If they don't shut up, I'm going to go crazy, Rogue thought, trying to focus on flying the plane.
"Enough!" Magneto yelled and she sighed, hoping he would be able to calm down the frightened mutants. "Either quiet down or I have no problem forcing you off this plane."
"We're in the air," someone stated.
"Yes, we are," Magneto replied darkly and the passengers fell silent.
Rogue smiled, thankful for the silence, finally able to concentrate. "What is our ETA?" Magneto asked and she felt his hand on her seat, close to her shoulder.
"Five minutes," Mystique informed him. "I radioed ahead and let the children know we will need medical attention."
"Who's hurt?" Rogue asked, worried.
"Concentrate on flying," Magneto informed her and she glanced at his reflection in the glass. He doesn't appear to be hurt. She wondered how skilled he was at ignoring his injuries.
She spotted the base ahead and watched as the hanger door opened, slowly bringing in the plane for a shaky landing. Rogue smiled, thankful that she could release her grip on the plane's controls.
"Good job," Magneto told her, his fingers gently stroking her shoulder for a few seconds before he turned his attention to the other passengers. "There are children waiting below to show you where to go if you are injured. Do not needlessly scare them. Questions will be answered in time."
Rogue pushed the button to release the ramp, unbuckled hers seatbelt and rose. As she turned around, tears filled her eyes as she saw the Professor strapped into one of the front seats, Bobby sitting beside him. "Professor!" she exclaimed and ran towards them, stopping in front of him. "We've been worried."
"As have we," Xavier replied, motioning to the seat behind him.
"Mr. Summers!" Rogue cried as she saw her teacher unbuckling his belt. There was blood on his shirt but from the ease he stood she had a feeling it wasn't his.
"How many of you were able to escape?" Cyclops asked, walking towards her.
"Eight of us," Rogue replied, looking down at her feet.
"Eight?" Xavier said, his voice full of defeat. She looked up at him, watching as he shook his head.
"There were no others to rescue," Magneto told him and Rogue looked at him, noticing the tension in his body. "The FoH works fast."
He raised his hand and she watched Cyclops' hands move into a fighting stance. Magneto narrowed his eyes as a wheelchair floated towards them. "I saved your lives, Cyclops," Magneto said, his voice cold as he looked at the younger man.
"Yes, you did," Cyclops replied, hands dropping to his sides though his stance was still stiff. "What did you have to gain from doing so?"
"Destroying the lab," Bobby muttered, helping the Professor into the wheelchair. "Killing hundreds of humans."
"I could have easily destroyed the lab and left those in the transport to fend for themselves, Iceman," Magneto replied, his voice becoming dangerous. "Yet, I did not."
"You have something else planned," Cyclops stated and Bobby nodded.
"Stop it!" Rogue declared, looking between them in disbelief at their behavior. "This ego match isn't helping."
"You're only saying that because he," Bobby said, pointing at Magneto, "can touch you, and you enjoy it."
Rogue's eyes narrowed and she fought back every urge to hit him. "I'm going to see what's happening with the others," she said, shaking her head. "Kill one another for all I care."
She turned on her heel and started towards the ramp, anger radiating off of her. "I believe I shall go with you, Rogue," Xavier said and she stopped, waiting for him to catch up to her.
An uneasy silence passed between the two of them as they entered the hallway. "Professor…" she began, unsure of what to say. I don't understand my feelings for Magneto, how am I supposed to explain them?
"I am afraid that Scott and Erik will never be able to agree," Xavier told her, his voice calming her nerves. "Incidents in the past have made that impossible."
"Bobby probably won't be able to either," she replied, wrapping her arms around her body. "He hasn't exactly liked being here."
"What of the children? How have they taken to living here?" he asked.
"As well as they can," Rogue replied with a shrug. "They saw their friends killed, were almost killed themselves. That changes a person."
"Only if one lets it," Xavier replied and she looked at him. He smiled gently at her and she tried to reciprocate, looking away when she was unable. "And you?"
She unwrapped her arms, trailing one of them along the walls, comforted by the cold steel beneath her fingers. "I'm okay," she said and looked back at him. "Eri—Magneto has been helping me work on controlling my power, to not see it as a curse."
She watched him raise an eyebrow at the use of Magneto's first name. "I am sorry I was unable to help you do so," Xavier said sincerely.
