With big smiles, The Vampire Pandora
P.S. Throughout this chapter, the point of view will be switching back and forth between characters, and I shall be venturing into the exciting perspective of first person narrative! Here goes!
P.P.S During Remy and Rogue narrations, they will not have their accent, unless they are speaking out loud. I'm sorry if this diminishes from the story's integrity, but please bear with me.
Chapter 9 Part I
Of Confrontations and Confessions
Remy
Maybe I'd gotten more then I'd bargained for. It could very well be that when Charles had told me he needed my help that I had not paused to give it enough consideration. Maybe I should have thought it through.
Fuck it, who am I kidding?
I don't think things through, I'm rash and spontaneous and I deal with it. My somewhat carefree personality traits only seem to add to my charm, am I right? And besides, it wasn't as if I was in any real trouble here. So the girl packed a punch. So what? She might be pretty charged up, but I could still out zap her. I think.
Alright. I can admit it. She had impressed me, a little. A little I said! I was just caught off-guard. I had no idea such power could come from someone that, fragile? Petite? I just can't seem to find the right word to describe her. Sure she wasn't very tall, but she had a way of making you feel as if she was looking down at you. And as for weak?Well, I didn't think she was about to cry over a broken nail. So my first training session was over, and I had no idea what to think of it. Was it a step in the right direction, or had I totally taken the wrong lead? Well, one thing I knew I had done right was end it. I had called quits on a lesson that had turned out to be dangerous for the pupil as much as the teacher. I had heard horror stories of what had happened to Logan's hair the first day he met Rielle. Not that I'm a poster-child for the "I-don't-give-two-shits-about-how-I-look-I-just-roll-out-of-bed" guy, but I had no intention of sporting an afro like the wolf-man's.
Ha ha, Logan in an afro.
But I digress. To get back to the point, Rielle had power, she kinda scared me, but she impressed me all the same. And yes, the idea of continuing to help her with her power was a little intimidating. But like I'd tell anyone. It's me after all. Usually others do the running,
either to or from me. That wasn't about to change. I could tell Rielle was exhausted after the lesson but too proud and too stupid to ask that we stop. So I saved her from it and called it quits. But I'll never forget that look she gave me as we got up to leave. Even thinking back on it now, I'm not sure exactly how to describe it. Just the way her deep eyes looked into mine, (unflinching, might I add, which is rare for people I don't know.) She was talking to me, telling me everything with that look, and yet, nothing. Only silence. I didn't understand what it was supposed to mean, and I don't understand why I even care. I really don't care for the fact that I'm thinking of it now, as I hold open the door for her as she exits our little room.
"Either you're a gentleman or seriously hoping this impresses me", her slightly accented voice said, cutting through my troubled thoughts.
I snapped back and looked down at her, grinning stupidly.
"Don't flatter yourself, chère. Remy never has ta impress de femmes, dey fall all on deir own."
She shook her head at me, her black hair flying out around her gently, and then settling down on her shoulders once more. She laughed at me, laughed at me! Right at me! And not some little flirty laugh! She was laughing at me! Did I mention no one laughs at me, especially not women?
" I can understand why", Gabrielle whispered suddenly. She caught me off guard, (damn it! I hate it when she does that!), and leaned in closer to me. One of her slender fingers played with the collar of my shirt as she looked up at me coyly. She bit her bottom lip, and batted her lashes at me.
Run away! Divert! Escape! DANGER!
I stood still as her finger trailed my jaw-line. God, she was looking at me again... But wait, no,something wasn't right. Either she was going to jump me and force her tongue down my throat, or she was about to seriously mess me up. I would rather it had been the first.
Her fingers working too quickly for me to stop her, two fingers were suddenly digging into the sides of my face, at the back of my jaw. My eyes bugged a little in surprise as the fingers pushed harder into my skin. She pulled my head down closer to her, my mouth opened slightly in pain. I was in too much shock to even push her away.
