Adult-FanFiction.org : Marvel 'Verse

Torment	By : GreenRogue Category: X-Men - Animated Series (all) > Het - Male/Female Views: 3002 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own X-men nor the marvel universe. The story within is written for pleasure and no monetary gain was received in the writing of this fanfic

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Kitty phased through another side door as she narrowly avoided being seen by Rogue. They had wandered the maze of halls for several minutes and Kitty was beginning to think she was being led into a trap.
'She's just, like, turning at random, what is she doing?' Finally they came to an oak disguised elevator and Kitty watched as Rogue impatiently pushed the button.
'This is my chance.' Carefully Kitty hugged the wall until she was about a foot away from her friend. Breathing shallowly she carefully grabbed the microchip from her bag and waited for the ding of the elevator doors. As they opened Kitty tensed her body and sprung off of her heels. Grabbing the solid body, her momentum slammed them against the back elevator wall. Slapping her gloved hand against the back of Rogue's neck she pushed the chip against her skin and held on tightly. Rogue cursed and struggled against her for a moment before slumping to the floor unconscious. Kitty gingerly pulled her arms from under her comatose friend and panted with exertion as she turned her over. Smiling at her success, Kitty pressed the emergency stop on the elevator and slumped against the doors. She stared at the sleeping face anxiously for signs of movement. She watched as her friend breathed slowly and comfortably and for a moment Kitty was afraid it wasn't going to work.
Finally Rogue's face scrunched in concentration, or in pain, Kitty wasn't exactly sure as the limp body started to tense up and twitch slightly. Folding back her long dress Kitty tentatively reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Rogue…?" The emerald eyes flew open and for a moment Kitty was afraid she was going to be sucked dry by her friend. Rogue sat up quickly and coughed violently, her body wracked with the violent gagging and Kitty sat beside her unsure on how to help her ailing friend. As Kitty watched helplessly, Rogue's body began to shimmer and shake violently. Kitty was about ready to press her emergency button for the Professor when she noticed the slight blue tint to her skin. The auburn hair fell away to a bright red and Kitty felt her heart plummet as Mystique was soon gasping for breath in front of her. Anger swelled in her heart and before she knew what she was doing, Kitty grabbed Mystique by the shoulders and shook her violently.
"Where is Rogue?!" Mystique took a moment to respond as she held onto the petite woman. Her yellow eyes darted around the elevator in confusion for a moment.
"Wh-where am I?" Kitty slumped back in defeat and sighed. As she told Mystique what was happening, the older woman's body grew rigid and she stood quickly startling Kitty. "We have to get to the ballroom, NOW!" As Kitty stood a loud booming sound echoed a few floors above them and the elevator shook violently. Kitty squeaked and pressed her panic button on her communicator.
"Scott? Are you there? Scott this is Kitty can you hear me?" Static replied back and Kitty's face turned green, she turned to look at Mystique but was startled to see that she was along in the elevator. A clacking noise above her caused her to jump and stare at an open tile in the elevator ceiling. Pocketing her communicator she quickly removed her ball gown revealing her x-men uniform while grumbling to herself.
"Oh no don't worry I didn't want to come with you, why would I when this elevator is so nice and comfy." Huffing she sprung up and phased through the ceiling of the elevator.

Magneto stood stoically in the metal sphere as he guided it gently behind the silent x-jet. He ran his fingers absently across the smooth metal as his mind wandered over the past few weeks. He remembered the few glances he had of his new obsession and the tired eyes that reflected the world. He had watched as she struggled with her demons in silence while her friends grew and bonded around her. He could remember the reports of her power struggle and the devastation she had caused downtown when the fight proved too strong for her. He remembered gently nudging the situations around her to benefit her training, and he remembered the day he discovered her mind controlled body invading his sanctuary. The cold feeling in his chest as she so efficiently disposed of his team and then himself. It was a shock he never quite got over. There was such power and ferocity in so small a woman. That blaze of determination that shined brilliantly in her eyes. Magneto had not recognized her on his cameras. The thief before him was not the child he had Mystique try to recruit. She was not the child he had met on that long ago cold night.
The quiet buzz of the com link on his hip pulled him from his mind and he answered it briefly.
"We're coming up on the mansion Magneto; I think something has gone wrong. Warren isn't answering my call and I can't locate Shadowcat." Magneto's response was brief and curt as he pushed his perception past his ball of steel. Below him, Magneto could feel the vibrations of metal bullets whizzing back and forth between unknown combatants. The muffled screams of fleeing mutants and humans echoed inside his sphere. Willing his transport to land; Magneto calmly stepped onto the snowy landscape and watched as people in brightly colored dresses and suits dodged past him in a blind panic. Gambit casually slung his bo staff across his shoulders as he stood next to him. Piotr flexed his muscles as his metal skin shimmered to life across his body. Giving short nods Gambit and Piotr split and went to work blocking the side exits as Magneto made his way towards the great double doors. Ahead of him the shaken but determined news casters turned their attention towards him as he ascended the stairs. Reaching with an afterthought, Magneto crushed the cameras in the hands of the crew and pulled the microphones from the clutching vultures as they scattered from his path. A few of Shaw's guards flew past him as he entered the great hall and raised an eyebrow at the chaos inside.
