Chapter 4: Compromise

            After about ten minutes of non-stop crying, Rogue finally managed to pull herself together, she entered the nearest bathroom and washed her face, her tears had mixed with eyeliner and stained her porcelain face.  After some intense scrubbing, her face was clean.  She patted her face softly with a nearby towel, and glanced in the mirror at herself.

            Without makeup she looked tired, and it was clear even from her puffy eyes that she'd been crying, her eyes were still all glassy from the tears. 

            Trying to ignore the fact that Remy LeBeau was going to leave the Mansion, she headed for the Recreation Room and logged onto the computer, finally, when everything was loaded, she checked her hotmail account.

            There were emails from several people, and a lot of junk mail.  Rogue clicked the first, an email from Kitty, wishing her a happy birthday, and informing her she'd gotten home safely, and had gone out with her parents shopping earlier that day.  Kitty's email also asked if Rogue had gone out with Remy yet – and what they had done if they had.

            Rogue replied back that she thanked her for the birthday greetings, and had not gone out with Remy – and in fact had argued with him.  As she sent the email she realised that when Professor Xavier returned, she may be facing some serious trouble with having convinced him to leave.

Sucking in her breath and telling herself to hold herself together better and not be so much of a whimpering little girl, She headed upstairs, intent on looking for Remy.  She walked along the hallway, and found the door opposite Kurt and Evan's room.  She opened it without even knocking, and glanced inside.

            Remy was shoving things into a large backpack on his bed, there wasn't even any skill to his packing, he didn't raise his head when she opened the door.  There was a silence for a few moments, and then Remy spoke, "you're meant to knock before you enter someone's room," He remarked in a very icy tone.

            "Whatever," stepped in, still watching him packing.  She wasn't sure if he was bluffing or not, it looked pretty serious. 

            Something inside of Rogue told her to just let him go and get on with his life – and she could get on with hers.  But another part of her said she should stop him, that if she let him go she'd spend the rest of her life wondering what his secrets were.  And spend the rest of her life trying to explain to Professor Xavier why she'd driven him to the extent of leaving.

            "Why are you still standing here, don't you have something to do?" he demanded, his eyes never even raised to see her, he shoved a pair of jeans into the bag.

            Rogue paused, "Well, no, I don't have anything to do because YOU were meant to be taking me out for my birthday," she finally replied, standing with one hand on her hip, looking at him.

            "And you didn't want to go," Remy reminded, "Because you wouldn't have fun."

            Rogue looked at him, "where were you while I was waiting forty five minutes for you to show?" she asked.

Remy finally raised her head "you're picking fights again," he remarked, he scratched the area of his chin where he had grown an unsightly goatee, Rogue always wished he'd shave the damn thing off.

            "I'm not picking fights," Rogue sighed, she walked over and sat on the edge of his bed, "Look, I'm mad at you, okay.  I've been mad at you since the moment I first MET you," Rogue admitted.  "Everyone says it's going to pass, sometimes I feel like they're wrong, but deep inside I know they're right – because there were times I couldn't even stand being in the same room as you – and I'm sitting in the same room you're in now," She pointed out.

            "So?" He asked.  "What is it you're trying to say…?"

            Rogue really wasn't sure herself, she sighed, "Remy, look, I'm not gonna put up with Professor Xavier feeling angry with me for drivin' you away out of this Mansion…and I'm certainly not gonna be mad at you for the rest of my life – everyone is convinced of that."

            "Then why must you pick fights with me?" he demanded. 

            "Because you infuriate me…I don't know why…"

            "Heh," He gave a soft laugh, "I infuriate you?  You infuriate me," he stated, and looked at her.  "Every time I see you, you're givin' me looks that could kill," he added, "and with you around with all that strength and hostility I'm even surprised I've survived living in the same house as you," he commented with a chuckle.

            "Are you ever serious?" Rogue demanded.

            "Life is too serious," Remy remarked, "better to not take things seriously – you sleep better at night."

            Rogue stood watching him, he was still packing.  She wasn't exactly sure now how she could convince him to not leave.

