"Bet you can't guess what today is,"Tara announces, drawing a crooked X on the window pane,"It's real important." Angel shrugs, drawing an O on the tic tac toe board they'd created then writing- what? "Our test is today. Remember the big test? One Jean's been all but smacking us over the head with books to study for?" Another nod, another crooked X. "What do you think they'll ask?" Another O, another written answer- stuff. "Smart ass. Think you're ready to go back into the world again?" The tic tac toe board gets erased and Angel speaks. "Maybe, won't know until we try it..." She breathes on the window and draws a second board. Tara does the same on the opposite side, drawing an O. "Think you'll pass?" "How should I know? According to Remy and Jean I have the attention span of a seven-year-old,"Angel sighs, drawing an X below Tara's O,"want to play Hangman instead?" "Sure. You play first... Chose. Would you rather be a genius or have the attention span of a seven-year-old?" Silence reigns between the two friends long enough for Tara to get a head, face, and the line of a body. "Attention span of a seven-year-old. Imagine me a genius...all that information would probaly just make me stranger then I am now,"she mutters hollowly while writing an L on the window.
"You two ready to go? Jean's bouncing around like a wind up ball.....don't look so sad, dears. It's not your execution." Hank walks to the two who hurriedly rub away their game. "Are you ready, Angel?" A hesitant nod is his answer as Tara stands, waiting. He unlocks the door and holds it open. After a few moments Angel steps out of the room, looking around hesitantly; her teeth were buried in her bottom lip. Tara smiles. "What do you feel?" "Nothing...it's just empty except for this feeling of worry. Is that mine?" "I ain't worried about you, Angel." "Thanks, Tara." "It seems Jean's shield practices worked....come, it's time to take your test,"Hank announces, holding out one arm to the door. Angel shrugs. "Ready to do this, Genius?" Tara smirks. "Sure, STERML(Short Term Memory Loss)." It takes a few moments and several stupid comments before they find the front door and join the waiting X-Men. Gambit looks up at their entry. "Anyt'ing?" Angel looks up at him with her most charming smile, a pick-up from Rogue. "What do you think, Remy?" "Remy t'ink you deserve a good smack for worrying me, petite..." "Um...I'm gonna say no."
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"How much longer this going to take, Red?" Logan chews the end of a cigar while pacing the length of the waiting room. Three and a half hours had passed since the kids had gone to take the test. There was no sign of either of them returning yet. Jean sighs,"Stop pacing, Logan. This may take quite awhile....Rogue, please stop hitting Remy. Remy, stop provoking her." "But chere be cheating!" Several other people gathered in the room give them all rather strange glances as Hank continues eating a twinkie. "Leave the children alone." "Which ones?"Logan questions, watching the test students through the window. Tara is busily writing while Angel writes a little then stares into space or taps a pencil on the desk before writing some more. "The ones we can talk to, idiot." "Don't call me names." "Well stop being dumb." "Make me." "That an offer?" "You can't take this offer." A long shrill whistle stops their banter. "Children, please behave. Things are hard enough with two children....we don't need four." Rogue and Gambit begin to laugh. "Logan got in trouble, Logan got in trouble, Logan got in trouble...."
"This is what happens when we leave you alone for a few moments? I'd hate to see if we vanished for a few days..." Tara leans against the doorway, smirking at the man who any other day would have threatened her life or gave a sarcastic remark. Logan settled for growling at her. "You two done?" "I am. Angel's not. What you get in trouble for? Picking fights with Jean again?" "I don't pick fights. How much longer?" "Considering the fact that she's picking up others' emotions, lightly? I'd say give her another hour. One hour and she'll be done." A heavy sigh echoes from the gathered X-men.
