Chapter Three: True North
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Anna
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She felt the hard stare of Professor Xavier as she sat next to Erik amongst the who's who of Super-powered people. King Namor of Atlantis welcomed her with a warm, friendly smile. King T'challa was polite, but she couldn't help but hold a grudge against him because of the messy divorce with Ororo a couple of years back. If they'd still been married, would the sentinels have been launched on Genosha if it was also an attack on the Sovereign Queen of Wakanda? She doubted that would have happened.
She tried not to think too much about Empress Lilandra — it wasn't her business that Xavier and Lilandra had fallen in love. Love should be celebrated! She believed in the Professor's dream as well — had for most of her adult life. However, Magnus was right — the humans would never allow them the peace to simply just be.
"So, what are you thinking, Queen Rogue?" Namor entreated, leaning forward, his eyes crinkling in a smile.
"Ah'm thinking that forty-eight hours ago, everything seemed right in the world until a murderous robot that was too expensive not to be bank-rolled by multiple governments trying to murder everyone with an X-gene on this island," Rogue answered. She met Xavier's eyes and felt a small sense of satisfaction at the chagrin on his face. He hadn't been there for the battle. He needed to understand just how they suffered.
"Exactly!" Namor agreed punching his hand into the air. He glared at Xavier a moment before smiling towards Rogue and Magneto. Then he directed his ocean-blue eyes at T'challa. "Remember when those governments tried to steal away your Vibranium? You've a massive forcefield around Wakanda to keep them out."
"True," T'challa murmured frowning. His dark eyes met Rogue's. "Pardon me, Rogue, but I would like to talk to you for a moment privately." He looked towards Magneto momentarily. "If that's all right with you, King Magnus."
Rogue arched her eyebrow and turned towards Erik. He shrugged his unrestrained shoulder. "Why don't the two of you step outside for a couple of minutes. I'd like to talk about the possibility of a Stargate and where it would be wise to place it on Earth."
"Atlantis obviously," Namor suggested. "I can make sure it's housed in a very inhospitable place for humans, but welcoming for mutants and Atlanteans alike."
"I still think you're not giving humanity enough of a chance," Xavier protested.
"Let's go, Panther," Rogue said standing and gesturing for T'challa to follow her. She adjusted her gloves, careful to cover her skin lest she be tempted to slap the arrogant man. Just because his voice was as rich as a sweet tea on a hot summer day, didn't mean she had to like what he had to say.
Once the two of them were outside, leaning against opposite walls in the hallway T'challa smiled shyly. "I cannot help but notice you don't seem to like me."
Rogue blinked at him. "Ah haven't even spoken to you, King T'challa."
"Well, Queen Rogue, some feelings are stronger than words," T'challa answered. "I thought we were friends."
Rogue wagged her gloved finger at him. "You were married to one of my best friends. Then you broke her heart and demanded a divorce —- because she's a mutant and the Phoenix Force — an alien entity by the way — caused a tsunami. You blamed mutants because of a natural disaster."
"There was nothing natural about that disaster," T'challa challenged. "A large portion of my kingdom was damaged and many lives were lost!"
"Oh? Ah'm sorry to hear about the loss of lives, Ah always am. Maybe we should get King Namor here to explain natural disasters to you though. And Ah thought you were a scientist," Rogue sneered. "The humans and the pollution that's increased global warming at an unnatural rate are more responsible for the frequency and intensity of natural disasters."
T'challa rubbed his forehead, sighing. "My sister is the scientist. I'll admit, your point is valid, but that wasn't the only reason for the divorce. Ororo and I simply wanted different things. I had to focus on my nation of Wakanda. She was more interested in representing mutant rights throughout the entire world."
Rogue narrowed her eyes. "Maybe Ah'd find it easier to get over if you hadn't remarried within three months."
"Is there any chance we can be friends?" T'challa asked. "You're a sovereign now and I want for Wakanda to be allies of Genosha. I would prefer working with you more so than Magneto." He grimaced, "I mean King Magnus."
"If Storm can get along with you, so can Ah," Rogue offered. "Ah can be friendly, but that don't make us friends, mind you, Sugah."
"I can live with that," T'challa murmured. He offered this black gloved hand, the panther claws retracted. Rogue accepted his hand and they shook.
"Looks like our kingdoms have a bright future together," Rogue said quietly.
T'challa nodded. "I hope so. I really do. And I would also like to offer Wakanda as a site for one of the Stargates." He smiled faintly as he released her hand. "Let's head back in there."
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OoO
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Erik
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His quarters were surprisingly spared in the attack. The fact that the sentinels' deadly objective was aimed towards living persons and not structure was the terrifying reality. He'd been instructed to stay awake by the Doctors McCoy and Reyes due to his concussion. Fifty-four hours had passed since he'd last slept and he wasn't sure he'd be able to sleep this night either. There were now new nightmares to settle over the old, familiar ones.
He'd taken a long, hot shower — grateful the water worked. He'd taken his arm out of the sling and ace wraps and gently cleaned it. It started aching pretty strongly, but Magneto's tolerance for pain was greater than most. In the morning, Elixir would fix him up. Joshua Foley was one of Emma Frost's Hellfire kids. He was fiercely loyal to her — especially since he was in a relationship with Emma's unofficial daughters — the Stepford Cuckoos triplets.
While the brilliant young man had wanted to tend to his king's fractured arm, Erik had redirected him to others in more critical conditions. So many mutants had powers of destruction — it was nice when there were those with healing and creative powers.
