~X~X~X~X~X~
A Different Kind of Christmas
Chapter 17:
~X~X~X~X~X~
The following day, after another Danger Room training, a hand-to-hand sparring session with Logan, and a shower, Rogue conscripted the gruff Canadian to accompany her to the mall to see Mandy. Even after all the fuss about a 'proper Christmas' and having presents for everyone, the blonde had forgotten her own gifts at the mansion when she'd left the previous day.
Despite the cold, Logan had insisted on taking his bike for easier maneuvering in the crazy 'after-Christmas sales' traffic. Although she'd really wanted to take her new car, Logan insisted the vehicle would be safer at the mansion because of the crazy drivers and crowded parking, so Rogue had thrown everything into a backpack and donned her coat and a few extra layers, including the belt Remy had given her. She had a few throwing stars, a can of mace, and her communicator in a couple of the pockets, just in case.
As the Canadian escorted Rogue into the mall, however, it didn't look like she would have to worry at all about the extra protection. Her 'bodyguard' kept a hand on her back at all times, guiding her in and out of the throngs of mall shoppers and people returning gifts. The Wolverine was wound so tight it seemed as if he was more afraid someone would touch her than SHE was. By the time they reached Abercrombie and Fitch, Logan was practically growling at anyone who dared to come close to either of them.
Dozens of people milled through the various racks of the shop, with another dozen standing in line with various degrees of irritation. The pair scanned the store, but were unable to locate the peppy young blonde. Wolverine waited to the side while Rogue sidled up to the counter to talk to the brunette woman working the cash register. The older woman's hair was frazzled and her face looked pinched with stress and fatigue.
"S'cuse me," the southerner interrupted with a smile as the clerk scanned a customer's returns. "Ah'm looking for one of the employees here, Mandy. She said she was working today, but Ah didn't catch when. Was wonderin' if Ah missed her or if she's coming later."
"Neither," the woman, who looked to be in her 40's, snipped. "She called in sick. Now we're short staffed on one of the busiest days of the year."
"Oh," Rogue glanced around at the bustling store with a slight frown. The X-Man wasn't exactly known for her sweet personality, but she tried to turn up whatever Southern charm she possessed as she addressed the clerk. "Ah can see y'all are busy, and Ah hate to be a bother, but ya don't happen to have an address or anything, do ya? Ah'd like to check in on her."
For a moment the woman didn't respond with anything more than a raised brow and a twitching eye, but she finally shook her head. "I can't share personnel files or private details, sorry."
With a sigh, Rogue bit her lip, nodded, and thanked the woman before heading back to Logan, who was trying to avoid the eye of another young sales girl. Once the Southerner shook her head, indicating to her mentor that she'd been unsuccessful, the young employee nearby finally plucked up the courage to talk to them.
"Hi! I'm Sarah! I couldn't help but overhear - are you a friend of Mandy's?" The tall teen smiled shyly, but earnestly at Rogue.
"Ah'm Rogue," the X-Man replied with a light smile. "Yeah, Mandy's a friend of mine. Ah wanted t' get her Christmas presents to her, but Ah don't have her address." She tried not to appear sheepish, but she was rather embarrassed to admit how little she actually knew about her excitable friend.
"Oh YOU'RE Rogue?! That's great! Mandy's told me so much about you!" the brunette exclaimed somewhat quietly, trying not to attract the attention of her manager.
Rogue's cheeks tinged pink, however, and Logan snickered lightly as Sarah continued.
"I can give you Mandy's address. She's just the sweetest - I'm sure she'd love to see a friend, even if she's not feeling well. She helped me so much this year, I'd love to return the favor. Give her a hug from me and tell her I hope she feels better. By the way, she LOVES tomato basil soup if you're wanting to bring her something." The brunette quickly gave Rogue the address, and the two mutants made a quick stop at a full service deli for some soup as well.
The drive to Mandy's house was mercifully short as Rogue tried to juggle the container of hot soup and hold onto Logan as he maneuvered his motorcycle through traffic. After driving past a mobile home park and a few dilapidated houses, they pulled up to a tiny two-story house with a snowy yard full of colorful Christmas decorations and yellow ribbons adorning a white picket fence.
"Yep," Wolverine chortled, "looks like Cricket's handiwork all right. Kid spent 5 minutes teaching me, Gambit, and Beast how t' tie the perfect bow."
"Not to mention it looks like Santa's workshop threw up on the lawn," Rogue commented with a grin. "Ah've never seen so many snowmen and plastic reindeer," she chuckled.
"Well, get a move on, kid. That soup ain't gonna stay warm fer long." Wolverine tipped his bike to the side and stood against it, arms folded as he waited for Rogue to make her delivery.
She nodded and let herself in through the gate, taking care to close it behind her. She knocked at the door, smiling at the homemade wreath. It was wrapped with plastic greenery and little fake holly berries. The X-Man glanced up at the door frame and rolled her eyes with a barely restrained laugh.
Mistletoe.
They were definitely at the right house.
A man with graying black hair, short black beard, and light olive skin answered the door. He was tall, but thin and wiry with deep set wrinkles around his eyes and brows although he was still relatively young - perhaps only in his mid-40's. His face looked haggard - as if he hadn't slept well in weeks, and although his brown eyes were slightly puffy and tinged with red, they held a kindness that reminded her very much of Mandy.
"G-Good afternoon, sir," Rogue started, trying to dispel her sudden sense of unease. "Ah'm looking for Mandy Fravashi. Could ya tell me if Ah have the right place?"
