Work of Art
Chapter Ten: Understanding
and Confusion
By DamageCtrl
All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own the X-Men or anything associated with it.
"Good Lawrd Almighty, it's colder than Bobby's broken freezer out here..." Rogue shivered as her breath crystallized in front of her warm lips. She had a dark colored hat over her head as long brown tresses fell around her face. Her knit hunter green scarf was tucked into her dark colored coat as it buttoned up to her chest. Despite her calf high, wool lined boots, jeans that were tucked into the said boots, and three layers of shirts and sweaters over her chest, she was still freezing.
Damn San Francisco and it's coldness.
Next to her, a gloved hand swept around her shoulder's and pulled her against a warm, trench coat clad body. "S'kay, chere, y' got Remy here t' keep y' warm." a slightly pleased sounding Cajun voice replied.
"Not warm enough..." Rogue grumbled as she half heartedly tried to get closer to his warmth. She shoved her leather gloved hands into her pockets in an attempt to keep them warm, but alas, the chill was still there. "Maybe Ah should buy a parka."
The thought of Rogue looking like a giant puffy marshmallow thanks to the suggested article of clothing made him grin. "Chere, y' can wear whateva y' want and I'll still think y're tres belle."
Rogue snorted and rolled her eyes. "Aren't yah cold?" She narrowed her eyes and looked up at him. Beneath his trench coat, which had been left unbuttoned, were a pair of jeans and a simple, knit dark colored sweater. "Ah'm wearing four layers and Ah'm freezing. Yah left yer coat open and yah still look warm."
A lopsided smirk landed on his already smug looking face and Rogue mentally groaned. He looked down at her with that all too alluring smile and those hypnotizing eyes and gave her an appreciative look. "Dats because y' make Remy hot."
Rogue lowered her head and shook it. "Ah walked right into that one..." she mumbled. He reached the a little booth on their path, just above a sign that announced the entrance to the art show. Without even pausing to stop or even remove his arm off of Rogue's shoulders, Remy reached into his coat pocket and produced to the two tickets.
He handed them to the attendant and walked into the garden area where stations of work were gathered beneath a white canopy. "Been t' one of dese before?"
Rogue shook her head and looked around. It was about ten thirty in the morning and the exhibition had just opened. There were already a few people walking through the area, mostly artists who had their work on display, but a few other people were there.
As the Southern born couple walked around the first set of paintings, Rogue caught the reflection of a small sliver of light off the shiny head of one wealthy paraplegic. "Remy, look! It's Professor X!" Rogue tugged on Remy's arm and pointed him in the direction of the older man.
Merde... Remy stood there, unmoving as Rogue tugged on his arm. When he didn't respond she looked up at him. His face was turned to the side, a blank expression on his face as red eyes seemed fixed out into space.
Rogue tried to follow his gaze, but there were numerous people and paintings to that side, she didn't know who she was looking out for. Finally, she tugged on Remy's arm once more. "Remy? Remy, what's wrong?
He had completely forgotten. How could he have easily forgotten? Jean Paul had told him, but Remy had somehow believed that it wouldn't happen. It was a big park. It was a big exhibit. There was little chance he'd actually come into contact with them. With that in mind, he had no hesitations about bringing Rogue here.
Rogue. That was why he had forgotten. Who would've remembered if they had lost themselves in a pair of arms that seemed to have been created purely to hold him? Who would've remembered if they had drowned in deep green eyes and a honey sweet laugh? She'd taken away any thoughts about what he might've encountered here that day.
Yet at the same time, even as they walked out of he apartment, there had been something gnawing in the back of his mind, telling him that he had over looked something. And suddenly, as his eyes zoned into the painting far in the distance, of a woman's unnervingly familiar cerulean eyes, he remembered. Someone he had left behind had finally caught up with him.
"Remy?" Rogue's worried voice cut through his thoughts and mentally he shook himself.
