Please enjoy

Chapter 24 of

Taunting Repartee RM'd

Good Company

The next morning Rogue walked down the hallway toward the kitchen alone. Her mother had never made it back to her's and Kitty's bedroom and she wondered if she and her uncle had spent the entire night catching up. She didn't have to wonder for long, as, among the others who had congregated in the kitchen, Rogue saw Risty standing in the kitchen by the counter near the sink. Logan stood next to her, pouring them cups of coffee. She guessed they both needed a little pick-me-up after a night of drinking.

Coffee in hand, Rogue watched as Risty turned back to a small brown paper bag and noticed a couple of small zip lock bags on the counter she was packing into it.

"Good morning, my darling," Risty smiled, her head gesturing toward the bag she was packing. Rogue walked up to her, and made her own gesture toward the mug Risty was holding and her mother smirked slightly as she handed her the mug. "Alright, we have vitamins," she said pointing to a zip lock bag of grapes, "protein," she said pointing to a bag of almonds, "and hydration," she said pointing to a bottle of water. "You'll be starving for dinner tonight, but it's better than fruit snacks," she finished.

"I mean, I could also get fruit snacks," Rogue commented amused. It was her mother's turn to roll her eyes as she pulled a wallet out from her back pocket and pulled out a few singles, handing them to her. Rogue did her best to ignore Scott, even if she could feel him watching the entire exchange, as she pocketed the singles.

"Kurt," Risty called out next, a smile on her lips, just as her brother had ported into the kitchen.

"Risty," Kurt called back with the same air of excitement as Rogue took a satisfying sip of warm coffee.

"Young man, do you have your wallet?" Risty asked as she stashed her own back into her back pocket.

"Aren't you younger than me?" Kurt asked as he patted down his pockets.

"No. I'm not," Risty declared. "Do you have it?" she asked again. Kurt stopped patting as he left out a laugh and porter out of the room. Rogue shared a glance with her mother, who had an amused glint in her eyes as she gestured for the return of her coffee.

"Thanks," he grinned, reappearing with a small black wallet in his hand as Rogue took a final sip of the coffee before returning it to her mother. "I would forget my head, if it were not attached to my shoulders," he said.

"No argument here," Rogue smirked. Her little brother proceeded to stick his tongue out at her.

"Risty, how much do I owe you from last time?" Kurt asked, as he opened his wallet.

"Last time?" Rogue asked.

"Ja, I forgot my wallet last week and Risty brought me lunch," he said as Logan laughed under his breath. "So?" he asked, looking down into the folds of his black wallet, it seemed he was counting the bills.

"Not a dime," her mother smiled as she finished her mug and placed it in the sink. Rogue couldn't keep a smirk off her own face, it seems she wasn't the only one their mother had been feeding while at Bayville High.

"But?" he asked.

"But nothing," she said as she picked up the brown paper bag, handing it to Rogue. "And we need to get going," she said, gesturing with her arms for both of them to get a room on.

"I'll meet ya on four-ninety-five," Logan said.

"See you there," Risty called out, as she ushered them through the door and into the hallway.

"Hmm, what about breakfast?" Kurt asked.

"How about a morning burger-gut-bomb?" Risty retorted.

"Yes," Kurt exclaimed, as he put up no further protest, eagerly walking in the direction Risty was directing them toward. "Now, that's what I'm talking about," he said.

"And how's that better than fruit snacks?" Rogue asked incredulously, looking at her mother.

"Oh hush and let me spoil your brother," Risty chidded, her tone low, so Kurt couldn't hear it. Rogue snorted as she rolled her eyes but said nothing else that could ruin the peaceful morning her mother had planned for them.

Later that afternoon, Rogue sat in the Professor's office, as they waited for Kurt to join them. She sat with the Professor and Logan. Her mother was in the room across the hall, waiting to be summoned, so they could talk to Kurt. Rogue felt her foot tapping against the floor and couldn't bring herself to stop fidgeting. This moment has been days in the making and wasn't coming fast enough. Even now, she was seconds away from Kurt joining them and still, she had all this vague uneasiness she couldn't place.

