Rainy Day Road Trip by Melfina Lupin
Author's Note: Oh my god! Thank you for all your great reviews! This is doing better then I imagined it would! I'm so sorry for the slow update. I had major writer's block. Not fun. -_-; Then my thanksgiving break rolled around and I played FF9 for 3 days straight when I should have been updating! Well I hope you guys are still reading and like the new chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own the x-men
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Chapter 3
The Problems with Road Trips
"God, if I don't get out soon, my butt's going to fall asleep!" Rogue complained in an exasperated whisper as she shifted uneasily in her seat for the umpteenth time in the last five minutes.
She sighed, knowing that it wouldn't get any better, and leaned back against her seat. It wasn't very pleasant to have the feeling of pins and needles in her backside but what could she do about it? Rubbing the feeling back into her ass in front of her boyfriend would be too embarrassing and a tad bit too raunchy for her tastes.
They had been driving almost nonstop for most of the day, and had taken about an hour rest stop to grab some dinner around 6. Now it was well into the night and darkness had settled into the countryside hours ago. It was pitch black outside as they drove along the coast, their brilliant headlights seeming even whiter in the darkness. Even though it was cold and gloomy outside, the people safely tucked away in the interior of the car felt warm and cozy.
"Just a bit more, petite," Remy murmured, settling his right hand on her leg consolingly as he kept his attention on the spiraling back road. "Can you hold on for about 30 minutes? We should be in Philadelphia soon."
Rogue glowered. "We better be," she hissed, stirring uneasily again. "I'm gonna kill the professor when we stop. How can he think that we sit for 5 hours straight? And one break ain't enough."
"He doesn't want to be behind schedule. Hopefully tomorrow it won't be so hard," Remy chuckled softly and glanced up into the rear view mirror and smiled. "They're still asleep."
Rogue turned around and found enough gumption to smile also. Kitty was snuggled up against John, both of them fast asleep and looking completely adorable. Piotr was laying down in the back seat, asleep too. Too bad her camera was in her back in the backseat. It would have been fun taking photos and using them as blackmail.
"Thank god," she whispered honestly. "I don't want to have to hear '99 bottles of beer on the wall' ever again."
"How many times did John sing it?"
Rogue frowned and rubbed her aching eyes. "Probably about 10 times before Piotr started signing it in Russian. You really shouldn't have let them drink all the alcohol or, in John's case, coffee."
"But they're out like lights now, chere," Remy murmured, the hand still on her leg beginning to massage ever so lightly as if traveled further up her thigh. Even as she wanted to melt at his warm caress she was still cautious.
"Do you want me to break it?" Rogue asked, glaring at her boyfriend with false annoyance while trying not to break into a smile.
He just grinned at her. "Why so testy, chere? They ain't gonna see anything. Everyone's asleep and it's dark. Maybe you oughta try some of Kitty's stuff and loosen up?"
She continued to glare at him. "Is sex all you think about, Cajun?"
"Not so, chere," he replied. "You should know Remy well enough to know that he also thinks about bourbon and his motorcycle from time to time."
Rogue wasn't impressed. "That all?"
He turned and flashed a gentle grin that made her iron resistance want to fly out the nearest window. "But he spends the majority of his time thinking about his belle fille."
"Sweet talker," she replied, blushing before she uneasily glanced towards her darkened window. She had absorbed his psyche into her own when he was unconscious and knew Remy more than he thought she did. She didn't know why she hadn't told him. Knowing that Remy was a little uneasy about people learning about his inimical past, Rogue decided that what he didn't know, didn't hurt him.
"Besides, petite," his slow voice brought her back to the present as she felt his touch crept higher, "I know you're enjoying it."
She smacked him and moved her leg away from his tough. "Even so just save it for the hotel room, swamp rat, all right? I don't wanna get caught doing anything embarrassing."
Remy chuckled, his eyes dancing with merriment, and withdrew his hand. "That a promise?"
She huffed and quickly crossed her arms over her chest. "If you behave, we'll see." Damn it all to hell! Remy was just too cute to refuse or stay mad at for very long.
Remy purred in contentment and returned his hand to the steering wheel. Still fuming slightly, Rogue looked out her window and stared absentmindedly into the thick darkness. She yawned after a moment, feeling the heavy sensation of exhaustion weigh down on her, and close her eyes for a shot nap.
