Complex: Part Two

by Indigo

Ororo had been laughing a moment before, but it had taken on an edge of impending hysteria before dying completely. Blue eyes that had crinkled in mirth were now wary, with a hint of fear. Body language that had only seconds earlier simply said 'surprise,' now spoke of caution, no little amount of trepidation ... and guilt.

Magneto remained where he stood, in the tattered and burned heather grey sweatpants Joseph had only just worn out of the house when he'd gone to fix the generator. He waited, expecting the windrider to raise a hue and cry or to take him on alone. When she did neither, and merely stood in her ready stance, watching him like a jungle cat watches another predator of equal strength, he tilted his head and regarded her with puzzlement. ~True,~ he reflected, ~I was until scant heartbeats ago the man she called Joseph. But she knows I am once again myself. More or less.~ His brow furrowed. ~Why does she not attack, or at least begin with the threats Xavier's students so customarily fling at me? ~ He considered it a moment longer, and inwardly shrugged. ~I mean her no ill will. I can wait until she realizes this. Within reason.~ His lips quirked in the beginnings of a smile. ~Besides, why should I deny myself the sight of her like this?~

Ororo stood where she was, motionless, wearing only the tatters of a once-long violet silk nightgown. It was plastered to her skin by the rain that was only just letting up. Her lithe body was clearly limned against the sheer fabric from the light of the sun that rose at her back. She showed neither shame nor concern at her state of deshabille. ~He is just standing there -- staring at me. Why does he not move?~ She watched him smile slowly. ~There's no malice or rage in his expression. This needn't come to a fight, then.~ She let out her breath in a sigh of relief. ~Thank the Goddess.~ Her posture relaxed with the thought as well, and her hands fell easily to her sides.

"I am pleased to see that we need not begin the day with an overdramatic display of aggression and hostility, Ororo." Magnus inclined his head politely.

"Likewise, Magnus," Ororo replied. A slender hand lifted to her forehead. Ororo moaned softly, and swayed on her feet. The lack of sleep and the effort it had taken her to quell the hurricane her distress had caused were finally taking their toll on her.

"Ororo!" Magnus' hand flashed outward, and a magnetic field formed around Ororo as she fell, cradling her and lifting her gently toward him. He pressed cool fingers to her damp skin. Her pulse was regular and strong. Her breath was even and slow, as though she'd simply dropped from sheer exhaustion. ~A condition I know well.~ Satisfied she was in no immediate danger, he gathered her into his arms and turned to walk back into the mansion.

The front door opened; Sam Guthrie stepped out for his morning jog. He blinked once at the scene, then gasped. "Joseph? What's wrong with Ororo?" He frowned, worriedly, and started toward the pair.

Magnus' response was a gallic shrug, though his expression was concerned. "Likely she has exhausted herself, between abrogating the storm and saving me from a rather undignified and painful fall." ~Best clear the air now,~ he thought, resigned. He offered Ororo to Sam with slow, reverent gestures. "And... if you please, Magnus will do. Or Michael Xavier, if you must." He inclined his head in a polite, ironic smile toward his former student.

Sam Guthrie's response was to doubletake as he gathered the unconscious Ororo into his arms. "Micha--?" He blinked dumbly, and realized he was staring, mouth agape. "Magneto?" He blinked again. "Sir?"

"Mostly, Samuel. Mostly, yes."

Cannonball didn't bother to examine the remark. "You can explain this t'me on the way down to the infirmary, sir." He frowned thoughtfully as he passed the intercom panel on the wall. "Would you mind terribly wakin' up Doctor Reyes so she can come down an' have a look at 'Roro?" He grinned sheepishly. "M'hands're a bit full."

Magnus actually permitted himself a chuckle. "Of course." He thumbed the panel and spoke. "Doctor Reyes. Your assistance is required in the infirmary. Ororo has collapsed."

Cecilia's sleepy, but rapidly wakening voice came over the intercom in response. "Collapsed? Shit. I'll be right down." The speaker clicked into silence.

