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.
The some of the dialogue between Wanda and Betsy is from Nine to Five written by Goldylokz with some minor tweaking for plot purposes. Goldylokz has graciously allowed permission to use it.
Attitudes & Feelings, Both Desirable & Sometimes Secretive
Chapter XI : The Desperate Kingdom Of Love
Lensherr Academy gave one of the best educations that money could buy and baring a high school in Brooklyn, was the only school willing to accept Wanda Maximoff. Due to her abrasive and antisocial personality, instead of changing for her last period gym class on Friday afternoon, she was lounging in the bleachers reading.
"Eh, Maximoff, you know we're supposed to run?" said Betsy Braddock climbing the bleachers.
"I don't see you in your gym uniform either, Braddock," responded Wanda not even glancing up from her paperback.
"I don't wear clothes that are fashion disasters," sniffed Betsy as she straightened her pleated skirt and loosened her tie. "Doesn't your father know that maroon makes a horrid colour combination with grey gym shorts?"
"I'll be sure to pass the message the next time I talk to him."
"And when will that be?" Betsy sighed as she unwrapped the lollipop that was previously decorating her hair.
"Give or take ten years," said Wanda stoically.
"You should really find another hobby, I hear scrapbooking is becoming popular," suggested Betsy as she leaned back. "My, my, my, who's the blonde Adonis?" Betsy's eyes gleamed as she ogled a guy playing volleyball on the other side of the gym. Shirts and skins. There was a God. Glancing back at Wanda, she noticed her friend was still absorbed in her book. "You know, Maximoff, one-sided conversations aren't really my thing."
"Can you think of something besides drooling over Abercrombie clones?"
"And what kind of teenage girl doesn't ogle a shirtless guy?" asked Betsy, watching the sinewy muscles move as the blonde spiked the ball, earning a point for his team.
"Ones with depth of character," retorted Wanda arching her brow.
"Do you know who he is or not?" Betsy gave a sidelong glance at a girl running. "I'd hate to have to ask Blaire."
"Any person who refers to herself as Dazzler clearly has issues," said Wanda sarcastically.
"Pot calling kettle black there," laughed Betsy, eyes focused on the blonde's well-muscle and hard chest.
"Transferred from Xavier's, Warren Worthington, the third, apparently."
"See, was that so hard? I swear what's the point of hangin' out with you if you can't gossip proper-" Betsy started but was interrupted by the looming shadow of their gym teacher, Victor Creed.
"Ladies, am I interrupting?" he growled.
"Forgot my uniform, sir," replied Betsy meekly as he glared down at them.
"And Maximoff?" barked Mr. Creed as he stared at Wanda.
"In the wash," she said darkly.
"Really?" growled Mr. Creed, clearly not believing her.
"Just ask my father," commented Wanda with a smirk.
"You just lost your participation mark for the day," he sneered. "You call that running, ladies!" The girls running around the gym doubled their efforts as he focused his attention on the floor.
"Is every bloke under your father's thumb?" asked Betsy.
"You're standing in the Lensherr Memorial Gym, what do you think?"
"Well you certainly handled Creed," replied Betsy eyeing their gym teacher.
"Creed is a pussycat, so eager to please my father, there is no great skill for handling him," Wanda snorted. "We probably won't even lose any marks, wouldn't look good if I failed a class."
"Hmm, speaking of hitherto unsuspected skills, Maximoff," said Betsy, "what is this I hear from Alison Blaire about you and a young gent called – unless my information is faulty – St. John Allercyde?"
"I'd say to mind your own business."
"What a snappy retort," said Betsy. "I really don't know how you think of them. No, wot I want to know was…how did it happen?"
"What d'you mean?"
"Did he have an accident or somethin'?"
"What?"
"Well, how did he sustain such extensive brain damage? Careful, now!" Betsy said as she dodged Wanda's paperback which ended up hitting one of the girls running laps. A startled cry could be heard.
"It's not a date," said Wanda stonily. "And I didn't know that was his name before cornering him."
