“Seriously?” Anna scoffed, slamming the door to Charles—Erik’s—office shut. She crosses her arms over her chest, glaring at the older man sitting behind the desk. Erik was in the middle of reading one of Charles’s books when she barged in the room huffing and puffing. “Did ya seriously have to act like that?”
“Anna—”
“Rogue. That’s Rogue to you,” Anna growled through gritted teeth.
“Rogue,” Erik corrects himself, feeling ever so slightly agitated with her. “Do you think we have the time to go to a silly arcade? Let alone, I having the time?”
“Last time Ah checked, today ain’t yer birthday, tough guy. All Jubilee wants to do is celebrate it! There was no need to shut it down!”
“The X-Men needs to spend this time to train in case we encounter Mr. Sinister once more. She has far more plenty birthdays to spend.”
Anna’s eye twitched, a vein pulsing out the side of her face. “Oh, ya got me madder than a shaken up hornet’s nest!”
“Yeah, I’m feeling that sting now…”
“Jubilee wants to spend her time at the arcade an’ wants all of us to go with her!” She saunters up to his desk and slams her hand against its surface, pointing a gloved finger at him. Erik is staring up at her with a raised brow, lips set in a frown. “She’s still so young! She just turned eighteen! She has the right to celebrate it an’ we’re all gonna go!”
“The master of magnetism is not going to be caught at such a place designed for hormonal teenagers and snot nosed kids,” Erik declared, standing out of his chair and rolling his shoulders back. “We can have a small celebration tonight by having some cake, but we are not going to a silly arcade.”
Anna rolls her eyes. “Master of magnetism,” she mocks. “Ah don’ care! Yer goin’! End of story!”
“Excuse me, Rogue ,” he hissed, eyes narrowed. “Last time I checked, I am the boss. I give the orders around here, not you.”
“Boss to the X-Men,” she muttered. “But ya know when it’s just you and me, Ah’m the one who has the final say.”
“This is the last time I’m repeating myself. We are not going to the arcade!”
Cue to them going to the arcade.
Jubilee runs into the building, whooping in excitement. She pushes her shades up to her hairline, eyes sparkling in wonder. Her joyous laughter is drowned out by the excited chatter of nearby patrons and loud arcade games, but there’s no denying that her jovial expression brings a smile to everyone’s face.
The X-Men are dressed in casual wear today, all ready to have some fun. Considering what they’ve been going through lately, they all need a little de-stresser.
“Come on!” Jubilee yells, hooking her arm through Roberto’s and dragging him off to the nearest Mario Kart racing machine. Roberto, ever so smitten, allows himself to be dragged off.
Jean and Scott play shooting games and basketball hoops. Though there’s a bit of tension and sorrow between them, they’re able to distract themselves for a moment. A moment is all they need to focus on the now instead of going through lost memories and confusion and grief of giving up a son.
Logan cracks his neck and gives the punching ball machine a hard whack, earning the highest score and gaining jaw dropping attention. He sniffs, rubbing his fist against his nose with a smug expression before walking off to busy himself with Pac-Man.
Remy and Morph play shooting games, both whooping and yelling at their screams. They end up sticking to the same machine, a zombie game, and end up fighting off hordes and hoardes of rotting corpses.
Anna walks around the arcade, her mind not set on anything in particular. She’s in search of someone—a grumpy old man who thinks he looks ridiculous being here. She discovers Erik leaning against the wall near the emergency exit, his arms crossed over his chest and eyes closed, lips curved down in a frown.
“Well, ain’t ya a ray of sunshine?” Anna comments, a hand on her hip.
“Not now, Rogue,” Erik mumbles, opening one eye to look at her. “I gave everyone what they wanted.”
“An’ we appreciate it, but ya know, it’ll be a helluva lot fun if ya join in on the fun.”
“I’d look ridiculous.”
“Ya wouldn’t!”
Erik doesn’t respond. He remains in silence, hoping she’ll walk off to let him brood in peace. Except he knows her and she won’t back off that easily. Anna flips her hair back, sighing. She leans against the wall next to him, pointing a thumb behind her.
“Take a peek at Jubilee. See how much fun she’s havin’?”
He opens his eyes and follows her line of direction, spotting Jubilee and Roberto having a dance battle. She’s stomping her feet on all the correct arrows, her smile set in triumph and she’s raising a fist in the air, yelling in celebration. Roberto is managing to keep up, but he’s no used against her adrenaline rush. After seeing the two, he begins to see everyone else. Jean and Scott hanging out together without a once of tension brewing between them. It’s as if they were younger again on their very first date. Hell, even Logan is having fun with Pac-Man. Gambit and Morph scream in laughter at the zombies and insert more coins to continue playing.
Erik’s lip twitches, attempting a smile.
Which doesn’t go unnoticed.
“In here, it don’ matter. We’re all here to have a bit of fun. So, loosen up an’ get yer knickers out of a twist.” She scoots closer, bumping her hip agaisnt his. “Besides, would’n’ ya want to spend some time with me?”
Erik relaxes now, his expression softening. Quickly and softly, he brushes her hair out of her face. “You know I do,” he whispers, his voice nearly drowned out by the background noise.
“Then come on! Let’s go enjoy ourselves while we still have the chance.”
Erik trails after Anna as she goes in search of a game for them to play. She eyes everything down, rubbing her chin in thought. She didn’t feel like street racing or shooting bad guys. Didn’t want to go on a jurraisc park ride. Play basketball hoop.
But something does snag her attention.
A stuffed purple bunny with a grumpy expression.
