***
Disclaimer – I don't own X-Men: Evolution
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She ignored the thin scars that were carved into her hand as she slipped on a brown glove. She then bent down and carefully slipped her legs into the onyx colored boots. They fit snugly, she noticed as she walked out of her bedroom but stopped when she caught a glimpse of herself in the full-length mirror. Ugh. Spandex. She didn't admire the body suit that covered up her body.
Today Rogue. A certain red head's voice broke her thoughts. We don't have much time. Get a move on. Pronto!
It's two A.M. I don't fully function property this early. She mumbled to herself and staggered her way out of the room.
"Morning." Kitty mumbled walking out from the wall. Rogue just blinked and rubbed her eyes. "This is way too early." She yawned.
"Yeah." Rogue blew a strand of white hair out from her face
"I need my beauty sleep." She sighed heavily. "The Professor better have a good reason for making us go out in the middle of nowhere so early in the morning." They both began to walk down the hall.
"I just hope it's not another false alarm." Rogue mumbled sheepishly. "We got to the site and the only action we got was a moving bush. What was in the goddamn bush? A squirrel."
"And we found that out the hard way." The brunette made a face. "Poor Mr. Squirrel. I bet Mr. Logan felt terrible. Now he knows not to strike out randomly at bushes."
***
'Eleven months.'
Rogue lowered her self down into the seat and buckled up. Kitty plopped down in the seat behind her, wanting to sit next to Nightcrawler.
'It has been eleven months since Remy's powers manifested.'
She dropped her head back and closed her eyes.
'Who would have ever guessed that would have affected both of our lives this much?'
Her fingertips moved inward, creating a fist.
'Why did he have to leave?'
Her eyes popped open and she looked ahead, suddenly angry with herself. She wrote daily in a small black journal she kept hidden under her bed. The things she wrote in it were still fresh in her head. She found herself usually writing about Remy, and stuff before the manifesting of powers.. Like their first encounter.
…
"You're going to like it here, Marie." The ten year old cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, Rogue. Give me time, I'll get it right."
"It looks borin' here, 'Rene." Rogue mumbled, shoving her hands into her pockets. She hung her head down low causing her white fringes to fall into her face.
Irene smiled as she sat down on the wooden bench that had been put outside on the porch. "I have a friend who lives a few houses down. He has a son your age."
She made a face as she stared into her reflection from Irene's sunglasses. "Can't we just move back to Mississippi? Swamp rats live here."
"Swamp rats? Who ever told you that word, dear?"
"One of the ladies at the home." She answered, innocently. "She said they were good for nothin', pick-pocketin', killin', no good doin' thieves and that—"
"Don't be repeating any of that around here, Marie." Irene said sternly. She sighed heavily. "I mean, Ro—"
"My father wanted me to tell you he sends his thanks, Ms. Addler." Rogue glanced behind her shoulder to see a boy standing in the front yard. He had shaggy copper colored hair, which was the first thing she noticed. "You must be Marie." He didn't seem to notice her until she turned her body around and leaned against the railing.
"Rogue." She corrected dryly. "Who are you?"
"Remy Lebeau at your service."
She laughed. "Sounds like Pepe Lepew."
He didn't seem amused; it must not have been the first time he heard that. "I ain't the one with a white stripe." She glared at him. Now she didn't look amused anymore. "So, that natural?" He pointed to her hair. "You look mighty young to be dyin' your hair."
She reached up and twirled a white strand with her index finger. "'Couse it's natural. Haven't you ever seen anyone with white hair before?"
He smirked. "Only old hairy men."
Before she could open her mouth to respond, a blonde popped out from the other side of the bushes. "Remy Lebeau." She hissed. "You promised to play—" She looked at who he was talking to, only noticing Irene. "Oh, hi Ms. Addler." She gave the woman a toothy smile and then looked at Rogue. It faded. "And company."
"Bella, this is my daughter Rogue." Irene smiled at Rogue. "Rogue, this is Bella Donna Bordereaux."
"Oh, this is the adopted River—" Remy coughed, loudly. "Nice to meet you, Rogue was it? Nice hair, so unusual."
"It's natural." Remy stated sounding astonished at the fact. Bella noticed and nodded her head in agreement, which just made her look stupid.
Rogue still didn't look amused. "Do you two want anythin'?" She bit down on her lower lip knowing Irene would give her an earful for being rude.
"Actually—" Bella tugged on Remy's sleeve. "We have stuff to do. Come on dear. Ta-ta, Ms. Addler, Rouge."
"That's Rogue!"
…
Rogue sighed heavily and sunk deeper into her seat. She never did like Bella, even from the start. But then again, she wasn't too partial about Remy at first…
"Hey Roguey." Rogue didn't have to look down from the branch she sat upon to know who had just greeted her. "Your mother told me to tell you supper is almost done."
"She's not my mother." The girl mumbled, still not looking down at him. She was surprised when he climbed up the tree and sat himself down next to her making the bush go down even more.
"She's someone who cared enough to adopt you." He pointed out, taking the issue seriously. "You should be grateful for that, chérie."
