-Y'all know the dilly yo, that I don't own these characters, marvel or anything else. Sometimes I wish I did, but wishing ain't having… oh well. Y'all know the drill.. blah blah blah.
- This story doesn't really fit in with the X-Men Evolution timeline at all nor would I try to make it to. However, in this story, Gambit was an acolyte, and Magneto disappeared. Oh yes, and the first meeting with Gambit and Rogue and the card and the whole media thing still happened. Oh, and Evan doesn't exist in this story or he's off with the morlocks because I don't really need a whole bunch of characters to incorporate into the story, since this is really a ROMY story. Everything else is all A/U but in a beautiful way. Enjoy!
On with the story…
Somewhere I Belong
Her eyes opened slowly to meet the sunlight that was streaming in through the window. She rubbed her eyes to adjust to the bright light. She yawned as she did this and intuitively snuggled closer to him.
Him?
At the realization that she was next to someone, she shot straight up. She looked down at the sleeping Cajun and remembered how he had gotten there in the first place. Her shocked eyes softened as she remembered how he came to her when she needed him. She just sat there and watched him until he slowly woke up.
He opened his eyes to find a pair of gentle green eyes staring at him. He smiled brightly at the sight of his Rogue.
"Mornin' chere." He greeted.
"Mornin' Remy." She greeted and smiled in return.
Remy stretched as he got up slowly. When he finally sat up, cross-legged and facing Rogue, the two sat in silence for a significant amount of time. Neither said anything to each other for both were unsure of what to say. Their eyes just locked in a gaze as if that perhaps was what needed to be said.
Suddenly, she did something that was beyond her own comprehension and reasoning. She crawled towards him and unexpectedly wrapped her arms around him. She buried her head in his shoulder as she whispered, "Thank ya."
His arms naturally found its way around her as he relished in her embrace. He whispered in return, "Y're welcome."
With their arms locked around each other, Rogue asked, "Remy, how did ya know?"
"Same way y'knew." He answered her, although he wasn't quite sure where his answer came from. A part of him still didn't understand the connection they had, but like he could feel her pain, he knew she could feel his.
"Oh." She answered and pulled away from him. She observed him for a while, and he let her.
Finally she said, "Remy, ah'm really mean."
He chuckled at her comment and responded, "No y're not."
She bit her lips as if she was contemplating on whether or not she should answer back. When she decided she should, she persisted, "Yeah, ah am. And Ah'm hella stubborn. And Ah'm cold. Ah'm anti-social. Ah'm not fun at parties. Ah swear too much. Ah'm rude. Ah'm…"
"Y're perfect." He interrupted her and pulled her into his arms again.
"Y're beautiful. Y're smart. Y're clever. Y're beautiful. Y' have a mean right punch. And did Remy mention that y're beautiful?" He asked her again.
Rogue found herself giggling as she responded, "Umm… maybe once or twice."
"Only? Well, Remy didn't say it enough den. Y're beautiful, Rogue. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful…"
"Remy?" She interrupted him and looked up at him from where she was nestled in his chest.
He looked down at her and met those big green eyes of hers. He just wanted to drown himself in her sea-green eyes forever.
"Oui?" He found himself asking, and was surprised that he could have said anything at the moment since he was so mesmerized by her eyes.
"Can ah still take ya up on that offer of wantin' t'hold me, t'be near me, t'tell that ah'm beautiful?" She asked softly.
He kissed the top of her head and she closed her eyes at his soft touch.
"O'course." He simply answered.
"Remy?" She inquired once more.
"Oui?" He responded as he lazily rubbed her back while holding her.
"Just t'let ya know, this also mean that ah can hold ya anytime ah want, to be near ya anytime ah want, and to tell ya that ya are so incredible anytime ah want." She told him.
He chuckled and kissed the top of her head again. "Sounds wonderful, chere."
"No, Remy, ya're wonderful." She responded and embraced him tighter.
-xoxo-
The rec room was dark and the only light that was offered was by the television set. The screen showed people celebrating in the heart of Times Square in New York City. He pulled the blanket higher and covered her shoulders. She murmured a 'thank you' and tried to stay awake to watch the countdown.
