A Tale of Mischief and Mutants part 2

Southern Tea

—-Sam—-

The game goes back and forth but eventually Laura scores the winning point. She smiles in victory looking very pleased. I pout.

"I'm just rusty that's all."

"Excuses excuses."

I giggle slightly and I'm suddenly aware that we're no longer alone in the common area. Rogue and Gambit are drinking coffee and watching us with interest. 'How long did our game go on?!' I look at the clock to find it's 5:30.

"How long have you guys been there and why are you up at this time on a Saturday?!"

"Well with the racket y'all were making it's a wonder most of the school's still sleepin'."

Oof. We had kinda been shouting and laughing with one another as we got into the game but I know Rogue's exaggerating there's no way anyone could have heard us from the dormitories. I smile slightly at Rogue's moodiness she's never been a morning person but my familiarity with her cranky morning behavior is somehow endearing to me.

Probably because I've missed just about everything from life here at the school even the things I hated like boring lectures, physically draining training exercises, and even (gasp) homework. The normality in all those things is something I longed for during my missing five years. I giggle slightly at her scowl.

"Sorry."

Rogue snaps at me, noticing my giggling at her attitude.

"Well you ought to be."

'Well someone needs a Snickers.' Gambit rolls his eyes at Rogue's mood.

"Drink your coffee chère."

She glares at him but seems to decide that this is a good idea and takes another sip.

———————————————————

A couple minutes later they both seem more awake. Rogue is a lot more chipper apparently the caffeine kicked in.

"So Sam, hon how's it been livin' in New Asgard?"

"Pretty good I don't have to really worry about the same things when I'm there as I do when I'm in New York if you catch my drift."

Gambit looks a little bit concerned.

"Please tell us you ain't gonna take da' easy way out petite."

I understand what he's implying, that since I live in a country where my rights aren't being violated I'll simply back out of the fight for mutant rights altogether. I laugh at the thought. My fight is far from over it won't be over until mutant rights are upheld by every government I'll likely live long enough to see this goal through too.

"Never. I'll continue the fight and with the tittle of princess attached to my name people might be more willing to listen."

My friends smile in relief at my determination.

"There's no way I could take the sidelines while so many people suffer."

Laura nods. I know she's had to make a similar choice nobody could've blamed her for trying to live out the rest of her life as 'normally' as possible given her past it would've only been fair. She instead chose to use the skills she'd learned from her time used as a weapon to fight for human and mutant kind. Rogue turns to Gambit.

"Remy wouldya be a gentleman and get me another cup of coffee?"

He smiles in his signature charming way and nods.

"You got it ma chère."

Gambit walks away and a mischievous smile forms on Rogue's lips. I've seen this look before it was usually followed by her convincing the girls in our slightly younger class to spill the latest tea to her.

"So now that it's just us girls we can talk about you an' Loki."

I frown in confusion. 'What is she talking about?'

"What do you mean?"

She laughs.

"I wanna know details... how is he?"

By her suggestive tone I realize what she means, boy can she really be a nosy southern woman at times. I guess it's in her blood.

"We... uh we haven't done much yet but it's been good so far..."

She looks confused by my statement. I understand why, she wouldn't hesitate to be intimate with Gambit if she could. To her it wouldn't make sense for us not to be.

"...I guess I just need time after everything..."

She nods her expression suddenly filled with understanding and guilt.

"I'm sorry Sam I didn't mean ta-"

I quickly interject her apology. I don't want her to feel bad she didn't do it to be mean so she shouldn't. Everyone always feels so guilty when they forget but I'm actually glad they sometimes do. It's reassuring in a way, it kinda shows they don't see me as wounded, and that they see me as my old self. It proves to me that, that 18 year old girl didn't die in that cell. The girl that disappeared from their lives six years ago... she's still here.

"Hey it's alright. When I get there I'll spill all the tea. Ok?"

She nods still looking a bit guilty. I give her a careful hug.

"It's really ok Rogue..."

I smile as I come to another decision about this wedding. I pull away and look at her in excitement.

"Say? You wouldn't want to be one of my bridesmaids would you?"

Her expression lights up in excitement.

"Would I?! Sam I'd be happier than ol' Blue layin' on the porch chewin' on a big ol' catfish head!"

'Ok? Uh that was a mouthful of southern.'

"Ummm so yes?"

She laughs smiling sweetly.

"You better believe it shugah!"