Furniture lay in ruins among the bodies of unconscious party patrons. Scattered ornaments and lights from the decorations hung limply from the walls as if torn by a great wind or sudden burst of power. On the far side of the room, Magneto could see a pair of heavy mahogany doors hanging limply from their hinges. They blocked most of his sight but Magneto could make out bright flashes of green and white as smoke trailed lazily along the floor. Piotr came up beside him from the kitchen doors and shifted on his feet.
"Ze premise is empty. Ve have a few more minutes before ze x-men arrive."
"Best get to de petite then non?" Gambit shuffled his cards absently as he came down the stairs from the second floor. Magneto nodded at Piotr, not trusting his voice at the moment from the fear that threatened to grab at his heart. Images of a broken and bloody girl with auburn white streaked hair threaten to overcome his senses as the two men pulled the doors apart. Magneto was instantly dazzled by a bright pair of white angel wings as Warren flew past the opening and circled the main staircase.
"Magneto! It's about time! We've had this crazy mess all backwards and I'm afraid Rogue is struggling harder because of it. We need the Professor now!" Magneto nodded slowly to hide his nervousness and tucked his gloved hands inside his cape. Carefully, he stepped into the ballroom to see the hysteria inside.
Party goers writhed and groaned on the floor from the waves of power that shook the very foundation of the building as Shaw and Emma stood as statues on a broken dais in front of overturned chairs. Kitty was frantically trying to reach as many of the injured people as she could and phase them through to safety. Near the middle of the room, Magneto could see a tall man wearing a red suit fight with Mystique around the bottom of a raised floor. As his eyes travelled upward he could see flashes of brilliant white and green light around the body of a young woman who stood suspended in mid-air.
"ROGUE!" Pure animalistic fear drove Magneto to the edge of his sanity as he watched lightening arch around her body. White milky eyes gazed skyward towards an opening in the ceiling where it seemed stars floated down to be absorbed into her skin. He watched as she jerked from every contact and he felt his heart twist at the sound of her quiet whimpers. He made a beeline towards the suspended girl only to be thrown back by an unseen force. He landed hard against the far wall and watched in morbid fascination as she slowly descended to the floor, the colored lightening slowed to a halt as her eyes dimmed to a dull blaze. She seemed to stare at the people around her and Dr. Sinister was struggling to keep Mystique from ending his pathetic life. Magneto struggled against invisible bonds as Rogue slowly took in the chaos of the room. A snarl of fury broke his concentration as Wolverine barreled past him and made to jump into the fight between Mystique and Sinister. As he grew close, Rogue's eyes flashed brightly and Wolverine was stopped by an invisible force. Wolverine struggled against the power as he shouted at the man.
"What have you done?! Release her now or I swear bub I'm gonna-" Sinister started to laugh as he smashed his fist into Mystique's face, knocking her backwards and slamming her into the far wall. Walking slowly towards Rogue he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"You X-men still don't seem to understand your predicament here. Rogue does not exist, ANNA does not exist. All there is, is the master that was meant to be. You may have delayed the inevitable but fate will take its course." Wolverine snarled and tried pushing again on the invisible force. Magneto watched Rogue's blank face as she stared at nothing.
"Anna…" The name felt hollow to him now, the person before him was not the young woman he had grown fond of. "You, Apocalypse… you've brought apocalypse down on us all." The eyes snapped towards him and Magneto felt his soul shrink from its icy gaze. He struggled to fight his growing fear and the bonds that held him against the wall.
"Anna, listen to me. I know you're in there, please, come back to me!" The figure started to slowly glide towards him, her hand outstretched towards his throat. "Please Anna, you don't have to let him control you, absorb him. Control the monster." She faltered for a moment as her eyes dimmed briefly giving Magneto a glimpse of her green irises. "That's right sweetheart, fight him. You're strong; you have the strength to defeat him." Rogue's body slowed to a stop near the center of the room. Sinister was snarling and shouting at Magneto to keep quiet. The tension in the room grew and shrank around the two mutants locked in an internal combat. Wolverine felt the invisible bonds weaken and charged Sinister with a snarl. Sinister dodged him with speed and accuracy causing Wolverine to crash into the broken dais. Emma wobbled slightly on her heels and clutched her head.
"Wh-what happened…? SHAW!" Emma rushed to her husband's side as he slid to the floor with a groan. Rogue turned her head with Sinister's movement and it seemed that her eyes were reflecting some sort of internal struggle. With Rogue's concentration temporarily broken Magneto took the moment to levitate the various pieces of metal and fashion them in a makeshift cage around her. She didn't struggle or turn her gaze as the Professor and other X-men came barreling into the room.
As Magneto concentrated on Rogue, Wolverine turned his snarling eyes towards Sinister who was trying to escape behind a hidden door. Letting his animal instincts take over, he howled at his pray and dashed after him with Warren tightly behind. Gambit whistled low in his throat as the commotion died around them and he sauntered up to the frantic Emma and unconscious Shaw.
