Fortified by the shots of REMY! from the teasers about next week's Evo, I
present to you the next part, way before I thought I'd finish it!
Practically wrote itself...spooky.
* * *
Essex was as fast as he looked, no more, no less. Figured dat he'd be quick and he didn't disappoint. Was still tired from de trip up de chimney and it wasn't too long before my arms and legs burned wit' de strain o' keeping up wit' him. He wasn't interested in hurting me or vraisemblablement (most likely) he would have. All his moves were defensive, but he had no problems blocking every one of my blows. Was like fighting a shadow. He mirrored each of my moves, but did not'ing t' strike back. By dat time, de rain had soaked me completely, but dat's not what raised de freesons (goosebumps) on my arms.
Caught sight o' de figure from de corner of my eye. A pale flash in de darkness under de trees.
Etienne. Bon Dieu.
He shuffled off in de direction of de road. I was so focused on watching him dat I practically tripped over my own feet. Landed hard on my zinzin (ass).
"Merde."
Dat was all de time Essex needed. He slipped back into de inky shadows, scooping Etienne wit' him as he went. I opened my mouth to protest, but could get not'ing out but a hoarse yell.
By dat time, Mercy, Henri and Emil had made dere way down from de roof.
"Y' okay, Remy?" Emil asked anxiously.
"Etienne," I gasped. "Did you see?"
Dey nodded tensely. Thunder growled. Branches lashed in de wind. Rogue and Julien were last t' join de group. She had him by de collar, but he wasn't making any attempts t' get away. Each flash of lightning revealed de face I'd once known so well. We'd played t'gether as children. We weren't children anymore.
"Someone should go after him," Henri said. His voice weak wit' horror at what had just happened.
Mercy laid a hand on his shoulder. "Soon," she soothed.
"Where's that syringe?" Rogue cut in. "Did ya find it?" Wit'out waiting for me t' answer, she handed Julien t' Emil and flew out across de lawn.
"Careful!" I cried after her. My voice was swallowed into de storm.
"Rogue, I assume," Emil said. "I like her."
"So do I," I said grimly.
She was back moments later. "Found it." She'd stripped off her outer layer of clothing to bundle 'round de syringe and so was only wearing a black tank top. Tried hard not t' stare. De water had pulled at de material in lots of interesting ways. Her pale skin shone like marble. Mercy must have noticed me looking because she elbowed me in de ribs. "Julien said he left Bella on th' road."
"It's just a big ol' reunion, ain't it?" Emil drawled in my ear. "Girlfriends popping up outta de woodwork."
I gritted my teeth and ignored him. "What's she doing here? For dat matter..."
"Ah'll explain everythin' later, although Ah don't know much." She jerked her thumb at Julien. "But he does and Ah'm willin' ta bet he'll spill it."
Shook my head. Was amazing how far she'd managed t' come into dis world in such a short time. Scared me a little t' have someone come dat close. Guess all Jean-Luc's talk 'bout family had rubbed off more dan I t'ought it would. Felt so strange t' have an outsider know us. Didn't want t' call her an outsider. Didn't want t' t'ink about her dat way, but den I didn't want t' drag her into de world either. She didn't know what she was in for. Looked at de stubborn set of her chin and de way she'd clenched her hands into fists an' figured I didn't know what I was in for either.
We found Bella on de road where Rogue said she'd be, propped up against a tree, woozy, wet an' mad as hell but otherwise fine. Was all we could do t' keep her from Julien's throat.
"Fils de pute (son of a bitch)!" she snarled, lunging forward. Emil caught her around de waist, but her nails raked trails across Julien's cheek anyway.
"Time for dat later," Emil snapped. He'd developed a bit of a temper since I'd been gone I realized, remembering his outburst from before. De ugly name he'd called Rogue. He wasn't exactly de easy-going guy I'd known. No one ever stayed de same.
"Etienne's dead," I said. Her face relaxed immediately.
"Oh no."
"He don't seem t' know dat yet," Emil added.
"Francois Chicault," she breathed.
"What?" Henri asked.
"He's...was...one of de assassins. Obsessed wit' living forever. He found a way t' turn himself into a vampire."
"Etienne's no vampire," Rogue put in, "although it's nice ta know ya've dealt with this kinda thing before. That guy..."
"Essex," I supplied.
