Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.
This chapter may seem a whole different story, since I move back and forth through time, but hopefully it will all make sense, either now or by the end of it. For those of you who are familiar with the Age of Apocalypse timeline, this has several aspects from it.
Thanks to those who reviewed last chapter, it's always appreciated.
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The scent of freshly fallen rain clung to the ruined depths of New York City as the shadowed figure gracefully crept along it's edges, keeping himself hidden. Eleven months had passed since the bombs had fallen and Apocalypse's legacy had begun.
The young man shrouded in black had nothing to fear from Apocalypse's men, unless they discovered his traitorous side. The man he worked under stood beside Apocalypse, working within to destroy him.
Remy LeBeau stayed with this man, Nathanial Essex only for the fact that they shared the same passion to destroy Apocalypse. But Remy had never wanted to return to this city. Unfortunately, he needed help from the very people he had spent months trying to avoid.
He knew she was with them, it was what drew his incentive to return and killed it at the same time. Trudging through the battered streets, slipping in and out of the muddied puddles collecting in the street's cracks, Remy was too absorbed in his thoughts of her to notice he was being followed.
The feel of metal against his throat put an end to his steps. The attacker stayed hidden behind him, but Remy could never forget those claws. It was the figure before him that surprised him more, her fiery expression just taunting Remy to make his next move, her eyes narrowed in distrust and anger. Remy merely replied the way he knew best, by cracking his charming grin, red eyes blazing.
"It's been a long time cherie.
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Ten months previous-(One month after the bombs fell)
"This underground system for communicatin' is too slow Remy," Rogue complained, squatting down, huddling against the cold, stone wall. "It's gonna take forever to find out if any X-Men are still alive.
"I know chere," Remy replied with a tired sigh, crouching down beside her. "But we ain't got much o'a choice.
Rogue grasped onto Remy's hand tightly, bracing her head back against the stone. "Ah'm so danged tired o'working for Essex. Ah miss the X-Men's ways o'working.
"I know ya do Rogue. But if any o'de X-Men are still alive, I doubt dey be de same people dey used t'be." Remy pulled Rogue closer to his side, sliding his arm around her svelte waist. "Sides' chere, by working for Essex, we have hope o'defeating Apocalypse.
Rogue looked to the ground, using her free left hand to finger the dirt that dusted the concrete. "Ah know that Remy. It's just," she gave a loud sigh, still not meeting his eyes. "Ah feel so dirty. Ah feel a traitor to the X-Men's beliefs.
"If dey knew what we were doing, and what we been through, dey'd understand Rogue." Remy tried comforting, lifting her chin up and planting a light kiss on her soft lips.
The sound of a throat clearing broke the couple's embrace, as they jumped to their feet quickly, ready for an attack. Trust no longer came easy to anyone.
A tattered looking young woman stood before them, her eyes a crystalline, deep solid blue. "You were the two requesting information?
"Oui chere. What do y'got for us?" Remy asked, pulling a cigarette from his trench coat.
She stared at Gambit with a fascinating curiosity, her head tilted to the side a bit.
"Ya gonna answer him girl?" Rogue asked with impatience, her arms crossing.
"I know you," she said, still looking at Remy. "Why do you care if the X-Men are alive?
Remy lifted a hand to his cigarette, pulling it from his mouth in one fluid motion, exhaling smoke in the girl's direction. His red eyes gleamed with warning, never leaving the girl's sight. "Dat ain't your business petit. Now, what do y'know?
The girl looked startled, and took a step back from the couple. "I know that Xavier is dead.
Remy threw the cigarette to the sewer floor, his mouth twisting in annoyance. "We already know dat girl. What else?" Rogue stood to his side, watching the girl carefully.
"They are hard to follow. I know most survived, but several split off from the team. The bulk of the team still resides at Xavier's mansion, under new rule.
"New rule?" Rogue's southern drawl questioned. "By who, Cyclops?
The dark haired girl shook her head, her eyes darting back in forth between Rogue and Gambit. "Magneto leads the X-Men and their dream now.
The southern couple stared surprisingly at the girl, Rogue's eyes wide, Remy's eyes narrowed.
"Dat's impossible femme. Magneto was taken down long before dis whole mess started.
"I am telling you what I know and what is being spread through the grape vine. I have told you everything I know." The girl began to take soft steps backwards, and when the two didn't protest, she disappeared into the shadows of the tunnel.
