Hey guys! I'm sorry I haven't updated in like nine hundreed months. I have been busy... And, to be honest, lost inspiration. This is not something I absolutely love; this one-shot was necessary for me to get back into the characters. I hope you like it though! I have enfused it with my enthusiasm for the holidays... because I am just so excited for winter weather and Christmas-time! It's rather short (only eight pages.... Haha, sorry!), but it's an update right? Any inspiration you wanna send my way would not go unappreciated... Not that I wanna steal ideas or anything.
I'm done rambling now. Enjoy the one-shot, and please review!
Snow
"See somet'in' y' like?"
"Took ya long enough."
The brunette turned away from the bookshelf, the grin on her face contradicting her irritated tone. He loved the way she smiled; it lit up her whole face. It made green eyes look like sparkling emeralds, full lips become luscious and inviting. Little dimples peeked out at its corners.
"Mon Dieu, y're beautiful." The man took her gloved hand and kissed it gently. She flushed with pleasure. "My compliments on ditchin' de make up."
She did look beautiful. Stunning, in fact, perfect for the winter day. White bangs delicately curled to frame her face, while her wild brunette slipped out of its loose ponytail. A dark green sweater clung to her as she tugged impatiently at the black scarf dangling around her neck.
"Ya don't clean up too bad yerself." She teased softly, reaching out to tug a little at his hair. His eyes, their lovely red-on-black, seemed to grin at her all on their own. He plucked her hand away from his messy auburn hair, as if she would ruin his hairstyle (or lack thereof).
"C'mon, chere, Remy's tired o' waitin' on y'." He teased.
"Last time Ah checked, ya were the one that was late." She pointed out cheerfully as they walked out of the warm little bookstore. She shivered against the cold of the New York winter. Beside her, she felt him stiffen against it. Southerners weren't built for the cold.
"C'mon, let's hurry." He took her gloved hand and pulled her along as they ran through the snow. She laughed as they ducked into a little café, delighted at the warmth and the company.
"God, Rem, the way ya act someone'd think ya don't like the cold!" She teased. He decided he did like the cold; especially the healthy flush it brought out in her cheeks.
"Non, Remy jus' knew y' couldn' handle it." He waved her accusation away. She rolled her eyes, chuckling to herself.
"Sneakin' out to see ya isn't so pleasant all the time. It's pretty cold tonight." She twirled a white strand of hair around her finger absentmindedly. "An' Ah doubt my team mates would be very sympathetic if Ah whined about it."
"Tiens! Don' dis Cajun always make it wort' y'r while?" He pouted sadly, crossing his arms over his chest. She glanced at his fingerless gloves.
"It's too cold fer that, Swamp Rat." She pointed them out critically. "Don't ya know Ah've got plenty to spare?"
"Remy be fine. What do y' want?" He glanced over the menu briefly.
"Jus' some hot chocolate. Ya?"
"Whatever ma belle chere wants, o' course." He grinned. The waitress- a pretty, thin little blonde- sauntered their way.
"Can I help you?" She grinned at Remy. That sort of smile was just a little too appreciative. Rogue made a face behind her back.
"Ouais. We'll have two hot chocolates, s'il vous plait." He glanced at the waitress before returning his glance to Rogue. The blonde glanced at her as well, and seemed taken aback by his pretty date.
"Alright. That'll be just a few minutes." She turned on her heel.
"Ah bet she spits in mine." Rogue snorted as they watched her leave.
"Y' always got t' t'ink de wors' o' people, don' y' chere?" He shook his head, as if he were disappointed in her. "But, if y're so worried, I'll trade y' after she brings 'em."
Her pretty trill of laughter floated across the room, almost tangible. He stared at her for a moment, shocked (as he sometimes was) by her beauty. At times like this, he wished he could hold her like this forever in his memory, because no picture could ever do her justice.
"See somethin' ya like, Swampie?" Her voice was low and husky, teasing.
"Y' know I do." He took her gloved hand in his own, planting a soft kiss on it. She laughed again, rolling her eyes.
"Yer ridiculous sometimes, Cajun. Why do Ah put up with ya again?"
"'Cause y' love dis Cajun, whet'er y' want t' admit it or not." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, smirking at her. "Even if y' only agree t' meet me in secret."
"Can ya imagine the uproar if we jus' came out an' said it?" She snorted.
"Ol' Petey might be supportive!" Remy grinned.
"Ah can jus' see Kitty." Rogue laughed. "Like, oh my God, that is so romantic and, like, so cute! Are ya guys, like, gonna get married? Oh my God, I have to, like, tell everyone now!"
"Better dan Buckethead." Remy smirked. "Do y' really understand how Charles will take dis relationship, Mister LeBeau? Or perhaps his lackey, Wolverine?"
"Logan's not a lackey!" Rogue pointed out defensively. "Unlike ya."
"Y're tearin' moi apart, chere." He rolled his eyes.
"Good."
"Dat's not nice."
"Neither am Ah. We've been over this a hundred times."
