Inked

by untouchable hexing witch

Jubilee needs a summer job before starting her college life. As an aspiring artists to be the idea of a tattoo shop isn't so bad. With the perk of having good looking co workers with interesting tattoo's that maybe have interesting stories to go with them, why not? [Jubilay][Amarto][Romy][Xietro][Jonda] [AU No Powers] In shorter Words: The X-men Evo Tattoo AU no one asked for.

22. Doorways

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O Disclaimer O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

X-Men Evolution and its 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

You guys, why is there still three digit temperature where I live? Here's hoping your September is cooler than mine!

A lot of thanks and love to Clamchick (Remy has big dreams for the performance, hopefully I'll do it justice when I finally type it out ;) Pietro is such a dad XD You know I don't have any tattoo's myself so I really don't know where the idea for this story came from but I've had to do a lot of research on them. I loved the idea of Jubilee combining something that represents him and her. I love going to the zoo so I'm glad I was able to incorporate that. Lol, you're getting your September update, just cause of that beautiful singing XD) for being so supportive and patient! I'm dedicating this chapter to you!

There is some smut in this chapter (don't worry, nothing too crazy :P)so readers beware and of course read at your own risk. I do have an important announcement at the end about updates.

Thanks so much for your continued interest in this story and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O Chapter 22 O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

Laura yawned loudly making Wanda look up from her receipts to watch her friend rub the sleepiness from her eyes.

"How are you tired, you had the night off."

"It was Saturday night, why wouldn't I be tired?"

"Well I meant you could have gone to bed early but your answer just told me that's not what you did and gross! Nevermind I don't want to know why you didn't get any sleep."

Laura rolled her eyes, "I was next door. It was an X night, we were all there, we'll except for these two…" her head tilted to Ray and Roberto who also looked tired and we're getting instruments ready. "And Anna now that I think about it," she added as an afterthought.

Wanda ignored the comment about her step-sister and turned to the two males, "See now they have a valid reason to look like shit since they stayed almost as late as me."

"I mean, I stayed up late so I have a valid reason too…"

"Yeah but that was a choice."

Before Laura could answer, Jubilee came around the corner of the hallway, a spring in her step and a bright smile on her face, "Good morning!"

"See you guys, this is a great example of working on a Sunday morning. Good morning Jubilee, did you get good sleep?"

"It was ok, like four hours or something."

"Four hours! And you're that perky this early in the morning? What the heck is wrong with you?" Laura asked, stifling another yawn.

"She's still young," Wanda answered and shrugged while watching Roberto count the hours on his fingers.

"You were up at 3:30…I guess that was you I heard in the middle of the night. I thought I had heard Ray."

Jubilee's eyes unintentionally grew in size. Before she could comment Ray nonchalantly stretched as if he had no care in the world. "I got up to whizz and I bumped into her so you probably did hear both of us…"

Jubilee pursed her lips together and looked away, the only thought in her head was that he had certainly bumped into her…several times actually against the wall that was attached to her room.

"Alright, so I guess we all have crappy sleeping schedules. Jubilee's just good at faking it," Wanda remarked.

"I'm not really faking anything. I mean I only slept four hours but I was so tired that I knocked out right away so it feels like I slept well…anyway, did you still need me to call your appointment before lunch to reschedule?"

"Yeah, Pietro is starting to make us rehearse and this is the only time Anna has open. I think Laura had no clients at that time either, right?" Jubilee pulled out the book and nodded. "Our lunches are going to be so scattered," Wanda remarked looking at the clock.

Before she could say anything else the bell at the door rang, within a few minutes it rang multiple times and they all knew it was time to start getting busy. Business was the perfect wake up call.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

"Thanks so much! I'll see you soon!"

"Bye."

Jubilee watched the young woman littered in tattoos wave at Laura. When she was gone she turned to the short tattooist, she was moving the polaroid picture in her hand back and forth at a rapid pace. After a few seconds she walked over to Jubilee and showed her the finished product.

The tattoo was inspired by the Nightmare Before Christmas. There was the curled mountain on her forearm with a big moon in the background.

"I'm pretty sure she's eventually going to come back for Sally and Jack," Laura remarked.

"How do you know?"

"Cause there's still space."

Jubilee nodded and looked at the other tattoos that were visible on the young woman's arm. "She has a lot going on…"

"They're all mine. Less than two years old."

"Wow, really?"

"Yeah, I did her first one," she pointed to a rose higher up above her elbow. She kind of got hooked and she comes to me for everything she needs. She's going for a Disney sleeve on this arm…"

"That's really cool! To have someone have that much faith in you. Interesting first tattoo."

"Beauty and the Beast is her favorite movie so when we brainstormed what she'd like she went with the rose."

Jubilee stared at the picture, "That first tattoo is probably something really special huh?"

Laura shrugged, "Most times. There's a good chance that 10 percent of them are dares or drunken mishaps."

"What was yours?"

"Hmm?"

"Your first tattoo."

"Oh. Her hands went to her thighs and she smoothed over the area. She was wearing pants but Jubilee had seen her in shorts enough times to picture the words 'Drop Dead' clear as day. "I feel like I've always been a bit mad at the world…these were words that were my way of expressing that."

"Do you know what everyone else's first tattoo was?"

"You know way too many of my friends, I am not about to list all of them."

Jubilee gave a light chuckle, "then what about just the ones we work with?"

"Alright I guess that's something I can do…let's see…Wanda's first was…" Laura's face eyebrows scrunched in as she concentrated, "Her pentacle tattoo."

It was Jubilee's turn to scrunch her eyebrows as she thought back to their time together at the beach. She had thought she had eyed everyone well enough to check out all the tattoos they kept hidden but she couldn't place it on the pale skin. "A pentacle is a five pointed star in a circle right?" Laura nodded prompting her to follow up with, "Where is it? I don't think I've ever seen it."

"She has it high on her hip, it's usually well covered. It's supposed to be a protective sigil but that symbol has a bad rap so I don't blame her for the placement." Jubilee nodded, multiple movies that used that symbol for satanic rituals coming to mind, she blinked the thoughts away as Laura decided to continue. "Roberto's first is the sun on his neck. He had just gotten back from Brazil and he just…has a fascination with the sun."

Jubilee unconsciously touched her neck, "I wonder why he chose that spot…according to that pain chart you guys show the customers that's not a fun place to choose."

Laura shrugged, "Neck tattoos can't be hidden. They bring attention so usually the person who gets one there wants it to be seen. It can also just show how tough he is because like you pointed out, it's not the easiest place to get one." Jubilee nodded in response and after that Laura walked away towards her station and pinned the picture on her wall.

It wasn't until she started cleaning her area that Jubilee spoke up and said, "I think you missed someone…"

"Hmm?" Laura looked up and watched Jubilee gesture to the station across from hers. "Oh shit, Ray!" She laughed before pausing and putting on a thoughtful expression. "Ray's first tattoo is that thunderstorm on his arm."

Jubilee looked at Laura intently waiting for her to continue with the meaning of the tattoo like she had done with everyone else. When she didn't she egged her on, "Which he did because…?"

"I don't actually know." Jubilee rolled her eyes at the answer, making Laura grin. The petite Asian girl looked away dramatically into the distance, "Fine, fine…keep your secrets."

"I will," she answered smugly but after a few moments the hazel eyed girl took on a pensive expression, "but if it makes you feel better about any secrets we may have, that one really is a secret even from me."

"Really? I didn't think you guys had any secrets from each other. You seem so close." At that comment Jubilee found herself thinking about Amara and something that she had brought to her attention. Did Laura know about what they were doing? She eyed her curiously to try and see if maybe she would react to the statement.

Laura didn't seem to notice the expression and shook her head. "I think we all have secrets to some extent that we feel we can't share with anyone. Even though Ray and I are close due to pretty much growing up together there's plenty we don't tell each other. I know a lot of his teenage secrets but I doubt I know many of his adult ones," she finished with a shrug.

Jubilee stayed quiet and pensive for a moment before grinning, "Have any good ones to share."

