O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O Disclaimer O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
X-Men Evolution and it's Characters do not belong to me. I'm writing this for pure fun and selfish reasons; those being that I want to see all my crack ships do very very naughty things ;)
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O AN O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Hello! Hope everyone's been having a good month so far! In this chapter we'll finally get the last major character of this little ficlet introduced!
Thanks so much to Clamchick (Haha you'll get your question answered in this chapter ;) Thanks for sticking with me for this fic!) and MisdirectionSmoothie for reviewing! I really appreciate the feedback!
Lets not keep you guys waiting any longer, hope this chapter is enjoyed!
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O Chapter 4 O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
"Who are the Acolytes?" Amara asked, looking as confused as Jubilee did.
"Remember that band we were telling you about earlier? The one Pietro was a part of that made it big? That's them. They've been touring for the last year and a half, not sure what they're doing here. That guy up on the stage is their lead vocalist, Gambit. The two guys over there are Pyro and Colossus, both guitarists. They are missing their drummer but Sabertooth is older and unless it's for a gig he wouldn't be in a place like this."
"Wow! So they're actually a big star band?"
"They're not at the top of the ladder yet but they're definitely making big steps up."
"And you guys know them personally?"
Laura looked thoughtful at the question. "There's history in many places," she answered. She didn't say anything else about it after that and her attention went back to the stage as the song ended and Wanda rejoined them with a dark red drink. She made it a point to not stare at the table besides them.
It stayed in that tense filled atmosphere until the silver haired twin came over. The vocalist from the Acolytes not far behind him.
"Hey! You guys like the song?" He asked, staring at his sister.
She glared back at him, "Where did the others go?" She ignored the question.
"Blob went to find food, Avalanche went to go play with a Kitty Kat and I have no idea where Toad went." He answered and moved his attention to the other girls, "Oh hey! Jubilee right? It's cool that you came, and who's your friend?" He asked, perking a brow at Amara.
Jubilee watched Laura roll her eyes and look away, before she had a chance to answer Amara answered herself giving him her name to them.
"Nice to meet you," he responded before looking over his shoulder. "This is Remy, John and Piotr," his head nodded to each different boy when he named them.
The two boys at the other table nodded at them. The boy behind him threw them a flirty smile, "Dames," he greeted charmingly. Jubilee had thought him attractive at a distance and now that he was much closer she could see what an understatement that was.
"Stop you ass. They're young and just might fall for your bullshit."
His brown orbs moved away from them and moved to meet sapphire orbs, "Scarlet, X," he greeted moving from girl to girl. "Aren't you two missing a shadow?"
As if on cue the rave music that had been playing started to fade leading the way for the next performer to start. All their eyes went to the stage as a somewhat poppy rock beat started.
None of them had noticed when the new group had gone up on the stage but now there were three new people on the stage. A boy with dark skin and blond hair was holding a guitar, opposite of him was another blond boy holding a similar guitar, his hair was longer though, almost shaped in a mullet type hair style. In between them was a boy with dark black blue shoulder length hair sitting in front of drums.
As they played a whisper started echoing in the room and it took a few seconds after the phrase was being repeated for her to understand the words.
"You're never gunna save those soul suckers..."
"X-men time, if you're over here and the music sounds like that it can only mean..." the orange haired male at the next table started speaking while staring at her hazel eyed coworker. He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence as a girl with the most unusual hair walked onto the stage getting a reaction from the audience.
"Si vous parlez du diable, ella apparaîtra," the auburn haired man muttered something in a language she did not understand, she looked around to see if any of them were going to translate the phrase but it seemed none of them understood it themselves. (If you speak of the devil, she will appear)
"Beautiful...they said they did not want my face in their magazine, cause I'm not beautiful..." her hand went under her chin and moved in a line across as if showcasing her face. "Am I the most fucking fantastic freak you've ever seen?" Her hand then moved down the side of her body before pointing at the crowd "Did I make you SCREAM!?"
As she yelled out the word the night club screamed, Laura included. She continued with the song, while doing so the guy introduced as Remy took a seat next to John and stayed focused on the stage.
"Give me scars and stripes..." her fingers ran through her white bangs. "It does not please me to be easy on any of your eyes..." she faced the direction they were in, "Any of your eyes." She then looked away and walked around the stage "Beautiful, Beautiful Is Boring..." her hand went to her mouth to make a yawning movement while repeating the line.
Jubilee eyed her carefully. Her brown hair went to shoulder length, the white bangs went to her chin framing her face nicely. She wore tight black pants, slots at the knees and a green tank top with a mesh over shirt. Her next unique feature was the way she did her make up, an extra layer of white covering her face and from what she could see dark colors glazed over her lips and eyes. There was something quite enticing about her.
"Well this song doesn't fit her at all does it?" She asked, making multiple eyes turn to her.
"What do you mean?" Wanda asked.