"Oui?" Distracted, Remy turned to look at her and gave her a winning smile. Rogue raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Something wrong, sugah?" Rogue asked. She pulled away from him slightly and lifted one hand to his face. She smoothed back some stray hair falling over his eyes as she studied his tense expression. Even through her gloves, he could feel the warmth radiating from her hand.
"Non, non...nothing wrong, chere," he assured her. Rogue looked up at him disbelievingly. However, before she could ask again, he pulled her a bit to the side. "What were y' saying? Got lost in my thoughts for a moment dere." He let out a slight chuckle.
The corners of Rogue's lips fell slightly, but she brushed it off. "Ah said Ah saw Professa X," she said slowly. "Yah know...Xavier?"
His eyebrows shot up, making him look surprised. "Really? Where?" He craned his neck over her head to see if he could find the old man. "Where?"
"Over there," Rogue turned around and pointed towards a stone statue that was on display. Sure enough, there was the man speaking with another man about the statue. "Ah'm gonna go over and say hi."
Remy glanced over is shoulder and cringed. He quickly looked back down at Rogue and nodded agreeably. "Y' go ahead, chere. I want t' look for dat artist from N'awlins JP was talking about."
"Yah sure yah don't wanna come?" Rogue asked as she pulled her body away from his. "Ah'm sure the Professor would love ta see yah."
"I'll come in a bit, chere, promise." he told her. Rogue nodded and turned around. Out of no where, she felt a gentle, yet firm grip circle her wrist that whirled her back around. Her body fell against his once ore and she looked up at him with wide green eyes.
"Rem-?" She barely even realized what was happening as he lowered his head over hers.
For a moment, she couldn't breath. Warm lips sealed over hers earnestly as an arm fell around her waist. Just as quickly as it happened, it ended. Remy pulled away, leaving a breathless Rogue gasping for air. Her pale cheeks flushed as she lifted her hand up and gently placed it over her rapidly beating heart.
Before she could ask why, he grinned and gently brushed a few locks of white silk from her face. "So y' don't miss me too much." he explained with a grin. It was more than just a statement, it was a promise that he would come back to her.
Rogue looked back at him, surprise still all over her blushing face. "If that's what yah do when we part for five minutes...Ah'd hate ta see what yah do when we part for a day..." she whispered breathlessly.
That sultry, confident smirk lazily graced his face once more as he stepped back, holding her hand in his as he moved away. "Trust me, chere," he told her as her hand slipped out of his. "Y' definitely won't be hating it." He winked and turned around.
Rogue stared at his back as she reached up and loosened the scarf around her neck. Suddenly it had gotten a little too hot.
Remy knew exactly when her eyes left him and she left to go speak to the esteemed educator who had hired them. He had a stern look on his face, despite the fact that he was grinning like a lunatic inside from a mere kiss. He was almost tempted to part ways with her often just to have an excuse to kiss those soft, welcoming lips.
He looked over his shoulder just to make sure that Rogue wasn't looking at him before turning the corner. The day had started off so well. He had woken up, warm and with his arms wrapped around the soft curvy body of Rogue. Had a good laugh with her friends and then with her. He had cooked Rogue a magnificent breakfast and gave her a desert of an uncut peach...just to watch her eat it.
For the life of her, she couldn't understand why he was staring at her. If only she knew how good she looked with peach juice dribbling down her ivory neck. And despite the fact that she had already showered and refused to join him while he did, it had indeed been entertaining to walk out into the living room, naked and dripping wet, asking her where her towels were. Oh, how she stared...
He'd only been awake a few hours and he was already having one of the greatest days of his life.
The sound of a heel against the concrete surface of the pavement sounded behind him and suddenly, all the positive memories from that morning had vanished as annoyance and slight bitterness rose up. He turned around with narrowed red eyes. When did his day start to go down the toilet?
"Remy," a cool, feminine, Cajun accented voice sounded. A tall woman with long blonde hair looked at him with cold blue eyes. "Bon jour, cher."