"I think that defeats the meaning of the word secret. Anyway, I can't tell you what his tattoo is for but I guess I can give you facts about it. Um…he got a fake ID at 17 and that's the first thing he went and did with it so technically that tattoo was not legal. What else…he was pretty somber all day afterwards…"

"Maybe he broke up with the love of his life on a cold and stormy day…"

Laura rolled her eyes, "Have you met the guy? He is in no way that romantic. He gave Tabitha a gift card for her birthday, and they were dating! I don't think he's programmed to think about details." Jubilee tilted her head at the news but before either could say anything they heard the sound of the boys returning from their break making them drop the conversation.

"We're back…"

"And we brought you goodies, you're welcome." Roberto put a candy bar in front of his shortest roommate.

"I prefer white chocolate," Laura remarked looking at the Hershey bar in distaste.

"Ha…I told you! Ray picked it," Roberto answered, going over to his station.

Laura shook her head and looked at Jubilee and mouthed, 'Told you' making Jubilee grin. After a few seconds she turned her back to the petite Asian to go towards her own station. As she left Ray rummaged through the bag he was holding, eventually bringing a handful of jaw breakers in blue and yellow colors and setting them in front of her.

He didn't say anything before walking away to his own station. Jubilee didn't watch him go, she just looked at the candy balls and a warmth spread through her chest. She eventually did look away from them to glance at him, he had a small smile on his face as Laura whined about the candy obviously amused by her annoyance and that warmth spread more throughout her body.

She had a feeling that he was better at the small details than his best friend gave him credit for.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

Jubilee moved a jaw breaker from one side of her mouth to the other. Her gaze was downward gazing at the appointment book to see how the rest of their day was going to go. In reality there wasn't very much.

She and Laura had gone to lunch already, Roberto was currently on lunch and Ray was finishing up as he walked his client over to her.

"Jubilee will take care of you. I'll see you in a few weeks for the shading." The client nodded, thanked him and turned to Jubilee. After a few minutes they were walking out of the parlor with their instructions and ointment.

"I can do that if you want to leave for lunch," Laura offered behind her, making her turn to see the short female nod at his dirty instruments.

"Nah I got it, I'll just drop them in the solution and you can bag them in ten," he answered, walking away toward the sterilization room.

When he was gone Laura shared a look with her and shrugged. "More time to look at my phone then," she mumbled and started scrolling through her phone. Jubilee let her be and looked back at the appointment book making sure that her notes were updated as far as how much the rest of the appointments for the day owed.

After a minute or so her attention got pulled by hearing her name. Laura walked towards her and handed her phone, "What do you think about this?"

Jubilee took a glance at the phone to see two crescent moon looking lines, the word family intermingling them.

"I'm thinking this and maybe the client's choice of animal but I think birds would look really cool because I can make these lines look more like branches…"

Jubilee nodded seeing the idea in her mind, "Yeah, that sounds really neat…this is different from what you usually do. Are you making changes to your portfolio?"

"Not really changing it but adding to it. One of my clients last night mentioned a future project. She wanted it to be heavily influenced by family so I'm trying to brainstorm ideas cause I hate coming up blank on the spot."

As she finished her explanation Ray came out of the room catching a glimpse of the picture on the phone. His forehead scrunched inwards in question at the shortest tattooist who rolled her eyes at him. Jubilee looked from one to the other, catching the silent conversation and smiling at the interaction.

"I'm going to lunch. Probably going to hit that coffee place around the corner, do you want something?"

"YES! But let me write my order down cause your memory seems to be shit nowadays…" Laura answered clearly not over his earlier mistake as she mumbled to herself, 'lived with him for a decade and doesn't even know I prefer white chocolate'.

It was Ray's turn to roll his eyes even though Laura wasn't looking at him. His steel gaze then shifted and found almond shaped ones staring back at his. "What do you want?" After the question his teeth subconsciously dragged down on his bottom lips scratching on his piercings.

Her eyes followed the movement. She had watched him enough the last few weeks to know that it was more out of habit than meaning anything's sexual but she couldn't help the tingle that travled down her spine. She swallowed hard as an eyebrow rose. "I think I'm good thanks…" she murmured, glancing down at his lips before looking away completely missing the way his own eyes grazed down her body.

"No whip…if you bring me something with whip, I swear I'm going to throw it at your face ."

"Alright, so extra whip it is…"

"Ray I swear…"

He laughed and took the post-it she was outstretching towards him and seconds later he was gone. When she couldn't hear his footsteps anymore Jubilee turned back to Laura who hadn't moved from beside her. She was scrolling down more images that promoted family and without thinking about it said, "Ray is the closest you have to it huh?"

The question made Laura's eyes widened a bit before she turned to look at her. After a brief pause she gave a small smile and nodded. "Pretty much, he's probably the person I've known the longest my whole life so…"

"Ten years is a long time."

"It's practically half my life," Laura agreed. "I went into the system when I was ten. Ray was already there. He was the oldest so he was the one that looked out for us. As the oldest and the tallest, he was pretty much the one that was always overlooked. Everyone always wants the puppy you know."

Jubilee found herself frowning at the words but didn't comment as Laura continued. "We ended up bonding over the fact that we weren't going anywhere."

"There were never any attempts to adopt you?"

"There was…especially being as short as I am. It gave people the wrong idea about my age. I went in and out of a lot of foster homes but I was a bit of a hellion in those times, a little too much to handle I guess and I kept being returned to the group home that eventually became our permanent home before going off on our own. Now that I think about it it was probably a good thing because it kept me closer to him."

Jubilee nodded.

"Foster care is no joke. Coming and going at a rapid speed. You need something to keep you strong and stable through it all and I guess we found that in each other…"

"Sounds like such a special bond. I wish I had seen you guys back then…"

Laura pursed her lips and looked pensive for a few seconds before going out of the internet page she was on. Jubilee watched her enter the words MySpace into the browser. "If you're lucky maybe I still remember my password…"

Like a charm a minute later the page was slowly loading. Once she was in she went into her pictures and after scrolling down a few she stopped at a picture and handed the Asian girl her phone.

Laura was mad dogging the camera. Her hazel green eyes shining in the picture as the light hit her at just the right angle. Her face held the same features she had now except with a lot less makeup. Ray on the other hand had yet to get his orange bangs. His hair was completely blonde, even the fade haircut he sported now was nowhere to be seen. His lips were free of piercings and he cheeks were fuller than they were now, his baby fat still present on his face. Her eyes found his arm. It was wrapped around the short girl's shoulder, smooth and inkless. They were both still babies but the bond was apparent. As she looked at the picture Jubilee couldn't help but think back to when she had barely started working at the shop and the brief moment that she had remarked that they were a cute couple to Wanda causing the older girl to laugh in her face.

"Nothing has ever happened between you two?" she found herself asking without thinking, her curiosity getting the best of her.

Laura made a face, her nose scrunching in as if she had smelled something foul and her brows creased in before a very defiant "NO" passed through her lips.

Jubilee laughed at the reaction and studied the picture again, her eyes looking into steel orbs that were so familiar. "How come? I mean, he's not bad looking and he has his moments when he's pretty fun…"

Laura shrugged, "It was just never like that. I mean I don't think he's disgusting to look at but…it was never that vibe. I mean a lot of people assumed because we were always together but that's a hard no. Back then he was ok with the misinterpretation because, well as you have seen yourself Ray likes to stay unavailable…if people thought we were together they would leave him alone. "

"Why is he like that? That unavailable part…"

Laura shrugged, "He was there the longest…he got used to people leaving and I guess, that childhood trauma seeped into his adult life."

Something in Jubilee's chest clenched at the words but before she could say anything they both turned towards the hallway when they heard footsteps.

Roberto looked up from his phone with a huge smirk on his face which quickly faded as he noticed the intense stares. "Hey…what's with the looks? What did I miss?"

"Nothing," Laura answered and took her phone back from Jubilee before heading back to her station. Roberto watched her go before looking at Jubilee who had a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes before shrugging and taking a seat at her stool.

They stayed busy stocking their areas and preparing for the next wave of clients for the following half hour. Eventually Laura seeked out the younger girl again to show her more ideas. It was at this point thay Ray re-emerged. Laura didn't bother turning to him as he approached until he set a drink on top of the counter in front of her. She eyed the drink with narrowed eyes and an annoyed expression. There was a large glob of whip cream at the top.

