Disclaimer: I don't own no character, no singer, no song used in this fic.
A/N:
I'm alive (but just barely)! I had another exam this morning and I was just so happy that I answered ALL of the questions (don't know yet if I answered them correctly, but for once in my postgraduate life, I was able to answer everything. So to celebrate, my friends and I went out and when I went home, I sat down to finish this chap. Yey! Two more exams to go!
Thirteen chapters! Gosh, this is becoming really looong. When I first started this, I thought I wouldn't make it past the third chap. Oh, well. =)
Do the words 'transition chapter' mean anything to you? ^^
RockStarChapter 13: Bring Me To Life
"Keety," Kurt ported into the room that she and Rogue shared.
Rogue, who was on the bed, reading a magazine, bolted upright. "Kurt?" She asked out uncertainly.
Kurt frowned when he didn't see the valley girl.
"Kurt, wait!" Rogue cried out when she noticed that Kurt was about to port out again.
Kurt hesitated, and that was the only opening Rogue needed.
"I," she began. "I just want to say I'm sorry,"
Kurt didn't look at her, but he didn't port out of the room either, so Rogue decided that must be a good sign.
"Please tell me what I can do to make it up to you," she said softly as she slowly, hesitantly approached the blue-haired boy.
"Can you bring Mystique back?" He suddenly spat out.
Rogue's eyes went to the floor. "No." She replied quietly. "I can't. But you know what I can do? I can give ya your sister back."
Kurt's head snapped up at that. He looked at the Goth girl before him.
"Kurt, you told me that you're my little brother no matter what," Rogue told him, making eye contact for the first time. "Well, now I'm telling you that I'm your sister no matter what."
Kurt didn't say anything, but Rogue saw that the anger was slowly leaving his face.
"I know that you think Mystique is your mother," Rogue said softly. "But she's not."
Kurt was about to argue when Rogue interrupted him.
"No, please, let me talk." Rogue pleaded. "Talking, it ain't for me. I find it hard to express myself, but I want you to understand."
Finally realizing the effort it was taking Rogue to ask for forgiveness, Kurt nodded. "Go ahead," he said.
"Your real mother, she's in Germany. Mystique, well, she's just the woman who gave birth to you." Rogue sighed. "But that doesn't excuse what I've done. And I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry for taking away your opportunity to make it up to that woman,"
Kurt nodded. "Ja. I've lost her. And I think I don't want to lose you to," he said softly.
With that, Rogue felt the beginnings of tears burn her eyes.
"I'm not saying that I'm over that, Rogue." He said. "But I'm saying that I'm willing to try again,"
Rogue nodded.
"And you're unwell at that time," he said. "Having Apocalypse in your head." He shrugged. "And maybe, after what she's done to you, I would've done the same thing if I was in your place."
"No!" Rogue said. She shook her head forcefully. "That's the difference between you and me, Kurt. You would never do something as heartless as what I've done, no matter how evil that other person is. God knows that I don't deserve to be your sister, but I need you, Kurt. And I'm so glad you're my brother," by now, a few drops of tears were falling down her creamy cheeks.
Kurt's heart softened at that. To see Rogue cry…
"Can I," Rogue started. "Can I hug ya?" She asked.
Rogue was asking for physical contact. Kurt's eyes widened.
"But if you don't wanna, I understand," Rogue quickly added when Kurt failed to respond.
"No," Kurt said as he took a step closer to his sister. He enveloped her in his arms. "I missed you," he whispered in her ear, careful not to touch her bare skin. "I'm sorry for being such an ass,"
Rogue shook her head as she held on to Kurt as if her life depended on it. "T-thank ya."
"Rogue?" Bobby frowned as the Rogue, who has shape shifted into Scarlett, missed her cue for the third time.
Rogue grimaced. "Sorry, guys, my heart's just not into it today," she admitted.
They were practicing in the danger room as Forge was using his garage for a rather large experiment. So Rogue had to use Scarlett's form. But it took the combined effort and will of Kitty, Kurt, and Jaime just to convince Rogue to use her adopted mother's powers.
