Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read this, but especially to the people who have favourited, followed or reviewed it. I really appreciate all of your support, it makes me smile when I see it. So here's another chapter for you all. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't sue. Seriously, don't. Or Deadpool will be coming for you.
Rogue sighed for what she was sure was the hundredth time in the last half an hour. After her workout she'd had a shower and then grabbed a quick dinner before heading up to her room to avoid Logan's gaze. Shortly afterwards Kitty had burst into their room wrapped only in a towel shouting something about Piotr and clothes and the end of her life.
It had taken a little while but eventually she had managed to grasp that Piotr had asked Kitty out to dinner while Rogue had been exercising and now she only had an hour left to get ready.
Which brought Rogue back to her current situation.
"Ah realleh don' think it matters what ya wear Kitty. Piotr's gonna lahke ya whateva" She said, but Kitty only let out a half scream in exasperation.
"Like, I think I'm just going to tell him that I can't go out tonight. Like, homework, or whatever."
At this Rogue sat up from her position on her bed.
"NO!" She'd been waiting for them to get together since the final battle, she'd be damned if she let Kitty run away from it now.
"Uhm, Ah think, maybe, the laght pink dress? The reds too much for a first date. Umm an' maybeh the flat gold sandals? Jus' leave ya're hair down and don't put too much makeup on."
Kitty stared at her in shock for a moment, before glancing at the clothes and murmuring what Rogue thought was "Who knew. She actually knows about fashion" Before starting to get ready.
Twenty minutes later Rogue smiled at the finished product as Kitty stood in a pretty pale pink all-over lace dress, with think shoulder straps for sleeves and a square neckline that showed the slightest hint of cleavage. It was fitted on the bodice then puffed out ever so slightly for a fuller skirt that ended just past mid-thigh. The dainty flat gold sandals kept the look innocent and with her hair down around her face, Kitty had perfected the first date style.
"Like, I had no idea you actually knew about clothes, but this is, like, perfect Rogue!" She exclaimed, grabbing her small matching gold clutch bag.
Rogue just smiled and waved her off out the door, "Don' keep Piotr waiting. Ya look amazing. Now go an' have a good time."
Kitty smiled at her before heading out of their room to meet Piotr where Rogue presumed he was waiting downstairs.
Rogue turned her stereo on and flopped down onto her bed, picking up her book and losing herself in it.
She guessed it was a couple of hours later, when it was starting to get dark outside, that a sudden flash of red outside her window caught her attention and she glanced up suddenly. There was nothing there but Rogue knew better than to not trust herself and she put her book down, rising up out of her bed slowly and removing her gloves.
She walked over to the window and peered out. Unable to see anything she opened it wide and hauled herself out onto the ledge. Still unable to see anything, she figured she would have a better view from the roof, so supported herself with her hand on the window frame and pulled herself to her feet, turning to face the building. Her and Kitty's room was on the top floor so all she had to do was reach up and pull herself onto the roof. Halfway through the action she felt a hand close around her forearm and yank her upwards, before letting her go and dumping her unceremoniously onto the roof surface.
Whipping her head up so fast she jarred her neck, she saw Deadpool stood above her with his hands on his hips in the most feminine fashion.
"Thanks for th' warnin'. Ya nearly dislocated mah shoulda there." She grumbled as she stood slowly. "Your shenanigans are gonna get meh killed one a' these days."
"Shenanigans? Did you just curse me out in Irish?" He asked, "And here I thought you were a southern belle. Anyway, is that any way to greet an old friend?!"
"Shenanigans may be slightly Irish but it definitely ain't cursin'. An' ya may be old but Ah barely know ya" She replied, dusting herself off slowly. "Why are ya here?"
"I thought I'd give you a chance to bask in the glory that is Deadpool. I saw you looking for me this morning on your way into school-"
"So that was ya! Ah kne-"
"-but I figured it was best if you didn't see me, or you might have gotten carried away staring at my amazing physique in all this leather and been even later than you already were" He carried on talking as though she hadn't interrupted.
Abruptly he sat down on the roof before reaching up and yanking her down with him. Rogue staggered and nearly fell into his lap, but managed to right herself and sit next to him at the last moment.
"Ya'll realleh need ta stop yanking meh around. It's pretteh annoyin'" She grumbled.
"Shhh. Look. The grounds are really pretty right now, with the moo over them and stuff. So shhh, we're having a moment" Deadpool declared.
"Umm, a what?"
"She must know what a moment is...hmm that's true...shhh, I don't think she's stupid...neither does he, it's just you. Now be quiet!" He mumbled quietly.
