Chapter Thirteen

Magneto knew that he'd be reunited with Rogue some time soon as both planned to kill Sinister. Magneto was planning to kill Sinister publicily and show the world Sinister's true colours where Rogue was planning to capture and torture Sinister before killing him discreatly.

The X-Men were readying themselves to free another of Sinister's bases. Magneto's spies had informed him of the same base. He had Pyro led the attack on the base. And he ran into Wolverine and the X-Men.

He laughed as he came face to face with Wolverine, Iceman and Storm. "Shoulda guessed you'd be here." Pyro said.

"You! What are you doing here?" Iceman yelled in outrage.

"Same reason your here. To break out the prisoners. Oh, how's the ex, Iceman?" Pyro teased. He was annoied that Rogue had just uped and ran away. He was anoied that she just abandoned the Brotherhood and, after his big speech about keeping her close and keeping her safe, he was annoyed at Magneto as he'd simply let her go and walked away as if he didn't even care. Pyro was irritated that Rogue had walked out of his life with these supposed missing memories and he focused his blamed on the X-Men. He'd seen Rogue and knew she was a mess. It was there fault that she'd turned out that way. It made sense to blame them, Pyro thought.

Iceman looked confused. "Ex?"

Pyro frowned. He'd forgot the X-Men didn't know about her. Well, he thought he'd enlighten them. "Rogue. The girl you used to date before your Professor X wiped out everyone's memories of her. Then the girl you all attacked when she tried to make you all see sence."

"Rogue?" Iceman questioned, dumbfoundly.

"What you talkin' 'bout kid? You lost your damn mind or what? That girls' trouble whereever she goes. Attacked us all, stole our memories and powers. She ain't right in the head?" Grunted Wolverine.

Pyro raised his eyebrow to this. He hadn't heard that Rogue had attacked them. Just that they had kicked her out and attacked her when she tried going back. Something wasn't right here. He knew something was off about Rogue. He realised that Rogue had lied to him, but why and what about? Pyro felt his blood heaten at his rage at Rogue. After this, he was going to make it his personal mission to track her down and find out what the hell was going on with that girl and their past. But for now, he wasn't going to let the X-Men win this war of worlds.

"Maybe she was angry you all turned your backs on her after promising to be there for her. I would really question your Professor if I was you. The man can't be trusted."

"And Magneto can?" Said Storm.

"Hey, at least you know what you're getting with him. Nice guys, you never know when they're gonna do something nasty." An explotion filled the gap between the X-Men and Pyro made his get away at this point. He ran to meet up with the other Brotherhood members who were loading prisoners on the jet they brought. He helped get half of the prisoners the Brotherhood had saved onto the jet and then strapped himself in as they took off. He was seriously going to be having words with Magneto when he got back.

XXXXX

Magneto was in the middle of planning his assassination when the doors burst open.

"Magneto, we need to talk." Pyro demanded.

Magneto's fists clenched in anger. "Your personal problems can wait till another time Pyro."

Pyro slammed his fist down on the metal desk. "No! They need to be sorted now. You let Rogue go!"

Magneto looked up, anger barely being contained in his eyes. "Why? Why did you let her go so easily? Something must have happened between you two. You were always watching her. Always seemed to be with her or in her shadow even if she didn't notice. So spit it out Magneto! What aren't you telling me? You know something about Rogue or something she knows and that something has to do with me supposably forgetting my past. I deserve an explanation Magneto!"

"With that attitude, you deserve nothing!" Magneto said coldy.

"I swear Magneto, don't mess with me on-" Pyro's legs were sweeped out from under him as a metal chair took him from behind and the metal began twisting till Pyro's wrists and ankles were bound. Magneto looked down at Pyro with maddening eyes.

"You do not come in here demanding explanations from me Pyro. I decided whether you should know some detail or not. Not the other way around. You are a solider, not the head. You shall do as I say and as I command or else we will have a problem." Another piece of metal came around Pyro's throat; tightening little by little. "Do I make myself clear?"

Pyro swollowed down hard then gasped, "Yes."

Magneto let him go and let him up. Pyro rubbed at his throat before standing up. He glared at Magneto before saying. "Alright oh fair ruler. You have it your way." And attempted to leave.

The doors closed and locked before Pyro could leave. He turned around to face Magneto who was walking to the window in his office. His office wasn't as big as his last one or as nice. The view wasn't of a river this time, but simply of trees. Pyro watched him and waited for him to speak as he stood silent facing out towards the window.

