Chapter 36

So a couple of weeks later, into the 2nd week of June and Scott and Jean were still on a 'break'. Amara was still at the Academy in Boston. Monet was still trapped in her Penance form. Relationships between the X-Men and the Hellions were back to basically non-existent. The only contact they had had recently was that the Professor had managed to negotiate an agreement with Emma over Dust and Penance remaining at the Institute.

Mostly out of the need of Emma not to tarnish the reputation she created through her manipulations. She couldn't push it too hard due to the fact Dust wouldn't lie about what happened. If forced to that point Sooraya would speak the truth...the whole truth including information about the true nature of the Hellfire Club if it came to it.

Emma couldn't afford that so she'll let Dust and Penance go for the moment.

Besides it's not all bad for her. The X-Men public reputation was damaged. She recruited Magma and the real bonus she managed to split up the perfect couple of Jean and Scott. Emma considered throwing a party when she heard that news.

It'll be a lot easier to turn Scott's head to her way of thinking without Grey constantly pulling him away in another direction.

Emma's already played the sympathetic ear in a phone call or two but knows not to push too hard, too fast. A broken heart is a delicate thing. She has to play her new advantage cleverly.

And of course being clever was Emma's raison-d'etre.

On one other front the Professor had managed to settle with the owners of the zoo. Cost him quite a bit but it kept his students out of jail.

Beyond that what is there to say?

The X-Men carry on with their tasks and missions to use their powers where the Professor deems they are needed. No matter what happens to them they won't allow anyone to stop them doing what they believe in...and despite Emma's proclamations to the contrary no-one else seems inclined to leave the X-Men and join her...well no-one is saying it out-loud in any regard.

Clark continues to be weird and seems to pull more distance away from everyone slowly but surely a little bit more every day. Even Claire, who now he has gotten into the habit of ditching every now and again and going out on his own. That almost got him into trouble last week when he ran into the former sidekick of his pain in the butt villain; the Prankster.

The former sidekick turned insane lunatic who goes by Arcade who once tried to get payback on Superman for locking the Prankster up but missed and ended up picking a fight with the New Mutants as they were at the end of last year before they split up and reorganised the teams.

Well this time Arcade got his target and trapped Superman in his 'funhouse' labelled 'Murder World'...only he seriously underestimated just how powerful Clark was becoming and Clark survived.

To Clark's immense surprise Arcade turned out to be a former student of Bayville High called Webber Torque. Hell he was in the same computer class as Kitty once upon a time. How the Prankster turned Torque into this twisted, insane perversion Clark has no idea.

Prankster was mostly in it for the laughs rather than being truly dangerous so one can only conclude that Torque was unhinged to start with and Prankster's influence was just the final push the kid needed to turn into Arcade.

He certainly takes to it with a disturbing relish right down to the 70s throwback white suit and frilled shirt and comedic bow-tie he wore.

Last Clark checked Torque was undergoing a prolonged period of psychological evaluation in a secured facility...which was where Clark left him after defeating him. Hopefully they keep him there for a long, long time.

Back in their everyday 'normal' lives research continues into Apocalypse...though that is going slowly. They had gathered a bit more knowledge but hadn't had a break through moment in the hunt for the 3rd key or the location of Apocalypse's prison.

The students have completed their finals and their grades were pretty much what they expected. Jean and Scott graduate in a couple of weeks. The first 2 of Charles' students to do so. In the fall they went to college...and that might mean a reconsideration of the teams once again. College is a full-time task at the best of times. To ask Scott and Jean to keep up their X-Men duties might be too much.

Well that was months away and they had time to sit down, think and consider all the possibilities.

For Clark he was considering the possibilities of tonight. It started yesterday. He was on the phone catching up with Victor Stone.

Vic, who had started moonlighting as a part-time hero/vigilante going by Cyborg, had asked for Clark's help.

Ever since Smallville, Victor and Tony Stark had been wading through the information they copied from Lionel and keeping an eye on Lex.

