FYI:

~Personal Thoughts~

~"Inner Voices"~

ESP

%The Written Word%

[Flashback]

"Normal Conversation (Duh)"

* Com Link or Telephone *

ROGUE

"Ah always loved Mardi Gras. No matter who you are, you fit in."1 We'd finally gotten ta N' Awlins an' were walkin' through the French Quarter. We were walkin' side by side an' for some reason Remy looked nervous.

"First time I been here wit' out working."2 Ah glared at him an' grabbed his hand which was reachin' inta one of his pockets ta reveal a wallet he had stolen.

"Ya Swamp Rat! What ya do that for?" He looked at meh askance tryin' ta play innocent. Ah turned 'round an' ran after the man he'd stolen it from. "Hey mister! Ah think ya dropped this." Ah tossed the wallet back ta him as he looked surprised. Remy stood where Ah'd left him lookin' slightly confused. "It's called a good deed, incase ya were wonderin'." He shook his head.

"Y' always were de good une."

"Ah am not a goody to shoo if that's what ya gettin' at."

"Non, I never said dat!" I playfully elbowed him as Ah looked at the people 'round us dressed in crazy costumes.

"Hungry? 'Cause dat jazz club right dere has de best jumbalaya."3 He led meh inta a small jazz club an' ta a back table. He waved the waiter over an' ordered for the both of us.

"Is there a reason ya chose the back table?" I looked at him while he cocked his head ta the side an' tried ta give meh an innocent look.

"De food always tastes better back here." He leaned forward so that he was mere inches from mah face. "But den dat might be because of de pretty femme wit' me."

"Ah guess ya've had other dates here then." Ah leaned back an' rested mah chin on mah hands as his face twisted inta confustion.

"Non, non, non. Y' got it all wrong, dat ain't what I meant." He waved his hands as if ta prove his point as Ah rolled mah eyes. His attention was drawn away from meh as he spotted somethin' behind meh. ~Probably some pretty waitress.~ Ah turned ta see four guys stormin' straight at us. ~This ain't lookin' so good.~ One of them roughly grabbed meh by mah shoulders an' yanked meh up from mah seat. Another did the same ta Remy as he practically spit at the third guy. "Julien, what y' doing here?"

"If it ain't de infamous Remy LeBeau. Dis just saves me de trouble of hunting y' down."4 Ah stared from one ta the other tryin' ta understand what in the world was goin' on. Remy scowled as he tossed the goon over his shoulder sendin' him flyin' inta another table. Ah did the same with similar results. He reached inta his trench coat an' pulled out his bo staff extendin' it ta its full length. The one he'd called Julien tried ta tackle Remy but Remy fended him off sendin' him flyin' as well as Ah kicked the feet out from underneath the last guy.

"Borrow this?"5 This Julien guy didn't seem likely ta give up anytime soon, so Ah grabbed Remy's bo staff an' sent him flyin' through the door of the club. Remy waltzed over ta the door an' leaned on the frame very macho like as Ah handed him his staff back. "Well, that was fun."

"Oui, makes me wish everyday was Mardi Gras." His voice was drippin' with sarcasm as one of the three goons tackled him ta the ground. Ah delivered a flyin' kick at him sendin' him flyin' away from Remy. Once he stood up again, Remy charged a nearby parkin' meter sendin' coins flyin' everywhere as Julien tried ta tackle him again succeedin' in pinnin' him ta the wall. ~Damn, what's with this guy?~ Ah peeled off mah glove an' touched the back of his neck while he was bringin' his arm back ta punch Remy. He collapsed ta the ground leavin' a very shocked Remy standin' there. He blinked a few times then grabbed the beads 'round mah neck chargin' them as he threw them back at the three goons who were stupidly tryin' ta fight still. "Let's get going." He grabbed mah wrist an' dragged meh 'round a corner while Ah clutched mah head tryin' ta figure out what Ah'd seen in Julien's memories.

"Tell meh what's goin' on. Ah saw that those creeps, the Boudreaux, have ya father locked up. Why didn't ya tell meh that. Why didn't ya tell meh there was a rivalin' Assassins' Guild? An' why didn't ya tell meh ya tried ta kill that guy before? Is that why ya didn't want ta think 'bout N' Awlins before? Why didn't ya tell meh anythin'?" Ah had a thousand questions that were all gonna go unanswered.

"You didn't need anymore problems Chére. Besides, I can handle it on my own." He turned an' walked away from meh leavin' meh ta stand there on the crowded streets alone.

MULTIPLE

~This is the last time I ever fly second class.~ I sighed as I tried to move a little in the storage cabinet in the Velocity. ~This was a really dumb idea.~ Suddenly the door opened as Kitty stared in at me. "Like what are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to help Roguey." I heard Logan growl something from the cockpit as Kitty offered me a hand to get out.

