A Thief in the Night

Kitty practically attacked her roommate when she walked through the door and Hank barely let her feet touch the floor as he hurried her down to the med bay to test her blood and other fluids for traces of the drug the Pietro had given her. He did find a bruise on her thigh that indicated where he'd injected her. Kurt was livid. He wanted to set out immediately to find Pietro. Unfortunately, Rogue’s memory of how she got to and from his apartment was a little fuzzy. Xavier was able to probe her mind, privately, and discern a few landmarks that she'd seen from the ride in Warren's car. Logan didn't speak to her, directly, but set out with Kurt and Angel to try and track down a few clues.


Rogue grudgingly admitted Wanda's part in helping her, but happily told them of Remy's rescue. Jean sat down with her, at the Professor's request, to talk to her about her relationship with the thief. The redhead was concerned that the Cajun wasn't a very good choice for a love match. Rouge’s secret had been discovered by Xavier, which didn't surprise her, and Jean admitted that she'd picked up on the girl's feelings a long time ago and had left her to figure things out by herself.


"You didn't interfere?" Rogue asked, surprised. Jean shrugged nonchalantly.


"I know how intense things can get here, I'm just pleased that we manage to keep the sexual activity here down to the staff and only a few select students." She smiled and Rogue knew she was referring to Kurt and Kitty. "But," she continued, "I still want you to use caution and keep safety in mind at all times." She waited till the younger girl had nodded. "That being said." She continued with a big smile. "I've been waiting to do this for a long time." She leaned forward and caught Rogue in a big hug and squeezed her tightly, pressing her cheek to the younger girl's.
Rogue found her eyes to be surprisingly damp after the unexpected show of affection from Jean.


"Ah'm glad to have at least a temporary opportunity to touch." She said and Jean nodded her agreement.


"I can't say I blame you for wanting to take advantage of the situation." She smiled when Rogue blushed. "And I think the Professor agrees. Though he'll never admit it."


Rogue walked back through the house and when she entered the living room she was enthusiastically embraced by Scott, who also planted a kiss on her forehead. He smiled down at her with undisguised affection and brushed her hair out of her eyes. She was reminded of the crush she'd had on him a few years earlier and how she'd have killed to have this kind of contact from him.


Most of the students were still in bed, but a few of the earlier risers came down to the kitchen while Rogue sat with Kitty, drinking coffee and speculating about Pietro's possible hiding places. Kurt, Logan, and Angel returned after the younger residents had already left for school. Kurt kissed his sister on the cheek and told her, with no small regret, that they'd located the apartment but Pietro was no longer there. Kitty took her boyfriend by the hand and they excused themselves, claiming fatigue, and went to take a nap in Kurt's room.


As reserved as she usually was, Rogue didn't think she'd ever get tired of the physical affection that each of her friends made a point of displaying. It felt good to know that they'd all wanted to touch her with love and were now pleased to be able to do it.


Angel took Rogue's hand and kissed the back of it, formally. Then he winked at her and picker upr up in a hug that nearly squeezed the breath from her. He placed several kisses on her cheek before putting her down. He excused himself when Logan entered. The rugged Canadian poured himself a cup of coffee and drank it, facing the window instead of Rogue.


"Ah guess Pietro got out before you guys got there." She said, suddenly nervous. Logan didn't answer. "Ah'm sorry Ah couldn't be more help to y'all. Ah just don't remember anything about the trip there."


"Yer boyfriend could've helped us some more." Came the reply.


"He also could've killed Pietro in the penthouse, but he didn't do that either." Rogue said, her voice edgy and cool. "He made a deal in order to find me. He had to let Pietro go because he'd given his word." She folded her arms over her chest and turned away from Logan. "He knew what Pietro was planning to do with me and he wanted to get there before anything happened."


"Did he?"


"No." She replied, remembering pale hands on her naked flesh. "But he got to us before anything serious happened."


"Xavier didn't tell me exactly what went on." Logan said, his voice a little gentler. "Probably for the best." She felt his big, rough hand on her shoulder. "Do you wanna talk about it?"


"Ah don't know if you really want to hear it."


"I can listen." Logan's voice was strained. He wasn't a great listener and he would probably lose his temper, but he'd give it a shot, for her sake.


