Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.
Notes: As Danfred pointed out to me, it was the fourth season finale Ascension that had Rogue defeating Apocalypse. And don't worry guys, no Magneto/Rogue shit in this chapter.
Thanks to all my reviewers, I will try to respond to you next chapter!
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You could feel the tension pull against the skin on your face, sucking in tightly, pulling against the bone. Gambit was long since used to the feeling of jumping through Essex's black portal, and like everyone else he remained frozen still, unable to move in the fast paced vortex.
He wanted desperately to turn to Rogue, who he knew stood at his left hand side. The black nothingness that zoomed in front of him was all his eyes could see, and it lulled him into a near sleep.
All of this happened in a manner of seconds. As soon as the bright light hit their eyes, Gambit was swept away from his thoughts as he shielded his sensitive eyes.
What greeted Gambit and the X-Men behind him was utter chaos. The building that had once been Essex's base, had collapsed, the high ceiling caved in, the rows of computer equipment sparking in their final gasp for life.
Gambit's eyes slowly ascended to the roof, where a large circular gap had been created, open to the sky above. Wind whipped about the complex irrationally.
His eyes never left the sky, as he watched it swirl around in a hoard of blacks, grays and blues. "Merde," Gambit whispered, somewhat amazed at how beautiful it all was, the end of their world.
"Remy." Something shaking his shoulders. "Remy." Blinking, Gambit began to hear Rogue yelling in his ear. His head curved down meeting her frightened eyes.
"Remy, are we too late sugah? Do ya think there's any way ta make it back now?"
He heard her words, her plea, but all he could do was gaze at her with a lost look, one filled with awe. His hand raised to her cheek, his thumb brushing her skin.
"S'funny chere, de beauty o'dis destruction makes me feel it would be right t'die like dis."
He felt the slap sting his face, knocking his head sideways a bit, giving him a view of the team. He lifted one hand up, touching his reddened cheek. Storm watched him from the crowd, the only one not glancing at the tormented sky. Her shoulders were a bit slumped, her posture not holding its normal regal air. Her eyes poured her soul out towards him, his empathy picking up her defeat, her readiness to die, her façade had finally dropped. As her eyes raised upwards, he felt his chin being lifted by Rogue's finger.
"It ain't your time Remy. And it sure as hell ain't mine. We haven't even had a chance to live our love yet." Her smoothly textured voice broke him from his enthralled spell, but Magneto's voice calling out his name distracted him from responding to Rogue.
Remy walked over to the jumbled mess of machinery Magnus stood in front of. The chalky white skin of the man caught underneath it was the first thing Gambit noticed.
"Rogue, we need you're help chere." Remy yelled, motioning with his hand for Rogue to join them.
Sinister's red eyes glowed dimly, watching the three without a word. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, and as Rogue lifted the metal off his chest, his eyes shut briefly as his hands roamed his open wound.
Remy had never seen Essex so vulnerable. He bent down next to the man, a mixed amount of emotion flooding through his veins as he watched the man feel his wounds.
"Dis time came before we thought Essex," Remy whispered, bitterness hinting subtely through his words.
"Yes," Essex hissed, "And believe me Remy, I had no idea."
Remy made no move to seal the man's injuries, it was obviously a fatal wound. "Were y'able ta save de bracelets?" Sparks began erupting nearby, causing a loud fizzy sound, before the entire console burst up in flames. Remy looked in the direction of the fire, waiting for Essex's answer.
"Yes." Essex replied through gritted teeth. His arm shakily slithered across the cement floor towards Gambit. Once outstretched, he made no other movements.
Gambit rolled Essex's sleeve up, watching the man's eyes for any form of trickery. Both bracelets were attached to his arm, a red button glowing on each. Slipping them off, Remy stood back up, still staring at Essex while the X-Men waited around him.
"Where's Forge?" Gambit asked.
Essex coughed, his head arching back, not wishing to reveal his true pain.
"Forge was the first to die."
Remy took a silent breath before turning to face the X-Men. He strode towards Rogue, his boots hitting the floor the only distinct sound over the raging wind.
"Well, dere ain't much time left chere. We best be hitting de road, non?" He smirked, covering his nervousness as he attached the bracelet to her thin wrist and adjusted the settings.
