Chapter 16: Deception
Remy danced and talked for quite some time, truly thrilled by the fact they would throw him a party. He knew it wasn't really his birthday - well, it could be, but he didn't even know what his birthday was - but they'd chosen a nice date to mark the event. The Professor congratulated him on his first completed year, and his overcoming of the obstacles that everyone had to deal with at one time or another. Everyone else talked about things that had happened, or about mundane things, some even asked about New Orleans, inspired by the decorations. Of course one can only take so much, but he needed some excuse to break away from his own party, and hopefully he could do it quietly...
Rogue had disappeared once again after her dance with Remy, looking for some aspirin some of the other kids reported. Another said they had seen her walking back to her room, complaining of a headache.
A plan slowly formed in Remy's head. The stairwell was dark enough now that he lights were dimmed; chances are no one would even notice him, as a good time was being had by all. He excused himself from the small group he had been talking with and wandered closer to the stairs until he took one last step and started up, luckily unseen. At least no one followed him.
He headed up toward Rogue's room, though he had to dig back to remember which door it was. He didn't pick the lock his time, though, he just knocked softly. Kitty wouldn't be in there, she'd been down at the party, so he may as well maintain his manners this time.
Knocking revealed only that the door was slightly ajar, not even closed much less locked. It drifted open a bit, helped by a breeze that issued from the balcony window inside the room. The lights were out, and Rogue was standing with her back to the door, silhouetted against the dark violet night sky. The moon illuminated her skin, making it glow with white. Her head was bowed slightly, but she shifted a bit to the side, acknowledging his presence and not sending him away.
He blinked but stepped inside, and closed the door behind him. He felt slightly awkward, really, as he didn't quite understand what was going on. This didn't really seem like her, at least as far as he knew, and that threw him off his game. He didn't like to be off his game.
Still he walked up beside her, and slightly back, as he looked out over the balcony as well. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then stopped and closed his mouth again. He had absolutely no idea what to say for once. So, he just stood and looked out.
Rogue stood silently as he stood beside her, gazing into nothingness. Suddenly, slowly, she raised her gloved arm before her, in plain sight of both of them. She loosened the fingertips delicately one by one, and started to pull the fabric off, exposing inch by inch the white skin of her arm. The whole display felt as if she had been removing something more intimate. She dropped the article to the floor, turning to face him. Her eyes were shadowed, and she lifted her bare hand to touch his face. The back of hand grazed his cheek, and nothing happened.
Remy drew in a breath as he braced himself for that strange pulling sensation... Then nothing happened. He blinked and looked at her hand, then wondered if maybe he was hallucinating and she hadn't actually touched him... But no, that was wrong. His eyes were fixed on her hand, and then slowly moved to her. He opened his mouth again and started to say something, then stopped and thought, before he continued.
"Cheri, dat's... amazin'... but how? I mean... Did you... or... Well... jus' how is all..." He blinked again as he watched her, as if confused.
Her hand continued to caress his cheek as he spoke, seemingly not paying attention to his words. Moving her hand to the back of his head, she brought her gloved hand up to rest against the other side of his face, meeting his rambling inquiry with a sultry gaze before leaning up to kiss him softly on the lips. The kiss was innocent, but not chaste.
What's a man to do? His questions just evaporated and he brought his hands up to rest on her hips, though he seemed fairly prone beyond that. This was quite a bit very fast, not something he could process with ease. Though that didn't really matter now, so he just let his cares go and returned her kiss gently. He'd thought about it more than once, of course, ever since he'd first kissed her to transfer his memories, and now he could actually experience it... and of course he should appreciate everything he comes across, so he could just take his time to appreciate this.
Her hands drifted down to his, slowly removing his gloves. She began to move forward, pushing him back slightly to sit down on the bed. She broke the kiss and stood before him, slipping off her other glove. Now properly disrobed, she lean in once more to kiss him again with a renewed fervor, easing into his lap and straddling his hips.
Outside, rain started to dot the dark concrete, and clouds obscured the moonlight, making the room even darker.
He slid his hand behind her head, caressing her bare neck, his other arm wrapped around her waist as he closed his eyes, his breath quickened. He once again returned her kiss passionately, driven by the feel of her body against his, and the wonderful warmth that could only come from another person. He couldn't help but press closer to her, his earlier questions completely forgotten now in the heat of the moment.
