"You're sure?" Gambit nodded, standing to attention in Magneto's lair. His boss frowned slightly. This was interesting news, news that could prove very useful to him and his cause. "Little Ilehana Xavier home from her travels… The perfect weapon against the X-Men, a powerful telepath strong enough to rival her own father, a weapon he would not dare to harm."
"You t'ink she'll join us?" Gambit broke in on Magneto's plotting. "You t'ink she'll fight against her own father?"
"You tell me. You say you spoke to her, what are her reasons for coming back to Bayville? Does she still harbour her hatred of the X-Men who stole her father from her? It has been many years since she has been here, she won't even know how far her father's institute has come in that time, will she?" Magneto questioned Gambit knowing full well his man could not answer. The younger man didn't flinch though as Magneto stopped pacing and looked him hard in the eye.
"It was hardly the place for soul-searchin' conversation, but I can find out."
"Do that." Magneto ordered. "You say the Vixen had a friend with her? Was she a mutant too?"
Gambit's eyes clouded over slightly as he recalled that aspect of the previous night. Eventually, parched from dancing, the redhead had let him buy her a drink. She'd steered their conversation like a pro, getting him to tell her more about himself than he'd wanted too. She knew his name and what his powers were. And when he'd asked her about herself, she'd put a warm finger on his lips, ran it gently down his bearded chin, his throat and down the front of his tight black t-shirt. Her gentle touch had then burnt the fabric, revealing a good few inches of his muscular chest, left a trail of blisters on his skin…
"Her name's Blaze and she's got fire powers…" That was an understatement, he was sure. The girl was dangerous. Fascinating, but dangerous.
"A shame, one arrogant fire elemental is quite enough for round here. Use her as you will to get to Vixen, but then dispose of her. I don't like loose ends…"
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"Hey Jean, what's up?" Scott Summers asked as he walked into the room where the telekinetic Jean Grey sat elegantly on the windowsill.
"Have you seen who has just arrived?" Was her reply, indicating out the window where a silver-grey convertible was parked in front of the institute.
"No, who is it? Wait, I recognise the blonde…" Scott frowned behind his shades as he watched Vixen and Blaze climb out of the car and ascend the steps to the front door.
"It's the Professor's daughter, Ilehana Xavier." There was venom in Jean's voice. It had been her arrival at the mansion that had finally tipped Ilehana over the edge. They just did not get along.
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"You're back." Logan folded his arms across his chest as Ilehana walked into the entrance hall with Blaze just behind.
"Good to see you too, Logan." Ilehana smiled genuinely, knocking the Wolverine off guard. Where was the truculent, sharp-tongued girl he knew and who on Earth was this graceful, predatory woman who met his eyes as if she expected him to back down? "It smells different here, newer. What did I miss?"
"Nothin' much," Logan shrugged non-committedly. "The place took a blasting, but it's just about rebuilt now. Where you been?"
"Everywhere. But what you mean is why am I back?"
"And the answer is?" He unfolded his arms and flicked his eyes over to where Blaze was stood looking vaguely bored. Was all this something to do with the redhead?
"I can't tell you Logan," Ilehana put a hand on Wolverine's bare arm, wishing it could be otherwise. He'd been a good friend to her in the short time she knew him. She wanted him to know she hoped nothing had changed but that would have to wait, "Blaze?"
"Hello," Blaze replied, glad her friend hadn't completely forgotten she was stood there like a sore thumb while she chatted up this Logan fellow.
"You'll come pick me up? I don't know how long this will take, and I wouldn't want you just standing around…"
"Causing trouble, yeah I know," Blaze laughed. "Just gimme a telepathic buzz and I'll be right back. And good luck." Ilehana nodded her agreement, heart pounding as she went for the first time in years to talk to her father.