Rogue grabbed his hand, and together they turned to face the X-Men. The team stood humbly side by side, aware that their time was coming to an end. Aware that they would die that night.
"I'm sorry I can't take all o'you wit me," Gambit confessed, his eyes trailing over every one of them.
Storm stepped forward from the crowd, her eyes white as she worked to control the wind. Tears dripped from the corner of her eyes. She put one hand on Remy's shoulder.
"If your mission is successful, then we will see you again my friend."
"Mais oui Stormy. Merci." Gambit clasped his own hand over Storm's, and squeezing it once, he let it go and stepped back with Rogue.
He looked at the brave eyes that let them go with such trust before lifting his bracelet up his finger hovering over one button. Rogue took his cue and did the same thing.
Gambit raised his head once more to the sky, watching the maddening sky break apart in frantic twists. Several strands of lightening tore through the dark clouds, and Remy was able to make out one bare, clear patch of sky before he pressed the button that would take them back to the past.
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Rogue and Remy reappeared in an upscale apartment, but the important thing to them was it was still intact. Rogue raced to the window, taking in the city lights below.
"Well, at least it's still in one piece." She felt Remy come up behind her, his eyes hard, focused. "Where are we anyway?"
"My New York apartment chere. A place I used t'get away from de mansion from time to time." Remy's jaw tightened as he backed away from the window and headed down a hallway to his left.
Rogue followed him, entering a bedroom as Remy flung open a closet door and began searching through the hangers.
"What are y'doing Remy? Shouldn't we be making sure we're in the right time?"
"I'm looking for clothin' dat don't resemble futuristic combative gear chere." Remy chided. "Sides', dis place is clean, dust free, so we at least came to a time before I 'died'."
"Oh."
Remy threw something at Rogue. "Try dat on Rogue, I think it's your size."
Rogue held up the low slung halter dress, raising an eyebrow.
"And just why in the hell do ya have a woman's black dress in your closet Remy?"
Remy pulled out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and began to tear off his body suit as he responded. Rogue watched him look to the floor, standing their topless.
"It was actually a present for y'chere." Remy laughed, running a hand through his hair. "Every time I saw something y'might like, or might look good on ya, I bought or stole it for ya."
"And ya remember that ya bought this dress specifically for meh?" Rogue asked, still holding the garment between her fingers.
Remy met her eyes. "Oui. Especially dat one."
Rogue swallowed as Remy continued to undress, stripping down to only his boxers. Rogue unzipped the front part of her uniform.
"Why this one?"
"I bought it a couple days before de battle wit de Marauders. I was gonna put it on your bed, tell ya to meet me some place wearing it. And I was gonna tell you dat I loved you." Remy's last words were spoken quieter as he slipped his t-shirt over his head.
"Oh." Rogue breathed. "Where's the bathroom Remy?" Her question startled Remy after what he had just told her, but silently he pointed to his right.
Remy walked to the mirror after Rogue had left the room. He stared at himself, noticing the hard lines that had developed, no doubt while working for Sinister.
'Remy, when dis is all over ya better tell dat girl how much you love her,' Remy thought to himself, knowing it would do no good to give advice to the Remy of this time line when he was only speaking to himself. Sighing he lifted a hand to his chin, fingering the outlines of his face.
He heard the door squeak open behind him, and in the mirrors reflection he could see Rogue exit, the black dress clinging to her form, her hair tied up, a few white strands hanging down.
Remy felt himself gulp as he turned around to face her.
"See what I was hoping chere, was for dat dress to look so completely amazing on you, dat I had ta tell you I loved you. Dat I couldn't help but tell you. Because back den, I was afraid o'what dose words would mean." Remy explained as Rogue headed towards him.
She leaned up against him, placing one finger on his chin as he rested his hands on the dresser behind him.
"We both were afraid back then Remy."
She kissed him then, pulling his collar closer, increasing the intensity of the kiss. As she let go she gave him a little playful smirk.
"Let's go put an end ta this mess sugah."
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It was a familiar feeling, and a sense in the background warned them quietly to stop their advances forward. They continued anyway, mixing in with the young crowds that mingled along the streets.
