The Companion Picture - REVIEW THIS STORY

Written by Dandelion
Last updated: 12/03/2009 06:26:08 PM

Chapter 11

It was like Christmas, New Year's and her birthday all at the same time. The anticipation of what was going to happen was killing her. She was grinning like crazy unable to wipe the smile off her face, and not certain she wanted to. <What will they say?> She wondered. <Will there be tears or laughter or both? Will the Professor resent my goin' somewhere else? What will Storm say? Will she be upset with Forge for not tellin' her? Will Ah get lectures on how just 'cause Ah don't zap anyone now that doesn't erase all the things Ah done?>

A thought hung around the back of her mind, but she ignored it stubbornly.

<Ah guess by now Kurt's gone and told everyone at Muir Isle what's happened. Ah'd really like to go and visit Kitty. After what Kurt told me about her new squeeze and Petey bein' there now, she could probably use a friend.>

Rogue thought a visit would be nice, but first things first. <Ah wonder if this is how Napoleon and Caesar felt after they had won wars and come marchin' home,> she wondered. <Ah feel like Ah've won a war. Ah feel as though Ah could win a couple thousand more.> She laughed out loud.

The outfit Polaris had fitted her in made her smile all the more. "What will they think of this?!" She yelled into the wind.

She knew she wouldn't be able to get very close to the mansion before Cerebro picked up her muta-genic signature. <Will it be the same now that Ah've got the neuroid in?>

She needn't have worried. There was a small gathering waiting for her as she zoomed across the expansive lawns and dropped down lightly in front of them.

The stood proudly, hands on hips, face and eyes alight with pride and glory. Her audience, consisting of Storm, Archangel, Iceman, Phoenix, Psylocke, Cyclops, Cannonball and Professor X, looked at her in stunned silence.

"Hi y'all," she purred, pleased with the knock-'em-dead effect she was having. Bobby and Sam's eyes looked like they couldn't bug out any further. Ororo cleared her throat lightly. "Rogue, where did you get that.. interesting outfit?"

Rogue almost laughed out loud, as if Storm had any place to look shocked with some of the things she wore. "Lorna gave it to me."

Storm's eyebrow raised.

There was another pregnant silence and Rogue smiled within herself. She knew they were all concerned for her lack of clothing because of her power. Her power that she had taken the first steps to controlling.

"Why Ah'm so happy to see y'all Ah could kiss every single one of ya!" She took a step forward, and to see the reaction from her team mates almost made her laugh out loud.

Or cry.

They were battle ready in an instant, ready to take her down, thinking that she must have flipped out to threaten them with her debilitating power.

She stopped then, in front of the Professor and held her hand out. She wouldn't say anything, she merely looked at him, silently asking him to touch her. To touch her and not be afraid. Charles looked at her hand for a moment and understood her silent request. He reached up to take her hand in his.

"..No!" Scott reacted instinctively, starting to leap forward to push Rogue away, but Jean was watching Rogue's eyes and held her husband back with a gentle hand. Charles and Rogue's hands touched, then he clasped her hand in his fearlessly. Her eyes glimmered. This was why she respected this man, he put himself on the line, he wasn't afraid.

Charles held onto her hand almost disbelieving, and the X-men that were gathered around seemed to be holding their breath. Then a dark arm slipped quietly around Rogue's neck from behind and a gentle voice whispered in her ear: "I am so happy for you."

Storm, hugging her friend from behind, letting her skin touch Rogue's in a gesture of trust that almost caused Rogue to start bawling. Then they were all clustered around speaking at once, touching her, hugging her, being near her after so many years of having to distance themselves from her. The questions came all at once.

Rogue couldn't remember ever being happier than she was at that moment. Then Betsy's face appeared before her and the news that Kurt had told her weeks ago and the sting at this betrayal from one she considered a friend clouded her mind. The next thing she knew, there was a dull <thud> of flesh hitting flesh and Betsy was flying backwards a couple of feet. If the X-Men had been shocked before they were far beyond that now. Betsy was pulling herself up from the ground wiping the blood from her mouth and Rogue stood in angry silence.