"Well she's saying beautiful is boring, and in that previous line called herself a freak. So she's pretty much saying that beautiful people are boring but, she's gorgeous...and doesn't seem boring at all so it's not fitting."
She watched Wanda's lips curl upwards, "Well thanks for that I guess..."
"Why are you thanking me?" Jubilee asked, thinking she was going to say something about how she could relate to that with her own gothic qualities but instead was much more surprised by the answer.
"Because, that's my sister."
"Beautiful...Beautiful Is Boring."
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
"Anna, this is Jubilee, my new shop girl and her friend Amara."
Anna nodded at them, "Hi nice to meet you, you guys look awfully young."
"Eighteen, Pietro put them on the list," Wanda answered.
"Like he needed to, we came in through the back anyway," Laura added.
"Typical VIP treatment," the dual haired girl remarked, taking a seat at their table.
Hearing her from the other table, Pietro called out, "What are you whining about? You're with a band and come in the same way."
He was ignored.
"I thought you weren't supposed to perform today," Wanda remarked.
"Tabitha couldn't make it and they needed someone last minute. Kurt was with me so it worked out for them."
"Luna?" She asked and her eyes shifted to her twin at the other table.
"At home with my mom and your dad."
Wanda nodded and her ruby lips parted to ask another question but before she could the person at the other table sitting directly behind Anna leaned their barstool back making it so their back backed into the white banged girl.
Her emerald eyes narrowed.
"Desole..." Remy started but once he turned to see who he had bumped into added, "Oh it's just you, that's ok then."
"Hmm, so that explains the swamp gas," Anna remarked and turned so that the individuals stared at each other. "Gambit."
"Rogue."
Now that she was facing their table she took a glance at the others sitting with him, "And what exactly brings the Acolytes into town? Weren't you guys touring?" Her brow perked up in question.
"We're on break for the summer."
"That's stupid, isn't this the best time for bands to be touring?" Wanda asked, rolling her eyes.
"It would be but we've been touring all year, management didn't want to wear us out. So they sent us home," it was the reddish orange haired male that answered.
Wanda spared him a glance before taking a big gulp out of her drink and looking away. Next to her Laura shifted in her seat, "If you guys got sent home what are you doing here? Cause isn't all your homes far far away from here?"
"They say home is where the heart is," John responded looking in the direction of the raven haired twin.
"I came for the ride, and it helps that they have the best car garage here. My baby needs a tune up," Remy answered while looking distractedly away to the opposite side of the room where a hoard of girls were giggling and waving at him.
The dark haired stoic boy, Piotr spoke, his voice awfully soft for his stature, "No one else voted for Russia, so Bayville was the first stop."
"Damn, why did you guys do Pete like that? We wouldn't do that to you Piotr, maybe it's time you jumped ship."
He smiled, which was a really good look on him, "Maybe."
"Hey! Don't be a traitor," the orange haired boy yelled, putting an arm around the much larger man and throwing eye daggers at Laura.
"How long are you staying?" Everyone turned to the sapphire eyed beauty whose eyes looked every except that table.
"I'll just be a week and head home to visit the family," Piotr stated.
Remy shrugged eyes still on the girls at the other side of the room, "Not sure yet...was thinking a month or two but maybe I'll have a reason to stay longer..." he smirked as one of the girls blew him a kiss.
"Hopefully you don't," Anna muttered next to him, making him look away from his fangirls to smirk at her.
"I'm staying till we get back on the road," was the reply of their last member.
Jubilee thought there was already a good amount of tension in the air but at the words her boss seemed to tense up even more.
"Great," Wanda remarked sarcastically. The orange haired man opened his mouth but before he could say anything a "HEY!" Made them all jump and turn to see a newcomer coming towards them.
It was one of the boys from the last performance with Anna, the one with shoulder length blue hair. His friendly eyes looked over them before he turned to the auburn hair vocalist, "Je m'appelleKurt!"
Remy lips curled upward, "Anything else?"
"Je ne sais pas!"
"Bon."
"Still got it!" He gloated and bumped fists with him.
"You guys are done touring?" An unexpected voice asked. The dark skinned boy had been walking behind the blue haired boy making him nearly invisible.
Before his question could be answered Wanda asked, "You left Ray alone?"
"He's a big boy, he can handle it. Plus I'm on lunch," Roberto answered while bumping fist with John in greeting. "You guys should have let us know you were coming, we would have planned a party or something."
"Who says you can't?" Was the response from John and as he put his hand down Jubilee found something familiar about him she just couldn't place.
Roberto nodded in Remy's direction in greeting before walking over to their table and leaning in between her and Amara making her attention shift, "So how are you guys enjoying yourselves?"
Amara answered but Jubilee zoned her out as the blue haired boy looked at Anna and asked, "Who are they?" Making Anna introduce him as Kurt, her brother. They all intermingled for a bit and the awful atmosphere somehow lifted as Pietro ordered drinks for everyone, including a virgin margarita for herself and Amara.
