Rogue sighed heavily from her spot flung over Logan's shoulder.
"Ya do realize how uncomfortable this is?" She asked him. "I can walk by myself."
"You fell," Logan grunted. "Walking rights revoked."
"I tripped!" She snarled. "That doesn't mean I'm too weak tah make it down tah tha cafeteria bah myself!"
"Yes it does." Logan shot back.
"No it doesn't!" She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Yes it does." He repeated.
"Ah hate yah." She growled.
"No you don't."
"Ah'm considerin' hatin' yah."
"No you aren't."
She growled deep in her throat with frustration.
"Good one," Logan smiled proudly. "Next time, try and let the growl rattle around more in your chest, that's what makes it intimidating."
"I'll keep that in mind." Rogue harrumphed.
"Glad to hear it, kiddo." Logan grinned as they- he- finally walked into the cafeteria. There were few people in the room, mostly older kids who had early classes and wanted to grab quick breakfast. They all seemed shocked when Logan came stomping in with Rogue hefted over his shoulder.
But, actually, if any of these students had been around a year ago, they would know that this wasn't such an odd occurrence with the Rogue. The logic behind that being 'If you can't make her do something good for herself, do it for her and force her to come along.' Piotr had been quick to adopt this mantra when dealing with Rogue as well, and the only thing stopping Warren was the wings.
She was just happy that Hank had told Remy to stay behind so that he could check him over again so that he couldn't see her.
Logan plopped her down at one of the empty tables, growled at her when she tried to get up, and told her "Wait here while I get you some food or so help me…" He trailed off and let her fill in one of the many patented Logan Threats as he walked away towards the food line. (which had only recently been completely repaired from a brush with a certain Cajun.)
As soon as he disappeared around the corner into the noisy line, it was like a flip had been switched in the cafeteria and everyone was silently staring at her.
"Hey, Poison Touch." One of the girls sneered as she walked closer to the table Rogue was sitting at. Rogue tried to shrink away from her. "Heard you flipped your shit again."
"I heard that she nearly killed Emma." Someone in the back piped up.
"I'm surprised they haven't booted you out, you freak." The girl in the front spoke again as she continued to advance on Rogue.
"Ah- Ah didn't-." Rogue started to say.
"You- You didn't what?" A boy joined in the girl's taunting. "Mean to suck people dry?"
He's right, Marie…. A whisper shot up in the back of her head.
"Shut up!" She screamed, clamping her hands over her ears.
"Uh-oh," Someone laughed. "Looks like she's gonna lose it again." They started closing in on her.
It was at that point they all became acutely aware of the sound of shuffling cards.
"Now I know y'all ain't messin' wit' Remy's chere." Remy drawled coolly from where he leant against the wall. "Are y'?" He held up the Ace of Spades as it began to glow.
"Uh N-no sir…" The girl in the front quickly backed off. No one was going to fight him after seeing what he had done to Bobby. "We were just leaving…"
"Glad t' hear it." His red on black eyes bore holes into them as he moved across the room to sit next to Rogue. "Y' alright chere?" He mumbled into her ear.
She nodded as she tucked herself into the fabric of his shirt.
"Just make them go away." She mumbled.
With one well placed glare, the children scattered.
"Why d' y' let dem pick on y' like that?" He asked, rubbing her shoulders.
"If I say anything they get worse. They think I want to do these things." She muttered. "It doesn't matter. They leave me alone if I stand still."
Another reason she ran away. Remy's conscience sighed. He circle his arms tighter around her. You aren't going to do this girl any good. His conscience continued. Cut your losses. Let her be here with her family. And the boy scout. Let her have the boy scout.
Remy sincerely considered this option.
Before he could say anything Betsy and Warren walked in, heatedly discussing something- probably Rogue. When they noticed Remy and Rogue staring at them they slathered on smiles that were so fake you couldn't sell them to a blind man.
"I feel like they're hiding something from me." Rogue kept watching them as they reentered their discussion while trying to maintain their smiles.
They are. His conscience spoke sadly. Tell her! Tell her!
"Maybe they're just concerned about you. Maybe lyin' is the only way t' keep y safe." He offered.
"Maybe they're starting to think I'm a freak." She shot back.
"No one could ever think y' were a freak." He assured her, nuzzling softly into her hair. She leaned into him.
"Would you lie to me? If you thought it was going to protect me, I mean." Rogue looked up at him.
His heart stopped dead in his chest.
Yes.
"Remy?" Another voice called for him from the front of the hall. "I want to talk with you." Storm said. God bless that woman.
"I'll seeya later, chere." Remy kissed the back of Rogue's gloved hand.
Rogue watched him practically sprint away from her.
I am sure he did not mean to avoid question. Pete said gently.
