12
Storm was the first one off the jet, followed by Jean, Scott and Sarah, who bounded past them to give Remy a hug. He looked past her, watching Joseph and Logan leave last.
"You guys have an alright flight?" Bobby asked, assisting the team in their arrival. "The weather here was a real bitch."
Storm smirked "We had a little assistance."
Bobby grinned "You guys missed it man… the power in the whole mansion went out." He snapped his fingers "Like that. Really spooky."
Sarah lowered her voice a notch "Is that why you look so spooked Rem? You afraid of the dark?" She poked him teasingly but he ignored her, stepping aside to face Joseph.
The white haired young man knit his brow.
"What's yer problem Gumbo?" Logan grumbled as he passed him, pulling the gloves to his uniform off.
"Uh-" Remy pressed his lips together, shooting out a short breath through his nostrils "Ro- Anna…" He corrected himself awkwardly "asked for you t'meet her in d' med bay."
Joseph's expression grew serious "Med bay? Is everything alright?"
He nodded "It's Cole. He's alright, dere was just… a little accident."
Joseph hurried past them and Logan caught Remy's eye before he could leave too.
"Everything alright?"
Remy blinked at the question before nodding. Sarah had headed in with the others leaving the two men alone.
"You alright?" Logan cleared his throat "Looks like y'seen a ghost."
The question for his well being caught him off guard and he nodded silently again.
Logan pressed his lips together "This accident. Didn't have t'do with those powers the kid has… did it?"
Remy's eyebrows perked up as he stared at Logan.
"I know everything. An' don't you forget it." A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth when he watched Gambit nod silently. This had to be the longest the Cajun had ever gone without talking in his presence.
"Word of advice; y'might wanna wipe that stunned look off yer face." He walked past him "People might start to catch on. And then people might start expectin' things from ya."
He passed Remy as he headed towards the door "Y'don't want that, do you." he mumbled.
---
"Hey!" Joseph was out of breath as he pulled the door open and walked in. "Are you ok?! Kitty told me everything…"
Rogue looked up at him, her gaze slowly moving over to the short brunette who stopped in the doorway next to him.
"Yeah. You know… the lights go out and poor Cole's afraid of the dark, so Rogue runs to find him, trips over the couch and bam!" She smacked her hands together "Absorbed the little guy."
Joseph glanced at Kitty "Yeah, I heard you the first time…"
Rogue relaxed, giving Kitty a grateful smile "Yeah, I'm fine."
Joseph exhaled deeply, moving over to her side. "And how is he?"
She smiled as he stroked her hair. "He'll be right as rain in a few hours. Won't remember a thing."
Joseph sat back in his chair and shook his head. "That's good. He's a trooper, right?"
For the first time since the 'accident' Rogue chuckled "That he is."
---
Remy crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. He knew it wouldn't be appropriate to be in the room right now. But waiting outside? He'd just look like a concerned friend.
But he wasn't just a concerned friend.
He was Cole's Father.
He groaned and slid down the wall until he sat on the cold floor. He remembered how things had been back then; spontaneous and carefree. But they'd always been safe. Maybe she was wrong… maybe he wasn't really-
He shook the thought from his head.
Rogue wasn't like that. And besides, he saw the evidence with his own eyes: Cole's mutation.
A mixture between his and Rogue's. Mostly his.
Almost exactly his.
There was no denying it; Cole was his son.
Kitty rounded the corner, crossing her arms when she saw him.
"There are chairs y'know."
He nodded, burying his face in his hands. "I know." He muttered.
She cocked her head with a frown. "Cheer up buttercup."
He shook his head "Not now Kitty."
"Then when Remy?" She pressed her lips together. She moved towards him, sitting down with him on the cold ground slipping an arm around his shoulders. "Look. You loved the kid to pieces before you found out
he was… you know…" She lowered her voice as if the halls were bugged with listening devices "so what does it matter if he's… you know…"
He let out a sharp breath, "Y'wouldn' understand chère."
She lifted her chin slightly. "Try me."
Remy rested his head against the wall behind him. "Remy don't do so well with responsibility."
"So I've noticed." She smiled.
"Jean Luc… he never taught me how t'be a Father. D'only thing Remy's good at is stealin'. Dat's it."
