Hey, sorry it's been so long. I've been busy with work lately and studying to take a test for my life and health license. I'm finally done studying and had some time to work on the fic!
Please Enjoy!
Taunting Repartee
Chapter Fifty-Five:
Magneto sat with Rogue in the back room of the café. As it had turned out the one to sixty ratios held up after a one minute absorption. They were in the middle of testing to see if a two minute absorption held up to the ratio. They were also in the middle of their fifth game of chess.
"Ya know, there are other games of strategy," Rogue said. Magneto glanced up from the board. That was the first sentence she had said, not related to her powers, in nearly an hour and a half.
"Such as?" he asked: partly out of curiosity: partly just to keep her talking.
"Risk, Hungary Hippos, Backgam-" she started to list.
"Wait a minute, Hungry Hippos?" he asked incredulously. "The game with the little plastic hippos and the marbles?" he asked in disbelief. A smirk formed on her lips.
"Yeah, all I just heard is that you've actually played Hungry Hungry Hippos."
"Because, I have children," he said defensively.
"Uh-huh," she said amused as she turned her gaze back to the board.
"Three of them," he added.
"I know," she smirked.
"We played games together. That's what fathers are supposed to do," he said.
"I ain't disagreeing with you," she smiled before taking her turn: snickering under her breath. He let out a sigh.
"How precisely is relentlessly hitting a little plastic lever a game of strategy?" he asked.
"Ah yeah, the game I'm talking about ain't Hungry Hungry Hippos. It's Hungary Hippos. Like the country," she said as she looked up at him. He stared at her blankly. "I'm guessing you've never heard of it," she said.
"No, no I haven't," he said dryly as he turned his attention back to the board. He tried to put his attention back to the game: she was on the verge of winning once again. He had to find a way to capture her queen. However, one thought kept pulling his focus askew. "Hippos aren't indigenous to Hungary," he muttered.
"No shit," Rogue smirked.
"Anna, not all of us remember details as easily as you do," he said with narrowed eyes. She let out a sigh as she met his gaze.
"Max, you know everything about me and family. It's easy to forget, even for me, that you don't know every little detail about everything else. Sorry, just sometimes, I have to remind myself that your drive to better mutant kind isolates you," she said.
"You think I isolate myself?" he asked in disbelief.
"… You don't see it?" she asked. He let a small army of mutants and owned several businesses: both operating internationally. His ventures, personal, business, and otherwise took him across the global on a weekly basis.
"Honestly, no," he answered.
"Well, you do," she shrugged as her eyes turned back to the board. His eyes followed suit. "…Do you wanna hear about the game?" she asked a few moments later.
"Sure," he said.
"At the turn of the nineteenth century when Europe was craving up Africa, Hungary didn't really have the resources to claim any of the land for themselves but they did send in about two dozen missionaries. They ah- learned some native game while they were there. I don't know the original name of it," she shrugged.
"Anyway, when the missionaries came home they brought it back with them. They changed some of the rules they didn't like, put in a few new ones they did and renamed it Hungary Hippos. It's been a favorite of the Hungarian people for generations. Didn't even lose its popularity when they became communists," she finished in a mutter.
"And how does one play this game?" he asked.
"I haven't actually played it myself. I've just seen it on the shelf at Toyrus a bunch of times. I looked at the box once. Kinda reminded me of Parcheesi," she said. "Ya know, but with hippos instead of harems," she added. Magneto stared at her in disbelief for a moment before he let out a chuckle at the comment. "You interested in playing?" she asked as she glanced up from the board.
"Why not?" he asked happily. She smiled at that.
"Last time I checked your schedule you were gonna be free on Monday night. That changed at all?" she asked.
"What date is that?" he asked.
"April first," she said. He tried to remember what it that was on his schedule for the first of the month. He had left his planner in his study. He honestly hadn't thought he'd need it.
"When was the last time you checked?" he asked.
"About a minute ago," she answered. He let out a chuckle.
"No, my schedule has not changed in the last sixty seconds," he answered with a laugh. "I would love to spend the evening with you, Anna," he added.
