Chapter 6: Wish
Rogue and Remy did not speak on the way home, and when they arrived back at the mansion, they went off to their separate rooms without words.
Rogue entered her bedroom and closed the door quietly, sitting in silence, she felt very stupid for having carried on the way she had only to learn his secrets were about being engaged to someone he didn't love. She felt stupid for having danced with him so close, and letting him tell her she was beautiful.
And she felt stupid for having been seduced by the music and the rhythm as they danced, into perhaps thinking she liked him a little more than she really did.
Either way, she felt stupid, period.
She glanced at the clock, noticing it was half past eleven, and told herself in thirty minutes it would no longer be her birthday. She sat on her bed, grabbing a hair tie from her dresser, and she pulled her hair up into a simple ponytail, she glanced around the room, not feeling tired at all – despite she'd told Remy she had been.
Her mind wandered to his story, wondering if it was true. She knew she'd be able to validate his story by opening the envelope he'd given her. Remembering where she'd put the envelope, she located it and looked at it, it was still folded, just the way it had been when he'd taken it out of his wallet. The envelope was plain white, but had a few dirty fingerprints and creases on it. She sat on her bed and considered opening it.
But she didn't. She realised she did trust him. Why should he lie about being betrothed, why should he lie about not wanting to be married. Why should he even lie about having been tracked down and stabbed? It all seemed to add up when she thought about it.
She remained there for a further few moments, glancing at the envelope in her hands, blankly. Finally, she pulled herself up and left the room, and headed down to the second floor of the Mansion, down the long hallway, and to the door of Remy LeBeau's room. She knocked softly.
"C'mon in," she heard his reply.
Rogue opened the door slowly, and peered in. Remy was hanging up the shirt he'd been wearing earlier that night, he was topless, and in the dim lighting of his room, his body seemed more chiselled as the shadows danced upon him as he moved.
"Something wrong?" he asked in a very blasé voice.
"This…is yours…" Rogue walked over slowly, holding up the envelope.
He looked at her, "you didn't even open it…" he seemed utterly surprised.
"You said if I didn't open it, you could trust me…"
Remy took the envelope from her slowly, his fingers brushing against her gloved hand, "I always trusted you, Chere," he said, he unfolded the envelope and examined it, she had not even unfolded it since he'd given her it, he could tell by the way it had been folded – just as he'd left it.
Rogue felt a chill from the open window, "I'm sorry for the way I acted," she mumbled, she rubbed her arms briskly.
"It's okay…I guess I deserved it somewhat," he put the shirt into his closet, the bag was still on his bed, needing to be unpacked.
"You're staying, then?"
"I guess – though I don't remember you begging me to stay like you promised," he smirked a little, he closed the window, sensing she was feeling the chill.
Rogue walked over and sat on his bed, "Remy…y'know when we were dancing…"
"Uh huh?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"And you were saying those nice things about me?" She asked.
"Yes?" he looked at her, waiting to find out what insults or nasty comments she might possibly have towards his behaviour as they danced.
"Don't do that again…" she put her eyes on him, a lock of hair fell before her face, and she blew it out of the way.
"You gotta be jokin'..." He looked at her with confusion. "Is this like that wanting me to leave thing, but you didn't want me to leave?"
"No…actually, I mean it…" Rogue said strictly, and looked to the floor.
"Why?" Remy asked, he had not thought his behaviour unreasonable, he had not touched her skin, he had been a perfect gentleman to her, and he'd answered the questions she'd wanted to know.
"I don't need to give a reason," Rogue muttered.
"Don't use your cold attitude on me, now, Rogue, I know it's just a defence mechanism, I want you to tell me the reasons…"
"Because it made me feel bad, Gambit…" Rogue pursed her lips together, "it felt like you were trying to flirt or something…"
"Maybe I was," he shrugged, "I don't know, maybe I'm attracted to you because you're as much of a dark horse as I am."
"You were a dark horse up until a few hours ago," Rogue stated.
Remy looked at her, "yeah, I was…maybe I still am, you have a lot to learn about me, Chere," he stated.
"Like?" Rogue asked.
"Those are things I can't answer anymore, Chere, and if you want to know, then they're things you need to find out for yourself…without interrogating me," he looked at her. "Find them out the old fashioned away," he added.
Rogue nodded, and lowered her head a little more, keeping her eyes on the floor. "Okay…I'll lay off with the interrogation…" she said, "and the fighting…for now."
"Good…'cause it tires this poor old Cajun out, chere," he admitted.
Silence followed, Remy stood, not moving, and Rogue sat with her eyes to the floor.
"So…sweet sixteen, huh?" Remy asked, "what was it you were wanting for your birthday anyway?" He asked.
"Nothing," Rogue answered, "I never wanted anything," she answered.
"You wanted to be with your friends, didn't you?" Remy asked.
"Yeah," Rogue sighed, "But that's not likely to happen now…"
"There's plenty of time for them to make up for it," Remy decided. "But surely there was something else you wanted for your birthday, every girl has a wish."
"I didn't even get a chance to wish…" Rogue stated.
"Hmmm…I have an idea" Remy paused for thought, "Stay here…" he instructed, and he made her stay exactly where she was.
She remained in the bedroom for almost five minutes, she glanced to the clock, it was coming up for midnight.
And then her birthday surprise came in an unexpected form. Remy appeared from the doorway of his room, holding a plate – with a small pink cupcake on it, and a small lit candle upon it. He walked over to her. "You have two minutes before you birthday is over…" he stated, "so you better blow out the candle, and make a wish."
Rogue looked at him, it seemed like one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for her, it hadn't been planned, and that was what made it all the sweeter, that it was sudden, and special. She could have kissed him at that moment, and would have perhaps if she knew her powers wouldn't render him unconscious. Despite she had told herself a thousand times that she hated him more than anyone else alive, and that she'd never think such things about him – she was thinking them now. She felt betrayed by her own thoughts, how could she be thinking these things about Remy LeBeau, how could she?
"C'mon, Chere, blow out the candle," Remy murmured.
She leaned forwards a little towards the candle, and blew it out with a soft breath, and watched the smoke rise from the wick in soft white tendrils.
Remy smiled, "happy birthday," He added softly.
Rogue smiled a little, and blushed, then forced away the smile and stood up, finding herself right opposite him, his bare chest facing her, he much taller than she, "This…has been one hell of a birthday…" she admitted.
"Just one more thing before its over," Remy handed her the plate, and picked up one of his leather gloves from where he'd left them on the nearby dresser and he pulled it on, he kissed the tip of one gloved finger, and then pressed it against her own mouth. She looked at him confused, but touched nevertheless. The cold leather of the glove pressing against her dry lips. Their eyes were locked on each other for a moment, and then Rogue moved away.
"Goodnight…" she whispered, and headed towards the door without looking back, and she headed into her room and closed the door, and leaned back against it, the back of her head pressing against it, she still clutched the plate with her birthday cupcake upon it, the candle jutting out. She closed her eyes, still with the feeling of cold leather lingering on her mouth. She'd gotten her birthday wish after all. She'd been kissed.
The End (but it's definitely NOT over)
