"What happened here?" Storm asked as the cavalry arrived, "is everything alright?"
"As it can ever be," Blaze answered, "sorry there's no action left for you Logan."
"It's alright Firefly," Logan offered with a shrug. "I know you can handle yourself," he sniffed heavily, "even if your choice of allies is a bit off."
"You mean Gambit? He's just suffering with a bad case of guilty conscious because of what Magneto did to me. He'll get over it."
#Like you've gotten over yours?# Vixen asked in Blaze's head. The fire elemental shot the telepath an evil look.
#You know me better than that. Still I manage to keep that annoying guilty voice quiet most of the time. I find so long as I live fast and party loudly, I can barely hear her at all.#
#We'd better get you to a party quickly then,# said Ilehana. #Fortunately I know just where to find one.# Blaze smiled at that and linked arms with Kitty. Blaze directed the birthday girl down the stairs and out towards the convertible sports car in the parking lot.
"So who's driving back to the mansion, Shadowcat, me or you?"
"I'm just glad the three of us brought the X-Van," Ilehana mused as the three older mutants took their places behind the two girls. "As far as I'm concerned, the thought of either of you on the roads is way too scary…" Kitty and Blaze laughed their agreement as Storm rolled her eyes and Logan put his hand on Ilehana's shoulder.
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"Oh you guys!" Kitty oozed as she finally got to see what the others had been hiding from her all day. Her grin spread from ear to ear as Nightcrawler gave her the tour.
"…And we spent literally hours blowing up balloons for you, not to mention keeping our hand off the food all this time!"
"Oh yeah?" Kitty asked glancing at a chocolaty Iceman with grin. "Some of you better than others I see! Go ahead Bobby, tuck in alright?"
Iceman didn't need a second bidding, and for that matter neither did any of the other X-kids, including Scott and Jean. Professor Xavier sat straight and tall in his wheelchair, pride emanating from him. Logan and Vixen were sat very close together watching everything like hawks. Blaze took Kitty's permission for Bobby to eat his fill as a sign she could openly eat the snacks she'd subtly lifted from the table ten minutes ago. Pity there wasn't more left… Going to the stereo she frowned and started pushing buttons.
"I don't know whose music this is, but it's depressing," she announced, "this'll be better…" Hitting play Blaze stood straight again, eyes closed and already dancing to the upbeat rock/pop she'd just put on. Only when she opened her eyes did she notice the look of cold distaste on Rogue's face.
"Are you just totally insensitive or do you do this deliberately?" The southern belle snapped. Blaze froze, Ilehana's voice rattling through her head urgently.
#Leave it, Blaze. She doesn't know the first thing about you.#
#Nobody would want to know the first thing about me.# Blaze commented, turning away from Rogue without answering the girl. #Or if they do want to now, they wouldn't if they did know, if you follow me?#
#Are you sure?# Vixen asked as the doorbell rang. Kurt quickly hit his image inducer as Magma went to answer it. #Seems to me there's a lackey of Magneto's who's gone to lengths to find out all he can about you, and still saved your life today… Again.# Blaze declined to answer as everyone in the room ooh-ed and aah-ed at the extremely large bouquet of flowers the delivery guy at the door offered Kitty.
"Whose it from?" Jean was the first to ask, going to lean over her friend's shoulder as the males in the room shot each other confused glances.
"It doesn't say." Shadowcat moaned, "just 'Happy Birthday Kitty'." She sighed, but Wolverine was already walking out the door, sniffing the air. From behind the main gates a green jeep lurched forward to follow the delivery van back down the road. Lance could only hope he hadn't been seen. He'd only wanted to make absolutely sure the flowers got to Kitty on time… The Wolverine smiled.
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Gambit returned to Magneto's lair at Mount Arrowrose only to run into Sabretooth and Pyro lurking in a corridor. Remy tried not to be annoyed as Sabretooth took a good long sniff of the air around the Cajun, only to declare, "You stink of fire."
"You got the wrong Acolyte," Remy replied flippantly, "Dat's Pyro, stinkin' de place out as usual."
"I don't think so, mate," Pyro grinned. "Have you been hanging around with that new X-girl again? Old Magneto won't be happy with you."
"Nothin' new there then," Remy shrugged. "I'm bored, mes Amis. Magneto don't want me finding trouble for myself, he should find some for me."
Magneto took that moment to enter with his usual, ominous style. He hovered a few inches above the ground, as if walking on earth was beneath him. His cape billowed in a breeze that barely stirred Gambit's coat or Sabretooth's hair. Under his helmet his eyes gleamed, his expression deadly serious as always. When he spoke his powerful voice betrayed no emotion.
"Consider your wish, my command," he told Gambit as the Acolytes stood to attention. "Prepare yourself; you have a package to collect on my behalf. A package that might just spell the end for the X-Men…"
(Roll credits…)