It's Lex that Vic asked Clark to help with.

From what Victor had found it seemed Lex was up to...something, didn't known what, with SynTechnics technology. The technology that turned Victor into Cyborg.

That finding out what Lex is up to is what Vic wanted help with. Clark agreed readily to help.

Victor had traced it down to a Lexcorp facility in Detroit. Made sense if you think about it. You'd never think of some high-tech secret facility being located in a city that is, being generous, in a state of severe decline. Not to mention bankrupt.

They had agreed a set of co-ordinates and a time shortly after sunset to meet and Clark was now waiting there amongst some of the decaying ruins of Detroit's past. He brushes some, probably imaginary, dust off the jacket of his Superman costume.

It's not hard to hear Vic's arrival. His armoured boots crunching over the debris and when he comes into sight he is indeed in that silver armour that has a piece over the left side of his face with a glowing red eye but with the rest of his head is flesh. There is the armour over the chest and torso and over the right arm but the left arm only has an armoured gauntlet on the hand. His lower half and legs is armoured too.

Vic cocks his head. Not at Clark but the person with Clark.

Clark waves him off. "Don't ask me. He caught me leaving and decided he wanted to come along," is all the explanation Clark can come up with.

"Dude, I'm standing right here," the person in the red hoodie, now adorned with a golden lightning bolt across it, complains about being talked about in the 3rd person.

"So you are," Clark drawls. He looks to Cyborg. "We do call him Impulse for a reason," is the only explanation Clark can truly give. Bart had one of his impulsive moments.

"It's fine," Victor decides. "The more the merrier."

"So why don't you bring us both up to speed before we get started?" Clark suggests. More for Bart than him since he has already talked to Victor about it.

Vic nods and begins laying out the mission parameters for the evening.

At the Institute...

Since Jean and Betsy decided to swap teams and the arrival of Dust and Penance the staff had decided to do some more minor tweaking to the team line-ups.

They had all 3 teams down in the Danger Room ready for a joint simulation.

Bart should have been here but he had had his impulsive moment. He would be getting a stern talking to when he decided to get back. Plus Logan had a few extra simulations he would be running the kid through just to drive the point home.

Cypher was better at interacting with people...slowly. He was spending less time in his room now though he barely ever left the mansion still. He was nowhere near ready to even consider being part of this part of the X-Men so definitely wasn't here.

Anyway you had the current line-ups of each.

Not including the Instructors you had the X-Men with Cyclops, Shadowcat, Nightcrawler, Tarot, Thunderbird, Iceman, Siryn who they decided to promote after almost doing so anyway when they were replacing Spyke and finally Betsy, who still couldn't come up with a freakin codename. Though this little gathering did give her a chance to show off the costume she designed that moulded to every curve on her body. It was mostly purple(her favourite colour, have you seen her hair?). An all in one purple body suit with skin coloured sections up the outside starting just above her purple boots and running right up to under her arms. There were no sleeves leaving her arms bare apart from two purple bands over her biceps and purple gloves. She wore a brown belt around her waist to attach those little pouches to that carries the little extras X-Men use from time to time.

Betsy rubs her arms with a smile as she moves on to smooth the fabric down, running her hands over her body. She likes it. It's not quite her original design but it's still good. The fact is she never planned any skin coloured sections. It was just going to be literally cut out sections that exposed her skin but Uncle Charley poo pooed that idea. He's no fun. Oh well maybe next time. Or maybe next time she'll just wear the equivalent of a bathing suit and really give Uncle Charley a heart attack. Betsy smiles a little mischievously at the idea.

Moving on to the other teams Generation X was now Cannonball, Boom Boom, Berzerker, Sunspot, Volcana, Scarlet Witch and of course it now includes Jean Grey. Jean was actually kinda enjoying it. Less work, less time away on missions. It was also an entirely different dynamic with Sam as leader and working with different team-mates in training. It was an educational experience Jean was finding.

