Notes: I want to thank Lu Baihu for making me get this fic done: he poked & prodded me into writing it, was major help with the dialogue (writing over a third of it), never mind betaing it…
This chapter has one of the 'New Recruits' (Rayne) acting rather nasty and quite far out of character. It's nothing against her in particular…it's just that she was the only one I didn't really know when I started this project, and I needed someone to fill the role in question… My apologies to anyone who really likes her.
Warnings: Femslash, and some nasty gay bashing…
Pairings: Rogue->Risty Crush, Rogue/Kitty
The girls lie cuddled on Rogue's bed, still trying to deal with the events of the night before.
"Kitty, listen is there anythin' in yer heart sayin' no? Be honest, say it if there is, Ah don't mind."
"Just, well, kinda afraid how my parents…"
Rogue sighs. "Gotta be the 'rents… y'sure they're like that?"
"No. But…"
"You're not gonna tell them about me? Y'never told them about you?"
"You're the only one I've ever told…"
Rogue blinks several times. ~Oh my…wow…~ She looks Kitty in the eye. "Listen, if you're worried that they might be, well, Ah promise, Ah swear, Ah won't tell them, they do come over though…"
"Yeah…" ~I hope things don't go too bad but…~
Rogue reaches out and hugs Kitty, keeping the sheet securely between them. ~I hope you're wrong but I'll pick up the pieces if ya need~
Kurt bamphs into the room. "Rogue, are you OK?"
Kitty shrieks ~Oh my god, He…we…what's going to happen? My god…~
"Kurt, it's six fuckin' AM. And Ah'm not exactly dressed ya know." ~Not good…so not good…~
"Like, neither am I"
"What the—Oh" He blushes "I'll just shut up now."
The door is yanked open from outside. "Kitty, Rogue, are you two okay?" Jean asks. Rayne is standing beside her looking upset.
"NO!!!!" ~Five minutes ago…~
"Like, go AWAY!" ~Don't wanna deal with this~
"You too, Kurt."
Some of the others peer in through the door.
Rayne says "Eww that's gross! The two of you…like that"
"Let them live their own lives. It's not like they're hurting you," Jean answers.
"It's wrong and gross and…and…"
"They aren't doing anything wrong," Scott says, sounding annoyed.
"But, they…I…"
Rogue huddles under the sheets holding Kitty close "Can we get dressed—Maybe?"
"Everyone who does not belong in this room—Out. We can deal with things once they are dressed." Storm says, after surveying the hallful of students.
Rayne says, as she leaves the room, "I wasn't expecting to live with them; when I moved in here, I though this place had a decent reputation."
Xavier comes onto the scene, from the direction of the elevators. "What happened?"
"They…together…" Rayne sputters.
"Yes?"
"They," she waves toward Kitty and Rogue's now closed door, "are a couple of fucking Dykes. It's gross. I mean, I have to use the same bathrooms as them, yuck."
"There are people who would say the same thing about mutants, Rayne."
"But…"
"This is neither the time nor the place." He turns his chair away to wait beside the door.
Kitty pulls the sheet tighter around herself. "I…She…How…"
"Erm. Uh…yeah…" Rogue pulls herself out of bed and heads over for her clothes.
"Oh god…I don't wanna deal with this." Kitty looks reluctant to leave the dubious safety of the bed.
"Neither do Ah…" She grabs a set of clothes, and starts to get dressed frantically. "Oh my god, what'm Ah gonna say-"
"What's he going to say?" She looks at Rogue who is now completely dressed, sighs and gets up, heading for the closet.
"Ah man … let's just hope we don't get kicked out or anythin'…"
Kitty grabs a clean shirt and yanks it on "Oh god—don't even say it."
"Promise Ah…" She looks down at her feet. ~God, this's gonna be hard enough together~ "Ah'm sorry…"
Kitty pulls on a pair of jeans, and goes over to Rogue "I wish I could make everything outside just go away for a while…" She gives Rogue a quick hug, looking scared.
"Me too…" Rogue answers sounding stressed; she returns the hug, but won't meet Kitty's eyes.
"Come-on," She pulls Rogue over to the bed, "Gotta deal with how it is now, not…"
"I just wanta love who I love, and be what I am, and…and…the world just sucks — look at me I'm a Goth for gods' sake I'm supposed to be willing to thumb my nose at the world, and all I wanna do is crawl inta bed and hide."
"You've…we've had a hell of a lot happen in the last 12 hours…"
"Sure, it's a lotta shit, but Ah'm s'posed a take it and laugh and just walk on…"
"You don't have to; not with me."
"What'm a s'posed ta wit' ya, then?" She sniffles, and pulls the sheet up over her lap.
"Forget labels and supposeta-s; just be Rogue, whoever that happens to be today."
"Who, the tough girl who can hold her own, or the whiny bitch that needs a girl like you to save her?" ~and to cling to…~
"Just forget what other people think, honesty remember?"
Rogue breathes harshly trying not to cry, "Ah yeah, forgot…s'not like we got much to do except go out there, right?"
"Much as I'd like to stay here, yep," Kitty sighs.
