Chapter 6: A Mounting Threat
Rogue felt a sigh escape her lips as she stood under the hot water of the shower in the guest bathroom in dorm area of the research centre. She'd felt terrible all day, the hangover only beginning to lift finally at 9pm.
She wished she could wash her troubles away like she could the smell of vomit and the makeup on her face – but even that was too much to wish for. She was mentally kicking herself, she knew she should have told Remy the truth, no matter how hard it had seemed, she shouldn't have kept it from him.
He'd given her several opportunities to tell him, he'd made it seemingly obvious he knew something was going on, yet she could see – thankfully – that he was still quite clueless as to the truth.
She had to ask herself what the truth was, was Jared right? Was she really avoiding telling Remy because she did feel something towards Jared? Rogue sighed, she was sick of thinking about it again and again, all she wanted was a restful nights sleep where the worries of what might happen if she did tell Remy, did no longer plague her.
The sound of the door opening startled, her and she gasped, sticking dripping wet head out from between the thick white shower curtains, Remy had entered the room.
"What?" Rogue asked.
"You didn't lock the door," Remy remarked.
"Sorry," Rogue stuck her head back into the curtains, she hoped to god even the silhouette of her nude body wasn't showing through the curtains at that moment, "I'm not used to there being locks, remember, Professor Xavier took all the locks off of everywhere back home," She reminded.
"I know."
"Why are you in here anyway?" Rogue asked, she rinsed her hair quickly.
"I was worried, wanted to check up on you."
"Have you even slept yet?" Rogue asked.
"Not yet," Remy ensured. "I'm going to get to it eventually…"
"Hand me the towel there…" Rogue slipped her hand out of the curtain, a moment later the towel was in it. She yanked the towel in and pulled it around herself quickly, stepping out of the shower.
"So…are you alright?" Remy asked worriedly, he took a moment to look her over, wearing the towel in the way she was gave him a jolt he hadn't expected, it started just a fraction under her cleavage, and stopped just at the top of her milky thighs. Her hair dripping wet around her shoulders, a droplet of water disappearing between her breasts. He drew his breath, unprepared for the stirring within himself and the rush of blood to his groin.
Rogue shrugged, "a bit," she admitted.
Remy watched as she turned her back, she picked up a smaller towel and began to towel dry her hair. He was tempted to take a hold of the towel she was wearing and yank it off with one quick sweep. But he held back on that. He didn't need to be reminded of what he couldn't have right now.
Rogue finished drying her hair with the towel, and tossed the towel into a hamper, "you alright?" she asked of him, noticing his face was a strange shade of pink, differing from his normal healthy deep south tan.
"I'm fine," he breathed, "I think I need a shower though," he responded, he closed his eyes trying to force the image of her out of his head, "a cold one," he muttered, more to himself than to Rogue.
Rogue felt shocked, delighted, flattered, and disgusted all at once, and she wasn't sure how to respond at first, she just smirked, "poor Remy, stuck in a bathroom with a wet naked girl he can't even touch …"
Remy reached for the handle, he wanted to leave, he felt intimidated, he knew he shouldn't have, but it came over him so suddenly that he fumbled to get the door open. He didn't want to be stuck in a bathroom with a wet naked girl he couldn't touch, it would be too much taunting for him, and especially when he'd just begun to realise then how sexually frustrated he really was despite how much he tried to convince Rogue otherwise.
Rogue pushed the door shut flicking the lock as well, looking at him with a smirk, "you look positively petrified."
"You know what happens when I touch you," He responded, "look how much skin you got exposed."
Rogue was joking when she spoke again, "I could expose more…put you in reaaaaaal danger."
"No…don't," he wasn't sure where to put his hands, she was so close, his arms bare, her arms bare, and one false move could make things particularly unpleasant.
Rogue smirked, "I was just playing," she unlocked the door, "move, you're blocking the way," she giggled.
Remy felt a rush of relief flow through him, it did not however, ease the stirring of his loins.
Rogue headed into the room she was staying in, grabbing her dark green terrycloth robe and pulling it on quickly, and as force of habit made her, her gloves – the first thing she always did after getting out of the shower would put those gloves on. She turned to see Remy entering the room, he still seemed flushed, even more so.
"I wanted to talk with you," Remy said, "it's kind of important."
Rogue sat down on the bed, "about?"
