A/N: This was a fairly quick update for me and I'm happy to have managed to do this chapter much quicker than the last, as I'm sure all you readers will be. I don't have much to say, the usual appliesI don't own anything and i do speel check and proof read but mistakes still slip through unfortunatley.
Remy tapped his foot impatiently on the dark timber floor of the lounge. Scott laughed at him as he continually glanced at his wristwatch.
"Don't tell me, the rugged Cajun has finally been stood up for the first time in his life." Scott couldn't seemed to hide how much the idea amused him and Remy just shot him a quick glare before turning back to his watch.
"Looking at that isn't going to make her get ready anyfaster." Jean told him as she snuggled up against her husband, their earlier fallout seemingly forgotten.
"Who knows, maybe it work some day." Remy offered with a charming smile as he tried desperately to remove the idea of being stood up from his mind. It hadn't been the full hour yet but he just seemed to become more convinced with each passing minuet that he would inevitably be stood up by the one woman he couldn't stand to be. He wanted more than anything to be around this woman, thinking that she didn't want to be around him made the grip on his heart tighten. He wanted to win the game but even more than that he wanted to win her. He dropped his head and took out a pack of playing card to entertain himself.
After a few rounds of solitaire there was the noise of heels against the mansion's hard wood floors but the steps sounded so much like Betsy's that he ignored them as they stopped at the doorway. He heard a few gasps from the others in the room and looked up to find Rogue stood in the doorway, the skirt of the dress swayed as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. The tight bodice followed every natural curve of her body and just the sight of her womanly curves sparked thoughts she would surely knock him into next week for. Long black evening gloves snaked up her slender arms and in her hands she clutched the purse he had given her. He finally made it to her face where she bit down on crimson lips; nervous about the attention the outfit received her. Her curls were soft and full, her hair partly clipped back but smaller curls of white hair escaped to frame her face. For a moment he was as speechless as he had been when flying with her, she was a vision in red with shimmering emeralds enticing him to her side.
"Ah'm ah late sugah?" She sent him the most dazzling smile as she spoke and he shook his head.
"No, ya be jus' in time." He swaggered over to her and slipped an arm around her waist. "Ya look trés belle." He whispered huskily in her ear and she recoiled slightly at the sensation of his breath dancing on her skin.
"And like ah said earlier ya don't clean up t' bad either swamp rat." Remy looked slightly disappointed at the lack of a better compliment but took what he could get. He held out his arm for her to take.
"Madam, ya carriage awaits." She looked nervously at his arm before easing slightlyand slipping hers into his.
"Carriage?" She glanced at him doubtfully. Her response only seemed to amuse him more and he smirked in satisfaction.
"Dis way." He gently started them walking towards the mansions entrance. A small crowd followed a short distance behind intrigued as to what the Cajun had arranged for the evening. Rogue glanced over her shoulder at the eagerly awaiting, unfamiliar, faces and slinked closer to Remy's side as if they were stalking her like prey. Suddenly Remy's arm released her and his hands crept up to cover her eyes.
"Remy what are ya …"
"Hush Cherie and jus' trust Remy." She was still tensed at the prospect of being sightlessbut followed Remy's careful instructions down the stairs where a muffled and unfamiliar sound reached her ears before Remy pealed away his hands to reveal the beginning of their evening.
Rogue's mouth dropped and she stared in awe of the sight before her. An open top carriage pulled by two of the most magnificent white horsesshe had ever seen stood before her. She raised a hand to her mouth in disbelief as her eyes welled with joyous tears. The driver smiled warmly at her as she continued to stare at the sight oblivious to the whispering of the crowd behind her.
"Ya like cherie?" Remy's question went unanswered as she silently admired every part of the transport.
"Ah love it." She finally managed to whisper as the extent of the Cajun's effort for the evening was realised. She hoped that this wasn't just to win their little game but decided it better to assume that this was all the evening was to this man, a game.
"Come on lets get goin' for dey all try t' come wit us, non?" She nodded at Remy's suggestion and glanced back at the crowded doorway noticing Logan fighting his way to the front of the crowd. She gave him a quick wave but he seemed more intent on throwing Remy a fatherly glare.
"One step LeBeau, so much as one step out of line and that face of yours won't be so pretty anymore." Remy helped Rogue into the carriage before turning and giving Logan his normal mocked salute.
"Don' worry none Logan I'll get her back here safe an' sound." With that he removed a pair of sunglasses and slipped them on before he climbed up beside Rogue and signalled for the driver to begin their journey.
After only a few minuets of the carriage ride Rogue relaxed completely. Sighing in content she leant back into the comfortable seating. A small smile seemed glued to her beautiful features and Remy couldn't imagine any jewel more beautiful than the one in his hold at that exact moment.She shifted further into his embrace and relished in the human contact without touching skin
"Enjoyin' de night so far Cherie?" She made a content hum as she admired the nature surround the mansion grounds. "Dat good ya speeachless?"
"Ah'm just enjoyin' the ride." She responded, slighly annoyed that Remy wasn't doing the same. She had to remind herself that he was used to experiencing this freedom everyday, to him this was nothing to her it was everything.
"Good." Remy wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer still. "Ya got a pretty smile, nice t' see ya usin' it." He murmured into her hair before planting a kiss on the white streak. That was the last either muttered as they silently enjoyed eachothers embrace for the rest of the journey.
Rogue shifted uncomfortably on Remy's arm as they entered the restaurant, she was uncomfortable with the crowded area but that wasn't what bothered her most, she just couldn't shake the feeling that this hadn't been a brilliant idea. Remy glanced to her and smiled charmingly, almost as if butter wouldn't melt and she decided to cover her concerns by doing the same back.
