*****Author's Note*****
This update took me approximately a month to complete. Sorry. I hope it is worth the wait.
*****
"The Morning View and the Love Bunny-Part Three"
If Professor Charles Francis Xavier had been using just and one extremely small section of his psychic abilities to monitor the children, none of this would have ever happened. But why should he have? He had his pet Wolverine, to watch the children and his pet Wolverine would have never let anything as utterly deplorable and what happened happen.
****
"Uh, Hullo, Ray." Vash uttered.
"So." The weird haired blonde began. "Did you get your presents?"
If Vash had not been caught completely off guard by the sudden appearance of Ray she would have seen what was coming long beforehand.
Ray Crisp felt something nick his ear as it whizzed past. He instinctively reached up for his ear, losing his balance and falling sideways against the wall. His back made contact first with the wall, followed shortly by his ass's contact with the floor.
The object in question, which had later been identified as a first edition hard back version of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, had narrowly missed taking Ray's ear off only to smack Vash right in the face; Sending the poor girl flying backwards and hitting the floor miserably.
The next thing that Ray could remember was seeing an enraged Paige Guthrie flying through the air with all the grace of a deranged puma, layers of skin whipping behind her like the tail of some humanoid comet. Berzerker could do nothing but cower into the corner, nervously gripping at his ear, eyes wide and full of terror. He was vaguely contented in the fact that he finally knew why Guthrie had been given the codename Husk; such an appropriate name for such and unusual power.
****
It was still early but you would not have been able to tell at Harry's Bar and Grill (1). Scott recognized the name from the hundreds of match books he'd found lying around the mansion shortly after Logan's arrival. He hadn't really been in the mood for going out but Logan had insisted. The man had been growling to himself about kids, hormones and cry babies all the way there. Logan didn't even spare Scott a glance as he sat down with what seemed like a keg of beer. The booth was dark and far away from all the commotion and Scott could see the length of the place from there.
It was a dark, depressing place. Did Logan actually come here as often as the plethora of matchbooks had suggested? What did he have to be so depressed about?
"So how exactly is this supposed to cheer me up?" Scott asked.
"Who said anything about cheering you up?" Logan asked.
Scott groaned loudly. He attempted to get up but Logan stayed him with a slightly rough hand.
"I figured that ya'd feel better if ya didn't have ta deal with those damned kids." Logan muttered into his beer.
"Those kids need to be chaperoned." Scott replied curtly. "You know as well as I do that they can not be trusted."
"Yeah," Logan laughed. "But we'll only be gone for an hour, tops. Okay, Slim?"
Scott sighed and gave in; finally reaching for one of Logan's many beers. He knew he shouldn't be drinking but it was the only thing he could think of to keep his mind off of things. But for some reason he just could not shake the feeling that something terrible was going to happen.
****
Ororo Munroe and Kurt Wagner were draped across one another like a pair of sleeping newborn puppies. It was by far the cutest thing you would ever want to see. They whispered quietly to one another, as lovers often do. She lazily traced circles in his dense short fur. Ororo had always loved Kurt's fuzziness. When they had first met, she had been so fascinated that she broke from her usual aloofness and had run her hand across his stomach. She should have known then that she was caught; she would be stuck with Kurt Wagner for the rest of her life. She stared at her new engagement ring. Maybe that wasn't so bad, really.
Kurt stared into the weather witch's flashing blue eyes. He could stare into those eyes forever. He could not believe how lucky he was. He was actually going to marry this wonderful creature. But before he could open his mouth to say something utterly beautiful in his native tongue he was interrupted by the sound of a rather large explosion and the trimmers that followed.
Storm and Nightcrawler sprung from bed, dressing hastily and running toward the door.
****
Vash could not breathe. She knew her nose was broken and could feel the blood leaking from it. She felt something heavy on her chest, but her eyes were so swollen and watery that she could not make out her attacker. Everything was happening so fast. Whoever it was, she felt like they were beating her upside her head with a brick. She couldn't concentrate therefore she couldn't teleport. All she could make out was a blur of yellow. And then the world went black.
Paige had transformed her body into a block of granite and was currently pounding furiously on the evil boyfriend stealer. She was enraged. She was hurt. She was so fucking pissed. She could not believe that this horrible bitch had been banging her boyfriend behind her back and smiling in her face all this time like nothing was wrong. She would make her sorry she ever messed with Paige Katherine Ann Guthrie (2).
Ray Crisp just watched it all in shocked horror. His mind was screaming for him to do something, but his body would not comply. The sight was too much for the boy. It was total self-preservation. If he interfered, he was sure that crazy bitch Paige would turn on him.
****
Remy LeBeau, the mutant known as Gambit, cursed himself for not moving faster. Because of the fact that his physic shields were on the frits he had sensed what was about to happen before it actually had. But he had ignored it, as he had with all the other emotions that were wafting throughout the mansion lately. But now he was painfully sorry he had. All those terrible feelings were on him in an instant. His face practically ached in sympathy. He sprung from the bed and grabbed a T-shirt, heading straight for his door.
****
Jono stared at his bedroom door. He was actually afraid to leave. Maybe Paige had come to her senses and was waiting for him on the other side.
Suddenly his mind was hit with a scream so loud, so blood curdling that there was no mistaking what it meant.
"Stop!"
Jono recognized the voice and could hear his friend's silent sobs in his head. It was Vash. And she was in a shit load of trouble. He opened up his mind in hopes of pin pointing exactly were she was. She was on the first floor, down by the boys' rooms. Someone was attacking her, but for all the rage and incoherent thoughts, he couldn't figure out who it was. Then finally he put two and two together and made five. He had remembered what he had uttered in the heat of the moment in his girlfriend Paige's presence.
*Oh God, no.* Chamber's psi-voice squeaked. *Paige. No! *
He shot out of the room as fast as his Doc Marten clad feet could carry him.
