Episode 5: Part 2
The following morning, the Beauties were taken on a trip right after breakfast. They had each found instructions for them on their beds after their respective dates telling them not to shave, wash or do their hair in anything but a simple ponytail, put on make up, or any of their other usual morning primping routines. They were then taken to the back room of a local club—normally closed at this hour, but open exclusively for the purpose of this challenge—where there were a number of racks of clothing.
"Okay Beauties," Spyke said when he got the cue. "Welcome to your challenge. I supposed you're probably all wondering what it is you're doing."
"Yeah."
"Yes."
"Definitely."
"Well," Spyke said, and gestured to the room leading to the main floor of the club. "Soon, you'll be going in there to mingle with all the people on the other side. Ladies, your challenge will be to get as many men to buy drinks for you as possible. Gentlemen, your challenge will be to buy a drink for as many women as possible—and they have to accept your offer of a drink before you buy it. A tab has been set up for each of you at the bar."
"Well, there goes that plan," Lance said, half joking.
Gambit snickered.
"Also, Remy and Lance, no you may not buy Kitty, Amara, Amanda or Wanda any drinks," Spyke said.
"Rats," Wanda said, only half joking. After all, that would be an easy four points each for the guys, and only two points each for the girls.
"Now I'm sure that you're probably wondering how this is actually a challenge," Spyke went on, and he gestured towards the racks of clothing. "Before you go in, you will have to pick an outfit from amongst these clothes to wear in the club."
It was only then that the Beauties really looked at the racks of clothing. They were close enough to tell that the styles and colours weren't exactly in fashion.
"That's right," Spyke said, and a grin started to appear on Gambit's face. "You'll have to rely on your personalities, not your looks, to win the challenge."
He soon gave them the go-ahead to start looking through the clothes. The girls in particular bemoaned the horrible choices before them as they looked through the racks of women's clothing. Lance was equally disgusted with his choices on the men's rack.
"Do you think I could go in shirtless? Do you think that's allowed?" he asked Gambit.
"Probably not," Gambit replied, eagerly looking through the racks for the dorkiest clothes he could find.
Now this was what he called a challenge! While the other Beauties tried to make the best of the clothes before them, Gambit was more interested in looking as daggy as possible. The worse he looked, the harder it would be, and the harder it was the more fun it would be. Granted, he did have a slight advantage in that he did have a secondary mutation, hypnotic charm, which he hadn't told anyone about. But that wasn't the point.
Once the Beauties finished deciding on their clothes and changed, they were sent into the club. The patrons went silent as the six entered. Amara felt really insecure about the way that everyone stared at her. None of her clothes matched. None of anyone's clothes matched. A lot of them didn't fit either.
The crowd went back to their conversations and anything else they may have been doing, and the Beauties began to mingle. Wanda felt she had a slight advantage in that, although she was not allowed to use her hex bolts during the challenge, she could still sense the probability of getting certain results. This in mind, she targeted men who she sensed she would have a better chance of persuading them to buy her a drink.
Lance was reasonably confident he could do this challenge to begin with. He was a well built guy and what girl didn't like a free drink? However, after being turned down by the first three women he approached, he started to feel a lot less optimistic about his chances.
All of the clothing on the racks had been too big for Kitty, and there hadn't even been anything useful like a belt to wear. One sleeve of her shirt kept falling off her shoulder, which she eventually gave up on. The skirt was a little loose and she found herself adjusting it often and having moments of panic about it falling down when it wasn't. She tried her best, but she was so self-conscious about her appearance and potential humiliation that she didn't manage to score very many drinks.
Amara gave up completely. After enduring rejection after rejection and only getting one drink, she sat dejected at the bar for the remainder of the time.
There were times when Amanda really wanted to give up. The constant rejections hurt, and hurt even more every time she saw someone else having success. Still, seeing Amara looking miserable at the bar gave her the determination she needed not to join her. She started to get the hang of it in the latter half.
Gambit was having a great time. Like the others, he also got rejected, but he brushed them off as if it meant nothing, and moved on to the next woman. He was polite and debonair, and played up his French for effect, and of all the Beauties he was the only one who was disappointed when the time was up.
The crowd departed, and the Beauties gathered at the bar while they waited for the final tally. Spyke stood behind the bar and was given a paper with the scores. When he spoke, he would glance at it just long enough to get the score and then set it down again, as the director didn't want the paper appear in shot, even though the episode would likely focus on the Beauties rather than Spyke during this moment.
"In fifth place," Spyke said. "Amara with one drink."
Amara made a tiny little grunt in reply and didn't look at anyone. Gambit rubbed her back consolingly.
"Tied in fourth place, Kitty and Lance with three drinks."
