Rogue's eyes widened in surprise as Henry LeBeau stepped out of the shadows into open view, as did others of what she immediately assumed were also thieves - some whom she recognized from the almost-wedding weeks before.
As the men revealed themselves to their enemies, she felt herself roughly tugged closer to Julien, the back of her hands instantly brushing against something sticking out of the pocket in his pants. She held back a gasp and her body froze instantly as a large blade was brought up to her neck swiftly, making her raise her head in shocked silence.
"Come any clos'r an' de filles blood will be decoratin' de floor!" Julien threatened menacingly, pressing the sharp blade closer to her neck, one hand securely fastened on her shoulder. The glint in his eye and the vicious tone in his voice told of the seriousness of his actions and he observed with wicked delight as his foes instantaneously halted mid-approach, breaths held in disquieted anticipation.
Both sides were at a stalemate, both waiting for the opposition to make the first move so that battle could commence - Remy felt his heartbeat quicken at Julien's menace, he felt his breath caught in the back of his throat and slowly, he released it raggedly.
"Let 'er go. It's me y' want" Remy breathed heavily, his eyes fixed to Julien's in a deep glare.
"Y' damn right Remy! Y' gonna pay f' leavin' me f' dat whore!" Belle screamed, eyes ablaze. Rogue tried not to flinch at the screech emitted from the hysterical woman close-by, as her fingers gently felt for the object poking from Julien's pocket.
"Any las' words t' y're petit' amie?" Julien sneered, smirking cruelly knowing that he had caught his long-time enemy right were he wanted him. Remy almost missed Julien's words as he carefully glanced to Rogue - not knowing whether he was imagining what he was seeing or not. He gulped as he looked up to her face, her eyes widened at the feel of the knife resting just above her voice box - her head tilted back, body trembling almost un-visibly at her pending fate.
He knew he had his back covered, he had no doubt about that - he trusted Henry, his cousins and friends unquestionably - they held as much distaste for the Assassins as he did, he just hoped they were prepared as to whatever was going to happen next.
"Y're right Belle . . . I couldn't marry you b'cause . . . I loved som'one else, I jus' didn't know it" Remy admitted assuredly, his eyes meeting Rogue's for the first time in what seemed like years since the last as she refocused immediately at his words, giving him a small smile as the impact of his confession registered in her mind. At once she heard a sarcastic snicker from her captor and reached out her fingers, wrapping them gently around the object in his pocket, praying silently that he wouldn't feel the slow movement as she removed it.
"How sweet - a fittin' confession f' . . ."His sentence remained unfinished as he suddenly cried out in pain, his thigh seizing instantly as the jagged blade of the pen-knife was thrust into the muscle and twisted ruthlessly into his flesh. The shock of the attack making his body jolt violently, Rogue using his pain as a distraction to make her escape, suddenly found herself being knocked back off the wharf and into the cold Mississippi waters.
Remy watched in bewilderment as he saw Rogue in one deceptively quick motion, use the best of her strength to stab something into Juliens leg and twisting it sharply in a surprise attack, before being pushed backwards by the commotion into the water below. As her body hit the water, he was suddenly brought back to his senses and ignoring Julien's cries of anguish and string of curses, started to run towards where Rogue had fallen as fast as he could - though all of sudden his objection being disrupted as a magnificent weight was thrown into his side, the object knocking him way of balance and his body collapsing beneath the heavy mass.
Despite his body feeling as though it had been crushed, he pushed himself away from the rotting deck to face his assailant. Victor Creed stood but a few feet from him panting heavily, his WWF wrestler-like physique moving visibly to his serrated breathing, waiting for his next move. Remy barely registered the cries and growls of more fighting ensuing behind him as the rest of either side of the guilds clashed together - as, with as much force as he could muster, he approached the lethiathon before him swiftly and sent forward a strong fist into his jaw, knocking him back a little.
Creed growled in frustration, scarcely feeling the impact of the blow and sent his body flying forward toward Remy, who deftly dodged him though was caught unaware as Creed quickly twisted about from his landing position and delivered a sharp punch between his shoulder blades, forcing him forward.
Her body hit the water ungraciously, her limbs instantly going into shock from the cold water as it touched her skin. Instinctively, she kicked her feet and pushed herself to the surface, breaking above the water she took an immediate deep breath and tried to move herself back toward the wharf.
Unexpectedly a young, dark haired man who looked to be about her age swam up beside her and ducked under the water - Rogue looked about frantically for him as he disappeared into the murky depths, suddenly feeling her hands being tugged and the binds releasing.
"Come on, dis way!" The young man cried as he broke the surface beside her and caught his breath, beckoning over to the other side of the wharf. Rogue followed him as he began swimming away, leading her to an old rusted, ladder attached to the side of the raised deck. Rogue pushed herself up first, crawling along the rotting wood closely followed by the young man who she turned to face, breathing heavily.
