Old Flame, New Fire

by Nate Grey

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Marvel Comics.

Summary: Just as Nate & Jubilee begin to get serious, Threnody returns.

Notes: The Threnody in this story is the one Nate first fell in love with, and vice versa. She is NOT the one that supposedly has a baby by him. (I HATE Marvel for that) Just so we're clear on that. Enjoy!


"You realize that they've been in there for two hours."

Angelo looked up. "Si, Ev. Problem?"

"They're in his room!"

"Si, and we're not. Again, problem?"

"YES! They could be...touching!"

Angelo gasped in mock horror. "You mean they might be...!" He reached over and poked Everett's arm. "That?!"

"You're NOT funny, Ange."

"Millions of adoring fans would disagree, mi amigo. Now stop worrying. Jubecita is fine. Nate ain't gonna touch her anywhere she don't want him to." Then he added with a sinister grin, "Of course, if she DOES want him to touch her..."

"ANGE!"

Angelo grinned. "I'm kidding, Ev. Mostly. Maybe."

* * * * *

Fortunately, (for Everett, anyway) Jubilee & Nate weren't touching. Well, not in the way that he'd suggested. They both were both fully dressed. However, (and Everett would HATE this part) they were on a bed together. But, the couple was only talking, so it was totally innocent.

"Jubilee, are you happy with me?"

She blinked and rolled over, looking into his eyes. "What?"

Nate brushed a strand of black hair away from her face. "Are you happy with me?"

Jubilee stared at him for a moment. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"Do I...y'know...make you happy?"

She resisted the urge to laugh when she realized that he was serious. "Dude, you can think of the dumbest questions right after a perfect date."

"So is that a yes?"

Jubilee rolled her eyes and grinned. "Duh! Nate, I wouldn't keep goin' out with you if I wasn't happy. And if you did anything I didn't like, trust me, I'd let you know." She paused and patted his cheek. "Why'd you ask, anyway? Cuz now I'm wonderin' if I need to ask you the same question."

"No, you're great! It's just...well, given my history, I like to check every now and then. Just to be safe."

"We never did go into detail about that, did we?" she asked.

"Nope. I offered, and you said to tell you later."

"It's later."

He grinned nervously. "Okay. Um...where should I start?"

"The beginning?"

Nate frowned.

"I'm kiddin'! Tell me about the Irish one."

Nate leaned back, resting his head against the pillow. "Theresa was my best friend. I guess that's how we got involved. I saved her life, and then she saved mine. Forge wanted to leave her, but I wouldn't let him. After that, we were closer than ever."

"So what happened?" Jubilee asked.

He sighed. "The last time I saw her, she kissed me. She died along with everyone else on my world. Well, almost everyone."

"So which is the one you don't wanna talk about?"

"That would be Maddie."

"Gotcha." Jubilee thought for a moment. "And the last one?"

"Threnody." Nate sighed wistfully. "She was my best friend, too. Just like with Terry, I saved her life when we met. Threnody's power dealt with death, though. She could feel it when mutants died, especially from the Legacy Virus. Almost drove her crazy once. Anyway, she was kinda like Omega Red. She needs the energy of others to live."

"So she was a vampire?"

"...something like that. As a matter of fact, it was a vampire that caused us a lot of trouble. He was attracted to her, and when they met, her true addiction came out into the open. I found out that she'd been stealing energy whenever she wanted, not just when she needed it. I told her it was wrong, and left her. Told her if she wanted to change, she could come back to me. I didn't know I'd never see her again."

Jubilee glanced at him, noticing the pained look on his face. "You still love her, don't you?"

"Yeah. I know she was wrong, but...I miss her."

"So, if she came back...would you dump me for her?"

Nate blinked and looked at her. "Don't even think that, Jubes. I've lost too many loves in this life. I'm not gonna lose you, too."

"So what would you do if she did come back?"

He sighed. "I don't know. But you have nothing to worry about. For one thing, I'm almost sure she's never coming back. For another, I haven't forgotten Wolverine & Gambit's threats, and I enjoy living."

Jubilee smiled and kissed his cheek. "I enjoy you living, too."

* * * * *

There was a bright flash of light, and the pair appeared.

"Last stop! Everybody off!"

"Deadpool, has anyone ever told you that you have a really annoying sense of humor?"

He looked at her. "Yes. Why?"

She sighed. "Nothing. Thanks for helping me. You can go now."

"No way. I'm gonna be around for a while. Have fun, kid!" Deadpool walked off, whistling a lively tune.

The girl took in her new surroundings. She was just about to start walking when two boys her age entered the clearing. They both froze.

"Um...you're not evil, are you?" the first asked.

"No."

