Rogue tried to recall all the perks of living at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Hot water. Good food. A constant supply of coffee. However, as she was hauling Scott Summer's 187-pound body up an embankment towards the finish line at the end of the Danger Room, these things didn't feel as important as they were before.
"You're doing great Rogue. We're almost there," came a voice from over her shoulder.
"Easy for you to say," Rogue gritted out trying to ignore the bead of sweat rolling down between her shoulder blades under her uniform. As Rogue crossed the finish line Logan clicked a timer.
"Good job. One minute twenty-seven seconds. Best time so far." Logan nodded with approval. Rogue nodded back her understanding as she let Cyclops down from the fireman's carry they had been practicing. Behind her Kitty arrived with Kurt looking equally out of breath.
"Not bad Half-Pint, but you'll need to speed it up if you want to catch up with Stripes."
Kitty just waved a hand in understanding from where she was bent over trying to catch her breath. The poor girl looked like she was about to pass out.
"All right, everybody. That wraps up today." Logan announced.
Rogue didn't wait for Logan to figure out something else to torture them with. Turning on her heel she headed out of the Danger Room, not bothering to wait for Kitty who still looked like she was going to pass out.
"Hey, Rogue wait up!" Scott called as he ran to catch up from behind followed closely by Jean. As Rogue turned to face the pair, they came to a stop in front of her, "Are you ready for your trip?"
Hoo-boy that was a loaded question. Turns out Irene had passed away almost nine months ago and had left her a house in New Orleans. It had taken the courts almost eight months to track her down and deliver the papers to her.
Rogue wasn't quite sure how she felt about it. On one hand, Irene had been the only mother she knew growing up and her death had hit hard. Lord knows Mystique had been gone more often than not. On the other hand, Irene had played a key role in Mystique's adoption and subsequent manipulation. Not to mention the house was in New Orleans, a city that held complicated memories for her for more than one reason.
"Yeah, I'm all packed," she replied, shrugging a shoulder.
"That's good," Scott replied rubbing the back of his neck, "Are you going to be okay down there?"
"What do ya mean?" Rogue crossed her arms over her chest, irritation already itching up her spine. Scott was her friend, but he had a tendency to take the role of Team Leader out of the Danger Room too often for Rogue's liking.
"Well, it's just," Scott paused before continuing, "things got messy last time you were down there. Are you going to be safe?"
Rogue suppressed an eye roll already knowing what he was asking. Mentally she counted to ten before answering, "I'll be fine. There are over two-hundred thousand people in that city. It's not like I'm going looking for that Swamp Rat."
"Right. I didn't think you would. I just wanted to make sure you were going to be okay. Not only about the Gambit thing but also the Destiny thing too."
Rogue softened. Scott meant well – she knew he did – the boy was just as subtle as a hammer over the head was all. Giving him a reassuring smile, she answered, "Yeah. It's gonna be hard, but I need to go see the house. I don't know. I guess maybe I need closure."
"I understand." Scott smiled at her, his hand finding her shoulder, "I just wanted to make sure you were going to be okay. We're only a phone call away."
"She'll be fine Scott," Jean reassured her boyfriend. Glancing at Rogue the redhead rolled her eyes indulgently and Rogue smirked.
Over the last year and a half, things had gotten better between Rogue and Jean. Granted Rogue had let go of a lot of her misgivings about Jean being 'little Miss Perfect,' especially after the Bayville Siren's escapades. In return, Jean had run interference for Rogue for weeks after Apocalypse's downfall allowing Rogue to get some much-needed peace from Scott and Logan's mother-hen routine.
As Jean tugged Scott away Rogue watched them. There was a time she would have fallen to pieces over Scott Summers and been burning with jealousy over Jean Grey but now…not so much. They were happy together and Rogue was happy for them.
"So, what are you going to do if you see Gambit," Kitty asked appearing at her side.
"Punch him in the face?" Rogue offered, heading for the elevator.
"I'm serious. Kurt told me about how he gave you his lucky card. Are you really saying you're not going to feel something if you see him again?"
"I'm not saying anything," Rogue snapped entering the elevator. "Like I said, it's not like I'm going to be lookin' for him."
Dinner that night was chaotic, as always. Taking a break, Rogue headed for the gazebo, which was unofficially known as her spot. Sighing, Rogue closed her eyes and tried to ignore the burning behind her eyelids.
This was all so stupid. She was just going to see a stupid house in a stupid city. There was no reason to be feeling any sort of way about it.
Except she did feel some sort of way about it. Hell, she had never been very good at making amends with the past. That was more Kurt's way of thinking than hers. Rogue had always assumed there would be more time to sort things out before returning to Irene. And now there wasn't.
Part of her wanted to cancel the whole trip. There must be some real estate agent she could pay to put the house up for sale. The other part of her wanted to know if there was anything left worth remembering.
She could remember visiting the house in her childhood and watching the Marti Gras parades from the front stoop, laughing at the floats, and listening to the jazz bands as they went by. It had always been a big deal to Rogue when she was a child. Irene's blindness made traveling hard, but she still made the trip so Rogue could see the parades.
Surely there was no secret agenda to that, right? There had to be times Irene must have done things because she cared about her, not just what Rogue would be able to do one day, right? Rogue sucked in a breath and opened her eyes before those thoughts could drag further her down. Hearing boot steps behind her, she turned, already knowing who it was.
"Stripes," Logan greeted.
"Hey, Logan."
"You ready?"
"Yeah, I'm all packed."
"Not what I was talking about, Darlin'."
Rogue eyed Logan, but he didn't say anything else. Sighing again, she looked out at the water. "I guess I'm as ready as I can be," Logan grunted at that.
"If you end up in any trouble—"
"Sweet Jesus," Rogue pushed off the gazebo railing taking two steps toward the entrance before spinning back to Logan, crossing her arms, "It's not like I'm gonna hang signs up advertising I'm in town."
Logan eyed her levelly, "Didn't think you would. But I know the type of people you've pissed off down there. They're smarter than you think, and you'll be on their turf. I'm not talkin' about Gambit either," Logan chewed on his cigar before adding, "Though he ain't much better."
Rogue dropped her arms. Logan was right. She made some real enemies last time she was in Louisiana, but her chances of seeing them were slim. Hell, she couldn't contact Gambit even if she wanted to. It's not like they had time to exchange numbers the last time she saw him. Just a stupid card…the Queen of Hearts.
His lucky lady, Rogue frowned at the thought. It didn't mean anything. No reason to get excited. Definitely not a reason for her stomach to be doing flips like it was doing. The dang Cajun had just been trying to butter her up after all he put her through, that's all. Yep, definitely no reason for excitement. At. All. Stepping back to the railing, she looked at Logan before sighing and looking out at the cliffs.
"I'll be okay. And, like Scott said, I can always call if things get weird." Rogue replied. Pausing, she realized she felt better. All her hangups about Irene and Mystique aside, the X-men would come for her no matter what. Logan grunted again.
"You want some backup?"
Rogue glanced at Logan momentarily, thinking he meant to come with her, but Logan simply held his bare hand out. Rogue inhaled in understanding.
Recently she had a breakthrough with the Professor. She could now control the interactions with her psyches…for the most part. She could speak with them, and recall learned skills if she needed to. The Professor believed that she would eventually be able to recall all the mutant powers she absorbed too. Logan was offering his skills.
"Yeah," Rogue murmured, pushing her hair behind her ear, "I'd appreciate that."
Slipping off her glove, Rogue brushed her hand across Logan's, who sagged for a moment but remained upright.
"Thanks, Logan."
"No problem, Darlin'."