Taunting Repartee

Chapter Twenty

Rogue looked at herself in the mirror as she brushed her hair. The mirror was still a little foggy from the shower she had just taken, but she could still see herself alright. She let out a sigh as she lowered the brush to the sink's counter. She was ready to leave the bathroom, but she didn't want to. Before she had been eager to yell at Eric, but now she knew he wasn't going to allow her that. She wasn't sure she wanted to have this conversation.

She gasped as she heard a knock at the door.

"Anna, you turned off the blow dryer, well, over five minutes ago," Eric said through the door. "You have ten seconds before I unlock this door myself," he warned her. She rolled her eyes with a sigh as she walked to the door. She opened it and stared up at him. "Your shower took longer than I had thought it would," he said.

"And?" she asked annoyed.

"You have school in the morning. We do not have time for this conversation tonight," he said.

"It's only nine a'clock," she pointed out.

"Anna," he said as he leaned forward in the doorway: ignoring her statement. "I will not be here tomorrow morning to escort you through your events. So, to avoid any misunderstanding allow me to inform you how your day is going to transpire. You will go to bed. Tomorrow morning you will wake up and endue the danger room with your teammates. You will go to school. You will come home from school. You will do your homework, and eat dinner. By the time you have finished eating I should be back, and then we shall have this conversation. What you will not do in my absences is anything that will cause unwanted attention to you or our situation: or else," he said firmly.

"You sure don't act like a man who's in love," she mumbled.

"We will discuss that tomorrow night... Do we have an understanding?" he asked.

"Yes," she said slowly.

"Good," he said as he leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Sleep well," he said as he back away from her.

"Well, now that I have your permission, I'll get right on that," she mumbled sarcastically. He chuckled as he sauntered to the door.

"There's quite a bit of truth to that comment," he said as he made it to the door. Her eyes narrowed: there was truth in it, and she didn't like it one bit. "Save it for tomorrow, Anna," he said as he opened the door. Rogue let out a sigh as he left the room. She walked over to the bed and let her body collapse onto it.

Rogue had a feeling tomorrow was going to be another long day...

And she was right...

Rogue sighed as she looked across Bayville High's lunch room. It was only fifth period but already the day felt too, too long. The danger room this morning had tired her out. The fact that she hadn't been training as much as the others only added to her handicap during the sessions.

Pretending that everything was fine had become even more difficult. Especially with the knowledge that the Professor was gone. Rogue found sitting across from her Mother at breakfast and not being able to scream out what she knew annoying, and depressing.

'But there's nothing I can do about it,' she thought as she looked down at her lunch: a look of disgust crossed her face. 'They call this food,' she thought in disbelief.

"What's eating you, moody girl?" Risty asked. Rogue turned around to see Risty Wilde standing behind her. Rogue smiled. It was good to see her friend. Hanging out with Risty almost made her feel normal.

"Where were you all last week?" Rogue asked as Risty sat down next to her.

"Parents made me fly home for some boring family event. Took a week! Can you believe it? Anyway, what have I missed?" Risty asked quickly.

"Aren't you currently missing history?" Rogue asked with a grin.

"What's one more class?" Risty asked with a smirk. Risty's eyes lite up, "What two or three more classes? I'll catch up later this week, and you little miss genius can afford to miss a class or two,"

"We can't ditch," Rogue said.

"Why not?" Risty asked putting her hand on her arm, and pulling her playfully. "You've been getting straight A's all month. Wish I knew your secret," she said with a grin.

'And I wish I could tell you Risty,' Rogue thought to herself sadly. "I can't ditch," she said again.

"Give me one good reason," Risty demanded.

'Eric would...' Rogue started to replay Eric's words in her mind.

"Hey," Risty said loudly. Rogue blinked a few times when you realized that Risty was snapping her fingers in front of her face. "Snap out of it," she said loudly. "...Where do you go?" she asked quietly: her voice filled with concern.

"Sorry," Rogue mumbled. "I was relivin-" she started to say before she recalled who she was talking to. "Sorry..." she muttered again.

"Don't worry about it," Risty said slowly. "…Come on. We'll go out and get real food. Lunch, my treat," she offered with a smile.

"...I shouldn't," Rogue said as she looked over at Risty.

"Oh, come on, Rogue. I can't imagine spending the whole day in classes. Neither can you. Let's get lunch and catch up. I feel like it's been forever since we've talked," she said.

Rogue smiled at her friend sadly. It had been at least over a week. She had not spoken to Risty since the Friday before last. Rogue sighed. So, much had happened since then. Her whole life has turned upside down about twenty times by Eric since then. And sadly she couldn't talk to Risty about any of it.