The man nodded slowly. "Afternoon young lady," he replied with a small smile. "You've got the right place. I'm Mandy's dad."
The southerner held out her gloved hand politely, and the man shook it, albeit hesitantly. "Nice t' meet you, Mr. Fravashi, Ah'm Rogue, a friend of Mandy's. Ah just came by t' give her the Christmas presents she forgot yesterday, and bring her some soup. Ah heard from her boss at the mall that she was feeling under the weather."
Recognition alighted across the man's face, and although his smile grew, so did the sadness in his eyes. "So you're the famous Rogue we've heard so much about lately. Mandy's told us all about you."
The X-Man snorted, blushing for the second time. "So Ah've heard."
His gaze relaxed, a shred of levity bleeding through brown irises. "Don't worry, it's all good things. We really appreciate your friend fixing our truck like he did. I doubt you know how much it helped us. We don't have much, but we can certainly pay you a little…"
"No!" Rogue's voice raised an octave before she corrected herself and looked back to Logan with a reassuring nod. When she turned back to Mr. Fravashi, she was smiling again. "Ah mean, no - it was no trouble. Just consider it a Christmas gift. After everything Mandy's done f'r me in the few weeks Ah've known her, it's the least we can do. She's a certifiable angel - turned our whole holiday around."
The southerner swallowed hard and continued, albeit nervously. "Ah'm uh… Ah'm real grateful y'all let her come over yesterday. Ah don't - Ah don't really have a family t' speak of aside from those at the Institute and most everyone went home for the holidays, so it's really just me and a few teachers. And, well, 'cause of Mandy, Ah can't recall ever havin' such a nice Christmas."
Rogue was surprised to feel her eyes burning slightly, and she looked down at her shoes as she cleared the emotion from her face with a deep breath. "Anyhow, Ah just came t' say thanks. And bring her all the presents she left behind." She laughed. "As excited as she was about gifts, she sure didn't put much stock in her own. Ah'm real sorry t' hear she got sick, though." She shifted uncomfortably. "Ah kinda feel like Ah'm t' blame, t' be honest. If we hadn't spent so much time sleddin'..."
Mandy's dad shook his head. "Oh no, no," he reassured her. "It's not - it's not like that at all. She didn't get a cold or anything. She's…" he stopped, taking a breath and measuring his words as if wrestling with something that was eating at his subconscious. "It's not anything that she caught."
The X-Man nodded slowly, the cold winter wind blowing lightly through her hair and into the slightly open door of the Fravashi home. Although Rogue wanted to ask questions, Mr. Fravashi's elusiveness warned her away from prying.
"Well, Ah brought her some tomato basil soup, and her gifts, any road." She handed the steaming, double insulated styrofoam quart of soup to Mandy's father, then pulled out a large gift bag and handed it to him. It was full of the 'Champagne Toast' bubble bath set from Remy, the gift card from the teachers, the Bath and Body Works peach passion set from Rogue, as well as a few miscellaneous trinkets from Mandy's last minute Dollar Store shopping blitz on Christmas Eve.
Mandy's father smiled. "Thank you, Rogue. She'll be so happy you stopped by. Unfortunately she's not feeling up to visitors right now. She's got a terrible migraine. Her mother's up there right now trying to help."
"Oh," Rogue almost sighed, somewhat relieved that it was indeed nothing she had done. "Well Ah guess Ah'll just…"
"Who is it, Amir?" a soft, sweet voice called from inside the house. "I FINALLY got her to sleep. If it's some salesman ignoring our sign again…" The door opened a little more to reveal a tall, thin blonde woman with bright blue eyes. "Oh, hello," Mrs. Fravashi exclaimed as she stepped onto the porch with her husband and shut the door quietly behind her.
"Hi, Mrs. Fravashi," the X-Man extended her hand and the woman took it with a small smile and a reciprocating shake. "Ah'm Rogue. It's nice t' meet ya."
As soon as the Southerner uttered her name, however, Mandy's mother pulled her hand back abruptly, her smile fading as a dark look clouded her light complexion. Blue eyes turned hard as they locked onto Rogue's strange white streaks.
"Of course," the woman's tone was civil, but Rogue swallowed at the way Mandy's mother folded her arms coldly.
Mr. Fravashi cleared his throat, giving his wife a 'be nice' look before smiling back at Rogue. "Thank you so much for stopping by, Rogue. I'll be sure to tell Mandy you said hello - she's going to love the soup."
With a tiny upturn of her lips, the X-Man nodded. "Ah hope she feels better real soon. It was …nice meetin' y'all." Her green eyes flicked quickly to the blonde woman, whose spine was clenched with tension. There was a haunted anger to her body language that made Rogue incredibly uneasy. It was hard to imagine that someone as sweet and caring as Mandy had a mother who seemed so intolerant.
Turning away and heading down the porch steps, Rogue wrapped her coat tighter around herself, the blustery winter chill suddenly seeping into her bones as the door clicked shut behind her. She kept her head down during the few paces to Logan's motorcycle, not wanting to meet his eyes.
"Parents ain't as accepting as yer friend, huh?" he asked. The air of compassion tinting his gruff voice finally made her look up and meet his gaze.
She shook her head. "Ah sure ain't gonna be invited t' supper anytime soon," she agreed, casting a wistful gaze at an upstairs window. There were colorful holiday window clings adorning the glass, and Rogue guessed that one had to be Mandy's. Sighing, she plopped the helmet on her head and climbed onto the motorcycle behind Wolverine.
