Thanks to:
Enfant-terrible – glad you like it! And there's more action in this chapter.
Furygrrl – Rogue will be back in a couple of chapter! Although how she fares against Evil Jean is yet to be decided…
X00001 – glad you liked it!
Oceanbang – I won't be covering Cruise Control or X23 simply because they're kinda superfluous to this fic. Dark Horizons on the other hand? Just wait and see!
KurttyScogue – just when I think I can't make Jean any more evil, something els occurs to me!
Wen1 – some one'll notice that Rogue isn't Rogue soon!
Rogue14 – there will be a take on Self Possessed, but it won't be too much like the episode!
XX-Goth-Gal – let's just say that Rogue will be out for revenge!
DemonRogue13 – it would make more sense for Mesmero to control all the X-Men rather than getting Jean to control them, I'm glad you agree!
Ripdos AKA The Bad Ash – I'm glad you liked Power9 so much and if you send me an address I'll see what my twisted little mind can come up with!
LadyEvils – I think Evil Jean would love to have Rogues powers! And there's more OTT Lance here.
Author Note: I decided that the Brotherhood needs wheels. And hey, it's a canon car! This is a seriously long chapter BTW, so grab yourself a drink and a snack before you start.
Disclaimer: X-Men: Evolution is the property of Marvel comics. Anyone else claiming ownership is committing a crime, for which I will send the Sirens over to their place, wearing very small leather outfits, to kick their asses!
==============================
Jean tried to keep the smile on her face and the yawn off her lips as she supervised Amara's early-morning training session. Why she had earned a punishment at all was a mystery to her. Sure, she'd absorbed Lance, but he'd been causing trouble and she'd saved them all time by avoiding the pointless argument about whether or not he was healthy enough to go after Kitty. Lance himself had almost forgiven her; he was so relieved to see his girlfriend. The Professor on the other hand had decided that a lesson about valuing team members was in order and told her she would be Amara's mentor from now on. The man was so transparent. He was obviously hoping that not only would Amara learn from her, but also maybe in time the pair would become friends. Since the departure of Jubilee and Rahne, Amara had been the only girl in the New Recruits and at times had felt very isolated. Kitty had tried to be friendly, but she was always too involved with Lance, her best friend as well as her boyfriend, to allow the two to become too close.
"Remember, focus your concentration. Don't let your powers control you. I know it's difficult, but try to maintain your discipline. OK, ready?"
Attempting to keep her expression friendly, Jean dislodged some rocks from the walls overhead and held them in place telekinetically to form a rough bridge over the chasm. "Now melt them together."
"If this doesn't work, I'm not taking the blame," said Amara sulkily, obviously not a morning person. "I told you I wasn't ready for this."
The younger girl utilised her powers, using a stream of lava to melt the rocks together. Jean was considering commenting on what a whiny little brat she was being when there was an interruption from her comm.-link.
"Rogue? You there?"
"Scott?"
"The Professor wanted me to remind you what time it is – you can't be late for school."
Jean rolled her eyes in aggravation but managed to force a laugh. "Ah got it covered. Listen, we're just finishing up her last training exercise." She turned off the link-link and addressed Amara. "Now let's see how you did."
She stepped onto the bridge, fully expecting the girl to have screwed up and the bridge to crumble beneath her feet, but it held firm. "Not bad," she admitted grudgingly. "Just one little crack."
Amara pouted. "Then the session was a failure."
"Not at all!" Jean was aware that Scott was still watching, the only thing that stopped her shaking the whinging girl. "Learning how to handle things that go wrong is part of the training. You just need to repair it. Ah'll keep us safe."
As Amara stepped further onto the bridge, Jean finally gave in to her urge to teach her a lesson and used her telekinesis to dislodge a boulder from above them. It hurtled downwards and Jean feigned surprise. "Amara, melt that boulder back into place!"
"I-I'll try." Amara aimed a lava bolt at the boulder but missed. With a smirk, Jean caught the projectile with her telekinesis inches away from Amara's head.
"Got it," she said, relishing the fear on the younger girls face…but it was short lived as a second later the boulder exploded, showering both of them with chips of rock.
"You guys OK?"
As soon as she heard Scott's question, Jean was able to work out what had happened. The leader had blasted the rock in a pathetic attempt to rescue her, in spite of the fact that she'd already caught the boulder.