"So blackmail was involved," laughed Betsy, her eyes gleaming. "and if you want people to help you, Maximoff," she added, glancing at the girl who was now clutching her head as she ran, "I wouldn't chuck trashy romance novels at them. Just a little hint, mind you."
"Why would I need your help?"
"Seeing that it was Blaire who told me about your date, that means our dear Roguey doesn't know about this glorious event, someone's gotta help wittle Wanda out," Betsy said in a baby voice before Wanda smacked her arm. "And you haven't had a date since that whole fiasco."
"Betsy," Wanda started glaring at the Brit. "If you're here, who running hell?"
"Who indeed, my gothic misanthrope, who indeed," said Betsy, leaning on Wanda's shoulder.
"I vehemently dislike you," glared Wanda.
"Likewise."
Lucas Bishop had very few goals, one was to get into Dartmouth and other was to become the youngest district attorney. His main dislikes included chronic tardiness and womanizing, both were embodied by Remy Lebeau, the current captain of the debate team, who was late for their team meeting. As was every other member...
"So wot's on the agenda?" said St. John as he entered the club room and sprawled himself in a chair next to Lucas and kicked up his feet, causing his chucks to spread mud on the table. "'Cause I have plans tonight."
"Uh, I have assignments for people," started Lucas, not looking up from his notes, until hearing a clicking of a Zippo lighter. Looking up, he glared at St. John.
"What? I'm listenin'," said St. John, still flicking his lighter.
"Forget it," gritted Lucas, shoving papers back into a folder. "You know what? This isn't a meeting. This is just you being annoying."
Another bam resounded, as the club door was thrown open again.
"Hey, did you guys hear that Lucas is funny now?" announced St. John when Remy sauntered in followed shortly by Emil.
"Really, Remy thought dat was your thin'," said Remy.
"Aldough, t'es pas mal poche là dans," laughed Emil.
"Oi! Cut it with the French, bunnyboy," glared St. John. "For all I know, you're just saying somethin' about forks and spoons."
"At least I can speak English!" huffed Lapin as his voice cracked.
St. John burst out in hysterical laughter as Emil's voice changed pitch.
"Can we actually have a meeting?" barked Lucas. "Actually, what the hell are you doing here, Lebeau?"
"Didn't yah 'get de memo? Captain of the team now," shrugged Remy, grabbing a loose paper from Lucas' stack and earning a glare from his other teammate. "Got some time ta kill, anyway, not a crime ta show up t' de meetings."
"Don't you have somebody else to annoy,captain?" bit Lucas as he made a grab for the paper.
"Only when Remy's done 'ere," Remy smirked. "Bien, what's de agenda?"
It was four fifteen in the afternoon and it was the third time Jubilee had glanced at the time display of her iPod. As a good principle, her parents underlined the importance of being on time. There was a computer club meeting scheduled for today, Rogue made her highlight it in her agenda.
Jubilee had to trade floor time to come to this stupid meeting and Kitty and Rogue were late. Her next gymnastics meet was next week and she would rather be practicing than hang out with the dork squad.
She didn't mind hanging out with Kitty, the new girl grew on her after awhile and certainly needed help becoming popular since her only friend so far was Rogue. Her phone vibrated, a text from Rogue saying something about track, apparently Scott wanted some more practice time. And whatever the resident golden boy wanted, Rogue bent over backwards for. Jubilee snorted, it was pathetic, even to watch.
Forge or whatever that computer science teacher called himself, had retreated to his own computer and was typing some type of code. Jubilee didn't care, it wasn't like she needed it for the future. Sighing, she debated leaving but she knew one of the cronies would snitch to Rogue. Rogue's reach over the geek squad was pathetic in Jubilee's mind, for someone who only wore one colour.
"What do you think?" asked an acne-riddled teen.
Arching a brow, Jubilee turned to the boy to her left, who decided that she should be included in the conversation.
"About what?" she asked, as she blew a bubble with her bubble mint gum.
The group of guys tittered at her question and the self proclaimed 'Iceman' smirked at her.
