NOT another Rietro fic!

Chapter 2: Why do we do the things we do? (Lance sure as hell doesn't know)

A/N: Alrighty then, *cracks knuckles* Time to right another awesome chapter because I am the best (. *Gets slapped by Shokiri Kitten* Huh? Oh…I hate reality checks (. Anywho, Thank you everyone who read this, and rest assured that I will update 'no place to call home' in the near future. I've already started on the next chapter, but I just had to continue this as I read an extremely depressing fic where Lance doesn't get the girl( DAMN U EVAN!!! Sorry, had to get that out… Anywho, I'll stop typing now because nobody reads this anyway. ~Rio~

***

"What?!" Ajax and Rogue said at the same time.

"You heard me." Lance said to Ajax, clenching his hands into fists.

The X-men and the brotherhood (with the exception of Pietro) all echoed their own shock at this statement. "Now get away from her or I'll pound you into a pulp." Lance said, his teeth clenched.

"And what if I don't?" Ajax sneered.

Without hesitation, Lance closed the remaining space between them and slugged the boy right in the jaw. "That's what you asshole."

Ajax reeled to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth.

Lance grabbed Rogue by the arm and pulled her away. Rogue dazedly followed him as they moved slightly away from the crowd.

"You alright?" He asked.

"Wha? Oh, ah'm fine." Rogue said quietly.

She looked behind her and noticed they still had an audience.

Better keep this up, good thing it's Lance. She thought.

Then she moved forward and leaned into him. Lance put his arms around her unconsciously, but after words he realized what she was doing. One look from Rogue told him her plan and he agreed by holding her tighter. After a minute of standing there, Lance let go slowly and they walked away, his hand resting on her waist. They rounded a corner and immediately broke away. Rogue shivered and Lance casually leaned against the wall. Rogue looked back to see that the small crowd of people had dispersed and that Ajax was being carried to the nurse's office.

Sighing, she rubbed her arm and turned back to Lance.

"Thanks." She said uncomfortably.

Lance shrugged. "Not like it's the first time I've had to get you out of a jam." He said.

"Yeah, but the other times it was usually with a much smaller audience."

Lance just shrugged and waited for her to say it.

He didn't wait long. "Ya know ya don't have to do this."

Lance grinned. "What's so funny?" Rogue questioned.

Lance glanced at his watch. "It only took you fourteen seconds. I think that's a record."

"What are ya…Oh. Well you don't ya know."

"Of course I know. But did it ever occur to you that I want to help you?"

Rogue looked down at the ground.

"Not when ah'm thinkin' rationally. So ah guess that's a no."

Lance shook his head in amazement. "You really need to loosen up Rogue. Hey why don't you come out with me and the guys tonight?"

Rogue was taken aback and warning lights flashed in her head.

"Ah dunno," She began.

"Ah don't think Ah'm welcome." Lance finished for her, slipping into a southern accent. "Did anyone evah tell ya how positively predictable yar?"

"Has anyone evah tell ya how annoying ya are?" Rogue countered.

"At least once a week. But that's alraght, 'cause Ah'm just a guy tryin' ta get a friend ta lighten up a bit." He said, smiling.

"What do ah have ta do for ya ta stop talkin' like that?"

"Promise that you'll come out with me and the guys tonight." Lance said, switching back to normal speech. Rogue sighed.

"Alright, ah'll go. But ah'm warnin' ya, I haven't been out for a long time so ah might just be a dead weight."

"Don't worry Rogue, if that happens we'll just get you drunk. See you at 10!"

***

A/N: ACK!! That was the shortest chapter I've ever wrote! I feel so cheap( oh well, the next chapter should be up soon so I'll make it up to you in that chap. Alright, there wasn't any romance in this chapter, but come on it was worth it just to hear Lance's southern accent wasn't it?( anywho, hope y'all liked! Lance rox us all! ~Rio~