Disclaimer: I don't own the X-men, so if you want to sue me anyway, bring it on!
AN: Thanx for the reviews! As far as speculation on whom hooks up with who, it's all planned out. Patience is a virtue!
Todd walked into the detention room, which became a second home to him this year. He handed the teacher his slip and took the usual seat by the window. Scanning the room, he spotted not one but three X-geeks sulking in the corner. Interested in finding out what they did, he switched seats and sat next to Bobby.
"X-geeks? In detention? The world must be ending, yo!" Todd exclaimed in amazement. Bobby plugged his nose and scooted his chair closer to Jubilee.
"What do you want, TOAD?" Bobby frowned. Behind him, Jubilee and Amaru both glared at him.
"Just wondering why you three are in here, yo! I'm usually alone in after school detention!" Todd hopped up onto his desk. Bobby's annoyance flickered away at the thought of why he was there.
"The new mutant rule! If you're caught using powers in school, you get an after school detention. Do it again, and you're suspended out of school for two days! That's not fair!" Bobby ranted angrily.
"We were just trying to heat up the cold cafeteria food! I guess I overheated and the food caught on fire! Bobby froze it, and Jubilee blasted it all apart!" Amaru said fervently. Todd laughed and jumped onto the teacher's desk after he left the room. This was priceless!
"No sweat, yo. You X-geeks better get used to detention then! I'm bailing!" Todd took off out of the room in his usual hopping manner. Jubilee sighed heavily.
"I hate this!" She got up and walked to the door, peeking around a corner. "I say we go too!"
Bobby got up, grinning mischievously. "Yeah, if Todd does it, we can! Great idea, Jubes."
"Yeah, and then we'll be in more trouble! If we leave someone might tell the Professor what happened!" Amaru pulled Bobby back down into his seat. Jubilee sat down as well.
"We're missing the meeting, you know." Jubilee looked up at the clock anxiously. The three exchanged looks and all got up at once to leave.
"I'll take the principle on before Logan," Bobby muttered as the three ran faster out of the school.
"Charles, I hope you have a good reason for this!" Logan had just heard the news about the Brotherhood moving in, and as Xavier suspected, didn't like it.
"Logan, we need all of the help we can get to fight not only Magneto but this new mutant as well. Besides, things would look up if we and the Brotherhood could work together. I understand why you are upset, but don't involve personal matters with this." Charles Xavier sighed and picked up the papers he was reading earlier.
"The city is trying to close this Institute down. One of the reasons Mystique was willing to work with us was because the Brotherhood house has been evicted after reports of mutant activity. It's a matter of time before our real enemy DOES become anti-mutant believers." Charles looked out the window in thought. Logan looked up at the clock. Feeling a bit awkward, he began to leave.
"Well, I'll go round up the kids for the meeting." He left quickly. He figured that if he stayed in there much longer he'd tell Charles how much he hated this idea.
Rouge was reading on her bed, tuning out the sobbing Kitty beside her. Kitty had cried her eyes out for at least an hour now and was going strong. Her eyes were puffy and her face beat red. Her hair clung to her face due to tears. Rouge finally put her book down in defeat and took the tear-damp pillow away from the younger girl.
"Kitty, it can't be that bad! He's not worth your time and tears!" Rouge pulled back Kitty's damp hair and tightened the ponytail. "Cheer up, ok? Ya don't want other people to see ya like this!"
Kitty sniffed and nodded slowly. "I-I just don't know why he did it! Sure, he's a Brotherhood member, and he is graduating this year, b-but Ilovehimand-" The sobbing fit continued. Rouge looked around the room for a way to cheer her up and spotted Kitty's make up lying on her dresser. She winced, but knew what she had to do.
"Kitty, ya know how ya always ask meh if ya can give me a make over?" Rouge grimaced at the thought. Kitty stopped sobbing.
"Yes…" Kitty whimpered like a two-year-old. Rouge sighed heavily.
