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Chapter Thirty-Five:
The next morning Magneto stirred in bed, as he became aware that Rogue was pressed up against him. With a contented sigh, he pulled her closer to him and felt her arm glide across his body, settling on his chest, as she let out a little sigh herself.
"'Morning, Max," she muttered under her breath.
"Good morning," he yawned before he inhaled deeply. He was stunned by the amount of metal he could sense and smell, it was far exceeded the amount that should be within his room in the institute. It was as though he was surrounded with metal, as if the whole room was made of it, the feel of it astounded him.
He opened his eyes and found his vision affronted with darkness. As his eyes adjusted, his brow kinked in confusion as he realized they were beneath a metal frame of some kind. His eyes dashed around the room, as his senses searched, to achieve a knowledge of his surroundings. He quickly ascertained the source of the room's darkness: he and Rogue were in a four-post canopy bed.
The four posts were curved metal, which he could tell had been wrapped into place by his owns abilities and draped in fabric which rendered them in darkness. A single ray of sunlight, which entered the canopy through a small gap in the curtains, caught his eye. He followed its' path and saw that the fabric was of emerald green, embroidered with gold stemmed flowers of red or perhaps purple hues. It was difficult to make out.
"You still have an audience with Xavier this morning?" she asked. He could hear the annoyance in her voice as he glanced down at his girl. Her head was resting on his chest, her face out of view. Even in the dark, he could make out the white stripe in her hair.
"Yes," he found himself muttering absentmindedly. As she turned her face up towards his her features, obscured in the darkness, came into his view. He was taken aback by a scar across her right eye. The sight of which wrought a sudden spark of fear along with an undeniable sense of failure which shook him to his core. Where were these feelings emanating from?
"Don't let him think for a moment, that he's gonna sway my decision," she told him. His fingers reach out to touch the edge of the letter M, which was etched into her skin. Her stein expression dropped, replaced with one of concern. "Max, what's wrong?" she asked.
Bewilderment dumbfounded him as his hand fell from her cheek onto the bed.
"You can't keep blaming yourself for everything. It wasn't your fault. None of it was," she said, her tone compassionate.
"I should have done more," he found himself muttering, the response felt automatic, hollow in a way.
"You're doing all that you can now. That's what matters," she said strongly. He brought his hand to the bridge of his nose and rubbed his eyes. "Max?" he heard her say.
He blinked a few times, before opening his eyes. This time, he found light. He blinked several times, adjusting once more, feeling the haze of unconsciousness leaving him. He quickly scanned the room, all was now as it should be.
"You okay, sugar?" she asked.
"Yes, yes," he mutters. 'I must have been dreaming,' he thought as he refocused on her.
"Max?" she asked again, her head cocked slightly to the left, as she glanced at him.
"Just waking up," he replied as he reached out to cup her cheek. His fingers caressed her soft unmarred skin as a relieved sigh left him. Her expression turned speculative.
"Did you have a weird dream?" she asked.
"Yes, it was-" he started to say as he fought to recall what he had just experienced. He had a glimpse of Rogue and the scar, darkness, a red flower, and metal: a great deal of metal surrounding him. The rest slipped past his recollection, fading into the far reaches of his mind, as dreams often do. 'There had been something about Charles?' he fought to recall as he rubbed his forehead.
"Talk to me," she said softly. "What did you see?" she asked.
"I'm not sure. It was dark and-" he started to say before he shook his head at himself. "It was nothing. Just a dream," he said dismissively.
"Well, if it turns out not to be nothing, I'm here if you wanna talk about it," she offered and he found himself smiling at that.
"Thank you," he said as pulled her closer to him. She leaned into him and pressed her lips to him. "Good morning, dear," he said pleasantly.
"Good morning," she said. "This is nice, waking up in your bed," she said with a smirk.
"Our bed," he corrected. A smile graced her face.
"I still owe you that list," she said. He hummed in recognition as he nodded at her.
"I'll go tomorrow during the day," he offered.
"Thanks," she said. "We should get up," she pointed out.
"Yes, probably," he said, before yawning.
"Do you wanna?" she asked.
"Not in the slightest," he said. She laughed softly as settled back down, nestling her head against his chest. He chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her. He felt her arm glide across his body, settling on his chest.
"You still have a meeting with Charles this morning?" she asked.
He was struck with the sensation of déjà vu.
"Max?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied before he shook his head, shaking off the response. "Right after breakfast," he confirmed. "Then I'm helping Hank with a matter," he said.