****
"So," Isaac Wagner said thoughtfully.
"Tabitha-" Bobby Drake finished.
"Well if it isn't Sparky and the Abominable Snowgeek." Tabby said through gritted teeth. "What do you want, Iceboy?"
Tabitha Smith stared down the couple blue eyed mutants in quiet hatred. They had interrupted her private alone time and she was not a happy camper.
"Iceman, Tabby. Iceman!" Bobby erupted, while stamping his feet in a fit of annoyance.
"Bob!" Static whined.
"Whatever." Tabitha groaned. "What. Do. You. Want?"
"We were hoping that you could assist us in planning a romantic evening with our lady friends." The electrokinetic answered.
Tabitha harrumphed in response. The suddenly a wicked smile spread across her face. Iceman recognized this as the prelude to an impending challenge.
"Well, why would you need my help, Icedick?" Tabby smirked. "It's not like you and Roguey can fuck without you dying anyway."
"Well, whore-" Bobby began before Static jumped in.
"Boom Boom." Static interrupted while rolling his eyes. "We just thought that since you seemed to have so much experience dating guys that you might have a better idea of how a good date should go."
"In other words, since you are such a fucking whore, we thought you could tell us the least thing a guy could do to get you to spread your legs." Bobby said bitterly. "Opps, sorry that would be nothing. So let's try for the most he could do."
Static just stared at Bobby in shocked horror. He had no idea that Iceman could be so cold.
"Touché, Drake." Tabitha conceded.
But before she could open her mouth to answer their question, the mutant teens were interrupted by a blood-curdling scream coming from the dorm rooms.
****
"You should definitely wear that." Jubilee laughed.
"Ya think?" Rogue asked with a raised brow. "Ya don't think it's a little bit much?"
Rogue turned and scrutinized her reflection. She had to admit, she looked damn good. She was definitely glad she had bought this dress.
"Hell no!" Jubilee crowed. "Bobby'll shit himself."
"That's not exactly what Ah was going for." Rogue said sheepishly.
"Oh, c'mon, Marie!" Jubilee groaned. "Tonight is the night. I know, I know. It sounds really cheesy. But you're eighteen years old. It's time for a little fondling." She said with a mischievous smile.
"Ah don't know, Jubes." Rogue said as she looked at herself in the mirror. "What if Bobby isn't really interested? We haven't even talked about it. Ah mean after that kiss- (3)"
"Are you serious?" Jubilee deadpanned. "Believe me, he's interested."
"How would you know?"
"My boyfriend is his roommate, Rogue!" She smiled. "Guys talk. Besides, Static says that Bobby has serious pent up sexual tension. He says that the guy is like spanking it like all the time."
At that comment, Rogue unusually pale skin took on a noticeable shade of red.
"Bobby doesn't really do that." Rogue said aghast. "Does he? Anyhow, how would Static know?"
"Believe me, he knows." Jubilee said rolling her eyes. "Just don't ask him how. Better yet don't even mention that you know that he knows. It's a traumatic subject for the boy."
"No!" Rogue shouted in horror.
Jubilee simply nodded gravely in response.
"Mah Bobby does need some special attention, huh?" Rogue smiled.
Jubilee had already begun to open her mouth to concur when they heard and felt an explosion that rocked the mansion.
****
"So, did you actually really love her?"
"Wha-?"
"Did you love her?"
Logan finally tore his eyes away from the 'hypnotizing' allure of the froth of his beer not look at the man questioning him. Scott was taken aback by the look on Wolverine's face. It was a mixture of shock and confusion. Not like ol' Wolvie at all. He was never shocked about anything; often confused, but never shocked. The silence was deafening. The silence was uncomfortable.
It was a stupid question. Scott Summers knew it, but he could not help himself. The bar. The beer. Why? He had to know if Logan was as depressed as he was feeling right now. But deep down, he knew the answer. Logan hadn't made any effort to hide his feeling back then; at Alkali Lake. Logan was the one that had kept him from completely losing it. Not that he hadn't come entirely too close. But he had noticed that Logan was no worse for wear as he had been himself. He knew. But something inside of him had to hear it out loud.
Logan swallowed hard. "Yeah. I did."
There Scott had his answer. He believed him. If Jean's death had accomplished anything outside of saving their lives, it had forced to two men that she had cared for the most to become something at least passable as friends. Even if Scott begrudged admitting it. Logan had actually tried pretty hard to be there for him, even if the man would never admit it. In reality, Logan had tried very hard to be there for everyone. Scott had recognized how hard it had been for the guy at first. Trusting. But underneath his normally sullen attitude toward the- hell everyone- Wolverine was extremely protective and loyal. He had cared about Jean. He cared about the kids. He cared about the dream.
Wolverine cocked a curious brow. He was just about to ask Scott 'What the hell he was looking at' when he was surprised by the ringing of a cell phone. Scott jumped in response.
"That's me." Cyclops groaned.
Wolverine grunted in return and refocused his attention on his beer.
"What!" The X-Men's Fearless Leader screamed all sissy-like.
****
"So, Amara?" Lance said as he scooted a little closer. "Ya got any plans for tonight?"
Amara Aquilla Allison Crestmere (4), the fire mutant codenamed Magma was on the verge of showing Lance Maurice Alvers (5), the mutant codenamed Avalanche, just why she was given her name.
"C'mon on, Princess." Avalanched groaned. "Talk to me! Won't ya even look at me?"
Over in front of the Rec Room's TV, Todd "Toad" Tolenski and Sam "Cannonball" Guthrie groaned in unison. Lance was being totally pathetic. Even more so than usual.
Sam and Toad were engaged in heated battle of Soul Calibur II, Sam was Kilik (6) and Toad was wielding Link (7). Sam was winning.
