AN: If anyone has any good suggestions for Taina to try to name herself as a codename, leave them. Well, not good ones. Mildly stupid. Like along the lines of "No See 'Em Girl."
A pair of red eyes squinted and strained to see around the corner, toward the front door. A light curse was uttered as the solitary blind slipped out and crashed down, obscuring the watcher's view. Frowning, he slid his index finger under the bottom edge of the cream blind and waited. How long could they possibly take on the front porch? Mind you, they were not locked in a passionate kiss, so Remy was not too perturbed. However, he still wanted that Davis gone. Now. Or perhaps sooner. Yeah, sooner worked.
Snorting in frustration, Remy attempted to will Storm to shift her position so that he could get a better glance. She had her back to the window, which he appreciated, but she was blocking off Davis' face so that Remy couldn't read his lips. Lips that better not 'ave touched my padnat.
Ah, there. Remy propped his foot up on the dark leather couch for a better angle. Ororo had taken a step closer to the door. He squinted further, and began to lip read.
"Ororo, I had a great time tonight. Sorry about the mess, I'll pay for your dress to be cleaned."
If only Ororo would turn to the side, I could make out what she's saying…
"You're a super girl, 'Ro. You're my angel, sent from above."
If 'dere's any more cheese thrown out here, I'm gonna go find a nice Merlot to relax wit'.
"You're even better than my sister!"
Way to go, Davy. Incest is a wonderful comparison. Bastard's moving in for the kiss now. Wonder if I can slip a card underneath the doorframe…
Davis closed his eyes, and leaned slowly forward, advancing on Ororo like a gaping-mouthed tuna. She did not notice, however, as she had stepped inside, and closed the door. Davis, without Ororo to stop his descent, fell forward, and kissed the doorbell, sending the tones ringing throughout the mansion. Embarrassed, he sprinted away, hopped into his white Ford Tempo, and sped off.
"Remy, you can reveal yourself now. I know that you were watching us."
Emerging from the parlor room, Remy stepped into the expansive tiled foyer, a lazy grin firmly set on his face. "Why you think 'dat, Stormy?"
Ororo began to walk toward Remy, "Because I know you that well." She brushed by him, making her way toward the staircase in the hallway.
"Don' I get to hear how your date went?"
Turning, Ororo quirked up a side of her mouth in an odd grin. "Ask Logan. He was spying on us."
"But you not tell your padnat?" Widening his eyes to appear similar to a puppy dog, Remy struck for the guilt trip. "I see what I mean to you."
Ororo let her head loll back, and released her breath through her mouth in a sharp gust. "Very well. We shall walk around the grounds."
Remy brightened up considerably. Offering his arm to Ororo, he led them both outside to walk around the mansion. "So, where'd you go?"
Ororo kicked off her shoes, and left them on the front porch before stepping onto the cool, damp grass. She sighed, "the local eatery."
"Dat greasy joint?" Remy howled with laughter, bent over to clutch at his stomach. "What, he think, 'It'll cost over five bucks, it's a classy joint?'"
"You saw his vehicle, Remy. He is not exactly the richest person alive."
"But to the Roadkill Café? Chere, the motto is 'You Kill It, We Grill It."
Idly, Ororo extended a hand over the small purple flowerbeds, creating a tiny rain cloud to water them. "Yes, I realize that."
Glancing over, Remy noticed a dark spot on Ororo's shirt, right between her breasts. "How'd dat get there?"
Snorting, Ororo picked at her shirt. "A clumsy attempt to feel me up."
"What?" A flash of red started as a card was suddenly charging in Remy's hand.
"Do not worry, he felt nothing. He attempted the tired 'touch the necklace' trick, but forgot he was holding his soda at the time. It spilled onto my shirt. Onto happier things, how are you and Rogue doing?"
Remy narrowed his eyes. "I'll let dat topic change slide for now, Stormy." He straightened up again. "We're doin' alright, I guess."
The partners turned the corner, breathing in the fresh scent of the fragrant grass and flowers. On a cool night, it was possible to catch a breeze that scent all the plant's scents mixing around. "Just alright? Is there a problem?" Ororo asked, a faint note of concern creeping in.
"Non. We're fine. Nothing new."
Smirking, Ororo poked Remy in the side. "Could it be that the wild Cajun is settling down?"
"Non!" Remy spat out, indignant. "I'm not settling down!"
"I am not sure," Ororo teased, "you have gone from late nights drinking to late nights spying on a girl you are not even dating. You have been domesticated, my friend."
Remy lightly shoved Ororo, causing her to stumble away from him and take a step into the soft soil. "Only watching you 'cause you're my padnat. And I don't like dat Davis."
Ororo rolled her eyes. "You do not like anyone, Remy."
