Of Queens and Demons

“Whoa-ho!” Kitty Pryde called from the kitchen as Jean walked by. She grabbed a Diet Coke from the fridge and raced to meet her friend. “Have you seen the new recruit? Talk about gorgeous!” She glanced down at her calorie-free soda and frowned. “To tell you the truth, she certainly can make a girl feel self-conscious. I mean, she’s, like, perfect! Tall, tan, blonde, and a great body. I should be so lucky!”

“Yeah, I met her,” Jean replied absently. “She’s certainly something.”

“Are you, like, jealous?” Kitty asked. When Jean didn’t reply, she gaped in shock. “No way!”


“She’s not very nice.”

“Nice, eh? Or maybe you saw the way she looks at Scott…”

Jean started. “That’s not it!” she snapped. Wait, when did she have anything to be defensive about? “I mean – well… I don’t know. She is very pretty, I guess. I just haven’t seen some be so obviously into Scott since Rogue. And I certainly couldn’t fault him if he had returned Rogue’s affections, what with her tenacious spirit and – ”

“Big boobs,” Kitty supplied with an unnecessary gesture to her chest.

“Yeah, that too…”

“Aw, don’t worry,” the mutant assured her friend, “Scott loves you. He’s just a nice guy. And kind of
dense when it comes to girls, you know? Emma won’t get anywhere with your man. It’ll be fine.”

“Yeah… I guess you’re right.”

But deep down Jean still didn’t feel that it would be fine.


* * *


“Hey, beautiful. Glad I caught you alone.”

Jean looked up from her reading. Earlier that evening, eager to escape the escapades of the Xavier Institute Welcome Brigade, Jean drove to the library. She checked out a few books, and the current text she held in her hand was on astral projection, a subject she had become rather animated about since her last discussion with the professor. If he could do it, so could she. And Jean Grey was determined to try, which meant boning up on anything and everything related to psychic travels. “Scott?”

“Sorry I didn’t knock, but it sounded quiet, so I figure I wasn’t interrupting anything too important.” He smiled and planted a kiss on the top of her head. “How was your day?”

She sighed and set her pencil down. “It was terrible.”

“How come?”

“Well, first of all, the whole institute’s in a hoopla over the new girl. I mean, honestly, it’s not like we
haven’t had new girls before. The institute was so noisy all day that I just had to leave. And then, to top things off, I never even got to discuss my lesson plan for the new class with the professor because I had to give her a tour.”

Scott made a sympathetic face. “Hey, no worries. I’m sure the Professor would love to hear what you’ve come up with tomorrow morning. He’s just preoccupied. You know how it can get around here.”

“Yeah…” Jean pushed the thought of Emma Frost away. “How was your day?”

“Well, Kurt and I took Emma on a drive to show her all the cool spots in town. And then after that we grabbed some burgers. Oh, and Sam suggested that we all play a board game in the living room. I think some of the new recruits are going to play, too. Do you want to check it out? They still haven’t decided whether it’ll be Monopoly or Scene It. I voted for the latter. Monopoly never ends… especially when Multiple’s there and keeps introducing new players every time someone bumps into him.”

“No thanks,” she said. “I don’t feel much like socializing.”

Scott Summers knew his girlfriend well enough to know that something was bothering her. “Hey, what’s up? It must be more than just a loud house and a postponed meeting. Come on. You know you can tell me anything.”

“Well…” Jean grimaced, a little annoyed with her own worries. “I know that you would never do anything to hurt me, and I know that this may sound a little ridiculous, but… Scott, do you like Emma?”

“Huh?” Scott placed his hand on the back of his neck. Jean froze. Not a good sign. “Yeah, sure, I like her. And I hope you and the rest of the X-Men like her too. She seems to be a hit with the younger kids, at least.”

“That’s not what I mean,” she said. “I meant… do you like her. Not as a teammate, but as…”

Cyclops laughed. He couldn’t help it. “Jean, are you worried because you think I’m interested in Emma Frost?”
She nodded reluctantly. “Nothing could be farther from the truth.” Jean scoffed, but he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Sure, Emma’s a lovely girl. But you know you’re the only girl for me. Hell, it was hard enough getting you to pick me over that dufus Duncan Matthews. Like I’m going to just let you go for some girl I just met? I worked for years to get you to finally notice me!” He flashed her a reassuring smile.

“Thank God,” Jean replied, breathing a sigh of relief. She laid her head against her boyfriend’s chest, feeling at peace as his strong arms wrapped around her. “I don’t know why, but I was so worried. It’s not like it’s the first time other girls have flirted with you. First Rogue, then Taryn, and now Emma.” She unwound herself from Scott’s hold and kissed his cheek. “I’m sorry for being so silly. It’s just that… we’ve been through so much together. And I know you’re the one for me. When I think about the chance that someone might come between us… I get scared.”

