Apologies for the delay in chapter updates. Busy life at the moment!
This is a bit of filler chapter but more to come swiftly.
Chapter 20 – In Control
"That's it Cordelia, just take your time. Ya almost have it… just keep the ball slow n' steady…"
Cordelia, a girl of eleven years, squinted with concentration as she willed the floating red rubber ball through another hoop without brushing against the edges of the ring. While Rogue stood with her, coaching her with encouragements, her twin sister Lily smiled from her place ten feet away as she held the hoops in place with her own telekinesis. Lily grinned with silent encouragement as she held up her hands to help her keep the hoops from wavering. While the other under-twelves were being tutored in how to fire objects at targets with the other tutors, Cordelia and Lily were still stuck on precision. That is, Cordelia was still stuck on precision practice. Lily on the other hand, had mastered it in a few lessons but stayed back with her because she didn't want to leave her behind. They were the last in their class to finish the task.
"Come on Delia, you can do it…"
Cordelia glared at the little ball as it inched too close to the hoop. It was harder than Cordelia had anticipated, getting a ball to go through an obstacle course of hoops. If Rogue hadn't been there to supervise her, she was certain she would have given up on the first try today. Jacko Pierce, one of the under-twelves who beat the first level of training on the first day, had been teasing her mercilessly for her failure. What was worse, her favourite tutor had been gone for weeks and she had miserably tried to finish the challenge but to no avail. Jacko had taken every opportunity to remind her how many times she failed. But today she vowed to get it right. To show her favourite tutor that she could do it. To show Jacko that she wasn't a failure.
"Ya almost finished Cordelia, don't get distracted now…"
As if on cue the ball knocked into the second-last loop in the course. Cordelia let out a shrill growl as she gave the ball an extra push and sent it flying like a bullet into the distance where the other children were practicing hitting the targets against a rock wall. Her ball hit one of the targets and rebounded into the crowd of children who dodged out of the way.
Jacko's sneering face was the clearest face in the crowd of faces who turned to look at her. She couldn't hear him but she could guess his words as nudged one of his friends and pointed back at her as they sniggered at her expense.
Cordelia's shoulders slumped in dismay as she turned towards her tutor.
"This stinks. I'm never gonna get it!"
Rogue offered a sympathetic look and rested a gloved hand on her shoulder.
"Cordelia, honey. Ya gotta understand that everyone learns things at their own pace. Ya gonna get this eventually. You will see soon enough."
Cordelia rolled her eyes as Lily came to stand by her side. She rest a pale hand on her shoulder, her eyes painfully sympathetic. Unlike her sister, Lily was mute and so her hazel eyes were her main communication apart from her telepathic abilities. Her mental encouragements, while well intended did nothing to ease her struggles.
"Don't give up Delia. We'll keep trying until you get it…"
Lily's sweet smile did all but appease Cordelia.
Glaring at Lily, perfect Lily who could do anything she set her mind to, Cordelia pushed her away and began to storm off after her ball. The danger room simulated a summer's day in a wheat field on the outskirts of a dense forest. The wind picked up her sandy blonde hair and pushed it around as she moved through the tall wheat field. However before she even made it to the edge of the field, her gaze caught an unusual sight. A red dot began to edge closer to her until she realised it was actually her red ball hurdling back to them. Dumbstruck, Cordelia watched as it came towards her- only for the ball to side step her at the last moment before it came to rest in Rogue's outstretched hand.
As Cordelia stood there gaping at her tutor, Rogue gave her a small smile and let the ball go. The ball hovered between the three of them as Rogue spoke. She didn't need to use hand motions to move objects to her will.
"Ah was hopeless at this when Jean first started teachin' meh how t' control her powers. Ah wasn't allowed t' use her memories t' do it. Ah had t' learn precision usin' the same techniques as ya an' the others are learnin' now. Ah had to earn the skills."
