Unspoken: A Little Gossip

A Little Gossip
by Victoria P.

Rating: PG

Summary: Bobby explains it all to Hank

Timeline: Concurrent with/slightly after "Confessional"

Notes: Thanks to Jen, Pete, Dot, and Meg.

Date: September 29, 2001

Hank made his way upstairs, whistling the jaunty "Spring" concerto from "The Four Seasons," putting the odd noise he'd heard down to the local cats, which loved to wreak havoc whenever someone left the garage door open.

A month in Switzerland had been rejuvenating. He'd hiked the Alps, stood on Mont Blanc and quoted Shelley to the winds, much to the amusement of his fellow mountaineers. By the time the conference he was speaking at rolled around, he was as relaxed and refreshed as he could ever remember being.

And then, oh, the discoveries he presented. He thought perhaps -- though one didn't like to be overconfident -- that his name would be on the short list for the Nobel Prize this year, joining such luminaries as Watson and Crick in the annals of genetics history.

In such an exuberant frame of mind, he was prepared to overlook the fact that Bobby was lounging in his bed, eating Twinkies and watching cartoons. But he wasn't going to let Bobby know that.

"Robert. What, pray tell, are you doing here, no doubt getting crumbs in my bed?"

"Hank! Hankmeister! Hank-a-roonie!" Bobby jumped up and embraced his friend fervently. In the tumult of the past few weeks, Bobby had longed for Hank's even keel and keen sense of observation, as well as his dry wit, in helping pierce the layers of melodrama surrounding the mansion and its inhabitants.

"It is good to see you, too, Bobby," Hank said, setting down his suitcase and returning the hug.

Bobby bounced back onto the bed, acting more like eight than eighteen. "You wouldn't believe the shit that's gone on around here since you left, Hank!" He took Hank's look of friendly curiosity as permission to launch into the tale.

"Miss Rogue ended her engagement with Mr. Summers," he began, a smug smile overtaking his face at Hank's start of surprise.

"Bobby, are you sure?"

"Yup. Though they might be getting back together. They were smooching in the hall a little while ago."

"They seemed so happy when I left. Whatever could be the matter?"

"If you'd let me tell the story, I'll get to that."

"Proceed."

"Twinkie?"

"Yes, thank you."

Hank sat down and accepted the golden treat as Bobby began talking again. "Okay, so about a week and a half ago, this guy Logan shows up on the doorstep with this redheaded doctor -- a real knockout, she is -- who's also a telepath. She's all freaking out about hearing voices and stuff, so of course the Prof takes right to her.

"Two days later, Miss Rogue and Mr. Summers have this big blowout. You know how she gets." Hank nodded. He did indeed. "And she went running off to the train station, determined to go away for a while. Except that Magneto was there, waiting for her, with some of his freaky Brotherhood goons."

"Oh, dear."

"Exactly. They got hold of Miss Rogue, and the X-Men went to rescue her, along with the new doctor -- Jean Grey's her name -- and the growly guy, Logan. I don't know what really happened, but Logan touched Miss Rogue on top of the Statue of Liberty and saved her life. He's a superhealer."

"A superhealer?" Hank asked excitedly.

"Yeah. But let's not get sidetracked here, Blue. I know you're going to want to run all sorts of tests on him, but let me finish the story.

"So Miss Rogue absorbs his healing power -- and his growling, apparently -- and things get even worse between her and Mr. Summers."

"Bobby, why would that make things worse between them? I'd think Scott would be thrilled that this stranger was willing to risk his life to ... Oh. Oh, I see. Scott's upset that he was not the one able to rescue her. He blames himself, no doubt."

Bobby shrugged. "I don't know, though that's probably part of it. Scott feels guilty for breathing, half the time. All I know is, Scott and Jean Grey were circling each other like dogs in heat and Miss Rogue went swimming with Logan."

"Rogue went swimming? In the lake? In October?"

Bobby nodded vigorously. "And none of us was around to see it, dammit." He flushed and Hank grinned. Bobby's crush on Rogue was no secret to anyone who'd been at the school for any length of time.

"Anyhow, she gave Scott back the ring, and Jean's shacked up with Warren--"

Hank snorted delicately. "I might have known Warren would be involved in this little drama. He's always had a fondness for redheads."

"Mr. Summers, too, apparently. Except that Kitty saw him and Miss Rogue in the hall about an hour ago, and they were making out like, well, like teenagers."

"This is all very interesting, Bobby, but why are you so excited about it?"

"Because I bet they'd get back together. Jubes is running a pool -- she thinks Miss Rogue is going to jump into the sack with the hairy guy," he snorted disdainfully, "and that Scott's going to go after the redhead."

"And you disagree?"

"To the tune of forty bucks. Miss Rogue's not the kind to fall into bed with some hairy, claw guy--"

"Claw guy?" Hank interrupted, but Bobby ignored him.

"-- just because she and Scott are fighting. And you know how Warren is. So I think it's going to be Miss Rogue and Scott, back together, and Warren and Jean Grey--"

"And what about Candace?"

Bobby waved his hand. "Candy puts up with all Warren's crap. Jean Grey is just another one of his projects. He calls her the Drowned Kitten."

Hank nodded. Warren definitely had a bent for rescuing damsels in distress, but he usually went back to his girlfriend once the damsel got back on her feet.

"And you felt the need to impart this information to me immediately because...?"

Bobby dropped his eyes. "I was hoping you'd talk to Miss Rogue in the morning and find out what's going on."

"Bobby!"

"Well, you know, she talks to you. I know she does. And, and, it would be nice for once if Jubes and Johnny lost, you know? Kitty and I--" he stopped abruptly and Hank was suddenly wary.

"You and Kitty what, Bobby? Please tell me Kitty hasn't been sneaking into Scott's room or something of that nature?"

Bobby flushed. "Ah, no, not exactly." He felt it prudent not to mention how Kitty had planned on doing just that in the morning, and leaving behind a copy of Cosmo to help Scott solve his romantic problems.

"Robert!"

"So, you see, Hank, you have to help us out!"

Hank sighed. "You will not intrude on Rogue or the newcomers?" Bobby shook his head vigorously. "All right. I will see if Rogue will open up to me in the morning. But now, I'm jetlagged and would like to sleep in a crumb-free bed, so take yourself off." Bobby scrambled off the bed, his mission accomplished. "And I mean it, Robert. No interference on your part. Do not bother Rogue."

"Yeah, fine, Hank. Thanks!"

As he left the room, he could be heard to mutter (if anyone had been there to hear him), "He didn't say anything about not bothering Scott." A slow, wicked smile curled his lips. Operation Cosmo would go into effect tomorrow at oh nine hundred hours.

~*~

Silk and Steel by Pollyanna

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Disclaimer: All X-Men characters belong to Marvel and Fox; this piece of fan-written fiction intends no infringement on any copyrights.