* * *
Kitty told me once that one o' th' reasons she loved ta swim was that it reminded her of phasin', only she didn't have ta think about it. Whatever th' cause, she was a much stronger swimmer than Ah was, dippin' in and out gracefully while Ah made my way clumsily across th' surface. Didn't matter though. In a place like that. Th' water was lukewarm, frothed by gentle waves an' clear enough that ya could see your feet all th' way down. Ah turned a choppy somersault an' then spread out on my back so that th' sun warmed an' the water cooled. Ah made a mental note ta pick up stronger sunscreen. Picked my hand outta th' water just ta watch th' pearls o' moisture roll down from my fingertips ta th' insides o' my wrist before fallin' off.
Somethin' brushed by my foot an' Ah kicked lazily at it, figurin' it was a stray twist o' seaweed. When it pushed back, Ah startled, rightin' myself with a noisy splash.
Kitty giggled. "You should see your face! Totally worth it."
"Not if Ah drained your powers by accident," Ah grumbled darkly.
She stuck her tongue out. Her hair was wet an' already looked stiff from th' saltwater. "Oh everything's gotta be, like, such a huge deal with you!"
"One thing has ta be a huge deal with me," Ah reminded her gently. Hard ta get up th' urge ta argue under that sun. Felt like a weight pressin' down. Not in a bad way, but Ah understood why everythin' moved a little slower in th' heat. "Where's John?" Ah asked, tryin' ta change th' subject.
Kitty waved her hand casually. "He went off for a walk or something. I dunno."
"Ah'm sure he'll be back in time for lunch."
"Yeah. He's kinda creepy that way. Like, he always knows."
Ah laughed, skimmin' th' water with my hand. "Mebbe it's another mutant power?"
"Right."
Tell th' truth, Ah was glad that John'd decided ta go off by himself for awhile. Gave me time ta think an' puzzle over what Ah was going ta do. Ah kicked over, curlin' my spine until my hands could touch th' sandy bottom. My palms sank down. Ah straightened my legs, likin' th' cool feel o' th air. Ah'd never really been in water so warm before. With my eyes closed, it felt like light fabric, cotton mebbe, pressin' in. Quiet. Patches o' light chased each other behind my closed lids.
Kitty tickled th' arches o' my feet an' Ah lost my balance, tippin' over an' somehow comin' out awkwardly in Remy's arms. He nudged a stray piece o' hair away from his nose with his shoulder an' readjusted his grip. Ah shoved at him playfully.
"That was you?" Ah demanded peevishly, smilin' ta blunt my tone. Kitty was at least a hundred feet away, her hands spread over th' water like she was castin' a spell or somethin'.
"Hmm?" Remy replied sweetly, right before he sweetly ducked my head underwater.
"Bastard," Ah said fondly, squirmin' like Ah wanted to escape. He kissed th' corner o' my mouth, which was somethin' Ah loved but had never bothered ta tell him. Reminded me of all th' time we couldn't touch, not really touch, an' th' things we had ta come up with. Now it seemed ta me like a marker of how far we'd come. "Everyone's playin' with fire these days. Sneakin' up. Seems like everyone's forgotten what it used ta be like."
"Non," he assured me quickly, "been making up for lost time." My stomach jumped. Amazin' ta be so comfortable with someone an' still have 'em take ya by surprise. He trailed a finger slowly up th' dip o' my spine. Was like someone settin' fire ta each bone, one by one until my whole skeleton was glowin'. Ah was suddenly glad that Kitty'd convinced me ta spend money on a new bathin' suit. Black one piece with a high neck an' a completely open back. She'd tugged me in th' direction of th' bikinis, lookin' like little scraps o' nothin'. Just seein' 'em made me nervous since Ah was sure that they'd only look smaller on. With or without my powers, there were some things that Ah'd never be comfortable with because they didn't fit with th' way Ah wanted myself ta be.
Gave myself a mental shake so Ah'd be alert enough ta kiss him. His lips were wet from th' water, salty an' a little gritty. He managed ta lower me down without breakin' up th' kiss too much. Ah wrapped myself around him like seaweed, tippin' my chin up slightly for a better angle. My knees crooked an' my ankles locked under his butt. His hand swept down my throat ta rest at the side o' my breast, fingers stretched, not doin' anythin', just there, judgin' th' weight. Ah inched ta th' side an' he made a sound halfway between a whine an' a growl. Then, his hand was gone from my side, boostin' me from underneath, pullin' me closer. So close Ah could practically feel everythin', so it was almost like bein' th' same person. In another minute, Ah knew we'd probably be breakin' all kinds o' public nudity laws.
"Losin' m' appetite!" Jacques shouted behind us. Annoyance an' guilty relief filled me so quick my head was spinnin'. As much fun as we had together, Ah didn't see how gettin' jailed in another country would be somethin' Ah'd intentionally seek out.
