Raven? Who was Raven? Remy stared at her. Who was this woman?
"Sir?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Y' want t' know 'bout Marie, right?"
"Yes." The woman seemed concerned enough but Rogue might not want to see her.
"Jus' who might y' be?"
"I was Marie's caseworker when she was adopted. I heard she ran away a long time ago and I've been looking for her." He clenched his fist. Had she known about Rogue's abuse? Had she let Rogue live with that monster?
"She's.. Marie is.." He didn't know what to say. "First of all, how d' I know yo're not lyin' t' me?"
"Why would I have reason to lie, young man?"
"The name be Remy." He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Right.. Remy."
"Rem? Who are ya talkin' ta?" Rogue walked out onto the porch. She stopped and stared at the woman in front of her. "R-Raven!?"
"Yes, Marie." The Southerner basically jumped off the porch to hug the woman. "Why did you run away? I've been searching for you for the longest time."
"Y-Ya don't know what he did ta meh." The girl said softly. Remy gently tapped Rogue on the shoulder.
"Mind explainin' somethin' t' me?"
"Sure." She said, parting from her caseworker. "What is it?"
"What is she doin' here?"
"Didn' ya hear her o' do Ah need ta get ya a hearin' aid?" He frowned.
"This ain't no laughin' matter, Rogue." Crossing his arms, he glared sternly at Raven.
"She's here ta.. ta.." Her eyes widened. "Raven! Please, don' take meh back ta him!"
"What? Why not?"
"Because he abused meh. He hurt meh an' barely fed meh! Remember the bruise on mah cheek? He did that! An' he told meh that the only reason he adopted meh was fo' the money." She turned to Remy, not wanting to see the look on the woman's face. Remy wrapped an arm around Rogue's waist and bit his tongue to keep quiet. "He made meh lie ta ya."
"You could have told me the truth, Marie. I would not have let him hurt you that way. I would have taken you back to the orphanage."
"All Ah evah wanted was a home an' a family. Ah would rather that Marie Adler went missin'. Mah new name is Rogue. Ah wanna stay here an' not have people botherin' meh."
"'Sides, he found her before. If he was s' worried, why did he d' this?" He gently lifted her shirt to expose her still-bruised stomach.
"Oh dear Lord.."
"Raven, ya nevah found meh."
"The only way you can lock him up and put him in his proper place is to tell them the truth and-"
"Ah have no proof. How can Ah tell them it was him?"
"But-"
"The only way would be fo' y' t' have witnesses.." Remy started. A smirk played softly on his lips. "Rogue, can y' face your fears and face him again? Raven an' I'll be there an' I'll stop him from hurtin' y'. Please, Rogue, d' this fo' yourself an' me. I don' wanna see y' hurt that way again."
"Remy.." She bit her lip. "Ah.." She paused to think it over. She trusted Remy.
In truth, do I have a choice? If I'm ever to lock that man away, the only way to do so would be to tell them the truth and have Remy and Raven as witnesses. That's really the only way for me to be free. He still abuses me. How will I ever be free if I don't face him one last time and take a hit or two?
Where will I be then?
"Ah'll do it."
-
Rogue banged her head off the window twice to make sure she wasn't asleep. Remy clutched her hand. They were sitting in the back seat of Raven's car. She leaned against Remy, her fear more pronounced.
"How will we do this?" She asked. "He might see ya."
"No, he will not. We will hide."
"An' when I see him.."
"Don't bang him up too bad."
"Hear that, Rem? Don' get inta a street fight wit' him." Remy frowned.
"I ain't got the right or somethin'?" He blew his bangs from his eyes. "An' here I was all ready fo' a nice one-on-one.."
"Rem.." Rogue took hold of his hand and intertwined their fingers. "Ya betta be careful. Ah need ya here wit' meh." He kissed her forehead.
"Rogue, would I ever lose a fight?"
"Ah've seen children run from ya." She let out a bitter laugh. "But he ain't gonna run." She felt his hand under her chin and he gently directed her gaze to him. He leaned down and kissed her gently.
"I promise y'. I won't lose t' a loser like 'im." She nodded and allowed him to pull his hand from hers and wrap it around her waist. The rest of the ride was silent as Rogue tried to conquer her fears.
"Here we are. I am sure he will be here. Sooner or later. You said that he was here before?"
"Yeah. This was where Ah ran inta him an' he beat meh." She shivered but was glad that Remy's arm was still around her waist. She felt safer that way.
"Okay." Raven turned to look at the two. "Are we clear on the plan? I will let you two out and hide my car. Go on." She nodded and got out Remy's side. They waited until she reappeared. "Go on." Rogue felt Remy give her waist a light squeeze before he completely let her go.
"This is not happenin' ta meh." She whispered as she walked across the street, trying to look unaware. Car alarms went off and she jumped, looking over to see people trying to steal tires from other people's cars. A window was broken and the radio and a few other things were stolen as the man who owned the car ran out, screaming at them as he called the police on his cell phone.
Police.. What if they arrive while he's beating me? I'll have more than enough witnesses. Remy, Raven, and the people out here. I have to try and get their attention when I scream.
What should I do if he covers my mouth and I can't do anything? I'm sure they would notice.. right?