After a bit Jubilee leaned towards Laura and whispered, "So what's the deal? Did you all go to school together?"
Laura tilted her head to the side and watched the others. "Kind of, some of us went at different times and everything but yeah...you can say there's history all around," she answered vaguely.
Jubilee nodded and once again went to watch the interactions between all the young adults. She finished her second drink and started shifting. "I think I need the bathroom and maybe some fresh air."
Laura nodded and pointed out the restrooms to her. Afterwards she turned to Amara, "Wanna come with me?" She asked but went unnoticed as her friend's attention was solely on the dark skinned boy next to her. "Guess not," she muttered to herself and got up to head to the bathroom. After a few steps she decided that maybe she didn't have to go as bad as she thought and changed her course going towards the door that connected the club to the tattoo parlor.
When she went through it she looked at the door leading outside and then down the dark hallway trying to decide where she wanted to go.
Her feet started moving on their own and she found Ray sitting in her seat. He hadn't noticed her because his head was facing downwards, he was focused on whatever it was he was looking at. It wasn't until she leaned her arms on the counter opposite him that he felt her presence and looked up surprised.
She looked to see what had caught his attention and was surprised to see her notebook.
"Hey...sorry, I had a free moment and was too lazy to go get a magazine to look through," he remarked closing the notepad and moving it away from himself.
"It's ok, there's nothing embarrassing in there anyway," she answered thinking to herself, 'You already saw the drawing of your arm anyway.'
"What do you mean? You're not drawing porn on your time off?"
She was surprised he sounded so serious but the curve of his lips told her he was joking and that made her stomach flutter in a different way then the day prior.
She gave a small laugh and shook her head, "Not at work," she answered going along with the joke.
"So...what are you doing over here? Club atmosphere is too crazy?"
"I just needed a breather."
"You probably came to the wrong place, no fresh air here..."
She looked at him curiously and then took a moment to really sniff her surroundings, sure enough there was a different smell in the air. He watched for a few seconds before taking a small box out of his pocket. It was the same one she had seen the first time she had seen him outside. "I'm vaping while no one is around..." he confessed.
"Your secret is safe with me," she answered knowing Wanda wouldn't have liked that.
"Thanks, so you left your friend to fend for herself?"
"Oh I don't think she hates the attention she's getting. Plus there's so much going on, I don't even think she's noticed I'm gone. There's a lot of people around."
"Hmm, we'll if you're with Wanda and Laura I'm guessing you've just met Anna."
"Yeah, plus others..."
"Oh yeah? Who?"
Her mouth parted to answer but as she did her eyes skimmed the area on instinct and her eyes widened. "Hey! It's him!"
Ray looked around as if he was going to find someone hiding in his surroundings. He then turned and watched her curiously as she walked through the door towards Wanda's area. "He who?" He finally added after she didn't say anything and stared at one of Wanda's past pieces.
"This arm! The guys next door!" She answered, still staring at the flame engulfed arm.
He walked over to look at the photo and his eyebrow upwards, "The Acolytes are here?"
"Yeah! Those guys."
"So when you said it was crowded you really meant it was crowded."
"Yeah...I'm guessing you know them too."
"Well, John, Laura and I all went to Bayville high. We were all just in different years. Everyone else you've met tonight probably went to the Institute, and they were all in different years but they intermingle. For example if you met Remy, who's the lead singer for the Acolytes he knows all of them from school. He was friends with Pietro which was easy for both of them when Pietro was part of that band and he knows Anna and her brother Kurt from school because he was their French tutor thier freshman year. Um, it's kind of just a web of connections where they weirdly enough knew each other when they were younger and some of those connections still hold."
"Hmm...so you and this John guy went to school."
"Yup."
"So did you introduce him to Wanda when you started working here? Is that why she did this tattoo for him?"
Ray wasn't ready for this question, his mouth opened and closed a few times trying to figure out the answer. He finally settled with, "Hmm no...Wanda knew him before I met her," he turned away from the wall and moved back to take a seat in her barstool.
"Do you guys..." before Jubilee could finish her question there was a loud "THERE YOU ARE!" making the yellow cladded girl jump and turn.
Roberto appeared from what seemed like thin air, "Amara was looking for you, you just disappeared."
"Wow you learned her name fast didn't you," Ray remarked throwing him a cheeky smile. Roberto rolled his eyes at him and didn't bother answering him.
"You left her alone!" Jubilee asked, making her way back towards the lobby.
"Not exactly alone, she's with the others but we wondered where you went."
"I told you guys I was stepping out but you guys were too busy to listen to me," she whined, throwing her hands in the air dramatically. "I better go find her."
The dark skinned boy nodded and turned to Ray, "I'm back from lunch if you wanna go too. We have guests in town."
