Chapter 19 – These Four Walls
The next morning, Rogue attempted to draw herself away from the prying eyes of Avalon's occupants as she set about preparing for Remy's move to the tower. The less eyes set on her and Remy- Etienne, the greater chance they had of keeping his identity hidden. However, considering how many of her friends and teammates had been anxious for her safe return, it proved to be a challenging achievement. Sam Guthrie had been particularly vocal when he found her in the kitchens that morning. Being that he was Kurt's second in command, she couldn't avoid him without acting suspicious herself. His usually explosive enthusiasm had drawn a small crowd of her brother's other teammates to her like moths to a flame, as well as inspiring some odd looks and hushed whispers in the corridors from other occupants of the fortress. When she finally managed to set up the spare room in Charles' quarters, it was widely known throughout the castle that there was a new outsider in Avalon. Rogue knew the suspicion would only intensify with outlandish theories as the news was interchanged and modified by the many gossipers of the castle. It was times like these she missed Kitty's ability to counteract the gossip mill with her knowing charm.
Rogue stopped in her tracks, the newly covered pillow still grasped in her hands as she looked towards the single window in the room. The sky was still overcast and as bleak as the prospects of finding her friend.
It had been over a week since the ordeal in Paris and they still had not found her.
The day after her awakening, Kurt had left to join the search for Kitty with the search team that had left when Charles realised that the two women had been separated before the lockdown. At least, that's what Charles explained to her after she had discovered that Kitty had not been found. She had not been particularly happy about being left in the dark about Kitty's whereabouts until it became too apparent she was missing. According to Charles, he had had his vision of herself and Remy in the ravine, but nothing of Kitty's whereabouts. It had been an upsetting revelation. Charles had had no visions of Kitty's present condition nor could he sense her presence anywhere near the city or anywhere else. It set Rogue on edge knowing that even Charles could not detect her. It was not a good sign that the most powerful telepath of this age could not detect someone.
"I will continue searching for her, Marie. Do not grieve when there is still hope."
Charles' comforting words had been a momentary balm at the time she had voiced her fears for Kitty. All the same, she had to continue with her current task. She could not help Kitty but she could help Remy. She would have to leave Kitty's return in the hands of her brother and the search team.
"You look a bit tense, kid."
Marie jumped at Logan's voice. Turning, she found him standing in the doorway to the spare room she was preparing for Remy. He leant against the doorframe, his gaze set on her as she collected herself again. With a sigh, she set the pillow she had been holding onto the bed and began to smooth the wrinkles in the bedspread. It was a warm yellow comforter with white pinstripes that brightened the glum room in spite of its grey stonewall interior. She had tried to make the room as comfortable as possible, given that Remy had done the same by her when she was in a similar state. Despite everything that was still unclear between them, the least she could do was return the favours she felt she owed.
As if he were sensing her trail of thought, Logan gave a low grumble and settled into the only armchair by the window. When Logan's watchful gaze began to irritate her, Rogue responded by changing the subject.
"Ah'm worried about Kitty. It's been over a week… Charles hasn't seen her… that doesn't usually bode well if he can't see her…"
"He's as much human as you or me, kid. He makes mistakes. He has off days. He'll find her."
Rogue continued to fuss over the bedding as she replied in a cool, quiet voice that was clotted with unbridled dread.
"She could be dead Logan… she could be dead and we won't know any different if…"
Logan barely shifted under those trailing words. He remained stone-like the strength of his conviction as he spoke steadily.
"You don't know that. She could be hidin' like you were. Chuck couldn't detect you for days until you appeared in the ravine. There was too much noise in the city, too many people scrambling to get outta there. She could be waitin' for the smoke t' clear by stayin' put. She has survival training, Stripes… just like you did, remember?"