"Grateful that my own parents abandoned me?" She asked, her eyes meeting his. She raised a brow. She looked down at the ground. "Grand."
"Jean-Luc adopted me." Her head snapped over and she stared at him, deciding whether to believe him or not. "My wonderful parents abandoned me in the streets. Left me for dead. Jean-Luc found me after his wife died. He figured it was a sign so he brought me home and raised me like I was his real son."
"What about Henry?" She asked softly, her eyes locked on his.
He shook his head. "Non. He's his son by DNA." He chuckled softly, and ran a hand through his hair. "Guess we're in our own private club, Roguey."
She shifted, hearing the leaves rustle from the movement. "Do you always have to call me Roguey?"
"You don't like the nickname?" He grinned at her, amused by this. "You can give me one."
"Swamp rat."
He stared at her blankly.
"Or not." She bit down on her lower lip. "Hmm.. Remy, Rem." She shook her head. "This is a toughie."
"Take your time, Roguey, take your time." He crossed his arms, waiting patiently. "It'll come to you."
Finally, after five minutes of waiting, she just shrugged. "I quit."
"You can't quit."
"But I just did." She pointed out, sticking her tongue out at him. "Remy Lebeau.. Pepe Lepew.."
Before she could go on any further, he cleared his throat. "Don't even think about it, Missy."
"You sound like 'Rene." Rogue laughed and then brought her index finger up to her chin. "Hmm.. I shall call you, Mista Lebeau." Her Southern accent sounded thick as she repeated the words. "Mista Lebeau.." She shivered as a feeling came over her.
…
***
…
"You're engaged to Bella?" Rogue tried her hardest not to laugh but found that to be difficult. "You just turned fifteen.. When do you plan on getting married? At sixteen?" She teased, brushing white strands of hair out of her face. She couldn't help but to laugh as he gave her an annoyed look.
"I don't find it funny at all, Ro'. Jean-Luc says it's family tradition o' somethin' stupid like that." He crossed his arms and sighed he looked at Rogue, probably hoping for some pity. Or sympathy. Whatever he could get was fine.
"What's wrong with Bella?" She asked, still teasing him. "Don't you want Miss Priss all to yourself?" She suddenly put her hand over her mouth. "Aw, did I just make fun of your fiancée?" She laughed.
"I love her, Rogue." He mumbled, which made her shut up automatically. "She's like a sister to me. I don't want to marry a sister."
"What am I to you?" She asked, smirking. "Our five years of friendship nothin' to you, Mista Lebeau?"
"I'm sorry, do we know each other?" He chuckled when she hit his arm. After a few minutes, he sighed heavily. "I can't marry her, Ro'."
"Why you tellin' me? I can't do anythin' about it, Rem." She sighed along with him. "I could kill her for you, but then I'd have a family of assassins after me." She propped her feet onto the railing on the porch. "This stupid wooden bench is killin' my arse." She shifted uncomfortably as she leaned against him. "And Rem?"
"Oui?"
"You don't have to marry anyone you don't want to." She felt him shrug. "I'm serious. You don't have to, Rem-Rem."
"Rem-Rem?" He raised a brow. "You sure you're fifteen and not five?"
"I could just continue to call you Mista Lebeau for ever and ever."
"Rem-Rem is fine. Just not in public." She elbowed him in the ribs. "You can call me whatever you want, Roguey." He cut her off right as she opened her mouth to speak. "'Cept for Pepe Lepew."
"Damn."
…
"Don't worry, Professor, we're going to be there soon." Cyclops said over a headphone communicator. His words seemed to echo in the silent jet. "Are the signals there still strong? Good.. We don't want a repeat of last time." He chuckled. "Logan's face was hilarious but everyone else's at the sight of the squir-- I mean, we'll be landing in a few minutes." A few minutes later, Rogue heard him chuckle to himself.
She just inhaled deeply as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift off into a slumber…
Her eyes snapped open from a deep sleep. A wave of nausea passed through her, making her sit up. She rubbed her eyes and tried to ignore the weird feeling in the pit of her stomach as she walked over to the window. A figure moved back and forth outside in the darkness of the rain. Without a second thought, she raced out of her room, down and hall and hurried out of the house. She ran through the muddy grass in bare feet and didn't stop running into she reached the backyard.
"Remy." She murmured. Water dripped down her face as she stared at him pace back and forth. She immediately knew something was wrong. "Are you okay?"
He didn't stop pacing. "Bella came over. Told Jean-Luc that I wouldn't marry her." He stopped pacing and stared ahead at her. "He freaked out."
"Lets go inside and talk about it." She shuddered in her wet clothing; a green sweatshirt, ripped at the neck and red plaid pants. She walked forward and wrapped her arm around his. "C'mon Remy." She practically had to drag him inside. "Irene ain't home. Today she decided since I was eighteen, I was old enough to be left home alone for a weekend while she went to visit her friend in New York o' somethin'." She said, even though he didn't asked. "You're soakin' wet, Rem." She griped his arm as they walked up the stairs. "I think you have a pair of pants somewhere around here. You can wear 'em while your clothes dry in the dryer."