Rogue shrugged. "There never really was a time you could have," she countered, dropping her hand, feeling somber at the loss of contact with the metal. "Bobby thinks Magneto is evil. I have a feeling Mr. Summers thinks the same thing."
"You would be right in that assumption," Xavier replied.
"He isn't though, Professor," she insisted.
He stopped in the hallway a grave expression on his face. "He is not evil, Rogue. I assure you that I do know that," he replied, looking intently at her. "However, he is not above doing whatever he thinks is necessary to see his vision come to fruition. You of all people should know that."
Images of the Statue of Liberty flashed before her eyes and she nodded. "I do," she replied and sighed, leaning against the wall. "Everything he's said has come true. Registration, camps. It's not a far leap to 'special treatment'."
"No, it is not," Magneto said, floating down to rest between the two of them.
"It will not happen, Erik," Xavier stated. "Already there are those in Washington working on dismantling the camps."
"You are naïve, Charles," Magneto replied with a long-suffering sigh. "Fear is a powerful emotion. I will not allow our kind to be destroyed because of it."
"What do you propose?" Xavier asked. "Killing every man, woman and child who is not a mutant? Like you tried to do before?
Rogue blanched at the reminder, fists clenched at her sides as she looked towards Magneto, unsure what his answer would be. "It was no less than Stryker tried to do to us," Magneto replied, folding his arms across his chest.
"That doesn't make it right," Rogue whispered, looking at her hands. She took a deep breath and looked back up at him. "If we're superior shouldn't we show them that by not stooping to their level?"
"Charles has tried that, Rogue," Magneto replied, giving her a sympathetic look. "The attacks on the school were his answer from those in power."
Rogue closed her eyes, trying to erase the images of her dead friends. "They had you trapped, in chains, Charles," Magneto continued. "It won't be long before they begin placing numbers on mutants."
"You've made these arguments to me before, Erik," Xavier replied, shaking his head. "Violence is not the answer to this problem."
"Mutants must take their rightful place," Magneto stated and looked at Rogue, eyes focused on her gloves. "No mutant should ever be afraid to use his or her power."
"How do you intend to make that happen?" Xavier asked, and Magneto looked at him, his expression determined.
"By force if necessary," Magneto replied. "This is a war. The sooner you realize that the better off you will be."
He pointed to the door at the end of the hallway. "The children are waiting to see you, Charles," Magneto continued. "Don't keep them waiting."
"This conversation is not over, Erik," Xavier replied before wheeling himself away.
"It never is," Magneto said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Rogue watched as he turned his attention to her, eyes widening in a mixture of trepidation and desire as he slowly approached her. Using one finger he caressed her lips and she closed her eyes, moaning as his fingers traveled down her neck.
"You flew well," Magneto whispered in her ear, one hand trailing along her collarbone while the other rested against her hip.
She whimpered as he pressed soft kisses down her neck, her hands moving to grip his shoulders. He pulled her roughly against him, hands moving to her back, roaming across her shoulders and up and down her spine, while he captured her mouth with his lips. She gasped as her back hit the wall, his hands sliding urgently up and down her sides, her grip on his shoulders tightening.
There were footsteps in the distance and he took a step back, leaving the two of them breathing heavily, as he looked hungrily at her. She ached for his touch, her body on fire.
"Paige is expecting you," Magneto told her, smiling gently as he pushed stray strands of hair behind her ears. "We will talk later."
Rogue nodded but made no move. She was afraid that if she stepped away from the wall she would melt from the sensory overload. "Go," he said, smirking at her flustered form.
Slowly, she walked away from him, fingers touching her swollen lips, a goofy smile on her face. Entering the makeshift hospital, she tried to appear serious, but was unable to as Paige ran to her, arms wrapping around her. "You came back," the girl said.
"I told you I would," Rogue replied, brushing her hair.
She released Paige and watched her go back to Callisto, handing the woman the materials she asked for. Looking towards the Professor, Rogue did not like the scrutiny in his gaze and looked away, moving quickly towards Mystique to help in any way she could.
xxx
A few hours later, once medical needs had been met, Rogue found herself sitting with the children and Pyro. "What happened?" Rusty asked, eyes wide with anticipation.
"Did the lab blow up really big?" Sam prodded, looking excitedly at Pyro. "Was there an explosion?"
"Oh yeah," Pyro replied, lounging across a couple of the chairs, a blissful smile on his face.
"What did it sound like?" Sam asked, sitting down on the floor beside him.
"Come on," Rusty urged. "Tell us!"
