Disclaimer: Yeah, Marvel still owns the X-men and I still own Susana

Disclaimer: Yeah, Marvel still owns the X-men and I still own Susana. There is NO continuity here; it's a completely alternate universe. I just wanted to use the characters.


Notes:

sound
*thought*
} telepathic conversation {

Setting: The X-mansion, the next morning.

She was going to die. She was absolutely certain of it. She moved to roll over onto her side, away from the light, but was stopped by a hand on her shoulder, holding her down. }Light bothering you?{ She nodded slightly, then whimpered.

"I'm never drinking again." He sat up and turned the bedside lamp off, leaving the room lit only by the light that got past the curtains.

}D'you want a bath?{ he asked, rubbing small circles on the pulse point of her wrist. She nodded again, then peeled an eyelid open just enough to give him a mournful look. Jono stood and walked into the bathroom to start the water running. Leaving the bedroom, he walked downstairs to the kitchen to get the gel eye mask she always wanted on the rare occasions she was hung over. When he got to the kitchen, Bobby and Angelo were sitting at the table eating breakfast and reading the paper. Bobby, he noticed, had the entertainment section. Ange had the funnies. }Mornin', guys.{

"Hey Jono...how is she?" Bobby dropped the paper and turned to look at him. Ange looked up in confusion.

"How is who?"

}Susana's fine. I'm down here to get her eye mask so she can wear it while she's in her bath. Poor gel. How much did she drink?{ He ignored Ange's slight snicker.

"She drank...more than enough. She was pretty annoyed at you." Bobby made a face. "I didn't quite get what it was you did. To be honest, I don't know if she even knew."

}I was being a first class pain. Probably deserved it.{ He struggled to ignore Angelo, who was pantomiming cracking a bullwhip...complete with sounds. Ever so casually, he walked around the edge of the kitchen, picking up a forgotten nearly empty watering can from the counter behind Angelo. }Think I should take her some juice or something? Maybe...{ He dumped the contents of the watering can over Angelo's head and Bobby howled in laughter. }Some water?{ He quickly crossed back to the cabinet that held glasses, pulled one out, and filled it with red grapefruit juice. Replacing the juice carton in the fridge, he picked up the mask and glass, and headed back to the room.

When he got there, Susana wasn't in bed anymore. Peeking around the bathroom door, he crinkled in amusement. She was buried nearly to her nose in bubbles. }Susana, I've brought you your mask, and some juice.{ Her eyes popped open, and he was glad to see that she seemed to feel at least a little bit better. One bubble-coated hand emerged from the drifts, and he handed the mask to her. She lifted her other hand and put the mask over her eyes, then leaned back.

"What'd you do while you were downstairs? I thought I heard Bobby laughing through the vent."

He hadn't realized how much he liked being able to see her eyes when she talked. }I dumped some water over Ange's head.{

"No. You didn't...did you?" Despite the mask, he could see that one eyebrow was raised skeptically. He sat on the edge of the tub and touched a hand to her forehead, sending her the mental image of Angelo dripping and sputtering. "Right...I guess you did. What'd he do?"

}Called me whipped. Not in so many words, but...{

She giggled, thinking about the mental image he'd given her. "Thanks for running the bath for me. I feel much better. Nearly normal, in fact. I'm sorry I was being such a pain yesterday." He handed her the juice glass, and she sipped from it before sitting it on one of the shelves built into the wall. "Thanks."

}Don't worry about it. And hey, it's not as if you had a monopoly on the 'being a pain' impulse.{ He reached down and flicked a puff of bubbles at her face, causing her to wrinkle her nose at the feel of soap on her skin. She brought a hand back up from below the bubbles and tried to brush the bubbles off. She succeeded only in smudging more bubbles across her face and knocking the mask off her face and into the water. Sputtering, she grabbed the edge of his t-shirt and used it to scrub the suds off of her face.

}'ey now!{ He scowled at her, then laughed at her wide-eyed expression of mock innocence.

