Disclaimer: Obviously this still doesn't belong to me.
45-First Glance
Another cigarette fell to the ground, the light dying off as Rogue pulled out another cigarette and stuck it in her mouth, lighting it with the lighter she had found earlier. The ground at her feet was littered with cigarette butts, but Rogue paid them no mind. She was too busy pacing back and forth beneath the giant elm tree, her mind a frazzled playground of thoughts. Today had not gone well; it had not gone well at all. Rogue was eternally screwed in more ways than one.
Part of her had expected it. Part of her had known this was coming. Part of her had been eagerly waiting for it. But now that it was here Rogue was scared; scared for her friends, scared for her enemies, and scared for her self.
Earlier That Day:
Rogue stared down at the book in her hands, the words blurring together. She glanced up with a frustrated sigh at Tabitha who was humming to herself on the other side of the room. The girls had been cooped up inside all day due to the rain outside.
Glancing at her watch Rogue looked over at the door of the room she and Tabitha shared. As if on cue it swung open and Logan peeked inside. His face sagged in relief as he spied Rogue still sprawled out across her bed.
Tabitha glanced up from her headphones and grinned at Logan. "Are you setting us free finally?"
"Not a chance. I was just checkin' to see where everyone was at." With a sharp nod Logan glanced once more at Rogue before shutting the door on his way out. Rogue let out a loud groan and dropped her head down into her book.
"I'm starting to feel like prisoners," remarked Tabitha tossing her headphones onto the other side of her bed. The blonde twisted around to glance at Rogue. "Is there a reason the old man keeps checking on us every hour on the dot?"
"Everyone seems to think Ah'm gonna have another relapse," replied Rogue. Her voice was muffled as she didn't raise her head to look at her roommate while answering.
"Great. Do they have to include me in the suicide watch too?"
"You're more than welcome ta leave. Ah'm fairly sure Logan's sittin' outside the door so Ah don't take off."
"And go where?" demanded Tabitha sitting up. "It's like a regular ol' hurricane out there."
"No shit." Rogue sighed and brought her head off of her book. She tucked a few strands of hair behind her ears and then propped her chin in her hands. "Ah'm gonna kill mahself if Ah hafta endure anymore check-ups. Everyone's actin' like Ah've got a disease."
Tabitha snorted. "The mighty Rogue catching a disease? Are you kidding? Lordy, Rogue, you don't have anything to worry about. I'm fairly sure you could drain Logan's healing powers and cure yourself before it got too serious."
"Ah guess." Rogue lapsed into a bout of silence as Tabitha fell back onto her own bed. It had been over a month before Rogue realized the adults were watching her like a hawk. Everywhere she went someone was always there studying her as though she were going to explode or something. Rogue had tried hiding from them, but Logan quickly sniffed her out. Even worse was the fact that Rogue had been forbidden to leave the mansion grounds.
About a week ago Rogue had figured out that the adults knew about the prophecy, and she drummed up the excess attention to fear that she would go out and initiate the inevitable. That, or there was more to her blood samples than Moira would let on. The doctor tested her blood once a week, and then gave Rogue explicit instructions to not use her powers, no matter what.
Rogue had readily agreed, and then a week later she had developed the itch again. She had been doing her best to ignore it, but house arrest was starting to takes its toll on Rogue's mentality. She wanted out—she needed to be out. She could feel it.
Of course, Rogue didn't have a clue what "it" was. Whatever it was, it was out there waiting for her.
"You know," started Tabitha sitting up again, "there's always the chance that he wouldn't be able to pick up your scent in the rain."
A thump was heard outside their door. Rogue rolled her eyes. She had been right. Logan was sitting outside their doorway.
"Okay, I was wrong. We'd never get out of this place alive." Tabitha sighed and lay back down, muttering under her breath about the injustices of life. Rogue hid her smile as she finally turned her attention back to her book. For the last month Tabitha had been moping around the mansion. It was quite evident the blonde missed Lance—she hadn't pulled any pranks lately. If anyone was on the suicide watch it would be Tabs. The girl was head over heels in love with the enemy, and refused to admit it.
Rogue had barely flipped the page of her book when an alarm sounded throughout the mansion. Both girls scrambled onto their feet and out into the hallway. Mutants spilled through their doorways and down the staircase to the foyer to catch wind of what was going on. Without hesitation Rogue and Tabitha joined the flow downstairs in time to see Xavier rolling into the foyer.
