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Chapter 7—Deception
Rogue awoke to a buzzing by her ear. She groaned as she slowly opened her eyes. The room was dark which caused her to groan. Moving a hand around on her nightstand the teen searched for the beeper, finally finding it to press a button so that a number lit up across the small screen.
"You've got to be kidding me," she muttered to herself. It seemed the mighty Magneto had another job for her. Rogue pushed herself out of bed and turned on the light on her nightstand. She quickly found some clothes to wear and pulled her into a ponytail. There was no reason to put up a decent appearance at this time in the morning. Rogue pulled on her gloves and opened her bedroom window.
"I should kill Mystique for getting a place with upstairs bedrooms. She makes it that much harder for me to sneak out." Rogue cursed herself once more for her bad luck before crawling out onto the roof. She carefully walked to the edge and peered down at the ground below. Looking around she found a drainpipe for her to climb down.
Within minutes she was finally on the ground and on her way towards town. Rogue soon came across a pay phone. She pulled out some loose change and her beeper, punching in the new number.
"Ah, Rogue! Did I wake you?" asked Magneto calmly.
Rogue gritted her teeth. "No, Mags—not at all. What do you want? Coffee?"
"No. I need you to befriend a mutant for me."
"But Caliban hasn't named any new mutants in town yet. I barely talked to him yesterday!"
Magneto gave an exasperated sigh over the phone. "I am aware of that, Rogue, yes. For now I want you to befriend one of the X-Men. I will have use of a resource within Charles' walls."
"You want me to get to know one of the X-Geeks? You're crazy, Mags! They tried to kill me!" argued Rogue raising her voice. She hadn't signed up for a suicide mission like this one. She wanted nothing to do with the X-Men. As far as she was concerned they were nothing more than trouble, and trouble like that didn't bode well for Rogue's future. She was sure of it.
"I'm not talking about your perpetrators, my dear. I am talking about one of the lesser known X-Men—one of the younger recruits."
Rogue was silent. There was a slight possibility she could handle that…but did she really want to? With a sigh she agreed. "Alright. Who is this new 'friend' of mine?"
"His name is Bobby Drake—he goes by the codename Iceman. I've heard tell of his admiration for you. Use it to your advantage. I have also heard tell of some sort of involvement you have with your housemate, Lance Alvers."
"Are you spying on me, Mags? I don't exactly like that idea. It makes it sound like you don't trust me, and I just got added to your payroll. Do you trust me?" demanded Rogue harshly.
Magneto merely chuckled. "Rogue, I have the utmost confidence in your loyalty to me…I simply like to keep well informed when it comes to my mercenaries. I need to be assured you're in good spirits. All I ask from you is that you don't let this…thing…with Lance Alvers cloud your judgment while under my directions."
"Don't worry, Mags, I won't do anything to screw up whatever plans you're cooking up. My personal life won't be a problem…but why call on me so damn early?"
"Because the Popsicle is playing a very late night hooky with some of the local boys. I believe he somehow managed to get admitted to a club—The Night Owl—and alcohol is served all night long. Someone should make sure he gets home, don't you agree, Rogue?"
The name had sounded familiar, forcing the brunette to go over a mental list of names and faces from school. She groaned aloud as she realized who Magneto meant. "That annoying guy from French class? Man, Mags, you really know how to pick them, don't you? Fine, I'll make sure the kid makes it home safe and sound, but I won't like it...and I can't say that he'll make it to his place in one piece…but I'll try my best."
"Good. That's all I ask. Happy hunting, Rogue." And with that Magneto hung up the phone.
"Yeah, right." Rogue glared at the phone before slamming it back down on the receiver. She glanced around the empty streets until she spotted a twenty-four hour convenience store. There was only one way she figured could make her calm down. She quickly headed towards the store and gave a winsome smile to the geeky clerk behind the counter.
"Hey, sugar, how much for a pack of cigarettes?" asked Rogue sweetly. The geek pushed up his glasses on his nose as he stared in open mouthed wonder at the brunette before him. It wasn't everyday that a girl like that appeared on his shift.
"About five bucks. You old enough?" he managed to squeak out.
Rogue raised an eyebrow as she pulled a twenty out of her pocket. "Do I look old enough for you, sugar?"
The geek gulped and quickly grabbed a pack of cigarettes from behind the counter. He slid it across to Rogue as handed him the twenty.
