Chapter 8
(not so much an epilogue but an ending I guess). Rated M for reasons that will spoil it. I'll let you assume why.
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Remy and Ororo walked hand in hand around the grounds of the mansion under the light of the moon as they made their way to the estate's pond. Ororo walked barefoot, enjoying the feeling of the dewy grass under her feet as they made small talk, both somewhat awkward, each avoiding the inevitable discussion of Elizabeth's remarks from the bar.
Both independently knew where Ororo stood on the subject, but Ororo did not know his feelings and she decided it best to not mention the subject all together. For now, she would enjoy his presence and the warmth of his hand in hers, stealing the moments for what she could as they sat down on a stone bench under an ancient weeping willow near the pond.
Remy was torn inside, not that he would let it show. When he had thought about the day, what Logan had asked him, how he felt about her. Truth be told, he hadn't thought about her like that in a long time. Ororo never showed anything towards him in the way of a love interest, and frustratingly enough, she still avoided the obvious. And now, he had only her on his mind.
When Rogue had walked in that morning, he was only irritated because it hindered him and Ororo. But what were he and Ororo? He couldn't tell when, but over the past 6 months, the line of friendship became blurred.
It started when she helped him heal from his heartbreak and then unexpectedly, things began to fall into place as he found himself again. Soon, a night without seeing the other hindered sleeping patterns, the late nights talking about purely nothing that he looked forward to, and Remy catching himself breathing in her scent from his pillows after she departed for the night to her room.
The pure innocence of it all was enough reason to ignore the signs and deny anything was materializing. She was his friend. Nothing more. Until last night had thrown it in his face and he was no longer ignorant.
They were at a point that could mean their friendship turning into the greatest love or becoming the worst crash and burn of their lives, losing each other in the process. How could one help launch campaigns against superhuman terrorists yet be scared as hell when it came to love? Remy decided to risk it, treading lightly to give her another chance to make her feelings known, "I enjoyed y' show, Stormy."
She felt the familiar warmth in her cheeks and ears and her heart quickened, remembering the looks they exchanged when she was singing. "You know, all I could think on my way to the stage when you caught me singing 'Only the Good Die Young' last year."
He laughed at the memory of Ororo sliding across the floor in her socks, singing into her hairbrush. "Why's dat?"
"It was the closest I'd ever come to public singing. And it was equally mortifying."
"Y' pulled it off."
"Elizabeth's fault. Speaking of which, I am sorry about what she said."
He shrugged, "She regretted it befo' y' slapped her. What got y' so upset? It was just a song."
"Just a song." She repeated, morose in her voice. Would she never have the courage to face her feelings? How did he not see right through her? She had never felt so transparent in her life. "Oh Goddess I am a fool…" she muttered, avoiding his eyes. If he could not see anything in that, she was chasing the wind. Better now than after she bared her soul. She dropped his hand and stood up, swallowing her pride.
"Stormy…"
"Do… not call me that. Please. I am going to bed now." It was a battle to look into his eyes and keep her voice even before she took flight and started crying. "Ororo, goddess of the elements, running from her private shame twice in one night," she thought bitterly. Doomed to be alone from her own insecure follies.
As soon as her feet landed on the floor of her bedroom, she ran to her dresser and pulled out the box of clove incense, laughing inwardly at herself before throwing it in the trash. The thunk of it in the canister, the finality, was enough to compound the sinking of her heart. She collapsed on her bed and hugged a pillow for dear life. If you cannot lose something you never had in the first place, then why did it hurt so much, even worse than Forge all those years ago? A thump on her floor made her jump. Remy. His signature entrance.
"I'm trying to sleep." She said sourly. If he was coming here to poke and prod into her personal feelings, she felt she would scream
"Liar." He answered, removing his grass covered boots and tossing them in the corner, before walking to the bed. "Sorry, dere a bit muddy. I'll clean it up tomorrow."
"Suit yourself. I'll let you know I am done talking."
"Good, den y' can listen." He said with mild irritation as he sat down next to her.
She pulled the pillow tighter to her still avoiding looking him in the eye.
