When Gabrielle awoke, the feeling of soft flesh against her cheek caused her sleepy eyes to widen in alarm. For a moment, her breath became laboured, and panic beat against her heart. Still not moving her face, she slowly brought up a hand to touch whatever it was that her head was resting on. Her fingertips trembled slightly as they touched a man's bare chest. In a rush, the events of the previous night came flooding back to her. She sighed, relieved, and flattened her hand against Remy's chest. From the way her hand rose and descended rhythmically, she could tell he was still asleep. She kept her hand there, but kept still. She didn't want him to awaken just yet. There were very pressing things that, inside her mind, were clamouring for her attention. Had she truly done what her mind was retelling her? She didn't need to glance down under her blankets. She could feel Remy's flesh bare against her own. For some unknown reason, Gabrielle shivered, and cuddled in closer to the sleeping man next to her. How had she ever thought Remy was but a boy? An overgrown schoolboy who wanted only to bully and intimidate her? She closed her eyes, breathing in his spicy scent, feeling peaceful and rested. She had never felt so safe, so at ease before in her life. Little pieces of last night were slowly drifting back from her unconscious. She smiled shyly, bringing a finger to her lips and leaving it there. He's done it, somehow. He had gotten through her defences, had found his way within her. Gabrielle felt her cheeks blush a little. Literally, she thought to herself,
giggling a little like a child.
"Hmmm? Surely you're not laughing at what we did last night chère?"
Remy's voice brought on another wave of crimson to Gabrielle's face. She smiled again,
brightly as she raised her head from Remy's chest. She turned her face to look at him.
"Why Remy?", she teased. "Worried?"
Remy laughed obnoxiously as he suddenly sat up and pulled Gabrielle deeper into his arms. She let him hold her against him, his arm cradling her head and neck. She sunk her face into his neck, and kissed him softly. Gabrielle sighed against his skin, and snuggled as close to her lover as she could.
"Remy? Worried? Remy never wonders après qu'il fait l'amour, p'tite."
"Remy, is there ever a moment where you can refrain from boasting?", Gabrielle asked her,
putting on a exasperated tone.
"Never", Remy grinned as he rolled unto his side. With the sudden change in the distribution of his weight, Gabrielle was pushed over away from Remy's strong shoulder and unto her back. She shivered for a moment when her skin lost its contact with Remy's, but he was very quickly there, holding himself atop her, his body heating hers once more. Remy smiled wickedly as he leaned in, supporting himself on his arms. His face buried itself into her neck, his moist lips trailing along the nape of her throat. Gabrielle groaned as her back arched into him, and she wrapped her arms around his broad back. She whimpered a little and hid her face in his shoulder. She kissed it feverishly as she clung to Remy. Her heart was beating wildly, and it was a relief to Gabrielle to feel Remy's heart race along with hers.
Remy broke away a little, holding himself away from her mouth to look down at her. He smiled his cocky grin and his warm eyes teased Gabrielle. She laughed at the mischievous glint in his eyes and once more tried to get close to him. Remy laughed, holding her away gently.
"Mon Dieu fille", Remy said, feigning shock, " Remy never would have thought you had such passion in you."
"What can I say", replied Gabrielle innocently, " I learned from the best."
Remy smiled down at her tenderly, and propped himself on one elbow to free his right hand. It came up to stroke her hair behind her ear. His fingers traced her every line and every inch of her face. They played with the corners of her smile, and brushed her eyelashes.
"You had Remy scared for a moment though chère", he told her, his serious tone surprising her. "It felt like he almost lost you for a minute."
"But you brought me back Remy", Gabrielle whispered back to him, her liquid eyes shining and full of trust. "You found me."
Remy lowered his head and met Gabrielle's hungry kiss. She moaned with pleasure into Remy's mouth, and felt his lips twist up in a smile. Remy gently distributed his weight, coming down even closer. His lips left her own for a moment and found her collar bone, tasting her. Gabrielle lay her head back, her fingers running through Remy's wild hair. Remy's hands caressed her sides gently, taking in every curve. Gabrielle shivered as they brushed her breast,
and she smiled when she felt them come between her thighs.
"What do you say chère", Remy growled as he kissed her throat. "One more go?"
Gabrielle wanted to. She wanted to let go as she had last night. But responsibility had long ago ruined her, and she knew that the time for play had come to an end. So as Remy's hand gently tried to separate her legs, Gabrielle clamped them close and swung herself out from underneath Remy's torso. She came up and sat herself down atop him, grinning at him in victory as her hair fell around her face.
"Maybe later, chère", she answered, imitating his accent. "But unfortunately, the world hasn't stopped for us. And as much as we both are fearing it, we'll have to face the others eventually."