"We could leave Essex." Rogue whispered after a short time.
"Dat would be as good as suicide Rogue.
"Magneto and the X-Men would protect us Remy." Rogue lay a hand on Remy's upper arm. He looked towards her, the fatigue wearing on her beautiful green eyes.
"Let's head back chere. Dere ain't nothing we can do right dis moment.
Rogue nodded her head unconvincingly, sliding her arm underneath Gambits. He gave her a reassuring squeeze, smiling as brightly as he could.
"Don't worry Rogue, it won't be like dis for much longer. I promise.
His words continued to ring in her ears as they headed back to Essex's base. She wanted with all her heart to believe that they were true. But the future was ever more uncertain. She tightened her grip on Remy's arm, resting her head against his shoulder. At least she was by his side.
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Present Day (Eleven months after the bombs)
"It hasn't been nearly long enough Gambit," the red head seethed, pulling a gun from her hip and training the barrel at Remy's forehead.
"Well Jean, I think Logan's claws and your weapon are more den enough o'a welcome. I ain't got a reason t'attack you." His hands were held up in the air, showing he meant no harm.
"You work for Apocalypse, I'd say that's reason enough," Jean pointed out, her gun unwavering from it's position on Gambit.
"I don' work for him chere. Don't believe everything de underground mail service tells ya. It's a lot more mixed up den dat. I have de same goal is you.
"And what's that bub, just ta make sure we're clear?" Logan's gravely voice asked from behind Remy.
"To stop Apocalypse Wolverine. I ain't the bad guy you're searching for." His expression stood still as he watched Jean make her decision.
Reluctantly Jean lowered her weapon, while Logan removed his claw and spun around to face Gambit.
Remy touched his neck where Wolverine's claw had pressed too hard. "So what are you two doing so far from Westchester?
Logan and Jean exchanged looks, unsure if Remy was acting ignorant in order to gather information.
"You really have no idea Remy?" Jean asked, using his real name for the first time in the conversation.
"Non. I was a tad angry wit a certain member o'de X-Men. I've been avoiding dere team like de plague for months now.
"But you've been to the mansion since the explosions, I know that for a fact." Jean stated, her green eyes showing their confusion.
"Oui, I have. But I didn't see all de X-Men in my one visit." Remy paused, taking in the closeness with which the two stood. "So what are y'two trying t'tell me?
"We left the X-Men bub.
"Huh, I'd heard some members had broken away. Never thought it would be you two. Why'd ya do it?
"I couldn't work under Magneto, I needed ta leave that place, and Red here just followed," Wolverine explained, jabbing a thumb in Jean's direction as he referred to her.
Remy's eyebrows rose up at the nickname, but then a thought came to him. "I hate ta be so brash Jean, but is Cyke dead?
Jean bristled at the comment, but quickly relaxed. "He may as well be Gambit. He changed a lot after Xavier died. He isn't the same man I knew.
"Known o'us are de same Jeannie." Remy stated quietly, suddenly thinking of someone else.
Jean pursed her lips, looking defiantly at Remy. "So, are you looking for the X-Men, or are you looking for her?
A flash of red beamed from Gambit's eyes, shooting out like fire. "Rogue made her decision Jean. I need de X-Men's help wit something.
"Uh huh." Jean replied in an unbelieving tone. "You were never a man to give up such a challenge Gambit.
"Things change with love Jean," Remy said wearily, gesturing towards Logan and Jean. "Now, if de interrogating is finished, I have places t'be.
"Maybe we should go with you Cajun." Wolverine stated, eyeing Jean for her input.
"I don't think so mon ami-
"We're coming, and unless y'want me to stick this metal all the way through yer throat this time, don't argue." The sound of his metal claws extending caused Remy to roll his eyes.
"Fine Logan. Merde, y'really don't change do you?
Logan chuckled lightly as the trio began their journey to Westchester, finding the shadows where they could.
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Nine and a half months previous-
Rogue rolled beneath the covers, her knee hitting Remy's thigh gently as she stretched. His toes began to rub against her feet, softly caressing, finding their way up her lower leg.
She was so thankful to still have the use of minor comforts such as Egyptian cotton sheets. It was the only good side to working under Apocalypse. She slid her hand up Remy's bare chest, watching his eyes remain closed, but his mouth curl into a smile. Suddenly, he pulled her to him, their bodies melting underneath the sheets as Remy placed Rogue beneath his body weight.
