And I'm running low on patience but don't go blame it on yourself Who: Fischer and Rogue What: Discussing some things When: Tuesday night Where: Owner's Box in the grass arena
It wasn't unusual for Rogue to be alone as she watched one of her mutants fight. She enjoyed it that way if she was being honest. Every now and then a owner of whatever mutant was fighting would come up and join her and it always made things awkward. She felt compelled to make small talk the first few times but soon learned just to ignore them until they spoke to her first. Tonight she was alone, watching a fight between a girl from green who could make dopplegangers over herself and had quick moves, and the girl from Rogue's own block, Andi, who could control and manipulate electricity. She was working on getting the girl a Death match since she wanted to move up, but for now was happy to fight against someone who could potentially be a future blockmate.
When the door opened, Rogue tore her gaze from the fight below to see who was coming in, but returned her attention to the girls when the door was closing. No words were spoken immediately. Fischer just joined her at the large shatterproof glass window, cigarette between his lips and hands in his pockets. The girls were going back and forth getting hits in on each other. One time Andi was surrounded by the other girl and her doubles and it looked like it was over. Until Andi concentrated and realized which girl was the real one and sent a strong jolt of electricity into her midsection. "Pretty even match," Fischer observed slowly. He was more still than she'd ever seen him, and calm. It made his already slurred speech sound even worse, like he'd been drinking for hours. "This the girl who wants the match?" Rogue nodded without a word and crossed her arms, still watching the fight. "She's good," Fischer said after inhaling smoke.
"Yeah, she is." She didn't need to say she'd been helping her train. Andi was not one to sit back and let life go on around her while she played it safe and stayed in one place. She wanted to take life by the balls and run with what she could. Glancing over at Fischer, Rogue asked, "That why you're here?"
Fischer smiled behind his cigarette, not looking at her. "Astute, Marie. Very astute." He didn't see her cringe but didn't have to to know she had. "No, that's not why I'm here." He pulled the cigarette from his mouth and put it out in the ashtray that was standard in ever box. Walking back to the window he, too, crossed his arms. "Wanted to let you know your movie came in." Rogue looked at his and raised an eyebrow, making it obvious she was waiting for more. "I know you've been more friendly to your kids than most others are, and I really don't care. They still do what you tell them to do and that's really all that matters."
"But?"
Fischer's lips pursed. "I heard you were sitting on the beach with one of 'em the other day, chatting like you were best friends."
Rogue rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Are you kiddin' me? I can't have a conversation with someone now?"
"Just don't make it too personal." Now he looked at her, a stern expression on his face. "I'm serious. You get too personal and the boundary lines blur."
"Is that what you're really worried about?" Her question was spoken in a challenging tone. The fight was momentarily forgotten as she turned to fully face him.
"Yeah, it is." His voice became a bit clearer. "I'm telling you right now. You better make damn sure they all know that you're the boss or they will walk all over you when they think they have the chance. You show even the smallest bit of weakness and they will expose it. You think you're making friends, Marie? Well you're not. You're just building up an army of pissed off mutants who would gladly trample over you to get to freedom."
Rogue narrowed her eyes. "First of all, call me Marie again and you're gonna wish I was wearin' gloves. Second, you don't know nothin' about what goes on in my Block, so don't pretend you do. You're just pissed off that Ribbon's loose, and the fact that none of your little clones can catch her is settin' you right on edge. It ain't my fault that you let her get too close and she left you. I ain't the one with abandonment issues."
For a moment, Fischer was clearly seething. It seemed as if he was trying to decide if he wanted to hit her or see just how shatterproof that glass was. The fact that Rogue's gaze on him was unflinching wasn't helping, either. But after a moment of counting to ten in his head and remembering he couldn't exactly do anything to her at the moment, he gave way to a slow smile. "Oh, I know a lot more than you think I do, darlin'. You forget, there are cameras everywhere." His eyes ran down her figure, the meaning behind his words quite clear. "As far as Ribbon goes, do I look pissed to you?" Fischer raised his arms, inviting her to contradict his cool exterior. "It's all gravy, baby." He winked at her, much to her infuriation, and headed for the door. "See ya at the movies, Marie."
The door closed behind him and Rogue found her pulse racing and her breathing as erratic as if she'd just run a race. A fist was driven into one of the plush chairs, knowing it back against the wall with such a force that it bounced from the wall and fell over on its side. Yeah, Fischer was still the boss, he'd made that perfectly clear. Looking up at the camera that was in the box, Rogue lifted a hand and raised her middle finger. Let him get a chuckle out of that. Bastard.