Chapter Two: Hunter
Another chapter posted!
One thing to note: I'm taking liberties with the timelines here.
Also, all the characters except for Det. Walsh are Marvel's. The story is completely mine.
And feedback---please, please, please!
P
The following day found many of the students understandably distracted. Some found sleeping difficult and either could not do so in the first place or experienced various nightmares. Others responded to the news from the teaching staff by being hypervigilant. Then there were the students who took the information in stride, acknowledging there was a danger but not allowing that to interfere with their everyday activities.
P
The girl known as Rogue wished she belonged in the latter group, not caring. However, she found herself preoccupied with thoughts of her own safety and of someone possibly targeting her. She shivered involuntarily as she clutched her geometry books to her chest, staring despondingly down at the linoleum floor and walking to her locker in the sophomore area. Somehow, mulling over the significance of special triangles did not seem so important.
P
I As if I didn't have enough issues to deal with, /I she thought, chewing on her purple-painted lower lip. I In addition to Magneto, Mystique and the Brotherhood, I have to watch my back for some psycho who may or may not be stalking teenage mutants. Fabulous. /I Rolling her eyes, she spun the combination to her lock and quickly opened her locker. It was one of those times where being an adolescent and a mutant, in her words, "reeked".
P
Rogue shoved her books into her locker. Then she peered into magnetic mirror she had put up on the inside door, checking her reflection. Hurriedly, she ran gloved fingertips through her chin-length, brown hair. Streaks of white framed her pale, made-up features. She noticed dark circles underneath her emerald-green eyes, which had not been painted on. Scowling, she rummaged the top shelf of her locker for her make-up bag. She pulled out her concealer and pressed powder to cover up the effects of not sleeping well the night before.
P
"Do you have some extra?" Her roommate, Kitty, inquired. The girl's usually chirpy voice sounded considerably flat. She, too, experienced the same problems sleeping as Rogue did.
P
Rogue dabbed some concealer under her eyes. "Not like it's doin' any good," she sighed. "Ah still look like a train wreck. Mah eyes look really awful."
P
Kitty leaned against the locker next to Rogue's. "Not only do we have this curfew, but we can't really tell anyone else about what's going on. It's so.. I can't think of the word." I Yikes, not sleeping also zaps my vocabulary. /I This did not prove to be a good thing since she was going to be taking a vocabulary quiz in her English class next period.
P
"Isolating?" Rogue supplied, powdering her face. She tossed the compact into the make-up bag. Then she began to search for her biology book and binder. She almost hated that class as much as geometry. Dissecting animals and being reminded of one's own mortality was not the best or most educational way to spend her hour. There was also the fact that she had Bobby Drake as her lab partner. Last week, they were working with a fetal pig and Bobby decided to eat his ham sandwich during the dissection. Rogue actually contemplated pulling off a glove and teaching him a lesson.
P
"Yeah," Kitty agreed. She nodded vigorously, her brown ponytail swinging. "Yeah, isolating. I just hope that it stops and whoever did gets caught. I mean, this curfew is kind of early, don't you think? How am I supposed to go the library to do research for school?"
P
"Or go out with Lance to the mall?" Rogue mocked, pulling out her biology textbook.
P
Kitty pouted slightly, blushing. "I wasn't going to say that."
P
"Sure, ya weren't." A hint of smile crossed the other girl's pale face. For hours, she would have to listen to Kitty go on and on with Lance on the telephone, planning dates to the movies and walking around the mall together. It was so sickeningly sweet; Rogue was often tempted to brush her own teeth.
P
Kitty shrugged. "The mall isn't everything. He can still walk me home." Her blue eyes twinkled as she spoke.
P
Her roommate rolled her eyes in teasing disdain. "What a romance," she deadpanned.
P
"Speaking of romance, check it out.." Kitty began, her eyes flicking over to the other side of the hallway.
P
Rogue's emerald-green eyes followed her friend's gaze. Standing outside of the physics lab was the statuesque Jean Grey. The attractive redhead was dressed impeccably as usual in a green-and-black kilt, a white, turtleneck cable sweater, and a pair of black, knee-high boots. Complementing her ensemble was her equally comely boyfriend, senior Duncan Matthews, a tall, blond, blue-eyed, varsity athlete. The two were draped all over each other, oblivious to the bustle of the other students around them. Duncan was whispering something into Jean's delicate ear, grinning. He received a playful slap on the shoulder and a burst of giggles from Jean.