"Well den, seems your little party is over. Is der a reason I shouldn't take my party gifts now?" Emma stared at him in defiance and a shadow of fear whispered in her eyes.
"We were as much a pawn as that girl. Once Sinister had her absorb that… that super human we were obsolete to his plan."
"Whoa madam, what super human? What did de crazy doctor do to Roguey?" Emma watched as Gambit's eyes flickered between consuming anger and soul clenching sorrow. She felt her diamond heart reach out to the man briefly but reigned in her senses before he noticed. She looked down at Shaw and studied his unconscious face. She remembered how it used to show those emotions for her when they were younger, she remembered the pain it brought when they stopped. Laying him carefully on the floor she stood gracefully and patted out the wrinkles in her gown before looking at Gambit again.
"You should chase after your master. Metal scraps won't hold a creature like that for long." Shifting into diamond, Emma made a pass at Gambit before dashing off down the side door that Sinister had escaped through minutes before.
Kitty limped over to where Magneto stood and watched her eerily silent friend. Rogue hadn’t spoken since the X-men filtered into the room and she hadn't opened her eyes since Magneto fashioned the cage around her.
"Professor… like, what do we do?" Magneto and Xavier shared a brief look before he wheeled forward slightly trying to get Rogue's attention.
"Rogue, Rogue can you hear me? It's the X-men, we're here to help." Suddenly light blazed from her hands and the cage split apart allowing her to float gracefully upwards towards the broken ceiling.
"Pathetic mortals, you do not see the truth even when it is in front of your very eyes." The voice grated against Magneto's nerves and he saw Xavier visibly flinch as she spoke. "Your companion did not exist save for my will and my technology. Release your foolish notions and bow before your new leader"' Xavier could feel his compulsion pushing against his inner walls and struggled against his power. Magneto had shoved as many of the students as he could from the room with a floating metal table and now struggled with wheeling Xavier from the room.
"Come Charles, you do not have the strength to best him. We need to go!" They both pushed against the barrier that was forming from the monster behind them. Just as Xavier made it through the door way, Magneto felt something inside himself snap to attention. Turning back to the glowing girl he saw her emerald irises full of pain.
"Erik… please…" He reached for her with is gloved hand, his feet glued to the floor. She reached towards him, her fingers splayed and her face straining. He could feel a pressure building right behind his eyes, it grew until it felt uncomfortable and then downright painful. He could see the green fading before his own eyes as she slowly stood straight and smiled at him coldly.
"She is weak, easily replaceable. Come Magneto; remember the power and control I gave you. Accept your fate as one of my horsemen." Magneto's hand quivered slightly at the cold voice that echoed around his mind and his heart. He could feel rather than hear Xavier shouting his name, his sanity tipped on the brink between his friend and this girl that captured his heart. He looked once again into the cold glowing eyes and lowered his arm slowly.
"I will save you Anna, I swear." The being laughed loudly and with a burst of speed sped up and out of the open ceiling. The quiet that was left behind was deafening as Magneto sagged to the floor. He felt the pressure in his head continue to grow as he stared into his empty hands. Vaguely he heard the clacking heels of Mystique as she walked carefully towards him and kneeled until her face was even with his. Absently he blinked and felt the pressure lessen slightly and he turned his face upwards to stare into a pair of angry and pain filled golden eyes.
"We will get her back Magnus… we will." She wiped away the tears that were steadily falling and helped him stand as the X-men rejoined them in the damaged ballroom. Wolverine was stomping through from the side exit muttering to himself quietly as Gambit roused the still fainted Sebastian Shaw. Magneto felt his spine harden as he physically clamped down on his leaking emotions and addressed Gambit curtly.
"Bring the man; we'll wake him at our base. Mystique, I don't care why or how you are here but I want you with Xavier. He can try to find some information in that scattered brain of yours." She bristled slightly but did as she was told without complaint. As he turned to lead Gambit and Piotr from the room, Xavier raised a hand slightly to stop him but hesitated when Gambit gave him a curt shake of his head.
'I wouldn't do that if I were you homme, last time he got like dis it was when he saw Roguey's little possession problem. He's got a soft spot for de petite non?' Gambit winked at Kitty who was leaning heavily on Kurt as they walked past and out into the still night.
"We're like… just going to let them go? What about Rogue? What about Sinister? Like… what do we do now?" Xavier sighed as he turned his wheelchair to face his crumbling team.
"We start at the beginning."
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It had been ages since Magneto had spent this much time in Mystique's company and his pounding head was reminding him why. As she started telling, or ranting at this point, her story and reasons why she was at the Shaw's yet again; He stole a glance towards Xavier and saw that even the telepath's eyes were glazing over. Scott and Jean had long since written her off and left the meeting in a huff stating "This was a waste of time". So far Magneto had to agree.