Rogue rolled her eyes at their enthusiasm, silently braiding Paige's hair. She's one of the few who isn't afraid of my touch. "Was the fire really big?" the girl asked.
Pyro nodded, sighing happily. The younger boys continued to pester him for details while the other girls took turns trying to braid like Rogue. "We never get to do any of the fun stuff!" Sam pouted.
"Fun?" Bobby asked, entering the room.
All heads turned towards him and Rogue cringed at the fury in his eyes. "You think it was fun?" he asked, looking at Sam. "People died! They were slaughtered, metal from the vans slicing them in half or piercing their skin."
The boy ducked his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "Bobby, stop it!" Rogue yelled, trying to offer comfort to the girls, whose lips trembled.
"He went crazy, Rogue," Bobby continued, walking towards her. "We had the mutants out of the van; there was no reason all of the officers had to die. They were only doing their job."
"Yeah, right," Pyro replied, rising from his position at Sam's side. "They were taking mutants to be experimented on, to be cut up and prodded, and probably killed once they'd gotten what they wanted."
"Both of you stop it," Rogue said, glaring at them. "Look at them!" she cried, pointing at the younger mutants, who looked towards the older boys in fear.
"They need to know the truth, Rogue," Bobby said, and her mouth opened in shock.
"You know what, Iceman," she said, spitting out his name, "your name does suit you, and so does your power. You are frozen inside."
"Yeah, well, Rogue suits you," he countered, glaring back at her. "You are unprincipled and deceitful. I can't believe that I ever wanted to touch you."
She clenched her fists, eyes narrowing. "I don't need your touch," she told him.
"Of course not," Bobby replied, "you'd rather be touched by a lunatic!"
Out of the corner of her eyes, Rogue saw Pyro flick his lighter open. "Don't," she warned, looking at him. "He's not worth it."
Pyro scowled and shut the lighter. The tension in the room grew and Rogue had a feeling that Bobby would never be able to see either her or Pyro as friends again.
"What is going on?" Magneto asked as he entered the room, Cyclops and Professor Xavier close behind.
"Difference of opinion, sir," Pyro replied and cocked his head towards Bobby. "Some of us live in a dream world."
"Some of us have become monsters," Bobby responded.
Pyro flashed his teeth at him in response.
"We're not monsters," Rogue replied, hugging Paige tightly. "We just won't sit idly by and let ourselves be attacked again."
"No one could have predicted the attacks on the mansion or mutants being forced into camps, Rogue," Cyclops said, stepping towards her.
"You're wrong," she replied, shaking her head. "Magneto did. That's why he put me in the machine on the Statue of Liberty, to try and stop this from happening."
Cyclops shook his head. "If we hadn't stopped him, you would have been killed," he said.
"One sacrifice to save a million others," she whispered, looking down at Paige.
"Rogue," Cyclops said in disbelief.
She looked sadly back at him. "It's the truth," she said and looked away, tears sliding down her face. "Jubilee, Kitty, Dr. Grey, they'd all be alive." She looked at the younger mutants, "And none of them would have needed to deal with losing their friends, their freedom."
"The machine did not work," Xavier said, moving towards her.
"I know," she replied, closing her eyes, forcing herself to calm down. She touched her gloves, running her fingers over the thin metal she knew was beneath the fabric, desperately needing his strength.
"Should I bring them back later?" Mystique asked from the doorway, all heads turning to look at her. The rest of the Brotherhood and rescued mutants were behind her.
Rogue watched Magneto wave towards the seats before giving her a concerned look. She forced a reassuring smile. Slowly everyone found a seat, the younger mutants clumping together on the floor beside her. They all looked forlornly at their feet, none of them saying a word. Pyro sat down with them as well, glaring at Bobby as he took a seat by the Professor and Cyclops.
She listened as Magneto greeted the new mutants, informing them of the various rules in the facility, watching as Cyclops' and Bobby's agitation grew. "The choice is yours," Magneto continued, "you may either stay and join our cause in liberating our fellow mutants or you may leave. No one will stop you."
Rogue looked at the new mutants wondering if any of them would opt to leave and where they would go. Her gaze traveled to Bobby and Cyclops. She didn't doubt that they would want to leave as soon as possible. What about the kids? She looked in horror at the young mutants around her. If the Professor and Cyclops leave does that mean they will as well?
