A/N: I'm back, despite Hurricane Isabel's best attempts to leave me without power. Things actually weren't that bad: we lost some trees, a few shingles, and school has to be re-opened…altogether not a bad few days! My neighbors lost this really really REALLY big birch tree. ;_; Poor tree.
OK, I think it's time to start this chapter. Let the Romyness begin!
Rogue was nervous. She did a marvelous job of hiding it behind sarcastic remarks and a nonchalant expression, but that didn't change the fact that her stomach was twisting itself into a dozen knots. As she reclined on her bed pretending to read a novel, her eyes darted from the closed door to the small digital clock on her nightstand and back again. It was 6: 45. Gambit had said he would knock on her door at 7.
She tried to focus on her book. Why was she so nervous anyway? It was just a little date--an opportunity to learn about him, as were O'Connell's orders.
That's the only reason I'm doing this, she thought. I need to find out if he recognizes me or not. That's all. That's--
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at her door.
"Coming!" Rogue called. She placed her book on the nightstand and walked over to the door. On the way she caught a glimpse of herself in the full-length mirror. Even at a glance the image was nothing short of stunning. She had decided to go semi-casual, as an Internet search for Spice City had revealed that it wasn't exactly the tacky grease-pit the name suggested. Rather than her usual black, she wore a vibrant green blouse with long white gloves. Instead of torn jeans, she had on a long black skirt adorned with roses. And replacing her usual sneakers were a pair of black high-heels, which she had borrowed from Kitty (who had been amazed that Rogue owned such an outfit). The only downside to it all was that it didn't provide much protection from the cold, but Rogue figured that wouldn't be a problem in the heated restaurant.
Rogue pulled open the door to reveal Gambit, who had managed to combine bits and pieces from his ordinarily dull wardrobe into a strikingly handsome--and incredibly simple--outfit. As always he wore the tan trench coat, but for once it seemed to be showing off his clothes rather than hiding them. Beneath it he had on a red shirt with tan pants and black shoes. His hair was neatly combed above a pair of sunglasses that hid his eyes from view.
Despite the black shields over his eyes, Rogue could tell that he was looking her up and down. She leaned against the doorjamb, feigning boredom.
"Let me know when yer done starin,' okay?" she said. The saucy Cajun replied without missing a beat.
"Tell me chere, is dis Heaven? 'Cause I must be seein' an angel."
"Cut it out swamp rat," Rogue said, grinning. "We both know there is no way you could ever end up in Heaven."
Gambit threw a hand over his heart in mock anguish.
"Y' wound Remy!"
"Ah'm gonna wound you even more if Ah don't get outta this house soon. Now are we goin' out or what?"
Gambit immediately stepped to the side, offering her his arm in a gentlemanly fashion. Rogue ignored him and walked unaided down the hall. Gambit merely shrugged and kept pace beside her.
They walked quietly through the halls leading to the garage, trying not to attract too much attention. Thankfully everyone else was at dinner, so they went unnoticed by everyone except the Professor, who had just left his study and was on his way to the dining room when he saw them.
"Good evening!" He said, stopping a few feet in front of them.
"Hi Professor," Rogue answered with slightly less enthusiasm. She couldn't help but think that he had planned on meeting them here.
"I had almost forgotten that you two were going out to eat. By the way, which car are you taking?"
"De motorcycle," Gambit said at once. Xavier shook his head.
"Not in this weather you're not." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys, which he tossed to Gambit. "Those are for the jaguar. Now where are you going to be?"
Rogue grinned as she realized what Xavier was up to. By asking Gambit all of these questions he was making sure that the Cajun knew the rules, and, more importantly, that nothing escaped the Professor's attention.
That's what he thinks, Rogue thought.
"De place is called Spice City. Anyt'ing else?" Gambit said in answer to Xavier's question. He was obviously eager to be going.
"Just one more. What time will you be back?"
Gambit grinned devilishly.
"Round noon tomorrow," he said. Xavier looked pointedly at Rogue.
"He doesn't know you very well, does he?"
Rogue nodded. "Yep, he's pretty clueless."
"Clueless?" Gambit said indignantly. "Jus' what do y' mean by dat, mon cherie?"
