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Disclaimer: Jelsi4Life nor I own the X-Men or Marvel.
Rogue is awakened the next morning by Kitty shaking her. "C'mon Rogue, we're gonna be late for breakfast!"
A few unintelligible words are grumbled, then Rogue's head peeks out from under the covers. "I hate mornins'." She growls as she slowly gets out of bed and grabs her clothes and a towel. Several minutes later, she emerges from the bathroom, slightly more awake. "'Scuse me, Kitty is it?" At the girl's nod, she continues. "I'm not much of a mornin' person, as ya can tell from a short while ago." She smiles, slightly self-conscious as Kitty giggles.
"So that's what that was. Don't worry. Since you're ready, we should be able to find some coffee."
"Oh good. Ya really don' wanna be around me when I don' have my coffee. It ain' pretty."
"Well, we have Danger Room sessions most mornings before breakfast, but Mr. Summers let me off today so I could help you out on your first day of classes. He'll be wanting to assess your abilities in there, probably tomorrow."
"Ya mean the guy with that visor thing?"
"Yeah, that's Mr. Summers. He's kinda uptight, but he's okay. Now Mrs. Summers is pretty cool. She's a telepath and a doctor."
"Oh yeah, she was the one takin' care of Logan. I like her."
"She's the one that tries to get him to take the stick out of his rear and live a little." Kitty and Rogue giggle as Kitty takes her arm and escorts her downstairs.
"So, he makes ya work before ya can even eat?" Rogue asks incredulously.
"Unfortunately, yes. Otherwise, by the time our food has settled, it would be too late for most of us with classes and stuff."
"I suppose you're right, but doin' anythin' without coffee first? Ugh!" Rogue wrinkles her nose with displeasure.
In the kitchen, they take their seats as Professor enters. "Everyone, may I have your attention, please?" He raises his voice above the morning din. "Thank you. Immediately after breakfast, you are all to meet in my office. We will have two new students joining us then."
Tracy raises her hand. "Are any of them guys?" She questions hopefully, as the other students laugh.
"Yes, Tracy. One of them is." He informs her, causing her to silently cheer.
Rogue leans over to Kitty. "Why is everyone laughin'?"
"She always asks that when we have new students. She asked that about you when Professor announced that you would be joining us."
"Well, I wasn' when I looked in the mirror this mornin'." Rogue quips, making Kitty laugh.
"No, I would say not. Otherwise, you're sleeping in the wrong room." Kitty jokes back.
John and Bobby take the seats across from them. "Sweet, we have another new girl coming!" John crows delightedly. Bobby gives him a strange look and glances across the table at Rogue. "Don't mind him. I was going to ask you if you found a partner for the Chemistry assignment."
"Oh, no. I'm still tryin' ta get a feel for the place."
"Well...would you like to be my partner? I've already got a good idea for a project."
"Um...okay. Sounds like fun."
"Great. I'll meet you this afternoon in the courtyard." Bobby smiles, then returns to his food. Conversation continues, but Rogue notices that Kitty isn't as animated as she was before. "Ya okay, Kitty?" She asks her quietly.
"Oh...yeah, I'm fine." Kitty answers too quickly, waving off Rogue's concern. Rogue is unconvinced, but lets it slide.
They finish breakfast and go to Professor's office, where he is already behind his desk with two students. The foursome are the first to arrive. As Rogue takes a seat, she glances up and her eyes lock with those of the young man leaning against the desk. "He has to have the most gorgeous eyes I 've ever seen." Rogue thinks to herself, gazing into the red-on-black depths. She doesn't realize she is staring until he smirks.
"Do I meet wit' y' approval, chere?" He murmurs with a note of seduction in his voice. Rogue blushes, which only encourages him. He steps over to her and picks up her hand, brushing a kiss to the knuckles. "Un petit baiser for a belle femme. An' de name's Remy LeBeau." He whispers. Kitty hides a grin as Rogue's blush intensifies.
Professor clears his throat. "If you are finished, I will begin the introductions." He states with an amused glance at the pair. Gambit winks at Rogue, turning his attention to the room in general. He chuckles inwardly at the glare he's receiving from a guy, who is introduced as Bobby Drake. "Well, well, looks like I have a bit of competition for the belle Rogue." He muses to himself. "This is gonna be too easy."
