Ok guys and gals, this is the big one (the big chapter I mean :) ) I kinda liked how this one went, but I'm guessing you'll be the judge of that so please R/R.
Do you remember what I said about not owning the characters in the previous chapter… guess what… it's still true…
PS- The stunts performed by Remy in this chapter are performed by him and he is a professional (sort of), so kids don't try any of this at home.
Tayrion
A Better Life…
Rogue sat in her room looking out her window to the yard of the institute, lost in her thoughts. The bitterness of the last week still lingered within her, but now something new slowly formed in the palette of her emotions; something exciting. Her encounter with the mutant Remy LeBeau, brief though it was, left her feeling very much alive again. Her thoughts drifted from one question to the next. What is he really like? Did I make an impression on him? Did I have anything to do with his decision to stay? Thoughts swirled madly in her head, but one question stood out from the others. Did he like her? And if he did could she dare hope that he would come to care for her?
And then her mind drifted once again to yesterday's encounter. With what grace he moved! She thought to herself. She remembered his confident –almost cocky- she mused, posture as his faced off with the unknown assailant. His warm smile as he talked to her and finally his crimson eyes that burned with passion and life, that had scorched her heart and left her wanting more of the whispered promises they held within them.
She felt a bit embarrassed and silly harboring such thoughts and hopes, from such a brief encounter, but she couldn't resist it. She reminded herself of the playful way he talked to her and the intensity of his gaze and thought to herself giddily: He was flirting with me… wasn't he? She must have made an impression on him. With the way her life seemed to fare at this point she needed to believe this.
Then her eyes caught him, aimlessly walking in the mansion's garden. She watched him for a while and then a smile danced on her lips as she darted out of her door and went downstairs to meet him.
Musings, Teachings and other Anecdotes…
Remy really liked this place. It seemed almost like a heaven on earth for mutants.
Soon he saw some of the institute's young residents approach him. Their carefree attitudes and smiles only came to support his earliest conclusion. Not to his surprise most of the gathering youths, some of which were only a few years younger than him, were females. He grinned to himself as one of the feistier of the girls, an Asian looking girl approached him with a playful smile.
"So what's your story 'really-cute-guy-with-sunglasses'? Asked Jubilee her smile never leaving her face as she turned and winked playfully at the other girls of the company.
"Name's Remy petite. Will you honor me wit yours?" said Remy flashing a smile at Jubilee that made her heart skip a beat.
"My my… the guy's got an accent to match his attitude. Name's Jubilee." Said the girl trying to cover up her nervousness and come off as cool.
"Enchante petite." Said Remy as he mad a courteous bow and kissed the hand of Jubilee.
Jubilee was now in a trance and no words could come out of her lips, as she stared at Remy transfixed and blushing uncontrollably.
Kitty, the young girl beside her, offered to save her. "And what sort of powers you got there Remy?"
Jubilee turned at Kitty and mouthed a 'thank you' to her friend for her timely intervention.
Remy swiftly, imitating a street-magician, produced a playing card in his hand, apparently out of thin air. He then proceeded to hold up the card so all the kids in the crowd could see it, before he flicked it upwards. The card flew surrounded by a crimson energy before it exploded some feet above them. Remy then, with a speed that barely registered as movement to the untrained eye, released several more playing cards high up to the air, which in turn exploded in such a way that the residues of the explosions formed the name Jubilee, high above them.
The crowd stared in awe at Remy and his handiwork. Remy once again grinned and thought to himself: Works every single time.
Wearing a devil-smile and lowering his glasses, so as for his eyes to be seen, he turned to Jubilee, who was once more rendered speechless upon seeing the crimson flashes from his eyes.
"So petite… don't Remy get anyting in return for his present?"
Jubilee flushed and smiling sheepishly moved towards him. "Oh… alright. I bet that's enough." She said as she planted a quick kiss on Remy's cheek.
At that moment Remy's senses, were bombarded by a string of very familiar emotions; disappointment, grief and the familiar sting of loneliness. He immediately scanned his surroundings and caught a fleeting glimpse of a girl, who must have been Rogue, running back to the mansion.
Remy, after saying a courteous but hasty goodbye at the gathered crowd of admirers, went back into the mansion. He wanted to find rogue and figure out why he sensed that sudden burst of emotions from her.
Halfway in, he was met by a man he hadn't seen before in the premises. He was too feral looking for his taste and the way he stood right in front of him, looking on with a very inquisitive stare, didn't help the situation.
"You must be the new kid. Why the rush?" asked Logan suspiciously. Logan had just returned from one of his frequent searches up north. He wasn't convinced that Jean was dead, even though the Professor repeatedly failed to find any traces of her mind. This persistence of his was annoying Scott, who wanted to try and move on and it made him feel a bit ashamed that he was willing to let go of Jean, while Logan still obviously wasn't.
