Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men:Evolution or it's characters. Just my OC, Molly Callum/Creature and any original characters/background characters that may pop up from time to time.
"Honey, I got you flowers and a whole box of you favorite candy bars," Remy appealed to Molly again before dinner that night, standing in front of a shut door. A dozen red and yellow roses, how could she say no?
The door opened a crack, but Remy wasn't met with open arms and forgiveness. No, he was met with a water squirter. His red shirt, face and hair wet, Remy sighed, slumping, leaving back to his room. He put the stuff on his dresser, drying off with a towel and putting on a fresh grey shirt. He took to laying his bed, starting to rack his brains for an answer to Molly's anger.
"BAMF"
"Dude, we have to get a room ready for the new guy," Kurt said.
"Uh, there's something you should know about that..." Remy let Kurt in on the prank.
"You're sure this is the best idea?" Kurt looked worried, putting a hand behind his head, frowning, "You're making the whole school believe someone's coming."
"Hey, everyone is so busy, they'll barely remember he's supposed to show up," Remy said, " We'll all get a good laugh out of it, you'll see. "
"I hope you're right. If we're going to make it believable, we'd better get the room ready. If we don't, Scott will have kittens." Kurt smirked.
They finished setting up the bedroom, then went down to dinner. Molly sat all the way at the far end of the table, opposite the head.
'I'm _really_ deep in it,' Remy thought. He took his usual spot next to Kurt. Kitty was sitting next to Molly, taking her side in the fight, of course. (Kurt had to decided to remain neutral.)
Everyone ate and talked, it was a normal dinner otherwise. Molly went upstairs before dessert and Remy chased after her. He caught up to her, grabbing her arm and pulling her back against his chest.
"We're gonna talk, one way or the other!" Remy said in a forceful, no nonsense voice.
Molly stared into the floor, silent and looking timid. She knew Remy wasn't going to take this lightly any longer.
"Molly, I'm really sorry. You know I didn't do it on purpose. I wish it hadn't happened. Our conversations should be very private, just between us, and I'll do my best to make sure they are from now on. Promise, Cherie. I'm sure everyone will forget about it in a week, really. So, what do you say? Forgive me now?" Remy out on his best, sweetest 'I'm sorry' face.
"...You know, there's a cute sweater I want at that store in the mall if you really want to make it up to me," Molly milked it.
"I'll buy you a drawer-ful of sweaters and a closet of shoes, I don't care! I don't like you mad. It's no fun when I'm not with you, and I was going insane trying to figure out a way to get you to forgive me. Baby, you're not _just_ my girlfriend. You're my best friend." Remy said earnestly.
"Alright, you're forgiven," Molly hugged him tight, "And sorry for the water squirter. That was going overboard."
"You just like seeing me soaking wet," Remy got down close and kissed her.
It took two days, but the rumor mill quickly started going around about Johnny Tuttle.
"Yeah, I met him last year at the New York Comic-Con. Super cool guy! He's got every Star Wars figure from the seventies."
"They say he knows Beyonce."
"I heard he saved her and a bunch of orphans with his powers from a fire."
"I heard he has an extra toe!"
"Yeah? Well I heard he's got a third nipple!"
Remy decided to amp up the prank a little. He took charge of the intercom the third morning. "This is Mister LeBeau. I just got an email from Johnny Tuttle," It took some self-control for Remy to keep from laughing, "He says you may have heard some outrageous things about him that he wants to clear up. Yes, it's true he saved Beyonce and some orphans from a fire. He does know the singer personally, but they keep it quiet. He does have a third nipple, but not an extra toe. He, in fact, has _every_ Star Wars figure ever made! Johnny looks forward to meeting us and will see us sometime on Friday. Also, ladies, he's very available." Remy quickly turned off the intercom, spinning around in his chair, howling with laughter.
"What's got you tickled pink?" Molly smiled, entering the office.
"Oh, something incredible my love," Remy smiled hard. He summarized it.
"Now Remy-"
"Come on, Petite, don't rain on my parade. This could be the greatest prank ever. Don't you want to do something bad? Live a little?" Remy smirked.
