Chapter Four

Mystique landed the helicopter and out stepped the Brotherhood. Pyro had been watching Rogue all the way through the journey with rather a nasty glare. The others seemed suspicious of her too, but weren't as cruel in their looks. They were the first out. Rogue waited till the end, then it was just her Mystique and Magneto left in the helicopter. Rogue stood and was about to climb out of the helicopter when Mystique stepped in the way and closed the door before Rogue could step out.

"Are you really going to let her in that easily Erik?" Mystique questioned Magneto.

Rogue looked from Mystique's annoied and fearst face to Magneto's irritated one.

"Can you name any threats about her?" Magneto asked.

Mystique looked at Rogue with those hot yellow eyes. "Once an X-Man always an X-Man."She looked back to Magneto. "This could just be a trap by Xavier."

"Perhaps." Magneto agreed, not taking his eyes off Mystique. "But can't you see what I see." He motioned to Rogue by looking at her looked. Mystique picked up the signal and looked at her too.

"I see a weak and threatened inconvenience!" She spat.

"A simple facade. What else do you see. Actually look at her." Magneto let a moment pass where it was just Mystique glaring at Rogue. Rogue had been looking inbetween them, but as Magneto looked away from her to face Mystique, Rogue decided to just follow what he was doing and looked at Mystique too. For some reason, Rogue really wanted to stay and get into the Brotherhood. Maybe it was because she wanted the shelter, or Magneto was right when he told her she had no where to go and hardly any chance of surviving. Though, she knew that if it came down to it, she would run for her life and be on her own once again if she really needed to. Wanting badly to have food and shelter for at least one night, Rogue looked back at Mystique. Maybe it was because somethings had happened to her and some events had changed her, but what ever it was that had hardened Rogue into showing bravery and a fiery glare when she was scared, she glared right back at Mystique's yellow eyes; showing her that she was willing to survive no matter what that meant.

"Do you see what I see now?" Asked Magneto.

Atlas Mystique broke her eye contact with Rogue to look at Magneto. Something changed in that moment and the mood seemed a little lighter. "If we go down because of her Erik, I'm blaming you." And with one final glare at Rogue, Mystique twisted, opened the door and left. Rogue watched her go and got her first glimps of what was outside the helicopter. They were in a forest area with really tall trees surrounding them. It didn't really seem to matter if Rogue had visited the Brotherhood's base; she wasn't finding her way out with all this wilderness about (which only made Rogue worry about what she would do if she really did need an escape route).

"After you my dear."

Rogue turned to look at Magneto. He was stood closer to her now then before. Rogue tried to twist her neck so that she could look up see him face from under his helmet. He was so very close. That look in his eye. The look of understanding and sympathy. Rogue still wondered why Magneto was being so nice to her and taking her in. She swallowed down her nerves, not trusting Magneto and wondering what he was up to. Rogue took in what he said, rather slowly, then turned even slower and began stepping out of the helicoptor. She could smell first, then see the camps and food that were set up for the other Brotherhood members. There were a lot more Brotherhood members than Rogue thought.

"Welcome to the Brotherhood." Magneto said from behind her.

Rogue stopped in her step and slowly digested what he said. But although she was slow to take in his actual words, a hundred meanings and possibilities of what Magneto meant by those four words and what he really wanted from her came crashing to her. "Who said I was joining y'all?" Rogue poked.

Magneto simply chuckled at her. "You agreed when you asked to be brought here."

"I never asked." Rogue hissed, feeling tricked and betrayed."I just wanted to know where you'd be kicking me out at."

"And now you know. Tell me, where would you have gone if we hadn't brought you here?" Rogue was quiet. That's all that needed to be said to answer his question. "I thought so. You're too thin. Have no money. No place to stay. Your tired and weak. If we were to turn you away my dear, I doubt that you'd survive a week."

"I've survived over a year on my own. I think I can last a week." Rogue snapped back, but truthfully, it scared her that Magneto had echoed her thoughts and deemed more true that her only chance of survival was here with the Brotherhood. And she was going to have to play by their rules to survive. But she wouldn't be used by them! she thought. She was no tool for anybody!

"Indeed. Tell me, what did you do during that year?" Asked Magneto.

Rogue was silent and Magneto saw that she had fallen into deep thoughts. Unhappy ones as a unearthly glare hardened her eyes. Rogue walked away. Magneto had lost his temper. He had been patient with her, but now he was running out of it. Before Rogue got to the bottom of the steps, two metal strips from the helicopter were ripped off and found themselves entangling around Rogue's wrists. Rogue had jumped at hearing the ripping sound of metal, and gasped as she felt two cold metal strips wrap around her wrists. As soon as they were secure around her wrists, her arms were dragged upwards and Rogue's feet left the step she was on. Magneto manipulated Rogue's body using his powers. He brought her up and turned her around to face him, her arms still together high above her head. Rogue looked enraged (and a little scared) as she cursed Magneto, kicked and squealed at his hold.

