The Blood Red Rose Chapter 2
Disclaimer: Not ours, they belong to Marvel and Anne Rice. Blue Monday belongs to Orgy.
Blue Monday
How does it feel to treat me like you do?
When you've laid your hands upon me
And told me who you are, I thought I was mistaken
I thought I heard your words, Tell me, how do I feel
Tell me now, How do I feel
Those who came before me, Lived through their vocations
From the past until completion, They'll turn away no more
And I still find it so hard, To say what I need to say
But I'm quite sure that you'll tell me, Just how I should feel today
I see a ship in the harbor, I can and shall obey
But if it wasn't for your misfortune, I'd be heavenly person today
And I thought I was mistaken, And I thought I heard you speak
Tell me how do I feel, Tell me now, how should I feel
Now I stand here waiting, I thought I told you to leave me
While I walked down to the beach, Tell me how does it feel
When your heart grows cold
The mansion in New York
"Hey Rogue how was your trip?" Jean asked as she entered the kitchen and poured herself a coffee.
Rogue looked up from the paper she was reading and said "Oh it was the most wonderful time. Remy sure knows how to make a gal feel special."
"Where is Remy? I haven't seen him since you two got back last night." Jean asked as she took a seat at the table with Rogue.
"I think he went to talk with Storm. He's been kinda moody ever since we got back. He said there was something he needed to talk to her about." Rogue replied with a little frown.
Remy lightly knocked on Ororo's door. When he heard her, say 'come in'; he grabbed the doorknob and opened it.
Remy leaned against the doorframe with his arms across his chest and watched Storm water her plants until she said, "What can I do for you Remy?"
Remy just smiled, "Enjoying the view Stormy."
Storm put down her water pitcher and turned to face her best friend with a frown on her face. "I have asked you several times to quit calling me that."
Remy walked over to her bed arrogantly and laid down, as he put his arms behind his head, he said teasingly, "You love it, admit it."
Ororo just shook her head, her long white ponytail moving with her. "No I don't." she laughed.
Remy sat up, and smiled, "You say you don' but your eyes say different."
"Is there something you wanted?" asked Storm relaxing in the chair beside her bed.
"Guess who I ran into in New Orleans wit' Rogue?" said Remy, his mood immediately turning somber.
"Someone from the Guild?" asked Ororo.
"Non."
"BellaDonna?"
"Non!" Remy shouted.
"Then who,"
"Lestat and Louis," said Remy, unemotionally.
Storm immediately sat up straight with a startled look on her face, "Did they try and kill you again?"
Remy groaned, "Non, Dat was settled a long time ago. Dey introduced themselves to Rogue."
"Is that not against one of their coven's law?" asked Storm bewildered.
"Oui, dey up t' somet'ing wit' Rogue, I know it," said Remy, playing with the items on Storms night table.
"These are vampires, what would they want with her? They can't turn her because of her invulnerable skin," said Ororo unconvinced.
"I don' know," said Remy frustrated, putting down her hairbrush.
"What I think happened was that when they saw you in New Orleans and they wanted to unnerve you. They know you would never tell anyone about them so they know that they have nothing to worry about."
"I hope your right," Remy suddenly smiled at Storm, "I told you didn' I?"
"Well they have no way of knowing that, do they?" said Storm grinning back at Remy.
In an older section of New Orleans
Lestat walked up the three steps to the porch of the old Victorian style home, this time of his own accord. Without knocking he opened the door and entered the premises.
"I've been waiting for you," said an eloquent, disembodied voice from the parlor. It drifted into the lobby where Lestat stood.
Lestat had heard the voice only once before today and it had not been by choice. The voice, Lestat knew, belonged to a man who wielded magic and had powers over all things dead, including vampires. Lestat casually walked into the parlor to stand in front of the Necromancer. The man was nothing special to behold an elderly man of about 60, distinguished looking but small and frail with age. But Lestat knew better. This man was 400 years old at a rough guess and his name, Nortatem, was older than that. He also knew that he was not as frail and helpless as he appeared. In fact, this old man had enough power to summon the vampire against his will. The old man had a deal he wanted to make with Lestat and Louis. A deal, whose terms, the vampires had decided to accept.
"Well, how could I stay away?" Lestat replied his voice dripping with contempt and sarcasm. The Necromancer just chuckled in response.
Lestat looked around at the unassuming room. It was clean and tastefully decorated in an understated way. The room suggested history without being dusty or run down. The old man suggested the same. The only thing that seemed unusual for a man his age was the ornate rings on each hand with the blood red stones.
"Have you made contact?" Nortatem asked as he took a seat in a red velvet chair with wooden claw feet.
"Yes" hissed Lestat, not even attempting to hide the hate in his voice.
Completely unfazed by the tone, the Necromancer continued, "Good. Keep me informed as things progress. You know exactly what to do?"
"We will keep up our end of things, you need not fear that. But you had better keep your end of this deal," said Lestat in a threatening tone as he turned to leave.
"Of course," replied the Necromancer as he chuckled again, thinking what a feisty creature this vampire was. He had never worked with vampires before and they were quite unlike the skeletons and zombies he was used to. These vampires were so much more unpredictable. He watched Lestat walked away, he knew that he would have to watch this one carefully.
As Lestat left the house, he thought of all the savage ways he would like to destroy the Necromancer. But that pleasure would have to wait until the transaction was complete and the amulet was his. Once it was in his possession and it's protection from magic abilities had been transferred to him; the Necromancer would be easy pickings, almost as easy as the assignment before him. This was going to be fun...
2 weeks later in New York
Rogue was stretched out on her bed with a book in her hands. She was so engrossed in her book that she didn't hear the faint knock on her door. As Rogue was about to turn the page, she noticed the distinct odor of cigarette smoke in her room. She glanced towards her door and sure enough, Remy was standing there. He was leaning against her doorway with his arm above his head and a cigarette in his other head. He looked incredibly sexy in his painted on black jeans and a black T-shirt, his leather jacket over top. Rogue could tell by the shade of his crimson eyes that he was feeling a little mischievous tonight. He gave her a sexy smile and gestured towards the book she was reading.
"How many times have you read dat t'ing?" he said.
"It's a classic," she said turning her attention back to her book, trying to ignore him, but she knew it would be impossible when he was acting this way.
"Frankly my dear I don' give a damn," he said imitating Rhett Butler and then laughing whole-heartedly.
Rogue turned her attention back to Remy and scowled at him; "Don't you have somewhere you have to be?"
Remy walked over to the window, unfazed by Rogue, and threw his cigarette out the window, noticing that she gave him another dirty look as he did it.
"Oui, I wanted t' know if you would like t' join Stormy and I." he said turning to face Rogue, still smiling at her.
"Not tonight sugah," she said, yawning.
"I should have dat on tape, how many times you said dat t' me," he said admiring Rogues uncovered, muscular legs, "let me guess, you have a headache, chere."
Rogue looked from Remy's gaze to her legs and rolled her eyes, "You have a one track mind Cajun."
Remy smiled and stretched out his arms and said playfully, "A man has needs, chere."
"Yeah, well, go introduce yourself to the palm sisters," she said pointing towards her bathroom, "Your welcome to use my bathroom if you need to but just clean up your mess after please," said Rogue, her smile hiding behind her book.
Remy stood there with his mouth open in shock, he then grinned, as he put his hands over his heart, "Your generosity makes my heart beat jus' a little faster, chere. I shall take you up on your offer if you would do me de honor of watchin'."
