He refused to accept that last night was a mistake. Rogue reached out to him and matched his passion, had wanted him as much as he wanted her. She wanted him badly enough to be able to shut off her skin and that had to mean something. She could learn to love him again, she would love him again. What made them fall in love with each other was still there; he just needed to create new memories to replace the ones stolen from her and he could do that. Looked forward to it. He would show her every single day what she meant to him because she was everything.
Everything.
Ah don’t remember you. Ah don’t remember loving you.
Logan winced, pain lancing through him. Fuck, that had hurt. Still did. But he was convinced she felt something for him, something strong, something powerful. He smelled it on her last night and the intense aroma was like a balm to his shattered heart when he was forced to walk away from the bedroom door she closed on him. Riding all night gave him a chance to think, a chance to formulate a plan. They were going to have a long talk. They were going to go through his memories together and figure out the answers to all the questions she had about her past. He would lay it all out there, no more keeping secrets, no more hiding, to hell with what the professor wanted. She needed to move forward and he was going to help her in any way he could. If that meant leaving the mansion, then they were leaving today. He planned on showing her that the love they shared was the forever kind. That he was hers.
Logan’s ears twitched. The sound was faint at first but it grew louder and he immediately recognized the roar of a quickly approaching jet. Stepping outside of the garage, he saw the hovering aircraft land directly in front of the mansion; it’s red and gold metallic sleek exterior a sharp contrast to the antiquated stone ground beneath it. The hatch opened and he saw a familiar figure jump jauntily down the steps before striding purposefully towards the school entrance.
Logan scowled.
Breaking out into a light jog, he entered the mansion from the side door and saw the professor and Scott greeting the S.H.I.E.L.D. deputy director, their countenances expressing their disappointment when the sharply dressed man informed them they were still unsuccessful in locating Blindspot and Mystique.
Stopping to stand directly in front of him, Logan demanded, “What the hell are you doin’ here, Stark?”
“Why, hello Logan. Is the welcoming committee around here always up so early?” Tony pushed the sunglasses he was wearing to the top of his head and grinned, sticking out his hand.
Logan growled and ignored the gesture, folding his arms across his chest instead. “I learned a while ago tincan, that you showin’ up uninvited means trouble. Out with it.”
Unperturbed, Tony shrugged and his grin broadened. “Funny, that’s what we Avengers say about you.” He withdrew his hand and returned his attention to Charles. “Except this time, I’m expected. Is she ready?”
All three X-Men looked at the Avenger, confused. “Is who ready?” This came from Scott, frowning.
“Me.”
All four men looked up to see Rogue making her way down the stairs, dressed in jeans and a waist-length, thin black leather jacket, a suitcase in each hand and a duffle bag worn over her shoulder. The scent of peppermint and vanilla wafted down and Logan inhaled it deeply into his lungs, the freshness of it revealing the recentness of her shower. Her hair was worn in a loose ponytail, falling over her shoulder in wet tendrils and her face was free of any makeup, making her look younger than ever.
Tony clapped his hands sharply and the two soldiers that had been standing sentry by the front doors stepped forward to take her things. Logan snarled and blocked their way, his claws shooting out as he held out his arms on either side of him.
“Don’t even think about it, bubs.”
The sound of guns being drawn filled the foyer as both soldiers immediately pulled out their weapons, double laser target beams forming red dots dead centre against Logan’s forehead. Tony Stark stepped in front of the tense soldiers, pushing the nozzles of the guns down with his index fingers slowly.
“Hey, hey, no need to get huffy. It’s too early in the day for this anyway, I’m barely awake as it is.” He yawned dramatically and pulled down the dark sunglasses over his eyes again, looking towards Rogue who was now at the bottom of the stairs. “I take it they didn’t get your memo?”
Rogue walked past a stunned Logan and handed over her things to the two soldiers who looked relieved to be given a reason to return to the jet. “No,” she responded, annoyed. “I haven’t told them yet.” His flippant attitude was getting on her nerves. If these Avengers were all like him, she’d have to make alternate arrangements. Drawing her shoulders back, Rogue stepped towards Charles and Scott, her eyes cold.
“I am officially resigning from the X-Men.” They both opened their mouths to protest but she continued, her accent completely gone, her words clipped and clear. “The theft of my memories has made me irrelevant to your organization, the person you all believe me to be no longer exists. While I can appreciate your belief that the return of my memories will also return the woman you know as Anna, I can assure you, she is gone forever. I have decided to pursue the opportunity of joining the Avengers at the invitation of Mr. Stark.”
“Like fuck you are.”
