Diversion an

4

Rogue shook her head as she watched Kitty window shopping again. "Ah don't know how you can do that. We almost died last night, an' you're pretending you don't remember."

Kitty frowned pushing past Rogue. They walked back to the hotel in silence.

Logan pressed his lips together. "Come on guys. Cheer up."

"Cheer up!" Rogue threw her hands in the air. "Bite me."

Gambit moved next to her, nuzzling up to her despite her exposed skin. It was way too hot outside for her to be covered.

"Wit' pleasure."

She smacked him away. "Ya'll act like nothin' happened! Don't you understand? We were there. We could be suspects now." She stared at their somber faces before storming upstairs. She didn't leave the room for the rest of the day.

They shouted and blamed each other in their dank underground hide out.

"If you thought they were following us, you should have lost them before we got there!" AJ jabbed her finger towards Sabertooth.

"If you weren't so soft we wouldn't have had to." He snarled.

Pyro jumped in. "We shouldn't have had t'fight em off!"

"You were the one that set the bomb!" Lance shouted.

"I was doin' my job!" Pyro held up his hands "I'd have done it soonah too if I hadn't had t'fight off the card flickin' idiot!"

AJ sucked back a glass of alcohol. Anything to drown out the bickering.

"That's it. Drink it away." Sabertooth growled. "That'll make everything alright."

She threw the empty glass at him.

"Screw you!" She shouted. "If you didn't have such a vendetta against Wolverine, none of this would have happened! You wanted them to be there. You wanted Pyro to set the bomb and you wanted them to still be there when it went off."

"And if you didn't have such a crush on him, we could have finished him off."

She stormed out. She didn't need this.

"Don't blame 'er for this! She's right! We woulda been fine if-"

"You're sticking up for her!" Lance shook his head. "Typical Pyro."

Rogue walked down the beautifully decorated hall; she put her bare hands in her robe pockets. The green silk flowing with every step she took. She found a private nook to sit in. No one would bother her here. It was too late; or too early. She had to get away from Kitty. She loved the girl, but she was just too chipper. Rogue sat down on the windowsill, looking down on the lights and cars passing by. She couldn't shake AJ from her thoughts. She always felt responsible for AJ leaving. Even though she'd left a note explaining why she left, she was never able to discard that feeling. And now, seeing the path AJ had taken, she felt terrible.

"Can't sleep chère?" Gambit crossed his arms with a smile.

She looked at him with a frown. "How do you do that? Ah think Ah find a nice quite spot an' somehow, you track me down."

"Secret talent." He rubbed his red eyes. He looked tired but he was determined. He moved over leaning on the wall next to her.

"It ain' yo'fault y'know."

She furrowed her brow, looking at him silently for a moment. "Seriously. How do you do that?"

He chuckled. "Remy knows his belle fleur."

"Yeah." She rolled her eyes looking away.

"Remy also knows dat it ain' yo'fault. She didn' leave because o'you."

"How d'you know?" She looked at him with a skeptical look before a small smile danced across her lips. "Ah know. Y'all are so much alike." Her smile widened "You could convince her t'come back! You're the only one that'd make it look like an accident… an' you know how t'manipulate her…"

"Not manipulate chère. Guide." He smiled.

"Sorry. Guide." She held up her hands with a smile.

Gambit winked "Dat's right. Remy don' like dat word."

"That's cuz y'so damn good at it."

He laughed. "You know Gambit so well chère."

She hugged herself, looking out the window. "Don't let that get out."

"Why d'you act so distant from Remy?" He ran a hand down her silky sleeve. "Y'act like yo'afraid."

Rogue shook her head.

"Y'ain' gunna answer Remy?"

She looked him in the eye, staring him down silently in the way he so loved.

She let out a short breath. "You think ah'm afraid?"

"Non, jus' said you act like it." He grinned.

She grabbed his t-shirt by the collar, yanking him in with a fixed stare. "Does this look afraid t'you?" She whispered harshly, her jaw squared firmly as she kept his gaze.

The grin still on his face, not wavering for a second. "Oui."

She slowly moved in, inches from his face, her eyebrow perking upwards. "Maybe ah am."

"Pourquoi?"

"There's somethin' no one knows ah can do."

He raised an eyebrow "What's dat."

She could feel his breath against her face as she inched herself forward until her lips met his. She kissed him unhurriedly, feeling his hands rest on her waist as their mouths moved in slow unison. He pulled back after a few seconds, looking her in the eye.

The look on his face was priceless.