"The other break out you led in Texas, did you recognize or come across anyone who looked like Rogue?" Pyro raised his eyebrow, looking bewildered. Pyro tried to piece together what Magneto might be getting at. Magneto had half his answer from the look on Pyro's face. "Is it possible that if she was there, you did not see or come across her, yet you or one of the other Brotherhood members let her out of her cell?"

Pyro tried putting two and two together, but the answer was hazey. "Wait, are you saying that Rogue was in that base we destoryed like almost a month ago?" Magneto didn't say no, but he didn't say yes either. Nor did he give any signs of implying yes or no. "So...So Rogue was... Rogue was a prisoner? Being experimented on? Wow... No, I never saw her. It's possible I might have just not seen her, but I could round up the others and see if they seen her in one of the cells."

"There'll be no need for that Pyro. Even if we were to find out which base she was freed from or escaped, we both know that she was in one of Sinister's camps and what horrors she faced."

"Wait, Sinister?"

"Nathaniel Essex. Does that name sound familiar?"

"Yeah, he's the guy running for president. Doing pretty well too... Wait... Are you saying that they're the same person; this Sinister and Essex?" Magneto didn't answer. "And... And Sinister is the one whos running all these camps? And that..." He trailed off. Realisation hitting him. "Oh God." He said.

Pyro remembered the first time he had gone in a team with Magneto and Mystique to break out one of the bases. He was sick on there escape due to the smell and the half dead people in cages. He remembered seeing, viewing with his own eyes all the horrible tortures that each and very one of those mutants had been put through. He'd had to help those people get by in their lifes and start a new one. Those people had told him stories that had made him feel sick again and filled him with more hate and revenge for mutants. It had took him a long while to get used to freeing prisoners, and even when he went now, leading a group on his own, he still felt sick to what he found. Pyro was amazed though at who really had been behind all these death camps for mutants all along. "Sinister." He spat angrily.

"Indeed. It begins. The same slippery slop that led to Hitler's rule over Germany... I forced Rogue to tell me the truth about her past just after the run in with the mutant hunters. I got her defenceless and in a weak position, but I got the information I needed. Though, I do believe she hasn't revealed everything to me." Magneto said, sounding almost upset. "With Rogue's new information this gives us a goal to who we need to kill to get justice and freedom for mutants everywhere."

"We're gonna kill Essex?"

"Not Essex. Sinister."

"What about Rogue?" Pyro asked.

"What about her?"

"You said she was vital to knowing what's going on with the Professor messing with our heads. Why'd you let her go when we still need answers from her?"

Magneto frowned, turning to look out his window again. "I did search for her and had a team search for her too. You was apart of that team, remember. The reason I gave up so easily though was because I know where she'll be and when she'll be there."

"Really? Where? When?"

"Washington DC. When Sinister goes to make another public speech."

XXXXX

A week later

Rogue was watching the news report with a bottle of beer in her hand, a slim black dress on with a silk scarf wrapped around her neck, black heels and a geezer of a man by her side trying to woo her. Rogue paid more attention to the TV report though as they explaced how Sinister was sky rocketing with support, mostly due to mutant hate groups like the Friends of Humanity. After the report, Rogue downed her drink in one then turned to the geezer and told him to meet her in the bathroom, shortly. The man followed with a spark in his eye.

In the bathroom, Rogue waited until the door opened and the geezer who had bought her a drink, came into the empty bathrooms. Rogue moved to lock the door, but before she could even turn around fully, the dirty geezers hands roughly grabbed her hips, pushing her up against the door and began kissing her on the lips and all down the neck. Rogue felt disguested as their was now a trail of saliva running down her face. She felt uncomfortable as she felt the man's boner sticking into her penvis as he forced her legs apart. The make out session didn't last long though and soon the man fell to the floor, unconsious.

Rogue moved to clean herself up, take the man's money and car keys and left the bathroom, leaving him there on the floor. She could care less about the cheating get and just wanted to get out of there. Rogue found his car, climbed in it and speed off down the quiet road. Rogue checked her review mirrors to see if anyone was following her. For some strange reason Rogue had a feeling someone had been watching her all that time while she was at the bar. She just wanted to get away from it and the disterbing thoughts in her head. And she thought she had.

Until the car suddenly stopped. Rogue was thrown forwards, but was lucky she had her seat beat on. Rogue's breathing was heavy as she looked around her, trying to astablish what had just happened. Her answer soon appeared in front of her though, as Magneto flew down to land in the road in front of her. They locked eyes. Rogue questioned how she should act and what she should do around Magneto and questioned why he was here and how he had found her.

