Picking Fruits

"We need strawberries," Jean told Rogue, and pointed in the direction of the berries.

"Alright," Rogue walked down the aisle Jean had motioned toward and stared at the selection. She hadn't ever gone grocery shopping before; she didn't understand why she and Jean were doing it together when Jean was fully capable of shopping alone, just as every other time.

Picking up a carton of strawberries, Rogue flipped it over and looked through the clear plastic. What made these berries any better or worse than their neighboring berries? Still strawberries, but a different brand. Rogue picked those up, too, getting a good look at them. They didn't appear any different.

Jean came up behind Rogue and pointed to a carton. "That one," she said.

Rogue turned around to look at her. "Why those ones?"

"They look better," she said with a shrug.

Letting out a sigh, Rogue picked up the carton of strawberries and set them gently in the cart. "Ah don't understand why y'all made me come with you. Ah obviously don't know what Ah'm lookin' for' t' go shoppin'. Ah'm just slowin' you down."

Jean waved Rogue's concern off. "Don't worry about it. Besides, we're going to Dick's and gettin' you a baseball glove on our way home."

"Yeah, 'cept Ah proved Ah was no good at the game. Ah lost it for my team."

"Did you see any of your teammates angry at you?" Jean questioned.

"Well, no..."

"You'll get better at it, Rogue. It's still only winter. We have all spring to get your skill levels up. You'll be fine."

Rogue shuffled her feet, looking down at her toes. "Ah guess. But Ah got trainin' an' Ah have t' learn sports? Ah also got school an' -"

Jean placed a friendly hand on Rogue's shoulder. "We'll get you through it, alright? Xavier's is a place to improve. It is a school after all. You'll learn to control your powers, learn to fight on our teams, learn English and science, and how to play sports and have fun." She added a friendly smile on top of her encouragement.

Despite not feeling wholly optimistic about the overall situation, Rogue gave Jean a tiny smile. It was more to get the other girl off her back than anything else. Rogue didn't need anyone smothering her.

"Alright, Ah guess. What else do we need then?"

Apparently satisfied, Jean took her hand away from Rogue's shoulder and contemplated her list of needed groceries. "I can't read this very well, but I think we're off to finding vegetables. Do you know how to pick up lettace?"

"Pick the greenest?" Rogue guessed.

Jean smiled. "Yeah, that'll work. I'll get the beans."

Rogue turned away to find the aisle with lettuce. At least she had Jean convinced she was fine. She didn't need anyone knowing her insecurities. It made things worse rather than better.

Horizon

"It's freezin' out here," Rogue hissed under her breath. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms, trying to create friction.

"Shh!" Banshee hushed quickly. "Your uniform should take care o' the cold."

"Well, it doesn't," Rogue argued. "An' Ah wasn't loud t' begin with."

"We shunnae be talkin' at all," Banshee explained. He held out a hand to grab Rogue by the shoulder, stopping their progress. "Jus' up ahead is where the kill switch should be. If they hear us, we're done for."

Rogue squinted to look ahead at what Banshee was talking about, but couldn't see anything new. "Here Ah thought, you were the loud one."

Banshee started forward again, masking his footsteps' crunches in the snow. "Don't mean I can't be quiet, lass. C'mon, follow."

Advancing forward as cautiously as she could, try as she might, she wasn't able to achieve the same quiet step her teammate was. While she knew it shouldn't bother her, she found herself a little frustrated she could be the reason their mission failed.

Banshee stopped again, holding out an arm despite the distance between him and Rogue. "Closer, lass."

Slowly, Rogue did as he told her. "What now?" she whispered.

"Sc - I mean, Cyclops's gotta know that we're gettin' close to accomplishin' the mission. He's gonna have his guard up."

"So?"

"Do you hear Storm or Dazzler?"

Rogue paused and listened. "No. Ah hear the branches, but nothin' else."

"Exactly. Either they're waiting t' attack Cyclops at the last moment, or he's already gotten t' them. We gotta be careful."

Rogue huffed. "So what we jus' standin' 'round talkin' for, Sugah?"

"The kill switch should be jus' on the other side o' that trail. I'm gonna double back and try drawin' his attention. You hear me sonic scream, you run forward an' win this match for all'a us."

Instead of saying anything, Rogue gave Banshee a firm nod. While she heard his footsteps, they were faint, and quickly disappeared until all she heard again was her breath and the slight wind through the skeleton trees. She waited patiently a few minutes, but when she heard nothing more, she began to get antsy again. The cold was seeping through her bones even through her supposedly "isolated" costume, and she had nothing to do. Even so, she waited for his scream.

"Ah don't like this," Rogue eventually muttered. She shifted in the snow, looking all around her. She didn't see any movement, she hadn't heard anyone, and she was fairly certain that something had happened to Banshee's plan. She decided it was up to her, and only her, to finish the simulation.

Stretching out her limbs, in case she'd need to move more quickly and athletically than she was accustomed to, Rogue measured out the distance she'd need to sprint in order to pull the kill switch Banshee had been talking about. With a deep breath, Rogue burst into motion.

And was immediately rejected.

Instead of darting forward across the trail, a beam of light battered her to the ground. The sudden change of momentum was enough to give her whiplash, but not enough for her to lose her spunk.

"What the hell was that?" Rogue shouted angrily. She gingerly picked herself off the ground and brushed snow off of her costume. As she did so, the scenery around the team gradually disappeared into the familiar landscape of the Danger Room.

"A lesson," Scott replied.

No longer feeling the need to brush herself off, Rogue stormed up in front of him. He was taller than her, but she was furious. "A lesson!? You realize this is a trainin' exercise for the team? Why -?"

"Rogue, stop." Something in Scott's steely voice caused Rogue to listen to him and clamp her jaws shut. "You can't win everything. You should rely on your teammates, but that won't always prevent you from getting hurt." He turned around to include the rest of her team. "You need to learn strategy and to utilize it." His gaze stopped on Storm, though no one could really see his eyes through his visor. "Go clean up and get ready for dinner."

When Scott turned his back, Sean walked up to Rogue's side. "For the record, lass, this lesson was rigged t' begin with."

"What happened to you, Storm, and Dazzler?" Rogue asked as if he hadn't said a thing.

"Took us out, same as you."

"No sound?"

"Lad's a master o' strategy."

Tagged

Rogue gathered her book, pencil, and binder in her arms while getting to her feet. "Thanks, Hank. Ah dunno what Ah'd do without ya."

"I'm sure you'd find a way to pass the class," he said kindly. "You're far too smart a young woman to fail."

Quickly, so as to hide the heat flushing to her cheeks, Rogue replied, "Ah think you might overestimate me."

"Au contraire, chere," a new voice butted in. Both Hank and Rogue quickly turned their heads to find Remy standing in the doorway. "You smarter, prettier, an' better comp'ny den you t'ink." Before Rogue get get a reply in, he completely switched gears. "We pullin' t'gether teams for baseball. You wanna play, meet in da Danger Room in ten." He then turned away and walked down the hallway, possibly grabbing more people to play.

Rogue turned to Hank and blinked. "Ah dunno -"

"Nonsense!" He held out a large hand. "Let me help you carry your things and we'll go down and play. I'm sure we can find a glove for you to play with."

"But Ah -"

"I don't want to hear it. I've made the decision on your behalf, and no is not the answer. Baseball is our favorite pastime."

"Ah can't touch no one!" Rogue shouted, preventing any interruptions.

"Sure you can. You have gloves, do you not? I'm not saying it's entirely practical, but they'll work for our purposes. You don't have to worry. We're all acutely aware of the situation." Without further ado, Hank gently grabbed Rogue's school items from her arms and began to lead the way down the hallway. He had managed to grab his mitt during their short conversation, and held that under his arm.

On their way down the hallway, they passed Betsy, also dressed for the game. Hank stopped her in the hallway. "Would you happen to have another glove for our newest friend?" he asked. Rogue shrunk against the wall, avoiding Betsy's eyes.

Betsy frowned. "No, I don't. You might ask Kurt. He's far too invested into these games, if you ask me."

"Unfortunately, our resident German appears to have already vacated his room and gone down to the match. We'll find something that works. Thank-you."

"Good luck," she called, resuming her walk through the hallways.

"Ah guess Ah just can't play."

"No. Contrarily, we have plenty of gloves from you to choose from. Only one team needs their field equipment at a time. You can trade gloves with someone from the opposite team. I'm sure no one would mind. In the future, someone will have to bring you to a sports store to find you your very own glove. In the summer, we usually pick a night every week to versus each other in one sport or another. Basketball is often another top pick." He turned down Rogue's hallway and opened her door. With careful moments, he put down the stack of her school items on her desk and turned back around to face her. "Anything else you might grab for a game? Perhaps a ponytail holder? Who knows what kind of weather will be programmed into the Danger Room."

"Ah thought the Danger Room was used for training only," Rogue commented. Taking Hank's advice, she fished out an elastic band from a desk drawer, and a brush from beside it. Pulling her hair up, she brushed it into shape.

Hank waved his hand in dismissal of the idea. "In theory, yes. But we get the whole school in on it, we sometimes use it for recreation as well. Kurt sometimes finds a partner to play cat-and-mouse.

"Ready?"

Pulling her hair one last time through the band, Rogue dropped her hands to her side. "Ah guess. What if Ah don't like these games?"

"Then I suppose you don't have to participate. Don't worry, though. You'll get the hang of it quickly enough, and you'll enjoy yourself. Come on. Remy didn't give us a lot of time to get down there."

When Hank and Rogue walked into the Danger Room, Rogue was surprised to find most of the team already there. Alison and Warren were the only two missing, but Warren eventually entered soon after.

"Ally decided not to show up?" Jean asked.

"I think she went out to the club with her friends tonight," Kurt provided. "I guess we're not good enough for her."

"No, we're just too good for her," Bobby scoffed. "I mean, look at us. We're quite the happy bunch."

Ororo smiled in reply to Bobby's uplifting comment. "Let's see how long that lasts. How are we breaking up into teams?" Her and Scott exchanged glances, as if they were capable of mentally sorting the mutants.

"This side of the room is on the field, and those closest to home plate is up first. Any objections?" he asked.

A devilish grin spread across Remy's face. "None. Le's settle dis once an' for all, non?"

"I don't see how this time will be any different," Scott shrugged.

Remy gestured toward Rogue and Hank. "Dis time, we got dese two an' you got Iceboy."

"Hey!" Bobby shouted.

Jean pulled at her boyfriend's shoulder, guiding him out onto the field. "Let's see how it plays out first, boys. Maybe Bobby will actually catch the ball without use of his powers this time."

Bobby threw his hands up in the air. "What is this? You're on my team!"

