"Okay boys, while Shannon's away you'll be having Danger Room session with the rest of your classmates," Scott said. "If it pans out, we may make the move permanent."
He dismissed Mark and Whip after that announcement, feeling stung by his condesending attitude. The idea that they may rejoin their classmates should have been exciting news, but instead they felt belittled, like he was doing them a favour they didn't deserve.
"Y'know what we should do," Whip said suddenly.
"What?" Mark asked.
"We should go into this a team."
"What do you mean? We have no idea what team they'll stick us on. We'll probably be separated."
"Officially, maybe."
Mark raised his eyebrows.
"What did you have in mind?"
"I say we put a third team on the floor," Whip said. "Sabotage and disable both sides, declaring ourselves the winners."
Mark stared at him, then grinned.
"I like it."
And the two discussed the possibilities all the way to their next class, silencing when the soon to be targets of their mischeif entered earshot.
**********
The danger room session wasn't until later that day. As expected, Scott put Mark on one team and Whip on the other. The scenario was a battle, one which Mark and Whip quickly turn to their advantage.
Mark knew he would be a target for Whip's team, simply due to his own lack of popularity amongst his peers. To that end he made a point of sticking amongst his own team members, using his probes to see when someone was coming and then moving behind a teammate at the last second so they got hit instead.
Meanwhile, Whip had no particular quams about hitting both teams (his own under the guise of 'friendly fire'). One by one, the pair whittled down their teams to just Mark and Whip. Together they reached the goal.
"Woot! We won!" Whip proclaimed, and high-fived Mark.
"Ahem," Scott said over the speaker system. "I thought you two were on opposite teams."
"Well, you thought wrong," Whip replied smugly.
"Hey," snickered Queenie. "You could say they they're batting for the other team."
Her friends chuckled along with her. Whip was about to respond angrily when Mark put his hand up.
"Nah, we just have better taste than to moon after you," Mark replied.
"At least -" Queenie began.
"Silence," Scott commanded. "You're dismissed until the bell goes for your next class. Mark, Whip, I want to see you in my office. Now."
"Okay," Whip replied cheerfully.
He grabbed Mark's arm and teleported them both to Scott's office.
"We are in so much trouble," Mark smirked upon arrive.
"Worth it," Whip grinned.