As the jingle of a worn-out bell chimed, the young front desk clerk glanced up from the trashy magazine he'd been reading, immediately rolling his eyes once the customer turned to him knowing that he had to put the magazine away and therefore act professionally otherwise he'd hear about it from his dad who just so happened to be the owner.

Lazily stretching his arms above his head, he annoyingly watched as the guy slowly approached him. He couldn't be much older than himself, yet this guy had an aura of confidence and bravado about him that made the front desk clerk straighten himself out and try and stand to his full height which to his annoyance was still shorter. And who the hell wears sunglasses at this time of night?

Unless this guy was blind but then again, this guy looked directly at him.

"Bonjour." The stranger greeted with a cocky grin as he glances around the place.

Clearing his throat, the clerk sat himself back down. "What can I do for you?"

"I'd like see if you happen to have any rooms available fo' de night." Finding a motel at this time of night wasn't hard considering his location, he guessed he was transported to somewhere in New York of all places. Making his way to the nearest town was easy as well and he had considered 'borrowing' someone's ride multiple times but thought better of it since he didn't want to attract any unwanted attention to himself.

But on the bright side if there was one, he was at least out of New Orleans so he didn't have to worry about any of the Thieves guild nor the Assasins coming after him here. At least for now.

After he finished filling out the paper the clerk handed him, he eyed one of the magazines the clerk named 'Billy' judging from his name tag was doing a bad job at hiding. He gave an amused smile while he patiently waited for the clerk to look to make sure everything was filled out.

"Cash or-" lifting an impressed brow once the stranger placed a good amount of cash on the desk Billy wondered how the hell someone this young had that much on him. "You gonna count it or…?"

"No need, you can keep de change." Remy furrowed his brows when he saw the 'No Mutants' sign hung behind the desk.

Nodding Billy warily eyed him while looking for the key. "You're not from around here huh?"

"What gave me away?" Remy proudly smirked, thankful that he still had his sunglasses otherwise he'd have to deal with a whole another set of questions he didn't want to get into.

"Just a hunch." Billy shrugged, giving him his room key. "You running from the law or something?"

Raising his brows in amusement Remy gave a slight shake of his head as he let his eyes once again drag around the place. "Not de law homme."

"Right." Billy sarcastically scoffed in disbelief. "Whatever you say dude. Room fifteens on the second floor's all yours."

"Much obliged mon ami." He tilted his head in gratitude before turning to walk out the door letting the bell chime. "I'll let you get back to your reading now."

-X-

The next day Remy lazily leaned back against one of the chairs at one of the smaller food courts at the mall while chatting up one of the blond food workers that had approached him. Normally you wouldn't find him in one of these places since they usually spelled trouble, but after giving it some thought he decided since it was close to the motel might as well get something to eat and a ride while he was at it.

But as much as he wanted to resist the urge to steal someone's ride, the thief in him reasoned that he wouldn't be able to get around otherwise. He tried his best not to yawn since he barely managed to get five minutes of sleep last night, worrying that someone was going to find him. Not to mention the things he'd see the minute he'd close his eyes when he even attempted to get some shut eye.

So, to pass the time he decided to entertain this girl who decided it was her duty to make sure he didn't run out of utensils and napkins.

"Alright who's genius idea was this?" Logan huffed walking along the busy mall with a few of the students following close behind.

"What's wrong with a small outing at the mall?" Warren quizzically asked next to him wearing a long coat that helped keep his wings from showing, although he had to admit this was the first time he did something like this since normally he'd have someone shopping for him or just get one of his tailors to help him out. "I always thought kids like doing things like this."

"Small?" Logan raised a dubious brow once they looked behind them at the good number of students gawking at various items around. "This is like a damn school field trip all over again."

"Well Scott seems to be doing alright." Warren saw him bringing up the rear as if to make sure no one wandered off without their knowledge. "And it's not like you've lost any students before, right?"

"Right, let's get moving." Awkwardly clearing his throat, Logan had a hard time trying not to shiver at the thought of what the professor and Storm did last time they 'misplaced' a student and definitely was not looking for that to happen again anytime soon.

