Chapter Twenty-Nine:

A little later, Magneto and Rogue were making their way down to the common room. A quick glance down at his lover told him all he needed to know about her state of mind. She was weary, but still glowing from the aftermath of their shower together. Content in his company, yet still a little anxious regarding things outside of her control.

"Here's hoping no one noticed I changed my shirt," she said in a hushed voice as they made their way down the hall.

"You're worrying over nothing," he said yet again, his hand briefly touching her shoulder in a calming gesture.

"Yeah," she sighed as his hand returned to his side. "Not like we're gonna be the last ones to enter the room or anything," she said as she ran a hand through her newly blown-out hair.

"It'll be fine," he said as they turned the corner.

"We'll see," she said as they walked down the hall and up to the common room. "Where'd everything go?" she asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I've no idea," he muttered as he glanced into the notably empty room to see that nearly all of the furniture was missing. The television housed in the room was still present, but all of the couches and recliners were gone.

"Guess we ain't watching it here," Rogue commented.

"Evidently," he huffed as they turned around and exited the room.

"Hold on, I'm gonna ask Jean," she said, pausing for a moment. A confused expression crossed her face.

"What?" he asked.

"She's not responding," Rogue said with a shrug. "Maybe they're in the subbasements a little past her range?" she asked, mostly to herself. "Let's try the kitchen," she suggested. "Kurt might still be making popcorn," she explained.

"Lead the way, dear," he said. "I'll try to reach Charles," he said.

"You'd think they'd leave a note or something," Rogue huffed as they resumed walking.

'Charles?' he called out as they walked.

'Magnus, there you are,' he heard Charles speak into his mind, sounding relieved. Magneto raised an eyebrow at his friend's startled tone.

'Is everything alright?' he asked.

'I couldn't sense where you were. Or Rogue either. Is she with you?' Charles said.

'Yes, we were on our way to join you all for the movie. However-,' he answered.

'The screen was too small for so many viewer. As we were waiting for you and Rogue,' Charles started to think, her tone holding a hint of inquisitiveness, 'the students suggested an alternative. We're downstairs, sublevel seven,' he answered.

'Apologizes for the delay Charles. We'll see you shortly,' he said before he felt Charles slip out of his mind. 'Why on earth wouldn't he be able to locate me?' he asked as he glanced ahead. His girl was now ahead of him, walking further down the hall.

His eyes widened as the realization hit him. He felt anger swell up in him as he fists balled at his sides. He felt a surge of magnetic energy surge through him, as it often did when anger overtook him.

'How dare she deactivate my-' he started to think before he cut himself off. 'No,' Magneto told himself firmly, as he quelled the energy inside of him. 'Even if it's true, even if you have every right to be furious with her, do not ruin this relationship with rage,' he told himself as he took a deep breath, pushing down his outrage. It took a few moments, but he managed to push it away.

'I could ignore this revelation. Keep it to myself,' he considered as he continued to walk. 'Until she absorbs me again. It's only a matter of time. She'll know I know,' he reasoned within moments. He shook his head at himself, dismissing the thought. 'No, better to confirm my suspicions now,' he said as he quickened his pace to catch up with her. 'You don't know who she is so fearful of, remember that,' he told himself. "Rogue?" he asked as he put his hand on her clothed arm. She stopped walking and turned to look at him.

"Did Charles respond?" she asked.

"He did. You were right. They're in the sublevels," he said with a nod as he loosed his hold on her arm, but not letting go completely. Her expression changed as she observed him, confusion crossing her features.

"Are you okay?" she asked warily.

"My girl, I promise you, no matter what your answer is to my next question, I will not be angry with you," he started to say as he fear started to rise in her gaze. "All I ask that you answer it honestly. Can you do that for me, Rogue?" he asked coaxingly, his thumb rubbing her arm. "Can you give you word you will not lie to me?" he asked, anger creeping into voice unintendedly.

She held his gaze, a series of emotions passed behind her eyes; fear, confusion, curiosity, then fear again as her eyes widened.

