Moezy-chan – It was awkward with the beloved trouble makers gone. But they're back to stay. And they will continue they're wacky and wild ways.
Winter Fire – Quick enough for you?
Roguehobbit – I could not tell you and leave you dying in suspense. But I'm not that cruel. Yes Emma will make a brief, brief appearance.
Star-of-Chaos – I don't know what you're saying. Good cookies should crumble. The ones that are chewy and thin that crumble the minute you bit into the warm, chewy chocolate chip cookie. YUMMMMMM.
Ishandahalf – If I regret giving you a place of honor then I'll just send my flying monkeys of DOOM! after you. And they will rectify the situation. I don't know what the play will be but I assure you it will not be Phantom of the Opera, even though it would be ironic. The Hellfire Club is just going to be a socialite group. Can't have another evil competing with the Phantom for the villain-ship of the story. The coat is fine. Besides I'm sure that Remy has many other pairs. He won't even know that it got burned.
Thanks to Spiffythefeary for betaing the story and for submitting to my demands for a picture gallery of the story. As soon as some of the pictures are up I'll let everyone know where to find the illustrations!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The prologue to a bright new year!"
- Andre
"No."
"What do you mean, no?"
"You two are not going to the ball in that," Logan growled at Bobby Drake and Kurt Wagner with clenched teeth.
"Why not?" Bobby asked indignantly of the harsh taskmaster.
"Because I said so," Logan replied.
"Ve never do vhat you tell us anyvay. So vhy vould ve start now?" Kurt chipped in with a raised eyebrow.
"If you two want to go to the ball then you're gonna do as I say," Logan answered. Bobby pouted as Kurt adopted a rather sour look.
"But you won't tell us vhy ve can't go!"
"All we did was tell you our idea for a costume. It's not like we're planning on blowing up the dance or something." Logan's cheek twitched in barely controlled anger.
"You wanted to go as Creed's ghost!" Logan snapped.
"Yeah, it's funny."
"It is not funny Popsicle! And I ain't about to let you disrespect the dead like that."
"We're not disrespecting."
"More like ignoring."
"It ain't happening."
"But ve've already made the costume!" Kurt wailed loudly, his cries drawing a crowd to the dispute between the three mutants.
"I don't care," Logan returned. What the three were arguing about was unclear to the newly assembled onlookers but they were instantly riveted upon the dispute between Logan and two-thirds of the Terrible Trio.
"But what'll we do for the ball then?"
"I don't care. But you're not going as a dead Creed."
"You have no sense of humor!" Bobby spat.
"You have no sense of decency," Logan smoothly returned.
"Ve do too. Ve simply choose not to use it."
"Now would be a good time to make use of it," Logan shot at the two. The troublemakers frowned.
"You don't appreciate good humor."
"You don't appreciate common sense."
"Logan, what is this all about?" Raven Darkholme asked as she slid through the crowd. Her tone was covered in silk but there was no mistaking the steel undertone in her voice. Logan shot her a quick glance before resuming his leering at the two boys in front of him.
"These two want to go to the ball tomorrow night as Creed's ghost," Logan replied. There was a sharp intake of breath by the crowd as Raven leveled her fiery gaze at her son and his closest friend.
"Is this true?" she asked calmly. Everyone present knew that it was merely the calm before the storm.
"Yes."
"You want to go to the ball dressed as Creed. Why?"
"Because ve think that it's funny."
"Kurt! What happened to Creed was not funny. It was tragic."
"Ah, but comedy is tragedy plus time."
"This is not the time to debate humor Kurt."
"But…"
"No buts. You two will not be going to the ball dressed as Creed's ghost. If you do you will not be going at all. Do I make myself clear?" Raven hissed acidly as she glared at the somber faces of Kurt and Bobby.
"Yes, Mutter." Raven turned her glare to Bobby, who flinched underneath her withering gaze.
"Yes, Ms. Darkholme." Raven nodded her head satisfactorily.
"Good. Now that we have that cleared up you go think of what to wear for the ball. And think of something acceptable this time."
The two boys nodded and began to trudge off. Logan shot a look of disbelief at Raven.
"I hate you for being able to do that," he remarked as he turned and cut through the dispersing crowd.
***
"So what are you going as?" Kitty asked Rogue as the two girls sat in the lounge, watching the New Mutants wrestle over the remote for the television.