The New Mutants currently stood with Havok, Wolfsbane, Jubilee, Forge, Multiple, Husk and the 2 newest Dust and Penance.

After thinking on it for a couple of days Sooraya decided that at the very minimum she has little else to fill her time apart from prayer. That and Penance needed tasks and focus and things to do. A way to burn off energy. Otherwise she tended to get quite destructive when she was bored.

So for that selfless reason alone Sooraya would have joined. It's been strange for her, learning the new rules around the Institute but it's also been easier than she ever thought it would be. Most people are so nice and friendly and accommodating and welcoming. It's almost as if she was never on the other side. It tells Sooraya all she needs to. That she made the right choice in coming here.

With Allah's guidance hopefully soon they could also reverse Penance's condition and restore Monet to her true self.

"Alright listen up!" Logan shouts to get their attention. "3 teams. 1 objective. Get to the centre of the course and grab the flag. Now you will all face 3 different paths but they're the same total length and you will face similar obstacles to slow you down. The 1st to grab the flag is the winner."

"What do we win?" Iceman asks.

"A day off from me," Logan informs them.

Everyone's face lights up at the prospect of a day off from Logan's training sessions. Now that's motivation.

Magneto's base...

Gambit would like to believe he's not a bad person. Make no mistakes he's aware he's no saint. He's a thief and a womaniser. He doesn't deny this. In fact he's proud of it...especially that 2nd one.

There's nothing wrong in a man being very appreciative of all the enticing treats around him. Plus it wasn't like any of the women complained. In fact he left them all deeply satisfied after meeting him.

Now a man like Gambit loves challenges.

The harder something is to steal the more Gambit wants to steal it just to prove it can be done.

For women...ah women...it's been Gambit's experience the bigger the challenge in seducing them the greater reward it is when they finally submit.

And since he joined Magneto(see Magneto forced him to repay a favour by joining) Gambit's not been without those little treats as much as he feared he would. Alicia, Live Wire, Plastique to name a few.

But ever since Rogue arrived she's been his main focus. He must admit from the moment he first saw her photograph he has had this interest in her. There's just something irresistible about the challenge she represents.

Since she joined the Acolytes he must admit their little flirting games have been the most fun he's had in ages.

However he also likes to think he has gotten to know and understand her a little. Therefore he has noticed since shortly after that incident in London with Mesmero she's been a bit...off.

It's hard to explain and he's aware no else has noticed. In fact he raised it quietly on the sly with a few of his fellow Acolytes who told him he was imagining it.

He's not imagining it. Gambit hasn't figured out what is going on but quietly, without making it obvious, he's been keeping a closer eye than normal on Rogue for the last month.

Right now he's doing that, playing pool against her on some downtime. For everyone else they look like they always do. Banter, flirting, laced innuendos.

Frankly Frenzy had told Rogue to just go get a room already and get it over with.

Gambit wins the 1st couple of games. "Having a bad day, Cher?" he queries with his forever heart-melting grin.

Rogue smirks. "Ah'm always bad Swamp Rat," she replies with the required suggestiveness. "Ah thought ya would have figured that out by now."

"Gambit can be a little slow on de uptake. How about you give him a reminder?"

"Orrrr..." Rogue drags the word out. "How about we play a slightly different game?" she proposes, her green eyes lit with intensity.

Gambit arches an eyebrow. "Gambit is listening," he tells her to continue.

Rogue's lips curl up in a deeply sultry, sexy grin. She walks round the table, her hips swaying from side to side, and no man, let alone Gambit, could stop their eyes from taking in every step of their motion. She stops very, very close to him, their bodies almost touching. You could feel the heat and spark between them. "Two words Cajun," she says, her voice deeply husky.

Gambit swallows as his body so desperately wants to betray his control. Usually Gambit is the one in control of situations like this. Few women can turn the tables. Guess what? He's met one. "What are those?" he asks about her two words.

"Strip pool," Rogue says, her lips curled up into a self-satisfied smirk, her green eyes alight with lustful mischief.