"This isn't right! How are we supposed to do any shopping with Logan treating this like a military operation." Kitty pouted as they passed by yet another store.

"I know what you mean, my wallet is crying for some attention right now." Jubilee wrapped a sympathetic arm around the smaller brunette.

"Ah don't believe your wallets crying as much as it's celebratin' Jubes." Rogue amusingly smiled.

"Whatever it's doing, it needs to stop." Jubilee groaned as they entered the food court and the sudden smell of food overwhelming any other thought she had. At least for the moment. "And now I'm hungry."

"Didn't you eat before we left the mansion?"

"Yes, but we're teenager." Bobby grinned.

"And thus the law requires us to feel hungry right now." Jubilee was already eyeing the food around contemplating what she should have. "You know with all the non-shopping we've done."

"Besides, Jubes and Kitty didn't get the chance to since they were the last once ready." Bobby added receiving playful glares from both girls.

Sighing heavily, Logan shared a defeated look with Scott before they gestured for everyone to have at it.

"Ooh what should I have? What should I have?" Jubilee eagerly bounced up and down on her toes while Piotr and Rogue waited in line with her.

"Careful Jubes, if anyone were to guess they would think you haven't eaten in months." Rogue teased.

"Oh yeah and why would they think that?" Jubilees crossed her arms over her chest in playful challenge.

"Perhaps with the slight droll on your lip." Piotr chuckled good naturally.

Grinning while the poor girl proceeded to dig through her purse in hopes of eventually finding her mirror, Rogue's smile slowly faded once she caught sight of Bobby and Kitty standing in line a few feet away, both talking and smiling at each other.

"Alright how about now?" Jubilee quickly asked but stopped when she turned to follow Rogues gaze.

Clearing his throat, Piotr tried not to frown at the sight just as equally displeased when he met Jubilees disapproving frown.

"Um… so Rogue what do you feel like eating?"

"Yes, they have quite the selection." Piotr offered Rogue a small smile as he stepped to block her view which seemed to do the trick when she turned to them with a hesitant smile. "I'm starting to get hungry myself. Especially after Jubilee has been going on and on about the food."

Popping her pink gum Jubilee stared at the larger boy in front of her for a good minute. "Smooth Pete, now you're making me sound pudgy."

"My apologies." He chuckled along with Rogue. "That was not my intent, besides it's not bad."

"Well Rogue apparently this pudgy girl wants to know what you're gonna eat." Jubilee's monotone voice asked but she couldn't stop the smile on her face once she heard them both continue to quietly laugh.

"Oh Ah don't know, everythin' looks good." Scanning over the menu on the wall Rogue tried to push the disappointed feeling aside and keep her voice steady as she read. The last time she had seen Bobby and Kitty standing this close to each other was back by the water fountain and that just brought up memories she rather not remember.

Maybe she was looking to into it, hoping that she was wrong, and that Bobby wouldn't hurt her again.

Lazily dragging his eyes down her neck where the blond was teasingly trailing her pink nails along her collarbone, Remy gave a slight smirk. "And what would a fine femme like yourself recommend den?"

"Well I could-"

Placing both elbows on the table to lean closer he briefly looked to his right before returning his attention back to the blond girl, but blanked out at anything else she was saying when he had to do a double take and see the very rare long auburn hair with white stripes framing the face of the girl he saw back at the mansion as she flicked it out of her face.

"What are de odds…" He lowly chuckled to himself shaking his head in disbelief.

"I'm sorry what was that?" the blond asked, keeping the eager smile on her face.

"Nothin' just t'inkin how lady luck seems to be on my side since I got here." He casually leaned back in his chair with a devilish grin that quickly made the girl fan her face and whip out her…

What in the world was that?

Drawing his brows together, he had noticed more than a few people this morning fidgeting with similar small devices. He wasn't stupid in not realizing that it was some kind of communication device, but why in the world would so many people be carrying them around so faultlessly. Was this a New York thing? Because if it was then this would be the first time he'd heard of it, and the Thieves knew all the good targets to steal, especially if it would bring in good money.

