Rogue and Gambit got to the airport with no trouble and true to Rogue's word, she called Kurt before she got on the plane. All she would tell him was that she would be away all weekend and that he shouldn't worry about her because she would be fine. Gambit slept through the flight which gave Rogue time to think of what she would say to Destiny. She had a lot of angry speeches stored up when they landed. They took a taxi to Rogue's former home. Gambit put his arm around Rogue; a dangerous thing to do, considering Gambit had ditched his trademark trench coat (too hot) and was wearing a red t-shirt and black jeans. So really, he put his exposed arm around Rogue. Gambit was also wearing black sunglasses because not everyone finds his black on red eyes as cool as Rogue does. Rogue was wearing her usual see through green number over a black tank top and her new gloves. She was also wearing a black miniskirt, but she ditched the tights and boots for thin-strapped black sandals. Rogue had nice legs, something Gambit couldn't help but notice. Rogue also had the necklace Destiny had given her. She planned to perhaps throw it in her face.
Rogue and Gambit arrived to Rogue's old home by taxi and Gambit began to get wary. This time he had his arm around Rogue's waist. Gambit, like most men when they're afraid the women they care about is going to get hurt, was developing a strong case of testosterone driven over protectiveness. Rogue could feel her heart rate increase. Her heart was beating through her chest and she was beginning to sweat, but that could have been the heat. Her top was all covered up and it was almost June. Rogue knocked and Destiny came to the door.
"Hello?" asked Destiny. In her blindness she couldn't see who was at the door. Although, Rogue had a sneaking suspicion Destiny knew it was her. Destiny could see into the future, after all.
Rogue moved to speak, but nothing came out. She was frozen. She had all these emotions stored up and now they were choking her. This was her "mother" and her home, but this woman betrayed her, and used her. Rogue could feel tears coming on and she did her best to keep them at bay. She was angry, sad, scared, confused, and frustrated with herself for freezing up in front of Destiny and Remy.
"I know someone's there," said Destiny, "if you don't start talking I'm closing the door."
At that, Rogue turned around and ran with Gambit right behind her. Normally Gambit could have overtaken her, but he was carrying his and Rogue's luggage (one small bag each) and Rogue's schoolbag (Rogue dropped her things when she decided to run). Rogue didn't know where she was going, but she wasn't ready to face this part of her life, so she ran. Four blocks later, Rogue stopped in front of a fast food restaurant and sat at one of the outside tables. Gambit, looking quite funny attempting to run with a bag in each hand and a schoolbag on his back, finally caught up with Rogue. He sat down next to her and caught his breath. Gambit was in great shape, but he wasn't exactly prepared for a run. Gambit straddled the bench so he could face Rogue.
"You all right?" asked Gambit.
"No."
"We don't have to see her right away."
"I can't believe I did that."
"You didn't do anything wrong, Rogue."
"What happened to chere?" asked Rogue.
"You know you're always my chere."
"Thanks."
"Come here," said Gambit as he reached out to hug Rogue. Unfortunately when Gambit went to hug Rogue, Rogue went to hug Gambit (great minds think alike or fools seldom disagree?) and Gambit's chin touched Rogue's forehead. Rogue broke contact as quickly as she could, but Gambit was already unconscious. And Rogue noticed her new gloves were glowing. She freaked out, thinking she was about to blow her own hands off. She pulled off the gloves, her new favorite gloves, and threw them as far away as she could. Had Rogue been thinking clearly she would have realized that when Gambit charges an object it doesn't explode until it leaves his hands, but Rogue wasn't thinking and her new gloves went out with a bang. So there was Rogue sitting on the bench without her new gloves, with an unconscious Gambit next to her, and a whole crowd of people were staring at her. Rogue's mascara was running and not only was she upset she was getting angry, so she stood up and turned to the crowd.
"What are y'all looking at!" screamed Rogue. The crowd dispersed quickly. God I don't need this. I can't carry Gambit and all our stuff out of here. I just hope no one calls the police. Gambit and I didn't touch that long maybe I can wake him up. Rogue began to shake Gambit, but to no avail. He wasn't getting up until he stored up some more energy. Perfect. Rogue thought of putting on the extra gloves in her bag, but she didn't know if she had control over Gambit's powers yet. However, she did have access to Gambit's thoughts: Poor chere, she doesn't deserve this. She's too beautiful for this kind of pain. Beautiful inside and out. It's almost funny, no woman's ever made me feel this way. Everything in me wants to love and protect her. Of course, there's the no touchin' thing. That's frustratin', but we can get around that somehow. I love her with my whole heart, but how does she feels about me? She let me come with her here. She said she wanted me to come with her. That means something, doesn't it? She must like me. But getting her to love me is different. Gambit's not an easy man to love.
"Oh Gambit," Rogue said out loud to an unconscious Gambit, "you are easy to love. Very easy to love." Love! Did I just say that! Do I love Gambit? He's been so sweet. If feels good to be near him, but . . .
"Hey!" someone said. It snapped Rouge out of her thoughts. She looked around to see a dark haired boy and some of his friends looking at her. "I remember you. Rogue, right? You put Cody in the hospital, and I saw you on the news. You're a mutey."
Oh God, this is what I was afraid of. There's four of them and one of me, and Gambit isn't gonna be any help. He's still out cold. I can take 'em, but I don't want to take 'em. I just want to be left alone.
"What'd you do to this guy?" asked the same boy gesturing towards Gambit, "I bet it's the same thing you did to Cody, isn't it? Is that your power, sucking the life out of boys?"
