Trinity and Shine returned in time for dessert, and nothing was said about their absence, other than Rogue asking

"You okay Sugar?"

Trinity just nodded soberly.

"Sorry if I was rude," she said.

"Think nothing of it," Hank assured her.

The talk turned to religion, as it was apt to do.

Mike, of course, had no problem getting in the ring with Xavier and Hank, who had some philosophical questions for him.

"I don't see how you people reconcile the idea of a good God with all the suffering in the world," Xavier said.

"Why is it always that?" Shine said, leaning on the table and giving Wally a knowing look.

"I dunno," he shrugged, eating his dessert without much concern. Wally always thought arguing about it was dumb, people needed to see it through actions and their own seeking, he thought.

Shine knew that, but couldn't resist debate anyway, it was too scintillating to her.

"They'll talk about this for hours," Anne commented to Jean. "If we weren't ministers, they'd go out onto the porch and smoke cigars while they were doing it."

"Well, only Logan smokes," Jean didn't really get the point of Anne's comment.

The talk went on for a while, and the others enjoyed listening to it, even if they didn't have the confidence to join in always...at least most of them did.

Gambit got increasingly annoyed with it.

Jean could sense it and tried to warn him mentally not to upset their guest, but like most men, Gambit didn't appreciate being told what to do, especially before he even did it (like most people really), and perhaps that only sealed it.

He interrupted right in the middle of Mike making a point about God's infinite wisdom, to say: 

"If God so wise, why He not figure a way to stop all dis hatred, huh? Seem like He not dat wise, or he just don't care. Probably just want mindless worship like all dem others."

"Gambit!" Rogue always acted surprised, despite him doing this every time.

Wally winced, but caught her eye and shook his head like "don't make it worse."

Mike handled it like a champ.

"Well, that is a fair question!" he said mildly. "But I wasn't finished yet, so perhaps if I did finish my point, I would have answered it already."

"Gambit has trouble accepting the idea of a higher power," Xavier said, meaning to smooth things over, but only succeeding in making Gambit more annoyed because someone was speaking for him.

"Faith isn't easy to have," Anne said. "Without it being given." She was also trying to smooth it over.

Shine knew Gambit well enough to guess the effect it would have.

"Easy answer," he said saltily. "Too easy. Maybe you don't have one, no?"

"You're being rude," Storm said severely. "These are our guests. There is no call to put them on the spot like this."

"It's all right--" Mike began.

Gambit frowned. "Ain't Gambit idea."

This really did cross a line the others thought even the ones who'd sympathize the most with his position.

"That is quite enough," Hank said.

"Remy, what's wrong with you," Rogue stood up. "Ain't no call to hurt their feelings just 'cause you don't like it."

"No one take feeling of anyone else into consideration," Gambit said.

"Ain't no one but you had a problem with it," Rogue said.

Gambit got up also. "Gambit not hungry anymore."

He left the room in a huff.

"Oh dear..." Anne said sadly. 

"He's like that all the time," Logan said. "Still..." he thought Gambit was usually more civil than that.

"It's our fault," Shine said. "What we have done has bothered him."

"It is not your fault," Storm said. "Do not take the blame, it is his own fault...someone should talk to him."

"I suppose I should," Xavier said. "This is not how we treat guests here. But it can wait, let us finish our meal."

But the mood was killed. Even Wally didn't feel like eating that much anymore, and they all called it off pretty soon.

Rogue was so mad she actually helped Jean with the dishes just to avoid small talk.

"I know," she said, to Wally's concerned look. "I know what you said, but that was just wrong. Can't just let that slide, can we?"

"He seemed angry," Jean said. "But I could not pick out why. He's usually so calm...it's very puzzling."

"Is it so puzzling?" Shine brought more plates to the counter. "It makes perfect sense to me."

"Then why?" Rogue asked her.

"Changes," Shine said. "More and more. Gambit doesn't handle change so well, does he? Name one he's ever liked."

They thought about it.

"None come to mind," Rogue admitted.

"But he is one to adapt," Jean said.

"Yeah, he told me once that life is random," Rogue said. "Something about a full house or busted flush. We're on our own, and all that. So why's it such a problem?"

"What do you suppose someone who thinks life is random feels like if it seems like things are falling into place neatly, but for someone else?" Shine asked.

