Learning to Deal

I don't own X-Men Evolution (or X-Men for that matter) characters or anything concerning the show, comics, ect. No suing! Be civil in reviews (if there are any).

No one truly understood her, how could they? Perhaps that was the reason she was on a bus heading for Charleston, South Carolina with only a duffle bag in the middle of the night when she should be back at the mansion sleeping.

She was scared to be honest; she was scared of what she could do and what she was capable of doing to herself and others. After Apocalypse, she had proven to herself that she was in fact a danger to everyone around her. It didn't matter that she had saved the world and her friends, she had still hurt each and every one of them and that was proof enough that she shouldn't be around them.

At least she had left a note for Kitty to find when she woke the next morning. It didn't explain much of anything, only that she was going on her own to find herself, not to follow her, and she would return if the X-Men needed her again; like if Apocalypse reappeared.

Perhaps this whole journey of self-discovery was more than just that and being able to prevent her from harming her friends. Perhaps it was a journey of reflection as well. L-rd only knew she was well over do for a good long reflection, something one couldn't get at the X-Mansion. No, she needed to be completely alone without the other X-Men to barge in on her parade, without having to be reminded that she never had a chance with Scott.

She laughed at herself. How could she not?! There she was still pining after a guy she never once had a chance with and who she still allowed herself to crush after for so long. Where did it all lead to? Nothing but hurt feelings and untold truths that she doubted Scott had ever noticed during their time together.

At least he wasn't the only reason Ah had joined, she told herself with a smile. Scott had not been the only reason she decided to side with the X-Men. Mystique had lied to her, filled her mind with false truths, how could Rogue dare to think of staying with a group led by a woman who she couldn't trust?! Plus, with the X-Men there was the promise that the Prof would be there to help her with her powers.

Some joke! she scoffed. The Prof hadn't taken the time to help her with her problems; then again she never went to him for help. Still, the Prof was a mind-reader he should have taken the time to help her regain some ability to touch others; he worked with Jean and even with Spike for a while!

Who was she fooling? The Prof treated her like the other kids; the only problem was that she wasn't like the other kids. They all had an extra power; they lost no abilities just gained a new ability. Mr. McCoy lost his ability to be around in society due to his appearance but he made the most of it by being a teacher, but that was his choice! He didn't have to worry constantly about personal space and the possibility of some idiot touching him, like the guy next to Rogue who kept 'accidentally' resting his hand on her knee.

Jean had an added power but she just needed help when it grew, yet she could touch, hold, and kiss others whereas Rogue couldn't do that without feeling anxiety about the person she hugged touching her skin.

Not to mention, none of the other students had everyone they had ever touched stuck in their head! Yes, the Prof had helped her build that lovely brick wall so that she could keep the personalities out but the wall was crumbling again with the reintroduction of all the personalities from when she absorbed their powers for Apocalypse. It really hurt her head and it scared her.

Maybe that's why the Prof didn't take time with her, because he was afraid of adding fuel to these personalities and making Rogue an even stronger mutant. Perhaps that was why the others would flinch away from her when she would try to help or touch them despite the fact that she was completely covered in clothes.

Apocalypse was the strongest mutant in existence but he was defeated by her and that machine of his. Magneto was the strongest mutant and the only one not affected by telepaths due to his helmet. Professor Xavier was the strongest telepath in existence to date. Could she really be compared to them, she wasn't the strongest in any one power; she had a calash of powers at her disposal.

Rogue had always thought the powers she took were temporary, that was until the personalities had decided to try to take over her. That awoke every power she had ever absorbed and she found that she could control each one better than the original owner. It was frightening, especially since she couldn't control it at first until she became enraged and blinded by the power.

'Power corrupts, Absolute power corrupts absolutely' right? That's what Rogue had once heard and maybe it was true, and that could be another reason why she was afraid of herself.

Doesn't it sound to be strange to be scared of one's self? If so, then it was another odd thing to add to Rogue's "Odd Things about Rogue" list, it was getting rather long.

Maybe this trip will help meh clear mah mind, she thought leaning against the window. Gawd, this bahtter work!

"GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER! IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT TODAY! IT'S RAINING!" cried the person on the radio until Kitty slammed her fist against her nuisance of an alarm clock.

Apparently, the covering your head with the pillow doesn't block out a radio alarm clock that is turned up to maximum power. Kitty passed through the pillow only to catch some feathers in her hair.

"I should really stop doing that," she sighed, plucking out the feathers from her hair. "Rogue, are you awake yet?"

