Star-of-Chaos: I think he would be pleased too :-) though he doesn't know Rogue is his sister yet...or does he? Is this another huge continuity thing I've managed to screw up? If so I have many chapters of story to re-write...eek
GreenFairyGirl88: ooh a new reviewer! How very nice it is to see you! I'm glad you like this story enough to want a sequel, but worry not! There are plenty of chapters left!
Ishandahalf: wow, what a lovely long review for me! Heehee, I'm glad I made you jump up and down and cheer, not to mention making your day! How proud do I feel now! And a gold star to boot! My my my, you should see the grin on my face right about now! Yeah, I thought about the ageing thing, but it is sorta addressed later on, promise. It may also interest you to know (though probably not) that the other day I finished writing this entire story, so now I can update quicker than a bunny on crack!
Lady Xiu Mei Phoenix: fun will ensue! Eventually...
Miya Reino: Yeah I think everyone knew Belle would cave, it was a very predictable ending, but it was the best I came up with. As for the schizoid Remy, you'll just have to wait and see!
Misa1124: Yep, eighteen chapters, all of which are finally written! I decided Remy shouldn't be the bad guy with the Belle thing this time, he's always the bad guy, time for a change. This was at least he gets to keep his family and Belle's the one run outta town!
One More Star in the Sky
Chapter Nine (In which we drive on 9)
Oh how he hated long drives. Speeding along on his powerful black motorbike had certainly been fun for a while, but now he was tired and his ass had gone numb hours ago.
Now, he was almost at Bayville, Rogues former home. She had made it very clear to him that she wasn't so sure about this plan. He thought that secretly she was pleased though. Wherever Remy went, Rogue was required to follow, so she would get to see all her old friends again.
He on the other hand actually found himself looking forward to meeting all the people Rogue had told him about. He had heard so much about her valley girl roommate Kitty, fuzzy blue Kurt, fearless leader Scott, the perfect, obnoxious Jean Grey and a whole host of others that it was like he knew them all personally.
As he drove past through the very picture of suburbia, he started to wonder how Rogue had lived here so long. Most of the houses were painted magnolia and had little white fences, it was far and away one of the sleepiest, most boring looking places he had ever been. Not to mention cold. Remy hated the cold with a passion, in his beloved New Orleans, it was hot and humid most of the time, he had never seen the snow and he liked it that way. Rogue was a southerner like himself, how she put up with the cold he never knew, but he was going to have to do it too.
Despite her vague protests, Rogue had given him some directions to the "Xavier Institute" where she had once lived. Turning the corner into Greymalkin Lane, he realised what she had meant when she told him "ya can't miss it." It was a huge redbrick mansion, towering over the two-up two-downs that surrounded it. It was set back from the road, a huge garden and circular drive in front of it.
Remy parked his bike and took of his helmet, shaking out his auburn hair. Walking up to the vast iron gate in front of the property, there was a small metal sign that read "Xavier Institute for the Gifted," as well as an doorbell with a little intercom box just above it.
He was just about to press the bell, as opposed to his usual method of simply jumping over the wall, when the large gate swung open, allowing him in. Someone already knew he was here.
-o-o-o-o-
Kitty Pryde was upset. It was a Sunday, and by all rights she should have been out with friends or even doing her homework, but she wasn't. She was just sitting in her room, knees hugged to her chest, thinking. Not ten minutes ago she had been in a meeting with the Professor, who had suggested that another young mutant should be brought in to fill the vacancy left by Rogue.
For the first couple of months everyone had hoped upon hope that Rogue was still alive, just missing. They had managed to retrieve Fred, Evan and Logan, but by the time they found out where Rogue was being held and gotten into the place, which turned out to be suspiciously easy, no trace of the stripy haired southerner was left.
As the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, hope had dwindled, but the Professor suggesting that they should start looking for a new member seemed like the final nail in the coffin for Kitty, a sign that everyone had finally given up.
She didn't like the thought of anyone else sharing their bedroom either. Rogues side of the room had been kept pretty much like she had left it, which was a mess, but over the last week or so, Jean and Storm had begun to box a few items up and sending them back to Rogues foster mother, Irene Adler in Caldecott County, Mississippi.
Kitty was just beginning to think that sleep seemed like a very nice idea right now when the Professors voice rang out clear as a bell in her head.
Would students and teachers please meet me downstairs, we have a visitor...
-o-o-o-o-
Remy began to wander up the driveway, the gravel softly crunching under his feet. He knew enough about the people who lived here to know that telepaths were around, and presumably this was why the gates had been opened for him. He considered that for a second. If they had opened the gates for him that must mean that they trusted him enough to let him in without question. Remy also decided that since there were telepaths, he better guard his thoughts, which were... impure to say the least.
"Just be careful Rem," a soft southern voice rang in his ear. He nodded silently as he approached large wooden door, the entrance to the Institute.
He didn't even have to knock. He practically jumped back in surprise as the door was pulled open just as he went to knock on it. He mentally scolded himself for not knowing better.