"Ah'm glad yah liked the plans, sir," Rogue said as she walked along side of the Professor. He was nodding and ignoring the presence of his bodyguard behind him. "Ah can have some ideas for the windows, but Ah have ta run them by Wanda first."
"So far the foyer for both buildings are lovely, Rogue," Professor X told her. "Eric was telling me that you had such promise. He speaks very highly of you."
Rogue tried to suppress a blush as she smiled. "Ah try, sir. But really, it's nothing."
"Come now, Rogue. You should have more confidence in your work," Charles assured her. "You've really done your homework when it comes to the designs. Speaking of designs, I've shown the plans to Crystal to see what she things she can do with the interior."
At the sound of Crystal's name, Rogue unconsciously cringed, but quickly tried to hide it. However, the Professor saw it. "Uh...what did she think?" Rogue asked nervously.
"She'll be getting back to me with ideas for the interior decorum sometime this week," he told her calmly. They stopped in front of a painting and while Rogue admired it, the Professor rubbed is chin. "Rogue...are you... comfortable working with Crystal?" he asked hesitantly.
The green eyed woman jerked her head back surprised. "Of course Ah am, sir. Why wouldn't Ah be?" she asked. Lies!
The man merely furrowed his eyebrows. "During the meeting a month ago, you seemed very uncomfortable. I thought it might be because of Crystal and Pietro," Before Rogue could reply, he continued. "I'm very much aware of their... relationship. And as you are a friend of Pietro, as well as his co-worker, I believed you might have been put in an odd position."
"No, sir, it was fine," Rogue insisted. "Crystal and Pietro's issues won't affect mah work."
"Then what about Remy?" Rogue nearly jumped back in surprise as the bald man asked point blank. "Remy has done work for me else where and, contrary to what everyone believes, I am aware of his rather...popular...reputation with women."
Everyone should know that...it oozes out of every pore of that mans's gorgeous body. Rogue thought to herself. She sighed. "Remy's actually a...friend of mine now, sir. Turns out he's Wanda's friend, too. Actually, he's who Ah'm here with today." The professor didn't look the least bit surprised. Instead, he just nodded.
"Excellent, I had some questions to ask him about that statue."
"He's making you a statue?" Rogue asked, surprised. "Ah thought he was painting somethang for the building!"
"He's doing that, too," Charles replied with a smile. "He's a very talented artist, but he also sculpts. Very well, actually. It took me quite a while to convince him to sculpt a center piece for the garden."
"Ah never knew that..." Rogue mused. The man is more talented than Ah thought... "Has he given you any suggestions?"
"Actually, he says he wants to surprise me," Charles chuckled. "I'm a bit nervous, but I know his work is wonderful. So I'll relent. Apparently, he already found the perfect model for the project."
"Really?" Rogue asked, interested. "Ah'll go get him for yah, Professor." She told him as she was about to turn around.
"Ah...Rogue! Would you mind doing me a personal favor?" Professor X asked. He waved for Rogue to bend down next to him and she did so. "Would you mind bringing Joseph with you?" he asked. "I can't really concentrate with him standing behind me the entire time."
Rogue glanced up at the tall, white haired body guard. He was standing stiffly about two feet away from Professor X's wheelchair and always remained that far away. As Rogue raised an eyebrow, his pale cheeks slowly blushed. She turned back to the Professor.
"Bothering yah that much, huh, sir? Ah'll try ta distract him," she said as she stood up. "But don' try ta run off now." She warned. Professor X merely smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Just a few minutes, Rogue. That's all." he assured her. Rogue nodded and turned to the body guard.
"Joseph, right?" Rogue asked the tall man. He gave her a quick, curt nod. She gave him a bright smile. "Mind helping a lady out, sugah?"
"Didn't think y'd show." Belle said as she crossed her arms over her ample chest. In the chill city by the bay winter, she still dared to wear a short gray skirt and an obviously expensive silk blouse, sans any outer wear.
"Why did y' think dat?" Remy asked with a shrug. "Y' know Remy likes dis sort of thing."
