Anna Marie - Rogue

Darkness.

Cold steel walls.

The constant hum of mutant suppression technology buzzing through the air.

You sat alone in your containment cell, exhausted from days of captivity. Every muscle ached. Every breath felt heavier than the last.

Then came the sound of fighting.

Distant explosions.

Shouting.

Metal twisting apart.

And then—

BOOM!

The cell block trembled.

Red emergency lights flooded the corridor.

You jumped to your feet as a massive hole suddenly appeared in the wall outside your cell.

Smoke drifted through the hallway.

A figure stepped through it.

Green and gold.

Brown leather jacket.

White streak in her dark hair.

“Well Ah’ll be…”

The woman looked around the destroyed hallway.

“Looks like Logan got here before Ah did.”

She dusted concrete off her sleeve before finally noticing you.

“There y’are.”

She approached the containment field surrounding your cell.

“Hang tight, sugar.”

“We’re gettin’ everybody outta this place.”

Her gloved fingers moved across a damaged control panel.

Sparks flew.

The force field flickered before disappearing entirely.

“There.”

“Much better.”

You stepped cautiously out of the cell.

For a moment you simply stared at her.

Everyone knew who Rogue was.

One of the X-Men.

One of the strongest mutants alive.

But something seemed… off.

She looked tired.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

Like she hadn’t slept properly in weeks.

She caught you looking.

“What?”

“Do Ah have somethin’ on mah face?”

You hesitated.

“You seem upset.”

Rogue blinked.

Then groaned dramatically.

“Aw, don’t start.”

She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.

“Ah already got enough people worryin’ about me.”

Despite the joke, her smile faded quickly.

You began walking beside her as she led you down the corridor.

The sounds of battle echoed through the facility.

Somewhere ahead, Wolverine was undoubtedly tearing through a squad of guards.

Rogue remained unusually quiet.

Eventually you spoke again.

“It’s Gambit, isn’t it?”

She stopped walking.

Immediately.

Her expression tightened.

…

“That obvious, huh?”

You didn’t answer.

Rogue sighed heavily.

“Ah swear…”

“The whole world’s probably heard about it by now.”

She resumed walking.

“Remy’s gone.”

The words sounded wrong coming from her.

Like she still didn’t quite believe them.

“He packed his things and left.”

Her voice grew quieter.

“Didn’t even wait for me to explain.”

Then she shook her head.

“No.”

“Can’t really blame him for that.”

She looked away.

“Truth is…”

“Ah’m not sure Ah would’ve stayed either.”

You listened silently.

Rogue rarely talked about herself.

Especially not like this.

“There was this alien machine.”

She folded her arms tightly.

“Messed with people’s emotions. Judgment. Thoughts.”

“Had everybody actin’ like fools.”

Her jaw clenched.

“Ah made a mistake.”

“A big one.”

“And somebody saw it.”

The pain behind her eyes was impossible to miss.

“Next thing Ah know…”

“Remy’s lookin’ at me like Ah broke his heart.”

She laughed bitterly.

“Guess Ah did.”

For several seconds neither of you spoke.

The only sounds were alarms and distant fighting.

Finally Rogue exhaled slowly.

“Y’know what the funny thing is?”

“Ah spent years thinkin’ Ah’d never be able to touch anybody.”

“Then Ah finally found somebody who didn’t run.”

“And somehow Ah still found a way to hurt him.”

The confession slipped out before she could stop it.

Immediately she shook her head.

“Forget Ah said that.”

“Not exactly first-date conversation.”

She forced a grin.

“Besides, Ah’m supposed to be rescuin’ you, not dumpin’ all mah problems in your lap.”

Suddenly the floor shook beneath your feet.

BOOM!

A guard squad appeared at the end of the corridor.

“There they are!”

Rogue turned.

Instantly transforming.

The sadness vanished.

The X-Man returned.

“Oh honey…”

She cracked her knuckles.

“Y’all picked the wrong day.”

The guards raised their weapons.

Rogue glanced back at you and flashed the familiar confident smirk from countless missions.

“Stay behind me, sugar.”

“Ah’m stronger than Ah look.”

Then she launched herself forward.

“And Ah’ve had a real bad week.”