-A/N-: Sorry for the wait. I had a little problem called ‘school’.

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The fact that he told her not to come looking for him made her worry so much more. She knew he could handle these things on his own—he was daringly independent like that. She knew he always had regular conflicts with self-judgment—although no one really took notice of them, or maybe no one actually knew. But her.

Despite all that, she still couldn’t bare leaving him to fend for himself, no matter how strong he was on the inside.

If anything, Rogue knew that people like that were easily broken. She’d been there before.

When he had left the room, like a silent shadow, making it so damn clear that he wanted to be left alone, she was afraid. She was scared for him. The second he left her sight, she felt the very heart of the fire within her go out. Like it was smothered over by something ghostly and unseen.

And then someone made that disgusting comment. Asked that repulsive question. One she never wanted to hear from anyone.

Do you think he’ll go back to the other side? Now that he’s back?

And those very words had affected her more than it would probably have affected John if he’d heard it.

Maybe it was just her. Maybe it wasn’t. Whatever it was, something had flared up within her. A strange emotion that she wasn’t at all familiar with. It was nothing like the insane wrath of fury that she stole from the Wolverine himself, nor the passionate heat of rage that belonged to Pyro. It was something she’d never felt before—a bitter, cynical anger that felt almost… metallic?

She didn’t know if there was a word that even existed that she could use to describe it.

But then the candleholder smashed against the wall. All by itself. And it sort of clicked in her mind that maybe ‘metallic’ was the best way to express it.

But the question was… how?

Rogue wasn’t all that sure she wanted to know the answers just yet. For all she knew, the Cure could’ve done something to her, causing her ‘dormant’ powers to emerge in an unstable surge.

Whatever it was, she didn’t quite care. Bobby asked her if she did it, and she said she didn’t know. Even though she knew the truth—the reality behind the lie. There was no other way to explain what happened.

And perhaps Bobby knew too. Because he was the only one in that room at the moment who knew the people she’d touched in the past.

Meanwhile, Pietro was examining the dented candleholder.

“Damn, just look at it,” he said, holding it up for everyone to take in. Pietro himself was looking at the metallic object with what seemed like disdain. “It’s been totally trashed!”

Kitty had walked up to the wall and put a shaky hand against the many large, spidery cracks that were left by the impact of the candleholder. “What did this?” she whispered.

“Nuh-uh. I think the question here is: who did this,” Pietro nodded, waving the lengthy item in his hand with more force than necessary.

“No one here, that’s for sure,” Bobby replied, almost too quickly.

Rogue caught the glance that was aimed at her.

So, he did know.

“Oh, I wouldn’t be so certain about that,” Pietro said smoothly.

“Whatever. Forget about the thing. We’ll explain everything to the Professor tomorrow. It’s late. You should be in bed,” Bobby said pointedly to Pietro. “You too, Jubes.”

Jubilee shrugged and rubbed her tired, double-lidded eyes.

“Good idea. I’m actually pretty tired,” Kitty mumbled, backing away from the wall and heading towards the door. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow. ‘Night.”

Pietro scowled, staring after Kitty, who had just exited the room. “Who needs sleep when you-”

“Pietro, just go,” Bobby snapped impatiently.

All attention on the candleholder was completely forgotten as everyone shuffled out of the room—Jubilee helplessly, Piotr without complaint and Pietro grumbling audibly.

“I swear,” Bobby muttered when the room was finally clear, apart from him and Rogue, “that kid deserves to get skewered by Logan.”

Rogue, who had been silent all the while only smiled feebly. So Pietro did tend to get on everyone’s nerves. Including the nerves of someone as tolerant as Bobby.

He was looking at her through the semi-darkness and she felt awkward just being there, so she tried to make a move towards the door to indicate that she was leaving.

“Rogue? Wait, “Bobby’s voice was quiet, “Are you okay?”

Rogue looked up at him and then looked away just as quickly. “What do you mean ‘am I okay?’ Of course I am,” she lied.

She didn’t know why she was putting on an act, like she didn’t know what he really meant. It made her feel like she was running away from the truth.

“You know what I’m talking about,” Bobby said, crossing his arms unsmilingly. And Rogue could see the unhidden concern in his crystal-blue eyes – a look that she was so familiar with when they had been more than ‘just friends’.

She sighed, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, Bobby. It’s just… so many things are happening now. First my powers came back, then Magneto reappears, and now this,” she gestured helplessly with a gloved hand, “I just don’t… can’t talk about it. I know what you mean but… just… not now.”