Remy relaxed his body and groaned, disappointed. He looked up at Gabrielle with a pout,
his lower lip sticking out just a little and his eyelashes batting.
"It's still early p'tite", he tried to say cajolingly to her. "No one even notice we not dere"
"Remy", Gabrielle reprimanded, a little more forcefully. "Remy..."
His hands suddenly grasped her thighs that straddled him and he sat up quickly. Still holding her legs, Remy leaned in to kiss her sweetly once more. Gabrielle sighed happily,
moving forward to return his kiss. Remy nearly cried at the wonderful pressure she was giving him, but he knew she was right. They'd have to leave their little sanctuary sooner than later, and if he ended it now, well, he got the victory. He pulled away from the kiss, leaving Gabrielle's lips still slightly puckered in the air. She groaned as he picked her up and moved her over, wrapping the blanket around his waist as he searched for his clothes. He picked up his suit that he had thrown unto the floor, and put on his pants. He picked up Gabrielle's silver gown, letting the materiel flow through his fingers. He smiled as Gabrielle grabbed it from him quickly, holding her own towel around herself. She tried as best she could to shield herself from his view as she rapidly threw on her dress. She patted her dishevelled hair and tried to smooth out the wrinkles in her dress. Remy's breath caught in his throat. She was so beautiful.
Gabrielle felt his stare, and looked up. She blushed a little under his eyes and smiled at him.
"What?", she asked him smiling.
"Nothing", he answered her, still staring.
The clocks in the hall had said seven thirty, so as Gabrielle sneaked down the hall to her room, she hoped that most of the team were still asleep. She knew that Scott and Logan were most likely already training, and that Ororo and prof. Xavier were most likely up, but she hoped to be able to get by the students without any confrontation.
She glanced back at Remy who stood a little ways down the hall. He caught her eye and winked as he opened his door silently and slipped into his room. Gabrielle sighed to herself,
her hand shaking slightly as she grabbed the doorknob on her door. She pushed it open quietly,
slipping inside the dark room.
"Kinda early to be up and about, don't you think Rielle?"
Gabrielle's hand hit the light switch and squinted a little against the sudden brightness. Her pounding heart felt heavy all of a sudden and her smile faded away from her face as she stood awkwardly before Kitty.
The other girl was sitting on Gabrielle's bed with her legs crossed under her, absently flipping through a fashion magazine that lay open before her. She had yet to look up at Gabrielle,
and with every agitated flip of a page, Gabrielle flinched inwardly. She didn't know what to say,
she had never been good with lies.
"I was just up to see if anyone else was awake", Gabrielle stammered, trying to appear calm and undisturbed. The look of pain that crossed Kitty's face was like a stab into Gabrielle's insides. She hated being anything but truthful to the girl who had been nothing but a wonderful friend to her since she had arrived. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, trying vaguely to look innocent. Kitty sighed impatiently, slapping the magazine closed.
"You know, I like, really thought you would tell me the truth", Kitty told her, in a more serious tone than Gabrielle had yet to hear her use. "I get that you can't, like, tell me everything, and I get it."
"But I do trust you Kitty", Gabrielle said quietly, her act gone. "You know I want to."
"No, I don't know that", Kitty replied sadly. "Listen, just because I don't read as many books as you, and I'll never be as bright as you, and the fact that I may talk like a ditz, well..."
Gabrielle felt like vermin.
"It doesn't mean I'm stupid", was Kitty's harsh finale.
"I don't think you're stupid Kit", Gabrielle whispered.
"Oh please", Kitty told her, clearly hurt. " I hope you don't think that no one caught on to where you were last night. Who you were with."
"I don't care if you know", Gabrielle told her, suddenly realizing it for herself.
"Maybe you should care a little more", Kitty replied, striding by Gabrielle and heading for her door.
"What's that supposed to mean Kitty?", Gabrielle asked angrily. "Why should I care if I have the approval of the others as to wether or not I can be with Remy? It's not like it'll change anything,
like the way we feel about each other."
"Rielle, that's not what I mean", Kitty sighed, "But you have to realize..."
"I don't have to do anything", Gabrielle interrupted. "You all need to realize that."
"Rielle", Kitty said, her eyes widening in shock at the venom in Gabrielle's voice. "I'm just trying to help you."
"How?", Gabrielle demanded sarcastically. "Explain this to me Kitty, because I sure as hell don't understand your logic."
Kitty stood quietly for a moment, looking at Gabrielle in silence. As the two girls stood staring at each other, Gabrielle suddenly felt the anger she had been feeling drip through her, as though it was leaving her body with every breath she exhaled. "Kitty?", Gabrielle asked uncertainly. "Say something, start yelling. You're making me nervous."
