The Prince of Thieves

Chapter II:  The Weather Bitch

By:  Michelle

Rogue, Iceman, Shadowcat, Colossus, and Jubilee stood ready to fight Magneto, Mystique, and Pyro.  Nightcrawler, Wolverine and Storm had already fallen.  Now it was their turn to be the heroes.  But instead of thinking like a team, they thought as student playing a game in the Danger Room.

Iceman took on Pyro, Jubilee and Shadowcat took on Mystique, and Rogue and Colossus took on Magneto.

Storm shook her head as she Nightcrawler, Wolverine, and Xavier watched the younger X-men fight in the Danger Room.  "I almost don't want to watch."

Iceman rolled out of the way from Pyro's flame.  He was angry at his former best friend for betraying them.  He was going to make sure he paid.  He shot and icy blast towards Pyro, freezing him into a solid block of ice.  "Yes." 

He danced around in his victory unaware that the ice was melting.  Before he even realized what happened, he was on the floor. 

Meanwhile, Shadowcat and Jubilee could hardly catch their breaths with the workout Mystique was giving them.  Panicking and out of breath, Shadowcat phased herself to avoid being kicked by Mystique.  As a result, her teammate was kicked instead. 

"Like Jubes, I'm so sorry."  She said paying attention to her friend on the ground.  With one sweep if the feet, she quickly joined her. 

Rogue's gloves were off as she eyed up Magneto.  She wanted nothing more than to absorb the life out of him and leave him unconscious on the floor.  She knew she had to play it safe though.  Magneto was not one to be taken lightly.

Colossus charged Magneto relying on his strength to take care of the rest.  He didn't listen to Rogue's warnings either.  He soon found himself pinned to the floor by mechanical arms. 

Rogue sighed and jumped on Magneto's back.  She tried to pull of his helmet to touch his face with her bare hand, but she wasn't fast enough.  He grabbed her and threw her onto the floor.

"I've seen enough."  Ororo sighed in frustration.  "Shut the sequence off."

Xavier turned off the program and called his students up to the control room. 

"But we were just getting started."  Iceman whined playfully, but a pissed look from Storm was enough to give him an answered as they all made their way up to the control room.

Kessler Memorial Hospital

Hammonton, New Jersey

Nurse Taryn Michaels examined her new patient.  He came in a few hours ago after an unfortunate motorcycle accident.  She was one of the few nurses and doctors that took the liberty of making sure he was alright.  The poor man has a fractured wrist, several bruises, and a severe cut on the side of his head.  Who cares if he is a mutant?

Apparently, most of the hospital staff didn't think that way.  Once they saw his eyes were black with red pupils, it was too much of an effort to help him.  It was a shame how the real world worked and operated.

So far, her patient hadn't woken up yet.  They weren't even sure who he was.  No one had found his id yet nor any information to contact someone.  Of course, no one even bothered either.  That was one of the reasons she was here.

She didn't want to dig in his things, but she had to let someone know the man was alright.  She folded up his trench coat and his wallet slid out. 

She picked up the wallet and looked at the driver's license.  The man in the picture looked completely different from the unconscious form in the bed.  Eye candy was definitely a word to describe the photo. 

Remy LeBeau.  Taryn sighed.  So I'm finally getting somewhere.  She flipped through some photos he had.  Must be girlfriends.  Then, she came across a business card with a phone number.

Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.  She flipped the card over and read the writing scribbled on the back.  Brother, I'm here when you need me.  Ororo Monroe. 

She closed the wallet and slipped it back into one of the trench coat pockets.  She looked at the business card again and walked out the room.  She had a phone call to make.

"What were the five of you thinking?"  Storm fussed and shook her head.  "Iceman.  If you are going to go up against someone like Pyro, you are going to have to push aside the grudge you have against him for leaving the team.  You need to think clearly.  And, stop the foolish acts like dancing.  This isn't a game."

"Yes Storm."

"And Shadowcat, what were you thinking when you phased through the Mystique hologram.  Did you know your teammate was behind you?"  She watched the teen shrug.  "Next time signal."

"Jubilee, you did some good fighting out there.  I was very impressed."  She watched as Jubilee smiled.  "However, you need to watch your aim.  You almost hurt Kitty when you started the sequence."

"Colossus, you are a smart young man.  What were you doing fighting against someone like Magneto in your armor?"  She watched the speechless Russian.  "You need to think before you act.  You can just run around charging at the enemy."

