It was mid-afternoon by the time the infamous sight of the Las Vegas Boulevard came into view. Knowing that Rogue had never seen the original Sin City, Remy made a point of driving down the strip towards downtown. Rogue looked on astounded by the vast, intricately built casino's lining both sides of the road. It was a shame, she thought that she couldn't have seen the place under different circumstances, but was grateful none the less for having the opportunity.
Reaching downtown, they passed Fremont street and proceeded to turn into many smaller, lesser known streets beleaguered with strip joints and seedy bars until they stopped outside yet another tucked-in, run down motel. Dismounting the bike, Rogue wrinkled her nose unenthusiastically as she waited for Remy to return with the room keys.
"Ya got a thing foh run-down motels haven't ya?" She let known as he approached, handing her the key as he opened the seat compartment of the bike to retrieve his bag.
"Jus' tryin' t' keep a low profile chére. Bring t' much attention t' ourselves stayin' in one o' dem big hotels," He stated diffidently, leading her over to the block of rooms.
"It's lahke one o' them cheesy horrah movies, ya know - when all th' main charactahs are killed by some axe-wielding psychopath or somethin'" Her random thought made him chuckle as they found the right room and she opened the door.
Hours later and Rogue found herself sitting in the room by herself, bored out of her brains as she flicked through the fuzzy channels on the television aimlessly. After a few hours rest, Remy had left to go see the 'friend' he thought could help them, saying that he thought it better to go alone and not explaining anymore than that.
That had been a couple of hours ago, though she couldn't complain too much. She had after all, got a change of clothes after managing to find a store in the neighborhood that didn't just sell leather bondage and other strippers delights. Letting out a slow, deep breath she dropped the remote on the bed and stood up, stretching a little and yawning out of boredom.
Peeking behind the window curtain and looking out into the parking lot, she let out a sigh as she saw that there was still no sign of Remy. Pacing pointlessly around the room, she finally let into temptation and putting on the black biker boots and mid-length, green hooded coat she had bought earlier - she swiftly left the room.
It was a lot cooler outside, making her zip up the coat as she wondered down the dark street looking for somewhere more interesting to spend the evening, forcing herself not to scoff and roll her eyes as she passed numerous strip bars and alike.
Stopping outside an old looking tavern, she looked it over and upon seeing no advertisements for topless pole dancing, she decided to take a chance and entered the noisy establishment.
Stepping inside, she grimaced as the racket increased and shouts, cheering and booing could be heard coming from further back. The place was dimly lit and reeked a strong mixture of alcohol, smoke and sweat making her nose wrinkle in disgust - though she did not turn back, somewhat intrigued by the place. Scantily clad waitresses tottered their way around the various tables and people, handing out huge-ass beers and flirting with the regulars.
Another cry of shouts and loud thumps made Rogue move slowly towards the back of the building, having to push her way through some tighter crowds of people and ignoring the unwanted looks and gestures.
Without warning, a body was flung roughly against the side of a metal cage, making Rogue jump visibly as it came into view. Riveted, she watched as the heavily tattooed man pulled himself up and spat out the bodily juices that had been forced into his mouth by the last blow - running towards whatever he was up against and being immediately thrown back to the floor, howling as he held his jaw.
Several men jumped into the cage and removed the man as Rogue raised her eyes to see the force behind the powerful attack, seeing a firmly defined-muscled physique leaning one-handed against the opposite side of the cage, back turned. Another man entered the cage, running against each side roaring at the audience as the contenders name and physical statistics were announced by the referee.
"In the right corner we have the brutal, the menacing . . . Bulldozer! And in the left, the indestructible and unbeaten champion . . . Wolverine!" The announcer shouted over the rambunctious crowd. Rogue watched in anticipation as the 'Bulldozer' roared and raced as fast and as powerfully as his heavily-built frame could carry him to his opposition and launched a fist into his opponents kidney - repeating the action into his other side and over again.
