Chapter 29
Instead of watching that movie, rogue lay back into gambits chest as his arms and legs wrapped around her. As rogue explained the boring meeting to gambit, they thumb wrestled and cuddled and gambit liked propping kisses all over rogue. Rogue told gambit how the meeting started out with the court members all being introduced and then there rolls and who they represented . Then she got to how they tried controlling her by telling her her job and what she had to do in a nicer but more sly way than Jean Luc and tante Mattie had that morning. How they even went as far as to call her the guild master. Rogue explained how she realised that because she had only just been introduced to the guild most of the members hated her, but how they were also scared of her and the external so just went with her being guild master. Rogue told gambit how that took up the first hour or so and how she snapped by the end of them deciding what she was to wear and do next. She explained how they all seemed not only shocked but apoldded at her reaction. Gambit grinned as rogue re enacted her whole angry rant.
"ah mean ah wasn't just gonna sit there n let em tell meh what ta do. Ah mean who tha he'll do they t'ink they r tellin meh ah gotta get rid of ma gothic clothin n haveta where borin black, white n grey suits n dresses. N high heels. Ma gawd,mid kitty couldn't get meh in pink stilettos then theres no way those borin black cloaks r gonna get meh dressed up like a borin old head mistress or sumthin. just, grrr, they r not changin tha way ah dress, oh n get this, they t'ink ah have anger issues."
"Can't see no anger issues here." Gambit joked, grinningly.
Rogue hit the side of his arm and squirmed around in where he hugged her so she now lay stomach to stomach with him. "Hey, ah can be nice. When people ain't annoying meh that is. n your one a tha most annoyin people their is, so if ah can deal with you n be calm then ah can deal with anyone N be calm. "
Gambits grin turned sly as his hands found his way under rogues clothing, one traveling up her shirt, the other moving up her thigh. "Is da so Cherie?" Rogue growled before removing both his hands. She tried to sit up in a huff, put gambit pulled her down and wouldn't let her. In fact he chuckled. "Soundin just like old wolvie there. Ya know I'm sure you two r related. It would describe the anger issues."
"ah don't have anger issues!" Rogue yelled still struggling in gambits arms. She was mad at him now for siding with the courts and didn't feel like being around him.
"Then what do ya call what ya doin now then? Or ya yellin at de courts that there's no way theyd get ya in-"
"oh so ah shouldn't have yelled at the courts? Shouldn't have argued with em? Shoulda just let em take control over ma life that ah only just got back?"
"no, that ain't what im sayin-"
"so ah should let em dress meh up, boss meh about, tell meh what ta do n what to say. Oh n who ah should n shouldn't love. Shouldn't ah yell at em for that?"
gambit sat up now, getting frustrated and angry at what he was hearing. As he sat rogue down on the sofa firmly inbetween his legs, with eyes sparked dangerously, and rogue gulped. "What else did they say? What happened afta dey told ya the rules of de guilds n tried gettin ya ta be guild master?"
rogue was quiet for a moment, a little startled, then spoke." they, erm, after they explained what guilds they're are n what rolls they do, then told meh or tried ta tell meh what a guild masters job was, they then tried tellin meh how to act n be like a guild master. They, errr, they told meh how ta dress, n act. They event booked some people who took ma measurements n stuff for garments n dresses n all that sorta stuff. There was even a woman there ta help make meh change ma attitude... Ah sat still n quiet cause tante told meh too n ah didn't wanna let er down or anythin, but then they started sayin that cause ah'm a woman guild master Ah'll need a husband ta help meh rule... N they said that person had ta be in or just under tha same league as meh. Some one like a king or prince in a guild or someone in the courts. They... Told meh ah couldn't be with ya. Then ah snapped. Ah just completely snapped. Ah know were southerns n like tha good old ways, but they were just so sexest n demandin n sith their standerds, tellin meh who ah can n can't love, ah couldn't take it any more. So ah yelled at em all, kicked out a few people from the room, n some how ah got em all ta sit down n listen ta what ah gotta say. Well tante helped encourage em ta listen ta a younger voice. she said tha worlds changin n that they'd been stuck so long in de past with dis feud dat they all dont know how ta fit in with ta days sociaity n that it was important for all guilds, so no one got caught or hurt. So, what really took meh so long was that ah ended up pretty much rewritin all the guild laws n stuff with the courts. Ah made it so that the guild master could dress n act however they wanted only, of course, they gotta uptane some standards of decency, be wise n calm n knowledge able. Ya know tha sorta person who will uphold and represent the whole goodness and rightness of the guilds, n not take no crap from anyone, but still be respectable n clearheaded when they do it. But course ah made these rules up ta spare tha next guild master who starts rulin tha t'ink ah know just tha right woman who'll fit tha job perfectly." Gambit raised his eye brow at her, not quite following. Rogue rolled her eyes."tante." Gambit presented an oh-right-I-knew-that face. Rogue just shuck her head at him again."oh, n ah also made it legal for tha guild master, or whoever in the guilds who's got some power n authority, like oh let's say tha second prince ta the thieves thrown, can marry whoever he chooses, whether that be someone about his ranks, like a guild master, or below, like a simple girl off the streets who's gone from home ta home, had a rough life, but in tha end, had a happy endin by fallin in love." gambit just melted into those beautiful pools of green. He was about to kiss her, only rogue said, "oh, of course if its a person who's not grown up in the guilds n doesn't know their secrets, then they'll haveta be put through some tests ta see if they're loyal n ready for this life."