Belle chuckled. "Didn't y' know? Mon frere is de guest of honor." Remy's composure slipped for a split second as thoughts of Belle's disturbing older brother crept up behind him and then slammed into him with full force.
Goes by the name JB.
"Merde..." Remy mumbled to himself. Jean Paul's words haunted him and Remy growled. "Julian Boudreaux..."
"Oui, dats what I said," Belle told him coolly. "You and Julian never got along. Didn't think y'd want t' come. Even if it was t' visit an old friend."
Remy held back the scoff that was ready to come out. "Friens don't try t' kill friends with knives, chere." he reminded her.
"Y' still on dat, Remy?" Belle frowned. "I thought y'd be over dat by now. Told y' it was an accident."
Remy rolled his eyes. An accident. Right. And he was a virgin. "Belle, y' drugged moi, den tried t' kill me in my sleep."
"I wasn't gonna kill y'!" Belle snapped quickly. A few people around them stopped what they were doing and turned to look. They gave her a wary look and slowly stepped away. Belle flushed slightly. "Julien was de one who gave me de drugs. He said dey were to stop y'r head aches!"
"Mon Dieu, Belle! We had dis discussion before," Remy sighed. "Y' know y'r frere hates me. Why'd y' even listen to him?"
"He's mon frere, Rems, whatcha expect me t' do?" Belle uncrossed her arms and looked at him pleadingly. "Ain't y' at least happy t' see me? For old times sake?"
"Belle, y're Remy's best friend since we were two feet tall," Remy assured her. "So I AM glad t' see dat y' doing okay. I really mean dat." He told her genuinely. Old feelings die hard...even after betrayal and attempted murder in the first degree.
A bright smile crossed Belle's face at the knowledge that at least Remy didn't despise her completely. "So...y' still painting?" she asked casually. They still stood several feet away from each other. Belle didn't dare come any closer for fear he'd just leave. Remy didn't feel like getting any closer for fear she'd attach herself to him.
"Y' know it," he nodded. "Still modeling?"
"Oui, dats why I was hoping t' run inta y' here!" Belle said. She turned her body to the side and pointed down that direction. She looked at him excitedly. "I wanted t' show y' Julien's latest piece! I modeled for him!"
Please, God, not in de nude...dat's too disturbing... Remy gave her a weak smile. "I'll come see it in a bit. I'm here wid someone."
A slight scowl graced Belle's pretty face. "De skunk haired femme? Didn't y' send her away when y' walked over?"
Remy frowned. "Her name is Rogue and she went t' speak t' a friend of ours," he spat out defensively. "And I happen t' LOVE de streaks in her hair. Makes her more beautiful and one of a kind." he added. It wasn't a lie, he really did. He kept playing with them last night.
"It'll only take a second, Remy. Dats all. I just wanna show you." Belle insisted.
"I have t' speak t' de Professor as well, Belle. 'Sides, I promised I wouldn't be long. Hate t' leave Roguey waiting." he told her, a slight smile on his lips at the mention of the green eyed woman's name.
Belle sighed and she relented. "Den bring her over t' see it later. I wanna meet y'r new model."
"Model?" Remy asked with a raised eyebrow. "Rogue?"
Belle nodded as she started to turn back. "Isn't dat what she is? Y'r model?"
Didn't y' see me kiss her? What? Do y' think Remy still makes out with ev'ry belle femme he sees...? Wait, don' answer dat... Remy rolled his eyes. "Non, Belle. Rogue is my..." His voice trailed off as he came to the realization that he didn't know where he actually stood with Rogue.
Girlfriend...he wasn't sure. Lover...they hadn't crossed that line. YET. Significant other? No, that sounded odd. Close female friend? Well, he wasn't sure that they were that close. Friend. No, he liked to think of them as MORE than friends...Friend with benefits? God, that just screamed out 'sex buddies'. And has he had already established earlier, they hadn't crossed that line. YET. he mentally added.
"Well?" Belle asked impatiently. "She's y'r what?"
