Disclaimer: Characters belong to X-Men: Evolution with some small exceptions from X-men: The Animated Series and Wolverine and the X-men. I do not own any of these characters. The story title is credited to the amazing Ingrid Michaelson's song of the same name.
Chapter 1: A Night Like No Other
Senator Craig Hanson was in a good mood tonight. And why wouldn't he be? He was rich, well fed and about to close one of the biggest deals in his political career. Once he shook hands on it, he would be one step closer to running his own presidential campaign and those vulture reporters would hear all about his plan for social and economic reform. He didn't believe in the reforms, but it always paid to be a seemingly good-hearted politician. It made him feel almost noble. He stepped out of the 3 star Michelin restaurant into the chilly night. Buttoning his jacket over his ever-round belly, he turned around to face Kenneth George, a fellow politician who was once the senator's biggest opponent, but was now proving to be a useful ally.
Now Kenneth George was in a very good mood tonight. Everything was going according to plan.
Kenneth held his hand out. "We have a deal then, Mr. Senator. And as proof of my unwavering loyalty, a token of our partnership, I've had a special surprise placed in your limo. You will be most amused, I am sure."
Craig Hanson caught the twinkle in the other man's eyes and roared in laughter. "You know me more than I thought, Kenneth. Very well. Come to my office tomorrow morning and we'll have a real talk. The duck confit was very good and all, but I like to talk over business in more… private setting."
"Understood, Mr. Senator. Until tomorrow. You have a good night now," Kenneth said as he held the limo door open. The senator climbed in, his large frame making the back of the car bounce a little. He stepped back once he had shut the door, a rueful smile played on his middle-thirties features. Have a good night indeed.
The senator got into the limo to find a youngish girl sitting opposite him. She was clad in a schoolgirl outfit complete with white knee-length socks, but nothing a real student would wear to school. The short plaid skirt was bordering on indecent, he could see glimpses of her pink underwear. The white blouse accentuated all of her curves, but like her skirt, was much too short and left the lower half of her stomach bare. Through the dim interior lighting of the limousine, he could see her pale translucent skin and navel. Her auburn hair was pulled back by a deep red bow, though a few unruly strands hung about in curls. He noticed two white streaks. How unusual.
"Did you mother approve of those streaks then?"
The girl caught his eyes and smirked. "Oooh Mr. Senator. I've been a really bad girl. Do you want to punish me?"
The senator leaned forward and poured himself a drink from the bar on the right. The girl continued to look at him. He emptied the glass in one gulp and breathed a deep sigh. "I suppose I must. All bad girls must be punished. How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
Sixteen. Fourteen or fifteen would have been better but she would do for tonight. Kenneth did well in finding this girl for him. It wasn't always that the girls were so obliging, nor so pretty. "C'mere then. What's your name?"
The girl crept closer to him, smiling shyly. "Candice. That's what my momma calls me," She said as she reached a hand out to loosen his tie.
Craig Hanson licked his lips. Oh, that Southern accent. He wasn't quite sure whether it was put on but he found it incredibly arousing. He reached across to clasp her wrist. So young, so fragile.
"That's better." He said as he leaned in greedily for a kiss.
Rogue was mad. When her adopted mother briefed them about the mission, she didn't think she'd have to stoop down to such levels to complete it. The client's instructions had been simple enough. Kill Senator Craig Hanson. She would have gladly and readily broke into his office or house and stick a knife right through his heart, even carve it out for a nice bonus of course. But then said client - Kenneth George had to go creative and meddlesome, and even arranged the where when and how.
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDIN' ME!" She screamed when she saw the outfit laid out on one of the couches in the living room.
The other girls had just screamed in laughter. Wanda, her best friend in the world was at the moment clutching her side as she giggled. Laura, or alias X-23 was no different. She was beating on the leather covers of the seat, tears running down her cheeks. It was probably the funniest thing they had ever seen. No wait. Rogue in that outfit would definitely be funnier. Once they convinced her to wear it, that is.
"OVER MY BLOODY DEAD BODY!" Rogue said stubbornly.
Mystique walked into the room flanked by Dazzler and Lady Deathstrike. Upon seeing her adoptive mother and mentors, she stiffened her shoulders and walked up to them. "Really? Really?"
"Alison, Yuriko, girls, will you please excuse us?" The blue-skinned mutant said softly. The four women left the room, the younger two still sniggering as they passed the mother daughter pair.
Rogue was fuming, but a look from Mystique's sharp yellow eyes quelled her instantly. She slumped onto the couch and groaned.
"Momma. Do I really have to? I mean… there are easier ways to kill a person, ain't there? Can't you convince him…"
"It is the client's wish. And you know it, Anna Marie," Mystique said. Kenneth George had told them it was the only way to get to the senator, as he was surrounded by people 24/7. So he had arranged a little something in the limousine Hanson would be traveling in. "This assignment will bring us a lot of money –money we need- and recognition. Isn't that what we've always prided ourselves on? No job too dirty, no job turned down. We do what others won't."