gambit raised his eyebrow at rogue again. "Do you have to go through these tests?"
"heck no, ah already passed with outstandin results n acceptance from tha queen of des guilds herself, the external. N besides, ah might not of taken tha job as guild master, but dat dung mean ah aint one or ain't a second in line like you second prince. Guess were both just on tha side lines now tagether. Both got power. Both got freedom. Both got chose. So, what do you chose?"
"hmmm, I guess I'll chose this beautiful under ranked girl of the streets who is actually an over ranked girl for me as she's the externals treasure and almost sorta guild master, if she'll have moi." He grinned and leaned in for a kiss.
"oh ah t'ink that could happen." Rogue pressed her fingures to his lips just as he closed his eyes, ready to kiss her. "But ah t'ink we got bit more ta talk bout. More important t'ings. "
Gambit sat back in a huff like a child not getting their own way, which rogue tried to hid her grin from. She lay on top of gambit again. "Ah t'ink we best talk bout us, n what's,errr, happened, or happen tween us."
"what you mean cher?"
"Well, ah mean." Rogue was suddenly red which made gambit wonder what was she blushing about. "After ah talked tha courts inta all those new rules, ah also tried talkin em inta takin tha xmen on as a new guild. Well, they sorts said yes, but ah gotta go down there, ya know make up a contract, put em through some tests, create tha connections n stuff. N well, it's gonna take time, n ah'm gonna haveta be livin with tha xmen for a while, n... Well ah guess... Erm... Remy would ya like ta travel tha world with meh? Be mah helper, erm associate. Ah mean ah gotta go all ova tha place. Like ta all the guilds including de assassins here, n ova in France, n Spain, India , all... Ya can back out at any time, but yeah, ah was wonderin with ya wanted ta maybe make up a plan of where n who we see in what order, n for how long...? Ah mean it'd Aldo include the X-Men, but if ya don't wanna come back ta Bayville Ah'll understand, but if ya do then... They're gonna be quzin ya, n meh, n ah just... Ah wanted ta know few t'ings. But anyway, will ya travel with meh?"
Gambit chuckled at rogues continuing blush, that grew the more she talked and how fast she began talking the more nervous she got."Of course moi cher. I'd follow you to the ended of de earth." He said, planting a kiss on her hand. "Now, I ain't got no problem goin back with ya to the x-men. Well, that's a lie. I'm kinda worried bout dat pere of yours. You t'ink he'd slaughter me if i find this?" Gambit suddenly seemed her lips with his, smiling to himself at finally getting what he wanted.
they pulled away. "Oh, ah don't know. Probably."
gambit grinned cheekily,"guess I betta do it more often den." And again he took her lips in his, this time adding his tongue into the mix.
they pulled away again, rogue smiling down at gambit from where she straddled him. "So, your coming to the Bayvillie with meh?"
"Oui, moi cher. I am."
"Great, well, ah was t'inkin, gettin ya Peres guild meetin over with first den de assassins here in New Orleans, then the X-Men, the we can go anywhere ya wanna go." Rogue said smiling.
"But dis be your big adventure. You who calls de shots. Ya wanted dis rogue, even before ya met moi."
