Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.
Thanks to Chica De Los Ojos Café, Tigercatcher, fudje, ishandahalf, Antonia, Ms. Rogue LeBeau, Green Bird 2071, Silvia Ammons, Miss Ginny, TheRealMai, enchantedlight and Episodic for reviewing the last chapter!
Questions/Comments:
Miss Ginny: Actually, I like Jean Grey's character. But I do prefer her comic version to the Evo one. She's a character I've grown to like, but she has more of a spark to her than most will give credit for. She will be back in this story later on, and her character may develop differently than her first appearance made evident.
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They were on the road again. They had been for most of the day, making small talk for most of the trip. But Rogue was talking. It wasn't very personal yet, but it was enough.
Rogue was staring out the window, a slight smile on her face as she vaguely listened to Remy tell a story about his older brother Henri. She would have paid more attention, but the view before her and the green highway signs distracted her.
Seattle. A big, black building in her sight. The only skyscraper still standing.
Remy stopped talking.
"And here we are chere."
"Ya didn't mention we were heading for a major city Remy." Her voice was plain, not accusing, but hard, her eyes focused.
"Don't worry chere, de place we be heading to won't have been damaged." Remy paused, and he looked to be contemplating. "At least I doubt it would have." His voice was near gravely, a hint of anger brimming around the edges, his eyes kept forward, thoughts obviously elsewhere.
"How do you know Scott anyhow Remy?" Rogue removed her feet from the dashboard and watched Remy, waiting for a response.
"I used to work with him, sort of." Remy readjusted himself in his seat, his tone now nervous.
"Whaddya mean sort of?"
They had entered the city now, and Rogue moved her vision to the now destroyed city. Remy was heading straight for the city center.
"We had de same boss. Nothing important."
Rogue stopped talking then, and moved closer to the window. She had never been to Seattle. She would never know what it would have looked like.
"We're losing so much, ain't we sugah?" She whispered her words, almost hoping he wouldn't hear them.
Remy didn't answer her, and in a way she was glad. They remained silent until he parked in front of a collapsed building.
Rogue pulled herself out of the car in a dead like fashion, her body working in slow motion, a sudden fear taking over her muscles. She followed Remy to the front of the building, noticing the broken Theater sign crushed on the sidewalk.
Walking inside, the auditorium seating was still in place. The stage stood as well and Rogue walked up to a red plush seat, her fingers roaming over the material.
"You're always touching things chere. That have to do wit' your power?" Remy was lighting a cigarette as he spoke, his eyes on the stage.
"Ah guess." Rogue removed her hand and pulled on her gloves feeling exposed. "It's to bad a place like this had ta be destroyed too."
"This place got destroyed long before Apocalypse."
Rogue stared at Remy, his back to her; ridged, serious. He seemed a different man.
"Oh."
"Come on chere, let's find Scott."
Of course she wanted to ask for details. But Remy tended to keep speaking when he wanted to. He would only avoid her questions. So she followed him without a word.
Remy pulled open a hatch on the ground and began to descend down an old, wooden staircase. When they reached the bottom they looked to be in an underground tunnel.
Rogue swallowed and took notice of the cold walls and sterile atmosphere as they walked down rows of cement hallways.
Finally Remy knocked on a door, the first door they had seen yet.
A man with blonde hair answered.
There was a brief moment of silence.
"Remy? Oh my god." He said it so smoothly, his eyes wide, his movements slow.
"Surprised Alex?" Remy's mood remained dark, his eyes low and brighter than usual.
Alex smirked slightly, but remained on guard. "Of course not LeBeau. A man like you could survive anything." He crossed his arms. "I guess you're here to see my brother."
"Well, I think he liked me more dan you did."
Alex laughed, but Remy remained emotionless.
"Come in. Scott's down the hall, I'll show you. Although, I suppose you remember the entire layout of this base, being the master thief you are and all."
Rogue's eyes lit up at the title master thief, but she couldn't get Remy to meet her glance, so she remained quiet, making sure her steps stayed a few behind Remy and Alex's.
They entered another space, one that looked more like a den, or a living room. A man with glasses sat on one couch, reading through a couple of file folders in front of him.