She only hoped that Mandy's parents wouldn't refuse to let their daughter associate with Rogue the way the Sefton's had with Kurt's girlfriend.
Just the thought of losing a friend like Mandy made Rogue's throat swell, and she bit down hard on her bottom lip as Logan pulled out quietly. Burying her face in the back of Logan's winter coat, she was actually glad for the icy cold that provided a valid excuse for the sudden wetness that stung her eyes and made her sniffle.
~X~X~X~
After two more days of not hearing from anyone aside from Kitty and Kurt, Rogue was starting to grow restless and increasingly sullen. The secret admirer gifts had all but stopped after the Christmas present consisting of the mask and gloves, and she hadn't heard from Mandy or Remy once despite leaving her phone number with a thank you card in Mandy's bag of gifts.
She was very much starting to believe that Mandy's parents had forbidden her from hanging out with the 'mutant freaks' as they were so commonly called.
Kitty had phoned her every day since Christmas for updates, but with the end of the gifts, the young brunette's interest was also waning. The two girls had spent over an hour last night theorizing who the secret admirer could be, and Kitty had even created a computer chart with each male they knew and the likelihood of his potential as the culprit.
At the top was Bobby Drake, followed by Warren Worthington, then Remy. Although Rogue hadn't told her best friend about the Cajun's romantic confessions during Christmas, Kitty had thrown him in just because he seemed to be popping up more and more often. Kitty had concluded that it probably WASN'T him, however, because he didn't have access to the school or Rogue's room like the others did. Plus, Logan would have been able to smell Gambit's presence around the mansion. That, and he'd seemed almost jealous about her secret admirer gift.
With her mind full of questions and possibilities, Rogue lounged on the living room loveseat in her new green sweater, working on the puzzles and crossword books from her secret admirer. She had her head propped up on one arm of the loveseat, with her jean-covered legs hanging over the other. In the easy chair adjacent to her sat Mr. McCoy, who had "borrowed" her Sudoku workbook, and was delighting in solving the 'super challenge' puzzles at the back. Logan had taken off for whatever reason, Ororo was still at her sister's house, and Professor Xavier was upstairs on the phone with some big shot talking about a charity dinner and dancing event that was happening a few days before New Year's Eve.
When there was an unexpected rapping at the front doors, Rogue and Beast looked at each other, confused, before another knock had the young woman dropping her books and scrambling to her feet with a grin. Beast simply chuckled and lowered his reading glasses slightly as he followed her at a leisurely pace. The alarms and weapons systems hadn't been activated, nor had the buzzer at the gate. Whomever was at the door was likely either a friend, or a talented - yet courteous - trespasser.
Jogging toward the front double glass doors, Rogue slowed her pace as a pair of white wings glinted in the reflection of the early afternoon light. Her smile, too, faded somewhat as the butterflies in her stomach suddenly disappeared. Still, any kind of visitor was a welcome relief - even if it was just for another of Professor Xavier's business meetings.
"Mornin' Warren," Rogue greeted the angelic mutant with a warm smile as she opened the foyer door and stood to the side to allow him entrance. "Come on in and sit a spell. The Prof's on the phone with some bigwig about a charity thing, but Beast'll let him know y'all are here."
The winged mutant stepped into the foyer and the X-Man quickly shut the door behind him, rubbing her sweater-covered arms against the biting cold air as Warren smiled at her, red cheeked with wind-tousled hair.
Beast entered the room behind her and extended his hand to Warren. "A table full of welcome!" he quoted. "What brings you here today, my friend? After all, 'every mile is two in the winter' - George Herbert."
"Especially when you're flying," Warren joked, a wide grin splitting his cold cheeks. "Actually, I love spreading my wings on days like this. Most people don't want to look up in this kind of weather, and it's like being in a snow globe."
"Sounds cold, ta me," Rogue snickered. "Ah'll take summer monsoons over ice and snow any day."
Warren's smile grew, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth. "I suppose it's an acquired taste. I've definitely appreciated cold weather more since I got my wings."
Mr. McCoy chuckled, clapping Angel on the shoulder. "My sentiments, exactly. Summers in a New York heat wave are detestable when you're covered in fur."
Rubbing her arms against the chill in the air, Rogue nodded with a grin. "Well, Ah ain't got fur - or feathers - but wearin' long sleeves and gloves definitely raises fewer eyebrows in the winter."
"Exactly," Warren agreed enthusiastically. "And as long as it's not 20 below or freezing rain, I don't mind flying in it either - even if it is a bit chilly."
"Well, why dontcha come warm up by the fire while you're waitin' on the Prof?" Rogue nodded toward the living room where she and Beast had been lounging.
"Oh," Warren's wind-roughened cheeks flushed a deeper red. "I, uh, I actually didn't come to talk to Professor Xavier." Blue eyes darted between Rogue and Hank nervously.
Rogue slanted her eyes at the blue furred mutant and nodded. "Oh! Sure. Ah'll just leave y'all to it then." She tucked her head and made a bee-line for the stairs, hand already on the balustrade before Warren cleared his throat.
"Um, actually," he raised his voice, "I came to talk to you, Rogue."
The southerner was supremely glad she had her back turned to the two men as she turned bright red. Pausing mid-step, she felt frozen in place, unsure of how to respond to such an unexpected possibility.