"Going as for what?" Rogue replied blankly as she watched Tabitha level the competition for the remote with some well-placed boom balls.
"The masquerade ball tomorrow night. What are you dressing up as?" Kitty replied, pronouncing every word slowly. Rogue blinked and turned to face her friend.
"Ah don't know yet."
Kitty looked at her friend in horror. "What do you mean you don't know? The ball is tomorrow."
Rogue shrugged. "It hasn't really been on my mind, Ah guess." Kitty's horror continued to grow.
"Hasn't been on your mind? What's wrong with you?" Rogue rolled her eyes at her friend.
"Ah've been busy with other things," Rogue replied, in a tone that she hoped would end the discussion. For once Kitty actually picked up on the hint and dropped her line of questioning.
"Well I've been thinking about this for weeks and I've already got my costume. I made sure that Lance's matches mine."
"Ah bet he was pleased about that," Rogue replied, her voice drenched with sarcasm. Her tone went unnoticed by the perky brunette.
"Like I was going to let him have a choice in the matter," Kitty replied with a snort. Rogue nodded knowingly.
"So what is Remy going to be?"
"Ah've got no idea. He told me he doesn't care what he is so long as his costume involves a trenchcoat."
"He really wasn't pleased about that was he?"
"No, but as Ah pointed out he's got half a dozen of them hanging in his closet. It wasn't any big loss."
"I bet he didn't see it that way."
"No. He spent an hour moaning over the coat and recalling fond memories of it."
"He really is attached to his trenchcoats." Rogue nodded as she watched Tabitha have the remote snatched from her hands by Amara.
"Don't Ah know it."
"Don't you know what, chere?" Remy asked with a half smirk spread across his face. Along with the Cajun was Lance. The two girls shot grins in the directions of their respective boyfriends.
"That you were so attached to those coats," Rogue replied, injecting a slight tone of bitterness into her voice. Remy grinned and slipped down to her side and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"You sound jealous bout dat." Rogue shrugged as she leaned into Remy.
"Maybe just a bit."
Lance chuckled lightly as he sat down besides Kitty.
"Where have you two been?" the brunette asked as she leaned into her beau.
"Ororo needed help with the decorations for the ball."
"She knew dat only we strapping hommes could help her in her time of crisis," Remy remarked. Rogue's eyebrow rose slightly.
"Oh?" Remy's face drained. Fortunately for the Cajun he did not have to defend his statement as a dejected John, Kurt, and Bobby walked in to the den and unceremoniously dropped themselves on a vacant couch. The four looked at their friends with concern. They had never seen them so depressed. Rogue and Kitty exchanged a quick glance before speaking out to the glum trio.
"Guys? What's wrong?" Kitty asked. Her question didn't even procure a response from the three.
"Hey! What happened?" Rogue tried. Her question caused the three to look up.
"Huh?"
"Why are you three looking so blue?"
"I'm always blue Kätchen."
"That's not what I meant Kurt and you know it. Why are you guys so depressed?"
"Logan vetoed all of our ideas for costumes for the ball tomorrow."
"You let him know beforehand?"
"Didn't have a choice in the matter. He demanded that we tell him before hand. Apparently the Professor didn't want us to have an inappropriate costume."
"So you did?"
"Not in our opinion."
"It's not fair mates! My costume was brilliant!" John whined.
"And just what were you guys planning on being?"
"We," Bobby pointed to himself and Kurt, "were going to be the ghost of Creed."
"That's not funny guys."
"You obviously have no sense of humor."
"What about you John?"
"It was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."
"What was?"
"Me costume. I was going to dress up as a living flame!" There was dead silence after his remark.
"A living flame?" Lance asked, unable to contain his disbelief. John nodded sadly.
"Yeah. I was going to light myself on fire."
Rogue looked over at Kurt, who shrugged. "And Ah thought your idea was bad."
"It could have worked too," John moaned. Kitty remained silent, simply wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"You guys don't have any backups?"
"Of course ve do. But that's not the point."
"What be de point den mon amis?"
"It's the principle of the thing. If Logan can stop us this time then he'll think he can just walk over us."
"I don't think Logan thinks that."
"Ah'm sure nobody in their right mind would think that."
"But it isn't the reaction that Logan will have that we're concerned about," John said, surprising everyone by his quick abandonment of sorrow.
"Then what are you worried about?" Kitty questioned.
