Chapter 23: A Date With Disaster

                Remy walked with her to the garage and the two soon departed in Scott's lovely convertible. Scott probably wouldn't like the way Remy drove, but he hadn't been unable to pay the money he'd bet in a game of blackjack Bobby had finally talked him into playing with Remy. He'd hoped that bringing in fresh meat would make Remy let up on the rest for awhile. It had served the Cajun's purposes, so he peeled out of the driveway and into town.

                Of course, Remy didn't particularly enjoy uncomfortable silences when he had something to say, so he opted for some small talk.

                "So wha' was de li'l one talkin' bout back dere, p'tite?" He glanced over at her with a small grin.

                Rogue puzzled over the question for a moment before giving a short laugh.

                "Oh, Ah just made up a story to get her off my case.. The girl is way too gullible."

                She knew if she'd allowed Kitty to stay she'd now be dressed in an even fancier outfit - possibly in Kitty's own clothes, and no doubt with sparkly eye shadow and lip gloss. The image of herself dressed like Kitty made Rogue scoff. Kitty's heart was in the right place, but the Goth look was way beyond her grasp.

                Remy chuckled as he slid through a turn. He loved powerful cars like these, and he especially liked to do the fancy tricks they did in the movies like that. It was just so much fun.

                "Dat's too bad, chere, Remy sho' like de way she dressed yo' up fo' his party." He shrugged and glanced over at her again. "Course, yo' look jus' as nice in dat."

                As soon as his latest vehicular stunt was over, Rogue leaned her elbow on the car door, brushing his comments aside with a newly acquired type of parry. It allowed her to sound appreciative while at the same time making any further compliments out of place, even disallowed. Her tone was light and dismissive.

                "Save it, Cajun."

                She admitted she'd liked wearing the dress possibly as much as Remy liked looking at her in it. But she didn't remember anything that happened after she left the party, and now the dress was missing in action. For one queasy instant, she wondered if it had been lost during the little episode Carol had with Remy.

                He just smiled and kept on with the drive. He didn't expect her to suddenly open up and become different; she still couldn't take compliments like people such as Kitty could. He was sure she still liked them, though. Remy pulled into the theatre parking lot and found a space pretty close to the doors.

                "Here we are, p'tite." He climbed out and waited for her. "An' don' worry bout de tickets an' refreshments, Remy treatin' tonight. He ain' gonna let yo' say othahwise, eithah." And he wouldn't. She could just not like it if she wanted, but he had to retain his gentlemanly status.

                Rogue shrugged as she got out of the car, following him into the cinema and not entertaining any thoughts of refusal, not putting up any kind of a fight.

                "If ya insist."

                Besides, she was sure he'd hustled enough cash from his favorite black jack plays to cover the night. And she'd most certainly take him up on it - it wasn't like she had much cash to spare, besides her allowance.

                At the ticket counter, Rogue rolled her eyes annoyedly - the guy was carding her and not Remy for the R movie. How patronizing.. She handed the ticket guy her ID impatiently.

                After the ticket counter Remy got drinks and some popcorn, the staples of a movie going experience. As they took their seats and waited for the movie to start, he casually draped his arm over her shoulders. He was at complete confidence now, since he'd not only gotten her to say yes, but she'd actually dressed up for him, and without Kitty there to force her.

                Rogue had settled back into her seat, crossing her legs and waiting for the real previews to start. When Remy put his arm around her, she turned her head to give him a pointed look. She didn't say anything else though, just shook her head slightly and slumped back into her seat with another handful of popcorn. She'd been expecting him to try and get more cozy with her like he always did, but didn't think much of it. He did that with everyone. But at least for tonight, she decided, she'd try to put up with it.

                The previews were vaguely uninteresting.. Another comic book-made-movie, some teen flick starring a pop singer, and yet another cheesy slasher movie. Then finally, the feature presentation.

It started out a bit strangely.. including a few shots of frontal male nudity. Who really needed to see that?

The movie had its share of gore as virus-infected humans turned on each other in blind murderous rages, following a handful of survivors trying to escape the zombies... It included a fair amount of suprise scariness, which caused Rogue to jump more than once. The female lead's angsty persona and no-nonsense brutality appealed to her, and even the small bit of romance was believable.

                Remy enjoyed the movie and wasn't really taken by surprise; at least he never showed it. It was nice and entertaining, though he wasn't scared easily. Still, he had to admit that it was quite suspenseful at times. When it was over he sighed and got up with a little stretch and smiled at Rogue in the slowly rising light.

                "Well dat was good, hm chere?"

                The rest of the crowd, which was pretty small as far as movie crowds go, had all risen as well, starting into the aisles when what appeared to be some kind of entourage entered. Several large, tough looking men posted themselves in front of all the exits, and more still began to line up down the aisles, preventing any further movement. At the front of the theater a well dressed, trim looking man raised his hands to the audience.