P
Rogue smirked. I Oh, man. They should just go and get a room, and leave the rest of us alone. /I
P
As she was about to pull out her binder for biology class, she noticed another familiar figure nearby. He was a tall, lean young man with a nice head of thick, clean hair. His preppy-inspired dress---navy pea coat, gray Fair Isle sweater, and brown corduroy trousers---accentuated his chiseled, all-American features. The only thing that made the person stand out were the ruby-quartz, wraparound sunglasses he wore inside. Rogue softened when she recognized the person as Scott Summers. In spite of the fact she could not see his eyes, she knew what he was looking at. Instantly, she empathized with his tense expression.
P
"Hi, Scott!" Kitty called out, waving over to the senior.
P
Startled, he jumped and nervously adjusted his sunglasses---a habit he engaged in when he was nervous. Meanwhile, Jean appeared to have jerked away from Duncan's embrace slightly to peer over at Kitty and Rogue, and then at Scott. Not meeting the redhead's stare, Scott briskly made his way over to the two sophomores. Rogue could feel her palms begin to sweat inside her gloves as he approached closer.
P
"Hey, how's it going?" Scott greeted.
P
"OK," Rogue replied, lashes lowering shyly. She willed herself not to babble as she often did when she was around him.
P
Kitty nodded, echoing her friend's sentiment. "What about you, Scott?"
P
He tugged at the strap of his backpack. "Pretty uneventful day. I think we're pretty safe here."
P
Rogue crossed her arms, clutching her books. "Yeah, who would have thought school was the place to be?" she asked dryly.
P
Scott laughed, which seemed to melt Rogue's insides. "Yeah."
P
The three of them were in the midst of talking about midterms that were creeping up when Evan and Kurt approached them. While Evan was laughing and holding his sides, Kurt was scowling. He kept opening his mouth only to receive warning looks from Evan. Then he approached Scott with a slip of paper he had written a message on.
P
Scott's brows immediately furrowed. "'Say my name,'" he read aloud, folding the piece of notebook paper. "Why would I want to do that?"
P
"'Cause I'm jinxed!" Kurt growled.
P
Scott socked him in the arm. Evan nearly dropped his books since he was laughing so hard. Kitty merely shook her head, not quite believing she was actually friends with such immature buffoons. She seemed especially disappointed with Scott, who seemed to want to project an image of the responsible adult.
P
Kurt howled, rubbing his upper arm. "Ow! What was that for?"
P
"You talked while you were jinxed, so I get to hit you." Scott grinned.
P
Kurt tried to give him the finger and stomped off.
P
Kitty stared after him and turned to the others. "We're going to catch up with him during study hall," she told them, firmly grabbing Evan's arm and giving him a scolding look. "He's our ride home." The two of them quickly walked after Kurt's retreating back.
P
Scott looked amused as he watched them leave. "I can always rely on your brother to lighten things up," he said to Rogue. Then he looked down at her, still smiling.
P
Her mouth formed a nervous, crooked grin. "That's him." She almost winced at the sound of the cracking in her voice. Desperately, she wished for some instant grace at that moment. She groaned inwardly when she realized she was not going to turn into Jean Grey in the next couple of minutes.
P
"So where are you headed off to this period?" Scott asked, beginning to walk from her locker. He motioned for her to join him. Together, they began to saunter down the hall.
P
"Biology."
P
"Sounds fun. Are you Bobby's lab partner?"
P
"Yeah."
P
"I'm sorry."
P
"Me, too. Um, what about you? Where are you going?"
P
"AP History. We're supposed to be covering the Civil War. Paul and I are going to present our battlefield project this afternoon."
P
"Sounds fun."
P
Scott laughed, realizing she had used the sentiment he used earlier. "Yeah." Then they stopped in front of his classroom, which was two doors from the biology lab. "Well, this is me. Have fun in class."
P
Rogue nodded shyly. "You, too."
P
Before Scott opened the door to enter the classroom, he turned to face her again. "Listen, what are you doing to get home?"
