. Pull up on this corner…."
Prof. Todd pulled up at the biggest mansion on the road. His eyes scanned the area. The mansion had to be the biggest one in the area. Saying that her guardian was rich was an understatement. He had to have more money than Bruce Wayne, especially if he provided education to all the children under his care. This guy gave Batman a run for his money.
Rogue got out of the car and put on her backpack. She closed the door of the car and heard another door close right after. Prof. Todd got out of the car and rested his arms and chin on the hood of the car staring at Rogue.
"So, he is guardian huh? You sure it ain't more…."
Rogue clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. "Prof. Todd ya should not worry about the state of your students. The Professor is just a sweet old man that helps us all…who are a little different…" Rogue said slightly above a whisper.
Prof. Todd eyes flicked back on Rogue's hand that was covered with black leather gloves. A large mansion, more money than Batman and helped children who were in dire need of help. He didn't know if this man was a Saint or…
"You mean Professor X?"
Rogue clutched her strap of her backpack harder. She knew him driving her home was a bad idea. Now he knew, the big bad secret. She was a mutant and now word will get out. It would be Bayville High school all over again. Everyone will know and everyone would judge.
"This conversation over… ya can go home and crash your crappy car…" Rogue clicked her heels and walked towards the mansion doors.
Prof. Todd panicked and ran ahead of her. He jogged backwards while Rogue stomped towards the door. The woman was faster than he anticipated. "Ms. Adler I think there has been some-"
"Yeah, miscommunication huh? What ya gonna do tell da board that Ah'm a freak, get me ridiculed and thrown out?"
Prof. Todd raised an eyebrow noticing her accent getting thicker. "Why would I do that?"
"Cause ever'one does when they know!" Rogue stopped and looked up at him scowling "Why wouldn't ya.."
"Ms. Adler's I am appalled that you think that you being a mutant will make me think any less of you. You are still my students and I treat all my students the same, no matter what gender, ethnicity or ability"
Rogue scoffed and continued walking. "Ya right, why don't you just shove it…"
Prof. Todd groaned and ran after Rogue. "Ms. Adler, Adler!" Rogue wouldn't stop. "Rogue!"
Rogue stopped feelings weird being called by her name. The name she register classes on not wanting to use her real name. It was also her code name and hearing it here at the institute from her Laws and Society Professor felt odd. Rogue turned around and stared at her Professor.
"Look, from an academic stand point I cannot ridicule you just cause of your abilities. No matter what mutants laws are in debate." Prof. Todd caught his breath "On a personally stand point, I have nothing against mutants. Honestly I just find you more interesting knowing the fact…"
Rogue chewed on her lips. Prof. Todd voice sounded sincere. There was panic edge in frustration in his voice. Rogue sighed, knowing she couldn't help herself. The memories of high school flashed in her eyes. How everyone turned against her, against everyone in the institute. Everyone lost friends and even lovers just cause they were different. There was too much pain remembering does days that she jumped the gun. Maybe Prof. Todd was different then her principal back then.
"Fine, just fine…" Rogue sighed "Ah will trust ya, but promise me something…" She gave him a deep set glare "You tell anyone about me being a mutant and I'll send one our telepaths to make ya think you're a pretty pink princess in a tutu living in New York City."
Prof. Todd smiled "You know I think you should have a little more respect for your Professors. But deal, I won't speak a word."
"Good…" Rogue turned back around to open the Mansion's door.
Prof. Todd looked back at Rogue's glove. The woman was sassy, tough and probably had more secrets than the chamber. She was interesting, a very dangerous type of interesting. He wondered what her powers were.
"I'll see you tomorrow right?" Prof. Todd spoke before Rogue entered the door.
Rogue turned around "Yeah... Prof. Todd, Ah won't miss class…"
"Call me Todd…." Todd smiled.
Author note: I'm I being thirsty if I ask to follow the story? Maybe a tad bit. Please follow and review all that jazz. I am still looking for guesses on who is in Rogue's head that shattered her mental barriers. I have the next chapter writing already. I know i put Gambit as one of the characters but he won't be showing up until later chapters. He probably doing some other important plot things. He does become important plot point in the next chapter. Dun dun dun.
So how does everyone like Prof. Todd? Leave comments, questions and concerns in the review section. Thanks everyone for reviewing?