Chapter 5: A French Lesson and a Heated Conversation
Late afternoon Rogue and Remy entered the institute's dorm common room. Some of the students were missing, having gone off to some sort of after school activity, and the rest were strewn about lazing infront of the tube or out on the lawn. Rogue made for the stairs to find Kitty before Scott emerged from the kitchen.
"Rogue, we missed you after school. Where did you go?"
Rogue paused to answer him. "Ah waited, then Ah got another rahde."
"With who?"
Rogue bristled. He expected her to wait around for him, then acted like he had a right to put his nose in her business?
"None o' ya business, Ah'm not helpless ya know."
Without letting him get a word in edgewise Rogue went past him and up the stairs to her and Kitty's room. Scott remained, confused. He didn't exactly deserve the snap, really, but he couldn't help but notice that she'd been a little hostile towards him lately.
"What did I say?"
Remy walked up next to Scott, watching Rogue as she went up the stairs, and put an arm around the leader's shoulders.
"De women, dey is fickle, mon ami. Yo' don' have ta say not'in. Das jus how da good Lawd made dem, at least dat's what Remy's Pa always say. Jus' be lucky yo' got yo'self one wit a slightly steady head... and a nice tight little rear." He grinned and Scott elbowed him in the ribs. "Dat's what all da boys down on da bayou be lookin' at, sah, i's da bes' paht." He chuckled and turned away, then sat himself down on the couch and started to fiddle with his cards.
Scott made a flustered groan of disgust at Remy's comment before stalking back into the kitchen. Intimidated? Let's hope not.
Upstairs, Rogue walked in as Kitty was practicing her French, no less.
"Jooo vay oon, like, movie?"
Rogue crossed the room with a grimace, dumping her books into her bed.
"Kitty, cut the French torture for a sec... Look, Ah probably shouldn't 've asked without askin' ya first, but Ah asked the swamp rat if he'd help ya with your pronunciation."
Kitty flipped through her text book as she listened, suddenly looking up with an elated grin.
"You're kidding! He said he'd help me? That's awesome!" Kitty jumped up off her bed without another thought towards the door before stopping, thinking. "Whoa, wait a second Rogue.. When did you two ever stop fighting long enough for you to ask him to help me?" She blinked with sudden realization. "You were with him after school, weren't you! Oh my god Rogue, what did you DO!"
Rogue held her hands up in defense, shocked at the accusation.
"Who said Ah was with that jerk, and even if Ah was, nothin' would have happened! Honestly, Kitty, keep yer mind outta the gutter for two minutes.." Rogue wasn't sure why she felt the need to deny it - it was innocent enough. And why did she revert to name calling again? "It's just that he ain't doin' that great in his classes, and he agreed to help you if Ah helped him a little, that's all!"
Kitty tilted her head.
"You, help him? Ha! Fair enough, Rogue. I'll just pretend like you two don't have something goin' on, while I practice my French..."
And with that Kitty dashed back downstairs, followed by a very annoyed Rogue.
Remy was, meanwhile, downstairs picking up a bit more spending money by playing some quick three card monty while Captain Bringdown, aka Scott, was busy with his favorite psychic in the kitchen.
"Ok, boys, yo' jus have ta follow da black Queen. She gotta be dere somewhere, don' take yo' eyes off." Iceman was back. He was determined to win his money back. Yet he'd all ready lost ten dollars to
Remy's game, and there went another ten. Bobby was able to stop there and he just stood and walked away. When Remy saw Kitty come down the stairs he quickly grabbed up the three cards and stood.
"Sorry, boys, dat's all fo' now. Remy gotta go help out some o' da lady folk wit deir schoolwork."
The boys grumbled and Kitty took one of the soon vacated spots next to Remy.
"So, like, you're really gonna help me with my French!? Thanks! I really need it!"
Remy blinked and looked at her, then smiled and nodded as Rogue joined them. "Da's right, mon petite amie, yo' jus show Remy what da trouble is."