"Hello, Marie." She turned around. His hand met her cheek and she gasped, fingering her sore spot. "What are you doing out here?" She backed up until she was against the brick wall of an abandoned building. She closed her eyes, waiting for his hands to make contact again. And, indeed, they did. He put his hand over her mouth so tightly that she couldn't open her mouth to bite him. His leather gloves had grooves that would leave red marks. She moaned when he lifted her, moving her harshly out of sight. He then pressed her hard against the wall. She felt her shirt lift up. "I see that my mark is still on you." He let go of her mouth.
Bastard. I know you won't be able to lay another finger on me. Remy will save me. Soon. When he does something they can arrest him for.
"Be sure, little girl, if you tell one soul or have told anyone, I will find out. You have told on me, then? I know you have." She closed her eyes, not wanting to see his face. She didn't want to see him ever again.
"Why?" She had asked it several times. Now, she wanted an answer. "Why do ya abuse meh this way?"
"Because you're nothing but scum." He scowled.
"When ya first adopted meh.. Ah thought ya were gonna be a nice person; a real father."
"You were wrong." He sneered. She was accepting the truth. She was giving up. He could see the blank look in her eyes, knowing well what it meant. "Bitch." He slammed her against the wall again. "Stop looking at me like that." She wouldn't answer. It was as if she had died and that stare just lingered on after her. It was too empty. He enjoyed the look of fear, enjoyed the look of pain. "Stop it!" He brought his fist back but she continued to stare at him. It all happened like slow motion. His fist stopped, mid-way to its destination.
"Touch her an' y' will regret it." The male voice said in a low, menacing whisper.
-
Remy stared at her retreating figure. How was he going to make it up to her? He wasn't going to allow her scumbag of a father to lay a finger on her. No. He had to let him do something. Then why had he even agreed to this? Rogue was one or two bruises away from putting that man away for good. He saw her jump when the car alarm went off. She was suffering more than she should have to.
"Why is she doin' this? Would he dare d' somethin' in front o' people?" Raven leaned against the wall.
"Hmm. I'm beginning to wonder if he knows anything at all about us hiding out here."
"Why d' y' say that?" Remy asked, scratching his 'peach fuzz'. He watched as Raven's eyes flicked to the back of the alley. She shrugged. He looked back, wondering the same himself.
"Just a feeling." She answered quietly. Remy could see two figures in the back. Were they just there to commit crimes or to stop them from interfering? He didn't feel like hurting anyone other than that man that was after Rogue. He heard a click of a knife and saw the glint of steel. The broken streetlight flickered on and off, casting an eerie orange glow on all of them.
"Was it those bad guy senses o' yours tingling? O' was it just pure coincidence?"
"A lucky guess." She ignored the meaning of the joke and looked at him. "You better be up for a fight, boy." Remy growled. How dare she speak to him like that?
"Why should I protect y'?" He asked, narrowing his brown eyes. "Oh. Right. Pardon my French." His sarcasm went unnoticed as Raven stepped behind him. He blinked. "This is one of those 'take him first' moments, isn't it?"
"Just take care of them."
"You're a really charming woman, y' know that?" She glared at him. He knew he had to protect Rogue. He had to get rid of them as fast as possible. He didn't care who he had to go through. He ran forward to greet them as they began coming forward. Time for some street fighting. He could take some of his anger out on them first. He ducked out of the way of their weapons and knocked them from their hands before elbowing them in the stomach. "Y' will not interfere!" He performed a spin kick on one and punched the other in the face. He held nothing back.
"Remy!" Raven's sharp voice made him stop and let the men drop to the ground. He looked back and his eyes went wide. What was that evil man doing to Rogue?
Hang in there, Rogue. Remy be comin'!
"I'm goin' in now, Raven. I don care what y' say!"
"He slapped her and had her up against a wall. I believe that is enough evidence for now."
"Fo' now!?" Remy nearly flipped out. He ran and grabbed the man's arm before he could hurt Rogue again. "Touch her an' y' will regret it." He said in a low, menacing voice.
"Who are you? Her boyfriend?"
"Yes!" Remy scowled. He knew he could do nothing. He did, however, see police cars patrolling. "Raven!" She nodded and went to get the police.
"Do you realize that you're protecting a little-"
"I think it would be wise t' shut up." Remy pulled him up so they were face-to-face. "Don' y'?" Raven returned with two officers who put him in the police car. Then they turned and looked at Rogue.
"What happened?" They saw the marks on her face and she showed them the one on her stomach as she explained the story of him being her adoptive father and abusing her.
-
Rogue gave Remy a look and took the bag of potato chips from his hands. She took a chip out before he grabbed it back again.
"Never steal a man's chips." He stated. "Especially one who might jus' be hungry."
"Ya are a loser."
"Mmm.. But who has the chips?"
"Tch." She waved the comment off with her hand. "Ah don' like Doritos anyway."
"Sure, Roguey." He gave her a wink and pulled the chips from her reach. "I thought y' didn't like Doritos.."
"Give meh the bag or Ah'll murder ya in yo're sleep!"
"Sure.." Then he paled. "Non.."
"Are ya doubtin' meh, Sugah?" She gave him a sweet smile. "Thank ya." He blinked at her then saw the bag in her hands.
"H-Hey!" She put a chip in her mouth then winked at him.
"Too bad poor lil' Remy won't be getting no chips.." She said thoughtfully. "Oh well. More fo' meh."
"That ain't fair! Y' cheated!"
"All is fair in food an' hunger."
-
That's all for now.. I know I haven't updated but that is no reason to throw things!
runs and hides
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