"So...you're not here to kill or harm us?" the other asked.

"No."

"Oh. Welcome to Xavier's then," the first said. "I'm Everett, and this is Angelo. You would be...?"

"An old friend of Nate's," she replied with a smile. "Is he around?"

"You could say that," Everett mumbled hesitantly.

"Well, as you can see, I'm new around here. Could one of you boys be kind enough to show me where he is?"

Everett was still looking very nervous, so Angelo stepped forward. "I can do that! Right this way, chica," he said, offering her his arm.

"Thank you, kind sir," she replied, taking it. As they walked away, she waved. "Bye, Everett!"

Everett just frowned. "How come Nate gets all the cute girls?!"

* * * * *

Nate woke up to hear someone pounding on his door. He sighed and tried to get up, soon finding that his arm was numb. He turned his head, only to see Jubilee cuddled up next to him. With a loud groan, he pulled his arm away and nearly fell off the bed. He sighed and stumbled over to the door, throwing it open. "Ange, if this isn't important, I will not hesitate to hurt you."

Angelo smiled. "Si, mi amigo, but this is very important." He moved aside to reveal Threnody standing behind him. "TA DA! How's that for important, eh?" His eyebrows arched suggestively before he walked away, chuckling to himself.

Any grogginess Nate had instantly disappeared. "Threnody? Is it really you?"

"It's me, Natey. In the flesh." She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "I missed you."

Nate gently wrapped his arms around her waist. "Thren, what are you doing here?"

"Looking for you, obviously. Can we go somewhere and talk?"

He glanced back into his room. Fortunately for him, Jubilee was still asleep. "Yeah, sure. Let's talk."

* * * * *

"So who is she?" Paige asked.

"Some old friend of Nate's," Everett said.

"No, that's just what she told us," Angelo corrected. "But the look on her face told us that she was an old girlfriend of Nate's."

"Well, that can't be good, can it?" Jono asked. "And you just took her right to his room?"

"Yeah! I wanna see how Nate handles this. Will he use his words, or his powers to make everyone forget how much trouble he's in?"

"I don't like it," Monet said suddenly. "We don't know anything about her."

"We know she's FINE," Everett pointed out.

"Testify, amigo!" Angelo agreed, high-fiving him.

Paige rolled her eyes. "Whatever! Is she a mutant? What are her powers?"

"That's what I intend to find out," Monet replied. "I trust the rest of you will keep her under close watch while I investigate the computer files?"

"Oh, I have no problems watching her," Everett volunteered.

Angelo snickered. "Yeah, the problem comes when you try to avoid drooling."

* * * * *

Even though she was asleep, at some point, Jubilee began to miss Nate's arm around her. It was then that she woke up and realized that he was no longer there. "Nate?" she asked, looking around. The only thing she saw was that she was alone.

Jubilee sighed and climbed out of bed. She figured Nate had gone back to the mansion to finish up the tests that the X-Men had been running on his powers. That meant she would have to keep herself busy until he got back.

After making a quick stop in the kitchen and stuffing a few apples in her pocket, Jubilee decided to go visit Penance in the Biosphere. She had just left the kitchen when she heard two voices. One belonged to Nate, and the other to someone she didn't know.

"So, what have you been up to all this time?" a female voice asked.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Nate replied. "But as you can tell by now, I'm not so much of a loner anymore."

"Really? I seem to remember a certain someone swearing that all things dealing with Xavier were evil."

There was an uneasy pause. "That was before I met Generation X. They took me in. My life's very different now, Thren."

Jubilee would've sworn that the blood froze in her veins. Thren. Short for Threnody. What else could it have been short for? Taking a deep breath and letting it out, she causually walked into the room, as if she hadn't expected anyone to be there, and pretended to look surprised when she saw the the pair sitting on the couch.

Threnody stood up to shake her hand. "Hi! Are you one of the other students here?"

It took most of Jubilee's will power not to crush Threnody's hand as she shook it. "Yup. You're a visitor?"

"Something like that, yes."

Nate stood up and hurried over. It didn't take any of his powers to tell him what Jubilee was thinking. "Threnody, this is Jubilee. She used to be one of the X-Men." Then, before Jubilee could shoot him any looks, he quickly added, "She's also my girlfriend."

The expression on Threnody's face was a mixture of pure shock and major disappointment. "Oh," she said quietly. "How long?"

"About six months," Nate answered.

"You must be very happy together," was all Threnody could think to come up with.

"Extremely," Jubilee added. Though she was smiling, her eyes silently dared Threnody to say anything to challenge her.

"Well, you two probably have lots to talk about," Threnody said after a few seconds. "I'll just leave you alone now."

"We sure do," Jubilee muttered, her eyes locking on Nate.

