A/N: Hello all, sorry for the wait. But here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy! Please R&R! Thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything or have anything to do with the X-men.
Chapter 26: Masquerade:
The Blackbird landed smoothly in the mansion's hidden hanger and all its passengers gradually made their way out to find the Professor, Storm, and some of the student body waiting for them.
"Lyss, honey, how're you feeling?" Storm questioned tentatively, as Bobby wheeled her chair towards the waiting group.
Lyss smiled weakly. "I'm feeling a bit tired, actually."
"Well then, we should get you into bed," the Professor stated warmly, and then he turned to address some of the new comers. "Hello again Mrs. Andrews, Adam, Jason."
"Mr. Xavier," Lyss's mom greeted back. "Are you sure we shouldn't take Lyss to the hospital?"
"I assure you Mrs. Andrews; Lyss will have the best possible care here," Hank added.
Everyone turned to see Hank approaching the group.
"Hi Hank," Lyss greeted fondly, smiling brightly. She looked up to gauge her family's response to Hank. Her mother looked particularly taken aback. And Lyss had to suppress the urge to giggle at her reaction.
"I'm Hank McCoy," he introduced himself pleasantly, holding his hand out. "I assure you I have all the necessary credentials to look after your daughter. In the short time Lyss has been with us she has become very important to all of us."
Her mother took his hand and shook it. "Thank you Mr. McCoy. That is a very comforting thought. It is um… nice to meet you."
"Likewise," Hank stated, charming her mother as Lyss knew he would. Hank took a minute to greet each of her brothers as well. And at his comment that Lyss was very special to him, both of her brothers threw her confused glances. "Now, why don't I take Lyss down to the infirmary, while you get settled in?"
"The infirmary?" Lyss whined. "Again!"
"Yes, Lyss the infirmary. Hank will take you there," the Professor agreed. "Kurt, Storm why don't you show our guests to their rooms."
"All right Professor," Kurt answered. Her family bid her a good night and were led away.
"It's our turn to go Lyss," Hank addressed her as he stepped towards her wheelchair. "I'll take her from here Bobby."
"All right," Lyss huffed, not wanting to go to the cold infirmary, but back to the warmth of her bed. "Don't forget me while I'm down in the dungeon. Visit me, please!" She couldn't suppress the yawn that came out of her mouth next.
"Yes visit, when she has been well- rested," Hank was quick to tell all.
"Get well soon Miss. Andrews," Sam called after her.
The other students echoed his sentiments.
"All right everyone, back upstairs, we still have classes to attend," the Professor gently ordered.
They all went on their way, leaving the Professor with Bobby.
"Where is Logan?" he simply asked.
Bobby sighed. "He decided to continue searching for Sabertooth."
"That fool," the Professor cursed.
"That's what I pretty much thought too," Bobby agreed. "Lyss's hurt, but she won't admit it."
"I know, but it makes me wonder if Logan really deserves her," the Professor pondered.
Hank rolled Lyss's wheelchair into an infirmary room. "Well here you are."
"Really, I can't stay in my own room?" Lyss tried one last time.
"You know you need proper medical attention, Lyss, and I can't give that to you from your room," Hank explained, silently apologizing.
"I know, it's just…" Lyss trailed off, thinking of how she wanted to be in her own room where she felt closer to Logan. She let out another yawn.
"Come here," Hank said as he lifted her out of the wheelchair and into his arms. She unwittingly snuggled into him and he smiled down at her. She was so small in his arms.
He held her for a second longer before gently placing her on the bed. He pulled the covers up around her.
"I just need to attach the monitors to you, and then you can be off to sleep," he told her.
"Go ahead," she mumbled, half asleep already.
Hank chuckled and quickly went to work. When done Lyss's eyes were closed and she was breathing quietly. He wasn't sure if she was asleep.
"Lyss?" he whispered.
"Hmm…" came her reply.
She was somewhat awake. "Where's Logan?"
A pained look overcame her peaceful face. Her eyes opened. "I… I don't want to talk about him right now."
"All right," he said slowly. "Good night Lyss."
"Night," she murmured. Her eyes fluttered closed.
Hank hesitated for a moment and then leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
He stepped out of the room, angry at Logan for whatever he did.
Rogue inhaled the fresh air outside. It was a really beautiful day in New York for a late, September day. After waiting for Scott to finish his shower, she realized that she would only drive herself crazy with over thinking their situation. So she had grabbed her swimsuit and now was outside enjoying the pool side.