"Night, chere," she heard him murmur before the gentle rocking of the car lured her off to sleep.
She was shaken awake a little bit later by Remy.
"Chere, we're here," he whispered gently, standing on by the outside on her side and leaning in. "Time to open those beautiful green eyes and wake up."
She growled in her sleep, not even bothering to wake up enough to glare at him. "Leave me alone," she slurred, turning around in her seat, away from him and from the chilly draft the open door let in. "I'm tired."
"You not sleeping in the car," he told her, laughter ringing in his voice. "Wake up, petite."
"No... It's cold out. Hey! Don't drop me!"
Not waiting for his stubborn girlfriend to get up, Remy reached in and hauled her into his arms, closed the door, and carried her to the group of mutants who were standing in the dark parking lot of the hotel, waiting for directions from the leaders. Many of the younger kids looked tired after the long ride but Rogue continued to sleep, cuddled up, warm and content like a kitten, against Remy's chest.
"You're going to get me to carry you to your room, aren't you?" he asked, gazing down at her.
A smile appeared on Rogue's face. "You bet."
"All right, students," Xavier called out at the front of the group. "We had a long ride today and an even longer one tomorrow." There were countless groans of protest. "But we well go at a much gradual pace. Nevertheless I advise you all to get as much sleep as you can. Also I would like you to be on you best behavior. So that means no pranks and the like. Ororo has the list of roommates and the number to the suits you will be staying at tonight."
At that, Ororo stepped forward, said list in hand, and started to speak.
"Jean and Magma will be in room 200. Kitty and Rogue will be in room 201. Kurt and Scott your room is 110. Roberto and Sam, you room is 120. Piotr, Remy, and John, your room is 125. Bobby and Ray, 113. And Evan and Jamie, 114. I will be in 202. Logan will be in 126. And the professor will be in 124. Any questions?"
"Does anyone else get the feeling that me, Remy, and Piotr, are being watched?" John muttered. "I mean we have adults on both sides!"
Kitty, who was standing next to him, giggled. "Rogue and me are, like, surrounded too," she told him, shivering from the late night frigidity.
"You cold, Kitty?" John asked quietly.
The younger girl shrugged and tried to stop shivering. "A little," she admitted.
John bit his lower lip before bravely stepping closer to the younger girl and wrapping his left arm around her slender shoulders. "Any better?" he asked, blushing and scared that Kitty would push him away.
Kitty was blushing too. "Yeah, lots."
Remy was grinning as he watched the whole thing a few feet back. "Hey, Rogue, open your eyes for a moment."
"What do you want?" she muttered drowsily.
"Look at John and Kitty."
Rogue opened an eye a sliver and looked. "Aw, ain't young love so cute," she purred before buried her face against his neck and closing her eyes.
"Students, do not worry about your bags," Ororo continued as the large group grew uneasy, ready to bolt and find their rooms. "Valets will carry them to your room as soon as possible. Have a good night. Breakfast is at 9 and we set out at 10."
The crowd of sleepy-eyed students nodded, got their keys from the weather witch, and slowly made their way inside the warm hotel. Ororo gave Remy an odd look before handing him both Rogue's and his keys. But he just grinned and walked into the hotel. Boy, was it nice! Remy made a low whistle of approval.
Outside, the building was made up of gray stone, with countless windows and six stories. Inside was just as elegant. Dark, polished wood gleamed along with snow-white marble while sitting areas were scattered here and there in the large foyer.
"Xavier sure didn't spare no expense," he murmured, looking around the regal lobby. To bad Rogue wasn't awake to enjoy any of it.
It had been a while since he slept in such a fine establishment. But that was all in the past and Remy didn't want to spend much time thinking of the past. It was too bloody and too painful.
Still some ancient memories managed to surface despite his effort to quench them and he hesitated. For an instant he could smell the suffocating musk of the lilies that she loved so much and the stench of blood on his hands. He heard her scream, and felt his own nausea as he watched her run from the marble lobby to the alleyway. He saw the flash of her white dress, so brilliant against the stains of blood.
"Remy! What did you do?!"
"…He's the one who attacked me, chere! I had to defend myself."
The woman in his mind was sobbing hysterically.
"He challenged me!"
