Title: The House of the Rising Sun, Chapter 4
Author: Goddess Evie
Date: October 18, 2002
Genre: Romance (Remy/Rogue, Scott/Jean, Lance/Kitty), Action, Drama, Angst, AU, heck, it's got it all…just not all in one chapter. ^_^
Rating: G, and I really don't think this'll get above PG.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own X-Men of any incarnation. I am but a poor, fanatical, poor, college student who much enjoys a show so that she writes extensive (and hopefully intriguing, enjoyable, and highly popular) fanfiction to feed her insatiable hunger for anything X-Men and is poor, if I haven't mentioned that already. Also, the song lyric I use as the title doesn't belong to me either. I'm quoting the song "Black and White" by Sarah McLachlan, my absolute favorite-est artist in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!! Which is why you shouldn't be surprised when you see so many of her song lyrics as Chapter titles, though I AM trying to throw some variety in there, I swear! But, sadly, I own nothing but the plot so don't sue me cause I can't even pay for college! WAAAAH!
Summary: Ororo and the gang finally arrive back at the Institute, Remy meets with Xavier and makes his final decision. More interaction between Logan and Rogue, and Logan pulls a risqué maneuver.
Author's Note: Well, didn't get as far into the plot with this chapter as I wanted to, but that's okay. Just means my fic will be longer and BETTER!!! At least Remy has finally made it to the mansion. Now we just gotta get Rogue and Logan back and we can move on from there. I have a little fun with the scene in the Blackbird. I was kinda just writing and seeing where it would take me. I swear I wasn't smoking anything when I wrote it! I hope you enjoy it, though. And aren't you glad I got the next part out so fast? *grins* You should be, cause no telling when Chapter six will be posted! Want it to come faster? Well, then, write my four to five college level Shakespeare paper on Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Hamlet, Twelfth Night or Measure for Measure so that I'll have time to work on the next part! Yeah, that's what I thought. Patience, my dears, and you will be rewarded.
Chapter 4: "Everybody loves you when you're easy. Everybody hates when you're a bore. Everybody's waiting for your entrance. Don't disappoint them."
They were driving through the blue grass hills of Kentucky as the sun was coming up, Logan at the wheel of his truck, Rogue leaning against the window asleep in the passenger's seat. They had departed for New York as soon as Logan had returned to the motel the previous afternoon, wasting no time on anything. He hadn't told her where he'd gone, and Rogue, smart as she was, had known better than to ask. The only time they'd taken any stops on the way was to fill up the truck's gas tank, pee, or get food. They were making good time because of it, too. Logan figured they could be back in Bayville by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Just in time for the new school year, if he remembered correctly.
Most of the trip had been spent in silence, neither Logan nor Rogue having ever been much for talking. Logan just concentrated on the road in front of him, and his companion had directed her gaze out the passenger side window, her eyes seeing things that weren't in the passing scenery. Logan had been tempted more than once to ask her more about how she'd spent her summer, but something stopped him and for now he let it go. Eventually, though, he would ask her. He could tell she was hiding something, a big something.
A bump in the road caused the truck to bounce on its half-decent shocks and jolted Rogue from her slumber. She'd looked like she'd been having a nightmare anyway. She rubbed her eyes and face to wake herself up, stretching as best she could in the limited interior of the cab. Wrapping her arms around her stomach and settling back into the seat, one foot propped up on the dashboard, she looked around herself at the surrounding scenery then turned her gaze to Logan.
"Where are we?"
"Kentucky," was Logan's gruff reply.
She nodded as she rubbed an eye again, yawning, then curled up on the seat, putting as much distance between herself and Logan as possible. It wasn't that she loathed or was disgusted by him; it was merely her own natural instinct. Stay as far away from people as possible, even erect a wall sometimes, and nobody would get hurt emotionally, mentally, or physically.
"We stoppin' fah breakfast anytahme soon?" was her next question.
Logan shrugged. "Next time we hit a town."
Another nod from Rogue and they lapped into silence once more. Although Rogue seemed to have let herself slip into deep thoughts of her own, Logan was very much aware of his surroundings, and of the young woman seated next to him. He couldn't place it, but something seemed different about her.
"So," Logan said, not sure how to breech the subject.
"What?" Rogue replied, annoyed at having been disturbed.
Logan shook his head at himself with a small growl and decided his usual direct approach would just have to do. "What happened?"