"Never mind," Rogue said, waving his question aside. "Um, Professor, we need t' get going."
"Of course," Xavier said, wheeling out of their way. Oh, and Remy? Be home by eleven."
With that he disappeared down the hall.
"C'mon," Gambit said. He took her hand and began leading her towards the garage. She started to pull away, but changed her mind.
When they got to the garage Gambit lead her to the black jaguar, opening the door for her.
"Ah can't believe the Prof. is trustin' us with the jag," she said as he started the car.
"Well I do have that effect on people," Gambit said.
"Shut up and drive."
He obeyed, and they were on their way to dinner.
Like its name suggested, Spice City was a Cajun restaurant run by a chef who obviously believed that every dish required at least three kinds of pepper. Rogue could practically feel her taste buds catching on fire.
"Wow!" she said after drinking some water to quench the inferno. "That cleared mah sinesis."
"You like it?"
"Are you kidding? Ah haven't tasted food this good for months."
"How come?" Gambit asked, taking another bite of his dinner.
"Let me put it this way: Kitty does not belong anywhere near a kitchen."
Gambit laughed. "Say, wasn't she cooking tonight?"
Rogue grinned. "Why d'ya think Ah agreed t' come here?"
"Dat's cold, chere. Dat's real cold"
"You'll get over it." She glanced at her watch; it was only 8:30. "Y' know, we've still got two hours till curfew. You wanna catch a movie?"
"Sure." He put down his fork. "I'm ready when you are."
"Then let's go."
They paid for the meal and went back out to the parking lot.
"So what movie do you want to see?" Gambit asked once they were both in the car.
"How about Finding Nemo?"
He grimaced. "Isn't dat a kid's movie?"
"So? Ah think it'll be funny. You got a better idea, swamp rat?"
Gambit sighed. "Nemo it is."
Ten minutes later they were sitting in the theatre munching on popcorn as the previews rolled. The lights dimmed and the movie started. Rogue started when Gambit put his arm around her shoulders. She tensed, afraid that being so close to him could prove dangerous. But his touch had a calming effect on her, and soon she was enjoying the movie along with everyone else.
It was the most fun she had had in awhile. She was still laughing as they left the theatre, arguing over which scene was the funniest.
"De part where dey were speakin' whale was de best," Gambit said, doing his best impression of Dory. " 'Hoooowww aaaarrrrrre yoooooooooou?' "
Rogue laughed as they got into the car. "That was good…but not as good as Squishy." Then in a higher voice she said, " 'I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine. He shall be my Squishy!' "
They both laughed so hard that tears rolled down their cheeks. Rogue was bent practically double, clutching her sides.
"We have got to do this again sometime," Rogue said.
"Fine by me," Gambit said before looking at his watch. "Uh-oh."
"Don't tell me we're late," Rogue groaned.
"No…but we will be if we don' get back in ten minutes, we will be."
"Then you better start driving."
Gambit complied instantly, and within minutes they were speeding down the road. They decided to take the scenic route, hoping that the lack of cars would let them move faster.
"About how much trouble're we gon' be in if we're late?" Gambit asked as they tore down a dark road with trees on either side.
"Well, " Rogue said, "Let me put it like this: Ah do not want t' have a training session with Logan at dawn tomorrow."
"I see," Gambit said. He sped up slightly. "There's no way I'm getting up at dawn to--"
Suddenly the car hit a patch of ice. It slid across the road, spinning out of control. Gambit slammed the breaks, but to no avail. He fought with the wheel as the car skidded sideways. With a deafening crunch they were slammed against a tree. Then everything was still.
"You okay, chere?" Gambit asked quietly.
"Ah think so," Rogue said. "You?"
"Not a scratch. Can't say de same for de car, though."
He tried to start the car, and was only slightly surprised when the engine did nothing more than sputter at them.
"Ah don't s'pose you've got a cell phone in one of those pocket's of yers?" Rogue asked. Gambit reached inside his coat and pulled out a small phone. Rogue wondered idly if he had stolen it or not. Taking the phone from him, she dialed the mansion's number. Storm answered the phone.
"Hello?"
There was so much static Rogue could barely make out her voice.
