The Mutant Sue Virus, Chapter 55: Normal stuff.

[ginevrasm.livejournal.com]

Title: The Mutant Sue Virus:

Chapter Title:  Normal Stuff.

Fandom: X-Men, Comics Universe, Earth-6916
Rating: 18+
Warnings: Graphic Sexual situations.
Disclaimer: The recognizable characters and the setting used here are the property of Marvel Comics. Those characters described as “Mutant Sues” or “Mary Sues” are the property of Ladydeathfaerie, Nanaea, Dazzledfirestar, SilverFoxChan, and Ginevra. This story is inspired by, and is intended as a sequel to Dazzledfirestar’s “The Mary Sue Virus” and is written with her permission by Ginevra with lots of input from the above-mentioned ladies. Beta and plot bunny wrangling credit goes to Ladydeathfaerie. We make no money from this work. Enjoy.

Need to catch up on something you've missed? Check out the Mutant Sue Virus: Link Index...

 

Author’s Note:  These nine, almost ten months since daughter has been born have been busy ones.  Even when I’ve had the time to sit down and write, I’ve often been just too frazzled to produce.  Now, I’m trying to get back into the swing of things.  I wanted to both participate in the Valentine’s Day challenge over at EFFN (http://www.evocativefics.net/forum/index.php?topic=1193.0 ) and to offer up a new chapter of Mutant Sue.  Extra thanks go to SilverFoxChan and DazzledFirestar for their suggestions.  I’ve done my best to incorporate them here.  I hope you like the results.  And of course, my partner-in-crime Ladydeathfaerie has been invaluable as always. 

 

Chapter Fifty Five:  Normal stuff.

 

“I’ve been thinking.”  Jehnna pushed away her new journal with a sigh and picked up her fork.  She speared a bite of chicken and a few bits of greenery and popped them in her mouth.  She began chewing.

 

“Oh?”  Roxxy sat down across from her with her own plate of salad.  “What about?”

 

“It’s almost Valentine’s Day.  Warren and the others should be back tonight.  And I thought we could do something special.”

 

“You mean as a group?”  Roxxy scooped up a bite of mixed greens and chicken.  She let the flavors spread across her palate while the tangy scent of her salad dressing tickled her nose.  “I’ve always thought of Valentine’s Day as a holiday for lovers.  Couples.”

 

“But we haven’t had much time to do things together.  Not just the team, I mean.  But you know.  As friends.  And X-Men.  We miss out on so much normal stuff.”

 

“Normal stuff?  Jehnna…”  The older girl thought she had an inkling of where this was leading.  “I don’t know.”

 

“We could use the upstairs Rec Room.  You know, throw a party.”  Jehnna’s green eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.  “We could even decorate.  Maybe do a theme.”

 

“A theme?”  Roxxy’s lips twitched with the beginnings of a smile.  She hid it behind a sip of herbal tea.  “What sort of theme?”

 

“Well, since Valentine’s Day is coming up, I was thinking we should do that.”

 

“You mean with hearts and cupids?  That sort of thing?”  She nearly choked on her tea at the thought.  “It sounds like one of those high school dances.  Like Homecoming or Prom.”

 

“Exactly.  We’ll have to get some music.  I know where to find the crepe paper and other decorations.”  Roxxy could see that the younger girl was enchanted with the idea.  She spent a few moments trying to visualize their friends’ reactions to what amounted to a high school dance.  “You do think the others will like the idea, don’t you?  Oh!  Should we ask Haley first?”  Jehnna stopped, finally realizing that she didn’t have the authority to make plans for the whole team.

 

“Oh.  I’m sure she wouldn’t miss this for the world.”  Nor would Roxxy.  This should prove to be quite the evening….

 

~*~

 

“Oh.  My.  God.”  Morgan’s eyes grew wide as she stepped through the door, her arms weighted down with a crate of assorted candles.  “Whose idea was this?”

 

Red, white and pink crepe paper crisscrossed the room above their heads.  Two of her teammates were occupied with hanging paper cutouts from the fragile webbing while a third directed them.

 

“Haley, I think the pink one is hanging kind of low.”  Jehnna pointed to a lacy pink heart about the size of a dinner plate.  Their intrepid leader rolled her eyes at the newcomer, but obediently reached out to adjust the offending decoration.

 

“How does this look?  Is it straight?”  Roxxy asked from her perch atop the pool table.  She held a large paper Cupid and was in the process of hanging it from the light fixture.

 

“What the fuck is all this?”  Dare stopped stock still just behind Morgan, cradling a stack of CDs against her chest.  “It looks like somebody blew up a Hallmark store.”

