Dismal Angel 2010 - Episode 16

Chapter 3: A Small Favour

          "This is your new room," Kitty said to Remy as she led him through one of the doors on the third floor west wing, "it's a bit bigger than the crumby guest room," she admitted.  "You share a bathroom with Bobby," she gestured towards an open door, "but that should be okay, right?"

          "It's fine.  I don't spend much time in bathrooms."

          "Yeah, that's apparent," Kitty gestured to his chin, a thick growth of stubble darkened his face, making him look slightly dirty.

          Remy smirked, "growing a beard."

          "Are you TRYING to get Rogue to break up with you?" Kitty asked.

          Remy walked over to the window and pulled up the blinds, "Nah, I just miss annoying her with my facial hair."

          Kitty smiled a little, it was nice seeing the occasional remnants of Remy's old self that would shine through the darkness that had overtaken his life as of recent. 

Remy looked around the room, it was a very plain beige colour, the carpets matched the walls, the bedding matched the walls, it didn't reflect his personality at all, but then…he'd forgotten what his personality was, really. 

"Anything you need, you can speak to Jean…she orders soap, shampoo, towels, blankets, anything you want, really…"

          "Hookers?  Strippers?  Sex all around the clock?"

          "That isn't orderable by the internet, so no," Kitty responded, "How you doin, anyway?" she asked, "You've been…quiet, the last few days."

          "I been fine.  Been busy adjusting to the high life again.  Been so used to livin' in shitty run down places and hanging from a wall in a cold steel room that this is still a bit…new to me."

          Kitty moved over and hugged him swiftly, "we're glad to have you back."

          Remy patted her back, "gotta be honest that I'm glad to be back, but…I just need time to get used to it all again," he moved away from her, and opened the window, he took out a packet of cigarettes from his jeans pocket and lit one up with a disposable lighter. 

          Remy had always been the only person – save Logan – who had smoked in the mansion.  Even the smell of Remy's smoke was old and familiar to Kitty and reminded her of better times – and of worst. 

          "Hey, you busy tonight?" Kitty asked suddenly.

          Remy paused for a moment, "me and Rogue got plans.  A date.  Been a while, need to get our heads round us.  Thought maybe goin' out would help that a bit."

          "Oh…" Kitty said, she looked away, her expression a little fevered, "It's just…that um…I needed a favour…not that you owe me anything or whatever, but…I need a friend…and I thought maybe you and Rogue—"

          "Hmm?" Remy asked.

          "Me and Piotr are going on our first date tonight," Kitty explained, "but it's going to be awkward, you know…I mean we've worked together for quite a few years now…and been friends since about a year after you left…"

          "Where do me and Rogue fit into all this?"

          "Maybe you guys could come along?"

          "Chaperones?" Remy asked absurdly.

          "More like a double date…but…maybe it'd be fun…start off together for the evening…and if all goes well respective couples split to go off on their own?" She asked hopefully.

          "I'd have to speak with Rogue, I don't know if she'll go for it…" He took a long drag of his cigarette, "but I'll try…"

          "Okay," Kitty smiled, "thanks, you're the best," she hugged him once again before running off.

          Rogue ran into Kitty an hour later as she was heading up the stairs to change out of her uniform into her civilian clothes for the day, "Oh, hey!" Rogue said brightly.

          "Hey," Kitty gave her friend a look over, the bruises on Rogue's face was darker than they had been days ago, but they seemed to be healing, she was wearing some of her hair over her face to hide it, but it was still remotely obvious.  "Finished for the day?"

          "New students…god…they're SO out of shape, even for kids…I think I'm gonna need reinforcements in getting them up to scratch," Rogue groaned.

          Kitty smiled a little, "seen Remy?" she asked hopefully.  She was hoping Remy had found her and asked her about the date.

          "About an hour ago…at about eleven am," Rogue glanced at her watch.

          "Oh," Kitty nodded, "okay."

          "Hey, you busy tonight?" Rogue asked, she rested her arm on the banister and looked at her friend enthusiastically.  Rogue hadn't looked so cheerful in a while, and Kitty was glad to see her so happy again.

          "Uhm…depends," Kitty raised an eyebrow, "why?"

          "Well…Remy asked me out, but…we haven't really been properly alone in SO long…" Rogue said, "I'm scared it's going to be awkward…"

          "Oh…" Kitty nodded, "Yeah…that's a possibility…"

          "Well…I figured since me and you are such good friends, and you and Piotr are going out but haven't had a date yet, I thought maybe we could a double date kind of thing…and maybe it'd help some of the awkwardness…"

          Kitty nearly laughed, "wow…that's…a great idea," she wondered, "I was actually thinking the same thing…I'd asked Remy, he was going to ask you…"

          Rogue giggled, "great minds think alike."