" You're right Remy", she purred into my ear. "You're handsome, clever, hot... And if you have a problem...", her lips brushed by hair, "It's modesty."
Laughing and releasing me quickly, Rielle stood back and giggled. I couldn't think of anything to say. Did this girl think nothing of me? I stood up straighter and rubbed my sore face tenderly. That little bitch! If I hadn't found her insult a little funny, I would have, would have.
Damn it. She was good.
" Merde chère", I grumbled, trying to salvage what little pride I had left. " If you wanted to get close to Remy, he can think of much better ways to do it."
Still smiling to herself, Rielle smirked at me and walked away. She turned her head to see if I was following, and I sighed. I started to follow her. However, when I saw who she was about to run into, I couldn't say a word. Since her head was still turned, Rielle wasn't watching where she was going. She ran right into a girl coming around the corner. Rielle stumbled back and the other girl nearly fell. The smile vanished instantly from Rielle's face, and remorse suddenly darkened it.
"Sugah, watch where yah goin', ahlright?", Rogue said, her voice a little strained.
"Sorry, sorry Rogue", Rielle said softly, her confidence gone. I saw her turn back to look at me from the corner of my eye, but my gaze was fixed upon Rogue, who sat upon the floor looking back at me.
Rogue
Why is it no matter where I am, Remy always seems to find me? Ever since he came back, I've been seeing him everywhere. When I look up from a book, he's there for a few seconds before he fades back into the folds of my imagination. When I close my eyes, I see him staring back at me. And God, when Bobby looks at me... All I can see is Remy. Remy's delicious eyes and his cocky grin. He had left. He had abandoned the Institute, the X-Men, me... Just up and left early one morning, before the sun was even up. Nothing, not a note, not a word of goodbye. Just an empty room and a Queen of Hearts resting on his bed-side table. He didn't need to explain. I knew that card was for me.
I don't know why I was so shocked or why I cried so hard, and I certainly don't understand why I felt betrayed. It was me after all, I had told him to leave. I had plainly asked him to leave me alone, to get away from me, from us. So he did the only thing he could. He simply followed my wishes and left me behind with a cold heart and a broken soul. And here he was, back at the Institute and back in my life, acting as if he had simply been gone on holiday. As if he had just gone out for a while, and now he was back home and expecting what he had once had.
Fuck him. He wasn't going to hurt me again.
Besides I had Bobby now, Bobby again. I don't deserve him. I didn't deserve his love before and after my affair with Remy. I had been his girlfriend after all, he had done nothing bu love me and I had forgotten him the instant Remy looked at me with those red eyes. And who was there to pick up the pieces after Remy left me, the little broken china doll with the painted face? Bobby. Who had nursed my shattered heart and glued the shards back together. Bobby. And now that Remy was back, who had I already betrayed emotionally? Bobby.
"Bonjour, p'tite". Remy's greetings were always so casual, so cool, as if he were granting you the pleasure of talking to him. I had missed that. I had missed that stupid grin of his, that irritating way he spoke to me and his annoying vanity. I had missed him!
I refused to let my voice betray me as I righted myself out and straightened my clothes after Rielle had bumped me. I swept my hair behind my ear with an steady hand, meeting his look head-on.
" Seems Ah keep bumpin' into ya Cajun", I said, stoically.
Rielle stood there stupidly, just looking back and forth between us. Maybe she was intimidated, or more likely she felt the frigid tension between Remy and I. Whatever her reason,
I did not want her there and I myself didn't want to be there. I wouldn't be in this mess if he hadn't come back in the first place!
Remy tentatively stepped closer, and I stood my ground. Rielle, I noticed, did not look away. She just observed silently, she appeared to be taking mental notes in her head.Whatever,she could do as she wished. I had to get out of there.
Remy walked ever closer to me, and I could already smell him. That tangy mix of sweat and cologne that gave him his spicy scent. Jesus, he even smelled the same! How many times had I taken in that very smell when I lay in his arms, against his chest? Too many. I felt myself tense as Remy's fingertips brushed by my cold cheek. He wasn't wearing his gloves, the ones he had always worn when he lived here. I longed to feel the satiny touch of those gloves against me again.
