AN: Quick filler chapter, but I plan on putting more up soon.
Chapter 34: At the Institute
As Kyle and Amara boarded the bus to the White house, the only other part of the trip that had been mandatory, Amara saw his thoughtful expression.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Just wondering what the guys and gals at the institute are doing."
*At the institute*
Rogue was sitting in a half lotus in the gym, attempting to meditate. As she sat on a small practice mat to the side, however, she found her meditation distracted by the constant crunching sounds.
As she opened her eyes, she glared for what must have been the twentieth time at the source of those sounds. The 'Swamp rat' was leaning against the wall, munching on a thing of Pringles.
"Would yah stop tha' already?"
Remy's eyes came up to the southern Goth, and he flashed her a smile. "Only if ye be tellin' Remy wha a tres beau femme like yourself be doin' alone."
Rogue glared at him for a few more seconds, then, rolling her eyes, closed them again. "Ah'm meditatin."
Remy cocked an eyebrow. "Like tha' Sensei homme say ta do?"
"Yes. It helps me control mah power."
Remy nodded, and said, "You want one of these?"
Rogue opened her eyes to glare at the thief, only to be betrayed by her stomach, which let out a loud growl. Remy laughed as Rogue's face blushed, and, placing the lid on the container, tossed it to Rogue. Catching it, she watched as the thief walked out of the room.
Much later, Remy walked into the dojo, intending to go through a workout of his own. To his surprise, he found Rogue standing in the middle of the room, going through a fairly fast kata.
Changing into his own gi, a dark blue one bearing a black belt, no gold stripes, he walked out onto the practice floor.
"You're good, mon cheri."
Not bothering to turn towards him, Rogue spoke.
"Ah absorbed Kyle during a training mission once."
Noticing that her belt was red instead of black, he, once again, cocked an eyebrow. "Den why you be a red instead o' black."
"Cause there are things ah didn't absorb. He keeps certain moves verah well guarded."
With that, Rogue ended her kata. As she turned to leave, Remy smirked.
" 'Ow bout we find out if you as good as you think?"
Turning, she smirked, "Ya'll think ya can beat meh?"
"Oui." With that, Remy walked out onto the floor, and stood across from Rogue.
She smiled, and bowed to the thief, who returned the gesture, remembering just how soundly Sensei had thrashed him when he had neglected to do so during his first session. You'd never think a man that size could move that fast.
As he and Rogue rose from their bows, they took combat stances. Rogue slid her right foot forward slightly, and her left back. Raising her right hand to just above and to the right of her sternum, she set her left hand at her hip. Remy, however, slipped into a low stance, his knees bent, his weight centered.
The part of Rogue's mind that was Logan had already analyzed the stance. It was quick and had no discernable openings. Didn't have many attack options, but it was a stance that would let him dance around her for hours until he had an opening. Before she could scrounge any more info from that part of her mind, Remy attacked.
His opening maneuver was a lightning fast left hook. Luckily for Rogue, she saw it coming, and managed to avoid it, barely. Before she could capitalize, Remy had returned to his stance, and the two of them began to circle.
Seeing an opening, Rogue launched a kick at Remy's shoulder, intending to put him off balance. She was therefore surprised when Remy easily blocked the kick, and pulled Rogue's leg towards him, slamming her to the mat.
"Bon fight, mon cheri. But you need to work on yo' technique." With that, Remy shot her his cocky grin, and left.
She glared at the door through which he had departed, and then, looking quickly to make sure that no one was there, put her head back down on the mat, and sighed.
