Disclaimer: I don't own anything
HIDDEN
Rogue waited impatiently, almost completely giving up hope that Jean would bother to show. She didn't really trust Jean anyhow. Sure she had been very nice to her and all, but she hadn't known her any longer than she had anyone else in that house, not to mention how close Jean is to Storm. It's been obvious how Storm has felt about her since she first laid eyes on her. But, Jean was true to her word. Holding in her curiosity and endless questions, she sat in a dark corner eying Jean.
"Didn't think ya'd show" she stated nonchalantly.
"I wouldn't do that. I told you, I am your friend."
"Then what is it exactly that ya sent me here for? What is it that ya want ta talk to me 'bout, that you couldn't say at the house?"
"Do you love him?"
"Excuse me?" Jean took a few more steps closer to Rogue, and with a face void of any emotion she repeated, "Do you love him?" Rogue stood up and walked over to a window that was close to her, looking outside, seriously thinking the question over. Jean waited, but grew impatient.
"It's a simple question Rogue. Do you or don't you?" Without even looking at her, Rogue spoke.
"There hasn't been much in my life that I was able or willing to do, to feel because of my power, because of my curse. I used to be so innocent, so loving, and yet would have to push people away from me to keep them safe, to keep me safe. I don't know much 'bout love sug. Never claimed to," then she turned towards Jean ever so slightly.
"People that love me end up gettin' hurt."
"But how do you feel about him?" she pushed. Jean had to know the answer, but she couldn't help the sick feeling she received from the look Rogue gave her, knowing the answer.
"I haven't know him very long, but it's enough. There's a connection there." Rogue turned away, not really sure if she wanted to admit it, not even to herself.
"Didn't think much 'bout it 'til I thought I lost him, ya know. But I've..." she walked over to Jean and looked into her eyes, "I've never felt this way for anybody else." Jean tried to give a small reassuring smile as she nodded.
"Your a telepath, why do ya ask questions that ya already know the answer to?"
"I loved someone once Rogue, a long time ago."
"What happened?"
"Gambit-" Jean was on the verge of tears.
"He stopped it?"
"I owe him a lot. He saved me once, a long time ago, from that sinister man. There was a time when Gambit didn't rule anything…where his only goal in life was to kill that man for what he did to him. I was captured and experimented on by Essex, but so was Scott."
"An' ya fell for him?"
"In more ways than one, I ended up pregnant."
"But I thought-"
"I know, but Sinister, he did something to me, I don't know what or how really. It was my own little miracle. When Gambit found out he went berserk. He said that if Sinister helped to create it, that there was something wrong, something very wrong. So he sent me to Storm. She was so good to me, even after, after..." Jean couldn't stop the tears. Rogue wasn't sure that she really wanted to know the rest of the story as she pulled her into an embrace.
"That's why Scott hunts us?" Rogue asked and was given an affirmative nod from the weeping Jean. After a few minutes, Jean went and sat down.
"They cut it out of me. It was horrible and painful, but I remember it, before they destroyed it." Jean looked up at Rogue.
"It was grotesque and mutated into something so...like it was burned from the inside out, by fire. I don't know what it was, but it was mine. It was mine and he destroyed it."
"An' ya hate him."
"More than anything."
"Then why are ya here Jean?"
"Because you didn't ask for this any more than I did and because I really am your friend. I understand what you are going through. Storm, she wants to take him from you, like they took my child. She just wants power. It has nothing to do with anything else. You…you love him, and I think that it is in such a way that has begun to change him." Rogue walked back over to the window, trying to sort out everything that she had just heard.
"You are to be his bride. You have power Rogue. You can change things."
"For you and Scott?" she asked hesitantly.
"No, it's far too late for that, but there is so much good that you could do. Don't let her take that away from you."
"So I take it ya came here with a plan." Jean sniffed back her tears and stood up swiftly, a smile tugging on her lips.
"Of course."
