Chapter 48: Rogue's Mutant Ability

Before I sunk any deeper into the hole, I threw the stone into the air and quickly leaped out of the hole; landing on the ground, I lightly pushed the ninth stone while it was still in the air, causing it to land back in its previous spot. When it did, the entire area shook violently; in fact, not only was it just around us, but I even saw the school shaking, signifying how truly heavy that stone was.

'Fuck me, man, I'm not lifting that tenth stone, at least not until I learn how to fly.' Thought Pharaoh as he walked back towards his group while removing his hoodie and brushing all the dirt on it.

"Hehe, look at all the money I made, Tut!" Yelled Rogue excitedly as she jumped on Tut, wrapping her legs around his waist so she wouldn't fall, and showed Pharaoh all the money she got.

"What do you mean all the money I made? Don't you mean all the money WE made? After all, WE wouldn't have gotten that money if I didn't bother lifting those stones, so like any good team, we'll split it evenly. 50/50." Stated Pharaoh with a raised eyebrow as he folded his arms and looked at Rogue, attached to his waist, who no longer seemed that excited.

"Eh, but I'm the one who bet using my own money." Said Rogue with a slight frown as she held the money close to herself and turned away, concealing the money from Pharaoh.

"Yeah, and I'm the one who lifted the stones; good job, teammate; now I want my cut." Remarked Pharaoh with a nod as he outstretched his hand, waiting for Rogue to give him his fair share, which she never did.

"Ah, I just remembered, there is something I need to do; I'll see you later, Pharaoh." Said Rogue with a slight smile as she hopped off Pharaoh's body and tried running away, though she didn't get very far.

Seeing Rogue try to run away, I swiftly appeared in front of her, blocking her escape route and causing her to squeal in surprise as she backed away, though I didn't let her go; grabbing her exposed wrist, I lifted her into the air, though the reaction, I got wasn't something I was expecting.

"Let me go! Quickly let me go, Pharaoh!" Yelled Rogue worriedly as she dropped the money in her hands and grabbed Pharaoh's hand, trying to remove it from her arm.

I was confused by why Rogue seemed so freaked out by me touching me, but I wasn't given much time to think, as I felt my strength getting sapped; it wasn't a lot, but I could definitely feel it, and the fact that I could feel Rogue's strength increasing told me a lot.

'So she can absorb someone's strength? Now, that's hard as fuck. Though it doesn't seem she can control it.' Mused Pharaoh with a raised eyebrow as he watched Rogue's strength continue to increase.

I was actually curious to see how strong Rogue could get since there had to be a limit to how much strength she could absorb, but we didn't make it that far as I saw her grab her ears in pain, causing me to slightly widen my eyes and quickly drop her.

'It's not just strength she can absorb; it's everything.' Thought Pharaoh as he kneeled on the ground and looked at Rouge while Jean, Cassidy, Jarlone, and the other kids quickly came over when they saw her lying on the ground.

"Eh, what's wrong with Rogue? Is she okay?" Questioned Jean in slight concern as she looked at Rogue lying on the ground before glancing at Pharoah.

"Big man, did you happen to touch Rogue's skin?" Asked Jarlone seriously as he glanced between both Rogue and Pharaoh, who nodded, causing him and Cassidy to sigh.

"I'm not surprised you're fine, considering how strong you are, but you shouldn't touch Rogue's skin for the safety of both of you. She can't control her mutant ability; that's why she wears gloves and big clothes." Said Cassidy seriously as she looked at Rogue, who finally seemed to calm down.

"Yo, Rogue, you good? Sorry about that, I didn't know." Asked Pharaoh as he grabbed Rogue's hand, which she reflexively moved, nearly hitting Cassidy in the face, almost killing her with her increased strength, though Pharaoh managed to grab her hand just before then.

"I'd suggest you don't move, Rogue; my strength is still coursing through your veins. I'm sure you don't want to kill someone accidentally." Added Pharaoh lightly as he tightly held Rogue's hand before helping her stand up, ensuring she didn't make a mess with her newfound strength.

"Are you okay?" Asked Pharaoh and Rogue simultaneously as they looked at each other, causing him to smirk, though the same couldn't be said for Rogue.