Threnody looked a bit pale as she disappeared into the kitchen.

"Well, I always knew we'd have our first fight eventually," Jubilee told him. "I just didn't think it would be over anything this major."

"You're going to kill her, aren't you?"

She smirked. "She's number two on my most wanted list. Guess who number one is?"

"Me?"

"Yup. I'll keep you alive long enough to find out how you plan to handle this. If I like your answer, you'll both live a bit longer. If I don't, then you won't like how I react. Now, I'm gonna go visit Penny." Jubilee grinned and patted his cheek before turning away from him. "Oh, and you might wanna chat with your ex before I do. I won't be as nice next time."

* * * * *

For someone who supposedly knew everything, Monet was shocked by what she found in the computer files. Not only had Threnody been declared insane at one point, but she was then entrusted to the care of Sinister, one of the X-Men's greatest enemies. As if that wasn't enough, her mutant power to absorb death energies was just disturbing.

Monet sat back in her chair, thinking. Threnody had some sort of past with Nate, that much she was sure of. She also remembered that Jubilee didn't like to talk about Nate's past much. Putting two and two together, Monet figured that Jubilee wouldn't like Threnody much, while Nate probably felt some responsibility for the girl. Which meant that ultimately, he'd have to make a choice. A hard choice.

With a sigh, Monet headed out to find Jubilee, mentally preparing herself for the backlash. She knew that Jubilee's thoughts could be just as explosive as her words, and that was a risk for any telepath. Despite how she felt about the girl, Jubilee was Monet's teammate. They didn't get along very well, but Monet was not about to let some strange girl endanger the one thing that kept Jubilee in a good mood. She wasn't going to let Threnody hurt her...friend?

Monet quickly pushed the word from her mind as she entered the Biosphere. She soon found Jubilee with Artie and Leech, who were playing a game of Hide & Seek with Penance. Building up her tolerance reserves, Monet forced herself to stand directly in front of Jubilee, who was sitting on a boulder.

Jubilee looked up. "Hey, M," she said quietly. "What'd I do this time to piss you off?"

"Nothing, Jubilee. I merely wish to speak with you."

Jubilee blinked. She looked around to make sure no one else was there. "You mean ME?" she asked, pointing at herself.

Monet sighed. "Yes. I want to talk about Nate's 'friend' that has so mysteriously entered our lives."

"Oh, that." The very thought of Threnody was depressing for her. "Have a seat," she offered, gesturing toward the rest of the boulder.

Monet sat down beside her. "I realize that we have never been the best of friends, but I am greatly concerned about you, Jubilee."

"Um...why?"

"I have researched Threnody in the computer files, and-"

"You SPIED on her?" Jubilee asked in surprise.

Monet looked at her. "Yes. You have a problem with this?"

"No, I just kinda thought that sorta thing was below you. Way to go, M!"

"Yes. Well, I found out that Threnody was not only mentally unstable at one point, but that she was entrusted to the care of Sinister by the X-Men."

"So is she still...y'know...nuts?"

Monet frowned. "I haven't met her yet. I'm reserving my judgment until then." She hesitated, then carefully placed a hand on Jubilee's shoulder. "If I am correct in assuming that you're distressed by her appearance, you need only say the word, and I will gladly intervene."

Jubilee stared at the hand on her shoulder. "Is that your way of sayin' you got my back?"

Monet hesitated again. "Yes."

"Cool." Jubilee placed her hand over Monet's. "Thanks, M. Maybe I'm outta line here, but this isn't because you wanna be the only black girl on the team, is it?"

"No, Jubilee," Monet replied. "It's because I fear for the saftey of all of us. And because I wish to be the only racially compatible person available for Everett."

"Okay. I was just...WHAT?!"

Monet smiled. "That was a joke, Lee."

Jubilee frowned. "Man, you even joke elegantly."

"Quite. And Jubilee?"

"Yeah?"

Monet stood up and started back towards the school. "If you and Nate break up over this crisis, I will gladly bash his skull until it implodes, if you like."

Jubilee stared at the girl's back. "I never thought I'd say this, but I am SO glad she's on my side."

* * * * *

Nate didn't want to think about her. That's why he'd gone for a quick flight around the school, just to clear his head. It wasn't working. Nothing was. Nothing would, either. He finally gave up. He was going to have to do something about Threnody.

He had just landed on the roof when she appeared suddenly, a hopeful smile on her face. It wasn't a look Nate wanted to see just then.

"Nate, we really need to talk," she said.

"I don't think that'd be a good idea," Nate responded.

"Nate, please. This is very important."

He sighed. "Fine, but don't make me regret this."