Molly smiled sneakily, giving in. "What can I do?"
Remy sent Molly out to circulate and start more fake rumors. Like second hand knowledge of Johnny being an amazing kisser, getting straight A's, coming from a nearly poor single-parent family only to rise above it all. By Friday, he'd become some melding of Washington and Patton and Iron Man in the student body's collective imagination. Also, by Friday, Rogue and Kitty were in on the prank, but not Scott, for obvious reasons. Piotr too, if only because Rogue didn't want to keep secrets from her boyfriend.
Thankfully, Xavier, Jean and Logan wouldn't be back until the next weekend, so there were no worries about being found out too early.
The entire student body of 70 mutants gathered in the foyer, awaiting Johnny Tuttle.
They eyes the front doors with so much anticipation, Remy thought some of them might literally burst.
It suddenly dawned on him that revealing Johnny wasn't real would A) Make everyone very disappointed, , and, B) Make them hate Remy and possibly ostracized him in the process.
Okay, slight change of plan then.
"Oh man, guys, I forgot! I totally forgot!" Remy slapped his forehead.
"What is it, Remy?" Ororo asked.
Remy went up the stairway a few steps, to be better seen. Everyone looked at him. "Attention! Johnny got in really early this morning. I came downstairs for some water and had to let him in. He's, uh, sleeping in his room. Turns out Beyonce threw him a huge farewell bash yesterday and he's wiped out. So, please, try to keep things a little quieter today." Remy said , hoping to get a bit of peace and quiet out of this. The kids were always so noisy!
"I'm sure we'll all get to meet Johnny later," Hank's voice boomed over the large crowd, "In the meantime, keep it quiet and enjoy the rest of the day." Fortunately, the school age kids had a long weekend because Bayville High had a teachers conference that day.
"We gotta talk," Rogue pulled Remy outside by his sleeve, while the others followed.
"This is really, really bad!" Molly wailed, clutching her head, eyes wide.
"Relax. I didn't want to disappoint everyone, so we're gonna let it ride out a little longer," Remy clapped a hand onto Molly's shoulder.
"How much longer is the question," Kitty crossed her arms, looking sassy.
"Not much. Johnny will get a bad case of food poisoning and then mysteriously ship out in a couple days. No harm done," Remy said.
"Why are you all standing out here for? We've gotta go!" Scott appeared, standing in the front doorway impatiently.
The team took the van across town to a local stadium. Apparently there were some bad fighting going on at some big nerd convention that the police couldn't contain.
"What the heck is this?!" Nightcrawler yelped.
They walked into the stadium, but instead of a hockey game or whatever, there were tons of people in the center of the arena walking around dressed in costume.
Dressed up like the X-Men.
"Look up," Creature pointed.
There was a giant banner hanging overhead. 'Fourth Annual X-Men Con 2006' it read, yellow with black letters.
There were people of all ages, shapes and sizes walking around, the majority in costume. Stick thin Jean Grey cosplayers, chubby Nightcrawlers, tall, willowy Shadowcats, rubenesque Rogues, and a surprising number of geeky and average looking Gambit look alikes. Lastly, there were B-team members (Iceman and friends), scattered throughout, and more girls copying Molly's look then Remy was comfortable with.
"Isn't our life weird enough without a bunch of people dressing up as us too!" Rogue demanded.
"Oh, I don't know, I think it's kind of fun," Remy eyed a tall, busty girl looking like Molly walking past them.
"And how!" Kurt drooled, " It wouldn't be weird if I asked for her number, right Creature?"
"Go ahead, but Remy, you can keep your eyes in your head there, thanks," Molly looked at Remy dryly.
"Sorry ma ange. You know you're my one and only," Remy smiled, bending down and kissing her forehead.
"Hey, there's people dressed up like you guys, but I don't see anyone dressed like me," Cyclops looked put out, pouting with his lower lip.
"Huh. Maybe they figured you weren't that interesting," Remy teased.
"Oh, you finally arrived!" A thin blonde guy with glasses around their age appeared in front of them. He was holding a clipboard.