With a wink at the girls, Rogue made the ball shoot like a bullet towards the rock wall. Like a ball in a pinball machine, it knocked all the targets on the wall causing many of the children to cry out in surprise (including Jacko and his cohorts) before it came zooming back to them and landed in Rogue's hand a second time. Rogue held out the ball for Cordelia to take again as she spoke gently. Already she could see the frustration begin to ease from the young girl's face.
"Just don't think of what the others are doin'. Just think about what you are tryin' t' do. Let everything else fall to the sides, and ah promise ya it'll make it a lot easier."
Cordelia took the ball and heaved a heavy sigh.
"Okay, but maybe Lily should go join the others. She's just holding back because I can't do it."
Rogue turned to lock eyes with Lily as she spoke.
"Lily, what would you like to do?"
Lily looked uncertain for a moment, turning her questioning gaze to meet her sister's. Cordelia nodded and gave a weak smile as she spoke.
"You can go, Lil. I'll get it eventually. Promise."
Lily stood unmoving for a moment before shaking her head in refusal. Carefully, she raised her hands and set the hoops back into place in the air. With an encouraging smile, she stood rooted in place. Cordelia heaved a sigh, a smile creeping to her lips, as she gave in and set her ball at the start of the course.
"Here goes attempt number one-hundred-and-fifty-million…"
Rogue let out a small sigh as the girls began again.
"Aren't you supposed to be refraining from using your powers?"
Rogue nearly jumped out of her own skin at the familiar voice as she turned, only to find Wanda smiling back a few feet away. Cloaked in her usual dark red coat, she came to stand beside her and watch the girls from afar. A small snort escaped her when Cordelia gave an aggravated cry and launched the red ball at the nearest unsuspecting bolder in the field clearing.
"She reminds me of you and telekinesis practice. You were terrible at it for so long- and so angry about it. I think Jean was a paragon of patience to keep your lessons up in spite of it."
Rogue rolled her eyes at the mild teasing.
"Ah got better in the end, at least. These girls will too."
"I have no doubt. I can see why they believe in themselves when you're around."
A small smile spread across Rogue's lips until she turned her gaze to her sister. Wanda stood proudly beside her, but there was an edge to her stance that made Rogue stop. She kept her gaze on the twins as she replied coolly.
"Wanda, as much as ah love our reminiscing about times gone by, ah can tell when you're itchin' t' talk about somethin' uncomfortable."
Wanda shrugged nonchalantly as she folded her arms and continued to watch the twins. Cordelia was about five hoops away from completing her task.
"I just thought I'd come down and see how you're doing."
Rogue arched a brow at her sister in disbelief.
"Aren't ya supposed t' be running after Meggie girl while she hops around the Castle?"
Wanda shook her head as a small, evil grin spread across her lips.
"Not for the next few hours. She has a play-date with Evan. John is watching them."
Rogue gave a small sniff of amusement.
"Ah pity that husband of yours. Ah swear he's frightened of his own daughter sometimes. The tantrums that little girl can pull…"
Wanda muffled her snort of amusement behind a smile.
"Well, I don't want to brag but she did learn from the best."
Rogue barely supressed a chuckle and bit her lower lip.
"Ah pity him when you're both mad."
Wanda grinned.
"As you should."
The sisters fell into an easy silence until Wanda began to show signs she was itching to speak of something. Ever since Marie had been little, Wanda had been a bit of a mother hen around her; when she wasn't acting like a superior big sister. There hadn't really been anyone else to act like a mother when her own mother died so Wanda had unintentionally filled the gap. An ever vigil protector, her silver-blue eyes watched her with a growing concern. Like a bloodhound, she could sniff out her little sister's feelings better than Rogue could disguise them.
"So, this Etienne Beauvais. How is he finding his new quarters?"
Rogue thought she maintained a rather convincing cool exterior as she replied.
"He's settling in okay. Charles is with him. He said he arranged for Forge to come measure up his leg for a brace so he can get around easier on foot."
Wanda timed her answer with poise as she lowered her voice to speak so as not to be overheard by any prying ears.
"Is that all that's happening?"
