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Chapter Four of
Taunting Repartee- RM'd
Breakthru
A little over three weeks had passed since Erik had started to teach her how to use her powers, and progress was certainly made. Rogue remembered how she used to complain about the faces she made while talking to Erik, but they were nothing compared to the expressions that came to her face when she was reliving memories. At least while talking to Erik she could control any sound that came out of her mouth, but while reliving she had no restraint whatsoever. After a very embarrassing incident with Kitty, and a helpful suggestion from Erik, Rogue developed the habit of locking herself in one of the guest bedrooms while she practiced using her powers.
Rogue smiled as she pulled herself out of Kurt's memory. She took a moment to push Kurt back with the others, pleased when the fragment didn't fight her.
'You're getting rather good at that,' Erik commented.
'Yeah, I am,' she thought proudly as she turned over on the bed, landing on her green sheer shirt and gloves. She sighed in contentment at successfully controlling her abilities, and she nudged them away from her. As they fell a soft smile graced her face. She turned over again, enjoying the feeling of the blanket on her bare arms, she was left in just her black tank-top. It was nice not having to cover herself all the time. In this room, she had complete freedom to do just that. She could be nude if she wanted to.
She heard Erik chuckle slowly in her mind before he said, 'I would hardly complain, my dear, if you choose to wear fewer articles of clothing.'
Rogue smiled, as she ran her hand over the pillowcase, enjoying the feel of fine threads under her palms.
"I don't doubt that for a second, Erik. But I think I'll get more practice if I keep my clothes on... and if I don't blink," she said with a grin, recalling the time he had used his ability to put her to sleep without telling her ahead of time. She had closed her eyes for less than a second, and he had used that moment to pull her into his arms. They had spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the far reaches of each other's mouths, rather than the far reaches of her psyche as they should have been.
'I only did that once, Anna. And I don't recall you complaining.'
"Why would I've? I'd take kissing you over Auschwitz any day," she said. He sighed.
'You do not have to look at Auschwitz,' he said, for what seemed like the countless time. 'You can avoid it.'
"Ya know why I can't do that... I have ta keep looking, for Logan's sake," she said, is what she kept telling herself.
'An-'
"Erik, could we not have this argument again? No matter how much ya yell at me I'm gonna do what I have ta. My mind, my rules."
'It most certainly is yours, my dear. Soon you will not require my assistance in any sense.'
"Do ya really think I can stop the nightmares on my own?" she asked hopefully.
'Tonight? No. But eventually, yes. Yes, I do believe you will be able to control them... I hope that one day you will master every aspect of your powers.'
"I'm- I ain't thinking that far ahead... It took you and Raven and Ororo so many years to get control of your powers. I know it ain't gonna happen overnight. Or this year. Maybe not even this decade,"she said sadly. "I'll just be happy when I sleep without getting nightmares," she said. her eyes widened as she realized what she had just said. "I mean on my own, ya know? Not that I'm ungrateful for your help-"
'Anna, it's quite alright. I understand. If I had a choice between doing something myself or having another assist, I would always choose myself. You and I are quite alike in this manner,' he said. 'You and I are quite alike in many ways.'
She huffed a sigh of relief, before a yawn threatened to have her consider skipping dinner. All this mental work, on top of a full athletic and academic schedule was starting to catch up with her, apparently.
'Oh, am I boring you?' he asked, pretending to be offended.
"No, I'm just a little sleepy, that's all," she said with a smile.
'Then you should get some rest. To renew your energy,' he glanced over at the clock on the bedside.
"It's the middle of the afternoon," she pointed out, before grinning. "You just wanna kiss me," she laughed.
'I would like a bit more than a kiss, my dear.'
Her face flushed as she remembered some of the things he wanted to do to her.
She took a moment to think before she said, "I have ta be up by five. And I need time to look at Auschwitz before dinner," she said strongly.
'Or you can tell Charles of your suspicions and leave it with him, the adult. Let him decide what to do,' he suggested again.
"Not until I know I'm right," she said. He let out a disgruntled noise that sounded almost…petulant. It was kind of fun exasperating him at times. "Erik, I know ya don't like it but that's my choice, not yours."
'Very well, Anna, I will not voice my complaints about this course of action,' he promised.
"Today," she added with a grin before she closed her eyes.
What seemed like a moment after doing so, she felt his arm encircle her waist. He gently pulled her until she was flush against his body. Erik pressed his lips to the back of her neck, and she melted: completely relaxing against his chest. She sighed happily as she felt his fingers through her hair, toying with the strands. He brushed a few pieces behind her ear.
His lips followed and his voice was barely above a whisper, "Tell me what you want, my girl."
A shiver ran down her spine as images came to mind. Positions she had seen in the minds of the other fragments, mostly his, rapidly flashed through her mind. God, she loved being asleep now, it was her favorite time of day. She bit her bottom lip at the wealth of her options, even in a dream. There were quite a few things she would like him to do.
"Right now," she said as she reached for his hand that was in her hair, "Let's start with this," she said as she placed his hand on her breast. He eagerly grasped and massaged it for a moment before he lowered his hand and slid it under her shirt's fabric. She felt her bra unhook itself, a shiver running down her spine in anticipation. She didn't know why, but feeling him use his powers to undress her in any way was-
He chuckled in her ear as his hand took hold of her breast, massaging it. "Eager, aren't we?" He murmured encouragingly. She whimpered, pushing herself into his hand. He kissed the outer shell of her ear, before sucking her earlobe into his mouth. This was a new experience, and her eyes drifted shut, enjoying his touch as soft short moans escaped her. His lips moved to her neck and worked his way up to her jawline. She turned around in his arms to face him, looping her arms around his neck as she pulled herself closer to him. His arms wrapped around her back as his lips met hers.
"What else, my girl?" he asked tenderly as his fingers ran up and down her arm. She opened her eyes to meet his gaze.
"Surprise me?" she smiled, feeling reckless in this sweet, safe dream.
He smirked as his hand captured the back of her neck. She felt her breath catch in her throat as he pulled her head back slightly before his lips descended on hers. She parted her lips and listened to him grunt against her mouth as his tongue delved in. She obediently, immediately relaxed into and melted in his arms as he readjust their positions, surrendering to his whims.