"Rogue!" Jean's voice broke the quiet, "What on Earth?"

"Ah trusted you, Elizabeth!" Rogue burst out, ignoring Jean. Tears stung her eyes, but she wiped them away impatiently. "Ah trusted you. We were team mates! You knew better than anyone how much Ah was hurtin'! How dare you keep it from me?"

"What is she talking about?" Scott murmured quietly.

Warren helped Betsy to her feet. She looked at Rogue uncertainly.

"You knew Ah could touch people!" Rogue's voice rose viciously. "You knew! You were the one Carol touched when she had control, she touched you with my body and my mutant genes and nothing happened!! And you never said a word!" All eyes turned to Betsy.

"Is this true?" Storm asked, standing close to Rogue.

Betsy nodded silently.

Storm shook her head. "I do not believe this." She placed a hand supportively on Rogue's shoulder. "Elizabeth, I trust you have some reason for it. I cannot believe that you would keep something so vital from Rogue maliciously."

Betsy shook her head quickly, her eyes pleading with Rogue silently. "No. No, I never meant it maliciously. I couldn't." She sighed, "Trying to put it all into words now, it seems so pathetic and vindictive, but, my intentions were true."

Rogue's face was stony. "Let's hear it."

Professor Xavier spoke up, "If I may interject, perhaps you would prefer coming into my office and discussing it." He looked at Rogue. "You, of course, Rogue, and Elizabeth, and Storm. Logan, you were with the team at the time, perhaps you'd like to join the discussion?"

Logan looked at Rogue and then at Betsy and then to Storm. "I think it's best this stay as private as it can for now. If you need me, you know where to find me."

Rogue nodded. "Let's go. Ah'm just dying to hear this."

"You're absolutely right, Rogue. Better than anyone, I knew what you were going through and how much pain you and Carol were causing each other." Elizabeth, pressing a compress on her chin to reduce the swelling from Rogue's punch, slowly recounted the reasons for her deception. "It was because of the hatred and animosity between the two of you that I didn't tell. I have always believed that you and Carol couldn't go through your lives hating each other and ignoring each other." She shook her head. "You would only have pushed her further away if I had told you and that would have been far more damaging."

Storm folded her arms across her chest.

Her expression was skeptical, but not unyielding. Rogue's eyes were red and her cheeks flushed with anger.

"I waited, because I thought the two of you were coming towards a point where you had to deal with each other and come to an agreement. But it wasn't too long after that when we lost you to the Siege Perilous."

"What about since then? What about all this time Ah've been going through this trial with Remy and you knew of a way to help and you didn't."

Betsy sighed. "Why didn't I? I don't know. I honestly don't know. I came up with a million reasons, but none of them made sense. I suppose if I came right down to it, Rogue, it would be this: you've always used your power as a reason to push people away and hide from the things that have gone wrong. I was afraid that by telling you there was really nothing wrong, you'd never confront the things you needed to."

Silence.

"It wasn't your call to make." Rogue said through clenched teeth.

"No. It probably wasn't," Betsy agreed wearily. "But I was the only one who knew and I made a judgment call. Given the opportunity again, I'm not sure if I would have done anything different."

"Knowing that Rogue's situation was psychological," the Professor spoke up, "it wasn't a good decision and it wasn't the right one."

Betsy straightened. "That's your opinion."

Storm shook her head. "No, I think the Professor's statement is more than just opinion. Rogue's situation has always been unique, because of her dual nature with Carol she has always been exceedingly difficult to psi-scan. You said so yourself on a number of occasions."

The Professor continued, "Because we were unable to scan her in that way, we could never be certain as to the source of her control problems. You knew and you did not reveal information that under most circumstances would have helped Rogue. As it was, she was making no progress and still we were never able to help her.

"As is it, this situation is difficult. I don't quite know what to say to you, Betsy. But to Rogue," he looked at her. "I can't begin to tell you how happy I am that you have found a way to control your power."