Damn it, Rogue! Stop!
I stared at him a moment longer, then sighed, admitting defeat. I looked away from him, and crossed my arms across my chest in defence. I wasn't about to let him see how shaken up I was. His hand fell and came down to rest in the front pocket of his jeans. I refused to let my eyes follow it. It was too dangerous.
"Rogue, I...", his usually suave voice shook a little, "Remy needs ta talk ta ya."
"There ain't nothin' ta say Remy", I snapped at him.
"Rogue, look at me", he scolded, hunching over to be at my height. I permitted my eyes to meet with his own. " Please, chère. Remy's back, he's here now."
I took a step back from him and glared with all the anger I could muster. How dare he come back here and pretend nothing had happened? I wouldn't let him, I wouldn't!
"That's not enough Cajun", I said angrily. " Ya can't just expect ta come back and ta find everythin' lahke ya left it!"
"Damn it, Rogue", he said, his voice rising to match mine. "Don't ya know that Remy still, that I still..."
He could not, would not finish that thought. I would not stand for it.
"Damn it Remy, Ah don't care!", I yelled, lying to everyone who could hear me. "Ah don't, Ah don't!"
"Rogue?", asked a voice, a new one. "Rogue, what's going on."
Oh no, Bobby!
"Why are you", his voice stopped for a moment. "Oh, I see..."
Remy looked back at him calmly as he shuffled his cards. I dared to look at them, at the two men that I loved. Where was this going to go? Where did I want this to go? Why, in fact, would it go anywhere?
"Forget it Bobby, let's just..."
"What the hell are you doing to her now", Bobby demanded, his angry voice cutting me off.
Remy put his cards back into the pocket of his coat, never taking his eyes from Bobby's glare. I didn't want this! I had never wanted it to be like this! Remy was supposed to be gone, good and forever. He wasn't allowed to just come back into my life like this and ruin everything.
I walked over to where Bobby stood, shaking in his rage. I dared to lay my hand on his arm. He felt so cold, even through the long sleeved shirt he was wearing. He was so angry, I had never before seen him like this. He felt so tense, like some kind of predator awaiting the opportune moment to pounce on his kill.
"Bobby?", I asked him, my voice betraying me.
He moved so quickly I'm surprised Remy was able to block the punch.
Gabrielle
"You fucking idiot! You goddamn son of a bitch!", Bobby's snarls rang through the hallway. "How dare you come back after what you did! I am going to kill you!"
He was hitting Remy, punching and kicking at every vulnerable spot. He was so angry, perhaps that's why Remy was able to hold him off. A little. Bobby fought well, anyone could see that. He had, after all, been trained by Logan and Xavier. I myself had no knowledge of the training that he may have received, but I did not doubt it had been extensive and very thorough. Bobby fought well. It's just that Remy fought a little better.
The Cajun was at the advantage, even I could see that. He was upset, evidently, but he was much more level-headed than the younger, thrashing boy who was attacking him. Bobby's rage had blinded his reason and clouded his clear-thinking. It was no wonder that Remy was able to block the punches and deflect the kicks. But he was tiring. Remy's body was strong and well trained, but Bobby's anger was giving his unmatchable stamina. " I'm gonna rip you apart , Cajun!", Bobby growled as his punches were once again deflected. "I'm gonna kill you for hurting her."
"Le petit homme is starting ta get on Remy's nerves", the Cajun said, all suaveness erased utterly from his usually composed voice. " He is meddlin' in things that be of no concern ta him."
Bobby finally landed one.
Remy staggered back a little as he took Bobby's closed fist to the side of his jaw. A jaw already tender from where I had pinched it. I winced a little for Remy and shook myself into action. Things were getting out of hand. Something had to be done! My eyes could not miss the pink hue of the card that Remy was holding, and my ears could not mistake that frightening humming.