"What d'ya mean?" Rogue asked, immediately taking on the defensive.
"I mean, this summer, with the Brotherhood. What happened?" Logan clarified.
"Ah told you, they forced me t'do whatevah they needed me t'do," Rogue re-explained.
"No," Logan objected. "There's something else, something you're not telling me."
He could tell he'd hit a sore spot by the way she turned her head away from him, frowning deeply, her eyes lowered and looking everywhere but at him.
"Nothin' happened," she lied.
"People don't end up lying in the middle of the road because 'nothing happened'," Logan assured her.
Her only reply was sullen silence.
"Rogue-" Logan started again and this time he got a response.
"Fahne! You wanna know what happened? Ah'll tell you what happened," she burst out in anger, glaring at him with tears in her eyes.
But the anger was soon over and she pulled back into herself, fighting the tears that threatened to overcome. She propped her feet up on the seat, wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her forehead on her knees as she calmed and collected herself. Logan waited patiently for her to continue, realizing, from her outburst that she had been pushed to the edge and it wouldn't take much more to tip her over. Finally, tears having been dealt with and emotions suppressed, Rogue turned her head to look at Logan, her cheek now resting on her knees. He noticed that her eyes seemed to be glazed over and she spoke as if in a trance while she told her story.
"Rahght b'fore ya found me, Ah…" she halted and took a deep breath, starting over again. "Mystique had a mission for the Brothah'hood an' me jus' b'fore you found me. She wanted us t'steal some top secret military plane. Ah dunno why, but then Ah nevah understood why she had us do any of the assignments she gave t'us."
That would explain her scent all over the airstrip, and the Brotherhood's.
"Things were goin' fahne. Everyone was doin' their paht and the plan was goin' smoothly. But we had an unexpected visitor," again Rogue paused, squeezing her eyes shut. She forced herself to go on. "We were attacked by Ms. Mah'vel. Ah certainly didn' expect it, I dunno 'bout everyone else. Since Ah was the only one in th'plane, I guess she figured she mahgt as well go fah me first.
"She picked me up and was flyin' away with me and Ah didn' know what t'do. I didn' think I could evah explain why Ah was tryin' t'steal that plane and Ah knew she wouldn' evah believe me. Ah knew Ah was in trouble.
"But then Ah heard Mystique's voice in the intah'com we were all connected with…an' she was tellin' me t'touch 'er."
Rogue's voice quavered and Logan could smell a mixture of tears, fear, guilt and self-hate emanating from the girl.
"So, Ah did. Ah didn' think it would be fah longah than a few seconds, but Mystique told me not t'let go, so Ah just kept holdin' on. The next thing Ah knew we were fallin' an' had hit the ground. It…it didn' even hu't, and neither did Lance's kick when he told me t'get up. Ah mean, Ah felt it, but it didn' hu't."
"How long did you have this Ms. Marvel's powers?" Logan asked gruffly, raising a brow at her.
Her answer was long in coming, and her voice shaky and weak when it finally did. "Ah still have them. She's in mah head an' Ah still have her powers. Ah saved her from the Brothah'hood and took her to a hospital, but her mem'ries are still insahde me and Ah still have her powers."
The tears finally did come, and Rogue pressed her eyes into her knees as Logan put a consoling hand on her back, not sure how much comfort it would give. He inhaled deeply, releasing the air from his lungs slowly as he let the meaning of Rogue's words sink in.
I still have her powers.
Logan had the feeling that the Professor was going to have a hay day with Rogue when they got back to the Institute. She'd been a bad enough mental case before this latest scheme of the Brotherhood's, but now…now Logan wondered if the girl would ever be able to live a normal life.
When her tears were finally done, Rogue turned her head to face away from Logan, still pillowing her cheek atop her knees. She adjusted her arms around her legs, tightening their grip as she tried to make herself as small as possible. Logan sighed regretfully, knowing he needed to go on, but wishing he could give the girl's emotions a rest. Still, there was one more thing that needed explaining.
"Why were you in the middle of the road?" he asked directly.
He felt Rogue shudder underneath his hand, which still rested on her back. Her whole body was tense. He wondered how she ever relaxed enough to fall asleep. Xavier certainly had his work cut out for him.
"Ah'm not sure," she finally answered without looking at him. "Ah was flyin' through the air when suddenly Ah was…Ah dunno-attacked, Ah guess, by Ms. Mah'vel's memories. Ah lost control an' fell."