"Are you fucking kidd…" before she could finish the sentence he brought another drink from behind his back and placed it besides it. He smirked as she turned her gaze to that one. No whip. She then rolled her eyes at him, took the drink and started walking away mumbling a low, "thanks."

When she was gone he turned his attention to Jubilee, the stormy blue eyes finding her dark brown ones. After a beat of silence his hand went to the drink and a finger pushed it towards her.

"For me?" Jubilee asked, making him nod. "But I said I didn't…"

"I know, but you've never tried anything from that place right? It's really good. This is a mint chocolate chip . It's my favorite so I thought you'd enjoy it."

She hesitantly took the drink and eyed it before taking a small sip. "It's good!" She agreed, letting her tongue skim over her bottom lip which was now covered in cream.

He eyed the small muscle before stating, "Nothing like a little sugar to make the day go faster…"

"I can't argue with that…thanks."

He nodded and tapped on the counter top twice before sliding his arm off it and heading towards his station leaving her to take another sip and watch him go over her shoulder.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

Red on black eyed the stage with interest as the two hands touched palm to palm. "So they're lovers? That's so wrong but maybe so right…"

"I wish one of them would have heard you because you would definitely get punched in the face," Pyro remarked, watching the duo on the stage carefully. Quicksilver stood to the side of Gambit. He ignored the words in regards to his sisters as he watched the beat get stronger.

Anna pulled her palm away first, turning to look at Wanda and taking a few steps back from her while stretching her hand towards her, "Rose Red, Rose Red, Roo-oo-ose Red…"

Wanda mimicked the hand movement, her lips parting to counter Anna's, "Snow White, Snow White, Snoo-oo-oow White…"

After a few seconds he looked down at the clipboard he had and marked something on his paper. All the while Anna's voice echoed in the almost vacant room.

"All the tears that I have shed when they took you away, Rose Red…"

"I cried myself to sleep each night since we were forced apart, Snow White…"

As the song continued Pietro scribbled something else before looking at the other two men. "The song will sound different on that night when I'm up there with them. Couldn't do it today though cause I have to document everyone's spots and since all the bands are coming today I have to make that a priority…"

Remy nodded and took a moment to glance across the room. Vertigo's lips were moving as she eyed both females on the stage. Whatever she said made Gorgeous George smirk which in turn made Remy roll his eyes. It was probably nothing good.

"Who's after the Nasty Boys?"

"Laura and myself actually. She'll be the last one today before we get the place ready for tonight but I'm taking the day off so it'll be the last thing I do before I take off."

"Ohh, is it safe to call it a date? You guys have been hanging out a lot lately right?"

"I think we're calling our hangouts dates now," he answered with a shrug. After a few seconds his chin pointed to the stage, "Snow White and Rose Red are sisters. Their interpretation about it is that they have powers which become stronger when they're together, in this story they were separated when they were children so the song is about them coming back together."

"Fitting considering that Scarlet Witch hasn't performed all year right? And they do get that extra umph when they're together..."

Pietro nodded, "I still have no idea what she said to get her to do it…I really thought she was done with music."

"I'm curious about it myself," Remy answered with his eyes on the Southern Beauty.

John gave him a quick glance before turning his attention back to the stage, "Maybe we're not meant to know," he remarked and the three continued to watch the performance without saying anything else.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

"I think it's going to be really good. I wasn't sure about the idea you had with it just being us two but it does give it a stronger ballad feel…" Pietro commented, still excited about their rehearsal.

"Yeah I know, I'm awesome," Laura answered as she led him to her bedroom.

"Alright, now I'm starting to think that you're hanging out with me too much."

"You can leave if you want," she joked, making him give a very dry 'ha ha ha' behind her.

As he entered the room he did a double take and looked around. Before he had a chance to question her she answered the unasked question, "I got bored and moved stuff around," she explained about the fact that her dresser that held the tv was now at a corner angling the bed instead of it being right in front of it. "I do it frequently."

"Oh, sounds like a tiring hobby if you have to keep moving furniture around."

Laura shrugged, "I see it as a work out."

Pietro nodded and went to sit on the edge of the bed. "Where are the others at?" He asked, not being able to help himself from staring as he studied her outfit while she moved around tidying the room up. While he was used to seeing her legs because she loved wearing shorts that showed off her tattoos he had rarely seen her in a dress and definitely not from this close up. It was a pretty simple dress, black with a deep V neck that hinted at the dip of her cleavage, a band name that he did not recognize at its center and a mid thigh hemline. It was a simple dress but effective nonetheless as he found himself being unable to pull his gaze away.

"I think the guys are having a meeting about the instruments. They probably kidnapped Jubilee so she wouldn't be home bored."

The answer broke him out of his spell and he hummed in acknowledgment before moving back so that his body was propped on his elbows while his torso faced the tv. She eventually joined him making herself comfortable by laying on her side also facing the rectangular black screen.

"Your turn right?" She asked out stretching her hand towards him to give him the remote control.

"I guess so," he answered, taking it before skimming through some titles.

They were five minutes into The Fast and the Furious when Laura turned to glance at him. He was still sitting in a very weird position with his feet hanging over the bed and his torso facing the tv.

"You look uncomfortable as fuck. Lay down, you've been doing it all week."

She was right, he had been laying in her bed beside her every time he came over for a movie, but there was something more intimate about the new position they would be laying in with the change in furniture. There was something about his body facing the back of hers that made his heartbeat quicken opposed to both of them laying on their backs on the bed, pillows angling them towards the tv.

After a few seconds of silence, he slowly did as she asked, taking off his shoes before moving behind her and making himself comfortable on his side. Once he was in position she surprised him by backing into him until her back was pressed up against his chest.

She felt his body tense and took a moment to adjust herself so that his arm warped around her. "Relax…it's not like you haven't hugged me before…" she remarked thinking back to a few incidents over the last week where he had in fact hugged her tight and close against him. Most of those incidents had been as they were saying goodbye, but there were a few times now that those hugs were accompanied by kisses that would start at the lips and sometimes end above the curve of her cleavage making her believe he shouldn't be as nervous as he seemed. For good measure she added, "I want this…"

He relaxed at the words and let his body melt into hers. His head rested on her shoulder and that's where it stayed during most of the film.

Eventually the subtle sweetness to it diminished somewhere during the middle of the movie as he shifted in his position. The change caused his breath to blow into the crevice over her neck, where a few straggler hairs rubbed against her skin making her squirm and giggle.

"Really? I never thought of you as ticklish on your neck, I've been in that neck before…"

Laura squirmed again as he purposely blew air so that the points of her raven colored hair poked at her tan skin. "That's different, stop…"

"Or what?" He asked before letting another warm breeze escape his lips.

"Or I'll kill you," she answered, not sounding threatening at all as she tried to restrain the giggle. He did it one last time, this time her body going into defense mode as her elbow moved back hitting him in the side causing a small "oomph" from him. She let a small laugh rock her body, the motion causing him to quake against her as she mumbled a low, 'Sorry' afterwards.

He shook his head and his arms tightened around her. His chin went into the crook of her neck, "You did warn me…" he remarked, his breath hot against the nape of her neck before placing a soft kiss on her skin. He thought the act would cause her to start giggling again but oddly enough the action caused her to freeze and remain motionless. He waited for a few seconds before his lips parted to question her sudden stillness but before he could say anything she beat him to it.

"You can do that again…"

"Do what?" he asked, thinking that he hadn't really done anything different in that time frame.

"Kiss me…"

His sapphire eyes widened a fraction at the request before his lips turned up into a smirk and did as she requested placing another kiss in the same spot. Her head tilted back allowing him more access to her neck and he placed yet another chaste kiss on the area. "How exactly does this work?" he asked. "You like the kisses but you squirm and want to kill me with just some light breathing…"

She let him place a kiss to her pulse point, "It was ticklish then, it's not anymore…" she answered simply.

"So what is it now?" he asked, letting a brow raise as she turned to look at him over her shoulder.

Her lips semi parted, ready to speak but hesitating at the same time. After a few seconds her tongue made its way out to wet her lips, her hazel green eyes staying connected to him as she decided to answer, "It's kind of hot."

He felt himself swallow hard at the words before his eyes went to her own lips, "Yeah?"

