Chapter 12

"Women marry men hoping they will change. Men marry women hoping they will not. So each is inevitably disappointed."

- Albert Einstein (Probably Not)

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-- Milo's POV, Milo and Archie's Apartment --

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" I shouted after hearing what he had to say, "I'm responsible for her. She should just live here, with us,"

Archie rolled his eyes before saying "She is an 11 year old girl, with more issues than either of us can properly handle. She should live with a strong independent woman who can be a role model for her, while we use the next few month or so to prepare her for public school. Where she can be with children her own age and let time slowly heal her psychological wounds." he said before putting a hand on my shoulder, "Look, I get you want to live with her, to help her yourself, maybe even protect her from whatever this world has, but she needs this,"

I grumble. I knew he was right, and I know Rogue can be an excellent role model for Laura, "Fine, but I will be the one who tutors her, I don't want Laura to catch the southern accent," I said

Archie nods his head, "You go talk with Laura, I'll explain the situation to Rogue, and hope she'll be open to the idea of having a cute little roommate."

I nod my head before walking out of the bubble. I went to the kitchen/living room where Laura had finished her cereal, but she was still watching Scooby-Doo, although it was in the end credits now.

I took the remote to my hand and turned off the TV. "Can we talk?" I said to her, She turned to me, but did not say a word.

I sat down next to her. "Look Laura, me and my friend, Archie," my roommate introduced himself with a quick "Hello", "had a talk and decided it would be best if you would start going to school soon." She tilted her head and looked like a lost puppy for a second,

"Why? I already know everything I need to know," she said, confusion apparent in her voice.

"Maybe so, but you need to be around other people your age," I told her, trying to convey 'That's what your mother would have wanted' with my eyes.

It must have done the job because Laura nods her head before closing her eyes,

"You seem to like Scooby Doo," I said and she opened her eyes and nodded her head cutely, "We actually have some of the episodes in VCR, I'm a big Scooby Doo fan myself, wanna watch a couple of episodes with me?" she nods once more and I go and get the VCRs.

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--Rogue's House, General POV--

Rogue had just woken up a few minutes ago, she was going through her morning routine. First a quick breakfast of 2 eggs, sunnyside up, along with beef jerky, and a glass of orange juice. Followed by brushing her teeth, and a quick shower after a bathroom break.

She was brushing her hair when her phone rang. She saw the number calling and a small smile appeared on her face. She answered the phone with a "Hello Sugar,"

"Hi hon…" her boyfriend sounded thoughtful, which was unusual,

"Is everythin' alright?" she asked as she stopped brushing her hair "Do yall need mah help?" she thought it may be a villain or perhaps Magneto that was bothering him,

"Actually, yeah, I was gonna ask you a favor," he said in a slightly higher tone than normal, "Actually, can you come over, this is a face to face kind of an ask," he said and numerous scenarios went through Rogue's head in a fraction of a second before saying

"Yeah, Ah'll be there in a few minutes," she said as she got up and quickly got dressed, worried what might have been going on with Archie.

"Can you repeat that?"

Archie sighed before telling the southern beauty about his roommate's situation once more "Milo has gone and taken out a Weapon X facility, which had a little girl mutant in it. He saved the little girl, well physically, but she is mentaly scarred. He wants to help her, and the best way to do so is to make her interact with a strong female role model, and kids her age. And I wanted to ask if you would be open to the idea of taking young Laura into your house,"

"Of course Ah would, little girl will get all the help she could ever need." Rogue said with a smile "Where is little lass?" she then asked

"She is in the living room," Archie said as he walked towards the room, alongside Rogue, once they exited the noise cancelling bubble and saw the living room their eyes widened.

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-- Milo's POV --

"Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you?

We got some work to do now

Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you?

