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Taunting Repartee
Chapter Fifty-Three
They had eaten the rest of their meal in silence. He hadn't been particularly thrilled by the lack of conversation but it was what it was. Max watched Rogue stand.
"Are ya done?" she asked.
"I am," he answered. The words had barely left his mouth when she told hold of his plate and walked them over to sink. He watched her go to turn on the water.
"You can just leave them. I'll take care of it later," Max told her.
"You sure?" she asked as she turned to look at him. "I don't mind helping ya clean up," she told him as he stood.
"Thank you, Anna," he said as he walked up to her. "But I'm certain," he said smiled as he ran his ran down her cheek. She let out a blissful sigh as her eyes closed. He ran his hand down the side of her face. He cupped the back of her neck as she moved her hands to his chest. He rubbed her there as he moved his other hand to her shoulder. He rubbed her shoulder as she let out a soft moan.
"We should leave soon," she said as she wrapped her arms around him lightly. He couldn't help but chuckle. She hit his chest playfully in response to his chuckle before she leaned her head against his chest. "I gotta get back to the institute," she said breathlessly as he rubbed her back.
"We have a few minutes," he said.
"Massage is going put me ta sleep, Max," she said: he could hear the smile in her voice. He cupped her chin in his hand and tilted her face until their eyes met. Was it his imagination or was that fear in her eyes? He leaned down and kissed her.
"Another rain-check then?" he asked.
"If ya don't mind," she smiled. He leaned down and kissed her again. She broke the kiss and leaned her head against him again as she hugged him tightly. "I don't wanna go," she groaned.
"We both know you need time to feel safe, to recover from the last year," he started to say as she moved her head off of his chest. "The place you choose to do so could be here, Anna. You do not have to leave, my girl. You're welcome to stay as long as you like," he said as he watched her eyes. In disbelief he realized she was thinking about it. She was actually concerning staying with him. Hope overtook him.
"I couldn't do that to my-" she started to mutter.
"Haven't you done enough for them?" he asked in disbelief. "You've done your fair share, more so. You need to worry about yourself. Take care of yourself for a change," he said as he watched her study him. "I can pull Pietro out of Bayville. He is the only one beside you who knows about this house. No one would be able to find you here," he ranted: hardly able to contain himself. She stared up at him: a look of pity on her face. At first she sighed. After a moment a soft smile graced her face. She leaned up and kissed him.
"Max, you should really let a girl finish her sentences," she said with a laugh. He stared down at her with raised eyebrow. "What I was gonna say is that I couldn't do that to myself. I know I would be safe here: isolated and safe. And maybe that is what I need to recover. But I didn't fight so damn hard to regain my freedom just to imprison myself," she said with a sad smile. "I know that if you thought about it for a minute you'd realized that cowering in fear ain't the choice you'd have me make," she said. He let out a sigh.
"… No, it isn't," he agreed regretfully as she placed her hand on his cheek; smiling. She leaned up and kissed him again. "Let's get you home then," he sighed as he released her. She smiled at that.
"You're a good person, Max" she said. "Even though you don't like to admit it that often: you are," she told him before she gave him a peck on the lips. He frowned at the comment. How many times had he been called a monster over the course of his life? Far too many…
"I believe there are several individuals who would disagree with you," he said sadly. She reached up and put her hand on his cheek. She gently turned his face until he was look down at her. The smile on her face was entrancing. He couldn't help but return the warm expression.
"Do these people know ya as well as I do?" she asked.
"No one knows me as well as you do, Anna Marie," he said with a smile.
"Then why the fuck would you take their opinions over mine? " she asked with a smirk. "Just 'cause there's more of them doesn't make them right," she said. He stared down at her dumbfounded. She gave him another kiss. His eyes closed at the contact as he put his hand on her hips. He never wanted to let go of her again.
She however, pulled back a minute later.
"I gotta go grab something before we go. Meet ya by the door?" she asked. He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. "Okay," she said. "See ya in a minute," she said as she slipped out of his hold. He watched with a sigh as she walked out of the room.
Max stood in the front hall of his house. He had put his jacket and gloves on moments ago and now stood waiting for Anna to join him. Since their last conversation he had been deep in thought. Various thought ran though his mind:
How could this one girl bring so much joy to his life? How did she always manage to say the most profound things to him? Before they had begun speaking he had been bitterly accepting of his view of his own nature. He was a monster, striving to use his knowledge to spare the next generation his faith. He never wanted his children to stare down at the cold copse they had created either out of revenge, anger, or necessity. But her words, more than from just today, were causing him to reevaluate every opinion he had about himself. Maybe he wasn't such a monster after all...
