Hey guys!
Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed that bit of ROMY goodness in the previous chapter! Things are gonna get a bit back to reality for these two, so buckle up.
On with the fic!
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"Merci, Jean-Luc. You didn't have to do this for me," Remy said over the phone as he paced across the room in his torn jeans that hung loosely around his hips. Anna watched him intently, smiling that everything seemed to be working out well, and admiring the view. Remy was currently on the phone, arranging with Jean-Luc to use the beach house as a point of contact and safe house until the pair could get out of the state. They'd have to lie low until they could get a decent set of wheels and drive south.
"Why would I not help my own flesh an' blood, Remy?" Jean-Luc replied sarcastically.
Remy smirked, "Cuz I ain't…"
"Oh hush up and enjoy the bondin' moment we're havin'!" Jean-Luc joked.
There was laugh between the two, "It's much appreciated… more then you know…" Remy said, staring over to Anna who sat patiently but eagerly on his bed.
"No worries, my boy! It'll be great to have you back home again, and we lookin' forward to meetin' la femme!"
Remy smirked, "Hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later."
"By the way, Remy. I had a look into that man you called me about," Jean-Luc said in a hushed tone.
When Remy stepped off the flight back to New York, he had called Jean-Luc, asking for information on Joseph, though there was little he could give as leads. Remy's face grew somber, "And…?"
Anna looked confused at the sudden change in tone. Though she could not hear both sides of the conversation, it sounded like everything was going well. But Remy's face went dark and she wasn't sure what to expect.
"This guy is apparently the head of some pretty powerful organizations for mutant rights," Jean-Luc replied, the sound of rustling papers coming over the phone, "Organizations that are involved in some shady work assassinating high-profile humans who are anti-mutant. Looks like he has quite a militia at his disposal to do some dirty work."
The blood drained from Remy's face, "Il est dangereux?" (How dangerous is he?)
"There's nothin' official that he or his goons have been charged with, but the Assassin's Guild has plenty of intel on him and his organizations. Seems like he can be indirectly tied to about 12 murders, and a few cover ups regardin' some racketeerin' and assault charges by payin' off local law enforcement."
Remy lowered his gaze, "Alors… Très dangereux"
"Looks to be that way," Jean-Luc replied.
Remy sighed, the full weight of the situation hitting him. Anna was in far more danger than he was anticipating. He thought maybe Joseph was just a guy who didn't get what he wanted, that would go away after long enough. But he apparently had a record of 'taking care' of things that didn't go his way.
"Listen Remy," Jean-Luc started, "I don't pretend to know everythin' that's goin' on, but clearly you two are in trouble with this guy. Once we have you out of the state and back in New Orleans, we'll work with the Assassin's and make sure these people never find you again."
"I hope so, Jean-Luc," Remy said, quietly, "Thanks again. I'll contact you in the next day or two. If you don't hear from me in the week, assume the worst."
"Good luck," was the last thing he heard as the call ended, Remy's arm going limp to his side as he turned off his phone.
Anna sat up straight, her face plastered with concern, "So…?"
Seeing her concern, Remy composed himself as he sat next to her on the bed. He drawled, "Everythin's gonna be fine, chere. My father's gonna set us up real nice in N'Orleans."
She didn't quite believe him, his voice and the fact that he switched to French mid-way through the call told her he was hiding something, but she didn't argue with him, "When do we leave then?"
Remy brushed some hair from her face, "We'll leave in two days. Give you enough time to pack the essentials and to get a car set up for the drive south."
"What time?" she asked, eager for details. It was becoming more and more real as they discussed the plans.
"Before dawn. The club will be shut down, Raven will be asleep, and hopefully your friend Kitty can get you out long before anyone realizes we're gone," he said with ease. After years of planning heists, this was no different, "It's funny chere, I never had to steal a woman before."
Anna chuckled as she leaned into Remy's shoulder, "You ain't stealin' me, Swamp Rat. That implies lack of consent."
He wrapped his arm around her, kissing the top of her head, the worry and concern for her safety growing again, "I should meet you there. Might be dangerous for you to walk around the city that late at night,"
"No," Anna responded, "Your bike will wake up the entire building, it'd be too conspicuous. I'll meet you here, I can take a cab."
Remy looked down at her and smirked, "Sounds like we're doin' this."
Anna dragged her fingers across his incredibly scruffy chin, leaned up and kissed him gingerly before saying, "There's no one else I'd rather do this with."
They enjoyed the silence of each other's company as the weight of what they had decided to do sunk in. The sunlight continued to spread across the apartment as time ticked away. It was getting close to 10 am, and they should be getting back to the club, though they were reluctant to move.
Remy was the first to stand, "Do you have something to pack your things in?" he asked, finding a t-shirt and slipping it on effortlessly.
Anna shook her head as she slid her leggings on, "No, actually."
"Take this then," Remy dug around in his closet, pulling out a washed out brown leather duffle bag, and handed it to Anna, "I can fit just about everything I need in my bike satchel, and I've got more clothes at the beach house. Take whatever you can fit in there."
Anna smiled, "Thanks Remy"
He stared at her for a few seconds, before saying, "Though I do need you to pack one thing for me."
"And what's that?"
