16
A tipsy Merci was an even louder verson of a regular Merci when sober. And she spoke a lot more French, leaving Rogue lost half the time. But, she got the gist of what Merci was saying after she told her how Etienne seemed to be making moves on her all night. Merci's vibrate curses and mutterings lasted all the way till they were at the next bar. Rogue didn't manage to get much out of Merci the reason why Etienne was so insistant on having a drink with her tonight and since she was near drunk, she let it go.
Rogue had been greatful when Remy slipped in front of her just as they were about to enter and took her hand. She found herself reaching for it, not wanting to fight the security she felt when he was guiding her through a packed bar. When she looked up at Remy though, he still seemed to be silently fumming.
Henri took Merci and began leading her through to the beer gardens at the back of the bar as well. The gardens had been cut off for the night for the thieves' night out.
As soon as they were in the clear, Remy dropped Rogue's hand and walked away .She found herself frowning after him. If he closed off from her, she wouldn't get her answers.
As more thieves began to make their way to the beer gardens, Rogue made a move to sit next to Remy on the bench. When she glanced up at him, she found him staring at her. She was sure a smirk of sorts was playing at the edge of his lips, but it never showed.
"What?" Rogue demanded to know.
"Been a while since I seen y' under moonlight, " Remy said which instantly made Rogue blush.
Her attention became side tracked as another body moved to sit next to her. Rogue turned her head, seeing Emil beside her. He had a rather large, boyish smile on his face that was filled with juvinial hope.
"So, how y' findin' it so far?" Emil asked.
"Y' mean the bar?" Rogue asked. "It's alright," she said, noticing Henri and Merci taking a seat opposite her and Remy.
Rogue realised that the beer gardens were going to become extremely crowded soon considering the high number of thieves who had come out. Rogue was starting to get why Remy thought they wouldn't be able to talk much.
"Non non, crashin' wit' us," Emil asked.
"Oh well…" Rogue said, thinking of her answer since she couldn't be rude and just ignore Emil. "Honestly, y'all have been drivin' meh crazy at times, but it's startin' ta feel almost normal."
Emil chuckled at that.
"Oui, y' be fittin' in nicely! Takin' down three thieves in a row, quite une achievement," he said.
"Deux," Remy corrected Emil behind Rogue.
"Ah don't know 'bout that," Rogue said, smirking.
"How much y' put on her t' win?" Remy asked Emil, looking straight past Rogue.
Rogue grimaced, feeling like Remy had become tense again. The muscles in his face didn't seem to be as relaxed as when he'd been speaking with her alone. There was definetly an air about him that felt different. She turned her attention on to Emil, interested in what his response might be.
"Why, I had every faith in de pair'a y'," Emil said.
Rogue scrowled at that.
"Not what he asked," Rogue said, now glaring at Emil.
"Be rude t' say who I be routin' for," Emil answered once again.
"It's rude ta place a bet on or against someone without askin' their permission. Now, spill already!" Rogue demanded.
She saw Emil swallow something and heard Henri chuckling from the other side of the table. She saw Emil's eyes glance from her to Remy behind her and then return to hers. After a long pause, Emil turned away.
"All on y'," he muttered.
"Excuse meh?" Rogue questioned.
"All on y' t' win," Emil admitted.
"How much?" Rogue asked.
"Cent," he said.
"English," she responded.
"Five big ones," he replied, not meeting Rogue's eyes.
"Oh really?" Rogue asked, leaning her chin against her fist. "How many zeros we talkin'?" She asked.
"Three," Emil said.
"Three, huh? Was there a time limit?" she asked.
"Eight minutes," Emil responsed.
"Seriously?" Rogue asked. "Ya bet five thousand on meh ta beat Remy in eight minutes?"
Emil seemed to go lower in his seat and the whole table seemed to go quite.
"An' y' weren't even gonna give meh a cut?" Rogue asked.
Emil's eyebrow rose at this.
"Seriously Emil!" Rogue scounded. "Next time, bet double the numbers an' make it half the time so ah can get a bigger cut."
The whole table burst into laughter at that.
"Y' aint mad?" Emil asked.
"Mad? Ah'm fummin'!" Rogue said, not being able to resist a smile. "Ya wasted a good deal there by not includin' meh in on ya stupided gamblin' habit. Seriously!"
Emil seemed to look relieved a little.
"T'ink y' best start makin' up for y' bad judgements," Remy cut in. "Bar be dat way," he pointed towards the bar.
Nobbing his head in agreement, Emil stood up.
"What y' drinkin'?" he asked Rogue.
"Oh, erm," Rogue said, now glancing at Remy. "Ah didn't mind the wine ah tried," Rogue said.
"Oh, we can share une bouteitle!" Merci beamed from where she sat opposite Rogue.
"Might not be such a bad idea," Henri chimmed in, glancing with a smirk at his fiancé.
Merci made to elbow him in the side, but Henri caught her elbow and brought her in close so he could mutter something in her ear.
