Hey everyone, I thought it fitting to have this chapter come out today, given the season finale of WandaVision aired today. I hope you guys enjoy it. Please let me know your thoughts (reviews help so much!) and have a great weekend!
Please enjoy!
Chapter Thirty-Six:
Magneto shut the door behind him and he and Rogue entered their bedroom.
"I thought you needed to help Beast this morning after talking with Charles," she said as he felt the springs of the mattress coil against her weight. "What's so important?" she asked.
He rubbed his temple a moment before turning to face her. His mind, which had been racing only ten minutes beforehand, was now silent. His questions, quelled by the throbbing on the left side of his skull.
"Max, how's your head?" she asked.
"It hurts a bit," he said as he staggered over to the bed and sat next to her.
"Hey, if your body's telling you to rest," she started to say as her fingers ran up his back, "you should probably listen to it," she suggested as she kneaded into his shoulder at a consistent pace.
"Perhaps," he sigh as he closed his eyes and let his head drop, relishing the feel of her fingers, a welcomed distraction from the throbbing.
"We've got a couple of hours before everyone gets here. Why not take a nap?" she asked.
"Because, I'm not a child," he muttered insulted.
"Naps are good for the soul, sugar," she commented before he felt another twinge of pain. "I'll lay down with you," she offered.
That sounded more appealing.
"Maybe your headache will go away and then we can talk before the game," she suggested. With effort, he opened his eyes and fixed her with a disapproving look. She smiled at that. "Humor me, okay?" she asked gently. "You're the one who didn't want to get up this morning," she pointed out.
"That's true enough," he said before letting his head drop once more. "Alright," he relented. He reached down to take off his boots. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as her sneakers were kicked a few feet from the bed. He leaned back and maneuvered his body vertically across the bed. He noted the satisfied expression on her face as he pulled her again him and into his arms. He was forced to shut his eyes after another wince of pain.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered as he felt her fingers find his temples and begin to rub them in a circular motion. He let out a contented sigh at her touch. "Let me know if I'm hurting you," she said.
"No, it's actually rather soothing," he replied before he felt her lips light press against her forehead. "Thank you, dear," he muttered as she continued to rub. Sleep soon followed.
Magneto's ears were assaulted with the sound loud drums, horns and flutes playing in time to create a symphony of festive music. Beneath it were voices, many voices holding countless conversations, he couldn't make out, amidst the celebration. With his sense he felt metal, all around, soft and malleable set against a great emptiness affixed with aluminum and alkali particles. As he opened his eyes to find he was in a grand banquet hall and found the source of the metals he had sensed.
The room was adorned with gold and giant granite pillars and walls. Against those walls were many ceremonial banners depicting various peoples and battles. Golden thread weaved into one of the images caught his attention and he found himself studying the effigy of a golden warrior holding a large staff facing against an inhuman figure made of rock or perhaps ice. The golden warrior was the hero of this tale, that much was clear.
"Lord Eisenhardt," he heard a deep voice call out to him. His vision refocused to what was directly in front of him and he realized he was seated at a table, set with a feast fit for a king, with gold plates and cutlery which matched the room's aesthetic. Across from him, he turned towards the source of the voice and found himself staring at an older man with white hair down to his shoulders, a bread just as long and a golden patch covering his right eye. He was revered in gold robes.
"You have my apologies, Lord Odin. I found myself lost in the beauty of your decor," he said.
"It is a sight to behold, is it not?" Odin asked, a smile on his face. "The illustrious history of Asgard in all its glory," Odin proudly declared.
"Undeniably, husband," a lovely woman, who was seated next to Odin, remarked. She was clade in an evening dress of white, gold, and shining white jewels. Her hair blonde was affixed atop her head in many braids. She directed her comment towards her husband, but her amused gazed was fixed just left of him.
He turned his head to found Rogue's sitting next to him, her smiling gaze was on the other women. His eyes lingered upon the scar, in the shape of the letter M, above her right eye, before taking in the rest of her. She was dressed in an emerald green evening dress, matching opera gloves covered her arms.
