Chapter 1: Three Musketeers, Eat Your Hearts Out

Disclaimer: Wish I owned the X Men, but I don't.

A/N: B-day present for Carefree-Luminary, due to time zones though this is probably a day late. Oh well, I hope you like it. This is the first chapter of a story inspired by one of the chapters in his story: 'Nightcrawler's Shadow' which is ironically named after me...interesting.

Happy birthday, hope it's a good one!

oOo

Rogue watched in slight amazement as Jubilee went through her wardrobe in an attempt to find something to wear. The girl had more brightly coloured jackets than anyone may think humanly possible. But then again, they matched her personality. Jubilee was bright, blunt, honest, but still kind if a bit much at times. But Rogue had come to love her though and even revelled in the Asian girl's loud and boisterous attitude.

Beside her, her other roommate, Kitty Pryde, resident brainiac and –in Rogue's opinion- the sweetest girl in the world, watched with a bemused expression on her face. Kitty was the girl next door in every way, from her never ending collection of pink sweaters, to her petite figure and sweet smiles. Kitty was the girl no one could bear hurt or turn down. She was everyone's little sister, something Kitty admitted she hated because it made dating guys that much more difficult. One, because they saw her as a sister in the first place and second, because the poor guy would have every other male watching his every move.

"Ah ha! This'll work!" Jubilee announced as she pulled out a hot pink vinyl, motorcycle style jacket with silver zippers and buttons.

"'Bout tahme, we're gonna be late for tha trip." She crossed her jean jacket adorned arms, her black glove covered hands folding gracefully over her arms.

"C'mon Rogue, Ororo wouldn't leave anyone behind, you're just being a drama queen." Kitty reassured her, bright blue eyes shining happily as always. Kitty was wearing her signature pink, in the form of a thick knit sweater with large wooden buttons at the front holding it together over a white t-shirt and light jeans. Her hair was in two braids, where Rogue's was loose and cascading down her shoulders.

"Well Roguey is allowed to be paranoid Kit." Jubilee reminded her friend as she shrugged her bright jacket over her pink and white stripped tank top, "Now let's go ladies!"

They left the room together and Rogue silently marvelled at the picture they made. Jubilee, the bright fireworks creator in her colourful outfit, always turning heads with her gentle Asian features, and hazel, almond shaped eyes. Kitty the ghost girl, sweet and slight; looking like a human candy store with her color choices and adorable and enticing smile. Then herself, dark clothes, a Southern accent, pale porcelain skin, the untouchable girl who wore the fabled Wolverine's dog tags around her neck.

Subconsciously she reached up and held the tags in her hand, feeling the gentle grooves that spelled out Wolverine on one and Logan on the other. She missed her friend; he'd left so suddenly, just when she was starting to truly know him. Who leaves right after they save a girl's life anyway?

As if sensing her inner turmoil, Kitty linked her arm through hers and Jubilee did the same on the other side. Rogue smiled to herself as they walked arm in arm downstairs, where everyone else was waiting to go on their fieldtrip to the museum.

oOo

Kitty and Rogue exchanged annoyed looks as John continued to taunt the two civilian teenage boys with his lighter. Really, were they even allowed to smoke in public spaces such as this?

It didn't matter either way, Bobby was watching his friend with an amused look and Kitty and Rogue were left feeling annoyed, out of place and the slightest bit ignored.

"Come on, one light."

John seemed to contemplate the flickering flame he held before him before slapping the contraption shut, "Nope. Sorry, can't help you."

Bobby chuckled, so used to his friend's antics while Kitty stifled an annoyed groan and Rogue merely rolled her eyes.

With a quick move one of the boys snapped up John's lighter, causing him to lose his pompous grin and stand swiftly as the thief backed up and started to light his cigarette while his friend stood before him.

"Not so tough now are ya?" the chunky boy smirked.

~Boys. ~ Kitty thought, that's when she saw it. John was sizing up the hot lick of heat that was at the end of the cigarette.

~God John, not here! ~

He winked.

The cigarette burst into flames, lighting the poor boy's arm on fire as he fell back. Using quick –if thick- thinking, Bobby held out his hand sending a blast of frost at the boy's arm, putting out the fire but covering him in a fine film of ice.

Then everything froze.

Kitty stared around her as Rogue asked, "Bobby what did you do?"

"He didn't, I did." The four teens turned to see the Professor rolling up, a look of disappointment in his eyes and both Rogue and Kitty dropped their heads in shame.

"The next time you feel like showing off, don't." His voice was as cold as the ice Bobby had just created.

"I think it's time to go." Scott voiced as he Jean, Ororo and the other students came over.

The left, as the door closed behind them time came back to life and the humans inside continued on, as if nothing had happened, while the mutants boarded the three vans that had been used to transport them. Kitty and Rogue studiously ignored John and Bobby as they took their seats near Jubilee.

~Great way to end the field trip. ~ Rogue thought pessimistically.

oOo

Things went back to normal when they got back to the Institute, but the three girls quite blatantly, gave John and Bobby the cold shoulder and went up to their room as fast as possible. Going down the halls they passed Piotr, or as everyone knew him: the gentle giant of the mansion.

"Something wrong?" he asked, noticing their irritated expressions.

Jubilee huffed, blowing her black bangs from her eyes, Kitty frowned, crossing her arms and silently fuming while Rogue took it upon herself to answer their friend.

"Just Bobby and John being Bobby and John."

Colossuss chuckled, "want me to knock some sense into them?"

That got small smiles on all their faces, the mere idea of Piotr purposely hurting anyone was hilarious in its own right.

"Maybe later." Kitty chirped.

He nodded, "See you at dinner."

They waved him off as he headed down the hall and around the corner before they continued on to their room.

oOo

"Do you guys think it's possible for a guy to want to date you without being an absolute moron?" Kitty asked later on that evening as they were getting ready for bed.

Jubilee nodded but Rogue shook her head, "I think there are decent guys out thayre, but they won't date ya."

Jubilee's eyebrows knitted together, "What do you mean?"

Rogue sighed as she brushed her two toned hair, "Ah mean...well there are good guys out thayre, lahke Logan and Piotr, but they either won't date ya, aren't datin' in general, think of ya as a little sistah, or are gay." The other girls laughed at the last part, mainly because it was true.

"Well come on, there have to be some good guys out there who will date." Jubilee argued as she climbed under her blankets.

"Yeah, but they're probably taken already. Take Mr. Summers for example."

Rogue snorted, "Ah think he's a little out of our age range Kit."

"So says the girl in love with the man who could be older than the Professor." Kitty replied in a taunting, but still kind, voice.

Rogue rolled her eyes, "Shuddup." She muttered as she lay on her side.

"Maybe they're all in another country." Jubilee mused as she shut off her side table lamp.

"Well then they better get their butts over here." Kitty giggled.

Rogue smiled to herself, "Or at least back here for any matter."

"Here, here!" the other two replied.

Rogue laughed silently to herself as they fell silent. Yes, she missed Logan, but she wouldn't trade those two for anything.