Disclaimer: I don't own any of these Characters or the song Blue Christmas.
…
Date: December 22
Time: 10:49 pm
Location: Behind the wheel of a car, as far away from Remy Lebeau as possible.
"Rogue."
"No."
"Rogue."
"No, I'm fine."
"You're shivering. You're cold. I am too. And the best solution for this problem is-"
"No! I will not!"
Remy glared. Rogue glared. Remy's solution to warming up was to share body heat. And that would entail all of touching. A lot of…cuddling. Rogue knew that once she was there he would try something. And she also knew that once she was there that she might…let him.
And that wouldn't work!
She just had to remember that he could die. He could touch her skin…her icy and shivering skin that was covered in goose bumps because she was so cold. Her pants were mostly dry and she had put them back on, but they didn't help much. Her coat was still soaked. So she huddled under the blanket, curled up and shivering.
Her teeth chattered, her fingers were numb, and her toes…well, they were actually ok inside of her boots. But she was sure that her nipples were going to fall off any minute. In the rearview mirror she could see that her nose and ears were red. Even the inside of her mouth was cold. Which was odd.
But she couldn't lean against Remy because he might die…Of course, he could also die from freezing. And come to think of it, so could she. Hm…so all she had to decide now was which death sounded more enjoyable. If they froze they would just fall asleep. After freezing for hours of course. If she drained him…he would probably die and she would have enough energy to make it home and to the warmth.
Ah, the warmth.
But her annoying conscience kept her from taking that course of action. Well…that, and because the thought of never seeing Remy again sparked a panicky fear in her. How could she ever go a day without seeing that smirk, or hearing that accent, or fighting off his many attempts to seduce her? She couldn't.
"Ok," he said in a voice that shook from his own shivering, "I don't care what you say, Remy's cold, and he wants under that blanket."
Well…it wasn't like she could refuse to let him under. That would be stupid. He was cold…but he also had a coat when she didn't. But she wasn't going to tell him to tough it out when she couldn't even do that.
"Ok Remy," she shivered, "I'll come over there. But NO funny business. Keep yours hands to yourself!"
"Yes, I get it," he agreed quickly.
"And no explicitly dirty stories."
"Hmph. Fine then...But you know you like em'."
Rogue didn't have an answer for this. She arranged herself slooowly so that she could slooowlyslide across the seat and she slooowly pulled the blanket with her so that the cold couldn't get under it. She moved slooowly…until Remy, losing his patience, grabbed her and jerked her up against him.
"Ah! Remy! I was trying not to let the cold…" but she faltered when she felt heat coming off of him. Her cheek had pressed into his chest when he pulled her to him and unconsciously she shifted closer to try to capture more of the warmth.
His arms were around her tightly and the blanket was over both of them now. Her left palm was pressed flat on his chest and she could feel the soft (yet it seemed irregularly fast) thump thump of his heartbeat against it. He smelled…clean. Like spicy aftershave and soap.
But the most important part of how he felt was that he was warm. Oddly warm for someone who claimed to be so cold that they had to have someone's body heat to warm them up. But she wasn't a doctor; she didn't know how the human body worked. Remy probably really was cold but his body just didn't feel like it.
Yes, that was probably it.
Though she had always expected that it would feel this way to be held by Remy, Rogue was a little surprised when she realized how…right it felt. How it felt very right and secure and like the whole world didn't exist when he put his arms around her. Any anger she was feeling towards Kitty and her other 'friends' for some reason dissipated. All worries of freezing to death or losing a leg were gone. Even that horrid song 'Who Let the Dogs Out' didn't seem so annoying at the moment.
Both of Remy's hands were on her back and moving up and down. She supposed he was hoping the friction would cause her back to warm up. But she didn't ask him. It was be stupid to interrupt him while he was busy doing something that felt so very good.
…
Remy wasn't cold.
And that wasn't just because that he had Rogue's body so close to his. He hadn't really been that cold in the first place. His trench coat warmed him sufficiently enough. Not only that, but he was a very hot natured person. Which you might think is a tad strange since he always wears his trench coat.
