Disclaimer: I don’t own X-men or Marvel and if I did my couples wouldn’t be getting screwed over and Alex Summers would go away and get lost somewhere.

Summary: It’s been a year since Apocalypse was defeated, and things are moving fine for the team. However, something terrible is about to take place and it has twenty victims in mind…Follows Essence of Malevolence.

Couples: Romy, Jott, Jonda, Lice, Rolo, Kiotr, Juno, Anlocke, Sabitha, and Domcable. Others will be announced later on.

I like to thank everyone who reviewed the last chapter of The Essence of Malevolence: Prexistence, Moonfirefairy , and R. Ravenshaw

Ripped Away

She Isn’t Coming Back

Change is a thing that happens wherever a person goes. You cannot escape it, just embrace it. The word change was perfect to describe the last year at the X-mansion. People were growing up and becoming closer and confident with the people around them. Everyone who had participated in the immense fight against Apocalypse the year before had definitely experienced a little part of the whole changing experience. It was bound to happen.

The students that once were had became teachers and instructors at the school. Everyone who had been a horseman, had fully recovered, although, they kept a trace of the power Apocalypse had bestowed within them. Bobby could now transform his body from normal flesh into a thick sheet of ice. The professor had become even more powerful in the telepathic area, along with Psylocke. As for X-23, the poor girl hadn’t been heard of since that fateful day. The last one to ever speak to her was Rogue, and it was going to remain that way for a long while.

XXXX

“Johnny,” Wanda sang as she pounded on her bedroom door. “Unlock this, before I hex the door open and throw it at you!” she screamed. It instantly opened and the male inside the room smirked. Wanda rolled her eyes and jumped into his arms.

“What do you want?” he asked.

“I want in my damn room.” She pointed out, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“So it’s just your room now?” he questioned, perking his eyebrow. Wanda sighed and jumped back onto the floor.

“You know what I meant. I have to get my uniform cause I’m helping some damn kid learn how to control their issues while using their powers.” She grinned, walking over to her dresser. She pulled out the sleek black uniform, along with her scarlet trench coat.

“And you’re the best person to help them with that?” John laughed, folding his arms. Wanda grunted and hexed the door shut. She threw her clothing to the ground and started pulling on her uniform.

“So when do you think we can tell everyone?” she wondered aloud.

“Well, when the idea won’t make Wolverine want to kill us.” He replied. Wanda sighed and zipped up the front of her outfit.

“That isn’t guna be any time soon, John. I’m still surprised we got to share a room together.” She mused. John nodded and approached her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a small kiss.

“We’re not kids anymore.” He pointed out. She smiled.

“They are never guna know, are they?” she snapped, pulling on her jacket.

“Well, like I said, Wolverine will kill us, and if he doesn’t, Scott will.”

“Are you so afraid of being stabbed in the stomach, or flung away by an optic beam?” she teased.

“Wanda, I know it’s been this way for like three months, but-“he started. Wanda placed her fingertips onto his lips.

“Yes, I know, three months since that wonderful, crazy day we took a road trip. I don’t regret it, do you?” she lulled. John rolled his eyes.

“You know I don’t.” he assured. Wanda smirked and gave him a small kiss.

“I have to go, Pyro, but I’ll be back later.” She murmured, heading for the door. John grabbed her hand.

“I’ll see you tonight.” He whispered. She nodded and left the room.

Pietro groaned as he collapsed on the couch. His hair was drooping and so was his expression. He would be lying if he said he was content. He was far from it. He never regretted anything more in his life. Crystal. That horrid woman had ruined everything he had, and he let her. He couldn’t blame the entire act on her. It was as much his fault as it was hers. Now, because of his actions, the only woman he ever truly loved was gone.

He and Logan had tried to find her right after she left, but there was no trace. Logan said her scent was practically impossible to pick up, and the professor said that she would come back if she wanted to. Pietro sighed. He finally admitted to himself that she didn’t want to. Rogue told him that X still loved him, but he didn’t know what to think. If she loved him, she wouldn’t have left. They could have worked things out. Pietro rolled his eyes. Who was he kidding? He had hurt that girl in the most terrible way. Their relationship could never be fixed.