"Okay then," she said with a smile. "So, after you're done with your meeting, you'll head over to Toyrus and then come pick me up from the institute like six o'clock?" she asked.
"I could send someone else to purchase the game and pick you up a half an hour earlier," he said.
"I'm telling you right now, Max, if they get Hungry Hungry Hippos by accident, we're fucking playing it," she told him. He met her gaze, the smirk on her face told him she would love nothing more than for that exact accident to happen.
"Six o'clock it is," he said dryly. His comment was met with her letting out a short laugh.
Charles sat in the kitchen area, a book in his hands, as the clock stuck ten pm. With a sigh he scanned the institute but was pleased to find that Rogue was on her way in. He closed the book and went to meet her in the elevator.
"Hello, Rogue," Charles said as the lift's door opened. Rogue's gaze met his.
"Hey, Prof," she said as he entered the elevator.
"How was your day?" he asked.
"Fun," she answered with a slight smile. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair as he sighed. "You asked," she reminded him. Yes, so he had. "How was your day?" she asked.
"It was fine," he answered as the elevator doors opened. "…I know it's only been one day, but may I ask what progress you've made with your powers?" he asked: not really expecting an answer.
"They have a one to sixty absorption rate," she answered as she exited the lift. He blinked, surprised by the answer.
"Really?" he asked curiously as she waited for him to exit the elevator.
"Yup, we spent all day testing it from one finger tip touching another. Next week we're gonna see if a whole hand or if two hands makes the absorption last any long-" she started to say before she stopped midsentence.
"Rogue?" he asked concerned as he glanced up at her. Her face seemed to be deep in thought, although thankfully not in any type of emotional turmoil. She surprised him yet again when she pulled a cell phone out of her pocket. "Rogue, where did you get that?" he asked alarmed.
"I got it from Magneto," she answered as she dialed.
"So, now he has a means to contact you whenever he wishes," he said disgusted. Rogue rolled her eyes.
"So, now everyone has a means to contact me. And I have a means to contact everyone else," she said annoyed. "Our communicators have a limited range. So, does telepathy. With Irene out there, planning to do god knows what to me next, don't you think it's a good idea for me to be able to call for help no matter where I am?" she asked. Charles let out a sigh: how was he supposed to argue with that?
"Anna? Is everything alright?" Charles heard Magneto ask from the phone.
"Yeah, everything's fine. I was filling Prof in on what we did today an-" Rogue started to say before Magneto interrupted her in German. Rogue let out a short laugh at whatever his comment was. He hated having to stand by for these comments, even if he didn't know what was being said.
"You're a jackass," she laughed. "Look, next week we're supposed to see if touching a larger surface of skin or more than one surface of skin lasts longer. But we already did that today and we got the answer to both questions."
"Did we?" Magneto asked thoughtfully. "I'm afraid, my girl, you're have to- oh, of course," he exclaimed: cutting himself off.
"So, where do we go from here?" she asked.
"Perhaps-" Magneto started to say. "How about we talk about this Monday night at dinner?" he asked.
"Dinner?" Charles asked with a raised eyebrow as Magneto added, "I could use a few hours to contemplate our options."
'One second, Prof, sorry,' she thought to him before she said, "Yeah, we can talk it about then. I'll see ya at six," she said. Charles let out a frustrated sigh.
"Yes, you will," Magneto answered.
"Bye," she smiled before she hung up the phone. "I was gonna tell you about the dinner," she told him as she put the phone back in her pocket.
"And the phone?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I already explained that," she said defensively as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I'm sure his intentions were entirely noble," he said dryly.
"It's obvious he's happy that we can talk over the phone without someone having to come find me," she told him as she rolled her eyes. "But the other reason's still there and it's more important anyway," she said.
"I could provide you with a cell phone," he offered.
"And I'd give Magneto the number. Results the same," she told him. He let out a frustrated sigh as she opened the door to her room. "Besides if ya get me one, everyone's gonna want one," she added. That was true enough. "Look, I understand, that I'm taking a lot of liberties you ain't used to teenagers taking," she started to say as she entered the room.
"I'm supposed to be your guardian, Rogue. I am supposed to be the one taking care of you," he said as he watched her sat down on her bed. Kitty was sitting on her own bed: on her lap-top listening to music on her headphones.