 

“Dare…”  Morgan shot her friend a warning look over her shoulder.

 

“Jehnna thought it would be fun to have a theme.”  Haley explained.  “You can put all that stuff over there.  We’re almost done with this.”

 

“You gotta be kidding me.”  Dare grumbled while she piled the CDs next to the stereo.  “What is this?  Middle school?”

 

“Maybe it’ll be kind of fun.”  Morgan began pulling the candles out and sorting them by size and color.

 

“It’s all pink.”  Dare made the word sound as if it were something dirty.

 

“Not all of it.”  Jehnna bustled past them, grabbing a double handful of candles.  “Some of it’s red and white.”

 

“She’s lost it.”  Dare muttered.  “Totally lost it.”

 

“No.  She’s just sort of…um…”  Morgan struggled to come up with something a little more charitable.  But the room did look like some movie producer’s idea of a Valentine’s Day dance.

 

“Smitten.”  Roxxy finished the sentence.  “Head over heels.”  She had joined them to begin picking through the CDs.

 

“I think I liked her better all dark and depressed.”  Dare grumbled.  But she started sorting through the music.

 

“I can’t wait to see the guys’ faces.  We soooo need a camera.”  Morgan grinned at Roxxy.

 

“Already got one.”  Roxxy returned the grin and pointed to a sleek looking device waiting next to a bowl full of red candy hearts.  Spotting the candy, Dare snagged a few.  She tossed them in her mouth and began crunching loudly.

 

“Mmm.  Cinnamon.”

 

“How long before they get here?”  Morgan asked curiously.

 

“About an hour, according to the Professor.”  Haley replied.  “I figure he’ll keep them busy with debriefing for an hour or so after that.”

 

“Where’s Piotr?”  Roxxy asked, looking up from the CD case she’d been perusing.

 

“He’s rounding up some refreshments and maybe some flowers.  He thought this was a great idea.”  Haley’s eyes rolled again, but she was smiling.  “We should have just enough time to finish up and change.”

 

“Change?”  Dare quit crunching cinnamon candies for a moment.  “Oh no.  What you see is what you get.”

 

“Oh come on.  Don’t you want to wear some of your new clothes?”  Jehnna stopped fussing with the candles she had been arranging to look at her roommate.  “We don’t get many chances to dress up.”

 

“I don’t want to dress up.”  Dare scowled.  “Logan likes me just fine like this.”

 

“I thought he liked you naked.”  Faye appeared near the candy dish and snagged a couple.

 

“Faye!”  Morgan’s protest was half laughing.  “I’m sure he’d like to see you dressed up.  I know I would.”

 

“So you can take pictures and blackmail me with them?”

 

“I thought maybe we could sell copies to the underclassmen.  Some of those boys will buy anything with boobies.”

 

“Not helping, Faye.”   Morgan turned a frown on her double.  “And we aren’t taking topless shots.”

 

“Spoilsport.”  Faye grinned, unrepentant.

 

“I never do know when to take them seriously.”  Jehnna flopped down on the couch, sending rolls of crepe paper and card-stock cupids fluttering to the floor.

 

“Since nothing’s burning yet, I think we’re safe.”  Haley added and tweaked a dangling cupid, setting it spinning on its string.

 

“Sometimes I wish I could set things on fire whenever I get cranky.”  Morgan put a hand on her hip and shot Dare a look.  Dare dug in her pocket and pulled something small and silver out.  She tossed it at Morgan.  The shorter girl caught it reflexively.

 

“Go ahead.  Knock yourself out.”

 

Morgan snorted and flipped open the lighter, sparking a flame.  “Why would a pyrokinetic carry a lighter?”

 

Dare just shrugged and busied herself with feeding CDs into the disc changer.

 

“Don’t ask me.  I just work here.”  Haley shrugged and walked away.

 

“I really hope the guys like this.”  Jehnna bounced up off the couch and resumed her nervous fiddling with decorations.

 

~*~

 

“Come on, Dare.  You look great.”

 

“It’s pink.”

 

“It’s not pink.  It’s fuchsia.”  Morgan sighed.  “You said I could pick for you.  And that you’d wear it.”

 

“Fine.  I’m wearing it.”  Dare paused just outside her dorm room.  She reached for the doorknob.  “Let me just go get my jacket.”

 

“You’re not going to freeze to death inside the Mansion.”  Morgan caught the other girl’s arm before she could retreat back into the Bat Cave.  Morgan was absolutely sure if she let go, Dare would either hide in her room until the party was over or change into the holiest pair of jeans she owned.

