As the sun set and bathed the courtyard in a warm, golden glow, Gojo turned to Rogue and asked quietly, "What are your dreams?"
Rogue, who had been staring off into the distance, glanced at the horizon and sighed softly. "Freedom, I guess," she said, her voice thoughtful. "Freedom from being treated differently because we're mutants…or meta-human, and freedom to feel like a normal person without the fear that I might accidentally hurt someone just by being near them."
Gojo glanced at her, her words stirring something within him. 'I've been wondering… perhaps if I could…' he thought, the idea forming as he observed how the setting sun cast a soft glow on her auburn hair, making it look as if it were lit from within.
Rogue continued, her voice low. "I just want things to be normal, without the fear of being hated or feared by humans." Her tone was wistful, and for a moment, silence hung between them.
After a while, Gojo spoke again, his voice gentle. "Give me your hand."
Rogue hesitated, then slowly removed her glove, revealing her bare hand. She looked at his outstretched hand, remembering the warmth she had felt the last time they had touched. Finally, she placed her hand in his, and a small smile tugged at her lips as she felt his gentle grip.
Gojo pulled her closer, a mischievous smile on his face. "You ready?"
Rogue looked at him, confused. "Ready for what?'
Gojo grinned wider. "Freedom, of an adventure, of course ." And with that, they blinked away from the courtyard, leaving the mansion far behind.
---
They appeared suddenly in New York, standing at the base of the Statue of Liberty. The colossal figure loomed above them, and Rogue stared up in awe, the city skyline a breathtaking backdrop against the twilight sky. Before she could fully take in the sight, they blinked again, reappearing in Paris beneath the Eiffel Tower. The iron latticework glittered with lights, casting a warm glow over the streets below. Rogue couldn't help but laugh in delight as she took in the beauty of it all.
Their journey continued, teleporting from one iconic location to the next. They marveled at the vibrant colors of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, the vivid blue domes of the church in Santorini, and the ancient majesty of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
In Denmark, they visited the Little Mermaid statue, its serene figure gazing out to sea, while in France, they explored the opulent Palace of Versailles, where every room was more luxurious than the last. They wandered through the Kinderdijk in the Netherlands, surrounded by windmills and water, the landscape serene and peaceful.
Then, in China, they stood atop the Great Wall, the vast structure stretching endlessly across the mountains, and in India, they admired the intricate marble beauty of the Taj Mahal.
From the heights of Machu Picchu in Peru to the grand clock face of Big Ben in London, from the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy to the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil, Gojo showed Rogue the world. Each new destination brought a sense of wonder and amazement, and Rogue's smile grew brighter with every new sight.
At one point, they stood on a beach in the Maldives, the white sand beneath their feet and the crystal-clear water stretching out before them. Rogue couldn't stop laughing as Gojo playfully conjured a small breeze to cool them off.
In Hawaii, they lounged on the beach, watching the waves crash against the shore. The warmth of the sun and the sound of the ocean created a sense of peace, and Rogue found herself relaxing in a way she hadn't in a long time.
Gojo and Rogue's journey around the world was far from over, with each stop becoming more vivid, each moment more memorable. As they continued their whirlwind adventure, Rogue found herself wrapped up in a day filled with amazement, joy, and a sense of freedom she hadn't felt in a long time.
---
Gojo even took her underwater. Their underwater excursion became a highlight of the trip. Beneath the waves, Gojo created a larger telekinetic bubble that allowed them to move freely with oxygen and without disturbing the surrounding water. Rogue's eyes widened as they glided past vibrant coral reefs, the colors more dazzling than anything she had ever imagined. Schools of fish swirled around them in mesmerizing patterns, their scales reflecting the sunlight that filtered through the water above.
"Look at that one!" Rogue exclaimed, pointing at a massive sea turtle lazily swimming by. Its shell was covered in tiny barnacles, and it seemed entirely unbothered by the world around it.
Gojo grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Want to get closer?"
Before Rogue could answer, Gojo gently directed their bubble closer to the turtle, careful not to disturb it. The creature turned its head slowly to regard them, Rogue's breath caught in her throat. "It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice full of awe.
They moved deeper, and suddenly, the darkened ocean opened up to reveal a stunning array of bioluminescent creatures. Rogue's eyes sparkled as jellyfish pulsed with ethereal light, and strange, alien-like fish glowed in the depths. "It's like something out of a dream," she said softly, her gaze never leaving the mesmerizing display of nature.