Attacked by her memories? For as long as he had known the young Mutant, Logan had never known her to talk about any of the people she'd absorbed actually attacking her. Haunting her? All the time. Causing her nightmares? More than once. But actually attacking her? Never. Although it wasn't something he'd ever done before, Logan prayed for the girl and that Charles had the means to help her through her trauma. She was going to need all the help she could get.
Rogue sat up suddenly, her eyes wide, mouth agape, a look of pure terror on her face. Trying to keep an eye on the road and still keep track of Rogue, Logan took a tight grip on her shoulder, not sure what was going on.
She screamed, gripping her head with both hands and rocking her body back and forth. Immediately Logan pressed the brake, slowing the truck and pulling it over to the side of the road. He shut the engine off and then turned to face his charge fully.
"Rogue, what's wrong?" he demanded feeling completely helpless, his most despised state of being.
She didn't answer him, though, or couldn't, perhaps. Still screaming, rocking her body around, shaking her head, which was still gripped between her hands, she began to yell at some unseen opponent.
"Get out of my head! Go away! Ah won't let you…won't let you! Leave me alone! Lemme be!"
There was only one conclusion that Logan could come to and it went back to what Rogue had just told him. Ms. Marvel's memories were attacking again, which meant there was nothing more for Logan to do than sit and wait for it to be over.
The assault continued for what could only have been a few moments, but what felt like an eternity. Finally, Rogue's eyelids drooped, her whole body relaxed into a slump and she lost consciousness once again. Supporting the Mutant's body, Logan settled her against the passenger door trying to make her as comfortable as possible. When there was nothing else left that he could do, he leaned back and shook his head. At least, for now, it was over. Well, he hoped it was. By the look on her face she was already having a doozy of a nightmare.
Doing the only thing for her that he could think of, Logan turned the key in the ignition, starting the engine. After revving it a couple of times he shifted it into gear and started on down the road again. The sooner he could get her back to Xavier and the Institute, the better.
Remy had to admit that he actually found his companions, well, companionable during their trip to New York. Evan had spent all his time at the controls with Ororo, observing, taking notes, learning whatever he could during the flight and better acquainting himself with the workings of the control panel. He was an eager student, at least when it came to flying the Blackbird, and Ororo was more than willing to answer any questions he posed to her. The only thing she didn't allow him to do was to take control of the plane himself, no matter how much he persuaded, begged or wheedled. She softly, but firmly reminded him that he needed to log the man hours in the simulator and pass the required tests before he would even get close to flying the huge craft himself one day.
"Don't worry Evan, you'll get your turn," Jean encouraged the young man. "Just keep practicing and studying."
"Heh, I know," Evan turned in the swiveling chair to grin sheepishly at the red head. "I've aced every test Auntie O has thrown at me!"
At that admittance he grinned proudly.
"Hey," Jubilee jumped in, "She just doesn't want you killing our new student before he even gets a chance to see the mansion."
Evan rolled his eyes good-naturedly at Jubilee's comment as she and Jean giggled and laughed. Remy found himself smiling at the interaction between the three, their easy banter pulling him into their circle of friendship almost subtly.
"An' from what you guys been tellin' me 'bout dis Institute, I be disappointed wit' Heaven if I had t'go dere instead," he transitioned himself in with their conversation smoothly.
"When I die, I'm not going to Heaven," Evan informed. "I'll just haunt the Institute for the rest of my afterlife! It probably is better than heaven."
"Well, if the institute is heaven, then the Danger Room is hell," Jubilee commented.
Jean groaned with agreement, but Evan seemed to have his own idea. "Nah, the Danger Room's a cake walk," he objected.
"At least since Logan's been gone," Jean put in with nods of accord from her companions.
"If the Institute is heaven then the Brotherhood's boarding house is hell," Evan reported smugly, adding, "And Pietro is the devil himself."
"Nuh uh," Jubilee disagreed. "Mystique is the devil. That woman is just plain evil."
"Well, if Mystique is the devil, does that make Xavier…God?" Jean joked.
"And Auntie O is Mother Nature!" Evan smirked at Ororo.
The look the older woman sent her nephew was less than amused, but the rest of the kids seemed to be enjoying the metaphor they were creating.
"Well, den, if you all live in Heaven, dat mus' make you angels," Remy suggested to them.
Jubilee blushed, looking away and Jean blushed too, but smiled boldly and confidently back at him. Evan laughed out right at the idea, though it sounded as if he did actually like it.