"The two of you", Kitty said softly, "You're not just hooking up. There's something there, isn't there?"
"Yeah, there is", Gabrielle whispered back.
With a sudden squeal of excitement, Kitty crossed the room over to Gabrielle in two fluid strides. With a grip that nearly took the breath from Gabrielle, Kitty clung to her friend as she held her close. The girls spun in choppy circles, hugging and crying stupidly unto each other.
Kitty held her friend out at arm's length, her smile lighting up her soaking face. She looked at Gabrielle with scrutinizing acuity, taking in every detail. Gabrielle smiled back at her,
wiping at her own wet face.
"I can't believe you made me cry", Gabrielle laughed as she sobbed.
"I can't believe you never told me about you and Remy sooner!", Kitty sobbed back.
"Would you have reacted any better?", Gabrielle asked, breathing deeply.
"Probably worse", Kitty confided honestly. "But I can't help the way I felt, Gabrielle. I mean,
Rogue's been my friend a lot longer than you have. I dunno, I guess I felt a sort of loyalty towards Rogue."
"I understand", Gabrielle said gently. "And I wouldn't want you to be anything than how you are."
"So, are we good?", Kitty asked.
"We are", Gabrielle reassured her.
"So now you can give me all the juicy details about you and Rems!"
"Kitty!"
"Sorry", Kitty said sheepishly.
"Did you realize", Gabrielle asked as she linked arm's with her friend and walked from the room,
"That you didn't 'like' once in that entire two minutes!"
"Oh my God!", Kitty exclaimed, feigning shock! "You're totally right!"
Rogue held her breath as the phone at the other end of the line. Three rings, two... She quickly shut off her cell phone. What was she thinking? She looked at her hand, at her phone. What was she doing? This was stupid, this was.
She sighed as she clutched her phone to her chest. This was the only way. She had tried everything else, there was nothing more to be done. Remy, she thought. Do you see what you've brought me to? Can you see just what you've done to me? She looked around her room desperately. I just, I don't know what to do.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when the phone against her breast rang out shrilly. She held it out away from her, thinking quickly. Would it be wise to answer if the caller was indeed who she suspected? Would it be better to just forget this whole idea, and try to move on some other way? But then again.
She was most likely just being paranoid. It was probably Bobby, calling her from wherever he was, or maybe Jubs calling from the mall. God, Rogue hoped for any of these. She went so far as to hope for some kind of tele-marketer. She would have killed for the words,
Would you mind answering a few questions?
"Hello?", she asked uncertainly, holding the phone to her ear.
"Rogue, dear", came a chillingly familiar voice. "You really shouldn't call only to hang up. It's very rude."
"Listen, Magneto", Rogue whimpered, her voice weak, "Ah've changed mah mind. Ah won't need your help anymore..."
"Whatever you wish child", came the deep voice. "But may I ask, why the change of heart?"
"Ah just, it's not rihght", Rogue said, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. "There has to be another way."
The silence at the other end was deep, and Rogue knew Magneto was taking her every word into consideration. Although the man was being very courteous and helpful, she could not suppress the shudder of fear that shot through her veins. Why had she ever started this? Why hadn't she listened to logic?
"I hope, Rogue, that you aren't backing down", Magneto asked seriously.
"Well, no, not really", Rogue tried to press. "Ah just want tah finhd a different way to go about is all."
'Because you won't be blamed for this, not in the end"
"What, what do you mean?", Rogue asked, her curiosity picked.
Magneto sighed. "Well, eventually they'll all realize what a mistake it was to take her in. I mean,
a fugitive with uncontrollable powers. Not to mention a snob who considers others below her trust."
"Yes, well Ah..."
"You must not waver Rogue", Magneto said firmly. "You were right to come to me. She's blinded the others, only you can still see clearly."
"But..."
"Not another word", Magneto finished, cutting her off. "My acolyte will be at the Institute in exactly two hours. Make sure that no one follows the girl."
"Ah..."
Click
"Ah'm doin' the right thing, Ah'm doin' the right thing...", Rogue whispered as she quickly left her room.
"And then she looked at me with such hurt, I dunno. I just felt so dirty", Gabrielle said quietly.
Remy held her tighter in his arms, holding her close against his chest. Gabrielle sighed,
and allowed herself to be cuddle and reassured in Remy's warm embrace. Her lover's fingers brushed gently through her long hair, making her feel safe and untouchable. She closed her eyes for a moment, and snuggled even closer to him.
Remy felt much more angry than he allowed himself to appear. He knew that holding Gabrielle in his arms and keeping her close was only a momentary solution to their problems. This wasn't going to get any easier, for any of them. Kitty was only proof of that.