"Alright… erm… and no matter what we say, nobody's gonna believe us if we say we're not girlfriends, right?"
"After that scene?" ~Don't wanna do this alone…~
Rogue takes Kitty's hand. "Well, when we go…please. Ah'm beggin' ya, don't leave me to face 'em like that…" ~Too much…can't deal with this alone…no way…Please…~
"I wouldn't." ~How could you think I would…~ "Never."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you…" ~Please mean that…I couldn't…~
Xavier knocks on the door. "Are you ready girls? I would like to discuss this mornings events with the two of you."
Xavier says, "Please, have a seat, girls."
Rogue and Kitty sit down together in front of Charles's desk, never letting go of each other's hands.
"To begin, I want you girls to know that I personally do not see a thing wrong with your relationship; however to some extent society still has other opinions, as you saw this morning."
"Yeah… just like our other problem-" Rogue mutters.
"Yes, well, I will do what I can to be here for you, in this matter as well. I will make it clear to Rayne and anyone else who needs the lecture that the Institute is an 'Intolerance Free Zone' It should not matter if you like men, women, or creatures from outer space, you are still human beings."
"Alright…" Rogue says, grasping Kitty's hand tighter. "And as for rooms…"
"I'm not going to object to you remaining roommates—If you are old enough to fight for the rights of humanity as X-men, you're old enough to make your own decisions in this as well. Besides," he smiles, "It will save wear and tear on the hall carpet. If you want separate rooms at any time though just tell me and I will shuffle things around."
"Sure…thanks."
"Anything else?"
"Nah, we had ta know and that kinda stuff…" ~Well I could ask for the sedan for Saturday night-If I'm gonna be Kitty's girlfriend oughta do it right…Nah, not the right time~
"There's little I can do about views outside these walls, but I will help in whatever way I can; don't hesitate to ask me. And Rogue, Kurt already asked for the car for Saturday."
The girls both blush. "Alright, Ah'll just have to think of something else! Thanks, Professor!"
"Thanks, Professor" Kitty echoes, as they head out.
"You're both very welcome." ~I only wish I could be of more help~
Kitty and Rogue slowly head in to breakfast; most of the others are sitting at the already loaded table. Kitty and Rogue look nervously around the table.
"She came in and got a plate then hightailed it out of here." Jubilee answered the unasked question.
"Ah see."
"I think I speak for all of us when I say you won't be seeing that kind of reaction from any of us," Scott said firmly.
~Thank God~ "Like, thanks; I mean that."
A quick glance around the table shows Rogue that while some of the others look uncomfortable, including Kurt, no one looks like they disagree with Scott, or more importantly agree with Rayne. "Yeh, thanks all of you."
The girls find two seats together and sit down; finally letting go of each other, so they can eat.
School
Kitty and Rogue get out of Scott's car and head for their lockers.
"Hey you over there, Dyke girls, come over here and I'll show you what you're missing…"
"Just ignore them…" Rogue muttered.
They get to their lockers and stop in shock. Their lockers have been spray painted—Rogue's "dike" and Kitty's with a crude drawing of a double-headed dildo.
"Hey! Ah… uh…" ~What the…How…Who~
"They got mine too, she musta called e'ry phobe in town." ~Wanna kill Rayne…~
"Oh god no…"
"Come-on let's go report them—it'll at least get our lockers repainted, though I doubt Kelly'll do anything else about it."
"Yeah, let's go." ~Oh god…~
Kitty sits in her Science class looking uncomfortably at her assigned lab partner.
"No way, I'm not working with that dyke."
"Glad it's you not me…"
The class snickers and continues to make comments.
"Quiet! This is a class not recess," the teacher says glaring at the class. "Would anyone like to work with Katherine?"
The only answer he receives is silence.
He sighs, "Do you mind working alone, Kitty?"
"I guess not." ~Better than working with these idiots~
"Okay, let's get started then."
"I'm sorry you're leaving us, Risty."
"I wish I didn't have to go Mr. Kelly, but Mum needs me…"
A student's voice is heard from the outer office "Did'ja hear about those dykes from the Institute?"
"Yeh Rogue I can believe but Kitty's such a nice girl, even if she was dating that loser…"
~Rogue and Kitty?? How…this soon? I know Kitty was interested but…~
"Well if we just finish filling out these forms, I'll have your records sent back to your old school…"
~They're a decent match but Rogue…last night…so fast~ She looks up to see Kelly looking at her in concern "Oh yes, of course, sorry. Just thinking about my friends here." ~The way those kids sounded…I wonder how word got around so soon…how many others are acting like that? I hope they don't get hurt…~ She sighs and turns back to the papers she's filling out.
After class, Kitty and Rogue meet in the hall.
"How was class?" Rogue asked.
Kitty sighs, "You, like, don't wanna know."
"Ooh, look at the lovebirds aren't they…sickening," a guy across the hall jeers, laughing with his friends.
Kitty whispers to Rogue, "Let's get out of here… I don't think I, like, can take this much longer…"
"Me either," Rogue responds. "You clowns sicken me; sticking your noses where they don't belong."