The memory of meeting a bright and bubbly Kitty for the first time appeared in her thoughts. That first day in Survival training 101 when they were fourteen had been brightened by her clumsy humour as she tried to block an attack, only to fall into a heap of giggles under Rogue's serious fighting stance. Her laughter echoed in Rogue's thoughts, causing her to swallow hard on the building sense of guilt and anger lodged in her throat. Her gloved hand emitted an angry wisping noiseas she smoothed an infuriating wrinkle flat across the bedspread. When she raised her gaze to meet his, her eyes were smouldering with angry tears she refused to shed.
"She could be hurt. She could be captured and scared- she could be dead by tomorrow and we wouldn't know! Why- why didn't you tell meh she wasn't home yet when ah got home? Ah could have gone with Kurt when he left- ah could have-"
"You are not goin' anywhere after the mess we got you out of. You are too damn important. And you know it."
Rogue rolled her eyes as she muttered under her breath.
"Not lahke ah could forget."
Logan gave a small grunt of acknowledgement. If Rogue was an expert at reading her mentor's body language, she was certain there was a hint of sympathy in those blue eyes.
"Besides, don't you have someone else to be looking out for?"
Rogue felt the angry flush in her cheeks drain at his choice of words. She tried to mask it with an intimidating glare but her mentor (who taught her that glaring tactic) merely glared back.
"I know you're not tellin' me something, kid. I sure as hell hope you know what you're doin'."
Rogue swallowed quietly as she began picking at stray pieces of lint from the pillow. It helped mask her trepidation as she spoke coolly.
"Is that your way of sayin' ya trust meh t' make mah own choices or that ya'll be waitin' for meh t' make a mistake for ya t' clean up and say ah told ya so?"
Logan gave a snort of dark amusement.
"Kid, you been makin' your own choices since day one without my help. It's only because you're soft on me that I get t' act like I'm makin' the calls."
Rogue felt a small smile begin to tug at the corner of her lips.
"Don't go sayin' that round Johnny and Sam. They'll martyr ya pride and hang it on a wall display."
Another snort of amusement escaped the burley man as he stood from the chair.
"Then you best keep it to yourself, kid. Got a reputation to uphold y' know."
Rogue did smile at that as he began to leave the room. Before he did however, he lingered in the doorway and turned back to face here.
"Marie?"
"Yeah?"
"I trust you. I don't trust him. If he puts one toe outta line, it's on him."
Rogue nodded slowly.
"Ah understand."
Logan nodded, and with a last look about the room, was on his way.
.
Remy had been conscious approximately four hours. Four hours of playing solitaire, counting cracks in the ceiling and waiting for the next bodyguard to appear on the opposite side of the glass doors to his…prison cell. To say he was itching to be out of the confines of his hospital room was an understatement. Ever since he was a child, hospitals and medical rooms had always rubbed him the wrong way but the incessant waiting around and combination of pain medications was beginning to grate at his patience, his sanity and his ability to appear completely at ease in a four-walled, glass embellished cage. His anticipation for freedom from his prison was practically tangible by the time Rogue's friend Emma arrived to deliver good news.
When the astute blonde informed him that he was being moved to new quarters, he couldn't help notice the barely concealed zeal of amusement she felt at the admission. She went on to explain that Rogue was going to escort him to his new quarters that afternoon and introduce him to his new physician Charles Xavier who would undertake his recovery therapy. While Remy knew he had been in and out of consciousness for a few days while the medication did its work, he wasn't unaware that his injuries merited only the very basics of treatment. There was no prolonged damage to his mental state and his leg would heal with time and light physical therapy. When he explained as much to the enigmatic telepath, she replied by projecting her answer. With his mental shields in place, her mental voice was static-ridden at the very best but he heard her. He had never had his shields breached before, so it was to say the least a great surprise to find her whispering in his head.
"I'm afraid it is all in your best interests to do as Charles and Marie have planned, Remy. Your very life may be at stake if we do not move you for safekeeping. While I can hardly blame you for not trusting the others, I know you trust her. You must trust her to do what is in your best interests now."
Remy felt her mental presence back down as soon as her words were said. When he met her gaze, she was nearly doubled over as she clutched the back of the chair beside his bed for support. Perspiration bathed her skin as she took deep breaths. It had cost her considerable effort to break his shields and it was this very fact that made him begin to trust in Emma Frost.