"Like you know you're in like so much trouble when we get back."

"It'll be worth it." I smiled at her as she rolled her eyes and sat back down next to Piotr.

"Squirt, next time you want to come along on a mission ask someone first."

"Sorry." I hung my head as I sat down. It usually worked up some sympathy but I honestly don't believe Logan's capable of that. He surprised me though as he sighed and went back to his conversation with the professor over a com link.

"So what does Charles have to say?" Storm turned her attention away from the controls as she looked to Logan.

"Other than the fact that we had a stowaway, she and Gambo have been using their powers enabling him to locate them somewhere in the French Quarter. This isn't good if she's using her powers."

"Like it's the middle of Mardi Gras! We'll like never find them down there." Kitty sounded exasperated as she stared out the window at the festivities going on below us.

"Look at all of this!" I turned in all directions staring at all the people in their costumes. I was a little worried though that we would stand out since Piotr was in his armored form but it seemed that people thought it was a costume.

"Great tin man costume!"

"Err…thank you, I think." He looked confused to his comparison to the tin man from the 'Wizard of Oz' so I proceeded to explain it to him.

"The tin man is from the 'Wizard of Oz'. It's a classic! You'll have to watch it sometime…" I noticed a familiar trench coat turning away from us and for a moment almost thought it was Remy but realized I must be mistaken since he'd would've been with Roguey.

"Like did you see them, Jamie?"

"Nope. Didn't see anything." I shrugged as we kept walking down the street in the opposite direction as the Remy look alike.

GAMBIT

I turned de corner only t' turn 'round and peer back t' make sure she would follow. ~Doesn't do me any good unless she decides t' come 'long.~ "That's right, Cherie, come on."6 She turned as if t' walk away but turned yet 'gain t' come t'wards de corner and follow me. ~Mon Dieu, at least somet'ing's going right.~ As I turned t' keep walking I saw Piotr up 'head of me wit' Kitty and de li'l squirt, Jamie. ~Merde, I take dat back.~ I whipped back 'round before dey saw me t' nearly run Rogue over. I grabbed her by de elbow and shoulder pulling her int' an alley before de ot'ers saw us.

"What do ya think ya doin'?"

"Shh…I t'ink dey're followin' us." She blinked a few times before talking again as I watched the alley opening hoping not t' see any X-suits walking by.

"Ah think Ah know where they've got ya father. They're keepin' him in the Blood Moon Bayou."

"T'anks Chére." I kissed her forehead and made t' leave 'gain.

"Ya ain't goin' nowhere without meh. They've got a lot of defenses an' ya'll never make it without meh." She crossed her arms over her chest as if t' say dat was final, non more arguments.

"Non argument dere. But if y' right, it's gonna be dangerous."

"Since when has a li'l danger ever stopped meh?" She gave me a sly smile as we turned t' leave de city streets behind for de swamps. I leaned over and spoke int' her ear wit' a husky voice.

"I always did like de adventurous type." She elbowed me hard in de ribs and kept walking. "What was dat for?"

"Ah ain't some girl ya can just stereotype so don't even try." She glared at me as we kept getting fart'er and fart'er away from de festivities.

"Dose kind are even better." I received anot'er sharp jab dat made me wince at de pain. "Y' do realize dere's going t' be a bruise dere now."

"Good, maybe then ya'll quit talkin' ta meh like that."

At de edge of de swamp I found a boat and raft tied up. I untied dem bot' retying de raft t' de back of de boat. ~If she's right 'bout deir defenses, we'll be needing dis.~ She climbed int' de stern of de motor boat and gave me directions t' steer 'round de water mines.

"Veer left an' under those roots." She pointed out where she meant so dat I clearly understood. I pulled some confetti from de parades and charged it so dat it provided a li'l light over de water. It illuminated de water mine dat I'd just steered 'round as I watched her leaning forward in de boat her face fixed in concentration. ~For God's sake, concentrate!~ "Ah said under the roots! Ya tryin' ta get us killed?" I quickly steered de boat back t' her planned pat' as I shook my head. ~Concentrate!~ I could clearly see de mansion of de Boudreaux.

"Chére, get int' de raft now." She did it wit'out questioning me as I abandoned the motor boat as well. Just as I used my powers t' burn t'rough de rope attaching de two de motor boat blew int' a million pieces. "Dat was a li'l t' close for comfort." I pulled out my bo staff and used it as an oar t' send us closer t' de dock. Marie leaned back on her elbows in de raft looking slightly edgy. "Y' okay?"