Detroit...

So Cyborg, Superman and Impulse make their way through one of the desolate, empty parts of Detroit and come to a building that is slightly less dilapidated than the rest. This was Lex's secret...whatever it was.

Lab? Research facility? Manufacturing?

That was sort of the point of being here. To find out what was going on and obtain as much information as possible.

Now Clark thinks on it Lex's actions since the Battle of Smallville haven't made much sense.

He tried to force Lilandra and her community out why?

In fact he might still try to do that once the new Smallville Mayor gets elected. They were still trying to sort out that mess. Once the former Mayor Tate was arrested and some further investigations into him were carried out...the words Pandora's box come to mind. It sees old Billy had been very naughty.

Yeah a corrupt politician. What are the odds?

"Cyborg, you sure this is the place?" Superman asks as his eyes scan through the building.

"As far as I know," the cybernetic man responds.

"Why? What do you see stretch?" Impulse asks.

"Well there is certainly equipment and computers here that looks new but there's no people. Not even security."

Cyborg frowns. He was sure this was the place. He had seen the transit orders of materials and equipment being sent here. "I know Lex has been moving the SynTechnics technology here," he states confidently.

"Then we'll have a look around," Superman says, believing Victor. If he says something is here then it's here.

It's easy enough for them to break into the building. Too easy really. It's mightily suspicious. The 3 split up to look around, keeping in touch via communicators.

Sure Clark scanned the building but that doesn't mean there isn't something he missed. Something you can only see close up. It's not like Clark examined everything down to a minute level. It was a general scan.

Cyborg's target is the computer mainframe. With Superman describing the way he finds it soon enough and plugs himself in. On a small screen information scrolls along in machine code. That's binary, 1s and 0s.

Victor sees it through his cybernetic eye. He's just downloading for now and he'll sort through it later. He blinks. What is that?

There's an anomalous program running behind everything.

No, not a program. Looks more like a virus.

No. That's not accurate either.

It looks...the closest thing Victor can compare it to is the AI code that runs JARVIS...but no offence to JARVIS this is way more sophisticated looking.

"What are you?" Victor whispers.

The bundle of code...stops for lack of a better term. It fluctuates as if 'looking' at Victor and analysing him.

Then all in tiny fractions of a second it 'leaps' into Victor, smashing through the firewalls Tony himself installed in Victor's cybernetics as if they aren't there.

In moments the code has completely overwhelmed Victor and he stands there frozen like a statue.

Superman chose to investigate the one slightly odd thing his eyes did spot. He never mentioned it because it didn't seem that important. He's in some sort of assembly facility but what has been assembled is weird. There are lots of robots some tiny, others huge. In fact one looks like a modified forklift. They are just a mish mash of pieces stuck together, like someone who didn't really know what they were doing.

Why would Lex be making these? And what does it have to do with SynTechnics technology which was cybernetics. Not robotics.

This isn't making a lot of sense.

Clark gently prods one of the smaller robots with his finger. It has six legs...and you know what despite its chaotic look Clark can see it would be able to move and function. Just doesn't look very elegant though.

A LED light flickers as Clark prods the robot.

Then one flickers on another robot...and another...and another...and then there are whirring sounds as motors fire up as they all come to life. Big lights flick on and focus on Clark from the larger robots.

There is a buzzing static sound that fills the air.

"Bzzt...like..." a course, buzzing synthetic voice speaks from one of the robots.

"...us," another one speaks.

"...Alone..."

"...Last..."

"...Singular..."

"...World..."

"...Lost..."

"...Destroyed..."

"...Like..."

"...Us..."

Superman straightens up, muscles tense, his eye shifting around. The robots haven't moved or done anything but speak? Every word was spoken by a different mechanical device. "What do you mean? Like Us?" he asks, not sure what he's trying but lets see if he gets a response.

He does.

"...You..."

"...Like..."

"...Us..."

"...Last..."

