The X-Men characters
featured in this story are property of Marvel Inc. and used without permission.
AJ Rovner/Unicorn was
created by Abby Rovner and is used with permission.
Ziska Xavier is my
own creation.
William adjusts the collar of his shirt to hide the seam of the stage make up. Hope this is pale enough. He decided against the sparkle cream, though the white gel he has chosen does have a shine to it. He’s not sure how Ziska convinced him to go for the silver toned prosthetic teeth. Well, they are better than gold anyway, and probably more comfortable that the whole fake set of teeth. Even if tonight is all about chaperoning, a Halloween party will take his minds off school, AJ’s mind off the cats in the converted barn, and Ziska’s mind off Magneto down in the basement.
He joins AJ and Generation X in the downstairs hall. Jono and Angelo are going out without image inducers for a change, but still wearing their street clothing. Meanwhile, Everett wears a white zoot suit with matching fedora and white shoes. The girls have more variety. AJ is wearing a plain black T-shirt and black denim pants, but has changed the appearance of her skin to that if a tiger, including letting her hair stand up straight and whiskers, though the rest of her face remains human. Monet, who had tried to convince everyone she wasn’t into the dressing-up-kid-stuff is wearing the most stunning silver designer silk blouse and high end label turquoise colored snake print pants with matching leather jacket, easily passing as a model. Jubilee is wearing a long blonde wig tied into two high pig tails and a frilly Japanese sailor style school uniform. She mentioned it was some anime character. Paige is playing up the hayseed and wears old denim overalls over a shabby grey t-shirt, both pilfered from her big brother’s closet.
AJ smirks. “Went with Zee’s advice ‘bout the silver teeth I see, but not the fake frost effect.”
William hisses for effect. “Can’t argue with her having taste. I just don’t like the idea of growing crystals on my face, and these teeth are as much as some of my old costumes! Remind me to thank her later.”
“So, like, is she trying to be fashionably late?” Jubilee moans. “We gotta be there before the Fantastic Four.”
AJ half turns to life-sized cartoon character. “… Why? It’s a publicity spot for ‘em, fundraiser for inner city kids, and a check from the Professor. ‘Sides, Ziska is in his office waiting for him, though to avoid cameras she wrapped herself in a black bed sheet. Seein’ as it billowed around, doubt it’s the school uniform, cut or not.”
Why? And you sure it ain’t her costume? Jono asks.
“For the second question, too much jewelry and make-up. For the first, since she has a few more uniforms from her boarding school days, her father insisted he approve her costume.” AJ replies causing the teens to gawk for a moment. “Yes, she has stricter rules than you.” Monet can’t hide her snicker while the rest try not to think about it.
“So how long is he going to keep her waiting?” William asks as he plops into a chair outside the office.
“‘Til he’s sure she’s changed her mind if is going as school girl.” AJ replies. “Seein’ as she made a big deal that should wouldn’t tell anyone what she’s gonna be, she’s probably enjoying this.” Still, AJ stalks to the Professor’s office and quickly opens the door. “How about you go downstairs, show your father your costume, so we can finally leave?”
Ziska pokes her head out. “He’s the one who insisted on the office!” She looks back in for a moment. “And besides, he’s upstairs, in his bedroom, checking the surveillance cameras from a laptop.” AJ arches an eyebrow. “His laptop has a webcam. He doesn’t realize I can see him if he has his messenger system on.”
AJ sighs and pushes Ziska back into the office like a jack-in-a-box. “Carry on.” She slams the door enough to make the assembled crowd jump a bit.
Ziska opens the door again, but looks back into the office at the web cam feed. “He has about twenty seconds. He said to be here by five-thirty, and he knows I’m only willing to wait fifteen minutes. So ten… nine… eight… one, okay, he’s done, let’s go.” She wraps the sheet tightly around herself and heads for the door as the living room clock chimes the quarter hour.
William checks his wrist watch, then his cell phone. “You’re good, even changed the time on my cell.”