But he had his reasons for that. It was worth being hot all time when he wore it. It was great for-COUGH-borrowing things that didn't belong to him, it made him look cool and mysterious, the ladies always loved it, and…it was his security blanket.
But enough about the coat.
He wasn't cold. But Rogue was. It made him feel very…not good about himself to see her suffering from the cold weather when he was perfectly fine. Her suffering made him want to blow something up. Because if he blew something up, then at least there would be some fire to warm up to. Then she would be very happy with him, tell him he was her hero and gush over his biceps, propose marriage, and then they could fly off to France for a long honeymoon.
It could happen.
Ok, it probably wouldn't happen. But it was fun to fantasize about. Especially that part about the honeymoon.
But getting back on subject…Remy pulled Rogue to him to warm her up. This move was entirely for her benefit of course. It really was.
He honestly didn't think when he pulled her to him about how sweet she would smell and the feel of her soft body pressed to his hard one. He didn't think to try to regulate his heartbeat (though this was rather impossible when around Rogue) or to leave some breathing room between them.
And for some VERY strange reason, it didn't occur to Remy that this moment, of all moments, was probably not the best one to start a serious conversation.
"Rogue?" He asked softly and she tilted her head to look up into his face.
"Yeah?" she asked quietly.
"When you…" he hesitated. "When you gain control of your powers…what happens…with us?"
"What do you mean?" She asked nervously as she stared at his chest intently.
"Um…I mean are you finally goin' to give Remy a little love." He grinned though his insides were in nervous knots waiting for her response. Really, he could care less about whether her skin was touchable or not. Sure he would love to touch her, but touching wasn't everything. You had to have more to a relationship than just kissing…among other things. But Remy would rather have a Rogue he couldn't touch than no Rogue at all.
"What do you mean by that?" She asked, obviously avoiding the question.
He lifted an eyebrow that she didn't see. "How come suddenly you don't understand anythin' Remy's sayin'?"
One of her shoulders lifted and then fell. "I don't know, Remy; you're just not makin' any sense."
"Rogue, be serious."
"You be serious."
"I'm tryin' to be."
"Ok then," she said simply.
"Rogue!"
"What?"
"You never answered my question."
"What question?" She yawned.
"The one about…" Remy searched his mind to remember what he had asked. This strange conversation and the feel of Rogue against him were causing his thoughts to muddle. "Dammit I forgot!"
"Ok then."
He sighed. His Rogue was almost as good at avoiding uncomfortable conversations as he was.
Almost.
"Aha! I remember now!" He exclaimed, though it was a lie, his mind was still a blank.
"Fine Remy!" Rogue sighed angrily. "When I can control my powers I'm going to date you. You were right, you're my Remy. IfI can touch you without killing you, you aren't going to be going out with any other woman. Happy now?"
Of COURSE he was happy now. He was elated. He was ecstatic. He was floating on clouds and he was mildly shocked by the turn of events. What exactly had he done to make her say that? What had he done to make her want to go out with him? It was probably his sparkling personality and impossibly good looks.
He loved her. Never more so than at that exact moment and he ached to tell her so. But he didn't want to scare her off. She was just talking about going out for a date or two. She wasn't talking about love.
But if he had anything to do with it, she would. Eventually. Maybe eventually she could come to love him as much as he loved her. Of course, she was going to have to. Once he got her, he wasn't ever letting her go.
"That would make me very happy," he said quietly and unconsciously tightened his arms around her.
And that was when the tense silence fell.
…
Date: December 23
Time: 12:01 am
Location: Comfortable asleep in Remy Lebeau's warm arms.
"Rogue, wake up chère."
Rogue awoke to Remy shaking her gently. But no…why was Remy in her bed? And why would Remy be waking her up? Clearly, she was still sleeping. Yes, that was the only explanation. Rogue certainly didn't remember Remy climbing into bed with her. Really though, she didn't remember even getting into bed herself.