"Damn straight I don't." Crossing his arms over his lean chest, Remy grunted a bit over the thought of a guy taking Storm out. "None of 'em are good for you."
Sighing, Ororo crossed her arms horizontally as well. "I believe that even if I did find the perfect man, you would disapprove, Remy."
Remy's eyebrows raised in thought before he nodded in acquiescence. "Maybe I just want you for myself." He slipped an arm around her narrow waist, "I can be a bit jealous, you know."
"Rogue would kill you if you tried anything."
"Really?" Remy's mouth turned up in a sly grin. "Maybe she want you herself, non?"
Taking a broader step, Storm slipped away from Gambit's grasp. "You are impossible, Remy."
"But you love me for it anyway."
Having completed a circle around the mansion, the two former thieves stepped back onto the wooden porch. "Unfortunately, and against my better judgment, I do, Remy."
Remy grinned, showing off his teeth. "Because I'm so cute." Ororo rolled her eyes once more. "Hey, Stormy?"
Ororo dropped her hand from the doorknob and turned to face Remy. "Yes? And do not call me that."
"Thought you said Logan was spying on you. Where he be, then? Not make it home with you?"
With practiced ease, Ororo snaked her right hand back behind her curtain of thick, heavy hair, and fished out a medium-length cord with two ends to it. "Distributor wire for Logan's vehicle. He is walking home tonight." With a wink, she stepped inside the mansion as Remy bowled over with laughter.
_________________________
"Taina, this is the Danger Room. This is where you will learn to control your gifts." Gambit, Storm, Wolverine, Jean, Scott, Rogue, Jubilee, and the Professor were in the Danger Room along with the new recruit, attempting to explain to her the function of the room.
Taina looked over at Jean, securing the image of a friendly face in her mind before responding. "Why are the walls so high and shiny?"
Jean smiled, and swept her arm around to indicate the vastness of the room. "The metal is both to dampen powers, and to reflect imagery. It's so high so that those of us that can fly can practice in here also."
Eyes wide with admiration and wonder, Taina shone at Jean. "Can you fly, Ms. Grey?"
"I can use my mind to lift me up and hover. The only true natural flyer here is Rogue, but Storm can use the winds to simulate flight."
Taina nodded. "Why am I here, though? I don't know what I'm doing."
The Professor wheeled over to a small control panel on the side of the curved metal wall. Tapping a few buttons, a high-pitched whine sung out, and three holographic Friends of Humanity members appeared with baseball bats in hand. "Most of us learn to control our powers best in danger. Your goal is to defeat the FOH members."
The X-Men backed up to the wall, leaving Taina in the middle. The three simulations advanced on her, and she turned tail and ran, attempting to hide behind Jean or Scott. "Help!" she cried, shaking in her sweat suit.
"Go," Jean prodded, mentally nudging Taina back out to the FOH members. "Don't run, use your powers."
Taina began backing up again, as Logan indicated that he could no longer smell her presence. Opening her mouth to scream again, it came out silently. She could no longer be heard. Her voice came back, and she yelled for the holograms to stay back before dropping to her knees and covering her head, whimpering. She certainly wasn't a natural fighter, by any stretch of the word.
Sighing, the Professor stopped the program, and Taina stood up. "I'm no good at this," she said, downcast.
"It's alright, my child. In fact, how about we ask the X-Men to do the same thing you're doing?" Everyone looked at Xavier, puzzled. "In two weeks time, they will each demonstrate a new use of their powers here in the Danger Room to assure you that it just takes time."
As the Professor led Taina out of the room, the rest of the X-Men looked at each other before Scott spoke what was on everyone's mind. "We're doomed."
AN2: Let me make this clear. Ready? THERE WILL BE NO SEX IN THIS FIC. As I told Stormfreak once, think of this fic as the Champagne Room. And, as we all know, there's No Sex In The Champagne Room. Got it? Make one off-hand remark, and *poof*, everyone thinks we're gonna get naked. Do I need a "sarcasm alert" sign? *wanders off, mumbling* ;P
Sioned36, OrorisStorm: Thanks! Look! It's more!
Stormfreak: Of course, I *could* break my AN just for you and have a nekkid Davy. Just cause I know you'd looooooooooove that. Wow, that broke my sarcasm meter. Dang. Gotta buy a new one.
Wahinetoa: You're making me blush. And please, I can barely describe a Coke can, you can describe a scene. I should be begging off your feet here. In fact…you need to write something! Now. This is not a request.
Rhapsody: Wolverine sits on the old gum tree, eating all the gumdrops he can see. Stop, Wolverine! Stop, Wolverine! Leave some there for me! (I think hanging in a tree works.)
Ninamonkey: No prob. I'm sure you inspired this somehow, too.
Rain Dragon: Davy drives a Tempo. I can't think of a worse punishment for him. ;)