Remy had squirmed guiltily as Gabrielle re-counted her encounter with her friend. It angered Remy to feel bad, as though he shouldn't be doing what his heart was pushing him to do. He didn't regret loving this girl, and he didn't regret what they had done the night before. Gabrielle was still young, but Remy had been even younger than her his first time. And he hadn't even been her first. However, he didn't think any of these points were going to appease Xavier and the others. It shouldn't have to be this hard. They should just be left alone. They hadn't cared quite so much when he was with Rogue, had they?
"Remy understands what you mean chère", he assured the trembling girl in his arms. " But you shouldn't feel badly p'tite. We be doin' nothin' wrong."
"I know that Remy", she answered, a little exasperated. "But do they?"
"It don't matter Rielle", he whispered fiercely, hiding his face in her soft hair. "It don't matter. Come on, get ready. Let's go somewhere."
Gabrielle whined playfully when Remy let her go and got up off her bed. She missed his warmth, the gentle pressure of his arms around her. She smiled, though, at the excited expression on his face. She nodded to him, returning the smile, and scrambled to make herself a little more presentable as Remy left her room.
Remy walked briskly down the hall to his own room. In good spirits for the first time in days, he was looking forward to an expedition with Rielle. Gabrielle, he corrected himself,
grinning.
"Well, M. LeBeau, I was wondering when we would see you again".
"Sorry prof, but Remy don't have time right now", Remy replied calmly, pausing at his door to turn and face the professor. "He be on his way somewhere. We talk later, non?"
"Of course Remy", Charles answered, sighing a little as he brought his hands together. "But I won't let you get out of it. It is vital that we discuss a few things."
"Sure Charles, but not now", Remy finished, opening his door and stepping into his room.
"You love her, don't you?", Charles asked suddenly. " And she loves you? I don't mean to pry,
but..."
"What do you want me ta say Charles?", Remy asked tiredly. "Would it make you feel better if Remy told you it was all fun? Just a little on the side?" Remy was suddenly restless, and angry.
"Would it?"
"Take it easy Remy, I'm on your side, you know that", came Xavier's cool voice.
"Then you should trust me, trust her."
And with that, Remy disappeared within his room, leaving Charles Xavier sitting in silence in the quiet halls. Remy paused inside his room, leaning against the door. He ran his hand through his hair, making it stand on end. Why did it all have to be so complicated? He hated the way he had to be with his friends, with his comrades. But it was the only way, wasn't it? A gentle knocking at his door made him jump. He sighed a little, and called out.
"Give it up Charles, Remy talk about it no more today."
"Remy?", came Gabrielle's timid voice. "Can I come in?"
Remy quickly spun around to open the door. Gabrielle stood in his doorway, stylishly dressed in a pair of tight jeans and a dark red halter top. The vibrant crimson of her shirt only made her tanned skin glow all the more, and her long raven hair seemed to catch fire in it's highlights. Remy whistled appreciatively. He had never seen her like this, usually she wasn't one for too much exposed skin, or clothing that was a little too suggestive. She had good reason,
she'd been scared of men and their eyes since childhood. He understood that now, so why...?
"I like the look chère", he said teasingly, "How come it took you so long to break it out?"
Gabrielle took a strand of hair and twisted it around her finger, smiling seductively.
"I was just thinking", she whispered to him. "Maybe we could stay in..."
Remy grinned as she lunged at him, kicking the door closed behind her.
John Allerdyce shivered in the chill December wind, clutching his leather jacket and trying to ignore his chattering teeth. He stomped one foot, then the other, trying in vain to keep warm. He blew on his numb hands, rubbing them together in an effort to warm them up. He looked at his watch, and groaned aloud, his breath fogging immediately in the freezing air.
"What the hell is she waiting for?", he grumbled to himself.
"Wait man", said the squatting man to his right, "There she is!"
John squinted against the blowing snow. That was the girl? That's the one who had been giving Rogue so much shit? She didn't look like much, he decided. But then again, fuzzy red ear muffs aren't exactly threatening.
"You sure that's the one Toad?", he asked his companion.
"That's the hit", Toad answered him maliciously. "Now let's get this over with so we can get back to the base. I'm fucking freezing my ass off."
John quickly took the lighter out of his pocket, fingering it quickly before putting it once more into his pocket. With his free hand, he reached into his coat pocket, and pulled out a rubber bangle. He looked over at Toad, who nodded back. Without any further words, the two charged at Rielle, who stood waiting patiently for Remy to come join her.
"Nighty night bitch", John whispered as Toad hit Rielle over the head with a lead pole, and smiled as the girl crumpled to the ground at his feet.