![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Adaptation, Chapter Three
Title: Adaptation
Pairing:Bobby/Rogue, eventually Magneto/Rogue
Summary:When all she knows is destroyed, Rogue must learn to adapt or die trying.
Rating: Teen
Special thanks as always to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sionnain for the beta and omaetoy who listens to my insane questions.
Rogue was regretting her decision to stay the moment the door clicked shut behind Magneto’s retreating form. The others had been easy enough to wake up and had followed her and Bobby out into the hallway, casting weary glances in Magneto’s direction. Without a word he turned from them and started down the hall. They trotted after him, keeping in a close knit group.
Eventually, Magneto stopped before a door that looked like all of the others. How is anyone supposed to find anything in this place? she wondered as he waved his hand. Rusty let out a gasp of awe as the door slid open, a burst of flames surrounding his body due to his excitement. Sam let out a yelp of surprise and leaped away from his friend, who looked mournfully down at his shoes, the flames quickly dissipating.
“Sorry,” the boy muttered.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Magneto responded, raising the boy’s head so he could look him in the eye. “Control is something we learn.”
Rusty smiled at him and Magneto moved away. Rogue looked over at Bobby, who was shaking his head at the boy. “He doesn’t seem scary,” Rusty whispered to Sam, who nodded his head in agreement.
Bobby opened his mouth to comment. “Bobby,” Rogue warned, shaking her head.
She followed Rusty and Sam into the room, which they quickly discovered was a dining area. Three steal tables with steal benches were in the room, place settings set at each one. “The children are to sit here,” Magneto informed them, gesturing to the table closest to the door.
A chorus of protests rose up from the group. “Why?” Bobby demanded.
The look Magneto shot him caused them all to stare at him in silence. As the children walked towards the table, Paige grasped Rogue, burying her head in the older mutant’s side again. Rogue pried the little girl from her side and knelt in front of her. “I’m going to be right over there,” she said, pointing towards one of the other tables. “You’ll be able to see me the whole time, okay?”
Paige shook her head. “He’s the one who made your hair turn white,” she said, looking fearfully towards Magneto. “What if he tries to kill you again?”
Magneto knelt down beside her and Rogue forced her body not to stiffen at that, attempting to put on a brave front for the girl. “I have no intentions of harming your friend,” he told Paige.
Paige looked at him, not sure if she should trust him or not. Rogue took a deep breath and then held up her gloved hands for Paige to see. “Paige, do you remember why you aren’t allowed to touch my skin?” she asked.
The girl nodded. “I’d get hurt,” she said. “But I know you wouldn’t mean it.”
“That’s right,” Rogue said with a bittersweet smile. “Well, Magneto gave me his gloves to use so you could hold my hand when you were scared.”
Paige looked at the gloves and then at the man beside her. Rogue took off one of her gloves and gave it to her. “You hold this one,” she told the little girl. “If he tries to kill me, I’ll use this hand to touch him. And what will happen?”
“He’ll get hurt,” Paige said. She took the glove and went to the table, sitting down by one of the place settings.
Rogue stood up and forced herself to look at Magneto. His gaze was fixed on her, a look she wasn’t able to discern in his eyes. He broke contact and motioned with his hand for her and Bobby to follow. She waited for Bobby to catch up to her, frowning slightly at the distance he kept from her ungloved hand. Pulling it close, she glanced down at it. Some things never change.
***
Rogue looked at the trays of food set on a table in the large, steel kitchen. She shuddered at the sight of so much metal, remembering the piercing sound it made when it was ripped apart. Her fingers slid along the edge of the metal table, watching as fingerprints formed on the pristine surface. It was smooth and cool.
“Why are we in here?” Bobby asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“Everyone in this facility is required to pitch in at meals and other day to day routines,” Magneto replied, his voice icy. Rogue raised an eyebrow at that. Bobby’s voice never developed that icy quality when he spoke. An ironic smile spread across her face but vanished as the older mutant looked at her. “I will never understand how Charles could allow the lack of responsibility, of rules, that he did at the Institute.”
“We had rules,” Rogue interrupted, defending the Professor.
“Apparently manners were something else my old friend lapsed in teaching,” Magneto said and her cheeks flushed in a mixture of embarrassment and anger. “Since you were unable to help with the preparation of lunch, you may finish setting the tables.”
“Why should we?” Bobby asked indignantly.
“If you find it difficult to follow simple directions now, Iceman,” Magneto replied, his voice low and harsh. “How can I believe you will follow instructions in more difficult circumstances?”
Bobby opened his mouth to reply but shut it because of the look Rogue gave him. She nodded in the direction of the younger mutants and he sighed.
Magneto waved his hand and a steel stool glided across the floor, coming to rest beside him. With a grace she didn’t think possible, he sat on it and gestured to the trays. Rogue shrugged, picked up a tray, and started towards the dining room, ignoring the indignant sound Bobby made. She placed the tray on the first table and looked over at the children, smiling as Paige lifted the glove for her to see. Rogue raised her bare hand in response and returned to the kitchen to retrieve another tray.