"Essex and your brother, stuck him with somethin'." She shot a freezing look at Julien.
Bella covered her mouth wit' her hand and shook her head. "Co faire (why)? What the hell's gotten into you, Julien? It's like you've gone crazy all of a sudden."
Julien just hung his head and refused t' look at any of us.
"Dis isn't de place for discussion," Henri suggested.
"We'll all think better when our shoes are dry," Mercy added, and as awful as it seemed not t' go after Essex an' Etienne right away, I had t' agree.
Anyone who's ever followed de course of a hurricane, or any of de other ferocious storms dat come tearing t'rough de Gulf come fall, will know dat Nawlins is below sea level. One good night of rain and you're swimmin' de next morning. Jean-Luc was no fool and neither were his parents. Jaques an' Rochelle LeBeau built demselves and de t'ieves a nice retreat 'bout ten miles north o' de city. Situated back in de woods t' keep away from prying eyes. Rogue took us. All of us. Two and three at a time so no one would fall off.
Was somet'ing else t' ride wit' her as de rain-soaked landscape passed in a blur beneath us. I could feel de corded muscles in her arms shifting under my back. I was de last t' arrive.
"Wait," I told her, catching her forearm. Was careful t' pull my long- sleeved shirt down over my hand first. She noticed dat, didn't comment on it, but I hated her downward glance at my covered hand just de same.
"There's no time ta wait," she protested, pulling gently. "We've got ta find out what's in that needle. Ah can go back. Mr. McCoy'll be able ta find out for sure." She was speaking quickly, running her free hand t'rough her hair, tucking it behind her ear again and again.
"Wait," I said again, putting more emphasis on de word. Dat stopped her. "You okay?"
She let out a nervous little laugh. "Am Ah okay? Ah saw a kid fall an' die an' then get up again. Ah couldn't save him." She stared at her toes a moment before meeting my eyes wit' an unflinching gaze. "Are you okay?"
Light from de house fell in bars across de lawn. It was still pouring. I couldn't feel my toes. Wanted t' laugh at de absurdity of de situation. "I'll be fine if you are," I said honestly. "Don't blame yourself for what happened t' Etienne."
"Ah won't if you won't," she returned quickly.
Pulled her closer t' me, covered my other hand and smoothed it down her cheek. "Got t' stop meeting dis way, beb."
Dat got a tiny smile. "At least Ah get ta meet your family."
"Yeah. Henri's my adopted brother, Mercy his girlfriend and Emil my cousin." Bit my lip. "Wanted t' tell you all 'bout dem, but..."
"It's complicated?"
"Yeah."
"Ah understand Ah guess. Ah mean, ya don't owe me anythin'." Her hands skimmed across de hem of my shirt. Heat bloomed in my stomach.
"Don't say dat. You're either in dis world or you're not."
"And ya don't want me ta be." She was deliberately misunderstanding me and dat should have made me angry, but right den she was using her index finger t' trace curlicues across my chest. Co (wow).
"Not sure I want t' be."
"That because ya were engaged ta Belladonna?" Her hand wandered t'rough my hair, her nails scratching a little, sending sparks down my neck.
"Julien sure opened his big mouth, huh?" I asked ruefully.
She laughed aloud at dat. "Ya sound so pathetic."
"And y' sound like a tite pichouette (bad girl) t' laugh at my misfortune." We'd been holding each other loosely up t' dat point, but I pulled her close and she gasped softly. I was going crazy. I opened my mouth and brushed my lower lip against her upper lip for de briefest of instants. I felt de familiar sucking sensation when her powers kicked in, but I pulled away before it could get bad. She touched de corner of my mouth wit' her tongue and then brushed a kiss dere. "Rogue?" I whispered.
"Hmm?" her voice was raspy and god help me if dat didn't make me feel amazing.
"Who's Phillip?"
She stiffened in my arms and I was afraid again, dat I'd done de wrong t'ing. Dat it was too soon and she was going to fly out of my life and I'd never see her again. But after a moment she relaxed. "Ya remember Phillip Moreau? He was my boyfriend."
"Jenny's boyfriend?"
"But Ah'm Jenny now too. She's in my head. Ah've got her powers, but parts o' her are fadin'. Everythin' except her memories. My memories."
"Y' seem awfully calm 'bout dis."
