Hey everyone. Here is the much anticipated sequel to Misery Loves Company. If you're new to this story you'll want to go read the first installment of this series.
Anyway, so this picks up three years later and will focus mainly on the Phoenix Saga. X-Men Evolution didn't go into that chapter so I figured I would. So as always enjoy and please review.
Chapter One Synopsis: Spencer and Logan return to the institute to find things are very different than they used to be.
Part 1:
"Mam, I don't mean to be rude but you aren't dating that guy you walked in with, are you?" the waiter asked me as I sat in the diner booth waiting for Logan.
I smiled at him, "Why do you ask?"
"You just seem kinda young, and he looks like he could be at least thirty-five." The guy explained as he became red in the face.
I smiled at him again as I heard Logan coming. As Logan passed him to get to the other side of the booth the guy avoided eye contact and looked down at our table.
"Can I get you anything else?" he asked.
"The check." Logan told him.
"Yes sir." He stuttered before running off quickly.
"What's his deal?" Logan asked me.
He just asked me if I was dating you. I told him while smiling.
Our telepathic conversations had become a daily occurrence.
He grinned.
You look like you could be thirty-five. I told him raising my eyebrows.
A different waiter brought us the check.
Wanna make a scene? He asked me while grinning and raising one eyebrow.
I shrugged and smiled.
He motioned with his head towards the door. He got up and I followed. Before we made our way to the door I held his face and kissed him and on our way out he slipped his hand into my back jean pocket.
As I turned the corner outside the restaurant I looked through the window to see the waiter with his mouth wide open and broken dishes at his feet.
As we got to Logan's new Ford Mustang, in what other color but black, he burst out laughing.
I shook my head as I smiled at him. "Poor guy." I said.
He motioned as if he was brushing it away, "The worst they'll do is make him wash dishes."
I shrugged, "I guess."
Suddenly he sighed.
I reached over and rested my hand on his thigh.
"You read my mind?" he asked.
"I didn't have to." I told him.
I knew he was bummed about heading back to the institute.
The last two years Logan and I had spent traveling and spending time together. But we started the drive back to New York when Xavier had called last week. He wouldn't say what was going on but he did say he needed our help at the institute.
I knew Logan was sad for our vacation to end, but it couldn't last forever. And as much as I wanted to have fun on our last few days together, I couldn't help but wonder what was going on at the institute. I knew Scott and Jean were now teaching, and Ororo had moved back to Africa to be with her son.
"Hey," Logan said interrupting my thoughts.
I looked over at him, "Sorry, what?"
"I know what your thinking about." He told me.
"You read my thoughts?" I asked him.
He shook his head, "Didn't have to."
…
We arrived at the institute the next day around four in the afternoon. No one came out when we pulled up and Xavier wasn't in my head.
"Is this place quieter than it used to be?" I asked Logan as we walked up to the front door.
He took my hand and led us inside.
"Yeah." He said looking around the empty living room.
We made our way to Xavier's office and I was surprised we didn't see anyone in the hall.
"This is weird." I whispered to Logan.
He nodded before he knocked on the office door.
"Come in." Charles said.
We walked in and his eyes brightened when he saw us.
"Logan, Spencer. I'm glad you're here." He smiled.
"What's wrong Professor?" I asked him.
He looked down and held his hands together in his lap, I sat down in the spare chair while Logan choose to stand next to it.
"Something awful has happened." He started. "It's Jean," he said. "She's been possessed by the Phoenix."
Logan looked surprised which wasn't his usual. I of course didn't know who the Phoenix was. Logan quickly filled me in.
"The institute is falling apart." Charles told us.
"Most of the students have left because she has attacked the school, Scott can barely talk let alone lead the team, and I.. well I just don't know how I can help anyone. The Phoenix is so strong, she has over powered Jean already." He explained sadly.
"Just tell us what you need us to do Chuck." Logan told him.
"I'd like you to stay at the institute. You can both be teachers. I'm at a loss, and I can't lose the school too." He said.
"Of course we'll help Xavier, you can count on us." I told him.
"Thank you." He said giving me a small smile. "Please bring in your bags, make yourself at home, and take the largest room upstairs." He said.
I nodded as Logan led the way out.
"We have to stay here and help him." Logan told me in the hall as he leaned against the wall.