"Hey bro, some visitors." Alex said it with such lifelessness that it scared Rogue.
The man looked up, his jaw set tight, and it didn't move even upon taking in Remy. He did stand up though and walk over to the crowd.
"I had a feeling I would be seeing you Gambit."
Once again Rogue felt herself glance towards Remy. She had never heard him referred to as that. Wrapping her arms close to her chest she began to feel she didn't know him at all, despite his family stories. Perhaps those were just the basics, a diversion to what was really Remy LeBeau.
"Scott, dis is my friend Rogue." Remy jutted his thumb in Rogue's direction, but still averted eye contact. "And Rogue, dis is my ol' buddy Scott Summers."
Scott held out a hand in a gentleman like manner, a gesture that surprised Rogue, and jerkily she accepted it, shaking his hand quickly.
Scott then sat back down, and waving his hand suggested the others sit down as well. Alex had moved towards the back of the room, and waving, exited the area.
Scott went back to his files, his visor making it hard to tell if he was even paying attention to his guests.
"So, Remy, I somehow doubt you are here for more work. You made it quite clear you never wanted to work for the Boss again the last time you left." Scott made a few marks on one sheet of paper.
Rogue sat stiff against the couch she shared with Remy. Nothing felt right in this place.
"No Summers, you're right. I just thought you could give Rogue and I de low down and some ideas of where to go."
Scott looked up then, shoving his papers aside. And although Rogue couldn't see his eyes, she had a feeling they weren't too friendly at the moment.
"Gambit, I think you understand my predicament here." Scott reached forward and grabbed a pile of papers, straightening them against the table. "Just your presence here could have me killed. I should have you taken in. You know that."
Remy leaned back, one leg crossed over the other in a professional manner. His eyes were cold, his jaw set much like Scott's.
"Course I do Scott. But I also know you won't turn me in." Remy leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "And you know what else? I know Essex won't do a thing to ya. You're like a son to him. So why don't you lighten up Cyclops."
Rogue swallowed, expecting some sort of fight or verbal brawl, but Scott merely followed Remy's motions and sat back.
"I was his favorite, until you came along Gambit. But I guess you messed things up enough to put me back at the top." Scott gave a light chuckle. "This place has no surveillance, you should be fine here for one night. I'll make arrangements for you elsewhere after that."
Remy pulled out another cigarette. "Knew I could count on you Summers."
"I'm going to put you on the other side of the base though. You know there are a lot of people here who hate your guts Gambit. You didn't exactly leave a lasting impression."
"Are we even safe here den?"
Scott stood up. "Probably not. I'll take you guys to the sleeping quarters that never get used. No one should bother you there."
The three moved in unison together through the halls, and Rogue somehow found herself stuck in between the two men.
"So, Rogue, right?"
Rogue looked up at Scott and nodded.
"Are you a mutant too?"
Rogue rubbed her left arm, not really wanting to respond.
"Yeah. Ah have super strength and invulnerability."
She left out everything else. She thought Remy might cue Scott in, but he remained silent, no movement to suggest anything. She was impressed.
"Wow. You'd be useful around here."
"Hey!" Remy nearly shouted, as if waking from the emotionless reverie he had been subject to. "Rogue ain't doing no kind o'work here Summers!" He swung his arm in front of him to emphasis his point.
Scott raised his hands. "Relax Gambit, I know how you feel. I didn't realize you two were so close though."
"Ah've only known him a few days." Rogue found herself murmuring despite herself.
Scott cleared his throat and the conversation ended as the three came upon a new set of doors. Scott opened one and walked in to a room similar to the living room they had found him in.
He gestured forward to the back wall. "There are six bedrooms back there. You can use any of them. I'll bring food by in a little while and some information about what's happening. Meanwhile, you guys better sit tight."
Remy slapped Scott on the shoulder. "Thanks Scott. I owe ya."
Scott stepped back into the doorway. "No problem Gambit." His features became shadowed as the door whizzed shut behind him, evading the two from capturing his expression.
"Well," Remy started. "Might as well find a room. But, chere, don't get too settled."