We need some help from you now" I sang the theme song, "Come on Laura sing with me," she looked hesitant to join

"Come on Scooby Doo, I see you

Pretending you got a sliver

But you're not fooling me, 'cause I can see

The way you shake and shiver" I sang this part by myself as well "You know the words Laura," I said to her, trying her to join in

"You know we got a mystery to solve

So, Scooby Doo, be ready for your act

Don't hold back

And, Scooby Doo, if you come through

You're gonna have yourself a Scooby Snack

That's a fact" I still sang but myself "Laura, here we go, join me for the last part," I said and she finally started singing.

"Scooby Dooby Doo, here are you

You're ready and you're willing

If we can count on you, Scooby Doo

I know we'll catch that villain" she sang the last verse with me, and she looked absolutely adorable.

*clap*clap*clap*whistle* I turned around and saw Archie and Rogue "Great job, you even managed to make this oaf's singing tolerable,"

"Mama always said I have a beautiful voice," I said, making my Forrest Gump impression, which only Archie got since the movie won't be coming out for at least a few years.

Archie rolled his eye before looking at Laura, he put his smile back on before looking into the young girls eyes, Rogue did the same, they both missed the fact Laura used a split second to assess their threat levels, and froze for a moment, not that I blame her, these two are in a different level.

This is something I had discovered soon after getting my powers, I do not know why but most likely due to my animalistic powers (enhanced senses), I can get a sense of how dangerous some individuals are, getting a sense of what type of animal they are.

For example, a normal human would be a house kitten, while me and Laura are more akin to a Lion and a Cheetah respectively- at least that is the imagery I have, she may be getting a different image.

Then there is Rogue, she is at least a step or two above us in terms of the animal kingdom, she is no cat, she gives more of a chained up wolf- like Fenrir. She is shackled by her own insecurities and fears, but despite that, her power is still impressive.

And finally there is Archie, whose power is out of the charts, an Omega Level Mutant. When I try to sense his threat level, he appears to me as a mountain sized dragon that can never be stopped.

At this instant Laura's fight or flight instincts must have kicked in, because her claws were out, and she took a half step back.

"Calm down," I said reassuringly, placing a hand to her shoulder. "They are friends, not foes," I said, barely catching the look Rogue sent Archie, I guess he forgot to mention the relationship between a certain Canadian and Laura.

There was a silent conversation going on between them, if I didn't know better I would say one of them was a telepath. I gave them a moment to finish before addressing the little ball of sunshine.

"Anyway Laura, let me introduce you to my roommate and his girlfriend," I said as I pointed towards them. Laura must have reeled in her animal instincts because she gave a shy nod, and put her claws away.

"Hi I'm Archie," he said with a semi awkward wave,

"And Ah'm Rogue, nice to meet ya Laura," she said with a genuine smile that would have made most people more comfortable, but too bad she wasn't talking to most people.

Laura looks a bit uncomfortable, regardless, she nods her head but still checks out every single escape point with her eyes. Well… At least she was not trying to stab them, so that was nice.

Archie then took a deep breath, his eyes had shone for a second, if I had to guess Ring must have told him Laura had just checked every escape, he looked at me and his eyes widened, then he turned to Laura, "Hey Laura, have you ever been to the movies before?"

Laura looked back at him before shaking her head,

"A new movie came out this weekend, Milo and I wanted to see it, would you girls wanna tag along?"

I looked at him, trying to remember what movie he was talking about, until I remembered the best voiceover ever done by our favourite actor had come out last week.

"Oh yeah, we should definitely see it," I said with a smile and pat on Laura's back.

"That sounds great, hey Sugar, have ya been in a theatre before?" Rogue asks the youngest mutant in the room, whose only reply was a shake of her head.

Rogue turns to Archie and asks "What movie do ya wanna see Sugar?"

'An oldie but a goldie' I thought to myself as Archie said "Aladdin (1992), it seems pretty good"

Great movie featuring Robin Williams, no offense to Will Smith, but he does not do the Genie justice, not that many could.

"Ah guess it is a good idea, what do ya think? Do you wanna see a movie?" she asks Laura, who slowly nods her head in confirmation.

"Alright Milo, I know what we are gonna do today… Hey, where is Perry?"