He shook his head sadly.
After everything he had done, of course that's what he was. His life had made him that way. His childhood, his years in the camps had forged him into the deadly force he was. He was still willing to accept that, but the fact that Anna believed otherwise was truly inspiring for him. Never before had he had a partner who saw him in such a refreshing light: not even Magda.
His late wife had been just as tainted as he had been: lived through the same horrors. But once she had seen what those horrors had made him capable of she had fled from him. Never to return to the arms of a loving husband who needed her support through the loss of their child.
His fists balled at the thought of Magda.
He remembered standing at her grave all those years ago. Rage had been his first response; consuming him for hours afterwards as he had stood there in the cold, cursing her name. Tears had only followed days later. Regardless the loss had wounded him more than he had ever cared to admit aloud.
But then there was the girl; his new love. Anna knew better than Magda what he was capable of and yet she wasn't running away from him. She accepted how he felt about her and embraced his love.
'But how much so for the safety of her family?' he thought darkly to himself. That thought had been in the back of his mind for some time. He shook his head at the thought. Anna wanted to be with him. The only proof he needed was the look in her eyes whenever she was in his arms. Misplaced loyalty kept her from his side. Hopefully she would outgrow Charles and his band of dreamers as the years went on. Time would tell…
But until she was ready to move forward with her life could he truly be content with only seeing her once a week?
'No. No, I won't be,' he concluded: hardly needing a second to admit it.
"…You okay, Max?" Rogue asked slightly assumed: snapping him out of his thoughts. He glanced over at her. She was standing beside him: her brown trench coat covering her body. Her gloved hand rested gently on his shoulder.
"…I'm- I'm fine," he said as he smiled reassuringly at her. "You've just given me something to think about," he explained.
"I know it's kind of a painful subject for ya, but do you wanna talk about it?" she asked.
"Perhaps another time," he said. "For now, let us get on our way. I don't wish to cause you to break your promise," he said.
"Thanks," she smiled before she gave him a quick peck on the lips. He smiled as she turned towards the exit: walking. He followed her. "I'm in enough trouble as it is," she said rolling her eyes. He let out a short snort as she opened the front door.
"Charles shouldn't reprimand you for one lapse in schedule," he said as they exited the house.
"I know but you can understand why he's gonna freak out, right?" he asked.
"I suppose," he uttered as she turned to face him.
"Look, if this ever happens again, just take me home on time. I understand why ya didn't and I appreciate it. But right now the battle I'm fighting is making Prof kinda comfortable with all this. The only way that's gonna work is if I leave and come back exactly when I said I was gonna. Okay?" she asked. He let out a sigh. "I know you don't give a shit about having his approval and that's not what I'm asking. Just things will be easier for us if he's kinda comfortable with it," she reminded him.
"Alright, I promise," he said.
"Thanks," she said with smile before she leaned up and gave him a peck on the lips. "Now could you turn off the inhibitor field please?" she asked.
"Certainly," he said as he used his powers to do as she requested.
"It's off?" she asked as she looped her arms around his neck.
"It is," he answered as he placed his hands on her hips. She pulled him down into a kiss. He let out a groan as she deepened it.
She pulled back a few moments later as he took a deep breath.
"I might have ta do that again," she said.
"That's something I'd like to look into. Please remind me next Saturday," he said.
"Okay," she smiled as she removed her arms. "Race ya?" she asked as he watched her rise into the air. He chuckled.
"Not the best idea, I'm afraid," he said with mirth. "Just in case my powers fade, my girl," he said as he joined her in the air.
"Well, then for my sake I hope ya can keep up, old man," she smirked. Before he could object further she took off with as much speed as she could muster up into the clouds. He let out a sigh as he took off after her: the rift in the clouds she had created was the path he followed.
In his mind he saw a flash of her from the past: in the van bloody and broken. Was that how he would find her again if he didn't catch up to her in time? Seeing her like that, days ago, had- it had changed his perspective of everything regarding their relationship. He couldn't handle the sight of his love nearly dying again.
'I won't allow it,' he thought determined, flying as fast as he could as his heart was beating violently in his chest.
A minute later he finally caught sight of her. He followed her: attempting to gain on her. But her youth, matched with his abilities and knowledge gave her a slight advantage over him in a contest of speed. He wondered for a moment what else she could best in him: before he shook his head dismissing the thought as quickly as it had occurred. 'Now is not the time,' he told himself. "Anna," he yelled out. "You shouldn't be so careless… Anna," he screamed.