"You do," she insisted.
"Only in the ways you'll allow me," he pointed out. He watched her eyes narrow.
"Should it be some other way?" Rogue started to say offended as Kitty started to take off her headphones. "Should you have the right the dictate what I'm allowed to do by your own code of conduct?" Rogue asked as Kitty's eyes widened and she put the headphones back on: staring back at the computer screen. "Shouldn't I have the freedom to live my life by my ideology?" she asked annoyed.
"Of course, but there are situations where-" he started to say.
"So, your answer's no then?" she asked cutting him off.
"Please, let me finish," he said firmly.
"Fine, explain your exceptions that completely contradict my question. Please, go ahead," she said sarcastically. He took a deep breath.
"You have been through incredible ordeals the past fe- I'm not sure for how many years, honestly. I just- I don't know when your trauma truly began. What I do know is that your experiences have taken a significant toll on your mental health. And you need time to heal," he said.
"So, I should just go crawl under a rock and not do anything until I start to feel better?" she asked incredulously.
"No, but I don't believe you should be spending time with someone who is partly to blame for your trauma," he said. She held his gaze for a moment before she laid back on the bed with a sigh.
"Are we gonna have this argument every week?" she asked: suddenly sounding exhausted. "My answer's not gonna change," she told him.
"I doubt mine will either," he said he said as he watched her kick off her shoes.
"So, are we?" she asked.
"I suppose that depends whether or not you're willing to have a conversation at all," he said. She let out a sigh.
"I'm tired of explaining myself, Prof. There is nothing I could say right now, that I haven't said already. So, why should I bother when all it does is annoy both of us? We're not gonna agree and I'm not gonna stop. Is whether or not I'm having sex really that important to you?" she asked incredulously. "Why?" she asked.
"Rogue, you know why," he said frustrated.
"You really wanna protect me?" she said as she sat up. "Find Irene," she said her eyes narrowed. "Please," she added her tone softened.
"Cerebro will be up and running by next Wednesday. I already plan to use it to find her, if I can," he added. He watched the anger in Rogue eyes fade.
"Thanks," she said earnestly.
"You're welcome," he said as the two of them held each other's gaze for a moment.
"Fuck, I hope it's that easy," Rogue said as she laid back down.
"We'll see," he said as he started to turn his chair. "Rogue?" he asked.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"You're at least-" he started to ask before faltering.
"Yeah?" she asked with raised eyebrow as she met his gaze again. He took a deep breath: extremely uncomfortable but as her guardian he had to ask this question. He should have asked her last week.
"You're at least using protection of some sort, aren't you?" he asked.
"Condom, every time," she answered. He nodded as he let out a sigh. "And I know for a fact that he doesn't want any more kids," she added.
"No, no I suppose he wouldn't," he said. "…Good night," he said as he exited the room.
"Goodnight," Rogue called out as he heard her fall back to onto the bed.
"Goodnight," Kitty said also added.
"Goodnight, Kitty," he said with a smile as he closed the door behind him.
"Sorry about that," he heard Rogue apologize as he moved slowly down the hall.
"Hey, like, don't worry about it," Kitty said dismissively. "So, like, how was your day?" she asked with a giggle.
"I found out I can't lick anyone to death," Rogue said: a smirk in her tone. Charles' eyes widened.
"Like how'd you find out?" she asked with mirth.
"The fun way," Rogue answered before Kitty started to giggle. Why didn't his chair move any faster? He desperately wanted to be out of earshot.
"Oh my god, tell me everything," Kitty exclaimed happily.
"So, we were starting to experiment with my powers and after a while just holding a ball up in the air was getting kinda boring," Rogue started to explain.
"Uh-huh," Kitty giggled.
Charles let out a sigh of relief as he moved far enough down the hall that he could no longer make out what they were saying.
Magneto walked through ToyRus on Monday afternoon hardly believing he was here to buy something for himself. He found himself in the board game session: he scanned the shelves for the game in question. He found Hungry Hungry Hippos easily enough, but not the game he was there to purchase.