The other, not having moved since his last match, taking it all and moving in unison to the beatings, finally collapsing on the floor as the 'Bulldozer' stepped away, hollering triumphantly to his fans. Though the fight was not over, as the mysterious adversary pulled himself up, allowing Rogue to see his face for the first time. She held back a breath as she saw him - his dark hair shaped in the strangest fashion she had ever seen, icy intimidating eyes set on a rugged face along with a vicious snarl.
He pushed himself forward and began beating and pounding his larger opponent, the sound of cracking ribs making half the audience gasp, the others roaring bloodthirstily. The man didn't let up, continuing to thrash his rival until he collapsed on the floor, wheezing for more oxygen - the 'Wolverine' skulking back to the corner staring fixedly at the floor, panting heavily like an animal.
The announcer cried the winner over the audience and Rogue found herself being pushed back by the raving throng, eyes transfixed on the cage fighter.
Minutes later, she was sat at the bar glancing inconspicuously at the people around her. Taking the smallest sip from her flat soda, she noticed the victorious cage-fighter take a seat at the bar across from her - now wearing a heavy leather jacket and a cigar clenched firmly in his teeth.
She heard him ask for a beer, his voice low and gruff as he counted out his winnings and then as if sensing that he was being watched, looked up abruptly in her direction. Rogue quickly averted her eyes, not wanting to bring attention to herself and took another sip of her drink.
"Ya want somthin' kid?" He asked deeply, observing the quiet figure across from him. Hearing this, Rogue turned her head and met his stare.
"No. Thaht was a good fight back theah though" She replied, trying to act less nervous than she really felt at talking to him. He snorted a bit - taking a lighter from his jacket pocket and lighting his cigar.
"That's nothin'. Ya ain't from round here are ya?" He diverted the attention from himself, puffing out a roll of smoke. Rogue narrowed her eyes at him.
"No. But neithah are you" She stated with certainty, watching as he turned his gaze back towards her and inhaled the cigar again. The slight hint of a smirk tugging at the side of his mouth.
"Depths of Canada. Name's Logan" He introduced himself, allowing a small smirk that could have easily been misinterpreted as a snarl.
"Mississippi and it's Rogue" She replied, receiving a nod from Logan who took a substantial gulp of beer and both fell into a comfortable silence, until Rogue flinched visibly as a hand was placed on her shoulder. Whipping her head around and relaxing herself when she realized whom it was.
"Shit Remy! How'd ya fahnd meh?" She admonished as he chuckled at her jumpiness.
"Didn't t'ink dis was y're type o' place chérie?" Remy questioned with a smirk, bringing himself into her line of view.
"Well ah would have thought yah'd beh moah at home in th' club across th' street" She retorted, referring to the numerous strip bars and gentleman's clubs she had passed getting here.
"Hey, is that guy botherin' ya?" Both Remy and Rogue looked over to the source of the deep, rough voice that was Logan who in turn, glared daggers at Remy.
"That's okay Logan, this is Remy" Rogue assured him, noting the instantaneous hostility between the two men. Finally Logan removed his glare and went back to drinking his beer. Remy looked incredulously at Rogue in reference to her 'new friend', who in return gave him a 'What?' expression.
"So what happened?" She asked finally as Remy took a seat beside her and asked the bartender for a beer.
"Not good. We're on our own fr'm here" He replied despondently, taking out a crushed cigarette pack from his trench pocket. Rogue watched him with annoyance as he slipped the cigarette into his mouth, lit it with a lighter and let out a trail of smoke.
"What's gonna happen now?" She questioned seriously, ignoring the habit and taking another sip of her drink. Remy chuckled unhappily as he paid the bartender for his drink and shrugged mutely, watching as several men behind Rogue began setting up what looked like a poker game.
Rogue skimmed her surroundings and sighed at Remy's indifference - catching the eye of a fair-headed man sat at the other end of the bar. He grinned at her and Rogue removed her eyes promptly just as Remy stood from his seat.