"Hey, it's Rogue. Listen, we need some help."
"Ro--is th--ou?"
"Yeah. Listen we had a little accident and we need somebody to pick us up, okay?"
"I ca--ear you."
"I said we need a ride!" Rogue shouted into the phone.
"Where--you?"
"Giles road. Okay?"
"Wha---ay?"
"Ah can't hear you!"
"Whe--"
Storm, speak up!"
The static was so loud that Rogue couldn't hear anything. She finally gave up and turned off the phone, tossing on the dash in disgust.
"Now what?" she snapped. Gambit put a soothing hand on her shoulder.
"Calm down, chere. Dey'll find us."
"Yer probably right," Rogue said.
The next few minutes passed in silence. Rogue suddenly became very aware of how cold it was. She wrapped her arms around herself, but it didn't help. The air, which was cold enough to cover the ground in snow, now seemed determined to freeze the very marrow of her bones.
Gambit noticed her shivering. He took of his coat and offered it to her. She refused it.
"Ah'll be okay," she said. Gambit shook his head, still holding the coat out to her.
"Nonsense, chere. You're freezing."
"And if Ah take yer coat, you'll freeze." Despite her protests, she was staring at the coat longingly.
"Alright, den let's just share it?"
"But that thing can't stretch across both seats," Rogue said. The Cajun grinned impishly.
"Den let's move to de back."
Even as he spoke he was climbing into the backseat. Rogue followed, albeit slowly.
"Ah can't believe Ah'm getting in the back seat wit a guy Ah barely know," she said, sitting next to him. He laid the coat over them like a blanket.
While it wasn't exactly a parka, the coat did provide some relief from the biting cold. As time wore on, however, Rogue found herself shivering more and more. She barely reacted when Gambit wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest. She leaned against him, feeling what little body heat he had left flow into her.
"This is nice," she said, looking up at him.
Suddenly his lips pressed against hers. Rogue froze. She knew that she had to pull away, before her powers took hold and he wound up in a coma. But he tasted so good.
Then she felt the familiar pull of her powers, and was forced to break the kiss.
"What…what just happened?" Gambit asked slowly.
"Mah pow'rs. Whenever Ah make skin to skin contact with anyone, Ah drain their life-force, an' absorb their mem'ries. With mutants, Ah take their pow'rs temporarily. But we weren't touchin' long enough fer any o' that t' happen."
"So dat's what de Professor meant when I made dat crack about spendin' de night with you."
Rogue nodded. "Well, that and the fact that Ah could drop-kick you at a moment's notice. Hey, what time is it?"
Gambit looked down at his watch.
"11:40."
"No wonder Ah'm so tired. Ah hope Storm gets here soon."
"If you're tired, why don't you take a nap? I'll wake you up when de cavalry arrives."
"OK," Rogue mumbled, already succumbing to the lull of sleep.
Darkness. Thick, impenetrable darkness. It surrounded Rogue like a black blanket, so thick she feared it might crush her. There was no trace of light. No digital clock, no street lamps, no moon, no stars…just darkness.
She wandered blindly for what seemed like hours, but it was impossible to tell. Time did not pass the same in this black world. At some point she began to hear things. First it sounded like a soft wind, but she could not feel it. It became louder, and she realized they were voices; light, airy voices that seemed incongruous with the gloom surrounding her. Rogue tried to make out what they were saying, but they were speaking a different language.
"Ye tarres sum Asierre."
"Infonia sherr cotal kierr."
Rogue followed the voices with much effort; they seemed to come from everywhere at once. Her eyes peered through the shadows, and at last she saw four white, misty forms standing--or were they floating?--before her. Their bodies were almost transparent. Rogue suddenly knew, with unyielding certainty, that they were ghosts.
They seemed to be having a conversation in their flowing tongue. Rogue stood listening for awhile; their speech fascinated her. At length they seemed to notice her, and one of the ghosts motioned that she should come closer. She obeyed willingly. For some reason she felt safe here, like she belonged.
One of the ghosts stepped forward, and spoke to her in his language.
"Nirr sun de asierren um colt shah."
Rogue shook her head.
"Ah'm sorry, but I don't understand."