"What are you two working on?" she asked.
"You don't know?" he asked surprised. He had grown accustomed to her knowing everything about him. "Yes, that's right. That falls under the boundary we established, doesn't it?" he reasoned aloud.
"Yup," she said.
He reflected on that.
"Would it be petty of me not to tell you?" he asked. She turned her head downwards, resting her forehead on his chest as she laughed loudly. "I'll take that as a yes," he said before he began to laugh himself.
He held her in his arms, as they laughed together.
"Max," she said, as she caught her breath. "If you wanna keep, whatever this is, to yourself, then that's what you should do," she said with a smirk. "Yeah, it's a little petty but you've earned it," she said.
"Have I, now?" he asked amused as he pulled her closer to him again.
"Uh-huh," she purred as she leaned into him. He laughed again, cupping her cheek before her grinning lips met his own. He winced in pain as he drew back from her. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"I have a headache coming on," he said. Her expression shifted to one of concern.
"I'll get you something for it," she offered.
"Rogue, you don't-" he started to say.
"We should get up anyway," she smiled, though it seemed forced to him, not quite making it up to her eyes. "I'll be right back, sugar," she said abruptly. Before he could protest, she gave him a peck on the lips and left the bed.
Shortly after breakfast, Magneto followed Charles into his office. They had the intention of discussing Rogue. An event, which he found, was starting to become a regular occurrence. Given his conversation with the girl last night regarding Risty Wilde, he planned to tread lightly on certain subjects.
He watched Charles progress, not to the couch as he had expected, but over to his desk. With a raised eyebrow, Magneto shut the door behind and he headed to the couch where he made himself comfortable.
"Shall I begin?" he asked, knowing precisely where he wanted to start.
"One moment," Charles said as he fussed with something in one of the drawers of his desk. Magneto held back a sigh as he gave his friend the moment he asked for and another one after that.
Finally, Charles traveled from out behind his desk and towards him. Now, with a small notepad in his hand.
'Why on earth does he have a list?' he asked himself annoyed. He made eye contact with Charles and noticed the man's expression change.
"Magnus, when Rogue is concerned," he started to say as he moved his seat to sit across from him, "our conversations had a habit of going well- awry. There are a few items you and I must discuss today. I hoping this list will serve that end," he explained.
'You're not giving me much choice, are you, old friend,' he thought. "Very well. The floor is yours," he said before his friend glimpsed down at the list in his hand.
Charles's eyes scanned over the page for well over a minute. Magneto found himself tapping his fingers against the armrest of the couch as he waited for his friend to begin.
'I could be helping Hank right now,' he thought to himself irritated. As he glanced at Charles a joke came to mind. "Can't read your own handwriting?" he taunted. Magneto watched Charles's eyes flash to his, no doubt taking the smirk now on his face. "I didn't know you ascribed that particular stereotype, doctor," he teased.
Charles let out a sigh at his friend's juvenile remark.
"Must you, Magnus?" he asked.
"That's one thing, I've never understood, Charles," he continued, despite his protest. "You have two doctorates. Yet you call yourself Professor," he said. He stared down at his list, attempting to ignore his friend.
"It's more approachable," he defended.
"If you say so. They're both titles," he commented dismissively.
"Magnus, I'm trying to concentrate," he said.
"On your tiny list?" he asked. Charles could hear the amusement in his friend's voice.
"Yes, on my-" he started to say before he took a deep breath and swallowed his anger. He shifted his gaze up and fixed his friend with a look. "I see dating a younger woman has brought back your sense of humor," he said pointedly. He watched the expression fall from Magneto's face, replaced with one of aggravation.
"So, what if it has," he said, a trace of anger in his voice. "Am I not permitted happiness?" he asked.
"That's not what I'm saying, Magnus," he said.
"Then what are you saying, Charles?" he asked.
He thought back to his discussion with Rogue only two days ago and with Magneto yesterday morning. Both of them, wanted him to pay for their, obviously inappropriate relationship, no mind since they were of consenting age. On some level, he understood their point of view. However, this was the first time he had been put in this position.
'Put it aside, for now,' he told himself. "Nothing. I'm not saying anything," Charles sighed. "Last night," he started to say, changing the subject, "I was unable to locate you or Rogue. I know the issue isn't with my mind. The question is, what is?" he asked. His friend kept his gaze for a moment.