Gratefully, Mr. McCoy spoke up, giving her a second longer to compose herself as Warren turned his attention to the blue-furred doctor. "Well, then I shall make myself scarce so you two can converse privately, if that's what you wish."
Before Rogue could beg him to stay, Warren gratefully dismissed her teacher.
"I'd appreciate that, thank you Mr. McCoy."
The formality, and the insinuation that Angel didn't want an audience to discuss something PRIVATE with Rogue made the young woman's cheeks darken a few more shades.
"Of course," Beast smiled, noting how Rogue was still somewhat frozen on the bottom step. The blue furred mutant headed toward the stairs and paused beside the girl, gently grasping her covered elbow. Turning her slightly so she could meet his eyes, he smiled grandly. Coughing lightly to cover his laughter at her deer-in-the-headlights expression, he gave her another moment to further compose herself.
"Rogue, do you mind if I borrow your Sudoku book for a little longer?" he asked politely, purposefully providing a distraction. "I must admit they are much more gratifying than many of my other current projects."
The Southerner swallowed hard, blinked a few times, and shook herself out of whatever disbelief induced stupor she had been under. "Uh, sure." She forced a calm smile, eyes darting in Warren's direction only briefly. "Those super challenge puzzles 'd be wasted on me. Don't have the smarts or the patience for 'em."
"Do not sell yourself short, my dear," Hank smiled, giving her arm an imperceptible squeeze of encouragement. "You are one of the most perceptive and intelligent of our residents, and an absolute treasure." Dr. McCoy winked encouragingly and Rogue's cheeks pinked anew at the man's attempt to talk her up in front of Warren.
Biting the inside of her cheek to keep from either groaning or screaming, Rogue gave him a tight lipped tilt of the lips and patted the blue hand still clutching her elbow. "Alrighty then, you uh, you go have fun with those puzzles and Ah'll just go talk ta Warren before Ah die of embarrassment."
Removing his hand with a snort and heading for the stairs, he turned back around for a moment as the two young adults stood awkwardly in the foyer. "Oh, and Rogue, don't forget that any excursions need to be chaperoned."
The girl dropped her face into one hand. "THANKS," she bit out, shooting the furry blue instructor a dirty look from between her fingers.
To his credit, Beast was at least able to contain his raucous guffaws until he reached the top of the stairs.
Once Beast was out of sight, and her face was closer to its normal shade, she turned back to Warren. "You, uh, you want some tea, or coffee or somethin'?" Rogue asked, nervously fidgeting with the seams of her new gloves.
"Do you have hot chocolate?" Warren asked, a light smile tugging at his lips. "I already drank enough coffee to keep me up for the next 24 hours, and I'm not really a 'tea' guy."
Rogue's eyebrows shot up as she headed toward the kitchen with Warren only a step behind her. He wasn't so close that she was entirely uncomfortable, but he was certainly inside her 'bubble'.
"Really?" she grinned teasingly, winking as they traversed the labyrinth of the main floor. "Ah thought all you rich, stuffed shirt pretty boys drank Earl Gray or somethin'."
"So you DO think I'm pretty," Warren teased back, smiling widely. "And here I thought you found me repulsive."
A snort escaped Rogue's lips, but she simultaneously turned pink and tried to widen the gap between them. "Ah sincerely doubt it."
"Doubt what? That I'm pretty? Or that I'm repulsive?"
They'd barely reached the kitchen when Rogue whirled on him, hands on her hips and cheeks flushed slightly. "Suga'," she sassed. "If y'all got disowned t'day, you could make your millions back in a MONTH just by sellin' calendars." Cocking her eyebrow, she folded her arm across her chest. "And you're just messin' with me, aintcha?"
Warren laughed grandly, a playful smile threatening to split his face. Yet it only made him look more handsome, and Rogue felt her heart flutter - just a little. Trying to keep face, she rolled her eyes and turned to pull two mugs down from the cupboard. She carefully avoided his gaze, gathering the ingredients she needed while trying to get her telltale blush back under control.
"'Fraid we don't have the GOOD stuff, but Mr. McCoy usually keeps some chocolate syrup on hand," the southerner called over her shoulder as she stood on tiptoe to retrieve the bottle Beast kept hidden in the top cupboard behind the seldom touched picnic items.
It was SUPPOSED to be his top secret stash, but since Rogue had absorbed him last year, she had frequently raided - and restocked - his supply. The man was a genius, to be sure, but he had the worst time remembering to add it to the weekly grocery list. So far, she'd only gotten caught by Beast once, but since she'd been replacing the nearly empty one with a brand new bottle at the time, he'd let her off the hook. Ever since, he'd almost made it a habit to share a cup of cocoa with her at 2 a.m. whenever she was unable to sleep.
Rogue grunted as she tried to reach the bottle. Most of the time either Mr. McCoy got it down for them, or she just stood on the lower shelves. With Warren watching, however, she certainly didn't want to further embarrass herself by climbing the furniture like a toddler.
A hot chuckle puffed across her ear as she struggled, and Warren came up behind her, ABSOLUTELY invading her personal space this time. She could feel the heat of his chest through his red sweater as he stood mere millimeters away from her back. Temporarily frozen, Rogue barely moved as one of his hands stabilized on her shoulder, and the other reached across her body to pull out the bottle of syrup. A flutter from his feathers lifting and settling cooled the air against her incredibly hot cheeks, and she kept her head down, breath catching in her lungs at the unexpected contact.