"So I heard," Ray answered standing and following Jubilee. "I'll be back."
Jubilee slowed her step as he followed her until they were walking side by side. They stopped at the side door leading into the noise filled room. He cracked it open slowly letting the music seep through before opening it all the way, "After you," he offered and let her lead him into the chaos.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O Three Days Later O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Jubilee flopped onto her bed in Amara's guest room. She felt herself drifting off but was rudely snapped awake when extra weight jumped on to the space besides her.
"Hey! How was work?"
She gave a groan before mumbling, "Tiring."
"It's barely Tuesday, and you're off Monday's," Amara teased.
"I don't know how but a lot of dust accumulates when we're not there so I had to do a lot of dusting and I had to go through a billion calls since we were closed Monday. It's a lot ok."
"Ok ok, well I hate to add on to your plate BUT...wanna go to the gym?"
"Right now?"
"Maybe, I thought we could go check out one of the classes..."
"Roberto's working at Scarlet Ink today."
Amara blushed, "Oh...but that's not even why you jerk. I mean I have to go either way, moms getting on me about the pageant."
"Oh that's right."
"Yeah, pretty soon that's the only place you'll find me."
Jubilee looked over her friend's figure, "I don't know why, you look fine. You hardly eat anyway..." she stretched after saying the words but after a few seconds she sighed and sat up. "Ok let's go."
"You're the best Jubest!"
"Yeah yeah yeah..." Jubilee answered, forcing herself off the bed.
An hour and a half and a lot of sweat later both girls found themselves sitting on a beach in the locker rooms. When they had come in and inquired about classes they had been notified that there weren't any that day so they had to go to their basic treadmill and elliptical routine.
"Ready to go?" Jubilee asked after they had caught their breath.
"Yeah," the dark skinned girl answered, getting up from her seat. "Before we leave, I was thinking we could walk around real quick and see where the classrooms are. Even though we weren't able to attend one today we might as well know where they're at."
Jubilee shrugged and just followed her as she led the way. They passed a pool, a steam room and a room full of weights. It wasn't until they were at the opposite side of the building that they found more rooms.
"This sounds like a fun room," Jubilee remarked as Amara passed by a door.
"That does not sound like fun at all."
"This HAS to be a classroom."
"Or you know, it could actually be a dangerous room hence the name."
"I'm going to take a look..."
"Jubes wait..."
Jubilee didn't listen and opened the door. Her eyes widened as a loud groan was heard throughout the room and she watched a body hit a blue mat. Her eyes widened and went from the attacker to the person laying flat on their back.
After a few seconds that person on the mat stood up looking as if nothing had happened, from where she stood Jubilee deduced that he wasn't very tall. He had dark black hair that was styled in an odd flare, the side ends pointed almost as if they were horns. His attacker wasn't much taller, but was more lithe. Even more surprising was that judging by the person's figure, it was a female.
"Good job kid," the victim remarked in a gruff voice dusting his hands, "I want you to put more power in your throw next time."
"I'll try but it's not like it's going to be easy, you may be short but it doesn't make you light," was the answer he got back making the hairy man growl and Jubilee found herself laughing at the words. The sound echoed in the room and made both people turn to her.
Amara dug her elbow into her side making her stop, "Sorry," she announced and tried pulling her Asian friend out of the room.
"Jubilee?"
Jubilee looked at the small girl that had overpowered this beast looking man. She took a step closer towards them. The girl's hair was up in a bun, she wore a black tank top and black shorts that went a little lower than mid thigh. Barley peeking through the bottom was some cursive writing.
"Laura!" Jubilee yelled, finally recognizing her.
"Hey, what are you doing here?"
"Uh, taking a tour...kinda."
"Let's call it a night kid." The man looked them over before starting to walk towards the exit. "We'll pick this up later, just let me know what day to make sure I'm not at the shop."
"Alright, and the passes I asked for?"
There was an annoyed grumble from him before, "They'll be in the front."
"Thanks!" She followed him until they got to the door, said goodbye to him and then turned to them. "So you guys were checking out the classrooms? Finally ready to try one out?"
"Yeah, Amara pushed me to come check them out today but as our luck would have it there wasn't any."
"Oh yeah, we had a mandatory meeting today. What class were you hoping to try out?" She asked, turning to look at Amara. The way she smiled and looked away made her smirk, "Well the kickboxing class is only in the mornings on Tuesday's so I don't think you would have had luck finding what you wanted either way..."
"Hey did you really throw that guy over your shoulder?" Amara asked, ignoring her previous statement and changing the topic.
"Hmm, oh yeah. It seems like it's hard but if you use your weight correctly and react at the right time it's not so bad."
"That sounded like it hurt," Jubilee remarked remembering the smack she heard when she walked in. "Is he going to be alright?"
