Disclaimer: None of the mutants belong to me. Anything familiar you read below is most probably not mine either.
*
A/N: I'm not even going to come up with an excuse. It's just that, my Word Processor and I had irreconcilable differences so I had to ask my friend (who is much more computer literate than I am) to tinker with my computer and work things out. And then I ran out of Internet mileage so I had to wait for a while to get things done. Sorry guys. =) Well. It's not an excuse. It's the truth. Right? Right? Right. =)
*
And because you asked for it…
insert a voice-over Previously on Khay's twisted universe of XME…Because of Destiny's prophesies, the X-Men and the Brotherhood teamed up to save their adult teammates who were abducted by a yet unidentified party. The mixed teams divided into Team Blue, led by Scott Summers, and Team Gold (aka Team Pink), led by Lance Alvers. The initial party, Team Blue unexpectedly encountered their first snag—the lost of their powers! While Gambit searches for an unconscious Rogue in the bowels of the sea, Team Gold sails the ocean, unaware of the predicament of the other team, hoping that they would make it on time.*
*
*
Chapter 7*
*
*
"Rogue!" Remy screamed as he took in a lung full of air before diving deep into the water. Salt water stung his sensitive eyes yet he kept them open for any sign of the woman he was looking for. He held his breath for as long as he could, only surfacing when the pain in his lungs became unbearable.
Frantically, red on black eyes searched the deceptively peaceful surface of the sea. Once again, he dove deep.
*
*
*
"Can you see them?" Pietro demanded as he paced anxiously on the beach.
Scott, who still had his visor on, but this time to shield his eyes from the sun, shook his head.
"Damn powers," Pietro muttered. He wanted to get in the water to save Rogue. He wanted to be her hero. Unfortunately, due to his super speed that enabled him to wall on water, it never occurred to him to learn how to swim properly. At best, he could doggy-paddle to save himself. He knew he wouldn't be able to get to safety an unconscious Rogue.
"Maybe I should give Gambit a hand," Scott frowned as he scanned the sea for the nth time and still saw no sign of either the Southerners.
"Scott," Jean said gently. "We have no idea where they are. They could be anywhere,"
"And they could be in trouble," Scott argued. "They could need my help. Rogue's unconscious. Gambit may need help in trying to find her,"
*
*
*
Once again, the necessity of breathing compelled Remy leBeau to rise to the surface. Taking in deep, desperate amounts of air in his lungs, he scanned his surroundings. He had traveled quite a bit in his desperate search for Rogue, he couldn't see the island anymore. Already, he was beginning to feel the beginnings of exhaustion. But he wasn't going to give up. Not yet.
And then, a few feet away from him, he could see a disturbance in the water. His heart swelled with hope.
A transparent sphere rose up from the sea. And in it was Rogue!
"Cajun?"
"Roguey!" Remy sighed in relief. "You be alright."
She frowned. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Ol' One-Eye saw the orb hit your head," Remy explained as he paddled in the water.
"And you're trying to save me?" She asked in amusement. "Sugar, I don't need to be saved,"
"Remy can see that," he replied easily. "Now, how about ma chere givin' Remy a ride back?"
*
*
*
"I see something!"
Pietro, who was lying on his back on the sand, sat up. "What? What?" He searched the waters, but he didn't see anything.
"Up there," Jean said as she pointed to the skies.
Rogue was flying with Remy in her arms!
*
*
*
Remy wrapped his arms around Rogue and snuggled closer to her chest.
"Cajun, don't tempt me to dropping you,"
"Can't help it, chere," he said. "Gambit's temptation personified."
Rogue snorted.
"What's wrong?" Remy asked when Rogue suddenly stopped moving forward. He didn't push her too far, did he?
"I can see the island," Rogue told him. "And the last time I went near it, I felt my powers seeping out of me. That's why I had half a mind to open the orbs."
"Well, we can't stay here forever, cher," Remy said. "Although, the idea has certain benefits," his voice dripped with innuendo as his hand traveled from Rogue's shoulder, to her arm, to her back, and down to her butt.
"Oh, you asked for it, Swamp Rat," was Rogue's only warning.
Remy felt himself hitting the surface of the sea before he realized what Rogue had done. That River Rat. Coughing and spluttering, Remy broke the surface. "That was low, chere,"
Rogue grinned at him.
