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Kitty thought off-handedly that it was a truism that women were attracted to shiny things. However, this wasn't the case at the moment, as she and the shiny thing in question—Colossus—were locked in combat. He wasn't being nearly as brutal to her as he could have been, for which she was thankful, but she was still getting seriously annoyed.

"Can we please get this over with?' Kitty demanded, ignoring his metallic arm gliding through her torso, her powers protecting her. "I have a calculus exam tomorrow!"

He said nothing—he rarely did—but he gave her a metallic smirk and continued to pummel her, which was as effective as pummeling air. Kitty sighed again in frustration and hoped that Rogue was faring slightly better.

Wolverine had thrown a fit when Kitty and Rogue had volunteered to go into the installation, especially when Jean had confirmed that the Acolytes themselves were personally carrying out the mission for Magneto. What the mission entailed, exactly, remained to be seen.

After arguing and pleading, Kitty and Rogue had won Logan over and he'd let them go. The installation in question was in the middle of a densely wooded area upstate. Most of its security was automated, but live reinforcements would come in if an alarm went off. Kitty had convinced Logan that she alone had the finesse to negotiate the tricky interior of the building without setting off an alarm.

And Rogue, of course, was the only one who could drop Gambit.

Storm had landed the X-Jet in a nearby clearing and Kitty and Rogue had gone around the back while everyone else headed to the front. The group had been small—Storm, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Cyclops and Jean—and covert. They'd barely gotten to the front gate when they were greeted by a flame throwing Pyro. Rather than sit and watch their teammates fight, Kitty and Rogue continued on into the building, phasing through the perimeter fence and the wall using Kitty's power.

Once they'd made it into the actual building—it was really just a big warehouse, it seemed—Rogue and Kitty had agreed to split up.

"You handle Gambit?" Kitty asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I'll manage. You get Tin Man?"

Kitty stuck her tongue out.

"His name is Piotr."

Rogue giggled then. As dumb as it was, here in a military base in the odd hours of night, Kitty and she were acting like little girls.

"It's okay, Kitty. He is kinda dreamy," Rogue teased. It was common knowledge throughout the mansion and among the mutant circles that Kitty and Piotr had a romantic thing going on. The extent of this thing, no one knew exactly, but it was much debated. No one, though, was more uncomfortable about the budding attraction than Lance, Kitty's ex-boyfriend. However, due to the fact that Colossus could inflict serious punishment, Lance kept his mouth shut.

"Oh, but not nearly as dreamy as that Cajun," Kitty said, putting extra emphasis on the last word. It had the desired effect of having Rogue blush a deep, deep crimson. Gambit and Rogue were as much a mystery item in the mutant circles as Piotr and Kitty. Not a few people on both sides wondered if Rogue had succumbed to a little Stockholm syndrome during Gambit's and her little vacation to New Orleans. It was also a little strange that both always chose to fight each other whenever the X-Men and Acolytes met.

But there were other important matters at hand…evil was possibly being committed. Kitty swallowed and pressed forcefully on. Rogue, for her part, still looked a bit dazed.

"Seriously, meet back here in, say, fifteen minutes?"

"Sounds good," Rogue said, snapping out of her trance and removing one of her gloves. "Hope Swamp Rat's been behaving himself recently. Last time I absorbed him it was like watching a porno."

"With you in it."

"Shut it, Kit. Fifteen minutes."

They split up then, and Kitty had to do no more than turn a corner to run headlong into Colossus. He didn't seem to really be doing anything, just standing sentry. It made sense; Gambit was better suited to this type of work. Kitty honestly hadn't expected to find her mark so soon, so she said the only thing that came to mind.

"Hi!"

The dark-haired young man turned around and upon seeing her, barely blushed before invoking his power. Kitty crouched low in a fighting stance as he charged her.

Ten minutes later, and she was still in that position. It was the definition of a stalemate. On the one hand, an invincible guy. On the other, an invincible girl for all intents and purposes. Kitty just hoped that she was distracting Colossus from whatever it was that he was supposed to be doing.

-------------------------------

In another corner of the building, huddled over a computer, Gambit furiously hacked the network database. Magneto had been very clear about the name of the file that he was after, but he didn't divulge exactly what the file was. While he was curious, Gambit kept his mouth shut and his eyes focused. He'd heard what could only be the X-Jet landing a few minutes ago, which could only mean…

"Hey, Rem," a sultry voice behind him said.

He didn't even bother turning around. He simply smirked and continued his computing.

"Past your bedtime, ain't it chere?" he asked conversationally.

"I blame you for that, Gambit. You weren't running around…doing whatever it is that you're doing…I'd be home in bed."

"In bed huh?" he asked, turning to face her, a wicked grin on his face. "Well, Remy's sorry. But you don't have to chase us, you know."

"But you're so obviously up to no good," Rogue said, approaching him cautiously.

"You wouldn't have me any other way," he said, facing her totally now, the computer forgotten. Rogue thought about glancing at the unoccupied monitor in an effort to see what exactly it was that Gambit had been doing. He wouldn't let her, though. Gambit towered above her, staring down at her smugly, his red and black eyes glowing ominously.