"You won't. I came back for two reasons. The first was I realized you were right. It was wrong to steal energy from people just because I wanted to. The fact is, I still need it to survive, so I had to find a way to get it without stealing it."

"I thought you said two reasons?" Nate asked.

Threnody smiled again. "I did. The second reason I came back was you, Nate. I need you. More than ever now."

"Thren, you know Jubilee and I are-"

"No, you don't understand," she interrupted. "I know you've got someone else now, but I need you for another reason. I finally figured out why we were so close. Why we needed each other before. You needed me because you were lonely, and I needed you to help me escape Sinister, and to feed me."

"Feed you?" Nate looked suspicious. "What are you getting at?"

"Don't you see, Nate? I need a large amount of power constantly to stay alive. You've got so much power that it's gonna kill you one day. That's why your body shuts it off sometimes. I could make that stop."

"It sounds like you want me to share my power with you, Thren."

"I do. It's simple, really. If I took some of your power, you'd have enough to keep operating on normal levels without hurting yourself, and I wouldn't have to drain anyone." She stepped closer to him, her eyes shining. "In the end, we'd both live longer. Don't you want that, Nate? You'd have more time with Jubilee, and I'd go on living."

Nate didn't say it, but it sounded like Threnody had given this request a lot of thought. It certainly seemed like a good idea. Still, there had to be flaws. Nothing was this easy. "What happens if I say no?"

Threnody's smile faded. "Then you'd leave me no choice. Despite the irony, Nate, I'm afraid to die, and I refuse to do it just because you wouldn't help me. I'd have to go back to stealing power from others. I'd hate to do that, because I wanted to show you how much I've changed. How much I wanna do right now. But if you force me to do wrong, I will. I won't die, Nate. I can't. Not yet."

Nate didn't need his telepathy to see that Threnody was desperate. She was also being honest and sincere. She didn't need his help to live, but she did if she wanted to live right. And she did. Who was he to deny her that right. "Thren, I'd really like to help you, but I have to think about this first."

Threnody came closer, slipping her arms around his neck. "What's there to think about? You don't wanna die, and I don't wanna die. We can help each other, just like we used to. We were partners."

Nate's eyes narrowed a bit. "No, not like we used to. We weren't just partners, Thren. We were a couple. We can't do that anymore, but I want to help you. It just can't be like that."

She sighed and removed her arms. "Fine. Will you help me?"

"I need some time to think about that," Nate said after a while.

"Don't take too long, Natey," Threnody added as she walked away. "It's been a long time since I've fed, and I'd hate to have to drain someone around here."

* * * * *

He was bored. Very bored. If he'd been a normal person, that wouldn't have been a problem. But this was Wade Wilson, better known as the wise-cracking mercenary, Deadpool. And when Deadpool got bored, he got very creative. Not a good combination.

His original plan was to kick back, relax a while, and take it easy for a week or two. Then Threnody had contacted him, offering a huge sum for the location of Nate Grey. Never one to refuse an easy job with a big payoff, Deadpool had retraced his steps and led her right to Grey.

That was easy enough, but he had another motive. One that Al probably wouldn't be proud of, especially after he'd made such progress trying to be a one-woman man. Of course, if that one woman was too busy elsewhere, ogling a boring hunk of Indian, it was only fair that he got to have some fun with someone else, too.

But Deadpool, despite what other people always said, had set some pretty high goals for himself. Well, one high goal, anyway. It was the highest he'd ever set, and it would take all of his natural charm to accomplish it, and then some. He was very dedicated to the purpose, and before he left Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in Snow Valley, Massachusetts, Wade Wilson was going to seduce Monet St. Croix.

Was he insane? Clinically proven, as a matter of fact. Not that that had ever stopped him before. If anything, it only made him more persistent. Which could be both annoying and scary, depending on a person's tolerance levels.

But all that could and would have to wait. For now, Deadpool was still bored, and someone was going to pay dearly for that. Pay very dearly, indeed.

* * * * *

"I say he wouldn't sleep with her," Angelo guessed. "Nate seems like the type. Well, he used to, anyway."

Everett frowned. "I think maybe she cheated on him."

Jono made the mental version of a sigh. "If you're just gonna sit around guessing why Threnody & Nate broke up, why not just ask them?"

"For one thing, we're not gonna get caught up in this fem-war," Angelo replied. "And for another, it'd ruin the bet. We're gonna wait until Jubecita gets really bummed, and then when she needs a shoulder, one of us will be there to listen and just kinda slide the query in."

Jono shook his head. "You're using her as a means to declare who wins a bet? That's sick!"

"That, mi amigo, is life. You in or not?"

Jono glared at him, but finally gave up and threw a ten on the table. "He pissed off her folks."

