“Scott, have you seen Bobby?”
Rogue watched as Scott grimaced at the question. He reached for the back of his head, sighing, clearly not about to enjoy what he was going to say.
“Yeah, I saw him. He went up to Kitty’s room.”
Rogue’s heart dropped. She turned to the stairs. How could she have been so stupid to think Bobby would still want to be with her, after she rejected the cure? Of course he would choose Kitty. Rogue wasn’t surprised, and she couldn’t even find it in herself to blame him. Kitty was… well, perfect. Cute, popular, friendly, touchable. Everything Rogue was not.
Still, that didn’t mean Rogue wanted the others to see her let Bobby get away with it. She would play the part of the jealous girlfriend, running into his room and loudly breaking up with him on the spot. Then everyone would know their relationship was over, and nobody would wonder why Rogue stopped talking to Bobby. Kitty and Bobby could have their picture-perfect relationship, and Rogue would be alone once more.
She could get used to it again.
As Rogue started up the stairs, Cyclops grabbed her shoulder. “Rogue, it might not be what you’re thinking.” He seemed like he was trying to convince himself more than anything.
Rogue moved away from him. “That’s sweet, but stupid.” She replied. “I guess that visor of yours keeps you from seeing the way he looks at her– and the way she looks at him.”
What Rogue didn’t want to admit was that she only knew that last part from the amount of time she herself had spent staring at Kitty.
Rogue couldn’t bother thinking about that right now. She hurried up the rest of the stairs and through the halls until she was outside Bobby’s room. The door was closed, and Rogue could hear faint whispering and giggling coming from the other side.
Rogue chose not to take the cure. Now, as she could hear Bobby's laughing voice from inside Kitty's room, she regretted that decision.
Rogue wiped her damp eyes on her sleeve, and flung open the door. She was met with the last thing she had expected.
“Bobby, you-” Rogue promptly stopped mid shout.
Bobby’s room was covered in decorations. There was yellow and green and crepe paper hanging from the ceiling, and three unpopped confetti poppers on the floor. A blue banner that read “Happy Birthday Rogue!” hung from the ceiling.
Bobby and Kitty stared at Rouge with wide eyes. They stood by a table in the middle of the room, on which was a cake that the pair was placing candles on in a ring. In the center were pictures of Rouge, cut into little star and heart shapes.
Rogue gaped at them in utter disbelief. She had completely forgotten that today, January 10th, was in fact her birthday. With the war with Magneto, and deciding whether or not to get the cure, it had slipped her mind entirely.
While Rogue was frozen, utterly baffled by the sight in front of her, Bobby and Kitty regained their composure. Grinning, they grabbed confetti poppers from the floor, pulled them, and shouted in unison, “Happy birthday!”
Tears welled up in Rogue’s eyes. Was this really what they had been doing in secret together, all for her? Only Xavier knew her birthday, so they must have asked him. Did that mean they had been planning this in advance? For how long?
No one had ever done something like this for Rogue before. Her mother, Mystique, wasn’t concerned with birthdays– at least, she wasn’t before she left Rogue alone at the age of fourteen. Logan was like a father to her, but he hadn’t said seemed interested in finding out when her birthday was, much less celebrating it. Rogue didn’t fault him for this, the man was 200 years old. The concept of age must feel obsolete for him.
But for the teenage students in the mansion, birthdays were a big deal. Several students had thrown one for Kitty when she turned 15 in December, and Rogue and Bobby had been planning to do something for Bobby’s 17th birthday in March. But after Rogue had started fighting with Bobby, and seeing him hang out with Kitty more, she hadn’t expected him to care about her spending time with her anymore.
“Do– do you like it?” Kitty asked after Rogue had been silent for a moment.
“Sorry we couldn’t do it in your room, but it was supposed to be a surprise, so–” Bobby said, lowering the confetti popper. Him and Kitty exchanged glances at each other, then at Rogue, now looking slightly nervous.
The tears fell from Rogue’s eyes. “I love it.”
“Kitty, Bobby, thank you.” Rouge exclaimed, and she truly meant it. Her and Bobby had been fighting recently over Rogue’s insistence that Bobby must not be satisfied with the lacking physical aspect of their relationship, and Rogue and Kitty had seemingly been competing to win Bobby. After Rogue had seen Bobby and Kitty go ice skating together that night, she had assumed her relationship with her boyfriend- and the one with her friend- was dead. Rogue had no idea why either of them would go this far for her, but she was grateful.
“Yeah, well, it was the least we could do.” Bobby moved forward and placed a hand on Rogue’s clothed shoulder. “I know I haven’t been the best boyfriend—“
“And I haven’t been the best friend.” Kitty added.
“But no matter if I can touch you or not, I love you.” Bobby continued.
“And I do too.” Kitty finished, placing her hand on Rogue’s other shoulder. Kitty was blushing, her eyes meeting Rogue’s before fluttering away.
Rogue was stunned. Was this a confession? It was already a surprise that Bobby didn’t want to break up with her. But Kitty, loving Rogue? It was something Rogue had fantasized about before her and Bobby started dating, but she never imagined it could be a reality.
Wait… Kitty and Bobby obviously liked each other too. That was apparent from the past few weeks, even if they hadn’t been doing anything behind Rogue’s back like she had thought. Did this mean the three of them… all wanted to be with each other?
Rogue grabbed Bobby and Kitty’s hands in her own gloved ones. “I love you guys, too. I’m glad to be your girlfriend, Bobby, and I’d love to be Kitty’s as well.”
Kitty squeaked, and hugged Rogue tightly. After Kitty let go, Bobby also hugged Rogue, and then the three of them embraced together.
Still holding each other, Bobby spoke to the girls. “Now there‘s only one thing left to do.”
“What’s that?” Rogue asked, suddenly nervous again.
A wide smile crossed Kitty’s face.
“Presents!”