"Ooh, help me the big tough dyke wants to play rough does she…" One of the other guys says.
"Children, I think you have classes you should be heading to now if you don't want to be late." A teacher says sticking his head out his classroom door.
"Come-on Kitty, we'd better get to class…"
Risty glared at the jeering students. "You blokes sicken me. What are they doing that's so wrong?"
"They're dykes."
"So?" She waits. "Well?"
"That's just wrong."
"Even if it is, which it isn't, who are they hurting besides themselves?"
"Uh-h…"
"Exactly, now why don't you boys toddle back off to Kindergarten where you belong?"
"But we hafta look at them."
"And you were friends with both a'em; don't it bother you that they…"
"Bloody Hell, if word hadn't gotten passed around, you probably never would have known…"
"But…but…"
"Now if you'll excuse me I have better things to do than hang around here arguing with you." Risty turns and heads down the hallway. ~Looks like I'm going to have some work to do when I get back~ She sighs. ~I'm going to need this long weekend with Irene—be less suspicious if I don't show up with a new face right away anyhow~
Rogue and Todd are cleaning up from their art class, when Todd comes over to Rogue, and says softly, "Rogue?"
"Yeah?"
"Those idiots…if you need any help…"
"Sh-shit sure could, but, well, it's not just about them, or me, it's … it's also about her…"
"Want me to keep an eye on Kitty? She's got more honors classes than I do but there's some we've got together…"
"And if something comes up?"
"I know I'm not much, but I'll do my best…"
"No, Ah mean, what'ya gonna do besides make a ruckus 'n all?"
"'S not like the teachers would believe me not after…"
"Least couldja lemme know…"
"Do my best."
"Thanks…" She turns away, headed for the sinks.
"Don't mention it." He returns to washing the art table.
~I wish we could just make e'ry one for get about this whole mess…just let me 'n' Kitty live our own lives… Glad Todd's on our side, though; he may not be much of a fighter, but he keeps his eyes open, and there is a brain in there despite appearances… If he says he'll watch Kitty for me, he will. Loyal little scamp~ She smiles.
Kitty and Rogue meet in the hall, just before lunch, and head toward their lockers.
"At least we can, like, spend our lunch together."
"Yeah, wonder what they're serving today?"
"Don't know; guess we'll find out when we get down there."
"Oh my god; Ah don't believe this shit." Their lockers have been ripped open with a crowbar. Books and papers are ripped, and thrown everywhere. As they come closer, it becomes obvious that someone dumped piss on Kitty's jacket.
"Drop the jacket, Ah'll get you a new one…"
"Like I'm going to touch it?" ~Why do people do these things…I never did anything to them…~
~A new jacket's not going to make things better… This isn't about the jacket…~
"Kelly's really going to like this isn't he, after that cute little kids will be kids speech he gave us earlier" ~Not that I believed him when he said to just ignore them and things will get better~ "I mean, like, hello, this is more serious than the blue fur in the bathrooms," She catches herself, "Like that's real anyway."
Rogue sighs, "Sucks to be us, huh? Wish Ah had more classes with you…" ~Wanna protect ya; make this all go 'way~
"Like, e'ryone else is gonna notice this mess; why don't we let someone else report it for a change…"
"Ah guess. Might as well head down to the cafe then." They head for the cafe, leaving the trashed lockers behind them.
"May I help you?" the secretary asked the woman who had just entered the office.
"I'm here to drop off registration papers for an incoming student." ~Actually I'm here to create yet another cover identity for myself…~
"Certainly, what's your relation to the student, Ms. ?"
"Ms. Andrews — from Social Services."
"Oh, of course, a foster-home?"
"Emancipated minor actually, but I'm helping him move." She hands over the papers. ~Easier to deal with things that way~
"I see. Well these all look to be in order; when will," She looks down at the paper, "Kengeroo be here?"
"Kenjiro. Ken will be here Monday or Tuesday depending on when he gets settled in." ~And how long I spend with my love~
"All right then, Thank you for coming by."
"Not a problem, Shall I ask him to come by the office for his schedule?"
"That'll be fine," she smiles, "Have a nice day."
"You too." Mystique smiles as she leaves the office. ~Now I just need to cleanout Risty's locker and head home to finish moving into the new place~ She sighs ~Won't be as nice as the old one, but my cover story will hold-up better if it isn't. S'not like I haven't lived in much worse conditions on assignments. I hope the timing doesn't make Rogue suspicious…I'm going to be glad to see Irene it's been several months since I found time to spend a weekend with her. And if you keep standing there daydreaming, you're going to miss your flight… Get a move on~ Mystique sighs and heads to the girls room to start in on clearing up the remaining bits of her blown cover.
Lunch
"Hey it's the dirty dykes," a guy calls out as Kitty and Rogue get into the lunch line.
"No eating pussy in the café, girls," another boy tells them.
Kitty and Rogue try their best to ignore the comments being made around them. "Let's, like, get outa here; we can eat outside," Kitty says as she pays the cashier.
"Ya sure ya'll be warm enough?"
