Disclaimer: No, Remy LeBeau isn't mine. Neither is anything else related to Marvel.
Chapter Two
Remy flicked his hair out of his eyes in frustration as he tried, for the third time, to call his class to attention.
"Class, if yo could jus' look at page 11 of de books!"
A couple of students flipped idly at the pages in an attempt to look as if they were paying attention, but the others continued to chatter as though he hadn't spoken.
"I heard she can suck your soul out of your mouth!" Lorna Dane, a pretty fifteen year old with green hair, was saying to the group of girls sat around her.
The hot topic today appeared to be the new arrival. Rogue had barely been in the Mansion for 24 hours and already everyone was talking about her.
Remy didn't know why he was so surprised, the kids in this mansion just loved gossip. Ate it up like it was covered in whipped cream with a cherry on top. Of course the arrival of Mystique's offspring would cause more than just a stir.
Remy didn't want to admit it, but he himself also found her extremely interesting.
Her background seemed fairly similar to his own, growing up with a manipulative mother who used her for her own gain. Remy was sure that if his father were to meet this Mystique, that they would get along very well.
But that wasn't the only that fascinated him about her.
She was beautiful.
Of course, lots of women were beautiful, and Remy had certainly met his share. But with those enchanting green eyes, the defiance in her chin and the way she filled out a pair of leather trousers, Remy was practically salivating over her.
"She's not a dementor" Sam Gunthre said, rolling his eyes.
"I don't care if she's deadly, I think she's hot" Alex Summers called across the room.
"Alex!" Lorna hissed, throwing him a deadly stare.
Lorna and Alex had a very on again, off again relationship. From what he'd overheard in the staff room, their relationship was in the current off position.
Though apparently not if Lorna had anything to do with it.
"If we could all try to concentrate on French" he called over the noise just as the bell rang across the building, signalling the end of the day.
Remy wasn't sure if he should be relieved, or irritated.
"Don't f'rget de homework!" he shouted over the sea of heads now leaving his classroom.
He collapsed against his desk the moment the last student had exited, wondering what on earth had compelled him to take up teaching.
"You doing okay there, cowboy?"
Remy glanced up to see Jubilee stood in the doorway, her black hair was spiked up at the black and she was wearing a yellow leather jacket so bright it should come with its own warning sign.
"I hate kids" he huffed.
"I take that as an insult" she replied, taking a step into the room and glancing around at the French phases in the wall. "But I wouldn't mind taking your class, there are worse things to spend my day looking at."
Remy raised an eyebrow, "Well I am-"
"Alex Summers just has the best shoulders."
Remy couldn't help but laugh, "What yo' doin' up here, petite?"
"I was looking for Kitty" Jubilee said, sliding herself onto a table and crossing one leg over the other. "She still hasn't finished with her class."
"Want t' go t' de Mall?" Remy asked, stacking a pile of books. "I ain't such a good shoppin' partner, but I can offer m' assistance in de lingerie department."
Jubilee rolled her eyes, "I wanted to talk to her about the new girl."
Remy didn't even know why he was surprised, the only thing that Jubilee liked more than spending a day at the Mall was gossiping.
"Rogue?"
"Have you met her?" Jubilee all but squealed.
"Sho' when she first arrived" he shrugged, "she seems nice."
"I heard she used to bat for the other team, if you know what I mean" Jubilee grinned at him like they were both in on some big secret.
"Yo' tellin' me she's into girls, petite?" Remy asked.
Jubilee laughed, "Of course not!" She sounded delighted as she shook her head exasperatedly at him' "I mean she used to be a villain!"
"I don't think she was a villain."
"Oh come off it, I heard she's Mystique's own daughter!" Jubilee pretended to look scandalised, but Remy knew she was nothing if not thrilled.
"Yo' family don't define yo', petite" Remy said softly.
"Well whatever" Jubilee shrugged, glancing down at her shocking pink nails. "I guess we'll find out tonight, if she's kicked off the island."
"We gonna do some family bonding?" Remy asked, rubbing his face in his hands and dreaming of an ice cold glass of Bourbon.
"No, Xavier called a meeting."
Remy's head snapped up, "When?"
"This afternoon I think."
As if on queue a very familiar voice came though on the intercom, "All X-Men to the War Room."
"The verdict is in" Jubilee said in a sing song voice, jumping off the table and throwing him a wink as she left the room.
Remy followed her out, closing the door behind him with a snap.
He was a little bit hurt for Rogue, that she would have to go through so much scrutiny to get the help she so obviously needed. But a small part of him also understood why it was necessary.
Remy didn't come from the best family, his father was a master thief and his ex-girlfriend an assassin. But he hadn't come to the X-Men with a list of crimes under his name, he had turned his back on his family long before he had even heard the name Charles Xavier.
He couldn't exactly blame the team for being vary about welcoming a girl that had fought against their beliefs almost her entire life.
Unlike them, Remy wasn't adverse to giving someone a second change.
Most of the team already appeared to have arrived when he entered the War Room, and were seated around the large oak table in the centre of the room.
Rogue was sat at the far end of the table, her curly aurburn hair was piled like a crown on her head, save the two white stripes that hung on either side of her cheeks.
