~Personal Thoughts~

~"Inner Voices"~

ESP

%The Written Word%

[Flashback]

"Normal Conversation (Duh)"

* Com Link or Telephone *

*Sound Effects (usually just Kurt's bamfing)

{Background noise--music, crowds, etc.}

ROGUE

"What are ya doin' in there? Poppin' each kernel individually?" Ah was sittin' cross-legged on the couch waitin' for him ta pop some popcorn so that we could start a movie. ~Give the guy a simple task an' he still finds it ta be ta difficult. Ah guess it's true what they say, if ya want somethin' done right—do it yaself.~

"Non, I t'ink de microwave's broken." Ah sighed, we had just gotten the air conditionin' fixed yesterday an' had ta listen ta the repair guy complain 'bout 'crazy kids in winter clothes with their airconditionin' set at sixty'. It was impossible ta keep mah skin covered all the time without the airconditionin' set so low so that one day without it made me ever so thankful ta have it back. Remy complied with the deep freeze by wearin' his own long sleeves but he'd been doin' that for a while on his own anyway.

"Ah think it's the person usin' it." Ah crossed inta the kitchen area an' took the popcorn bag from his hands. Usin' his powers Ah charged the bag until it had all popped an' returned ta mah seat in the livin' room.

He stood there gapin' for a few seconds then poured it inta a bowl an' joined meh. "I coulda done dat."

"Sure ya could, Sugah." He sat down next ta meh an' draped an arm over mah shoulders an' Ah leaned mah head onta his shoulder.

"What we watchin'?"

"The news for now." Ah stared blankly at the screen allowin' the story on 'bout the protests for mutant registration wash over meh. ~When will they just quit?~

"In more local news, a Mississippi native, Cody Robbins was kidnapped. It is believed to be connected to the mutant menace problem because he was attacked two years ago by a mutant and put into a coma." Mah jaw dropped at the picture of Cody as Ah sat up straight. It was indeed the same boy that Ah'd absorbed two years ago at a dance back home.

The screen cut over ta a shot of his parents who were pleadin' ta the kidnapper. "Whoever has taken our boy, please bring him home safely. Whatever it takes, we just want him back."

Again the screen cut back ta the reporter who seemed ta have some more mutant bashin' ta do. "The believed connection was reinforced by this note left by the kidnapper: Just as this boy's life was attacked before, I have been attacked by the same mutant. She will stop at nothing until she has stolen everything about you, your life, love, and happiness." The screen flashed blank but the words continued ta echo through mah head. ~This is all mah fault. Whoever's done this has a grudge 'gainst meh.~

"Chére, somet'in' de matter?"

"That boy…he was the first person Ah ever absorbed." He winced in recollection of that story. It had been the first time that we'd realized that Ah could touch him. Then Logan had tried ta kill him. Somehow, Ah wish Ah could go back ta then. It'd been easier bein' able ta touch.

We sat a while as he rubbed mah shoulder reassuringly. Ah leaned over an' rested mah head onta his shoulder still starin' at the blank screen for answers. "Whoever kidnapped him…is after meh."

"Non…"

"Think 'bout it. Ah'm the one who attacked him two years ago, but Ah haven't a clue who else would hold a grudge enough ta try an' hurt Cody. He hasn't done anythin'."

"Don' worry 'bout it. 'S probably jus' someone tryin' t' pin dis on de mutants."

"Ya don't know that." He seemed ta be at a loss of words which was unusual for him as we sat there in uncomfortable silence. After a while Ah kinda snapped outta mah trance. "Ah'm just gonna turn in early." Ah stood up an' went ta the stairs.

"Den I'll join y'." He was at mah side in an instant an' had an arm snaked 'round mah waist. ~Ah'm really not in the mood.~

"Not now, Remy." He gave meh a hurt expression as Ah pushed his arm down an' ran up the steps two at a time ta mah solitude. Once at the top Ah glanced over the railin' ta see him plop back down on the couch depressingly. He clicked on the t.v. an' watched the movie we'd planned ta watch tagether. ~What the hell.~ Ah hopped up onta the railin' an' leaned back 'gainst the wall ta watch from above.

