Chapter 24: Friendly Sparring

                Logan smiled as he watched Remy and Rogue spar in the Danger Room. He'd taught both of them some rudimentary martial arts and he thought they'd like to go up against someone other than him for a change. They both seemed rather in control as he'd taught them to be and was pleased overall.

                "All right, kids, sensei is gonna go have a smoke since Hank doesn't like how it affects the equipment... Continue sparring, I trust you'll be fine." Exit Logan, cigar all ready in hand as he went.

                Remy smiled at Rogue as he stretched a bit before they started off on their next round.

                "Yo' sho' look nice in de light of dis dojo, chere, even if it is jus' a picture." He chuckled. "Dough, Remy t'ink he got yo' beat in dis. He got dat acrobat advantage on yo'." He grinned at that. "Don' take it too hahd, chere. Remy jus' good like dat." He winked as he got back into a fighting stance and put his mouthpiece back in.

                Rogue reached her hands straight up, curving her back to stretch her chest and stomach. The black, nondescript bodysuit she wore was form fitting, made from a stretchable spandex-like material that allowed freedom of movement. Her hands were wrapped with tape beneath her leather gloves.

                Turning once again to face Remy, she raised her hands behind her head to tighten her ponytail, her hair barely long enough to tie back. She grinned as she got into left guard position, speaking before putting her mouth guard back in.

                "If ya think ya have such a great advantage, then ya won't mind if Ah use some of the dirty fightin' we use down in the Mississippi bayou. Ya don't mess with that." Mostly for show, she brought her arms up in two arcs, moving into some phoenix-esque fighting stance she'd seen in a movie once. "Ready?"

                Remy snorted and nodded. He took the offensive and moved forward with a few punches which Rogue dodged easily, though she quickly found she was running out of mat. Remy jumped back as she went for a roundhouse kick which opened up the floor some. Remy didn't approach for a bit but watched her before he feinted another punch and dropped down for a quick sweep.

                Rogue had ducked to her side to avoid the feinted punch before seeing his sweep. She followed through with the leaning motion, cart wheeling on one hand over his leg. Her body moved back up, around, and used her motion to propel a kick to Remy's chest just as he stood back up. He stumbled back but kept his balance.

                Rogue's mind, which always found its chance to wander, noted that fighting in this simulated dojo setting made her feel like Neo in the Matrix. Or, er, Trinity, if she'd at least been in the scene. Remy made a much better fighting partner than Keanu Reeves. Why, she asked herself? Best not think about it.

                Rogue took a step back as Remy righted himself, then struck. She exchanged with him a few tactical punches, not meaning to hit him just yet, but forceful enough as not to allow a counter attack. Then she struck. She built up her rate of attack to ensure he'd be too preoccupied blocking before she grabbed one of his wrists, spinning around his side to position herself behind him and out of reach of his free hand, arm twisted behind his back.

                "Had enough, Cajun?"

                Remy gasped and spat out the mouthpiece.

                "Oh, chere, yo' so sexy when yo' actin' fiesty." He grabbed Rogue's wrist with the arm she held and whipped around. Remy quickly pulled her arm over her shoulder and did a simple toss. Of course he caught her under her arms before she hit the mat and slid her into a full nelson. "How bout a little wrasslin' thrown in dere, chere? Didn' see dat comin', hm?"

                Rogue barely had time to register the comment before she felt herself being whirled around, suddenly pinned. She struggled for a moment, but he was too strong.

                "Don't sass me, swamp rat!"

                With a determined grunt, Rogue leaned back and stomped on the instep of Remy's right foot, hitting a nerve point that jolted him just long enough of her to slip out of his grip. Moving quickly, she used his stunned moment to whirl around to his side, facing behind him as she hooked her leg around the back of his knees. Shoving her shoulder roughly into his chest, she pushed him over her leg onto his back.

                Remy chuckled as he got up. "We call dat a point, hm? Remy still one ahead, dough... But he gotta say, yo' sho' is a fiahcrackah."

                He grinned and reached around her quickly, and pinched her on the backside before he jumped back and got back into his stance and waggled his brows at her, all ready set to go again.

                Remy had barely resumed his stance before Rogue lunged at him, teeth bared. Her attacks became short, quick, and rapid, and she began to display the same type of angry prowess that she'd shown in her fight against the droid of herself, when things really got interesting.

                She brought her foot up, aiming intentionally for the inside of his palm - a dirty fighting technique that rendered the target unable to hold a fist for a time, striking a nerve. That side of his body temporarily less adequately defended, she reach around for a lightning fast heel strike that she turned, at the last second, into a hard slap in the face. Her eyes flashed with anger.