"Sorry...but I was gonna get soap in my mouth." She grimaced and stuck out her tongue, and he reached down to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She smiled up at him. "Thanks, hon...now, if you would be so kind as to get me my shorts and that shirt on the door, I think I'm ready to brave a trip downstairs." He stood and pulled the oversized blue and tan flannel off of the hook behind the door, then laid it over the towel bar and went into the bedroom to get her shorts and to dress. When Susana eventually emerged from the bathroom, he handed her the blanket she'd wrapped herself in the night before, then picked her up and carried her downstairs. She started to protest, then stopped suddenly. "AAAoww. Loud noises, bad." She whimpered and rubbed her right temple lightly, then squirmed. "Please put me down? I swear on my life I can deal with walking." He complied, and they made their way into the kitchen. Bobby was still sitting at the kitchen table, looking healthy and well rested. Susana glared at him in repulsion. "You're looking disgustingly happy today, Bobby. What's your secret?"

"My secret? Huh? Oh...well, I didn't actually drink much of my wine." He grinned sheepishly at her as she stared daggers at him.

"You're an evil, evil man, Bobby Drake." She grinned, all traces of maliciousness fading from her expression, and continued. "But we love ya anyway. So, how out of it was I last night? I don't remember much. I just know I wasn't making sense as far as I could tell." She opened the fridge and pulled out a bagel. After slicing it and dropping it in the toaster, she slid a chair out from the table and sank bonelessly into it. "Ugh...next time I try to drink like that, someone please stop me, ok? I've lost any drinking skills I had...hell, it's been almost 4 years since I went to my last frat party. No tolerance for drinking anymore."

"Yeah, we're all getting ancient...soon we'll need to buy, like, Ensure and Depends by the ton, cause if you're old at 23, the rest of us are...well, we're sad and decrepit."

"Decrepit?" She looked at him and concentrated on restraining the giggles that were threatening to spill out.

"Yes, decrepit. What's wrong with decrepit? It's a funny word!"

"Nothing wrong with it...I'm just surprised you know it, actually. I would've figured you to be the kind of guy who'd rather call someone an old fart than call 'em decrepit."

"Yeah, well...I'm a surprising guy, you know? Besides, you try spending time around Hank, and let's see if you don't pick up a few new words," he shot back defensively.

"Hey Bobby?" The toaster pinged and she shuffled across the kitchen to get her bagel and cream cheese.

"What?" He was sulking, and refused to look up from his paper.

"I'm not laughing at you." She lowered herself gingerly back into her chair, then picked up half of the bagel and took a bite. }Why would I? I used to read the dictionary, for Godsakes!{

"The dictionary?" He stared incredulously at her, his paper completely forgotten. "You read the dictionary?" He rocked his chair back on its rear legs and howled in laughter.

"Shut up, Drake." The words were muffled by the bite of bagel she was still chewing on, but the intent was clear. Reaching across the table, she grabbed the front page of the newspaper and began to read headlines aloud. "Rebirth of the sitcom sounds the death knell of reality TV...Economy has picked up in the past month...Senate to debate new mutant policies." She stopped her dramatic reading of the headlines to scan the article briefly. "God, I wish I could go...I dunno, do something. I mean, the climate in Washington seems to have calmed down as far as mutants go...no more registration act...but I'm sure it's still got a ways to go before we can feel really safe from stuff like that." She stomped her foot in aggravation at the state of the world.

"You know, Susana, if you're so into trying to make a difference, you could talk to Jean about you going with her next time she speaks at a hearing. Who knows, you might be able to help...put that persuasive ability of yours to good use." He raised an eyebrow at the speculative expression on her face. "Considering it? She's out in the pool, swimming laps." By the time he finished his sentence, he was speaking to Jono and an empty chair.

}My intended, the would-be political crusader. Well done, Bobby. I doubt she even remembers she has a hangover anymore.{

"You're probably right. You know, I've probably just sentenced you to an exciting trip to the capital of our fair nation. Bor-ing."

}Well, it's doubtless not as cool as London, but it might be interesting. I've never been, so maybe I won't think it's as boring as you do.{ He pushed himself back from the table and stood. }Know where Ange is? I have to ask him about something Susana said yesterday.{

"I think he's just up in his room...had to dry his hair again." Bobby chuckled and looked back down at his paper, and Jono headed off to find Angelo.