Scowling, Jean floated herself and Amara out of the hole. They were both covered in dust and she just knew there were pieces of rock in her white-striped hair, just one more thing to worry about in the short time she had to get ready for school. "Scott, what'd you do that for?"
Scott didn't even notice her anger. "It's a good thing for you girls I was here. No need for thanks! That's what we heroes do, rescue damsels in distress."
Jean glared at him for a moment, her anger too great for the words to be spoken, unable to believe his attitude. Spoiling her fun and then patronising her about it! Furious, she turned and stormed off, Amara following her lead.
As they headed for the elevator Scott followed them, obviously not understanding why they were upset. "What?" he asked several times. Both girls ignored his bleating as the trio rode the elevator up until Jean realised that if she didn't give him an explanation she might undo all the work she'd done to ensnare him. Also, she could sense the thinking lurking in his psyche…
PMS…And if he decided to voice it, she was gonna squeeze his brain until it leaked from his ears and to hell with her plan.
"But what did I do? Tell me!"
"Alright." Jean stopped and turned to face him. "You were being a – a guy!"
"Oh. Uh…I'm sorry?"
"Scott, ah was trying to teach Magma how to handle things that go wrong, which does not include waiting for some big, strong man to save you!"
She went into her room, slamming the door behind her. As if she didn't have enough problems already. She had to pretend to be some one else, imitate an accent she didn't have, conceal her mind from Xavier, keep Rogues psyche imprisoned, dress as though she was in mourning and follow all the rules at the Institute without complaint. She certainly didn't need Summers treating her like some fragile, hysterical creature.
She was beginning to think that posing as an X-Man had been a mistake.
=================================
"Hey Amara."
Amara did a double take as she saw Tabby drive up in the sleek silver SUV. "Whoa! Where did you get that from?"
"Pietro's new wheels. You like?"
"Yeah! But won't he be mad when he finds out that you took it?"
"Come on, live a little." Tabby leaned over and opened the passenger door. "How 'bout you and me go on a mall crawl? We'll get in touch with our shallow teenage values."
"I dunno. I mean I probably shouldn't be speaking to you…"
"Says who, Badger? And it's just the mall. What could happen?"
"Well…OK, sounds like fun!" Amara climbed into the vehicle and fastened her seatbelt while Tabby checked her look in the mirror.
"So, how's life with the Geek Squad?"
"OK, I guess. I got hypnotised by this weird bald guy a while ago and Bobby keeps saying it's because girls'll believe anything. He's joking, but at the same time he isn't, y'know? And I kinda messed up my training this morning. Rogue's been pushing me too fast and even though I tell her I'm not ready she says…"
"You mean Miss 'The Whole World Hates Me'?" Tabby laughed and pointed to the school where Kitty and Jean were deep in conversation. "Girl, you don't need to take that. I didn't."
Kitty was frowning, not a usual look for her. "I'm getting really tired of it Rogue. He hasn't stopped following me around since the whole Mesmero thing. He barely lets me out of his sight, like he thinks I need protecting or something. I just wish he'd give the whole macho act a rest."
Secretly delighted to hear about Kitty's disillusionment with Lance, Jean tried to look sympathetic. "Ah'm sure he's just concerned. He's trying to look out for you – although he was at the circus with you and couldn't stop it then."
"Exactly! So why – wait, isn't that Amara with Tabitha?"
"Oh yeah."
"Shouldn't we like, do something before she gets into trouble?"
"Yeah." Jean was getting steadily more pissed off with Amara. Was that her role in the X-Men, glorified babysitter? If it was, Xavier could take his team and shove it.
"Scott!" Jean shouted as she saw the boy come out of school. "We need your car. Amara's with Boom-Boom and ah wanna stop her before she does something stupid."
"Gotcha. I'll go get her." Scott twirled his car keys around his finger before noticing the irritated looks the girls directed at him and hesitated. "Not that you're not capable of doing it yourself. Which you are. Look Rogue, about this morning, I didn't mean –"
"Ah know you didn't. It's just – "
"Hey Pretty-Kitty," said Lance, walking up behind them. "What's going on?"
"Amara set off with Boom-Boom," replied Kitty. "We're like, going after them."
"No, you wait here. I'll go. Scott'll take you home."
"Lance!" Kitty looked stunned. "Don't you think I can do it?"
"Sure, but you'll just waste time trying to reason with her. I can tell Tabby to back off in a way she'll understand."
"You – you lughead! Y'know, I just don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you around to make my decisions for me!" Kitty snatched the keys from Scott, grabbed Jeans hand and stormed off.