 

“No.  But I might die of embarrassment.”  She reached down and fingered the ruffles that fluttered about her thighs.  “Pink, Morgan.  Pink.”

 

“Fuchsia.  And you’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about.”  Morgan grunted, half dragging the pyrokinetic down the corridor and up the stairs.  “Unless you want to keep on hanging out here and make a scene.  I’m sure if you keep arguing with me someone will come looking to see what all the fuss is about.”

 

“The kiddies aren’t supposed to come up here.”  Dare grumbled, but she stopped fighting and started moving up the stairs under her own power.  Her heels made muffled clicks on the polished wood. 

 

“That never stopped us.”

 

“Hmm.  You’ve got a point.”  Dare moved a little quicker, running nervous palms down her skirt, smoothing the ruffles.  “How long do you think the Professor will keep them?”

 

“Not long.”  Morgan answered her, reaching out to throw open the Rec Room door.  Eight pairs of eyes turned to look at Dare.  She stood frozen in the doorway.  “I think maybe someone tipped him off.”

 

“You think?”

 

~*~

 

If he hadn’t wanted to see her so badly, he’d have turned on his heel and walked out the moment he laid eyes on the Rec Room.  As it was, it was all he could do to keep from scowling at the girls.  If Gumbo didn’t stop playing with the damned paper hearts, he might just punch the smirk off his face. 

 

“How long does it take ta change clothes?”  He growled to no one in particular.

 

“This is Dare we’re talking about.”  Haley swatted the Cajun’s hand away from the cupid he’d been torturing.  “Jehnna said they were still arguing about the dress when she left.”

 

“Dare?  In a dress?”  Warren looked up from his cell phone.  It chirped quietly as he turned it off and tucked it in a pocket.  “This I have to see.”

 

“Yeah.  Morgan actually talked her into getting something when we went to the mall.”  Jehnna sidled up to the blonde and slipped her arm around him beneath the feathered white drape of his wings.  “I got this at the mall, too.”

 

“I thought that was new.  It looks good on you.”  Warren gave her a smile that told anyone who knew him that he was just as gone on the girl as she was on him.  Logan snorted and turned away.  He could hear footsteps and voices coming down the corridor and his were the first eyes to turn toward the door.  Roxxy and Hank were a half beat later, their quiet conversation cut short as their attention turned to the approaching footsteps.

 

The door swung open and Dare stood frozen in the opening.  Like a rabbit caught out in the open by a fox.  Or maybe a whole pack of foxes.  The dress was some color between pink and purple.  The neckline dipped low between her breasts and the skirt stopped about mid-thigh with a couple of ruffles.  It left much of her soft, pale skin gleaming in the candlelight.  She’d done something different with her hair that toned down the party colors.  The rest of the room had gone silent.  He let out a low, soft whistle.

 

“Lookin’ good there, sweetheart.”  .  He stepped forward to take her arm before she could turn tail and run. 

 

“I do?”

 

“Of course ya do.”  He pulled her aside and wrapped a reassuring arm around her waist.  It probably looked damned possessive, but who gave a shit.   “Missed ya.”

 

“I missed you, too.”

 

~*~

 

“She looks so grown up.”  Roxxy sighed and snuggled closer to Henry’s solid warmth.  They sat together on the sofa, she in the circle of one great arm.

 

“Jehnna?”  He turned his head to regard the youngest of Team Purple in her colorful kimono.

 

“No.  Dare.”  Roxxy gestured at the pyrokinetic.  She was talking quietly with Logan in the corner.  Her posture was slowly shifting from nervous defiance to something more relaxed.  “It’s nice to see her give up some of that teenage rebellion, even if just for an evening.”

 

“You are not so much older.”  Henry lifted her hand to his lips for a soft kiss.  “I find myself feeling much like an adolescent again these days.”

 

“Because of me?  I have a hard time picturing you as a nervous teen.”

 

“This hirsute countenance conceals much.”  He let go of her hand.  She thought she saw something unsure in his so serious blue eyes.  “You are an intelligent, beautiful young woman.  You have so many choices before you.”

 

“This is one I will never regret.”  She murmured, taking his face between her palms.  She rose up on her knees to press her lips against his.  They were warm and soft and tasted of him.  They parted beneath hers and a soft rumble began to vibrate from deep within his chest.  A burst of white light startled her and she started to draw away, looking for the camera.  But Henry reached for her, pulling her into his lap and deepening the kiss.  It was hard to say whether the lights that flashed across her eyelids were from the mischievous photographer or something else altogether. 