"He told me he could fix her. That they were just trying to do what was best for her and the mutant race. Her explosion at that concert and then the fight with Apocalypse got her on the radar of a lot of bad people and they told me they could fix this. I was doing what was best for my daughter, for my family. He tricked me like he tricked all of us. That doctor… no, that madman, is a menace and he needs to be stopped. We can't sit here waiting for something to fall into our laps. He's not the brotherhood and he's not the acolytes. He's smart and danger…"
"Mystique…" Xavier started to interject, but her continued screeching voice drowned him out. Magneto could pick out the soft sigh from the Professor by the slight lowering of his head and he found that he had, had enough. Standing slowly, Magneto stalked towards the lunatic of a shape changer and roughly grabbed her wrist.
"That is enough Raven, you've made your point. One of your schemes, yet again, did not work and you were trapped as well as Shaw and Frost. Was there anything we missed?" She glared daggers into his dark helmet and yanked her wrist from his grasp.
"It's not as simple as that Magnus. He's been playing this since the beginning. There's something I'm missing, that we're ALL missing." Mystique breathed heavily as she stared intently at Magneto. The grandfather clock in the corner chimed loudly in the silence and he felt the vein on his forehead throb in beat with the bells. He turned slightly to acknowledge Xavier before sighing.
"It's late, we're not going to get anything productive learned tonight. I suggest we retire until morning." The Professor nodded before closing his eyes.
"Mystique, Storm will show you to a guest bedroom you may stay in for the night. I don't think I have to warn you that the rest of the mansion is off limits, you've done little in the past to prove you can be trusted." She scoffed and folded her arms as Storm opened the study door.
"You called Professor?"
"Yes, please escort Mystique to the guest room we've prepared for her. I think we're done for the night." Storm nodded and waited politely for Mystique to huff out of the room before winking at Magneto as she closed the door. He felt a soft smile grace his lips before straightening his spine and frowning. This was not the time to feel relaxed. As he slowly lifted his helmet, he felt the soft touch of Xavier on his outer barriers.
"Really old friend, are we still stooping to spying on each other after all we've been through?" He turned to face the professor as saw a soft smile behind the folded hands.
"I do suppose some habits die hard. Do you think it was really him Magnus?" The question hung heavy in the air and Magneto felt himself sink into one of the overstuffed chairs from the weight of it.
"I don't know Charles, it certainly seemed like it. But how could it be possible? How could he take over Rogue so completely? In the past, when I read her file, you had an incident where the psyches were fighting to take over, all at once. Correct?" He saw Charles's slow nod and continued. "If it is just a memory of… of Apocalypse then how is it possible he can act with future thoughts? Will real intent?"
Xavier sighed as he wheeled behind his large oak desk. Opening one of the top drawers he pulled out a large manila folder with pages sticking out in odd places. It thumped on the desk as Xavier dropped it, letting a few pictures scatter across his desk. Magneto could see some distant shots of Rogue at school, Rogue sitting in the gazebo outside the mansion. A rather large one of him and Rogue grabbed his attention and he picked it up slowly, he had memorized that smile on their walk down the main street on a not so distant birthday.
"Of all the information I have gathered and learned of her, by her, the way her powers work are the most mysterious. The few times we've had sessions together, her mind was a massive chaos of voices and images. I'm afraid that each person she absorbs keeps their own unique signature and thought pattern. At this point, it's near impossible to find out how exactly her own signature works. If we could have found her before all the people she had absorbed this could have been easier for her, but…" The unspoken accusation hung thickly in the air and Magneto chose to ignore it as he placed the picture back on the desk. "At this time we have no way of knowing if the people she absorbs continue to live inside her, or if their stuck on some sort of loop living the lives they've already had."
Pity thickened his throat as Magneto grabbed the brandy from the bookshelf and poured a full glass. He couldn't imagine living with so many people fighting inside day in and day out. He could barely live with his own personality let alone bickering mutants and humans on two different sides of this war. He took a burning swallow of the liquor to clear his mind and throat before speaking.
"We can't… we can't think of this enemy as Rogue. Until we are able to figure out this mess… this person is not a friend." Magneto watched as Xavier straightened the worn file and placed it back inside his drawer.
"I am afraid old friend… you are right."
The drag on the black cigarette lit Gambit's face briefly before he turned from the open window and the two old men inside. Jumping carefully from the branches he landed on the soft ground and sauntered towards the closed garage. He's thoughts rotated around the conversation he 'accidently' overheard and his red eyes darkened dangerously with his mood.
'If de plan on hurtin' de petite… I'll jus' have to save her first.' Stubbing his cigarette out on his leather coat, Gambit carefully opened the already propped garage door to stop any squeaks from giving him away. As he shut it ever so slowly he sighed and closed his eyes.
'Rougey is a smart girl, dere must be som'ting we're missing'.
"If you're going to shut the door Cajun, just shut it." There were few people in the world that could startle Remy LeBeau; unfortunately one of them was currently sitting on a motorcycle drinking a beer in the dark. Flashing him a charming smile, Gambit sauntered over and leaned against the black x-van.
"What's a wolvie doin' up dis late? Catchin' prying t'ieves?" Logan grunted and took another long swallow of his beer.
