NA:WARNING: mentions of past attempted sexual assault.
She struck out of the sky completely by accident. He fell almost 100 feet before she caught him, the wind buffeting his fall and depositing him gently on the ground. The lightning strike had seared through his uniform leaving a large gash in it's wake, cutting across his chest and fusing his skin with the heat remains of the fabric and metal. She landed next to him and he glared at her.
"Come to finish the job?" He spat, glaring up at the Weather Witch. She knelt next to him and inspected the wound.
"That is not my way." She said softly. He chuckled.
"That's new."
Her eyes flashed and rumble from the clouds above warned him not to test her. He met her eyes, daring her to prove him right.
"I never had a choice in the matter." She murmured. "My village is not far from here." She lifted him using a concentrated air current. "I can fix the damage I have done." He watched, stunned as she led him through the brush into a small village. Speaking in Swahili, she directed, who he supposed were the villages healers to attend to him.
"Do they know what they're doing?" He asked, skeptically. The man closest to him flashed him a smile.
"I studied medicine at the University of Nairobi." He said. "I came back to share my knowledge and help the people of my village."
Storm put her hand on the man's shoulder. "This is Dr. Kemei." She explained. "Do not be fooled by the humble appearance of this place. The people are every bit as intelligent and talented as you or I."
Erik doubted that; after all they were human, but he allowed them to carry him into the hut that served as Dr. Kemei's practice. It was cooler inside the hut and he was given a few painkillers to allow the doctor to remove the uniform from his flesh. The pain was still unimaginable and he blacked out.
He woke, staring at the ceiling. He had no idea what time it was, or where he was. He felt as though he was on fire and he couldn't move; his body bathed in a layer of sweat. All he could see was Storm, sitting next to him calmly pressing a cool cloth to his head. She was talking. He caught the words "infection" and "nothing to concern" but in his fevered state he wasn't able to make heads or tails of her words. Dr. Kemei came back in and Ororo rose to leave, but he grabbed at her wrist. Enemy or no, she was the only person here he knew and even in his deluded state, he needed her familiarity. He couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw a look of surprise on her face as she sat back down, but the fever made his eyelids grow heavy and he fell back asleep.
He woke again. This time his mind more alert, but his body greatly weakened. He looked over at the space next to his bed. Storm was curled up on a small cot in the corner. He studied her as she slept. The years had changed her; she no longer wore her hair in the mohawk she'd sported when they'd first met. There were lines around her eyes, not many and those that were there were laugh lines. She seemed at ease being asleep in his presence, but he knew that wasn't always the case.
Apocalypse pressed his hand on the side of Ororo's face. "She is quite beautiful, is she not?" The old mutant's resonant voice filled the chamber of the pyramid. Ororo shuddered in disgust, but couldn't move. Erik was standing off to the side with Warren and Psyloche. He narrowed his eyes.
"She is a child." He said. Apocalypse looked over at him with interest. Erik knew challenging him was foolish, but he couldn't allow him to hurt her.
"Do you have an opinion to voice?" Apocalypse asked, his voice booming off the walls. Ororo fell to her knees in front of him, fear growing in her eyes. She looked as though there was nothing more she wanted then to run, but was unable to.
"Just that a god should know better than to mistreat his loyal followers." Erik replied. "I'm sure she is capable of more than attending to your..." he hesitated. "Needs."
Apocalypse considered his words and released Ororo from whatever mind control he'd been using on her. She moved away from him, her eyes wide, her hands forming into fists where air and lightning swirled and crackled. Apocalypse paid her no mind. He walked out of the main room of the pyramid...but not after leering at the large golden statue of Ororo that stood among the others of his horsemen.
Erik moved towards Ororo and held out his hand. She glared and stood on her own. "You're welcome." He said.
"You believe I should thank you?" She hissed.
"He saved you." Warren said.
"By having Apocalypse turn his attention to another helpless person." Ororo hissed.
"Better her than you." Erik said simply. Ororo met his eyes. Though she was only 17 he saw a wisdom in her that was far beyond her years.
"I am not certain that is true." She said, turning away from him.
She'd never trust him after that. Even when they both had turned on Apocalypse and he'd asked her to join him as he left the institute. She'd stayed with Charles and now she was one of his X-Men. He looked at her sleeping form. She wasn't a child anymore. He shook his head. So much wasted potential.
