Awakenings

She wasn't always like this. After what happened at Alcatraz, things were starting to get settled. Sort of. First off, she had gone and gotten the cure. She had not been around for the final battle. When she came back, Bobby was able to touch her. Things were good.
The Brotherhood had gone into hiding, since they were now considered terrorists. Magneto was human, he was no longer a threat. Mystique's, rather, Raven's whereabouts were unknown. Jean, the Professor and Scott... They were all gone.
The Institute was left to Ororo. After the final battle, the school's population more than doubled. There were new teachers teaching now. It had been a year since then. Things were actually getting back to normal. Well, as normal as it could get in a School for Gifted Youngsters.

There have been rumors though. Like little whispers making their way to the older students ears. More specifically, Bobby and Rogue. No one even knows who started it, but it has gotten around about as fast as Quicksilver. The 'whispers' so to say were of a certain pyromaniac.

There was definitely a strain when hearing this. Bobby had done his best to knock Pryo out of commission. He still remembered the look of shock that replaced his deranged glee when he was about to win. Iceman had turned into his ice form, and froze Pyro's arms. He finished it by head butting him into submission.

Rogue heard about the final battle from many different perspectives. She was glad that she was ridden from her curse, but more saddened that she couldn't fight with the X-Men. However, the past was the past, and nothing could change that. At least, not yet.
For the older students and few of the teachers, they were more concerned with one of their older members. Well, sort of. Mr. Allerdyce had left almost two years prior. Yet, he was still an ex-student. Not only was a rumor going about that the pyro was around, but another thing was higher than all.

The media had made it known that the cure was not permanent. There was a seventy-five percent chance that those who took the cure might get their mutation back. They had also said that those who took the cure shouldn't worry. Their powers shouldn't be more than a quarter strength. Worthington Industries were working with level four mutant strains collected from unknown sources to perfect the cure. Those who wished for it may come back for a new injection. But since they were still configuring it, scientists have told the media,

"Those who have taken the previous injection shouldn't have to worry. If they are still up for being human, they have another chance. However, the current cure is still having 'bugs kinked out.'"

Of course, Rogue was devastated. She was worried about not being able to touch Bobby or Logan anymore. She kept telling herself that there was a twenty-five percent chance that she would remain human. That only made it worse some days. She was more worried over being human than finding that Pyro had been walking around.
She hadn't always been like this.
Until a few weeks ago, when it was announced on the television, she had been living her life out the way she use to before...

She was almost a lifeless shell. Her friends had noticed, and her closest friend, Jubilee, was worried. One would think that her boyfriend would notice the most.
Even after she took the cure, Bobby was thrilled. That lasted for about five months, and he started to stray. He strayed right off to Kitty. She had been happy that he took notice of her, but said that he did so in front of Rogue. She didn't want to ruin their relationship like this, especially now. As Jubes would be it, "He has been a total dick once that announcement came on." And no kidding. It was apparent. He seemed to live up to his name, pun intended. Kitty had the last straw when he came onto her, getting too close. Her heart thought otherwise as she fought to gain control of it. She pushed him away, and ran up the stairs to the girl's dormitory. She paced herself quickly, but attempted to calm down. She had to tell Rogue, she just had to.

Rogue looking out her window, watching the younger students run and play. She told herself that she should be living her life to the fullest until it came back. Not sulking in her room like a child who couldn't have a cookie. She was having similar thoughts to the ones Kitty was having almost at the same time.

A few months after things have calmed down, she notice he started act distant towards her. She confronted him about it, but he told her everything was fine. She took it. Now, she was angry with herself. Why did she always listen to him? She sounded like an obedient dog. Sighing deeply, she went into the bathroom and stripped down to nothing. Staring at herself in the mirror, she contemplated on whether she would remain a mutant when it came down to it. A part of her wanted to still be human, but another part of her told her that she should just embrace her mutation. She was leaning toward the side to embrace it by each passing hour. She finally turned from the mirror that held sadness in her features and decided to wash it all away with warm shower.

About thirty minutes had passed, and she was finally out and dressed. Since it was the summer season, she sported shorts and white tank. She brushed out her long, brown hair. The white stripe, her trademark, continually falling in her face. Today, she decided to wear it up, not letting the white have its way. Unfortunately for her, a few strands escaped the binding hair tie and landed around her face. Giving up, she went around to the front of her bed, putting a pair of flip flops on. As she made her way to the door, a knock was heard. Opening it revealed shocked Kitty. She looked a little frightened, but got enough to muster out a few words.