"He was drunk!"
"He had a gun. He would have killed me!"
Remy growled low in his throat when he finally shook his thoughts away and tried cleared his jumbled mind.
"Damn it," he hissed, holding Rogue closer to him like she was the more precious thing in the world, hoping that her warmth would chase away the chills that raked his body.
He never wanted to remember the horrible night in New Orleans and had so far proved strong enough to repress them until now. He had to repress them or else Rogue might leave him. True she knew about the murder but not much else and he was going to keep it that way. Of course he felt guilty for keeping her in the dark, but he couldn't risk losing her. She meant a lot to him.
When he felt a heavy hand settle on his shoulder, he visibly jumped.
"You all right, Gumbo?"
Remy turned his head and saw that it was just Logan. He was too out of it to be surprised at Logan's concern. He just nodded silently for a moment as he gaped, his throat too dry to say anything. "Yeah," he murmured. "Just tired."
Logan looked like he didn't believe Remy's lie but didn't push it. "Get some rest then. See ya in the morning."
"Night."
"What was that all about?" Rogue asked, opening her eyes to look up into Remy's pale face.
"Nothing, chere. Just tired."
"I can walk," Rogue urged. "You look like you're ready to pass out or something."
"I'm fine," he replied, not even looking down at her. "Don't worry, chere."
Rogue sighed, knowing deep inside her that something was very wrong with her boyfriend. But what could she do? If she pushed him too hard, he might explode. Shifting in his arms, Rogue leaned up and pressed a kiss against his neck and murmured, "Thanks for being so nice, Remy, carrying me and all and not dropping me."
"Oh, you know I live for this stuff, chere," he muttered, shifting her so he could hold her better.
Rogue smiled again. "Is chivalry is your middle name?"
"No," Remy grumbled.
"What is it then?"
"I'm not telling."
Intrigue, Rogue opened her eyes and looked up at her boyfriend. "Why not?"
He frowned, looking as sulky as a little child. Well at least color was coming back into his face. "It's a stupid middle name."
"I'm sure it's not that bad," she replied, soothingly.
Remy scoffed and carried her up a flight of stairs. Their peculiar position earned them a couple of shocked looks from the older attendants of the fine hotel but they didn't care much.
"It's Etienne."
"Huh?"
"It's Remy Etienne Lebeau," he told her, sighing heavily.
"Huh? What's so bad about that? It has a nice ring to it, Remy."
"It's too girlie," he grieved with disrelish. "I hate it and I'll be damned if I ever pass that name down to my children, or my pet cat or dog for that matter. It's fucking stupid."
Rogue giggled that she quickly covered up when Remy sent her a chilly glare. "Why do you hate you middle name so much?" she asked after a moment.
"'Etienne' was the name of my adopted father's pet rat when he was a kid."
"Where father named you after a rat?!" Rogue was more than a little shocked and horrified but she still found it highly amusing. "The swamp rat is names after a rat! That's too good!" she laughed.
"No. A fucking swamp rat could tear you apart. This ain't funny Rogue," he pointed out. "How about I drop you on your ass and leave it at that?"
"Look who's grouchy now!"
Remy rolled her unusual eyes and sighed.
"Oh, don't be like that! I was just teasing you," Rogue told him.
"S'okay," he murmured after a while. "Here's you room, chere."
"We are already at your room."
Remy pulled out her room key from his pocket and unlocked the door. "There," he murmured when he pushed the door open, revealing the marvelous bedroom beyond.
"Holy shit! It's even nicer than the ones at the mansion!" Rogue gasped as Remy carried her further into the rich, bedecked chamber.
"Which bed you want?"
Rogue pointed to the one by the window. It was large enough to comfortably fit at least two really big people or three normal sized people. Either way it was undeniably big. Remy moved over to it and sat her down on the soft, enormous mattress. She almost died when she felt the luscious sensation of silk under her palms. Purring, Rogue collapsed face first onto the bed.
"This feel so nice after the damn car ride!" she sighed, rubbing her cheek against the heavenly fabric.
Remy smiled at the site and was about ready to leave when Rogue shot up, grabbed his hand, and pulled him down onto the bed, next to her. In a mere matter of second, Rogue was leaning over him, smiling quite devilishly.
