Chapter 22: A Date?
Rogue sat out on her dorm building's patio, lounging in a chaise. It was another hot day, so for temperature's sake she wore a long dark skirt with a slit up the side, from which she bared as much leg as possible. Besides, Kitty was always on her case about soaking up some vitamin D. She wore a low cut long sleeved shirt and thin gloves, which held a paperback book, covered. She claimed it was for summer reading - it was the school's book, she said, and needed to be covered. A likely tale. For a class assignment, she flipped the pages rapidly, all of her attention engrossed in the narrative.
Remy walked slowly toward her in a black cut-off tee, blue jeans, and - of course - boots. He smiled down at her and cleared his throat softly.
"Don' wanna intarrupt yo', chere, yo' seem ta be havin' a nice time, Remy jus' like ta ask yo' somet'in."
Bobby and Evan stood almost casually at the corner of another building and tried to hide the fact that they were watching, as Remy had told them not to. Let's just say the two just aren't in the same league as James Bond, or even one of those people who sit in their attic with binoculars. Though it didn't really matter to them, Remy deserved whatever torment they could dish out since he kept enjoying their money.
Rogue glanced up suddenly and snapped her book shut, startled. It took her mind a few moments to remove itself from the novel world and shift back into reality. She smiled once she realized who was talking to her.
"Oh, hi.." His question hadn't really registered. "Uh, what can Ah do ya for?"
Remy arched a brow at that. She sure acted strange, almost like she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't. He glanced at the book and saw it covered... What book was it? Then something dawned on him, she was hiding what she was reading. Remy being who he is was instantly curious and stepped a bit closer as if to say something more, then just snatched the book and turned his back to her.
He stepped away a bit and pulled the cover back to look at the book. He chuckled and grinned as he saw what it was: A romance novel. One of the nice cheesy ones with the bare-chested hero and his silk-dressed heroine on the cover. He flipped through a few pages, still grinning.
"Gee chere, dis sho' is some stimulatin' readin' yo' got heah. Remy don' recall seein' dis on de summah readin' list."
Rogue jumped up immediately, indignant. Her blush showed faintly through even her goth makeup. She grabbed his arm roughly, grabbing at her book.
"Hey, that's mine!" She snatched it back from him, hastily putting the cover back on. "Do ya mind?!"
Beneath her anger, her stomach twisted with embarrassment. What she read was none of his business.. The Goth couldn't be caught dead reading dime novels - what would happen to her elusive, icy exterior then?
He turned and smiled at her, and reached up with a gloved hand to brush a few locks of hair from her face.
"Don' get yo'self in a twist, p'tite, Remy won' tell no one... Like he say, he jus' came ta ask yo' a question, he ain' look fo' no trouble from yo'." Remy did his best to be charming and disarming, as pissing her off wouldn't be a good start toward his goal.
She shot him a dangerous glare, but seemed more or less pacified now that she had her book back.. Even if he did tell, he had no proof. Besides the situation at hand, another part of her mind mused on their situation in general. Was this what their relationship was degraded to since a week of avoiding each other? Back to square one, with Rogue on the receiving end of Cajun vexation? For the love of God.
Her tone of voice was a little agitated, but she didn't feel like aggravating the situation.. Next thing she knew she'd get another playing card in the rear.
"Then ask it, Cajun."
She tried to ease up on the name calling too, 'swamp rat' was slightly more demeaning.
"Remy jus' wondahed what yo' was doin' tonight, p'tite... Dey playin' dat new Ben Affleck movie 'round eight tanight, an' he t'ought yo' might like ta go... Dat book make him seem right, too." He chuckled and shrugged casually. "Course, yo' don' have ta, Remy jus' lookin' fo somet'in ta do tonight..."
There were so many things wrong with that entire thing. Her face deadpanned.
"Ben Affleck?..." Okay, so she read romance novels, but that didn't make her some kind of teeny bopper. "Ah hope ya don't mean that new one with him an' JLo.. Ah can't stand-"
Rogue's sentence was cut short when her gaze fell past Remy to Bobby and Evan, who were still watching them from a distance and snickering. Rogue did a double take, and then looked back at Remy questioningly. What was this, some kind of bet?
"Why?"
Remy blinked, then sighed. Swing and a miss. He still had two strikes though, if this went totally cold. Then he saw her look over and he realized that Bobby and Evan were there. He'd have to take care of them later, but kept the irritation off his face.
"I's okay if yo' don' wan' ta, chere, Remy undahstand..."
Rogue watched him for a moment before shooting an annoyed glare at Bobby and Evan, who caught it, freezing up. She smirked at them. They probably didn't think she'd accept, and were probably joking about Remy this very moment. It threw her a little off balance, as she'd convinced herself he'd been avoiding her, but maybe he wanted to hang around with her again. As long as he kept the flirting to himself, it couldn't be that bad.