"Rogue, are you alright?" the Professor asked.

"Just nervous, I guess," she said.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.

"Today ain't about me," she said dismissively while shaking her head. She watched a wave of empathy pass over his face.

"Rogue, we can speak with Kurt and make time to address your emotions," he said. "Why don't we make time afterwards and we'll have a nice chat?" he offered with a kind smile. "It's been a hectic few days and I doubt you've had much time to decompress or process any of the conflicting emotions you may be feeling," he added. He had no idea how true that sentiment was.

"Thanks, Professor, maybe-" she started to say as there was a knock on the door. She cut herself off and sat up straight.

"Later," he promised her with a nod. "Kurt, please come in," he said, louder, ensuring her brother had heard her.

"Hey, Professor," Kurt said as he entered the room. "Hey, Rogue," he said, blinking with surprise and she waved at him warmly.

"Kurt, I invited your sister to this conversation for moral support. However, if you'd prefer-"

"No, no," Kurt said as he walked over and plopped down on the couch next to her. Rogue reached over and took her brother's hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. Kurt gave her a soft smile, as he squeezed her hand before they both turned to look at the Professor.

"Regarding the DNA test," he started, "we've run it multiple times, just to be certain," he said, sharing a glance with Logan before looking back at the two of them. "And, we can definitively say, it's negative," he announced.

"Oh, okay," Kurt said, his voice a mere whisper.

"You're disappointed?" the Professor asked.

"I've been waiting for answers for- … my whole life and I-.. it's not that I wanted Sabertooth to be my father. I just want to know and I-," Kurt stammered over his words as he looked over at her uncle. "I think I liked the idea of being related to you, Logan," he said.

"DNA or not, we're still family, elf," Logan said and Kurt smiled in response before letting out a sigh.

The downturned expression on her little brother's face was breaking her heart. He must feel like he was back at square one, with no answers or any hope of receiving any. Rogue glanced up at the Professor, with a look she hoped conveyed, 'Couldja get on with it, already?'

The Professor held up his hand, non-verbally asking for her patience.

"There's more," the Professor said after a moment. "If you're ready to hear it," he added.

"Ja, tell me," Kurt said eagerly.

"In her search for answers, your sister made a few crucial discoveries," he said.

"Yes?" he asked, his eyes lit up with hope as he looked between her and the Professor.

"Rogue confirmed your mother's most recent alias here in Bayville," he explained as Kurt's eyes widened. "She also uncovered the fact that Magneto was threatening Mystique. Your mother wanted to speak with you. Magneto prevented that conversation from occurring," he explained.

"Why?" Kurt asked.

"We don't know and for Rogue's safety she cannot look at any more of Magneto's memories," the Professor said strongly.

"Right, right," Kurt said, as he squeezed her hand, almost protectively.

"However, once we knew Mystique's disguise and understood her employment with Magneto was under duress, it gave the X-Men a rare opportunity to speak with her in a non-violent environment. And I was able to extend the hand of friendship," he said.

"Wait, really?" Kurt asked, completely flabbergasted. "Mother is joining the X-Men?" he asked, his expression somewhere between disbelief and joy.

"She is," the Professor asked.

"Who was-" he asked as his eyes darted back and forth before they widened. "Risty?" he asked.

"Ah-huh," Rogue answered.

"She brought me lunch so many times," Kurt commented under his breath.

"Yeah, me too," Rogue smiled. "I think half the reason she went to school every day ta make sure you and me were eating."

"Ja," Kurt nodded before a soft chuckle left him.

"Thankfully, with Mystique here, she won't have to resort to covert displays of affection. Rather, she can openly take care of you both," he said. "And she's just in the other room, waiting to speak with you, whenever you're ready," the Professor said kindly.