"What… how did…"

"Don't ask questions right now Cajun." She shook her head, pulling him back in. She'd been able to do this for almost a year now, but she hadn't told anyone. No one but Professor X knew. She was too afraid what'd happen if he found out. How he'd react. So she hadn't told anyone. Until now.

Someone cleared their throat. Rogue pushed Gambit back with a gasp, making eye contact with their guest.

"AJ teach y'that kid?" Logan crossed his arms.

"You recognize her work?" Rogue pressed her lips together, suppressing a laugh as she looked at Gambit through the corner of her eye.

He was laughing.

"Smart." Logan shook his head as he walked down the hall. "Go to bed! Your own… bed."

Rogue's jaw dropped with a laugh. "Ah can't believe you said that!"

Logan grinned at her from over his shoulder. "Now we're even."

Logan tore his shirt off, flicking the light switch and moving to his bed. It had been a long few days. He couldn't wait to go home. They'd found what they were looking for. No need to stay anymore.

He closed his eyes as his head hit the pillow. Quickly popping open again. He moved over to the balcony, pushing the curtains out of the way.

He growled, pulling the door open, stepping out into the heat.

"Hey tiger." She didn't look at him. Her legs dangled over the edge.

"How did you get up here?"

"I have my ways." She giggled, spinning around. She wore short cut off shorts, showing off her long legs. "I wanted to see you."

He furrowed his brow. "AJ…"

She giggled again, losing her balance slightly before catching herself. She laughed. "Black Fox y'know!" She let out a throaty laugh. "Black… I wonder if that's cuz I wear black. Right?"

"AJ." He took her arm gently. "Yer drunk."

"No." She shook her head, letting him help her off the ledge. "Y'think?"

"Yes, I do. Go home."

She pouted collapsing into his arms with a sigh "I don't want to. Not now."

"AJ don't-"

She pushed him against the wall. "Less talk tiger." She kissed his neck, moving down his bare chest. He pulled her up.

"AJ. Listen to me. I ain't gunna-"

"You know what he said? He said he coulda finished you off if it weren't for me. He said I had a crush on you." She laughed, slapping his bare chest.

"He couldn't have finished me off kid, an' he doesn't know what he's talkin' about."

"You're right. He doesn't. It's more then a crush." She winked, stepping back and stumbling over her feet with a laugh. He took her elbows, helping her stand stable again.

"Nobody really wants me." She revealed out of nowhere, nuzzling her head in the crook of his neck. "Not my mom… certainly not Victor Creed… not even you…"

He let out a breath. He couldn't kick her out like this anyways.

She took in a breath, taking in the smell of his cologne and the feeling of his arms around her. Her eyes were closed. He helped her into the room, pulling the covers back and assisting her into the bed.

She let out a sigh as he tucked her in before making himself comfortable in the blue loveseat situated beside the bed. He closed his eyes, kicking his feet up on the arm.

Chances of him sleeping were slim to nil anyways.

After a few hours of staring at the ceiling he noticed AJ tossing and turning. He sat up. She was sweating despite the cold from the air conditioner, groaning in her sleep.

He moved over to her, rubbing her arm, whispering in her ear, trying to calm her down. It was working. Not a wonder. She just wanted to feel safe for one night.

He lay down next to her, putting his hands behind his head. She rolled over, wrapping her arm around his chest, resting her head on his shoulder. Just like she used to. She would never do this if she was sober, and he could only imagine her reaction when she woke up. But if it made her feel better in that moment, he'd deal with it in the morning.

He closed his eyes. After a few minuets, he was fast asleep.

AJ snuck in through the window, falling into her bed with a sigh.

"Y'late."

She sat up. "Pyro!"

"Don' worry Sheila." He winked. "I won't tell. Jus' fill me in… where are they stayin'?"

AJ shook her head. "Please don't tell…" She frowned "I… I'm embarrassed enough as is."

"I already said I wouldn't tell." He flopped down on the bed next to her. "Y'know how many times Gambit snuck through that very window?"

She looked at him. "Really? This was his room?"

"Really." He winked. "Y'remind me of 'im."

"You talk like you miss him." She smiled. "You don't miss him do you?"

He scoffed. "Yeah right doll."

She gave him a shove, narrowing her eyes with a smile. "You do. Admit it…"

He shoved her back with a small laugh. "Y'better get dressed… unless you're up for a round with Pyro…" He leaned over her with a smirk.

She pushed him off, sending him rolling onto the ground.

"Get out." AJ laughed.