"All right, sir, if you don't mind, exactly what happened out there? You take Joseph's place, or was Joseph you all along, or... or what?" Sam kept his eyes on the floor, careful not to bump or jar his sleeping passenger. Magneto kept pace with his blast field, remaining effortlessly alongside him.

"It would seem that Joseph was the persona created in South America when I recovered from reentry after the fall of Avalon," Magnus explained. "Between the injury I sustained on Avalon itself, injuries sustained in my return to earth, and perhaps no small amount of weakness in my body -- I had amnesia. I remember the orphanage. I remember meeting Rogue. I remember returning here to a less than warm welcome...and the research I did to discover whether I was who I resembled. I remember the fight against the damnable Phalanx.

"And, most recently, I remember going out in the darkness to turn on the generator as Joseph. I stand before you once more, Magneto." He shrugged again, and stood to one side of the gurney as Cannonball laid Storm down gently. "I can only surmise that it was the lightning strike from the storm that jolted me back to true awareness of myself."

Sam nodded slowly. ~The bearin's right. The speech pattern's different enough from Joseph. If he's playin' us some kind of scam, I don't rightly see what it is just yet.~ "I don't have a problem with that, sir. If you'd intended us harm, you could've done us in already before we all woke up. But you handed Storm over to me before you even let on that ... that Joseph wasn't with us anymore." He smiled. "Can't guarantee you the rest'f the X-Men'll keep that in mind, but I'm willin' t'give you benefit of the doubt."

"Fair enough, Samuel. And I daresay more than I deserve." The smile was genuine -- a touch self-effacing with a hint of pain, but it touched his eyes. "Magneto may be the X-Men's old and bitter enemy but I have the memories I lived as Joseph, as well as my own restored to me. You all extended Joseph great kindness. Even those who did not completely trust Joseph for what he was were hospitable and forgiving. For his sake, even if he was only a figment, I am grateful. And for mine, I thank you as well."

"Pardon my sayin' so, sir, but you're comin' across awfully humble."

"Seeing oneself through the eyes of an innocent, and learning oneself anew from another angle, is an enlightening experience. A humbling experience." Magneto inclined his head politely as a sleepy Cecilia entered the infirmary with a cup of coffee and set to examining Ororo.

"Joseph feared nothing so much as the possibility that Magneto might reside in the recesses of his mind. He lived in constant terror that he would awake one day and be a monster, a madman. Me." His eyes dropped to the floor. "Knowing this, I cannot simply pretend the emotions never happened, or believe them false. I did not know who I was, and learning who Magneto had been -- sickened me." He shook his head slowly -- looking like a confused lion.

Sam nodded slowly. "I daresay that would be kind of an intense experience, Magneto, sir. You sure you're all right?"

"I feel no ill effects. There is no pain or discomfort, and my powers seem to be as strong as ever they were." He regarded the young X-Man appraisingly. "Let me guess. You would strongly suggest a careful examination nonetheless."

Sam nodded. "Only sensible thing t'do, sir." He clasped a hand on Cecilia's shoulder. "Doctor Reyes, when you're done with Storm, there, would you also have a quick look over Magneto here?"

Cecilia nodded, and took another sip of her coffee. "A'right, corn pone." She went for one more gulp of her beloved java, before the exact words Sam had said hit home; at which point, she straightened, and slowly, carefully, set the cup down on the countertop again. She then turned to look the seven inches up into Sam's eyes. "I'm sorry, Sam. I must not be totally awake. I thought I heard you say you wanted me to examine Magneto?"

"That'd be right, Doctor Reyes."

"How is Ororo? Is she all right?" the man who had only hours ago answered to 'Joseph' asked. Genuine concern darkened his brow.

Cecilia nodded once. "She's just exhausted. She hasn't been sleeping well lately, nor has she been eating properly. That stops. *Ahora.*" She then whirled, stalked the five paces across the room and got directly into Magnus' face. "*Mira,* don't think distracting me is gonna work, Magneto." She pronounced the name with a Spanish lilt. "Give me one good reason I should look over you and not call the Avengers or the Fantastic Four or somebody to take your evil ass in."

