Disclaimer: Marvel's not mine.
Thanks to my reviewers! Hopefully this chapter will make sense, between the two stories that are going on. They are slowly moving towards being connected.
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Remy let the hot water slide down his lean, muscular frame, as his forearms pressed up against the shower, his head hung low. Water collected in his auburn locks, soaking each strand, the excess water landing beside his feet creating a drip, drip sound that acted as background music to his thoughts.
He knew he should be thinking about Lucas Bishop, the man claiming to be from the future. He knew he should be thinking about the man's accusation against himself. He knew he should be thinking about ways to prevent an event he wasn't even sure would really occur two weeks from now. He drug his hands through his hair, eyes closed, he sighed. Instead he focused on his own selfish thoughts. Rogue had been a part of the team, and his life for over a month now. Although they were very close, she would not let him as near as he would like. He believed it was her inability to touch that caused her to push him away at times.
Remy didn't want to believe Bishop's words, but being a cautious man, he could not completely rid himself of the fact that in two weeks, most, if not all of the X-Men may be dead.
Shutting the water off, he grabbed a towel, drying himself off. He knew he had to make sure Rogue understood how she made him feel, even after only five weeks of knowing her. He placed the towel around his waist, exiting the bathroom.
In his reverie, he had not felt the presence of another in his bedroom, so he was shocked to see Rogue sitting cross legged at the edge of his bed. The meeting with Bishop had ended over an hour ago, yet she was still wearing her tight blue spandex uniform, brown leather jacket and black gloves accessorizing the rest.
Remy gave a faint smile, heading towards his dresser. "Lo' Rogue. Whatcha doing here?
Rogue cleared her throat. "Well, sugah, Ah was hoping ta talk to ya about the meeting. Remy noticed she took glances at him shyly whenever she believed he wasn't looking.
"What about chere? It wasn' really somethin' I wanted t'think about too much right now.
"Yeah, meh neither." Rogue looked down at her hands, fidgeting a little. "It's just that in two weeks Ð
"We don' know what's gonna happen in two weeks Rogue. We know nothin' about dis man Bishop." Remy continued rummaging through his dresser, trying to keep himself preoccupied, in order to avoid her eyes. He didn't realize she was doing the same.
"There's another meeting Remy, later tonight. It's why Ah came up here, to let ya know. Bishop has something ta show us, he thinks it will help us believe him.
Rogue's voice sounded shaky an unusual characteristic for a normally strong woman. Remy could not ignore her now. He walked towards her, but did not bend to her level. He merely placed himself against her knees, which were now uncrossed.
"What be de real reason y'came here chere?" His voice had become gentle, concerned.
"A-ah guess Ah'm a little scared Remy. Bout what may happen Ah mean. Bout things Ah haven't done yet.
Remy leaned down, his fists resting at either side of her on the bed. She looked into his burning eyes, but stayed stalk still.
"Why can't y'touch Rogue?" Remy whispered huskily.
She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Remy moved in closer, causing Rogue to lean back slightly.
"It's become a taboo subject between us chere, one I think we're both lookin' t'get out in de open now." Remy drug a bare finger down Rogue's stomach. "I want t'see what's beneath dis suit as much as y'want to take off my towel chere. Ain't no denying dat.
Rogue swallowed, and running her own fingers down the back of Remy's neck,, she pulled him to her. Lightly, she touched her lips to his. She felt shock run through Remy, but he quickly recovered, his body weight crushing hers as he deepened the kiss.
Once he broke the kiss, Rogue whispered, "Ah can touch sugah.
"I can see dat chere." His eyes were filled with passion, amazement even. His fingers played with the zipper at her collar, but he did nothing to undress her. "Chere maybe we should talk first bout why y'hid dis from me.
She kissed Remy once more, her hand moving down his back and underneath his towel. "Ah don' think so sugah, not now.
It was then that he began unzipping her outfit, stopping only to place a kiss on her clavicle. But there was one last issue to resolve. Tracing his lips up her neck, he met her eyes.
"Je t'aime mon cherie.
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Anna had returned home the next morning, so as to not cause suspicion with the police. She saw Jean waiting at her door when she arrived.
"Anna!" Jean exclaimed upon seeing her friend. "Guess what?!
"Sugah, you're gonna wake the neighbors with that yelling. Why dontcha come inside?" Anna said this as she unlocked the door, removing her coat as she entered her apartment. "So, how long have ya been waiting out there Jean?
"Oh, only like five minutes. I was actually in the process of writing you a note to explain. See?" Jean lifted up a light blue piece of paper as evidence, before putting it back in her purse.
"So what are ya so excited about?" Anna asked, filling her kettle with water.
"Well, Remy may be in luck, the police have another suspect! They have this one in custody though.