"Enough!" He bellowed. Rogue stopped her struggling (a little), continuing to glare daggers at Magneto. "Simply because I took pity upon you Rogue does not mean you have a free pass to do as you please. I saved your life earlier today and am now giving you refuge. You should be more respectful and appreciative and do as your told, or else you will not want to pay the consequences of disobeying me and angering me. Do I make myself clear."

Rogue growled, still glaring at Magneto. But she'd settled down more now that she knew it was just a warning she was receiving. Rogue knew she was vulnerable at this point and doing the smart, yet stubborn thing, she nodded her head, hate driving her not to even speak to him. She felt helpless and vulnerable again, and she didn't want to feel this way ever again. She hated Magneto for making her feel this way. Hated him! Magneto raised his eyebrow, and the restraints tightened.

"Yes!" Rogue spat out as the metal digged into her skin.

"Yes, what?" Magneto said.

Rogue growled. "What do you want from me?"

"Firstly, respect and the manners you should have been brought up with. Is this how you would normally speak to a superior?"

"Who says your superior?"

The metal tightened, cutting through her skin and answering her question. Rogue bit her lip to keep from gasping at the pain. Rogue let the pain go in her next long exhale. While she was exhaling (that calmed her seemingly) she caught Magneto's eyes, seeing him in-between anger irritation and patiently waiting for Rogue to reply with the right answer he wanted to hear. Rogue didn't want to give into Magneto and if she was in better conditions, she would resist and take the beating, but she wasn't in good conditions and she needed to play by his rules (at least for now) to survive.

"Yes, sir."

Magneto dropped her back onto the steps and returned the metal back to where it was. Rogue fell onto the steps, trying to keep on her feet as she regained her balance. Grasping her bleeding wrists, Rogue shot Magneto an anger glare, then turned away, shouting away from him as fast as she could.

Magneto followed after her, irritated by her ignorance and not liking not getting answers from the girl, or what he'd learnt about Charles' recent behaviour (if it was true.) What was he up to? Magneto followed behind Rogue till he came to a hill that over looked the set up Brotherhood camps. Rogue had stopped to watch the other Brotherhood members (that had been in the helicopter) standing in a row on the edge of the hill. She didn't feel like she should join them overlooking the Brotherhood camps as she didn't want to be apart of the Brotherhood, only Magneto felt differently. Rogue felt a hand on her lower back guide her to the edge of the hill. Rogue's anger was building again, but she complied. She stood besides Magneto and Mystique and looked down at all the other mutants who looked up at them. It was rather nerve wrecking. Besides her, she heard a humph, and looked up to Mystique out of the corner of her eye. Mystique rolled he eyes, her arms were folded and she looked ticked off (like she'd rather be somewhere else, doing anything else). Rogue looked down to her wrists she had been rubbing, then moved them down to her sides, ignoring the heat that irritated her wrists.

"It is done." Said Magneto, his voice loud and demanding attention. "The president is dead." There were cheers from the other Brotherhood members on the ground, but the one's on the hill stood silently. "However," All went quiet. "It was not us nor I who killed the president." There were whispers amoung the mutants that looked up to them. Then Magneto's eyes turned on Rogue. "This young lady here beat us to it. Her name is the Rogue and she will be joining us." Rogue's eyes were big in her skull. Magneto turned to address his people. "Treat her how you treat all your mutant Brothers and Sisters and make her feel welcome. She is, after all, now one of us."

There was another round of cheers at Magneto's speech. Rogue looked away from the people and to Magneto. Magneto didn't need to look at her to know she was shooting fiery daggers at him with her eyes. She was a southern spitfire after all, though at least she was keeping quiet and being discrete with her anger instead of expressing her rage in front of his people. Dealing with her feelings in private was acceptable to a point, however if she were to challenge him in front of his people, he'd have to punish her severely. He took a moment watching the Brotherhood cheer,before turning and heading off down the hill to get to the bottom. Rogue was a little unsure of what to do now.

"Follow me." Said Mystique unpleasently as she thumped passed Rogue.

Rogue followed the blue mutant relooktantly. As they came to the bottom of the hill, there Rogue saw a metal dome. Obviously Magneto's taste. Rogue followed Mystique inside, being careful to try and remember how many turns just encase she needed to get out. She lost her sense of direction during the middle of the walk though, so let her mind wonder. Rogue focused her attention on Mystique. Mystique was a beautiful slender woman whom Rogue knew from Wolverine's memories was tough, flexible and a brilliant fighter. For the first time, Rogue actually saw another possible advantage of being with the Brotherhood instead of just surviving. All Rogue had to do was find a way to ask. Finally Mystique brought Rogue to a small cramped room that had a bed, a few draws and a lamp, but nothing else.

