Chapter 2: Marie
Rogue had promised herself that she would NOT go out with Remy that evening, yet oddly enough found herself yanking on an attractive black apparel, and pulling her hair up in an appealing way. She told herself that she was simply entertaining herself for dressing up. And when she'd finally pulled on her black cotton gloves, she found herself pondering if perhaps Remy might be waiting for her on the porch at seven, just like he'd suggested – or if it were all a joke.
But despite her concerns, she went downstairs, and outside to the porch – where indeed, Remy was standing against a pillar, smoking a cigarette, clad in a black T-shirt and black leather pants, his hair stirring in the slight breeze. He had his black leather trenchcoat slung over one shoulder casually.
Rogue came up behind him, "waiting for someone?" she asked in a very light tone, perhaps a little timid.
Remy didn't even look over his shoulder to see her, "I knew you'd show," he gave a laugh, "Despite you seemed reluctant," he added, he turned to her finally, "Oooh," he drew in a breath, "you even made yourself beautiful," he smirked a little, "I feel honoured."
"I didn't dress up for you, I thought maybe I might find some NICE looking guys at the movie theatre," Rogue folded her arms.
"As good looking as moi? Never," He tossed his cigarette to the floor and stepped on it to put it out, he slung his arm around her shoulders, "what movie do you feel like seeing?" he asked.
Rogue chewed her lip, and turned to her left where his hand was resting on her shoulder, she looked at him, "Remy…" she murmured, "I'm already going to see a movie with you – please don't make this any more torturous than it is already," she shrugged out of his reach, and walked ahead.
"Sorry," he mumbled, sounding a little upset she wouldn't allow him to even come near her.
"Did you grab the van keys?" Rogue asked of him, she walked on ahead a little towards the Mansion's garage.
"We're taking the bike," Remy referred to his beautiful Harley Davidson that was in the garage, which Rogue assumed – as Remy was a professional Thief and all – had been stolen.
"No…we're taking the van," Rogue turned and looked at him, she gave him an expression of caution.
"When you're the one who has a license, we're taking the van, until then, we're taking the bike," he looked at her.
Rogue sighed.
"Oh come on, you and I both know that you love the bike, I saw you eyeing it up the other day when Logan had you and Kitty in the garage teaching you mechanics," Remy walked ahead towards the garage, he pulled on the leather trenchcoat.
"I didn't see you there," Rogue gaped.
"I know you didn't," Remy stated, "one of the great things about being a Thief…" he looked at her, "you're always able to hide anywhere out of sight," He looked at her.
Rogue looked at him, "how can you do stuff like that anyway?" she asked.
Remy smirked pulled the Garage door open, "do you REALLY want to know?" he asked.
"Yes," Rogue stated, she was curious just how someone like him could hide himself anywhere.
Remy headed towards the Harley, he pulled the helmet off of the seat, "you find the right spots, and you move reaaaaaaaal slow," he tossed the helmet towards her, "just like makin' love," he winked, and climbed onto the bike.
Rogue felt her cheeks flush a furious red, she tossed the helmet at him, and he ducked just as it flew by his head and slammed into the wall, and fell with a loud echoing clatter.
"What'd I do?!" he demanded.
"You pissed me off," Rogue spun on her heel and headed towards the door of the garage to leave him.
Remy climbed off of the bike, and picked up speed, catching her by the wrist, he stopped her, "Chere…" he turned her towards him, "Can you not take a joke?"
"I can take a joke…" Rogue stated, "but when its you making the jokes, then I don't really care for them," her eyes met his, she hoped he'd take the hint of how angry she was with him. She don't know why the joke struck her in such a way and brought her bad side forward.
Remy nodded, "Alright, I get it," he stated, "please…" he looked at her desperately, "give me another chance?"
"No," Rogue pried his fingers from her wrist and threw his own hand back at him roughly.
"Why?"
"Like I said, you pissed me off…" she began to walk again.
"What do I have to do to make you go out with me?" he called after her, he followed again.
"Beg," she muttered, she didn't think he'd be up to something as degrading.
"Fine! I'll beg, I'm begging!" he ran out in front of her and dropped to his knees – right there on the driveway - and he put his hands together, "please, please, please…" he begged of her, giving a dose of pathetic – if not slightly creepy – puppy dog eyes.
Rogue pursed her lips together, finding it quite comical, she put her hand over her mouth, "do you know how pathetic you look?" she tried to keep a straight face, she tried to pretend his begging did not thrill her one bit – but it did, the fact that he got on his knees begging her to go out with him made her feel important.
"I don't care how pathetic I look," he moved over on his knees, and looked up at her pleadingly, "I'm a wretch, you are my queen, please grant this wretch your royal presence for a movie…"
Rogue suddenly worried someone might be watching this, and see the smile on her face at her enjoyment from this scene, she laughed and grabbed a hold of his arm, "get up!" she shook her head. "Just when I didn't think you could stoop any lower, LeBeau…" she shook her head.
"Then you'll come with me?" he asked.
"Yes," Rogue rolled her eyes, but leaned forward so her white steaks fell over her face slightly to hide her smile.