"Ja, that's what you think. Don't worry, I got your back," Kurt said.

"Thanks - wait! You're not on my team." Bobby scowled and walked out to his position at third.

Kurt grinned and took the bat in his hands, settling into a batting position. "Silly me. I must have forgotten."

"You better not forget on the field," Betsy warned.

"I wouldn't mind," Ororo commented from first. "Jean, how about we show these boys how it's done?"

Jean nodded and concentrated on the home plate. Piotr was settling in as catcher. "Right. Ready, Peter?"

"Da."

"Let's play ball!"

Eating Something You Don't Want To

"Hey Ally, have you see Hank?"

"No ... why?" she asked in response.

"Ah need his help on mah Biology homework. He ain't in his room like he usually is."

"He might be in the rec room with Bobby," Ally suggested with a shrug. She didn't give Rogue a chance to speak further and continued walking down the hallway toward her room.

Rogue sighed, but decided to take Ally's word and trudged down to the room she hardly knew at all. She peeked inside and knew instantly that Ally had been wrong. "Uh, hi guys. Any of ya know where Hank is?"

Bobby looked up from the television screen and gave Rogue a shake of his head. Remy and Scott paused their pool game.

"What do you need him for?" Scott asked.

"Biology homework," Rogue said. "He's usually the one t' give me a hand." Her eyes wandered from Scott to Remy, absently wondering if he would be able to help her as well as Hank. She doubted it, seeing as Remy wasn't in school, but she hadn't really hung out with Remy in a long time.

"Good luck, chere," Remy said unhelpfully. He turned back to the table, calculating his next move.

A little frustrated, Rogue turned back around and wandered slowly through the hallways. She couldn't figure out how such a big guy like Hank could disappear so thoroughly. Even those that knew him well didn't know where he could be.

Then, on her way past the kitchen, she heard noises that were certainly out of place for the time of night. Everyone had already had dinner, so why was someone rooting through pots and pans and other noisy items?

Rogue poked her head through the doorway, and then smiled when she saw exactly whom she had been looking for. "Hey! What ... are ya doin'?" She slowly walked up to Hank's side, peering at the object of his interest.

"Cooking," he replied cheerfully. "Or, more specifically, baking."

"Ah di'n't know you baked."

"I don't," Hank agreed. "Consider this an experiment."

"Cookies ... an experiment?"

"I thought I'd add a few extra ingredients for longer lasting freshness. Usually cookies get soggy when put away or hard and stale when left out. Either way you treat these cookies, they should taste just as good as if they came right out of the oven not even an hour ago."

Rogue swallowed. "And ... what are these ingredients?"

Hank leveled a serious stare at her. "If I told you, then I'd have to kill you."

She jumped back. "What?"

He smiled and chuckled. "No, it's my little secret for right now. Want one?"

Rogue held up her hand, rejecting his offer too quickly to think about his feelings. "Nah, Ah'm full. But thank -"

Hank cut her off, shoving a cookie in her face. "It tastes like the real thing, but it'll last longer."

"Yeah, but is it healthy?" Rogue shot back.

"Of course not! It's a cookie!"

"No, Ah'm good."

"I can't take no for an answer."

The look in his blue eyes was innocent enough, Rogue decided. A little afraid, she took the cookie from his oversized hand, and took a small bite out of the edge. Chewing it and swallowing it, she met his eyes.

"Well?"

"Unless you bake a mean cookie, this the best cookie I've ever had."

She was rewarded with a gleeful grin.

Fireworks

The loud bell rang over the students' heads, signalling it was time for the class to start. Rogue's English teacher was one of the teachers that had everyone sitting in their seats before the bell, expecting everyone to have their pencils out and writing the prompt without being told to. Such a thing rarely happened, but it didn't mean her demands were unwarranted. Rogue usually sat down right away, but took her time in pulling out her pen and notebook. She never really liked the prompts the teacher put up on the board, and she didn't see the point of writing a daily journal anyway.

Write about an important person in your life and why.

The teacher made the prompt sound so easy, with such few words. Yet Rogue hardly had anyone. Her mother and Irene dropped her off at Xavier's mansion as if she was a sack of potatoes, and before that, Rogue didn't have much either. Now she had the professor, Ororo, Kurt, and Remy, but Rogue couldn't allow herself to get too close to them, both physically and emotionally. Ororo and Kurt always put an effort into making her feel welcome, but with Remy it was a hit or a miss. Either he was in the mood, or he wasn't around at all.

Rogue twiddled the pencil between her fingers, staring at the board as she tried to think of what to write about. She wouldn't be surprised if most of everyone else was writing about their boyfriend, girlfriend, or best friend. Family members were something of the past; teenagers were too good for that now. Rogue had none of that. She didn't even have a family to take for granted.

"Getting close to other people has never been easy for me," Rogue began. She took her time in writing out each letter, each word. She had to make sure that what she wrote was true, even if the teacher wouldn't care. "but if I have to choose one important person in my life -"

"Put down your pencils," the teacher called out to the class.

Rogue jerked her head up, the white streaks in her bangs falling into her eyes. She didn't even have time to finish her sentence, let alone answer the prompt. Using her pencil to wipe her hair aside, she gently closed her notebook with her other hand. Some other prompt she'd have enough time to properly answer. This one might nag at her, but at least she didn't have to face it head-on any longer.

"Put your journals away and get out your books." She opened her mouth to say more, but instead of hearing words, Rogue heard an impressive explosion outside of the school. The class and teacher froze, unsure of how to react to such a sound. Rogue, on the other hand, jumped straight up from her seat, took one look out the window, and darted out into the hallway. "Get back in here!" she heard the teacher screech behind her. Rogue didn't listen.

Rogue sprinted down the hallway, then came to a skidding stop in front of another classroom door. Peering through the window, she saw Scott trying to tame a frightened classroom. Rogue motioned to him, grabbing his attention. He tossed an apologetic look toward his teacher, and met Rogue in the hallway.

"What was that?" Rogue demanded.

"Rogue, go back to your classroom."

"No. Ah'm an X-Man, an' Ah getta help you," she denied crossly.

"How?" Scott asked. He crossed his arms across his chest, looking down at her.

Rogue jutted her chin upwards to compensate for his height. "We're a team, ain't we? 'Bout time we acted like one."

"Spoken like a true hero," Hank commented from behind her. "Scott, the source of the explosion was another mutant. We don't know who, per say, but we know they're dangerous."

Jean stepped forward. "I think he needs to charge up a little in order to create another explosion like the one before, but he needs to be stopped before that can happen."

Scott sighed, glancing between his teammates, and then down at Rogue. "Alright. Hank, go find Peter. Jean, Rogue, you're with me. And Jean? See if you can get a hold of Warren." He turned on his heel and darted down the hallway, expecting the two women to keep up with him. "Do you know how he creates the explosions?"

Jean shook her head. "No. But I do know where he's at. I can't get a real telepathic fix on him, but he's heading for downtown."

"Great," Scott muttered. "How much time do we have?"

"Not a lot," Jean admitted.

"Okay, we're taking my car. Jean, can you get a hold of Ororo and tell her she's in charge of transportation for Hank and Peter?"

Jean nodded in silent reply. She continued running along with Scott and Rogue, but she stared off in concentration.

The small team eventually burst through the school's front doors and made a beeline to Scott's car. He dug the keys out of his pockets as he ran so that he could automatically open the doors before they reached the vehicle. Before he was even sitting, he jammed the key into the ignition, roughly turned the engine on, closed his door behind him, and threw the car into reverse. Tires squealed as he frantically kept control of the car, though it appeared as if it wasn't much of a problem at all. Within a minute, they were flying down the road as if they were some sort of emergency vehicle.

"Rogue, you don't have your costume on, do you?" Scott asked once he had a rhythm.

"Um ... no. It ain't all that inconspicuous, even in winter."

"Alright. I want you to stay to the side, out of sight, unless we absolutely need you. You're still untrained, and we can't risk anyone recognizing you with your civilian clothes on and making a connection to Xavier. Mutants aren't exactly held in high light right now."

Rogue wasn't too happy with his decision, but she begrudgingly agreed.

Scott pulled to an abrupt halt once they reached the city, guided by Jean's telepathy. He turned around in his seat and Jean clambered on, if only to get one last word in with Rogue. "Jean'll call you if we need help."

"Alright!" Rogue barked, staring after him as he, too, left. He still managed to find a way to bench her, even after she thought she'd be needed no matter what.

Planting

Rogue tentatively knocked on the door leading into Storm's room. Ororo had told Rogue to visit her after she had finished her schoolwork for the night. She didn't explain why, she didn't elaborate on her instructions, but had continued on to her next class. Mystified, Rogue couldn't concentrate for the rest of the day, wondering why her new team leader would be so vague. Now was the moment of truth.

"Come in," Ororo said from the other side.

Grabbing the door handle, Rogue pushed the door in. She stood still for a moment, shocked at the state of the room. It was more spacious than Rogue's own, and decorated much more nicely. Storm had forsaken most normal possessions and replaced them all with plants. Her room featured side-to-side windows on two walls, suggesting she had a corner room in the mansion. She needed the light in order to help her plants sustain life.

"Uh ... wow," Rogue commented, stupefied.

Ororo smiled gently. "I would like to discuss arrangements Kurt and I have been talking about. Please, take a seat." She gestured toward an empty space, a potted plant on the floor beside it. Rogue could only guess that Ororo had moved it in order to compensate for Rogue's presence.

"Been talkin' 'bout? We only had that meeting last night." Rogue gently pushed the door back in its jamb and took a seat on the vacant wooden surface.

Ororo's smile widened ever so slightly. "He doesn't have school like the rest of us and this is my senior year. I think I can put my duties as leader before my sleep schedule every now and again. Don't tell the professor; I won't make it a habit."

"Mmmhmm," Rogue hummed skeptically. "So what were ya two thinkin' over?"

"Professor Xavier didn't give my team a lot of muscle. Really, none of us junior X-Men have raw power. Remy and Kurt are our strongest fighters, but they're both on the blue team. Alison can compensate for our lack of brute force with her powers, but she lacks finesse. As does Sean. I tend to rely on subterfuge and my powers more than physical skill. What I'm saying is that none of the people on the red team have the skill set to teach you how to hold your own on a battle field. We can't have you going around and touching everyone to knock them out cold." Rogue dipped her chin down. "Kurt and I were talking, and he'd like to continue your training in that area. Even though we're separated on the blue and red teams, we can still work together."

"Okay? Ah don't mind that."

Ororo stroked one of her plants as gently as if it was a newborn child. "Yes. That does mean that you two will be working a little harder than the rest of us. You'll be with Kurt, taking lessons, but you'll also have to function as a part of my team so that we can learn team building techniques. We need to understand each other to have each other's backs. Are you alright with this?"