"Be back soon chére" He said simply and walked away behind her. Rogue rolled her eyes 'Be back soon chére. Whatevah!' she mocked him silently, swirling her half full glass in her hand. Looking behind her, she saw Remy sat at a table with a group of unfamiliar faces playing what she assumed was poker - the chosen dealer distributing the cards amongst the players as a leather-wrapped girl sauntered about Remy, touching his arm and chest flirtatiously - flipping her long, wavy and extraordinarily vibrant red hair over her shoulder, smiling saucily as he whispered something into her ear.
Rogue frowned as she watched the two . . . could this possibly be jealousy creeping up on her, she shook her head slightly to convince herself it wasn't. Sighing, she turned her head back again, noticing that Logan was still brooding on his side of the bar.
"What's a pretty thing like you doing all by her lonesome?" A low voice asked, making Rogue twist her head brusquely towards the person beside her. It was the fair head she had caught the eye of earlier, leaning against the bar beside her wearing a checkered shirt.
"Havin' a drink" She replied, giving him a sarcastic smile. The man grinned at her, obviously not taking the hint and stepped closer.
"Like another?" He offered signaling for the bartender. Rogue rolled her eyes in annoyance at the arrogance of all men apparently.
"No thanks. Ah'm quite alraghte . . . bah mahself" She finished as politely as she could manage.
"Come on, what do ya . . ." His sentence being cut off as he was interrupted sternly.
"She said no, so beat it" Logan ordered gruffly. Rogue noticing for the first time that he was now standing beside her. The fair-heads mouth fell grimly.
"What are you, her father? This has nothing to do with you, so you beat it?" At his words, Rogue watched mouth a gawk as Logan moved faster than lightning around her and grabbed him with one hand around the throat - his icy eyes narrowed sinisterly, like a wolf having caught its prey and determining how best to kill it. The man caught his breath as he felt the others fingers wrap about his jugular and raised his own in a bid release them.
"I think it's time ya learned bub, that when a woman says no . . . it means no" The last words released in a low rumble, his stare never letting up. The fair head met his eyes defiantly, his face contorting into a sadistic smirk.
"Just you try wolf-man" As his words met Logan's ears, he growled ferociously and threw the man into the back of the bar with what could be described as seemingly super-human strength. Glass shattered instantly, spilling over the bar surface and onto the floor - a pin being dropped could have been heard clearly as the patrons fell into stunned silence and gaped as Logan launched himself with a feral growl after his victim.
As if this were a cue, suddenly everyone began jumping around - at first joining the fight that had originally been started and then just randomly battling whoever came into sight. This was a full on bar brawl with no doubt and Rogue was right at the center of it. Breathing heavily, she dodged a flying fist as she maneuvered her way between the wrestling bodies trying to find the exit. Catching a few kicks to her legs and sides along the way and then being caught of guard, received a set of bony knuckles to her cheekbone - the blow causing her to stumble back into a wall, which she near enough fell against.
Looking on at the violent tussling she felt someone grip her forearm and turned to see Remy begin pulling her away - both doing their best to avoid more blows and dishing out some of their own. Glimpsing the exit ahead, they were suddenly brought to a halt as a giant fist went crashing into Remy's face making him stagger backwards, though managing to stop himself from falling. Holding his jaw, he and Rogue looked on at the nemesis before them - though it was not to be as a rampaging body flew into the leviathan, hurtling him to the ground. Looking up in astonishment as Logan stood, hunched viscerally and panting heavily.
"Ya kids get outta here!" He yelled over the noise, turning to clout another imminent attacker. Not needing to be told twice they pushed past him. Headed for the door.
"Thanks Logan" Rogue breathed to him as she reached him. He smirked devilishly at her in return.
"Not a problem darlin' - I like a good bar fight" She barely heard him over the noise as she watched him throw himself into another brawl before being dragged out the exit.