Author's Note**
It's a little jumpy but . . .shrug I think it adds character.
"Look, I know it was you Alvers, so just admit to it so I can beat your ass and we can put this whole thing behind us."
Scott had approached Lance in the foyer to accuse the Brotherhood member of torching his clothes the night before. So far he was denying it, but Scott figured that if he dogged him enough, eventually he'd confess. But Lance was in no mood to confess to a crime that he didn't technically commit. He rolled his dark eyes and pushed Scott's hand off of his shoulder.
"Yeah right. I threw your clothes on the floor and then shook them until they started on fire."
"I'm sure someone as criminally prone as you are would know how to operate a lighter," Scott retorted, not ready to shift his suspicions. Then he remembered something that had his eyes narrowing behind his glasses. "And you're all buddy-buddy with that pyromaniac," he accused as Lance began walking away. Turning around, Lance lifted his hands in the air, all innocence.
"St. John? Hey, that guy only listens to the voices in his head. I can't be held responsible for his actions. It's not my fault you pissed off one of his voices."
Across the room Rogue sat in a cushioned chair and watched the two of them argue. She was both tired and achy, but happy to not be stuck in that hospital room.
"Logan's gonna wallop Scott if he finds him in his clothes," she said to the mutant that sat on the couch beside her. Warren merely sipped his tea; he didn't know Logan as well but imagined that was probably what would happen. He knew that he would certainly beat the hell out of Summers if he found him in HIS clothes.
"So how are things goin' with you an' Fred?" she added when he didn't say anything. He frowned and, setting his cup down, stretched one long arm across the back of the couch.
"We haven't killed each other yet, if that's what you mean. We're definitely having a conflict of social backgrounds. Anyway, did you, Wanda, and Mr. McCoy have any luck finding out anything about Apocalypse?"
Rogue shrugged and slid down further in the chair. "There were a bunch of references to the Apocalypse in Greek and Roman myths and then again in Middle Eastern lore." Sighing, she lifted her arms up onto the armrests. "Jus' 'bout everywhere, really."
"What 'bout Egypt, cherie?"
At the sound of the familiar drawl, Rogue tipped her head back and saw the red eyed Cajun leaning on the back of her chair. His grin was fixed in place and he was absently flicking a single card through his fingers as he looked down at her. She knew that she shouldn't have liked the look that was in his eyes but the intensity of it went straight up her spine. In response, her voice was clipped.
"What the hell are ya babblin' 'bout swampy?"
Accustomed now to her less than lover-like attitude towards him, Gambit nimbly hopped up onto one of the arms of her chair and made himself comfortable. She immediately shifted to the other side out of habit; he pretended not to notice.
"Gambit was jus' thinkin' dat he and de cherie could take a nice little vacation to Egypt. It be plenty hot 'dere, like the bayous in de summertime. Whatchu think?" he asked, leaning down towards her and making certain his eyes were on hers.
Rogue stared up into his gaze, caught between enjoying his flirting and being annoyed that he was being secretive. He knew something important; that was easy enough to tell. Without even realizing it, she picked the thought out of his head.
"Mesmero's in Egypt," she stated automatically. Gambit blinked, caught off guard for once.
"You a mind reader, cherie?"
"Ah'm not suppose ta be. Quick, think of a number between one and ten."
Gambit didn't look quite so sure; her eyes were a bit too wide. "Wha -," he began but she cut him off with an impatient shake of her head.
"Jus' do it already," she snapped and, surprised by the vehemence, he obliged her. She studied him for a moment and again reached into his head with relative ease.
"Seven," she supplied after a moment and he nodded to show she was correct.
"Dat could jus' be a good guess, cherie," he suggested, having never been a fan of mental intrusion. Rogue was already thinking though. With her eyes on him, she blinked out, appearing beside Warren on the couch an instant later. Both he and Remy stared this time, their jaws hanging open slightly. She blinked out again immediately before they could say anything.
