Chapter 7, "Not Quite Paradise"
By: RogueBHS
A/N: I already left this note for the Evo readers on "Drowning," but I get my computer (which has needed fixing for like 6 months) back on Sunday, and will hopefully be able to write more on my stories! Yeah! :) So thank "Mr. Ed" (not his real name) for being able to fix up my poor computer. LOL. Alright, enjoy!
Storm glanced up from the TV program she was sort of watching when a flash of brown, white, black and purple went across the room. The brown, white and black indicated it was Magnolia... but purple? That was new. Ororo could only hope Bobby hadn't played a trick on the poor kitten. If he had, Rogue would more than likely kill him for it.
When Magnolia came in the room at a more casual pace, Ororo realized that the purple she had seen was a sash of some kind...a sash that had once belonged to Betsy. But then, Betsy had decided she didn't want it any more, and had given it to the kitten as a toy. After Betsy's donation, Ororo and Jean had both donated an item that would be alright for the kitten to play with as well. Of course, Scott had gone and outdone the women by buying Magnolia a cat bed, after Rogue complained about cat hair all over her own bed.
Come to think of it, Storm mused, Scott had been doing a lot for Rogue lately. Even if it was something simple, like buying the cat bed. Remy had complained that Scott was spoiling Rogue, and Storm had to agree. It was almost as if the X-men's fearless leader was trying to impress Rogue or something. But of course, that was silly. Scott wasn't looking for romance, and truth be told, neither was Rogue.
Glancing up when she felt someone watching her, Storm spied Remy standing in the doorway. He was just standing there, looking at her and Magnolia. Ororo had been so lost in thought for a while that she had no idea how long he had been watching. Now that she was paying attention to him, Remy strolled in and took a seat on the coffee table in front of her. He still hadn't said a word, but his lips slowly curved upward into his usual grin as Magnolia stretched and looked at him.
He reached forward and stroked the cat's head, earning him a low purr of happiness from the kitten. Magnolia stood up, and jumped off of Ororo's lap, straight into Remy's. Ororo was relieved when he finally made a sound...he laughed. He pushed the kitten into a more comfertable position, and resumed petting Magnolia. His eyes looked up, finally meeting Ororo's. Ororo couldn't help but be stunned at the saddness in those red-on-black eyes of his.
Reaching forward, she put her hand over his. "Remy? What's wrong?"
His sigh could probably have been heard over half the house away, but he didn't seem to really care. "It be Rogue. She..."
He stopped dead when his kinesthetic sense warned of someone near...a female someone. Rogue's presence at the doorway only a second or two later made him glad he had stopped talking. Green eyes looked from him, to Ororo, to Magnolia, then back to him. "Seems mah search is ovah." Rogue walked forward, and picked up Magnolia gently. The kitten rubbed against Rogue and let out a soft purr, glad to have her master near again.
Ororo, though she wanted to hear what Remy had to say, looked up at Rogue. "You were searching for Magnolia?"
Rogue nodded. "Th' lil thang went scamperin' off when Ah was helpin' Logan outside, an' when Ah came inside t' change, Bobby mentioned that she had come inside. Ah figured Ah might as well feed 'er while Ah've got a break."
Remy finally spoke to Rogue, his eyes betraying his curiosity. "Break? I t'ought you 'ad de day off, Roguey."
Rogue shrugged. "Thats what I thought. Until Logan woke me up at 6 freakin' AM sayin' he wanted meh t' help him fix up that ol' shed that is." Rogue sighed. "Then o' course th' Professeah asked meh t' do a work-out in th' dangah room so Hank could get a little more info on mah powahs. Ah've been busy all dang day up till now."
Remy looked a little more confused now. "I t'ought dat Hank already had plenty o' info on your powers, chere. I mean, ya been wit de team how long now?"