Scott whistled and Lance shook his head. "Glad she took your keys!"
Tabby brought the SUV to a halt behind another car at a stop sign, singing along to the radio. Two boys on a bench at the side of the road leapt up and ran to the car in front, one of them opening the drivers door and pulling out the owner, dumping him on the road. They jumped into the car and the girls watched in shock as they drove away.
"Did you just see that?" asked Amara.
"Did I!" said Tabby. "Hang on!"
Amara wailed as Tabby hit the accelerator and raced after the stolen car. "Tabitha! Slow down!"
"Forget that!" laughed Tabby. "This is way more fun than shopping for shoes!"
The carjackers sped up, making turns at random to try to shake off their pursuers. Unfortunately for them, Tabby was unconcerned with either speeding tickets or the damage she was doing to Pietro's suspension.
Kitty spied the SUV as Jean drove. "There they are!"
Jean saw the car and the vehicle they were chasing, realising what was about to happen. The joyriders were bearing down on a woman and child, frozen to the spot as the spot as the car rushed toward them. She used her telekinesis to stop the car dead, throwing the men into the dashboard. The woman grabbed the wailing child and hurried away.
The car sped away again – stopping two tons of speeding metal with her mind had been no picnic and Jean had no interest in catching them anyway. Not until she saw Pietro's SUV chasing the car, Amara waving from the passenger seat.
"Rogue, we have to stop her!" said Kitty.
I don't remember her being this bossy when we were with the Brotherhood thought Jean irritably, driving after the other two cars.
The chase went into the back streets where there were no spectators. Tabby scowled as the coupe began to pull further ahead. "They're getting away from us! Amara, quick – melt their tyres!"
Amara produced a ball of lava and threw it at the car. It melted their back right tyre, a second ball hit their left and a third broke the rear window. The car spun out of control, skidding to a halt in an empty building yard.
"And here's your dessert, meatballs!" Tabby hurled a bomb through the broken window and the thieves leapt from the vehicle as it exploded, blowing out the rest of the windows.
Before the men could make their escape, a pile of cinderblocks floated into the air and surrounded them, forming a wall. Amara and Tabby stared in wonder at the sight before turning to see Jean and Kitty sat in a nearby wall.
"Rogue?" Tabby said in confusion. "Since when did you have telekinesis?"
"It's a long story."
Remembering what they'd been doing, Tabby let out a whoop. "That was awesome! We bagged the baddies and recouped the coupe!"
"Yeah," said Jean sarcastically. "Ah'm sure the owner'll be real grateful."
"Come on," said Kitty, hearing sirens in the distance. "Let's let the police handle it from here."
===============================
"The suspects are part of a larger car-theft ring operating in Bayville…"
Jean, Kitty and Amara sat in the kitchen, relieved that no one seemed to have realised that the mysterious good Samaritans were mutants. "Uh, listen, I think we oughta just like keep this to ourselves, y'know?" said Kitty, her voice pitched low so that Scott couldn't overhear.
"Right," agreed Amara as the three of them left the room, Scott watching them curiously. "It's not like we'll be doing anything like that again."
Jean smiled as she heard the cry of alarm from the kitchen, followed by a thud. Scott had defiantly noticed her as more than a teammate and being a vigilante appealed to her in a way that being an X-Man didn't.
That's what being a mutant should be about. Kicking ass!
======================
"C'mon Wanda, it'll be fun!"
"No way."
Tabby sighed in exasperation. "What's the point of having these powers if we can't have a little fun with them?"
"You had fun with them yesterday when Toad was in the shower. The carpet's still soaked."
"Like you never hexed Toad. You know you wanna kick ass girl, this is the way to do it!"
"With the X-girls? Father won't like it."
"Who's gonna tell him? Besides, you know Pietro's less likely to get all stressed about his car if you're in it."
"I don't think…"
"Just come hang out at the mall with us. They're not so bad."
"And the next time we have to fight against them?"
"That might never happen. One mall-crawl Wanda, get away from all the testosterone 'round here."
Wanda sighed and glanced around the Brotherhood house, a testament to all things male. "I guess one shopping trip couldn't hurt."
"Woo-hoo!" Tabby began dancing around the room and Wanda rolled her eyes, wondering what she'd gotten herself into.