"You have a lovely ass," Rogue breathed, her lips curling into a grin. "Shame I'm gonna have to kick it."

"Hope you end up absorbing me again, ma cherie," Remy whispered. "Remy wonders why you always be the one to fight him, but maybe it be 'cause of the, heh, view?"

"That must be it."

Now they were circling each other. Their reverie was briefly interrupted by an enormous engulfing flame that suddenly appeared outside the tinted window of the base.

"Your colleague?" Rogue asked, arching an eyebrow.

"John's a character," Gambit said carefully, continuing to circle Rogue. He saw her ungloved hand and made a mental note of it. On any other occasion, he'd gladly risk a coma to touch her, but tonight he had to leave on his own two feet, with Magneto's file.

"Speaking of characters," Rogue said, her emerald gaze locked on his red and black one, "where's Colossus?"

"Remy imagines that chaton's found 'im by now. Even let you in on a little secret," Gambit said, wagging his eyebrows. "Tin Man be sweet on your roommate."

Rogue rolled her eyes.

"Big fucking secret, Swamptard. Everyone knows that. It's as obvious as saying that—"

"You fancy Remy?'

"—I hate your guts."

"Liar."

He struck, his bo staff extended in an instant. He hadn't struck her hard, just a small knock behind her knees to bring her to the ground. Rogue gasped as the air rushed out of her lungs and she landed on the floor in an embarrassed heap.

Gambit risked retaliation by crouching on his knees and entangling his gloved fingers in Rogue's snowy white bangs. It'd been a few years since they'd first met—the infamous charged card debacle that she'd never fully forgiven him for—and she still made him go weak in the knees. As much as he'd have liked to get down there with her, he had to find Colossus and bail.

"Chere, you be tres belle, but Remy's afraid he's gonna have to leave you here." He stood up and then, almost as an afterthought, looked down at her again.

"And by the way, maybe work on the hand-to-hand combat a little more. Our meetings won't be much fun if Remy keeps dropping you so fast."

Rogue snarled at him and used her leg to sweep him to the ground, catching him at the knees the way he'd knocked her down. Ignoring his struggles to get up, Rogue straddled him and threw her weight into it, so she effectively pinned him to the ground. While he bucked underneath her, she hovered her lily white bare hand above his head.

"You were saying, Rem?" she murmured sweetly.

------------------------------------

This was getting ridiculous. She had no way of actually taking him down, and he was, for all his strength, simply batting at air. They were both of a reasonably mature age; they could settle this like adults.

"Piotr!" Kitty said emphatically, using his real name to get his attention. It did. Colossus looked up from where he'd be pumping his fist through her, and stared into her eyes. It was almost comical. With his powers up, Piotr towered to almost seven feet, far above Kitty's petite build. Yet here he was, immediately obedient to her.

"Da, Katya?" he responded quietly.

"It's pretty, um, obvious that neither of us is going to take down the other," Kitty said quietly, keeping her phasing powers up in case he decided to deck her.

"What gave you that idea?' Colossus said wryly, showing a little dry humor.

"Well, I've been standing here for a few minutes while you've been, well, punching through me. I'm not big enough to take you down, and you can't hit me while my phasing powers are up. So, we're at a standoff."

He looked confused by her long speech. His English was still a little shaky, but he understood the gist of what she was saying.

"Da, Katya, I understand. I do not want to hurt you, but if we do not retrieve Magneto's file, we will be punished."

Kitty's eyes clouded and she almost felt sorry for him. She knew that he was only working for Magneto because of his family; Piotr was being blackmailed. She nodded and bit her lip, while Piotr went back to his usual form, only flesh but still muscular and imposing.

"That's better, da?" he said, smiling slightly. Kitty giggled and she stopped when she realized how ridiculous it must have looked to him.

"Much. I was supposed to meet Rogue," she said, glancing at her watch, "about five minutes ago. Any idea where she'd be?"

"She'd have found Gambit by now."

Kitty nodded.

"Probably, they always end up on top of one another during these missions."

"I believe, Katya, that Gambit is, well…infatuated…with Rogue," Piotr said, stepping a little closer to Kitty.

The girl snorted.

"Obviously. I've never seen a guy so eager to be made comatose."

"She is very pretty," Piotr admitted, and then amended that when Kitty looked up at him sharply. "But I prefer your frame."

Satisfied, Kitty looped her arm through Piotr's and the two began to walk through the warehouse, trying to find their comrades.

"You know, Piotr, the professor offered a place at the mansion for you guys. You don't have to work for Magneto," she said softly, peering around in search of her friend.

"Da, I know. But…and I know Remy feels the same way…I don't want to leave and have Magneto hurt you…or Rogue…out of vengeance. It is easier if we bide our time and leave when we are able."

Kitty nodded, satisfied.

"I understand, but, whenever you're ready, I hope you join us."

Before Piotr could respond, a terrific banging noise came from a corner of the warehouse, followed by a bellowing yell.

"Swamp rat!"