"Yeah, sure." Her fists closed tightly in resolution. "Ah want t' be a help t' the team."

"Good," Ororo sighed. "I'll set up a team schedule shortly. We'll make sure it's not too much for you to handle."

Water Lilies

"Hey, Rogue," Kurt called.

Rogue stopped on her way from the restroom. "S'up?"

"The professor wants us all in the debriefing room."

"Huh?"

Kurt smiled. "Are you busy?"

"Ah guess not."

"Komm mit! We're learning our new teams today. Right now."

"Oh!" Rogue gasped. "Ah forgot about that with school an' all."

Kurt grabbed Rogue's arm and excitedly pulled her after him. "I'm going to be a fraction leader!" he exclaimed. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to do... I hope I'll make a good leader."

"Don't worry, Sugah," Rogue consoled. "Ah think ya know more than ya think."

"Danke," he grinned. He slowed his pace as they came up to the elevator. Pushing the button, he waited impatiently, his tail waving through the air. "But as Ally said yesterday, what if I'm not willing to take responsibility for my team?"

"Why wouldn't you? Anyway, if we're a team, we should take the blame as a team?" Rogue wasn't sure if she was saying the right things to reassure the other mutant. It wasn't typical of her to have hung out with many people before coming to Xavier's mansion. A lot of these experiences the past couple weeks were brand new to her.

Kurt hesitated over an answer as the doors to the elevator slid open. "In theory. When it comes to reprimand, I have a feeling that I will take the frontal assault." He pressed a button on the control panel after Rogue followed him in. "Some of these missions are very dangerous, too. I don't want it to be me to ... to have the first casualty as a result of poor leadership."

"Now Ah know you're bein' too hard on yaself."

"You think so?" Kurt demanded softly. "You have not been on a mission. You don't know how bad it can get. I don't mean to scare you, to discredit you, but I have lived this reality for a while."

Rogue didn't know what to say, so she didn't say anything. The doors slid open to the elevator, letting the two mutants out of the little box room. Kurt took the lead, guiding her to the debriefing room. The doors were open, revealing that most of the junior team was already present. The only one missing was Gambit.

"Did you tell Remy to meet us here?" Xavier asked Kurt.

"Ja, he's on his way."

"Thank-you. Rogue, would you take a seat?"

Bobby waved her over to an empty chair beside him. Hesitating for a moment, Rogue walked over, nodded her thanks, and sat. She shifted to make herself comfortable, and then stared expectantly at the door for Remy to arrive. Bobby chatted animatedly with Rogue, but the conversation was more one-sided than not.

Remy entered quietly and leaned against a wall by the door rather than sit down. As soon as the professor saw him, he called silence, and began.

"Sean has already told you the news, that the junior team is splitting into two. Because of this fissure, you will no longer be called the junior and senior team, but the gold, red, and blue teams. The red team will be lead by Storm and the blue team by Nightcrawler."

"How are we supposed to grow as a team if we're separated?" Psylocke inquired. "It's bad enough that you've put the best on their own, now bigger, team."

"You will still train as one, but on missions, you'll be-"

"Segregated?" Psylocke supplied.

"Remember that you are still students. This way no one should be overwhelmed with schoolwork and your responsibilities to the team. Depending on the assignment, different arrangements can be made.

"This way, more will be expected of you on the field without overwhelming you. Once school is over, we may rethink the team assignments, unless this exceeds expectations."

"Who are the teams?" Ororo asked.

"Storm will have Dazzler, Banshee, and Rogue. Nightcrawler will lead Iceman, Gambit, and Psylocke. If these arrangements do not work out as expected, they may be switched around, but I do not want to move people based on personal preference. Your goal as a team is to understand each other better than you understand yourself. Learn each other's strengths and weaknesses. If you have any problems, first try working it out with each other, and if that doesn't work, you may come to me. I want to see effort. I know this will be challenging, but I feel like you, as a team, are ready to take that challenge on."

"Verstehen," Kurt said in response.

"We all ready t' go?" Remy asked. He pushed his body away from the wall in anticipation of leaving.

"One moment, Remy," Xavier declined. Remy spun on his heel and crossed his arms across the chest, staring the professor down. "Storm and Nightcrawler, you are in charge of the training schedules of your teams. You will come up with the exercises you need to run through to make sure that your team is ready for any call. However, you are not expected to carry the full weight of the team alone. You may talk to me, to the gold team, to each other, and amongst yourselves. I encourage it. This is something new for us, and I expect some errors. But we are the X-Men, and we will deal with those problems."

"Now we all good," Remy stated more than asked.

Rogue glanced over to him, her brows knitted together in confusion. She couldn't figure out why Remy would be in such a hurry to get out of the room. They had hardly been in the room for more than five minutes to begin with.

"Yes, you may continue your activities," Xavier dismissed.

Remy only managed to turn around before Ororo jumped from her seat to walk beside him. Rogue followed more slowly, trying not to make it obvious that she was interested in their interaction. Remy was acting strangely, and that made her more aware that she hardly knew this man. He had wormed his way into her life so well that she had forgotten how quickly he had done it. It hadn't been over the span of a few months; this was over the span of a couple weeks. Now mysteries were cropping up, and she couldn't help but be curious.

"Remy," Ororo said softly. He didn't turn his face to greet her, but he did walk more slowly than he had been preparing. "May I ask what is wrong?"

Remy shrugged, still not meeting her eyes. "Woul'n't say not'in' wrong. T'ings changin', not sure if I'm likin' dem."

Ororo placed a hand on his arm and pulled him to the side. Rogue had to force herself to keep walking down the hallway. Their quiet voices were quickly becoming harder to hear as she kept up her act. "Remy, think of it as ... rebirth. This isn't ..." Rogue lost her voice to Bobby's much louder one. Pretending not to be bothered, she waited as the rest of her teammates piled into the elevator to be carried up, Ororo and Remy staying behind.

Teamwork

"Where is everyone?" Rogue asked. The dinner table was exceptionally empty.

"Missions," Kurt explained simply. "The senior team is dealing with some mutant terrorist crisis in New York, and Storm took a fraction of the junior team to deal with some big explosion or something." He shrugged. "I guess the junior team can be broken up and I'm a leader of the second fraction. So don't get in trouble or I'm responsible for you."

Alison settled herself into a dinner chair. "Afraid of responsibility, 'Crawler?"

"Nein, aber I would not speak if I was you," he retorted. "If I have to own up for your mistakes, consider yourself disowned."

"Touchy," she commented.

"Ja, touchy. Out of all the things I need, it is not a bad rep."

"I do not have a bad rep!" Alison replied haughtily.

"... bar fights?" Kurt prompted.

Alison's expression instantly changed to the defensive. "Oh no, you don't! First off, that was a well to-do club. Second, I did not cause that ... that riot. I was singing!"

Kurt waved a dismissive hand. "But you still participated. I am a firm believer in fun, but not at the cost of our team." Alison opened her mouth to argue again, but Sean walked in and cut her off.

"Yuir voices get any louder, ye'll wake the whole town."

"Ah'd be surprised if anyone was sleepin' yet, Sugah."

"Why are you not with Cyclops and his team?" Kurt asked.

Sean took his time in answering. He gathered a plate full of food and only answered when he was settled in his chair. The three students stared at him expectantly. "They're gonna make it permanent, breaking up yuir team int' two," he announced. "If they're doin' that, yuir in need of another teammate, Kurt. My skills are covered on the senior team, so I volunteered t' give you a hand. I don't know if I'll be with you, but we'll figure that out when Storm an' the' others come back."

"It doesn't bother you that you've been demoted?" Alison questioned off-handedly.

"No," Sean said firmly. "Like I said, lass, I volunteered."

"I guess that means they won't be doing any promotions," she mused.

"Probably not. Although I've seen yuir teamwork skills, lass, and you'll be wantin' t' work on that."

Alison's eyes flashed angrily, though she had the sense to keep quiet.

"Not just her. I think all of us need to learn to work together," Kurt said.

Rogue shifted in her seat. "Ah don't think we're that bad. Ah mean, we don't usually leave each othah high an' dry."

"Usually is not good enough," Kurt explained. "Und we need to cover each other's backs. Running around and staying out of each other's way is not good enough."

"It's the best Ah can do," Rogue mumbled.

"Doch!"

"We'll teach you how to fight, lass. You've been here for two weeks."

Kurt smiled and nodded. "If I'm your team leader, count me in on it," the blue boy promised. "I bet Storm would do the same.

School

"Ah'll pay ya back whenevah Ah get the money," Rogue promised. "Ah didn't come t' the mansion with a lot t' begin with."

"Consider it on the house," Hank declined. "I never had a reason to use whatever I've acquired until now. A pretty excuse such as yourself warrants a dip into my reserve."

"And me with mah biology homework," Rogue mused.

"The pleasure is all mine."

"Ah'm sure it is." She pulled out her hefty biology book from her backpack and set it gently onto the cafe tabletop. Running her fingers along the pages, she flipped it open to a specific page, a piece of paper marking the spot. "It all sounds like a lot o' jibberish t' me." She flipped the placeholder paper to the backside. "The first page Ah get. Ah copy the definitions next t' the word an' Ah pick a letter in the multiple choice."

"Hold on. Go back," Hank instructed her. He carefully picked the paper from her hand and turned it around. "Dissociation would not include the original molecule. H-two-oh - or more technically, dihydrogen monoxide - is not an ion. Dissociation yields ions, which are molecules with a positive or negative charge."

Rogue looked over her choices in the multiple choice section of the worksheet. "Ah didn't say it was water."

"Oh, yes. You chose D, not B." He rubbed his chin. "Hydroxide, that OH ion, has a negative charge. Hydronium, H-three-oh, would be created with synthesis."

"So what is it?"

"Dihydrogen monoxide dissociates into a positive hydrogen ion and a negative hydroxide ion. Choice A." He handed the paper back and grabbed his drink. "This is chemistry, not biology."

"Well, Ah don't like either."

Obsession

"Ah'm a little worried about Hank," Rogue confessed to Scott and Jean on their way home from school. "He was fumin' about his chemistry class yesterday t' Remy and me, sayin' that the teacher won't let him expand his potential or something." Scott and Jean exchanged a glance, but didn't saying anything out loud. "Is this normal or something?"

"Well ... no," Jean said. "He can get wrapped up in his school work, but he doesn't normally get angry over it."

"Was this a one-time occurrence?" Scott asked.

"Ah don't think so. Ah passed by his room on mah way out the door and I don't evah remember it being a mess before. Ah don't mean t' be spyin' on him, but he had books and papers all over the floor, all unorganized and stuff."

