Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.
Thanks to Star-of-Chaos, Aro, silky black, TheRealMai, Kira, Antonia, ishandahalf,
DemonicGambit and GreenFairyGirl88 for reviewing!
Questions:
GreenFairyGirl88: Now, how do you think she got her strength in the first place? Her absorption is what defines her, I couldn't leave that out, as annoying as it gets sometimes.
DemonicGambit: Xavier's around. But he sure isn't the Xavier we all know.
Ishandahalf: Yes, that was Mystique who showed up at the mansion. She was in the form she takes as the principal in Evolution.
TheRealMai: Absorption will be mentioned, and you are on the right track with Eric's plans. And sorry you never see me on AOL, I really have to be in the mood to talk, and after a nine hour day at work, I'm usually pretty tired. But I will try to get on!
Silky black: Xavier will be brought in. That seems to be a popular question , and the only one of yours that I can answer. But keep speculating, I like to see everyone guess.
Aro: More of Rogue's powers will be revealed soon, maybe even in this chapter. :)
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Remy wrapped his arm around her, his warm laugh encouraging Rogue's smile. The couple walked down the busy city street, as Remy shared stories from his childhood, perhaps in an attempt to share some of his past with Rogue's empty one.
They had been in New Orleans for nearly three weeks, without a single word from the mansion they had left behind. Fall had begun to make its way to the city, clouds making formations in the dark sky, threatening rain. A warm breeze blew through Rogue's auburn locks, providing a false sense of summer.
But as the wind hit her face, it brought something else to her. She quickly stopped in her tracks, her feet skidding against the sidewalk. Remy kept his arm around her shoulders, as Rogue bent over slightly, one hand to her forehead.
"What's de matter chere?
Rogue shook her head, lifting her head back up, just as a few light sprinkles landed on her cheeks.
"Think Ah just had a memory flash, or somethin'," Rogue muttered, her eyes roaming the skies.
"What was it?" Remy asked, squeezing her shoulder. His voice sounded so far away from her ears.
"Can we go back ta the house Rem?" Rogue asked, ignoring his question. As her eyes lowered to his she added, "Ah don't know what Ah saw. Meh head hurts though.
"Okay chere, we can head back." Remy checked his watch. "Should be just in time for Tante's home cooking.
Rogue smiled lightly as they headed back for his bike. As she climbed on the back, and Remy took off, the wind continued to worsen the pressure in her head. She held Remy tighter, resting her head on his back.
As they made their way in through the gated entrance, Rogue watched the trees whip around wildly. But as their feet hit the patio, she felt Remy stiffen beside her.
"Something ain't right.
His eyes began to glow brighter, as his face turned serious. He opened the front door slowly, managing to do so without it squeaking. Rogue placed on hand on his forearm as they stepped inside.
Remy's eyes wandered over the length of the room, concern evident on his features. "It's too quiet chere.
"Well, let's check around, Ah'm sure someone's here.
Remy nodded and the two headed for the kitchen. When they found it empty, they split up, Remy checking downstairs, Rogue upstairs.
Rogue didn't like the idea of splitting up, but she walked up the stairs dutifully. She had super strength after all, she could protect herself.
Once again the clocks ticking hands repeatedly hit Rogue's ears, as she padded down the hallway. She caught sight of a light on in Remy's room, the dim color barely escaping through the crack.
She swallowed as her fingers grazed the doorknob. She let it swing open, holding her breath as the room revealed itself.
Maybe Remy just left the light on, Rogue thought, as she walked slowly inside. She went for the bathroom upon not seeing anyone in the room. She opened the door, looking around quickly. But no one was there either.
Rogue gave a sigh as she closed the door. She wasn't sure why Remy was so certain something was wrong. Suddenly she heard a loud crash from downstairs, and her eyes shot up, leaving her thoughts.
And her breath caught at the demon like man that sat crouched in the doorway, a tail twitching between his legs. He smiled in her direction, his sharp teeth gleaming, as his yellow eyes swallowed up her frightened state.
Rogue couldn't move, so she just watched the blue man stand up and move into the room.
"Now, now, it is not polite to stare mein leibling.
His familiar German accent caused Rogue's eyes to widen. It was the man she had met back at the institute. They had finally found them.
Rogue took a mad dash for the doorway, but the man was fast, he moved with great agility, as he tackled her out in the hallway. Rogue rolled around, easily pinning him to the floor with her strength.
"Try getting' outta this hold!
