Chapter Ten: Nothing is What it Seems Part: I
Rogue woke up adulated with the world the next morning for she had the prime pleasure of dreaming of Remy and Ororo babies. They were everywhere, all having an odd combination of Remy's demon eyes and Ororo heavenly ones. It was something she defiantly could have lived without dreaming about. It was fifteen minutes pass eleven and she had all intensions of lying in bed all day. Nothing good could come from her venturing beyond those four walls she thought.
"Rogue!" it was Sam at the door she could recognize his voice anywhere it was always so blasted happy.
"Rogue I know you're in there! You didn't forget about the brunch did you?"
"Mother…" Rogue put her pillow over head muffling her choice words.
The brunch completely slipped Rogue's mind. A brunch was held monthly to celebrate the newest school members and members that have made it to the X-man level. Each month it was a new place to eat but same conversation and the more or less the same zester bated faces. After awhile it become tedious but it was important the Professor so they all felt compelled to put on a happy face.
"Rogue get ready we're leaving in fifth teen." Sam patted her door and wall that connected to the hall as he walked down the hall make sure she was up.
Rogue took deep sigh "So much for my day in bed." She forced herself to get up, nearing tipping over King kong who had lost his battle last night and his batteries were scattered around the room. Viewing the chaos Rogue's mind flashed backed to the night she had all those damn noises, giving a heavy groan she thought things were just looking up for her all around.
After a too short shower due to the lack of hot water, Rogue bit back the urge to punch someone because of the freezing water. It was obvious why she was left with no hot water for she roomed next to 'newly wedds' that's what everyone was calling Ororo and Remy for the time being. Fixing herself to look somewhat presentable Rogue crept out of her room in no mood for small talk or gossip about the latest hot couple. So of course she was lucky enough to see Remy looking mouth watering coming out of Storms room. Ororo kissed him briefly in the doorway and then went back inside but Remy stood at the door waiting for her.
Rogue went to turn but Remy spotted her "Morning?"
"Morning…"They stared at each other, speaking with only their bodies. Rogue eyed him the up and down ending with an eye brow rise. Questioning his actions that lead him to be standing outside of Storms bedroom in the morning, in returned Remy gave her pinched lips and looked back in forth from her eyes to that damn ring.
"Touché" Rogue answered.
"Remy…" Storm popped out of her room with her coat. "Oh morning Rogue sleep well?"
"Lonely without my beau." She smiled, if Remy wanted to play that was fine she loved winning way to much to care about the consequences.
"He is coming back soon though, how long is his book signing?"
"He'll be back any day now I can only imagine how much he misses me right now." The conversation was running dry when Rogue began bosting her relationship. Ororo didn't get way she was doing that or why everyone in the mansion had been giving her seconds looks.
"Well." Storm turned to Remy placing her hand on his chest. "We better get going."
"Leaving already?"
"Yeah it's just us on the bike, we going to do a little shopping before we eat." Remy smiled and dragged Storms closer by the hips. "Stormy needs a new black dress" He wasn't willing to lose either. Remy and Storm descended down the stairs and Rogue watched disgusted. She didn't know what was worse, the dreams or the real life visual.
Showtime!-
The brunch was eventful, in the sense that majority of the team was intrigued with Remy. It was like a press conference for him. The brunch in part was for him, to welcome him and the other new add ons. Remy was seated next to Storm naturally and oddly enough across from Jean and Scott. They were quickly becoming the new hot couple and centre for gossip. Everyone thought that they looked sweet together and balanced each other well. Remy and Ororo denied such a relationship. They insisted that they didn't do anything to cement a boyfriend girlfriend relationship purely friends, no matter what question they were asked they always insisted "were just close".
For awhile people were starting to believe it especially the ones that sat at their table after Ororo's brief expiation in between Remy's Q&A, but when Ororo went to the washroom as the waiter was coming by. Remy unknowingly took the gossip one step further and ordered for her and the controversy followed:
"Ok, what can I get you?" The bubbly teenage waitress asked the set of people.
"One of us is missing we'll wait until she comes back." Scott spoke for the group.
"No need, I know what she would want." Remy answered looking at the menu. "The French toast extra syrup and a bowl of your tropical fruit." He smiled and put down the menu.
"No, you don't know that for sure." Scott insisted "It would just be a waste of time and food for when you turn out to be wrong."
"Scott it isn't that big of deal?" Jean tried to clam him down.
"No, this guy has been walking around like he owns the place. You guys may forget we know nothing about him but I didn't. This is just his act to sweeten us up and I'm not falling for it."
"Sound jealous there." Logan added.
"You would be able to relate Logan that is your real name right?" Scott jumped back.
"Scott! That's enough" Jean slammed her hand down and shook the table.