"And the Brotherhood are all devils?" Jean finished the allegory.
Jubilee giggled. "Can't you just picture them running around with little devils horns and tails and pitchforks!?"
Obviously, Evan and Jean could as they joined in with Jubilee's giggles. The scene, however, was lost on Remy, who had no idea who or what the Brotherhood was.
"Can't wait to run that one by Kurt when we get home," Evan said as his laughter faded.
"So, what about you? Where do you come from?" Jean looked directly at Remy and asked.
He raised his eyebrows as he looked between the two girls who eagerly awaited his answer. Already, Evan had turned back to the control panel with Ororo, once again engaged in learning the techniques of flying the Blackbird. Taking a moment to inhale deeply and release it, Remy spread his hands before him and gave his answer.
"Well, if de Institute is Heaven, and dis Brudderhood's place is hell, den where Remy come from mus' be de earth in between."
Once again he watched as the two girls laughed at what he said and exchanged looks with each other. "Come on," Jubilee urged, "seriously."
Remy chuckled and nodded. "A'ight, seriously. I come from de wondah'ful worl' o' N'Orleans."
'New Orleans?" Jubilee asked in clarification.
"Dat's what I said," he confirmed.
"Say it again," Jubilee grinned at him.
"N'Orleans," Remy repeated for her, getting a kick out of the way she reacted to his dialect.
"What are you mutant powers?" came Jean's next question.
Well, he'd asked them all that back at the restaurant. It was only fair they asked the same of him, now.
"Well, is kinda hard t'explain," he told her, "But Remy try, jus' for you, chère."
He winked at her and she smiled back with her usual poise, waiting patiently and politely for him to continue.
"I make t'ings 'splode," he explained.
"How do you do that?" Jubilee inquired.
Remy shrugged. "I dun really know. I just take an object in my hand…well, usually in my hand, dough I can use any part o' my body. An' I concentrate on dat object and somehow I do somet'ing to it dat makes it 'splode."
"Seatbelts," Ororo called back suddenly to her passengers, breaking the conversation. "We're about to land."
Immediately, Jubilee and Jean turned in their seats and secured their safety belts around themselves. Leaning back, Remy followed suit as his gaze turned to the large view screen stretched across the front of the plane. It showed a wonderful view of New York in the late evening with the sun having just set and all the stars twinkling in the darkened sky. As Ororo flew the Blackbird in closer to their destination Bayville zoomed by in a rush of lights, the passing scenery slowing as they approached the infamous Mansion Remy had been hearing so much about.
He had to wonder where they would store the huge aircraft, but he figured, as had already happened so many times, that he would find out soon enough. And soon enough he did as a gaping whole in the side of a cliff that marked one edge of the grounds surrounding the Mansion opened and Ororo guided the Blackbird in smoothly, setting it down in the huge, metal lined cavern that served to house the craft. They all sat patiently while Evan worked through the shut down procedures. When Ororo was satisfied with his work she led the way out of the Blackbird. Evan offered to carry Remy's duffel bag once again, but he declined, assuring the friendly boy that he could handle it himself.
Artificial lights lit the way as they traveled through a tunnel system with the same metallic walls as the hangar. Ororo and Evan discussed what he had done well during his starting up and shutting down of the Blackbird and what he needed to work on. Jean and Jubilee walked on either side of him, chatting and chuckling with him lightly as they went.
Eventually they reached a door and Ororo pressed a sequence into the small keypad located on the wall next to it, which slid open to allow them entrance. The new hallway they entered into looked very much the same as the one they had just exited, but Remy got the feeling that something here was different.
"You may all go eat. The rest of the day is yours," Ororo addressed her three students.
"Hey man, check ya later," Evan said, clasping hands with the Cajun.
"See ya around," Jean added, and Jubilee waved as the two followed Evan down the hall.
"Welcome to the Institute," Ororo said to Remy as they started back down the hall again.
"You guys are some crazy people," Remy chuckled.
Ororo smiled amusedly at his comment, but didn't respond to it.
"I'm going to take you to meet Professor Xavier. He's the man who made all of this possible," she continued.
"He's a mutant too, I take it," Remy voiced.
"Yes," Ororo confirmed with a nod, "He's also better qualified to tell you everything about the Institute than I am."