Next, she felt his free hand slide between their bodies, moving up near her throat. He ran his hand down her body, stopping at her breasts, rubbing each of her nipples with his thumbs until they were hard from the stimulation, extracting short gasps and long moans out of her. He pulled back from her mouth, attacking her neck as his hand continued down her body at an excruciatingly slow pace. She felt every stroke of his fingers against her bare skin, each touch meant to further inflame her.
His fingers went lower and lower and- he was just above the zipper to her jeans. Instead of using his hand, as he easily could, she felt his powers tug at her pants. The entire zipper was lifted magnetically, forcing her to arch her hips upwards. She gasped at the sensation.
"Should I continue?" he whispered against her neck.
"What time is it?" she asked, allowing herself one last rational thought.
"It is not five o'clock," he caged evasively before he lightly kissed her neck. She smiled.
"Is it five oh one?" she asked. He chuckled.
"No, Anna," he said before he lifted his head up and captured her lips. She felt magnetism lower her zipper and whimpered against his mouth as his fingers slid underneath her underwear. She moaned as his thumb brushed against her clit, his fingers teased at her opening. "It's five twelve," he finally answered. Her eyes snapped open as she turned her head to gaze at the clock. It now read 5:13 pm.
"Is that what time it really is?" she asked, alarmed. He put more pressure on his thumb, and her hips jerked upward almost of their own volition. He chuckled at her eagerness, her concern.
"Yes," he answered, his hands still stroking her sensitive, touch-deprived body.
"Erik," she turned back to look at him. "Erik, I have ta wake up now," she managed to say. Her breathing was becoming uneven, as her hands gripped his shoulders tightly. She wanted to move, wanted to stop, right? Before she could say anything else, he slid two fingers into her, probing and deep. Her mouth opened as she gasped at the slick, hot sensation, and he leaned in, claiming her mouth.
"You still have over an hour before dinner," he said reasonably as they parted. His strong fingers developed a rhythm with her, stretching, filling. She was finding it difficult to keep her eyes focused, and even more difficult to fix him with the hardened gaze she used to get her way.
"Tha- That ain't why I need ta-" she tried to say before gasping as quickened his pace. "Need ta wake up... I have ta... Logan... Ausch-"
"Which activity would you rather be engaged in? Searching through my memory for gaps..." he asked while his fingers pushed into her as his thumb brushed her clit. "Or this?" She arched her body into his hand.
"This," she gasped as he kissed her forehead. "Oh god, this," she said as he chuckled darkly, continuing to press into her. He lowered his lips to her ear.
"There is tonight, tomorrow, and the day after that, and ever on after for your exploration of those memories," he murmured in a low voice before he kissed that tender spot under her jaw where it met her neck. "For now, let us enjoy each other... Let us enjoy this," he said as he pushed into her last time. She cried out as she came. Her eyes unfocused completely as her entire body trembled, radiating with warmth. He kissed her forehead again as he turned to lay on his back, pulling her with him.
She turned to lay on her stomach, finding his chest to be very comfortable. She smiled as she ran her hand over one side of his chest. She enjoyed the sound of his heartbeat against her ear as she caught her breath. He ran his fingers gently over her naked back and arms as they laid in each other's arms.
A few moments later she found that she was ready enough to move again. She tilted her head up slightly to glance at Erik. His eyes were closed and a soft smile graced his face. She thought it was a shame his counterpart rarely smiled like this in real life. It suited him, as much as being pressed up against him suited her. She felt completely at peace as she rested her head against his chest again, closing her eyes.
She supposed that the reason they were both so contented, they had each other. And while she hoped the real Magneto found happiness one day, she had no intention of ever telling him what she and the fragment got up to in her dreams. Oh, god, no. She loved this, more than words could say, but she knew it had its place. Safely in the realm of 'it never actually happened and didn't really count.'
She blinked as she felt Erik's hands tighten around her and suddenly felt the urge to apologize for her train of thought. She didn't want to insult him, ever, but they both knew this wasn't real. Erik had given her access to unrestricted lucid dreaming, overriding her subconscious' ability to pull her into the other fragments' flashbacks. It was incredible but temporary until she could do this herself. And while she craved control, she didn't want to lose this either.
She shook her head, pushing her anxieties away.
'That ain't today, girl. Not today,' she told herself.
"Anna?" he asked, his hand stilling from where it had stroked a long, delicate dance along her spine.
"It's nothing," she said with a smile.
"Are you certain?" he asked. She nodded before she lifted herself up and kissed him.
"I'm sure," she answered as she pulled away. She noticed his shirt was drenched with sweat as she lazily undid the first few buttons. Brushing the fabric aside, she placed a soft kiss on his skin.
"Anna," he groaned. "My Rogue," he hissed as his grip on her waist tightened. Encouraged by his words she pushed his shirt further out of her way and continued to kiss his chest. Light kisses, followed by harder ones. She bit into his chest, just above his nipple. He hissed. His hand moved into her hair, pushing her head down. She could feel his fingers nails digging into her scalp. She didn't mind.
She released the bit of flesh she had in her mouth, before placing another soft kiss on his reddened skin. If he had a physical presence outside of her dreams she would be worried about leaving marks. But luckily for her, this was all in her mind. She lifted herself off of him for a moment as she unbuttoned the rest of his shirt. Throwing it open, she leaned down again and placed more kisses against his chest.
She gazed up at him as her lips bruised his skin. His eyes were closed, his face flushed with color, every muscle possible seemed to be corded in tension. His hand was holding onto her body for dear life. She easily could tell he was torn between pulling her closer or pushing her away. Rogue turned her attention away from his face and back to his body; as long as he didn't stop her she would keep going. She cocked her head consideringly as she glanced at his erect nipples.
'He always loves doing that ta me,' she thought as she brought her hand up, took one nipple in her fingers, and twisted.
"Dieses Mädchen wird der Tod von mir sein," Erik exclaimed in German, his hands gripping her shoulders tightly. Okay, she knew he said the word, 'girl', but that was as much as she recognized. For a second she was tempted to ask Kurt but swiftly decided now was not the time to talk to her little brother. She settled for a more direct approach.