Ziska smiles. “No, I didn’t change any clocks. Dad is just late. Probably expected to be on the stairs right now and make me wait. Come on.”
Do NOT let her leave! The Professor’s voice echoes in the group’s heads.
“Sorry Dad, if you wouldn’t have taken your sweet time and waited until the last moment, you could have avoided this problem. Let’s go people!” AJ holds onto Ziska’s shoulder. “It appears a wire got loose on the battery to the hover chair.”
AJ keeps holding her shoulder. “Tell me that sheet isn’t your costume. Really.”
Ziska tugs away the sheet, revealing dark teal satin. “I think Dad will be happy for me to make the news tonight. Not that it’s going to happen with the Fantastic Four being the guests of honor. As the group is in the garage, Ziska drapes the sheet over a tool chest, revealing a teal ball gown, billowing around her. AJ and William smile, though the students don’t quite get it.
“What’s the big deal ‘bout?” Angelo asks. “Doubt the Professor would complain about THAT.”
“I’m sure
he’d approve Angelo.” Ziska
replies. “Though in this case, it was a
matter of principle. He tried to play a
joke on me. I just got to him first. So,
what do you all think? Fairy tale
princess, or spoiled rich bitch?” She
opens a cabinet, tossing a set of keys to AJ and another to William. I
need to get myself some new wheels.
******************************************
Why am I
here? AJ asks herself as she’s
starting to get a headache from the loud music with the overpowered bass. They
are old enough not to need chaperones. I
know William and Ziska enjoy this.
She looks around. William is harder to spot, blending in nicely with the people that refused to wear costumes, and in the dim light the gleaming make up is hard to spot. Still, she spots him on an upper level balcony. Keeping track of the students, no doubt.
Ziska is easier to spot. Her dark teal gown stands out in a crowd of otherwise bright and flashy costumes. With their grand entrance now over, Ziska chats with Reed and Susan Richards, while also entertaining their son. Ziska had mentioned she also used to babysit him. For a while, she was the go to Babysitter. They don’t remember her. AJ reminds herself. Still, knowing who she is in terms of being with the X-Men probably puts them at ease, since the two factions have often enough worked together.
AJ settles into an oversized chair with a cup of tea, and tries her best to block out the noise. Don’t let anything go wrong tonight, please. She has a good view of William, and notices someone making his way to see him. Don’t be trouble. Please don’t be trouble.
******************************************
William leans on a railing and looks at the mass of people dancing below. Monet is the center of attention on the far side of the dance floor, surrounded by a few cameras. Guess we know who will be in the society pages tomorrow. Meanwhile Jono and Paige are hanging out at a table. William lost sight of Angelo, not that he’s worried. Jubilee and Everett are unsurprisingly easy to find, and will likely not win the award for best couple. William chuckles. When the group entered, a young event planner tried to direct him and Ziska to the sign up table, assuming they were there for best couple, since she “must be the modernized version of the Bride of Dracula.” While he was the first vampire in not covered in fake blood, or sparkle gel. Good luck telling her to get a tan.
“Nice view.” A gravelly voice next to him mentions.
William glances around and realizes no one else is close enough to have heard him. “Got its perks.” He replies and takes a sip from his fruit punch. The man comes closer, a long cape swinging around him. Great, another vampire comparing tips or complaining that I’m not trying hard enough. As William looks up, he notices a mask covering three quarters of the man’s face and part of his shiny black hair. “Don’t see too many Phantoms of the Opera down there.”
The Phantom smiles. At least, William thinks he does. “Unfortunately, I’m not original enough for the solo contests, and I’m short a Christine to enter couples contest. Besides, masks are a pain in the neck. I’m having a hard time seeing out of it as it is. Lighting doesn’t help.” He clears his throat. He’s not used to talking that low. “Unfortunately, you do need a costume to get into a costume party.”
You talk too much. William sighs. “Anything I can help you with?”
He first pulls a tape recorder from his coat and places it on the railing, then an ID card with the name Chase Cazador, indicating he works with the tabloid The Inquiring Eye. He reaches out to shake William’s hand, though William doesn’t move. “How do you feel about your fiancée dancing with Human Torch?”
