Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men: Evolution. That sucks.
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"Rogue, you're up!" noted Kitty Pryde in surprise as her roommate strolled into their room.
"Yeah, well. Ah couldn't take bein in the infirmary anothah day!" Rogue began to root through her drawers, looking for shampoo. "Ahm gonna take a shower and have breakfast with everyone else. What's been goin on?"
"Everyone's totally freaked about this Apocalypse thing," replied Kitty cautiously, not wanting to upset Rogues still-fragile mental state. "Mr McCoy and the Prof have been reading up on Egyptology, they're completely distracted y'know?"
"Yeah, Scott told me about their trip to London," said Rogue, not bothering to mention that Jean had been there too. "Killing a giant spider with Magnetos new guys. They weren't supposed to kill it or something? Ah wasn't really listenin."
Kitty gave her a sympathetic glance. It would take an idiot not to notice Rogues crush on their team leader, although she tried to keep it hidden. "They weren't supposed to kill it, it was like a guardian or something. Magneto and Professor Xavier both want to stop it. It's kinda like were all on the same side!"
"So where do the Brotherhood fit into all this?"
"Like, who knows?" said Kitty, to quickly and airily for her nonchalance to be anything but false. "I haven't seen Lance in forever!"
"Yeah," said Rogue, feeling bad for her. "Look, ahm gonna go take a shower. Don't phase through the door!"
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"Where does the Brotherhood fit into this?" Logan sipped his second cup of coffee. None of the students were downstairs yet, but he wanted to see if the Professor had found anything new on Apocalypse prior to a quick Danger Room session before school. He was very concerned about this new enemy and knowing that Magneto was involved did nothing to quell that concern. His inability to find Mystique was equally galling. She was too advanced for him to track her and she could look like anyone – not a good combination. The X-Men would never know that she was back and causing trouble until it was too late.
The Professor steepled his fingers. "Right now, I'm not sure that they do. Quicksilver's return seems to indicate that Magneto's back in charge, especially after what Kurt told us about Wanda's being brainwashed, but I couldn't say for certain."
"You couldn't maybe dip into their mind and find out …" Logan stopped as he saw the Professors look. "Alright, alright."
"We need to find out what the Brotherhood knows," mused Ororo, already dressed for the Danger Room session. "Usually Kitty can find out these things by talking to Lance."
"Nah, the half-pints still pissed about the scene outside the school meeting," said Logan. "She'd only come back saying she never wants to see him again and know exactly squat about Magneto."
"They wont even see them at school now the Brotherhood's been expelled," added Ororo.
"The Brotherhood might be able to contact Magneto and aid us in pooling our resources more effectively," pointed out the Beast from in front of the large computer screen, where he was searching for details on Apocalypse.
"I don't think Magneto'd like that." Logan paused to consider. "I don't think I'd like that."
"Nevertheless, some one should speak to the Brotherhood." Professor Xavier frowned slightly and looked up, apparently monitoring monitoring student activity through his telepathy.
Logan couldn't keep the sarcasm out of his voice. "So who do you suggest?"
Professor Xavier smiled. "As it happens, we have a former Brotherhood member who just decided she's had enough of being in bed."
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"Uh-uh. No way."
"Rogue, this is important. I believe you might be the only person able to get the Brotherhood to open up at the moment. Of course, if you're not feeling up to it…"
"It's not that Professor, ah just…" Rogue shook her head. "Even when ah was with the Brotherhood none of us really get on. Blob was mad at me after we had that fight. Lance and Todd thought ah got special treatment – course it turns out they were right. Pietro was so arrogant; he really got on mah nerves. And ah've only met Wanda when we're fighting."
"Last time, you were fighting on the same side," Professor X reminded her. "With Mystique gone, she's shown no interest in us."
"That's another thing," said Rogue reluctantly. "Who knows for sure she's gone? Ah mean, Logan couldn't find her…"
"I doubt she'll act against you," said the Professor, trying to be comforting. "That's not what she wanted. She probably isn't even in Bayville anymore."
"Ah just keep thinking, what if she answers the door as one of the Brotherhood? How would ah know?"
"Mystique only looks like other people, she doesn't know them. You've a shared history with the Brotherhood boys, you can use that to reassure yourself that it's not her."
Rogue sighed. "You sure know how to wear a girl down."