"Damn girl, you got some strength!" Remy exclaimed, thoroughly shocked. Not that he minded, of course.
Rogue smiled all the more and leaned down to kiss the very breath out of him. "Are you sure you're okay, Remy?" she asked when she pulled away. The vibrant worry in her eyes ate at his heart.
"Yeah," he replied, uneasy. "It was nothing."
"You were really pale."
"I'm okay now, chere, so don't worry about it."
"All right," Rogue muttered absentmindedly like she wasn't likely to do so. But she sighed and snuggled against his chest. "I didn't mean to tease you about your name. It's a very nice name. You wanna stay until Kitty kicks you out?"
He grinned. "Sounds good to me, chere."
A loud cough at the door had both lovers sitting up immediately and feet apart from one another. Anyone who had a brain knew Ororo's better-think-again cough. And indeed, the weather witch was standing at the open doorway, looking in with her hands on the flare of her hips.
"There was one rule I forgot to mention to you," Ororo calmly told them. "After 10:00, there shall be no boys in girls' rooms and vice versa."
"Damn. And it be already midnight," Remy sighed and stood up. "Night, chere." He leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss against her forehead.
"Good night, Remy." Rogue was too distracted to do anything else but watched Ororo. When Remy was gone, she called out to the older woman before she could leave. "Ororo, can I talk to you alone?"
"Of course. What is it, child?" Ororo asked, walking into the room.
"Um…I'd feel better if you were closer."
Ororo nodded and soon joined Rogue on the bed, one of her smooth, mocha-colored hands reaching out to grasp one of Rogue's. "What it is? It something wrong?"
"Kinda," Rogue began, shyly looking down into her lap when she found it to intimidating to look into Ororo's bright blue eyes. "I just wanted to talk to you about…Remy and me."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. It's like everyone disapproves of our relationship or something."
"Oh, child," the older woman sighed, smiling as her other hand reached out to touch Rogue's cheek, "you cannot even know how proud I am that you have overcome your powers and have such a close relationship with Remy. You have changed so much over the passed few months. You're kinder, you laugh more, and you talk with Kitty. In so many ways, you've become such an incredible young woman, Rogue."
Rogue blushed. "Really?"
"Yes. Believe me."
"Then why is it that I feel that everyone is trying to like put a damper on our relationship?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Remy's room is surrounded by adults and so is mine. Jean and Scott never got this much attention!"
"Well Jean and Scott's relationship is moving at a much slower pace than yours and Remy's," Ororo explained. "Your relationship with Remy is, well, very apparent."
"Should we stop being so apparent then?"
Ororo smiled warmly. "Of course not, child. You are just acting natural, that's all."
Rogue sighed, realizing for the first time how good it felt talking to an adult about this kind of stuff. And with Ororo being so nice and accepting, she began to feel a little guilty that she had kept a secret from her. "Ororo, me and Remy, we've…"
"I know, child."
"You do?" she asked, sounding slightly alarmed. "How? You won't tell Logan or the professor will you?"
"Of course not," Ororo replied gently. "But I would like to talk with you more about this. Do you use protection?"
"Um...yes."
"What kind?"
Rogue felt her face heat up to a 100 degrees. Damn it! She knew Ororo would ask that question. But she wanted to put it off as long as possible. It was so embarrassing!
"Um…you know…er…"
"Condoms?"
"Er…yeah…those…"
"Sometimes, they aren't enough, Rogue," Ororo told her, looking completely nonchalant about this casual sex talk. "I'll get you on birth control as soon as I can. We need to take ever precaution just in case, all right?"
Rogue nodded. "Aren't you going to tell us to stop or something? It's against the rules."
"No, I won't tell you to stop," Ororo said. "You wouldn't listen."
"But what if the professor finds out about me and Remy? What do you think he'll do?"
"You think he hasn't found out?"
"What?! Ew! Gross!"
Ororo smiled. "He didn't know who to bring the matter up with you. But he would like for me to tell you to keep you…er…love life restricted to the bedroom if you could. No more fooling around in the closet or elsewhere in the mansion for the matter."
"Oh my god! I'm going to die of embarrassment!" Rogue moaned, burying her face in her hands. "Okay. I promise. We'll stop. We'll stop!"
"Good girl," Ororo replied, kissing Rogue's forehead before rising. "Now try to get some sleep. It's late and we have a long day in front of us tomorrow."
