Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.
Note: This is starting to feel like that movie Dead Again, which wasn't my intent! Oh well.
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Anna and Remy sat sipping cocktails at a popular little jazz club, often frequented by the cities celebrities. Accompanying them was Ororo Munroe, who had earned her fame as a sultry jazz singer at the very club they now attended. Anna watched Remy flirt harmlessly with his old friend. Although Ororo was an incredibly beautiful woman, she did not strike jealousy into Anna. Remy had assured her that they had never been more than friends, that their relationship was completely platonic, and that it could never move past that.
Anna felt Remy's hand creep over her own, squeezing it gently.
"Somethin' de matter cherie?" Remy questioned. "You had a far away look just now, like y'were a million miles away.
Anna gave a weak smile. "Actually hun, Ah ain't feeling too good. Think we can head back soon?" Although Anna had her own place, she practically lived in Remy's Soho loft.
Remy gave her an apologetic smile. "I can' leave yet Anna, I'm meetin' up with a director here later tonight. Think you can head back without me?" His hand had not yet left hers. Anna gently removed it from underneath his, trying not to feel angry or defensive. Of course she didn't need him to make it back. She had her own key.
"Sure sugah. Will you be out late?
"Probably chere. Maybe you should head back t'your own place tonight. I don' want to wake y' when I get home.
Anna tried not to let disappointment show. "Maybe your right Remy." Standing up to leave, she faced Ororo, who had remained staring at her drink during their conversation. "Night Ro'.
"Good night Anna," she replied with a warm smile, looking up from her drink.
Remy stood with Anna, leaning over for a goodnight kiss, his lips gently caressing hers. "Hope you feel better Anna. How bout we do lunch tomorrow at Henry's?" Henry's was a tiny restaurant/lounge that they often frequented.
"Sounds good Remy, see ya tomorrow.
Anna left the club, an uneasy feeling settling at the pit of her stomach.
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The thief had been taken aback by her laughter, but more than that, he was surprised by the comfort he found in her presence.
"Dat be a beautiful laugh chere, especially considerin' our situation.
Her smile turned stern then, her eyes roaming to the floor. Why did she feel guilty for laughing?
Instantly she felt the warmth of his body near her own.
"No need t'stop chere. Besides', I wasn' here t'rob you, dis be de wrong apartment.
She gave a nervous grunt. Staring back into his eyes, which, if possible, were even more beautiful up close, she swallowed slowly.
"Ya shouldn' stand so close ta meh.
At this, the thief moved nearer, but he had not yet touched her.
"Why chere? Do I make y'uncomfortable?
"Ya move any closer an' Ah could kill ya swamp rat.
"Swamp rat huh? Chere, it takes a lot t'kill dis man." At her insinuation, he reached a hand up to her cheek, to brush a strand of hair away from her eyes. She did not move to stop him, unaware that the gloves he wore did not cover every finger. One bare finger grazed her cheekbone, and he effectively collapsed at her feet.
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Anna was awoken by a loud banging on her apartment door. Groaning, she slipped out of bed, grabbing her robe as she headed for the door. Peeking through the eyehole, she noticed a policeman with what looked to be a detective by his side. Instantly Anna grew worried, her thoughts fleeting to Remy.
Unlocking her door, she tried to collect herself.
"Morning officers, what can Ah help ya with?
The one dressed in detective garb, grunted, then introduced himself and his partner as detective Logan and officer Drake. "Are you Anna Raven?
"That's meh sugah. Is something the matter?
"Ms. Raven, are you friends with a woman by the name of Ororo Munroe?
"Why yes, is she alright?
"She's dead Ms. Raven. Raped and murdered in her own apartment." Detective Logan bluntly stated. She thought she caught a gleam of sadness in his eyes as he said this.
"Wh-hat? When?" Anna reached for her door frame to support herself, afraid she would collapse.
"Last night. We have reason to suspect another acquaintance of yers is responsible. The theater actor, Remy LeBeau.