Once the winged mutant pulled back, chocolate syrup in hand, Rogue turned abruptly, her back thudding against the cabinets.
"Sorry," the blonde grinned unrepentantly. "I didn't figure you for the jumpy type." He was trying desperately not to laugh at her red-faced, wide-eyed expression.
"Ah'm -" She cleared her throat and crossed her arms, schooling her visage into a mask of irritation. "Ah'm NOT." Green eyes narrowed as her jaw twitched. "Ah just aint used to anyone bein' fool enough ta get that close t' me."
The feathered mutant chuckled. "So you're just antisocial then?"
Rogue scoffed, aggressively yanking the syrup bottle out of his gloved hands. "Ain't either," she groused, stalking toward the refrigerator to retrieve the milk.
This time the young millionaire threw his hands up as Rogue slammed a pot down on the stove and began heating the milk. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry," he offered, catching her elbow as she retrieved a bottle of vanilla. "Just slow down and talk to me, huh?"
Her fury was momentarily forgotten as she whipped around to stare at him in shock. Slanting her eyes first to his hand, then back to his face, she tried to temper her tone to a more civil inflection. "About WHAT?" She huffed. Forcing down her ire was a bit like expecting a hornet to fly away after being swatted.
"Well, let's start with why you're so angry at me right now." His smile faltered just a little. "I'm sorry that I invaded your personal space like that. Is that what's wrong? I didn't mean to offend you."
The honest concern and repentance in his eyes drained the last of Rogue's ire, and she sighed as he finally released her elbow. "No," the young woman shook her head. "You didn't offend me. Ah'm sorry. Ah just - Ah ain't really used ta folks gettin' so close t' me. Mah skin is - "
"Dangerous. I know." Warren smiled lightly, nodding in understanding. "I know what you can do, Rogue. But it's no more dangerous than lots of other mutant's powers, right?"
The X-Man opened her mouth to argue, but Warren cut her off. "If Kurt teleported exactly where someone was standing, what would happen? Or Kitty, if she - I don't know - SNEEZED while she was phasing someone through a wall? Jean and Xavier always have to be careful with their telepathy, and Scott and Logan have deadly weapons integrated into their bodies, right? I get that you worry about your powers and are always on your guard, but you don't have to be nihilistic or isolate yourself." The blonde sighed, running a hand through his tousled locks. "I mean, when's the last time you got out and did something fun, just because? Just for you?"
Rogue's mouth opened and closed, arguments and outrage blooming and wilting across her features so rapidly that she was left speechless for a moment. Finally, she huffed out a breath, crossing her arms as she tried not to incinerate the well-intentioned man with a scathing glare. "The last time Ah went out and had fun 'just because,' Ah accidentally absorbed a bunch of people at a concert, my powers went nuts, Ah demolished a warehouse, and Ah nearly killed mah friends. So yeah, Ah don't go out much."
"Wow," the millionaire blinked in surprise, taking a small step back as he stared at her incredulously.
It was a subtle, subconscious gesture, but Rogue felt her breath catch and eyes sting, regardless. Subdued, she turned back toward the pot of now bubbling milk and forcefully added a few drops of vanilla and the chocolate syrup. She stirred the liquid, unwilling to broach the awkward silence and half expecting 'Angel' to just leave.
After all, that's what everyone else did subsequent to one of her classic tirades.
"Well," Warren finally spoke as she continued vigorously mixing the hot chocolate. "You clearly need to diversify your experiences and try again."
The metal spoon Rogue was holding clattered loudly as it fell out of her hand and into the pot of chocolate. "EXCUSE me?" She whirled to face him, green eyes wide with shock.
The blonde laughed quietly, putting both hands on her covered shoulders, and forcing her to meet his eyes. "Look, you clearly had a bad experience. And yeah, maybe raucous parties and rambunctious crowds should be avoided, but that doesn't mean you can't go out and have fun."
Releasing her arms, the incredulous eyebrow she raised at him made him chuckle. "I'm serious!" he laughed. "You could try horseback riding, snowmobiling, tennis... Maybe go to a baseball or basketball game. New York has hundreds of museums, if you're into that sort of thing. There's rollerblading, scuba diving - heck, even skydiving!"
This time Rogue snorted, a small smile growing on her lips. "Those are fine ideas, Warren, but the Prof's the one with the money. Ah ain't got a dollar t' mah name, and those kinda activities are a bit outta mah price range."
"Oh." His face fell for a moment, but then his grin returned, a devious look in his blue eyes. "You can always join me as my guest. I'd be happy to take you to a Yankees or Knicks game, or just out on our yacht."
Rogue's mouth fell open, and she immediately ducked her head, a blush roaring across her cheeks as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Unable to meet his eyes, the southerner turned and retrieved a pair of mugs and a ladle from the cupboards. "That's um, that's a mighty nice offer, but …" she finally stammered out, clumsily digging the spoon out of the pot with the ladle. She couldn't grab it without soiling her gloves, however, so she bit the tip of the middle finger of one hand and yanked it off with her teeth. She growled as she stuffed the glove in her pocket.
Warren snorted, sidling up next to her, his lower back braced against the counter. "Glad to see I'm not the only one who can make you mad, at least."
Fishing out the offending silverware before filling the mugs, Rogue considered his statement. Images of Gambit, with his swaggering bravado and infuriatingly cocky grin, flitted across her mind. Mouth twisting up, she pursed her lips. "Suga,'" she sassed, turning to meet Angel's blue eyes with a genuine smile. "You don't even make top ten."
