Chapter 6: Return
Rogue awoke at 7am that next morning with a slight hangover, but luckily no violent nausea as she had before. She looked at herself in the mirror, she'd gone to bed wearing the same outfit and makeup she'd gone out in, she'd been so tired when she'd returned home she couldn't even be bothered changing into her pyjamas. Sighing, she headed off for a shower, it being a Saturday morning, the girls floor bathroom was unoccupied.
She scrubbed the makeup off, and cried in the shower, remembering the events of the night before in such vivid detail, the music, the way she'd danced with Remy, and the way she'd made the decision that if he rejoined the X-Men, he could never try to romance her. It was the way it had to be, she knew that. How could she ever trust him that way again anyway?
She went back into her room, Kitty was sleeping soundly, she quietly pulled on some old baggy jeans and a sweater, and headed downstairs intent on getting some breakfast, her stomach rumbled hungrily.
She had barely reached the bottom of the stairs when the front door opened slowly and in stepped Remy, holding a very large bag over his shoulder, and a jacket over the other shoulder, their eyes met.
"So…" Rogue said quietly, "You…decided to come back after all, huh?" she asked softly.
"Yeah," he stated, "I…feel like this is home…" he put the bag down on the floor, and looked at her. Remy looked as if he had been up all night, his hair was mussed, he looked as if he had not shaven for a few days, his eyes had dark circles around them.
"Tired, huh?"
"Was up all night," Remy stated, "thinking…bout what to do…" he admitted, he walked over and sat on the stairs beside where she was standing.
Rogue sat beside him slowly, looking at him, "when you gonna shave that damn goatee off?" she changed the subject sharply, trying to pretend like everything was as normal as it had ever been – if it ever had.
Remy touched his chin, "you hate it?"
"Yes, it looks stupid on you," Rogue admitted rather honestly.
Remy gave a laugh, "is that so?" He looked at her, smirking.
"Yeah," Rogue smiled a little, then looked away, it felt awkward having him sitting there, she sat there hugging her legs, wondering what next to say. "How's the scar?"
"Its still pretty ugly looking, thank you for asking," Remy stated, he wondered why she was making all the small talk, he pondered what was really on her mind. "Hung over?" he asked, looking at her.
"Just a tad, but I'll live," Rogue gave a nonchalant shrug, "Nowhere near as sick as the last time," she added.
Remy sat looking out of the large windows, it was raining outside, the sky was dark and grey, and the rainwater running down the glass cast strange shadows across the room. Neither of them spoke for a few moments.
"Remy?"
"uh huh?" He asked softly.
"What's on your mind?" Rogue asked finally, she looked at him, "I mean really…"
"That…this is awkward, and icy, and that…I don't know, its like we can't talk to each other," he looked at her, "I'm just wonderin' if this is how it's going to be for the rest of the time we live here together," he kept his eyes on her.
Rogue nodded, "I know, I was thinking the same thing…I just want things to be the way they were…but I don't want to feel the way I felt, y'know?"
"I don't know if that's possible, Chere," Remy admitted, "might be slightly uncomfortable…"
"Remy…you know it wouldn't work, right?" Rogue suddenly asked, she looked at him, keeping her eyes on his, hoping he realised this for himself.
"You mean between us?" He asked softly.
"Duh," Rogue rolled her eyes.
"I think it would, I know there's obstacles but—"
"Obstacles that can't be overcome, Remy," Rogue reminded.
"Why you the one bringing this up this time? It's like you want me to keep arguing with you," Remy stated, "what's that all about?"
"I don't know," Rogue shrugged, "Sometimes it feels good to argue with you…let it all out."
"Sounds like sexual frustration to me," Remy looked away, raising both eyebrows and making a face of innocence.
"Remy!" Rogue pushed him in a half angry-half playful way.
"Okay, y'know what I think? I think you argue with me because it's the only way you know how to have a relationship with me is to argue with me…" he shrugged.
"At least if we're arguing, we're communicating," she noted.
"Good point," Remy shrugged, "But pointless arguing doesn't really get us anywhere, does it? We just get angry at each other at worst, and at best…we get so frustrated that we can't be together…"
"You're turning this into a sex thing again," Rogue rolled her eyes.
"Just an observation," Remy defended, "wait 'til you're older, you'll know what I'm talking about," he admitted.
"Who's to say when I'm older that I'll even BE here, or that you'll be here…" she looked at him.
"I'm sure that day will come and we both will be," he gave a shrug, "Does the fact I'm a little older than you bother you?" Remy queried.
"Sometimes, sometimes it seems just…downright perverse, y'know?" Rogue shrugged, "I'm sixteen and you're nineteen…"
"I'm gonna be twenty soon," he made a face, "it's a pretty big age difference y'know."
"I know, its on my list of reasons why we shouldn't ever be together," Rogue admitted.
"What else is on that list?" Remy asked.
Rogue paused, "Uhm…1: You betrayed me, 2: you lied to me, 3: You once tried to kidnap me, 4: you're far too addicted to sex and keep bringing it up, 5: you're infuriating, 6: I can't kiss you—" Rogue's words were cut off when he pressed his gloved hand to her mouth, looking at her.
"I heard enough," he stated.
Rogue looked at him.
He removed his hand, "y'know…I came here reminding myself that we couldn't be together," he looked at her, "but now…" he trailed off, standing up.
"But now?" Rogue looked at him curiously.
"But now…even with you reelin' off stupid reasons to keep me away from you, it just makes me want to prove to you that we CAN be together, and one day…maybe not soon, but SOME day, you're gonna have that proof…" he looked at her.
"And you're gonna show me it, I take it?" Rogue raised an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah," Remy looked at her, he picked up his bag and began to head up the stairway, "more than one way to skin a cat," he stated, and with that disappeared upstairs.
Rogue sat on the stairs hugging her knees, she smirked a little, and muttered "that's what you think, LeBeau."
