The bass of the music pounded through her body as she sat at the bar, nursing her drink and cursing her bad luck. 'Slim pickings tonight ladies.' Ororo told her cleavage as she glanced around the club. Damn Jean and her fiancé. They would usually hit the hot spots together, but not since she became engaged.

A light mixture of techno and R&B started, the dance floor crowded. She would like to dance. But not by herself, not right now. Putting down the complimentary strawberry daiquiri Ororo smiled at the bartender and started to move with the music unconsciously.

"Hey pretty lady." She looked him up and down in a second. Definitely college prep, has stuffy parents, and reeked of money, and does not know how to dress for a place like this.

"Hello." Ororo went back to her drink, a definite dismissal. The guy stood there for a second, then sat down in the barstool beside her. She felt his gaze roaming her body, and she hid an exasperated smile as she turned back to him. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Yes, you could. Dance with me." She wanted to gag. Absolutely Californian, bleached blond by the sun and blue eyed. Boring.

"I really don't feel like dancing." His eyes hardened.

"What's your fee?" Ororo blinked at the meaning.

"Excuse me?"

"I guess they'll let anyone in here. It's apparent you're on the job, so what's your fee? I'd like to take you home tonight." Ororo stood up angrily, and threw her drink in his face. College Prep stood up as well, grabbing her wrist and pulling her close to him.

"Let go of me." She hissed, angry.

"No, you're getting out of here, coming with me."

"You heard the lady. Let her go." Ororo looked over College Prep's shoulder as he turned around. Remy?

"This is none of your business, so I suggest you crawl into whatever hole you came from. I was on the wrestling team in Harvard." He pumped himself up slightly to make his point. Remy's eyebrow rose, and was mock impressed.

"That's nice, but you don't want to worry about me just yet." College Prep looked confused, but it quickly passed as Ororo's knee was jammed into his groin. He let go of her wrist and with a weak cry fell to the floor, the two burly bouncers coming to throw him out. "You okay?" Remy asked her as she sat back down, face flushed.

"Yes, thank you." Ororo shook her head and laughed ruefully.

"What's so funny?"

"I came out to have fun, but I end up being mistaken for a hooker. It's kind of put a damper on the night. If you'll excuse me." She stood up again and started to leave. Remy gracefully slid between her and the exit, looking her over. Ororo was wearing a short and slinky silk dress in white, no sleeves and a very low collar, heeled sandals completed the ensemble.

"He didn't think you were a prostitute. He said that so he could get under your skin. You're too beautiful to be bought, and he knew it. A lot of men feel better about themselves when they make women feel uncomfortable. Don't leave, or he'll win."

"So, you're a professor of psychology now?" She smiled, flattered. Remy laughed.

"Hardly. I know jerks." A new song started, the whole club almost pulsing with energy, and Ororo grabbed his hand.

"Want to dance?"

"With you? I'd love to." The song was instrumental, the dance floor packed. Both were great dancers, letting the music move through them as they came progressively closer. Remy breathed in the scent of her hair, the feel of her body through the silk arousing him. No way to think, to reason, the music blew your mind away, just leaving the dance floor.

Ororo's hands stole up his neck as her hips touched his, the dance liquefying into a slow, smoldering grind. His hands gripped her waist harder, bringing her closer, and her head fit the space on his shoulder, the heartbeat just another rhythm. She looked into his eyes, a light brown as they burned into hers. What she saw there thrilled and excited her, and without hesitation, they kissed.

She was incredible. Remy had never met anyone with such spice, such sex appeal as Ororo Munroe. She tasted like lust, mint, and strawberry daiquiri as he plundered her mouth, coaxing a slight moan from her beautiful lips. The song ended and jerked them painfully back to reality. Pulling away, he felt a slight ache, as if not touching her was painful.

"That was fun. Thanks for the dance." Ororo blushed. She couldn't believe it. She was blushing like a school girl.

"No problem chere." He led her to his table. She sat down and smiled at him, interested.

"Chere?"
"Lets not get into that. So what brings you out to Club Jubilee?" Remy asked, putting his arm around her shoulders. Ororo laughed and pushed it away.

"I wanted to have some fun."

"Did you find it?"

"Maybe."