                "My friends, please settle yourselves. We are sorry to disturb your evening, but we must run one of a series of necessary screens.. " He cleared his throat as the people sat back down, uncertain. "The mutant threat has grown beyond proportion, and the danger to the public with it - as evidence by the murder of a Friends of Humanity member here in Bayville just months ago. It is vital now more than ever that these reckless killers are identified. Some may be your neighbors, your school mates, some in this theater at this very moment." The people exchanged murmurs but made no move. "This will be just a simple test, no more than a bee sting.. Humans have nothing to fear."

                Rogue shot a panicked look at Remy - they wouldn't need to test him to figure out he was a mutant, the demon eyes gave him away. She whispered hastily.

                "There are too many.. "

                Remy sat back down in his seat like the others who had all ready risen and draped his arm around her shoulders again, this time so he could lean closer and whisper to her.

                "Don' worry, chere... Dere dat back exit overe dere... We jus' need ta jump over dese seats quick enough, an Remy know yo' pretty fast yo'self..." Remy looked at the bag of popcorn, there was still a nice amount left in the bag. It didn't have the same flare as cards, but it would work... hopefully. "Remy can covah de escape othahwise..."

                He watched as they made the people on the ends of the rows get up and start filing out. They each had to pass one of the large men, and they had metal rods about the size and shape of test tubes with two lights on them. The flat ends were pressed against the skin of the arm and the round end was depressed, which shot several tiny needles through the epidermis and collected a blood sample. The needles were small enough they didn't cause bleeding, but it still stung. After every sample one of the two lights would flash on.

                So far only the red had appeared, and those people were let go. Then someone in one of the rows back a bit got a green light... and they were promptly drug out. Remy frowned at that. They weren't kidding around.

                "Jus' follah Remy's lead, chere... Now!"

                With that he brought his foot up to the seat and pushed up and over, then his other foot came down on the back of the next seat and he ran across the backs of the seat, as nimble as a cat. He just hoped Rogue would follow as a few of the men were all ready on the move to intercept them.

                "They're running! Stop them!" Now everyone knew, even those who had been too wrapped up in their own matters to pay attention. No other way out, now.

                Rogue leapt up, following suit as the guards ran towards them, several of them slipping one hand into the insides of their jackets. They were packing some kind of heat. The devices looked vaguely like handguns, but with no bullet chambers.

                A couple of the men leveled their aim at the two fleeing mutants and fired. Rogue, still several rows behind sprung forward, diving over the remaining seats and landing in a roll onto the floor, a few dart like projectiles striking the tiles near her. Her progression was delayed for a short moment while she regained her footing.

                Remy managed to maneuver from side to side as the darts came toward him, then jumped to the floor and whirled around. His hand reached into the popcorn bag and grabbed some, then pulled it out, the kernels all ready tinged red as he charged them. The men closed in and kept their aim.

                "Drop it, mutant! You're coming with us."

                Remy grinned. "Sho', he drop dis gladly..."

                With that he whipped the charged popcorn at them. Several small bursts stung at them, burned holes in their clothing, and temporarily took out their vision. That was all the distraction he needed, so Remy ran back towards the door and jerked it open for Rogue to get through. Before he ran out, though, he raised his free hand up in the air, clenched into a fist. "Mutant freedom!" Then he ran out the door as well.

                Rogue sprinted through the door, not pausing to watch Remy's attack or the effect. The exit opened into an alley where the back of the cinema met the walls of the shopping strip on the same block. She slowed down as she emerged from the door before she felt herself being propelled forward again, having barely enough time to bring her hands up before she was slammed into the brick wall, a stinging pain in her back.

                She whirled, ready to fight, only to find both ends blocked by more guards, one of whom leveled a dart gun at her chest. She paused for a moment as if in defeat, catching him off guard as a quick swipe disarmed him, and another strike to the temple sent him crumpling to the ground. All in the span of a few seconds, the others rushed her.

                Remy had joined her by then and turned to face down one side of the alley. He grabbed more popcorn this time and charged it longer, so when it exploded the guards stumbled back. Remy rushed forward at that and he jumped, dropping one with a vicious kick. His momentum carried him back around to wind one with a punch to the solar plexus.

                Remy was ready for a fight, whatever he had to do to get Rogue out safely. He didn't doubt she could handle herself, but he was the one that had brought her here, so it would be his fault if anything bad happened.

                Rogue faced her group of attacks with a controlled amount of ferocity. They appeared to have to no qualms about fighting a girl - she was a mutant after all, so they didn't let up at all. Rogue had managed to drop a few of them with some carefully aimed strikes at the head before the other guards emerged behind them from inside the cinema, splitting to attack them both from behind.

                Rogue was shoved roughly in the back, stumbling forward to receive a vicious backhand to the side of her face, the force sending her against the wall. She caught herself, jaw stinging. Whether it was the dirty move or the strike to the face, it was clear enough Rogue was now extremely pissed off. She seemed to have adopted Logan's short fuse in battle, as well as his skill.