"What's a thief doing out and about? Escaping?" Gambit shook his head with a smile before pushing off of the van to make his way back into the house.
"Oh Wolvie, der is no escapin' from dis mess. We're in it together homme." Wolverine grunted at him again before Gambit was able to shut the door. He waited for a few minutes, listening, before wandering back to the guest room he was "given".
'Dis mess is all of ours now.'
Warren folded and unfolded his wings gently as the breeze started to kick up. His lips were turning blue from the last few hours he sat on the roof but he couldn't bring himself to go back inside yet. Images of Rogue in that ballroom were still flashing behind his eyes. He could hear her whimpers of pain as that lightning struck her body over, and over again. He replayed the party again and again, trying to find some clue or hint as to what happened. The Professor and Magneto weren't talking, the younger students were huddled in packs with dazed looks on their faces and the older staff seemed to be avoiding all contact for the moment. The only other person left was Mystique who was still holed up with the two leaders. There was always Shaw but he didn't think he would necessarily have a conversation with the would-be kidnapper of one of the few people who treated him like normal, not to mention he was still unconscious.
Warren glanced back down at the mask he still held in his hand. The glitter was starting to wear off and he could see chalk dust still faintly clinging to the velvet. Briefly he remembered how nice it had felt to enter a room and not have everyone staring in shock and horror at him, to feel normal again for a change. Throwing the mask to the wind in disgust he stood with a sneer on his face. This night wasn't about him, it wasn't about his wishes or desires. Tonight was about a lost girl who was facing a battle on her own. Taking flight he swooped around the grounds of the mansion one more time before landing on the snow covered ground.
"Happy fucking New Year."

Rogue watched horror stricken, as the alien ripped apart the psyches around her and absorbed them. They had crowded around her in a makeshift barrier as she barreled deeper into her mind to escape his deadly trip through her memories.
So much pain and anguish you have caused… young Eshe… Why do you hide behind your false friends?
Rogue glanced at the wavy image of Nightcrawler who was crouched next to her. She could feel his tail whip back and forth next to her. He seemed to be saying something but his words were lost in the thundering boom of the alien searching for her. She whimpered as she heard Kitty's aching scream in front of her and cowered further into the darkness.
Why don't you come and face me like the warrior you claim to be!
'Why can't you jus' leave meh alone?'
'This way… turn this way…'
Rogue looked behind her as a faint but clear voice spoke over her shoulder. She watched as a hazy figure of… herself… run towards the darkness with two men she had never seen before. She flinched as the thundering destruction came closer and she looked towards Nightcrawler. He stared at her with sad amber eyes and nodded towards the retreating figures. She felt someone tug on her shirt and she turned to look at the face of the young boy Leech who was also pointing towards the deepening darkness.
Come Eshe… let us be what we were meant to be.
She turned briefly back to lock eyes with the strengthening alien before her. He seemed to glow with the energy he took from her protectors and was towering over them to stare at her. His glowing eyes spewed flame and anger and he smiled fully showing a mouth full of razor teeth.
Want to play a game?
Rogue shivered and scrambled to put more distance between herself and this hulking giant. His laughter echoed all around her and inside her, she felt bitter tears roll and start to dampen her face.
'Professah… Jean…. Erik… please help meh…'
A warm hand rubbed the top of her head and she looked up into Erik's transparent gray eyes. He smiled at her as he took her hands in his and pulled her to her feet into a hug. His warmth calmed her tremors and she breathed in his scent.
'I'ah know this isn't real, I'ah wish it could be.' She felt his soft lips in her hair and she looked back up at his gentle face. He smiled at her briefly before the thundering shouts and screams pulled them back to the darkness around them. He steered her behind his back and with a small shove, pushed her towards the emptiness. She looked back at him fearfully and caught sight of the alien breaking free of the crowds.
'Come with meh!' She begged him with tears gathering in her eyes again. He shook his head with a sad smile before blowing her a kiss and meeting the monster head on.
You are weak and nothing. You will become a part of me Eshe and it will all be complete.
'Mah name is Rogue!' She shouted at the beast before turning and running in the direction of the strangers. Soon the people around here were swallowed by the darkness and the echoes of fighting started to fade into nothing. Rogue couldn't feel any substance around her body and her feet felt like they were running on air. She could feel her lungs burning from exertion and her leg's tingled from exhaustion. Her steps echoed in her ears as she slowed to a jog and finally stumbled to her knees. She sat there for a moment trying to catch her breath.
'Why am I'ah out of breath? Iah'm inside mah head.' She shook her sweaty hair from her eyes before trying to peer into the darkness around her. 'Where am I'ah? I've never been this far back before.'
'This is where your memories rest.' Rogue turned suddenly at a voice approached her from behind. He was a tall man with short brown hair. His business suit nearly matched the same green of her eyes and he walked with a strong, confident gait.
'Who are you?' I'ah don't remember absorbin' anyone lahke you.' The man smiled at her before offering his hand. She took it slowly and was taken off balance as he pulled her up with ease.
'You've only done it once, not under your own influence mind you. My own powers make my absorption… slightly different.'