Magneto began to walk towards her side of the car door. Seeing no advantage in staying in the car, Rogue quickly undid her seat belt and got out just in time to meet Magneto at the door. They locked eyes again for a moment and just as Magneto was about to speak, Rogue asked, "What'd you want?" Her voice sounded sore and quiet, but there was still demand in it.

Magneto frowned, not liked being talked to in this manner. "Why do you think I'm here?" Magneto questioned.

Rogue leaned against the car, looking casual, but instead was ready to fight if she had to. Rogue shrugged, not wanting to talk much.

"You ran away? Why?" Magneto asked.

"You know why." Rogue said.

"Rogue, do not toy with me. I am not in the mood." Magneto said.

"Neither am I." Rogue said. "You know why I left."

"Because of him? Because of Sinister?"

As Magneto said his name a chill ran throughout Rogue's body like it usually did when she heard that name. It was quickly followed by anger and rage. Suddenly, Rogue didn't care about not wanting to speak to him. She had been pissed off when she saw him, but now she was angry. "Yeah. But I guess your here to stop me from going any further though, huh. Stop me from stealin' any of your thunder. Guessin' you wanna kill Doctor Sinister yourself? Use his death to address the mutants and have all of them follow such a great leader, hmmm? Am I right?"

Magneto became more agrovated. "Don't Rogue!" He simply stated.

"Don't what? Tell you exactly what's on your mind?-"

"Do not twist this against me!-"

"But you know I'm right. You know what I'm saying is the truth and you know that what your gonna do isn't the right way to approach this. Magneto, what are you doing?" Rogue questioned shaking her head and finally dropping her front to show her tiredness and iritation with him. She was in pain, body and head wise, stressed and couldn't deal with having to fight him when she needed to store her anger for later. Magneto was suprized at this, and angered.

"I am doing what is best for my people."

"No, your not. Your working outta anger. You wanta war Magneto."

"A war maybe the only way to solve this."

"No, it's not." Rogue breathed.

Magneto was still strong in his anger. "Look throughout the humans history Rogue. What you'll see is a history full of death and murder of a lot of innocent people who were killed simply because they were different. Humanity is it's own worst enemy and we shall not be dragged down to their level. A war would help divide us from the humans and once we concer the humans, we will be able to start a new life. A new being of a species and make ourselfves better than humans ever have before."

"There's just one big major fault in that plan Magneto." Rogue said. "You wanna know what that is?" Magneto said nothing, just glared down at her. "Right now, right here, in this moment in time, it's not the humans who are taking us prisoner and experimenting on us. No, Sinister isn't a human Magneto. He's a mutant just like you and me. He's a bad mutant just like you can get bad people and that's the biggest mistake you have there Magneto. Even if you were to get rid of all the humans in the world, we'd still struggle ourselves with other mutants, only, they'd be more powerful and harder to stop compared to humans. You might think your a supime ruler Magneto and I see and understand that you want justice and equality and freedom and peace. But the thing is sugar, that's never gonna happen."

There was silence. Rogue let Magneto absorb it. He seemed mad still, but she knew from his silence that she was getting to him slowly. "Besides Magneto, what about the good human beings who do support humans? The human beings who would fight besides us in a war if the world did split into two for and against mutants' freedom? What of them? They would risk their lives for us, why should we kill them? Just 'cause they're human. Then who'll be the hypocrite, hating another species simply because they exisit? Your becoming excally what your fighting against Magneto. And it'll be your down fall. You might as well just help as many mutants as possible and just wait for the day when mutants out populate the humans, 'cause if we are the next stage in evolution like you keep saying, then humans will be extinct soon and it'll be a mutant world for all." Rogue finished. By the end of her long speeches, her throat was very sore and Magneto noticed this too.

"What is wrong with your voice?" Magneto asked.

Rogue went silent. Magneto reached up and pulled at the scarf. There, on Rogue's neck, was a burnt in ring mark on her neck, with the redding cuts reaching up and down her neck. Magneto frowned. "What happened to your neck?"

"Power neglector." Rogue said silently. "I... They used to put them on us while we were in our cells." Rogue's eyes took a deep reminising look. I remember I managed to figure out how to get it off once, but in turn to getting it off it... shocked me and sort of... blow up a little... It'll heal though. It did the last time... I couldn't take it off any other time they put me in my cell... They put me in straight jackets after that."

Magneto shuck his head, muttering 'Stupid girl.' He hooked his finger under her chin. "You do realise you put yourself in more danger by being alone. You should have never left us, even if you were angry at me or felt betreyed. I would protect you Rogue."

