Disclaimer: Still not mine.
Chapter 30—Shattered
Rogue was stirring a cup of coffee when she felt a presence behind her. Without looking up she instinctively knew that it was Logan.
"What are you doing up so early?" asked the older X-Man taking a seat across from Rogue at the counter.
"Couldn't sleep," replied Rogue softly. That was an understatement. Every time she closed her eyes the whispers would start up. Eventually she had given up on sleep and decided to make some coffee in hopes that the caffeine would drive away her headache. But Rogue wasn't ready to confess this to just anyone, so instead she steered the conversation away from her. "How's Ororo?"
"She cried for five hours before fallin' asleep—and now I'm out of a bed. You'd think that because she's so small she wouldn't take up that much room," snorted Logan. He got up and set about pouring himself a cup of coffee as well.
Rogue grimaced. "Ah'm sorry ta hear that."
"No you aren't—you never even got a chance to drain Evan. You aren't sorry at all."
"Like back off. Maybe she liked him."
"Aw, fuck off. She would never date a chump like Evan."
"And yet she dated you. Evan would be a step up for her after you."
"No-no-no-no. I can think of one other person who would be ten times better for Rogue. Me."
"You? Don't make me laugh, kid. You're nothin' but a goddamn spoiled brat. Gimme one hour with you in the danger room and I promise I'll have you singin' a different tune."
"Why is there so much violence? Hasn't there been more than enough tonight?"
And then there was silence. Rogue blinked, startled as Logan repeated her name.
"Yeah?" she murmured.
"You all right kid? You're lookin' kinda pale," pointed out Logan studying her face carefully. The southern girl seemed shaken…and partially afraid of something.
"Ah'm alright…just stressed 'bout school."
"Didn't know you even cared about school, Stripes, especially considerin' the fact that you didn't bother to show up yesterday."
Rogue winced. She knew it had been too good to be true to hope that no one had mentioned her absence in front of Logan. "Ya heard about that?"
"I don't like the fact that you're hangin' around that pipsqueak of a mutant. He's no good," stated Logan darkly. Truth be told he hated all males when it came to Rogue, and that worried him. Her paternity was still unknown, but it seemed he was the only one at the mansion concerned about Rogue's safety and well being. And that single thought was the scariest thing Logan had ever come across. He wasn't used to feeling responsible for someone other than himself.
"He's mah friend. Ah trust him. 'Sides, you cahn't tell meh who Ah cahn and cahn't be friends with," shot back Rogue.
"You tell him, Roguey!"
"Isn't it like dangerous to piss Mr. Logan off?"
"Be careful, Rogue. If Logan ever finds out you're keeping us in here he'll tear you to shreds."
"And would that really be a shame?"
"Why'd ya hafta turn into a mutant, Marie? Why?"
"Hey, are you even listening to me?" demanded Logan.
Rogue snapped. "Stop it! Leave meh alone! Why cahn't y'all just leave meh alone?" She jumped to her feet, knocking over her cup of coffee as she fled the kitchen. Rogue was losing her mind.
"Damn teenagers," growled Logan grabbing a paper towel to clean off the counter.
Meanwhile Rogue was already out the front door of the mansion just as the rest of the household was beginning to stir. She couldn't face them—the ones she had drained; the ones that were inside her head, always whispering to her. Rogue wanted out. She wanted her life back.
Somehow, despite all her frazzled thoughts, Rogue found herself standing outside the front door of the boarding house. She raised her hand and gave a tentative knock. In all honesty, Rogue had nowhere else to go.
The door flung open, revealing a tousled haired Toad. Right behind him stood Fred scratching his oversized gut just as Lance and Pietro made their way downstairs. All four boys froze upon seeing Rogue, but she was already hurtling herself into Pietro's arms.
"Rogue?" asked Lance, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Ah feel so outta control," she sobbed into Pietro's shirt as the speed demon wrapped his arms around her.