=============================
"Look at this junk," growled Lance, throwing the newspaper down on the table. Scott examined it, vaguely grateful that it hadn't landed in his mashed potato. He'd often thought that school meals tasted like newspaper but he had no desire to make a valid comparison.
The lead article was on the Bayville Sirens – again – and he skimmed through the details of their latest exploits. It was the last paragraph that caught his eye.
'The continuing success of the Sirens has led to speculation that the all-girl crime fighting team may be mutants. This theory has gained support partly due to the captured criminals themselves, whose statements include reports of explosions, strange blue lights and objects floating through the air. Police Chief Rothman refused to comment on these rumours, but at a recent press conference he vowed to end the Sirens vigilante activities.'
"The press have realised that the Sirens may be mutants?" Scott frowned at the newspaper. "Not good."
"Especially when we have a good idea who they are." Lance looked over to where Jean, Kitty and Amara were sitting, laughing amongst themselves. "We're lucky that they didn't remind the readers that half of the mutants 'round here live at the Institute. If they drag up the footage of the Sentinel thing, they might be able to ID them. The descriptions here are pretty vague, but it only takes suspicion before we get cops knocking at our door."
"Can't you ask Kitty what's going on?"
"Nah, she's still giving me the cold shoulder, says I'm overprotective." Lance chose to ignore the look that Scott was giving him, which suggested he agreed with Kitty.
"There are five of them," mused Scott. "I'd lay money on Wanda and Tabitha being the other two."
"Hi guys." Kurt slammed his tray onto the table and took a seat. "What's going on?"
"Kurt, cancel your plans for tonight," said Scott, a slight smile on his face. "We've got a little secret mission to take care of."
============================
"Blue Boy to Tracker One. Do you read me? The pigeons are leaving the roost."
"We're right here Kurt." Lance wondered briefly if he was doing the right thing – after all, Kitty was pissed at him for exactly this kind of behaviour – then dismissed his doubts. What if she ran into trouble again? "And why're you talking like that?"
Pietro's SUV pulled up outside the gates and Tabby bibbed the horn cheerfully. In the passenger seat, Wanda elbowed her in the ribs.
The three X-girls exited the Institute and the boys ducked low in the jeep. But no matter how well they hid, they couldn't disguise their psychic imprints from Jean. She could just make out the jeep hidden in the shadows and smirked. Let them follow. The Sirens could lose them soon enough.
She waited until they were away from the mansion to draw attention to the situation. "Uh, ladies, we've got company!"
"Not for long." Tabby gunned the engine and began to pull away from their pursuers.
"They're getting away!" Scott leant out of the passenger window, trying to keep the SUV in sight. "Can't this heap of yours go any faster?"
"Shut up Summers," growled Lance, coaxing more speed from the vehicle.
"Man, I knew we should've taken my wheels."
"Shut up Summers!"
A flashing light up ahead warned the girls that a train was crossing. Jean realised that they had a chance to lose the boys. "Kitty, phase us through!"
"I'm on it!" Kitty grabbed onto the side of the SUV and concentrated. Tabby didn't let up from the accelerator for a second and the vehicle shot through the train and arrived safe on the other side. The girls whooped in triumph.
The jeep screeched to a halt, forced to wait for the train to pass. Lance slammed a fist against the wheel. "Oh shit!"
===============================
"We have got to find a better place to change," grumbled Wanda.
"Hey, relax Witchy," replied Tabby breezily. "No one's gonna believe that toll-booth guy!"
Ahead of them, a man left the engine of his car running as he got out to buy a paper. It proved to be a mistake; in the few seconds his back was turned another man jumped into the drivers seat and drove it away. The owner chased after it, shouting. "Oi! My car! He's stealing my car!"
"Alright," said Tabby, flooring the accelerator. "They're playing our song!"
The SUV closed the gap on the stolen car briefly, but as they went over a hill and into the warehouse district of Bayville, the vehicle disappeared from view. Wanda pushed her shades up. "Where are they?"
"Whoa, this is too weird," said Kitty. "They just vanished!"
"Maybe not," said Jean, pointing to an illuminated garage with the door just closing. "Look!"
Tabby parked the SUV out of sight a few buildings over and the girls hurried back to the garage, Kitty phasing them through a wall and inside. They hid behind a pile of tyres, surprised by the large number of people in the building. The men were busying themselves with several cars, welding and hammering, joking amongst themselves.
Peeking out from behind the tyres, Tabby gasped. "It's a chop-shop! They're tearing apart stolen cars for parts!"