Lance took Kitty's hand and squeezed it. She gave him a smile.
"In third place, Amanda, with five drinks."
Amanda nodded, relieved that, even if she hadn't won, at least she hadn't been last.
"In second place, Wanda, with six drinks."
Wanda felt mixed about that. The looks the other Beauties gave her were gratifying. Still, she had worked hard for those drinks, even if selective targeting had been involved, and it irked her that she only came second.
"And the winner, Remy," Spyke said, "with eight drinks."
Gambit grinned broadly. He couldn't help himself. He was thrilled with how everything came about. In fact, he wanted to do it again, only it had to be harder this time. Maybe he shouldn't shower for a few days, oh and they did amazing things with make up these days; maybe a few warts or something.
The Geeks knew that something was wrong when their Beauties returned, and it wasn't just because they showed up wearing uncharacteristic clothing. They were quick to ask what on earth happened to them that morning.
"We had to wear these stupid clothes," Amanda told them where they were gathered outside, "and then try to get guys to buy us drinks."
"Or talk girls into letting us buy them drinks," Gambit added slyly.
"He won," Wanda said, pointing at Gambit disgustedly. "I came second with six. Remy got eight. Eight!"
Gambit shrugged with a grin. "What can I say? I'm naturally charming."
"Oh shut up," Amara snapped it him. "It was awful. It was the worse experience of my life. It was just so embarrassing and humiliating. Getting rejected was so depressing."
"Well, for fear of earning your wrath," Toad said, "now you know how we feel."
"Shut up you little worm!" Amara snapped at him. "You have no idea how—"
"No idea? Really?" Toad interrupted hotly, glaring at her. "We get rejected all the time. I get rejected all the time. It hurts when people reject you; it hurts more when you get rejected over and over and over. Imagine this morning, but on a daily basis. Maybe then you have some idea of what our lives are like."
"Wow," Rogue said, looking admiringly at Toad. "I don't believe I've ever heard you stick up for yourself before, sugah. Good on you."
Toad paused and then smiled. "Hey, I did, didn't I?"
"Oh lah de dah," Amara said sourly. "Aren't we all so proud of the little Toad. Screw you."
Everyone watched as Amara stormed off.
"Yeah, Amara kinda gave up after one drink and spent the rest of the time moping at the bar," Kitty said.
Pyro sighed. "I suppose I should go cheer her up. Hey, do you guys think it's too early for a bonfire? Fire always cheers me up."
"Umm, yeah, I think so," said Wanda.
"Darn," Pyro said as he stood up. "Well, I'll think of something."
"I still can't believe you got eight, man," Lance said to Gambit, shaking his head. "I thought I was doing okay just getting three."
Gambit shrugged. He sensed that telling everyone how much fun he had, and how he wanted to do it again, but harder this time, would not go down very well.
"Probably the French," he said. "There is nothing the ladies love more than hearing the most romantic language in the world whispered in their ear."
"Damn," Lance said. "I should have thought of the accent thing. Women love accents."
Later that day, it was time for the Geek's challenge. The Geeks dressed up in their finest, and they and their Beauties were taken to their location: the same club, but on an upper floor. They gathered in a large room where six round tables had been set up.
"Okay Geeks," said Spyke, addressing the group, "for your challenge, you're going to be speed dating."
Groans followed. Spyke grinned, and the Beauties either expressed their own amusement, or gave their Geeks their sympathies.
"You'll have four dates, which will go for five minutes each," Spyke went on. "You'll have to make the best impression, because they will be the ones deciding who will win. Additionally, Beauties, you will get to watch your Geek's progress."
Piotr wasn't the only Geek cringing at that. Not only did he have to impress his date (all four of them) but he had to do it with Kitty watching? Wasn't this challenge already hard enough?
Finally, the Geeks were directed to sit down at their tables, and the Beauties were taken to another room. There was a line of six chairs and six small televisions. They were given an ear piece each and sat down in front of their respective TVs. Each television was focused on the table of one of the Geeks so that the Beauties could see as well as hear.
It was a bit of a waiting game while the final details were set up, and then the dates arrived. Piotr's first date was a dark-haired woman with an eyepatch named Callisto. Kurt had the pleasure of the company of a redhead named Rachel, who reminded him a little of Jean.
Toad was introduced to Meggan, a blonde-haired woman with an accent that marked from somewhere in Europe, although where exactly Toad couldn't identify. During the course of their conversation, he found out that she travelled a lot, and figured she probably picked up bits of everything.
Pyro was completely shocked by his date, Martinque, a black-haired woman who showed up wearing a black corset which pushed up her breasts so much he thought they were going to fall out. X-23's first date was with a long blond-haired pretty boy named Longshot.