ONE HOUR LATER
"Wow, that was almost easy. What's everybody staring at?"Angel questions coming out of the testing room with a yawn,"What I do?" Logan, Gambit, Rogue, and Hank raise their heads from playing what could only be a very confusing, combined game of Poker and Go Fish; no one was sure. Logan glowers at her. "About time. Can we go?" Jean nods. "The test results will come in the mail soon. Until then we must wait..." Tara jumps up from reading some book that she'd picked up. "Come on. Morty promised to take me to the zoo! Let's go, let's go, let's go!" Logan stares at her. "Why don't we sit here a while?"he mutters, tossing the cards at Gambit who somehow catches theman instance before they hit the floor. "Do not throw de cards, mon ami. Dey be important to dis thief." *SMACK* "What was that for?" "For bein' an idiot!" "okay..."
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"Are you sure you want to play, mon ange?"Gambit questions, dealing the cards once more to the gathered Poker players. Logan, Scott ,and Hank look at Angel for an answer; she nods. "Yep...afraid I'll be better then you both? I can tell.." Logan rolls his eyes. "Sure, kid. Deal her in, Gumbo." Gambit shakes his head and deals cards to everyone, including Angel. Why would anyone let de child play poker? Remy never taught her dat. "Money in, mon amis." They put in their money and the game begins. "Wait a minute. I need to get something to drink,"Angel says after a few moments of playing, starting to stand. "You can't just leave in the middle of the game, Angel." Scott shakes his finger at her disapprovingly. "But I'm thirsty. You got a better option?" "Of course,"he replies, taking Hank's untouched beer and giving it to the fourteen-year-old,"Drink this." "De petite be underage, homme." Logan shakes his head. "Just let her drink it. I doubt she even likes the taste, Gumbo." Angel looks at Gambit for permission; he shrugs, trading in a card. She stares at it throughout the first round of poker; Gambit wins. "Ah, hell, I'll try it." She places the bottle to her mouth, taking a drink. The X-guys watch, paying no attention to Gambit's dealing, waiting for her to grimace, spit it out, or something. Logan's jaw drops when she drains half the bottle in one gulp.
"Petite?" "That's good. Can I have another one?"she questions, shuffling her cards together as she sits the bottom back down. Hank gasps. "Oh my, that's not a good thing." Scott stares at his cards. "This hand sucks." Gambit shakes his head. "No...no more beer, petite." Logan shakes his head, trying not to laugh. "What time Tara say Toad would bring her back?"he mutters, trading in a few cards. Scott, Gambit, and Hank all answer. "Seven." Angel hiccups as she puts the a one-third full bottle down. "You asked...that..*burp*...two...hours ago.. it don't...change." Gambit glares at them. "You going to play poker or gossips, mon amis?" "Can I have another beer? I promise not to get drunk....I've never been drunk in my life. Please, Remy?" Angel bats her eyelashes at him. "Pretty please?" "Fine...one more."
ONE HOUR LATER( REMY-TWO BEERS, LOGAN-TWO BEERS/ONE VODKA, HANK-NOTHING, SCOTT-TWELVE GLASSES OF ORANGE JUICE, ANGEL-FIVE BEERS-DRUNK)
"Okay, all...kidding aside. Cards down." The X-guys and Angel put their cards down on the table; a royal flush in diamonds stares at them from Angel's cards. "Petite, you be doing somet'ing Remy not teach?"Gambit questions, watching her take the money and trying to remember how many beers they'd actually given her in the course of the last hour. He wasn't sure anymore but Hank and Scott were beginning to look worried. Logan was annoyed. "How the hell does a drunk fourteen-year-old win three hands of poker...STRAIGHT?" Hank shrugs. "I'm beginning to believe that somehow alcohol affects her brain diffrently then most people...most people become dumber or less intelligent but our Angel obviously gets smarter or at least thinks better. Although she still shows the signs of silliness...." "Don't be mad, Logan. Hey, look! I'm a water fountain!" The four look over to see Angel standing on top the counter, spitting water out of her mouth from between her front teeth. Scott scratches his head. "I don't get it." "Water fountain!" "Petite, off de counter. Remy t'ink it time for bed." Just as Gambit and Hank are about to help her down Rogue enters the kitchen from outside; her gaze darkens at the sight of Angel standing on the counter spitting water while the guys play a game of cards.