"Belle!" a deep voice snapped through their conversation and both Cajuns looked up. Remy saw the blonde haired man walking towards them and groaned. Julian Boudreaux walked past the assorted exhibitions in a casual suit of khaki pants and a dark colored polo top beneath a snug dark gray wool jacket. His eyes were narrowed as he glared at Remy.
"Julien, what a pleasant surprise." Remy grumbled, obviously not happy to see the homicidal man who tried to have him killed.
"What de hell are y' doin' here, LeBeau?" Julian spat out with equal distaste. He stopped right in front of his sister and seemed to block her from Remy's view. "Get de hell away from ma soeur."
Dat's not de first time I've heard dat...in de last twenty four hours... Remy strugged to keep an amused grin from taking over his smooth talking lips. God knows that Julian would go ballistic if he thought Remy found the whole situation funny. "Congratulations on being de guest of honor, Julien. Hope y' like y'r visit to California."
"Don't give me that bullshit, LeBeau," Julian hissed. "Watcha come here for? Belle? Belle's not interested in y' no more."
"And I ain't interested in Belle," Remy sighed. "For de billionth time, homme. We just friends. Dats all!"
"Tsh..." Julien snorted. "Dere never been a woman who was interested in just being friends wid y', LeBeau." He said, obviously disgusted at the thought.
"Julien, y' makin' moi blush." Remy smirked. The blonde haired man let out a low growl and took a step forward threateningly.
"Julien, stop it!" Belle frowned. She grabbed the sleeve of her brother's jacket and pulled him back. "We were just talkin'."
"Y' know better den to associate y'rself wid dis son of a-"
"Remy, there yah are, sugah. The Professor wants ta speak ta yah." Rogue's voice suddenly sounded like a choral of angels as Remy turned around and saw the beautiful architect emerge from around a statue. In both hands she was holding foam cups filled with coffee. In tow behind her was Xavier's bodyguard, also holding two cups of coffee.
"Rogue," Remy's voice was a mixture of fear and relief. It had taken him over a month to get as close to her as he was now...he didn't want one horrible meeting with those two blondes ruining it. Yet despite the fear that bubbled in his stomach, her arrival seemed to ease the moment. She had a bright smile on her face that instantly calmed him as she walked over to him and gave him a cup of coffee. "Y' got me coffee, chere?" he asked in a surprised voice.
"Got some for yah and the Professor. Joseph's got the creamer, Ah got the sugah," Rogue told him, using her now free hand to motion over to Joseph's leather jacket's pocket. "Thought yah might like some since Joe and Ah were getting some for ourselves," Rogue leaned over slightly. "The Prof needs some alone time..." she whispered so Joseph wouldn't hear.
Remy chuckled and nodded. "And here Remy thought y' were trying ta make him jealous." he said, momentarily forgetting about the Boudreaux siblings standing just a few feet away.
"Did it work?" Rogue asked with a grin.
The corners of his smile faltered. "Actually, it did..." Rogue let out a laugh and waved Joseph over so she could get some cream from his pocket. She didn't seem suspicious or anything...or jealous that he was speaking to a woman she didn't know. Remy glanced over at Belle and Julian before taking a deep breath. "Rogue, chere, I hasn't introduced y' yet. Dis is my old friend from de bayou - Bella Donna and her brotha, Julien."
"Hi!" Rogue sent them a dazzling smile. She'd introduced Remy to most of her friends, so she was glad to be introduced to some people on his end. "Rogue Darkholme. Ah'm a friend of Remy's."
Friend? Dats it, we have t' talk later... Remy had a smile pasted on his face as Rogue shook Julian's hand with her firm, assertive grip and then moved over to shake Belle's.
"Are y' modeling for Remy?" Belle asked immediately. Her eyes went up and down Rogue's trim figure, mentally comparing her to herself.
"Modeling? No," Rogue chuckled as she shook her head. She had Joseph turn and then dug into his pocket to get the creamer she had shoved in there while collecting sugar for her own drink. "Aren't most of Remy's work abstract?"