They stared at her.

"I can't imagine," Jean said.

"I tell you, I'd feel jealous," Wally mused. "And probably kind of scared. I mean, I have felt that way when it seemed like other heroes were doing better than me."

Shine nodded.

"All right...but is that any reason to be mean?" Rogue said.

Shine came up to Rogue and hugged her lightly...almost like she was trying to tell her something.

"Marie," she said quietly. "It's the only way he knows how to fight to keep what he's got."

Rogue looked at her closely, and then she seemed to understand.

"Oh..." she said sadly.

"I still don't understand it," Jean said.

"Ask Scott," Shine said. "For once, I think he'd understand it perfectly. Though in this one area, I think men and women are about the same, just comes out differently when we act on it."

Wally sighed. "Still feel bad for him. I'd do the same thing if it was you, or my friends."

"Yeah, I can't say I'd be patient either," Shine said. "Of course, if you suddenly acted different, I'd conclude an alien force took over your mind...and I'd probably be right based on prior experience."

"Somehow that is both romantic and gross, baby," Wally said.

"That about sounds right," Shine made a face.

"You two are so weird," Rogue rolled her eyes, but at least the mood was lighter.

As they were finishing up, Shine started to sing this tune:

"I'm a reckless mistake, I'm a cold night's intake, I'm a one night too long, I'mma come on too strong.

(All my life I've been living in the fast lane, can't slow down I'm a rollin' fast train, 

One more time, gotta start all over, can't slow down, I'mma lone red rover)

I'mma hold my cards close, I'm a wreck what I love most, I'm a first class let down, I'm a shut up sit down.

I am the headcase, I am the color of boom! That's never arriving, yet you are the pay raise, always a touch out of view, and I am the color of...

(chorus)

I'm a midnight talker, I'm an alley walker, I'm a day late two face, I'm a burn out quick pace.

I am the headcase....yet you are the opera, always in time and in tune, and I am the color of boom...

(chorus) 

Whoa how did come to this? Love is a Polaroid. Better in picture, never can fill the void.

I'm gonna get ready, for the rain to pour heavy, let it fall, fall, let it fall upon my head."

https://youtu.be/bex9kNmTAtA

"Never understood what that was about," Wally commented. "Your future music is weird. I can't get any of those Imagine Dragons songs."

"They are heavily symbolic," Shine said. "But 'Polaroid' is about how this person knows they are not good at love, and not able to make it picture perfect, and that love itself as they know it doesn't fill them up. They see all the mistakes they make, and see it doesn't work for them. But the person they are talking about is like a pay raise or an opera, they seem flawless and like something this person can't attain to...I think the part about rain is about how you need help from above to come down and wash you to fill you up. I think it's vague on purpose, that's sort of how they roll. But that's how I see it.

"Interesting analysis," Jean said. "But a little too out there for me, the future must have very strange music."

"Oh if you think that's bad, you should here 'Whatever it Takes'." Shine laughed.

[I like Imagine Dragons, but I can't make heads or tails of some of their lyrics either.]

***

It got late and Anne and Mike had to go home, Storm took them this time.

Jubilee and Trinity set up Trinity's stuff in her room and began talking like any other two girls would.

Ryan had hung around briefly, but been too shy to stick around. He and Wally started playing games instead.

Shine thought the worst might be over and started to get the younger Morlocks ready for bed. 

They fought her on things like dental hygiene and washing up and putting on Pajamas, since they never had.

But both Shine and Jean were quite insistent that they live like civilized people at the mansion, and Shine was immovable on it if they tried to argue. Only people who got off was if their mutation made them sensitive to certain chemicals so they couldn't use normal items.

While this was going on though, Logan found Gambit shooting pool, still in a sour mood.

Logan was not in a great mood himself, after Gambit's display earlier.

"What d'ya mean by picking on those people," he said. "You made us all look bad. You above these people now, Gumbo?"

"Let it alone," Gambit said.

"No, I'd like an answer," Logan said.

"And Gambit like to be left alone," Gambit said.

"Ain't that just the same as always," Logan said. "Never trust anyone, never tell anyone what's on your mind. Sometimes I wonder if we're even friends."