The Professor raised his hands for silence pausing everyone in their tracks as they strained to hear what he had to say. "It seems the Brotherhood has initiated an attack downtown. We must take immediate action. Wolverine, you will lead Banshee, Iceman, Angel, Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Boom Boom, Sunspot, Mirage, and Havok. Storm, you will lead Cyclops, Beast, Legion, Bezerker, Nightcrawler, Shadow Cat, Magma, Husk, and Jubilee. Forge, I want you and Rogue to stay in the Blackbird to oversee the battle. Don't join in unless you are absolutely needed. Alison, Jamie, Theresa, Amanda, and Illyana will stay here with me. You five aren't quite ready for battle yet. Everyone else, suit up."
Downtown:
Screams echoed up and down the sidewalks as pedestrians fled town square. The Brotherhood of Mutants tormented them non-stop in their flight. After months of staying hidden they had finally been allowed out to do what they did best: chaos.
"We've got company," announced Mystique flatly.
Magneto glanced her way and smirked in triumph. "I knew Charles could not resist. Let's show his precious X-Men what we've got."
"No problem, boss man," said Toad as the rest of the Brotherhood lined up to greet the advancing SUV of X-Men. The SUV pulled to a stop and out came only half of the X-Men. Wolverine, Banshee, Iceman, Angel, Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Boom Boom, Sunspot, Mirage, and Havok stood their ground, eyeing their enemy cautiously, dressed in their black uniforms.
"This oughtta be fun," murmured Wolverine as his claws popped out.
"May I?" asked Banshee stepping forward. At Wolverine's nod the blonde man opened his mouth and let out a loud, ear piercing sound that made everyone cover their ears. Banshee shut his mouth, giving the mutants a brief reprieve just as the Blackbird flew into view.
"Looks like they brought the cavalry, mates!" called out Pyro with a wide grin on his face. "Let's give 'em a welcome party they won't forget!"
Like a well rehearsed battle cry from the days of old the Brotherhood of Mutants advanced against the X-Men that were already on the ground. From up in the air Rogue watched in silence. Behind her she could hear the second group of X-Men exiting out the hatch—jumping to the ground below to join the tides of battle.
"It's kind of exciting, isn't it?" asked Forge leaning over the controls to get a better look out the window.
"'Bout as excitin' as a Danger Room session," replied Rogue sulkily. She didn't get it—Rogue excelled in hand to hand combat, so why did she have to stay up here with Forge? In the air—the last place in the world that Rogue wanted to be. She still didn't trust the jet not to crash with her on it.
After about ten minutes of straight fighting, Rogue began to grow bored. It wasn't as though she was in the midst of excitement. With a sigh the southern belle studied the jet controls with mild interest. Maybe one of the buttons would produce gun power for her to utilize against the enemy. As Rogue began to pick out potential ammo holding buttons an alarm began to sound inside the jet.
"What's that?" she demanded turning to look at Forge.
Forge narrowed his eyes as he pointed at the scanner. "We've got incoming," he said. "That can't be right though."
"What cahn't be right?"
"It looks like incoming aircrafts."
"Crafts? As in more than one?" repeated Rogue flatly.
"As in a lot more than one. I count seven-eight-nine-ten! Jesus, man, we're gonna be under some serious gunfire pretty quick here," answered Forge running a hand through his hair.
Rogue turned her head to glance outside, her eyes searching the expansive sky. What she saw did not make her feel any better. "Uh, Forge, Ah don't think those are aircrafts comin' our way."
"Huh?"
"Look!" Rogue grabbed Forge by the arm and made him look to where she was pointing. In the sky were ten giant objects headed their way. Ten purple and red objects to be exact—objects that looked an awful lot like giant robots.
"That doesn't look good," murmured Forge playing around with a few buttons on the control panel. A small screen popped up with a skeletal image of the approaching images. Rogue knew better than to ask what the thing was—it would only encourage Forge to go into geek talk again.
"So what kind of crafts are headin' our way?" she asked curiously.
Forge grimaced. "The kind packing heavy fire power, and designed to attack mutants."
