********************************************************************** DISCLAIMER 1) This material is not used for monetary profit in any manner. It is done solely for enjoyment purposes, and as homage to the great stories and characters of Marvel Comics Group 2) All the characters, events, and locations portrayed within are recognized as property of Marvel Comics Group should they so wish. 3) This story has been written by Samy Merchi . Any commentary in the form of compliments or critique is welcomed, and eagerly hoped for. So go ahead and drop me a line telling me what you thought, okay? It'll make my day. ;) ********************************************************************** ***************************** *** FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE *** ***************************** CHAPTER THREE: Cooling Off "Your serve, Manny!" Proudstar calls out from the other side of the net in his usual commanding tone. And as usual, I ignore it. A de la Rocha is commanded by no one but himself. And I intend to remain that way. "I will serve when I am ready, Proudstar", I call out to him and lift my chin up as I survey the volleyball court. The May sun is slowly making being outdoors endurable, though it is still nothing like back home in Castille. My eyes lock onto Tarot's rear appraisingly for a while, and as I look up, I notice that Jennifer undoubtedly noticed where my eyes were lingering as she gives me a coy smile. I grin slightly as she shakes her head in amusement, and prepare to serve. Proudstar and Catseye are facing me at the net, Jennifer being behind them. On my side, Jetstream and Tarot are at the net, waiting for my move. Oh well, let's get this over with. I lift the ball up a bit, and swing my hand back, leaving it there, as if to prepare for the serve, just to irritate Proudstar. Then, my hand swings forward, and knocks the ball into the air, heading over the net in a high arc. I watch the flight quietly, waiting for it to be struck back. The ball flies high over the net, passing Proudstar several feet above him, heading for Roulette. She prepares herself, putting her legs apart a bit and her hands together, bouncing the ball back towards the net. As the ball is just about to fly over the net and to our side, Proudstar jumps up and hits the ball, aiming to drop it straight to our court and get the serve to their side. He fails. Jetstream's reactions are almost as quick as his flight. He jumps down, to catch the ball and bounce it upwards, for someone to catch. Tarot is closer. I don't move a muscle. Tarot moves towards the ball, and with a quick slug sends it over the net. I watch, and smile slightly as my mind goes back to my decision. The sacrifice I must make, if I am to get my revenge. Oh well. If things turn out the way I hope, this will only work out to my advantage. I wonder what Illyana is doing right now? Does she expect to get away with what she did to me? She can't possibly expect me to just forget this? Of course, a russian peasant could hardly grasp the concept of honor like a de la Rocha can. She should still know better than to risk my revenge. The little witch. Thinking she is safe from my powers... Well, she will learn otherwise...soon... WHAM! My head snaps back as the ball impacts onto it, and sends me a few steps back, waking me from my reverie. After the few seconds it takes me to get my bearings, I notice the ball is on the floor a few feet from me, and everyone is looking at me. Jetstream sighs and shakes his head in dismay. "If you are going to play, Manuel, could you please keep your attention on the game?" he comments flatly. I can see his frustration clear as day, just like I can see Proudstar's glee. Damn it! I pick up the ball and roll it under the net for Catseye as she begins moving to the serving position. She catches it with distinctly feline motions, even though she is in her human form, and looks at me. "Funnygame not interesting, Empath?" she asks in that usual, naive tone of hers. "I can think of more interesting things, Catseye", I say back calmly, shrugging her question off as I start waiting for her serve. And much more interesting games... Dani watched the situation quietly, but ready to jump in anytime. The scene was volatile, but she knew she could handle it. She could handle either of them if push came to shove. But for now, she'd do anything to work this out reasonably. "She asked me first, Da Costa!" Doug fumed, facing off against Bobby in the parlor. The room was empty aside from the two boys, and Dani who was watching the scene. Bobby didn't seem too worried. In fact, his natural arrogance was as obvious as the amused smile on his face. "Yeah. Obviously she didn't like what she saw, or she wouldn't have asked me last. When a woman approaches a Da Costa, that is all they will ever want again." "Oh, you think you're so hot, don't you Bobby? You think that Da Costa name means something, huh?" Doug snarled back to his face. "Let me tell you, you're no more special than anyone else! You think you're so hot with women, but I haven't seen any evidence of that! All I've heard is you mouthing off more than anyone wants to hear, and I'm sick and tired of it, mister!" There was a moment of silence as Bobby took the words in, then his eyes narrowed dangerously, and he took a step towards Doug, his fists clenching up. Dani tensed up as well, and her eyes focused onto Bobby. o O (Come on, kiddo. Show me you can pull thru. Show everyone that you're not the brat they think you are), she thought while preparing to step in. "You just made a big mistake, senhor", Bobby said in an ice cold tone. "I should take you apart right here and now." His eyes momentarily glanced to Dani and remained on her for a while before going back to Doug. "But I won't. You're not worth getting Dani upset." He flashed a triumphant smirk, and crossed his arms across his chest. Dani couldn't restrain a slight chuckle. Even when angry, he couldn't drop that 'god's gift to womankind' act. She shook her head in amusement. o O (Part of his charm, I guess.) Doug rolled his eyes. "Oh, it's very convenient to use women as an excuse, isn't it Bobby? That's all they'll let you use them for anyway." His voice was laced with sarcasm and anger. There was a slight chuckle from Bobby's lips. As