"Then this must be the base for the car theft ring," said Jean.
"Glad you could join the party girls."
The Sirens turned to see a burly blonde man, obviously the gang leader, backed up by a mob of pipe-and-chain-weilding thugs. "We've been expecting you."
"It's a trap!" exclaimed Wanda.
Kitty groaned. "That is so weak."
"Didn't your mother teach you not to pick on girls?" asked Amara as the men advanced.
"Oh yeah," replied the boss with a smirk. "Yeah, too bad I never listened to her."
"Well guess what meathead?" Tabby grinned as the Sirens adopted fighting stances. "She was right and here's why."
The Sirens felled the first few thugs with martial arts kicks and chops. One man got too close to Kitty and she phased through him and threw him to the floor. Jean used her TK to repel two aggressors, one of them knocking over a can which spilled oil across the floor. A third grabbed her around the waist and she triggered Rogues powers, the skin contact rendering him unconscious. Another man swung a pipe at Wanda's head, only for it to apparently bounce off thin air and hit him in the face. A chain swung at her glowed blue briefly and disintegrated, the mans momentum causing him to stumble and fall.
Standing on a pile of tyres, Tabby realised she was surrounded. Relishing the chance to use her powers, she opened her hands to reveal a large number of bombs. She blew them at the attackers and the men fled as she spun around, cackling maniacally and causing explosions all over the garage. Stray bombs detonated inside partially rebuilt cars and one hit a propane tank, raining fire on the fighters. Jean looked around her, enjoying the scene just as much as Tabby was, but when she caught the girl's eye she tried to look stern – Rogue would defiantly not approve of such a high profile escapade. Tabby shrugged, but stopped her hi-jinks.
On a landing above the chaos, Kurt teleported in with Lance and Scott. The three looked down to see small fires burning unchecked, unconscious carjackers sprawled around the garage and the Sirens preparing to take down the few remaining thugs.
"Come on, what are we waiting for?" asked Kurt, preparing to join the fray.
"No, wait." Scott caught his arm. "I think we'd better let the girls handle this."
"It's not like they need our help," added Lance as he gazed at Kitty kicking a thug in the back of the head, looking like she was enjoying herself.
I'd forgotten how good she is at kicking ass…how good it makes you feel…and how good she looks when she does it!
Wanda and Tabby tied an unconscious thug with a length of chain, not noticing as the boss tried to sneak away. Kitty ran past them, Jean and Amara making a spring out of their hands for her to leap on and then toward the boss, snatching him by the head and flipping him into the trunk of a car. Amara slammed the trunk shut, exchanging grins with Kitty. None of them noticed a can roll into a fire, flames racing up the trail of oil it left in its wake toward the car they'd imprisoned the boss in – but an optic blast knocked the vehicle out of the way.
Scott glanced sheepishly at the other boys. "You, uh, didn't see me do that."
Jean smirked to herself. She had picked up on the boys psyches as soon as they teleported into the garage and she was the only Siren who realised what had happened.
Summers still playing hero? I can use that…"Girl power," grinned Tabby as she chained up two more goons. "Don't you just love it?"
"Alright, fun's over!" A cop stormed into the garage, shining her flashlight into their faces.
Amara looked at her in confusion. "But we're the good guys – or rather girls."
"I know exactly who you are. You're vigilantes who take the law into your own hands – and you're under arrest."
"Oh yeah?" Tabby adopted a fighting pose. "If you know who we are, then you know to stay out of our way!"
"No!" Kitty grabbed her shoulder. "We're not gonna fight the police."
"Smart girl."
As the cop examined the carjacking gang, Jean tried to get into the cops mind – and failed. She frowned, confused. She was a little out of practice, she couldn't alter the minds of the students at the Institute in case the Professor noticed, but she should still be able to read thoughts. The cop was a psychic blank. She'd met only a few people with such strong mental shields, Xavier, Magneto…and Mystique.
Isn't this a surprise? Why is she here now?"Looks like you put a stop to their little enterprise. Good work." The cop shone her light back at the Sirens. "Uh look, I'm probably gonna lose my job for this, but I'm gonna let you go."
The Sirens smiled in relief. "Really?" said Kitty. "Cool!"
"But only if you promise to stop what you've been doing, and I mean now. It's either that or I take you in."
So that's what you want thought Jean as the other Sirens pouted. To split the Sirens up. And I'll bet it's got something to do with Rogue. But I'll play along …for now.
