Kara walked beside Rogue as they made their way through the mansion, taking in the vast halls and the polished decor. Xavier's School was impressive, sure, but it felt strangely formal compared to the places Kara was used to. She glanced at Rogue, who was staring ahead with a distant expression, hands tucked in her jacket pockets. She had been quiet for a while, only occasionally nodding when Kara made a comment about the school.
"You good?" Kara asked, nudging her lightly with her elbow.
Rogue let out a small sigh, her shoulders slumping ever so slightly. "Yeah, I guess. Just thinking."
Kara arched an eyebrow. "About?"
Rogue hesitated, then shook her head, her voice dropping to something softer. "It's nothing, really. Just... This place is fine, y'know? But it's never really felt like home."
Kara frowned, slowing her pace. "What do you mean? Isn't this a school for mutants? Everyone here's like you, right?"
Rogue gave a small, humorless chuckle. "That's what they say. But having powers doesn't mean you fit in." She glanced at the students passing by, watching them chat and laugh as if they had all the time in the world. "They've got their cliques. Their people. Me? I'm just here. Existing."
Kara didn't like the way that sounded. There was something about the way Rogue said it, like she had already accepted that she didn't belong. Kara had seen that look before—on people who had convinced themselves they were alone even when they weren't.
"That's dumb," Kara said, crossing her arms. "You belong wherever you want to belong."
Rogue smiled slightly. "That easy, huh?"
Kara shrugged. "Yeah. If you don't like it here, then go somewhere else. Make a place that's yours."
Rogue was quiet for a moment, then exhaled. "I'd love to. But it's not like I have options." She hesitated, then lowered her voice. "Sharing a space with someone you don't connect with? Feeling like you're just intruding? It kinda sucks."
Kara blinked. "Wait—you have a roommate?"
Rogue nodded. "Yeah. She's fine. Just... not my kind of person." She hesitated, then added, "Honestly, it'd be nice to have a space where I don't have to feel like I'm taking up room in someone else's life."
The words hit Kara in exactly the way Rogue had intended.
Kara's face softened. "You know... My place has plenty of space. You could stay with me if you want."
Rogue paused, biting her lip, like she hadn't expected that answer. "I wouldn't want to be a bother."
Kara waved her off. "You wouldn't be. Honestly, I think it'd be fun."
Rogue's lips curled slightly, her voice soft. "You sure?"
Kara grinned. "Yeah. I mean, what kind of friend would I be if I let you mope around here when you don't even like it?"
Rogue lowered her gaze, nodding slightly as if she were giving it some serious thought. "Well... if you're offering..."
Kara patted her shoulder. "Great! It's settled then."
Behind them, Natasha, Gwen, and Wanda were watching from a distance.
Natasha exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. "She played that perfectly."
Gwen scowled. "You think?"
Wanda smirked, tilting her head. "That was some next-level Green Tea execution. She deserves credit for that performance."
Gwen folded her arms. "I still think it's manipulative."
Natasha didn't disagree, but Kara was happy, and that was what mattered.
They watched as Kara cheerfully led Rogue down the hall, already talking about moving things over.
Inside, Rogue was practically glowing with satisfaction. That had been too easy.
By the time they reached the dorms, Rogue had fully settled into her role. Kara was still going on about how nice it'd be to have a place where they could just hang out without worrying about rules or curfews.
"I gotta warn you, though," Kara said as they stepped into Rogue's shared room. "I eat a lot. Like, a ridiculous amount. You sure you can handle that?"
Rogue chuckled, throwing some of her clothes into a bag. "I think I'll manage."
Her roommate, a girl with short brown hair, looked up from her bed as they entered. She raised an eyebrow at the sight of Kara standing there. "Uh... what's going on?"
Rogue slung her bag over her shoulder. "Moving out."
The girl blinked. "Wait, what? Where?"
Rogue glanced at Kara, then back at her roommate. "Kara's place."
The girl's eyes widened slightly, darting toward Kara before looking back at Rogue. "How—when did this—"
Rogue smirked. "Just now."
The girl muttered something under her breath but didn't argue. She probably didn't care enough to put up a fight.
Kara helped Rogue carry her things out, still completely oblivious to the triumphant smirk Rogue was holding back.
By the time they got back, Natasha was already waiting in Kara's living room, arms crossed.
"Convenient," she said, glancing at Rogue's bag.
Kara grinned. "Yeah, turns out Rogue wasn't a big fan of dorm life. I figured, why not?"
Natasha didn't respond immediately. She glanced at Rogue, who gave her an innocent smile, then exhaled. "Right. Of course."
Kara didn't seem to notice the edge in her tone. "I'll get the spare room set up."
She walked off, leaving Rogue standing with Natasha in silence.
Rogue smirked. "Something wrong?"
Natasha didn't blink. "You played that well."
Rogue shrugged, feigning innocence. "I don't know what you mean."
Natasha's gaze flickered toward the hallway where Kara had disappeared. "She's easy to fool. But don't get comfortable. We all see what you're doing."
Rogue chuckled. "Oh, I know. And none of you stopped me."
Natasha's jaw tightened slightly, but she didn't argue.
Because Rogue was right.
That night, Rogue sat on her new bed, stretching out comfortably. This was perfect.
A new space. A closer bond with Kara. More time to get what she wanted.
She heard movement outside her room—Kara passing by, humming to herself as she went to grab a snack.
Rogue smiled to herself.
Now, how far could she push this?
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