"And if ya wanna talk to Mom alone, I can go," Rogue offered.

"Ja, thanks, Rogue," Kurt said, nodding. With that Rogue stood, preparing to give him the room and was pleased when the Professor and Logan were doing the same.

"I have to call a meeting and explain all this to everyone else," the Professor said, as Logan moved to hold the door open for them.

"Scott ain't gonna be happy about it," Rogue pointed out as they exited the room.

"He wasn't pleased about Avalanche either," the Professor responded dryly as he shared a look with Logan. "But I will not allow past rivalries to squander future alliances. Not again," he said strongly. "As long as your mother and I have the same goals, protecting and caring for you and Kurt, she will have a place here," he promised as they made their way down the hallway.

Rogue blinked as a thought occurred to her.

"Are ya gonna leverage Mystique ta try and recruit the Brotherhood boys?" she asked.

"We spoke about it last night and yes, after she'd settled in," he answered.

'But not Pietro, right?' she asked in her mind, but held back from saying aloud. She actually paused walking altogether. 'Wait, does anyone else, besides me, know he's Magneto's son?' she asked herself.

"Are you alright?" he asked again.

"Ah-huh," she said, nodding, as she resumed walking. "Hmm, which room is she taking?" Rogue asked, needing to change the topic of discussion. She was startled as the Professor let out a laugh.

"Like mother, like daughter," he commented.

"Huh?" Rogue asked, looking down at him.

"The first thing Mystique asked me was if there were any rooms available with a private bathroom," he said and Rogue couldn't help but smile. "I had to inform her the only one I had was somewhat-occupied. Kitty mentioned you slept in there the other night," he commented.

"Kitty mentioned it or did ya ask her?" she asked, seeking clarification as she placed her hand on her hip.

"The latter," he answered.

"And is that okay?" she asked, hoping he wasn't going to give her room to her mother.

"You were uncomfortable with the idea only a few short days ago, may I ask what changed?" he asked.

"I really like having my own bathroom," Rogue said, which was true. The Professor refrained from speaking for a long moment, though they kept moving down the hallway.

"Then it's fine," the Professor said, his tone so dry, she had a feeling he wished he had a reason to object.

"What about my mom?" she asked.

"Same corridor, different room. After an upgrade," he said. "Which she's volunteered to pay for," he added.

"Huh," she said, letting out an amused huff. "That kinda works out for ya," she said. "Even if the alliance doesn't last long term," she added.

"It does indeed," he agreed. "Although, I'm hoping our newfound friendship will," he said as he paused outside of the common room. "Now," he said as he turned to look up at her. "I doubt you'll want to sit though Scott's or any of the other's objections. Convincing them is my burden, not yours," he said.

"Thanks," she said, letting out a sigh of relief. Persuading Scott to give her mother a chance was the last thing she wanted to do. "So, would it be okay, if I used this time ta move the rest of my stuff inta my new room?" she asked.

"Perfectly, fine," he said. "Would you like me to find you afterwards for a chat? Perhaps after dinner?" he asked.

"Maybe," she said, shrugging.

"I won't force the matter," he said, reading her body language. "However, please know that my door is always open," he said.

"Thanks, Professor," she said with a smile before she hurried off to fully claim her room.

Later that afternoon, Rogue stood in her and Magneto's bedroom, with all of her possessions now in one location. She let out a sigh of relief as she finished unpacking the last laundry basket she used to carry her stuff from one room to another.

She was going to miss having Kitty as a roommate. She'd found Kitty obnoxious at first but after absorbing her mind into hers, she'd gotten to know her so much better. Kitty was one of the first Fragments who stopped fighting her and once Rogue understood her better, that had translated to their real world relationship. Kitty was, aside from Risty, one of her closest friends.

'Risty's actually- Wait, does that make Kitty my best friend now?' she asked herself. 'Maybe I should invite Kitty out for a little shopping spree, on my mom,' she thought, with a little too much satisfaction. Rogue laughed at herself as she shook her head.