----------------------------

Gambit had rolled before Rogue could drain him and had pinned her beneath him. Her eyes had flashed in that way they did when she was terrifically angry and her pale face had flushed. Rogue's fingers dug into his forearms in an effort to get him off of her, and the way she was squirming beneath him was intensely arousing. He didn't known whether to pound her or do her.

What'd you do if she were a guy? Gambit's inner voice asked. That did it.

"Ow!" Rogue yelped as he slammed her down onto the floor and pressed himself against her. She didn't want him to know that she was secretly a little turned on by this (did that make her perverted?), so she was making a big show of getting him off of her.

Her head trapped against the cold concrete floor and Gambit straddling her torso, Rogue had no choice but to stare into his eyes as he bent over her.

"Rogue," he groaned, using her name for once, "be glad I can't touch you." And first person, too.

"Why?" she hissed. "You'd rape me, is that it?"

He chuckled and nuzzled her neck, just a hint of contact. She whimpered softly and ever so slightly arched into him. Weak, she told herself bitterly. Just weak.

"You can't rape the willin' chere," he said. She was glad his face was buried in her neck so he couldn't see the red stain her face.

"Rogue, wha…whoa!"

Gambit looked up and Rogue tilted her head back to see Kitty and Piotr standing over them. Clearing his throat, Remy grudgingly got off of Rogue and let her sit up. While she went to speak to her roommate, he went back to the computer.

"So, uh, were we interrupting anything?" Kitty asked, crossing her arms and putting on a smug expression.

"Oh, not much, just getting ready to kick some white trash ass!" Rogue said, shouting the last part over her shoulder at Remy.

"You loved it, chere," Remy said, inserting a blank disc into the computer's drive. In a few seconds he'd transferred the data and burned a copy of the file. Slipping it into his trench coat pocket, he turned to face the other three mutants.

"Petey, I see you been keepin' chaton busy," he said, punching Piotr in the shoulder good-naturedly. "Hope you used protection, got no idea where the fille's been." This time it was Kitty who blushed at having her virtue brought into question. Piotr said nothing but shot his friend a dirty look. Rogue piped up then.

"So what's on the disc, Rem?" Rogue asked. Remy winced, hoping he'd hidden the article well enough. He knew he had to answer her or they'd be back to square one.

"Mags sent us here to pick up a very specific file. All we know is the name o' the file, we got no clue what's on it," Remy said.

"No clue?" Kitty asked. "Why don't you just, I dunno, look at it?"

"Katya, we try to remain, what is the word…ignorant of Magneto's business as much as possible," Piotr explained. "We don't want to know what he does all the time, because if we did, we couldn't live with ourselves."

"Makes sense," Rogue said, still casting Remy a wary glance.

"Uh, mes amis?" Remy said. "This be quite, well, touching and all, but John and the X-Men are still outside. Mebbe we oughta, you know, go out and give 'em a hand?"

Rogue had completely forgotten about her other teammates. "Uh…that sounds like a good idea," she mumbled. She looked at Kitty and could see that her friend, too, had forgotten about the conflict outside.

"Silly X-filles," Remy said good-naturedly. "It's the accents, homme," he said, glancing at Piotr. "They can't resist us."

"Da, tell yourself that, comrade," Piotr said with a very deliberate wink at Kitty. The girl giggled but stopped when Gambit eyed her, looking hurt.

"Can't even make a joke," he groused.

Rogue glared at him. He sent her back a smoldering gaze that said she could bring it whenever she wanted.

"Be glad we're letting you leave here on your own two feet, Cajun," she growled.

"Rogue, Remy's pretty sure that he was on top o' you just a few moments ago. You had every chance to put those gorgeous hands on him, and you couldn't. You didn't do anyone any favors," Remy said.

Rogue looked ready to lay into him when Remy gallantly took her arm and motioned for Kitty and Piotr to follow him out of the warehouse.

"Chaton, your powers, please?" Remy asked softly. Kitty took hold of all three of the others and phased them through the wall of the building. It was still dark outside, but it was evident that dawn wasn't far off.

Kitty and Rogue were about to turn the corner of the building to find the X-Men when Remy pulled both of them back by their forearms, pressing them up against the wall.

"Swamp rat, what're you doing?" Rogue asked. Even Piotr looked confused and wondered if he should free the girls from Remy.

"Shh!" Remy said sternly, holding his finger to his lips. "Something ain't right."

"What do you mean?" Kitty asked, her voice sounding slightly frightened.

"Listen."

They listened. Nothing.

"We supposed to hear anything, Swamp Rat?" Rogue asked.

"Oh, not really. Just the sound of a feral, a weather witch, a teleporter, a telekinetic and an optic blaster fighting it out with a pyromaniac."

"Oh," Rogue said dumbly. When he worded it like that, it seemed that they should be hearing more than they were.

"We need to see what happened," Kitty said. Remy nodded, and the four mutants gingerly turned the corner. There, in front of the building, lay Ororo, Logan, Jean, Scott, Kurt and John. It was impossible to tell if they were alive or dead.

"Merde," Remy breathed. "All right, Remy's gonna count to three, and—"

Before he could finished, a white light engulfed the four mutants, and they knew no more.