"REMY LEBEAU, SCOTT SUMMERS, HANK I-CAN'T-REMEMBER-YOUR-LAST-NAME, LOGAN!" Rogue's screech rattles the windows and causes Logan to cover his ears. Scott and Hank scurry out of the room. "Medusa attacks! Medusa attacks!" "Hey, Rogue!" "Now, Roguey, let Remy explain...." "Explain why she's standing on the counter trying to be a water fountain!" Logan stands. "Darlin', don't be mad at the Cajun. Scottie's the one that gave the kid beer...." Angel jumps off the counter and looks up at them all. "Wow, I want to learn to fly!" Rogue, Gambit, and Logan all blink, staring down at her before Rogue rolls up her sleeves. "You say Scott gave her alcohol?" "Rog--" Gambit's plea falls on empty ears as she flies out of the room and up the stairs. His attention goes to the blue and yellow blur that disappears out the door and around the mansion. "Remy say dis suck." Logan settles back into his chair with a beer. "Go get her, Gumbo. I dare you."
Gambit hurries outside, looking for his ward. Nothing remotely close to the blue and yellow form that had streaked out of the mansion was visible. "Petite?"he calls, walking around and looking for any sign of the kid; there wasn't any for awhile. "Remy's not mad, petite!" Splashing and the sound of 'drunken' laughter draw his attention to the pool area. His worry increases at the sight of the zip-up blue jacket Angel had been wearing hanging over the fence outside the pool. Someone was swimming around inside the pool but making quite alot of noise and splashing. "Remy, Angel sooooooo glad you came! It's time for swim class!" Gambit stares at his 'child' as she surfaces, shaking her head in a motion similar to a dog. Water flies all over the concrete and Gambit's casual clothes. "Mon ange, it not be safe to swim drunk." "Ain't drunk." "What you be?" "Intoxicated,"she mumbles before trying to pull herself out of the pool. It fails. Gambit grips the under part of her arms and pulls her out of the pull, ignoring the hiccups and shivers as he puts her jacket back on her. "Drunk and Intoxicated mean de same t'ing." A loud scream of pain echoes from the mansion's upstairs window. Gambit and Angel cringe. "Roguey.."
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Next chapter TARA AND MORTIMER/TOAD at the ZOO. The time when they are at the zoo will be the same time as the poker game and Angel's 'first time'. How do they get along? Is there anything else they have in common? Alligators, Lions, Monkeys, and THE BAT HOUSE. It's kind of scary. Later on comes-test results, more underage drinking, and......more brotherhood torment.
"You two ready to go? Jean's bouncing around like a wind up ball.....don't look so sad, dears. It's not your execution." Hank walks to the two who hurriedly rub away their game. "Are you ready, Angel?" A hesitant nod is his answer as Tara stands, waiting. He unlocks the door and holds it open. After a few moments Angel steps out of the room, looking around hesitantly; her teeth were buried in her bottom lip. Tara smiles. "What do you feel?" "Nothing...it's just empty except for this feeling of worry. Is that mine?" "I ain't worried about you, Angel." "Thanks, Tara." "It seems Jean's shield practices worked....come, it's time to take your test,"Hank announces, holding out one arm to the door. Angel shrugs. "Ready to do this, Genius?" Tara smirks. "Sure, STERML(Short Term Memory Loss)." It takes a few moments and several stupid comments before they find the front door and join the waiting X-Men. Gambit looks up at their entry. "Anyt'ing?" Angel looks up at him with her most charming smile, a pick-up from Rogue. "What do you think, Remy?" "Remy t'ink you deserve a good smack for worrying me, petite..." "Um...I'm gonna say no."