"I'm sure. Better chilly, but alone anyway."
"Ah guess."
The girls quickly head across the café to the doors. Slipping outside, they move away from the other students who are eating outside, and find a private spot near the track.
"I wish people would, like, mind their own business."
Rogue sighs, "Nothing we can do about Rayne and…?"
"Yeh—we don't even know who's involved—I mean we see the people who say nasty stuff but…"
"But saying's not gonna get them in trouble is it?"
"I wish—stupid rules."
Kitty takes a deep breath, and leans against Rogue. "Let's go somewhere else after this, right? Like the library or something? Not back to the cafe." ~Somewhere with as few people as possible…~
"Yeh, I guess; hafta take back our trays though."
Kitty scowls at her tray. "What is this?"
"Think the menu said Salisbury Steak."
"Ugh, mystery meat in gravy."
"Look at the bright side-the salad's actually green today and the rolls are neither rocks nor do they bounce."
"Yeah," Kitty sighs.
They eat their lunches in peace, enjoying the quiet time together.
"Ah'm through, how about you Kitty?"
"Yeah, I'm done…back to our, eh, baptism of fire?" She giggles sarcastically.
"I guess…" ~Rather go home…~
"What can we do?" Kitty takes Rogue's hand and gets up. "Onward ho…"
They walk back to the cafe and go in. As they walk across the cafe, a guy, who's sitting with Rayne and some other kids, points a shook-up bottle of soda at them, and opens it, soaking Kitty, who is already freezing from being outside without her jacket.
"What kinda moron are you?" Rogue shouts, stepping between the guy and Kitty. ~Oh damn, I didn't mean to get him riled up…~
"Ooh, sorry did I splash your little girlfriend? It's not like it matters; I'm sure you like your bitch better wet anyway."
"Hey!" Rogue yells then turns to Kitty, "Oh-my-god, Kits…"
"Such a little flat shrimp, no wonder you can't get a real guy; even that loser Alvers couldn't stand you."
"Kits…" She starts to tug Kitty away, not sure which way is safest.
Scott comes in the same door the girls did, and after taking a quick look at the situation, says, "Is everything alright here?"
"NO!"
"These freaks were walking through our section of the cafeteria."
"It's not your cafeteria, and they have every bit as much right to walk though it as you do."
Rogue whispers to Kitty sounding worried "Come-on lets get outa here."
"Oh yeah? I'll show you who's got the right." The teen takes a swing at Scott who blocks it easily.
"Yeah" Kitty says, trying to get away from the brewing fight.
"Hey, get outa my way!"
Rogue says to Kitty, pointing at the doors they just came in. "Think that door's closest."
"Sucks not to use our powers…"
"Yeh, but in this crowd…" Rogue bumps into a guy heading for the fight.
"You're headed the wrong way the actions over there…hey you're the lez bitches!" The guy says.
Rogue steps between him and Kitty.
"Rogue…" Kitty says, worriedly.
The guy's shouting draws the attention of others, as he takes a swing at Rogue.
Rogue dodges his punch. "Hey we're people too y'know…"
A girl tries to grab Kitty who brings her elbow back into the girl's stomach; then winces from the blow ~Wish I could just phase us outa this…"
Rogue intercepts a punch headed for Kitty leaving herself off-guard. "Kitty—watch your left."
"Forget it, let's just get-" ~Can phase the whole damned X-jet though a cliff and I can't get us outa this cause they'll see~
Kitty is struck hard on the cheek, looking dazed. "Kitty!" Rogue crys, and with her attention on Kitty, she doesn't see the kick headed towards her, hitting her squarely in the left knee and knocking her to the ground.
"Rogue!!" Kitty shouts, barely noticing a punch in time to block it.
"'Mokay" Rogue answers as she tries to get up.
Principle Kelly bellows, "What's going on here?"
Some of the kids pull out of the fight as if trying to not get in trouble. Others take the chance to try to finish this before it's broken up.
Kitty gives Rogue a hand pulling her to her feet.
"Thanks"
They both block a few more blows, working back-to-back, before the teachers breaking up the fight can work their way over to them.
"Okay break it up—You two go over there and the rest of you come over here."
Kitty and Rogue head over as directed, while the teachers continue to break-up the fighting, separating the two sides. The girls are surprised that not only most of the other X-men, but also all five members of the brotherhood were fighting on their side.
"Who needs to go to the nurse?"
The X-men and Brotherhood look at each other; quite a few of them are hurting, and Bobby is looking quite pale, but no one wants to deal with the nurse. Rogue sighs. ~Mutants and school nurses are not the best combo…~
A few kids from the other side admit to wanting to go to the nurse, but no one seems to be too badly hurt.
Kitty looks at the group on the other side of the café; then at Rogue, and then she looks down, and tries to back away from everything pulling Rogue with her.
A couple of teachers herd their side to one of the conference rooms. One of them says, "You can use that bathroom to clean-up and whatever." He points at a door toward the back of the room. "It's safe; no one's ever seen the blue demon in this one." One of the secretaries takes down all of their names. After she's finally taken all of the names, and left, Scott pulls Kitty aside and says, "You look like you could use this," then hands her his sweater.