"How the hell are you winning!?" Todd barked. "I got a sword and a shield and all you got is a stick, yo!"
"Juss talented, Ah guess." Sam laughed.
Toad was just about to show Sammy just how talented 'he' was when they heard one the loudest screams ever in their young lives.
"What the fuck?!" Lance bellowed.
And for some strange reason that even they did not understand, they ran toward the scream instead of out of the door. Apparently, the legendary Stryker invasion had taught the children nothing.
****
Remy got there first. And he was completely horrified by what he saw. It was a normally extremely arousing catfight gone terribly wrong. There was blood on the wall. And a there was that femme Paige, or at least he thought that it was Paige, sitting on his beloved Vashoba's chest pummeling her with stone hands.
His first reaction was to go and try to break it up. Of course that did not go as planned, being that Paige had taken on the form of granite, making it impossible for him to pull her off of the poor girl. And so Gambit took the only alternative left to him, he pulled out some cards and charged them just enough to stun the girl. This was pretty much a lot, seeing that Paige was now some freaky rock girl gone insane. But before he could get his shot off, he was tackled rather forcefully by someone else blonde and probably just as insane.
"Sam?!"
****
Jono had finally made it up to the first floor and was just rounding the corner when he spotted what had to be the whole school in the hall way. He could see Paige (now back to normal) crotched in the corner crying with her brother comforting her. He also saw Bobby, Remy and Static among others crowding and kneeling over the prone form of his best friend, Vash. And so he lost it.
"VASH!"
He took off at full speed. He never even noticed Ray sprawled out in the floor. And so he tripped.
BOOM!
No. Not BOOM, he hit the floor. BOOM as in he hit the floor and unleashed one of his notoriously dangerous bio-energy blasts. Fortunately for everyone else the blast went through the floor. Unfortunately for Jono, the blast went through the floor, causing him to fall through it, taking poor Raymond Crisp with him.
****
[Sometime Later, in Xavier's office]
Charles Xavier rarely lost his temper. When he was a child even then he never threw temper tantrums. His mother had always told him that is wasn't proper for an educated person to stoop to such infantile way of showing irritation. Even when he was extremely angry he would never do anything so beneath himself as to scream, ki- er- punch, or throw things. But right now he was on the very verge of making an exception.
He had explicitly asked Logan to watch the children. And he was quite sure that Logan had agreed to. And for the life of him he could not understand, even being a telepath mind you, why Wolverine had insisted on doing otherwise. And Scott. Why would Scott Summers, his second in command, his rock, his do-boy- er- confidant would go along with such a harebrained idea, such as leaving the children unattended. The tired professor gave and exasperated sigh and rubbed the bridge between his eyes. The children were projecting rather loudly at the moment and it was taking him a minute to sift through everything.
Scott and Logan were the only ones in the office with him now, awaiting their impending doom. Kurt and Ororo were down stairs in the infirmary with Hank and all of his patients.
Professor Xavier sighed and then began.
"Vash has a broken nose, a black eye, and a concussion. Remy has some bruised ribs. Ray had a broken arm AND leg, not to mention a slight concussion. Jono is fine actually. And Paige is still hysterical."
Scott and Logan groaned rather loudly.
"I don't even want to know why you left."
"Pro-" Scott tried.
"The children are calming down." Xavier interrupted. "I am still not sure why Paige attacked Vash the way she did-"
Logan grunted.
"Logan?" The Professor asked.
"She was jealous." Logan stated plainly. "She an' tha Human Furnace got somethin' going but Future Girl still sleeps down in tha basement with him every night."
There were so many things wrong with what Logan had just said it just made Xavier's headache even worse.
"So, you knew that Vashoba was breaking the rules, by being in Jonothon's room after curfew?"
"You didn't?" Logan asked with a raised brow.
Scott still remained wisely silent. "If only he knew what else was going on around here." He thought to himself.
The professor raised a questioning brow in Scott's direction.
"Logan," Xavier began as if he were explaining to the dumbest child on the playground. "If I used my telepathy to monitor every child under this roof, when would I have time to get anything done? Also, why would I even need you, or Scott, or Ororo, or Kurt?"
Logan left out a defeated sigh.
"I am extremely disappointed." Xavier concluded.
Logan did know how or why it happened but he actually had begun to care what Chuck thought about him. He felt like shit. He'd failed the guy. He'd failed the kids. But he had honestly not thought that anything like this could have happened. And now there were three kids laid up in the infirmary because he was stubborn and wouldn't make good on one stupid request. He should have seen, smelt, something'd it coming.
"Stupid!" He thought to himself.
"I will be speaking with Paige in the morning." Xavier said abruptly. "I am not sure if she can remain here."
Scott's stomach knotted up. He knew he should have stayed. It wasn't that Paige Guthrie didn't have a loving family to return to. She and Sam weren't like most of the other kids here. Their family had sent them here and they had come willingly. Their parents had wanted them to learn more about what they were and how to control what they were. But he could not help but think that it was his fault that the poor Kentucky girl would be going back to her family's farm. But he also knew that the Professor was right, Paige had broken one of the school's cardinal rules. She not only had she gotten into a fight, but she used her mutant powers against another student with the full intent of causing harm. She would have to go. For how long was now up to the Professor.
*****
[In the infirmary]
Storm had finally been able to pull Kurt away from Vash's bedside in attempt to go see the Professor. He waved furiously in the direction his daughter until Storm finally got him out of the door.
"You feeling better?" Static asked his sister.
"Yeah," Vash groaned weakly. "Morphine. Fanfuckingtastic."
Her voice sounded funny because of her broken nose.
"Hush, now, chere." Remy whispered into her ear, as well as shooting Static a glare. "Y' shouldn't be talkin'."
Vash groaned in response. Static smiled sheepishly.
