Dismal Angel 2010 - Episode 17
Chapter 6: Absence
Remy LeBeau sighed as he knocked on the door of Professor Xavier's private chambers. It was now nine pm. He knew the Professor would no longer be in his office, but might be in the private chamber next to the bedroom he occupied.
"Come," he heard the voice from inside.
Remy stepped through the door quietly, "don't mean to disturb you, Professor," he said quietly. There was still emotion in his voice, which Professor Xavier could tell at once just by the way he had said his sentence.
"Is everything alright?" The Professor was sitting by a roaring fire. The room was warm, and cosy, dark mostly except for a small lamp lit next to the table where the Professor was sitting next to reading a large book bound in leather.
"Yes, I think so," Remy nodded. "I wanted to discuss…something…that I just need to get cleared up now before tomorrow…because…tomorrow I just want to start again and get everything organised."
"Organised?" Professor Xavier queried raising a thin eyebrow.
Remy stood uncomfortably in the room. It was so completely old fashioned it reminded him of back home, a large house in the bayou with typically Victorian rooms.
"Is there something I'm missing?" the Professor asked, he gestured towards a leather wing backed chair near the fire, and watched as Remy sat down uneasily.
"No," Remy assured, "I…I've changed my mind, about a few things."
The Professor placed a bookmark between the pages he'd been reading and closed the book with a soft thud. A little dust rose from the book indicating it's age, "Oh?" he asked lightly.
"I've decided I want – I mean, if it's alright that is – to rejoin the X-Men…if there's room for me on the team."
The Professor put the book aside, "what brought on the change of heart?"
"A lot of things. Maybe it's boredom…maybe it's just wanting to make myself prove I'm better than I think I am, I'm not sure…" Remy said, he hung his head low, his hair fell over his eyes. "Rogue and Kitty…even the others have mentioned…that they think I have a lot of potential…can't imagine why."
"I think perhaps they are right, Remy," the Professor admitted, "I know you find it hard to believe, your self-esteem has gone. Whatever happened to you in the prison seems to have altered your outlook on certain things…I can't imagine why…but if you'd like, we can get to the bottom of it together…"
"I'd rather not, Professor…the thought of havin' someone else in my head…it kind of unnerves me," he admitted, "it ain't that I got too many secrets, there's just…some things I don't want people ever knowin' about me…not even you," he said nervously.
"That's fine," the Professor nodded, "I trust you completely, but…when you're ready and you feel like you can trust me enough to help, I'll be here…I'm always here…drowning in paperwork…"
Remy nodded, "I know."
"So…you'd like to rejoin the X-Men?"
"Yes," Remy nodded, "Maybe on just a…trial basis or something, to see how things go…If it's alright with you…and the others," he explained.
"The others don't have a say in this," the Professor smirked. "I'd be glad to have you join of course, but one thing I will have to warn you is that…the X-Men do function on separate teams most of the time…" he explained, "you and Rogue…will not be on the same team…"
"We won't?" Remy asked worriedly, he'd grown used to thinking – in the last ten minutes – it might be nice having more time with Rogue being with her on missions.
"Right now there are two teams. Cyclops runs the blue team – which is Rogue, Kurt, Logan and Hank," the Professor explained, "Ororo runs the gold team – Jean, Kitty, Piotr and Bobby."
"Is that all?" Remy asked.
"There are members who have taken leave for the time being – but will be back. Samuel Guthrie, Tabitha Smith, Jubilation Lee, and Alex Summers…they're helping found a new team of mutants called X-Factor. Once they've established the team and helped trained members they'll be returning to the teams."
"Right," Remy replied. "If me and Rogue aren't going to be on the same team then I guess that's just something I can't do anything about."
"You will occasionally find yourselves on the same missions. Larger missions require both teams, and sometimes another teammates talents are needed on a mission, you might find yourself with her more than you think, so don't be disheartened."
"It's just…I barely see her with all this…teachin' the students how to whoop ass in the danger room and goin' off on missions."
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," the Professor stated.
Rogue had been standing out on the back porch with a cigarette when Remy LeBeau found her there, he stepped up behind her. She was standing with her back to him, her hair swaying in a gentle cool late march breeze. He could tell by the way she was breathing that she was still upset, he saw the rise and fall of her shoulders with each breath.
"I didn't know you smoked, chere," Remy said, he moved over and took the cigarette from her, he put it to his lips and took a long drag, "Sweet nicotine…the only other lady in my life I'm addicted to beside yourself," he said, he blew a few smoke rings.
