For anyone who is interested, we are now in of the episode Day of Reckoning part 1.

Also, I have a special treat for you all after the reviews! I was going through some writers block as I started to write this chapter. So, I started to write the chapter in a different way to work out of it. I had fun! Please take a look at it if you would like to?!?

Oh, one more thing. There a lot of Magneto's past that I haven't gotten into. And most of it I'm not going to explain unless I really have to, or unless I'm asked to in a review. In case anyone is curious: please go read X-Men Magneto Testament. For this fic everything that happens to him in that origin story is assumed to be true, and makes up the foundation for the character I portray him as. So, anyone who would like to understand the events that make Magneto the man he is today, you need only go read that graphic novel. My apologizes if no one finds this comment useful or necessary.

Enjoy!

Taunting Repartee

Chapter Twenty-Two

Rogue sat on her bed, putting her shoes on as she watched Magneto put on his coat.

"Why do we have to go out to eat?" she asked as she glanced at her clock. "It's already eight-thirty. I have school tomorrow," she pointed out.

"I highly doubt that you will be attending," Eric said as he waited for her to get up. Panic crossed her expression.

"Why?" she asked quickly. "What happened? What did you do?" she asked.

"One question at a time, my girl," he said calmly as he walked over to her. He chuckled as he approached the bed. "Although, you might has well have asked the same question thrice," he said with a smirk on his face.

"What did you do?" she asked again as she stared up at him. He held out his hand to her. She stared at it for a moment before sighing.

"Anna?" he asked as he gestured to his hand. She took his hand, and he used his strength to pill her off of the bed.

"So?" she asked as pulled back against his hand, attempting to put a foot or two between them. His grip on her hand tightened, not enough to hurt her, but enough to keep her hand in his.

"I would like to wait until we are at the restaurant to converse on this topic," he informed her as he started to walk towards the door.

"Why?" she asked as she walked with him.

"I have my reasons," he said offhandedly as he continued to walk towards the door. His grip on her hand forcing her to walk with him. "Come," he said as used his powers to open the bedroom door. "The van is waiting outside," he said.

"Van?" she asked as they walked out into the hall. "Wait," she exclaimed as she ripped her hand out of his. "Is the van waiting for us outside the Institute's gates?" she asked as he turned to look at her.

"No, it is not," he answered.

"So, the gates are gonna open for us to leave?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered as he reached for her hand again. She pulled back. "Anna," he said breathlessly. "I have not eaten in almost a day. I am willing to discuss this with you, but can we please do so while walking?" he asked with a trace of annoyance in his voice. Now that she looked at him, he did look a little pale.

"Sorry," she muttered as she started to walk with him. "I know how you are about food. After everything you went through as a child and in the camps. I didn't mean to keep you from eating," she said expanding her apology.

"It's alright, Anna," he said as he rested his hand on the small of her back. He quickened his pace, and she moved with him. "That was decades ago. I should be above such juvenile insecurities," he said as they speedily jogged down the stairs. "But, alas, I am not," he said as he used his powers to open the front door of the institute. The car in question was one of the institute's X-Van's, and it was waiting for them right outside. She watched him use his powers to open the front and passenger side doors. She felt his hand leave her back as he walked around to the other side of the door. She got into the car and closed her door.

It was just as she was about to put the seat-belt over her person that she rethought who she apologized to and why. She huffed as she let the seat-belt go, refusing to entrap herself further. 'He choose to hold you captive. You ain't keeping him from doing shit,' she thought as she rolled her eyes at her own apology.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him get into the car. She crossed her arms over her chest as a sign of defiance. She could feel his eyes on her, observing her posture.

"What could I possible have missed in thirty seconds?" he asked baffled.

"You chose to hold me captive," she said rewording her thought. "I'm not keeping you from anything. I don't have to apologize to you for jack-shit," she finished. Her eyes made contact with his for a moment: she saw pride behind his gaze. She turned to look out the front window.

"Nevertheless, the acknowledgment of my needs... even a temporary acknowledgment, was appreciated," he said as he started the car.

"I till acknowledge it," she muttered. "But I shouldn't care. So, I'm not going to," she uttered. Her eyes narrowed as she listened to him chuckle.

"If only you that were true, Anna," he said with a smile as he started to drive. "If only you were anger with me."

