Chapter 3: Rendezvous

            Late that night, Rogue found it impossible to sleep, so many thoughts running through her head about Remy LeBeau, and everything they had been going through within the last few months.  She wanted to be able to forgive him so bad, but every time she tried, she remembered that he had betrayed her in ways that could not be easily forgiven.

            Every time she looked at his face, and his eyes, she was desperate to be able to trust him the way she had begun to over a month ago. 

            The bedroom was warm at night, and Rogue found it impossible to sleep, she walked over to the window and pulled the blinds up, opening the large window, she sat on the window sill, looking out at the night.  Away in the distance, she could see a nearby beach, with a familiar man in black walking across the beach.  She knew it was Remy.  She wondered what he was thinking, walking around there, probably smoking a cigarette, just watching the tide.  The back of his long leather trenchcoat flapping in the cold wind.

            Rogue slipped out of the window quietly, and she took to the sky, and flew across the field to the beach, where Remy was.  She landed softly, her cold feet slightly sinking down into the cold wet sand.

            "Chere," Remy stated, his back to her, he indeed had a cigarette in his hand.

            "How'd you know I was there?" Rogue raised an eyebrow.

            "Thief's senses," he turned and looked at her, "aren't you cold?" he gestured to what she was wearing, a pair of grey shorts and a purple tanktop.

            "Kinda, but it was so warm in that bedroom," She shrugged.

            "Yeah, they overheat that place," Remy nodded, he slipped his coat off and tossed it over to her, "here," he said.

            Rogue accepted the jacket and slipped it on, breathing in the smell of his cologne, she looked at him.  "what you down here for?" she asked, she walked beside him slowly.

            Remy picked up a pebble from the sand and tossed it into the sea nonchalantly, "got lectured by Moira for smoking in the room, doesn't want nicotine stains on the ceiling, you see," he explained.

            Rogue slipped her hands into the side pockets of his coat, she could feel a pack of cards in there, he always carried cards, it was his weapon of choice, in the other pocket, she could feel the packet of cigarettes, and his lighter.  "I wish you'd just quit smokin', its nasty," Rogue stated.

            Remy laughed, "you're really something, y'know that?" he stopped walking, and turned towards her, "you like to pretend you couldn't give a rats ass about me," he stepped over to her, and looked down at her, "but you care, or you wouldn't want me to stop smoking…or to shave," he laughed softly.

            Rogue smirked a little but looked away, "I just hate the smell of smoke, and I hate looking at chin-pubes, and since you're always hanging around me like shit to a blanket then I figured you might as well make some changes to make yourself more appealing."

            "I thought I was already appealing enough," he said confidently.

            "Whatever," Rogue climbed up onto a large rock and stood there, looking out at the view, it was dark, everything wasn't visible, but the moon was out and the ocean was lit up, and the waves crashed against some large rocks engulfed in its icy waters. 

            Remy looked up at her, her hair was blowing fiercely in the wind, and the coat flapped around her, she looked so statuesque, as if she belonged up there.  Remy sat down on the large rock, he tossed his cigarette into the tide.   "What time is it?" he asked casually.

            "Don't know, haven't got a watch," Rogue sat down beside him, "Must be about midnight," she admitted.

            "What time we gotta be up tomorrow?" Remy asked with a slight yawn.

            "Seven," Rogue stated, "first lesson in mutant genetics, no doubt, Hank wants us knowing some basics about why we have our powers," Rogue admitted. 

            Remy nodded.

            Rogue then paused, "But…mystery is gone for me…'cause…I already know how I got mine…" she looked at Remy pointedly.

            Remy looked away guilty, "you're never going to forgive me for that, are you?"

            "Never," Rogue hugged her knees.   Remy's hair flapped around in the wind, Rogue watched him for a moment, "when you gonna get a hair cut?" she changed the subject.

            "When you forgive me."

            "So you're growing your hair long, then?" Rogue raised an eyebrow.

            "Why not," he shrugged.

            "Long hair on guys is…I dunno, so…"

            "Sexy?"

            "Dorky," Rogue replied.

            "Thanks a million," Remy stretched a little, he winced at an obvious back pain.

            "Sore?"

            "Yes.  I hurt myself when you threw me on the floor, remember?" he stated.

            Rogue rolled her eyes, "You're such a baby.  Men like Logan take pain with a pinch of salt, never whimper, never complain, and never show any signs of discomfort," Rogue explained, "you on the other hand, are a little whiny runt," she shoved him playfully.

            "Seriously," Remy stopped her, "do you realise HOW strong you are some times?" Remy asked, "every time you come near me you bruise me…"

            "And you keep coming back for more," Rogue shrugged.  "What does that say?"

            "That I like a bit of masochism," Remy stretched.

            Rogue made a face, "You aren't serious?" she chewed the inside of her cheek.

            "Of course I'm not," Remy laughed.

            "I wish you'd stop goofing around so much," Rogue rolled her eyes at him, she was about to stand up.

            "Chere, you do me a favour?"

            "What?" Rogue queried.

            "Rub my back," he smirked.

            "Ew! No!" Rogue stated.

            "Why not?  You hurt it."

            "Rub your own back," Rogue retorted.

            "I'm pretty limber but not THAT limber," Remy moved his hair away from his face, "c'mon…you got strong hands, you should be able to massage the pain out in no time."

            "Or make more…" Rogue reminded.

            "Pain is good," Remy joked.

            Rogue slapped him on the back, "behave."

            "Or?"

            "Or…I'll throw you into the water, and I won't be savin' your life by mouth to mouth a second time, LeBeau."

            "That's not a fair remark, I AM a good swimmer," Remy admitted, "Just the last time I was caught on the bike…"

            "Excuses excuses," Rogue stood up, "I'm heading back to the centre."

            "You're going to leave me here in agony?!" Remy demanded in a pathetic whine.

            Rogue sighed, "Fine…" She climbed onto the rock and knelt there behind him, trying to ignore the feeling of the rough barnacles under her knees, she gingerly put her hands onto his back and began to rub a little. 

            Remy remained still, "can you give me my cigarettes?" he requested after a moment.

            "No," Rogue gripped onto his shoulders tightly, he winced in pain.

            "Marie…" Remy murmured.

            "Don't call me that," Rogue massaged his back roughly, her hands were bare, but his sweater stood between their skins – which she was grateful for.

            "Sorry," Remy mumbled, "I was just wondering…"

            "Hmmm?"

            "How about a date?" he asked very casually.

            Rogue shoved him off of the rock, he fell onto the sand, but laughed.

            "Is that a no?" he rolled over, looking up at her.

            "Well DUH!" Rogue gaped, she leapt off the rock, floating into the air, and remained just a few feet above him, she pressed her hand down on his chest to pin him to the sand, "Now listen here, LeBeau…"

            Remy looked up at her, his eyes shone in the moonlight.

            "Unless you want another knee between the legs, you just better behave, I've already told you I'm not goin' out with you!"

            Remy reached up, grabbing the collar of the coat, he pulled her down a little, leaning up towards her, as if he were about to kiss her, it was just then that they heard sirens going off in the direction of the research centre.