"Why are y' so willing t' help moi?"
Emma gave a shaky smile as she began to straighten again.
"Marie is a very guarded, scarred young woman. She has seen the best and the very worst of people in this world. But it is you she has taken a shining to. She has reasons to hate you, to distrust you but… even now, I know she trusts you. Cares about you."
The first semblance of a warm smile began to spread across her features. Remy did not know her very well but even he could tell this was a rarity for the cool-minded telepath.
"I want her to live a life worth living. And I have a feeling; you might be her chance at that. I hope you don't take that for granted, Mister LeBeau."
The underlying warning in her latter words was not lost on him. He nodded his understanding and began to wait for his escort.
It was nearing noon when the doors finally opened and Rogue appeared. While she appeared to be her usual, guarded self, he could feel her anxiousness crackling underneath. The fact her gloved hands fidgeted restlessly at her sides as she approached him told him that she was making an effort to keep it at bay. He would have asked what was wrong if Jean hadn't followed her inside and began checking his leg one final (millionth) time before allowing his discharge from the medical wing. Much to his annoyance, Remy was confined to a wheelchair upon his exit, as it was still unwise to put pressure on his leg when they were to be combating the length of a castle with winding stairwells and vast hallways. He still wasn't quite sure what kind of plan Rogue had made for him in this move but he heeded Emma's warning. He would trust Rogue to keep him safe.
When they were finally alone in the corridor leading to the elevator however, he attempted to speak.
"Chére-"
Rogue shushed him before he even got the question out of his own mouth. With a meaningful look, she looked back and forth between the tiled walls and indicated towards two security cameras staring back at them. At the subtle revelation, Remy heeded her warning and kept the façade of silent pleasantries in place. It would be less suspicious if Remy tried to keep his façade as Etienne Beauvais in check at all times unless they were guaranteed to be out of sight and hearing of others. He had professed to Logan during his interrogation without so much as a batting an eyelash that he was Etienne Beauvais, a low ranking Thief in the French Thieves Guild, who had happened to run into Rogue at a club the night of the rebel attack. They had hidden at a safe house after they were separated from Kitty in the confusion and helped each other until they made it to the ravine. It was as safe a backstory as they could work with without sounding suspicious. Something that tied to the truth of their meeting while also excluding the more derogatory points of their time together. Logan, amazingly, had taken the story rather well.
If by well, you meant that he hadn't ordered for Remy to be locked away in the dungeons but threatened to do so if he proved to be a liar.
"Ya might want t' brace yaself."
"Y' make it sound like we're about t' go into a lion's den chére…"
An exasperated sigh escaped her as her anxiety intensified just a little.
"Just don't make too much eye-contact when we make our way through the crowd of lions."
Before he could ask why, the elevator had stopped and they were moving again- this time into what appeared to be a formerly grand hall of the castle- and a sizable crowd of occupants going about their business. As Rogue had surmised, he was an instant attraction for the crowd to gawk at as they passed. However it wasn't until he opened himself to the throng of emotions about the room that Remy began to take a secondary meaning from Rogue's warning. There was a great deal of suspicion about the room and hostility wasn't a far off possibility. It was evident that this clan of peoples did not take well to outsiders and Logan's suspicions were the least of his problems. He made an effort of pushing his shields into place when the suspicions became actual words of speculation as they passed into the actual crowd.
"Is that him Mommy? The mutant who can explode mountains?"
"Shh! Be quiet Jacob, he will hear you-!"
"Those eyes… what- what kind of mutant is he?"
"Shhh Bertha… we should not judge him. We are no different…"
The not so hushed voices were as quick to disperse as their owners as soon as he or Rogue made eye contact with them. Some awkwardly moved away, hurrying their companions with them or the scattered children who stopped to gawk at them with little subtly. Most continued on with them own business while one or two, with a particular kind of defiance in their stance, stared back daringly and let their words be heard.
