#with:rogue

[raregcms]

@mutantmuses // from here

It would be a lie for Calvin to claim he'd thought about this for a long time -- in fact, the mere idea had been almost unthinkable at first, aside from mere curiosity. Rogue had always had a certain untouchable quality that had nothing to do with her mutation. People around her who would have happily strung up a handsome blond nearly twice her age if he'd made a move. But she wasn't that girl anymore, the one who needed somebody to protect her. She'd been put through a ringer he couldn't even imagine, and come out the other side swinging.

Whatever affection he'd had for her had been born of respect, not attraction. Not to say he didn't find her gorgeous, of course, but she was, as the saying went, more than a pretty face.

And he'd always wondered how their powers would react to one another. He couldn't copy her power, and he'd tried -- all he wound up with was a nasty headache for the trouble. So here he was, trying to make her see that she didn't have to be so guarded with him. That if his power didn't work on her, logic dictated that hers didn't work on him. And she was just stubborn enough that the only way to prove it was, well--

Her tears surprised him, but they weren't unexpected. He reached up, brushing a thumb -- a bared, unprotected digit -- under her eye to wipe away the tears. And while his skin did tingle somewhat as her power tried and failed to draw his lifeforce off him, he didn't shy away. He leaned down and pressed another kiss, soft, against her temple. "I tried to tell you… now do you believe me?"

[morinotsume]

@mutantmuses // from here

The mindfulness about her powers was well-trained enough to be close to instinct -- her cheek against Logan's shoulder wrapped up in its leather jacket, his own cheek gently pressing to the side of her head so that his nose got a good breath of the warm familiar scent. He was too stubborn a man to talk about his feelings, but he always got the sense that those close to him, and Rogue especially, could read him like a book regardless. Still, it never hurt to put up a token protest.

"A guy can't give a hug without havin' some ulterior motive?" he asked, one side of his mouth pulling up in a soft smile, giving her ribs a little squeeze before letting go. "S'pose it's a little 'a both. Missed ya, Moonbeam."

[raregcms]

A low chuckle rumbled from Calvin's throat as she encouraged him, as her fingers slipped up into his hair sending little shivers down his spine. He had to check, didn't he? After all, he didn't want to overwhelm her, didn't want her to panic. She's lived her entire adult life terrified of the slightest touch, only to now have everything opened up for her...

Shit, was he about to be her first?

Well, he couldn't worry about that right now. Let her have the controls, see what she was comfortable with. Trailing kisses along her bared throat, he brushed his hands over her body, moving to grip her hips lightly to hold her close against himself. "Anything you want," he replied softly, moving to seal the promise with a kiss on her lips, firm but chaste, just before the elevator dinged at their suite.

Lacing his fingers with hers with one hand while putting the other to the door to hold it open, he pulled back, blue eyes gleaming as he grinned at her. "After you, sweetheart."

A soft sound left Rogue's lips as she leaned her back against the wall. Then there were his lips, gosh those lips touching her neck. It was enough to make Rogue melt onto the ground. Slowly her eyes closed as she listened to his words carefully. It was nice to know that he was checking on her, making sure this is what she really wanted. Most people weren't like that.

" K--Keep going. " Rogue whispered softly as she slowly placed her hands on the back of his neck, running her fingers slowly into his hair and getting lost within it. "If ah want ya to stop ah let ya know.." Her head moved slowly to the side giving him more room to her neck.

[raregcms]

❛ i could keep you safe. they’re all afraid of me. ❜ { From Rogue for Calvin }

"As much as I respect your confidence and your ability," Calvin said, his tone light and joking, "I think you're forgetting who's in the leadership position here." He nudged her shoulder gently, then turned, putting his back to hers, creating a dual front for the would-be attackers.

Stupid move, really. Mutant haters attacking them in broad daylight like this. Almost like they wanted to be seen getting beat to hell on the six o'clock news. They knew who Rogue was, that was a given -- but it was clear that out of uniform, Calvin was just some blond guy. Somebody they could dismiss, maybe even underestimate

Woe be unto them. Claws erupted from his knuckles, bone quickly sheathed in the same living metal that begun coating his body. "You go high, I stay low?"