They were approaching another door that slid open to reveal an elevator and the two stepped inside. The ride was smooth and quiet as they waited to reach wherever Ororo had in mind for them. The elevator stopped with an effortlessness that elevators weren't known for and the door slid open again. Ororo took lead once more as she led him down halls that were now wood paneled and exquisitely decorated. Tapestries, paintings, sculptures and more had been placed about the Mansion with an eye for art. Remy wondered, with a houseful of teenagers, how many of these items ended up ruined.
Once again, Ororo stopped them in front of a door, and turned to him. "I think you'll fit in well here at the Institute," she told him solemnly, catching his eyes with her own for a moment. But then the moment was over and she opened the door and gestured for him to enter, following him inside once he had and closing the door behind them.
Sitting almost expectantly behind a large, wood desk was a bald man in a wheel chair. This had to be Professor Xavier. He gestured for Remy to have a seat while Ororo placed herself in a corner chair out of direct conversation. Still, the Professor addressed her before actually speaking to Remy.
"I've called Hank, he should be here soon. He said that he just needed to finish up what it was that he was working on in the lab," Xavier informed her.
Ororo responded with a nod and a smile that Remy thought looked a little knowing. He wasn't sure how to interpret that, but he also didn't really have the time at this point, for Xavier was speaking to him now.
"Welcome, Remy. My name is Charles Xavier. I hope everything has been pleasant for you so far."
Remy nodded slowly. "Oui, it has been. You know how t'treat un homme en bonne santé. De students are nice, too."
Xavier smiled warmly. "I know Ororo has probably explained a little bit about what we do here. I hope I can do a better job on my own, and please feel free to ask any questions you might have."
"Den where can I get one of dose planes?" Remy joked.
Charles chuckled. "You'll just have to stick around," he returned, making Remy smile.
At that point the door behind Remy opened and both Xavier and Ororo looked to the entering person with a smile of friendly familiarity. Remy turned around in his chair to see who had come in and had to catch himself before he ended up on the floor. He tried not to look as completely shocked as he felt at seeing a massive, blue furry…thing closing the door behind itself. A massive, blue furry thing that was chuckling.
"Once again my appearance is nothing less than shocking," the creature's voice was soothing and gentle, a complete contrast to his appearance.
"Remy, this is Hank McCoy, one of the Institute's staff members," Xavier introduced with amusement coloring his voice.
"Bonjour," Remy greeted with a small bow of his head.
"Bonjour, comment allez vous?" McCoy returned expertly.
Remy smiled. "Très bien, merci. Et toi?"
"Très bien, aussi, merci," McCoy's smile was teasing.
Hank took a place near to Ororo, although he preferred to crouch on the floor rather then sit in a seat like the rest of the room's occupants.
"People like Hank is one of the reasons I started this school," Xavier started, using Hank's appearance as an opener. "It would be hard for him to survive in the human's world, near impossible, even. But here he has a sanctuary, as do many other mutants, young and old, who need a place where they know they will be safe. I hope by building this school I have provided that for many students."
"I know Kurt would say you have," Hank offered.
Xavier nodded in agreement with his associate. "Kurt and many more. The students come here to learn about and come to terms with their mutant abilities. Hopefully, one day we will be able to show ourselves to the world of humans without fear of hurting them or being hurt by them."
Remy nodded as he listened, thinking of all the times people had mistreated him and all because of something so small as the color of his eyes.
"Unfortunately, not all mutants think like that. There is a small faction, led by a powerful mutant, who believes quite differently. Their belief is that Homo superiors'-mutants-divine destination is to rule the world over Homo sapiens one day and he is working hard to see that dream become a reality.
"We, on the other hand, are working hard to oppose him and keep his goal from being realized. I have believed, since I discovered my own mutant abilities, that human and mutant kind can live in harmony without fear of each other. We have a long way to go in order to make that possible, but the journey will be worth it.
"We have asked you to join us, Remy LeBeau and the choice is yours to make freely. As Ororo told you, we will take you anywhere you want to go if you decide not to stay, but we hope your decision will keep you with us."
Remy didn't answer immediately. His gaze swept over the three adults looking at him with patient expectation. What Xavier had said, he had to admit, sounded ideal. He couldn't wait to see the day when people wouldn't shy away from him after looking in his eyes. It sounded almost too good to be true.
But that was all beside the point. He was here for a reason: because the Guild Father had sent him to scope this place out. He really didn't have a choice whether he would stay or not; it had already been decided. Slowly he began to nod his head, continuing with the role he was playing to make them believe.
