Ace of Hearts
Chapter 3
By Kanshisha Tenshi
Disclaimer: If it's a name you've heard before that you think I have no right to claim, then it's probably not mine (e.g., name brands, song names, character names, anything! I have no job, therefore no money! I own nothing!)
~[ 3 ]~
Rogue started off the next day by giving Neutra a reprimand for yesterday's invitation.
"Do ya even know who the Acolytes are, Neutra? They're th' enemy! Ya invited the enemy t' eat pizza with us, in public! Remy's one of 'em! They work for Magneto, th' personal pain in all our asses."
"I thought that was Mystique."
"Her, too, an' don't ya go changin' the subject on meh! If ya ever see the Acolytes again, don't invite 'em to come sit with us! Ah mean, at least you could insult them instead!" She crossed her arms.
"It's not my fault no one told me! I don't remember you explaining all this before or after the book-store-incident..."
"Well...Ah was angry. It slipped mah mind. Just...go get breakfast or something."
~[ 3 ]~
Lauren stormed out of the house, slamming one of the mansion's two wooden doors behind her. As she walked by the sign reading "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters," she kicked it, hopping on one leg from the pain it caused in her toe. The eighteen-year-old mutant decided to take out her frustration on the dance floor. She made sure she had her ID with her, then headed downtown to look for a bar or dance club she could let it out in.
"And to think I was going to help her..."
~[ 3 ]~
Gambit snuck through the trees surrounding the institute. He had been waiting outside for hours now, looking for a specific room. Then her saw her, in all her pale and untainted beauty, standing on the balcony outside her room. He grinned; his patience was paying off, and now he knew where the Rogue's room was. His red eyes brightened devilishly as he waited for Rogue to leave the balcony. Silently, he crept over to where her room was.
He frowned as he puzzled how to get up. He glanced over his shoulder at the bo staff.
~[ 3 ]~
Rogue heard a thump from the other side of her closed door. She opened it, but saw nothing in her room, except for the balcony doors' curtains blowing in the wind. She frowned.
Didn't Ah close those doors? She shrugged, closed the doors, and left her room again, closing the intricately decorated wooden door behind her as she headed down for breakfast.
~[ 3 ]~
Gambit sighed from underneath a girl's bed, still clutching his bo staff from when he pole-vaulted onto the balcony. He had landed a little harder than he had anticipated.
Why couldn' de fille have a room on de first floo'? Ow...
~[ 3 ]~
"Where's Neutra?" Scott asked Rogue when she walked into the kitchen.
"G'mornin' to ya, too, sugah," she mumbled.
"Excuse me?"
"I don' know. Last I saw her she was leavin' the mansion, I guess." She shrugged. "Prob'ly went for a walk or somethin'." Scott frowned.
"I needed to ask her something..."
"Look, just relax, 'kay? It's the last day 'fore school an' ya'll are still bein' a goody-two-shoes leader. Go shoppin' or somethin' with ya gal and enjoy yaself for once, Scott. Ah'm sure whatevah ya need t' ask her can wait 'til mornin'."
"My gal...ah...girl?"
"Jean."
"Oh, right...hey! She's not my girl! She and Duncan are..."
"...History," Rogue finished for him. "Make ya move, lover boy," she said, batting her eyes at him playfully. He blushed as Jean came into the kitchen.
"Hey Scott, Rogue," she greeted. The way they looked at her confused her. "Did I miss something?"
Rogue grinned and walked out of the room leaving the two alone.
~[ 3 ]~
Neutra sighed as she snuck back into the institution. She didn't dare use the front door, because that would attract far too much attention. She looked up to the second-floor balcony that marked her and Rogue's room with a sigh. She would have to climb up the stones, a far-from-easy task.
"Why me?" she asked.
"What you doin' out here, petite?" came a familiar Cajun accent. Neutra whirled around and stared into Gambit's bright red eyes in the darkness. It was well into the evening, and his eyes shone like tiny fires.
"You...your eyes...that's what she...meant..." She couldn't help but stare. He smiled sheepishly.
"Do you like Remy's eyes better when dey brown?" he asked softly. She shook her head.
"They look fine. It makes you unique, you know. I like your eyes, but I can understand why you'd hide them in public with all the mutant haters around..."
"You never answered Remy's question," he said, changing the subject.
"Yeah, well, I could ask you the same thing, boy."
"Ladies first," he said with a bow.
"I was out all day, avoiding people. Your turn."