Emil took off after that, disappearing back into the bar.
"Four minutes, huh? Y' really t'ink y' could take moi down in dat time?" Remy questioned Rogue, regaining her attention.
Rogue's smirk grew as she saw Remy's resting smirk had returned. It seemed like a step in the right direction.
"Please, ah was holdin' back on ya," Rogue replied.
"Oh," he muttered, "dat so?"
"Yes, it is. Wanted move time t' wipe the floor with ya, so didn't bother ending things early," Rogue said.
"Y' sure dat be de reason?" Remy asked, his smirk growing to show teeth. "Way I see it, y' kept leavin' y' right knee open for de takin'. Coulda had y' pinned in less dan one,"
"Ha !" Rogue snapped out, "Who's ta say ah didn't do that on purpose?"
Remy snorted.
"Y' need t' work on y' bluffs chérie," he said.
"Who's bluffin'?" Rogue asked, finding herself becoming more at ease as Remy's features softened.
But that didn't last long as Remy was kept from responding when his name was called out.
"Remy, thought that be y'!" came a feminine voice from the door to outside.
Both Rogue and Remy turned their heads to see a couple of women poking their heads around the door.
"Well, y' ain't even gonna say hello?" the woman asked.
Rogue turned just in time to see Remy smiling at the two women. He then proceeded to leave.
"Be back in two," he muttered.
Rogue frowned as she saw Remy disappear behind the door with the two women; Etienne's words coming back to her mind as he did.
"Dat garcon can pick up any girl he chooses. Like he got some sort of magnet for it or somethin'. All he needs do is glance at a femme an' she be putty in his hands, see."
She turned back to the table, resting her head against her fist gloomly. She tried to tell herself she was just annoyed she'd lost the chance to ask Remy more about herself, but there was something else nagging at her.
"They're old clients," Henri said.
Rogue glanced upwards, seeing Merci had stood up and moved off to speak with someone else. Henri was the only one sat at the table with her now.
Rogue shrugged, not liking how sweaty her neck felt.
"None'a mah business really," she said.
"Right," Henri responded, rolling his R and making his disbelief clear. "Probably have another job for him. We don't usually accept jobs outside de guild, but Remy always seemed t' like doin' he's own business."
Rogue raised her eyebrow at this. Henri just shrugged.
"Dat red head who popped her face around, ain't seen her before. Guessin' she be de new client," Henri said.
Rogue tried smiling at Henri, figuring he was trying to be reassuring of something. Rogue wasn't completely sure why she was reacting the way she was. Probably because Remy and Etienne had just confused her when it came to her relationship with him.
"Y' gettin' what y' want outta him?" Henri asked.
"Ah was," Rogue said, her smile growing proudly.
"What's de catch?" he asked.
Rogue thought for a moment about what she agreed to. It was true that she agreed to go back home when Remy told her to, but only if he gave her a good enough reason. She had a feeling though, telling Henri that wasn't such a good idea. Especially since he wanted her to keep turning Remy's attempts to get her to return home down. So, she figured, she'd take a leap out of the thieves' books since they were all trying to play her anyway.
Rogue shrugged her shoulders, trying her best to keep her face straight.
"Think he just felt guilty 'bout before. Started apologisin' in his own way an' offered ta tell meh a few more things," Rogue said, twisting her own truth.
Henri's eyebrow went up at that straight away and a sceptical look crossed his face. It was clear as day he didn't believe her, but Rogue kept to her guns.
"If y' say so petite," he finally caved.
A body climbed onto the bench beside Rogue. Rogue turned, expecting to see Remy emerging back from wherever he'd disappeared to, but instead, found Theo sat there.
"Remy doin' some side huslin' again?" Theo said, mainly to Henri.
"Oui, guessin' he be makin' his way over to Emil soon after," Henri stated.
"Best be no fireworks," Theo said, frowning.
Rogue frowned at this too, feeling like she was missing something again.
"Maybe not t'night, but they be pushin' it. Don't suppose y' put your piece in?" Henri said, seeming amused.
Theo snorted at that.
"Didn't t'ink it be smart," Theo said, glancing at Rogue now.
Rogue meet Theo's eyes, unsure what to make of things.
"Y' ain't drinkin'?" Theo asked.
"Tried a few wines. Emil went off ta fetch a drink. Might just lay off em though if Remy's right an' y'all are plannin' on goin' for a walk about," Rogue said, knowing the wine was making her feel a little lighter in many ways. Some good, some bad.
"Smart. We do tend t' visit many places in une nuit. I ain't here t' drag bodies 'round, so if y' do wanna stay, I suggest y' stick t' one drink a bar," Theo said.
Rogue nodded her head in agreement.
"Merci told meh 'bout your role tonight. Why'd they stick y' with babysittin' duty?" she asked.
"We take it in turns. T'night be mien," he said.
"Ya sent Eti home when he got too drunk?" Rogue asked, already knowing the answer.