"Hey now, it'll be alright. We're here for you," murmured Pietro soothingly. He locked eyes with Lance, sharing a concerned look for Rogue. Fred shut the door and leaned back against it.
"Did I just miss something here?" asked Toad in confusion.
"What is the deal here? Why the hell is someone knocking at our door when it's not even—" Tabitha stopped short upon seeing Rogue in Pietro's arms. "Rogue? Omigod! What happened? Are you alright? Is everything okay?"
The blonde girl shoved Pietro aside and wrapped an arm around Rogue's shoulders. Together the two teens made their way upstairs to the room Tabitha was staying in, which happened to be Rogue's old one.
"What's wrong, Rogue?" questioned Tabitha sitting beside her friend on the bed.
Rogue gave a small sniff. "Mah head—it hasn't stopped hurtin' since Juggernaut, ahn now…ahn now Ah'm hearin' voices in mah head."
"In your head? What kind of voices?"
"Voices of everyone Ah've touched since Ah got mah curse. Gawd, Tabs, Ah think Ah'm losin' mah mind. What if Ah need ta be locked up like Juggernaut? D'ya think Ah'm getting' too dangerous ta be free?" Rogue glanced up at Tabitha who was vigorously shaking her head.
"You're fine, Rogue. There's gotta be some kind of explanation behind all this. We just need to figure it out, okay? I promise, I'm not gonna let anyone lock up my best friend. It wouldn't be fun to torture Kitty all by myself."
"Thanks. Ah mean it. Ah'm just…Ah'm scared."
Tabitha grinned. "Yeah, I'd be scared too if I was running to a real charmer instead of my boyfriend in my time of need."
Rogue's eyes widened. "What? It's not like that—"
Tabitha cut Rogue off with a snort. "Oh please, you can't possibly tell me that you're actually oblivious to the way Pietro looks at you. The guy is so into you it's not even funny. He and Lance have been butting heads over all the time Speedy spends with you."
"Maybe Ah should just join a convent. Ah bet nuns don't have this much stress," sighed Rogue.
School:
Rogue ignored the looks the X-Men cast her as she made her way through the school doors with Tabitha and Pietro flanked on either side of her. Keeping her eyes straight ahead, Rogue walked over to her locker and opened it up. She shook her head as Pietro opened his mouth to say something. Rogue wasn't sure she wanted to hear what he had to say—not after what Tabitha had told her. Pietro frowned but disappeared in the direction of his locker. Tabitha snickered and tagged along since Pietro's locker happened to be right beside Lance's.
"Hey Rogue! What's up?" Risty's cheerful voice startled Rogue out of her downcast mood. She glanced over at the funky teen standing beside her, and couldn't keep the smile from slipping out.
"Tired," murmured Rogue shutting her locker carefully.
Risty scrunched up her nose as she got a better look at Rogue's face. The southern belle had shadows under her eyes and looked ready to collapse. "You look like you could sleep for the next hundred years."
"Ah feel like Ah could sleep for the next hundred years."
"Must suck to be you then, huh? So, are you gonna tell me what's the deal with that guy you're always with? Are you guys dating?"
Rogue blinked in surprise at Risty's rapid change of topic. "Pietro? Nah, we're just friends. Mah boyfriend lives in New York City. Warren Worthington."
"Huh…sounds…nice," replied Risty twisting her face thoughtfully. Rogue shrugged. She didn't expect Risty to know who Warren was…Rogue wasn't exactly the bragging type. She didn't want to be hounded by anyone trying to find out about one of the richest men in New York. That would totally kill any chance of privacy she might ever have.
"Attention students! This is the principal speaking. Please report to the auditorium for a school assembly. Attendance is mandatory." The P.A. system buzzed off again just as the student body began to groan. School assemblies were always a bore. There was never enough room in the auditorium to seat everyone.