[morinotsume]

💓  to  listen  to  my  muse's  heartbeat. { From Rogue }

"Easy, easy." It wasn't often that Rogue let herself get worked up like this -- but now and then, her rage got the better of her, the chaos in her mind took control, and very few people could reach her when she got like this. Logan was one of that few, and even then he sometimes got rewarded with a few swift kicks or a fist in the face for the trouble. But he didn't let it stop him.

She needed people who wouldn't run off when she got like this. So he made her slow, made her sit down with him, fight clean-up be damned, and pulled her into a hug so her head rested against his broad chest.

"Breathe. Just breathe, darlin'."

[morinotsume]

" i. . . i didn't mean to. . . " { From Rogue }

"Yeah, ya did," he replied, rolling his shoulder to get the feeling back in the limb -- her hand had rested on his arm briefly, drawn only what she needed to get the job done, but it had numbed the limb all the way to his fingertips. He knew his physiology had different reactions to her power than others specifically because of his healing ability, he was able to give her what she needed in a split second decision, but it didn't mean he had to like it.

But the fight had been close and getting closer, she'd gotten clocked hard in the head and had a broken thigh bone besides, and didn't have time to wait for her own healing to catch up. So she'd borrowed his. And the claws.

And sure, for a minute, it felt good to fight side-by-side with her when she was channeling him -- but as it faded, she had to live with what she'd done. Had to live with what he did every single day.

"Ya had to. I get it." He leaned over, butted his head lightly against hers. "Jus' don't go makin' a habit of it. Got enough clawed critters runnin' around. Would hate it if you got stuck with 'em too."

[morinotsume]

❛ leave it. ❜ ( from Rogue)

"Like to see ya try an' make me," Logan rumbled in reply, hunkering down to sit next to her. Rogue knew better than to try to shrug him off, especially when he'd caught her moping. "You gonna tell me what's eatin' you, or do I gotta call in the big guns? I'm sure Kurt will love to harass you until you crack a smile."

[raregcms]

The one thing he didn't want her to do was panic. He had his suspicions, based on what Hank was saying about the weapons he'd brought in from the fight, but he was praying to whatever higher power watched over mutantkind that it wasn't true. That he hadn't just seen the unthinkable happen to someone he cared for -- that she hadn't just taken a literal bullet for him, and lost the thing that made her unique.

And yet, it seemed his dread was well-founded. There wasn't even the residual tingle as her powers tried to draw off his life energy. It was no different than touching… well, anybody.

A half-remembered quote rang through his mind, something about the man who finally got everything he wanted…

"It's alright, I'm here." He had completely forgotten he had the wings out; he hadn't even pulled back the steel sheathing them, making him look uncomfortably like Archangel. He pulled them in, put them away, but when she backed out of his grasp he looked down at his hands. "I'm sorry -- Rogue that was meant for me, and you -- God, Rogue, I had no idea the had weapons like that…"

Rogue turned a little to look at Calvin. She then shook her head as she placed a hand on her own forehead. "Ah...Feel so weak..." Her voice was a bit shaky as she spoke. "Ah never felt this weak before." Slowly she closed her eyes and tried her best to move from his arms and onto her feet once more.

Then she looked down at her hands as they shook. "Somethin' ain't right...Ah don't feel right." Her eyes then looked back over at Calvin for a moment. Then she looked back at her hands and took one of her gloves off. Reaching out to Calvin's wing she touched it softly. "Nothin'.."

Removing hand, she backed up a little. "My powers..." Rogue whispered softly.

[morinotsume]

The reassurance that she hadn't been unduly bothered by whatever her touch had drawn out of him aside from the physical mutations, set his heart at ease at least a bit. The first time had been horrible, he didn't want to remember, and cursing her with that knowledge was almost more than he could bear. She already had it hard enough, did she need the added trauma of knowing, seeing, feeling what he'd felt?

Logan froze as her hand went over his mouth, as she leaned close in the closest approximation of such an intimate movement. His hands settled on her upper arms, protected by her jacket, and, as gentle as could be, made a bit of space between them.

"Moonbeam... what are you doin'?"

" Who said that ? Shakespeare or somethin' ? " Rogue asked then laughed a little. She then felt the hair being moved from her face and smiled. "Ah all right. Ain't nothin' to be worried about." It wasn't the first time she saw the darkness within Logan's mind. She remembered when she first touched him and saw his true nightmares and in turn gave her nightmares.