Bobby and Rogue used their menu to cover their faces while Sam ripped pieces of bread off and watched Scott and Logan bicker which always lead back to their core issue Jean.
"We're going to need a minute." The professor told the visibly uncomfortable waitress.
The table was breaking down, the arguing was getting louder and everyone found themselves with an opinion about Remy and his loyalties. The Professor was trapped into his thoughts having one of his moments not noticing what was happing around him.
"What's going on?" Ororo came back surprised that her teammates were having a meltdown. Everyone looked at her frozen in mid-action before regaining their proper composer and taking their proper seats.
"Nothing's happing petite." Remy waved her over. He stayed silent the whole time not lowering himself to pointless arguments.
"Ah…Ok." She went to her seat and everyone avoided each others stares.
"Remy…" Ororo turned her head whispering into his ear "What…"
"Ok, you guys clamed down." The waitress smiled. "Everyone's here ready to order?"
The group was completely still no movements or words, a pin could be dropped on carpet and it would have echoed.
"Stake sandwich, no cheese extra peppers." Remy said with a smile and all eyes fell on Ororo sitting next to him waiting for her to make an order.
"French toast extra syrup, and a tropical fruit salad." She handed in her menu.
Her blue eyes bounced from face to face around the table. Sam couldn't contain himself any longer he busted out laughing, and slowly down the table one by one they all started to laugh, minus Scott who remained furious.
"Did I miss something?"
"No time for that Storm, X-men there is an attack we leave now." Charles snapped out of his mental surveillance.
"Ok guys lets move out."
Scott ordered, the tale go there feet ready to move out. Remy stood too ready to help out.
"You're not coming." Scott blocked Remy. "We have this covered."
"Scott he has every right to…" Strom went to his defense.
"Non, Cher don't matter if the fearless one doesn't want my help, I will stay here enjoy my food." He went to his seat.
"Then I'll stay with you?" Storm wasn't letting it go she was sick of all the hostility towards Remy.
"We need you this time" Charles informed her. "Rogue will stay behind."
Rogue's body dropped, becoming lifeless as she stared back at the Professor. He was pushing her to her growing edge and she wanted to fucking scratch his eyes out for it.
"Ok let's go!" Scott shouted and the team blew passed Rogue. Forcing herself Rogue turned rather slowly to find the smug Cajun buttering bread at the table with his devious smile laddered all over his face. Remy stayed seated acting seemly polite until the restaurant stopped staring and the X-men were completely out of sight. He then grabbed Rogue's hand and dropped a couple bills on the table, running out of the restaurant. It took a combined strength for Rogue not to punk, kick or scream at him. The last thing that morning needed was another mutant scene.
"Remy let go of me! Remy!" Rogue pulled on her hand about two blocks front the dinner.
"Remy what are you doing!" he dropped her hand. "What in the hell is the matter with you?!"
He only smiled, leaning on a near by street light. "I found it on the way in, what do you say?" he took out a sock out filled with quarters and faced an old rundown building.
Rogue stepped back to read the sign. "The arcade? Are you frigging serious?"
"You chicken?" Remy asked walking passed her it was a taunt that Rogue couldn't let go, it was challenge he was a challenge and she loved challenges. Marching pass the Cajun she snatched the quarters with a her own challenging grin. It was a warning telling Remy to be prepared to do some serious gaming. An arcade may have appeared as an odd place to rekindle but in their own strange way it was their thing. Rogue marked it to how it all started; her heart determined Remy casted as prince charming:
Flash back-
It was more of fact that Remy had some kind of gift to make woman feel as if they were the one and only for Rogue the feeling transpired when she first met the southern gentlemen in her kitchen for a late night snack. It only sprung from there, going from a light crush to full blown obsession. She would dream of him, time his sessions so she could watch him shower (he never took the time for shirts) even at school, she would tell everyone about the sweet Cajun adding in that they were in a serious two year relationship. It was her fantasy until one day on her from movies passing the gorgeous house on Caroline. She was attacked by some school yards females who never believed her story. According to latest chapter in Rogue's lie she was off to movies with the sexy Cajun, but she didn't expect to see girls from school in her part of town.
"Anna, where is this perfect guy of yours?" one said while snuggling up to her all-star boyfriend.
"Yeah you said he meets you after school?" pretending to look around there was no one insight that looked like the guy Rogue described. "Hmmm I wonder where he could be? I know he doesn't exist.
The girls rambled into a fit of laughter, Rogue could do nothing but continue to walk home head bowed in shame. Instead of going to her houses Rogue wondered to the park to sulk in private. She was well into her pity party until the girls circled the nabourhood hood and settled in the park.
"What's the excuse now Anna?" one girl taunted, Rogue always had an excuse for her 'boyfriend' not showing up to events.
Standing with the small amount of pride she had left Rogue was about confess followed by the walk of shame to her house.