Remy Lebeau was sitting on the couch while his girlfriend was lying down,with her head on his lap. They had both decided to stay home for a quiet New Years, although words weren't even said and a discussion didn't even happened. He knew she couldn't handle big crowds and she knew that he wasn't up to the awkward stares he would receive for his unusual eyes. She turned away from the television and looked up at him. He looked down and smiled and she returned his smile. How could anyone find his eyes anything but beautiful, was beyond her understanding.
"Remy, do ya miss N'awlins?" She asked him softly.
He shrugged and answered, "Sometimes."
"Okay." She responded, not wanting to push the topic further.
However, he found himself talking about his former home. "Remy does miss de food, de festivities, de lifestyle. Sometimes, I find myself missing Henri and Lapin. Y'would have like Lapin. He's very funny alt'ough he ain't de sharpest needle in de haystack. He's loyal t'ough. Took de blame a few times for Remy. One time, when I be 'bout ten years old and just learned 'bout de first skills of a refined t'ief, I stole a pie Tante Mattie left on de counter. Ain't too refined a t'ief den t'ough as Remy hid in a closet wit' de pie, waiting for her t'find me. All of a sudden, de door's yanked open and Lapin popped his head in. He grabbed de pie and Tante Mattie grabbed his neck. Boy did she yell at him, but he didn't ever tell anyone it be Remy who stole de pie."
Rogue laughed a little as she imagined her frightened boyfriend hiding in a closet with a pie.
Remy smiled at her and continued his story. "I asked Lapin why he did it. He said it was 'cause Remy be family now and family look out for family. He also added in dat he needed me t'help him out a little when Henri be pickin' on him. Henri was a stiff when Remy got dere. Always worried about his future as de leader of de Guild."
"So how long did it take ya t'loosen him up? An hour?" Rogue teased him as she lazily drew circles on his stomach with one of her gloved fingers.
Remy laughed at her question before he answered, "Non, chere. Henri be really stiff, more like deux heures."
"Remy, do ya ever think 'bout going back?" She asked him softly.
5
"Sometimes, but not really." He answered.
4
"Do ya still think of her?" Rogue asked ever so softly again.
3
"Sometimes." He responded honestly.
2
"Do ya miss her?" Rogue asked in a faint whisper.
1
"No." He replied without even pondering about it for a second.
The people featured on the television set was rejoicing and singing Auld Lang Syne as the ball had dropped and confetti was floating all around them. There were people dancing on the street, people kissing each other, and people wishing strangers a happy new year.
Remy brought Rogue's finger that had been drawing circles on his stomach up to his lips.
Before he kissed it, he said, "Happy New Year, chere."
She smiled and took his free hand that had been lying protectively on her shoulder. She brought it to her lips and kissed it softly.
"Happy New Year to ya too, sugah."
-xoxo-
She shot the ball high, up, and off the table. He ducked just in time as the ball bounced hard off the wall.
"Whoops." She said innocently and gave him a smile.
"Yeah right. I'm sure dat Roguey didn't try t'aim for my head." He commented slyly and smirked.
She put the pool cue down on the table and walked over to her Cajun boyfriend. She brought a gloved hand up to his face and smiled coyly.
"Now, why in the world would ah wanna ruin a pretty face likes yours?" She said and patted his cheek.
Remy pretended to be in deep thought about that one before answering, "Good point, chere."
"O'course Remy. Ah mean if ah ruin your face, then what else would ya be good for?" She teased him.
"Aww… Remy be hurt now, chere. I feel like such a toy." He responded as he began to pout.
Rogue laughed at his boyish expression.
"Now, y' be laughing at Remy now?" He complained and pouted even more.
This just caused Rogue to laugh more. She slipped her arms around his waist, looked up at him, and when her laughter subsided, she said, "Hmm… maybe ya are good for a few other things."
His eyebrows arched up with amusement as he slipped his arms around her waist. "Like what, chere?"
"Like teaching me how t'play pool. C'mon." She said and withdrew her arms from around his waist. She walked back to the billiard table and grabbed the pool cue again.
