Disclaimer: The characters and events depicted in this story are fictional. Any similarity to any actual person, living or dead, or to any actual events, firms and institutions and other entities is coincidental and unintentional. The story is based on Dokyusei written by Nana to which permission to use its plot has been granted by the author. All characters used are the legal property of Marvel and its constituents.
Attitudes & Feelings, Both Desirable & Sometimes Secretive
Chapter VII : Hang Me Out To Dry
The orange-gold of the setting sun had made the shadows of the school appear longer, stretching the shade across the lawn. Surely it must be this capacity of illusion that sunsets carry which had led Kitty to make a mistake with the person before her, because when the boy turned slowly toward them, there was no mistaking this guy for Pete.
True, they wore the same type of clothing and had similar builds, the hair was the same shaggy length; even the stormy blue gaze was familiar. But there the similarities ended.
There was none of the noisy, temperamental streak of Pete anywhere on this guy. The tilt of the head, the unconsciously dignified way the guy carried himself with all suggested maturity beyond Pete's years.
The lidded eyes carried none of the hot-blooded vitality so evident in the round orbs of Kitty's classmate. What she found instead was the cool, calculating stillness of a large, graceful predator--seemingly calm but vicious.
And if Pete needed a lot of frowning and glaring to emphasize his point, this guy had no need for such actions to express his sense of acute distaste in being called by a certain name. The slanting gaze he gave Kitty said it all.
"What…did you call me?" The voice was deep and smooth, a mere ripple such as a stone would make when thrown in a deep pool. 'He's British, too?!'
Kitty found that she could not really say anything to that. Not when she was sure he had heard right--that she had called him Pete. And he was not happy about it. That, too, was certain.
Who was this complete and utter stranger who vaguely resembled Pete, well at least from behind? Another one of his enemies? Somehow, after the long, hard day Kitty was not surprised about anything anymore.
"Sorry, John," said Rogue, stepping forward. "We didn't realize it was ya, sugah."
The one called John ignored her. He continued gazing at Kitty.
"Sorry," she finally muttered, just to have things over and done with, and moved to leave with Rogue.
And suddenly found that her way was blocked by this person. He had moved so fast that Kitty did not realize he was immediately in front of her until she almost bumped into him.
"What the-" Kitty moved back, alarmed.
"Hey now, weh don't want any trouble, an' she already said she was sorry," pointed out Rogue, her accent thickening.
"Who is Pete to you?" he asked softly, looking down at Kitty. His voice nowhere resembled Pete's, where Pete's was brash and carried a certain flair, the stranger looming over her was clipped and cultured.
Kitty could feel something inside her snap. "Listen, you," she said. "I've like had enough of THAT today! I really don't know what is it with the guys around here, but just because a girl knows a boy doesn't mean they've got anything going! SO STOP ASKING THAT QUESTION!"
And Kitty was rewarded as she saw the unflappable John hesitate at those words. Rogue was staring at her half in admiration, half as though she had gone mad.
"I apologize, John or whatever you go by," continued Kitty, her voice showing she wasn't sorry at all. "But I'm really very tired and I'd like to go home now, if you don't mind."
John regarded the riddle in front of him with faintly knit brows, thinking that in all his three years in this school he had never seen a sophomore as impertinent as this one. He should just let her have it. After all, he was not one to hesitate just because his opponent was a girl.
So why was it he could not move on that thought?
"Yo' bloody heard her; let them go," said a voice behind them.
John moved back a fraction, turning his face unhurriedly to regard the newcomer.
Kitty closed her eyes, feeling a nightmarish repetition of the Lance scene unfolding for the second time that day, and a nerve began to twitch on her temple. "Y--you---" she began, turning around. "I've, like, had just about enough of you too, y-"
And she stopped when she saw Pete's face. She had seen him deal with Lance, of course she had, but the expression she was seeing on his face now was not the one he had on earlier. There was none of the derisive, self- confident swagger anywhere about him and Kitty's eyes grew wide as she realized what she was seeing in those stormy blue eyes. She had not seen it before in Pete. In fact, she had never thought him capable of it. Could it be…could it be that what she saw was fear lurking in those stormy depths just now?
When he spoke, though, his voice was steady and a little wry. "Let those two g', Gideon. You've got a problem with meh, I'm right 'ere," he said.
John shook his head, a smile starting at a corner of his mouth.
It scared Kitty badly. She felt Rogue tug her back as John advanced on Pete.
"No. You're not a problem," said John with quiet menace. "To say that you are a problem is a gross understatement."
Pete turned on Kitty, and shouted, "Well? What're yo' waiting fo'? Get the bloody hell out o' 'ere! NOW!"
Rogue need not be told twice. Grabbing Kitty, she made her way across the lawn.
"We can't just leave him, Rogue!" cried Kitty, alarmed, wrenching her arm out of her grasp.
"Weh can't do anythin' back there," said Rogue grimly grabbing her just as she attempted to go back. "There's only one thin' weh can do--"
The only thing they can do died on Rogue's lips when they rounded the corner and reached the main building to find Nathaniel Essex, of all people, coming out the front door.
He raised an eyebrow at the two girls as they stopped, panting, a few feet away. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he asked. "Katherine and Rogue--what have you been up to?"
Rogue tightened her hold on Kitty's arm in an unmistakable sign of warning. She straightened up and said casually, "Nothin'."
Essex moved in closer, and managed to take a suspicious glace from where they came from. It was certainly lucky he couldn't see the lawn from where they were standing.
He turned back to the girls. "I hope you haven't been into trouble," he said.
"Of course not," said Rogue, the color of her cheeks paled slightly despite her make-up. "It's just that weh need ta get some papers from the administrative office, an' weh have t' get them now before they close, so…"
Essex moved aside. "Be my guest," he said.
