Like A Moth To A Flame
Author's Note: I love you guys! T-T I was so touched that you actually liked the chapter… and thank you Aglaranna for your constructive criticism. I will write as you suggested. I was kind of losing my touch after months of not writing, but thank you for pointing out the flaws in my story…
Random Thought: If spontaneous generation happened at a daily basis… there would be no need for procreation…
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It was a fairly quiet day. School was still in session, and all that was in every person's mind, was lunch. All but one; Jean was in her own little world. Sitting in her math class, she was given the time to think about what had been happening the past few days. Rogue seemed to be normal, or as normal as she could be. The Acolytes and the Brotherhood were quiet, and they had a hot new recruit.
Jean frowned as she recalled Gambit's actions towards Rogue.
'It's as if he was in love with her' Jean was disgusted with the thought of a hot boy like Remy to fall for someone like Rogue.
'But then again…' She thought, 'that minx managed to capture every guy's attention so far'
It had taken Jean almost her entire life to become as she was, loved by teachers, looked up to by children and sought after by men. She was the perfect teenage girl: nice, smart and cooperative. She had a figure that other girls would kill to have, eyes that sparkled and hypnotized every male in the vicinity, and a power that was unmatched…
Yet, she was conceited, and a perfectionist. She was called a slut for liking the company of men. Jean shook her head as she looked at Scott. He was the type of man who would become a great leader. He was perfect in every aspect, and he was wrapped in her little finger. Rogue had almost untied her hold on the brown-haired man. She had opened Scott's eyes to the truth about Duncan.
Jean could not help but feel bitter about the Gothic princess. She was the total opposite of what Jean stood for. Rogue was the type of girl, whose motto was, 'rules were meant to be broken'. Rogue was sassy, fiery, a rebel. She didn't care about what others said about her, and she was honest about everything. And Jean hated her for it.
Little did the Gothic princess know that she had admirers within the school; cheerleaders who acted as though she was beneath them secretly harbored admiration for the girl. Most of the boys in school were eager to date her, despite the fact that she was sarcastic. Jean wasn't blind or naïve, she knew Rogue was attractive. Rogue didn't hide her opinion from anyone, but that wasn't the main reason why Jean hated her.
Jean hated Rogue because she had power. Rogue was one of two people that she could not fully read. Her mind was so complex that her thoughts were encrypted, and if they were at the tip of her mind, only blocks of words or phrases would be clear. Ever since Jean was a girl, she knew what everyone thought about, and knew what type of person they were. Jean felt superior knowing that nothing is a secret to her, and that everyone was an open door that she could walk into. She felt mighty knowing that others would never know who she truly was, but she would be able to read them like a book.
Rogue was one person that she would never be able to read. Rogue would always be an enigma, a constant competitor for power. To top it off, Rogue didn't even know about it. Rogue kept getting stronger each day that she would wake. Jean always relied on others for strength, but Rogue only had herself.
"Ms. Grey?"
Jean looked up, waking up from her daydream. Looking around, she found that she was alone in the classroom. Her gaze fell back to the teacher.
" Yes?"
He smiled brightly and pointed at the clock hanging on the wall. " Most students rush out of class when the lunch bell rings."
Jean blushed slightly, taking her books into her arms. She gave a small nod and walked out into the busy hallway. Walking towards her locker, she saw Gambit hanging around Rogue's locker. Jealousy coursed through every bone in her body as Scott stopped by Rogue's locker to talk to Gambit.
She had heard their conversation and frowned. 'I think it's time to talk to Scott… he's getting too close to that bitch'
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Kitty watched as Jean slammed her locker door. Jean wasn't fooling anyone. Her mask was falling off. Kitty wasn't as ditzy as she shows herself to be. Over the past few days, she had noticed the change in Jean's demeanor. The older girl wasn't as calm or as nice; in fact she was becoming bitter and self-centered.
As she closed the door to her own locker, she was surprised by Kurt's appearance beside her.
" Don't do that!" She exclaimed, putting her hand over her heart, as if helping it to calm down.
Kurt smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "Vhat's wrong?"
Kitty nodded towards Jean, who now looked as though she was giving Scott a piece of her mind.
"Do you notice anything different about Jean?" she asked.
Kurt looked towards Scott and Jean, nodding as he turned to walk with Kitty towards the field. " Ja. Yesterday, I asked her if zhe had zeen Rogue and zhe almost bit off mein head!"
Kitty made up her mind and dragged Kurt to a secluded place in the field. " Kurt, I have a feeling Jean was, like, only trying to get Rogue in trouble a few days back," she said quietly. " I don't know why, but like, she's kind of getting scary."