The necklace she wore, filled him with pride. It was made from metal he couldn't recall having sensed in the past. Black metal stripes had been molded into the shapes of small leafs, each encasing several small green sparkling gems. He found the image of it striking, as it brought out the green color in Rogue's eyes. She was sight to behold, sitting upon the grand golden chair, fit for a queen.
"I've greatly enjoyed learning of your people's history, Frigga. I could spend a lifetime studying its intricacies," Rogue said.
"It has been my pleasure to tutor you, An-," she replied, as he felt a small wince of pain.
"So much of Midgard's past was lost to us," Rogue said.
"It has been a jubilant task helping you reclaim your lost history. A shared history; our history of the nine realms. You've been a superb companion these past few weeks," Frigga smiled
"The honor has been mine, Frigga," she replied.
"It's a shame you must leave us so soon," Odin commented.
"There is still much work for us on Midgard," Magneto found himself commenting.
"Truly, you have a wondrous labor ahead of you, Lord Eisenhardt," the older man said.
"If only it was not built upon so much loss and sorrow," he lamented.
"These events are of the past, my good king. You cannot burden yourself with the faults of a bygone age. Your people, those you strive to protect, cannot afford such folly," he said.
"Your wise council is always appreciated, Lord Odin," he said.
"Speaking of labors," Rogue interjected, "how have events faired in Hel?" she asked.
"The influx of souls caused by the Ascendancy was considerable, but thanks to the efforts of your husband and my children, all has been set to right," Odin answered.
"As promised," Magneto said.
"Indeed," Odin said. "I've found you to be a man of integrity, Lord Eisenhardt. We are proud to call you friend," he said.
"As are We, Lord Odin, as are We," he replied. "Should Asgard have need for the strength of Midgard again, you need only ask," he replied.
"And as you, King Odin, had been Midgard's salvation from the long winter and wraith of the Frost Giants eons ago. We hope you might offer your support to Midgard once again should we have need it," Rogue finished.
"I am bound by my word, good queen. Our aid, against your enemies, you shall have," Odin confirmed. "But now is not the time for talks of war. My sons stand guard in Hel to secure the peace you, Lord Eisenhardt, hard-won for all peoples across the nine realms. Today we rest and rejoice," he exclaimed triumphantly.
"If only there was time for rest," he commented.
"One must make time. I've found naps to be good for the soul," Odin grinned.
"Not when they last a week, dear husband," Frigga teased which was met with laughter around the table.
"You mock the Odinsleep, wife," Odin said, his tone stern, his demeanor joyful.
"Never, great Allfather, I wouldn't dare it," she quipped with a soft smirk upon her face. Magneto found his gaze meeting Rogues'. She reached over and took his hand. He gave hers a tight squeeze before they both turned back to their gracious hosts.
Magneto opened his eyes as he stirred from sleep. Rogue was sitting up in the bed next to him with one of his book in her hands: The Once and Future King.
"Bored, were we?" he asked.
"I figured you wouldn't mind if I borrowed this for an hour," Rogue remarked.
"That's one of my favorites," he commented.
"I know," she smiled. "I actually hadn't read it before meeting you," she said.
"Really?" he asked as he sat up.
"Yeah," she sighed. "It's a great bedtime story. Good for kids," she said.
"Yes, it is," he said as he found his thoughts fondly recalling as he had done just that with his daughter Anya.
"How's your head?" she asked as she closed the book and put it on the nightstand next to the bed.
"Much better. You were right," he said.
"I usually am," she replied, which he chuckled in response to.
"I had the strangest dream," he remarked.
"Oh, yeah? What was it about?" she asked interested. He was about to answer when he heard a knock at his bedroom door.
"Who is it?" he asked as he turned towards the door.
"Erik, it's me," Hank asked. He turned back towards Rogue, who was already in the midst of standing. She hastily grabbed her shoes and headed to the bathroom as he stood and walked towards the door. Rogue gave him a quick nod before she concealed herself within the bathroom. He opened the door to see Beast standing before him.