"Thanks…" She heads over to the bathroom, pulling Rogue with her.
Rogue goes with her quite willingly. "You okay?" she asks as Kitty begins to shake in the frigid air.
Kitty ditches the soaked shirt and pulls on Scott's sweater, shaking like a leaf the whole time, "I-mh-br-br … I guess…" She looks pale and shocky.
Rogue pulls Kitty over so Kitty's leaning on her. "It's so cold in here… Oh duh, Bobby got in here ahead a us…he musta gone to ice" ~Guess he was hurt worse than I thought…I wish…~ "If you're ready we'd better get out where it's warm."
"Sh-h…yeah…" She looks at the floor, still leaning on Rogue, and sighs quietly, trying not to cry.
Rogue pulls them both over to a padded bench at the back of the room, where they sit down. She gives Kitty a firm hug. "S'okay."
Kitty starts to sob.
"It'll be okay, Kitty." Rogue cuddles her close.
"No it wasn't…" Kitty sobs harder now, grabbing onto Rogue's shirt.
"Look at all our friends who stood by us." She waves at the room in general.
"And look at what happened to everyone…" Kitty responds without looking up from Rogues shoulder.
"No-one's really hurt…"
"Not physically, anyway…" Kitty clings tightly to Rogue, her sobs subsiding a little.
"No." Rogue pulls Kitty onto her lap, wincing when Kitty hits her left knee.
"Sorry…" She cringes.
"Not your fault…"
"Alright, but, like, everything in this is…"
"Not your fault, if anything it's mah fault."
"What, why?"
"If Ah'd just kept on like Ah was none of this woulda happened…"
"What do you mean?"
"If Ah hadn't decided Ah had ta tell… she neva woulda and you neva woulda and…"
"Aww, c'mon, I was the one who kept you in this morning, and, like, didn't just let you leave, coz I told you, we coulda just done it some other time-"
"Yeh, but… 'S still not your fault
"Why's it yours then?"
"Ah dunno, maybe we should just blame Rayne…" ~and the rest of the universe~
Kitty shrugs, pulling closer to Rogue. "Yeah…"
"S'not like you came outa this untouched or anything" She reaches out to gently touch the dark bruise on kitty's cheekbone.
Kitty winces. "Can't say I, like, can help it…" She whimpers softly.
"S'okay…though the sooner we can get outa here and get ya cleaned up the better…"
Kitty leans into Rogue. "And the sooner we get in trouble for starting a ruckus…"
"Hey, though we agreed we didn't start that…"
"No, that's what he's gonna say…"
"Yeh, not like he's going to trust any of the witnesses on our side either—maybe Jean and Scott but you know what he thinks about the Institute…"
"So we're just gonna hafta go back to getting stuff thrown at us, names, spitting, all that…" She starts whimpering again.
Rogue hugs Kitty. "Hope not."
"Then what?"
"We wait and see what Kelly does then we talk to the Professor…"
"Alright…" Kitty says, sounding miserable, "And now?"
Rogue pulls Kitty more snugly against her. "Ah can't see anything ta do but wait…least we're together…"
"Yeah…wish we could do something though… I feel like, so weak…" Kitty rocks herself against Rogue's arms.
"You're not weak…this is just a screwed up mess…"
"Not like I'm helping…"
"It's okay Kitty…" Rogue looks up suddenly, noticing that most of their teammates are no longer in the room. "Look, they'll get to us soon…then we can get you cleaned up and cut the resta the day?"
Kitty sniffles. "All right … I just wanna go home and spend the rest of the day with you." She rocks back and forth.
"Not like Ah could concentrate on English Lit anyway…besides my essay-" ~is decorating the hallway as confetti~
"Yeah…you know what, let's just go now…"
"Don't wanta get in more trouble—it's just us and Lance 'n' Todd over there left; won't be much longer."
"But really…don't wanna have to say this stuff, I just wanna go home and make all the rest of the world go away…"
The secretary comes in and says tiredly, "Pryde, Katherine and Darkholme, Rogue?"
"Yeah…" Rogue lifts Kitty to her feet; then stands up herself, never letting go of Kitty completely. They follow the secretary out together.
After listening to the girls' stories, Mr. Kelly sighs. "The district's 'zero tolerance' violence policy means I have to give you girls four days detention."
"But…"
"I do believe that you were the victims, not the assailants, but there isn't anything else I can do. The policy was decided on by the school board not myself. I am sorry. Well, you're free to return to class, now, girls."
They stand, and Kitty quietly says, "Thank you."
He mutters as they leave that at least there weren't any blue furred creatures involved this time. Kitty tries not to giggle and fails.
"What?" Kelly asks, sounding annoyed
"You really believe in those weird rumors?"
He shrugs. "Beats me - and aren't you supposed to be in class now?"
The girls leave Kelly's office giggling softly.
At the Institute
The telephone in the Professors office rings. Charles puts aside the papers he was going over with Logan to answer it.
"Xavier Institute—Charles Xavier speaking."
