Disclaimer: X-Men Evolution is not mine.
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Pietro sighed as he looked up at the classroom door that never looked so daunting before. "Rogue, if I don't survive this, you can have my stereo."
"Oh, quit bein' so melodramatic." She pushed at him slightly. "Besides, yo' stereo's busted."
He sighed again, glaring mournfully up at the door again. "I guess it's no use stalling my fate any longer." He paused before he grabbed onto Rogue with a cry. "Save me!"
Rogue laughed as she shoved him away. "Oh please." She held onto his hand lingeringly. "Do ya want meh ta stay an' wait fo' ya?"
"Mm. Well, yea... but-"
"It's no problem, Pietro." She shrugged to hoist her backpack into a more comfortable position on her back. "I'll be right outside, okay?" He nodded and with a brief kiss that brushed her lips, he disappeared inside.
Whistling softly to herself, Rogue made her way outside to the front steps of the school where she settled her things to sit on the grass. She had just started to do her homework when a tall shadow blocked her sunlight. She swivelled around, shielding her eyes against the glare of the sun that made it difficult to see the person standing in front of her. "Pietro...?" She ventured doubtfully. "Ya done already?" Though, at second glance, those weren't his boots. And he didn't wear a trenchcoat. Her stomach dropped sickeningly.
"Non, chere." Remy stepped to the side where she could see him more clearly. She grimaced.
"What do ya want?"
"Jus' t' welcome y' back, s'all. Remy noticed that y' been gone f' awhile." His red eyes gleamed as his lips curled up into a smirk. So that's what it was. He had stopped using his image inducer. It was strange what a subtle change to his appearance made a big difference to his whole aura. He seemed so much more dangerous now than ever, yet still so alluring. Rogue narrowed her eyes; not that it worked on her, anymore. Well, not that she would show. He was not going to have that satisfaction.
"Alright, ya welcomed meh back. Now go away."
Remy grinned. "Remy hasn' even started t' welcome y' back, chere," he cooed.
Rogue's temper flared, clenching her fists at her side as she got to her feet. What was this? How does he dare to even talk to her after all that he did to her. "Look heah, swamp rat. Ah don't know what ya have planned, but Ah'm tellin' ya now that Ah ain' gonna put up with any of it."
"Mais petite... Jus' what are y' goin' t' do 'bout it?" In one movement, he had his arm slung around her waist, pulling her tightly against his body. His other hand held her wrist firmly as he leaned in, his nose almost brushing against hers. "What can y' do?"
Her green eyes flashed dangerously as she pulled fruitlessly against his grasp. "You bettah watch it an' let meh go, cajun..."
"Or what, cherie?" His eyes flicked pointedly down to where her necklace rested on her collarbone, and then gratuitously down further along her chest before lifting back up to her enraged stare. He released her wrist and drew a finger down her cheek. "Y' be defanged, petite. An' y' loverboy ain' aroun' t' save y'."
"Ah don' need..." Rogue hesitated. So that's why he was trying to toy with her again. Pietro. He had competition, it was a challenge again. That bastard. "Ah don' need Pietro ta save meh, swamp rat." She brought her knee up swiftly towards his groin, but his reflexes, well-trained with practice, saved him from more than just an ego-bruising blow. Still, she succeeded in freeing herself from his hold.
Remy chuckled as he regained his composure almost immediately, leaning back slightly, casually, in opposition to Rogue's wary stance. "Ma belle, dat wasn' nice."
"Who says Ah'm nice?"
"Oh, bien sûr, de fille don' play by de rules. Mais chere..." He was a sudden blur, his bo-staff extending out and swinging against the back of her knee, causing her to fall unceremoniously with a yelp onto her back on the ground. He was upon her within a moment's breath, straddling her hips and pinning her arms above her head. "... Neit'er do Gambit," he finished smugly.
"Ya bettah get offa meh, Gambit," Rogue hissed, struggling albeit futilely, her angry green eyes flashing hatred towards him. He did not show it, but his heart ached to see her dislike for him, to feel through his empathy her abhorration of him.
"Or what, cherie?" he replied cockily, repeating his earlier question, knowing that he had her captured beneath him. Momentarily, he reflected that this was the only way he could have her now; unwillingly. Again, pain pounded in his chest, though he shoved it brutally aside. He might as well enjoy this last opportunity. Fuming, Rogue opened her mouth to retort but he silenced her with a passionate kiss, letting his tongue probe gently into her mouth. She stiffened, but he closed his eyes, pushing everything out of his mind but her taste, the feel of her lips, of her body below hers. He pretended for that moment that she was still his, that she had not renewed her struggling, that she was in fact returning the kiss. When he pulled back, he held his eyes closed, trying to prolong the fantasy that he had been entertaining.
And then she spit on him. "Ah hate ya," she seethed.
Remy just stared down at her for a bit, the bit of moisture sticking to his cheek. Dieu, that hurt so much to hear. It hurt. But still his lips curled up into a smirk, sitting up and releasing her hands to retrieve a handkerchief to wipe away her spittle. "Welcome back, cherie." In one movement, he got up, turning his back to walk away from her. It was over. Over. He had his precious chance and threw it away. Oh, he regretted it now. Deeply. But stop. Stop it. He had to be cold. She was just another girl, think like that. It was over. Leave, and never hope again. He had no hope to be with her again. Cold. Unfeeling. He had to be. But when would the pain end?
Enraged, Rogue pushed herself up. "Don't ya dare jus' walk away lahke that. There ain' no way Ah'm lettin' ya have the last word!" When he did not respond, nor even acknowledge her, she scrambled to her feet. "Ya lost, ya know that? Ya lost at yah're own game. Pietro loves meh! An' ya know what? Ah love him too! Ah love him!" Tears came unbidden to her eyes as he continued farther and farther away. "We even made love, ya hear? Ya lost, see? See?" He seemed unaffected, his gait constant. Leaving her. "An'... An' Ah nevah loved you, ya know that?" She choked on a sob. "Ah nevah did! Jus' lahke ya nevah had any real feelin's fo' meh. Nevah! Ah hate ya!" She stumbled, falling to her knees. "Ah hate ya," she whimpered as she crumbled, weeping openly now. "Ah hate ya so much."
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Cripes. So different from the last version. Though I'm unclear as to whether or not I prefer this one over the other one. I mean, based on what happens, I prefer this. But the quality of writing? Ewwwwwww...
If I thought writing before was pulling teeth... This chapter was a full out root canal. At least the parts I rewrote. Give me a break, I'm out of practice.
So, hey, winter break's up. I've got a month. Hopefully I'll break my writer's block and chug out some new chapters. No promises though. You have no idea how hard it was to get this out. I even messed up their characterizations. I couldn't even get the emotions quite right. That said, I'm terribly dissatisfied with this chapter. Just as much as I was with the first version. Piece of crap. It's staying though. I want a new chapter. I think I know what it's gonna be about. Probably Remy angst. He seemed kinda cold and unresponsive to the things Rogue shouted, but he was doing it purposefully, duh. I'll probably have a short-ish insight into his actual reactions, which he releases later. Remy angst to come!
Ugh... Even my rant feels so forced. Help me. Encouragement always stirs up my imagination and writing talent (or rather, lack of :P).
Nice to see you guys again!
Rielyn