"Sounds nice," he told them all. "I 't'ink mebbe I can give it a try."
All three smiled, happy and relieved. "Good choice, Mr. LeBeau. You are now, officially, an X-Man."
The Professor reached across the desk to shake hands with Remy, who stood to accept the offer. Hank was by his side immediately, carefully taking up his duffel bag in one huge, clawed hand.
"If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your room and give you a preemptory tour of the Mansion," he invited.
Sounds good t'me," he replied as he followed the gentle giant out.
Logan had been driving hard all day as Rogue had passed the time in fitful sleep. He stopped only to fill up on gas and every so often gave himself time to answer nature's call, though on one trip he had purchased a box of doughnuts. Those he had munched on all day as he sped down the interstate and waited for his companion to wake up. They were all gone now and the day had darkened into night. Up ahead he could see the lights of an approaching town and he immediately glanced at the gas gauge. It was fine though, half a tank still. They could make it a little farther.
A moan from Rogue signaled her rousing and Logan watched her out of the corner of her eye as she went painfully through the process of awakening. She sat up then leaned her arms on her legs and her head in her hands. Her hair hung around her, wild and unkempt.
"How ya feeling?" he asked her.
She groaned in response. He kept glancing at her as they began to enter the outskirts of the small town. She didn't move from the position she had taken up.
"You hungry?" he asked as he saw the upcoming restaurant signs brilliant in the night sky.
She didn't answer at first, and then only nodded when she did. Pulling into the parking lot of the first restaurant they came to, a Perkins, he parked and turned off the truck. They both climbed out, Rogue taking her time to unwind herself and step gingerly out of the cab. For some reason, though he wasn't sure why, Logan noticed that Rogue was still wearing the same black leather cat suit she'd been wearing when he'd found her. Well, it was one last day of driving and then they would be back home.
Looking at her face was almost a shock. Rogue had never had a sunny disposition, but her pale skin, bloodshot eyes and haunted expression were still a surprise to see. She ran her hand through her hair to get it out of her eyes and then washed it across her face, not that it helped any. She was a mess and Logan had to respect her for doing the best she could with the life that had been forced upon her.
As they entered the restaurant Rogue winced at the glare of the lights and put a hand over her eyes to shield them. Logan let his hand rest briefly on one tense shoulder as she he looked around for an employee, not sure what else he could do.
It wasn't long before they were seated and had ordered drinks and food. Rogue had vehemently ordered coffee, straight up, but had allowed Logan to order her meal for her. He had a feeling that she didn't care what it was she ate, as long as it was food.
"Ah been out all day, huh?" she asked when the waitress was gone.
Logan nodded. "I was beginning to get worried about you."
"You, worry? Ah don't believe it," she cracked.
He ignored it; knew she was just trying to take the unwanted attention from herself.
"I take it you were having some pretty bad nightmares," he commented.
She looked him straight in the eyes with her own bloodshot ones, conveying a "what was your first clue" expression. The waitress stopped by to offer them their coffee and Rogue took a deep swallow of hers immediately despite the warning from the waitress that it was hot.
"When Ah woke up…Ah wasn't sure who Ah was, cause of all the mem'ries runnin' through my head," she spoke this time without Logan having to prod her. "Ah was Cody, Kurt, Kitty, Sabretooth. Ah was Carol Danver's fah the longest tahme. That was actually nahce. She had a wonderful lahfe. S'too bad Ah had t'take it away from her."
What Logan was supposed to say to that, he had no idea. He never had been good at offering advice or playing the comforter. But it seemed Rogue didn't want comfort, just someone to listen.
"And then Ah was fin'lly me again. It took forevah t'remember who Ah was, where Ah was, what had happened in my lahfe and my lahfe alone. All those mem'ries sharin' my brain are pretty packed in there. They lahke t'have their own tahme to be themselves. It's not easy keeping them in ordah."
Logan grunted a response, not really having anything else to say. Besides, all she needed to know was that he was listening, so that's what he gave her.
"Carol, though, she's still talking insahde my head. You should hear some of the things she has t'say," she paused to shake her head and chuckle cynically. "On the othah hand, you don't wanna know. She's not a very happy campah."
Logan narrowed his eyes in concern at the girl whose stare was directed at her coffee mug and the table. She hadn't looked up the whole time, except that once, and her face was hidden in shadows.
"Carol…talks…to you?" he inquired.