Bobby helped her, an irritated grimace on his face as he did it. When the last tray had been set, they entered the kitchen again. “We’ve set the table,” Bobby stated, mentally cursing the older man.
A loud crash emanated from the dining room and they turned to see what had been the cause. A rather large man had entered the room, knocking over one of the trays as he passed by the first table. The younger mutants looked at him in awe, watching as he sat at the table nearest the kitchen doors, taking up three seats on one side.
“Damn, Freddie,” another mutant commented as he entered the room, looking at the scattered food on the floor. “I think maybe you need to lay off of the carbohydrates.”
“Who asked you, Lance?” the other man replied and started placing various items onto his plate.
“Perhaps you would care to save food for the others, Blob,” Magneto warned as he walked into the room, Bobby and Rogue a few steps behind him.
Blob looked over at him and nodded. “I was, uh, making sure there was enough for Mystique, boss,” he said, placing some of the items onto the plate beside him.
“I wouldn’t touch that food now, much less eat it,” the blue skinned mutant said as she entered the room.
She looked over at the Bobby and Rogue, a malevolent smile on her face. “They’ve decided to stay, I take it?” she asked, looking at Magneto.
“It appears so,” he replied.
Mystique raised an eyebrow and took a seat, taking a share of food from one tray. “This is Rogue and Iceman,” Magneto introduced, motioning towards the two mutants. “Iceman is able to create ice.”
“Fitting name,” Mystique commented mockingly and Bobby glared at her.
“Rogue is able to absorb ones power through skin to skin contact. I suggest you take note that one of her hands is bare,” Magneto continued.
The two men looked towards her, eyes on her bare hand before warily looking at her. She tucked it behind her back, wishing she could ignore the feeling of hopelessness that stirred in her stomach. She was used to people being afraid of her.
“The two of you know Mystique, and I assume Pyro will be along shortly,” Magneto informed Bobby and Rogue. “The man with the mighty appetite is Blob and the other is Avalanche. Sit and eat.”
Neither of them moved. Two chairs slid out from the opposite table and twisted around, knocking into the backs of their knees and causing them to fall back into them. Rogue glared at the plate in front of her, ignoring the chuckles from the other mutants. She cast a look at Bobby to see him doing the same. Turning slightly she looked behind her to see that the children were all ready digging in, talking amongst one another. Though they were not as rambunctious as usual at meals.
She turned back and watched the others begin to fill their plates with food, taking note of their bare skin. She kept her hands under the table, waiting patiently to get some food.
“Eat,” Magneto said, annoyance seeping from his voice, as he scooped some peas onto his own plate.
As soon as he placed the bowl onto the table and turned from her she picked it up, awkwardly using her gloved hand to control the spoon and place some of the vegetable on her plate. Then, cautiously using both hands she placed the bowl near Bobby before tucking her bare hand beneath the table.
“Are you not right handed?” Magneto asked her.
She looked over at him and shrugged, “Yeah.”
“Yes,” he corrected her.
“Yes,” she repeated through gritted teeth and picked up the spoon, trying to be graceful as she used her left hand to manipulate the spoon to scoop some peas from the plate.
“Use the right hand,” he told her and turned away.
“I…” Rogue said, flinching as the spoon was ripped from her grasp and moved to hover above her right arm. She brought her bare hand out and clutched the spoon, glaring at it since she did not dare to glare at him.
Carefully, she reached for one of the prepared sandwiches when the others were busy devouring their food. Magneto’s bare hand moved towards the tray and she flinched, pulling her hand towards her, not wanting to risk skin-to-skin contact, no matter what she had told Paige. His were memories she’d rather not have to endure again.
Rogue’s eyes widened in a mixture of fear and surprise when he grasped her hand and pulled it towards the tray. She looked at his bare hand touching hers, shock settling on her face as she turned towards him. “Eat,” he told her and released his grip.
She grabbed a sandwich and put it back on her plate, her eyes never leaving his face. A thousand questions flashed in her mind and she opened her mouth to let them pour out when the door to the kitchen slid open again. Magneto looked away from her. “Ah, Pyro, nice of you to join us,” he greeted the young man, his voice full of annoyance.
Pyro mumbled an apology and slid into the seat across from Bobby. Rogue looked over at their former friend, frowning at the angry look he directed at Bobby. She cast a look towards her boyfriend and noticed he was directing the same look towards the other mutant. Sighing, she looked away, placing her right hand once again under the table. She used her left hand to pick up the sandwich and awkwardly took a bite.
Magneto grasped her right hand, placing it on top. “Do not make me handcuff it to the table,” he warned her, releasing his grip.
She stared at her hand, looking at the faint bruises now forming from the strength of his grip around her wrist. He just wants to keep it occupied, Rogue, she reiterated to herself. Make sure you don’t use it against anyone. Right?