"Uh Rogue can we, like, talk?" Giving her a curious look, she opened the door more to invite the younger girl in. Those were the only words she could say, in spite of what she had planned. She had planned to tell her that Bobby had been making moves on her, and she didn't like, no offense, the fact that he was still with Rogue. Her mouth went completely dry and only her mouth made the attempt to make noise. Rogue had taken notice to this, and decided to speak up first.
"So, what is it that ya need to talk about?" She drawled out in a light accent. Kitty looked at with doe-like eyes. Giving up, she would rather get it over with now than later.
"It's about Bobby." So that's what she was so afraid of. She nodded, and waited for her to continue. "I know, like, he's been a little distant from you. I mean, like, everyone can see it." She inhaled deep and sighed heavily. "What I'm trying to say is, he's been... With me..." Rogue looked at her, not really shocked about the news, but more shocked that Kitty had confessed. Rogue nodded and sat on her bed.
"So, what you're sayin' is you would rather have me know now, instead of later?" Kitty was stung from Rogue's words. They were so emotionless. But could you really blame here? One of her friends came to her, telling her that she had been practically having a love affair with her boyfriend. There was some part of Rogue that knew it was happening, but sometimes didn't want to accept it. Now she did.

"I'm, like, really sorry Rogue! I didn't mean for it be this way, I swear!" She was practically begging Rogue to forgive her.
Rogue stood up from her previous sitting position and moved to the door. Opening it, she took one last look at Kitty before shutting it and walking down the hall. Before she reached the stairs, however, she heard a BAMF behind her. This caused her the flinch and look behind her. Low and behold, it was the blue man also known as Kurt. He looked to find Rogue a bit startled at his entry.

"Ah, I am sorry to have startled you. I vas more aiming for Ms. Munroe's office." Rogue had to at least inwardly chuckle. Kurt had been "Bamf"ing in and out of the school every once and a while. Still not use to the layout apparently.
"It's fine Kurt. Still havin' problems trying to figure out which room is which?" Kurt gave a small laugh, and said something in German that she obviously could not understand. After he disappeared in a blue cloud of smoke, she suspected it meant 'See you later.' Turning heel, she went down the stairs, and made her way down the lengthy corridor.
She found Piotr and Jones, duking it out playing Play Station. She kept moving, as she was headed to the 'back yard', not having to worry about classes for another month. Before she could go on, she heard the TV switch from a game to the news. A few students had flocked in, checking the newest update about the new cure. She retraced her steps back to the room.

"The percent of people regaining their Mutant abilities has now risen to ninety percent. As the percentages go up, the more scientists are struggling to complete the new cure advancement…"

Now she wished she hadn't heard that god awful news. She decided not to stick around as small arguments started to erupt. When she finally made it to the yard, three tombstones came into focus. She walked up to the Professor's, kneeling down to look up at it. She traced his name with her unloved index finger. As she was doing this, a pair of frosty blue eyes had set on her, yet remained unmoving. Bobby was inside, still listening to the news. He didn't have the nerve to talk to her, he was more a coward than anything else. So, instead of advancing to her kneeling form in the sun light, he walked deeper into the school.

Rogue was taking the new update in slowly. She had a small feeling that she was going to get her powers back sooner than she thought. She wasn't as afraid as she was in the beginning. The only thing that she was going to miss was her freedom of touch, and not worry about other psyches talking to her while she was trying to concentrate in class.
She then heard something strange.

Click.

Snap.

She looked around, but there was no one there. She stood up, thinking it was just in her memory. Then, she heard it again.

Click.

This time, she didn't not stay silent. "Who's there?" No one replied, she was still by herself. Blinking back the strange sound, she decided that instead of asking empty air, she would retreat inside.
-
Right after Kurt had left Rogue standing near the stairs.
BAMF! This time, he landed successfully in Ororo's office. She turned to face him, not really shocked to see him. "Kurt. How nice to see you again."
"As to you too, Fräulein."
"What brings you here?" He looks around then decides to take a seat. Getting straight to the point was his plan today. Hopefully.
"It ist about Rogue," His Germanic accent laying to almost thick over his words. "I tink I have found her Mutter. Zo, sie ist now human." Ororo looked puzzled. Rogue's mother, he had said.
"Rogue's mother? So she was adopted in the D'Ancanto family?" Kurt nods, he had actually been wondering about it for some time now. He had been told by Mystique some time before she was shot with the cure gun that she had a secret even from Magneto. Kurt had already known that Mystique was his mother, but this 'secret' was getting him curious.
"Four months to be exact since I vas told of dis. Her mutter ist Raven Darkholme. Also known as Mystique."
Shock hadn't been exactly the right word to describe it. Actually, there had been no word to describe it. So, shock would have to do.
"Mystique..?" Kurt nodded. He then proceeded to tell her more.
"Sie ist also my mutter. Zo, Rogue is only my half schwester. I am sorry, zat ist all I know right now."