"Oui," Theo said. "Got more important t'ings t' do then handle un ivrogne."
"Guessin' he was a handful," Rogue replied, remembering how Etienne had clung to her.
"Always is, an' he ain't the only one," Theo said as his eyes shifted over to Merci.
Henri sighed, getting up from the bench and moving towards Merci who was currently standing on top of a table. She was being egged on by some of the other thieves to dance and strip and Henri was having none of it.
"Looks like she's havin' fun," Rogue said, trying to hold back her own smile.
"She'll be de next t' go. Always is. An' just like Etienne, she be a pain t' find transport home for," Theo replied.
"What'd y' mean by that?" Rogue asked.
"Managed t' convince one'a de others to give up their nuit an' take Eti back. Cost moi, but better dan de alternative. Gotta be in deux place at once. Ain't 'llow t' leave till de last person I assigned t' calls it a night," Theo explained.
"What's the alternative? What happens if ya just chill for the night rather than worry about people?" Rogue asked.
Theo's eyes had a touch of seriousness to them, but it wasn't harsh.
"Well, anyt'ing. If y' ain't noticed, y' ain't really hangin' with'a wholesome bunch. Mischief follows each one'a us everywhere. If somet'ing bad were t' happen t' any one'a em on my watch, well, I say dat be punishment enough," Theo said.
Rogue frowned at how dark Theo became.
"Ah can understand that," Rogue said, watching Henri take Merci over his shoulder to bring her down from the table.
"Ah'm sorrah for stormin' off on y' back when ah did. Just needed some space," Rogue explained.
"Ain't judgein' y' there," Theo said.
Rogue glanced at the thieves in front of her. Henri had decided to become playful and was now spinning around with Merci still on his shoulders. Rogue smiled as she watched them.
"Is it strange that, to meh, this kinda feels normal?" Rogue asked.
"Normal, huh? Well, if dis be normal for y' then y' must be used t' strange," Theo said.
Rogue shrugged her shoulders, "This dun't feel strange t' meh. Y'all drive meh crazy at times, but, ah don't know… just feels familiar."
"That right?" Theo asked.
Henri came back over to their bench, seating Merci down as he did.
"Guess I should go check what be takin' dat garcon so long wit' our drinks," Henri said, straightening and moving towards the inside of the bar.
As soon as Henri was gone, Merci's smirk grew and she was back up and at it. Theo and Rogue just chuckled as they watched the thief who was responsible for Merci tonight take over Henri's position of trying to get her down off the table.
"If y' be findin' hangin' with a buncha scoundrel's relaxin, I reckon y' might like what it is we do in de night," Theo said.
"Huh?" Rogue said, turning to put her full attention on Theo.
"Y' never thought 'bout doin' what we do?" Theo asked. "Mind y', not many people turn t' dis life unless they have t'. Although, can't help but t'ink y'd get a thrill outta what we do."
"Y' mean y' job?" Rogue asked, not quite sure where Theo was heading with this.
He nodded his head, slightly. "I got somet'ing comin' up in de next few days if y' be interested. Wanna come? See what it is we do? Know if dis be de life for y'?" Theo said.
"Y' mean, on a job? With y'? But ah'm not a-"
"I'd keep y' safe," Theo interrupted. "Der really is honour amongst thieves, y' know. We look out for one another. Keep each other outta trouble too big t' handle alone. Y' don't have t' make a decision right here, but t'ink on it. Oh, an' keep it t' y'rself, non? Remy be a petite overprotective of y'."
Rogue scrunched her eyebrows up at that.
"Overprotective?" she questioned.
That word and Remy in the same sentence seemed odd. Sure, he kept stepping in when it came to crowd control around her and he did step in when Etienne became too much, but overprotective? Ever since she'd arrived, he'd been trying to get rid of her. From what Henri said, it was because his father wanted her here and Remy wanted to go against anything his father wanted just to get back at him for some unknown reason. But, then again, if Remy was protective of her, wouldn't that explain his reasoning to her when it came to trying to get her to leave? Being protective was being caring after all and tonight, he'd definetly made it seem like he cared. He had said he wanted her to leave so she would be with people who'd look after her properly. Was that him being protective of her?
Theo snorted at her response, his smirk growing
The backdoor opened and Remy returned. Rogue saw his eye land on Theo beside her. Whatever contacts he was wearing to cover his ebony and crimson eyes were definetly beginning to fade away fast. The red of his iris' were coming through and circling the brown in his eyes as he glanced at Theo. It made him look murderous once more.
Theo, however, just rose as Remy entered the beer garden, and left her alone.
Remy watched him go before taking his seat back besides Rogue. Rogue wondered about that glare Remy had just shot Theo. It was the same one he'd shot Etienne. Was he over protective of her?
xxxxx
French Translations
Non - No
Oui - Yes
Deux - Two
Cent - Five
Une bouteille - A Bottle
Moi - Me
Cherie - Darling
Peitite - Small One
La Nuit - The Night
Mien - Mine