            "Are you standing there for a reason?" Remy asked, "Or have you just come to help me pack?"

            Rogue  sat on the edge of his bed, crossing one leg over the other, and resting one elbow on her knee, she propped her chin on her knuckles, "what if I'm not here for any reason…"

            "Then you're here hoping you can just annoy me with your presence," Remy shrugged, he looked so nonchalant about the whole discussion, "sorry to tell you this, but your presence does little to annoy me," he added.  "If anything, your presence entices me."

            An expression of disgust formed on Rogue's pale face. 

            "Why the face?" Remy glanced at her momentarily, "No one ever told you that you're attractive when you wash all that shit off your face?"

            At first, she felt her heart thudding, no one had ever told her directly as he had how attractive she was – no one had ever told her anything of the sort.  But she pushed it away, trying to convince herself that he was just trying to charm her.

Rogue frowned, "don't be a smart ass."

            "I'm not being a smart ass," Remy pointed out, "I'm stating some obvious facts – are you aware how beautiful you are?"

            "I know what I am – and I know what I'm not, I'm not beautiful, and right now I couldn't give a shit about any compliments you try to win me over with, Remy LeBeau," She remarked. 

"You have a poor self image," Remy shoved a few pairs of socks into the bag he was packing.

Rogue drew her breath, "Y'know, every time I see you, only one question springs to mind, it's the same question I ask you every day I see you, and the same question I get zero answers for.  And the question keeps getting harder and harder to ignore – the thought that you might be hiding something from us all…and I'm damned if I'm gonna let you sleep under the same roof as the X-Men unless I know what that the answers are…"

            "Are you trying to persuade me to stay?" Remy asked, he stopped packing suddenly, looking at her.

            "How about a compromise," Rogue stated, "I'll convince you – even beg you to stay…" she began.

Remy smirked a little, his dark eyes twinkling, Rogue felt her heart jump in her chest when he did so.  "And what do you get in return…"

Rogue looked at him pointedly.

"Ah…you want to know my secrets…" he sat down on the other side of the bed, his back turned to her, "I need to think about this, Chere."

"I need a decision soon," Rogue stated, she glanced at her watch, "within the next few moments…"

There was a silence between them, and Rogue waited patiently.  Finally, Remy LeBeau spoke.
            "Yes, Rogue, I'll tell you my secret," he rolled his eyes,

"Really?" Rogue asked.

He turned towards her, "Yes, I will…on one other condition though…"

"Yes?"

"We go to dinner – right now," He stated, he glanced at the clock, it was nine pm.

Rogue sighed, "But my makeup is all washed off.

"Your face looks fine from where I am," He shrugged, "c'mon."

"Isn't it kind of late?" Rogue queried.

"I'm sure Logan won't mind, he'll be at that poker game all night – probably won't be home 'til sunrise…" Remy remarked.

"He must trust me to spend the night with you and not murder you," Rogue gave a warning glance to Remy.

"I know a great place to have a meal," Remy stated, ignoring her comment.

"You'll tell me at dinner?" Rogue asked.

"Yes…I'll tell you at dinner…"

"Promise?"  She kept her eyes on his.

"Promise."

They headed out of the room and went downstairs, Rogue walked slowly behind him, watching his every move.  "How are we getting there?" She queried.

"By bike, of course…"

"Where'd you get the Harley anyway?" Rogue asked curiously.

"Present," He shrugged, he walked across the tiled floor of the grand hall, and opened the front door, and let her walk outside first.

Rogue looked at the bike, she didn't know if she wanted to ride behind him, it would mean having to actually touch him, she glanced at him as he walked over to the bike and picked up a helmet that had been sitting on the back seat, "Here," he said.

"What about you?"

"I never wear a helmet," he climbed on.

Rogue pulled the helmet on and climbed on behind him gingerly, which proved quite difficult with her leather skirt, she pulled it up her hips a little and climbed on behind him.  "You had to pick the bike," she rolled her eyes, "Why not the van?"

"This is cosier," he started the bike up, and it roared to life.  "Hold on…"

Rogue sighed and wrapped her arms around his waist carefully, "I was afraid you'd say that."

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