She shrugged. "What else can Ah do? Ah cain't fight it. For awhile Ah think Ah was tryin'--sleepwalkin', but all that's over. Sometimes Ah get mixed up, but she's a part o' me now and Phillip was a part o' her for a long time. Ah'll understand if you cain't handle that, but Ah cain't change it either. Ah don't want ta, 'cause Jenny was a friend an' this way it's like some o' her is still alive."
Skated my finger down Rogue's neckline and she shivered. "Was a shock is all. Not'ing I can't handle." Grinned at her and she rolled her eyes, but only a little. She was de bravest person I'd ever met and it broke my heart dat I couldn't seem t' find de words t' tell her dat.
* * *
Henri, Mercy an' Bella had lit a fire in the fireplace by the time Remy an' Ah walked in the front door. Ah was half afraid that his kiss would be a mark on my face, that they'd look an' know exactly what we'd been up ta out there in the rain, and then they'd see exactly how much Ah wanted ta do it again.
"Guess Jean-Luc hasn't been here in a while," Mercy observed, shakin' out a blanket and dislodgin' a cloud o' dust. "There's no electricity and an army o' mice in de kitchen cabinets. Here, put dis on an' toss me your clothes. Not exactly de best way t' get t' know one another, but dey'll dry better in front of th' fire dan on you."
Julien was slumped on a couch, nearly buried in more covers. Mercy tossed me the blanket and Ah draped it over my shoulders before roundin' on the boy on the couch.
"Maybe ya'd like ta explain everythin' again now that we're all here an' outta the rain."
Julien closed his eyes. There were tears on his cheeks that stood out in the firelight. "I'm sorry."
"Dat's fine for later, Julien," Bella said viciously. Ah looked at her in surprise. Who woulda thought she'd have such a bite? Ah held the blanket with one hand and worked my pants off with the other, tryin' not ta make eye contact. That accomplished, Ah managed ta get outta my shirt. Hung them both by the fire where they steamed. Ah was standin' there in my bra, underwear an' a mouse-chewed blanket. Never let it be said that my friendship with Remy LeBeau wasn't filled with interestin' situations.
"Look, it was crazy o' me t' deal wit' Essex. Obviously I know dat now. But haven't y' ever wanted somet'ing so bad dat y' can't t'ink straight? Seem t' recall some of your 'late night chats' wit' father when he and Jean- Luc were arranging your engagement t' Remy." He snorted. "Shameless begging is more like it."
Bella looked uncomfortable. "Dat's not the same t'ing an' you know it! Besides, I've moved past dat." She looked sidelong at Remy who busied himself with removin' his shirt. Ah peeked at him from under my lashes. "We both have," Bella finished. "Doesn't change what you did. He was only a kid."
"Wasn't supposed t' go like dat at all," Julien protested.
"Tell me how it was supposed t' go," Bella replied sharply. She had an ax ta grind no question an' Ah guess everyone was gonna let her grind it, me included. Julien set his mouth in a thin line. "Tell me!" she insisted.
"'t was supposed t' be Remy!" he sobbed. A deadly silence settled on th' house. Ah could hear the quiet hiss as water evaporated from all our clothes. Ah went cold all over.
"Why?" Bella's voice was strangled.
"He needed someone," Julien began helplessly. "He came t' me because he knows about me. Seems like everyone does. He knows I'm de weak one." He caught at Bella's hand, but she shook him away roughly.
"I can't believe you." Without realizin', Ah'd moved in front o' Remy as if Ah could defend him from what Julien an' Essex had planned. He touched my shoulder through the blanket, rubbin' his hand down my arm.
"He threatened Marius," Julien said. "He threatened you. What else could I do?"
"Dere father. Head of de Assassins Guild," Remy whispered in my ear, an' Ah was grateful for his prompting.
"Tell him 'no,'" Bella spat back. "Marius doesn't need your protection. An' neither do I."
"I didn't see it dat way. An' if I got rid of Remy in de process of saving you both...mais (well)..." He paused, but then continued in an exasperated rush, as if we couldn't possibly understand the situation. "He wants him! He's always wanted him, ever since he was a little baby. At first it was de Velvet Ministry, but now it's somet'ing much bigger. Didn't t'ink I could stop him from getting what he wanted in de end and if it could keep you and father safe..."
