Rouge's Tale

By: FatalBlueSweetie

Disclaimer: I own nothing…

Chapter 2

Two hours later, the girls stumbled into their room completely exhausted. Kitty fell right to sleep, fully clothed in her sweat-covered uniform. Rouge on the other handed decided she needed a shower. She was still dirty from the trek the night before.

Water was one of the few things that could touch her venomous skin and not be thrown into unconsciousness. She let the water roll down her body, taking with it her worries if only for a little while. A moan of pleasure escaped her lips as the steamy torrents of water cascade down on her head. A while later she stepped out of the shower, wrapped herself in a towel and went to look for clothes. She threw things around her side of the room in her pursuit of the coverings she desired. They were simple enough, a pair of tight denim jeans, a black baby tee shirt, her cons and elbow length black evening gloves.

She spent the remaining of Kitty's nap out on the balcony listening to her headphones and reading. As soon as Kitty left the room though, Rouge locked the door, took out her stereo and turned up the volume of her favorite Project 86 cd. As the music pulsed through the air Rouge began to mold her room, a stark white, bleak prison cell to the dark, lived in room of an angry goth. Posters of rock bands such as Mae, Project 86, System of A Down and Disturbed were plastered over every inch of the whitewashed walls. Along with the aforementioned band posters were concert stubs, photos of her and some more local bands, bits of poetry and things she had drawn, and lyrics. She had written things on the walls in thick permanent marker too, things about hating the world and how much people suck. She changed her bed coverings. Removing any traces of white. She replaced the sheets with her old silk black ones and put the comforter in a black and red duvey cover. She covered all the pillows with red and black pillowcases and laid two sheer scarves, one black the other red, over the top of the lamps that accompanied her side of the room. She fitted the balcony doors with layers of black mesh that she used as curtains. On the small table next to her bed she placed her current reading material, Companions Of The Night, a black book that had a side lock (obviously her diary), and her black radio alarm clock. Rogue stood back and admired her handiwork. 'Not bad, not bad at all' thought Rouge. Kitty was lucky. She didn't have to walk through Rouges half of the room to get to her own. Rouge's was closest to the balcony and farthest from the door and the bathroom.

Rouge, obeying the demands of her stomach, turned off her music and left to find the kitchen. She found the desired room with very little mishaps five minutes later. At the counter were: Scott, Jean and Logan.

"So the recluse has finally returned to the world of the living," said Logan.

"Thank my stomach for that, Claws" replied Rouge, and proceeded to dig into a bowl of lucky charms.

"You do know it's after one in the afternoon, right?" asked Jean looking at the bowl of cereal.

"Yeah, so?"

"Just checking" said Jean hastily.

Rouge returned to her room after the food and heard the water in the shower running. 'Kitty must be bathing' thought Rouge. She grabbed her book and opened the French doors leading to the balcony.

The next few days followed the same pattern. Mornings Rogue was in the danger room and afternoons she was in her room or outside, normally accompanied by a book or sketchpad. She had her headphones with her everywhere.

When Jean inquired about that two days after Rogues arrive, her answer was "They help me to deal with people". Rogue returned to her balcony escape then. Kitty seemed a little uneasy about the darkness of Rogues space but soon became used to it.

Friday night the group opted to see a movie at the local theater. Rogue agreed to go only if she could pick the film they were to watch. They all consented to the idea, wanting Rogue to get out of the house. Rogue chose Constantine; she had been dying to see it. Needless to say, when they left the theater several of the party needed to change.

As they headed for the doors that led to the parking lot, someone slammed into Rogue, causing her to topple to the ground. She shook her head and sat up, mumbling incoherently about how much she hated people. A hand appeared in front of her; Rogue grabbed it and was lifted to her feet. She looked up and saw the hand was attached to the arm of the most gorgeous person she had ever laid eyes on. He had shaggy red-brown hair that just grazed his ears and hung messily in front of his eyes, facial hair that was a step below a goatee but a step up from stubble. He was clad in dark denim jeans, a black tee shirt, black fingerless gloves and a long tan trench coat. She looked into his eyes and was instantly caught. His eyes were the darkest shade of black imaginable; it was like looking into oblivion. Where most people had blue or brown in there eyes, his was red. She was lost and couldn't find her way out, until he coughed. Rogue blushed slightly, which was unnoticed because of her layers of makeup, and dropped the hand she had been holding.

"Remy is sorry chere," the stranger apologized.

"Yeah well watch were yah going next tahme, swamp rat," Rogue spat.

"Sure ting, miss river rat," Remy said.

Rogue spun around and stormed out of the building and caught up to the others.

She returned home and went to sleep. She dreamed of the mysterious Cajun.