"Yeah, it is," Gojo agreed, his voice gentle as he watched her expression.
---
From the underwater world, they blinked to the summit of Mount Everest. The air was thin and cold, but the view was indescribable. The entire world seemed to stretch out before them, endless and vast.
Rogue shivered slightly from the cold but laughed, "I don't think I'll ever see anything like this again."
"Maybe, but at least you've seen it once," Gojo replied with a wink.
---
Next, they stood at the foot of the Colosseum in Rome. The ancient ruins told tales of gladiators and emperors, and Rogue couldn't help but feel a deep sense of history in the air. They wandered through the arches, Gojo casually telling her about the historical significance of the place as if he were a seasoned guide.
"I can almost hear the crowds cheering," Rogue murmured as they paused in the center of the arena.
Gojo chuckled. "Maybe in another life, you were one of those gladiators."
Rogue grinned. "I'd like to think I'd win every fight."
"You'd definitely give them a run for their money," Gojo said with a laugh.
---
In Japan, they visited the ancient temples of Kyoto, where cherry blossoms floated gently in the breeze. Rogue reached out to catch one of the delicate petals, marveling at how serene the place felt. "This… this is peace," she whispered, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath of the floral-scented air.
Gojo nodded, his usual playful demeanor softening. "Yeah, it is. It's nice to find these quiet places sometimes."
They wandered through the temple grounds, the quiet atmosphere allowing Rogue to reflect on everything they'd seen so far.
---
In Australia, they visited the Great Barrier Reef, marveling once more at the diversity of life beneath the waves. They watched as dolphins danced around them, their playful nature infectious. Rogue laughed, reaching out as one of the dolphins swam close to their bubble, nudging it with its nose.
"They're so friendly!" Rogue exclaimed.
"They sense good vibes," Gojo said, chuckling.
---
Their journey eventually brought them to Venice, Italy, where they drifted through the canals on a gondola. The city was a maze of water and light, with buildings that seemed to float on the surface of the canals.
"This is… wow," Rogue said, looking around in awe. "I've seen pictures, but this… this is something else."
Gojo smiled. "There's a lot more out there than pictures can show. Sometimes, you just have to see it for yourself."
---
At a small restaurant nestled in the heart of Venice, they sat down for dinner. The warm glow of candlelight reflected off the water outside, and the sounds of the city became a soft hum in the background. Rogue glanced around nervously, still in her X-Men uniform. "Are you sure this is okay?" she asked.
"Absolutely," Gojo reassured her, grinning. "No one's even batting an eye. We're just a couple of regular folks enjoying a nice dinner."
Rogue relaxed, and as the evening wore on, they laughed and talked as if they had known each other for years. The food was exquisite, and Rogue found herself savoring every bite, the flavors unlike anything she had ever tasted.
---
They finished their evening at the North Pole, standing in the midst of a vast, icy wilderness. The aurora borealis danced across the sky, a swirling tapestry of green and blue. Rogue stood transfixed, unable to tear her eyes away from the display above.
"It's so… magical," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Gojo stood beside her, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, it really is. Sometimes the world can surprise you with how beautiful it is."
They stood there for a long time, watching the northern lights until the cold began to nip at their skin.
---
Their final stop was the Sphinx in Egypt. They lay on the warm sand, staring up at the stars. The ancient monument loomed behind them, a silent sentinel watching over the desert.
"Thank you," Rogue said quietly, breaking the comfortable silence between them.
Gojo looked at her, surprised. "For what?"
"For everything," she replied, her voice soft. "For this night. For showing me that there's so much more to life than… than everything we've been through."
Gojo smiled, a rare, genuine expression. "Anything for you."
Rogue hesitated for a moment before asking, "So… does this count as a first date?"
Gojo raised an eyebrow. "Do you want it to be?"
She nodded gently, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, I think I do."
Gojo chuckled, leaning back into the sand. "Well then, this was a date."
Rogue's smile widened, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. "Well, you've outdone yourself. I don't think there's anyone out there who can boast of taking a girl around the world on a first date and dining in one of the most expensive restaurants in the world."
"Guess I set the bar high," Gojo joked.
"Yeah, but I wouldn't have it any other way," Rogue said, her voice full of warmth as they continued to watch the stars, the night drawing to a peaceful close.