Can't Escape Destiny
Chapter Three
~One month later~
Rogue sat on the hill just outside Magneto's base at sunset, legs tucked up under her chin with her arms around them. She gazed outwards at the sky, not really seeing it, as she reflected on her first four weeks with the Acolytes. The spring breeze gently blew several thick strands of hair into Rogue's face and she absentmindedly tucked them back behind her ear. Even with the odd sense of freedom she had living here, and her relief at not having had to battle her old group, the past month had been hard to adjust to. Especially when she had to fight against the change she had so readily embraced before. For almost a whole year now she hadn't been able to sleep without Remy there with her, and now even the long nights in Remy's arms didn't vanquish the demons in her mind. Whatever force that was coming for her, it was stronger than those nights. And that terrified her.
"Quel est le problem, petite?" She heard Remy ask as he came to sit beside her, pulling her into his arms. Tears pricked her eyes but she blinked them back as she faked a smile, "Nothing, just thinking." 'About how it was starting to get harder to contain the darkness inside her, how it was getting harder to push back that strange shadow-presence,' she added mentally, swallowing past the knot in her throat. She knew that he didn't believe her but he didn't say anything, just held her closer. "It'll get better chére, I promise," he whispered, rubbing her arm lightly. They sat for a moment in silence then the Cajun cleared his throat. "Now come on," he said, grinning charmingly as he got up, holding out a hand. "Remy cooked dinner an' it's gonna get gone if we don' get back soon." "Jambalaya?" She asked hopefully, letting him help her to her feet. "Bien sur," he responded with a laugh. She smiled, feeling a little better, and they walked back to the base hand in hand.
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"Rogue an' Remy are goin' ta N'awlins," Remy announced over dinner. Everyone looked at him in surprise, including Rogue. "What?" she asked, eyes wide. He grinned at her, "Well, you need a vacation, petite an' de Big easy is de perfect place. Wit' de boss man out huntin' Apocalypse we don' got much ta do anyways." "Ya ain't invtin' us, mate?" St. John asked, mock hurt on his face. He knew as well as Remy did that Rogue had been pretty out of it that last week, she hadn't even been continuing their little game of quips and insults- and he'd given her plenty of chances. "Sorry mon ami, you didn' make de cut. No offense, Petey," The Cajun laughed. The Russian smiled, "I'll try not to hold it against you."
Rogue watched them with a small smile, forgetting the cloud hanging over her head. "When we goin'?" Remy turned his sparkling red-on-black eyes back to her. This was her boyfriend. 'Boyfriend,' she mused in wonderment. 'That word sounded so odd in relation to her, but that's what he was. Hers. And she was his. "Remy was thinkin' we'd go at six in de mornin', dat good wit' you chére?" he asked, his hand finding hers under the table and stroking his thumb across it. "Sounds good," she replied, her heart beating faster simply at the feel of his skin to hers. She didn't think she'd ever quite get used to that. So many others took it for granted, but for her it would never cease to be a miracle.
His eyes kindled, picking up on her emotions as the fire in her rose. "Bon," he said softly. St. John cleared his throat and they turned back to the others as if just remembering they were there. There was laughter on all their faces and genuine smiles tugging at their lips as they finished their meal. And Rogue almost felt like she had a real family again, just the four of them together. Remy had given that to her. It was still a mystery exactly how they'd gotten together, in either dimension- she didn't know when or where or even why it begun, but she stopped caring about simple things like that. His love fed her soul and gave her strength.
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The next morning Rogue actually woke up before Remy did, so haunted by whatever it was that was trying to take hold of her. She shifted slightly so that she faced his sleeping form, and sat up, admiring how much younger and more peaceful Remy looked like that. Fighting the dark call at the edge of her mind, she brushed back the lock of hair that had fallen over his forehead and softly kissed his lips. "Que ferias- je sans toi?" she whispered, the love she felt for him flooding her. He stirred, leaning up on one elbow with a sleepy smile. "Mornin' chére." "Mornin'." If he sensed the underlying heartache in her he didn't show it, just bent his head to kiss her lightly, a wordless reassurance that she wished she could believe.
He smiled then as she responded hungrily, a slow, sensual grin that temporarily banished the shadows, and touched his lips to hers again in a more passionate kiss. Rogue closed her eyes, opening her mouth further under his, and accepted the deeper kiss with whole-hearted fervor. She arched to him as his hands slid over her, needing his touch, his heat, his strength. Colors exploded around her brilliantly but she pulled back when something suddenly struck her. They had waited on this for months now, though they slept in each others arms each night, but she couldn't drop her guard long enough for this to happen then risk falling asleep like that. Because then the darkness would take her completely, and she couldn't let that happen.
He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head and stroked her hair comfortingly, not knowing what else he could do to soothe the warring emotions he felt in her. And Rogue held him just as tightly, both moving into a closer embrace. She could still feel his heart pounding against hers, still feel the strangled rasp of his breathing as it stirred her hair and the hard strength of his body alongside hers. And if she opened her eyes reality would encroach on this moment. For now, there was only the two of them- safe, in love, alone in the universe. They stayed just like that for an hour or so, until time intruded in the form of St. John knocking on his door, making sure they were awake and reminding them that they needed to get going soon.
Remy looked into her eyes, brushing her face lightly, and made sure that her sadness had passed before grinning and yelling back to John, "We were already up, but thanks for de wake-up call, mon ami- you can go now." Then fire starter mumbled something and went off to finish his breakfast. A blushing Rogue got out of bed to head back to her room for a shower and clean clothes. It was no secret that they spent every night together, but she still got red every time somebody mentioned it- like it was something entirely other than what it was. "Be ready in fifteen, petite, or Remy's comin' after you- we're already behind schedule," he called laughingly as she rounded the doorway. She stuck her tongue out at him but hurried to her room, blushing again.
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