In the foyer of the grand mansion, Remy found a bald man in a wheelchair, surrounded by students, most of which were a good deal younger than Remy and a couple of adults that he presumed to be teachers. He actually found it pretty easy to identify people based on what Rogue had told him. Easiest to pick out was Kurt, there were not many people who had royal blue fur and a long tail, similarly, he took a guess that an older boy in preppy clothes and bizarre red sunglasses was Scott, and the red-head at his side was Jean.
"Good morning, Mr..." The Professor greeted him.
"Lebeau, Remy Lebeau," Remy finished for him even though he was pretty damn sure that he already knew his name. "Nice t' meet y'."
The Professor signalled for Remy along with the students and teachers to follow him into a lavishly decorated office just down the corridor. Once inside, the Professor sat behind his desk, and motioned for Remy to take a seat along with everyone else.
"Welcome, Mr. Lebeau, to the Xavier Institute for the gifted. As I'm sure you have gathered, this is a school for mutants. Cerebro, our computer detected a new mutant signature in the area, that was you was it not?"
Remy nodded. He had actually understood very little of what was just said, something about mutants and computer, but he thought that it was probably best to go along with what they were saying. Rogue had trusted them, and that was good enough for him.
"So" the Professor continued, "Shall I take it that you are interested in joining?"
Remy laughed realising that they were actually trying to recruit him. "Non, je suis desole. De reason Remy be here is dat he has some information on a fille dat was a member of y' school, Rogue."
At the mere mention of the name, a very short, very angry man made a lunge at him, unsheathing dangerous looking metal claws from his hands. Several students went to hold him back so that he couldn't skewer poor Remy.
"What have you done with her Cajun?" the man growled.
"Calm down Logan! You've been wanting answers for months, now we have someone who could give you what you've been looking for and you try to kill him! Please, compose yourself," the professor told him sternly. Logan retracted the claws, but refused to sit down. "Please, Mr. Lebeau, we would be grateful for any information you can give us about Rogue. She has been missing for quite some time."
"Remy sorry t' be de one t' tell y'" he answered, lowering his eyes, "but de Rogue died, several months ago." A stunned silence hit the room. So it was confirmed then, Rogue was not coming back. They had feared as much when neither Jean nor the Professor could pick up any mental activity coming from her.
"YOU!" Logan made another lunge, "YOU KILLED HER!" Remy scrambled over the couch and ran towards the window, Logan hot on his trail. Suddenly, the homicidal mutant was surrounded in an odd blue light that prevented him from moving.
"Thank you Jean" the Professor addressed the red head who was now concentrating very hard, eyes shut, one hand on her forehead.
"I can't hold him much longer!" she exclaimed in some distress, trying to emphasize the time issue.
"Then we'll be quick, Mr. Lebeau I strongly suggest you tell me everything you know about the death of this girl or else the consequences will be very severe indeed. Remy wondered exactly what these 'consequences' were and was about to ask, but thought better of it.
"She was killed by a homme name Trask, she said he did a lot of experiments on her, den she don't remember nothin' else."
"Trask..." the older man said gravely, "we were worried about what happened if he ever did get his hands on a mutant, unfortunately now we know... Wait, what did you mean when you told me that 'she said' he performed experiments on her?" he added as an after though.
"Roguie, she been lookin' after Remy, keepin' him safe."
Now, everyone in the room was looking at him like he was completely crazy. He had just walked into their school and claimed that their dead friend was now talking to him; most of them were not quite sure what to think.
"Perhaps everyone should leave, I would like to talk to Mr. Lebeau alone for the moment." Students began to file out of the room at Xavier's request, whispering among themselves, throwing odd, scared looks at the obviously insane stranger.
Now the room was quiet, and Remy went to take his seat in front of the Professor again as the possible death threat had been taken with the students.
"If you don't mind" Xavier asked quietly, "I would like to take a look inside your mind, I must know what has happened to her, do you understand?" Remy nodded. In the short time he had been in this place it had been easy to see that Rogue meant a lot to these people, possibly even more than she meant to him, though he found that hard to believe. The Professor closed his eyes and Remy felt a slight pressured sensation come over his head, but it didn't last long.
Now Xavier had access to every one of Remy's memories. Sorting through them all, he eventually found the moment when Rogue had first appeared to Remy. He saw her dressed in white, he saw the wings on her back, and it was all true. One of the last things he registered before leaving the boys mind was his deep feelings for Rogue. They had obviously grown very close in the time they were together.
"Well Remy," Xavier began, "in light of what has happened, and on the basis of some of the things I have seen in your memories, I would very much like to offer you a place to stay here, even if it is just for the time being."
Remy sat quietly, considering the offer. He had nowhere else to go, and this had been Rogues home, he was sure he could stay for a while...
As an endnote, did anybody spot the Breeders reference in the title of this chapter? A hundred million billion super points if you did! I love The Breeders and this is the ninth chapter and it started with some driving so I felt it was too good an opportunity to miss! If you haven't even heard of The Breeders, shame on you! ;-)
Anyway, please please please review! It won't take a moment of your time and you'll be making an author very happy! I'll see y'all soon, take care now...