Author Note: Hey guys, I am so sorry for being a human trash and ignoring this story. I been paying attention to my other fanfiction, getting my license, and meh. Here is an update and I swear I try to keep up with updates from now on. Thank you!

Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel, especially not bad ass Rogue.

Rogue stared at the fourth cheesy romance novel she got from Kitty. It was wednesday, three o'clock which meant she had three hours to make a compelling argument for romance genre. Rogue groaned holding her head in her hands.

How was she supposed to make an argument about a genre that was focused on something she never experienced herself? All her so called romances always ended badly, Cody, Scott and-yeah let's say it stops there, she could make many arguments why it was cheesy, one was the overuse of exclamation mark, unrealistic scenes and fabricated emotions. If anyone acted like Fernando in real life, they probably would get kicked where the sun don't shine.

Rogue looked at her note cards that were blank and stared back at the clock. She grimaced, it was four o'clock already? She hadn't writing a good argument, which just made her want to throw in the towel. When was the Cajun's essence when she needed him? He had a silver tongue and probably could talk circles around the opponent, and demonstrate just how good romance was.

Rogue snorted on the idea. If Gambit has a moment of control of her body, he would do too much damage to recover from. Even if it was a good idea-which it wasn't- she couldn't, all her voices were gone.

As much as she thought to welcome the silence, it was eerie. The background noise that was constant static was gone and she could actually hear herself think clearly. That was a rare occurrence ever since her powers manifested. The very thought was terrifying.

What exactly was wrong with her? Kitty luckily stopped The Professor from quarantining her, which she was thankful for. Alone in the infirmary, seen Scott body lay next to her after that episode, would have too much. She didn't know how she would pick herself up after that. Yet now she was forced to have therapy session along with controlling her powers.

Therapy was also Kitty's idea.

Rogue glanced again at the clock. "Damn, it's almost five." She held her head.

Rogue scribbled some quick thoughts, nothing convincing, before stuffing her note cards in her backpack. Might as well get food for the aching defeat, she bitterly thought.

" Okay maggots, first up romance."

Rogue internally groaned. She was first? Jesus tap dancing Christ.

She unpacked her note cards, even though they wouldn't be much help. She stepped to the podium staring at the rest of the club.

She tapped her cards against the podium which was loud enough to echo within the small classroom. Rogue grimaced, looking at the eerily blank faces staring back at her. There was no emotion, not even a notion of boredom. The very thought was terrifying, how was she supposed to move their verdict when their very faces were unmovable?

Rogue looked at her opponent, remembering the bright red hair. Wasn't his name John? Rogue bit her lip remembering his rank among them. Even if he seemed like a joke to the president, he was still vice president, that showed some level of skill no?

"Okay you got twenty minutes." Linda tapped her pen on her clipboard. "Opening statements."

Rogue gulped wondering if people can see her physically shake in terror. Her eyes scanned the room as John ranted his against statement. She spotted Professor Todd who looked oddly serene staring at his phone. His eyes seem to peek up slightly, making eye contact. Somehow the moment fet stolen, surreal, as Professor Todd smiled creating wrinkles on the corner of his eyes. Rogue looked away, her ears turning hot and now extremely terrified.

" And that is why they frankly suck" John ended.

Rogue snapped out of her stupor. She opened her mouth trying to will the words out of her mouth. A slight noise came out, close to a grunt and everyone seemed to stare at her. She couldn't help but think she looked a bit like a venus flytrap. Oh how she wished she actually listened to John's argument. She usually was so tentative, using all her willpower to listen to people through the noise.

She closed her mouth with an audible snap. Her eyes scanned across the room, seen now some faces shy away, while others giggled. Her eyes touched upon Professor Todd who seem to be mouthing some words to her. She couldn't read lips, finding the notion lost to her, making him look like a gaping fish. They probably some encourages words anyways like "go get them tiger" or "you got this"

Rogue cleared her throat.

"Romance novels do suck," Rogue said and the room stirred.

She gulped. "They are a bad representation of romance. It is cheesy lines, exclamation points and overly dramatic scenes. Frankly if Mr. Fabio came knocking on my door confessing his undying love, I would punch him in the throat." Rogue frowned knowing that there was no one insane enough to profess their love to her. "Real hard. But without them how do we know when it is a joke, a fake confession? How do we know something isn't real? I believe that romance novels let's us know what we really want."