William turns his head away for a moment so the reporter won’t catch his smirk. “Ah, nothing quite like a jealous boyfriend story to sell tiger box liners. It would probably help if you turned on your recorder. Do those things still use tape?”
Confused by the comments, Chase fumbles with the recorder and turns it upside down, opening a latch to show the battery and a small memory card. “Everything is digital these days.”
William fakes an exasperated sigh and looks back at the pair on the dance floor. “Well, first off all, she’s not, repeat, not my fiancée. So, not my business who she dances with.”
After he’s done grumbling, Chase pulls out a notebook and frantically flips some pages. “So, you are not engaged to Franziska Xavier?” He looks down at the pair again. “She’s engaged to Johnny Storm then?” He asks as his voice wobbles.
William flips the ID card over a few times, tempted to throw it over the balcony. “Who’s this story on, her or him?”
“Wha… oh, him, of course.” Chase tries to compose himself, probably thinking he has a major story on his hands. “People want to know what their heroes are up to. And having Human Torch off the market would be big!”
“Yet, you assumed she was someone else’s fiancée, rather than his girlfriend, and just by me saying she’s not my fiancée you assume she’s his. Has it occurred to you they are just friends? Or, since this is a masquerade ball, they are just dancing?”
Chase fumbles with the recorder again, this time turning it on, holding it between William and himself. “So, you are saying that there is no relationship between Ziska Xavier and John Storm?”
William leans into the recorder. “No comment.” He turns his attention back to the floor trying to check where the students went off too. “Besides, exactly how did you know her name, pronounce it right, and know that she goes by ‘Ziska’ when you are following him?” When he gets no response William turns again, and catches sight of the reporter go towards the lavatory.
******************************************
Before the song even ends, Ziska quickly makes her exit from the dance floor as Johnny is crowded by the bachelorettes about town. It was good to see him again. She considers. But, as the music picks up the crowd gets tighter, Ziska has to stop a few times as people step on her gown. She pulls it up off the floor, but not fast enough to avoid her fear. She hears the fabric rip. Dammit!
She makes her way to the crowded restroom trying to get to the mirror and assess the damage. Though she doesn’t see anything major, she still fusses around the mirror.
“Geeze, how many layers does that thing have?” AJ says as she walks up behind Ziska.
Ziska looks up at her though the mirror. “Hopefully enough to hide the rip, wherever it is. If you aren’t too busy, could you help me please?”
AJ approaches and spins her hand. Ziska responds by twirling around while fluffing out her dress. “It’s not that bad, a little of the hem trailing behind you.” Before Ziska can say anything AJ steps on the offending shred. “Pull.” Satisfied with the result, the two walk back out into the main ballroom, someone pushes them forward trying to squeeze behind them, though neither of the actually lose their balance. AJ spins in time to watch a black cape rush for the door. “Use your eyes next time!” AJ calls after him, not that he even breaks his pace. “How’s your dress?”
Ziska reaches over her shoulder to check for damage. “How the hell did I get scratched below the neckline when the zipper is up?”
******************************************
As the group divide up into the three cars, Angelo stretches as they finally leave the venue at three in the morning. He checks his cell and grins. “Sean ‘n Emma woulda never let us stay out this late.”
“Oh, so that’s why we’re here.” AJ mentions. “Stay out late pass?”
“Thank you in that case.” Paige replies and yawns. “Ah haven’t been up this late since Ah was studyin’ for Emma’s midterm exam.” She plops into the back of the sedan AJ is in charge of, adjusts the seat back and curls up for a nap.
Monet quickly gets into the front seat and makes some adjustments too, though Paige still has enough room to maneuver. Jono reconsiders his ride choice. Don’t suppose William would mind havin’ two students in his car. After he’s done talking, Paige stretches out across the back seat, and AJ finally gets in.
AJ smiles
and stifles a yawn of her own. Good, now I don’t have to listen to that
obnoxious music all the way home.
She grumbles. I hate stairs.
