Disclaimer: Geez, haven't you people gotten it yet? I don't own the X-Men! And you're making me repeat it over and over, rubbing it in my face! sob!
A/N: Gather 'round children, and I'll tell ye a tale! I know I promised I wouldn't update until after exams, but I'm officially fed up with studying. My exams are tomorrow, I've learned all I can, so I figure there's no point in further torturing myself. Instead, I decided to be nice and post this! But just to let you know, if my marks suffer, I'll blame you. ;-)
Krac, Calliann, Remy's Angy, foofighta, Melfina Lupin, p, Taineyah, Lightspeed Suzuka, ThatsJustPeachy, Personage, Anime addicted, The Untouchable Rogue, Ellavira, Cyberlink42, Avaris, RoguesHeart, Rogue14, Cloud Of Blood, alex, Gothic- Rogue LeBeau, SassyGrl024, nessie6, Araya-Michiru, Anee/Arain Rowan/Arin Ross, roguewannabe29, danielle britton, bitrona, De-Femme-O-Da-Night, The Rogue Cajun, lonewolf, SadYear, Midnight Selene, Tokyobabe2040, & Rogue77 – Gold stars for everyone! Huzzah.
Rogue4787, Ravyn Nyte, & Star-of-Chaos – Bwa ha ha! Yeah, I bet you'd like to know what the 'Gumbo Incident' was! Hate to break it to you, but I'm not going to explain. I just it threw in for a quirk. You'll have to use your imaginations, but I'm sure that won't be a problem – Rogue4787 can lend us some whipped cream… drool!
Duck3 – The ECA sounds good, but we've gotta have a secret handshake and a tree house fort! Maybe even a song and dance routine…
AnalisDestiny – Ooh, Me/Remy fics? I wish! Oh wait, did you mean you/Remy fics? No, that really doesn't work for me. ;-) Anyhoo, if you want good Romy fics, check out my fave stories under my author profile. It's a goldmine of fluff and goodness!
Aro – I feel your pain about catching up on fics. I had the same problems after I came back from a few weeks vacation. The horror, the horror! Except in that good way, cuz all my fave fics updated. But it sucked cuz I missed it. I'm really not sure what I'm trying to say here…
Princess of Monkeys – Oh, a wee bit frustrated at the 'almost-kisses', are we? Well, at least I haven't got Rogue in a coma, which I hope you'll be remedying soon! gives you a pointed look So just be thankful, missy. ;-)
Green Eyed Lilys Daughter – My advice is to throw your chem book out the window and see how long it takes to hit the ground. Oh wait, that's physics… whatever, they're both evil. I understand the heavy textbook pain, what with my bio text, which is actually being held together by a few threads. Wow, even more awards for Remy? Did he bribe all the judges?
XxFleurdelySxX – Ahh, I was wondering when you'd show up! Your reviews made me smile, thanks! Glad I could finally make you squeal. Hey, you caught the little reference to Medieval Times! Yup, that was just for you, feel the love! It IS weird getting a review from you, when usually it's the other way around. I hope your jealousy at all my reviews forces you to update more often! Let's make a deal – you bring on the updates, and I'll bring on the fluff. And I've decided I can't part with the 'Queen of fluff' title, we've bonded and I'm much too attached. Maybe we can work out some sort of custody arrangement?
khay – Wow, I never thought about my schitzophrenicness before. That definitely amused us. (Hah hah, I'm so lame…)
Zen Bailong – Your reactions made me laugh out loud. Unscrupulous and vomiting? Glad I brought out the best in you. ;-)
Goldylokz – You just may get your Rogue/Belle showdown. In one way or another. Ahh, I don't know, I don't have it figured out yet! But oh, it'll be fun! Mark my words. Mark them good!
Panther Nesmith – Tee hee hee! Your Trix comment made me giggle. And don't you worry, there'll be plenty of romantic angst coming up! In theory.
Huh, I use a lot of those winking smiley faces. Whatever, the point is here's your chapter!