She wore full length sleeves and gloves, and Remy was unsurprised to see Logan seated beside her.
In all the time he had known Logan, he had never seen the man come to anyone's aid when they didn't need it. Especially someone he had never met. Yet yesterday, he had watched as the Wolverine had jumped to Rogue's defence several times.
Remy pondered this as he took a seat beside Pitor.
"What is she even doing here?" Kitty wanted to know immediately, swivelling in her seat beside Bobby to narrow her eyes at the Professor. "I fail to see how divulging X-Men secrets to the enemy is a good idea."
"That might be why you aren't the brains behind this operation, darling" the beautiful and deadly Emma Frost replied, showing two rows of perfectly white teeth as she smiled.
Emma was gorgeous, with all that blonde hair and rocking body she squeezed into some interesting outfits. But she was also lethal and completely terrifying, a combination that did not have Remy rushing to spend time in her company.
Kitty shot her a disparaging look.
"Play nice, girls" Bobby grinned, leaning back in his chair, the picture of ease.
"Yeah, can it" Logan spoke up, "We're here to listen to the Professor, not you."
"Yes, thank you Logan" Xavier nodded a head in his direction. "I have called you all hear today to discuss a matter to which I am sure you're all aware, that Rogue has recently taken residence with us."
"Which is just a brilliant idea" Kitty said, rolling her eyes and throwing her hands up in the air in frustration. "Why don't we just invite Magneto to join us too?"
"The sarcasm isn't helping, Kitty" Storm said, throwing a sharp look at the younger girl.
"She isn't wrong though, Storm" Bobby put in.
"Oh put your hormones away, kid" Logan growled.
"If you would all just shut up" Scott said, standing up and asserting his authority over the room. "Then maybe we can hear what the Professor has to say."
"Thank you, Scott" the Professor nodded towards their fearless leader. "As you well know, if we were to judge people based on their past, this table would almost be empty."
"You say that like it's a bad thing" Kitty muttered, throwing a glance at Emma.
"A bad thing to lose such class, darling" Emma shot back.
"Rogue has come here for refuge and we will offer her such" the Professor said sternly, in a manner that suggested the topic was not up for discussion. "That is not why I called you all here today."
"Could you let us in on what that is then, Prof?" Bobby all but whined, "I'm missing out on a soccer game for this."
"We are not here to discuss Rogue's place in the Mansion" Charles continued as though Bobby hadn't spoken. "But rather her place within the X-Men."
There was a beat of silence before everyone began speaking at once.
"Have you actually lost your mind?" Kitty screeched, her voice reaching the highest octave.
"Bit drastic, Prof" Bobby seemed to agree.
"This is a very big decision, Charles" Storm spoke up for the first time.
Scott pressed his fingers against his temples and sighed.
Logan banged his hand against the table and caused everyone to jump, "Isn't anyone going to ask Rogue what she wants?"
"Oh, Ah actually get a say?" Rogue snorted and shook her head.
"We feel that this is the best idea for you staying here, Rogue" Scott said, clearing his throat. "The Professor is willing to offer you his help, but I'm not willing to risk you running back to the Brotherhood when this is all done."
"So ya'll want meh yah join yah merry little group instead?" Rogue asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You're asking something of us" Scott pointed out, "It's only fair we ask something in return."
"Ah don't think yah team feel tha same, Mista Summers."
She had a point, Kitty looked as though she had swallowed a lemon.
"How do you feel about the idea?" the Professor wanted to know.
Rogue linked her fingers together and cast her eyes down, "Ah suppose usin' mah powers tah help people would be good."
"Oh come on, Professor" Kitty laughed with mirth, "She's obviously lying to get what she wants."
Logan rolled his eyes, "Only a stupid person would lie with two telepaths and an empath in the room."
"She didn't know Remy was an empath!" Scott said, finally appearing to lose his patience.
"Neither did anyone else at the table" Emma said, smirking to herself.
"Cheers f'r outin' a man, Logan" Remy said, glaring at his old friend. His eyes flicked over to Rogue, she still wasn't looking at the table and her cheeks had pinked with embarrassment.
He wondered if it was because she wasn't used to being under such scrutiny.
"Well she certainly knew I was a telepath" Charles said sternly, "So your point is still moot."
"She probably also knows that you're too noble to use you powers" Kitty continued relentlessly, "Mystique has probably given her the low down on all of us."
"Well I'm not that noble" Emma said, tapping her perfectly manicured fingernails against the table. "She's telling the truth."
"Like I'd believe you" Kitty shot back.
"Perhaps you should give her a chance, Katya" Pitor said softly, speaking for the first time. "It is unkind to judge someone before you know them."
"Yeah Kitty!" Bobby agreed, "If Scott can get on board with this idea, why can't you?"
"Call me crazy, but I don't like the idea of passing out in the middle of a battlefield" Kitty shot back.
"Believe meh sugar, Ah want tah touch yah even less than yah want meh too."
"Don't sweat it chere" Remy threw a wink across the table. "Yo' can touch me anytime."
Rogue rolled her eyes but he saw a shadow of a smile.
"This is happening" Scott said, with a note of finality in his voice. "Rogue joins team training next week, get used to it."
By the look of some of the faces around the table, it was going to take a hell of a lot of getting used to.