Anna did collapse then, sliding down the edge of her door. Detective Logan made no move to help her up, or ease her pain. Officer Drake, however, was more of a gentleman, easing down next to her, he offered his hand.
"You'll have to excuse my partner Ms. Raven. We back at police headquarters have no excuse for him." Drake tried to lighten the tension the room harbored. Obviously that wasn't going to happen, as Anna did not seem to even notice him. Her eyes looked hollow, and then they began to brim with tears.
Logan interceded on Drake's attempts, pushing him aside. "Look Ms. Raven, we need to find Mr. LeBeau, so I'll get right to the point. Is he hiding out here?
Anna looked up, angry eyes flashing. "Y'mean ya don't have him in custody? Did you try his apartment?
Logan rolled his eyes. "Course we did darling. He wasn't there, even more reason for us ta suspect him. We've been searching his other frequented spots, but he's nowhere ta be found.
"Well, he ain't here. So, if we're finished, Ah'd like y'all to leave.
"It ain't that easy. See, from what we've gathered so far, you darling, are our only hope of tracking this Cajun down.
"What makes y'all so sure he's the killer? The Remy Ah know would never do something like this!
"No offense darlin', but how well do ya really know the man? Outside appearances can be deceiving.
Anna said nothing, an exasperated sigh escaping her lips.
"We'll be in touch Ms. Raven. Let us know if ya see any sign of LeBeau." Logan tipped his hat in her direction, while officer Drake meekly smiled.
After they had left, Anna returned to her bedroom, slowly seating herself onto her bed. She was overwhelmed by what she should feel. A light tapping on her balcony doorway broke her concentration, as her heart began to race.
Walking to the closed glass panes, she met Remy's frantic expression, his unique red on black eyes pleading with her own. She placed a palm against the glass, her other hand on the door handle. She took in a deep breath, disappointment evident on her features. She saw his body tense, hurt by her apparent lack of trust. He met her palm on the other side of the door with his own, his forehead bumping up against the glass, the energy deflated from his broken frame.
A swell of pity shook Anna then, and hesitantly, she opened the door. Swiftly, he moved into her arms, tightly wrapping her around him. She made no move to comfort him yet, afraid of what it would mean if she did. Instead she just let him cling to her, as he rejuvenated himself within her grasp.
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The thief finally woke up, his head pounding. He rose slowly, taking in his surroundings. He was still in the woman's apartment, but it was now light out, and the sun shone through the curtains, illuminating her spacious loft. The ceiling was lofted, the living room and kitchen areas melting into one large space. A set of stairs rose in the center of the room, a hallway leading to two closed doors. A larger door was at the head of the stairs, most likely the entrance.
The woman was nowhere in sight, and although he knew he should leave, he felt compelled to see her again. He knew it was risky, for all he knew she had already called the police. But, he loved to gamble, and he was good at it.
He judged by the position of the sun on the horizon, that it was very early morning, and therefore headed for the stairs. He was fairly certain that one of the doors lead to her bedroom. Picking up her body signals behind one of the doors, he cracked it open.
She was asleep, laying on her back, covered in white cotton sheets. Her alarm clock read 5:51 am. He stood by her side, noticing she grimaced in her sleep. He wanted to reach out and touch her again, but his headache reminded him of what she could do. Instead he opted to reach for a strand of her hair. His hand was hovering above her face when her alarm clock began to shriek. The first thing she saw was his figure looming over her, and she let out a little scream, scrambling to the other end of the bed.
"What the damned hell do ya think you're doing Cajun! Do ya want to pass out again?
Her knowledge of his nationality didn't bother him, considering her own southern tongue. He noticed she was wearing very little, just a sports bra and shorts. Short shorts. Suddenly, he smiled. Here he was standing in his black body suit, in front of a woman he didn't know whose apartment he had broken into. Why did he feel so drawn to her?
"Chere, I know dis may sound strange, but have we met before?
"Ah don't think so," she said sarcastically, despite the fact that she too felt a pull between them.
"Are y'sure?
