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Torment	By : GreenRogue Category: X-Men - Animated Series (all) > Het - Male/Female Views: 3002 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own X-men nor the marvel universe. The story within is written for pleasure and no monetary gain was received in the writing of this fanfic

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
The steady bass of Lance's radio made Rogue's head thrum in time with the beat. She stared vacantly at the dirty ceiling above her, listening to the arguments of her housemates below. Crossing her legs casually on her bed she did her best to ignore the shouts of the boys. Toad and Lance were welcoming the newest member to their defective family. Blob had been... stupid to say the least in kidnapping the valley queen, but Rogue enjoyed their little scuffle. As Rogue thought about the obnoxious red head and her sidekicks she remember the small stick "communicator" that she had given Rogue when they first met. She frowned remembering how sincere she had seemed when they were trying to "help" her.
'Psht, yeah and now look at how they treat you. Like the outcast you are.'
'Shut it Cody.'
Rogue rolled over on her small bed and watched the setting sun outside her grimy window; the bass had started to thump faster as some obnoxious rap song came on. Grunting in frustration, Rogue pushed herself from her bed and bounded down the stairs. She paused for a moment in the entryway and watched as Toad and Lance chanted at Blob who was currently finishing the last 2 liter of soda in the house. She felt her temper flare at their stupidity and shouted at them,
"Why can't ya'll behave like humans?" They stopped and stared at her for a moment, the heavy rap music was numbing to her ears. She turned to leave but caught the sound of Toad's voice following her through the door.
"Cause we're not, yo." Rogue trudged through the back lawn, her arms shivered in the cool evening breeze as she muttered and fumed at her housemates.
'Damn northern summers. I'ah miss the heat the most I'ah think.'
'You're telling me. These Yankees know nothing of music, or football. I could take that Duncan dude out in a sec-'
'Could you lahke... not talk to meh in mah mind. It's a bit creepy.'
'Suit yourself, but you're always creepy.'
Rogue rolled her eyes at the 'Cody' she now carried with her everywhere. Mystique had tried to help her block him out. To get her to forget what she had done. But having this constant reminder put a slight hitch in the process. Rogue shook her head and continued towards the far tree line. The sun was just setting past the tops of the trees, causing long shadows to reach out to her. She stopped just at the edge of the light and watched the dark shapes weave back and forth in the breeze. The tall points were reaching towards her like teeth of a monster. They reminded her of an old story she read once, about a princess who ventured into the darkness to bring it joy.
'If only I'ah could be that brave... to face the never ending loneliness with courage... or at lease indifference...' She looked down at her gloved covered hands. She could remember when she took up that habit; it seemed like a great idea, a fashion statement to annoy those preps in her old school. Now they were safety precautions. Now they were a weakness that she could never overcome, just one slip... she clenched her fists then and fell to her knees screaming. She punched the ground with her damned gloved hands shouting with each punch,
"Why can’t I be strong!" She stopped when she felt her hands grow numb. Grass stained the knuckles of the gloves and she felt a slight bit of blood trickle down her wrist. She laid her limp, hurting hands in her lap and refused to acknowledge the tears that trickled down her cheeks. "I'm not... weak..."
"What are you doing out here?" Rogue jumped at the deep male voice from behind her and quickly wiped her eyes quickly before glaring at the stranger behind her.
"Last I'ah heard this was a free country!" She stared at the red boots of the newcomer and slowly lifted her eyes across his plated chest. His cape fluttered slightly in the wind and she fought back the sardonic comment of a comic book villain. His face was hidden in the shadows of a domed red helmet.
"I'm not asking you, why are you in this location... I'm asking what are you doing IN this location?" Rogue blushed slightly as she remember her little temper tantrum from a few moments ago and looked at her gloves self-consciously. The blood from her knuckles had seeped through the worn leather and it hurt to move her fingers. She wanted to go back to the house to clean them but before she could move a larger gloved hand held her wrist gently and slowly peeled the glove from her skin. She tried to jerk from his touch, but his grip tightened painfully and she bit the inside of her cheek to hold back the whimper of pain.