Stretching Kitty glanced at her roommate's bed only to find it empty and with a slip of paper on it. Scratching her head, Kitty got out of bed and walked over to the bed, picking up the note. Kitty read it as quickly as her sleepy eyes would allow her to.

"Oh that's great, she's run away," smiled Kitty, not quite understanding the note due to 'Non-Morning Brain Syndrome'. "Wait, she ran away?!" She glanced over the note again then without warning she slipped through the floor and into Logan's room when he was starring out the window with a cigar in his mouth and in just his boxers. "Logan!"

Even though Logan had smelt the half pint the moment her feet entered his room he was still surprised that she would practically scream his name when he was right in front of her.

"Half pint, keep it down, I'm right in front of you," he told her as he put his cigar out on his hand. The wound healed up quickly enough.

"It's Rogue!" cried Kitty in panic.

"What about her?! Has she lost control again?!" he demanded grabbing Kitty by the shoulders and shaking her a bit.

"She's gone!" Kitty told him.

Gone? Rogue, the only real kid in this entire school Logan thought of as being really smart and a strong person, to overcome what she has she would have to be a strong girl, was gone?! He couldn't believe it-wouldn't believe it!

Without another word Logan left his room and raced up the stairs, taking two at a time and barged into the room shared between Kitty and Rogue. Indeed, it was empty; Rogue's bed was made but not slept in, her smell lingered in the room but it was faint due to the open window. With these facts as no real proof of Rogue's disappearance Logan began opening her drawers, finding each one empty-Rogue never had many clothes. There was nothing in the closet but Kitty's clothes; then again Logan doubted that Rogue actually needed to hang anything up.

What proved to Logan that Rogue was in fact gone was the fact that there were five books missing from her shelf. 'Shakespeare's' Complete Plays', 'Phantom of the Opera', 'The Lord of the Rings', 'Outlaws of Sherwood', and 'Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman: An Assembly Such As This'; Rogue's favorite books. Once all five were gone Logan knew she was gone too.

"She left a note," he heard Kitty mutter. Veering around Logan marched up to the girl and snatched the note from her hand then skimmed over it.

"Go tell the Prof, half pint," commanded Logan, "this is something the entire household should hear."

"Yes Mr. Logan," nodded Kitty and dashing down the hallway to the staircase so she may head to the Professor's Office.

Logan sighed. "Why'd you do it kid?" It baffled him so.

In a matter of minutes the entire household was in the-dubbed-'family room' all clothed so that they may be off to school right away after the news was broken to them. Professor Xavier read Rogue's note out loud to the household and it brought about a mixture of reactions. Kurt was in as much denial as Logan had been, Bobby and Samuel were a bit sadden, the other younger students held more indecisive expressions, and the two eldest had the sternest of all expressions.

"Is it really true?" Scott spoke up. "How do we actually know that she ran away and was not kidnapped?"

"Because there were only two scents in the room as there should have been," Logan answered.

"Why would she do it?" Jean asked the one question that was aroused in almost everyone's minds. "I mean, she certainly does seem the type to do so but to have her actually go through with it is an entirely different story."

Professor Xavier drew in a breath, "I do not know Jean, there could be a myriad of reasons why she decided to run away and we all were just unaware of them."

"Ve need to find her!" Kurt exclaimed.

"I do not think she really wants to be found Kurt, as much as we would all love to find her," Xavier explained to Kurt. "She made it very clear in this note that she needs some time alone."

Kurt's face just fell and Kitty put an arm around his shoulders comforting.

"However, we at least know that she is willing to come back should we ever need her again," added Xavier. "If nothing else comforts you Kurt, let that. Now it's off to school for all of you."

The students all filed out of the room and were all going off to catch their rides-if they needed them-to school.

"What do you make of the situation Logan?" Hank inquired after all the teens were gone and it was only the Prof, Ororo, Logan, Jean, Scott, and himself.

Logan sat on the arm of couch with his arms crossed. "She's gone, that's for certain, but I don't think it was on impulse either. She had some idea of what she was doing since she got past all the security devices, not to mention me."

"You bonded with her the most, what do you think her reasoning is?" Xavier questioned.

Logan sighed again. "If I was to take a guess I would say so that she wouldn't be hurt nor hurt anyone else anymore, but I could always be wrong," he shrugged.

"Should we try to track her down?" Jean asked.

"No," Logan answered before anyone else could. "If we do that then we're placed back at square one with her. She has enough trust in us to tell us not to follow her even though we could the moment she uses her powers."

The others nodded in agreement. She had placed a lot of trust in them not to follow her, so why go break that now? Still, should they really leave her out there in the world alone?