"Remy was just stretchin' his legs when he heard yo' voice."
"Stretching your legs? At the mansion? But you don't live anywhere near here!" He winked. "Have you been here all day, Remy?"
"Oui. Under one o' de femme's bed." She stared at him. "Wha'd I say?" he asked, grinning innocently at her. Her expression softened.
"Get me into my room and I'll forgive you. Were you waiting under the bed for Rogue?" He nodded, and she smiled in satisfaction. "That's so sweet..."
"He hoped 't would be, non?"
~[ 3 ]~
Gambit, once again, barely had time to slide under the bed when he landed on the balcony. Neutra hopped onto her bed, the one farthest from the glass doors. She grabbed her Terry Brooks novel and was flipping through it to find her place when Rogue walked in.
"Ah'm not gonna bother askin' how or when ya got back in. What Ah would like t' know is: what would ya like t' do for the next, say, five hours?" Neutra thought for a moment, then grinned.
"Well...How about you go get some snacks, and I'll get some people in here. We'll...rendezvous in about ten minutes." She chuckled at her own personal, albeit stupid, joke. Rogue eyed her suspiciously, but complied.
~[ 3 ]~
When Rogue came back in with a bowl of popcorn, a bag of chips, and two bottles of soda, she was surprised to see five people other than Neutra in her room. Scott was holding a conversation with Neutra, while Jean was...holding Scott's arm.
Looks like a certain redhead has a new boyfriend, she noted mentally. The other three in the room were Repro, Kurt, and Kitty. She frowned.
"Hey, Repro, what is ya real name? Ah don' think ya ever told meh."
"Alex," he said quietly. Rogue blinked in surprise. That was the first time he'd ever talked to her. She had half-expected Lauren to answer for him.
"That's a...um...nice...name..." she managed, still a little shocked. He had a very deep voice, despite its softness.
"Zo vhat iz it ve're playing?" Kurt asked Neutra, blinking. Neutra grinned devilishly.
"Well, once our...guest decides to come out, I'll tell you. First, though, I need you guys to swear you'll play one of my suggestions." They all gave her a doubtful look, and she frowned. "You will swear or it's off. Now, for our mystery guest..." She kicked under the bed, which, to the surprise of the students gathered, elicited a muffled 'ow'.
Rogue stared as Gambit crawled out from underneath her bed.
"Oh, Ah get it. That's where ya were all day, an' that's how ya got back in, right, Lauren?" She glared sharply at the other girl.
"Hey, I didn't invite him," she said defensively. "He came up behind me and scared me half to death. He helped me get up here, and then he hid. Now, you guys have to swear to play the game."
"Nuh-uh. Deal's off. Ah ain't playin' whatevah it is if that swamp rat's involved." Kitty frowned at Rogue.
"Oh, like, come on, Rogue. It's the last day before we, like, have to go back to school, and we all need a game to play." She looked at Jean, who nodded in approval.
"She's right, Rogue. This could be good for us. All you have to do is pretend he's not there...hey, wait, isn't that one of Magneto's Acolytes?"
"Ah...no. This is Remy LeBeau. He was interested in joining the school at the same time as me, Repro and Nega, but we got separated," Neutra lied. Rogue stared at her, and she stared back evenly, defiantly.
"Can ve juzt get on vith it?" Kurt demanded, bored. Grudgingly, the others agreed, Rogue even more hesitant than the others. They sat down in a circle on the floor, the goods in the middle. Despite her efforts to avoid him, Rogue ended up sitting next to Gambit, with Nightcrawler next to him. Kitty was on the other side, next to Jean, who still clung to Cyclops almost possessively. Looking as if she were about to gag, Neutra sat on her knees beside Cyclops, with Repro closely next to her.
"So, like, what's the game?" Kitty asked. Neutra gave her a sly smile.
"Do I have everyone's solemn oath to play?" They all nodded, slowly. "Good. I figured either Truth or Dare, or Spin the Bottle."
~[ 3 ]~
Author's Notes: Didn't think you'd actually get to see the game this chapter, did you? Nah. According to some of my reviews, people like to see friendships and relationships progress slowly. Right now Rogue and Neutra's friendship is supposed to be a little 'rocky.' My regards to whoever guesses where Mystique comes in, or why I had an even number of boys and girls for Truth or Dare/Spin the Bottle. Thanks for the reviews, guys, and keep 'em coming. I prefer to write knowing what people think of it as I write it, and getting helpful hints and suggestions from the readers. More chapters with more reviews. =)