Gently the man inspected her bruising knuckles and damaged skin. Rogue found herself staring into the blackness of his helmet, fixated on the face she could barely make out. He seemed old, almost like a grandfather to her. But something in his blue eyes, something kept him young and invigorated with his life so he didn't seem so old at all. Instinctively she took a small step towards him and felt the warmth radiate from his body. She looked back towards their joined hands and was surprised to see white, thin gauze was wrapped around her knuckles. He was working on her other hand currently and she stared at his handy work.
"Why..."
"Am I doing this? I believe in looking after the people I care about." She scoffed at him and pulled her hand away quickly.
"You don't even know meh." He sighed at her before grabbing her unresisting hand again to finish wrapping it.
"That's true, but I know you're special. You're different Rogue. You're more than meets the eye so to speak." She fought to keep from rolling her eyes at him as she took her bandaged hand back. He stood next to her and stared into the dark trees as she examined his work. They stood like that for a while, neither spoke as the sun finally rested below the horizon and the twinkling stars lit up the night sky. "What's wrong?"
She started at his voice and realized she had been frowning. Rogue shrugged, trying to act nonchalant.
"I'ah feel lost in this sky is all. Everything looks different than it does down in Mississippi." He didn't respond to her and Rogue felt slightly foolish. Her cheeks felt warm from her blush and she turned to walk back towards the house. "I'ah better get back before the boys get Blob to eat everything in the house." She turned to wave at the man but realized he still hadn't turned away from the stars. She scoffed and turned towards the boarding house and the awaiting chaos inside.

A few months later….
Rogue sat in the metal ball and counted to a thousand for the fourth time as it silently moved to wherever it was she was going. She considered the smooth metal walls with disdain and huffed in frustration. The boys on the beach had said this was her 'reward'. She didn't understand then and now it didn't feel like much of a reward.
'More like a prisoner being sent to jail.' She tapped her foot against the bottom of the sphere and hummed softly to herself. She closed her eyes and rested her head against the side she was leaning on and felt herself relax to the steady humming of the metal. She could feel her mind being lulled into a blissful half asleep state and she let her body relax against the warm metal. As she dozed, images of other metal prisons reflected off of her mind as she heard shouts in a foreign language around her. She felt a slight pull on her consciousness and fought to open her eyes.
The shouting grew louder as an image began to form in her mind of a large temple like room. Glowing machines surrounded her and she could feel her energy depleting against her will. There was a cold hardness against her back and she slowly opened her eyes to see dark faces above her. They stared down at her in discontent as their eyes reflected their betrayal. Slowly they started to close the sides of her now coffin and she struggled to raise her arm to stop them.
'No please! Don't do this to meh!'
She could see a single man above her. His dark skin glowed from lines upon lines of tattoos across his arms and legs. His stony face stared down at her with satisfaction.
'You will await me, you will be my vessel, my connection back should anything come against me. You are my harbinger of chaos.' The walls closed around her leaving her in a bright blue light. Her mind grew fuzzy and her body heavy. She could feel herself sinking into oblivion as the heavy, omnipresent voice continued to speak to her mind.
'You will sleep, you will forget. My powers on earth shall keep you from remembering your purpose and your life until I am ready for you.' Her mind sank into the darkness as her thoughts scattered to the proverbial winds. She became nothing and no one as stasis slowed her body and her mind.
The sudden jolt of the sphere launched her into wakefulness and she struggled to breath for a few moments. She clawed at the metal around her as pure animalistic terror urged her to escape the metal. She pounded on the side and screamed.
"PLEASE LET ME OUT!" the side in front of her slid open dramatically and she tumbled out from the momentum of her panic. A pair of hands grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently.
"Rogue, ROGUE! it’s okay, your safe now" Rogue focused on the man in front of her and felt her vision zoom onto the ruby quartz glasses.
