Marvel owns the X-men, no profit is to be made from this work.
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Enjoying the sights from the back of the taxi, Marie enjoyed the scenery as a break from the craziness of everything that had happened over the last couple of days, all the good and bad that left her an emotional knot not knowing which way she was being pulled in an attempt to unravel it. Her flight had been just a little over three hours and the thought of spending another minute there was an unpleasant one indeed, stuck in coach with the screaming babies numbering four that soured the mood of the flight for many. Smiling to herself, it would be sometime tomorrow when Logan finally showed up having had to take the land route after some interference from airport security.
Waving to him as she boarded her flight leaving him to explain to Ororo just what had happened to her baby had been worth that call and the sleepless night. Now all she wanted was a long soak in the bath and a nap until noon. Pulling up front of a hotel with tourists loitering out front looking at maps and toying with their phones, after tipping her cabby she made her way through the crowd.
"A room for one please." Marie asked on making her way to the desk.
Looking on the clerk as he seemed ready to ask if she had a reservation, she gave him credit when he caught himself out of his routine and started checking vacancies. After all the haggling back and forth she had her little keycard and was off to the elevator already dreaming of a nice long soak while entertaining ordering a bit of room service. Breakfast had been skipped and now she was simply ravenous. Glancing at her phone for the time as she waited for the numbers to count down to the lobby, a bit of house keeping was due.
Landed safe and sound, I'll get ya the hotel I'm at once I've freshened up. Keep it on the road Mister, Marie Out.
Signing off her message just as Jubilee was want to do, it was a little barb directed at Logan hoping to get under his skin knowing how she could irritate him when she worked at it. Glad for an empty elevator to her floor, three tries with her keycard had her in and flopping down on the bed. Thinking back to that mystery message Jubilee had sent, she pulled out her phone for another look.
Headed outta town for a few days, incase Logan can't figure out his voicemail again I left his bike at that parking lot near the bar. He's got GPS on it anyway so I'm sure he'll find it or get close enough he can sniff it out. See ya when I get back from getting a tan, ciao Roguey.
"Seems everyone's gettin' outta Dodge." Marie mused, tossing her phone to the night stand and rolling off the bed.
Peeling off her shirt and tossing her bra to the lampshade, her pants came next left on the floor with her socks leading a breadcrumb trail to the bath. Leaving her panties hanging on the doorknob, added to her sightseeing until Logan made his way on down was some shopping since she hadn't even packed for this impromptu trip, just the clothes on her back that was now strewn about the hotel room. Worth every cent and all the haggling down at the front desk, the bath was a corner tub made for soaking. Running it hot and waiting for it to fill, she ran back to get her phone needing some music.
"What do I feel like, hmm..." Humming to herself and scrolling through her playlists, some mellow trip hop was chosen and left to play on the vanity.
Slipping under the steamy water and feeling her weary and taut muscles relax, with the better part of the country standing between her and Logan she had hours to herself to prepare for whatever was to come. She'd seen one skeleton from his closet once, and the latest that had tumbled out in the form of this mysterious Victor Creed had her wondering just what strife Remy LeBeau would bring with him.
"Forget about it till tomorrow, today's just all for me." She chastised herself, sinking deep into the water until her nose nearly touched the rippling surface.
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With one flight down from JFK to LAX, the next stop was Tokyo and from there a flight to Madripoor. First Class all the way, it was the only way to travel, if he wanted to be treated like cattle he knew the people to call. He'd flown with every kind of livestock imaginable to every excuse of a runway around the world. Beside him Victor found his little Lee already bored of the allure of First Class, the bottle of champagne between them empty.
"What country doesn't have a wikipage?" Jubilee asked, toying with her phone.
"What the hell's a Wiki?" Victor asked, leaning in for a look at her phone.
"Normally this is where I'd get my snark on for someone not keeping up with everyday tech, but you get a pass after dinner last night. Pretty much anything ya wanna know about is on Wikipedia, except Madripoor which is way weird. Check it, I can't even Google Maps it, I wanted to street view the beaches." Jubilee explained, tilting her phone so he could have a better view.
"Huh, well ain't that something." Marvelling at technology he would have killed for in many a war he'd fought long ago, he watched her search around the South Pacific for the missing island.
"I mean like I know some peeps do that whole blur out thing, heck there's countries that are way to the Nth on privacy hard ons even, but this is redonk." Jubilee complained.
