Joseph stepped into the hall outside of Xavier's office, yawning tiredly as he stretched. He was on his way back to his and Rogue's room, as he hadn't seen the woman at all since his arrival. He would have thought she was avoiding him, actually he had his doubts, if he didn't suspect she had no clue of his arrival. Probably that damned Cajun, he thought, keeping his woman from him.
Emma passed him, a delighted smirk on her face. He stopped short, watching the blonde past slowly, and shivered at the expression on her face. He'd hate to be whoever she planned to make suffer, as that was the only time she wore a smirk like that.
Shaking away the uneasy chills running down his spine, he pushed open his bedroom door and stepped inside. Rogue was lying on their bed, one leg curved and the other dangling over it. A magazine was open, but for some reason Joseph didn't think she was really paying attention to it. Maybe it was the upset pout on her face.
"Rogue, I'm back," he announced in case she hadn't heard his entrance.
Rogue didn't jump or even look startled, instead she calmly placed the magazine on the bed and sat up. She uncrossed her legs as she stood, slowly moving towards him. Joseph frowned, his nerves returning full force at the expression on Rogue's face.
Meanwhile, Rogue was beginning to feel guilty. She could see Joseph growing more nervous by the minute, and she wanted to reassure him she wasn't really angry. She'd told Emma she would play this little joke on him though, and Rogue wasn't one to go back on her word – especially not when it involved a prank of some kind.
"Ya had a phone call while you were away, sugah," Rogue said, tossing his cell phone up and down casually. Joseph gulped and backed away, his back hitting the door and stopping his escape.
"W-who..." he breathed deeply, silently commanding himself to calm down. Maybe it wasn't what he thought. "Who was it?"
"Monique," Rogue said, tongue clicking disapprovingly on the -que. She glared at Joseph who'd grown impossibly pale at the name. Something wasn't right, Rogue thought. Joseph shouldn't be looking like this!
"R-Rogue, I-I..." he trailed off. Rogue backed away, crossing her arms as she tapped her foot impatiently.
"Ah don't have time fo' this, Joey!" she snarled, moving forward as though to push past him.
Joseph broke at that point. There was no way it could be anyone else, as he'd never let anyone but Monique call him Joey. He didn't even want her to call him that hated name, but she was persistent and continued to do so despite all protests.
"Rogue, I'm so sorry!" he cried, dropping to her knees and grabbing her hand in both of his. "She means nothing to me, I swear! It's not what you think!"
"Wha-?" Rogue frowned and looked at her boyfriend. The confusion only lasted a few minutes before realization dawned in her eyes. "Ya mean there really is a Monique!?"
"W-what?" Joseph stuttered, slowly rising to his feet. "What do you mean 'there really is a Monique'? Didn't you just say she called? You even called me Jo--"
"Emma wanted t' mess with ya head, ya slimy bastard!" Rogue shouted, crushing his cell phone with her strength. She forgot she was holding it, and only Joseph seemed to notice the whining crack it gave as it splintered into little pieces of metal and wire.
"My phone!" he cried, looking at the expensive piece, or rather pieces, his phone now was. "That cost me a fort--"
"Don't you go talkin' 'bout ya phone at a time like this!" Rogue yelled. She didn't care if everyone could hear her, she wanted answers. "Is Monique a real person!?"
"I-I-I was going to tell you about her!" Joseph insisted, backing away from his angry girlfriend.
Rogue stood stunned, hurt filling her green orbs as she let the small bits of the former cell phone fall from her hand. She...couldn't believe it. He was...He had...Joseph cheated on her!?
"Rogue...?" Joseph called tentatively, stepping towards the other mutant.
She snarled then, anger gripping every fibre of her being. Joseph had only enough time to yelp in pain and fear as he was lifted off the ground by his collar and thrown through the bedroom door. Literally, through the door.
"Ya sonuvabitch!" Rogue cried, jumping on top of him as she began to punch – minding her strength enough that she didn't punch through his head – her ex-boyfriend repeatedly. "Ya lyin', cheatin' scumbag!"
"Hey, what's going on?"
"Someone get the professor! I think Rogue's lost it completely!"
"Figures this would happen."
If she heard the whispers, Rogue paid no attention. She also paid no attention to the hands attempting to push her off of Joseph, except to push them away from her. Almost against her will, she began to calm and slowly stood and moved away from Joseph.
His face was bloody, his nose most likely broken, and he had a black eye. Nothing that would cause permanent damage though, unfortunately.
"Roguey, y' alright?" Remy asked, pulling the girl to his chest. He'd arrived when he heard the worried shouts and used his empathy to send calming waves to Rogue. He could feel the hurt and anger pouring off her in waves, and he knew whatever Joseph had done, he deserved what Rogue gave him. "Wha' happened?"
"He-he..." Rogue couldn't even finish the statement. She merely sagged in Remy's arms, letting him hold her while the professor wheeled his way to the scene of the crime.
"What is going on here?" he demanded, his eyes flickering from Rogue to Joseph's body. He couldn't read either mind, so he would have to go by what he heard from the two – well, from what he heard from Rogue at the moment. Joseph appeared to be unconscious, or at least on the verge of becoming unconscious.
"He cheated on her, and she just found out, Charles."
The students turned to stare at the blonde now standing behind the professor. He also turned to look at Emma as she walked to his side and placed a comforting hand on Rogue's shoulder.
"I'm afraid this is my fault. I wanted her to find out for herself, so I told her that I wanted to play with his head a little. I had no idea the reaction would be this violent. You can't read their minds, but you can read mine. It'll tell you all you need to know."
"Yes..." Xavier mused, closing his eyes and placing two fingers to his temples. He sighed when he reopened his eyes and gestured for Wolverine and Storm to pick up Joseph's body. "Move him to the infirmary. It's nothing permanent, he'll heal with time. Emma, next time you decide to do something like this, please, for all our sakes, don't."
"Right," Emma said with a slightly guilty smile. She didn't feel bad about what had happened, that much was obvious to anyone, but she at least attempted to look apologetic. Xavier shook his head and wheeled away, leaving the students to look between the spot where Joseph had been and the limp Rogue.
A few girls moved towards the older woman, patting her hand comfortingly as they whispered words of condolence. They didn't like the woman much better than before, but nobody deserved to be done like that, except those that acted like sluts of course. Joseph, in their minds, had it coming.
Seeing the way the girls were acting towards Rogue, and what had happened when Joseph was caught, many of the boys quickly decided never to cheat on their girlfriends. In fact, they decided, running to their rooms, they would call and take them out right now! Just to prove their love for them.
"I really am sorry," Emma whispered, placing her hand on Rogue's shoulder. The southerner smiled sadly at her and nodded. "I didn't think you'd believe me if I told you, so I..."
"It's alright," Rogue reassured, though her heart wasn't in the words. She sighed and leaned back against Remy, who began to walk her away from the hall. Emma watched them go.
"Y' need rest, chere. Dis has been a tirin' day f'r y'."
It was worth it, the blonde told herself silently. In the name of matchmaking, all risks and pains were worth it. Now, Remy would comfort Rogue, and it would all end well. So long as Joseph got his act together or left the manor completely.
Another smirk wormed its way on Emma's face. Yes, she could definitely see him leaving in the near future, especially since all the girls now knew he was a cheating scumbag. Thank you, Monique!