A/N: Thanks for reading!
"I can't figure you out; you've got more fight in you
then anybody else."
-"Never Be What You Want" We are the In Crowd
"Rogue, please sit." Professor Xavier said, motioning to one of the chairs placed in front of his desk.
Ororo occupied one of the seats, a grim look adorning her exotic features. The windows next to his desk were open, allowing sunlight to spill across the room, illuminating the caramel colored mutant's bright colored hair. Rogue walked across the wood floors and took the remaining seat; her dark eyes alight with curiosity.
"What's this about Charles?"
The white-haired woman startled slightly at Rogue's use of the Professor's first name. She hadn't realized that Magneto's presence was still so potent in the girl's mind. Storm couldn't help but feel sorry for the untouchable mutant. Her blue eyes flickered to Rogue's glove covered hands and she was filled with pity. The brunette had undergone more than any young woman should. Storm snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the professor's presence in her mind and smiled apologetically at being so easily distracted.
"I know you are quite eager to rejoin the team and the perfect opportunity has arisen. That is, if you still wish to join of course."
Rogue couldn't stop the smile of pure elation that overcame her face. She had been waiting for this moment ever since she was able to control Carol's powers. And despite her obvious sorrow for killing the woman…she was a little eager to use her new abilities. Just a little.
"I'll take that as a yes then." The Professor replied wryly, his blue eyes catching her blatant joy at the prospect of participating in missions again.
He knew that Rogue had suffered greatly after she stole Carol Danver's life. She had been consumed with guilt over taking a life; which was a perfectly natural reaction. But unlike others, she couldn't just try and forget because she took a permanent part of the older woman into herself. Despite how Rogue had suffered, Xavier was glad she was able to overcome that particular hardship. She was a strong woman. An asset to the team.
"The mutant that you went to find a couple of months ago has resurfaced. I wasn't sure if you were ready to undertake the task, but Scott was confident you would be more than willing to go on the same mission." The professor explained carefully, monitoring Rogue's reaction to the news.
Rogue was shocked but managed to keep her face blank. Scott believed she could do it? He was always such a stick in the mud she thought he would have protested vehemently at the idea of her even rejoining the team.
"I would accompany you of course." Storm added, smiling positively at the other woman.
Rogue had always admired, and even looked up to, the other woman when she was still in school. But ever since she had started going on missions she had begun to look at her as a friend. Because of all the people in her mind Rogue was forced to grow up far quicker than the others in her age group. She was sort of stuck in between the two groups; her school friends on one end and the X-men on the other. As it was, she was the youngest member of the X-men…ever. Warren, or Angel as he liked to be called, was just a few years older than her, earning him the title of second youngest.
After the disastrous mission months ago Kitty had decided that a teaching job better suited her. She wasn't built for combat; her defensive mutation was a testament to that fact. But Bobby, Piotr, and Jubliee were all training relentlessly to make the team.
"When do we leave?" Rogue asked, her face set in determination.
The professor's eyes shone with pride as he told her that the mutant, Remy LeBeau, had relocated to New Orleans.
"Louisiana?" Rogue sputtered out in surprise.
"Apparently he has a penchant for gambling." Storm murmured, her colored eyes disapproving.
Well fuck. Rogue thought to herself. They had to drive that far down south to find a mutant who may or may not join them. Great. Unless….
"Of course we will be taking the jet." Storm began. "And the Professor thought this would be a good time for your first flying lesson."
Hell yeah! Rogue nearly crowed, barely holding back her excitement.
"When you two reach New Orleans and find Mr. LeBeau call and report back. This should be fairly quick seeing as it's a recruitment mission. " The professor explained as Storm and Rogue stood.
"We're not wearing the infamous leather suits I'm assuming, seein' as we will be goin' out in a crowded city." Rogue commented as she and Ororo continued down the hall and through the rec room.
"That would stand out just a bit." Storm agreed. "So let's meet at the jet in fifteen. Sound good?"
"See yah then."
Rogue went back to her room to change out of her danger room clothes; which consisted of a pair of shorts over skin colored tights and a thin black tank. Not exactly appropriate for pushing through a crowded city.
Then a knock sounded at her door.
"Come in!"
The door was pushed open to reveal a pissed Jubliee. The yellow clad mutant entered the room, crossed her arms over her chest, and stared at her friend expectantly.
"Hey Jubes." Rogue greeted, ignoring the peeved glare directed at her.
"Going somewhere chica?"
"Well now that you mention it-"
"I mean it's not like you have to tell me every little thing you do, but I do expect some effort from you in this friendship. I mean, you're going on missions again and I have to find out from Jean." Jubliee spat out the name as if it were a curse word.
Jubilee had an intense dislike for the red haired doctor. She found her self-consumed and never understood how she landed such a decent guy like Scott. Jubilee had her eye on him when she first arrived at the mansion, but quickly got over it when she saw how devoted he was to Jean.
"How about I let you choose what I wear." Rogue offered, smiling hopefully.
"Girl, I could never stay mad at you for long anyways." Jubilee admitted, before going to Rogue's closet and digging through the copious amounts of long sleeved sweaters, gloves, and scarves of every material. "Do you own anything that is even remotely revealing?"
