DISCLAIMER: I don't own the world. Or the X-men. It's sad times we live in people.
"So what do you think of the Institute?" Jean asked, letting the wind whip through her hair. It felt good to be on the open road away from all the worries and troubled of the mansion.
"S'okay, Ah guess, if you like all that 'peaceful coexistence' bullshit Xavier spoonfeeds down your throat." Rogue answered.
"I do actually," Jean said. "I know it seems hard to understand, but it's better than thinking we're better, or that they're better. It's always been like this, since the beginning of time. Blacks and whites, males and females, Jews and Germans," Jean said.
"You only say that cause he actually helped you." Rogue retorted, roughly.
"What do you mean?"
"Ah absorbed you, remember," Rogue said, tapping her head. "You're in here, like all th'others. Ah know about you, what happened, and what he did. But he can't make them go away. No one can," Rogue said, gloomily.
"What do you mean?"
"The voices. Specially hers."
"Who?" Jean asked, concern coloring her voice.
"No one," Rogue said. "Stop here."
Jean did so and Rogue hurried out of the car. She came back a few minutes later with a white pharmacy bag, that didn't look like tampons. But Jean didn't pry. Even if she wished to know what the girl was thinking, the first time Jean had reached out to touch her mind, she recoiled in shock. The girl's head was a mess. So many voices, all angry, screaming, crying. It was void, a dark endless void that had threatened to suck her in.
"It takes time for him to help, you know. I am still working to perfect my powers. I know there is more that I could do," Jean said, letting the frustration color her voice, "But if I let it all in at once, it's to much. I hear them too."
"What?"
"The voices. Only it's everyone. All of them. At once."
"Guess Ah ain't the only one fucked up."
"No, Rogue," Jean said, with a startled laugh. "We're all fucked up. Just some of us hide it well."
"Is that why you were snogging a seventeen year old?"
"Excuse me?" Jean answered.
"Ah mean, Ah'll give ya he's kinda hot, if you like that, Ah'm perfect and Ah know it routine. But come on, grandma, don't ya think that's like, statutory, or something?"
"I don't know what you think you saw," Jean said. "He was just showing me a picture."
"No, no let me guess, gathering saliva for your research, Doctor?" Rogue laughed, a loud, brittle sound. Jean just shook her head, but a smile played on her lips.
"Alright, I know. But he started it."
Rogue looked at her with eyebrows quirked in disbelief. A laugh slipped out, short and loud. Looking at her with a conspiratory smile, Jean hadn't realized her eyes were so green.
"Come on, do you really believe that, Ms. Oops I spilled water, let me just get that for you."
Jean snickered. Rogue's look grew even more dubious. Was she really joking? With Ms. Strait-laced Goody Two Shoes? God, she missed the Brotherhood. At least she hadn't felt bad joking with them. Jean looked like she had never even heard of the word sex. Or killed anybody, for that matter.
"Xavier's not a bad guy. He'll help you. He's helped all of us."
"You sound just as brainwashed as the rest of them," Rogue said. "Xavier is good. Eat your vegetables. Xavier is good," she mimicked.
Jean bit her lips from a nasty reply. The girl didn't even want to try. She just sat there with a scowl on her face, like she didn't care. Jean decided to ignore her. That's when she started screaming.
"She's gone." The woman said, compressing her lips and staring at the man before her with cold eyes.
"What? You promised her to me!" He shouted, spittle from his mouth.
"I know I did. But the situation has changed."
"Situation? The only situation here is that I am one specimen short! I need that girl, and if you don't want it to be you, I suggest you find her for me!" The man sat back, his hands crossed pleasantly over his chest, and a smile on his face. It sent chills down her spine.
"I'll see what I can do," she said.
"Do that. I'll be checking on you in a few days. I expect results."
"Yes, Master."
"You wanted to see me? I told you we couldn't meet anymore," Scott said, guiltily, ducking his head so he wouldn't be seen. "I'd be killed if they saw me with you."
"Eh? Live a little dangerously, I say."
"What do you want?"
"No 'ello, nice t'see you? I missed you to, Scotty-boy."
"Look, Gambit, get to the point, already. I owe you one, but it will only get you so far."
The man across from him took a long puff on his cigarette, then crushed it out. In the smoke of the bar his eyes glittered dangerously through the gloom.
"My…employer wishes to obtain somet'ing. Somet'ing you have dat is very, very valuable."
"Something I have?"
"Well, de X-men."
"And? I can't steal from the X-men!"
"No, but I can," the grin that he flashed Scott had made a thousand women fall at his feet. Now it only caused Scott to seethe in anger.
"What, you want me to just say, look Professor! This is Gambit! The guy who's been collectively kicking our asses from day one! He says he's changed and now he wants to be an X-man. Let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya."
"Maybe wit' a bit less sarcasm. You could try…I don't know…smiling a bit?"
"I'm outta here." Scott rose.
Gambit's hand reached across the table and grabbed his wrist. "Dat would not be a good idea, mon ami."
"And why not?"
"If you value dat pretty little redhead's life, you need t'listen t'me."
"Trust a thief?"
Gambit just smiled. "You owe me."
"This is different. This is betrayal."
"Only if dey find out. Relax. Trust ol'Gambit."
"When Hell freezes, LeBeau."
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
ingrid: Thanks! I'll see what I can do ;)
ishandahalf: What? Another chapter so soon? And was that Gambit?
So people, this leaves us with a few questions. What was in Rogue's bag? Who is the voice Rogue hears? What does Scott owe Gambit for? Who is the redhead? Who were those evil nasties talking? Just wait and see what I have in store! More loveable awkwardness coming soon!