 

When at last he drew back, she blinked up at him dazedly.  “Neither will I my dear.  Neither will I.”

 

~*~

 

“Now I’ve got proof.”  Morgan grinned down at Remy from her perch.  She had climbed up on the pool table to get a better angle for her shot.  She’d managed to snap several good shots of the usually reserved doctor and her almost equally reserved teammate as they made out on the couch.

 

“Hand it over.”  Haley seemed to appear out of nowhere and reached up for the camera.

 

“No way.  I’m going to frame it for posterity.”  Morgan laughed and held the camera above her head.

 

“Come on, Morgan.”   She mock-scowled at the smaller girl.  “Give it over or suffer the consequences!”

 

“What consequences?”  Morgan danced out of reach of Haley’s grasping fingers.  She squeaked in surprise as a pair of large hands grasped her around the waist and lifted her from the felt-topped table.

 

“You should watch your back more carefully.”  Morgan’s eyes grew large as she looked down at the Russian’s smiling face.  He slowly lowered her to the floor.  Haley took the opportunity to grab the camera and snapped a picture of the girl’s stunned expression.

 

“Now I have proof.”  Haley laughed, a deep throaty sound.

 

“No fair siccing your boyfriend on me.”  Morgan sidled away from Piotr, who was kind enough not to laugh.  She fumbled for Remy’s hand and twined her fingers with his.

 

“I do not bite.”  Piotr chuckled at last.

 

“You missin’ out den.”  Remy wrapped his arms around the girl’s shoulders and chuckled, his red yes glinting red with humor.

 

“You could have warned me.”  Morgan grumbled, but there was a hint of laughter in her voice.

 

“Didn’t want to spoil de fun.”

 

“I’ll remember that.”

 

He just chuckled louder.

 

~*~

 

“I do not think she likes me.”  Piotr shook his head and reached for the bottle of champagne where it sat chilling in a bucket of ice.

 

“She likes you just fine.”  Warren walked up just then.  Jehnna trailed after him carrying a tray of champagne flutes.  “She probably just didn’t know what to do with you.  What do you think Jehnna?”

 

“Hmm?”  Jehnna was concentrating on depositing the large silver tray on a small side table.  It was even odds whether she knocked over a flute or sent a candy dish full of cinnamon hearts crashing to the floor. 

 

“I do not think Morgan likes me.”  Piotr rescued the endangered candy dish and passed it to Haley.

 

“She could have just done that disappearing trick.”  Jehnna steadied the glasses and started to reach for the champagne.  Then she stopped, hands outstretched.  “Something’s missing.”

 

“I think we’ve got everything.”  Haley put the candy down on another table and looked around.  “Decorations, candy, guests, music, liquor.”

 

“Champagne.”  Warren corrected.

 

“Champagne.”  Haley repeated.

 

“No one is dancing.”  Jehnna frowned.  “There’s music, but everyone is just standing around or sitting around and talking.”

 

“And not mingling.”  Haley nodded.  “Hmm…Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

 

“That it’s time to shake things up a bit?”  Warren grinned. 

 

“Shake things up how?”  Jehnna frowned and took the bottle from Piotr.  She shoved it back into the bucket with enough force to send a few cubes of ice tinkling to the floor.

 

“Let’s play a game of musical partners.” Haley rubbed her palms together.  “Each of us picks someone other than their date to dance with for one song.   Then we pick new partners.”

 

“Do we tell them?”  Warren glanced around at their fellow X-Men.

 

“Nyet.  That would spoil the game.”  Piotr gave Haley a quick squeeze and walked over to the stereo.  His fingers played over the buttons for a moment and the soft strains of Blue Danube swelled and grew to a level that made everyone turn to look.  Haley and Jehnna shared a look as the tall man strode across the room and stopped before Morgan.  “It is a party.  There should be dancing.”  He offered her his hand. 

 

Jehnna giggled quietly behind her hand at the girl’s dumfounded look.  At first it looked as if their friend would refuse.  Her eyes darted from Piotr to Haley to Remy and back again.  Remy leaned down and whispered something in the girl’s ear.  At last Morgan took the Russian’s hand and he swept her away, his athlete’s frame moving gracefully to the music.

 

“Dibs on Beast.”  Haley murmured in Jehnna’s ear.

 

“Remy.”

 

“Chicken.”  Haley nudged her with an elbow.

 

“Then you dance with him.”  Jehnna snorted and moved quickly across the room.  She didn’t give the Cajun a chance to refuse.  She simply grabbed his hand and pulled him out onto the improvised dance floor.