"Gambit wonder if we friends, why ya don't take his side now and agin," Gambit said. "Stirrin' up trouble with dem humans ain't gonna lead to no good."

"Good for who?" Logan said. "You? Because it sure seems like that's the only person you think about around here."

Gambit touched the pool pole Logan was about to pick up, and it exploded, sending Logan jumping back.

"Oh that's it!" he said. Claws out. "You've done that one too many times, Cajun!"

"Bring it, ol' man," Gambit was itching for a fight.

"Hey!" Rogue came in, she'd been searching for Gambit to see if he was okay, and she was not happy to see what was happening. "You two knock it off!"

"Don't you defend him this time, he's asking for it!" Logan tried to block her.

"And you're asking for a piece of my mind!" Rogue said. "Back off!"

"Oh let 'em come, Chere," Gambit said. 

"Are you plumb crazy?!" Rogue exploded "This ain't gonna solve nothin'!"

"Maybe, but it'll sure make me feel better," Logan growled.

"Stay out of it," Gambit said to Rogue.

Rogue blinked at him, now hurt.

"Well, fine!" She said, flying out of the room, muttering "That Swamp Rat wants ta get cut in pieces, why should I care 'bout it? They can break down the whole house for all I care!"

***

Shine was making sure Cindy was actually in bed when Rogue came tearing into the hall and grabbed her arm.

"Shine, Logan and Gambit fightin' downstairs, and I can't get 'em to stop!" she said.

Shine's eye widened. "Well, did you get the Professor?"

"Professor can't do much when Logan is like this," Rogue said. "He listens to you and Storm, but Storm is not here, come on, you gotta come break it up, he might hurt Gambit--not that that no good swamp rat don't deserve it, but I'm afraid it would get outta hand, they're awful mad."

"All right, but Gambit won't like me interfering either," Shine said.

"Just do that thing with your eyes, he'll listen," Rogue said. "It's real scary."

"Uh...thanks?" Shine said oddly.

Rogue flew her downstairs.

Luckily, just in time, Gambit and Logan hadn't really started yet, just feeling each other out.

Rogue stood in the hall and shoved Shine that way.

Shine almost lost her balance from the force, but she straightened and walked in.

"Boys!" She said.

They both stopped mid-swing and looked at her.

"What you want?" Gambit said sourly.

"Rogue send ya?" Logan said.

Shine drew a deep breath, and then she said. "Just what do you think you're doing?"

Both of them began talking at once.

"He started it," Logan said.

"He ain't mind his own business," Gambit said.

Shine clapped her hands loudly and they both stopped talking.

"Perhaps this has not been made clear before," she said authoritatively. "But this behavior between two teammates is unacceptable. Are both of you schoolboys, or are you grown men?"

"Let us settle it man to man then," Logan said.

"This is not a bar where someone throws drunken insults at you, Logan," Shine said. "This is our home, and it should be a safe place for anyone, even if they are angry, to not have to come to blows. How old are you? Are you really going to let a little whipper snapper like Gambit goad you into a fight?"

"Hey!" Gambit said.

"As for you," Shine turned to him and her eyes flashed, though not literally. "I'm sure you had a reason, but what does letting Logan provoke you prove? Nothing. He's a grumpy old man, you really going to blow him up just for hurting your pride?"

"Just a minute--" Logan said.

"Both of you are ridiculous," Shine cut him off. "But if you want to act like children, allow me to treat you like children. I'd be happy to toss both of you into the pool to cool off if you need it."

They went silent.

"Humiliated enough?" Shine asked.

"You act like you so much better dan us," Gambit said. 

Shine surveyed the room.

"I'm not the one who almost blew the room up because I was angry," she said.

Dead silence.

Logan finally looked down.

"If that's all, then please separate," Shine said.

Logan slunk off muttering something about women and getting angry.

Gambit scowled at Shine.

Shine glared at him right back.

"Do you like it better when people are angry at you?" She asked. "Because I can do that too. Only I think it's giving you what you want, so I don't want to give you the satisfaction. Does it just kill you that you can't get to me? Remy?"

"Gambit can get to you," Gambit said.

"No, you can't," Shine said. "Because I won't let you. Take your shots at me, for all I care, Remy, but do not hurt Logan because of it. He is your friend. Shame on you."