"yeah, before ah met ya. But now, ah can go anywhere as long as your with meh, n ah won't care bout tha rest of the world as long as ah'm with ya." Rogue smiled down at her beautiful man with all the love she had expressed in that statement. He returned her smile with his joy.
"Je amour rogue."
"Ah love ya too Cajun."
Again, they feel into deep kissing, but then rogue pulled away, and even though gambit was enjoying ever last touch and kiss of those wonderful juice lips, he wanted more. His rogue was becoming a right hot tease and she didn't even know it. She was so hot. "Oh, there's still that t'ing ah haveta talk ta ya about."
"What t'ings?" Gambit said, his hands stroking rogues arms, trying to not give in to the erge he had of just throwing rogue down on the floor, pinning her and taking what he th out was his.
"Well, somethin else happened last night. Sumethin ah haven't really mentioned." Gambit looked up to rogue, a but of worry in his face. What had he done wrong now? Why wouldn't she met his eye? "ya,erm, ya said ta that supermodel that ya, erm, had a wife waitin for ya at home... Ah was wonderin if ya either did have a secret wife ya married without meh knowin, or if ya really were refer ta meh when ya said it..."
Rogue blushed, and gambit felt himself do the same. He took rogues chin inbetween his fingure so and turned her to look at him. "Do you want to be?" He simply asked.
Rogue blushed up more. "Ah... Ah don't know... Ah just... Ah thought afta everythin that happened...ah just didn't t'ink... Didn't, erm-"
"rogue, cher, will you be my wife?" Gambit asked.
for a moment they both just stared at each other as if time had stopped. Then it happened all too suddenly, as gambit felt the shaky nervous of a guy proposing and rogue felt the flutter of butterflies in her stomach of an unexacting lover having the man she loves propose to her. a large unstoppable smile took over rogues face. "Yes." Rogue breathed. "yes, ah will. And love that."
Rogue began kissing gambit, which made him think if this was what got him the kisses then he'd propose to rogue any and every day. But of course he wasn't one of those people and something didn't feel right. He pulled rogue back, and she looked down at him confused. "Roguie, I love you n I do want ya ta be mon wife. Always have. Just, can ya forget dat proposal n de one before dat so I can try n actually get dis proposin thing right?"
rogue chuckled at him then pushed a piece of hair behind his ear. "Course sugar. Now it's almost three, n ah've gotta get ready for Merci."
"awww, really?" Gambit poused which made rogue chuckle." I thought we could, do a bit of explorin of ya new found ability." Gambit said rubbing his hands up her side and up her thighs again.
And again rogue hit his hands away."though. it was your idea ya know ta have meh go shoppin with Merci in tha afternoon, so ya only got yourself ta blame." Gambit pouted and although the mood was playful and rogue was enjoying it she had to but a half serious face on. "N besides... Ah know it seems like ah'm... Teasing what with what ah said before n all. But ah don't t'ink ah'm ready ta go that far yet if ya get what ah mean." Gambits face changed to a half serious face too. He had a feeling rogue wasn't ready. He couldn't blame the girl. She'd gone years without touch, hurt a lot of people and hurts elf included as well as almost died lots of times during that which only made survived more important than touch and now suddenly she could touch and wasnt sure how or why. He guessed she'd be caus and worried and a little hesitant. But she was his, and she'd made that clear, so he didn't care how long he had to wait as long as she was his. He nodded his head in understanding which got him a small, but thankful smile and a peck on the lips before rogue climbed off him, to fetch Merci's clothes and head towards the bathroom to shower.
"Ya know cher, i could always help ya out in de shower without anythin happenin like dat if ya like?"
"Shut it swamp rat." Rogue said, but said it with a laugh and a smile as she double locked the door.
88888
Rogue had ended up dragging Gambit along and Merci had dragged her husband Henri along with them. The girls were having a blast, making the boys duffer by carrying all their bags. Shopping with Merci was actually alright, rogue decided. She hadn't forced rogue into anything pink or anything that was the total opposite of her style. Instead she suggested things that looked great on her, only most of the time, rogue would sneak it out of gambits arms and put it back on the shelves. the first time she did this gambit raised his eyebrow at her.
"Too exceptive." She whispered back to him.
He chuckled. "Cher, aint nothin too pricy or ungettable for you. Anythin you want mon cher, I will get it for you."
