Chapter 2: The Ugly Truth
Rogue and Remy got out of the Black taxi outside of the large hotel building where the dinner was to be held, Sean and Moira following, hand in hand. Rogue smoothed down the wrinkles out of her burgundy satin dress, the one that Xavier had sent for her to wear to the dinner, he'd apparently thought ahead, a matching body-stocking to conceal her skin from the touch of others enough to make her confident to wear the dress in public. Remy looked dapper, a plain black suit, his hair combed, clean shaven, and the smell of his cologne, as always, filled her senses.
"What is this dinner in aid of, anyway?" Rogue queried, she walked beside Remy, Moira and Sean had stopped behind, the heel of Moira's stiletto apparently getting caught between some paving stones.
"Funding for the research centre," Remy shrugged, he lead the way into the hotel building, the doors opened for them by a polite doorman. He led the way down a large foyer, towards a smaller off hallway.
Rogue looked at him curiously as they walked, it almost looked as if he knew where he was going. "You been here before?"
"No," Remy shrugged, "I'm just tryin' to find a nice little spot to be alone with you is all," he smirked, "at least while Sean and Moira are distracted outside," he added.
Two large doors opened, up into a completely dark room, Remy pulled Rogue inside, "Here will do," he murmured.
"Remy…they'll notice we're gone," Rogue reminded.
"I know…I just…I wanted to say Happy Birthday to you…in…private," he whispered, she felt the fabric of cotton gloves he was wearing upon her face, stroking her cheek.
"Thanks," Rogue smiled a little, wishing she could see more of him than just his glowing eyes in the pitch black.
And then she could, the lights seemed to come on in steps, all around them, revealing very large extravagant dining hall. Burgundy walls, marble floors, and beautiful shimmering crystal chandeliers hanging, and standing in a group, a bunch of very familiar people.
The X-Men.
They were all there, everyone from the mansion, even Professor Xavier himself. Kitty standing at the front grinning like a five year old at Christmas, the others yelling 'Surprise' loudly, and cheering.
Rogue fell back, Remy catching her before she could hit the cold marble floor. "Oh my god…" she whispered, putting her hands to her face.
Remy smirked, "surprised?"
"Why the fuck didn't you tell me they were planning this?" she hissed in a whisper to him, still surprised – pleasantly.
"Then it wouldn't have been a surprise," he nudged her.
"Happy birthday!" Kitty rushed over to her to hug her.
Rogue hugged Kitty back timidly, making sure no skin would touch, she glanced over Kitty's shoulder, Jared Rickman standing next to Bobby Drake, not smiling, not showing any emotion in his face whatsoever. He wore complete black, no eyeliner, his hair was now a more vivid shade of blue than before, but it was tied back rather than spiked. Rogue's eyes met his incredible bright green eyes. She felt guilt wash over her.
"I emailed you this morning," Rogue stated to Kitty, pulling back to look at her best friend, who looked almost stunning in a lilac mini-dress.
"We left yesterday, stayed overnight in this hotel," Kitty explained, "so I never got any emails," she said, "what was it about?"
"I'll tell you later," Rogue said quietly.
The next two hours rolled by in a flurry of presents, laughter, and friends. Rogue had never celebrated her birthday with so many people before, and all seemed delighted to be celebrating it with her. Dinner was sensational. But despite the joy Rogue felt inside, it was tainted with the guilt, and every time happiness felt it would almost engulf her completely and take her into some kind of euphoria, Jared would look in her direction and she'd feel it fade back to the guilt over the situation with Remy. She'd deliberately chosen to sit as far away from him as she possibly good, taking a seat next to Remy.
"You're quiet," Remy murmured to her when the others were involved in a very excited discussion about Mutant research and new discoveries, momentarily – but thankfully – having forgotten about Rogue for those moments.
"Sorry," Rogue dug her fork into her Chicken in Dijon mustard sauce, she could barely bring herself to eat it anymore, feeling sick with guilt. "I'm just so…overwhelmed…" she admitted, "they all came here…for me…giving up their summer vacation…so they can be here…for my birthday."
