Hey all!

Thought it was time to get up off my lazy bum and do some updating. I've got a computer with an internet connection in my room now, so I should be updating more frequently. Hopefully, anyway. College may make it harder than it was before, but I'm gonna try.

The song is Ani DiFranco's 'Swandive', which I in no way own. Neither do I own the characters. But I do own a copy of the CD the song's on, and comic books with the characters, if that counts for anything.

Cradeling the softest, warmest part of you in my hands,

Rogue curled her arm around a small stuffed bear. It usually sat under her bed, collecting dust. Having the bear was childish, and she knew it; but Rogue needed something to sleep with her; to provide her some sort of solace. And it was less embarrassing, though a bit inferior, to asking someone else to sleep with her. The bear also led to fewer weird looks and took less explaining and paranoia about her powers. Yes, she was much safer simply sleeping with the bear and pretending it had arms long enough to wrap around her.

Feels like a baby bird, fallen from the nest.

Rogue stretched a little bit and looked at her clock. It read one pm. She sighed and set her bear back under her bed, just within reach. The warm spot on her stomache where she'd been holding it seemed to shrink away from the cold, and Rogue shivered, before pulling her blankets around her tightly. She wasn't sure if it was her weakness or state of mind that made her suddenly so much more suceptible to cold. It didn't really matter why she was cold, anyway. All that mattered was that she was cold, and had to remedy the situation somehow.

I think that your body is something I understand. I think that I'm happy,
I think that I'm blessed.

It wasn't until she was comfortable and warm again that Rogue noticed there was something in the room that was unusual. She focused her eyes on a small table next to her bed. It had a good sized lunch spread out on it, and a single daisy in a small vase in the center. The food wasn't covered, but was all the sort of thing that can be eaten hot or cold. The daisy looked freshly picked and the cheerful white flower made her lighten her hard expression for a moment, before her face went back to its prior stance.

Rogue's stomache growled in approval of the meal, and Rogue weighed the merits of filling her stomache against the merits of not getting out of bed and being cold again. Eventually her stomache won out, and Rogue pushed her balnkets off regrettfully, before attacking the rmeal with a ferocity she usually reserved for people who tried to get close to her. the fod was gone in a matter of minutes. She had hardly tasted it, and in a way, Rogue was glad. There was no telling who had made it. If it had been disgusting she would have thrown up, and she badly needed food.

After Rogue finished the whole meal, she started to assess her physical situation. Her body was aching. It was screaming from the whole process, and every inch of her was so stiff she felt like she had been beaten badly. But her body was also no longer complaing about being hungry, which was an improvment on her previous situation, if she chose to look at it that way. Such optimism was lost on the irritated and sore southerner, who only saw the hassle of hurting from her extreme workout.

It was then, during her moment of bodily introspection that Rogue spotted the note. She had, up until then, assumed that Hank had brought the large meal to her. She had been right, up to a point. Hank was the most responsible for her lunch, but had been assisted by the writer of the note. Rogue reached out to grab it, wincing a bit. Her body was making her pay for the abuse she'd put it through earlier. Rogue knew that it would only go away if she moved. So she tried to shift her aching muscles as she perused the note.

But I've had a lack of inhibition,

'Rogue,

I hope that you're feelin' better. I know a good meal and a little company usually helps me. Of course, you don't want company, so here's food anyway. Hank says it's all stuff you'll eat. I hope you do. You need your strength, what, with all the people you need to push away from you to keep from actually getting help.

Anyway, enjoy. And if you want to talk, I won't be hard to find.

sincerely,
Remy'

Rogue studied the note, stretching her body, apalled at the fact that she was actually considering taking him up on his offer. She shook her head and put her letter next to her alarm clock, before stretching out a bit more fully. It felt good, but aso kinda painful to stretch. Her masochistic mood from earlier was almost totally gone, but this wasa good kind of pain. It was 'you're still alive, and boy is that a surprise' pain. The good kind, in the opinion of most people.

I've had a loss of perspective,
And I've had alittle bit to drink,
And it's making me think,

Rogue finally decided that she had to stretch, because she wasn't going to be sore all day. Using her arms to slow her fall, so she landed with a small undignified oof instead of a loud thump, Rogue began stretching. The familiarity and regularness of the exercise was comforting. She didn't have to think to do this. So her mind wandered back to the note.

"Who does he think he is, ta tell me Ah'm anti-social, just 'cause Ah don't wanna hang out with him. Damn idiot. Ah bet if he heard half of mah problems he'd run away screamin'."

