The Odd Couple
Okay everyone who is waiting for updates can blame Wanda W for this one….and dulcesweet. You two put the plot bunny there – now we'll have to see where it chases our favorite villain.
That said, of course I don't own them…I wish I did, but I don't so I just make them jump through hoops.
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Chapter 2
He looked at the white haired weather witch in front of him. At least he'd changed his pants, so he was halfway presentable in his ripped leather shirt and duster with a pair of jeans he wore for working on the bike.
"And you expect me to believe this?"
"There's a number there to confirm it…it's up ta you." He growled. "The old man wants me here – and as long as he's payin me what he's payin me, I'll do what he wants."
"Should I ask what he's paying you?"
"Hell of a lot more than he's payin' you, Darlin…" He grinned at her, as she squirmed in discomfort. He knew they were going to hate this, and frankly he didn't care. Xavier was paying him a fortune to take care of things, and he didn't care if Storm believed him or not.
"I'll be right back." She said. "Don't move."
"Or what? I'll be a good boy and sit tight – for now." He chuckled as she skirted from the room. He could hear her dialing the phone in the entry hall.
"Moira, is this true?"
He could hear the other woman on the phone…damned frails always forgot how sharp his hearing was.
"Yes, he's not ready ta be moved, but its him."
"My Goddess…and Sabretooth?"
"Charles and he have reached some kind of agreement…I wasn't there for the discussion, but with your Wolverine out of pocket, Charles felt the school was just too defenseless without someone of their skills available."
"Charles is a fool. We are doing just fine without any help." Storm hissed.
"I can let you talk to Charles if you would like, Storm."
"Please, I'm still having a hard time believing this."
He heard her breathing catch as the old man got on the phone.
"Ororo, Victor is there to assist you, not oppose you. Please, I am concerned, at least until I can make it back there and see how you are doing. I have always said Victor could bring quite a bit to the team if we could convince him to join us."
"But paying him?"
"Well, he is a mercenary." Charles said pragmatically.
"What do you want me to do with him?"
"Someone needs to take up Logan's classes, while he's gone, and Victor can handle the security of the school better than anyone except Logan and perhaps Rogue."
"You want SABRETOOTH to teach self defense and History?"
"Why not?"
"You want him around the CHILDREN!?"
"Storm – you need the help, Rogue, Kitty, Bobby and Piotr can't handle it alone, they are barely older than the students. You NEED another authority figure, and frankly there are very few who command as much physically as Victor."
"I don't like it."
"I didn't ask."
"Very well. I'm assigning Rogue to keep an eye on him."
"That was going to be my suggestion."
"Good." He heard the phone click, and her footsteps as she walked reluctantly back to the office door. He heard the pause and imagined her squaring her shoulders to walk into the room. He leaned back in his chair and propped his feet onto the desk…there were few things he enjoyed more than irritating a frail.
"Do you MIND!" She snapped as she walked into the room. "Feet OFF the desk!" He grinned and slowly lowered his feet to the floor. She walked across the room, and her back was so stiff if he blew on her, her spine would snap.
She pushed a button on a console on the desk. "Rogue would you come to my office please."
His grin widened. Today was his lucky day. He smelled her before she even reached the door. She'd taken a shower, some kind of soap with lilacs and other pansy floral crap, but under it he could still smell her…her heat. He let the soft growl greet her as she opened the door.
"What's HE doin' here?" She said as she closed the door.
"He'll be staying with us, I want you to show him to a guest suite, and keep an eye on him." Storm's voice was flat.
"Sure ya don't want me ta put him in a detention cell?" She stepped into his view. She was wearing jeans and a sweater, her hair still damp, and pulled back in a simple pony tail.
"I'm sure. I have word, the Professor is alive, he's not able to come home yet, he has to undergo some therapy."
"How's that possible?"
"I don't know all the details, but until he gets home, or Logan gets back, Sabretooth will be joining us."
"Says WHO!?"
"The Professor." He could smell her frustration – and anger and it just amused him. The frail would get with the program, he'd see to that.
"Fine…a guest suite. Follow me, and don't get dirt on anything?" She snapped at him. He just grinned and stood up, towering over her. He followed her, appreciating the view as she climbed the stairs. She'd really filled out since the statue, and he had to admit, it was worth appreciating. She glanced back at him and glared, but he just grinned and leered.
He followed her down the hallway, and she stopped at a door on the left.
"Here's your room – keep it clean, and take a shower before you come down ta dinner." She snapped.
"You wanna scrub my back." He sneered at her.
"Over your dead body." She snapped back, as she walked away. "Dinner's in an hour, you better get ta work…"
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She couldn't believe he was here, damn it, and Ro put her in charge of keeping an eye on him. He was taking Logan's classes, too, and that pissed her off. Logan was coming back; he just had things to take care of first.