"Well, Ah've never seen a pair of red on black eyes, so ya, Ah'm pretty damn sure, why?
"Nothin' chere. Look, I'm sorry I intruded on ya
"Intruded? Ya broke in!
He cringed. "Y'make it sound so terrible chere." She smirked. "Anyways, I'll be on my way. Don't worry about getting up neither, I can let myself out."
Before she could really respond, he was out the door. She sighed harshly, falling back into her down comforter. She didn't even know his name.
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Anna didn't know what to do. She stood, fatigued in her kitchen, boiling hot water for her tea. She had called in sick at work, her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and she knew that her job as a journalist wouldn't fair well in that condition.
Remy had fallen asleep in her bedroom an hour ago. She desperately wanted him to wake up and explain everything to her. But more than anything she wanted to hear him say that he hadn't done it.
The phone rang then, and she went to pick the receiver up.
"Hello?
"Ms. Raven? This is detective Logan again. Has he shown up yet?
"Straight to the point Ah see Logan." Anna paused a second. "And no, he hasn't.
She could sense Logan's uncertainty. "Alright then. I'm callin' fer another reason anyway.
"What more could you want?
"The killer Ms. Raven.
She sighed into the receiver.
"We have been doing an extensive search of Ms. Munroe's apartment, and have come up with several pieces of evidence. They may or may not belong to LeBeau.
"And you need meh for what?
"We need ya to identify the evidence Ms. Raven. So head on over to Ms. Munroe's place within the next hour.
"Fahne. Where does she live?
"She was yer friend and ya don't know where she lives?
"She was closer to Remy than meh. Ah only ever saw her at clubs and restaurants.
"I see. She lives on the corner of 5th and Olive, street address 1125, apartment 5 on the ninth floor.
"Ok. Ah'll be there." She hung up the receiver, clutching it so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
"You'll be where Anna?
Anna jumped, not having heard Remy enter the room.
"Uh, Jean's. She heard about Ororo, and wanted to talk.
Remy frowned. He could always tell when she was lying, but he let it slide. He rested his hands on the kitchen counter, head bent down. Rogue said nothing, preparing her tea.
"Suppose y'want ta know what's goin' on." It was a statement, not a question.
"Just tell meh you didn't do it Remy.
Looking up, Remy stared her directly in the eyes, looking long and hard, and firmly replied, "I didn't do it. I promise you dat.
"Ok, well then, why don't you turn yourself into the police and explain? Ah'm sure we can work this whole thing out and-
"Anna, please. Dere be reasons I can' show myself yet. Reasons dat will make themselves clear soon. Merde! Look chere, whatever anyone tells you, just know dat I'm being set up." He reached for her hands, clasping them in his own. "Please chere, trust me on dis. Y're going to find out some bad things, but just know dat I didn' kill Ro'.
Anna took a deep breath. She had been shaking a lot lately, ever since the visions had started. She wanted so badly to tell Remy about them, but she knew this was far from the right time. Instead she tried to smile, tried to reassure him, to let him know she wanted to believe him. But his words were scaring her. She was afraid of what she was going to find out, unsure why he couldn't just tell her himself.
"Ah'm gonna get dressed and head over ta Jean's. When Ah get back, Ah expect explanations." She squeezed his hands, and leaning over, she placed a light kiss on his lips. "Don't worry sugah, Ah believe ya. Everything will be ok in the end.
Remy smiled, grateful that she was at least trying for his sake.
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Anna stood in front of Ororo's apartment complex, wondering if she was going crazy. This was the apartment complex in her dream, the one the woman who looked just like her inhabited. She shook her head. What was she thinking? There were probably hundreds of buildings that looked like this in New York.
She took the elevator to the 9th floor, a trip that took forever to make. Apartment number 5 was buzzing with activity, the door wide open. Cautiously she entered, gazing around, taking in the large living room connecting with the kitchen at the bottom of the stairs. No, this can't be, she thought. Bracing herself, she looked to the left, noticing two doors, only one of which was open. And then she fainted.