"Yeah…" his lips started to curl up to smile but before they had a chance, the grin was interrupted with her lips crashing into his own. He let his eyes close and his hands tighten around her midsection. As his mouth parted to take a nibble he felt a hand on his.

His first thought was that she wanted to hold hands so he let one part from her body to intermingle with her fingers, letting them fold over her own. She allowed this for a few seconds even going as far as giving them a small squeeze. Then ever so slowly she started to move their clasped hands. He didn't think anything of it, until he felt the back of his hand brush against the soft skin of her thigh.

His eyes opened in surprise and connected with the hazel green. Her eyes were dilated, a mischievous glint of desire in them that made him swallow hard. Her head moved back towards him so their lips could reconnect, as they did the hand in his fanned out breaking out of his hold. It was her turn to grab his own hand but unlike his sweet gesture of interlocking fingers she placed his palm above her knee and slowly guided it up her skin.

To make things worse, for him anyway, at the contact her hips pushed back against him causing his already swelling cock to pulse. Before he could register that she could feel his excitement against her, her hand went back up to his other hand.

This time she did interlock her fingers into his before sliding both hands up her stomach towards her center. When they reached the middle of her mounds she slid the hand over one of her breasts. Feeling that she had given him enough clues to what she wanted she released his hand so that her own went into the space between their bodies. It slid down his abs, past his belly button stopping at the bulge that was poking at her backside.

He hissed as she gripped him, the action bringing him back to his senses and prompting him to move. The hand at her chest swerved back and forth going over her delicate mounds, the small peaks at their centers pebbling at his touch. He felt himself pulse and he moaned into her mouth as he realized that she was not wearing a bra.

While that hand busied itself by squeezing and pulling at her taut nipples, the one on her thigh started to rise until reaching the lining of her panties. He fingered the cloth delicately before sliding a digit underneath and pausing. His lips moved away from hers, not just for air but for confirmation that this is really what she wanted.

Before he could even utter a word her face moved back into his and seconds later her tongue was twisting and rubbing against his own. Deciding that that was all the answer he needed his middle finger pushed through her slick folds brushing against her clit to enter her wet core.

The action caused her lips to break away from his to gasp and he felt his heart race. Wanting to hear more of the sweet sound he let his digit slide out and push back in hoping to mimic the effect. It did and soon another finger joined the first causing her hips to sway and rock against his hand, her mouth split between kissing him and letting out seductive whimpers.

All through his onslaught her hand was working him through his jeans to the point that the ache was becoming unbearable. His hips bucked against her hand with enough force that moved both of them and that was the signal that all this had become too tame. Her hand moved away from him to go underneath her dress, dipping her fingers into the edges of her soaked panties to pull them down her legs. Pietro took this chance to unbutton his pants making the only other sound in the room that either could pay attention to being the zipper going down as he released his hardened shaft. He did a semi shimmy, moving his jeans down past his hips stopping when noticing that he was being watched.

Laura's dilated hazel green orbs were on his cock, her lips were twitched upwards in a grin. His own eyes went below her waist to see that her dress was rolled up leaving her tattooed legs exposed along with the glistening mess he had caused in between them. He felt himself twitch, Fuck, this was not going to last long he thought to himself before another thought took over causing dread to kick in.

It might not happen at all.

He froze in place, the tension in his body causing her eyes to go from his cock to his face. "I um…don't have a condom."

Her head did a slight tilt but her expression showed no real concern. After a few seconds she shrugged and then did an odd twist, which just happened to give him a better look in between her legs causing another pulse in between his own as she rummaged through a drawer. When she turned back she had a small square packet in her hands.

"Problem solved," she answered with a sly smirk.

He couldn't help grinning back as he took it and unwrapped it to get himself ready. While he kept himself busy with that she laid back down to be in the same position, the only difference being that her dress was still rolled up to her waist giving him a good view of her plump ass. He let one hand slide over her curves while the other hand went to his cock grabbing himself at the base and sliding his pale hand up his shaft. He did it a few times before she looked at him over her shoulder.

"Oh, was this supposed to be a solo exploration?" she asked and he watched her slide a hand down her body in between her legs.

His eyes darkened and the motion from his hand went faster as he drank her in. After a hard swallow he moved back down to lay behind her, "The condom would go wasted if we do that," he remarked, his husky voice echoing against her neck.

She tilted her back and let a small chuckle out, "It'd save you a mess…"

"It would but at least this way we'll both have more fun."

"Will w…" the question went unfinished and instead she found herself choking on a gasp as his head pushed through her folds. "Fuck…" she managed to breath out once she felt his pelvis pressed against her ass as he stilled letting her get used to his size.

"You can say that again…" he mumbled through gritted teeth.

"Make me," was the short answer as she pulled away. He didn't let her go far, his hands going to her hips letting his dick slip half way out before slamming back into her. The action earned him a moan but not the fuck he wanted, so he did it again…and again and again.

His lips found themselves in her hair, her neck, her cheek…anywhere they could reach. One of his hands stayed at her hip helping guide their rhythm while the other stayed at her chest squeezing and pulling.

She eagerly matched his pace, one of her hands digging its fingernails into the mattress while the other went to lay on the hand that was on her hips.

Feeling his climax near Pietro made a bold choice to move their position. He wanted -no- he needed her to cum. She had wanted to do this with him and the least he could do was make sure that she enjoyed it just as thoroughly as him.

The hand on her hip moved further down to grasp at her thigh and within seconds his back was pressed down into her bed with her back still pressed against his chest. The only difference now was that her legs were spread out, one of her heels digging into her bed while the other dangled over his leg while he bucked his hips upwards into her.

The moan that escaped her lips was loud, louder than the wet sounds of their bodies connecting and loud enough that he really hoped no one was home yet, but he didn't care enough to stop. No he wanted her to keep moaning and whimpering as he entered and exited her slick cunt repeatedly. It wasn't until the hand on her leg traveled to her center that he got what he really wanted.

As his thumb strung back and forth on her swollen clit, she breathed out the word fuck. Not once, not twice but multiple times finally screaming it as he felt her inner muscles clench around him. Knowing that she was fully satisfied he allowed his pace to hasten, bringing himself his own release as his lips pressed into her shoulder to keep his own moan quiet.

After catching his breath he gingerly rolled them over back into the position they had started in. They didn't stay in the position long though, before she was readjusting herself to turn and face him with a smile on her face.

He couldn't help but let his own lips twitch upwards, "So, I guess that happened."

"I guess it did. I told you tickling wasn't a good thing."

"I'd have to disagree, I think tickling is an amazing thing…"

"Oh do you?" she asked with a perked brow.

"I do," he answered and leaned inwards so that their forehead touched. His sapphire orbs looked into her hazel green before trailing downward past her nose to her lips. As he took the plunge to close the gap between them they both froze as the sound of her cell phone exploded into the otherwise quiet room.

Her body twisted in a way that popped one of her boobs out of the V neck, putting a pert nipple into view and Pietro couldn't help but stare as he felt himself twitch. Before he had a chance to act on going forward to take the small pebble into his mouth the name on Laura's phone caught his attention.

'JJ'

Upon seeing the name Laura abruptly sat up and moved away from him. She slid the button to answer the call and brought the receiver to her ear, eagerly at that. His mind quickly went through the names of the X-men members trying to figure out who the name was associated with but after coming out empty he just focused on her.

"Really? That's great! Yes! Yes, I can head over now…" At the words Laura jumped out of bed.

Pietro watched as she kept saying yes's and mhmms and suddenly felt awkward and deflated. They had just had sex. It had been hot, at least he thought so but now the girl he had been crushing on for the last year was getting ready to head out, and they hadn't even had a chance to talk about the big step they had just taken.

He got up himself, found a box of kleenex that she kept at the side of her bed and started cleaning himself up. By the time she had hung up and turned to him, he was fully dressed and looking as if nothing had happened.

"What are you…"

"I guess I'll just head out then…um you want me to message you next time I'm available?"

Laura looked at him in disbelief before tilting her head to the side, "What do you mean? you're leaving?"