"So, was that a good or a bad exclamation?" she asked. He slowly opened his eyes and lifted his head to look at her.
"Would you repeat that?" he asked, as he ran his fingers through her hair.
"Ya didn't hear me?" she asked as she started to softly rub both nipples.
"No, I-" his gaze focused on her fingers. "No, I didn't. My thoughts were," he took a deep breath, "elsewhere." He glanced back at her. His eyes were heavy with lust. "You have my apologies."
She smiled.
"I asked if that was a good," she said as she traced her finger around his areolae, "or a bad exclamation."
"Good. It was a very," he started to say as he brought up his other hand and slipped it under her shirt, "very," he said as his hand cupped one breast, "very," he said as took her nipple in his fingers and twisted, "good," he said when she bit her bottom lip as an actual, honest to goodness squeak escaped her, "exclamation," he said before chuckling.
"What d'ya find so funny, old man?" she asked with a grin. He laughed.
"My dear, you have a turn of phrase," he said as his other hand cupped her cheek, "that I find adorable."
"No one's ever found me adorable before," she said as she looked away. "I mean, not since I outgrew pigtails," she added, glancing back up at him. He smiled.
"I do," he said as he ran his hand across her cheek. "I find your sense of humor crude, perverse, and utterly refreshing. There's a sort of honesty in the way you speak that I've never found in another."
"No one else has the balls ta talk ta ya the way that I do. They're too afraid of ya... They're too afraid of me too," she said, looking away from him, her eyes becoming distant. He slid one hand along her jaw and turned her face until her gaze met his.
"Then it's a good thing that you and I have found one another. Someone with whom we do not have to hold back anything."
"Yeah," she said with a smile. "It's a very," she said as she wrapped her fingers around his nipple again, "very," she said as she twisted, "very," she said as she closed her eyes, pleased when he took the same action with his fingers, "good thing," she finished taking a deep breath.
"Come up here," he ordered tenderly. She opened her eyes as she lowered her down to his chest.
"Ya sure ya don't want me ta go down there," she said before pressing another kiss to his chest. "That was where I was heading," she said, her gaze never leaving his. She placed another kiss an inch lower than the last. "I wanna do it," she assured him quickly before she kissed his chest even lower. "Every day, every night we do…ya know…" she said before smiling a little. She was still so demure at times.
"Ya always make sure that I've enjoyed myself." Another kiss. "But every time it's your turn ta..." she blushed as she placed another butterfly-gentle kiss. "Cl- ta... climax," she said before her face turned a much deeper red. "Ya always say no." She kissed the area just above his belt, to refocus herself. "Why do ya always say no, Erik?" she asked.
She traced the buckle's shape with two fingers before tugging at it. It didn't budge. She frowned when she couldn't get it open. "And why do your powers always work in these dreams while mine don't?" she queried, frustrated as she sank her head down on his stomach, feeling at a complete loss.
"Anna," he said gently. She turned her up to look at him. His eyes were closed again. His hands clenched the sheets.
"Yeah?" she asked as she slowly ran her hand up and down his thigh. He hissed.
"Anna, please stop. I do not possess the willpower to say no to you again. Not when you're so willing."
"But why, Erik? Why do you want me ta stop? Don't you- Don't ya like this?" she asked as she cupped the bulge between his legs.
He did like it, a lot.
"I don't get it," she said as she started to rub. He sat up, and grabbed her arm, stilling her movements. She gazed up at him, confused. "I don't understand," she exclaimed. "What am I doing wrong?" she asked, frustrated.
"Nothing," he stressed, "absolutely nothing," he said with his other hand up to her face. "Anna, I have found that when you put that brilliant mind of yours to something you quickly become an expert in any field you choose. Let me assure you it is taking every ounce of restraint I possess not to strip you of your clothing and take what you are so generously offering," he said as he rubbed her cheek in his hand.
"But I want to," she exclaimed. It's not like they would really be having sex, this was only a dream, after all. She didn't understand why he wouldn't let her. "Doesn't that matter?" she asked, frustrated.
"Yes, of course. I haven't left you unsatisfied, have I? I would never deny you that."
"But ya would deny yourself?" she asked in disbelief. "You've never denied yourself anything. Erik, why are ya starting now?"
"Anna-Marie, for the moment, it's necessary. You'll have to trust me on this."
"I don't," she said immediately. He eyed her a moment, before cocking his head.
"You do," he said matter-of-factly. "A little," he added, his eyes boring into hers. "Certain things you're willing to trust in my hands," he said as she looked away from him. "Nearly a month of keeping my word has affected your resolve to distrust me," he said as she felt his fingers take hold of her chin again. "Has it not?" he asked, forcing her gaze to his.
"A little," she admitted begrudgingly. He nodded, accepting her concession, as slight as it was.
"And a little will turn into a much greater amount as time goes on. Now, you trust me with your body," he said as his thumb rubbed across the back of her arm. "Within your mind. And I am trying not to take advantage- well complete advantage of your hospitality. That is why I say no. That is why I will keep, regretfully," he said before he leaned in and kissed her, "hesitantly," he said only an inch away from her face, his grip on her arm tightening, "saying no."
"It just doesn't seem fair ta me," she complained before brushing her lips against his. "I get everything, while you get nothing."
He laughed darkly before saying "Anna, I would hardly call this 'nothing'," his head dipped down and he kissed her soundly. Her eyes closed as she leaned into the kiss. She felt his lips leave hers, and as she opened her eyes she was laying on the bed.
"Erik," she exclaimed, annoyed as she sat up: realizing she was awake and alone.
'Anna, I would never leave you alone,' he reminded her. She let her fall back onto the bed.
"I know that," she sighed. "I just like not being alone face to face better," she said.
'So do I.'
"Then-"
'You can not stay asleep indefinitely.'
"Regretfully," she repeated. He chuckled.
'You should go wash up before dinner,' he advised.
With a sigh, she got off of the bed and walked into the bathroom that was connected to the bedroom.
This was pretty standard for her after a training session, she tended to sweat a lot when reliving memories and while she…napped in here. A shower was more for her teammates' benefits than her own.