                "Keep ya hands off me!"

                Remy stumbled back and appeared quite shocked, the hand print still red on his face. He reached up and rubbed it a bit as he looked at her, quite surprised at her ferocity.

                "Remy didn' mean nuttin' by it, chere." He chuckled and his look of surprised became his good old cocky grin. "Dough, Remy t'ink it was worth da slap."

                Rogue resisted the urge to simply walk forward and kick him in the groin. Since when did his usual lame flirting evolve into sexual harassment? Okay, maybe labeling it 'sexual harassment' was jumping ahead too much, but that didn't make it any less offensive. Rogue tried to clear her head as she moved into a defensive stance, glaring daggers at him. It was like Logan said; concentration was the key to victory. And she was determined now more than ever to beat Remy into the floor.

                "Just watch where ya puttin' ya hands, swamp rat."

                A muscle flinched in her jaw as she held her position before she ran forward a few paces, jumping to aim a thrusting tiger kick to the face. What was that Logan said about keeping your cool?

                Remy wasn't quite ready for something like that. He moved to block but all that did was make the kick land on the back fo his shoulder, which sent him straight to his face. He grunted with the impact and laid there for a moment before he picked himself up with a sigh.

                "Well, chere, looks like yo' won dat... Remy t'ink he'll step down at dat..." He stepped over to grab a towel. He took one for her also and tossed it over to her. "Remy really didn' mean nuttin' by it... why yo' gettin' all bent outta shape?" He arched a brow and leaned against a wooden support beam as he awaited her answer.

                Rogue wasn't quite ready in her present state to stop fighting, catching the towel in a fisted grip and clenching it at her side. Her back was rigid, and the adrenaline running through her veins made her body want to lash out at something. Her tone of voice was offended and indignant.

                "Why shouldn't Ah? Ya got no business layin' ya hands on me."

                But why *had* she angered so easily? She decided it was fresh of him, and they most certainly weren't close enough for it to be playful. She wondered bitterly if now that he'd once had his way with her body while Carol was inviting, he felt he was now more than welcome to touch her however inappropriately he pleased.

                "Remy say he sorry, he didn' mean nuttin' by it... He didn' t'ink yo' be dis mad 'bout it. Ain' like he grabbin' yo' or nuttin." He shrugged and smiled at her. "Besides, ain' like Remy got a girlfriend dat gonna jump all ovah yo' if yo' enjoy it." He grinned with that one and winked at her, the towel draped around his neck once he wiped the sweat from his brow.

                Rogue scoffed, looking at him in complete and open disgust.

                "What'd ya mean? Ah'm sure your 'sweetheart' in Nawlin's wouldn't 'preciate ya fondlin' some other girl. Ya should be ashamed."  Her accent always came in thicker when she was angry.

                The grins he kept giving her were setting her off more than anything else. It was like he was proud of being a two-timer. And besides, she'd thought she and Remy were good friends, but was this what it came down to? Was she just some plaything to entertain himself with while his girlfriend was out of reach? And what kind of sick bastard would toy with someone who couldn't touch?

                Remy noticeably flinched at the mention of Belladonna and his face fell. He quickly turned away from her, though, and shrugged.

                "I's been ovah wit' her since Remy leave..." He sighed. "He can' really do nuttin' 'bout it, chere... He jus try an move on." He looked back at her with a little smile. "He sho' she do de same t'ing, so Remy's heaht ain' broken none... I's de right t'ing ta do, right, chere?"

                Rogue stood rigid, still quivering with unvented rage. His explanation should have dissipated it. If he wasn't involved with this woman, shouldn't it make her feel better? It was quite the opposite. Her voice was still accusing.

                "Ah could see her in ya thoughts, she's real pretty. Ya must miss her anyway. Why not bring her here instead?"

                Why couldn't he just admit it? Part of her wondered why she was purposely tormenting herself.

                Remy sat down on the wooden floor and put his head in his hands. He was silent for a couple of minutes as he thought it over, then he finally spoke.

                "Can yo' keep a secret, chere?" He glanced back at her and patted the floor next to him. "A real secret, somet'in yo' can't tell no one else, evah... If yo' can do dat, den Remy tell yo' why, he sweah, but he need yo' ta sweah first, dat yo' keep his secret... I's up ta yo', chere..."

                Rogue watched him intensely for a moment, her rage failing as he constantly denied her a target. But it would be to her embarrassment now to be pacified - she was clearly in the wrong for being so accusatory about him and Belladonna.

                With a shaky sigh and a bow of her head, Rogue scolded herself for what seemed like the hundredth time since her week with Remy. Just when things were going well between them, she'd found some reason to be suspicious of him and his intentions. It was all her fault.

