The metallic hum of the Danger Room resonated through the X-Mansion, signaling the start of another intense training session. The atmosphere inside was tense, charged with the anticipation of battle. Today's simulation was designed to push the team to their limits, pitting them against each other in a chaotic urban landscape, where danger could strike from any direction.
Logan stood at the command center, his sharp eyes scanning the holographic displays. "Alright, listen up!" His gruff voice echoed through the room. "We're simulating a city in chaos. Civilians are in danger, and it's up to you to save them while taking down the other team. Two teams, five people each. Remember, work as a unit, watch each other's backs, and no powers go unchecked. You hear me?"
The team nodded, adrenaline already pumping through their veins. Logan split them into two groups strategically, knowing each member's strengths and how they complemented or challenged each other:
Team A: Jean Grey, Scott Summers, Kurt Wagner, Kitty Pryde, and Bobby Drake.
Team B: Rogue, Ororo Munroe, Evan Daniels, Jubilee, and Logan himself.
The city simulation flickered to life around them, towering skyscrapers, abandoned cars, and terrified holographic civilians setting the stage. Smoke and the distant sounds of explosions added to the chaotic realism.
"Move out!" Logan commanded, and both teams dispersed into the simulated cityscape.
---
Team B was on the move, navigating the urban jungle with the grace and speed of seasoned warriors. Ororo took to the skies, scanning for threats from above, while Evan and Jubilee moved swiftly along the ground, their eyes sharp and focused. Logan was the anchor, his instincts honed by years of combat, while Rogue stayed close by, her thoughts drifting far from the battlefield.
'Two weeks,' Rogue mused, her focus faltering. 'It's been two weeks since I last saw him. Not a word, not even a hint of where he's been. Just… gone.'
She could still feel the memory of Gojo's hand under hers, the softness of his hair, the way his piercing blue eyes held hers. The electricity between them had been undeniable, a spark that lingered long after their brief encounter. 'Why can't I stop thinking about him?' she wondered, her mind wandering further from the present.
"Rogue! Focus!" Logan's voice cut through her reverie, but it was Kurt who brought her crashing back to reality.
"Rogue, watch out!" Kurt shouted from across the street, his voice filled with urgency.
Jean Grey was advancing, her telekinetic powers already at work. With a wave of her hand, debris lifted from the ground, hurling towards Team B with deadly precision. Ororo countered with a gust of wind, scattering the rubble, but the distraction cost them.
Rogue tried to regain her focus, but her thoughts kept drifting back. 'What was it about him? The way he smiled, like he knew something I didn't? And that touch… I want more. A lot more.'
Scott's optic blast shot past her, nearly grazing her shoulder as she dodged at the last second. "Get your head in the game, Rogue!" Logan growled, his frustration palpable.
But it was too late. With Rogue's mind elsewhere, Team A seized the advantage. Kitty phased through the ground beneath Evan, causing him to lose his footing, while Bobby encased Jubilee in ice, rendering her immobile. Jean's telekinesis then lifted Logan off his feet, slamming him into the side of a building with enough force to knock the wind out of him.
In the chaos, Rogue struggled to keep up, her powers flickering as her concentration waned. 'Why hasn't he come back? Did he just forget about me? No… there has to be a reason, but… why didn't he say anything?'
Kurt teleported in front of her, his yellow eyes wide with concern. "Rogue, what's wrong with you? We're getting creamed out here!"
Rogue shook her head, trying to clear it. "I— I'm sorry, Kurt," she stammered, but the damage was done.
Jean's telekinetic wave knocked Rogue off balance, sending her crashing into the ground. She looked up to see Team A closing in, their victory inevitable.
The simulation ended abruptly, the city dissolving into the familiar metallic walls of the Danger Room. Logan scowled as he got to his feet, dusting himself off.
"Simulation complete," the AI announced. "Team A wins."
Rogue sat up, her heart pounding, not from the fight, but from the confusion swirling in her mind. She couldn't shake the thoughts of Gojo, and it had cost her team the match.
Kitty phased through the remnants of the simulation, approaching Rogue with a concerned look. "Hey, you okay? You were totally out of it today."
Rogue sighed, trying to avoid Kitty's gaze. "I'm fine. Just… tired, I guess."
Kitty wasn't convinced, her eyes narrowing playfully. "This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain blue-eyed, white-haired boy, would it?" she teased, a mischievous smile spreading across her face.
Rogue's face flushed a deep red, her heart skipping a beat. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, the panic in her voice betraying her.
Kitty laughed, the sound light and teasing. "Oh, so the touching and running your hands through his hair wasn't part of the reason you were so distracted?"
Rogue quickly put her hand over Kitty's mouth, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. "Shush! He just… he's just been gone, okay? Two weeks with nothing. Not even an explanation to the professors. It's like he just vanished," she said, the annoyance in her tone clear.
Kitty gently pulled Rogue's hand away, her expression softening. "Hey, calm down. I'm sure there's a reason. He'll come back. Maybe he just had something really important to take care of."
Rogue sighed, her shoulders slumping. 'But what could be so important that he couldn't even say goodbye?' she thought, frustration and sadness mixing within her.
Jean approached the two, her face apologetic. "Hey, Rogue. Sorry about earlier—I didn't mean to hit you so hard. You okay?"
Rogue forced a small smile. "Yeah, it's fine, Jean. Just wasn't my day, I guess."
Jean nodded, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before heading to the kitchen. "I'm gonna grab a snack. You two coming?"
Kitty gave Rogue a supportive smile. "Come on, let's go. Maybe some food will help clear your head."
Rogue nodded, but her thoughts were still with Gojo as she followed Kitty into the kitchen. 'I just want answers,' she thought. 'And maybe… maybe I want something more.'
As they entered the kitchen, Rogue tried to push the thoughts aside, but the lingering feeling of his touch, his presence, was impossible to ignore.