“Oh, ain’t ya adorable!” she gasped, pressing her palms against the glass. “Ah want it!”
Erik stands next to her, staring at the bunny. His eyes move to her expression in the glass. His heart flutters at the sight of her sparkling green eyes and pretty lips curved into a smile.
“You want it?” Erik states, holding out his palm. “Then you shall receive it.”
His powers of magnetism go into full effect. The claw machine churns and the claw itself slides across and hangs above the stuffed bunny. However, before he can force it down, Anna smacks his bicep.
“What do ya think ya doin’?” she scolds.
“I’m getting you the bunny.”
“By cheatin’?” She shakes her head in disappointment. She stuffs her hand into her pocket and slides two coins in. “If yer gonna win me a bunny, ya gonna do it the right way.”
Erik sighs, dropping his hand. Her honest heart. How he loves it so. “Then, my dear Anna Marie, I shall win you the bunny the right way.”
He places his hand on the lever and begins to move the claw in place, pressing the red button. Simple enough. He’s smiling as the claw lowers itself and wraps its metal claws around the bunny. It lifts the bunny up slightly before dropping it and returning to its place. Erik blinks.
“What?” he mutters to himself, holding his hand out for more coins. “I just had it. Why did it drop it?”
“These games can be a bit tricky,” Anna chuckles, leaning against the corner of the machine. “Imagine tryin’ to pick up a sock off the ground again an’ again when carryin’ a load of laundry.”
“That’s why you use a laundry basket instead of your arms,” Erik grumbled. He moves the claw back into position and hits the button again, determined to win her this bunny. The claw drops down, but this time grabs the bunny’s small arm, but the claws glide against the arm and lift up without moving the bunny at all.
Erik’s left brow twitches in annoyance.
Over and over again, he attempts to win her this bunny. The claw either scoots it, misses it, or lifts it up half an inch before dropping it.
“What in great heavens is this game?” Erik bellowed, smacking his palm against the glass. “I’m trying to pick up the damn bunny! Why won’t it let me!” His face is red, blue eyes looking around angrily. “Is there a manager of this establishment around here? I have a complaint to lodge.”
Rogue laughs her head off, her arms wrapped around her stomach from how much she’s laughing. “No need to get hasty now! That’s the whole point of the game!”
Erik sputters, gesturing to the machine. “To lose your mind? I thought we were supposed to be having fun. And…why do you keep laughing? What is so funny?”
“You are, goofball!” Anna laughs, wiping away a tear. She looks around to make sure no one is watching and plants a quick kiss to his cheek. “Yer so cute, tryin’ to win me a bunny and gettin’ so upset over losin’. Kinda makes me wana drag ya out back and kiss you.”
“I think that’s the smartest thing you’ve said all day, my dear.”
She playfully punches his shoulder. “Now come on. Get yer act together and win me mah bunny.”
Erik rubs his hand against his wrinkled face, groaning. “Fine, fine. I will. But be ready in five minutes to fight off the cops when I tear this machine in half.”
She rolls her eyes. “Win me mah bunny.”
Erik rolls his shoulders back and cracks his knuckles, moving his neck from side to side to crack it. He’s going to win her this damn, stupid purple bunny even if it costs him his life. Erik is dead set on that. Again and again, he inserts coins into the slot and attempts to pick up the bunny. Again and again, the bunny falls against the rest of the stuffed animals, it’s grumpy face glaring up at him as if to say, “Fuck you.”
But he doesn’t let this stop him. He has a beautiful girl watching him and he’s not leaving until she has that damn bunny in her arms.
An entire hour goes by until he wins that bunny.
Erik almost couldn’t believe his eyes when the claw latches onto the purple bunny, lifts it up, drags through the mechanism and drops it in the designated drop off spot. He pushes his hand in and pulls the bunny out, his frustrations drowning out.
Anna squeals in joy, clasping her hands together. “Oh, Erik, yer amazin’!” He hands her the bunny and she cradles it in her arms as if it’s an infant. “Oh, Ah love him! He’s so cute! Thank ya so much!”
Erik nods, leaning against the damned claw machine. “Anything to see you smile.”
“Ah know what Ah’m a name him,” she said, hugging the adorable grumpy bunny. Erik waits for her answer with an amused expression. “Magnus.”
“Magnus?” It takes him a couple of seconds to process. He tilts his head in disbelief. “Really? You’re naming it after me?”
“Of course? It’s perfect!”
“There’s plenty of other names for a stuffed bunny. For example, Thumper. Or Hopper.”
She hooks her arm through his, the tips of her fingers ghosting over his open palm. “Ah’m namin’ him Mangus. After the man who won me this bunny.” She holds the stuffed bunny up to his face. They both share the grumpy expression and she laughs. “Plus, he looks a lot like ya!”
“What?” Erik said, unable to believe his ears. “We do not!”
“Oh, yes y’all do! Ya wear a purple suit, he’s purple. Y’all wear the cutest grumpiest expressions!” She hugs the bunny again, staring at Erik softly. “And y’all both make me so happy.”
Erik’s cheeks flush. He clears his throat, smiling. “Since you put it that way, then I approve of the name Magnus for the bunny.”
“Quite fittin’, ain’t it?”
“My dear Anna Marie, you’re lucky I adore you.”
When they returned home, Anna puts Magnus the bunny on the corner of her bed, so it can watch over her with a grumpy but loving expression.
In his own room, Erik is grumbling, “Magnus the bunny. I can’t believe her.”
But he’s falling deeper in love with her because of it.