Her hands moved across his neck and chest as she deepened the kiss, leaning over, guiding him to lie back. It began to rain harder, and the wind picked up, blowing the curtains inward to drift towards the two like ghosts. Her mouth left his lips once more, trailing kisses down his neck as her hands reached under his shirt, running across his stomach.
Remy laid back with a sigh, then took hold of one of her hands and brought it to his lips, planting soft, quick kisses over her fingers and palm. He muttered softly in Creole, those sweet nothings that sounded so nice, though what he actually said was lost in her hand.
She sighed faintly, breath trailing across his skin like feathers. She planted another gentle kiss on his lips before hovering above him to look down into his eyes, the red on black gleam just barely glowing crimson on her pale face. Rain spattered the windows, lightning struck, and for an instant the room was lip up with white, and Rogue's eyes shone blue. Thunder cracked instantly, reverberating throughout the grounds.
Remy blinked as he saw her eyes. That made him take pause and also gave him the break he needed to collect himself. After all, Kitty could walk in any moment, right? He also still wanted to know the 'how' of what she did, though that question was replaced by the much more obvious one at the moment.
"Cher... Wha's wrong wit' yo' eyes?" He slowly let his hands fall to the bed, and his body tensed slightly, ready... just in case.
She paused for half an instant, and then quickly recollected herself. Not saying a word, like she hadn't since this began; she seemingly ignored his question and leaned down once more to kiss him, hands around his neck. It was now or never.
He put his hands on her shoulders and pushed back gently, turning his face away. He couldn't let this one be brushed off; he knew that if she got him going again, he'd lose his chance for an answer.
"P'tite, please... Remy real excited dat yo' showin' so much affection fo' him an' all, but he need an ansah of some kind..."
The look he gave him was strange, one of disbelief. She hesitated for a moment before striking, eyes narrowed. She made sure his hands were still touching her bare shoulders before the grip of her hands on his neck tightened. Then came the familiar, unnatural pulling sensation as she completely let loose her powers.
He gasped at the feeling, but he'd been ready for... Well, something, though not this specifically. The tension in his body released and he sprung up, and he knew that if that didn't get her off, he wouldn't be able to pull away and he'd be lost. His mind raced, though, with all new questions, though he'd passed the point of caring about why's and how's, and just wanted to get away, save himself.
Rogue maintained her grip on his throat, a grim smirk curving her lips. Just then, the door flew open, and another flash of lightning set agleam a pair of adamantium claws.
Logan's first thought upon seeing them was that Rogue was being attacked. He could smell the pheromones from down the hall, easily detecting the Cajun, and the mixed scent of someone he didn't recognize.
All that was forgotten now - he had caught the kid messing with Rogue. With a feral snarl, Logan crossed the room in a flash, ripping the Cajun roughly away. It was only then that he noticed his pale complexion and weakened bearing. His gaze flew to Rogue, who took a step back, glaring at him savagely. She couldn't face two of them.
He gasped as the connection was broken, his knees weak, body only supported by Logan's hold on the back of his shirt. He shakily supports himself as Logan doesn't tolerate holding him up for long. His breath came in short rasps as he slowly regained himself, and nausea pushed up from his stomach. He suppressed it as he watched Rogue. Logan kept his position, as he didn't want to get too close if she was ready to suck the life out of someone.
"All right, Stripes, time to start explaining yourself."
Rogue backed away slowly, betraying actual fear at the thought of fighting Wolverine. The chances of her getting close enough to touch before he shredded her were slim to none. She spoke suddenly, voice dripping with venom, and in an accent not belonging to Rogue.
"I have a message for Charles. Tell him he'd best consider where his allegiances lie, if he values the lives of his students."
She could feel the rain beating against the skin of her back, and a renewed energy flowed through her. Without pause for a reply, she turned and ran onto the balcony, vaulting over the rail and dropping out of sight.
Remy's eyes went wide and he rushed forward to lean over the balcony and see where she went. What had just happened? She didn't seem to be herself. Suddenly there was a flash of memory: the Professor explaining about Carol, the entity that had been dormant in Rogue's head. Surely she couldn't have taken control again. But then what?
Logan put a hand on his shoulder and led him out of the room and back downstairs. "Come on, Gumbo, we have to go talk with Chuck. He'll be able to find her easier with Cerebro than you could on foot, and it's a lot safer, too."