"So Anna where is he?"
"He's behind you…" Everyone took a steady turn and followed the smooth butter like voice. To the amazing six foot three lean, modeled like figured, with rugged hair, smoking eyes caped off in the sexiest trench coat. He glowed sex, more like he glowed badass sex where you didn't even care if you got pregnant after it was all worth it for one night with him badass sex.
Mouths ran dry with nothing else to say while minds ran wild with envy towards Rogue. "Sorry Chere thought we were meeting at the arcade, not the park." He chucked his cigarette and jumped down the swing banister. "We better get going non?"
"Ah, yeah, yeah…" Remy winked at her and helped Rogue off the side.
"Who are they cher?" Remy gestured to the group of breathless teens girls.
"Ohhh…." Rogue narrowed her eyes. "No one, well no one important anyway." Remy linked her arms and lead them to the walkway.
It was purely by luck that Remy had found Rogue first she wasn't home, nor had she been given permission to be out of the house. The whole house was ordered to find her and bring her home unharmed.
Rogue knew they would be looking for her but, she wasn't in the mood to pretend that day, after the city hall was attacked she knew her mother was behind it and wasn't up for facing her just yet. Instead she was blessed with an angel with red eyes who saved her from social alienation and give her a mega confidence boost.
The pair didn't go home after that, Remy was sincere in his words and took her to arcade. There they ran into more of Rogue's friends and Remy happily played along. Remy may have denied himself the joy of being Rogue's boyfriend but that day it was fun for him too, to pretend that they were a couple.
Rogue's social status went from almost transparent to gold in under an hour. Remy couldn't contain himself and they ended their romantic tour with innocent kiss, in front of the packman game. There was no swapping spit or the exchanges of tongues it purely simple in action but the meaning was everlasting. It wasn't the dream setting for Rogue but it lasted with her throughout the years even becoming an avid gamer after that. She was never sure how he did it; how he always managed to do that special thing and pick her up at her lowest moment but she was forever grateful in the end. Back then she didn't think anyone could take his place….
"See that wasn't too bad now was it and non sex just the way you wanted it."
Remy started making idol conversation in the taxi. After hours of immature gaming and junk food snacking Remy and Rogue sat exulted in the back of the cab if they didn't know any better they could have sown it was a date.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were getting married to him?"
"It's hard to explain."
"Yeah, I didn't see you two getting together you two don't seem like a match. Tell me does he teat you well? Do you cry his name in the heat of passion? It's it strange that he used to tuck you in?"
Remy was facing the window as he carried on not noticing Rogue disheveled face.
"What does your mom think about all this? She was all over my ass for just a look and there he was licking…"
Rogue's face went pail, her chest suddenly felt tight and heavy. It was happing again she was having an episode this time in pubic.
"I remembered when he came into the gar…"
"Stop the car! Stop the car!" Rogue yelled "Stop the car!" she was hyperventilating, waving her hands in trying to take in some air.
Remy stunned as Rogue flew out the door after kicking the door open with her feet. She ran to the side of the road before the car came to a stop, bending over she took in much air as possible but she was feeling so compressed. She had too many lavers on. She ripped off her jacket and pulled at her shirt. Her long sleeve shirt ripped into pieces as her body consumed that of fire, flames sprouted off skin, she stood before Remy facing on coming traffic as again flame. Rogue screamed hard into the clam night until her voice felt hose, unable to handle the strain on her body she collapsed panting like a caged animal.
Jumping behind her Remy wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her back to his chest and put his arms over chest. Remy stayed perfectly still as Rogue tied to escape. He wasn't sure why he wasn't afraid of what he just witnessed but he felt it necessary to stand by her. Rogue body temperature began to heat up again, so Remy did all that he knew.
"Funny how the things change I forgot how tall you are."
"Wha…" Rogue breathing was slowly down to its normal paste.
"I remember that measuring wall can't believe I didn't pick up that you were that young from that?"
"Ahuh…" Rogue held onto Remy's hand around her chest.
"It's the small things you miss non?"
"Yeah…" her watery eyes came into focus and her airways began to cleared up. "Like the Caroline house?"
"Hmhm, yeah." Remy felt her soft hair under his chin. She smelled like strawberries. "Feel better?"
"What? Yeah how did you?"
"Never mind that it worked right?"
"Yeah."
It then hit Rogue to what position they were in and quickly removed herself from his sizzling arms. "We should get going." She said noticing that traffic at a holt to watch her moment of shame, adding to stress she realized the taxi was long gone.
A Little Chaos-
Remy picked it up fast that he shouldn't talk about her boyfriend or her family. They chatted about every other topic trying to avoid the obvious elephant in the room yet again. Rogue was quite the political activist and loved discussing rights, it took Remy off guard but it made all the sexy and complex. Was it possible that there was a spark of substance, he had been looking for?