February Fifteenth
Chapter Ten – Decisions Made
"Y'all were right, Julien's plannin' to kill Remy to get th' Assassins int' power. They've got a mercenary hired, and he's already in th' city," Rogue explained to Jean-Luc. Her and Remy had quickly made their way back to Guild headquarters after Rogue sifted through Julien's memories and found what they needed to know. Unfortunately, it was nothing good.
Rogue tensely stood in front of the Guild Master's desk, quite on edge after have discovered the plot. Jean-Luc sat in his chair with clasped hands propping up his chin, reflecting on what she told him. Remy stood still behind Rogue, hiding his nervousness quite adeptly; his anxiety was not about the situation currently being discussed, however. He didn't have any worries about Julien trying to kill him - he was always able to get out of tough spots. He was more worried about the wedding, the same wedding that would be occurring the very next day. This was what he spent all these years hoping for, a reason to cancel it. All he had to do was wait for his father to say the words, and he would be free.
"How's he plannin' on doin' so?" Jean-Luc continued to question, failing to notice that he was making Remy all the more impatient.
"The mercenary has t' strike after the weddin', most likely at th' reception, but it's not strictly planned out. Whenever a good opportunity arises, Ah suppose. He's supposed t' kill Remy, but try an' make it look lahke an accident," Rogue informed.
"Hmm, dat makes sense," he mused, almost to himself. "Dat way all de Assassins be accounted fo', an' won' be suspected. He'd have t' be careful or de elders would find out 'bout his disloyalty t' de Guilds an' he'd be punished…"
Rogue knew this, but said nothing. She thought it best if she kept quiet about her detailed and intimate knowledge of the Guild, provided by one of their own; the less she was interrogated, the better. A multitude of people knowing about her powers was not something she wanted.
"Do y' know de identity o' de mercenary?"
Wincing slightly, she regretfully had to answer in the negative.
"Y' found out 'bout de whole plot 'cept de most important detail?" asked Jean-Luc, raising his voice in irritation.
"No," stated Rogue through clenched teeth. Once again, she found herself trying hard to contain her anger at a Guild member - only this time he was the Master. She would have to show respect if he was to listen to her. "Ah got mah information from Julien, an' he didn't plan this all by his lonesome. His accomplice hired th' killer an'-"
"Please, chère, let's not call him th' killer, neh?" interrupted Remy with a smirk. "He hasn' killed Remy yet."
Rogue turned around to respond to him, wishing she could borrow some of his confidence. Julien's memories unnerved her, mainly because he was so very certain about his surefire plan. "Ah'm sure he's still a killer, Remy. Ah sincerely doubt th' Assassins would hire a first-timer fo' such an important job."
"Glad t' know dat Remy's death warrants such high standards," he quipped, yet failed to get the desired reaction out of Rogue. He wanted to see her striking smile again, and maybe hear her melodious laugh; instead he received the opposite, a worried frown.
"Can we get back t' de matter at hand?" interceded Jean-Luc.
Remy just grinned flippantly, but Rogue at least had the decency to look sorry for getting off topic. "Right," she said. "His accomplice hired th' killer, so Julien didn't know who it was yet, an' neither do Ah."
"Do y' know who de accomplice is?"
She flinched a bit at the question. He definitely wouldn't like this news… "Marius Boudreaux."
The Guild-Master's reaction to the mention of his Assassin counterpart was much like what Rogue had anticipated. Jumping out of his chair, he forcefully slammed his hands down on the desk. "Quoi?!" he furiously yelled, eyes narrowing and face growing red with rage. "C'est impossible! (That's impossible!)"
Rogue and Remy both stood silently while Jean-Luc began to quickly pace back and forth, ranting and raving to himself.
"Dat salaud! (bastard) How can he do dis? He's been pushin' dis weddin' along wit' me, sayin' it be fo' de good o' de Guilds! Fils de putain! (Son of a bitch!) Hah, if he t'inks dat he can pull one o'er on de T'ieves, he be sorely mistaken!"
Suddenly he stopped, forcefully gripping the corners of his desk as he leaned over it, head bowed and shoulders squared. Steam could practically be seen blowing out of his ears. He remained still, contemplating his next move. After a few minutes, Remy and Rogue looked to each other with raised eyebrows.
