"Turning the Other Cheek" by M.K.Davis

written 10-31-1999

Magik bitterly slumped into the chair across from Magneto's desk and stared into the carpet, tracing its pattern with her eye and watching for any slight imperfection or distraction-- anything to help her avoid Magneto's accusing gaze.

"How many times must we go through this ritual?" he asked condescendingly. "What must I do to get through to you? You are getting too old to be so childish, Illyana."

How may times indeed, she thought, before I've had enough and send you to feed my pet demons, you pompous jerk.

She had gotten into a fight with some other kid-- just a normal kid-- who had called her a name. She nearly hospitalized the boy, but her friends were there to stop her.

"Your behavior is reprehensible," he continued. "You are the quintessential problem child. I've no doubt that each and every occasion of disruption and rebellion among your class is a direct result of your influence. Have you NEVER heard of turning the other cheek?"

Think you have me all figured out, don't you? You've charged and condemned me before even listening to my point of view. How I'd love to put my sword right in your big fat mouth, old man.

Magneto paced around Illyana, circling her like a shark. He ran his hands through his white hair. The veins in his forehead looked as if they would burst.

"I don't know what to do with you. I swear if I knew what to do, or NOT do, to make your irrational actions cease,I would do it. Lying, cheating, leaving the school without permission, numerous contraband items INCLUDING ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES, swearing, DESTROYING school property, making a travesty of the school's dress code, and I don't even want to know what you've done that I haven't found out about yet!"

True, all true, she thought. Hey, give a girl a break. My first seven years of school were spent learning how to fight, how to survive. I lived among demons, not people. It's not easy adjusting to this world, but you don't know a thing about that.

"What is the problem, Illyana? Just tell me. And DON'T say you don't know!"

I DON'T know, really. It's just...hard to be good sometimes. There was never any reason to be good in Limbo. You had to make the most of every situation and hope you don't get killed. Turning the other cheek has never been a strategy that helped me.

"Is there something I'm overlooking, something you need? If you feel that I have neglected you in some way, any way, and you for some reason cannot talk to me about it, I hope you know you are always free to contact your brother, Colossus."

Her eyes drifted to the cheap nameplate on his desk. "Professor Michael Xavier, Headmaster", it read. She had to bite her cheek to suppress a chuckle when she thought of the implication of his title.

Headmaster. Head Master. I just bet he is.

Despite her best efforts to keep a straight face, a slight snort escaped her.

"ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?" Magneto demanded.

"Yes, Head Master," she replied, falling helplessly into outright snickering.

He stood over her and yelled directly into her face. "DO NOT THINK THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT BY THAT! You will NOT find getting into trouble so entertaining when it is your own GOVERNMENT that you must answer to, for no other crime than being a MUTANT! And at the rate YOU'RE going, you will be the FIRST that they send the Sentinels after!"

She stopped laughing and gritted her teeth.

Better get out of my face, buster...

"What have I DONE to deserve being CURSED with such a TERROR as you? Why can't you seem to show the slightest respect, or attempt the merest conformance? What is it with you? If I knew some shred of your mysterious earlier years, maybe..."

Maybe you'd shut the hell up and cut me some slack, dude. Fool. Does he think he's intimidating me? You don't know intimidation until S'ym's been in your face. Magneto's just pissing me off.

"In MY DAY, you know, children were punished much differently than the kind of discipline you receive. Even if a boy or girl were eighteen years old, they were subject to the strap--or cane-- or whatever the schoolmaster had. It was quite effective in correcting behavior in the likes of you, young lady. Xavier did not practice or approve of such methods, but XAVIER IS NOT HERE. Do you understand me, Illyana?"

She glared up at him. That stupid idiot. He's threatening me. What does he hope to achieve?

Unfazed, Illyana stood up, unzipped her pants, and bent over to expose her backside to a speechless Magneto. Pointing to her bare bottom, she said, "You can't do a DAMN thing to this that hasn't already been done by bigger, badder sons of bitches than YOU. So go ahead."

Alarmed beyond description and totally unprepared, Magneto fled from his own office, shouting, "What are you-- DON'T-- stop it! I--you CAN'T..."

Illyana cackled triumphantly as she pulled her jeans up. She had sent the Master of Magnetism running like a rabbit, tripping over his office furniture. She had made a lasting point, and hopefully put the tyrannical bastard in his place.

So why was she crying?

~finis~