Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.
Thanks to my reviewers, sorry for the delay.
I wasn't sure I was going to finish this story. But, I will try my best amongst my busy schedule. It's my last year of college. Huh. Anyway, this is a short chapter, but meant to compensate until I get the next one up.
You wouldn't dare.
……………………………………………………….
Remy met Rogue for drinks after his mission that day.
She was smiling as he greeted her, a rarity from her, he felt.
He ordered a beer and watched her sip her gin and tonic.
"Does it feel good to be back with the X-Men?"
Remy smiled at the bar tender as she set down his drink.
"I suppose."
There was a long pause. Such time between them.
"Remy, what have you been doing since Antarctica?"
He knew she would ask these questions. He sipped his beer and looked her in the eye.
"I went back to what I do best chere."
Rogue nodded in understanding, her eyes scanning the table, her drink.
"How did you get back from Antarctica?"
That was the question he was really waiting for.
He smiled.
"I spent a week in the snow." Remy sat back in his seat as Rogue looked up, a saddened expression on her face.
"I should have died Rogue. I was saved, but I was too delusional to see who it was. I found myself back in New Orleans, under de care of my good father."
Rogue caught his bitter expression. She reached a hand out for Remy's.
"We've missed so many days together sugah. And it's all my fault."
Remy's eyes narrowed in remorse of her words. He felt for her in that moment.
"We've got plenty of time for new ones chere."
She smiled, but she wasn't happy. This had been killing her for a long time.
And it had been killing him too.
…………………………………………
It really does happen that fast. Remy's eyes could wander up and down Rogue's body with desire, but a sick sense of disgust would follow closely behind. And it only made him want her more.
There is an intense jealousy and anger behind such love.
He sat in the Danger Room computer room, controlling the session down below while simultaneously looking through his teammates files. Just for fun.
He heard the red alert alarm go off behind him, but his muscles didn't freeze in fear of being caught looking at what he shouldn't. His movements didn't change at all, but remained constant, as a good thief would.
It was an alarm for another mission and another chance.
Remy sat back and watched the X-Men clear the danger room. Such vigilance and determination. If they were seen as heroes by any of society, they were seen as the model citizen. Always willing to help those in need. To put others before themselves.
And it was all bullshit. Remy stood up from his swivel chair and began walking down the hall, down the stairs.
He could see the team up ahead, speaking amongst themselves as they rushed to the meeting hall. His pace had quickened, but he wasn't really in a hurry.
His eyes were only on Rogue. He wondered how much longer he would love her. Most days he knew he would love her forever, no matter what. But on the rare occasion, he would think that silly.
Remy caught up to the group and reached a hand out for Rogue's upper arm. She turned around and smiled. She was happy he was there. He felt her fingers brush over his in reassurance. His heart always swelled, but today, in this moment, he knew it would probably never be enough for them.
He was worried, however, that they may continue trying until they were dead.
…………………………………
She kept itching the tip of her nose as if she were bored.
Rogue watched the little girl from across the table. She ate her cereal in careful spoonfuls.
Rachel knew she was being watched, and her eyes would glance up every once in awhile. She slurped the milk out of her bowl, and set it down with a quiet thud.
"Is your boyfriend gone?"
How old was she again? Rogue thought, slowly removing her thoughtful hand from her chin and setting it on the counter by her coffee.
"Um, yes, he is sugah. He's on a mission."
"Do you think he'll come back?"
Rogue's eyebrows narrowed. She thought quickly to the mission. Just another mutant causing mayhem in the downtown area. It hadn't sounded serious.
"Why wouldn't he Rachel?"
The girl shrugged her shoulders and swiped her finger around the bowls edge, collecting leftover sugar crystals.
Rogue nodded when the girl didn't respond and slipped off her stool, heading for the patio door.
She could see Jean washing dishes as she exited the mansion, and felt a flashing feeling of relief that she had never married Remy.
Her head was dizzy as she sat down on the wood paneling and let her legs swing over the short edge. She swallowed and let Ororo join her side.
"Does it seem strange to you that Remy is back?"
Rogue's eyebrows narrowed, but she tried not to let the shock of the question develop in her tone.
"No. He needed to come back."
Ororo nodded, but a tiny laugh emitted her throat.
"I just didn't' think he would stay Rogue."
Ororo's eyes were looking down in her lap. She never looked down. She was regal, and always held such a higher sense of maturity than most of the X-Men.
"Do you wish he hadn't stayed Ro'?"
Of course Rogue's eyes were piercing Storm's. Ororo looked up.
"Yes Rogue. I wish he had left."
Rogue felt herself stand up instantly. Reacting so swiftly. She would protect Remy from everyone but herself. He could hurt her, and he had, and she would still defend him.
"You're his best friend Storm. He'll tell you things he won't even tell me!"
Ororo smiled.
"Remy is smooth Rogue." Ororo stayed seating, but glanced up at Rogue. "He loves you Rogue. And he loves me. But, that doesn't always mean everything."
Rogue shook her head as she watched the X-Jet fly above them, slowly descending.
"What does it mean then Ro'?" Her eyes still on the jet.
"It means he will do anything without reason."
Rogue nodded absently and began heading back inside to greet Remy. Most people would say this wasn't a relationship, not with all of the cheating, lying and deceiving. But, as Rogue smiled, pressing the elevator button, she knew that it was those qualities that meant it was a relationship.
She would have to hold her breath, if not her tongue this time.
……………………………………………………
The team sat around the dining room table in relative silence. The clinking of glass, and forks scraping across plates was louder than the low level talk. Everyone was tired.
Remy was whispering quietly to Rogue at his side, a glass of wine hanging precariously from one hand. He enjoyed watching her and her every movement. It made him smile, and it made him forget everything she had ever done to harm him.
"Remy." Jean's index finger poked Remy gently in the arm to his right.
Remy interrupted his conversation with Rogue and turned to Jean.
"Oui?"
"I meant to tell you earlier," she paused, considering her words. "I was sorry to hear about your father."
Remy froze, but no one else, except perhaps Wolverine would have noticed his movements. "Um," he gulped quickly, but did not turn to Rogue. "Thanks Jean."
Taking a long gulp of his wine, he slowly returned to his conversation with Rogue.
"What did she mean by that Remy?"
Remy was thankful for Rogue's quiet tone.
"My father was hospitalized recently. Heart problems."
Rogue nodded. "Ah'm sorry Remy."
Remy shrugged, not knowing what else to say.
"Shouldn't you be down in New Orleans then?"
Another long sip.
"Non chere. It's not that serious."
"Oh."
Her sip was longer. And the clanking and swishing and chewing once again covered every word.
……………………………………………
Rogue sat down in front of the computer with pause. She looked from left to right, but she was alone, as she was supposed to be. It was her shift after all.
But she typed the name in slowly, as if it would set off a red alert alarm.
Jean Luc LeBeau.
Swiftly, the older man's photo appeared before her. Rogue's fingers had remained hovering above the keyboard. The first sentence of his profile answered her question.
Status: Deceased.
She looked at the date of death next.
Her arms collapsed on the keyboard, and then she let her head rest as well. She didn't' want to cry though, not yet.
Jean Luc had died the day after Remy had been abandoned in Antarctica.
Remy hadn't returned home after Antarctica like he had said. So where had he really gone?