The other student, named Jubilation Lee, or Jubilee for short, gazes around the room of faces. Almost all are welcoming, except for one man in the corner, who seems to have a permanent scowl on his face. Remy picks up on her worry and glances over at the man and quickly back. He really did not bargain on meeting up with Logan again, so soon after his arrival. Throughout the rest of the meeting, he keeps his eyes averted and slips away as soon as it is concluded.
As he walks the seemingly endless maze of hallways, he stops and slaps a palm against his forehead. "Y' were supposed t' wait, stupide. De prof said dat he was goin' t' have someone show y' t' y'r room an' help y' get aroun' de mansion." He growls to himself. "Seein' Logan again threw y' off."
"Do you always converse with yourself ?" A smooth, feminine voice sounds from behind him.
"Not all de time, but once in a while, oui, I do." He counters as he turns around, barely suppressing a smirk as he looks at Storm, who is walking toward him.
"I suppose as long as you don't answer yourself, then you're okay." She jokes mildly.
"Don' know 'bout dat, chere, I have." He volleys with a teasing glint in his eyes.
Ororo laughs. "You left before I had a chance to show you around the place. It's a bit daunting, isn't it?"
"Y' ain' kiddin'! Y' need a map jus' t' get t' de nex' room."
"Yes, that's what I thought when I first arrived here." She answers humorously. "So, shall we?"
After Storm's guided tour, she hands him a paper with his class schedule printed on it. "It would seem that you have your first class in fifteen minutes."
"Dey waste no time here." He mutters, chagrined at the thought of having to spend time in a classroom again.
"Professor received a copy of your transcript from your caseworker, so he had a good idea of where you are at academically. It makes it so much easier when he has a transcript provided and he doesn't have to track down the students' former schools to get them. We'd better go. Your class is with me. I'm teaching Mutant Affairs and World History."
"So y'r an instructor, too?"
"Yes, we take on several roles around here. With only a handful of adults, we have to multi-task to ensure that the students' needs are provided for. Come along, I'm pretty sure my students are gathering as we speak."
As they walk into the classroom, Storm clears her throat to get the students' attention. "Class, we have a new student joining us. I would like for you to welcome Remy LeBeau, one of the new students that was introduced earlier. Remy, there's a seat over there behind Rogue. I would like for you to sit there, please. I see that Jubilee is already here. Good, so we're ready to begin." Storm smiles and turns toward the dry-erase board. "Today, we are going to discuss Mr. McCoy's role as the Advisor for Mutant Affairs."
Remy openly admires Rogue as the discussion continues. After several moments, a note is surreptitiously placed on his desk.
Why are you staring at me? It reads in a neat, feminine scrawl.
He smirks and writes a quick response. 'Cuz I've never met such a belle femme as you before. Can't help that my eyes are drawn to such incredible beauty. It is quickly passed back to her. Soon after she reads it, he can tell she's blushing. Remy smirks slightly with satisfaction and all but laughs at her hastily written reaction. Swamp Rat, you're so full of it, I'm gonna have to buy hip waders just to walk around the place.
Bobby watches the scene unfolding before him out of the corner of his eye and scowls slightly. A sudden idea forms in his mind, but John keeps him from acting on it right at that moment, when he feels a small wave of heat from behind him. Sighing imperceptibly, he reaches back and freezes the fireball that John was going to create a distraction with. It drops to the floor with a crash, causing everyone to turn around. True, it wasn't exactly what John had in mind for a diversion, but it worked anyway, much to John's concealed delight.
"John. That will be enough, or you will find yourself in the Professor's office, again." Storm gives him 'that' look. With a slight huff, John slouches down in his seat, a churlish expression darkening his features.
Bobby waits until the classroom's attention is on Storm again and creates an ice rose, sliding it onto Rogue's desk. Rogue glances over at him with a bashful smile. What neither of them notice is the finger reaching forward, releasing a small charge into the sculpture. With a small 'pop', it detonates, startling Rogue.