"Everything that goes wrong here has to do with your students."
"Principle Kelly?"
"Several of your students were in a fight against another of your students and many local students."
"What happened?"
"One of your students, Rayne, I believe the name is, seems to have been a ringleader of a group harassing two of your other students—and rather than get a teacher to deal with it, some of your other students and some other kids got into a fight with them."
"Most teachers do not know how to deal properly with such harassment, and while I will not condone fighting they may have seen it as their only option."
"Except it became a magnet for others to handle their own personal vendettas…"
"I cannot be held responsible for the actions of students over whom I have no control or authority."
"Indeed you won't."
"Which of my students are in trouble?" Charles sighs.
"Rayne has been suspended for 2 days—Jubilation Lee, Kitty Pryde, Rogue Darkholme, Evan Daniels, and Scott Summers have 4 days detention Jean Grey, Robert Drake, and Kurt Wagner were less involved and have 2 days detention."
Charles sighs again. "I understand… listen, I want you to know that I run an institution where tolerance and acceptance is encouraged, and I simply can't explain this outburst."
"But you know how it started?"
"Some of my students are not as accepting of differences as others."
"I would like you to ensure this does not happen again."
"Indeed, we will do our best."
"As Rayne has been suspended, she needs to be picked up and taken home."
"Certainly."
"Please straighten out this mess before Rayne's suspension is over."
"I understand, we will contact her parents immediately."
"Just so long as it's settled—I don't appreciate my cafeteria being disrupted by fights."
"I understand. Is there anything else?"
"Not at this time."
"I understand, thank you for this information."
"Good-bye" Mr. Kelly hangs up, and Charles more slowly hangs up his end.
"How much of that did you get, Logan?"
"Enough. Want me to pick the brat up?"
"If you would. Try to bring her back in one piece."
"I'll try."
"Thank you."
Logan mutters to himself as he leaves the office, "Dumb, stupid, closed-minded kid. Like, they're going to do anything to her."
Rayne and the Professor are sitting in his office, discussing the events of the day. "I'm not going to tell you how to think, but you can either live with this or go home," He says.
"Fine," she snaps, "I'll live with it but don't expect me to like it…or to work with them."
"I've revised the current Danger Room roster to give you all a chance to deal with this, but you will eventually need to come to terms with working with them, if you expect to become a full member of the team."
"I guess…"
"For instigating the fight at school, you are on restriction for the next 4 weeks, and will have an extra chore list to complete."
She looks about to argue; then takes a closer look at the Professor, and nods.
"I believe Storm is waiting outside my door with the chore list."
Rayne nods again and slowly heads out to get started.
Back at school
Rogue says to Kitty, as they head away from the office, "You're still half frozen, Ah think we'd better try drying you out a bit before we walk home…"
"Sure… we can warm up later, right?" She gives Rogue a quick hug; then starts toward the locker rooms.
"Your gym stuff's in the team room right? You going to need the keys to get at it?"
"Nah, I got it…"
Rogue follows Kitty into the teamroom; then waits while she showers. She has a soft towel ready, and helps towel Kitty off. She lets Kitty dress; then pulls her over to the blow dryer. "Do you have your brush?"
"Yeah…or I could just leave right now and leave my hair like this…"
"Uh-uh, we're walking home and it's still March." Rogue tries to look stern and big sister-ish.
"Yeah, well, I know…but I still wanna go…"
Rogue takes the brush and starts the hairdryer. "The sooner we get this done the sooner we can get outa here."
She sighs. "Fine, like, sorry…"
"It's okay." She continues to work on Kitty's hair till it's nearly dry. "There, that's good enough."
"Thanks."
She hugs Kitty. "Let's get outa here."
Kitty gives her a quick hug in return; then follows Rogue out.
After they've walked awhile, Rogue turns to Kitty, "Do ya think Kelly's gonna do anything about, well, today?"
"Who knows, who's gonna care…"
"He gave us close to the minimum punishment for being in a fight, that's something at least."
"But he might just let them get off on the rest…"
"He's gotta punish them for the fight but yah the other stuff…" She shudders.
Kitty tries to make her voice sound strong, "Then we'll just hafta stay away from them…"
"Mosta the kids in that fight prolly weren't involved in the other stuff—but once a fight like that breaks out…"
"We just became a excuse… I hate being dumbed down to just an object, a thing, an excuse, an argument-"
"It's like they don't care that we're human beings…"
"Yeah…" She answers leaning against Rogue, "Thanks for not being one of them."
"Ah'm sure our lovely principal called the Professor…"
"At least he'll believe us when we tell him, I mean, there were, like, too many of us involved, even the Brotherhood got into it."
"Yah 'nd you heard him this morning he'll try to help us."
"Lucky us…" Kitty sighs. "I'm hoping this'll work out…"
"Us or school? Either way Ah'll try my best…"
"Us…I mean, I just don't wanna sound ranty, or whiny, or ditzy, or whatever… I just wanna be a good girlfriend for you…"
"Ya are."
"Y'mean it? How?"
