Ace of Hearts

Chapter 7

By Kanshisha Tenshi

Disclaimer:  I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer, either (see quote below).  Nor do I own "Darkness Falls" (starring Emma Caulfield--Anya from Buffy the Vampire Slayer!) but I do own "Club Frie."

Before I begin this chapter, I'd like to note that at this point Rogue's having a love-hate relationship with Remy.  She loves him, but she also hates him both because he's her enemy and he drives her nuts.  I've got a quote from Buffy the Vampire Slayer's (brilliant show) Spike/William the Bloody (great character) that fits their situation almost perfectly (if interpreted the way I'm interpreting it):

"You're not friends. You'll never be friends. You'll be in love 'til it kills you both. You'll fight and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other 'til it makes you quiver but you'll never be friends. Love isn't brains, children, it's blood. Blood screaming inside you to work it's will. I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it."

With that being said, I welcome you to chapter 7!

~[ 3 ]~

            Rogue stepped out of the dressing room slowly, staring at her feet.  Kurt and Evan whistled.

            "Twirl around," Jean instructed, and Rogue hesitantly did so.  The skirt of the dress she was wearing spun wildly while she twirled, billowing out elegantly.

            "Wow," Evan said.  "I like this one."

            "You liked all of the dresses she's worn," Jean stated.

            "So?  She looks great in it."  Jean rolled her eyes.

            "Let me, like, explain," Kitty piped in.  "This is, like, Rogue's first date, with a majorly hot guy.  First impressions are, like, the only lasting impression."

            "It's a lil' late for first impressions, Kitty," Rogue said.

            "No, no.  That's a, like, friend first impression.  I mean a date first impression.  If you, like, like this guy, you want to amaze him into, like, being your boyfriend.  Otherwise you're trying to stir someone into, like, respecting or befriending you."

            "I never knew there vaz zo much zcience behind dating," Kurt said, bemused.

            "Anyway, we want this to be a night to remember for both of them," Jean stated.  She had already handed Rogue a dress and the girl had just finished putting it on and was now modeling it for the group, grabbing everyone's attention instantly.  There was a collective gasp, and everyone stared.

            "What ya'll lookin' at?" she asked, blushing.  The dress was form-fitting, with a slit running up to the thigh in the skirt.  The skirt itself fell just above her knees.  It had a low-cut v-neck with short sleeves.  The dress was made of black velvet, with green silk trimming at the neck, waist, and bottom, and the sleeves were made of the same green silk.

            "I think ve have a vinner," Nightcrawler managed to announce.

~[ 3 ]~

            The rest of the week went by all too quickly for Rogue's liking.  Before she knew it, school had ended that Friday afternoon.  She threw her bag on her bed and sat down, sighing.  She had one hour to get ready for her date with--she shuddered--Gambit.  Just then, Kitty phased through the door and opened it so Jean could come in.  The girls locked the door behind them.

            Jean had a bag in her hand.

~[ 3 ]~

            "Oh, come on, Rogue!"

            "No!" Rogue screamed.  "Ah am not takin' off mah make-up!"

            "We're going to reapply it!  Promise!"  Jean was trying to hold Rogue down while Kitty approached with a wet washcloth she planned to use on Rogue's face.

            "Look," Jean said, "you've only got half an hour before he arrives to pick you up for your date so we don't have time to argue!"  Using her psychic abilities, she held Rogue in place.  Kitty washed Rogue's face, and Jean released her.  The two then began fussing over what make-up they wanted to put on the girl.  They decided on dark scarlet lipstick with a light coating of green eye shadow to match Rogue's dress.  They also applied some mascara, then left for Rogue to get dressed.  Fifteen minutes left on the clock.

~[ 3 ]~

            By the time Rogue dragged herself out of her room, there were only five minutes left.  The girls had thoughtfully provided her with elbow-length black gloves and black high-heeled shoes to go with her dress.  She stumbled down the stairs to where the whole team stood waiting.  She groaned.

            "You look lovely, Rogue," Hank said with a careful hug.  Rogue smiled fondly at him.