Ororo nodded at this news. She was quite shaken, but knowing that Mystique was human helped a little. Then something important screamed at her.
"Kurt. It seems that the cure is not permanent. Do you think Mystique will do anything to harm Rogue?" He shook his head no, since he wasn't even suppose to know.
"Sie has only looked out for her, sie vill not take action. At least, I do not tink so." Nodding, she got up.
"Why don't you stay awhile this time, Kurt? You have friends here." He looked at her, thinking on it, then agreed.
"I vould like dat very much."
-
Around the same time, Rogue went back inside the school.
She stopped in the kitchen before retreating back up to her room. There she saw Logan, drinking beer. She hadn't a clue as to how he could keep it hidden from the students, but also didn't care to ask.

"Hey, Logan."
He looked up from a paper he was reading, instead of watching the news.
"Hey, kid. So, uh, did you hear about the cure?" She looked at him for a second, then opened the fridge to find a bottle of lemonade. Turning, while unscrewing the cap, she nodded before taking a sip.
"Yeah. I heard. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do yet though.." She let the sentence stray, not sure of what else to say. Logan looked at her. She wasn't sure what she was going to do this time around. He had noticed, like everyone it seems, that Ice-Man wasn't as attentive to her anymore. He decided to change the subject.
"How have you and the Ice-Man been? I haven't seen him around except for the occasional training sessions."

She almost choked on her drink when she was asked that question. Looking sadly at her drink like it was going to make her feel better, she just smiled and excused herself. Logan had expected her to at least say something, but thought it best to leave it alone. For now.
Making her way up the stairs, she heard girls giggling. Not knowing or really caring as to what they were giggling about, she kept going to her room.

"Yeah, I heard that too! I'm not really sure what's gonna happen though. I mean, he totally ditched the X-Men for Magneto..."
Stopping dead in her tracks, this time she wanted to know what rumor was going around exactly. She casually walked closer to the room where the laughs were coming from and turned her back toward the door. She was diagonally across from the room, but whoever was inside couldn't see here from where they were positioned. She rested her arms on the banister, pretending to look at the people on the first floor.

"But I thought Bobby killed him."
"Bobby did not kill him! He just knocked him out is all."
"Huh. 'magine that. What do you think Bobby will do if he finds out?"
"I don't even wanna think about it. Scary enough that a lot of dangerous Mutants that got shot with the cure are gonna be back on the streets."
"Pyro isn't THAT bad, is he?"
Must of been a new student. There were quite a lot of new students. And by a lot, she meant it.
"Uh. Duh. I keep forgetting that you weren't around when Mr. Psycho was here. He always had this lighter with him and would, like, never stop playing with it."
Rogue took a longer drink of her lemonade.
"Oh but hey, one day, I totally got his picture. I don't think he noticed either. At least, I hope not." Fits of giggles continued. Rogue wanted to know what exactly was going on, but knew if she were to step into the room, the girls would become silent. She would have to wait patiently.

Click.

Snap.

There. She heard it again. She wasn't sure who was doing it, but someone was messing with her head. She tried to ignore it for a few more minutes.

"Really! Lemme see!" There were inaudible sounds coming from the girls now, but she was sure it had to do with the photo. "Wow. He's hot."
"Yeah, I know right?"
"Hey, wasn't Rogue friends with him too?"
"Yeah... I wonder if she heard. Should we go tell her?"
"Hum.. I'm not sure. What do you think would happen? Bobby would totally freak out."
"Hehe-no shit."

Click.

Snap.

She couldn't take the clicking and the snapping sounds anymore. It was like when John couldn't stop flicking his lighter at Bobby's house. She turned from her place near the banister, to her room.

When she got there, she closed the door, kicking her flip flops off. Once she got to the side of her bed, she flopped onto it, her face going straight into the pillow. Sighing, she thought about what the girls were talking about. Is he around or something? Why is everyone so secretive..

Click.

She heard it again, this time shouting out. "Who keeps doin' that? It's not funny, knock it off!" Her accent growing stronger with each word. Soon after, a small knock made it's way to her ears. "Come in." She sat up, waiting for the person to come in. It was Bobby, shocking.
"Rogue, you ok? Kitty said she heard you yell at someone." He looks around the room seeing no one.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He looked at her incredulously as he sat down next to her.
"You really don't sound like it. What's been up with you lately?" He rubbed her arm gently, trying to comfort her. Only it didn't end that way. He felt a pull, as did she. Sparks of his memory jolted through her mind. He pulled away and stood up. He shouldn't have done that though, as he became dizzy. Before long, he passed out.
"Bobby!!!"
-
In the med-lab, about twenty minutes later.
Ororo calmed Rogue the best she could, even knowing it was no use. Bobby had held on a bit too long, and was now in a deep sleep. Not necessarily in a coma, but deep enough that it would be a few days before he awoke again. She was not alone, though. Logan was nearest to Rogue's room, so he was with her now.