"Don't you-" She tried. "Date?"
Static laughed nervously.
"Oh." He said. "I don't know if Jubes is up to it now."
"Course she is." Remy responded. "Vash is okay now. Y'should go an' check on yo' femme."
"Yeah." Vash said weakly. "Go. I'm fine. Just tired. Can't help with that."
Static sighed. He knew his sister would be alright. But he wasn't.
"Damned Paige." He thought. "That crazy bitch."
Besides, he was sure the Professor had called for an early curfew.
"Y' betta hurry, homme." Remy interrupted his train of thought. "The Prof. probably be gettin ever'body in early afta dis nuit."
"I guess." Static groaned. "You sure, sis?"
"Go." Vash would have screamed if she could have.
Static begrudgingly exited the room leaving Remy and Vash and a sleeping Ray Crisp alone.
"How's Ray?" she asked.
"He sleepin'." Remy answered. "Doc Hank say he got a broke arm and leg and a concussion."
Vash winced in sympathy.
"Damn." She stated plainly. "So much for my Valentines date."
Remy gave a questioning grunt.
"And you?" She asked, pointing to Remy's bandaged midsection.
"Had a run in with Sammy." Remy said in response. "He t'ought Ah was tryin' ta kill his sister."
"Humm."
"Being dat y'so intent on talkin' even tho' Remy ask y'not ta," Gambit began. "Y'mind tellin' him what dat letter o' yours was 'bout."
Vash gave a small smile.
"I just wanted you to know I still care."
"Ah know y'do." Remy smiled.
"So we're still friends?"
"De bess."
"Good. Now please. Take a bath, you stink." She gave a weak smile before wincing slightly.
Just as Remy was about to dote over her some more, Jono appeared at the door. He had on new bandages, white ones, which he hated of course. But hey, what ya gonna do? His beloved leather jacket was long gone along with the rest of his wardrobe. Bio-energy blasts + clothes = naked Jono. He was wearing a pair of green scrubs now.
*Hi, love.* Chamber said softly. *Hi, Rem.*
Remy gave Chamber a knowing look. Then turned to Vash.
"Remy be back later, alright, chere?" He said before giving her a soft kiss on her less bruised check.
And then Remy was gone.
*'Ow yer feelin', ducks?*
Okay, it was a stupid question. And Jono knew it was a stupid question. But what else could he say. His 'girlfriend' had just beaten the living shit out the poor girl. And she was laid up in a hospital bed looking like she'd just been run over by sooo many cars.
"Oh, juss peachy." She managed.
*Gess, I am so sorry, love.*
"What are you sorry about?" Vash groaned. "I'm just glad you're okay."
Jono winced and responded. *I'm fine. It's not the first time I've blown a hole through a building.* He joked lamely.
"I know." She said as she grunted to sit up right. "I know how much you hate losing control of your powers."
Jono gave a mental sigh.
"I just don't understand," Vash started. "Why would she do that? What happened, Jono?"
*I might 'ave said something I shouldn't 'ave at a time I shouldn't 'ave.* Chamber mumbled.
"Wha-?"
*I kinda said yer name instead of 'er's.* Jono said a bit louder. *While we were being intimate.*
"You guys do that?" Vash asked. "No. Wait. You said my name?"
*Yeah.*
"And she did this because of it?" Vash said motioning to her injuries.
*Yeah.*
"Crazy bitch." Vash mumbled.
*She's always been jealous of yer.* Jono said quietly.
"But why?" Vash huffed. "We're just friends."
Jono gave her a sad look.
"Jono?"
*She's jealous of yer because-* Jono began.
Vash looked at her friend expectantly.
*We spend so much time together. And-* Jono gave a small mental groan. * She knows. I love yer and not 'er.*
"I love you too." Vash said. "But we're best friends. We're supposta love each other."
*No, ducks.* Jono said. *Not like I love you.*
A look of understanding washed over Vash's face. And Jono could not believe that he'd just said what he'd said.
*I'm sorry.*
Silence.
*I know yer wanted ta just be friends. We still can be. Can't we?*
Vash was visibly shocked. She leaned back into the bed. Jono rolled his eyes in disgust at himself.
"Jono." Vash began quietly. "You know I love you to death right?"
He nodded.
"But what we got is just too perfect for us to mess up by-" She stumbled for the words. "Ya know."
*Yeah.* He said quietly. *I do.*
****
[Bobby's room]
"I can't believe something like this could happen." Bobby said. "I can't believe Paige would do that. She seemed so nice. I can't believe she used her powers against Vash like that. What got into her?"
"Bobby?"
"Oh, yeah, Marie?"
"Look at me."
"Uh-"
Bobby Drake turned around to find his girlfriend of almost one and a half years standing before him as naked as the day she was born.
"Jubilee thought Ah should wear this dress Ah bought, but Ah thought this was better."
"Yeah." Bobby drooled.
Marie stalked toward the drooling boy and sat on his lap. She placed an ungloved hand on his face. He flinched a little before he realized that he wasn't being sucked dry.
"Marie?"
"Shut up an' kiss me."
*****Author's Note*****
(1)- I have read a butt load of fanfics in which Logan frequents a bar called Harry's.
(2)- I made Katherine Ann part up. Sound Kentucky enough for ya?
(3)- You know, the kiss from X2.
(4)- I did some research and came up with two names actually, so I combined them.
(5)- 'Maurice', ugly enough for ya? I made it up too.
(6)- Kilik is a character in Soul Calibur II (great game) the only one that fights with a staff and nothing sharp.
(7)- Link from the Zelda games, you can play as him in Soul Calibur II if you got a GameCube.
Scrawler: You are the best. I feel so loved. Thanks for the encouragement. So now hurry up and write the follow up to "Fire Born". I wanna know what happens to St. John next!