His words were unnerving, and as he moved forward and opened the first bedroom door Rogue paused behind him. Her mouth hung open as if to speak, and her mind was twisted in knots at the sudden change of his character. She no longer felt safe, as she always had before around him.
So she chose the room furthest from him, five doors down.
She entered the small room, the breeze of the door whooshing shut behind her hitting the back of her legs. Walking to the window she sighed a breath of relief, her hands resting on the frame.
But, it was a window to nowhere. They were in a basement complex. The window had bars and a slab of cement behind them. A coarse of anger struck through her and she slammed her fist into the wall.
The crack was relatively quiet, and only a few small chunks fell to the floor. She was breathing hard and heavy, as if she had just run ten miles. Backing up a step her knees met the side board of the bed, and buckling she let herself fall onto the mattress, sitting still, her butt on the edge.
She was still breathing hard when she heard the door open. For a brief moment she felt nothing. Just a slow numbness that made her yearn for more.
"I don't mean ta sound like your parents or anything chere, but I think I would prefer it if you chose a room closer to mine."
Rogue whipped her face to the side, auburn curls cascading down her back. Her eyes were nearly red, as if she had been crying, but she hadn't yet shed a tear.
"Ah don't like it here Remy."
"I know chere. I never did either. I told you it ain't too safe-
"We woulda been fine on our own!"
She screamed the words, the first time she had risen her voice. Remy looked taken aback, but he moved closer, his hand outstretched as if to comfort her.
"Maybe you're right chere. But at least now we might find out what's going on out there in de world. Scott will take care o'us."
Rogue rubbed her head, feeling Remy's weight as he sat down on the bed behind her.
"Then why does everyone else here hate you?"
"Because, I quit working for dere boss."
"What did you do here Remy?"
She could feel Remy shrug, and turning she watched his eyes trace the pattern on the sheets they sat on.
"Nothing much. Just genetic research."
"You don't look much like a science guy to me Remy."
Remy smiled. "No, chere, I ain't." He looked back up. "This place is complicated Rogue, and it's best you know nothing bout' it, for your safety."
Rogue narrowed her eyes and then let her head drop in defeat. They both had such deep secrets, places buried and haunting.
Remy climbed back up, reaching a hand out to help her up. She took it, faster than she had taken Scott's.
"Now chere, dere's a radio in de front room, and a small kitchen off to de side. Why dontcha find another room, next to mine and get comfortable?" Remy began to lead her out of the room.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to go find Scott."
"But he told us to stay here." Rogue pulled her hand away from Remy, and turned to face him.
"Chere, I know dis place like de back o'my hand. I won't get caught by nobody. And I'll only be gone a short while, k'?"
Rogue nodded begrudgingly and sunk herself into one of the nearby chairs. She watched Remy exit quietly, and for a moment thought of leaving herself. But instead she rested her head back and closed her eyes.
………………………………………………….
A light tap on her shoulder woke her, and shaking herself, she opened her eyes. Scott Summers stood before her, his expression still grim.
Rogue moaned and sat up, her eyes roaming the room. But there was no sign of Remy. Immediately she felt tense and her hands clenched at her side.
"Sorry to scare you Rogue." Scott gestured to the right, at a small coffee table. "I brought you guys some food. Is Remy in his room?"
"Um, uh, Ah don't think so. He went looking for you."
Scott snorted and sat back on a sofa opposite Rogue.
"If he was really looking for me he would have found me Rogue."
"What's that mean?"
Scott smiled. "I guess he didn't tell you too much. He's a thief Rogue, and he knows this place inside out."
"He told me he was a thief," Rogue defended. "He just said he wasn't that good."
Scott let out a loud laugh this time, but his posture stayed straight as an arrow, eerily taunting Rogue.
"Rogue, there isn't a better thief in the world than Remy LeBeau. Don't ever let the man fool you with his charms."
"Maybe ya have him read wrong." Rogue crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes.
Scott gave a dark laugh, resting his back against the couch.
"Remy was a good edition to our team for quite some time Rogue. His heart was black, probably caused by a past lover, and he was a skilled fighter and an even more impressive thief."
"Are you trying to get me to hate Remy?"
