19

Gambit had been on the highway when he noticed the jet above his head. He snorted, recognising it. So, the X-Men had come after all. He'd really wanted to avoid this. He did wonder though why it was only a small jet and not the Black Bird.

Gambit watched the jet take off a little in front of him and land in a field up a head.

He took a turn off the motor way and headed towards the jet.

Xxxxx

Rogue cursed herself for not packing a mode of transport on wheels. She hadn't been thinking too clearly about that. Just about tracking Gambit down fast.

She'd found someone who had a bike and was trying to bargain with them to let her leaned their bike for a while and they can keep hold of her jet until she comes back. They were having none of it though. They were mad at her for ruining their crops.

"Oh come on! I got somewhere I important I need ta-" then, Rogue stopped, as she heard the sound of an engine.

She walked a little out of the barn and saw Gambit's bike approaching her. Rogue began to walk out further, towards the bike.

"Hey lady! We ain't done here!" the farmer shouted.

"Oh give it a rest for a minute will ya!" Rogue shot back at him, just as Gambit parked up.

He was chuckling as he too off his helmet.

"Charmin' de locals, ah, Cherie?" he said.

Rogue came closer towards him, standing with him next to his bike.

"Hey," she muttered out.

"Bonjour. I'm guessin' you be lookin' for me, non?" he asked, pointing at the jet.

"Errr, yeah." Rogue said, glancing at the jet herself. "The whole mansion was." Rogue admitted.

"Hmmm," Gambit said, raising his eyebrow. "Why?" he asked.

"Why?" Rogue said, glancing at him confused. "You took off! That's why." Rogue said, folding her arms now, slightly mad.

"You knew I was leavin'. Why didn't you tell em to let moi be? Why you followin' me?" He asked.

"You neva did tell meh the reason why you were leavin'. Hell, never even said good bye. Who knows what mess ya coulda ended up in." Rogue said, refusing to look at him.

"Awww, Cherie, I'm touched." He said, almost mockingly, "But why you really here? I know you figured out I'd left of my own free will. Right after we knew de other prisons be gone. So why you here?" he asked, glancing at her intensely.

Rogue saw that intensity and it put her on edge. She felt like she was facing Joseph again. Joseph with all his many questions about her. Rogue swallowed something nasty in her throat.

"L-Like I said, ya never did tell meh the reason why ya were leavin'." Rogue said, now meeting his eye again.

"Dat be my business." He said.

Rogue snorted, "Is it? If you're runnin' off ta do another mission like the last one, then I think ya should come back. The X-Men can-"

Gambit put his hand up in front of her, motioning for her to stop. "I just said, it be my business and mine alone. Comprende?" he asked.

Rogue… felt kind of hurt by his sudden coldness. This made her mad and she stomped her foot and pointed her finger at him.

"No! It's not alright! You left everyone worryin' 'bout ya at the mansion! They wanna know that you're alright. Wanna know that ya ain't goin' off ta do some crazy solo mission on ya own where ya could get killed." Rogue snapped.

Gambit felt his anger raising himself. "I can take care of moiself-"

"Can ya though? Remember, I saw you in that prison! You were on the verge of a breakdown, Remy. If ya woulda been alone who knows what coulda happened? Those guards, they coulda-" Rogue began to say, but Gambit grabbed her roughly by her top and pulled her forwards, closer to his face so she could look him in the eyes and see how serious he was.

"Drop it, cher. For ya own sake." He said in a calm, but firm voice.

Rogue shoved him, pushing out of his grip. "No, I won't! Ya got a lot of people worried 'bout ya back home and-"

"Did you tell them?" Gambit demanded to know, stepping back into Rogue's personal space, only, this time, not grabbing her.

"Tell them what?" Rogue demanded to know.

"'bout de prison?" he asked.

"No! Why would I do that? Ya asked meh not too. But that's partly why I'm here and not the others. You weren't alright back there! But, the X-Men, we proved we could get the job done. We were there for ya, just like you wanted. Now, you're takin' off? No explanation or nothin'-" Rogue raged.

