Rogue and Scott - Danger Room Conversations

[x-traction.livejournal.com]

In which Rogue and Scott reconnect. -- Backdated to September 29, 2014


Scott leaned against the wall clipboard in hand as he took an opportunity to catch his breath and relax. Between the start of classes and his normal X-man activities it seemed like Scott's life recently had pretty much consisted of him running from one place to another, dealing with issue after issue. The chance to catch up with an old teammate, and to put her through her paces in the Danger Room of course, was an opportunity he relished.

Of course she was late. Her first Danger Room session in how many years and she felt like a student all over again, running in right at the last possible second.

She turned into the entrance, and saw Scott. It was always interesting to look at him. He had this stoic air that she'd noticed immediately, which he was sporting at that moment.

"Sorry! Stopped to say hi to someone, and you know me, just kept on talking." She looked around the room. "So you got a plan or is this payback for not calling more often?"

"Marie, what do you take me for, do you really think I'd take revenge for vanishing off the face of the earth and worrying us all half to death?" Scott asked his tone comforting but his eyes showing the trademark Summer's twinkle. "I thought maybe we'd just start you off with something simple today, get you back into the feel of things since this is your first time." he noted, "So how're you settling back into the mansion?"

Sometimes, she wished she could tell if he was joking or not. "Settling in good," she said cautiously. "Not that there's much to do, you know. Bother random people, nap, eat.” She shrugged. "It's actually kinda boring. That's why I'm glad to do this. Had a few workout sessions, with a few people but nothing serious."

A pause.

"Bet I could kick your butt, though."

"Wow, you must be feeling really bored if you're falling back on challenging me in the Danger room, If things are really that bad I'm sure we can find you something to do. It's a big mansion, and there is always a lot of work to do around here," Scott noted before continuing in a deadpan, "Or if that's not your cup of tea there I have a mountain of paperwork that needs doing."

She wrinkled her nose. "Ew, paperwork. I may be technically an adult, but I'm pretty sure I'm not grown up enough to enjoy that.”

It would've been so easy to burst out, let him know about the ennui she was feeling, the sense of floating she'd had in the last little while. But looking at him, remembering him as her older brother figure, she didn't want to say it. Instead she flexed her arms. "Come on, fearless leader. Show me what you got!"

Scott smiled and gestured towards the door with one hand as he punched it open with the other. "Well then after you?" he said with an amused smile, "I have to admit I'm looking forward to this."

The Danger-room doors slid open and Scott walked out, his fiddling with the buttons on the side of his visor. It had been so long since he'd used it that he was still learning to get used to it again. "Water or Towel?" he asked Marie holding out one of each to the younger girl.

"Whiskey would be better," was her curt reply, as she thankfully took the offered items. She hadn't gone into the session thinking she'd be right back to the top of her game but at the same time, she'd never anticipated being so terrible.

Her moves were sloppy, her reaction time was pitiful, and if it wasn't for Scott, she would've curled up in a corner and died.

"That's was embarrassing. It's okay. You can say it. Embarrassing. I was better at 17 than I am now."

"I...wasn't going to say it quite like that," Scott allowed, "You're just rusty, everyone is when the come back to the mansion." he assured her. "Training by yourself is good, but it's really no substitute for spending any amount of time working in the danger room. I’m sure it was just a first time shock, the training will kick in next time, you'll see."

Rogue felt a flare of anger. "You don't need to patronize me! Call it like it is: pathetic! The only reason I got where I was before was because of Logan, and he's not here anymore! I may have left him first, but he was supposed to still be here when I got back!"

Her eyes widened suddenly as she realized what she said.

She hadn't realized how heavily his absence had weighed on her but looking at it now, it was true. Everything else was the same except for one person. One tiny person really.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped. We should come up with a training plan. I have nothing but time right now."

Scott crossed his arms and leaned against a nearby locker, "We should," he agreed nodding at a nearby bench, "Or you could tell me what's going on in your head right now." he offered. It almost sounded like she actually missed Logan, but that wasn't possible was it, no-one could miss the hairy annoying, admittedly useful Canadian, Scott certainly didn't.

"Talk to me Marie, this isn't like you."

It wasn't like her, that much was true. She didn't answer for a while, choosing instead to drink her water before she gave her answer.

"Everything's different, is all, but I feel like I'm the same. I don't know where I fit in. I should get a job, I should work out more, I should do all sorts of things, and yet I do nothin'."A pause. "I don't know what I'm saying. You should just ignore the crazy. I know I do."

Scott shook his head, "you're not the same person, not at all. Think about it you've been out into the world and gotten your own experiences there. That's more than a lot of us have ever done," he noted with a wry smile, "I don't know that I've ever done anything like that, just gone out and tried to make my own way while helping people."

The X-man dropped down onto a bench and leaned back against the wall, "This place, it's comfortable, it never changes, not really. Sure the people come and go, but the institution, the feel of the place has always been the same. That's nice and reassuring, but you've been out and grown and then you come back here and it's familiar but all the people and new or different. You can't expect to just drop back into the middle of things, no matter how much you feel you should."
"But what if that's all I want?" she asked quietly, looking down at her feet. “I grew up too fast, and I had to grow up hard. I think that's why me and Logan just got each other: we both were missing parts of our past that we'd never get back."

Rogue looked up and gave Scott a crooked smile. "I know he was never your most favourite person, but he was mine. And pushing him away was the worst thing I could've done, 'cause I ain't ever gettin’' him back.” She sighed and leaned back. "C'est la vie, I guess."

Tapping her feet on the ground, she nodded to herself. "Any other words of advice, o wise one?"

“Everyone here is broke," he offered, "You had to grow up quick and lost a part of your childhood, but you're not the only one." Scott pointed up at the school above their heads, "Everyone up there got thrown into a world that needs them to grow up and act older and tougher than it has any right to ask of them. I know you miss Logan Marie, but you're not alone and he's not the only one who gets what you're going through."
"I know what you're saying, Scott, but it's not the same.” She sighed again. "Course," she added, "that don't mean you ain't right too."

She kicked at the ground before looking at him, a smirk on her face. "I always wondered how you and Jean fight -- both of you right all the time. How'd y'all get to be so smart?"

"Smart?" Scott raised his hands and shook his head, "Never that, it's just experience," Scott leaned forward, "What you're saying is almost word for word what I told the professor once. We all have issues that are individual to use but the feelings behind them are something we all struggle with." Scott gave Marie a small smile, "If you need to talk, you know where to find me, I'm not Logan but sometimes it just helps to talk at someone, and I'm good at that." Scott shook his head and laughed, "To answer the question, when we fight Jean wins cause she's waaay smarter than me."

Rogue smiled finally. "Spoken like a true husband," she teased, "always taking your wife's side on things." Their little conversation had made her feel a lot better about things, and she felt a lot more confident that she could do this. She hoped.

"Well, if you're up for it, fearless leader, I think I need to work out some sort of schedule to get my ass in gear. Let's see if a 28 year old can bounce back as easily as a 17 year old."

And then suddenly, she gave him a hug. "Thanks for everything, Scott. I mean it. It was hard coming back, knowing I'd let everyone down, but I just...I appreciate you. I really do. You're right -- you're not Logan, and thank god for that. The world only needs one of that man. You're you, and that's more than enough for me."