Remy was still bemused with his southern gal. "Okay, chere. Bend over and keep de cue stable and positioned between your fingers." He instructed and Rogue did as he said.
With her bent over like that, Remy took his time with giving out instructions. He stood there for a few minutes and just admired her assets. It was definitely a firm butt. It was nicely rounded as her jeans clung to it and emphasized the curve. Suddenly, Remy felt the end of the cue poking him in the gut.
He grabbed the end of it and looked into the eyes of his girlfriend.
"Ya plan t'teach me any pool or are ya gonna just stare at my ass all day?" She asked him bluntly and with a twinkle in her eye.
"Y'really giving Remy an option here, chere? 'Cause I'd be happy t'stare at your…OOMPH!" Remy cried as Rogue jabbed him with the cue again.
"Just shuddup and teach me." She bluntly said and smirked at her boyfriend who was now rubbing the spot where the cue had poked him.
"Fine fine. Geez… Don' give Remy options if y'don' mean it chere. Now continue what y' were doin'." He instructed once more.
Rogue did as he said, and leaned down towards the table while trying to steady the cue between her fingers.
"Non, non, non. Not like dat. Here, I'll show y'." Remy said and walked over to Rogue. He looped his right arm around her and settled it on her arm that was holding the cue. His other hand went and grasped her hand that the cue was positioned on. He held it steady and eyed the ball while Rogue eyed him. He felt the sudden stare that she was giving him and matched her eyes with his. Her face flushed a scarlet red as she adverted her attention back to the task at hand.
"Mmmphhh…" A throat cleared loudly from the doorway. It startled both Remy and Rogue as they jumped away from each other and looked up.
Rogue's face brightened when she realized who was standing there. "LOGAN!" She greeted joyously and ran over to her mentor.
"Hey Stripes." Logan greeted in return in a lesser enthusiastic tone, although it was clear that he was quite happy to be home.
"So, where ya been?" Rogue asked curiously.
"Up north." He answered curtly.
"Just sniffin' 'round?" Remy questioned as he joined his fellow X-Men. His arms naturally slipped around Rogue's waist and he smiled his patented cocky smile at Logan.
"Ain't your business, Gumbo. What's the deal with… actually I don't wanna know." Logan decided as he eyed Remy's arms around Rogue's waist, suspiciously.
"What I do wanna know, is why my bike is covered in my clothes that happened to have your scent on it, Gumbo?" Logan asked in a low gruff voice as he narrowed his eyes on the Cajun.
Remy gulped a nervous breath as he felt sweat begin to formulate at his temples. "Umm…" Remy began as he was desperately trying to think of an excuse.
"Oh, that was nothing, Logan. The thing was, Remy did your laundry and needed to dry it somewhere 'cause the dryer was broken. And being the bright lad that he ain't, he just left it on your bike." Rogue chirped in and said it so casually as if that was an event that happened every day.
"Umm… right." Remy agreed and became grateful that his girlfriend covered for him although it was quite a horrible lie.
"Right… I'm sure that was why my bike is covered in my clothes. Nonetheless, Cajun, I want you down in the danger room now!" Logan demanded as an unusual smile appeared on his face.
Remy began to panic as he stuttered his question, "Umm… pourqoui, mon ami?"
"Need to check up on your skills to see if Rogue was going too soft on ya." Logan stated as his smile suddenly turned sadistic.
"Hey! Ah don't go easy on anyone!" Rogue cried in response to Logan's insult.
"Fine, then I just wanna kick some ass. C'mon Cajun, let's go!" Logan said and walked off with expectations that Remy would follow.
Instead, Remy just tightened his hold on Rogue. "Chere, he'll kill me." He said with a fear that Rogue had never heard from him before.
She laughed and he just gripped her tighter. "It'll be fine, Logan's a big softie." She tried to convince him with her less than true words.
"Y're lying. Remy just knows it. Y' do realize dat y' won't ever see me again if I go down dere." Remy told her. She unclasped his hands from around her and walked behind him. Remy felt a sudden push forward as his anxiety grew.
