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-UltimateGammy91
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Chapter Twenty – Truth Unfolds
Rogue let out a sigh of frustration hiss through her teeth as she ran her left hand's fingers through her hair. She sat perched on the back of her heals as she squatted before the engine of her Motorcycle, glaring at the empty gas tank. She had been roaming the Swamplands for hours only to forget that the gas tank would run out eventually. Another detail she forgot was the fact that getting phone signals this far out of town was bound to be dodgy. "Perfect. Just friggin' perfect." She scowled at the motorcycle one last time before shooting back to her feet and stomping away across the grass. Luckily, she had managed to come to a sound stop on the side of the road without trouble, the bad thing was, that there was nothing for miles. Just swamp lands, road, dirt and probably a few alligators and who knew what else out there. Rogue folded her arms across her chest. She had donned a pair of jeans, cow-girl boots that reached her knees and a long-sleave, white shirt and gloves. A leather jacket lay draped over the motorcycle seat while her black helmet lay perched on the left handle bar. She was, to put it quite frankly without cussing up a storm, stranded. Another irritated sigh escaped her lips as she kicked the ground, sending clouds of dry dirt across the road. After a few moments, she let out a frustrated growl and clutched her temple as she hissed through her teeth.
"Come on Cajun! Don't ya know the way back t' ya own house!"
"Desole, mais y' haven't absorbed Remy in a while non? De memories must have faded."
Came the psyche-Remy's reply as she let him loose. She growled again, glaring at the horizon as she hissed back aloud.
"What about now, huh? Anythin' familiar 'bout this place?"
Remy was silent a moment but with a sigh, he apologized and said he couldn't recognise anything. This caused Rogue only to further growl with aggravation as time became her enemy. She had spent so many hours searching, stopping to change directions and making u-turns to go back to where she had begun. Now, not only had time been wasted, it had run her gas tank dry. She had no means of calling her comrades for help- or to explain things, and she had managed to prove herself mentally insane by conversing with a psyche of a man she was planing to kill! The day couldn't get any worse than it already had. That is, until the sound of approaching wheels and a raging engine caught her ears.
Rogue spun on the spot to face the other road direction only to lock her gaze on a small, black dot in the distance. As it drew closer, and as the dust clouds became more distinct with each metre closer, Rogue's face fell with relief. A black Mercedes drove towards her and with little effort on her part, came to a slowdown as it approached her. As the driver's window lowered, Rogue approached the car and ducked down to speak to the driver. She put on a sweet smile, trying her best to look moderately desperate to make her story convincing. A young man stared back at her, his hair sun scorched in shades of blonde while his features remained somewhere between boy and man. A charming smirk spread across his lips as he spoke.
"Bonjour dere petite. Y' look a lil' lost…?"
Rogue gave a half-chuckle of a smile as she replied in what she would deem a shy tone.
"More lahke stranded ah'm afraid. Mah bike's havin' some trouble, ah think ah musta ran outta gas or somethin'…an' ah think ah'm kinda lost. Ya wouldn't be a motorcycle expert would ya?"
The young man grinned, his honey brown eyes warm and friendly as he took her lies for truth. She had a sneaking suspicion that if she had said it was out of gas completely, he, or anyone else, might apologise and drive off with the promise they'd send some help. She couldn't take such a chance on a stranger, so she gave a sweet, girlish smile and lied. He nodded enthusiastically and quickly disabled his seatbelt before stepping out of the car. He made towards the bike and looked it over with what Rogue assumed were expert eyes. He looked around her age, though a good half a foot taller than her while dressed in a pair of black kayaks and a grey muscle shirt. He was lean, tanned and for some reason struck Rogue as quite familiar, though she was sure she had never met him before in her life. She watched him as he circled the bike, squatted down and fiddled with a couple of gears before turning his head to face her. He gave a half-amused, half-apologetic smile as he replied.
"Y' outta gas, dat be de main problem, mais, y' engine is overheatin' a bit. How long y' been out here chére?"