Jean walked past the gates, knowing that she would be stopped. Those left at the gate checked her as Storm had ordered each one to pass be checked. Obviously she came back clean. There was nothing on her to show that she had even gone anywhere near Rogue. So she continued her journey into the house. Knowing that no one would be in the lower levels, she made her to where she was sure Rogue was waiting to be lead inside. Jean opened a hidden door, allowing her entrance.
"Took ya long 'nough," she whispered.
"Sorry, but we need to hurry." Jean placed her hands on each side of Rogue's head.
"I need you to concentrate, but to open up your mind to me." Each woman closed their eyes for what felt like forever, as Jean went through her mind, searching through memories. Finally, she found the one she was looking for. Jean remembered seeing some of Kurt's powers in action, just before they brought Remy out of the fight. She quickly figured out how to allow Rogue access to his powers once again, seeing how her absorption power created a type mirrored copy of each person inside of Rogue's mind. She had to create a mental pathway where Rogue could call upon the powers of the individual without having to battle a double personality. Jean opened her eyes and was about to ask Rogue to test it out when she beat her to the punch, teleporting to the other side of the room.
Both of the women heard someone coming and quickly turned to one another. Rogue mouthed a thank you just before she teleported out of range. Jean, however, was left with her unlikely visitor.
"Jean, what are you doing down here?" Jean smiled a knowing smile.
"Just making sure everything is how it should be, Ororo."
Remy woke up to a very odd smell, almost like brimstone. He was feeling much better than he had earlier. In fact, he had healed enough for him to be able to sit up without so nearly as much pain, so that's just what he did. He rubbed his groggy eyes as he sat up in bed, looking over his room to find the source of that smell. Suddenly he saw it, or her. She was sitting on top of his dresser with her legs crossed wearing a lot of black leather and a seductive smirk. He just figured he was dreaming because there was no way that this was his Rogue.
"Un ange," he whispered. Rogue just laughed.
"If only. Like they'd let le diable blanc into heaven swamp rat."
"Rogue?" She jumped off of the dresser and stalked over to him.
"The one an' only sugah," she sat down next to him on the bed, and quickly closed the space between them, stopping short of kissing him.
"Just don't ever do that ta me again." For the first time in Remy LeBeau's prolonged existence, he was completely entranced by a woman. He couldn't even think straight as her lips came crashing down upon his.
CHALLENGES
Remy had so many questions that wanted to plague his mind, but the only thoughts that he allowed himself, for the moment, were those that answered what he could do with Rogue next. She was never like this with him before. But he was counting his blessing as he quickly pulled her into a straddling position and deepened the kiss. However, Rogue knew better, seeing him wince, and much to both of their enjoyment, watched the other one look unhappy about it.
"You're still hurt pretty badly," obviously more of a statement, rather than a question. She watched him wince again as his pride ate away at him, and his mind visualized what he could be doing with her right now if he wasn't hurt…or at least held it in better.
"Oui," he mumbled in response, "though Remy be de only vampire to be shot into de heart by dat weapon and live. Was more den worth it." He told her while he brushed her hair from her face. A smile tugged at her lips, enjoying the effect she was having on him.
"It's alright. Not like we don't have time." Remy looked into her eyes a bit dumbfounded, trying to figure out what she was getting at.
"Oui," he said a bit suspiciously. Was she baiting him? She crawled off of him and laid herself down next to him oh so naturally, but it drove him that much more wild.
"Remy?" she asked meekly. Oh yeah, she was baiting him.
"Oui chere."
"Do ya really care 'bout me?" she asked a bit hesitantly.
"Of course," she quickly sat up, very close to him, starring into his unusual eyes.
"How much?" she asked him in a hushed voice.
"Excuse-moi?"
"Do you love me?" There he was, completely and utterly dumbfounded again. Apparently he hadn't answered her fast enough, as she turned away and stood up.
"Chere-" she couldn't look at him, but she shook her head, keeping her back to him.
"Naw,
it's alright. I understand," she said in a calm, quiet
voice.
