Thanks to:
Todd Fan – Yeah, it's inhumane to be sober forever…I know that. This chapter is a day late because I was drunk!
Heartsyhawk – There is gonna be more torment for Pietro! I wanted to do some stuff with Jamie but I thought it was a bit dodgy to get him drunk ;) so I thought hyper Jamie would be amusing.
TheDreamerLady – Oh thank you! I always like to be told I'm wring the best story ever. Hope you enjoy this chapter just as much!
LadyEvils – Trust me, whatever happens in Vegas is gonna have to stay there just for the sanity of our fave mutants! Fred's not really the responsible one – he's just the sober one ;) See Wanda's powers in use right here!
Riderazzo – There's not much Lancitty fluff here although they are together! But there will be more in upcoming chapters…trust me ;)
Randomnity - Yeah I quite like getting your mini-segments about strange goings on in Mexico! It's like having a little story all my own to read, although I have gotten quite bewildered on occasion.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Poverty is my constant companion so please choose not to sue me.
Author Note: This is the longest chapter of the fic. I'll try to update every other day because the chapters from now on will be pretty short. No reason, except that I'm concentrating on a different drama in every chapter. Prepare yourselves for the morning afters!
"It's black. The lady wins again!"
"Yes!" Jean accepted her winnings which now totalled almost eight thousand dollars. "I'll put it all on black again."
The croupier spun the roulette wheel again. For a moment the ball teetered on the edge of hitting a red pocket, then fell to the other side to land on black.
"You win again!" The croupier looked slightly put out. "Lady, you must be psychic or something!"
"I must be," grinned Jean, examining the pile of chips and thinking about the many designer shops in Vegas that were open until the early hours.
A few tables over, Pietro was also having a suspiciously lucky streak on the Blackjack table, almost as if he knew what the other people at the table were holding.
"Drafty in here," commented a rosy-faced tourist who had given Pietro almost three thousand dollars in the last five hands.
"Yeah, it is." Pietro raised his stake a further two thousand dollars.
"You've got the luck of the devil!" exclaimed a blonde woman of about 50 as the players revealed their cards and they realised Pietro had won again.
Grabbing his winnings, Pietro turned to see his sister dropping the jackpot of a fruit machine, the third one that night. What was the probability of that?"
Wanda took the money and went to change it into notes. Gambling just didn't hold the same appeal when it was easy to win. On the way, she passed Gambit and Rogue playing poker, Remy seemingly winning and Rogue glaring at her cards in disgust.
"Chere! Did Gambit not teach you anything?"
"Ah'm just no good at this game," sighed Rogue, throwing her cards on the table and standing up. "Ah'm gonna get a drink."
She wandered off to the bar where she encountered Kitty and Lance. "Hey guys, you OK?"
"Great," said Lance with a snigger as he nodded in Kitty's direction. "She can barely walk!"
"That is a filthy lie!" said Kitty indignantly. "I'm as shober as a drunk!" This struck her as hilarious and she laughed so hard she toppled off her chair.
"Ouch!"
"Guys, I think we should leave," said Wanda as she approached them. "We're getting some evil looks off security. Too many of us are winning too big."
"So?" Kitty climbed back onto her chair and took a swig of her drink. "Mr Smash said we were his special guests and he owns the casino."
"No, Wanda's right," said Rogue. "Why push our luck? Besides, ah'm outta chips."
"Bet Remy would let you have some of his," said Lance slyly.
"Some of his what?" Kitty burst into fresh paroxsysms of laughter.
"Ah bet he wouldn't," said Rogue. "He's way too serious about his gambling. Probably the one thing he is serious about."
Fred and Todd wandered over tot hem and ordered drinks. "Yo, we saw a boxing competition advertised down the strip," said Todd. "Bet Fred could win some serious cash!"
"Yeah, ah really wanna watch two morons beat the crap out of each other." Rogue rolled her eyes.