“Pietro.” A voice spat, tearing him out of his pitiful thoughts. The male grunted and looked up. A green haired girl stood in front of him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a weak smile. “She’ll come back.”

“No she won’t.” he sneered. Lorna sat down beside him.

“How do you know?”

“If Bobby cheated on you, would you come back?” Pietro growled. Lorna sighed.

“For one, he would never do that, and for two, me and X are not like each other. X didn’t know how to deal with this, so she ran. I know it hurts, I miss her too. She was one of my best friends, Pietro. I want her back just as much as you do. She’ll come back when she’s ready. “She assured.

“That’s what everyone else says.” Pietro whispered. “It’s been a year. It’s been a god damn whole year. She isn’t coming back. I know she isn’t.”

“Then cheer up. If you know she isn’t coming back, get on with your life. I know its guna be hard but you gotta stop sulking every day and moping to every area in the mansion. You’re not the same as you were. Maybe she hasn’t come back because she knows you’re not ready either. You wouldn’t be able to face her like this. You’d just fall to your feet and try to beg her forgiveness. That’s not the Pietro we know.” She insisted.

“Don’t you have a class to teach or a danger room session to help out with?” he snapped, an angry glare forming on his face.

“I’ll be leaving now.” Lorna spoke as she got up off the couch and started to walk to the elevator. She gasped as she felt the floor become icy. She soon slipped and fell into a pair of familiar arms. A smirk grew upon her face and she looked up at her savoir. “Bobby, Scott is guna kill you.”

“Not my fault.” He pointed out. Ever since Apocalypse, Bobby had been a little less uptight. Heck, he’d even pulled a few jokes on some people. Lorna had to admit, she did like this side of him.

“So when a bunch of kids slip and fall and break their legs, what are you guna do?” she asked. Bobby shrugged and stood her up right.

“I could call John to help melt this mess away.” He started.

“That would make sense.” She grinned. “Aren’t you supposed to be in your science class?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be in your biology class?”

“I came out to talk to Pietro.” Lorna sighed, glancing back towards the couch. “He still isn’t well. Anyways, what’s your excuse?”

“I heard your voice and wanted to come out to see you.” He admitted. She smiled and pulled him in for a kiss.

“You better get back to class, Bobby Drake. You don’t wana get detention.” She teased.

“Same goes for you.”

“Now, just focus your anger into your abilities.” Scarlet Witch ordered her pupil. The teenage boy nodded and started to omit his energy towards his target.

“Kid!” a low voice shouted. Wanda turned towards the elevator and noticed Logan walking towards her.

“I’ll be right back. Keep on working at it.” She whispered before she walked over to the older man. She folded her arms. “Any luck today?”

“Listen, I know you want her back, I want her back too.” He sighed. “But the girl doesn’t want to be found. I’ve searched everywhere. Her trail is cold. There’s no use of even looking for her.”

“I know. It’s just Pietro.” Wanda murmured.

“I know. I keep tellin’ the kid that she’ll come back, but I’m havin’ doubts. If she’s been gone this long, she might not come back at all.”

“I know, but he needs to have hope or else he’ll wither and die. He’s so broken over this.”

“He should have thought of that before he cheated on her.” Logan growled. Scarlet Witch rolled her eyes. She looked up and noticed Jubilee and Gambit had entered the control room above. She turned back to her pupil.

“I guess we’re done for today. Your teammates will be here soon.”

“Rogue, it’s alright to be a little stressed.” The professor assured with a warm smile. “You’re attempting something very difficult.”

“And Ah’m failing miserably.” She glared. She folded her arms and leaned against his desk. For the past four months, the old man had been trying to help her with controlling her absorption powers. They had very little luck with it.

“It’s bound to be frustrating, but you’ll get the hang out it soon enough.” He spoke. Rogue shook her head and walked over to the door.