Magnus blinked, and had to chuckle despite the small, determined Puerto Rican woman in his face. "I mean no disrespect, Dr. Reyes, I assure you. As for a good reason, I can only hope that you consider my solemn word that I mean no harm sufficient."

"You are a world-class supervillain, hombre! You've killed and threatened to take over the world more times than I can remember. An' you want me to trust you because you say you mean no harm?!" Cecilia tossed back her head and barked a bitter laugh. "You must be out of your mind, man."

Sam winced. ~Dr. Reyes isn't crazy about bein' in the Mansion in the first place, let alone havin' gone with us to fight the Shadow King. This is probably the last thing she needs. An' if I don't wanna see a fight start, I better act quick.~ "Doc," Sam said softly. "I'll vouch for him. He is the one brought 'Roro back in the house when she passed out. An' the rest of us were asleep. If he meant to do us harm, he'd have had plenty opportunity already."

Cecilia looked from Magnus to Sam, clearly wanting to come up with a counter argument.

Sam hurriedly pressed his advantage, gesturing with one slim arm toward Magneto. "Would you just *look* at the man for a second, Cecilia? He's wearin' a beat-up pair of sweats -- no shirt, no shoes, instead of the purple-an'-red armor. Is that the clothin' of a man who means to kick the holy hell out of us?"

"Maybe," Cecilia persisted. "If *I* was a world-class supervillain, I'd want to take out *my* most troublesome enemies as efficiently as possible. Nobody'd *expect* him to hammer down on us dressed like Teenage Pajama Boy." She snapped the waistband of Magnus' sweatpants to emphasize her point.

Magneto raised one silvery brow and mouthed 'Teenage Pajama Boy?' silently. A slight blush crept up his bare chest at Cecilia's forwardness, but he held his temper.

"C'mon, Doc," Sam riposted. "Joseph went out to cut the power back on after last night's storm knocked it out. A stray bolt of lightnin' got away from Storm an' struck him. Joseph has *always* been Magneto. He only just now got his memory back. He hasn't done anythin' to me or t'Storm since. You said yourself all she needs is some food an' rest. I know you're not crazy about this whole mutant faction thing, but..." Sam shook his head and brushed at the blond locks falling into his eyes. "But you're a *doctor*, for cryin' out loud. Could you really turn him away for bein' what you think he is?"

Cecilia sighed. ~Damn him. I didn't turn Pyro away and it got me fired. I guess I can't do any different here an' now.~ "All right, Guthrie. You win. For now. If we wake up in the middle of the night hangin' off the refrigerator, don't say I didn't warn you." ~He has been wearin' the X-colors from what the others've told me. We'll just see if Mr. Man here is really all nice and sweet or if he's just the Wolf in cheap clothing.~ She pointed to the other gurney. "Sit."

Magnus sat, still managing somehow to look immensely dignified in spite of the battered and tattered sweatpants. "Might I impose upon you for a towel? I could dry my hair without one, but I don't wish to risk damaging any medical equipment you have here."

Cecilia sighed and handed him a white towel from the cabinet nearest her. "Go on and get a shower and change. Ain't no rush to get you looked at, and the rest of the household needs to know about your little surprise."

Magnus stood. "I understand. Will you let me know when Ororo wakes?"

Cecilia shrugged. "That's up to her. If she wants to see you when she wakes up, fine. If not, tough. Now *andale*, already, will you?"

Magnus' smile quirked a bit ironically, but he nodded. "Loathe though I am to relinquish this idyll, it is best done sooner than later, yes." Straightening, he padded from the room, towel slung around his shoulders like kingly raiment.

~Say one thing for him,~ Cecilia thought, watching him leave, ~Evil or not, that's a nice bit of beefcake for a man his age.~

* * * * *

Logan had returned from Manhattan, just in time to hear Sam make the announcement that Joseph was gone and that Magneto had regained his memories. It had taken Rogue and Maggott both to hold the diminutive Canadian back.

