Read ME These are Marvel Characters and not my own... Ok, I throw in Imani, But that's it. The rest is Marvel

Ol' Remy

Life after X-Men inspired Remy to find a new purpose in life. He develop a niche for detective work, making himself into a private investigator. No one can hire this man just for confirm a marital partner's indiscretion. Although, if you needed to find information of a missing person, a cover-up scandal or murder suspects, this was your man. For the right price, of course.

No one has ever seen the eyes behind his sun glasses. His clients assumed it was to add a little mystery and flare to his profession. It gave them the sense he was all about results. But the truth is, he wants to keep a low profile. Humans do not understand or trust mutants, let alone one with eyes of a demon.

He is paid seductive sums of money for other people's secrets. But he will never share his. Maybe all of his secrets were in the bottom of that Jack Daniel bottles next to his shot glass. And it is his full intentions to keep them there. Temporarily faded from his mind.

He sits on a stool of a local bar. The surrounding people has the impression that he is this conceited, asshole that keeps his shades on at night. The young woman sitting three seats down can't help but notice the build of his body even though he's wearing a white and black pin striped dress shirt with blue jeans. The first thing she would do if she had the nerve, is run her fingers through his unruly, grown-out hair. But the sun glasses keeps her away. He has not taken them off since she arrived at the bar over an hour ago. But good gracious, he is a sexy piece of work! He has great features that would be perfected if he shaved. His face looks as if it has not been touched by a razor in days.

Looks like another shot of Jack. The first two shots were to celebrate the recent closing of a case. The kidnapping of a senator's daughter. The kidnapping was not for a ransom, but an act of revenge upon a corrupt lawyer, turned government official. Remy refused to let the innocent pay for another's past sins. And this man committed a lot of sins to both humans and mutants. So, Remy took the case with the down payment of a half of million dollars. Two days later, he found the twenty-one year old tied, gagged, starved , naked and unconscious in an abandoned two-car garage with only hours to live. The sick bastard who did this was found by police in the living-room of his home, beaten to the point of death.

Remy did have the tendency for going over the edge. He never wanted to take a life, although his emotions made him wish to cross that line several times.

The next two shots of whiskey was for the isolation. Although he enjoyed getting things done independently, nothing compared to the company of a team. There were times he knew he was suppose to be dead a long time ago. But there was always an X-Man there to save his ass. One in particular was a mocha skin, white haired, blue-eyed woman that controlled the weather and later his heart. He took for granted their friendship until after he disassociated himself with the X-Men. Her name is Ororo, but he calls her 'Stormy' just to annoy her. Ororo being the only person in the world he can count on (since the passing of his father and brother) she was indeed the last person to know that Remy had left without a trace.

The woman at the bar makes conversation with the bartender and quickly takes a few shots of tequila before she get the guts to buy Remy a shot of whatever he is drinking. The bartender delivers Remy's fresh drink and gestures it's from the lady a few chairs down. Remy flashes her a sly smile that drives her buzzed little mind crazy. He was more surprise that an apparently quiet mild manner woman would buy him a drink. Obviously she likes what she sees, but he knows this woman is recently single and looking for a good time. Oh, he could give her the night of her life, but he can look at her and consider she deserves better than a one night stand. Remy wasn't in the business of hurting an already broken women.

"Merci, Chere"

"Oh shit, he speaks French! What a turn on! She thinks. "Um... you're welcome."

"Me, I was getting ready to leave but you convinced me to stay." Remy spoke in his Cajun accent and the woman was eating it all up.

She moved her long black wavy hair out of her face hoping he would notice how pretty she is. Her last relationship left her with major insecurities. She thought maybe this man could make her feel sexy if he looked at her face. Maybe he liked her peanut butter- color skin. It was her big brown eyes that gave her the appearance of a teenage girl, although she was twenty-two. Maybe he wouldn't mind a woman that looked under aged.

"My name is Remy. I don't think I've seen you around here."

"No, I'm from Texas but I went to school in New York.

"I use to live in New York"

"You did? What part?"

"West Chester."

Her mouth dropped for a second. West Chester is not that big of town. What a coincidence. If she said she went to school West Chester he would think she was lying . "My school was very close to West Chester. When did you move here?"

"About...three years ago." He had to think about it.

"Oh, I just got here a month ago."

"You got people down here?"

"No, I'm just traveling." She wanted to stay away from the truth as much as possible.

Remy could detect all the half-truths in her story and half of him was interested in her experience, if ever she told the whole story. But his drunken mind ignored her 'travelings'. "Well Welcome to New Orleans, Chere." He hold up his shot glass and tilted his head to swallow the whiskey whole. "Dave!" He called the bartender " Get this beautiful Texan woman some more of that Patron.." He said this to make it clear that he was paying attention to her as well.

