InsaneJournal

WHO: Erik Lehnsherr and Rogue
WHAT: Erik has questions. Rogue has issues. This can't possibly end badly at all.
WHEN: Late afternoon
WHERE: Colligo Shopping District
RATING: PGish (to be safe)
STATUS: COMPLETE!

It had been a long time since Rogue had gone shopping by herself. Normally when she went it was during an 'outing' with fellow students, typically to a mall, and always under the watchful eye of the adults. She missed that feeling of camaraderie, missed knowing that there were others who had her back if things went crazy, and knew she could have contacted Kitty to join her to at least make it a bit easier to adjust. However part of her had wanted to go it alone partially because she wanted to reassure herself that yes, she could still function in the world without having to be surrounded by others, and partially because she had actually wanted a bit of time alone to clear her mind of all of the craziness that arriving in this place had created thus far in her life.

So she had decided to hit the shopping district, eventually settling on a row of stores that had things in the window displays that caught her eye. She had purposefully only taken half of her money as she knew she would spend it all without even thinking about it if she saw something she wanted badly enough, and she had tried to stick to buying things that she really did need. Because while there had been some generic type of clothing available in the closet of her assigned apartment, Rogue really couldn't wear just any old thing. For starters, tank tops were strictly out. They offered too much skin and made it too easy for someone to brush up against her. Shorts, also, weren't really an option for her. Sure she might wear them at the school from time to time but that was only because everyone there knew better. The people in this city didn't and she wasn't going to risk hurting someone just to show a little leg.

Mostly, though, Rogue's focus during this current outing had been to find more gloves. She only had the one pair and she knew it was only a matter of time before they were too grungy to be seen in public without a good washing. As she would rather not have to resort to oven mitts or something equally ridiculous while washing them, at least one extra pair was in order. So after buying a few shirts - most with three-quarter length sleeves, regardless of the odd looks she received from the clerk for getting such things during the summer - and a couple of pairs of slacks, she had made her way into a shop that sold various accessories. Including the one item that had become almost as much of a trademark for her as the white streaks in her hair.

It wasn't until her stomach growled nearly an hour later that she had made her way to the register then, after paying for everything, headed out of the store with the intention of finding some nearby cafe to grab a quick, hopefully inexpensive, bite to eat. She made her way to the corner, waiting for the light to change, and just happened to glance to her right to see if there were any cars coming just in case the light took forever and she decided to jaywalk instead.

And that's when she saw him.

Erik Lehnsherr. The man who would someday go by Magneto and would be the cause of most of her nightmares for the past two years. Her stomach tightened at the sight of the younger version than she was used to, a lump forming in her throat as everything else seemed to fade into the background and her entire focus shifted to him. He was close. Not so close that she could immediately accuse him of stalking her, but definitely too close for her liking. She considered running. Just dropping her bags and darting across the street much like a scared rabbit. However she stayed where she was due to an equal mixture of fear and stubbornness. Wishing desperately that she had asked Kitty to come with her after all, she forced her attention away from him and swallowed, hard, gaze flickering to the light as she willed it to change colors so she could cross already.

Then something seemed to happen. Rogue wasn't sure what it was but something inside of her all but snapped and, before she could even put any thought to her actions she was spinning on her heel and marching directly toward him. "What," she demanded as she drew close enough that he could hear her without her having to shout, "are you doing here?" Her Southern accent was thicker than usual, anger shining in her dark eyes as she paused a few scant feet away and settled for glaring balefully at him while she waited for a response.