Ace of Hearts

Chapter 4

By Kanshisha Tenshi

~[ 3 ]~

            There was a collective groan from the students surrounding Neutra.

            "Chere, Remy don' t'ink dat a good idea," Remy whispered, glancing at Rogue.  She looked mad.  "Don' wan' t' upset de belle femme too much, hahn?"

            "Hey, you guys swore," she said, ignoring Remy.  "So let's play."

            "Okay," Kurt said.  "I vill go firzt.  Repro:  Truth or Dare?"  Repro looked at him, surprised at the mention of his name.

            "Truth," he said softly.  Kurt sighed.

            "Why don't you talk much?"  He shrugged.

            "I don't have much to talk about," he replied.

            "Fair enough.  Your turn."

            "Neutra, Truth or Dare?"

            "Dare."

            "Well...I...um...dare you...to..." he looked confused.  "I...um...dare you to...hug me?"  The others groaned, but Neutra hugged him.

            "He's new at this.  Anyway...Roguie!  Truth or Dare?"

            "Ah ain't stupid.  Truth."

            "Do you like Remy?"

            "Ah hardly know 'im."

            "But do you like him so far?" she pressed.

            "Ah don' know...Ah guess..."  Underneath her make-up, the Rogue was blushing.  "That doesn' mean he's not a swamp rat, though.  An' he's still a pain in the ass."  Remy smiled charmingly at her.

            "You don' mean dat, chere."  She glared at him.

            "Keep ya mouth shut, Cajun."

            "I don't, like, hear her denying that she doesn't mean it," Kitty whispered to Kurt.

            "Ah heard that!"  Kitty giggled.

            "Like, chill out, Rogue.  It's just a game."

            "Anyvay, it'z your turn, Rogue."

            "Fine.  Scott, Truth or Dare?"

            "Dare."

            "Kiss Jean--on the lips--in front o' everyone."  Scott's face turned red, and he faced Jean.  She closed her eyes, he leaned in, and kissed her softly on the lips.

~[ 3 ]~

            "That wasn't so bad, now, was it?" Neutra asked Scott.  He shook his head, still blushing.  She looked over at Remy and noted he was looking at anything but Rogue.

            "Kitty:  Truth or Dare?"

            "Definitely truth."

            "Who do you like?"

            "Like, like as in as a friend or like as in love-like?"

            "Love-like," he repeated.

            "Well..." she glanced at Kurt, and her cheeks turned pink.  "I am dating Lance..."  Jean whispered something into Scott's ear, and he added it to his question.

            "I mean in the institute."  Kitty glanced at Kurt.

            "So, like, you're asking me who I'd date, in the institute, if I weren't with Lance?"

            "Yes."

            "Well...Kurt."  Kurt grinned at her.

~[ 3 ]~

            It was Kitty's turn to pick.  She looked around at the circle of people gathered, and grabbed some popcorn to munch on.  She wanted to make sure everyone was picked before someone picked someone who had already been picked.

            I could, like, totally pick him...

~[ 3 ]~

            "Um...Remy, was it?  Truth or Dare!"

            "Remy likes challenges.  Challenge him good, petite.  Dare."

            "Well..." She glanced at Rogue, but realized that wouldn't work.  Then again, he wanted to be challenged..."I dare you to..."  Everyone stared at her in anticipation as she made up her mind.  "I dare you to, like, kiss Rogue," she said adamantly.

            "Wha?  Hell no, Kitty!  Nuh-uh!  Not gonna work, remember?  Mah powers?  Besides, Ah don' want no filthy swamp rat kissin' me..."

            "On the lips," Kitty added.

            "No!  No!"

            "Rogue, be nice," Neutra practically screamed.  Suddenly the X-Men and non-X-Man felt a tingle rush through them, and then nothing.  They felt empty.

            "Vhat just happened?"  Kurt spoke up.

            "I...oh, my God," Neutra breathed.  "I'm so sorry.  When I get overly emotional my power kicks in.  None of you will have access to your powers for a little while..."

            "How long is a little while?" Scott asked.

            "I'm not sure.  I've never timed it, but it's about an hour or so."  Scott took off his red sunglasses, took a deep breath, and opened his eyes.

            Nothing happened.

            Rogue reached out and touched Kurt's face with her ungloved fingers.

            Again, nothing happened.

            "Oh, mah Gawd...Ah can touch..."

~[ 3 ]~

            "Look at the bright side," Neutra said quietly.  "At least now he can carry out his dare without a consequence."

            "Without a consequence?" Rogue repeated, quickly recovering.  "Excuse meh, but Ah'm still here, just without mah powers."

            "Look, Rogue, you want to play the game?  Then play the game, and let them play, too.  You swore."  Grumbling, Rogue crossed her arms and waited.  Her eyes widened when she felt Remy picking her up and carrying her out to the balcony.

            "What the hell do ya think ya doin', swamp rat?" she yelled.