And you are not a freak, m'dear. She could almost feel Erik putting a comforting hand underneath her chin. You are a goddess among insects.
And hot. Really, really hot. John jumped at any opportunity to tell her that she was good looking.
I don't trust him.
"I don't trust him."
Rogue turned around with a start to see Logan towering over her.
"Why not?" She asked despite herself.
Logan placed plate of food in front of her and grunted as he sat exactly where Remy had just been.
"He smells like half-truths." He rumbled and then said nothing more on the subject.
Rogue looked down at the food in front of her, then up to Logan who refused to speak anymore, and then over to Warren and Betsy who had slipped out of their smiles sometime during the intensity of their debate, but immediately slapped on another set of equally fake ones when they noticed her watching.
"Ah'm not hungry." She growled and pushed away the food, standing up on her own.
"What's wrong?" Logan caught up with her.
"Y'all are keeping' somethin' from me. Ah ain't stupid." She whipped around to face him. "Ah'm going tah mah room, and until someone wants tah take the damn time to explain tah meh what the hell is goin' on, I ain't coming out 'til the sun goes down!" She snarled.
Behind her, the metal of the doorframe contorted almost imperceptibly.
"Maybe that's a good idea…" Logan allowed, trying not to stare at the doorframe. "You take some time to calm down, kid. Rest up."
Rogue looked like she was about to say something more, but just snorted with fury and stomped away.
She didn't seem to notice that she left a trail of ice foot prints behind her.
"I changed my mind…" Ororo mumbled as she walked with Remy.
Remy sighed heavily. "I thought you might."
"You shouldn't tell her."
"I ain't gonna tell her."
"It will hurt her."
"And cause 'er t' go crazy and blow everyone up, I caught that of the conversation, thank you." The was a minute amount of sass in his tone.
"I called in a favor." Storm continued, ignoring the sass. "Another telepath. She said that she could come down here and take a look inside of Rogue's head before the end of the week, but she didn't sound hopeful. She said the only real way Rogue can gain control is if she stands up to the people in her head and fights them off."
Remy thought about this for a moment.
"They're scary."
"How so?" Storm asked.
"All of their emotions are so intense," Remy shook his head, remembering the crashing waves of emotion that radiated from her. From them. "They have power over her." He grimaced.
"Lucky you were here." Ororo grinned at him. "Jubilee told me how you calmed her down. Again."
"It wasn't a big deal-." He started to say.
"You did hear the part where Betsy said the words 'blow us all to hell', right? Because, and it could just be me here, I feel like that's a very big deal." Storm smiled at him and pulled him into a half-hug. "You saved the day, Mr. Remy LeBeau."
Remy stiffened under her arm.
Saved the day.
That was an odd turn of events for him.
Maybe if you listened to me more… His conscience piped up.
Shut up… He thought grimly.
"Let's just hope nothing too drastic happens to drive her over the edge before we can make some sort of breakthrough." Ororo continued, unaware of his internal battle as she started to steer them back towards the mansion.
Riptide paced back and forth in one of his many hiding places as the phone in his hand broadcasted hallow rings.
"Riptide." The chill of the voice made him shiver as he picked up his phone.
"I need a location update." Riptide said bluntly.
"They've been assembled and are en route. One more day, as promised."
"Who am I working with?" Riptide wanted that day to finalize his plans.
"Vertigo, Harpoon, Blockbuster, and Arclight."
"Hmm…" Riptide mused. "All we need is Sabertooth and this could be a regular 'Welcome Back to Hell' party."
"The exact reason why I chose them." The voice seemed at ease to explain it's own genius. "There is more than one type of warfare. Physical- which shall be fronted by you in the actual assault. And Mental- making sure the first faces he sees are the same as the last one he saw before getting out."
"Genius." Riptide congratulated somewhat sarcastically, in a hurry to plan the glorious bloodbath that he was itching to be a part of.
"Riptide…" The voice called him back to reality.
"Yes?"
"If anything happens to Gambit or the girl, I'll take their worth out of your hide." The arctic edge of the voice and pointed click made Riptide shudder and realize he was holding a dead line.
*Jamie starts to hum 'One Day More' (From Les Miserable, because it's oddly appropriate).*
I only picked the Marauders I think are cool. Why? 1- I'm lazy. 2-I don't like dealing with all that complicated 'Who the flip is Malice and what the hell is she doing in Lorna's body?' stuff. So I kept it simple, with all of the cool kids. Am I screwing with this logical train of events that everyone already has set up in their mind? Hell yes. Will it make sense? Hopefully.
Just bare with me dearies! A few more chapters (Like, two) and this story blow the fudge muffins out of you minds!
AHAHAHA! I'm so excited!
Next Chapter- A sweet moment (To off set all of the crazy Ima 'bout to blow up!)