But now that she was Scarlett again, it seemed that she was having trouble singing.
"Wanna take that from the top?" Kitty asked.
Rogue nodded.
"Alright," Bobby nodded patiently. "Kurt,"
Kurt nodded as he gave the beat with his drum sticks.
Bobby and Kitty played the intro.
Rogue took a deep breath. She opened her mouth when she heard her cue, but once again no words came out of her mouth. Rogue shook her head. "Sorry guys," she suddenly said as she hastily returned to mike into the stand. "I can't do this," she then walked out the danger room.
Bobby scratched his head. "What was that all about?"
"Chere?" Gambit asked as he caught the wrist of one frustrated singer. "Care to tell Remy what's wrong?"
Rogue, as Scarlett, glared at him. "Don't you have a girlfriend?" She demanded.
Remy shook his head. "The fille hasn't told Remy that she loves him yet," he grinned flirtatiously at her. "So as far as Remy knows, he's still unattached."
Rogue muttered something derogatory under her breath. "Let me go or you'll sorely regret it,"
But Remy's grin just got wider. "A petite with a lot of spunk, just the way Remy likes his women,"
Rogue saw red and suddenly aimed a punch at Gambit.
"Whoa, chere," Remy easily caught her punches. "We don't wanna upset the voices in your head,"
"Voices?" Rogue blinked. Twice.
Remy smirked at her.
Rogue glared. "You knew." She growled. "You knew and you didn't tell me," she then turned around and started to stalk away.
"Cher!" He called out as he easily caught her. He then gently turned her around so that they were face to face. The smile was gone from her face. Her green eyes sparkled with indignation and defiance that Remy was beginning to love. "If someone has the right to get mad, petite, it'll be Gambit, non?"
Rogue bit her lip. He does have a point. "When did you find out?"
"I knew all along," he told her arrogantly. "You can't change your eyes, Roguey." He said as he earnestly stared into her emerald orbs. "Remy had known a lot of women, but he never knew anyone with eyes like yours." Rogue blushed. "So all this time, you knew," "Oui." He tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ears. "Were you jealous?" He asked playfully. "Oh, no." Rogue replied airily. "I mean, you're not my boyfriend yet, you know. I haven't even told you that I love you." "Do you?" Remy challenged her. Rogue reddened. "Rogue?" Kitty's voice interrupted them before Rogue could answer. "I couldn't see them yet," Rogue cried out as she held on to Remy. Then, the next thing Remy knew, he was inside the room that the two girls shared covered with smoke and the smell of brimstone. "What's the problem, petite?" He asked. "Maybe Remy can help." Rogue shook her head as she turned her back on him. "It's nothing," Remy didn't say anything, just waited for her. Rogue sighed. "Alright," she finally caved as she turned back to him. "It's just that I can't sing, not anymore. My heart's just ain't in it." "Why not?" "Mystique was the one who taught me to sing," she admitted. "And after everything that happened, I don't know." "You lost your heart, chere," Remy whispered to her as he then stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her hips. "Maybe Remy can find it back for you." "What?" Rogue asked, mystified, as she tried to struggle against him. "Shh," Remy soothed her. "Don't fight it, Roguey," his smooth voice sent shivers down her spine. "Maybe Remy can give you a new reason to sing," And then, he started humming a tune under his breath, moving slowly. Rogue couldn't believe it. Remy was dancing with her!"Can you hear the song in your head, mon amor?" He asked huskily a moment later. "'Cause Remy sure can,"
Instead of answering, Rogue started so sing softly.
How can you see into my eyes like open doors. Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb. Without a soul my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold until you find it there and lead it back home.Rogue was delighted when Remy decided to join in.
A/N: Sorry I had to interrupt like this, but those in italics are sung by Rogue, while those in bold are by Remy. And imagine the song slower and acoustic-cy.
