Archive: Sure, just ask me first at smokhea@aol.com
*Special Note*: Bonus, two chapters at once this week! I'm trying to speed things up, so I wrote a lot more. Did I mention this was going to be a long story? Well it is :0)
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Chapter 11
Gossip Galore
(Ororo/Jean)
Ororo gazed across the kitchen counter-top, which was filled with piles of dirty dishes, going over her game plan. She wore a little apron that barely covered her cute white dress that reached just above her knees. It felt so good to finally be rid of her X-Men uniform.
She silently went over her mental checklist. The sink was already filled with soapy water on one side for washing [check], and fresh water on the other side for rinsing [check]. The drain board was in place and ready to be filled with glasses, plates and pots [check]. She put on her dishwashing gloves and started to dip the glasses into the soapy water.
Ororo loved doing the dishes; she found it to be extremely relaxing. However, she never let anyone on the team know that this was her favorite chore, for they might take advantage of her if they knew. She smiled to herself as she started to soap up the glasses in the sink. Only one X-man was aware of her love for dishes…Remy, and he took full advantage of that knowledge.
She smiled as she thought about how much he hated dish duty. Remy would always drag her to talk to him while he had to do that particular chore because, as he would say, 'I love your company, 'Ro.'
The task would always start with him holding the sponge and talking about any and everything to help pass the time. She would always tell him to scrub as much as he spoke.
"But dat's not possible, chere." He would always say.
Then he would begin to wash the pots and the glasses samiltiously, which he knew would drive her insane.
"Please, Remy! You wash the glasses first. The pots should be the very last thing to wash." She would always explain to deaf ears.
He would then laugh and say, "You know de sayin', 'Ro. If you wan' someting done right…" But he would never finish the popular phrase. "You need t' loosen up a bit, chere. T'row all de rules and regulations out de window an' have some fun."
She would then offer to help him do the dishes, since an hour would have past and he would never even be halfway done.
By the end, she would be doing the last of the dishes and he would be sitting at the kitchen table eating a ham sandwich.
"Here, jus' take one bite." He would always say pushing the food in her face.
"You know I do not eat *meat." She would answer.
"You should take a chance once an' awhile." He'd say with a grin. You don't know what you're missin'." Ororo laughed at the memory.
"What so funny?" Jean asked as she stepped into the kitchen. She was dressed down in a pair of blue jeans and one of Scott's oversize shirts.
"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking." Ororo answered her teammate. Jean went towards the lower cupboard and took out some dishwashing gloves. She looked up and smiled.
"You wash, I'll rinse." She ordered as Ororo gave a firm nod not minding the company of her long time friend. Jean began to rinse the few dishes that were already placed in her side of the sink. "What were you thinking about?" She asked picking up on what Ororo said earlier.
She shrugged in a style that Jean noticed to be eerily similar to Remy. "Just something that Remy said to me."
"Really?" He could always put her in a good mood. Jean thought back to her late night meeting with the thief and how he glossed over his relationship with Ororo. "You two are pretty close to each other."
She stopped momentarily with a raised eyebrow. "Is that a statement or a question?"
"It's a statement." Jean said with amused confidence.
"Then I would have to agree with you."
She sighed as she splashed her hands in the sink of rinsed dishes. "I find that amazing sometimes."
"What do you find so amazing?"
"I find it amazing that you could be so close to someone who is…so different from you." That's a nice way of saying: You could be so close to someone who is a fucking bastard. Jean thought angrily to herself.
She shrugged again in a Remy-like fashion. "I do not think we are so different from each other."
She tilted her head with a confused expression. "Ororo, you are a beautiful goddess and he is a scoundrel thief."
"I use to be a thief as well." She answered nonchalantly.
"True, but not like him. Anyway, he is a thief and you used to be a thief. How can you trust someone like that?"
"Really, it is not that hard. In his heart, Remy is truly a good person."
She snorted. "Even though he is a thief?"
"Yes, even though." Ororo smiled.
"Ha, a 'good thief', isn't that an oxymoron? So I guess you're saying he's a modern day Robin Hood."
She vigorously shook her head. "No, I am defiantly not saying that. Remy is no Robin Hood. You see, Robin Hood stole from the evil rich people and gave it all to those who were dirt poor. Robin Hood also lived a life of poverty in the forests with his Merry Men." She stopped and raised both her eyebrows at Jean. "As you can tell, Remy has not taken an oath of poverty. He steals from whoever he sees fit and keeps the majority of what he gets. No, Remy is no Robin Hood."