"I don't get why no one actually lives in here. Got its own bathroom, and a beautiful view from the window. Lots of places for a single room. More than enough room for two people. Even its own bathroom," she said as she turned on the shower head. Whoever Xavier hired as a contractor was amazing, the water was always hot here, and you didn't need to wait long at all.
'I think you mentioned those points already, my dear' he said. She could just imagine the smirk on his face, and that his tone of voice portrayed, in her mind. He loved to taunt her with as many secrets as he felt he could get away with. 'And after all', she reasoned as she tested the water with her inner arm. 'It's all part of the practice, he's gotta amuse himself too'. She played around with the knobs, getting the temperature of the water just right.
"You would think people would be fighting over it," she said as she stripped out of her clothes.
'Perhaps, you should ask Charles,' he said as she stepped into the shower.
'What? Ask for my own room?' she asked, a bit surprised at the temerity of such a request. The hot water washed over her whole body, one of the few pleasures she could feel in this world with her whole body.
'Well, whyever not? You practically live here already. You sleep in here from time to time. You brought some of your clothing as well.'
'Cause I keep falling asleep, and I don't have time to run back ta my room and then ta the Danger Room,' she said as she picked up the bar of soap off of its rack. She heard him let out a scornful huff. 'Oh, don't ya start. Prof's already let me skip half the Danger Room session this week. I keep missing them to work on my powers here with you.' she sighed as she put the soap back. 'And then what do I do with that time?' she asked herself sadly.
'Anna,' he said softly. She picked up the shampoo bottle and poured a small amount into her hand. She put down the bottle and started to wash her hair.
'What do I do?' she asked herself again as she scrubbed her scalp. For a second she thought she could feel the marks Erik had made earlier. She shook her head at her own stupidity. 'I scrub my head just as hard,' she reminded herself.
'Excuse me?' Erik asked, confused.
'I sleep,' she thought strongly, getting back on topic. 'I sleep when I should be practicing,' she thought as she rinsed the soap out of her hair. She couldn't dawdle in this shower; and she grabbed the conditioner. Squeezing a generous dollop onto her waiting palm, she put it back and started to rub it in her hair, looking to coat it from root to tip.
'Anna, Charles hardly expects you to work on your powers every second you are in this room. And if that is, in fact, the case, then my dear,' he paused. 'I think one of your phrases is most appropriate.
'One of my phrases?' she asked, raising an eyebrow.
'If that is the case then he should go... fuck himself in the ass with a rusty screwdriver,' he said. Balance became an issue as she had to grip the towel rod on the shower wall to keep her balance as she laughed.
'You did not just say that,' she thought, squeezing her teary eyes shut.
'Technically no, I thought it,' he said. She continued to laugh, as the hot water ran over her body.
"Oww," she screamed.
'Anna?' he asked, concerned.
"Shit," she screamed. "I got soap in my eye," she yelled while still laughing slightly. She cupped her hand, allowing water to fill the makeshift bowl, and flushing the residue out. "I hate it when that happens," she muttered as she tried opening her abused eye.
'Anna?' he asked again.
"I'm fine," she smiled as she washed the rest of the conditioner out of her hair. "It's just soap," she explained. A second later she burst out into laughter again. "I still can't believe you said that," she giggled as she shut off the water.
"Rogue?" a voice called out from the other room.
"Huh?" she asked as she quickly got out of the shower, and grabbed a towel covering herself.
"Rogue?" the voice called out again.
"Professor?" Rogue asked as she peered out of the bathroom. She saw the Professor sitting in the doorway.
"Rogue, do you have any idea what time it is?"
"Yeah, it's only five-" she paused as she glanced over at the clock. It read 6:45 pm. "Erik, why the hell didn't you tell me?" she panicked as she ran back into the bedroom, barely conscious that she was only in a towel.
'Our sight is the same. If you can not see the clock then I can not see it,' he pointed out. She sighed as she opened the top drawer of the dresser. It felt like she was constantly late all the time these days. She pulled out a long-sleeved shirt with one hand and kept the towel up with her other.
She blinked, her face flushing with embarrassment as she turned her head to look at the Professor, who was very much in the room while she was practically nude. She was relieved to see he had closed his eyes. She turned back toward the dresser, wanting nothing more than to gather her clothes quickly.
"So, you rely on Magneto to keep track of time now?" the Professor asked curiously as she grabbed a shirt and dropped it on top of the dresser.
"No, I-" she said, frazzled. "We couldn't see the clock 'cause we were in the shower," she said.
"We?" he asked.
She blinked as an unbidden image popped in her mind; an erotic fantasy she recalled one frustrated night. She saw herself in the shower with Erik, her naked back pressed up against his front, his arms around her touching her skin, his lips on the nape of her neck, kissing, licking. Steam bellowed around them as he places his hands over hers, pinning them to the shower wall. She could feel his whole body keeping close to her as the water coursed over them both.
The image was so vivid she could sort of feel his lips, right there on the back of her neck and-
'While certainly enticing, Anna-Marie. Now is not the time,' Erik commented amusedly. She blinked before shaking her head. Grateful, Erik had roused her from her thoughts as she focused on finding her clothes.
"I mean I was in the shower," Rogue corrected as her hand gripped the handle of the bottom drawer. "And he's in my head," she said, rolling her eyes at herself, the damn thing was stuck. She already knew that, but she kept making the same mistake because this dresser was identical to the one in her bedroom. "So, we were both in the shower technically," she said weakly as she opened the middle drawer and retrieved the rest of what she needed, placing each item on top of the dresser as she only had one hand. She took a breath before replaying the question he asked. "Sometimes," she said as she scooped up all the articles she had gathered. "Sometimes, I trust him to keep track of," she said as she rushed back toward the bathroom. "Stuff," she said before she closed the bathroom door behind her. She dropped the clothes on the bathroom counter sink and-
And she had forgotten a bra, wonderful. She sat on the toilet seat lid, needing a moment to compose herself.
God, where had that image come from? She had never done anything like that with Erik. She had seen him naked before in some of his memories. And she did like what she saw.
'Anna-Marie, focus,' Erik chided her, but there was a dark, satisfied lilt to his thoughts.
"Rogue," the Professor said as he knocked on the door. "Are you alright?" he asked. She took a deep breath before she stood, opened the door ajar, and stuck her head out, peering down at him. He was just outside the bathroom door.
