Disclaimer—Unfortunately I don't own this stuff.
Chapter 13-Simplicity Lost
The ride to school Monday morning was amusing, to say the least. In the backseat Pietro and Toad were both complaining about how much space Fred took up. Rogue and Lance were silent, but continued to trade knowing looks the entire way. Rogue rolled her eyes as Lance pulled up next to Scott's car in the parking lot. As she got out of the jeep she noticed the wary glances the members of the X-Men sent her way. At least they knew she meant business.
"Well, well, well," spoke up Pietro with a cocky smirk. "Look who made it out alive. You shoulda toppled a few buildings on 'em, Roguey. Then we wouldn't hafta stare at their sorry asses all the time."
"Fuck off, Whitey," snapped Bobby coming to face the speedster.
Pietro chuckled. "Ooo, I'm so scared."
"Leave 'em alone, Speedy," warned Rogue as Lance slipped an arm around her shoulders. "They ain't worth it."
Lance winked at Scott as he led Rogue towards school. "See ya around, Summers."
The Brotherhood followed as Bobby and Scott exchanged nervous looks. Bobby decided to speak first. "Think they're gonna do anything today?"
Scott shook his head. "Not if Rogue's running the show now. She's too smart for that."
"Like great," murmured Kitty tugging Kurt's shirt sleeve, "now we have something to look forward to."
In homeroom Rogue studied the ceiling as the school announcements were read over the air. Her mind was elsewhere. What she really wanted to do was find Caliban the first chance she got. She had an uneasy feeling growing in the pit of her stomach. The mutant, Destiny, had to be in town by now.
I'll hunt down my seeker after school.
Rogue momentarily shook herself back to the present only to catch Jean eyeing her carefully. Jean flushed red and glanced away, why couldn't she read Rogue's mind? The next chance she got she would have to let the Professor know about Rogue's seemingly built in mind barricades. Jean didn't trust the southern girl—especially after what she did to Scott the other night. The red head sighed to herself, wishing she had a good reason to get even with Rogue. It wasn't in her nature to hold grudges for something she hadn't been a part of—let alone carry evil thoughts and wishes. Yet, somehow, Rogue seemed to bring out the worst in her. Ever since Rogue had arrived in Bayville, Jean found herself battling a fiery beast within herself; and she highly doubted it was a green eyed monster she was fighting against. No, there was something about Rogue that irked Jean Grey—and she didn't like the feeling one bit.
Lunch came and went, as did most of the classes Rogue attended that afternoon. It was actually one of the first times she had been to any of her afternoon classes…and the teachers showed surprise through each and every roll call. Finally, Rogue's last class of the day arrived: drama. She was a bit surprised to note that she had the class with all the members of the Brotherhood and the X-Men.
Gee, how quaint. A real family reunion.
The teacher didn't bother with roll call; instead she launched right into the basics. Apparently the class would be putting on a play in a couple of months. And of all the plays to perform, she just had to pick a Shakespearean piece. Romeo and Juliet.
"This is ridiculous," muttered Rogue darkly as the teacher passed out scripts of the play.
Pietro snorted as he thumbed through the pages. "How original. At least there's some killing in here. I want to be a killer."
"Yo, how 'bout somethin' not so mushy, teach?" demanded Toad scrunching his nose at his script.
The teacher smiled and pushed her thick rimmed glasses up her nose. "I want romance! I want passion! I want heart and soul and body! This play has it all!"
"Does it have an exit too?" asked Rogue getting to her feet.
"Juliet!" screeched the teacher enthusiastically, dropping her glasses to the ground.
"Excuse meh?"
"You shall play the role of a lifetime, m'dear! Juliet!"
"Ah don't act. Ah quit."
"You quit now, and I'll fail you to the principal's office!"
Rogue shrugged and was set on leaving until she felt a tug at her shirt sleeve. She glanced down and saw a warning look on Lance's face. She bent down so the dark haired teen could whisper in her ear. "Mystique won't be happy to see you in her office. That brings her too much attention from the teachers. Just play along with this old broad. Maybe she'll change her mind—she always does."