                Pushing herself off the wall, she leveled a powerful kick at one man's lower half, his hope to father children more than likely lost forever. She dropped down to sweep another, delivering an elbow strike to his face as soon as his head hit the ground. His nose broke, blood spurting.

                Remy was not oblivious to those who came up behind him. As one tried to punch him he used a throw he'd learned in training and used the man behind him to bowl over the rest in front of him. He spun and kicked another man back down the stairs, further congesting the situation. Now as the perfect time to run, and run he did.

                He went past Rogue and threw himself into the rest, then rolled to his feet to beat them back a bit more before he grabbed Rogue by the hand and pulled her with him. He ran through the parking lot toward Scott's car as a few of the FoH came from the front of the theatre. He let Rogue go as he vaulted over into the driver's seat and pulled the keys out, then started it up. They were almost home free.

                Rogue used one hand to vault over the car door, landing unceremoniously in the passenger seat.

                "Go!"

                As if he needed to be told. She braced herself as the car peeled out of the parking lot, the FoH members stopped in front of the theater to watch. It was all they could do, and giving chase would only lead to an encounter with the law. One member recognized Remy from the attack in the plaza, and the pair would never be forgotten.

                Remy tore through the streets even though it appeared they weren't being chased. Better safe than sorry. So, rather than head back to the Institute, he drove back to that spot which overlooked the ocean that he seemed to like. Remy sighed and turned the car off, but left the keys in the ingnition.

                "Remy t'ink it best ta lay low fo' awhile ta make sho' dey ain' comin aftah us... Don' wanna lead dem back ta de school... dat only bring trouble..."

                Rogue nodded half heartedly. She'd found that in all the excitement she'd forgotten to breathe, and now she was panting deeply - partially from the physical exertion, and part from the adrenaline rush. Her heart was still pounding. She tried to slow her breathing down, and it was when she opened her mouth to speak that she felt the sting in her jaw. One hand shot up to her cheek, which she quickly covered by continuing the upward motion, running one shaking hand through her hair.

                "What if they got the license plate?"

                Remy sighed and shrugged. "Bein a mutant ain' against de law... at least not yet, chere. I's all self defense so fah..." He looked over at her with a smile. "Sorry dat our li'l date had ta be intarrupted like dat... Dough, aside from de ignorant humans, wasn' dat, bad, hm?" He chuckled and turned to look back out over the ocean.

                Rogue's mind hesitated over the word 'date' until she shook her head. Why was she worrying over whether or not this was a "date" when just minutes before they'd been attacked by anti-mutant activists? She berated herself silently for being so juvenile, and managed a small smile before it faded as quick as it came.

                "Yeah, it was nice.."

                It seemed, however, that any time they were having fun together, some mutant hater group or vengeful psychic entity or evil archenemy arrived and ruined it. Just her luck.

                She looked down at herself, looking much more disheveled and worse for wear than when she'd first met Remy to go out, on their date or whatever anyone chose to call it.. Glancing in the mirror, she wiped away some blood on her chin with the back of her hand. Not her blood, she noted grimly.

                Remy checked his watch, and after a few more minutes he started up the car and drove off. He parked the car in the garage at the Institute and walked with Rogue right up to her door. This was the part of the date, if one chose to call it that, where the couple shared a goodnight kiss. Remy wasn't a fool, as he often reminded people, and he knew that he wouldn't get a kiss, but he didn't want her to feel bad about it, so he gave her - as usual - his best charming smile.

                "Remy enjoyed dis, p'tite... Yo' t'ink yo' can spare him maybe a nice hug befo'e he gotta go back ta his place?"

                Alright, so he'd walked her back to her room - nothing too odd about that, he was being gentlemanly after all. But Rogue became genuinely confused at his awkward pause at her door, as if he was waiting for something. You were only supposed to exchange goodnight kisses if you had been on a date, and even then, only with people who could kiss.

                Her hand lingered on the doorknob, giving him a strange look at his request. She'd been expecting one of his usual kisses to her hand, but a hug? It wasn't such an odd request, an even less flirtatious gesture than she'd expected. But that was good right? For a moment Rogue reproached herself - Remy was her friend, would she deny him a simple hug? A small, friendly smile quickly replaced her questioning look as she leaned in to hug him.

                He smiled and hugged her close. When he let her go he whispered, "I's times like dese, p'tite, dat Remy glad he leave de bayou..."

                With that he turned and headed back toward his room. He thought that he could chalk up tonight in the victory column, though it was a pretty sad to consider a fight with a bunch of mutant haters a victory in romance. Still, he would take what he could get...

                Rogue smiled at him idly and watched him go, more than a little confused. One part of her was warmed at his affection, yet another part, a darker part reminded her that it could only mean so much. His mention of the bayou reminded her yet again that he had some lover down in New Orleans even now. Didn't he miss her? With more questions than answers, Rogue quietly opened the door to her room, shutting it softly behind her.