"About Zelle's introduction of recursion in his third edition?"
"You're referencing literature I have no way to be familiar with. You're trying to make me feel left out," she declared. "And you're stealing." Pointing at the Limewire window open on Bobby's computer screen.
"I'm not stealing. I'm just taking things without paying for them. In what twisted dictionary is that stealing?" demanded Bobby.
"Are you damaged?" she scoffed. "You're part of the problem."
"The problem? The shortage of LipSmackers?" he retorted earning snickers from the rest of the group, who were probably blogging this conversation on their LiveJournal. "Sorry if I don't want to spend my day wondering about the twenty reason's J.Lo's amazing or how Matt Damon spends his weekends."
"Just because I don't care about your stupid programming doesn't mean I don't understand," snapped Jubilee as she gathered her bag and left leaving a speechless Bobby.
"Words cannot express how much I hate this place," said Wanda as she exited the building.
"It is dreadful," added Betsy.
"It's like communism," said Wanda, glaring at the Lensherr crest.
"Changing the subject won't get you out of shopping with me for your date," laughed Betsy. "Why are you following through with this, anyway?"
"Well, actually, despite popular opinion you really can't beat the truth out of someone."
"Will I learn the hows and whys of this little venture?" grinned Betsy. "I mean you haven't dated since..."
"Say his name and I won't hesitate in pushing you into oncoming traffic," glared Wanda.
"Touchy, touchy...missed a few of those therapy sessions?"
"Oh, look, its your new boy toy!" said Wanda in a falsetto voice and immediately pushed her into him as she lost herself in the crowd of exiting students.
"Urg, this isn't over Maximoff!"
Pietro Maximoff entered his family's suite with a casual look, before tossing his bag on one of the many couches in the entrance way. Seeing his sister already home, he was surprised. Usually on a Friday she would try to spend as much time away from home and usually eat at the Adlers or go home with their housekeeper, Agatha Harkness. Arching his eyebrow at his sister's odd behaviour, he decided it was safe to engage her in conversation.
"Wanda, did I get any phone calls?" asked Pietro, loosening his school's tie.
"Oh, yes, it rang repeatedly," said Wanda casually flicking between NBC and ABC, deciding if a rerun was better than reality TV.
"And, who called?" he asked impatiently tapping his foot.
"Well, I don't know, Pietro, I'm not clairvoyant," glared Wanda chucking the remote at his head. "I'll be in my room."
"Can't you ever be normal?" asked Pietro as he ducked her throw. "I'm getting sick of telling people you're adopted."
"And I'm sick of people talking to me."
Pietro waited for the slam of her door, before throwing himself onto the couch and settling into her vacant position. "Bitch."
Just another afternoon at the Lensherr residence.
Wanda was staring into her room.
"Aren't you a little too old to be playing Goldilocks?" she glared at the boy sprawled on her bed with his hands behind his head.
"I was thinking more along the lines of the big bad wolf," the Aussie replied. Wanda stalked into her room and kicked the end of the bed hard.
"I thought we agreed to meet at eight at the stairs of the Met," stated Wanda crossing her arms.
He just stared at her with a smirk. A little uncomfortable but more annoying than anything else. "Couldn't wait, and your housekeeper was so obligin'."
"How long have you been up here?"
"Long enough, to make what I learnt interestin'," he answered as he sat up abruptly. Wanda's mind went blank for a minute as her eyes roamed the exposed lean fledgling of a six-pack that showed as his faded concert t-shirt fell back into place.
Wanda shook her head. "I've been hanging out too much with Betsy..." Switching to an emotion that never failed, she became pissed off. "My bed has been violated!"
"Well, the night is still young luv," he grinned. "People might get the wrong idea if I'm naked."
Wanda growled.
St. John smiled.
Some of her rage dissipated under that smile. He had a dimple in his right cheek. 'Damn.'
St. John's smile widened a bit and Wanda guessed he saw his effect on her which made her angry again.
"Sorry for the misunderstanding," he said seriously enough. "Haven't had much experience in the whole pseudo-dating scene."