He smiled, unnerving Rogue. "I see you have discovered one lost memory." As soon as he spoke those words, he disappeared with a flash of smoke, leaving behind a befuddled Rogue.
She stood up, looking around the now empty hallway. She headed back for the staircase, where light shed through. She needed to get back downstairs and find Remy. As she reached the balcony staircase, she heard the puff of smoke behind her. She turned quickly, but not fast enough, as the creature pushed her forcefully, causing her to hit the railing and topple over.
But she never hit the ground below. She opened her eyes that had closed in her startled state, and discovered she was floating in the air. Her eyes shot up to the balcony, where the man still stood, anger flashing through his eyes.
Rogue kept his gaze as she floated backwards. There was a set determination in his eyes, a certain insanity that caused Rogue to shiver. Quickly she turned, her feet never touching the ground as she raced down the hall.
It was so quiet. Every room was empty. As she reached the end of the hall she began to hear voices floating from the ballroom.
The scene inside the large, high ceiling room caused Rogue to pause for a brief second, her spot still secure in the air. Remy's family was surrounded in the center of the room by a massive amount of men with bo staffs and various other weapons. She recognized the man in front of Remy. It was Julien.
She watched Julien whack his bo staff across Remy's chin, sending him to the ground. Remy landed with agile grace on one knee, using one hand to wipe the blood from his face.
Rogue rushed forward then, disregarding the army around her as she punched through the crowd sending several members flying. Julien reached out his bo staff, jabbing Rogue in the chest, indicating she shouldn't move any further.
Rogue reached forward, grasping her hand around the stick, snapping it in two.
"You seem quite comfortable with you powers my dear. Have you recovered your memories as well?" His ominous voice echoed throughout the room, as Rogue's eyes began their ascent upwards. Eric was floating down to her position, Jean Grey at his side.
"What's going on here?" Rogue whispered, looking back and forth between Remy and Eric.
"This was the most obvious place Remy would go Rogue. But when Julien offered his assassins, we couldn't refuse," Jean said, as she landed next to Rogue. "It's not easy to get inside this house." Her eyes averted to Remy. "It's not easy to sneak by a thief.
"My family can be left outta dis, as can Rogue," Remy demanded, stepping forward.
"Actually you be mine LeBeau," Julien added, stepping forward, getting in Remy's face.
"Actually Mr. Boudreaux, Mr. LeBeau will be coming back with me." Eric asserted calmly. "And as for Rogue, she is who we really came here for." Rogue's eyes went wide, as Remy dodged Julien and joined Rogue's side.
"Dis wasn't part o'de deal!" Julien raged, his fists flexing at his side. He marched forward towards Eric, but was stopped as Eric lifted one hand and froze Julien in his spot.
Immediately Julien's assassins were moving forward to protect their boss. But just as quickly a pink bubble erected itself around the group in the center.
"Tell your men to back down Julien." Eric seethed.
"Stand," Julien began, his words raspy, barely choking out. "Stand down.
As the assassins backed up, the pink bubble disappeared and Julien was left on his knees. "Now, let's get what we came here for." Eric directed towards Jean.
"And just what makes ya think we'll come willingly?" Rogue asked, hands on her hips. She turned to Remy, but his eyes were narrowed in Jean's direction.
"Can't get inside dis head Jean." Remy said, tapping the side of his head, ignoring Rogue's statement.
Jean smirked. "Perhaps not yours." Quickly her gaze turned to Rogue, and in seconds Rogue lost consciousness, falling right into Remy's arms.
But before Remy could do anything else, Kurt teleported in, removing Rogue from Remy's grasp. He gave a wicked smile and then teleported out again.
"Now, Remy, I assume you will be accompanying us willingly?" Eric asked, pulling a magnetic bubble around the three as the assassins watched on.
Remy's hands glowed red as he snarled in Eric's direction. "I did promise you things weren't over between us, n'est-ce pas?
"Your arrogant attitude will be your downfall LeBeau," Eric stated as they began to rise into the air, shooting through the ceiling, creating a large gap, sending concrete down on the assassins. Leaving Remy's family surrounded by their rival clan. "You have fooled us long enough with your fake loyalty.
Remy sat down in the cramped space, eying Jean's quiet form. His red eyes glowed at Eric's words, but he let a slight grin edge up the corner of his mouth.
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Rogue woke up on the cold cement ground and worked her way into a crawling position, shaking her head as she did so, a funny feeling of remembrance washing over her. When she lifted her eyes up she met piercing yellow eyes amidst blue skin.
"Hello Anna.
Rogue grabbed hold of the bars that surrounded her and climbed up.