There was a knock on the window of Erik's balcony. It was obvious whom was there, considering his rooms were on the twelfth floor. He pushed back the curtains and saw Rogue, her hair still damp from her own shower, hovering over his balcony. He smiled faintly, pleased at her presence. She was stunning in a pair of grass green yoga pants, a white racerback tank, white silk opera gloves and barefoot. He opened the door. "Fine night for a stroll is it?"
"Ah gave my room to Emma," Rogue explained by way of apology. "May Ah come in?"
Erik gestured for her to enter. "You're always welcome, Anna."
"Ah won't stay long," Rogue continued, feet on the balcony before she walked into his apartment. She folded her arms over her chest, her moss green eyes scanned his body briefly head to toe, lingering on the exposed expanse of his broad chest. "Ah wanted to see how you were holding up."
"Anna, you're welcome to stay the night," Erik murmured. After his trial, they'd slept in each other's arms a couple of nights back in his room at the school. It wasn't like their relationship back in the Savage lands where they couldn't keep their hands off one another with unchecked libidos. They'd exchanged sweet kisses and he'd been content to hold her in his arms, enjoying the feel of her head on his chest and his nose in her hair. He had feared their kiss during the waltz would be their last. He never asked her to choose between him and the other man, but he couldn't deny the familiar heartbreak when she'd rejected him. Nor, could he deny the ember promising to grow into a flame with his competition no longer in the picture.
"I always sleep better in your presence and I'm already dreading the nightmares," Erik added. "McCoy has forbidden me from taking any sleep aides because of the concussion." Tentatively, he pressed his fingertips against the abrasion on his forehead.
Rogue's eyes darted away and she walked behind the couch, fingers trailing over the back of it. It brought back memories of those same fingers trailing over his arms, down his belly, to his waist. Erik's mouth was suddenly parched.
"Ah'm sorry Ah couldn't give you what you wanted before, Erik." Rogue's sorrowful eyes welled with tears and she took a deep shuddering breath. "Ah feel like all Ah do is apologize these days."
Magneto arched his eyebrow. "Anna, I love you. Loving you makes me want to be a better man. You are my inspiration to continue when there have been so many times I would just give up and let myself die."
"No! Don't you dare!" Rogue cried, suddenly in front of him gripping the front halves of his open robe. "Ah can't lose you, Erik," her voice choked on a sob. "Ah couldn't bear it."
Erik drew her in against him, letting her rest her cheek against his chest, her warm tears falling on his skin. Would they have been as close if she was capable of touching anyone else? Or were their fates tied together and that's why they could touch? "I know what it's like to lose loved ones, Anna. My parents, my wife," he said, his voice barely a whisper as he added, "and my daughter."
"Ah can't imagine my life without you. Even when we're not together, just knowing you're alive somewhere is a comfort." She looked up at him, face streaked with tears. "It's a little scary imagining moving to an entirely new world, but it's the safest option for the future of our kind."
Erik brushed his thumb across Rogue's smooth, creamy cheek, wiping away her tears. "You are my True North, Anna. You give me direction."
"You always have such a way with words, Erik," Rogue said with a laugh. She slid her hands down to his uninjured arm and took his hand between hers. "Come, my king, Ah'll help you fall asleep."
Erik let her lead him towards his bed. "So long as you're still here in the morning. There is a lot of to work through before we can settle in our Utopia, far away from jealous and fearful neighbors."
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OoO
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Anna
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Could it really be this easy? Erik just welcomed her into his room, into his arms without any hesitation. When she'd left Emma Frost in her own room, it had been only a little awkward. Everyone was reeling from the pain and disappointment of their crushed dream. Emma was still trapped into her diamond form. Her old student Elixir had been evaluating her when Rogue left.
"Ah do have a little gift for you, Erik," Rogue said as they sat together on the bed. Magneto stretched out with his back braced against the headboard. Rogue sat next to him, sitting with her knees tucked under. She pulled off her familiar white gloves and her right hand was golden in appearance. "Ah might have run into Joshua and he might have let me borrow some of his powers." She held out her golden hand of healing and wordlessly, Erik laid his shattered forearm in her hand. Rogue concentrated on the advice Elixir had given her along with his borrowed powers. The bones knit back together and she could feel the tension in Erik's taut muscles relaxing. "Better?" Rogue released his hand, glad it worked. Part of her feared that since she didn't absorb Magneto's powers, she wouldn't be able to apply the healing technique.
"Always under your touch," Erik murmured, his voice a pleased purr that sent a shiver down to Rogue's toes. He slipped his hand into her hair and drew her close to him, his lips ghosted across hers. "Anna, stay with me. Neither of us has to do this alone."
"Ah'm so tired, Erik." Rogue closed her eyes and let herself sink into the familiar embrace of her long-time on and off again lover.
"So am I, Anna. So am I." Erik laid down and pulled her against him. He wrapped them in his black silk sheets, his arms banded around her waist, her head tucked under his chin. He sighed deeply.
"Sweet dreams, Erik," Rogue whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to the underside of his jaw.
His arms squeezed her tight against his chest. "I'll settle for no dreams. Rest well, my Anna."
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A/N: Wow…E10 on X97 was another whirlwind. I'm gonna try to speak vague to avoid spoilers. Super excited about the Ancient Egyptian bit and glad about certain characters that together on that little adventure and hopefully about a certain possible rekindling….but in the meantime…fanfiction!