Wanda snorted. "It's blackmail."
"I prefer extortion, the X makes it sound more kinky," he said as he waggled his eyebrows, and whatever sympathy that he had gain in his moment of seriousness, was lost and her ice barrier was up in full force.
"Why are you here?" she asked, folding her arms.
"I'm 'ere for our date," he replied slowly as if she was hard of hearing or possibly mentally challenged, she wasn't sure what angle he was trying.
"Am I naked? Because in my nightmares I'm usually naked," she huffed as she grab a stuffed animal he was tossing back in forth. "I wanted as little contact with you as possible."
"Seem fully clothed ta me, not much skin," he replied, giving her a once over, causing her to flush beneath her makeup. "Were you raised by Mormons?"
"Get out!"
"Gonna change into somethin' more racey? I'm a fan of red, short and tight, myself."
"I am not changing!" she glared. "And what is wrong with what I am wearing?"
"So high strung. You should work on that."
Wanda imagined pulling off one of her bedposts and beating him with it. Maybe gouging him in the eye with the pencil he picked up from her desk. The clock cord would do wonderfully in strangling him when she got tired of hurting him.
"Don't even think about it."
Wanda's face changed to one of pure innocence, the same she wore when their housekeeper asked her how Pietro woke up with pink hair. "What in the world are you talking about?"
His eyes were dancing, "Whatever it was that made you get that happy look on your face. Violence will get you nowhere."
Walking to her closet, she brushed by him, "Actually I was thinking about jumping kissing you senseless and screwing you ten ways to Sunday," she said sarcastically.
"What makes you think I would let you?"
"Please. You're blackmailing me for a date. Your standards mustn't be very high."
"What are you doing?"
"Changing clothes, apparently..."
"No need, casual is fine for tonight," he interrupted.
"And what's happening, tonight?" she bit out.
"Wot's your idea of a perfect date?" he beamed, as if he had an important secret.
"Watching my brother get hit by a bus," she replied stonily as she self-consciously tugged at her frayed red blouse.
"Don't know if I can manage that but we'll see where the night's gonna take us," said St. John as he made a grab for her jacket, she swatted his hands away. Grinning he opened her bedroom door and gave a half bow. Sighing, she exited only to have him follow and link arms with her, like they were some off-beat Wizard of Oz duo. Glaring at him didn't seem to hinder is maniacal grin.
"Don't touch me."
"Sorry, luv, I never could resist a Shelia in red," smirked St. John. Wanda decided the direct approach and pushed him into the wall. Bouncing back, he grabbed her hand instead.
"Where do you think you're going?" demanded a dry voice. Turning, Wanda's eyes met her father's cold stare as he exited the study from across the hall.
"Out," she replied, and actually tightened her grip on St. John's hand.
"With me!" St. John said holding out his other hand. "St. John Allerdyce, at your service, mate."
Ignoring the hand, her father focused on his daughter.
"Wanda, have I done anything in the recent past to offend you?" asked her father as he glared at St. John, who had retreated to the elevator.
"There are so many ways I could answer that," Wanda said stoically.
"I've always wanted what's best for you Wanda."
"And I've always wanted piano lessons. So really... who's surprised we've got this unexpressed rage? But honestly, I think I express mine better. Tell you what... you find yourself a good anger management class, and I'll go out on my date," stated Wanda as she grabbed her jacket and left her father glaring at her back as she entered the lift with St. John.
To be continued…
Read & review!
I need suggestions on where they should go.
- Swing
Chapter Track: The Desperate Kingdom Of Love – PJ Harvey (Uh Huh Her)
French Lexicon:
t'es pas mal poche là dans – you're pretty crappy at it (that's the vague translation, it's French slang)
I've just watched 13 episodes of Gossip Girl straight, it inspires me to write, although I could never think of that much drama. That is why I love study break. Anyway, I finally posted a chapter, I know, the end of the world as we know it must be coming. I re-vamped the old chapters too, making the ages fit better.
