(Untitled)

[awesome_captain]

Not having to play games with distractions like wind gusts or the smell of great food made this baseball game a little easier compared to the last. Well, sort of -- no matter what was going on, it was hard for Devon to find any faults when he was having fun playing a sport he loved. It helped that his team won, for once. Sure, winning wasn't

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[un_gloved]

Rogue was all smiles for the team. Pats on the shoulder, thumbs up, whatever it took to convince herself as well as them that her head didn't feel like it was splitting down the center. She'd taken a couple hard slides that, if she were totally honest with herself, hadn't been necessary. But the distraction provided by the additional risk and subsequent pain had seemed a worthwhile gamble.

Now the game was over.

So what was next?

[heatedrod]

"What was that all about, before?" Johnny asked, having waited only long enough to grab something to drink before confronting Rogue. He had a lot of time alone out in right field, and the more he thought about it, the less he liked Rogue imitating Ben just to get at him.

[un_gloved]

Rogue blinked, bewildered, turning to face Johnny.

"What was what when?"

[heatedrod]

"What was--? 'Don't get testy, shrimp,'" he repeated, looking overly serious as he repeated what she'd said with his best imitation of Ben -- and over the years, he'd grown pretty damn good at it.

"That was not cool," he went on in his normal voice. "Mock me if you want, whatever, just don't bring my family into it."

[un_gloved]

Rogue's mouth fell open. She felt that weird twist in her stomach that meant she was in trouble, but she had no idea why.

"Mock your- family? What? Johnny, what are you talkin' about?!"

[heatedrod]

"I'm talking about you imitating Ben right down to his accent!" He threw his hands up in the air. "Seriously, Rogue, what was that?"

[un_gloved]

"I didn't-!" She flinched back at the gesture, headache suddenly raging. She felt overly warm, and panicked, but Rogue didn't do panic or upset if she could possibly avoid it, so her hackles rose, instead.

"I swear t'God I don't got a damn idea what you're yellin' at me about, but I would never pull somethin' like that. Ah don't take cheap shots, Johnny."

Unless you were Gambit, but he sort of had 'em coming.

[heatedrod]

"Yeah, and I don't make up stuff like this just because I'm bored. I'm not a liar."

Johnny was aware, on some level, that he might have been overreacting, but he had a certain system in place to deal with being alone. It involved not thinking about Reed, Sue, Ben or the kids, and it usually worked.

[un_gloved]

"Oh, but Ah am?" she asked, eyes narrowing, and pressing a fingertip hard against her chest to stop it from going in his face.

[heatedrod]

"I'm not calling you a liar," Johnny said, crossing his arms. "But I don't hear you giving me an explanation, either."

[un_gloved]

Rogue gritted her teeth. There were spots in her vision, the little white ones that came from migraines. Possibly heat exhaustion as well. Probably not. She'd take that chance.

All she could feel was a sort of bubbling anger. It was warmer than uncertainty, or at least stronger than it.

"You must come from one o'those alternate universe's if y'all're under th'impression that Ah have t'explain mahself t'you."

[heatedrod]

"Oh, what, and I'm just supposed to pretend it never happened?" If Johnny noticed Rogue was getting just as angry as he was, he didn't let on. Or care, frankly. "Hey, why don't you try doing Sue, now? Or wait, maybe Franklin, that'll be cool!"

[un_gloved]

"Watch it, Storm," she said, voice raising. "Just watch your step, you hear?"

[heatedrod]

"Yeah, I hear," Johnny said, taking a step closer as he lowered his voice. "You're the only one with your X-Men buddies to back you up, make you feel like you're at home, whatever. But the rest of us don't have our familes, so I'd really appreciate it if you never did that again."

[un_gloved]

"You don't have a damn clue what I feel an' I don't have a damn clue what you're raggin' on me about," Rogue bit out, not backing down an inch, meeting his eyes plainly.

"'n Ah don't know what kinda person you think Ah am but unless you feel like talkin' sense, this conversation is over."

[thedevilhisdue]

I ain't been watching for long, but it's pretty obvious from de way dey're making a scene without trying to make a scene dat dis is more den just some spat wit' de coach. Still not sure what exactly dey're goin' on about, but where Rogue's concerned, I don't much care, and since it don't look like dey're heading for healthy conflict resolution any time soon, I'm stepping in before I can give it a second thought.

"Trouble?" I ask, facing Johnny-boy, even though I don't make it out to be much of a question.