Everyone was rising and she realized she hadn't heard the last of Magneto's speech. She quietly stood as well, Paige letting her go and leaving the room with everyone else. "Rogue?" Magneto asked.
She looked up at him. "Am I supposed to be going somewhere?" she asked, looking at him in confusion.
He walked towards her. "You could help the new mutants find their rooms," he offered.
She nodded and hesitantly turned towards the door. "Where are the rooms?" she asked, turning back to him.
He raised an eyebrow in response. "Someone was not listening," he stated, his voice hard.
"I'm sorry," she replied, looking at him tiredly. She turned back to the door, at a loss for what to do.
"What is wrong?" Magneto asked, looking at her with concern as she turned back towards him.
"Can he take the kids?" she asked, eyes widening again in fear. "When the Professor leaves, can he?"
"It is their choice to stay here or leave, Rogue," Magneto assured her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Not Charles's."
She nodded. "Good," she said and smiled, turning back to the door. "Where am I going again?"
He let out an exasperated sigh. "Come along," Magneto replied and she trailed after him, grinning when she felt his power pull on her.
xxx
After rooms had been assigned, dinner was served. Rogue watched as the younger mutants began nodding off throughout the meal before finally dragging the group of them away for bed. There had been protests from Rusty and Sam at first, but they quickly quieted when Magneto gave them each a stern look.
Rogue opened the door to her room, waiting for Paige to enter before letting it close behind her. The girl changed into pajamas quickly then moved to her make-shift bed. "Bobby's mean," Paige said angrily, picking up the pillow and throwing it as hard as she could.
Rogue looked over at her, startled by the girl's fury. "Paige," she began but the child turned towards her, shaking her head.
"He is!" she cried, nostrils flaring. "I hate him!"
Rogue watched as Paige balled her fists, scowling at the wall. "Honey," Rogue said, kneeling down and placing her hands gently on the girl's, "you don't hate him. You're just really mad at him."
"He doesn't care about us," Paige yelled, pulling away from Rogue. "He only cares about humans."
Rogue raised an eyebrow at that. "Why do you think that?" she asked.
"Cause its true," Paige said, crossing her arms at her chest and glaring at the ground. She looked back up a few seconds later, lips trembling. "He always asks about what will happen to humans. He never thinks about mutants. We're mutants."
"Yes, we are," Rogue replied, reaching out her hands to comfort her. Paige moved towards her, burying her head in Rogue's shoulder. "He's a mutant too," Rogue reminded.
"I know," the girl said. She pulled back a little. "I don't want to die."
"Why do you think you're going to die?" Rogue asked, pushing hair away from the child's eyes.
Tears fell down Paige's face and she buried her head back in Rogue's shoulder. "I heard Mr. Summers and Bobby saying they're leaving soon," she said, hiccupping. "And that the kids are coming with them." Her grip tightened. "I don't want to leave."
Rogue held her tightly, closing her eyes as she listened to the child's sobs. "You aren't going to leave," she told her. "If you don't want to leave you won't have to."
"But, Mr. Summers says that we're the Professor's responsibility," Paige said, struggling with the last word. "If he leaves, we have to go."
"I promise that I won't let anything happen to you, Paige," Rogue told her, stroking her hair.
Paige's only answer was her soft sobs, her exhaustion taking over after a few minutes. Rogue held Paige's sleeping form for awhile, her animosity towards Cyclops and Bobby growing with each second. If they want to leave that's fine, she thought bitterly, but they have no right to take the children too.
Carefully she laid Paige down on the floor, covering the girl with the covers. She kissed two of her fingers, placing them gently onto Paige's forehead before rising. She walked back towards the kitchen; the sounds of various voices letting her know Cyclops and Bobby were still there. She spotted the Professor quietly conversing with Magneto while Mystique looked dubiously at Avalanche. Ignoring Pyro's wave, she walked towards Cyclops and Bobby.
"Rogue," Bobby said, his voice guarded.
"If you want to leave that's fine," Rogue said, speaking quickly, "But you have no right to make them come with you! It doesn't matter that they're children. They've seen enough, been through enough to make their own decisions."
"They are Professor Xavier's responsibility," Bobby began.
She laughed hysterically at that before chocking out a sob. "Yeah, well, sorry if I'm not all that sure he's able to fulfill his duties properly," she replied. "Jubilee and Kitty were his responsibility too and look what happened to them."
"That's hardly fair, Rogue," Cyclops said.
"Fair?" she asked, her voice rising. "Fair? This is a war, Cyclops. There is no such thing as fair."
