The X-men: Every X for Themselves

Author:  AeLonwyne

Disclaimer:  All characters are Marvel's.  I'm not out for money, just fun.

The Xavier institute. Nestled within the trees and set far back from the road, known as Greymalkin Lane.

Midnight-

Hank McCoy slunk silently down the hallway on the second floor. The object of his destination was several feet distant. He carried a small bottle with him. He had to move oh so slowly, and carefully, so that he would not wake anyone. Pausing outside a bathroom door, he glanced quickly about before slipping inside.

He stepped over to the shower and pulled down both the shampoo, and the conditioner containers. Placing them on the counter and removing the lids, he opened the bottle he had brought with him. Grinning wickedly, he poured half the contents, a mixture of red food coloring and Karo syrup, into each bottle.

Replacing the lids, he then placed them back exactly where they had been. He stuck the empty bottle in the trash bin, slipped out the door and closed it silently behind him. Hank suppressed his laughter as he loped on down the hall once more. "One down, one to go." He thought to himself.

Hank went down to his lab, and whipped up a special batch of Disolvo-24 hour glue. Guaranteed to be extra super sticky wont come off at all. At least for twenty-four hours. Then it would dissolve completely. Hank laughed to himself. "Hehehehe. You're next Icey."

    * * *

8 am

The sun was up and shining brightly. Jean, Scott, Wolverine, and Storm were milling about the kitchen working on breakfast.

Hank, meanwhile, had lured Bobby down to his lab where they were talking about nothing in particular. While Bobby was facing the opposite way, Hank had casually spread the glue over the eyepiece of a microscope. Pretending to be really excited. "Oh, how interesting. Very unexpected." Moving away. "What is it?" Bobby asked, his curiosity peaked. "Well I was experimenting with a gene therapy for victims of the Legacy Virus, to make the DNA more stable." (Not completely untrue. He was working on such a thing just not at that moment.) "I will be back, I need to retrieve a culture from the other lab. Go ahead and take a look." "Ok" Bobby replied as Hank left the room.

Bobby meandered over to the microscope and leaned in for a look. All he saw was what appeared to him, to be a bunch of amoebas. When he pulled back the microscope came with him. Bobby yelled for Hank as he tried to pull it off. "McCoy! This isn't funny!" Bobby carefully made his way to a stool and sat down. He couldn't easily go upstairs for help, since all he could see was the amoebae and the microscope. Resting his head and the microscope on the counter, Bobby sat and sulked, while he waited for help.

    * * *

Meanwhile.
Steam filled the bathroom as Rogue stepped into the shower. Tilting her head upwards, she let the warmth of the water seep into her skin. After a time, the water began to cool down, and she absently reached for the bottle of shampoo. She began to lather her auburn and white streaked hair, when she noticed a difference. "Hey, wait a minute. This stuff is sticky." She said to herself, and tried to rinse it out. But the luke warm water only made it worse. The stuff only got stickier. In an attempt to try to soften and loosen whatever it was in her hair, she grabbed for the conditioner. By the time she realized her mistake. Her hair was a gooey mess, and the now cold water had made the mess almost solid. Shutting off the water she rushed out of the shower grabbed a towel and wrapped it about her. Before leaving the bathroom she stole a glance from the mirror. "Aaaaggghhhhh!!!" Rogue tore open the door, and flew down the stairs, nearly smashing down her fellow X-Men on the landing.

"Uh. Rogue." Scott began, eyeing the gooey gobs of bright reddish gunk in her hair. However Rogue cut him off. "Don' even say it! The first one o' ya to say a word gets a free ride inta orbit. Ya here me? Now where's Bobby?" She demanded.

"Uh.I believe. he's umm downstairs with . uh Hank in his lab." Jean replied trying not to laugh. Rogue stalked past the smirking Wolverine, and headed for the elevator that would take her to the basement. She reached it just as Beast exited. Hank gave her a look of shock. "Say one word Blue boy, just say one word." She challenged him with a glare.

Rogue stomped into the lab hollering. "Bobby! What in blazes did yo..." She stopped short as Bobby's head complete with microscope swung towards her. "Oh. my.How?" She managed between giggles.

"I believe Mr. McCoy decided to get me back for the image inducer thing." Bobby replied sullenly. "But he already got you with the feathers thing. And what did I do?" "You told Scotty and the others the whole story though Hank protested remember." Rogue frowned.

Grabbing the container of glue on one hand, Rogue guided Bobby out the door and upstairs with the other. Their fellow X-Men had once more gathered at the table for breakfast, and all heads turned as they entered. Rogue showed Bobby to a chair then turned to Jean and Ororo. "Would you two kindly help me get this goo outta mah hair?" Trying not to smirk, they both agreed, and followed her from the room.

    * * *

Two hours later and a new very short hair cut later, Rogue entered the kitchen. A bag slung over her shoulder, she advanced on Beast. "Nice haircut Rogue." She only narrowed her eyes and smiled at him. "Let's talk." She said pulling him out the door. "Can we not talk inside?" He asked hopefully. Ignoring him she flew up to the cupola on the mansions
roof.

"This means war Hank! Every X for themselves! "

    * * *

Twenty minutes later, his arms and legs glued firmly together. Hank hung upside down against one of the pillars supporting the cupola. Adorned in honey, peanut butter, and birdseed, like a giant birdie treat, Rogue left him hanging.

Rogue sat under an open window, admiring the azure sky, and wonderfully green trees. "My, my there sure are a lot of birds this evenin'" Rogue observed with a smirk. Then they all started laughing.

* Note: Hank was eventually brought in so the raccoons would not attack him. Twenty-four hours later, both Bobby and Hank were glue free.

Thus the prank war continues...