Author Note: I am sorry I am such a piece of trash! I have not forgotten about this story. I was just in California and my only copy was back in my home computer! I cried for two days how I wasn't able to update cause my whole idea and plot point was in this chapter. Please forgive me
"Rogue, I have invited Hank here so we can have a baseline on your powers."
Rogue folded her hands over her chest, clearly not amused. It had been only two sessions with The Professor and Rogue was already having her doubts. Now he wanted to bring Hank into this? Rogue could almost laugh out loud, how messed up was she? She looked at the blue fuzzy man to her right. She didn't know how Hank got pulled into this, other than his scientific curiosity. Rogue snorted, what was so fun about getting the life sucked out of you? Scientific curiosity could kill the cat.
"The Professor has told me some" Hank gave a big toothy grin. "Interesting development of your powers."
Rogue rolled her eyes "Let me guess, it came with the story that of what Ah did to pretty little Jean."
Hank gave a quick glance to the Professor. "Well, yes, but this is not what we are here to discuss. That is Logan's department." Hank folded his big beasty hands. "I'm not a punisher, I am pacifist by nature. We are here to assess your powers."
Rogue looked at the Professor "Assess? Professor Ah thought we were trying to give me control."
"Yes Rogue, but we must first assess your powers. You told me with what happened with Scott, you didn't feel the normal pull that manifest with your powers. There was also the issue with Jean, in which her powers did not return until hours later."
Rogue eyes flickered between the two men. For some reason she felt cornered. All her wrong doing were put on the table, for her to defend. She knew the Professor was not saying them to offend her but she couldn't help but wince at hearing what her powers had done. Both cases she had hurt her team mate.
"Ah told you Professor, my powers just-"
Hank pointed a blue finger to interrupt. "Rogue if I may intrude. Your powers have always shown two consistencies. One, there is this undeniable sensation of someone's mutation entering your body." Hank pulled out a file.
Rogue frowned, she had a file? It looked like an encyclopedia.
"Ah, here it is. People say it is a cold sensation, tiny little needles running through their body."
Rogue looked at the Professor. She knew what she felt when she touched someone. It was a million thoughts rushing through her. As though a dam broke and was drowning everything that she consider 'Rogue'. Her memories, thoughts, feelings, and personality. She had to swim to the surface just to remember her name.
However, Rogue never knew how other people felt. It sounded, awful.
It made her feel awful.
"Two, the other party always loses consciousness. " Hank explained.
Rogue sighed "Maybe, my powers lost their potency."
Hank and Professor gave a quick look at each other.
Hank rubbed his chin. "It is a possibility, however not unless a series of severe events occur for the powers to be exhausted. We rather make sure what exactly is happening."
Rogue scoffed "What do you want me to do doc?"
Before Hank could open his mouth to make a suggestion, a yellow puff of smoke filled the room. The smell of brimstone, and sulfur. Rogue coughed and rubbed her eyes. Once she opened her eyes she stared at a pair of yellow eyes. She did what any logical woman would do at that situation.
Rogue kicked the intruder as hard as she could.
"Evah heard of personal space!" Rogue yelled kicking in front of her.
Another puff of smoke and before she knew it, something blue and fuzzy was hanging from the chandelier.
" Ah, schwester!" The blue fuzz ball beamed his tail wrapped around one of the loops of the chandelier.
"Kurt, please get down from there" The Professor sighed.
"Ja, sorry" Kurt jumped and stood next to Rogue.
"Kurt why are you here?" Rogue blinked. Wasn't Kurt in Europe or something?
"I'm the guinea pig of course." Kurt smiled pointing to himself." I vill do anything for my schwester."
Hank sighed "Kurt has volunteer to take get a baseline of your powers."
Rogue frowned "Ya want me to absorb Kurt?"
"Rogue, Kurt has offered his services. He has expressed concern over your current situation." The Professor assured her.
Rogue looked at Kurt and frowned. What the hell did it matter to him? They were not related by blood in any way. The crazy blue woman was not her real mother. Heck, Rogue didn't even remember who her real mother was. It seemed Irene was always there. Mystique? Well, that woman only showed her existence when it was convenient for her.
That was all Rogue was to that woman, convenience.
Though, Mystique never put her in an orphanage.
Rogue sighed, Kurt was just trying to act like they were a family. A real family, not this dysfunctional mess of connections they called a family.
"Kurt ya really want to do this?" Rogue looked at her big fuzzy blue brother. Kurt contagious cheery smile beamed at Rogue, his yellow eyes glistening.
Kurt tail flicked wildly "Ja, I vant to help. That's vant family is for, keine?"
Rogue sighed, she didn't know if Kurt was stupid or really doing this for her. She was sure it was a little of both.
Rogue shook her head in defeat. "Fine, what ya want me to do?"
Hank rose from his seat and instructed Kurt to sit down. "We will ask for you to give a light tap on Kurt's hand. Just see how it affects him."