Rogue was apprehensive about this whole dating thing. She stopped dating years ago, despite Carol's many attempts to change her mind. Still, it wasn't like she was ever going to see any of these guys again, so what did it matter if she left out important details like not being able to touch people? All she had to do was impress them. These were the thoughts that were with her when a short-haired blond man sat down by her table.
"Hi," he said, sliding a blue clipboard onto the table. "I'm Gus."
"Rogue," she replied, giving him a pleasant smile. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," Gus said.
"So, what do you do?" she asked.
"I test security systems," Gus said with a nod. "What about you?"
"Funnily enough, I test planes," Rogue replied, leaning forward on her arms on the table.
"Really? I hear that can be pretty dangerous."
"It can be, but it's nowhere near as dangerous as it was back in the 1950s," Rogue replied nonchalantly. "A test pilot used to get killed every week."
"Ouch."
Gambit sat next to Lance in the back room. There wasn't really all that much to listen to from X-23 and her date; most of it was spent in awkward silence. He was a little frustrated about the lack of warning about the challenge. Gambit knew that conversation wasn't exactly X-23's strong point and he would have appreciated a chance to work on date conversation with her. Then Gambit realised that was the whole point of the dates the night before, and he was doubly irritated that X-23's education in that matter had been left to Lance.
While listening to what wasn't happening at X-23's table, Gambit glanced over at Lance's screen and couldn't help but notice that Rogue and her date were deep in conversation. Worse, judging from their body language they were actually enjoying themselves. He knew he should be happy that Rogue seemed to be doing okay, but instead the sight bothered him. It really bothered him.
Soon the five minutes were up, and the dates opened up their respective clipboards and filled out the brief questionnaire about their dates. On cue, they moved to their next table.
Gambit couldn't even bring himself to snicker at Gus' comment about testing security systems, and he completely tuned out X-23's ramble about the non-classified work she did in the military. He was too busy watching Rogue having a lovely conversation with Longshot.
He didn't know what was bothering him the most; that Rogue was having a good time with other men, or that he was jealous. Gambit was well aware of his jealous streak. It had given him nothing but trouble over the years, although he had figured out that the green-eyed monster only ever reared its ugly head when he was dating a woman he actually cared about. Knowing that, he was a little disturbed by the realisation that he cared about Rogue. He felt like he hardly knew her, yet somehow he had fallen hard enough for her that he was getting jealous. Jealous! About a couple of guys she would probably never see again?
Somehow, Gambit managed to drag his eyes away from Rogue and back on X-23. He was not going to let this get to him. He was absolutely not going to subject himself to unnecessary anxiety.
The five minutes were up, and the dates filled out the questionnaires for the second dates. Callisto, Meggan, Rachel and Martinique moved on to their third Geeks. Longshot and Gus left the room. Rogue's next date was another blond man, this one with a pair of white-feathered wings, who answered to Warren. X-23's third date was with a man whose longish hair was completely white named Joseph.
Lance nudged Gambit. "I think someone's biased against dark-haired men."
Gambit managed a short laugh.
Martinique leaned in towards Kurt. "So, who's the sexiest; me, or your Beauty?"
Amanda gasped in horror. "The bitch!"
Kurt cleared his throat. "I think that you are both beautiful and sexy in your own, unique ways and I wouldn't dream of insulting either of you by comparing you."
"Aww," Amanda said happily as Martinique congratulated Kurt on a good reply.
"Which Beauty is sexier?" Kitty asked next to her.
"Yup."
"She did that to Piotr too."
"And Pyro," Amara added from further down the line.
"I dread to think what Toad will say," Wanda said.
Wanda found out not long later, after the five minutes were up and the dates switched places again.
"Oh, my Beauty is," said Toad wistfully. "She's the sexiest woman in the world."
Martinique gave Toad a tight little smile. "Oh reeeeaally."
Wanda groaned. That was one date they wouldn't be scoring well on.
Finally, the last dates were over, and the final questionnaires were filled out. The six dates left the room, and the Beauties met their Geeks back in the main room. The teams lined up while the scores were tallied.
"Hey," Lance said when he caught up with Rogue. "You did great."
Rogue gave Lance a smile that Gambit saw and it made his stomach twist in knots.
"Thanks, sugah," she said. That was the first genuine praise he'd ever given her.
The other Beauties also praised and encouraged their Geeks, even Gambit, despite the fact he already knew X-23 had bombed. After what seemed like forever, Spyke approached the group. The cue was given, and after a brief introduction, he got to the part the teams really wanted to know about:
"And the two Geeks with the highest scores are..." Spyke said. "Kurt."
Kurt's face lit up as he stepped forward.
"And Rogue."