"You don't give yourself enough credit Remy." She whispered. "You're a pretty good guy… deep down…" She hesitated "I guess…"
He smiled when she scrunched up her nose in a mock look of disgust.
"If you expect nothing but failure from yourself… then that's all you'll get. Self fulfilling prophecy." She looked at him with a smile. "I read it in a fortune cookie once."
"Ah p'tite..." He paused and shook his head "Dat's all anyone's expected from Remy."
Kitty put her hand on his gently, her eyebrows puckering slightly as she looked at him. "Not Rogue."
"Oui. Rogue too."
"Gambit, you know that's not true." Kitty's demeanor became slightly angry, and it caught him off guard. "She was the only one who believed in you when you first came here; and I know it, and I know you know it."
"Dat ship has sailed chère." He muttered, remembering their tense conversation earlier. Pull a Remy, as she'd put it. A self fulfilling prophecy indeed. He had been angry at her for not telling him, but in all honesty
he couldn't blame her. After all, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't planning his escape in the back of his mind at this very moment.
"Look," She folded her hands in her lap "I know I'm probably the last person you want to be talking about this with,"
"Not dead last..."
"But I want you to know that you can talk to me. I mean, like really talk to me. I know what you're going through-" She shook her head quickly "Not like, exactly or anything. But like," she let out an exasperated sigh and Remy smiled. The word 'like' always peppered her sentences, but it seemed to increase when she was nervous. Or excited, or stressed. He noticed her fidgeting through the corner of his eye.
"Spit it out chère."
"Look, I know what it's like to have low expectations from everyone." Kitty lifted her chin indignantly. "Everyone thinks I'm a moron." she pursed her lips. "Shallow." she elaborated.
"Chère..."
"No, it's true, they do. And everyone thinks you're useless. But it's not true." her gaze fell back to her hands in her lap. "I just wanted you to know that... as stupid as you think I may be, you can talk to me. I'm a lot more observant than people give me credit for you know."
"Y'didn see Anna an' I..." He pointed out with a smirk.
"Yeah well..." she tossed a hand in the air with a smile "I don't think even Destiny could have seen that one coming."
Remy chuckled before rubbing the back of his neck "Joseph's good f'Cole. He's..."
"Perfect." Kitty finished for him with a simple shrug. Remy glanced over at her with a scowl before nodding.
"Yeah. He's perfect."
"But he's not you."
"Dat's pretty much what makes him perfect."
Kitty smiled and gave Remy a nudge. "No, I mean he's not Cole's... you know..."
Remy shut his eyes and rubbed a hand over his face "I know."
"I just... want you to know that not everyone is against you." She bit her lip and wrung her hands together "I know you'll do the right thing."
"An' what is dat?"
She shrugged and shook her head. "I don't know. I haven't come across a fortune cookie what that answer yet."
A/N- Okay, so it's later than usual, and shorter than usual. And for this I apologize. I haven't been in the "writing mood". Too many decisions... too much stress... lol
Reviews! Loved em!
S2T- You ARE a Cole fan girl. You're also a Kitty fan girl. You know it. It's one of your past times. LOL (inside joke.) :) (Dick smile) And yes, this was a jerkish thing of him to say, but Remy is not perfect. Please... hold your arguments... no, sadly he is no Edward Cullen. (Sarcasm. Or Kitty speaking, either way... lol) OMG! This reminds me of my dream last night... totally weird with Vampires and shapeshifting ghosts... and a baby doll... I need to stop getting drunk before I go to bed. (This is obviously a joke as I'm 7 months pregnant.) (I feel the need to explain my jokes so I don't get questioned on them via review. lol)
Chellerbelle - YES. Cole is the real victim here. :(
roguelover321- you're a woman of few words and I loves it.
Colourcoated - Yes, Remy is being a jerk. And a little pouty sucky baby. lol
Logan - Life was good indeed.
Val - LMFAO!!!!!!!
ALLREMS - Thank you! And I think it's safe to say that you're right... it's just posponed... lol
To all who commented on how bad they feel for Remy, I'd just like to say... yes... he deserves some sympathy. But bare in mind that he disappeared and Rogue had to raise Coley all on her own for six years!!! Talk about baby daddy drama.
Keep dem reviews comin' hein? (I don't know why I said that with the accent.)