Rogue watched as her so called brother sat on the chair. He was just his normal self, his mutant self. Kurt wasn't wearing his image inducer, becoming more comfortable with his elf image over the years. Rogue didn't know how he did it.
The world had chewed and spat out Kurt, and squeezed lemon straight into his eyes. His mother abandoned him. He was raised by monks. His village hated him, saying he was nothing but a demon. However he held strong to himself, and his faith.
He didn't even bat an eyelash when he heard what Mystique had did. Kurt forgave the terrorist, hoping that one day they can become a true family: mother, brother and sister. However, Rogue literally smashed those dreams when she threw Mystique off that cliff. Even then, Kurt found it in his heart to forgive her. Rogue didn't see what other saw.
Kurt was no demon.
Kurt was a saint.
Kurt reached over and squeezed Rogue's shoulder. It was a tender, soft feeling. All the comfort and reassurance of the world wrapped on the bristled blue fingers. Rogue exhaled, her worries diminished. How did he do that? Make her feel so calm, relaxed, as though everything was going to be okay with just a single caring gesture? Rogue stared at her brother.
"Schwester, do not vorry. Gott has a plan for all of us."
Rogue sighed. There it was, that unwavering faith. She wondered if that what kept him so strong. "Okay." Rogue nodded.
Kurt placed his hand in front of Rogue. Rogue looked at the distinctively blue digits. It was now or never. Rogue removed her glove and gave one feather light tap on Kurt's palm. What she felt, was the tattletale pull. It was just a second, a small light brush. But somehow, what she got was so much more.
Rogue felt it, all the feelings Kurt harbored. The pain, hatred for one self. The feeling of looking at a mirror only to see a demon, a sin. Rogue inhaled, holding back her tears. Is this what Kurt thought of himself? An omen, the embodiment of fear, lust and hatred. A human symbol of damnation.
Rogue gasped.
No, there was more. Rogue grabbed her head. Under all the hate, the self-loathing there was love, so much love. Love for another, love for one's team, love for one's family, and love for anyone who crossed his path. With that Kurt found the strength to love himself. Because Kurt felt he was surrounded by so much compassion, that he needed to share it with everyone. That he needed to share it with Rogue.
Then, when Rogue opened her eyes what she saw was not Professor's office, but the foyer. Rogue panicked, feeling dazed and confused. She opened her mouth and she felt it.
Bamf.
Then she was in the Mansion's garden.
Bamf
Mansion's attic.
Bamf
Scott's old room.
Rogue panicked, she couldn't control Kurt's power. She had always been able to control whoever's power she borrowed. Searching through their memories to find what triggered it. But somehow, she couldn't find the switch. She searched through the crevices of her mind, as she bamfed from room to room. But nothing, all her voices remained quiet.
Rogue closed her eyes as she was bamfed to another location. She felt a cool breeze and she opened her eyes. She was falling, falling straight to the mansion's roof. Rogue closed her eyes again, hoping she would just teleport somewhere else.
But she didn't feel Kurt's powers activate.
The breeze dissipated and Rogue felt a slight tingly sensation on the outskirts of her skin. Rogue opened her eyes. Rogue gasped; she was phasing, phasing straight through the mansion's floors. How did she activate Kitty's powers?
Once Rogue saw the foyer again she felt the familiar feeling of panic. If she phased now, she could easily phase through the center of the earth. Rogue looked around. Someone, anyone had to help her. Rogue screamed, hoping they were answered. She couldn't die like this.
Not when she had so much to do.
Rogue turned around quickly and saw a metal desk not too far away. She didn't know if it would work. She didn't know how she did it, but she raised her bare hand, aiming at the metal desk. Rogue flicked her wrist and desk came flying towards her. Before she knew it, it slammed against her pinning her to a wall.
Rogue coughed. It wasn't the best idea, maybe not her shining moment, but it stopped her from phasing. She pushed the desk away, only to slump against the wall. Rogue coughed again her stomach probably bruised and battered from the impact. She stood up and using the metal desk as a pillar.
Rogue took a moment to catch her breath. What the hell is happening? Rogue thought. This is not what she suspected. She suspected a rush of memories, maybe a passed out brother but not this. The hushed silence in her mind, and the tingle in her fingertips. What was this power?
Rogue felt her fingers warm as she pressed her bare hand against the metal table. She looked at her and, a magenta glow illuminated its outer edges as the desk glowed the familiar hue.
"Damn." Rogue jumped out of the way only to hear the familiar noise.
BOOOM.
Even when the Cajun wasn't here. He still caused mischief.
The whole mansion seem to stir, as the all ran down to the foyer. Kitty pushed through the crowd that gathered and looked at the middle of the room. There was Rogue hunched over shaking in fear.
"Oh my God Rogue!" Kitty ran to her friend.