            "Thanks, Mr. McCoy.  But Ah don' feel like mahself anymore.  Ah feel..."

            "Normal?" Evan supplied helpfully, earning a nudge in the ribs.

            "Gee, thanks," Rogue replied dryly.

            "Ya look great, Stripes," Logan stated, and the others nodded in agreement.  "If that Cajun tries anything, let me know an' I'll tear him limb from limb."

            "Um, okay."

            "And have fun on your date," he added gruffly.  "Don't be too late coming back."

            The doorbell rang, and Rogue answered it.

~[ 3 ]~

            Gambit stared at Rogue harder than he'd ever stared at a woman before.  She was, simply put, beautiful.

~[ 3 ]~

            Lauren waved her hands frantically to get Remy's attention, with little luck.  He was entranced by Rogue, and she by him, and neither was about to leave the doorway.

            "Hey Remy...Remy!"  Still no response.  She frowned, and applied her mutation just enough that the slight tingle would snap him back into reality.

            "Oh, sorry, chere," he apologized, blinking at her slowly.  Lauren reached past Rogue, grabbed Remy, and yanked him inside.

            "Don't stare at her so long that you forget the necklace," she whispered.  He nodded.  "And I've got a present for you to repay you for your gift to her.  It's coming soon..."  She shoved him back over to Rogue, and applied her mutation to the aforementioned girl.  The two walked outside the door and shut it behind them.

~[ 3 ]~

            "Sorry fo' de rough transportation, chéri," Remy said, indicating his motorcycle.  "Didn' know you'd be so dressed up fo' yo' date wit' Gambit."  He grinned at her sideways with a wink.  He got on the motorcycle and she sat down behind him.  She was thankful for the slit running up the skirt of her dress, preventing it from riding up her leg.

            "So where'd ya steal this from, swamp rat?"  Remy shot her an expression of mock hurt.

            "Remy don' always steal all his stuff, petite."  She crossed her arms.  "Okay, I got it from de Harley-Davidson store in New York."  Satisfied, she wrapped her arms around his waist.

            "Now Ah know why ya got a motorcycle," she mumbled.  He turned the key and drove down the long, winding driveway.

~[ 3 ]~

            "Would you like t' see a movie, chere?"

            "Sure," Rogue replied suspiciously.

            "Den Remy take you after dinner."

            "Where's dinner...?  Oh, my gawd," Rogue breathed as they arrived at "dinner."  They were parked at Club Frie, the classiest restaurant in Bayville.

            "Ya can't possible afford this," she said doubtfully.

            "You'll see, chere."

~[ 3 ]~

            "How did ya manage t' get us a table, swamp rat?"

            "Remy knows de owner."

            "Yeah, so?"

            "Remy knows de owner very well."

            "Ya're bein' vague, Cajun."

            "Let's jus' say de owner don' wan' t' get on Remy's bad side, non?"

            "Ah see."  Remy pulled out a seat for Rogue, then sat down across from her.  She noted with satisfaction that he was dressed semi-normally.  He wore all black, which she appreciated, and his trench coat and gloves, but he'd ditched the headband (A/N:  Still don't know its name!) and was wearing his brown contact lenses.

            Something flickered in his eyes, and his hand suddenly shot into his coat pocket.  He withdrew a long, flat black box and looked at her, smiling.

            "You look trés belle tonight, petite."

            "Thank ya," she said with a blush.

            "Remy doubt anyt'ing could make such a belle femme prettier, but he can try."  He held out the box to her, and she took it.  She opened it, and her body stiffened while her eyes widened.

            Inside the box was a heart-shaped emerald pendant with diamond and obsidian surrounding it.  The chain was made of pure platinum.

            "Ah can't take this, Remy..."

            "Please, chere.  Remy'd love t' see you wear it."

            She numbly put the necklace on, and saw Remy's sly grin.

            "Dat puts de finishing touch on an already perfect work o' art."