Before Kitty had a chance to demonstrate her grating French accent, Rogue cut in to more accurately point out the problem.
"She can't really pronounce the vowels.."
Kitty shot her a pouty look and Rogue could only shrug. "It's true."
Kitty sat indian style on the couch next to Remy, flipping open the text book to their current area of study. She seemed more than eager to learn from a pro, especially one as charming and easy on the eyes as Remy. Rogue, in an effort to contain her slight disgust for Kitty's shamelessness by opening her own text book, intent on doing her homework while the French students had their little session.
Remy did his best and smiled the whole time. He didn't seem to mind that she wasn't too great with French. He had to hold up his end of the bargain, and if there was one thing he was, it was an honorable man... at least when he felt like being one. After an hour and a half of painfully slow learning Kitty's pronunciation actually sounded like a horribly mispronounced French, rather than gibberish. In fact, at the end she actually pronounced a few of the words right. Remy grinned and nodded.
"Da's it, Cheri! Yo' win a li'l prize fo' dat." He easily slid a hand behind her head and pulled her close, planting a nice firm kiss... right on her forehead. "Nice work, Cheri, I t'ink da's a good place ta stop fo' tonight."
Kitty blushed furiously as she gathered her books. "Like, thanks! I mean, uh.. Merci!" Standing, she said her goodbyes to Rogue before heading into the kitchen to scope out the munchies scene, delightedly pointing out different objects in French.
Meanwhile, Rogue tried not to notice that last little gesture between the two. But she didn't know what was worse - watching the students' casual interactions that could only be her fantasy, or to see them tiptoe around her, careful not to do anything infront of Rogue.. She decided the last thing she needed was their pity.
As Kitty went into the kitchen, Rogue scribbled to finish what she was working on, turning to Remy with a disconnected, vaguely annoyed expression... What happened to the love? =(
"Now what did ya need help with?"
Remy scooted over next to her and smoothly slid an arm around her shoulders and leaned against her. "Dat can wait, Cheri, i's like Remy said, he don' really care... He t'ink he can help yo', dough. Yo' need ta relax a bit, Cheri, don' be so high strung. Ain' good fo' da body, p'tite, an' yo' body deserves ta be taken care of." He grinned and scooted a bit closer.
"Nah, before yo' try an' get away, jus' hear Remy out. He ain' gonna grope ya or nuttin', but what say yo' give him da honah of goin' fo' a little walk, hm? Da night air is always good fo' relaxin."
She stayed long enough to let him finish speaking, but sat up instinctively.
"It's not that Ah don't trust ya. Don't ya get it?" No, he probably didn't. Grabbing her notebook, she stood up. "Look, if we're walkin', it'll be while we're studyin'.. Ah only agreed to tutor ya if ya helped Kitty, not hang out with ya."
He arched a brow and looked up at her.
"Fair enough, Cheri, dough Remy would like ta know what he jus' ain' be gettin'. Cause obviously he jus' don' get it. An' if yo' wanna wait till he do, well, den yo' got a long wait ahead, Cheri."
Rogue looked up at the common room. Some students still milled about, but most were getting ready for dinner. Still, she didn't want to create a scene. She kept her voice low and exasperated.
"Don't ya get it?! You're riskin' ya life every time ya come near me. Touch mah skin, even by accident, and you're in a coma. What's so hard ta get!"
He blinked and shrugged, then stood.
"Remy know, Cheri. He don' mind none. An' he ain' afraid, neither. He pick pockets since he was five, he know jus where his hands be goin' all da time, no need ta worry 'bout Remy gettin' hurt." He grinned and winked, then headed for the door, for their walk/study.
Rogue ran a shaky hand over her face. But didn't he realize how it felt to be teased all the time? She shook her head, slightly more depressed than when the conversation began, and followed him out the door with her notebook in hand. She determinedly kept three feet between them as they went, keeping her eyes down - mind still broiling over their last exchange..
"Fine.. What do ya need help with?"