"What the-? How did that happen?" Bobby whispers to Rogue, who is perplexed. She glances back at Remy, but his attention seems to be focused on the board, or so they think. Storm looks over again. "Is there something going on that I need to know about?" She questions Rogue and Bobby.
"Uh...no, ma'am." Rogue answers quickly. Storm gazes at the two for a moment. Finding nothing, she shakes her head and begins where she left off...again.
As soon as their attention returns to the front of the room, Remy's smirk reappears.
While school continues, Senator Kelly and his aide take off from the government function that the senator just spoke at.
"I mean to see to it that every mutant in this country is accounted for. They need to be controlled, at the very least! I will not have those menaces to society running free, wreaking havoc on those of us just trying to live peaceful, normal lives."
"Yes, sir." Henry answers as he glances down at his legal pad.
"Henry, do you have that speech completed for when I'm speaking before the House Committee on Thursday?" As the senator glances up, Henry changes right before his eyes into Mystique.
"People like you are the reason I was afraid to go to school as a child." She informs him coldly, then easily knocks him out, moving to the front of the chopper to do the same to the pilot. Climbing into the pilot's seat, she changes the coordinates and heads in the opposite direction.
Upon arrival, Mystique morphs into a weightlifter and throws Kelly over one shoulder.
"Ah, Mystique. Glad to see that at least you were successful in your mission. Take him to the cell. We will deal with him later."
"Did you get the mutant?" Mystique inquires.
"Not as of yet, but I have Gambit on the inside, hopefully gaining the trust of Xavier and his charges."
"Hmm, let's hope that he's not trying to seduce the female populace of the Institute and is actually doing what he is told, for once." She snorts disdainfully.
"We shall see. Won't we, my dear?" Magneto holds out an arm, which Mystique takes and he escorts her into his office for a full debriefing of the events leading up to the senator's capture.
After classes are finished for the day, Rogue and Kitty head up to their room to get their homework finished. As they approach their door, Kitty spies something sticking out of it. She reaches up and pulls out a two of hearts. With a grin, she hands the card to Rogue. "Looks like you have an admirer." She teases lightly as she enters the room. Rogue stares at the card for a moment, wondering who uses playing cards. Turning it over slowly, she notices writing.
~Rogue,
Will you give me the great pleasure of sitting with me at dinner tonight? If so, meet me by the stairs at 5:45.~
"Wonder who could've sent it?" Rogue queries, still standing right outside the open door.
"Maybe it's the sexy Cajun who just joined us today." Kitty says slyly, swallowing a laugh as a blush stains Rogue's cheeks. "Soooo...what are you planning on wearing to dinner?"
"I was gonna wear what I have on, an' who says I was gonna meet him, anyway?"
"Whoa, no need to be so defensive." Kitty holds her hands out in a placating gesture. "Besides, you should dress to impress. Make him want you."
"Why would I want him ta want me? It's not like he'd be able ta touch me, or anythin'." Rogue looks away uncomfortably."
"Oh, c'mon. Don't shut yourself away. You could gain control one of these days."
"What if that never happens?" Rogue asks quietly as she grabs her chemistry book.
"That shouldn't stop you from living, Rogue. Give it some time. You never know what will happen." Kitty counsels as she examines Rogue's side of the closet.
"Yeah, I know. I gotta go meet Bobby an' get started on our project."
"Oh. I forgot about that. I guess I'll see you at dinner, then." Kitty says dejectedly.
"Kitty, what's wrong?" Rogue questions, setting her book down and sitting on her bed. "Ya acted tha same way this mornin' when...Oh, I get it. Ya like Bobby, don' ya?" She asks with no trace of teasing.
"N-no! Why would I like him?" Kitty stammers, but the blush coloring her cheeks is telling.
"Hmm...I think I'll work with him til 5, then come back an' get ready for dinner. It's gonna take me awhile ta look presentable. Maybe you should dress up a bit yaself. Never know who ya might end up sittin' by." Rogue says airily as she grabs her book and sashays out the door, leaving Kitty staring after her.
Out in the courtyard, Bobby is by the fountain, waiting for Rogue. He smiles when he spies her crossing the yard.
"Hey Rogue. For a minute there, I was wondering if you would come." Bobby takes his seat again.