Remy smiled a little, "and you're worth it," he sipped on a glass of white wine, Rogue watched him, realising for the first time that in two hours, he hadn't lit up a single cigarette, she found it surprising, since he was rarely without a rolled cigarette dangling from his lips these days.
"You…haven't had a cigarette today," she said.
Remy gave a nonchalant shrug, pleased she'd finally noticed, and wondered how quickly she would catch on that he was doing this for her.
"You're addicted to nicotine, how could you not have had a cigarette today?" she asked, concernedly. It seemed strange to her, he'd never give up his cigarettes. She'd asked him to so many times before and he'd refused – claiming it was his once vice.
Remy responded to her question, not by speaking, but by rolling up the sleeve of his dark grey button down shirt, he rolled the sleeve up all the way almost to his shoulder, it took Rogue a minute to notice that there was a piece of clear plastic sticking to his arm, she examined it closer, it was a nicotine patch.
"You're quitting…" Rogue gaped, "you're…actually…quitting…"
Remy smiled a little, vaguely, and nodded, and wished he could light up a cigarette right there and then. He rolled his sleeve back down, buttoning it at the cuff again.
Rogue put her gloved hand to her mouth, "I don't believe it," she murmured, "Jesus…" she looked to her plate, but rather staring into space, "You really would do anything for me, wouldn't you?" she asked.
"Yes, Chere, I would," he responded.
Rogue was quite aware Jared had been listening in for some time, but there was not much she could do about it. Under the table, she felt Remy's hand rest upon her thigh, and she glanced to him, at his mouth, she yearned for that kiss more than anything. It was all she wanted. The first kiss had come on her birthday last year, when he'd pressed his gloved fingers to his own lips and kissed them, then to her lips. But it hadn't been real, not as real as the time he'd kissed her in the library – when her powers had taken his thoughts.
She wanted more, the real thing, the thing that was impossible to achieve – at least, with Remy. And as she thought of this, she could feel Jared's eyes burning into her in the way she'd seen Remy's eyes burn into her. And it felt strangely electric, and enticing, and she liked it, despite she wanted to deny it.
"Rogue…"
Rogue turned around, Kitty standing behind her chair, "uh huh?" she asked, quickly she brushed Remy's hand off of her thigh in case Kitty should notice.
"I'm heading out to the bathrooms, want to come?" Kitty asked, clearly hinting she wanted to speak to Rogue alone.
Remy turned also, resting the arm on the back of his chair, "what IS it with girls and going to the bathroom together – I just don't get it?" he asked.
"God, LeBeau, I thought, like, you knew everything about girls," Kitty smirked.
"Do you like, touch each other up in the bathroom, show each other your boobs or something?" Remy joked. "Havin' little lesbian flings in the toilet stalls."
"Oh yeah, alllllll the time," Kitty said, "I just can't hold off any longer, I mean look at this woman," Kitty gestured to Rogue who was standing up now. "Look at her in this dress, look at that bosom heave, how can I resist?"
Rogue blushed but laughed, knowing Kitty was joking.
"Can I come? Might be an interesting threesome," Remy winked.
"Ewwww no," Kitty stuck her tongue out, "I don't get naughty with scoundrels like you, c'mon, Rogue," Kitty slapped Rogue on the backside and then went off ahead.
Remy laughed a little, and looked to Rogue, "I'll see you when you get back," he said.
Rogue nodded and followed Kitty off into the hallway, "Well that was interesting, did you happen to notice the look on Logan's face when you slapped my ass?"
"Yes," Kitty said, "he looked practically gobsmacked," she giggled, they headed towards the bathroom, "so…what was the email about?"
"It's about Remy," Rogue said, her laughter faded and she sighed, "he wants me to Marry him…more or less…"
"What do you mean 'more or less'?" Kitty asked quietly.
"He wanted to give me a promise ring…and I turned him down."