"This is my friend. He got hurt, that's all, and yes I'm a mutant, and yes I hurt Cody, but that was an accident. So just leave us be," said Rogue.
"No way. You and your kind are dangerous, and I ain't fixin' to let you hurt anyone else, so I say the four of us teach you a lesson."
"Back off!"
"I don't think so Rogue. And what kind of name is that anyway, it's ridiculous."
"Ya'll are skating on thin ice!" yelled Rogue. God, I'm not even wearing my gloves. This is gonna be bad.
"So Rogue, where ya want it first," said the boy as he made two fists, "In the stomach or in the face. I say face, it's not like you're worried about looking beautiful, right?" The boy gave a mean snicker at Rogue's expense.
"Screw you!" said Rogue.
"No, screw you, mutey! I think it's about time you say goodnight darlin'."
"Goodnight darlin'" said a newly conscious Gambit. Gambit got up from the bench and took of his sunglasses so he could get a better view of their assailants.
"Dude your eyes are red and black," said one of the four boys.
"I bet he's a mutey too," said one of the other boys.
"You'd win that bet," said Gambit.
"Great, they're multiplyin'," said the dark haired ring leader.
Gambit took a small piece of metal from his pocket and with a flick of his wrist it extended into his bow staff. "You all got one chance to walk away from dis, so take it."
The boys were getting nervous, but it's a scientific fact that teenage boys in groups make poor decisions. So the boys stood there ground, while they're ringleader continued speaking, "Why should we? You're outnumbered and we ain't afraid of you."
"You should be," said Gambit.
"Who the heck are you, anyway? Her boyfriend?" asked the ringleader, "Do you know what kind of psycho you're getting involved with." Crack! The end of Gambit's bow staff hit the boy right across his face. Then Gambit shoved the end of it into the boy's stomach. Then he was treated to another hit, but this time across his back. The boy was on the ground in pain and his friends were so shocked they didn't move an inch. The boy rolled onto his back and Gambit shoved the tip of his bow into the boy's throat.
"Da name's Gambit! Remember it!" said Gambit, "Now if Gambit hears that you all have been bothering Rogue or any other mutant, he'll make you sorry. Understand?"
The frightened boys nodded. Gambit let their ringleader up and said, "Now get lost." The boys did just that, and Rogue and Gambit were left alone.
"You all right chere? Dey hurt you?" asked Gambit.
"I'm fine, Remy." Rogue's first instinct was to assert that she didn't need him and could have fended those boys off herself. She had learned that being dependant on someone can be dangerous, but her heart told her to be grateful. For once, she went with her heart and hugged Gambit. This time he didn't end up on the ground.
"Now what was that for? Not that I'm complaining."
"For taking care of me, and an apology for knocking you out."
"That wasn't you're fault chere, accidents happen."
"Yeah. Sometimes I feel like an accident waiting to happen."
"Don't say that chere. You're no accident. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me," said Gambit. Rogue blushed and didn't know what to say. Seeing her embarrassment, Gambit changed the subject. "So where are we off to now, chere?"
Rogue sighed and said, "Back to Destiny's."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Well before we go, let me give you something," Gambit said, then he walked over to his bag and reached into a pocket. Gambit pulled out black box wrapped in silver ribbon. He handed it to Rogue.
"Happy Birthday my beautiful chere."
"Gambit, when did you get this?"
"Early this morning. I realized I didn't get my chere a birthday gift, so I stopped by a jewelry store."
"They were open that early?" asked Rogue giving Gambit a wary look.
"I didn't steal it, chere. If that's what you're asking."
"I'm not . . . I didn't mean . . ."
"Open your present," Gambit said with a smile. Rogue undid the ribbon and opened the box. The box contained a pair of studded earrings, square-cut emerald earrings. Rogue couldn't believe how beautiful they were. She had never received jewelry like this. For a moment she was speechless. "Do you like them?" asked Gambit.
"Yes. Remy . . . I . . . these are . . . thank you. I don't know what to say. They're gorgeous. I . . . how . . . how can you afford these?"
"Chere, don't you know how rude it is to ask someone the price of a gift?"
"Sorry, I'm just . . . no one's ever given me anything like this."
"Gambit's glad you like them."
"I thought you were out of this talking in third person habit," said a smiling Rogue.
"Old habits die hard," said Gambit.
"Why do you do that anyway?" asked Rogue, and Gambit's face changed. Rogue had never seen Gambit so solemn.
"It's a long story," said Gambit. Sensing the shift in emotion, Rogue changed the subject.
"Well, I love my new earrings. Thank you, Remy." With that said, Rogue hugged Gambit.
"You're welcome, chere. You gonna put 'em on or you gonna make Gambit wait to see you in 'em?"
"Well, I should make you wait, but I'll put them on now. I wish I had a mirror." Rogue put in the studs and pushed her hair behind her ears so Gambit could see them. "How do they look?" she asked.
"Beautiful," said Gambit, although he was looking at Rogue's face, not her ears.
"Remy, you're not even looking at the earrings."
"I'm looking at all I need to see," said Gambit as he picked Rogue up by her waist and spun her around. Rogue couldn't help but giggle.
"Remy, put me down."
"Never, chere."
"We have to go."
"Do we have to go now?"
"Yes, put me down," Rogue said through laughter.
"Fine," said Gambit as he put Rogue on the ground. The two mutants grabbed their things and headed back to see Destiny. Gambit carried his and Rogue's bags and Rogue carried her school bag. It wasn't long before they reached Destiny's and knocked again.