Grumbling, Rogue retook her seat beside Lance. "This is why Ah hate school."
Jean frowned as the teacher began to issue out other parts of the play. "Um, excuse me, Mrs. Moltby, shouldn't you hold auditions? That way you can see who best interprets the character on stage?"
Rogue nodded eagerly in agreement. "Jeanie's right, teach. Ah am not cut out for this Juliet part. Ah should be backstage or somethin'—Ah may not even be around night of the performance!"
Mrs. Moltby frowned down at both girls and turned to face Jean with an ominous look. "You shall play the nurse!"
In the end Rogue ended up as Juliet, with Scott playing the part of Romeo. Jean was the nurse, Lance was Lord Capulet, Kitty his Lady; Pietro was Tybalt, Toad was the apothecary, Fred was Friar Laurence, and Kurt was Friar John; Bobby got the part of Benvolio, while Evan ended up with Mercutio. The rest of the roles were divided up evenly between the rest of the cast, and it was needless to say that no one was happy with the results.
"Tomorrow, the rehearsal begins!" announced Mrs. Moltby shrilly as the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Rogue was the first one out of class, searching her pockets for a cigarette with Lance hot on her heels.
"Hey, Rogue, where ya headed?" he asked as Rogue bypassed her locker and straight outside.
"There's someone Ah need ta talk to," replied Rogue sticking a cigarette in her mouth. She paused long enough to turn and face her boyfriend.
Lance frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. "Need company?"
"Nah."
"Who you gonna see?"
"A friend."
"What kind of friend?"
Rogue drew in a deep breath and narrowed her eyes. "Don't do this to meh now, Lance. Ah promise it's nothin' you should be worried 'bout. Ah ain't gonna cheat ohn you. Ah have morals, remember?"
"It's kinda hard for me to remember that when you're always disappearing," replied Lance evenly. Rogue's face darkened, but any words she was about to say were drowned out by a nearby argument.
"Kitty, it's over! I can't deal with you're pushing and needing me every second of the day! We are through!" shouted Kurt pushing the petite brunette away from him as gently as possible. Kitty dropped her mouth open in disbelief, and then burst into tears.
Lance glanced back to Rogue with wide eyes. There was no way he was going to push her away like Kitty had just done to Kurt. "I trust you, alright? Just, you know, call me up if you need me."
Rogue rolled her eyes and leaned upwards to give Lance a quick kiss on the lips. Lance felt the semi-familiar tug of her powers, but it vanished as Rogue quickly stepped away from him. "How 'bout Ah meet you at the mall for some food around sevenish?"
"Okay. You better be there," murmured Lance capturing Rogue in a hug. Rogue grinned and the second she was released she darted away from the school and across the street to the alley. She lit her cigarette and breathed in the smoke with a content heart. Now all she had to do was find an obscure manhole to find Caliban.
Almost an hour later Rogue finally came across a manhole with no one in sight. She hefted up the lid and quickly darted down the ladder and into the sewers. Rogue frowned and tried to squint into the darkness to see if anyone was coming her way. After a minute Rogue felt a smile tug at her lips as a soft glow bobbed towards her. Soon she was face to face with Caliban.
"Ah've been lookin' for ya, sugah."
Caliban nodded knowingly. "I was on my way to find you when I felt your presence here. The one called Destiny has arrived. Do you wish to see where she is?"
"You know the way to a girl's heart, Caliban. Lead ohn." Rogue deftly followed Caliban out of the sewers and recovered the manhole as the pale mutant pulled the hood of his grey coat over his head. They continued to travel through alleyways until they reached a part of town Rogue hadn't visited yet. The buildings here were run down with graffiti visible on every wall. Bars were instilled over windows and doorways, and no vehicles littered the streets.