Rogue looked at him weirdly, 'Is he talking to himself?' She decided not to interrupt given his previously displayed rage issues and the fact that he was talking to himself!
"I much prefer you without your makeup on like last night and the night we met. All the white makes you look really creepy in the moonlight, and I can't see when you blush from your attraction to me" He stated, suddenly talking to her again.
Rogue instantly flushed at his words and lifted her hand to push his shoulder, which was far too close to hers for comfort, away from her, saying "Ah do not-!" before being cut off as he reached out to grab her hand.
Her instant reaction was to yank her hand back, remembering that she didn't have her gloves on, but he held her tight and she realised after a second that while she didn't have gloves on, he did, and so she relaxed, leaving him holding her hand in his.
It wasn't so much a romantic gesture as a comforting one as he was more holding onto her hand, rather than them holding one another's hands. Very few people touched her willingly and the fact that he did, after seeing what she could do, softened her to him and she faced forward, looking over the Institute's grounds like he'd told her to.
Several minutes passed in silence, which was weird given who she was sat with, but then, she figured he had to shut up sometimes.
"So anyway, other than to bestow my presence upon you, the real reason I'm here is to tell you that Sinister has men coming to attack the Institute tonight. They should be here any time."
"What?! Why ahre ya jus' decidin' ta tell meh this now?! Ah gotta warn th' othas!" She yanked her hand from his grasp and jumped to her feet, starting to lower herself back down to clamber in through her window.
"Because we were having a moment!" He shouted after her as she disappeared from his sight.
Crashing through her room, Rogue burst into the hallway and ran down the stairs shouting for Logan at the top of her voice.
"Whatever is the matter Rogue?" Professor Xavier asked, having come out from the lounge at the noise. Other residents of the mansion began to filter into the entrance hall behind him.
"They're comin'!" She exclaimed, just barely holding herself back from shouting "Sinister's men ahre comin' for us now!"
"That is a troubling thought indeed Rogue, but what makes you so sure?" The professor asked, looking at her quizzically.
"Ah…Ah…Ah can't say, not without breakin' someone's trust, but Ah sweah ta ya Professor, they're comin'" She gasped out, terrified that they wouldn't believe her, but desperately hoping she wouldn't have to break Deadpool's trust and say about him.
"I don't like that you're keeping secrets Rogue, but perhaps now isn't the right time to discuss this. Ororo, go and activate the Institute's highest level of security. X-Men, go and gear up. Amanda, there may not be time for you to leave here safely" Xavier said.
"That's fine, I'll stay and help in any way I can" Amanda declared bravely.
"Well you are a legal adult and as such it is your decision but you're not trained in combat like my X-Men and you don't have a power with which to defend yourself. Would you be willing to take our youngest mutants, any that has not yet begun their proper X-Men training and anyone who does not wish to fight, down to the medical bay? You will all barricade yourselves in, only residents of the mansion will be able to enter, and be ready to administer medical aid to any who need it. If the worst comes to the worst, mutants, use any powers necessary to defend yourselves and one another, including Amanda. As the adult in charge you will all listen to, and follow, any and all orders she gives to you. Jamie, you yourself will go with Amanda, however I wish for you to leave as many clones as you can handle up here to fight. Go now. All of you."
At this Amanda led the younger mutants, many of whom were grumbling about not being able to fight, out of the hall and down to the med-bay. Everyone that was old enough to be allowed to fight chose to stay and do so. Xavier turned back to face to newly geared up team.
"The shutters are all down but the main doors are the weakest area of our defense and will likely be the main point of attack so-"
"You got that right!" A voice interrupted the professor and Rogue gasped, spinning round to see Deadpool standing casually at the top of the stairs.
Wolverine's claws shot out and Scott's hand shot up to his glasses but Rogue stepped forward to stand at the foot of the stairs.
"Wait! Stop!" She called "It's alrahght" She turned to face the X-Men who were now regarding her with wary expressions.
"He's naht dangerous-" She started to explain.
"The hell he ain't" Wolverine interrupted, "That's Deadpool. The Merc with a Mouth. This guy's as deadly as they come."
"I am too dangerous! 'Specially to old Wolvie here" Deadpool remarked with a laugh.
"Yes, I've heard of you, Deadpool" Xavier stated darkly, casting a wary look at him.
Rogue panicked, feeling everyone in the room turning against him, and by default her, as she had been the one to defend him.