"He start it," Gambit said.

"No, you started it by causing that scene earlier," Shine's temper flared just a little. "Are you a child? Do you need me to baby you over it? The rest of us do not need to cater to your temper. You have a problem, you tell it to us like a man, and like a responsible member of the team, or you stop complaining that no one treats you like one. And that doesn't just go for me, it goes for all of them. You like getting a rise out of people, I know that, but you need to learn to say you're sorry when you've gone too far, or you're just being cruel. Is that what you want people to think of you?"

"Gambit don't need your opinion!" Gambit snapped

"I know you don't!" Shine shot back. "I didn't need yours either, but you gave it anyway. You can dish it out but you can't take it, can you?"

Gambit went quiet for a moment, considering.

"Do you know what hurts me?" Shine said. "It's not that you don't like us, it's that you're willing to be untrue to your own self in order to get that point across. One thing I always respected about you was that you would stick to your guns. No matter what anyone else said about it. But is that not true if it's people who's world views and lifestyle is one that bothers you? Even if it's not bad. I suppose the others will tell you that it was wrong to act that way. So I don't need to say it, I just want to make you feel really, really guilty."

She got a cunning look. "That's worse than the anger you clearly wanted to get out of it, isn't it? Let you bother about it, why should I bother myself?"

Gambit stared at her.

"You got a vindictive side," he said finally.

"Does it make you happy to know that I'm not always nice?" Shine asked. "I'm starting to think you want it. But let me warn you, there are some strong words for people who try to make others stumble. You might get me to do it, I won't deny it, I'm only human. But will you really be proud of this? Of making any of us fall into that trap? Think about it."

She stormed out of the room then.

[Ouch.]

***

Despite these incidents, Jubilee was having a good time over all, and the older team members were not wholly unsatisfied.

Sure, things hadn't gone perfectly at dinner, but the Billings had played it off like champs, and there was no violence. That wasn't so bad. Xavier said they reminded him of Moira, that common sense manner about things, and openness to other people.

Logan went to cool off after his fight with Gambit. He had been kind of shamed by Shine interfering the way she did, but it put him out also.

Rogue wasn't happy either.

Shine tried to comfort her as best as she could about it, but Rogue wasn't having it. She seemed likely to stay angry for a while, her temper burned hot and fierce.

Hank tried to make Logan feel better, when he found him, by saying that it hadn't gone so bad, and they'd recovered from the setbacks fairly well.

But it didn't do much for Logan.

Trinity asked Jubilee why Gambit hated humans so much.

"That's just the thing," Jubilee said. "He doesn't. Gambit actually gets along pretty well with humans. He can control his power well too. It's...actually religion he doesn't like."

"Oh?" Trinity was laying across her bed, rebelliously with her shoes on, since her mother didn't allow her to wear shoes on the carpet.

"Yeah," Jubilee said, putting down her video game controls, tired of staring at a screen. "Ever since Mr. Kurt, and the Wests got here and started telling us about this, he's been really snippy about it. I don't know what his problem is. I think it's cool."

"It's great that you think that," Trinity said. "A lot of people think we're weird. Too old fashioned. I go to this school...they have a Christian club, but the kids there mostly just talk about other stuff, and I got in trouble for bringing my Bible to school once. My mom said I have the right, but I guess someone thought it was promoting one faith instead of tolerance or something. I don't think it makes any sense, it's just bringing my bible."

"Yeah, weird," Jubilee said. "Normally I just think about people finding out I'm a mutant, I stopped going to school. Sometimes my powers go out of whack."

"So you won't go to college?" Trinity asked.

"Eh, I don't really want to, I hate school." Jubilee said.

"Not me," Trinity said. "That's the one place I feel like I  know what I'm doing. Except when people call me a bible thumper. But that doesn't happen that often. I'm good at school. I think it'd be cool to be a teacher maybe, or maybe something else. Like a lawyer. Hey, then I could fight for mutant rights."

"Yeah, maybe," Jubilee said. "But I kind of want it to happen faster than that, it'd take you years to graduate law school. I want change now."

"You know, Mrs. West is really cool," Trinity sat up. "She's heading up the thing with the Reverend, trying to reach mutants right? I can see why. She's super smart. I was almost ready to go home till she talked to me."