P
Her eyes widened. She had not thought about that. Besides the talk last night, there was no organized effort to have the students go home in groups. Many of them often walked or carpooled together before the teaching staff broke the news. Always the loner, Rogue usually preferred to walk home from Bayville High. There was a nice route she took on nice days that took her much longer to reach the mansion, but was more scenic. It allowed her some solitude and time with her thoughts before returning to the craziness of the Institute.
P
Finally, she answered, "Ah was gonna walk home after school like always."
P
Scott's face was immediately filled with concern. Then he shook his head, a lock of brown hair flopping over a perfectly arched brow. "Scratch that plan," he told her. "How about you meet me at my locker after school? I can give you a ride back to the mansion. And before you say no, just say yes for me. I'd feel better if we rode home together. That way, I'd know you were safe."
P
She stared at him. It took all she had to keep from her mouth gaping open. A faint blush stained her pale cheeks. "Uh.. Sure. Ah can meet ya."
P
"Good." Scott gave her a friendly wave before heading into the classroom.
P
Rogue watched the door swing close. Fighting the urge to smile broadly, she began to walk to the biology lab. While it was by no means a romantic invitation, the interaction went beyond the usual "See you in the Danger Room" or "Someone's in trouble---we gotta head to the Blackbird". Sure, he was being nice and big brotherly by asking her to ride home with him. However, she could not help but some euphoria at that moment.
P
She noticed that one of her sneakers was untied. Kneeling down to tie it, she sensed she was being stared at. She turned her head to see Jean at the water fountain with a strange expression on her face. Rogue could not quite put her finger on what was there. It seemed to be a mixture of things---interest, surprise, and confusion. Quickly, Jean immediately masked the ambivalent look on her face with a bright smile. The redhead waved at Rogue and then turned on her heel to walk in the other direction.
P
I Weird, /I Rogue observed, rising to her feet. She frowned. Despite Jean being gone, she could still feel someone's eyes on her. Shivering slightly, the girl pulled open the door to the biology lab and slipped inside. Soon, she lost herself in the lecture of the day as well as Bobby's babbling about wanting to give their fetal pig a sex change.
P
Outside of Bayville High, there was a car parked in front of the school. Inside, a pair of eyes narrowed. They had seen many interesting things that day. I Very interesting, indeed. Just wait. /I
Another chapter posted!
One thing to note: I'm taking liberties with the timelines here.
Also, all the characters except for Det. Walsh are Marvel's. The story is completely mine.
And feedback---please, please, please!
P
The following day found many of the students understandably distracted. Some found sleeping difficult and either could not do so in the first place or experienced various nightmares. Others responded to the news from the teaching staff by being hypervigilant. Then there were the students who took the information in stride, acknowledging there was a danger but not allowing that to interfere with their everyday activities.
P
The girl known as Rogue wished she belonged in the latter group, not caring. However, she found herself preoccupied with thoughts of her own safety and of someone possibly targeting her. She shivered involuntarily as she clutched her geometry books to her chest, staring despondingly down at the linoleum floor and walking to her locker in the sophomore area. Somehow, mulling over the significance of special triangles did not seem so important.
P
I As if I didn't have enough issues to deal with, /I she thought, chewing on her purple-painted lower lip. I In addition to Magneto, Mystique and the Brotherhood, I have to watch my back for some psycho who may or may not be stalking teenage mutants. Fabulous. /I Rolling her eyes, she spun the combination to her lock and quickly opened her locker. It was one of those times where being an adolescent and a mutant, in her words, "reeked".
P
Rogue shoved her books into her locker. Then she peered into magnetic mirror she had put up on the inside door, checking her reflection. Hurriedly, she ran gloved fingertips through her chin-length, brown hair. Streaks of white framed her pale, made-up features. She noticed dark circles underneath her emerald-green eyes, which had not been painted on. Scowling, she rummaged the top shelf of her locker for her make-up bag. She pulled out her concealer and pressed powder to cover up the effects of not sleeping well the night before.
P
"Do you have some extra?" Her roommate, Kitty, inquired. The girl's usually chirpy voice sounded considerably flat. She, too, experienced the same problems sleeping as Rogue did.
P
Rogue dabbed some concealer under her eyes. "Not like it's doin' any good," she sighed. "Ah still look like a train wreck. Mah eyes look really awful."