Scott slowed the car as he came up to a stoplight. He thought to himself for a moment, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel as he stared intently at the light above his head. "As long as it doesn't interfere with his training and he doesn't hurt anyone, I won't butt in. It's his business."

"Yeah, Ah s'pose," Rogue reluctantly agreed. "Maybe Ah can help him by talkin' t' him ... say Ah need help with bio or somethin'."

"Biology is his strong suit," Jean said. "I remember him talking about our mutations and how if he could isolate something or another, he could figure out the secret behind our mutations when we had class together. I never really knew what he was trying to say when he got into the details, though."

Rogue shifted in the car seat, staring out the window as the scenery whipped past the car window. "Maybe Ah can ask him out of the mansion this weekend and clear his head."

"You can try."

When Scott pulled into the mansion's driveway, Rogue quickly dropped her stuff off at her room. She intended to ignore any homework she got until Sunday, or at least until she got someone to motivate her. She intended to go straight to Hank's room, but decided against it so as to give him a little time to himself after school. While she waited to bug him, she hung out in the kitchen with Elisabeth. Once she decided that she had waited long enough, she politely excused herself and slowly walked to Hank's room.

She knocked lightly on Hank's closed door.

"Yes?" Hank asked.

"Hey ... can Ah talk t' ya?"

She waited a few moments in silence, but was still startled when he opened his door.

"You can talk to me all night if you'd like. The question you want to ask is if you're allowed to."

"Um ... sure."

Hank stayed immobile in his doorway, not giving her entry nor chasing her away. Rogue wasn't sure if his behavior should be alarming or not.

"Do Ah have your permission, Hank?" Rogue questioned when he didn't say or do anything else. She found the situation increasingly awkward, but she was determined not to show it.

"For future reference, permission questions are begun with 'may'." He stepped aside and shuffled toward his desk, sitting down on his worn chair.

Rogue followed him inside. "The month?" she asked.

"Close the door behind your, please," Hank said as if she hadn't said anything. Rogue paused and did as she was told. She then walked into the center of the room, and after a moment's hesitation, took a seat on Hank's unkempt bed. "What is it you'd like to discuss?"

"This ... this behavior ... attitude you have t' day, is it because of yesterday?"

"Am I not allowed to have a bad day?" Hank demanded.

"Ah'm not sayin' that you're not!" Rogue quickly defended herself. "It's not becomin' of ya, Sugah."

"Is any negative behavior?"

"Knock it off an' answer me straightly!" Rogue snapped. She blinked as soon as she realized that yelling at him would not help the situation in the least bit. "Look, Ah'm sorry. If ya want t' explain what you tried t' yesterday, Ah'll listen. It's probably a li'l late in offerin', an' I apologize, but Ah want t' give you a hand like you tried my first day here. Ah wouldn't know from experience, but Ah hear that gettin' somethin' off yer shoulders helps in settlin' a mind. Ah'm worried 'bout you, Hank."

Hank appeared to ponder it for a moment, but he eventually shook his head. "No. You said so yourself yesterday that you can't help me. I'm not going to pretend that some miraculous answer will materialize in thin air. I'll pass the class, graduate, and work on what I want in my own time or on a job."

"What is it ya want t' work on?" Rogue ask quietly.

"Honestly? In time, I want to understand our mutant genetics and isolate the causes behind our mutations. That isn't what my project in chemistry was about, however."

"Then why be so angry?"

"I wouldn't call it anger," Hank began slowly. "Frustration would be a better word choice."

Rogue remained silent for a moment, studying the man in front of her. "Because someone said no? Lemme tell ya, Sugah, my whole life is a big no. Ya learn t' get over things."

"You've never had a burning question, the answer to which you must solve? The outcome to the question becomes paramount for your sanity, often bordering on obsession."

"Are we talkin' 'bout the same thing anymore?"

Hank sighed and shifted in his chair. "No, I suppose not. I'll get over it. In the meantime, I promise you'll I'll try my best in integrating back into society?"

Rogue blinked. "Yeah, Ah guess. See ya at dinner?"

"What's on the menu?"

"Good question. Ah dunno. How 'bout we go make our own menu?"

Hank hesitated. "As in, go out?"

"Why not?" Rogue grinned. "It's a Friday, an' Ah'm feelin' particularly sociable t'night. Don't tell me it'll be a first for both of us."

"Well ..."

"Then it's settled. Ah'll ... try t' figure it all out by six. Meet ya then?" She jumped up off his bed and whisked across his room to his door. "See ya, Sugah."

Scents

"'No unauthorized experiments!'" Hank shouted, though it was more to himself than anyone around him. "Chemistry is about expanding one's knowledge base, challenging existing theories, and-"

"I'm sure dis is wonderful stuff, mon ami, but could ya quiet down?" Remy snapped. He wasn't angry, but it was the most cross Rogue had ever seen him before. "You been goin' on 'bout dis every since ya got home. I ain't never been t' school an' don' know what you talkin' 'bout, but I know I ain't da only one."

"Let me put it into simpleton language: This is a big project. We're allowed to conduct our own experiments. Mine was rejected by the teacher."

"What do you plan on doin', Sugah? Burnin' down the building?"

"No," Hank replied curtly. "However, the chemicals I plan to use are extremely volatile, especially when amalgamated. I would use utmost caution around them, and she knows my lab technique-"

"Der ya go again," Remy cut in. "Shut. Up. Half dose words flew right o'er my head an' I di'n't care 'bout it in da first place."

"'It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it,'" Beast quoted in retaliation.

Remy scoffed. "I could'a told you I wa'n't book smart. Dat ain't all dat matters."

"Why not talk to the teacher and tell her ... this," Rogue suggested. She gestured weakly with her hands before self-consciously crossing them across her chest. "Ah don't know anything about chemistry, but Ah don't want t' be an ass." She glanced pointedly at Remy as she put emphasis on the last word. "There ain't nothin' we can do. Ah'm sorry."

Hank sighed and thought about what Rogue said for a second. "Yes. You may be right. However, as said by our past president, Abraham Lincoln, 'be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.'"

"Now you jus' rubbin' dis in my face."

Quickly entertaining a smile, Hank called over his shoulder as he turned to leave, "Perhaps."

"Ah get a strange feelin' you ain't the most popular mutant on the block, Sugah," Rogue taunted once Hank had left the room.

"Nah. Dey all jealous o' my outgoin' personality an' my ability to pick up da ladies."

"Ah dunno. Ah don't much wanna go an' pick anyone up as it is."

"Non?" Remy asked. "What'd I ever do t' you?"

Rogue blinked. "Ah didn't mean it that way..."

Remy held up a hand. "Non. I bet you di'n't. 'Sides, dat mean you ain't jealous o' me. We get along fine, n'est-ce pas?"

Rogue pushed him lightly on the chest, walking away. "As long as you don't make any moves on me."

"Oh yah? When I makin' da moves on you, you know."

Rogue turned around at the doorway. "There a stench in the air, Remy, and it smells a lot like lies."

"Now you makin' no sense!"

"Think about it and Ah think Ah am."

Peripheral Vision

"Again?" Rogue asked, fighting to keep a smile off of her face.

Kurt didn't hold back, but beamed outright. "Ja, weider."

"An' can't Ah refuse?" Rogue joked. She still tried to keep her voice even, but light to keep from hurting him. From their short training session the day before, Rogue had learned how amiable Kurt's personality really was.

"Nein," Kurt grinned. "You're stuck."

"Guess Ah have to take drastic measures."

"I think you're right. I brought friends today."

"What?"

"I brought friends today," Kurt repeated patiently.

"Who?"

"Let me think... Who out of both teams - besides me, that is - doesn't come to school due to appearances?" He looked Rogue square in the face, taunting her with his fanged smile.

"Remy?"

"Ausgezeichnet," Kurt snickered. "One down, one more to go."

Rogue furrowed her brow as she thought. "Uh ... Warren?" With wings on his back, it would be hard pressed for him to blend in with the crowd. Plus, she hadn't ever seen him around the halls, though that wasn't saying much.

"Got a brain on dose shoulders, chere," Remy complimented sarcastically. "Pretty an' brains."

Rogue spun around as Remy and Warren made their presence known. Both had their costumes on, Warren's being blue with a white swatch of fabric across the front as well as with white gloves and boots, Remy's being the one Rogue saw him in previously. They walked across the football field, their footsteps silent as they approached.

"How's the cold weather for you, Rogue?" Warren asked.

"Ah'm glad the costume keeps me warm," Rogue replied. "Dry, too."

"Amen," Kurt agreed. "Imagine how long it would take me to dry off completely." He lightly touched the fuzzy fur on his cheek.

"Could be worse, Kurt. You could be trying to dry out your wings. It gets harder to fly when you're weighed down by rain."

"Y'all are complainers," Remy declared. "We're X-Men an' we live wit' it, d'accord? Yah." He turned to Warren. "Monsieur Wings, you da senior member here, so you got da plan?"

Rogue switched her gaze to the still mysterious teammate. She was vaguely aware of Kurt doing so as well.

Warren shrugged and crossed his arms. "Let's play soccer."

"Fußball, hmm? You venture into dangerous territory, Amerikaner," Kurt replied snidely.

"Really?" Warren ruffled his feathers. "Then you're with Gambit."

"Qu'est-ce?" Remy asked, surprised.

"Nightcrawler, how about you find us a ball to play with? I expect they would be in the gym." Warren continued as if Remy hadn't spoken at all.

"Uh, ja. Here's hoping I don't get lost." With that, he disappeared with the sound of imploding air.

The three remaining X-people remained silent for a moment until Remy suddenly spoke up: "I sure hope y'know how t' play soccer, chere."

Rogue glanced down at her feet before making eye contact a second later. "Act'ly, Ah wasn't ever that good. Okay, Ah guess, but Ah haven't played in a couple years now. Ah ain't exactly a gal that can put herself out there."

Remy cast a confused look in Warren's direction. "Fly-boy, I sure hope y'know how t' play. I ain't never seen you out an' about wit' da rest o' us b'fore. Kurt seems t' be in his element wit' dis game now, an' I gonna tell ya I ain't no push over, neither."

"Worried, Gambit?"

"Non. We gon' t' dribble circles 'round ya."

Warren uncrossed his arms. "Probably."

Rogue blinked; why would Warren put two of the strongest players together? Before she could ask, Kurt reappeared with the requested soccer ball. "There were people in the gym!" he accused loudly. "It's good that they were preoccupied."

Warren nodded and stretched his limbs. "One-on-one. We're using this half of the football field. The goal is the whole sideline on both sides. No. Powers."