Looking up, she saw Pyro and Bobby looking towards her in shock. Hesitantly, she used her right hand to pick up her sandwich, eating it in silence, keeping her eyes downcast. How can he?
The minutes passed quickly and she barely comprehended the conversations occurring around her. Somehow he had been able to touch her skin without any ramifications. She scowled and stabbed vehemently at the peas. It wasn’t fair! How was it that the one person she hated the most in the world was able to touch her? Slowly she looked over at him, glaring at his free hand, hating herself for wanting to be able to feel its touch again.
She looked away from it, placing both hands in her lap, angrily staring at the half eaten sandwich. She could feel his eyes on her and looked at him. “I’m done,” she informed him, moving her hands away from him.
He raised an amused eyebrow at that. “Very well,” Magneto replied. He turned towards Mystique who was finishing off her own sandwich. “Raven, when you finish, I’d like you to take Rogue and Iceman to the gym. I want to see what they lack in their training.”
“I’d be delighted,” the older woman said, smiling wickedly.
Rogue looked away, not quite trusting the look in the other woman’s eyes. Looking back at her plate, a smile slid across her own face. I’ll make Logan proud.
***
Rogue cringed as Mystique twisted Bobby’s body, watching him fall to the floor in a defeated heap. “Thank you, Iceman,” Magneto said from the sidelines of the gymnasium floor, no expression on his face as he motioned for the younger mutant to leave.
Slowly, Bobby stood, clutching his side and wincing as he moved. Rogue watched as he touched his shirt, freezing part of it to create a makeshift icepack. “You okay?” she asked as he moved towards her.
He looked up at her, ready to nod, his eyes widening in alarm. She heard a sound behind her and twisted her body, rolling onto the floor and away from Mystique. Quickly, she pushed herself off of the floor, blocking the next kick. Mystique twisted her body, grabbed onto Rogue’s arm and flung her towards the floor.
Rogue pulled back her hand before it made contact with the woman’s skin, tucking her body in, rolling instead of impacting the floor. Mystique’s attack continued, with Rogue blocking, and using all of her wits to not touch any bare skin. Logan’s teachings and memories were helping her, allowing her to guess the Mystique’s strategy every so often. As one of the older mutant’s kicks hit its target, Rogue cringed in pain. Not often enough, she groaned inwardly, wondering how long Magneto would have this exercise continue. Wincing, she maneuvered out of the way, trying to keep as much distance as possible between the two of them.
“Oh come now,” Mystique snarled, glaring daggers in Rogue’s direction. “Attack me!”
Rogue deflected another blow, refusing to play by her rules. She watched as the other mutant morphed into Bobby. “Hey!” she heard her boyfriend exclaim from the sidelines. “I wouldn’t attack her.”
A sardonic grin appeared on the imposter’s face ‘he’ spoke, “Never use your power against another mutant.”
It was Rogue’s turn to glare and she stopped herself from going on the offensive, controlling her anger to watch her opponent for the next attack. Her image shifted to Pyro’s. “Are you afraid, Rogue?” he asked, smiling that all too familiar grin.
Rogue fell to the floor and twisted out of the way, grinning at the scowl that formed on ‘his’ face. She jumped back, avoiding another blow, sticking her tongue out at the imposter. Mystique morphed again, becoming Wolverine. “I’m very disappointed, Rogue,” he growled.
Rolling her eyes, Rogue rolled, moving herself away from his attacking claws. Once again, she watched as the other woman changed, this time becoming Magneto, looking just as he had on the Statue of Liberty. In her head, Rogue could hear his voice speaking to her, letting her know he was sorry for what was to happen.
Terror filled her and she froze, eyes locked on his approaching form. She told herself to move, to reach out and grab him using her ungloved hand. But she couldn’t move, couldn’t think; images of the New York City skyline appeared in her mind before pain racked her body.
“Enough!” the real Magneto declared from the sideline and she watched as Mystique became herself again, a Cheshire grin on her face.
Rogue closed her eyes, trying to even her breathing, to calm her body. She could hear Bobby call her name and she opened her eyes, looking down at her hands. They were shaking uncontrollably.
“Leave us,” Magneto said, his voice nearer than before.
Bobby protested, trying to get to her before being unceremoniously dragged from the room by Mystique. Rogue’s gaze traveled to the floor below, a wry smile on her face. Metal. Everything here is made of metal. She cringed as the sound of steel twisting rang in her ears, images of his machine ripping apart flashing before her.
“Rogue,” Magneto said and she jumped, not expecting him to be as close as he was.
She turned so she could face him, hoping that seeing where he was would control her fear. Looking at him, she regretted her decision. Seeing his face was scarier than not being able to look at him. She wrung her hands together, a nervous habit she had developed after the Statue of Liberty. His hand touched her shoulder and she flinched, pulling away from him, shaking harder than before.