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By the time Rogue left the institute, the other students were at school (Rogue was still off due to her recent problems). Logan was out looking for Mystique again, but she doubted that he would have any success. The Beast, Storm and Professor X were still searching for information on Apocalypse.
Walking to the Brotherhood house, Rogue enjoyed the feeling of being outside again after being confined for so long and on a weekday there were few people around, so she didn't feel as though people were staring at her.
Watch thou for the mutant. She recalled the phrase from an old book. In spite of her pleasure in being outside and doing something productive, she couldn't shake the wariness that she might be being watched, followed, by her adoptive mother and she would never know it. And she couldn't be sure of who'd open the door at the Brotherhood house either.
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Pietro was bored.
Bored of TV. Bored of Bayville. Bored, bored, bored.
He'd already been around Bayville twice that morning, spotting some of the X-geeks on their way to school, Principal Kelly looking harassed outside Starbucks and good old Duncan Matthews, the guy that got the rest of the Brotherhood expelled, driving in his convertible, wearing his letter jacket. A freak gust of wind picked up roses, mud and manure from a nearby garden and dumped them into the car, straight onto his lap. Strange, on such a still day.
His attention minimal at the best, Pietro was flicking channels on the TV. Somewhere between the chat shows and the soap operas, he decided his brain was melting. Lance had gone out early (for him at least) in his jeep, Wanda hadn't been seen all morning and Todd and Freddy claimed to be going out for fast food, Blob probably terrifying the staff with a huge order and Toad hanging around the bins catching lunch as it buzzed past. Pietro thought that fast food just wasn't fast enough, but at least Magneto was footing the bills now.
Pietro was disturbed from his musings by a knock at the door. At last, something! He answered the door less than a second later. Rogue hadn't even lowered her hand from knocking and Pietro smirked as he realised who it was. "Look who's back! Did you miss me?"
"Ugh. You are such an egomaniac." Rogue glanced behind him, seeming nervous. "Anyone else in?"
"Nope. We're all alone." Pietro bowed theatrically and swept his arm out. "Come on in. I know you're not used to all this mess now that you're living in a mansion…"
"Ah thought you were supposed to be fast," Rogue said contemptuously as she walked through the door. "It took you six seconds to mention the Institute. Ah thought two."
Pietro ran past her, leaving Rogue relieved that it really was him – only Quicksilver could run that fast. "Siddown. Tell me why you're here."
"This place is a pigsty," observed Rogue in disgust.
"The cleaning lady quit." Suddenly Pietro wasn't stood in front of her anymore. Rogue turned to find him sprawled out on a chair. She had never gotten used to all that faster-than-the-eye crap. "So tell me why you're here. Wanna rejoin our happy family?"
"As if." Rogue sat on the least scuzzy looking chair. "Magneto and the Prof were working together a few days ago, with the X-Men and Magnetos new guys."
"No shit?" Pietro looked only mildly interested. "Wondered why I got the orders not to get you guys. Had a great plan too."
"O – Kay. Anyway, this guy Mesmero took over one of Magnetos guys minds to steal some key…"
"That'll be Gambit," interrupted Pietro.
"Whatever. The X-Men and Magneto were trying to stop the key opening a door to Apocalypses chamber, but they failed. The Prof thought that if he could speak to Magneto, they could share info or theories."
"Apocalypses chamber? Doors and keys? I have no idea what you're talking about," grinned Pietro before bursting out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"You expect me to give you Magnetos cell phone number or something? So's him and Wheels can discuss the Apocalypse?" Fresh bursts of laughter. "Maybe they can go for coffee together and have a chat about the book of Revelations too!"
"Ah think he expected you to pass on a message," replied Rogue coldly.
"Hell, I don't contact him, don't even know where he is," said Pietro, still grinning. "I'll tell him when he gets in touch."
Rogue hated to be mocked and stood up to go, scowling. "Do that."
"Surprised Wheels wants to talk to him with him tearing up the streets after that crappy concert a few weeks back." Pietro had picked up the remote control to go back to channel hopping, but a look at Rogues face changed his mind. She seemed shocked.
"After the concert?"
"Yeah, didn't you see? It was all over the TV, even we saw it and we all avoid watching the news. Sabretooth crashed the concert and some big guy I never saw before. Magneto got caught on one of those police cruiser cameras and some warehouse was trashed, but no one saw much else – the weather was really bad. Probably your teacher did that. I bet you X-geeks were there five minutes later."