"She gives pretty good advice, I guess," Jubilee said. "And she's nice. Doesn't rat you out or anything if you make a mistake around here."

Jubilee had made plenty, enough to know this.

"You think what they're doing is going to work?" Trinity asked.

"I hope it does," Jubilee said. "But it's hard to get my hopes up. A lot of the times things that are supposed to 'help' mutants just end up being some scam to get us to work for humans. Like Genosha...that was awful...hey maybe that's why Gambit doesn't trust them. Because that didn't go so well."

"Why, what happened?"

Jubilee told her about getting enslaved and then locked up, and Gambit tricking his way out of it.

"Wow...that's horrible," Trinity said. "I...I can't believe people got away with that..."

"It happens all the time," Jubilee said. "That's why I find it really hard to forgive some people...how can you do that? And that Creed guy...he wanted to kill me, just for being born."

She grabbed tissues suddenly. Trying not to cry. "It's so unfair."

Trinity was learning to expect some of this, but it still was rough.

"Do you not trust me?" She asked, looking serious.

Jubilee looked up. "Oh...no, of course I do. You're not like that."

"What if I was?" Trinity said. "I mean...without knowing it? Would you blame me?"

"I dunno, I think you'd probably just not know better," Jubilee said. "Like some humans don't know what goes on with those other creeps. Even the President doesn't."

"Yeah," Trinity sighed. "I'm gonna try really hard not to do that."

"Don't sweat it so much," Jubilee said. "No one's an expert, right? Not even me...I think the others don't tell me a lot still."

"Maybe that's for the best," Trinity said. "Hearing all this at once has been...a lot to handle. I'm tripping...I gotta admit, while you were talking about it at dinner, I felt a little like it was directed at me and the Billings."

"What? no," Jubilee scoffed. "We weren't talking about you guys, just other humans."

"Yeah, but Jewels, when you say it like that, it sounds like you mean us too," Trinity said. "I'm human...you know I can't help that. There's bad humans sure, but is just being a human a bad thing to you guys? It feels that way."

"Oh no, it's just that you're different," Jubilee said.

"Because I can't shoot sparks out of my hands?" Trinity said.

"Uh...that and other stuff," Jubilee said. "People aren't afraid of you."

"Maybe they aren't, but it sure seems like mutants are," Trinity said.

There was a pause while Jubilee wrapped her head around that. She was still young, and while it would have been easy for someone like Hank or Xavier to see that turnaround, she was not used to trying to put herself in someone else's shoes.

"Can you blame us?" She said.

"I guess not," Trinity said. "I just feel weird about it. Like you guys always think I'm gonna do or say something to hurt you, even when I'm just trying to hang." She plucked at the stitching on the covers. "Like this one teacher I have, she's really strict with the kids. She scares us about messing up. I don't mess up too often in class, but I feel bad because not everyone is that good at school, and they can't help it. I feel just like that, that I can't help it. But I don't want to be like I'm so clueless about what you guys feel like. It's just that I don't know if I can really ever be on your level. Remember, I think it's so cool how you all fight for stuff and it matters, but how can I ever be a part of that if you don't even want me to be."

"Who said I didn't?" Jubilee said.

"It's just something someone else said," Trinity said. "But I wondered if s-they were right. Am I just out of place here?"

Jubilee shook her head. "That's silly. Of course you can help. This is helping, isn't it? I mean, I've never even talked about this to a human before."

Trinity winced. "There it is again. I get that you mean it nice, but...geez, is this how you felt about my comparing it to other stuff?"

"I guess it was," Jubilee finally started to get it. "Okay...how about this, I won't call you a human anymore...I can just say a person...or another girl, how about that?"

"Okay," Trinity said. "That would help, actually. And I won't call you a mutant."

"You never really have, except when you had to," Jubilee said. "But I don't mind that, I don't like dancing around it, makes me feel like it's something to be embarrassed about."

"I guess we're different," Trinity said. "I don't like being put in a category, and you think it's more awkward if we ignore it...but I feel weird calling someone a mutant all the time. Like they're a breed of dog. Doesn't it just sound wrong?"

"I guess if you don't want to, that's fine," Jubilee conceded. "It doesn't matter that much. Does that make it less awkward?"