Rogue turned slowly to meet her sister's gaze. Wanda was always suspicious of newcomers. She had every reason to be given how many times she had to discipline a newcomer who didn't want to play by their rules. She was an enforcer of Avalon's security and she took it seriously. Worse still, she had met Etienne and seen what many would gather about him. He was a charming man with an easy smile that would make any woman… desire his attentions.
With a determined look, Rogue implored her to ease her concerns.
"He's not any danger to us. He kept me alive, Wanda."
Wanda arched one of her dark brows with scepticism.
"And you are… fond of him for his service to you, are you?"
Rogue tensed at the emphasis Wanda placed on the word fond. She wasn't certain of her feelings towards Remy. She couldn't place her feelings into any specific category and she doubted she would ever be able to. He arose a mixture of feelings and opinions… and it was clear that her… connection with him was as obvious to Wanda as the nose on her face.
"You know…whatever you might feel for him… it can't-"
"Ah know, ah know it doesn't change anything. It can't change anything."
Rogue struggled under her sister's sympathetic look as she tried to keep her expression cool and unaffected by the turmoil she felt inside at her own words. The fact that she had time to know Remy changed little about their situation. They were getting married to appease a treaty. Their choices were few and their future was set long ago. Any feelings they had towards each other would make the tithe easier to carry… but it was still a choice neither of them made of their own free will. That much would always be certain.
Rogue felt the silence elongate as she attempted to find the words to push them through this awkward stillness.
"Look, don't worry about meh. Ah've made mah peace with the treaty. All ah want now is t' make sure Kitty is brought home safe and Etienne is returned to his people."
There was a tentative silence before Wanda spoke again.
"I know that's what you want people to believe-"
Rogue felt a flare of anger rush through her as she cut her off mid-sentence. Frustration began to gnaw at her inside as she retorted angrily.
"What answer are ya fishin' for Wanda? Do ya want me t' tell ya ah don't want this? That it's unfair? Or do you want me t' tell ya that sacrificing my freedom of choice is easy to give up for this peace treaty?"
Wanda's blue eyes softened as she reached for her hand and squeezed. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she spoke.
"I don't care about the treaty. I don't care if we lose an ally if you don't want this. I care about you. And you deserve more than just to accept what has been arranged."
Rogue felt the anger boiling in her sister's words as her hand shook against her palm.
"I know it's asking a hell of a lot of you. You can keep the brave face on for the others if you need to. But it doesn't have to be you against the world all the time."
Wanda held her hand between hers. Their hands were an overlap of red and brown gloves.
"You can confide in me. You know that right?"
Rogue felt her anger simmer down, her shoulders relaxing as she fell prey to her sister's show of motherly concern. She squeezed Wanda's hand, entreating a show of reassurance as she spoke.
"Ah accept what's been done. Ah will go through with it. Ah just… ah can't let it get t' me. Ah have t' focus on other things or ah'll start gettin' angry again…"
Wanda nodded her understanding.
"Well, if you change your mind…"
Rogue nodded and attempted a small glimpse of a smile but it died quickly on her lips.
"Ah know."
A few minutes of silence hung between them on a lifeline. The sounds of the under-twelves practicing in the distance were the only sounds apart from the whistle of the artificial wind blowing about the danger room. Finally however, Wanda spoke up.
"You told me that Kitty was with a man the last time you saw her. Perhaps… he helped her find a safe place to lay low until it was safe to move…"
But she would have tried to make contact by now; were the words she did not voice but they were both thinking them. The subject of Kitty's safe return had been exhausted to a unanimous understanding. Kitty knew their procedures for returning to Avalon when cast adrift. It had been too long and the realisation was a reality check. Kitty could be dead. It was a reality they all faced. People went out into the world to fight for their cause. Some returned to fight another day, while others simply didn't survive the return home. They vanished.
Rogue swallowed a pang of guilt that lodged in her chest as she continued to watch her young charges. Fighting the heart wrenching she felt, she replied gently.