"Damned thief… you shouldn't even be here in the first place…"
"…Since when did they start letting Thieves into our home… they'll start festering like rats soon…"
"We shouldn't have to suffer your kind in here Thief…"
Rogue felt her hands tighten their hold on the handles of Remy's wheelchair as she made an effort to keep a steady pace as she pushed his wheelchair. She had been fighting off suspicion for days now, but now she had to remind herself that this was not as bad as it could get. The knowledge that Remy might pay the ultimate price if they didn't keep it together- if she didn't keep it together for him- until he could leave was the only thing keeping her from retaliating against those who spoke out against them. They had to steady the course and keep calm. There was no better alternative or choice.
"We're nearly in the clear," She whispered as they approached the exiting corridor. However no sooner were the words said, an unwelcome and familiar figure appeared quick as flash before them. While Rogue didn't so much as flinch at the familiar blurring figure of her brother, Remy was taken aback slightly. She felt him flinch in the chair as Pietro came to a stand in their path. Pietro found gratification in it as he sneered down him.
"So this is the thief who got you out of dodge, sister."
Pietro gave Remy an appraising look, that gave the overzealous impression that he was found wanting in some way.
"He doesn't appear to be at his best with that broken leg. I would imagine that will impede his ability to make any decent break and entering heists in the near future."
Rogue glared at her elder brother. In recent years, Pietro had become increasing and insufferably self-important and ambitious for his own power amongst their people. When she was a child it had been nothing but a cruel commodity with him to endure. He was like a cruel child pulling on her braids, sneering at her achievements and belittling her as she tried not to show how much it got to her. Now it was an everyday struggle not to maim him for it. The only thing that held her back from taking a real stand against him was the blood they shared.
"Etienne, this is mah brother Pietro Maximoff. Who, despite his super-speed talents, probably couldn't rob a bank fast enough without trippin' over his own vanity."
Pietro rolled his eyes at the comparison but grinned nonetheless in his usual insufferable manner. His silver gaze remained cool and calculating on Remy as he folded his arms across his chest and, literally, looked down upon him. Remy on the other hand, matched the look by way of a charming, unfazed smirk.
"Un plaisir (A pleasure) to meet y'. Perhaps when I no longer need a cast on mon leg, I will give y' a lesson in breaking and entering. Maybe even a lesson in manners if y' be willing, non?"
Pietro's brow arched ever so slightly with disgruntlement before he lowered himself until he was face-to-face with Remy. With a snarl in his tone of voice, he spat back his words.
"You're lucky to be even wheeling through this hall, Thief. If I had my way, you would have been held as a prisoner of war. Not getting pushed around like an invalid by my sister-"
Rogue opened her mouth to reprimand him when another familiar figure appeared behind Pietro and pulled him firmly back to a standing position.
"Brother, we are obligated to this man for safeguarding our sister, remember? Do try to be at least hospitable if you cannot be polite."
While Pietro glared at his twin, Wanda and Rogue shared a small, knowing smile. Remy observed the siblings with growing intrigue. While Rogue favoured neither of them particularly in looks, the only similarity the twins bore together were the same shade of silver-blue eyes. Pietro was pale and silver haired and had a rather obnoxious tilt to his head, while his twin sister was dark and fair skinned with a guarded nature about herself she carried like armour- much like Rogue in that sense. Even when she smiled at him and bid him welcome, her mind and postured remained united under a shielded front.
"I apologise for my brother, Etienne. His mutation is superhuman speed. Sometimes he runs so fast, I fear he leaves his manners far behind him. I am Wanda Allerdyce by the way. It's a pleasure to finally meet the man who brought our sister back."
The dirty look Pietro shot Remy over her shoulder was enough incentive for him to really ensure he remained under the quick-tongued mutant's skin. He took Wanda's outstretched hand and planted a kiss on her knuckles, and in a voice like silk replied.
"Un plaisir madam. It is a pleasure to meet Rogue's soeur. Though I doubt I could say de same for y' foul-tongued frère. His manners need much improvement, non?"
