Disclaimer: Surprise, surprise

Disclaimer: Surprise, surprise... 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. Mockery of Jono's wardrobe is inspired by GenX #71 and Uncanny X-men #395. He just doesn't seem to get it.


Notes:

sound
*thought*
} telepathic conversation {

Setting: Washington, the next morning (Monday the 27th for anyone keeping track.)

Susana flicked a damp strand of hair from her eyes, then tugged a standard Institute tank top over her head and left the bedroom. She padded silently across the entryway's black and white marble floor and into the living room, where Hank was sitting on a couch, drinking coffee and reading the paper. "Mornin', Hank. Where'd ya get the coffee?"

"Hmm? Oh, good morning, Susana. The coffee was provided by the hotel's private dining service. I left the menu by the telephone, if you'd like something for yourself. I doubted you would appreciate being awakened so early. I was obviously mistaken." He smiled sheepishly as he gestured to the menu tucked under the phone.

"Hey, no worries. I'm surprised I woke up this early. I guess it must've been the traffic." She picked up the menu, then crossed to the window and pushed the heavy drapes back. " We're facing Pennsylvania Avenue, right? Which way is the White House?"

"I believe it's up the street and to the left." Hank folded the section of the paper he'd just finished and picked up the next section.

Susana left the window and sat in a chair, where she contemplated the menu. She stood and shuffled to the phone, where she was quickly connected to the room service number. After ordering a plate of croissants and a pot of herbal tea, she hung up and sat back down to wait, then leaned across the table and tapped a page of newsprint. "Can I steal that section?" At Hank's nod, she dragged the paper across the table and they both read in companionable silence. When she heard the light knock on the door, she hopped up to get her breakfast. After tipping the bellboy(A/N: WTF should I call the room service server? I'm sure bellboy is non-PC and the wrong term besides...but it will have to suffice), she carried the tray through the living room and into the dining room, where she sat and began munching happily on a croissant while reading her paper. There was a scuffling sound coming from the other bedroom, on the opposite side of the dining room, and she craned her neck to see what was going on. As she watched, Jean stumbled into the doorway, tugging at the laces of one of her tennis shoes.

"Morning, Jean...want a croissant?" She hoisted the plate up and waved it temptingly. Jean stared, mesmerized, then shook her head.

"I can't. Do you have any idea how many calories are in one of those?"

"Yes, I do...now, witness as I miraculously...Don't Care! C'mon, Jean...you wear what, a size 2? Carpe crustulorum!" She shook the plate again and spoke in a high falsetto. "Jean, I am the croissant....I am a good breakfast...There is strawberry jam to go on me." Susana laughed as Jean grabbed the pastry, tore it into bites, and spread jam on each piece.

"Carpe crustulorum, hmm?" She popped a bite into her mouth and raised an eyebrow at Susana before continuing the conversation telepathically. }Dare I ask why you know how to say 'Seize the Pastry' in Latin?{

"I read Dean Koontz. So, what's the plan for today?" She blinked innocently and prayed that Jean wouldn't pursue the topic. *Somehow I doubt Scott and the professor would appreciate knowing that I have the time to read, but not to practice more in the danger room or teach a third section of Spanish.*

Jean took another bite of croissant and went along with the not-so-subtle change of subject. }Well, we don't have anything planned, really. The hearing is on Thursday, so you need to call your senator friend before then. Maybe she'd agree to meet us for lunch tomorrow?{

"I'm pretty sure she'll meet us whenever we ask her to. Aside from my dad's help with her campaign, she's also a really nice lady...makes time for her constituents and all that." She waved a hand expansively, then poured herself a cup of tea from the pot. "I'll call her as soon as I get done with my tea." She turned to the doorway, and dissolved into laughter at the sight that greeted her. Jono was leaning against the doorframe, wearing an ancient, sleeves-cut-off band t-shirt and a pair of black silk boxers. } Jono, what the hell is up with your boxers?{

He looked puzzled. Glancing down, he didn't see that there was anything wrong with them- everything that needed to be covered, was....wasn't it? }What d'you mean?{

}They're, like...Logan-length!{ *God, I'm glad I didn't have any tea in my mouth when he came in...hey kids, gather round, let's see what happens when peppermint tea shoots out of Susana's nose!* She snorted indelicately at the thought.

}Logan-length? Dare I ask?{

}Seems to me you just did...what I mean is, they're the right length for him. He's 5'3". You, however, are 5'9"...and a lot of that 6 inch difference is leg.{

}Yeah, well...wait a second. Why were you checking Logan out?{ He eyed her suspiciously as she considered how to answer.

}Spandex, darling...and don't act like you're all pure and innocent as the driven snow. I happen to know you check out Jean, and Jubilee, and...{ She scowled as he cut her tirade short.

}Ok, you got me there...truce?{ He held up both hands in a gesture of surrender, then crinkled at her.

