Chapter Fourteen: The Witch and the Rogue
"Y' sure y' don' need me to go wit' y' baby?" he asked for the fourth time, pulling her hoody collar close around her neck.
"Mmhm. With you there it's liable to become a cat fight," she smiled, steadying her hands over his fretful ones. "I'll be fine, Rem. Don't worry."
He sighed, resting his lips against her forehead, "Can't help but worry 'bout y' love."
"Just so you know, I love how you talk when we're down South," she whispered, standing on slight tip-toe to press her lips to his.
"Flatterie vous ouvre toutes," he smiled, "Now get outta here 'fore I change my mind 'bout lettin' y' leave."
She turned to see him still watching her, his jeans hanging low on his waist, his shoulder against the doorjamb. She blew him a kiss as she straddled the bike and sped off, her white hair like a streak of lightening in her wake. He hoped he was doing the right thing; God forbid the two of them get into a fight. And if Ororo got hurt? He didn't want to think about that. But if he had to bet, all his money would be on the weather witch, as he'd come to realize that as sweet as she was, she was not one to be messed around with.
"Password pretty lady."
"We all scream for ice cream," she said easily breezing past the bouncer with a sure smile and a pat on the arm.
"Welcome to the Assassin's Guild pretty lady!" he shouted after her, but she was already in, and already on the hunt.
People parted like the Red Sea for her all the way to the back of the club where another rather robust bouncer was waiting in front of a black door. He eyed her up and down lecherously, and had she not been so set on her mission she'd certain give him something to leer at. As it stands, she had bigger fish to fry.
"Who you gotta see back here?"
"I came to see Anna Marie."
He laughed, "You mean Rogue? I don't know, what makes you special enough to see the boss?"
Her eyes flashed a quick white as she shocked him almost painlessly in the chest, "The fact that I could fry your ass right here and now without a second thought. I'm not looking for much trouble, but if you're offering me some sport I'll gladly take it. Now are you going to get out of my way, or am I going to have to fight my way in?"
He quickly stepped aside, opening the door for the feisty little woman. It was dark and smelled of cigar smoke and cheap perfume. Most of the girls were wearing next to nothing, the men smacking and pinching their visible rear ends as they passed by. Except one.
She felt a sudden wave of emotion hit her that she hadn't felt since maybe high school. The woman had long ruby red hair save for a unique, perfectly placed white stripe. Her smoky, evergreen eyes were wide with enjoyment and her lips were painted a flawless red. Ororo felt plain, in her jeans and t-shirt, next to this woman in her clinging green dress and matching elbow gloves. This girl, this woman rather, had seen her man naked. Many, many times. Ororo knew this feeling all too well; she was jealous.
Shaking off the unwelcome ire rising in her spirit, she easily walked over to the woman with a smile, "Hi, my name's Ororo Munroe. You're Anna, right?"
"Depends on what you want from me darlin'," she replied in her Mississippi drawl, pointedly not offering the leggy newcomer a seat.
She'd been hearing about this woman the past few days, but seeing her didn't do any of the stories justice. Apparently she was some sort of mutant, and apparently she'd been running around with a certain gumbo eating Swamp Rat she used to know and love. She couldn't imagine Remy with a woman like this one; she was put together, and sure of herself. She was gorgeous, even in bad lighting and plain clothes. She was the antithesis of Rogue herself. She wasn't sure why, but something about that angered her a little.
" Betsey, I need a favor…This chick in front of me? Read her like a book."
"Well I came here from New York…"
She thinks you're stuck up.
"I was attacked a few days ago by some thugs and they led my boyfriend and I to the wrong person."
She's wondering if the rumors are true about you and Remy. She doesn't like you for being with him. Somebody's jealous…
Ororo smiled; at least it wasn't a one way street.
That's so childish of you. Betsey's laughed echoed faintly in her head.
"Homme Rouge told me that you may have some information to lead me to the person who did send those men on me."
She's wondering if you're easy to manipulate.
"Well well, that sounds like quite a problem you got there."
"Would seem so," Ororo replied easily, sitting across from the woman as a waiter arrived.
"Champagne for me. What'll you have sweetheart? Champagne? Wine?"
"I'll have a Tennessee cowboy."
She's shocked you even know what that is. How do you even know what that is?
"I used to be an alcoholic. Now shut up and listen."
Not funny.
"I got a few questions of my own for you suga', if you don't mind."
"By all means."
"This boyfriend o' yers? He wouldn't happen to have red eyes would he?"
"Yes he does."
"And he wouldn't happen to be called, at least around here, The White Devil, would he?"
"That he is."
"So I guess it's true; the devil's found himself a witch."
Oh no she didn't…
Ororo smiled, "Witch, demon, goddess. It all depends on where you come from. He prefers goddess though."
She's wondering how difficult it would be to make you eat that table.
"If we're quite through discussing my man, I'd like to know what it is you know about the man who sent those thugs to my house."
"What's in it for me if I do?"
The waiter's abrupt arrival gave Ororo enough time to converse with Betsey about a game plan. Her sister had been delving into the woman's mind and didn't like what she was seeing. A troubled childhood, an inerrant mutant gene, and certain Professor who came into her life at just the pinnacle of disaster…
"What would you want?"
"How 'bout we fight for it?"
"I don't think that'd be the right thing to do here."
"Oh? You scared pretty girl?"
She's got blocks up I can't get around. They're impressive, bigger than she knows how to build, even if she absorbs some telepathy. I've done all I can from here, so you know what to do. Take her ass down Ororo.
*Flatterie vous ouvre toutes – flattery gets you everywhere