P
Kitty leaned against the locker next to Rogue's. "Not only do we have this curfew, but we can't really tell anyone else about what's going on. It's so.. I can't think of the word." I Yikes, not sleeping also zaps my vocabulary. /I This did not prove to be a good thing since she was going to be taking a vocabulary quiz in her English class next period.
P
"Isolating?" Rogue supplied, powdering her face. She tossed the compact into the make-up bag. Then she began to search for her biology book and binder. She almost hated that class as much as geometry. Dissecting animals and being reminded of one's own mortality was not the best or most educational way to spend her hour. There was also the fact that she had Bobby Drake as her lab partner. Last week, they were working with a fetal pig and Bobby decided to eat his ham sandwich during the dissection. Rogue actually contemplated pulling off a glove and teaching him a lesson.
P
"Yeah," Kitty agreed. She nodded vigorously, her brown ponytail swinging. "Yeah, isolating. I just hope that it stops and whoever did gets caught. I mean, this curfew is kind of early, don't you think? How am I supposed to go the library to do research for school?"
P
"Or go out with Lance to the mall?" Rogue mocked, pulling out her biology textbook.
P
Kitty pouted slightly, blushing. "I wasn't going to say that."
P
"Sure, ya weren't." A hint of smile crossed the other girl's pale face. For hours, she would have to listen to Kitty go on and on with Lance on the telephone, planning dates to the movies and walking around the mall together. It was so sickeningly sweet; Rogue was often tempted to brush her own teeth.
P
Kitty shrugged. "The mall isn't everything. He can still walk me home." Her blue eyes twinkled as she spoke.
P
Her roommate rolled her eyes in teasing disdain. "What a romance," she deadpanned.
P
"Speaking of romance, check it out.." Kitty began, her eyes flicking over to the other side of the hallway.
P
Rogue's emerald-green eyes followed her friend's gaze. Standing outside of the physics lab was the statuesque Jean Grey. The attractive redhead was dressed impeccably as usual in a green-and-black kilt, a white, turtleneck cable sweater, and a pair of black, knee-high boots. Complementing her ensemble was her equally comely boyfriend, senior Duncan Matthews, a tall, blond, blue-eyed, varsity athlete. The two were draped all over each other, oblivious to the bustle of the other students around them. Duncan was whispering something into Jean's delicate ear, grinning. He received a playful slap on the shoulder and a burst of giggles from Jean.
P
Rogue smirked. I Oh, man. They should just go and get a room, and leave the rest of us alone. /I
P
As she was about to pull out her binder for biology class, she noticed another familiar figure nearby. He was a tall, lean young man with a nice head of thick, clean hair. His preppy-inspired dress---navy pea coat, gray Fair Isle sweater, and brown corduroy trousers---accentuated his chiseled, all-American features. The only thing that made the person stand out were the ruby-quartz, wraparound sunglasses he wore inside. Rogue softened when she recognized the person as Scott Summers. In spite of the fact she could not see his eyes, she knew what he was looking at. Instantly, she empathized with his tense expression.
P
"Hi, Scott!" Kitty called out, waving over to the senior.
P
Startled, he jumped and nervously adjusted his sunglasses---a habit he engaged in when he was nervous. Meanwhile, Jean appeared to have jerked away from Duncan's embrace slightly to peer over at Kitty and Rogue, and then at Scott. Not meeting the redhead's stare, Scott briskly made his way over to the two sophomores. Rogue could feel her palms begin to sweat inside her gloves as he approached closer.
P
"Hey, how's it going?" Scott greeted.
P
"OK," Rogue replied, lashes lowering shyly. She willed herself not to babble as she often did when she was around him.
P
Kitty nodded, echoing her friend's sentiment. "What about you, Scott?"
P
He tugged at the strap of his backpack. "Pretty uneventful day. I think we're pretty safe here."
P
Rogue crossed her arms, clutching her books. "Yeah, who would have thought school was the place to be?" she asked dryly.
P
Scott laughed, which seemed to melt Rogue's insides. "Yeah."
P
The three of them were in the midst of talking about midterms that were creeping up when Evan and Kurt approached them. While Evan was laughing and holding his sides, Kurt was scowling. He kept opening his mouth only to receive warning looks from Evan. Then he approached Scott with a slip of paper he had written a message on.
P
Scott's brows immediately furrowed. "'Say my name,'" he read aloud, folding the piece of notebook paper. "Why would I want to do that?"