Behind me, Remy stiffened. "Essex is..."
"De Antiquary," Julien said helplessly. He glared at Bella. "How you gonna say no t' de devil?"
Bella turned her back on Julien, but she didn't have an answer ta his question either.
"At the risk o' bringin' up more bad feelin's, who's The Antiquary?" Ah asked Henri.
He sighed and rubbed his face with his hand. "No one knows, or no one did know. He hired de T'ieves Guild t' steal Remy from de hospital when he was just a baby. He wanted him for somet'ing called de Velvet Ministry. He stole lots of children, mutants, for it, but Jean-Luc saved Remy and exiled De Antiquary to Russia. Guess y' know he'd be none too pleased 'bout dat."
"Jean-Luc said dere was a rumor he was back in town," Remy added.
"What's in de needle, Julien?" Emil asked.
"Ah could get my friend--Mr. McCoy--ta look at it. It'd be no problem ta..."
Henri cut me off with a shake o' his head an' Ah couldn't help feelin' stung. "We appreciate de offer, but it's better t' keep dis in de family for now. Theo could..."
"You crazy?" Mercy cut in. "Theo's Etienne's brother. We can't ask him t' do dis for us."
"I know a couple guys in de Quarter could do it quick an' quiet. It'd cost us, of course."
"Ah don't understand why ya won't let me take it ta Mr. McCoy." We were all talkin' now, filled with ideas ta reach the same end.
"It's a virus," Julien said quietly. Somehow that one word was able ta cut through the whole room.
"What?" Emil's voice was pained.
"C'est vrai ça (is that true)?" Bella breathed.
"A virus," Julien said again. "Something t' kill mutants." He looked pointedly at Remy. "Y' wouldn't join wit' him. Y' forced Essex into exile. He's crazy an' he hates you all. Etienne's his Typhoid Mary. He's like a bomb for him an' sooner or later he'll go off."
* * *
d'échauffement + Sella: I'm sorry I've lost you somewhere! I don't know what to say except that it can be a little hard to follow this fic if you haven't read my first one. It's not a plug, I swear. Also, I'm folding in a lot of elements from the comics too so that may be part of the problem. As a semi-large x-men nerd I've done a lot of research and sometimes I get carried away trying to cram it all in at once. If you want you can email me questions and I'll try to explain.
Neurotic Temptress: I wanted to write Etienne's end well. I liked the kid, which is why it was hard to turn him into a shambling, zombie-type creature. But SOMEONE had to get infected with the Legacy Virus... ;)
theroguephoenix + Katrina: Thanks! blushes
Foxy Bonecracker: Great pen name, BTW. I'm glad you're enjoying this. I think R&R'll have to get by with a little help from their friends as the song goes.
Raven: Yeah, zombies are...odd. He's not exactly a zombie, but something more...sinister (ugh, I hate that joke, it's so glaringly un-funny). You will get no arguments from me on the Remy rocks, Rogue rules front. ;)
Sabby: I know! I hate it when I'm just starting a new relationship and I let my new boyfriend's cousin fall to his death. Puts a damper on the romance dontchaknow. I want them to work through this though (for me?) because their relationship is so angst-ridden as a general rule...yeah, Claremont? I'm looking at you.
starlightz6: See they totally (kind of) worked it out! And then there was romance! Although I think Remy might have a few reservations about the Rogue/Jenny thing, but I'm eager to try a Rogue-gets-her-powers story that doesn't include too much angst about 'em. Concept. ;)
Jean1: Once again, your comments make me feel all warm and fuzzy and whatnot. It's nice to know that you can picture things because I can, but then I don't know how much of that translates.
lucky439: I will assume you were SO excited by the previous chapter that all your spelling skillz flew out the window. It's all good.
Klucky: I can only hope that the bike makes an encore. More KickAss!Rogue! Yes!
evolutionary spider: I would assume that the other X-Men don't know where to find Rogue right now. They saw her go off with Julien, but they've got their hands full searching for the professor and trying to keep a low profile. I know that I should at least make a gesture in their direction waves at the other x-characters and I tried in this chapter with the Mr. McCoy stuff. I wanted to have her call them but it didn't fit here (maybe next chaper?) but I think that'll probably be the limit of their involvement. The Thieves & Assassins are a pretty insular bunch and don't seem to take kindly to outsiders (unless they're super special like Rogue...or something...)