"Ya've been here with me though all this shit and you're still tryin' to make this better…"
"Well yeah, you're Rogue—strong, tough, you can hang in there, you're pretty good at comforting people too…"
"Just ya being here helps…and ya'll be here when I need someone…"
"Thanks! Mmm…" She hugs Rogue. "I'm thinking, though…"
"Oh?"
"Yeah, the way I broke it to you and all… We've only been together for one morning, and what's happened since…"
"Not your fault—and in that zoo," Rogue waves in the general direction of the Institute, "We couldn't kept it a secret very long if we'd had a chance ta."
"Nah, I mean, keepin' ya in so long, we coulda just made up later, I really must've scared you and all, I didn't really give you much of a choice-"
"Kitty…I though we'd settled this…."
"Not really… I'm still thinking about it…"
"It's okay Kitty, What happened between us was…" She trails off looking for the words she wants
"What?" she asks with a questioning look.
"While it wasn't the first time I would chosen… It's led to something pretty special…"
"Yeah, getting bashed on our first day together…"
"Not your fault, and it woulda prolly happened at some point no matter how we got together… You aren't regretting being together, are you?" Rogue pulls away slightly.
"No…sorry… I mean, being with you is what I wanted, just not like this… I'll just never know if I kinda left you with, like, not enough choices or time to figure it out, we kinda got 'stuck' together because Kurt saw us, and then everyone else…"
"Ah know Ah didn't have a lota time to think about us—but Ah don't regret it."
"So you don't mind me calling you my stuck-together-girlfriend?"
"If Ah can call you mine?" Rogue answers with a smile.
Kitty laughs. "I guess…"
"Come-on Ah'd like to get back before the rest do…"
"Yeah…" She follows Rogue towards the Institute.
They walk the rest of the way back to the Institute, together. They're surprised to see Scott's car pulling through the gate just as they get to the front doors.
"Damn…"
"We might make it upstairs before…"
"Let's do-" They enter the building.
The Professor is waiting for them. "Girls may I speak with you a moment?"
"Yeah…"
The other kids' voices get louder as they come into the front hall; then abruptly drop to silence when they see the Professor. After a moment, they begin talking again.
"It's all her fault."
"I don't know what else we could have done."
"Principal Kelly sucks giving us detention too."
"Even the Brotherhood thought she was wrong'
"Children… I have," he sighs, "something to say."
The room quickly becomes silent.
"I was notified of this… incident. I understand that you were not the ones who started this, but… exactly how did this devolve into violence?"
"One of Rayne's friends threw the first punch…"
"And I believe that you retaliated on impulse?"
"You've trained us to fight and to defend each other."
"And how did so many other children get involved?"
"Well Todd and Pietro backed us up and that pulled in the rest of the brotherhood…"
"And half the school was on those bigots side."
"Why them? And what of reports that certain people used it as an excuse to fulfill their personal agendas?"
"Scott? You were the one fighting Duncan…"
"Not because…"
"And you, Bobby"
"Taryn came after me not the other way around."
Charles sighs. "Alright. But, sometimes there are situations where this fights become… counterproductive. It devolved to the point where it just became an excuse for anyone who had a grudge to settle their personal agendas, at that point, whatever cause you were fighting for just became buried under everyone else's hatreds."
"We never wanted this mess Professor."
"I know that." He sighs again. "The situation is, I will admit, you were left rather lacking in options, and what's done is done. But—I do thank you all of you for keeping your powers under wraps—that fight was bad enough as it was. Training is canceled for this afternoon; I'll see all of you at supper."
Kitty clutches Rogue's hand tighter as they pull away from the milling students, and head for the stairs. Silently they climb the stairs and walk down the hallway to their room. Rogue opens the door and pushes the now almost zombie-like Kitty in ahead of her, then closes the door. As soon as the door is closed behind them, Rogue begins to shudder allowing herself to react for the first time since they left the room this morning. Kitty comes out of her shock enough to wrap herself around Rogue, whose shuddering turns to sobs; Kitty begins to cry herself in reaction to the day's events. Rogue hugs Kitty, maneuvering both of them onto the bed, "Ah'm so sorry"
"Aww, c'mon, not you too…"
"Ah should never've…"
"Listen, like, let's just get… like, through this…"
"If Ah hadn't, you woulda never had to deal with this."
"Beats me, but I have to now, so-" She reaches out so her hands are on Rogue's shoulders. "C'mon, could you cheer up at least a little…?"
"When our lives are the biggest mess they've ever been?"
"Our life. Together. This, like it or not, it's our life together, not separate ones, alright? I've, like, given you so much of my heart, you've given me so much in return…"
"But Ah've been nothing but trouble to you; you could settle down with some nice boy and have a normal life."
"I, like, yeah. I could have a nice guy and a nice life. But how could I, like, live with leaving you behind like this? Don't say you're forcing me into this, because this is what I want—well, I could do without the schoolful of bigots but YOU. ARE. WHAT. I. WANT.
"Y-what do you mean? Ah mean, all Ah do is just tell everyone in the world, that you're a lesbo, a dyke, invite every sing-"
"You didn't do any of this! Rayne did."