"You're about to head out aren't you? Looks like something important came up with this JJ…"

Her mouth parted into a small 'o' surprised at the slight tone of jealousy and for a moment she had to debate whether she was annoyed or flattered. Deciding that it was somewhere in between she rolled her eyes, "Something did come up," she responded and after a moment's pause as she bent down to get her panties off the floor. "I was thinking you could come with me but if you want to leave…I'm not going to make you stay."

An eyebrow perked and his expression softened, "I can come?"

Her eyes went up to meet his, "You already did…but maybe if you're good and stop being, whatever it is you're being, I'll let you do it again. Come on…" she remarked, passing by him to go towards her door.

"Where are we going?" he didn't get an answer and watched her walk outside the room.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

"I'm surprised you're not out."

Anna didn't bother looking towards Wanda, instead keeping her attention on whatever she was looking at on her phone. "Is that all you think I do?"

"Now? Yes."

That did make the emerald eyes turn to her to show the visible eye roll. "Well I don't. Sometimes when I go out, I go with some of the X-men or with Laura."

"Hmm…"

"How did the inspection go yesterday?"

"It was fine, they just needed to check that we were following sanitation guidelines."

"You ended up having a pretty long day then huh?"

"Yeah, since I was there I just stayed until my shift. Got home and knocked out," Wanda answered and moved to take a seat beside her on the couch. "What did you do last night?"

"…Nothing."

Wanda made a sound like she knew exactly what she did but she didn't press the matter, "It's quiet today." She commented after a bit.

"Our parents are workaholics. Luna is staying with Crystal this weekend so I believe Pietro's on a date with Laura and I can't keep track of Kurt now that he has his girlfriend."

"Why aren't you out and about? Boy toy out with someone else?"

Anna didn't let the comment phase her, "He had another PR event. Only the Acolytes so it's just him and John, but we're supposed to meet afterwards."

"So it is going to be a late night."

"We're going to go to Brookville to watch a movie."

Wanda made a scoffing sound, "Why so far away?"

"Less likely to be recognized."

"His pictures on billboards all over the country."

Anna shrugged, "He can be pretty inconspicuous when he wants. I swear that in a past life he was probably like an assassin or thief."

Wanda watched her sister carefully. Her face as she spoke about him was soft and she was tempted to ask if she was sure that fucking was all they were doing. Instead of asking that direct question she went a different route.

"How have you been doing this without getting caught? You were literally traveling to different states to meet up with him. How did the Acolytes not notice?"

"I don't know if they didn't. I mean if Sabtertooth knew anything I don't think he cares, we're kids in his eyes and he really just wouldn't give a fuck, he probably didnt even recognize me since hes never around. Colossus keeps to himself. Remy talks him into hanging out and getting a drink every once in a while but he pretty much just stays in the room to paint or read. Pyro was gone most of the time to his classes…"

"…"

"…Remy said he didn't think he needed them but he just kept at it. I'm guessing he knew about it, he saw me enough times and he messaged Remy that day you caught me. He doesn't carry his phone much when I'm around though so he didn't see it till we were gone."

Wanda thought back to that day and how John had in fact tried to stop her from going over to Remy's room .

"So we were in the clear most of the time."

"He kept in contact with Pietro and Luna."

"John?" Wanda gave a small nod, and Anna found herself mimicking the move, "Explains why she's always on him," she answered, studying her step sibling carefully. "It would have been easier if everything that connected you two together would have been broken in the process huh?"

Wanda's hands went to rub her forearms as a chill erupted throughout her body at the words, "Easier, maybe but not fair to anyone else. If anything he needed those connections more after I was gone."

Anna kept watching her, the position she was in reminding her of the many times in the first six months after the break up when she would find Wanda looking out the window pensively. "You want to grab pizza and hang out? I can reschedule my plans…"

Wanda shook her head, "Food yes, but it's alright we can just hang out until you need to go."

Anna nodded knowing that pushing her wasn't going to work. After a few seconds she got up, "Want to drive?"

"That's fine."

Anna gave a small smile, driving always distracted her, maybe it would be the same for her.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

Pietro looked around the room carefully, it was dark and bare with minimal decoration. The only furniture in the room was the long desk at the center, the two chairs they were now occupying and a bookshelf at the corner of the room that held more alcohol than books.

"Glad to see you were able to make it on such a short notice."

"I didn't think you'd find something so soon," Laura answered as she crossed a leg over the other.

Pietro watched the pale dark hair woman nod, "Honestly neither did I, but I guess it's one of the good things about having such a unique name."

Laure smiled, "I've never thought of my name as unique."

"It is opposed to Jones," the woman answered before dropping a manila folder on her desk in front of Laura.

She looked at it hesitantly, her fingertips brushing the edges of the hard yellow folder before taking a deep inhale and opening it. Pietro let his eyes wander to the document, noticing the name at the top.

Sarah Kinney

Laura turned page after page of documents, many of them looking like school documents that eventually led to photographs.

The female in all pictures was thin, with dark black hair and green eyes. She was smiling, half the pictures being taken along other females her age. Eventually after skimming through a dozen pictures Laura stopped at a picture with the girl standing next to a boy who seemed a few years older than her. The next few pictures after that were with the same pair but as the pictures kept going the pose between them became closer and intimate.

Laura's hazel green eyes were focused on the male, her eyes intense as if she was trying to memorize his shirt blond hair and dark eyes. As she flipped to the last picture, a picture of the pair looking much older, Laura felt Pietro stiffen next to her. She turned to look at him staring at the picture intently.

"His name is Victor Creed…he was your mothers high school sweetheart. The relationship went into their college years. I have yet to find any other relationship ties…"

Laura studied the picture carefully again, the name replaying in her head and sounding oddly familiar. After a few seconds her eyes widened and she turned to Pietro who turned back to look at her.

"Fucking Sabertooth?"

Before Pietro could answer Jessica Jones' head snapped towards her, "Yea, I was going to say…when I looked him up he's big in the music industry and at this time goes by the alias Sabertooth in a band called the…"

"Acolytes," Pietro finished for her.

"Yes, you're fans of the band?"

"I guess you can say that," Pietro answered while Laura turned back to the picture looking stunned.

Jessica Jones nodded, "Well I've been searching for his whereabouts but at this time I haven't gotten a lead. It seems that the band is on a summer hiatus from touring and many of the members are scattered. I've been trying to get a hold of their public relations person but I keep getting told that they can't give me any information on their whereabouts."

"That's because they don't know where he is. He's the loose cannon of the group."

"Right," Jones glanced at Pietro, surprised by his knowledge. "Well this was all I was able to find out at this time. You made it sound important to get anything to you as soon as possible so I wanted you to know where I was at but I'll probably need more time for a location…"

Laura nodded and kept her gaze on the picture.

"You can keep those if you'd like, I've made copies for myself…"

"Thanks. I really appreciate your time."

The pale woman gave a slight nod, "I'll notify you when I have more."

Laura nodded in return and grabbed Pietro by the sleeve of his shirt, pulling him towards the door. She mumbled another thanks and a minute later they were outside.

"Uh…what just happened?"

"We were in a private investigators office," Laura answered nonchalantly.

"Yeah I caught that part…" he answered. The rest of the walk to the car was in silence and it wasn't until they were both sitting that he finally asked. "How long have you been looking for your dad?"

Her shoulders shrugged up, "Not long," she responded and looked outside the window avoiding eye contact.

Pietro watched her for a few seconds before turning away and starting the ignition. Her body language and the low tone she had answered in was a clear indicator that it was best not to ask anymore questions. He cleared his throat and started driving, letting his pale fingers go to the volume knob of his stereo turning up the music before letting it go towards her. It landed on her thigh and when she didn't make a move to pull away he gave a small squeeze. The action caused one of her hands to go to it. The ride back to her apartment was quiet except for the growls of her music with their fingers interlocked as both thought and wondered about the elephant in the room.

The high possibility that Sabertooth was her father.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

Jubilee looked between Ray and Roberto, the musical lingo they were talking about making no sense to her as they made their way towards the apartment. They had just spent the last few hours with some members of the other X-men. Though the discussion was just between the boys who would be playing musical instruments, Jubilee had been pleasantly surprised to see some of their female members there for moral support.

