Unwilling Weapon

Past The Point Of Paperwork

When Scott and Annie returned from two weeks in Hawaii, they were both tanned and grinning, and Annie giggled when Scott insisted on carrying her through the front door of the mansion, positively beaming.

Anyone that was nearby on their arrival gave them a round of applause as they entered, with Jubilee as the loudest supportive voice — whistling and cheering them on, which only made Scott blush. Annie, of course, loved every second of it and assured him that she was just glad the X-Men liked her, seeing as she'd be part of their lives now.

"It's good to have you back," Storm said with a wide smile and a warm hug as the last members of the team — Kate and Kurt — arrived in a poof of smoke, sweaty and half out of breath in their uniforms, just popping in from a session in the Danger Room, where Kurt was teaching Kate his own style of swordsmanship.

"Wow, you two are working hard," Scott said their way with a smirk. "Anything happen while we were gone?"

Kate and Kurt glanced at each other before Kate answered quickly, "Nothing big. Kurt's been helping me with swords so I can learn the dual wield."

"Is everyone working so hard?" Scott asked, still clearly in a good mood with one hand around Annie's waist.

"Uh — if you count Jubes totally kicking Bobby's butt in the epic prank war you missed? Then yes. Yes they have," Kate said.

"Prank war? Again?" Scott laughed. "What kicked it off this time?"

"Bobby suggested that Jubilee might be trying to lead Noh into their own happy nuptials," Kurt said with a little smirk.

Scott laughed outright. "She's not — they're not serious."

"Yeah, well, Noh didn't understand Earth wedding customs, and it was too good of an opportunity for Bobby to pass up," Kate explained, chuckling as she shoved her hair out of her face.

"Has he admitted that Jubes is winning yet?" Scott asked.

"Has he ever admitted that without someone else stepping in?" Kurt asked with a laugh.

"Is it time for someone to step in?"

"Oh, don't do that yet," Kate said sincerely. "Jubes has one last prank cooked up, and it's going to be glorious, and trust me, you'll want to see it."

Scott just smirked and shook his head at that. "Alright, but if it ends up taking anyone else out — you're going to help with the clean up."

"Yes sir, Mister Boss Man," Kate said with a teasing grin. "One janitor reporting for duty — you know, if it gets that bad." She swept her hair back agains and then gave up and just undid the ponytail to redo it entirely before she turned to Kurt. "Okay. Go again?"

Kurt nodded in agreement — and Scott spoke up. "Mind if I watch? I've never seen him teach the dual."

Kate shrugged. "As long as you don't laugh at me," she teased. "I'm still very much a beginner with my left hand. Very much."

"You're learning a new skill; I'm not going to tease," Scott promised.

"Great! Then you can come if you want," Kate said. She broke into a teasing grin. "Besides, you, mister, haven't finished my training either."

"I know; we're going to have to get back into that," Scott agreed. "We have things to do, I'm sure. Might even start doing some easy missions. Two man runs. Things like that."

"Don't know if you've heard, but I was on a two-man team for years before I met you," Kate teased. "I don't need the training wheels."

"Yeah, fishing Barton out of dumpsters doesn't really count," Scott laughed.