I nodded putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I can only imagine how Scott feels." I sighed.
"I know how I would feel," he said cupping my cheek with his hand.
I kissed him lightly.
Later after we brought the bags up to our room I changed into clean clothes and went to look for students. All the rooms I knocked on ended up empty. I came to Scott's room and knocked lightly. There was no answer. I opened the door slowly and peered in. The room was a mess. The bookcase was overturned, a lamp was lying on its side on the dresser, and a chair was lying on the ground near the door. I walked in a bit and looked around. The only thing I found was more mess, no Scott. When I tried the bathroom I found him. He was sitting in the tub, hunched over and asleep.
"Scott?" I whispered.
His head swung around as he woke up and his hand when to his battle glasses.
"Whoa," I said holding up my hands. "Don't shoot." I tried to joke with him.
He looked confused, "Spencer? You're back?" he asked.
I nodded, "Professor needed our help." I told him.
"Want some help getting out of that tub?" I asked him reaching out a hand. "No, I'm okay here." He said.
I frowned at him, "Are you alright Scott?" I asked.
He shrugged, "Sure, why not?" he asked.
"Because of Jean, and the Phoenix." I told him.
He frowned, "I wasn't thinking about that until you reminded me."
"Sorry," I sighed.
He stood up in the tub. "We need to go find her but Xavier says it's to dangerous." He said.
"It probably is." I told him as I followed him back out to his room.
"What are we supposed to do!" he yelled. "We can't just pretend we never knew her and say 'Oh well, guess the Phoenix got her.'" He yelled hysterically.
"Were going to try and help, Scott." I told him.
"That's what everyone says, and nothings being done." He yelled again.
Suddenly the door burst open. It was Logan.
"Spencer, you alright?" he asked.
I walked over to him and nodded.
"I'm fine, I was just trying to tell Scott that were going to do everything to try and help Jean."
He looked at Scott and nodded, "We'll try, kid. It's all anyone can do."
Scott just turned to face the window and ignored us.
"He didn't hurt you, did he?" Logan asked me in the hall.
I shook my head, "No, he isn't that unstable."
Logan shrugged, "He could be Spence, I know I would be."
"Were all just a little on edge." I told him.
Later that night I changed into my pajamas and crawled into bed with Logan. He was lying on his back and looked to already be sleeping. When I lifted the cover though, he opened one eye to look at me.
"Did Charles forget to turn on the heating it's freezing up here?" I shivered.
He flipped over to wrap his arms around me while my back rested against his chest. His skin was so warm.
"Goodnight." I told him.
He kissed the back of my neck and made a hmm sound.
The next morning I was with Charles when he called the missing students. Most of them were skeptical but agreed to come back to the institute now that there were new teachers. But there was one student he couldn't reach, Rogue.
"You don't know where she's staying?" I asked him.
He shook his head, "I suppose she's working somewhere, but she never told me where." He explained.
"Could Cerebro find her?" I asked as I stood with my arms crossed.
He nodded, "I can try."
I smiled. I went with Charles to the Danger room but he didn't want me to join him at the computer so I waited in the danger room's control room. He gave me an address a few minutes later. I went down to Scott's room. The door was wide open and he was sitting on the floor by the bed.
"Hey Scott," I said slowly I didn't want to set him off.
He just looked at me like a deer in the headlights.
"Most of the students are coming back." I told him with a smile.
He shrugged, "Is that suppose to make things how they were?"
I shrugged too, "It could. It could bring things back to normal."
He shook his head, "This place will never be the same without Jean."
I sat on his bed and put my hand on his shoulder, "I know Scott, but all we can do is try to make a little better. Don't you agree?" I asked.
He sighed and looked down again.
"I'm going to go talk to Rogue about coming back, do you want come with me?" I asked after a minute.
"No." he said.
"Okay," I nodded and got up. "Do you need anything?" I asked.
"Yeah, Jean." He said sadly.
I frowned and left the room. On my way out I found Logan in the living room plastering a whole in the wall.
He smiled at me, "Where ya going?"
I held up the paper so he could read it.
"We called the students, everyone but Rogue, but she's working at this address and I'm going to talk to her."
He frowned, "But you don't seem happy."