"But that's just it! If Ah hadn't gone to ya, and we hadn't done anything, Ah'd have never been there that mornin', Kurt woulda never seen us, she would never seen us, never woulda…"
"And we both would have been miserable alone—at least this way we're miserable together."
"But you don't deserve this…"
"And neither did you"
"Okay, but still… Ah'm sorry…"
"And, like, so am I—I'm the one who brought the bottle home, remember."
"Erm… okay, ah mean, well, when Ah woke up… and Ah saw you, Ah was like…"
"I was almost as surprised as you—I'd been drinking too. I, like, though it was just a dream for a few second till I realized I was in your bed."
"Ah mean… well," she sighs, "Ah'm just so glad that Ah hadn't… well, y'know…"
"It's okay I, like, am the one who started it."
She turns away. "Urgh… Ah really don't wanna say thanks, because Ah dunno… Ah mean, when Ah saw you, Ah was just so scared that Ah mighta… Ah mean, not that Ah hurt you, but well… when Ah realized what we did, Ah was so scared that maybe you just wanted to help me out, and Ah saw the bottle, and Ah was thinking…"
"You were, like, way drunker than I was; if anything I took advantage."
Rogue sighs. "That's the thing… our first time was built on just that, and now…" She pulls her legs up and wraps her arms around them. "Why do you still want me?"
"Rouge, I love you…while there mighta been better first times we coulda had, and much better first days together… It's you that matters not the other stuff."
Rogue pulls Kitty up into her lap, avoiding her sore knee. They sit and cuddle for quite a while.
After Supper
The girls head back to their room, avoiding anyone who might want to talk about the things that had happened. Despite the early hour, they change into Pj's and simply cuddle on Rogue's bed.
"You sure this is what you want?"
"Ah…do want this, Ah think"
"No, I mean, like, how're you so sure this isn't just rebound? I mean, if you can't decide, we can leave it at what we had before and I'll let you figure it out, no matter what you, like, want…"
"Ah've always thought you were attractive but you're nearly 2 years younger and you were with Lance for gods sake."
"Yeah… I, like…" She sighs. "I guess that happens a lot, or is it just me? If I'd actually cared enough about you to want you, I shouldn't have gone out with him, so at least you wouldn't have to look on and feel sad every time you saw us two together? I'm sorry about that too."
"It's okay…"
"And I really can't, like, help my age… or who I went out with before you… I'd really change all that if I could…" Kitty sighed, visibly depressed now.
"Ah can't help being older than you either but it's not like you're a little kid."
"Yeah, that's true. Um… with Risty… what happened exactly?"
"She just got weird about it." ~I hope she doesn't press the issue I should have made up a story~
"Was she… well, like Rayne?" Kitty asked, whispering to herself as she softly bit her lip, looking away, "Hope not…"
"Not that bad, if I'd just been coming out to her it would have been alright I think but…"
"Sorry…" Kitty puts her hand on Rogue's shoulder. "You really thought she wanted you too?"
"She was never the touching type with anyone but she'd slip her arm around me and she just spent so much time with me…"
"So it was go for broke, just like that?"
"Things have been so strange lately, Ah just wanted someone to love me."
"Erm… alright. I'm sorry, and y'know what? You deserved her to love you back."
"You deserve love too; mabay it's better this way" ~Thank god that went okay. I don't know what I woulda done if she'd pushed for details; I'm not good at making stuff up on the spur of the moment~
"Thanks…" Kitty leans forward and phases her lips though Rogue's.
Rogue blinks in surprise.
"Did you like?"
"Yah, weird but good"
Kitty pulls back "Never done that before…"
"Easier than trying to find a scarf or whatever."
"Yeah… just hope we never get stuck like it…" She giggles.
Rogue shudders. "Don't know what that would do with our powers…"
"Guess you're right…"
"Eh…" She pulls Kitty into her arms.
"Mmm… This is so wonderful…"
"Don't ever want let you go."
"Same here… This is just how I imagined my first night with you…"
"So let this be our first night together…"
"Yeah…"
"Just the two of us…alone together"
Kitty cuddles deeper into Rogue's arms.
Rogue mumbles sleepily, "S'nice"
Kitty yawns, "What time is it?"
Rogue lifts up enough to look. "Only 'bout 9 but we didn't get much sleep last night…"
"Y'still wanna talk, or…?" Kitty pulls up the covers.
"Wanna cuddle."
"Yeah, that too…" Kitty snuggles close. "Dunno who to thank…"
"Me either." She cuddles closer.
Kitty kisses Rogue on the forehead. "We'll figure it out… one more time, thank you, I love you…" Kitty kisses her on the lips again.
Sounding very sleepy, Rogue murmurs, "Love… ya… too…"
"G'night…"
"Night…" Rogue trails off almost completely asleep.
Kitty pulls the blankets more securely around them and settles down in Rogue's arms ~Good night, Love; tomorrow will be a better day—I can feel it~ she closes her eyes and cuddles against Rogue, and drifting off to sleep; awaiting a new day…
TBC