He tried to get to his feet, but fell to the ground as a white hot pain lanced through his chest. Instantly Storm was on her feet, helping him up. "Are you alright?" She asked.
"What do you care?" He growled. "You probably intend to have me arrested the second I'm brought back from the brink of death."
Storm shook her head and helped him back onto the bed. "You were always so dramatic." She muttered. "Here. Have some Ugali." She held up a plate. He looked at it suspiciously. "It isn't poisoned." She said, exasperation evident.
He frowned. "What is it?"
"Cornmeal paste." She said. "Usually we pair it with sauce or cooked vegetables, but you might want to take it slow." She held up a spoon. "Eat."
He took the spoon and bowl from her. "When should I expect the authorities?" He asked. Storm sat back on her cot, shaking her head.
"I'm not going to have you arrested, Magneto." She said.
"Why not?" He asked.
"Mostly because no prison in this country could hold you." She said. "And because I am the one who put you in this situation." She looked at his bandaged chest. "It wouldn't be honorable to throw you in jail."
He blinked at her, then focused on his food. "Your aim is impressive." He said.
"I did not know you were up there." She murmured. "What brings you to Kenya?"
He laid back down, staring at the ceiling. "So the interrogation begins." He said. She sighed.
"I believe I have the right to know. Or are you telling me you just happened to fly over the one village in Kenya where I happened to be?" She asked. He looked away; she was too smart.
"I think I need rest." He said, glancing around the room. Storm let out a low chuckle.
"I removed all the metal." She said. "In addition." She pointed to the corner. There was a strange contraption. He glared at it. "It's a neutralizer." She explained. Erik concentrated, but nothing happened. He'd lost his connection to metal. He grabbed at Storm, but she stepped back.
"How could you do this to me?" He hissed.
"To both of us." She corrected. "As long as I am here, my powers are as useless as yours."
He was slightly taken aback, but shook his head. "Those people out there-" He began.
"Know exactly who you are." Storm said. "And yet, they have healed you. Perhaps you should consider that." She made to leave and he was seized by a sudden reluctance to be alone.
"Wait."
She paused in the door way. He glanced down at the bowl in his hand. "Can I have some sauce to go with this? It's tasteless on its own."
She gave him a small smile. "I'll be back shortly, after all." She motioned around her. "This is my house."
Her house. He looked around in shock. She would depower and debase herself in what she called her house to keep him in check, to reassure some humans that he wouldn't hurt them. He staggered to his feet. He had to get out of there. If he got out of the range of the neutralizers, he could fly. A wave of nausea hit him as he walked out of the hut. Ignoring the pounding in his head and the searing pain in the gash on his chest, he tried to walk forward, but instead, collapsed on the ground. The last thing he saw, before he blacked out, was snow white hair and an expression of concern on Storm's face as she looked down at him.
"Why?" She asked, when he awoke hours later. He was back in her house and she was sitting on the edge of his bed.
"You're keeping me prisoner." He hissed, unable to move any of his limbs. Storm let out a laugh.
"You're a patient." She said. "You can barely walk 2 steps. As soon as you've healed you're free to leave." He looked at her suspiciously, but there was no deceit in her eyes. Only disappointment.
"Why?" He asked. "Why allow me to leave when I am fully capable of razing this village to the ground."
"Because I am confident you will not." Storm replied.
"Storm." He said.
"That is not my name." She interrupted. He paused before beginning again.
"Ororo. Why go through this trouble, for me?"
"We would help anyone in your position." She said, handing him a glass of water. He drank it gratefully, the coolness lessening the ace in his temples.
"You make it a habit of blasting people out of the sky?" He asked. She shook her head.
"You would be the first." She said, moving to get up. He took hold of her wrist. She paused, looking down at him. He swallowed nervously, but decided on honestly.
"I was looking for you." He admitted. "I wanted you to join my forces on Genosha." Storm...No Ororo looked at him with sadness.
"Was that truly so hard to admit?" She asked. "I thank you for what I'm sure was a generous offer, but my answer to you remains the same one as it was when you first asked me."
"You are leaving."
He turned in the doorway of the institute to see Ororo looking at him curiously. "Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I don't belong here." He said simply. She frowned.
