Ch.3 The Visible, Invisible shield…
Kitty, Rogue, and Kurt inhaled deeply. The three friends exchanged looks of trepidation before they walked up the stairs that led to the doors of Bayville High School. Some of the students scurried out of their way others taunted with calls of "MUTIE!" and "FREAKS." Rogue clutched her books to her chest as her jaw tightened in anger. Though her attitude softened when Amanda slid over to Kurt and offered him a quiet smile.
"Walk me to class?" She asked with an affectionate hand on his arm, and of course Kurt complied with an answering smile. Kitty grinned to Rogue and for a moment the two girls forgot the hostility around them. Though the moment proved short lived as someone pushed Kitty from behind and into a locker door. The younger girl banged her head and was greeted by malicious laughter and more taunts.
Rogue delicately picked up her friend, lending a much-needed arm and more needed emotional support. Kitty received her smile, the crowd in the hallway received a venomous glare of such a magnitude that most of the stepped back and parted way before the two girls. As she and Kitty reached the edge of the group, Rogue turned around.
"Y'know fer such," She smirked, "smart kids, ya'll got some lame ass insults. Ah mean really…. 'freaks' th' best ya'll got?" She gave a dramatic sigh with a wicked grin, "Ah weep fo' th' futuah." She sauntered off behind Kitty. She was a wall, a guard between her friend and the would-be tormentors.
He watched her from behind the safety of his sunglasses. A small smirk stroked his lips as he watched the scenes play out. He hadn't missed the fire in her eyes and the command of her presence. His tongue ran across his lips wondering what the taste of this victory would be as sweet as he imagined. His attention was rudely snagged by a pretty Barbie that attached herself to his arm a moment later with a pretty, pleading pout for him to walk her to class.
"Fo' dis bon fille?" He asked in a sultry tone, "Remy be pleased t'." Inwardly, he rolled his eyes as she all but melted next to him. Too easy, but he had expected nothing less from this cerebrally challenged girl.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
At lunchtime he watched her with her friends from the solace of the dark shades covering his demon eyes. He didn't have any classes with her until the end of the day, and he'd carefully kept away from her and her friends so far.
She sat in the grass, leaning on her elbows for support as Scott, Kurt, Ray, and Bobby engaged in a spurious game of touch tackle. She laughed at the jokes and delivered a few of her own in a dry, southern drawl. But Gambit noticed the invisible circle around her that no one but Kitty and Kurt dared enter. Though even they didn't do it often, and only once was there any contact as Kitty smacked Rogue on the arm for a comment. The touch was fast and hastily withdrawn. Gambit swore he noted a hint of sadness in those deep jade eyes, but it was gone too fast for him to be sure.
His tongue dragged over his teeth as he traced the outline of her jaw, half hidden by her white forelock, in his mind. The black pants clung to her shapely legs in suggestive modesty and the dark red mesh covering her tank top served to tantalize more than repel. At least to him.
He noted most of the other guys looked upon her with fear or disgust. Though he already knew they were idiots, and it did make it easier for him. No competition allowed him to focus entirely on her.
Rogue shifted, the hair on the back of her neck standing up as a slight frown creased her lips. She scanned the courtyard slowly as the feeling of being watched intensified. Her heart beat faster as her hands clenched in the grass, she felt hunted, and little did she know just how right she was.
Gambit watched her with a grin as she sensed his gaze. He saw the wariness creep into her eyes, the slight tension in her body. He leaned back and allowed his gaze to move to her friends, and once his eyes left her, Rogue relaxed.
"Ah'm losin' my mind,' came the wry thought, followed by a grimace as Bobby forgot this was supposed to be touch football and tackled Ray to the ground rather hard.
A few minutes later the lunch bell rang and Rogue gathered up her stuff. She didn't have any more classes with the rest of the x-men today and a small tinge of fear coursed her spine. An emotion that set her eyes in anger as she marched into the school.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Anime addicted & DBZpunkchick – Thank you both!
Ishandahalf – Crack bunnies? Now that's a scary image! But glad you like the story so far… hehe.