Rogue made a face as she backed up against her locker. A school assembly was the last place in the world she wanted to be. Around her students began to drift off in the direction of the auditorium. As groups brushed past her Rogue could feel beads of sweat forming on her forehead. There were just too many people heading in the same direction. Frozen in her spot, Rogue shut her eyes and willed everyone to pass her by without any accidents.
"Go on, Rogue, just reach out your hand and touch one. There's more than enough room up here for an 'I Hate Rogue Party'."
"I thought we were encouraging her to let us go—not the other way around!"
"But one more stolen power will take her another step closer to becoming invincible. It's the ultimate power. Tempting, isn't it, Rogue?"
"Is she the enemy? I thought she was our friend."
"You mutants are crazy, did ya know that? Don't listen to them, Marie! Get rid of your curse ahn come back home where you belong."
"Things will never be the same. You can't turn back now, Rogue, you've come too far—it is time for you to start a new chapter in your life. Let go of your fears and embrace who you are."
"Rogue? Are you alright?" came the distant voice of Risty.
Rogue's eyes flickered open just as her head began to spin. All of a sudden she felt faint. She could see the tinge of blackness surrounding the world around her. Her legs buckled beneath her and Rogue would have fallen to the ground had Risty not reached out to grab her. It was at this precise moment that Rogue felt the new chapter in her life begin.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Rogue was falling to the ground; Pietro was rushing her way; the Brotherhood stood stock still as the X-Men turned to watch in disbelief just in time to see Risty stretch out a small hand and grasp Rogue around the wrist.
Both girls locked eyes upon the realization that Risty's bare hand had connected with a patch of Rogue's own bare skin.
Rogue's eyes widened as her powers instantly kicked in, draining Risty. Only, the thoughts flooding Rogue's mind were not teenage thoughts. They were the thoughts of a mutant terrorist. Mystique.
Risty opened her mouth in a silent scream, her image shifting from Risty to Raven Darkholme, to a blonde waitress, to the blue skin of her true self. Her hand burned as she let go of Rogue, both of them tumbling to the ground.
Noise flooded Rogue's senses. Above her Rogue could hear Pietro trying to launch himself at Mystique while Lance and Scott held him back; Kitty was screaming in shock; Jean was yelling at Kitty to shut up so she could block off all the auditorium exits in case any humans heard them; Kurt and Bobby were fumbling for the COM link to call for backup as everyone else stood their ground, each one waiting for the next move.
Mystique hoisted herself to her knees, groaning in pain. She felt as though she had just been hit by a train. She glanced over at the still figure of Rogue just as the southerner began to stir.
Rogue gave a soft moan as her hands went up to her head. The voices were louder, each one trying to be heard over the other. Mixed in there were jumbled memories of every person she had ever touched. One second she was reliving Cody's first day of football practice, then she was reliving Kitty's first date with Kurt, then it moved on to Logan fighting Sabertooth, Juggernaut picking on the Professor as children, Ororo being stoned by her peers, Lance grieving over the death of his father, Jubilee twirling a baton at a football game, the moment when Jean first met Scott, Pietro attending a funeral, Kurt bowing to applause of a circus audience, Magneto screaming for his parents in a concentration camp, and then Mystique agreeing to give Magneto full access to her daughter in exchange for a chance to be with her son after a brief conversation with Destiny.
It was that last memory that Rogue concentrated on, building up her anger and pain. Never had she felt so betrayed before. Never had she hated someone so much as she did Mystique. Never had she felt as powerful as she did now.
Raw, unfiltered power swirled around within Rogue. She could feel the voices in her mind coming to life, fighting to break free from the confines of Rogue's mind. Rogue was barely hanging on to sanity when her voice spoke to her.
"Let go."
With those two words Rogue snapped. Within seconds she was on her feet staring down at Mystique with an icy calm. Her emerald green eyes spoke volumes upon volumes of the deep hatred she felt inside.
Mystique gulped as she recognized the look on Rogue's face. She had seen it only once before on the face of Rogue's father…but on Rogue the look was ten times more menacing. Rogue looked ready to kill.