"No! Well, Ah mean, yeah. He is a mercenary an' a killer an' Ah know that we don't do that but he saved meh. The otha nahght when Ah was attacked, he saved meh. If it wasn't for him, Ah woulda been taken then an' there."
"I thought you said you took all four men down by yourself" Logan said, looking at her in the most disappointed fashion and Rogue felt her heart sink.
"She did" Deadpool piped up from the top of the stairs. "There were nine attackers and she took four of them down, holding off the others until I turned up and disposed of them."
"And by disposed I assume you mean kill? Rogue. I thought we had taught you better than that." The professor looked at her sadly.
"Ah didn't kill anyone! An' Ah didn't jus' stand by an' let him eitha, Ah was faghtin' too an' when Ah turned around he'd killed them!" She could feel herself getting angry. They were all so quick to doubt her.
"Then you threw up everywhere for ages" Deadpool chirped up cheerfully.
"Evidently Rogue did the best she could in an impossible situation" came from the least likely source, Jean. "She didn't kill the men and she didn't condone it either. But if it wasn't for Deadpool, Rogue wouldn't be with us right now and by the way it looks, he's the one that's warned us about the attack tonight. So maybe we should listen to what they have to say while we still have time, and deal with the details later."
Rogue looked at Jean gratefully, with a hesitant smile on her face, before turning to face Deadpool.
"Right! So!...Why is everyone staring at me? Like what you see Wolvie?" He asked from his perch where he'd sat down at the top of the stairs and Rogue thought he would be pulling a suggestive face under that infernal mask.
"Deadpool…!" Logan growled.
"Logan! Raght. So. Deadpool. We need ta know th' details of th' attack that's comin'. Ya gotta tell us everythin' ya know." Rogue said, climbing the stairs towards him.
"Rogue…don't…" Logan grumbled, not wanting Rogue to get too close to the insane mercenary, remembering his tendancy to react unpredictably. His eyes widened in shock when upon reaching the killer, Rogue reached down and grabbed his arm, yanking him unceremoniously to his feet. They widened further when the mercenary merely looked at her, giggled slightly (disturbing) and moved as she pulled him.
They descended the stairs to about the halfway point before Rogue started talking.
"So. First thahngs first, ya'll need ta be able ta work tugetha without faghtin' or this will neva work. Deadpool may be a killer but he's here ta help us. An' th' people that are comin' for us won't show us any mercy. Or Amanda especially. They don' need her for anythin'" She added with a glance in Kurt's direction. He nodded back at her firmly to show he understood.
"Right, so, I guess you need to know what we're up against" Deadpool half asked, with a glance down at Rogue. He wasn't used to this working in a team business. He was only here for her. She was well aware of that and gave him a small nod to continue.
"First of all they'll be led by Scalphunter, one of Sinister's commanders. And yes, he got his name because he scalps peoples. The others need guidance so take him out and they'll fall back. His power is techno-morphing, so he can create pretty much any mechanical weapon from his armor, which would be way cool, cos my guns get broken way to often-" Rogue cut him off with an elbow to the side as he began to ramble.
"Right, err, Vertigo is another one that's coming. Obviously she makes you feel a sensation of vertigo, but her fighting skills are crap so if you can fight against the effects of her power, then you've got her. Harpoon, who can charge objects kinetically to shoot them at you, he tends to use barbed harpoons. Arclight, who is super strong and can release shockwaves that cause all sorts of problems, and Riptide who spins at round and round at the most ridiculous speeds, I'm still waiting for the day he throws up from it, I feel sick watching him, and he flings out shurikens from his skin, which are pretty lethal if they get you. There are others but as far as my intel goes, that's who's coming for you today. They don't expect you to be prepared so they're counting on the element of surprise, which I have taken from them." He finished with a giggle of amusement at his upsetting the Marauder's plans.
"That's all good and well, but I want to know why we should trust you bub. You never do something if there isn't something in it for you." Wolverine questioned.
"We have our reasons" Deadpool replied, and if Logan hadn't been as perceptive, he'd have missed the minuscule twitch of Deadpool's head in the direction of the girl stood beside him.
"Oh god, not the voices again bub. Not now." Wolverine warned, noticing Deadpool's use of "we".
"He's here ta help us. Ah think we'd be stupid rahght now ta not trust him." Rogue stated confidently, then "He saved me" in a softer voice.
Xavier concurred, and with a nod to the team, he wished them luck and went to Cerebro to prepare. He planned on gaining control of Scalphunter's mind during the battle, preventing him from attacking the X-Men and hopefully finding out more about Sinister's plans for them.
So we're readying for battle. Time for a bit more action.