Trapped

Author's Note: This chapter will occur a few days after 'Angelique' has been caught by Remy and his guild. I will now be calling Rogue: Angelique or Angel.

…Mental Speech

"…" Normal Speech

'…'Thought Speech

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Angelique scrutinized Remy as he went through his daily 'thief training'. She had been under Jean-Luc's wing for nearly a month or two now and they had found her to be a quick learner, not to mention a fast healer. It seemed that most of her body parts had been damaged due to Remy's card explosions, which was the reason for her handicap as well as her temporary speech problems.

Everyone had thought that Angelique would regain her memories, but unfortunately fast healing didn't include memories. Jean-Luc was a kind- hearted man and had offered his care to her. She had to relearn most grade-school subjects, fortunately for her, Tante Mattie was known for her patience and her vast knowledge.

The LeBeaus had figured that Angelique had to be from the south. She had an accent, even though she ended up talking like a true-born Acadian, she still had that southern drawl that one would have when born in Mississippi or Tennessee. Tante Mattie had just thanked the good lord that she was a fast learner when it came to French.

"Come on, chere. C'est simple."

Angelique shook her head as she sighed and stepped forward. Henri, Remy's older brother was the 'target'. Since Henri was also a thief, he would feel the lightest touch.

"Y'expect me t'be able t'steal from y'brot'er?" Angelique asked, shaking her head, trying to figure out the logic in the situation. " Henri… vous ne pouvez pas être sérieux, n'est-ce pas? Je peux voler à peine un petit gâteau du pot de petit gâteau!" (You cannot be serious, can you? I can barely steal a cookie from the cookie jar!)

Herni and Remy smirked at the girl's outrage. They had only been with her for a week, a mere 7-day span and yet, they knew when she was truly angry. During her stay she had learned quite a lot, and they found that she would switch to French dialect when she got really angry- just like a true Acadian woman.

" P'tite, calm down… Pere did say y'were gon'be one o' de best," Henri explained. " Might as well start trainin' wit' de best!"

With an exasperated groan, Angelique nodded. Henri brought out a fat wallet and placed it in his coat. To make things easier, he showed her the pocket in which he placed the wallet into. They replayed a scene, where she would approach Henri and surprise him by doing anything- bumping into him, talking to him… anything to get the wallet.

Angelique ran her bare hands through her auburn hair and sighed. Remy sat on one of the desks and watched. Angelique didn't bump into Henri, instead, she tapped him and waited for him to turn around.

" Pardone-moi, monsieur. Savez-vous où la Route de Cayenne est? Je suis petit perdu..." she asked fluently in French. (Pardon me, sir. Do you know where Cayenne Road is? I'm a little lost)

Henri played in the scene, never noticing how close she was getting as he pointed the direction where she would turn. After he had shown her the way, she smiled brightly and said her thanks.

" Merci beaucoup, monsieur," she said and walked towards Remy, handing him the wallet. " I can't believe I did it…"

Henri looked at her, slightly confused, until he felt for his wallet. Laughing, the elder man ran up to Angelique and gave her a friendly hug.

" That was brilliant, p'tite! How'd y' do it?" Henri asked.

Angelique blushed modestly. " Y'always point to where the signs were. Plus… m'quick reflexes helped wit' y'not feelin' me takin' the wallet."

Remy smirked. " Mebbe de fille should try a more… harder target?"

Angelique sighed, knowing what was to come. " Maybe Ah should… Ah…should try again. Jus' t'see if it wasn't a fluke o' somet'in."

Henri nodded in thought. " Dat be a good t'ing t' do. Dat be easy if y'target would jus' show y' where his money be…"

Angelique smiled her thanks to Henri and was about to give him the wallet when Remy swiped it from her grasp.

" Y'afraid, mon chere?" Remy taunted, waving the wallet in her face. The red-on-black eyed man smiled as he saw Angelique's green eyes glow with anger as she narrowed them into slits.

" T'be crushed by y'ego? Oui. Even Papa Jean-Luc'd be scared o' bein' crushed by somet'in dat big!" Angelique hissed, struggling to reclaim Henri's wallet from the man who towered her by more than four inches.

" Be nice, Ange. Remy jus' tryin' t'get under y'skin."

The two stopped and turned towards the speaker. Jean-Luc stood not far from them, with a twinkle of laughter in his old eyes.

" Angelique, p'tite, what did I tell y'about bein' mo' feminine?" Jean-Luc asked, amused by the fiery spirit that pouted before him.

" But Papa Jean-Luc. Ah don' wan' t' be mo' 'feminine'. Dey too stuffy!" Angelique whined, crossing her arms before her chest.