"Please," Risty said dragging out the syllables. Rogue looked over at Risty.

'...Eric didn't actually say what he would do if I don't do what he said...' Rogue thought. 'If I go out with Risty now, I could get back here before the end of the day and Eric would never have to know...' she thought with a smile. 'But that's probably a very bad idea,' she thought before sighing.

"Please," she said again. "I'll be your best friend," Risty offered with a grin. Rogue let out a soft laugh.

"... alright you convinced me," Rogue said with a smirk.

"Yes," Risty exclaimed. "Let's have some fun," she said as she stood up, grabbing Rogue's arm she pulled her up with her.

Twenty minutes later they were both in Risty's car driving down Bayville Ave.

Rogue had the window rolled down. Her elbow rested on the window: her chin supported by her hand. She took a deep breath: taking in the ocean air. It wasn't very often that she came to this side of the town. Rogue usual didn't like being this close to the beach. It's presences severed as a reminder of the limitation she had to put on herself for the world's sake. But this week, everything she looked at reminded her of the limitations Magneto had put on her life. Having to cover up on the beach didn't seem so bad any more.

And although Rogue was trying to enjoy herself she couldn't help but be nervous. She was completely aware of her surroundings: every time she saw a man with white hair she flinched. The fear of Eric finding her was paramount in her thoughts. Part of her just wanted to go back to school and go to classes. At least there she didn't have to worry about incurring Magneto's wraith. She wasn't even sure what that punishment would be exactly, and given her memories of his life and her overactive imagination... some of the scenarios that were running through her head...

A shiver ran down Rogue's spine. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off her fear.

Rogue really didn't want to find out what he would do to her... or her family...

'It's not like I've haven't done everything he told me to do,' she thought to herself. Some how she had a feeling Eric wouldn't agree with her explanation for her actions. Which was why he could not find out about this.

"Remember I have to be back before the end of school. I can't have anyone knowing I skipped classes," Rogue said.

"Alright, alright," Risty said dismissively as she pulled into one of the few parking spaces in front of The Breakers restaurant. "Could you relax just a little?" she asked as Rogue looked around the area. There were only a few people across the street. Some riding their bikes along the beach, others just walking. Her gaze shifted to the restaurant next door to the one they were going to. The doors to the Shipwreck tavern opened. Rogue's eyes widened as she saw her brother, Graydon, coming out of the restaurant.

"No, I can't" she said as she pulled at Risty arm. What were she chances that Risty would pick the one restaurant in Bayville that her brother happened to be dinning at? 'Why me?' she asked herself as she lowered herself out of site: pushing Risty down with her.

"Hey," Risty yelled.

"Quiet," Rogue whispered as she lifted her head high enough to look outside.

"Who are we hiding from?" Risty asked as she started to sit up.

"Stay down," Rogue screamed as she pulled at Risty's arm again.

"Is one of your instructors here?" she asked.

"No, my brother," Rogue said quickly as she watched Graydon walk along the sidewalk away from Risty's car.

"Why do you care if Kurt sees you? He's ditching too," Risty said with a grin.

"My other brother," she uttered.

"What?" Risty asked incredulously as she glanced up from her seat. Risty's eyes widened as she and Rogue stared at him. "What's Graydon doing here?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know but we need to get out here now," Rogue said her voice filled with fear.

"I couldn't agree more," a voice from the backseat of the car. Both Rogue and Risty turned around.

Rogue gasped as she saw Emma Frost sitting with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Spying?" Emma asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Ditching school," Rogue said firmly. "I had not idea you two were here," she said.

"Us three," Emma corrected. Rogue eyes widened in fear. If Magneto found her here, now. This was definitely what he would consider unwanted attention.

"I didn't mean anything by this. I just wanted to hang out with my friend. Blow off a little steam," Rogue said.

"Does someone want to explain to me what the bloody hell is going on?" Risty asked.

"Not especially," Emma said as Rogue looked over at Risty: a dazed look took over Risty's expression. "It's better if she does not remember this conversation," Emma said sternly.

Rogue sighed as she thought, 'She probably right.' Rogue watched Risty mindlessly face front.

"Does Magneto know I'm here?" Rogue asked.

"Of course," Emma said with a short laugh. "And he's not pleased with how you've disobeyed him," she said.

"...Technically, I haven't," she said softly.

Emma chuckled lightly before saying, "As much as I would love to hear that one I have more important work to be doing. So, Risty here is going to drive you back to school. She will not be joining you-"

"Why?" Rogue asked interrupting her. "What are you going to do to her? I don't understand," she said quickly.