Rogue tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and she too, stepped forward.
"And the winner of the Geeks speed dating challenge is..." Spyke said. "Rogue."
Rogue stared in shock. She won? Seriously?
"Congratulations," Kurt said to Rogue as he turned to her and held out his hand.
Rogue chewed her bottom lip and shook Kurt's hand.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Well, Rogue and Lance, Remy and Laura," said Spyke. "You've won today's challenges and the chance to nominate another team to go into the elimination room. The next elimination will be about everything you've learned so far.
Amara groaned internally. She and Pyro had burned her study materials, just because she hated studying them so much.
"I'll see you tomorrow night," Spyke said.
Rogue was one of the first into the mini bus for the trip back to the mansion, and Gambit made sure he got to sit next to her. Rogue only gave him a passing glance and then looked steadfastly out the window. Everyone finished piling in, and the mini bus started off.
"Congratulations, chère," Gambit said, eyeing her speculatively.
At first Rogue didn't reply. Finally—without looking away from the window—she said "thanks."
Gambit was a little surprised by her less than enthusiastic tone, and wasn't really sure what that meant, if anything. He slowly wrapped his arm over her shoulder and was heartened by the fact that she didn't tell him to move his arm. He also felt a little stupid about needing reassurance. They weren't even a couple! He had no real reason to be worried about losing Rogue to a bunch of guys she met on a speed date that she probably would never see again.
"Don't sound very pleased," he said.
"Why should I be? Really? It's just rubbing salt in the wound," Rogue replied. "I didn't tell them about my mutation."
"So?" Gambit asked as Kitty looked back at them from the seat in front.
"So none of them would have been interested in me if they knew they couldn't touch me."
"Umm," Kitty said, sitting up a little so she could see Rogue better, "Remy's interested, and he knows you can't touch you."
"It won't last. It never does," Rogue said, her gaze never moving from the window. "I think I'm just destined to be alone."
"Now all she needs is the cats," Lance said, who was sitting next to Kitty.
"Lance," Kitty scolded, and smacked his shoulder.
"Cats? No, bad idea," Rogue said, trying to ignore the fact that Gambit was stroking her shoulder. "I can't absorb them through their fur, but that still leaves noses, tongues, paws..."
"You can absorb animals?" Kitty asked, regarding her in surprise.
"They have life too," Rogue said.
"I think you underestimate just how attractive you are, Roguey," Gambit said.
"And I think you overestimate the attention span of yourself and every other male in the world when it comes to dating someone you can't touch," Rogue said, bitterness lacing her voice.
"Oh come on, there's more to love than just that," Kitty said. "And hey, at least this was you can find someone who loves you for you, and not for...y'know, other...stuff."
"What stuff, Kitty?" Gambit asked mischievously.
"Oh right, like I haven't heard that one before," Rogue said contemptuously. "It works well in theory, but not so much in the real world."
"You probably just haven't—"
"Met the right guy yet?" Rogue snapped. "Is that what you were going to say? Honestly? You think I haven't heard that one a zillion times too?"
"Actually, you have met the right guy," Gambit said, turning in his seat slightly so he could comfortably touch her leg with his other hand. "He's sitting right here, waiting for you to notice him."
"Aww," Kitty gushed as Rogue finally turned away from the window to look cynically at Gambit. "That's so sweet. Come on, Rogue, you can't say no to that."
"Sure I can. Watch me: No," Rogue said, and then went right back to looking out the window. "And get your hands off me, Swamp Rat. I'm in no mood for your lines."
"You have to be in the mood for them?" Gambit asked, removing his hands after a moment's hesitation. "Oh good. Let me know when you are in the mood, and I'll sing your praises all day."
"Is Rogue turning Remy down again?" Wanda called from the other side of the bus.
"Yes," Kitty replied disgustedly.
Gambit turned in his seat to grin at Wanda. "I'm a victim of unrequited love."
Rogue promptly smacked him upside the head. Kitty giggled.
"Okay, okay," Kitty said to Rogue while Gambit turned to the front again, a big silly grin on his face. "Out of all the guys you speed-dated today and Remy, who would you go out with?"
"You're not seriously asking that, are you?" Rogue asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Sure I am," Kitty replied, smiling broadly at her as Gambit reached over and started playing with Rogue's short hair. "Come on, pretend that the whole no-touching thing isn't an issue. Who would you go out with?"
Rogue sighed, well aware that their conversation had caught the attention of everyone on the mini bus.
"Well, Joseph seemed pretty nice," she said, and noticed Gambit pause while playing with her hair. "But I'm already committed to a second date with Remy, so I guess that's your answer."