"Remy had to give me these clothes." Rogue said, lifting her arms and turning to face Logan. "Cause Pietro took mine." She chewed her bottom lip self-consciously. "All of them, while I was sleeping." She watched as the muscles in Lo's j's jaw twitched slightly. "He gave me a sedative and Hank said there was something else in the mix that would keep me from focusing very well." Logan mumbled something under his breath. Rogue didn't speculate, but she guessed he was thinking up some pretty colorful names for Magneto’s son.


"I'll get him, Rogue." He said, turning around and dumping out the rest of his coffee. "I promise."


"He didn't get past second base." She said, trying to make a joke. "Or third, depending on where you're from." He tensed. "But other than the whack on the head he gave me in the parking garage, he didn't hurt me at all." She shuddered, delicately. "He just wanted to, uh..."


"I get it." Logan said. His knuckles were white as they gripped the counter.
Rogue reached out her own hand and placed it n his bare arm. She felt his skin twitch under her fingers, but he relaxed and she stepped closer. She lay her head on his shoulder and sighed.
"Even if it started out with someone Ah don't want. Ah'm glad Ah have this opportunity to reach out to the people Ah love." Logan placed his hand over hers, but continued to look out the window. She thought back to when he'd touched her neck in the elevator. And the feelings she'd absorbed.


"Kills me to say it, Kid." He said through gritted teeth. "But I'm glad you had the Cajun to give you better memories before you came home." She didn't need to ask how he knew. He'd have smelled it on her immediately. "I'm happy that you've found someone to, um, share with." Logan wasn't good with words. And he was even worse with feelings. Rogue lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at the side of his face.


"Ah'm happy with Remy, and Ah've had my share of crushes since living here, but Logan," she paused, gathering her courage, "Ah loved you first."
The stocky man's gaze dropped to the sink in front of him and he nodded, wordlessly. She waited a heartbeat, then another; she turned to leave but he tightened his hand on hers. She paused when he turned to her.


"Ditto, kid." He reached out a hand and brushed the back of his knuckles against her cheek in a caress more gentle than she'd have thought him capable. He cupped her face in his palm and leaned in. She felt his breath on her face and he stopped. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his jaw, as if fighting something within. "Just once." He said softly, as if to himself, and kissed her.


Logan's lips were gentle at first, then they became more firm and he slipped his hand around the back of her neck. He pulled her against him with his other arm and tilted his head, tasting her lips with his tongue. Rogue started to lean into him when he pulled away, reluctantly. Her eyes were closed and a small tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. It was the only evidence, besides the regret in her eyes for what might have been.


"Thank you, for being my first love." She said.


"Couldn't pass up the opportunity." He replied, letting her go and stepping back. They stood in the kitchen, looking at each other. Then Logan touched her cheek with the back of his hand once more, then walked out, leaving her alone.


Rogue had slept so much during the day and night that she found she wasn’t tired. She walked down to the medical bay to see Hank who was always working. She found him hunched over his computer terminal.


“Good Morning, Rogue.” His rich, deep voice rang out. “Back so soon? I thought you’d be sleeping by now.”


“Ah’ve been sleeping all day and most of the night.” She said, walking up behind him. “And the rest of the time Ah’ve been huggin’ and kissin’ all my friends.” She heard his throaty chuckle.


“Well far be it for me to break the pattern.” He enveloped her in his enormous, furry embrace and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Now, is there something else I can help you with?”


“Well, Ah was wondering if you could tell me in all honesty if there is any hope of replicating the inhibitor band for future use.” She hopped up on a stool next to him.


“Well, without looking at it closely, it’s hard to say, but I do want to wait a little while for your sake. I’d hate for you to loose this opportunity because of my impatience.”


“Is there any way of knowing how long Ah have?” Hank reached one long arm to a shelf above her head and took down a small, plastic box with a tiny light bulb in it. He gently took her ankle in his hand and rolled up the leg of her trousers. He pressed the plastic box to the edge of the power source and watched the light turn on and blink a few times.


“Well, it’s a pretty strong battebut but it does use up a bit of energy. If I had to guess I’d give it three weeks or so to be safe. But I’ll keep checking it to make sure it’s not draining too fast.” He patted her shoulder affectionately.