Rogue knew she was right. It was what separated them from the other organizations and gangs around. They never said no to a client before. And they could do with the extra cash now that they were growing in members. The boarding house needed constant repairs, especially in the training room. A few more weapons wouldn't hurt as well. They weren't lucky like those X-men who had their fancy Institute and even fancier X-jet. She had to swallow her pride.
"Fine, I'll do it. Only because-"
"It is required of you. As a member of this team," Mystique said firmly. "Now is everything settled? The limo will be arriving at 10.30pm to pick the senator up. Kenneth George said you are to wait there. Now the driver is…"
"I know I know. He'll take care of the body. I just have to get in, kill the guy and get out."
"Good. It's almost dinnertime, I think. Why don't you go give Emma a hand?"
Rogue, a frown still etched onto her features, knew she was finally dismissed. Obviously she didn't impress her adopted mother by her temper tantrum. Raven Darkholme had raised her better than that. She raised her to be a killer.
The effect was instantaneous. The moment the plump man touched her hand, she could feel the energy beginning to be leeched from his being. With luck, he wouldn't be able to feel it yet, distracted as he was. And by the time he did, it would be too late.
As the senator leaned in, Candice, or rather, Rogue could smell his thick-scented cologne. The man didn't just spritz himself, it was as though he doused himself in a perfume bath. It was overpowering. She almost lost her concentration. It was hard enough trying to keep her mind on the job what with all the stupid play-acting and distracting costume. Now she had to work on steadying the absorption flow, so that she compartmentalize the memories and psyche entering her mind. His weak psyche probably couldn't overwhelm her mind, but Rogue didn't believe in taking extra risks while on the job.
"Oh no, Mr. Senator. It's too soon!" She pushed him away and pouted. "Mr. George said I was to entertain you first. Don't you want to play some games?"
Craig Hanson's eyes brightened. That Kenneth George. He'd be sure to thank the man properly tomorrow. "What did you have in mind, my pretty girl?"
Rogue adjusted herself on her seat so that she was facing him and cupped his face with both hands. She could feel the flow quicken with the extra skin contact. The senator pulled back suddenly. "I don't feel so good though," He said, rubbing his chest. "Maybe…"
She dropped her hands and peered at him with mock concern. She poured some of the golden liquid in the bottle of alcohol into his glass. "Maybe you should have another drink. It must have been all the food from the restaurant."
Hanson accepted the glass, and once again, drained it in a single shot. "Aah, that's better. Thank you, m'dear," He murmured and held her hand. "I'm afraid I'm not up to games tonight. My wife is expecting me soon."
He was right, there was no time for games. "Well then…" She leaned in, hands going around his neck, and suddenly, she yanked back Senator Hanson's head by his grey locks.
"WHAT THE- OW OWWW!" Hanson yowled, withdrawing his hands from her and jumping back into his seat. His eyes traveled to her face, searching for an answer.
"Oops, sorry. My hand slipped," Rogue said, her voice now void of all its false sugary-sweetness.
Hanson frowned, the wrinkles on his forehead deepened. "What are you playing at?"
"Just sendin' a message from your dear friend, Kenneth."
The senator back away some more, almost falling off his seat. Comprehension was dawning on his face. "No! Kenneth George is a friend!"
"Is he really?" Rogue mused as she summoned all her will and concentration, going for the kill.
Hanson's eyes darted around wildly, looking for a sign of a concealed weapon – a knife, a gun, something, anything. Suddenly his hand flew to his throat. "My drink!"
"Ahh, no. That would be a waste of such fine Scotch, wouldn't it?" Rogue grinned. It was time. The chauffeur would only give her fifteen minutes before he pulled over, eight minutes had already passed. She edged closer.
"I'll give you money! I'll double whatever that bastard offered you!"
It was Rogue's turn to frown. Disloyalty was something she hated above all. She would not betray her client's trust. She raised a hand and planted it firmly on the man's face. She felt him flinch under him. He squirmed and tried to push her away but her grip was firm and he'd be completely drained in a few moments. She could feel it flow through her palm, ebbing away from his body, empowering her. The feeling was phenomenal. It wasn't every day that you got to suck a person dry. She saw flashes from his memories, school days, graduation, black tie events, and many many young girls. Rogue's features hardened. If anything, Craig Hanson deserved to die. He screamed and cursed and pleaded as the minutes passed by. His voice got weaker and weaker, and then all was silent.
The limo pulled over just in time. Rogue opened the door and jumped out, breathing in the fresh air. Life was good. Once Senator Hanson's death had been verified and blamed on a bad heart due to a lifestyle of excessive eating and drinking, the money Mr. George promised them would be transferred into Mystique's account. The driver got out of the car and handed her a coat, which she wrapped around her gratefully. He had a strong urge to break into a fit of laughter, but wisely thought it wasn't the best of times. The girl had just killed a man in cold blood. "You should get out of here, I'll deal with the potato sack. Tell Mystique I'll be home in an hour. Shouldn't take too long…"
"Right, thanks Lance."
A/N: And that concludes Chapter 1 of BGB! I hope you liked it!