"And Rogue."  Storm sighed.  "Your hand to hand combat training with Wolverine shown well today.  In fact, I think you are getting better and better after each session.  You have become very focused.  However, when you saw your teammate trapped, you broke that concentration and didn't think clearly.  Work on it."

Storm turned to Xavier, Wolverine, and Nightcrawler.  "Is there anything that needs to be added?"

"No.  I think you covered everything."  Xavier said.  "The five of you are dismissed."

Thank God.  They all thought as they exited. 

"Like what was her problem?"  Kitty said as they walked down the hallway.  "She was way harsh."

"She wasn't trying to be mean."  Jubilee sighed.  "She just doesn't think we are ready to handle being part of the team."

"But we are."  Piotr answered. 

"Like try telling Storm that."  Kitty rolled her eyes.

"She was just being honest with us."  Jubilee defended.  "We sucked out there."

"We didn't fight that bad."  Bobby said in there defense.  "It's just that Storm has been such a weather bitch likely."

"You can't blame her though."  Piotr said.  "She's had a lot of stress since Cyclops left.  Besides, I'd rather have her yell at me than Wolverine."

"Like perish the thought."  Kitty replied.  "Wolverine would have like chopped us into little pieces already."

"Yeah."  Bobby smiled.  "But Rogue could sweet talk us out of trouble."

"No I couldn't."  Rogue replied.

"Yeah you could."  Bobby nodded.  "You are his favorite."

"So, that doesn't mean he's nicer."  Rogue answered honestly.  "He's actually tougher on me because he expects more out of me."

"Oh yeah."

"What are all of you looking at me like that for?"  Ororo asked her teammates.

Xavier folded his hands.  "Don't you think you were a little too hard on them?"

"Nah, she wasn't."  Logan agreed with the way she handled the situation.  "They weren't thinking out there."

"But they are students."  Kurt argued.  "They are learning.  We can't expect them to fight the way we do.  They lack our experience."

"Kurt, you're not thinking."  Ororo sighed.  "Just image if that was a real battle."

"She's right Elf."  Logan nodded.  "We would have been shit out of luck."

"And I don't doubt that."  Kurt replied. 

"Then, why are you arguing on their behalf."

"Because you are pushing them too hard."

"I am not pushing them to hard."

"You are.  You just don't realize it."

Xavier and Logan stepped back as Ororo and Kurt had an argument before them.  They had no plans of stepping in.  Not even when Ororo stormed off, with Kurt following her.

"Ororo."  Kurt ran after her.  "Ororo vait.  Ororo."  She didn't stop until she got to the den.

"What?"  She huffed. 

"I'm sorry."  Kurt apologized.  "I didn't mean to upset you."

"I know."  She replied.  "I guess I have been a little too hard on them.  I just…I need to know that if something was to happen to us, that they will be able to pull through."

"I know."  He said.  "And vhen the time comes, they vill.  You have to have faith in them or they von't have faith in themselves."

"I guess your right."

"And don't vorry."  Kurt said wrapping his arms around her.  "I'm going to protect you if anything happens.  I'll alvays be here for you."

"Thanks."  She jugged him tight.  "Thanks for being such a good boyfriend to this weather bitch."

He chuckled.  "You're velcome.  But you're not that much of a bitch."

"I can argue with that."  Logan said as he and Xavier entered the room.

She smirked.  "That's for the support Logan."

"Anytime 'Ro."

BRING BRING

"I've got it."  Kurt picked up the phone.  "Xavier's School"

"Can I speak to a Ms. Monroe?"

"Hold on she's right here."  Kurt handed the phone to her.  "Ororo, it's for you."

"For me."  She took the phone.  "This is Ororo.  How may I help you?"  All the color drained from her face.  "Oh my Goddess.  Is he alright...Oh my Goddess…"  She felt like she was going to faint.  "Ok, I'll be there in a few hours."

She felt the tears fill up in her eyes as she hung up the phone.

"Ororo, what's wrong?"  Xavier asked even though he partly knew what was going on.

"It's Remy."  She said gulping.  "He was in a motorcycle accident in the middle of the night.  He's hurt badly.  The nurse said he is unconscious."  She turned to look into Xavier's eyes.  I have to go there.

Xavier nodded at her mental plea.  "Kurt, Logan.  You both are in charge of the kids while we go to the hospital."  He turned back to Ororo.  He's going to be alright.

Well, that's the end of chapter 2.  I'll update again in the next couple of days.