P
"'Cause I'm jinxed!" Kurt growled.
P
Scott socked him in the arm. Evan nearly dropped his books since he was laughing so hard. Kitty merely shook her head, not quite believing she was actually friends with such immature buffoons. She seemed especially disappointed with Scott, who seemed to want to project an image of the responsible adult.
P
Kurt howled, rubbing his upper arm. "Ow! What was that for?"
P
"You talked while you were jinxed, so I get to hit you." Scott grinned.
P
Kurt tried to give him the finger and stomped off.
P
Kitty stared after him and turned to the others. "We're going to catch up with him during study hall," she told them, firmly grabbing Evan's arm and giving him a scolding look. "He's our ride home." The two of them quickly walked after Kurt's retreating back.
P
Scott looked amused as he watched them leave. "I can always rely on your brother to lighten things up," he said to Rogue. Then he looked down at her, still smiling.
P
Her mouth formed a nervous, crooked grin. "That's him." She almost winced at the sound of the cracking in her voice. Desperately, she wished for some instant grace at that moment. She groaned inwardly when she realized she was not going to turn into Jean Grey in the next couple of minutes.
P
"So where are you headed off to this period?" Scott asked, beginning to walk from her locker. He motioned for her to join him. Together, they began to saunter down the hall.
P
"Biology."
P
"Sounds fun. Are you Bobby's lab partner?"
P
"Yeah."
P
"I'm sorry."
P
"Me, too. Um, what about you? Where are you going?"
P
"AP History. We're supposed to be covering the Civil War. Paul and I are going to present our battlefield project this afternoon."
P
"Sounds fun."
P
Scott laughed, realizing she had used the sentiment he used earlier. "Yeah." Then they stopped in front of his classroom, which was two doors from the biology lab. "Well, this is me. Have fun in class."
P
Rogue nodded shyly. "You, too."
P
Before Scott opened the door to enter the classroom, he turned to face her again. "Listen, what are you doing to get home?"
P
Her eyes widened. She had not thought about that. Besides the talk last night, there was no organized effort to have the students go home in groups. Many of them often walked or carpooled together before the teaching staff broke the news. Always the loner, Rogue usually preferred to walk home from Bayville High. There was a nice route she took on nice days that took her much longer to reach the mansion, but was more scenic. It allowed her some solitude and time with her thoughts before returning to the craziness of the Institute.
P
Finally, she answered, "Ah was gonna walk home after school like always."
P
Scott's face was immediately filled with concern. Then he shook his head, a lock of brown hair flopping over a perfectly arched brow. "Scratch that plan," he told her. "How about you meet me at my locker after school? I can give you a ride back to the mansion. And before you say no, just say yes for me. I'd feel better if we rode home together. That way, I'd know you were safe."
P
She stared at him. It took all she had to keep from her mouth gaping open. A faint blush stained her pale cheeks. "Uh.. Sure. Ah can meet ya."
P
"Good." Scott gave her a friendly wave before heading into the classroom.
P
Rogue watched the door swing close. Fighting the urge to smile broadly, she began to walk to the biology lab. While it was by no means a romantic invitation, the interaction went beyond the usual "See you in the Danger Room" or "Someone's in trouble---we gotta head to the Blackbird". Sure, he was being nice and big brotherly by asking her to ride home with him. However, she could not help but some euphoria at that moment.
P
She noticed that one of her sneakers was untied. Kneeling down to tie it, she sensed she was being stared at. She turned her head to see Jean at the water fountain with a strange expression on her face. Rogue could not quite put her finger on what was there. It seemed to be a mixture of things---interest, surprise, and confusion. Quickly, Jean immediately masked the ambivalent look on her face with a bright smile. The redhead waved at Rogue and then turned on her heel to walk in the other direction.
P
I Weird, /I Rogue observed, rising to her feet. She frowned. Despite Jean being gone, she could still feel someone's eyes on her. Shivering slightly, the girl pulled open the door to the biology lab and slipped inside. Soon, she lost herself in the lecture of the day as well as Bobby's babbling about wanting to give their fetal pig a sex change.
P
Outside of Bayville High, there was a car parked in front of the school. Inside, a pair of eyes narrowed. They had seen many interesting things that day. I Very interesting, indeed. Just wait. /I