Rogue went back to looking out the window. Gambit was delighted. It would have been very easy for Rogue to dismiss his holding her to a second date as a joke and forget about it, so the fact that she brought it up again meant—he hoped—that she hadn't rejected him completely.
"Second..." Kitty began with a frown, realised what she was referring to, and gave Gambit a shocked but amused look. "You're not seriously holding her to that?"
Gambit gave a half shrug, his other hand still busy playing with Rogue's hair.
"Wasn't that just a hypo- hypo—"
"Hypothetical question?" Gambit said. "Hypothetically, yes."
That evening, Gambit headed up to his room, looking forward to having some time to himself to sort out his feelings about Rogue. In fact, he was so engrossed in his emotional turmoil, that he failed to hear that the shower was running, and opened up the ensuite door.
It was only when he was fully inside that he registered that he had just walked in on X-23 in the shower. The clear glass made it impossible for him to miss X-23's body; wet and naked, with two claws sticking out of one hand, and a lot of blood pouring out the other.
All thoughts of Rogue went completely out of Gambit's head. He flung open the shower door.
"What are you doing?" he exclaimed as he grabbed at her wrist, not caring at all how much he got wet.
The water splattered onto her wrist, washing off the blood and revealing a perfectly whole arm. The sight confused him at first; where had all the blood come from? Then she retracted the claws in her other hand, and Gambit saw the holes they had come out of close up.
"Healing factor," he murmured, more to himself than to X-23. "Dieu, that's why I've been seeing blood in here, but no injuries on you."
He lifted his head and looked her in the eyes. X-23 looked warily back at him.
"Why?" he demanded. "Why do you do this to yourself?"
He hadn't expected answer, and at first none came.
"I...understand pain," she said simply.
Gambit looked at her for a long moment while he went over that in his mind. Finally he let go of her.
"Finish up," he said. "I'll talk to you in the bedroom."
He closed the shower door, and it was only then that he noticed how wet he was. His pants weren't' too bad, but his shirt was soaked. He pulled it off as he headed to the door and draped it over an empty spot on the towel rack before he left the room.
X-23 had no intention of talking to Gambit. She finished in the shower, dried off and dressed, then headed out to the bedroom. Gambit was sitting patiently on her bed, waiting for her. She avoided his gaze. He was hardly the first person to discover that she cut herself, and she had no interest in enduring another lecture.
"What don't you understand?" he asked her as she set her dirty clothing aside.
"I do not want to talk about it," she said, wishing she hadn't said anything at all.
Gambit nodded. That was the response he had expected earlier.
"Okay then," he said. "Then let's talk about the challenge today instead."
X-23 didn't expect the change of subject. No one ever tried to change the subject before. They usually tried to make her talk to them, or force her to listen to them. "I do not wish to discuss that either."
"Well, I think we should," Gambit said, and patted the bed next to him. "Come, sit. After all, we're both here to learn new things about, well, life in general, I guess. Besides, we were kind of lacking in study materials this time, so I think that it would be a good idea to go over how the dating went."
X-23 sat down beside him on the bed, determined not to have this conversation.
"Now, tell me," said Gambit, making sure to look X-23 in the eye. "How do you think you went today with the speed dating? And don't tell me you don't want to talk about it. Everything you learn here, you can use later on—like with that boy back home you like. I'm here to help you."
She was silent for a long moment, then finally said: "I did not like it."
"Why didn't you like it?" Gambit asked, and when X-23 frowned, went on: "You don't like meeting new people? You couldn't think of anything to say? You...felt guilty because you're not sure if this other guy is really your boyfriend or not and you thought this might qualify as cheating?"
The look on X-23's face told Gambit she hadn't even considered the third one. Gambit quickly opted to reassure her that he wouldn't consider it cheating under the circumstances, and if her guy was at all reasonable he'd agree.
Gambit and X-23 ended up staying up half the night going over the speed dating. X-23 remained very close-mouthed throughout, but Gambit suspected that X-23 honestly didn't know how to put into words how she felt. He spent a lot of time going over every possibility he could think of and offering them to her like a multi-choice quiz, and then would go over the options.
"It's okay to be nervous, chère. Everyone gets nervous."
"You don't really need to give your full service record. If someone asks what you do, just say you used to be in the military for so many years, and then tell them what you do now. Or don't bother mentioning the military thing at all. If they want more detail, they'll ask."
"Next time, ask if they they like something you like. Like chess, or hot food, or...dogs."
Gambit was certain he would never get X-23 to open up completely, even if he had a hundred years of uninterrupted time with her, but he by the time they finally went to bed, he was pretty happy with how things went. He didn't bring up her cutting herself. It was clear to him that she had been cutting herself well before they ever met and thought it would be best if he accepted that she wasn't going to stop just on his say so.