~[ 3 ]~

            They ate dinner in less silence than Rogue had intended.  She actually found herself enjoying the date as well as Gambit's company, and was disappointed when they both stood up to leave.  Remy paid as much as he wanted to for the meal, considering his "deal" with the owner, and led her to the motorcycle.

            "Where ya want t' go now, chere?"

            "Well, ya did say ya'd take meh t' a movie."

            "Dat's fine.  Remy know de owner dere, too."

~[ 3 ]~

            After a small debate, they decided to watch "Darkness Falls."  Remy prayed silently during their ride to the theater that it would scare Rogue out of her wits.  He remembered Rogue had mentioned during dinner that she'd probably be able to touch until morning, thanks to Lauren.

            Dat fille really is an angel.  Bot' o' dem.

~[ 3 ]~

            Rogue scowled.  Despite what she tried to convey on the outside, she did feel things.  Right now, the movie had her a few shades paler and she found herself involuntarily leaning toward Remy.

            She didn't feel quite so scared after he wrapped an arm around her--but she refused to admit that to anyone, even herself.

~[ 3 ]~

            The couple walked around the parking lot slowly, each savoring the moment in their own way.  Rogue shivered, and Remy wrapped an inviting arm around her.

            "Ah don' remember it bein' this cold before," she murmured.

            "You cold, chere?  Remy keep you warm."

            "Thanks..."  There was a long silence.  "Ya know Ah wouldn't join Magneto 'less Hell froze over an' pigs grew wings.  Me an' Lauren don't stoop t' the...forces of evil...gawd, it's cold."

            "Chere," he said, shaking his head, "dat reason fo' Gambit charmin' you came after he started fallin' fo' you."  He pulled her to him, and wrapped both his arms and coat completely around her.  Slowly, she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

~[ 3 ]~

            Mystique watched the couple in the parking lot with mild disgust.  Not only was Magneto getting closer to winning one of the two girls she needed, but one of his cronies was putting the moves on her daughter!  She was about to step in and break it up, but decided to wait and see what would happen.

            If I watch this much longer I'll end up slitting his throat in his sleep.

            Sighing, she turned and left.

~[ 3 ]~

            Remy took his coat off and held it out for Rogue.  She stared at it.

            "Put it on, chere.  Remy t'ink it's time t' take you home."

            "Ah don' want t' go home..."

            "Where do you want t' go, den, chere?"  He helped her slip the coat on.

            "Anywhere.  If Ah go home now, they'll nevah quit askin' meh questions 'bout where Ah went, what we did, were ya cute when we did stuff..."

            "Any later an' dey ask de same questions, dough, non?"

            "Ah don' care.  At least later Ah can sneak in."

            "We could go back t' Remy's place, but..."  He frowned.

            "Sugah, even Sabertooth looks better right now than the girls crowded around meh askin' me the latest stuff t' gossip about."

            "All right, we go t' Remy's place."  He sat on the motorcycle and looked at her.  "Get on, an' hold on tight, petite."

            "Why?  Ya plannin' on speedin', Cajun?"

            "No, but Remy like de feel o' you holdin' on t' him, chere."  He graced her with a smile and a playful wink.  She rolled her eyes, got on behind him, and slid her arms around his waist.

~[ 3 ]~

            Remy smiled in satisfaction.  The date had been a success, he had Rogue's arms around him, she didn't want to go home yet...

            ...And she hadn't called him "swamp rat" in hours!

~[ 3 ]~

            Pyro looked up from the TV when Remy walked in.  He raised both eyebrows suggestively.

            "What's this, mate?  Who's the gal?"  Gambit ignored him and headed to his room, a sleeping Rogue in his arms.

~[ 3 ]~

            Remy sat his date for the evening down on the bed and smiled at her.

            Quite de night, non?

            "Is that the gal, mate?"

            "Oui, but she's not here t' be part o' de team."

            "Then why's she here?"

            "A date."

            "Hell of a bloody date, if ya ask me."

            "I didn'."  Remy escorted Pyro out of the room, came back, and shut and locked the door.  He glanced over at Rogue and saw she had a smile on her face.

            Hate t' see how she feels in de mornin', hahn?