"Good night and…thanks, Ororo."
"Any time, child. Even though I am your teacher, I had hoped to become your friend as well."
"Err am I, like, interrupting something?" Kitty asked as she phased through the door and saw Ororo and felt the obviously heavy atmosphere in the room.
"No, Kitty. We're through. Good night, girls."
"Good night, Ororo," Rogue and Kitty replied at the same time as they watched the older woman walk through the doorway and closed the door behind her.
"What was that all about?" Kitty asked, yawning.
Rogue shook her head and laid down. Man it felt so nice! "Nothing much," she muttered, feeling her blush lessen and decided to change the topic. "You were gone long. Where were you?"
Kitty blushed and sat down on her own bed. "Talking with John," she sighed softly. "He can be so sweet sometimes, ya know?"
"Yeah," Rogue replied absentmindedly as she closed her eyes. "I totally see pink bunnies whenever I see John."
"Rogue, like, stopping listening to my psyche. That was just scary!" Kitty laughed softly before yawning again.
"Sorry. It's late so it can't be helped." She rolled aver in her side and curled up into a ball. "I'm so tired."
"I know! Tell me about it! I just want to go to sleep."
"Me too."
Poor Kitty and Rogue were fast asleep by the night the valet's arrived with their luggage and spent the night in their clothes.
~*~*~*~
**bampf!**
"Good morning, ladies!" Kurt chimed loudly as he stood in the middle of Rogue and Kitty's room, impossibly bright-eyed and bushy tailed, even though it was too early to be that happy. "Wakie! Wakie! Time for breakfast. Don't wanna miss…OH MY DEAR GOD!"
He had turned and caught sight of a very disheveled and very pissed Kitty, sitting up on her bed and glaring daggers at him. It wasn't a pretty sight and he would most likely be scarred for life.
"Kurt!" Kitty yelled. "What the hell?! You totally scared me!"
"Geez, Kitty! Look who's talking!" Kurt replied, jumping back from the zombie. "Logan looks better than you in the morning!"
The girl looked highly insulted. "What?!" she raged, her usual sweet demeanor flying out the window.
"What is the fuck is all the racket?" Rogue groaned as she sat up, looking just as horribly tousled as Kitty. Her multicolored hair was sticking up in all directions, her dark eye make-up was smeared, and her clothes look like...well she had slept in them.
"Eek!" Kurt shrieked shrilly.
"Kurt, what the hell are you doing in here?!" Rogue screamed, throwing her pillow at him. "God, get out of here!"
"Hey! I heard screaming," Sam exclaimed as he rushed through the bedroom door. "What's wrong?"
"No one's hurt," Kitty muttered. "Kurt's being, like, totally stupid."
Sam didn't reply as he just stared at the girl, pallid and anxious. "Dang, Kitty," he said after a moment, "what happened to you?"
"God damn it, both of you get the hell out of here before I knock you out!" Rogue shouted.
"Gladly!" Kurt replied, grabbing a hold of Sam. "You guys are just plain scary in the morning!"
With another **bampf** both boys disappeared in a cloud of brimstone and peace settled over the room once more. In a blink of an eye, both girls fell back onto their beds and groaned.
"I'm so not really to wake up!" Kitty said.
"Tell me about it."
"What time is it?"
"Probably around 9."
"Rogue, do I really look that awful? Kurt and Sam were really, like, horrified."
Rogue summoned enough effort to aid her miserable friend. Opening her eyes and lifting her head, she looked aver at Kitty and paled. "Damn. If I look as bad as you, I call the shower first."
Kitty frowned and buried herself underneath her blankets. "Now I'm so not ready to face the world," she cried. "I'm, like, ugly!"
Rogue frowned and stood up. "You're not ugly, Kitty. Just…"
"Repulsive! Icky! Gross!"
"Give it a rest, sugar," she muttered, walking across the room to get her bag. "After a quick shower, you'll be okay."
"Better not set foot outside the room until then," Kitty grumbled irritably, hiding herself further into her mound of sheets. "Don't wanna give Xavier a, like, heart attack or anything."
Rogue just rolled her eyes and locked herself inside the bathroom.