Wanda gave distinct snort of amusement as Pietro visibly began to fume under Remy's rather direct gaze. Before any more threats could be made on Pietro's part, however, Rogue insisted upon getting Etienne settled in his new room before lunch and they parted ways. When they were out of earshot, Rogue ducked down to whisper in his ear.
"He's not one t' forget an insult easily."
"Then he's sure to remember de lesson in insults. Oui?"
Rogue bit back a snort as she replied in warning.
"Just try not to patronize mah brother too much while ya here. Ah'm tellin' ya now, there are some people who don't like the idea of a peace treaty between our clans… And he's one of them and he's high in our ranks. Much as he's mah brother, he'll do ya no favours on mah account. People might start listening to him if he gets suspicious of ya…it could get ugly…"
A prolonged silence ensured until Remy spoke up.
"Do you listen to him?"
Rogue hesitated for a moment.
"No. Ah don't. But ah'm not lookin' for a reason t' end this treaty-"
She was stopped when he turned to look at her, his gaze pinning her words to a stop.
"Y' really mean dat chére?"
Rogue stopped in her tracks as he stared up at her with those mesmerising eyes. After a moment of hesitation, she replied calmly.
"Ah have reservations but they're not against the purpose of this treaty. Ah don't want people to die over somethin' as important as peace between our clans. There are bigger issues at hand and we're better off fightin' them together. We can't afford t' be fightin' each other when Apocalypse is still in power…"
Her impassioned words caught him off guard, leaving him silent as they sunk in and made him consider things he'd been eluding for the better part of his life. She had begun pushing him up another corridor that was blessedly empty when he realised something about the two of them he hadn't realised before. While he had been evading the treaty, flitting across the world and admittedly trying to distract himself from the discontent he felt about the state of their world, Rogue had been building her own convictions on how to make a stand in it. She understood what was at stake. From her words alone he knew when it came down to it, Rogue would fight tooth and nail for the peace between their clans and the rebellion against their powerful oppressor. The passionate fighter, the Rogue, in her would have it no other way. And he was beginning to believe he wanted to join her cause…
"We're nearly there. Charles said he is waiting for us…"
Her words broke him out of his thoughts only to realise that they were now in another elevator that was taking them upwards.
"What is he like, dis Charles Xavier? He is to be mon new jailer, non?"
Rogue rolled her eyes at the obvious gibing note in his questions. They both knew his head injuries were superficial aside from the few stitches he had at the back of his head, and his leg was healing sufficiently with the passing of time. Nevertheless, maybe he wasn't too far off with his mocking likeness to being in a jail sell. He couldn't leave until his injuries permitted him. And if Rogue was honest with herself, she hoped he wouldn't be rushing to leave yet. Not when they had this opportunity, as Emma so eloquently put it.
"He's my Godfather. He's in a wheelchair, but don't let that make ya think he's incapable of doing any damage. He's the strongest person ah know."
She didn't need to see his face to sense the look of incredulity and intrigue that spread across his face. She hoped it wouldn't take too much of a show of strength for Charles to convince him of her opinion.
"He sounds fearsome, chére."
Rogue couldn't help flicking his ear from behind with her fingers, which caused him to bow his head at the childish attack. He rubbed the back of his ear as he cried out in mocky of outrage.
"Dat was cruel chére!"
Rogue gave a small chuckle.
"Ya deserved it. He's the only reason why ya were able t' leave the medical wing. Ah suggest ya start actin' grateful for it."
"Trust moi ma chére, no one is more grateful for leavin' dat place dan I."
Rogue uttered a low snort of disbelief.
"You're incorrigible."
He turned his head to meet her eyes, his gaze shining with amusement as he spoke.
"Y' just realising dat now chére? I must be losin' ma touch."
Rogue rolled her eyes as the elevator came to a stop. As she wheeled him out, Remy became vigil of their new surroundings. The first impression he got of the tower apartment was that he was in the midst of a scholar's hideaway. The furnishings gave the impression of being more in tune with the castle's ancient origin, with many a tapestry covering the stone walls while a handful of late 1800's furniture brought it at least a century or two closer to their own. The large room was rounded and warmly lit, with many a bookshelf filled to the brim with books and a large brass globe of the world set on a large mahogany desk near the balcony windows. Remy half expected a scholarly wizard draped in robes to appear when a new voice spoke.