Rogue turned to look at Logan, seething beside her. Her eyes poured over his stricken face, taking in his flashing eyes and clenched jaw, his entire body flexed and ready to fight. She held out her gloved hands to reach for his claws, placing her palms on their tips and forcing him to sheathe them back into his forearms when she pressed her hands forward. Sad, she laced her fingers with his and pulled him close to her, their arms straight by their sides as she leaned into him.
“You have to let me go.”
His heartbeat became erratic, his breathing sharp and shallow to prevent the ache that was growing inside him from stealing it away completely. Logan pressed his face into her damp hair where the smell of vanilla and peppermint was even stronger. Swallowing hard, he whispered into her ear, “Don’t do this. I can fix us. I can.”
Rogue pulled back to look into his eyes and told him, “I need to go.” His face blurred as hers filled with tears. “Please, Wolverine. Let me go.”
Logan held on briefly when she loosened her fingers but released her when she pulled her hands away, keeping his eyes on the floor, his heart pounding loudly in his ears. Rogue went to stand by Tony Stark and for once, the flamboyant billionaire playboy stayed silent, turning to escort her to the Avengers Quinjet waiting for them outside.
“Stay where you are, Rogue. I do not accept your resignation.”
Everyone looked at Professor Xavier, surprised. Scott’s mouth eyebrows knitted together in confusion when Charles’ voice rang through his mind, calling out to the rest of the X-Men telepathically for assistance. The X-Men leader felt an icy chill race up his spine. “What are you doing?”
Professor Xavier ignored him and kept his eyes on Rogue, informing her in a stern voice, “I cannot permit you to leave.”
Rogue’s eyes narrowed, taking a step towards him. “Permit me? All this time you had the answers I needed, knew the truth about my past and yet you chose to keep me ignorant. You let me think it was for my own good, but I don’t believe that’s true. Out of respect for everything you have done for me, I am keeping this civil, but I am leaving and there is nothing you can do to stop me. Your telepathic powers are useless on me.”
Charles looked at her sadly, but his face was resolute. “They are useless on you, yes.” Tony Stark was suddenly thrown against the wall and pinned there, his arms crossed over his chest and his head lifted high, unable to speak. “I am very sorry, Rogue. I am doing this for your protection.”
Logan moved to stand in front of Rogue, seeing bone claws slide out between her knuckles, her lips curled back to bare her teeth. She was letting the feral in her take over and he held her back, his back towards the professor. “Take it easy, darlin’. We’ll figure this out.”
Nightcrawler appeared by their side in a cloud of sulphur as Colossus, Beast and Storm bounded down the stairs. All were struck speechless at the sight of Tony Stark paralyzed against the wall and Rogue being blocked by Logan, her eyes fixated on the professor.
“Oh my goddess, what’s going on?”
Storm stepped towards them but Logan growled in warning, spinning around to face Charles, keeping Rogue behind him. The weather controlling mutant turned to Beast whose face reflected his growing alarm at the expression on his old friend’s face. “Charles, what is this? Is S.H.I.E.L.D. trying to take Rogue again?”
Professor Xavier’s eyes glinted dangerously, facing his team who were all unsure of what to do in reaction to the scene before them. “I cannot be more clear, X-Men. I want Rogue restrained. Now!”
Tony meanwhile was having difficulty breathing, his face red and mottled. “What are you doing, Charles?” Scott yelled, placing a hand on Charles’ shoulder to get his attention. “You’re attacking an Avenger!”
“I am willing to do much more than that if any Avenger tries to take Rogue from us, Scott.” Charles turned his plated eyes towards the confused and shocked group of mutants and became angry at their inaction. “Do as I say X-Men and take Rogue downstairs to the detention cells immediately!”
Logan crouched and released his claws again. “Anyone comes near her, I’ll gut’em.” Suddenly, his claws were pressed up against his neck, and the professor looked regretful.
“Don’t make this any harder, Logan. I assure you, I mean Rogue no harm. But she cannot leave here, under any circumstance.”
Rogue was startled to suddenly hear voices in her mind – both Kurt and Colossus refused to attack her and she realized that the professor heard their thoughts as well because they fell to the ground, completely immobile and under his control. Her eyes darted to Scott, Hank and Ororo and although they looked at her apologetically, Rogue could hear their thoughts go in the opposite direction. Despite being upset at Professor Xavier’s behavior, they intended to do as he instructed and apprehend her. The three X-Men moved towards her cautiously.
Furious, Rogue looked directly at Charles Xavier, the resentment she experienced throughout the night as she accessed more and more of the Wolverine’s memories intensifying. She had been going crazy over the past six weeks, had begged for information and had been patient, trusting this man. Yet he had continued to keep so much from her and now, he revealed his intent to keep her his prisoner.