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"How much longer this going to take, Red?" Logan chews the end of a cigar while pacing the length of the waiting room. Three and a half hours had passed since the kids had gone to take the test. There was no sign of either of them returning yet. Jean sighs,"Stop pacing, Logan. This may take quite awhile....Rogue, please stop hitting Remy. Remy, stop provoking her." "But chere be cheating!" Several other people gathered in the room give them all rather strange glances as Hank continues eating a twinkie. "Leave the children alone." "Which ones?"Logan questions, watching the test students through the window. Tara is busily writing while Angel writes a little then stares into space or taps a pencil on the desk before writing some more. "The ones we can talk to, idiot." "Don't call me names." "Well stop being dumb." "Make me." "That an offer?" "You can't take this offer." A long shrill whistle stops their banter. "Children, please behave. Things are hard enough with two children....we don't need four." Rogue and Gambit begin to laugh. "Logan got in trouble, Logan got in trouble, Logan got in trouble...."
"This is what happens when we leave you alone for a few moments? I'd hate to see if we vanished for a few days..." Tara leans against the doorway, smirking at the man who any other day would have threatened her life or gave a sarcastic remark. Logan settled for growling at her. "You two done?" "I am. Angel's not. What you get in trouble for? Picking fights with Jean again?" "I don't pick fights. How much longer?" "Considering the fact that she's picking up others' emotions, lightly? I'd say give her another hour. One hour and she'll be done." A heavy sigh echoes from the gathered X-men.
ONE HOUR LATER
"Wow, that was almost easy. What's everybody staring at?"Angel questions coming out of the testing room with a yawn,"What I do?" Logan, Gambit, Rogue, and Hank raise their heads from playing what could only be a very confusing, combined game of Poker and Go Fish; no one was sure. Logan glowers at her. "About time. Can we go?" Jean nods. "The test results will come in the mail soon. Until then we must wait..." Tara jumps up from reading some book that she'd picked up. "Come on. Morty promised to take me to the zoo! Let's go, let's go, let's go!" Logan stares at her. "Why don't we sit here a while?"he mutters, tossing the cards at Gambit who somehow catches theman instance before they hit the floor. "Do not throw de cards, mon ami. Dey be important to dis thief." *SMACK* "What was that for?" "For bein' an idiot!" "okay..."
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"Are you sure you want to play, mon ange?"Gambit questions, dealing the cards once more to the gathered Poker players. Logan, Scott ,and Hank look at Angel for an answer; she nods. "Yep...afraid I'll be better then you both? I can tell.." Logan rolls his eyes. "Sure, kid. Deal her in, Gumbo." Gambit shakes his head and deals cards to everyone, including Angel. Why would anyone let de child play poker? Remy never taught her dat. "Money in, mon amis." They put in their money and the game begins. "Wait a minute. I need to get something to drink,"Angel says after a few moments of playing, starting to stand. "You can't just leave in the middle of the game, Angel." Scott shakes his finger at her disapprovingly. "But I'm thirsty. You got a better option?" "Of course,"he replies, taking Hank's untouched beer and giving it to the fourteen-year-old,"Drink this." "De petite be underage, homme." Logan shakes his head. "Just let her drink it. I doubt she even likes the taste, Gumbo." Angel looks at Gambit for permission; he shrugs, trading in a card. She stares at it throughout the first round of poker; Gambit wins. "Ah, hell, I'll try it." She places the bottle to her mouth, taking a drink. The X-guys watch, paying no attention to Gambit's dealing, waiting for her to grimace, spit it out, or something. Logan's jaw drops when she drains half the bottle in one gulp.
"Petite?" "That's good. Can I have another one?"she questions, shuffling her cards together as she sits the bottom back down. Hank gasps. "Oh my, that's not a good thing." Scott stares at his cards. "This hand sucks." Gambit shakes his head. "No...no more beer, petite." Logan shakes his head, trying not to laugh. "What time Tara say Toad would bring her back?"he mutters, trading in a few cards. Scott, Gambit, and Hank all answer. "Seven." Angel hiccups as she puts the a one-third full bottle down. "You asked...that..*burp*...two...hours ago.. it don't...change." Gambit glares at them. "You going to play poker or gossips, mon amis?" "Can I have another beer? I promise not to get drunk....I've never been drunk in my life. Please, Remy?" Angel bats her eyelashes at him. "Pretty please?" "Fine...one more."