Tabitha had been among them and Jubilee was happy to say that the air was no longer tense between them after the interaction at her and Bobby's place. She was less happy to say that even though there was no tension between herself and Ray's ex, her eyes were watchful especially at her interactions with the tall male. The stares weren't hostile, if anything there was a certain smugness to it and Jubilee couldn't help but think that maybe that was worse.

Her attention was broken out of her thoughts as Roberto loudly exclaimed, "After Nocturnal is over I really think you should talk to the professor about doing it. I mean even if you want to start off slow you can do it on Wednesday's."

Ray shook his head, "The lounge isn't ready for that type of act."

"Wicked Wednesday people are."

"Alright, maybe I'm not ready for that."

"I'm sorry, I got lost. What are you guys talking about?"

The question made both males turn to her. "We're talking about a drone machine," Robert answered. Jubilee blinked her lashes at them a few times before the Brazilian native grinned, "A drone machine is a solo instrument. You literally make multiple sounds with just the one instrument."

"Isn't that the same as a DJ?"

Roberto put on a pensive expression, "Kind of…but this machine is more authentic than that. A DJ setup is mixers, turntable and vinyl records, basically a whole lot of buttons. A drone machine is more physical than that…it's like a large instrument that controls all the sounds manually…"

Jubilee blinked her lashes again making Roberto sigh and turn to Ray, "A little help here? You're the one that built it afterwall."

Ray shrugged, "I thought you were doing great," he teased before saying, "It's almost like a DJ…except that it's used to make heavy synthesized beats and I'm using more manual controls to make the rhythm." Jubilee nodded and blinked her eyelashes again making Ray add on, "I think it'd be easier to show you…"

Roberto made a "HA" sound but before either could question the loud exclamation a vibrating sound stopped them all as they walked into the apartment. On instinct Jubilee patted her back pockets but it was soon apparent that it was not hers as Roberto took his phone out and brought it to his ear.

"Hey Amara…"

Jubilee's eyes widened, "Amara!?" She checked her phone for the time, "What the heck! Why is she calling you and not me?"

Roberto grinned, "I had a good day. How about you? Are you doing what I asked you to do?"

"What did you ask her to do? What's going on? Why is she calling you?" Jubilee asked question after question, walking up to Roberto and trying to hear what Amara was responding.

Ray watched her amused. Roberto was trying to turn his back on her as he listened to whatever the dark skinned girl on the other side of the line was saying. After Jubilee finally started poking him while asking the same questions he sighed and handed the phone over to the Asian girl.

"Hello? Hey why are you calling Roberto first before calling me? I should have dibs you know…I knew you first!"

"And there goes my phone…" Roberto mumbled as Jubilee walked away from both boys with the phone to her ear.

"Hopefully you deleted all your nudes."

Roberto gave a sad sigh, "I don't get any nudes anymore…so there's nothing to delete."

Ray smirked and started making his way to the living room, "Sad about that?"

"Eh, imagination can do wonders."

When they reached the living room they saw Jubilee pacing in circles around the coffee table whispering feverishly. At catching sight of them she paused and after a few beats of silence said, "Just call me when you're done I guess…mhmm…yeah…ok…bye"

She walked over to them then and gave the phone to Roberto who took it a little too quickly, saying "Hello?"

When he was out of the room Ray turned to her with a perked brow, "Interesting conversation?"

"No…" His head tilted and his expression turned disbelieving, making her mouth part, "NO!" she repeated strongly.

"Hmm…if you say so," he answered, his steel gaze watching her carefully as she shook her head. When she finally stopped, his head straightened out, "So…do you want to see my drone machine?"

"Yes, let me see what that thing looks like…"

His lips curled up at the phrasing, "From what I remember I think you've been up close and personal with it…"

It took Jubilee a few seconds to register the words and blush beautifully as the meaning came through. "Shut up…" she muttered giving him a slight push, "I meant your stupid drone whatever…"

He let a small chuckle come out as he started heading towards the rooms, "Ohhh ok…when you said thing I thought you meant…"

"I know what you thought I meant," she interrupted him as she followed him towards the bedrooms.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

"So how are you feeling?"

"Good! I feel energized."

"Protein can do that," Roberto remarked, causing a pause from the brown skinned goddess on his phone. "You're not having any trouble reading the ingredients or instructions?"

"Nope, you have really neat handwriting, plus everything is straightforward. The only thing I'm not too happy with is the diary part of it but it's because I'm realizing that I tend to skip snacks. It's not really a big deal is it?"

"You forget about them because you're so used to going without. But yes it is a big deal because it's what's going to keep your metabolism going throughout the day which means you'll be getting rid of fats in a healthy way. Set up alarms to help you remember. If you are starting to feel this good with just the small changes you've made, how do you think you'll feel when you start snacking?"

"Okay, okay…I'll set alarms."

"Thank you," Roberto answered, winning a small chuckle from her.

"So what were you up to today?"

"Pretty much just worked and did some X-men stuff."

"Oh that's right! That big show at the Lounge is coming up! Are you excited? Jubilee messages me when she goes to your practices and she seems pretty excited. It looks like it's going to be a big deal."

"Because the Acolytes are going to be there it pretty much will be. I'm excited but at the same time I think there's going to be a lot of pressure to make sure everything goes without a hitch."

"I think you're going to do great."

"...Thanks. You'll be there to cheer me on right?"

"Jubilee mentioned something about getting passes from you guys so…I think so."

"Good…how was your day?"

"Eh, not as good or busy as yours. I was just at home playing the perfect host like I have been all week."

"You sound so enthusiastic about it," He teased.

"Don't I?" she laughed.

"Are your family members going to be filtering out soon? I thought you mentioned they were only going to be around for a week. "

"They're packed but not quite. Most will start leaving tomorrow morning but I won't be officially out of shut down until my Nana leaves which isn't till Wednesday night."

"Wednesday night? Hmm…"

"Yup, why? Worried that I won't be at your class on Tuesday? Because I'm planning to be there…."

"Oh no, it's just that…there's this drive in event next weekend. They'll have food and little shop stands…if you're off lockdown then I was thinking…maybe you'd like to go?"

"Oh…"

At the slight pause after the words Roberto panicked and added, "Yeah…it should be fun! We'll drag Jubilee and some of the others out too."

"…Oh…yeah, that sounds like fun."

"Great…" Before he could say anything else he heard a woman speaking to her in a language that sounded familiar but he couldn't quite make out.

"Hey I got to go, but we'll talk more about it on Tuesday."

"Yeah, sure. Have a good night."

"Thanks, you too…"

Roberto waited for the soft click before letting his phone drop on to the bed next to his ear and gave a small growl. The original plan had been to ask her, and just her but the pause after her "oh" had made him nervous and he found himself dragging Jubilee into it. Hopefully she wouldn't mind, and he had added "others" which meant he would have to invite even more people.

He put a hand to his face. What the hell was wrong with him? He never had a problem asking a girl out before, then again he was never interested enough that he was worried about rejection, not that it ever happened anyway.

But Amara… Amara was different. He didn't know why he had the urge to protect her, maybe even from himself which just made the thoughts he was having difficult to suppress.

He sighed to himself again and found himself looking up at the ceiling. The next weekend would come soon enough but thankfully he wouldn't have to wait that long either way. He would be seeing Amara on Tuesday and that day was just around the corner.

After laying in his bed for a little while he sat up deciding to go see what the others were up to. He had expected them to be in the living room but when he opened his door he noticed that the door to Ray's room was open and the light was on, a rare occurrence that made him curious so he let his eyes take a peek in.

"Holy shit…you weren't kidding about letting her see it." Jubilee jumped up in surprise at his voice and looked over her shoulder. Ray didn't bat an eye and kept messing with the machine in front of him, from where he was standing Roberto could see that the microphone connected to it was on.

"Why would I lie about that?" Ray asked, his voice coming out through the speakers.

"I wouldn't say that you weren't planning to show it to her, I'm just surprised that you're showing it to her in here."

"I was too tired to take it out. There's too much wiring for that and we had a long day."

"What's wrong with here?" Jubilee asked.

"Oh nothing…just the fact that Ray doesn't let anyone in his room," Roberto answered as if it was no biggy.

"That's not true, you're in my room right now," Ray answered as he turned a big knob. In a low voice he told Jubilee, 'This one helps me change the frequency'.