Rogue was done waiting. It was time for her to be free.
Charles Xavier’s eyes rolled into the back of his head, his body seizing and violently shaking before he fell like a rag doll to the ground. Storm screamed before she ran to the professor’s side, taking him into her arms as Beast dropped down beside her to take the inert man’s pulse.
Free of the telepath’s control, Tony Stark immediately transformed into Iron Man, powering up and holding out his palm repulse beam in warning to Scott who placed his hand by his visor to stop him. “Stand down, Cyclops. I have no quarrel with you.”
The Avenger turned to Rogue and she stepped into his outstretched arm, wrapping her arms around his neck. She only had time to send Logan one last, forlorn look before Iron Man ignited the rockets under his feet and flew out the front entrance, straight up into the air.
They were gone.
Logan ran out to the front courtyard as they streaked across the sky, a rapidly disappearing mark against the clear blue sky. A school bus drove through the front gates of the estate just as the Quinjet lifted into the sky and the newly graduated class of the Willowbend Academy poured out of the yellow chartered vehicle, pointing and exclaiming at the sight of the powerful aircraft rising above them before blasting away with a sonic roar.
Logan wasn’t aware of the small hand that tugged at his arm and when he finally noticed, he found himself looking into a pair of large, apprehensive green eyes.
“What’s going on, Wolverine?”
At the sound of Laura’s voice, Logan released the breath he hadn’t been aware he was holding. He looked over his shoulder and saw Beast carrying an unconscious Professor Xavier to the med bay with Ororo following closely behind. Kurt and Colossus glared at Scott before following the X-Men leader outside to help corral the excited new students of the academy, their facial expressions schooled to look neutral though Logan knew they were angry and bewildered.
Logan’s eyes returned to his clone’s worried face. “I don’t know, kid. I don’t know.”
“We should prepare ourselves for an attack from the X-Men.”
The assembled superheroes were standing around the large circular table in the middle of the war-room situated in the top floor of the Stark Tower, the New York City skyline visible through the impressive 360 degree wall of windows. Iron Man was grim, adding, “I don’t think I have ever seen Charles Xavier like that. He had full intention of using whatever power he had to ensure that Rogue remained with them.”
“But, why?” Ms Marvel was the first to speak, the others still too shocked to react. “Why would he go so far to keep Rogue with the X-Men?”
Iron Man hesitated before answering. “There are certain facets to Rogue’s mutation that S.H.I.E.L.D. has learned of that Xavier had wanted to keep secret. He must want her to stay with the X-Men to keep her under his control. We’ve been after Rogue for some time to join the Avengers and he always made it clear that he would never support it. It could just be a matter of keeping a strong player on his team.”
Everyone turned to look at Rogue, who was standing by the window, a despondent look on her face.
“It is your choice, Rogue. Whatever you decide, we support you.” Carol Danvers approached her, placing her hand comfortingly on the younger woman’s arm. “There’s no rush to make a decision, and you are welcome to stay here as long as you like. We won't make you do anything you don’t want to.”
Rogue took a deep breath, trying to release the anxiety she was feeling, but failing. She had spent the last hour with Ms. Marvel who had provided her with counsel and empathy, an irony not lost on either of them considering their history.
“I don’t belong there anymore,” Rogue told her honestly. “Whoever I was while I was an X-Man didn’t feel like me. At least here, I can be myself. I can be Rogue.” She turned to face everyone, taking the time to look at each of them; Lucas Cage, and his wife Jessica, Captain America, Iron Man, Spiderman, Thor, Hawkeye and Ms. Marvel.
“I don’t want to cause any trouble. If I had thought my leaving would cause all this, I would have never contacted Iron Man. The last thing I wanted was to start a fight between the Avengers and the X-Men. Maybe the best thing would be for me to leave.”
Everyone began to protest, Spiderman’s voice carrying over the others. “I have no problem with the most powerful telepath in the universe trying to scrape the brain out of our skulls to get you back. But I do have a problem with that bat-crazy Edwards Scissorhands look-a-like coming after us.” Spiderman looked at his teammates. “Are we sure we want to go down that road?”
Hawkeye laughed and folded his arms across his chest, looking at Thor who looked just as amused. “Just step aside and let the big boys deal with the Wolverine.”
“Don’t be foolish,” Captain America said disapprovingly. “Underestimating the Wolverine is tantamount to signing your own death warrant. We’ll deal with our fellow Avenger should the need arise.” He swung his gaze towards Rogue. “I don’t like the idea of you being left alone after what happened in Washington. The offer to join the Avengers still stands, regardless of Xavier’s opinion on the matter.”
The Avengers all nodded in agreement. They would protect her as one of their own.