Her heart was pounding and she was breathing quickly. In her hands she held a bouquet of white and burgundy roses. She looked up and saw before her a long isle sprinkled with rose petals, lined with people all gazing at her admiringly. Music began to play and she felt her feet moving. As she proceeded down the isle, she had eyes only for a man. The stranger. She looked to her right and gazed at Professor X who as walking along side her. Her heart began to beat faster and her palms began to sweat. They reached the end of walkway and stood before a priest, a delicate smile grazing her lips. She was happy. She knew this was right. Her heart was filled with peace. The priest spoke the ceremony and ended with the traditional words "Now you may kiss the bride." She may have at one point objected to this, not for her sake but for the other parties. She was too happily overwhelmed today to object. Their lips met with a tenderness she had never known. The moment of bliss ended and…

Rogue awoke with a start as Kitty let out a loud snort in her sleep. 'What was that?' Rogue thought.She knew she wouldn't sleep after that. So she threw on some clothes, slipped on her boots and grabbed her jacket. She needed to get out. To be alone and walk.

So she slipped easily out of the house and escaped to the woods that were next to the mansion. She loved it here. She loved to get lost, a way to escape but always a way to return. Tonight she took the trail she knew so well. It led to the side of a lake. There was this rock that jutted out into the lake. Rogue could sit there for hours, just thinking, meditating. She returned to her favorite place this night and sat waiting to see the sun rise, she knew it would. The rock faced the east, the way the sun rose. It was a little after 5am when Rogue was started from her relaxation by a breaking twig behind her. She tore her eyes from pink fringes of the sun peeking over the tree line and spun around. There in front of her stood the man she had dreamed about a few hours earlier, the man that had bumped into her the evening before. The most gorgeous man alive.

"I s' you've found m' spot," said Remy climbing up and sitting next to her.

"Ya mean mah spot. Ah've been out here everyday for a week. Now if ya don't mind, Ah'd prefer to be alone," said Rogue.

"But Remy does mind. 'e wants to be in de com'any of a belle fille like yourself. An I bet tha' m' Chere wants t' b' in m' comp'ny t'. Doing t'ings other t'en sittin', am I right?"

"Shut up Swamp Rat. Ah'm not your Chere, so don't call meh that."

"Aww come on Chere, Remy doesn't e'en know your name. De least you coul' do is tell 'im dat."

"Will ya shut up if Ah tell ya?" Rogue asked.

"Wha'eva you wan' Chere."

"Mah name is Rogue"

There was silence for a few short minutes. Then…

"Rogue…Rogue. Dat's a belle name. I' rolls off de tongue."
"Ah was under the impression that ya'd shut up if ah told ya mah name."

"I was quie'," the Cajun objected.

"Yeah for a whole minute and a half."

Rogue shivered ever so slightly, hoping that Remy didn't notice. But unfortunately he did.

"I be' I coul' w'rm ya, Chere." Remy smirked.

'Stay away from mah," said Rogue, not meaning it at all. In truth, she wished nothing more then to be held in his arms, to feel his kisses, to be protected from the world by him, but she would never tell him that. Only her and her diary would know those truths.

The sun began to peek over the tops of the trees more. Rogue loved watching the sun rise, no matter how much it clashed with her image, she always felt like there was a new hope everytime the sun rose. That it's one day closer until she can control her power and her skin was no longer a weapon. It's one day closure until she can love. That's all she wants, is to love and be loved. But with love come intimacy and that is where the problem lays.

Rogue shivered again. She felt something being draped over her. Looking up she saw Remy placing his tan trenchcoat around her. He then proceeded to run his hand up and down her back. It's not that she did enjoy the feeling, it's just she couldn't let him get any ideas. The last thing she needed was another voice in her already filled head. So she pushed him off the rock. He fell into the water with a loud splash.

"Ah told ya not to touch meh didn't Ah" said Rogue standing up. "Ah've got to go."

She walked down the trail and headed back to her room to grab a few more minutes of sleep. She threw the coat onto a nearby chair. She didn't realize she still had it until a few hours later when she was cleaning her room.

The next day Professor X called some of the X-men to his office. Rogue, Scott and Logan were to be sent to pick up a new mutant a few miles away in downtown Bayville.

The trio pulled up to the sandstone townhouse a few minutes later. Logan knocked on the door and none other then Remy LeBeau answered the door.

Scott explained the situation.

"I and my colleagues were sent by Professor Charles Xavier to recruit you for a select team of mutants to help others learn to control their powers, to help you control yours and on occasions save the world. You interested?'

Remy almost laughed.

"Ho' did you know abou' m' power?" he asked.

"Xavier has a device that finds humans with the mutant gene, you were one of them and he thought you might be interested. If you're still unsure we would be happy to set up a meeting for you with the Professor or you accompany us back to the school."

"Uh… Wow dis was unexpec'ed," Remy hadn't noticed Rogue because she was hidden behind Logan." Wai'… Chere is a mu'ant t'? I 'ink I will go talk to dis Xavier guy. Plus Remy 'ould like 'is coat ba'." He added a wink directed to Rogue after the last sentence. Logan gave Rogue a questioning look. She shook her head, in response.