"Um, yeah. What is all this?" Cyclops asked.
The young man snorted a laugh. "Come with me and I'll explain it."
"Wait! The fighting!" Molly said, holding out her hands for everyone to stop.
"Oh, there's no fighting. We kind of hand to lure you here under false pretenses. I'm Liam, by the way. Creator and coordinator of the whole thing." Liam started walking and they followed him.
"We're not like everyone else, we really admire you all. Some us want to be you...or date you. You saved the world! A few years ago, we started as an internet forum," Liam explained, "Then things snowballed. People started raising money for small cons, then got more money, and eventually we were able to rent out this stadium every year. Today is special, because you're finally here. We promised you'd give a Q and A session. We'll compensate you for your time. The fans only need an hour. Please?" Liam gave the team big puppy dog eyes.
Everyone looked at Cyclops expectantly, with big pleading eyes.
"...Fine. One hour, then we have to go." Cyclops said.
Liam took them to a small stage nearby. On the stage there was the usual setup of a long table, with bottles of water, microphones and name cards. There was already standing room only in front of the stage and around it. The whole thing was blocked off by red velvet ropes. Everyone took their seats. Liam started as the moderator, microphones in hand.
"I'm afraid we don't have time for individual introductions, but please welcome the X-Men!"
The crowd went wild! Clapping, shouting and whistling with unbridled fandom enthusiasm.
"Let's start off with our first question," Liam said.
A teenage girl dressed up like Shadowcat, but blonde, came up to the microphone stand among all the chairs.
"Hi, my name is Lilly. My questions are for Shadowcat. What are the physics behind your powers? Are they afraid you might disappear out of existence?"
"Well, the physics of them are too detailed to get into here, but I just vibrate my atoms on a molecular level. I guess disappearing is possible, but something fantastic would have to happen to me first." Shadowcat explained.
"Great answer! Next!" Liam said.
"Hiiii! I'm Jessie!" The model-like girl from earlier who was dressed as Molly waved with both hands, "Ummm, like, this question is for Gambit? Are you single?"
"No, sorry, Cherie. But, ah, I'm sure you'll find a nice guy in no time." Remy smiled.
"Next question please," Molly quickly spoke up, pulling her microphone close, annoyed.
"The girlfriend," Remy smirked.
That got a laugh out of the audience.
The panel kept going with question after question. It was controlled, but exciting for everyone involved.
"Okay, we have time for one final question," Liam said.
A really heavy guy dressed up like Nightcrawler, complete with a bad wig, stepped up. "Yeah, I have a question. Who's that guy?" He pointed to Cyclops.
"I'm Cyclops!" Cyclops looked beyond frustrated. (No one had asked him any questions or even acknowledged him.)
There was quiet in the audience so silent one could hear a pin drop. "Leader of the X-Men! I keep the team together!" He looked like he was going to explode. Or cry.
"Ohhh," Lilly said, "He's the guy who's always in the back, yelling. Angry Visor Guy."
There was a murmer of recognition in the audience. Everyone applauded and Cyclops looked pleased again.
"Alright, that's our panel! Thank you guests and thank you for coming!" Liam said waved.
Cyclops had to drag everyone home, even though the team wanted to give their fans the full experience and sign autographs.
At home, Hank met them in the foyer. "I'm getting worried about Johnny. He hasn't come out of his room all morning."
"Who?" Molly asked, getting elbowed by Kitty, (who had a 'don't blow it!' look on her normally rosey face).
"Oh. Right. The new guy. Uhh, Remy and I can go check on him."
Remy and Molly went up to "Johnny's" room in the men's wing.
"So I've been thinking, maybe food poisoning is too suspicious," Molly said, "He gets here and a day after he's getting sick? No one will buy it."
"You might be right," Remy said "Leave it to me. So, uh, how jealous were you today exactly?"
"Why don't we go into my room and I'll show you," Molly looked pretty flirtatious, coyly batting her eyes a little.
"Why your room? Johnny isn't here," Remy picked Molly up and tossed her into the bed as she giggled.