Of course, Rogue found that she wasn't completely forgotten. Many times dirty looks were passed back toward her. It was when she'd begun to see this that she'd turned to face the wall. She didn't care to see it. She had her own worries afterall. She'd told Kitty that she'd go back to Magneto after all this was done, but that seemed foolish right about now. He had left her. They all had left her. That didn't seem right. Piotr at the very least would never just leave her behind. But here she was now… alone. Safe only because Kitty had had the heart to help her out.
Problem was, she had no place else to go but Magneto's. All her life she'd lived with Irene. Going to school and training with Mystique. Then she'd gone to Magneto's, had a place to stay, food, roof over her head and even school. She figured the best plan right now is finish with it. After today, she was sure no one would hire her. Perhaps no school would take any of them either. And if she did choose school, where would she go? Back to Irene's? Magneto would find her there anyway. No, her only logical choice was to go back and make sure she wasn't left behind again, make sure she didn't arrive too late when things were going to get rough.
"Rogue." The voice came from behind her, and she recognized it for the woman who'd nearly denied her entrance to the plane. As she turned to look at the woman called Storm, she took note that both her voice and face were decidedly nonchalant. "Since you are taking refuge with us for the moment, I think we at least deserve an explanation." The plane had gone silent, they all wanted to hear this.
Rogue looked around, every face was turned toward hers and none seemed all too happy. They'd allowed her to come but she was still the enemy.
Looking back up at Storm, she spoke. "Ya mean ya want ta know what Magneto was up ta?" She asked, crossing her arms and relaxing in her seat.
"That would be nice." Storm's voice remained impassive.
"Ah thought ya'll would have figured that all out bah now." Rogue responded, keeping her eyes still on the Windrider. "Ya'll saw it all. Me an' mah comrades were ta distract ya'll. Tha only thing ya'll probably don't completely comprehend was that our little battle also served ta scare tha people ya'll saw below, get them ta ready the sentinal." Uncrossing her arms, she opened them. "This was Mag's grand plan ta reveal us ta the world."
"And fighting no less. Make them think of war then."
Rogue crossed her arms again and nodded toward her. "O' course. Ya'll have ta know he's itchin' for one."
"And you as well? Is that why you were with him."
"Mah reasons are mah own. Ah think Ah'm allowed that, an' Ah don't care if Ah'm not." She growled defensively.
Storm nodded. "Very well, you can have that, but if he has something against you… there are other solutions. If you're being forced, there is help." She studied Rogue's face carefully then, and got what she wanted. Rogue was surprised, those words had meant something to her. In a way, she had been black-mailed… not right away… but Piotr's family. Piotr didn't want to fight. Could these people help him?
Storm put her hand on Rogue's shoulder. "He's got something on you hasn't he?" Her features had softened. "Think on it, if you tell us what it is, we'll try to help you Rogue." Getting no response from the girl, Storm turned and returned to the front of the ship. Everyone remained quiet and continued to stare until Rogue glared menacingly at them.
"We should be home in a few minutes." A voice came from the front. It was Charles. Everyone waited. As they approached, the X-men leaned toward the window, readying to see their home. Rogue relaxed, closing her eyes and resting her head back. She had a lot to think about now.
Several gasps from the front of the plane made Rogue open her eyes again. "Vhat happened!" She heard Kurt say, and saw the group, clustered by the window, their posture clearly troubled.
"What about-? Where are the students?" Jean demanded. Rogue sat up now. What was going on?
"Oh no!" Kitty's voice wavered and Rogue almost wanted to get up and go over there. Kitty had shown her kindness, and it disturbed her to see her troubled. She didn't get up though. There were enough people up front and she doubted they'd want to deal with her right about then.
The plane lowered and the X-men crowded around the exit. Rogue undid the seatbelt and stood as the others did as well. As soon as the doors open, the others hurried out. Something was clearly terribly wrong.
As Rogue stepped out into the fading daylight, she saw what was wrong. What had clearly once been a very large building was now in ruins upon the ground. This was their home and now it was destroyed. Surely Magneto hadn't done this as well… the timing was a bit too perfect to not have some connection with what happened… but why would he do this?
"We're over hear!" Rogue heard the unfamiliar voice and turned. Jean had been calling out to the students who they had thought to be home. Even Rogue felt some relief at an answer. No matter who these people were, this was just sick. This was disturbing.
"We're all right." The boy continued as they came into view. Their clothes were tattered and they looked disheveled. One in particular, Scott Summers… looked pissed. He marched right past the boy who had been speaking and made his way over to them. Rogue stepped back, not wanting to be seen. The Brotherhood did as well and she was relieved to see that she wasn't the only one who felt misplaced.
Together, the group of awkward teens watched. Jean had gone to Scott, hugging him, asking how they'd survived. He didn't answer her. He hugged her, but coldly removed her arm and focused his attention somewhere else. The boy who'd first spoken was speaking again, but Rogue wasn't paying attention; she was following Scott's gaze… to the professor. He marched right on over to him, grabbed him by the shirt, and lifted him right out of the chair. Rogue didn't look around to see the surprised expressions on the other students, Charles's was enough.
"It was you! You did this!" He growled menacingly, before throwing the professor to the ground. He made to go after him but Kurt and that boy again grabbed his arms and held him at bay.
Charles, on the ground, began to laugh. Rogue narrowed her eyes as he spoke, an odd echo to it. She recognized that and found herself taking another step back. It was Mystique, and she was revealing herself. Charles couldn't stand, Charles didn't talk like that. And then she shifted.
"Now things are about to get much worse." Mystique threatened, grinning sadistically at the group. They just stared in surprise. Rogue wasn't sure what she thought. Mystique had blown up a building she'd thought full of people. No, that didn't surprise her, but she knew now that Mystique should have done more to make her cold to those things, for she wasn't. It disturbed her, at the moment, Mystique disturbed her and she wasn't sure she wanted to face her.
All hell broke loose then. Scott went off, growling about what Mystique had done. Storm immediately began an inquisition, demanding answers, and all the other students began to chatter amongst themselves. Threats were made, anger.
Rogue fell back farther. This wasn't her business. She just wanted to get out, away now. She had nothing to do with all this and she didn't like it in any case. She wondered what would happen if she just walked away… and then she stopped thinking. She was hearing sirens, heading in their direction. Then she saw them, tons of them. Cop cars heading right for them and planes above.
"Aww hell." Rogue groaned, and really wished she'd gotten away with the others. She did not feel up to this right about now… but what choice did she have. She wasn't going to let them just take them. She prepared to run. Clearly… she wasn't the only one with that in mind.
Yes yes, I know. Either my readers are not reading anymore or they are rather upset with me for not having posted in forever... especially after that really sucky last chapter. I re-read it today and cringed through almost all of it. I hope this is a little better. I still have to get back into the swing of it but I've been re-watching a lot of the show and got a little inspiration. Not to mention, I've gotten a couple alerts reminding me it still existed and asking weather or not I was going to update or not. Well, I guess the answer is that I am. Sorry for abandoning ya'll. Maybe I'll find the inspiration to write another X-men/Harry Potter Crossover chappy. yep yep