Dismal Angel 2010 - Episode 15
Chapter 5: The Escape
It was only an hour and twenty minutes later when Rogue stared out of the window of the upstairs hallway gazing over the driveway, she couldn't believe that he'd gone. She saw him leaving on that old bike that he'd been fixing for years, the engine was loud, and droned off in the distance as he headed down the drive and disappeared through the gates. Somehow he'd gotten that decrepit old monstrosity working enough to get him out of there. She couldn't believe it. Eight years it had lay in the garage doing nothing and within an hour he managed to fix it. It felt as if every time she went to the garage she'd notice the empty space where it had always remained untouched, rusting and covered with dust.
"Why'd he have to go?" she asked, knowing Kitty Pryde was hanging around at her back watching, being there for support in case Rogue needed to cry or scream about the situation.
"Because he got scared, I guess," Kitty approached, hugging an oversized dark grey sweater around her. The building had grown cold suddenly within the last half hour. Outside dark clouds had begun to dapple the sky promising rain. The warm weather had been short lived and the X-Men had all retired inside after their barbecue.
It had almost seemed like the moment Remy had abandoned the estate, the clouds had come. It felt like that way within her soul also. He hadn't even had the nerve to say goodbye to her. It all seemed so unfair. To have gone through so much pain and exhaustion, trouble and tears just to have him walk away at the end of it. Even the consolation that a thousand other mutants had been rescued did little to lift her spirits.
"How could he just…leave…I told him I loved him, didn't that mean anything to him?" Rogue asked, her eyes tearing up a little.
Rogue heard the heavy footsteps of Piotr Rasputin also approaching, "perhaps…your desperation slightly frightened him…"
"I was not desperate," Rogue sighed. "And since when has desperation ever bothered a guy like Remy LeBeau…?" she asked. "He's not the type of guy to scare easily…"
Kitty glanced over to Piotr, "you're not helping, Piotr," she said in a low tone. "If you really want to help, then go out there and see if you can catch up and convince him to come back…he's driven away on a motorbike that's been in pieces for like eight years, it'll probably fall apart if it storms and it looks pretty bad outside – just go do that – for me?"
"Of course I will," Piotr said softly, and with those words, he turned and left heading down the grand staircase. Seconds later they could hear the soft slam of the door and the sound of Piotr's own motorcycle driving away.
"He'll be back, Rogue," Kitty assured after Piotr was finally gone. "He might be scared but he's still in love…he told me so…I talked to him last night. He's gonna realise he's made a mistake and he's going to turn back. And he'll be here…"
"How do you know?" Rogue demanded, she pushed some of the locks of white hair from her streaks away from her face, she looked at Kitty through hurt eyes.
"Because I know him and I know he regrets things and he left you once and I don't think he's going to want to do it again…" Kitty said softly, she touched Rogue's shoulder, "you're the woman no other woman can compare to…"
"He said that?" Rogue looked at Kitty hopefully.
"Yeah, he did…" Kitty said, "and a guy like Remy wouldn't just make up stuff like that during his saddest moments if it wasn't true…" she reminded. "I know he's going to be back…"
Remy LeBeau had been driving through a light rain for several miles. His thoughts were screaming at him calling him a foolish and frightened, but it felt good to be away from Rogue nonetheless. His thoughts felt clearer, and he didn't have to worry about seeing her face and falling hopelessly in love.
He was in love though, and there was nothing he could do about it but tolerate it. It was better to end things this way, his running meant she didn't have to say goodbye, and goodbyes could be emotional. And if he was out of her life she would have better chances of having a happier life with someone else. Maybe one day she'd control those powers…and fall in love with one of her colleagues…
She deserves more than me, he thought. There were other things he needed to take care of also that he knew he shouldn't neglect. His situation with Sinister, Chantal and Magneto could not yet be over, for he had not seen any of them dead. Despite the control centre of the GMCF had been destroyed, their research had not been, and it would probably not take long before more clones were created. More MX2 would be made and used against mutants. A bigger prison would be constructed, and a bigger plan would be carried out. Remy felt he had to keep that thought in mind and find out more
Remy was surprised when down the road Piotr on his motorcycle overtook him. Swerved and blocked the way. Remy swerved to avoid a collision and the bike came to a stop, frowned, "what do you think you're doin'?" he asked, slightly annoyed at the delay. He felt if he didn't get away soon from Bayville he'd lose his nerve and not be able to go any further.