This update took me approximately a month to complete. Sorry. I hope it is worth the wait.
*****
"The Morning View and the Love Bunny-Part Three"
If Professor Charles Francis Xavier had been using just and one extremely small section of his psychic abilities to monitor the children, none of this would have ever happened. But why should he have? He had his pet Wolverine, to watch the children and his pet Wolverine would have never let anything as utterly deplorable and what happened happen.
****
"Uh, Hullo, Ray." Vash uttered.
"So." The weird haired blonde began. "Did you get your presents?"
If Vash had not been caught completely off guard by the sudden appearance of Ray she would have seen what was coming long beforehand.
Ray Crisp felt something nick his ear as it whizzed past. He instinctively reached up for his ear, losing his balance and falling sideways against the wall. His back made contact first with the wall, followed shortly by his ass's contact with the floor.
The object in question, which had later been identified as a first edition hard back version of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, had narrowly missed taking Ray's ear off only to smack Vash right in the face; Sending the poor girl flying backwards and hitting the floor miserably.
The next thing that Ray could remember was seeing an enraged Paige Guthrie flying through the air with all the grace of a deranged puma, layers of skin whipping behind her like the tail of some humanoid comet. Berzerker could do nothing but cower into the corner, nervously gripping at his ear, eyes wide and full of terror. He was vaguely contented in the fact that he finally knew why Guthrie had been given the codename Husk; such an appropriate name for such and unusual power.
****
It was still early but you would not have been able to tell at Harry's Bar and Grill (1). Scott recognized the name from the hundreds of match books he'd found lying around the mansion shortly after Logan's arrival. He hadn't really been in the mood for going out but Logan had insisted. The man had been growling to himself about kids, hormones and cry babies all the way there. Logan didn't even spare Scott a glance as he sat down with what seemed like a keg of beer. The booth was dark and far away from all the commotion and Scott could see the length of the place from there.
It was a dark, depressing place. Did Logan actually come here as often as the plethora of matchbooks had suggested? What did he have to be so depressed about?
"So how exactly is this supposed to cheer me up?" Scott asked.
"Who said anything about cheering you up?" Logan asked.
Scott groaned loudly. He attempted to get up but Logan stayed him with a slightly rough hand.
"I figured that ya'd feel better if ya didn't have ta deal with those damned kids." Logan muttered into his beer.
"Those kids need to be chaperoned." Scott replied curtly. "You know as well as I do that they can not be trusted."
"Yeah," Logan laughed. "But we'll only be gone for an hour, tops. Okay, Slim?"
Scott sighed and gave in; finally reaching for one of Logan's many beers. He knew he shouldn't be drinking but it was the only thing he could think of to keep his mind off of things. But for some reason he just could not shake the feeling that something terrible was going to happen.
****
Ororo Munroe and Kurt Wagner were draped across one another like a pair of sleeping newborn puppies. It was by far the cutest thing you would ever want to see. They whispered quietly to one another, as lovers often do. She lazily traced circles in his dense short fur. Ororo had always loved Kurt's fuzziness. When they had first met, she had been so fascinated that she broke from her usual aloofness and had run her hand across his stomach. She should have known then that she was caught; she would be stuck with Kurt Wagner for the rest of her life. She stared at her new engagement ring. Maybe that wasn't so bad, really.
Kurt stared into the weather witch's flashing blue eyes. He could stare into those eyes forever. He could not believe how lucky he was. He was actually going to marry this wonderful creature. But before he could open his mouth to say something utterly beautiful in his native tongue he was interrupted by the sound of a rather large explosion and the trimmers that followed.
Storm and Nightcrawler sprung from bed, dressing hastily and running toward the door.
****
Vash could not breathe. She knew her nose was broken and could feel the blood leaking from it. She felt something heavy on her chest, but her eyes were so swollen and watery that she could not make out her attacker. Everything was happening so fast. Whoever it was, she felt like they were beating her upside her head with a brick. She couldn't concentrate therefore she couldn't teleport. All she could make out was a blur of yellow. And then the world went black.
Paige had transformed her body into a block of granite and was currently pounding furiously on the evil boyfriend stealer. She was enraged. She was hurt. She was so fucking pissed. She could not believe that this horrible bitch had been banging her boyfriend behind her back and smiling in her face all this time like nothing was wrong. She would make her sorry she ever messed with Paige Katherine Ann Guthrie (2).
Ray Crisp just watched it all in shocked horror. His mind was screaming for him to do something, but his body would not comply. The sight was too much for the boy. It was total self-preservation. If he interfered, he was sure that crazy bitch Paige would turn on him.
****
Remy LeBeau, the mutant known as Gambit, cursed himself for not moving faster. Because of the fact that his physic shields were on the frits he had sensed what was about to happen before it actually had. But he had ignored it, as he had with all the other emotions that were wafting throughout the mansion lately. But now he was painfully sorry he had. All those terrible feelings were on him in an instant. His face practically ached in sympathy. He sprung from the bed and grabbed a T-shirt, heading straight for his door.
****
Jono stared at his bedroom door. He was actually afraid to leave. Maybe Paige had come to her senses and was waiting for him on the other side.
Suddenly his mind was hit with a scream so loud, so blood curdling that there was no mistaking what it meant.
"Stop!"
Jono recognized the voice and could hear his friend's silent sobs in his head. It was Vash. And she was in a shit load of trouble. He opened up his mind in hopes of pin pointing exactly were she was. She was on the first floor, down by the boys' rooms. Someone was attacking her, but for all the rage and incoherent thoughts, he couldn't figure out who it was. Then finally he put two and two together and made five. He had remembered what he had uttered in the heat of the moment in his girlfriend Paige's presence.
*Oh God, no.* Chamber's psi-voice squeaked. *Paige. No! *
He shot out of the room as fast as his Doc Marten clad feet could carry him.
