25 February

Improvement. -n. 1. an act of improving or the state of being improved 2. a change or addition by which a thing is improved 3. a person or thing that represents an advance on another in excellence or achievement 4. a bringing into a more valuable or desirable condition, as of land or real property; betterment 5. something done or added to real property that increases its value 6. profitable use, as of a period of time

Rogue knocked on the ajar door and swung it open to allow her head through. "Professor?" she said. "You wanted to see me?"

Charles Xavier looked up from a handful of papers gripped between his hands, his furrowed brow instantly smoothing away. "Yes. Come in and close the door behind you. I'd like to discuss a couple things with you." He patted the papers against his desk to straighten them out, and then set them neatly aside.

Rogue felt the tight anxiety clutch at her heart, fearing for the worst. She wasn't sure what the worst could be. Xavier could tell her to pack her bags and leave. Rogue could think of a handful of reasons as to why he would want her gone. She was dangerous to be around; a simple touch could kill someone if she didn't pull away. Compared to powers like Xavier's, Rogue was a wild card. Or maybe word had gotten around to him that Rogue's attitude was too much to handle. She wasn't meshing with her fellow X-people, and for that he would ask her to find somewhere else to live.

"Take a seat," Xavier suggested, breaking through her thoughts.

Rogue nodded and slipped into the chair situated in front of his desk. It was plush enough to be comfortable, but not so much that she couldn't sit upright. She patted the arms of the chair and looked at the headmaster expectantly.

A smile crossed Xavier's face. "You're not in trouble." Rogue's tremulous thoughts didn't quell. "I asked you here to discuss how things are going. From what I understand, you've had a rough week."

Rogue's eyes slid to the side, as if out of guilt. "Yeah, Ah guess you could say that."

Xavier hummed softly. "How is school going for you?"

"Good, Ah guess."

"You're keeping up in your classes and with your homework?" Xavier asked.

"Why, did school call?" Rogue asked. A little too much accusation slipped into her voice and she met his eyes.

"No. I'm asking this to ensure our priorities are straight."

Rogue blinked. "Oh."

"Midterms are next month. In a little over two weeks. From what I understand, this is when school work begins to demand more from you."

In truth, Rogue hadn't really been paying attention. School fell to the wayside as her life ripped her to shreds. "Ah guess Ah'm doin' fine. When Ah need help with understandin' somethin', Ah find Hank. He's helped me out from the start."

"Good," Xavier said. "Homework isn't too overwhelming with your double training schedule?"

"No. Ah'm used ta it at this point."

Xavier nodded and glanced down at a note paper beside him. "And the training? How are you holding up to Nightcrawler?" Xavier's eyes immediately flicked to the puffy bruise on Rogue's face from Kurt's hit earlier in the week.

"The boy's wily," Rogue said quickly. "But Ah'm gettin' bettah."

Xavier nodded again. "That's what Storm has told me. I wanted to be sure you were as confident as her about your progress."

"Ah still don't know if Ah work well with the team, though," Rogue admitted. She studied the bookshelf at the far end of the room, idly scanning titles to keep from looking Xavier in the eyes.

Xavier leaned forward into steepled fingers. "Why do you think that?"

"Because Alison hates me," Rogue spat. "She makes sure Ah know it 'round the mansion an' durin' trainin'. Ah'm gettin' sick'a it." Xavier remained quiet. "But she's kinda right. Ah'm worthless. 'Less Ah get mah meaty mitt on someone in a fight, an' forever hear their thoughts like mah own, what good am Ah? Ah'm weak. Ah'm not a good fighter. Mah powers only make mah life miserable an' don't help no one."

"Rogue," Xavier said firmly. His tone was enough to startle Rogue back into looking at him. "You're not worthless. You are learning. You admitted it yourself. You're here to learn your powers and use them for the betterment of the world."

"Ah'm not learnin' anythin'!" Rogue nearly squealed. She swallowed to bring her temper back down. "Ah'm not any better at controllin' mah powers. Ah'm not any closer ta understandin' them neither. Ah'm just … usin' them."

"Are you sure?" Xavier asked.

Rogue eyed him, trying to figure out the trap.

"Have you not learned that you can borrow Nightcrawler's powers?" Xavier prompted.

"Ah mean, that's what mah powers do with mutants," Rogue said with a roll of her eyes.

"That's not what I mean. When you came to us, the voices and thoughts of people you touched haunted you."

"Still do sometimes," Rogue said quickly.

Another one of Xavier's nods. "But does Nightcrawler haunt you?"

Rogue thought about it, her brow pulling in as she thought. "No. Ah don't … hear him."

"You've learned that if someone lends you their powers willingly, the consequences are positive," Xavier explained. "I think that's worth noting and holding on to."

"Ah don't see how that helps."

"Keep it in mind," Xavier said.

Rogue huffed and heavily rested her chin on her hand, propped up on the arm of the chair. "Ah'd really jus' like to control them. Ah'm sick'a bein' afraid'a touchin' someone."

"This could be a clue. You've been here for less than two months, Rogue. You've made progress."

Rogue stared onward, stonily silent.

"Is there anything else you'd like to talk about?" Xavier asked.

"Like what?"

"Anything. Your personal life, friendships, relationships. I'm here to help you when you need it."

Rogue's attention jerked back to Xavier, suspicious. Relationships. Of course he had to know about her and Remy, and then how Remy left her heart high and dry. He probably disapproved of the two of them flirting with proximity. He probably was relieved Remy left Rogue without options, left behind to pick up the pieces in his wake.

"No," Rogue said firmly. "Ah ain't got nothin' ta say."

Xavier's eyes searched her for a moment, but long enough for Rogue's face to flush with a simmering fury. "Okay. There's one more thing I'd like to ask you."

"What."

"How would you feel about field work with your team?"

The heat rising to her face immediately blanched. "Ah jus' – Ah told you – "

Xavier nodded that nod and looked back down at the paper. "Okay. That's all. You may leave. Or stay if you have more things you'd like to discuss."

Rogue pushed herself to her feet before he had the last words out of his mouth. "Thanks, Professor," she said with a clipped voice. She turned on her heel and left, leaving the door open behind her.