“Come!” he demanded his voice hard as he started towards the door.
Rogue didn’t move, unable to force her limbs to begin the process of walking. She let out a yelp of surprise as her body was lifted up two inches from the floor and floated above it, being pulled along as if by an invisible thread. “What are you doing?” she cried out, struggling against his hold, not liking the helplessness she felt. It was like the Statue all over again.
I’m not wearing any metal. She looked her body over, her gaze stopping at his glove on her hand. Quickly, she yanked it off and dropped it to the floor. It made a clanking sound as it hit.
Another yelp of surprise came from her as the invisible thread disappeared and she stumbled to the floor, grateful that she recovered her balance. He whirled around on her, eyes narrowed in anger. She took a step back in response and watched as his mouth twitched in annoyance.
“There is no reason for you to fear me,” Magneto stated exasperatedly, picking up the glove and held it out for her.
“Yeah, this is certainly getting me to trust you,” Rogue countered, gulping at the look he directed towards her. She looked down, staring at the glove between them.
If he thinks I’m putting it back on, he’s more insane then I thought. “I do not need to earn your trust, Rogue,” he stated. “It is you who needs to earn mine.”
“Why should I care if you trust me or not?” she asked, folding her arms at her chest.
“You and your young charges are here as long as I deem it appropriate,” Magneto reminded her.
Damn you, she thought, her eyes narrowing as she took the glove and put it back on.
“Follow me,” he said and she forced her legs to move, not wanting to be at his mercy again.
As they walked down the long hallway, she wondered where Bobby was and what the children were doing. Magneto had told her and Bobby that this wasn’t a school so what would he do with them? She looked back up at Magneto. His entire demeanor was uninviting and she took hold of all the courage she had to question him. “What are you going to do with the children?”
“I believe I already stated they would remain here if you and Iceman agreed to fight, Rogue,” he replied slowly, as if he was speaking to a young child.
Her temper flared, fists clenching at her sides, as she glared at his back. “Yeah, but what are you going to do with them?” she reiterated. “They ain’t going to be able to sit around and do nothing all day, not unless you want your hideaway destroyed.”
“Are not,” he corrected her and she fought back the sudden urge to stick her tongue out at him. With a wave of his hand a door slid open. He walked into the new room and, reluctantly, she followed. Her eyes widened in surprise to see Bobby sitting on a makeshift hospital bed, a real icepack against his ribs. Mystique was nearby, sitting in a chair, flipping through a magazine.
She looked up when they entered. “Only a few bruises and a broken rib. He’ll be fine,” she stated, cocking her head towards Bobby.
“You should count yourself lucky, Iceman,” Magneto informed him. “Most leave their first training with Mystique with more than a few broken ribs.”
Mystique looked over towards Rogue. “Do you want me to look her over too?” she asked, hesitantly reaching for a pair of surgical gloves on the table beside her.
“No,” Magneto said and walked past her, coming to stand by the other bed. He looked towards Rogue, who hadn’t moved from the doorway. “Rogue.”
She hesitated a second too long and felt her body be lifted up and propelled towards him. “I’m fine,” she grumbled as she landed near him.
“Lay down,” Magneto replied, ignoring her comment.
Begrudgingly, she complied, giving Bobby a reassuring smile before looking around the room. It was nothing like the mansion’s hospital. Rogue wouldn’t be surprised if Bobby was using the only ice pack the facility had. Besides the two beds and the chair and table Mystique was using, there was a metallic bookshelf with various boxes of bandages and medical instruments she hoped she’d never see in use. There was none of the high-tech equipment that she was used to seeing. I wonder if they even carry aspirin here.
Rogue gasped in shock as she felt a bare hand on her ribcage, gently prodding it. “What are you doing?” she asked, looking at Magneto, bewildered.
“Checking for any fractures you may have received,” he replied. “You are of no use to me injured.”
His hands were cool as they moved along, checking for internal injuries. She bit her lip as he continued, unsure what to make of the sensations his touch was stirring in her. His hands retreated and she bit back a whimper, part of her missing his touch already. “You do appear to be fine,” Magneto informed her.
“How can you do that?” she asked.
“Do what?” he asked, pulling her shirt back down.
She looked at his hand. “Not get hurt.”
A cunning smile graced his face and he looked past her. She followed his gaze to Bobby, who was looking at Magneto with barely contained fury. “Mystique will show you to your new quarters,” Magneto said and exited the room.
Rogue looked away from Bobby and stared at the ceiling, conflicting emotions running through her. Shaking her head, she rose from the bed and followed a battered Bobby and Mystique out of the room. Some things are better left alone, she told herself, watching as Magneto’s form disappeared through a doorway.
Pairing:Bobby/Rogue, eventually Magneto/Rogue
Summary:When all she knows is destroyed, Rogue must learn to adapt or die trying.
