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Taunting Repartee
Chapter Fifty-One
"What you need to do is leave her alone-" Charles started to shouted at Max as they argued outside the institute.
"That is not going to happen," Max yelled.
"You know too much, Magnus, and you have no qualms with using that knowledge-"
"To what, Charles? Help the woman I love through a troubling time? What a monster that makes me?" he asked mockingly.
"I stand by what I said. You know what you have done to Rogue."
"Yes, I do, Charles, and she has forgiving me," he said.
"She is unwise to do so," Charles said.
"There we disagree… yet again," he bite out for Charles let out a sigh. "Despite all of this Charles, we must find some way to get along with one another," he said.
"Do you honestly believe that after everything you've done that I could ever consider you a friend?" he asked disbelief.
"Naively is your trait, Charles, not mine," Max said. "What the girl needs now is hope. You aren't so blind as not to see how conflicted she feels towards us?"
"No, I am not," Charles angered in anger.
"As she stated, she is afraid one of us will force her to choose between the other. It will not be me,"he said.
"For now," he commented darkly.
"Not until she finishes high school, at the very least. And even then s-,"Max said.
"And what if she says no again, will you hold her captive until she changes her mind?" he asked as Max's eyes narrowed.
"Of course, not,"he responded irate. "I do not know what our relationship will be in a year and a half. Time will tell whether she will return my feelings," Max said.
"The validity of her emotions for you will never be certain. You have manipulated her far too many times. The b-"
"Do not say it again, Charles," he commanded in rage. "Our bond is not corrupt: unusual, yes, but that does not make it wrong."
"How can you claim that? She hasn't fared well by being the object of your obsession. The trauma sh-"
"Do not speak to me about her trauma, Charles, not when it is your incompetence that caused her to fight alone for six-"
"I didn't know," Charles yelled in frustration yet again.
"You're telepathic, fo-,"Max shouted in response.
"That's not how I use my powers."
"And because you didn't use the gifts you were born with Rogue had to suffer?" he asked incredulously.
"If only she had told me," he yelled frustrated.
"So, this is Rogue's fault then?"Max asked pointedly: a disgusted look on his face."The traumatized teenager should have been expected to come forward: seeking help from her new guardian after every other parental figure she has ever known had failed her utterly?"
"No, no, of course not," Charles replied quickly; ashamed that he had even had the thought."Mystique, should have been the one to notice. Perhaps, Irene even. In these situations there are usually personality changes; warning signs that something is wrong but I- I missed those signs because I wasn't there to witness the alterations. Bec-," he rambled.
"Because, she came to you traumatized?"Max asked.
"Yes," Charles agreed at once. "Yes, precisely,"he said.
"Wouldn't this be the same state of mind I first found her in? Already, traumatized?"Max asked knowingly. Finally he was getting somewhere. Charles eyes narrowed.
"… I suppose so," he said bitterly. He held Charles's gaze; smirking.
"And can we both agree that I have been helping her gain control over powers?" he asked.
"Yes, we agree on that point," he said. "But you cannot deny that you added to her agony, Magnus. The stress you put her under was uncalled for; especially from someone who claims to love her. When she finally told me that you were blackmailing her, she wept with joy at finally having an honest conversation with someone she loved. Wept with joy," he repeated strongly. Max casted his gaze away from Charles'.
"I know, Charles I was there," Max commented annoyed with himself.
"My point exactly," he exclaimed. "You shouldn't have been there. You shouldn'-"
"An hour ago, she thanked me for entering her mind without her consent," Max said.
"That can't be true," he said in disbelief.
"My mind is not shielded," Max reminded him dryly before he felt Charles slip into his mind. "… She called me an asshole for doing so, of course," he smirked. "But the point still stands. She has no idea how much or how little control she would have today if I hadn't interjected. Neither do you," he said strongly as he pushed against Charles' mind in his. Charles took the hint and exited.
"She does not regret what has happened between us. I most certainly don't. I would do anything to protect her," he said before he let out a sigh, "which brings me to my next point. As much as it pains me to say this: we must come to some sort of understanding, for Anna's sake," Magneto said. "Our arguing is only causing her more anxiety," he said.
"…I agree,"he admitted.
"I have a suggestion,"Magneto said as he saw Rogue and Ororo standing up. Charles nodded for him to continue.
"Whenever Anna's safely is concerned we unquestioningly cooperate with one another, as we did after we found her with Juggernaut. Whatever personal issues we have with each other, we put it aside until we know she is out of harm's way… Agreed?" he asked. He watched Charles as he considered the terms.
"… Agreed," Charles nodded before the two of them shook hands. Rogue and Ororo returned to them hand in hand. Rogue looked wore out, even more so than she had been before. "Are you alright, Rogue?" he asked concerned.