Rogue paused while her words sunk in. Yes, he most certainly would. Everyone else did, to some extent. Kitty had asked for her own room because Rogue was tossing and talking in her sleep so much the younger girl was suffering from severe insomnia. Kitty had actually come to understand Rogue very well, in the time they'd been roommates. So why shouldn't spilling a bit of her life to him chase him off?

"When he hears what Ah'm gonna say, he'll drop me like a hot potatoe. Probably chase Jean. Ooh, twice the fun." Rogue concluded, finishing her stretching with a smile on her face and an evil plan in her heart.

That I can jump ship and swim,

Beside, Rogue's thought process continued, if he actually understands, then you still win, huh? Rogue paused, shoving those thoughts out of her mind. They wouldn't do her any good. She wasn't about to trust a man to understnad her problems. It always ended with her being jilted and jealous.

That the ocean will hold me,
That there's got to be more than this boat I'm in.

"Even if he does undahstan' me, it don't mean he ain't an asshole, or that he's worth botherin' with. Not a bit. Mystique undahstan's 'bout bein' someone else, but that don't mean Ah'm evah gonna ask her fo' help." Even though I definitly do need help.

They can call me crazy if I fail,
'Cause the chance that I need,
Is one in a million

Rogue stood up, feeling a little better. She didn't bother to change out of her pajamas, figuring that she wouldn't be out of her room long enough to bother with changing her clothes. After a pair of gloves and socks had been found, she started off on her mission for the day.

And they can call me brilliant if I succeed

Rogue realized quickly that this wsan't going to pan out. She'd been so brutal to her body for so long, it was almost at the point of callapse, and nothing was going to change that. She only got as far as the upstairs reading room before she had to duck in for a rest. She decided that he would most likely be in the rec. room, or the living room. HE was so damn social, he would be around everyone else.

The chair by the window had always been Rogue's favorite. She sank into it with a grateful groan, listenign tot eh comforting way the spirngs squeaked under her weight. The voices outside didn't really register for a minute. Rogue was so lost in he rown musings, she didn't hear. But when she did hear, she frowned. A quck glance outside confirmed what she'd suspected. Kitty was chatting animatedly to the large quiet mutant Magneto employed. The oine that had thrown a tractor tire at Logan. She frowned. Kitty laughed as the man brushed a stray hair off her face, saying something too low for Rogue to hear.

Rogue snorted and slammed hte window as hard as she could. The pair outside didn't even pause, and Rogue herself had to admit it wasn't a very impressive slam. Not one of her better works, to be sure. That fact just infuriated her more.

Gravity is nothing to me, Moving at the speed of sound

Remy heard the sound of disgruntled muttering and a window being shut with force. He paused outside the room he was sure it had come from. He had been on his way to tell Jean that she was looking lovely that day, and ask her if she would do him the honor of showing him where something suitably expensive and small and unnoticed was. He decided that he prize behind door number two was far more enticing.

Remy walked soundlessly into the room, then made a small noise, completely on purpose. Rogue turned around like someone had shot a gun. Remy almost laughed. She was wondering how much he'd seen. He could see that clearly. He'd done that on purpose too. All was goign according to plan, so far.

"Fancy meetin' you here, cherie." He said smoothly, not missing a beat. Rogue glared, but steeled herself for what she would have to do. She hated this. It made her feel weak. His smile reminded her why she was doing this. It would make her day, no, her week, to see that smile erased. Anything that made her feel weak had to be stomped out as soon as possible. Because weakness only made it hurt more.

Just gonna get my feet wet, until I drown

Rogue opened her mouth, mustering up the emotion to look pissed off. It wasn't difficult under the circumstances. "Ah was hopin' Mizz Munroe would be in here so Ah could talk. But all Ah see is an irritatin' ovah confident asshole." Rogue shot back, snarling. This was the easy part, the bait. The actual trap was harder.

Remy pulled a chair up and sat across from Rogue. His smile had been replaced with a thoughtful look. Rogue knew it was as fake as her desire to open up to him. How could someone like him even understand how to have a thought, much less put the energy into doing it for someone else. But Remy either didn't pick up on these emotions, or didn't care. He continued. "Whachu wan' t' talk about? I'm no' Stormy, but I might jes' s'prise y' 'n' understan'."

Rogue inwardly snorted. Doubtful. However, she sighed out loud. This game was already making her tired, and it hadn't even fully started. Maybe her exhaustion had another source. She would have to look into it when she gave a damn. Right then all she wanted to do was get this over so she could crawl back in bed and never show her face again.