But oh well. This was nice dream. Remy felt good wrapped around her. Nice and warm and comfortable. Christmas music was playing from somewhere close by, but she didn't look around to see. If she opened her eyes she might wake up. But it sounded like the gentle rhythm of 'Blue Christmas'.
"Rogue," He was shaking her again. Rogue really wished he would stop. He was going to interrupt a dream of himself.
"You're messin' it up," she mumbled sleepily as she snuggled closer.
He stopped shaking. "Messin' what up?" He asked, and Rogue noted idly that there was a touch of amusement to his tone.
"The dream," she sighed into his neck, just barely an inch away. In her dreams she was always able to touch Remy. In fact, Remy was the only person that she ever dreamed about being able to touch. And this Remy was not moving away from her, so she was sure that she couldn't be awake.
"You're not dreamin' sweetheart," he laughed, "though I'm flattered that you think you are. Do you dream of me often?"
She only heard ever other word. "All the time," she mumbled. "But you don't talk this much."
There was a long pause.
"Really?" He sounded interested. "What do I usually do in your dreams?"
A loud male voice suddenly cut through the air. "HEY, are you coming or what?"
"That's what she said," Remy muttered.
Rogue's eyes flew open at this intrusion. She didn't often have dreams of Remy plus one strange man. Remy was gazing down at her head on his chest, looking amused. She fought not to flush as she remembered their conversation.
A strange man in a big, rumbling truck was sitting next to the car and looking at them. She tried to work through her sleepy thoughts to figure out who he was, what he was doing here, why they were here, and why this strange man wanted them to come with him.
"Yes, mon ami," Remy called to the man, "we're coming." He turned back and smiled down at her. "I got us a ride home. He has chains on his tires," he said happily.
The word 'home' seemed to flip a switch in her. Rogue sat straight up, throwing the blanket off of them in the process. She hadn't been dreaming, they were still stuck in this damned car, and there was a way to get home. HOME! Home, where Kitty and the rest of her evil team-mates lived and also where she would go back to her room…her empty room.
When they were back home, things would go back to normal. Back home there would be no reason why she would get to cuddle up to Remy for warmth. There was already plenty of it there from the over-worked furnace. Back home there wouldn't be a good enough excuse that Rogue could find to be with Remy. Sure she could always just go find him and spend time with him. But then she might end up saying things that she wasn't ready to say.
And she most definitely was not ready to say any of those things. Howcould she say them? How could she say, 'I love you, Remy', when she wasn't entirely positive that Remy loved her back? She wasn't positive. But as she thought this, something Remy had said earlier in the night came back to her.
'I'myourRemy.Don'tyouknow?'
But…no. If he had meant 'I love you' then he would have said that…Right? Right? RIGHT?
But the point was…she couldn't tell him how she felt because she didn't want the rejection. If there was rejection. Obviously Remy was infatuated with her, but that didn't mean that he loved her. And Rogue was not going to get involved just a little bit when she wanted to get involved all the way. Well…until she gained control of her powers, that is. Then she would make Remy love her.
"We better go before this guy craps a brick," Remy muttered out of the corner of his mouth as he opened the door and slid out. He reached back in and flipped the switch on a little radio that was sitting on the dashboard. Rogue realized belatedly that that was where Blue Christmas had been playing from. It must have been the little radio that Kitty had put in the box for them.
"C'mon," Remy said. He grabbed her gloved hand before she could say anything and pulled her out of the car. "Is there anything in there that you'll need tonight?"
"My coat-"
"It's still wet, isn't it?" Remy asked before reaching back in the car and coming back out with the blanket. "Here," after quickly spreading the blanket out, he wrapped it around her shivering form tightly and closed the car door behind them.
Maybe she was still sleeping after all. Or else she was just that sleepy. Or maybe Rogue relished the feel of Remy's protective arm currently tucked around her too much to object. Whatever the reason, she allowed herself to be herded to the big truck and climbed into the warm cab.