"Ya startled me," she said.
"I believe we both were rather surprised. The last place I expected to find you in the middle of dinner was in the shower," he said.
"Sorry, I lost track of time. I just woke up from a nap," she tried to explain.
"I thought you were training this afternoon," he said.
"I was," she said. "But I-" she said as she hid behind the door. "Could- could you leave the room please?" she tried to stress how uncomfortable she was with the situation through her voice. "I'll meet ya downstairs and we could talk in your office?" she asked.
"I'll be just outside the bedroom," he told her, pointing towards the hall.
"Okay, thank you," she said before pulling her head back and closing the door.
'You were uncomfortable with Charles seeing you slightly nude?' Erik asked as Rogue pulled the towel off. 'I've seen you in far less clothing,' he said as she started to towel-dry her hair. 'Case in point,' he commented as she glanced into the mirror, checking her hair to see how dry she was getting it. She couldn't help but smile in response as she held eye contact with herself, knowing he was looking through her eyes. 'You've never displayed this type of discomfort with me,' he pointed out.
'That's different. I've seen you naked I don't know how many times,' she said as she hung up the towel and turned back toward the sink.
'So, if you saw Charles without clothing then you would have no issue?' he asked curiously as she grabbed her underwear off of the sink. She cocked her head to one side as she considered that. Reaching down, she looped the underwear through her legs before pulling them up and on.
As she stood a single sound escaped her, "Eww."
Which was immediately followed by Erik's uncontrollable laughter.
"That ain't funny," she said as she grabbed her pants. He wasn't relenting, that much was clear. She had little choice but to keep getting dressed while his vicious mocking laughter echoed in her mind. Her socks went on next- and she needed a bra, but- she grabbed her hairbrush first and brushed it quickly getting all the knots out. Her hair was slightly damp, but it would have to do.
She grabbed the shirt off of the sink before opening the door to the bathroom, she peered out again and was pleased to see that Charles was indeed no longer in the room. She walked back to the dresser, opened the top drawer, and pulled out her extra bra she kept in here.
"You are such an asshole," she muttered as she pulled her bra on, clasping the hook in place in front of her before shifting the underwire around her body and finally pulling the bra straps over her shoulder. She threw her shirt on next. Now the only thing she was missing were her gloves, and to her dismay, he was still laughing.
"Would you shut up already? I gotta find my gloves," she said, annoyed.
'Where did you leave them?' he asked, his laughter finally dissipating.
"I don't know," she said, aggravated.
'Yes, you do, Anna. Your powers, use them,' Erik suggested, all the sound of humor had left his voice.'This is what you have been practicing for,' he said strongly. 'So, that they can be useful in an everyday, practical situation,' he said.
"Okay... okay, you're right... I can do this."
'Yes, you can,' he assured her.
"Give me a second," she said as she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath as she pulled at her memory.
A smile came to her face as she replayed a moment from earlier in the afternoon. She recalled pushing the gloves, and her sheer shirt off of the bed. She opened her eyes and ran over to the side of her bed.
'Well done,' Erik said.
"Thanks," she said with a smile as she picked up her shirt. She threw it on the bed, deciding to take care of it later. She reached down and grabbed her gloves. She put one of them back on as she sauntered to the door, holding the other in her mouth. As she reached the door, she took her other glove and put it on. After she was done with that she opened the door.
True to his word the Professor was sitting there, in the hallway just outside of the guest bedroom, waiting for her.
"Sorry, I took so long," she said as she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"It's quite alright," he said with a smile. "I understand that you are going through a very unique transition, and I am here to help in any way that I can."
"By waiting for me ta get dressed and missing dinner?" she asked in disbelief.
"If that is what it takes," he said as he started to move down the hallway, "then yes."
'If he is so inclined to help, perhaps he could allow you a few more hours a day to work on your powers,' Erik said.
'If we had another hour or two ya know what we would do with it,' she thought. She heard him chuckle in his mind. She rolled her eyes.
"Rogue?" he asked again. She must have seen her roll her eyes.
"Not you Prof, him."
"May I ask about his comment?" he asked as they stopped in front of the elevator.
"...He said that if you really wanted to help you should give me a few more hours a day to work on them," she murmured as she pressed the down button.
"Do you feel the same?" he asked.
"A little, maybe," she said, feeling his eyes on her. "I could use all the time I can get but," she said as she looked down at him. "I can only handle so much at once. Sometimes, I take breaks," she explained.
"To nap midday?" the Professor asked with a raised eyebrow. She felt her cheeks blush at that and watched his face lit up with interest. Both of the attentions were drawn to the lift as the door slid open to reveal Storm and Scott facing one another.
"But we're all concerned. Kitty said that she talks to herself and-"
"Scott, I'm sure everything will be alright, She is-" Storm was saying before Charles interrupted her.
"Ororo," he said loudly, calling for her attention.
"Charles?" she said as she turned to look at him. "and Rogue?" Storm said, glancing at her before smiling.
'Great, they were just talking about me,' she huffed as she watched the two of them step out of the elevator.
"Thank you, Ororo," the Professor said as he moved into the elevator. Storm nodded with a smile as she walked down the hall.
"Rogue, you better eat fast if you don't want to miss the danger room session," Scott said.
"I-ah-" Rogue started to say before Professor Xavier interrupted her.
"Rogue will not be joining the team today. She and I will be having a private session discussing her powers."
"Oh," Scott said, sounding disappointed. "That's the fifth danger room session you missed this week."
"I know. Tell everyone I'm sorry, okay?" she asked.
'Even though you're not,' Magneto added.
'Yes, I am. Now shut up,' she commanded.
"Rogue?" Scott asked, calling for her attention.
"I-" she started to say before looking at him. "Yeah, just tell everyone, I'm sorry," she said.
"I will," he said with a raised eyebrow. "See you tomorrow, Rogue."
"See ya," Rogue said as she watched him walk down the hall through the closing elevator doors. "He said 'I will' twice, didn't he?" she asked dryly.
"Five times by my count," the Professor answered as he pressed the button for the first floor.
She sighed as she let her head hit the back of the wall.
"What did Magneto say this time?" he asked as the doors to the lift opened.