Scott nodded. "No. I just don't want you to trust him. He would have given his life for me or any one else on the team. But, he would have turned on anyone of us just as easily." Scott paused. "And he did."
"Well sugah, Ah haven't seen a trace o'the man you're talking bout' yet."
Scott smiled. "Course you haven't Rogue." He stood up then, moving over to the side of the room where he had placed the food. His back was to Rogue, an awkward silence covering their conversation.
"But someday, you should ask Remy just how the building above us collapsed. It may be interesting." Scott bent down and picked up a piece of bread and chewed into it mechanically.
Rogue swallowed, bile rising in her throat suddenly. She was gripping the sides of the chair so hard stuffing began to leak between her fingers.
Thankfully, at that moment the front doorway opened, and Remy entered. Scott turned to face him.
"Gambit, there you are. Rogue told me you were looking for me." Scott took a step forward. "So strange you couldn't find me."
Remy patted his coat pocket. "Got distracted. Needed a cigarette."
"Ah. Well, I brought you two some food." Scott moved to sit down. "Why don't you join us Remy, and I'll brief you on the situation, and where you two should go."
Remy sat down, his eyes roaming over Rogue, who had her head down, eyes on the carpet.
"You all right chere?"
Rogue looked up, her face pale. Her hand lightly touched her forehead, a headache pounding on the left side.
"Not really Remy. Do ya mind if Ah sit the briefing out and just rest a bit?"
Remy nodded, a concerned look on his face as he watched Rogue stand up, the entire time avoiding Scott.
The second she was safely in her room, she collapsed on the bed.
…………………………………….
She felt a hand graze her leg. Then her arm. It was a hazy touch, one that was mingling with her dream. A dream that would never leave her alone. Her eyes tightened and she wanted to scream again.
But instead she woke up, covered in a light sweat. A warm hand lay on her arm. Remy sat beside her once again on her bed.
"Glad you chose a closer room chere."
"You just want the one with super strength there to protect you," Rogue managed to mumble, sitting up and resting against the headboard.
Remy laughed softly, his arm slipping down to the sheets as Rogue moved. "You feeling any better Rogue?"
Rogue rose a hand to her head. "Well, my headache's gone. But Ah gotta tell ya Remy, that friend yours gives me the creeps."
Remy placed a hand to his heart. "I apologize for his behavior chere. Scott can be a ridged son o'a bitch sometimes. But he did give us some information."
Rogue nodded slowly.
"Hold on a sec chere," Remy had returned to the look Rogue could only identify as his concern for her. He jumped off the bed and left the room, returning a few seconds later with a glass of water.
"Here chere, you look a little pale." Remy handed the glass towards her, slipping back beside her, closer than before.
"Thanks Remy." Rogue took a large gulp as Remy began to talk again.
"Well, he didn't have much news on Apocalypse, nothing that we hadn't already figured out on our own. But, he does know a good place for us to go."
Rogue's lips remained resting on the edge of the glass. "Where's that?"
"Muir Island, in Scotland. It houses the world's largest mutant research facility. And right now it's become a safe haven for mutants."
"And how the blazes are we supposed ta get across an ocean?"
Rogue moved her glass to the bedside table and stretched her legs out. She noticed Remy's eyes follow her movements.
"Scott's a pilot. He has an airfield not to far from here. He's going to let us borrow one of his private planes."
"That's convenient."
"What's dat mean Rogue?"
Rogue sighed and sat up straighter. "It just means Ah don't trust him much. He was saying an awful lotta bad things about you."
Remy merely smirked and leaned sideways, his head resting on the headboard. "Scott's always doing dat. Reminding people I'm a no good, womanizing thief. Can't be trusted, right?"
Rogue gave a fore long smirk, her eyes relaxing against Remy's frame, finally feeling the comfort around him she had before.
"Yeah, he said things like that."
Remy patted Rogues knee. "See chere. Nothing to be nervous bout'. Although it's good not to trust de sucker completely."
Rogue was listening, but her concentration lay mainly on Remy's hand still on her leg. The closer her got to her, the faster her heart beat, a tingling sensation making it's way across her skin.