'Your… powers… Professah…?' He smiled at her again before resting her hand in the crook of his arm and walked slowly with her further into the darkness.
'Your powers of observation never cease to astound me Anna. Yes it's me. A bit younger and a head full of hair, but still your Professor.' He winked at her and Rogue could feel a slight blush creep into her cheeks.
'But Professah, why are you here… lahke way away…way back here?' He stopped for a moment and took her hands into his.
'Because Rogue, no matter how we tried out there,' he gestured to the space around him; 'the answers to your powers just never made themselves known. I thought perhaps they may be found back here.'
Rogue nodded her head and let him pull her back into a walk. She pondered the space around her for a few minutes before scrunching up her brow in thought.
'You said mah memories are back here. Do you mean lahke the stuff of me?' He smiled again and winked at her before drawing her attention towards a door she hadn't noticed before.
'Exactly right, you see, there are different ways each of us cope with our minds. For instance, I have a large library with books on each of my memories and knowledge of every person I meet. I know Jean uses a filing system, neat and orderly. It takes an extreme amount of mental discipline to achieve what most telepaths must learn right from the beginning but you…' He opened the worn wooden door and stepped through. Rogue hesitated for a moment and glanced back towards the distant chaos. She could see lights flickering like lightning, and a steady drown of thunder was starting to build around her. Breathing deeply, Rogue followed the Professor through the dark doorway and was suddenly blinded by sunlight. Hot arid air blew her hair from her face and she breathed in the smell of sand and flowers. As she blinked away the spots from her eyes she felt her jaw drop open.
Before her was a vast city of short, squat buildings. In the distance she could see the buildings grow larger until they ended at what Rogue could only describe as a palace. As she took in her surroundings, Rogue felt the Professor rest a hand on her shoulder and she slowly tore her gaze away to stare at him.
'You've seemed to have built an entire city without conscious thought. I haven't pried into your memories Rogue, but, I believe our answers may be here somewhere.'
She turned back towards the city and the setting sun. 'I'ah don't even know where to start.' He laughed lightly and started down the steep steps. Rogue stood for a few more minutes before rushing to join him. For the first time in a long time, she felt optimistic by her situation.

Magneto's head felt thick as he rolled in his bed. He had stayed late with Charles discussing options over several drinks of brandy and scotch. He couldn't quite remember how he made it back to his room or undressed in his state last night. As he reached for the buzzing alarm clock that woke him so rudely, his fingers ran across something silky on his nightstand. Raising his head a fraction he cracked an eye open to see a pair of dark navy blue gloves resting just beside his head. Sitting up slowly, he cradled the fabric to his chest and closed his eyes.
'Anna…'
A sudden noise in the hallway interrupted his quiet moment and caused a sharp, nauseating pain in his temple. Growling, much like Wolverine, he threw back his blankets and stalked towards his bedroom door. Taking a deep breath he opened his door slowly and deliberately as Kitty and Lance barreled past his room.
"Like, slow down Lance!" She stopped for a moment to catch her breath and noticed the older, more mature, more experienced, more deadly mutant staring at her from his bedroom doorway.
"Miss Pryde… the reason you are thundering around the hall this early is because…" Turning a bright crimson red, Kitty started to sputter her apology when Lance peeked his head back around the corner.
"Hurry up Kitty-Kat! They're going to show the tape without us!" Magneto raised his eyebrow at the young girl who flinched under his gaze.
"Uhh, like, Shaw was awake last night. And like, Wolverine and Scott interrogated him and like, has it recorded. Want to come?" Magneto looked at her for another moment before sighing and shaking his head.
"I will be viewing it later, for now… quiet is needed." As he shut his door slowly in her face, Kitty groaned and carefully rushed down the hall to catch up with Lance.
'That was like… too close.'
As she bounced down the stairs to the rec room she let her mind wander back to the last incident that led to a personal conversation with the old man.
'You like… are totally taking advantage of her. I should like, tell the professor!'
'Miss Pryde, please understand that I am not taking advantage of anyone. Rogue is an adult, a CONSENTING adult, as will you be in a year's time. In that year I would imagine maturity will… eventually come.'
'You can't just like, pick a young girl from here. The Professor…'
'The Professor is well aware what is happening between myself and Rogue. Once she returns from her shopping trip at the mall I suspect he will speak with her about moving to my room. Adults, Miss Pryde, we are adults.'
She had huffed off after his obvious jab. As she looks back on it now, the way Rogue had smiled at him secretly. How painful this situation so obviously is to him. She can see how wrong she was to hound her friend over the little bit of happiness she had allowed herself.
'Now she might never…' Shaking her head violently to rid herself of the doom-filled thought, Kitty walked into the rec-room and stared at the small crowd that had gathered. Catching Lance's eye she phased through some of the younger kids and stood next to him.
Scott had the DVD paused while the Professor and Wolverine had the team settled and threatened a few of the too young students to get out or get in the danger room for an extra session. Once everyone had settled with growing apprehension, Scott pressed play.
"You people, do understand who I am? I will be looked for and you all will pay for what you've done to me."