Roberto watched them for a few seconds before answering, "I'm not in your room. I'm at your door frame… believe me there's a big difference. I don't even think you were letting Tabby in here when you were fuc…"

Ray's hand grabbed for a level controller at the side and slid it to the end of the grid railing it was on, as it hit the edge of the grid it made a deep sound that echoed in the room and drowned out Roberto's words. The taller boy then took a moment to look over his shoulder to throw him a glare.

Roberto found his brows going up in question. That was interesting. He turned to gaze at Jubilee, her attention was focused on the machine in front of them, watching Ray's hands curiously as he started moving them around on different parts of the machine.

Soon the room was filled with an electronic scratching type of sound before the sound of a bass and drums joined in causing the room to erupt with music. He took a step back to turn and leave them but paused again when Ray's deep voice joined in with the music.

"Crisis of all things…but mine is the only one…Crisis of love…I can't believe this sin…"

Roberto watched transfixed as Ray turned to look at Jubilee who was now looking at him instead of his hands. He blinked. Interesting indeed.

"Wages ahead to protest what they show you…Or you'll lose yourself…lose yourself…I can't help you…"

After the verse he did turn and walked away, listening to Ray's voice echo through the hallway. He found himself alone in the living room where he turned on the tv and started an episode of British Bake Off though in reality he wasn't paying much attention. His thoughts going to Amara, the drive-in fair and the fact that he still needed to invite the duo in the other room.

Eventually his thoughts were broken when he heard the front door opening. Laura walked in seconds later with Pietro following her. He nodded to them in greeting, getting a nod back from Pietro.

"Hi, where are the others?"

"Ray's showing Jubilee the drone machine."

"In his room?!"

"That was my reaction too."

Laura's shocked expressions stayed on her features before her attention went to the TV. "Ohh…what season are you watching?"

"Seven."

Laura nodded and turned to Pietro, "Were you going to stay awhile?"

"No, I should get going. I just wanted to walk you in."

Roberto smirked at the words, "Whoops did us being home interrupt your guys solo time?"

"I'll walk you out." Laura remarked, ignoring her roommates' suggestive tone. Pietro managed to give a small wave bye before Laura was dragging him to the door.

"You don't have to walk me to the car, it defeats the purpose of me walking you inside," he remarked as she opened the door.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine." She nodded and let him walk past her. When he was outside with just the door frame separating them he asked, "Are you?"

"What?"

"Going to be ok? You got some pretty big ne…"

"I'll be fine. Thanks for coming along with me."

"Thanks for trusting me enough to take me…" she nodded at the words and his eyes searched her face trying to determine if she was really going to be fine but her expression didn't betray anything. After a few seconds his lips parted, "I um…I had a really good time today."

The words made her smirk, "I'm sure you did…I did too."

His lips curled upwards into a grin as well and soon he was tilting his face downwards closing any space between them. When they parted his breath was ragged, "Am I going to see you tomorrow?" he asked in a low whisper letting his nose nuzzle against hers.

"I don't see why not…"

"Then, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." His lips found hers again and after a deep kiss he pulled away, muttering a good night which she mimicked. The goofy smile stayed on his face until he was inside his car, the warmness of her lips starting to fade. When it was completely gone he sat there in silence not bothering to turn the car on.

It wasn't until he heard the dial tone that he realized that his body had acted on his thoughts.

"This is an interesting surprise. Ready to come back and make it big?"

"Hi Jason, and no that's not what I'm calling about."

"Then what can I do for you, Quicksilver?"

"I need to find Sabertooth."

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

John rubbed the towel on his head trying to get as much moisture out of his hair. The PR event at Asteroid M had gone well and after getting one drink with Remy they had gone their own ways. Remy had mentioned he had plans, though he hadn't mentioned what they were he was pretty sure he could guess.

As for him, he had been invited by the members of the Brotherhood to a movie but with the multiple PR events they had been doing and the rehearsals he was very happy to decline, deciding to spend a night alone.

Hell this might mean he might have a chance to write.

Deciding that that was a great plan he went to start the Keurig. While waiting for the machine to heat up he turned his laptop on, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and went looking for his slinky.

When he had everything he needed he went over to the desk and before taking a seat let his arms go high above his head in a stretch. He then took a seat and his finger ghosted over a few letters but before he had a chance to press down on them to start typing he found himself turning as a knock rapped against his door.

His head tilted to the side as he thought about who it could be. He hadn't ordered room service, Remy had been pretty confident about his date and the front desk was great at stopping fans from coming up so he really had no idea who could be knocking at his door at, he turned to look at the time, 11pm.

He waited a bit to make sure he wasn't hearing things and sure enough a minute later there was another tap causing him to sigh and get up. As he went through his options again the best bet would be that it was Remy, so when he started opening the door, he started with a, "Did you get stood up?"

"I'm pretty sure he didn't."

His eyes widened a fraction as he looked down at the sapphire eyed beauty before him. She wore black jeans and a solid black shirt that combined well with the red leather jacket she wore. "Hey…"

"Hi. I um…" her face moved side to side slightly and her shoulders shrugged upwards. He didn't know why she was there, but it seemed like neither did she.

His body moved to the side much like the first time she had come knocking at his door, "Did you want to come in?"

"Hmm…yeah, sure," was the quick answer and soon she was walking past him. As she made her way in she eyed the space carefully. It was tidy, something that surprised her because during her time dating him, John was the messier of the Acolytes. Then again he always did enjoy a clean space when he wrote and by the set up she found at the corner desk she could easily see that she had interrupted something.

"You're busy, I can come back some other time…"

"I'm never busy when it comes to you," was the response as he walked past her. "Make yourself comfortable. Did you want coffee? "

"Sure, coffee's fine," she answered ignorring the comment as she went to sit on the couch letting her eyes roam her surroundings. The room was identical to the one Gambit was staying in from what she remembered. Two doors, one that she assumed led into a bedroom and the other to a bathroom. There was a small kitchenette area that seemed to be getting a good amount of use, a tv at the center of the room with the couch in front of it and the small work desk which was where his laptop was set on.

She was almost curious to go to it and see what he was working on when he walked back into view, a steaming red cup in hand. She took it, mumbling an almost inaudible thank you before closing her eyes and inhaling deeply, enjoying the aroma. He made it just the way she liked it.

When she opened her eyes she found him sitting in the chair at the workstation, he was clearly giving her her space. "How was your day?"

Her shoulders gave a slight shrug, "Hung out with Anna for a bit. Nothing world changing."

"You're here right now, that's a little world changing for me."

The room stilled and after a few seconds of an intense eye lock she blinked and looked away. "You piqued my interest about what you were up to in the last year."

He moved back to sit more comfortably in the chair. "Pretty much this…" he nodded around the room before tiltig his head to the laptop. "writing, Drug Awareness classes and seminars. Remy would force me out ever so often…the life of a rockstar."

"The life of a rockstar is what got you in trouble to begin with." The statement made his smile fade. "So…I'm curious and feel the need to ask if you were keeping track of me through other people?"

"No," he answered. "I tried at the beginning but Pietro made it very clear that he wasn't going to talk about you. Ever so often Luna would mention you but I wasn't going to press a little girl for information on you. If I ever heard anything about you it was usually on Pietro's instagram or the Scarlet Ink page."

She nodded at the answer and watched his lips part, but after double questioning himself they closed. She didn't need him to ask the question, she knew what he wanted to know. "Even though I wanted to avoid you, you were everywhere. Every magazine, every radio station, every other commercial. It's funny how that works, you wanted to see me, I didn't want to see you but the world had the opposite planned for us."

"I'm sorry."

"It is what it is."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, neither being able to break the staring contest that had been started.

"Well, you've seen what I was up to, is it safe to ask what you were doing?"

"Lots and lots of ink." She answered. After a few minutes she added, "Other than that, just hanging out at the Lounge giving Pietro support and taking care of Luna whenever he needed help. I have a business class a few times a week."

He nodded, "Your dad still holds all the power in both leases?"

"For now, but profits have gone well. The class is supposed to finalize that we'll be able to take care of things without his help."

"That's good, I'm glad it worked out. It looks like it's made you happy…" She nodded and after another long pause he asked the question he had asked before when they had been alone on a beach, when she was less willing to talk to him. "Has there been someone else?"