"She was infatuated with him. Ah haven't seen her that… that alive since her Momma passed away…"
Wanda's gloved hand rest on her shoulder and squeezed with reassurance.
"She was foolish to go off on her own. She hardly knew this man…but it was not your fault. You could not have known what would happen that night…"
Rogue swallowed the swell of guilt. She didn't need to piece together Wanda's trail of thought.
"But ah shouldn't have let her go…"
Wanda reached for her and clasped her gloved hand.
"It doesn't matter now. We'll find her soon enough… if what you told us about the communicator is accurate. He must have helped her. Same way Etienne helped you…she could be alive…"
Rogue nodded numbly until Wanda spoke, her tone cool and calm.
"You said you were separated the night of the bombings and that Etienne helped you hide away for a few days."
Rogue held baited breath as Wanda continued; her gaze never wavered from hers as she spoke.
"Logan told me of your injuries before you were healed. You had injuries from the attack but he could smell the drugs working in your system and Jean cut away old bandages…You didn't say anything about being hurt before the sentinel found you."
Rogue felt Wanda's eyes held not a hint of leeway for refusal; instead her gaze was hard with interrogation.
"What happened?"
Rogue edged away from her sister's livid gaze and took a careful look about the field. The girls were still at it; Cordelia was muttering under her breath as she forced the ball through the first loop. When Rogue met Wanda's gaze again, the worry in her eyes began to unnerve her resolve to brush off the details of that night. Rogue swallowed as she hushed her words.
"Ah was- ah was set upon by a group of Apoc Soldiers in the city. They were too many and ah was blindsided – they knocked me out. Etienne- he saved me, Wands. He made sure ah wasn't..."
Wanda made very little effort to not sound affronted by the news. Her eyes gave off a red tint that signalled when her powers were on the rise. Rogue felt she had no other choice but to give more details than she had bargained to give. But when Wanda's eyes gave away the tinge of panic, her defences felt cracked with the surprise. Wanda wasn't a sentimental type but she was vastly ruthless when it came to protecting her own.
"Marie, you'd tell me if someone hurt you. Wouldn't you?"
Rogue swallowed hard as she nodded and squeezed her sister's hand in reassurance. She felt the beginnings of the familiar tremors return to her hands as her mind slipped back to that place in the debris and the closed space. But she pushed it back. She found it ironic that the event of her almost-death by burial was the thing that made her quake but her assault by those soldiers didn't meet the same mark in terms of trauma. Maybe she was more damaged than she or Emma believed herself to be.
"Ah'm tellin' ya now. Ah wouldn't not tell ya if anything worse than a few bruises and cuts had happened…"
The red tinge to Wanda's eyes disappeared as her powers and emotions, two nearly inseparable parts of her, began to ease. She gave a short sigh as if to disperse the last of her anxiety as she pulled her sister into an unexpected embrace. When the shock wore off, Rogue hugged her sister close.
"Ah'm okay, Wands. Ah promise…"
Wanda drew back, frowning as she eyed her sister closely. Rogue prayed for the shaking in her hands to stop as she clenched them tightly.
"You're shaken up. I can tell when you are… you're just being a stubborn ol' southerner trying to act like you're fine."
Rogue swallowed hard as she attempted to feign irritation and not the guilt building in her stomach. Turning away from her, she kept her gaze focused on the twins. Wanda shifted stiffly beside her as she spoke.
"I checked your roster. Emma has registered you for non-power active duties. I don't want to have to tattle tale on you for breaching your clearance, little sister. But I will if you're not handling things. Okay?"
Rogue heaved a heavy sigh and folded her arms defiantly across her chest. Sarcasm laced her words as she retorted.
"Ah'll refrain from moving any under-twelves exercise balls around the room, mother."
Wanda rolled her eyes as she replied in an exasperated tone.
"Don't act all defiant on me, little sister. I just want you to be okay."
Rogue sensed her leaving for the exit long before she turned to look. As if on cue, the trembling began to appear again. Rogue tucked her hands tightly against her as she replied to no one in particular.
"Ah'm fine."
.