Author's Note: Hey I'm back! I know this chapters been postponed for a few days, sorry, I'm hoping that updating should stay consist after this so no worries!
Laceylou76- Haha yes indeed I do hate having to write disclaimers for just one simple song line -sighs- but alas that's life, lol. Here's the next chapter!
Chapter 9: Deceiving the Deceived
Rogue felt a sharp pain rush through the side of her head, instinctively her hands shot up and began cradling it. She lay there for a few moments indulging herself in the softness of the sheets beneath her and allowed herself time to clear her head of sleep before allowing her eyes to open. What met them was a familiar sight, a dark room colored in hues of black and gold.
Pushing herself up into a sitting position she tried to remember how she had gotten here. Nothing seemed to add up, she remembered getting ready to go out and leaving, she remembered an angry Wanda then...She gasped it hadn't been a dream.
Shakily she threw her legs over the side of the bed and rested her elbows on them. It had really happened, there was no lie behind it.
Jumping up she shot over towards the mirror and took in her disheveled appearance, her light make-up was smeared and her face seemed to be covered in ash. Her long auburn hair with a streak of white was ratted and jumped in several different directions as though it were trying to escape from the very base of her head.
She was still in the same clothes, a purple long sleeved shirt set over low-rise black jeans that flared at the knee, her boots were carefully placed by the foot of the bed, but that was the least of her concerns at the moment. Pulling her hair into a lumpy knot at the base of her neck she smeared the rest of the make up away before sprinting through the door and down the hallway one destination set in her mind.
She ignored the odd and worried glances sent her way as she continued her long sprint through the mansion. Her mind raced a hundred miles an hour keeping up with the steady pace of her foot fall.
Gliding down the stairs she pushed the concerned shouts of the original X-men out of mind and tuned out the sound of following footsteps. She ran out into the dark night towards the back side of the mansion where the trees grew thickest.
She wasn't certain as to how long she ran, dodging in and out of trees before she came to the spot were she had spent many of sleepless nights at. Sprinting the final distance she allowed herself to stare at the small hill and the figures perched on it's top.
Falling onto her knees Rogue took in the appearance of two concrete angels smiling up at her. The words of Mystique echoed throughout her mind sending it into overdrive, every psyche yelling for once in unison telling her, no commanding her to do as they told.
She took little notice of the tears streaming down her face as she stood, listening to the voice yell and encourage in pace with her heart, and did something that she would have never thought of to do in a million surplus years.
Her foot came down and collided on the first angels head, it cracked and clumsily rolled towards the side. With little thought she began to jump and kick the rest of the statue apart until it was little more than crumbled pieces on the ground.
After she had finished she set off to destroy the second angel. She began kicking it down and busting it up, but before she could completely destroy the petite figure she felt two arms wrap around her waist and yank her into the air away from the newly destroyed graves.
"Stripes! Kid listen! Hey stop fighting!" She fought against the strong grip of Wolverine trying to set herself free but it was pointless. She left her body go limp and let the tears cascade down her face and onto the ground where countless had fallen in the past. She looked towards the remains of the angels, one was beaten to a point beyond recognition and the other only had part of the plaque remaining Isabella Marie~
Sobbing uncontrollably she yanked away from Logan and took of in any direction, anywhere other than where she was.
She had a slight lead, but she knew it wouldn't matter though Logan could out run her by a long shot, but it didn't mean she wouldn't at least make an attempt at escape. Cutting suddenly towards the left she sprinted out towards the garage, she had to get away, she had to sort things out.
Fulling focusing on Kitty's powers she phased through the back of the garage flawlessly and strait into her emerald Camaro. Apparently faith decided to be nice to her for once, seeing as her keys sat idly in the ignition.
Without even bothering with the seat belt she revved the engine to life before once again focusing on Kitty's power and shooting out of the garage, phasing strait through a worried looking Kurt and startled Jean. Shoving the car hazardously into fifth gear she didn't even bother thinking about the gate opener and phased strait through. Whipping the car towards the west she flew off into the night, hoping with all her heart they wouldn't find her til she was ready.
At that moment, had she have looked back, she would have seen a fully assembled team standing there dumb folded and a confused and worried looking Remy standing in the center of them all.