So then rogue had to spend most of her afternoon trying to get one over on the prince of thieves. She managed to get the first two dresses out from under gambits arm with ease, but on the third, he catch her and decided that embarrassment was the price to pay for trying to steal and showing up the prince of thieves. Gambit picked the dress back up, and scooped rogue up so she was over his shoulder. she squeaked and yelled at gambit to put her down. Only he walked over to the check out and started paying for the clothes. Rogue looked around seeing Henri and Merci laughing together madly at Gambit and Rogue. Rogue asked them for help, but they just laughed more at her. Then she saw the security guard come over with a serious face on, and Rogue was almost glad. Then Gambit had to go and make up stories.
"Don't mind mon wife, cher. She just stubbon is all. dunt want er darling husband ta buy this beautiful dress ya store is sellin. Could ya be a dear n wrap those for moi, mecry." Just as he was saying this the guard heard this and seemed convinced.
"Oh, yeah right, put meh down ya sneaky Cajun! aint no need ta do dis. Just cause I managed ta sneak tha dress way from ya." Gambit thumped her on shoulder, hurting rogues chest. "Ow, stupid Cajun."
"Love ya too, Cherie." Gambit teased.
Gambit didn't put her down till they were out of the shop. As soon as Gambit put her down, rogue punched him in the gut hard then stormed off. Henri chucled as he came to pat his brother on the back from behind. "Smooth move frère."
"I'll go after her. Just give er some space. Ya wound her up pretty bad." Mecri said, following after a fuming rogue.
88888
Rogue walked fast down the street and out of sight from the others. It was getting late now and cold. Rogue had put on the tight jeans and short cut jumper Merci had borrowed her. She also had on black leather gloves and high leather boots. Both Merci and Remy thought roRgue looked sexy. they didn't appear to be the only ones. Rogue was deep in thought, mad about Remy and the court. So mad she lost track of time and where she was going and walked into a group of drunken men who had just stepped out of a club and into her.
"Oh Sorrah." Rogue said, but instantly, her mood changed as soon as she felt the guys hands squeeze her backside and pull her into his chest.
"Where ya runnin off ta so fast tuts?" He asked in a slur drunk voice.
Not liking all the man handling she was getting lately and losing her temper, she syright up punched the guy in the jaw away from her. She looked round her at the males that had surrounded her and got into a fighting stand. She had managed to catch a few arms that shot out at her and break a few noses, but she was out of training and out numbered. And these boys didn't play fair. Rogue felt a bottle smash over her head, and she fell forwards into two of the drunks who locked her arms behind her back and turned her to face the guy who had tried it on with her in the first place. "Stupid fuckin whore!" He yelled before raising his fist back and getting ready to strick.
Rogue half closed her eyes expecting the blow. She was dazed , but still conscious and still noble enough like Logan had taught her to take beating tall and proud instead of looking weak and cowardly, and making them think they'd broke you. But before his fist could come anywhere close to her face, a knife was thrown threw it. There was a ghastly scream from him, but rogues attention moved to the people who had suddenly stopped staring from the side lines and began punching and beating the men who surrounded her with weapons.
"ROGUE!" A familiar, making her heart flutter, voice yelled her name.
Remy and Henri dropped the bags they were carrying and ran, hitting the guys in the back of the head who had rogues hands pinned behind her back. They tackled them to the ground and began punching. Rogue was helped up off her feet by Merci and another woman. Rogue watched horrified as a huge street fight broke out all because of her and hated that Remy and henri were right in the middle of it. She had no idea who the other guys were until she heard a friendly stranger Cajun voice.
"Ya all right?" Bella Donna asked as she helped support rogue up to a standing position. Rogue looked Bella in the eyes, a hit confused. Must have been from the beer bottle hitting her head.
"Yeah...ahm finah... But what r ya doin here?"
"Me n ma boys." Bella nodded her head in the direction towards the other men fighting the drunken men."came out for tha night, then we heard the commotion outside. When Julian saw n noticed it was ya, we all rushed out here ta help ya."
Rogues eyebrow rose. "Why?" She asked dumbly. yep, the smashed bottle was confusing rogue to make her think that the asssinins and thieves still hated each other and would rather kill each other than help each other. But as rogue turned out to look at the two prince of thieves and the assassins men, she saw that they were working together while they fought the same enimy.
