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Traitors: Chapter 7
The words echoed in Rogue's mind for a few moments, but what seemed like an eon. Did he just say that? Did he just really say that? He really wants that? He's even actually thought of that? Why…? It was something she wanted too. Something she wanted for later. But…maybe in some crazy, unknown way, this made sense. And the way he had said it. Let's get married. It wasn't a question. It was a statement, with enough space for hope and a sense of doubt. She just couldn't believe he was asking this. She had thought…or atleast it was her past impression that Pyro never really stuck to a relationship. Then again, weren't they an example that he really did?
She snapped back to the present, and looked at John. He had a look of stress on his face, as well as a look of anxiety and impatience. Then it looked as though he got it, then he just looked disappointed and weirdly enough, quite understanding.
"Rogue?" he asked. She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again, unable to think of anything. "Say something. Please."
"I…I don't know." He nodded, and backed away from the door. He turned and she rushed in front of him. "No, no, Johnny. I don't know. Is it a really good choice? For now. Think about it. Magneto's not going to leave us alone…and then there's the whole…Brotherhood law thing…"
He stopped her at that. "What? How do you know about that?" he asked her quickly.
She sighed. "Mystique came. She talked to me. She explained the whole thing." Rogue looked up at him. "I don't want you to get hurt."
He snorted. "Come on, Rogue. We all know that we'll be in and out of a few injuries every now and then." She didn't loosen up. "Erik's smart. He will realize that he's lost. He will realize that there's nothing he can do –"
"Except kill one of us," she interrupted.
"Well, if we break it off, then we'll end up losing each other. If we stay together, we again might end up losing each other. What's marriage gonna do?"
"Are you serious? Do you even know what you're talking about, John?"
"Yeah," he said soothingly. He hugged her, and pulled her close to his chest. "You and me. Altar. Priest. Vows. Then you becoming…" he took a breath and smiled slightly. "Mrs. John Allerdyce."
Rogue looked up at him, and smiled slightly. He leaned in, and kissed her.
"I just don't want you to get hurt."
"Then let's go. Get out of here. I'll teach you how to fight. I'm good," he said.
"And oh so modest," she added, rolling her eyes. In a good way, ofcourse.
He smirked. "Well, baby, I'm just saying. We could…if you look at it in a way…get this done right. I could teach you. I know you got the potential. Then we could move somewhere. And if we have to leave, we'll leave and move somewhere else. We have the money. We could get part time jobs…stuff like that."
She nodded, and let him hug her again.
"Trust me. We could make this work."
"I'm sorry…I want to…I really do, Johnny…I just…it doesn't sound like the right time."
He looked ready to retort, so she broke out of the hug, smiled at him and left the room. She needed to get some fresh air.
xXx
"Hey, Stripes," someone called as Rogue stared out at the gates of the mansion. Behind her, Wolverine came up.
Rogue had her arms folded, deep in thought. She didn't even realize Logan was talking.
"Rogue!" he said more firmly. She didn't jump, or show much of any realization, but turned calmly to him, looking sad. She didn't show him her emotions, but looked at him, harsh and cold. He had hurt John. She loved John. Do the math, was all she could think. How could you, Logan? Just accept it and get on with life…
"Hey," she said, turning back to the front.
"It's okay," he said. "You don't have to look at me if you don't want to…I've just been wondering. It's almost three in the afternoon…and I'm quite surprised to see you unattached to your boyfriend."
"Wow," she said, voice filled with sarcasm. "You actually took five moments out of your life to notice that."
"I don't like this side of you, Rogue. You have to understand why I did what I did. Why I'm against this." Pause. "Do you?"
Trick question, Logan? She couldn't help thinking. Rhetorical one, maybe? Fine, then.
"Enlighten me, please, Logan," she said coldly, glancing at him for a moment then turning back to the front.
"He's Pyro, Rogue. No matter how many times you call him Johnny, inside he's Pyro. He's holding it in, I know. Because he 'cares for you'…but believe me. At one point, he will…get bored." She didn't move an inch. No response. He carried on. "He's a traitor. You understand that right? By being with him you're being a traitor too. He's dangerous, Stripes. I'm just trying to protect you. Either he'll hurt you emotionally…or physically. I don't want either to happen." Pause once more. "He loves you. Fine. He does now. He's not the right guy."
"Oh, and Bobby was?" she snapped back at him darkly.
"No. He wasn't," Logan replied strongly. "He was an inconsiderate dumbass to you. I don't want Pyro to get you hurt."
Rogue took deep breaths.
"Everything…except Storm," he added quietly and quickly, "is against you on this. Pyro's not a good person."
"He's trying to change."
"But he can't."
"How do you know, huh?" she demanded loudly, turning to him and coming close. Her voice turned quieter, but trembled in anger and frustration. "How can you say you get it when you don't know how I feel? How he feels? He cares about me, Logan. He loves me. I love him."
