Title: The Bets ch. 2 Rating: G Verse: X-Men Evolution Summary: After a guys only poker game, the teens now must face the reality of their lost bets. Disclaimer: I own none of the original Marvel X-Men characters and / or associated Evolution forms. They are used without permission and not for profit, only the enjoyment of the fans. Warnings: Fluff and one reference to exposed skin.
"The Bets Chapter 2"
"Do ah wanna kno' what's goin' on?" Rogue asked and stepped forward, amused and angry at the same time. Evan was dressed as her, wearing her old spare costume and the ill fit was obvious. It was the skunk streak through his hair that bothered her.
"He lost a pair of tens to my four queens last night in poker." Logan stated calmly and tugged his glove into place.
"Tha' tells me nuthin," she snapped and circled Evan. Logan side stepped around her and began gathering the others to start the Danger Room drill.
"We each bet something that mattered…personally." Scott explained gently.
"Ja, he bet he could drill as anyone if he lost."
"So?" The southern girl snapped out. Kurt winced and teleported across the room with his trademark Bamf and sulfur smell.
"As anyone Rogue," Scott emphasized the "as" then he too retreated. Storm walked over and began to mediate a peace between the two.
Across the room, Kurt finished explaining where Logan left off to the girls. Kitty giggled and looked over at Jean. "Like Evan should so know better."
"I'm just glad Scott would never do anything like that. Could you imagine?" Jean flipped her hair back and grinned. "Green is not his color."
"Like fer sure," Kitty agreed and made a face as Scott approached. "I like better go help Wolverine. He looks way too cheery."
"Go ahead." Jean encouraged.
"Uhm, Jean? We need to talk."
"Sure, right after this drill." She raised both arms up and began deep breathing exercises. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. She closed her eyes and leaned out forward, bending at the hips. He sighed in defeat then stood alongside and stepped into the pattern of the warm up sequence movements.
Shadowcat had been right on Wolverine being too cheery. The drill combined anything and everything the room could throw at them, literally. Not one uniform survived intact and everyone was sweaty and thoroughly tired by the time the program was defeated. The younger recruits were excused first but the older X-Men had to stay behind for a review of powers and mistakes. When everyone was dismissed, Jean hung behind to help Kitty and Logan help reset the room. Scott waited in the hallway and practiced how to begin.
Jean moved the last piece of debris into the recycling pile, "That's it, thank God," she breathed, exhausted. Wearily, she straightened up and rubbed her back. "Time to take a shower."
Kitty pretended to sniff the air. "Hadn't noticed," she joked as they exited.
"Jean! You said we could talk…." Scott raised a hand and felt sheepish.
"Sure. Can we make it quick? I want a shower so bad."
He bit his lip and decided to plunge in. "It's about the bets. I lost and my bet affects you actually," He blushed and watched her face intently. She was curious but calm.
"I bet you."
"Me?"
"You, as in…."
"What about me?" Her tone frosted the very air.
"Oh! You don't have to dress up or anything. Just…"
"Just what?"
"Logan….is going to escort you to the picnic on Saturday."
"The picnic! I thought you and I would finally spend some time together…as a couple… publicly." She raised a hand and jabbed a finger into his chest. "I'll have you know Scott Summers I specifically turned Duncan down for that and told him you were the reason. I was through with him and his stupid games and now I'm going to show up in front of all my friends with a man old enough to be my grandfather!"
"Great grandfather but whose counting," Logan commented dryly. Jean threw her hands up into the air and half screamed. "Arrrghhh!" Both men were slammed back by an invisible force as Jean stormed towards the elevator. The second the doors closed, they were released.
"Not too bad." Scott noted and relaxed his shoulders.
"Oh yah, that went well." Logan frowned and rubbed the back of his head. "What did she say when you told her your winning bet?"
"I never got that far."
Shaking his head, Logan asked the obvious. "Why not? Might have saved some grief."
"I...didn't know how."
"Hmmmff" and he walked away, tugging at the remnants of his uniform top. Watching him turn the corner, Scott couldn't help but grin. A small but noticeable section was missing from the rear of his costume, showing skin.
"Gee, and here like I thought Logan was tan everywhere," Kitty snickered and phased past Scott into the girl's locker room. Scott rolled his eyes and felt embarrassed he had noticed too.
Lunch that afternoon was great for the girls and misery for the guys. "So, Kurt, you can only eat healthy foods?" Kitty asked and grinned widely.
"I vas so stupid. And for a vhole veek!" He moaned and flumped his head forward onto the table.
"Man, you got off easy compared to me," Evan griped and blushed at Ororo's look. The white temp dye had washed out, but Ororo's feelings on the matter would take a lot longer to disappear.
"I vas raised in Germany! Beer sausage, cheese fondue with rye bread, sauerkraut, hasenpfeffer with fried potatoes, springerle cookies, sauerbraten, bratwurst, and black forest cake," Kurt trailed off with a sob.
"Now its okra, green beans, whole grain bread, water, lean chicken, and whitefish." Kitty cheerfully corrected and finished filling his plate. Smirking, she placed it precisely in front of him. He glanced up grimacing then flopped his head back down.
"Somebody kill me." The muffled voice begged.
"Now elf," Logan comforted. "Think what would have happened if you won."
"He like could have watched all of you do your losing bets?" Kitty joked and sat down.
"No, I could have eaten anything I vanted for the vhole veek!" Kurt raised his head and his eyes gleamed.
"Wait! There was a...winning bet?" Jean asked confused.
"Ja! You think ve are only stupid enough to place a bet if ve lost?"
"I can answer that." Ororo declared with a frown.
Logan grinned and leapt into the perfect opportunity. "Yup. Each of us bet one thing if we lost, one if we won, even Scott."
"I bet no drills for one week if I won and drill as anyone if I lost," Evan grumped.
"Okay, and yours was eat healthy or not," Kitty noted firmly on Kurt.
"So…what was Scott's?" Jean asked quietly. Both boys looked to Logan.
"Spaced out roses."
"Huh?"
"Like roses that were black or star like or?" Kitty puzzled.
"No. Your birthday is next month right?" Jean nodded at Logan's question. "Elf, close the door please." He leaned in and hardened his voice. "You tell Summers I told you all this and drills will become nightmares…" Nodding heads answered quickly. "He was gonna buy two dozen long stem roses of your favorite color. Then place the first two or three around the mansion for you to find. Like your bathroom, here at the table, in the passenger car seat. Then your locker, and so on."
"He needed us to help place them. The cafeteria and the restaurant for you two to eat dinner at." Evan added.
"Ja, and the theatre and the park bench. Until you had all two dozen by bedtime."
"I…I had no idea." Jean blushed. "I mean…I never thought he could be so…"
"Romantic" Kitty and Ororo sighed.
"Hmmmff." Logan grumped. "I'm gonna leave before all this mush makes me sick." Turning, he smirked and mentally noted, 'You owe me Summers.' He walked out of the room, whistling a tune.