impulsive as he was, as long as he felt he was winning, he could stay in control. And right now, he thought he was winning indeed. "Maybe it's your attitude, Doug", he remarked amusedly. "You don't 'use' women. You do your best to give them a good time. Which of course you can best provide by staying as far away as possible." Doug groaned loudly. "Please, Bobby. I'm getting tired of your superiority crap. One more crack and I'm going to be sick all over you." He turned to Dani and looked at her sternly. "Tell him he isn't god's gift to women, Dani. I'm getting pretty sick of him." "No can do, Doug", Dani grinned. She was starting to enjoy this more than she should. She got up from the recliner and put her book away, starting to walk towards the boys. "I mean, 'Berto is a great catch, I can't deny that. Sure, he's an arrogant, cocky bastard, and a bit goofy at times..." She winked at Bobby with a wide smile. "...but he's also polite, attentive, romantic and he dances like the Devil himself", she said in teasing tones. "I am not goofy", Bobby said, pouting slightly. He didn't seem to exhibit any reaction to the compliments. Why should he? He already knew all that. Doug's jaw dropped slack. "And what am I, chopped liver?" he asked astonishedly. Dani smiled and ruffled Doug's hair a bit. "No, Doug, you're a great, sweet guy - just ask Kitty or Betsy." Doug visibly blushed at the mention of Betsy, and Dani's smirk widened slightly. Then, her expression became a bit more serious. "There are a lot of different types of us girls, guys. Some prefer 'Berto's type, some prefer Doug's type. But whatever type Roulette is, neither of you is her type. If she cared for either of you, she wouldn't have put you against each other like that." Silence. Doug looked between Dani and Bobby for a while, then looked down ashamedly. Bobby sulked still at the 'goofy' comment. And Dani smiled, knowing this was as far as they were going to get. "Let's go, Doug", she said and put an arm around Doug's shoulders, starting to lead him away. She knew better than to try getting them to apologize to each other. Bobby would never do it, and Doug would just get pissed at him for it. Best quit while they were ahead. "Very well, Illyana", Magneto nodded. "Thank you for telling me the truth." He had just had a conversation with Illyana about what had happened yesterday on the way back from the Academy, and for now, Magneto was satisfied. "But please refrain from doing that again." Illyana shrugged calmly. "Whatever", she said in a non-committal manner. "How do you want to handle Sam?" Magneto smiled slightly as he leaned back on his chair. "I will ask him what happened last night. And see if he will take the blame for your actions by lying, or tell the truth." The room seemed to almost chill a little at Illyana's ice cold stare. "If you punish him for covering for me, you can count on the New Mutants never accepting you", she said with a tight grim expression. "Is that so, Illyana?" Magneto said, maintaining his calm exterior, but letting a hint of his inner fires show as well by narrowing his eyes slightly. "I don't take well to being blackmailed. You are my charges and I will not have any of you lying to me." "We are a team", Illyana replied coldly, not shying away from Magneto's stare, looking back at him challengingly. "And we stand together. Try to punish one of us for protecting a teammate, and you'll find the New Mutants won't just stand by quietly." Her tone turned colder every word, warning Magneto. Magneto didn't seem amused. "I also don't take well to being threatened, Illyana. You are students. I am the teacher. You listen to me, not the other way around. And I can not do my job without people being honest with me." Illyana snorted slightly, and leaned back on her chair, balancing on two legs. "You also can't do your job if we regard you as the enemy." Her eyes narrowed. "You don't want the New Mutants as your enemies, Magneto", her voice snapped. "You're smarter than that, teach." There was a moment of silence as Magneto thought it over, then he nodded. "I will take your concerns into consideration, Illyana", he said coldly. She kept balancing on her chair. "You may go." With a loud, protestive slam, Illyana's chair came down, back to all four legs. Then, a golden, shimmering disk appeared beneath the chair, rising upwards thru the chair and swallowing Illyana up as it rose. Within a few seconds, she was gone. Proudstar smiles as he takes Jetstream's hand. "Face it, my friend. There was no way you could have won. As long as you guys had Manny..." he grins. The idiot probably thinks it's funny. Well, let's just wait and see. He has no idea what is fun. The savage has no taste. No class. From the corner of my eye, I see Jennifer notice my eyes glowing and smirk as I start walking closer to Proudstar. "As long as we had me, James? Are you sure?" My power flows from me to the native. It feels good. I watch the emotion aura around him change and distort as I play with it like a sculptor. Now let's see who is in charge. "You were saying?" "I..." Proudstar closes his eyes for a moment. He is even more a fool than I thought if he thinks he can fight me. I but twist his emotions with a thought, and admire the result. His expression relaxes and his mouth opens. "I'm sorry, Manny. It was just a joke. I didn't mean it." As usual, Jetstream rolls his eyes and stays out of this. Jennifer watches with cold amusement. Tarot takes a step back and looks at me, scared. Good, she should be. This is tough, but... There! Did it! I can't stop the smile from coming to my lips. The idiots probably think it's from manipulating Proudstar. They have no clue of what I am planning. And they never will. None of them are smart enough to notice. Except Jennifer, maybe. But she won't tell anyone. She never does. I've done what I set out to do, and release my hold on Proudstar. The crimson glow disappears and I start walking towards the door out before anyone can stop me. I feel a gourmet course of emotions stirring behind me as I turn to leave. Anger. Disappointment. Amusement. Fright. And frustration. I feel myself being buffeted by all the emotions, feel them pressing on me, and walk quickly past the door, closing it behind me. My plan has begun. Soon, Illyana will be sorry.