She turned around, but was only half way when he said, "Then you don't want him to get hurt, huh?" She turned back to his understanding look.
"Why do you care, Logan? Why can't you get this into your thick skull? You don't care, Logan. Not sincerely. You never did. I gave you an obligation – a mission, you could say – protect me. I needed someone to look out for me. When I turned human, the contract was torn, burned and thrown away. Where were you, Logan…when Bobby cheated on me? Backing up and protecting Kitty. Not me. Kitty. You don't care, Logan. Take another glance, huh? You just let me leave. Again, no care. Back then you knew I'd end up taking the cure. 'I'm not your father, I'm your friend'. I didn't need a friend. I needed someone to look out for me. Have my back. Not Pryde's."
"Fine, Rogue. Marie. Whatever. Fine. You got this whole thing figured out, right? Then why are you avoiding your love? Huh? Why have you been out of that room since early morning? Why have you been away from everyone? What? What confrontation are you avoiding now? What confrontation are you afraid of, huh?" he demanded.
She shook her head. "Just leave me alone. That's all I want from you, Logan…" she said.
"I know you're scared," he said, trying to appeal to her once more. "I know you're scared of getting hurt, kid. I know you're scared of losing him. I know you when you're in love. I've never seen you like this before. You care about him. Damn lot. I know you don't want to lose him. And I know you feel like you're going to. Now tell me why."
"I don't want to talk about it," she said simply, tearing up. She crossed past him, but he pulled her back, and pulled her close as she began to cry.
"I've always been here, kid. Just watching out for you. Doesn't mean I have to be next to you."
She kept sobbing. He could feel the pressure of her pain. Her tears were falling out quickly. She was shaking. Throbbing.
"I know you. I know how to take care of you. I beat up Bobby the day after you left. I told Kitty off. I practically forced the hate out of everyone in this school. They're ashamed of themselves, kid. I did that. I know how to take care of you."
She wouldn't stop. Her hair covered her face. He couldn't really see her, but held her tighter.
"I hurt Pyro. I know. I know how much you two care about each other…but you and me know this won't last."
Wrong words.
She looked up at him. Yet…yet it made sense. In a weird way. Would it last? How could it? People trying to kill them…people trying to break them up. Everyone was against them. Everything was against them.
"I don't want to lose him," she said, covering her face with her hands. "I just don't want to lose him."
"I know." He didn't approach her. She could handle herself. She understood what he was doing too.
"Is there…any possible way we can stay together?" she asked.
He shook his head. "I don't even think the mansion can keep you safe. At one point…this will have to end."
She shook her head.
"It doesn't…it just doesn't." Pause. "There has to be a way."
She pulled down her arms, and ran into the mansion.
xXx
Damn, John thought. He sat on the bed, taking a pain killer. Had he just freaked away the woman he loved? Rogue hadn't talked to him at all so far. Practically avoiding him entirely. He thought at the time it was a good idea. To him it made sense. Screw them all. Those who said and did things to make sure they wouldn't be together. Screw them all. He loved her too much to care what the heck they thought. She was his. He was hers. They couldn't change that. He was ready to die for her. Like heck if he was ever going to lose her. And this was a good way to ensure that. Atleast…he thought so.
The door opened, and shut harshly as Rogue stared at him, her hair falling all over her face. He jumped up, hid the look of pain, and rush to her, placing each hand on the side of her head. Ignoring her teary eyes and reddening face, he pulled her in close, and kissed her, repeatedly. She placed her arms around his neck, and then lowered them down to his back, rubbing his back up and down.
She backed up to say something, but he placed a finger on her lips. This was it. Earlier she never really specified yes or no. Now she had to answer him. "I'm going to ask you again." Pause. "Rogue…will you marry me?" she looked ready to reply. "No means no. Yes means yes."
She understood. Yes meant they'd get married. No meant the entire thing was off. She knew John knew too. He knew that they couldn't stay together. They'd get hurt…maybe be killed. It was in or out. She knew he was in. She knew he couldn't bear to lose her. She felt the same. She opened her mouth to reply.
"No," he said. "Rogue…this might be the last time we're together. Let's make it count. Whatever your answer is…"
He kissed her again, and they went back to their earlier position when she pulled back again.
"John Allerdyce…I will marry you," she said surely.
"Now?" he asked.
"Now?" she echoed, confused.
"Now. So we can get out of here. Get as far as we can." He paused for a moment. "Now, baby?"
"Now, Johnny," she said softly, kissing him.
xXx
It had started to rain by the time John had managed to get the money out of the ATM. They didn't have an umbrella. It didn't matter. They bought the wedding rings and he got her an engagement ring. For some strange reason, there was around a thousand dollars in his account. And soon, after he had taken the money, a text message hit Rogue's phone. Aparently, Mystique had stolen the number while visiting Marie, and the message simply said this
"Know your decision. Understand. Trying to help. Wish you luck."