****
"So," Isaac Wagner said thoughtfully.
"Tabitha-" Bobby Drake finished.
"Well if it isn't Sparky and the Abominable Snowgeek." Tabby said through gritted teeth. "What do you want, Iceboy?"
Tabitha Smith stared down the couple blue eyed mutants in quiet hatred. They had interrupted her private alone time and she was not a happy camper.
"Iceman, Tabby. Iceman!" Bobby erupted, while stamping his feet in a fit of annoyance.
"Bob!" Static whined.
"Whatever." Tabitha groaned. "What. Do. You. Want?"
"We were hoping that you could assist us in planning a romantic evening with our lady friends." The electrokinetic answered.
Tabitha harrumphed in response. The suddenly a wicked smile spread across her face. Iceman recognized this as the prelude to an impending challenge.
"Well, why would you need my help, Icedick?" Tabby smirked. "It's not like you and Roguey can fuck without you dying anyway."
"Well, whore-" Bobby began before Static jumped in.
"Boom Boom." Static interrupted while rolling his eyes. "We just thought that since you seemed to have so much experience dating guys that you might have a better idea of how a good date should go."
"In other words, since you are such a fucking whore, we thought you could tell us the least thing a guy could do to get you to spread your legs." Bobby said bitterly. "Opps, sorry that would be nothing. So let's try for the most he could do."
Static just stared at Bobby in shocked horror. He had no idea that Iceman could be so cold.
"Touché, Drake." Tabitha conceded.
But before she could open her mouth to answer their question, the mutant teens were interrupted by a blood-curdling scream coming from the dorm rooms.
****
"You should definitely wear that." Jubilee laughed.
"Ya think?" Rogue asked with a raised brow. "Ya don't think it's a little bit much?"
Rogue turned and scrutinized her reflection. She had to admit, she looked damn good. She was definitely glad she had bought this dress.
"Hell no!" Jubilee crowed. "Bobby'll shit himself."
"That's not exactly what Ah was going for." Rogue said sheepishly.
"Oh, c'mon, Marie!" Jubilee groaned. "Tonight is the night. I know, I know. It sounds really cheesy. But you're eighteen years old. It's time for a little fondling." She said with a mischievous smile.
"Ah don't know, Jubes." Rogue said as she looked at herself in the mirror. "What if Bobby isn't really interested? We haven't even talked about it. Ah mean after that kiss- (3)"
"Are you serious?" Jubilee deadpanned. "Believe me, he's interested."
"How would you know?"
"My boyfriend is his roommate, Rogue!" She smiled. "Guys talk. Besides, Static says that Bobby has serious pent up sexual tension. He says that the guy is like spanking it like all the time."
At that comment, Rogue unusually pale skin took on a noticeable shade of red.
"Bobby doesn't really do that." Rogue said aghast. "Does he? Anyhow, how would Static know?"
"Believe me, he knows." Jubilee said rolling her eyes. "Just don't ask him how. Better yet don't even mention that you know that he knows. It's a traumatic subject for the boy."
"No!" Rogue shouted in horror.
Jubilee simply nodded gravely in response.
"Mah Bobby does need some special attention, huh?" Rogue smiled.
Jubilee had already begun to open her mouth to concur when they heard and felt an explosion that rocked the mansion.
****
"So, did you actually really love her?"
"Wha-?"
"Did you love her?"
Logan finally tore his eyes away from the 'hypnotizing' allure of the froth of his beer not look at the man questioning him. Scott was taken aback by the look on Wolverine's face. It was a mixture of shock and confusion. Not like ol' Wolvie at all. He was never shocked about anything; often confused, but never shocked. The silence was deafening. The silence was uncomfortable.
It was a stupid question. Scott Summers knew it, but he could not help himself. The bar. The beer. Why? He had to know if Logan was as depressed as he was feeling right now. But deep down, he knew the answer. Logan hadn't made any effort to hide his feeling back then; at Alkali Lake. Logan was the one that had kept him from completely losing it. Not that he hadn't come entirely too close. But he had noticed that Logan was no worse for wear as he had been himself. He knew. But something inside of him had to hear it out loud.
Logan swallowed hard. "Yeah. I did."
There Scott had his answer. He believed him. If Jean's death had accomplished anything outside of saving their lives, it had forced to two men that she had cared for the most to become something at least passable as friends. Even if Scott begrudged admitting it. Logan had actually tried pretty hard to be there for him, even if the man would never admit it. In reality, Logan had tried very hard to be there for everyone. Scott had recognized how hard it had been for the guy at first. Trusting. But underneath his normally sullen attitude toward the- hell everyone- Wolverine was extremely protective and loyal. He had cared about Jean. He cared about the kids. He cared about the dream.
Wolverine cocked a curious brow. He was just about to ask Scott 'What the hell he was looking at' when he was surprised by the ringing of a cell phone. Scott jumped in response.
"That's me." Cyclops groaned.
Wolverine grunted in return and refocused his attention on his beer.
"What!" The X-Men's Fearless Leader screamed all sissy-like.
****
"So, Amara?" Lance said as he scooted a little closer. "Ya got any plans for tonight?"
Amara Aquilla Allison Crestmere (4), the fire mutant codenamed Magma was on the verge of showing Lance Maurice Alvers (5), the mutant codenamed Avalanche, just why she was given her name.
"C'mon on, Princess." Avalanched groaned. "Talk to me! Won't ya even look at me?"
Over in front of the Rec Room's TV, Todd "Toad" Tolenski and Sam "Cannonball" Guthrie groaned in unison. Lance was being totally pathetic. Even more so than usual.
Sam and Toad were engaged in heated battle of Soul Calibur II, Sam was Kilik (6) and Toad was wielding Link (7). Sam was winning.