Remy jumped in behind her and pulled her to him again as he kept an eye on the scruffy man behind the drivers seat.
"Where we going?" The strange man asked in a deep, rumbling voice.
Rogue stared at him. His beard was white and long, just barely touching his chest. His hair was white too, and the part of his face that wasn't covered in hair had a rosy look to it. Surely, it was impossible. This guy looked so much like…but no, this couldn't be-
"1407 Graymalkin Lane," Remy said to the man, cutting into Rogue's thoughts. "It's over past-"
"I know where it is," the man said gruffly. "The big mansion, right?"
"Yes." Remy said. "You've seen it?"
The man let out some kind of grunt that must have been an acknowledgement.
"The name's Remy, this is Rogue," Remy gestured to Rogue with the arm that wasn't around her.
The man grunted again but didn't take his eyes off of the road. "Name's Nick."
Rogue's eyes widened.
"Huh…" Remy studied Nick's profile. "You don't look like a Nick."
The old man just continued to glare out of the windshield. "Yeah?" He cast a quick glance over at Remy. "You don't look like a Rogue."
"No, I'm Remy, my girl here is Rogue," Remy corrected.
"Yes, that's what you said before." Nick said with no animation whatsoever. "I'm just saying you don't look like a Rogue."
Rogue just stared at the man in confusion but Remy was nodding as though he understood.
"So Nick," Remy said after a few moments silence, "has anyone ever told you that you look exactly like-"
"Yes, all the time." Nick grunted. "I get strange kids coming up and giving me letters. That's why I always keep some candy over there in the dash," he indicated the dash in front of them. "I like to give em' something."
"Ooo! Candy?" Remy said excitedly causing Nick to send him a strange look.
"It's for the kids, don't touch it."
Remy pouted and looked like he was about to complain when Rogue, desperate to shut him up, elbowed him in gut.
"OH!" Remy burst, and bent over in pain.
Rogue was a little shocked that she had hit so hard and gaped at him. "Remy, are you ok?"
Nick looked like he was trying not to laugh. "You can have some candy." He told Rogue in a lighter tone than he had used on Remy.
Rogue cast him a confused look before patting Remy on the back. "I'm sorry Rems; I didn't mean to hit you that hard. Are you ok? Say something please."
Sighing, he sat up and shrugged. "Oh I'm fine. I was just trying to get some candy."
"What!" Rogue glared at him for a moment before punching him in the arm. "You jerk! I was scared I'd really hurt you!"
Remy winced but didn't move to rub his arm. "You were afraid for moi?" He grinned, "Oh Rogue, I knew you loved me."
Her face flamed red. She swallowed hard and avoided his gaze nervously. He gave her a quizzical look and didn't stop when she refused to look at him. But she couldn't look at him. Not after he had said that. He was just joking, surely. He didn't really know that she loved him and then teased her about it. No, he didn't. But he didn't know how deadly accurate he had come to naming her feelings, either.
Good thing he didn't notice the affect his words had on her. Yes, GOOD THING.
"Alright, we're here." Nick announced.
Rogue whipped around and stared out of the window. "What? That was fast."
Nick shrugged. "You weren't that far away."
So…they weren't as far away as they had thought they were? ALL THAT TIME they could have just WALKED HOME? Understandably, this made Rogue want to physically injure her team mates more than she had already wanted to.
Remy jumped down from the truck and then turned to help her down.
"Thanks," He told Nick who sent him a little nod.
"No problem," he grumbled, "You two have a Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Rogue replied and watched the truck rumble back off down the road again.
"Well, we're home," Remy tucked an arm around her shoulders. "Whatcha' wanna do now?"
Rogue shrugged as they both stood at the end of the long driveway and stared up at the big house. There were several things she would like to do. Murder, decapitate, shoot, catch someone on fire, blow the house up, strangle something, set a python on someone, throw a toaster at someone's head, the ever present desire to kiss Remy senseless, and just to simply go to sleep.
Now she just had to figure out which one she wanted to do first.