"Could everyone please stop asking me that?" she asked annoyed as she broke away from Ororo. "Ya all know the answer's no. The only thing that changes is why," she said. He met Rogue's eyes as she took off a glove.
'I suppose I'm going to have to get accustomed to his,' he thought as he figures touched her face.
"Yeah, you-," Rogue started to say before her eye went distant; they widened. Her eyes refocused as she met his gaze. "Thank you," she said earnestly. "Both of you," she added as she glanced over at Charles.
"You're welcome," Charles said with nod as Rogue flashed him a small smile.
"Always, Anna," Magneto said as put his hand on her shoulder. She leaned up and gave Magneto a quick peck on the lips. Max smiled before he leaned forward and kissed her forehead. She pulled away from him a moment later: their eyes meeting once again. He watched her let out a sigh in relief. She turned away from him a second later to glance at Charles.
"We're still gonna talk with everyone tomorrow, right? Fill in Logan, Mr. McCoy and ya all? Scott and Jean too, if ya want them there?" she asked.
"Yes, I believe that is still the plan," Charles said.
"Okay," she nodded. "So, I'm gonna go with Magneto right now. But I'll be back later tonight: in like five hours. And we'll have that meeting like two o'clock tomorrow afternoon?" she asked.
"I thought you were going to tell us-" Ororo started to say.
"It's nothing that can't wait till tomorrow," Rogue told her as Max glanced down at her with a raised eyebrow. "I really don't want to think about it," she said. "I just want one more night pretending it doesn't exist. I'll face it tomorrow," she told them. "So," she said changing the subject, "we're just gonna go get dinne-. Actually, I really don't feel like going out. Could we go ta Jericho? Order in?" she asked.
"Of course," Magneto said with a smile.
"Maybe play chess, again?" Rogue asked.
"I think you've utilized enough strategies for one da-" Magneto started to say.
"I don't mind. Thinking strategically just- it's just the way I think now," she said.
"Because you haven't dropped your guard in days," Magneto said. "You need to-"
"Relax," Rogue finished. "I know, Max. You repeating that every ten minutes isn't gonna make it any easier, for me. I want to relax. Just- … shit keeps happening," she said annoyed. "It's just been one thing after another, and then another, and then a fucking another. I just- I can't- … I- I need.
"What do you need, Anna?" Max asked tenderly as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"You," she said in German as her eyes met hers. "A bed," she smiled; he couldn't help but smirk at that. "Maybe a back rub?" she asked. "I want to forget everything else. I need to stop thinking. At least for a few hours," she told him.
"Gladly, my girl," Magneto said. Rogue smiled at that.
"We're gonna get out of here," Rogue said in English to Charles and Miss Munroe.
"No later than twelve," Charles ordered quickly.
"Okay," Rogue nodded. "See ya both later," she said as they turned to leave. As they walked Max offered Rogue his hand. She took it with a smile as their feet left the ground.
Charles watched with a heavy heart as Magneto took his ward from their home. With all his being he wished he could call her back; stop her from leaving with him. It took strength to keep himself from shouting out.
"I am never going to be comfortable with this," Charles said mostly to himself.
"It's what she wants, Charles," Ororo said.
"She's still a teenager, Ororo. They often want things that they shouldn't. It's up to their guardians to shy them away from these things: which I have tried to do. If only I could manage to keep him away from her. But Magneto has made that impossible," he said bitterly as Magneto and Rogue flew out of his line of sight. He turned to Ororo. "He's in her very mind. I don't know the full extent of his influence over her. I'm afraid for her. That's all," he said.
Rogue let herself collapse onto Magneto's bed. Magneto had remained downstairs to order their dinner. He had insisted upon it still being a surprise. She had no problem with allowing him that and had even pushed his fragment back with the others to keep his selection a mystery. She let out a sigh as she turned on her stomach; in preparation for her massage. She maneuvered the pillow as she made herself comfortable.
She knew this house was lined with the same metal Max used for his helmet: that he had a small army at his beck and call. Even with Irene out there; scheming plots she didn't comprehend: being here with Max made her feel protected from all of that.
She took a few deep breaths relaxing completely. It was then, in her exhausted state, she made the mistake of closing her eyes.
Charles sat anxiously as the clock stuck midnight. Ororo and Logan sat up with him in the kitchen as they waited for Rogue's return. They had been waiting for over an hour. Charles and Ororo had both been reading books. Logan had been taking turns between sitting and pacing the room. More than once Ororo had commented that he could go to bed. But Logan had only shook his head and remained in the room. It wasn't that he minded the man's company; but Logan's anxiety was getting to him. Adding to his own worriment and causing him to be unable to relax. Charles took a deep breath as he turned the page: determined not to let himself panic. ...