She hadn't heard him.
He took a deep breath.
'I can see her. If my powers fade I'll have more than enough time. She must know that,' he thought to himself. 'Of course, she knows that, it's Anna,' he thought with more conviction. So, he followed behind her, watching as she flew. He heard her laugh as she flew in a loop in the air. He started to relax at that sound. She was just having a little fun: that was all.
She flew in another loop: this one slower and larger than the one before it. It gave him enough time to fly up to her. He caught her in his arms: her back to his stomach. She pulled away from him quickly, only to turn herself to face him: wrapping her arm around his neck again. She smiled at him before she pulled him into another kiss. He groaned at the contact. He was still becoming accustomed to the feeling of his energies flowing out of him. She pulled away from him a moment later. The smile that had graced her face until now was noticeably absent.
"Max, I-" she started to say, "I didn't mean ta make ya worry. I knew what I doing," she told him.
"I realized that, my girl," he said with a sigh. "Go," he said pushing her gently from his arms, "have your fu-," he started to say before she glanced down. "Anna, what is it?" She let out a sigh.
"We're already here," she said as he glanced down. Between following her lead and the clouds that surrounded them, he hadn't even noticed.
"So, this is farewell, until next Saturday," he said.
"Yeah," she sighed as he cupped her cheek. She wrapped her arms around his back as they kissed once again. "See ya at the cafe, Max," she said.
"Good bye, Anna," he said as she slipped out of his arms. He watched her float down to the ground before he flew away.
Rogue walked through the hallway in sublevel seven. She had learned from the Professor moments before that everyone was starting to gather there. She let out a sigh as she walked into the conference room they always used for meeting like this. Only Scott and Jean were present so far.
"Hey, Rogue," Jean said with a smile.
"Hey, Jean. Hey, Scott" she said as she took a seat next to her.
"Hey," he nodded.
"How was your night?" Jean asked.
"We heard you didn't come home," Scott said with a raised eyebrow.
"I fell asleep the second I got to Magneto's. Slept for twelve hours straight again," she explained.
"You must have been tired," Jean said with sympathy.
"I was exhausted," Rogue sighed as the Professor, and Ororo made their way into the room. "The last few weeks have just been fucking crazy. I've been on edge every since I got back to the institute and I think I'm finally starting to come down from that," she said as Ororo sat down.
"That's good," Jean smiled as the Professor took his place at the head of the table.
"Yeah," Rogue sighed. "How was your night?" she asked.
"We watched a couple of movies," Scott answered.
"There was a debate between Thirteen Ghosts and Moulin Rouge," Jean said with a slight smirk.
"We watched both," Scott said dryly.
"So, it was a typical Saturday night?" Rogue asked with a smile.
"Yeah," Jean answered with a smile.
"I can't wait till the danger room's rebuild," Scott muttered. Jean and Rogue shared a look before laughing softly. "What's so funny?" Scott asked.
"Nothing," they both answered quickly as Logan and Mr. McCoy walked into the room.
"Let's get started, shall we?" the Professor said as Mr. McCoy and Logan took their seats. She and Jean shared one more smile before they both turned toward the Professor, given him their attention.
"Where do you want me start, Prof?" Rogue asked.
"Everyone in this room has been present for some of the discussion but not all. I believe I am the only who knows nearly as much as you do," the Professor said.
"I'm not gonna have ta go over everything again, am I?" she sighed. "That is not gonna help me recover," she added.
"I agree," the Professor said. "No, I'll surmise," he said. Rogue let out a sigh as she prepaid herself to hear the events of the past two months from his perspective.
Rogue let out a sigh as she listened to the Professor speak. As expected there was the usual amount of disgust and anger towards Magneto. She was so tired of having this conversation.
'Today's gonna be the last time,' she thought determined.
"So, it was during that conversation that I learned that Rogue was being blackmailed by Magneto," Charles
"Sorry, for lying to you two," Rogue said to Scott and Jean. "But I shouldn't have told, Prof," she explained.
"It's okay," Jean said.
"Speaking of which, how was the accident his fault?" Charles asked. Rogue let out a sigh.
"It wasn't an accident," Rogue said. Charles glanced over at her with a raised eyebrow.
"I'll explain that in a minute," she said quickly. "I feel like an idiot for not checking. I just- with the stupid cameras in places I assumed that was all he was gonna do ta keep an eye on me. I should've known. I should've checked," she said mostly to herself.
