Pandora
P.S. The bold font is tele-speach.
Chapter 14
For the first time in her life, Rielle let go. She let go of her insecurities, of her fears, of her morals and of her self-imposed rules. She took everything that had once held her down and threw it away. All of it stripped away and burned, nothing of her old life remained. She didn't need it anymore. She no longer had to hide behind her secrets and her silence. Not anymore, not with Remy leading her away from it all.
She didn't even bother to look around at the others as she took Remy's hand and followed him off the dance floor. Jubilee appeared, her face full of question, but Rielle simply walked by. She had nothing to say, not to anyone. She honestly could think of nothing that was worth the time to stop and share. Not when she was finally with Remy, now that they were in a way, together. The music was still blasting in her ears and people were still dancing all around them as Remy tried to plow a path for them. She kept her eyes on his back, not taking the risk of catching the eye of the professor or even Jean or Storm. She didn't want someone telling her what she should or should not be doing. She was so sick of listening to what others thought best for her. She had decided. She simply wouldn't listen anymore.
Rielle? Rielle! What do you two think you're doing? Stop making such a spectacle of yourselves!
The voice in Rielle's mind was so loud it nearly made her fall over. The anger and the disappointment in Jean's voice were heartbreaking. The last thing Rielle had ever wanted to do was hurt anyone, least of all those people she had begun to love as one does family. And Jean had been nothing but kind to her, had done nothing but help her get adjusted and comfortable here. Rielle's closed her eyes tightly and let go of Remy's hand in order to grasp her head in both hands.
Remy heard her whimpers before her hand even left his own. He spun around, defiantly, daring anyone to hurt her while he was there to save her. His eyes scanned the crowd that were starting to stop dancing in order to stare. Most of the students were still dancing, unaware or uncaring of the little show being put on by some of their teachers. Jean and Scott were there, standing close by. Ororo and Kurt had wandered over to their side, as had the Professor. Lastly, he noticed Rogue as she watched alongside Bobby, confusion and hurt darkening her face.
Remy stared at them all in turn, completely defying them. He only turned his attention from them to stoop over to Rielle, who stood bent at the waist, crying out in pain as she clutched her throbbing head. He knelt before her, taking her head into his own hands and tilting it to make her face him. Rielle opened her eyes slowly, her panic clouding them as she looked desperately into his own.
"Rielle, Rielle, what is it?", he asked her, trying to remain calm. "What's wrong?"
"The voices", she struggled. "I can't... It's too loud..."
Remy's head shot up, turning to look over to where Jean stood by Xavier, her hands by her temples and her eyes closed in obvious concentration. Remy looked at Charles with exasperation, a look of near betrayal on his rugged face. Xavier simply stared back, sighing and shaking his head. Remy's blood boiled in his veins as he understood what was taking place. Jean was using her power to get into Rielle's head, to intimidate her, frighten her into stopping what had barely begun. They knew that Rielle's mind was fragile, that her shields were weak, and yet they were taking advantage of something they had promised to help with? I can help her, Remy thought desperately, I can.
"Rielle? Listen chère, you need ta listen ta Remy now.", Remy struggled to keep his voice collected. "You have ta clear your mind now. Don't let dem break in like dat. Just listen, concentrate on Remy's voice..."
"It's too loud", Rielle told him, wincing.
"Don't make excuses now chère", Remy scolded gently. "Ya just need to take my word for it."
Rielle sighed, trying to do as Remy instructed her. She willed herself to hear only his reassuring voice, letting it drown out Jean's angry words. She pictured herself alone in the small training room she and Remy had used so often while she was training. She pictured the concrete floors and the spongy material on the walls. She saw herself standing there, alone. In silence.
But Remy was there too, wasn't he? Yes, he was there, and suddenly he appeared at her side, his arms locked around her as he whispered into her hair. Rielle smiled as she pulled into him, feeling safe as his words filled the empty room, blocking out all other sound. The pain was gone, her head didn't hurt anymore. Rielle opened her eyes.
Jean took a step back, caught a little off-balance. Scott reached out instinctively to grasp her around her waist as she tried to steady herself. His face was full of concern as he held Jean up, trying to keep her still as she slowly came out of the telepathic trance she had been in. She lowered her hands, and looked on at Rielle and Remy in disbelief. She shook her head a moment, then brought her hands back to her temples. Her eyes closed tightly as she concentrated, and she suddenly sighed, once again lowering her hands and unclenching her eyes.
"Jean?", Scott asked her. "Are you okay?"
"What happened Jean?", Xavier pressed.
"She, she blocked me out!", Jean told them, still amazed. "For one second all I could see was Remy pushing me out of some dark room."