Two hours and six shots later, Remy and the woman were just the remaining few in the bar. They shared stories of growing up in the south. He tells her about his travels to France and she can listen to him and his accent all night long. She feels comfortable around him, however there is something she must ask him.

"What color are your eyes?

"I don't know, I'm blind."

Her body froze stiff to the fact that she could not identify this man had a condition.

"No, I'm just messing with you!" He laughed heartily.

"Oh my God, You got me!" She covered her face to hide her embarrassment.

"Although, I was blind at one time. That's another story for another day. I do have this condition...I can't take off my glasses." He admits.

"You act like you're a mutant and lasers are going to come out of your eyes if you take them off."

"No, actually you will turn into stone if you look at them."

"If you show me your eyes, I'll show you my secret." She ignored his joke with a bargain.

"As long as you don't have a penis, why not?"

She laughed and patiently waited for the big reveal.

Maybe Jack D made him pull the shades from his face but he stared at the counter top of the bar. It's been a long time since he looked at anyone eye to eye. He turned his head toward her and sighed at his visible mutation.

She almost fell off her stool. Her eyes opened wide with shock and fear. Nothing prepared her for what she had just seen. She quickly looked away.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"It's alright, Chere, I'll put them back on." He looked at bartender who was washing glasses and minding his own business.

"No, don't" She touched his hand that was holding the shades "Keep them off." She said quietly.

He was beautiful. His eyes only made him exotic. The way he looked at her made her hot in a deep place inside. She was seconds away from forcing her tongue down his throat. Perhaps his mutation was being unearthly sexy.

"You had something to show me." he arched one eyebrow with a sly grin.

"Oh yeah, okay, give me your hand." He reached his hand out and in a moment she wasn't sure of what she should do. She didn't have to touch him. She just wanted to. Staring into his eyes she could see things that were lost. In a short time she mentally uploaded his childhood, his inner demons and everything he buried with the past. Her facial expression gave away exactly what she was doing. Remy carefully pulled his hand back and closed his eyes.

"So how long have you been in the mansion." He assumed. He put his sunglasses back on to put up that wall he built around himself as before. He gracefully shifted his body away from her, not to be rude but to close himself off.

"A year" She felt ashamed that she was deceitful and that she seen things that was not meant for her to see. But she knew that he was a good man that made a lot of bad decisions.

"You know Storm, huh?" She said trying to lighten up the conversation

"Yes"

"She was one of my teachers." She searched for some more common ground. "She was a really good friend to me while I was there, too. You miss her, huh?"

"Oh no, not another mind reader." He smirked cruelly into his new drink.

"I'm sorry." her voice was breaking as she attempted to stand up to escape upcoming rejection. The same rejection of her friends and family.

Remy quickly but gently held her arm. "You kept your promise. It's not your fault I have done the things that you have seen."

"I can control my ability. I can only do it if I look you in the eye. I can see anything that you ever seen. But it goes so far that sometimes I can't determine what visions are truly mine."

This sounded awfully familiar to Remy and his mind told him to run away from this broken woman. But his heart made him stay for that same reason.

Remy grinned to himself. "We have been sitting here all this time and you haven't told me your name."

"Imani."

"Hello" Ororo answered her cell phone.

"Hey, Chere. You miss me?"

"I'm sorry. Who is this?" Ororo pretended not to know.

Remy laughed, " Aw, now don't be acting like that."

"Like what, Remy? Like I haven't seen or heard from you in two months. You changed your number. I don't know where you live. Is this how you treat your-"

"Woman, I will explain everything to you."

"You always say that."

"One day I will."

She chuckled. She couldn't resist him. For now, she was relieved he was alive and well.

"I want to come to New Orleans."

"Why?"

"Why? Why not?" She was offended.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Let me rephrase that. Why do you want to come to New Orleans, now, when I asked you to come two years ago?"

"You didn't ask me two years ago."

" The Hell, I didn't" he puffed. "You wanted to stay in New York!"

"I wanted you to stay in New York too!"

"Aggghhh, Stormy" he held his phone away from his face, pretending to bang his head against the wall where he stood. "Woman, I die of a stroke talking to you! I will send you a plane ticket tomorrow. How about you get here in 'bout two days. One way." He tested her for a response.

"Yes. One way."

"Ororo?"

"What is it, Remy?"

"I love you."

"Agh, I love you, too." She said dryly. "I will see you this week."

Remy waited for her at the airport terminal. He was somewhat anxious to see her. He haven't laid eyes on her for almost a year and he has not called her in over two months. He prepared himself for a sound slap across his face, that he well deserved.