Teeter between tired,
And really really tired

"Fine. But don't ya yell at me when it's mo' than ya c'n handle." She replied, before pulling up her least painful, but most horrible memories. It was difficult to figure out which ones she felt like she could share, and which ones she didn't even dare think of herself. "Ah've been livin' with an evil mutant terrorist fo' most a' mah life. The sucky thing is, she pulled me outta an even worse home. So Ah've got no fond childhood memories. Ah hate both the women who brought me up, but Ah feel guilty about it. Until Ah saw that mah mothah saw me as nothin' but a tool ta get where she was goin'. So now the only people who evah gave a damn about me are here. Kitty's annoyin' as hell, an' Ah hate ta ruin her innocent view of the world. The Professor cares, but Ah can't open up to him. He has to dig in mah head for his answers. Which just makes it even harder fo' me ta open up him." Rogue blurted out, a bit surprised at how much she'd told him. Remy gave herr a sympathetic look.

He sighed. Part of that story had been so familiar it was insane. How t'. . .hmmm "Dat ain't not'in'. Mon pere adopted me off de streets f'r m' pickpocketin' skills. He expanded on 'em, den sealed an agreement forcin' me int' a weddin' wit' a girl I di'n't even know. Her insane incestuous brot'er tried t' kill me. Did I meantion dat dey were bot' assasins? An' dat when I killed him in self-defense I had an entire family of assasins chasin' me out o' de only home I'd ever known?" Remy replied, knowing that this would either work like a charm, or not work at all.

Rogue snorted. "No wondah ya such a screwed up bastahd." She replied, getting to her feet to storm off, to lick her wounds and ponder her next brilliant move in private. Unfortunaly, she got up too fast. Her vision went black, and she felt herself fall. Bracing internally for when she hit the ground, her body fell squarely into Remy's arms.

I'm wiped and I'm wired, But I guess it's just as well,

"Y' okay, cherie?" Remy asked, wondering what the hell had made her swoon like that. Heh. De girl's fallin' f'r me. He internally joked, though he was sure that wasn't the actual truth.

With no warning, Rogue lashed out and hit him in the head. "Ah don't need ya help! not now,a dn not evah! Ah don't need ya sympahty, and Ah don't want yo' angsty stories."

'Cause I've built my own empire Out of car tires and chicken wire.
Now I'm queen of my own compost heap, And I'm getting used to the smell

"I t'in' y' doan know wt y' wan'. If y' really hated me s much, y' wouldn' have opened up t' me in de firs' place. So obviously, y' doan absoloutly hae everyt'in' about me." Remy noted, helping Rogue sand uprigh. She glared at him, before wincing and covering her ears, like someone was screaming right next to her. Remy tried to figure out what was going on, and if anyon was around who could help. Rogue feel to the floor, a look of pain twisting her face complete. Remy bent down and started trying to ask her questions to figure out what to do.

I've had a lack of information

Gawd, this has ta work. Just run fo' help, so Ah can amke ma escape. Rogue said, silently wishing him gone over and over again, until her only focus in life was to get him away from her.

"I'm not goan' abandon y' like dis." Remy announced, more to himself than Rogue. He wrapped his coat around Rogue, just in case she should recover and try to hit him again. He scooped the cringing girl into his arms, and carried her out of the study. "Y' de only person here I halfway understan', 'n' if y' get pissed at me 'n' figure out dat de only punishmen' dat'll work is ignorin' me, I doan know what I'll do." Remy continued, worrying out loud, since Rogue didnt' seem to be responding to any outside stuimulus.

I've had a little revelation

It took the feeling of going down for Rogue to relaize that Remy wasn't taking her to her rom, but to the med lab. She didn't want to be absoloutly bed ridden for any longer than nessiary, so she allowed her body to go limp, which ment it fell out of Remy's grasp. Her plan was succeful in that respect, but unsecceful in helping her avoid a visit to Hank in the Med Lab, once she stopped at the bottom of the steps.

The whole thing made Rogue want to laugh, in a bitter and unhappy way. Remy kept apolgizing, and asking her if she was okay. Hank was giving her a funny look, which made her think he knew she'd done it on semi-purpose. Rogue wasn't hurt, just shaken up and a little bruised, which she was thankful for. Her body hadn't quite recovered from its earlier strenous activity, and falling down a flgiht of stairs is generally not a good cure for sore muscles.

I'm climbing up on the railing, trying not to look down

Finally Hank gave Rogue a clean bill of health, adn ecouraged Remy to allow Rogue to walk on her own from now on. She would need the exercise to loosen her muscles, and it would be easier to regainehr balance if she started out on her feet, a Hank explained. Remy understood what had happened then. But he waited. The proper time to use this informaion would come.

Rogue thought over the gentle way Remy was acting. Was he really dumb enough to think that Hank thought he was responsible for her fall? She could use that guilt trip to her advantage. She smiled inwardly, and mentally congratualted herself on a job well done.