"What does that mean professor?", Scott asked Charles, still worried about Jean. "Has she finally learnt how to block out telepathic invasion?"
"I don't know if it's her psyche that's doing the blocking Scott", Xavier said softly, "Or if she's letting Remy's do it for her."
"But professor", Jean gasped, "Can that even be done?"
Xavier looked on at the young couple still crouching on the floor. Remy brushed Rielle's hair away from her eyes, tucking it gently behind her ears as he helped her up. Rielle still seemed unsteady as she tried to rise, and she seemed unsure of where to place her feet. Remy held her at arm's length, steadying her but allowing her to have some space. The look of genuine concern on the boy's face, that look of sincere feeling... In all the time that Charles Xavier had known Remy LeBeau, never before had he seen the young man allow his heart to show in his expression.
Xavier looked from to the other, his steel mind clicking away. Perhaps, perhaps this time it would be different. Perhaps this love affair, this infatuation should be left alone. It could be best for everyone if Rielle and Remy were simply left alone. Charles looked at Jean and Scott, standing so close to each other. Would they agree? And what about Ororo, the one who knew Rielle best next only to Remy? Would she think it best to let them be? But what about Rogue?
Charles shook his head. As much as he hated to inflict pain upon any of his students, he could not approve of this budding relationship. Not when he knew all the people that would suffer because of it. No, Rielle was still his student and Remy was here as a teacher. It would not do. But Charles knew that this excuse was simply that, an excuse. The real reason the two could not be together was simply because, well... Because.
It just wasn't going to happen.
"Come on now chère", Remy whispered to her. "Let's get outta here, non?"
"Mais Remy", Rielle stammered, looking around them uncertainly. "Les autres, le prof., ils vont essayez de nous empêcher..."
"J'mens Christ des autres", Remy whispered savagely, "I don't care anymore Rielle. They can't keep us apart anymore. I won't let them."
Rielle nodded to him, and let him lead her from the hall quickly and in silence, glancing one last time back to where the others stood watching them leave. Lastly, she caught Jubilee's eye. She tried to smile, but her friend only sighed, and turned away from her. When Rielle then noticed the professor's pained look, she turned away with a heavy heart. Once again, she had lost her family.
Remy squeezed her hand in reassurance, and Rielle smiled despite it all. At least this time she hadn't lost it all. And really, she had the thing that mattered the most. She smiled even more brightly as they left the loud dance room.
"So this was your big plan?", Rielle asked, suppressing a smile.
"Well, Remy didn't exactly plan dis out Rielle", Remy answered sharply.
Instead of being offended, Rielle only shook her head, smiling a little. She was just joking around with him, enjoying how frazzled Remy appeared. She sat back on her bench and watched him pace the length of the room, running his hands through his hair and grumbling angrily under his breath. Rielle sighed, and looked down at her hands.
As she had been storming out of the room after Remy, she had half expected him to whip out some white steed, or even a big motorcycle and rush away in a blaze of fairytale glory. Instead, he had rushed her through the maze of halls of the school, finally leading her to the small training chamber. And here they were, standing awkwardly around, not saying much of anything. Thoughts of consequences were billowing through Rielle's mind, and although Remy feigned indifference, she knew he was thinking about them too. So now she sat here on one of the hard wooden benches, watching Remy pace back and forth in his rage. At least they wouldn't be disturbed. Although Jean, Scott and certainly Xavier knew where they were hiding, they wouldn't be able to get in. Charles had installed a security id console that only allowed Remy and Rielle access to the room, to keep others from wandering in while they were training. Rielle was sure he was regretting that decision now.
"Remy?", she asked him again, her voice soft. "Will you at least stop pacing? You're making me anxious."
Remy stopped his feverish walking in order to turn and face her. His hands shook with his unreleased anger and his dark eyes sparked in the poor light. Rielle held his gaze for a moment, then looked away down at her hands. She had never seen him so upset before, never, not even when he had told her about Rogue. She didn't know what to say to make him feel better, to make all his pain go away.
Usually, people didn't intimidate her so. Usually, she had no problem finding the right words to ease someone's troubled mind or conscience. If her sister had taught her anything, it was how to be kind, and gentle. But now, now that it mattered most, Rielle could think of nothing to say.
He had done everything. He hadn't heeded the orders of his own superiors, he hadn't cared when Rogue had threatened to expose them. And even after she had thrown him away, afraid of hurting someone else she had grown to like, even love, he had stood by her tonight, pushing Jean out of her mind and rescuing her from the suffocating hall. But now, all his bravado had abandoned him, and he looked just like the lost little boy Rielle had glimpsed a few times in the past.
"I wish I could say something to lighten the mood", she scoffed jokingly, trying not to look so uncomfortable.