"Yeah thanks," Trinity finally smiled. "I'm sorry if...I mean, I keep bringing the mood down. It's...I thought it would be fun to do this, and it is, don't get me wrong. But it's majorly serious too, isn't it?"

"Hey, I think you're starting to get how we feel," Jubilee said. "That's just how it is for us to go outside."

"Wow," Trinity's eyes were huge.

***

"That's why Logan is acting so moody," Shine filled Wally in finally, once they got a chance to have five minutes alone. "And I can't get Rogue to let it go either...but she'll cool off by tomorrow, I think."

"I was hoping things were going better," Wally sighed. "Gambit just had to go and shove his foot in his mouth again. I think he likes people being angry at him."

"I think he does," Shine agreed. "But I can't yell at him anymore. I don't like how easily I'm getting angry these days.

"I dunno, you're pretty funny when you're angry," Wally said

Shine glared at him.

"And besides, it's real," Wally added hastily. "You're just getting invested, that's all. They can handle it if you get angry, they're big kids, right? You don't have to be perfect and calm all the time. Besides, when you don't get angry, you tend to just get upset later on your own, so it's better this way."

"Do I really do that?" Shine said.

"For someone who's so observant about everything else, you don't notice the smallest things about yourself," Wally said.

"Do you?" Shine said. "Aren't we all our own blind spots?"

"Guilty, but I don't worry about it the way you do," Wally said.

Shine sighed and put her head in his lap. "It'd be nice not to have to referee all this. If they'd learn how to settle things themselves...no wonder I feel the pressure."

"It's not as bad as UA," Wally said.

"I minded it less with kids," Shine closed her eyes.

"I feel that," Wally admitted. "But you're doing great, seriously. Shine, we had other human people over here today, we still have one here. Can you imagine that ever happening before we came here? That's huge. We got freaking Morlocks to leave the sewers. This is going really well. You can't let Gambit's little hissy fit ruin it for you. He'll get over it, why should he make you feel bad about succeeding?"

"Don't we always?" Shine said softly. "If someone else is bothered by it."

"Not me," Wally said proudly. "I just think they're an idiot for missing it. You should take that attitude too."

"You know, you're probably right," Shine said. "And tomorrow, I will do just that. But I'm too tired right now."

"Yeah, you should just relax for now." Wally patted her hair. "One problem at a time. Anyway, I really doubt the house will burn down if we just leave it for now."

"Don't tempt fate like that, not with the X-men," Shine said. "That's the last thing we need to deal with, remember the ninja?"

"How about not thinking of things that will stress us out more," Wally winced. "No rocks in the window. Let's just pretend none of that happened, and this is just an ordinary day, ordinary world, type of thing."

"All right," Shine said.

Then she looked up. "You know, it's a very good thing I met you. I can't imagine how I'd deal with all this alone"

"Oh...you're gonna make me all embarrassed..." Wally was immensely pleased of course, which made him bashful.

"But I'm serious," Shine said. "I think I'd lose my mind."

"Well, do I even need to say how lost I'd be without you?" Wally said. "I don't have a clue how to do this stuff alone. You need a partner."

"Keep up that kind of talk and I'll be as light as feather before long," Shine said.

"Now that's easy," Wally said.

[You know, I saw somewhere on YT that if a man asks for your opinion, or tells you a problem he has, he trusts you.

Or he's a narcissist...

But having known narcissists, I'd say that for sure it's in a different way when they open up, like "look at me, I'm so upset, feel sorry for me" not the "I genuinely appreciate your imput" attitude that a good guy would have.

Girls are different. A girl will ask for advice that she never intends to follow, if she doesn't trust you that much, but if she takes your advice, then she trusts you. We tend to weigh our options when we get imput and do what sounds best, so if we put aside that, and actually follow what you say, we trust you a lot. Most women will take years to trust anyone that much. 

Based on both these rules, it's really cute to see how much our main power couple here trusts each other. You'll notice that Shine actually takes Wally's advice, which she doesn't usually with anyone else, and Wally actually defers to her opinion sometimes, which he normally wouldn't bother doing. There's a give and take there. I didn't write it that way intentionally, but when I heard this psych fact, I thought it applied to them.]