Rating: Teen
Special thanks as always to
sionnain for the beta and omaetoy who listens to my insane questions.Rogue was regretting her decision to stay the moment the door clicked shut behind Magneto’s retreating form. The others had been easy enough to wake up and had followed her and Bobby out into the hallway, casting weary glances in Magneto’s direction. Without a word he turned from them and started down the hall. They trotted after him, keeping in a close knit group.
Eventually, Magneto stopped before a door that looked like all of the others. How is anyone supposed to find anything in this place? she wondered as he waved his hand. Rusty let out a gasp of awe as the door slid open, a burst of flames surrounding his body due to his excitement. Sam let out a yelp of surprise and leaped away from his friend, who looked mournfully down at his shoes, the flames quickly dissipating.
“Sorry,” the boy muttered.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Magneto responded, raising the boy’s head so he could look him in the eye. “Control is something we learn.”
Rusty smiled at him and Magneto moved away. Rogue looked over at Bobby, who was shaking his head at the boy. “He doesn’t seem scary,” Rusty whispered to Sam, who nodded his head in agreement.
Bobby opened his mouth to comment. “Bobby,” Rogue warned, shaking her head.
She followed Rusty and Sam into the room, which they quickly discovered was a dining area. Three steal tables with steal benches were in the room, place settings set at each one. “The children are to sit here,” Magneto informed them, gesturing to the table closest to the door.
A chorus of protests rose up from the group. “Why?” Bobby demanded.
The look Magneto shot him caused them all to stare at him in silence. As the children walked towards the table, Paige grasped Rogue, burying her head in the older mutant’s side again. Rogue pried the little girl from her side and knelt in front of her. “I’m going to be right over there,” she said, pointing towards one of the other tables. “You’ll be able to see me the whole time, okay?”
Paige shook her head. “He’s the one who made your hair turn white,” she said, looking fearfully towards Magneto. “What if he tries to kill you again?”
Magneto knelt down beside her and Rogue forced her body not to stiffen at that, attempting to put on a brave front for the girl. “I have no intentions of harming your friend,” he told Paige.
Paige looked at him, not sure if she should trust him or not. Rogue took a deep breath and then held up her gloved hands for Paige to see. “Paige, do you remember why you aren’t allowed to touch my skin?” she asked.
The girl nodded. “I’d get hurt,” she said. “But I know you wouldn’t mean it.”
“That’s right,” Rogue said with a bittersweet smile. “Well, Magneto gave me his gloves to use so you could hold my hand when you were scared.”
Paige looked at the gloves and then at the man beside her. Rogue took off one of her gloves and gave it to her. “You hold this one,” she told the little girl. “If he tries to kill me, I’ll use this hand to touch him. And what will happen?”
“He’ll get hurt,” Paige said. She took the glove and went to the table, sitting down by one of the place settings.
Rogue stood up and forced herself to look at Magneto. His gaze was fixed on her, a look she wasn’t able to discern in his eyes. He broke contact and motioned with his hand for her and Bobby to follow. She waited for Bobby to catch up to her, frowning slightly at the distance he kept from her ungloved hand. Pulling it close, she glanced down at it. Some things never change.
***
Rogue looked at the trays of food set on a table in the large, steel kitchen. She shuddered at the sight of so much metal, remembering the piercing sound it made when it was ripped apart. Her fingers slid along the edge of the metal table, watching as fingerprints formed on the pristine surface. It was smooth and cool.
“Why are we in here?” Bobby asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“Everyone in this facility is required to pitch in at meals and other day to day routines,” Magneto replied, his voice icy. Rogue raised an eyebrow at that. Bobby’s voice never developed that icy quality when he spoke. An ironic smile spread across her face but vanished as the older mutant looked at her. “I will never understand how Charles could allow the lack of responsibility, of rules, that he did at the Institute.”
“We had rules,” Rogue interrupted, defending the Professor.
“Apparently manners were something else my old friend lapsed in teaching,” Magneto said and her cheeks flushed in a mixture of embarrassment and anger. “Since you were unable to help with the preparation of lunch, you may finish setting the tables.”
“Why should we?” Bobby asked indignantly.
“If you find it difficult to follow simple directions now, Iceman,” Magneto replied, his voice low and harsh. “How can I believe you will follow instructions in more difficult circumstances?”
Bobby opened his mouth to reply but shut it because of the look Rogue gave him. She nodded in the direction of the younger mutants and he sighed.
Magneto waved his hand and a steel stool glided across the floor, coming to rest beside him. With a grace she didn’t think possible, he sat on it and gestured to the trays. Rogue shrugged, picked up a tray, and started towards the dining room, ignoring the indignant sound Bobby made. She placed the tray on the first table and looked over at the children, smiling as Paige lifted the glove for her to see. Rogue raised her bare hand in response and returned to the kitchen to retrieve another tray.
Bobby helped her, an irritated grimace on his face as he did it. When the last tray had been set, they entered the kitchen again. “We’ve set the table,” Bobby stated, mentally cursing the older man.