Remy loosened his hold. "Sure dat's not just de old age talking? Mattie's got some stories 'bout you and Rochelle."
That made me freeze a little bit, because, no matter what th' joke, Ah wasn't sure how Ah felt bein' compared ta somethin' like a wife. Stole a glace at Remy an' Ah could see that he was embarrassed by th' way he held his shoulders stiff.
"Come in closer and say dat, boy."
Remy grabbed my hand an' we waded in together.
"Take it y' got good reason for interrupting?"
Jacques shrugged. "Lunch." Then he grinned wickedly. "Protein. Keep up dat strength."
Remy rolled his eyes elaborately. "Where's Kitty?"
Ah looked around, but didn't see her. "Mebbe she went back ta th' room. Ah'll go find her."
"John came t' de house a few minutes ago," Jacques said an' Ah smiled 'cause Kitty an' Ah'd been right about his unbelievable ability ta sense when there was food nearby. Ah set off for our cottage. Ah could feel th' sun dryin' me off while Ah walked an' by th' time Ah reached th' sketchy palm shadows at th' edge o' th' beach Ah was mostly dry, except for my hair, which was nothin' more than damp. Ah stretched my arms over my head, linkin' my fingers. It was like my whole body was lazily unfoldin'. Pretty soon Ah'd just be pulled into th' landscape an' dissolve.
Kitty was curled up into a ball on one o' th' beds. She hadn't even bothered ta take her shoes off. Her nose was practically tucked between her knees. Ah shook her, gently at first, then, when she didn't stir, harder. She started awake an' stared at me, bleary.
"Rogue?" her voice sounded faraway.
"How long have ya been sleepin'?"
"Mmm?" She stretched an' yawned. "Not long. Jetlag I guess."
"Mebbe th' Dramamine?" Ah suggested.
"Yeah, maybe."
"Lunch is ready. Jacques just came by a few minutes ago."
"Great, I'm totally starved." She dropped her feet over th' side o' th' bed an' stretched again. "God, I was having these weird dreams."
"What about?"
Her forehead crinkled. "I don't remember. Something about the ocean, I think. Something..." She laughed an' shook her head. "Couldn't have been too important, right? I mean, if I don't remember what it was."
"Kitty?" Ah touched her hand softly before she could leave th' room.
"Yeah?"
"Ah know it's none o' my business, but what happened with you an' John?"
She sighed heavily. "It's pretty boring. I mean, we weren't ever even really together like that. And y'know how you can click with some people? We didn't. Not really."
* * *
Lunch was set up on de patio, patchworked wit' sliding light. Rochelle brought de fish, wrapped in banana leaves, browned in its own skin. Grabbed her 'round de waist. "Y' know you're my favorite person right now?"
"Don't upset de fish, Remy," she replied mock-sternly.
Jacques made fruit salad, wit' fresh fruits dat shone like jewels from de bowl. I snatched a piece of pineapple without anyone noticing. Snatched a piece of mango.
De girl, Nita, was dere as well. Because it would've been rude t' my grandparents' minds not t' invite her. Because it would've been foolish t' dem also not t' use de opportunity t' find out what dey could 'bout her. It's dis coexistence of charity and self-interest dat might be de hardest t'ing t' understand. Dat a t'ief will welcome you into de house, invite you t' de table in all charity, but still stir t'rough your past. Happens often dat t'ings we t'ink of as opposites aren't really as opposite as we t'ink. She was pretty enough, wit' fine blonde hair and dark eyes. She wore a pair of cutoff shorts, a tank top, just below de knee gray men's tube socks wit' red stripes at de top and a pair of sandals.
When she introduced herself t' me, her voice was soft and breathy, like de sound of de ocean inside a shell. John seemed de most interested, de boy just about quivered when he turned toward her. None of which seemed like it'd do dat much good t' our vacation.
Rogue and Kitty arrived just as everyt'ing had just been set out. Rogue had changed out of her bathing suit and dat was a damn shame. Kitty looked tired. She barely glanced at John when she sat down. Made a mental note t' talk to de boy. Paradise was no place t' throw a fit. He and Kitty would have t' resolve dere differences soon or else wait until we got home t' do it. Speared a piece of mango and some fish.
"This is delicious, Rochelle," Rogue said.
"Thank you."
"Suppose dat I'm chopped liver here," Jacques grumbled. Rochelle patted him on de arm, soothing and sweetly patronizing at de same time. I was filled wit' warm satisfaction t' see dem together. It was like de years had notched dem together until dey fit snugly like puzzle pieces. Jacques squeezed Rochelle's side lightly. Dat anyone could make him behave was a small miracle t' see.
Rogue made an elaborate show of it, squeezing as much fruit into her mouth as she could, den chewing. De pleased noises she made didn't do much t' help my concentration. "Delicious," she said finally, de word slightly muffled by de last of de fruit.