"Hello, Erik. Here I thought, delays had dangerous ends," Beast grinned.
"So do headaches, unfortunately. I apologize, Hank," he said.
"Are you alright?" he asked concerned.
"Nothing a little rest couldn't see right," he said.
"As long as you're alright," he said.
"I'm feeling much better, thank you. It was very much my intent to join you this morning," he said.
"Well, we have some time before the game if you want to see the progress I've made?" Beast asked and he found had no feasible reason to decline his request.
"Of course, I just need to put on my boots. I'll be right behind you," he said. Hank gave a quick nod as he headed towards the elevator. Magneto sat on his chair and called the steel-toed boots to his hand as the bathroom door peered open. "Sorry," he whispered to Rogue as they made eye contact.
"Don't worry about it, Max. We'll talk later," she whispered with a smile.
Magneto found himself back in the sublevels with Hank going over the work he had completed. The data from the past year had been compiled into a spreadsheet exactly as he had requested.
"Well done, Hank," he said as he took the mouse in his hand and began to move it. "Now, a pivot table will illuminate the most frequent names of corporations associated with these private investigators. From there, we'll conduct background checks on each company and search for any individuals within them that may have anti-mutant sentiments," he said.
"Sounds tedious," Hank remarked.
"Oh, it's going to be, my friend. As long as the would-be spies are in the dark of their employers' intent, this, I'm afraid, is our best course of action," he said.
"No time, like the present, I suppose," he sighed.
"My thoughts exactly," he said. "Let's see how much we can get done in the next hour," he said.
Jean sat upon the bleachers with Scott as everyone started to gather at the baseball field, X-Men and Brotherhood alike. Everyone was scattered across the whole front yawn in several groups talking among themselves. She and Scott were the first of the instructors to arrive. They had to wait for everyone to get to the field before beginning.
Jean, sat soaking in the sun, as she attempted to ignore the scowl on Scott's face. His attitude wasn't helping any.
"This might get ugly," her boyfriend said.
"Scott, you don't know that. I think it's going to be fun," Jean said.
"Yeah, we'll see," he said unconvinced as she caught sight of Kurt and his girlfriend.
"Hey, Kurt. Hi, Amanda," Jean called out.
"Hey, Jean," Amanda waved as she and Kurt walked up to the bleachers.
"We're glad you could make it," she said as she stood up. "Think you'll want to play this time?" she asked.
"Jean," Kurt exclaimed. "Her parents just gave us permission to date again," he protested. "Mutant-ball is way too dangerous. Maybe, if we were playing without our powers," he suggested.
"Sorry, Kurt," Scott said as he stood to join them. "Pretty sure it's the only reason the brotherhood agreed to play," he said dryly.
"Yeah, I get it," Kurt sighed.
"All this playing nice with them is going to blow up in our faces," her boyfriend declared.
"I know," Kurt agreed.
"Both of you need to stop," Jean said annoyed as she crossed her arms over her chest. "This is the joyride situation all over again. You two were convinced Lance was taking the cars out at night," she started to say.
"It could have been," Scott defended.
"But it wasn't, Scott," Jean bit back. "We're instructors now. We have to set an example," she said.
"Jean, how can you overlook everything they've done?" Scott asked irritated.
"That's the past, Scott," she said.
"Toad trashed Amanda's house," Kurt exclaimed. "He's the reason why her parents banned us from seeing each other."
"Not that I let that stop us," Amanda piped up with a smile. "Kurt, it all worked out, anyway. My folks were willing to give you another chance. Maybe you can give them another chance too," she suggested.
"Maybe," Kurt smiled, as he scratched the back of his head.
"No offense, Amanda, but you haven't known them as long as we have," Scott said. Jean's eyes narrowed at that. "It's not that simple," he argued.
"Yeah, Scott, it really is," she said before rolling her eyes. "Ignore them," she said as she turned towards the younger girl. "Have you met all of the brotherhood members?"
"Not all of them," she said.