The three x-men climbed into Scott's car while Gambit put on his helmet and prepared to set off on his motorcycle. A few minutes later they arrived at the mansion and were in the office soon there after.

At dinner, when every one was gathered together, the Professor stated that Remy was to be the newest member of the team. Everyone introduced themselves. Well everyone but Rogue, she just looked at him and scowled. She knew he did it to be near her. She was intrigued by him, but wouldn't let anyone know it. She was the untouchable; the one no could get close too. She wouldn't let them.

Later that night, Rogue woke up from yet another dream of her and Remy's wedding. She opened eyes and waited for them adjust to the dark. Out of the corner of her eye she saw something shift. She stared harder but saw nothing. She laid back down, intent on returning to the realm of dream. Again she saw it, just as her eyes closed. She sat up again and switched on the lamp next to her bed. She let out a muffled cry when she was who was sitting in the corner. Remy stood up from his crutched position with a large grin n her face.

"SWAMP RAT, get the hell outta mah room!" she shouted. He obliged, but not without grabbing her hand and placing his lips gently on its back.

When the door was closed behind him. She got up and locked it just to be sure. She returned to her bed, only to notice a flower resting on her pillow. It was a rose, a black rose, with a note attached.

Chere,

Will you give Remy the pleasure of your company tonight for a pleasant dinner at Chez Pere?

Always yours,

Swamp Rat

Rogue almost laughed. She walked over to her desk to jot down a quick note.

Not in your life, Cajun.

-Miss River Rat

She quickly unlocked the door and speed down the hall to Remy's door, under the door the note went. Satisfied Rogue returned to her room and put some water in an old cup, placing her rose in it, on her dresser.

She then climbed back into bed, and slept, forgetting to lock the door.

A few hours later Rogue is awoken by the sound that Kitty calls music, mainly Brittany Spears. Rogue threw her pillow at the radio, successfully shutting it off. Rogue ignored Kitty's protests and rolled out of bed. She grabbed a quick shower and was preparing to get dressed when she noticed a note on her desk. She picks it up and reads it.

Ya wound me Chere. Remy wants nothing more then to be in your company. He so enjoyed our meeting on the rock. Maybe we could do it again?

-"Cajun"

Ps. I noticed you kept the rose. Am I to take it ya like roses?

Rogue wrote a reply on a fresh piece of paper.

We'll see about the whole hanging out thing. Maybe if you don't get on my nerves for a while I'll consider it. And I'm not telling you what flower I like because it would just encourage you.

-Rogue

She exited the room and proceeded down the hall to Gambits room, completely forgetting she's clad in nothing but a small white towel. She was about to slip the note under the door when the door opened. Remy looked at her crouched on the ground in her towel. He raised an eyebrow and Rogue looked down blushing. She saw her towel and cursed. She quickly stood up and returned down the hallway to her room, trying not to run.

She turned into her room and slammed the door. She laughed and fell onto her bed. She walked to her closet and pulled out a long black skirt, a green tank top and a pair of black sandals.

She put them and walked down to grab some breakfast. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bagel. She was ravenous. She practically inhaled it. She then did something unexpected. She went into the rec room and turned on the tv. She sat and switched through the channels and stopped on MTV's the Social history of piercings. 'If I was to get a piercing, where would I get it?' Rogue contemplated this for a while. That tv program was followed by the social history of tattoos. 'I want one of them too. But what to get and where to put it?'

Just then Gambit entered the room and made a beeline towards Rogue.

"Hey Remy, if I was to get a piercing where should I get it?" Rogue asked.

"Hum… I don' know Chere. I coul' tink of a place bu' I tink you'd object."

"Really? Where?" inquired the girl.

Remy simply looked at her lap. Comprehension dawned and Rogue hit Remy with one of the couch pillows.

"Ya sick-o," she laughed. "But seriously? Ah was thinkin' mah belly button."

"Yeah. Dat's a good place too," said Remy jovially.

"Care to join mah? Ah think Ah'm gonna go get it done now."

"Remy t'ought you'd ne'er ask."

"Cool, let meh just run and grab mah purse."

With that Rogue dashed from the room and grabbed her small bag. After a moment of consideration she decided to throw on some jeans instead of wearing her skirt. 'We'll be on his bike anyway. Can't where a skirt on that.'

She ran down the stairs and informed Ororo that she and Remy were going for an errand and would be back shortly. They walked out of the mansion and jumped on Gambit's bike. They sped out of the grounds, spraying gravel everywhere as they took the turn sharply. Rogue shrieked with glee. Remy's grin reappeared.

A half an hour later they returned. Rogue decided that she would be a little reckless and got not only her belly button but also her nose done.

AN…see told you it'd get longer…well hope you like