Chapter One
The evening was still. Outside the X-Mansion, glow bugs flickered, and crickets chimed into the soft din of the crunching of gravel, and the loud growling of a motorcycle engine. A young woman was mounted atop the bike, and she pulled into the drive, kicking the stand once she cut the engine. She removed her helmet to reveal curly auburn hair and a white forelock. Her green eyes were hidden momentarily behind shades that she shoved up into her hair, her lips still painted with red lipstick that she rubbed together thoughtfully.
She began to make her way back into the Mansion, her black leather pants squeaking in cadence with the jangles of her leather jacket, and the crunch of the drive beneath her boots, to the squelching of wet grass; a smell which sweetly and pleasantly met her senses.
She opened the large doors with ease and slipped inside, taking her boots off by the door.
"Y'out late, non?"
Rogue sighed, her arms folding over her chest as she looked up into the eyes of none other than Gambit.
"Listen you," She said, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Ah'm allowed t'go out fer a ride e'if ah want one."
"On Logan's bike? De two'a you all buddy buddy now?"
Rogue rolled her eyes heavenward. "Ah can't have friends neither? Honestly Remy, what e'is e'it with you? Y'break up with me, an' then yer' jealous of every guy ah talk to?"
"Non, I ain't jealous."
"Pft, sure, keep tellin' yer'self that, shugah."
Rogue plucked her shades out of her hair and folded them up before slipping them into the right pocket of her jacket. Walking around Remy and down the hall to the kitchen. It was cold out, Mid-December, and she wanted some tea to warm herself up. She could tell by the sound of his footfalls that Remy was following her, and she sighed when she reached the kitchen, preparing her tea.
"Rogue, I didn' say I wouldn't want t'try again wit you."
"Yeah, well, maybe ah don't want t'try again, Gambit. Maybe Ah'm just done, y'know?"
"Y'don't mean that, chere."
"How e'in th' hell do y'know what ah mean? How e'is that supposed to work? Y'jus' assume shit, Gambit, an' that's th' problem. Ah was e'in th' Danger Room last week with Logan, and we was sparrin' and now y'think we're fuckin' but we ain't. Shit, ah wish we were, considerin' as much trouble as e'it's causin' me. Not that e'it's even any of yer business."
"Well chere, ever since you've been able to control your powers now, you've been…different."
"Different? For you, maybe." Rogue had filled a mug with water, and put a bag of lipton tea in the cup for it to steep while she put the timer on 2:00.
"For me?" Gambit was leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen now, his brows furrowed with concern.
"Yes, fer' you." She turned to face him, then.
"Cause ah ain't some sorta conquest now that y'can touch me! Y'bastard, tha's what ah've always been t'you an' don't you dare deny e'it now!"
"Chere—"
"Don't chere me. At least Logan doesn't act awl weird about mah abilities now. He can accept 'em, an' he's happy fer me, unlike some people!"
"Rogue, Remy is happy fo' you. Y'get t'have dat normal life yous was always talkin' an' dreamin' about. I guess Remy just hurt cause it won't be wit 'im."
"Yer' damn incorrigible." The microwave beeped and Rogue took out her tea, steam rising from the mouth of the mug as she added sugar. She couldn't be bothered with milk.
"Now, e'if you'll excuse me, ah'm goin' t'bed."
"Chere, please…Tell me you want me…I know Remy fucked up, I know, I'm lookin' t'amend dat."
"Yeah, well, look harder then, cause ah ain't." Rogue then pushed her way past Gambit, not even bothering to give a second glance back.
"Chere…"
Rogue didn't reply, the only sound that could be heard were her boots hitting the steps, and the eventual click of her bedroom door closing.