"Remy I can't believe that you of all people haven't taken aside?" Rogue expressed on in the heat of the debate as they heading up the stairs of the mansion. "If Doan makes it to congress mutant liberties will be finished, I mean his somber attitude towards the infiltrators was outrageous. I'm telling you if he makes it the X-men will have ten times as much crap to clean up…"
Rogue continued, Remy was barley taking anything in all he wanted to do tackle her. "Grr I don't say hate much its not lady like but I hate him. The protest I went to in New York was minor if you ask me, He'll get what's coming him."
Remy mouth was mounted shut, he was in such awe of Rogue and genuine tingly feeling got caught in his chest and there wasn't any lust behind it. She has so many layers he praised.
"What's that look for?" Rogue asked as they stood outside of Rogue's room door.
"No look" Remy licked his lips as Rogue gently tossed back her hair "I didn't…you usually don't… we haven't talked."
"Like adults?" She smiled "We're all grown up, see we can be friends."
And like a nuclear boom the words a man hates to hear 'friends' just snapped all the dirty and 'what if' thoughts out of Remy's head same with the possibility of a good night kiss.
"Well I should get to bed…"
"Yah bon night." Rogue reached her hand out but Remy didn't shake it he kissed it lightly instead. "Night chere."
Rogue was becoming bashful and slipped into her room quickly. Behind the safety of her locked door she placed her hand over chest catching her fluttering heart. It was a strange new feeling, like that sensation she got when they were intimate except they weren't? They were just friends now. She listened to Remy on the other side of the door his breathing heavy like her own, she stood there ears pressed to the door wishing he would. Remy's hand rested on the wood door, he was debating knocking there was one thing he wanted to ask he cured his fingers into a ball ready but oddly nervous.
"Remy?" Storm flew up the banister. Remy turned swiftly from Rogue's door and hid his hands. "You didn't have to wait up?"
"Ugh" Rogue let out a sigh a rolled her eyes at the sound of Ororo sweet voice. Soon after the groan left her mouth she wished she ate the sound she knew Remy heard her. And worse her heart raced as she listen to them talk, for some foreign reason she ' her body' was behaving jealously, but in her world she was only querulous there was no way she could be jealous of Remy and Ororo…
"It was no problem."
"How was it with Rogue?" Ororo landed inches from Remy's face.
"It was good, you look horrible." The subjected change was need for she was still on his mind.
"Just what a girls wants to hear after she saves New York."
"All you need is shower…"
Remy ran his eyes over her fresh bruises and dirty face, she was one of the few woman that could make the 'fight' look very attractive. He loved that she was a go getter and stood for morals and her honor to do the jus thing.
"You say such sweet things, charmer."
"I didn't say you should shower alone that would be horrible…" Remy whispered into her ear as he said such daring things, he was starting to wonder who they were really meant for. He heard Rogue's aggregated groan from behind her door, but it wasn't like he was had a chance of being allowed in, he reminded himself over and over but maybe he could get her to come out?
"Hmhm, sounds nice but I have work I got to finish."
"You're shutting me out." Remy said in horror.
"I have to finish this for the Professor he's leaving in the morning."
"Your dedication is alluring." He planted his hands on her behind.
"Your persistence is refreshing…" Ororo kissed his cheek. "I have to work to do."
"Funny me too." Remy pulled her back into him.
"Remy…" she said backing off him.
"I would love to help you work." Remy kissed her jaw line. "I'm willing to work all night." Ororo rolled her head as Remy took charge leading her to them to her room.
At the sound of Ororo's door closing a monster roar ripped through the house followed by a blunt shake, then another and then a steady vibration came over the mansion. Panic soon erupted followed by the flood of students rushing into the halls of the school. Taking the lead as he oh so loves to do, Scott jumped forward trying to keep the madness from spreading. The emergency maneuvers went into effect but was silenced with last round of trimmers. Well almost Rogue's room still seemed to be humming.
"Rogue! can you hear me?" Scott asked before blasting the door off.
There clutching to wall next to her sweet dreams poster was Rogue vibrating. "Sorrrrrryy IIII caaannnntttt stooooppppppp."
"She's having an episode!" Sam came in the room trying to block the followers from entering. Not what wanting to touch her or harm her was on contemplation for the X-men group.
Shaking herself, Ororo entered threw the bathroom with Remy close at hand. Most of the school began to gather watching the freak show known as Rogue in disgust and pity. The dilemma not fazing her like it did others Strom acted as a leader, shocking Rogue with a mini lighting bolt. The surprised was clear and evident on every single face.
"We better get her to the med- bay…" Ororo said, as she caught Rogue's conscious body. "Help me with this please Remy." The shock didn't have time to settle in before…