 

“Don’t look at me.”  Warren shook his head and waved Haley off.  “I’ve already picked my victim.”  He nodded toward the corner where Dare and Logan watched the dancers.  Then he left her, heading straight toward the couple.

 

“Humph.”  Haley squared her shoulders and homed in on her chosen target.  “Hey, Roxx.  Can I borrow Hank?”

 

“Borrow me?”  The doctor’s brows rose.

 

“I feel like dancing.”  Haley held out her hand and arched her own brows.  “Care to join me?”

 

“Rosemary?”

 

“It’s all right, Henry.”  Roxxy’s eyes were following Jehnna and Remy as the second couple began to sway to the music.  “I think I’ll mingle a bit.”

 

“Then it would be my pleasure.”  Henry rose to his feet and took Haley’s hand.  Before she knew it, his hand was resting lightly on her waist as he turned her out onto the dance floor.  “It’s not so often that I have the opportunity to lead.”

 

Haley laughed and let herself be lead.  Sometimes it was relaxing just to follow someone else’s lead.

 

~*~

 

“A dress like that is made for dancing.  It would be a shame to let it go to waste.”  Warren smiled down at Dare.  “Dance with me, Dare.”

 

“No thanks.”  She gave him a scowl in return.  She crossed her arms for good measure. 

 

“Come on, darlin’.”  Logan gave her a little squeeze.  “Do ya some good to loosen’ up and have some fun.”

 

“I’m having lots of fun.  Right here.  Not dancing.”  Dare turned her scowl on Logan.  “And I don’t see you dancing, old man.”

 

“I think I can fix that.”  Roxxy glided around Warren.  She thought she had divined the nature of the game.  “Feel like dancing, ‘old man?’”  She cocked one hip, making it a challenge.

 

“As a matter of fact, I do.”  Logan gave Dare a gentle shove toward Warren.  “Won’t hurt ya to mingle a bit.  Flyboy here won’t try nothing, will ya?”

 

“Just a dance, Dare.”  Warren’s smile broadened and he held out his hands, palms up and empty.

 

“Fine.  One dance.”  Dare snorted, but she unfolded her arms.

 

“Great.”  Warren offered her his hand and she took it.  He pulled her out on amongst the other dancers.

 

“Come on.”  Logan slipped his arm around Roxxy’s waist and herded her toward the dance floor.  The song changed as they began to move together.  Logan was surprisingly light on his feet, his hands strong and sure as he led her through the dance.  “How’s she been?”

 

“Dare?”  Roxxy paused as they turned together, narrowly missing Henry and Haley as they swung past.

 

“Yeah.”

 

“She’s doing fine, Logan.  No drinking.  No fires.  She’s even been sociable at times.”

 

“Good.”  He was silent after that.  But it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence.

 

“I didn’t know you were such a good dancer, Logan.”

 

“Humph.  Learn a few things if ya life long enough.”

 

~*~

 

“Oh!”  Jehnna gasped as her partner leaned her back for a dip.  “Remy!”

 

“Don’ worry, cher.  I don’ drop you.”  He smirked down at her.  Then he lifted her back up fast enough to make her head swim.

 

“You’re showing off.”  She accused him, half-serious.

 

“Oui.  Can’t afford to let Piotr out dance me.”

 

“I don’t think he’s Morgan’s type.”

 

“Non?”

 

“No.”

 

~*~

 

“Ok.  I think that’s enough.”  Dare tried to pull away and retreat to her corner.

 

“Oh no, you don’t.”  Warren tightened his grip on her as they swept past Logan and Roxxy.  “Logan will think I’ve offended you.”

 

“You didn’t offend me.  I just don’t like this fancy dancing.  What the hell is this, anyway?”

 

“It’s called the waltz.”  Warren swung her through another stately turn.  “And why wouldn’t you like it?  You seem to be pretty good at it.”

 

“Bullshit.”  He laughed, blue eyes sparkling.  But they kept on dancing in a swirl of fuchsia ruffles and snowy feathers.

 

~*~

 

“Is this waltzing?”  Morgan tried to relax into the big Russian’s arms.

 

“Yes.”  Piotr smiled down at her.  “You have not waltzed before?”

 

“Not on purpose.”  Morgan’s eyes turned to follow Dare and Warren’s progress.  “I never thought I’d see that.”

 

“Nor did I.”  He turned them smoothly to follow the other couple.  “It is a night of wonders, is it not?”

 

“I suppose it is, isn’t it?”