The following day, while the rest of their housemates were busy going over their studies from the previous challenges, Gambit, X-23, Rogue and Lance gathered on one of the balconies to discuss who they would nominate.
"I think it's obvious that Kitty and Piotr are going," said Gambit, his eyes firmly fixed on Rogue who was resting against the railing.
"Do they have to?" asked Lance, pulling a face. "I mean, there's no rule that we have to nominate them just because they haven't been in the elimination room yet."
"True," Gambit said, joining Rogue leaning on the railing. "But it's still the smart thing to do. Aside from the fact that Kitty and Piotr have demonstrated themselves to be a formidable team, everyone else has already been in the elimination room—aside from Laura and I, that is—and since we have all been following Kitty and Piotr's stance on this, then it would stand to reason that if we don't nominate them, some people are going to be annoyed with us."
"So the question is," Rogue said, "who do we want to send in with them? Kurt and Amanda, Wanda and Toad, or Amara and Pyro?"
"Kurt and Amanda," said Lance.
"That wouldn't be because Kurt likes Kitty, would it?" Rogue asked Lance with a slight smirk.
"Laura? What do you think?" Gambit asked his partner before Lance could reply.
"Kurt is a strong opponent," Laura said after a moment's pause. "And Kitty, Piotr, Kurt and Amanda appear to be allied. We should break up that alliance."
"I don't know," Rogue said, frowning and folding her arms across her chest. "If we send them in against each other, whoever comes out is going to be pretty pissed."
"What are they going to do?" asked Lance. "Send both of us into the elimination room?"
"That's not an unlikely possibility," Gambit said seriously. "If Laura and I don't win one of the next challenges, it's pretty much a given that we'll be in the elimination room. If the surviving team does win one and you don't, there's a pretty good chance we'll be facing you in there."
"Next round there will only be three teams to choose from," Laura said, and everyone looked at her. "If you do not win a challenge next round, there will be a 50-50 chance that you will end up in the elimination room."
"Good point," Rogue said.
"What about you, Rogue?" Gambit asked, slinging him arm across her shoulders. "Any preference?"
"I actually want to send Amara and Pyro in," Rogue said avoiding Gambit's gaze and trying not to get too happy about where his arm was. "Pyro's okay, but Amara gets on my nerves."
"She gets on Kitty's nerves too," Lance said, nodding.
"So, let's send Kitty and Piotr in against Amara and Pyro," Gambit said. "Let them sort out their rivalry where it counts; in the elimination room."
Rogue giggled and raised her fist. "To the death!"
"Exactly."
"What about Wanda and Toad?" Lance asked. "They're turning out to be pretty good."
"I think at this stage of the game, we're all turning out to be pretty good," Rogue said.
"I tell you what," Gambit said. "Laura and I will send Kitty and Piotr, and you two can send... whoever it is you want."
Rogue nodded. "Okay."
Later that day, the housemates gathered on the stairs in the foyer. Rogue and Lance, Gambit and X-23 stood on either side of Spyke, facing their friends: Kitty, Piotr, Amanda and Kurt were on one stair, and just in front of them were Amara, Pyro, Wanda and Toad.
"Good evening everyone," said Spyke, and then turned to each of the winning teams in turn. "Remy and Rogue, you won yesterday's challenges and the chance to send another team into the elimination room. Remy, Laura; which is the first team going to elimination, and why?"
"The team we chose has demonstrated that they're a strong team," Gambit said, looking at Kitty and Piotr. "And they're only the only team other than Laura and myself who hasn't been in the elimination room. We choose Kitty and Piotr."
"Kitty, Piotr," Spyke said as the couple nodded in acknowledgement. "Anything you'd like to say?"
"We were expecting it," said Kitty. "It's fine."
"Okay then," said Spyke. "Rogue, Lance; who are you sending to the elimination room?"
"Well," Rogue said, looking over the remaining teams. "It was a hard decision to make, and Lance and I disagreed about who should go in. We both had our own personal preferences, but...in the end, we decided to pick the team we would least like to face in elimination. This team has done really well. I really think that a lot of people here have probably been surprised by just how far they've come. The Beauty is really smart and the Geek, well, we recently found a...a prince underneath everything. Wanda and Toad."
Gambit frowned a little at that, as Toad's face lit up.
"Hey! I'm a prince," Toad said.
"You just had to make The Frog Prince joke, didn't you?" Wanda said, giving Rogue a look
"Wait, don't I need a kiss from a princess to complete the transformation?" Toad asked and looked up hopefully at Wanda.
"But you're the Toad Prince, not the Frog Prince," Rogue pointed out to him, and then offered Wanda a shrug. "It seemed like an apt comparison."