"What's dat?" He cautiously eyed the small device in her hand.

"What my cell phone? I'm just giving you my number." She grinned wiggling the device in front of her.

"Phone?" Now that was the most interesting and amusing thing, he'd heard her say yet. "Dat tiny thing's your phone?"

"Yeah…?" She raised a puzzled brow when his tone turned skeptical, extended his hand to see it.

Looking it over with expert eyes and hands, he couldn't stop the obvious frown on his face. When the hell did they make them this small? And why was this the first time he'd heard about it? The last phone he remembered seeing was brick-sized and barely attainable in the market in 1980.

"Wow…" Slightly jolting his head back in surprise when he saw the screen change, he raised a curious brow when he handed the phone back to her.

"Oh, it's just a message." She shrugged, grabbing the phone, and apparently messaging someone back.

'What the hell's going on?' Sensing something was off, he was about to tell the nice girl that something came up and was about to leave when a small commotion grabbed their attention as a crowd started forming around one of the food stands.

"I'm telling you to move!"

"And I'm telling you to leave her alone."

"Bobby." Rogue said pulling him by the sleeve of his shirt. "Just let it be."

"Yeah Bobby you heard her." A bald bulky man chuckled standing next to his three friends.

"Hey! Shows over folks." Logan growled at the crowd as he pushed his way between the three strangers and his students. "Nothing to see here. So move along."

"What happened?" Scott walked over to them.

"What's it to you?" One of the guys smugly grinned.

"As a matter of fact we happen to be their teacher." Logan snarled, getting in their face.

"Then you better teach these kids some manners." The bald man narrowed his eyes which just made Scott clench his jaw.

"Logan." He said in a warning tone knowing that they had to keep the kid's safety in mind as Wolverine continued to glare at the three.

"Manners?" Bobby frowned in anger. "You guys came up to us."

"And apparently don't know what the term 'no' means." Kitty stepped forward just as angry that these guys had the nerve to hit on them after they made it clear that they weren't interested. "Maybe you should look it up."

"Guys let's just go." Warren cautioned, already ushering some of the younger students away.

"Come on." Scott turned to gesture for the younger X-men to leave, grabbing Logan by the shoulder. "Logan not now."

Breathing through his nose, it took everything for Logan not to toss these scumbags around.

"Hey wait I know you." The bald mans smile turned menace. "You're that rich fellow that's always on tv."

"I'm sure you have me mistaken for someone else." Warren was relieved when Scott and Logan began to move the rest of the students away.

"Nah it's you mutie. You're the one with the wings. We all saw it on tv." The bald man chuckled, raising his hands and addressing the constantly growing crowd that began looking at them with distain. "Come on let's see them!"

Loudly exhaling Scott mentally slapped himself. Everything was going so well for their first outing in weeks, and he just knew that things were about to get worse.

"Watch it bub." Logan clenched his fists.

"Or what? You going to throw your puny mutant at me?" The bald guy grinned. "Unless you're one too."

"Listen just move along. We're not looking for trouble." Scott cautiously looked around.

"And if we don't? What will you do four eyes?"

"Yeah!"

"Well, I'm sure the cops will be interested to learn that four full grown adults are harassing innocent little girls." Logan said.

"Why you-"

He saw it even before it happened. As one of the goons pulled out a gun, he saw a flash of red purple light hit the guy right in the chest sending him flying back. Thankful for his quick reflexes Logan was able to shove the other three away but not before the bald guy grazed his fist against Scotts glasses when he attempted to jump out of the way.

"Everybody get down!" Logan shouted as the red glasses Scott wore hit the ground and a giant beam brushed against part of the ground as well as the ceiling.

In a moment of panic the young X-men quickly moved away just as part of the ceiling came crashing down in front of them. Stumbling back and losing her footing Rogue's fingertips came in brief contact with Jubilees exposed shoulder, which was when her whole world seemed to come crashing down too. Familiar blue veins popped up as if mocking her and confirming her worst nightmare.

The cure was indeed wearing off.