            "Makin' the mood better, chere," he replied.

            "Put meh down, Cajun!  Ah can walk!"

            "Remy know dat, but he t'ink he like havin' such a belle femme like you in his arms, non?"  He grinned lopsidedly at her, his red eyes glowing faintly.  He set her down on the balcony against the railing, then wrapped his arms around her.

            "She only asked fo' a kiss, not romance," Rogue pointed out.

            "All kisses should be romantic, non?"  Slowly he bent down and kissed her on the lips.

~[ 3 ]~

            Kurt gave Rogue and Remy a thumbs-up as they walked back into the room from their kiss.  Rogue refused to make eye contact with anyone, and tried her best to look mad.

            "Vay to go!" Kurt told Rogue.

            "Yeah, yeah.  It's ya turn, Remy."

            "Truth or Dare, chéri?" he asked Rogue.

            "But Ah already went!"

            "So?  Remy don' see no sign sayin' he can't ask someone who already taken a turn."

            "Ah know better than t' say 'dare' to swamp rats.  Truth."

            "Is Remy a good kisser?" he asked her, smirking.

            "Ah wouldn't know.  Ah haven't kissed anyone else t' be able t' compare ya to someone."

            "Oh.  Yo' turn, then, petite."

            "Jean?  Truth or Dare?"

            "Truth."

            "Did ya ask Kitty t' dare Remy t' kiss meh, telepathically?"

            "Why would I want to do that, Rogue?"

            "T' get even for me darin' Scott t' kiss ya in public."

            "Well...I suggested it."

            Thank you, chere, Jean heard Remy think.

            You're welcome, she thought back.

~[ 3 ]~

            The rest of their game went by quickly, with dares to kiss, dance, drink, and eat excessively being the main theme.  It was almost midnight when they stopped.

            "We have to get up early for school tomorrow," Scott pointed out.  The others agreed, and one by one they filed out.

            "I'm going to go take a shower," Neutra announced.  She left into the bathroom, leaving Gambit and Rogue alone.

            "Go on home, Cajun.  Take ya time, 'cause Ah doubt ya'll have t' get up early for school.  Ah don' even think ya goin' to school."

            "Remy don' wanna leave his fille, dough."

            "Too bad.  Ah ain't ya 'fille,' whatevah that is.  Ah'm tired, swamp rat, so go on."

            "Remy not leavin' 'til he get another kiss from you, petite."

            "Then Ah guess ya'll be there for a while, sugah."

            "Didn' yo friend tell you t' be nice to ol' Remy?"

            "Since when does 'nice' include kissin'?"  He stepped closer to her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her closer to him.

            "Since now," he mumbled huskily, bringing his lips to meet hers.  He closed his eyes, and she stared at him.  Then she closed her eyes and kissed back hesitantly, enjoying the moment of being able to touch.

~[ 3 ]~

            Rogue suddenly pushed Gambit away.

            "This don' change a thing between us, Remy."

            "Ya sure, chéri?  Remy t'ink you were enjoyin' his comp'ny, non?"

            "Ah was enjoyin' bein' able t' touch."

            "Take advantage of it, den, chere."  He pulled her to him again, and kissed her.  She started to feel a tingle flow through her body, starting at her toes and coming slowly to her lips...

            She stared in horror as she tried to push him away again.

            "Stop, Remy, mah power...don' touch meh!"  He stopped, and backed away.

            "It comin' back, chere?"  She nodded.  "All right.  Gambit'll leave...fo' now."

~[ 3 ]~

            Rogue stared at the retreating form as a tear slid down her cheek.

            Ah finally got t' touch...it ain't fair...'specially now that he'll be botherin' meh even more 'cause of those kisses...why meh?

            She changed into her night clothes and wiped off her make-up.  She got into her bed, turning out the lights, and listened to the sound of the distant water coming from the shower.

            She clung to the memories of her recent kisses like a lifeline.  Eventually, her tears stopped, but long after she had fallen asleep.

~[ 3 ]~

            Neutra looked down at her friend sadly, drying off her hair with a towel.  She noticed the drying tears on her pale cheek, the red nose and eyes from recently crying her heart out.

            "Hang on, kid.  I just need to exercise my powers a little more...then I'll save you.  Just a little longer, kid...I'll help you..." she whispered.

~[ 3 ]~

            Mystique listened to the whispers coming from the other side of the door to Rogue and Neutra's room.  She wouldn't be able to take the girl, yet, but with time and patience she would be rewarded.

            Once I have her, Magneto won't have a prayer.  I might as well take the other girl, too.  Those two could be very useful.

~[ 3 ]~

Author's Notes:  Okay, this chapter was a little pointless and long.  Can you guess how Mystique got in?  Or who she plans to take?  And for the record, Neutra's older than Rogue, which is why she called her 'kid.'  Also, Rogue only kissed Remy because she was being greedy for touch.  She doesn't have feelings for him yet. =)  Please keep reviewing!