"Gee, no need ta sound so calm," muttered Rogue rubbing her forehead gingerly. Now she wasn't too keen on joining the fight below. Not with those giant robots jumping in. Rogue watched as the first robot entered the fray. Both the X-Men and Brotherhood were stopping to analyze the metal robots. Then one took fire at the mutants on the ground, sending them into the air. Rogue's eyes widened.
But not because of the explosion. No, she had seen something else on the edge of the town square that had caught her undivided attention. As the smoke in the air cleared Rogue squinted her eyes to focus on the opposite end of the square. Sure enough there was a cloaked figure standing stalk still. A shiver ran down Rogue's spine as realization struck her.
"Shit!" Rogue turned and ran towards the open hatch, grabbing a spare rope off one of the seats.
Forge watched in confusion as Rogue anchored one end of the rope around the bottom of a seat and tossed it out the open hatch. "Where the hell are you going?"
"Business calls!" tossed back Rogue before sliding down the rope. On the ground Rogue directed her attention to the other side of the square. The cloaked figure was still there. The brunette took off at a run, dodging a beam from one of the robots, and thoroughly ignoring any and all calls from her teammates. She had to see if it really was—
"Oh shit," murmured Rogue as a giant foot stepped into her path, halting her in her tracks. Rogue glanced up warily at the robot as it gazed down at her solemnly.
"Mutant targeted—fire!"
Rogue was rooted to her spot in a stupor as the robot locked its glowing eyes onto her. Just as the giant emitted a beam from its eyes, Rogue felt herself tackled to the ground, thereby missing a near death. Her rescuer quickly pulled her to her feet, gripping her arm as they ran. Rogue grimaced as she caught the face of her would-be hero.
"Y'sure ya ain't crazy, chère?" grumbled the Cajun as he and Rogue ran—not in the direction that Rogue wanted to go in.
"Ah'm fine," said Rogue struggling to loosen Gambit's grip on her arm. "Cahn ya let meh go now? There's somethin' Ah hafta check out!"
Gambit cursed under his breath in French and slowed to a stop. Without letting go of Rogue, the Cajun turned to face. "On one condition, chère—I go wit' you. There's no need fer ya ta go an' get y'self killed."
Rogue didn't even pause to argue like usual. She didn't care if Gambit wanted a million dollars at this point—she needed to get over to the cloaked figure to confirm her suspicions. Still in Gambit's grasp, Rogue tugged him towards the other end of the square. Gambit curse again, but finally let Rogue go and trudged along behind her. His eyes easily picked out the rest of his team and hers busy with the giant robots. No one seemed to be paying the least bit of attention to them. That thought wasn't a comforting one.
Off to one side Havok and Cyclops were standing their ground in front of a girl with green hair, sobbing on the ground beside a brown wig. Apparently she had been targeted by the giant robots, confirming her worst fears of being a mutant. Off to the other side of battle Iceman and Warren were struggling to dodge each and every blow sent their way from one of the robots. It looked as though they losing—until a flying streak bulldozed into the robot, knocking the giant to the ground. The streak turned out to be a teenage girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. At this point it seemed that both the Brotherhood and X-Men were battling alongside each other against their latest common enemy.
"This ain't right," murmured Rogue as she slowed to a stop. She barely noticed as Gambit pulled out a card, charged it, and tossed it at a robot passing them in chase of Mystique and Shadow Cat.
"Chère, I don't t'ink now be the time for you ta be thinkin'—we need ta get outta here," said Gambit trying to gain Rogue's attention.
"Ah don't get it, Swamp Rat—Ah saw her!" exclaimed Rogue in frustration. "Ah cahn't be goin' crazy yet, Ah cahn't."
"Now ain't da time, chère."
Rogue grimaced as Gambit grabbed her arm, intent on getting her out of harm's way. He could see Mystique watching him from a distance. He couldn't back out on his deal now. She had already blasted him for not intervening when the Omega Red freak appeared out of nowhere. Just as Gambit had Rogue positioned to run, a cloaked figure dropped down out of the sky in front of them.
"Looking for me, Rogue? I've been waiting for you," stated the female voice. Rogue took an involuntary step backwards, her eyes widening as the cloak fell off to reveal the one person Rogue had been dreading: Jean Grey.
"Jean," whispered Rogue with a mixture of relief and fear.