Remy crouched to avoid the pillow Rogue threw at his head; he walked towards the door before another projectile was thrown in his direction.
"Get out of here and go have fun with Ororo," said Rogue, trying to sound irritated, but she failed miserably.
"You sure now," said Remy, standing at Rogue's door, ready to make a break for it, "it would only take a few minutes."
"Get out ya pervert!" yelled Rogue, as another pillow went flying, instead of hitting Remy it hit the closed door that he had just made a quick exit from.
Rogue heard Remy laughing as he walked down the hall towards Storms room. Rogue glanced at her clock beside her bed and it read midnight.
"Crazy," she muttered as she turned her light off and went to asleep.
*************************************************
The next morning, Rogue didn't have to open her eyes to know what was waiting for her. She breathed deeply inhaling the sweet fragrance of the flower Remy had left for her.
She opened her eyes and saw the red rose, lying on top of her book. She smiled as she sat up and stretched her arms into the air. Still smiling, she picked up the flower and twirled it beneath her nose, thinking that she was lucky to know the sweetest man on earth. She put down the flower and proceeded to get dressed so she could go thank Remy for his thoughtfulness. She grabbed a pair of jeans and a pink T-shirt from her dresser and put them on. She grabbed her gloves and put them on as she was leaving her room. She stopped in the doorway, smiling she walked back into her room and jumped on her bed, leaning over to grab the flower so she could take it with her.
As Rogue walked down the hall, she passed by Logan. He was going to ask her where she had gotten the flower, but the smile on her face told him whom it was from.
"Off to see the Cajun?" he asked, stopping to talk.
"Yep," she said, as she walked by Logan.
Logan shook his head, thinking if it wasn't for Rogues powers they would be probably be as annoying as Scott and Jean.
"No. Gumbo's room is next to mine it would be worse," he thought, watching her walk down the hallway, with a raised eyebrow. When Rogue was out of sight he turned and headed to the garage to enjoy a cigar
When Rogue came to Remy's door she knocked lightly, hoping he was still sleeping so she could surprise him. She smiled when she didn't hear a response. She turned the doorknob quietly and walked into the room. She dropped the flower to the floor; she was so stunned at the sight in front of her that she held tightly to the door to stop her from falling.
Remy was laying in bed, his naked chest rising and falling in a rhythmic pattern, that told Rogue he was in a deep sleep. His hair was a disheveled mess and he had one arm lying across his forehead. He looked utterly peaceful, which wouldn't have seemed strange to Rogue except the naked body lying next to him. Her long white hair was cascaded across the pillow and onto Remy's muscular shoulder. Her long, slender arm was across Remy's chest and the white sheet across her back was in sharp contrast to her ebony skin.
Rogue stood in total shock, unable to speak or move. When she heard heavy footsteps coming down the hall, that shook her out of her appalled state. She slowly backed out the door, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She ran down the hall towards her room, running literally into Logan.
Logan grabbed Rogue's arms to steady her from falling, he noticed that she was almost in tears. He let go of her and crossed his own muscular arms across his chest in a 'tell your father what happened' posture.
"What did Gumbo do this time? Didn't he come home again?" asked Logan.
"Yeah, he was." said Rogue slowly backing up and then turning around running at maximum speed.
"What the flamin' hell?" Logan said, wondering why Rogue was so upset.
Logan watched Rogue till she was no longer in sight. He decided to find out what was going on. He marched towards the Cajun's door, ready to threaten to break his legs again. As Logan stood in the doorway, he was totally astonished. Never in a million years did he think he would ever see the picture before him. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, until he heard the crash coming from Rogue's room.
'She's tearin' up her room again,' he thought.
Logan looked down on the floor and saw the rose, he crouched over and picked it up. He stared at it for a moment, then turned his attention to the bed.
Logan then became enraged, crushing the flower in his hand. He couldn't believe these two would rip out Rogue's heart like that. He dropped the rose to the floor, strode over to the bed, and jumped on it. Logan sat on his haunches, each leg on either side of Remy's stomach. He placed Ororo's arm gently beside her and turned his attention back to the object of his anger. He leaned over Remy and unsheathed his claws, placing them on each side of Remy's throat, the third itching to be let out.
"Wake up," he said roughly.
Remy groaned and his eyes shot open when he realized the cold feeling on his neck were Logan's claws. He immediately regretted opening his eyes so quickly when the room started to spin.
"Logan, I don' want t' play," said Remy putting his hand over his eyes.
There was a loud crash and both men looked towards the empty doorway. Logan knew what it was, Remy didn't.
"Who's renovatin'?" asked Remy, trying to will the room to stop spinning.
"I think your girlfriend is a little pissed at you for having one too many bodies in your bed, so instead of renovating your face, she's destroying her room, " Logan growled.
Remy, his eyes widening in shock, he turned his head and saw Ororo lying beside him naked. He winced at the pain from Logan's claws cutting his neck.
"What de hell?" said Remy confused, as he looked at Storm, "You mind lettin' me up homme?"
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you bub," growled Logan his eyes ablaze with fury.
"Get up NOW!" yelled Remy starting to panic; wondering what the hell was going on.
"You're still a bum," said Logan shaking his head.
Logan and Remy glared at each other for a moment, and then Logan jumped off of Remy's bed, walked out of the room, and slammed the door behind him.
Remy sat up and felt his throat. His hand came away wet from the blood seeping down his neck. He felt nausea threatening to take over again but he didn't care, he had to get to Rogue. As he threw on his pants, he leaned over the bed and shook Storm. She groaned, slapping his hand away, and rolled over.
"Stormy, wake up," said Remy urgently, as he did up his pants.
"Where's the fire, Remy?" moaned Ororo.
"Stormy, open your eyes," said Remy.
Ororo opened her eyes, but immediately shut them when the first wave of nausea hit.
With her eyes clamped shut and her face in a grimace she groaned "I don't feel very well"
"I t'ink we had t' much t' drink las' night and all hell's is breaking loose," looking under his bed for his shirt.
"Why?" she moaned.
"Open your eyes Stormy," said Remy, grabbing a shirt from his drawer.
Ororo slowly opened her eyes and took in her surroundings, wondering what the problem was, when it suddenly hit her. She was in Remy's room, her eyes widened at the thought of what the implications were. She stared at Remy and by the look on his face, she knew they had been discovered. She then looked down at her own state of undress.
"Oh my," was all she could say.
"Rogue saw us. I have t' go find her, I'll be back soon chere," he said, throwing on his shirt that he retrieved from the drawer and ran out of the room.
As Remy ran towards Rogue's room, he heard her smashing her things to pieces. When he entered her room, he wasn't surprised when he saw her holding her dresser, above her head, and about to toss it out the now smashed window.
She stared at Remy and his heart sank at the combination of sadness and hatred he saw. He took a step towards her, but stopped in his tracks.
"Merde," he cried, doing a forward roll out the door, when Rogue aimed the dresser at him and threw it, with a grunt.
"I hate you!" she screamed, as the dresser went right through the wall.
Remy poked his head around the corner and said pleading, "Chere, it wasn' what it looked like."
Rogue just stared at him incredulously, tears running down her face, her hair blowing from the draft coming from the smashed window.
"It wasn't what it looked like?" she cried, laughing hysterically.
Rogue grabbed a vase, ready to propel it at Remy's head, "Let me guess, you both where ambushed by little green men who stole your clothes and thought they would do you a favor and tuck you in," she screamed in complete hysterics.