"D'accord. You start wit' da ball, Rogue?"

Before Rogue could affirm or reject, Kurt tossed the ball in her direction. She caught the ball with her chest, her arms acting on reflex. As she dropped it to the ground and trapped it with her foot, Warren grabbed her shoulder to gain her attention.

"Play your best, use me, and keep yourself in the action. We won't win, but don't give up until the game is over."

"You planned for us t' lose?" Rogue asked. She barely kept herself from shouting.

"This exercise is for you," Warren informed her. "I'm just relaying instructions." He took his hand away and looked beyond Rogue to the opposing team. "Let's start."

Kurt crept closer to Rogue on Warren's cue, keeping his steps nearly silent. Remy shifted sideways to cover whatever pass Rogue could have made to her teammate. Switching into game mode, Rogue kicked the ball backwards and backtracked a couple of paces. When she saw Kurt following her in her peripheral, she cut suddenly to the right, cutting the German off and avoiding his teammate. Warren shifted up the field, calling for the ball.

"Get there!" Kurt shouted. Rogue smiled before sending the ball after Warren with a hefty kick.

Dark

Rogue remained eerily silent as Scott and Jean led her out through the morning twilight and into Scott's car. She didn't want to come across as huffy or irritated, but in truth, she was. Xavier described Monday as an accident that could be quickly remedied should it ever arise again, but that didn't account for his reasons.

Jean must have picked up on Rogue's sour attitude. Rogue wasn't sure if it was through her telepathy or empathy, but at least she was kind enough to break the silence and console the younger girl. "Rogue, you're quiet this morning. Different than yesterday," she amended. "Is everything alright?"

"Ah s'pose there's no harm," Rogue vaguely replied.

"Is this about yesterday?" Scott turned his ruby-glazed glance to the rearview mirror in order to get a better look at Rogue's expression as he drove.

"If ya wanna know, yeah."

"It wasn't our fault we couldn't uphold our promise," Scott argued for himself and Jean. "The professor had the senior team pull out of school so that we could take care of a quick problem in New York. We're the X-Men, Rogue. Things don't normally go according to plan."

Rogue figured it was a satisfactory explanation, but it still left her annoyed. Her closeness to Remy was bothering her, especially when he could sum up their recent relationship in so few of words and leave her speechless. She hadn't known how to react to him when they arrived at home, so she quickly handed his helmet back and left to find Xavier to sort school papers out. She wasn't looking forward to seeing him any time soon.

"You'll wait for me after school today?" Rogue inquired. "An' … contact me or something if you can't?"

"Actually, no," Jean said slowly. "You're familiar with Nightcrawler?"

"Who?" A mental image flashed through Rogue's mind at the name, but she wanted to make sure.

"Kurt Wagner. He's rather … unique in appearance. Very blue, but full of energy."

Rogue nodded her head. Her assumption definitely matched Jean's short description. "What about him? Ah don't think he can pull up in school an' pick me up lookin' like the devil himself."

Jean pursed her lips. "You're supposed to meet him in the stadium behind school after the final bell rings. He'll be working one-on-one with you for a little bit as well as teleport you home. He's been working on teleporting passengers lately, and he feels confident that he can safely take you back to the mansion in as few leaps as possible. Before that, he'll be bringing your costume, which you can change into in the bathrooms around the stadium. No one should be bothering you in the middle of January."

"An' why are we doin' this today?" Rogue looked suspiciously between the two senior X-Men.

"He wants to get to know you," Scott answered for Jean. "You're a team, Rogue. Don't worry, he doesn't bite."

"Uh-huh." Rogue waited as Scott shifted the car into park in the school parking lot. As he pulled out the keys and simultaneously switched off the lights, she had the door open, and was on her way to her locker. She figured she'd have a long day ahead of her and she didn't think Scott or Jean would help that at the moment. Better to jump into what needed to be done head first and struggle to keep her head up in the waves.

Fortunately for her, her classes kept her busy doing just that, leaving her no time to be anxious about her individual training session with Nightcrawler. By the time the final bell rang, all of the information was thrown back at her. She exited the building with mixed feelings, making her way slowly to the stadium. Upon arriving, she saw the mutant's excited face.

"Guten Tag!" he called cheerily. "How was school?"

"Time consuming," Rogue answered grumpily. "Ah don't see why I need to learn half of this stuff."

Kurt snorted back a laugh. "You're telling me. I'm the one that can't walk in public without a crowd running away and shouting 'monster.'" Rogue's gaze shot to her feet. "Ack, what am I saying? The way things are going at the mansion, I'll be the go-to mutant when things go wrong. You would be surprised how applicable many of these classes can be." He bumped something he was holding into Rogue's arm. "Here. Go put these on. The bathrooms are over there." He gestured with his three-fingered hand. "If they're locked, just give me a little shout and I'll help you inside."

"Uh … thanks," Rogue said, grabbing the costume material. Striding across the lightly blanketed ground, she easily opened the bathroom door. Frowning at the freezing temperature, she quickly pulled on the new set of clothes. She was surprised to find how warm they became upon wearing them. Stuffing her day clothes into her backpack, she met Nightcrawler in the middle of the stadium.

"You look nice, nicht wahr?" Kurt cheekily observed. "We even get to be on the same team this time."

"Then what kind of trainin' is this?" Rogue asked. She tossed her pack aside.

"Not everything is fighting, Fraulein," Kurt smiled. "I'm sure Gambit or Storm would be a better teacher of this, but looking the way I do, I need to be incognito. In the night, I actually blend into the shadows to the point of invisibility. In the daylight, I have other tricks."

"And how does this apply to me?" Rogue rubbed a finger across her eyes, crossing the other arm over her chest. Rogue didn't have oddly colored eyes, though she did have unique hair, and she didn't look like she came out of a horror movie; she blended in fine with the crowd at school and beyond.

Kurt's devilish grin widened. "Because some of the X-Men's objectives are low-key. You need to learn how to be unseen when it matters."

"We're kind of in the middle of an empty football field," Rogue observed. She gestured at the surroundings before recrossing her arms over her torso.

"Ja," Kurt agreed. "But we're not going to stay here. You are going to show me your locker. In case of emergencies, grip tightly to the elf, promise not to barf, and we will be home shortly."

"'Promise not to barf'?" Rogue quoted.

"You'd be surprised at the reactions I get sometimes," Kurt confided in her. "Ready?" Rogue nodded. "Los!"

"What?"

Kurt threw his head back, exasperated. "Go, meine Freundin. Like 'follow after me' or something."

Rogue's eyes lingered on him for another second. "Oh."

Broken Promise

Now that the time was drawing near, Rogue's nerves were beginning to pick up at a frightening pace. The blouse Jean had loaned Rogue looked nice and appropriate, but it wasn't her book cover that she was worried about. Even though winter had returned to Salem Center with a vengeance, Rogue doubted that she could wear gloves in school without large suspicions surrounding her. By experience, humans were a touchy bunch, but Rogue couldn't follow those rules lest someone end up in a coma.

"You look as white as a sheet," Jean observed. Her words snapped Rogue out of her painful worries.

"Ah do?"

"You'll be fine here, I promise," Jean consoled. It was easy for her to say; her mutant powers weren't physically manifested and she had the appearance of a demigod. Rogue wouldn't be surprised to see boys drooling after her.

"Here, sure. There, Ah wouldn't bet on it." Rogue deliberately twisted Jean's words as if the action would soothe her feelings.

Scott walked up on the two young woman then with hands stuffed in his coat pockets. "Are you ready?" he asked them, looking between them through his pick-shaded eye glasses.

"Ah s'pose or Ah'll nevah get movin'," Rogue answered. Jean smiled sweetly.

The drive was fairly short and comfortable, if quiet. Jean and Scott kept glancing at each other in the front seat, though no words were exchanged. Rogue was happy to stare out the window as Scott drove without initiating conversation.

Scott parked in the student lot and opened Rogue's door for her. "Do you need someone to go to the office with you to pick up your schedule?" he asked.

"No," Rogue answered, "but Ah wouldn't mind if you came along. Ah don't know where any blasted thing is."

"I'll meet you in class," Jean excused herself. She gave Scott a quick peck on the cheek and then hurried off. "Good luck, Rogue!" she called before disappearing.

Coming upon the office, Scott held open the door for Rogue to enter. The secretary looked up. "How can I help you?"

"We're her to pick up a schedule," Scott announced.

"Name?"

"Anna Marie," Rogue said softly. Her eyes darted quickly to Scott's face.

"Last name," the secretary reiterated.

"Darkholme," Rogue supplied, her voice uncertain. How many new kids with the name of Anna Marie requested a new schedule for this to be necessary?

The secretary shuffled through a few folders before addressing the waiting students again. "You'll need to fill this emergency contact form out and return it by the end of the week. There's also a couple more forms your parent or guardian must fill out to be returned." The folder holding these colorful sheets was closed. A final white sheet was placed on top. "And here's your schedule." Rogue grabbed the offered folder from the secretary.

"Thank-you," she said. Her eyes scanned down the list to read the classes for her remaining semester.

"Anything good?" Scott asked.

"Ah dunno. Algebra one, Biology, some gym class, an English class, American History, a computer class and a free period for studyin'."

"Which class are you? Freshman?" Scott held out his hand for Rogue's schedule, which she obligedly turned over.

"Sophomore," she contradicted.

"Oh, sorry. You said Algebra one ..."

"Ah haven't been t' school" -Rogue glanced around to make sure no one was around to overhear what she had to say- "since mah powers manifested. Ah nevah took the class."

"It's not too bad of a class. I preferred Geometry over Algebra, though."

"Ah prefer no math," Rogue grinned.

"It's important to learn."

"Ah think Ah can prove you wrong." Remy had talked about Scott like he was some sort of disease, but Rogue couldn't find anything too bad about him. He had the air of a goody two-shoes about him, but at least he was being amiable. It was better than a few of the other students at the mansion could say.

"I'll take a rain check," Scott replied. He handed back her schedule. "I can show you to your classroom," he offered. "The bell will ring in about a minute and I don't think you want to be late to your first class."

"Thanks," Rogue smiled. "Ah'd appreciate that."

The school wasn't overly large, but to Rogue's unpracticed perception, it felt huge. Rows upon rows of blue lockers bled into the walls as if they were ungodly house decoration. Doors to classrooms were nestled snugly between sections.

"Ah don't think Ah got a locker," Rogue exclaimed suddenly.

"The locker number and combination should be on your schedule. Take a little time after school to check it out. Jean and I will wait in the parking lot." Rogue offered him a grateful smile. "This is your first classroom," Scott gestured. "Your second one will be just down the hall that way. I probably won't run into you in the day, but you can probably ask anyone for help if you need it. This high school isn't very large; your arrival isn't much of a secret."