Rogue inwardly grimaced as she realised he was a Cajun but held it back as she gave a mock-dumb shrug and a weak smile. The guy smirked and stood up again to face her. He took a moment, but not a moment later, he asked.
"Where y' headed?"
Rogue bit her lip. She didn't really have an answer to that but she needed not conjure any lie, as the young man replied an answer.
"Or I could give y' a ride t' mon cousin's home, an' y' could call someone t' pick up y' bike? It be about two miles from here, so it's a quick trip."
Rogue gave a genuine sigh of relief as she nodded enthusiastically before replying.
"That would be great, -if it's not too much trouble?"
The young man swatted her attempt to dissuade him lazily and grinned as he replied.
"Would be honoured t' assist such a belle femme such as y'self. Mais, it would help dat I know y' name. I be Etienne, Etienne Marceaux."
Rogue stopped frozen for a moment as Etienne offered his hand for her to shake. Remy's psyche broke free almost effortlessly from his file at the name. "Etienne be mon cousin!" Raced through the front of her mind but she managed to catch her surprise before it could show. She smiled and shook his hand unwaveringly as she replied.
"Ah'm Marie, Marie Raven."
"Pleasure t' meet y' Marie."
Rogue smirked.
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"So, why y' deux back so soon? T'ought y' weren't supposed t' come back for another week non?"
Mercy, who had been giggling with Adélie in the kitchen as they both prepared lunch, turned to face her brother-in-law as he sat perched on a bench stool. He chewed on a piece of carrot, munching loudly just to irritate her like he knew it did, while an ever present smirk was plastered across his face. Mercy rolled her eyes at his actions but replied nonetheless.
"Y' fére et moi were on our way t' meet de T'ieves at de rendezvous location when y' Pére called an' told us t' abort de meeting b'cause dere had been some other meeting or somet'ing. He wasn't specific…"
She waved he hand dismissively as she came to stand at the bench top where Remy sat and began to tear lettuce leaves off for a salad. Remy nodded as a response and the matter was forgotten. They were silent for a moment before Mercy raised her gaze from the salad and caught Remy's gaze moving over to Adélie who sat across the kitchen, on a tall stool beside the Island bench as she pealed potatoes. Mercy raised a brow at Remy and waved a hand in front of Remy's face. It took a few seconds before he blinked and returned his gaze to Mercy's. He frowned, confused by her expression.
"What?"
Mercy raised suspicious brow at him before turning around to face Adélie. She was too preoccupied bobbing her head to the radio as it played softly beside her. Mercy returned her gaze back to Remy and began to question him with a carefully soft tone.
"Okay Remy LeBeau, y' gonna tell moi what de fille really be doin' here. Now talk."
It wasn't a question, rather a definite statement he had no choice but to answer correctly. Remy frowned at his sister-in-law but cast a careful glance in Adélie's direction before turning back to face Mercy. His frown softened as he replied in a hushed tone.
"D'accord, d'accord. Mais, do y' have t' know everyt'ing?"
Mercy only raised her eye brow higher with expectance. Remy gave a slightly aggravated sigh and replied.
"D'accord. De fille be a new recruit dat Magneto be interested in. Remy…acquired her de other night."
Mercy's eyes widened. She had hidden her suspicion and distrust of Remy's excuses while in Adélie's direct presence but she had not expected this. Fury and outrage burned through her deep blue eyes as she retorted venomously.
"Remy Etienne LeBeau! Y' kidnapped a petite fille for dat mad man?!"
She raised a hand quickly a leant forward to slap the back of Remy's head. He reached the sore spot with his hands as soon as she swiped him and winced. Not because of the pain really, but her words. From the way Mercy said it, as many of his misdeeds did, it sounded evil the way he had done this. However, Mercy was willing to wait for explanations. This time.
"Remy, y' have made a lot of stupid mistakes over de years, mais, kidnapping a petite fille? Have y' gone mad?!"