I shrugged, "I asked Scott to come with me, but he wouldn't. I'm really worried; he needs to get out the house for a while."
"Do you want me to come with you?" he asked.
"You can but you don't have to. I'll be okay." I smiled.
He looked down and bit his lip, "That address is to a strip club Spence."
My eyes went wide, "What?"
He nodded and shrugged.
"You don't think she's stripping, do you?" I asked.
He shrugged, "Hope not."
I tried to wrap my head around the idea as he pulled his car keys out of his pocket.
He handed them to me and shrugged, "Good luck."
I smiled, "Alright, I'll see you later."
Before I was at the door a thought came to my mind. I love you.
I turned around to see him watching me with a small smile on his face. I went back over to him and held his face in my hands as I kissed him.
"I love you too," I told him before I left.
…
I pulled up to the strip club and was surprised to see a big bouncer and the door. I went up to him and he gave me a funny look.
"I'm pretty sure they're not hiring." He said.
"Good for them," I said a little annoyed. "I didn't come here for a job, I need to get in there to see my friend." I told him.
He crossed his arms. "We don't usually get many women in here, well except the talent of course." He said.
"Can you just let me in?" I asked him.
He nodded, "Have fun, I guess?" he asked.
I sighed and went into the club. There were bright lights flashing on the stage that came out into the tables. It was to dark to see anything.
"Can I help you?" a man asked me.
"I'm looking for Rogue," I told him.
"I meant with a job, I own this place." He smiled showing one gold tooth.
"I'm not looking for a job, I just want to talk to Rogue."
He sighed seeing he was getting no where, "She's working, cant you just come back?" he asked.
"No, I can't. And what right do you have to hire an eighteen year old?" I asked him angrily.
"She said if I didn't she would talk to her friend Logan, and frankly that guy scares me." He said.
"Logan?" I asked.
He nodded, "You know him? He's one of them mutants I'm pretty sure." He said.
"I'm his girlfriend." I told him.
His eyes looked nervous, "Say something nice about me?" he asked.
"Just tell me Rogue is." I yelled over the music.
He pointed towards the bar. I looked over to see her pouring drinks. Thank god she wasn't stripping.
"Rogue," I said as I got to the bar. "Can I talk to you?"
She looked at me surprised.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Please?" I asked gesturing for her to follow me.
She led us to the alley out back where a stripper was taking her break smoking a cigarette.
"How did you find me?" she asked.
"Xavier did, with Cerebro." I told her. "What are you doing working here?"
"Apartments don't pay for themselves." She said.
I shook my head, "Rogue, you should be in school and living at the institute."
She shrugged, "It's not much better there considering everything fell apart."
"Logan and I are back and were going to try to help, were going to teach." I tried to tell her.
"Good for you, but I'm not interested." She told me.
I sighed, "Please Rogue, as your friend I'm asking you to do this for me."
"As my friend?" she asked. "Where have you been the last two years, I don't even know you anymore."
"I'm sorry-" I started.
She cut me off. "How was it anyway, your two year vacation? Did you ever think to call me or were you just having to much fun?" she asked angrily.
"I'm sorry, I should have called and came back sooner." I told her.
"Then why didn't you?" she asked.
"It was so nice Rogue, being away from all the stress and danger for once. The longer we were gone the harder it was to come back." I said.
She shrugged, "I wish you would've called me or something."
I frowned, "I'm sorry."
After a hug I got her to come back to the institute with me. She went straight to her room after saying hello to Logan but I stayed around. I slipped his car keys back in his pocket.
"I have a question." I told him.
He put down his scraper, "What?"
"How do you know the owner of a strip club?" I laughed.
He smiled, "I might have spent sometime there in harder times." He said.
"That's how Rogue got him to hire her, you know. She threatened to tell you if he didn't. That guys really scared of you." I smiled.
He laughed, "He should be."
I shook my head and smiled. "So," I said getting closer. "Would I be a good dancer?" I whispered in his ear.
He turned his face to look at me and raised his eyebrows.
"Depends," he smiled mischievously. "Do you give private shows?"
"I think that could be arranged." I smiled.
"What's it gonna cost me?" he said moving in to kiss my neck.
"The first ones free." I smiled.
Just in case you forgot, there's also a link to a photo of Spencer on my profile. Check it out.