"Magneto overlapped the fragment again?" Hank asked. Rogue nodded. "Once you were outside he told you," Hank guessed. Rogue nodded again with a sigh.
"Magneto threatened to take you again?" Ororo asked. Rogue nodded sadly.
"Man, so if Juggernaut hadn't of shown up Magneto would've just kidnapped you again?" Scott asked in disbelief. Rogue nodded; although he saw anger in her gaze. He watched her hands ball.
"Rogue, are you okay?" Jean asked.
"No," she answered: shaking her head. "I can't talk about this without really needing to punch something. I'm trying my best to keep myself together right now," Rogue said as she made eye contact with the Professor.
"You're doing fine, child," Ororo said gently. Rogue smiled slightly at that before her facial expression returned to full anger. He watched Rogue close her eyes and take a deep breath.
"Magneto's people were actually looking for Juggernaut before he came to the institute," Rogue said. "I can't tell ya all why or where they were looking," she said before she took another deep breath. "What I can say is that Juggernaut was nowhere near the fucking institute an hour and half before he showed up. There's no way he could've gotten here by himself in time," she said.
"Someone helped him?" Scott asked.
"Someone teleported him," Rogue said bitterly.
"Who?" Jean asked. He watched Rogue take a deep breath.
"Her name's Agatha Harkness: an old friend of Irene's. She used to babysit me when I was little," Rogue said as tears formed in her eyes.
"Oh my god," Charles muttered to himself as he Ororo, Hank and Logan all looked at one another. He knew that the same thought was running through all their minds: how much more pain was this one woman going to be responsible for?
"I looked at Cain's memories," Rogue said as she stared at the table in front of her blankly.
"Rogue, you don't have to explain now," Charles started to say. Rogue shook her head.
"Let's just get this over with. I don't wanna keep thinking about this. I'm trying so hard not to," she said desperately. "I just- I can't take this pain anymore," she said.
"You don't have to," Charles said. "Lead me to the memory. I'll watch it. You will not have to relive this again," he said. She glanced away from him a moment: her eyes going distant.
"… Promise you won't go looking at anything else," she said softy as she met his gaze. Charles let out a sigh. Who was the one attempting to control the flow of information now? Hadn't she gotten anger at him for doing just this? "I know it might seem hypocritical of me, but you were there at the truce. You saw how complicated it was. There's just- there's just stuff he doesn't want anyone to know about him, that I do.
"Protecting his secrets is protecting the truce and the safely of everyone who lives here. I don't wanna go back to fighting him. I didn't wanna fight him even when I was," she exclaimed as Charles let out another sigh. "I know it's frustrating and I'm sorry for that. But you gotta see that this is so much better than the way things were late week, right?" she asked tears in her eyes. "I don't just mean for me. 'Cause I don't have ta lie anymore or worry about slipping up, saying the wrong thing and him taking me again cause of it. All the old threats he used ta throw around they're gone," she smiled. "He can't use them anymore or he loses my trus-"
"I know, Rogue," Charles said before he let out another sigh. "And I understand why you're asking me to make this promise. I read the fragment's mind out of concern for you but I know that had shaken your truth in me," he said.
"You were right about Magneto overlapping the fragment," Rogue said. "If he wasn't blackmailing me at the time I would've been looking too," she said. "And I still trust you. I just know you think I ain't capable of protecting myself when it comes ta him because of Stockholm Syndrome. But I'm actually happy with our relationship right now: it' almost entirely on my terms which is so fucking nice. But you're still worried about me, so I know you're gonna do what you think you have to to protect me. I just- I don't want you putting everyone else in danger to stop something I don't want you to stop."
"You've made that very clear, Rogue. But if any of the other teenagers had stayed out all night with their boyfriends how would you suggest I react?" he asked.
"Maybe with understanding and compassion considering how shitty of a month this teenager has been having. I didn't mean ta fall asleep, Prof. I really didn't. Plus, I already made him promise to take me home on time no matter what," she said; Charles let out a sigh at that. Of course, she had made him promise that. "So, this ain't gonna happen again," she said strongly. "I'm sorry I didn't think of it before and make it part of the truce," she said.
"Rogue, you have nothing to apologize for," Charles said. "It's not your job to think of every possible contingently plan under the sun. We're a team. The burden of that responsibly is supposed to be shared." he said.
"He wouldn't let it be," she said sadly.
"I know," Charles said desperately. "And I'm sorry you were alone for so long," he said.