"Well, cher, don't just hover there," Remy grinned at her.
"Well, here it goes," she flew forward. She had not gone five feet when once again, she felt her powers drain. It was like absorbing someone, only backwards. Instead of all the memories and powers moving into her, she felt it all moving out. And then, she started falling.
*
*
*
"Did he just drop Gambit into the ocean?" Pietro asked in disbelief.
"I believe she did." Scott replied.
"I wonder what he did to make her do that." Jean frowned.
Pietro snorted. Typical female response. Sure, blame the guy.
*
*
*
"Don't even say it," Rogue snapped at Remy between coughs after she surfaced and she swam beside the Cajun.
"Don't even say what?" Remy asked innocently.
"Whatever cute pun or pick-up line you've got running in that perverted head of yours, sugah,"
"Remy wasn't going to say anything,"
"Right. Now shut up and swim,"
*
*
*
"Roguey!" Pietro helped his teammate out of the water in relief. "You made it!"
"Was there ever any doubt?" She grinned at him as she squeezed salt water out of her hair.
"Good job, Gambit," Scott told him seriously.
"Yeah," Rogue said dryly. "My hero."
"It'll all be Remy's pleasure, cher."
*
*
*
The man known as Wolverine wanted to pace around the cell that was holding him. He wanted to retract his claws and start slashing through the metal bars that separated him from the outside. He wanted to snarl and growl his way to freedom.
He did all those, a few days ago. But all his efforts were in vain.
And now, now he cannot even do any of those things.
All he could do now, was sit in the corner, tired and defeated.
You see, the Wolverine had been around for decades and decades, for centuries, in fact. But for the first time since his mutant powers manifested, he was showing his real age.
Without his mutant powers, there was nothing that kept the Wolverine from aging, from showing his true age.
Without his mutant powers, time was doing what no creature, man or human alike, had done before.
The Wolverine was dying. He was dying of old age.
From the outside, a redheaded guard pitied the old man.
*
*
*
Jean ran her hand through her red hair once more. Though she was thankful for the warm temperature of the tropics that immediately dried off her wet clothes, her hair was another matter. Though it was no longer wet, it had clumped together in locks of sticky red chunks as a result of the heat and the salt. It no longer resembled the hair that half of the women of Bayville High envied and imitated.
The only thing that kept her from screaming out in frustration and disgust was the fact that the hair that the other half of the women of Bayville High envied was faring no better than hers. Rogue's shorter hair had not escape the same fate that had befallen Jean Grey's.
"So," Rogue finally broke through the quiet. "The plan is for us all to just walk around, hoping that we somehow stumble into our unknown enemy's base?"
Scott, whose patience was worn thin by the way their well-laid plans had begun to take a nosedive since they entered the island, was still team leader. "If anyone has a better idea, then I'm all ears."
"If you're mad that things didn't work out according to plan, Cyke, don't take it out on Rogue," Pietro snapped at him.
"Well, the plan was for Rogue to take us within a mile of the enemy base. We know how to get to the place from above, not from the ground!" Jean defended Scott hotly.
"Hey!" Rogue protested. "All of us had no idea that this place cancels all of our powers out!"
"Mes amis,"
Pietro smirked. "Well, if Cyke was a good team leader, he would've planned for all contingencies,"
"Alvers was co-leader!" Scott all but screamed. "He should've thought about this too!"
"Well, I think he's a better leader than you ever will be." Pietro declared.
"Mes amis."
"That was uncalled for!" Jean admonished Pietro.
Rogue snorted. "Right."
"Mes amis!"
"WHAT?" Four angry eyes trained themselves on the Cajun.
"Move it!" Remy shouted as suddenly lunged forward and pushed Rogue out of the way.
Jean screamed as moments later, a laser beam shot out, scorching the ground Rogue was previously standing on. The teens looked up and saw a red robot, about ten feet tall, looming dangerously near their location.
"I guess it's time for the contingency plan," Pietro managed to quip.
"RUN!" Scott commanded his brigade just before another laser beam shot out.
*
*
*
The redheaded guard pushed the almost empty food cart in front of him. His job was to give the prisoners their daily dose of food (if it can actually be called that).