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Rogue sat silently on the dock her head in her hands. The sun was beginning to break over the horizon lighting up the short strands of hair that embroidered her face making them shine a beautiful mixture of white and auburn. The cool breeze of the water caressing over her skin, making her already tired mind want to collapse and shut down, wanting it to forget and go on, but she knew that couldn't be the case.
Moaning she began racking at her brain again, trying to figure out what had overcome her less than an hour before, yet no sane explanation could be found. Feeling exhaustion overcome her she shook it from her head and allowed her eyes to trail over the sight of the bay.
She let her mind wonder over thoughts about Remy, and what she had done to all that was supposedly left of her daughters. She chocked back a sob, she'd managed to hurt him again with her own stupidity. In all logical reasoning she should have believed that Mystique was lying, that it was another trap but deep down she knew it was the truth. She should have told Remy, she should still tell him but a part of her screamed rejection when she thought it, fiddlesticks.
Sighing she finally put two and two together, the thoughts of her daughters being alive made her lose it, it made her angry, upset, and devastated, and when she looked at the angels all she had seen was a poor cover up story, a lie, to cover the truth of the matter. To hide the fact that she had abandoned all hope when she still should of held on, when she should have been the one their not that stooge of Mystique's, Angelina. She felt tears overflow from her eyes again, she seemed to being doing that a lot lately.
She nearly jumped out of her skin though when a gloved hand gripped her shoulder and broke the barrier holding her thoughts. "Chere."
Looking up her eyes met themselves as they reflected from sunglass covered eyes of Remy. She couldn't look at him, not after all she had done. Shrugging his hand off she pulled her knees to her chest and looked out onto the water hoping that for once he would do the smart thing and leave her. Though that wasn't the case, she felt him plop down next to her, his hand entrancing itself with her own, glove on glove. How she hated that.
They sat there for a time in silence, only the soft whistle of the wind and cawing of birds sounding off in the distance.
"Remy how can ya stand the sight of meh?" Rogue barely whispered, the tears had still yet to cease their constant pull.
"What do ya mean chere?" He questioned and he scooted closer to his wife trying to break the unbreakable distance that had come between them.
"What do ya think Rems? Ah destroyed all that was left of 'em! and yet here ya are still, following me as though Ah'm some sorta angel that can't do no wrong." She slammed her eyes shut hoping with all of her might he would see reason and leave.
"Chere how could I every leave ya? Your all I have left." She knew the sincerity in his voice and it made her hurt even more. She felt him drape his trench coat over her shoulders before he pulled her into his lap, allowing the comforting silence to fall.
Rogue though let her two evils fight it out in her head as she allowed herself to enjoy the company of the only man she could have ever truly loved. Though as time passed something slowly became agonizingly visible in her mind. As much as she wanted to tell what she had been told she could never tell him, not until she was certain, but lying to him wasn't an option either. Suddenly it hit her.
"Remy?" she off handily asked, wrapping the coat tighter around herself. She heard him hum in reply, signaling her to continue,.
"Ah'm so sorry, Ah don't know what came over me, and for everything." She felt the tears trickle a bit before stopping once again, "And Ah have ta know will ya ever give up on meh?"
"Would never dream of it Chere." She felt his gloved hand press against her cheek as he pressed a small kiss against it. She fell back in silence against his chest, this would have to due til she could plot her next course of action.
Though in that one moment she felt more comfort in his embrace and in the fact that he would never leave her even in her dark times, no matter what she did, that she had felt in almost a decade and never wanted to leave it. The world was beginning to spin again to take on meaning, to become colorful once more and she was prepared to face it head on.
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Rogue sat silently on her bed, pondering over the events of the last few days. She swore she would never again walk into those woods as long as she lived she couldn't face up to what laid out there. The others, well the ones that had respect for her space, had simply avoided the topic of what had happened during 'Rogue's Little Meltdown," as the mansion began calling it.
Whilst those closest to her confronted her in their traditional manners. Kitty in all of her glory had proclaimed her thoughts and opinions towards Rogue by jumping up and standing in the middle of the table and yelling.
Seeing as to how Rogue had taken it, Logan threatened Kitty with sparring sessions for a week which quickly caused the valley girl to stop yapping. Somethings never ever changed.