Remy walked over and sat opposing her, "I've been thinking a lot…about what you were saying, about us not being very serious and all," he explained.
Rogue looked at him, she noticed his gaze fall below her throat to the exposed skin left slightly uncovered by the robe.
"I was thinking you're maybe right…we're not…really serious," he tried to concentrate, but the Robe had slipped open a fair amount and he could see a small part of her left breast, he tried to not think of what was further under that robe, as his uncomfortableness was growing quickly.
Rogue smiled a little, "I'm not right, I was totally out of order," she assured.
"No…I know you're right, for sure," he admitted, his eyes fell to the half exposed breast, he wondered if she realised that she was showing so much skin, he wondered if it was deliberate after her little act in the bathroom.
Rogue raised an eyebrow, "are you going to spend the entire night talking to my boobs?"
Remy felt so stupid, and laughed a little nervously, "no…sorry," he tried to focus on her face, "agh, this isn't how I wanted it to be…" he sighed.
Rogue looked at him, "how you wanted what to be?" she queried softly.
Remy reached into his pocket, retrieving a box, "I…don't want you to get too excited over this…" he began, handing her the box.
Rogue was confused, she turned it over in her hand, simple black velvet, with a dome shaped lid.
"Open it," Remy gestured.
Rogue flicked the box open carefully, peering at the contents. It was a ring, either silver, or white gold, she wasn't particularly sure. A deep green tear shaped emerald was set in between two fine blue sparkling gems, the gems caught the light as she moved the box. "Remy…" she gasped.
"I got it from the Antique jewellers. That's a real emerald, set between two rare blue diamonds…"
Rogue was still speechless.
"It's…not an engagement ring, not really," he said, looking away, "I didn't think it was far to ask you such a question as 'marry me' while I'm not even divorced from Genny yet," he said, "but…it's so much more than a simple friendship ring," he admitted.
Rogue looked at him, "then…what…is…it?" she was suddenly finding it very hard to breathe.
"I guess you could call it…a promise ring," Remy pressed his tongue into the inside of his cheek, "a commitment."
Rogue looked at him, "Promise? Promise to…"
"That you're promised to me, and I to you…and someday…we can be…married," he felt his cheeks flush scarlet from the embarrassment, he'd never had to propose before, and although he wasn't technically proposing, it still felt as though he was, and he felt he was doing a very bad job at it.
She drew her breath, "I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to say anything, not really," Remy admitted, "Just wear it…and let it be a symbol of our commitment," he looked at her, "let it be a reminder of how…serious I am. Or how serious WE are."
Rogue looked down at the ring, she was speechless really, and guilty. She didn't deserve this, it was so beautiful, and it must have cost more than even Remy could have afforded. And she wasn't being honest with Remy, one definite thing that made her so undeserving of this ring.
She wasn't deserving of a commitment either, how could she be. If she was serious about Remy, she wouldn't be keeping secrets from him, she wouldn't have been considering what Jared had said. She closed the box with a loud snap, "I can't," she finally sighed.
"I…don't understand."
Rogue looked at him, "I don't deserve it," she handed him the box back, she got up and walked away from him, hugging herself.
Remy looked at her, "You don't love me, do you?" he asked, "If you did…you wouldn't hesitate in taking it."
"It's not that," Rogue sighed, "Remy, I love you more than life itself…but I don't deserve the ring…and I'm not ready for a commitment."
Remy stood up slowly, "I…really don't understand, you wanted…you said…" his words come out in stammers, upset evident in his voice, his accent thicking. "Y'said y'want'd t'be serious, Chere…I t'ought you'd b' pleased…"
Rogue kept turned away from him, she was beginning to grow more and more aware by the passing minutes how much she was truly starting to hate herself. How could she have let it get this far? She swallowed, "Nothing has changed between us," she softly stated, "I…just…can't take the ring."
"I…I…" he seemed to look for the words, "fine…" he sighed. He lowered his eyes to the floor, "does this mean we're over?"
"No," Rogue sighed, "it just means…I don't know, that I'm not ready for a commitment."
Remy headed for the door, he glanced over his shoulder at her sullenly and before he left he muttered, "Chere, seems like you don't know what you want."
And then he was gone.
Rogue stood alone in the room, guilt ridden and apprehensive. Her most recent greatest fear becoming evidently more of a mounting threat. Jared was going to ruin her relationship with Remy, without even trying.
- The End (or is it…?)