Remy just stood there, trying to remember what happened the previous night. No matter how hard he tried, he drew a blank.
"I don' know, chere. I can' remember," he said hoping she would believe him.
"Wrong answer," she yelled, flinging the vase. Remy stepped back into the hallway and the vase hit the spot where his head was a second earlier, shattering into a thousand pieces.
Remy put his head around the corner again and was going to implore Rogue to listen to him when Ororo came running into the room, dressed in Remy's grey sweat pants and a sweater.
"Rogue, please listen," she said begging her.
Rogue's eyes narrowed as she saw whose clothing Storm was wearing. Clenching her fists, she took a step towards Ororo. Remy couldn't believe what Storm was wearing, he knew this was not helping in the least. He saw Rogue take a step towards Ororo and he didn't like the looks of it, so he stepped in between the two women. Unfortunately for him, Rogue took that as a sign that he was protecting Storm.
"Ah should have known," yelled Rogue, trying to stop herself from physically hurting the pair.
"Rogue please listen, it's not what it looked like," said Ororo.
She looked at the pair in disgust and then turned around saying, "You two make me sick."
Remy grabbed Rogues arm and tried to pull her back, but Rogue was tired of listening and she tossed Remy against the wall like a rag doll. She jumped through the window, hovering in the air, she watched with disdain as Storm helped Remy up. When Remy turned towards Rogue, she looked at him with contempt and said, "I hate you," and flew off.
Remy ran to the window shouting her name but she just ignored him. It hurt too much too look at him right now.
"I'll go after her," said Storm moving towards the window, when Remy grabbed her arm.
"Non chere," said Remy, still staring after Rogue, "let her calm down first."
Storm just nodded, her heart heavy, knowing she was the reason Remy's eyes were full of pain. Remy turned around, brushing his hair with his hand and was surprised to see most of the X-men who were home standing in the doorway watching.
Bobby and Warren shook their heads and glared at Remy before they turned to leave. Betsy, Scott and Jean also looked disappointed.
"I'd expect this from you Remy," Scott said with contempt, "But you Ororo, this is unacceptable."
Scott took his wife's hand and turned to leave their noses slightly higher in the air than when they came in.
"It wasn't what it looked like!" said Ororo, falling to the ground in tears.
But there was no one left to try and convince of this, except Remy. The others would hear nothing else of the matter. They were all convinced of the pair's indiscretion.
Storm turned to Remy, the tears starting to subside. "We didn't do anything. Did we?" she asked with a hint a doubt in her voice.
"Honestly, I don' know chere. I can' remember." Remy replied and helped her back up to her feet.
Rogue flew around most of the day, trying to clear her head. She was torn between ripping off Remy's head or tearing his heart out. Either way, they were finished.
The sun began to set and Rogue was physically and emotionally exhausted. She recognized the park just below her so she landed in a secluded clearing amongst the trees.
"Ah think I'll rest and then take a cab to a hotel," she said to no one but herself.
She spotted a bench that was out of the way and unlit by the street lamps. She walked over and sat down, immediately putting her hands over her face, trying to block out the image of Remy and Ororo in bed together.
Tears threatened to spill over again as she went over what happened in her mind. When she finally looked up and saw that it was pitch black out, she decided she better get to a payphone and let the rest of the Xmen know she wasn't coming home tonight or probably for the next few nights.
Rogue stood up and made her way to the nearest phone she remembered being in the park. She dug some money out of her pocket, deposited it into the phone, and dialed the mansion, praying Remy or Ororo didn't picked it up.
"Hello?" said a gruff voice.
Rogue breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized Logan's voice, "Hi Wolvie."
"Darlin', where are you? Everyone's flippin' out worrying about you," said Logan anxiously.
Rogue could hear people fighting in the background; she instantly recognized Remy's voice.
"I'm ok but I'm not coming home tonight," she said turning around to look out at the park.
Rogue saw a man, dressed in total black, sitting at one of the benches. She thought she knew who it was but he was too far way to tell. He was reading a book and seemed engrossed in it.
"Rogue!" yelled Logan, full of panic.
"What! I'm not deaf, you don't have to yell," she said startled, noticing it was quiet all of a sudden in the background on Logan's end.
"Well, answer me damn it!" said Logan and then the fight in the background continued.
"Sorry, just got distracted," she said apologetically.
Logan grunted and said, "Hang on."
Rogue heard Logan put down the phone and a sound of a scuffle, then his claws popping out.
"If you don't knock it off, I'll finish the job I started in your room. The girl is talking to me, not you," Rogue heard Logan say faintly.
"Go ahead and try it homme," said Remy muffled.
Scott's voice was next. It was too faint for Rogue to hear, but from the tone he was ready to shoot both Logan and Remy with his optic blasts.
Remy must have given up because Logan came back on the phone, although she heard Remy swearing at him in French.
"Rogue, come home," he said, hopefully.
"No," she said firmly.
"We can't help you if you don't come home darlin'. You're not solving anything by running away again." He said, trying to reason with her.
"I just can't Wolvie," she whispered, tears running down her face, "I will talk to ya soon sugah."
Although he was yelling for her to wait, Rogue hung up the phone and rested her head against it, trying to compose herself. She wasn't sure if she would be able to go home ever again. Rogue gathered her strength and turned around to make the journey to the hotel, hoping a cab was waiting on the outskirts of the park. She realized that the man was still sitting there reading. She decided to take a closer look to see if indeed she knew him.
As Rogue approached the man, she identified him as the man Remy and she had run into in New Orleans. Tears ran down her face harder as she recalled that night. It was one of her happiest memories. Larry or Lester, she couldn't remember his name and it didn't matter because she was going to walk right by him and head straight for the hotel.
As she walked by, wiping the tears off her face, the man turned his head slightly and Rogue suddenly remembered how attractive he was. His emerald green eyes seemed to shine and his black hair hung in front of his face, giving his face a pale look. She pushed away all good thoughts of men for the time being. She was about to be free and clear when the man looked up and stared at her in suprise.
"Rogue?" he asked, putting down his book.
'Figures, he remembers mine and I can't remember his,' thought Rogue.
Rogue stopped walking, placed a fake smile on her face, and said, "Hi."
"Should you be out here all alone or is Remy with you?" he asked, genuinely concerned.
Rogue's fake smile disappeared, "I can take care of myself sugah."
"Please do not take offense. I can see you can take care of yourself, but one never knows what is lurking in this park."
"Yeah, you," said Rogue a little more harshly than she intended.
Louis seemed not to notice, "Is Remy with you?"
"No, I'm on my way to a hotel," said Rogue regretfully.
"Oh, you are only in town for awhile then, may I buy you a cup off coffee then?" Louis asked hopefully.
Rogue stood there for a moment and contemplated the offer. Remy really didn't like this guy for some reason, which closed the deal in her mind.
"On two conditions," she said adamantly.
"What would that be?" Louis asked.
"One, if you mention Remy's name one time I get to rip your head off," Rogue said, trying to make it sound as light as possible, "two, you have to tell me your name again."
Louis looked shocked for a moment, then started to laugh, "Ok, fine by me, and my name is Louis."
Louis picked up his book, putting it under his arm. He stood up and Rogue noticed again how pale he looked.
"Ready?" he asked, offering his arm to Rogue.
Rogue looked down and thought, "What the hell, I'm covered."
Rogue laced her arm with Louis and they began to walk in a comfortable silence. As they approached the coffee shop, Louis let go of Rogue's arm and he opened the door for her.
