AN: Alright. A quick author's note. Rogue didn't get the cure, Gambit is a part of the X-Men, and Scott, Jean, and Professor Xavier are all still alive. I hated them for killing them off, so I revived them! Well, now that that's taken care of……Enjoy!!! :D
The Tiger in the Trees
Flashes of orange and black could be seen ahead in the sporadic beams of light. The faster the followers ran, the faster she would run. She was growing tired, but knew she would die if she stopped or even dared to look back. She willed her legs to go faster, beating along the thick, swampy underbrush.
"Here kitty, kitty, kitty! We won't hurt ya…much!" a thick, southern accent laughed out from behind her. She whimpered but kept running and darting through the trees. She splashed through the swampy waters until she was too far in the swamp for even the sun to enter. She climbed her way up a baring tree, the harsh winter wind whipping her fur. As she curled up against the trunk on one of the tallest limbs, she heard the town's folk turning back, reluctantly, one by one. Her mama was dead and her brother in New York. That's where she had to go, but for now all she wanted to do was sleep.
***
Logan was walking down the stairs, a cigar in his lips, when a certain Cajun bolted up the stairs and knocked into him. He let out a growl, but kept walking, not wanting to engage in a fight.
"Mon ami," Gambit said in apology as he tilted his head in Logan's direction.
"Remy LeBeau! Ya filthy Swamp Rat!" came a Southern draw from not too far behind him.
"Remy in trouble now. Got t' go!" And with that, Gambit disappeared up the stairs. A few seconds later, a gorgeous southern girl with long, brown hair appeared on the stairs. The two white streaks only enhanced her beauty.
"Whoa, Stripes! What'd he do this time?" Logan asked, stopping on the stairs to talk to his best friend, although he'd never openly admit that she was.
"That…that Swamp Rat kissed meh!" Rogue stated, clearly flustered and confused more than she was angry.
"And he's still alive! Well then, do me the favor of finishing him off," Logan said with a sly smile and a wink as he started down the stairs once more. Rogue blushed before huffing in aggravation and continuing on her journey.
"Remy! Where'd ya get off ta?" she said quietly, mostly to herself, as she stalked the hallways. She opened his door but, of course, he wasn't there. As she marched down the hallway to her room, she thought of ways to get him back when he dared to show his face again. She unlocked the door to her room, entered, and let out a little scream of surprise. There, on her bed, was Remy LeBeau with a little smile on his face.
"Care t' join me, Cherie?" he asked, patting her bed beside him. He smiled at her and she melted inside, although she tried not to let it show on the outside. Unfortunately, he was starting to crack her shell and she secretly loved it. No one had ever tried so hard to get close to her or get to know her, not even her own boyfriend. She closed the door behind her and came and sat on the bed next to him and he sat up too. He took her gloved hand and kissed it then turned it over and kissed the palm.
"You know you're belle, right Cherie? Does he tell ya how much he loves ya? How belle you are like Remy does? Remy can show you tings dat boy could never do," Remy whispered the last part in her ear. Her breath hitched in her chest and she couldn't help but lean against him. Butterflies took up residence in her stomach every time he was near. His accent, his voice, the things he said to her. She loved it all and that scared her.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I think you both should get down stairs. There's someone here you should meet." They pulled apart at the disembodied voice in their heads. Rogue blushed and Remy smirked while flipping a card between his fingers. Rogue messed with her hair before pulling Remy out the door.
"Comin' professor. Should we be prepared for a fight? " Rogue mentally asked.
"No no, Rogue, nothing like that. This is a new mutant and I think you two will be thrilled to meet her. Especially Remy." Rogue hated that his last statement made her very so jealous. She let go of Remy's hand as they got near the stairs. She was, after all, still Bobby's girlfriend…for now. They were about halfway down the stairs when she felt Remy freeze beside her and suck in his breath.
"Kitten," he breathed out then he bolted down the stairs. She was shocked as he pulled this red headed beauty into his arms. He spun her around and she clung to him. Rogue almost thought she was crying. She slowly started walking down the stairs again as the two pulled apart. He pushed her hair back away from her face and laid his hand on her cheek. She leaned into it and covered his hand with her own. He pulled her to him again as Rogue finished descending the stairs to stand next him. That's when she heard.
"Remy loves ya so much, Kitten," he whispered into her ear. The beautiful blue eyed, red haired girl looked lovingly into his eyes as tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Ah love ya too Remy. Oh god, Ah never thought Ah'd see ya again!" Her Cajun accent was thick, though not near as thick as Remy's; it was evident that this was her first time away from her home.
"Don't worry, Kitten, Remy'll never lose ya again." She should have known that a guy like him wouldn't settle for just one girl, especially a girl like her that he couldn't touch. And with that, Remy broke Rogue's heart into a million pieces.