CHAPTER 4:

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

SOUNDTRACK: I Was Made for Loving You Baby by Oliver Heldens

Guest staring: Gambit, played by Matthew Daddario

Pyro, played by Ben Hardy

Colossus, played by Florian Munteanu

Remember reader when Rogue mentioned Kitty was a party girl back in high school? She failed to say she was, is as well. If it weren't for the bombing in Miami, she would've let loose and enjoyed herself. It was summer break, after all. Free to do as she pleases with set boundaries she and Remy discussed beforehand.

Bayville is dry on the party scene. They tend to have house parties and small bars. Madelyne Pryor built her club a few blocks down from here.

Taking in the dancers in the middle of the dance floor, leaving the toxic world behind them, rogue wished she could drop everything and amerce herself in freedom. Business first, sadly.

To make matters worse, Remy Lebeau came behind her, whispering in her ear, "Y' look divine, mon amour."

Her heart skipped a few beats. His dark, Cajun accent traveled down her spine as goosebumps followed. She continued to remind herself business comes first and then pleasure.

As she turned to tell him to wait for her, the words stopped in her throat. No words could describe this man's sensuality under the highlighting LED lights. They showed every muscle and vein running from his fingertips to the seam of his black short-sleeved shirt. Only if he'd get tattoos. His haunting crimson red onyx eyes ran over her body, soaking her in, and if the cute blonde waitress didn't show, she would say fuck business and jump straight to pleasure.

"Ms. Rogue, Mr. Williams is ready for you."

Rogue snapped back to reality. She apologized to Remy and followed their escort toward the VIP section of the humble nightclub. It wasn't massive but quaint. Everyone starts somewhere.

"It's always blondes ain't it?" Rogue whispered to Wanda.

Wanda Maximoff finally made her appearance. After the bombing, she went home to Genosha to speak with her father to discuss the next steps in containing the threat. Yesterday evening, she returned with her bags and a sour face. Magneto can be a lot. Overbearing and cold. Wanda forgave him a year ago for his stable traits, but he always left her in a terrible mood. Inviting her tonight, Rogue hoped it would cheer her up.

Like Remy, Wanda opted for simplicity with the night's look. Her shoulder-length hair sat atop her head in a messy bun, showing off her high cheekbones, square jaw, and intense sapphire blue eyes. Her snug black dress, wrapped around the right body parts, and many necklaces adorned her neck to enhance the simple dress. And to bring the outfit together, Wanda's infamous Doc Martens.

"It's because blondes are better in bed, so I hear." Wanda shrugged.

Rogue rolled her eyes, "We both know that's a load of bull."

"Tell that to Emma," Wanda argued.

"Emma ain' a natural blonde."

Wanda began to protest when she concluded that Rogue's right.

The curtains to the VIP section split for them, and Rogue's jaw nearly hit the floor. The club wasn't as small as she thought. The rest of the party is a little naughtier and skimpier than the front—a small Hellfire Club.

High out of their minds, people danced amongst each other, worshipping some musical deity. If it weren't for Wanda keeping her grounded, Rogue would join the others.

Past the crowd, Pyro's signature orange-blonde hair popped up. Rolling her eyes, she stepped around the dance floor toward the far back, where John waited. Typical for him. His legs bulged against his pin-striped shorts, while his strong upper body showed through his mesh shirt.

"Good to see you, Roguey," Pyro chirped when she was close enough. She frowned at the Godawful nickname. She wished it stayed buried.

He went in for a hug. Rogue quickly shut that down by shoving him away with her palm. The firebug still doesn't know the definition of personal space. He'll get the memo.

John moved away from Rogue and gave Wanda a quick kiss.

She forgot that Wanda and John started dating a few years back.

It happened quickly, and despite her refusal and warning, Wanda did it anyway, and they're utterly miserable. Sometimes. It depends if John is high or not. He and Wanda don't want to admit it, but everyone knows the guy is a druggy, no matter how much he hides it behind his new look.

"The gangs all here."

Stepping aside, Rogue circled the velvet couch and took her place. She chose to ignore Lyla staring at her, with some girl beside her. And, of course, the black sheep of the Shaw family sat before her in an all-white shirt. Rogue should've chosen pleasure over business.