Rogue looked at him, he seemed surprisingly calm now despite little over two hours ago he'd claimed he was leaving. "I don't smoke," she said, "I just light them up and take one puff and cough the rest of the night."
Remy took another drag, he leaned against the remaining Corinthian pillar, the other that he'd accidentally blown up had not been replaced yet. He knew this would cost a lot, and felt still slightly guilty over the situation. He'd somehow make it up to the professor when he found the time – or money.
"I thought you were we leaving," Rogue said, she watched him closely, her eyes were puffy, it was clear she'd been crying for a while. Her cheeks still had the tearstains to prove it.
"I was," Remy replied, "changed my mind. Do you still want me to go?"
"No…of course I don't, you stupid swamp rat," Rogue said with shuddering emotion in her voice.
"Then…what?" He asked, he moved a little closer to look her in the eyes. Under the porchlight, her eyes looked a strange grey green, her face was paler. Her lips were trembling slightly, she was still obviously upset.
"I don't want you to go…I just…you know what I want…" she said softly.
Remy sighed, "I know…just doesn't seem like it's going to happen…but…who knows, maybe some day," he threw away the cigarette butt, he watched the sparks fly across path as it rolled away in the wind.
"So what now?" Rogue asked softly, "have we broken up?"
"I think we almost did," he said, "but…I'm sticking around…if you'll let me."
Rogue smiled a little, "I'll let you."
"I thought about what you and Kitty were sayin'…about my potential," Remy slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her a little closer, "I don't feel like I have much, but I figure the both of you can't be that stupid to mistake 'potential' for 'good looks'," he massaged the small of her back as he spoke, "so…"
"So?" Rogue asked, she wrapped her arms around his neck uncertainly, he seemed so calm now compared to how he'd been earlier. These mood swings were so unpredictable and confusing it left Rogue slightly jarred by it all.
"So…I went to speak with Professor Xavier…and we both agreed I should rejoin the X-Men…on a Trial basis…to see how things go…and if…I feel comfortable enough I'll settle in properly…"
Rogue nearly cried she was so delighted with this decision, "I'm so glad…" she said softly.
"But…I'm going to be in Ororo's team," he said sullenly, "with Jean, Kitty, PIotr and Asschunk."
"Asschunk?" Rogue asked, looking at him strangely. It had been a word she'd never heard anyone use before, let alone hear Remy use.
"Asschunk," Remy reassured.
"Asschunk…who…?" Rogue asked confusedly.
"Bobby. He's an asschunk, sorry, I know he's your friend, but he froze my fucking toothpaste a few weeks ago, all the water…I had to defrost the toilet the next morning, he's lucky the pipes didn't explode. He's avoided me ever since – freak that he is."
"Oh…" Rogue seemed a little confused, and then a little realisation seemed to dawn on her, although she said nothing to explain what she had on her mind. "What's an asschunk, anyway?" she asked.
"The only piece of him that's gonna be remaining if he acts like that around me much longer. I'm sick of him giving me the cold shoulder," Remy stated in a detatched tone as he rubbed her back.
"That's a bad pun," Rogue admitted.
"Yep," Remy agreed, but didn't say anything else regarding it.
Rogue sighed and pulled herself closer to him to hug him, "I'm so glad you're going to stay. I thought it was REALLY over for good this time…"
"Y'know, if it weren't for Kitty, we'd be both totally screwed up."
"I know…" Rogue closed her eyes, she rested her head against his shoulder, felt the warmth of his arms envelop her. Against him she felt safe and comfortable. At that moment she knew the institute was home, but within Remy LeBeau's arms was where she truly belonged.
"I'm going to really try this time, Rogue…for your sake," he stroked the bottom locks of her hair tenderly, closing his eyes as he breathed in the scent of her rosehip shampoo.
"Don't do it for my sake…do it for yours," Rogue pleaded, pulling him a little closer.
"Okay, I'll try," he murmured softly and he held her a little tighter. He opened his eyes and stared over the darkness of the fields. Up on a mound, nearer the woodland area, he saw two deep red eyes staring back at him, watching him with such cruel intent and malice. He closed his eyes tightly and pleaded in his head. 'Go away'.
When he opened his eyes, they were gone.
- The end (or is it?! Mwahahahah – how many times do I have to say that before people realise it isn't really the end? LOL. Ah, anyway, props to the avid readers and reviewers, you're the reason I do what I do! Alex, did you notice the little in-jokes I placed in the last chapter? I know you did. Props to you for being one of my little inspirations.
- Oh, and btw, just so you know, I know that the members I listed as "founding" X-Factor aren't necessarily members of X-Factor at all…I just put that in.
- Ash