"Kitty no!" Rogue screamed, raising her hands up. "Don't get closer. I can't control it…"
Bobby ran after Kitty and looked at Rogue. The look on Rogue's face Bobby can only describe as vulnerable. As far as Bobby can recall, Rogue was never this vulnerable. What had happened? Bobby tried to run over to Rogue only to be held by Kitty. He looked at his tiny friend.
"Bobby, something is wrong with Rogue." Kitty shook her head.
The Professor rolled in, followed by Hank holding a very limp looking Nightcrawler. The Professor scanned the scene. Out of all the scenarios that he could have happened he didn't think this would happen. A scorch mark was in the middle of the room while Rogue shook in fear. Rogue had activated multiple powers, from just absorbing Kurt's.
It didn't add up. It didn't make sense.
Rogue shivered, feeling her skin tingle as power seem to slowly dissipate. But for how long? She didn't know who she would mimic next. It may be the Blob, Quicksilver, or even Avalanche. She was always able to manipulate more than one power at once. However she could never use them after the power dissipated out of her system. What was happening to her?
Rogue looked at the Professor and Hank. She froze seen a limp blue body in Hank's arms.
"Kurt!" Rogue screamed. "No he isn't…no!" Rogue reached forward, only to see the rest of the mansion flinch in fear.
The Professor shook his head. "Rogue, he is just asleep. I assure you. He should be fine in a couple of hours."
Rogue shook violently trying to hold the tears at bay. If she killed Kurt, the last bit of family she had left. Rogue didn't know what she would do. Irene was nowhere to be found. Mystique-
She killed Mystique.
"Professor, lock me up. Do something, Ah don't know what Ah will do next…" Rogue shook her head. "Help… me." Rogue said with one shaky breathe.
The Professor touched his temple. He scanned Rogue's mind. He looked for a culprit, someone that may have tampered with Rogue's powers. What The Professor got instead was silence. What normally took extreme effort to enter Rogue's mind, was a simple task. Everyone that once occupied her head, seemed to just up and vanish.
The Professor sighed "Rogue, I believe you no longer manifest powers. But maybe it is best-"
Kitty walked over to the Professor. "Professor, isolating Rogue in the medical Bay may not be the best option. Rogue is…needs people around her to support her." Kitty eyes scanned to the limp Nightcrawler.
"Kitty, Rogue's powers have been haywire since what happened to Scott. She needs medical attention." Hank spoke up.
Kitty shook her head "No, Rogue needs emotional attention. She doesn't need tubes or medicine. She needs-"Kitty bit her lip as her eyes turned to her best friend who was hunched over scared. "Therapy, something to make her feel normal. Putting her in that medical bay would only make her feel like a test subject."
Hank spoke up "Kitty I think it is best to let The Professor and I-"
The Professor sighed which silenced The Beast. "Maybe you are right Kitty"
Kitty smiled "We can both agree Rogue is a complicated case. Her powers come from her skin right?"
The Professor gave a good look at Hank then back at Kitty. "Yes"
"But, what allows her to activate them is the personality." Kitty pointed out. "Maybe it is better to approach it in another direction."
Hank and the Professor stared at each other. Hank silently gawked while the two men had an internal conversation. The idea never occurred to them, but the little X-man was right. Maybe approaching the psychological aspects of her powers, not the physical aspects might just work. The idea was almost ingenious.
The Professor looked at Kitty "What would you like us to do then Kitty?"
Kitty sighed. "Powers stopped activating right?"
The Professor nodded taking the hint. "Yes, Kitty please take Rogue to her room. We will continue the case during another time."
Kitty smiled, "Thanks Professor, I promise you will not regret it." The pint-size jumped.
The crowd opened to allow Bobby to reach Rogue. Bobby pulled Rogue up draping her arms around his shoulder. He can feel her weight crumble against him in exhaustion. Was Rogue ever this tired when she used her powers? Bobby thought.
Rogue sighed, feeling defeated. For the first time in a very long time she was happy that Kitty budded in. Another day in the infirmary was not on her top things to do. Somehow the place felt cold, unkind and lonely. Rogue nuzzled in the small warmth Bobby's radiated.
"Ah been a mess huh?' Rogue said weakly as he supported her up the strairs.
"Of course not" Bobby assured her looking forward.
Rogue gave a small laugh. "Lies, but good lies."
She looked at Bobby, how many times were they in this situation before? Bobby running to her rescue.
"Bobby…thank you." Rogue mumbled.
"Shush, we just need to get you to bed" Bobby pulled one icy finger to remove Rogue's hair from her face.
Rogue sighed the cooling sensation eliminating some of her worries. "You are a great friend…"
Bobby smiled, the smile not truly reaching his eyes. "No problem."
Rogue stared up at Bobby. "Bobby?"
"Yes, Rogue?"
"Are you wearing eye liner?"
Bobby gave a slight blush and looked away. "You are seeing things, let's get you to your room."
Damn you Kitty.
Author Note: Just guess what Kitty's plan. Anyways I hope you enjoyed the chapter. After this one things are really going to start rolling. Please review, I want to know that people are still reading this!