They sat down at a out of the way table in the back of the shop and Rogue ordered a coffee, when the waitress asked for Louis order, he didn't want anything.
Rogue looked at Louis incredulously, "Sugah, you sure you don't want anything?"
"Not right now," he said.
"Ok, your loss," said Rogue jokingly, "this place is well know for their coffee."
"I think I'll live," Louis said chuckling, "So what brings you to New York?"
"I live here," said Rogue flatly, her joking mood forgotten.
"Then why do you need a hotel?" asked Louis confused, he suddenly gave Rogue a devilish grin and said, "or does the explanation require my head to be ripped off."
Rogue noticed that this man before her was too good to be true. He was out right gorgeous and he seemed incredibly sweet and funny.
"You would be right about that," said Rogue, genuinely smiling for the first time all day.
"Ok," he paused grinning, "I think we shall change the subject."
Over the course of the next few hours, Rogue and Louis talked about everything. Louis talked of his love of poetry, which totally fascinated Rogue. He then talked of his love of history, particularly France in the 1800's. As Rogue listened to Louis talk about France and New Orleans, she thought to herself that he talked as if he was there.
Rogue told Louis about growing up in Caldecott. She was amazed at how easy it was to talk to this stranger, she even almost told him about her life as a terrorist and the Xmen but then she would have had to talk about Remy and Ororo and she didn't want to think about them right now. Louis seemed to hang on every word she spoke and she smiled at that, Rogue was not a trusting person at all but for some reason, it just felt right.
Rogue started to yawn and looked at the clock on the wall, her eyes widening in surprise.
"No wonder I'm tired, look at the time."
Rogue was about to stand up, tell Louis she had a nice time, and thank him for the distraction when he grabbed her hand.
"Rogue, I know this will seem forward and it is obvious that you would not like to discuss why you do not want to go home, but I have a house near here if you would like. You could stay in the guest room for as long as you like."
"Ah thought ya lived in New Orleans," said Rogue, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.
"I do, but we come here often on business and Lestat thought it would be a good idea to have a home here also," said Louis, confidently.
Rogue was astonished that this man would make such an offer. She thought about it. On one hand she didn't know this man, Remy did and he didn't like him, which made her like him even more. On the other hand, Rogue knew the first place Remy would look for her was the hotel. But all that aside, there was something more here. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on, but she decided she was definitely interested in finding out what that something was.
"Won't Lestat mind," asked Rogue.
"Of course not," said Louis, pleadingly.
"All right, but no funny business," she said pointing at him.
"Or you will rip my head off," he said laughing.
"Exactly."
As they stood up to leave Rogue noticed the book he was reading. She picked it up and looked at it shocked.
"You are reading 'Gone with the Wind?'"
"Yes, I have read it several times," Louis said as if embarrassed.
"You are the first man to ever admit that in public," laughed Rogue.
"I am unlike any other man you have ever met," he said with a sheepish grin.
"Something tells me that's true," she grinned.
After they left the coffee shop, Louis hailed a cab. When they got in, he gave the driver the address and Rogue was shocked to hear it because it was in a very high-class neighborhood.
Louis saw the look on Rogue's face and said, "Lestat believes in the best of everything. I have a car at the house also, so you don't have to worry about getting back."
"Don't worry about helping me with transportation, sugah," she laughed.
Louis just smiled and Rogue thought it was odd that he didn't ask her what she meant, but she was too tired to think about it.
Rogue put her head back on the seat and relaxed. She didn't think she had nodded off, but Louis was suddenly tapping her shoulder, telling her they had arrived. Rogue opened her eyes and was embarrassed when she realized she had been using Louis's shoulder as a pillow.
"Sorry," said Rogue sitting up.
Louis just smiled and said, "My pleasure."
After paying the cabdriver, they both exited the cab, Louis holding the door for Rogue again. Rogue held her breath in awe of the house. It was nothing like her home at the school, but it definitely was a mansion in it's own right. It was easily the nicest in the neighborhood and could only have been populated by New York's rich and famous.
They entered the house, and Rogue was shocked again at how beautifully it was decorated, the house was full of antique furniture. Rogue could hardly believe that two handsome, single men lived at this house. It was completely opposite to what she imagined a bachelor pad to look like. It was decorated in such a way that royalty would probably feel at ease to stay a couple of weeks.
"Let me show you the guestroom," said Louis, walking up the spiral staircase, gesturing for Rogue to follow.
Rogue followed him, admiring the pieces of art on the walls. They stopped and Louis held open the door for Rogue as she entered. The room was done in pale pinks and purples with antique furniture filling the room.
Rogue walked over to the window and said, "This is beautiful."
"I'm delighted you like it," said Louis, walking over to the closet and pulled out a white dress shirt.
"I hope this is suitable for you to wear to bed," he said handing her the shirt.
"It's perfect," she said, noting that the shirt came down to her knees.
"If you need anything else, my quarters are at the end of the hall on the left," he said about to leave, but turned back, "The ladies room is down the hall also, but to your right."
"Ok, thank you again," she said holding a hand over her mouth, yawning.
"My pleasure again," he said smiling and then left, closing the door behind him.
Rogue immediately undressed and put on the shirt, "Good enough," she thought, throwing her gloves on top of the dresser.
She left her room to find the bathroom. She walked down the hallway, looking at the art as she passed by. She recognized a Monet and a Picasso on the walls; she was amazed at what a beautiful home this was. She was about to open the door to the left and was startled when Louis came out, colliding with her. Rogue's hands went to Louis's exposed chest and Rogue jumped back quickly realizing she didn't have her gloves on.
Rogue looked at her hands and his chest and was stunned that she hadn't absorbed anything from him.
"I'm sorry Rogue," he said grabbing her ungloved hand, "Are you ok?"
Rogue just stared at his hand holding on to hers, " Uh, yeah, I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You look a little pale," he asked suddenly concerned.
"No, really, I'm fine," she said a little shaky.
'If I didn't absorb him, I don't need to tell him about my power,' she thought.
"Well if you are ok. Are you looking for the bathroom?" he asked, still holding her hand.
"Uh yeah," suddenly embarrassed, when she noticed he was only wearing the bottoms of black silk pajamas.
"Behind you," he said holding her shoulders and turning her around.
"Thank you," she said, turning to close the door, noticing he was giving her another sexy smile, his green eyes looked at her playfully.
"Your welcome," he said, huskily.
Rogue closed the door, resting her head against it, 'Stop it girl, you just had your heart ripped out by the man that was suppose to love you,' she thought, but allowed herself just one more mental image of that sexy smile.
When Rogue came out of the bathroom, she looked towards Louis' bedroom door and paused. She wasn't sure if she was relieved or disappointed to find that he was not standing in the hall waiting for her. She walked towards the guestroom, too tired to question why she was attracted to him after what happened earlier that morning or why she didn't absorb him.
Rogue was so preoccupied that she didn't see Lestat hunched in the rafters in the ceiling, smiling. He was holding onto a blonde girl by the shoulder, her eyes just blankly staring at nothing. When Rogue closed her door, Lestat floated down to the floor soundlessly with the girl in his arms, and entered Louis's room, saying, "Honey I'm home."
Ok, we know some might be a little miffed about the Remy/Ororo thing, be nice now. Remember it's a story and it will have MANY twists. Please please please review, is that enough pleases. We are posting this earlier than we planned on because everyone was good about reviewing, anyway enough already.