"It's not your fault, so stop blaming yourself," she said. Charles was taken aback by her statement. "We can't go back and change it. And right now aside from dealing with all the Irene bullshit and the trauma I'm in a good place. You all care about me as much I care about all of you. Why else would we be having this meeting?" Rogue asked with a smile.
"I've got the love and dedication of the world's most powerful mutant. Magneto is gonna personally work for me to learn how to control my powers. I haven't had a single nightmare in nearly a month. The flashbacks still get to me sometimes but I'm learning ta control it. I'm talking to older brother again. Kurt calls me his sister and I didn't have to fucking corrupt him with all the mess up shit about Mystique's past for that to happen," she laughed through her tears.
"And it turns out my dad gives a shit about me," she laughed in disbelief. "He has for years and just couldn't contact me because fucking Irene wouldn't let him. I know you're angry at yourself, Prof," she said her eyes quickly shifting to his, "because you didn't know about the nightmares. I should have told you, it was just so hard ta think back then with all the fucking screaming. And I know you're angry at Magneto for all the lies. And I've lies so many times to everyone in this room for the past month and I'm so sorry about that. I felt like I didn't have a choice," she ranted: her voice cracking with emotion.
"Magneto put you in an impossible situation. You did the best you could," Ororo said as she handed her a tissue. Rogue took it from her with a sad smile.
"We're all together as a family: that's' what matters right?" Scott said with a smile. With that a huge smile came to Rogue face. She laughed and cried simultaneously. "That morning: is that when you got back to the institute?" he asked.
"What morning?" Logan asked.
"February eighth," Rogue answered. "Actually… I got back really late the night before, but that morning was the first time I saw ya all in nearly two weeks. It took so much will power to keep myself from just hugging everyone. I was so happy to be back," she smiled though her tears. Jean put her hand on Rogue's arm as Rogue wiped tears away from her eyes. Charles felt tears in his own eyes. A quick glance around the room showed him he was not the only one.
"And I'm really glad we're having this conversation. A week ago I don't know what I would've done ta be able to talk ta ya all so honestly. It is nice not having ta lie anymore," Rogue said happily. "Fuck, we got off topic," she laughed.
"It's alright," Charles said with a smile. He watched her take a deep breath.
'Prof, maybe you and Jean could work together to show everyone the memory?' Rogue offered. He let out a sigh.
'Therefore, giving me no time to look elsewhere?' he asked curiously.
'If I was trying to manipulate you, Prof, I've would've said it out loud and ya wouldn't have had a choice after everyone said what a good idea it is. I'd feel more comfortable if there was a witness or if you gave me your word. Like I said, I still trust you. But I've been though too damn much ta leave these things to chance, okay?' she asked. He let out a sigh.
'Alright, I promise,' he told her. She opened her eyes a moment later.
"You okay, Rogue?" Scott asked.
"I'm fine," she said with a smile. "And I'm ready whenever you are, Prof," she said meeting his gaze.
"Excuse us for a moment," Charles said to everyone as he back away from the table. He moved up to Rogue as she turned her chair to face him.
"How long is this gonna take?" Logan asked.
"I'm not sure," Charles answered honestly.
"Memory ain't that long," Rogue said before she closed her eyes again. Charles closed his eyes taking a deep breath as he moved his hands near to the sides of her face. Not touching her of course, but his hands were close enough to help him with the connection. Charles drove into Rogue's mind; searching through her memory.
'It's right here, Prof,' Rogue thought as she pulled up the memory he needed.
'Thank you,' he said as he took hold of it and went closer:
Charles felt himself take his place in the memory through his brother's eyes. He felt himself as Cain running through the woods. He was being chased: he was scared of being recaptured. He had escaped two days ago from Magneto's base. But still they kept closing in on him. They had trackers on their sides, individuals who didn't need to sense his mind in order to find him. It was beyond frustrating.
An old woman appeared before him; out of thin air. He prepared himself to attack her.
"Stop, Cain Marko, I mean you no harm. My name is Agatha Harkness. Come with me if you wish to escape. I will take you to Charles Xavier's: allow you the chance to take your revenge on your brother," she said. He could hear Magneto's henchman gaining on their location. He didn't have time to ask too many questions. So, he asked what he assumed was most important.
"How do I know you ain't with Magneto?" he asked.
"Then we have you surrounded and it hardly matters what choice you make. I, however, work Irene Alder. She's an old friend and she's asked me for a favor: saving you,"
"Why the fuck would she want that?" he asked.
