Chapter Nine- Dirty Fighter

Mortimer now ate in the commons, but under constant scrutiny; Xavier or the handcuffs handy if needed.

They proved unneeded, for the most part, although Storm said they should use the muzzle to stop his constant yammering. The episode in Danger Room hadn't changed her view on Mortimer that much.

He came in to the eating hall handcuffed and muzzled, and left this way as well. Xavier said that he could just as easily scour Toad's thoughts for true intentions and this would be over with, but their prisoner declined. He liked to keep his thoughts to himself, and didn't mind too much being under lock and key. Although he knew they weren't going to kill him, he was still heavily outnumbered.

He was broken from this reverie when two people sat down beside him, both bristling. "You're stupid, good for nothing terrorist." The boy spat. Mort looked up, his eyes glinting mischievously.

"And you assume I'm stupid enough to not know when an insult is headed my way? Of the two of us, I'd say you're the dunce…going up to said terrorist while he isn't restrained…?" he cocked his head to the left slightly, grinning.

"Ignore Bobby." The second of the two, a girl, shot her partner a dirty look. "He's just a hot-head with an overblown ego…" He turned to his left to see a girl in a yellow trench coat and pink sunglasses, to his right, a teenaged pretty-boy with an attitude. What a pleasant couple.

"Whatever this is about, make it quick." Said Mortimer, turning back to his breakfast. "I don' got all morning."

"It's about….Rogue."

"Ahh…Miss Prematurely Gray? Don' worry. The big bad 'terrorist' is on a short enough leash as it is." Bobby nodded curtly and left, but the girl stayed.

"My name is Jubilee. What's yours?"

"Mort." He said, flicking his tongue down to retrieve a piece of toast.

"Why do they….?"

"Lock me up?" he asked, standing calmly to permit Nightcrawler to cuff him. "They don' trust me. Ta' be quite honest, I wouldn't trust me either." Kurt looked at the muzzle with all of its trappings tiredly.

"Can you keep that tongue of yours to yourself for awhile?"

"Anything for you, Nightie dearest." He said, batting his eyelashes. Jubilee watched them leave the commons, deeply immersed in a giggling fit.

Rogue observed Mortimer fight. It seemed to be the only time he was ever happy. Right now, he was fighting against holographics of Storm, Nightcrawler and Logan. He was a brilliant fighter, really.

She paused for a moment, looking down at the control board. She pushed the button with her picture next to it, and suddenly- she appeared on the battle field.

Mortimer blinked in astonishment at the new arrival, having incapacitated the other three. "Let's see how you fight." He muttered under his breath. "Delete the other three, would'ja, Cue-Ball?" he asked, somewhat louder. Rogue froze. He thought she was the Professor. She deleted the other three as requested, and watched Mort as he fixed his eye on the target, maintaining a defensive stance. He waited for the pseudo Rogue to attack. She didn't. He stood there for five minutes more, and then turned his head to where the control room, probably to state the program was malfunctioning.

The pseudo Rogue lunged forward, grasping Toad's face. Mort froze, fighting in vain to get her off. The real Marie flipped a switch, and the illusion disappeared, leaving Mortimer panting on the floor.

Rogue rushed down to help him, but he was already on his feet.

"Sneaky little rat you are." He muttered.

"Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine. Could'ja get me back t'my room?" he asked.

"Can't you go by yourself?"

"Freedom is a privilege of the trusted." He said smirking. "An' I'm far from that mark. I'll go by myself today…don't quite feel like handcuffs. They'd clash with my outfit." He said jokingly, nodding to his mismatched battle gear.

He made it to his doorway before he was sighted.

"What are you doing?!" shouted Scott. 'W-o-o-o-onderful.' He thought to himself. 'Bloody apple polisher. One more step and I'd be home free…!'

"Well, as you can see, I'm about to use this thing here- it's a lovely invention called a 'door'…"

"What are you doing outside without and escort?"

"Look, I'm not terrorizin' anyone, visor-boy. I just got back from my Danger Room session and…"

"The DANGER ROOM?!" shouted Scott.

"…Yes." He muttered, rather drained. "I'd like to stay and chat, but I'm beat. Report me, or whatever you suck –ups do…but if I don't get my 40 winks I get the urge to…I dunno. Go on a murderous rampage?"

"Get in your room, Toad, before I make you."

"Oh bless, look, he's trying to threaten me." He muttered flatly. "To get in this stupid room was my objective in the first place!"

"This will be reported to the Professor, Toad."

"I think he already knows, specs, an' I'd like a little rest before the big heart-to-heart, so…" he opened the door, taking a step inside.

"I think you'd better come with me." Said Scott, grabbing the green man's arm.

"Y'know, contrary to popular belief, I can walk on my own." He said tartly. Cyclops instantaneously let go. He didn't like being near the freakish-looking mutant any more than he had to.