When Rogue spoke her voice was quiet, but oh so venomous. "Ah've been waitin' for a chance to get even with ya for handin' meh over ta Mags like ya did ohn Liberty Island…ahn now that Ah've got mah chance Ah'm startin' ta change mah mind. Makin' ya suffer will never change what you've done! You sold meh out years before Ah even had mah powers! For what? Your son? What about meh, huh? What about the daughter you abandoned ohn a stranger's doorstep?
"You don't deserve ta live, Mystique. Ah cahn never forgive what you've done ta meh. You will experience pain like nothin' else in the world. Ahn unlike you, Ah'm not so merciful, Mystique. Your death will last an eternity. Makes ya wish you had aborted meh when ya had the chance, doesn't it? Because now you'll see what Ah cahn do…who Ah really am."
A soft red glow surrounded Rogue as she floated up into the air. Her eyes were a filmy white and her fingertips crackled with unused fireworks. The front doors of the school flew open bringing in a gust of wind. A crash of thunder sounded outside as the lockers began to rattle open. Rogue extended a single hand, lifting the weak form of Mystique up as well. But when she spoke her voice was oddly detached.
"Now has come the time for the world to fear the one called Rogue. Let the master of darkness finally learn what he must contend with on the day of reckoning. This is only a small morsel of ultimate power, there is so much more for the taking. Let all who stand here now come to terms with true evil, for it will be thy doom."
"What the hell is going on?" shrieked Tabitha as she tried to shield herself from the wind.
"Hell if I know," replied Lance gritting his teeth, "but I'll tell you this. That ain't Rogue talkin'!"
Jean dropped her hands to her side, forgetting that she was supposed to be keeping the humans safe inside the auditorium. Her attention was focused on Rogue. "It can't be," she murmured to herself.
"Rogue, don't do this!" shouted Kurt running towards the brunette and Mystique. "You can't kill her!"
"Get lost," growled Rogue, her accent returning. She flicked another hand in Kurt's direction and sent the German teen flying into the lockers. His image inducer broke upon contact, returning him to his naturally blue and furry form.
"Rogue, you have to stop this," said Scott taking a tentative step forward. "Killing Mystique is not the answer."
"What do you know?" snapped Rogue. Her attention flickered over to the tall teen, shifting away from Mystique for half a second. But that was what Scott had been planning on.
"Now!" he ordered. Rogue's eyes widened in surprise as Tabitha tossed two fireballs at her back, the explosion sending her to the ground. Mystique hit the floor hard but scrambled to her feet and ran outside. Rogue pushed herself off the ground and narrowed her eyes at the mutants surrounding her. Without a word she headed for the doors freezing everyone with a wave of her hand. The doors slammed shut and X-Men and Brotherhood found themselves free to move again.
"Man," grumbled Kurt, "she has more control over Jean's powers than Jean does."
"We have to stop her!" said Jean with a wild look in her eyes. "She's a danger to herself now!"
Lance shook his head. "There's no way we can hurt Rogue—she's our friend."
"If we don't like put a stop to this now we could like totally be next," pointed out Kitty.
"How the hell is Rogue even able to access these powers?" demanded Pietro.
Tabitha grimaced. "I might know a little something about that. She's had this killer headache since the fight with Juggernaut. When she came over this morning she was complaining about voices in her head. I thought she was just, you know, exaggerating, or dreaming. But, uh, now it doesn't really look like that…"
"Well then the good news is that the Professor, Logan, and Ororo are on their way over," started Bobby. "But the bad news is I that I think Rogue's starting without us." He pointed a finger out a side window to where Rogue had torn apart a car and twisted the frame into a cage for Mystique.
Rogue eyed Mystique coldly as she planted her feet on the ground. She grabbed Mystique by the neck with a bare hand and smiled at the evident fear in her mother's eyes. "Sucks to be you, doesn't it?" hissed Rogue as her powers kicked in once more. Mystique opened her mouth, gasping for air as Rogue watched on in amusement. For once the draining wasn't affecting her at all.