"Deal." Jean gave the cop a cheesy thumbs-up, hoping the woman picked up on the sarcasm.
If she did notice, she didn't comment. "That leads to a sub-basement which should take you down to the city sewers. Now get going."
"You got it," said Jean, wondering if the shape-shifter realised that she wasn't Rogue. "And thanks."
The girls ran toward the stairwell, Kitty pausing for a moment. "Uh, by the way their boss is in the trunk!"
The three boys watched as the cop exchanged a few words with her superior, who had arrived just as Kitty got out of sight, then teleported.
Having fooled Chief Rothman, Mystique blended into the shadows and morphed back into her blue-skinned self, smirking. If Rogue was indeed the key to her future, as Destiny had predicted so many times, then the girl did not need the security of the X-Men or the camaraderie of the Sirens. She needed no one but her mother. However it might not be as easy as she had first thought. Rogue no longer seemed isolated and bitter as she had with the Brotherhood, in fact her confidence bordered on cocky. But change was coming and Mystique would not let Rogue suffer from some tiresome sense of duty or righteousness.
She took care of that bitch that murdered Irene and it's my turn to thank her for it.
=========================
The next night, Lance was alone in the rec room watching TV when Kitty walked in. His heart skipped a beat. There hadn't been a chance to speak to her alone since the cop had put a stop to the Sirens activities and he still had no idea if she'd forgiven his over protectiveness.
Kitty sat beside him and smiled, offering him some of the popcorn she was eating. He took a handful and wondered how to broach the subject of reconciliation.
"So, uh, what you been up to lately?"
"Lance, we know you were following us," said Kitty. "And uh, thanks for not coming to the rescue. I guess we took the whole 'girl power' thing a little too far." She laughed. "Sure was a blast though."
"I bet." Lance rested an arm on the back of the chair behind Kitty, the classic nonchalant pose adopted by teenage boys since the beginning of time. "I'm sorry they made you quit."
"Yeah, but y'know, it did feel great to help people with our powers and be appreciated for it. Made a change."
"You kicked ass Pretty-Kitty! And you looked really good in that uniform."
Kitty laughed. "I thought you liked looking after me."
"Well yeah, but if you're gonna go all dominatrix-ninja-heroine on me, I guess I could learn to live with it."
Smirking, Kitty dropped the popcorn and pounced, pushing Lance onto his back and pinning his hands to the couch. "Are you sure? Because I still have the outfit…"
Jean withdrew her presence from the couples minds before things could get too icksome and lay back on her bed. Life without the Sirens would be dull, but it had been distracting her from her true objective – to get back the life Mystique had stolen from her. Unfortunately, if the life she should have had didn't get more interesting in a hurry, she'd have to consider if she still wanted it or not.
Thinking about Mystique made her remember the previous night. Why had the woman interfered? And did she know what had happened to Irene and to Jean herself? At the moment, Jeans only advantages seemed to be that the shape-shifter didn't know she was posing as Rogue and that she knew Mystique was free.
Suddenly, Jean decided she'd had enough pf worrying and sat up. There was nothing she could do about Mystique right now but thanks to Lance and Kitty, she had an idea how to proceed with the rest of her plan.
Leaving her room quietly, she went down the hall and to Scott's room, knocking at the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
"Hi Rogue, come in."
She went into Scott's room, not surprised by its neatness. Scott was sat up on his bed, reading a book. "So, what's up?"
"You were following us last night."
"Well, yeah." Scott put his book on the nightstand, looking uncomfortable. "We were worried the press might link the Sirens to the Institute."
"It crossed mah mind too."
"Is that why you made the cop tell you to quit?"
"Huh?""You got into the cops mind and got her to let you go didn't you?"
"Uh, yeah. But ah've never used Jeans powers like that before, ah swear!" Oh you LIAR!
"It's OK Rogue. I know it was an emergency and it's good that you can use Jeans powers like that."
"Ah guess. But it's hard. As soon as ah think ah've got used to these new powers, ah find out something else ah can do. And ah'm afraid…"
Scott regarded her. "Afraid of what?"
Jean sat down beside him and sighed. "Ah'm afraid of turning out like Jean, abusing mah powers and getting people to do whatever ah tell them to…"
"Whoa, wait!" Scott put his arm around her. "Rogue, you're nothing like Jean and you never could be!"
Got that right thought Jean as she gave Scott a shy smile. "But what if – "
Scott stopped her with a kiss.