The playful banter was interrupted by the delivery of their hot chocolate. Rogue watched the steam curl out from the cup, around the lump of whipped cream floating in her drink. Slipping off a glove, she dipped her finger into the cream.
"Mmm…"
"Y' could jus' drink it, like a regular human being." Remy snickered, bringing his cup to his lips. He nearly dropped it as he tried to take a sip. "Merde!"
"Tell me, Remy," she bit on her lip to keep from laughing as he waved his hand over his scorched tongue, "is that how yer normal people drink it? 'Cause Ah'd rather be a freak any day."
"'M sure y' would. A freak in-"
"Do ya really wanna finish that sentence?" Her eyes glistened dangerously.
"What were y' t'inkin'? I jus' t'ought y' might like t' be a freak in a world where de normal people are stupider dan de few people on de edge of society."
"Nice save."
"Merci beaucoup."
They sat in silence for some time, sipping at the scalding drink, watching the snow fall down in fat flakes. It was a picturesque scene outside; the light glowed in the darkness of night, reflecting of the white flakes. Couples paused at windows, clinging to one another for warmth. After some time, their drinks were finished.
"C'mon." Remy stood up. She stood too, and he wrapped her jacket around her shoulder. "I've got an idea."
"Oh Lord. Yer ideas aren't usually very good."
"Y're so funny." He rolled his eyes. "Non, dis be a good one. Je te promets."
They walked through the frigid city. To any passerby, they seemed a normal couple. Their fingers were interlocked, her other arm wrapped snuggly in the crook of his elbow. They were a couple in the first throws of infatuation; she gazed at him adoringly, and he would stare at her with undeniable love.
How could anyone have known how hard they'd work to get to that place?
"How long till we get there?" She whined with a little grin. "It's just so cold, Swamp Rat!"
"Y're tryin' t' annoy moi, aren' y'?"
"Maybe." She grinned impishly, and he rolled his eyes.
"Not dat much longer, but y' aren' gon' be warm." He smirked as they took a detour through the park.
"Why's that?" She pulled away from him to shoot him a mock glare. In response, he bent down and scooped up a snow ball. She shrieked as if connected with her back.
He laughed, a loud booming sound in the quiet of the park.
"Remy LeBeau!" She screamed in anger. "Ah am gonna kill ya!"
She leapt at him, knocking him into a snowdrift. He tugged her down with him, and they tumbled into the powdery snow. For a moment, they lay still, laughing.
Until Rogue took a handful of snow and stuffed it down his shirt.
"Merde!" He cursed, jumping to his feet. "Jesus, chere!"
"Yer welcome." She snickered. He was too distracted jumping to and fro, trying to get as much snow out of his shirt as possible.
"Y' are in so much trouble!" He snarled, turning on her with mock anger.
"Ah'm so terrified!" She pretended to swoon, and leapt nimbly to her feet. "What're ya gonna do, Cajun?"
He jumped at her, and she ducked out of his way. Mock shrieks filled the air as she evaded him, laughingly. He managed to get a hand on her jacket and swung her around to the cold ground. Luckily (for her, of course), she grabbed his shirt collar and dragged him down with her.
"I almos' wanna f'rgive y', t' stay like dis." He smirked. He was lying on top of her, in the snow, their legs tangled together.
"Ah'm so sure." She laughed, shoving him off of her. He pouted as she stood up, brushing the melting snow from her clothes. "Yer gonna freeze down there."
"So?"
"Yer gonna sit in the snow and get frostbite?"
"Dat's de plan." He crossed his arms defiantly. She laughed, and bent down to scoop up a handful of snow.
"Ya sure about that?" She asked.
"Oui." He nodded.
"Suit yerself." She hurled it at his head. It exploded on impact, sending powdery snow down his back. He yelped and jumped up, eyes ablaze.
"Chere!"
"It got ya up, didn't it?" She smirked.
He glared at her before kneeling to scoop up a handful of his own snow. She grinned and began to run toward a tree for cover.
"Coward!" He called after her, chasing She ducked down behind the tree, made a quick snowball, and leapt out to throw it at him. Instead, she got a face full of snow and dropped her own handful in shock.
"Truce?" He gulped at the murderous look on her face.
"Ya wish!" She ran into him, knocking him to the ground. As he dazedly tried to sit up, she kicked snow into his face.
"Fou femme! Y're so mean t' me!"
"This is war, Swamp Rat!" Rogue declared.
"War?" He grinned. "Better watch out, den."
They each ran in opposite directions, preparing an arsenal of snowballs. Rogue ducked behind a bush on the outer of the park, nearly slipping on the sidewalk as she bent down to take the snow from under the dead shrub.
She shuddered at a gust of wind. Southerners were not made for the cold. She had forgotten it in the fight with Remy; running around had kept her so warm, and then the way he looked at her lit her on fire and-
"Y' can't hide from moi!" His triumphant voice crowed as a snowball hit her in the face.