Charles glanced up at the time it was now twelve- forty six.
"What if he ain't gonna let her come back?" Logan voiced what all three of them had been thinking. Charles glanced up from his book at Logan; who was standing a few feet away from the table; once again he had been pacing.
"They could just be late," Ororo said.
"And if they're not? What are we gonna do, Chuck? We need a plan," Logan said irate.
"Logan, please calm down. Panicking is not going to help anything."
"Well, what the hell could they be up too that their this lat-" Logan started to ask before he stopped himself. "No one answer that," he commanded quickly.
"I had no intention of doing so," Charles said darkly as he watched Logan walked away from them. Charles let out a sigh. "Logan, Rogue believes she is no danger with Magneto. As far as I'm concerned she is wrong on that front. But what is clear is that Magneto is attempting to maintain her trust. He will return her to us. The question is when," he said.
"What if you're wrong?" Logan asked. "How much longer are we just gonna sit her-" Logan started to say before the phone rang. All three of them glanced at the phone.
"Do you think it is-" Logan started to ask.
"Who else would call this late?" Ororo asked as Charles picked up the phone.
"Xavier Institute," Charles said calmly as the others became silent.
"Good evening, Charles," Magneto said.
"Where is she, Magneto?" Logan demanded to know.
"Logan, allow me to-" Charles started to say.
"She's asleep," Magneto answered regardless. "She went upstairs before me. By the time I had finished ordering our dinner she was asleep. I attempted waking her a few hours ago to eat, and a few other times throughout the night, but she refused to be stirred. I had hoped not to spend the evening alone, but she finally getting the rest she needs. I suppose that's what matters," he mused.
"Yes, of course. Obviously, you haven't left yet, Magnus, how soon we you be leaving?" Charles asked.
"Once Anna wakes up," Magneto answered.
"Just bring her back asleep," Charles said.
"Do you want to give the poor girl a panic attack?" Magneto exclaimed. "The last thing she remembers in falling asleep in my bed and that is where she will awaken. I will not be the cause of her fear and confusion any longer," he said. Charles let out a sigh. If she suddenly found herself in her own bed without an explanation she would panic. But if he were there to explain, as he had been the last time, he was sure he could calm her in a matter of seconds.
"Magnus, I understand you reasoning but I am mor-" Charles started to say.
"I'm certainly glad to hear that. Thank you for understanding, Charles," Magneto said.
"Yes, you're welcome, but about-"
"You'll see Anna in the morning, C-"
"Now, wait just-" Charles started to say as Logan yelled, "She is not staying overnight."
"It wouldn't be the first time," Magneto said pointedly as Wolverine started to growl.
"Logan, please," Charles said as Magneto said, "Have a good night," Magneto said.
"Wait, Mag-" Charles started to protest before the line went dead. He quickly dialed star- sixty-nine. The phone rang for a moment. Charles almost let out a sigh of relief as someone picked up. But his hope waned when that same person immediately hung up the phone. "Damn it," Charles muttered under his breath.
"Charles?" Ororo asked concerned.
"Now, what?" Logan asked.
"Without Cerebro there is nothing we can do," Charles said regretfully.
"What?" Logan asked enraged.
"Even with it I don't know if I would be able to find her. If she is asleep then she's certainly not using her powers, that's assuming Magneto hasn't taken her somewhere I would be able to locate either of them. We'll have to wait till the morning," Charles sighed.
"That's it?" Logan asked enraged. "You never should have let her leave with him," he muttered darkly.
"I wasn't given a choice. None of us were. Both Magneto and Rogue are determined to spend time alone with one another. I know you're worried, Logan. We all are. But I'm sorry, there's nothing else we can do at the moment. Let's try to get some sleep. We'll reassess the situation in the morning," Charles said before Logan stormed out of the room growling under his breath.
"I am certain she is fine," Ororo said.
"Let's hope so," Charles said sadly before he back up from the table.
So, what do you guys think is going to happen? I have this habit of keeping you all on your toes, throwing in twists and turns you would never expect. And I'm just curious if anyone can guess what will happen next.
Also, I had an idea if anyone would like to take me up on it? The college student in me still loves deadlines. They made me haul ass when I had too and kept me from procrastinating. So, here's the deal: if anyone would be willing to tell me their date of birth I would love to aim my updating times around getting all my lovely readers a treat on their birthdays. So, what do you think?
For the record, if I only get one birthday you getting a chapter on it, every year I'm still writing this fic. If I get over twenty- or it's tomorrow, I might be off by a few days. But I will try!
Thank you for reading and please review!