Until she realized that she was alone. Rogue had been so busy in her own scheming, she hadn't realized that Remy was no longer beside her. Before the thought that guilt had driven him off had fully formed, she heard him talking in the nearby living room.

Rogue investigated what he was doing. It took her a minute to realize Remy was having an indeth discussion of the Brady Bunch with Bobby. Rogue frowned. This wasn't how the story worked out. He was suposed to be forced to leave her alone, not ditch her for a younger guy to talk abou a stupid unrelaistic show.

I'm gonna do my best swan dive into shark infested waters,
I'm gonna pull out my tampon and start splashing around

Rogue walked into the room, and gave Remy a look. Then she wondered what the hells he was doing. When no satisfactory answer emerged, she decided to just go along with it, and let the oportune moment come whenever it decided to.

"Yes?" Remy asked, giving her a mildly interrested look, before focusing on the tv agian. "Dis always was m' favorite episode. Always t'ought dat bein' idolized like Davy Jones would be awesome."

Rogue harumphed. And she stalked off, only to stalk back in. "If ya gonna ignore me, that's just fine!" She declared.

'Cause I don't care if they eat me alive
I've got better things to do than survive

Remy was torn between going to her, and staying where he was to make a point. Fortunaly, Rogue storme dback in, yet again, this time in the company of Pietro. A very panicked Pietro. A very paniced Pietro babbling abuot Wanda. Remy chuckled evilly. And he slipped out, leaving Rogue to deal with said speedster. Better her than him, especially when he was annoyed with her.



Later that day, Remy was sitting in a tree, watching Logan train the younger students. The young man had nothing better to do with his time, and that was saying a lot. The younger students were not very entertaining, if you discounted watching Sam bounce off things, and the fact that Jamie was talking to everybody at once, literally.

Remy was broken out of his bored revirie by a rock hitting his boot. He looked down to tell the Jamie clone that had thrown it to piss off. He wsa surprised to see that it was Rogue instead. "Ah think we should try ta talk." She noted, through gritted teeth. Damn the professah an' his advice.

I've got a memory, of your warm skin in my hands
I've got a vision of blue sky and dry land

Remy hopped out of the tree, and gave Rogue a skeptical look. "By talk y' mean scream 'n' fake soem sort o' episode, reslutin' in me makin' a fool of myself." His face was coolness personafied. His eyes gave away nothing but annoyance and frosty indiference to whatever Roguee replied. She found herself looking at her boots, not sure what to say, but knowing something had to be said.

Cradeling the hardest, heaviest part of me in my hands

"Ah. . .need ta apologize fo' what Ah did, earliah. It was. . .stupid."

Remy didn't lighten his expression, but he did look semi-interrested on top of it all. "No kiddin'."

Rogue gritted her teeth. "Ah guess there's no reason fo' ya to make it easy."

The ship is pitching and heaving
Our limbs are bobbing an weaving

"Non." Was the simple reply.

"Ah. . .Ah'm sorry. Ah shouldn't take mah frustrations out on ya. Ya just an innocent bystander. If ya could find anothah place ta stand, ya might not get as muchf riendly fire, but. . ."

"Y' certianly make de idea temptin'."

Rogue gave him an angry look. "Well, then Ah don't se why we should continue to have this problem. You stay away form me, Ah don't yell at you. Perfect."

Remy chuckled. "Chere, y' can't get rid o' me dat easily. I daon t'in' takin' y' advice woul' be in m' bes' interrest. After all, a little danger makes life more interrestin', non?"

Rogue snorted. "No wondah ya can't take a hint."

Remy gave her a half grin. "Y' de only person here who sparks m' interres' like dat. I'm willin' t' risk a bit f'r enteretainment."

I think that this is something I understand

Rogue gave him a lighter glare. "Then Ah hope ya ready ta give up a lot. Ah'm not an easy girl ta get along with."

"Really? I couldn't tell." Remy replied, grinning like the chesire cat, and dancing out of Rogue's reach. He knew this was going to simultaneousl ybe fun as hell, and cost him dearly.

Rogue gave him an evil glare before chasing him into the training sesison going on in the adjacent yard.
That took far to long.

Reveiws!

Cajun Charmer - I'm glad I moed you to tears. hope you liek this!

Ish - I left the author's notes for another site up on the story by accident. My bad. Numerals are prefered. but I like to spell them out too, since I went to all the trouble to learn to do that int he first place. And I don't think Rogue has far to drive to get to insane. remy's jsut int he shotgun seat picking the music, if you will.

southern gal - -Hope this satisfies your Romy needs for the moemtn. thanks for hte review!

You can either suceed, or REVIEW!
Peace and Love,
Panther Nesmith