Warning: I've borrowed a few lines from the show. I've always loved Logan's role in the series and thought there could have been more Rogue interaction before Rogue joins the X-Men.

Dear Scarlett,

Today exceeded all my expectations, but not for good reasons. Ah left the house in time to grab breakfast as the food supplies were diminished. Lance and the other boy, the one who hops like a frog? but his nickname/ alias is Toad - can kiss my ass if they think Ah'm going to keep the cupboards stocked.

Luckily, Ah was in enough time to get a parking space, however the X-Men had arrived at the same time and were giving me the stares. Ah shrugged it off and entered the building, going straight to the office for my schedule. My first class? Chemistry, followed by Maths, no double Maths, before French. Ah've only just set foot in the building and Ah'm already shattered.

By the time Ah got to homeroom, most seats were taken, leaving me to scuttle to the back. The Chemistry teacher made me stand up in front of the class and introduce myself, like we were in first grade or something. My exact words were:

Hi, Ah'm Rogue. Ah've just moved here from Mississippi.

The teacher looked 'encouraging': "Why don't you tell us something else about you?"

"Why? Do y'all even care?"

He seemed pretty put out about that.

Word must have gotten out because no other teacher made me stand up and introduce myself. In Maths, they may well have been speaking Russian for all Ah understood. Maths and Science were never my strongest. Ah mean, Ah got by but at a slower pace.

French was ok, except the teacher insisted on only speaking in French, Ah stumbled through but apparently my accent and dialect bordered on Creole-sounding rather than Parisian.

Lunch was a heaving mass of BO, grease and cheese. The food looked slightly congealed and there was little choice besides pizza, chips and a few leaves passing as the 'salad' option. Ah was heading to an empty table when Lance beckoned me over.

"What's the matter? Toad and I not good enough for you?"

The real answer: probably no.

My answer: "Ah didn't know you were around."

Lance sighed. "Look, Mystique asked us to keep an eye on you. At least try and meet us half-way."

He eyed my salad.

"Is that all you're eating?"

"I prefer the executive choice."

He looked again at the canteen. "There's not much choice here."

"Exactly. Salad's the least offensive option."

He shrugged, "If you say so." before turning back to his pizza and chips.

Toad joined us, snagging half of Lance's meal. Lance was pissed and Toad was unapologetic. I moved my plate nearer just in case he considered taking mine. But I guess Lance's choice was more mainstream.

History was mah next class, but there were a couple of the X-Men there. Should have figured it would happen sooner or later. Ah felt them send looks mah way a couple of times but Ah ignored it. The topic wasn't the same as we'd been studying back home, so Ah knew Ah'd have to read up a bit to catch up. The time dragged though and mah last class was Gym. The weather was a little lousy, so we were stuck playing dodge-ball. It wasn't too painful. Ah mean, ah managed to get a few hits in but nothing too arduous. It was good to be on the opposite side, for once.

After school let out, Ah returned to the grocery store, choosing to stash food in my car, rather than bring it inside. Ah had a feeling that it didn't matter if anything was labelled, it would all be free reign for the 'Brotherhood'. Ah found myself wondering what the X-men were like, before shutting that trail of thought down.

The boys were in when Ah got back and they were looking for food. They opted to get take-out and Ah agreed to join them, once the food arrived. Mystique wasn't in either, not that Ah expected to ask how mah day was, but some conversation might have been nice. Instead, all Ah had was Toad and Lance bitching about what was on the TV and who had the last slice of pizza, before Ah retreated to mah room to study.

Ah could hear them downstairs, still arguing and having satisfied myself that Ah'd done enough work, decided to call it a night.

So that's where Ah'm ending it. Shattered after a shit day and too tired to hope things will be different tomorrow.

Night.

XxX

Rogue was the main topic of conversation, back at the Institute. The Professor was keen to know their impressions of her.

"I couldn't get much of a reading from her. It's like she's blocking me."

"I tried to sit next to her in History but she arrived late. She probably got lost on the way."

"Yes, I believe her last school was slightly smaller. I hope I can count on you to continue your efforts, even if they are not accepted. I doubt she'll find it easy living with the Brotherhood."

"I think Lance is keeping an eye on her for now." All eyes turned to Kitty. She shrugged. "It's just the impression I got."

"Well, at least that's something, though how comforting that is will only prove in time."

XxX

Logan was uneasy about the move and made full use of the Danger Room to work through his tension. Since returning from Mississippi, he'd asked a few of his contacts about Carole Danvers but either they didn't know or weren't talking. The former would be a better option. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was important.

XxX

Dear Scarlett,

It's only been a week and so much has happened. The Brotherhood has a new teammate, a guy called Fred 'Blob' Dukes. The clue is in the name but any more than that, Ah can't tell you. Almost as soon as he arrived, he clapped eyes on little miss perfect, Jean Grey and now he thinks he's in love with her.

He follows her around like a lost puppy and she tosses her hair, barely granting him the time of day.

Well, at least that's how he tells it.

Jean is the type most people will refer to as a 'people' person. She's athletic, academic and treats everyone the same. She doesn't flaunt her status as Captain of the team, nor does she belittle the little people who bow to her in reference.