}If you'll go change. I'd like to drink this before it gets completely cold,{ she gestured at her teacup, }and that's not gonna happen with you standin' there lookin' ridiculous.{

}Alright, alright...I'm going now.{ He pushed himself away from the doorframe and ambled back to the master bedroom to shower and change. As he went, he considered how odd his fiancee's priorities were sometimes. *She's got no problem with the wraps and
the fact that there's a damn furnace inside me, but I wear too-short boxers once and the gel has a coronary...women.
*

Jean had watched the entire exchange with interest, and as Jono walked out of earshot, she began to shake with suppressed mirth. "It was really not very nice of you not to tell him you were sharing the conversation with me."

"It was on a bit of a delay...nothing was getting through if I thought it would upset him for you to know." She smiled at Jean's expression. "Don't worry, he didn't say anything bad about you."

"I hope not...I'm amazed I managed not to laugh when you were talking about Logan." She snickered, and Susana decided it was a good thing she hadn't made any taunting remarks about Bobby or Kurt's musculature or build. Jean wouldn't talk about Logan because she didn't want to add to the tense rivalry he and Scott shared...but she'd have no such qualms about spilling all regarding the younger X-men.

Susana finished her cup of tea, then poured herself a second cup. After she finished that, she stood. "Ok, I'm gonna go call the Senator's office now...when I return, my fiancée will be wearing normal clothes and won't scare me." She grinned and pretended to wave a magic wand, then bounced across the living room into her bedroom. Jono was standing with his back to the door. He'd just gotten out of the shower, and was holding a towel around his waist as he decided what to wear. Susana smirked evilly, then bumped the door closed with as little noise as possible. She crept along the far wall of the room, ducking to keep from being visible in the mirror in front of Jono. She bit the tip of her tongue to keep from laughing as she snuck up behind him. Grabbing the edge of the towel, she yanked with all her strength, then grinned as he whirled around. She held the towel up. "I like this much better than those boxers. Of course, I like your present state even more..." she purred and glanced up at him through her lashes, then turned and began digging through a dresser drawer. "Coulda sworn I left my Palm in here...Jono?" Her tone was astonishingly calm, considering that he'd just picked her up from behind and was carrying her towards the still-unmade bed.

}Yes, luv?{

"Think ya could put me down? Like, now, if possible? If you want to play, you should ask."

}Alright.{ He nodded amenably and lowered her back down to the floor beside the bed. }Susana, I want to play. Can we?{

She looked up at him solemnly, then scrunched her face up in a doubtful expression. "Jean and Hank are, like, right in there. I dunno about the wisdom of play right now....but how about this. I call the senator, like I said I would, then we can go out and be touristy for a bit...and when we get back, we'll have the place to ourselves. Hopefully."

Jono tipped his head back and shot a frustrated glare at the ceiling, then looked down at her and shook his head disbelievingly. }What did I do to deserve such an impossible woman? Ow! That was my shin, gel! No more of that.{

"I'm not impossible." Her brows drew together in an implacable frown, and she pursed her lips in annoyance. Crossing her arms across her chest, she glared defiantly at him.

}No, you're not usually. But even you have to admit...you bloody idle at difficult sometimes. Oh, come here, will you.{ He pulled her from the edge of the bed until they were standing toe-to-toe. }I'm sorry I called you impossible. Now, call the senator- your Palm, by the way, is in the same drawer of the other dresser- and we'll go be tourists.{ He grabbed her hand, removed the towel from her grip, and spun her around to face the appropriate dresser, then gave her a light smack on the butt, }for momentum, luv.{

"Mierda. I'm affianced to someone who thinks smacking my ass is justifiable through application of the laws of physics. Por qué me, Señor?" She opened the drawer and pulled out a small handheld organizer, then popped the stylus out of its slot and pressed it to the screen. Jono wandered into the living room to give her some privacy for her call.

He was sitting on the couch and reading the paper when Susana bounded triumphantly into the living room. "Ok, ya'll, we're going for lunch at the Capital Grille. It's supposed to be some big lobbyist lunch place." She plopped down beside Jono on the couch and looked at Hank and Jean inquiringly. "What are you two gonna do today?"

Hank looked up from the heavy book on his lap. "I thought I might go to the National Museum of Health and Medicine. The new exhibit is supposedly quite fascinating."

Susana nodded. "Sounds cool. Jean? What are you planning on doing today?"

"I'm going antiquing...Scott and I need more furniture for the boathouse...there's so much empty space in there!"

Incredulous, Susana looked across the table at Jono. "Tell me she's not complaining about having lots of space."

}Sorry, gel...but she is.{ He mentally chuckled at Susana's pained expression.

"Jean, if you don't want that space, we'd be more than happy to take it off your hands. I would kill for extra space at the mansion. I'm just really glad I have my apartment...otherwise I'd never have enough space for all my stuff." She stood and tugged her tank top down, then walked around to the back of Jono's chair and began poking his shoulders with her index fingers. "Shall we, m'dear?" He nodded, and after a quick stop to get his wallet, her purse, and an image inducer "just in case"; they were off to tour the city.

Translations:

Mierda - well, it's profane, and the same as Merde in French. Go to http://world.altavista.com/ to find out.

Por qué me, Señor? - Why me, Lord?