“Ah was an idiot to think this mahte actually work. Ah’ll never control mah powers. That’s how its guna be forever. Ah’m bound to long sleeves and gloves.” She fumed. She stared back at her mentor. “Thanks foah tryin’ professor, but if Ah ain’t got control now, Ah’m never guna.”

“Rogue,” he began.

“No, besides y’ got a class t’ teach in a few minutes, and Ah got a danger room session to monitor. Thanks foah th’ help Professor, honestly, and it means so much that ya tried. Th’ truth is, Ah’m never guna be able to touch anyone ever again.”

She gave a sad sigh as she shut the door behind her. It was so painful to actually admit those words. She had been trying so hard to gain control, but, nothing was working. Nothing helped. Even if she concentrated her best, there was still no hope. She was doomed to live her life out as a parasite, having to keep everyone she loved at arm’s reach, just so she wouldn’t knock them out. Rogue could feel the tears forming in her eyes as she leaned against the closest wall. She expected this to happen; yet, she still couldn’t stop her sad tears from pouring down her cheeks.

“Rogue?”

The Southerner jumped and quickly brushed away her sadness with one of her accursed gloved hands. She looked up at the approaching friend and smiled weakly.

“Hey Jubes.” She greeted. “Ah was just goin’ tah meet yah and Remy in th’ danger room.”

“Rogue, were you just crying?” Jubilee asked, folding her arms. Rogue shook her head.

“No.”

“Oh, please.” Jubilee said, rolling her eyes. “I take it your session with the professor didn’t go that well.”

“You’d be right.” Rogue mumbled. “But, that doesn’t matter, we have to go watch three kids bounce around in th’ danger room.”

Jubilee sighed as she and her friend walked towards one of the many elevators. It was quite obvious what had happened. Rogue had given up on ever controlling her powers. Jubilee almost wanted to push her back towards Xavier’s office and make her. However, she knew she couldn’t do that. This was something Rogue would have to do on her own.

“So what are you doing tonight?” Rogue questioned as they awaited the large box to take them down to the subbasement.

“Well, Dazzler is performing in town, and I’m trying to get Jono to go with me. I might have to settle for Kitty though. Jono hates her music and well, he’s not big on crowds.” Jubilee admitted. “I tried to get him. I told him how I love her lyrics and her shows are supposed to have great effects and her guitarist is pretty cute.”

“Yeah, Ah’m sure that would have won yoah boyfriend over.” Rogue pointed out. Jubilee shrugged as the elevator opened. The two stepped out and noticed Gambit standing by the controls. He glanced over and smirked.

“Told you I’d find her.” Jubilee announced. Rogue nodded and stood beside her boyfriend. She looked down into the danger room and sighed.

“So what’s goin’ on today?” she questioned.

“Well, Wanda got one of the kids all powered up, now he’s got some teammates and then danger room was guna explode.” Jubilee said calmly. “Then I told them if they didn’t smarten up, Remy would steal their lunch money. Then they started being normal.”

“Sounds fun.” Rogue said dryly. She started pressing onto the controls. “Ah’m guna liven things up a bit.”

Gambit frowned and grabbed Jubilee by her jacket. He stared at her, his face clearly speaking for him.

“Her session with the professor didn’t go to well.” Jubilee whispered.

“What session, petite?”

“Oh she has been trying to get her powers under control.” The girl continued. “She wasn’t guna tell you about it cause she wanted to surprise you or something. I think she stopped trying.”

“She hasn’t been acting-“

“Remy, please, Rogue hides how she feels almost as good as Wolvie does.” Jubilee ranted. “She probably learned it from him.”

Remy frowned again and approached Rogue from behind. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her on the top of her head. This no touching thing was starting to get to him too, but he was trying not to let it show. He held her tighter. That’s not what she needed right now. Besides, if touch mattered so much to him, he would have left her already. He loved her for who she was, and that was enough for now.

To Be Continued…..

Next Chapter: Romy angst and more!

A/N: Yeah, crappy first chapter, but meh, it’s 1 in the morning and I’m a tired one. So, well, I hope everyone liked it and please review.