Disclaimer: I do not own and am making no money from the X-Men. Vixen belongs to her creator Corrinth. Blaze is mine. That is all.
Scene Three
Kitty and Tabby joined the crowd in cheering, Gambit wolf-whistled and Jean pouted, certain that she could have scored too. Blaze turned and ran away from the goal, arms outstretched in an aeroplane impression. Grinning like a cat that had got the cream she ran all the way up to Rogue. Stopping in front of the other girl, Blaze put an index finger to her rosebud lips and 'shushed' Rogue for her earlier barn-door comments. Rogue took offence and gave Blaze a shove on the shoulders.
"Don't touch what you can't afford," Blaze retorted, pushing Rogue back. Rogue slapped Blaze's hands away, spitting feathers.
"At least ya'll admit you're a…"
"You're such a martyr Rogue," Tabby had come over and bravely stepped in between the other two girls. "Get over yourself."
"Your village called Boom Boom," Rogue replied, "they'all want their idiot back."
"Hey," Tabby protested, "that's not funny."
"Funniest thing Rogue's ever said," Blaze sniggered. "Still, that doesn't count for much."
"You guys," moaned Jean, "we're supposed to be playing soccer here?"
"Aren't you supposed to be injured?" asked Tabby.
"Ugh," disparaged Jean. "Its obvious you know nothing about soccer. I think it would be best if you all…"
"Shut up Jean," snapped Kitty. "If we like, totally wanted your opinion we'd ask for it. Think about that."
"So immature," Jean retorted to herself. "You shouldn't go picking at the splinters in other people's eyes until you've dealt with the plank in your own."
"Is it just me," asked Rogue, "or has she lost it?"
"Never had it," grunted Tabby.
"Wish I had a plank," day-dreamed Blaze viciously. "You've got one of those faces Jean I'd never get tired of hitting."
"Fine," spat Jean, "you want a fight Blaze I'm ready any time you are!"
The girls were suddenly squaring up against each other furiously. Sparks literally began to fly, courtesy of Blaze. Beast blew hard on his whistle as he came to break up the confrontation. Seeing how outnumbered he was, he glanced to the crowd and beseeched Cyclops, Gambit and Angel for help.
"A little assistance, if it's not too much trouble?"
Cyclops and Angel shared a glance with Gambit, who shrugged. Reluctantly the three boyfriends joined Beast and went to separate the girls. It wasn't easy. Raving about something to do with Kitty borrowing her clothes, Jean waved a hand and her powers sent Scott and Beast crashing to the ground. Gambit reached out to take hold of Blaze's arm at the exact moment she changed to her fire-form. His hand went straight through her arm and he yelped with pain. Angel couldn't even get to Rogue, surrounded as she was by Kitty and Tabby. He hopped around the trio like an overgrown pigeon, trying to get Rogue's attention. There was no end in sight, until suddenly a powerful voice resonated in both ears and minds all around the soccer pitch.
#ENOUGH!#
Charles Xavier didn't even have to glance at the boy's team, or at the remnants of the crowd. Kurt beckoned to them and they all skulked off to a safe distance. The look on the Professor's face left no one in any doubt that he was furious. Beast and Cyclops got to their feet, regrouping with Angel and Gambit to one side of the girls so as not to be in the path of Xavier's wrath.
"Never," Xavier ranted, "in all my years have I seen such a diabolical and shameful display. Every one of you young ladies should be ashamed of yourselves."
The girls did look ashamed, scuffing the turf with their soccer boots or hugging themselves apathetically. Xavier continued.
"None of you are too old to prevent me sending you to your rooms in disgrace; however I hope you will go there gracefully until Beast and I decide what to do with you."
"Yes Professor," was the murmured response, "sorry Professor."
With that the girls traipsed back towards the mansion, carefully avoiding walking anywhere near each other. With a sigh Xavier turned to Beast, Scott, Warren and Remy. All four looked dispirited, whilst Gambit was sucking his burnt fingers.
"We're sorry too Professor," apologised Scott needlessly. "I…I don't know what's got into them."
"I don't think the girls do either," Angel observed wryly.
"Perhaps not," mused the Professor. He nodded to the three younger men. "You can go. Gambit, have my daughter look at that hand."
"C'est bon, Professor," Gambit said around his fingers, "occupational hazard, dat's all."
"Very well," Xavier dismissed them. The three guys headed straight to the mansion. Scott took it upon himself to try and lighten the mood between them.
"Hey Gambit," he began cheerily, "you and Angel could compare burns you got from Blaze?"
"Let's not," decreed Angel flatly.
"Don' go dere homme," Remy insisted. They passed through the mansion's door and immediately split up. Scott found himself abandoned in the foyer.
"Man," he said to himself, "some people just can't take a joke." Somewhere in the distance he heard Jean's voice, so with a sigh he dutifully trotted in that direction.