"Let her go, kid!" called out Wolverine as he and Storm dropped down from the sky. Rogue let go of Mystique and whirled around to face the two adults.
"This ain't your fight, ol' man."
"You don't wanna kill her, kid. Trust me," was Wolverine's reply.
Rogue snorted. "Trust meh, sugah, Ah do wanna kill her. She doesn't deserve ta live, so don't get in mah way."
"Try and stop me." Wolverine's claws slid out of his knuckles just as he launched himself at a dead run towards Rogue. Without batting an eyelash Rogue extended a single hand and stopped Wolverine in his tracks.
"Ya really are made of metal. How interestin'," chuckled Rogue tilting her head to one side. With a satisfied smirk Rogue sent Wolverine reeling backwards in pain as she turned her attention over to Storm. The weather witch was eyeing Rogue carefully with white eyes. Glancing up Rogue watched with disinterest as lighting flashed in the sky. Four tornados touched the ground, each one headed directly for Rogue.
"Amateurs," muttered the southerner under her breath. Her eyes filmed over as well as she locked eyes with Storm. The white haired woman gasped as the four tornados merged into one giant tornado headed straight for the school. "Think ya cahn save the humans in time?" taunted Rogue. "Ah don't."
Wolverine struggled to his feet as Storm took off after the tornado. "You're really startin' to bug the hell outta me, kid."
Rogue rolled her eyes and looked ready to speak when the rest of the X-Men and Brotherhood came to stand behind him. Rogue set her lips in a thin line as she studied the mutants below her. The entire situation was fueling her anger.
"Why cahn't ya people just leave meh alone. You could never begin ta understand what Ah'm goin' through! That woman is mah mother—she abandoned meh, and then promised Magneto that he could use meh when mah powers came into play! What kind of sick person agrees to hand over their own flesh ahn blood like that? Ah will never forgiver her! Never! Don't you get it? Death is the only thing that could ever repay her debts! Ah will kill her, ahn if y'all get in mah way then Ah'm sorry ta say that Ah'll probably kill you too. Ah'm tired of playin' fair."
Jean pushed her way to the front, a pleading look in her eyes. "Rogue, you need to fight it! You aren't in control anymore. I-I can help you if you let me."
"Ah don't need ta be in control for anything anymore. Ah'm tired of fightin'."
"Rogue, you don't understand what's inside of you!"
"Ah probably understand it better than you do," snapped Rogue.
"Roguey, don't do this," pleaded Pietro. "Mystique ain't worth it."
For a response Rogue hailed another gust of wind, knocking the newer X-Men to their feet. Lance balled his hands into fists and let loose a powerful tremor as Pietro sped towards Rogue as fast as he could. Rogue teleported out of the way and reappeared in the air with a car. She tossed the vehicle in Fred and Kurt's direction. Kurt teleported away as Fred punched the thing before it hit him.
But Rogue was already moving on. Using Jubilee's powers, Rogue shot at Scott and Bobby. The two boys quickly jumped out of the way to avoid the brunt of the explosion as St. John pulled out his trusty lighter. He flipped the lid open, exposing the flame and sent a large fire ball towards Rogue. The ball seemed to engulf Rogue, but when it disappeared she was unscathed.
"Is it just me, or is the Shelia kinda scary?" asked St. John running a nervous hand through his hair.
Bobby sighed. "Whatever it is she's downright dangerous…I wonder if Warren even knows what he got himself into."
Up above Rogue was uprooting trees and cars from the ground and hurling them at her friends. Deep within herself though she knew what was happening, and she wanted it to stop. At first losing control and giving in to her anger felt right, but now—now it scared her. There was no part of Rogue that was calling the shots; it was something else, something that fed of fear, anger, and uncultured hate. All Rogue wanted now was to return to the way things had been before she had given in to her emotions.