"So again I ask, how do you trust a person like that."
"It is very easy." She stopped for a moment to gather her thoughts. "Remember when Remy was left in Antarctica? He was gone for such a long time, we thought him to be dead. When Kitty and I went to Seoul on a mission we bumped into him…more or less." She laughed. "When I asked him what he had been up to all this time he replied, 'Jus' back to business as usual…I'm a t'ief when all else fails, an' all else has failed." She winked at Jean who couldn't help but laugh at Ororo's impression of Remy's accent. "It turned out that we were after the same jewel that was located in South Korea. Of course dealing with Remy I had to make our mission interesting. I told him that we should form a partnership, whoever touched the gem first could have it. So we went together in search of the treasure. Amazingly enough, Kitty reached it first."
Jean was intrigued. "So what happened?"
"Kitty had the gem, and I don't even know how he did it, but Remy somehow talked her into giving it to him."
"Somehow I'm not surprised." She rolled her eyes.
"She was so sure that Remy would not come back with the jewel. I told her that he would never trick us and despite his dark past I've always known him to be honorable. I reassured her that double crossing us is not within him. And surely enough, Remy came back with the jewel. I found out later that he overheard my conversation with Kitty."
"Overheard or eavesdropped?" Jean snickered.
"Really it doesn't matter. There is one simple rule when dealing with Remy: If you expect the worst of him that is what he will give you." She stopped and looked Jean deep in the eyes. "But if you expect the best of him…he will always live up to your expectations."
A sudden realization past through Jean. No wonder Remy exploded at me in the War Room. I expected the worst of him and that is what he gave me…shit!
"So the saying is true: Opposites attract."
"Yes, it is true in my case. We are good for each other."
Jean's ear perked up with the words of her friend. Good for each other, eh? Suddenly she had the urge to give Ororo's mind a quick scan in order to get the truth. But I can't do that to my friend. She reluctantly resisted the urge.
Ororo continued. "I'd like to think that with my influence Remy has been able to become more composed and sedated."
Jean laughed. "If this is the 'composed and sedated' Remy, I'd hate to have known him before he met you."
She smiled. "I am not saying I've had a huge impact on his life, but it is there. If it wasn't there, he would have left the team long ago. He has learned to take responsibility for his actions. Though in turn, I am sure his compulsive and gambling side has rubbed off on me."
Her eyes sparkled. "You hide it well Miss Munroe."
"That I do." She replied with a hidden meaning. "Why are you suddenly so interested in Remy?"
"I'm just a little curious. Why do you seem so shocked?"
"You have never seemed to be so concerned with him before."
"You aren't the first person who has said that to me today."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Rogue implied the very same thing to me this morning. I didn't know my lack of interest in Remy was so apparent."
She rolled her eyes. "Do not put so much weight on anything Rogue says to you. She seems to be in one of her 'moods' again."
"I haven't noticed."
"Trust me, she absorbed two mutants in our last battle. You know how confrontational she can get after she touches someone. She's been trying to get under my skin."
Jean didn't take it too seriously. "She was probably just bored and wanted to have some fun with you." Suddenly someone else crept into her mind. "Have you notice anything different about Logan?" Jean asked with an odd smile. Ororo stopped scrubbing a plate she had in her hand.
"No. Why is something wrong?" She continued on with the dishes.
"No, maybe not." She mumbled.
She stopped once more and raised an eyebrow. "Maybe?"
Jean perked up a bit. "I had a little talk with him yesterday. He told me he was going to be spending time away from the mansion."
She looked confused. "We were still on Red Alert last night."
"I know. I thought he was going out to Harry's and maybe find a woman for the night."
"So did he?"
"No. As a matter of fact, he told me he wasn't going out for sex."
She titled her head. "So what was he going to do?"
"That's the thing, he wouldn't tell me!"
"Oh." Ororo went back to scrubbing melted cheese off a plate.
Jean pouted; she wanted this topic to last a little longer. "That's all you have to say…'Oh'?"
"Well, what do you want me to say?"
"Aren't you the least bit curious as to what he's doing?" She asked with frustration.
"No, not at all." She couldn't keep the grin off her face. "Okay, maybe just a little curious." She giggled.