A loud crash emanated from the dining room and they turned to see what had been the cause. A rather large man had entered the room, knocking over one of the trays as he passed by the first table. The younger mutants looked at him in awe, watching as he sat at the table nearest the kitchen doors, taking up three seats on one side.
“Damn, Freddie,” another mutant commented as he entered the room, looking at the scattered food on the floor. “I think maybe you need to lay off of the carbohydrates.”
“Who asked you, Lance?” the other man replied and started placing various items onto his plate.
“Perhaps you would care to save food for the others, Blob,” Magneto warned as he walked into the room, Bobby and Rogue a few steps behind him.
Blob looked over at him and nodded. “I was, uh, making sure there was enough for Mystique, boss,” he said, placing some of the items onto the plate beside him.
“I wouldn’t touch that food now, much less eat it,” the blue skinned mutant said as she entered the room.
She looked over at the Bobby and Rogue, a malevolent smile on her face. “They’ve decided to stay, I take it?” she asked, looking at Magneto.
“It appears so,” he replied.
Mystique raised an eyebrow and took a seat, taking a share of food from one tray. “This is Rogue and Iceman,” Magneto introduced, motioning towards the two mutants. “Iceman is able to create ice.”
“Fitting name,” Mystique commented mockingly and Bobby glared at her.
“Rogue is able to absorb ones power through skin to skin contact. I suggest you take note that one of her hands is bare,” Magneto continued.
The two men looked towards her, eyes on her bare hand before warily looking at her. She tucked it behind her back, wishing she could ignore the feeling of hopelessness that stirred in her stomach. She was used to people being afraid of her.
“The two of you know Mystique, and I assume Pyro will be along shortly,” Magneto informed Bobby and Rogue. “The man with the mighty appetite is Blob and the other is Avalanche. Sit and eat.”
Neither of them moved. Two chairs slid out from the opposite table and twisted around, knocking into the backs of their knees and causing them to fall back into them. Rogue glared at the plate in front of her, ignoring the chuckles from the other mutants. She cast a look at Bobby to see him doing the same. Turning slightly she looked behind her to see that the children were all ready digging in, talking amongst one another. Though they were not as rambunctious as usual at meals.
She turned back and watched the others begin to fill their plates with food, taking note of their bare skin. She kept her hands under the table, waiting patiently to get some food.
“Eat,” Magneto said, annoyance seeping from his voice, as he scooped some peas onto his own plate.
As soon as he placed the bowl onto the table and turned from her she picked it up, awkwardly using her gloved hand to control the spoon and place some of the vegetable on her plate. Then, cautiously using both hands she placed the bowl near Bobby before tucking her bare hand beneath the table.
“Are you not right handed?” Magneto asked her.
She looked over at him and shrugged, “Yeah.”
“Yes,” he corrected her.
“Yes,” she repeated through gritted teeth and picked up the spoon, trying to be graceful as she used her left hand to manipulate the spoon to scoop some peas from the plate.
“Use the right hand,” he told her and turned away.
“I…” Rogue said, flinching as the spoon was ripped from her grasp and moved to hover above her right arm. She brought her bare hand out and clutched the spoon, glaring at it since she did not dare to glare at him.
Carefully, she reached for one of the prepared sandwiches when the others were busy devouring their food. Magneto’s bare hand moved towards the tray and she flinched, pulling her hand towards her, not wanting to risk skin-to-skin contact, no matter what she had told Paige. His were memories she’d rather not have to endure again.
Rogue’s eyes widened in a mixture of fear and surprise when he grasped her hand and pulled it towards the tray. She looked at his bare hand touching hers, shock settling on her face as she turned towards him. “Eat,” he told her and released his grip.
She grabbed a sandwich and put it back on her plate, her eyes never leaving his face. A thousand questions flashed in her mind and she opened her mouth to let them pour out when the door to the kitchen slid open again. Magneto looked away from her. “Ah, Pyro, nice of you to join us,” he greeted the young man, his voice full of annoyance.
Pyro mumbled an apology and slid into the seat across from Bobby. Rogue looked over at their former friend, frowning at the angry look he directed at Bobby. She cast a look towards her boyfriend and noticed he was directing the same look towards the other mutant. Sighing, she looked away, placing her right hand once again under the table. She used her left hand to pick up the sandwich and awkwardly took a bite.
Magneto grasped her right hand, placing it on top. “Do not make me handcuff it to the table,” he warned her, releasing his grip.
She stared at her hand, looking at the faint bruises now forming from the strength of his grip around her wrist. He just wants to keep it occupied, Rogue, she reiterated to herself. Make sure you don’t use it against anyone. Right?
Looking up, she saw Pyro and Bobby looking towards her in shock. Hesitantly, she used her right hand to pick up her sandwich, eating it in silence, keeping her eyes downcast. How can he?