"Papa? What's de plan?" Remy tentatively asked. Now was the time, and the anticipation was building up in his system.
He smiled at his son as he straightened up. "Don' worry, Remy. I know what we have t' do, even if some disagree wit' me."
This was it. The moment of truth.
Sighing, Jean-Luc sat himself down and crossed his arms. "De weddin' will continue as planned."
"What?!" shouted Rogue in bewilderment. Remy just stood there, not sure if he had heard correctly.
"I'm not cancellin' it. I can't. Dere's too much at stake."
"How 'bout th' safety of yo' son?" yelled an outraged Rogue. Respect be damned, she wasn't about to calmly accept this resolution. How stupid could this man be? There was a scheme to kill Remy being implemented, and he was going to play right into the Assassins' hands!
"Don' make de mistake o' t'inkin' dat I don' care 'bout my son," he cautioned her. "'M not goin' t' let anyt'in' happen t' him."
"Den why y' makin' Remy go through wit' de weddin'?" demanded a furious Remy. The shock had worn off, and was now replaced by anger. He couldn't believe it - finally the perfect opportunity to get out of this mess, and it was going to waste!
"We don' have much o' a choice, Remy. De Guilds need dis peace pact."
"But at yo' son's expense?" Rogue cried disbelievingly.
"Nothin' will happen t' him! We get dem married, an' den he can be easily protected. We secure de reception hall, have him accompanied at all times, an' nobody be able t' get through t' him. We be t'ieves, we can protect our own. An' dere ain't nobody better den Remy."
Neither teen could believe what they were hearing. Remy was stunned, consumed by disappointment, failure, and taunting mental images of him spending the rest of his life trapped in a loveless marriage. He had to try and change the decision – hell, at this point he would even get down on his knees and beg. A small part of him knew it would be futile - once his father made up his mind, there was usually no changing it. But he had to try. Apparently Rogue had the same idea, and her ire wouldn't be quieted.
"Ah cannot believe ya! Yah're sacrificing yo' son all 'cause o' some stupid rivalry that could just as easily be settled by some damn negotiations, not a marriage! Th' peace will only happen if y'all want it to, it don't matter if there's a marriage o' not! An' it's a marriage ya know Remy wants no part of! Yah're punishin' him fo' no reason! It's your duty t' secure peace b'tween th' Guilds, an' now yah're just passin' th' burden off t' him? This is yo' responsibility, not his, an' ya failed at it - do ya have t' condemn Remy fo' th' mistakes ya made?" she ranted, Southern accent growing all the more pronounced as she got worked up.
Once again Jean-Luc stood from his seat, with clenched fists and eyes blazing with fury. "Listen, fille. 'M not exactly sure who y' are, but I know who yo' not. Y' don' have any power t' tell me what's right an' wrong, what t' do, or how t' lead m' Guild. Y' don' know anyt'in' 'bout us, so don' act like it. 'M doin' what needs t' be done fo' de good o' all o' de members o' both Guilds. Dat's hundreds o' lives in m' hands, an' dis decision'll protect dem all. Now y' did what we asked o' y', so de job is done. We don' have any need fo' y' anymo'."
Rogue narrowed her eyes, which were blazing with indignation at the curt dismissal. A rebuttal was on the tip of her tongue when she felt a restraining hand on her shoulder. Turning, she saw Remy cautioning her not to say any more.
"Easy, chère. Y' did what y' could, so merci. Remy be grateful. But he'll have t' take it from here," he whispered in her ear.
She wanted nothing more than to stay and give Jean-Luc another piece of her mind, and maybe a piece of her fist as well. She wanted to help Remy, but Rogue understood it wasn't her fight anymore. Grudgingly, she nodded. "Ah'm sorry," she told him regretfully. Rogue turned back to send one last glare at the Guild Master, then departed. Remy watched her leave and then faced his father.