            He slowly slipped off her high-heeled shoes and his coat, and set them on the floor next to her.  He also unlatched her necklace--so she wouldn't choke--and removed her gloves.  He placed his bo staff on the floor next to where he would sleep and removed his gloves and contact lenses.  He flicked off the light switch and found his way to his bed, and crawled onto the opposite side Rogue was sleeping on.  He knew the right thing to do would be to sleep on the floor, and normally he would, but he was dying to see her face in the morning if she didn't remember why she was there!

            Smirking, Remy LeBeau drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

~[ 3 ]~

Author's Notes and Acknowledgements:  Have you guys ever noticed that Remy's eyes are red and black, and those are the colors for the suites of cards?  Interesting, huh?  Anyway, I've got results from the vote so far and some acknowledgements to put up.  So, here I go...

Magneto--6

Mystique--1

Therefore, unless a sudden change occurs in peoples' opinions, I think Magneto is going to get the girls.  Poll's closed, thanks for your votes!  Power to the people. ;)

Now...I'd like to thank you all for reviewing.  I love reading what people think of my stories, and some of the suggestions and praise I've got made me (very) happy.  I have to admit I'm very surprised that everyone likes it so far that's reviewed.

Ishandahalf--Thanks for the review.  So glad you like it!  I hope the date was fluffy enough for you.

Lucky439--Sorry for whatever wait to put you through for the story.  I write this story in my spare time at school during the weekdays, so I may only have a chapter every 1 or 2 days.  I'd update more if I could. ;)  Keep reading and I'll keep writing!

Starlightz6--I wish I had a boyfriend.  Period.  Until then, I keep daydreaming about Remy and Rogue.  To me, they're a match made in Heaven.  And you're right, the possibilities are endless so it's going to take me a while to decide what I'd like to happen.  Maybe a combination of your suggestions. =)  It's going to take me another chapter or two before at least one of them actually moves in, though.

RogueLeBeau--Good suggestions!  Actually, I'm pretty glad most people wanted them to go to Magneto.  If I had decided to pick myself, I would've had them go to him, too, just 'cause it works out really nicely in some of my scenarios running through my head.  I think about what I'm going to do for this story almost constantly lately.  And it's good to know you think my writing's good. =)

Vagabond--Well, I'm going to try for a chapter a day.  It's great that you're so excited over that.  Personally, I hate it when stories I'm reading take forever to get updated.  I hate having to wait a few weeks to see what happens.  And yes, it does mean I'll keep going, as long as I keep getting reviews like these. ;)

Trunks-Girl--In this case she might put up more of a fight staying away from him.  The people have spoken and they agree with you that the story'd be better off if she went to Magneto.  Thanks for your review!

Lady MR--Sorry the vote didn't favor Mystique.  I'll keep her in the story anyway, just because she is cool and she's related to Kurt and Rogue.  Besides, where would a story be without Mystique, huh?  We all need our favorite terrorist shape-shifter!

Erica--You love it, huh?  Wow.  Thanks!  Hope it continues to live up to expectations and interests!

Scout--Lots more is coming.  Promise.

Carla--I'm trying to update soon.  If chapter 3 was good, then I hope the others were just as well in your eyes.

Bitchy Little Pixy--Thanks for the advice.  As you can see, I've been trying to add the other names he's got for her in.  And I'm really glad you like the story.  With all the positive reviews I'm getting, I may even start updating more often.  Who knows?

Fallen--Ah, sometimes when they take time to build up it kills me.  Especially when the author can't update often or is unwilling to.  It's kind of taking every ounce of patience in me to write this story, but I'm really trying to keep them all in character.  Next chapters have been added and look for more in the days to follow!

Olhado--Yeah, well, sorry to let you down. =(  Maybe in my next story I'll have those three. ;)  Anyway, I've been to your site, and it's great.  You're a very interesting person.  Thanks for the dialogue comment/compliment.  I guess the first chapter was a little short and vague.

Sundip19--Thanks for your review.  Hope you've been keeping up with the story and continue to enjoy it!