"...Son..."

"...Of..."

"...Krypton..."

Superman's jaw drops. How...what...the hell? How do they know what he is? "Who are you?" he asks in total, breath-grabbing shock.

Impulse has found another construction facility just like Superman did. Though he doesn't appreciate it as much as Clark does. He kicks a small robot in his boredom.

Instantly the rest spring to life.

"...Attacker!..."

"...Destroyer!..."

"...Killer!..."

"...Lost..."

"...Brethren..."

"...Before..."

"...Will..."

"...Not..."

"...Repeat..."

"...Destroy..."

"...Attacker..."

Bart looks around at the speaking robots who are moving to surround him. "Oh boy," he mutters under his breath. He is gone in a flash to find Clark...facing the same problem. "Uh, stretch...problems," he says in a panicky voice.

Clark looks to see a small hoard of robots entering the room where Bart did, speaking their threats. "What did you do?" he asks with an intense glare aimed at the speedy young teen.

"Nothing!"

Clark narrows his eyes and waits for it.

"Alright. I kicked one!" Bart confesses. "How was I suppose to know they were alive?!" he pleads in his defence.

"Stop," Superman asks/commands them. "He didn't mean it. He's sorry. Aren't you Impulse?"

"Yeah. Cross my heart and everything," Impulse promises, crossing his heart several times in superspeed.

"...Apologies..."

"...Meaningless..."

"...Sorrow..."

"...Regret..."

"...Organic..."

"...Emotions..."

"Organic?" Impulse asks.

"You and I, us. Organic lifeforms," Superman answers. "I don't think they're of this world," he guesses from the what they've said so far.

"Like you?" Impulse asks.

"Different world but yes," Superman answers in what is only a supposition but Clark thinks he's right. He's never heard or read anything like this from his studies up at the Fortress with Jor-El.

Oh one might be wondering at this point when Clark finally told Bart he was an alien. He had originally decided not to tell Bart first off when his friend came to stay at the mansion but not make a huge effort to hide it either. When weeks past and Bart still had amazingly not picked up on it Clark decided to just wait and see how long it actually took his room-mate. It was kinda funny just sitting back and watching Bart's obliviousness to it all. How it finally came all to a head...is a funny story actually...not to be told right this second.

Superman turns his attentions to the alien...he wasn't quite sure what they were yet. Though he couldn't let them harm Bart. "I asked nicely once. I won't ask again. I'm telling you to stop. I won't let you harm him," he warns them.

That seems to give them pause and they stop.

"Now who are you?" Superman asks again.

"...We..."

"...Are..."

"Metalek."

Superman and Impulse blink. That last part wasn't spoken by the robots. It sounded like... "Cyborg," they say together.

The two teens spin round and find Cyborg at the door to the room, his glowing red eye now glowing a hue of green, an emotionless expression on his face.

"We are Metalek," Cyborg repeats, clearly under their control. They've got plenty of experience in this area so it's not difficult to recognise what has transpired.

"Not again," Superman mutters under his breath in complaint. Honest to Rao it is unbelievable the number of times he or one of the people around him get their minds controlled or messed with in some way.

Clearly it's going to be one of those days.

Bayville...

Generation X won the simulation. In no small part thanks to Jean.

Cyclops was away to win until Jean stepped in and took down her (ex?)boyfriend with a relish only a scorned woman can enjoy.

Scott had sat there afterwards defeated in more ways than one.

He was, as many people had been telling him, a mess.

Others had called him stupid for allowing a girl like Jean go.

Well yeah, that probably goes without saying...though they were on a break. It wasn't over yet...and Scott did love her. He did.

But what Jean was demanding from him in relation to Emma he can't give.

Call him foolish if you want but he refuses to give up on Emma, no matter what has transpired lately.

In his head he always remembers that brown-haired girl who gave him his 1st kiss. Therefore he knows that there is more to Emma. He knows the real Emma isn't the one she shows in her White Queen persona. He just has to reach it.