"She has her price. We will need you to deliver a message," she said.
"What message?" he asked.
"I will come to you with this message, and whom you must deliver it too but not now. You are not to know until I come to you again. Can you agree to these terms?" she asked. Cain smirked.
'Dumb bitches, I'll just say no when she asks me later,' he thought. "Sure, I'll do it," he said.
"Then take me hand, Cain Marko," she said as she held it out. He smirked as he took it. He heard the old woman mutter something under her breath: in a flash they were someone else. He was still in the woods, but different woods then before. He was sure of it.
"This isn't Xavier's," he yelled as he put his hand on her shoulder: he tightened his grip.
"How observant," she said dryly before she teleported away.
"Fuck," he screamed. 'Where the fuck am I now?' he asked as he started to walk again.
"I will bring you to Xavier's soon," he heard her again. He quickly turned around to see her standing a few feet away from him. "For now we wait," she said.
"For what?" he shouted.
"Irene has warned me of your character. Be patient or I shall make you wait in fire," she said.
"Yeah, right," he laughed. He laughter quickly turned into a scream as his body was surrounded by fire. It touched every part of his skin; burning him from the inside out.
Charles quickly pulled out of the memory as he felt himself become too absorbed in the pain Cain was experiencing.
"Professor, are you okay?" Jean asked. He took a deep breath as he nodded.
"I just need a moment," he said.
"… You got to the part where Agatha set him on fire?" Rogue asked after he had opened his eyes.
"Yes," Charles nodded.
"Which time?" Rogue asked. Charles eyes snapped to hers confused. "It was an illusion he wasn't actually on fire. She just made him think he was," she explained. "… Three times. Your brother's a dumbass," Rogue said dryly. "… If you wanna see the rest of it, skip ahead an hour and seven minutes," she told him. He nodded before he closed his eyes; reentering her mind. Charles followed Rogue's instructions.
Cain sat begrudging on the ground about a foot away from Agatha. So maybe attacking the witch hadn't of been the best idea once he learned what she could do to him. But he couldn't stand waiting; doing nothing. He had had years of being trapped. He wanted action.
He glanced up at Agatha as he heard a phone ring.
"Yes, Irene?" Agatha asked.
"Thank you, old friend for doing this. Magneto left, and she is alone, you know what to do," a voice from the phone said.
"Yes, I do, Irene. You are certain the girl can handle this?" Agatha asked.
"She will learn to handle worse. You know what I am preparing her for," Irene said.
"Yes, you have explained before," Agatha said.
"My visions have not changed. She must walk this path for all our sakes. The timing is perfect, go now," Irene said before Agatha grabbed onto his shoulder. The next thing he knew he was standing in front of Xavier's alone.
"Heh," he laughed, "don't know what the fuck they were talking about. I don't give a shit either" he said to himself as he started his march onto the grounds.
Charles let out a sigh as he pulled out of the memory. He moved back to the head of the table as he took a moment to inform everyone else, besides Rogue, telepathically what he had just witnessed.
"Rogue do you have any idea what she's trying to prepare you for?" Mr. McCoy asked.
"No," Rogue said shaking her head. "I have no idea. Whatever it is, she's been planning it for at least sixteen years, maybe more," she said in disbelief. "What scares me the most is when she said 'she will learn to handle worse.' What the fuck is she gonna throw at me next?" she asked in anger as Charles watched her body start to shake in fear.
"Rogue," Jean said concerned as she placed her hand on her back. The contact helped to clam her a little. Rogue closed her eyes taking deep breaths.
"We will do everything in our power to find out," the Professor said.
"I'm certain Magneto will also offer his aid," Ororo said.
"I haven't told him yet," Rogue shrugged.
"Why not?" Scott asked.
"I'm just not ready for him to know that Irene manipulated again," she said.
"Again?" Scott asked.
"Fuck," Rogue said under her breath. "Everyone please forget I said again," she said.
"What exactly are we forgetting?" Mr. McCoy asked with a smile.
"I'm not sure," Jean said smiled. "Scott, do you remember?"
"No, and I glad I don't," he said. Rogue let out a soft laugh.
"Thanks," Rogue smirked; her body still shaking slightly in fear.
"I believe that's enough for one day. I do still have a few more questions but what we said earlier is correct. You need time to heal from everything that has happened. So, I'll reframe from bring up these topics. Unless you want to talk about them," Charles said.
"Thanks," she said again.
"Of course," he said with a small smile.
Thank you for reading! :) Please review!