"Scott? Wh-what's happening. Where are we?" As Rogue steadied her feet under herself she looked around and saw metal walls, metal floors, metal everything as far as she could see. Images of her nightmare came back unbidden and she gripped Scott's arms tightly. "Scott… what is going on?" He looked at her with a smile and nodded his head towards a shorter blonde boy who stood back slightly with a cautious look on his face. She looked him up and down and noted his tan skin and surfer body.
"You must be his brother. Hi."
"Yeah, Alex… aloha."
Rogue turned back to Scott and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yo, Summers. What are you doing up here?" Rogue jumped as Pietro zoomed past her and circled the pair. His eyes held a childish triumph, like he knew a secret that was especially important to them. Rogue's short fuze was growing shorter as Blob and Lance were coming closer; their argument reverberated around the group.
"I'm telling you the food is going to be nasty here!"
"Dude! Blob, calm down big guy. You'll get used to it." Rogue rounded on the two and shot them her best 'Shut it or die' look before turning it back onto Scott.
"You had better answer my questions now Scott or I'll take them from you." His smile faltered slightly and he released her arms.
"Have you ever noticed that when you're angry you lose your accent? It's kind of weird." He looked at the others and motioned them to follow him. "This way to the main floor, we can go over questions there." Rogue huffed but followed her fearless leader as a metal door slid open revealing a long metal hallway. She fell in step with Alex as they walked quietly down the hall. She could feel the boy giving her side glances from time to time and her nerves, which were already shot, made her temper short.
"Is there somethin' on mah face?" He seemed startled by her question and shook his head. "Then why are ya starin'?" She could see the blush form under his tan cheeks as he mumbled something and hurried ahead to talk with Scott. After a few turns they came to a giant room with a window overlooking…
"Ah… Scott… please tell me that's some kind of fancy TV." He looked at Rogue and shook his head with a smile.
"Nope, you're in space girl. Welcome." Rogue slowly walked up to the giant window and stared at the stars. The bright lights twinkled in the empty atmosphere and Rogue felt a slight awe and humility at the expansiveness. As she watched, absorbed in the simplistic beauty, Rogue could feel something stirring inside of her mind. A deep rumble of something forgotten or maybe lost was awakening inside of her. Rogue felt a panic grip her heart and she quickly turned back to Scott as Sabertooth walked into the room. He was talking with the others with a smile on his face. He seemed relaxed for some reason and it baffled Rogue.
"Scott… this isn't right. I'ah shouldn't be here. Something… something is coming." The fear and panic began to swell inside her and she fought to keep from showing it to the others. Images from her dream came back and flashed across her vision. She could see the men, the metal coffin, and the glowing man who condemned her to this. Her breath came in short gasps and the edges around her vision began to blur. As Scott ran to her, her vision went sideways as she fell to the ground. He cradled her head as he shouted her name over and over again. Rogue looked up into his concerned face as her vision swam into darkness. She licked her dry lips and tried to speak over her panic.
"S-Scott, Don't let them take me. Don't…" He shushed her as Sabertooth came over and stuck a needle in her neck, causing to her go unconscious instantly. Scott let the giant man take her from his arms as he stood. Running his hands through his hair he turned to Alex and shrugged.
"She'll come around; she above all of us needs control of her powers." Alex watched her limp form get carried to the stasis room and shrugged with his brother.
"I don't know man, let's go to Magneto. I'm sure your professor will be shocked to see ya." Scott forced a smile as they made their way to the main deck leaving the brotherhood boys to search for the canteen.
"Yeah… thrilled…"

One year later…
As she walked, the dry leaves crunched under her heavy boots. The shouts of the kids behind her, faded into the distance as she made her way to downtown Bayville. She kept her head down as she watched her scuffed toes part the fallen leaves. She had left her class late on purpose today to avoid her fellow X-men in the halls. She had dealt with them through the morning and lunch, but now was a time for her and her alone. As she walked, Rogue mentally counted the dollars and change in her backpack and smiled. She could get just one thing, nothing grand really, but one thing she has always wanted.