Ah nearly fell of mah perch the next mornin' when Ah awoke ta the smell of coffee. Ah jumped down an' winced at the pain that shot through mah back an' neck. Ah rubbed the spot on mah neck as Ah found clothes ta change inta an' headed down the stairs.

When Ah got down stairs, Remy was already eatin' a bowl of cereal. "And how would mon fiancé be dis mornin'?"

"A li'l stiff." Ah smiled at the newest title as Ah poured mahself a cup of coffee an' he b'gan massagin' mah shoulders. Ah sighed as the relaxed feelin' spread 'cross mah neck an' down mah back.

"Y' t' tense, Cherie."

"Ah didn't sleep well." He rested his chin on mah shoulder an' smiled at meh.

"I offered t' join y'."

"Then Ah wouldn't have slept for fear of hurtin' ya."

"Could always turn de conditionin' up more and t'row in some more blankets." He tucked mah hair back b'hind mah ear an' whispered huskily inta it. "Y' know, Je amour de curls. Don' get me wrong je amour yo' ol' hair t'." (A/N: I love) It tickled mah ear an' caused meh ta shiver involuntarily as he wrapped his arms 'round mah waist. "If y' cold now, I can keep y' warm upstairs."

Ah gently elbowed him in the ribs but couldn't help but smile. "Ya need ta get ya head outta the gutter."

"'Bout mon fiancé? Non, I t'ink not." He smirked as he spun meh 'round easily. "Hope y' don' mind me borrowin' dis." He pulled one of mah scarves outta his pocket an' draped it over mah face gently. Ah smiled inta the gentle kiss as Ah wrapped mah arms 'round his neck.

"Not in the slightest Sugah." Ah pulled the scarf down away from mah mouth as Ah spoke an' he held it over mah neck as he kissed up along the jaw line.

He pulled back slightly so that our faces were mere inches apart. "J'taime, Marie." (A/N: I love you)

"Ah love ya ta, Sugah." He kissed the top of mah head gently causin' meh ta sigh. ~Well, that's one way ta wake up in the mornin'.~

GAMBIT

I'd finally talked her int' goin' and havin' fun f' once instead of stayin' cooped up.

[What's de harm in goin' t' de bar f' some dancin'?"

"Ah don't know. The fact that's it's swamped with assassins might have somethin' ta do with harm."

"Y' don' need t' worry 'bout dat."

"Yes, Ah do. 'Cause ya ain't gonna, so someone here has ta worry 'bout how the two of us are gonna stay alive." She put her hands on her hips adamant 'bout not goin'. I couldn' help but t'ink dat she looked cute doin'dat.

"J'taime, Chére, especially when yo' all mad."

"Stop that! Stop bein' such a flirt when Ah'm tryin' ta be serious." I pouted at her as she t'rew her hands int' de air in disgust. "'Cause then ya make meh forget why Ah'm serious ta b'gin with."]

"Couldn't we go someplace where people wouldn't know ya?"

"Non, I don' t'ink dere's a place in N'Awlins dat fits dat description."

"Tough shit for meh then, huh?"

"Oui. Now jus' relax and have fun, hehn?"

"Fine, fine. But if somethin' happens tanight, Ah'm gladly gonna say 'Ah told ya so'." I smiled as I took her hand and led her inside. She seemed on edge so I decided it would be best jus' t' take it slow f' a while as I sat her in a boot' t'wards de back.

"Chére, ain't not'in' gonna happen. I won' let it."

"Ah know, it's just that Ah can't help but worry. Ah don't like dancin' in crowds, 'cause Ah always have ta worry if Ah might bump inta someone."

"Dat's it?"

"Yeah, ya know that's a pretty big deal, Sugah, when Ah could kill someone with a touch." She waved her gloved hand in front of mon face ta make her point.