"Are you aware if Rogue and I been intimate?" he asked. Charles felt his hand form into a fist. Of all the things to bring up. He was attempting to turn a blind eye. How could such questions help the matter any?
Magneto watched the expression of disbelief and anger on his friend's face.
'Go on, old friend, take the bait so we can get on with it,' he thought to himself.
"What on earth does that have to-?" Charles started to ask.
"Just answer the question," he commanded.
"No," Charles replied, his eyes narrowed. "Although, I would hazard a guess, given where you've directed our conversation," he said disapprovingly.
"It's none of your business whether we have or not," he said.
"You broached this subject, Magnus. Not I," Charles bit back, pointing his finger in his direction, his voice elevated.
"Because you asked about the precaution Rogue and I have taken to ensure our private moments remain that, private," he said sternly. At that, Charles let out a sigh but said nothing. "What is the second item on that list of yours?" Magneto said and he found himself being fixed with a piercing gaze from the other man.
"Magnus," he objected.
"You're the one who demanded we stay on topic. Shall we proceed then?" he asked dryly. He watched Charles take a deep breath as he turned back to the pad on his lap.
"Fine," he relented.
'Rogue would be proud,' Magneto thought himself. He was gratified his gambit had worked. Perhaps, utilizing Charles' obvious discomfort of their relationship wasn't the most gracious of tactics he could have employed, but it had worked and his girl was protected 'Considering the effects I've gone to keep Cerebro from locating me from afar, I'm warming to the notion of Charles being incapable for finding me. Even if we're within the same house. If only Rogue had asked for my consent before doing so, honestly, I would have said yes,' he thought to himself.
Charles sat as he glanced at the pad, contemplating where to turn the conversation to next. Using the pause, he considered his friends' actions.
'This is a school, not a place for-' he thought to himself.
"What's the second item?" Magneto asked again.
'Perhaps their precaution is for the best. If I can't sense them, then maybe I can ignore it and keep the peace between us all,' he thought.
"Charles?" he asked.
"Aside from needing to speak about Rogue and the first time she used her abilities on you," he started to say.
"We were lying," Magneto interrupted. Charles let out a sigh at that.
"I thought so, however," he started to say.
"Can we leave it at that? You've made your opinion of our relationship abundantly clear. I could sit here and explain to you the value I find in it, in her. How much I admire her intelligence and strength. How I regret the part I played in her need to hide that intelligence. How I understand why she's enlisted my assistance to convey that intelligence to you, old friend. How comfortable I am with her and her with me," he said.
"Magnus," he interjected.
"Let me finish, Charles," he said. "Talking to Rogue feels almost, familiar, in a way. I'm more at home with that girl than I've felt in a very long time. Would you ask two consenting adults to relinquish that contentment because a third party finds the whole matter unsetting? A relationship that, aside from knowing about it, doesn't affect the third party in any conceivable way?" he asked. "Would you honestly ask that me?" he asked.
Charles held his friend's gaze and saw anger and frustration, frustration with him. As much as he wanted to overlook it, he felt that he had a duty to protect those within his home, even from themselves.
"There are factors to your relationship that are unhealthy, Magnus, you must see that," he countered.
"Perhaps," he said, his voice stiffening. "And perhaps we should just move on to the next item on your list," he said dryly. Charles let out a sigh at that.
'Put it aside,' he told himself again. "We need to discuss Mystique," he said.
"Then allow me to start where I had meant to," he said, his pitch still restrained. "Years ago, I met a mutant with knowledge of future events. This mutant asked for my help on a certain matter."
'I could do without the vagueness,' he thought but kept the observation to himself. He could always request more details later.
"In exchange for my assistant, they offered a few warnings," Magneto continued. "The first of which was if anyone died in Bayville, New York, mutant or human, genocide would be unavoidable," he said as Charles felt his eyes widened.
"My God," he whispered. "When was this?" he asked.
"About fourteen years ago, give or take," he answered.
"You knew we would gather in Bayville?" he asked.
"Yes," he nodded. "However, understand, Charles, I did not choose this city as the staging grounds for our dispute. Between the location of your childhood home and Mystique obtaining the position of the high school principal, it was the two of you who dictated the location. This mutant also warned that any attempt to gather mutants together before the turn of the century would be premature and end in tragedy. Although there were certainly enough mutants in the world, even in the early and mid-nineties to form such a team, I bided my time and held off from taking any action," he said.
"Magnus, who is this mutant and why do you trust them so much?" he asked.