"How the hell are you winning!?" Todd barked. "I got a sword and a shield and all you got is a stick, yo!"
"Juss talented, Ah guess." Sam laughed.
Toad was just about to show Sammy just how talented 'he' was when they heard one the loudest screams ever in their young lives.
"What the fuck?!" Lance bellowed.
And for some strange reason that even they did not understand, they ran toward the scream instead of out of the door. Apparently, the legendary Stryker invasion had taught the children nothing.
****
Remy got there first. And he was completely horrified by what he saw. It was a normally extremely arousing catfight gone terribly wrong. There was blood on the wall. And a there was that femme Paige, or at least he thought that it was Paige, sitting on his beloved Vashoba's chest pummeling her with stone hands.
His first reaction was to go and try to break it up. Of course that did not go as planned, being that Paige had taken on the form of granite, making it impossible for him to pull her off of the poor girl. And so Gambit took the only alternative left to him, he pulled out some cards and charged them just enough to stun the girl. This was pretty much a lot, seeing that Paige was now some freaky rock girl gone insane. But before he could get his shot off, he was tackled rather forcefully by someone else blonde and probably just as insane.
"Sam?!"
****
Jono had finally made it up to the first floor and was just rounding the corner when he spotted what had to be the whole school in the hall way. He could see Paige (now back to normal) crotched in the corner crying with her brother comforting her. He also saw Bobby, Remy and Static among others crowding and kneeling over the prone form of his best friend, Vash. And so he lost it.
"VASH!"
He took off at full speed. He never even noticed Ray sprawled out in the floor. And so he tripped.
BOOM!
No. Not BOOM, he hit the floor. BOOM as in he hit the floor and unleashed one of his notoriously dangerous bio-energy blasts. Fortunately for everyone else the blast went through the floor. Unfortunately for Jono, the blast went through the floor, causing him to fall through it, taking poor Raymond Crisp with him.
****
[Sometime Later, in Xavier's office]
Charles Xavier rarely lost his temper. When he was a child even then he never threw temper tantrums. His mother had always told him that is wasn't proper for an educated person to stoop to such infantile way of showing irritation. Even when he was extremely angry he would never do anything so beneath himself as to scream, ki- er- punch, or throw things. But right now he was on the very verge of making an exception.
He had explicitly asked Logan to watch the children. And he was quite sure that Logan had agreed to. And for the life of him he could not understand, even being a telepath mind you, why Wolverine had insisted on doing otherwise. And Scott. Why would Scott Summers, his second in command, his rock, his do-boy- er- confidant would go along with such a harebrained idea, such as leaving the children unattended. The tired professor gave and exasperated sigh and rubbed the bridge between his eyes. The children were projecting rather loudly at the moment and it was taking him a minute to sift through everything.
Scott and Logan were the only ones in the office with him now, awaiting their impending doom. Kurt and Ororo were down stairs in the infirmary with Hank and all of his patients.
Professor Xavier sighed and then began.
"Vash has a broken nose, a black eye, and a concussion. Remy has some bruised ribs. Ray had a broken arm AND leg, not to mention a slight concussion. Jono is fine actually. And Paige is still hysterical."
Scott and Logan groaned rather loudly.
"I don't even want to know why you left."
"Pro-" Scott tried.
"The children are calming down." Xavier interrupted. "I am still not sure why Paige attacked Vash the way she did-"
Logan grunted.
"Logan?" The Professor asked.
"She was jealous." Logan stated plainly. "She an' tha Human Furnace got somethin' going but Future Girl still sleeps down in tha basement with him every night."
There were so many things wrong with what Logan had just said it just made Xavier's headache even worse.
"So, you knew that Vashoba was breaking the rules, by being in Jonothon's room after curfew?"
"You didn't?" Logan asked with a raised brow.
Scott still remained wisely silent. "If only he knew what else was going on around here." He thought to himself.
The professor raised a questioning brow in Scott's direction.
"Logan," Xavier began as if he were explaining to the dumbest child on the playground. "If I used my telepathy to monitor every child under this roof, when would I have time to get anything done? Also, why would I even need you, or Scott, or Ororo, or Kurt?"
Logan left out a defeated sigh.
"I am extremely disappointed." Xavier concluded.
Logan did know how or why it happened but he actually had begun to care what Chuck thought about him. He felt like shit. He'd failed the guy. He'd failed the kids. But he had honestly not thought that anything like this could have happened. And now there were three kids laid up in the infirmary because he was stubborn and wouldn't make good on one stupid request. He should have seen, smelt, something'd it coming.
"Stupid!" He thought to himself.
"I will be speaking with Paige in the morning." Xavier said abruptly. "I am not sure if she can remain here."
Scott's stomach knotted up. He knew he should have stayed. It wasn't that Paige Guthrie didn't have a loving family to return to. She and Sam weren't like most of the other kids here. Their family had sent them here and they had come willingly. Their parents had wanted them to learn more about what they were and how to control what they were. But he could not help but think that it was his fault that the poor Kentucky girl would be going back to her family's farm. But he also knew that the Professor was right, Paige had broken one of the school's cardinal rules. She not only had she gotten into a fight, but she used her mutant powers against another student with the full intent of causing harm. She would have to go. For how long was now up to the Professor.
*****
[In the infirmary]
Storm had finally been able to pull Kurt away from Vash's bedside in attempt to go see the Professor. He waved furiously in the direction his daughter until Storm finally got him out of the door.
"You feeling better?" Static asked his sister.
"Yeah," Vash groaned weakly. "Morphine. Fanfuckingtastic."
Her voice sounded funny because of her broken nose.
"Hush, now, chere." Remy whispered into her ear, as well as shooting Static a glare. "Y' shouldn't be talkin'."
Vash groaned in response. Static smiled sheepishly.