}'Ey Ange, you in here?{ Jono tapped lightly on the doorframe, peering around the half-opened door.

"Si, hombre. I'm in the bathroom...drying my hair." Amusement and annoyance permeated Angelo's words. He folded the towel he was using and hung it up, then entered the room. "What's up?" Angelo plopped down on the edge of the bed and motioned for Jono to come in.

Jono did, and sat down in the chair in front of the desk. }Susana said somethin' yesterday and I was wonderin' if you could translate it for me. I'm pretty sure it's not exactly G-rated, but she won't tell me what she said. I'm hoping you can.{

"Sure, what'd she say?" He stretched his fingers to the bedside table and grabbed the water bottle that was sitting there. Pulling it to him, he unscrewed the cap and took a sip.

}She said 'deseo ser travieso con te toda la noche de largo'...what the hell?{ Jono jumped up from the chair and wiped water from his face, then shook his hands off. }I'm assuming it's somethin' good, to get that reaction. Either that, or you just wanted to get back at me for earlier{

"It's somethin' good. Sure you want to know?" Angelo swiped the back of his hand across his chin, laughing softly at the frustration in his friend's eyes.

}Of course I do, you bastard! Why the hell else would I have asked?{ He waited impatiently for Angelo to speak. }Well?{

"'Deseo ser travieso con te toda la noche de largo' means, literally, 'I want to be naughty with you all night long.' Hombre, do you think Susana would teach Jubilee Spanish? I mean, she knows all the good stuff. Propositions, how to order good beer...Hey, listen, I don't know how they do things back in Jolly Olde, but here in the US, we usually thank people when they help us out." It was no use. Jono was gone. Angelo reached down and pulled a pack of cigarettes from the knee pocket of his cargo pants. Slipping one out, he lit it, then leaned back. Lounging against the wall, he inhaled deeply and laughed.

Jono burst through the door of the room he and Susana shared, having determined through telepathy that she was already inside. She was on the far side of the room, crouched in front of the dresser, pawing rapidly through the neatly folded clothes in an opened drawer. Every so often, she turned to an open suitcase behind her and dropped an article of clothing into it. Jono crossed the room and knelt beside her.

}Goin' somewhere?{

"Washington, DC. There's a suitcase at the foot of the bed for you if you want to go. Jean thinks we might be able to speak at the hearing Wednesday. Any interest?" She propped herself against the bureau and turned to face him.

}Sure...how long are we staying?{ He stood and carried the suitcase to the edge of the bed. Dropping it there, he zipped it open and began throwing in jeans, T-shirts, and boxers while he waited for an answer.

"Huh? Oh...I think the plan right now is that we stay for about a week, so that Jean and Hank can do some serious lobbying. We'll go to maybe a hearing or two, but mostly we're just going for the chance to go to DC. It'll be fun!" She turned back to the dresser and continued packing.

}You, gel, have a bizarre sense of fun. Not that I don't love you anyway, but...you're just strange sometimes.{

"...Says the man whose idea of fun is falling off of a board. 'It's easy,' he tells me. 'You'll like it,' he tells me. Bullshit!" She grinned at him over her shoulder as she folded a tank top and put it in the suitcase.

}Well, you're a gymnast...how was I supposed to know that you couldn't even stay upright on a skateboard if you bloody sat on the thing?{ He raised an eyebrow enquiringly.

"Hmm...I dunno, maybe the shrieking and flailing about, and the yelling 'Put me the hell down!' should've clued you in. You only need to take one actual suit, so go ahead and hang it on the door there. We're going to take one group hang-up bag so there's less baggage to lose." She stood and walked to the closet, where she pulled out two skirt and jacket sets. "Which one do you think I should wear?" She held one up in front of her, then walked across the room to the mirror. "Gray or blue, blue or gray...." She turned and held up one, then the other.

He looked at her appraisingly. }I think...the gray.{

"Yeah, it does look slightly more adult, doesn't it?" She turned and considered her reflection again.

}That, and the skirt's shorter.{ He crinkled at her glare of mild outrage. }You asked...{

"You. Are. Absolutely. Insufferable." She stomped across the room to the closet, where she re-hung the blue suit and pulled out an ivory silk camisole to wear under the gray jacket.