Kurt on the other hand had been understanding and had merely given his condolences and told her that his door was always open before bamfing away, no doubt to go find Amanda. Rogue laughed to herself at the thought, those two had been together longer than Remy and herself, but yet they still weren't married and had no children of their own.
Though they seemed to claim all of the orphans at the institute seeing as they all always ran towards the loving couple for safety. Kurt had always had such a big heart, and she knew he would have made a great father, but after the incident he had sworn off ever having a child that could be harmed because of the life he lead, another person Rogue had injured.
She groaned in annoyance before flopping back down onto the bed and throwing her hands over her eyes. She still was plan less and had no idea how to approach the professor about using Cerebro to search. Running through several scenarios in her head she rejected them all, it seemed hopeless.
Rogue please meet me in the briefing room, Rogue sat up her heart pounding, had the professor? No he never invaded anyone's personal space unless it was absolutely necessary, but it didn't set Rogue at ease as she rolled off the bed and into a standing position. Only one way to find out she thought solemnly as she made her way towards the doorway, making sure to avert her gaze from the room that sat right across from Remy's and her own.
The professor had been kind enough to leave the room vacant for the sake of putting Rogue and Remy at peace, they had even let all of the girls stuff in there, though it was all packed away and boxed. Rogue involuntarily shuddered, she didn't want to be anywhere near that stuff, she didn't want to risk losing it again.
Slipping silently down the hallway she felt herself run into something big. She looked up into the soft brown eyes of Jamie and let a laugh escape her lips. He had grown so much since they were kids and now almost towered over everyone, well except Piotr but that would have required him to be a true giant.
"Oh I'm sorry Rogue," he still had that little kid blush that crept up onto his cheeks when he was embarrassed, but what was more astonishing was that he didn't break into multiples of himself when she hit him. He'd finally gotten control over it surprisingly, just like Rogue had at one time..
"Rogue? Um are you alright?" She looked up and plastered a grin on her face.
"Ah'm fine Jamie, just out of it ya know?" He nodded his head before letting a grin come onto his lips. Without warning he caught her up in a tight hug and chuckled.
"That help any?" He smirked as he watched one of his oldest 'friends' gasp for air suddenly.
"No, and if ya want to remain among the livin' I'd be runnin' about now." Jamie felt his jaw drop, had Rogue just threatened him? He couldn't help but get his hopes up, the old Rogue was rearing her head. Well time to play it up he thought excitedly.
"Well that would require for you to catch me so I'm not worried." He watched in pure fascination as she growled and rolled up her sleeve.
"That's it Multiple ya'd better get a head start now." Jamie laughed and took off sprinting towards the briefing room an angry Rogue hot on his heals. Splitting himself into three, they each took off down a different hallway. Though it didn't matter to Rogue, she knew where he was going and continued following the one that was racing towards the briefing room.
Suddenly though as Jamie shot through the door, Rogue managed to get her boot tangled in her pant leg and crashed strait through the doorway into the briefing room.
Everyone watched in astonishment as the southerner hit the floor and a loud curse escaped her lips. Pushing herself off of the floor she turned her attention to Jamie.
"Why Ah outta.." but before the threat could be finished, Xavier cleared his throat and caught Rogues attention.
"Oh sorry professar, I'll be good." With that she walked towards her seat between Kurt and Remy, both staring at each other in total shock.
"Did she just say I'll be good?" Kurt whispered disbelievingly to Remy as Rogue walked over to her seat. Remy only shrugged his shoulders, disbelief playing in his demonic eyes.
"Sounds like the old Rogue c.." But before Kurt could finish Rogue sat down and pointed her attention towards the Professor.
"So now that everyone is here, I can start," Folding his hands on the table Xavier glanced over each of the mutants in the Room, taking in the faces that had so long been a part of his life.
"While using Cerebro earlier I picked up on strange mutant activity, one of which has potential to rival even Jean," Each mutant looked at one another, shock playing on their features, "but what proves problematic is the fact that once their powers are not in use, it appears as though they are non exist beings."
"Chuck if their disappearing right under your nose doesn't that mean their dead?" Wolverine asked, he was propped up against the wall watching Charles with careful eyes.
"I'm fully aware of that Logan," Wolverine cocked an eyebrow at the professor not fully understanding, "I thought much the same when I first caught hold of this discovery, but the next time their powers were used I knew that could not have been the case."