She swallowed trying to bring back moisture in her mouth. She knew the argument was weak, just from the look on everyone's faces. They were in shock and she had no idea exactly why. Was it a good shock or a bad shock?

John continued, passionate words flowing. Rogue couldn't deny the guy's skill. He wasn't very serious, creating a couple of laughs and giggles but they were effective, only expressing how silly the genre was.

Rogue can only rebuttal, saying it was necessary cheesiness, how to know the sincerity of someone's actions. When something was not a normal relationship. Some were good examples of a healthy relationships, others were right at the fence of creepy. It was all about figuring out the differences and immersing yourself in you prefered romance.

Somehow her words made John laugh.

"Really? Have you ever been in love? If so-" John started

Rogue interrupted unable to stop the flow of sentences "I have been in love. Now ask me was it reciprocated? I'll never find out." The words felt bitter even to her.

"But I think he never even noticed my feelings. I was a wallflower." She snorted "More like a shadow, unnoticeable until it's necessary to look down. If I read a cheesy romance novel then, seen how outspoken words, subtle hints-maybe not as dramatic-did to a relationship, how it bring up the idea of a 'us', maybe it would have turned out different. I know it wouldn't have worked out for many reasons, but just having known that my feelings were recognized would have meant the world to me."

John rebuttled. "So you are saying the genre brings confidence?"

"Yes confidence to speak. The whole time reading Mr. Fabio romance Cassandra, I wondered if I could have something like that, if I could have something better than that."

John raised his finger, mouth open but no words came out. Rogue looked at the once blanked faces, now contorted into something of fascination. Expect for Ms. President who seemed to be too busy picking dirt from under her fingernails.

Professor Todd cleared his throat and everyone looked at Linda.

She rolled her eyes. "What you want a medal? Point for the newbie. Next genre adventure. "

Rogue tried not too looked shocked. The whole argument was so half-assed, pulled deep out from within her bowels, she thought she needed febreeze to cover up all the bullshit. Rogue picked up her note cards and sat in front of Professor Todd.

"Hey, you did good out there."

Rogue shrugged, the feeling of his breathe gracing her neck. No one tried to get that close, and all she can think about is the multiple hazards she could have inflicted.

Rogue didn't turn around. "Ah'm pretty sure that was a fail" Rogue whispered grabbing her face in resentment.

Professor Todd sucked his teeth. "You did fine, you won."

Rogue shook her head "I didn't properly prepare" She sighed. "Some stuff happened lately and... and I got lucky."

"Hey" Professor reached over to grab her shoulder and before he made contact Rogue shyed away.

It was on impulse and she couldn't think of a good excuse why. She couldn't risk absorbing someone right now, not after the other days accident. Rogue frowned her lips pressed in a fine line going back to her fall back excuse.

"Skin condition, sorry."Rogue said rubbing her gloved hand over her shoulder.

She could see his eyes slightly squint his head tilt in confusing. There was a moment of contemplation and she swore she heard the slight clicks of thoughts forming in his head. Rogue bite her tongue, finding that she may have said too much.

"You mean your mutation?"He said in a hushed whisper.

Rogue narrowed her eyes, clearly anger in the fiery moss. "Ah thought Ah said to keep ya mouth shut."

Professor Todd nodded. "Öfcourse, but I'm curious." He leaned in peeking at her gloves over her shoulder. "What exactly is your power? Glow in the dark? Does it have to do with your hands?"

Rogue growled. Never in her history did someone try to figure out her powers. If Professor Todd was an agent for god knows who, he was doing a pretty bad job of being incognito. She turned around, focusing again at the podiums.

Rogue scoffed. "It is none of your business."

"Ït will be confidential."

Rogue banged her hands against her thighs. He was being persistent and she didn't know why. Confidential, her shiny pale butt. If she told him, even hinting what her powers could do, what her powers have done he would be screaming for the cops. She would be kicked out of school so fast it would make her head spin.

"Can it." she said her voice filled with disdain.

"I'm just-" He said throwing his arm up in defense

"Why are do you care? " She snapped trying her best to keep her voice down.

A couple of people looked over her, before returning attention back to the debate.

Professor Todd smiled, something slightly charming, creating slight creases on the edges of his eyes. It was slightly lopsided, but it brought mirth to his eyes. "Because Ms. Adler, I find you interesting."

