Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.
Thanks to ishandahalf, Chica De Los Ojos Café, Green Bird 2071, Antonia, enchantedlight, TheRealMai, Kitsu LeBeau, Episodic, fudje, and Ciara for reviewing the last chapter!
Questions/Comments:
TheRealMai: Yeah, I figured most people would think Jean was the girl he was in love with, so I just made it a different telepath. As for Rogue, her whole story will be revealed in pieces, and they guy you keep hearing about is someone you are familiar with. After this chapter you may figure out just who.
………………………………………..
Rogue woke up the next morning and everything changed.
She had been on the tour, guided by yet another astoundingly beautiful woman whom Remy had flirted with. And she had realized why it had bothered her so much.
The past. That memory of walking down the street, watching his eyes stalk someone else and then mutter the snide comment. 'She's really pretty.' 'She's cute.'
And life slammed right back into her, stingingly slapping her face in reminder. Remy was a wonderful man, honest and unexplainably gorgeous. But he would never be satisfied.
Rogue knew she could turn heads too, but that wasn't always enough.
Behind her eyes she could see him plotting his escape without a commitment to begin with.
And that was the end of love for Rogue. Because she could not trust. She couldn't even trust her own skin.
Climbing out of Remy's arms, she slipped out of bed. Remy hardly stirred, and she decided to leave him be, changing into her uniform again, out of the night clothes Ororo had let her borrow.
She walked out into the hall, sunlight masquerading through the square windows, prancing light against her right side. It was the first time she had seen the sun in days.
Taking a deep breath she let her arms rest against one windowsill, her gaze distant, perhaps not even watching the outside beauty of the island. She could feel heat from the space heater near her ankles.
But then something caught her eye. An angel.
The man landed in the grassy meadow near the base entrance with extreme elegance, his wings immediately folding behind his back. His blonde hair fluttered in the wind.
And a woman greeted him. She hugged him, Kissed him deeply. Let him sweep her off her feet.
It was Betsy.
Rogue stood up straight, watching the two mingle, obviously very involved with one another, their smiles genuine as they headed back inside, hand in hand.
It was as if Scott didn't even exist.
Rogue swallowed and pounded her fist lightly against the wall. Love was too expansive, it could be handed out at random, stealing the meaning it held with the original owner.
After all, what had Betsy's love really meant to Scott that she could be with another man? Rogue felt she might hyperventilate. But only due to her own past experience. Love made her what she was today.
But it didn't help her, make her want to dance or celebrate or get married.
It destroyed her. In Rogue's eyes it was a joke, and she sensed that in Remy's it was as well, because nothing had ever hit them hard enough to dissuade.
From where she stood she could see a soft fog rolling in from the waterfront. Nothing about it seemed bleak, the way a gray day might. Slowly, Rogue moved away from the window, her eyes entranced as the light of the sun intermingled with the fog.
Rogue continued down the hallway, without any direction. Despite their brief tour the day before, she couldn't remember where anything was. She also realized that she didn't really care. She decided to just keep walking straight, until she was forced to turn.
It was a long hallway. And at the end there was an elevator. Up or down. Stepping in she made her selection, watching the numbers descend.
As soon as the door slid open, she wished she had chosen to go upstairs. Directly in front of her was a large glass window. Behind the glass several men and women appeared to be battling machines. She recognized a man with claws whom she had seen yesterday, but the figure that really caught her eye was Jean Grey. That probably meant Kitty was here too.
Her pulse began to race as she watched them, her eyes timid. It wasn't that she was afraid to fight the way they did. She just didn't see the point. Suddenly she felt angry, and she knew it was anxiety catching up with her. In the end it was really about herself.
The men and women before her fought together, beside each other, something that saddened Rogue, because somewhere inside a part of her wanted to be a part of it. She knew it was just a series of voices providing mixed reviews.
"It is quite remarkable, is it not?"
Rogue recognized the regal tone, but she merely nodded, her eyes glued forward.
The woman stepped up beside her, and Rogue took a second to peek to the side. Ororo was dressed in a skintight white uniform, a strangely cut cape clinging to her arms.
