New Teams, Old Problems

Chapter 6: Weapon X: Live

It was pretty much standard policy by that point that any time a member of the team went for a public appearance, they didn't go alone — even though, Kate pointed out, she was only going to talk about Bishop Publishing's holiday books, including the gorgeous, embossed special edition print of all of Charles Xavier's works that they'd published so far.

Still, she had Cassie for a partner, so she wasn't really complaining as the two old teammates talked and laughed all the way down to the studio.

"And I got him this adorable little father/daughter matching tee shirt set for his birthday and wrapped it up as 'from Krissy', so he's pretty much going to melt this weekend," Kate was telling Cassie as they stepped off the elevator.

"I can't tell if that's adorable or evil," Cassie giggled.

"Both," Kate said without hesitation as she waved at a few people she recognized around the set.

"I still can't believe he's in his fifties," Cassie said, shaking her head. "He looks... your age."

"I know. It's so not fair," Kate agreed, shaking out her hair a bit. "He gets the not-aging thing from both sides, so he's pretty much guaranteed to look like an angel for forever. Rude."

"What're you going to do with yourself when you start graying first?" Cassie teased.

"Hey, don't jinx it. Don't even start with that stuff," Kate said quickly, pointing an accusing finger at her best friend before her friend Tina from the stage crew called her over to get ready to go on set.

Kate was a bit surprised to see JJ there — this was supposed to be a business update kind of thing, and she didn't really see what he had to do with that, but she settled into the chair and gave the cameras her best smile. She did her best to ignore JJ as she launched into what she'd come to say, putting particular emphasis on Kamala's next book in the series and the special edition of Charles' work.

But it didn't take long for JJ to make his opinion known: "I find it hard to believe that you're peddling that provocative of an author in the current climate."

Kate paused and raised an eyebrow at JJ. "I'm pretty sure 'peaceful coexistence' isn't provocative, John," she said.

"Well sure, that's the surface message that you're using to get people to buy the book — but that's not really what the current angle is," JJ replied.

"You and I must have read a different book," Kate said, turning to face him a bit better. "But go ahead — please tell me about how I misread the book I went over painstakingly for months when I first started up my new line."

"Surely you can move beyond such divisive subject matter — or at least give an honest author a chance now that you've made your slant toward mutants so painfully clear, Ms. Bishop."

"Bishop-Wagner," Kate corrected him with a glare that she only just managed to soften at the last second.

JJ very nearly smiled her way at that. "So the elusive Nightcrawler is the driving force behind the momentous shift in Bishop Publishing."

"Yeah, no. He didn't even know I was restructuring the company when it was happening. You think I talked business with him when we were dating?" Kate waved her hand like she was waving away a pesky bug. "Family rule: no business discussions outside of the office."

"I'm sure there wasn't much talking going on at all," JJ replied. "Isn't he half demon as well? That's an unfortunate combination to share ... free time with."

Kate's business-like demeanor had slipped entirely. "My husband — and my personal life — have nothing to do with the books I put out," she said almost through her teeth.