Rogue nodded as she absently swirled her coffee in its mug. "Yep. She's pretty pissed at me fah what Ah did t'her."
"And the attacks?" Logan questioned,
Rogue shrugged, finishing off her first mug of coffee. "She wants t'take control of my body. Says Ah owe it to'er fah stealin' her lahfe. She's fahghtin' hardest when she attacks me with'er mem'ries."
The waitress interrupted again to drop off their meals and refill their coffee mugs. Logan dug in immediately, his stomach having long forgotten the doughnuts. But Rogue nibbled her food, eating it at her own pace and discretion. Nothing was said as they consumed the food Logan had ordered for them, Logan too busy satisfying his belly and Rogue occupied with who knew what.
Pushing his empty plate away before Rogue was even half finished with her meal Logan watched his companion for a while before making an offer. "You got a headache," he stated. "I'll go get you some aspirin."
She merely nodded as he rose to go, leaving a twenty on the table in case the waitress came by with the bill. He wasn't sure if leaving her alone was a good idea, but he needed to kill time while she finished eating. Sitting there and watching her was just too painful. There was a gas station on the corner of the street adjacent to the restaurant and that's where Logan went to pick up the medication. He took his time looking through the pharmaceuticals, picking the strongest one he could find.
He paid for his purchase and headed back to the restaurant. Rogue had already decided she'd had enough to eat when he got back to the booth. Her fries were mostly gone and she'd made an attempt at the hamburger, though most of it was untouched. He placed the pills on the table in front of her and she immediately snatched them up again. Logan checked his watch as she popped a couple of the pills into her mouth and swallowed them dry. They'd been here for forty-five minutes already, and though he didn't want to push her, he also wanted to get going and return to the Mansion as soon as possible. Still, they wouldn't leave until she was ready.
"Let me know when you're ready to go," he voiced.
She nodded and then leaned forward, elbows on the table, face in her hands. Too bad he didn't have the mutant abilities the Professor and Jean had. All he had was his adamantium skeleton and claws and advanced healing factor…
Logan thought hard the next few moments about the idea that had entered his head. He knew she'd never allow it if he told her straight out what he had planned. And he didn't really want to put anything more in her head. She was having a hard enough time with what was already there. But she looked like she was fighting a losing battle and needed an edge. Logan knew, if he put his plan into action, that he could give her that leading edge.
Slowly he reached his hand out towards her. She didn't notice, wasn't even paying attention to him. Just one passing touch was all he needed. He hesitated for a moment, part of him absolutely afraid, part of him wondering what it would be like. But then, quickly, briefly, he let his fingertips brush the bare skin of her one exposed hand.
She sat up immediately, gasping, her eyes wide and staring at Logan. He held his guilty hand in the other, rubbing the fingertips where the contact had taken place. He didn't think in his entire life that he'd ever be able to describe what touching her had been like. And that had only been a split second for him. Who knew what Danvers had gone through?
"Ya shouldn't have done that," she told him, her eyes still wide as she gave him a wary look.
"I was just…trying to help," he told her. "Your headaches gone, isn't it?"
She nodded slowly. He could tell by how much more lively her face looked that the pain in her head had been half the problem.
"You just looked like you needed some help," he tried again.
"Well, next tahme…" she paused, shaking her head. "No, there won't be a next tahme. Jus' don't do it again, okay?"
He nodded. "Promise."
She slumped back in the booth, exhaling loudly. Glancing at her plate, she picked up a few of the remaining fries and munched on them, looking thoughtful.
"How was everyone…back home befo' ya left?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant and not looking at him at all.
Logan shrugged. "Depressed. They all missed you."
Her eyes flicked in his direction at the piece of information he had just given her.
"Really? They did?"
Logan nodded. "Yep, and reeking of so much grief that my only choices were to stay there and put up with them or set out and find you. It's pretty obvious what my decision was."
She breathed a short laugh as she polished off her fries and he detected a hint of a smile trying to spread across her mouth.
"Ya know, the sooner we get going again, the sooner we'll get back to them," he reminded as he leaned forward on the table.
She looked at him directly now then smiled for real. "Well, let's go then."
They both filed out of the booth. The bill was resting folded on the twenty Logan had left on the table earlier. He didn't bother to look at it. The simple math he did in his head told him it would be enough plus a generous tip for the waitress. Logan didn't feel like being so generous very often.
And then it was back on the road again, Bayville or bust.