"Cajun!" She shrieked, jumping to her feet. "Ah will kill ya!" Without another thought, she jumped over the dead bush and ran at him, firing the few snowballs she had managed to make.
She tackled him into the snow. It flew up around them, and the light powder settled over their entangled, laughing bodies. Shaking with laughter, Rogue took a handful of snow from the ground beside her and smeared it across his face. He spluttered and shook his head, sending half-melted snow over both of them.
"Chere, y' win! 'S too cold f'r dese games." Remy shivered, holding his hands up in defeat.
"Good boy." She smiled. He stood up, and helped her to her feet. He bent down and gently pressed his lips to hers for a brief moment, stumbling back as the force of her powers began to pull at him.
"Chere," He mumbled dizzily, "Dere's somet'in' I've been meanin' t' tell y'."
"Y're somet'in' else, Swamp Rat. Y' know that?" She shook her head helplessly at him. "Only someone like y' would try dat."
"'M one o' a kind." He nodded sagely.
"Ain't necessarily a good t'ing." She teased gently, dancing out of reach when he reached out as if to push her.
"Y're so mean t' moi!"
"Y' know 'M kiddin'." She said softly, looking up at him from out of the corner of her eyes.
He pulled her out of the park, shaking the melted snow out of his hair. She grumbled good-naturedly as it fell into her own hair. They walked, fingers intertwined, back to the little bookstore. He glanced at the distance back to the institute.
"Lemme give y' a ride home, chere."
"Nu-uh!" She shook her head, relieved to have her own accent back already. "If Logan sees it or smells it, he'll figure it out. He already suspects, ya know."
"'M not lettin' y' walk home in de dark an' cold!" He shook his head vehemently. "'Sides, I need y'r body warmth on my bike!"
"No, Cajun!" She teased, swatting at his arm. "Ah gotta go."
He captured her in his arms, drawing her close to him. Their faces were almost touching, and he looked her straight in the eyes.
"Y're not walkin' home, chere. End o' discussion."
"Yes, Ah am." She insisted, but made no move to escape the embrace.
"Non, chere. Won' let y'. Sorry." He reached down and carefully brushed a white strand of hair behind her eyes. "Who knows what kind o' bad t'ings could happen t' y' in de night, hahn?"
"Ya think Ah can't take 'em out?" She teased, lightly tracing her gloved fingers over his chest.
"Jus' 'cause y' can doesn' mean y' should have t'." He smirked.
"Calm down." She rolled her eyes. "Ah'll be fine."
"Y' will. 'Cause y'll be wit' moi."
"Don't be so protective!" She laughed. "Come on, Ah'm gonna be late."
"Not if y' accept de ride."
"Why?" She sighed.
"I protect de t'ings I love." He replied softly.
"Wanna run that by me again?"
They stood, still facing each other, still embracing. Her eyes were wide, as if she wasn't sure she had heard him right. His face was very carefully neutral.
"I protect de t'ings I love." He repeated softly, slowly. He brought a hand up to brush her bangs out of her eyes. "An' y're one o' dose t'ings, Rogue. I love y'."
"Ah…" She looked up into his eyes. "Ah love ya, too, Rem. So much."
"Now, since dat's decided, y're ridin' wit' me."
"No, Ah'm not." She shook her head.
"Oui, y' are."
"No!"
"Yes, y' are." He took her hand, and gently pulled her toward the bike. "Y' don' get a choice."
"Yer tricky." She sighed in resignation as she pulled on a helmet.
"What do y' mean?"
"Springin' that on me. Sneaky!"
"Dat's jus' 'cause y're so stubborn."
She wrapped her arms tightly around him as he started the bike. She really hoped (but somehow doubted) that Logan wouldn't hear the roaring bike outside. They sped down the road and stopped in front of the Institute.
"Call y' later, chere." He helped her down (despite her irritated protests that she could do it just as well herself).
"Oh Lord. Logan'll kill ya if he hears yer voice."
"It's a risk I'll take." He shrugged with a confident smirk. "Hurry along, y're late."
"Thanks to ya!"
"Peut-etre." He shrugged with a smirk, and took her face in his gloved hands. He planted a soft kiss on her lips, and gently pulled away. He steadied himself, trying to keep his balance from her draining powers.
"Y're ridiculous."
"Go inside 'fore Wolvie kills y'."
"Will y' be okay t' drive, Swamp Rat?"
"I'll manage."
"Stripes!" Logan snarled from the other side of the gate.
"Shit. Get lost." She shoved him away jokingly. She walked up to the gate, as if she were just returning from the bookstore.
"Stripes…" Logan's angry face stared at her from the other side of the gate.
"Yes?" She tried to blink innocently.
"Where were ya?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"De bookstore." Damn accent.
"Yer comin' with me."
With an irritated sigh, she grudgingly followed the furious Canadian. Though she tried to contain it, a small grin crept up her face. He loved her. He loved her and wanted her and needed her.
"Don't think I can't see that little smile, Stripes." An angry voice snarled ahead of her. "I've got eyes in the back of my head."