"Y' actin' like a damn child, y' know dat?"
"Excuse me?"
"I been given y' every chance in de world t' let y' feelin's be known an' each time y' turn tail and run. What is up wit' you, chère?" His voice was stern, but remained low.
"Y' have never, EVER, given me de genuine frost queen persona until t'night an' it's down right irritatin'. Y' want t' know somethin'? I heard every word Rogue said t' y' tonight. An' I damn well know why Betsy chose dat song and don' t'ink I f'got y' focusin' y' attention on me. Mon dieu, y' tryin' t' kill dis Cajun?"
Her eyes glimmered with mixed emotion as she turned her face to finally look in his eyes. She could not think of anything to say.
"Tell me, 'Ro, is it warm up dere in dat frosty tower alone? Cause if so, I'll leave y' alone." He waited for her to answer.
"No... I… are you telling me you love me or that I am a bitch?" she said with a slight smile. "Do not answer that. Goddess, I am dense! You knew?" Everything from the day was pointing to one thing. Remy had been hinting to her the whole morning. As much as she wanted to be embarrassed, she felt… excited?
On impulse, she grabbed him by his collar and pulled him to her in a pressing, urgent kiss and dropped him just as quickly, leaving him stunned. "I had to see if it was as good as I imagined."
Remy regained his senses, "Dat weren't no'ting. Caught me off guard ma belle." He brought his hands up to her face, stroking her bottom lip with his thumb, admiring the sigh he received before he pulled her to him, kissing her gently at first before she opened her mouth and their tongues met. Her fingers ran through his tousled hair as she pressed herself against him before leaning back with him on top of her, inviting him for more.
Ororo's breath came in short gasps as he broke from her mouth and trailed kisses down her neck and on her collar bone while one hand rested on the small of her back and the other touched the inside of her thigh. "Goddess… this is much better…"
"Tol' you." Remy murmured with a satisfied smile and pulled his shirt off and she bit her bottom lip as the mansion groaned under the gust of a wind and he knew he was going to enjoy every second of making her scream his name.
"Arrogant jerk." She teased as he was on top of her again with a flurry of kisses, unzipping her dress, and a thought crossed her mind. Logan always claimed to be the best at what he did but Remy, most definitely, was best at what he was doing right now.
"Y' love it." He watched her wriggle out of the dress, red eyes drinking in her bare skin and perfect form.
"Why don't you just fuck me already?" she asked coyly, a white eyebrow arched in mischief. No sooner did Ororo kick her clothes away, she pounced on him and undid his belt and began to work her hand under the elastic band of his boxers. Her blue eyes searched his ruby on onyx ones when he grabbed her wrist delicately and pulled it away, only to understand when he redirected her fingers to where they were so familiar, and she complied. She wanted more but for now, just now, she could settle for this, as long as he was with her.
Under his guidance, she reached plains of ecstasy she never imagined, the touch of his lips on her flushed skin and the caress of his hands exploring her body, it was no surprise that within seconds of him finally giving her what she so desperately wanted, her back arched and she wrapped her legs around him tight, her lips pressed tight against his as a crash of thunder shook the house.
After her body relaxed under him, Remy kissed her forehead gently and they continued. Ororo was never more beautiful to him than right now, giving herself to him with no hesitation, her eyelids fluttered slightly as she struggled to keep pace. He felt Ororo stiffen under him just before another wave hit her and this time, he joined her, burying his face in her neck as she called his name over and over.
Remy looked at her and she ran a hand through his hair so she could see his eyes, his beautiful dark eyes. "I… love you… Remy." Ororo whispered through her tremors, the words relieving her heart of the unspoken weight.
He kissed her gently, "I love y' too Stormy."
Author's Farewell:
Ah, happy ending. A little bit cheesy, I guess, but who doesn't love fluff? I told you guys I should write for Harlequinn- my sauciest love scene ever and hopefully a good ending. And yeah, I'm coming to terms with being a queen of melodrama. If I don't send my characters to angst city, it doesn't make the final culmination as fruitful (imo).
Remember! Visit the Gambit and Storm group on yahoo if you enjoy this pairing.