"I am angry at you," she insisted strongly.

"Now, because of my reactions, yes you are. But before I had gotten into the van you were anger at yourself for apologizing. You still are," he added with a smirk. She refused to respond to that. They drove down the path in silence.

"A moment ago," Eric started to say as used his powers to open the front gates, "you were asking about the gate. Which side of it the van was on seemed to matter to you," he pointed out as he drove out of the institute, turning onto the road. "Why is that?" he asked attempting to change the subject. "Why would such a mundane detail matter?" he asked as he glanced at her through the rear-view window.

"Because it's not mundane," she muttered in irritation. "... A couple days ago we couldn't take a cab back here because you would still have to fly us over the gate. A couple of days ago, opening the gate mattered. But it doesn't now. Why is that?" she asked firmly.

"There could have been another reason as to why I desired to carry you back to the institute. Have you considered that?"

"So, what's the other reason?" she asked as she glanced over at him. He chuckled, but gave no verbal response. "Right, why would you actually answer a question?" she asked herself out loud: her aggravation paramount in her tone.

"You know that is not true," he said.

"Do I?" she asked.

"I've answered quite a few of your questions. In fact, by my count, two in the last few minutes," he pointed out. She huffed in frustration, knowing he was right.

"It wasn't just Saturday," she said.

"What wasn't just Saturday?" he asked.

"You not being able- ...or not wanting to use the front gates. This afternoon bring Risty's car to the institute mattered. Because someone would notice that it didn't belong... But tonight, taking a van away won't effect anything. No one's gonna notice it's missing... Something's changed. Something big," she said.

"You've already said that," he said.

"I think you increased your security at the mansion," she said.

"You would be correct," he said with a smile. She turned to glance at him, waiting for him to say more. She sighed.

"Why have you increased your security?"she asked.

"Because of what I did this afternoon," he answered.

"What did you do this afternoon?" she asked riled. As he chuckled again she was tempted to slap him, consequences be damned.

"Frustrating, isn't it?" he chivvied. "Knowing that some aspect of your life has changed drastically. And you having the ability to connect all my abstract clues together more sufficiency than any other... but still... still you need my input to discover what has transpired."

"It is frustrating," she mumbled. "So, you're waiting until we get to the restaurant to answer that question," she said.

"Yes, I am," he answered.

"Why?" she asked again.

"I hav-" he started to say.

"I swear to god, Eric, if you say I have my reasons again I am going to punch you. I don't care what the fuck you do to me because of that, but I will hit you," she said strongly as she looked at him. He glanced at her out of the corners of his eye. He raised an eyebrow at her expression.

"I was not aware my comments would enrage you this much," he said softly.

"I'm. Just. Angry," she said as she sat back against her seat. "I think I have the right to be angry."

"I know you do," he added. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she had to chance to say anything the radio turned on. "Pick whatever station you prefer," he told her, "and attempt to relax a little," he said.

"I relaxed a lot this afternoon, what good did it do me?" she asked.

"What harm did it cause you?" he asked as he stared into her eyes through the rear-view mirror. She took a deep breath as she look at him. "None," he answered.

She really did hate it when he was right...

After a moment his eyes shifted back to the road in front of him. She let out a sigh as she leaned forward and played with the tuning nob. She stopped as she heard a rap song. It wasn't a song that she strongly liked or disliked, but she knew that he would detest it. And right now, the small amount of pain he would have to endure by listening to it was enough to pacify her rage.

She sat back against her and turned her head towards the passenger side window. Out of the corner of her eye she could see him winch at her choice in stations. She smirked slightly to herself as she stared out her window.

It wasn't much of a victory, but for tonight it would do...

So, that's it for this chapter. I know super short, and nothing really happened, but the restaurant scene is going to be really long. I haven't planed out the dialogue yet, but I know that a lot is going to happen. A lot is going to be revealed doing that scene. So, I want some time to work on that. And I have a lot of papers to write this week for school. Four of them, and a dance to go to! I don't want to have to worry about the fic for at least a week. So, you guys get a shot chapter. I hope you enjoyed it and please review!?! Pretty pretty please with Mutant Supremacy on top!?!

