The Prince of Thieves

Chapter XXVIII: Home again

By: Michelle

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the X-men. I just write fanfics for fun.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"This is April O'Neil with Channel Six. I'm here on location were the Gambit jewel thief is staying."

…the suspect is said to have entered the building accompanied by a teenage girl…

… Just minutes ago the police stormed into the hotel room to apprehend a suspect in the jewelry robberies this week…

…police are reporting that the hotel room is on fire…

…no reports have been made on how the fire originated or if it has spread…

…Two police helicopters have collided, no reports have been made on survivors…

…according to police both the suspect and teenage girl are trapped inside the hotel room…

…This just in, a man wearing a black suit jumped through the wall of flames blocking the entrance to the hotel room where the two suspects are trapped. No reports have been made on who this person is or if they survived…

…Unusual weather patterns have been occurring…

…There is a tornado lowering to the edge of the balcony of the same room the suspects are said to be trapped in…

…At this point, the fire continues to rage out of control…

"There is no sign of survivors…

…Police are speculating mutant activity is involved…"

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

It was an awkward jet ride back for Remy. Storm hadn't said anything at all to him. He figured she must be pretty pissed at him still for her not to be talking. He couldn't blame her though. She had every right to be angry. He lightly tapped into her emotions: anger, concern, and thankfulness. He sighed. They were going to have a nice long talk sooner or later.

Nightcrawler hadn't said much of anything to him either. However, he did manage to gather some of his and Rogue's belongings off of the roof. Well, the stuff that wasn't sucked up into Storm's twister. Remy was surprised he did that for him. After all, Remy knew he hadn't treated Kurt very well since he arrived.

Wolverine was another story. Just like an animal, Logan constantly glared and growled at him. Every single time he wanted to check on Rogue, Logan made sure he didn't get near her. Remy knew better than to mess with the feral man, so he kept away from Rogue even though it was killing him inside.

Rogue sat silently in her seat with a blanket wrapped around her. She could feel concern and care emotions radiating off of Remy who was constantly staring her way. She wondered why he never came over to her. So, she decided to go to him.

She unbuckled her belt and walked over to him. She ignored Logan's growling and Kurt and Ororo's stares. With the blanket wrapped around her, she sat down in the seat next to him. Then, using the blanket as a barrier, she leaned her head on his shoulder.

Remy put an arm around her and pulled her close. He didn't care what everyone was thinking at the moment. Rogue was his biggest concern. "Ya alright Chere."

"Yeah." Rogue replied softly and yawned. She was worn out, but had a feeling the night wasn't over yet. Lectures were coming when they got to the mansion. She didn't have to absorb anyone to figure that out.

Ororo sighed and concentrated on the flight home. It wasn't easy either. It felt like her mind was racing. She didn't know what to do about Remy, or what to say to him.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Once at the mansion, they were all greeted by Xavier. He didn't look like he was mad, but you could say he wasn't happy either. Instead of giving lectures, he checked over Rogue and Remy as well as his X-men in the med lab and sent everyone off to rest. It was a shock for all of them, but then a blessing at the same time.

Rogue avoided Bobby and her friends and went to clean up and hide from a fuming Logan. Meanwhile, Ororo and Kurt walked with Remy back to his room.

On the way back, no words were said. Ororo and Kurt were silent the whole time. Being a very talkative person, the drove Remy crazy. Was she really that mad at him that she didn't want to speak to him anymore?

Once in the room, he waited for Ororo to say something, but she didn't. He wondered if it was because Kurt was there.

Kurt put what was left of Remy's belongings in the corner and walked over to Ororo. "I'm going to clean up and head to bed." He said to his girlfriend and kissed her on the lips.

Remy rolled his eyes. He didn't know why, but he did. Should he be happy about Ororo finding a good man to share her life with? Or, should he be mad that Ororo didn't need him to take care of her anymore.

As Kurt broke his kiss with Ororo, he felt a wave of emotions hit him Happiness. Anger. Confusion. It really made him think about Remy. Xavier said he was an empath. Was this emotion coming off of him?