ONE HOUR LATER( REMY-TWO BEERS, LOGAN-TWO BEERS/ONE VODKA, HANK-NOTHING, SCOTT-TWELVE GLASSES OF ORANGE JUICE, ANGEL-FIVE BEERS-DRUNK)
"Okay, all...kidding aside. Cards down." The X-guys and Angel put their cards down on the table; a royal flush in diamonds stares at them from Angel's cards. "Petite, you be doing somet'ing Remy not teach?"Gambit questions, watching her take the money and trying to remember how many beers they'd actually given her in the course of the last hour. He wasn't sure anymore but Hank and Scott were beginning to look worried. Logan was annoyed. "How the hell does a drunk fourteen-year-old win three hands of poker...STRAIGHT?" Hank shrugs. "I'm beginning to believe that somehow alcohol affects her brain diffrently then most people...most people become dumber or less intelligent but our Angel obviously gets smarter or at least thinks better. Although she still shows the signs of silliness...." "Don't be mad, Logan. Hey, look! I'm a water fountain!" The four look over to see Angel standing on top the counter, spitting water out of her mouth from between her front teeth. Scott scratches his head. "I don't get it." "Water fountain!" "Petite, off de counter. Remy t'ink it time for bed." Just as Gambit and Hank are about to help her down Rogue enters the kitchen from outside; her gaze darkens at the sight of Angel standing on the counter spitting water while the guys play a game of cards.
"REMY LEBEAU, SCOTT SUMMERS, HANK I-CAN'T-REMEMBER-YOUR-LAST-NAME, LOGAN!" Rogue's screech rattles the windows and causes Logan to cover his ears. Scott and Hank scurry out of the room. "Medusa attacks! Medusa attacks!" "Hey, Rogue!" "Now, Roguey, let Remy explain...." "Explain why she's standing on the counter trying to be a water fountain!" Logan stands. "Darlin', don't be mad at the Cajun. Scottie's the one that gave the kid beer...." Angel jumps off the counter and looks up at them all. "Wow, I want to learn to fly!" Rogue, Gambit, and Logan all blink, staring down at her before Rogue rolls up her sleeves. "You say Scott gave her alcohol?" "Rog--" Gambit's plea falls on empty ears as she flies out of the room and up the stairs. His attention goes to the blue and yellow blur that disappears out the door and around the mansion. "Remy say dis suck." Logan settles back into his chair with a beer. "Go get her, Gumbo. I dare you."
Gambit hurries outside, looking for his ward. Nothing remotely close to the blue and yellow form that had streaked out of the mansion was visible. "Petite?"he calls, walking around and looking for any sign of the kid; there wasn't any for awhile. "Remy's not mad, petite!" Splashing and the sound of 'drunken' laughter draw his attention to the pool area. His worry increases at the sight of the zip-up blue jacket Angel had been wearing hanging over the fence outside the pool. Someone was swimming around inside the pool but making quite alot of noise and splashing. "Remy, Angel sooooooo glad you came! It's time for swim class!" Gambit stares at his 'child' as she surfaces, shaking her head in a motion similar to a dog. Water flies all over the concrete and Gambit's casual clothes. "Mon ange, it not be safe to swim drunk." "Ain't drunk." "What you be?" "Intoxicated,"she mumbles before trying to pull herself out of the pool. It fails. Gambit grips the under part of her arms and pulls her out of the pull, ignoring the hiccups and shivers as he puts her jacket back on her. "Drunk and Intoxicated mean de same t'ing." A loud scream of pain echoes from the mansion's upstairs window. Gambit and Angel cringe. "Roguey.."
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Next chapter TARA AND MORTIMER/TOAD at the ZOO. The time when they are at the zoo will be the same time as the poker game and Angel's 'first time'. How do they get along? Is there anything else they have in common? Alligators, Lions, Monkeys, and THE BAT HOUSE. It's kind of scary. Later on comes-test results, more underage drinking, and......more brotherhood torment.