"The X-Men were there." Rogue looked ill, Pietro noted with surprise. "Magneto wasn't."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothin." Rogue strode towards the front door, but Pietro beat her to it and blocked the exit.
"Don't tell me nothing. You come around here for the first time since you walked out on us, then you act all weird and say Magneto wasn't here even though he was on video and Mystiques still stuck in Area 51, so it couldn't have been her. And he used his powers. So whaddya mean he wasn't there?"
Rogue began to take off a glove. "You wanna get outta my way Speedy, or am ah gonna put you into a coma?"
"It's the only way to get me outta the way if you don't give me an answer."
It was tempting and she might have done it if not for the experience of being possessed by everyone she'd ever absorbed, Quicksilver included. She was afraid to use her powers again. Instead she snapped, "Ah thought you spoke to him. Why didn't you ask him then?"
"Subject never came up." Pietro smirked at her. "You need to tell me Rogue. I'm not letting you leave till you do!"
"Mystiques not in Area 51 anymore anyway," Rogue told him. "She escaped."
"She's not been back here. Are you sure?"
"She wouldn't come back here if you guys're working for Magneto."
"True." Pietro stopped smirking as he took another look at Rogues face. She really did look upset. "Hey, if you're gonna puke, do it some place else, ok?"
"If ah could get some place else."
"What's goin on with you Rogue?" Pietro was feeling a little – concerned? Nah, not about an X-Man. Certainly not the one who'd dumped them. Curious, sure. But not concerned.
"Ah've got a lot on mah mind," she replied honestly, surprising herself. Admitting that to Pietro was as good as advertising to the whole Brotherhood that she was feeling fragile and she'd never been one for sharing her feelings anyway.
"Wanna share?"
Rogue looked up sharply, but Pietro didn't look as though he was going to tease or torment her. "With you? Ah'd hafta be right outta mah mind!"
"Hey, I just thought you looked bummed, thought you might like to talk about it."
With Pietro Maximoff? If he knew what had happened to her, he could use it against her the next time the Brotherhood and the X-Men faced off.
On the other hand, how could he use it against her? It wasn't something that would hurt her fighting abilities.
And if anyone could understand the psycho-parent-using–my-powers-for-evil thing, it was Quicksilver.
And she'd always had a soft spot for him. Just like every other girl in Bayville.
"Ok then, sure, why not?" she said, surprising herself and Pietro. "But not here. Let's go out somewhere."
"Starbucks?"
"Put caffeine in you? That sounds like a recipe for disaster." With a sigh she shrugged, hardly able to believe that she was about to share the most painful experience of her life with Pietro. If she ever needed a reminder about her poor judge of character, she wouldn't even need to think back as far as Risty. She could just remember this. "Sure, why not? But ah didn't drive, so … AAARGHHH!"
Without warning, Pietro scooped her up into his arms and began running. Rogue closed her eyes and clung to his neck. When she took his powers on asteroid M she thought she'd been going fast, but compared to this, that had been a crawl.
Exactly twenty-seven seconds later they arrived at Starbucks and Pietro set her to her feet. However, she refused to open her eyes or let go of his neck at first, totally disoriented.
This is cool thought Pietro, enjoying for a moment the feel of her slender body close to his and the lingering scent of soap on her skin.
Her skin…
With … Rogue?
"Hell Rogue," he said quickly, taking refuge in sarcasm. "If you keep this up, people are gonna start thinking we're a couple!"
Rogue opened her eyes and backed away quickly. "Ah don't think so Speedy!" She walked into the building and although her voice was haughty, a small smile played at her lips.
Pietro followed her, feeling totally confused. He'd been showing off, like she was one of his many admirers and he had to charm her, for his own amusement if nothing else. But before that he'd been concerned – no, just curious – about her. And afterwards, as she clung onto him, he'd not been thinking about her dumping the Brotherhood or about revenge on the X-Men or even that if she moved her head an inch to the right, their faces would be touching and he'd be unconscious. He'd just been aware of her arms around his neck and feeling the material of her shirt under his hands as they rested on her back.
Good thing she's totally covered up he thought as they queued for coffee – Christ, he hated to queue – by the time you noticed what was going on, you'd have been in a coma. Going soft on the X-girls? I've been spending way too much time with Lance and Freddy.