"Why don't I introduce you to everyone?" she suggested.
"Okay," she smiled with a shrug.
"I'm just going to borrow, Amanda for a moment," she said placing her arm around the shorter girl's shoulders, "while you two cool off," Jean said as she directed the girl away from Scott and Kurt.
"Kurt will come around," the other girl said after they had put some distance between them and the boys. "He's too kind not to."
"I know," she said as she let her hand drop back to her side. "I'm just worried about the example Scott is setting for the others. The X-Men and Brotherhood are finally at peace. No more fighting or bickering. It feels like this is how it should have been all along. It'll take all of our support to make it that last," she said before letting out a sigh as she stopped walking. "Amanda, I'm- I'm sorry. I shouldn't have put you into the middle of our argument," she said.
"Sounds like you needed to get that off of your chest," she said.
"Yeah, maybe. Scott and I have been tip-toeing around that fight for a while now," she said. "Still- I'm sorry," she said.
"Jean, it's okay," she said as she grabbed and linked their arms together. "Help me convince Kurt to have dinner with my parents again and we'll call it even," she said. Jean laughed at that.
"I think I can help with that," she smiled. "We should get Kitty on board. She's good at talking sense into him," she suggested as they continued to walk.
"Awesome," she exclaimed under her breath.
"Hey, Jean. Hey Amanda," Kitty shouted.
"Hi Kitty," Jean said as they walked up to the haphazard circle the brotherhood members were standing in.
"Lance make some room," Kitty ordered as she and Lance moved over to their right a few inches. Wanda also moved back a couple of inches which allowed Jean and Amanda to join the circle. Jean standing next to Kitty and Amanda standing next to Wanda. "What's up?" Kitty asked as Lance put her arm back around Kitty's shoulder.
"We need a favor, Kitty. Oh, has everyone met, Amanda?" Jean asked.
"We've met," Toad said as he cleaned out his ear with his finger.
"Yeah, I've seen you around the school," Pietro said quickly.
"I think we have English together," Freddy said.
"Mrs. Carter, third period?" she asked.
"Ah-huh," Freddy confirmed.
"Did you finished Catcher in the Rye?" she asked.
"Not yet. That book's way too boring," Freddy said.
"I know, right? It was a struggle to get through," Amanda said. "No wonder they never turned it into a movie," she said.
"Tell me about it. We looked for it too," Freddy said. Jean found herself smiling that the exchange.
"Thirty minutes wasted wandering around Blockbuster all for a movie that don't exist," Toad said, his tone full of false melodrama. Jean let out a small laugh along with Amanda and Kitty.
If only the guys could be so quick to look past our differences and focus on what we all have in common,' she thought.
"Yeah and you ate up my gas for no reason," Lance pointed out.
"I keep telling you guys, just go to ," Pietro interjected.
"Yo, the school's computers won't let you," Toad said.
"The public libraries do," Amanda said.
"Really?" Freddy asked and she nodded.
"Good to know. Thanks," Toad said.
"Freddy, you could, like, borrow my laptop, if you really need to," Kitty offered.
"As long as you don't break it, Blob," Lance added.
"I'm not gonna break anything, Lance," he bit back. "Thanks, Kitty," he said, his tone softer.
"Yeah, no problem," she giggled.
"Why don't we ask Dad for one for the house?" Wanda suggested. Jean felt a spike of anxiousness spring from Pietro's mind and quickly shook her head before she read his mind without permission.
"Okay, but you're asking him," Pietro said firmly.
Wanda didn't understand what her brother's problem was. Their dad had always been a good father to both of them. She had so many fond memories of their childhood and Pietro- Pietro acted like he didn't remember any of them. Every time they needed anything from Magneto, it was always her job to talk to him about it. It was annoying.
"Fine, I will," Wanda bit back.
"I don't think we've met," Amanda said. Wanda switched her gaze to the girl standing next to her.
'Yeah, she's right. I don't think we have,' she realized. "Hi, I'm Wanda Maximoff," she said.
