My Heart in Your Hands
by Princess of Monkeys
Chapter 18
The disclaimer is sleeping it off in the parking lot...
Rogue dressed and blew her hair dry, and stared at her makeup case, sitting there on the bathroom counter so innocently. She opened it hesitantly, and stared at the jumbled contents inside. Looking at her reflection again, she came to a decision. Forgoing her usual mask of makeup, she left her flawless skin bare of foundation, opting for a lighter shading of lavender shadow, a single stroke of mascara, and a light application of her favorite purplish- black lipstick. She was still goth, but not scary. She was wearing a simple outfit, soft purple sweater and unripped tight black jeans, along with her usual combat boots. The overall effect was startling- her only thought was _I look pretty!_
Shaking her head at the unusual thought, she gathered up her belongings and walked back down the hall to toss her dirty clothes in the bin and put her makeup away. As she passed the table where the phone usually sat, she noticed that it wasn't on the cradle, but nobody seemed to be around to use it. Taking a closer look, she saw that the phone cord trailed off into the wall. No longer interested once she realized who was using it, she stomped off huffily down the hall.
At that moment, Kitty phased back through the wall and hung up the phone. Seeing Rogue stomping down the hall, she sighed quietly. _That girl can keep a grudge batter than anyone else I've ever met,_ she thought sadly. Leaning against the wall, she waited for the southerner to come out of the room, knowing better than to try to share space with her. Rogue finally walked out, and Kitty went in. Even the thought of her impromptu date couldn't lift her spirits. It seemed her worst fears had come true when she'd confronted the other girl about her stubbornness- Kitty had lost a friend.
Rogue wandered into the kitchen, intent on finding a snack, and was surprised to see Kurt there, fixing himself an ice cream sundae of epic proportions.
"Kurt, what're ya doin' here? Ah thought y' were goin' out with Amanda."
He turned, surprised by her sudden entrance. When he heard her question, his shoulders slumped and his fuzzy, pointed ears drooped. His tail swinging back and forth sadly, he told her "Ja, ve vere, but my inducer died again. I vas trying to save the kitchen from Kitty's attempts at cooking, and something spilled on it."
Rogue nodded, not wanting to discuss the girl. Good thing she'd missed dinner after all. "Wait- why din't she jus' come here?"
He looked pained. "Her parents cornered her- they had someone from their church come over to 'talk' to 'Manda about dating a mutant. It makes me sick- I know just vhat they're going to tell her. They're going to say that mutants are people too, but they're different from normal humans so she shouldn't be dating one." She'd never heard Kurt sound so bitter. "Und it's vorse. They vant me to come over for dinner, too. Probably just to tell me in person to leave their daughter alone. 'Manda thinks they will like me vhen they meet me, enough to forget about me being a mutant, but vhat happens vhen they see vhat I really look like? They'll call the police! Or the pound! They'll never let us be together!" His voice was frantic, and Rogue completely understood, but she didn't know what to say.
Out of everyone, Kurt had the hardest time coming to terms with their exposure on national television. Even though no one had yet made the connection between the German exchange student and the blue furry mutant from the Sentinel footage, Amanda's parents knew where he lived and what he was. Even though they merely wanted what was best for their only daughter, their close mindedness, Amanda's naiveté, and Kurt's oversensitivity were a dangerous combination.
Giving him a sympathetic look, she gently patted his shoulder with a gloved hand. Moving past him, she poked around, looking for something edible. Finding leftover chicken, she piled some on a plate and placed it in the microwave. Turning around, she found Kurt staring at her.
"What?" She asked him irritable, suddenly feeling self conscious.
Kurt just shrugged. "You just look different, that's all."
"Whatevah. Ah can't change my look without permission now or somethin'?"
Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, he grabbed his ice cream and with the familiar sulfur smell, *bamf* he was gone. Behind her, the microwave beeped, and she sat down t the table, munching thoughtfully.
He almost made it out of headquarters without being detained by his teammates- a minor miracle- when the metal door he was holding onto suddenly clanged shut.
He turned and saw Magneto, arms folded over his chest, staring at him intently. "Mr. LeBeau," he said, deep voice resonating in the small chamber, "And where might you be skulking off to at this time of night?"
Thinking quickly, Remy replied with feigned nonchalance "Remy not be master thief much longer without practicin' de skills, non?"
Magneto smiled indulgently at the young Cajun, but something dangerous glinted in his cold, dark eyes. "By all means, then; don't let me detain you." The door swung open behind him, and Remy turned to go, feeling a palpable sense of relief. But Magneto's voice once again stopped him.
"Just do be careful with what you steal this time Gambit; don't get too... absorbed, hmm?" His voice was predatory and knowing.
Somehow, he managed not to shudder. Giving a -hopefully- flippant head toss, he managed to make it out the door this time. Hearing it slam securely behind him, he wasted no time hightailing it out of there.
Inside the warehouse, a rough voice spoke from the shadows. "Magnus, he stinks of her."