Ororo looked at Kurt wondering why he was just staring at Remy for some unknown reason. Goddess, please don't let them start fighting.

"Well, it's late." Kurt said and broke his stare. "I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow. Gute Nacht meine Liebe." Good night, my love. Then, he looked over at Gambit. "Gute Nacht Gambit."

Remy sat on the bed and folded his arms. "Night." He said with a hint of attitude.

Kurt sighed at Gambit's tone. He could sense that something was wrong, but he didn't know what to do next. He sighed again. "Nacht Ororo."

"Good night." Ororo replied and watched him make his trek across the hall. Once he disappeared into the room, she turned to Remy.

Remy pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in the corner of his mouth. "Suppose ya gonna lecture me now." He said as he went to touch the tip with his finger. "And tell me how stupid I was and shit like dat."

"Don't smoke that in here." Ororo fussed and took the cigarette out of his mouth before he could charge the tip to light it. "And no, I'm not going to lecture you tonight."

"Well dat be a shocker."

"I'm not in the mood to lecture you now. It's been a long night and I want to go to bed." Ororo replied with an attitude. "Clean up and go to bed. I'll have a long lecture for you tomorrow morning. Of course, that all depends on if you will actually stay the night."

Remy huffed. Yeah, she's still pissed. "Ya ain't got nufin ta worry 'bout. I's gonna stay de night, so make sure ya got dat lecture all rehearsed." He said pulling out another cigarette.

"Oh, it will be." Ororo replied. "And I said don't smoke that in here."

Remy sighed as once again she took a cigarette from him. "Night Stormy."

Ororo sighed at that nickname. "Good night Remy." She said and kissed him on the forehead. Goddess, don't let him do anything stupid.

Remy waited for her to leave before pulling out another cigarette. Why she got to care about me so much? He sighed staring at the cigarette in his hand. He got up from the bed and climbed out the window for a long overdue smoke.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Rogue stared at the mirror as she brushed her long wet white streaked hair. It felt good to take a nice shower. It was like washing all her troubles away. Plus, you could actually tell that she had a white streak in her hair again.

As she began blow-drying her hair, she wondered what the next day would hold for her. She was quite surprised when Professor Xavier said he will discuss the activities of the night tomorrow. She didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Personally, she wanted to get the whole ordeal over with.

She brushed her now dry hair once more and put on her black robe over her nightgown. As she walked out the bathroom, she was greeted by a nosey Jubilation Lee and a curious Katherine "Kitty" Pryde.

"Yo Chica." Jubilee bounced. "What's up/"

"Yeah, like how was your adventure with hunka hunka Cajun love." Kitty giggled.

"It's no big deal." Rogue replied. She really wasn't in the mood for girl talk or gossip for that matter.

"No big deal.' Jubilee said "Chica, you ran off with a guy you barely know and got mixed up in a fight with Magneto. That's a very big deal."

They aren't going to quit, are they. "I don't want to talk about it, Ok." Rogue replied. "It's none of yawls business anyway." She said and rushed off.

"Like what's her problem?" Kitty said turning to Jubilee.

Jubilee shrugged. "It's probably that time of the month."

Rogue leaned against the wall and sighed. She just wanted to be away from everyone and everything. She wondered if that was her reason to run off with Remy. She herself was confused. She knew what the next day held in store for her. Tons of questions and loads of lectures. It wasn't something she was looking forward to.

To make matters worse, Rogue had to see Piotr and Bobby pass by her. That wasn't really the bad thing though. What was the fact that Bobby didn't even acknowledge even there. Was she looking for him to rush up to her and thank God that she was alright. Would that have been so hard to do? Apparently so.

Of course, she really couldn't blame him. After all, he was her boyfriend and she ran off with another man. Ok a very sexy charming wilder man, but that wasn't the point. The point was that Bobby was mad at her and it was all her fault.

