whynot | (no subject)

Title: Deus Ex Machina
Author: Lassiter
Fandom: X-Men (Evoverse)
Pairing: Rogue/Jean
Rating: PG
Summary: Rogue and her bruises.
Notes: Two birds with one stone:

multifandom1000 (677 words) and

contrelamontre (45 minutes). Woo!

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Deux Ex Machina

Fairy tales have proper endings. They have closure. The bad witch dies. The princess marries the prince. The world is saved. Or, she thought that was how they were.

"The original fairy tales weren't sunshine and roses at all," said Jean, rubbing the salve into Rogue's bruise. She wore disposable latex gloves. "The Brothers Grimm cleaned them up for public consumption."

"How bad were they?" asked Rogue. "Before Grimm screwed around with them?"

"The wolf raped Little Red Riding Hood."

"Okay, stop there."

Rogue had more bruises than usual. It hadn't been her day, right from the morning's (forgotten) biology test to the afternoon's Danger Room session. Jean, being Jean, offered a helping hand upon seeing that Rogue could hardly walk straight. Rogue, being Rogue, brushed her off. Then apologised and accepted the help, and wouldn't admit to herself that it was because she wanted to know exactly how Jean would help. And now, shirtless, face down on her bed, with Jean rubbing her back with salves, Rogue wouldn't admit to herself that this was sort of what she was hoping it would be.

Touch. Touch is a luxury.

Does it hurt, Jean wanted to know.

Yes, Rogue lied.

Jean's hands were soft.

"There goes my childhood," Rogue muttered. "Where'd you find your fairy tales?"

"Around."

"Huh."

"You like to read?"

"Depends."

Jean chuckled lightly. "On what?"

"Don't know," Rogue replied stubbornly. "It just does."

"Whatever you say. Tell me if I hurt you."

Rogue's gut instinct kicked in. Scott. Since a while ago, yeah, she mused, and quickly terminated that line of thought. After all, how stupid would it be to hate someone just because they were themselves. Besides, the two overachieving perfectionists, they deserved each other.

The air was cool on the sticky skin of her back. Jean kept up a regular motion. Wax on, wax off. Rogue felt like a windshield. But--she was self-conscious of the heat creeping into her cheeks and the restlessness at the pit of her stomach--in a good way. The bad kind of good way.

"I guess you'll think twice about wishing life was like a fairy tale, huh?" said Jean.

"I never say stuff like that. I mean, people should be smart about happy endings."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, you know, as in there aren't any. No deus ex machina. Well, unless you count the Professor."

"Deux ex machina," said Jean. "So you do read."

"Seventh grade social studies."

"Oh."

The massage was done soon enough. As much as Rogue had tried to store the feel of the telepath's slender fingers on her back in her memory, she could feel it slipping away even as she watched Jean close the door. If things were different, things could have ended up another way, she thought, and blushed when she realised how stupid that sounded.

Deus ex whatever.

She didn't know how she felt right now. The best way to describe it was, if Rogue could do whatever she wanted with Jean and to hell with consequences, she would beat the crap out of her. Kiss her first, wildly, tasting her as much as possible. Maybe the taste of Jean would last longer than the memory of her touch. Then beat the crap out of her.

There was a conversation held in soft voices just outside the door. Rogue couldn't hear the words at first. She could identify voice.

She heard Jean say, "No, just a little bruised up, but she ought to be fine in no time," and she groaned and buried her face in her pillow.

Rogue supposed she should be happy that Scott had asked after her at all?

She listened for their voices long after Jean and Scott had disappeared down the hall. She wanted another massage. There was that restless feeling at the pit of her stomach again, and she wanted another massage. And not just her back this time.

Rogue closed her eyes and waited for sleep. She was too tired to think about 'happily ever after' right now.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

ahhh that was wonderful! Bravo!

jean/rogue is my favorite x-men femmeslash ship, have you written others? the only other one i have found was this one, (http://www.ktnb.net/xmovieslash/fiction/whennevercomes.html) which is ever so good too.

Thanks :). This is actually my first X-Men femmeslash fic. I haven't read a Jean/Rogue yet, but since a rec deserves another, I offer you some Ororo/Jean (http://www.livejournal.com/users/dirty_diana/10530.html) instead. Cheers.

That was good :D Jean/Rogue never crossed my mind.

Thanks, man.

Jean/Rogue never crossed my mind.
May it cross many times more. ;)

Wow. Nice. X-Men fandom outside of Rogue and Gambit isn't really my stomping ground, but I had to pop in and read this. Jean/Rogue never crossed my mind, but...I like what you did with it. Very much.

::two thumbs up::

::two thumbs up::

::grin::
Gracias.

Seeing the title I expected something completely different, but this was good. Rogue/Jean is a great pair. Thanks.

Hey, thanks. :)
So... what were you expecting?

I was expecting some great deus ex machina to happen and have some God-Machine save the day, but it was only a conversation.

that's very cool. I liked how you included the fairy tale reference.

Thanks, yo. :)

Very nicely written. And I enjoyed the recs also ^_^ The only thing I'm wondering is how they ended up talking fairy tales in the first place, we do rather land into the middle of their conversation. But maybe that's not strictly necessary - it's nice because it's short, and so each line is effective.

Praise femmeslash!

^_^

Nyarth

Praise femmeslash!
I'll drink to that. The world could use a bit more.

The only thing I'm wondering is how they ended up talking fairy tales in the first place
Fair point. I was thinking that Jean tells Rogue a story to distract her from the bruises, but I wasn't patient enough to wait for a non-veryverycheesy exposition to come to me.
Anyway, thanks for reading and commenting. It's appreciated. :)

Eeee! X-men femmeslash, and it's lovely. I'm all happy now. I always like your Rogue.

Thanks for the rec. I wonder why I haven't written any more of that. I completely meant to. My follow-through in this fandom is ridiculously low.

I always like your Rogue.
::blush:: Aww, you...

You're welcome and thank you, you person you. (Also: better late than never. ;) )

You know that I love your fics, and this is no exception! Although I am a slash fanatic, femmeslash never used to rock my boat, but now it does! Rogue/Jean is my new Female OTP. :D

Great job! I hope you continue to write great Rogue/Jean.

Hey, you! Nice to see you around again. And thank you for reading and commenting. Femmeslash is quite boat-rocking if you give it a chance ;).

since i'm a plebe, i'll agree with what other people have already said and tell you that i love your characterizations of rogue. they're positively spot-on. and, hurrah for unconventional pairings, too! this was well-written, as always, and it's good to see you around. i hope school and whatnot is going well. *^^*

Aww, thanks a lot. You make me smile. Like so-- :)

hurrah for unconventional pairings
Truly. The obscure need love, too.

As for school... mention it not! Ergh.

You have such a great style. It works perfectly for Rogue's POV.

Thank you. :) Glad you think so.

Very nice look at Rogue's longing for Jean.

Thank you.

what are the bruises from? just wondering