"Nice place," muttered Rogue. Caliban remained silent and motioned Rogue down a darker alleyway until they came to the side of an abandoned house. Caliban crouched down beneath the broken window and motioned for Rogue to do the same. The southern teen frowned, but followed his example and waited. Caliban put a finger to his lips and then pointed up at the window before pointing to his eyes. He wanted her to be silent when she peeked through the metal bars.
Rogue nodded and slowly peered through the window and into the dim lighted room. Seated at a shabby table was a woman with short dark red hair and black sunglasses. She seemed to be meditating with her hands folded together across the table. Rogue noticed a plain walking stick beside the woman and smirked in triumph. The great Destiny was blind, how ironic of the seer. Studying the woman, Rogue wanted to know more. She wanted to speak to her; to hear about the parents who didn't want her; who they were…what they were. Rogue dropped to the ground without a sound.
"Ah'm goin' in," she murmured softly. Caliban's eyes widened with fear, but Rogue ignored him as she walked around to the front of the building. She took a deep breath and then pushed the door open. Rogue ignored the fact that it was unlocked—she simply marched over to the kitchen where Destiny was still seated.
"Ah want answers," announced Rogue loudly.
"I've been expecting you, Marie," replied Destiny motioning for Rogue to take a seat. The seer didn't stir, but Rogue eventually took a seat in the chair across from the blind woman.
"The name's Rogue."
"Of course. Your adopted parents miss you."
"Good for them."
"You shouldn't hate them Rogue. They were weak in a time of need."
Rogue snorted. "Ah thought you could see the future. Why are ya talkin' 'bout mah past?"
"Isn't that why you came?" retorted Destiny quietly.
"Ah don't give a shit 'bout Jack ahn Lena. Who were mah real parents? Ah heard you knew them pretty well."
"As well as anyone could, I guess. They do not matter, Marie. Your role in the future matters."
"Fuck you. Ah want ta know 'bout mah birth folks. Are they like meh? Are they mutants too?"
Destiny sighed. "The day is coming for you, Rogue. The day of revelations."
"Who were mah parents?"
"You and a powerful Senator share the same role. The ushering in of a new era. One that will divide the nation in half."
"Who are mah parents, Destiny? You're pissin' meh off now," hissed Rogue ignoring the blind woman's words.
"A mutant lord will be your doom; your family will be your betrayal; you can trust no one, Rogue. You alone have the power to be great."
In a flash Rogue had Destiny by the collar of her shirt and pulled her up close to Rogue's face. "Ah don't like your mumbo jumbo, sugah. That's for the swamp rats of Louisiana. So Ah'm gonna ask you nicely, who are mah parents?"
"Your father's face is shrouded in mystery. There is only one who knows his name," answered Destiny with a small gasp.
"Then who, pray tell, is mah mother?"
"The one they call…Mystique."
Rogue let go of Destiny and stumbled backwards without seeing. It couldn't be. Mystique, her mother? Then why not tell her? Why keep it a secret? Rogue barely glanced at Destiny as the seer drew in deep breaths of air.
"I know it is hard, Rogue, but understand this, she was trying to protect you…we never knew you would become so powerful…or so revered by the stars."
"You're crazy," whispered Rogue hoarsely. Her entire body was shaking. She needed to get out of the house—and soon. Mystique was her mother. Her birth mother. Rogue needed time to comprehend this fact. With a shake of her head Rogue headed towards the doorway, but stopped in her tracks as Destiny's voice floated to her ears.
"Be careful, Rogue. The day you meet Senator Kelly will mark your doom. You will become a vessel to wipe out the human population…and you will not live to tell about it. You keep dangerous company here in Bayville, Marie. Get out while you can."
Without a word Rogue left the house and slammed the door behind her. She didn't care for Destiny's words. She didn't believe in that kind of stuff. Caliban was waiting for Rogue at the end of the alleyway. No words were exchanged as he pulled her into a fatherly embrace. It was then that Rogue broke down into tears.
Rogue was Mystique's daughter.
A/N—This took some serious thinking in how I wanted to display this chapter…but I'm satisfied with the results. I hope you guys enjoy, and I should have the next chapter up in a couple of days.