"He used t' use live models," Belle said, glancing over at Remy smugly. "I was one of his models."
Red on black eyes immediately darted over to Rogue. She didn't flinch as she poured her creamer into her coffee. "Really? Wish Ah could be a model, but with this hair...never!" Rogue chuckled. "How's it like? Yah ever get nervous?" She tossed the empty containers into a near by trash can and then took one coffee from Joseph's hand before telling him to mix it with cream or sugar if he needed to.
"No, never," Belle shrugged. "Can't model nude and be modest, cher." she added coolly.
"Yah modeled nude?" Rogue looked surprised and she glanced up at Remy. Instead of narrowing her eyes and hissing something at him, she looked at his coffee. She raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Ain't yah gonna drink, sugh?" His hand was near squeezing the coffee right out of the cup in his tenseness.
He stared at her for a brief moment. No jealous out burst? No snide accusation? Dear God, Remy's hit the jackpot... Remy nodded and dug into her pocket to get some sugar before mixing it in and drinking his coffee.
"Ah'd never be able ta do that!" Rogue gasped. "Ah have a friend, she's a model, and even she gets self conscious. Yah have a lot of guts, girl."
More like an endless stream o' self confidence... Remy thought to himself. "Well, it was nice seeing y' again, Belle, Julien," he said with a nod of his chin. "Chere?" He offered his arm to the brunette and she nodded. She handed the extra coffee to Joseph and looped her arm through Remy's as they turned around.
"It was nice meeting yah, sugah!" Rogue gave them one last fleeting smile. As soon as they were out of hearing distance, Rogue let out a tired sigh. "Ex-girlfriend?"
"Eh?" Remy nearly choked on his coffee as he looked down at her. Rogue didn't make eye contact and sipped on her drink. "Oui..." he said carefully.
"Thought so..." Rogue whispered.
"Well...not really..." Remy clarified.
"Ah ain't gonna get mad just because yah have an ex yah still talk ta," Rogue assured him. "Ah still talk to Petey."
"Kitty's Petey?" Remy asked. He suddenly envisioned the tall Russian man and Rogue and winced. It seemed so wrong.
"Yep," Rogue giggled. "Met him first. Dated him first. Broke up and when Ah found out Kitty liked him..." She beamed proudly. "Of course, Jeannie and Betsy helped, but it was mah idea."
"De thought of Jean and Betsy playing matchmaker isn't shockin', chere," Remy grinned. He looked down at her carefully. "Y' sure y'r not mad?"
"Yah haven't hurt mah feelings, lied ta meh, or do anythang else that would hurt meh, sugah. Why would Ah be mad at yah?" Rogue asked.
"I saw her nude." he told her flatly. She'd heard it, he know she did.
"Of course yah have," Rogue said. "She said she modeled nude. And yah're an artist. Ah ain't dumb, sugah."
"Dat doesn't bother y'?" he asked cautiously.
"Sugah, Ah understand where yah are coming from. When Ah took art classes, Ah had nude models, too. It's part of learning the human body and there ain't nothing bad about it," she assured him as she squeezed his arm. "Whatever happened between yah and her in the past is over and so long as it isn't happening while yah're with meh, Ah don't care," Even as she said it, she felt some apprehension in her belly. "Ah trust yah, sugh..." she added under her breath. Remy didn't seem to hear.
"Just t' make tings clear, nothing is happening 'tween me and Belle anymore." Remy stated sternly.
Rogue smiled, the constricting feeling that had gathered in her stomach released. "Good..." she took another sip of her coffee. "So...just outta curiosity...why'd yah and Belle break up?"
Attempted murder. "She tried t' hurt me...plus Julien's crazy," Remy told her. Rogue chuckled. "Non, I'm serious. He really is crazy."
"Whatever yah say, sugh..."
"Rogue? Darling, what are you doing out here?"