As her mind was racing, Rogue started to walk back down the hallway. Now would be the time to run off. Now was the time she wanted to be away from it all. But instead, she would just have to stay at the mansion and dealing with her problems herself. She stood in front of the door across the hall from Kurt's and turned the knob.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Kurt walked out the bathroom towel drying his hair. It had been a wild night and he really wanted to go to sleep, but he felt like he was being told to reach out to Gambit. He didn't know why he felt this way but he did.

He threw the towel in a hamper in his room and knelt in front of his dresser that had been converted into an alter. As he closed his eyes and prayed, he couldn't get Gambit out of his mind. How do you reach out to someone who doesn't want to be helped?

Ororo wanted him and Gambit to get along and become good friends. However, that hadn't been the case. So who was to blame? Gambit had been a thorn in his side from the moment Ororo brought him to the mansion, but he hadn't made much effort to get along with him either. So is it my fault? He sighed and looked up at the crucifix. Perhaps I haven't tried hard enough.

After his prayers, he made the sign of the cross. He had come to a conclusion. He was going to try and reach out to Gambit and make peace with him before he left.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

After three cigarettes, Remy climbed back in the window and cleaned up for the night. Even after his shower, he still felt dirty. Not physically, but spiritually. He felt like a lowlife dirty scoundrel who would amount to nothing in his life.

He stood in front of the mirror studying the reflection before him. He had done a lot of growing up since he was kicked out New Orleans, but he was the same Cajun thief that left four years ago. He walked out of the bathroom and put on a pair of boxers. He lay back on the bed staring at the ceiling for a few minutes.

As he thought about his life, his mind felt like a jumbled mess. He reached for another cigarette and headed for the window for another smoke break when he heard the door open. In stepped Rogue dressed in a black nightgown and matching robe. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it. She didn't look so sure if she should have been there or not.

Remy studied her for a second and raised an eyebrow. "Ya lost Chere."

"No." Rogue said softly and hung her head. "I just need to get away from everyone."

"Oh." Remy put the cigarette behind his ear and put on a white shirt. Then, he plopped back on the bed. Rogue still hadn't moved. He patted the bed. "Ya can take a seat Chere."

Rogue hesitated before she did. She took a seat at the edge of the bed and stared forward.

Remy sat up next to her. "Ya alright Chere?" He asked as he carefully tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

"I'm tired." Rogue replied.

Remy nodded at her answer. He could agree with that. He was tired too. "Why don't ya go ta ya room and git some sleep?"

Rogue shook her head no. She didn't want to go back to her room. Unlike Remy, she had roommates. Two gossip loving roommates. "I just want to be away from everyone right now." She said hoping he would understand.

"Dey been giving ya a hard time." Remy answered. "Ororo be so mad dat she ain't wanting ta talk ta me." He hung his head. "Stormy be my best friend. My sister. She de closest t'ing ta a family I got."

"I'm sorry." Rogue put a hand on his shoulder. She wanted to cry. "Bobby ain't talking to me either."

"Bobby ya boyfriend." Remy said. Of course, thanks to me I might have destroyed that. I destroy everything. "He probably just be upset." He said trying to comfort her. "When he found out ya be gone, he was probably so worried that it scared him. Now dat ya back re be in shock and ain't sure what to say."

"Maybe." Rogue shrugged. She turned his head to stare into his eyes. "But we don't seem to be the same anymore. We're so different. And, we got in a fight before I decided to leave." I don't know if I feel anything for him anymore. "I didn't want to hurt him."

Remy sighed. "I know what you mean. I didn't want to hurt Stormy either."

"Guess we both messed up, huh."

"Yeah." Remy lay back down on the bed.

Not wanting to leave, Rogue lay down on the other side. She was close to him, but not close enough to cuddle. She studied his features as he stared up at the ceiling. On the outside, he seemed tough and strong. In the inside, he was a kind and gentle man. He just didn't seen to know how to deal with both. It was quite obvious that he had been through a lot in his life. She wanted to ask him about it, but she didn't want to step out of her boundaries. She liked him a lot and hated to see him like this. She wanted to comfort him but didn't know how. So she just laid there and stared. Before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

Remy turned on his side to see her laying there in peaceful dreams. Must be nice. He covered her with a blanket and shut out the lights. Then, he let his mind race on what he needed to do next.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Logan paced around Xavier's office growling and grumbling.