In the distance Rogue glimpsed Storm heading back towards her. Unconsciously Rogue made it hail. On the ground she saw her friends trying to shield themselves from the falling ice balls.
"Owowowowow!" cried out Kurt taking cover beneath jeep. "Man, why did Mystique have pretend to be a student during Rogue's crazy stage?"
"Dude, cut her a break," muttered Tabitha crawling beside Kurt. "Didn't you hear what she said? Mystique screwed her over. Rogue's your sister. You guys share the same fucked up mom."
"Hey—"
"No, don't hey me, Mystique chose you over Rogue. How would you feel if it was the other way around? If Mystique chose Rogue over you?"
Kurt lapsed into silence as he gazed back at Rogue in the air. She seemed to be protected by a telekinetic shield as the X-Men used their powers against her. Try as he might though, Kurt didn't see any similarities between him and Rogue linking them as siblings. Sure he had worried about her after the Ellis Island incident, but it wasn't as though they were the best of friends now. Rogue wasn't exactly the easiest person to get along with.
Pietro was busy dodging falling debris and hail stones. Out of breath he paused beside Jean who was cowering behind a tree trunk. "Scared, Jeanie?"
"Rogue is embracing these powers like they were her own. She doesn't hold back. I…I could never do this. My powers…I don't even know why I'm telling you this," sighed Jean wearily upon noticing it was Pietro beside her.
"Alright, what are you holding back, Jean?" demanded Pietro straightening up. Jean flinched at the serious tone of voice he was using. She glanced up at him and was surprised by the look in his eyes. Pietro seemed to genuinely care about Rogue's well being.
Jean took a deep breath before saying, "My x-gene is abnormal. The professor is always telling me that I have great potential…and it scares me because whenever he says that he's always manages to slip in a lecture about knowing right from wrong, and not giving in to…I have this whole other part of me that I don't even utilize. My DNA not only reflects that I'm a mutant, but…my x-gene, it um, it…"
"Jean, if this in anyway helps Rogue, spill! This is the girl of my dreams we're talking about!" hissed Pietro grabbing the red head by the shoulders and shaking her.
"Girl of your dreams?" repeated Jean, dumbfounded.
Pietro groaned. "Forget I said that…what about your fancy shmancy x-gene?"
"It's been evolving…my powers have been growing stronger every year, and not because I train every day, but because evolution is speeding up again. What happened to Evan—that's becoming a normal occurrence nowadays."
"What does this have to do with Rogue?"
Jean made a face. "My x-gene has its own little persona…it practically thinks for itself. When Rogue drained me I was angry, she was angry…my gene feeds off anger. So when Rogue took a part of me with her I was freaked by the possible ramifications of doing so. But I thought that Rogue only borrowed other powers for a short period of time. But when Tabitha mentioned all the headaches Rogue's been having lately I…I think Rogue might be able to, uh, save, for the lack of a better word, powers after she drains someone."
"Come again? You're doing smart talk here. Do Pietro talk," replied Pietro frowning.
"Rogue borrows powers. No one knows what kind of psychological toll that takes on her after every draining. As far as I can tell she takes a part of the person's personality when she drains them…but I don't know for sure if that new persona actually leaves her mind. I'm taking a wild guess here, but I think Rogue's built in mind barriers trap the personas in her mind. And I also think that there's more to Rogue's powers than we know. If she's able to tap into these reserved powers, think of what this means…Rogue is quite possibly one of the most powerful mutants to ever grace this planet. She could become invincible."
Pietro blew out a small breath as he snuck a glance over at Rogue. "Who else knows about this little theory of yours?" he asked quietly.
"No one, why?"
"You can't tell anyone, Jean. Rogue doesn't like her powers anyway; she's really not gonna like the fact that she could become that powerful." Pietro lapsed into silence, apparently lost deep in thought. "So this other you that, uh, seems to be taking over Rogue…do you think it has control of all of Rogue?"