Remy glanced at the bracelet on his wrist. "De X-Men are already inside chere. We can't let em' see us."
When she didn't reply, Remy looked up. Rogue was concentrating on a tiny alley way with an expression resembling longing. He watched her chest breath in and out slowly.
"That's where we need ta go Remy, isn't it?"
"Oui. And we need t'get dere before de other version o'you does."
They knew the Marauders were waiting somewhere in the dark depths of the alley. Remy began to pick up their signals when they got near, and he fingered the spikes he had stashed in his pocket.
"Oh look Vertigo, they made up already! It's a two for one now!" The voice spoke from its position against the brick wall.
"And the skunk head changed her outfit real' fast too," Vertigo spat as her form melted out of the shadows, a dagger hanging loosely from her hand. "Just who the fuck are you two?"
Rogue could feel the dangerous heat emit off of Remy as he lit up a cigarette. He covered up his tension wonderfully as he inhaled, smiling charmingly at Vertigo.
"It seems you be a bit brighter den I remembered Vertigo. Didn't think y'picked up on details like dat."
Vertigo tightened her fist around the knife, unable to hide her fear the way Gambit could. "Just how the hell do you even know me?"
"De same way I know dere be a portal behind Harpoon," Remy gestured towards the man, "De same way I know dat your boss Essex is gonna want to hear what I got to say."
Vertigo shook her shoulders as she tried to stand up straight. "Bullshit," she stated with overconfidence.
The crack to Vertigo's jaw came a second later from Rogue, as Remy quickly dropped his cigarette and charged up his spikes, throwing them in the direction of Harpoon and Blockbuster.
"Rogue what de hell are y'doing girl?" Remy asked as she disarmed Vertigo and dragged her up by her hair.
"We need ta change the destination o'that portal, and fast Remy! The other version o'meh is gonna walk out that backdoor any second!"
Understanding Rogue's concern, Remy telekinetically lit up the uniforms of the three Marauders. Rogue let go of Vertigo and moved to Remy's side.
Remy strode towards Vertigo, and for a brief second he discharged her outfit, as he removed the little black operating button off her person and pointed it towards the portal.
After Rogue and Remy had ordered the three Marauders into the portal they clasped hands.
"Dis is gonna be it chere. We stopped em' from fighting de X-Men tonight."
A tear slid down the side of Rogue's face. "I know Remy."
He pulled her to him in one quick, but passion filled kiss, one arm wrapped around her small waist. It was a scene meant to be reserved for postcards, or movies, and it was going to be one of their last.
"I will have a chance to love you again soon Rogue."
She smiled.
He grinned.
And together they stepped through.
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Rogue stepped out of the dance club, the anger brewing in her head suddenly cleared. She wrapped her arms around herself, wondering if it was the slight breeze, or the fresh air that had wiped it away.
She took a few steps from the door, pondering what she had with Remy. She held herself tighter, her eyes roaming around the alley. Something in the back of her mind was telling her she was being watched.
Spinning around quickly she only saw the rusty dumpsters and trash littering the alley. She took in a deep breath, closing her eyes. She felt so sure someone should be there. That someone was going to grab her, attack her even. But no figures jumped from the shadows. It seemed as if something had changed.
Opening her eyes, her breath caught in her throat, as she let a small gasp out. Remy stood mere inches from her, his eyes watching her, squinting as if confused, like she was.
His hand went straight for her cheek, without even thinking, as he gazed at her.
"I had dis strange feelin' I was gonna lose de love o'my life tonight. I decided I couldn't let her run away."
"Ya mean that blonde girl?" Rogue whispered, her wet eyes appealing to his in lightheartedness.
He gave a short laugh. "No Rogue, I meant you. I-I meant I love you chere."
Rogue crushed her body into his, embracing him with all of her energy, as his hand fell from her face, wrapping itself around her shoulder.
They didn't even notice that Remy's hand had been bare, caressing her untouchable skin. Something had changed.
He felt a light poke in his stomach, as Rogue's playful eyes filled with life again and met his own.
"Ya owe meh a dance sugah."
He smiled then.
And she grinned.
Together they walked back into the club.