"Logan if you don't mind, I would like to go up to my room for bed." Xavier said to the feral man. "It has been a long night."

"No shit.' Logan growled. "And I can't believe you haven't said a damn thing about what happened tonight."

"Logan, there is nothing to be said until tomorrow." Xavier replied.

"Tomorrow! Tomorrow!" Logan hollered. "What kind of crap is that? You should have gotten on to them the moment we brought them back!"

"Yelling at them is useless." Xavier reminded him. "Plus, we don't need them to run again. Besides, I think this is something they need to think about on their own."

Logan thought for a minute. "Damnit Chuck. I hate it when you pull this mind crap." He grumbled. "I'm getting to bed."

Xavier shook his head as Logan left. At least he got it.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Ororo sighed as she stared into the mirror brushing her hair. It had been a long night and she was more than ready to go to bed. Remy was safe back at the mansion, but for how long.

She put the brush down and headed out the bathroom. She plopped herself down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Her mind was racing about Remy. To say she was mad at him still was a lie.

She didn't want him to leave, but she knew it was going to be the next step. Remy was a loner…a nomad. She had known him for over two years and still couldn't understand him. He was such a people person, but he never wanted to stay around long enough to have friends or be part of a family. He would fit in here.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&7

On the way back to his room, Logan picked up Rogue's scent. It lead straight into Gambit's room. He's dead meat. He flung open the door to Gambit's room and flipped on the lights.

Gambit covered his eyes from the instant bright light. "Quoi?"

Logan stood there with his claws extended. He wanted to tear the younger man to shreds but he held back. Rogue was in the bed sleeping peacefully in her own little cocoon.

Remy didn't know whether he should fight or just remain calm. Logan didn't look like the type of person to mess with at the moment. "I ain't hurt her." He said as Logan went to stand on her side of the bed.

"I know." Logan replied. He could smell the truth coming off of him. He dug in his pocket and pulled out Gambit's Bo staff. Then, he tossed it at him.

Remy caught it and examined it. He thought it was one of the things he lost in the fight. Although many wouldn't understand, his Bo staff was very important to him. His brother, Henri, got it for him shortly after he passed his Thief's tilling. It was made out of adamantium, the only thing he could charge but not blow to smithereens or disintegrate.

As Logan picked up Rogue, Remy thought about him. He had treated Logan pretty bad the last few days. Of course, Logan had been no better either, but pointing fingers didn't make them any better or less guilty.

"Hey." He called to Logan, just before he walked out the door. Logan turned waiting for him to speak. "Thanks. Thanks for dis."

Logan was silent for a moment. "Yeah well, I figured you might need something to defend yourself with if I decide to kill you tomorrow." He replied and walked out the door leaving Gambit wondering if it was a threat or a promise.

As he walked towards Rogue's room, he wondered what would cause such a sweet young girl to fall for such a wild and crazy rebel. He was sort of jealous. Rogue had always had this crush on him, but when Gambit popped in the picture she changed. She was no longer his shadow or his faithful stalker.

Logan tucked her in her bed carefully and headed back to him room. Although Jean had been involved with Scott, he knew she had some feelings for him. After all, he and Scott were exact opposites. Scott was calm and collective, when he was wild and crazy. Who didn't want a guy like him?

"Girls flirt with the dangerous guy, they don't bring him home... they marry the good guy."

"I can be the good guy."

"Logan, the good guy sticks around."

Logan sighed as he stopped in front of Gambit's door. There he saw Gambit tossing and turning in the bed from a nightmare.

"You know Logan." Ororo said with her voice rising. "If you actually make the initiative to speak to him, you would actually find out you have a lot in common."

A lot in common was not the word for it. Logan grumbled the rest of the way to his room. Gambit was just a younger version of himself.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Later on in the night…

Ororo's eyes fluttered open and she sat up. There was Remy at the foot of her bed with his red eyes glowing brightly. She hadn't heard him come in, but she knew he would end up there sooner or later.