From an outsider's perspective the contact only lasted a couple of seconds and if you were to blink then you surely would have missed it. But not her, not Rogue.

"Jubilee!" Rogue stared on with frightened widened eyes.

"Woah." Standing on wobbly legs, Jubilee swiftly shook her head to get rid of the sudden dizziness that threatened to overtake her as Bobby managed to catch her from behind.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, guess I must've lost my balance there for a second." Jubilee frowned at the ground.

Nodding Bobby made to grab Rogues hand to move everyone outside and away from all the chaos. "Come on!"

"Bobby!" Flinching away a second too late, Rogues mouth feel open when he pulled her along and nothing happened.

"We've got to go!"

"Mr. Summers!" Snapping out of her shock when they saw their teacher hit the ground desperately closing his eyes, Rogue forced them to stop as well. "Wait we have to help him!"

"Get the Friends of Humanity here now!" The bald man shouted at one of his friends. "Damn Mutants!"

"Shit." Logan hissed watching people lifting themselves off the ground and desperately making their way out of the emergency exists all the while hearing sirens outside. "Just had to be today."

Crawling on her hands and knees Rogue managed to find her way to her teacher. "Mr. Summers! I'm here are you ok?"

"My glasses." He clenched his jaw tightening his eyes shut in order to avoid more damage. "Is everyone alright?"

"I've got them don't worry." She quickly lifted them to place them on his head when she felt someone roughly pull her back by the arms and slam her against the wall.

"You're coming with me you freak!" the bald man sneered, slowly closing the gap when he felt his jacket being yanked back.

"Now dats no way to sweet talk a lady. Wouldn't you say?"

Panting she allowed herself a moment to gather her thoughts when someone stepped in between her and the guy. She couldn't really make out his face since he had his back turned towards her but what struck her odd was the dark brown trench coat he was wearing. Thinking that somehow it suited him as he swung a bo staff with one hand and…

Was that a playing card in his other?

She continued to watch as people continued to run in all directions, while this guy and her attacker continued to brawl. Something told her that if this stranger wanted to then this fight would have already been over a long time ago since this guy seemed overly confident and skilled. This actually seemed more of an entertainment for him rather than a fight.

She was about to say just that when he flung himself at her without notice when gun shots could be heard from nearby directly aiming at them.

Was Remy trying to put on a show? Maybe, but if it managed to get him some hero points from a beautiful lady then why not take advantage of it. Which was exactly what he did when another opportunity presented itself in the form of pushing the girl out of the way as she screamed and rolling them away just in time to avoid getting hit.

Wincing when his arm briefly scraped against the ground, it took him a moment before he looked up to find the girl beneath him. A slow mischievous grin spread across his face when she finally opened her eyes. He was about to ask if she was alright when a pair of the most beautiful set of emerald eyes stared back at him. Which only allowed his grin to widen.

"Rogue!"

Blinking out of her trance like state she lifted her head to see Bobby calling out for her as he frantically pushed his way through the herds of panicked people. When she turned back to look at the stranger, she was startled to see him already gone.

"Rogue!" Breathing a sigh of relief Bobby quickly helped her up. "Are you ok?"

"Y-yeah." Too stunt about what just happened she just nodded. "Where's everyone?"

"Piotr helped Mr. Summer out, we need to do the same before they arrest us."

Clicking his tongue, Remy watched the pair run off from behind a wall as he placed his bo staff along the back of his shoulders and continued to wander along the slowly emptying mall. Maybe he could do with some shopping now that this place was almost deserted. Maybe figure out what the whole deal with this cell phone thing was.

"You!"

"Oh fu-" he barely managed to open his mouth when he was grabbed by the lapel of his coat and roughly slammed against the wall causing him to wince.

"Not so fast bub." Logan said darkly, letting out a district growl. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Shoppin'?" He winced again, cursing under his breath when Logan roughly slammed him against the wall again. "Easy."

"Hang on, I know you…" Logan frowned in confusion pretty sure he'd seen this kid before.

Remy gave an annoyed glare when he felt Logans grip tighten. "Nice to see you too Logan."