Shadowed Hearts
Chapter Three: Action
* ~ *
"What's your business with him?" Wanda asked in a guarded tone.
The three boys watched the rain-soaked girl curiously. She looked a bit annoyed at not being invited inside, but remained collected nonetheless. "None o' y'rs..." she said calmly, but it didn't escape without a hint of malice.
"I think it is my business you little-"
Gambit spoke up, interrupting the Scarlet Witch. "Chere, why don' you get ton frere your father? We'll make sure t' accommodate Mam'selle Rogue while yo' gone."
"Fine," she huffed.
He smiled at Rogue as Wanda flounced out of the library. "C'mon in, p'tite. Have a seat. Dat was just Wanda. She might bite ya, but we sure won't."
Unfortunately, Wanda an ah have already been introduced. Rogue reluctantly walked in, feigning concern with dripping all over the carpet. She paused and took a seat in a large, over-stuffed, leather armchair. "Sorry t' just barge in here like this," she said.
"Ah, don't worry. She'll be apples," Pyro said with a smile. Rogue gave the Aussie a strange look, but he didn't seem to notice it. "I'm John Allerdyce, or Pyro, an the man with the silver tongue would be Remy LeBeau, or Gambit." He pointed to the rugged boy with chestnut brown tresses and strange black-on-red demon eyes. A haughty boy with silver hair and sapphire eyes winked at her. Rogue guessed by his appearance that he was Magneto's other child. John identified the boy with a lazy wave of his hand. "That's Pietro Maximoff- better known as Quicksilver."
She smiled politely, silently remembering to torture Magneto for making her listen to three hormone-driven boys, who she could care less about, tell their life stories. "Ah'm just Rogue," she said lamely.
Getting anxious for the kill? Carol questioned bitterly.
Shut up, Rogue replied automatically. When the words actually had the chance to sink in, however, Rogue's reaction was different. She felt... guilty. But why? Look, it's just somethin' ah gotta do.
And you so blindly trust Mystique? she snarled. Not that I care what you do, but do you even know why you're doing this?
O' course! Rogue retorted. She racked her mind for an explanation, but even after all those vocabulary tests in English Honors, it alluded her. Instead of a reason- some brilliant dream she was fighting for- a weak, but true, excuse escaped. Cause Mystique told me t'.
Exactly what I thought, Carol said as-a-matter-of-factly. Perhaps you should question why she would rather have you do her dirty work. Miss Master of Disguise wants you of all people to spy on and kill Magneto? Doesn't sit right to me.
Y'r just sayin' that cause ya used t' be an X-Geek.
She snorted. Well, if you want to be turned into a refrigerator magnet, it's not like I care...
Whatever-
The demon-eyed boy was talking again. "So, what's dis all about? Why you need t' talk t' ol' Maggie?"
Remy's eyes captured her again- they were so strange, but oddly enough- beautiful. She looked away when he met her gaze. Pietro stared at her, boredly. She finally let her eyes rest on Pyro, who was playing with his lighter. What a loony bunch this is... she thought. "Well, it's kinda personal. Ah'd rather not say it with you guys here."
John obviously had taken her statement in a different way. "Oh, sure, personal problems."
Before Rogue could reply, Wanda stomped into the room with her father in tow. He looked different from the many times she had seen him on the battle field- or arguing/"negotiating" with Mystique. Gone was his regal robe and strange helmet that had caused the whole Boarding House to dub him "Bucket Head." He wore a light blue long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks. The outfit almost lent him the air of normalcy, but the impression was shattered as Rogue knew one of the most powerful mutants on earth was standing right in front of her. Though homely and dressed down, he was still just as intimidating. She met his solemn face and avoided his piercing blue eyes. "Magneto," she breathed softly.
His expression was void of emotion. Wanda sat down next to her brother as Magneto walked toward Rogue. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked.
"Ah need t' speak t' ya," she answered. The Acolytes stared at the two as though they were watching a movie. She expected some one to say, "Pass the popcorn." Rogue's emerald gems focused back on Magneto. "Alone."
"Very well," he said. "Follow me."
The Acolytes groaned as Magneto led Rogue to a more private area.
"I wanted to know," John whined.
* ~ *
"Ah figure ya'd want me t' cut t' the chase," Rogue said simply as Magento took a seat at his desk. He motioned for her to sit down in the black office chair parallel to him. She remained standing. "Ah need y'r help..."
He smiled slightly. "Mystique's daughter, asking me for help? What exactly is it you need, child?"
She stiffened at being called child, and held back the urge to snap at him. "Ah need ya t' help me with mah powers..."
Why? So you can control them and next time you can make sure that your victim is dead? Carol snapped.
Rogue tried to push the woman out of her mind, but she wasn't succeeding. Magneto even noticed that her eyes had suddenly shifted from a bright jade to an icy blue.
"Are you all right?"
She nodded. "That's the problem. You see, I absorbed this girl-" Rogue finally forced Carol to return back into her subconscious. Her normal appearance and drawl returned. "...A girl named Carol that is trapped in mah mind..."
