Five Years Ago
Rogue couldn't fathom what they were doing. It still hadn't truly hit her yet. They had driven until dawn and then driven some more. She was unsure where they were currently. Arizona? New Mexico? Texas? It had been hours since they had taken off from her home.
And even as they approached the horizon it seemed like if she turned around she would still see her home, her empty house. Driving all night and neither one of them had said a word to one another. Rogue wanted to wonder why but in all reality she knew. They were both scared that they had done something wrong; something they would never, ever be able to take back now that it was started.
"Gambit," Rogue whispered as she spotted a roadside diner.
Remy jumped and looked over at Rogue. He was lost in thought, lost in tunnel vision. Had he acted too rashly by taking her away from that place that tormented her for most of her life? He looked down at Rogue expecting that she would beg him to turn back but when he looked in her eyes he didn't see that. She smiled meekly at him, her head still resting on his shoulder.
"Y-yeah chere," he stuttered as he tried to shake away the thoughts of regrets still buzzing through his mind.
"Umm y' think we could stop, Ah'm hungry and Ah gotta pee somethin' fierce," Rogue replied.
Remy chuckled and proceeded to take the next off ramp towards the diner they had spotted along the highway.
They parked and Remy took the job of getting a booth while Rogue used the facilities. He stared out the window as the waitress handed him a plastic covered menu. They were doing the right thing, weren't they? He was saving her from a lifetime of heartache wasn't he? He wasn't so sure anymore.
But then he thought about how she had smiled at him this morning. How she had seemed to have no doubts in what they were doing and it made a sudden grin pop upon his lips. He had thought long and hard about it before they had enacted the plan.
The moment he left the Darkholme-Lensherr house he had already devised a way to get her out. Given it also stemmed from the fact that he could barely live under the same roof with Jean-Luc but nevertheless he would have put up with his father had it been in Rogue's best interest to stay in California.
But he knew it wasn't. He knew that there was a place they could both flourish. A place they both belonged. It wasn't that far. A couple of states over and they would be home, with one another. Just the idea of having Rogue with him in such a special place had made him giddy. He knew it was the right thing from the start. There was no questioning it now. It was just a matter of getting there now.
Rogue splashed water on her face after she washed her hands. She didn't know why she was so nervous. It wasn't like she missed home. An image flashed through her mind. Her and Remy in a compromising position.
"Pull yourself together girl," Rogue spoke to her reflection.
Sure she had thought about it before, especially after their night in the car and day at the beach but it was different now. She was unsure of what terms they were on. He had kissed her more than once. Had shown her affection in many different ways. But did that mean they were together? Did that mean she was his?
She rolled her eyes. Who was she kidding she was his from the moment he spoke her name for the first time. Even if he didn't want her she would be his; that much she knew. He drew her like metal to a magnet and there was no stopping that now. But had things truly changed between them?
She was frightened of all the connotations of this trip and yet thrilled all the same. She took a deep breath as she stared into the mirror her emerald green eyes gleaming back at her in excitement and anxiety. She would get to the real anxiety later she thought; at least we haven't hit a motel yet.
She giggled nervously just at the thought and shook off her nerves as she stepped out of the restroom and walked over to the lonely booth where Gambit sat waiting for her; the menu hiding his face as he discerned what was the best thing to eat. He looked up as she sat down and she saw how seriously he was taking ordering their breakfast.
"What too much ta chose from Swamp Rat?" Rogue joked as she gazed down at her own menu.
"Variety is de spice of life Roguey, so I'm thinkin' dis place doesn't have much spice, non," Gambit stated his face still serious as he weighed his options.
Rogue shook her head at him and he couldn't help but lick his lips at the glimmer in her eyes. It was one of the only times he had ever seen her so…happy. He kept looking at her and the way she seemed so content to be there in this little booth, in this tiny diner, in the middle of nowhere. She was happy.
"Got something on ya mind?" Rogue asked with a quirk of her eyebrow still looking at her menu. She was torn between the biscuits and gravy and the patty melt.
Remy started ruffling through his trench coat as he thought of response. "Bit of a weighted question for breakfast don't ya think?" he replied as he pulled out his deck of cards and began to shuffle it still unsure of what to order.
Rogue gave him a quizzical expression, folding her hands under her chin as she appraised him. She didn't know why but she both hated and loved when he shuffled his deck of cards. It made her smile because she knew it was his nervous tick, but she knew just how grating the sound of shuffling cards could be on the nerves.
"How so?" Rogue asked still enthralled by the ease at which he turned each card over and under and through the others without looking, flipping them from one hand to the other.
"Well everyone has several t'ings on deir mind at once, non? So if I were to sit here and tell you everythin' that's on mon mind ya'd be both bored and probably slightly offended," he said with a wink and a blush immediately rose to Rogue's cheeks and her eyes darted back down to her menu despite the fact that she knew what she was going to order.
The waitress finally came back to their booth and looked down at them with a bored sort of patience that caught Rogue off guard.
"Ya'll ready to order?" she asked in a dull sort of voice.