Remy winced as her whispers became hisses. His gaze, however, registered on Adélie who was now staring at them from afar. He smiled reassuringly, and when her cautious glance did not fade, he winked and she perked a small smile before going back to her task. Remy returned his gaze to Mercy only to meet a pair of surprised eyes that turned suspicious again as she spoke.
"Y' not gonna go through wit' it are y'?"
It wasn't a question, it was, again, a statement of fact. A fact Remy gave a thoughtful sigh to before shaking his head. Mercy's expression relaxed slightly as she went back to tearing lettuce leaves, ripping them viciously as if to take out her frustration on them as she spoke.
"Well I should t'ink so. Mon Dieu Remy, t'aught Tante Mattie raised y' better. –Y' not mindin' her for a friend are y'? Where be her Mére?"
"Mah Mama's wit' de X-Men."
Remy and Mercy's faces mirrored looks of surprise as Adélie's voice called out from just two steps away from them. She looked up at them with a small smile across her face while her emerald eyes remained bright and rounded. Remy gave a nervous chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head, scratching his hair as Mercy slowly rolled her head his way and gave an unimpressed raise of her brow again. After a few moments, Mercy spoke, her voice most patronisingly motherly it was amazing a woman of all her twenty-six years could hold such a tone.
"Dis wouldn't happen t' be involved wit' a particular Southern Belle, y' were so enamoured with t'ree years ago, would it Remy?"
Adélie's eyes widened as she turned to meet Remy's identical expression. He gave a meek chuckle as he continued to scratch the back of his head.
"Uh…non. No it don't have anyt'ing t' do wit' her. Mais, Addie dere told moi dat her Mére be amies wit' de X-Men."
Mercy gave an icy glance towards Remy but remained silent on the matter any further. Instead, she turned to Addie and handed her the white china bowl of salad and with a sweet smile, she asked.
"Addie cher, would y' take dis out t' de table on de terrace, s'vous plaite?"
Addie smile and nodded before taking the bowl and carefully walking off in the direction of the two French doors that led to the terrace where they planned to eat lunch together. When Adélie was safely outside the door, Mercy turned on Remy, armed with a drying cloth and began to whip him mercilessly as she growled at him.
"Y' stupid, stupid homme! Didn't y' t'ink how de fille's Mére is right now?! She mus' be goin' out o' her mind wit' worry!"
Remy raised his arms in defence as she continued to swat him but managed to get a few words in between whips.
"Oui! I – Remy knows! Don't y' worry none Mercy- ouch!- He gonna take her home soon as lunch is finished!"
Mercy stopped hitting him but glared dangerously at him as he lowered his armed-shield. She managed to growl one response.
"Y' better. Or I'll help de fille's Mére beat y' t' a pulp."
Remy nodded, not daring to make any kind of smirk or smile as he knew it would determine his fate. Thankfully, however, the door to the terrace opened and Henri's upper body slipped into the room.
"Y' deux not tryin' t' kill each other again, non?"
Mercy grumbled something under her breath that sounded like 'not quite' but turned to face her husband nonetheless as Henri continued.
"Etienne jus' pulled up in de drive way, do we have enough food, Mercy?"
Mercy nodded but her expression became perplexed as she replied.
"O' course dere is! What kind LeBeau do y' take moi for?"
"De aggressive kind…"
Remy received a harsh elbow in the ribs, making him gasp painfully as the wind was momentarily nocked out of him. Henri on the other hand just smirked and rolled his eyes before speaking.
"Well, de reason be is dat Etienne called ahead t' say he brought a friend along wit' him. Jus' hope dere be enough food t' go 'round."
Mercy waved her hand in a shrug of dismissal as she went over to the Isle bench and began to chop up the potatoes Adélie had left behind. As she did so, she replied.
"Don't worry ma ceour, dere be plenty t' go 'round."