}And yet you want to...what was that you said yesterday? Be naughty with me all night long? Interesting proposal.{ He raised a hand to fend off the accent pillow she'd just launched at him. }Now, now, luv...I'm trying to pack. Let me do my work. We'll get to the naughtiness later.{

She dropped the pillow she'd been preparing to throw and pulled the camisole off of its hanger. Slipping it onto the hanger under the jacket, she hung the whole outfit on the back of the door alongside Jono's suit. Darting across the room to the bathroom, she rummaged around in a cabinet until she found a small makeup bag, which she filled with a week's worth of toiletries and makeup. She dropped it in her suitcase, then stopped and began ticking things off on her fingers.

"Ok, got clothes for being a tourist and clothes for anything official...I need a dress in case we do anything formal-ish, and I need to pack the travel iron...remind me to call my accounting prof and tell her I won't be in class on Wednesday." She stood in front of the closet and strained to reach the iron on an upper shelf. "Think you could possibly provide a little help here? Oof...thanks, hon. Next time, do you think you could avoid elbowing me in the head? People with concussions are not generally up to being naughty." She turned and tossed the iron onto the bed, then leaned against him and looked up.

}I'll be painfully careful in the future...after all, we can't have you missing out on naughtiness.{ He wrapped his arms around her and gave her waist a light squeeze before backing out of the doorway. She followed, nudging him backward until the backs of his knees hit the edge of the bed. She gave his chest a slight push, and he leaned back onto his elbows. She braced herself over him and lowered herself so her nose bumped his.

"Do you really not mind going? Cause if you're gonna be bored, you don't have to come with us."

}Are you kidding? Miss a week of staying in a plush hotel, where I don't have to share you with a single class? Bored is the last thing I'll be.{

"You do know that I'm gonna make you venture out of the room with me on occasion, though...right? I mean, I want to go to some of the Smithsonian museums, and we're definitely going to have to go to lunch with Senator Landrieux..."

}Who's he?{

"She is a Senator from Louisiana...who just happens to be the chair of the mutant activities committee. She also happens to owe my father big time." She grinned down at him, then pressed a kiss to his forehead.

}How d'you figure she owes him?{ He looked at her, and a puzzled frown creased his brow.

"Well, he gave her the support of the paper during the election...basically, it's highly doubtful she would've won without his support. She's a nice enough lady...fairly liberal on the mutant issue, so we shouldn't have too hard of a time convincing her to vote for the new bill. I hope."

}And if we do? What then?{

"I'm kinda reluctant to do this...in fact, I probably wouldn't, but she doesn't know that. If she doesn't, I'll just make some comment about stuff she doesn't want to be public knowledge. I don't actually know anything...but she's a Louisiana politician. They've all got something they'd rather not have the public know about, and because of who my dad is, they assume I know." She shook her head.

"This is not getting any packing accomplished. Our flight's at four, so we better hurry up...oh, God. I still have to change." She rolled over and promptly landed directly on the box she'd thrown onto the bed. "OWW!!! Owowowowow...travel iron to the kidneys...not fun." She scooped the box out from under her and tossed it in the general direction of her suitcase, then lay back and rubbed her side gingerly. Sitting up, she dropped her legs over the edge of the bed and stood, wincing at the pain in her back. She walked around the bed to her suitcase and pulled out a cropped tank top and a bikini. She held up the tank tops so Jono could see it, then made a face. "If that left as much of a mark as it felt like it did, I don't think I'll be needing this...what do you think?" She turned and pulled her shirt up enough that he could see the angry red mark left by the corner of the box.

}Think that's a safe assumption. Let's not have people thinking I beat you or somethin'.{

"No, that would indeed be bad. I'm gonna go take our dress clothes and put them in the hang-up bag, and then I think we're ready to go...sound right to you?" He nodded, and she hurried out of the room and down the hall.

A/N...ok, this took way longer than I thought(due in large part to the annoyingly time-consuming nature of the employment-seeking process), and it's not as amusing as I might have liked. Next chapter will be better.

Question: Where do you all think Jono and Susana should go while they're in Washington? What kind of touristy things can they do that won't make Jono go off on a bitching and moaning tangent?