"Cause ya the externals treasure. Heck, the guilds master. We can't let anythin happen ta ya. Ya like the symbol of tha whole guilds. Of ya get hurt or offended then it offends us all, n we don't take offence too lightly. Non of the guilds. Sides it's our job ta keep ya safe. But ya shoulda had someone with ya, guardin ya anyway. Where were ya's?" Bella asked Merci A bit of annoyance in her glare.
"we got seprated." Merci simply stated. Mecri was firest too, but rogue felt a little bad now.
"It was ma fault. Ah walked off." Rogue looked back out to the fight, ignoring Bella and Mecri calling her stupid for just walking off and telling her she couldn't just do that now. Rogue focused on Remy and watched how he had his back turned away from one of the thugs who had attacked her. He was coming at him fast with a spad in hand. Seeing what he was doing, and seeing as Remy didn't notice and no one else where close enough to help him, rogue ran out of Merci's and Bella's grip towards Remy. Remy saw her coming and looked at her questioningly. But rogue paid more attention to the attacker she was now facing. Her gloves were off, literally, as she ran towards Remy, she had pulled them off and now turned her hands into fists. thr thugs hands were above his head, swinging the spad. Everything seemed to slow down a bit as rogue was faster than his and punched him in the face, making skin to skin contact. The guy fell backwards and rogue feel to her knees, holding her head as the memeries burst un expectantly through her mind.
His name was Larry LeGorg who cheated on his girlfriend with strikers and other woman and worked the day selling cars and nights, doing drugs with his firends. He'd started that life if taking drugs and heavy drinking when he was nine as his mother chose other men before him and he got abused of both his mother and strangers.
Before rogue knew it, there was a crowd around her, some screaming mutant in fear, others rushing to help, but she only notice one person. Remy, who had cradled her into his lap, shaking her. Remy was the last face she saw after Larry's memories before she blanked out.
XXXXX
Rogue woke up in a nice warm bed, with a nice warm hand stroking her face. Slowly she opened her eyes and smiled at Remy, but then frowned at the strange touch. Rogue grabbed at his wrist and brought it back. It hurt to see him wearing gloves. But then she remembered how she'd touched Larry and absorbed him. Something inside Rogue seemed to go ice cold then freeze. Her powers had come back?
"Rogue, are you alright?" Gambit asked.
The way Rogue just looked at him like a goldfish scared him. Having rogue caught in a fight and collapse like that scared him. As soon as she'd passed out, him, Henri and Merci had run to the car and drove back to the mansion as fast as possible. It hadn't been that long after they got back that Rogue had awakened.
"Oh move out the way child." Said Tante Mattie as she shoved past Remy to get to Rogue with her medical kit. But she couldn't see anything wrong with her. So Tante Mattie put her wrinkly delicate bare hand on Rogue's head. Remy called out to stop her but it was too late. Tgue.
And nothing had happened.
Remy stared down at Rogue confused and Rogue looked up to Tante confused. Rogue didn't understand how Tante could touch Rogue when her powers were back.
"What is it Remy?" Tante asked him.
"Y-Your touching m-meh." Rogue stuttered.
"Yes honey child. I gotta check your temperater. What happened?" Tante asked Rogue, unknowing about her powers.
Rogue sat up slowly staring at Tante in wonder. "M-Ma powers... They came back."
"What do you mean they came back? Your powers never left you did they?" Tante asked.
"Ah- Ah can't control ma...powers."
Tante just looked at Rogue confused, as if she had just told her something of total nonsense. "You must be tryin ta trick dis power old tante of yas. How cruel a ya child." Tante said, and simply took Rogue hands and slapped it."Now don't ya try and lie ta ya own Tante like dat. N don't ya dare t'ink of usin ya powers now her too. Really honey child, ya hurt dis old woman." Tante said putting a hand to her heart.
"Oh no. No Tante! ah-ah would neva wanna purposely hurt ya. but... but ah don't... ah didn't have any control over em."
"Nonsence honey child. I be touchin ya now, non?"
"Ah-Ah... yes."
"N ya be able ta touch dat troublesome boy there, don't ya?" Tante nodded her head in the direction of Gambit who was shocked just as Rogue was to hear this. Rogue nodded her head. "I see it like dis honey child, ya touch who ya wanna touch, n hurt who ya wanna hurt."