"Great. Now who gets to go find out who won?" Everett asked.

Angelo looked at him. "Well, you're her best bud."

"She'll talk to you easy," Jono agreed.

Everett sighed. "Fine. But if she fries me, I'm keeping all the money to get my face repaired."

* * * * *

Paige had never really seen a grenade before. Farm land in Kentucky just didn't get caught up in any wars. But she knew enough to know that they were explosive, and therefore very dangerous. So when she saw one sitting on her bed, she screamed.

Then it exploded. And as mint jelly coated her face, Paige realized that someone had a very strange, but sick, sense of humor. She turned around, only to stare into the face of Deadpool. Well, his mask, anyway.

"You bumpkins are all the same. I'm surprised you didn't notice the exploding bunny."

Paige frowned. "Wilson, get out." Then she paused. "What bunny?"

Deadpool fled as a second explosion sounded, followed by a pained shriek.

"FLUPPY!!!"

* * * * *

Jubilee hadn't planned on giving Nate too long to think about Threnody. If anything, she didn't want him to think about her at all. Plus, if he really had to think twice, their relationship was in big trouble. The kind that candlelight dinners and chocolates and heartfelt apologies couldn't fix.

She wanted to hit him for taking so long.

She wanted to hit Threnody for existing.

She wanted to hit Monet for being supportive. (Not that she didn't appreciate it, but things were weird enough without Monet being nice)

She wanted to hit herself for not frying Threnody on the spot.

She wanted to hit Deadpool for spying on her like some sort of half-naked freak.

As expected, Jubilee did a double-take. Sure enough, Deadpool was still outside the window, clinging to a tree. The bottom half of his costume was missing, revealing a pair of Darth Vader boxer shorts.

"Y'know, a real friend would at least crack the window," he muttered.

"No, a real friend would put you out of your misery. Do you realize you're half-naked?"

"YES! Are you going to open the window or not?"

Jubilee smirked. "I don't invite half-naked men into my room. It's this little rule I have."

"Jubes, I don't care if you're horny and Nate's not giving you any. I am NOT sleeping with you! Well, not in broad daylight..."

"I'm gonna ignore that. You wanna tell me why you're indecent?"

"Not really. Paige sicced the red girl on me."

"Penny? SHE roughed you up?" Jubilee held in a laugh.

"I think she's still mad about the time I gassed her."

"Well, she really hates being kidnapped. Hey, anyone ever tell you that you look like a skinny version of Thing without clothes?"

Deadpool frowned. "If you're referring to my misfortunate but strangely attractive skin, then yes. If you mean my massive scar tissue areas and tan lines, I'll have to call you a freak. Thing isn't pink, either."

"He is when he's been dipped in pink paint. I got the pics to prove it, and MAN, that dude is ugly in pi-"

"JUBILEE!!!" Deadpool shouted.

She pouted and opened the window. "Oh, fine. But if Nate comes in, you forced yourself on me. 'Kay?"

"'Kay." Deadpool instantly tackled her onto the bed and pinned her arms.

"Um...Wade, dude, what are you doin'?"

"Trying to look convincing. You got man trouble?"

She sighed. "Yeah. Nate's ex is back."

"I could kill her. Since you're a friend, it's free of charge."

"How about since you ruined my first date by kidnapping me?"

Deadpool made a face behind his mask. "YOU don't have to worry about money; you're just a kid. I got bills to pay."

"Yeah, right. You mean 1-800 HOT GIRL bills, right?" she asked with a grin.

"Exactly. Back to the matter at hand. This ex got a name?"

"Threnody."

"Hmm. Think she likes guys with massive scar tissue?"

"Nobody likes guys with ANY scar tissue."

"She sounds hot. Is Nobody really her name?"

"...dude, you need help."

"Sez you! Well, you and everyone else I've ever met, but still..."

* * * * *

Nate looked at the three boys. The ones he had considered to be his good friends. Well, three seconds ago, anyway. "You did WHAT?!"

Everett scratched his head nervously. "Well, Nate, we were all bored, and we had some money to blow, so we-"

"Made a simple business transaction," Angelo interrupted. It was bad enough that Nate knew what they had done, (Damn Everett and his weak mental shields) but no matter what, you NEVER told a guy that you made a bet on his girlfriend, ex or otherwise. It was like stating you had a death wish.

"YOU WERE BETTING ON MY EX-GIRLFRIEND!!!"

Jono winced. "You got it all wrong, mate. We were just wondering what happened between you two."

"Yeah, and it wasn't like we were betting on Jubilee," Everett quickly added.

Angelo and Jono slapped their foreheads.

Nate crossed his arms. "And how were you planning to find out who won, huh?"

