A Friend that Bleeds

Hungry...so very hungry...And nothing in sight. No, that wasn't true...perfection....sweet perfection. Blonde and Brunette and all kinds in between. And power, oh yes the power. Never...never power like this...So refined...So exquisite.

Begging for possession. Oh yes...and fear...lots of fear. Sweet nectar on the tongue in perfect form. Two short of a dozen. Two short of ultimate bliss. How a town could be so lacking in generosity, but more than make up for it in quality...And such quality, like fine wine. Aching to be harvested. Longing. Wanting. To be pulled and stretched and owned. To be shaped and possessed, yes, possessed, so lovely. So lovely...


~~~~~~


"Hurry up, Jamie!"

Jamie waved, trying to make Illyana and Paige wait. He was trying to not flunk math, if anyone cared. And all he knew was he'd been told to keep as many eyes as possible on the two, and as many hands as possible off. Spoil sports. And he didn't know why.


He'd started off the day with three multiples, and had dwindled to none, as staff began to get on him about it. Geez...he was just doing what he'd been told. And he was an X-man too! You think that'd earn him some respect.

Waving a quick thanks to his lab partner for agreeing to tutor his abhorring math deficiency - Bobby had given up about a month ago, declaring he couldn't be cured - he hurried off in the direction he'd last seen the two giggly blondes.


~~~~~~


Rogue sighed, stretching. She'd needed a break; all the smothering was driving her crazy. She had half a mind to drop someone, if just to find out what was going on.

It hadn't been so hard to trick the 'Xavier guard' as the girls had taken to calling their teammates. Tell each of them you were going out with the other, borrow Warren's mustang, and tada, lovely freedom.

It was a nice day out. Spring was blossoming, and the group could finally get out more. As it was, they hadn't done anything truly fun for months. No, just mission, mission, mission...for being despised ungodly freaks, people sure did call them often enough.

She exhaled and dropped back against the car, looking out over the green lawn. What could possibly have the mansion so alarmingly oppressive all of a sudden?

The Professor, Logan, Hank and Ole' Buckethead had left a few hours back, pitting default team leader, Mr. Sunshine himself and little Ms. Perfect in charge. Now why were they always in charge again? Oh right...The ever constant 'Yes, Professor.'

She sighed again, debating what to do next. She still had some time before they figured it out, she guessed. And she still had some time to kill here.

She stretched again, pulling at her shoulder. Wow, when was the last time she'd felt so sleepy? Must be all the Danger Room. Logan'd graduated the primary team to two, occasionally three sessions a day. He said it hea healthy. They knew he just liked to see them sweat.

Her shoulders slumped, as she took in a ragged breath. So tired...And her head...She rubbed at her temple, shaking her head in an attempt to clear it. So foggy suddenly. The drone of personalities, tuning out like a bad radio station.

She dropped forward, and caught herself on the side of the car. Well, fainting over a Danger Room session she had over two hours ago would be embarrassing. She pulled herself up, surprised to find her limbs quaking. How strange.


~~~~~


*BAMF*

"Has anyone seen Rogue?!"

Alex and Evan looked up from the t.v. Bobby dropped his pen. Warren folded his book. "What do you mean, 'has anyone seen Rogue' I thought she was with you!"

"Me?!" Kurt replied, incredulously. "Nein, she told me she vas going to be wis Bobby!"

"Me?! She told me she was going to hang with Alex!!"

"Guys," Evan replied, standing, "I think we've been set up."


~~~~~


"Vhat do you mean you can't find her?!"

*It's what I bloody said, all right?* Jono snapped, tossing down the cerebro headpiece. *This is bleeding hard, I've got a migraine, and I've tried four times!! I think I may have melted something* He rubbed at his forehead.

Kurt looked about to hit him. Scott grabbed him high on the arm. No sense in injuring new team mates who were only trying to help. "Well, isn't there another way?"

"Oui," Gambit replied, fitting his collapsible staff into his front pocket. "We look."


~~~~~


Jamie was feeling just a slight panicked. Where had they gone?! Oh he was a dead man!! Forget team leaders, who needed to worry about team leaders, when you had older brothers to fear?

Sure, it had been cool to have others his own age around, but damn, did they have to be related to his teammates? And of all his teammates, why'd they have to be related to the two most likely to rip his head from his body should precious baby sister even sniffle?!

He scurried into the hall, and looked about frantically. When his multiples started to come back empty handed, he just about died. Until, he remembered something. Something he'd passed four times between himselves wandering the hall. Fliers. Fliers for the school play. Fliers for the school play that had rehearsal every Thursday. Fliers for the school play that had rehearsal every Thursday that Illyana and Paige attended. Fliers for the school play that had rehearsal every Thursday that Illyana and Paige attended, because they were IN the school play.

Absorbing the last of his multiples, he raced toward the auditorium.


~~~~~


Now this was just ridiculous! She hadn't even been doing a lot of work, why the hell couldn't she breathe?! She tried one last time to pull herself up, and ended up sliding down the side of the car, landing against the asphalt with a boneless plop. Her eyes were drooping, and she struggled to keep them open, as a shadow started to fall over her body. She could feel it, like some strange sickly sweet touch. Millions of tiny tentacles of feeling, stroking and probing. And...she was loosing her mind!

She reckoned she almost heard a voice, like a harsh whisper, hissing in her ear, but she couldn't make out what it was saying. Energy cred sed somewhere, warmth radiating excitedly along the little connection. And with a high-pitched shriek, it suddenly recoiled into the darkness.

"Rogue?! Rogue?!"

Pats to her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, head lifting weakly, as she felt strength returning. And warm doe eyes stared into hers, full of worry, and glassy with tears.

"Jamie...?"

"Rogue?" he panted, relieved. "Are you all right?"

She nodded, bracing her hands behind her, in an attempt to lift herself. Had she really fainted?

A gust of wind sent her hair over her eyes, and Jamie's eyes were replaced by Pietro's. He lifted her chin with the back of his hand, careful to keep the cut off of his gloves from her skin.

"Rogue?"

"Ah'm fhine," she moaned, head rocking to one side.

"Didn't anybody tell you not to go out on your own?!" He sounded very, very angry.

She nodded, head tipping to his shoulder, as he picked her up. "Dammit, Rogue, you have everyone looking for you! What the fuck were you thinking?! Ihonestlycan'tbelievethataftereverythingyou'ddosomethingsoincrediblystupid-"

She patted his chest, and he sighed heavily, as hckedcked her into the passenger seat. He was mumbling to himself, words so fast it made her head spin. She closed her eyes against the sound, feeling very alone suddenly. Alone in her own skin.

Illyana shivered, and Jamie ushered her into the car, then turned to Paige, who was staring at some point across the way. Jamie trotted over, looking, but seeing nothing. "Come on, Paige..." Taking her by the shoulders, he guided her into a seat next to Illyana, before sitting beside her, and closing the door.

Pietro started the car. Jamie knew better than to suddenly voice his opinion of Pietro's driving skills, or lack there of. He sat back, brow furrowing, when he saw Illyana pressed against the window, looking back at the same spot he'd seen Paige staring. He reached over and touched her shoulder. She turned and smiled.