"Thanks" She said shakily, still catching her breath as the man stood up and held out a hand to pull her up, which she took graciously.
"Ar' y' okay?" He asked, pulling her to a standing position. Rogue nodded mutely, before unexpectedly noticing an unfriendly looking, approaching figure behind her savior.
"Watch out!" She exclaimed as Julien's features came into clearer view. The young man instantly turned at her cry but found himself at a loss as his body was pulled roughly towards the enemy. His mouth opened in a silent scream, blood slowly rising in his throat and trickling from the side of his gaping mouth as he looked down to the dagger pushed into his chest.
Julien smiled with evil satisfaction as he pulled the blade sharply from its resting place and watched as his victim slumped to the floor before swiftly disappearing back into the ensuing battle beyond. Rogue was stunned into silence as she observed, her body immobile to the shock - she quickly began to rush forward to the injured rescuer - but out of the blue her path was suddenly blocked by an antagonistic looking blond, yet another jagged and ferocious blade jabbing forward toward her - instantly forcing Rogue to stumble back into the more closed areas, surrounded by industrial sized crates and other shipping paraphernalia.
Remy heard Rogue's cry and instantly went to look for her in search of her voice, narrowly missing another overhead attack from Victor Creed as he ducked below the soaring goliath. He felt the unsteady flooring shake as his nemesis landed heavily - quickly rolling to the side he grabbed hold of a slim, but strong metal rod from amongst others of its kind, settled between rope and other bits and pieces.
As rapidly had he done this had Creed come rapidly towards him again, swiftly Remy pushed up the metal rod into Victor's abdomen, sending the heavy set man crashing into piles of crates and shipping goods. At this, Remy instantly looked back over to where he thought he had heard Rogue.
Without hesitation, his body began moving itself rapidly over to where he saw the fallen cadaver on the edge of the deck, the wood surrounding the still male form slowly soaking up the thick, red liquid oozing from under the motionless body. Remy felt his heart miss a beat and sink to his stomach as he closed in on the scene, soon realizing who it was as he ran the short distance that was left and instantly knelt beside the body, looking in despair over the lifeless figure of his cousin Etienne.
Pressing two fingers against his cousins cold neck, in silent hope that perhaps all was not as it seemed - though he soon gave up as he felt no pulse and scrunching his eyes in desolation, he mourned quietly for the loss of a beloved cousin.
Rage began to flow through his veins as he re-opened his eyes to see the lifeless young mans drained face - whispering a silent apology to Etienne, he placed a limp hand over the blood soaked puncture in his chest and raised himself resolutely. His eyes instantly scanning the area for one man in particular - Julien Boudreaux was going to pay big time.
The knife lodged itself fiercely into the crate, a few inches from the side of her face. Rogue looked over to the weapon eyes widened in alarm at the close call and then back to the approaching, murderous Assassin after her blood. Not taking her eyes from Belle, Rogue reached up both hands and with a sharp pull dislodged the foreign blade and moved herself into a fighting stance - she was fed up with running, this quarrel was going to end now.
Belle observed the other with some amusement as she shifted her posture, a twisted smirk appearing on her lips as she held out yet another sharpened weapon ominously.
"Oh look what de petit' fille found. It dangerous t' play wit' knives y' know?" Belle denigrated sarcastically as she approached confidently.
"Ah'll take yoah word foh it!" Rogue replied mordantly as Belle suddenly rushed her, slashing the large weapon in her grasp before her. Rogue twisted to the side at the last moment and proceeded to avoid more purposeful jabs and thrashes, managing to get in a few of her own as the two fought around the maze of the shipping yard. Belle snarled fiercely and made another lunge for her, the more experienced blond woman, seeming to have the upper hand in this fight and Rogue found herself slammed up against another crate as the knife wielding Assassin swiped at her.
Rogue sucked in a quick breath and went to avoid the attack at the last moment but seethed in pain as the other's blade sliced across her arm, making her body automatically twist about to face her attacker and she cried out again as she felt the knife rip across her upper thigh. Stumbling away as fast as she could against the searing pain she staggered away from the towering crates into yet another open deck near the waters edge and promptly fell against the decaying wood as she was pushed brutally from behind and rolled onto her back.
"Time t' end dis little dispute" The dangerous, glaring Belladonna Boudreaux let known to her as she stepped further toward her victim. Without warning and using the best of the strength that she had left, Rogue dexterously swept her legs forcefully under her attackers - sending Belle sprawling to the floor with a thud, her weapon sliding away, well out of arms reach. Using her remaining momentum, Rogue pulled herself up to an unsteady standing position, as did Belle.