"Hello mother," she spat.
"You remember?" she asked, slightly smiling.
"Yes." Rogue stated simply. "Ah remember y'all betrayed meh." Rogue tried bending the bars with her strength, but nothing happened. "They suppressed meh powers?
"Of course Anna. You're a dangerous woman, I trained you myself.
"Ah don't go by Anna anymore. Just call meh Rogue.
"Well Rogue, you put yourself into this mess. You are the one who went soft. She leaned into the bars, emphasizing her words. "Your Romeo would have been safe had you let things go as planned.
Rogue scowled, her fists tightly clenching the bars. "It ain't safe here Mystique! This place is like a fucking cult!
She looked taken aback by the name as she grabbed hold of Rogue's wrists through the bars. "This is how we will survive Anna. Have you forgotten Xavier's words completely?
"Nah, Ah remember em'." Rogue ripped her arms away, slinking back into the cell. "How long will Ah be down here? And what are they doin' with Remy?
"You can come back to us Rogue. I'll convince them to give you another chance.
"What about Remy?
"Remy is a liability for them, a wild card so to speak. Like me he does not work well with others and he doesn't take any bull. That was one thing that made me understand your attraction to him.
Rogue snorted as she slid down the wall, pulling her knees up and letting her arms dangle off them.
"What're they gonna do with him Raven?" Rogue asked again.
Raven gave a sigh. "I don't know Rogue." Then she smirked. "He's under the watch of Jean Grey right now. I don't think Eric has decided what to do with him yet.
Rogue looked to the floor, nodding as she did so.
When she looked back up, Mystique was gone.
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Remy was down in med bay, hand cuffed to a chair, his hands behind his back, a power suppresser around his wrist. They had stuck him on a chair with wheels, and he rolled back and forth as he watched Jean at the computer.
"So why they got you down here watching me?
Jean kept her eyes on the screen. "I volunteered.
"Now why would ya do dat chere? Y'can't stand being round me much.
Jean clicked the mouse, then gave a long sigh. "You had no idea they were giving Ororo those pills till the very end?" She finally asked, her eyes still not meeting Remy's.
Remy stopped the chair with his feet, watching Jean more closely. "Non. I didn't. Why do you ask Jean?
She turned from her position, her eyes blinking with sadness very briefly. "I think they are giving Scott injections without his knowledge. And if they are you know what that means.
Remy nodded, then shrugged. "What makes you certain anyway?
"I don't know Remy. I shouldn't even be talking about this with you.
"Do you love him Jean?" Remy asked, his eyes stern.
Jean tapped a fingernail on the counter. "Of course Remy. But all of this is important to me too. I'm probably just being paranoid anyway.
"And do you like living like dis chere? Never knowing when they might inject you, never knowing when Xavier might pick up a negative thought?
That caused Jean to look back up, crossing her arms. "How is it he never picked up your thoughts?
Remy smiled. "De same way you can't Jean.
"You're an Omega mutant, did you know that?" Jean asked cocking her head to the side curiously.
"Don't even know what dat means Jean.
"It means Eric will either look for as many ways to keep you around and loyal to him, or he will have you killed.
Remy bowed his head slightly, his eyes still on Jean. A few strands of hair fell across his face as he gave a short smirk.
Jean backed away a few steps looking flustered, as she often did in his presence. When her back reached the edge of a counter, she stopped, resting her hands on the surface.
"Are y'trying to read my thoughts again Jean?" Remy asked, wheeling towards here a bit.
Jean swallowed, trying to collect herself. "Rogue has her memories back Remy.
"Good. But dat wasn't my question Jean.
With her telekinesis Jean shoved Remy back. "You aren't exactly in the position to be asking questions Remy.
"Now dere's de fiery red head I know," Remy stated sarcastically.
Jean clenched her fists, her skin turning the shade of her hair. Her entire body began to glow in rage, but suddenly she dropped her defensive stance.
A slow smile slid up her face as she moved closer to Remy.
"Do you even know who Rogue really is Remy?" Jean bent down, resting her palms on the chairs armrests. Remy met her eyes narrowly, his expression bitter.
When he didn't answer her, Jean's grin went wider.
"She's Anna Darkholme. Raven's daughter. Our very own spy and scout.
She watched Remy swallow, as his eyes shifted downwards, away from Jean.
She took a step back, but when Remy said nothing, she walked back to her computer, leaving Remy to his undoubtedly confused thoughts about a woman he hadn't really known in the first place. A stranger really, who didn't even know herself.
Until now.
