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#
# Backup to CEREBRO_RESTORE script.
#
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function Backup - LeBeau. RE
$lebeau01 = /hippocampus/prior0360days
$lebeau01Backup = \CerebroRestore\ mutantsA-L. krakoa .cradle002
& $runbackup .exe
Remy stood at the front door, staring across the porch to the ocean beyond. The moon and starlit sky reflected on the ocean's choppy surface like a shattered mirror. Nighttime birds called to one another in the jungle growth. Remy held Figaro in his arms, petting the feline while the cat play-fought his fingers. Absently, Remy turned and placed the cat into his carrier with the other two cats. Lucifer reached out a paw and meowed plaintively, wanting to be released.
Moving to the kitchen table, he picked up the letter he'd written, read it again. An explanation, a plea, an apology. Remy's powers flared and the letter began to disintegrate. He let the remnants fall into the cast-iron skillet on the stovetop, then put the skillet into the oven and let the rest burn. Remy went to the bar cart, picked up the bottle of bourbon. He poured the remainder of the bottle into a highball glass. He took it back to the kitchen table and sat. For a long time, he fixed blankly on the glass held between his hands. Finally, he lifted it to his lips and took a swallow. It tasted like nothing to him, but he felt the burning in his throat.
The front door opened, hinges softly squeaking. The house needed constant maintenance due to the high humidity, the tropical climate. It had been neglected, he'd been too long away in a lighthouse. She'd been...somewhere. Who knew. The moonlight reflected silver on the stripe in her hair as she passed through the doorway. She gave a soft gasp, startled at seeing Remy's figure sitting there in the dark. Rogue flicked on the overhead light. Remy blinked, eyes momentarily dazzled. As his eyes adjusted, he was able to note the look of surprise on her face.
"What'cha doin' sitting in the dark, sugar?" she asked, mouth forming a tremulous smile, eyes darting away. Her cheeks were pink. Her hair was mussed. Maybe she had been flying.
Remy sipped his bourbon. "Don't need light t'see," he responded.
Rogue busied herself by taking off her shoes, placing them carefully on the mat beside the door. "You're back early. I didn't expect to see you 'til later. How was babysitting?"
Remy looked down at his shirt. There was still a smear of something sticky on his sleeve, where Jubilee's son Shogo had reached out a hand to grip him. Remy had smiled at the baby when the little one pulled himself to his feet. Felt pride he wasn't entitled to. Shogo had released his grip. He then toddled on his feet for a moment, delighted at his own cleverness, before falling back onto his diapered bottom. A look of surprise on his face threatened to turn into tears until Remy had tickled him. Remy didn't share this experience with Rogue, the little miracle of watching a child realize his potential.
Instead he said: "Jubilee decided she'd rather get eight hours of sleep than watch a bunch of adults get drunk and make fools of themselves. Came home early."
Rogue let out a soft laugh. "She might be the most mature of any of us."
"Certainly don't blame her none. Party scene gets old. She did cut into my snuggle time though," Remy added.
Rogue's mouth pursed. Her eyes avoided his own as she perused the refrigerator for a bottle of water.
"Lucky the cats were here for me," Remy continued. "Went lookin' for you at the party. Couldn't find you."
"It was crowded," Rogue answered, closing the refrigerator. She opened the bottle of water, moved to raise it to her lips. Remy caught her arm and the water spilled.
"Remy!" she chided, a frown between her brows. "What-!"
Remy held her forearm firmly. He was still seated, motionless at the kitchen table. He loosened his grip, opened his hand and looked down at her slim wrist. "Good thing you wore your new bracelet. Could'a been bad for me if I scared you. Party make you nervous, Rogue?"
Rogue withdrew her arm, held it protectively against herself. "Remy…" her eyes were bright, nervous...caught. "There were a lot of people."
Remy stood then, towering over her as he took her by the shoulders. He pulled her body against himself suddenly, kissed her mouth roughly. She made a small sound of protest and he released her. Rogue took a hasty step backwards away from him.
"What do you think you're doin'?" she asked, now angry.
"Got the impression you liked a man in charge," Remy told her, gave a bitter laugh. He looked away from her angry face. "Well, maybe not this particular man. Prefer this one a fool in love, enh? Or maybe just a fool."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Rogue snapped, whipping her gaze away. Her eyes fell on the empty glass on the tabletop. "Are you drunk?"
"Punch-drunk, mebbe," he responded. "You got me on the ropes." He walked past her, picked up the cat carrier. From the couch, he lifted his travel bag and pulled the strap across his body.
"Where are you going?" Rogue demanded. "Come back here. Sit down. We need to talk, about whatever it is that's goin' on with you, with us."
He didn't look back as he walked towards the door. "You want to talk now, do you? About us? Since when d'you care to listen to what I got t'say? Well, I got nothin' to say to you now. Except goodbye."
Remy pushed out the front door, crossed the front porch and descended the steps. Maybe she didn't pursue him because she thought he'd come back. He always came back. She was never one to chase after him anyway. Remy walked to the ledge overlooking the sea. He opened his fist, regarded the trinket he gripped there. Then he sent the bracelet flying into the water where a wave leapt and caught it. Nothing left to fear now, not for him. He'd finally faced what scared him. He would survive.
Next time: Polaris and the very spooky haunted house.