"I'll need a lighter too," she added, batting her lashes. The geek nodded and passed her a lighter, and then turned to ring up her order.
"Keep the change!" she called out as she walked out the door again. There was no use in sitting around making the poor guy suffer. It was uncomfortable enough as it was using her feminine wiles to try and get something she probably didn't need. Another bad habit didn't exactly make for a future bright with possibilities, but at this point Rogue really didn't give a damn what she did to herself anymore. It couldn't be any worse than walking around like the Black Plague.
Outside, Rogue pulled a cigarette out of the pack and popped it into her mouth. She lit it up with her new lighter and took her first puff of smoke ever. She quickly sputtered at the taste in her mouth. "Must be some kind of acquired taste," she muttered to herself as she took another puff. Then she gave a sour laugh. If only her adopted parents could see her now. The once level headed girl with a bright future now working for an evil man for an unknown future. What a life.
Rogue shook off her heavy minded thoughts as she trudged down the street. She studied each building in search of The Night Owl. Then she saw it. The club was hard to miss. Music was pumping out of the open doors and windows—the lights as bright as the sun. Apparently The Night Owl couldn't tell time. Rogue glanced down at her watch and narrowed her eyes. It was barely three a.m.
"The Popsicle better show his face soon if he knows what's good for him," she murmured as she blew out more smoke from her cigarette. Shaking her head she positioned herself across the street in the shadows. That way she wouldn't miss the blonde haired boy no matter which way he came out.
Inside The Night Owl
Bobby blinked hard as he tried to concentrate on the vivacious red head sitting next to him. She was chattering away about life as a waitress while he tried to keep the room from spinning. But it simply wasn't working. Bobby was seeing double and finally beginning to feel his stomach churn with all the alcohol he had consumed that evening.
Bobby quickly made up an excuse to tear him away from the waitress before stumbling out the front entrance of the club. Once he felt the fresh air he instantly dropped to his knees and vomited into the bushes.
He rocked back onto his heels and closed his eyes in semi-relief. Tomorrow was going to be pure hell if he ever managed to get back into the mansion without causing a ruckus…or waking Logan with his stench. Bobby shuddered at the thought.
"Feeling better, Popsicle?" asked a quiet voice from behind him. Bobby opened his eyes and turned around slowly to see Rogue looking down at him.
"Y…y…yeah," stammered Bobby staggering to his feet.
"Maybe you shouldn't have drunk so much beer, huh?"
Bobby simply nodded. He couldn't tell whether or not he was dreaming—or if Rogue was really there with him. Then he saw her cigarette as she raised it to her mouth. If this was a dream, then his senses very extremely good—he could smell the smoke.
"You shouldn't smoke," said Bobby. "It's bad for your health."
"So is drinking, so I guess we're even," countered Rogue. "Come on, Popsicle, we better get you home before the geeks send out a search party. I'm pretty sure it's past your bedtime."
"How do you know I'm with them?" called out Bobby as Rogue swept right past him.
Rogue continued walking. "I have m ways, Bobby. Never underestimate me."
Bobby slowly forced himself to follow the southern mutant in the direction of Xavier's mansion. Rogue certainly was full of surprises.
"So does this mean you're coming back with me?" he asked gingerly. He still wasn't sure what to make of this. If it were a dream he was pretty sure she wouldn't sound so pissed at him…or annoyed…and if she were joining the X-Men, shouldn't she be asking him to introduce her to the Professor and others? Her words quickly dispelled any illusions he had.
"Not on your life. I'm not choosing sides."
"We aren't asking you to choose sides, Rogue."
"Sure. That's not how it went down with Jeanie in the Big Easy. That's why I'm staying with the Brotherhood. They haven't asked me to choose a side yet. They're just giving me a home."
"And a boyfriend," muttered Bobby darkly.
"Lance and I aren't officially anything yet, got it?"
"That's not what the school is saying."
Rogue rolled her eyes. What was the big deal about Lance? "Screw the school. I don't give a shit what they say about me, and neither should you."
"But are you going to get together with Lance?"
Rogue gave a sideways glance to the blonde walking beside her and smirked. "That depends on Lance. If things work out, then yeah, I might make the whole thing official…if not, then whatever. I still have other house mates to consider," she teased.
"I don't think I like the sounds of that." Bobby groaned and clutched his sensitive stomach.
Rogue sighed. She could already tell where this was headed, and she had half a mind to put a stop to it. Unfortunately Magneto's orders went through her head. Either way Rogue was screwed.