She was trying to relax and work at the same time. She hoped the other members of the Inner Circle weren't all work, since it was obvious that she wasn't go to see Shaw anywhere near the pool.
"Hello," a voice announced.
Rogue looked up, a little startled, to see a man's body. She couldn't see his face because the sun was right in her eyes. Luckily, he sat down on the recliner next to hers and she could see exactly who he was. And she definitely recognized him.
"Hello," she replied, raising an eyebrow up at him expectantly.
She knew who he was; Henry Leland, vice president of one of Shaw's engineering companies and also a mutant. Rogue knew from the information she had that Leland was practically Shaw's right hand man and if anyone knew of Shaw's plans it would be this guy. And just her luck he had approached her first.
"I couldn't help noticing that you were sitting all alone," he began.
"And…" she prompted, playing the disinterested beauty.
"I'm Henry Leland, by the way. I'm sure you've heard of me," he said, way too sure of himself.
"Yes I have," she said in a bored tone. "Lola Worthington."
She stuck out her hand for him to shake, but instead he brought it to his lips. Rogue shuddered on the inside.
"Pleased to meet you. So as I was saying, I saw you sitting all alone and thought to myself, 'Someone as beautiful as her shouldn't be sitting by herself.' So I just had to come to your rescue."
"Why thank you," she said sweetly. Henry placed his hand on her bare shoulder and Rogue had to use all of her will power to keep her powers at bay. It would be so easy to learn what he knew just by absorbing him, but there were two problems with that. First, they were in a public place, and second he was a mutant and she would most likely acquire his powers as well.
"Mr. Leland-" she shrugged off his hand.
"Henry, please," he interrupted.
Rogue looked around her. "I'm a married woman."
"No problem," he announced. "We could go somewhere else more private."
For a second Rogue's face took on a look of complete outrage. But then she thought about it. In private she could use her powers of persuasion and absorb without anyone the wiser.
"Hmm… all right," she agreed. He started to get up. "But not now, I'm expecting my husband any minute. How about I meet you sometime later?"
"That could be arranged. I'm in room 727B. Be there around 8?" he said eagerly. She nodded. "Good, don't be late Lola."
Rogue wiggled her fingers in a wave, and said, "I won't." She had to endure his sleazy smile a second longer before he was gone.
Rogue let out a sigh of relief. She'd have to tell Scott that was inevitable. Just when she didn't know. She'd have to find him first.
"Hey!"
Rogue looked up to see another man standing next to her. This time she knew it was Scott, even if she couldn't see his face.
"Hey Jake," she said in greeting, as he sat down.
He looked confused for a second and then realized he was supposed to be Jake.
"Hey Lola," he said sounding strained. He leaned in close to Rogue. "Who was that? And why was he touching you?"
'Uh oh,' she thought. "That was Henry Leland, you should know. He's Shaw's associate," she explained. Then she whispered. "In the Inner Circle."
Realization dawned on his face. "Oh, so what did he want?"
"To pretty much seduce me," she confessed.
"What?" Scott raised his voice.
"Don't worry Jake," she said quickly. "I told him I was married."
"Good, good," he said, relaxing.
Rogue leaned in to whisper again. "But I told him I'd meet him later in his rooms." Scott, she saw was about to flip out at this revelation. Rogue placed a hand over his lips. "Scott if you haven't noticed we're not doing that great with the spying thing. This way I can do my thing… privately."
Scott let out a sigh in annoyance. "All right, all right, I understand, but I don't like it. We'll work out a plan before you need to be there ok?"
She nodded. "Thank you."
They sat in silence for a minute until Scott asked out of the blue, "So, are you mad at me?"
"No, no," she said taken aback. "Why would you think that?"
Scott shrugged his shoulders, looking sheepish. "Well you weren't in the room after I'd taken my shower. I thought…"
"No. I just thought you needed some time alone. You know after we heard about what happened to Lyss. I thought you might want to be alone," she confessed.
"Oh," Scott said. And then he took Rogue's hand in his. "It just came as a shock. I mean Lyss knows exactly what happened… It just shocked me, that's all."
Rogue smiled. "I know. I just thought you needed-"
"I need you," he interrupted.
"Really?" Rogue asked in awe.
"Yes. Don't ever doubt that. Ok?"
Rogue nodded, smiling happily. "Ok."