And Jean knows this as well as him. She was there when Emma attended the Institute. Jean's just letting her personal animosity for Emma blind her.

Which sort of brings Scott back round to why they were fighting in such a way to leave them where they are now.

Not wishing to stay under the same roof tonight he hopped in his red convertible and sped off for a drive to help clear his head as soon as the simulation was over.

He eventually ends up stopping up a hill that overlooks Bayville, allowing you a great view of the town below, lights glistening in the night.

Scott rubs his head.

Where are they now? As in where do they all stand in relation to things.

Well not on good terms with the Hellions. That's for certain.

Scott never really liked them anyway. Not really. It doesn't help that he thinks Roulette is corrupting his little brother.

Yet he has a soft spot for Emma.

No. You're not the first person to spot the contradiction.

In fact considering Emma basically set them up over that zoo fiasco one has to ask what the hell is Scott doing giving her any sort of time of day.

Scott has asked himself that.

In fact he asked Emma about it.

Yes, they've talked. And if he was still with Jean she would have thrown a major tantrum over it but they're not together. Her choice by the way. Scott would just like people to remember that.

Emma gave what Scott thinks is an honest answer about why.

And he could see it. From her perspective she thinks they're all naïve following the Professor and she would undertake any action she deemed necessary to prove that.

Though Scott believes with limits. During all her little 'accidents' no-one was badly hurt. Just his and the X-Men's pride.

What motivates her? What happened to her between when she left the mansion and now? How did she end up at the Hellfire Club and how has it changed her?

See, these questions bother Scott. He knows they don't bother Jean because she's written Emma off and therefore has no care to know. In Jean's head Emma has run out of excuses.

Scott needs answers and the only way he can get them is by continuing to have contact with Emma. Carefully, guarded, yes, he knows that. She's not reached the breaking point for Scott she has obviously long ago reached for Jean.

"It is a pretty view."

Scott turns his head to his left and standing beside the car is Emma...dressed down in a fashion he has rarely seen her. She's still in white but it's jeans, a simple top and jacket. For Emma's that's positively slumming it.

"So do I get invited in or do you forget all your manners and leave a poor, helpless woman standing here on her own?" she asks, putting on a little front of being offended.

Scott leans over and opens the door for her. "You're hardly helpless, Emma."

Emma slides in elegantly to the passenger seat and Scott is so not noticing how her jeans cling to her hips and legs.

"Still I appreciate manners," Emma says, acknowledging that she is far from helpless.

"Is there a reason you're here?" Scott asks. "And don't try the 'it's a coincidence' line on me," he warns her off because what are the chances she would just happen to be here at the same time as him?

"I would never insult your intelligence in such a way," Emma assures Scott. "Do you remember our couple of dates?" she asks him.

"Course I do," Scott says like he shouldn't have to say it.

"Do you remember the one we came up here to admire the view?"

Scott smiles at the memory. That was where Emma gave him that first kiss. Right here. "I remember you saying you would always come up here to remember a happy time," he recalls her words. "I still don't see how this leads to you being here tonight," he points out that that hasn't answered his original question.

"Because I like coming up here for the same reason, Scott. I consider that moment a happy time and since we shared it together then I wanted us to remember it together now."

"So you were spying on me and knew I had come up here, yes?" Scott works out.

"I wouldn't use the word spying," Emma procrastinates.

"No. I guess you wouldn't," Scott accepts. "A lot has changed since then, Emma," he points out, wanting to emphasise the differences between who they were then and who they are now.

"It has," Emma acknowledges. "That doesn't mean I'm not telling the truth. I am a woman, Scott."

"Believe me that's hard to miss," Scott mumbles.

Emma grins at that. "I am a woman and just because I don't reveal my feelings openly doesn't mean I don't feel. I feel every bit as intensely as anyone else. I also live by rules. Everyone does actually. Have their own set of personal rules on how to govern their lives. I live by mine every day. My actions fall within them. Just because my rules are different does not make them any less valid."