They got a taxi, and managed out of the city. He couldn't help but grin at the thought of that letter they had left at the mansion. No one could see his grin however. The cap he had on had been jammed tightly downwards, so no one could see his face.
Dear Academy people,
Thanks. Really. Thank you for having let us stay there. But we had to leave. I love John. He loves me. We need to stay together. So…we're getting married. I'm gonna take a guess here and say that by now, Logan, you've snatched this letter. Yeah, big boy. I'm getting married. I know you care. I know you know how to take care of me. But do that later. I just need to be with him. I guess this makes me and John traitors now, doesn't it? Well…that's all right with us.
Love, Marie
Rogue wrote it. Damn. He had hoped to write it. But perhaps his letter would've had more...uh…unnecessary use of bad language. He pulled her close. They were both slightly drenched. Making it into a nearby town, he called to the driver to stop, then paid the man. They got out with their bags, and mainly just rushed into the place. He could see a small chapel, and pulled his soon to be bride there. They were drenched. The sun was setting. The rain was pouring.
In Rogue's eyes, this was highly romantic. John took her hand, and bended on one knee. He took out the engagement ring. She didn't really know he had gotten that.
"Once more," he said. "Marie D'Ancanto, will you marry me?"
"Yes, I will marry you, John Allerdyce," she replied, blushing. He placed the engagement ring on her finger, and took her into the chapel. It was empty.
Rogue took off her cap and approach the priest at the altar, looking at him from her hood. It was her green jacket. The one she always wore. He looked up at her, and smiled a friendly smile.
"Hi," she said, smiling back. "Me…me and my boyfriend. We want to get married. But we really, really need to do it now. We have no choice. We're being chased by people who don't want this. Could you…please marry us?"
"Well…" he said hesitantly.
"Please," John added, coming closer. "We ready to pay you and we really need this."
"Okay," the priest sighed. John took off his cap. The priest gasped, but then smiled understandingly.
He began. "We're going to have to shorten this, you know right?"
They nodded, and turned to each other, drenched, but ready for it.
It was quick. He said the things like "In sickness and in health"…then it came up to the one line. They had been ready for this. They wanted to get married. Be each others for real.
"Till death do you part"
John took a breath at that single moment, and the thoughts poured in.
They also had to say their vows, and these were rushed, and not thought out. But somehow, they were good.
"Marie…I love you. So much, it hurts. Not in a bad way. I want to be next to you everyday. To wake up with you by my side. To sleep with you in my arms. To be able to hold you close when you're sad. To be the reason you're happy and laughing. To not cause you pain, but happiness. I will make sure that no one hurts you. I'm ready to change for you. I love you so much, baby."
Tears swelled up in her eyes, but she said hers.
"Johnny. I don't care what other people say. I don't care what they do. I will be by your side. I want to be with you. Forever. I know it sounds cheesy. But I want to be with you. My heart is yours. You make me happy. You're there. You're there for me. You care for me. You love me. And I always want you to know that I love you too. I love you so much. I will never leave your side. Johnny, John, Pyro…I love you."
He smiled at that.
They finished everything, the rings as well, and the priest went on the "I do"s.
"I do," Rogue said softly.
"I do," Pyro said. He was reassured. They both were. They were in love. Nothing could change the way he felt. Nothing could change the way she felt.
"Then you may kiss the bride," the priest said.
And ironically, but sweetly enough, John pulled down Marie's hood, and smiled, seeing her blush, then kissed her deeply. It was an unmoving kiss, but one that seemed to feed on itself repeatedly and grow. It just wasn't obvious. But it was great. He backed off and took her hands.
He announced them as man and wife, Rogue remembered and savored in the thought as they pulled out of the chapel.
"Thank you," they both said as they left. The priest folded the money they had given him and put it into the donations box.
It had stopped raining. He stopped outside, and kissed her. They had atleast a day before being discovered. He had already thought this out thoroughly. He kissed her deeply.
"I love you," he murmured.
"I love you too," she said, looking at him and kissing him once more.
"Baby," he said, taking her close to him.
"Hmm?" she asked.
"We have one night before we have to start running. Let's make it count," he said, grinning. She smiled too.
One thought. Motel.
xXx
From there, it was obvious how it would turn out. He could part from her, but pulled her close, and kissed her deeply. Their kissed grew longer and hotter and deeper. Soon the clothes were off, and the covered used. He ran his hand through her hair repeatedly, and she rubbed hers on his body.
They made it worth, and sometime in the middle of night, he pulled her close under the covers, and hugged her, breathing in her scent. He loved her. Too much. Way too much. He'd protect her. Care for her.
"I love you…" he murmured, though he knew she couldn't hear him.
Traitor he was. Her husband he'd be forever.
Again…I give you the same message. Will update as soon as I can.