"Why? I said I'd be here." Rogue answers with a bemused grin. "I'm jus' runnin' a few minutes late, is all. Kitty an' I were talkin' an' lost track of time."
Bobby holds his hands up. "No need to explain. I'm glad you came, is all. Kitty's a great friend."
"Yeah, she really is. She's helpin' me ta fit in around here."
"Good. She'd be the one to go to. Her or Storm. Then again, if you have any questions, you could...ahh...come to me, too." He rubs the back of his neck as it reddens slightly.
"I'll keep that in mind. So...what's this project of yours?" She queries, rapidly changing the subject.
"Uhh...yeah, the project!" Bobby suddenly remembers. He grabs his notebook and turns to the right page. "I was thinking we could do our project on the effect of temperature on a volume of gas."
"Good thinkin'. Mr. Summers should be suitably impressed." Rogue teases.
"I should think so. It sure took me long enough to come up with the idea." Bobby retorts humorously. After discussing exactly how the experiment will be conducted, Bobby consults his watch. "Uh...would you like to go grab something to eat somewhere? My treat." He requests hesitantly, quickly glancing up at her.
"Oh...I'm...kinda meetin' someone for dinner tonight." Rogue tells him. She feels bad, since he is a nice guy, but she remembers Kitty's downcast expression when she'd mentioned meeting him awhile ago. That thought strengthens her resolve. She doesn't want anything coming between the two of them, since their friendship is still so new.
"Oh, I see. Well, maybe another night." He says quietly and trudges back inside. Rogue watches him regretfully, but then the intrigue of who sent the card earlier sets in, causing butterflies to flutter in her stomach. She grabs her book and makes her way inside, going up to her room. Kitty is nervously tossing every item of clothing she owns, muttering to herself: "No, this doesn't look right." "No, he's seen me in this one, already." "AAGGHHH! I have nothing to wear!" She cries out.
Rogue silently closes the door. "If ya want, I can help ya. Ya know, return tha favor." Rogue suggests with amusement. "Dressin' for Bobby, are we?"
"Uhh...he's not the only guy here, you know." Kitty answers a bit too evasively.
"Oh, riiight. Ya jus' dressin' ta impress a random guy." Rogue plays along.
"There aren't that many guys here." Kitty points out archly. "At least, not ones around our age." She amends.
"True...true. Well, whoever he is, let's get him ta really stop an' take notice of ya."
"Only way I can do that is a complete head-to-toe makeover." Kitty mutters.
"That's jus' nonsense! I'll help ya. You'll look so good, he'll get whiplash from turnin' around so fast ta look at ya."
Kitty giggles. "If you can get him to look at me as more than a friend, then you'd be a miracle worker."
"Won' take much, since ya such a pretty girl. A few minor details should be all that's needed."
At 5:35, the girls are ready. Kitty has on a pale blue sundress and gazes at herself in the mirror.
"If 'he' doesn' notice how gorgeous ya look, then he's gotta be blind." Rogue encourages her.
"Thanks, Rogue."
"I think ya should go down, now. Catch his eye before some of tha others get there."
"Good idea." Kitty gets up and exits the room, leaving Rogue alone with her thoughts. She glances at the clock after a few minutes.
"Well, here goes nothin'." Rogue murmurs as the butterflies kick up again. She rises and stands in front of the mirror, smoothing out the imagined wrinkles in her black pants. An eggplant ¾ sleeve silk blouse completes the set. She checks her hair in the mirror. Her normal chocolate waves are curled just a bit more. Deeming herself presentable, she takes a deep breath and leaves the room. Reaching the stairs, she looks down to see Remy waiting.
"'Ello, chere." He greets in that deep, accented voice. "Knew y' couldn' resist findin' out who left y' dat card."
"Knew it was you. Who else here uses playin' cards? I had nothin' better ta do, anyway." Rogue jests as Remy moves aside to allow her to lead the way into the kitchen.