“I know. It’s okay, Jean. It scares me, too.”

Jean hugged him tighter.

“Does that mean you want to play a game now?” Scott said with a chuckle.

Jean shook her head. “Uh-uh.” She laid her head against him again. “I just want to stay right here with you.”

Scott tilted her chin and met her eyes. “Okay then. We’ll entertain ourselves.” When he kissed her, Jean forgot all about Emma Frost.


* * *


None of the students (or teachers, for that matter) were quite prepared for Emma Frost’s morning attire. Most of the students thought nothing could top the initial meeting. After all, she waltzed in like she owned the place and wasted no time in tempting the boys with her very apparent… talents, which were barely hidden by a skin tight white tube top and white pleather pants that seemed suction-cupped to her firm ass. But that wasn’t even the tip of the iceberg. The White Queen had many more surprises in store for her teammates, starting with breakfast. At eight a.m. sharp, Emma Frost sauntered down the staircase to the kitchen where she meet several of the X-Men preparing breakfast.

“Good morning,” she greeted everyone coolly.

“Guten tag, Fraulein!” Kurt replied genially, looking up from the pan of bacon on the stove. Then he froze. To say that she was dressed immodestly would be a gross understatement. Emma Frost wore, frankly, only a skimpy white negligee that barely covered her perfectly tan thighs – among other parts of her anatomy. If the blue mutant had glanced down, he might have noticed fuzzy white slippers that seemed too cute to compliment something so… sexy. But his eyes barely strayed below the girl’s abundant cleavage. Nightcrawler thought the get-up she wore yesterday had been bad enough! Like most males gathered downstairs, Kurt simply stared – no, stared is not quite the word – he ogled.

Emma, however, paid no attention. She proceeded to the refrigerator and poured herself a glass of orange juice as though nothing were out of the ordinary.

“Ouch! Ouch!” Kurt cried, as Emma’s diversion had caused him to forget about the food, and some very hot, neglected oil had splattered all over his hand and singed his fur. Rogue rolled her eyes as her stepbrother hopped up and down in exaggerated pain.

Someone must speak up. Really, it was shameless to waltz around in a house full of pubescent males in next-to-nothing! Some one ought to give her a piece of their mind. Rogue decided this person would have to be herself. No one else had the guts to speak to this girl, nor the Southern sass that would put Ms. Rich Bitch in her place. Snatching a pop-tart as it sprang from the silver toaster, Rogue took action.

“Nice p.j.’s,” she said, not bothering to hide the sarcasm.

“Thanks, I got them at Fredrick’s,” Emma replied without missing a beat.

“As in Fredrick’s of Hollywood?”

“You got it.”

The male student body gathered in the kitchen left, groaning things about torture and returning to their rooms for reasons Rogue could only guess. “Haven’t you wondered if maybe what you’re wearin’ isn’t the most appropriate of outfits?” Rogue tried again.

“Not particularly.”

“Well, I hate to break it to you, but it isn’t appropriate.”

Emma gave the other mutant a stiff look. “I wear what I want. I have a wonderful body, and I intend to show it off. My figure is just as useful to me as my mutant powers, and I’ll have you know that a bit of cleavage has saved my life more times than any psychic attack.” She examined Rogue from head to toe, surprised that such a curvaceous beauty would hide behind so many layers. “As far as I can see, Rogue, you have quite the body as well. Why do you hide it behind all that fabric?”

The goth blushed and folded her arms across her chest in attempt to hide from the older mutant’s boring gaze. At first, she thought to give a snide reply of how she didn’t need to show off because she had class. But she knew the blonde would take one look at her heavy make-up and laugh. She decided to tell the truth. “I can’t wear somethin’ like that,” she said. “Not if other people are around. My body essential is my weapon – my mutant power – but I can’t control it. So if anyone were to even brush past my bare shoulder – well, they’d be lyin’ on that floor and out cold.”

“Still…” Emma circled around the girl. “You’re quite lovely. I don’t think those clothes do you justice at all. I’d like to take you shopping. Would you mind?”

“I don’t need a make-over,” Rogue snapped defensively.

“It’s not like that. Come on. I’m interested in making new friends. It would give us a chance to get to know one another better, and give you an opportunity to cash in on a new wardrobe courtesy of Frost Enterprises.” She smiled warmly, surprising the other girl. “Besides, I’m especially interested in you. You you have a fascinating power. I think you might be able to best me in battle. And, believe me, I’m no lightweight. Mutant powers notwithstanding, I don’t think we’re as different as you think we are.”