"It's not for you to understand. Just obey," Emma said strongly.

"I can't just let you take my friend somewhere. She's got nothing to do with all this. She just in the wrong place at the wrong time. She's-" Rogue ranted.

"Anna," said a voice behind her. Rogue's entire body froze in fear at the sound of Magneto's voice in her ear. "Ms. Wilde is going to be put on a plane back to England. No harm will befall her. Emma would have informed you of that, had you allowed her to finish her sentence," Eric said: his breath hot on her ear.

"Why?" Rogue whispered.

"Because I ordered Emma to inform you of Ms. Wilde travel arrangements. Unlike you, she knows how to listen to a command."

"Blindly," Rogue muttered before she could stop herself. Emma eyes narrowed as she stared at Rogue in anger.

Rogue flinched as one of the back doors and the driver's door opened by themselves.

"Emma take Ms. Wilde to her flight," Eric ordered. Rogue noticed his voice seemed further away then a moment ago.

"Yes, sir," Emma said immediately as she slid of the car through the open door. Rogue watched as Risty stood up out of the car. Rogue took a deep breath as she faced front: she watched Eric cross the front of the car. Emma and Risty walked up to a silver car.

It was then Rogue noticed Graydon staring at her. She gazed at him with wide eyes: pleading at him to interfere, to help her. He gave her a sympathetic look before shrugging. He broke his gaze with her as he started to get into the drivers seat of the car.

Her line of sight of her brother was cut off as Eric took Risty's place in the driver's seat. She flinched again as he used his powers to close both doors. Rogue gasped as her seat's belt moved by itself over her shoulder and across her waist: trapping her in the seat.

"Tell me, Anna," he stared to say as he turned to face her, "which part of my instructions were not clear?" he asked: his tone clearly irate.

"I..." Rogue took a deep breath: fighting her fear. "...I was just going out to lunch with a friend," she said softly. "I wasn't trying to get any unwanted attention from..." she stopped to take a deep breath as an idea came to mind. "From anyone. Risty would have known something was wrong with me if she wasn't able to talk me into cutting class. She would have wanted to hang out after school. When the two of us hang out we spend hours together talking about everything... at least everything I can talk to her about. If I tried to get out of cutting with her she would have asked me what was wrong. There's no way she would have accepted me saying I was fine like everyone else does. She knows me better than that," she finished.

"And that is the reason you chose to leave school?" he asked. She took another deep breath.

"Yes," she uttered. Rogue could feel her heart racing as he stared at her.

"... Your body language tells me otherwise," he said as he reached over and traced his fingers down the side of her face. She fought with the urge to pull away from him. "The sweat on you face... the tension in your hands... your frozen posture," he said as his fingers lightly took hold of her chin. "What they tell me," he said as he turned her head to face him, "is that you are lying," he said as his eyes made contact with hers.

"Or maybe I'm like this cause I'm afraid of what a control freak like you would do to me if you thought I disobeyed you," she suggested. Her eyes widened as she realized what she had said. Control Freak? 'Do you have a death wish or something?' she asked herself in disbelief.

She focused on his face again as she realized he was grinning.

"No," he said while softly shaking his head. "That would account for the justification you thought of when questioned about your actions... Not a bad explanation either... Plausible," he said slowly as he studied her face. "How long did it take you think of?" he asked.

"I..." she struggled to say. The question took her completely by surprise. What did it matter how long it took? "I don't..."

"A second? Two seconds?" he asked.

"Hmm... maybe five," she mumbled.

"Five seconds?" he asked gently: his thumb rubbing against the side of neck.

"I- I think so," she whispered.

"Impressive," he uttered: his eyes consumed with pride.

"...So, your not angry?" she asked. He chuckled before he leaned in and kissed her lightly.

"No, I am not angry," he said with a smirk as he released her chin. She let out a sigh of relief as she leaned back against the seat. "However, I wouldn't suggest doing that again," he said nonchalantly as leaned back as well: starting the car.

"Cutting classes," she said.

"Breaking a promise," he said as he backed out of the parking space and onto Bayville Ave.

"I didn't," she said as she looked over at him.

"Yes, you did," he said firmly. "Last night you agreed to my terms-" he said.

"And I followed them," she exclaimed.

"No you did not," he said.

"Yes, I did. You told me to go to sleep, wake up and to endure the danger room. I did all that. You told me to go to school. I did that too. I was gonna get back to school with Risty before the day ended. No one was gonna know. I was gonna go home from school, do my homework and eat dinner just like you told me to. You never said I had to go all my classes. You never told me to go to any of my classes. I did everything I agreed to. It's not my fault you didn't tell me to go to class," she finished ranting.