"It will be taken care of, Victor- it is none of your concern." He stepped past the feral man and exited the room, pondering ways to include Rogue's special talents in his plans. Oh yes, she could be very useful indeed. _Never give an enemy any leverage, my dear,_ he thought maliciously. _Didn't dear old Charles teach you any better than that?_
Behind him, Sabretooth merely growled. Throwing open the door, he sniffed the air, and was gone into the night.
Bobby and Ray roamed the institute halls, desperately searching for Rogue.
"Man, she's gotta be here somewhere! It's not like she's got a life or anything!" Bobby groused.
"Oh, yeah, 'cause talking that way's gonna get her to cut us some slack," Ray snapped back, electricity crackling around him.
"What if she already told him? We're gonna be so dead!"
Ray just laughed. "You're the one who was dumb enough to freeze her shoes!"
"Maybe, but you're the one that shorted out the school! If I'm going down, you are too!"
"I dunno ice cube, I think she hates you more right now..."
"Man, will you just shut up? We looked everywhere! We're so busted!" As an afterthought "And it's Iceman! Not ice cube!"
Suddenly, Ray punched him in the arm, and Bobby looked up, horrified to see the Professor wheeling down the hall towards them. _Man, don't panic, don't panic!_ He thought frantically. _Don't think about it! Think about something else! Like school- not school! Or Rogue! Man, we are so dead!_
As Bobby continued to quietly panic, the Professor greeted them. "Bobby, Ray- no plans for the evening?"
Bobby started with "Uh, yeah, we were just going to find-"
"Some movies," Ray interrupted, "To watch. In the rec room. With Rogue- "
"Have you seen her?" Bobby jumped in.
"No, I haven't; did you perhaps try the rec room?" The telepath asked in a mildly sarcastic tone of voice. He knew exactly what the boys were up to. Normally he would have already called them onto the carpet for their little stunt at school, but it did them good to sweat a bit. _Besides, I'm sure Rogue will have them doing her chores in no time._ He'd heard about the shoe incident, and despite the ignorance he feigned, he knew about all the blackmail that went on between the students. It was hard not to notice, since almost no one was doing their own chores anymore! Sometimes, he had the suspicion that some of the students almost preferred his punishments to the revenge meted out by their peers. Contrary to popular opinion, Xavier remembered what it was like to be young. Giving the boys an inscrutable smile, he rolled off down the hallway, reminiscing about some of the better pranks he and his friends had pulled on their teachers when they were young.
Completely mistaking the meaning of the Professor's smile, the boys took one look at each other and ran desperately for the rec room. _Oh man, we are so busted,_ Ray thought.
by Princess of Monkeys
Chapter 18
The disclaimer is sleeping it off in the parking lot...
Rogue dressed and blew her hair dry, and stared at her makeup case, sitting there on the bathroom counter so innocently. She opened it hesitantly, and stared at the jumbled contents inside. Looking at her reflection again, she came to a decision. Forgoing her usual mask of makeup, she left her flawless skin bare of foundation, opting for a lighter shading of lavender shadow, a single stroke of mascara, and a light application of her favorite purplish- black lipstick. She was still goth, but not scary. She was wearing a simple outfit, soft purple sweater and unripped tight black jeans, along with her usual combat boots. The overall effect was startling- her only thought was _I look pretty!_
Shaking her head at the unusual thought, she gathered up her belongings and walked back down the hall to toss her dirty clothes in the bin and put her makeup away. As she passed the table where the phone usually sat, she noticed that it wasn't on the cradle, but nobody seemed to be around to use it. Taking a closer look, she saw that the phone cord trailed off into the wall. No longer interested once she realized who was using it, she stomped off huffily down the hall.
At that moment, Kitty phased back through the wall and hung up the phone. Seeing Rogue stomping down the hall, she sighed quietly. _That girl can keep a grudge batter than anyone else I've ever met,_ she thought sadly. Leaning against the wall, she waited for the southerner to come out of the room, knowing better than to try to share space with her. Rogue finally walked out, and Kitty went in. Even the thought of her impromptu date couldn't lift her spirits. It seemed her worst fears had come true when she'd confronted the other girl about her stubbornness- Kitty had lost a friend.
Rogue wandered into the kitchen, intent on finding a snack, and was surprised to see Kurt there, fixing himself an ice cream sundae of epic proportions.
"Kurt, what're ya doin' here? Ah thought y' were goin' out with Amanda."
He turned, surprised by her sudden entrance. When he heard her question, his shoulders slumped and his fuzzy, pointed ears drooped. His tail swinging back and forth sadly, he told her "Ja, ve vere, but my inducer died again. I vas trying to save the kitchen from Kitty's attempts at cooking, and something spilled on it."
Rogue nodded, not wanting to discuss the girl. Good thing she'd missed dinner after all. "Wait- why din't she jus' come here?"