"Fuck," she exclaimed as she took a step back from him. "Shit," she yelled breaking eye contact with him as she ran a hand through her hair. "I was running late this morning and I forgot to- fuck," she exclaimed her hand returned to her side.

"Rogue?" he asked, as lightly as he could mutter, ensuring his voice held no hint of anger. "Did you or did you not disable my psionic emanations?" he asked as he took a step towards her, his voice sterner than he intended.

"Yes," she answered, this time her voice barely above a whisper. He felt a swell of energy course through him at her response. He was able to brace himself for it and subdue the forces within him. "Shit," she muttered.

"Have you done this often?" he asked as he attempted to catch her gaze.

"Yes," she answered again, her eyes on the floor. He placed his hand on her shoulder. She filched at the contact. He quickly withdrew his hand as she took a step back from him.

"I'm not angry with you," he said again.

"Who's lying now?" she asked fear in her voice as she took another step back. "You're livid. I can tell. All that righteous fury just waiting to boil over," she said.

"I am making an effort to not be angry with you," he said delicately. "However, we both know the depths of this invasion. This goes beyond your powers," he said his voice rising. "That I understand. At least as much as you've explained to me," he said bitterly.

Her eyes narrowed at that.

"I don't begrudge your use of your own abilities to better understand my mind," he continued. "I enjoy your company and the intimacies your knowledge allows us to have. However, there's a line and using Jean Grey's powers to alter the state of my mind without my consent, is crossing it," he said as he felt a new surge of magnetic energy coarse through him, he managed to keep it within himself but wasn't able to dissipate it like before.

"I'm sorry," she said earnestly. "But if you knew what I was dealing with you'd understand why I didn't have the freedom to ask," she said.

"Then explain it to me," he demanded.

"We're late as it is," she started to say. His fists balled at his sides as the energy surged bright and hot within him.

"They can wait," he shouted as magnetic energy escaped the corners of his eyes.

He watched her flinch again, as she started to take another step away from him. She stopped herself as she took a deep breath. She stood up straight as the expression on her face dropped, the fear leaving her features, replaced with ire of her own.

He watched as Rogue meticulously took off her gloves, pulling one finger out at a time. His gaze followed the path of each glove as she dropped them to the floor in front of them. His eyes snapped to her hands, now bare.

Not one to be intimidated, Magneto took a step closer to her, closing the gap between them. His gaze returning to hers, almost daring her to attack him. In response, she slowly and carefully placed her bare hands on his chest, mere inches away from his exposed neck. He stood motionless, knowing his next gesture, however small, would be perceived as an attack.

He held her gaze for a long moment, either of them willing to back down.

"I won't be able to watch the movie if you render me unconscious," he pointed out.

"Magneto," she started to say, his eyes widening at the use of his mutant name, "we're a heartbeat away from none of that mattering anymore," she replied dryly.

He took a deep breath, struggling to calm himself, endeavoring to remind himself of his own warning, about what he was moments, one false move, away from destroying.

"I have been tremendously patient with you, Rogue," he said.

"Have ya?" she asked her head cocking to one side, an incredulous look on her face. "''Cause, by my count, this is the third time you've tried to interrogation me today, Max," she pointed out annoyed.

"If you were willing to volunteer information, as opposed to this constant assault of implications, perhaps I wouldn't have resort to such a tactic," he said.

"Maybe, I'd be a little more willing to tell you things, if you weren't so prone to anger," she bit back.

"You've seen me at my worst, dear. Have you ever known me to restrain myself to this degree?" he asked.

An emotion flashed behind her eyes as her expression softened.

"No, you usually revel in it," she agreed dryly.

"Indeed, I have," he said his tone matching hers, as magnetic energy crackled around them warning of the danger to come. He wasn't certain who he was reminding of the threat he posed, himself, or Rogue.

"I've made countless mistakes that have caused lovers to flee in terror from my side. I've tried to learn from those mistakes, endeavored to not repeat any of them with you," he said, rather calmly, given the situation. "But never," he said he voice raising. "Never has anyone had the audacity to take the liberties you've taken with me," he yelled. "You invaded my mind, Rogue and disabled my psionic emanations. How am I supposed to believe that's all you've done?" he screamed.