"I can't believe you wanted to dress up in such undignified costumes at the ball!" Scott Summers and Jean Grey jointly declared as they marched into the room.
"That," John said with a sigh.
"Have you no sense of respect?" Jean lectured.
"Or decency?" Scott added. The trio didn't even look up at the stern lecturers.
"Do us a favor and go away," Kurt said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Not until you learn your lesson Kurt Wagner," Jean hissed in reply.
"Oh shut up Jean," Bobby spat back. Jean and Scott glowered at the youth.
"You did not just say that," Jean said ominously, her voice filled with warning.
"I did. What are you going to do about it?"
"Apologize to her now Bobby," Scott ordered. Bobby shook his head.
"No."
"Apologize now!"
"Why should I? All she does is treat us like dirt! From now on I'm going to treat her the same way she treats us!"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jean replied haughtily.
"Yes you do. You always try to put us down and build yourself up," Kurt said as he jumped in to defend his friend.
"Kurt, stay out of this," Scott replied, secretly hoping to avoid an escalation of this quarrel.
"Nein. I'm with Bobby on this. She's got to learn a lesson."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I've always been civil to you."
"Not always Sheila. And it's not just us. You treat the others like crap too. Of course we all remember how you treated Rogue when she first came," John replied, shocking the rest by actually contributing something to a conversation besides maniacal laughter. Jean shot a quick look at Rogue before attempting to defend herself.
"If you are referring to the one time that I yelled at her for absorbing Scott, I'll have you know that I was quite justified in my fright and I have apologized about that." John shook his head.
"Nah mate. I'm talking about the bitching you did when there was some suggestion about Rogue taking your place as team leader."
"How'd you know about that?"
"You did what?" Remy hissed as he started to rise. Rogue narrowed her eyes but placed a restraining hand on his arm. Jean whirled around to glare at Kitty and Lance.
"Which one of you talked?"
"We didn't say anything."
"Then how did they find out?" Jean shrieked, her voice attracting the attention of the New Mutants.
"I don't know. They find this type of stuff out all the time!"
"Who told you?" Scott quietly asked of the trio.
"What's it to you?" Bobby replied.
"Vhy should ve tell you?"
"How did you find out about that?" Jean hissed through clenched teeth.
"I told them," came a small squeak. The older students turned their gazes to see a guilty Jamie standing before them.
"I heard about the argument. I didn't understand so I asked them what it meant. Did I do something wrong?" the small boy asked. Despite her fury Jean couldn't yell at the boy.
"You shouldn't go around repeating stuff like that Jamie. Next time just go ask one of the adults," Jean forced out. Jamie nodded and returned to his activities with the other students. The older students turned their attention back among themselves, except for Rogue who continued to look at the back of Jamie's head with confusion and curiosity.
"You still owe me an apology."
"We already told you that it's not coming. So get lost."
"Bobby. Just apologize and everything will be fine."
"I'll apologize when she does."
"I have nothing to apologize for!"
"Then neither do I!" Scott rubbed the bridge of his nose in ire.
"Enough of this. You owe Jean an apology. Just get it over with."
"Of course you'd take her side," Kurt snorted. Scott frowned but before he could reply Jean snapped.
"You pricks! I've had enough of your stupid games."
"There she goes again with the insults," John mumbled under his breath. Jean turned her nasty gaze towards the pyromaniac.
"You all have offended me and you will apologize."
"Or what?"
"Don't make me resort to threats."
"You already have Jeanie-dear."
"That's it. Apologize now or I swear that I'll…"
"Jean! What is the meaning of this?" Professor Xavier snapped as he wheeled into the den, a frown gracing his features. The quarrelling students feel silent as Xavier approached them. He looked up at Jean with an expectant gaze.
"Just an argument that got out of hand," Jean mumbled underneath her breath. From the expression on the professor's face it was fairly clear that he didn't believe her excuse. However, he did not seem to be inclined to call Jean's lie.
"I would have hoped that you all would be above threatening each other. Especially you Jean," Xavier reproached with a critical eye.
"It won't happen again Professor."
"See that it doesn't," Xavier returned in a cold tone that the students had never heard him use before. He swept his frigid gaze around the students, who all flinched underneath the harsh glare.