"Aww," Toad said.
"Toad, Wanda," Spyke said, a grin on his face at the conversation. "What do you think about going to the elimination room, and possibly going home tonight?"
"I hate the idea of going back into elimination," said Wanda, and her eyes fell on Rogue. "But you were one of the few people to give us a chance from day one, Rogue. I appreciate that. And I would much rather be sent to elimination because you respect us as a team, than just wanting to get rid of us."
"Yeah, same," said Toad.
"Okay, Kitty and Piotr, Wanda and Toad," said Spyke. "Go upstairs, pack your things, and say your good byes. I'll meet you again in the elimination room."
Pyro gave Wanda a big hug. "You come back, okay?"
Wanda smiled back at him. "I will."
x-x-x
Amanda gave Piotr a big hug.
"Good luck you guys," Kurt said.
Kitty kissed Kurt's cheek. "Thanks, Elf."
"I'm sure you'll do great," said Amanda.
x-x-x
Toad looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. He waggled his eyebrows at his reflection.
"Prince Toad," he said. "Oh yeah."
Kitty, Piotr, Wanda and Toad entered the elimination room and stood at their designated places. Spyke stood besides the TV with the Beauty and the Geek logo displayed on it, and four cards with numbers written on them.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the elimination room," said Spyke. "Kitty and Piotr, this is your first visit here."
Kitty nodded. "Yep."
"Wanda and Toad, this is your second visit," Spyke went on. "Do you feel like that gives you an edge?"
"I sure hope so," said Wanda.
Spyke gave her a nod of acknowledgement. "You will each have to answer questions from your study materials from the last four rounds. Beauties, you will go first. Geeks, please go to the viewing room."
Piotr and Toad hugged their partners and wished them luck. When they were settled in the viewing room across the hall, Spyke got his cue to continue.
"Ladies, you will be asked questions about politics, economics, mathematics, car maintenance and computers," Spyke said. "Kitty, your team was picked first; which number would you like?"
"Number one please, Spyke," said Kitty.
"Number one," Spyke repeated as he picked up the card marked '1' from the stand. "What does HDD stand for?"
Kitty was quiet for a moment as she thought back on her notes.
"A HDD is a Hard Disk Drive," she said.
"That is correct," Spyke said, and looked at Wanda. "Wanda, what number would you like?"
Wanda looked at the available cards, wishing her powers could tell her which cards held the question she would be most likely to be able to handle. Unfortunately, although her powers might be able to indicate men who were attracted black-haired beauties, it couldn't predict the future.
"Four, thank you, Spyke," Wanda said.
"Four," Spyke said and he picked up the card. "What is opportunity cost?"
Wanda took a deep breath, remembering the subject from the first week of studies.
"Opportunity cost is what you give up in order to do something else," Wanda said carefully. "Is that enough, or would you like an example?"
There was a pause—which would later be cut out—as Spyke received instructions through his ear piece. "Let's hear your example."
"Okay," Wanda said. "Let's say I'm in a shop and there's a pair of pants and a cute top I want to buy. But I only have a hundred dollars, and the pants and the top add up to...a hundred and ten dollars. That means that I can only buy one of those items. So if I buy the pants, the opportunity cost was the top. If I buy the top, the opportunity cost was the pants."
"That is correct," Spyke said with a grin.
"You know, you could always use a credit card," Kitty said.
"Yes, but the opportunity cost of using a credit card is 'staying out of debt'," Wanda replied, grinning at Kitty. "And I'm in quite enough debt as it is; I don't need any more."
Kitty giggled.
"Alright, Kitty," Spyke said, his serious, professional tone cutting into their amusement. "Which number would you like?"
"Number three, please," Kitty replied.
"Three," Spyke said, picked up the card, glanced at it, then picked up a small item that had been sitting just out of view of the women. "Identify this car part."
He held up the small car part. Kitty frowned slightly.
"Is that a spark plug?" she said.
"That is correct," Spyke said, and Kitty clapped happily at getting both her questions right. Spyke picked up the final card. "Wanda, how many bread rolls are in a baker's dozen?"
"Thirteen," Wanda replied.
"That is correct," Spyke said. "Geeks, please return to the elimination room."
There was a long silence as they waited for Piotr and Toad to head back to the elimination room. Once through the doors, they stood by their partners and congratulated them on a job well done.
"The score is now two for two," said Spyke. "Ladies, please go to the viewing room."
Wanda and Kitty wished Toad and Piotr good luck, and then walked across the hall to the viewing room. As soon as they were settled in their chairs in front of the TV, Spyke addressed Piotr and Toad:
"Gentlemen, you will be answering questions about music, relationships, massage and interior decorating," said Spyke. "Toad, which number would you like?"