Her eyes widened in fear as he pressed his foot on the gas. The car started to gain speed, and her hand grabbed onto the armrests of her seats: needing something to hold onto. At the speed he drove she was thankful for the seat beat keeping her in place. Rogue felt like her heart was in her throat as he abruptly pulled over into a driveway. She took deeps breaths as she attempted to ignore the beeping horns of several cars as they drove past.

She stared at Eric incredulously as he leaned back against his seat. She watched him exhale deeply: his eyes becoming distant. She knew he was deep in thought.

"Eric?" she asked quietly: hoping to gain his attention.

He ignored her: closing his eyes.

"...Max?" she asked.

"Be quiet, Anna, and let me think," he said firmly.

'This is- This is not good,' she thought to herself.

After what seemed like an hour he opened his eyes and looked over at her. She stared up at him in fear.

"You were right. It is not your fault," he said calmly. She let out a sigh in relief.

"I am sorry," she said meekly. "It was a mistake. A stupid mistake. I won't make it again," she promised as she watched him lean forward, placing his hands on the wheel.

"No, you won't," he said as he turned the car back and backed out of the driveway, onto Bayville Ave. There was a tone to his voice that she was afraid to name.

"...I'm sorry if I kept you from anything important. I didn't mean to," she said.

"I know that was not your intention, Anna," he said. She stared at his face: searching.

He was angry. But it didn't seem to be directed at her.

Rogue took a deep breath as she realized what that expression meant.

"Why are you angry at yourself?" she asked. She watched his expression change: lighten. He smiled softly. "Eric?" she asked confused.

"...It has many years since I have been in the company of someone who knows me so well. The only other person who's understood me... was Magda," he said.

"Did you ever find her?" Rogue asked quietly. She watched his expression change into one of confusion. "I never looked at those memories," she explained.

"...I found her headstone," he uttered darkly. Rogue felt tears start to form at the thought.

He had spend years searching for Magda after their daughter had died in the fire. He had forsaken his own name in order to travel safely. He had crossed into several countries. Never resting, always moving in hopes of finding his wife, his love. To have all those years of searching end in a graveyard.

She closed her eyes for a moment, letting a few tears run down her face.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. She watched his hand leave the wheel and move onto her shoulder.

"That is not your fault either," his eyes made contact with hers though the rear-view mirror. She placed her hand over his: their fingered intertwined. He slowly pulled the car over to the side of the road: all the while his gaze never left hers.

He leaned towards her and kissed her forehead: her eyes closed at the contact.

"You are an amazing girl, Anna Marie. Thank you," he uttered before he kissed her forehead again. He backed away an inch, so he could look into her eyes. "I can not tell you how long it has been since someone has looked at me the way you do," he said his other hand came up to rest on her cheek. "You know what I am capable of better than any other person alive. You know my past. All the sins I have commit against the world... against you. And you know... you know, my girl... that I am only getting started. But still... still you shed tears for my pain," he said as he wiped tears off of her face with his fingers. "You feel my pain. No other in your position would be willing to empathize with a monster such as I," he finished.

"Your not a monster," she whispered.

"I'm not?" he asked tenderly.

"No," she said, shaking her head lightly. He smiled.

"Then what am I?" he asked

"...Human," she said. Silence fell between them as he stared into her eyes.

After a moment, he kissed her softly. He releasing his hold on her face. His fingers gently disjointed from hers as he leaned back against his seat.

"I'm going to return you to the institute now," he said as he made a U-Turn back onto Bayville Ave.

She looked at him in confusion. They were headed in the opposite direction as before.

"Wait. If you weren't taking me back to the institute before, where were we going?" she asked.

"It does not matter. I changed my mind," he said.

"But you could change it back," she said.

"Not today. You have my word," he said looking into her eyes through the rear-view mirror again. She nodded. "Anna, do yourself a favor. As I'm certain you realized by now, I'm not going to let you go anytime in the near future. So, sit back and enjoy the ride a little... I'm not telling you to stop asking questions or to stop attempting to find a way out of our situation. Because I enjoy your questions, and there is no way out. What I am advising you to do... is realize that there will be times where you will find this captivity to be bearable. Quiet moments that you can take advantage of. Where you can relax just a little. Things in Bayville are going to change... soon. What I am telling you is enjoy the quiet moments. They will not last," he said.

"When are things gonna change?" she asked. He laughed.

"You didn't listen to a word I just said," he said with a smile.

