Rogue's Avalon Chapter 7

As the door hissed open, Rogue knew immediately that she was in for the "talking" of her life.

It was odd she noticed however, as Magneto entered the room, she felt a sense of comfort she didn't understand. Don't tell me I've already gotten use to him being around.

An hour ago when she had awoken, she had been told by her doctor, Heartattack, that Serena had been taken by Magneto to a place set aside for children without any parents present. She had assured Rogue that Magneto had been kind to the child. That in itself both worried and relieved Rogue.

She watched as he took note of her half-sitting half-laying position on the infirmary bed; and sat in a chair to her right. He looked as if he were prepared to discipline a small child for stealing cookies out of the jar.

But he didn't, instead he looked to her and asked, "Why?"

From any other person it would have been a direct question; but from the pillar of strength that sat beside her, Rogue new the question had a double meaning.

"Alright, what are ya really askin' me? Do ya want ta know why Ah came, or why Ah didn't tell ya Ah was commin', or--"

The sight of Magneto's raised hand caused Rogue to stop and look at him for the answer to his interruption.

"Why didn't you attack my men when they tried to bring you down?"

Stunned by the question, Rogue took a few seconds to ponder her answer, "Ah guess, because of Serena, Ah didn't want her caught in the cross fire, at least ta begin with. Then once Ah got her out of the way, well they didn't know Ah wasn't there ta brin' this here whole operation down. An' there were people all over the place, a real fight would have hurt someone." She paused thinking to herself as the Master of Magnetism waited for her to continue.

Looking down at her hands that were fidgeting, Rogue thought hard about how she was going to phrase her next statement. "Ah guess, Ah just didn't want ta fight with them." Suddenly looking up directly at Magneto, anger filled her eyes and her voice, "Ah'm just tired of always movin' ta a new team and always being attacked. 'Sides not fightin' worked last time." As quickly as it changed to anger, Rogue's face became a seductive smile, "But Ah wasn't worried Sugar, Ah new ya'd come ta save me."

Magneto blinked, he was use to Rogue evading things, but he hadn't expected this. He countered with his own unexpected surprise, "What do you mean, 'moving to a new team?'''

Her smile faded, and she began to fidget again. So disturbed by the question was she that she didn't even hear the door to her room open, and Heartattack enter.

Recognizing immediately Rogue's discomfort, Heartattack launched into immediate action. "What's going on in here? Magneto I told you not to upset the child."

At the sound of Heartattack's words Rogue looked up and smiled reassuringly at the old woman, "Awh, Ms Heartattack, mama, he ain't hurtin' me. Jus' asked me a question Ah'm havin' trouble answerin'." Rogue smiled again to prove her point. "But if'n ya want'a take him over yawl's knee; well Ah'd pay a pretty penny ta see that one." Rogue laughed, she couldn't help herself; the idea of the Master of Magnetism lying across the healer's lap was just too much for her.

The old woman scoffed at the idea and went over to Rogue's bedside to check her IV. Satisfied both in the IV and that Magneto wasn't hurting the girl; Heartattack left the room with a pat of Rogue's shoulder and a flick of her wrist that caused the door to stay ajar just the tiniest bit.

Rogue removed her eyes from the retreating healer and again looked to Magneto who had remained regal while Heartattack had been in the room. Rogue again looked at the door, "Ah like her." She smiled to herself and then took a deep breath, "Ah haven't forgotten the question, Ah'm just stalling." Taking a meek look at the mutant beside her, Rogue stated the facts, "What Ah mean is, if'n Ah'm goin' ta be here for the rest of my natural born life, Ah suppose Ah'll have ta learn ta work with 'em. Which means that they're kinda like mah new teammates. Anyway, they've treated me like all the other "new team members' ever did, so no harm done, right?"

In the lengthy pause that followed, Rogue studied her surroundings, and her "leader's" face. The room wasn't large, perhaps the size of two king beds laid out. The walls were not a sterile white like most hospitals, but were instead a creamy mixture of pale blue. What was it? Wasn't blue a color that's suppose to calm? There was one twin bed, which she was lying on, and two sturdy wood chairs, one on the left, and the other on the right of the bed.

Her attention shifted back to Magneto, who was starring directly at her.

Rogue blinked, "Sorry, did ya say somethin'?"

Now it was Magneto's turn to blink, he seemed surprised that she had spoken. "No, forgive me, I was starring into oblivion."

A chuckle trickled from Rogue's throat, "Yawl better not be tired, this thing's only just started." She smiled, showing her support for him in her voice and demeanor.

He nodded once, and then stood, "You do require more rest. You know of course, I will have to question you further."

A hurt look passed over Rogue's face. Suddenly she struggled to sit up. Magneto was by her side in a second, his hand pressed gently yet firmly down on her shoulder, "What are you trying to do? You have to rest, not get up."

The concern in his voice shook Rogue, and that combined with the pain of her movement caused her muscles to give out from under her. She slumped, defeated into the pillows and covers of the bed. When she finally spoke, Magneto was alarmed by the exhaustion in her voice and her words. "It's just…well, Ah thought ya trusted me. Ah mean with everythin' we've been through together, Ah guess Ah just thought ya'd trust me." She paused taking a long breath as Magneto studied her, "Sorry, Ah'll be here waitin' for ya, when ya decide ta visit me again." She smiled weakly, and then turned her head into the pillow and closed her eyes.

Magneto left as silently as he had entered, but this time he had much more on his mind.

A few minutes later, to Rogue's absolute surprise, Magneto entered again, this time though carrying a little girl in his arms.

"Rogue!" Serena shouted, when she saw that her friend was awake. As Magneto set her down she ran full speed to Rogue's side and took her hand. For her part, Rogue gave Magneto a smile that tripped a cord in him that he hadn't felt in a long time, a feeling of gratitude so great it couldn't be expressed in any human words. Then settling Serena down on the corner of Rogue's bed, the two had a pleasant conversation, which lasted about an hour. And Rogue learned all about the dozen or so children that had come aboard Avalon without families, and how all of them were now Serena's "bestest best friends."