"Well, if ya want, just this once-"
"Really!? Like, thanks! Now, let me first find you some clothes…" Soon Kitty was throwing things about in her room looking for the perfect outfit for Rouge. Rouge immediately became her normal self.
"Yeah, well ya owe meh for this. When ah'm ever in a bad mood ah'm doin the same to you."
The Brotherhood residence was quiet. No heavy metal music blaring in Tabitha's room. No arguing over the tv. No complaining about food. All of the Brotherhood mutants were outside staring at the eviction notice on the front door. Mystique wasn't prepared for their shocked expressions. She thought that they might be happy they're moving.
"I know this is hard, but we must move on and find a new home, which is why I've been talking to Professor Xavier about moving in with them temporarily." More silence followed until Pietro looked at her venomously.
"You bitch. I can't believe you turned us in to the X-geeks!" Pietro's voice rose as he continued talking. "Just because you want TO KILL MY FATHER! I'M RIGHT, AREN'T I?"
Lance and the others nodded in agreement.
"No way! The Brotherhood doesn't side with others! So you can leave alone." Lance tore off the eviction sheet and opened the door.
"Where will you go then? All of you are homeless! We move, or you all get sent to an orphanage!" Mystique snarled at them. This comment made Todd go crazy.
"No way, yo! I'm not going there ever again! Hello, X-geeks!" he said frantically. Lance slammed the door shut and turned to Pietro.
"I don't like it, but I'm not going to any orphanage either." He looked at Tabitha and Freddy expectantly.
"Yeah, at least we'll be rich at the mansion." Tabitha shrugged in defeat and Freddy nodded in agreement. All of them turned to Pietro. Pietro looked pissed but groaned and nodded.
"Fine, we go then. No guaranties though on how long we're there, got it? Oh, and don't expect us to trust you anymore Mystique."
Mystique nodded in disappointment. "We'll head there now, then!"
Rouge was staring at her reflection in horror. Her make up was gone, and replaced with what Kitty called, 'natural colors'. Rouge's hair had been brushed at least five times, and was in a trademark Kitty ponytail. Her clothes were what Rouge hated the most; blue jeans that flared at the bottoms, a white blouse with big sleeves, and a pair of brown-heeled sandals. Rouge looked like a Kitty Pryde groupie. The gloves remained the same, of course.
"Ah'm gonna hurl now." Rouge spoke in a small, weak voice. Kitty however was very bubbly and was clapping her hands in happiness.
"You look so pretty! Now we can go to the meeting and shock the hell out of everyone!" Kitty grabbed Rouge's hand and dragged her downstairs. Rouge barely fought back, since her shock had made her speechless.
"Hey, Kitty. The meeting's starting now, your friend will have to leave." Scott said with a smile. Rouge snapped to and rolled her eyes.
"It's me, Scott."
Scott looked at Rouge and frowned. "Oh, right, I knew that. Meet you two in the living room." Scott blinked a few times and left to find Kurt. Kitty giggled and dragged Rouge off again.
The group had gathered finally. Many were still asking what Rouge did to herself, but Rouge would simply reply, "Kitty". Professor X finally came down to start the meeting officially.
"I see Bobby, Amaru and Jubilation aren't here, but I will begin anyway. There will be changes around here. Some big, some small. These changes are due to several situations that will be brought up later. First of all, training sessions will be daily with the exception of Fridays. A schedule will be posted in the kitchen with the times and details. Secondly, all of you must stay over the holidays at this time. I know this is upsetting for some of you, but it's for the best."
The mutants all groaned and began to complain at once. Ororo sighed heavily. She was expecting this.
"We also have new recruits!" Xavier said this with enthusiasm. The others all looked at him eagerly. As if it was all planned out the doorbell rang. Kitty sprang up to get it but Kurt was way quicker. With a bamf, he opened the door. His jaw dropped and looked in danger of falling off.
Todd grinned sweetly.
"Good to see you too, roommate!"
So, ok? Better? Worse? Review and give me a compliment or flame so I feel good about myself. No, I don't have a low self-esteem…