Rogue glared at Magneto and hit his hand away. "I don't need your help."

"I find that hard to believe. Didn't I just watch you con a disgustingly drunken man into giving you his wallet and car inexchange for sex." That wasn't meant as a question. It was a statement. So he had been there watching her; probably in a dark corner. Rogue looked down and away, a look of dissapointment on her face. "You used your powers on him, did you not."

"Yeah, so what?" Rogue snapped, looking Magneto back in the eye again. "He was a dirty, cheatin', liein' mug anyway. 'Sides, I don't see why you should be so fuzzed about how I get by. If anything I would've thought you'd be happy or glad I was usin' my powers to con humans."

"I am, but at the same time I am not glad to see you lowering yourself to that point when you are a smart and cleaver and respectful young lady. The only reason you have to do that is because of society and it's moral prejudices. To have their dirty greedy hands all over you for even a moment detesteds me. The very image, the very idea-... Are you smirking. Do you enjoy being treated like a one dollar hooker?"

Rogue had let a smirk of a smile creep onto her face. "No." She said solemly. "It's just... You sound jealous."

"Jealous? I am not jealous of that type of scum you assosiate yourself with my dear. Simply irrtated that you have been reduced to such horrible settings when you could do and be so much more."

"So your not jealous, but you still wouldn't mind cutting their throats."

"Gladly." Magneto said which made Rogue's smirk wider.

"So your not jealous, your just angry I've been kissing other guys and you just want to murder them because they touched me. Awww, still seems like jealously to me Erik." Magneto just glared at Rogue, though it was half hearted. Rogue stepped forwards. "I was wondering what it was that happened in your room. Could you enlighten me to that?"

"You were the one to kiss me Rogue." Magneto said, raising n eyebrow and realising just how young and stupid he sounded.

"And you went along with it. Beside, I would never have done it if it wasn't in your head too. If you wasn't thinkin' about doin' it. But ya were and you kissed me back."

"And then you left." He said low Ki.

"Because you used and manpulated me and I have other goals and reasons in life to live for. We've both said it Magneto. We both have the same goals, both on the same side, I just need to kill Sinister before you can make a big scene out of it and have my revenge for what he's done to me." Rogue looked away from him in angry. Her passion and softeness gone once again as it came down to that monster.

Magneto hooked his finger under Rogue's chin and turned her to look at him. "Let me be clear. I find you very attractive Rogue and I find your new found character intriguing. You always seem to suprize me and know me better than I know myself. But I am old and we're both in a life threating possition each day. Your right. Each of us have our own drive and while they may be very similar, we still have seprate ways and goals to focus on which are more important to us than our romantic lifes."

Rogue nodded her head, understanding more of what the Magneto in her head was explaining to her than the real life one. "You think we shouldn't be together because there's too many things in the way?"

Magneto moved his other arm around Rogue's waist, pulling her to rest against his body and stroked her check. "It's why I believe we should take whatever happiness we can when we can, though not expect the other to be top prioraty. We both have other priorities and each other is not the first on our lists. Come back with me Rogue." He moved closer to her ear and whispered. " We can take down Sinister together."

He was intriguing and everything seemed all so easy being wrapped in his arms and him saying he'll make what she wants happen. But Rogue wasn't stupid and knew Magneto too well. She slipped her hand up his chest and around his neck, slipping off her gloves smoothly as she said in her successful practised seduction tone. "Yes. I'd like that. But-" And she touched the back of his neck. Magneto jolted and tried throwing her away from him, but she forced herself forwards, jumping up and wrapping her legs tightly around his waist. "a lesson in life Magneto, that we both know. Never trust anyone."

Magneto fell to his knees with Rogue still wrapped around him. He reached out for the metal of the car to come and attack Rogue. Rogue, who also had the power of metal now and whom was much stronger in energy and strengh than Magneto, turned the metal away from them so they impacted on the ground next to them. "You know what Magneto." Rogue said. "I would actually love to go back with you. But I can't. Can't because I have to kill Sinister before you make another huge mistake. Can't because I know that you'll just use me for my powers and information and you won't actually care about me once I'm used up. I know you Magneto, better than you know yourself and you know this. The only time I would ever come to you again will be when you realise that your way is half right yet half wrong, and once I know I can trust you to actually do the right thing. Only then Magneto will I be truely happy and able to sleep knowing that I've got you to come get me if I ever get captured again." A tear slipped from Rogue's eye, landing on Magneto's check and as he faded the tear fell from his check.