In the back of Ziska’s car, Everett has pushed the SUV’s seat back to snooze, but Jubilee is still not happy. “I can’t believe that someone signed up for the couples contest and THEN decided not to show up to claim it. And they shoulda at least left their real names. How many ‘Phantom and Christine” couples you think there were?”
“Obviously just one.” Ev mutters. “Now let it go, there was no way we were going win anyway.”
******************************************
“Uh oh, lights are on.” Angelo teases as the caravan of cars pulls up to the house. The dashboard clock says it’s four-thirty.
“Guess Scott got up early to yell.” Ziska replies as she hits the button for the garage door. As all three cars empty out and the occupants stretch, Ziska approaches the door. “Okay. Everyone’s here, everyone’s sober, and everyone’s clean. Anything else I should worry about?”
“How long do you think it took your father to get the hover chair working?” William asks.
“If he called someone else to do it, not long, seeing as I just unplugged the chair.”
They hear the door swing open behind them, and the student’s faces say it all. “Don’t bet on it.”
“Goooooood morning, Scott.” Ziska says before she spins around.
Scott, however, is already dressed in his uniform. “Good timing. Get changed, we’re going on a trip into outer space.”
No sooner did Scott finish talking the group makes its way downstairs to the locker rooms. As they split onto the men’s and women’s lockers, Ziska, Jubilee and Monet quickly head for the showers to scrub off the make-up. Before Ziska gets in, Jubilee notices the scratch.
“Nothing serious.” Ziska assures Jubilee as she notices where Jubilee is looking. “Just some idiot trying to shove me out of his way.”
“The ‘idiot’ left a souvenir.” Jubilee replies and pulls something off, barely the size of her own little finger’s nail. “Mini memory card. Got one of these in my phone.”
Ziska swallows an imaginary lump and takes the tiny device from Jubilee’s hand. “It can wait. Come on, get cleaned up.”
******************************************
Though their hair is still wet, the youngest of the extended X-family joins the senior staff in the backyard as the thick fog rolls in, courtesy of Storm. It’s still dark out, so the risk of exposure is minimal.
“What’s going on?” Ziska asks.
“Not sure.” Her father replies. “Lilandra called personally, asking for help. Though it was a prerecorded message, so we couldn’t ask.”
“…Is that a common thing?” Ziska asks.
“Not at all. Nor did she mention any names.” He replies. “She’s worried about who may be listening in on her private messages, which greatly concerns me.”
Father and daughter watch as first Wolverine and then Unicorn perk up. In time, they all hear an engine’s whirl. They expected a small craft, shuttling then from the ground to a larger craft in orbit. Instead, they get a large craft that wrecks the lawn. They expect a small crew. Instead, Gladiator steps out, right behind a helmeted pilot… who turns out to be Lilandra herself.
Aw crap. Ziska thinks, but her father is the first to move. “Should I get more ammo?” She asks as the group converges on Lilandra.
“No, we don’t have time. You are the only ones who can help me.” As the group makes for the craft, Lilandra puts her hand on Ziska’s shoulder. “This is too dangerous for you, however. You should be safe here on Earth.”
“Er… appreciate the concern, but this isn’t exactly my first trip into outer space, or my first fight.” Ziska replies.
Lilandra wraps her arms around Ziska. “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t even ask your father and the team to help. But, it’s you the Council wants.”
“Me? I thought I had some sort of hero credit, for saving your life.”
“You do.” Lilandra starts. She looks around, realizing that the whole team is eagerly waiting for an explanation. “That is what got their attention in the first place. I… I’m… I am getting near the point where I won’t be able to produce an heir. With your father as my consort, you are my step daughter. The council, without my permission, has declared that you are my adopted daughter… and that you are to be married to a Majestor-to-be of their choosing within ten days.”
Ziska’s knees lock. Probably the only reason she didn’t keel over. Still, as her father’s hover chair comes closer, she grabs onto the head rest for support.
A few moments pass, and her father is the first to speak. “How much time do we have?”
“Today is day six.”
To be continued