"So don't come then," said Fred crossly.
"I'll get Pietro and see who else wants to come." Wanda finished her drink and made her way to the blackjack table where Pietro was laughing insanely after another big win.
"Come on Pietro," she said, grabbing his arm. "We're going to enter Blob into a boxing contest."
"But Wanda, I'm on a winning streak!"
"I'll hex you if you don't."
"OK, OK." Pietro left the table and took his chips to be cashed.
Eventually, Fred had the moral support of the entire Brotherhood as well as Kitty, Tabby, Amara, Sam, Bobby and Roberto. The other X-Men decided to stay in the casino.
"Wow, it's just like on TV!" said Fred in awe as they entered the place where the competition was held.
"They must do it every week," said Lance, looking at the posters.
"Don't you think it seems a little…rough in here?" asked Amara.
"I'll protect you," said Pyro cheerfully. Amara looked disturbed by this prospect.
A boxing ring dominated the room, people sat around in folding chairs. Two girls in glittery top hats and miniscule bikinis held up signs proclaiming round two and the audience roared. The first boxer was a heavily muscled man in his thirties. The second was younger, less well conditioned and obviously exhausted. The rest of the round lasted about seventeen seconds as the older man landed two vicious punches and his opponent went down for the count.
"Your winner – Titus Tucker!" The ring announcer was shouting into the microphone as though no one could hear him. "Seventy-two wins in a row! If anyone can last three rounds with Titus Tucker, they win one thousand dollars! If you can defeat him, five thousand dollars! Who's next to challenge the champ? For an outlay of just a hundred dollars, you could end tonight as a legend!"
"Uh, can some one lend me a hundred bucks?" asked Fred. "I lost all my money in the casino."
"Here." Pietro handed Fred the money. "But I want double back."
Fred lumbered over to the ring and the otheres made themselves comfortable.
"A new contender!" bellowed the ring announcer. "Let's give it up for Fred Dukes!"
It was no contest. Titus Tucker hit the Blob with everything he had but Fred just absorbed the blows without complaint. By the fourth round Tucker was exhausted and Fred had no problem laying him out for the count.
"Your winner – the challenger, Fred Dukes!" The announcer looked pissed. "This young man wins five thousand dollars!"
"Yeah! GO FREDDY!" yelled Tabby.
"That's showing him mate!" hollered Pyro.
"WOO-HOO!" added Kitty loudly, standing up and waving her arms in the air. Fred grinned at them as he collected his money from the announcer and lumbered back over.
"Who's next for the chance to win big?" asked the announcer. There was a sudden rush from the crowd as people waved their money at the announcer, the sight of Fred beating the champ encouraging them that they could do it to.
"Alright!" Fred flipped through the wad of bills happily. "I'm rich!"
"Hi Freddy!"
Fred turned around to find himself face to face with the two bikini girls from the ring. "Uh, hey."
"I'm Cindi," said the first girl, a blonde with pale skin and a navel piercing.
"I'm Candi," said the second girl, an olive-skinned brunette with a stomach tattoo. "We've just finished our shift for tonight and since you're new to Vegas we thought we could maybe show you around for a bit?"
"Uh, sure!"
The two girls each took hold of one of Fred's arms and winked at the stunned group of mutants. "See you later guys!"
"Don't wait up," giggled Cindi.
"I've got some wine back at the hotel if you prefer," said Fred as he led the two girls away. "Got it from a Cajun who says it's a very good year…"
"Uh…" Kitty rubbed her eyes and blinked. "Did Blob just walk out of here with a gorgeous semi-naked girl on each arm or am I just really wasted?"
"Yes to both," said Todd.
Kitty took a sideways look at Lance, who was still staring after Fred in shock, and misread the look on his face. "Well, those girls were like, so false. Their boobs were like totally implants."
"Plastic fantastic," said Sam dreamily, causing Kitty to hit him upside the head.
