AN: Okay, any minute- well, chapter now- I'm gonna get to the action. I know, these long setups are obnoxious, what can I say, it's just my way. This one is set in "Blind Alley." Depending on where the show goes the next couple of episodes, I may need to diverge and ignore what's actually going on in the show to keep the story going- this accuracy crap is way hard. Anyway, this is kind of a short chapter, but I'm working on it pretty constantly. Thanks to anyone who's reading, extra special thanks to those who've reviewed.
"The way people smile and say, you're using me in every way: it's okay.
Times are changing, life is upside down, no reason to cry now.
No, no reason to cry now…" -Afghan Whigs, "Beware"What is he up to? Rogue thought, lying in the grass outside the Institute and watching the clouds. Turns on the Brotherhood for his father, but then the Brotherhood rescues him when he gets captured. Unless they're all working for Magneto. I didn't see Scarlet Witch anywhere, maybe she doesn't know what they're up to.
The sun came out from behind a cloud; she squinted at the sudden brightness.
"I don't get it," Rogue said out loud. She blinked twice as the sun was suddenly obscured by shadow.
"You're about to," a girl's voice replied. The backlit face was hard to make out, but the tell-tale red long coat was proof enough
Ah hell, Rogue thought as she, started to push herself up off the ground. That became a no-go as tree roots burst from the ground, forming huge hands which grabbed her wrists, then hardened back into wood.
"Please," Wanda said, stepping a bit closer. "Don't get up. Where is he?"
"Who?" Rogue asked. Pietro or Magneto? The roots twisted tighter around her arms as Wanda's short fuse got shorter.
"Don't play stupid. Where is my brother?"
"I don't know."
"Don't insult me," Wanda snapped, straddling Rogue's waist and sitting on her stomach. "Where?"
"I'm telling you I don't know," she said again.
"Liar!" Wanda shrieked. Another root came out of the ground and wrapped itself around Rogue's throat. "You think I'd fall for that? My brother runs off but doesn't tell his bitch girlfriend?!"
Rogue swallowed hard, praying that the root didn't constrict any further.
"Wanda, he told me to trust him and believe in him and the next day I was stuck in some green rock waiting to be crushed by a giant robot," Rogue wheezed out. "If it weren't for Storm and Mystique, I'd probably be dead. I don't know where he is."
Wanda sighed, looking at Rogue with a blend of pity and disgust.
"I would think an X-Man would have better taste. Or at least better brains," Wanda got up off of her, and the roots receded back into the ground. "Poor little Roguey. Walked right into that one, didn't you."
Rogue didn't bother to go after Wanda as she walked away. In a one on one fight, Wanda could take her apart. Hell, she didn't even have Quicksilver's powers to use anymore.
"Rogue?" Kitty called.
"I'm over here!" Rogue hollered back, her voice cracking a little. Bitch didn't have to squeeze so hard.
"Rogue, we gotta go- oh my god, what happened to your neck?!" Kitty cried, almost touching her out of shock.
"My boyfriend's damn sister happened. Wanda came by to grill me on where Pietro is."
"She tried to strangle it out of you? Jeez, it's a good thing you don't know- you don't, right? Wait, boyfriend? You're not seriously thinking of staying with that jerk after everything he's-"
"Kitty, you came out here for a reason?" Rogue prompted.
"Oh!" Kitty said, covering her mouth. "Scott's AWOL, Jean's got a bead on him in Mexico."
"Mexico? Are you kidding? Scott can barely read a bus schedule, what the hell is he doing in Mexico?"
Nothing good, Jean said in her head. Or nothing good's being done to him. Please hurry?
We're on our way, Rogue thought back.
"Come on, Kitty. We can argue about my crappy taste in men later," Rogue said. The two girls ran back towards the mansion to get into uniform. Rogue rubbed her neck as they jogged and sighed, "God, this has been such a lousy month."
Two photos hit Magneto's desk.
"Gambit's money is on one of these two."
Magneto glared up at him from his chair, a large metal throne which floated two feet off the floor.
"I didn't ask you for a multiple choice response, LeBeau."
"Could just ask your boy, but somehow I don' think he'd appreciate the question."
Magneto's scowl deepened as he swept up the two polaroids.
"Shadowcat and the Rogue. Why?"
"They tailed the Brotherhood and gave a hand in rescuing 'im. Along with several soldiers, mind, but they were there."
"Interesting," Magneto steepled his fingers, examining the photos. He noticed that the picture of Rogue seemed a little more worn than the one of Shadowcat, as though someone had spent a much more time looking at it.
"They seem equally unlikely prospects, in truth. Shadowcat and Avalanche have been chasing each other's tails for months. And the Rogue cannot make direct physical contact with another person, mutant or homo sapiens."
"That so?" Gambit asked, looking too casually disinterested to be anything other than fascinated.
"She absorbs life force, memories, and in the case of mutants, powers. Untouchable and very, very powerful. Shadowcat is a useless child who can barely tie her shoes without phasing through them."
"So… you think the Rogue then?"
"Far fetched, but more likely than the other." Magneto watched Gambit trying to act composed as he waited for Magneto's orders. "If we can recruit the girl, whichever one it may be, she could be used to keep Quicksilver in check. If she won't be recruited, well, so many other things could glue the boy to our cause."
"Such as?"
"She betrays him."
"And if she don't?"
"Then she dies in service of Xavier. Perhaps at the hands of some unsympathetic homo sapiens. Either way, his faith in anyone but me will be broken."
Magneto leaned back and smiled.
"Do you think you can handle keeping an eye on both Quicksilver and Xavier's Rogue?" he asked. Gambit's smile slithered onto his face, having received the invitation he was waiting for.
"Gambit would like nothing more."