Chapter 3
Receiving the call from Remy that he was looking for a new partner was not a surprise at all to the four time US Champ. Magneto had worked with many of the greats and he could sense when a tense relationship would work its way out, and when it was destined to crumble. His nickname was not in fact given due to his mutant abilities, as they went undisclosed for much of his career. It instead centered around the magnetic connection that he held with his partner on the ice. Which is partially how he knew how to sense when a pair was faking it. While he and Mystique worked well enough it wasn't a secret that their relationship hadn't worked. Their combined dream however allowed them to overlook it and push beyond expectations. Many called their partnership the golden age of US pairs.
Due to his respect for Mystique, and because he had known her for so long Magneto knew better than to tell Remy his plan before seeing what Mystique thought about it. Rogue was a touchy subject, and as he had been reminded frequently that Raven had first dibs on training decisions he reluctantly told Remy had he had a hunch, but couldn't promise anything.
Thus after hanging up with the young athlete Magneto gave Mystique a call.
Twenty minutes and some serious consideration from Raven he knew that Raven would be putting the decision into Rogue's hands. Mystique had learned a lot over the years and it was new for her to put all the power into her pupils' hands. Raising Rogue had changed his past partner for the better, and she was now quite adept at coaching in a way that helped the student feel empowered.
The one thing that Erik was uncertain of was what Rogue would be doing with this opportunity. Two years ago she would have done whatever Mystique suggested to her. Now, she had worked incredibly hard and become self-sufficient; pulling herself up by her bootstraps to qualify and place fairly well at nationals as a junior. She was in firing position to work her way to the senior ranks. Either way she went it would be a risk, but at least working on her own it would be a risk she had control of, which he knew was something that Rogue valued greatly. Working with Remy would be more work, but it would certainly be an interesting choice. Having worked with both skaters did not leave him any more confident in which choice should be made.
Later that day, after Mystique had informed her of the opportunity to work with Remy, and knowing that these types of chances occasionally slipped away quickly Rogue was left to ponder exactly what direction she wanted to go in. It didn't slip past her that Magneto telling Mystique the way he had, without a promise to Remy was a gift to her. He had put the ball in Anna's court, and now she could choose what she would do with it. Raven had warned her that giving it too much time could be a bad thing, but also noted that it would only leave her where she started. It was a choice, but not an obligation.
With a million thoughts in her head Anna went to the office studio in the rink, a little gym furnished with a couple of skating specific equipment pieces, but more or less a regular workout room. Entering she went straight for the mats to begin some stretching, putting in headphones and getting into her normal routine. She lost herself as she normally did, when Wanda scared the living shit out of her. Completely unapologetic Wanda only laughed harder at Rogue's narrowed eyebrows.
"If you're going to be that easy to scare then it's your own fault." Wanda boasted. To which Rogue sighed.
"I just have a lot on my mind right now. You know I'm not usually an easy target." And she did. Wanda was used to getting any scare attempts thrown back at her. Even the occasional success was met with a slap of surprise instead of a jump ten feet in the air.
Wanda and Rogue had been training together for quite some time. Being the children of coaches had been a bonding factor for the two girls, as well as a mutual interest in teasing Pietro. While many pupils got along quite swimmingly with their coaches, many did not. Having coaches as parents could occasionally mean that you needed a thick skin, and when that failed, someone else who knew exactly what you were going through.
While Wanda didn't see herself ever making it to the World Podium it wasn't for lack of skill or talent, but more of an act of protest. Although she didn't always get along with Pietro when he was banned from speed skating (and eventually other disciplines as well) a few years back after the revelation of his powers Wanda had a distaste for the whole operation. Instead of training competitively she focused on the artistic side of the sport, and often pushed boundaries that were limited by the points system. While a numbers of maneuver were considered 'not worth it' for the points they would achieve it wasn't a secret for fans or athletes that there are many jumps and combinations that are creative and beyond the limited confines of the judging system.
Her existence outside of the realm of competition made Wanda a great voice of reason, and had Wanda not found her, Rogue would have likely sought her out for advice.
"So, what is on your mind that is so heavy that you reacted that badly to a simple scare?" Wanda inquired.
Needing no further olive branch Rogue informed The Scarlet Witch of the current offer on the table.
Wanda, was first and foremost an incredibly practical person. She had seen what the spilt with Cody had done and how hard Rogue had come to be competitive again. Wanda saw that Rogue was on the edge of making it senior, and even though she was 16, it was really now or never. Yet the more she listed all the reasons that Rogue shouldn't go for the opportunity she saw her friend digging in her heels. That in itself was a sign that Rogue had already made up her mind. While Anna was a rational being, and the choice seemed to be more negative than positive from Wanda's point of view, Wanda was also aware that her friend was if nothing else very interested in challenges.
Seeing that she wasn't going to get any futher Wanda allowed the conversation to drift, and joined Rogue in off ice training. After some homework Rogue laced up for a final session on ice for the day. While the Zamboni finished clearing the ice she approached her mother.
"I think I want to try pairs again." Rogue stated to Mystique who simply looked to her daughter with a questioning expression.
"You think or you know? If you are not entirely certain I do not want you putting yourself through an emotional roller coaster and putting your Olympic dream in jeopardy for no reason." Mystique wanted her daughter to make her own choice, but freedom be damned, she wouldn't let Anna get hurt if she could prevent it.
"I want to try it. It may not work out, but the season just ended, and I can still train while we meet and decide if it works. Plus he may not even be interested. But I want to give it a shot. If I have the chance to be a part of US pairs and bring the sport back to the point where it is taken seriously, then that's what I want to do." Green eyes glinted with an energy Mystique hadn't seen in some time.
A/N: Apologies, not as edited as it could have been. Next chapter probably won't be till the weekend, with work and music I'm a bit busy this week. Thanks for reading and double thanks to those who've followed / reviewed. Next chapter people will finally start meeting each other :).