Magnus nodded. "I understand your rage, Wolverine. We both did what we thought we needed to do at the time. I know better than to expect instantaneous forgiveness. If you wish your vengeance, you may make your attempt at it. But not here and now. Allow everyone to discuss this rationally." There was a knot of tension at the back of his jawbone, though, indicating clearly to anyone paying attention that he was putting no small effort into holding his temper.

He waited a moment to see if Logan would accept that. Logan growled under his breath, but sat at the war room table, arms folded and teeth clamped around his cigarillo. "Say what you gotta say. We'll deal debts out later."

Maggott had once told Joseph he wasn't Magneto. Now, the Afrikaaner stared reverently at Magnus. The twin chittering creatures that sat on his shoulders watched with impassive multifaceted eyes.

Rogue's reaction was unreadable. She hadn't spoken a word, but neither had she allowed an expression to cross her face once Sam had assured them that he believed this was truly Magneto and that he was *certain* Magneto had not harmed Storm.

Cecilia was finally the one to speak again. "Look, I came all out of my face and told the man how I felt. Short, dark, and hairy here's done the same. We may's well get it all off our chests now. Say what you gotta say, an' get it over with." She first turned her gaze to Maggott.

Maggott shrugged, adjusted his dark glasses, and looked away. "Nothin' t'say, maats. The oke's the big M, hey? Ag, shame." His smile was faint, but sincere. "No need t'tune anyone uphill about it, struesbob. We're not donnered where we sit, hey, and that right there is proof the oke's okay."

"Only one way t'be sure he's who he says he is," Rogue finally spoke after a long, uneasy silence. She pulled the glove off her right hand and held it up. "If Jo--er, Magnus is willin'."

Magnus nodded slowly. "Given the recent betrayal amongst your number as well as the clear and present danger my presence here could indicate to you all, I will permit this with good grace. And then, I wish to see Ororo."

Rogue stood, approached Magnus slowly. Magnus averted his eyes politely. What intensity of emotion had swelled in Joseph's breast was still fresh in Magneto's memory, but it needed to be sorted out from the feelings Magnus himself held for the woman. So much of Joseph was mingled with what Magnus knew, and had known of himself. He needed the time to get his bearings back. And he needed the shelter of the Westchester mansion; he was sorely unprepared for what might occur if he stepped outside and was recognized as Magneto. He could feel his powers were in fine shape, but he had no desire to test them against the X-Men or anyone else, just yet.

"You ready?"

"I am ready."

"All right. You're willin', so this shouldn't hurt a bit."

Rogue brushed her fingertips across the back of Magnus' hand. He blinked, then closed his eyes and sank into the chair beneath him. She closed her eyes and let the memories unfurl from his mind into hers.

##Nightmares...horrible, terrible nightmares...waking in shakes too many nights...##memories of looking through the X-Men's files of Magneto and bile rising at what is seen on the screens and pages ... ##affection for Rogue... painful grief and rage at the horrors Magneto visited on a world in the name of his Dream...##...respect for Rogue...the pain of Gambit's mistrust##...affection for the other X-Men, who accepted him despite the possibility of his existence...## gratitude to the X-Men for their trust... ##amusement and dismay at the power failure...exhilaration at the thunderstorm##...pain and shock and startlement at the thunderstrike...##realization upon the sight of Storm...gratitude...weakness...bemusement...amusement...realization...confusion...and resignation.##

The faces around the table all turned expectantly toward Rogue.

"It's like he says. He got struck by lightnin' an' woke up Magneto, with all the mem'ries. They're all there. An' he genuinely means us no harm." She sat down heavily herself and put her head into her hands. ~That is the last time ah do stand-in telepath duty.~ She blinked back tears and asked without looking up again, "What's our next move?"

"You elect a new leader."

Every eye in the room turned to the doorway. In it stood Ororo Munroe, dressed in civilian clothing with a duffelbag hanging from her shoulder.

"What the hell are you doing out of bed?" Cecilia sprang to her feet. "You should be resting."

"Ororo..." Magnus gestured and steadied her with a magnetic field, much like he'd caught her at dawn.