Disclaimer: Not ours, they belong to Marvel and Anne Rice. Blue Monday belongs to Orgy.
Blue Monday
How does it feel to treat me like you do?
When you've laid your hands upon me
And told me who you are, I thought I was mistaken
I thought I heard your words, Tell me, how do I feel
Tell me now, How do I feel
Those who came before me, Lived through their vocations
From the past until completion, They'll turn away no more
And I still find it so hard, To say what I need to say
But I'm quite sure that you'll tell me, Just how I should feel today
I see a ship in the harbor, I can and shall obey
But if it wasn't for your misfortune, I'd be heavenly person today
And I thought I was mistaken, And I thought I heard you speak
Tell me how do I feel, Tell me now, how should I feel
Now I stand here waiting, I thought I told you to leave me
While I walked down to the beach, Tell me how does it feel
When your heart grows cold
The mansion in New York
"Hey Rogue how was your trip?" Jean asked as she entered the kitchen and poured herself a coffee.
Rogue looked up from the paper she was reading and said "Oh it was the most wonderful time. Remy sure knows how to make a gal feel special."
"Where is Remy? I haven't seen him since you two got back last night." Jean asked as she took a seat at the table with Rogue.
"I think he went to talk with Storm. He's been kinda moody ever since we got back. He said there was something he needed to talk to her about." Rogue replied with a little frown.
Remy lightly knocked on Ororo's door. When he heard her, say 'come in'; he grabbed the doorknob and opened it.
Remy leaned against the doorframe with his arms across his chest and watched Storm water her plants until she said, "What can I do for you Remy?"
Remy just smiled, "Enjoying the view Stormy."
Storm put down her water pitcher and turned to face her best friend with a frown on her face. "I have asked you several times to quit calling me that."
Remy walked over to her bed arrogantly and laid down, as he put his arms behind his head, he said teasingly, "You love it, admit it."
Ororo just shook her head, her long white ponytail moving with her. "No I don't." she laughed.
Remy sat up, and smiled, "You say you don' but your eyes say different."
"Is there something you wanted?" asked Storm relaxing in the chair beside her bed.
"Guess who I ran into in New Orleans wit' Rogue?" said Remy, his mood immediately turning somber.
"Someone from the Guild?" asked Ororo.
"Non."
"BellaDonna?"
"Non!" Remy shouted.
"Then who,"
"Lestat and Louis," said Remy, unemotionally.
Storm immediately sat up straight with a startled look on her face, "Did they try and kill you again?"
Remy groaned, "Non, Dat was settled a long time ago. Dey introduced themselves to Rogue."
"Is that not against one of their coven's law?" asked Storm bewildered.
"Oui, dey up t' somet'ing wit' Rogue, I know it," said Remy, playing with the items on Storms night table.
"These are vampires, what would they want with her? They can't turn her because of her invulnerable skin," said Ororo unconvinced.
"I don' know," said Remy frustrated, putting down her hairbrush.
"What I think happened was that when they saw you in New Orleans and they wanted to unnerve you. They know you would never tell anyone about them so they know that they have nothing to worry about."
"I hope your right," Remy suddenly smiled at Storm, "I told you didn' I?"
"Well they have no way of knowing that, do they?" said Storm grinning back at Remy.
In an older section of New Orleans
Lestat walked up the three steps to the porch of the old Victorian style home, this time of his own accord. Without knocking he opened the door and entered the premises.
"I've been waiting for you," said an eloquent, disembodied voice from the parlor. It drifted into the lobby where Lestat stood.
Lestat had heard the voice only once before today and it had not been by choice. The voice, Lestat knew, belonged to a man who wielded magic and had powers over all things dead, including vampires. Lestat casually walked into the parlor to stand in front of the Necromancer. The man was nothing special to behold an elderly man of about 60, distinguished looking but small and frail with age. But Lestat knew better. This man was 400 years old at a rough guess and his name, Nortatem, was older than that. He also knew that he was not as frail and helpless as he appeared. In fact, this old man had enough power to summon the vampire against his will. The old man had a deal he wanted to make with Lestat and Louis. A deal, whose terms, the vampires had decided to accept.
"Well, how could I stay away?" Lestat replied his voice dripping with contempt and sarcasm. The Necromancer just chuckled in response.
Lestat looked around at the unassuming room. It was clean and tastefully decorated in an understated way. The room suggested history without being dusty or run down. The old man suggested the same. The only thing that seemed unusual for a man his age was the ornate rings on each hand with the blood red stones.
"Have you made contact?" Nortatem asked as he took a seat in a red velvet chair with wooden claw feet.
"Yes" hissed Lestat, not even attempting to hide the hate in his voice.
Completely unfazed by the tone, the Necromancer continued, "Good. Keep me informed as things progress. You know exactly what to do?"
"We will keep up our end of things, you need not fear that. But you had better keep your end of this deal," said Lestat in a threatening tone as he turned to leave.
"Of course," replied the Necromancer as he chuckled again, thinking what a feisty creature this vampire was. He had never worked with vampires before and they were quite unlike the skeletons and zombies he was used to. These vampires were so much more unpredictable. He watched Lestat walked away, he knew that he would have to watch this one carefully.
As Lestat left the house, he thought of all the savage ways he would like to destroy the Necromancer. But that pleasure would have to wait until the transaction was complete and the amulet was his. Once it was in his possession and it's protection from magic abilities had been transferred to him; the Necromancer would be easy pickings, almost as easy as the assignment before him. This was going to be fun...
2 weeks later in New York
Rogue was stretched out on her bed with a book in her hands. She was so engrossed in her book that she didn't hear the faint knock on her door. As Rogue was about to turn the page, she noticed the distinct odor of cigarette smoke in her room. She glanced towards her door and sure enough, Remy was standing there. He was leaning against her doorway with his arm above his head and a cigarette in his other head. He looked incredibly sexy in his painted on black jeans and a black T-shirt, his leather jacket over top. Rogue could tell by the shade of his crimson eyes that he was feeling a little mischievous tonight. He gave her a sexy smile and gestured towards the book she was reading.
"How many times have you read dat t'ing?" he said.
"It's a classic," she said turning her attention back to her book, trying to ignore him, but she knew it would be impossible when he was acting this way.
"Frankly my dear I don' give a damn," he said imitating Rhett Butler and then laughing whole-heartedly.
Rogue turned her attention back to Remy and scowled at him; "Don't you have somewhere you have to be?"
Remy walked over to the window, unfazed by Rogue, and threw his cigarette out the window, noticing that she gave him another dirty look as he did it.
"Oui, I wanted t' know if you would like t' join Stormy and I." he said turning to face Rogue, still smiling at her.
"Not tonight sugah," she said, yawning.
"I should have dat on tape, how many times you said dat t' me," he said admiring Rogues uncovered, muscular legs, "let me guess, you have a headache, chere."
Rogue looked from Remy's gaze to her legs and rolled her eyes, "You have a one track mind Cajun."
Remy smiled and stretched out his arms and said playfully, "A man has needs, chere."
"Yeah, well, go introduce yourself to the palm sisters," she said pointing towards her bathroom, "Your welcome to use my bathroom if you need to but just clean up your mess after please," said Rogue, her smile hiding behind her book.
Remy stood there with his mouth open in shock, he then grinned, as he put his hands over his heart, "Your generosity makes my heart beat jus' a little faster, chere. I shall take you up on your offer if you would do me de honor of watchin'."