"So this is the new guest I've heard so much commotion over."
Turning away from the world globe that had caught his fancy, Remy met the blue gaze of Charles Xavier. While there wasn't a hair on his head, wrinkles of age embellished his blue eyes and characterised his kind smile. But something in those blue depths told him wordlessly that he was far more than his frail body appeared to be. His telepathic presence was practically tangible, and he was certain that it was meant as a decisive show of strength to him. Telepaths usually gave of a strong emotional presence, as their telepathy and emotions usually entwined to certain extent. Through this, Remy was able to judge the strength of a telepath's influence- and adjust his own mental shields to block them. In the case of Charles Xavier, Remy could feel the strength of his power stronger than any emotional presence he had ever felt from another person. And yet here was Xavier, sitting in a wheelchair and not so much as flinching under the strain of his power.
"Do you still not think me fearsome young man?"
Remy had the good sense to flush at the teasing reprimand. He had been a fool to even joke that this man was anything less than a pillar of inner strength. And just as soon as he felt the presence of his power, the pressure of it eased and it was as if Charles were a regular human being. His emotions remained open to his empathy ability, but he was not the formidable telepath radiating strength.
"Desole monsieur Xavier. … I did not think to find such strength in-"
A low chuckle escaped the elderly man as he shifted his wheelchair until they were side by side, facing each other. The young man in the other wheelchair had the good sense to feel an equal amount of shame for his choice of words.
"Did not think to find strength from a man confined to a wheelchair?"
Remy was quick to notice even Xavier's wheelchair was better outfitted than he anticipated. Xavier's wheelchair appeared to be light-years ahead of the feeble design of the regular wheelchair he was sporting. Instead of wheels, the metal chair hovered at least a few inches off the floor. As it moved, it emitted a pale blue colour from the bottom while it hummed quietly. He controlled it by way of a small control pad on the left armrest.
"Young man, I would be surprised if you did not question the idea. But I appreciate your willingness to change your mind. You understand better than most that our kind can be misjudged on appearances."
Remy had the decency to flush at the light reprimand as he nodded in understanding. Every day he looked into the mirror, his demonic eyes told him that he was different and that people did not take kindly to his brand of different. To his relief, Xavier humbled him by taking the matter no further. Instead, he gave a welcoming smile and introduced himself. He extended his hand for Remy to shake as he spoke.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Etienne. I am Charles Xavier and as Rogue has informed you, I will be overseeing your recovery until you are fit to make your way home."
Remy took his outstretched hand and shook it. A light smirk began to spread across his battered face as he spoke.
"You are not at all what I expected monsieur Xavier."
A low chuckle escaped the elderly man as he began to turn his chair towards the desk behind him.
"Neither are you. I had thought you would be a little taller in stature."
Rogue re-entered the conversation by way of a light chortle as she came to settle both herself and Remy in front of the desk.
"Really Charles, ah thought ya were above bad wheelchair jokes at your age."
Xavier gave her an endearing smile.
"I thought to appease your friend's previous embarrassment by making fun of both our current situations. Although… perhaps humour is not my particular strength…"
Rogue chuckled and shook her head as she sat herself down in the chair beside Remy. When they were all settled, Charles began to speak of more important matters.
"Now, as you have probably worked out. You, Rogue, Emma and myself are the only ones in the know. And from the commotion you witnessed in the halls, you know that avoiding suspicion is not entirely possible. That is why I must insist that you keep to these quarters during your time here."
Remy, despite the seriousness of his situation, couldn't help feeling like he had moved from one jail cell to a larger one. Unsurprisingly, Xavier seemed to pick up on his thoughts and added.
"Unless of course, Rogue or Emma can spare the time from their duties to be your escort around the castle grounds. Confining you entirely could cause more suspicion. We don't want people to come looking for you out of idle curiosity. You will have to put in some appearances."