"For their protection, Charles, they asked for anonymity. A request, I will respect. I assure you, they've more than proved the validity of their gifts to me. Given the warnings and a confirmation of the timeframe in which events would commence, I wasn't surprised and acted accordingly," he said strongly. "At least at first," he said, the confidence in his voice faltering, as he glanced away from him.
"Magnus?" Charles asked.
"I created Asteroid M as a means of relocation from Bayville. I was going to tell you about the warnings and offer Asteroid M as a home for all of us, the X-Men and the Brotherhood boys alike. I had built a sanctuary for all mutants," he said.
'That certainly sounds more like the man I used to know. More so, then pitting us all against each other for sport,' he considered. "What happened to your original plans?" Charles asked.
"Waiting to take action cost me, Charles. My genetic enhancements could only stave off the cruel hands of time for so long. I had started to age again and was getting weaker," he said, with revulsion.
"Born in nineteen-twenty-six, was it?" he asked. "Are you seventy-eight or seventy-nine?" he asked.
"Seventy-eight," he confirmed.
"You don't look it," he commented.
"I know," he said. "The enhancer de-aged me temporarily. I had to keep using the machine over and over again to keep lengthening the effects but it came at a great cost," he said.
"Yes, you render yourself incapable of feeling emotions," Charles said.
"The effects of which lasted nearly two years," he explained.
"That long?" he asked shocked. "I knew you were affected by the machine, Magnus, but I didn't think-"
"The rebirth machine restored my ability to feel emotion but I suppressed most of them for months afterward. Honestly, I've felt more like myself these past few weeks than I have the past few years," he finished. Charles felt a swell of sympathy for his friend.
"I wished you had come to me, Magnus. I would have helped you," he said.
"I know, old friend, but I was not in a state of mind to accept your aid," he said.
"However, you are now?" Charles asked.
"I am," he replied. Charles found himself fixed with an analytical look "Though, I no longer require it," he said.
"That's debatable," he found himself muttering.
"Charles," he said firmly as he stood. "Enough for one conversation. Enough," he yelled as it seemed he was making his way towards to door.
"She is playing games with your mind," he argued, as he moved to chase him.
"I'm aware, Charles," he said.
"And yet, you don't care?" he asked taken back. "This doesn't sound like you, Magnus," he declared.
Magneto turned back to look at his friend in disbelief.
"Why? Because I'm comfortable with her? Why does this matter to you, so much? Are you that envious?" he yelled.
"Envious?" he asked in disbelief. "No, Magnus, I'm not jealous of your relationship with teenager girl you've been unhealthily obsessed for nearly two years. A relationship where you have forfeited all agency to a child and allowed her to openly manipulate you to recreate conversations she's had with you in the past," he said.
"Recreating conversations?" Magneto asked. "What on earth-" he asked. "Déjà vu," he muttered to himself, his eyes widening with the realization.
"What?" the other man asked.
"Of course," he muttered, ignoring his friend. He ranked a hand through his hair. 'She's missed talking to me,' he thought as he began to pace. 'She tired of being the only one who remembers our conversations. She's only had me back for nine days. She- she knew how I was going to react to each scene of the movie before I did. Because- Because we've already watched it together,' he thought astounded. "I was a consciousness in her mind," he muttered.
Suddenly, he felt lightheaded. As he closed his eyes to steady himself, he saw a flash of green grass to his right before his gaze towards upwards. He was laying beneath a magnolia tree under the night's sky. His scenes were assaulted with the overpowering scent of fresh rain and wet grass. He attempted to use his senses to gauge the amount of metal in the area but found none, nothing. As if he didn't have access to his abilities.
"Are you sure you're okay with this, Max?" he heard Rogue ask him. Although he couldn't see her or himself, only the large magnolia tree. "Once, I do this, I can't take it back," she said.
"We've discussed this at length, Rogue. I know what is required of me. I will see it through," he heard his own voice say.
"I'm sorry," she lamented.
"You've nothing to apologize for, An-" he said before he felt a small wince of pain, which kept him from hearing his own words. "Do it," he hear himself order as the discomfort subsided.
"Okay," she sighed. "Hold on, this is gonna hurt," she said.
Charles sat anxiously as he watched Magneto pace back and forth.
"Magnus," he called out, his voice fell on deaf ears.
"I was a consciousness in her mind," he heard his friend mutter before he saw Magneto place his hand on his forehead.