Another grin. "Well, THAT's a relief. I was beginning to think I'd really stepped in it." He took the mug of hot chocolate she offered. The ceramic was white with little penguins wearing Santa hats - one of Mandy's dollar store gift exchange 'treasures.'
Rogue shook her head, one gloved hand wrapped around her own alligator mug1 as her ungloved fingers held cautiously to the handle. "Nope," she replied, popping the 'p' playfully. "Guess your daddy never warned ya 'bout temptin' a southern girl's temper, huh?" She winked at him as they sat down at the kitchen table together, Warren sitting adjacent to her left side as he sat at the head. "You don't mind yohself, y'all'll get whiplash faster than a yo-yo on a seesaw."
Warren laughed grandly at that, and the young woman's smile grew, her own rich, throaty chuckle bubbling up to escape her plum-tinted lips.
"You have a really nice laugh," he commented, blowing a bit on his steaming mug. His shoulders shook as Rogue turned crimson and ducked her head. "I take it you aren't used to physical contact OR compliments, huh?"
"Ah'm beginnin' t' think someone put ya up to this," the stripe-haired girl snarked with an embarrassed tilt of her lips. "Sounds like the kinda game Bobby or Kurt would cook up, just ta get mah goat. Like, 'How many times can we make Rogue turn red in a single mornin'?"
An understanding nod was his only response for a moment, and he gnawed at the corner of his lip.
"Though Ah'm bettin' you didn't come all the way here ta talk about crappy parents, crazy families, and mah list of hang ups, didja?" Rogue smiled lightly, teasing, and Warren's lips tilted upward.
"I - well …" he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Professor Xavier mentioned it was just you and the three adults here for the holiday break, and I figured you might be getting bored. That, and I needed a break from my stuffy office for a while. I was hoping you'd want some company."
Rogue's smile grew brighter than the lights on the Christmas tree. "Well, ya certainly figured right. Ah'm goin' crazy just sittin' around here." With an exasperated sigh, she set her mug back on the table. "Ah thought havin' a break from the Danger Room, and all the noise and students would be nice, but it's a mite lonely, actually. Plus, Ah ain't made for idleness, apparently. Figured Ah could run a few D.R. simulations by mahself, but Ah ain't even allowed ta do THAT." She growled low in her throat, glaring at her half-empty mug while Warren chuckled.
"Do you like to read?" he asked. "I'd imagine a guy like Xavier - with a house like this - would have an extensive literary collection."
Rogue shifted slightly, giving him a wry smile. "Yeah, the library's pretty massive, but Ah'v read just about everything in it - sort of."
The blonde businessman's brows shot up to his hairline. "Seriously? You've read EVERY book here?"
White locks twirled around her bare fingers as Rogue's cheeks tinged pink. "In a manner of speakin'. People Ah've absorbed - like Scott, or Mr. McCoy, or the Prof - have read most of it, so sometimes Ah'll pick one up and recognize it. Most of the time Ah can't remember if Ah was the one who read it, or if someone else has."
"Wow, really?" Angel questioned, his white wings fluttering as his curiosity peaked. "I didn't know your powers worked like that."
"Kinda," Rogue confessed. Her cheeks darkened under his attention and the wide smile directed at her. She forced herself to stop tormenting her hair and wrapped her hands around her mug. "Sometimes Ah get a direct memory - like the plot twist in a Stephen King novel - but usually it's more like a flash, or an impression. Ah couldn't pass a pop quiz, or anything, but Ah usually get just enough ta ruin the ending."
"That's fascinating," the businessman commented, taking another sip of his cocoa.
The southerner shrugged. "If you say so. Ah mostly find it annoying. Ah like the classics, like Dickens, but having Beast's psyche whisperin' a cliff notes commentary in mah head the whole time ain't exactly relaxin'."
"Is it always like that? Whispers of people you've absorbed?" This time his face took on a concerned, almost sympathetic look, and the young woman turned her head from his gaze.
She was tempted to brush aside the question, give some B.S. answer and change the subject again, but the honest curiosity shining in his blue eyes made her pause. "Kind of," she sighed, shifting uncomfortably. "Sometimes it's quieter, and sometimes it's so loud Ah can barely think straight." The southerner chuckled, an ironic, mirthless sound that echoed harshly in the nearly empty kitchen. "Ain't ever lonely though."
Rogue didn't dare look up, too anxious that she'd see pity in his eyes - the kind that everyone seemed to express when they learned about the side effects of her powers.
Sensing her discomfort, Warren smiled, nudging her elbow gently with his own as they rested on the table. "Hey, it can't be all bad, right? I mean, you used Cyclop's powers last week like you were born with them. Didn't even need the glasses."
The southerner returned his smile with a tight-lipped one of her own. "Ah guess. Scott only needs the glasses 'cause he hit his head as a kid or somethin', though, so controllin' his powers ain't no big thing."
"Still," he tried again. "You were able to take down Magneto and use his powers. It was incredible." Shaking his head with awe and incredulity, the business mogul continued. "I don't think I'll ever forget that night. After you took off, Cyclops was starting to freak out. He was trying not to show it, but he was worried about you. He was relieved when I offered to help look for you, even though I had no idea what I was doing."
Warren gave her a sheepish, yet proud grin. "I was lucky when I caught sight of you darting between buildings. You were right on Magneto's tail, and waving away everything he threw at you like a pro."