"Sure y' didn'." He drawls, opening the door for her. Ever the gentleman, he pulls out her chair and after she's seated, takes the seat next to her. Remy looks over and notes with satisfaction that Bobby is at the other end of the table, but frowns slightly when he notices the younger guy staring at Rogue with hurt and jealousy in his ice blue eyes. Glancing next to Bobby, Remy takes in the fleeting expression of unrequited longing on Kitty's face as she watches Bobby out of the corner of her eye. He decides to take action.
"So Rogue. What part of Mississippi y' from?" He leans over to ask, since the room is noisy from the students' chatter.
Rogue looks over quickly, caught by surprise at how close he is to her. "H-how did ya know where I was from?" She stutters, then blushes as she catches herself.
"Know de accent. We're neighbors, after all." He points out cheekily.
"Thanks for pointin' that out, Captain Obvious. Like I didn' already know." Rogue retorts, then sticks her tongue out at him.
"Don' do dat unless y' like givin' me ideas." He informs her with a wicked grin.
"Like ya need any encouragement, Swamp Rat."
"True. But I'm always open t' suggestions, mon River Rat." He shoots back.
Jubilee snickers from across the table. "You know, the two of you would be so great together." She laughingly points out.
"We would not. He'd last about two minutes before I killed him. Violently. Especially for callin' me River Rat." Rogue argues vehemently.
"I love violence in a femme. Good call, Jubilee." Remy winks at Jubes.
"Ya would." Rogue growls and rolls her eyes, causing him to chuckle.
"Y' never answered my question, chere." Remy replies with a grin.
"Jus' ta prove I'm not a River Rat, I'm from Meridian."
"Still by a river. Maybe not t' de scale o' de Big Muddy, but still." He reasons with obvious amusement.
"Ya infuriatin'." Rogue glares at him.
"So I've been tol', among ot'er t'ings." He states gleefully, fully enjoying the moment. "I'm t'inkin' maybe we should go out sometime. Jus' y' an' me."
"Me an'...you? As in...like a date?" Rogue inquires faintly with a shell-shocked expression.
"Oui, dat's generally what a date is." He joshes. "Besides, I like y' an' I would like t' get t' know y' better, wit'out de crowded room."
"Oh...I don'-don' think that would be such a good idea. I mean-I...I jus' can'!" Rogue jumps up and runs from the room, everyone watching her hasty retreat, none more than Remy, however. Kitty gets up and comes over to sit by him.
"You okay?" She asks with obvious concern.
"What did I say t' make her turn me down like dat.?" He questions in bewilderment.
"I don't think it's you, per se. Has anyone told you what her power is?" Kitty queries as she gestures for him to follow her. He follows her outside and sits down beside her on a stone bench.
"Non. No one's said much 'bout her."
"Well, she's still pretty new here, herself. Not too many know a lot about her, yet."
"So, what is dis power o' hers?" He asks skeptically, playing along with the role given to him.
"From the way I understand it, when she touches someone, skin to skin, their thoughts, memories and talents are...drained from them, in a sense, and she gains them. I guess in the case of mutants, she can take their abilities, as well. The other person is rendered unconscious. She can't control it, yet."
Remy whistles low. "Dat is one powerful femme. She could be a walkin' arsenal o' abilities."
"She doesn't want to be!" Kitty argues fiercely. "How would you feel, knowing that you could potentially take someone's life with just one touch?" She questions in defense of her friend. "Look, I'm going to go in and see if she's okay, but let me tell you this: If you pursue any kind of a relationship with her, you'd better treat her well, or you'll answer to me. Understand?" She stands with her hands on her hips and glares down at him.
"Don' have not'in' but de bes' intentions for her." He reassures her and heads back inside. Kitty gazes after him, then follows after a minute or two passes.
Remy makes his way to his room, quickly ducking into a storage closet as Logan walks by. He watches as Logan sniffs the air and looks around trying to place the scent. After several tense seconds, Logan finally shakes his head in frustration and continues down the hall.
"Interesting. Seems Logan still hasn't regained his memories." Remy muses, then goes into his room. He takes out his phone and presses a button, selecting a pre-programmed number.
"What do you have?" Magneto questions upon answering.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, dat's rude, y' know. Y' can' even greet me properly when I take time outta my busy schedule t' call y'?" Remy chides.
"Gambit, you are trying my patience, as always. Just tell me what you have managed to do."