"He-" she paused as she let out a sigh. "He said 'even though you're not,'" she quoted as they moved out of the elevator. "Sorry about missing the danger rooms sessions," she explained further.
"Is he correct?" he asked as they moved towards the kitchen.
"...Kinda. I know they're used to me being in the danger room with them and it's hard adjusting. For that, yeah, I'm sorry. But do I miss the danger room itself? Not really. I've gotten more control over my powers in the past three weeks laying down than I ever did sweating in the sub-basement."
"I agree," he said as they moved into the kitchen.
"You do?" she asked, a little startled.
"Yes, I do," he said as he wheeled over to one of the drawers. "Rogue, would you mind getting our dinner? Ororo put them in the microwave," he informed her.
"Yeah," she said as she walked over to the microwave. She opened it up and saw that there were two plates. She took off her glove and touched her finger to a piece of meat. 'Too cold,' she thought as she removed her hand and closed the door.
"My regret is that I cannot help you the way he is," the Professor said from behind her. She glanced over and saw that he was now seated at the table. He had gotten silverware, cups, and napkins and was setting the table for their meal.
"You don't know as much as he does," she murmured as she set the microwave on for two minutes.
"And why is that?" he asked. "How has he come across so much knowledge regarding the fragments in your mind?" he asked. She turned back toward him, leaning back against the countertop as she folded her arms over her chest
"Prof, he is a fragment," Rogue answered as she watched his eyes widen with astonishment "Why wouldn't he know more than you?" she asked.
The Professor glanced away from her, clearly considering her statement. She turned back to the microwave and waited. Soon enough, she was bringing their plates to the table. He reached out and took his plate from her before she sat down across from him.
"So, what were you two working on today before your nap?" he asked as they both picked up their cutlery.
"Pulling fragments out, choosing a memory to view, watching it, and then pushing the fragment to the back of my mind," she said, ignoring the last part of his comment. "Also we've been working on the nuances of what I experience while reliving memories," she said.
"What does that mean?" the Professor asked.
"So, ya know how both Kurt and Erik grew up speaking German?" she asked. He nodded. "Well, my mind- when I look at their memories I hear them in English. Erik explained it to me once. How- what did he say? Oh yeah, because they both speak German fluently I have the capability of speaking the language fluently too. So, in my mind, when I look at those memories I understand 'em so fast that I'm able to comprehend what's being said," she said.
'Explain how it doesn't translate-' Erik advised.
"Right, my mind doesn't translate something unless the person who's memories I'm looking at speaks the language well enough. Like there was this one time that Kurt overheard a conversation in Russian and I watched it but I couldn't understand what was being said; same as Kurt. But in Erik's memories, he's spoken that language a lot and whenever I watch something from his point of view I understand it as though it's English," she said.
"It's strange that the skills you gain from one fragment do not transfer to all the others," Charles commented.
"Erik thinks that if I can get control over the little aspects of my powers then over time it'll help me figure out how to get control over the bigger stuff. So, now, I can hear memories in their original language when I concentrate. Part of my training is looking at a memory, hear it in German. Say it out loud for Erik and he tells me if I'm right or not," she said.
'I also tell you how abysmal your German accent is,' Erik added.
"Oh my god," she laughed.
'What?" the professor asked.
"Erik wants me ta tell ya how bad my German accent is," she relayed. "Happy now, Jackass?" she asked. Her question was met with another chuckle.
'Really the mix of your southern accent with your attempts to mimic mine are-' Erik started to say.
"I get it. You think I sound ridiculous and you think it's really funny. Now, shut up," she laughed. "I'm trying to have a conversation with Prof," she said out loud. "Sorry," she said as she turned her attention back to the Professor.
"It's alright," he said. "Is he usually this amused?" he asked.
"Yeah, pretty much," she shrugged. "Well, I mean, unless I'm looking at certain memories. Ya know, the traumatic ones," she explained.
"Of course," he said.
"Anyway, my training's going pretty well. The fragments are actually starting to do what I tell 'em," she said.
"And they weren't before?" he asked.
"Not till I absorbed Erik. Then they were obeying him," she explained.
"And now, they listen to you, without his assistance?" he asked.
"Not all of 'em. Sabertooth's still too much for me to handle by myself. A few of the others too. Kurt, Kitty, and Cody, I can control. It's been nice practicing on one fragment at a time," she said.
"And that's thanks to Magneto?" he asked.
"Ah-huh," she confirmed. "And I've never been able to wrangle 'em all at once."
"Hence, you're still dependent on him?" he asked.
"For now," she said with a shrug. "But I'm working on it," she said.
"Alright," he said, thoughtfully. "I'd like to talk about why you overslept this afternoon," he said.
"I'm sorry," she said immediately.
"Rogue, please, I'm not reprimanding you. My singular goal is comprehension. That's all," he said kindly. "Did you forget to set an alarm?" he asked.
"Not really," she said. "I just- I messed up, I guess," she said.
"You've said you have the nightmares under control. Is that still accurate?" he asked.
"Yeah, Erik's made sure of that," she said.
"How?" he asked.
"Well, we figured out why I was having nightmares," she said.
"Really?" he asked, interested.
"So, if I'm thinking about something and my mind recalls a memory related to it, it'll try to pull me into that memory. Sometimes it happens when I'm awake, but I'm conscious. I can just pull back and not let it happen," she explained. "I'm getting better at that too," she said and he nodded encouragingly. "But when I'm asleep, and my guard is down, I have no control," she said.
"And what is Magneto doing, while you're asleep, to protect your mind from this occurrence?" he asked, his tone dry. "Given the pattern, I assume he's responsible. He's been the catalyst for every other breakthrough you've had thus far," he added.
"You make it sound like that's a bad thing," she said.
"It's certainly not ideal," he said before she sighed. "And the question still remains. Why would he go to the trouble of helping you?"
"Maybe he likes me," she said, annoyed. "That so hard to believe?" she asked.
"No, no, of course not, Rogue," he said. "But I've known Magneto longer than you've been alive. Philanthropy is not in his usual repertoire. He's the type of man who, when offering a favor, expects-"
"Something in return," she mumbled, finishing his sentence.