"Well, don't colour me too surprised. Like I said, it ain't your usual tourist trap. Banks they got there make the Caymans and the Swiss seem outright chatty, and good luck tryin' ta get anyone extradited." Leaning back in his chair, he let her chew on that for a bit.
"So what you're saying is this place has the pull to make it not exist if you're not on the guest list? Guess that explains the manila ya gave me, say no more." Sounding impressed herself, she settled into her own seat with her feet tucked under her and started doing some high tech sight seeing.
The manilas, all the travelling documents they'd need to get there and back from Madripoor, right down to airtight identities and passports that would stand up to any test. There would be another waiting for him alone in the hotel room safe explaining the job. If it was happening there it had to be something no one wanted anyone knowing about, it was the place people went to disappear...whether they wanted to or not.
"Only thing ya need ta know about Madripoor is ya got your Hightown and ya got Lowtown, and ya don't go to Lowtown unless you're lookin' fer trouble." Or as he called it, fun, and he had to wonder just what she might think about the Princess Bar.
"Okay, so stick to the resort? Gotcha." Said as she pocketed her cell, an absent check of the bottle found it empty.
"Refill?" Victor asked with a nod to the bottle.
"Maybe later, guessing we won't be seeing a hotel in Tokyo? Just another plane?" Jubilee inquired, stretching out and rolling to her side to stare at him.
"Much as I wouldn't mind a lengthy layover and a bit o' whatever we could get up to during it, I'm on the clock." And wasn't that the truth, even a trip to the can plus one wasn't too entertaining even knowing just how flexible she could be.
"Tick tock, tick tock." Sing song and quiet, a look in her eyes showed the knowledge that the minute hand might well be cutting short someone's life.
"Maybe on the way back." Victor mused.
Grinning up at him and trailing her fingers down his chest tracing his muscular ridges that his dress shirt was poorly equipped to restrain, she paused at the hem of his slacks only to skip past to rest her hand upon his thigh absently stroking. Throwing an arm about her shoulders and pulling her near, something about the way her head nestled against his chest stirred something possessive in him. Settling in for the flight, he let her bring him up to speed with much of the useful little necessities of life that had passed him by if only to distract him from that strange stirring.
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An afternoon spent playing tourist and shopping for everything she hadn't packed, Marie found herself enjoying the early evening with the sun hanging heavy over the rooftops. Mingling in the crowds and catching snippets of conversation, it was so easy to forget about everything and just live with cares only for the moment. Standing in line for a place at a restaurant that had captivated her with the wafting aromas that had lured her from the masses, she finally found herself seated at a table for two with her bags occupying what would have otherwise been an empty seat.
Giving her server an appreciative smile as her beer came, it was ice cold and slick with sweat. Savouring her first sip, she looked on the street watching all the little human moments play out. Couples young and old holding hands and curled up in one another's embrace, the generosity of strangers shown in change thrown to a street performer, even the lures cast to the crowd of street vendors looking to peddler their wares was a treat to behold.
"Just how is it a lady as beautiful as you finds herself alone?" A velvety voice asked.
"Who says I'm alone?" The words spilled from her lips out of reflex, but as she looked on the speaker a smile twisted free and betrayed her.
A local if by his accent alone, Cajun without a doubt, he was as they said 'a tall drink of water' dressed in jeans and a silk shirt that tread on being inappropriate for dinning with how few buttons were done up. His unruly mess of hair fell with bangs shading his eyes, eyes hidden by sunglasses that looked like any found for sale by the peddlers promising they were designer brands and not the knock offs they really were. Smiling to her as if he had caught her lie for what it was, resting a hand to his chest he gave a bow.
"I thought it was the ladies that were to keep the men waiting, yet here you are. He better have a good excuse." Said with a sinful smile, he walked to the otherwise occupied seat and leaned against its back.
"I'm tired of excuses and he's gonna be unfashionably late, won't be hittin' town until tomorrow." Marie admitted, leaning back with her chair teetering precariously.
"So then these bags be not saving a seat for him then?" Said with a laugh he snatched them up with a finger and dangled them there looking for her leave, given with a flourished gesture and a laugh herself.
As if he expected her invitation all along, another waiter came by with a fresh beer for her and a whiskey on the rocks for him. Clinking bottle to glass with a cheers shared between them, she caught him peeking into her shopping with a curious eye. Giving him a playful kick to reign in his snooping, he was a welcome distraction just when she needed one.
"You got a name Sugah?" Marie asked.
"Robert." His reply had her wince, slugging back her beer to finish it.
"Strike one, the ex was a Robert...though he went by Bobby." Marie revealed.