Ah say people as a general term as Ah am not one of them. Ah have no intention of being one of them and as long as she and her people can keep their distance, we'll get along.

Whilst Fred makes eyes as her, Ah'm stuck with Captain pole-up-his-backside, known to every one else as Scott Summers. The teacher put us together for a drama exercise. This will be good, because Ah love drama and bad because Scott has to pretend to be courting me. It's a Shakespeare play. Don't ask me which one. But the absolute worst thing about this - other than the fact that the teacher didn't have the decency to address me by my name - is that Ah have to be responsive to the courting.

Ah have to pretend to be falling in love with one of the guys that tried to kill me. Well, if that doesn't get me a Grammy, than nothing will. We had practice after school and at first, he was a little stiff - just reading the lines - but he soon got into the rhythm and Ah could pretend Ah was some noble lady and he was a gallant king, asking me to marry him. Don't judge me for being a girl that likes a good swoon, just accept it and move on...

Well, then one of his buddies showed up, well more like appeared. Fred had made his move. Captain Pole-up-his-backside was back, issuing orders and daring to judge me.

He practically yelled, "Do you know anything about this?"

Ah was honestly offended. "No, why would Ah?"

"You all live in the same house." Like that means anything.

"That doesn't mean he talks to me or that Ah'm his confessor."

"Scott, we've got to go, she doesn't know anything..."

When they'd left, Ah took a few moments to process the situation. Fred had taken his crush to the next level and had abducted Jean Grey. He couldn't understand that she didn't reciprocate his feelings and was isolating her from her friends. Taking away her freedom. Clearly he wasn't above using force. Ah may not like the girl, but no-one deserves that treatment. But how could Ah stop him? Ah didn't know the guy.

What Ah did know, was that Jean wouldn't go easy, meaning there had to be signs of a skirmish. A struggle. Maybe that skirmish would give me a sign as to where they'd gone?

The school was having some work done, the site made me think of Mr Logan. Years ago, he'd told us -mah mother and Ah - he was into construction, or was that destruction? Anyway, there was a dust trail with huge footsteps, leading out to some abandoned warehouse. It was the perfect place for a hostage situation. The fact that the 'X-Van' and an awesome motorbike were parked outside meant nothing at all.

As Ah crept closer, Ah noticed Fred face off against the Captain. His blasts barely made any indents and as he was increasing power, Fred was able to literally cover his face with his hand and knock him into the wall, knocking off the visor and sending Scott for a nap. Ah held the tip of my finger against his face, trying to control the hold and sent a warning shot against him.

Little miss Jean was sitting so prim and proper with the metal pole wrapped about her. She'd tried to ward off Fred's advances with a filing cabinet but he was more nimble than she'd anticipated. Now he was mad.

"No-one respects me. You're the worst. You pretended to be my friend."

Jean's eyes met mine, alerting Fred to mah presence.

He turned and snarled at me. "What are you going to do to me? Make me wear bad make-up?"

"Didn't Mystique tell you what mah power was?" Surely that was the first thing you told your new teammate?

"No, and I don't care."

Ah sent another warning shot.

"Your powers are mahne. Your memories are mahne. Got that?"

He was still slightly dazed from the shots, enough for me to get close and take a finger-tip of his strength. Ah focused the shot, making brief eye-contact with Jean as she focused her power to get him off the ground, so I could blast him out of the building and to wherever the hell he'd land.

Captain came to as Ah was pulling the pole away. By then Mr Logan was there, handing him his visor. Ah felt him looking back at me, trying to read me, Ah guess.

"You helped us?"

Ah shrugged.

"Why?"

"It's not a good sign for a potential boyfriend if his first thought is to kidnap the girl."

"But he's on your team?" Not this again.

Ah scowled at the Captain. "So? Are you telling me that you'd help cover up something like this? Or do you think you're above such behaviour?"

He looked flustered. "That's not what I meant."

"Maybe next time you should just say thank-you, if that's not too difficult for you."

"Now wait a minute..."

Ah was done with this whole thing.

As I walked away, Ah heard Mr Logan tell them to lay off, before his words were lost in the air.

By the time Ah got home, the adrenalin had all but evaporated. The others were sitting in front of the TV. But Ah just walked right by and ignored them all for the night.

Ah don't regret helping Jean, but Ah can't help think about what'll come out of this.

XxX

It was late when Fred Dukes returned to the Brotherhood house, so Rogue did not bear witness to his anger. When morning came, she left the house early, only to find that all four wheels of her car had been slashed.

She ran back inside, bumping into Lance.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Mah wheels have been slashed."

There were heavy footsteps on the stairs. Fred was awake.

He smirked. "Maybe you should think about interfering in my love life."

"Love life? You kidnapped someone! Clearly you don't know what a love life is. Newsflash, if a girl says no, you should listen!"

"Yo what's the problem?"

"Fred slashed mah tyres because Ah helped Jean Grey get away."

"Canyouguysstopblockingthehall?"

All four turned to face the new comer.

"Can we help you?"

"I' 'sPietroMaximoff."