Remy leaned over then, and at first Rogue thought he might kiss her. But he reached past her, grabbing her water glass instead. As he pulled back though, his mouth stopped before her ear.
"Dere's still food chere. I put it away in de fridge. You should probably eat something." His breath tickled her ear, and closing her eyes, she nodded in response, doing her best not to shudder or moan.
He moved away then, taking her glass with him and slid quietly back out the door. She would like to think he didn't understand his effects.
But she had a pretty good feeling he knew exactly what he was doing.
……………………………………..
A few moments later, when her heart had calmed down, Rogue stepped out of her room into near complete darkness. She padded with bare feet towards the kitchen, looking backwards once. Remy's light was on, seeping underneath the door.
Rogue reached the kitchen, noticing a few plug in lights on, laying out a dim area, enough to see by. Rogue didn't bother turning anything else on. Walking towards the fridge she opened the door. Resting her elbow on the fridge door, she pulled out the only item inside.
She moved to the counter, unwrapping the remainder of a pasta dish inside a Tupperware dish. Remy had left a piece of bread for her. Rogue paused before taking a bite.
The silence in the complex was astounding to Rogue's city accustomed ears. She felt them ringing from the numb air. She took a moment and closed her eyes, her heart beating dully.
Her arms crumbled then, collapsing on the counter, a solid weight that seemed would forever follow her. This constant emotional sickness that stole her energy, her memories, her feelings.
Rogue lay her head in her hands. This was a moment where it would have felt so good to cry. But her eyes were dry.
"From the news reports Scott showed me chere, whatever it is that keeps causing dis pain o'yours, will most likely never be able to hurt you again."
Rogue jerked up immediately, following Remy's voice across the room, to the edge of the kitchen. His red eyes shone bright, but lay sad against his shadowed outline.
Rogue wiped her arm across her face, washing away invisible tears.
"He was a mutant."
She could see Remy nod, and take a step closer. As he reached her position, the warms tones hit his face.
"And what makes dis one man worth all dis pain, huh chere?"
Rogue stiffened. "It's more complicated than that Remy." Rogue reached a hand out for the fork that lay in her pasta.
"It always is Rogue."
She stared idly at her food. And then she felt his finger lift her chin up.
"Dere will be someone else who can make you happy someday mon chere."
His voice had become soft, his eyes focused on her.
"Ah suppose," Rogue met Remy's eyes, his finger still touching her bare skin. "But will anyone ever be able to clear my mind of these voices? Because Remy, they are my constant reminders."
She could see Remy swallow, and before she could register it, Remy grabbed her left arm and leaned in, kissing her fiercely.
She had experienced a thousand moments like this, all co-existing in a place un real. Misery was a companion, a key component to keeping her distance from people. A way to keep them safe.
But she grabbed Remy, her hand behind his neck, fingers caught in his hair, much like his were in hers, and pulled him closer. She felt her back press up against the counter.
The hand that lay on Rogue's waist grazed up to her face as he slowly moved his lips away. His nose remained touching hers, his eyes strong, a different spark of longing etched in.
"That's happiness chere. For one moment."
It was strange, yet somehow perfect as he whispered it lightly to her. But he kept their kiss locked in that one moment and didn't pursue further.
Instead he took a step back, one hand still on her cheek.
"Remy, it's not fair."
Remy sighed, his hand catching a strand of white hair.
"It never is Rogue."
"What if that happiness isn't mine?"
She felt on the verge of crying, and she needed the cleansing of it badly. She felt Remy's hand move down her back and pull her close again into a tight hug.
"How does it feel chere? How does this feel?"
Rogue finally sobbed, her fingernails digging into Remy's back.
"It feels wonderful, just like it shouldn't."
Remy kissed the top of her forehead and stepped back, grasping her arms.
"Sometimes it should feel exactly like that."
Rogue thought maybe he would stay there with her longer, but he moved back, and just before his figure was lost to the darkness again, he lifted a hand to his lips and kissed it, departing with lonely, passionate eyes.
Rogue touched one finger to her lips once he had left.
How strange. They tingled. Her head tingled.
And once again the moment was hers alone.