"Oh my god…why?" Kitty asked, "I mean you love him! He loves you! What's the big dea—oh no…" Kitty suddenly realised, "Rogue, please do NOT tell me you're still considering what Jared said…"
"No…" Rogue sighed, "But he's getting to me…he's emailing me asking me to ditch Remy…"
"That's not all," Kitty said, "Just after you left your room the night you went to go to Muir Island, Jared said he'd do anything to break you two up," she explained.
Rogue sighed, "I don't know what I'm gonna do…"
"You didn't tell Remy, did you?"
"No," Rogue sighed, "And I don't want to, because it'd hurt him, and he has enough hurt. Bella Donna runnin' out after the death of the baby and all…and with my attempted suicide and his problems with the break ins at the centre…I don't know, it just seems like it'd be more than he could handle if I added Jared's love onto it."
"Jared is NOT in love," Kitty said, "More like 'in lust', if you ask me," she folded her arms.
"I didn't," Rogue responded, "What'd you think I should do?" she asked of her friend.
"You know the answer already," Kitty raised an eyebrow, looking stern.
Rogue huffed, "you want me to tell him."
"Yes! Be honest!"
"It's not like he's exactly been honest with me, is it?" Rogue asked.
"That was the past, this is the present, two different things, and the outcome of the present is going to be the future, just think about that," Kitty reminded, "do you really want to lose him?"
Rogue looked to the floor guiltily, "I don't know…I guess not…"
"Rogue…" Kitty and Rogue were standing in the hall but through the open doors into the dining hall they could see Remy sitting in his chair sipping his wine far away, "take a GOOD look at Remy, a really good look…what do you see?"
Rogue sighed, "I see him, the guy who lied to me numerous times, cheated on me, and has brought several problems into my life."
Kitty looked to him, "know what I see?"
Rogue sighed again, "what?"
"He's six foot one, with broad shoulders, a chiselled body, long brown hair, deep red intense eyes, a strong jaw, and a perfect tan. He's sexy, he's romantic, he's intelligent, he's funny, he's sweet, he's adventurous, he's athletic," Kitty looked back to Rogue, "he went to KILL a guy because he hurt you…he would do anything to stay with you – EVEN quit smoking."
Rogue realised Kitty must have been listening to their conversation.
"He was a womaniser who is wiling to abstain from sex for god knows how long, maybe eternity – if that's what it takes to be with you," Kitty pointed out. "He arranged this whole thing – paid for this hall, this dinner…."
"How could he afford that…?" Rogue seemed confused.
"He's being paid for the research he's pretending to do – plus the money he's gonna get after he makes sure the centre doesn't get broken into again – but that's not the point," Kitty continued, "The point I'm making is….he is PERFECT."
Rogue looked at Kitty, "Oh my god…" she whispered.
Kitty looked back at Rogue, her blue eyes widening slightly in sudden panic, she put her hand to her mouth.
"You…are in love with him…" Rogue gaped, "Oh my god, oh my god…" she moved away, "Oh god…how can this be happening…" Rogue suddenly felt dizzy, she held onto the wall to steady herself, afraid she'd fall, the shock washing over her like the pounding of the waves of the Firth at the Cliffside of Muir Island.
Kitty was speechless for a moment, "I…don't have plans to sabotage you…I like Remy a lot, don't get me wrong, but you and him are perfect, you should be together, I…" Kitty sighed, "I didn't mean for you to find out…"
"I can't believe this! This is like a bad fucking dream or something…"
"I'm sorry…I can't help it…I…"
Rogue suddenly realised something, "oh my god…does he know?!" she asked worriedly. "Does Remy KNOW how you feel?"
"No…but if you did do you think he'd tell you?" Kitty asked.
"No…" Rogue realised, she knew Remy would probably keep this a secret – scared of setting Rogue off in a jealous fit.
"And do you think that'd hurt?" Kitty asked.
"YES!" Rogue put her hand to her face, "god I can't believe this…you're my best friend!"
Kitty touched her arm, "I'm not going to do anything about it, its just how I feel…"
Rogue moved away, "I can't deal with this right now…not on top of everything else. I can't deal with hearing my best friend is in LOVE with the same man I am!" she sighed, she headed back down the hall, leaving Kitty standing in the hallway alone.