"What be de other reason?" Gambit interrupted her.

Rogue fell silent. He'd picked up on that. His eyes were glazing directly into hers and she felt trapped. Felt like she couldn't turn away from them. She felt panicky and fearful.

Gambit saw Rogue's face drop at demanding to know her other reason. He had an idea of what it might be. A part of him desperately wanted to hear her say it like he had wanted to on the roof. The other part of him wanted him to run. Run away and not hear it. Because, if he heard it, it might make it a hell of a lot more difficult for him just to up and leave.

"Well?" He said after a pregnant pause.

That was all Rogue needed to be able to look away from him. Suddenly, she felt shy as she glanced over the fields of the farm.

"Everyone was worried why you left. Worried you were in danger or something." Rogue said.

"What's de other reason Rogue?" Gambit asked.

"Everyone in that place, well, they like you Remy. They don't want ya ta leave. That's why we're here. We're makin' sure you ain't leavin' 'cause you got some crazy, solo mission planned or that you were kidnapped or something-"

Gambit stepped closer to Rogue, if that was even possible, and took her by both shoulders. Forcing her to face him.

"Ya ain't tellin' me your other reason. What is it?" he demanded to know.

Rogue was trapped in his eyes again. She hated it just as much as she loved it. She hated how they made her feel pressured to confess everything. But loved what it felt like just to glance into them and almost wished the moment wouldn't end.

Rogue took in a deep breath before continuing.

"I came alone 'cause I know ya the best. I know how you froze up in that prison. Everyone who did the mission knows ya came ta meh, not them 'cause ya trusted meh or something. I don't know. I… I guess I'm here 'cause I was hopin' ya'd open up and tell meh why it is ya leavin'? Can't ya trust meh with that?" Rogue asked.

Gambit almost wished he hadn't brought Rogue so close to him. It was hard to try and deny her when his body was screaming at him to confess.

He dropped his hands on Rogue and took a step away from her to try to think before he spoke. It felt like a bucket of cold water had been chucked over his head though at letting her go. It was horrible.

"I'm goin' back to de thieves, cher." He admitted.

"But why? Ya don't like it there. Ya were happy with the X-Men, weren't you? You had people who cared about you there." Rogue asked.

"Ain't a likin' competition. It just be business." He said.

"So, what? You're goin' back ta the thieves to do a thievin' job? Does that mean you'll come back after?" Rogue asked.

Gambit hadn't meet her eyes since he'd let her go. "I don't know, Cherie. I rather doubt it. De thieves guild, it be part of me. Part of moi life, whether I like de people in de guild or not. It's somethin' I can't just walk away from. Can't just let go." He said.

"Oh," Rogue said, her voice faulting a little as she said it.

Gambit went to look up at her then, but Rogue had turned to face the fields again. He'd seen her bottom lip quake though. She wasn't happy about what he said. Again, that one part of him wanted to know why. Why was she here? Really here? The other told him just to up and leave while he had her convinced.

"There another reason you here?" he asked.

It looked like there definitely was. Rogue guessed she had her answer. She could go back and tell the others Gambit went back to the thieves. He only came to the X-Men to pull off that job and had no intentions of staying. He said he might be back, but he doesn't plan that far ahead in the future. She didn't have to learn much more than that, but… it would bug her not knowing. Wouldn't it?

"I guess… I was just wonderin' if ya were leavin' 'cause of someone. 'cause of something someone did or didn't do." Rogue said.

Gambit lilted his head to one side as he contemplating what Rogue was asking him. It made him have to think. Was he leaving because of Rogue? Well, yes and no. He was getting too attached to her to the point where he didn't want to leave. But at the same time, he didn't want to stick around and be a doormat. He also had stuff he wanted to do that he couldn't with the X-Men. He wondered what to tell Rogue. If she confessed feelings for him, would it make him stay? He doubted it, even if it would make everything harder.

