Disclaimer: I do not own the X-men and can't think of anything clever :)
"Are you alright?"
"No, I'm not alright!" Scott roared, slamming his fists on the table. That, of course, did not help his temper, since his hands stung. He discreetly lifted them and held them behind his back. It always looked so much easier in the movies.
"Who was that?" Jean asked.
"Gambit. Remy LeBeau. One of the Nasty Boys."
"It's not nice to call people names," Bobby said. Scott glared at him. Which was practically ineffective because of his glasses, but Bobby shut up anyways.
"He works for Sinister? How come I've never seen him before?" Jean asked.
"You haven't been around all that much, now have you?" Scott retorted. Jean looked stunned. Scott sighed and rubbed a hand across his jaw. He wondered if he should get some ice for them, then decided that would make him look weak. The Professor relied on him to take leadership. It wouldn't do to look like a pansy because of some damn plastic table. He glared at it.
Warren walked in, looking pale and angry. "Stupid bitch," he muttered. Jean went to his side, and Scott clenched his jaw. He was foolish to think that Jean would have a remote interest in him. Not that he was interested in her, he reasoned, or that he cared. But Warren was her type. Her class. He had background, prestige, money, good looks. What could Scott offer her? Not even a highschool degree. Scott shook his head. The matter at hand was Rogue.
"So, Scott. I assume you have something to tell us," the Professor said, as he wheeled into the War Room. His face looked older than he had ever seen it. His eyes stared at him unblinkingly. He looked…disappointed.
"I met with Gambit a few days ago." There was silence around the table, but it was heavy. Scott couldn't meet their eyes. "He wanted me to give him the mansion's security codes. He said, 'If you value that pretty little redhead's life you'll listen to me.'"
"I assume that you gave him the codes," the Professor said.
"Yes," Scott said. Jean gasped. Scott lifted his head, daring them to say something to him. Bobby looked on the verge of tears. There went hero status. Hank was shaking his head. Warren's expression was furious.
"But this wasn't right. He's a thief. He wouldn't attack in broad daylight to get her. Something was messed up. He gave me this," Scott threw a piece of paper on the table. It had an address on it.
"It could be a set up," Warren said. "The girl could be in on it."
"I've been in her mind, Warren. She's not in on anything," the Professor said, picking up the paper. "I wonder what this is."
"I assume it was a meeting place. He said this was his last job for Sinister, and when it was over, he wanted in. I told him if he stole from the X-men that was impossible. He said he would only be borrowing."
"Then why aren't we there getting Rogue back?" Bobby demanded.
"Would you trust him?" Scott asked.
"You obviously did to give him the codes? What if he snuck in and killed us all?" Bobby said, his voice rising in irritation. His balled fist began to ice.
"He wouldn't do that!" Scott yelled.
"How do you know?" Warren demanded.
"Because I owe him my life!" Scott shouted. That got it quiet. "It happened a year ago. It was night, and I was coming home from the library. I decided to take a shortcut through the park. These men jumped me. They knew I was a mutant and one had a knife. They knocked my glasses off and I couldn't see. He saved me, although I the time I had no idea what was going on. He used his powers to meld the quartz in my glasses back together and gave me a ride here."
"Why didn't you tell me?" the Professor asked.
"Because I didn't want to look stupid!" Scott said.
"Oh Scott, no one would have criticized you," Jean said, sympathy radiating from her voice. She thought he was a child. He felt a sinking in his stomach.
"Whatever. I'm going to go get Rogue back," Scott said. "Gambit won't let her die. If he wouldn't let a bunch of humans kill me, an enemy, he wouldn't let Sinister kill her. She's on his side, remember?" He stalked out of the room.
He reached his room before she caught up to him. She grabbed his elbow.
"Scott. No one blames you. It's not your fault."
"What do you know?" he asked. "All everyone can talk about is how great you are, how wonderful you are, the infallible Jean Grey. What would you know about it?"
Jean tried not to be hurt. "You don't know anything about me," she said, quietly.
"And I don't want to," Scott replied evenly.
"You really are an ass-"
"Hello pretties," Mystique said, before she shot them.
"What's this? Two for the price of one, Mystique?"
"I couldn't leave him there. Let them think they're off having a tryst or something."
"And Rogue?"
"I couldn't find her."
"More the pity."
"Carol will take care of the rest of the X-men and bring Rogue back here. She wants her body back." Mystique said.
"Ah yes. That was a rather brilliant plan of yours, Mystique." The blue skinned mutant smiled.
"Given the right motivation…"
"That's right. A son for your daughter."
Mystique's smile faded. "It's not like that," she said.
The man held up his hands. "No, of course not. Blood and water and all that."
"What are you going to do with them?"
"All in due time, Mystique. Now, would you like to see Kurt?"
Well, updates may be slowing down a bit, but I will not abandon you! I know I hate to wait for updates on the stories I'm reading.
And I know, I promised Gambit and Rogue-but how bout we give them their own chapter? And I PROMISE their will be much more fun stuff between Scott and Jean, we just have to get them rescued you know...or do we? Hahahahahahaha
And so now we know why Scott owes Gambit, but is that all there is to that story? And is Kurt really Mystique's motivation? What will happen when Rogue's not around to 'take care' of the other X-men? All this and more! Stay tuned.