"How many times do Ah have ta say 'yes'?"

"Non more." I tried smiling at her but suddenly found it difficult. ~How could y' be using y' girlfriend like dis? Y' say y' worried 'bout her den y' drag her int' all dis.~ She climbed out of de raft and ont' de dock as I followed her. We quickly made our way down it as she directed me when t' start and stop so dat we weren't caught by security cameras. ~If Julien was willing t' blow us t' pieces, he wouldn't worry 'bout shooting us down eit'er.~ She led me t' behind a tree where I turned t' look back at de mansion for a way in wit'out needing t' knock out t' many guards. Suddenly I felt myself falling and rolling down a hill.

"Get down!"7 she hissed. We rolled several times before stopping at de bottom. When I went t' stand back up my hand brushed her cheek and I felt dat all t' familiar feeling of blacking out. ~Dis ain't good…~

I woke back up ta her sitting on my chest grabbing at my collar. "How dare ya?"8

"What happened?"9 I stared up at her as she gave me a murderous glare. "Musta been sitting still for t' long for y' t' absorb me…" She pushed me back down t' de ground as she stood up crossing her arms over her chest.

"Ya thoughts are in mah head. I know everythin'. Ya played meh. Ya knew ya'd run inta the Boudreaux at the jazz club, ya knew they'd come after ya an' ya knew Ah'd use mah powers ta help ya 'cause ya wanted meh ta absorb information."10 A single tear fell down her cheek as she turned her back on me.

"Chére, vous plaît (A/N: please), let me explain."

"This whole time we've been datin', ya've just been waitin' for a chance ta use meh haven't ya?"

"Non, non, non. Je m'excuse (A/N: I'm sorry) y' t'ink dat but it ain't true. I love y' chére and dat is de trut'."

"Ah don't even know ya anymore. Ah'm just so pissed that ya used meh just like everyone else does. 'Hey everybody, it's Rogue. She's such a fucking pushover, let's use her.'"

"Non…" Tears were freely falling now. ~Merde, y' really know how t' get de girl don't y'?~ "My fat'er's life was at stake."11

"An' that makes it all the better." She slowly walked away int' the fog and out of sight.

ROGUE

~Ah can't believe him! How dare he use meh like that. Ah was such a fool ta think Ah was any different from all those other girls he gets ta swoon over him.~ Ah had stormed off an' sat down next ta the water tryin' ta figure out what Ah was gonna do next. ~Ah'm stuck in N' Awlins with no way of gettin' back home. Stupid Swamp Rat!~

~"Y' wound me real bad, Chére."~

~Ah wounded ya! Ya led meh 'round for eight months just waitin' 'til the time was right ta use meh.~

~"Non, non, non! Don't y' ever listen t' me?"~

~Why should Ah listen ta a liar?~

~"Oui, dat's good advice, but I ain't lying t' y' and never have."~

"Ya so sick, ya lie ta yaself.~ Out of the corner of mah eye Ah saw a hand placed on mah shoulder. "Get off meh, Swamp Rat."

"Non, not until y' listen t' me." Ah rolled mah eyes as psyche Remy sat down next ta meh. He looked perfectly relaxed as he stretched his long legs out an' leaned back on his elbows. "Y' know I trust y' if I brought y' down here. I wouldn't lie t' y'." He gave a look full of sadness that made meh wish Ah could just wipe him straight outta mah head.

"Ya trusted meh ta get ya outta ya scrapes."

"And y' be breaking dat trust if y' leave him now." Ah stared at him as he shrugged his shoulders an' faded away. ~Remy!~ No answer came as Ah stood up an' faced the mansion that stood forbiddingly over the swamp. ~Ah can't believe Ah'm actually gonna do this.~

~"I knew I could count on y'.~

~Shut up, while ya still 'head.~

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

He he. So cruel making you wait 'til next chapter for all the real action. Muahahahahaha. Well, since Kurt's in a coma and at Muir Island, I decided to send Kitty, Piotr, Jamie, Logan, and Storm to the rescue. Yep, that's right no Scott. I'm starting to not like the character I've created for him—such a snob, and how could anyone possibly hate Remy. Who cares if he just sent the X-Men to their greatest defeat?

Oh, FYI—Remy's psyche isn't doubled or anything, simply gets an update. Does that make sense? I'm not sure what happens in other plot lines or anything when Rogue absorbs someone a second time, so that's my way of putting it.

Oh, to explain Rogue reabsorbing Remy even though his powers should overcome hers: Remy was sitting still in a boat for a really long time so he wasn't able to pick up extra kinetic energy for his field by moving so in my mind the field diminishes leaving him vulnerable. Had to come up with something…even if it is a little lame.