"You can always look for a good outcome, whatever situation may arise. Mutants are coming together to fight for the first time." Rogue waited on bated breath for her to continue.
"Do you think you will join the fight Rogue?"
She knew how she looked. Frightened, deeply unsure, tired. She knew the question would come eventually.
"We are calling ourselves the X-Men, in honor of," Rogue turned as Ororo stopped, confused at the woman's pause. She seemed so together. But she didn't finish, simply smiled. Rogue decided to change the subject.
"Do you lead this team?"
Ororo nodded. "But only on the field." She lifted the palm of her hand up, and her eyes glazed over white. A crackling of electricity formed, and as it disappeared, a mini cloud formed, dropping rain onto her skin. "I control the weather."
"Damn," Rogue whispered.
Ororo smiled politely, and reached her hand into what Rogue could only assume was a pocket within her cape. She pulled out a small, round trinket and placed it in Rogue's hand.
"If you come to a decision Rogue, we will be glad to have you."
Rogue blinked, watching the woman continue down the hall and disappear through a glass door.
Looking down into the palm of her hand, she flipped the trinket over.
It was an X, blue and gold.
…………………………………………………….
Rogue took the stairs back up to her room, prepared to take a shower. Her hand continually fingered the button Ororo had given her.
When she opened her bedroom door, she found Remy fully dressed and sitting at the edge of their bed smoking a cigarette.
"Are ya going out sugah?"
"Non. Betsy came by and informed me we will be switching rooms. And we need to meet her upstairs in ten minutes."
Rogue nodded, slipping the X trinket into her coat pocket, nervous to show it to Remy. "Where are we moving to? Down the hall?"
Remy got up and walked towards Rogue. Leaning over beside her he snuffed the cigarette out in a glass tray on the dresser. "We'll be getting our own rooms actually."
"Oh. Ah suppose that's a good thing." Strangely she felt her heart drop.
Remy shrugged. "Oui, I guess so. I mean we hardly know each other."
"Right."
Remy met her eyes. "But dis doesn't mean I'm gonna stop hearing bout' you chere."
"Course not sugah."
Remy placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.
"Well, let's see what else we can find out bout' dis place, huh chere?"
………………………………..
Rogue swallowed as Betsy led them to a different area of the base, one with offices and labs around every corner. They finally stopped inside a large room with a high ceiling and windows out looking the water. A wood mahogany desk stood in the center, and clusters of small, cushioned chairs were scattered around.
The room was empty. No one sat behind the desk or in the chairs. Betsy motioned them to sit, and she too took a seat. A few minutes later the door opened again, and several people entered.
Ororo was the first to enter, and behind her a woman with cropped red hair pushed a bald man in a wheelchair.
But the old man looked like he was dead.
This would have kept Rogue's attention completely had the next man who entered not startled her so much.
He had silver hair, and was twice her age. She had met him several times in the past. He always walked with his head up, his jaw set, like the true businessman he was.
For a quick moment he looked just as surprised as she.
Their minor interaction sparked Remy's interest, his eyes flashing, no longer amused with his deck of cards.
"Well, what a surprise Anna. Or do you no longer use your real name?" His voice wasn't spiteful, but his words cut anyway.
"Ah prefer not to. Reminds me o'a past Ah no longer wish to remember."
The man chuckled. "The irony of your words Anna, is that the past made you who you are today, right now. It will always be your base with which to continue forward from."
Rogue was seething, her hands gripping the chair until her knuckles turned white. But she calmed down. She lost energy. He wasted little time continuing.
"Now, your acquaintance," he turned towards Remy, "Remy LeBeau correct?"
Remy nodded, but his eyes kept darting back to Rogue. Her tense reaction to the man made him cautious.
"My name is Erik Lehnsherr and the woman to my left is Moira Mactaggert." The woman nodded, a stone cold expression set on her face. "Together we run this facility. All around the island mutants are coming together, forming teams, working for a future. It requires hard work, physical training everyday, but I believe we can become a strong defense to Apocalypse's forces."
Remy began to clap, and Rogue's shoulders stiffened as she watched him.
"Dat was beautiful homme. Was dat a recruitment speech?"
Rogue could see Erik twitching. He never took well to disrespect or disobedience.