She slipped into her room, the shredded uniform from earlier was the only thing out of place. She quickly picked it up and stuffed it into the trash can. She'd have to explain to Ro how she ruined another one so soon. She was standing in front of the mirror when she heard a noise from the doorway.
"Rogue, I know you don't like this, I don't either, but…having him here, where we can analyze his mutation and technique isn't a bad thing." Storm said from the doorway.
"What are you thinkin' Ro?"
"Well – we could run him through Logan's Danger Room simulations, you monitor those for him, you know what Logan can do, and I'd like to see what Mr. Creed can do." Rogue felt the grin creep across her face. Watching him in Logan's simulations could be interesting – and would definitely give her poor imagination fuel for her nightmares…if you could call them that.
"I like the way you think." She grinned at Ro. "I'll set up one tomorrow afternoon – after he's had ta deal with the kids."
"Do you think they are in any danger?"
"No – I'll be watchin' but HE might just run for the hills…Tommy's in tomorrow's class."
Ro just laughed. "Well – in that case, if he survives his class tomorrow, set it up."
Rogue just grinned.
"By the way – order me a new uniform."
"Danger Room?"
"No – run in with our guest, I made him come in the front gate."
"I'll get it ordered…that's your third this month."
"I know…with Logan gone I'm takin more risks…Bobby gave me that lecture last night."
"Just be careful, invulnerability isn't immortality."
"Right."
Storm closed the door, as Rogue pulled the pony tail from her hair. She ran the brush through it, and then straightened up her room before dinner.
She was waiting outside his door, five minutes until dinner was served downstairs, and he still wasn't ready. She opened the door, not sure what to expect. What she saw was a disaster. In one hour he'd turned the room into a pig sty. Clothes were thrown everywhere and the only thing that looked neat was the pair of leather pants he was patching with scraps of leather from the bag…at least he'd taken a shower, or she thought he had. His hair was wet.
"I don't even want to know what hurricane hit – but dinner's ready." She said.
"Oh – lost track of time. I'll get it cleaned up later." He said quietly.
"Whatever. Here's your schedule for tomorrow." She handed him a slip of paper as he closed the door behind him.
"Self Defense – ninth and tenth, what's that?"
"Freshmen and Sophomores, basic self defense class." She said.
"Two hours?"
"Trust me you'll need it."
"History from 1860…?"
"That's with the graduating seniors, it's a college prep class…Logan was teachin it because he remembers a lot of it, now that his memories are back."
"Shouldn't be hard…I'm older than he is."
"Lots of fun then." She said.
"Danger Room?" He followed her down the stairs, still reading the schedule.
"Yeah – we need ta evaluate you – see where you'll fit in the team."
"YOU need to evaluate ME!" He snarled.
"You got it."
"Whatever."
Total silence met them as they walked into the dining room. Ro had evidently gotten the word out, because the older students didn't surge to their feet in defense. He followed her, walking like he owned the place, but it was his hand casually on her waist that made her turn and punch him right in the face.
"Hands to yourself, Bub." She snapped.
"And I thought the Runt was gone." He said as he picked himself up off the floor. The entire dining room burst out laughing at him on his ass…and his comment. It was a little much, but at least everyone started talking.
Rogue just glared at him – and took her place at the table between Pete and Bobby. Kitty was sitting across from Pete, and poor Bobby was in the middle of another breakup with Angelica.
"Did you have to do that, he's supposed to be one of us now." Bobby hissed.
"That don't mean he's got touchin' privileges…" She snapped back.
"Not someone I'd want pissed at me…" Bobby whispered.
"Ain't pissed – I like a challenge." Creed leered at her from across the table where he'd sat down after filling his plate. The man actually had table manners and, she thanked God for small favors, he actually used them.
After dinner he disappeared back upstairs, and Rogue took the elevator down to the Danger Room to blow off some steam before bed.
She was in the middle of kicking his ass – at least simulated, when Kitty slipped in.
"Don't do that…it's dangerous" Rogue said as she dropped to the ground. "Computer end simulation."
"Just wanted to see what was going on at dinner – challenge?"
"I have no idea – the man's got an ego as big as he is." Rogue said.
"Just be careful – you know his reputation."
"He gives me too much hell – I'll drain his ass."
"You want HIM up THERE!?" Kitty said pointing Rogue's forehead.
"No – but I don't want him takin' free gropes either."
The two of them laughed and left the danger room. "Just promise me you'll be careful, Ro assigned you as his partner for missions. I don't want him stabbing you in the back."
"I'll watch my back – and you keep an eye on it too…just in case." They walked into the women's dressing room.
"I will – I don't trust him."
"Me either."
After she cleaned up, Rogue went upstairs; she had papers to grade before she went to bed. The house was quiet by the time she slipped between the sheets. She yawned and closed her eyes, knowing she'd have interesting dreams tonight.