"We don't much care right now bub… all we want to know is what you did with Rogue."
"What I did? What I did?! Tell me Wolverine what did you do to her to make it so easy for the young girl to trust a complete stranger. To WANT to get away from this 'institute' you people cherish so dearly. It must have been horrible here for her to practically jump into my van." It the background you could hear Wolverine growl lowly and crack his knuckles as Shaw ranted into the camera. "Tell me Professor? Is this really a school of learning for gifted youngsters? Or is it a training compound for your personal army? Of course with those tight costumes you make them wear… it could be training for something entirely differ…" Scotts back was currently blocking the camera view. His fist was swinging upwards and downwards so quickly it almost blurred on the screen. It seemed obvious Wolverine was going to let him get a few in before intervening.
After another moment Wolverine's gruff voice startled them all and Scott withdrew from the slumped figure. He had a wild crazy look in the one eye that was not swollen shut.
"What's a matter bub? Confused by the lack of power surging from those blows? Fun thing about having connections with organizations that shouldn't exist… you get nifty toys." Shaw seemed to be panting now and was desperately pulling against his metal restraints. "Now that we've got that little experiment out of the way, what do ya say about giving some answers?"
On and on the DVD ran, a few punches thrown after low blows to the institute, to Rogue's character, to the treatment of the kids under the Professor's care. After a while it seemed like Shaw had no other answers to give. Cycling the same information over and over again had grated on the nerves of several of the onlookers. Kitty, Lance, Kurt, and Jean with the Professor were all that were left to view the end of the tape.
"He said she would be perfect, he said he knew things about her powers that Xavier could never dream of; the power to bring the world of humans to its knees. I promised him money, and he promised me a protégé; someone for my legacy in history. He wheedled his way into my mind, planted false thoughts, false memories. He played us all, that stupid fucking fanatic. My home and reputation is destroyed! I will make him rue the day he crossed Sebastian Shaw."
"Ok then Bub… but he'll have to wait while you serve time in prison for the kidnapping and extortion charges. May take a while, hope you're comfortable." The camera grew fuzzy for a moment and the screen went black.
Xavier sat quietly, his eyes unfocused on the floor before him. He could quietly hear Kitty sniffling in the back of the room and he could feel Kurt shaking with rage. Mystique was impatiently tapping her foot from the doorway.
"So he gave us nothing I take it? Was it worth the wasted time? Was it worth the possibility of Rogue dying just to hear his side of the…" Kitty had rounded on her so fast the woman had no time to retaliate. A bright red hand mark glowed fiercely on her blue skin as Kitty shook in front of her.
"Don't you dare say she is dead. Don't you dare try to blame us for your stupid mistake you crazy old hag. You're the reason this mess has started. We take care of our own, not you. Now just shut up and be grateful you're not down there right next to him in chains." Lance gently touched her quivering shoulder and steered her around the shocked woman. The silence around them thickened as Wolverine and Scott stared her down. Jean was looking glassily out the far window while Storm slowly steeped some tea and Xavier refused to meet her eye. Without further argument, Mystique turned on her high and stormed down the hall and out the front door. Wolverine growled softly and made to follow her.
"Let her go Logan, sometimes rage is all people have left." Xavier calmly went to the small DVD player and ejected the disc. Placing it in a nondescript case he made his way towards the back elevator. Wolverine watched him go and felt his face soften in concern at the sight of his friend raise and lower his shoulders in a tired sigh.
"We'll find her Chuck… I've got faith in that."

Rogue could feel the sweat beading and dripping down the back of her shirt as they trudged through the silent dusty roads. The houses around them were dark and although there was no wind, the thin burlap curtains fluttered slowly with an unseen force. The professor was a good 30 feet ahead of her, head held high, whistling some nondescript tune as they walked. She had given up trying to have a conversation with this younger man since he seemed to refuse to give her a straight answer.
'So, what is this place exactly?'
'I would assume a place of your design.'
'Well… how can I'ah make it if I'ah don't know what it is?'
'Well that's, an excellent question.'
'…. And do you have an excellent answer?'
He had laughed at her and kept walking. Now she was distracting herself by looking at the passing houses and down the side streets they passed.
'Why would I'ah make a place lahke this? I'ah wonder what would happen if I just…' Glancing back at the Professor's back she side stepped up to one of the dark houses. It was slightly taller than the neighboring houses and had several windows on the second floor. The brown wooden door felt rough under her fingers as she pushed on it gently.
The door glided open without a fuss or creak and soon Rogue was staring directly into the inky blackness. She couldn't see any furniture, couldn't see any people having a meal or chatting. The thick black recesses of the room seemed solid and impenetrable. As she squinted into the darkness, Rogue felt a slight tingle on her skin and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Before she could react, a hard shove had her barreling straight into the darkness. She braced herself to impact what was sure a hard cold stone floor but instead found soft warm grass. She blinked a few times and tried to steady her rapid heartbeat. The sun was still beating down on her but the cloying damp heat of a southern summer is what made her breath deeply. Looking up slowly she spied an old rusty swing set, the festive colors on the poles had long since faded from the metal. The one remaining good swing creaked as it moved slowly from the small body shifting it back and forth.