Jean-Luc looked over his newest 'child'. He had to admit that he agreed with his 'daughter'. Most of the females in New Orleans were very high bred and… stuffy. Angelique was unique in keeping her dignity and yet showing her spunky side.

"Mais, p'tite, if y'don' try… y'can't come t'de ball t'night…" Henri said, trying to make the auburn haired woman agree. " If y'stay here… Tante Mattie will have to miss it as well…"

Angelique bit her lower lip and sighed. She could never deny another person fun, so she nodded. " D'Accord. Do wit' me as y'need… jus' don' expect me t'like it!"

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Angelique frowned as she looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like something out of a magazine. Her auburn hair was left flowing, cascading down her back. It was surprising how long it was. When she had first arrived to the household, her hair was barely touching her shoulders. Now it was past her shoulder blades, a good 8 inches longer than she first had it. She wore a shimmering emerald dress that felt smooth as a rose petal.

'Ah wonder who Papa Jean-Luc is tryin' t'impress wit' de riches?' she thought to herself.

She'd never recalled ever been to a ball, but then again, she hadn't had any recollection of her past before she woke up in one of the LeBeau guestrooms.

" Ah, Chere, y'should dress up mo' often… Remy likes what he sees."

Angelique didn't bother to turn around, knowing only one man in the entire household who never called her by her given name.

" Remy, shouldn't y'be flirtin' wit' some blonde o' somet'in?" Angelique asked.

Remy laughed and stood behind her, dangling something in front of her eyes. As he lowered it down to her neck, Angelique couldn't help but gasp as he clasped the necklace on. It was a simple silver angel that hung on a silver chain.

She couldn't help but smile at its meaning. Remy would always remind her how angelic she was when she smiled. Most of the time, she would frown on purpose just to spite him.

" Dis gon'help y' remember t'smile mo' often, chere," Remy whispered, sending chills down her spine.

Angelique ran her fingers across the pendant, feeling happy. The two months she'd spent under Jean-Luc's care had been nothing short of a dream. She had been educated until she could speak again, fed and treated like a guest. She'd come to know the LeBeaus as family and saddened her to know that she'd have to return to her real family soon.

" Now come, Chere… de ball awaits," Remy said, extending his arm for her to take. Angelique humored him and took it politely. " See, dat wasn' s'hard, was it?"

" Don' get used t'dis Remy LeBeau. Ah ain't dat kin' o'fille."

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The Boudreaux ball was, short to say, exquisite. The hallways were adorned with orchids and lilies. It seemed Jean-Luc wasn't the only one trying to impress people with their riches. Angelique looked around, catching the attention of half the men in the hallways.

From Tante Mattie's lessons, Angelique knew it wasn't good to be the center of attention. She'd learned about the traditions of the rivaling guilds before she learned basic algebra. It was more logical to learn how to survive through New Orleans than how to add.

Remy kept winking and smiling at the women, ignoring the glares he was receiving from the women's fiancés. Remy guided Angelique through the crowd, his hand protectively placed on her lower back.

"Y'wan' t'go home, chere?" Remy asked.

Angelique looked at him, wondering why he'd gotten so tense. "Ah'm fahne Rem. Ah t'ink y'be a bit stressed."

Remy sighed and nodded. " Oui, Je suis. Remy hates Julien, he be not'in but-" ( Yes, I am)

He stopped, seeing Julien coming towards them. Angelique pursed her lips in thought. The ball was held for Marius Boudreaux's son, Julien. He just turned 20, the traditional age for the Assassins Guild to wed. Most who attended these kinds of balls were aristocrats who would flaunt their daughters to whomever was of age, hoping to expand their finances as well as their personal safety.

" Ah, Je ne crois pas que nous avons rencontré, Mlle?" Julien asked politely.

" Angelique. Angelique Distraite." Angelique replied, curtsying slightly

"Ah, un beau nom pour une belle femme," Julien said, kissing Angelique's hand. " Je m'appelle Julien. Enchante, Angelique."

Remy tensed, clenching his jaws. He'd never told anyone, not even his own father of his growing feelings for the girl. Angelique had been a challenge for Remy at first, having no recollection of her past and struggling to speak. But now, she was a woman he'd come to respect- and love.

They hadn't spent much time together, but he'd vow to change that. Angelique had been too busy helping Tante Mattie with household chores, school as well as training to just have fun. But now that she was more than capable of fending for herself, Remy felt that she wasn't letting loose.

" Pardon, Désolé Julien, mais, Remy have t'introduce Chere t' de crowd," Remy said.

Julien frowned, glaring at the man, but smiling nonetheless. He watched as Remy continued to walk with Angelique draped on his arm

'Angelique Boudreaux… dat sounds… so sweet'

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Author's Note: Hopefully I can update faster than I did before… dang! Next chapter:

We see how the X-Men are handling the two months without Rogue.