"Yes, I did," she exclaimed."Not today. You have my word. Anna do yourself a favor-" she started to quote.

"Alright," he said with a laugh. "You heard every word of it. But that doesn't mean you listened," he said.

"Could you define the word listen? Cause silly me, I always thought it was a synonym to the word hear. But I must be wrong," she said over Eric's laughter.

She looked over at him while he laughed. His face seemed gentle... kind. This was the man she had spend hours with: laughing... playing... kissing...

"... Why do I like you?" she mumbled as she started out the window.

"You know the answer to that question."

"Stockholm syndrome," she said dryly.

"No. That disorder develops when a captive needs a way to escape their fear of their captor."

"You been me holding me captive since Christmas last year," she pointed out.

"Yes, but you did not know that until I told you. You did not fear until last Saturday. The feelings you have developed when we were working together on your powers. What happens to them now: yes, that's stockholm syndrome. But the founding of our relationship was not. It is not the reason you like me," he said.

"Then what is?" she asked.

"I was hoping you would tell me. I have to admit, I've been quite curious... Why do you like me?" he asked.

"I don't know... Your charming... charismatic... funny," she said.

"For some reason you think it's hilarious when I use profanities," he said with a smile.

"What? It is," she exclaimed as she looked over at him. He chuckled lightly. "There's something about your voice. Something respectable... regal even, and when you say ridiculous things like-"

"Shit," he said with a grin.

"Yes,"she said with a smile rolling her eyes.

"Asshole...Jackass... Crap," he said.

"Stop it," she laughed, she hit his arm playfully. He continued to laugh.

"I say words like that all the time. It's not a big deal for me. But you... you never say-"

"Bastard," he said with a smirk.

"Okay you used it twice last week, and it's only cause I said it first," she said with a small laugh. "... I just... I think it's funny. And you think it's funny that I think it's funny, and... and I think your an asshole," she said with a smile staring out the window. He chuckled.

She sighed as she staring out her window. There were trees on both sides of the road: offering shade to any who passed beneath them. At the slow speed Eric was driving the car, the wind was just right, blowing her hair back: it was refreshing.

After a moment she turned to look at him. He was relaxed smile on his face.

"This one of those quiet moments you were talking about?" she asked with a small smile.

"Yes," he replied. "... Are you enjoying it?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said with a smile.

"Thank you for listening," he said turning for a moment to met her gaze. "Or hearing," he said as he turned his attention back to the road, "which ever you prefer," he said playfully with a smirk. She couldn't help but laugh softly as she leaned back against her seat.

After her laughter died down: a comfortable silence fell between them for the rest of the ride. He continued to drive and she continued to enjoy her surroundings.

She hated to admit it, but that car ride was the most relaxed she had been in a while.

Unfortunately, for her: it was the most relaxation she would get for months...

So that's it for now!!!

I hope everyone enjoyed it!!! Please let me know!!! Reviews make me spend more time on this fic!!!!

As for the time-line thing. I'm not going to go back and change anything. I'm just going to avoid using large measurements of time to describe stuff. At least until the end of season three. After that I can do anything I want time wise. So, forget the whole six months thing for how long Eric's been holding her captive. It was about two. I'm just not going to mention it in the fic anymore. So, that's that.

REVIEW!!!!!! … please... ^.^

LadyNorth76: ^.^ Thanks for the review!!!!! I hope this was soon enough and hope you loved it! Please let me know!!!!

Warrioroftheseventhstar: I hope you loved this chapter!!!! Time-line issue been worked out. I'm going to pretty much ignore it. Since no one really cares. Which is fine by me. By the way loved all this!

"Really amusing how Rogue forgets he is always in control until he makes some comment about it, after the fact when she thought she had the upper hand."

That was the entire point of the chapter, and you summed it up in one sentence!!!! Kudos! Thanks for the kind words, and I hope to here from you again!!!!

Crazyjess09: HAPPY BIRTHDAY....AGAIN!!!!!!!!! He didn't man-handle her or anything sorry. They were in a car... But he did have her trapped in a seat unable to get up for like half a chapter. So, that's something.

Hoped you loved it! Please let me know!!!!!!!

Death-Is-Watching: I agree completely!!!!! And I'm glad I brightened up your week. I hope this chapter does too! Thanks for the review and I hope to hear from you again!!!

MalfoysMudbloodPet: I updated!!!! ...two days later then I said I was going to in the message I sent... sorry about that... Anyway, once again I would just like to state how awesome I think you are for reading everything is a short amount of time, and I hope you loved this chapter!!!! Please let me know what you think about it!!!!

Daughter of the Black: Thanks for the story alert!!!!