"Roguey?" Gambit asked as Rogue desperately tried not to meet his eyes. If she did she would be unable to talk for fear of seeing exactly what he meant by that comment before. She nodded and focused on the many stains on the waitress's white shirt.
"I'll take the biscuits and gravy," Rogue replied meekly.
"Make dat deux," Gambit said giving Rogue another wink and handing their menus to the waitress.
"And drinks?" the waitress asked as she turned to walk away.
"Coffee?" Gambit asked looking to Rogue for approval. She smiled and tilted her head to the side slightly. Did he know? She nodded and proceeded to stare out the window.
"What's on y' mind cherie?" Gambit asked as he fiddled with the utensils in front of him, tiring of shuffling.
"Bit of a loaded question, non, cher," Rogue teased him, still looking at the cars passing the diner on the highway.
Gambit chuckled mildly and watched her. He could have stared at her all day if he had the chance to. She had let her hair down and it was creating chestnut waves down her back. Her white streak was pinned back on both sides of her face and Remy thought it made her look cute.
She pressed her lips into a thin line and he couldn't help but reach his hand across the table and take hers. Rogue looked down at the sudden connection of flesh somewhat startled. She licked her lips again and watched as his eyes danced with curiosity. He wanted desperately to know what was on her mind.
"Do you think they know Ah'm gone?" Rogue asked solemnly looking straight into Gambit's eyes watching as his expression moved fluidly from curiosity to anger to thoughtfulness, his scarlet irises sparking here and there throughout.
He looked at her and shook his head no.
"Y' don't miss what y' never noticed was there ta begin wit," Rogue could tell from his tone that he was being completely serious and she wasn't sure if this surprised her, or her angered her, or hurt her more. She just knew that it was the truth.
"And ya would know this how?" Rogue found herself sounding defensive and pulling her hand away from his suddenly. She didn't want to, but part of her still wanted to believe that the people who had brought her into this world had some sliver of humanity left.
Gambit understood her anger and while part of him wanted to retaliate; wanted her to realize that the people she called family truly didn't give a shit about her he did his best to reply to her calmly. He clenched his jaw pulled his hand back from across the table.
"I'm a thief remember. I take advantage of those who don't know what treasures lie in deir homes, in deir safes, in deir most protected places. I take advantage of those who take for granted what dey have," Gambit responded and Rogue could have sworn his eyes burned a hole in her heart their gaze was so intense.
Was he saying that he stole her? That he had coveted her away from those who didn't deserve her? Rogue didn't know what to say. A part of her, the independent part wanted to be upset that he had just objectified her, said that she was just something to be stolen and put on a mantle. But another part of her, a more primal part was flying, soaring high over clouds because he had just said that she was a treasure in his eyes. He had just said that she was worth stealing.
Rogue blushed and glanced down at her fingers as she fiddled with them in her lap. When she looked up Gambit was leaning across the table reaching for her hand again and when she felt his hand wrap around hers it was the most reassuring thing in the world. She was no longer angry, no longer hurt. It was like she was floating once again in the sea with him beside her. Nothing felt more natural.
"I'm sorry chere. I didn't mean ta upset y'. For all I know y' parents could have a whole search team comin' after y'," Rogue's eyes widened at that statement and she jumped back slightly.
She hadn't thought about that either. She hadn't thought that if she went missing her parents would be on the way to finding her. She was staring to think she didn't think this whole plan through. Gambit chuckled and grinned mischievously at her.
"Is that a possibility?" Rogue asked quietly; Remy caught her fearful undertone.
He nodded. "Oui it is… mais it's unlikely if dey do send out a search team dat we will be found."
He sounded so sure. Like he had everything, every deviation, every twist and turn planned to the tee and every response ready in case such things happened. How was that? How did he know what was unknowable?
Remy took her clueless expression as a gesture to continue. "It takes twenty four hours before de police will consider someone a missing person. And even wit y' parents' pull it would be at least eighteen hours. Dat said dey won't be lookin' outta state for at least a week. By dat time we will already be at our destination."
Gambit winked and Rogue felt some of her fears wash away. "Do you think they'll find us?"
Gambit chuckled. "Dat's always a possibility Roguey. But y' have ta remember it wouldn't be kidnapping, it would be a runaway case. And I am de Prince of Thieves so I have many, how should I say, 'tools' at mon disposal."
Rogue nodded as best she could and went back to staring out the window at the cars passing by on the highway and found herself counting how many were State Police and Highway Patrol officers. She knew she was just scaring herself but she couldn't help it. Five…six…seven. How many of these fuckers were there?
The waitress finally came back with their coffee and had another bring their biscuits and gravy and placed them sloppily in front of Gambit and Rogue. Rogue jumped back slightly at the noise of the plates hitting the table, her eyes darted to the waitresses and for a moment she was filled with fear. She shook her head of such nonsense. No one was after her. It wasn't like she was a wanted fugitive or something.
Rogue added six sugars and three creamers to her cup of coffee without any emotion. Her face was stoic, lost in thoughts of how horrible it would be to be caught and brought back home, to live out the rest of her life as a prisoner in her own home only being let out for special events where her parents needed her to play the role of 'Perfect child number 2'.
