So Emma Frost did have fashion taste, even Scott Summers had to admit that. It looked like the whole school had gathered downstairs that evening. Scott assumed most of them hoped that the trio would drive Emma crazy. At least he himself did. When three energetic girls filled mansion with loud laughter and made living room look small, he noticed they were already wearing new clothes and had to acknowledge the fact that Emma had a good taste in fashion. When the woman in question entered a room few moments later, still dressed in what looked too much like lingerie to him, Scott found himself disappointed in girls' abilities. Couldn't they at least lose her somewhere along the way?
-"Scott dear, you were waiting for me? I'm flattered. And I still need to show you the difference between my lingerie and my usual clothing."
There it was again. She didn't mean that, couldn't possibly mean that. But nevertheless she was tempting him. Hints more that transparent and even more impossible. He didn't need to be telepath to know she hated him. Should she really be that eager to jump into the bed with enemy? And should he really care that much for her attempts?
-"Actually, Emma, you need to be in the Danger Room in four minutes. Think you can manage that?"
Truth be told, the same could be said about every other X-men, himself included. But others at least didn't have a handful of bags to carry upstairs. And that made Emma Frost perfect candidate for being late. And for having a detention because of that. Scott's spirits lifted a little.
-"I believe I will. The offer still stands though, think about it. Rogue, leave your bags to Kitty and Jubilee and go change. You heard what our leader said, training session in four minutes."
It wasn't the sarcasm in her voice that left him speechless. After all, there was no one in the mansion who didn't knew the two of them loathed each other. And nether of them ever tried to convince students' otherwise. It was the fact that Rogue merely nodded and rushed into the basement, trusting her friends to take care of her purchases. Professor Xavier would have noticed mind-control, wouldn't he? Given the opportunity he would still accuse Emma of that, just in case. But she had already gone upstairs, leaving Scott with no option but to follow Rogue.
---
It surely wasn't his day. First of all Emma somehow did manage to make it in time. Of course Scott knew, she had an advantage of not wearing the uniform. Should she come in her lingerie, he would have understood. But she was wearing her usual outfit, and that made no sense to him. Shouldn't it take longer for woman to get ready? The real problems started though when today's exercise was revealed.
-"I had complaints about letting you only deal with Magneto. If you feel you are ready, I'm surely not going to stop you."
Scott was pretty sure they had to thank Wolverine for that. Adamantium didn't let him to get anywhere near Magneto unless the latter was unconscious and he didn't like that one bit. When Danger Room scenario was activated Wolverine was once again on the top of Scott's 'hate list'.
The scene was dangerously close to the one he remembered. There were no Sabertooth or Toad alongside Magneto this time, their places taken by Mystique and Pyro. Otherwise it all looked the same way it did at that evening, when Magneto kidnapped Rogue. Policemen stood unmoving, facing their own guns. Scott couldn't help but remember Charles Xavier himself had admitted defeat in that situation. He had to think something out, but he couldn't. They had not been noticed yet, Magneto deep in the conversation with someone who looked like local authority, but all it would take was one wrong move and dozens of bullets would find their targets.
-"If he'll miss the first time, will you be able to bring him down?"
Scott nearly jumped at the voice in his head. Too deep in his thoughts he had almost forgotten he wasn't alone. And how on Earth was Emma going to make Magneto miss? Even if she did possess telekinesis, there were too many bullets to stop.
-"'How' is my problem entirely. You were the one talking about teamwork and usefulness. Deal with consequences. I can give you about seven seconds. Will that be enough?"
If she would fulfill her promise, they really had a chance. Theoretically Scott could hit Magneto with optic blast right from here. The problem was master of magnetism would still have at least one moment to realize what was happening. And one moment was all that was needed to send those bullets flying. Simulation or not it all came down to the lives of people unlucky enough to get involved. Never in his life was Scott able to tell why he made that decision. That didn't matter at that moment though.
-"You better know, what you are doing, Emma. Now get out of my head. All right, people. Magneto is mine and Emma's concern. You come into play as soon as those guns are disabled. Wolverine, Storm, you take care of Mystique. Iceman, Rogue, you try to handle Pyro."
Scott wasn't sure what made him give orders aloud. Emotions most probably. It was more than enough to base all actions on the simple promise given by the person he couldn't stand, no need to become even more dependant. Strangely enough Emma didn't seem to mind. By the look on her face Scott couldn't be sure she was listening at all. It actually took few more seconds before she snapped out of her trance.
-"Just hit him, whenever you are ready."
Scott silently promised himself to tell her exactly what he thought about people who rummaged in his head without his permission. That would however have to wait; right now there were more pressing matters to handle. Obviously other X-men trusted him more than he trusted Emma, for they cautiously changed their positions, looking ready to strike. Scott took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.
Optic blast hit Magneto straight into the chest and next thing Scott knew were dozens of guns firing simultaneously and dozens of people falling down. Only the fact that one of them almost instantly leaped to his feet had saved Emma Frost from getting hit by Cyclops's power.
-"No need to shoot me, really. They are all alive and well."
Remaining police officers did indeed rise on their feet one by one, as they made sure there was no more thread. Magneto would not regain consciousness for few more hours. Wolverine seemed to enjoy himself fighting with Mystique, Iceman was successfully dealing with Pyro; Storm and Rogue watching from sidelines, ready to help should they be needed. Making certain he was not needed Scott turned his attention fully to Emma, something clicking in his mind.
-"You made them fall on the ground? That was your plan?"
He should remember to ask for details next time she would have some idea. Or he should decline it instantly. Emma just shruggered as if nothing special happened.
-"To be honest, I 'programmed' them. As I said it takes several seconds from the moment trigger starts moving until bullet finds its target. I just made sure, they started acting as soon as trigger started moving. It worked nicely, I must say."
'Worked nicely'? Scott had quite a few things to say about that. He didn't. It was his decision after all. He should have known better than to agree to something not knowing what it was. Even if that did work it was sure to provide him with a headache.
---
Today was surely 'I hate Emma Frost' day for Scott Summers. Nothing should have been able to happen at ten o'clock in the evening. Not when students where already in bed or in the worst case heading there. That had happened exactly when he was checking on some younger students.
-"We are going to get them tonight, aren't we?"
Phrase caught his attention immediately. Where there some nigh-battles going on in the school? The wise thing was to ask Xavier about that. Telepath was sure to get all the information from the boy's head. The right thing to do, at least for Scott, was to ask the boy himself.
-"And exactly whom are you going 'to get' tonight?"
He had expected some excuses and unconvincing lies. Strangely enough boy had willingly answered.
-"Pirates, of course! Not the real ones sadly. But they are quite convincing for a dream. The five of us, we are the team. Like X-men, only we are fighting pirates."
He was telling something else, explaining in details exactly how great their team was, but Scott wasn't listening. Five boys having the same dream was a bit too suspicious to be pure coincidence. And he knew exactly who was responsible.