The minutes passed quickly and she barely comprehended the conversations occurring around her. Somehow he had been able to touch her skin without any ramifications. She scowled and stabbed vehemently at the peas. It wasn’t fair! How was it that the one person she hated the most in the world was able to touch her? Slowly she looked over at him, glaring at his free hand, hating herself for wanting to be able to feel its touch again.
She looked away from it, placing both hands in her lap, angrily staring at the half eaten sandwich. She could feel his eyes on her and looked at him. “I’m done,” she informed him, moving her hands away from him.
He raised an amused eyebrow at that. “Very well,” Magneto replied. He turned towards Mystique who was finishing off her own sandwich. “Raven, when you finish, I’d like you to take Rogue and Iceman to the gym. I want to see what they lack in their training.”
“I’d be delighted,” the older woman said, smiling wickedly.
Rogue looked away, not quite trusting the look in the other woman’s eyes. Looking back at her plate, a smile slid across her own face. I’ll make Logan proud.
***
Rogue cringed as Mystique twisted Bobby’s body, watching him fall to the floor in a defeated heap. “Thank you, Iceman,” Magneto said from the sidelines of the gymnasium floor, no expression on his face as he motioned for the younger mutant to leave.
Slowly, Bobby stood, clutching his side and wincing as he moved. Rogue watched as he touched his shirt, freezing part of it to create a makeshift icepack. “You okay?” she asked as he moved towards her.
He looked up at her, ready to nod, his eyes widening in alarm. She heard a sound behind her and twisted her body, rolling onto the floor and away from Mystique. Quickly, she pushed herself off of the floor, blocking the next kick. Mystique twisted her body, grabbed onto Rogue’s arm and flung her towards the floor.
Rogue pulled back her hand before it made contact with the woman’s skin, tucking her body in, rolling instead of impacting the floor. Mystique’s attack continued, with Rogue blocking, and using all of her wits to not touch any bare skin. Logan’s teachings and memories were helping her, allowing her to guess the Mystique’s strategy every so often. As one of the older mutant’s kicks hit its target, Rogue cringed in pain. Not often enough, she groaned inwardly, wondering how long Magneto would have this exercise continue. Wincing, she maneuvered out of the way, trying to keep as much distance as possible between the two of them.
“Oh come now,” Mystique snarled, glaring daggers in Rogue’s direction. “Attack me!”
Rogue deflected another blow, refusing to play by her rules. She watched as the other mutant morphed into Bobby. “Hey!” she heard her boyfriend exclaim from the sidelines. “I wouldn’t attack her.”
A sardonic grin appeared on the imposter’s face ‘he’ spoke, “Never use your power against another mutant.”
It was Rogue’s turn to glare and she stopped herself from going on the offensive, controlling her anger to watch her opponent for the next attack. Her image shifted to Pyro’s. “Are you afraid, Rogue?” he asked, smiling that all too familiar grin.
Rogue fell to the floor and twisted out of the way, grinning at the scowl that formed on ‘his’ face. She jumped back, avoiding another blow, sticking her tongue out at the imposter. Mystique morphed again, becoming Wolverine. “I’m very disappointed, Rogue,” he growled.
Rolling her eyes, Rogue rolled, moving herself away from his attacking claws. Once again, she watched as the other woman changed, this time becoming Magneto, looking just as he had on the Statue of Liberty. In her head, Rogue could hear his voice speaking to her, letting her know he was sorry for what was to happen.
Terror filled her and she froze, eyes locked on his approaching form. She told herself to move, to reach out and grab him using her ungloved hand. But she couldn’t move, couldn’t think; images of the New York City skyline appeared in her mind before pain racked her body.
“Enough!” the real Magneto declared from the sideline and she watched as Mystique became herself again, a Cheshire grin on her face.
Rogue closed her eyes, trying to even her breathing, to calm her body. She could hear Bobby call her name and she opened her eyes, looking down at her hands. They were shaking uncontrollably.
“Leave us,” Magneto said, his voice nearer than before.
Bobby protested, trying to get to her before being unceremoniously dragged from the room by Mystique. Rogue’s gaze traveled to the floor below, a wry smile on her face. Metal. Everything here is made of metal. She cringed as the sound of steel twisting rang in her ears, images of his machine ripping apart flashing before her.
“Rogue,” Magneto said and she jumped, not expecting him to be as close as he was.
She turned so she could face him, hoping that seeing where he was would control her fear. Looking at him, she regretted her decision. Seeing his face was scarier than not being able to look at him. She wrung her hands together, a nervous habit she had developed after the Statue of Liberty. His hand touched her shoulder and she flinched, pulling away from him, shaking harder than before.
“Come!” he demanded his voice hard as he started towards the door.
Rogue didn’t move, unable to force her limbs to begin the process of walking. She let out a yelp of surprise as her body was lifted up two inches from the floor and floated above it, being pulled along as if by an invisible thread. “What are you doing?” she cried out, struggling against his hold, not liking the helplessness she felt. It was like the Statue all over again.