As she entered the outskirts of downtown she shifted her bag on her other shoulder and glanced through the store windows. Kids from school were already inside some of the café's enjoying the warm coffees and lattes. She could see Jean's red hair flounce next to Kitty and Scott. Kurt was currently in line at the counter for what Rogue could guess was his third latte. She shrugged her coat tighter around herself and tried to convince her mind that she didn't care.
'Course you like, care. You like, want friends ya know? If you would only like, talk or something.'
'Ja! Rogue, ve're family now, Let us help celebrate your birthday!'
Rogue chose to ignore them as she continued down the street towards her favorite hangout. Just off of the main stretch was a smaller coffee shop with a book store upstairs. She discovered it one day after dodging a few mutant haters. The old man behind the counter had greeted her warmly and made her the best cup of hot chocolate she had ever tasted. It became a monthly occurrence for her now, on days Logan didn't swamp them with training or when she was able to escape from Kitty and Kurt for a few hours. The tinkle of the small silver bell was a warm greeting to her ears as Rogue entered the small musty store. The owner smiled at her as he served a large cappuccino to a man hiding behind a newspaper.
"Ah! My favorite little girl, are we in for hot chocolate today?" Rogue smiled at the man as she stripped off her bag and coat.
"You know that's what I'ah want, thanks." She sat down in one of the cushy seats near the back and pulled out her trig homework. As she sat, the owner refilled the cup of the other man at least twice more before she had finished her work. She glanced up at him from time to time and he never seemed to move from the single page he was reading. Shrugging after a while she tried to ignore him and concentrate on her math. After about an hour she sighed and started to put away the last of her homework, resigned she was just too excited to concentrate. Rogue stretched with a smile before bringing her empty mug to the counter.
"Thanks for that, hit the spot just right. I'ahm off though, gotta get some shoppin' done." The old man smiled at her as he took the mug.
"Bit early for Christmas shopping isn't it?" Rogue laughed softly as she shrugged her coat back on.
"Actually, I'ahm shoppin' for mahself. It's mah birthday today." The shopkeeper clapped his hands and sang her a quick rendition of 'Happy Birthday' as she made her way towards the front of the shop. She laughed and thanked him but before she could duck back out into the fall air the man behind the newspaper cleared his throat.
"It's sad that a girl like you isn't spending this time with her friends." Some of her good mood disappeared and she shrugged nonchalantly.
"It's alright, I'ahm used to it." The shopkeeper put his hands on his hips and stared at the man sternly.
"Erik, you have got to learn some manners, how long have I known you now?" The man chuckled deeply and lowered the newspaper. Rogue felt her heart sink into her stomach as Magneto came into view, his blue eyes sparkling from humor.
"My good man, you have known me longer than most of my associates, so you should know by now that I do not have manners." Magneto stood, shaking out the paper before rolling it under his arm. He tipped his head to the man behind the counter before grabbing his long coat from the arm of his seat.
"Since my manners are in question however, I cannot let a young girl go shopping by herself. Would you put this on my tab please?" The man smiled and waved his hands, shooing them from his store before Rogue knew exactly what was happening. She stood on the sidewalk dumbfounded as Magneto dramatically threw his coat over his shoulders and placed a gentle hand on her back to guide her towards the shops. They were a few blocks away from the bookstore before she gathered her wits and backed away from him.
"What are ya doing?" He looked at her calmly and did the most, un-Magneto thing she had ever seen. He shrugged at her.
"I'm doing what I stated in the coffee shop, I am taking you shopping for your birthday." She shook her head incredulously before backing away slowly. This had to be some sort of trick. She glanced around, looking for signs of Gambit or Sabertooth stalking towards her. The people milling around seemed innocent enough however as they moved from store window to store window. She looked back at Magneto who patiently followed her steps with his hands in his pockets.
'He's not wearing his helmet… maybe I'ah can call the Professor.'