He only had one more stop to go. To the cell of the one called Destiny, the blind woman who supposedly can see the future.
But with the dampening field on, the guard doubted that she could see anything now. And if she can really, really, see the future, then why on earth was she in the cell? She should've done something to keep that from happening.
Moving swiftly, the guard took the packet of food that wasn't even enough to feed a hungry bird and slid it through the slot in the bottom part of the bars.
"The stage is set." The woman spoke for the first time since she was taken back to her cell after her session with the good doctors of their organization. "You must not interfere."
The guard scratched his head. He was about to say something when he remembered that she cannot see the future anymore. Without her mutant powers, she is just an ordinary woman.
With a shrug, the guard wheeled the food cart away.
*
*
*
"Come on, Roguey!" Remy said as he easily kept pace alongside Rogue. The five of them had become separated after the attack of the giant tin man. Remy felt as if he was a character in one of those animes Bobby loved to watch.
Rogue threw him a glare. But she did run faster, unwilling to admit that the X-Men were better trained than the Brotherhood. "What on earth were those?"
Remy threw her a grin, despite the circumstances. Maybe it was destiny that kept the two of them together. "Your guess is as good as Remy's, petite,"
Rogue rolled her eyes but refrained from answering, focusing instead all her attention in pushing her body to maintain her speed.
"Roguey," Remy nudged her to get her attention moments later. "Look over there,"
"A cave?"
"A good place to hide as any," Remy told her with a grin. "Come on!"
*
*
*
Kurt resisted the urge to port all over the vessel—he already did that once and it only served to irritate Evan Daniels.
So he fidgeted. He hated the fact that everywhere his eyes landed, all he could see was water. He hated the fact that he had no way of communicating with Team Blue. But most of all, he hated the fact that he was away from his sister.
Almost their entire childhoods were spent apart. Aside from an occasional visit here and there, Rogue (who was in Caldecott, Mississippi) and Kurt (who was in Germany) were raised separately. This was done to keep them from the watchful eyes of Charles Xavier and other prying eyes. Kurt grew up longing for the sister that was deprived of his company.
So when Kurt was brought into Bayville and was finally told that Rogue would be with him, he was ecstatic. Though he missed the foster parents his real mother found for him in Germany, having Rogue near more than made up for it.
And he was much more overjoyed to learn that their mother would train the two of them as a team. A team of two, he had called them. Although Mystique was relentless in training her children, Kurt was glad that he had Rogue to share the hardships in.
And now, not knowing what his sister was doing, not knowing what was happening to Rogue, it was killing him.
With a long-suffering sigh, he ported.
"Wagner!" Evan Daniels screamed at the top of his lungs when Kurt ported in their cramped quarters, filling the enclosed space with the smoke and the smell of brimstone.
*
*
*
Rogue sat down with her back on the stone wall. She was glad that the walls were cold. The tropical climate was killing her. Not only was it strikingly hot, her clothes had glued themselves to her skin because of sweat. She peeled the protective layers she wore one by one, starting with the gloves, until she was wearing only her tank top.
She frowned when she saw red on black eyes watching her every move. "What?" She demanded irritably.
"Cher," came the husky reply. "You have no idea what effects you are having to this Cajun,"
Rogue would've blushed if her cheeks weren't already red from all the running she did. She didn't know how to answer that one, so she didn't.
Remy eased himself down until he was sitting beside her. He, too, had removed his gloves and trench coat. Without hesitation, he firmly took her chin with his fingers and turned her head until the two of them were face to face. "Chere,"
Rogue licked her suddenly dry lips, causing Remy to moan softly.
Remy moved his head closer.
And suddenly, Rogue was laughing.
"What?" Remy frowned. "What did Remy do wrong?"
"Nothing!" Rogue replied after she got her laughter under control.
"So why is the Rogue laughing?" Remy demanded, his ego smarting.
Rogue shook her head. "You didn't do anything wrong, sugah," she assured him. "In fact, you did everything by the book,"
Remy, being a good sport, waited for her to continue.
"It's just that I feel like I'm in one of those afternoon specials or something. I mean, can things be any more cliché?"
"Ah, a femme who likes originality." He gave her a smile as he stood up and stretched.
Rogue shook her head. "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I'm not just plain interested?"