"That was fast," Rogue commented.

"What else do they have to talk about?" Scott adjusted his backpack on his shoulders and turned his hips away. As if on cue, the bell rang. "Passing time is four minutes. I'll see you after school?"

"Yeah," Rogue agreed happily. "See ya, Scott."

"Bye."

Rogue's first couple hours passed in a blur. The teachers appeared to say the same things in each hour as students adjusted to the new semester. Rogue remembered vague panic each time the bell rang to switch classes, but she made it on time every time. Lunch turned out to be confusing as well, but Ororo came around to help the new kid out. Afterwards, the monotony of the repeated lectures continued.

When the final bell rang, Rogue let out a sigh of relief. So far no disaster had occurred and her nerves were finally beginning to die down.

She took her time in finding her locker, which appeared to be erratically numbered. Pulling out her schedule sheet, she set to work on getting the combination right. It took her a dozen tries to open the locker for the first time. Closing it soon after, she quickly had the personality of the combination dial. Once she had it down, the hallways in the area had cleared to near silence. Shoving her newly acquired books onto the locker shelf, Rogue roughly shut the door. She gathered her backpack onto her shoulders and walked down the hallway. Once outside, she looked for Scott's unique glasses and Jean's glowing auburn hair. Students still hung about, talking in bunches, leaning on cars, but Rogue couldn't find anyone she recognized. Feeling a growing dread in the pit of her stomach, Rogue walked down the aisle Scott had parked in, searching for his car.

"He left me?" Rogue asked herself. She spun around, her eyes searching frantically for the tell-tale sign that Scott and Jean hadn't left yet.

Feeling completely abandoned, Rogue trudged back down the remaining row of vehicles.

"Hey, you alright?" Rogue glanced up to see a concerned face belonging to a short girl.

"Ah ... Ah don't know how t' get home," Rogue admitted.

"You're new here, right?"

"Yeah. Scott said he'd give me a ride home, but Ah'm thinkin' he left. Ah didn't set up any othah plans." She twisted her fingers around the strap to her pack.

"Y'know, I can't drive myself, but I think my boyfriend might be able to give you a lift. Where do you live?"

"Actually, Ah think if Ah can call home, I might be able t' hitch a ride with someone else." Rogue felt a little more optimistic at the though. "We're kinda out there."

"I have a cell phone," the friendly girl offered.

"Thanks." Rogue managed a smile. Taking the phone, Rogue struggled to remember the mansion's number. Punching it in, she let it ring.

"Charles Xavier speaking." The phone rang only three times.

"Ah ... Prof? Ah don't know how t' get home."

"Rogue?"

"Yeah. Scott said he'd wait for me, but-"

"I pulled him and Jean out early," Xavier explained.

"Oh."

"Have the buses left?"

Rogue looked around. "Ah don't see any."

"Alright." Xavier was silent for a moment. "I think Remy wouldn't mind picking you up. I would send Kurt, but he's still working on teleporting partners."

"Remy's fine," Rogue affirmed. "Can he bring mah gloves with him?" Even if he did drive something other than his motor bike, she already felt safer wearing them.

"Where are they?"

"In mah room on mah dresser," Rogue described.

"Okay. He'll be around soon."

"Thank-you, Prof. Ah wish someone would'a told me Scott and Jean were leaving."

"I'm sorry. Next time I'll have Jean or myself contact you. Remy's leaving right now."

"Alright. Bye."

Rogue snapped the phone closed and carefully handed it back over. "Thank-you," Rogue repeated.

"Got a ride?" the girl asked.

"Yeah. Should be here soon," Rogue confirmed. She wrapped her arms tighter around herself to warm up. "So, uh, what classes ya got this semester?"

"Nothing exciting. I have the usual and band. Study hour fifth hour."

"Oh! Ah have it that hour, too!"

The two girls continued in companionable conversation. Eventually the girl's boyfriend came over to leave, but they said they'd stay as Rogue waited for Remy.

Much to Rogue's expectations, he arrived on his motorcycle. As he took off his helmet, the girl leaved over to Rogue. "Is he your boyfriend? He's hot."

Rogue fought to keep her embarrassment down. "Nah. He's a friend." She waved Remy over. "Ain't it way too cold for that?"

"Aw, chere, it's all I got," Remy explained. "Beggars can't be choosers anyway." His gaze switched to the other two. "I hope she di'n't cause ya problems. She's new 'round here."

"I figured that out," the girl said, eyes sparkling.

Remy smiled largely. "Maybe we see you 'round, ney?"

"Maybe."

Remy's attention switched back to Rogue. "Ready?"

"Ah'm gonna freeze like a popsicle," Rogue murmured.

"Really, Rogue!" He chuckled softly and pulled her gloves out of his coat pockets. "I brought your gloves like ya asked." He held them out.

Slipping the green material over her fingers, she nodded appreciatively. "Thanks."

"Jus' put the helmet on an' lets get home." Remy stepped away to fetch it.

"He isn't your brother, is he?" the girl whispered.

Rogue recoiled. "What? No!"

"He's hot," she repeated.

Rogue shook her head, catching the helmet when tossed to her. "See ya tomorrow?" she asked before climbing on the bike after Remy.

"Yeah!"

Wrapping her arms around Remy, Rogue snuggled up to his abnormally warm body. "You're crazy, Sugah."

"You jus' crazy for fallin' for me, chere," Remy shot back. He kicked the bike to life before Rogue could come up with a coherent reply.

Mirror

Rogue whisked her hands down her sides, lying the wrinkles in her shirt flat against her curves. Her eyes were glued to the lone mirror in her room as she pivoted her body to inspect it from multiple angles. Her face wasn't happy, but was far from it. "Nope," she murmured to herself, grabbing the bottom of the shirt with both hands. Pulling it over her head, she tossed the shirt onto the small pile on her bed. "An' that's all Ah have."

A light knock on Rogue's door alerted her to a potential guest. Caught up in the surprise, Rogue grabbed for the coat Remy bought her and pulled it around her half-naked torso. "Who is it?" she called out.

"Jean," the other person responded. "I understand you're having difficulties?" She waited respectfully for Rogue's response, but none come; Rogue was unsuccessfully fishing for a good way to respond. "May I come in?"

"Uh, sure. Door's open." She wrapped the faux leather tighter around her form, overlapping the two sides of the coat where it would normally zip up.

Jean stepped inside the younger girl's room, quickly shutting the door behind her. "It's kind of cold in the school, so I wouldn't suggest wearing anything too exposed," she began. Rogue saw her looking at the lumps of clothing on the bed, though she couldn't tell if Jean could distinguish each article.

"Ah don't think Ah'd want t'show much skin anyway," Rogue confessed with a tiny shrug. "How's crowd control?"

A sympathetic glance was thrown Rogue's way. "Not the best, especially after lunch and after school. A lot of people move slowly after school, though, so you'll want to move quickly in order to avoid the majority of everyone." She hesitated for a moment. "Scott could probably drive you back here."

"Scott or what othah choice?" Rogue questioned. She hadn't thought of how she would get to and from the school.

"The bus, really. The school's too far away to walk." She picked up a shirt from the mess. "I'll talk to him and find you in the morning tomorrow. Okay?"

"Alright." Rogue wasn't sure if agreeing with the older girl was a good idea or not, yet she did it anyway.

"You want to make a good impression on the people there," Jean stated as if reading Rogue's mind. For all Rogue knew, she was. "But you have limitations." She eyed the jacket Rogue was wearing. "Is that all you have?"

Rogue glanced down the front of it, conscious of the thick material clutched between her fingers in order to preserve her modesty. "Yeah. Remy bought it for me last week."

"About Remy ... watch out for him, please. He's a charmer and he's well aware of it." A small smile crept onto Jean's face before she was conscious of it enough to wipe it away. Rogue felt the seed of insecurity grow within her. Jean wasn't the only one that told Rogue to watch out for that boy. Even within a week she'd learned enough that Remy had quite a reputation and from the sounds of it, none of it was all that good.

"Ah'll try."

"You have a lot of green, yellow and black," Jean commented, switching the conversation to a new angle.

"Ah guess." Rogue felt like she was going to end up wearing what Jean suggested, whether she liked it or not.

"Have you ever tried pink?"

"Pink?" Rogue repeated, slightly surprised. "Ah s'pose Ah have, but Ah ain't partial ta it."

"You could borrow one of my blouses, if you'd like." Rogue was beginning to find the whole exchange rather creepy, seeing as Jean burst in and knew exactly where to start. She wondered if the girl often pulled off such a stunt.

"Maybe," Rogue offered, trying to be neutral.

Jean sorted through the other articles, only to find tops. "What do you have for pants. Although I think you'd look dashing in a skirt."

"Ah dunno. Some jeans, pair'a yoga pants, don't know 'bout a skirt."

Jean leveled a contemplating look at Rogue. "I don't think I have a skirt that would fit the look I'm thinking of. If all else fails, you could wear your yoga pants."

"Um," Rogue began, but was cut off.

"Let me go get my blouse." Before Rogue could say anything else, Jean disappeared to cater to Rogue's unspoken and subliminal wishes.

Poncho

"Brr, why is it so cold right here?" An unfamiliar voice wafted past Rogue's closed door.

"I don't feel anything, Warren," Ororo replied slyly.

"Do you ever feel the cold?"

"Yes." The footsteps continued, but instead of it being two pairs, only one continued.

A knock sounded on Rogue's door. "Hello?"

"Ah'm here," Rogue replied as she quickly shut the window. When she turned around, the face behind the boy's voice stood in her doorway. Wings were silhouetted behind him. "Can Ah ... have we met?"

"Not officially," the winged boy answered. "I'm Warren." He didn't wait to hear her name, but gestured toward the window. "Any reason you have your windows wide open?"

"Ah guess Ah like the sound of rain." Rogue shrugged and briefly jerked her eyes away. She didn't know the exact reason as to why she had the window open, protecting her and the other residents from the unforgiving weather. The dying wind made her cold and she could hardly feel her extremities, but it hardly seemed to matter.

Warren stepped inside her room completely, slowly closing the door behind him. "Home sick?" he guessed.

Thinking about it, Rogue didn't think he was far off. "Ah guess. Ah'm not used ta the cold." She turned her back on him to stare back out into the inclement weather. "Rain ... that's not unusual."

Rustling indicated Warren's movements, but Rogue wasn't aware that he was moving beside her until he actually was. "I love to fly in a gentle rain when it's warm," he commented. His eyes were lost in the rivulets of water as they flowed down the glass. After a moment, he took attention to Rogue again. "Are you wearing a raincoat?"