"You seem calm." He stated when they got to her room. "Calm considering my life is over." He showed no emotion, his face was unreadable.
"J-just go into the bathroom, get out of those wet clothes and hand me them before you catch a cold." She walked over to her closet and after a few seconds of rummaging through it, she pulled out an old pair of pants he had left at her house over a month ago. He accepted the pants and walked out of the room, his shoes squeaking with each step he took. "Oh my god." She mumbled, trying to run her fingers through her tangled up hair. After two minutes of waiting, she walked out of her room and down the hall just as he opened the door. A bare arm come out, dropping wet clothing on the floor. The door closed. She sighed as she picked up the clothing and walked downstairs into the laundry room. By the time she got back upstairs, he was laying on her bed, his upper body exposed as he stared up at the ceiling. "I'm.. going to go get changed." Rogue walked over to her dresser and pulled out an outfit. Less than three minutes later, she returned wearing a black tank top and white yoga pants. She laid down next to his body, on her side. If she moved, she would tip over and fall off the bed. "What happened, Rem-Rem?" She stared at the side of his head.
"Nothin' good." He said turning his head to look at her. A serious look lingered in her eyes. "It ended with me shaming our family. When I reminded him I didn't have Lebeau blood, he told me to leave and not to come back."
"He was upset, Remy. Probably from Bella barging in, right? I bet anythin' she was cryin' and looked like a mess? Am I right?" When he didn't answer, she automatically knew she was.
"Not just that." He sighed and closed his eyes. "I have to get out of here, Ro'. I can't stay in Louisiana anymore. I know Julian is most likely out there lookin' for me." Suddenly, he groaned. "And I bet the first place he'll look is here." He stood up, which pushed the other Southern off the bed. "I have to go, Rogue. It ain't safe with me bein' here."
"You're not leavin' Sugah." She stood up and sat down next to him. "Not here, not now at least. If you have to leave Louisiana, I'm comin' with you."
He almost laughed. "Right. Irene would love that."
"You're goin' to leave jus 'cause you don't want to marry someone you don't love? All of this is stupid, Rem." She whispered, leaning against him. She rested her head on his shoulder. "We'll find a way through this, I promise."
***
"We need to talk—" Was the first thing Rogue said when Irene walked into the door.
"Yes we do." Her mother said, cutting her off. "I have important business to do in New York. I feel it is best if we move up there until it is completed."
Rogue just stared at her. "Only under one condition; Remy has to come with us." She then explained what had happened, and how Remy just left to retrieve his belongings at Jean-Luc's. "I know it's a lot to ask but you've known Remy since he was a wee one. Isn't he like a son to you? Please, Mom.."
Irene pressed her lips together. "Fine."
…
"Rogue—wake up. We're here." Kitty gently shook her sleeping friend. "C'mon lets make this quick."
***
"This is stupid." Rogue mumbled, yawning. "I don't see anythin'. Lets go home and do somethin' we rarely do when we're supposed to; sleep!"
"Thanks for the supporting attitude, Rogue." Cyclops said scanning the area. "Lets split up. If you don't see anything in ten minutes, we're leaving. I have a class in seven hours."
Rogue rolled her eyes and walked away in the opposite direction. She climbed over a fence, which took nearly two minutes, and sat down next to a tree that stood about ten feet away from the fence. Ugh. This is so stupid. Why did I join the X-Men? Then she remembered. Oh yeah. I'm a mutant. Thanks a lot, Ma. Rogue suddenly tensed up when she heard Scott yelling about something. She immediately stood up, knowing that Scott and the others were on the other side of the site. Suddenly, she felt as if she were punched in the gut as two glowing red orbs floated into the darkness on the other side of the fence.
"You." She growled. Anger flowed through her veins. She could barely breath as she glared ahead.
"Nice to see you too, chérie."
___
Part one complete: December 4, 2003
I changed the plot for this part. (By the way, I wanted to make it obvious they were going to meet up in the first chapter. Makes a great cliffie, huh?) The next chapter will center on Remy then the last part will be centered on the both of them, starting from the last line in this chapter. Sorry if this chapter sucked. I tried. REALLY HARD. I'm not even going to proof read this, even through I spent only today on this and I know there's a ton of errors. I need a beta reader. :|
Wasn't Rogue given the name Marie before the movie? *shrugs* Oh well. Everything is punned. Punned, punned, punned. I knew Anna's last name started with a P and ended with a N. Do I get at least half a cookie for being close? :P
I'll put the next two chapters up together. They should be up by Sunday, along with Learning to Trust and maybe Growing, if I feel like it. By the latest, Growing will be up by NEXT week.
Anyway, read and review!
--- ADDED NOTE: Ff.n has decided to punish me for my over use of italics and only allowed a few things to be italizied in this chapter. I tried to fix it so it wasn't that confusing. Bear with it.. :( Maybe if I upload it again, it'll show alllll the italics but I doubt it. Sorry y'all.