"I'm Amanda Sefton," she said as she started to hold out her hand. She watched her face turn red as she pulled back her hand. "Sorry," she said embarrassed. "My dad has me going to these college-prep seminars to learn how to act in the real world," she said while making air quotes with her fingers.
"Sounds more boring than Catcher in the Rye," Pietro smirked, which was met with a round of laughter from the group.
"It really is. They make such a big deal about the handshake," she said.
"What did they say to do?" Jean asked.
"A handshake should be firm, yet gentle. Grab the middle of their hand so that the webs of your thumbs are touching. No more than two pumps," she recited. "I need to be deprogrammed," she sighed.
"What? Like this?" Toad asked as he turned to Blob. "Mr. Dukes, how do you do?" he asked in a fake posh British accent as he mockingly held out his hand, followed by a soft snicker. Wanda found herself rolling her eyes.
"Mr. Tolansky," Freddy smirked as he took hold of Toad's hand and shook his whole body up and down several times before showing him up in the air. Toad completed a backflip before landing in his original place in the circle.
"Nothing to it," he said proudly.
"No, wart boy. That's not how you do it," Pietro said. "This is how you shake hands," he said before he was gone. In a manner of seconds, Pietro had circled the entire lawn and shook the hand of every person present. Wanda heard numerous cries of surprise and annoyance and then laughter from the other girls in the circle.
"Pietro, knock it off," Lance yelled.
Wands stood, her arms crossed against her chest as she was sorely tempted to pull her brother back to his spot.
"Pietro, I swear to god," she warned and he promptly returned to his place within their circle.
"That was amazing," Amanda exclaimed.
'I guess it would be to someone not used to seeing mutant powers,' she thought.
"Thank you, thank you," Pietro said as he took an exaggerated bow.
"Both of you," Amanda cheered.
"Yo, I'll be here all week," Toad said.
"Don't encourage them," Wanda muttered annoyed. Her eyes flashed to Jean's as she let out a little laugh. Jean gave her a little shrug before she decided to turn back to the girl standing next to her. "Amanda, I would've shaken your hand, by the way. It's not a big deal," she said.
"Thanks," she said with a soft laugh as she brushed some hair behind her ear.
'Oh, why not?' she asked himself. "Awkward handshake?" she offered, with a soft smile.
"Awkward handshake," Amanda laughed. As her and Amanda's hands came closer together, she started to feel a spark.
'What?' she asked as their hands met and emerald-like energy emanated between their hands. Wanda quickly pulled away from the other girl.
"Yo, what was that?" Toad asked.
"I don't know," she answered.
"That wasn't your powers?" Jean asked.
"I don't think so," she answered.
"Wanda's powers are red, not green," Pietro pointed out.
'Yeah, but it felt like magic,' she thought as she glanced at her hand. She could detect the faint trace of energy around her fingers. Wiggling her fingers in time with the pulse of magic she felt, she attempted to manifest it again. As the energy reformed, however, this time it was red. 'That's strange,' she thought as she shook her hand and dissipated the magic from her fingertips.
"I-I think that was me," Amanda said astonished. Wanda looked over at the other girl.
"Really?" Kitty asked.
"You're a mutant?" Toad asked.
"I didn't think I was, but maybe I am," Amanda said.
"Maybe we should get the professor?" Jean suggested.
"Maybe- but first. Could- Wanda," she said looking up at her, "could we try that again?" she asked.
"Yeah, sure," Wanda answered. They brought their fingers together and once again strange green energy crackled between them.
"What is that?" Jean asked, with fascination in her voice. Wanda's eyes flashed to Jean's as she fought to hold onto the connection between her and Amanda.
"I'm not sure," Wanda answered, as she sensed warmth radiating from Jean's core. "Jean, step back," she said quickly. Jean blinked and quickly did as she asked. The warmth from Jean disappeared and Wanda was able to turn her attention back to her hand. "It feels like my powers, but it's not," she said.
"What's going on?" she heard Rogue say. As Amanda glanced up at the newcomer, the green light vanished.
