Rogue Evolution

Lessons 7.5

Anna shrugged off her jacket as soon as she was back inside the mansion. For one, it felt like it was boiling inside, and second, she didn't want to get too much pit sweat and grease on her favorite hoodie. Once in the kitchen, she tossed her hoodie over the back of a chair in passing and washed her hands and arms under the sink with dish soap. Only the degreaser built into the heavy-duty scrubbing solution was enough to get off the thick black gunk her skin had picked up after working on Banana's long-neglected engine. The warm water felt nice, and she even caught herself whistling one of the stupid pop songs on Scott's playlist he had going while they worked.

"You seem like you're in a better mood."

Anna shot up, turned, and saw Logan crossing the threshold into the kitchen. He was in half-drenched sweats and was walking over to the fridge.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I guess so."

Logan had his head in the fridge till he eventually produced a half-frozen bottle of 'Flavor-Town,' his preferred sports drink. "Saw you and sunglasses working in the garage together, trying to resurrect that hunk of junk."

"He's not a 'hunk of junk.' His name is Banana, and he's going to be tearing up the streets before you know it."

"Uh - huh," Logan shot out a single claw, slashed open the top of his drink, and drained half the bottle. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Glad to see you and the boy getting along. Teammates need to be on the same page."

Anna turned and splashed her face. "He's alright once you get to know him."

He gestured at her with his drink hand. "How have you been holding up?"

"Better. As well as anyone could be, at least." She dried her face and arms with a dish towel hanging off a nearby rack. "It's still a lot, but... well, I'm trying to listen more. Do what you did. It helps."

"I'm glad. Just remember not to push yourself too hard."

She turned to face him. "I want to work on my powers more in the Danger Room."

Logan squinted an eye at her. "Did you listen to what I just said?"

"Yeah, but - I don't want to hide behind gloves and sleeves forever. I'm here to learn, and I want to learn to control my abilities."

He sipped from his drink. "That's fair." He rubbed his chin as he seemed to silently consider something. "Let me figure out the best way to do it, and I'll run it by the others. Alright?"

She nodded. "It's all I ask."

Logan raised his demolished bottle to her and made to leave.

"Hey -"

He turned and looked at her.

She felt her lips press hard enough together they lost their feeling. "Um... I have this teacher... he's like us - a mutant. He said something kinda weird to me. He said 'a time is coming where you're going to need to know who your friends are." She blinked. "Do you know what that's supposed to mean?"

Logan looked to the side towards the chair where her hoodie lay. "What's this teacher's name?"

"Hank McCoy. He's my history teacher."

Logan finished his drink and crushed the bottle in his hand. "He sounds like a smart guy." Logan looked her in the eye. "Learn. Ask questions." He pointed at her hands. "And remember whose in control of those. You do that, and it's going to be alright." He sifted his jaw back and forth, and veins in his neck bulged. "Know too, you're never alone. Even when it feels like it, even when it feels like the whole world is against you, you're loved, and it will be alright."

Anna watched Logan's upper lip stiffen before he turned and disappeared out the threshold of the kitchen. She stood staring, dish rag clutched between her hands, and she whispered. "But what's coming?"

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Hi Everyone!

I wanted to let you know the entirety of the next episode, Nightmare, is available on Patreon! It's heavily influenced by the Evo show episode, Shadowed Past.

To find out more information, check out my website at *artoflupin.wordpress.com* for details!

Thanks for reading! <3

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A Special Thanks To Contributors!

Queen's Guard:
Jean

Rogue Recruit:
Tara
Spiderdude