"You'll stay here till your sent for." And with that Mystique turned and walked away.

Rogue watched Mystique leave. She couldn't hold her tongue for much longer. "I hear you can fight. That your a really good fighter." Rogue blurted out. Mystique stopped and looked over her shoulder at Rogue. Mystique's eyes were angry and scary again. Rogue swollowed down her fear and thought 'what the heck', she would regret not asking. "Would you be able to teach me some moves?"

Mystique turned around fully. A look of puzzlement in her eyes. "Couldn't you just absorb me or are you too scared to use your powers?"

Rogue shuck her head. "I'm not scared. I was just wondering what would I do, how would I fight if I didn't have my powers on me... I think it'd be a good thing to know how to defend myself at least without any powers. Can you teach me, please."

Mystique was not expecting this. She didn't know wheather to laugh at her, or be annoyed. Looking at Rogue still form, with her shoulders back and head held high, she knew that Rogue was being serious. But Mystique knew that although Rogue's attitude may have been serious now, but it might not be if it ever got to the actual training. "How serious are you?" Mystique asked.

Rogue seemed to feel the importance of this question. "I'm not so naive to think that this'll be a walk in the park. I know it's gonna hurt, a lot, and that it's gonna take me a while to learn at least some of the basic stuff. But even if I only get that far as to know how to defend myself I'll be happy. Even if I have to walk out of practise with bruises from my neck to my toes, I'll be happy to know that if someone did ever attack me I'd be able to hurt them enough before they can hurt me."

Her speech was moving, but just words. Mystique knew of these speeches where they wouldn't be forfilled. Mystique was expecting one where Rogue would tell her she'd work hard to the bitter end, but Mystique was pleased that the girl was honest enough to say she wouldn't become a master anytime soon. Mystique still didn't see the point of wasting her time training her when someone else could. Looking into Rogue's eyes, she saw once again what Magneto was telling her to look for. She saw herself and Erik combined in Rogue. She saw the scared little girl she used when she was younger who was scared to be who she really was and the tortured past which Erik had endured and made him the strong and powerful leader he was today. The mixture didn't make sense. She could relate to Rogue feeling scared and unable to be herself, but she didn't understand why she could see Erik's pain and suffering in her eyes too. What had happened to this girl? Mystique had guessed this had been the question on Magneto's mind too and the reason why she was still here. Mystique had cocked an invisible eyebrow when she'd first saw Rogue's eyes, thinking Magneto may play a hard game, but she knew him better enough to know that he still had a soft spot for tormented mutants. Whatever it was though that was sparking this mixture od fear and determination in Rogue's eye, it was making her wanna fight and Mystique couldn't want to stop that if she tried. But she did try.

"It's late. You should sleep. It's not every day you kill the president of the United States." Mystique said the last part with a touch of venom in her humour.

"Yeah, thing is," Rogue said stepping closer to Mystique. "I don't feel much like sleep. To be truthful, I feel a bit worked up."

Mystique could understand her sudden adrelain rush. She remembered she was some what of the same back when she first killed someone. She was nervious and paranoid and needed to burn off her extra aderenaling till she fell alseep. Mystqiue looked Rogue up and down. She was sure the clothes Rogue was wearing were not hers. They were two sizes too big. Mystique turned away.

"Follow me." Rogue followed Mystique down the hall ways again until they arrived at another room. This one was bigger and nicer. Rogue stopped at the door way as Mystique entered it and pulled out from a draw some grey track suit bottoms, a tight t-shirt and some trainers. "Change into them." Mystique ordered as she put the clothes on the bed. She looked to Rogue then stepped out of the room closing the door behind her.

Rogue stared at the door, then stared at the clothes. She was hesitant at first, but in a moment, Rogue began stripping and changed into the clothes. The top had three quarter lengh sleeves and she had to put on the gloves she had been wearing.

There was a knock at the door just as she was pulling the gloves on, "Are you done yet?" Came Mystique's voice.

Rogue walked to the door after putting her dirty clothes over her bare arms and opened the door. "Do you have any long sleeved shirts please?" Rogue asked.

"You get what your given, now let's go." Mystique said, begining to walk off down the corridor.

"But I don't want to hurt anybody." Rogue muttered.

Mystique stopped and turned on her heel, a sly, devish look in her gleaming eye. "I knew it." Mystique said slowly and calmly, but in a voice of veniom. "I knew you were still a goody two shoes X-Men. Once an X-Man always an X-Man."