"Y're damn rahte it's time ta end this" She breathed heavily, ignoring the cries and groans from her sore and aching body as she watched Belle reposition herself opposite her. With a loud, fanatical shriek Belle lunged for her yet again - Rogue at the last moment pulled back her good arm and clenched her fist, soaring it forward into the other woman's jaw and sending her flying backwards into the crates and such behind her.
At that instant she heard the heavy footsteps of someone behind her and as swiftly as her tired body would allow, twisted around to face the next pending combatant.
"You owe me a scream" The voice of 'Creed' made her shiver involuntarily as he appeared before her.
"Lahke hell ah do, fuzz ball!" She replied testily, to which he snarled. Rogue stepped to one side, as did he - then to the other, which he followed. With that he began to lope brusquely toward her - Rogue instantly looked around for her next exit route but found none and began stepping back away from him, as he suddenly pounced towards her.
Looking behind her, she noticed Belle removing herself from the wreckage she had been in and in a quick, nimble movement ducked to the side of the charging 'Creed' sending him flying into the recovering Belladonna, his weight pushing them both over the edge of the dock.
Sighing with relief as she heard and felt the splash of the water as their bodies went tumbling in - her thoughts instantly switched to Remy and she set off as quick as she could before the two Assassins behind her could catch up.
He glared silently as his adversary came into view, the fair-headed man turned stoically around as he heard the others footfall behind him. The two watched each other carefully, years of pent up anger and rage had been building up to this moment and neither was willing to back down.
"Let's finish dis," Remy said lowly, his hate for the man before him revealed in the very way he spoke.
"Y' said it" Julien replied just as adherently, all vengeful playfulness now gone. They took a step closer toward each other, eyes fixed - awaiting the imminent attack, psyching each other out - who would fold first? Eyes narrowed dangerously, their bodies automatically began to form a circle, forming an unconscious ring of death like Roman gladiators before their emperor. As though on automatic timer, they suddenly rushed for one another - Julien still having his blood stained weapon, slashed precariously at Remy who niftily avoided the mindless blade and at a convenient interval slammed his fist into the others ribs, throwing him backwards.
Taken by surprise, Julien growled in frustration and after quickly recovering made another run for his opponent - noticing his enemies bandaged arm he aimed directly for that and sliced the jagged blade across the dirtied dressing, forcing it open and allowing a new flow of blood to exude from the unhealed wound. Remy howled in agony as he was caught off guard and with imminent wrath, sent himself soaring into Julien, knocking him to the ground.
The two men grappled, a war of strength ensuing along with more hits and blows - both fighting for the upper hand. Finding himself at the bottom of the heap, Remy managed to elbow Julien in the throat, knocking the breath from the other man and kick him away from him. Julien quickly recovered and stumbled back, hitting the ground with a thud - his hand found the grip of his knife which he had dropped when the most recent wrestling match had been administered and raced toward his nemesis with anger aiding his speed.
Remy dodged his attack, but soon found himself slammed against the side of an industrial sized crate and grabbing hold of the edge of the knife as it came perilously close to sinking into his abdomen. Julien pressed for the blade to push into his foe's flesh, but Remy held it back - ignoring the pain as the toothed edges hacked into his palms, both of equal strength and using it all to the maximum in this one decisive movement. Remy felt his hands begin to slip and his face scrunched in pain as the tip of the blade broke through his shirt and into the outer barrier of skin.
"Look's like I won LeBeau - but don't worry y' won't b' alone f' long. Y're t'ieving family an' y're precious girlfrien' will soon join y' in hell!" Julien assured him brutally, an eerie smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth as victory was in sight. Remy found his rage boil to new depths and with one force of hidden strength, he released one hand from the blade and whacked Julien in the nose - twisting himself away and pressing Julien against the crate, maneuvering the knife rapidly and plunging it into the Assassins chest.
Julien stared out in shock, trying to take in breaths that could not get past his tonsils. Remy held the blade religiously in him, unable to push it any further into his flesh as he felt the tip hit the crate behind.
"No Julien, I won!" He finished in a sharp whisper before releasing his hold on the handle of the blade and stumbling backwards, the haunted light in his nemesis' eyes fading momentarily into the silence of death.
Turning away, he took a few steps before collapsing to his knees in exhaustion, his body aching and hurting intensely, muscles throbbing from extreme overuse, breaths haggard and rapid as he refused to succumb to his body's weariness.
"Remy!" He barely heard her call, but opened his eyes none the less at the sound of her voice.
Rogue called for him, finally halting as she caught sight of him kneeling on the ground exhausted - but alive. Relief spread over her as with a last bout of strength she limped as fast as she could over to him and fell to her knees before him, wrapping her arms around him.
The moment she reached him he grasped her tightly in a fierce embrace, pulling her as close to him as physically possible, never wanting to let go.
"Ah love ya Remy," She whispered softly into his shoulder.
"I love y' t chérie" He replied simply, savoring her words and feeling that all of this was worth it just to hear her say that.