* * *
Essex was as fast as he looked, no more, no less. Figured dat he'd be quick and he didn't disappoint. Was still tired from de trip up de chimney and it wasn't too long before my arms and legs burned wit' de strain o' keeping up wit' him. He wasn't interested in hurting me or vraisemblablement (most likely) he would have. All his moves were defensive, but he had no problems blocking every one of my blows. Was like fighting a shadow. He mirrored each of my moves, but did not'ing t' strike back. By dat time, de rain had soaked me completely, but dat's not what raised de freesons (goosebumps) on my arms.
Caught sight o' de figure from de corner of my eye. A pale flash in de darkness under de trees.
Etienne. Bon Dieu.
He shuffled off in de direction of de road. I was so focused on watching him dat I practically tripped over my own feet. Landed hard on my zinzin (ass).
"Merde."
Dat was all de time Essex needed. He slipped back into de inky shadows, scooping Etienne wit' him as he went. I opened my mouth to protest, but could get not'ing out but a hoarse yell.
By dat time, Mercy, Henri and Emil had made dere way down from de roof.
"Y' okay, Remy?" Emil asked anxiously.
"Etienne," I gasped. "Did you see?"
Dey nodded tensely. Thunder growled. Branches lashed in de wind. Rogue and Julien were last t' join de group. She had him by de collar, but he wasn't making any attempts t' get away. Each flash of lightning revealed de face I'd once known so well. We'd played t'gether as children. We weren't children anymore.
"Someone should go after him," Henri said. His voice weak wit' horror at what had just happened.
Mercy laid a hand on his shoulder. "Soon," she soothed.
"Where's that syringe?" Rogue cut in. "Did ya find it?" Wit'out waiting for me t' answer, she handed Julien t' Emil and flew out across de lawn.
"Careful!" I cried after her. My voice was swallowed into de storm.
"Rogue, I assume," Emil said. "I like her."
"So do I," I said grimly.
She was back moments later. "Found it." She'd stripped off her outer layer of clothing to bundle 'round de syringe and so was only wearing a black tank top. Tried hard not t' stare. De water had pulled at de material in lots of interesting ways. Her pale skin shone like marble. Mercy must have noticed me looking because she elbowed me in de ribs. "Julien said he left Bella on th' road."
"It's just a big ol' reunion, ain't it?" Emil drawled in my ear. "Girlfriends popping up outta de woodwork."
I gritted my teeth and ignored him. "What's she doing here? For dat matter..."
"Ah'll explain everythin' later, although Ah don't know much." She jerked her thumb at Julien. "But he does and Ah'm willin' ta bet he'll spill it."
Shook my head. Was amazing how far she'd managed t' come into dis world in such a short time. Scared me a little t' have someone come dat close. Guess all Jean-Luc's talk 'bout family had rubbed off more dan I t'ought it would. Felt so strange t' have an outsider know us. Didn't want t' call her an outsider. Didn't want t' t'ink about her dat way, but den I didn't want t' drag her into de world either. She didn't know what she was in for. Looked at de stubborn set of her chin and de way she'd clenched her hands into fists an' figured I didn't know what I was in for either.
We found Bella on de road where Rogue said she'd be, propped up against a tree, woozy, wet an' mad as hell but otherwise fine. Was all we could do t' keep her from Julien's throat.
"Fils de pute (son of a bitch)!" she snarled, lunging forward. Emil caught her around de waist, but her nails raked trails across Julien's cheek anyway.
"Time for dat later," Emil snapped. He'd developed a bit of a temper since I'd been gone I realized, remembering his outburst from before. De ugly name he'd called Rogue. He wasn't exactly de easy-going guy I'd known. No one ever stayed de same.
"Etienne's dead," I said. Her face relaxed immediately.
"Oh no."
"He don't seem t' know dat yet," Emil added.
"Francois Chicault," she breathed.
"What?" Henri asked.
"He's...was...one of de assassins. Obsessed wit' living forever. He found a way t' turn himself into a vampire."
"Etienne's no vampire," Rogue put in, "although it's nice ta know ya've dealt with this kinda thing before. That guy..."
"Essex," I supplied.
"Essex and your brother, stuck him with somethin'." She shot a freezing look at Julien.
