2
Rogue walked beside Kitty who admired every store front window she passed by.
"Y'don't even have any money. Why are we shopin'?"
"I just like to look." Kitty grinned. "And pretend I have money."
The cute brunette let out a sigh "It makes me feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Remember? When they wouldn't let her shop? Remember?"
"Ah remember Kit… the only difference being; she had money, and she was a hooker."
"Minor details." Kitty tossed her hand in the air as they continued window shopping.
Rogue pointed "There's the restaurant Logan wants us to meet at." She pointed "Right there."
Kitty scrunched up her nose. "What kind of place is that?"
Rogue shrugged. "Ah don't know. We're gunna be late."
She took Kitty's arm and hurried her across the road. Remy and Bobby were already waiting out front.
"They have some nice lookin' waitresses here…" Bobby said, admiring the hostess when they walked in. It looked like it was a nice restaurant that focused on having attractive, flirty waitresses.
"Dey sure do." Gambit winked at a young girl from over his sunglasses as she squeezed past him with a tray in her hand. "Nothin' compared t'you mon chère." He smirked kissing the back of Rogue's gloved hand.
She scoffed. "Knock it off Cajun. Look for Logan."
"There he is!" Kitty pointed him out, making her way though the restaurant, sitting down across from him in the booth.
"Geeze. Y'got quite the taste there Wolvie…" Rogue looked around. "Never expected you t'pick a place like this."
"Place like what? It's a restaurant Stripes." He shrugged, sipping a beer.
Rogue rolled her eyes "There's a stage in the middle an' I'm pretty sure that brass pole over there ain't for support purposes…"
He grunted.
"Ah don't know… it's like… Hooters. They say that place is a family restaurant… but damned if ah'll ever take mah family there."
Remy smiled "Dey have good wings."
"The waitresses don't even have uniforms! They just wear… revealin' clothes."
Kitty shrugged "I'm hungry." She nodded. "So what are we havin'?"
She frowned, turning her head away. A familiar feeling came over her, sending a shiver down her spine.
"You okay?" A blonde girl furrowed her brow. "Y'look like you just watched a really freaky movie."
"I'm fine." She shook her head with a small laugh "Nice analogy. Maybe it's just something I ate."
"Cool. I need a pitcher." The blonde smiled "This one's on the house… that cute guy at table 14. I think he might be one of 'them'… but that's okay." She shrugged "I'm not picky."
"One of them?" She asked as she poured the blonde a pitcher of beer from the tap.
"Yeah. A mutant. I think he has red eyes."
"Red?" She looked her in the eye.
"Yeah. Red. But he's wearin' sunglasses."
She looked up, staring at table 14, cursing under her breath.
"You sure you're okay?"
"…I'm fine." She handed her the pitcher. "Just… don't draw attention to 'em. No need for a commotion."
A group of rowdy guys sat down a few tables away, giving their blonde waitress a cat call. One of them tried to grab her. She took his arm and twisted it, whispering something harshly before standing upright and heading to the back.
After they ate lunch, she came back, asking if they wanted any more drinks.
"'Nother round chère." Gambit smiled.
"Sure thing cutie." She winked, heading into the back.
A waitress with braids walked by, pulling her jacket on. One of the rowdy guys grabbed her rear end. She smacked his hand away quickly with a shout. He pulled her down on his lap with a loud laugh, running his hand up her leg as he whispered some lewd comment to her.
Gambit stood up, ready to step in. He wasn't a perfect gentleman, but he knew where to draw the line.
"Hey!" a girl from behind the bar shouted. A wooden coaster flew across the restaurant hitting the man in the head.
Rogue pulled Gambit down. They didn't want to get into anything if they didn't have to. The young woman hopped over the bar, stomping over to him. She pulled the girl away, slamming her hand down on the table. Looks like she had things under control anyways.
"Don't touch." She hissed.
"You want a piece too Red?" He laughed, looking at his friends before taking her arm and attempting to pull her down too. She twisted his arm behind his back causing him to stand up and shout in pain. "I want a piece alright… just not the same piece you wanna give me."
The men jumped to their feet, ready for a fight.
She slammed the crude man's head against the table, mashing his face down with her free hand, her other hand holding his arm up behind his back.
"You don't wanna take me boys." She looked them in the eye menacingly. "Trust me. Get out." She stood upright, letting go of the partially drunk customer as she pointed to the door.
They stormed out, making just as much a ruckus on their way.
She gave braids a hug.