Rogue shrugged and smiled ruefully. "Ah've been heah a good while, so ya would think he'd have enough." Her smiled turned from rueful to happy. "But th' prof may have figured somethin' out for mah powah...mah original one Ah mean. So Ah guess it wasn't too bad havin' t' do that bit o' work t'day."
Remy and Ororo both smiled. "Chere, dat be great. I hope he did figure somet'ing out for ya."
Rogue nodded. "Ah jus' hope he don' expect meh t' wear a collah or anythin' lahke that. I get jumpy enough wearin' a collah whenevah Hank puts one on meh t' do medical stuff."
Ororo smiled. "I believe we've noticed, Rogue." She paused, debating asking a slightly personal question. Her face went serious, and she asked. "Although, I must admit Rogue, I don't believe any of us know why the collars make you so nervous."
Rogue's smile faded, and the old uncertainty filled her eyes as she hugged Magnolia a little closer. For a second, Ororo thought Rogue might answer, but she lost that hope when Rogue took a small step backwards. "Uh...Ah...Ah gotta go."
Rogue all but bolted out of the room, leaving her two teammates and friends completely confused.
"Come on Stormy, I know dat you know why Rogue bolted. Ya gotta know."
Storm sighed. Remy had been pestering her since Rogue had left the rec room in such a rush, and had even gone so far as to follow her up to her loft. Storm had a decent idea as to why Rogue had left, but she didn't dare tell Remy. If Rogue found out that Storm had betrayed her trust, the River Rat would never trust her again.
"Remy, even if I did know, I couldn't tell you. I've never betrayed your confidences in me, and I will not betray Rogue's. Both of you mean very much to me, and don't try to make me play favorites."
Remy pouted, and folded his arms across his chest. "Awww, come on. Roguey wouldn't mind. I mean, dis is me you be tellin."
"Which is exactly why I can not say a word. Rogue will tell you when she feels like it. Until then, do not pester me on this Remy. What happened to Rogue in Genosha is her own business."
When Remy's eyes narrowed, Ororo realized her mistake and put a hand over her mouth, her eyes going wide. "Oh goddess...I shouldn't have said that."
Remy moved closer to Ororo to the point he was almost in her face. "What happened in Genosha, Stormy? If somet'ing bad happened t' her dere, I wanna know."
"I will not say another word. I know very little on the subject...only what Carol told us...and that is not exactly the most reliable source."
Remy stood up and glared at his friend. "Fine den. Don' answer me. I t'ought we was friends, Roro. Guess I t'ought wrong."
Storm winced when Remy slammed the door to her loft, then listened quietly as his footsteps echoed up the stairway. Sighing heavily, Storm stood and moved to her window, watching the sunset. Normally, this was a view she loved, but there was too much on the weather goddess' mind for a sunset to matter much.
What she had told Remy was true. She knew little of what happened in Genosha. Logan and Rogue both were rather tight-lipped on the topic, and the only way the X-men had gotten any information was through Carol. And, of course, Ororo wasn't sure they could trust what Carol had told them. Not because of any vindictive reasons, but because the woman had seemed to be inwardly conversing with Rogue, checking on what she could and couldn't say.
Rogue hated any type of power supressor, and everyone thought that it dated back to Genosha. But thinking back, Ororo had to wonder if that was the truth. Even when she first joined the team, before Genosha, Rogue had seemed to be leery of being without her powers. As much as the younger woman hated her powers, they were a sheild for her as well.
Storm stood a little straighter when she saw Rogue walk out onto the front lawn, Magnolia playing with the hem of the leg of Rogue's jeans. Rogue's laughter carried up to the loft, and had Ororo smiling despite her previous thoughts. Rogue was rolling around on the grass with the kitten, laughing and smiling; a major change from her earlier disposition. But despite her normally keen eyes, Ororo missed the most major change of all...
A/N: Yes, I'm leaving you hanging again. I know you hate it, but it seemed the thing to do at the time. *innocent look* LOL. I'll write more soon!