"Precisely," he said. "Rogue, what are you giving him? What is he getting out of all this?"
"Honestly, it doesn't feel like I'm giving him anything," she said.
"But there must be something," he said.
"I mean, there is- but it just- It doesn't matter. It's ain't real," she said. She watched the expression on the Professor's face drop, quickly replaced with one of dread. "Prof?" she asked, noticing his change in demeanor.
"Well, that's the most unnerving fact you've relayed thus far," he said as he put his fork down.
"Why?" she asked as he pushed his plate to the side, and looked over at her. She swallowed, feeling ill-at-ease as he focused all of his attention on her.
"Rogue, can we agree that Magneto is a threat to the X-Men and everything we're working to accomplish?" he asked.
"The real Magneto, sure," she said with a shrug. "But that has nothing to do with the fragment in my head. He's a completely separate entity," she said.
"I would argue that your fragment is an extension of Magneto and if given the chance would further his supremacist goals," he said.
"Erik, literally, talked me inta using my powers so y'all could stop Magneto's plans," she said dryly.
"Yes, I've been wondering about that," he said.
"About what? You asked me to tell you where Magneto was and I did. What more do you want?" she asked. "Yeah, I know where some of his other bases are. But all of 'em are metal domes. You'll need Kitty or Kurt to get in. And like I told Logan, it's a bad idea so forgive me for not compiling a list for y'all," she said, annoyed, rolling her eyes.
"Rogue, that's not what I was referring to," he said.
"Then what?" she asked.
"You said you were at fault. You said you made a mistake trusting Mag- … Erik and yet the next day you began lessons with him. He prevents your nightmares, he controls the other fragments, he dictates the course of your training, he draws your attention from the waking world and those within it as he pleases. Is there any facet of your mind you haven't allowed him to dominate?" he asked, listing each point calmly and firmly. Despite her anger and indignant nature - and also feeling a little like the rope in a tug-of-war game - she felt herself blush. "Rogue?" he asked, there was a concern in his voice she hadn't heard before.
"You just wanna get rid of him," she defected.
"If it wasn't a profound violation of your consent as well as agency, and if you wouldn't hate me for it, yes, I would this instant, rid you of his influence," he said in the same tone he had begun the conversation with and she rolled her eyes at his phrasing.
"I don't want that," she said.
"As you've made abundantly clear," he said. "Even if he is driving a wedge between you and the rest of the team," he added.
"Oh my god," she exclaimed. "Could you be any more melodramatic? He's helping me," she said.
"And what is Erik getting from you in return? What service are you performing?" he asked.
"It doesn't matter," she said, getting red in the face for more than one reason.
"Yes. It. Does," he said forcefully. "You have been entirely too secretive these past few weeks. And I know Erik is the cause," he said.
'Anna,' Erik said as she broke eye contact with the Professor. 'You've seen enough of my memories of the camps to last a lifetime. Tell him of your suspicions and end this,' he ordered. Her eyes flashed back to the Professor's.
"No, he's not," she insisted.
"Then why did it take half a minute for you to respond?" the Professor asked. "Erik just said something to you, didn't he?" he asked strongly.
"Yeah, he told me to tell ya what I've been working on," she said. The Professor blinked, his anger diminished by surprise. "But I ain't ready yet," she said.
"Erik's advising you to disclose information to me," he said skeptically.
"Yeah," Rogue said.
"But you would prefer not to?" he asked.
"No, I'm gonna, I just-," she said, pausing to take a breath. "I haven't finished looking yet. Until I confirm it, I don't wanna make Logan worry for no reason," she said.
"Worry about what?" he asked.
"That his memory's been trampled with," she answered. The professor barked a laugh so suddenly that she nearly dropped her fork. His lips thinned as he shook his head, the inclination to mirth escaping him.
"Your concern is roughly forty years too late, I'm afraid," he informed her.
"What?" Rogue asked dumbfounded.
"Weapon X ravaged Logan's mind decades ago," the Professor explained.
'Really?' Erik asked, his tone curious.
"Erik didn't know that," she commented.
"That doesn't surprise me," the Professor commented before he leaned forward. "Now, tell me, what will," he ordered. Rogue was damned near certain he wasn't using telepathy on her, but she certainly felt that his eyes were powerful enough to make the information spill from her lips.
'Go on,' he encouraged.
"Erik doesn't remember Captain America," she said. His eyes left hers very briefly before snapping back.
"Then how did he escape from the camps?" he asked.
"During the Sonderkommando Revolt on nineteen hundred forty-four, October, seventh," she answered. "And Erik wasn't a small boy. He was my age when he escaped," she further explained.
"I see," Charles said thoughtfully.
"But that's what got me thinking. What if I don't get every memory a person has? What if that was just an assumption I've made? What if there are gaps to what I have access to and both happened," she said.
"Logan rescued Magneto when he was a boy, somehow gets recaptured by the Nazis only to escape again later?" he asked incredulously.
"Yeah, I know it's far-fetched, but I wanted to rule it out before worrying anyone," she said.
"And when you say you were looking, you meant that you were looking at Magneto's memories of the camps?" he asked and she nodded sadly. "And Erik's been against this?" he asked.
"For weeks," she shrugged.
"And has he attempted to deter you from this course of action?"
"Yeah, 'course he has. But it's my mind, my rules. He's just helping till I can control my powers by myself," she said. "And as horrible as those memories are, I was practicing. I even figured out how I can speed up the memories but still understand what's happening in 'em. I don't think I would've figured that out otherwise," she said.
"Did you view any of those today?"
"No, Erik distracted me," she said. "Not that I blame him, but I didn't know Logan's memories were already messed up-" she said, her voice trailing off as she saw the look of contemplation on his face.
"Rogue, this afternoon, did Erik distract you, and then you took a nap, or did he distract you with the nap?" the Professor asked.
'Careful,' Erik advised.
"You asked me how he's helping me with the nightmares. Can I finish explaining that?" she asked.
"Please," he said.
"So, when I'm unconscious, any of the fragments can pull me inta their memories," she said.
"Which is what causes the nightmares," the Professor said.
"Yeah," she said.
"And Erik is preventing this by," he said as she could tell he was trying to figure it out.