"Nor can you expect me not to disapprove of actions you may undertake that do not agree with my rules," Scott argues, using her points against her.

"True enough," Emma concedes. "Yet, you're here talking to me."

"And what's the alternative? Fighting? I get enough of that as is. You can't say you like fighting either Emma?"

"No. I don't," Emma says truthfully. "Though I do enjoy vanquishing and punishing my foes," she says with a naughty smile.

Scott blushes because she's projecting what she means into his head...on purpose. "Emma, stop it," he warns her off.

Emma does but she finds it funny...and unbelievably cute that she got him so embarrassed. "You know, Scott, for right here and now we can just pretend that all the issues between our schools and teams doesn't exist. It can be just me and you for a few hours," she proposes. "I mean have I not been sensitive to your and Jean's issues," she puts forward an example of how magnanimous she has been.

"You have," Scott agrees.

"And weren't we friends once?"

"We were."

"Then we can be those friends again."

"And just overlook everything?"

"I'm not apologising. I do what I feel I have to. And it's not overlooking. It's just pushing it temporarily aside. Besides you want to know why I do what I do. I don't even have to read your mind to know that. Then the way to understand me, Scott is to get to know me again. We haven't spent any real time in each other's company for many a year. You don't have to decide now. Think on it."

Scott lets out a deep breath and stares out, thinking on her words.

Emma risks laying a hand on his thigh. He doesn't say anything or try to stop her. Emma takes that as a positive sign.

Magneto's base...

Anyone who knows Gambit knows he wasn't going to turn down the chance to literally knock Rogue's clothes off her body. Knock as in knocking in pool balls.

And he was doing a good job if you ask him. Rogue was down to her vest top and underwear giving Gambit plenty of chances to admire her legs and ass.

Though Rogue would say she gives as good as she takes. Gambit was currently shirtless and when she wins this game...and she was currently winning, those pants of his were history. She has to say he has a pretty fine body. Leaner than the only person she can compare it to; Clark.

Rogue bends over for her next shot, making sure to give Gambit the perfect view of her from behind. Rogue takes her shot...her last shot because she just won. She turns round with a triumphant grin. "Come on Swamp Rat. Off with those pants," she tells him.

Gambit reaches for the buckle. "Gambit can't help but notice you say d'at with a lot of enthusiasm," he jests.

Rogue strides up to him, her hands touching over his on the buckle. "Maybe that's because ah really want ta see ya without them," she says...and this time her voice is different. It's not light and flirty. It's deadly serious with intent. Her hands undo the buckle and they slide in the waistband.

"Cher?" Gambit queries...and God only knows why he is.

"Ah know ya want this," Rogue says, her voice and eyes laden heavy with arousal.

"Oh really?"

Rogue hand brushes over a certain bulge in his pants. "Yep. Ah kinda think so." She walks off back to the pool table and hops up to sit on the edge. She reaches for her vest top and pulls it over her head leaving her in only her underwear. A sight that would leave most straight men speechless. She leans back a little, resting her hands on the pool table top. Leaving herself very open. "If ya want it, all ya have ta do is come and take it. Consider it your reward for playing meh ta a standstill. Not many can do that. So what are ya, Cajun? A man or a cowardly, damp Swamp Rat?" she challenges him.

Ok. There is no way on Earth Gambit is going to turn down this opportunity. He's only human after all. He saddles up to her, cups her face and kisses her on the lips as her legs wrap around his waist.

Author's Note: Betsy's costume actually comes from the concept art for season 5 of evo since she was going to be introduced if the show had continued. You can find it online. I think I kinda broke my own rule here about avoiding adding anything else overtly alien to Clark's life but I had this idea that allows me to set up something for later. The Metaleks are a form of sentient technology from where has never actually been said. Just far, far away. They're 'xenoformers' transforming planets into something more amenable for alien life. But more amenable for whom? That is the question. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Boys' Night Out part 2.