"Yeah he'll be fine, he owns the place so he's used to a few hits. You guys want to stretch? I'll show you some yoga moves while you're here so you know, it wasn't a complete waste coming," she winked at Amara as she sat on the matted floor.
"That was Logan?"
Laura mumbled an "Mhmm" and got into a very uncomfortable looking position. One of her legs stretched out long behind her, while the other bended and pulled in towards her while her chest was up straight.
"Wow, you can throw people over your shoulders and sit like that...you're talented huh?" Jubilee asked trying to get in the same position but failing miserably.
"Hmm, I actually just got thrown into instructing the yoga class. I used to be the kickboxing instructor until Roberto had to take over."
"And you Kickbox too?" Jubilee added looking amazed.
Amara was focused on the other line she had said though and asked, "How come he had to take over?"
"One of the customers kept getting handsy with me so I made an example out of him," was the simple non-embarrassed answer.
"Oh my god did you get in trouble?" Amara asked with wide eyes getting into the uncomfortable position with ease.
"Nah, he signed a waiver. I just had to change my teaching class. Hey, you got into that position nicely."
"I've done ballet," Amara answered in explanation.
"How come you had to change the class you were teaching? He was the one that was being innapropriate, you were just defending yourself." Jubilee stated as she finally settled into the awkward position.
Laura shrugged, "Sadly I have a bit of a violent impulse so it was thought It'd be better if I dropped the class completely."
"So your next preference was yoga?"
"Not really, it was more forced onto me."
"They made you do it? Couldn't you refuse?
"I mean I could have but I trust Logan's judgment. He said it would do me good to do the yoga, help me get some inner peace...or some bullshit like that."
"What did Roberto teach before?" Amara asked making the hazel green eyed girl smirk at her yet again.
"A CrossFit class, he still does, he just alternates days now. So, you guys are coming over this weekend right?"
"Where?" Amara asked, surprised.
"I hadn't had the chance to tell her yet," Jubilee remarked, wincing ready to get scolded by Amara.
"We're having a party at our place, Roberto's idea. Now that you know, are you guys coming?"
"I don't think we have anything else to do,"Amara answered getting up and switching into the same position with the opposite leg.
"Don't I have any say in this?" Jubilee asked, getting up from the position making her body do a lot of cracking sounds.
"You don't want to go?" Amara asked, perking a brow.
"Well I didn't say that either but..."
Amara shrugged, "Sounds like we're going."
Laura gave a small chuckle before getting up, "Great, I'll let the boys know tonight...come on I'll finish showing all the other classrooms so next time you know exactly where you're going. Oh by the way Amara, this is the kick boxing room so you were in the right place..."
Amara turned red and started talking at a fast pace, denying looking for that room specifically. Jubilee and Laura laughed at her and proceeded out of the room, ignoring her as she ranted on.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O Thursday O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Dark Eyes scanned the Scarlet Ink logo for a few seconds before taking the door handle and letting themselves in. He walked at a comfortable pace, looking at the new frames on the wall. It had been a while since they had last been here, at that time back then they had barely begun this little business and it hadn't had so much furnishing inside. It seemed so much more legit now.
It was amazing how much could change in a year. How much growth could happen, then again he just had to look in a mirror to see the perfect example. After all, he had grown quite a bit in the last year and a half. He took a glance over his shoulder to see his partner in crime studying the new designs carefully, yes...a lot could change in a year and a half.
He continued his walk through the small hallway eventually ending up in the lobby.
"Hi! Welcome to Scarlet..." the pretty Asian girl they had met a few nights ago stopped recognizing them.
"Bonjour..." he greeted. The French words made everyone else behind the counter glance up at them.
There was a groan from one of them making him smirk. After a brief moment of eye contact her eyes went back to the client in her chair, "She's not here so you're just wasting your time," she remarked as she wiped away fresh ink from the back she was working on. The words made him smile even wider and his eyes went over his shoulder once again to watch his companion.
John didn't give her the satisfaction of a reaction, he just walked away and kept looking at the many different frames, but he knew the words probably made his visit pointless.
"Don't know what you're talking about, we just came by to see if you need us to get anything for the party this weekend," Remy replied resting an elbow on the counter.
"Nah, we should be good." It was Roberto who answered, lifting two fingers at them in greeting. Behind him Ray nodded at both men before disappearing to the storage room.
He nodded and his lips parted to answer but before he could the client that Laura was with squealed, "Is that Le Diable Blanc?"
"Yes, yes it is..." Laura answered unimpressed.
Remy looked over to the woman, made eye contact and winked. The woman squealed yet again and he heard the whispered, "Oh my god he just winked at me! He's so fine!"
"I need you to not move if you want this to come out nice," Laura child.
The woman replied with sorries and Remy turned his gaze to the young Asian woman before him who was watching both him and John curiously.