                She conceded, taking a few steps towards him but not sitting down, keeping her distance from his personal space. Even now, when she was as angry as ever, he still felt close enough to confide in her, which only added to her guilt.

                "Ah swear."

                Remy couldn't bear to look at her, but kept his gaze fixed on the floor. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he was able to let out his big secret, it wasn't something to be done lightly.

                "Belladonna... she mo' den jus' Remy's girl... She was supposed ta marry Remy, but de day of de weddin', her brothah challenge Remy..." He shrugged and sniffed slightly. "Yo' can't turn down a challenge ta a duel, chere, jus' can't, 'specially from a rival Guild... So Remy duel him... An'... Remy kill him..."

                A few more sniffs and Remy closed his eyes, his face hidden in his hands.

                "Dat's when Remy ran... He can't nevah go back... He say his goodbyes ta Belladonna... An' he know he nevah see her again..."

                He let out a deep sigh at getting that secret off his chest, though he still seemed slightly shaken, and there were even a few wet spatters on the floor from the tears he just couldn't hold back.

                It wasn't long before Rogue's rage was dispersed, and just as soon replaced with sympathy and an even deeper level of blame. She felt absolutely, completely, utterly horrible. That, combined with Remy's story, wrenched her heart nearly to tears. He was an exile. Even she could return to Mississippi, despite the hostility that may await her there, but no doubt Remy would be risking his life. And now she had the gall to attack him? Why did she have to go and drudge these memories back up for him?

                Head bowed under the weight of her shame, she closed the distance between them and knelt at his side. She couldn't bring herself to touch him, but willed her hand to run comfortingly across his back. It was the least she could do having been so awful.

                "Ah'm sorry.. Ah didn't mean ta-" To what? Attack him so viciously, both physically and verbally? Accuse him of being a two-timing lech? Make him relive so many painful memories? D, all of the above.

                He chuckled and shrugged it off just like anything else, tears wiped away with his towel before he stood.

                "Don' worry 'bout it, chere... Yo' jus keep dat ta yo'self..." He leaned against the wooden beam again and looked up. Then a smile came across his face and he looked at her. "Dere's somet'in yo' could do ta make it up ta ol' Remy if yo' really wan' ta..."

                Rogue watched him a bit before standing, forcing herself to meet his gaze. How could he be so light about it? Why couldn't he just be angry with her? It was what she deserved, and what she wanted for the moment.

                Rogue tentative look faulted a bit at his suggestion.. What could he be thinking to ask her for when, in her guilty vulnerable state, was sure to accept? Well, if it was something appropriate, it was more than her duty to please him by accepting. On the other hand, if it was not to her liking, she'd accept anyway merely to make up for the punishment Remy obviously wasn't about to deal her.

                "What?"

                "Well, do yo' have any plans fo' lunch tommorah, chere?" Remy's smile grew more confident and his red eyes sparkled. He obviously had a plan that was forming in his mind. He had gotten over his vulnerable state quickly, it seemed... He'd had lots of practice, though.

                Rogue still watched him warily, all too aware of the thoughts that must be going through his head. He sure knew how to trap a girl. She tried to at least maintain a semblance of having a choice, and shrugged a little.

                "Ah was plannin' on eatin'."

                Remy grinned. Oh yes, a full on, full toothed, shining white grin. He even took a few steps closer to her, his hands clasped behind his back.

                "Well, if yo' gonna be eatin' anyway, would yo' like ta join Remy fo' a li'l picnic? He know a perfect spot a ways back on de campus, isn't a big walk, but dere'd be no Kittys o' othah nosey people dere..."

                He was using all of his charm, as if he expected her to reject him, though he knew that she probably wouldn't... He just didn't think he should act that confident.

                God damn him. He just had to turn on the charm, full blast. Even if she wasn't extremely guilty, she'd probably have accepted anyway.. The look he wore made her think it would result in a kicked puppy face if she refused. She owed him, and she didn't have the heart to pretend she was accepting only under duress. So instead, a small half smile graced her lips.

                "Ah.. Sure, why not."

                Remy brightened up immensely at that and headed toward the locker rooms, but as he passed her he leaned close and whispered.

                "Dis gonna be real special, chere, yo' see..." With that he went and hit the showers, just as Logan made his re-entrance.

                "You two done here, Stripes? Who won?"

                A shiver crept unbidden across Rogue's skin as he whispered to her. Special? That was a loaded word if she'd ever heard one. It would either be exceptionally nice or spectacularly obnoxious. Rogue looked back up at Logan's question. She paused a moment before marching past him, voice slightly embittered.

                "He did."