Everett's face went red. "Um...you?"

Nate made a buzzer sound. "Try again."

"Thren-"

Buzzer sound.

"Um...Jub-"

"Ev, I should warn you. If you say it, you will die."

Everett swallowed noisily. "Well, we still weren't betting DIRECTLY on her! She was just gonna help us find out who won!"

"That just means you were using my girlfriend, right?" Nate asked.

Everett nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Using her to...NO! NOT USING! USING IS BAD!" He slapped his hand. "BAD EVERETT! BAD!"

"Uh huh." Nate frowned. "I expect this from Ange, and maybe even Jono. But you, Ev. You're practically Jubilee's brother."

"Yeah, her retard brother with a big mouth," Angelo muttered.

"And an open mind," Jono added with a glare.

"I'm not even going to hurt you," Nate said with a smile. "I'm just going to tell Jubes what you were planning to do."

"NO!" Everett shrieked. "Not that! Anything but that! Please!"

"Sorry, pal," Nate replied as he walked out of the room. "Maybe you'll think twice next time before making a dumb bet."

"What are we gonna do?!" Everett wailed.

"WE? He's only ratting YOU out to Jubecita," Angelo corrected.

"Which means we didn't know a bloody thing," Jono agreed.

"HEY! That's just wrong, you guys!"

"All's fair in love, war, and gambling, amigo," Angelo informed him. "I suggest you find Leech before you get fried by a pyrotechnic cannon."

* * * * *

Threnody stared at the teens all around her. Together, they were Generation X, one of Xavier's younger teams. Some of them could also have the most hateful stares, when they wanted to. Well, one of them, anyway. Strangely enough, it wasn't Jubilee, but the black girl that practically had daggers shooting from her eyes. So much for racial unity and all that-

"Are you listening?" Paige asked.

Threnody blinked. "Um...sorta. Why?"

"We're discussing your future here. You MIGHT want to pay attention."

"Um...right. So, can I stay?"

"Hardly," Monet spat.

"That's enough, lass," Banshee interrupted. "Now, Threnody, I dinnae know how ye got here, lass, but-"

"I hired Deadpool to find Nate."

Banshee winced. "Aye. Well, your intentions are still unknown to most of us, so-"

"I want Nate to share his psionic energy with me. He'll live longer, and I'll stay alive."

"Aye, but I cannae condone that type of bond-"

"It's not like we're having sex or anything. Just sharing energy. I don't even have to touch him to do it."

Banshee's face turned red. "Aye, lass. May I finish?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Thank ye. But from what Nate's told us, yuir former relationship with him was quite...um...wild, and he has moved on-"

"Yeah, right! He's dating a mutant firecracker! If that's not wild, I dunno what is!"

"At least *I* don't go around feeding on people's souls!" Jubilee shot back.

"I don't have a choice!" Threnody screamed. "If I don't feed, I'll die! So unless you people have an alternative, I'm either gonna get energy from Nate the nice way, or take it from all of you the hard way!"

Banshee looked very nervous. "Calm down, lass. We mean ye no harm or disrespect."

"She's right, though, sir," Nate said quietly. "If I don't help her, she'll die. When I last saw Threnody, I gave her the choice of coming back to me. Now that she has, I can't turn my back on her. I made a promise."

"Doesn't Jubilee have a say in that?" Monet asked.

"Well, I hate to say it, but not really," Nate replied. "It was my promise, not hers. I'm going to help Threnody. Jubilee may not like that, but in a relationship, you have to compromise. I didn't want to save Deadpool from The New Son, but I did. Jubilee doesn't want me to help Threnody, but I will."

"Yeah, but I never dated Wade," Jubilee muttered.

Nate grinned. "That's not what he told me."

"WHAT?! WADE!!!"

Deadpool looked up. "What? Okay, so I promised not to tell, Jubes, but all the other guys had stories! I mean, would you really expect someone like me NOT to have a dirty story?"

"Since when do you have ANY stories about me?!"

"Well, I had a clean one. It started off with you, me, and some peaches in a bathtub full of soy sauce-"

"SOY SAUCE?! PEACHES?!" Jubilee's face seemed to glow red. "Wilson, I'm gonna kill you!"

Deadpool sprinted from the room as Jubilee ran after him, filling the air with curses and pyrotechnics.

"Think she's still pissed at me?" Threnody asked.

"It'll pass," Nate responded. "She owes me a favor. Besides, when I tell her about Ev, she'll forget that you even exist, as mad as she'll be."

"You don't HAVE to tell her," Everett interrupted. "At least, not right away..."

* * * * *

Monet still didn't trust Threnody. There was something about that girl that seemed to radiate with...darkness.

