30
Rogue managed to console herself and make herself presentable for dinner. She was just brushing through her hair when Merci burst through her door.
"There y' are!" she snipped, slamming the door shut behind her.
Rogue had seen Merci highly irritated before, but this time, those sharp slits were on her.
"How dare y' just take off like dat! Y' had moi near worried half t' death y' stupide morveuse!" Merci snapped.
Rogue wasn't too sure how to react to Merci's temper. But Merci acted for her, grabbing her shoulders tightly and hugging her close.
"Don't y' go doin' a stupide t'ing like dat again!" Merci warned, her voice easing.
Rogue was unsteady at first, but then, slowly, brought her hands up to hug Merci back. It was strange. She expected Merci to have a go at her for the same reasons Remy had or just walk away in disapointment like Henri had. As Rogue hugged Merci and felt like she was getting the comfort she needed, she let her guilt eat away at her a bit. She had wanted to tell Meric, Henri and Tante her reasons for agreeing to do the heist before she went and did it. She wanted to tell them that, she badly wanted to stay and she feared that wouldn't happen if she didn't, at least, show signs of moving in the direction Jean-Luc wanted her to. She was doing it for them. So she didn't have to leave them. But, she had a strong feeling they only would have prevented her and she couldn't have that.
Merci pulled away and looked Rogue in the eyes. She began shaking her head, as if, in disbelief.
"Y' took off with Theo?" Merci asked.
Rogue began to drop her hands as Merci said this. She became warey of the next words out of Merci's mouth.
"Yeah," Rogue said.
"On a heist?" Merci questioned, still seeming to be in disbelief.
Rogue dropped her hands fully, seeing the little ting of disappointment in the corners of Merci's eyes.
"That a problem?" Rogue asked, shooting Merci a sceptical look. She knew she was using Remy's technique as a way to block Merci's on coming assault, but it was a gift from that Cajun, she found, was helping to protect her.
"Well, non. Not really. But I just wish y' told us, is all," Merci said.
Rogue really wanted to show relief. Really wanted to let her guard down with Merci and be open with her about why she did what she did and hadn't said anything to her. But, the disappointment and attitudes of both Henri and Remy were preventing her.
"So ya could try an' convince meh otherwise?" Rogue asked, trying to keep her tone even as she dug at what Merci's hidden agenda might have been.
"What? Non! Already told y', Henri an' me, we help y' do what y' please," Merci said.
"But, if it interfiers with what ya's both want, y'll go outta ya way t' try an' make sure it dun't happen, right?" Rogue asked, feeling the foul emotions Remy had caused her before come rushing back to her.
"We might not want y' t' play Jean-Luc's games, but dat be only for y' own good," Merci said.
Rogue threw her hands up into the air and looked to the skies above.
"Mah own good! Mah own good," Rogue near screamed out, becoming almost hysterical with rage. "Tell meh Merci, what's good for meh, huh? Stayin' here? Doin' whatever y' an' Henri want? Makin' Jean-Luc an' Remy suffer? What is it that's good for meh? Please tell meh. An', more importantly, tell meh why! 'cause everyone else seems ta know what's best for meh expect me. Everyone one seems t' have their own opinions on what's good for meh and what ah should or shouldn't be doin'. Everyone! But no one's willin' ta explain why it's for mah own good. So please, enlighten meh," Rogue snapped at her, folding her arms back over her chest.
"Y' be blowin' dis outta proportion," Merci said.
"Am ah? All thieves lie, steal an' cheat ta get what they want. That's what ya got taught, wasn't it?" Rogue demanded to know. When Merci didn't response, she said: "Y'all are wantin' meh ta do stuff an' tell meh it's for mah own good, but then not tellin' meh why an' ah ain't buyin' it. Not anymore. Ya already tried liein' ta meh once. Don't try an' take meh for a fool a second time."
"I ain't once thought of y' as that," Merci warned, her eyes harsh. "An' ah kept moi intentions from y' once, but I was always honest 'bout carin' for y'. But, if y' wanna go on, throwin' dat in mon visage every chance y' get, den fine! Next time y' lost, don't expect moi or Henri t' bail y' out!"
With that, Merci took off out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Rogue stood, staring at her bedroom door for a time. She was still angry. And that's all she could feel because she knew, if she let that go of her anger, she'd just feel the pain that was threatening to strangle her. She had to tell herself that she was right in what she was doing and the best person to look out for herself and be the shot caller of her actions was herself. It was becoming way too confusing to try and do what everyone else wanted her to do, so she was doing what she was for her own good and, hopefully, everyone elses.
Taking in a breath, Rogue sorted the last few things in her room and then took off towards the dining room.
xxxxx
French Translations
Moi - Me
Stupide Morveuse - Stupid Brat
Non - No
Mon Visage - My Face