"Rogue, if things don't work out with Lance…I'll be here for you. I mean as a friend. I really like you, but I won't push my luck. Basically, I just want you to know that you can talk to me whenever you need to." Bobby finished in a rush and refrained from looking over at Rogue.
"Bobby…" Rogue paused and then sighed. "There's a lot you and Lance don't know about me. I'm not girlfriend material—I'm not even friend material. But…thanks. I'll keep your offer about talking some time in mind. It means a lot to me, that you're sincere. That's kind of rare in a guy."
"Really? Thanks." Bobby smiled shyly and the two lapsed into a comfortable silence. Things changed when the reached the front gates. There leaning outside of them was Scott…and he was angry.
"Jesus, Bobby! I was getting ready to wake Logan!" hissed Scott. Then he wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Man, you stink."
"Sorry, Scott, I kind of lost track of time." Bobby hung his head in defeat, waiting for Scott's lecture. But it never came.
Scott had caught sight of Rogue, and had been rendered speechless. Here was the most sought after mutant walking with Bobby Drake of all people in the middle of the morning. And despite her careless appearance, she was still pretty breathtaking. Scott cleared his throat and tried to regain his thoughts.
"This is where I leave, Bobby. I'll see you at school." Rogue gave a small wave and turned to head back home. She took a deep breath at seeing Scott again. Her heart had begun to beat abnormally in his presence, and she hated that feeling. It was the same feeling she had gotten with Cody in Mississippi, and look where she was now.
"Bobby, get inside before Logan sniffs you out. Rogue, wait." Scott jogged after Rogue until they were face to face.
"What?" she asked pulling out another cigarette.
"Thanks for walking Bobby home. That was…that was really nice of you," finished Scott lamely.
Rogue forced herself to give a cold laugh, if only to keep up a distant appearance. The words had caught her off guard and she didn't need Scott of all people to see her vulnerable side. "Isn't that sweet, Scotty? You're thanking me for walking one of your geeks home. It was nothing; the kid would've gotten mugged before he reached the sidewalk if I wasn't there."
"You're that intimidating?"
"No, but Lance is."
Scott nodded at Rogue's tone of voice. "Is he good to you?"
Rogue shrugged. "What's good? Flowers and candy? He's just someone I can trust to protect me. That's all I need."
"Any of us here could protect you, Rogue." Scott gestured back at the mansion. Then he softened his voice. "I would."
"I don't need a knight in shining armor. I just need a fear factor. Someone who scares people by looking at them. You know about mah powers…they're dangerous, Scott. How's that fuzzy friend of yours?"
"He's alright. So you're with Lance just for a shield from humans?" Scott narrowed his eyes as Rogue blew out some smoke.
"No. Yes. Lance is a decent guy. I like him. He didn't introduce himself by telling me about the cause he works for. He didn't ask me to join his ranks. I haven't told Lance about mah curse yet and frankly, I don't want to. He's better off not knowing—he's safer that way."
"Lance is one step away from working for Magneto directly, Rogue. Do you know who he is? He's the bad guy. He puts the E in evil! Magneto won't rest until all humankind has been destroyed. He's planning some kind of mutant world. He's consumed by ideals that he loathes! How can you feel safe with someone like Lance, who's working for someone like Magento?"
"How can I feel safe with someone like an X-Man, who believes in a dream? Someone who isn't realistic about the real world? You live in a fantasy world, Scott! You're no better than Lance!" shot back Rogue in a dangerous tone. Scott fell silent.
"Mystique will deceive you, Rogue. You can't trust her. I don't like the idea of you entrusting your life in her hands."
"I know that," whispered Rogue close to tears. It was the same argument she had been giving herself over Magneto since taking up his offer. Everything that had started out by making sense was making absolutely no sense at all…and Scott was voicing it all as though he were her conscience struggling to shake her by the arms.
Scott whispered back intensely. "Then why are you there?"
"Because I feel welcome. I feel safe. For the first time in my life I feel like I don't have to run anymore. Mystique is twisted in her own way—but so are you!"
Rogue turned her back on Scott, leaving him speechless. She quickly walked back towards the boarding house, her mind awhirl. Lance was loyal. Bobby was sincere. Scott was honest.
Sometimes being a mutant had its advantages. Otherwise making up her mind on which guy she should crush on would be ten times harder.
A/N—As of June 26, 2007 this chapter has been revised.