Remy looked at her, sitting so tensely on the bench. Her long legs crossed at the ankles, and her fragile hands clasped tight in her lap, she looked like a wild animal caught in the headlights. He sighed, and ran his hands through his hair once more. Maybe they had over-reacted. Maybe they shouldn't have stormed away like they had.
Then he caught her gaze once more. His own eyes drilled within her deep violet ones, and she gave him once again the impression that he was looking within her. Suddenly, he was glad it was dark. Well, not dark but not exactly bright either. He didn't want to be in the light. After all, he and Rielle were creatures of night, weren't they? And here they were, together.
He turned away from her abruptly and made his way over to the equipment closet on the other side of the room. He was aware of Rielle's eyes on him as he opened the locked doors. He reached into the sombre storage unit, groping and feeling around the inside with his hand. His fingers brushed by cloth, and he pulled out the blanket. He quickly grabbed the other and pulled it out, slamming the closet door shut after him. He walked slowly back over to Rielle, offering her one of his blankets. She looked at him for a moment, unsure. She seemed confused, not knowing wether to take his offering or run screaming as far as she could. Suddenly, she reached out, grasping the blanket he offered her, and wrapped it around herself.
"Thanks", she whispered, not daring to look up at him.
"Well, it gets cold in here chère", he answered stoically. "And Remy don't feel like risking de mob tonight. What do you think Rielle? Should we spend de night here? Give 'em time ta cool down?"
Rielle's hands shook a little harder, glad that the dark was camouflaging her blushing face. She managed a smile, and looked up at him once more.
"Remy LeBeau", she told him, smiling. "If I didn't know any better, I's say you were trying to seduce me."
Remy returned her smile, his tense shoulders sagging a little.
"What gave me away p'tite?"
Rielle laughed, the tension slowly slipping away. She got off the bench and walked over to where Remy stood. She paused a moment to look up into his face before kneeling down and laying down on the hard floor. The harsh cement hurt her cheek when she tried to lay down her head. Rielle sighed, and started to get up.
"Wait chère", he told her, quickly joining her on the ground. "This might 'elp."
Rielle watched in silence as Remy spread his own blanket on the ground. He placed himself down upon it, and looked at her. Rielle smiled tentatively, and scooted over next to him, unwrapping her blanket from around her shoulders. Remy took her silent offering and snapped it out, letting it fall gently down upon the two of them. The light blue blanket floated down slowly, like a cloud through the air. Rielle shivered as she felt its gentle weight upon her once more.
Remy sighed once more, and lay down on the other blanket. He moved about for a moment, trying to get comfortable, before settling down and looking up at Rielle. Rielle caught his gaze and felt a faint shimmer of panic flutter within her stomach. Remy reached for her hand slowly, bring it to his lips and kissing her knuckles. Rielle tried to catch her breath as Remy's warm breath tickled her flesh.
She swallowed her fear, scolding herself for her fear. She turned sharply, facing Remy and bending down to catch his mouth in a tender embrace. Remy kissed her deeply, gently pulling her down to him. His large hands wound themselves in her hair, holding her closer. Rielle tried to push all other thoughts from her mind, trying to make herself concentrate only on the man in her arms. The man in her arms? Rielle panicked for a moment, deliberating on wether or not to flee. But no, this wasn't Zephyr holding her so closely. This was Remy, Remy who loved her, truly.
And so she did not resist when Remy rolled her over gently, placing her upon her back. He held her in his left arm, keeping his body propped up on his right arm. Rielle's body shook in fear against her will, and Remy stopped kissing her throat for a moment, pausing to look up at her in concern.
"Rielle?", he asked her, a little out of breath. "What is it? Are you alright?"
Rielle did not bother to answer him. She simply willed herself to be still and pulled him into her kiss once more. Remy needed no further reassurance. He held her close, his lips trailing a soft path down her throat and on her collar bone. Rielle felt the un-suppressible fear resurfacing, and not willing to let it take over, Rielle quickly grabbed Remy's black shirt, un-buttoning it from the bottom. Remy groaned into her mouth as her hands touched his bare stomach. Rielle swallowed his sighs and groans, her quick hands pulling Remy's shirt away and throwing it to the side. Remy's hands joined her own quickly. His nimble fingers found the zipper on the back of her dress after a few fumbles, and he quickly pulled it open. Rielle gasped in shock as her skin was suddenly exposed to the chilly air. But Remy's hands were there, holding her and keeping her warm. And yet, still she trembled.