She'd talk to Kitty about some one-on-one time after everything had settled down.

'But for now,' she thought as she discarded the basket to the floor before walking up to the door. She opened it and peered down the corridor, in both directions. She let out another sigh at seeing no one was around. Between Kurt talking to their mother and the Professor speaking with everyone else, there was little chance of being interrupted. 'I gotta figure out what's in that drawer.'

Closing her bedroom door again, she walked to the desk and retrieved a pen before heading over to the dresser. Kneeling down in front of it, she leaned over entirely, pressing her ear to the drawer as she tried to pull it open. She wasn't expecting it to give, rather she needed to identify where that rattling, metal against metal, sound was coming from. She closed her eyes, seeking to identify the source as she moved her ear around to hear if the noise got louder or lower.

After a little trial and error, her ear was pressed up against the left-hand side of the side of the drawer, running her bare finger over the wooden dresser she felt-

'A hole?' she asked herself as she pulled back and stared at the wood- her eyes widening with interest as she saw the barely visible hole, it was the size of a pin, perhaps. Which meant she couldn't stick the pen in there as it was. She turned her attention to the metal encased pen Magneto had left her and realized she could unscrew the top off, pulling out the ink-cartridge, which was about the size of the hole. She leaned over again, her left hand held the metal tipped ink-cartridge against the opening, as her right hand gripped one of the handles of the bottom drawer. She pressed the ink-cartridge into the hole and smiled as she felt resistance; she was pressing up against something. So she applied pressure to the hole and pulled at the handle of the drawer until-

It popped open.

"Yes," she exclaimed as she sat up and looked inside the drawer.

There she saw, on the left-hand side a pile of neatly folded clothes; white button ups and a couple of pairs of black slacks. The same clothes Erik had always worn when pretending to be the Fragment in her mind. On the right-hand side, she saw a small stack of books; The Count of Monte Cristo (which she seen him reading), The Once and Future King, Dracula (which was actually her favorite book, something she had commented on and she wondered if he was reading it due to her preference) and lastly, The Prince. The last one she hadn't read yet and made a note to read it herself.

'Was it the books he left me?' she asked herself and instantly, she knew that didn't feel right. 'Maybe it's in between somethin',' she thought as she pulled out the stack of clothes, which felt significantly heavier than they should. 'Here we go,' she thought as she rummaged through the pile. The first thing she found was the metal hand. Her face blushed as she remembered how he had utilized the toy. Her eyes closed as the memory crept up on her…

And suddenly she was flipped upside down in the shower, his metal fingers inside of her, one of his hands on her bottom and the other holding onto the back of her head, their fingers entwined, as his member was in her mouth, both of them enjoying the other's efforts to give pleasure to-

She blinked as she forced the memory back, her breath erratic and body overheated once again, as if no time had passed between then and now. Reluctantly, she put the metal hand aside as she felt the pile again and-

'There's something else,' she thought as she felt around, her hand grasping a phallic-like shape.

"Oh my god," she muttered as she pulled it free from the shirt it was tangled in and she marveled at the study mental dildo in her grasp. "Oh my god," she repeated, realizing it wasn't just any penis she was holding, but rather one she was already intimately familiar with. "Oh my god," she said as she ran her free hand down it's shaft, her breathing was-

"What time is it?" she asked as she stood, looking over at the alarm clock, it read: 3:57pm. That gave her about two hours before dinner. "I should probably just put this back," she muttered nervously.

'Have an enjoyable week, Anna-Marie,' his voice played in her mind, as she ran her fingers down the-

"I've got time for a-… for a bath," she told herself. "Right?" she asked herself as her breaths came fast.

Before she could tell herself not to, she was holding both toys as she stood, kicking the dresser drawer closed with her foot, she hightailed it to the bathroom to run herself a bath and decompress.

Decompressing sounded good. Healthy even.