The younger mutant considered. “Well… who am I to turn down free clothes? Okay, it’s a deal. But only on the condition that I have final veto power. I don’t have to wear whatever you pick, okay?”

“That sounds fair.”

“And, in return, I get to introduce a little color into your wardrobe.”

Emma laughed. “I think that might be pushing my generosity. How would my enemies know me as the White Queen if I wore… purple?”

Rogue returned the laugh. “I guess you have a point there.” For the first time in a week, the girl gave a genuine grin. “I get out of class ‘round three. Wanna meet in the foyer at three thirty?”

“It’s a date,” the blonde confirmed. She took a sip of her juice demurely, an attitude that Rogue did
not think suited her. “Well, I have a few things to do myself. Good luck in school.” Then she twirled around and disappeared down the hallway.

“Whoa, are you and the new girl, like, friends now?” a voice called from behind.

Kitty, Rogue thought with an internal groan. The mutant had a knack for appearing out of nowhere and asking questions that did not concern her. But, as her roommate and friend, Rogue felt compelled to answer. “Maybe,” she admitted with a shrug. “She offered to take me shoppin’. And as rich as she is, even if we don’t hit it off, it’s not like I’m not getting’ anythin’ out of it.”

“I thought you didn’t like her,” Shadowcat argued. “If I remember right, your nickname for Emma Frost yesterday was ‘Sleaze Queen’. Why the sudden change of heart, huh?”

“If you would only use that remarkable brain of yours,” Rogue retorted tightly, “you’d realize that there’s nothin’ wrong with changin’ your mind sometimes. I certainly wouldn’t be friends with you, and Jean for that matter, if I was as stubborn as you expect me to be.”

“Speaking of Jean,” Kitty whispered, pulling at her roommate’s arm. Rogue followed the girl into the hallway where they could gossip away from eavesdroppers. Though, considering the amount of mutants whose powers allowed them to drop in and out without warning, privacy wasn’t necessarily a right any student expected to keep. “I think she’s jealous of Emma.”

“Ms. Perfect, jealous of anyone?” Rogue scoffed.

“It’s true!” Kitty insisted. “She’s been acting really weird lately. Think about it. She has similar powers, and Emma has been flirting with Scott…”

“Well, she sure never blew a gasket when I had my rather obvious crush on Cyclops.” Rogue took a huge bite of toaster pastry bitterly.

“Don’t tell me you still like him?”

“Of course not!” Rogue nearly shouted. Several students in the living turned their heads to see who had made the noise. “Of course not,” she hissed quietly. “Would I go shoppin’ with a girl who wants to sink her claws into the man I liked?”

“Well, what if she started flirting with Gambit?”

He’d follow her around like a pet dog, Rogue thought morosely. But she would not show that weakness. Frowning, she darkly reminded Kitty that Gambit was an off-limits subject.

Kitty’s mouth curled into a cat-that-ate-the-canary grin. “Well, I don’t see how I can not mention him when you keep screaming his name in your sleep all the time.”

“Katherine Pryde,” the goth snarled, “I know where you sleep. Remember that the next time you made comments about my love life.”

“Jeesh, lighten up!”

Shadowcat was about to mention something else, but grew silent when she saw Jean Grey descending the stairs. “Hey, Red,” she greeted cheerfully.

“Kitty, Rogue,” she returned, joining their party. “Boy, am I glad to see you two! Do you have plans after school? I thought that we could catch a movie or something since we don’t have a Danger Room session today.”

Rogue looked to roommate awkwardly, then back to Jean. “Uh, that sounds great, but, um, you see, I already have plans today. I’m sorry.” For the millionth time since she began living at the institute, she thanked God that telepaths had trouble reading her mind without her permission.

“Oh yeah? Who with?”

Kitty chose this moment to save Rogue from Jean’s telepathic onslaught. “I’m totally free,” she offered. “What movie did you want to check out?”

“The new James Bond movie looks good. That actor is the hottest 007 I have ever seen.”

“Better than Sean Connery?”

“Better than any of them. That chest! Mmm mmm.”

“Watch out,” Kitty warned without thinking, “or Scott might get jealous.”

A darkness clouded Jean’s eyes. Rogue shifted uneasily, mouthing “Good going” to Shadowcat, who had covered her mouth with her hands as if the action might retract her statement. “That’s not what I meant – ”

“I figured we might catch the matinee. Does that work for you?”

Kitty nodded meekly, a little surprised that the redhead could bounce back so quickly after just giving the look-of-death.

“Good.” Jean looked at her wristwatch and then smiled. “I’ll see you girls later. You’d better hurry up, or you’ll be late for first period… again.”