Rogue snapped her head back to the podium covering her face from people's view. She could feel the slight rush of blood to her face. There was something about his eyes, the way he looked at her when he said it made her jittery. She couldn't describe what was wrong with her.

Rogue whispered covering her eyes. "Look Professor Todd. Ah don't care if ya find think of meh as some social experiment. Mah powers are mah business, and Ah suggest ya stop pestering before Ah sick them on to ya and trust meh, it won't be pleasant."

"Is that a threat?"

Rogue rubbed her face. "What you think shuga?"

She heard a slight chuckle, and somehow it seem to vibrate right through her. She felt heard the his chair squeak as he leaned back on his chair. "Shuga, cute. Funny that when you get mad your accent gets stronger."

Rogue covered her mouth, embarrassed just how thick her accent came off. She heard Professor Todd chair again, as he walked past her. Somewhere between during their conversation everyone had left. Rogue looked up staring back at Professor Todd as he smiled down, looking at her like some gem. A gem stuck behind glass, lasers, and three vicious guard dogs. Even if dangerous, the challenge was rewarding within itself.

Rogue frowned, it was the same look the Cajun sometimes gave her.

"Don't worry Rogue, I'll keep my distance." He raised his hands up in defense "Don't want insensitivity training, but I feel soon enough you will tell me."

Rogue scoffed, grabbing her backpack and swinging it over her shoulder. She pressed her finger on his chest, glaring up on him.

"Ah don't know what is yar deal is Professor, but why don't ya act moah like a teacher, and less like some detective." Rogue hissed, each word poking deeper into his chest. "Stay out of my way."

Rogue pushed him away, and she felt his arm around her bicep stopping her from exiting. She swung her backpack, hoping to hit him in the process. He seem to gracefully dodge, his face still with that stupid smirk.

"Look Rogue-" Professor Todd started, trying to keep some peace

"Don't dare call me that-" Rogue snapped

Professor Todd ran his hands through his hair. "Look, maybe I am getting off on the wrong foot." He tilted his head, deep creases forming on his forehead. " I just wanted to know because,"

Professor Todd sighed, and she can see his body shake out of exhaustion. The very breath made his body sag, all cockiness and smugness completely removed. He rubbed his face, frustration clearly lined. He peeked through his fingers watching her expression. Rogue crossed her arms over her chest not knowing what to expect.

"My niece just got her powers."He sighed rubbing his neck.

Rogue eyes widen. "Oh…"

Professor Todd sighed. "It has been tough for my sister. I was just curious of your experience and maybe if your powers were similar to my niece."

"That's why ya knew about the Professor." She dropped her arms.

Professor Todd nodded. "I just want to know what to expect. I wanted to ask you eventually if you liked it in the Institute, to see if it fit Annabell." He looked away. "Look she might be my niece but that kid is like my own, okay. So I am a little overprotective of her."

Rogue bit her tongue. She felt stupid, down right stupid. He was asking about her powers, asking about the institute because he was trying to figure something out for her niece. He was interested in her because of her powers, because of her experience. For a moment she thought that he may have- she shook her head. How silly of her to think that. She was Rogue after all.

"So this whole thing was to find out about the Institute?"Rogue pressed her lips together grabbing the bridge of her nose. "Fine, we always have room. If we don't we make it."

Rogue put down her backpack pulling out a pen and paper. She scribbled down Storm's landline.

Rogue handed him the paper. "This is the number of our recruiter. She will explain the process, and what exactly we do. We have to make sure that the Institute is right for her, there is an option of just using our resources. Give this to your sister."

Professor Todd smiled grabbing the piece of paper. "Thank you, I'll tell her right away." He placed the paper in his pocket. "You know, you really are interesting."

Rogue froze.

"I have been in a pain in the ass, and you are still willing to help me. Thanks" He shook his head, staring back on the floor. "Really thanks."

Rogue turned around, a slight blush creeping over her face. "No problem, Ah have to head home."

What the hell was her heart beating so fast?

Author Note: I hope this makes Professor Todd look less like a bad guy. The whole therapy agreement and such will be explained better next chapter. Plus I really love Kitty as the voice of reason. Gosh I love Kitty Pryde so much.

See you guys and thank you so much for reviewing so far! Love you all!