"Good." A comfortable silence settled over their area, and Ororo regarded Remy for an instant. "What?"
"What are you doing here? I refuse to think it was just coincidence."

"Well, I didn't know you'd be here, but I sort of work here." Remy sipped his Jack Daniels and looked around. "Mr. Logan runs this club."

"So, its one of his legitimate sources of income."

"Correct."

"Do you always treat your blackmailees this way?" She asked him, arms crossed. His jaw tightened and he gave a short bark of laughter.

"What, mad that one time in your life your looks or your money can't get you out of your situation?"

"You caused my situation, if you failed to recall." Ororo started to become angry, and they both unconsciously moved away from each other.

"And we told you to go around stealing from people."

"NO! I didn't say that. My life was-"

"Let me guess, perfect. You know what, people like you really disgust me. You have everything passed to you on a silver platter, and still it isn't enough. So you decide to go and steal, or do something else to fuck up your perfect life. That's not my fault, I'm just one of the people who decided to call you on it."

"Is that right."

"Yes it is." Ororo smiled bitterly.

"Oh, I hate you."

"Really. What was that on the dance floor then?" Remy asked, angry at that confession, more than he cared to admit.

"The music, the proximity. The kiss was a mistake. Just like sitting here and talking to you any longer. If you'll excuse me." Ororo stood up and left the club. Remy watched her leave with narrowed eyes, more than half of him wanting to go and bring her back. Instead, he just finished his drink.

*

'Stupid idiot. Why did you kiss him?' Ororo wondered angrily as she accepted her keys from the valet. Getting into her jag she pulled away from the curb, and dived into the late night Manhattan traffic. "Because…he was sexy and cute and kind of heroic and he smelled really nice." She said out loud. If it weren't for everything, she would really like him. Maybe even give him a chance, maybe try not to hurt him.

She slammed her foot down on the pedal and roared down the lane. No time to live in the world of maybe, deal with what you have now. Ororo looked down as her car phone rang. "Hello?" She asked, pushing a button.

" 'Ro, we've been asked to make an appearance." Jean's crystal clear voice floated to her ears.

"By whom?"

"Mr. Logan. He says he has the details for our job."

"It never ends." Ororo muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. I'm about five minutes away from the house. I'll be there soon."

"Okay…what's wrong?"
"Nothing."

"Don't give me that crap. What's wrong."

"I had a little run in with Remy LeBeau."

"The hottie with the long hair?" Ororo laughed, letting the top down, the wind easing through the cab of the car as her hair was picked up and danced on the wind.

"No, the arrogant bastard who thinks he knows me."

"Ah. Is he a good kisser?"

"Yes. Wait! How did you know I kissed him?"

"Oh please. I'm almost telepathic when it comes to you. Look, we'll talk about his later, Scott just paged me to say he's off duty for the night, and can I come over to help him relax."

"You mean sex, more sex, and more sex?"

"If you want to get crude about it, yes." The women laughed. "I'm going to go. I'll be back in the morning."

"Yeah, whatever. If your pelvis hasn't fused with his."

"I make no promises."

*

"Mr. Logan will see you in a moment."

"It's about damn time." Jean said as she glared at the secretary. The woman stared back angrily, bristling at the woman's presence. She had never met anyone she thought was prettier than she was, and here two women who blew her out of the water were sitting in the same room with her. Shit.

"Jean, can we not cause a scene?" Ororo asked, sitting in the waiting room patiently.

"No, we cannot. We have been waiting for almost fifteen minutes. He called the meeting. He knew he wouldn't be able to see us at this time, so why in the hell did he schedule us now?" Jean came over and sat down beside her, still fuming.

"Just calm down. Personally, I don't want to see him right now."

"And I don't want to prolong it." The two women sat in silence.

*

"Ooh…they are prettier when they're angry." Logan said as he watched them through a monitor. Remy looked up from the file he was reading and gave vague agreement. Jean's hair was done in a complicated pattern of cornrows, a black leather corset and matching pants adorning her svelte body. Ororo wore a pair of tight denim flares and a very thin tee shirt, chic rock in sparkly letters across her bust.

Tearing his eyes away from the hidden camera's monitor, Logan pushed the button on his desk. "Send them in Sarah."

"Yes sir." Sarah turned to the two women. "He's ready now. Just go up the stairs, the only office at the top."