"What happened to you?" Cyclops asked, confused by her statements. "You know what Magneto is capable of. How can you trust that you will all be okay here?"
"Magneto's prepared for a war," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "He knows what can happen, what will happen. He won't tolerate what is happening to mutants."
"So, what? He'll kill ten humans for every mutant?" Bobby asked, glaring at her.
She blinked at that. "He enjoys killing," Bobby continued.
"No, he doesn't," Rogue replied, shaking her head.
"You forget, I saw what he did to those officers," he replied. "No mercy."
"You forget that I have him in my head," she countered. "Killing is a means to an end."
"There are others ways than terrorism, Rogue," Cyclops said and she looked at him. "Diplomatic ways to dismantle the camps, to free mutants."
"The allied nations tried that in World War II," Rogue said. "All that happened was that the Germans stepped up their plans for killing those in the camps. When the surrender was announced, guards were told to kill all 'prisoners' who were still alive."
"That won't happen, Rogue," Cyclops replied.
"It's already started," she said, shaking her head. "Why can't you see that? Humans want to kill us because they're afraid."
"You're human as well, Rogue, don't forget that," Cyclops reminded.
"No," she replied, her voice cold, "I'm not."
She watched Cyclops sink back into his chair, shaking his head in defeat. "You try and make the children leave and I will stop you," Rogue warned.
Bobby snorted in response. "Oh really?" he asked, rolling his eyes. "How?"
"Try me," she replied, bringing a hand to her mouth, and tugging the glove free with her teeth.
"I could freeze you before you ever had a chance to touch me," Bobby said, scowling at her.
Before he knew what was happening, Rogue pushed the table into him, trapping his hands as she leapt onto the table, touching his forehead with her gloved hand. "Tag," she replied, smiling sweetly before hopping back down.
He cursed at her as she turned away, finished with the conversation. "Bobby, don't!" Cyclops yelled and she braced herself for the icy mass that was going to hit her.
She felt the magnetic pull on her hands, jerking her away. She watched as an icy dish shattered against the wall before she looked towards Magneto, intent on offering him a smile of thanks. Her eyes widened at the rage on his face, all of it directed towards Bobby. "Throwing things at a person whose back is turned," Magneto said, eyes narrowing. "How heroic of you."
"Bobby, I believe it would be best for you to leave," Xavier said before looking at Rogue.
Calm him, she heard Xavier say in her mind.
She looked questioningly at him. "Rogue is unharmed, Erik," Xavier continued. "Both of their tempers got the better of them." Calm him.
Rogue looked at Magneto, eyes widening as she saw the metallic objects around him raise slightly in the air. "I'm fine," she reassured, walking towards him.
"I could always set him on fire if you want," Pyro offered, flicking his lighter open.
She turned and glared at him. "I'm only trying to help," he said, smiling wickedly at her.
"Don't help," she replied.
"You're no fun," Pyro said, closing the lighter and giving her a sour look.
"I think it would be delightful to see the two of them fight," Mystique said, reaching for another breadstick. "Metal and ice, who will win?"
"I believe you may get to see that soon," Avalanche replied, leaning back in his chair. "Not a real contest though."
"I'd rather see Pyro and Iceman spar," Mystique replied and Rogue shook her head incredulously at the two of them. "They're at about the same experience level."
"My pick would be Pyro," Avalanche said. "He'll fight dirty."
"Apparently, so will Iceman," Mystique replied with a grin. She looked over at Rogue. "Nice job on disarming him quickly, though it was sloppy. You need work on your offensive strategies."
"So I've been told," Rogue replied, sliding into the seat next to Magneto. She offered him a wry smile. "I am fine," she assured as Bobby and Cyclops exited the room.
A few seconds later they could all here Bobby yelp loudly. "Was that truly necessary," Xavier said, scowling at Magneto before exiting the room.
"What did you do?" Pyro asked, leaning forward.
Magneto rose from the table without answering. "Fling him against the wall?" Avalanche guessed.
"He isn't wearing any metal," Mystique replied.
"Bossman is more creative than that," Pyro said, flicking his lighter open and shut.
"It is your turn for dishes, Pyro and Rogue," Magneto said, walking towards the door. He looked back at Rogue. "Find me when you are finished."
She slowly nodded. As she watched him leave, the butterflies in her stomach returned. She shook her head and started clearing the table, ignoring Pyro's grin.