Rogue still looked confused at Tante."But...Tante ah have hurt people ah care about... Ah-Ah hurt ma entire family before yas. Ah've hurt Remy before with ma powers. Ah don't..."
Tante shrugged her shoulders, opened her kit and pulled out a wipe. "Then maybe ya've learnt how ta control ya powers."
Rogue still seemed confused. Rogue turend to Gambit to see if he understood, but it didn't look like it. Rogue then looked down to her bare hand while Tante wiped her face clean of her make up. Rogue examined it to see if there was any change or difference she'd noticed. She didn't feel any different. Didn't feel like she had control over her powers. Was what Tante was saying true?"But ah don't... feel like ahm in control. Ah don't feel any different."
"Then perhaps that's because your powers don't work dat way. Perhaps it's not from feelin like ya have control honey child, but more feelings of who ya do n don't want to touch."
Rogue tried to figure that out in her mind. Tried to find proof to Tantes reasons. Of course Rogue had wanted to touch her brother and the other xmen before she'd gone on this wild trip with Gambit, but she'd always kept in mind that her powers wouldn't let her. So maybe Tante's theries was right for her time living with the X-Men as she always thought of feeling control over her powers more than feeling like she wanted to touch. But then what about Cody? She had liked Cody and didn't know about her powers then so she had no reason to be afraid. So what had happened there? Maybe it was her nerves? She didn't know. Rogue tried to think of things that had happened recently. She hadn't used or had to use her powers while she'd been with Gambit. He made it so she didn't have to. She didn't have to train. Didn't have to fight enemies long side the xmen and absorb people. She didn't have to worry about sharing a bathroom with the girls and axadentally hurting them. No, all that time she'd spent with gambit, it had been nice. She hadn't been focused on her powers but more about the relationship. About figuring out her feelings for Remy and worrying about her father and apologies to Cody and being depressed and sad after Irene's death, but also the coming together of her and her foster mother, and then there was also the stealing episode which rogue wanted to forget about already. Well looking back on it all now it seemed that one thing came straight after the other and she hadn't had time to think of her powers. The only time rogue had really thought of her powers was when she... Wanted to use them... Holy shit... Was tante right?Rogue looked to gambit and saw him adding things up in the same manor.
"Well, there dount seem ta be anythin physically wrong with ya. Now you just go on a head n get yaself some rest, ya poor honey child.n you." Tante said pointing an accusing fingure at gambit. "Make sure she does get rest, n don't go windin de girl up no more, ya hear."
"yes tante." Gambit said robotically, but his eyes never left rogues. Tante repeated herself at the door about rest but it fell on deaf ears. She left. There was a moments silence between the two.
"Remy..."
"Oui, cher."
A large grin broke across rogues face and her body shuck with happiness as she blurted out, "ah have control! Ah have control! Have have control ova ma own damn powers! Ah've hot control!" A tear fell down rogues face and gambit couldn't help but share one of his too. An unstoppable smile braced his face as he saw the woman he loved in complete and utter bliss that she finally has control over her body and she didn't even realise it hill now. But then something fluttered in his chest. Something that scared him. The thought that rogue could be with anyone she wanted now. Would she still want to be with him? As if reading his mind, rogue looked away from her hands to him. Then began crawling across the bed to get to where he stood at the side of the bed. She pulled at his shirt, yanking his down to sit on the bed besides her. Rogue grew closer and closer to him. He losed his eyes and readied his lips, but the kiss never came. Instead he felt a punch to his arm. He moaned in pain and opened his eyes, blinking down at his arm she had just punched.
"that was for annoyin meh n embarisin meh. This is or Savin meh." Rogue planted a firm, needing kiss on his lips, which soon turned into something deeper as she climbed into his lap, letting her hands run threw his hair and he held her closer by her wasit. They broke apart for air. In a gasping oice rogue said. "Remy."
"yeah."
"you know ah love you, right."
"Oui, n I love you too amour."
"is it... Is it all right if we...?"
Gambit looked to rogues shy blushing face, but having known rogue this long he understood that complicated face. "We don't haveta do anythin you don't want yo mon cher."
rogue gave a smile."thank you Remy." Rogue said before kissing him again.
"you too get to sleep now!" Ordered Tante, her voice echoing down the corridor.