"Well, I'm way beyond curious! I am ready to start spying on him!"
"Jean! How dare you even think of such a thing." She laughed.
"Oh come on, I know you're thinking the same thing too."
"No I am not." She said adamantly. "If he wants to have a few secrets, just let it be. For all you know he could be lending his spare time helping out an orphanage or something." She suppressed a giggle.
Jean rolled her eyes. "I highly doubt that. Would you do me a favor?"
"It depends. What do you want me to do?"
"Can you please ask Logan what he's been doing sneaking off by himself and tell me what he says?"
"I will do no such thing. You know how big I am on respecting a person's privacy."
"Pleeease!" She clasped her hands together like one would do while praying. "Just do me this teeny tiny favor."
"No." She replied firmly.
"I just want to make sure he's not getting himself into trouble. And if he won't tell me what's going on, he might tell you."
"I am not going to do it."
Jean grabbed on to her soapy gloved hand. "Have I ever told you that you are my bestest friend in the whole entire world? That's why I picked you without hesitation to be the matron of honor at my wedding."
Jean had pushed the right button, Ororo relented. "Fine, I'll ask him. But if he wants me to keep whatever he tells me confidential I won't be able to tell you anything."
"Alright!" She gave a big smile, then whispered. "I just want to make sure he's okay."
"Why are you so interested in what he's doing off campus."
"You know me, Ororo. I will always have some interest in him." She gave off more emotion than she intended. The tone of her voice did not get past the sensitive ears of her friend.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I just mean…I'll always care for him. That's all." She lied.
Ororo read past Jean's words and caught the underline meaning; she was shocked. "Still, after all this time?" They both looked at each other. Jean couldn't nod her head because she was afraid of what it might mean. She had expressed her feelings about Logan to Remy but did not possess the know-how to express the same feelings to her best friend.
She would never understand. I love Scott with everything that's in me…but still Logan will always… She stopped short not wanting to finish her thoughts…
"Do you know what's going on with Betsy?" Jean asked wanting to speak about anything besides her feelings for The Wolverine. "She seems to be in a pissy mood."
"I know. Do you think it might have something to do with Warren?"
Jean smiled with relief when Ororo decided to part take in this new topic instead of dwelling on Logan. "I'm almost sure of it! When they're together she's a breath of fresh air." She embellished as Ororo snickered. "Okay, so I'm exaggerating slightly. But she is easy to deal with when she is in a happy mood…Warren has always seem to keep her happy."
"But she did come back to the mansion alone. And she also said that she wanted to go to London to visit her family. Something must have gone wrong in their relationship."
"Yeah, but what?" She turned her attention back to splashing the water. "Well, I hope they work everything out soon. She looks miserable, and you know what they say…"
" 'Misery loves company'." She finished Jean's statement then added; "Maybe she and Rogue can become the best of friends."
"I take it you have some animosity towards Rogue."
"Some is correct."
"I take it that it's more than Rogue getting under your skin that's bothering you."
"I just think that this bracelet idea will turn out to be disastrous."
"You've always been one of Rogue and Gambit's greatest supporters."
"I know, but things change. The fact that she couldn't touch has been her best excuse for keeping him at arms-length, now she doesn't have that excuse anymore. I predict she is going to be dragging her feet to avoid a relationship with Remy."
"Just take it easy on her, 'Ro. Don't expect all her emotional problems to go away just because she now has the ability to touch. What she needs most is our patients and understanding."
"Patients I can deal with, understanding might be a little difficult."
"Are you sure there isn't another reason you're against their relationship?" She asked shrewdly.
"No, that's my main concern." Her eyes flashed suddenly when she figured what Jean really meant. "Jean Grey Summers what are you implying?"
"Oh nothing…except that you might have developed a little crush on that 'opposite' friend of yours."
She shook her head. "You are completely off base."
"Am I?"
"If you were to see your friend banging his head against a brick wall repeatedly, wouldn't you want him to stop?"
"You're comparing their relationship to a brick wall? I would more compare it to a drunk driver riding through a crowded school yard."
She laughed. "You know what? I am not even going to continue this ridiculous conversation." She looked to her friend and gave a warm smile. "What are you going to do with your vacation time?"
Her face lit up. "Tonight I have a special evening planned for Scott and I."
"Really? What?"
"I will be making him a nice candle light dinner, with me as desert." She said seductively.