The kids he trained were kind of the same deal as well. They were growing on him. Making him feel comfortable there, but he just couldn't do it. He couldn't spend his life just training when there was something else he had to do.

Gambit took in a deep breath, then said: "Dun't matter if someone did something or not. I was always gonna leave."

Now Rogue eyed him, looking a little hurt. "So, when you said ya might stay, ya already knew the answer? Why didn't ya just tell meh then? Just admit you were just usin' us ta get what you wanted!" she snapped.

"'cause, back then, I really weren't sure if I was gonna take off straight after or not. I ain't ever lied to you Cherie." He said.

Rogue huffed and looked away. From what Gambit had said, about not really caring about people at the mansion, that he was always planning to leave, she wondered why she was even there. Why she even cared. She should have stayed in her room and not let Kitty and Jean talk her into this. Now she just felt awkward, disappointed and embarrassed. Here she was, making a big deal out of him leaving when his mind had already been made up and there was nothing she could do to change that.

Gambit then did something which surprised both of them. He took two steps towards Rogue and hugged her. Rogue gasped as she was pulled into his chest, her arms trapped a little as they were still folded around her. She got them free and tried to push away from him.

"What are ya doin' ya stupid swamp rat!" Rogue snapped at him.

But he wasn't letting her go. Instead, his grip tightened around her as he held her closer to his chest. He brought his head closer to hers which made her stop struggling. Being this close, it reminded him of all the times he'd spent with her in her room. Cuddling up behind her as he read her homework over her shoulder. Pinning her up against the wall that one time. Then there was the fun they had in the danger room sessions were he'd dive on top of her and feel the heat of her full body underneath him. It felt good. Nice. Better than nice. She was so comforting to have in his arms. More comforting than any one night stand because, despite all that had happened, he knew she cared. Cared about him. That was something rare in his life.

"Just relax." He hushed into her ear.

She kept still because of his skin being so close to hers. She didn't want to drain him. She did begin to relax however, thinking of all the times Gambit had. The way he'd sort her out, trusted her over everyone else, confided in her what he could. She also remembered the kiss she'd given him. And it stung. She really didn't want him to go. She really didn't want to lose him. She wanted him to keep visiting her room. To keep up with the witty banter and flirting. To make her feel wanted, but not under pressure to commit to something when it was obvious she couldn't. She didn't want to lose this.

Then, he spoke again: "I'm gonna miss you Cherie."

Rogue felt all the air leave her body as if he'd almost just squeezed the life out of her. Her eyes became a little too wet, and she was glad Gambit's face was pressed into her shoulder, unable to see her eyes.

Finally, she managed to breathe in and acknowledge what was just actually said to her. He was going to miss her. Did that mean she hadn't done anything wrong? Hadn't forced him to leave? But then why was he leaving? Sure, he'd said something about the thieves' guild, but why? Why did he have to leave?

But she couldn't find her voice. She couldn't ask him to stay. Couldn't tell him she'd miss him too. That she didn't want him to leave. She couldn't confessed that she liked him and really cared for him to the point where she was willing to take a risk with him that she wasn't willing to take with anyone else, not even Joseph. She just couldn't bring the words forwards.

So, instead, she wrapped her arms around his chest and hugged him back.

Gambit had been worried about what he said. He'd been kicking himself. Telling himself that the hug was wrong. Admitting he was going to miss her was wrong. It was making him want to go back with her more and more. Mend things so they were no longer awkward anymore. He wanted the peace she brought him. The laughter she brought. But, even though he was doing this, admitting he was going to miss not having her in his life, he couldn't go back. He was admitting something that wasn't going to do anything for him. Except, just give him more of a headache over leaving.

Then, he felt her hug him back and relax into him and he felt like, no matter how much the headache, it was worth it for this.