"I don't know. It depends on how strong Rogue is inside. If there's anything worth fighting control for. After hearing what Mystique's done for her…Rogue's gonna need something stable to ground her and keep her going."
"And I think I know just the thing. God, I'm gonna hate myself tomorrow." Pietro furrowed his eyebrows as he pulled his cell phone out of his pants pockets. Jean watched as Pietro quickly dialed a number and waited for the person on the other end to pick up. "Warren? It's Pietro Maximoff—would you just listen. It's about Rogue. She's gone a little…haywire. No, it's not my fault…look, would you just talk to her? Maybe she'll listen to you. Hold on. I have to somehow get within a close enough distance to hand her the phone without getting killed. Ha. Ha. You're real funny, you know that? Did you ever consider becoming a comedian?"
"You think it'll work?" murmured Jean apprehensively.
Pietro shrugged. "Can you get me over there?"
"I can!" announced Kurt popping over beside them. "Get you where? Oh, there," he muttered as Jean and Pietro pointed at Rogue. "Just give me a nice funeral, would you?"
Rogue felt beads of sweat drip down her face as she struggled to stop all the fighting. She paused in tossing Wolverine through the air once more when Pietro and Kurt popped into the air beside them. She froze Pietro in place as Kurt disappeared.
With a tiny gulp Pietro handed Rogue his phone as her eyes bore into his. "Please, Roguey?" he whispered.
Taking the fun Rogue brought the device to her ears. She could make out Warren's voice on the other end, but it was Pietro that her mind was concentrating on. Of all the sources she had drained, and of all the voices in her head, Pietro's was the only honest one out of the bunch.
Pietro could tell Rogue wasn't paying attention to Warren. Heck, she wasn't even paying attention to the mutants on the ground. He could tell there was a battle raging inside Rogue's head. "Roguey? You know I'm here for you, don't you? I'm always here for you. I know you're hurting…Mystique deserves to die, you're right. But you won't be the one killing her if you don't get control of yourself again, you know? You can't make her pay like this…it'd be a total waste."
"I believe in you, Roguey. Let go."
"Ah…Ah…" Rogue closed her eyes and let a single tear fall down her cheek. This wasn't what she wanted. Inside she could feel the voices subsiding in fear. They had seen the damage inflicted today, they had been part of it. And while some rejoiced, others retreated from the surface, giving Rogue some room to breathe.
When Rogue opened her eyes they were back to their emerald green color. Around her the weather returned to normal. Pietro felt the power keeping him in the air falter, but just as quickly Jean was keeping him and Rogue in place. Rogue dropped the cell phone, her eyes flickering shut in exhaustion as she wrapped her arms around Pietro's neck.
"Thank-you," she murmured softly. Pietro didn't say a word. He didn't know what to say. He didn't even know what he had done.
Jean brought the pair of mutants to the ground, and tentatively the rest of the teens, along with Storm and Wolverine came to stand in a circle around them. Rogue's knees buckled, but Pietro swiftly caught her before she could fall.
Kitty was the first to speak. "Like, are you alright?"
Rogue didn't speak. She cast a glance over to the makeshift cage she had made for Mystique. It was empty. Angrily, she wiped away a tear before burying her face in Pietro's shirt. It had all been for nothing.
"Rogue," came the voice of the professor. "How are you feeling? I know you've gone through a lot today…the truth is always a harsh mistress."
The professor continued speaking but Rogue didn't hear him. Glancing over Pietro's shoulder she glimpsed Kurt staring at the empty cage mournfully. He looked up and stared at Rogue before turning away, wiping tears of his own.
"However, I feel that I can help you, Rogue. After you get some rest I can help you learn to control your powers. I think it's best you were gone before the school is able to get out of the auditorium. Logan and Ororo will escort you to the mansion while I clean up here."
Rogue shook her head. "No. Ah'm not goin' back, Professor." She sighed at the looks cast her way. "Ah don't think it'd be the best right now…" her voice trailed off as she gave Kurt a meaningful look.