Jacques let out a bark of laughter. "De tite pichouette's (mischevious girl) not fit for polite company, Remy."
"Den it's a good t'ing dere's none o' dat around," I said, calmly taking another bite of fish.
"Tell us more 'bout your work, Nita," Rochelle prompted gently.
At first de girl looked hesitant, surprised even dat she'd been spoken to, but dere's always been somet'ing 'bout Rochelle dat inspires confidences. Mebbe it's dat good cop/bad cop dichotomy. Jacques is so much de bull in dere china shop, makes Rochelle seem all de more friendly. "I'm doing a comparison study on the effects of pollutants on the cellular health of aquatic animals and plants."
"Y' going other places besides this?"
"This is only the first stop. I've got plans to visit the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Bohai Sea in China." Her accent was faint and not'ing I could place. Dat made me curious. Not t' say dat I'm de world's foremost expert, but somet'ing twinged in de back of my head. Somet'ing dat told me t' dig deeper.
John looked a little glazed. Kicked him sharply in de ankle and he gave me a dirty look. Blind man could've seen dat he was developing a serious fascination wit' de girl. Rogue had said before dat t'ings shouldn't have to be a fucking tragedy. Hoped dat her conviction held true. People could come through a lot.
Nita nervously tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. De ear itself was vaguely pointed. Her skin was so fair, it almost seemed bluish, especially in de dim light on de patio.
John seemed t' shake himself. Alert long enough t' speak at last. "Anything ta do 'round here except relax?"
Jacques rubbed his chin. "Dere's a sailing school down de beach dat way." He pointed. "And a place dat rents snorkling equipment."
"Or y' could just hang out at de bar all day like Jacques," Rochelle suggested. She rose, nudging Jacques' back as she did. He stood as well. "Dessert."
When dey'd gone, Kitty turned t' Nita. "What did you mean before about cellular health?"
Nita leaned forward, resting her elbows lightly on de table. Her entire face lit wit' excitement. "Even if a place looks clean, we can tell a lot about underlying levels of pollution by taking cell samples. A normal cell is pretty much round," she made a circle wit' her index fingers and thumbs, "but a sick cell loses its integrity and becomes deformed. Like a mutation."
My stomach sank. After everyt'ing we'd gone through wit' de FOH, didn't want t' have t' deal wit' another mutant hater, no matter how harmless she seemed t' be.
"Okay, but I don't think that's really the same thing. Like, mutants aren't mistakes or the result of that 50s sci-fi radioactive crap."
"I never said that at all." Nita shook her head. "But, I mean, how can you say it's not a possibility? The entire planet is polluted. There's nowhere to get away from it anymore. I think it's naive not to want to understand how it's affecting us."
Kitty stood forcefully, laying her palms flat against de table. "Mutation is not a disease that needs curing." She paused for a second, seeming t' gather herself. "It's not a mistake either," she said, much softer dan before.
When she walked off de patio, I could tell by de sharp set of her shoulders dat she was crying.
* * *
Star of Chaos: I'll do my best to keep the angst level to a minimum. In fact, I have a strong predeliction for well adjusted Remy and Rogue.
Seven Sunningdale: My library didn't have Kitchen when I was there, but I can order it from a library elsewhere in the county (public libraries, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...) I know that, in canon, Remy only really speaks English and French, but it just seemed silly to me that you'd go about training a world-class thief and not have him be polylingual. I only wish I could get sleep. I could do it when I was still in college, but now it just feels like I'm wasting the day if I sleep past 10 AM.
ishandahalf: "Quick like a bunny" reminds me of Carson on Queer Eye. Sigh. That damn show. Why must it always be in reruns? Anywho. The unnamed-ness is mostly for my own lazy ass. Because that way I can just make up stuff and be like, On my imaginary island paradise it exists! I totally promise to delve into John's issues next chapter.
Letanica: Who wins the prize for most excited review so far. I'm glad to know that people still actually remember me in some small way. I like Jacques and Rochelle too. So I'm sure they'll be sticking around for a bit. As for the rest, you'll just have to wait and see...
The Rogue Witch: Thanks so much! I'm really psyched to be writing this. And I guess this is as good a time as any to bring up Remy's accent. The thing with the thing is that, when I started the initial story that morphed into this monster AU, it was just post DoR and Remy hadn't had a single line (his eyes were also brown, but the less said about that...). I've thought of just dropping the accent since he doesn't really have one, but I feel like that might be weird at this point. Of course, if enough people bring it up, I'd reconsider stuff for sure.
Ruby-servantof-eli: John doesn't have a crush on Rogue...exactly. Which probably doesn't do much for your confusion. But soon, I swear, stuff will be clearer.
just me: We'll all have to see about John and Kitty. Because I can't really make them do anything they don't want to do, honest.