"Of course. You've been so helpful. For professionalism, maybe you should stop shopping on the clearance racks at K-Mart, maybe bathe before you come to work..." Jean gave her a big, sugary sweet fake smile and Ororo pulled her up the stairs before Sarah could respond.

"That was so unnecessary." She said as the walked up the stairs.

"Like her attitude was? Besides, she's ruining my Scott buzz."

"I doubt anyone can ruin your Scott buzz." Ororo shook her head and opened the door at the top of the stairs.

"Jean and Ororo. Good to see you here." Jean raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

"You called us here fuzzy." She reminded him as she took a seat beside her best friend. Mr. Logan's gaze flickered for a moment, then it was swallowed up by a fake smile.

"That I did. Jean, has anyone ever told you have a serious mouth problem?" Jean's red eyebrow rose into her hairline.

"Only the ones I've refused to give head to." She said sweetly. Remy hid a grin behind his folder, and Ororo rolled her eyes.

"Ah, of course. Can't be too many of those floating around, can there? Look woman, I'm sick and tired of how you talk to me. Apparently you need to be told who is in charge of this situation." Logan flung a picture at Jean, it fluttering onto her lap. She picked it up and peered anxiously at it.

"How…? I mean, did you…" Her face became pale as she handed the picture to Ororo. She took a look at it and gasped. It was Jean's parents in an elevator, a man behind them with a gun visible. They apparently weren't aware of it, from the looks on their faces.

"I did it like I told you I'd do it. I'm not just going to tell them what their darling daughter's been doing between freelancing, I'm going to torture and kill them right after. How would you like that? Your darling sister, maybe mutilated, severely disfigured. But it wouldn't matter. She'd be dead."

"Bastard."

"I wouldn't have to be if you would remember who is in charge of this situation." He smiled coldly. "Now, since we've gotten that out of the way, on to our original business. A statue."

"A statue?" Ororo asked, her arm around Jean, who still looked pale. She knew how she felt, the Grey's were like a second set of parents to her.

"Yes, in Atlanta. I trust that won't be too far for you to go."

"No. What building."

"Myriad Corp. Located in the lobby. If you don't retrieve it, then I'll kill one of your parents. One of both of your parents. If you botch it, then I'll have to cut off a finger. Is this all soaking in?"

"Perfectly. Are we done here?" Jean rose angrily, eyes reddening.

"Not quite. I want Remy to come along." Logan smiled.

"Remy?!" Ororo jumped up, slightly indignant.

"Me?" Remy stood up as well, confused and a little put off.

"Yes you. I want someone there that I can trust. You're the perfect man for the job. End of discussion. I want it by Friday." Ororo grabbed Jean's hand and pulled her out of the office quickly.

" 'Ro, today's Wednesday. It will take the rest of the day to get my plane ready, and pack, that leaves us only one day to scope out the building. We've been there, but we've never scanned for security." Jean hissed as they almost jumped down the stairs.

"I know, but it's not like we have a choice. At least it's a building we know. One day will have to suffice." Without another look the two women left the building and darted into Jean's car. Starting her up, she slid into traffic, and felt better as they pulled away. It was silent back to the apartment, and Ororo tipped the valet who took the car. Jean stared at her the whole entire trip in the elevator, until it started to grate on Ororo's nerves. "Jean, what do you want?" She cried, as she pushed into their apartment.

"What do you feel about Remy coming along?"

"I want to know why he has to tag behind us. It's not like we've never stolen a statue before." She huffed, pulling off her shirt and pulling on a comfortable tee shirt.

"We haven't." Jean reminded her, smiling as she poured herself a drink.

"Oh yeah…that's right." Ororo started throwing things on her bed as Jean came in, nursing her burbon.

"I can't have this mess up." She said, trying to disguise her worry. Ororo looked up angrily, then relented, a comforting look on her face as she sat her best friend down.

"Look, he's threatened my parents too. The only reason why I'm not freaking is because I know we're the best at what we do. Period. Whether it be jewels or statues, whatever. We rule."

"We do, don't we?" Jean sniffed back a tear and gulped the rest of her drink. Ororo rose again to finish packing.

"I'm going to go start."

"Okay. What time should the plane be ready?"

"About nine. We'll leave and get there just in time to have some fun."