One week earlier.
The team was gathered apprehensively around Professor Xavier's comatose body. The ghostly image of their leader and mentor had a grave expression on his face, made worse only by his astral projected body. It did not bode well for the team at all.
"I'm afraid I have some challenging news," the Professor's voice rang out clearly, surrounding the room for everyone to hear. "It appears we will have a problem on our hands in the near future if two crime Guilds in New Orleans unite forces."
"Let me guess, the Thieves Guild is one of them," Logan growled, remembering his unpleasant run in with a member of that particular Guild not so long ago.
"I'm sorry to say yes," the Professor answered solemnly. "Unfortunately, I have found only one peaceful resolution to the situation at hand."
"I'd rather have a bloody knuckle fight," Logan muttered.
The Professor smiled. "I'm sure you would, old friend, but a peaceful resolution is always a better option, especially when we can secure certain resources for our side."
"Resources like what, Charles?" Hank asked.
"The Thieves Guild is notorious in reputation for its ability to acquire absolutely any kind of information worldwide. It would be of great benefit to have access to those resources."
"And what would we have to give in exchange, Chuck?" Logan asked warily, already suspecting there was a catch.
"That would be the challenging part." The projection sighed grievously. "In order to officially secure their resources we would need to unite, for lack of a better term, with the Thieves Guild. In order to do that one would have to bind themselves in marriage with a member."
"Honestly, Chuck. I think a gloves off, no holds barred fight is the better option," Logan answered.
"Normally I would agree, but this solution grants us resources as well as keeps the Thieves from uniting with the Guild of Assassins, thus preventing a disastrous outcome. It will also safely secure the alliance of our team's final member."
"You're not trying to tell us that we actually need one of those backstabbing, conniving thieves, are you?"
"I'm afraid so." The Professor nodded. "Fortunately, it just so happens that our problems with the Guild and acquiring our latest addition can be done in one move. It turns out the mutant we need is actually the youngest son of Jean-Luc LeBeau, the current Patriarch of the Thieves."
"That certainly is good news," Hank added. "We'd have access to more information with a 'Prince of Thieves' rather than a 'Pauper of Thieves'."
"Fate has given us an opportunity because the youngest son, Remy, has turned twenty-one, and is by 'law of the Guild' ready for marriage. Unfortunately, the only Guild with a suitable marriage match is the Assassins Guild—a Bella Donna Boudreaux, I believe. That is unless Miss Pryde is willing to make a sacrifice for the team," the Professor stated, slowly turning his attention towards Kitty along with everyone else.
Kitty went slightly pale. "Why me?" she answered weakly without any hint of her usual spunk.
"Yeah? Why her?" Bobby interrupted in a panic.
Logan answered for them, "Because, Pryde has the most appealing mutation to a Guild of Thieves. Think long and hard about that one."
"If Jean-Luc was presented a girl with the ability to walk through walls the deal would be instantly sealed," Hank added practically. "The Assassins Guild would not stand a chance."
"No one is saying you have to do this, Kitty," Logan said, softly patting the girl on the shoulders.
She straightened up with fierce resolve. "No. If we need this guy on our side and we need a connection with the Thieves in order to keep mutants safe from the MRD, well, I'm in. It's not exactly what I signed up for, but hey! I've wanted to marry a prince since I was five." Kitty smiled faintly.
"Are you sure about this?" Bobby asked, worried. "I mean, you'd be married to a complete stranger forever."
"Well, he wouldn't be a stranger forever, perhaps the first week or two," Kitty jested lightly.
"Are you absolutely certain you'll do this, Kitty?" the Professor asked with a dead calm.
Kitty took a deep, shaky breath. "Yes."
"Logan, we will need to send a letter to Jean-Luc at once. The X-men being a vigilante group qualifies us for admittance to present your 'daughter' Kitty to the Guild," the Professor began, already making the trip's arrangements. "I would like Rogue and Cyclops to accompany you as the rest of your 'family' and to play bodyguard. Rogue being your other 'daughter' and Cyclops as your 'son'. You will leave for New Orleans as soon as you hear back from Jean-Luc. Meeting adjourned my X-men."
"Why can't I go?" Bobby asked urgently. "I'm a heck of a lot younger than Scott and could pass off the whole 'son' thing a lot better."