Rogue grabbed the material of her makeshift poncho in her hands. "Naw. It's a ... it's a shower curtain. Ah have a coat now, but Ah don't wanna ruin it..."

Warren smiled. "If this weather keeps up, you might want to rethink that."

"Ain't got much of a choice, Sugah," Rogue replied huffily. "'Sides, we ain't gonna be outside much, are we?"

"Depends." He didn't elaborate further.

Climbing the Roof

"I hope everyone has their homework done," Kurt snickered over lunch. A couple kids, one of which being Bobby, exchanged glances with the demonic mutant. "What? I'm giving you a heads up. School starts up again in two days."

"You don' even go t' school, homme," Remy muttered.

"Neither do you," Kurt shot back.

"You don't go ta school?" Rogue asked, surprised. Her gaze lingered on the undecipherable look on Remy's face.

"Nope. Wit' eyes like dis an' da way people so freaked out 'bout what dey don't know, me, Kurt an' Warren don' go," Remy explained. A grin finally began to crack his visage.

"Like we have it that easy," Kurt muttered more darkly.

"It's better than dealing with people oggling at my wings," Warren cut in.

"You think you have it bad?" Elizabeth questioned. "Sometimes I can't close out the little perverts' thoughts. You want those things running through your head?"

Remy bent his head forward, covering his mouth with a hand. "I deal wit' it."

"That is something we don't need to know, Gambit," Jean cut in.

"C'mon, admit it. You di'n't not expect it, mes amis." No one answered. "Someone had t' say it."

"No," Scott disagreed. A few snickers sounded around the room, including one from Rogue.

"Those thoughts are best kept to yourself, Remy," Storm agreed.

"Stormy?" Remy cried out in mock disbelief. "You're sidin' agains' me?"

"Yes. Stop calling me that." The slightly bored tone to the girl's voice suggested that the subtle argument was an ongoing battle that began long ago.

Remy stood up and shoved the rest of his sandwich into his mouth. Mumbling around the food, he announced, "Den I leave you t' yer non-perverted t'oughts, 'ey?" Waving quickly, but allowing his gaze to linger on Rogue for an extra moment, he left.

"I don't know how you deal with him, Rogue," Alison pointed out once she figured he was out of earshot. "Sure, he can act all charming when he wants to, but otherwise he's ... Remy. He's definitely messed up. Well, a little," she quickly amended as soon as she caught sight of Rogue's irritated looks.

"His heart is in the right place," Ororo backed him up.

"Ah didn't think he was that bad," Rogue shrugged.

No one answered Rogue. No one really knew how to explain the slightly odd mutant. Instead of continuing an old conversation, Piotr spoke up for the first time and restarted what Kurt began: "Anyone have art next semester?"

"Ah don't think Ah'm hungry anymore." Rogue took her plate to the sink and went to leave the room.

"Would you mind some company?" Ororo asked. She positioned herself just so to prevent Rogue from leaving the room without noticing her. "I've been a subject of his antics much longer than anyone here. I'll lend an ear for you."

"Sure," Rogue allowed. "Ah don't got much t'say."

"That is quite alright, child." She stayed silent as they made their slow way down the hallway. "I usually tend to my garden when I need to gather my thoughts. My plants need me, but I love them back." Rogue tried to keep from shooting Ororo a skeptical look, but she thought that Ororo caught on nonetheless. "We all have ways of gathering our thoughts without stepping on each others toes. Peter paints, Alison sings, but Remy normally withdraws from everyone."

"Why are ya tellin' me this?" Rogue wondered. She caught Storm's eyes, holding her gaze to search for the truth.

"I've noticed over the last week how quickly you two have grown together. I ... was trying to help you out before he unintentionally hurts you or you hurt him."

"Alright. So you made him made just then?"

Ororo shook her head. "No. Given the choice, he'd leave the campus completely and come back a few days later. Confined as he is, he normally climbs on top of the roof to clear his head. I sometimes accompany him."

"What? You want me t'climb the roof?" Rogue's pitch rose with incomprehension.

"I'm not saying that. Just understand that however you cope with sorting your head out, know I'll be there for you, wherever you go." Ororo lightly placed her hands on Rogue's shoulders. "With school coming up and new relationships to forge, even the strongest need help."

Rogue didn't know what to say. "Uh, thanks, 'Ro."

Luck

"Are you ready, child?" Ororo's voice permeated through Rogue's partially opened door.

"Ah ... Ah dunno. Ah almost feel like Ah'm naked," Rogue answered. As a finishing touch, she pulled on the pair of gloves Remy bought for her. Feeling nervous with her appearance, she hesitantly opened her door to show Ororo her brand new uniform.

A broad smile pulled across Ororo's face and her blue eyes sparkled. "Don't worry yourself; you look wonderful."

"Speak for yaself," Rogue muttered under her breath. Ororo's costume was black with gold accents. An unobtrusive cape draped off her shoulders, which connected to her wrists-very classy. Her top was cut right above her breasts, her midsection was hardly covered and a large portion of her toned thighs were showing. It was fashionable as far as costumes went, but Rogue doubted it'd be acceptable at any place but here.

Rogue's costume, on the other hand, covered most of her body. It was still skin tight, but hers was green with white accents. A hood hung from around her neck and a white stripe ran down her front, splitting off into two around her waist.

As the two young women walked through the mansion to get to the Danger Room, Rogue asked a sudden question that came to mind: "Aren't the X-Men a team?"

"Yes." Ororo appeared confused.

"Ah thought teams were dressed the same."

"We've tried that before," Ororo replied with humor; "it wasn't very popular among the students."

She opened the door to the Danger Room. Suddenly feeling jittery, Rogue stepped inside the strange room for the first time. Half of the residents of the mansion were already inside. "We are the junior team," Ororo announced. "I'm Storm, this is Iceman, Psylocke, Dazzler, Gambit, and Nightcrawler." She motioned to Bobby, Elisabeth, Alison, Remy and Kurt respectively.

"Ah have ta remember more names now?"

Kurt grinned. "It won't be hard to remember. We are code named the way we are for a reason. Even him." Kurt pointed to Remy with a laugh. Remy's expression remained flat, suggesting Kurt's joke wasn't that funny.

"So what's the scenario today?" Bobby asked Ororo. Nearly everyone looked up to her for leadership, and for obvious reasons in Rogue's opinion.

"I have put the choice in Banshee's hands today," she replied. "I told him to keep it calm for Rogue's sake."

Rogue's face grew hot. "Ah dunno how ta fight none," she announced self-consciously.

"Stick by me an' you'll be fine," Remy suggested, stepping in closer. Ororo cast him a coded look, but Remy's inaction did nothing to help Rogue solve it.

"Actually," a voice crackled over the intercom, "Ye won't be workin' with Rogue." Rogue thought she recognized the faceless speaker as Sean. "I've split this session up int' a race. Storm leads one team and Nightcrawler another. Psylocke, Dazzler an' Rogue are with Storm. Gambit and Iceman are with 'Crawler."

Kurt struck a distraught face. I"m at a disadvantage," he muttered.

"If I wasn't working the booth, lad, I'd join ye," Banshee consoled. "I'll be settin' up for a maze for ye. In the center will be the prize t' end the simulation. First team to reach it wins."

"Sounds simple," Rogue commented.

"Banshee with throw in some obstacles," Elizabeth warned. "And just because we have more people doesn't mean we'll win. Banshee split us up according to how we challenge each other. Nightcrawler and Gambit are quick and Gambit is impervious to my powers without difficulty."

"What do ya do?"

"I'm a telepath."

"Are the teams ready?" Banshee's voice cut in.

"Ja," Kurt replied immediately.

"Lass?"

Ororo studied Rogue for a moment before replying. "Yes."

"Luck t' the lot o' ye," Banshee called cheerfully.

"Auf wiedersehen-at the end of the course!" Kurt taunted before a wall was erected between the two miniature teams.

"We need to move," Ororo pointed out. Mossy walls surrounded them on all sides, but the ceiling above was crumbling. "Nice of him to trap us." Ororo's voice was tight and Rogue could tell that she was holding back panic.

"Sure wish I had Nightcrawler's powers right now," Alison muttered.

"No need," Ororo brushed off. "I can fly us up."

Rogue felt extremely out of place. All around her, her teammates had powers that would help them. Rogue simply had to touch someone to make them comatose.

A whorl of air started around the condensed team. Gasping out loud, Rogue clutched onto the nearby Psylocke. Eventually their feet lifted off the ground to be carried through the ceiling's hold. Touching down softly, Storm's effects disappeared.

"Watch your steps," Storm warned. "Dazzler, lead the way please."

"I can't light up often because I don't have a lot of sound stored up," Alison explained. "If we run into the boys, I won't be able to fight well if it's gone."

"A lot of ifs," Psylocke commented. "But if we don't hurry up, we won't even see them until this is over."

Small sparks of light emitted from Dazzler's fingers, briefly illuminating the long cavern.

"Ovah there!" Rogue spoke up. "Ah see a way out." She began walking forward.

"Rogue! Wait!" Storm's voice rang out too late as the floor began to disintegrate under Rogue's moving feet. In a flash of speed, Ororo flew forward and cusioned Rogue's fall to the ground.

Slightly dazed, Rogue called out, "Ah found another way." Storm beckoned for Alison and Elizabeth to follow the fallen girl. The room was shiny, small and had only one locked door. "It won't open."

Storm wordlessly moved to the door and squatted down so that she was level with the handle. A pair of lock picks in her hands, she made quick work of the door, allowing it to swing open into another chamber.

"It looks like something out of a horror movie," Psylocke commented. Her nose wrinkled at the dead bodies strewn about down the hallway. Blood covered the wall, sometimes in smears, other times in thick, dripping patterns. "Did Banshee think of this?"

"No time to question it now," Storm said as she tiptoed down the hall through the maze of limbs. "There's another door at the end of this."

Rogue felt revulsion at the scene in front of her, but she followed suit with the rest of the team and made her way down the corridor. At one point she slipped in a pool of blood and nearly fell on top of a decaying body, but she was able to straighten herself before ending up in his lap. "Are the simulations always so real?" she croaked as Storm opened the new door.

"State of the art technology," Alison supplied unhelpfully.

"What's in there?" Psylocke asked, trying to make out the new challenge in the new room.

"It's dark, but I think it sounds like water," Storm replied.

Dazzler lit up again in order to aide the team's visual. The move was instantly regretted when the light reflected back at the four of them with a harsh furiousity. They let out cries of surprise and pain, each moving to cover their eyes from the obtrusive light.

"Did anyone see what was inside?"

"I think Storm was right."

"What?"

"That's water in there."

"That wouldn't cause the increased severity of Dazzler's light," Ororo pointed out.

