Disclaimer: Character's are Marvel's, not mine.
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The spark of emotion that had briefly shown on the stranger's face disappeared, faltering back to an unreadable poker face. But Rogue wasn't paying attention to that. The only thing she could concentrate on were his eyes: demon eyes, yet so beautiful, almost calming, if not for the sad glow about them.
"Who are ya sugah?" Rogue nearly whispered.
If possible, his eyes became darker, a deep pain enveloping his angel like face, his lips thinned, then opened as if to reply, but a low moan distracted him. The attacker lay crumpled below their feet, forgotten, lost in a memory between the two strangers.
He looked down at his feet. "We should prob'bly leave Ôfore he wakes up." As he said this, he turned to leave.
"Wait!" He turned around, locking his eyes intensely with hers. "Mah names Rogue. Ah can tell ya not much fo' talking, but can ah at least get a name?
Rogue thought she saw the corner of his mouth curl into a small smile, but the shadows hid it. In one swift movement he was back by her side, capturing her gloved hand in his.
"There was a time chere, when I would never walk away from a belle femme like y'." The fiery glint his eyes held when he had strode towards her slowly disappeared after saying this, replaced with a lonely, regretful look. With an apologetic face, he kissed her hand. "My name's Remy chere." With that he led the baffled Rogue back to the bar, and after making sure she was safely inside, he left without another word.
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"Ugh!! And then Scott had the nerve to stare at that purple haired bitch all night! I swear, I don't know how I have managed to put up with him for two years!" Jean Grey fumed.
Ororo simply smiled, very used to Jean's antics over her boyfriend Scott. Normally, however, Rogue would jump at the chance to put in a word or two about Scott. Today she was being unusually quiet.
"Rogue, is something amiss? Ororo questioned.
"Wha?" Rogue quickly plastered on a fake smile. "No, ah was just thinkin' about how badly I must'a bombed that history midterm.
"Well at least you don't have to worry about an unfaithful boyfriend," Jean spat.
"Jean! Really, Scott would never do that, you know that you are over-reacting," Ororo chimed in.
"Oh come on Ro! He was staring at her all night! And-
As Jean and Ororo continued their argument, Rogue continued to people watch. To her surprise, Remy waltzed into the campus cafe, long hair soaked from the rain outside, and a trench coat covering his lean body. He made no attempt to move the wet bangs from his face, nor remove the trench coat from his person. It didn't look like he planned on staying after he ordered his coffee. She took the moment to study him further. He kept fumbling with an object in his pocket, never once making eye contact with anyone. He wore no sunglasses, as being on a mutant campus provided no real threat. Slowly, as if being dragged by someone, he made his way to the counter and placed his order. She couldn't hear his words over the noise of the cafe, but watched his full lips form each sentence. Without so much as a look in her direction, he took his coffee, and hurriedly exited the cafŽ.
Without a second thought, Rogue grabbed her jacket and headed out after him. Jean and Ororo yelled in protest, but their words were lost to her, mixed in with the rest of the chatter. She found herself strangely attracted to Remy's melancholy disposition. Perhaps it was from all of those years working at a mental health clinic.
Stepping into the rain, she saw Remy's form retreating into a nearby building, the art building if she was correct. Running in that direction, she entered the building just as the elevator door closed. Cursing her luck, she decided to take the stairs, pausing briefly to question the effort she was putting in to find him. She felt like she was going after an obsessive crush. Yet she continued upward, stopping at every floor, but not finding him. When she reached the sixth and final floor, she gave up. Slouching down against the wall, trying to catch her breath, she looked ahead and noticed a sign that read: ROOF ACCESS. Slowly, as if lifted by strings, she stood, and pushed through the door in front of her.
She had never been to the roof of this building, and did not realize how huge it was. The first thing she noticed was a nicely tended garden, stretching over a good portion of the rooftop. Walking further, she finally saw Remy leaning against a brick balcony, overlooking campus. His head was lowered, much like when she first saw him all those years ago. A cigarette hung loosely between his long fingers, the end burning away to ash, untouched. His other hand cradled the coffee he had purchased.
"What's the matter chere? Can' stay away from me?" His voice shook as he said this, and with one finger he tapped the end of his cigarette, the ash dancing in the wind and the slowly dissolving rain. Shakily he dragged the cigarette up to his lips.
Rogue was breathless and speechless as well. In this moment he carried the same defeated stature she had seen him posses years ago. Suddenly, she felt as if she shouldn't be here, shouldn't witness this private moment. No one enjoyed having a witness to their weaknesses.
"Ah-Ah'm sorry Remy, Ah thought-
"Thought what Rogue? Dat we could be friends?" Turning, he gave an arrogant smirk. "Dat we could be lovers?" snorting, he threw his cigarette to the ground, twisting it below his boot. "Sorry chere, Remy can' be neither o' those things anymore." Once again he faced the balcony, staring at no point in particular. She could see he was trying to hold his strength together in her presence.
She should have been mad. He didn't even know her, yet he was treating her harshly. But then she remembered the first time she had seen him, how hopeless and scared he had seemed. Most likely, no one had befriended him since his time spent at the mental clinic, and Rogue felt the sudden urge to play hero.
"It sounds ta meh like ya need someone to talk ta Remy. Ah know ya spent some time at the clinic Remy, and it doesn' bother meh, ah-
His gloved hand covered her mouth. He looked her straight in the eye, a hint of desire lighting up his red orbs. "Chere, I don' even have de strength to yell, t' tell y'to leave. I'm a broken man Rogue. T'make friends wit anyone now would be suicide on dere part.
Rogue closed her eyes, shielding away his dark emotions that lay forcefully down upon her. Flashing her bright eyes open at him she removed his gloved hand. "Ah don' care sugah. Ah've been through worse in mah life.
In one languid movement, Remy bent down and touched his lips quickly to hers. It was only one instant, one quick flash. Too brief to knock him unconscious, too brief for her to gather any information about him. But in that kiss, a joint understanding overtook both of them. They were both loners, her untouchable through her powers, him untouchable through his past. Although this should not have been a friendly realization, both felt a sudden surge of hope, of relief. Silently, two strangers stood hand in hand, watching the view from the roof. No words were spoken, for there was no need.