"Name's Remy, though I don't much care for dat tone o' yours mon ami,"
"Well… Look at that the boy's got an attitude problem. A friendly advice though Cajun, seeing as you're new around here. I'd be really careful with my attitude around people I don't know." Logan's mood was not so good after his once more failed search.
"Merci for de advice, not-so-friendly-man. I'd love to stay and chat some more wit you, as I'm sure your life's story is terribly interesting, but I don't have time for dis."
As Remy tried to go around, Logan put his hand on Remy's chest stopping him from going any further.
"You still haven't answered my question boy. Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Logan's voice now was low and coarse, making his words sound threatening.
Remy turned and gave Logan a cold stare. "I don't see how dat's any of your business… 'Clint'."
Logan raised an eyebrow at the sarcasm. "It won't be my business, as long as your answer doesn't contain the name Rogue"
At the mention of her name Remy stiffened and frowned. "And why should that be a problem homme?"
"From your answer it's clear that you're indeed after Rogue, so let me make this real simple for you. I don't know if you are the reason behind her running all teary eyed just now, but judging by your attitude and that little show you put out there, I'd feel much better knowing that you'll stay away from that girl. I hope you catch my drift."
Remy hearing Logan's words felt infuriated. "Listen homme… I don't know where you get de nerve to say all dis, but unless you be her father, her husband –which I seriously doubt- or at least her frère –which again is highly improbable seeing as the Amazon is still preserved on your face- I will not sit and listen to another word you say. I hope YOU catch my drift." With that Remy tried again to go around him.
This time Logan stopped him by protracting his claws right under Remy's throat. At the same time, Remy had grabbed the dog tags hanging from Logan's neck, which were now crackling with a crimson energy, begging to be released.
The silent stare off was broken by Scott. "What the hell do you both think you're doing?"
"Stay out of this one-eye." Said Logan with a growl, not taking his eyes off Remy.
"I'd listen to your friend here Cyke." Remy also kept his eyes fixed on Logan.
"This is supposed to be a school for children not a bar! If you got issues settle them somewhere else. For God's sake we're supposed to be setting an example here Logan!"
Logan remained still for a while and then retracted his claws. Following suit Remy absorbed the kinetic energy from the dog tags and released his hold of them.
Logan looked at him thoughtful for a while, before he started walking towards the garden signaling for Remy to also follow him.
Remy despite wanting badly to go and talk to Rogue, knew that this was something he had to straighten out once and for all so he followed Logan.
They walked for a while until they were in a secluded place away from unwanted eyes and ears.
"Ok boy, listen up. Perhaps I wasn't all that clear before and I admit I was a bit… blunt."
"Blunt?" interrupted Remy with a smile. "Non." He said dismissively. "You barely even cut me."
Logan stared at him annoyed, but kept on talking. "Rogue has gone through enough. Far more than she ought to at her age. So don't get any ideas in that handsome head of yours, cause then I'll be forced to rip it off and that would be a shame for all the girls, wouldn't it? So know that if I even get a hint that there is a fraction of a possibility that you may have caused her a slight discomfort, then you'd better come find me and kill me, cause that's the only thing that'll keep me from tearing you limb to limb." Wolverine's words sounded to Remy as cliché as anything he'd heard in a bad B- movie, but the truth is he had to struggle to keep his composure and his cool poker face. The reason wasn't what Logan had said to him, but the strong, almost raw, emotions he picked up from within him, that made him realize that Logan meant every single word he said.
As Remy remained speechless, Logan proceeded to leave, content that he'd gotten his point through. At that point Remy broke his silence.
"Where do you get de nerve coming here lecturing and threatening me on what I should and shouldn't do when you don't even know me?" Remy for the first time since he could remember was on the verge of losing his cool. Someting about dis man drives me mad! Maybe tis de condescending way he's always talking. … Reminds me of my pa… He thought to himself. He hated being reminded of his father.
"I can smell a bad apple a mile away Cajun." Replied Logan, turning to face the young mutant once more.
"Den it is a wonder how you can put up wit your own stench!" Logan was ready to answer back, but before he had a chance, Remy pressed on. "And for de record, I know what's going on inside of Rogue far better dan you'll ever know and even though you might find it difficult to believe, I have no intention of making tings worse for her. In fact I know I can help her!"
"Just the fact that you believe that, proves to me that you are too dangerous to be around her, for both your sakes. So I'll tell you one last time: Keep your distance from Rogue! Don't make things worse for her than they already are." When Logan uttered his last words, there was no hint of anger or threat in his voice. It was almost like pleading, so Remy didn't push the conversation any further. He just turned and returned to the mansion.