Wake me up. Wake me up inside. I can't wake up. Wake me up inside. Save me. Call my name and save me from the dark. Wake me up. Bid my blood to run. I can't wake up. Before I come undone. Save me. Save me from the nothing I've become. Now that I know what I'm without you can't just leave me. Breathe into me and make me real Bring me to life. Wake me up. Wake me up inside. I can't wake up. Wake me up inside. Save me. Call my name and save me from the dark. Wake me up. Bid my blood to run. I can't wake up. Before I come undone. Save me. Save me from the nothing I've become. Bring me to life. I've been living a lie There's nothing inside. Bring me to life. Frozen inside without your touch, without your love, darling. Only you are the life among the dead. All of this I can't believe I couldn't see Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me I've been sleeping a 1000 years it seems. I've got to open my eyes to everything. Without a thought Without a voice Without a soul Don't let me die here There must be something wrong. Bring me to life. Wake me up. Wake me up inside. I can't wake up. Wake me up inside. Save me. Call my name and save me from the dark. Wake me up. Bid my blood to run. I can't wake up. Before I come undone. Save me. Save me from the nothing I've become. Bring me to life. I've been living a lie There's nothing inside. Bring me to lifeRogue laughed as the song ended.
"So, how was Remy?" He asked, refusing to let go of her still and relishing her closeness.
"Horrible." Rogue told him. "Absolutely horrible."
Remy mock-scowled.
"Let's just say that there's only one singer in this relationship and it ain't you."
"So, we're in a relationship now?" He asked with a delighted grin.
"Er," Rogue reddened for the nth time that day.
"Well, well, what are we having here, an eating contest?" Kitty wrinkled her nose in disgust as she entered the kitchen and saw both Kurt and Rogue holding a two thick slices of bread with what seemed to be everything edible the Institute kitchen offered in between.
Kurt took a large bite of his sandwich as Rogue struggled to chew hers. "Mph-ving mphunch." Kurt attempted to reply.
"Like ew!" Kitty's face warped into a feature of disgust. "Swallow first." She turned to Rogue. "And you. This is something I expected from him," she gestured disgusted to Kurt who was chewing furiously. "But not from you,"
Rogue dutifully swallowed before replying. "You try not eating with the Blob in your head, sugah. It's more trouble that it's worth,"
"Sure, just don't blame me if Remy dumps you if you bloat into Blob's proportion,"
Rogue shook her head. "Sugah, I also have Pietro's super quick metabolism,"
Kitty's face fell. "Does that mean you can eat whatever you like without gaining a single pound?" She demanded.
"Ja." Kurt replied gleefully. "I have found my eating partner,"
"You guys are disgusting," Kitty glared at them as she started to prepare her own meal—a vegetable salad. "Don't you know that eating meat is immoral?"
Wolverine then walked in, sniffed, grabbed a meat-laden sandwich, and left.
"I rest my case." Kitty grumbled.
"Mon Dieu!" Remy dramatically dropped the bag of groceries he was holding upon entering the kitchen. He glared distastefully at the siblings.
"Like, tell them, Remy," Kitty grinned, thinking that finally, someone who finds Kurt's eating habits equally disgusting.
"Alright, petite," Remy nodded to Kitty. "What are the two of you thinking?" He demanded from the two. "You'll spoil your dinner," he said.
"Remy!" Kitty whined.
Remy winced at the sound. "What? Remy's preparing dinner and wants ma chere to taste it." He looked at Kurt. "His brother-in-law, too,"
Kurt dropped his sandwich. "What?"
"He's just joking, sugah," Rogue assured her furry brother. "And don't worry, Remy, Kurt and ah can handle your gumbo just fine," she said as she crammed the last of her food in her mouth.
Kurt nodded as he patted his stomach. "Always room for more," he said proudly.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," Kitty groaned.
"Well, let's leave Swamp Rat here to his kitchen." Rogue told the two. "He always gets weird when he's cooking," she said.
Remy frowned. "Remy resents that,"
Rogue laughed as she and Kurt left, but not before grabbing a piece of ham.
Kitty watched to two go.
"Petite?" Remy glanced at her questioningly.
Kitty smiled at him winsomely.
"Can I stay and help?" She offered innocently.
Professor Xavier looked out indulgently at the group of teens horse-playing in the pool outside. It had been half a month since they last heard from the Apocalypse and life was slowly starting to get back to normal.