"Hey." She said softly pushing aside all the anger she had been feeling earlier. "You had another nightmare, didn't you?"

"Oui."

"Come here." Ororo called to him. Remy crawled over to her and lay down with his head on her lap. She brushed his hair out of his eyes. "What was your dream about?"

Remy thought for a moment. Nightmares were a common thing for him. Some were about Bella. Some were about Sabretooth. Others were just too much to want to recall. All in all, his dreams always disturbed him and gave him many sleepless nights. However, his latest nightmare really hit him down to the core.

"Remy, you can talk to me."

He sighed. "It was about ya."

"Me." Ororo said tilting his head to look up at her.

"Oui." Remy answered and continued. "I dun saw you tied up ta a chair wit someone trying ta hurt ya."

"Really." Ororo was surprised about that. "Who was trying to hurt me?"

"I don't know." Remy said trying to recall the image. "He was blurry. Couldn't see a face, but de voice sound so angry…I try…but I couldn't save ya from him."

Ororo watched a tear roll down his cheek. "Well no one's here now. I'm fine. It was just a dream."

"I know." Remy answered. "But I was t'inking about us. I'd hate myself if something happened ta ya. I'm sorry…so sorry I be so stupid."

"Yes, well you could have gotten yourself and Rogue killed." Ororo reminded him. She could feel her anger rising again. "I was worried about you. I always worry about you, you know that."

"I know. I sorry Stormy…Ororo." Remy blinked sending more tears rolling down. "I didn't mean ta hurt ya."

Ororo sighed. How can I stay mad at him? "I know." She played with his hair. "I just wish you would consider staying here."

"I don't belong here."

"You do." Ororo answered. "Even more than you know. Just please think about it Remy."

"…" Remy went to respond, but she silenced him with a finger on his lips.

"Don't say anything now." Ororo said to him. "I want you to think long and hard about this. OK."

"Oui." Remy sighed. "I'll think about it."

"Good." Ororo smiled. "Now, why don't you get some sleep?"

Remy nodded and got comfortable on the other side of the bed.

Ororo ran her fingers through her hair as she looked at him. Please stay. Goddess, please make him stay. She sighed and got comfortable on her side of the bed.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Pyro flipped open and close his lighter as he walked down the hallway with Magneto and Mystique. It had been a crazy night. His body ached all over. I can't believe I got my ass kicked by Rogue.

Once in his office, Magneto was ready to raise hell. He had failed. The X-men once again overwhelmed his team and he had to make an early retreat. It really pissed him off.

Pyro sat down in one of the chairs. He wasn't in the mood to be lectured, especially by a cranky Magneto.

Mystique sat down in one of the other chairs. She sighed and smiled to herself.

Magneto stood in front of his desk with his head down and his fingers drumming. He didn't know where to begin his fussing.

"What are you smiling about?" Pyro asked Mystique. "We lost. Gambit blew up the fucking disk we failed to get."

"Oh really." Mystique laughed catching Magneto's attention. "I seriously doubt that."

Magneto looked up at her. She smiled pulling out the disk from in between her breasts. He couldn't help but match it.

"There's always more than meets the eye Pyro." Mystique said twirling the disk in between her fingers. "And Gambit wasn't the only one with quick fingers."

Pyro just sat there with his mouth wide open.

Magneto took the disk out of Mystique's hand. He studied it. "Are you sure this is it?"

"Of course, it came from his belt." Mystique replied. "I switched the disks on him when fighting. I made him believe he blew up the real disk."

Magneto smirked. "You never cease to amaze me, my dear." He replied and placed the disk in his computer. He opened the files and it gave him everything he needed to know. "That's what makes you the best."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Yeah. Another chapter done. I guess I better get working on the next chapter.

Anyways, The Prince of Thieves seems to be coming to an end…

A new chapter to Sweet Little Lies will come out soon, but my main focus is getting Prince finished with.

Thanks for all the reviews everyone. See you all next chapter.

Michelle