"He never paid me back my money," grumbled Pietro.
"Come on guys," said Tabby. "Let's hit a club or something. I feel like dancing!"
"Yeah!" cheered Amara.
Pietro looked annoyed. "Hold on. Blob just walked out of here with two girls and I've seen no action all weekend!"
Wanda smirked. "Well, there was Simone…"
"Shut up. Forget clubbing. I finally look old enough to drink – I'm going to a strip club."
"That's disgusting," growled Wanda.
"You're not invited anyway," snapped Pietro. "Boys only. Anyone else up for it?"
"Me!" yelled Roberto.
"No way am I missing this," added Bobby.
"Uh, it sounds like fun?" Sam didn't sound too sure but naked woman and alcohol were a combination few teenage boys could refuse.
"Think I'll go with the ladies," said Pyro, draping one arm over Amara's shoulders and the other around Tabby's.
"What ladies?" asked Bobby innocently. Tabby, Kitty, Wanda and Amara shot him death glares.
"I'm sticking with my snuggles," said Todd with a crafty look.
"Ugh."
"Come on!" Tabby shook herself loose from Pyro and grabbed Kitty's hand. "Are you coming with us or what?"
"Yeah, sure I am. Come on Lance!"
"But…" Lance was about to argue the joys of the strip club when he saw the look on Kitty's face and gave in. "Just don't expect me to dance."
"Have fun guys," shouted Pyro as he followed the others out of the building, leaving Pietro, Bobby, Sam and Roberto to find the nearest dtrip club.
00000000000000000000000000
Back at the casino, Jean had finally been dragged away from the roulette table and was sitting in a bar down the strip with Scott, Rogue and Kurt. A phonecall from Phinneus Smash had ensured them complimentary drinks and the alcohol was flowing freely. Jean had her hand on Scott's leg and he was acutely aware of it sneaking higher every time she got another drink.
"I won fifteen thousand dollars!" she said proudly. "I need to go shopping before we leave tomorrow."
"Keeo drinking like that and you won't be up in time," said Kurt.
"Ah won nothing!" Rogue glanced mournfully into her glass. "Ah spent all week learning how t' gamble and ah didn't win a thing!"
"I lost too," muttered Scott. "Slot machine ate all my money, then Wanda comes along and puts in three dollars and won the jackpot! And I said no powers!"
"And Jean won all that money without using her powers?" asked Kurt under his breath.
"What was that Kurt?" Jean's voice was innocent but her look was pointed.
"Oh, uh, I said, uh – oh look, there's Gambit!" Kurt waved at the Cajun through the window of the bar, glad of the distraction in spite of the mans constant attempts to get into his sisters underwear.
Gambit grabbed a drink and sat down beside Rogue, who smiled at him. "Did ya win sugar?"
"Remy always wins chere," replied Gambit, putting his arm around her. "How much have you had to drink?"
"Not much," lied Rogue. "You know. You've got great eyes. Ah mean it, ah'm not ust saying that to get you in to bed."
"Dat's a shame."
Jean's hand crept still higher up Scott's thigh and he abruptly pushed his chair away from the table. "It's late. I'm going back to the hotel. Jean, do you want to walk with me?"
"Yeah." Jean staggered slightly as she stood up and leant against Scott for support. "Goodnight!"
"Goodnight!" chanted the other three with knowing looks on their faces.
Scott and Jean got maybe 200 yards away from the bar when Jean spotted a convenient shadowy alleyway and shoved Scot into it. Before he could rotest, she shoved her tongue down her throat and her hands down his pants.
After a few seconds Scott pulled away breathlessly. "Why don't we go back to the hotel?"
"Yeah, soon," she murmered, pressing herself against him and kissing him again. Forgetting where he was, Scott pushed her shirt up, one hand toying with a nipple, the other sneaking up her skirt…
"Well ain't this sweet?"