But it wasn't fear for herself but fear for Logan, for she hated what he had been through. It wasn't right.

Without thinking twice about it, Rogue placed her gloved hand on Logan's mouth and pressed her lips on it, acting as if she gave him a kiss. It was something she thought about a lot, a kiss from Logan. But she knew it would harm him or worst kill him. So, she made sure to never act on those thoughts.

[morinotsume]

"I know, darlin', I know --"

But she wasn't hearing him. He knew that look in her eye, knew the mannerisms when she was spiraling, and he hated that there wasn't much he could do in this instance except get in her way or let her go...

and he hated to let her go, when she was in this state. God only knew what would happen to her.

"Rogue --" Pause, rewind. "Moonbeam, focus on me. I know you've got that piece of me in there still -- push everything else aside and just focus on that, you think you can do that? You don't gotta run, I'm not goin' anywhere an' I'm not gonna touch you. You're okay. You're safe."

Control, control was something Rogue normally had. Her powers never gave her these many problems before. Her head felt full, full of many people she had touched to take their power throughout the years. Yes, most of the time Logan seemed to be the one to ground her, to her touch stone. But not this time, this time Rogue felt herself falling apart and there was nothing anyone could do.

" Logan... " For a moment it was working, but that moment didn't last long, for Rogue found herself screaming in pain while she placed her hands on her own head. "No...Ya can't be near me..." Pushing Logan away Rogue got to her feet and slowly backed away from him. "It's too much...Oh, Gods Logan.."

Falling to her knees Rogue closed her eyes tightly, still keeping her hands on her head. When she opened her eyes, they weren't their green color but replaced with just a pure white color as she stood up.

---> @morinotsume X

[morinotsume]

"Deal." Patting the back of her hand, he finally let it go, reclining in the booth again. "Shooting up like a weed," he said with a soft chuckle. "They're pretty sure she's gonna be the same height as Laura by the time she's done growin', but that's if we can convince her to eat something other than pizza. An' she's seen the slushy crap they get down here, but she wants to see that Charles Dickens, Thomas Kincaid type snow. Who am I to ruin her vision?"

" I think I will. The next time you go I'll go along with you. " Rogue said softly. When Logan brought up Gabby another smile formed on her lips. "And how is she doing these days? Last I seen her she was as tiny as a little mouse." She said. "She hasn't seen snow? Gosh that should be illegal." Now of course Rogue was a southern girl and liked the heat. But she always thought snow was pretty to look at. It was just the walking in it that wasn't fun.

[morinotsume]

"Bingo." He smirked at her a bit, pouring himself another measure of the dark whiskey. In a way all the X-Men knew it couldn't last forever. The odds had always been against them, no matter how strong the bonds were that formed between them, it was human nature to go one's own way. By choice, or by force.

Hell, if it weren't for modern technology he might go weeks without hearing from Kitty. Girl was elusive.

Sighing softly, he took a sip, set the glass down again. "Don't blame ya. I've always been a magnet for trouble." His thumb rubbed along the top edge of the glass. "Listen. If it's gettin' away you need… how's about you head up with me, next time? It's way out in the middle 'a nowhere, ya don't hafta worry about people. Jus' the woods and some peace an' quiet. Maybe help ya get yer head on straight."

Rogue huffed. "Ah in the 30's now Logan." Her eyes then lowered a bit. "But then again ah guess ya thinkin' everyone's a kid compared to ya." When he spoke of the X-men not being a thing forever, Rogue nodded her head slowly, for she knew for a good while now. In fact, it was something she was trying not to think about. But she was almost of a age where she should be on her own.

Of course, she knew that she always had a home there. But she also knew she couldn't stay there forever. She had not told anyone yet but the moment here and Gambit broke things off she packed up a bag and put it in the closet, knowing full she had to leave sooner than later.

" Good to hear it. Ya know it's silly but sometimes I find myself worrying about ya. " Rogue said softly. "Like of course I know full well ya take care of yourself and all. But I do worry from time to time."