She blinked at the question, her answer from when he asked the first time coming back to her. The answer had been no, and it was still a no as far as what mattered, "No one serious. Flings and hook-ups. We went on a singles cruise a few months ago."

He nodded ignoring the pang he felt in his chest.

"You?"

His head shook from side to side making her give him a disbelieving look. "What? I haven't!"

"You haven't dated, kissed or fucked anyone in the last 12 months?"

His shoulders shrugged upwards, "Didn't make a connection with anyone worth any of that. Plus have you seen the shit they come out with nowadays? Fleshlights are lit! I call my snookums."

Against her own will her lips curled up, "You do not have a fleshlight called snookums," she repeated firmly while grimacing at Todd's annoying nickname for her.

He grinned, "Alright no I don't. I don't even have one, my hand worked fine before you and it works fine now but imagine! Wow, I'm sure a fleshlight named snookums would be amazing. I should ask Toad sometime…"

"Gross, please don't," she answered, letting the smile stay on her face. After a few seconds of the comfortable silence she decided to add, "If it's any consolation…none of it was ever really good. I was just trying to move on and…I was mad…"

"Revenge sex?" he perked a brow before shaking his head, his lips staying in a smile, something that frankly surprised her. She didn't understand how he was being so calm about this conversation because in all honesty, if he had told her that he had had a string of nothings she'd be seeing red, at least more red than usual.

But maybe that's why they were always so good for each other. They balanced each other. She had her hot red temper and John had always had the laid back, fun sense of humor to the point where he could take everything as a joke.

Maybe that had played a part in their downfall. He hadn't taken it serious enough when she had asked him to stop.

She blinked and looked away, letting her view go behind him to his open laptop. "What were you working on?"

"That novel I mentioned to you! Want to take a look?" He asked excitedly. She eyed the crinkle in his cheeks as he smiled before shrugging and sitting up to take a look at the computer.

He got up and his hand went towards it inviting her to get closer. She hesitantly took the offer and walked over to take a seat, noting that his warmth was still very apparent on the chair. He did always run hot.

She stared at the computer which at the moment just had a blank document. "You were starting a new chapter?"

"No, I was going to start brainstorming some ideas for where I'm at…I have the big picture ready and small ideas for the in between so I was going to try and flesh those out… here let me just…"

His body towered over her as his hand reached over to grab the mouse to open the correct document he wanted her to read. He wasn't making contact with her, but heat was emulating from him enough that she closed her eyes, the scent of his sandalwood shampoo invading her personal space and entrapping her in memories from what felt like an eternity ago.

"Alright, this is the first chapter…" he murmured and then as fast as the moment happened it went away and she was left with goosebumps as the warmth evaporated from the air.

Her eyes slowly opened and she took a moment before her eyes focused, "If it sucks I'm not going to pussyfoot around it."

His laughter echoed around her, "I wouldn't want it any other way…" Her hand moved forward to click on the mouse and she started to read.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

Both of Jubilee's hands went into the air as her stretch elongated her limbs. She blinked lazily and tapped her phone to check the time only to sit up fast as she realized it was past 2am. "Holy shit it's late!"

Ray lazily looked away from the TV to glance at her, "Laura went to bed at 12:30 and that was like four episodes ago so I'm not surprised."

"I can't believe we've watched so much of this!"

"It's a funny show, it's binge worthy."

"It really is! How did I get so invested in these strangers!" Jubilee grinned and shook her head. After a few seconds of silence she added, "So, when are you heading to bed?"

"Since you pointed out the time I guess I should go now before it gets even later…" he responded while getting up.

"Oh, yeah I should probably go too. I guess we can watch the finale tomorrow."

He nodded and made his way towards the hall that led to the bedrooms leaving her alone. She eyed her surroundings looking at the dishes she had used to snack on while watching the show, deciding to get it over with, she headed to the kitchen to wash her mess and that way she could sleep in the next morning and not have to worry about anything.

Ten minutes later everything in the kitchen was clean, she had turned off the light in the living room and she was making her way to her room but as she neared she noticed that Ray's door was open and dim lighting was coming from it.

Though her brain was telling her to walk past and go straight to her room her steps slowed and she stopped at his doorway to look inside. He was laying in his bed, shirtless and still wearing his basketball shorts with his hands holding up his phone as he skinned through whatever app he was on.

Without looking at her but feeling her presence he asked, "Do you want to take another look around?"

Her eyes looked around the dark room, "Has anything changed?"

"Everything looks different in the dark…" he answered and his eyes turned to her. The light illuminating from his phone making them shine.

She felt her throat get dry and any sleepiness she might have been feeling went away. "Alright," she answered and walked into the room letting her hand go to the knob so that the door followed making a small click when it closed behind her.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O TBC O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

That's right, I decided to give Jessica Jones a cameo. I needed a PI and what better move to make than use someone already in the Marvel universe? ;) I also named dropped Astroid M, that's one of the things I'm having a lot of fun with this story is just taking stuff names/places from the show and comics and sprinkling them around. Anyhoo, this chapter was a very long day! I usually jump a few days during chapters but this one was literally the same day and a whole lot happened!

Jubilay- I love the idea that Ray is unconsciously letting Jubilee in without really noticing. I think it feels very natural for him to have her around and it's not until other people notice it for him that he's realizing it but it's not on his mind enough yet to think anything of it. If that makes any sense. Anyhoo loving their dynamic right now including that he's buying her junk food and despite what Laura says he does pay attention to detail XD Roberto seems to be noticing but don't expect much from him cause as we saw he's very much distracted…

Amarto- They're so cute! Haha i love the fact that she called Roberto first and Jubilee is surprised/annoyed by it (she wants first dibs on her XD) It looks like they'll be going in a almost date soon :p

Romy- MIA kinda of. They're definitely in the background in this one (which is ok cause you guys have gotten a butt load of them in the last chapters) going on a date that she would not call a date XD and he's ever so watchful of her while she's rehearsing. The sexy magic is there ;)

Xietro- Did you expect them to be the ones having sexy time in this one? If not, SURPRISE! I mean it was bound to happen with how much time they were spending in that room with the Netflick ;) My favorite part of them in this chapter was actually the moment when they're in the car and he holds her hand while they're driving back, there was something very sweet and intimate about that moment especially with the emotions she must have been feeling. I'm making Pietro very soft in this story compared to what I usually do but I say we blame his daughter for that ;) Also DAMN, surprise twist! Could Sabertooth be the father? You already know the answer to that, we'll just see if we have fun reaching it :P Also come on, Pietro calling Jason to find out where Victor is was too fucken cute.

Jonda- She took him up on the offer! I really loved writing the scene in his apartment. I love that even though they're not in a relationship and if you ask Wanda she wouldn't even call him a friend, they have this bond and familiarity between each other where they can talk so casually with each other. I mean even going as far as being able to talk about sex, but I think that comes from me seeing John be curious enough to ask and Wanda being a blunt enough person to answer. It was interesting to write them in this one but I'm very happy how it turned out. I died when I wrote the part about the fleshlight XD Blame IG meme pages for always advertsing stupid shit on my timeline.

The songs used in the chapter were: 'Snow White and Rose Red' by Blackbriar which I had used in an earlier chapter when Anna was first asking Wanda to perform with her. I picked this song for them for the obvious reasons that we love Wanda in red and Anna is definitely pale as Snow ;) And Ray gave us a few lines from 'The Speaker is Systemically Blown' by Author & Punisher which is a one man band who does actually use a drone machine to make the beat.

And now for that Announcement. I mentioned in the last chapter, that I was planning to take a break and originally that was just because I wanted to relax a little but also kind of go over my ideas for this fic to make sure I'm still going where I planned the ending to go. Unfortunately, a medical issue has come up (literally from out of nowhere) and I'll be getting surgery in the next few weeks, so that is going to be extending my break as I recover and focus on me for a bit. If everything goes well (which I expect it too) I will hopefully see you again before the end of the year.

As always thanks so much for reading and supporting me and this fic. You can still catch me on Tumblr if you want to chat because I don't see myself being inactive there and I still have a lot of commissions of our faves to post. Take care and I'll be seeing you (hopefully sooner than later)! Love you all!

-UHW