"Carol is- was- one of Charles' pupils, was she not?"
Rogue nodded. She cast him a side-ways glance in regards to his informality at the mention of Xavier's name. She wondered if they had a past that know one knew about. Mystique certainly seemed to think so. She forced the suspicions aside, and concentrated on Magnus once again. "Yes, an it was kinda... complicated." Rogue tried to choose her words carefully, but she didn't cover up the fact that she so blatantly killed the girl. She didn't overlook Magneto's sharp look, either.
"I'm afraid you'll have to inform me of your circumstances," he said coldly. "I do not know what happened, or how I can even help."
She took a deep breath and began to explain. "Well, it all started when we were exposed as mutants an, o' course, the Sentinels came after us..."
* ~ *
Carol Danvers saw the Brotherhood as she sliced through the amazingly blue sky. It seemed peculiar for such a bright, sunny day to hold such a ominous under-lining beneath its cheerful pretense. Mystique and her band of teenage mutant thugs appeared to be mere insects, and she was confident that they would be almost as easy to squash as bugs.
"Miss Marvel, this is Storm. Do you read me?"
The blonde fought the urge to laugh at the military formalness her mentor used when speaking to her through the communicator. "Loud and clear Storm. What's the situation?"
"The Brotherhood appears to be planning an attack on our team. Mystique claims it is time that mutants were revealed as the 'gods' they are. We are currently the only people opposing their goal. I have sent Jean, Nightcrawler, and Cyclops after them also, but I need you to buy them some time."
"No problem," she told her. "Just leave these punks to me."
"Be careful," Ororo told her. "Many of the mutants under Mystique's tutelage are much more dangerous than we give them credit for. Especially Rogue. You know as well as I do that she has defeated our team many times."
"Yeah, yeah," Carol responded.
The girl's vision seemed to focus into a pin-point view, closing in on the opposing team as she swooped down from the sky. She descended swiftly with more speed than the most advanced airplane. The trail of wind behind her crackled as she broke the sound barrier. In mere seconds, she was on the ground.
"Someone's looking for a fight, I hear," she told them.
Avalanche glared, sending tremors through the earth. "Looks like we found one after all," he snapped.
Carol easily avoided the onslaught of his attack by hovering in the air. Toad was next to attack. His tongue curled out, grabbing her by the wrist as he delivered a mighty kick. Thanks to her invulnerability, Carol was only temporally phased. Soon after, she conjured up her super-strength and sent him flying into one of the bridge's metal poles.
Wanda smirked at the girls outfit. "Funny costume, Marvel. Figured most people wouldn't walk outside in it even on Halloween, though."
She returned the insulting half-smile. "I should say the same about you, witch. But I know it's just your face."
Energy crackled around the angry girl, and Carol was so distracted by dodging Wanda's hex bolts that she didn't see Rogue sneak up on her from behind. The girl place two bare hands on her tan arms, and Miss Marvel felt her entire essence being sucked from her body.
In surprise and agony, the blonde beauty soared into the sky. Rogue was still tightly clutching the woman's body. Both girls could hear Mystique call out, "Don't let go Rogue!"
Rogue wasn't about to. She enjoyed the pure prowess coursing into her veins, just like every other time she absorbed. The transfer of power into her body was sweet. It was a dark thought that she tried to push back into her mind, but she couldn't deny the fact that despite her mutation's curse, she enjoyed using her ability. Besides, the two were so high into the sky that if Rogue let go, she would fall to her death.
"Why are you doing this to me?!" Carol asked, getting weaker by each second as the climber higher in the air.
She froze. Why am ah doin this? Rogue asked herself. She knew that Carol was the enemy, and that the effects her power would present the girl with were only temporary. But something about holding on for so long felt wrong... It felt like she had held Carol in her arms for an eternity. No reason could justify the shiver traveling up her spine- not even the vision Rogue had over-heard Destiny discuss with Mystique, the prophecy that one day Carol would kill Rogue, and in another prediction, Mystique. This was wrong. She wanted to let go, but her hands were almost suctioned to Miss Marvel's cold, lifeless arms.
In an instant, the pair were plummeting back down to earth. Carol was still attempting to fight against Rogue, but she was so far gone that she could barely lift a finger in defense. The woman's body was so cold, and that chill traveled through Rogue's once burning arms. In a last attempt to save her soul, Rogue wretched Carol from her grasp and flung her into the water below.
"Ah didn't mean t'..." she whispered.
As the X-Men arrived to battle the Brotherhood, they saw the fall of their beloved teammate. Kitty, who seemed most affected by the sight (as she was roommate to the girl), leapt towards the edge of the bridge, reaching down as though she were going to plunge into the water after her friend. Wolverine, however, held her back.
Rogue watched this with a sickening feeling. Then she realized that she wasn't falling anymore, she was floating in the air above the chaos. The powers and memories of Carol were now hers, and she was beginning to lose control of her own body.