"Whatever the reason for this bickering I hope that from now on it can be solved in an amicable manner. I trust that I will not have to witness this again. Remember that you are supposed to be role models to the younger students and to the outside world. Losing control of yourselves can not be tolerated. I hope that this lecture will not need repeating."
"Sorry Professor," Scott said.
"I don't want to hear you apologize Scott. Just make sure it does not happen again. Especially tomorrow night. Am I clear?"
"Of course Professor," Scott replied. Xavier looked at the rest of the students who simply nodded.
"Good. Now go help Ororo with the decorations," Xavier said as he began to wheel out of the room.
"If you just apologized then this wouldn't have happened!" Scott hissed out of the corner of his mouth at the trio.
"Scott!" Xavier snapped, having heard the comment.
"I'm sorry Professor. It won't happen again." Xavier gave no reply as he wheeled out of the room completely. The trio snickered as soon as the wheelchair bound man left their sight.
"Kiss-ass."
"Shut up. This is all your fault."
"It was not. It's your girlfriend's fault," Kurt returned.
"I am not going to stand here and listen to this," Jean declared as she began to march out. She stopped when she realized that she was alone. She turned and looked at Scott expectantly.
"Just apologize to her," Scott pleaded with the troublemakers.
"No."
"Come on. Just get it over with."
"No." Scott sighed and drew himself up to his full height.
"Fine. Then I'm going to have to do something I really don't want to."
"Don't then."
"You give me no choice. I want to see all three of you in the Danger Room at eight o'clock tonight," Scott ordered as he turned on his heel and walked towards Jean. The two grasped hands and left the room. The trio glowered in their wake. The three boys exchanged glances of shock for a moment.
"So be it Scott Summers. This means war!"
***
Later that night Rogue lay in bed, unable to fall asleep. Whenever she closed her eyes her thoughts wandered back on the day and to the fight between Jean and the Trio. At the forefront of her thoughts was what Jamie had said.
"Kitty?" Rogue called out to her roommate.
"Hmm," Kitty groaned.
"You awake?"
"I am now. Can't you sleep?"
"Nah. Ah keep thinking about today." Kitty sat up in bed and nodded.
"I know what you mean. I keep thinking about it too. You ask me it was about time someone said that to Jean."
"Yeah. But that's not what's bothering me."
"Huh? Then what is?"
"Remember what Jamie said. About hearing that conversation Jean had about me?"
"Um – yeah. I'm sorry about that. I should have told you." Rogue waved the apology away.
"It was supposed to be kept a secret. It's okay."
"I still should have told you."
"Don't worry about it."
"If you say so. So why does it bother you that Jamie knew?"
"Who was there for the conversation?" Kitty frowned at Rogue for a moment before answering.
"Me, Lance, Scott, and Jean. And Logan showed up at the end."
"You and Lance didn't tell Jamie?"
"No way. We keep secrets."
"Right. Scott and Jean didn't tell him. And Ah'd bet that Logan wouldn't say anything to anyone about that. He'd never tell Jamie."
"So then how did Jamie find out about the conversation?" Kitty asked.
"Exactly."
"I mean, he couldn't have overheard because he would have been at the movie that all the New Mutants were sent to that night."
"So he couldn't have heard the conversation personally."
"Which means that someone else had to have overheard and told him," Kitty said, finishing off Rogue's thought. As Kitty finished her statement Rogue felt her stomach drop. There was only one person who could have overheard the conversation without being noticed.
"Rogue, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Ah'm fine. Go back to sleep."
"As if I could sleep now. I thought we were trying to solve a mystery here."
"We did solve it. Now go to sleep." But as Kitty began to protest that she didn't know who the culprit was Rogue pulled her covers up and began to feign sleep. Kitty frowned at the apparently sleeping form of her friend and muttered to herself before quickly slipping into a world of dreams.
Rogue remained awake under her covers. She knew who had to have relayed the conversation to Jamie. After three and a half weeks of nothing happening, Rogue thought that everything had ended, that it was over. She had pushed him out of her mind. Now her memory came back with a passion. He was burned into her mind.
Still, Rogue tried to reason with herself, he hadn't been seen in almost a month and he hasn't made any attempt to get me. Maybe it really is over.
But something inside of her scoffed at that idea. Rogue knew that even though he had been missing for a sustained period of time did not mean that he was gone. Sooner or later he would emerge once more and she would be forced to deal with the Phantom again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next chapter: the Masquerade Ball! Cameos galore!