Remy crouched to avoid the pillow Rogue threw at his head; he walked towards the door before another projectile was thrown in his direction.
"Get out of here and go have fun with Ororo," said Rogue, trying to sound irritated, but she failed miserably.
"You sure now," said Remy, standing at Rogue's door, ready to make a break for it, "it would only take a few minutes."
"Get out ya pervert!" yelled Rogue, as another pillow went flying, instead of hitting Remy it hit the closed door that he had just made a quick exit from.
Rogue heard Remy laughing as he walked down the hall towards Storms room. Rogue glanced at her clock beside her bed and it read midnight.
"Crazy," she muttered as she turned her light off and went to asleep.
*************************************************
The next morning, Rogue didn't have to open her eyes to know what was waiting for her. She breathed deeply inhaling the sweet fragrance of the flower Remy had left for her.
She opened her eyes and saw the red rose, lying on top of her book. She smiled as she sat up and stretched her arms into the air. Still smiling, she picked up the flower and twirled it beneath her nose, thinking that she was lucky to know the sweetest man on earth. She put down the flower and proceeded to get dressed so she could go thank Remy for his thoughtfulness. She grabbed a pair of jeans and a pink T-shirt from her dresser and put them on. She grabbed her gloves and put them on as she was leaving her room. She stopped in the doorway, smiling she walked back into her room and jumped on her bed, leaning over to grab the flower so she could take it with her.
As Rogue walked down the hall, she passed by Logan. He was going to ask her where she had gotten the flower, but the smile on her face told him whom it was from.
"Off to see the Cajun?" he asked, stopping to talk.
"Yep," she said, as she walked by Logan.
Logan shook his head, thinking if it wasn't for Rogues powers they would be probably be as annoying as Scott and Jean.
"No. Gumbo's room is next to mine it would be worse," he thought, watching her walk down the hallway, with a raised eyebrow. When Rogue was out of sight he turned and headed to the garage to enjoy a cigar
When Rogue came to Remy's door she knocked lightly, hoping he was still sleeping so she could surprise him. She smiled when she didn't hear a response. She turned the doorknob quietly and walked into the room. She dropped the flower to the floor; she was so stunned at the sight in front of her that she held tightly to the door to stop her from falling.
Remy was laying in bed, his naked chest rising and falling in a rhythmic pattern, that told Rogue he was in a deep sleep. His hair was a disheveled mess and he had one arm lying across his forehead. He looked utterly peaceful, which wouldn't have seemed strange to Rogue except the naked body lying next to him. Her long white hair was cascaded across the pillow and onto Remy's muscular shoulder. Her long, slender arm was across Remy's chest and the white sheet across her back was in sharp contrast to her ebony skin.
Rogue stood in total shock, unable to speak or move. When she heard heavy footsteps coming down the hall, that shook her out of her appalled state. She slowly backed out the door, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She ran down the hall towards her room, running literally into Logan.
Logan grabbed Rogue's arms to steady her from falling, he noticed that she was almost in tears. He let go of her and crossed his own muscular arms across his chest in a 'tell your father what happened' posture.
"What did Gumbo do this time? Didn't he come home again?" asked Logan.
"Yeah, he was." said Rogue slowly backing up and then turning around running at maximum speed.
"What the flamin' hell?" Logan said, wondering why Rogue was so upset.
Logan watched Rogue till she was no longer in sight. He decided to find out what was going on. He marched towards the Cajun's door, ready to threaten to break his legs again. As Logan stood in the doorway, he was totally astonished. Never in a million years did he think he would ever see the picture before him. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, until he heard the crash coming from Rogue's room.
'She's tearin' up her room again,' he thought.
Logan looked down on the floor and saw the rose, he crouched over and picked it up. He stared at it for a moment, then turned his attention to the bed.
Logan then became enraged, crushing the flower in his hand. He couldn't believe these two would rip out Rogue's heart like that. He dropped the rose to the floor, strode over to the bed, and jumped on it. Logan sat on his haunches, each leg on either side of Remy's stomach. He placed Ororo's arm gently beside her and turned his attention back to the object of his anger. He leaned over Remy and unsheathed his claws, placing them on each side of Remy's throat, the third itching to be let out.
"Wake up," he said roughly.
Remy groaned and his eyes shot open when he realized the cold feeling on his neck were Logan's claws. He immediately regretted opening his eyes so quickly when the room started to spin.
"Logan, I don' want t' play," said Remy putting his hand over his eyes.
There was a loud crash and both men looked towards the empty doorway. Logan knew what it was, Remy didn't.
"Who's renovatin'?" asked Remy, trying to will the room to stop spinning.
"I think your girlfriend is a little pissed at you for having one too many bodies in your bed, so instead of renovating your face, she's destroying her room, " Logan growled.
Remy, his eyes widening in shock, he turned his head and saw Ororo lying beside him naked. He winced at the pain from Logan's claws cutting his neck.
"What de hell?" said Remy confused, as he looked at Storm, "You mind lettin' me up homme?"
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you bub," growled Logan his eyes ablaze with fury.
"Get up NOW!" yelled Remy starting to panic; wondering what the hell was going on.
"You're still a bum," said Logan shaking his head.
Logan and Remy glared at each other for a moment, and then Logan jumped off of Remy's bed, walked out of the room, and slammed the door behind him.
Remy sat up and felt his throat. His hand came away wet from the blood seeping down his neck. He felt nausea threatening to take over again but he didn't care, he had to get to Rogue. As he threw on his pants, he leaned over the bed and shook Storm. She groaned, slapping his hand away, and rolled over.
"Stormy, wake up," said Remy urgently, as he did up his pants.
"Where's the fire, Remy?" moaned Ororo.
"Stormy, open your eyes," said Remy.
Ororo opened her eyes, but immediately shut them when the first wave of nausea hit.
With her eyes clamped shut and her face in a grimace she groaned "I don't feel very well"
"I t'ink we had t' much t' drink las' night and all hell's is breaking loose," looking under his bed for his shirt.
"Why?" she moaned.
"Open your eyes Stormy," said Remy, grabbing a shirt from his drawer.
Ororo slowly opened her eyes and took in her surroundings, wondering what the problem was, when it suddenly hit her. She was in Remy's room, her eyes widened at the thought of what the implications were. She stared at Remy and by the look on his face, she knew they had been discovered. She then looked down at her own state of undress.
"Oh my," was all she could say.
"Rogue saw us. I have t' go find her, I'll be back soon chere," he said, throwing on his shirt that he retrieved from the drawer and ran out of the room.
As Remy ran towards Rogue's room, he heard her smashing her things to pieces. When he entered her room, he wasn't surprised when he saw her holding her dresser, above her head, and about to toss it out the now smashed window.
She stared at Remy and his heart sank at the combination of sadness and hatred he saw. He took a step towards her, but stopped in his tracks.
"Merde," he cried, doing a forward roll out the door, when Rogue aimed the dresser at him and threw it, with a grunt.
"I hate you!" she screamed, as the dresser went right through the wall.
Remy poked his head around the corner and said pleading, "Chere, it wasn' what it looked like."
Rogue just stared at him incredulously, tears running down her face, her hair blowing from the draft coming from the smashed window.
"It wasn't what it looked like?" she cried, laughing hysterically.
Rogue grabbed a vase, ready to propel it at Remy's head, "Let me guess, you both where ambushed by little green men who stole your clothes and thought they would do you a favor and tuck you in," she screamed in complete hysterics.