He sighed and thought for a moment as he looked up at the sky. "Well... de math ain' so easy... Ones an' twos Remy can handle... but de X's and Y's is confusin. He don' see why yo' need lettah's when yo' jus' messin' wit' numbahs."
A half hour did nothing to help Remy's math. It did, however, leave them at the outer reaches of the Xavier compound, with nearly two miles between them and the mansion. Remy had stopped paying attention as Rogue tried to explain how the hell he was supposed to do simple pre-algebra and was amusing himself by doing acrobatics every now and then.
Rogue glanced up from the problem she was working on to watch Remy doing one of his stunts.
"Aren't ya gonna pay attention?" Rogue turned back to look at the mansion. It was getting later, the sun beginning to set, and no doubt dinner would start any minute. "Maybe we should go back now, they'll wonder where we are."
He chuckled and finally just ended up sprawled out on the grass.
"Remy jus' ain' made fo' dis book learnin', Cheri... Yo' can head on back if yo' want, dey can wonder all night as far as Remy cares... Afraid dey'll get some improper t'oughts bout what we be doin' heah?"
He folded his arms behind his head with a sigh. He looked around the starts, then back to Rogue. He wasn't sure what she would do, but hopefully she'd stay. He needed time alone if he was ever going to crack her. It wouldn't be easy, but he was one of the best con men around. He could do it.
"It's not like Kitty hasn't already suggested it.. Talk to someone new and she's all ova me for it. It doesn't take much with her." Rogue dropped her book to the grass, looking around aimlessly. She didn't really feel like going back, only to have Kitty grill her about her and Remy's study session. She'd have to put an end to that somehow.
Looking back at Remy, she figured that Kitty's suspicion wasn't totally unfounded.. This was the second time Rogue found herself alone with Remy - how did that happen? Only days ago she had seen him as an enemy - he had worked for Trask! And she still did, didn't she? It's not like he gave her any real reason to trust him or his motives - it was those motives that got her landed in Trask's laboratory. Turning to face him, Rogue posed him a question.
"Why are ya here?"
Remy blinked, looking quite stunned, then he stood and started back toward the mansion. "Maybe yo right, cheri. Probably should get back."
"Nothin' like changin' the subject, swamp rat." She'd caught him off guard, and was going to nail him for it. "Why don't ya answer my question? Why are ya here?" She followed him closely.
He shrugs and is silent several moments longer. His defenses were never down for long, though, and he looked at her with his same cocky grin.
"Fo' all da pretty girls, Cheri... In fact, as soon as Remy met yo' he jus' knew he had ta come ta heah." He chuckled and looked away again.
The cocky grin and flirty comments would never work on her again. Rogue sped up and stopped in front of him, forcing him to meet her accusing glare.
"Ya seem to forget that the first time we met ya were tryin' ta kill me! It's yo' fault that we ended up in that lab, and don't think Ah don't know you're up to somethin' now!"
This got to him. His demeanor changed, slightly, a little shift. His eyes seemed more vibrant, anger just below the surface, and there was a small tic in his lower lip.
"De talkin is ova', cheri."
"Yea, it is. Don't be sore that Ah didn't trip ovah mahself for ya so Ah wouldn't find ya out, Remy." She said his name - for the first time - like some sort of curse. She turned to leave him, notebook forgotten on the grass.
He actually sneered and grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around to face him, leaning in close and whispering fiercely.
"Listen, Cheri, Remy ain' no criminal no mo'. He don' appreciate yo' sayin' it neithah. He work hahd ta get to where he is, he didn' have no one ta care enough 'bout him ta do deir best and not make him feel different like yo', an' he don' need yo' shit jus' because yo' think Remy is some sort of low life swamp rat. Got it?" He pushed her out of the way, manners forgotten, and walked briskly toward the mansion, trying to regain his composure.
Rogue felt herself freeze up, even after he was long gone. She'd pinned the blame on Remy, but from his point of view she seemed like the one who should feel guilty. But that simply wasn't right! Hurt, confused, and beginning to feel guilty, Rogue spun around to punch a nearby tree, sinking into the grass.