Weak and Powerless…Remy entered his room and fell on his bed.
De Professor welcomed me into de team and he even gave me my own room, but if I want to be accepted into de team as a full-active member by everyone as soon as possible, having fights wit de older members, is not de way to go about it.
I… I just couldn't help myself. De fact dat Logan's tone was so irritating and condescending, got to me. …But dat's not de only reason… is it Remy? I mean… I have met wit dis kind of attitudes in de past and I've always managed to get de better of dem. What was so different now? What can be so different dat I would act so recklessly when… so much is at stake? C'mon Remy… don't play dumb wit me… You know de answer… It's just dat I don't like it… It will surely complicate tings a great deal. It must be Rogue… She's messed wit my head… Well… not exactly my head but… Have I already developed a 'soft spot' for her, as they say? De sure ting is, dat something about dis girl makes me act like an imbecile wit matters dat concern her.
It can't possibly be love. I barely even know her and I have certainly been wit more beautiful girls in de past. Plus… well… I'm Remy LeBeau… I do not fall in love! Work comes first and I have a very important one to see to de end now ahead of me.
It can't be love… Can it?
Remy lost in his thoughts, soon fell asleep. It was already nighttime when he woke up again. He couldn't stop thinking about Rogue. Even his brief dream was about Rogue. He couldn't remember what it was exactly but he vividly remembered her in there.
I have to see her. But where could she be at … 11 p.m!! Merde! How long was I sleeping? Well… dere is a way I can find out witout having to go through de entire mansion. But it is definitely going to hurt!
Remy took a deep breath as he was readying himself for what he was about to do. He stood in the middle of the room and then he just let his senses free.
For most of us it is like having a natural invisible wall, it's sole purpose being to withstand the countless waves of emotions that freely flow from everyone around us. Remy's powers allowed him to have a window on that wall and open it from time to time to allow a breath of emotion inside. This time Remy tore down the whole thing.
He was immediately bombarded by hundreds of waves of emotions from all over the mansion.
He felt Scott's sorrow and self-doubt over the loss of his beloved Jean and Logan's frustration at the lack of progress that his search was having and the creeping fear that it would ultimately have no result whatsoever. His heart wept for them and he made a mental note not to be so hard on them on the future. He also felt Dr McCoy struggling with the contradictions of his dual nature and Kurt having a similar battle, but he was winning it with his strong faith in God shinning through.
Bobby's and Anna's joy and growing feelings for each other was a welcome change to the pattern of feelings that reached Remy. He couldn't pick anything from Professor Xavier though. Perhaps he's way over my league. He thought to himself.
And then he sensed it. Like a tidal wave coming from afar. A surge so strong that threatened to overwhelm him, to drown everything that was his in an ocean of sadness, loneliness and frustration over his inability to fully control his own nature. He felt desperate. Life and his future held no promises for a better tomorrow, just more disappointment waiting around each corner.
Remy fell to his knees. Why had life been so cruel… But no! That was not him. He was Remy LeBeau. He had a goal to fight for! That was not him!
…
He pulled himself together and put up his wall once more. He was still pretty shaken up by the whole experience. That had to be Rogue! …But… how can a young girl deal with so much pain? He knew that she suffered, but to experience it first hand was something completely different.
Her spirit suffered such ferocious attacks and yet it still endured. It was clear that she was losing battle after battle, but she hasn't given up on the war yet, because she wants to hope, she wants to believe that her suffering was not for nothing and that maybe someday the nightmare will be over. This is real courage… thought Remy as tears slowly crept to his eyes. She reminds me so much of Vanessa. …She also had such a strong spirit… Now tears freely fell down his face at the memory of his little sister.
I don't want to see this happen again! With that he exited his room and made his way to where he picked up Rogue's emotions.
To be Continued…
Ish- well it would be hard to write the introduction of Remy into the X-Men without having him around now wouldn't it! As for Romyness you'll have to wait till the next chapter for the main course. This time around there were only some appetizers, I still hope you liked them though
NightGoddess- (love the name by the way…) Happy you like it and thanks for the compliment. I think I made a Remy amalgam that's part the comic persona, part how he could be more realistic (like the X-Men are in the movie) and part how I wanted Remy to be portrayed. I don't know if the result is that appealing but it works for me… :)
Next: Remy and Rogue mushness… The reenactment of one of my favorite Remy and Rogue scenes. Of course I changed it from what it actually was in the comics, but it was inspired by that scene. If you've been reading X-Men for quite some time you'll know which scene I'm talking about. :)