Fred continued down the stairs and slumped into the nearest sofa.

"Geez,you'reexhaustedalready?"

Lance stepped in, before another scene could begin. "Look, whoever you are, back off. There's a spare room at the end of the hall."

"Itoldyou,I' ,ifyouprefer." He looked at them all as though his name was of any significance.

Nobody cares, thought Rogue to herself.

Lance drove them all to school, Rogue riding shotgun. Lance waited until the others had left the jeep before pulling her back.

"Look Rogue, I don't care what has gone on between you and Blob. You'd better keep your head down."

"Excuse me?" She was genuinely confused.

"Just for a while. Look, we know you're Mystique's favourite, but that isn't going to help you."

Rogue's voice was filled with instant outrage as the events of the week were taking their toll. "Ah'm Mystique's favourite? Since when? The woman can't stand me. And if you expect me to stand back when someone's in trouble, then you're not the person Ah thought you were."

"Don't turn this on me. I'm trying to help you!"

"You've got a funny way of showing it."

Neither party knew their argument wasn't as private as they'd planned.

XxX

It was lunch and Rogue had eaten quickly, before retiring to the library for the remainder of the break. The argument with Lance had unsettled her and she was looking for some quiet. However, she hadn't banked on seeing Kurt Wagner and Kitty Pryde.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

Rogue looked up to see the spare tables, versus the empty seats at her booth. She saw their earnest faces and shrugged.

"Free country."

"We wanted to thank-you for helping Jean."

Okay...

"It was really good of you to go against your teammate."

"Fred's not mah teammate. We live at the same house."

"Oh..."

"Look, Ah came here to study. There's plenty of tables if y'all want to chat but..."

They were interrupted by another student who'd been sent to summon Rogue to Miss Darkholme's office. Rogue gathered her things without saying anything more.

XxX

Dear Scarlett,

Things are really going to shit. Everyone's been on mah case about helping Jean. Ah wish ah didn't bother now. Most people are surprised Ah did it. Mystique wasn't happy. She said something about loyalty, as did Miss Darkholme. The only ones that are happy about it are the X-men. They must think Ah did it because Ah want to be friends or something.

Of course they wouldn't guess otherwise. They're all full of talk of good intentions but when it comes down to it, they only care about their team. For anyone who falls outside of that spectrum? They don't even care.

Back at the 'Brotherhood', Fred is taking up any leftover space. Lance and Toad are busy getting to know the new guy. They ordered food but didn't ask me. I guess I know where my place is. I leave the house and stop at the nearest cafe, returning to find Mystique has not long arrived. I tell her about my car. She says she'll have someone look into it.

For the moment, I'm stuck taking lifts off Lance. As long as I don't 'antagonise' Fred, things are calm enough. It's not worth arguing.

XxX

Rogue spent the next few days keeping to herself. She could manage the day to day activity without too much hassle, but it was the nights that bothered her. Being the only girl resident, she purchased a lock and was fixing it to the door, when Fred walked passed.

"Like you have anything worth looking at." Before heading back to the TV.

By the weekend, she felt starved of conversation and affection. Her car had new wheels and she was willing to break out of the tense atmosphere. From her previous drives around town, she knew that there was a local zoo nearby.

She'd always loved the zoo, that much she did remember. Seeing all the animals in their family groups had become her greatest desire and as all her assignments were finished, she wouldn't feel guilty, taking a day out.

There were only a few more weeks before the zoo would be closed and she spent the morning visiting the lemurs, meerkats, penguins and Elephants. Her ticket price had included entrance to the big cats den and she was in the queue, when a familiar face and gruff manner appeared.

"What are you doing here?"

"It seemed like a good day for seeing animals."

A part of her didn't want to extend the conversation. Nothing would come out of it. He was still the enemy, regardless of their shared past. Yet the other part of her felt strangely obligated to communicate.

"You don't strike me as the 'zoo' type."

Logan heard the faint veneer of a sneer in her tone and chose to take the direct option. "I'm not. I came to talk to you."

She turned to face him. It was almost comical how surprised she looked. "Why? What could you possibly say to me that Ah'd be interested in?"

"Did you know your mother named me as a potential guardian?"

She frowned, blindsided. "You're serious?"

"I'm not lying kid."

She thought it over for a moment, before deciding, "She clearly thought you were a good role-model. Ha, it's probably a good thing she never learnt the truth."

"I'm not here to argue with you kid. You've been sold a lemon. We didn't attack you that night."

"Well. whoever it was certainly looked like you."

He wanted to tell her the truth, everything in him was advising it. But experience made him hold back, knowing they, he would need to earn her trust. "Well, it weren't us."

She gave a sceptical snort. "You're telling me that someone disguised themselves as you and attacked me?"

"Think about it Rogue. Is it so hard to believe, knowing what we are, that there are people who can change their shape?"

"It's a little convenient."

The queue had started moving and Rogue felt sure that this was where she would lose him.

"Well, it's been nice and all, but Ah've got to go."

He shook his head. "I figured you'd want the full package."

"Seriously? You're coming in?"

"Why else do you think I'm standing here?"

She didn't answer.

XxX