Remy just stood there, trying to remember what happened the previous night. No matter how hard he tried, he drew a blank.
"I don' know, chere. I can' remember," he said hoping she would believe him.
"Wrong answer," she yelled, flinging the vase. Remy stepped back into the hallway and the vase hit the spot where his head was a second earlier, shattering into a thousand pieces.
Remy put his head around the corner again and was going to implore Rogue to listen to him when Ororo came running into the room, dressed in Remy's grey sweat pants and a sweater.
"Rogue, please listen," she said begging her.
Rogue's eyes narrowed as she saw whose clothing Storm was wearing. Clenching her fists, she took a step towards Ororo. Remy couldn't believe what Storm was wearing, he knew this was not helping in the least. He saw Rogue take a step towards Ororo and he didn't like the looks of it, so he stepped in between the two women. Unfortunately for him, Rogue took that as a sign that he was protecting Storm.
"Ah should have known," yelled Rogue, trying to stop herself from physically hurting the pair.
"Rogue please listen, it's not what it looked like," said Ororo.
She looked at the pair in disgust and then turned around saying, "You two make me sick."
Remy grabbed Rogues arm and tried to pull her back, but Rogue was tired of listening and she tossed Remy against the wall like a rag doll. She jumped through the window, hovering in the air, she watched with disdain as Storm helped Remy up. When Remy turned towards Rogue, she looked at him with contempt and said, "I hate you," and flew off.
Remy ran to the window shouting her name but she just ignored him. It hurt too much too look at him right now.
"I'll go after her," said Storm moving towards the window, when Remy grabbed her arm.
"Non chere," said Remy, still staring after Rogue, "let her calm down first."
Storm just nodded, her heart heavy, knowing she was the reason Remy's eyes were full of pain. Remy turned around, brushing his hair with his hand and was surprised to see most of the X-men who were home standing in the doorway watching.
Bobby and Warren shook their heads and glared at Remy before they turned to leave. Betsy, Scott and Jean also looked disappointed.
"I'd expect this from you Remy," Scott said with contempt, "But you Ororo, this is unacceptable."
Scott took his wife's hand and turned to leave their noses slightly higher in the air than when they came in.
"It wasn't what it looked like!" said Ororo, falling to the ground in tears.
But there was no one left to try and convince of this, except Remy. The others would hear nothing else of the matter. They were all convinced of the pair's indiscretion.
Storm turned to Remy, the tears starting to subside. "We didn't do anything. Did we?" she asked with a hint a doubt in her voice.
"Honestly, I don' know chere. I can' remember." Remy replied and helped her back up to her feet.
Rogue flew around most of the day, trying to clear her head. She was torn between ripping off Remy's head or tearing his heart out. Either way, they were finished.
The sun began to set and Rogue was physically and emotionally exhausted. She recognized the park just below her so she landed in a secluded clearing amongst the trees.
"Ah think I'll rest and then take a cab to a hotel," she said to no one but herself.
She spotted a bench that was out of the way and unlit by the street lamps. She walked over and sat down, immediately putting her hands over her face, trying to block out the image of Remy and Ororo in bed together.
Tears threatened to spill over again as she went over what happened in her mind. When she finally looked up and saw that it was pitch black out, she decided she better get to a payphone and let the rest of the Xmen know she wasn't coming home tonight or probably for the next few nights.
Rogue stood up and made her way to the nearest phone she remembered being in the park. She dug some money out of her pocket, deposited it into the phone, and dialed the mansion, praying Remy or Ororo didn't picked it up.
"Hello?" said a gruff voice.
Rogue breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized Logan's voice, "Hi Wolvie."
"Darlin', where are you? Everyone's flippin' out worrying about you," said Logan anxiously.
Rogue could hear people fighting in the background; she instantly recognized Remy's voice.
"I'm ok but I'm not coming home tonight," she said turning around to look out at the park.
Rogue saw a man, dressed in total black, sitting at one of the benches. She thought she knew who it was but he was too far way to tell. He was reading a book and seemed engrossed in it.
"Rogue!" yelled Logan, full of panic.
"What! I'm not deaf, you don't have to yell," she said startled, noticing it was quiet all of a sudden in the background on Logan's end.
"Well, answer me damn it!" said Logan and then the fight in the background continued.
"Sorry, just got distracted," she said apologetically.
Logan grunted and said, "Hang on."
Rogue heard Logan put down the phone and a sound of a scuffle, then his claws popping out.
"If you don't knock it off, I'll finish the job I started in your room. The girl is talking to me, not you," Rogue heard Logan say faintly.
"Go ahead and try it homme," said Remy muffled.
Scott's voice was next. It was too faint for Rogue to hear, but from the tone he was ready to shoot both Logan and Remy with his optic blasts.
Remy must have given up because Logan came back on the phone, although she heard Remy swearing at him in French.
"Rogue, come home," he said, hopefully.
"No," she said firmly.
"We can't help you if you don't come home darlin'. You're not solving anything by running away again." He said, trying to reason with her.
"I just can't Wolvie," she whispered, tears running down her face, "I will talk to ya soon sugah."
Although he was yelling for her to wait, Rogue hung up the phone and rested her head against it, trying to compose herself. She wasn't sure if she would be able to go home ever again. Rogue gathered her strength and turned around to make the journey to the hotel, hoping a cab was waiting on the outskirts of the park. She realized that the man was still sitting there reading. She decided to take a closer look to see if indeed she knew him.
As Rogue approached the man, she identified him as the man Remy and she had run into in New Orleans. Tears ran down her face harder as she recalled that night. It was one of her happiest memories. Larry or Lester, she couldn't remember his name and it didn't matter because she was going to walk right by him and head straight for the hotel.
As she walked by, wiping the tears off her face, the man turned his head slightly and Rogue suddenly remembered how attractive he was. His emerald green eyes seemed to shine and his black hair hung in front of his face, giving his face a pale look. She pushed away all good thoughts of men for the time being. She was about to be free and clear when the man looked up and stared at her in suprise.
"Rogue?" he asked, putting down his book.
'Figures, he remembers mine and I can't remember his,' thought Rogue.
Rogue stopped walking, placed a fake smile on her face, and said, "Hi."
"Should you be out here all alone or is Remy with you?" he asked, genuinely concerned.
Rogue's fake smile disappeared, "I can take care of myself sugah."
"Please do not take offense. I can see you can take care of yourself, but one never knows what is lurking in this park."
"Yeah, you," said Rogue a little more harshly than she intended.
Louis seemed not to notice, "Is Remy with you?"
"No, I'm on my way to a hotel," said Rogue regretfully.
"Oh, you are only in town for awhile then, may I buy you a cup off coffee then?" Louis asked hopefully.
Rogue stood there for a moment and contemplated the offer. Remy really didn't like this guy for some reason, which closed the deal in her mind.
"On two conditions," she said adamantly.
"What would that be?" Louis asked.
"One, if you mention Remy's name one time I get to rip your head off," Rogue said, trying to make it sound as light as possible, "two, you have to tell me your name again."
Louis looked shocked for a moment, then started to laugh, "Ok, fine by me, and my name is Louis."
Louis picked up his book, putting it under his arm. He stood up and Rogue noticed again how pale he looked.
"Ready?" he asked, offering his arm to Rogue.
Rogue looked down and thought, "What the hell, I'm covered."
Rogue laced her arm with Louis and they began to walk in a comfortable silence. As they approached the coffee shop, Louis let go of Rogue's arm and he opened the door for her.