"Jubes. Deadly skin plus skanky clothes equals disaster." The brunette said sarcastically, not even sounding remotely bitter about the bad hand fate had dealt her.
She had accepted her ability and there was no use crying over something that couldn't be changed.
"A little cleavage never hurt anyone." The determined mutant called from the closet.
"Yet." Rogue muttered, rolling her brown eyes.
"Rogue I seriously doubt someone is going to grab for your girls when they first meet you." Jubilee said emerging from the closet before eyeing Rogue's chest. "Well on second thought…"
"Jubilee!" Rogue interrupted, laughing at her friend's complete lack of shame.
"What? I just wish I was gifted with such a great rack. So unfair." The short girl huffed before brightening up. "On the bright side I found the perfect outfit."
Rogue sighed anxiously before reminding her friend to hurry because she had to be downstairs in five minutes. Jubilee threw a pair of black skinny jeans, heeled boots, and a silver tank at the brunette.
Rogue quickly changed into the clothes, not even bothering to protest against the tight tank top. She figured that she could grab a jacket without Jubilee knowing and slip it on in the jet. Rogue put on minimum makeup, ran a brush through her thick hair, and put on her favorite pair of elbow length gloves and a sheer scarf. Rogue went to grab her jacket but couldn't find it.
"Jubes have you seen-" Rogue trailed off at the mischievous look adorning her friends face.
"You bitch." Rogue said laughingly, knowing Jubilee had guessed her plan and hidden the jacket already.
"Love you too hoe." Jubilee replied cheekily as she left the room, blowing Rogue a kiss.
Shaking her head at her crazy friends antics she grabbed a bag that contained her cell, some money, and the pocket knife Logan had given her as a seventeenth birthday present. He really had never been that great at picking gifts.
Speak of the devil…
Rogue raised her eyebrows upon exiting her room and finding Logan walking through the hallway.
"Hey kid where'd you…" He trailed off and she felt his heavy stare roving over her from head to toe.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
"Um…Logan? Kinda in a hurry. Storm's probably waitin' for me at the Jet. I'll see yah when I get back sugar." Rogue called as she walked quickly towards the stairs.
That snapped the man back into action.
"Whoa, wait a second darlin'. Where are you going that you need the jet?"
"Wanted to go bar hopping and figured the jet would get the guys crawlin' to me." Rogue responded sarcastically.
Wouldn't need the jet for that…Logan thought barely able to keep his eyes from running over her endless legs. Damn it focus Logan. He growled to himself before realizing that Marie had continued down the stairs.
Shit!
"Wait…Did she just call me sugar?"
"Who are you talking to Logan?" Jean asked, approaching the flustered man.
"Ma-…Rogue. Is she going on a mission or something?" Logan answered, stopping himself from revealing Rogue's real name.
He didn't want any more people finding out about it. Damn that Russian.
"Yeah she and Storm are going to pick up a mutant in Louisiana." The doctor replied, noticing the worry creasing the feral mutant's forehead. "I know you're worried about Rogue, but Storm can take care of her. I think it's sweet that she has someone to worry for her, since her parents aren't around."
Her statement caused the clawed mutant to freeze.
"I'm not her goddamn father." Logan growled, his eyes fierce as he looked at the red-head.
"I never said that Logan." Jean replied in a soothing voice as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "But I'm sorry if what I said bothered you. I just meant that I'm glad someone is looking out for her."
Logan eyed the tall mutant before sighing. "I know Jeannie. Didn't mean to bite your head off."
"It's quite alright. I should get to the class I'm covering for Storm."
"Sure you don't wanna skip it? There's an unoccupied closet down the hall." Logan leered, much to Jean's pleasure.
"Logan! I'm with Scott." She replied playing the part of the scandalized fiancée, and acting like Logan couldn't smell the arousal pouring off her in waves.
She expected him to continue their banter, but was disappointed when he just shrugged and turned away to leave.
She frowned at his retreating back. Something was wrong with him. He usually was the one initiating their flirtatious conversations and sending her heated looks. But even as he invited her to ditch teaching her class he seemed distracted…even uninterested in her response. Jean narrowed her green eyes at the now empty hallway and turned on her heel to continue to the classroom.
She never intended to act on her and Logan's flirtation but it was nice to be noticed. She was the most sought after woman until Ororo showed up. Then there was Rogue. The girl might still be young but Jean could sense competition when it was standing in front of her.
Suddenly, Jean felt a sharp pain in her head and fell to her knees. She held her head in her hands and closed her eyes, willing the throbbing away. After a few seconds the strange sensation vanished and she stood up and leaned against the wall to catch her breath. She had a feeling that these headaches were a bad omen of things to come. That they were important somehow, but she refused to believe it. She had complete control over her powers. Besides, she was probably just having migraines.
With that last thought she continued walking shakily to her class…which she was now late for.
Everyone in the mansion continued on with their day, not knowing that things were going to change for the worse very soon.
A/N: Well hope everyone likes this chapter even though there wasn't much Rogue/Wolverine action. But I have to get the plot going so…I'll make it up to ya'll later. I promise. Thanks for reading! Sorry I don't update nearly as often as I would like to. I'm applying for college right now so things are kind of hectic around here. Lol.