"Jus' t'ought dat y' didn' like dancin' wit' me or somet'in'." She smiled at me as I took her hand in mon own and rubbed mon t'umb over de back of her hand.

"Well, that could be part of it ta." I pouted givin' her a hurt expression.

When I heard a slow Cajun waltz come on I stood up and knelt down next t' her, her hand still in mon own. "May I have dis dance?" She blushed furiously and nodded silently as I led her ont' de dance floor.

I continued t' hold her right hand in mine and placed her oth'er on mon shoulder. I placed mon ot'er hand on her hip and slowly spun her around t' de music. As the song continued she sighed and rested her head on mon shoulder and slid her hand 'round mon neck. I smiled as I moved mon own t' de small of her back squeezin' her tightly. "This is nice, Sugah."

ROGUE

"Okay, so ya were right, nothin' happened." He smirked at meh as we left the bar.

He took mah hand in his an' kissed the pack of the knuckles gently a sparkle in his eyes. "I promised I'd take care of y'." Instead of droppin' mah hand he continued ta hold it as we walked an' Ah couldn't help but feel semi-normal despite the layers of cloth that separated us. Ah resisted the urge ta let out a sad sigh determined not ta damper the mood that Remy had tried so hard ta make a happy one.

Once we reached his bike in the parkin' lot he spun meh 'round an' took both mah hands in his smilin' down at meh. "Y' haven't said it yet."

"Said what?"

"I told y' so." He smirked as he kissed the top of mah head relishin' his victory. He continued speakin' directly inta mah ear which was eventually gonna drive meh insane because of how badly it tickled. "J'taime, Cherie, and I always will, non matter what." My mouth went dry an' Ah licked mah lips nervously. ~Why's he got ta be such a damn romantic? It makes not touchin' him a thousand times harder.~

He chuckled slightly as he kissed the top of mah head again. That's when this lovely dream came crashing down. Ah barely caught the shimmer of light reflected in the alley an' then realized the shimmer was comin' tawards us. Suddenly we were surrounded by these shimmers. They were assassins armed ta the teeth with swords an' daggers.

"Ah'll say it now then, Ah told ya so." He didn't need told that we were surrounded by assassins. He'd already dropped mah hands an' held several charged cards instead. His eyes flickered angrily, truly lookin' like the eyes of the devil. Ah tried ta think on mah feet an' come up with some defense an' settled on Betsy's powers. Ah formed a sword of psychic energy an' prepared mahself for a fight.

Remy blasted a few of them off their feet an' off the walls renderin' them unconcious. Ah took his back an' faced down one that charged us allowin' Betsy's knowledge of sword fightin' ta take over for meh makin' mah movements effortless an' easy. When Ah stabbed him through the chest it didn't cause him ta bleed but just knocked him unconscious from the force of the psychic attack. The next assassin stopped in uncertainty givin' meh a chance ta b'gin mah attack. We parried once, then Ah sliced down across his chest causin' him ta drop as well unconscious.

Remy seemed ta be havin' a good enough time knockin' the assassins out with blast after blast. One made his way in close ta him an' Remy grabbed him by the collar an' twisted his arm 'til he dropped the sword. "Now what do y' want wit' Remy?"

"We're here f' her." I dropped mah latest victim an' turned ta stare wide-eyed at the assassin in Remy's hands. His eyes flickered even more angrily if that was possible.

"Den what do y' want wit' her?"

"T' deliver a message. De boy's wit' us." Remy frowned an' tucked a charged card int' his pocket an' dropped him. The guy was shot back from the force of the explosion an' Remy gunned the engine of his bike.

"We best be goin' b'fore more show up." I nodded an' jumped on b'hind him clingin' t' him closely. ~Mah God, Bella kidnapped Cody. But why?~

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I know a short chappie coming from me. I've had some serious writer's block with this chapter. But I promise it's action from here on out!

My other story that I mentioned I'm now writing is what's going on in the institute simultaneously so if you want to see a high and mighty Jamie and so forth, check out Everything's Constantly Changing.