"Actually Gambit, it was."
Remy stood up from his chair immediately, leaning across the desk, his eyes inches from Erik's.
"How do you know dat name?"
Remy's eyes were fierce, and would have frightened any normal man.
"Don't think I am not aware of who you really are Remy. I hired you once."
Remy stepped back, his muscles still tense.
"Your skills as a thief are very well known." When Remy still did not calm down, Erik let out a sigh. "You may also recognize another name I go by; Magneto."
Remy narrowed his eyes, but visibly relaxed, taking his seat once again.
"I remember. Hired me to steal mutant files from a government-operated warehouse. But if you know who I am Erik, den you know I only work alone."
"I know of your other connections as well Gambit. You have worked with others in the past. Very well I might add."
"Alright, you've made your point, you do your homework." Remy sat back in his seat, preparing to listen to Erik's proposal.
Everyone else in the room remained quiet, and as Rogue's initial shock wore down, her eyes returned to the man in the wheelchair and the woman who seemed so pained behind it.
"Both you and Rogue rank at highly progressive mutant levels. The team myself, and Ororo lead is called the X-Men. We both believe you two would be excellent additions."
"Ok."
Rogue wasn't sure where her answer had come from. She hadn't thought about it, and for a second she wanted nothing more than to blame it on the voices inside her head.
"Chere, what're you saying?" Remy was looking at her with confused eyes, a quality that made him appear more boyish.
Rogue turned to face Erik again, a set look of determination on her face.
"Ah'll join the team Erik."
"Rogue, we don't know anything about it!" She could tell Remy was frustrated beside her. But Erik simply smiled.
"We are not the enemy Gambit. Sometimes you must take responsibility." Before Remy could reply, Erik gestured to the man in the wheelchair.
"This is the man whom I named the X-Men for. His name is Charles Xavier. He was once the most powerful telepath in the world. Fifteen years ago he was in an accident that left him-
"A vegetable." Moira's deep Scottish accent cut in, her eyes low, almost lost. She patted Charles on the shoulder. "Sometimes we like ta think he's still in there somewhere."
"He was a great man." Ororo spoke wistfully, her head held up.
"There is a woman on this island who can predict the future. That is her mutant ability," Erik continued. "She claims that fifteen years ago she felt the time continuum shift. It is my belief that had Charles survived, the world, as we know it would have taken another course. Because there is nothing I can do to change the past, I will work my hardest to direct the future."
Remy looked to the floor, running one hand through his hair, but said nothing. Rogue continued to watch Charles, her eyes looking distant as she ran Erik's words through her head.
"We will give you two some time to think about it, talk it over perhaps."
Rogue could hear the group shuffle out, the creaking hinges of Xavier's wheelchair biting into her brain.
Then the door closed, and they were left alone. Again.
Five minutes went by.
"I was never much o'a team player. Back home I always ran my missions solo, dat was the only way to not get caught. On a team you always have to watch someone else's back. And, I'm afraid chere, dat de only back I would be watching, is yours."
Rogue's green eyes glistened as she watched Remy. "Is that so bad?"
"On a team you have to put aside love chere."
Rogue looked down at her gloved fingers, playing with the stitching. The conversation was making her restless, and she stood up, her back facing Remy.
"Ah think this is something Ah have to do."
His quiet feet would continue to surprise her. She was still staring at her hands when the flash of gold glittered before her. Raising her head she saw the blue and gold X pendent in Remy's hand.
"They give you one too?"
Remy's hand lowered and he maneuvered to face Rogue.
"Non. I stole dis out o'your pocket."
His eyes were concentrating on the back of the pin. Finally, leaning in, he peeled her jacket back, and pinned it to her uniform.
"I think it's a communicator chere."
"What are ya gonna do Remy?"
She watched his shoulders rise as he inhaled and his eyes gazed off out the window. She knew this wasn't a place for a man like him. He enjoyed the freedom, the conquest of winning and earning something alone. Rogue understood that need. But she felt she would overcome it, and he would not.
"I'll stay Rogue. For now."
Rogue smiled, but behind it she could feel her heart turn, a dull thud of pain, something that always seemed to accompany love.
For now did not mean forever.