Bella covered her mouth wit' her hand and shook her head. "Co faire (why)? What the hell's gotten into you, Julien? It's like you've gone crazy all of a sudden."
Julien just hung his head and refused t' look at any of us.
"Dis isn't de place for discussion," Henri suggested.
"We'll all think better when our shoes are dry," Mercy added, and as awful as it seemed not t' go after Essex an' Etienne right away, I had t' agree.
Anyone who's ever followed de course of a hurricane, or any of de other ferocious storms dat come tearing t'rough de Gulf come fall, will know dat Nawlins is below sea level. One good night of rain and you're swimmin' de next morning. Jean-Luc was no fool and neither were his parents. Jaques an' Rochelle LeBeau built demselves and de t'ieves a nice retreat 'bout ten miles north o' de city. Situated back in de woods t' keep away from prying eyes. Rogue took us. All of us. Two and three at a time so no one would fall off.
Was somet'ing else t' ride wit' her as de rain-soaked landscape passed in a blur beneath us. I could feel de corded muscles in her arms shifting under my back. I was de last t' arrive.
"Wait," I told her, catching her forearm. Was careful t' pull my long- sleeved shirt down over my hand first. She noticed dat, didn't comment on it, but I hated her downward glance at my covered hand just de same.
"There's no time ta wait," she protested, pulling gently. "We've got ta find out what's in that needle. Ah can go back. Mr. McCoy'll be able ta find out for sure." She was speaking quickly, running her free hand t'rough her hair, tucking it behind her ear again and again.
"Wait," I said again, putting more emphasis on de word. Dat stopped her. "You okay?"
She let out a nervous little laugh. "Am Ah okay? Ah saw a kid fall an' die an' then get up again. Ah couldn't save him." She stared at her toes a moment before meeting my eyes wit' an unflinching gaze. "Are you okay?"
Light from de house fell in bars across de lawn. It was still pouring. I couldn't feel my toes. Wanted t' laugh at de absurdity of de situation. "I'll be fine if you are," I said honestly. "Don't blame yourself for what happened t' Etienne."
"Ah won't if you won't," she returned quickly.
Pulled her closer t' me, covered my other hand and smoothed it down her cheek. "Got t' stop meeting dis way, beb."
Dat got a tiny smile. "At least Ah get ta meet your family."
"Yeah. Henri's my adopted brother, Mercy his girlfriend and Emil my cousin." Bit my lip. "Wanted t' tell you all 'bout dem, but..."
"It's complicated?"
"Yeah."
"Ah understand Ah guess. Ah mean, ya don't owe me anythin'." Her hands skimmed across de hem of my shirt. Heat bloomed in my stomach.
"Don't say dat. You're either in dis world or you're not."
"And ya don't want me ta be." She was deliberately misunderstanding me and dat should have made me angry, but right den she was using her index finger t' trace curlicues across my chest. Co (wow).
"Not sure I want t' be."
"That because ya were engaged ta Belladonna?" Her hand wandered t'rough my hair, her nails scratching a little, sending sparks down my neck.
"Julien sure opened his big mouth, huh?" I asked ruefully.
She laughed aloud at dat. "Ya sound so pathetic."
"And y' sound like a tite pichouette (bad girl) t' laugh at my misfortune." We'd been holding each other loosely up t' dat point, but I pulled her close and she gasped softly. I was going crazy. I opened my mouth and brushed my lower lip against her upper lip for de briefest of instants. I felt de familiar sucking sensation when her powers kicked in, but I pulled away before it could get bad. She touched de corner of my mouth wit' her tongue and then brushed a kiss dere. "Rogue?" I whispered.
"Hmm?" her voice was raspy and god help me if dat didn't make me feel amazing.
"Who's Phillip?"
She stiffened in my arms and I was afraid again, dat I'd done de wrong t'ing. Dat it was too soon and she was going to fly out of my life and I'd never see her again. But after a moment she relaxed. "Ya remember Phillip Moreau? He was my boyfriend."
"Jenny's boyfriend?"
"But Ah'm Jenny now too. She's in my head. Ah've got her powers, but parts o' her are fadin'. Everythin' except her memories. My memories."
"Y' seem awfully calm 'bout dis."