The first thing he notice was her voluptuous silver-white hair above a dark camel face. Her blue eyes always grabbed his attention even when she was a little girl. There was always something innocent about her eyes.

He also notice the three suitcases that she struggled with but managed to look graceful handling them. Maybe he would not be in so much trouble if he helped her out.

"Hey Stormy."

She smiled and dropped her luggage. "Never call me that." She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

Why do you smell so damn good, she thought. Remy's swag was apparent as usual. There was no reason why any man should be that handsome. But what an asshole! Well maybe he was not a total tool, he did take two of her larger suitcases. Forgiveable.

She never heard about his new baby- a new model, black and white, Ford Mustang. If Remy LeBeau was a car, this would be his true identity. He released the suit cases and opened up the passenger door for her. He was always a gentleman, which always made him... forgivable.

Five minutes into the drive, Ororo was lost in the whole living of New Orleans. The surroundings were so much different than New York and Kenya. She has not been back in this city in years. Even though those memories were anything but fond, she missed the heat, the greenery, the food, the people and the music. Perfect for starting over, she thought.

"So tell me what I missed." Remy interrupted the silence.

"Scott and Emma are still together," She faked a smile. "Whatever makes him happy, right?"

Remy nodded and grinned at her irritation.

"Kitty is still around. Hank is still doing his research and teaching." She gazed about top remember who she was forgetting. "Logan is everywhere, but he comes back every now and again. Oh, and I just came from Africa."

"How was it to be home?" he asked, hiding his surprise. He had no idea she planned to go back.

"Well I didn't go home, home. I went to the Congo... for some research."

"How's Anna?" He changed the subject.

"Um, she is still with Eric." She politely acknowledged. "I haven't seen her in about a year. I think the last time you saw her."

"Well, whatever makes her happy."

"And here it is!"

Ororo gazed at the two-story, over-sized house that Remy referred to as home. Then she looked at him to let it be known that she wasn't impressed. Each step she took towards it made her accept that maybe the house needed her touch and a lot of love. By the time she stepped on the pouch she already picked out a new color and dreamed up a wonderland theme garden.

He gestured to the dark barely furnished room. Just enough furniture for him, but too much space for one man.

"Cozy" she lied as she suspiciously eye balled through the darkness. Thinking she will walk into cod webs or step on a dead body.

She knew Remy was not a stay at home type of guy. All she suspected that was there was a huge amount of cash hidden under the floor boards, a bed to fall into after a long night. A closet or room in the basement to keep all his gadgets for his profession. She would be surprised if she found food in the refrigerator or of he even owned one at all.

She humbly accepted her new living arrangements. She lived in worst conditions. But she missed the comforts of Xavier's institution.

"If it's too hot for you, 'Ro, your talents sure are welcomed" He announced.

"I can see what I can do."

He continued with her bags upstairs. The house reminded her of a paranormal activity reality show. She thought about how little Remy would mind if the house was occupied with ghosts. They wouldn't have any furniture to drifted in midair. There would be no knock-knacks to toss around and break. As long as the spirits left his money alone, they would not bother him at all.

Remy opened one of what seemed to be a dozen doors. " You can sleep in here. I stay up at night and I don't want to interrupt you while you sleep. I sleep across the hall. Besides, I can't share a bed with you."

"What does that suppose to mean?"

"You're a wild sleeper, Stormy. I might wake up with a black eye or bruised ribs from you elbowing me. It's like sleeping in the danger room."

"I'm not that bad!" She could not help but to laugh.

"And you hog the covers. Leaving me injured and freezing cold, woman." He joked. He loved to watch her laugh. He would say anything to hear her giggle.

She looked over the room. The last time this room was decorated was in the 1800's and Remy did not move a thing. The quilt and pillow cases looked dated. The nightstand had an oil lamp sitting on it. The walls presented black and white photographs of blond headed children, none of which was Remy's ancestors, since he was discarded as an infant. Perhaps this house has been in the LeBeau's family.

"Creepy, non?"

"I wasn't going to say anything, but since you mention it..."

"It bothers me sometimes," He looked around finally putting her bags down. "That's why I'm hardly here. Maybe now, I have something to come home too."

She stood there speechless. Still missing the man that stood right in front of her. Ever since she has known him, it was as if someone or something was keeping him captive. Remy was a walking collection of secrets that she could never figure out.

Just before he walked out of the opened door. He had to tell her something."Hey, Stormy?"

"What is it?"

"If the ghost scares you, you can always run to my room to be safe."

"My goodness, Remy. Get out!"