Rogue smiled slightly, "Thank you, Professor."

"What is done, is done," Storm said.

"Although, I do not agree with what you did, Elizabeth, I do believe that you truly meant to help rather than hinder. My opinion, however, is moot as this is Rogue's situation and her feelings that have been so hurt."

Rogue looked at the floor. "Ah don't think Ah'm quite ready to forgive you, Betts. Ah'm still plenty angry and hurt, but Ah'll think about what you said. That's all Ah can do for now."

Betsy nodded quietly. "I understand. If you'll excuse me?" She walked slowly out of the office.

Rogue sat down and looked at Storm and the Professor. She had known both of them a long time. Storm more so, and she respected and admired both of them immensely. "Ah'm not ready to rejoin the team," she murmured. Storm sat down and covered up a flicker of sadness.

"Havin' the ability to touch people and all without havin' to worry about hurtin' them is just about the greatest thing in the world. Ah've still got a long way to go." The Professor nodded.

"Ah really never had a choice before. Ah fought the fight not only because Ah believed in it, but because there was nothing else for me. Ah couldn't raise a family, Ah couldn't pretend to live a normal life. All Ah had was the X-Men and Ah'm so grateful. You have no idea how very much y'all have meant to me.

"The thing is, Ah can experience things without fear now, and Ah think Ah'd better do it. Ah believe in your dream, Professor. Ah do, but it's not enough anymore. At least, it's not enough now. Ah've got to see and be a part of all the things Ah've missed."

The Professor smiled broadly, "Rogue, I must admit that I have always felt immensely proud of you. You were once our enemy and now you are so dear to all of us. I look at you and I see every aspect of my dream as a reality. Seeing you now, controlling your powers, even with Forge's help, makes you even more of a symbol of hope to me.

"I want you to be as proud of yourself as I am. Go out and embrace your independence, and know that you will always have a home here." Rogue smiled through unshed tears. The Professor had always been so distant. Hearing him tell her how proud he was of her was a dream she had always had.

Storm hugged her close. "I love you, Rogue. Anything you do that will make you happy and secure I will support."

"Ah haven't seen Remy. He wasn't with y'all when you greeted me earlier." Rogue was in her room, packing up a few things, with Storm and Jean keeping her company.

"Remy isn't here. He left some time ago."

Jean replied.

Rogue looked up, her eyes wide. "Why?"

Storm and Jean were quiet for a moment, finally Storm spoke. "A friend needed him, and he needed a friend."

"What friend?" Visions of Belladonna crashed through Rogue's mind.

"Magnus." Storm answered.

"Whaa-aat?!"

"Magneto." Jean confirmed.

"How in the blazes did THAT happen?"

"The kiss uncovered a great darkness within him that he had long buried and forgotten. He wouldn't tell me what it was, but he said he had a lot to atone for." Storm explained.

"Magnus is back. His memories are cloudy. He remembers very little. But while he was here, he and Remy developed a liking for each other. A bond, if you will and they left together. Strange as it may sound, Remy and Magnus are very good for each other as friends. Remy lets Magnus see the light in his life, and Magnus helps Remy confront the darkness."

"Did he say anything?"

"He said he loved you, but he had to make himself a man who could do right by you."

Rogue's mind felt like it was withering under the onslaught of all of these startling revelations. All she could think of was her love and the fact that he was actually doing something about himself. All shecould feel was that she wanted to be with him. "Ah can help him. Ah want to help him. He can help me. Don't you see Storm? We each have something the other needs. Ah have to find him."

"Rogue, you just got here..." Storm looked surprised at Rogue's sudden burst of emotion at Remy's departure.

"Ah know. Ah know," she shook her head. "It doesn't make sense, Ah left him after all, but you see, finally we're both at a point where we can move forward. We've both made the first step. Ah'm not letting go now. Do you know where he went?"

Storm sighed and smiled at her friend, "I think we can find them."