"Don't you-" She tried. "Date?"
Static laughed nervously.
"Oh." He said. "I don't know if Jubes is up to it now."
"Course she is." Remy responded. "Vash is okay now. Y'should go an' check on yo' femme."
"Yeah." Vash said weakly. "Go. I'm fine. Just tired. Can't help with that."
Static sighed. He knew his sister would be alright. But he wasn't.
"Damned Paige." He thought. "That crazy bitch."
Besides, he was sure the Professor had called for an early curfew.
"Y' betta hurry, homme." Remy interrupted his train of thought. "The Prof. probably be gettin ever'body in early afta dis nuit."
"I guess." Static groaned. "You sure, sis?"
"Go." Vash would have screamed if she could have.
Static begrudgingly exited the room leaving Remy and Vash and a sleeping Ray Crisp alone.
"How's Ray?" she asked.
"He sleepin'." Remy answered. "Doc Hank say he got a broke arm and leg and a concussion."
Vash winced in sympathy.
"Damn." She stated plainly. "So much for my Valentines date."
Remy gave a questioning grunt.
"And you?" She asked, pointing to Remy's bandaged midsection.
"Had a run in with Sammy." Remy said in response. "He t'ought Ah was tryin' ta kill his sister."
"Humm."
"Being dat y'so intent on talkin' even tho' Remy ask y'not ta," Gambit began. "Y'mind tellin' him what dat letter o' yours was 'bout."
Vash gave a small smile.
"I just wanted you to know I still care."
"Ah know y'do." Remy smiled.
"So we're still friends?"
"De bess."
"Good. Now please. Take a bath, you stink." She gave a weak smile before wincing slightly.
Just as Remy was about to dote over her some more, Jono appeared at the door. He had on new bandages, white ones, which he hated of course. But hey, what ya gonna do? His beloved leather jacket was long gone along with the rest of his wardrobe. Bio-energy blasts + clothes = naked Jono. He was wearing a pair of green scrubs now.
*Hi, love.* Chamber said softly. *Hi, Rem.*
Remy gave Chamber a knowing look. Then turned to Vash.
"Remy be back later, alright, chere?" He said before giving her a soft kiss on her less bruised check.
And then Remy was gone.
*'Ow yer feelin', ducks?*
Okay, it was a stupid question. And Jono knew it was a stupid question. But what else could he say. His 'girlfriend' had just beaten the living shit out the poor girl. And she was laid up in a hospital bed looking like she'd just been run over by sooo many cars.
"Oh, juss peachy." She managed.
*Gess, I am so sorry, love.*
"What are you sorry about?" Vash groaned. "I'm just glad you're okay."
Jono winced and responded. *I'm fine. It's not the first time I've blown a hole through a building.* He joked lamely.
"I know." She said as she grunted to sit up right. "I know how much you hate losing control of your powers."
Jono gave a mental sigh.
"I just don't understand," Vash started. "Why would she do that? What happened, Jono?"
*I might 'ave said something I shouldn't 'ave at a time I shouldn't 'ave.* Chamber mumbled.
"Wha-?"
*I kinda said yer name instead of 'er's.* Jono said a bit louder. *While we were being intimate.*
"You guys do that?" Vash asked. "No. Wait. You said my name?"
*Yeah.*
"And she did this because of it?" Vash said motioning to her injuries.
*Yeah.*
"Crazy bitch." Vash mumbled.
*She's always been jealous of yer.* Jono said quietly.
"But why?" Vash huffed. "We're just friends."
Jono gave her a sad look.
"Jono?"
*She's jealous of yer because-* Jono began.
Vash looked at her friend expectantly.
*We spend so much time together. And-* Jono gave a small mental groan. * She knows. I love yer and not 'er.*
"I love you too." Vash said. "But we're best friends. We're supposta love each other."
*No, ducks.* Jono said. *Not like I love you.*
A look of understanding washed over Vash's face. And Jono could not believe that he'd just said what he'd said.
*I'm sorry.*
Silence.
*I know yer wanted ta just be friends. We still can be. Can't we?*
Vash was visibly shocked. She leaned back into the bed. Jono rolled his eyes in disgust at himself.
"Jono." Vash began quietly. "You know I love you to death right?"
He nodded.
"But what we got is just too perfect for us to mess up by-" She stumbled for the words. "Ya know."
*Yeah.* He said quietly. *I do.*
****
[Bobby's room]
"I can't believe something like this could happen." Bobby said. "I can't believe Paige would do that. She seemed so nice. I can't believe she used her powers against Vash like that. What got into her?"
"Bobby?"
"Oh, yeah, Marie?"
"Look at me."
"Uh-"
Bobby Drake turned around to find his girlfriend of almost one and a half years standing before him as naked as the day she was born.
"Jubilee thought Ah should wear this dress Ah bought, but Ah thought this was better."
"Yeah." Bobby drooled.
Marie stalked toward the drooling boy and sat on his lap. She placed an ungloved hand on his face. He flinched a little before he realized that he wasn't being sucked dry.
"Marie?"
"Shut up an' kiss me."
*****Author's Note*****
(1)- I have read a butt load of fanfics in which Logan frequents a bar called Harry's.
(2)- I made Katherine Ann part up. Sound Kentucky enough for ya?
(3)- You know, the kiss from X2.
(4)- I did some research and came up with two names actually, so I combined them.
(5)- 'Maurice', ugly enough for ya? I made it up too.
(6)- Kilik is a character in Soul Calibur II (great game) the only one that fights with a staff and nothing sharp.
(7)- Link from the Zelda games, you can play as him in Soul Calibur II if you got a GameCube.
Scrawler: You are the best. I feel so loved. Thanks for the encouragement. So now hurry up and write the follow up to "Fire Born". I wanna know what happens to St. John next!