William Shaw is the black sheep of his family for a reason. He's…gross. What does that mean, reader? He thinks there is a future where she will leave Remy for him, and we all know that is not true.

"Wasn't expectin' yah in my neck of the woods?"

William smiled brightly, "I'm not here for long, darling. I have to head back to Vegas."

All of Bayville thanks him for it.

Her eyes traveled over his body, "Ah see yah followed in yah family's plan after all."

William glanced down at himself, "You could say that. Though they didn't say which faction I had to choose."

Rogue rolled her eyes, dryly saying, "Ain' yah clever?"

His playful and lust-filled smile disappeared when he leaned forward, "Emma's white princess tells me you're looking for the bomber."

White princess?

William pointed to his left, showing a gorgeous girl who wiggled her fingers in greeting.

Rogue's surprised Lyla hasn't tried to get under the girl's skirt like the other hellfire workers.

"That's why we're here, William."

He purred, "William, I like it when you call me by my full name."

Rogue frowned. Disgusted by his flattery, "Can yah focus?"

"Fine, my dove, fine." He leaned back against the velvet couch, running his hand through his red hair, "my manager mentioned a few men came in a few weeks ago, sat down for an hour, then left. They didn't buy anything, dance, or flirt with any of my girls or boys. They wore," His fingers snapped in thought, "FOH t-shirts."

Wanda tilted her head from her place beside Rogue, "FOH?"

Will shrugged.

"Where is yah manager? We'd like to speak with her."

The blonde waitress leaned into William's ear. He sighed and looked down at his wine glass, "And to think she was my favorite manager." Finishing his drink, he said, "she died in the bombing last Friday at the recreation."

Rogue cursed under her breath.

Though, she can use this. Tabby loves a good puzzle. Start with the FOH; whoever leads them will lead her to whoever is behind the bombings.

Rogue's emerald green eyes snapped to the waitress, "Do yah go to BAU?"

She nodded.

"Yah, ever see those FOH clowns on campus?"

The girl took a moment to think, then said, "I have a few times. They were passing out flyers, but I don't know what they were saying."

Rogue smiled, "Yah been mighty helpful shugah, thank yah." She moved to get up when William put his hand on hers. Before she punched him in the nose for the notion, Lyla tackled her to the ground before a blast shook the building.

How on earth is she constantly finding herself in the same predicament?

She's again stuck to some rubble, patching herself together.

To make matters worse, a beam fell on top of her because she could not move quickly enough. The universe, or God, hates her truly.

She clenched her eyes shut, afraid to feel the crunch of her already shattered legs. God and these humans play around way too much. Did anyone hear her shout, or were her vocal cords broken too?

To take her mind off her sore body, Lyla searched the room. If anyone's alive, they can be a pal and help her get the fucking beam off her. But if her vocal cords aren't working, that will be tough. She can't assume anyone else knows how to communicate through sign language.

On her right, Rogue lay on the ground, unconscious. At least she isn't dead.

Across the room, Wanda crawled toward John, tapping his face while fear on hers. She, Wanda, has seen John unconscious plenty of times. Each time she wasn't afraid, nervous, or scared. What makes this situation any different? He'll need stitches and morphine. It sucks for Wanda, he'll get hooked, and she will go back into a deep depression. The cycle never ends.

William was plastered under the couch, alive. what a clown and a tool.

She can't say the same for his poor waitress.

She accounted for everyone else. Where the hell is mali?

Thrashing under the rubble, Lyla scanned the room. The girl could be under a pile of debris trying to get help, but she can't breathe. Or what if she's dead? Emma is gonna kill her if she is.

As if the princess sensed Lyla's panic, she knelt beside her tattered body. Her soft hands grasped the side of Lyla's face, sighing. Malakai, filled with calm and patience, smiled.

Smiled? of all the times, she chose now to smile?

Then Lyla caught on. Mali wanted her to breathe.

Wait, are her ears not working, either? What the hell? How long is it going to take for her to heal?

Once Lyla calmed, Malakai took a quick look at the pillar, took a deep breath, and then grabbed hold of it, throwing it to the side.