Murderer!
Witch!
You stole my life!
Jean levitated up to the murderess, but she didn't get a chance to get revenge. A handful of large robots appeared from the city. Magneto and his Acolytes were fending them off. Many of the androids got past the ambush and proceeded to the others.
"What the hell are those?" she heard Lance ask.
"They're Sentinels," Mystique answered. "And they were apparently built for one purpose: to seek out and destroy all mutants."
* ~ *
"When the X-Men found her, she was still alive, but pretty much a vegetable. Ah thought she would wake up after a few days, but she never did. Her powers are still stuck inside o' me, an so is her mind."
Magneto was silent for a long time. He finally folded his hands across the desk and sighed. "How can I help?"
"You have the technology," Rogue reminded him. "That chamber on the asteroid... this secret base... all y'r advanced weaponry and computers... ah know ya can find somethin' that can help me."
"The chamber was destroyed," he said somberly. "Besides, even if I could rebuild it, I'm not certain that it would help rid you of Carol's psyche."
"Please, Magneto," Rogue insisted. "Y'r the only one ah can turn t'. Mystique got real angry when ah told her ah was leavin' t' find help or at least ah was gonna ask you. Lawd knows ah love her, but she can't do anythin' t' help me now."
"Well, I am quite certain that Raven will welcome you into her home again," he replied. Magneto rose from his chair and turned towards the door. "Because you cannot stay here. Charles, perhaps, would be a better savoir. I am not that bringer of miracles, child, especially not to my former enemy."
Bastard, Rogue thought. She struggled to control her emotions long enough to lay an incredible guilt-trip on the man. "Xavier will never help me after what ah did t' Carol. An ah can't go back home... Mystique... told me t' never come back if ah was gonna betray her like that. We fight f'r the same dream, Magneto. Can't ya see that?"
He paused and turned to face the teenager. "Are you asking to join this team, even if I cannot offer you any help?"
She nodded. "It's about the only choice ah got right now. Ah hope it's okay with you."
Magneto used his powers to open the door. Remy, John, Pietro, and Wanda all fell on top of each other in the doorway. "Wanda, please escort Rogue to her new room. She will be staying with us for a short while."
"Ugh, Gambit get off of me!" the Scarlet Witch exclaimed while shoving off an extremely stunned Cajun. "I told you that he knew we were eavesdropping."
Wanda and the other finally managed to get up. She stomped through the hallway. Rogue began to follow the older girl, but Wanda just shot her a dirty look. "You can find your own room," she snarled and stalked off.
Rogue just stood in the hallway, stunned. Great. Ah get rid o' Marrow, an now ah get Wanda. Why didn't ah remember that she'd be here? She was ready about to turn around and ask someone for help when she found herself face-to-face with the demon-eyed Cajun she had been introduced to moments ago. "Uh-hi?"
"Looks like ya need a tour guide p'tite," he said huskily. "An Gambit would be happy t' show ya around."
She batted her eyelashes mockingly. "Why a big strong gentleman like you wants t' lil' ol' me around? Ah could just about die..." He eyed her strangely and she rolled her eyes. "Please. Just a tip, Swamp Rat, you'll have bettah luck with Miss Tall Dark an Angry than ya evah will with me."
Remy watched her retreating figure with a grin. "Gambit sure loves a challenge..."
* ~ *
Dun-dun-dun.... again. Why doesn't Wanda like Rogue? What does Rogue have up her sleeve? Will Magneto catch on to the plan? WHEN WILL THE ROMYNESS COME INTO PLAY? All questions will be revealed... later.
Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews! I'm really getting into this story, but the updates may be a bit sporadic. With school at an end (for now anyway), finals and assignments were tying up my time. Plus, I have work on top of that. Not to mention the fact that I'm still recovering from last night's concert. Who ever decided that huge guys that are 6"3 should crowd-surf on top of tiny teenage girls? *sigh* Anyway, I read kitana's review and after re-reading chapter two I do agree that the curse words were unnecessary... huh... I guess I was just in a pissed off mood that day. I will try to filter out all the excessive f-bombs and such. Also, for all of those who were wondering (a lot of you asked this question): No, Rogue was not raped. She was talking about "fighting" because they had assaulted her, but they didn't actually rape her. So they actually didn't actually penetrate her or anything. I hope that makes sense. I wanted to address the assault issue because a lot of fics have brought this up before- plus you had that thing on Genosha. She wasn't actually raped there, but yeah... I don't want to get into it too much because any kind of sexual assault is bad... trust me. As for the Carol issue... Yes, Logan and Carol have a relationship like he and Rogue have in the actual series. And yes he does know that Rogue is a teenager. The only reason why he feels like dealing "revenge" to Rogue is because it was a very adult action, and she deserves adult consequences. Plus, the explanation I just came up with makes Logan less of a creepy character in this story... -lol- Please, please review and if you have any constructive criticism, don't be afraid to add it! I'd love to improve my writing and this story. :-)