Henri nodded and disappeared outside again to tend to the barbeque outside. Remy, however, frowned at Mercy as he spoke.
"Etienne be bringin' a friend?"
Mercy shrugged.
"Probably one o' dem hommes he plays soccer wit'. Remy nodded and shrugged it off.
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As Rogue and Etienne pulled up to the house, Rogue felt anticipation, panic and excitement wreck havoc on her nerves. It was exactly as psyche-Remy had depicted. Limestone walls, two grand pillars in the entrance to hold the veranda in place while several levels adorn with green-shuttered windows stood tall before her. It was a mix of modern, 19th century and contemporary architecture while it spread its arms across like a grand bridge of limestone. She hated to admit it, but she liked it. It was exactly the kind of place she would picture Remy LeBeau living in but not a place where he would keep a hostage. She frowned slightly as she stared up at it.
"Well, dis be it. Y' hungry chérie? Mon cousins would be happy t' have y' here f' lunch before y' head off."
Rogue broke out of her thoughts at Etienne's voice. She smiled at him and nodded thankfully before stepping out of the car and following his lead. Anticipation and nerves ran through her stomach as they trudged across the gravel road towards the house. However, instead of heading towards the front entrance, Etienne led her around the outskirts of the building and through an archway in a limestone wall near the gardens. He told her they were all waiting out the back in the terrace. Rogue's stomach stiffened as her nerves took control but she remained calm as she followed Etienne through. She clenched her right hand into a tight fist, ready to smash into a certain Cajun's charming face.
She had planned the entire thing since stepping into Etienne's car. She would surprise the Cajun, beat him to a pulp until he let her daughter' go and if he didn't comply, well, that would take its course with as much blood splatter as she could manage. However, should his family pose a problem, she would try to smooth things over. That is if they weren't in on his kidnapping too.
"Do y' like catfish petite? Mon cousin Remy make de best Catfish. I t'ink mon cousin Henri said somet'ing about whippin' some up."
Rogue smiled and nodded as she replied.
"Sounds fantastic."
Etienne grinned as he led her into the main terrace across the way. It was a wooden terrace while atop of it stood a large garden table and several chairs. A barbeque stood on the opposite end, smoke rising from its hood, while a tall man stood before it. Rogue squinted at the far distance to see if it was the Cajun but was caught off guard by what she saw. Her gaze shifted quickly to a smaller figure that sprung from the French doors and began to skip towards the table. Rogue felt her stomach erupt with butterflies as a gasp escaped her lips. Her eyes widened with fresh tears she didn't even realise as she called out her daughter's name. Adélie stopped in her tracks and turned around in her direction at the speed of lightning. Though they were a good thirty or forty feet away, Rogue saw the shock that spread across her daughter's heart-shaped face before the girl called back before sprinting off the terrace and running towards her. Rogue, ignoring Etienne's confused and surprised look, sprinted towards Adélie as quickly as her legs could carry her and not a moment later, they collided into each other in a fierce embrace. Rogue fell to her knees as she swept her daughter into her arms and held her as tightly as possible while Adélie's arms wrapped around her neck as she called her name. Rogue remained numb for a moment, just hugging her close, before closing her tear-filled eyes and squeezing her close as she whispered.
"Oh baby, ya- ya okay. Everything's okay."
But when Adélie made no sobs or any indication of distress, Rogue grew worried and pulled her back so to look into her face. She began to search her form, raised her arms for inspection while observing every section of her face. When found no restraints, no bruises or any form of torture, she gave a worried and confused expression before speaking.
"Ya- ya not hurt? He- He didn't hurt ya at all?"
Adélie frowned at her mother for a moment before speaking. Her confusion was apparent in her voice as she spoke.
"Remy wouldn't hurt meh. He's mah- mah friend. Mama, he didn't do nothin'."
"Chére?"