Remy pulled his deck of cards from his back-jean pocket and slid out the Queen of Hearts, "Keep her safe."
The pair smiled at each other before kissing. They redressed and left the apartment, riding his bike to the block away from the club. After the dismounted, they hugged each other what felt like ages, unable to separate from each other.
"Call me tomorrow," Remy said softly.
"I will," Anna replied as she slowly pulled away, the smile never leaving her face.
This was happening. They were going to leave New York.
As she walked away, the pit in Remy's stomach returned. That guilty feeling that he shouldn't be leaving her alone again, not until they were safely out of the state. But they had to be covert, otherwise Joseph or Raven would find them. This was the only way to get her out of there. It didn't make him feel any better, but it'd have to do until the next 2 days were over. He remounted his bike and drove back to the apartment.
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As Anna walked the block, duffle in hand, she pulled out her phone to text Kitty and let her know she was outside. She approached the building, and walked down the alleyway where Kitty's head popped out to greet her.
"Cutting it kinda close," she said.
"Sorry, we got carried away," Anna replied as she was pulled inside.
"Carried away doing what? Who is that guy, Rogue? How do you know him?" Kitty asked, wanting details and asking questions faster than Anna could answer.
"Can we talk about it later? We were up most of the night and I didn't sleep much," Anna replied keeping her activities from the previous night oblique. She didn't really want to discuss what they had planned when she wasn't sure who might be listening, especially with the bumped up security.
"Yeah sure, but you owe me details," Kitty joked.
Anna laughed, "You'll get 'em, Kit. And thanks again."
"No problem, Rogue," Kitty replied. The pair walked up the stairs to the apartments, "You should get back up there quickly. Raven should be up soon," Kitty explained.
"Kay, I'll see you later," Anna said as she turned to her apartment, unlocking the door and waving bye to Kitty. As she resettled into the familiar space, she started to look around at the various accoutrements that decorated the space. She had to start packing. She wanted to be ready at a moment's notice, just in case. Very little of the items in the apartment were sentimental or necessary to her. They were mostly costumes from the shows, make up, decorations that Raven had purchased for her over time to make her feel more at home. But she started to pack some clothes, toiletries, her laptop and various cables.
As she packed up her things, she came across the negligee that she wore on the first night she met Remy, when he first came to her apartment. The black lacey bra, matching garter and panties along with the satin robe and knee-high stockings. There was a part of her that wanted to keep this, to keep the thing that represented her life in this place but also represented the day she first saw her freedom.
She held it up, and it hit her that soon she'd feel the wind of the open road on her face, the blazing sun beating down on them as they drove across the country to New Orleans. She'd get to have that feeling again of doing something for herself, even if it was something stupid, like running away with a man you've only known for a little over a week. But it was the only thing that made sense to her in that moment.
Anna tenderly brushed her hands across the lacey fabric as she gently packed them into the duffle amid the other items she deemed worthy of taking. That was it, that was everything. She tucked the duffle into her closet, hidden below the costumes and lingerie. She quietly redressed into a pair of sweatpants and a tank top and crawled into the soft bedding, drifting off to sleep for at least a few hours.
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"What do you mean you're leavin' New York?!" the Australian roar rang throughout the apartment as Remy attempted to explain what was going on.
"I've got to disappear for a while, that's what I mean," Remy replied, as he tossed his various food items and little pieces of garbage into a bag, taking it out to the shoot to be thrown away. He didn't want to leave an apartment fill of garbage and rotting food.
"But, what about me a Petey?! I thought we were brother's in arms for life!" John continued to ramble on about how outraged he was that Remy was abandoning them.
"I'll meet up with you guys again soon, but things have gotten a bit dangerous for me in New York," Remy replied nonchalantly, maneuvering around the chaotic Aussie.
Piotr just watched as the confusion ensued, interjecting very rarely, "Is there anything we can do to help you, comrade?"
Remy paused, "Maybe there is."
"I hope it ain't taking out your trash," John retorted.
Remy turned to them, "Pete, you still been hanging around that petite brunette at that club?"
Piotr blushed, giving Remy and John a stunned look, "What do you mean 'hanging around'? We've just become good friends is all!"
Remy shook his head, "Her name is Kitty, right?"
"да…" Piotr replied.
"I need you to get in touch with her. I'm gonna need her help," Remy said, picking up his phone and tossing it to the giant man.
Piotr caught the phone, but was confused as to how Remy knew her name or what he could possibly need her for, "Why?"
"She's going to be integral to getting' us out of the city" came the quick reply.
John and Piotr looked at each other quickly, "Us?"
"It's complicated," Remy responded.
"We ain't got nothin' but time, mate. May as well explain," John snarked.
Remy sighed as he began to explain the entire situation to the two men, about how he and Anna had continued to see each other after that night in the bar, that she was attacked. He explained what the plan was to get her out of the club and out to the beach house before heading south, and how dangerous Joseph really was.
"Jesus…" the two could barely respond after Remy finished. Though there was one thing that they could say. Piotr went off to get Kitty's phone number to input into Remy's phone as John said, "You still need a car?"
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I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, I had a ton of fun writing it! I'm excited to continue this story and I can't wait for you all to see what happens!
Thanks for reading and I hope you'll continue to read this fic!
Until next time…