Chapter 9: Rogue Takes Her Pick

            "So now," Jean-Paul was talking a bit slowly for once, probably reveling in his victory and wanting to enjoy every millisecond.  "You admit I'm the fastest, and I'll be off."

            Kurt assumed that this extremely bad day was a hint from above to be more humble.  That didn't stop him from fuming on the inside, but there had been enough arguing today.  "Fine.  You're the fastest."

            Northstar smiled widely.  "Isn't it the truth?  Must be off now, ciao."

            "Wait!!" Rogue invaded the court again.  "I wanna shake hands with the winner!"

            Nightcrawler watched suspiciously as she hurled herself at Northstar, shaking his hand vigorously.  He couldn't help but smirk at the fact that Jean-Paul's 'super fast' intellect hadn't caught on to the potential threat.

            "Congratulations on bein' the best." Rogue squeezed his hand harder, feeling her power take affect.  "Hope you don't mind, but I seem to have misplaced my gloves someplace."

            Northstar had long since tried to bolt, but it was too late.  He had moved too quickly to shake her hand… bad mistake.

            "This isn't my usual method," Rogue explained casually, keeping her grip tight.  "But I don't kiss anybody who threatens my wardrobe."

            She finally let him go, unconcerned that her 'ally' was now lying unconscious at her feet.

            "What did you do that for?" Nightcrawler couldn't say he felt very sorry.

            Rogue grinned, enjoying her borrowed quick metabolism.  "I've got my reasons.  I wanted the best tennis player's skills for now."

            Was this the first lucky break of the day?  "Good thing I lost after all…"

            "Actually Sugar," She slinked towards him.  "It was such a close call, I think I'll just take you both!"

            BAMF!

            It didn't take a genius to recognize one of Rogue's crazy moods.  Kurt felt pretty sure that if he'd stayed where he'd been a second longer, it would have been too late to escape her.  Nobody could catch him if he saw them coming… except Northstar… awh, crap.

            "Tag is much more fun with ultra speed!" Predictably, she approached Nightcrawler from behind, slapping her hands onto his face.

            "Give me a break already!" Kurt tried to teleport, but no effect.

            In control, she turned him to face her, smiling purposefully.  "Now let's see here… you didn't say anything against my wardrobe, did you?"

            "S… sure I did…" He lied pathetically, feeling that bruise in the neck more than ever all of a sudden.

            "Don't bite." She took a moment to finger one of his fangs uncertainly before indulging in her trademark deathkiss.

            It seemed an unnecessary cruelty to drain somebody of their life energy only to attempt to suffocate them with a kiss born of desperate loneliness, but that was just Rogue's style.  Nightcrawler could feel consciousness slipping… not to mention Rogue slipping her tongue into his mouth.  Just stop it, already!

            Gratefully, she did take a breath for a minute, looking surprised.  "Hey," She panted.  "For such a… mutated mutant… you're not so bad!  Even this fur is kind of nice… velvety!"

            Figures.  That totally figures.  Face it; this is the worst day in your life.  Or maybe you really did die and go to hell.  Despite the fact that Rogue had absorbed all the powers she could want, she kept at it with a new fervor.  Kurt was vaguely aware of her bare fingers running across the fur on his face, following him into the grass as he lost ability to stand up at all.  His last thought before it all went black was a mix between "I hate tennis," and "I think I left the stove on."

            Caught up in her new discovery (Ooo, fur!) Rogue had to remind herself to let go of Nightcrawler before she killed him.  She reluctantly stopped the assault, remembering that she had some serious business to take care of.

            "Who needs the Williams sisters after all?" Her fingers flexed as she stretched her gloves back on.  Before galloping away in Northstar fashion she turned and blew a kiss.  "Thanks, darlin'!  I'll hurry back as soon as I can!"