"Petite, you have a piece of paper?" He found himself asking. She nodded and pulled out a blank page for him. He took it scribbled on it and then motioned for the orange haired man to do the same. They then cut the pieces they wrote on and crumbled them to toss them into the fishbowl on her desk.
"We'll see you guys later this weekend," he threw the Asian girl a charming smile and turned his back on the counter as Roberto called out bye to them. As they walked away he smirked hearing the "Can they do that?"
"Where to now?" John asked when they were back outside.
"I'm going to go check on my baby. I'll meet you back at the hotel."
"Don't forget we're taking Piotr to the airport."
"I'll be there."
The reddish orange haired boy looked at him skeptically but nodded and seconds later they were walking down the street in opposite directions. A few minutes later Remy found himself waiting at a red light, the sign to his destination readable from where he stood.
'LoRo Auto Parts'.
When the light finally switched to green he walked briskly towards the building stopping halfway to an open garage door. He eyed the scene carefully, his eyes following pale curves.
One of her legs was grounded, the combat boot pressed against the gravel firmly. The other leg was lifted on the leather seat making her shorts lift showing more of the creamy smooth skin. Her face was facing down looking at the meters, from where he stood she could see her messing with wires. He was too busy observing the scene he didn't notice he was no longer alone until the gruff voice brought him back to his surroundings.
"What are you doing bub?"
He didn't bother turning to the speaker, "Enjoying the view," he answered without hesitation.
"You think that's a smart idea?"
"I don't see anything wrong with it, it's mine after all." The short man besides him stayed quiet making the auburn hair man smirk, "You know it's one of a kind, that 2012 FLHR Road King is to die for."
"It's a very unique bike for sure. You should be careful though, it's also a dangerous one. Play with it the wrong way and you might get hurt."
There was a chuckle, "Aww do you actually care about me Wolvie?" He asked, finally turning to grin at the short hairy man.
"Please I only tolerate you cause of 'Ro."
"Where is Stormy?"
"You and your stupid names," was grumbled before a shrug, "Probably inside. I'm just getting back from checking on the gym."
"Great, I'll stop by inside before I head out."
"Whatever. Leave the pet names out here though gumbo..."
His grinned widened more at that and he watched him walk away without adding more. After a minute or so he turned back to his beloved motorcycle and walked towards it.
He stopped right next to it and without turning her southern drawl drowned any other sound. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to check on mon bebe."
"It's fine," she answered and moved to straddle the bike. The way she moved made her shirt rise giving him a good view of her side and the letters that decorated it. Letters going down vertically.
Rogue
He watched Her hands go to the handles and she pressed on the brakes. "I guess it's good timing, I'm just about done actually."
He didn't answer, just watched her carefully. The silence made her curious and she turned to him, her eyes met his before going to his tone arms. On one side was a skeleton wearing a crown, a playing card was in it's hand. The king of hearts covered what she assumed would be a grin. Directly under it were poker chips, a pair of dice and other playing cards with the suites showing. They were all Ace of Spades. The tattoo took up the right half of his arm leaving the left side blank, it was not yet finished.
On the other arm was what told the world he was proud of who he was and where he was bourbon street sign was barely visible with the shirt he wore but she knew it was there. The sign along with a masquerade ball mask went down his arm until it connected with the voodoo priest on his forearm. It stared at her, the dark red and black orbs glinted erriely thanks to the way the sun was shining on the Cajun. The tattoo ended at the back of his palm with a fleur de lys.*
She pulled her eyes away from all his ink. "So what are you guys really doing here? I know we're the best garage in town but I doubt there isn't a place in New Orleans that wouldn't take just as good care of your 'baby'."
"Boss gave us the summer off but said if we could stay in town there's some projects he has in mind that could be worth our while."
"Projects." she repeated looking pensive. "Pietro has that big show planned in a few months, 'Nocturnal Madness' and if I remember correctly the idea is to have bands compete." He smiled at the answer. "But what would that matter, you can't really participate, I mean you don't even have half your band. Colossus is leaving today and Sabertooth won't be caught dead performing at The Hg Lounge."
"We'll find a way," he remarked confidently.
"You're using the Brotherhood," it was more of a statement than a question.
"I'm not using them, there's nothing wrong with making a hybrid band. Other bands do it all the time."
"Two negatives won't make a positive, It's not math."
This made him chuckle, "Wow...well that was a little rude. Why so worried about us entering? Scared that the X-men can't make the cut?"
"Didn't you get the memo? It's X-Dolls now and believe me, there's nothing to be worried about," at the words her eyes traveled down the length of his body, her expression unimpressed. He chuckled at the action before nodding, and looking around at their surroundings. The noise of her fellow coworkers and pedestrians crossing the street were loud enough that she didn't have to look. Instead her eyes stayed on him, her gaze intense, "He knows it's not a good idea for him to be here, right?"
"Le cœur veut ce qu'il veut." (The heart wants what it wants.)