"They have accepted me, even with the considerable crimes in my past." She looked at him. "Why would the same courtesy not be extended to you?"
He gave her an indulgent smile. "You are young, Ororo."
"I don't see what that has to do with anything." She growled. Outside the sky darkened and thunder rumbled. He glanced out and looked back at her.
"You have more potential than you realize." He said.
"You sound like him." She spat out the last word and their was no doubt in either of their minds who she meant. He reached out his hand.
"You can join me." He offered. "Together, you and I can work to create a place where all like us can be safe." She looked at him sadly.
"You sound just like him." She murmured. "And you haven't even realized it yet." She shook her head. "I am tired of people using me for their ends. If I were to leave with you, you would simply use me as a tool in your plans. I would become your pawn."
"And you're telling me that by staying here you're not Charles' pawn?" He asked. She shook her head.
"The professor asked if I wished to protect those who could not protect themselves." She said. "He made it clear that this was one of many options open to me and that he would support whatever choice I made." She moved closer to him and put her hands on wither side of his head. Pressing a kiss to his forehead she murmured. "I hope you find the peace you are looking for." Turning, she walked further into the institute. Erik watched her go, then left.
It took about 2 weeks, but soon he could stand on his own and had managed a few pacing steps around the hut. Ororo walked in one morning and tossed a bundle of clothes at him.
"What are these?" He asked.
"Ceremonial garb." She said. "It's the harvest festival and the villagers have requested your presence." She turned to give him privacy and Eric noted that she was wearing clothes with similar colors and designs.
"Me?" He was taken aback.
"Well they asked for the pale faced man who lives in my hut so unless you've got someone hiding under the bed, then yeah, they mean you." She smiled. "Get dressed."
It was strange being among the villagers. They didn't seem to be afraid of him or Ororo. She chatted with the elders, her head nodding as she agreed with them on whatever they were sharing with her. The children ran up to him, giggling and reaching out to touch him. Smiles and laughter surrounded him. He was offered food and drink which he accepted. Ororo pulled him to his feet.
"They are kind to me." He said.
"You sound surprised." She commented as she led him back to her hut. He was leaning against her, his strength failing him.
"You said they knew who I was." He said. Had she lied to him?
"I did." She said, leading him inside. "And they do." She led him back to his bed. "Rest, Erik. It's been a taxing day for you."
He had practically returned to his full strength. Walking at the edge of village with Ororo he asked. "Why are you not with the X-men?"
She raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"You are loyal, Ororo," Erik said. "You would never leave them without reason."
She stopped by an old tree, running her fingers along the bark. "I simply needed time to clear my head." She said. "Emma's leadership is...difficult to accept."
Erik snorted. He'd heard that Emma Frost had taken over the X-men and could see why Ororo found it challenging to work with her. He watched her. She seemed to be considering something.
"Why me?" She finally asked.
"I beg your pardon?" He said.
"This is the second time you've attempted to recruit me." She said. "Why me and not someone more powerful." The unspoken question in her words was 'why not Jean?'
"The Phoenix force was unstable. She was-"
"Erik." Ororo warned. "Do not lie to me."
He shut his eyes. Taking a breath, he began again. "Sometimes, I still hear him." He pressed his hand to his forehead. "It's as though he never left. As powerful as Jean...was. She never faced her own darkness. The Phoenix was a part of her, but...she never agreed to its actions." He turned to Ororo. "But you...you could and still do understand me."
"You are wrong." She said softly. "I do not understand a man who can look at all the beauty and good in this world and only see its ugliest depths."
"Perhaps because I have seen them more clearly than most." He hissed. She motioned towards the village.
"What do you think these people suffered during colonialism?" She asked. "This entire continent was at the mercy of outside powers that took their culture, their practices, their languages, sold their people and brutalized those that remained." She looked at the village. "They have next to nothing and yet they opened their hearts and their homes to you." She shook her head. "They had no reason to."
"If I'm really so terrible, then why are you helping me?" He said.
"Because when I look at someone, I don't automatically see the bad." She explained. "And I know there is good in you, Erik Lehnsherr." She looked back at the village. "You are free to go." She murmured. "The neutralizers do not work out here. Your power is restored." She turned and walked away. Erik did not understand the sadness he felt as he watched her go. Then he looked at the sky and took off, flying away back to Genosha.