She shrugged. "What else can Ah do? Ah cain't fight it. For awhile Ah think Ah was tryin'--sleepwalkin', but all that's over. Sometimes Ah get mixed up, but she's a part o' me now and Phillip was a part o' her for a long time. Ah'll understand if you cain't handle that, but Ah cain't change it either. Ah don't want ta, 'cause Jenny was a friend an' this way it's like some o' her is still alive."
Skated my finger down Rogue's neckline and she shivered. "Was a shock is all. Not'ing I can't handle." Grinned at her and she rolled her eyes, but only a little. She was de bravest person I'd ever met and it broke my heart dat I couldn't seem t' find de words t' tell her dat.
* * *
Henri, Mercy an' Bella had lit a fire in the fireplace by the time Remy an' Ah walked in the front door. Ah was half afraid that his kiss would be a mark on my face, that they'd look an' know exactly what we'd been up ta out there in the rain, and then they'd see exactly how much Ah wanted ta do it again.
"Guess Jean-Luc hasn't been here in a while," Mercy observed, shakin' out a blanket and dislodgin' a cloud o' dust. "There's no electricity and an army o' mice in de kitchen cabinets. Here, put dis on an' toss me your clothes. Not exactly de best way t' get t' know one another, but dey'll dry better in front of th' fire dan on you."
Julien was slumped on a couch, nearly buried in more covers. Mercy tossed me the blanket and Ah draped it over my shoulders before roundin' on the boy on the couch.
"Maybe ya'd like ta explain everythin' again now that we're all here an' outta the rain."
Julien closed his eyes. There were tears on his cheeks that stood out in the firelight. "I'm sorry."
"Dat's fine for later, Julien," Bella said viciously. Ah looked at her in surprise. Who woulda thought she'd have such a bite? Ah held the blanket with one hand and worked my pants off with the other, tryin' not ta make eye contact. That accomplished, Ah managed ta get outta my shirt. Hung them both by the fire where they steamed. Ah was standin' there in my bra, underwear an' a mouse-chewed blanket. Never let it be said that my friendship with Remy LeBeau wasn't filled with interestin' situations.
"Look, it was crazy o' me t' deal wit' Essex. Obviously I know dat now. But haven't y' ever wanted somet'ing so bad dat y' can't t'ink straight? Seem t' recall some of your 'late night chats' wit' father when he and Jean- Luc were arranging your engagement t' Remy." He snorted. "Shameless begging is more like it."
Bella looked uncomfortable. "Dat's not the same t'ing an' you know it! Besides, I've moved past dat." She looked sidelong at Remy who busied himself with removin' his shirt. Ah peeked at him from under my lashes. "We both have," Bella finished. "Doesn't change what you did. He was only a kid."
"Wasn't supposed t' go like dat at all," Julien protested.
"Tell me how it was supposed t' go," Bella replied sharply. She had an ax ta grind no question an' Ah guess everyone was gonna let her grind it, me included. Julien set his mouth in a thin line. "Tell me!" she insisted.
"'t was supposed t' be Remy!" he sobbed. A deadly silence settled on th' house. Ah could hear the quiet hiss as water evaporated from all our clothes. Ah went cold all over.
"Why?" Bella's voice was strangled.
"He needed someone," Julien began helplessly. "He came t' me because he knows about me. Seems like everyone does. He knows I'm de weak one." He caught at Bella's hand, but she shook him away roughly.
"I can't believe you." Without realizin', Ah'd moved in front o' Remy as if Ah could defend him from what Julien an' Essex had planned. He touched my shoulder through the blanket, rubbin' his hand down my arm.
"He threatened Marius," Julien said. "He threatened you. What else could I do?"
"Dere father. Head of de Assassins Guild," Remy whispered in my ear, an' Ah was grateful for his prompting.
"Tell him 'no,'" Bella spat back. "Marius doesn't need your protection. An' neither do I."
"I didn't see it dat way. An' if I got rid of Remy in de process of saving you both...mais (well)..." He paused, but then continued in an exasperated rush, as if we couldn't possibly understand the situation. "He wants him! He's always wanted him, ever since he was a little baby. At first it was de Velvet Ministry, but now it's somet'ing much bigger. Didn't t'ink I could stop him from getting what he wanted in de end and if it could keep you and father safe..."
Behind me, Remy stiffened. "Essex is..."