"You mean his head wants what it wants," her tone was hard. He didn't give a verbal reply, just tilted his head to the side to look at her and smiled. She rolled her eyes, "If anything bad happens I'm going to break his face and probably yours too in the process."
"Sounds like fun."
She's rolled her eyes at him again and started walking past him towards the building. "Wait here, I'll get the release papers," in a swift movement she threw his keys at him.
He caught them with ease, "Don't bother, thanks for the tune up." She stopped walking and folded her hands across her chest. "Are you going to Ray and Roberto's this weekend?"
"Laura lives there too, so obviously."
"Obviously," he repeated. "I'll see you then."
"Mhmm," was the last thing said between them before she walked away. He watched her for a few seconds before walking over to his baby. A few minutes later the roar of the motor echoed through the air and he was gone.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
"Hey Jubilee…"
Jubilee looked over to Ray from where she was in Wanda's station. Even though she was off she thought it'd be a good idea to top off the tattoos supplies so that she could be all ready in the morning. "Yeah?"
"When did you make this appointment?"
The question forced her to stop what she was doing and head over to him. She expected the name he was pointing at to be under his name slots but to her surprise it was actually under Wanda's. She definitely recognized her own writing and the name considering that it had been an interesting and odd name to begin with. She mentally said the name in her mind, 'Sinjin'.
"A few days ago," she answered after a few seconds of thinking about it. "Why?"
His eyes stayed on the name but after a bit he shook his head, "Oh nothing, I just noticed it because I was planning to ask her if I can just work a half day that day, but I wasn't expecting her to already have an appointment scheduled."
"Should I call and try to reschedule?"
"NO!" He answered loudly quickly and loudly, catching himself he cleared his throat, "Uh, no. I'll just leave a note…" and with that he grabbed one of the blank sticky notes she had on the side.
She shrugged and turned to go back to her restocking duties, "I guess it's a good thing I don't have to call them. I don't know why they made the appointment so far out but I'm guessing it must be important if they picked that specific date."
"Yeah," Ray answered half listening, "Hey does Wanda still check her schedule or is she relying on your memory?"
"A little of both."
"Cool, what do I need to do to get those same privileges?" he asked as he placed the sticky with random gibberish on the name he had been so interested in.
"Don't be dumb, you're all getting those privledges. I memorize all your schedules," she responded proudly.
He gave a low chuckle and closed the book while mentally looking forward to that date a month away. Well, that was if John would survive until then.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O Sunday O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Jubilee swung on her toes back and forth as she watched Wanda count the money that had been collected that day. Behind them, the other three were getting their stations ready to leave. It was 1pm on Sunday, they usually worked the full day but due to the party Wanda was closing the shop early so they had time to go get ready.
"So weird question but is it normal for people to have a party on a Sunday night?" She pondered out loud. "I mean isn't Saturday the best way to go?"
"Not for us, a lot of the people we're inviting are actually off Mondays and for those who aren't...well, they'll live," Roberto responded with a grin.
"Perfect," Wanda interrupted before the Asian girl could answer. "Do me a favor and just hand me an envelope..."
Jubilee nodded and turned quickly, in the process her chair bumped into the sapphire eyed beauty causing her to move forward unexpectedly prompting her to crash into an open water bottle. The clear liquid spilt over the desk and her arm.
"Shit! Sorry! Sorry sorry" Jubilee cried out.
"It's fine it's fine!" Wanda answered, moving things out of the vicinity of the running liquid. Laura came over a few seconds with a towel to help. Within a minute the mess was easily cleaned up, the only thing still dripping being Wanda's armband. "Fuck..." she mumbled as she held it over a trashcan.
"You have a spare?" Laura asked, making sure the desk was dry with the towel.
"Yeah in my office but if I go like this I'm gonna drip all over the hallway and make a mess," she answered looking annoyed. She gave a big sigh and then slowly started to peel it off.
Jubilee had been too preoccupied moving the container to a place where it wouldn't be knocked over to notice right away. She saw the black, reddish orange color through her peripherals but didn't pay it any mind, Wanda's area was in that direction and the picture of John's arm on fire always stood out. It wasn't until she saw the picture move that she turned to see why the frame was moving and it was then that her eyes widened.
It wasn't the picture that was moving. Wanda was shaking her arm making sure it was dry, the black and red flames that went from her wrist to her magic tattoo mid forearm had no water trail.
"I'll be back. Wrap it up though so we can get the hell out of here."
"Kay," Laura responded as the young Asian girl nodded. Her brown eyes stayed looking forward at her arm and stayed forward even as she left making them go to the back wall where the identical flames on the muscular arm were.
She then turned to Laura who looked at the picture and then at her, "I told you there was history."
Behind the shorter girl the boys were looking at her with interest. "What?" She asked.
"You said shit." Ray answered.
