Not So Plain Jane - Hot as Fire, Cold as Ice

[x-jeangrey.livejournal.com]

Backdated to Friday the 10th, Bobby gets to meet Jane, and Jane gets an Idea.



Bobby sat slumped in an overstuffed armchair at a downtown coffee shop. He hadn't noticed the name, had simply ducked into the first place he passed proclaiming 'Free WiFi Access!' in the window. The barrista had grinned at him and asked if it wasn't a bit chilly to be drinking an iced drink when he ordered a cremosa, but he'd barely noticed her attention, just shrugged and mumbled that the cold didn't bother him. Now he was reading The Onion, with Penny Arcade open in another tab. Anything to distract him from the temptation to check the school journal system, although he couldn't quite resist opening his email account. No email from Terry, which was as much as he'd expected.

He checked the time in the corner of the screen, then opened a third tab and started IGN's page loading. He should really think about heading back to his parents' house, or at least calling and checking in.

"I'd rather have kaluha than coffee," the redhead standing in the door said as her companion held it open for her, "but if you insist..." The woman was decidedly overdressed for the little coffee shop. Or possibly underdressed. There was a definite lack of cloth to her outfit. It was a few steps too classy to qualify as streetwalker wear, but between the high, high hem on her skirt and the low cut to her top there was very little being left to the imagination.

Her companion's smile was tight, more than a little strained. "We do have that meeting this afternoon. Perhaps we can have kahlua afterwards?" he had the look of a man who'd found himself in over his head and was endeavoring to make the best of the situation. Looks, in this case, were not deceiving, and Parker Matthews was not at all happy about the way things were.

Bobby glanced up as the couple entered, then back to his screen. Then...back up. Slowly, and with wide, disbelieving eyes. He jumped to his feet, only just managing to catch his laptop before it tumbled to the floor, and clutched it tightly in front of him as he stared from head......to toe at his ex-teacher. Xavier's ex-teacher, now. "...Whoa," was all he managed to vocalize.

Jane pouted at Parker, partly because she felt like being petulant and mainly because she knew it annoyed him when she downplayed the power she had over him. Shaw was still too pleased with her for Parker to risk annoying her, which meant he had to go along with her little games, and now that she knew and was prepared for his powers there was no way he could get a leg up on her. And given her power, it put him at a significant disadvantage. Which she knew he hated. It all made for a good diversion whenever there wasn't anything better to do.

She was about to say something to him when a bright flash of recognition from someone in the cafe caught her attention and she glanced over to see Bobby staring at her. Oh ho, showtime... Keeping the pout in place she slid her arm through Parker's, tugging him closer. "Oh, very well," she said, "coffee it is." #One of my 'precious students',# she pathed at him in a second. #Slip and call me 'Jane' here and I'll crucify you in your own mind.#

Parker managed not to flinch visibly. "Shall I order for us, Jean?" he asked, essaying a tolerant smile for her pout. "Perhaps you'd like to find us a seat."

"Sure, you know what I like." The pout melting easily into a smile, Jane released his arm and turned to head into the cafe. As she turned it was quite natural that she see Bobby for the first time, so as he came into view she widened her eyes in surprise, breathing in sharply. "Oh, Bobby. What a small world. What on earth are you doing here?"

It took Bobby a few seconds to pick his jaw up off the floor, before he could answer. "I--I'm visiting my parents. What are you doing here?" His gaze moved over what there was of her dress yet again, and the rest of the question ...dressed like that? was unspoken, but very much thought.

Resting a hand on one hip, Jane half shrugged. "We have stuff to do in Boston and somebody wanted an espresso." Acting up the part, the look she shot over her shoulder towards Matthews was affectionately amused, implying a level of fondness usually reserved for dear friends. Or lovers.

Bobby bit his lip, trying to concentrate on something other than how hot she looked. "So, uh...we miss you, at the school. What are you doing, now?" What was so important that you left without even saying goodbye?

Looking back, Jane's smile turned into more of an amused grin. "Coffee, clearly. You know, that whole coffee shop thing." And the way he was looking and thinking about her was giving Jane ideas. Taking a deep breath (and watching him try not to watch her chest rise and fall) she added, "Smells wonderful, doesn't it?"

"Sure. I mean, I guess. I was just..." Getting out of the house. Ronnie was due home from school soon, and Bobby would prefer to spend as little time around his brother as possible, since he had no idea what to say to him since Christmas. "I didn't come here for the coffee," he finished weakly, jerking his eyes back up to Jean's every time they made it as far as her neck.

Matthews returned, a cup in either hand, and smiled thinly at Bobby before he turned to Jane. "For you, Jean... I was very particular with the poor barista. I think she was somewhat alarmed."

Jane smiled, taking the cup from him. "I'm glad to hear it - you know just how I like it..." From the look in her face an observer would have been hard pressed to figure out she was talking about coffee. Taking a sip her eyes fluttered closed and she breathed out a sigh that was just a few shades off of a moan. "Ohhh, perfect."

It wasn't easy, but Bobby managed to wrench his attention away from the entrancing sounds Jean was making over her coffee, focusing on the newcomer. "Hi. Bobby Drake," he said with a friendly smile, holding out a hand.

Matthews eyed him for a moment, the thin smile lingering. "Mr. Drake," he said, and responded to Jane's completely unsubtle cue by placing a proprietary hand on her arm and leaning in close.

Jane smiled sweetly at Matthews and, ignoring the hand Bobby was still holding out to shake, said, "And now we're caffeinated, we should probably head out, don't you think? Take care, Bobby. If you're in town long, perhaps I'll come by and we can have some fun, a proper visit."

Bobby looked down at his hand and then shoved it into his pocket, feeling off-balance. Jean was acting very strange, and who was this guy with her?? What had happened on that DC trip? "...Uh. S-sure, that'd be great," he stammered, forcing a grin. "I'm staying with my parents, and I've got my cell phone...email..." He trailed off, feeling rather foolish. She was just being polite. "It was good to see you..."

"Mmm, later then." There was possibility here, and an evil little ide percolating in Jane's head. She tugged slightly on Matthews' arm and turned away, heading out of the shop.