Hank had arrived around the time he heard Rogue holler out Bobby's name. He came with news, he came not by himself. The person he brought with him was sent to Ororo's office, so they could get some thing sorted out. Before he was sent there, however, he asked what was going on. He didn't get an answer though. He was told to stay put. Before long, he heard voices. Many of which he recognized.

"What happened?" Logan asked, seeing Iceman on the floor, completely knocked out. He knew Marie was mad at him, but Jesus, did she have to knock him out? Just then, Hank rushed in.
"Logan, I need you to calm Rogue down. I will take Bobby to the med-lab." He scooped up the unconscious boy and took him down the stairs, passed Ororo's office. The boy just missed Hank, so he did not see Bobby's limp body.
At the same time, Logan was trying to get to Rogue. He was having a hell of a time too.
"Marie, calm down!" He tried to grab for her arm, but she pulled it away before he could be drained.
"No, I don't want you to get hurt!" She put herself in the corner of the room, not without pulling out her old gloves and putting them on. She rested her head against the wall, just staring at it.

She didn't want her powers this soon! Why me? Why now of all times?!
Logan knelt down next to her, with a blanket.
"Come on, let's go see how he's doing." Her jaw had tightened, she felt his memories flickering across her eyes. He was going to break up with her soon. For Kitty. She did not care at this moment, but decided best to listen to Logan. She didn't want him blowing a gasket. She took the blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders tightly. Logan put his arm around her shoulder, as they made their way to the lab.

Rogue remained standing as the others talked to each other. Hank motioned her to come over, and she did so.
"Rogue, I need to do some blood tests to see what's wrong exactly. If the cure has weakened, then-"
"No. I won't do it again." This was surprising to Ororo. She felt happy that Rogue decided against it this time around. Rogue didn't say anymore to that. She let Hank do his test, and she was free to return to her room. As she got in the elevator, she started to cry. She was crying because it was almost like the time with Cody. She might have sent him so far back in his mind, that he wouldn't be able to wake from it.

Soon, the elevator came to a stop, and opened up the doors. She started walking her normal route, slowly taking off the blanket. She decided, for some crazy reason, that her gloves would come off as well. As she was doing this, the person who was in Munroe's office finally grew impatient. He did not come here just to be told to sit and stay like a dog. He got up from his seat in the chair, and turned to walk out the door and look for Hank. Once he got to the door, he was met by a girl who held a blanket in her arms, across the hall, ripping off her gloves. He noticed she was talking to herself, out loud literally.

"He got what he deserved. Even without me really knowin' what he was gonna do. Should'a seen it comin'. I mean," She used a different voice, "Kitty and her little sick confession, 'I'm sorry Rogue, I like really am! I'm sorry that I've been dating Bobby behind your back, I really am sorry!'" She continued talking to herself as she made it up the stairs.

This rant of hers was getting him ticked off. He couldn't do anything though, he knew that. He was stuck, waiting here until Hank told him what to do. He heard Rogue yelling at someone then.

"Who ever that is, knock it off! Stop all the fuckin' clickin'!"
He moved out into the hall a little further, trying to look up the steps. He saw two girls come down the steps and stared at him. Exchanging glances, the quickly ran into the rec room. He eyed them, not really caring.

"Fuck it." Once he got to the stairs, he ran up them. Even though he left the place almost two years ago, he still knew it by heart. Much to his contempt. He followed the corridor, coming to a familiar room. Well, it would have been familiar if the door wasn't shut. To his surprise, it was cracked open.

Rogue heard a creaking in the floor near her door. Someone followed her to her room. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. She shoved the blanket off of her, leaving her gloves on the bed. She quietly made her way to the door, avoiding the opening it held.
The boy, technically he had a name, was about to open the door until he heard his name being called.

"John! I told you to stay put, now where did you go?" Hank sounded stressed. He wanted John to stay here while he figured things out with the President. He took him away from the Brotherhood despite the fact that John would kill him. McCoy said that he had two choices. One being locked up in a testing facility for God knows how long, or go back to the institute. He chose the latter, obviously. Risking Rogue would recognize his voice, he had to reply.
"I'm coming," Whispering the last part to himself, "God damn, a man can have no freedom."
Rogue pushed herself up to the wall. The person who had followed her was in fact John. She had many things going through her mind at an incredible rate, she couldn't think straight.