Determined not to let her weak body command her, Rielle found the fly of Remy's pants, and quickly pulled it open, helping him shimmy out of them. Remy's fingers grew even more frantic, pulling away her dress until she lay there in her under things, exposed to his lips and roaming hands. Remy paused for a moment, and stopped, struggling for breath. He looked down at her in shock, questions clouding his eyes.
"Rielle, we don't have to do this", he panted. "Remy...I don't want you ta feel like you have ta do anything you don't want ta."
"Shut-up Remy", Rielle chided, trying to sound strong. "You talk too much."
Needing no more reassurance, Remy smiled at her mischievously as he bent down once more and kissed her passionately. Rielle closed her eyes, trying to enjoy the man who held her in his embrace, but she couldn't control that feeling of pain in her stomach. She wanted this didn't she? Of course she did.
But when Remy was suddenly there, hard against her, Rielle could not longer suppress the panic. Jumping away from his warm arms, Rielle sprung to her feet, taking the top blanket with her and wrapping it around her nearly naked body. Remy got up to his knees, and looked up at her in shock. Was that pain in his eyes? Pain yes, but something else. He wasn't mad at her...
"Remy, please don't be upset", Rielle sighed, understanding at once.
"I can't believe I did dis to you", Remy said desperately. He looked away from her, almost ashamed, and ran his hand angrily through his wild hair. "Remy didn't mean ta push you chère, it's just..."
"No Remy, no", Rielle said with an attempt to sooth him. "It isn't your fault, I wanted this too."
"But?", Remy asked her, still not facing her.
"I'm frightened."
Remy turned slowly, lifting his eyes to meet her gaze. Her tears threatened to spill, and she quickly brushed them away with the back of her hand. Remy stared at her, bewildered, and Rielle sighed, crossing her arms over the blanket and feigning calm. Remy rose slowly, the faint lights shining on his skin. Rielle blushed again against her will at the sight of him, so obviously excited, clad only in a pair of dark blue boxers. Remy walked over to her gently, making sure not to spook her. When he was close enough, he reached out his hand to softly stroke her cheek.
"Don't you understand yet Rielle?", he asked her. "I'm here now, not him. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."
"Zephyr?", Rielle whispered uncertainly into the darkness, her tormented mind suddenly plunging her into dark. For a moment, she couldn't see anything. Nothing, she could only hear a faint voice calling. Was that a light, shimmering in the distance?
"Yes Rielle, it's Zephyr", she heard Remy's voice say. Remy's voice? Was Remy here too?
"Zephyr? Oh my God, I had thought you'd left me..."
"I have Rielle. I'm sorry dat I hurt you so badly, but I promise dat I'll never let anyone hurt you again", the voice continued.
"But, no one else", Rielle felt her anger rising, suddenly the darkness seemed to dissipate. "No one else hurt me, only you did"
"But you trust no one else"
"That's not true", Rielle hissed viciously. "I trust Remy, more than I ever trusted you."
"Than maybe you should tell him dat."
"Zehpyr?", the voice was gone, and the light was slowly filtering back in.
"Dere's no one here chère", Remy called to her. "Only us. No one here but us now."
He was there, standing close to her, not touching her. His eyes looking down into her own, the red iris blurring. Rielle felt her body relax completely. The fear was gone, the panic was gone. Her hands were still as they hung at her sides. She suddenly understood where she was, and she realized she didn't want to ever leave again. She reached out to Remy slowly, placing her open palm above his heart.
"My name is Gabrielle", she whispered to him. "Now you know me."
"Gabrielle?", Remy asked her as he stepped closer, wrapping his arms slowly around her. "That's not very different from Rielle, now is it?"
"I guess not", admitted Gabrielle as she sunk into her lover's arms. "I guess we really were the same person, deep down. Someone just had to go get her."
But her words were cut off as Remy's lips touched her own. This time she did not tremble from fear as his hands peeled away her last remaining clothes. She stood before him, no longer afraid. Ready for him. Remy led her, still locked in his embrace, over to the blanket on the floor as Rielle let her own blanket fall from around her shoulders. She smiled at him as he pulled her down, holding him under her as he stared into her eyes. Rielle smiled back as Remy bent his head and kissed her tenderly. She kissed him back, aware of the gift he had given her, hoping she could give him something too. They were going to learn what it was to love, to truly love. And together, they would learn about it far into the night.
Author's note: Alright! Done! Finally! This chapter took me quite a while to finish, but I have succeeded. Alright, I hope that it wasn't too graphic but I hope you didn't find it dull. I'm not really good at writing the whole sex scene thing, so I tried my best. Hopefully no one was offended, that wasn't my intent. Please let me know what you thought, it helps me get the chapters out faster.
Thanks, Pandora.
P.S (Rielle) But Remy, the others... They'll try to stop us...
(Remy) I don't fucking care about the others