Kurt sighed as he sat down on one of the bleachers. He also noticed a change in Rogue's attitude as well. Not only was she depressed, she was also very distant, as if she lost someone or something highly valuable to her. Her growing powers were not helping the matter.
Kurt's heart became heavy as he recalled her hateful glare. She was his sister, and he betrayed her…because Jean had warned them that she was getting traitorous thoughts…
"Mein Gott!"
Kitty looked at Kurt strangely before she was teleported to the mansion. Kurt took a deep breath and shook his head.
" I cannot believe zat ve did not zee it sooner!" Kurt said, as his image inducer turned off, revealing his normal blue self. " Jean vaz ze one who told us zat Rogue vas zhinking of leaving… but ze Professor said zat he did not sense zat thinking from Rogue!"
Kitty's eyes widened. 'Jean wouldn't do that…would she?' Being in shock, Kitty didn't realize that she had turned on her mutation, and she fell onto the grass from the bleachers.
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Pietro had reached the institute in record time. He knew Rogue walked to school, but as he ran past her, Gambit was stalking her a few feet back.
'Not good' he thought.
Running towards the institute was the only thought in his mind now. If he could somehow talk to Rogue alone in her room, the whole incident with Pyro would disappear.
As much as the X-Men thought that Pietro hated Rogue for leaving the brotherhood, he cared for her like a sister. She was one of the few who knew Pietro for who he was, and not for his popularity. Their short time together had been fun, and true, her 'betrayal' had cut him deeply, but he had forgiven her.
At the moment, he was trying to help her, by keeping a certain Cajun away from her. Pietro knew that his sudden switch had nothing to do with Rogue. Magneto had commanded Gambit to spy on the X-Men for their next attack. Phase one had already started, and Pietro knew it. Magneto had Mastermind fuel the hatred Jean already had for Rogue.
And Jean had no idea of what was happening. From her view, things were becoming clear. Pietro saw Gambit walking closer to Rogue. With greater speed than he ever ran, Pietro rushed towards Rogue, carried her towards a secluded area, hoping Gambit wouldn't find them.
"Speedy? What are y'all doing? Where am Ah?" Rogue asked.
It took Pietro a moment to catch his breath, and when he did, he looked at Rogue seriously. Her eyes were dull, and she seemed so vulnerable.
"Roguey," he started, slowing his speech enough for her to understand. "Father's got a plan up his sleeve... You've got to keep away from Jean, and Gambit."
Rogue's eyes seemed to spark with life. "Jean? What do ya mean?"
Pietro took a deep breath. "Jean is under Mastermind's control!"
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Remy inched closer towards the woman of his affections. He smirked, knowing that she would fall for him soon. He had never encountered a woman like her before. She was everything he wanted for his Queen. All his life, he searched for someone to reign with him. The King of Thieves... and with Rogue's mutation, she was literally the Queen of Thieves.
It was a perfect match. But that Pyro had come close to ruining it for him. Remy couldn't contain his happiness.
With his contract with Magneto over, and Pyro out of the way, he could return to New Orleans with Rogue adn take over the guild, and they would live happily ever after. No one would get in his way!
His red-on-black eyes burned with desire and determination. Another step, and he would be closer enough for her to feel his presence. But then, a gust of wind blew by him, and when he turned to look at Rogue, she was gone.
'Dere be only one homme who can do dat... Quicksilver' he thought angrily.
Taking out a charged card, he let it fly towards one of the parked cars on the curb. He felt a bit calmer seeing the wreck.
'Y' can try t' stop me, Quickie, mais I will get m' Queen!' Remy thought maliciously. 'I don' care what I have t' do... she will be mine!'
"What's this 'bout you joinin' the enemy, mate?" a familiar Aussie accent rang.
Remy smirked, and turned to face St. John. "Glad t' see y' up an' about, mon ami"
St. John strode towards Remy, his lighter open, prepared for anything.
"Y' stay away from Rogue, y' got that?" St. John said stiffly, making a fireball just to illustrate his point.
Remy rolled his eyes. "Ooh, 'M shakin' in m' boots," he taunted. "Remy gets what he wants, an' he wants de Rogue."
"Too damn bad, mate," St. John said glaring at the cocky Cajun. "'Cause she's taken."
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Author's Note: Do you know how bloody long it took me to realize that i hadn't updated in 6 months?!?!?!? WELL?!?!? I know, its my fault, but why didn't you email to yell at me or something?? I felt so guilty as soon as i saw the bloody date on the bloody page on the bloody site. It was from bloody 2003! and we're bloody well in the middle of the bloody year!
I'm fine... truly, I am. Sorry for the long wait. The next chapter's on its way.
TBC