"Only boys go by Bobby, and what of the man that be keeping you waiting?" He asked, swirling his whiskey before a sip.
"I think Asshole suits right about now, lets just say he's comes with some baggage I wasn't in the mood to deal with after he pulled a few stunts." Her reply came with a hiss of annoyance having to think all that drama again.
"Well then, what say we forget about the asshole for tonight and maybe just enjoy a meal together, that is if I may be so bold..." Something about the way he trailed off seemed to beg an unspoken question.
"Marie, and why do I get the feelin' ya can be pretty bold?" Laughing at how pleased he looked at the accusation, he looked a shameless flirt and proud of it.
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Be the words my Papa used to tell me when I be a boy, be good advice non?" Robert said with a smirk.
"My Daddy had a sayin' like that himself, don't go writing checks your ass can't cash." Smirking back, a silent toast was had between them with their respective poisons raised in salute.
"Your Daddy sound like he be a smart man." He remarked.
"Strike two. Dear ol' Dad was another asshole who when push came ta shove he showed his colours, yellow bellied sonovabitch. Careful now Sugah, we ain't even broke bread yet." Marie teased having long ago let go of that vitriol towards her parents, letting go of that grudge born out of that awful day.
"Never was one for baseball, any sport where they spend their time scratching their balls and spitting be not fit for a lady. What say after dinner I show you a pool hall I know of? That be a gentleman's game." For how vulgar he started, she found his finish smooth.
"Lets see if ya can make it through dinner first without puttin' yer foot in yer mouth again, then we'll see." For her efforts though she could tell by his grin that she had just fanned the flames.
"Bon, dinner and dessert first then you decide. There be our waiter, bonne appetite."
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Waking with only vague memories of the last stretch of that very last flight, Jubilee laid in bed wondering just what was missing when it came to her, Victor. Rolling onto that empty expanse of blankets, breathing deep she found that scent she so enjoyed missing, a scent she came to known curled up against him fading in and out of consciousness as the crossed the Pacific.
"Tick tock, he's on the clock." Jubilee muttered, looking around the room taking inventory.
Upon the dresser were bags of what had to be some local boutiques, a fruit basket on the tiny fridge for the mini bar, and garment bags hanging in the closet that was left open. Noticing a box wrapped up with a red silk ribbon resting on a chair, she rolled out of bed and took in her state of undress. The trophies of their last romp were healing nicely, the bruises and bite marks fading. Thinking of him stripping her slumbering self was an erotic thrill, her imagination running with visions of his hands sliding over her unresisting flesh with hungry eyes.
"To my little Lee..." Jubilee read the tag, tugging the ribbon so it came undone.
Laid on tissue paper was a dress just like the one he'd bought her for that dinner date, just as red as the rose that was nestled in with it. Taking up the flower and indulging in its fragrance, it was lacking in everyway of what she really wanted. Exploring the bath while twirling that thorny rose between her fingers she found his shirt hung on a hook, that scent found at last. Slipping it on, she wondered just what he would think to find her in it on his return.
Snooping through the bags, everything she'd need for this unexpected trip was found picked out for her by his tastes alone. Red was a favourite of his she was finding as she held up a bikini that came with a promise of sandy beaches and cabana boys bringing cocktails and beers as she lounged under the tropical sun. On the edge of hearing was crash of waves and roar of surf, a peek out the blinds all it took to see a strip of sand running against the big blue that stretched onto the horizon.
"You do know how to impress a gal don'tcha Vic." Jubilee whispered with a smile tugging at her lips, the hotel right on the beach.
Torn between her temptations, whether to wait for Victor to return to ravish her or go enjoy her teeny tiny but not polka dot bikini, the ringing of a cell startled her in the quiet of the suite. Finding hers on the vanity quiet and still, a rummage through all those shopping bags found one boxed and waiting.
"Victor?" Jubilee asked, as if it could be anyone else.
"Here I thought I'd be yer wake up call." Toppling to the bed at his rumbling reply, she wondered if her wistful sigh carried.
"Mmm, I could think of better ways for you to wake me up..." Trailing thorns of that rose down her flesh, she imagined them his teeth just before that moment of pleasing pain.
"All the more reason fer me ta get this bit o' business done so we can get down to some pleasure." His throaty growl sent shivers down her with goose bumps left behind.
"So, ya not gonna ask me what I'm wearing?" Jubilee asked with a pout.
"Why ruin the memory o' all the fun I had puttin' ya to bed, workin' those jeans down that tight ass o' yers?" His reply came.