Rogue's words were quickly echoed by a strangled cry only twenty feet away. "Jean!" Cyclops quickly hurtled himself past the robots and towards Jean, whose eyes were still glued onto Rogue's.
"It is time, Rogue. Doomsday has arrived—and you will not stand in my way!" snarled the red head, her eyes darkening as fire surrounded her body.
"Jean—what's going on?" asked Cyclops as the red head swirled to face him, her eyes blazing with anger.
"I am the Phoenix—Jean Grey no longer exists." Phoenix raised a single hand, pointing a finger at Cyclops. Fire blazed onto her fingertips.
"But—"
"Stop!" cried Rogue stepping in front of Cyclops. "He's not the one ya want—Ah am!"
"You could have been powerful…but now you are nothing but a weakling. You're afraid of what you are—of what you can become. You are nothing!" snapped Phoenix as she rose into the air. "And for that you must die."
Rogue took a deep breath as she watched Phoenix carefully. "Jeanie, ya gotta remember who ya are—ya ain't evil! Ah know what's inside of you…Ah…Ah cahn help you."
Phoenix chuckled darkly. "I don't need your help. You are my enemy—you are destined to let loose my nemesis, and for that you will pay."
"Chère, now would be da time for ya ta say you never did anyt'in' wrong ta da evil bird," hissed Gambit.
Rogue ignored him. Instead she addressed Phoenix. "Alright then, Jeanie—kill meh."
"What?" exclaimed both Gambit and Cyclops incredulously.
"But if ya want ta kill meh you're gonna hafta kill these big guys too—'cause as soon as Ah step in their sight they'll blast meh. Then ya won't have the honor of killin' meh—ahn no one will follow ya ta the ends of the earth like ya want 'em too." While speaking Rogue had taken several steps backwards, edging closer to the giant robots.
Phoenix gave a dark growl as she flew into the air, gaining the attention of all ten robots. The fire around her glowed brighter and engulfed the robots, destroying them within seconds. Rogue dropped to the ground as Gambit shielded her from the flying debris. Beside them Cyclops used his optic blasts to keep the robot pieces from hitting them.
The rest of the mutants on the ground began to murmur in a mixture of awe and surprise. For the X-Men it was a bittersweet moment. One of their own had seemed to come back from the dead…only a lot different, and a lot more powerful.
"Thy doom awaits, Rogue. I've been waiting months for this, and I know you've been waiting as well. You couldn't possibly have missed all my calling cards." Phoenix gave a dry laugh as she dropped back down to the ground.
Cyclops shook his head. "I don't understand—what's she talking about, Rogue? You didn't know she was alive, did you?"
"Sugah, it ain't what ya think. Ah've had a feelin' for a while that she was alive—but only part of her. What you see here ain't Jeanie—this is the prophecy," said Rogue.
"Prophecy? Look, I don't give a damn about no prophecy—I want Jean back! How could you not tell us she was alive? How could you stand by and let us grieve for her? Is this just a game to you, Rogue? Is this all part of your master plan? You're really screwed up, you know that?"
Rogue bit down on her tongue to keep from snapping back at him. "You cahn hate meh all ya want, Scotty, but Ah'm your only hope of ever seein' Jeanie again."
"Then do something!"
"Ah would if Ah was sure Ah wouldn't get her ahn meh killed! You don't understand the extent of mah powers—not even meh!"
Cyclops roughly grabbed Rogue around the shoulders, shaking her with fury. "Dammit, Rogue, stop doubting yourself. You're a fuckin' god when it comes to your powers—save Jean!"
Rogue broke away, stumbling backwards into Gambit's arms. As the Cajun steadied her, Rogue deftly grabbed his bo-staff out of Gambit's trench coat, and launched herself at Phoenix who had been watching in amusement. The girl once known as Jean Grey was taken for surprise as Rogue used the bo-staff to lift her off the ground, and feet first into Phoenix, knocking the red head down.
Phoenix's anger propelled Rogue into the wall of a nearby building as a fiery force field erupted around the dark creature. Rogue groaned as she scrambled back to her feet. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Juggernaut, Black Tom, and Lady Deathstrike arriving at the scene, but Rogue paid them no heed. All her attention was focused on the Phoenix.