Rogue snorted into her cocoa, careful to keep the mug, and her hands, in front of her dusted cheeks. "Yeah, 'til Ah got mahself knocked out."
The young man chuckled lightly, giving her a sympathetic smile. "I always wondered what happened, actually. Why you didn't just fly upward, instead of down, or sideways, or knock it out of the way with his powers."
The X-Man cleared her throat, taking a sip of the steaming drink and allowing herself a moment. "His powers were already fading. Ah could feel them getting weaker by the second, and Ah knew Ah only had enough time t' make it to the ground. Ah remember hopin' Ah could last long enough ta kinda dive bomb to the sidewalk, pull up at the last second, and get clear before splattin' like a pancake." Her cheeks darkened. "But, well, y'all saw how well THAT worked."
"That's alright, Warren grinned cheekily. "It gave me the chance to play hero and make up for my lackluster performance against Magneto in the church."
"Hey now," green eyes narrowed reproachfully. "You didn't do half bad - 'specially for bein' ambushed and untrained. Ah mean, Logan, Kurt, and Ah all got our buts handed to us by Magneto just a few weeks later, and we've had YEARS of practice."
The business mogul cocked his eyebrow. "I thought Wolverine's bones were made of metal or something? Wouldn't he be the LAST person you'd want to put up against Magneto?"
Rogue's grin was bright, genuine, and full of incredulous mirth as she rolled her eyes. "Ya'd think so, wouldn'tcha?" She chuckled lightly, as if trying to contain exasperated humor. "Man's as stubborn as a polecat bein' led ta water, though. It was personal ta him, or the Professor mighta sent someone else."
Warren nodded, agreement and understanding softening in his blue eyes. His jaw twisted up into a smile that made Rogue's stomach flutter for a moment.
"So, did you go because you wanted a rematch against Magneto, or…?" His tone was light and playful, giving her an easy out if she didn't want to dwell on the matter.
Smiling as she sucked her bottom lip, Rogue shook her head. "Nah. Ah may be hot-tempered sometimes," she admitted. "But Ah ain't no fool. One taste 'a his mind was more'n enough for me. But, since Ah'd seen bits of his mem'ries, Ah was the only one who could find his base."
"And because you usually only get flashes, or impressions, you had to BE there to know where to go …?" The blonde guessed.
"Bingo," Rogue shot him a smirk and a finger gun salute, then rose to wash her mug in the sink. She removed her other glove before turning on the water and spritzing the ceramic with soap. "Kurt came, too," she continued, "Just ta get us inside, but he was the reason Magneto let us walk outta there with our hides." Her lips turned up in a genuine, affectionate smile. "Kurt showed mercy to Magneto, so Magneto did the same for us - even though we were as cooked as a Christmas goose."
Warren chuckled grandly at the young woman's phrasing. "So you're saying you're used to high stress situations and thinking on your feet?" There was a curiosity and playfulness to his voice as he sidled up alongside her at the sink. A bark of amusement escaped Rogue's lips as the blonde man placed the empty pot of cocoa and his dishes in the sink, then switched sides so he could dry.
"Ah guess you could say that, sure," she affirmed. The southerner was careful to keep her bare, wet fingers away from Angel's as he took a spoon from her to dry.
"Good," the businessman grinned down at her, her hands soapy and preoccupied with washing the mugs. "Then I have a favor to ask you."
Rogue's eyebrows shot up to her hairline as she finished rinsing both mugs and handed them to Warren. She took a moment to compose herself by thoroughly scrubbing the pot. "Dare Ah ask what kinda 'favor' a billionaire, playboy, philanthropist2 would want from someone like me?" She expertly averted her gaze by rinsing the last dish and handing it to her friend, then turning to dry her own hands.
Green eyes shot sparks, narrowing dangerously as she moved to pull her gloves back on. "'Cause Ah gotta warn ya, if it has t' do with usin' mah powers for corporate espionage or somethin' …"
The blonde's deep, throaty chuckle in response to her defensive posture echoed off the cabinets. "First of all, I think you've got me confused with Tony Stark. Second, it's nothing like that, I promise. I have zero interest in your powers. It's more of a personal favor than a professional one, really." This time, his cheeks tinted pink. "I was hoping, well … You, uh, you know about me, and my powers - my wings - so I was hoping you'd help me. Well, accompany me rather, to this thing I need to do. To go to. I'm, uh, I'm spearheading it, actually."
Gone was his easy grace and confident smoothness, and Rogue had to bite the inside of her lip to keep from laughing at his flusters=ed behavior. "What exactly is it you're spearheading?" She asked, letting her arms drop from their defensive position. Instead, her fingers turned together in confused curiosity. In an effort to put him more at ease, she headed back to the table, taking the seat she had just vacated.
"Oh, right!" Warren exclaimed, his color darkening. "I'm actually working with Tony Stark." He smiled, sitting in his own seat. "We started a joint venture to build a children's hospital. We're putting on a charity ball on the 30th - in two days. It's a formal dinner with dancing for some big wig donors and investors. Tony's insisting I need to be there, and he's not wrong. If I don't go, my father will no doubt stick around in my place and hurt the cause."
The blonde businessman snorted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. His wings twitched and fluttered of their own accord, drawing a smile from Rogue.
"And ya need mah help how? As a bodyguard, or interference or somethin'?"
"I - uh," his face, which had just returned to its normal shade, flushed pink. "I was hoping you'd go with me. Be my - be my date."
