Kurt and Rogue : Backdated, evening

[x-traction.livejournal.com]

In which Rogue has a moment with her brother, and wonders how she could have left him in the first place

It never ceased to amaze her: after how many years of students sitting on the roof, the Professor still hadn't put in seating. How many times had she tried to suggest that, only to be shot down? Countless, really.

She had come prepared -- a blanket, pillows and cookies. All she was waiting for was one more person. She hoped he had gotten her note.



He had indeed, and slipped quietly through the access door, smiling.

"Welcome back, Marie, once again."



“Thanks, hon," she said warmly looking at Kurt.



Part of her felt ashamed about not keeping in touch with him; he was her brother after all, but the whole news of adoption had hit her pretty bad. It always sucked to wake up ‎and realize your whole life was a lie.



"I was hoping you'd be able to sneak away. Also, Jubilee? When did that happen? Lucky you " She'd been dying to ask him since she overheard about it in the halls one day.



If a blue man blushes, does that turn him purple?

...yes, as she was now to find out, when a blue man blushed it did turn him slightly purple. He'd been getting better about that over the last few years, but not entirely.

"That happened after Genosha. And thank you, we are very happy."

Rogue just shook her head, and patted down on the blanket. ‎"And that's all that really matter, isn't it? That you're happy, and in love."

"Although," she added, "does she ever stop talking?"



Kurt laughed and sat down, slinging a casual arm around his sister's shoulders.

"Sometimes. She is not quite as loud now as in her schooldays."

"I just can't picture her all grown up," Rogue said, leaning into Kurt. She had missed this -- the easy physical connection to someone. Usually she had to be so ridiculously careful, but with Kurt's fur, and her full coverings, there was nothing to worry about. "But I can't picture anyone grown up. It's like I left and in my head, nothing changed...but then I came back, and everything's different. Time didn't freeze."

She looked at him thoughtfully. "You think that's a weird way to feel, or is that normal? I just don't know anymore."

"I think it is entirely normal, little sister", Kurt assured her. "You have not been here to see the changes happening more gradually - just wait until you see Meggan."

Rogue shook her head vigorously. "I already had a heart attack seeing Sooraya, and when Meggan messaged me on my journal, I just about passed out. All grown up, Kurt! I'm starting to feel old, and kinda like I haven't done anything with my life," she admitted.

This was it, she thought to herself. It's now or never. If she didn't get it out, she never would.

"I gave up. I stopped searching for answers. I couldn't find anything about the murders, and I just couldn't do it anymore. I quit, and I left everyone and everything, and I didn't talk to anyone, not even you, and you're my own brother, and I just ....I'm not anything anymore." Tears had started to flow down her face, and she pulled away from him to hug herself with her arms. "I'm not an Xman, I'm not a teacher, I'm not even Rogue really -- just Marie, and I don't even know who that is. What do I do? I don't know what to do. I used to have Logan, but let's be real, when has that man ever stayed still for anything or anyone? Everyone's moved on, and they're just so happy."

"Maybe I shouldn't have come back," she finished, with a quiet voice.



He tugged on her arm gently, trying to get her to come back to him.

"You still have me, Marie. You could have stayed away twenty years, and that would still be true - you are my sister, no happiness would be entirely complete without you."

"I don't even know how to be a sister," she cried, refusing to let him embrace her. "I found you, and then I left. That's not what sisters do, is it?"

"You left for the best of reasons, Marie", he soothed. "And now you are back, and we can begin again."

She turned to look at him, tears down her face and started to laugh. "You must just be pleased as punch, related to someone as crazy as me."

Rogue tapped her foot on the roof nervously, and took a moment before she continued to speak. "I honestly just wanted to see you, I didn't mean to lose it here. I'm sorry. I do want to be your sister. I want to be there for you, and actually be family again. I don't have anyone anymore.... and," she lowered her voice "I don't even have any voices in my head anymore...it's pretty lonely with one voice in my head now."

"All my family are crazy", he pointed out. "And you are the one blood relative I have any desire to speak to. You can always pour your heart out to me if you need to."

She couldn't help but laugh some more, as she hugged him close. "Oh Kurt....how did you get to be so wise and patient? Can you teach me that?"

"...perhaps", he said with a grin, hugging her back. "But it will take many lessons."

"That's okay. Just as long as you remember to feed me. I'm still no good at cooking," she confessed. "But at least I haven't killed ‎anyone from it."

He laughed. "I will remember, and not ask you to do any cooking. Dating an energy projector, you learn quickly how to feed people at short notice."

She gave a little laugh, still savouring the feel of her brother's arms around her. "And I think only Jubes is more terrifying than me when hungry.‎" Swallowing deeply, she pulled away again and motioned to him to sit down. Now back in their original position, she looked out at the stars. "Do you remember how you first felt,coming to the Mansion? Does it still feel the same?"

"No", he said immediately, not needing to think about it. "On that day, I was scared and alone. I do not believe I will ever be that again."

"Oh!" Rogue shook her head vigorously. "No, no, no, I meant more like after you realized you had a safe place here nd you didn't have to keep running.‎". She twirled a strand of hair around her finger. "There I go, putting my darn foot in my mouth again."

"It felt like home", he said simply.

"Yeah," she responded, trailing off. "I think so too. There ain't no place like home, huh."