14 February

Birthday. –n. 1. the anniversary of a birth 2. the day of a person's birth 3. a day marking or commemorating he origin, founding, or beginning of something 4. the festivities or celebration marking such a day or anniversary

"Hey, chere, ya wanted ta go out wit' yer friend, ya?" Remy asked. He patted her shoulder through her coat as he came up behind and walked around to face her.

Rogue closed her eyes and breathed in deep, trying with great difficulty to center herself. "Ah don't think Ah wanna anymore," she confessed. "Ah know Veronica was real excited 'bout a double date an' all, an' every time we plan one, it don't work out, but Ah don't think Ah have it in me ta socialize in a crowd."

Remy remained silent for a moment. Leaning in a little closer, he reached up and tipped her head towards him with his gloved fingers, looking her in the eye. Despite the school crowd around them, he didn't wear his sunglasses. Rogue felt a light shiver as her body reacted, but she didn't allow anything to cross her face. She wouldn't mind time alone with him. Remy wasn't the problem, at least right now. Her uncontrollable mutant powers, on the other hand….

"Chere, if you don' wanna go out, den we don't go out, comprenez? Wanna do somet'in' else instead?"

"Is it too lame ta stay at home an', Ah dunno, watch a movie or somethin'?" Rogue asked in a tinny voice.

"Non," Remy said, somehow even quieter than her. His brows pulled together in a small show of concern, but he didn't press her. Rogue wanted to spill her thoughts and feelings, to get them out of her, but it didn't feel appropriate. It was Valentine's Day. They were supposed to be enjoying each other's company. Some chocolates, perhaps.

Remy's thumb lightly brushing over her cheek broke her out of the memorization. His hand slipped away to grab her hand, and he gave it a small squeeze alongside a crooked smile.

"How 'bout we make a quick stop for snacks, an' den we find somewhere nice an' quiet. Ya wanna watch a movie, we watch a movie. Ya wanna tell me what's on yer mind, ya talk. Ya wan' me ta massage some'a dat tension from ya shoulders, I go ahead an' do dat. Jus' you an' me, cherie. Ya like dat?"

Rogue couldn't help but feel a little shame at how poorly she conducted herself. Remy knew she was tense. How could he not? Rogue felt as stiff as a mannequin. She went through the day on autopilot, introspection tearing her apart from the inside out. Ororo managed to pull her out of a complete meltdown, but she'd been on her own since. Two whole school days, and she was stuck worrying in her head.

Remy squeezed her hand again, that small look of concern back across his features. "Hey, ya wanna talk now?"

"No," Rogue said quickly. "No, let's get outta here, Sugah."

Remy stared at her only a moment longer, his lips pressed together, before that grin was back. "Right. What kinda snacks ya feelin', eh?" He stepped away, tugging lightly at her hand to get her to follow. She fell into step easily, leaning into him as he moved after a few steps. She was grateful that they'd built enough trust where he could be a safe place as she panicked. Even though half of the mansion warned her away from him when she arrived, Ororo vouched for him, and Rogue had had enough heartfelt conversations with him, that he had to be okay. Right?

Remy ended up buying her candy at a drug store, though he refused to buy the cheapest of the cheap chocolate, before they made it to the mansion. He brought her past the common areas, even as vacant as they were, and led her straight to his room.

"Ya this forward with all the girls ya date?" Rogue giggled when they ended up at his door.

Remy hummed softly to himself, a smile gracing his lips. He left it at that. No glib words, even. He didn't speak until he shut the door behind them. "I got a li'l TV ta go in my room. Keeps me away from da others when they bein' stupid. An' I get t' watch da best shows no one else wants t' watch."

"Oh?" Rogue asked, watching him sideways. "Shows like what?"

Remy snorted a soft laugh, but didn't answer. Rogue didn't know what that meant. Realizing that she wasn't going to find out what it was he watched, she turned around and plopped onto his bed, falling back prone.

"What'cha wanna watch, hein?" he asked. He pulled a laptop out from under the bed and folded it open. "Anythin' ya want."

"Ah chose last time," she pointed out.

"Yeah, so?"

"Ah don't wanna choose. It's your turn."

Remy shook his head softly as he placed his laptop on top of his dresser beside his television screen. "An' you da one dat feelin' a bit under, ney?"

Rogue sat up and pulled her feet up close, hugging her legs into her chest. "Ah don't wanna choose," she repeated.

"Alright, fine. Ya don't get ta complain or comment 'less it's positive, get it?"

Rogue rested her chin on her knees, watching him as he completed setting up his laptop to the bigger screen. "Yeah, sure."

Remy set to typing quietly at his laptop a minute more before joining her on the bed, settling beside her. He tore into the chocolate before the movie even had a chance to fully begin. When it did, Rogue cast him another sidelong glance. The movie looked suspiciously like a chic flic.

"Shut it," he quipped without looking at her, his eyes fixed on the screen.

"Ah get da feelin' ya like movies like this," she said.

"I'll take dis candy right away from you," he threatened.

"Where're ya watchin' dis from?" Rogue asked.

"I said shut it."

Illegally, then. Rogue snickered. It looked like she'd have to get comfortable bending a rule here or there if she stuck around him. So long as he had some boundaries.