"Excuse me," Max called out to one of the store's employees. He walked closer to the young man as the employee walked closer to him.
"There, something I can help with?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm looking for a board game called Hungary Hippos," Max said. The teen-aged boy looked behind him.
"Dude, it's right there," he said pointing. Max glanced to where to the employee had pointed. He let out a sigh.
"No, not Hungry Hungry Hippos. Hungary Hippos, like the country," Max explained.
"…Yeah, we don't that game," he said.
"Are you certain?" Max asked; not appreciating the employee's attitude. The boy glanced past him onto the shelve behind him.
"…Yeah," he answered dryly.
"Perhaps you might have a one stored in the back?" he asked starting to get annoyed.
"Dude, not likely," he laughed. Max eyes narrowed.
"I'd like to speak to your manager," he demanded.
"Hold on," he said before he walked over to a phone. "Manager to idle* seven," he said into it. "…There some old guy looking for a board game," he explained. "…He wants someone to look in the back," he laughed as Magneto walked up to the employee.
"Jeremy, did you laugh when the customer asked you?" a woman asked him annoyed.
"Yes, he did," Magneto answered for him. "And I didn't appreciate the old man comment either," he added dryly.
"Sir, you have, my apologizes, I will be with you in just a moment," she said before she hung up the phone.
A moment later he was greeted by a woman in her late thirties.
"I'm so sorry about that, sir," she said as she rushed up to them. "Jeremy, go upstairs and wait for me in my office," she ordered sternly. "Again, I'm very sorry about this, sir," she said as the teen walked off: muttering under his breath. "What board game are you looking for?" she asked.
"Hungary Hippos, I'm told it bares similarities to Parcheesi," Magneto explained. The woman raised an eyebrow.
"I'm… I'm not familiar with that game," she said. "Maybe one of our other stores has it. Follow me? I'll look it up for you," she offered.
"Thank you," he said with a smile before he allowed her to lead him to a computer.
"Let me see," she said as she started to type into the computer. "You said it was called Hungry Hippos?" she asked.
"Hungary, like the country," he said again. He waited patiently for her to search for it.
"…I'm sorry, sir. Our stores don't carry it," she said.
"Any of them?" he asked in disbelief.
"No, we don't have that game in stock anywhere," she told him. How long ago had Anna seen that game in one of their stores? With her memory it could have been over a decade ago. "Can I ask?" she started to ask pulling him out of his thoughts. "This person who asked you to get this game, are they prone to putting pranks?" she asked,
"Excuse me?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, today is April fool's day," she offered with a slight smile. "Maybe someone's just pulling your leg," she said.
"What the hell is April fool's day?" he asked.
"Dude, seriously," the teenaged employee exclaimed amused. They both turned to see the boy from earlier standing a few feet from them: he was picking up a name tab off of the floor. Magneto's eyes narrowed in response to the employee's tone. "What rock have you been living under?" he laughed. Magneto eye widened at the comment.
"Jeremy, I said go upstairs," the manager yelled.
"I forgot my name-tab," he said rolling his eyes.
"I'm so really sorry about him," the manager said again.
"It's alright," he said distracted by the boy's words. "The- ah the woman who asked me to purchase the game she- what is this April fool's day?" he asked.
"Well, it ah- it's a holiday where people pull pranks on each other, tricks for fun mostly. I've sat on two whoopee cushions today," she said with a sigh. "That's my husband, king of comedy," she said sarcastically.
"How long has this holiday been in existence?" Magneto asked.
"I ah- I'm not sure exactly. It's been around as long as I've been alive," she shrugged.
'Thirty years, at least,' he thought to himself. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "Thank you for your time," he said holding out his hand. She took it and they shook.
"Of course, sir, have a good day," she said before he turned to go.
"You as well," he said as before he quickly exited the store. He pulled out his cell phone: but paused before dialing. Who could he call? He needed more information about this holiday before he spoke with Rogue. Given its premise, he didn't trust her to give him accurate information. She had already lied to him once this week. "Damn it," he muttered again as he got to his car. He opened the door and got in. He sat in front seat as he weighed his options.
Any suggestions on who Magneto should call? ^.^
Thank you for reading and reviewing!