Marvel: My Eyes Defies Fate.

The moment Rogue saw Kurogai, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him. It caught him off guard—he hadn't expected such a warm welcome.

But thinking back to the battle at the Statue of Liberty, he understood. That moment of crisis had left a lasting impression on her. A soft smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and he gently urged her to calm down.

"How have you been doing here, Rogue?" Kurogai asked once she settled down.

"I'm... fine," Rogue said, her eyes steady. "After everything that happened, I've changed. I'm not as afraid anymore. If I had to face another enemy... I think I'd stand my ground."

"That's good." Kurogai's expression shifted, becoming serious. "But now, I need an answer."

He met her eyes directly.

"I asked you before—and I need a clear response this time."

She knew exactly what he was talking about. Her blood.

If Rogue allowed Kurogai to extract her blood willingly, he could help solve the affliction that kept her isolated from others. It was, in his eyes, a fair exchange—he offered a solution, she gave him what he needed to make it work.

At first, Rogue had been excited to see him. But at his words, her mood shifted. She looked down, lost in thought, then after a long silence, slowly lifted her head and met his gaze.

"I've made up my mind," she said, her tone calm but firm. "You can have my blood. But... I want to change the terms."

Kurogai raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt.

"When I first met you, I was ready to agree. It was logical. Practical. But after everything, my reasons changed." Rogue clenched her fists. "I realized something important during that last battle."

She looked away, cheeks flushed, clearly struggling to say what she wanted.

"My power... this curse... I used to see it as a burden. But now I understand—it's also my shield. I don't want to lose it completely, not if it means I can't touch anyone again. And... if I can't ever truly be close to anyone... I just..."

She took a breath and continued.

"I just want someone who won't leave me behind. Someone who'll be there for me. So I'm asking—will you stay by my side? Even if it's just sometimes... even if it's not forever... I just want to feel something real. Something warm."

Her voice was small now, but every word was laced with sincerity.

Kurogai listened quietly. He understood immediately. It wasn't just a condition—it was a confession. A quiet, vulnerable offering of her heart.

She had liked him from the start. He'd sensed it even back then. But when she found out about his connection with Jean, she stepped back, unwilling to complicate things. She'd been ready to leave without saying anything, and in fact, that was part of why Mystique's manipulation worked on her.

But the fear she felt during that battle changed her. It forced her to confront her feelings. When she thought she might die, she had only one name in her heart.

His.

That was why she'd come to this decision. Even if she couldn't have all of him—even if her place in his life was small—she didn't want to let go.

Kurogai looked at her quietly for a long moment before finally speaking.

"Rogue... I won't lie to you," he said softly. "There won't be just one woman in my life."

(No complains please, enjoy the harem. And at least I made it sound natural, right?)

He saw the flicker of pain cross her eyes, but he kept going.

"I'm not pretending to be something I'm not. I'm not a saint. And someone like me... someone with power... it comes with consequences. Attention. Desire. And temptation."

He said it plainly—not to be cruel, but because she deserved honesty.

"I already care for Jean. And I won't pretend I won't be drawn to others—Wanda, others like her. I'm not going to live like a monk while beautiful people surround me. That wouldn't be true to who I am."

There was a pause. Rogue didn't flinch or look away.

"But I'm also not careless with the people I let close," Kurogai added. "If I didn't care about you, I wouldn't be saying this."

He took a small step closer. "I want you to think about this clearly. If you're serious... then so am I."

Rogue stared at him for a long moment. Then, with quiet determination, she nodded.

"I'm serious," she said, her voice firm despite the tears threatening to well in her eyes.

Kurogai nodded back, something softer flickering in his expression.

"Then I'll keep my end of the deal."

There was no need for more words right now. She had offered her blood—and her heart. And Kurogai had accepted both, with full awareness of what that meant.

In this strange world of gods, mutants, and monsters, sometimes the most powerful force was still something as human as this.

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