But it wasn't that darkness that bothered Monet the most as she walked into her bedroom. It was the half-naked man sitting on her bed.

"You're Monet, right?" he asked. "Or do you prefer M?"

"What I would prefer," she stated calmly, "is for you to leave my room at once."

"But then you'd never find out why I was here in the first place!"

Monet crossed her arms. "Since you are not fully dressed, I would venture to guess that you, acting on some sort of macho tendency, came here looking to annoy me. That, and you're hiding from Jubilee."

Deadpool chuckled. "Only right on one count, beautiful. I'm actually here to seduce you."

Monet smirked. "You're not doing very well."

"Sure I am! You haven't forced me to leave."

"That's because I don't wish to touch you."

"Is that because you don't trust yourself with me?"

"No, that's because I don't wish to come in contact with whatever you are so obviously infected with."

Deadpool sighed. "Look, M. I'm gonna seduce you. Just give up, okay?"

"No."

"Fine!" He stood up, and with a defiant smile, hooked his thumbs in his boxer shorts.

"What are you doing?" Monet asked cautiously, a hint of horror creeping into her voice.

"I'm about to strip and hypnotize you with my exotic dances."

"Don't you DARE-"

Deadpool instantly gripped the top of his boxers and pulled. Monet quickly shrieked and turned away, but not before catching a glimpse that would reappear in her nightmares for a very long time.

"Well? Are you hypnotized yet?"

Monet choked back the bile rising in her throat. "My eyes..."

"Stunned?"

"Posioned...tainted...violated!"

"So you liked it. Right?"

"DEADPOOL, GET OUT OF MY ROOM!"

"Say you love me."

"...never."

"HA HA!" Deadpool ran over and grabbed her arms. "You hesitated! It's not much, but I'll take it!"

"You're touching me."

"You're right. I should have asked first, right?"

"Not that I would have ever allowed you to come near me, but yes."

"Okay, I'm sorry." Deadpool released her. "Now can I touch you?"

"No. Leave."

"Can I have a hug?"

"No."

"Kiss?"

"NO."

"A night of hot, dirty, stinky, monkey loving?"

"...never."

"You hesitated! You WANT me!"

Monet frowned. "What I want is neither legal nor encouraged by the school, and would certainly not be very beneficial to your health."

"You want to smoke in bed? After we do it a few times, of course, but I've always been the dangerous type."

Monet closed her eyes. "When I open my eyes in three seconds, you had better be gone, Deadpool. If not, I will be forced to tear your empty head away from your body." Very slowly, she counted to three and opened her eyes. "Very well. Hold still. This will hurt."

"No, wait! I'm sorry about being a jerk, but I really do like you, Monet."

"This is important to me why?"

Deadpool fell to his knees and took her hand. "Because I've never been big on relationships, but I have to have you. It's just in me. You're in me, and I dunno how you got there, but...this is real. I'm addicted to you. Your hair, your face, your voice. Everything."

"That was the biggest load of-"

Deadpool pulled off his mask, tightening his grip on her hand. "No, it wasn't, and neither is this." With some effort, he pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it. "I think I love you, Monet," he said, staring into her eyes.

"Are you done yet?"

"Yes."

"Then get out."

Deadpool sighed and pulled on his mask. "Okay, I'm going. But I have to give you something first."

"If it explodes, keep it."

"No, nothing like that." Deadpool carefully pulled a white rose from the remains of his pocket and offered it to her. "I got this for you. We got off on the wrong foot, and I wanted this to be a symbol of a new start for us. That is, if you'll give me another chance."

Monet slowly took the rose. "Why are you doing this?"

"I already told you. I like you."

"WHY?"

He shrugged. "You're cute, and getting you to like me is a huge challenge. I never take the easy path."

"You're sick, Wilson."

"Yeah, but I'm persistent. So how about that hug?"

"No. Go away."

Deadpool walked out of the door, then paused. "Could you at least wave?"

"No."

"Blow a kiss?"

"No."

"Give me the finger?"

"...WHAT?"

"Never mind. Later, beautiful."

Monet watched him go, then looked at the flower in her hand. It seemed innocent enough, but there had to be a trick. Something that would blow up, spray, or leave a horrible smell. So she sat down and stared at the flower, waiting for it to do something so she could hurt Deadpool.

* * * * *

"Explain to me why you're not dead again," Jubilee said.

Nate sighed. "You didn't kill me because I saved Deadpool from The New Son. That means you owe me a favor, and I'm calling it in. Threnody and I are only friends now, and even that's a stretch. You have nothing to worry about. Our relationship is fine."

"So why do I feel like I've been tricked?"