"Ah'll tell ya what.. We'll see that new British zombie flick. Then Ah'll go."
Remy grinned and nodded.
"Dat's much bettah... Remy ain' much fo' dose pop icons hisself, really. An' if you get scahed, den Remy can' comfort yo'." He chuckled and looked down at his watched quickly. "Remy swing by ta pick yo' up at yo' room, all right, chere? An' he won' tell no one if dat make yo' feel bettah."
He sighed inwardly, it had actually gone well. He'd had his doubts at first, since he hadn't seen her much lately, but Remy was relieved that seemed enough at ease with him to go.
Rogue stole another glance at Bobby and Evan, who just watched with blank expressions. They couldn't quite believe it. She allowed Remy a small smile before turning to walk back into her dorm.
"Ah'll see ya then."
* * *
Later that evening Rogue sat in her room, thinking. Her feminine instinct told her she should change, look nice.. But her mind argued it. It wasn't a date or a special occasion or anything, it was just her and Remy hanging out. They'd hung out around the mansion, and she hadn't felt the need to dress up. In fact, the only time she'd dressed up was for his birthday, and that was under duress from Kitty. Still, she had to admit it was a somewhat liberating experience. A little too liberating, she guessed, as it didn't take long for Carol to tap in. So much for that line of thought.
Kitty suddenly burst into their room.
"Oh my GOD. You're like, going on a date with Remy, and you didn't even tell me? Rogue, we have to get READY!"
Rogue's jaw hung slack a bit at the speech, completely caught off guard. What??
"It's not a *date*, Kitty, we're just goin' ta see a movie!"
Kitty just laughed, immediately crossing the room to rummage through Rogue's closet.
"Whatever, like, floats your boat, Rogue. Think you should wear another dress? No, it's been done.. How about this mini skirt!"
Rogue groaned, standing up and steering Kitty away.
"There's no reason for me ta dress up! Hey!!" Rogue paused suddenly, looking off into the distance as if listening. "Do ya hear that?"
Kitty froze, looking at Rogue with wide eyes. "What is it..?"
Rogue looked at her with an expression of awe and portent. "Ah think hear Rahne fightin' with Jean.. Rahne's tryin' ta steal Scott?"
Kitty's face fell.
"Oh my GOD!"
In a matter of seconds, the girl was already half way down the hall to watch the scandalous fight. Rogue just rolled her eyes, turning back to her closet.
"Gullible.."
Several minutes later Remy strolled up to her door and knocked as he leaned against the door frame. He had a black and red bandana tied around his forehead to keep his hair out of his eyes and smelled quite nice, Old Spice of course. Remy wore his same old brown, scuffed up boots, but looked rather spiffy aside from that. He had on a pair of pressed black dress slacks and a crisp, new white t-shirt which complemented his musculature nicely.
Whatever Rogue had in mind, he was quite convinced he'd finally managed a date with her, being so inspired after he thought he'd lost his chance to Pietro. You had to live life while it was there to be lived. So, with that in mind, he put on his most charming smile and waited.
Shortly Rogue opened the door, suddenly glad that she had decided to change. She was wearing a French Victorian shirt, black slightly see through material bound at the arms and empire waist with crimson trim. She wore simple black pants, boot cut with her typical black boots, and of course, thin black gloves.
She gave his outfit an appreciative look, tone in jest.
"No need ta dress up for me, Cajun."
Remy chuckled at that and ran a black-gloved hand through his hair. That was a nervous tick he never quite remembered to cover up, but he wasn't nervous often enough for it to be obvious, at least.
"Aw, Remy would feel bad if he jus' wore de same ol' t'ing an' yo' gonna look so pretty." He swept an arm, motioning down the hall. "Shall we, chere? Scott lettin' Remy borrow his cah, so yo' don' have ta wait fo' Remy ta hotwire anyt'ing dis time."
"Then Ah'm assumin' ya didn't tell Scott how ya drive.."
She started down the hall, but seemingly the mention of Scott's very name summoned Kitty back up the stairs, looking shocked.
"Rogue!"
Kitty paused, seeing Remy walking with her. So they were leaving on their date! And Rogue had decided to dress up after all. That was one less thing to scold her for.
"I couldn't fine Jean or Rahne, like, anywhere!"
Rogue just walked past with a bemused expression, ruffling the girl's hair sympathetically. Poor girl.
Kitty, on the other hand, watched the two as they went downstairs. Here Remy had dressed up so nice to take her out on a *date*, and Rogue was STILL totally clueless.. Kitty shook her head. Poor girl.