Except for Rogue.
Having mended her relationship with her brother and finding contentment in what Remy LeBeau has to offer, the teen had been happy lately.
And all the professor could ask for was for happiness to last.
Ororo Monroe closed her eyes as she willed the dark clouds away. "There," she nodded in satisfaction as the sun shone brightly than ever.
"Bobby! Stop freezing the pool!" A mad (and half-frozen) Scott yelled.
Laughter wafted up into the window.
The professor closed his eyes and wished for everyone else's happiness to endure too.
And as their mentor and father-figure, he regretted that as of the moment, that was the only thing he could do.
"Le mew,"
"There you are ma chere," a heavily accented voice purred. Then kissing sounds could be heard.
Jaime laughed as he watched as the artificially white-stripped black cat escape the clutches of Pepe LePew on TV. He opted to watch TV instead of going for a swim because he was still sporting the marks of his latest sunburn.
"For the thousandth time, Cajun," Rogue growled as she stepped into the rec room. "No!"
And since lately everywhere the Rogue goes, the Cajun was sure to follow, Remy leBeau walked in after her.
"But cher," he argued. "It'll be fun,"
Rogue paused in front of Jaime, just to the right of the TV. Remy remained at the TV's left side.
"Fun?" Rogue frowned. "I don't find accidentally absorbing the whole New Mutants team fun," she growled.
Remy looked at her blankly.
"She meant she refuses to wear swimming gear," Jaime replied, his eyes never leaving the boob tube.
Remy smirked. "Remy wasn't thinking of his Rogue wearing a bikini," he told her cheekily. "But now that you mentioned it…"
"Don't even think about it, Cajun,"
Jaime's eyes darted from the harassed cat in the TV to Rogue, then back to the TV again. This time, he saw Pepe LePew, his eyes then strayed to Remy. From the TV to Rogue to the TV to Remy then back to the TV again.
"Remy would really like to see his Roguey in a bikini," he said dreamily.
"Don't go there,"
"Of course, Roguey's probably imagining Remy in a skimpy pair of Speedos," he added.
Jaime grinned. He then tore his attention away from the TV to the couple before him. Real life was better than cartoons!
"Now, now, Roguey," he said as walked towards the seething girl. He then placed an arm around her. "That's normal for hot-blooded teenage girls like you."
"I'm not imagining you!" Rogue denied as a furious blush tinted her cheeks. "In your Speedos or otherwise," she shrugged him off.
"Does otherwise mean 'not wearing anything at all,' cher?" Remy grinned suggestively at her.
Jaime's head followed the conversation like a fan watching tennis.
Rogue's mouth dropped open. "NO!" She all but screamed. "I don't think of ya at all!"
"Ouch, cher," Remy said in mock pain. "That hurts,"
"Argh!" Rogue threw her hands up in surrender. "I give up. There's no getting your mind out of the gutter."
"So does that mean you'll take a dip with Remy, petite?"
Rogue sighed, signifying her defeat in the argument.
"Good." Remy gave her a smile. "Now, petite," he turned to Jaime. "Where's the package Remy gave you earlier?"
Jaime grinned as he reached behind the couch for a paper bag. "Here you go,"
"Merci, homme," Remy reached into the bag. "Now look what Remy and Kitty got you, cher," he said as he held out a wetsuit.
Rogue took it from him suspiciously.
"Now Roguey can swim without fear of absorbing anyone," he smiled warmly. "And look, Remy even got himself one," he said as he held out another wetsuit.
Jaime nodded. "Got one too," he added. "That way, you wouldn't feel left-out not wearing swimsuits. And to protect me from sunburn, too," he shuddered as he remembered the pain he had recently endured for being out in the sun too long.
"I-" Rogue began. "I don't know what to say," she said softly.
"Then say we're going out there and enjoy the sun,"
But before Rogue could answer, she suddenly doubled up, as if in pain.
"Chere?"
"That's it!" Rogue thundered out. "Enough is enough!"