"If you mean me using my powers to calm you down, that was to keep you from murdering Deadpool. I didn't save him just so you could kill him a week later."

"But he was lying about me! You know that, right?"

"Of course. Even if he hadn't been, you're with me now. Your past doesn't matter. It's your present and future with me that I'm concerned about."

"So if I had, I dunno, been a Horseman of Apocalypse, you wouldn't care?"

Nate sighed again. "Jubes, be serious."

"I am! It happened to Warren!"

"Yes, Warren. Not you, Jubilation Lee, love of my life. Besides, why would Apocalypse choose you?"

"HEY! Are you saying he wouldn't want me?! I'm just as dangerous as anyone!"

Nate chuckled. "Maybe not, but you're cute when you're mad."

"Whatever. You're still dead meat, mister."

"Am I?" he asked, brushing her nose with a kiss.

"Yeah," she muttered, staring into his eyes. "Dead meat with flies and vultures and stinky smells."

"You didn't hear a word I said, did you?"

"Dead meat," Jubilee whispered.

"You smell."

"Thanks."

"Um...Jubilee?"

She blinked. "What?"

"Never mind. You smell nice."

"Thanks. Is there a reason why you're smiling like that?"

"Just because you're near me," Nate replied.

"If you sing, I'll hurt you."

"In a good way or a bad way?"

"Nate, you're sick."

"But you love me, right?" he asked.

"You're twisted, too."

"Say you love me."

"No."

"Say it or I won't kiss you. Ever."

Jubilee winced. "I'm your girlfriend. You're not supposed to threaten me with cruel and unusual punishment."

"I'm waiting."

She sighed. "Fine. I love you. Happy?"

"You didn't even mean that."

"You told me to say it, not mean it," Jubilee reminded him.

"You really don't like being kissed, do you?"

"Kiss me and find out." Before he could disagree, Jubilee grabbed him and pressed her lips firmly to his. When she let go, there was a grin on her face. "Your face fuzz tickles."

"So I haven't had time to shave. I'm still waiting."

Jubilee cupped his face in her hands. "Aw, you know I love you, Nate. Why do you always make me say it?"

"It's always fun to see you get mushy," he replied.

"You're a real jerk."

"I love you, too, sweetheart."

* * * * *

Everett tried his best to sleep, but he couldn't. He kept dreading the moment when Jubilee would burst through the door and kill him. So it was very unexpected when someone attacked him from behind. As he fell to the floor, he caught a glimpse of a knife. Hoping the person was a mutant, he extended his aura and acquired their gift just as the knife was driven into his arm.

Suddenly, the lights came on. Angelo stood in the doorway, a shocked look on his face.

"Um...it's not what it looks like," Deadpool said.

"It looks like you're trying to kill Ev."

"Yeah, but...Jubilee hired me."

Angelo calmed down instantly. "Oh. Have fun then." He turned off the light and shut the door.

"ANGE!" Everett screamed.

Angelo only smiled and walked away.

* * * * *

Monet woke up the next morning with a pounding headache. She'd spent most of the night studying Deadpool's rose, and still hadn't figured out what was wrong with it. There had to be something. As soon as she had a chance, she would take it down to the lab and analyze it. She was almost certain that it was a very rare form of poision ivy, or something else that would cause a rash.

When she opened the door, Deadpool stood there (fully-dressed). "So, did you like the flower?" he asked.

"Okay, Wilson. What's wrong with it?"

"Wrong? What do you mean, M?"

"What is it about this flower that I'm going to hurt you for?"

"Um...if you don't like white, I can always try for red or yellow."

Monet grabbed him by the throat. "TELL ME!" she shouted.

Deadpool somehow managed to talk without gagging too much. "I didn't do anything to it, I swear! It's just a regular rose! That's all! Really!"

Monet released him and looked at the flower. "Are you serious?"

Deadpool nodded, weakly clutching his throat. "Y'know, I can be serious sometimes. Like when my life is threatened, or if I've fallen for the sweetest Algerian cupcake that ever lived."

Monet stared at him. "You're a very brave man, Wade Wilson."

"That's just a rumor I started. I'm actually just very insane."

"That would explain why you just called me a foreign pastry."

"So for being insanely brave, can I have a hug?"

"No." Then Monet sighed. "But I will give you the distinct honor of joining me for breakfast in ten minutes."

"Wow! Really? You mean it?"

Monet forced a tight-lipped, "Yes, I do."

"Woo-hoo! YEAH, BABY!" He ran down the hall, pumping his fists in the air. "She loves me! She loves me! Hey, everybody! MONET ST. CROIX LOVES ME, WADE WILSON!!!"

Monet sighed and closed her eyes. "What have I just agreed to?" she asked herself, shaking her head.

The End