[morinotsume]

"Hrmph. You'd be surprised." He walked the bike out from its bay in the garage and fired it up, letting it idle while Rogue made sure her gloves were securely on. He knew she didn't need any pointers on riding the thing -- she had a wild heart, the kind of kid who used to ride dirt-bikes on the back trails. She knew how not to fall off the back of a Harley.

Even if she did, he was pretty sure she'd bounce.

The trip down the road, into the little hamlet of Salem Center, was becoming a favorite for him. Short enough not to be a hassle, long enough to let some of the tension be melted off by the buffet of wind and the rumble of the engine. Her arms around his middle were trusting and warm, through layers of cloth and the leather of his jacket. Maybe Rogue was one of his favorites. Maybe he didn't care who knew it.

The bar was a familiar one, friendly to their kind thanks to the number of times they'd helped the old owners out. Nobody dared look askance when a couple of mutants walked in -- or if they did, they outed themselves as not being regulars. Logan had a favorite corner booth, and he slid in with a relaxed sigh. "Usual for me, bub. Li'l lady's got the first round, after that it's on my tab."

Rogue watched for a moment and couldn't help but laugh a little. "Afarid someone been picked pocket?" Moving her head to the side a bit she watched as he finally picked out his key. Walking over, Rogue made sure her gloves were fully on then hopped on.

Another smile formed on her lips as she wrapped her arms around Logan's waist and watched as they left. Her a moment she found herself lost within her own thoughts, something she tend to hate these days.

[morinotsume]

"Know ya too well, darlin'." If Rogue knew how dazzling her real smile was, he knew she'd be self-conscious about it -- which was why he never said a word about it, simply smiled in return. He also knew that her smiling and hand-waving was a defense mechanism. Other people liked to try to fix problems, liked to meddle. Logan didn't, mainly because he hated it when people did it to him. All she probably needed was a willing ear to let it get off her chest, not somebody offering solutions, or even platitudes.

"Sure, sure, you can get the first round." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Bike or truck?"

Rogue looked at Logan for a moment then smiled but this time it was a real smile. "Nothin' ain't gettin' pasted you." It wasn't that she didn't want to talk about it. It was more like she was afraid to. Because she cried about it for so long and she didn't want to lose it once more over the breakup.

" Somethin' harder hm ? " Rogue smirked a little. "All right cowboy but ah buyin'!"

[morinotsume]

"I know, girl." His head rolled on his shoulders, drawing a rather shockingly loud pop from the shifting vertebra -- if it wasn't for his healing factor the weight of the adamantium would have crushed his disks a long time ago. "An' I know I ain't always been the easiest to get acquainted with. But the offer stands. You need to get away, clear your head, you let me know." Logan looked down, swirling his drink idly in its glass. "Got a guest room set up for whoever wants to visit. Gabby's already said she wants to spend Christmas up there because she wants to see real snow."

Rogue found herself lost within his eyes for a moment, unable to say a word. But soon she snapped herself out of her thoughts and smiled once more. "Thank ya for ya know..." Her eyes lowered as she thought to herself again. When she looked back at Logan another smile formed on her lips. "For being there for me, whenever ah needed someone."

" It really means a lot...You mean a lot to me. " Rogue said softly, almost in a whisper. But it was loud enough for him to hear it.

[morinotsume]

Sometimes he wondered how Rogue's life might have turned out if Mystique had never gotten her claws in the girl -- if she'd simply come up on Xavier's radar and been brought in as one of his students, given a home where her worth wasn't based on how useful she could be or how her powers could be exploited. Would she have such a powerful fight-or-flight instinct… would she constantly push away the ones who could make her happy?

"Only 'cause I got somethin' worth fightin' for these days. Somethin' worth comin' back to."

The touch caused a small blush to form on Rogue's cheeks. "Yeah well...Without ya the place would be hell on wheels and we both know that." Her eyes then lowered to their hands as she thought to herself for a moment. The want and need to kiss his hand were there, stronger than before. But she damn well what would happen if she were to kiss any part of Logan, and it killed her.

Rogue knew the feeling of loneliness just as Logan knew the feeling. As much as she tried to pull people close to her, she always ended up getting burned. Hell, her own mother wanted nothing to do with her. She tried her best to make Rogue into a weapon and when Rogue fought back, she was thrown out. Or at least that's how she remembered it.

" Ya good people Logan, please don't forget that. " Rogue whispered softly.