Both clanged onto each other. Wanting to express and explain everything to the other. Gambit wanted to explain how she made him feel wanted and cared for and how he didn't want to let that go, but that he didn't want to be a rebound and he had other things to do. Things he couldn't risk bringing her into. Rogue wanted to tell him she cared. Cared for him more than anyone. That she wanted to try and make this work, but she just couldn't admit her feelings because, for her whole life, she'd been taught not to. That she knew it was stopping her right now from telling him. That the fear of rejection and him taking off once he was bored of her also terrified her. Each tried to express what they couldn't say to the other in that one hug.

"Hey lady! Move your plane already!" the farmer yelled.

This brought Gambit and Rogue out of it as they pulled away from each other, their arms still tangled. Gambit actually started chuckling as he glanced over at the raging famer. Rogue glanced at the man too, then let her arms drop along with her eyes.

"You know, you can always come back, right? To the X-Men I mean." She said, now meeting his eyes, searching for any sign as to whether he would come back. She knew he said it wasn't likely, but she just had to let him know he could if he changed his mind. If things went wrong with the thieves. She thought she would wait for him. She'd already been waiting so long to try and get her powers under control and it seemed she was going to have to wait a little longer. So, what did waiting for Gambit to return really matter, huh?

Well, she guessed she really shouldn't put hope on him for returning back to the X-Men. After all, he could touch. Was free. Already had been with many women. He could come back married with four kids for all she knew. He might not be coming back for her. But… she had to hope. It felt like hope was the only thing she had left in the world. Hope that she could control her hopes. Hope that the man she cared for would come back to her. Hope that everything would be brighter in the future. She had nothing solid to go on, otherwise.

Gambit smiled at her offer. There she was again, looking out for him. Making sure he had somewhere to go.

"I'll keep dat in mind." He said, smiling down at her gently.

Rogue huffed at that. "And if ya get yaself in any trouble, you got the X-Men's number, right?"

Now Gambit chuckled, "Oui, and you have moi card."

Rogue looked at him, confused.

He then produced the queen of hearts card from his deck in his pocket and handed it over to her.

"Oh," she said, taking it from him and blushing slightly.

"You ever need to get hold of moi again, dis time, when you go through de guild, just tell em it's de queen of hearts callin' for Remy LeBeau, non?" he said, enjoying the blush that grew on Rogue's face and how her jaw fell open.

It really did put a smile on his face, making her look like that one last time. He almost wondered why he had been avoiding her. Why he hadn't done this more when he was around the mansion. Then, he remembered, he had to leave.

"I best be of now, Cherie." He said, putting his hands back in his pockets.

"Oh, yeah. Right. Yeah, I think that farmer guy's gonna flip his lid if I don't move the jet soon." Rogue said, looking around for something, anything.

Gambit chuckled, taking Rogue's hand and kissing the back of it before he began to walk away.

"Au revoir, mon Cherie." He said, before turning and leaving Rogue to jump back on his bike.

Rogue, reluctantly, made her way back to her jet.

Xxxxx

Above them floated a figure that neither had noticed. His fist clenched tightly by his side at what he saw. He hadn't heard what was said, but he'd seen the hug, the reluctance to let the other go, the glancing into each other's eyes, deeply and the kiss on the hand. He watched as Rogue left the Cajun scum, seeming almost upset. It… hurt him. Seeing his Rogue, the love of his life, love another. She had lied to him. Told him she didn't have feelings for Gambit, didn't she? Yet, here she was, chasing after him and pouring her heart out over him.

It made him angry. Made him want to take control of the jet Rogue was now in and just take her away. Away from that demon eyed charmer. Away from everyone who would take her away from him. Away to make her his. But then, would she ever be able to look at him the same way if he did that?

Joseph felt his anger leave him and he released the grin of the metal on the plan. He watched how Rogue had been confused when he had control over the jet, why nothing was working. She looked panicked, almost. And then, once he had let go, he watched her ease and take back control, flying away, back towards the mansion.

He had been right.

Joseph flew off.