Remy nodded his understanding.
"D'accord. I understand what y' be doing f' moi, monsieur Xavier. I will try not t' cause too much trouble during m' time here."
He caught Rogue's eye as he said it and winked, causing her to roll her eyes.
"This isn't a game Re-"
"Ah! Careful chére, y' nearly said m' name out loud. Y' don't' want moi t' get caught now do y'?"
Rogue gave him in infuriated look, which only caused him to smirk a little wider despite of the cut on his lip that was still healing. Xavier interrupted the exchange by way of adding his own opinion.
"I think you understand the meaning of remaining hidden in plain sight better than anyone in this room. But I fear it might not be enough if you do not take extra care. If you want to return to your people safely, you will have to be on your guard while you are here."
Those wise blue eyes implored him with such a pull that Remy was almost convinced Xavier was tempted to coerce him into complying with his orders. But something in this man's very essence told him that Charles Xavier would not condone that kind of tactic as humane. The seriousness he implied on their situation however made him anxious to know what the telepath clearly did that he wasn't privy to. However the opportunity to ask questions was interrupted by Rogue's sudden rise from her seat. Her communicator, which was latched to her belt, had begun to beep angrily. She clutched it in her hand and made a quick apology before leaving the room to speak to it. A minute later, she returned in a frantic rush.
"Ah have t' go. Ah'm on roster t' help with the training session with the under twelves with Storm- ah gotta get down there before they start."
Remy looked between the two with a bemused look.
"Storm? Is dat a person?"
Rogue gave a winsome smile.
"She's the one who destroyed that Sentinel in the ravine. She's a weather witch- of sorts."
Remy had vague recollections of the event, and of the woman in question with her white hair and strong African accent as she urged him to lie still while Jean and Wolverine tended to Rogue. He felt a surge of dread build in his chest at the memory but put it aside when Rogue began to leave but lingered by his side. Her emotions swirled with a mixture of guilt, mild anxiety and excitement as she spoke.
"Ah'm gonna have t' run now. Ah'll come back later okay?"
Remy reached for her hand and squeezed it in reassurance.
"I'll be fine chére. I see y' later d'accord?"
She nodded and with that slipped out of his reach and left the two men to their own devices. When she was well out of sight and earshot, Remy turned to Xavier and asked with a grim tone of voice what he dared not to ask in front of Rogue.
"What has y' so terrified for mon life monsieur Xavier? I understand dat any care y' have for moi is based on y' love f' Rogue. Mais I t'ink dere be somet'ing y' not tellin' moi…"
Xavier's warmth diffused until only a grim expression remained, his eyes full of dread as he spoke.
"If Pietro and his silent followers discovers your identity, he will not be lenient for Rogue's sake. He will not comply with his father's orders to keep the peace for the sake of the treaty. He will ignite a war between the clans- for that is what he wants. I have no doubt, that he will use you for his own agenda."
Remy couldn't muster a verbal word as he let the elderly man's words sink deep into his very bones. Instinctively, he let his gaze wander back to the door Rogue had retreated behind. He began to wonder what would become of her if he were found out when Charles answered his unspoken questions.
"Pietro will not spare her feelings… or indeed her life if he usurps his father's rule. If she were to oppose him… he would have no mercy for her on account of their familial connection. And he has a significant amount of support from some of the people here."
"Enough t' make mutiny?"
Charles nodded grimly.
"It is the only reason why we have not tried to exile him. There are too many who believe as he does. That mutants are the superior race and…"
Remy finished the sentence with a disdainful scoff.
"And that my clan, being predominantly human, are not worthy of an alliance."
Remy felt a hollow sense of unease root itself inside his chest. He began to regret his mocking of Pietro in the hall when Xavier spoke inside his head. His voice did not waver under the strain of breaking through his mental shields as Emma's had.
"Do not give him the opportunity to hold power over you, Remy. Protect your identity and you will both survive this."
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Thank you everyone for the positive reviews. They keep encouraging me to write more.
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-Gams