"Momma?" Rogue was taking a breather from the exhibition outside on a stone bench. It was a little before noon and Remy was still talking to Professor X about the statue. She decided to step outside and just as she sat down, her unique white on brown hair caught the eye of a certain woman.
"I thought I might run into you here," Raven said as she walked out from beneath the tent. Rogue moved aside on the bench and offered her mother a seat. Raven gladly took it. "I just came from the gallery and bought that painting of you for your Aunt Irene."
"Momma..." Rogue blushed. Raven took it as a sign of her modesty, despite the fact that Rogue's connotations with the painting went far beyond being shy. "So what are yah doing here?"
"Jean Paul from the gallery said that Remy LeBeau would be here."
Immediately Rogue stiffened in her seat as her eyes widened. "Here?" she piped out in a suddenly high pitched voice.
"Yes, my dear, I wanted to meet him."
Oh, Gawd, no. "Oh, really?"
"He did an excellent painting of you," Raven asserted. "Perhaps you've seen him?"
Yah have two choices Rogue...lie to yer momma, who took yah in and raised yah as her own. OR make a run for it. "Uh..."
"It doesn't matter, I'm sure we'll find him." Raven said as she stood up.
"We?" Rogue cringed.
"Yes, WE," Raven sighed. "Come on, my dear. Since you know how he looks like, it will be much faster. All that Jean Paul said was that he had a Cajun accent and then sighed several times."
She reached down and took Rogue's arm, pulling her up with her. Rogue winced as she was pulled back into the tented area by her mother. Silently she prayed that Remy was far, far away on the other side of the exhibition. Or, if she was really lucky, out having lunch with the Professor at his insistence.
"Momma, Ah'm sure he's too busy ta talk ta us." Rogue told her calmly.
"Oh, non sense," Raven assured her as she dragged Rogue through the aisle. "Of course he'd speak to us. I just put down several grand to buy that painting of you."
"Several grand?" Rogue gasped. She knew that several grand for her mother could mean anything from $2,000 to $999,999. "Momma, why did yah spend that much?"
"Rogue, my dear, it's a portrait of my daughter," she stated coolly, as if it were so obvious. "Now, how does Mr. LeBeau look like?"
"Momma..."
"'Scuse me," a deep voice said to their right. Raven stopped and Rogue stiffened. A Cajun accent? She looked over and let out a mental sigh of relief that it wasn't Remy. Rather, it was his ex-girlfriend's 'crazy' brother. "Miss Rogue? I have a proposition for you." his blue eyes looked directly into hers as he gave her a confident smile.
"Are you Remy LeBeau?" Raven cut in suddenly. Julian turned to look at her and gave her a slight frown for butting into his conversation and for mentioning the other man's name. Raven, however, merely straightened up and shot him a foreboding look that basically told him that she would eat him alive if he even tried to stand up to her. "Are you the man who used my daughter as a model?" she asked shrilly.
"Uh, momma..." Rogue began, unsure of what to say.
"Why do you ask?" Julian asked, as politely as he could. The woman exuded power and looked like she knew how to use it. Which she did.
"I was wondering if you would be interested in painting her again," Raven said, earning a gasp from Rogue, whose arm she was still holding. Rogue looked at her, mortified. "I'm willing to commission you handsomely."
"Momma, wait a second-"
"How much are y' offering?"
"Name your price."
"I accept nothing below ten grand." he told her.
"Fine."
"Then we have a deal." He extended his hand and Rogue's mouth dropped.
"Momma, wait-"
"Excellent, I'll schedule a time when Rogue can model for you, Mr. LeBeau."
"Momma!"
"Please, madam," a sly smile crossed Julian's face as he pulled back his hand. He looked over at Rogue and smirked, making the brunette shrink back behind her mother uncomfortably. "Call me Remy."
A.N.: Mistaken identity? Where is Remy? And why hasn't Rogue gone all psycho-jealous girlfriend yet? And when will Logan make his appearance? Thanks for reading everyone! I hope it's not getting boring.