He looked pained. "Her parents cornered her- they had someone from their church come over to 'talk' to 'Manda about dating a mutant. It makes me sick- I know just vhat they're going to tell her. They're going to say that mutants are people too, but they're different from normal humans so she shouldn't be dating one." She'd never heard Kurt sound so bitter. "Und it's vorse. They vant me to come over for dinner, too. Probably just to tell me in person to leave their daughter alone. 'Manda thinks they will like me vhen they meet me, enough to forget about me being a mutant, but vhat happens vhen they see vhat I really look like? They'll call the police! Or the pound! They'll never let us be together!" His voice was frantic, and Rogue completely understood, but she didn't know what to say.
Out of everyone, Kurt had the hardest time coming to terms with their exposure on national television. Even though no one had yet made the connection between the German exchange student and the blue furry mutant from the Sentinel footage, Amanda's parents knew where he lived and what he was. Even though they merely wanted what was best for their only daughter, their close mindedness, Amanda's naiveté, and Kurt's oversensitivity were a dangerous combination.
Giving him a sympathetic look, she gently patted his shoulder with a gloved hand. Moving past him, she poked around, looking for something edible. Finding leftover chicken, she piled some on a plate and placed it in the microwave. Turning around, she found Kurt staring at her.
"What?" She asked him irritable, suddenly feeling self conscious.
Kurt just shrugged. "You just look different, that's all."
"Whatevah. Ah can't change my look without permission now or somethin'?"
Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, he grabbed his ice cream and with the familiar sulfur smell, *bamf* he was gone. Behind her, the microwave beeped, and she sat down t the table, munching thoughtfully.
He almost made it out of headquarters without being detained by his teammates- a minor miracle- when the metal door he was holding onto suddenly clanged shut.
He turned and saw Magneto, arms folded over his chest, staring at him intently. "Mr. LeBeau," he said, deep voice resonating in the small chamber, "And where might you be skulking off to at this time of night?"
Thinking quickly, Remy replied with feigned nonchalance "Remy not be master thief much longer without practicin' de skills, non?"
Magneto smiled indulgently at the young Cajun, but something dangerous glinted in his cold, dark eyes. "By all means, then; don't let me detain you." The door swung open behind him, and Remy turned to go, feeling a palpable sense of relief. But Magneto's voice once again stopped him.
"Just do be careful with what you steal this time Gambit; don't get too... absorbed, hmm?" His voice was predatory and knowing.
Somehow, he managed not to shudder. Giving a -hopefully- flippant head toss, he managed to make it out the door this time. Hearing it slam securely behind him, he wasted no time hightailing it out of there.
Inside the warehouse, a rough voice spoke from the shadows. "Magnus, he stinks of her."
"It will be taken care of, Victor- it is none of your concern." He stepped past the feral man and exited the room, pondering ways to include Rogue's special talents in his plans. Oh yes, she could be very useful indeed. _Never give an enemy any leverage, my dear,_ he thought maliciously. _Didn't dear old Charles teach you any better than that?_
Behind him, Sabretooth merely growled. Throwing open the door, he sniffed the air, and was gone into the night.
Bobby and Ray roamed the institute halls, desperately searching for Rogue.
"Man, she's gotta be here somewhere! It's not like she's got a life or anything!" Bobby groused.
"Oh, yeah, 'cause talking that way's gonna get her to cut us some slack," Ray snapped back, electricity crackling around him.
"What if she already told him? We're gonna be so dead!"
Ray just laughed. "You're the one who was dumb enough to freeze her shoes!"
"Maybe, but you're the one that shorted out the school! If I'm going down, you are too!"
"I dunno ice cube, I think she hates you more right now..."
"Man, will you just shut up? We looked everywhere! We're so busted!" As an afterthought "And it's Iceman! Not ice cube!"
Suddenly, Ray punched him in the arm, and Bobby looked up, horrified to see the Professor wheeling down the hall towards them. _Man, don't panic, don't panic!_ He thought frantically. _Don't think about it! Think about something else! Like school- not school! Or Rogue! Man, we are so dead!_
As Bobby continued to quietly panic, the Professor greeted them. "Bobby, Ray- no plans for the evening?"
Bobby started with "Uh, yeah, we were just going to find-"
"Some movies," Ray interrupted, "To watch. In the rec room. With Rogue- "
"Have you seen her?" Bobby jumped in.
"No, I haven't; did you perhaps try the rec room?" The telepath asked in a mildly sarcastic tone of voice. He knew exactly what the boys were up to. Normally he would have already called them onto the carpet for their little stunt at school, but it did them good to sweat a bit. _Besides, I'm sure Rogue will have them doing her chores in no time._ He'd heard about the shoe incident, and despite the ignorance he feigned, he knew about all the blackmail that went on between the students. It was hard not to notice, since almost no one was doing their own chores anymore! Sometimes, he had the suspicion that some of the students almost preferred his punishments to the revenge meted out by their peers. Contrary to popular opinion, Xavier remembered what it was like to be young. Giving the boys an inscrutable smile, he rolled off down the hallway, reminiscing about some of the better pranks he and his friends had pulled on their teachers when they were young.
Completely mistaking the meaning of the Professor's smile, the boys took one look at each other and ran desperately for the rec room. _Oh man, we are so busted,_ Ray thought.