"Non." Remy grinned. "As far as this Cajun is concerned, all femmes are interested."
"Nothing really destroys that ego of yours, huh?" Rogue laughed. "You are one of a kind,"
"Remy knows that too." He gave her a smile, a real one this time, not the one he flashes to women when he wants something, anything. "So how about a kiss?"
"No thanks." Rogue replied automatically.
"Think about it, cher," he told her. "You have no powers. It's the perfect time for you to explore the physical aspects of being a hormone-driven teen. After all, we're only young once."
"You never miss an opportunity, do you?"
"Not if Remy can help it."
Rogue grinned at him. "Again, thanks, but no."
Remy suddenly hauled Rogue to her feet. "Roguey, there is this undeniable attraction between the two of us, no matter how much you deny it. Remy was raised to take all and any chance that fate throws his way,"
"Of course," Rogue muttered, taking a step back when he stepped forward. "Remy was also raised a thief." Moving backwards turned out to be a wrong move, as she was now trapped between the solid wall and Remy's body.
And he knows she was trapped. Remy smirked. He got her where he wanted her. "This is our chance, chere. Time to confirm that there is something between us."
"There is nothing between us, Swamp Rat." Rogue insisted, her voice brimming with confidence she does not feel.
"Then prove it."
Rogue hesitated.
"Scared?"
"I am not!" Rogue glared at him for a moment before coming to a decision. "Fine. One kiss. Just to prove to you that there is no magic or whatever between you and me." With that, she squeezed her eyes shut.
Remy's grin grew wider as he looked at the girl before him. Eyes shut, chin jutting out in indignation, body tense, hands clenched at her sides. "Relax, cher, you're going to get kissed, not tortured." He whispered seductively to her ears.
Rogue took a deep, calming breath, but didn't open her eyes. Remy's husky whispers in her ear were having an effect on her system. Her heart started to beat a little wildly.
And then, she felt Remy move his face downwards. And then, he was kissing her—her forehead!
Rogue's eyes flew open as Remy stepped back. Rogue's mouth fell open in shock. "That's it?"
Remy chuckled. "Well, if ma chere wants more," he started to reach for her again.
Rogue scrambled out of his reach. "No! No!" She protested a little too quickly. "I was just…surprised." Disappointed was more like it. But she'd join the X-Men first before admitting that out loud.
"Remy reconsidered," he told her. "Remy wanted your first kiss to be special, to happen because you wanted it as much, if not more. He reached out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "Remy wanted your first kiss to be because of you wanted to be kissed and not because you wanted to prove something."
Rogue didn't believe it was possible, but she swore she saw the embers in Remy's eyes burn hotter, become more potent. But she forced herself to smirk. "What made you think that I've never been kissed before? That you'll be my first kiss?" The questions were delivered with as much nonchalance as she could muster.
Remy regarded her quietly for a full minute before answering. "Ma Roguey doesn't like being touched." He finally said. "You don't consider your powers as much as a curse as it is protection, henh? Remy wonders, what happened during your first kiss that makes you flinch away from the physical part of a relationship?"
Rogue swallowed the lump which suddenly formed in her throat. She forced her thoughts away from Mississippi.
"What makes you dislike kissing, even if your partner is someone as good as Remy obviously is?" Remy continued.
Rogue gaped in shock. Then, she burst out laughing.
*
*
*
Jean Grey didn't stand a chance.
Separated from everyone else when the Robot attacked, disoriented without her mutant powers, she started to run blindly.
And when she turned around, she gasped when she saw that the robot was flying—flying!—right behind her.
"Halt, mutant!" Came the robotic voice.
But Jean Grey kept running.
Until the robot let out, not laser beams, but a missile this time.
The missile hit a tree which fell directly on Jean's path.
Jean shrieked as she jumped back, away from the falling tree.
And then, she felt a cold, metal hand close over her waist.
And she was caught.
*
*
*
~tbc
*
PS.
To all you Xmen Comic Book junkies, you all know what Rogue and Remy supposedly did in a cave, right? Well, this is my XME version of it. =) I'm one of those people who believed that the two of them did nothing more than hold each other in the cave. But, that's just me.
Anyways, I hope everyone had a great Christmas. And enjoy the New Year!
Thanks to those who reviewed. And keep them coming! ^^