"He's pulling me into his mind first so none of the others can," she supplied.
"What happens to you as a result?" he asked.
"I get to learn how to use 'n manipulate my dreams," she answered. Rogue watched the Professor take a breath as he ran his hand over his mouth. He seemed to be considering something, and it took him a moment to regather himself.
"Which aren't real," he guessed.
"Ah-huh," she said, watching his shoulders untense a bit.
"Rogue, hypothetically," he said as he leaned in, resting his folded hand on the table between them. "If you were to stop performing whatever service it is you engage in with Erik while you're unconscious, would he cease helping you as a result?" he asked.
'Absolutely, not,' Erik answered immediately.
"He said no," Rogue relayed.
"Then, for my peace of mind, will you stop?" he asked.
"Why?" she asked.
"Or explain the details of the service. Or allow me to sit in on one of the sessions," he said, providing alternatives. She looked down at her plate. She stopped eating long ago but still, she needed to stall, she needed to think. "Rogue, have you ever heard the phrase, 'quid pro quo'?" he asked, denying her that.
"No," she muttered.
'It's Latin for something for something,' Erik provided.
"Okay, now, I have," she corrected.
"Erik explained?" he asked.
"Ah-huh. It's kinda nice having my own personal tutor," she told him.
"I could imagine," he said.
"My grades have been getting better," she pointed out.
"Yes, I've noticed," he said, almost reluctantly. "Rogue, without context, the scenarios playing in my mind are numerous and-" he said before taking a breath. "Will you please explain to me what you're giving him," he asked again.
"But it's personal, between me and him," she deflected.
"Then I will continue to assume the worst," he said. "And must ask you to stop," he reasserted.
"But I don't want to," she protested, folding her arms over her chest. "And it ain't real," she restated. "It's just in my head," she said.
"Then it won't matter if you stop," he said.
"But-"
"Rogue, either Erik's actions are altruistic in nature or it is quid pro quo then he is gaining some sort of-... gratification from being in your mind. If it's the latter, then as your teacher and guardian I cannot sit by and allow you to be taken advantage of," he said.
Rogue wanted to roll her eyes but something he said triggered a memory-
"Within your mind. And I am trying not to take advantage- well complete advantage of your hospitality. That is why I say no. That is why I will keep, regretfully, hesitantly, saying no," she replayed Erik's words from just this afternoon.
They were- Was the Professor right? Was Erik right? Was she- But she liked it- a lot- and with her physical powers out of her control, these dreams were the only place she could experience touch. She didn't want to give that up.
'And I will not deprive you of physical contact, my dear,' Erik said, clearly listening to her train of thought. 'Now tell Charles you agree to his terms,' he ordered. She blinked, not understanding the contradiction between his two sentences.
'You're seriously okay with this?' she asked him.
'I've aimed to assist you since I entered your mind, have I not?' he asked and she found herself nodding along. 'And I will continue to do so with little regard for personal gain,' he promised. 'Your mind, your rules,' he repeated. 'Tell him we both agree,' he ordered.
Rogue took a breath as she looked up from her plate and met the Professor's gaze. He was waiting patiently for her response.
"Okay," she said. "I promise I'll stop," she said.
"You two have just discussed this, I assume?" the Professor asked.
"Ah-huh," she nodded.
"And he agrees?"
"Ah-huh," she said again as she looked at him. He looked like he wanted to say more. She felt there was another conversation, just on the tip of his tongue, to further probe. But, frankly, she had enough of his interrogations for one night. "Can I be excused now?" she asked quickly, before he could initiate any further lines of questioning.
"Yes, alright," he said, while seeming somewhat disappointed.
"Good night," she said, knowing she was leaving him with the mess and deciding not to care. She heard him sigh behind her.
"Good night," he said, his tone dry.
Rogue walked into her other bedroom, dressed in P.J.s, her clothes for the morning held in her arms. The danger room session was going to end soon, so she had rushed back after her dinner with the Professor, got what she needed for the next morning, and took solace in her adopted space.
She didn't want to engage Kitty, knowing her roommate would ask her why she missed the danger room session and complain that Spike didn't watch her back the way Rogue did. She'd heard it all before and this evening she couldn't be bothered. But it was only a little past 8 pm and she- Well, she could go back to training.
'Agreed,' Erik said. 'Would you be so kind as to lay down, close your eyes, and we'll begin,' he requested.
"Am I pulling up a fragment or going to sleep?" she asked him as she walked over to the bed.
'The latter,' he confirmed. As she sat down, she felt a vague sense of confusion. 'Anna-Marie, you're going to keep your word and we're going to keep training,' he told her. 'Now, please do what I've asked,' he ordered.
"Yeah, okay," she huffed as she laid back. She rested her head on the pillow and yawned as closed her eyes. She didn't get why she was tired. She had taken a nap today and skipped the danger room session, she should have energy to spare.
"You can open them now," Erik informed her. When she did, she blinked, surprised to see him sitting at an ornate metal table with two matching chairs. On the table, there was a chess set. Erik smiled at her, while holding out his hand, gesturing to the seat across from him. She stood and joined him at the table, sitting across from him as she looked down at the board.
Typical of him, the pieces were also made of metal, her's white and his black.
"Can you tell me what I've told you of strategy?" Erik asked.
"That while using my powers to their full extent, I should be able to understand my enemies and allies' minds better than they do," she said.
"However, having access to other's minds is simply not enough. You need to know how to think and chess is one of the better tools to learn strategic management. You'll need to anticipate outcomes, assess choices, and be willing to abandon any preconceived plans when necessary," he said.
"Adapt to the situation," she restated.
"Yes, rapidly, continuously," he said as he said his right hand down on the table. "Case in point," he said, nodding towards his hand. "Hand please," he said with a smile. Her own features changed to match his as she placed her hand in his. She let out a blissful sigh at the contact. "Good enough?" he asked as his fingers curved around hers.
"Ah-huh," she nodded happily, relieved she didn't have to completely give up physical contact. He lifted his hand up and lowered his head as he kissed the top of her hand. She felt her face blush before he winked at her. She couldn't help but beam up at him.
"Good," he said as he placed their hands back to rest on the table. "Then let's begin," he said, his head gesturing toward the board and its pieces.