"I'm afraid, Bobby, that you would jeopardize the mission," the Professor answered softly.
"But—"
"I'm sorry, Bobby. There is no more discussing it."
The image of Xavier faded away, and the group turned to Logan for guidance.
"I don't like it much either, guys, but Kitty is willing to give this a try, so let's all make the best of this and support her any way we can."
x
A day later, a reply came from Jean-Luc. It was no surprise that the Thieves were more than honoured to hold court for such an unusual and rare beauty like Logan's 'daughter', Kitty. Jean-Luc was more than happy to allow Logan to present Kitty to his youngest son. Kitty tried her best to keep a positive outlook on the whole scenario, but marrying a complete stranger was practically medieval in this day and age.
Rogue had noticed Kitty acting happier than usual, with smile lines straining across her nervous face. It had been an awful thing to ask Kitty to do, and deep down Rogue resented the Professor for even asking. Kitty wasn't an object, and no one on the team was happy about the plan to trade her freedom for the sake of bringing another mutant on the team and stopping the Guilds from uniting. Rogue felt awful for Bobby, who had maintained an anxious school boy crush on Kitty for some time now. She suspected that Kitty reciprocated the feeling and now she was being whisked off to marriage, never getting to see if there was something there with Bobby.
Rogue felt for the young couple. She knew what it was like not to get to touch—even if in her case it was everyone. Once Kitty was married, it was hands off for Bobby. She understood why the Professor objected to Bobby coming along to New Orleans. He would oppose the marriage and cause trouble whether he meant to or not.
The plane was loaded, and Rogue climbed on board with Kitty and Scott, following Logan. Within hours they would be in New Orleans, ready to address the Thieves Guild and prevent Xavier's horrible future... with nothing stopping Kitty from hers.
Rogue had heard Logan's opinion of the Thieves Guild numerous times over. He had had one bad run in with a mutant named Gambit, who belonged to the Guild. According to Logan, all of them were untrustworthy, cheaty, smarmy, shifty, dirty, double crossing low lifes who'd sell a person out for a bag of magic beans if they could.
Rogue had learnt quickly that there was no honour among thieves and whatever one could do to get ahead, they'd do it. Which meant she and Cyke would have to be on close guard, making sure Kitty didn't get tricked into anything that would compromise her credit and honour while in New Orleans. There was a strict code the Guild kept concerning propriety; this was completely ironic, considering they were all a bunch of amoral scoundrels.
It was a trip that Rogue was not looking forward to. There were the obvious reasons—Kitty's impending marriage being one, but then there were the not-so-obvious, private reasons. It had been a long time since she'd been anywhere near her home state, and even being right next door made her uncomfortable. Mississippi held nothing but sorrow for her, and she had vowed to never set foot in that direction again.
She spent the short flight mostly reassuring Kitty that this would all work out for the best and that who knew? Maybe the youngest LeBeau was really good looking with a sweet personality to match, and he'd fall for Kitty as fast as she would fall for him. It was a fairytale version of life Rogue entertained her younger friend with, and even Logan and Cyclops didn't have the heart to point out the improbability of things actually happening that way.
The grim reality was in the back of everyone's minds anyway, so it didn't matter.
The Blackbird landed on a secluded runway reserved for the Thieves. Rogue was surprised by the grandeur and hospitality they were immediately greeted with when they stepped off of the plane. They were met by several gentlemen, none being actual LeBeaus, but all under their service. They were immediately led to a grand dining hall for something to eat as their bags were neatly delivered to separate rooms. It was made very clear that Kitty's room be sandwiched between Logan and Rogue's rooms, while Cyclops' was directly across.
"Your daughter is perfectly safe here, Monsieur Logan," one of the men reassured in a soothing tone.
"Yeah, 'cause our rooms surround hers," Logan growled, making the man step back a few steps.
"Oui, of course." The man bowed. "You may prepare your daughter for her presentation at six o'clock this evening. That will give the young Master and his father plenty of time to review their options."
"Thanks," Logan grumbled as politely as he could.
Rogue's lip curled up slightly. This was a medieval meat market parade, and she hated the idea of going along with this whole plan even more after hearing their host's rendition of the evening.
She hadn't had time to dwell on it, at that moment, the grand dining hall doors swept open and in came the competition.