"What a rotten piece o' bad luck…" gritted Rogue as they got into the building and stopped after rounding the corner.
"Rogue! We can't report him to the teachers! He'll get into more trouble!" Kitty hissed at her ear.
"Ah wasn't planning to! Ah was lookin' fo' Pitman an' Doyle. Why did Essex have ta get in the way?!" huffed Rogue, frustrated. "Look, let's go back, ah think ah can at least hold off John. But first, let's check on Essex. Has he gone yet?"
"Yeah," Kitty said, looking back and seeing nobody standing outside the building.
"Let's just hope he didn't go 'round the back ta check if anythin' was wrong," Rogue said. "The last thing weh need is Essex sticking his ugly head in it."
"Rogue, who is he?" Kitty wanted to know as they traced their steps back.
"John Gideon. He's a senior student who's better known as president of the school's boxing club, more lahke a glorified fight club, and…" Rogue pursed her lips, not sure if she should go on.
"And…?"
"Well, of course those two would nevah admit it, but rumor has it…rumor has it they used ta be best friends…"
John watched them go, his face impassive. He turned back to Pete.
"Some girl you've got. Quite a runner," he observed. "Do you always stick to losers like that, Wisdom? People who just can't wait to quit on you?"
"She's not my girl," Pete said, feeling the first stirrings of anger. "And is that the only reason why you've come to see me? To han' me out ta dry?"
John regarded him speculatively. "No. If it were only that, you're not even worth half the effort," he said, smoothly.
Pete knew then what was coming.
"Of all the high schools in New York, why did you have to come into this one?" John said almost conversationally as he continued to walk toward Pete.
Pete snorted. "Luck, I suppose," he said. He wasn't going to back down. John might know more about him that most, and he may be older, and he may certainly hate his guts, but Pete wasn't going to back down from him. Especially since he had caught him harassing Kitty. It was really his fault, to begin with. With Kitty gone, Pete found he could breathe a little easier. To be truthful, fear had wrenched him when he turned the corner to find John looming over her.
The chit seemed to have fared very well on her own, though. He had to give her that much.
"Something interesting turned up at the club meeting earlier," said John, stopping in front of the younger boy. "Johanssen reported that she received a new application for entry from a student. Yours."
"I don't see anythin' bloody wrong with that."
"But I do," said John, coldly. "Of course, I will not be able to stop you from entering, but consider this as fair warning: once you enter, your days will be filled with so much pain you'll wish you've never joined."
Pete did not seem very impressed.
Boxing was, to him, an obsession above John. He had given it a lot of consideration, and John being president of the club might be difficult, but fighting was worth far more than that.
"I will be lookin' forward t' it," said Pete.
"Let that be on your own head, then." With that, John turned abruptly to leave.
Pete watched him go, feeling curiously relieved that this single encounter had not escalated into anything else.
Taking out his zippo lighter from his back pocket, he lit a cigarette. After a slow calming drag, he turned to the opposite side and left, leaving the lawn peaceful and seemingly undisturbed, so that rounding the corner a moment later, neither Essex nor the two girls who came shortly after Nathaniel's departure, saw anything out of the ordinary.
To be continued…
Read & review!
- Swing
Chapter Track: Hang Me Up To Dry - Cold War Kids (Up in Rags/With Our Wallets Full)
Author's Note: For a better term, how to stay as canon as possible:
John Gideon – He is a member of F.66 which is an organization that Pete Wisdom had ties too. He is a psychopath in the comic books but this is a romantic comedy so his character will be toned down but he is still an evil SOB.
Constance Johanssen – She is also a member of F.66.
Pitman & Doyle – Friends of Pete Wisdom
Many thanks to the reviewers so far…anyone interested in being my beta for the story? The position is up for grabs.
runaway rogue – Sorry, no ROMY in this chapter but the next chapter is dare I say brilliant and new characters! Can you guess who??
alittlelessconversation – I concur and the mystery guy is more villainous than first perceived…
BrOKeN dArK ANgeL – Remy will get his satisfaction in the next chapter…
gambit-rogue – Yeah, no ROMY but the next chapter will be chockfull of it.
cooltangarine – Ah bien, c'est carrément bon d'avoir des bonnes commentaires comme ça! J'avoue que je suis un peu nerveuse du succès de l'histoire...years growing up in a francophone province has paid off somewhat…not much ROMY but that will come soon…this chapter was necessary for the plot. Thanks for the support!
NaijaStrawberrie – Thanks a lot, more is definitely to come!
Star – Ah, I try to have an even balance…Kitty well she doesn't know the whole story. Michelle and Pete…a complex duo…to add fuel to your curiosity, she did not cheat on him with Lance…I leave you to draw more conclusions…mhaha…
Mimi The Witch – I do love the banter. More randomness to come and intrigue…
melissarxy1 – Indeed, who could ask for more…since the ending of the X-Men: Evolution and the horrible ending of X3, we need more of the classics…I know my heart will break when I watch the Transformers movie…why must they meddle in my childhood heroes…why? lol
roguestudent – Thanks for the info on American schools. I know you can graduate earlier but in Quebec, you graduate in grade 11 so I was seventeen. I am pretty sure that most American schools keep you till grade 12 or something like that. For intensive purposes, I just wanted to make the ages work for all the characters. Gah, I am trying to keep the story fairly canon, aside from Remy's eye color, none of the students are mutants. I couldn't bear to change his eyes…oh so dreamy eyes. More ROMY is on the way… and more of Scott, the introduction of our favorite pyro and a fight! Mhaha…Thanks so much for the support!