"Great," he headed back into the garage, she followed, keeping her head low, and pulled the helmet on quickly to avoid her smile being seen, she climbed onto the bike behind him, holding onto the back of the seat.
"I'd advise you to hold on…" Remy looked over his shoulder at her.
"You're not wearing a helmet, and you're telling ME to hold on? I'd be more worried about myself getting thrown off a bike and my head smashing into a tree than about someone holding on at the back of me for their safety," Rogue frowned a little.
"I'm not worried about that," He stated, "it's just comfier," he smirked a little.
"Remy…"
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," he assured, "c'mon, I'd feel better if you did…you could easily lose your balance…" he pointed out.
Rogue sighed, of course, he was right. She wrapped her arms around his waist gingerly, and held on. The bike roared to life, and soon, they were speeding off towards the city. Rogue watched the world pass by her as she held onto him, she could feel his stomach contract and expand with every breath he took, and even through her gloves, she could feel the washboard abdomen under her fingers – and what she found hard to believe was that she didn't mind it.
Soon, Remy was parking the bike in the mall parking lot, and he waited for Rogue to climb off first before he dismounted. Rogue pulled the helmet off, it had mussed her hair slightly, but she didn't mind. Remy lit up a cigarette, and took a long drag.
"Must you?" Rogue looked at him.
"Can't smoke in the mall," he reminded, he began a slow stride across the parking lot towards the mall, Rogue realised he'd parked as far away as possible from the mall so that he could smoke whilst walking to the entrance. Rogue walked by his side.
"Why don't you quit?" she asked of him curiously, "I mean…you know it WILL eventually kill you, don't you?"
"I figure being a mutant is going to kill me so I'll enjoy my cigarettes while I live," Remy admitted, he put a pair of sunglasses on to disguise his eyes from anyone who was non-mutant, and most likely to cause a riot seeing a mutant in the area.
"That's if I don't kill you first," Rogue joked.
Remy gave a soft laugh, "I doubt you could," he turned and looked at her, and smiled captivatingly, "You're warming up to me," he added.
"I'm not warming up to you, I tolerate you…because it avoids a bad atmosphere at the mansion," she lied.
Remy pursed his lips together, trying not to laugh again, "you lie very badly, Chere."
"Please don't call me, Chere," Rogue pleaded, "it's so cheesy. I'm NOT some plastic-surgery monstrosity with a deep voice and a tattooed ass," she stated.
"What would you rather I call you? My cherie amore?" he smirked, he tossed the half-smoked cigarette to the ground and stood on it.
"Nice, a Stevie Wonder joke now," Rogue folded her arms. "Are you ever serious?"
"Serious isn't in my nature. Been through too much serious. If you can't laugh about life, you cry about it, but laughter is the stuff that gets you through the day, so why not."
Rogue pondered, a pretty deep comment to be coming from such a guy, "and to answer your question, no, you may not call me that."
"Hmmm…ma petit Gothique?"
"You're really pulling the crap out now, aren't you?" she stated, then muttered something under her breath.
"Excuse me, I don't think I heard that…" he looked at her.
"I said you're a grand l'idiot stupide."
"You need to work on your French, chere," Remy was smiling.
"Don't call me that!" Rogue fumed.
"Then what? Tell me what I should call you…" he opened the doors leading into the mall, but let her step in first.
"Rogue," she answered simply, with a roll of her eyes, she stepped in, and kept her back turned to him as he followed.
"When do I get to find out your real name?"
"Never," Rogue smirked, she was adamant no one would ever know her real name.
"Do I get to guess?" Remy followed her, she led the way to the cinema which was located on the third floor of the mall.
"No," Rogue stated, "you'd never guess anyway…"
"Hmmm…" Remy walked with her, "don't I even get a clue?"
"Nope."
"Amy?" he looked at her, "Elizabeth? Katie? Carolanne? Mary?"
Rogue winced at the latter name, it wasn't hers, but it was extremely close. She suddenly realised that Remy had seen the expression of her face, and he'd picked up on it.
"Mary?" He looked at her, but she shook her head furiously.
"Don't…"
"Hmmm…it's close…Mary…Marianne…Maria…Marie…" he reeled names off that he could think of, they were now standing on the escalators on the way up to the next floor.
Rogue's eyes widened, she hadn't wanted to react at all to this, but it was something that she couldn't avoid, it simply happened.
"Marie…Marie…your name is Marie…" he seemed amused.
"What's so funny!?" Rogue demanded, "It's a perfectly okay name."
He was laughing now, "do you know what your name means?"
"No…"
Remy looked away, seeming to be on the verge of laughter, "if I tell you will you promise not to get mad?"
"It's not some sexual meaning is it?" Rogue looked worried.
"No…its…uhm…" he chewed his lip, trying not to laugh, "bitter."
"Bitter? My name means bitter?"
"Yeah, kinda suits you doesn't it…" he seemed rather pleased with himself.
Rogue pouted.
"Awww, c'mon, don't pout…" he nudged her back playfully.
"Remy…if you ever tell anyone…I seriously will kill you," Rogue looked at him, a solemn and severe expression on her face.
"I promise I won't…its kinda nice knowing something no one else does," he smiled, "makes me feel a little closer to you…"
"Whatever," Rogue shook her head in dismay.