This time where she re-appeared, it was inside Professor Xavier's office. He looked surprised to see her.
"Rogue?"
"Ah think we've got somethin' ta talk about, Professor."
****************************************************
Wanda had left the building.
The sun had set, the moon had risen, and she had made her way through the darkness into the woods that surrounded the Institute. The trees closed in around her like the walls of a tomb but she wasn't afraid. The mentally unstable never are. Her head throbbed, pulsing to some unknown beat and the deeper she moved, the stronger and louder it became. Her boots thumped over wet grass and her coat rustled in a breeze that did nothing to cool the heat underneath her skin. Finally she came to a spot where the moonlight streamed through an opening in the overhead growth. He was there.
"Good eve, Wanda." The voice that streamed out from the shadows was low and decidedly superior. Once upon a time people would have described it as noble. Wanda was not impressed.
"Who are you? And what do you want with me?" she asked bluntly. She had learned over the years that the only way to get down to business with an evil overlord was to cut his ego out of the equation. There was a pause before the voice continued, less certain of itself this time.
"For more than two centuries I have walked the earth, a plague to the many weaknesses of mankind." The voice quickly regained its arrogance and Wanda was forced to wait for him to finish his ranting. "My very name brings the most powerful of men to their knees. I am . . ." he trailed off and all the forest around them went dead silent in that special way that only an evil overlord could manage.
". . . .Mr. Sinister."
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Wanda collapsed into a fit of hysterical laughter the moment she heard the words. Annoyed, Dr. Nathaniel Essex stepped out into the light and glared down at her, his silvery skin shimmering. The sight of him scowling sent her further into hysterics. She dropped to the ground and tears came rolling down her cheek. When she tried to speak, her words came out in between laughter.
"Who . . .the . . .hell . . .let . . .you . . .out . . .of . . .the. . .house . . .with . . .that. . .name? . .That . . .is . . .the . . .STUPIDEST . . .name . . .for . . . an . . .evil . . .mastermind. . .I've. . .EVER . . .heard. . .HAHAHAHA!"
"Do you mind? I'm trying to go for the whole evil image here and you're sort of ruining it for me," he hissed, stomping a foot and crossing his arms over his chest. Trying to choke back the laughter, Wanda sat up and snorted.
"I'm so sorry, Dr. Badman. I don't know what came over me." Her straight face lasted for approximately three seconds before she fell into giggles again. Still frowning, he turned his head up towards the sky and waited for her to compose herself. When she didn't, he sighed in frustration and threw his hands into the air.
"Come on! I'll tell you my evil master plan later. Wouldn't want you to laugh at THAT too," he whined, storming off. Getting to her feet, Wanda trailed after him, still chuckling.
"Wait for me Mr. Meanie Man!"
And the evil partnership began.
*************************************
Half an hour later, Professor Xavier and Mr. McCoy were both looking at Rogue with new consideration. She had just finished demonstrating the last of her apparent "new" powers. And it had been quite a list.
"It would seem, Rogue, that though we purged the personalities and the memories of all those that you have absorbed over time, you remain able to access their abilities. Astounding," Xavier noted, folding his hands. Beside him, Mr. McCoy placed one large paw on the back of his wheelchair.
"It makes one wonder if any new abilities she absorbs will also remain accessible after time," he pointed out.
Rogue's eyes lit up at that idea. "Hey, we should test it ta see," she suggested eagerly. Professor X rubbed a hand underneath his chin and frowned in thought. It was something important to know before they headed into battle. Perhaps all these other abilities had replaced her original ability to absorb. The trouble was finding someone who wouldn't mind being knocked unconscious for a while. He certainly didn't want to be and he doubted that Hank would want to be either.
"We'd have to find a student who was willing to volunteer," he murmured out loud.
The grin that stretched Rogue's lips apart was a tad bit frightening. "Ah know jus' the person. Be right back."
And before anyone could protest, she teleported out.