Many thanks to the reviewers so far…anyone interested in being my beta for the story? The position is up for grabs.
saucydeviant – Awesome, that's some binge reviewing! I love getting reviews or comments, my major concern right now is if a Jubilee/Angelo pairing makes sense...? And what to do for Wanda/St. John's date. To put your worries aside, this story will try to limit the angst in everybodys pants. I think Rogue has enough canon problems that could fill more than one ocean. I am sorry I didn't write till now, my sister had surgery and then poof! I was piled with assignments and projects that made my head spin. A lot of people have said this is turning into a KETE, but fear not! I just remember reading countless romance novels and always wishing you knew more about the secondary characters, partly because their story made more sense than the main one (I digress). ROMY will be a large part of the story, I have no clue how many more chapters this will be, besides, we haven't touched on Rogue's mysterious past or her infatuation with Scott. About Emil...would you believe I debated whether Jamie would be Remy's lackey? In a lot of stories, Jamie idolizes Remy but Lapin is rarely mentioned, I mean he is a canon character! And Cajun! I've babysat enough to know the horrors of that age, I have flashbacks to when I coached middle school basketball, the horror! Wanda and Rogue in the Evo series are a lot alike but I know for a fact similar people don't make the bestest buds, but they are good friends, I mean why else would Wanda date St. John:D His pyro tendencies will come up later...You'll see more of Pete's badass character when Piotr makes a cameo!
NajiaStrawberrie – I loved Satisfaction too! Rogue called Kitty because a certain someone had a date with a pyro and had her phone off...ooo the intrigue!
BrOKeN dArK ANgeL – I was iffy about their date, I mean what does a pyro and a girl fresh out of juvie do for fun? I missed your reviews!
Josie – Remy needs his ego bruised every so often. :D For St. John and Wanda's date, in the words of Rogue: Fourth of July...
PetiteDiable – Thanks!
Cerdwyn3 – More Scott is in the future!
Crack4sure – Ah, merci bien! Les robots en Transformers étaient formidables mais les acteurs, blerk! Le film doit juste avoir quelques mots des humains et plein de dialogue avec les robots. La romance avec la fillette (qui était bien trop vielle pour sécondaire!) était dégoutante, pauvre Bumblebee, elle l'a insulté! Biens, Rogue devait faire quelque chose, si elle l'embrasse maintenant l'histoire est finie! Remy et Rogue sont chouette ensemble, mon couple favori! I am impressed, writing in French is waaay more complicated than speaking it, especially when most of my friends speak a weird form of Quebec slang...but awesome on the linguistic stylin'!
Valoofle – Well, Rogue is looking at the bigger picture, Remy knows Scott...JONDA is hard to write and I am still debating where they would go...
melissarxy1 – Remy is devious, so you never know, thanks for the review!
DSFJSDKLJF – Thanks!
Shi – I fixed the ages, but where I went to school (in Quebec), in secondary 4 (we were called sec. 4s) I was sixteen, and I graduated in sec. 5 (I was seventeen) and then went to CEGEP (two yr. program) and now uni. So whenever I watch TV or see a movie, I don't get the whole sophomore/freshman/junior/senior thing and don't even get me started about all those proms! I only had one dance and that was in sec. 5 when I graduated high school! Hmm, I know sophomores aren't scary, I mean, unless it was the drug dealers or gang members (public school all the way!). Rogue's more freaked about his relation to Scott and also expulsion. As for being shy for entering the seniors' hallway, I view it like when I was in CEGEP and how walking down the athletics wing was off-putting if you didn't play any sport same thing for the clubs den. I mean it was like having a post-it that said you didn't belong. But thanks so much for the info. I changed some things around. Remy's a senior (eighteen/seventeen-ish) now and Rogue's a sophomore (sixteen). We'll see how that goes...
Marie – Thanks! KETE is a rare breed in the Evo fandom for sure.
Voo.Doo.Nail.Polish – Thanks for your support!
If I forgot anyone, sorry! But I really am grateful for all your reviews and support!