"I don' wan' t' get married t' Belle," he told him with the utmost seriousness. He abandoned his masks of cockiness and attitude - this was not the place for them. The rest of his life could very well be decided in this conversation; it was a grave situation, with no time for games. Remy only hoped that his wishes and future happiness would mean more to his father than Guild politics.
"I know, Remy. Believe me, m' not happy 'bout puttin' y' in dis position, but it has t' be done. We need peace or dere just be more killin' b'tween us, y' know dat!"
"A marriage pact been tried befo', an' it didn' work! Don' t'ink Remy didn' look in de history books, a weddin' was tried an' it failed. Y' de one who told Remy dat 'dose who don' learn from history be doomed t' repeat it'!"
Jean-Luc sighed once again. "I did learn from de past, dat's why we'll do it right dis time. Dat was hundreds o' years ago, an' it wasn' under de same circumstances. Now we got de son an' daughter o' the Guild Masters, it be mo' bindin' dis way. B'sides, y're in love - it be like Romeo an' Juliet."
"Y' know Remy don' love Belle!"
"Je sais (I know), but de important t'ing be dat de others do. 'Specially Belle herself."
Remy's eyes widened. "Y' want Remy to play pretend fo' de rest o' his days? Don' know if I can do dat!"
"Y' goin' t' have t'," his father quietly told him. "I know y' don' wan' t' do dis, I tried t' get y' out o' de arrangement, I really did. Y' t'ink I wan' y' dis miserable? But dere's not much I can do wit' de elders o' both Guilds pullin' fo' dis."
"Try harder."
"It be too late now."
At that, Remy turned his head away in disappointment. He didn't know if he could look at his 'father' right now.
"Je suis desolé, mon fils (I'm sorry, my son), but we all have t' make sacrifices. Least yours be fo' a noble cause, neh? Y' gonna be selfish an' t'row dis opportunity away? Y' got de future o' de Guilds in yo' hands, Remy."
"So do y'. Y're givin' de Assassins de chance t' gain rule o'er de T'ieves!"
"Dat won' happen. You'll be protected, so we can stop de mercenary. Den we can prove dat Marius an' Julien are traitors, get dem expelled from de Guilds, an' everyt'in' works out."
"Nice t' see dat y're so optimistic 'bout makin' Remy's life a livin' hell," he scowled.
"Must y' be so stubborn? Dis needs t' be done - de needs o' de many outweigh de needs o' de few, so dis conversation is over. Go get some rest, tomorrow be de big day."
All Remy could do was glower, a sight made all the more intimidating by his demonic eyes. "Romeo an' Juliet didn' have de happiest endin'," he warned, and then spun around to leave. Just as he laid his hand on the doorknob, Jean-Luc called out to him.
"Oh, Remy? I saw de way y' stared at dat girl, de Rogue. Forget 'bout her. Fo' yo' own good."
Seething, Remy took a deep breath and slowly exhaled in a feeble attempt to contain his fury. Then he barged out the door, slamming it as hard as he could behind him. The crash resounded down the hallway, only to be followed by a much louder sound as the glowing pink doorknob exploded soon after.
Jean-Luc was left alone in his office, gazing at the remains of what was previously his door. Once again, he gave a long, gusty sigh; he had done that all too often tonight. Despite what Remy believed, he truly didn't want to do this. Yet he didn't have much of a choice, with pressure being put on him from both sides. At least this way he could use the situation more to their advantage, and crucify Marius and Julien - meaning the Thieves had their own plans to set in motion. Rising from his desk to go find Henri, he stopped and stared at the wooden splinters at his feet. He just hoped his son didn't do anything foolish.
Poor Remy! Hah, I bet you all thought the wedding would be called off, didn't you? Nope, that'd be a bit too easy. I felt kinda bad writing Jean-Luc this way, I've always liked him. So I tried to make him in a bind too – he isn't making Remy's life horrible for no reason, he can't get out of it either!
Next chapter – how's Remy going to react to the bad news? And looks like there'll be a 90 chance of Romyness! Yay.
As always, I'd appreciate reviews! So click on that friendly button down there, and tell me how I'm doing! A new post should be up in a few days.
Kisses,
ish