"Are you alright?" he asked concerned as he inches closer to his friend. He watched Magneto closed his eyes. "Magnus?" he asked alarmed as he moved directly in front of him. He looked up at his friend, who was standing very still. The only visible movement was his chest moving as he breathed. "Magnus" he called again. "What is-" he started to ask before he made up his own. "Forgive me for the invasion, my friend, but something is clearly wrong," he said as he placed his hands to his temples.
As he reached out towards Magneto's mind, he saw his friend blinking several times as he was opening his eyes.
"Magnus, are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine. I'm more than fine," he said quickly. "I'm-" he started to say before he cut himself off. Charles watched Magneto rank a hair through his hair. "I was a consciousness in her mind," Magneto repeated, this time with more vigor.
"Yes," he confirmed as he studied his friend's face. He seemed confused, never-the-less a large smirk formed on his face.
"Charles, do you know what this means?" he asked, looking down at him.
"Yes, of course," he answered.
"When Rogue absorbs someone, Charles, she doesn't get a few scattered memories. She gets everything; every thought, every memory. Everything that makes up a person's very being. Those memories compile into a consciousness, capable of- good heaven- of conversation," he said in wonder.
"Yes, it does," he said.
"I need to talk to her now," he said as he hastily made his way to the door.
"Magnus, wait," he called out.
"I know, Charles, I know," he said as he made his way towards the exit. "We can go back to your list later today. Invite some of the others to the meeting, if you wish. We might actually make it through a conversation if you've forced to hold your tongue," he suggested.
"Magnus, that's not what-"
"Later, Charles. After the game," he said as he exited the room.
"You don't under-" he called out as the door to his office swung closed, "stand," he finished, his tone dejected. Charles let out a sigh as he sat back in his chair.
He replayed what had just occurred in his mind.
'Was he ignoring me? No, I don't believe so. However, it seemed as though he couldn't hear me, but perhaps he was merely lost in thought? His obsession with Rogue has been affecting him. Perhaps-' he thought to himself." What was that?" he asked confused.
Magneto's mind was racing as he searched the institute for Rogue. He felt the overwhelming desire to speak with her about his discovery. He also felt a headache coming on, a sight tingle on the left side of his skull. More of an annoyance than a full headache. He attempted to ignore it, knowing he couldn't take any additional ibuprofen for at least another four hours. He came upon the common room as he heard voices from within.
"Kurt," he heard Rogue ask, hearing the smile in her voice, "how many times are ya gonna hug me today?"
"I've got years to make up for," he said. He heard her laugh at that as he made it to the entrance.
At the sight of her enjoying her family's company, his fervent need to speak with her subsided. In the room, he saw Shadowcat, Nightcrawler, Magma, and Rogue sitting on one of the couches. The boy had his arms wrapped around Rogue's shoulders. He glanced away for a moment, considering putting off the conversation.
"Magneto?" he heard Magma ask. He glanced back at the group to find Shadowcat and Magma looking up at him.
"I apologize for disturbing you all," Magneto said. Rogue disentangled himself from her brother.
"It's okay-" Rogue started to say as she glanced up at him. The joyful expression on her face fell, replaced with one of unease. "Are you okay?" she asked as she stood up. "You look kinda out of it," she said as she walked towards him.
"I have a bit of a headache," he said dismissively.
"That's the second one today," she said thoughtfully.
"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about," he said dismissively. "I did wish to speak with you regarding another matter, but it can wait if you're preoccupied," he said.
"No, it's okay. We can go talk now," she said. "Sorry, y'all," she said to the room.
"Don't worry about it, Rogue," Shadowcat said.
"But," Nightcrawler started to object before Shadowcat elbowed him in the side. "It's fine," he sighed.
"We'll see you at the game," Magma said.
"Thanks for understanding," she said before she gestured with her head towards the exit. He obliged and they were on their way.
Okay calling it here for this chapter! I've all weekend to write, so I'm hoping to have another chapter by next Friday! :)
Thank you all for reading and your reviews on the last chapter! I hope you all liked this one too!
Little Red Dove: Hi! I forgot to mention that if you posted A Rogue/Magneto Fanfiction I would love to read it! I meant to comment on that a while ago. But I always get way too eager, once I finish a chapter, to get it posted :) Thanks for your thoughts on the last two chapters! I really do love it when the Rogue/Magneto just get to talk too. Those chapters just write themselves. :)
MakingT'ingsGoBoom: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying it and I hope you liked this one too.