Rogue's eyes widened in realisation before quickly darted towards the figure that stepped out onto the terrace. When she caught Remy LeBeau's gaze, her view turned red as her gaze narrowed into angry slits. He stood frozen in place, his brow furrowed in confusion and surprise as he stared back at her. He wasn't given a chance to even come out of his shock as Rogue practically tore away from Adélie and charged at him with an outcry of rang. Remy was barely able to flinch let alone move away before her clenched fist met his jaw with an iron force and nocked him to the ground. Remy felt the world spin and go black for a moment before he raised his head from the ground and looked up through blurry eyes to see a furious Rogue standing over him with a murderous- and tearful, glaze over her emerald eyes. He felt a burning sting on his lower lip and subconsciously licked his lower lip only to taste blood. His jaw began to throb after that but it was nothing compared to the boxing his ears got when Rogue opened her mouth to scream at him.
"Ya no good, son of a bitch! How dare ya kidnap mah daughter!"
Remy's vision restored instantly as her words range through his mind at a surprisingly quick pace. 'How dare ya kidnap mah daughter?' He managed to pull himself up to rest on his knees as he looked up at Rogue. Her chest was heaving while tears threatened to spill from her eyes. He felt like crawling under a rock and dying at the very expression across her face. But that didn't help him from retorting dumbfound in his confusion.
"Daughter? Qui?"
He managed to scramble quickly to his feet as she made another attempt to punch him in the face and move out of harm's way just in time. However, Rogue continued to try and beat him to a pulp, causing them to form a sort of dance about the terrace as she swung at his head and yelled at him while he continued to stare in confusion while ducking blows. Meanwhile, Adélie stood near-by under Henri and Etienne's hold as she struggled to get free. Mercy stood by the door, her eyes clouded by confusion as she watched Remy and the young woman bicker and fight. They made it onto the grass lawn off the terrace when Rogue spoke again.
"Ah can'te believe ya lied t' meh again! After all that bull about havin' 'nothin' t' lose', ya use that bull t' get t' her! Ya a lyin' bastard Remy LeBeau!"
Remy raised his hands in front of him but not as defence but as a means of trying to calm her down. She back away immediately, away from his bare hands, but continued to circle him angrily as she heaved breaths of air. He took the moment to try and speak.
"Rogue- y' can calm down now- she be safe. Y' fille is safe. I was going t' take her back t' y' mais, -What do y' mean she be y' daughter? Chére-"
"No! Ya have no raght t' ask meh any o' that! Ya kidnapped her! How could ya do that?! She's a ten year-old girl, Gambit! What could ya possibly want with her?!"
"It's not what I want wit' her Rogue, it was-"
"Good business' was it?"
Her words stopped him in his tracks. He gave a guilty sigh as he watched trails of tears stream down her blotchy pink cheeks. However, before another word could be spoke, Adélie broke free from Henri's protective hold and raced towards them screaming for them to stop. Rogue and Remy turned to face her as she came to stand before them. Rogue and Remy gave her mirrored looks of confusion as she managed to speak between gasps for breath.
"D-don't hur-hurt him Mama. Y' –y' can't hurt him, please…"
Rogue furrowed her brow at her daughter for a moment before her face relaxed slightly so that she could at least be civil towards her daughter.
"Adélie, he- he kidnapped ya. He used meh t' get t' ya. He's done a really bad thing. What- what are ya on about?"
Adélie gave her mother a nervous glance before turning her gaze to meet Remy's also confused expression. Finally, after a few painfully quiet moments, she gave a defeated sigh and lowered her gaze as she raised her left wrist. Around her wrist was a thin, silver bangle with a single small amber stone hanging like a charm off its neck. She slid her small index over the silver, causing it the amber stone to glow like fresh honey. When she raised her gaze to meet their eyes, Rogue and Remy's faces paled with shock and realisation. Feebly, Adélie whispered her answer as she stared at them through green-on-black eyes.
"Because…he's mah Dad."
Rogue's eyes widened in horror before she promptly lost consciousness for the third time that week.
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-UltimateGammy91