Gritting her teeth Rogue ran back towards the Phoenix, only to be lifted into the air and dropped to the ground on her back. Rogue arched her back in pain as she felt a couple of ribs crack from the force of the fall. Nevertheless she got back onto her feet, breathing raggedly and turned to face Phoenix. Around them was a fiery force field keeping everyone else out.
"You are pathetic," stated Phoenix. "Why not let go of your fears and inhibitions and become a worthy foe?"
"Ah ain't gonna use mah powers ta fight ya, only ta help ya, Jeanie. You cahn't expect ta win against meh. You're not in mah league," tossed back Rogue clutching her aching side.
"I am above you in every way!"
Rogue dropped to her knees, her mental barriers kicking in too late. Both hands cradled her forehead as Rogue struggled to keep her thoughts pure. Inside her mind the voices were swarming around again, each personality trying to take over. Slowly, Rogue got back onto her feet, fully intent on meeting Phoenix blow for blow. She could feel raw power inside of her once more. Balling her hands into fists Rogue took a deep breath, grimacing once as the pain in her side intensified.
"Say your prayers," muttered Phoenix with a snide look on her face. Rogue closed her eyes and reached inside herself to let go when a commotion on the other side of the force field caught her attention.
"Kill her and all our plans will be ruined!" snarled a male voice. Rogue opened her eyes and caught her breath as she saw a man with a black and grey face. Behind him were two women, one dressed all in white, and one dressed all in black; as well as a male dressed all in black. Rogue glanced back up at Phoenix who was reluctantly floating back down to the ground, letting the force field subside.
The X-Men stood together, watching apprehensively; the Brotherhood did the same; off to another side Rogue saw her own little team whispering amongst themselves.
"She is my enemy. She will destroy me if I don't kill her," hissed Phoenix angrily.
"We need her," insisted the sinister man. Rogue glanced over to both Juggernaut and Sabertooth, her mind clicking with realization. This was the man that wanted both her and Warren.
"I say we kill her, she doesn't look very useful to me," said the blonde woman.
The dark haired woman shook her head. "We must follow the plans accordingly, Emma. We need this girl—no matter how weak or powerful. She is part of the prophecy. What do you say, Sebastian?"
The man in black smirked. "Keep her alive for now. Phoenix can kill her later. Quite honestly I don't see what the fuss is about, this girl is no match for our Phoenix—no matter what powers she can borrow."
Phoenix narrowed her eyes at the trio and then turned back to Rogue. "This isn't over yet, Rogue. We will meet again."
"Ya cahn be sure of that, Phoenix. Ah'll make ya sorry ya ever took control of that body," replied Rogue icily. Phoenix nodded and then turned to walk away with the others. Rogue watched with bile rising in her throat. She was beginning to realize what she would have to do to set things right again…and it was going to take a lot of unrestrained anger to accomplish it.
Magneto chuckled as the Brotherhood began to drift away. "It seems you have made yourself a mortal enemy, Rogue. At least now I know you won't be interfering in my plans anytime soon."
Rogue snorted. "Your plans will be destroyed come Doomsday," she promised.
"That seems highly doubtful at this point, m'dear."
Rogue clenched her teeth together before turning to face the X-Men. She flinched under Cyclops' baleful gaze as he headed back to the jet with Havok and the girl with green hair right behind him. Rogue's eyes dropped to the ground. Her future looked very bleak.
Rather than return to the jet Rogue made her way over to Strom and Wolverine who were trying to sort out a jumbled conversation-slash-argument between Iceman, Boom Boom, and the flying blonde.
Iceman shook his head angrily just as Rogue arrived to catch his words. "Tabs, Carol swears she didn't do anything to provoke him. We all know how fragile David is—if he turned back into Lucas it means he lost control during battle. Carol is on our side—she saved some of us, remember?"
"No shit, Bob, but here's the thing—wonder freak over here isn't telling the truth. She talked to David right before she saved you, and whatever she said made the guy freak out and revert back to Lucas! So it's her fault that we have to explain to Professor X that his son is gone!" shot back Boom Boom.
The blonde girl spoke up with a trace of tears in her eyes. "I don't understand why you're being so mean. I had never seen the guy before in my life and out of nowhere he appears trying to kill me!"