Rogue felt her throat dry up and her eyes widen as she watched the young girl kick up the dust and push off of the ground. She pumped her legs slowly and rhythmically gaining height with every pass. Pushing herself up to her knees Rogue could barely look away from the child and the obvious simple glee on her face. She jumped slightly when she felt a cool hand on her back and looked up at the Professor's twinkling eyes.
'Well, now we know what happens when you go through one of the doorways.'
'You… you…. You ass! You didn't know what was going to happen but pushed me through anyway?!' He shrugged nonchalantly as he helped her to stand.
'It's your mind Rogue, unless you create something to hurt yourself with… or our friend finds us, nothing can hurt you in here.' She huffed indignantly before turning back to watch the young girl on the swing. She had gotten rather high by this point and was swinging well above the top bar. They could hear her quiet giggles as she rode the momentum up and down, up and down. Rogue almost smiled at her enjoyment. As the sun set the little girl had slowed her personal flying lesson until her toes skidded in the ground. Her hair was mussed from the wind and she was panting slightly from the exertion. Rogue dared to step a little closer to the girl before stumbling back and into the Professor's hard chest. The little girl had glanced up and was staring towards them, her emerald eyes shined in the dying sun's light and the faint wispy white strands of her bangs blew in the evening breeze.
'It's okay Rogue… she can't see us.' As if to confirm that, little Rogue had turned from them and was running full tilt down the hill. Rogue knew she had kept her feet planted in the same spot but they never lost sight of the child, as if they were tied to her short stubby legs their vision changed with hers as they made their way down the hill to the small suburb below. Rogue felt an emotional knot clench in her throat as she watched the houses pass by them slowly. The same peeling yellow paint that she used to walk past every day from school the cracked sidewalk she learned to jump over in silly games. Faintly, the sound of the tired old ice cream truck was echoing, still making its rounds in the hot summer evening. As young Rogue turned a corner their vision suddenly stopped as they heard laughter and cackling up ahead. Young Rogue had dashed behind a bush and was watching the group of kids that were making their way towards them. Their voices were dull and muffled and Rogue couldn't quite catch what they were saying. She felt her knees itch from the gravelly concrete and a cramp beginning to develop in her leg from the uncomfortable crouched position. She frowned briefly before remembering that she wasn't the one kneeling, at least not this time around.
'You may feel some residual emotions… physical effects while looking at these.' Rogue barely caught herself before rolling her eyes.
'Evah the teacher right Professah?' She felt rather than heard him chuckle before turning her full attention back to her past child self. The group of kids was almost on them now, their skipping and laughter echoed in the quiet space around them. Little Rogue leaned heavier into the bush and almost blended in with the twigs as they passed. None of the children slowed or turned as they passed her by. Almost instantaneously the child and the woman exhaled with a sigh of relief before the young girl stood and started brushing the gravel from her skin.
"Need a hand little girl?" Both Rogues startled at the manly voice from behind them. They were so intent on avoiding the other kids they never heard the ice cream truck getting closer from the other street. "Looks like you might have fallen into that bush. Are you hurt?" Too nervous to say anything, young Rogue held her hands behind her back and looked down. The ice cream man kneeled in front of her, very close and patted her head before running his fingers through her hair.
"It's alright, you don't have to be scared of me, I'm the ice cream man, remember? Do you need a ride home? I can take you… your Anna right? Well Anna I wouldn't be much of a gentleman if I didn't escort a young lady home. I'll give you a Popsicle to cool off against this heat if you like, my treat. Come on, take my hand." Unsure with what else to do, young Rogue tentatively took the older gentleman's hand and let him escort her to the back of his truck. "We have to go in this way I'm afraid, the side door is busted."
Through this exchange, Xavier had watched with quiet intensity. What started as mere curiosity was turning into quick rage as he sized up this strange man. He glanced at his student and swallowed heavily at her paper white face.
'I'ah don't want tah see this… I'ah don't want ya to see this.' His heart, well what he imagined would be his heart if he was alive, clenched at the fear that was coming off of her in waves.
'It's okay Rogue. You control this… remember you are the owner of these memories not the other way around.' Rogue had started to hyperventilate as she watched her younger naïve self, climb into the back of the truck. The man looked quickly around the truck and down the street before joining the innocent child. Luckily for them the world seemed to shimmer and Rogue felt a strong push on her chest before the faded back through the doorway and into the dusty street.
They stood quietly for some time, Rogue was leaning her forehead against the hot clay breathing slowly and Xavier stood to the side, his arms hanging dumbly, unsure of what to do to console his charge. After a few moments Rogue straightened herself and nodded at the professor. Her eyes were dry but slightly clouded from the unfallen tears.
'I'ahm sure you have questions. I'ahm sure you want tah ask what happened. I'ahm not up to talkin' bout it and would appreciate if you never speak about it again.' His heart cracked at her words but nodded his head in understanding. Once she knew she had his word Rogue turned and started back down the road towards the tall palace.
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