"Professar if I may say something," Rogue began, everyone's attention fell onto the woman, this was the most they had heard her speak in such a long time, "but why do ya keep referrin' to their powers as if they are one, how are they connected?" Xavier hid a smile as he answered her, she had always been good at catching on.
"Good question, the truth is the fact that when one uses their power both appear, I believe it has something to do with them being related, siblings if my assumptions are correct." Rogue nodded her head and sat back in her chair, something suddenly boiling up inside of her, questions were eating at her stomach, but she decided to bite her lip and wait.
"So the mission is simple I want you to speak with them, but do not frighten them," the professor sent twin glares at Wolverine and Gambit, both mutants averted their gazes. So okay maybe their last recruiting session hadn't gone so well but the mutant had been a little punk... "and if possible recruit them, but if they refuse I want you to make sure they have our contact information and are safe is that understood?"
Everyone's head nodded in unison before Kurt spoke up, "But professor ve don't even know what they look like, age, gender nothing." The Professor sighed and nodded his head in agreement.
"I understand Kurt, but however they are blocking me out prevents me from knowing anything other than the fact that they are powerful mutants." Kurt understanding let the questions die there.
"Now I want you to split up into two groups of search parties one led by Wolverine and the other by Rogue." Rogue stared dumbly at the Professor she was never put in charge unless the circumstances were dire.
"With Wolverine I want Storm, Beast and Multiple, With Rogue I want Gambit, Shadowcat and Nightcrawler." Turning the Professor wheeled over towards a shadowed Jean in the background retrieving the box that lay dormant in her hands. Opening it up he revealed several small ear buds and passed them around.
"The likely hood that this mission will go a rye is slim, but if something does occur a team will be on stand by ready to deploy at a moments notice, this team will consist of Myself, Cyclops, Jean, and Iceman ."
"Professor why if these mutants are so dangerous why are you sending only eight of us?" Kitty asked her eyebrows knitted together.
"I don't want them frightened, and if there are too many they are bond determined to feel threatened." Kitty nodded in understanding, "I want the Blackbird prepped and ready to go as soon as possible, everyone please go ready yourselves, your destination is on the outskirts of New Orleans that's where I last caught the power source." An audible groan came from Remy who slammed his head into his hand mumbling incoherent complaints. Everyone quickly turned there attention away from the brooding Cajun and stood to leave.
As Rogue turned to leave a mental message shot through her and Logan's heads, please will you two wait a moment so I may speak with you. Stopping Rogue turned around and made her way back towards the Professor Wolverine close behind her. Her thoughts were dark Louisiana wasn't were she needed to be she was needed in California.
"This mission is more than recruiting," Xavier rubbed his head in irritation, "It is a rescue mission, from what I can sense they are being hunted."
"Hunted? By who?" Logan growled, his experience with being hunted was not a fond one, not that being hunted was a fun experience for anyone. Rogue felt her heart jump again, more and more coincidences.
"I'm not certain, I can identify though that there are multiple trackers, but with the block they have it's hard to track anything near them."
"So we act first, questions later am Ah correct." The Professor nodded. Locking eyes with Xavier Rogue could hear his voice run through her head.
Rogue I want you to be the moderator of this mission what you say goes.
Professar why am Ah doin' this? Ah'm a follower not a leader.
Please Rogue you must understand these mutants are terrified, that is all I can tell about them in the brief glimpses I've gotten of them and my better instincts are telling me to intrust them into your care .
Rogue still wasn't convinced Whatever ya say Professar.
Rogue?
Yes?
I know that it is not my place to interfere in your personal life but what happened when you destroyed Eclaire and Isabella's graves?
A-Ah don't know, it was so sudden, like it really wasn't me, kinda like a dream, a bad bad dream.
Hmm, understood, take note I am always here if you ever need me.
Ah know.
With that Rogue turned and left bubbles boiling in her stomach. The words that had left Mystique's mouth were reappearing over and over again. Everything matched but one thing the location. California was nowhere near Louisiana, but something inside Rogue told her otherwise and she hoped with all of her heart that her gut was right.
Author's Note: So this chapter took me forever to write and I still don't like the way it came out, eh oh well. Please review!