Bobby looked at her for a while before nodding. “Okay,” he conceded, knowing when to change the subject, “So, are you uh… going to look for John?” he asked hesitantly.

“He doesn’t want to be found.”

“Yeah. He’s like that occasionally,” Bobby admitted, and Rogue was reminded of the times when John had so obviously made it known that he wanted everyone to fuck off and get out of his life.

“But,” Bobby continued, “I doubt I understand him as much as you do.”

“No, you don’t,” Rogue muttered, turning to leave, “and sometimes, neither do I,” she added. And Bobby could have sworn he saw the look of dejection in her eyes for a split second.

Bobby stared after her retreating form. And then finally made his mind up.

-

He heard cautious footsteps from behind—the rustle of grass and dead leaves under heavy shoes.

He didn’t need to have heightened senses to know that someone was approaching him. And rather hesitantly at that, too.

“So, you finally found me, huh?” John said without turning around.

He heard a collective sigh from somewhere behind in the shadows and John raised an eyebrow. He knew that sigh. And it was definitely not who he was expecting to come looking for him.

“Yeah, I found you. Well actually, I passed Logan down the hallway and he told me you were out here trying to ‘freeze yourself to death’ as he put it.”

John turned in his seat, an eyebrow still raised, to look over at Bobby.

“Never did understand that man’s sense of humour,” John admitted languidly. “If I wanted to freeze myself to death so badly, I would’ve just needed to piss you off.” John turned back to face Jean Grey’s stone monument, “which isn’t all that hard to do,” he added.

Bobby shook his head and circled the bench, the grass crackling beneath his feet.

“Maybe you should go back inside,” Bobby said once he was face to face with John. Logan had been right about it being chilly out here and although Bobby couldn’t care less about the dropping temperature, he was pretty sure John wasn’t enjoying himself too much in the biting cold.

“Well, give me one reason why I should,” John retorted.

“Well, for one, you’re probably gonna’ get hypothermia or something,” Bobby said astutely.

John laughed. “You forget, Drake. I’m Pyro, remember? Py-ro,” he enunciated slowly, “I thought you already had that figured out.”

Bobby resisted the urge to roll his eyes and failed. “Well, whatever, you fire freak. That’s not the only reason why you should get your ass back into the mansion. Rogue’s worried about you.”

John glanced at Bobby. “You talked to her?”

“Yeah. She didn’t say it. But I could tell she’s really concerned about you and she seemed really upset about the whole thing on the news.” Bobby made sure to steer clear of the words ‘Brotherhood’ and ‘Magneto’.

“She doesn’t have to be,” John mumbled, staring down at the two cigars on the ground. Bobby noticed them too and gave John a quizzical look but didn’t comment. “She doesn’t have to be upset,” he repeated, “I don’t want her to carry my burdens.”

“What the hell, John. You can’t keep going around thinking you can manage on your own. Sometimes I wonder why she even gives a shit about you. And then I realise it’s because she cares about you and it’s so damn obvious that she loves you,” Bobby grated, “So if you feel the same way, stop thinking you can handle things by yourself and think about other people for crying out loud.”

John was taken aback by Bobby’s sudden outburst. It wasn’t because this was one of the few times Bobby had used a hell load of swear words, but because Bobby had implied that Rogue loved him and that he was acting like such an idiot for not letting her in on his trials and tribulations.

Oh, my God. She must be really cut that I told her to stay away from me after the stupid news on the stupid TV.

“Drake? You’re right.” I shouldn’t be such a self-centred dickhead. “I’m such a fool…”

Bobby grinned then, “I know, ‘Dyce,” he said amiably, “You are.”

John rolled his eyes. “Haha, Drake. You’re funny.”

“Yeah. Anyway, now that that’s cleared up, I’ve got to tell you something. I think something’s not right with Rogue’s powers…”

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-A/N-: Ahh, the Bobby-talks. He really adds depth to the whole trio-friendship-thingy. It clears things up heaps. Ryro next chapter. Risty Wilde next chapter. Pietro vs Pyro next chapter and yeah, lots of stuff’ll be revealed next chapter. Because I feel like being nice to you guys (actually, I feel like I owe you some action). Woohoo.

Review please.

Thank you PsYcHoThErApY17 (I really loved your review!), we-r-the-cure, the sillylittlepanda, Kari Lynn Craine, Dama Jade, Chica De Los Ojos Cafe, Psyc0gurl0, yaba, Obiwanfan, UltimateRider, Mrs. St. John Allerdyce, Cheetah girl 15, Erik's Secret Admirer, xLiLix and dhfreak06 for the reviews…