"Anyone want to be the sacrificial lamb?" Dazzler asked. She was still wiping the pain of the light out of her eyes.

"Ah'll do it ..." Rogue offered quietly. No one spoke for a second.

"I don't think she meant it," Storm explained.

"Oh, no, I meant it," Dazzler contradicted.

"I don't approve of it." Storm sent a more or less smug look at the younger girl.

Rogue stepped forward and reached her toes out to where the floor would be in the opposite room. The resistance was minimal, suggesting that the theory of water wasn't far off. "We can't be stuck here. This is a race, right?"

Storm didn't appear completely convinced, but she didn't disagree. Lowering herself slowly into the water, Rogue floated around near the door. "Ah can't feel the bottom. Hope y'all can swim." Flipping onto her back, Rogue kicked slowly in the opposite direction from the door in which she entered. She would have to find a wall at some time or another. Judging by the intensity of the light that was rejected into the groups' face, the room wasn't that large, either.

"Can you find the door?" Alison asked after a few minutes.

"No," Rogue answered. "Ah found walls, but no door."

"The other team is getting close," Elizabeth suddenly commented.

"Rogue-" Storm began talking, but was interrupted when the second door in the water-filled room opened. More light spilled into the room, but it appeared to be eaten up by the darkness of the place.

"Hey! Hey! I'm falling!" A large splash resounded in the room, growing increasingly louder until it suddenly disappeared. "Oh, not cool, Bobby. It'll take hours for me to dry out." Chuckling quickly accompanied Kurt's accusation.

Rogue turned to swim back to her team, thinking another way would be better than this if the other team ended up in the same spot. Reaching the ledge, she pulled herself up, helped with her teammates. "Ah don't think this is the way," she said.

"Rogue?" Remy's voice this time. "Ain't dis a surprise."

"What if Sean set us up on a wild goose chase?" Psylocke mused. "There was no end in sight from the very beginning?"

"Would someone get me out of here?" Kurt complained.

"Get yerself out, homme," Remy replied.

"I wouldn't weed it out as an option right now," Storm answered Elizabeth. "But for right now, let's see if we can find another way out of here."

Strawberries

“How’d you do it?” Rogue asked abruptly.

Remy blinked. “Wha?”

“Ah couldn’t get close ta anyone for years, and then you come along and get me ta open up,” Rogue explained. “How’d you do it?”

“A little charm goes a long way, chere,” Remy replied. He accompanied the line with a wink.

“Ya ain’t as good as ya think, Sugah,” Rogue shot back humorously. Despite what she said, Remy probably had it spot-on. His affable behavior allowed her to climb out of her protective shell within a very short period of time. He knew how to humor her and how to keep her interested, but she had a nagging feeling that he was also capable of much more and was simply toying with her. He had some minute control over her that Rogue should be wary of. The boy did well in keeping some hidden layers.

Something flickered in Remy’s eyes, then, something more than good will. “I’ll keep dat in mind.”

Alison barged into the room at that point, cutting off further conversation. Both Remy’s and Rogue’s eyes shot to her thin form. “Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting you?” Neither of the couple answered. “Oookay … you sure know how to make a girl feel welcomed. I’ll just scoot on out—” She turned to leave, though didn’t move any farther than she had to when Remy finally answered.

“Don’t bother, Ally. Rogue an’ me were jus’ goin’ out, see da sights. We were jus’ talkin’ ‘bout where we’d go. Ain’t a big town wit’ many excitin’ t’ings, though. Any suggestions?” Rogue blinked at how believable Remy’s story was in such short notice.

When Alison turned an inquisitive look on Rogue, however, she whipped the shock off of her face and smiled. “Best ta get knowin’ where Ah’m livin’,” she supplied helpfully.

“You’re asking me? I didn’t think you were interested in what I liked.” This was all directed at Remy, whom shrugged.

“I tend t’ hang out wit’ da shady bunch.” Rogue was beside herself with surprise at this revelation. She didn’t think that Remy was a bad character in the least bit. “Rather not corrupt her so early, ney?” Alison nodded as if such a thing to come out of Remy’s mouth was expected, further baffling Rogue.

“We always wonder what you do,” she commented.

Remy grinned. “Ain’t not’in’ excitin’.”

Alsion leaned in and lowered her voice. “Do you deal drugs?” Her eyes shifted to take in Rogue’s face as if in some form of threat to never relay her inquiry.

“Dat’s da rumor flyin’ ‘round? Mon dieu, chere!” He shook his head at the audacity of his peers. “Non non. It’s uh, family business.”

“I didn’t think you had family,” Alison replied. She stood back up with a guarded expression. Rogue looked between Remy and Alison, completely in the dark.

“It’s debatable.”

“Ally, right? We jus’ need ta know if you have any ideas for sight seein’.” Rogue moved to grab Remy’s hand to pull him away, but stopped herself short; she didn’t own a pair of workable gloves. Instead, she stood up alone, hoping the other two would follow suit. Allison was already standing, but Rogue needed her to lay flat her bristles.

“There’s a moody café in town. Dark atmosphere; cheap, but good food.” She crossed her arms over her chest and changed her stance to something more stable.

Remy rose to his feet with the grace of a cat. “Merci,” he tossed to Alison with a cherry voice. He didn’t look at the blond as he left, Rogue quickly following him.

“Remy?” Rogue asked as they came down the hall. They moved in a leisurely pace through the mansion. “What was that?”

“Best not t’ get into it, Rogue,” Remy replied. “I jus’ di’n’t come from a pampered family ‘fore comin’ here.”

He stopped in front of Rogue’s room. “I’ll meet ya down by da door?” He paused. “You got a coat?”

Rogue shook her head. “Never crossed mah mind ta have a big, fluffy thing like y’all got here,” she explained. “Ah thought you only came up with a story to … Ah’m not sure.”

“T’ get rid of her?” Remy smirked. “You sayin’ I’m a liar, den.” Rogue blinked at his thought process. “See, I’ll be a gentleman an’ take a pretty lady out. Maybe buy her some appropriate clothes, ney?”

“Ah don’t wanna cause trouble,” Rogue protested. Remy was talking money now—his money—and she felt it was hardly fair to him.

Remy began leader her in a new direction. “Nonsense,” he argued. “I woul’n’t be suggestin’ it if it was a bother.” He placed his hand on a door knob. “In da meantime, you wear my coat.”

The room they entered into was rather plain. Remy had a few garments hanging on the furniture, but it was in an organized manner. His bed was made, the curtains were open and he had a nice view of the grounds.

He nodded toward the door from the middle of his room, his fingers fumbling with his shirt. "Got my coat on da back da door."

Rogue turned around to close the door, reaching up to pluck his long brown coat off a hook. She faced him again, slipping it on. "It's warm," she commented.

Remy didn't reply as he pulled a tight pink shirt over his head. The sleeves were black with a wide stripe of pink rectangles running down the sides. "That looks like the costumes the others were wearin'." It was two different colors and in a completely different pattern, but it had the same feel.

"'Cause it's my costume," Remy replied, replacing his shirt from before over top of the pink. "Uniform, in a way o' speakin'. Keeps me warm while ya got my coat." Rogue's face flashed hotter. "Don' you worry none, chere," he said in response as he pulled on a pair of incomplete gloves; a few of the fingers on each side were missing. "I don't get cold much easy."

Remy escorted her through the mansion again. "How are we gettin' ta town?" Rogue asked once they made it out the front entrance.

"I got a bike. Ya don't mind?" An unspoken 'do you?' lingered on the end of his question.

"In this weather?"

"Ain't no snow or ice on da ground," Remy reasoned.

Rogue's face projected her uneasiness. "Ah dunno ..." She didn't even know if he was allowed to operate the vehicle; she had assumed Remy was her age. Even if he had his license, he couldn't have had much experience on the road.

Remy stepped in closer to her, grabbing her softly around the wrists through his coat. "Live a li'l, chere. You don' want me coaxin' Scott t' drive us t' town." Rogue didn't know if that was a threat or not.

"You sure?"

"Always." Without waiting for a firm affirmative, he dropped his hold to trot off. "I'll be right back!"

Rogue didn't have much choice but to stay in place unless she would act stubborn and follow him. Instead, she stood awkwardly on the driveway, holding herself to ward off the cold. In truth, it wasn't that cold outside, but as she allowed her mind to wander, she felt the chill that much more.

Eventually Remy came around again, easing his bike around the yard. As he pulled up to Rogue, he tossed a helmet her way. Only quick thinking allowed her to catch it rather than allow it to bounce off of her and fall ungracefully to the ground. Before she moved to pull it on, however, she caught sight that Remy didn't have one. "Don't you think you should have a helmet?" she inquired.

"Jus' put it on an' let's go!" Remy grinned at her, knowing full well that he had successfully avoided her question. Feeling self-conscious, Rogue put the helmet on, climbed onto the bike behind Remy and awkwardly wrapped her arms around his waist. "Hold on tight," he suggested before taking off.

Rogue's teeth were chattering by the time Remy parked his bike. During the ride she had tucked her head down into his shoulder blades, not thinking about how uncomfortable it would be for him. Shaking the chill out of her fingers, Rogue plucked the helmet off of her head and held it out, staring at it. "What do Ah do with it now?"

Remy wordlessly snatched it out of her hands and set it on the bike seat. "Dat works."

"You sure?"

"Nope, but we'll see, n'est-ce pas?" He started walking off, throwing the question out the window. "First we gonna grab a bite t' eat. Den we look for somet'in' you can wear da rest da winter. An' somet'in' t' cover dos hands o' yours." He glanced over his shoulder to look her in the face. "Alright?"

"Ah guess," Rogue replied skeptically. "You don't have ta ..."

"'Course I don't," Remy asserted. "Someone's gotta do it."

Remy had no problem in finding the club Alison mentioned, unless it was a place he frequented and Rogue didn't know. Remy ended up ordering her a strawberry drink and nothing else. "You gonna starve, y'know," he warned her.

"Nah. Ah'll survive fine." Remy tossed her an unconvinced look, but didn't push the topic further.

"An' now, we find you a nice coat an' gloves," he announced. Rogue looked down at her drink. "Finish it on da go."

"That allowed?"

"Prob'ly not." Ever-daring, Remy led her into a store, giving her free reign of the stock. Rogue took her time in choosing her own mock-leather coat, but quickly plucked a thin pair of gloves shaded a healthy green. "All ready?"

Rogue looked down at her choices. "They look alright?"

Remy scoffed, taking the garments gently from her hands and walking it up to the lady at the register. "Dey fine, chere. You worryin' me wit' all yer worry." The twinkle in his eye and the smile on his lips said differently.