"Really? Who?
"It's that actor Warren Worthington. Apparently, he was once very close to Ororo. They practically got married, until she broke it off.
Anna only frowned. "Huh. Well, that is relieving but what about the suit jacket o'Remy's with Ororo's blood on it?
Jean gave a mischievious smile. "It's not as bad as a letter they found addressed to Ororo from Warren. He threatened to hurt her if she didn't take him back!
"Maybe Ah should give detective Logan a call, see if Remy's still in trouble." Jean waited while Anna spoke with the detective, pulling two mugs from the cupboards. She was reaching for the Earl Grey when Anna finished the conversation.
"Ah'm gonna head back over to Remy, see if Ah can convince him to talk to the police. Logan assured meh they wouldn't arrest him, and that as of now he is in clear water.
"That's great Anna!" Jean reached over, turning the burner off. "Hopefully this mess will be cleaned up soon.
"I hope so to Jean.
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Rogue and Remy walked into the meeting, holding hands without gloves; without barriers. This did not go unnoticed, however, the seriousness of the meeting overshadowed the couple's joy for the moment.
When the entire team had assembled, Bishop finally spoke. "I brought one thing back to this time, something that will cause you some shock. I am showing it to you because you may be able to help me identify clues within the video as you all know your own team members better than I do.
"Video?" Bobby questioned.
"Yes. It is a tape concealing a cry for help." He turned to Jean then. "Jean, I must warn you, it is you who is on the tape.
Jean paled, putting a tighter grip on her husband's hand. Her eyes remained strong, and she asked Bishop to play the tape.
Jean was in the control room, located in the basement. The reception was bad, making her sentences choppy.
"Please-zzxt-the team, ever-zzxt-is gone. I-zzst-possibly-zzxt-the last one. We have be-zzxt-betrayed-zzxt-one of our own. Help-zzxt." Just then the frightened Jean looked to her right, and began backing up, edging her way out of view. A pink glow overtook the control counter before the screen went black.
There was a small pause before the distinct snikt sound of Wolverine's claws being released sent the entire team into a loud fit, both Scott and Remy rising from their chairs.
"X-Men, calm down at once!" Xavier's voice impeded. Respecting their mentor's wishes, the team silenced themselves.
"Does this really happen in two weeks Bishop?" Jean asked, her voice working hard to remain calm.
"Better yet, was that Gambit's kinetic glow covering the control counters!?" Scott spat out. He had always been jealous of Remy's connection with the professor and as a result, the two had never been friends.
"Hey homme, I may be a thief, but I sure as hell ain't no cold blooded killer!
Bishop watched as the team attacked one another. He cocked his gun to stop the bickering. Remy and Scott turned towards him then.
"This team cannot fall apart now!"Bishop yelled. "We must work to prevent this, not fight against each other.
"Bishop is right," Storm conceded. "I have known Remy for five years now. I cannot believe that in just two weeks everything I know about this man will change that drastically. We cannot condemn Remy just yet, not before his crime has been committed.
"Storm is right my team. However, we are the government's best set of spies, and so I will send several of you out to look for possible clues of anyone seeking to attack us. I realize that the Jean on tape insisted we had been betrayed by one of our own, but it may be someone from another X-team. We will up our security until the 11th and keep our ears to the ground.
"Sounds good professor. Storm, Wolverine and I will leave immediately and begin our search," Scott proclaimed. Although Remy was Xavier's right hand man, Scott led the team. Remy specialized in independent missions, consulting often with the Professor.
"Alright. X-Men dismissed.
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It had been surprisingly easy to convince Remy to return to the police station with her. But, with the evidence stacked against Warren, Remy felt more confident. He had also reminded Anna that no prison could hold him, as he could pick any lock.
Detective Logan had not handcuffed nor arrested Remy, as promised. Anna was lead to a room with a huge glass window. On the other side of the window she could see Warren. His deflated figure sat slumped in his chair. He was answering an interrogator's questions. Although she could hear him, he mumbled so quietly, that his exact words were too hard to hear. Remy had been lead elsewhere by Logan.
"It'll be yer boyfriend's turn next darlin'. So ya don' have to stay if ya don' want to." Logan offered.
"He already told meh everything, so Ah don' mind staying. Who's gonna be interrogating him?
Logan squinted his eyes, as if he weren't paying attention to Anna.
"Me," he stated simply, before leaving the room.
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Remy sat leisurely in his chair telling his story to detective Logan. Remy's unnerving calm unsettled Logan, but he did not let the Cajun know that.
Remy had just finished telling the detective he had left after Ro' had thrown champagne in his face and yelled at him to leave. He paused, looking towards the glass pane he knew Anna was watching from. Anna had not been a detective, so she had not asked what had happened after he had left. But Logan did just that.