Logan was already grinding his teeth. "Now look here, Stripes, I don't think you're in the position to make any decisions—"
The professor held up a hand for silence. "If that is what you want, Rogue, then I shall abide by your decision."
"Where are you gonna go?" asked Scott suspiciously.
"Ah'm just gonna crash over at Speedy's place for a while. Ah'll be back…just not now. Ah've got a lot of thinkin' ta do. Ah don't know if bein' an X-Man is really for meh. Ah have too many issues. Ahn today…what Ah did…Ah'm no better than her."
No one had to ask whom Rogue meant. It was evident that Mystique would always be behind Rogue's actions, no matter how hard she tried to break away from the terrorist. Without another word Pietro lifted Rogue in his arms and led the Brotherhood and Tabitha away from the disaster area.
The X-Men were silent as they watched the group walk away. Kurt cast one last glance at their retreating figures before turning his back on the school as well. He thrust a furry hand in his pockets and stared out at the road leading towards the mansion. He had a lot of thinking to do as well.
"Kurt," started Kitty cautiously.
"I don't wanna talk about it," replied Kurt harshly. And then he was gone in a puff of smoke.
Bobby sighed and tried to wipe some of the dirt of his soiled clothing. Giving up he peered over at Jean curiously. "So what were you and Pietro talking about during the battle?"
Jean shifted uncomfortably under the eyes sent her way. "Uh, it was, um, nothing. Nothing important," she finished quietly. She let out a deep breath in relief when no one pushed the issue. She had to keep the promise if only to protect her own self. Jean wasn't sure she could handle what everyone would think if they knew what was inside of her.
Boardinghouse:
Rogue clutched a pillow to her chest as she listened to Pietro on the phone. Sabertooth had called and now Pietro was informing the beast on the latest turn of events. Rogue turned to look at Pietro as he hung up the phone on his nightstand.
"Have they found whatshisface yet?" she questioned tiredly.
Pietro shook his head with a snort. "Nah, the guy figured out they were trailing him and gave them the slip. Whiskers is pretty pissed off. I don't think I've heard him this mad since his last fight with Wolverine."
Rogue nodded absently. Pietro heaved a heavy sigh and went to sit on the edge of his bed that Rogue had currently taken over. "Are you alright? About the whole…Mystique thing?"
"You were right," said Rogue. "Ah want her ta know it's really meh killing her, ahn not some possessed meh. The professor was right though, the truth does hurt. She practically handed meh over to your dad ohn a silver platter…she never wanted meh. Ah don't think Ah'll ever really know why. But Ah guess Ah'm no better than her. Look at meh, Ah'm workin' for Mags again, Ah'm losin' control of mahself, ahn all Ah really want is ta be normal."
"I think you're doing just fine," murmured Pietro as Rogue sat up to face him. "You're the strongest person I know. If it had been me today, I don't know if I could have held back on everyone like you did. It was obvious you were only trying to hurt the ones you knew could get away."
Rogue gave a tiny chuckle. "Ah did, didn't Ah. Gawd, Ah'm so screwed up. How the hell am Ah gonna get through this alone?"
"But you're not alone. I'm here for you, Roguey. I'll always be here for you." Pietro gave Rogue a small smile that she slowly returned. He gazed at her for another second before giving her a soft kiss on the lips. He pulled away from her lips and studied her face. Rogue's eyes flickered up at his before she leaned in for another kiss.
"Thank-you," she murmured as they pulled away.
The voices had been right. This was the beginning of a whole new chapter in her life.
A/N: It took me three days to write this, I wanted to display it just right…and I still think it's pretty chaotic…but I've kept you waiting. School is back in session and I have so much homework already it isn't funny. So please, please be patient with me. This chapter is the longest one so far. I hope it's alright.
BTW: Two more chapters until Gambit arrives. I figured y'all deserved that little tidbit, don't you?