"Stopping you from making the biggest mistake of your life my friend," Piotr responded. "Kitty sent me for you, asked me to convince you to come back if I could…for her, for Rogue…"
Remy shook his head, "I can't…I just can't…you don't GET it."
"What are you so afraid of?" Piotr asked. "A woman's love? Some people would kill for such a thing."
"No…I'm not scared of love," Remy responded coolly, his dark eyes gazing over at the large man. The two had never really gotten along, and it seemed even strange he would have agreed to come after him.
"It seems to me you are…you're scared of something that's for sure."
"I'm not scared," Remy frowned, "I just don't want to be…a disappointment to her…or to myself…" he got off his bike and walked over, "I couldn't even look her in the eye when she asked me to tell her I didn't want to try and make it work…me…the world's best liar…couldn't use an ounce of my charm against her…"
"You feel ashamed?" Piotr asked. "Perhaps that you could not lie to her was a good thing…perhaps this is a sign that finally you can be honest with her – and I know that your relationship with her in the past was not exactly an honest one."
Remy shrugged, "I know that...but…I'm in a bad place right now and she just doesn't get that…she's been through a lot, but…I'm so incredibly…I mean…I just…"
"Is this about what was in the newspapers? About the depression?"
"Yes," Remy said, "How can I make her happy when I can't even make myself happy?" he demanded, "How can I be with her when my jumps from contented and joking to sad and suicidal as quick as a lightswitch turns on and off?"
"You can try…and that would be good enough for Rogue," Piotr said firmly, his cornflower blue eyes squinting. He seemed determined to not let Remy go without an argument.
"No it wouldn't be, Piotr! You just don't get it! How can I make you understand how frantic I feel that I might hurt Rogue when you don't even have eyes to see a girl is hopelessly in love with you?!" Remy looked away, downcast.
"What?" Piotr asked, looking confused and taken aback.
"Hmm?" Remy responded, a little side tracked. He'd been talking so fast and carelessly he hadn't realised what he'd said.
"What girl is hopelessly in love with me?" Piotr asked.
"Uhm…I need to go," Remy climbed back onto his bike, "get out of the road."
"No, I want to know who this girl is! You have intrigued me…" Piotr frowned.
Remy sighed, "Kitty is crazy about you, you see it in those eyes of hers…she even told me so…and you are just totally oblivious to it."
"Oh…" Piotr's mouth dropped, he seemed deep in thought as if trying to recognise a memory that it might have hinted towards the girls feelings.
Remy looked up as the rain began to come down heavier. "I have to go, Piotr…the rain is comin' down a lot heavier and I still have a lot of mileage to cover…I've made my decision and I'm going to live by it," he explained, "Besides, I got other stuff to do…and it has importance…I started it in the first place FOR Rogue…I can't just drop it now after so much hard work. Seven years I put into this…"
Piotr pulled himself out of his temporary reverie, "You will find yourself in regret if you do not turn around and face her and tell her you love her…you know you do…when you speak of her, your eyes light up, you, a man who I worked with and thought had very little true emotion…"
The words made Remy quiver slightly, he was reminded of the conversation he'd had with Kitty the night before.
"You will kick yourself for the rest of your life if you do not turn back now…is that how you want to live?"
"I don't deserve her anyway," Remy said, and he was glad the rain drops running down his cheeks were hiding the tears that had broke free of his eyes. "I never did," he admitted, "and she's too good to deserve a rat like me…" he revved his bike up, "tell her I'm sorry but it's for the best."
"I am sorry you feel that way, Remy….but I will tell her. If you are determined to go, I cannot stop you any more," Piotr said, "it is on your head now what you do."