Author's Notes: Jeez, where am I going with this thing? No idea. Uhm, in case it needs clarification, Marie has not developed her powers yet. Remy's are, as you'll discover, still developing.
- Neurotic Temptress: Ooh, flattered you're reading, I love your work. Thanks! ^.^
- Ishandahalf: Okay, can't beat that name. To be this ish is one thing, but the ish and a half! Wow. Go you. Thanks for reading, I feel LOVED!
Disclaimer: These aren't my characters, and though I'd just love to shut them in a box and keep them for my own, I won't. Don't sue me. -.-;
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Can't say life ain' interestin'. School life was definitely interesting. Remy wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad. Miton was a school set in a middle sized town, not particularly interesting and hardly a place folk went out of the way to visit. Naturally, that was why he chose it. But just like everywhere else, anti-mutant sentiments existed… and with Remy, hiding his nature wasn't something particularly easy.
It took about half a day for Pearson and Friends (sounds like a bad T.V show, Remy thought) to tell the whole school about him, but his reaction was like it always was: stoic. A few hurled insults here, which he ignored behind the shields of the dark lenses, and some tentative questions, which usually got a shrug. It didn't help he could feel the animosity, too- he figured that was his mutant ability. Picking up emotions… it was useful, but not exactly pleasant, either. Most of the questions were morbid curiosity, asked only to find out if he was dangerous- the fear was almost as bad as the anger, little doubts that bit at the soul and kept a four foot radius around him clear of people. He was used to it. He just had to finish the year here. Keep tellin' yerself that, Remy. Just finish the year.
He didn't forget about Marie. Oh no. He'd sooner forget how to pick pockets. In fact, he was keeping an eye out for her. He spotted her, too, eventually, as he'd known he would. She hadn't seen him, but he wasn't making an effort to be visible that day, and tried to project a feeling around himself he labeled as "don't notice me." It worked, after the initial uproar died down… though Devil Spawn stuck. He almost detested that name.
All that was far from his mind whenever he watched Marie flick that auburn hair of hers over a shoulder or move down a hallway. She made everything a little brighter with that white smile and easy laugh. Neither popular nor disdained, but generally well-thought of, Marie got along quite well. The day after they'd met, Remy had been astonished when he'd spotted her; a long sleeved shirt took care of the scrapes on her elbows. She was careful not to present her palms to anyone, and the scratch on her cheek had been hidden with makeup. And hidden well, too. No one even noticed. Something about that puzzled him.
Remy kept to himself; easy in manner and light of speech. His grades were average, and his teachers got along with him well enough- projecting a mood like 'charming' or 'relaxed' wasn't all that hard. Frankly, no one knew a thing about him. And that was good. That was very good. Except Marie. Marie made a point of knowing him; she'd say hello or ask after him in this class or that. She felt different than the rest- she genuinely liked him. Remy would have to be a saint not to work that charm on a few girls here or there- and it always worked, too- but he didn't have to touch his powers when he spoke with Marie.
"Sugah, did you write the assignment down in math?" Marie leaned over her desk. After waiting a moment, she gave him a friendly poke on his shoulder. "Remy."
Remy blinked, and looked over at her. "Hm? Sorry, chere, what did you say?"
Marie grinned. "Whatcha thinking 'bout, mm? Mooning over Lina?" She flipped her hand over at a shapely blonde two rows over that was one of those who didn't mind a pair of dark glasses and a charming smile.
The roguish grin appeared like slow honey. "Non, cherie, jus' lil' preoccupied." It was more than preoccupation. He'd been busy trying to shield out the boy four rows over who just had a fight with someone important in his life… boiling with anger and doubt… concentrate, Remy!
Meanwhile, Marie raised an eyebrow. "Uh huh. You got the math assignment, sugah?"
Remy shook his head, loose red strands waving a bit. "Sorry." The bell rang, and there was a collective stirring of movement as the class closed notebooks, zipped backpacks and headed for the door. He'd fallen into his own thoughts again, and came up out of them only when he felt a hand over his wrist, pulling sharply. The dark glasses came up and reflected Marie's greens- and behind her, the jealous glare of Lina. He blinked, taken aback at the look on Marie's face. She interrupted his automatic inquiry. Pull. "C'mon, Cajun, yer gonna tell me what's wrong." It wasn't a question.
"Jeez, chere, Remy's comin' already!" She released his wrist, and they sat at a table in the open courtyard of the school. Lunchtime bustled around them, and Marie leveled that gaze of hers at him.
"What's goin' on, Remy?" He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, glancing everywhere but at her behind the glasses. No one seemed to be listening.
"C'est rien, chere. You worry 'bout 'lil ole Remy too much." He tried one of the smiles. It didn't work. The gaze got harder. He sighed. "Ah'm just havin' some problems with my… abilities, is all." He watched her reaction to that.
Only a blink. "Ah didn't know you had abilities." In faint surprise. "What are they?" She tilted her head and peered at him. That only made him nervous. Hope dese glasses are nice 'n dark…
"Nothin' too bad. Jus'… sort of feel other people's feelin's sometimes." He didn't mention his ability to affect those feelings.
"Oh." Marie's shoulders relaxed a little bit and she looked thoughtful. Then a smile. "What's wrong with 'em?"
"Nothin'. Dey jus' be… makin' me sensitive. Distracted. Remy din' mean ta worry you, chere." The too charming smile appeared in flirtatious fashion, as if her worrying was a good sign.
Marie tossed her head. "Ah just get tired of asking all mah questions twice." She grinned at him, then grew serious again. "There anything Ah kin do?"
"Non, mon chere, it's jus' a side effect. No problem." He would have winked, but she wouldn't have been able to see it.
"Okay." She did wink, using a hand to push hair behind her ear. Then she opened her mouth to say something else- but Remy never heard it. He stiffened suddenly and said, sharply, "Marie, go."
"Wha-?"
"Go, now, someone is coming. Someone angry." Someone that wants Marie. Remy was getting up and moving in front of Marie reflexively as she only halfway rose in startled confusion- but what could he do to stop anger like that…?