"My, my, my. It sounds like you two will be making the most of your vacation time."
"Tell me about it." She began drying some of the dishes. "It has been so long since we spent the night together."
"How long?" She asked casually.
"Are you ready to hear this?" Jean sighed. "Not since we first started Red Alert." Ororo mouth dropped open. "Get out!" She was truly shocked. "Jean, we've
been on Red Alert for…"
She waved her hand. "I know, I know."
"You're telling me you haven't had sex with you husband in so long?"
"Well…the few times we did manage to find the time together…you know, when he wasn't too tired…Scott finished before I even started, if you know what I mean." She winked.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah! Then he's too exhausted to finish me off. I mean, at that point I would have taken anything. If he couldn't finish me off with his penis, he could have done some oral, or even used his hands…"
"But he fell asleep." Ororo concluded.
"Yup, he would just roll over and start snoring." She looked up at her friend. "Don't get me wrong, Scott is a great lover. He just has to be well rested and relaxed before he can 'bring home the fire works' so to speak."
She felt sympathy for her. "If Scott would let me take over some of his duties, he wouldn't be so tired all the time."
"You know how he is; he wants to do everything himself. It's hard for him to give up control sometimes."
Ororo wanted to change the topic because she was still a tad bit angry at Scott's behavior earlier in the War Room. "Well, I wish for you a wonderful night filled with multiple orgasms."
Jean pulled Ororo into a hug. "Ohh, that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me." They both laughed as another X-Men entered the kitchen.
"Ahh, shit! Ah jus' missed the punch line." Rogue said with a snap of her fingers. She felt rejuvenated, like she could defeat 20 Sentinels with her hands tied behind her back.
As she looked around the room, the kitchen seemed strange to her somehow, like she never saw it before…but that couldn't be right, after all, she has lived in the mansion for so long. Maybe it's because Ah've spent so many weeks seeing a dirty kitchen; Due to the Red Alert the mansion hasn't been getting a lot of attention, as far a cleaning was concerned.
"Oh look, it's Miss Sunshine." Ororo said her tone lying between being sincere and sarcastic.
Rogue chose to take her words in an upbeat fashion. "Yes, Ah'm here to bless everyone with a bit of mah rays." She gave a little spin as she danced around the kitchen table.
"Better not shine on us too long, we don't want to get burned." Ororo added to her earlier metaphor. Rogue gave Ororo a big smile and wrapped her arms around her waist.
"That's a good one, sugah." She rubbed her face on her back. "You smell pretty."
Jean looked at Ororo quizzically and spoke to her telepathically.
I thought you said that Rogue was trying to get under your skin?
Right now she's trying to get under my dress. She answered.
What?! Jean replied.
"Your legs are so firm. What do yah set the Stair Master to?" Rogue asked.
"Uh…" Ororo thought flabbergasted.
Jean interrupted their little conversation. "Rogue, I thought Henry wanted to see you."
Rogue turned to Jean and removed her wandering hands from Ororo. "Yeah, Ah'm going right now, Ah jus' wanted to get somethin' to drink." She turned to the fridge and took out a packaged orange juice box. With her front turned to the fridge, Jean noticed something odd about Rogue.
"You have rocks in your hair."
"Yup." Rogue replied. She brushed her hair as some dust and rocks fell towards the floor.
Ororo watched the two with some previous knowledge of what was unfolding before her. It was clear to her that Rogue fulfilled her earlier promise of diving off the roof of the mansion. She looked at the confused expression on poor Jean's face.
"What happened?" Jean asked with concern.
"Ah fell." Rogue answered with indifference.
"On your head?" She asked still puzzled.
"Yup." Rogue called out as she left the kitchen with her juice box.
Jean turned to her friend shaking her head regretfully. "And that's the person who Remy loves. A woman who cannot control her powers or her balance."
It was all too much for Ororo to hold back; she burst into laugher as a questioning Jean looked on.
******
*Is Storm a vegetarian? I don't really know if I made that up or it's true, oh well.
Answers: Will Rogue ever turn on her bracelet? An answer to that question will come next chapter.
Thanks for all of the feedback.
Please review before you continue! Thank you.
Next Time: The Beast says goodbye! Henry tries to take the bracelet from Rogue (will he succeed?) then tells Scott the outcome of his meeting with her. Remy also makes an appearance as he has a few choice words for the doctor...