Acting stupidly and not stopping to think, I quickly rushed in between the two fighters. I threw up my hands and looked from Bobby to Remy, who was now staring daggers at his adversary. The card glowed menacingly in his hand, and I knew I had to do something. It was a miracle that someone hadn't already walked in on the brawl.
"Logan's gone", Rogue said out-loud, answering my un-spoken question. She must have been thinking what I was. "He left with the professah a little ovah and hour ago."
My hands were still up as I tried to keep the two apart. Remy had backed off a little but hadn't stopped charging the card. Bobby, on the other hand, looked as though he was going to charge through me to get to Remy.
"Rogue", I begged, calling out to her, "You have to help me separate them!"
She was walking away. Just leaving, turned her back and stalked off leaving her problems behind her. She should have stayed to help me, she should have stayed off to the side even, watching her lover and her ex fight over her. She should have done something, ANYTHING but walk away!
"Rogue", I called out again.
She disappeared around the corner. I sighed to myself. What was I supposed to do now? Remy was ever charging his damn card and Bobby was already trying to push his way by me. I took my hands down and looked at both of them. Now I was pissed.
"Stop it, right now, both of you", I warned, my voice as calm as I could keep it, "Or I'll blow usall up."
True to my word, I permitted the faint yellow hue to overtake my hands, my fingertips glowing. Bobby smirked at me and refused to back off. I looked at Remy and held up my hand, proving how serious I was. Remy knew, he understood what I could do to this hallway and to those of us who stood within it. The card within his hand lost its pink vibrancy and the humming coming from it diminished into silence. He looked at my hands for a moment, before meeting my eyes. What that, pain that I saw reflected there?
He sighed. " De p'tite is right Icey", Remy said, his calm quickly recovered. " Remy don't wanna fight wit you."
The rage cleared a little from Bobby's eyes as he noticed for the first time that Rogue had left. He looked from Gabrielle's humming fingertips to Remy's cool expression. The two stared each other down for a moment, before angrily turned on his heel and stomped off after Rogue.
"Remy", I said, uncertainly.
"I know, p'tite", Remy answered me soothingly. "Just relax, and de charge will just release you. Just relax."
I tried to do as he instructed me. I made myself go limp, and cleared my mind of any emotion or feeling. I willed my breathing to steady, and I tried not to concentrate on the light protruding from the tips of my extended digits. It wasn't until complete silence engulfed me that I dared to open my eyes and look down at my hand. The charge was gone! Truly and completely absent! I had done it! I turned quickly to show off my success to Remy, but I stopped short from speaking when I saw his expression. He looked calm once more, suave, cocky and so damn careless. But it was his eyes, it was his eyes that showed my exactly how he felt before he was able to hide the emotion away. His eyes were brimming, filled to the peak with anguish, and they nearly took my breath away. This wasn't the Remy I had grown to know, the Remy I had learned to like. Where was the devil-may-care attitude and the careless grin? He looked so lost as he stood there, alone in the hallway. The light shone garishly on his skin, only making his eyes look all the more dark. How can I describe what I do not understand myself? How can I paint a picture when I do not know what it is I see? Think only of this, Remy, standing alone as he looked upon the spot where Rogue had been standing. Why did my heart hurt so much?
"Remy", I called softly, "Come on. Let's go somewhere."
"Remy just need ta be alone for a while, chère". I could barely hear his whisper.
" We need to talk", I re-instated firmly. " I need to as much as I know you do."
Remy didn't even look away from that spot on the floor where she had been standing as I took his arm and led him gently back to the room where we had been earlier that afternoon. I didn't care. It wasn't his eyes that I was worried about. It was his heart.
Author's note: Wow! I did not expect this to be so long, so I decided to split it up into two parts. Please, please don't hate me! I have already started the second part, so it won't be long until I post it. Thanks for reading and please continue to review! Silverbells, Chaotic Jinx, Black Spades, Aleja21, I appreciate all of your support!
Pandora