"Darlin'?" Logan had finally managed to will down his temper. Concern for Storm gave him the impetus he needed to finish it completely. "Sam tells me ya passed out this mornin' after wipin' out that storm last night. You should listen to the Doc. Go back to bed."

Storm slowly shook her head, blue eyes scanning the room. "No. I cannot. If I remain here in bed, in the bosom of my family -- you shall have the time you need to convince me my decision is rash and to talk me out of it. I cannot permit that. I must go now while my will is strong."

"How can you leave us now?" Rogue asked, green eyes dark and bright with emotion. "Storm, we're all we have. Jean an' Scott're gone, an' there's so few of us left to pick up the pieces after Zero Tolerance and all the other crap."

"I must," Ororo said in a whisper. "It is something I need to do."

"That's *it*? No explanation, no nothing? Just 'I must go.'" Cecilia shook her head. "Uh-uh, I don't think so."

Thunder crack-boomed outside from a sky that was crystal clear. "I am sorry I cannot explain this to any of you, but it is my decision. I am certain if you call Bobby, Warren or Hank, they will be happy to return. Jean and Scott as well." She smiled tiredly. "I am glad that my last act as leader of the X-Men restored Magneto to himself."

"As is Magneto himself," Magnus said, with a gentle smile. "I will not press you on your reasons for departing, Ororo. But I daresay my welcome in this house will not last much longer. Will you at least permit me to accompany you?"

Logan growled throatily, protectively. "What, so you can take her out before comin' back for the rest of us?"

Sam palmed his face and sighed. This was not going well.

"Logan, dear friend. Hush. If the man had meant to harm me, I was helpless, at my weakest, before him. I stand before you now, alive, if not in the full bloom of health. We have given many others their chance to find redemption. Magnus deserves no less."

Ororo pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation, then turned a steely gaze on everyone in the room. "We do *not* need to have this discussion every time a former enemy ends up under our roof and our aegis. With my departure, you have more important matters to discuss at any rate. While Rogue has seniority, she is better in a support position than a leadership position. Of those who remain here, only Sam has both leadership experience and the temperament for the position which Logan admittedly lacks."

Sam Guthrie paled at the end of the table. "Me?" Sam hung his head. "After all the headbuttin' between us, Storm, you'd still recommend me? Ah can't even come close to fillin' your shoes."

"Don't be modest, boy," Logan grinned briefly. "'Ro's not one to shower unwarranted praise, an' she spoke highly of you in Hong Kong."

"Wolvie's got a point," Rogue shrugged. "An' clearly Storm don't mean t'change her mind. Ah got no problem followin' you, Cannonball."

Maggott, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke up softly, as if afraid his input would destroy the tenuous peace amongst the people around him. "If Storm's goin' walkabout, she can pasop Magneto, and I can pasop them, hey? Not as if I'm needed here, and if the lady's not at her best and Magneto turns out vrot, I can have the girls here run hap marks all up and down his guava." He grinned broadly, knowing no one but Logan had the slightest idea what he was talking about.

"There's your condition, 'Ro," Logan said sternly. "You can go, an' Maggie here can go with ya, but ya take the kid along."

"I *am* capable of taking care of myself," Ororo said loftily.

"It is not you they are concerned for," Magnus replied. "They are trying to be accepting as best they may under admittedly less than ideal circumstances. Given our mutual history, that they are willing to trust me this far is an impressive accomplishment. However, they remain worried that I will throw off the mantle of gentle Joseph and reveal my true colours." He shrugged. "I cannot convince them in any other fashion than showing I mean to live by what I say."

"I am aware of that," Ororo's chin lifted indignantly, then came back down. "And perhaps they are right. I will wait until after dinner, then, if you two can pack to leave by then." She whirled, then left the war room. Her footsteps receded up the stairs, then were gone. Thunder boomed ominously outside again.

"Far be it from me to keep the lady waiting," Magnus said, and strode from the room as well.

"Ag, shame," Maggott added, and followed like a puppy at Magnus' heels.

back to Indigo's stories | X-Men archive | comicfic.net