Gambit watched her. She was tall and thin, short red hair, but he couldn't get a look at her face. Her voice sounded familiar. He silently hoped it wasn't one of his many one night stands.
"Gambit… what are y'doin!" Rogue furrowed her brow "Y'starin'!"
She made sure the girl was okay before turning around.
Rogue's jaw dropped. "AJ!"
She smiled, moving over to them slowly, her arms crossed tightly against her chest.
"Hi." Logan took a swig of his beer again. He didn't look surprised at all. Rogue looked at him.
"Hi? That's all you say?" She stood up and gave her a hug. "Holy crap!"
AJ laughed. "Thanks." She carefully hugged Rogue back who was almost completely covered up despite the hot summer weather.
Gambit ran his hand up her leather pants, raising an eyebrow "Not a wonder dey were tryin' t'hit on you."
She smacked his hand away with a laugh. "Y'get used to it."
"You work here?" Bobby furrowed his brow.
"Yeah." AJ narrowed her eyes, looking at the beer in front of him "You're not old enough to be drinkin'…"
He grinned. "I turned 21 last month."
She tussled his hair with a smile "You're makin' me feel old…"
"Red eh?" Logan simply looked at her. The look gave her the creeps; like he was trying to read her… successfully.
"Yeah." She smiled fluffing her short red hair. "I… wanted a change."
"You look good."
"I know." Her grin widened. "But thanks. You're not so bad yourself, tiger."
She pressed her lips together, looking at the others at the table, clearing her throat.
"So what are you guys doin' here?" She put a hand on her hip casually.
"We're on a-"
"Just a little vacation." Logan shrugged. "What about you?"
Kitty looked at him, furrowing her brow. "But you just-"
He gave her a tough look causing her to clamp her mouth shut.
AJ looked between them "I work here. It's a living." She smiled. "Anyways I should-"
"Non!" Gambit grabbed her wrist gently pulling her down on his lap. "You ain' leavin' yet. Sit…"
"I can't guys. I'm..." She smiled, shaking her head. A brunette passed by looking at her watch. "Wow. It's that time already?" She shook her head "Have fun AJ. See you tomorrow. Don't get into trouble." The brunette smiled at Gambit before looking back at AJ with a raised eyebrow.
"Don' sound like y'workin' anymore." Gambit winked at her from over his sunglasses.
AJ pulled them off his face, rolling her eyes. "But I can't stay long." She said, moving off his lap, sitting next to him in the booth.
"So what have you been up to kid?" Logan asked.
"Y'know. Working." She shrugged. "I really miss you." She leaned back, looking away from Logan at Rogue and Kitty who sat next to him. "…Guys. All of you."
Rogue smiled, looking at Logan.
"We missed you too. Some more than others." Rogue winked.
AJ smiled and looked away, giving her head a shake.
"What's dis? 'nother tattoo?" Gambit asked, turning her wrist over and looking at the inked design.
"Wow. Give Einstein here an award." She chuckled, pulling her arm away, covering the underside of her wrist with her other hand.
Kitty furrowed her brow. "It looks like… three slash marks or something. And was that a scar…?"
"I got it to cover the scars left by a certain clawed friend of mine." She smiled at Logan, holding out her arm to show him her wrist. Three black claw marks slashed vertically up her arm about three inches long.
"Nice." Bobby grinned.
"I really do have to go." She looked back at Logan, silent for a moment. "How long are you here for?"
"Long enough." He smiled.
"Where are you guys staying? Maybe I'll come visit you." She grinned. Gambit was answering her question, but she was only half listening. She was looking at Logan with a small smile. Her eyes drifted over to the door. An anxious look flashed through her eyes before they darted back over to him.
Logan furrowed his brow.
"Where's that foxy little doll... tell 'er she's in a lot 'a trouble… she might get a spankin'."
AJ put a hand on her forehead, looking down and giving her head a shake.
Rogue turned around, looking over her shoulder at the familiar loud voice coming from the entrance.
"I have to go." She smiled, standing up. "It was great seeing you guys."
"There she is! Geeze… y'had ol' Pyro all worried an' you're in 'ere talkin' up a storm!" He threw his hand in the air. AJ gave him a fierce look, motioning for him to go.
Kitty furrowed her brow. "Pyro? Lance!"
"What are they doing here?" Rogue looked at AJ.
AJ bit her lip with a smile, looking at Logan. She'd almost had him convinced until Dumb and Dumber showed up. He didn't look so convinced now.
"See ya later, red."
She stared at him before turning around and heading over to the two at the doorway. Giving Pyro a smack upside the head and shoving the two out the door.