Remy's exterior shifted, as he rubbed his hand over his face, squeezing the bridge between his eyes.
"I had made it a couple blocks away when a bad feelin' overcame me. Can' explain it really, but it happens often, like a sixth sense or somethin'. Either way, I turned around and headed back towards Ro's.
"Keep going bub.
"When I reached her apartment, de door was open. De first thing I saw was blood on de carpet, leading from de couch to de bedroom. When I got dere, Ro' was already dead. She lay sprawled on de bed, legs open, still clothed. She had been shot several times and even dough I knew she was gone, I grabbed a jacket, my jacket I suppose, and began soaking up de blood, prayin' she would open her eyes.
"Sad story Gumbo," Logan replied harshly.
Remy's eyes burned a deeper red at this, narrowing his expression at Logan. "Dontcha give me dat bullshit Logan. I know what she meant t'y'.
Logan's eyes went wide at Remy's words.
"She was one o'my best friends Logan. Y'think she didn' tell me about y'? I recognized de name as soon as I saw your badge.
Logan clasped his hands in front of him, leaning in slowly. "So what Cajun? I dated Ro', big deal, that's why I took this case.
"Is dat why you lied about it too?
"Bout what?" Logan asked annoyed.
"Bout her being raped.
"Yer gonna have to elaborate on that one Gumbo.
"Tell me something Logan, whenever you fucked Ororo, did she keep all her clothes on, even de panties?
"What the hell kinda question is that?!
"An honest one. Because Ororo was fully clothed, even de panties were still dere. Someone just made it look like she had been raped. Cause dere is no way in hell she was raped, killed and den dragged upstairs before I got back dere.
"Hmm. Why the hell would someone do that? It makes me wish I'd been the first officer up there. I only saw her after she had been taken off on a gurney." His expression looked grave then.
"I'm sorry Logan. Ro' was a wonderful woman.
"Glad ya can say that after she tried jumping ya.
"I don' hold dat against her now. She was confused. And she was hurt dat you had left her earlier dat day.
"Don't think I don' beat myself up for that mistake.
"If it makes y'feel any better mon ami, Ororo did love y'.
"Thanks bub.
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Anna watched Remy look in her direction as if he could see right through the glass. It hurt to hear Remy's following admission to Logan, and she felt hot tears begin to form. They slowly dissolved as the rest of the conversation played out. She watched the two comfort each other in the end, both in pain over a lost friend. Anna slipped out the door, needing fresh air all of a sudden.
She felt like she was going crazy.
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Remy's cellphone began ringing from his jean pockets. Cursing, Remy looked to see who it was. Rogue watched him sit up from the couch they were sharing while watching a movie. He gave her an apologetic look as he answered the phone and walked out of the room.
After about fifteen minutes, Rogue became curious, and got up to look for Remy. She heard him quietly yelling at whoever he was talking to, his voice coming from the kitchen.
"Dis be a real bad time pere!" Pause. "Yes, yes I know." Pause. "O' course I cared about him! He was my cousin!" Pause. "Je comprend." Pause. "Oui, je sais.
Remy's anger always provoked his French, and after a few more moments of back and forth arguing, he hung up. Rogue knew Remy was aware of her presence, but he did not turn around.
"My cousin Lapin's dead chere.
"Oh Remy, Ah'm sorry." Rogue moved up behind him, wrapping her arm around his waist.
"It gets worse Rogue. He was murdered by an assassin. De Guilds have returned t'outright war, and my pere needs my powers and skills for a mission. He says it will rectify all o'dere problems, end de war, how can y'say no t'dat?
"Ya can' sugah. So when do ya leave?
"Tomorrow.
"Well no need to worry about it now then. Let's go finish our movie.
Remy turned around, facing Rogue. "Chere, de 11th is in just three days. I probably won' make it back by den.
"Remy, none o'the team has been able to uncover anythin' about a so called betrayer, or anyone wanting to attack us for that matter. Most people don' even know we exist. Ah don' think you have much ta worry about hun.
"Maybe y'should come wit me to New Orleans chere.
Rogue gave a heavy sigh. "Ya know the team can' afford ta lost two o'there members on that day Remy. They'll need my super strength around just in case.
"Chere, I know dat you're stubborn, but I don' want t'leave y'here." His eyes pleaded with her own.
"Remy, Ah'm invulnerable. Nothing's gonna hurt meh. Now what do ya say we skip the rest o'the movie sugah?" She tried tugging him from his spot, but he would not budge. Instead he pulled her towards him, hugging her tightly, desperately.
"Dat sounds good mon coeur.
They left the kitchen then, hand in hand, fear in both of their hearts; fear that was unwilling to present itself tonight. Fear that would stay harbored for three long days. Love would make sure of it.