"I know what you're thinking and I would not recommend it. By the time your teammates come here, we will be long gone. I'm not here to harm you Rogue, I've told you before… I look after those I care about." Instantly Rogue's mind reminded her of a conversation long ago between a scared homesick girl and a strange villain looking man. She relaxed slightly as he stood next to her and she looked up into his clear eyes.
"I'ah never thanked ya for that night did I'ah?" He just winked at her before slipping her arm into the crook of his elbow and they continued down the sidewalk in companionable silence. They walked past a few different stores before the crowds began to thin out slightly as they made their way closer towards the college campus on the other side of the town. He watched her as they passed each store; she would glance through the window but never seemed to be interested in what was there. It wasn't until they reached one on the children's stores that Rogue's eyes widened slightly and her mouth fought to keep from smiling. Near the side of the window behind one of the loud learning child laptops was a star gazer. It was just small floor model with a copy of a few constellations but he could see the contained excitement in her eyes. He could tell Rogue was struggling to not embarrass herself in front of an enemy and something inside felt the need to comply with her need. He stopped walking just in front of the store doorway and turned to face her.
"Here is where we part ways my dear. I'm afraid I have some work to do elsewhere. Are you capable of finding your way home from here?" Rogue snorted at him as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I'ah may be younger than you, but I'm not stupid… thank you though… for you know…" She grew quiet suddenly and Magneto just winked at her before walking past her and around the corner. He stood there for a few minutes watching the cars and people in front of him. After the third red light he carefully leaned his head around the corner to see her leaving the store with her head bowed low. He frowned when he noticed she had no shopping bag with her. He followed for a moment until she ducked behind a corner and he stopped in front of the store. Staring down at the little machine he noticed what looked like a sales tag on the side with several markdowns. He looked back towards the street where Rogue had disappeared before entering the store and flagged down a clerk.

The rest of her night, Rogue stayed closed up in her room ignoring the others. She had dashed past Kitty and Kurt in the kitchen with a flimsy excuse about not feeling well and flat out ignored everyone else. Now as she sat staring at her small cupcake with a single candle melting into the frosting she felt the loneliness of her dark room. She even missed the constant voices from the people she had absorbed over time. Her head felt empty and hallow, like a pumpkin being prepared for Halloween. She blew the candle out with a sigh and stood to stare out of her window. The sun was just setting past the gazebo setting the orange and red leaves afire with light. She shivered softly thinking about the coming winter and piles of snow she was going to have to shovel and walk through.
As her mind wandered, Rogue felt a heavy sleepiness overcome her and she struggled to keep her eyes open. Shuffling back to her bed she tossed the cupcake in the garbage can next to her and slid under the covers. As her eyes closed, Rogue could hear a soft voice inside her mind whispering strange words. She struggled to focus on the voice but the blackness soon overcame her and she slept deeply.
Through the night Rogue had nightmares of mazes and halls. Faces of her friends were falling before her poison touch. Images of fear and betrayal assaulted her on all sides as she mercilessly absorbed those she cared about. In her dreams she heard some pleading with her to stop, some fought back calling her ugly names. As the dreams continued the voices grew louder and angrier. They crashed and thrashed against her mind, their shouts shrill and loud against her ears. Nope that's just her alarm clock. Rogue cracked an eye open to stare at the offending technology and groaned. Slamming her hand on it to silence the noise she sat up slowly holding her head.
'God, those we're some weird dreams.' She heard Kitty running back and forth trying to wake their friends and Rogue rolled over and off the bed to stagger towards her closet. She could hear Jean and Scott rushing past her room to the kitchen. She could imagine their faces alight with excitement and happiness for their lovely graduation day.

'STOP IT!' Rogue circled the glowing being in her mind for the hundredth time as it forced its way through her memories. The images of her friends as they surrounded her on the football field at their school, stood frozen in time. Hot tears were cascading down her face as she watched this alien being steal her most private thoughts and memories. He barely acknowledged her as she crashed against his invisible barrier. She crumbled to her knees, weakly banging her fists against the wall as she repeated over and over again,
'I am Rogue. I am Rogue. I am Rogue.'
- 7
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- 9
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Torment