"Non, Rogue, it's not-" He couldn't help himself
from attempting to get up to go to her, to comfort her, to take care
of her. From the moment he saw her he knew he wanted her, more than
anything. He literally couldn't remember the last time a woman had
this effect on him. But he stopped mid-sentence slouching over in
pain, causing Rogue to quickly make her way over to his side, as if
by reflex, and try to help him.
Once her hand touched his skin, their eyes met. Holding the others gaze, Remy went to touch her face but she finally realized what he was doing and quickly turned away.
"How come you ask Remy a question like dis?"
"I dunno," Rogue shrugged as she answered.
"Remy nearly died for you, non." He watched her wrap her arms around herself, attempting to steady her emotions.
"Not that he's not already," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"I'm not just property, or some sick idea of a challenge?" Her words hit him a bit harshly, remembering his own words. 'Some men like da challenge.' She looked him over for a quick moment, wondering how much more time she would have. However, she never gave him time to answer her question.
"What is it that I get out of bein' your queen?" He smirked at her words, and slowly made his way to her.
"Whatever it is dat you would want chere." Her face was devoid of emotion.
"What I want is to be me again." But once again she did not give him time to comment as she knew there was nothing he could do to change her situation, even if he wanted to. She coldly looked into his eyes.
"I want Storm gone." Remy couldn't help but notice how much she had changed in that one moment. How venomously she stated Storm's name. Such hate in her regard.
"What did de femme do chere?" he asked her cautiously.
"What does it matter? What hasn't she done?"
"To you?" he questioned.
"To you," she answered. Rogue then walked back the dresser where she picked up a mirror, just to remind herself that she had no reflection, to remind herself who she now was. Memories rushed to the forefront of her mind, reminding her just how much she had changed in such little time.
'Nice trick mirror ya got here.'
'No trick chere.'
"She kept me from you," Rogue murmured as she lightly touched the glass of the mirror, as if it would bring back her reflection. Remy looked her over, not quite believing what she had just told him.
"Excuse-moi?" Quickly, Rogue's head shot up, as her face distinctly changed. Her eyes appeared brighter as her fangs began to show.
"She kept me from you!" she called out to him as she stood up, throwing the mirror to the ground. Neither looked at the mirror as it crashed, lost in thought, until someone came rushing through the bedroom door. Both of them turned to the door at the same time, to see an unhappy face.
"Storm?" Remy began. Storm knew that something was wrong right away, since he had not addressed her like that in a very long time, and even then, he had this type of sweetness in his voice. But the way he regarded her now, was enough to make her want to rush out of the room, in fear of what his anger would do to her now.
"Yes Remy," she kept her composure as she did her best not to make eye contact with the woman that she was desperately trying to keep out of this house, a woman who was standing only a few short feet away from her.
"Is it true?" He asked bluntly, knowing very well, that she knew what he meant. Storm nodded.
"It was for your own good," she simply attested.
"Dat is not your concern!" He raised his voice in his anger. She took a step towards him, but he raised his hand and she stopped mid-step.
"But you are my friend…if not more. How could you-"
"Dere's nothin' here between us chere," his tone became lighter, as he walked over to Rogue. She had forced him to make a decision that he did not wish to make, but he knew that he had to do it. He took Rogue's hand in his own as he looked into her eyes. Then he turned back to Storm.
"You treaded in murky water, chere. Dere be nothin' dat dis Cajun can do. You will have to leave. You have lost my protection." Storm looked at him disbelieving.
"You wouldn't Remy. What about my position?"
"You can be replaced." Rogue smiled as Storm looked over at her, knowingly.
"Jean would be a perfect replacement sugah," she quickly stated. Remy never answered, not allowing anymore of his emotions get the best of him.
"Then I have no other options…but to attest."
"Storm?"
"I will not leave willingly Remy. This is my home. My position is a place I have worked diligently for…by your side. I will not give it up without a fight, to the death."
"Dat is your decision?"
"Yes, as long as it is with the person to whom wished it so." Her eyes quickly darted to Rogue.
"Den dat is what you will have, one hour before dawn tonight."