They sat down at a out of the way table in the back of the shop and Rogue ordered a coffee, when the waitress asked for Louis order, he didn't want anything.
Rogue looked at Louis incredulously, "Sugah, you sure you don't want anything?"
"Not right now," he said.
"Ok, your loss," said Rogue jokingly, "this place is well know for their coffee."
"I think I'll live," Louis said chuckling, "So what brings you to New York?"
"I live here," said Rogue flatly, her joking mood forgotten.
"Then why do you need a hotel?" asked Louis confused, he suddenly gave Rogue a devilish grin and said, "or does the explanation require my head to be ripped off."
Rogue noticed that this man before her was too good to be true. He was out right gorgeous and he seemed incredibly sweet and funny.
"You would be right about that," said Rogue, genuinely smiling for the first time all day.
"Ok," he paused grinning, "I think we shall change the subject."
Over the course of the next few hours, Rogue and Louis talked about everything. Louis talked of his love of poetry, which totally fascinated Rogue. He then talked of his love of history, particularly France in the 1800's. As Rogue listened to Louis talk about France and New Orleans, she thought to herself that he talked as if he was there.
Rogue told Louis about growing up in Caldecott. She was amazed at how easy it was to talk to this stranger, she even almost told him about her life as a terrorist and the Xmen but then she would have had to talk about Remy and Ororo and she didn't want to think about them right now. Louis seemed to hang on every word she spoke and she smiled at that, Rogue was not a trusting person at all but for some reason, it just felt right.
Rogue started to yawn and looked at the clock on the wall, her eyes widening in surprise.
"No wonder I'm tired, look at the time."
Rogue was about to stand up, tell Louis she had a nice time, and thank him for the distraction when he grabbed her hand.
"Rogue, I know this will seem forward and it is obvious that you would not like to discuss why you do not want to go home, but I have a house near here if you would like. You could stay in the guest room for as long as you like."
"Ah thought ya lived in New Orleans," said Rogue, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.
"I do, but we come here often on business and Lestat thought it would be a good idea to have a home here also," said Louis, confidently.
Rogue was astonished that this man would make such an offer. She thought about it. On one hand she didn't know this man, Remy did and he didn't like him, which made her like him even more. On the other hand, Rogue knew the first place Remy would look for her was the hotel. But all that aside, there was something more here. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on, but she decided she was definitely interested in finding out what that something was.
"Won't Lestat mind," asked Rogue.
"Of course not," said Louis, pleadingly.
"All right, but no funny business," she said pointing at him.
"Or you will rip my head off," he said laughing.
"Exactly."
As they stood up to leave Rogue noticed the book he was reading. She picked it up and looked at it shocked.
"You are reading 'Gone with the Wind?'"
"Yes, I have read it several times," Louis said as if embarrassed.
"You are the first man to ever admit that in public," laughed Rogue.
"I am unlike any other man you have ever met," he said with a sheepish grin.
"Something tells me that's true," she grinned.
After they left the coffee shop, Louis hailed a cab. When they got in, he gave the driver the address and Rogue was shocked to hear it because it was in a very high-class neighborhood.
Louis saw the look on Rogue's face and said, "Lestat believes in the best of everything. I have a car at the house also, so you don't have to worry about getting back."
"Don't worry about helping me with transportation, sugah," she laughed.
Louis just smiled and Rogue thought it was odd that he didn't ask her what she meant, but she was too tired to think about it.
Rogue put her head back on the seat and relaxed. She didn't think she had nodded off, but Louis was suddenly tapping her shoulder, telling her they had arrived. Rogue opened her eyes and was embarrassed when she realized she had been using Louis's shoulder as a pillow.
"Sorry," said Rogue sitting up.
Louis just smiled and said, "My pleasure."
After paying the cabdriver, they both exited the cab, Louis holding the door for Rogue again. Rogue held her breath in awe of the house. It was nothing like her home at the school, but it definitely was a mansion in it's own right. It was easily the nicest in the neighborhood and could only have been populated by New York's rich and famous.
They entered the house, and Rogue was shocked again at how beautifully it was decorated, the house was full of antique furniture. Rogue could hardly believe that two handsome, single men lived at this house. It was completely opposite to what she imagined a bachelor pad to look like. It was decorated in such a way that royalty would probably feel at ease to stay a couple of weeks.
"Let me show you the guestroom," said Louis, walking up the spiral staircase, gesturing for Rogue to follow.
Rogue followed him, admiring the pieces of art on the walls. They stopped and Louis held open the door for Rogue as she entered. The room was done in pale pinks and purples with antique furniture filling the room.
Rogue walked over to the window and said, "This is beautiful."
"I'm delighted you like it," said Louis, walking over to the closet and pulled out a white dress shirt.
"I hope this is suitable for you to wear to bed," he said handing her the shirt.
"It's perfect," she said, noting that the shirt came down to her knees.
"If you need anything else, my quarters are at the end of the hall on the left," he said about to leave, but turned back, "The ladies room is down the hall also, but to your right."
"Ok, thank you again," she said holding a hand over her mouth, yawning.
"My pleasure again," he said smiling and then left, closing the door behind him.
Rogue immediately undressed and put on the shirt, "Good enough," she thought, throwing her gloves on top of the dresser.
She left her room to find the bathroom. She walked down the hallway, looking at the art as she passed by. She recognized a Monet and a Picasso on the walls; she was amazed at what a beautiful home this was. She was about to open the door to the left and was startled when Louis came out, colliding with her. Rogue's hands went to Louis's exposed chest and Rogue jumped back quickly realizing she didn't have her gloves on.
Rogue looked at her hands and his chest and was stunned that she hadn't absorbed anything from him.
"I'm sorry Rogue," he said grabbing her ungloved hand, "Are you ok?"
Rogue just stared at his hand holding on to hers, " Uh, yeah, I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You look a little pale," he asked suddenly concerned.
"No, really, I'm fine," she said a little shaky.
'If I didn't absorb him, I don't need to tell him about my power,' she thought.
"Well if you are ok. Are you looking for the bathroom?" he asked, still holding her hand.
"Uh yeah," suddenly embarrassed, when she noticed he was only wearing the bottoms of black silk pajamas.
"Behind you," he said holding her shoulders and turning her around.
"Thank you," she said, turning to close the door, noticing he was giving her another sexy smile, his green eyes looked at her playfully.
"Your welcome," he said, huskily.
Rogue closed the door, resting her head against it, 'Stop it girl, you just had your heart ripped out by the man that was suppose to love you,' she thought, but allowed herself just one more mental image of that sexy smile.
When Rogue came out of the bathroom, she looked towards Louis' bedroom door and paused. She wasn't sure if she was relieved or disappointed to find that he was not standing in the hall waiting for her. She walked towards the guestroom, too tired to question why she was attracted to him after what happened earlier that morning or why she didn't absorb him.
Rogue was so preoccupied that she didn't see Lestat hunched in the rafters in the ceiling, smiling. He was holding onto a blonde girl by the shoulder, her eyes just blankly staring at nothing. When Rogue closed her door, Lestat floated down to the floor soundlessly with the girl in his arms, and entered Louis's room, saying, "Honey I'm home."
Ok, we know some might be a little miffed about the Remy/Ororo thing, be nice now. Remember it's a story and it will have MANY twists. Please please please review, is that enough pleases. We are posting this earlier than we planned on because everyone was good about reviewing, anyway enough already.