He watched fear flash behind her eyes, a knowing tell he was becoming accustomed to searching for in her gaze.

"It's not, is it?" he asked bitterly. "You've done something else to me, haven't you?" he asked. "This obsession of mine," he said darkly

"No, not that," Rogue said desperately as her hands tightened on his chest, taking the shirt's cloth between her fingers. "Max, I wouldn't force these feelings on you," she said.

"Not even for your own self-preservation?" he asked darkly.

"No, never," she said strongly. He searched her gaze, they held no fear, not at that moment.

"But there is something else. I saw the fear in your eyes. Don't deny it," he demanded.

"I'm not, Max. Yes, okay, yeah, I did one other thing," she admitted as she released his shirt.

"What?" he asked, his eyes narrowing further. He watched her let out a sigh. "Rogue, what did you do to me?" he yelled, lightening flowing freely from the corners of his eyes.

"I-" she started to say before her mouth gaped open as she gawked past him. "Ororo," she cried out alarmed. Rogue's gaze was fixed past him, her fear of him forgotten. "This ain't what it looks like-" she said as she quickly pulled her hands off of his chest. He hadn't sensed anyone coming. "Everything's-" she said panicked as he quickly turned to look behind him.

His eyes widened as he saw the hallway was empty.

He let out a short groan in pain as he felt her fingers on his neck. He closed his eyes, his hands clenched at his sides. He willed himself not to counterattack, not to hurt her, as his energy flowed into her. He felt his anger intensify, past blind rage, until he felt almost calm again. Perhaps, he was just numb.

"More deceptions, Rogue?" he asked coldly as she pulled her fingers back. "When all ask of you is honestly," he said bitterly as he turned back to face her.

"You were seconds away from doing god knows what. I had no choice," she said.

"Is that a fact?" he asked grimly. "I've shown laudable restrain, given the circumstances. Unlike you," he started to say. She let out a bitter huff at that.

"I could've knocked you unconscious, but I didn't," she informed him.

"Should I be grateful?" he asked embittered as magnetic energy cracking around them. She made no move to use his powers. Seemingly, having access to them was enough security for her.

"Yeah, maybe," she bit back as she reached down and picked up her gloves. Her narrowed gaze returned to his as she slipped them back onto her hands. "I still can, if I have too," she said warningly as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Wielding my abilities or not, you will not get another chance. I will only ask once more. What did you do to me?" he asked, the air thick with electromagnetic energy. Rogue let out another sigh.

"I was planning on telling you. Not let this, but I was gonna tell you. The same with the movie, I didn't mean for you to find out the way you did," she said.

"Rogue," he said warningly, the energies flaring up around them. "No more tangents. I've had enough of your attempts to redirect our exchanges. Answer the damn question," he shouted.

"Curb the magnetism and I will," she yelled back. His eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to have a conversation with me or threaten me? I have your powers now, so, you don't get to do both. Choose," she demanded.

"Fine." He took a deep breath he dissipated most of the energy. He was able to control the power emanating from within him and stopped it from leaking out. "There," he said opening his eyes.

"I can literally sense the energy in the air. Put it away, Max," she commanded.

His hands balled at his side, but he did as she requested. He called back the energies he had released into the room, storing it back within him.

"Now, answer my question," he ordered again.

"After the whole thing with the rebirth machine, when I told Charles and Logan exactly where to find you, I knew you wouldn't be able to let that stand. I had to do something to keep you from seeing me as a threat," she started to explain. He took a deep breath at her admission.

"I recall hiring Agatha Harkness to investigate your powers," he said.

"Yeah, you didn't do that. I just made you think you did," she confirmed.

With the electromagnetic energies stored back within him, he had lost his outlet for his aggression. Magneto took another deep breath as she turned away from her. He needed to put some distance between them and a moment to collect himself or the rage would, no doubt, overtake him again.