Eyes wide, Lyla wondered if she was selfish for not knowing Malakai's powers or did she had misread something in the princess' file.

"Are you good to stand?" Malakai dusted off her hands.

Okay, so her ears were healed.

She snorted with a roll of her eyes.

"dumb question," Malakai nodded, "Let me help Rogue, and I'll be back."

Lyla leaned against the rubble as she watched Malakai scoop Rogue in her arms. she lost them in the smokey abyss, but she couldn't focus. No one in their right mind has calmed Lyla. Stahr, bless her heart, tried, but she's just as temperamental. Rogue fueled her anger. At the same time, her mothers let her do whatever she wanted as long as it motivated their plans.

Malakai calmed her with a touch. Just a touch.

For the first time, Lyla is mentally speechless.

appearing out of nowhere, Malakai asked, "Ready?"

unable to speak, Lyla nodded.

Malakai scooped her up bridal style, walking her out.

Once outside, she had to shut her eyes due to the intensity of the first responder lights. she slipped out of Malakai's grasp to lean against the wall. Catch her breath before jumping into the investigation.

She scanned the scene, making sure her sister and Wanda were okay. From the corner of her eye, near the firetruck, some weird guy had a camera out, videotaping the building. Usually, it isn't a big deal. People have their phones out in situations like this. What makes it odd homeboy has a FOH hat on. The same organization they were talking about. coincidence? No, Lyla doesn't believe in them.

He put the camera down, looking right at her.

She smirked.

He panicked.

A lot of that going around. She took one step forward, and he ran.

Excellent, she enjoys the thrill of a good chase.

Sticking to the blind spots of the streets, Lyla tracked him by the fear he emoted. And the slight trickle of pee.

Cutting him off down an alleyway, where criminals love to hide, Lyla crossed her arms. Before he dropped to the ground, Lyla took him by the throat. Using borrowed strength, she slammed him against the brick wall. Her amber honey eyes burned with a firey passion, ready to kill him. Answers first. Then maim him.

She pointed at his hat.

He gulped, then explained, "W–we're the friends of humanity." Stupid name, but she let him continue. "We fight for human rights." he began to shake as he peed more when she didn't speak. "I-I didn't know it was a bomb! I swear."

By the pool of urine pooling around her bare feet, he's telling the truth. Feeling generous, she grabbed him by the collar and dragged him back to the chaos of the club. The police arrested him, but he won't make it to his arraignment. No matter what, Rogue decides. He attacked the youngest brother of the Shaw family and members of the Inner Circle. Such a crime will not go unpunished.

She went over to Rogue, draped in a blanket, shivering. Remy rubbed her shoulders, keeping her close. William sat beside the couple, grumbling as the paramedic stitched his eyebrow. John was fine, a mere concussion.

"Yah enjoy runnin' off, don't yah?" Rogue sighed.

She signed, "Friends of Humanity."

"talk with Emma and Selene, see what they want to do but Ah know for a fact he ain' gonna be alive tomorrow," Rogue said.

Lyla nodded, glancing at her watch. Damn, she has a test tomorrow.

Malakai came beside her, "if you need us, Rogue, call. We want to help you as much as possible."

Rogue nodded.

Lyla took Malakai's hand and headed off to the vehicle they arrived in. tomorrow, they'll go back to hating each other, for now, Lyla appreciates the comfort.

In the study attached to his office, Xavier watched the news coverage of last night's bombing. He caught wind of the incident too late. The X-Men were ready to help in any way possible, but the police had already caught the suspect as he confessed. Though he claimed he didn't know he carried a bomb. Hard to believe. Though, he isn't the law. His job isn't to judge him.

The sad news, the lad, died in his cell. He tied a noose with his shirt, hanging himself. Xavier speculates there is another player on the chess board, and they took out their pawn. Or someone hidden in the shadows took out the FOH pawn. It couldn't be the brotherhood, as they came over late last night with a battle plan to protect each other, the public, and mutant relations.

There are too many questions that need answering. Charles turned off the television, afraid of what his X-men must turn into to defeat such a threat.