"SHIT!" Jean spun around, showing the cop who had snuck up on them a generous portion of her left boob before her shirt fell back down.
"Uh, hi officer," said Scott nerviously. "I can explain everything. This lady wasn't breathing and I was performing CPR! Yeah, that's what I was doing."
"Nice try," said the cop with a smirk.
Jean gave him her best smile. "We'll just get back to our hotel now…"
"I don't think so missy," replied the cop. "I'm taking you in."
"What! Why?"
"Public indecency is a felony. We don't put up with that kind of thing in Las Vegas."
Scott looked imploring. "But officer…"
"Forget it!" The cop opened the door of his cruiser and motioned for them to climb in. "You're under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. Anythng you say…"
Back at the bar, Rogue was getting increasingly giggly and flirty, Remy was feeling more and more pleased with himself and Kurt was growing ever more pissed off.
"Dat's nice chere," said Remy after Rogue gave him a list of all the reasons he was better than Scott and understanding Kurt's glare as meaning 'back off'. "Hey, look over dere!"
"Whuh?" Rogue followed his gaze to a solitary woman standing at the bar, sipping a drink and trying not to look at their table. "What about her?"
"She giving Kurt de eye!"
"Where?" Kurt looked up quickly and Remy almost groaned.
"Don' make it so obvious!"
"Yeah, right." Kurt looked back down at the table. "Is she looking at me again?"
"Oh yeah. She can't be much older den you. Tell you what, you go to the bar for de next order and offer her a drink. See if she wants to join de party. Den after a while Remy will take Rogue back to the hotel…"
Kurt growled.
"…Not what you t'inking, she just had to many drinks non? I make sure she get to de hotel safe den go back to de casino. Leavin you alone wit' de lady!"
"Well, I guess that could work." Kurt strolled over to the bar and placed an order, giving a sidelong look at the woman.
Rigue turned to Remy, irritated. "If you think you're gonna ditch me at the hotel Cajun, you got another think coming!"
"Shh chere. Remy got a surprise for you."
"What is it?"
"Later." Remy indicated for her to drop the subject as Kurt returned to the table with a tray of drinks, the woman following him.
"Uh, this is my sister Rogue and her friend and nothing else Remy. Guys, this is Betsy."
"Hi," she said in an English accent, smiling at them and sliding into the seat beside Kurt.
"You here on holiday?" asked Remy.
"With my parents," replied Betsy. "I'm supposed to be safe in my room but what's the use of a fake ID if you don't use it?"
"No use at all," agreed Kurt with a grin. Obviously she knew they weren't all old enough to drink.
Dying to know what Remy's surprise was, Rogue downed her srink in one go and stood up. "Ah think ah'd better get back to the hotel."
"Remy will make sure you get back safely," said Remy.
Kurt looked at Betsy, then over at Rogue. "Maybe I ought to go back with you…"
"Stay." Betsy linked her arm with Kurt's and smiled at him. "Your sister will be fine."
"Beside, you don't want to be rude, non?" Remy smirked at Kurt and led Rogue out of the bar.
"So what's the surprise?" asked Rogue the moment they were out of earshot.
"Dis." Remy glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then pulled a thin yellow collar out of his pocket. "Remember de first time we met?"
"Yeah, you tried to blow mah hand off."
"Oui, it was romantic. Dat was a research centre into mutants, not just Sentinels. T'ink this would be bed in de wrong hands, so Remy…liberated it."
Rogue gave the collar a disdainful glance. "So, what is it?"
"Remy t'ink it's a power inhibitor. Put it on, your powers not work so well."
"Really? Have you tested it?"
"Oui. On St John. Couldn't make his lighter do anyt'ing. He was not happy."
"This is the best thing!" Rogue snatched the collar from him, then grabbed his hand and yanked him back in the direction of the hotel.
"What you gonna do with it chere?"
"Give you the best night of your life!"
"Remy was hoping you'd say that!"