"Number two, please," said Toad.
"Two," Spyke said, picking up the relevant card. "What is the body's largest organ with over five thousand sensory points?"
"The skin," Toad replied after a moment's thought.
"That is correct," said Spyke. "Piotr, which number would you like?"
"Number three please, Spyke," Piotr replied.
"Three," Spyke said as he picked up the card. "How many times does the average married couple have sex in a week?"
Piotr blushed. "Oh, umm, ahh...1.5."
"That is correct," Spyke replied.
In the viewing room, Kitty nudged Wanda. "How do you have .5 of sex?"
Wanda giggled. "One of them orgasms and the other one doesn't?"
"As good an explanation as anything else, I guess," Kitty replied, grinning, quieted down in time to hear Spyke ask Toad question number one:
"Your materials use what term to define a colour scheme using just one colour?"
"Monochromatic colour scheme," Toad replied.
"That is correct," Spyke said. He picked up the final card and address Piotr. "Piotr, the score is now four to three. If you get this question right, we go to a tie breaker. If you get this question wrong, you and Kitty will be eliminated from the competition and must go home immediately."
Piotr nodded and Kitty took Wanda's hand.
"This is a visual question," said Spyke.
With those words, the BeautyandtheGeek logo on the screen changed to a photo of a young man with a guitar in hand and a pair of red feathered wings growing out of his back.
"Icarus is famous for his song 'She Lies With Angels'," said Spyke. "What is his real name?"
Kitty groaned. "We never went through this."
Wanda squeezed her hand sympathetically.
Piotr studied the photo hard, frowned, and finally said: "Jay Guthrie."
Kitty froze. "Ohmigod! Ohmigod!"
"That is correct," said Spyke. "Ladies, please returned to the elimination room."
Still holding hands, Kitty and Wanda returned to the elimination room. They let go, and stood by and congratulated their partners.
"Well now," said Spyke. "Congratulations, you've gotten all of your questions correct. The score is four for four, which means, we go to a tie breaker. Beauties, you will go first. Geeks, if you will step back please."
Obediently, Piotr and Toad took a couple of steps back. Kitty took a deep breath and Wanda rocked a little on her heels.
"Ladies, I will ask each of you a question," Spyke said. "If you both get them right, or if you both get them wrong, we will go to a second tie breaker." He picked up his tie breaker cards. "Kitty; who did President Robert Kelly run against in the previous election?"
Kitty was quiet for a moment as she tried to remember. "Graydon Creed."
"That is correct," Spyke said, and while Kitty breathed a sigh of relief, he picked up the next question: "Wanda; what is fifteen percent of fifty dollars?"
Wanda calculated it quickly in her head. "Seven dollars fifty."
"That is correct," said Spyke. "Ladies, please step back. Gentlemen, please step forward."
The Beauties and Geeks switched places, and when all was ready, Spyke asked Toad the first question.
Meanwhile, upstairs everyone was waiting impatiently to find out the results. It seemed to be taking longer this time around. Amanda and Kurt were hoping that Kitty and Piotr would come back. Gambit and X-23 felt that it was to their advantage if Wanda and Toad came back, but on a personal level, Gambit liked both teams. Pyro wanted Wanda to come back. Amara didn't like either Kitty or Wanda, but of the two, she wanted Wanda and Toad, if only because she knew Wanda and Pyro were friends. Lance desperately wanted Kitty and Piotr to come back. Rogue had mixed feelings and honestly didn't have a preference.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the group began to hear noises downstairs, and finally the familiar clacking of high heels on the wooden floors. The door knob turned, the door opened, and a pair of dark sunglasses slipped through the crack.
The door pushed open the rest of the way, and Toad put the sunglasses on.
"Call me Toad," he said, folding his arms across his chest. "Prince Toad."
Wanda looked at Toad, and then at Rogue. "You've created a monster."
Rogue laughed and she and Pyro led the way to congratulate their return.
Out the front of the mansion, Kitty and Piotr sat in front of the cameras.
"I'm disappointed about going home," Kitty said. "But I definitely have learned a lot since I've been here. I think I might try to learn more about computers and stuff, actually. When I phase through electrical stuff I tend to break it. I always thought that it might be nice to actually be able to fix the stuff I break, but I never did 'cause I thought it would be too hard."
"And now you know you were smarter than you thought," Piotr said proudly.
"Yup," Kitty replied, well pleased. "And you've done great too, Petey. When we first met you could barely talk to me."
"I know," Piotr said, looking a little embarrassed. "I think I will still be nervous, but I think I could also approach a woman I was interested in now."
"Yay," Kitty said, giving Piotr a hug.