"When was this?" he asked.

"February eighteen, two-thousand and two," she answered.

"How did you find me?" he asked.

"I didn't have to, Max. You came ta me," she told him.

"Because I started stalking you again," he recalled.

She nodded at that as she leaned back against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest.

"You de-aged yourself before Logan destroyed the machine. I thought- well I hoped you'd let it go. Just chalk it up to a draw and move on. But that ain't what you did," she said bitterly. He turned to look at her again; an incredulously look on his face.

"We were enemies then," he pointed out. "Frankly, dear, I'm not, entirely certain, we're not enemies now," he said darkly.

"You know, that ain't true," she said as she pushed herself off of the wall and took a step towards him.

"Do I?" he asked.

"I'm yours, right?" she asked again, her words mirroring their conversation from this morning.

'Good heaven, was it only this morning I held her in my arms?' he asked himself as he ranked a hand through his hair. He recalled the feel of her body against his, the blissful smile on her face. It seemed like so long ago.

"Max?" she asked, her voice sounded concerned. He couldn't bring himself to respond. "If you need some time to process all of this, I get it. I can give you some space," she said.

"How? We're supposed to be watching a movie about my past," he said annoyed. Her expression softened. "What space can you possibly offer me when that's our next activity?" he yelled.

"I'm sorry, okay," she yelled back. "What do you want me to do?" she asked.

"Hey," a roar came from down the hall. They both glanced up at the source. He had been so distracted by their fight he hadn't sensed Wolverine's presence. "People are starting to get antsy waiting for you two to show up. Chuck couldn't find either of you for some reason," Logan said, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Rogue. She just rolled her eyes at that. "I don't know what you two are fighting about, but drop it for now. People are waiting," he said.

He glanced at Rogue, his girl crossed her arms over her chest and shrugged at him. He let out a sigh.

"Apologies for the delay," he said bitterly before the three of them started to walk. Magneto ended up walking beside Wolverine and Rogue trailed just behind them.

He had no desire to go and sit through a movie, much less one about his past. However, every mutant who lived in Bayville was waiting for them to do just that. He felt he didn't a choice in the matter.

"Shit," Rogue muttered from behind him.

"What?" Wolverine grunted.

"I keep getting distracted today," she said annoyed. "Which sublevel is it?" she asked.

"Seven," Wolverine answered.

"Okay, I'll meet ya'll down there. Start the movie without me," she said as she veered down the opposite hallway.

"Where are you going?" Magneto asked.

"Kitchen," she called out as she walked swiftly away from them. "I gotta make tea," she said.

"Why?" Magneto asked confounded.

"There's no way, in hell, you're getting through Isabella's death scene without it," she called back.

Magneto eyes widened at that. He watched her turn the corner and out of his view. After their argument, he didn't know quite what to make of the considerate gesture.

"Not that it's any of my business," Wolverine started to ask, "but what were you two fighting about?" he asked as they resumed walking.

"Rogue deactivated my psionic emanations without my consent," he remarked embittered.

"Yeah, she does that sometimes, when she has too," Wolverine said, much to his surprise.

"Excuse me?" he asked confused.

"If she's actually talking to you about herself, she has too. There's a good reason for it. Learn how to keep your mouth shut and maybe she'll trust you enough to explain it," he said.

"Oh and has she implanted false memories into your mind as well?" Magneto asked.

"From what Rogue told me about that, she did a piss-poor job on purpose. So'd you have an idea the memory wasn't real," Wolverine said.

"Oh?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Something about not knowing where you got the telepath's contact information," Wolverine commented. Magneto's eyes widened at that.

"Yes, that did strike me as odd," he muttered. "Still. I paid her, ten thousand dollars, for the privilege of acquiring her lies," he commented irritated.

"Yeah, and you stalked her for over a year," Wolverine grunted. "Get over it or stop sleeping with her," Wolverine reprimanded.

Perhaps he should have known better than to expect validation from the brute


Okay! Another chapter completed! Please let me know your thought!