I’m not wearing any metal. She looked her body over, her gaze stopping at his glove on her hand. Quickly, she yanked it off and dropped it to the floor. It made a clanking sound as it hit.
Another yelp of surprise came from her as the invisible thread disappeared and she stumbled to the floor, grateful that she recovered her balance. He whirled around on her, eyes narrowed in anger. She took a step back in response and watched as his mouth twitched in annoyance.
“There is no reason for you to fear me,” Magneto stated exasperatedly, picking up the glove and held it out for her.
“Yeah, this is certainly getting me to trust you,” Rogue countered, gulping at the look he directed towards her. She looked down, staring at the glove between them.
If he thinks I’m putting it back on, he’s more insane then I thought. “I do not need to earn your trust, Rogue,” he stated. “It is you who needs to earn mine.”
“Why should I care if you trust me or not?” she asked, folding her arms at her chest.
“You and your young charges are here as long as I deem it appropriate,” Magneto reminded her.
Damn you, she thought, her eyes narrowing as she took the glove and put it back on.
“Follow me,” he said and she forced her legs to move, not wanting to be at his mercy again.
As they walked down the long hallway, she wondered where Bobby was and what the children were doing. Magneto had told her and Bobby that this wasn’t a school so what would he do with them? She looked back up at Magneto. His entire demeanor was uninviting and she took hold of all the courage she had to question him. “What are you going to do with the children?”
“I believe I already stated they would remain here if you and Iceman agreed to fight, Rogue,” he replied slowly, as if he was speaking to a young child.
Her temper flared, fists clenching at her sides, as she glared at his back. “Yeah, but what are you going to do with them?” she reiterated. “They ain’t going to be able to sit around and do nothing all day, not unless you want your hideaway destroyed.”
“Are not,” he corrected her and she fought back the sudden urge to stick her tongue out at him. With a wave of his hand a door slid open. He walked into the new room and, reluctantly, she followed. Her eyes widened in surprise to see Bobby sitting on a makeshift hospital bed, a real icepack against his ribs. Mystique was nearby, sitting in a chair, flipping through a magazine.
She looked up when they entered. “Only a few bruises and a broken rib. He’ll be fine,” she stated, cocking her head towards Bobby.
“You should count yourself lucky, Iceman,” Magneto informed him. “Most leave their first training with Mystique with more than a few broken ribs.”
Mystique looked over towards Rogue. “Do you want me to look her over too?” she asked, hesitantly reaching for a pair of surgical gloves on the table beside her.
“No,” Magneto said and walked past her, coming to stand by the other bed. He looked towards Rogue, who hadn’t moved from the doorway. “Rogue.”
She hesitated a second too long and felt her body be lifted up and propelled towards him. “I’m fine,” she grumbled as she landed near him.
“Lay down,” Magneto replied, ignoring her comment.
Begrudgingly, she complied, giving Bobby a reassuring smile before looking around the room. It was nothing like the mansion’s hospital. Rogue wouldn’t be surprised if Bobby was using the only ice pack the facility had. Besides the two beds and the chair and table Mystique was using, there was a metallic bookshelf with various boxes of bandages and medical instruments she hoped she’d never see in use. There was none of the high-tech equipment that she was used to seeing. I wonder if they even carry aspirin here.
Rogue gasped in shock as she felt a bare hand on her ribcage, gently prodding it. “What are you doing?” she asked, looking at Magneto, bewildered.
“Checking for any fractures you may have received,” he replied. “You are of no use to me injured.”
His hands were cool as they moved along, checking for internal injuries. She bit her lip as he continued, unsure what to make of the sensations his touch was stirring in her. His hands retreated and she bit back a whimper, part of her missing his touch already. “You do appear to be fine,” Magneto informed her.
“How can you do that?” she asked.
“Do what?” he asked, pulling her shirt back down.
She looked at his hand. “Not get hurt.”
A cunning smile graced his face and he looked past her. She followed his gaze to Bobby, who was looking at Magneto with barely contained fury. “Mystique will show you to your new quarters,” Magneto said and exited the room.
Rogue looked away from Bobby and stared at the ceiling, conflicting emotions running through her. Shaking her head, she rose from the bed and followed a battered Bobby and Mystique out of the room. Some things are better left alone, she told herself, watching as Magneto’s form disappeared through a doorway.
no subject
L.
no subject
no subject
L.
no subject
no subject
Not that there's anything wrong with that... I suppose being the only person able to touch might help her be less afraid of Magneto, or just confuse her further. Tension, tension! Poor Bobby won't know what hit him, I'm guessing. It's always good to see Avalanche and Blob, too. I'm looking forward to your next post, as usual.
no subject
Magneto's ability to touch her is going to cause some confusion for Rogue and for Bobby and complicate matters further. Though, they'll have other matters to worry about at first. Thanks for reading!