"De Antiquary," Julien said helplessly. He glared at Bella. "How you gonna say no t' de devil?"
Bella turned her back on Julien, but she didn't have an answer ta his question either.
"At the risk o' bringin' up more bad feelin's, who's The Antiquary?" Ah asked Henri.
He sighed and rubbed his face with his hand. "No one knows, or no one did know. He hired de T'ieves Guild t' steal Remy from de hospital when he was just a baby. He wanted him for somet'ing called de Velvet Ministry. He stole lots of children, mutants, for it, but Jean-Luc saved Remy and exiled De Antiquary to Russia. Guess y' know he'd be none too pleased 'bout dat."
"Jean-Luc said dere was a rumor he was back in town," Remy added.
"What's in de needle, Julien?" Emil asked.
"Ah could get my friend--Mr. McCoy--ta look at it. It'd be no problem ta..."
Henri cut me off with a shake o' his head an' Ah couldn't help feelin' stung. "We appreciate de offer, but it's better t' keep dis in de family for now. Theo could..."
"You crazy?" Mercy cut in. "Theo's Etienne's brother. We can't ask him t' do dis for us."
"I know a couple guys in de Quarter could do it quick an' quiet. It'd cost us, of course."
"Ah don't understand why ya won't let me take it ta Mr. McCoy." We were all talkin' now, filled with ideas ta reach the same end.
"It's a virus," Julien said quietly. Somehow that one word was able ta cut through the whole room.
"What?" Emil's voice was pained.
"C'est vrai ça (is that true)?" Bella breathed.
"A virus," Julien said again. "Something t' kill mutants." He looked pointedly at Remy. "Y' wouldn't join wit' him. Y' forced Essex into exile. He's crazy an' he hates you all. Etienne's his Typhoid Mary. He's like a bomb for him an' sooner or later he'll go off."
* * *
d'échauffement + Sella: I'm sorry I've lost you somewhere! I don't know what to say except that it can be a little hard to follow this fic if you haven't read my first one. It's not a plug, I swear. Also, I'm folding in a lot of elements from the comics too so that may be part of the problem. As a semi-large x-men nerd I've done a lot of research and sometimes I get carried away trying to cram it all in at once. If you want you can email me questions and I'll try to explain.
Neurotic Temptress: I wanted to write Etienne's end well. I liked the kid, which is why it was hard to turn him into a shambling, zombie-type creature. But SOMEONE had to get infected with the Legacy Virus... ;)
theroguephoenix + Katrina: Thanks! blushes
Foxy Bonecracker: Great pen name, BTW. I'm glad you're enjoying this. I think R&R'll have to get by with a little help from their friends as the song goes.
Raven: Yeah, zombies are...odd. He's not exactly a zombie, but something more...sinister (ugh, I hate that joke, it's so glaringly un-funny). You will get no arguments from me on the Remy rocks, Rogue rules front. ;)
Sabby: I know! I hate it when I'm just starting a new relationship and I let my new boyfriend's cousin fall to his death. Puts a damper on the romance dontchaknow. I want them to work through this though (for me?) because their relationship is so angst-ridden as a general rule...yeah, Claremont? I'm looking at you.
starlightz6: See they totally (kind of) worked it out! And then there was romance! Although I think Remy might have a few reservations about the Rogue/Jenny thing, but I'm eager to try a Rogue-gets-her-powers story that doesn't include too much angst about 'em. Concept. ;)
Jean1: Once again, your comments make me feel all warm and fuzzy and whatnot. It's nice to know that you can picture things because I can, but then I don't know how much of that translates.
lucky439: I will assume you were SO excited by the previous chapter that all your spelling skillz flew out the window. It's all good.
Klucky: I can only hope that the bike makes an encore. More KickAss!Rogue! Yes!
evolutionary spider: I would assume that the other X-Men don't know where to find Rogue right now. They saw her go off with Julien, but they've got their hands full searching for the professor and trying to keep a low profile. I know that I should at least make a gesture in their direction waves at the other x-characters and I tried in this chapter with the Mr. McCoy stuff. I wanted to have her call them but it didn't fit here (maybe next chaper?) but I think that'll probably be the limit of their involvement. The Thieves & Assassins are a pretty insular bunch and don't seem to take kindly to outsiders (unless they're super special like Rogue...or something...)