          "Fools seldom differ."

          Remy had entered into control annex of the Danger room to see if Rogue was still down in the Danger room, but Piotr was sitting in there on his own watching Logan and Ororo in a Danger Room session.  "Oh, hey…" Remy said, "Seen Rogue?"

          "She just left," Piotr responded, "but she was going to get showered and changed so she may be a while," he added.  "Was it important?"

          "Hmmm?" Remy asked.

          "What you wanted to speak to her about?"

          "Not overly, no, but it was something I wanted to run by her," Remy shrugged.  "Hey, I hear you and Pretty Kitty are goin' on your first date tonight."

          "Yes," Piotr nodded, "I am afraid it may be awkward."

          Remy smirked a little, he didn't want to mention Kitty had asked himself and Rogue to tag along, Piotr might need persuading by Kitty on that idea.  "Really?" he asked.

          "Yes…I was thinking it might be easier if you and Rogue come along with us…"

          Remy chortled, "really.  How so?"

          "Just because four is a less awkward number," Piotr replied, "and if we all wish to split later to be with our girlfriends then this is fine, but it may make things easier for me and Kitty."

          "Y'know, that's an excellent idea," Remy said, "I'll talk to Rogue about it."

          Rogue was in the shower when she heard a knock at her the threshold of the bathroom – since the bathroom was en-suite there was no door there, only an open doorway itself, she slid the frosted glass screen open a little and peered out from behind it, "what?" she called.

          "It's me," Remy said, he was standing behind the threshold against the wall not looking in.  "Wanted to ask something," he said.

          "I need to ask you something too," she switched the shower off, and grabbed a towel from the hook nearby.  She wrapped it around herself and stepped out from beyond the screen, she stepped into her bedroom, turning to see him standing against her wall, his arms folded, head low.

          "You ask first," Remy said, always being the gentleman.

          "I was thinking, what if me, you, Kitty and Piotr, all double dated together tonight…it'd kind of be fun…we haven't ever really done something like that before."

          Remy raised his head a little, looking at her, she was still so bruised along one side of her face that she seemed odd to him, her arm was bruised slightly and he could only guess that beyond the towel there were further bruises.  "That's find.  Kinda wanted to ask you same thing.  Kitty asked me if we could…then Piotr asked me…"

          Rogue smirked, "seems like everyone had the same thing in mind, huh?" she grabbed a robe from where it hung over the edge of the bed and pulled it on over her towel.  "Where do you want to go, anyway?" she asked.

          "I there's this little place uptown that has the best food and a dance floor – decent priced alcohol too, although not that I'm a cheapskate or anything," he shrugged. 

          Rogue smiled a little, "it's fine," she chewed her lip, "you are going to shave though, right?"

          Remy nearly laughed, he knew it wouldn't take long before the overgrown stubble would get to her, "yes," he assured, "I'll shave."

          Rogue paused for thought, "Remy…" she said softly, "I…uhm…" she reached over to the bedside cabinet and opened the small drawer, pulling something out quickly, "this is yours…"

          Remy was confused for a moment, he took the item from her hand and examined it.  She was right, it was his.  A silver tobacco case she had given him several years ago for one Christmas.  It had an ace engraved intricately into one corner although over the years the tobacco tin had lost its shine and had become a little tarnished.   "I forgot about it," he said, "carried it with me for a long time…never used it though…except to keep the ring in."

          Rogue had almost forgotten about the ring, she heard it rattling inside.  "I'd forgotten…I saw it there…several weeks ago…" she chewed her lip.  "Why do you still have that?"

          "Didn't have the heart to sell it or give it a way…" he admitted.  "For a while, I wore it on a chain…but…then…I decided there wasn't ever going to be anything between you and me anymore and…I put it in there…never opened it again…that was about six years ago…" he said.

          Rogue looked at him, "you…can always use the tobacco tin again you know…"

          Remy looked at her, "okay," he smiled, "well I better go talk to Kitty, confirm details and all the rest…"

          Rogue nodded, she got up slowly, wincing in the pain that had remained with her following the attacks from the clones at the GMCF four days previous.

          "Rogue…y'know, if you're in that much pain we can cancel the date?"

          "No, I'm sure Kitty and Piotr are counting on us anyway," Rogue added.  "Just…go get everything all sorted out and I'll deal with my own stuff."