"Chere… y're cruel. Logan will rip me t'shreds!" Remy nervously said as he tried to stand firmly and not budge.
She pushed him forward though and encouraged him with her words. "C'mon, Remy. Ya can take Logan on any day! He ain't nothing but a big soft puppy! C'mon, be a man!"
Remy turned around to face his girlfriend. He hugged her once more before he turned around and faced the hallway that Logan had just walked down. He held his head high and mumbled, "Y're sendin' me t'my death, chere."
Rogue hugged him from behind. She squeezed him tightly and laughed at how tense her boyfriend was. "Ya will be fine, Remy. Better you than me." She said as she gave him one last push.
"GUMBO, YOU COMIN' OR DO I NEED TO DRAG YOU DOWN HERE?" Logan's voice bellowed from the bottom of the stairs.
"Guess it's time t'face my deat'. Only t'ing to do is try t'not let him at my face, it gotta look good when de casket's open and y' be looking…."
"Just go, swamp rat!" Rogue interrupted and pushed him which caused him to stumble forward. He regained his composure and walked solemnly down the hallway as if he was on death row.
Rogue laughed at the sight and yelled out some last words of encouragement. "Ya'll be fine!"
He turned around to glance at her once more with big frightened eyes and gave her a meek smile before walking to meet what he believe will be his 'executioner'.
-xoxo-
Her body was curled up on her bed while she was deeply engrossed in her book. It had been three hours since she had last seen Remy, and although most people would have been concerned with leaving their partners alone with Wolverine in the danger room, Rogue didn't have a single thought about it. Instead, she was sniffling as she got to the part where Melanie Wilkes had just given birth to her baby with Scarlett helping her deliver him, while a war was going on right outside their house.
Suddenly the door swung open with an extremely tired and sweaty Remy standing there and trying to catch his breath. He managed to stagger to Rogue's bed and plopped down beside her. He looked up at her watery eyes, which were paying him no heed and which were still absorbed in the book.
"Y' cryin' for me already, chere? Remy ain't dead just yet…" He said slowly as his tired eyes gradually closed. He snuggled up to her leg and wrapped an arm around it.
"What the hell?" Rogue said with surprise and looked down at what was latched on to her leg. When did he get in here, she wondered and kicked him off her leg. She kicked so hard that he fell off the bed and landed on the floor with a big thump. His groggy eyes opened at the rude awakening and he managed to drag himself back on to the bed.
"Chere, dat wasn't nice." He said and snuggled up to her leg again.
"Neither is grabbing my leg!" She exclaimed and tried to kick him off her again. This time, he held on tight though.
"I'm tired. Y'read and I'll sleep." Remy murmured.
"Not with ya on my leg. Get off!" She cried and tried to kick him off again but to no avail, he wouldn't budge.
"Remy'll get off on one condition, chere." He suggested coyly as he was clearly anything but tired at the moment especially with the way he was grinning.
Rogue rolled her eyes and asked, "That would be?"
"How 'bout a massage, chere?" He asked.
"That would be great, Remy. My back is so tense." She said and sat up straighter.
"Not for y'! For me! Y' weren't de one running away from a wolverine who wanted t'kill y' for t'ree hours!" He pointed out exasperatedly.
Rogue laughed and felt slightly bad for the way she pushed him to go to the danger room. "Fine fine, get up." She agreed and the excited Remy got up quickly to ensure that Rogue didn't have time to change her mind. He sat in front of her and her hands went to work.
"Mmm.. chere, your fingers are like magic. And Remy t'ought he had skilled fingers." He said as his stiff back relaxed at the touch of her hands.
Rogue's face flushed a content bright pink. "Well, ya can always show me how skilled your fingers are later…" She suggested.
"Mmmhmm… Remy never passes up de chance t'touch his femme." He replied in agreement.
"ROGUE? WE'RE HOME!" A cheery voice yelled from right outside her bedroom, but before Rogue could withdraw her hands, a surprised Kitty and Kurt were already standing at the door with their mouths wide-opened with shock and staring at the two cozy southerners.
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