"What I mean is, I don't want to hurt anybody here who's on the same side."

Mystique raised her eyebrow at this. On the same side? Mystique had thought Rogue didn't want to join the Brotherhood. "What side are you on?" Mystique questioned.

Rogue began walking up to Mystique till she was face to face with her. "The side which lets mutants be free." And then Rogue passed by Mystique. Mystique watched Rogue walk on and soon followed her. She couldn't help but feel annoyance and irritation towards the girl. What did her answer mean? Which side was she on? What was she playing at? At least, if she could not get her answers, then she could beat her till she felt better.

XXXXX

There was a knock at Magneto's door.

"What is it?" He asked. He didn't want to be disterbed as he went over plans in his head.

Pyro came in. "I think you might want to see this."

"See what Pyro?" Magneto breathed, sounding irritated, but more tired.

"Mystique's teaching the newbie a lesson."

Magento looked up to Pyro then from where he was sat for the first time. He raised himself up and together, Magneto and Pyro went to the gym.

There was a small crowd that had gathered. Magneto and Pyro soon became one of them. In front of him Magneto saw that Mystique had Rogue pinned on a mat in the middle of the gym. Mystique was twisting Rogue's arm behind her back and had her legs wrapped around Rogue's middle so it was harder for Rogue to move and breath. Magneto wasn't pleased with this display. He watched Mystique whisper something into Rogue's ear as Rogue slowly fell onto one knee. Rogue looked like she was in great pain; her face was all crunched up as she tried to fight against it. Magneto was about to interfer when Rogue made a sudden move. Rogue pushed herself back up onto her feet and jumped backwards onto her back and crushed Mystique inbetween her body and the mat. Next, Rogue used one of her arms that had come free from Mystique's grip to elbow her in the kidney. The pain distracted Mystique for enough time that Rogue was able to roll off from on top of her, grab Mystique's arm and twist it around her back. Rogue took up the same position as Mystique had, twisting both arms behind her back and jumping up to wrap her legs around Mystique's waist. The good point being that Rogue knew how to get out of this hold now, so she could plan how to avoid the expected assault and attempt from Mystique.

A few of the watcher cheered for Rogue and Mystique's fight. Magneto folded his arms, deciding to see just how far they would go. Magneto watched as Mystique whispered something back to Rogue, a large Chester grin characterizing Mystique's features. Mystique did not seem agrovated to fight as Pyro made it out to was curious to know what Rogue had said for Mystique to agree to teach Rogue submission holds.

Mystique, being more flexable than most, was able to bring both her arms up above her head, and while Rogue was distracted with her arms, Mystique headbutted Rogue. Rogue loosened her grip and now Mystique was free to use her arms. Mystique twisted her arm so that she elbowed Rogue in the face. The impact knocked Rogue back to the mat and she head the side of her check. There was blood coming from her nose and mouth. Mystique easily got out of Rogue's legs from there. Rogue, remembering now that she was in a fight, rolled over to her side. Mystique was faster on her feet and stomped on Rogue's chest before she could squirm away.

"You've aloud youself to be put in a worse possion than before. If I had a knife all I'd have to do was stomp on your stomach and slit your front. If you ever do get knocked onto your back you can't be clumbys. You've got to get up and fast unless your luring them into attacking you, but in this case you wasn't. In future, your going to have to learn to get up in less than three movements to speed up your time and cut out the slack. Do you understand me?"

Rogue nodded her bloody head. Mystique removed her foot and began turning away from Rogue. "You should go clean up."

"Is that really it for today?" Rogue asked as she began getting up from the floor. Both Mystique and Magneto raised their eyebrows.

"You want more punishment?" Mystique asked as she turned half her body towards Rogue.

Rogue shrugged her shoulders. "It's not punishment if your learning. If this was a real fight it wouldn't stop just because I had a little bit of blood on me. We only just begun."

Magneto was satisfied by this determination and from the smirk on Mystque's face, he could tell the girl was making an impression. Most of the gathered Brotherhood seemed impressed by this attituted too (or thinking that Rogue was the biggest idiot there).

"This is only training. You shouldn't kill yourself too much over it, just encase the next real fight is just around the corner. Then what you going to do if your too beaten up and knackered out from training? You won't be able to fight properly."

Rogue shrugged her shoulders again. "True, but all you've given me is a bloody nose and a bloody lip. I'm sure a little more wouldn't hurt would it?"

Mystique turned her full body towards Rogue now and Magneto shuck his head at how large the grin on Mystique's face had got.

"As long as the session doesn't last more than an hour, I think that will be acceptable."

Both woman turned to face Magneto, only just noticing he was there and that the others were there too. They had been so wrapped up in a world of there own, they didn't know they were there. Magneto turned and left.