"We arre ze saviorrs of ze past," he repeated.
"Excuse me?"
"We arre zose whose names were forrtold of in prrophecy."
"What are you talking about?"
The ghost leaned in, as if he were disclosing a secret.
"Tir sun de Asierre um colt leerr. You arre ze Saviorr of ze prresent."
"Ah don't understand what yer talking about," Rogue said. The ghost stepped back into the circle with the other three. They conversed for a few minutes, and then all four came up to Rogue. The one who had spoken before stepped forward.
"You arre ze one whose birrth was forretold of in prrophecy, as ourr birrths were forretold of," he said. "You arre destined forr grreatness, as we were. Like us, you have been chosen."
"Chosen for what?"
"Chosen to lead yourr people out of ze darkness and into ze light. Ze time grows near when you must take up ze Starr, as we did, and make its powerr yourr own."
"What does that mean?"
"You know ze answer."
"No," Rogue said impatiently, "Ah don't."
"Seek ze answerr not wizin yourr mind, but yourr hearrt."
"Would you quit it with the riddles?" she snapped.
"We must go now," the ghost said. Without another word the four of them disappeared into the darkness.
Then she woke.
A/N: Not the greatest chapter ever, but it'll do. How was the dream? I NEED INPUT!!
Sorry this one took so freaking long. I've had a lot of homework lately. And if that excuse doesn't work for you, I have plenty others!
OK, I just want to say that Finding Nemo is the BEST movie ever. It is hilarious, and if you haven't seen it already, I have 7 words for you: WHAT THE F**** ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
Now, on to those lovely reviews!
Pixie Flyer: Call off the mob, call off the mob! I updated, see! *hides behind chair* Anyhow, I'm glad you're enjoying it.
Amanda14: You betta believe it! = )
Rogue77: A cookie? For me?? *does Home Simpson voice* Mmmm…cookies…And the new Alias season just started yesterday.
CM02: Who's the freakin liar? U R, U R! Umm…yeah…I'm television deprived. Does ANYTHING good come on Mondays?…I GOT CHOCOLATE!!!!! I'm OK really…
Rogue151: Sorry if I sounded mean in my review, but I thought you'd prefer consructive criticism over the usual "keep going." I do. I liked your story idea, I just though it could use some tweaking. About the end of chapter 18, this is after mutants have gone public. This follow the time-line to well, but here are some guidelines: Rogue never had a power crisis, Evan did not join the Morlocks, and Apocolypse is not even a thought. Aside from that, I think it's all the same. At the end of the Telling she DOES shoot Francie. Then she sort of passes out, and wakes up in Hong Kong. (I saw a sign that said Hong Kong on it, that's how I know it wasn't Tokyo.) Then she calls up the CIA and they send Vaughn. He tells her she's been missing for two years, presumed dead. She sees his ring, and it ends. The premiere was Sunday, in case you didn't see it. If you did, then let me just ask this: are you as confused as I am? Um, I think I'm done now.
Krazy Xanadu: What enthusiasm! 200? Really? Coolio!
Shadow of the Sword: I'm glad you understand; it's a complicated plot, I know. You should try writing it!
Yumiko: GI is short for Government Issue (soldier). My dad used to be in the army, so when you ask him a question he says "Can do easy, GI!" I've kinda adopted the phrase.
Shadow88: Your resources are probably referring to the movie, where Rogue says her name is Marie. In fact, in X2 there is a list of mutants, and it lists her as Marie D'Ancanto. However, in XME, as well as in every other form of X-Men that I am familiar with, Rogue has not said her real name. In some cases she uses Marie as an alias, but that's it. She has NEVER said her real name in XME. Now about the dancing: normally I'd agree with you, but Rogue is slightly OOC in this fic. Or, more specifically, she is more like the Rogue in the original cartoon, because being in the CIA has given her more confidence. (I like debating, in case you couldn't tell. Find some more glitches in this, I'm having fun defending myself. =P) I'm glad you like the fight scenes, and feel free to take Rogue out! I'll even give you a power dampener so you can give her a goodnight kiss. ^_^
All done! Yay! Now I can finally upload this! L8r my pizeeps!