Rogue, who had been leaning against her arms, elbows on the table, sat bolt upright. She was immeasurably glad she'd already been sitting, because she nearly fell off her chair in surprise. Her entire face, from her hairline to her ears, and down to her clavicle, resembled a tomato. "S-Say again?" She finally managed, rather wishing she was taking on Magneto again instead of facing the handsome millionaire.
"I know it's last minute notice, and I'm sorry for putting you on the spot," he rushed. "But Tony said if I show up solo, he's going to make sure I have several supermodels hanging on me all night." Warren, too, flushed with his best impersonation of a fire hydrant, which miraculously made Rogue feel more at ease.
"I've figured out how to hide my wings under a long tuxedo coat, but anyone would be able to feel them if they got too close. And since no one else knows about my mutation …"
The southerner's face finally retired to a less vibrant shade of red as she realized the man's predicament. "... Ya can't go with just anyone," she finished for him.
"Exactly," he agreed, smiling sheepishly. "I can avoid some of the dancing by meeting with investors, but I know Tony will just keep throwing women at me all night if I come stag, and I can't risk it."
"And if ya don't show up at all, you risk losing your donors and investors." The X-Man nodded in understanding, yet could still barely bring herself to meet his entreating blue eyes.
"Bingo," he repeated her line from earlier, even going so far as to click his tongue and mime the same finger gun motions she'd used. The gesture made her snort with laughter, and the sudden tension evaporated.
"Ah see the problem, Warren," Rogue sighed. "And Ah surely can sympathize with y'all, but …" She fidgeted with her gloved fingers, pulling at the hem of her long sleeves. "Are ya sure ya don't have someone ELSE ya wanna ask?" A lock of white hair weaved around her index finger as she stared at the table. "Ah ain't exactly 'fancy party' material, ya know? And with mah skin, my powers, if somethin' were ta happen. If someone touched me…"
"These things are usually stuffy, proper, and boring. Lots of talk and no action. No one will touch you, Rogue. We don't even have to hold hands."
"Sounds like a fun way to dance," She finally looked up, meeting his eyes with her brows quirked in an incredulous, disheartened expression.
"I can wear gloves, too, if that'd make you feel better," he offered quickly. "And I promise not to leave your side all night if you don't want me to."
A shy, appreciative smile warmed Rogue's face. Fiddling with her hair, she dropped her eyes again. "Are - are ya SURE Ah'm the person ya wanna ask, Warren?" She swallowed hard. "Ah mean, Jean or Ororo would be WAY more suited for this type 'a thing. Ah'm sure we could call and explain …" Her fingers twisted around each digit anxiously as her shoulders slumped. "Just 'cause Ah'm the only one here right now don't mean ya gotta take last picks, ya know?" It was meant to be humorous, but the joke fell flat as her voice hollowed out. "Ah'm sure Jean or Kitty would be happy to …"
"Hey," two strong, warm hands covered hers, stilling her movements. "You are NOT my last choice, Rogue," Warren consoled her, and the determined resolve in his voice encouraged her to meet his blue eyes. "You are strong, smart, and brave. You don't take crap from others, or let people walk all over you - which is absolutely necessary for this kind of thing. You're genuine, and honest. I'm not worried that you'll get swept up, or carried away, or let anyone walk all over you. Or that you'll leave me to Tony and his she-witches."
That one got an amused snort out of Rogue, even though her gaze dropped back to their combined hands.
"Truth be told, he continued, his own cheeks stained with pink. "I've been thinking about asking you since that day we ran the obstacle course together."
Rogue's shock was palpable as her green eyes shot up to his face. Warren chuckled at her incredulous reaction, but continued with a nod. "It's true. I was so impressed with the way you handled every challenge, with a level head, and how you watched my back. Please, Rogue, trust me when I tell you that you weren't my 'last pick.' You were my first."
Rogue's heart jumped, her pulse hammering in her ears as she tried to control her impression of an apple.
"I'd be honored to have a friend like you as my date. What do you say?"
The southerner took a deep breath through her nose and let it out slowly, a soft smile growing on her face as she lifted her chin to meet his eyes. "Ah'd say you missed your callin', MISTER Worthington." She snickered at his confused expression. "Y'all shoulda been a door ta door salesman - can't nobody say 'no' to a face, and words, as pretty as that."
His smile broadened, as did Rogue's, and the two spent the next few minutes chatting amicably about the event and the usual tendency for guests to sit and gossip rather than actually dance. The atmosphere between the two had returned to lighthearted casualness, with both mutants smiling and joking as Rogue walked Warren to the door. With a promise to pick her up at 5:00 pm in two days, the mutant millionaire took to the skies.
Once he was out of sight, Rogue whirled around, abruptly closing the front doors as she re-entered the mansion. The cold had painted her cheeks with a water-colored hue of rouge, but the rest of her face was ghostly pale as she quickly sought out the first people she could think of.
Professor Xavier had barely finished saying "come in" before Rogue had thrown open the door, nearly frantic.
"My stars and garters, Rogue! Whatever is the matter?" Mr. McCoy exclaimed, a cup of tea clutched in his massive blue paw as he stood up from the couch across from the Professor.
The southerner's mouth opened, closed, and opened again, but no words came out. Then, finally, at a much higher octave than her usual deep twang, she blurted out the most unexpected request.
"Can either of y'all teach me how ta waltz?!
~X~X~X~X~X~