Rogue frowned, allowing herself to be led away by Wolverine. Even she could tell that Carol was lying through her teeth, but Rogue didn't feel up to pointing it out or trying to decipher why.
"Are you okay, Stripes?" asked Wolverine gently.
"Ah guess. Ah just wanna go home," murmured Rogue with a hint of exhaustion in her voice. Her head was swimming again, and she could feel her knees buckling. Rogue slumped downwards, and was easily caught by Wolverine. Both Iceman and Boom Boom stopped arguing to rush over to Rogue.
"We'll straighten things up at the mansion," said Wolverine scooping Rogue into his arms. "We don't have time to hang around here anymore, let's go before the military arrives."
At The Same Time:
Gambit studied the mutant in front of him, contemplating what he had just done. With a deep breath, the Cajun extended his hand and shook that of the mutant known as Sinister. He then turned and walked away, leaving Sinister behind.
As he walked, Gambit took out a cigarette, searching his pockets for his lighter. He cursed in French when he couldn't find it. Instead he tossed the cigarette to the ground and kept on walking.
Mystique owed him for his baby-sitting duties. Watching Rogue was becoming too dangerous. The only way to protect the southern belle was to help the very man who wanted her for the prophecy.
Gambit chuckled as he thought back on the day's events. Rogue had proven to be stubborn in her hopeless fight against Phoenix. He had to hand it to the girl; she knew how to fight a losing battle with grace.
"Merde!" exclaimed Gambit stopping in his tracks. "She stole my lighter!"
Later:
"Jesus fuckin' Christ!" exclaimed Graydon throwing his paper weight off his desk and into the wall. "Are you sure?"
"Yes sir…she was there at the attacks…working with a pair of mutants. They just inducted Dr. Nathaniel Essex into the Hellfire Club—but he is a mutant, and that leads us to believe that she is one too," answered the military man meekly. Graydon grumbled and motioned for the man to leave.
As soon as the door shut Graydon slumped down into the seat behind his desk. It was just his luck to fall into the temptations of a mutant. He was surrounded by mutants. Everywhere he turned he found another freak infiltrating his way of life. But no more.
Graydon sat up and pulled out a file from his desk. Inside were papers from one Bolivar Trask. Graydon had heard about the military testing the sentinels today—only to have them destroyed by a single mutant. But no more.
Determinedly, Graydon whipped out a paper and signed the first two sheets in the folder. Dr. Bolivar Trask and Dr. Kavita Rao would have his okay to go ahead with their projects under the guise of S.H.I.E.L.D.—and as soon as Graydon became Senator they would have the okay of the state of New York.
Mutants would not run his life.
Back to Rogue:
Rogue cursed under her breath and tossed her cigarette pack to the ground. Things were spiraling out of control—and Rogue desperately wanted control in her life. Running a hand through her hair, Rogue craved for another cigarette. Not to help her think, but to relieve her fears. Rogue already knew what she had to do—she only had to find a way to implement her plans now.
"Fuck," muttered Rogue slumping back against the tree. She made a face as her sides flared up with pain.
"You alright?" questioned Bobby as he quietly joined her. Rogue turned away from him as his gaze fell to the cigarette butts on the ground.
"Go away, Bobby, Ah don't have time for this."
"Rogue, I'm here for you."
"Ah said go away."
"You can't keep pushing me away, dammit! We're friends—we're—god dammit, Rogue, why do you have to be so difficult?" demanded Bobby.
"Ah never asked ya ta try ahn understand meh, alright? Ah didn't ask ya ta like meh! Ah am who Ah am, Bobby, ahn if ya cahn't respect that then get lost!" screamed Rogue, a tear sliding down her cheek. "There's nothin' ya cahn do for meh now—the game's already set. Everythin' is goin' just the way it's supposed ta."
"Stop fighting alone—because you aren't alone!"
"Ah am! Ah am." Rogue broke down into sobs, not fighting when Bobby wrapped his arms around her.
"Rogue I'm here for you," he whispered.
"Ah hafta do this ohn mah own though. It's mah fight. Ah'm sorry, Bobby." Rogue gently pushed away from Bobby and wiped the tears from her cheek as she turned to enter the house. She couldn't let anyone else be hurt by her actions. This was her fight from now on—and nobody else's.
A/N—Another chapter, we're getting closer to Apocalypse.