~*~*~*~
After the comforts of a long hot shower cooled her temper and soothed her hatred for early mornings, Rogue thought she would be the considerate roommate and wait for Kitty to get done before heading down to breakfast. After waiting for what seemed like an hour, Rogue decided to give up being considerate and banged on the bathroom door.
"Kitty? What are you doing in there? You are dead or something? We're missing breakfast!"
"I'm not going down to breakfast!" A miserable voice shouted from the other side. "I look horrible!"
"Oh man," Rogue hissed softly and slowly sat down on the floor beside the door. "Look, Kitty, you don't look horrible."
"What makes you, like, so confident?! You can't see me. I found a zit on my chin, my hair is like, totally fried, my jeans fit a little too snug today, and I totally know I'm gaining weight. I'm so ugly. I think I'll, like, just stay in here for the rest of the trip. John will never want to date a girl like me!"
Rogue frowned when she heard Kitty's high voice reduce to heavy sobs.
"Kitty, please don't try, sugar!" Rogue pleaded, feeling both Kitty's sadness and unbelievable anger that made he want to kill Kurt and Sam. "You're just being crazy. Sam and Kurt don't know what they're talking about."
"I think they did, Rogue."
"…Erm, who's in the bathroom?"
Rogue looked towards the doorway and saw that John was standing there, looking a bit nervous.
"It's Kitty. She's in one of her moods today."
John's brown eyes sparkled with curiosity. "The legendary moods that have been known to scare even Wolvie?"
"Bingo." Rogue consindered just lying back down on her bed and sleeping once more. She sensed a headache coming and Kitty's hysterical voice wasn't helping things. "She won't come out either."
John frowned.
"Rogue, whose, like, out there?" Kitty asked. "Tell them to, like, go away! If it's Kurt or Sam, tell them they are totally dead meat!"
"It's John."
"…Oh…"
"Can I try talking some sense into her, Rogue?"
"Go on ahead." Rogue couldn't be happier. She jumped to her feet and let John take her post at the door as she gathered their suitcases.
"Kitty I'm going downstairs with the suitcases," she shouted. "It's almost time to leave." Rogue quietly left as she watched John and Kitty talk through the bathroom door.
~*~*~*~
"What's wrong with de rogue today?" a voice popped up behind Rogue as she walked down into the foyer, where the rest of the mutants were gathering, prepare to depart once more for the long rode to New Orleans.
Rogue growled and practically threw her bags down. "Boys."
Remy cocked an eyebrow. "How so, chere?"
"They're stupid. I had to spend an entire hour trying to calm Kitty down after Sam and Kurt made her cry." She sighed and wrapped her arms around Remy's waist, burying her face in his trench spice-scented trench coat. "Now I have a headache."
"What did they do?" Remy asked and he ran a hand their her thick mane of hair.
"Barged into our room before we were...uh...presentable. She's still crying in the bathroom when I left. I let John take over for me so I could get my ass down here. Did I miss breakfast?"
"Oui."
"Damn it."
"It's just your luck that I saved you a jelly donut."
Rogue found her first smile of the day as she retrieved the donut wrapped in a napkin from him. "Thanks, Remy."
"Here comes Kitty and John."
"Really?" Rogue looked over her shoulder and smiled when she saw a pouty-faced Kitty descend the steps with the fiery Pyro right next to her. She looked a little worn out wearing a shapeless sweatshirt with her long brown hair hanging around her shoulders. Her glare was almost as good as Rogue's when she shot daggers at Kurt who shuddered and dodged behind Scott.
"You okay now?" Rogue asked her when the younger girl stood next to her.
Kitty shrugged and glumly looked down at her shoes.
"You wanna get back at them boys?"
A malicious spark brightened Kitty's face. "How?"
"We got all day to plan," Rogue said. "We'll get 'em good."
"All right, students," Xavier called out from the front of the gathering. "All of our vehicles are ready, please situate yourselves as soon as possible. Our next stop is in Charlotte North Carolina."
Rogue sighed. "Is it bad that I'm already sick of road trips?"
To be continued…
Author's Note: Again sorry for the slow update and I hope you like this chapter. Poor Kitty needs a hug. What do y'all think about Remy's flashback? As more of his past unravels, the more the suspense builds. What will Rogue find in New Orleans? Who was the name of the man Remy killed? What do the girls have in store for Sam and Kurt?