"Well, I gotta gain deir trust, an' dat's gonna take time, boss. By de way, dat picture y' have o' Rogue don' even begin t' do her justice."
"Just get their trust. You know how important this project of mine will be for mutantkind."
"Ouias, I've heard y' go on about it enough. Don' worry, I'll get de job done. I always do."
"See that you do. Quickly." Magneto snaps then cuts off the connection.
"Such a pleasure workin' wit' y'." Remy sneers, then snaps his phone closed and tosses it into his nightstand drawer. For the thousandth time, he wonders if his decision to work with the Master of Metal was the wisest one. Then again, he didn't have much choice at the time. With a frustrated sigh, he flops down onto his bed and gazes at the ceiling.
In an undisclosed location in the city the same evening, Magneto glances at Senator Kelly, who is strapped down to a metal chair. "Cheer up, Senator. You will be breaking new ground. Tell me, how does it feel to be a pioneer in this...new venture?"
"They will find me and you will be tried in the highest court in the country. I will see to it!" Kelly exclaims.
"Ah, my dear senator, 'they' haven't been able to catch me. By the time they discover where you are, it will be too late. For you, anyway." Magneto turns and walks to a contraption set up a good distance in front of the senator.
"Why are you going to kill me? You would just prove my point that all mutants are dangerous. What do you have to gain from this?"
Magneto turns around with a cold smile. "Kill you? Now why would I do that, when I have something much more exciting in mind for you?" With that, he resumes his walk up to the machine and stands, facing Kelly. He places his hands on a couple of metal spheres, placed at either side of him. "Start it up, Mystique. This is for mutantkind and for our freedom, which you humans seem to be bent on taking from us. Now you will discover what it is like for us. To be hated for what you cannot control!"
Kelly's eyes widen in fear as he comprehends what is going to happen to him. Magneto writhes in agony, but maintains his grip. Soon, a bright bluish-white light envelops the machine and begins to move outward, toward the senator. Seconds later, he is blasted back by the stream of light, rendering him unconscious. A short time later, it is over, Magneto literally brought to his knees with the drain of his ability, which provided the machine with the energy it needed.
"Mystique. Put him back in his cell. We shall wait until he awakens to see if my little experiment is a success." He demands weakly as Toad assists with helping him to his feet and takes him to his room.
The next morning, Logan is outside, practicing some jujitsu moves. He suddenly stops and sniffs the air, his senses on alert. Turning in the direction of the woods, he is immediately attacked.
"See what a nice guy I am? I came back fer ya." A vaguely familiar voice snarls.
"Who are ya? Why do ya talk ta me like ya know me?" Logan asks in total confusion.
"Huh. Ya really don't remember. Maybe this will jog yer memory." Sabretooth smiles ferally as he leaps onto Logan again. This time, Logan is ready for him. When he attempts the leap, Logan ducks and then straightens again, catching the other man and effectively tossing him back to land hard on the ground.
"Yer gonna pay fer that, runt." Sabretooth growls menacingly and advances toward him again.
"Come try ta collect." Logan smirks and gestures, daring Sabretooth to make a move. The other man roars and lunges for him, but Logan manages to jump up and grab a branch, causing Sabes to charge through. As Logan drops back to the ground, out of the corner of his eye he notices Storm coming toward him. Sabretooth takes note of this, also.
"This isn't over, Logan. Enjoy yer life while ya can, cuz one of these days, you'll remember who I am and I'll come back fer ya fer a fight ta the finish. Count on it." He snarls and retreats into the woods. Logan follows him, ignoring Storm's cries of "Wait! Logan, come back!", but when he gets to a stream, the scent is lost. Growling in vexation, he turns back.
Storm is waiting for him when he returns. "Who was that?"
"I wish I knew. Somebody with a beef against me, I guess." Logan answers, then goes back into the mansion, leaving Storm looking after him with concern.
A/N II: Okay, just to clarify, he does know about Rogue's abilities, having been briefed by Mags. Is his flirting and seeming hurt and confusion genuine? We shall see, won't we? ;) Oh, major spoiler ahead for any Jott fans out there. Proceed with caution.