"Do y' want some coffee wit y' cream and sugar?" Gambit joked.
He hoped it would bring her out of whatever train of thought she was having. He knew he shouldn't have told her but she would have needed to know the truth eventually. It something did happen, if they did get caught he wouldn't be able to live with himself is she didn't know.
He hoped she knew that she was worth whatever punishment he would receive from coveting her, but deep down he was ashamed because there was a possibility that her punishment in the event of their being caught was worth all this. The last thing he would want would be to cause her anymore pain. He shook such thoughts from his mind as he plastered a sideways grin at her.
Rogue snapped from her trance looking into his mesmerizing eyes and the way the glinted as if for her. Surely this couldn't just be for her. She found herself blushing and the thoughts from earlier today rushing through her mind and growing and flowing in such ways that were embarrassing and exhilarating .
"What, this is the best way ta have coffee Swamp Rat," Rogue replied with an air of superiority as she brought the cup to her lips and sipped seductively.
Remy watched as her lips made their home around the lip of the mug and instinctively he licked his lips. God she was driving him insane in the best and worst ways possible. Such simple things and she would set him over the edge. How was he going to live with himself on this damn trip if she was going to be doing such things.
"Non, mon belle River Rat. Y' get none of de flavor of de coffee dat way. Not that y' supposed to be drinkin' instant anyways. Just wait, when we get to where we're goin' I'll show y' what real coffee is," Gambit commented with a serene smile on his face as if he was a thousand miles away.
Rogue quirked her eyebrows as she began to dig into her biscuits and gravy. "Are ya ever gonna tell me exactly where we're goin'?"
Gambit speared a piece of biscuit and popped into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. He gave Rogue a look as if he was genuinely pondering whether or not to tell her and then shook his head. "Nahh, I t'ink I'll let y' suffer."
Rogue rolled her eyes and a bite out of her burnt sausage staring at Gambit all the while. She didn't know that what she was doing was unnerving. She just couldn't take her eyes off him. It was hard not to look at something so obviously pleasing to the eye.
It also didn't help that she wasn't chewing but rather sucking on the meat of the sausage. Gambit took a big gulp of his coffee, diverting his eyes from how her lips were wrapped around her breakfast. He choked as the coffee burned his throat.
Rogue chomped down on her sausage and quickly reached over the table patting Gambit on the back. "Ya okay, sugah?"
"Huhh," Gambit responded in a winded tone. "Y-yeah," he coughed. "Just—went down the wrong pipe."
They finished eating and paid the bill. Rogue used the restroom once more, fearful that there wouldn't be many restrooms on the way to wherever it was they were going and she couldn't handle not only sharing a motel room with Gambit but then also having him witness her peeing in a bush somewhere along a deserted highway. A lady needed to keep some mystery.
They trekked out to the truck and Gambit jumped into the back of the truck and began ruffling through their bags quickly.
"What are ya doin' ya crazy Cajun!?" Rogue called out as she stood with the passenger door halfway open.
"Lookin' for somethin' obviously!" he called back still pushing articles of clothing and toiletries around.
"And what might that be!?" Rogue yelled back slightly irritated.
"Y' sense of humor!" he said standing up with his fists at his waist and smiling down at Rogue a pile of his and her clothes beneath him.
"Oh your gonna get it!" Rogue called back as she climbed up over the side of the truck into the bed attempting to tackle Gambit.
He dodged her juking swiftly back and forth. Rogue couldn't catch him and she found herself tripping on the clothes he had piled at his feet. He grinned devilishly at her, his eyes glinting a bright crimson as she chased after him. She finally caught hold of his arm and then he sneakily and smoothly disarmed her; twisting her arm behind her back.
His lips were at her ear and his heavy breathing washed over her sensitive skin and Rogue felt nerve endings burst with sudden pleasure. "Say uncle?" Gambit asked playfully.
Rogue leaned her head back and Gambit was suddenly caught up in the slope of her neck and the creamy flesh that seemed to call out to him. He moved down to press his lips to that perfect soft flesh and Rogue took advantage of his distraction. She scooped her foot behind his and knocked him off his feet.
"Never!" Rogue declared.
Gambit landed on his butt and Rogue giggled for a moment too caught up in the surprise that flickered across his face to see that he too swept his foot beneath her legs and soon she too was on her ass in the bed of the truck.
She looked up and before she knew it Gambit was flipping gracefully out of the truck and onto the driver's side of the truck watching as Rogue pounced on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He looked back at her and she pecked him on the cheek before unwinding from around him.
"Come on, we best get ta puttin' all our shit back into our bags, smart one," Rogue chided Gambit as she held her hand out to him.
"Dis a truce den?" Gambit grinned at her with that tone that said he wasn't giving in even if they said it was a truce.
"Sure," Rogue said rolling her eyes as she jumped back into the bed of the truck and proceeded to stuff her things back into her duffel bag. "Now get ya ass up here and start puttin' this stuff back."
Gambit laughed and then joined her in messily pushing their things back into their bags and then proceeding down the highway. Their journey had just begun and for the moment their fears were miles away.