MalfoysMudbloodPet: I feel the same. I love this parring so much! Personally, I don't think I'll get tired of the ship or Max calling Anna, my girl. ^.^ Something inside me just sings out in joy whenever I imagine that possessive look he gives her. That's perfectly normal, right? :p Anyway, I glad you liked the chapter! And, I'm especially glad that I made you the happy dance! What was it like seven times in this chapter, I had him call her his girl? Yup, just recounted! It was seven! Personally, I'm just a really big fan of inspiring dance of any kind! Okay, I'll rambled on long enough... Thank you for the review! It was a pleasure to read, and made me do a happy dance of my own ^.^ I hope to hear from you again!

LadyNorth76: Thanks! I glad that you liked Eric's point of view. If you don't mind me asking, you wrote that it was starting to drag on, what about the fic do you feel is dragging on? You don't have to answer, obviously. I'm just curious. ^.^ Thanks! I hope to hear from you again!

Warrioroftheseventhstar: Thank you for all the complements! You know your doing a good job when someone says that "You are such a good author" ^.^ I really appreciate a complement like that. Thank you for writing it!

Peneneth: I love the imagery your review has! I will never be able to listen to the godfather theme song without getting a picture of Magneto, stroking his bucket, in my head now :) Thanks for that! And, yeah he kind of is the mutant godfather. He'll make you an offer you can't refuse... unless your Rogue. Then you can say no to him like twenty times a day, and he'll just have to deal with it. ^.^ Anyway, thanks for the review! I love it! I read it like five times already! I really hope you liked this chapter and I hope to hear from you again.

Death-Is-Watching: I glad you liked it! Yes, another reader is addicted to my fan-fic! :Evil laugh: … Sorry, I'm having way too much responding to reviews this chapter! I really glad you enjoying the story! I love hearing that! Thank you for writing it! Sorry, that you have to wait another chapter for Magneto's plan to be revealed, but I figured a shot chapter is better than no chapter.

As, promised, I had some fun with the first draft as I decided what was going to happen and why.

Please enjoy.

"What did you do?" she asked again as she stared up at him. He held out his hand to her. She stared at it for a moment before sighing.

"Anna?" he asked as he gestured to his hand. She took his hand, and he used his strength to pill her off of the bed.

"So?" Rogue asked as pulled back against his hand, attempting to put a foot or two between them. His grip on her hand tightened, not enough to hurt her, but enough to keep her hand in his.

"I would like to wait until we are at the restaurant to converse on this topic," he informed her as he started to walk towards the door.

"Why?" she asked.

"Plot device, my girl," he said offhandedly. "You see, the author does not want to us to have this conversation in this room, because she knows as well as I that any conversation although started in the up right position will, no doubt, end on that lovely contraption behind you," he said with a smile.

"The bed?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Indeed," he said with a smirk.

"So, leaving the room forces you to what? Behave yourself?" she asked before laughing. "We both know that ain't true.

"Of course not," he agreed with a dark chuckle. "But being in a public place forces me to keep my hands and... other parts of my person to myself...," he said. "...Probably," he added after a twenty second pause.

"Probably?" she repeated.

"There are a few activities I believe we could engage in public that would go unnoticed."

"Do I wanna know?" she asked.

"Perhaps...I would be more than happy to show you," he said as he took another step towards her, staring down at her with lust in his eyes.

"Jesus, Eric! Could you keep it in your pants for more than one chapter?" she asked incredulously as she ripped her hand of of his. She took a step away from him.

"I resent that comment," he said as he took a step towards her.

"I resent a lotta things," she countered.

"I have only had it out for exactly one chapter," he continued ignoring her statement. "That is all. One," he said strongly. "No more, no less."

"Only because I usually say no before you get a change," she yelled. "That doesn't stop you from trying. You and I would be naked every chapter if you had your way," she pointed out.

"Which is precisely the reason why we should not have this conversation here," he said as he walked over to the door. "Now," he said as he opened the door, "if we can leave?" he asked as he glanced over at her. "I am extremely hungry and I promise you, my girl, that I will be eating something this night," he said as his eye roamed over her body. "The venue and the meal, in it of itself, is yours to choice. But I warn you I am growing impatient and furthermore-" he continued to rant as Rogue ran past him out the door. "...that certainly took you long enough," he added softly with a smirk as he closed the door to the bedroom behind him.