'Oh great, what does miss know-it-all want?' Wanda thought in disgust as crossed her arms over her chest.
"Yo, Amanda might be a mutant?" Toad answered, with glee in his voice.
"We're not sure," Amanda said uneasily.
"I think, I can help end this debate," she offered with a smile. "If you don't mind me absorbing you?"
"Is it going to hurt?" Amanda asked.
"Not at all, I promise," she assured her.
"Okay," she said with a nod. Wanda watched Rogue walk up to Amanda and press her fingertip to the other girl's. Wanda sensed a spark of energy as Rogue took a step back from the group.
"So?" Pietro asked, in his usual, impatient way.
"Give a girl a minute," Rogue said dryly as she closed her eyes as she extending her hands out in front of her. Wanda's eyes were fixed on Rogue's hands. Though not visible, she felt energy pooling between her fingers.
"Am I a mutant?" Amanda asked.
"I don't think so, sugar," Rogue answered. "But I can tell you are you are," she said as a smile came to her face.
"Yeah? So, what is she?" Wanda asked annoyed.
"A witch," she answered before her eyes shot open. Rogue drew her hands apart, a thread of emerald light emitted there as she raised her one hand above her head and the other to her waist, the threads spanning the space between her hands.
'What?' she asked confused.
"Like Wanda?" Toad asked.
"Sort of," Rogue answered as she switched her hands' positions, the thread turned into a circle. "But the source of Wanda's magic is her mutation," she said with another switch of her hands, which conjured smaller circles within the larger one.
'How is she doing that?' she asked, feeling a spike of anger swell within her.
"Amanda, you'd have more in common with Agatha Harkness," Rogue said. Wanda's eye widened as Rogue switched her hands' positions in rapid succession, the circles growing in number, becoming more detailed with each rotation. The energy was intense and focused.
"Who?"
Wanda blinked before she glanced over at Amanda.
"She's the witch who helped me gain control over my powers," Wanda supplied. "I could set up an appointment with her if you want," she offered.
"Maybe," she said, her tone uncomfortable.
"Hey, zero pressure, Amanda," Jean piped up. "Finding out you have powers- it's a lot to take in. All of us have been there," she smiled.
"No doubt," Pietro commented with a nod as Kitty nodded.
"I think I need to talk to my folks before I do anything," Amanda said.
"Hey, whatever you. We're here to help if we can," Jean smiled.
"Thanks," Amanda said.
Wanda felt a surge of energy and her gaze snapped back to Rogue. She was now, holding her hands directly in of her and staring intently into the middle of the circles she had created. With a flash, the circle changed and she could see inside a bedroom, specifically a nightstand next to a bed.
"You made a portal?" Wanda exclaimed in disbelief as she watched Rogue's hand fished inside a drawer. 'I've never seen anything like- Magic can do that?' she asked. "How did you make a portal?" she asked irately.
"Teleportation spell," Rogue answered as she pulled her hand out of the drawer gasping a pair of black gloves. She felt Rogue loosen her grip on the circle and the portal dissipated, light green energy crackled upon the ground.
"A what?" she asked as Rogue met her gaze and held it for a long moment.
"Did Agatha teach you any of the basics of spellcraft," Rogue started to ask with a raised eyebrow, "or was her focus on your emotional control?"
"Hmm- I" Wanda stammered at a loss. She thought about- really thought about it- but nothing came to mind. She couldn't remember. "I- I don't know-" she said.
"I think, I can guess," Rogue said dryly as she put her gloves on. "Look, Wanda, I'm no sorcerer supreme, and my knowledge is mostly history, but I'm be happy to teach you what I know," she offered. "It's up to you," she said.
"I- I'll think about it," Wanda said.
"Okay, that's fine, sugar. You know where to find me if you want my help. Same goes for you, Amanda," she said.
"Thanks, Rogue," the other girl said.
Hey, all, calling it here for now! I hope you liked having some new POV's in the mix as I pull in some of my subplots. Please let me know your thought!
Thanks to the reviewer who did! I really appreciate it!