He began to kiss her neck lightly, one hand cupping her breast, as her fingernails trailed along his back.
"Ah got that damned mission this morning Cajun. Ya know that.
"So?" Remy mumbled, his mouth preoccupied with her skin.
"So don't make it real hard for meh ta get up." Rogue giggled as Remy bit playfully into her flesh. His hands began to roam down towards her butt, as he gripped it firmly, lifting her slightly. He gave her a small smirk as he entered her smoothly, making her moan as he began to move teasingly slow in and out.
He loved having morning sex with Rogue. The scent and feel of her was an intoxicating way to start his day. He slid down closer to her warm chest, his lips meeting hers, stifling her moans.
He continued to move inside her, relishing every second, unaware of just how close he was to losing these moments; these morning wake ups.
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Rogue headed down the corridor later that morning, her black body suit clinging to her curves. She hated doing missions for Essex without Remy. She hated doing missions for Essex period, but at least lately they had been relevant to bringing Apocalypse down.
Sinister believed Apocalypse's lust for power to be his downfall. Although Rogue was fuzzy on the exact details of Essex's plan, she knew it had to do with developing or discovering a mutant strong enough to take Apocalypse down single handedly. Her mission today consisted of entering a broken down lab, containing files on various mutant DNA. Unfortunately, Sabertooth was accompanying her due to the strength of his sense of smell or something to that extent.
They had split up for efficiencies sake. She had entered a tiny room composed of hundreds of file cabinets. As she was sorting through several, looking for the few Essex had asked for she heard sounds of a struggle on the other side of the wall.
When Sabertooth went crashing through the wall just a few feet in front of her, Rogue floated to the ceiling, hoping to take their attacker off guard.
She sucked in her breath as she watched Scott Summers walk through the gap in the wall, one hand to his visor an angry snarl marking his lips. He took another blast at the knocked down Sabertooth, a move that the X-Men would have once considered un-honorable. It surprised her that Cyclops would be the one breaking the rules.
She floated down near his right side, removing one glove as she did so, her eyes dead set on the skin visible on his face. Cyclops picked up her position quickly and aimed his visor in her direction, shooting one blast off. Rogue was fast as she swerved in the air to miss his shot. The inability to see his eyes made it hard to discern if he was shocked to see her.
But even Scott's new attitude didn't scare Rogue. She slipped back into the dark area of the room, her slim body moving in and out of the rows of file cabinets. Rogue had watched Remy enough to pick up his swift way of moving; the twist of his body, his inaudible steps.
She watched Scott pace around frantically in the shadows, his hand never leaving his goggles. His feet swooshed around clumsily, at least by Rogue's standards, as she glided like a ghost up behind him, her body oozing from the darkness. Her bare hand connected with Scott's face, as a soft moan escaped his lips and he fell to the ground.
After all, if he wasn't going to play fair, neither was Rogue.
"You are a woman of many surprises Rogue." A gentle voice acknowledged from behind her. She spun around, her hair whipping her face, her emerald eyes blazing. She recognized the voice.
"Y'all are pretty full of surprises yourself Magnus," Rogue spat, placing her hands on her hips. "Nevah thought ya were one ta agree with Xavier's dream.
"And I never thought you to be the traitorous type Rogue." Magneto observed, removing the helmet from his head.
Rogue glared at Magneto fiercely in response before he continued.
"However, I do not believe your actions were made of your own free will." Magneto began to stalk towards her. He lifted her chin with one finger. "Love is a strange and persuasive thing child. Are you happy?
Rogue's bottom lip quivered, but her eyes stayed strong. "Course Ah am. Ah love Remy." She swatted his hand away, taking a step back.
"There is still a spot for you with the X-Men Rogue. Your friends miss you. Magneto began to raise Scott's body from the ground, dragging him to his side. He then placed his helmet back on. "Unfortunately Rogue, I cannot let you continue with your mission." He rose his hand, magnetic currents beginning to shift in the room.
When Rogue just stood there, not raising a single arm or leg in her defense, Magneto lowered his hand.
"You are a strong woman Rogue. And despite being raised by Mystique, I believe your heart to be good. Please consider my offer.
Rogue nodded numbly, looking down to the floor. She saw Magneto create a magnetic bubble and carry Scott from the room, leaving her to drown in her thoughts.
She knew what she had to do.