"I think I should be the one asking you that; I know you only got a taste of it, but hearing so many people inside your head was probably pretty painful." Remarked Pharaoh lightly with a smirk as he reached down, grabbing the money Rogue had dropped before handing it to her, of course after taking his half.'

"Y-Yeah, it wasn't nice; do you hear that every day, all the time?" Asked Rogue curiously with a nod while observing Pharaoh, breathing a sigh of relief to see him completely fine and not lying unconscious on the ground.

"Eh, if I want to, though unlike you, my brain is much more powerful than yours, so it can process all of the noises, smells, tastes, and sensations without difficulty, well, except for the time they suddenly appeared." Replied Pharaoh with a slight frown as he remembered those agonizing hours he had experienced.

Seeing how Rogue was fine, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and returned to doing their own things, and while that was going on, I spotted that glasses dude from earlier striking up a conversation with Jean, causing me to smile, not at the fact that he was hitting on Jean, but because she was hopefully making a friend.

"Nice to meet you, Scott; I'm Jean Grey." Said Jean with a smile, one that caused Scott to blush slightly, though he managed to keep his cool and properly converse with Jean.

Watching Jean and Scott interact, I grabbed Rogue by the hand, and the two of us silently exited from the underground room, returning to the maze.

"So, um, I'm sorry for what happened earlier, Tut; just like Jean, I-I can't control my abilities. That's why I wear gloves and refrain from touching anyone; I'm not trying to hurt anyone by accident." Stated Rogue as she looked at Pharaoh, worried he'd no longer want to be friends with her.

"It's fine; I didn't hold you for long anyways, though I suggest you stay with me until your stolen strength wears off." Said Pharaoh with a nod as he looked at Rogue, touching her cheek, causing her to reflexively swat his hand away, while he laughed.

"Hmph, it's not funny, Pharaoh, I could've hurt you!" Yelled Rogue angrily as she stomped the ground, shaking the nearby bushes.

"But you didn't, did you, Rogue? Listen, I don't know about your past, Rogue, but just now, you can touch me without worrying about harming me; if anything, you should be worried about yourself. You must have a limit to how much you can absorb, and I'm worried that I exceed that, so if you absorb too much. Boom." Stated Pharaoh lightly and faster than she could react; he removed her yellow gloves and held her hand, stopping her from retracting her arm.

"I-If that's the case, please let me go; I don't want to explode!" Yelled Rogue in slight worry as she gripped Pharaoh's wrist with enough strength to crush stone and tried removing his arm, yet he didn't so much as budge, though he did release her hand.

"Now, Rogue, let's go to the cafeteria. I'm hungry; I'm definitely going to buy something nice with my money." Said Pharaoh with a smirk as he handed Rogue her yellow gloves back before showing off his stacks of cash, causing her to try and snatch it out of his hands.

"Hey! Give it back; that's my money!" Yelled Rogue as she chased after Tut, moving far faster than she'd ever run before, though she was still moving only slightly faster than a snail to Pharaoh.

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"Eh, you're not going to eat, Tut? Weren't you hungry?" Asked Rogue curiously as she gently placed her tray of steak and mashed potatoes on the table, sitting opposite Tut.

"Nah, I was never hungry. I don't even need to eat, honestly." Replied Tut calmly, though he did steal a bite from Rogue's food, only noticing when she saw a bite taken out of her steak.

"Hey, don't eat my food; go use your stolen money to buy your own." Said Rogue with a slight frown as she covered her food with her arms while eyeing Tut, who was chewing her steak.

"Eh, that was pretty good; maybe I should get some." Muttered Pharaoh with a thoughtful expression, causing Rogue to huff in annoyance as she began eating.

"So, where's Jean?" Asked Rogue curiously as she looked around the cafeteria, searching for Jean, who she never found.

"She's still walking around the school with that glasses dude, giving her a little tour of the place. Speaking of him, I need to speak with Eloise." Remarked Pharaoh lightly, though he whispered the last part to himself.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"Hey! Stop taking my food, Tut!"

"I didn't."

"I see you chewing right now!

"Don't know what you're talking about."

"Haa, I just want to eat in peace."

"Yeah, same."

"TUT!"

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I don't know about y'all, but I see Gwen and Tut as the greatest friend duo; that's just me, though; however, Rogue might sneakily take that spot, who knows.