"What if I told you all I'm wearing is your shirt, a smile, and I'm running that rose I found right somewhere that I got an itch only you can scratch." Jubilee whispered in a husky voice.
"Light a fire under my ass why don'tcha?" Victor hungrily growled back.
"I can think of some better things to do to it." She teased.
"I'll hold ya ta that, now why don't ya go enjoy a dip 'n get a little sun. Just keep that phone handy." He added before hanging up.
Breathing deep and letting go of a sigh fuelled by the frustration of being denied what she really wanted in that moment, the surf was a siren's call that might meet out a bit of relief. Changing into the bikini and finding it a perfect fit as she modelled it in the mirror, a knock at the door surprised her. Peeking through the peephole, her view was blocked by a rainbow assortment of balloons. Opening the door and looking around, with no one in sight she snatched up the balloons that were weighted by a small little box wrapped in ribbon.
"Whatcha got for me now Vic?" Jubilee asked to herself, unwrapping the ribbon and opening the box to find a card.
"Does this smell like tear gas?" She read aloud, confusion leading to a moment of panic at the rapid explosions of bursting balloons.
Her first gasp betrayed her as she breathed deep the mist enveloping the suite, her eyes burning and blinded with tears. Rushing to the door and the safety of the hall, she stumbled into a figure she could hardly see, a silhouette of red from head to toe.
"I'll take that as a yes." The mocking words were spoken a moment before a pain in her neck heralded darkness.
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"Maybe you come back to my place, have a drink or two and we get to know each other better?" Robert asked, standing with her out front of her hotel.
"Mister Lord, I do believe you're trying to entice me. Asshole he might be, I'm still gonna give him a chance...so getting to know each other better ain't gonna happen..." Marie playfully replied.
"Then maybe we get breakfast, I know the perfect place." He tried.
"Why do I get the feelin' that's another o' yer pick up lines, lemme guess...your place?" She asked, laughing as he threw her a wink and admitted to his ploy.
"Oui, but if you really want to get breakfast I do know a place. Pick you up for say...hmm, nine?" He offered with a shrug.
"I should have some time ta kill before he gets ta town, breakfast it is." Offering her hand only to have it kissed, a blush touched her cheeks that she wasn't wholly against.
"Then I be seeing you tomorrow, bon nuit and sweet dreams." Said with a bow before he took his leave, she was left to lean at the doors watching his retreat when an urge overtook her as she dug for her phone.
You will not believe the day I just had Lee, for starters I'm in New Orleans waitin' for Logan to get his behind down here, don't ask. But I met tall, dark and sexy to keep me company while he flirted his very fine ass off tryin' to get into my pants. I think I'm ready for some make up sex with gruff and grizzly once he shows up. Ciao back at ya.
Hitting send and trusting her text to the electronic ether, an elevator ride had her in her room and ordering room service to wind down her night with whatever she could find on the tube. An hour into a rom com and working away at a shrimp cocktail the call she had been expecting came. Staring at his name and letting it ring, she counted them out and picked up just before it could go to her voice mail.
"So just how grounded are ya?" She greeted.
"Well that's a fine How do ya do. As for the boss lady, I'm on the hook for gettin' her ride mint again once we're done in the Big Easy." Said with the snap and hiss of a can of beer being opened, Logan sounded none the worse for wear after his time on the road.
Flopping back and enjoying a shrimp, she let him complain about the drive down and the motel he was staying in. Admiring her own suite in contrast, she took a bit of perverse pleasure in his suffering.
"So, when ya think you'll be hittin' town hun?" Marie asked.
"Hun now am I? Sounds like someone's in a better mood." Logan shot back.
"Ya know what they say about absence, gonna make ya work for it though bub." Smiling at his laugh as it carried over the connection, she stole a strawberry from her untouched shortcake she had waiting for dessert.
"Figure I'll get some bunk time in this roach motel and be there noonish, I'll call ya when I hit town." His reply was punctuated with another can of beer being cracked open.
"Noon then, just in time ta get some lunch before we go lookin' for this hustler friend of yers." Stretching out with a yawn, it also gave her time enough for breakfast without worrying.
"Sweet dreams babe, Logan Out."
Laughing at his jab right back at her from her earlier text, she tossed her phone to the night stand and got back to her movie. Sleep would come, but until then she had half a shrimp cocktail to finish off and a strawberry shortcake to enjoy. Thinking of Jubilee, she hoped wherever she was she was having as good a time as her.
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