Rogue looked down at her clothes; she was dressed in a red sleeveless top and a knee length white skirt. And she couldn't believe that she was actually doing this. She really was about to let some weirdo try to seduce her. The guy gave her the creeps.
But, at the same time, Rogue knew she'd never let it get that far. She'd have him laid out in a second flat, if he tried anything too nasty. And with that thought in mind, she took a deep breath and knocked on Henry Leland's door. A second later it opened.
"Lola, welcome," Henry greeted her with a smirk.
"Hello Henry," she replied and waited for him to invite her in. "Well…"
"Oh yeah, come in," he gestured for her to come inside. "I'm sorry, it's just your beauty had me speechless."
Rogue really had to suppress an unbelievable snort. "I'll take that as a compliment," she said smoothly.
"Good, why don't you have a seat while I get us something to drink," he suggested.
Rogue sat down on the black leather couch and waited for him to join her. He appeared before her with two flutes of bubbly champagne a second later. He handed her one and she thanked him, taking a small sip.
'Now what?' she asked herself, she was totally new at this seducing thing.
Henry put down his glass and slid closer to Rogue. He boldly put his hand on her knee.
'Oh that's what,' Rogue answered her previous question.
"You know Lola, when I first saw you today; I knew you were a woman who knows what she wants. And I knew you wanted me," he paused to sip his champagne. "And I'm not usually in the habit of giving people what they want. But you're in luck. Today I'll be generous."
Rogue stared at him, completely bewildered. He spoke as if this whole thing was her idea. The guy was unbelievable.
"Henry dear," she started. She knew she was on the right track when he smiled at her. "We never got a chance to talk. What do you do?"
He flashed his shiny teeth at her. "Oh, I'm only the VP of a very important company."
"Oh my," she gasped. "That sounds quite intriguing. May I ask which company?"
"Just a little one called Shaw International," he said trying to be modest but failing miserably.
"I wouldn't call that little," she answered. "Isn't it like the biggest company in the whole world?"
The way Rogue thought about it, maybe if she flattered Leland enough she could get him to talk without having to use her powers.
Henry laughed at her. "Well, I wouldn't say that… but we are pretty huge."
"You must have to deal with Mr. Shaw a lot," Rogue assumed. "I met him today; he is a darling of a man."
"Considering the company is named for him. Yes we are very good friends," Henry indulged.
Rogue leaned in closer to Henry, causing him to fidget excitedly. "I understand the company is an engineering company." She trailed a finger down his cheek to touch his lips.
"Mm hmm…"
"But you know what really interests me, turns me on?" she cooed, rubbing his bottom lip with her thumb. He leaned in closer, eager for her answer. "Rare jewels," she whispered. "I just love them. Especially red ones."
"Oh, what a coincidence!" Leland exclaimed, taking advantage of her closeness by putting an arm around her. "Shaw International has a subdivision that specializes in mining. We are a prime exporter of rubies."
Rogue laughed, letting one hand touch his chest. "When I say rare, I mean jewels so uncommon they don't have names yet."
"Well…" he hesitated.
Rogue leaned into him, her mouth at his ear. "Yes," she breathed out.
"Sebastian did just come into possession of a rare gem," he murmured, shivering at the feeling of her hot breath on his neck now. "Umm… he believes there's only a few like it out there."
"Wow," she exclaimed. "Can I see it?"
He laughed at her again. "I don't have it."
Rogue looked at him with a pout on her face. "Oh Henry, you got me excited for nothing."
Eager to please her, he blurted out. "But I can show it to you soon. Maybe tomorrow?"
She smiled happily at him. "Is that a promise?" He nodded. "Good, now where were we?"
Rogue let him kiss her neck. But she had had enough. She felt she had a lead and that was a start and now she wanted out.
She touched the back of his arm with a finger, let her powers kick in and then he was out like a light. She pushed him to lie down on the couch.
"I had a great time," she said sarcastically to his prone body.
Well that's it for now. I think this was one of my longest chapters yet. Yay, me! Anyways, lol, hopefully you enjoyed this chapter. I'll try to update soon, but no guarantees. I'll be pretty busy with school from now until the end of November. And then I get to go on a trip in December. Yay! But I'll still try.
Thanks to all those who reviewed, you guys rule: Rogue 14 (glad you're tests went good; it seems like you're always getting ready for tests??); Hope and Love; Red red red ribbon; Nelle07; and Songorita.
See you all soon!