"We were beginning to think you were some kind of saint," Roberto teased. She shook her head at them but didn't give a verbal reply. Her eyes went back to the picture on Wanda's wall and she wondered about the history that everyone kept mentioning.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O Later O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
"Ahh I've never been to an adult party before!"
"Can you not call it that. First off all that's not something cool to say out loud, second of all it sounds kind of dirty..."
"Dirty how?"
"Adult party Mara?" Jubilee asked pointedly. Amara looked confused for a few seconds before it dawned on her. Her mouth went into an O in realization before her brows furrowed inwards in distaste. "Anyway we've been to the club and if that's not an adult party I don't know what is."
"I've been to parties before I'm just wondering if it's the same as those."
"Well what did you do at normal parties?"
"I don't know, truth or dare..."
"How long ago were these parties?"
"Shut up! You know how my parents are, this is the first co-ed party they're letting me attend and they're pretty much only letting me come cause you're with me and they have no idea there's gonna be boys."
"Oh my god Mara I don't know what kind of life you've been living but we need to get you out more this summer."
"You talk like you've experienced a lot of things."
"I come from Beverly Hills, believe me when I say I have," the Asian girl stated. "Oh this is it," she added stopping in front of a door in the apartment complex they were in. Amara stopped walking besides her and they both just stared at the door.
"Ok...now what?"
"Well I guess we knock..." Jubilee answered and after a few seconds of hesitation tapped on the door.
They both heard the sounds of footsteps approaching and soon the door opened. Jubilee couldn't help but let her eyes wander up and down the figure.
Ray, standing tall at his six feet, wore black pants and a white T-shirt. The color of the shirt was an odd sight on him because she had only ever seen him in dark colors at work, but the brightness of it did an amazing job in bringing out the blue ink of his tattoo. His orange bangs which were usually spiked up were styled sideways against his forehead in a casual way. She hated admitting to herself that he looked good but, well...he looked good.
His steel orbs widened a fraction as he looked from one girl to the other, "...Hey..."
"Hi" both girls answered at the same time looking at each other afterwards.
"Uh what are you guys doing here?"
"You said five right?" Jubilee asked and looked at her phone to check the time. 4:55. They were punctual.
Ray's mouth parted to speak but before he could get anything out another familiar voice was heard behind him.
"Who is it? Is it Laura? Does she need help?" Roberto appeared suddenly behind him. His confused expression turned into a bright smile after catching sight of Amara. "Hey! You guys are early!"
Jubilee shifted her weight from one foot to the other, "You said five right?"
"Yeah but you know, people are always fashionably late. We weren't expecting anyone for an hour or so..."
"...Oh..." Jubilee deadpanned at the information and she felt Amara tense besides her.
Roberto chuckled at them, "You guys are cute! We'll come on in, I guess we could always use the help," as he finished the words he turned around and walked deeper into the apartment. After a few seconds Ray snapped out of his daze and stepped to the side so they could enter.
"I guess, welcome to our home," he remarked. Both girls entered and didn't turn back as the door closed behind them.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O TBC O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
I had a lot of fun writing this one! The hint of the history between them but not quite telling you guys what it is yet is exciting LOL XD But yup, that's all for this chapter! Hope you guys enjoyed the introduction of Rogue. No one should be surprised by me hooking Magneto and Mystique up cause I always do. I ship it and it's convenient for me as far as grouping some of these characters up haha ;) Also we had some low key LoRo ;)
The song I used in the chapter was "Beautiful is Boring" by Bones Uk.
Jubilay- There's some low key flirting and teasing going on ;) She hella checked him out at the end there!
Amarto- I think I'm going to make Laura the #1 Amarto shipper in this one XD The teasing was strong and though they didn't have any big scenes together they are definitely flirting in the background.
Jonda- WHAT'S THE HISTORY? What's underneath Wanda's fashionable armband has been exposed and surprise surprise it is a matching tattoo of the one she's done for John herself. This idea of her hiding her matching tattoo came really early on when I was thinking of plotlines for this fic and I loved it! It's all getting very interesting but what the heck! What's the story? Feel free to guess :P
Xietro- It's still very subtle but if you squint it was there. And um...Luna who? :P
Romy- Yay, it took four chapters but they have arrived, and they have arrived with some sass, at least she definitely has lol. Remy is all smiles, smirks and charms but I think it's safe to say they at some point they definitely checked each other out in this. I mean it was subtle and played off on his part but he did it ;) As far as Remy's tattoo's go Bourbon street is a famou street in New Orleans. Voodoo is of course associated with New Orleans and fleur de lys is the symbol for the New Orleans Saints. So pretty much Remy's left arm is homage to his roots.
I really hope the few of your reading this are enjoying it as much as I am! Thanks so much for sticking around and I'll see you next month! Feel free to let me know all your theories! I definitely know what's going on but I'd love to see what you guys think!
-UHW