Remy looked at her in worry. "Rogue, if you don't want to swim, just tell Remy,"
Without looking at the two men, Rogue stalked off the room.
"Rogue!" Jaime and Remy called out at the same time.
"I'm sick and tired of hearing him in my head!" Rogue announced as she stalked in the professor's office where he and Ororo were.
"Rogue?"
Remy and Jaime followed her behind.
"You want Apocalypse?" She asked them. "Then let's go get him."
~tbc
P.S.
I committed a booboo. The song last chap was Remember Me by Hoobastank and not Haunted by Poe. So sorry.
Sorry if the Rogue-Kurt thing seem artificial. When my brothers and me fight, we don't do a lot of apologizing afterwards. I mean, if one approaches the other, it's generally a sign of apology and we just forget about it. Argh!
And to those who requested for Remy to rap, sorry guys, I really can't picture him going on stage and performing. So I decided on a compromise. His singing voice for the Rogue only. Ah. The privileges of being a girlfriend.
On to the review stuff: my greatest appreciation goes to… Holy-Psychic-Vulpix (I failed to reply to your review last chapter because I uploaded chapter 12 before I received it. Sorry. Anyway, thanks. Me like fire. So I hope that this chap is up to your standards!), Samm16 (You're one of those unfortunate few whose reviews I failed to reply to because I uploaded the chap before I received it. My sincerest apologies. Anyway, I know what you meant about Impact. Haven't watched it either, yet here I was, writing about it.), Thunderfox150 (and just for that, you were able to drive all the exam depression go away. Thanks. Your words meant a lot to me), Millenium mutant (I'm sorry about your cousin. About the song, it's ok. Someone already gave me the singer, but thanks all the same), Mercury Dream (and since school is almost over, you can definitely count on me updating as often as I can, I promise you that), MAD (Alright. A concert coming up. See posters and print ads for details), Black Phoenix (Why does the name Martina McBride sound so familiar? Anyway, again, Jaime had an itty-bitty part. Hope you enjoyed it), Yumiko (if anyone's to blame on Remy's perverted thoughts above, it'll be you. Your review prompted me to remember drunken conversations of my friends, but of course, I had to clean up the language 'coz drunken men aren't a pretty sight), ? (thanks, and here's more!), Anime addicted (I can't take all the credit for the end part of last chapter. After all, it was a direct quotes from the comics. But thank you for adding me to your favorites list. I am so flattered!), Rogue Pryde (hey, wouldn't want you to turn psycho. I know too many already. Something about birds of the same feather…), melissarxy1 (thanks. It's just my way of paying homage to the great minds who created the real drool-worthy characters Remy and Rogue and the genius who put them together), Denial (And they are together in the latest Xtreme Xmen. And if Marvel so much as hint as the two of them ever separating again…Anyway, a million thanks for your comment. It worked magic for my tired muses), Eva May (what can I say but thanks! Reviewers like you make all the pains of writing worth while. Like you, I haven't watched the latest season of Evo yet, so I have to content myself with writing about it. Anyway, this was originally a Remy-Rogue-Bobby triangle, but with the Apocalyptic twist, I wasn't able to pull that off. But yeah. I think Bobby has a thing on Rogue, at least in this fic. I just might elaborate on that part later), UnknownSource (I am flattered. Thanks for the shower of compliments. I'm not very satisfied with this chap very much, especially with the Kurt-Rogue thing. I mean, I would never imagine my brothers and me talking like that. Then again, I don't know if I could push my mom's statue off a cliff either, no matter how angry I was. Oh, well. Let's see how you guys find it), rogue4evah (oh, yeah. Now that you mention it, Jaime does have to avoid people to avoid replicating himself. Thanks for pointing that out!), Weeble Wobble Chick (yeah. Romyness=happiness for me too), Destiny Phoenix (thanks. Oh, you mean the fic! I thought you were talking about me. And I meant to apologize, I just learned of the mistake a few days ago, I misspelled your name in chapter 11. Sorry.), and toya (I can't wait to complete it too. XME plotbunnies are already trying to possess me with new stories, but I want to finish this one first).