"Mister, madam, can I help." As soon as the head waiter addressed them Rogue slinked right up against Remy's side gripping tightly to his arm as the man's eyes wandered her feminine figure. Remy didn't fail to notice the motion either and she saw his jaw tighten at the man's rudeness.
"Oui, name's LeBeau, was promised special treatment by de manager." The man raised an unbelieving eyebrow.
"You are a friend of the manager?"
"Oui." Rogue glanced at him questioningly. She waited for the waiter to leave them to speak with a stranger in a far corner before she dared question him out loud.
"Ya know the owner?" She shifted closer still to him as a man brushed past her shoulder.
"Oui. Ya ok Cherie? Only ya practically leapin' into Remy's arms t'night an' last time I checked ya weren't dat easy."
"Ah just . . ." She trailed off as he pulled her further towards him when the man that had brushed past her seconds before came back. He smiled as he unhooked their arms and slipped his arm around the small of her back, keeping her body overlapped over one side of his own.
"Don' worry 'bout dem jus' stay close an' Remy promise no harm come t' ya. T'night be all about you Cherie" She nodded as she glanced over her shoulder at him. Her head was quickly snapped forwards at the laugh of an approaching man.
"Remy LeBeau! I don't believe it! You finally decided to grace me with your presence." The man that approached was only about and inch shorter than Remy, his lean build described perfectly by his expensive looking suit and his dark hair shone blue where the light hit it.
"Nice t' see ya feelin' yaself again Jake." The man glared at Remy for the comment.
"No thanks to you Rem, that's the last time I ever do you a favour." Rogue glanced at them both questioningly. "She one of 'us'?" Jake asked and she sensed Remy nodding his head. "You aren't a shape shifter are you sweetheart?" She shook her head, she had the ability to use at her whim but she hated the person it belonged to so much that she refused to acknowledge it. "Good! Listen, this guy ever asks you for a favour you get the hell out of there as fast as you can."
"Didn't see ya complainin' at de time mon ami."
"Remy I still have nightmares about that kiss." Rogue let a rich laughter escape her.
"Let meh get this straight he kissed ya?" The man nodded and she laughed again. "Ah didn't realise ya swung that way swamp rat. Ya sure its meh ya want t' take t' dinner?" Remy glared at the pair as they exchanged beaming smiles.
"Ya know ya cud have mention dat ya were stuck in de form of a woman's body at de time and dat I didn't know it was you." Rogue still seemed amused by the image in her head as she suppressed another round of laughter. The man rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Why don't we get you two seated and we can talk more then." The pair glanced to one another and nodded at the suggestion.
They were guided to a private booth in a secluded corner and Remy smiled as he watched Rogue relax with the less crowded space. Jake smiled at them both.
"My apologies for the head waiter, he's just standing in for someone else, unfortunately I didn't get much of a say about it." Remy still didn't look impressed but Rogue smiled and nodded in acceptance of the apology.
"Why don't ya two catch up while ah go t' the little girls room." She stood from the table and Jake kindly pointed her in the direction of the toilets. As soon as she was out of ear shot Jake felt the need to bombard Remy with a volley of questions.
"So who is she? She's a mutant huh? What power's she got? You must really like her to bring her here; you never bring any of your other dates here." Remy held up his hands in surrender and signalled for Jake to keep his excitement to himself.
"Mon ami I swear ya never used t' be such a gossip." Remy stated ignoring the questions he'd been asked.
"I think one of my regular customers is having a bad effect on me. So?" Remy shook his head.
"Ain't my place t' say."
"You always were secretive anyway." Remy glanced around the restaurant and took in its romantic atmosphere. The deco was a delight to behold as rich burgundy fabrics and wallpapering practically melted into mahogany woods.
"So when did ya decide t' buy a restaurant."
"Got sick of playing 'hero'. You still doing that?" Remy nodded. "Well enjoy it before it kills you or turns you into a woman."
"Ya never goin' t' forgive Remy o' dat are ya?"
"I'm never going to let you forget it!" Remy ignored him as a bottle of wine was brought to the table and poured into his glass.
"Mais, jus' so ya know ya not exactly de best kiss dis Cajun ever had." Jake rolled his eyes.
"Let me guess this Rogue girl is." Remy took a sip of his drink and ignored the question. Jake smiled cunningly.
"You've not kissed her yet have you?" Remy glared at him but it only made the smile on Jake's face grow. "Don't tell me you're loosing your touch already. You're only twenty-six."
"Twenty-seven." Remy corrected him as he placed his glass back on the table. Jake laughed.
"You better have a damned good reason for not having already won this one over."
"Ain't dat simple." Remy lifted his gaze as he saw Rogue sifting through the crowded restaurant to get back to the table. Jake followed his gaze briefly but seemed more amused by the expression in Remy's eyes.
"Just don't forget what happened last time you trusted someone; you do still remember Belladonna don't you."
"She ain't like Bella." Jake raised an eyebrow.
"You hope." Remy glared at him and Jake could have sworn that if they weren't in public the Cajun man would have charged his clothes and left him there to explode.
"Everything alright?" Rogue questioned as she arrived back at the booth sensing some tension between the two men.
"Jake jus' be in a mood 'cause Remy said he ain't a good kisser."
"I was a little busy trying to fight you off to think about how I was kissing you." Rogue smiled at the arguing pair as she slid back to Remy's side and received a warm smile from him. Jake glared at Remy as he stood from the booth.
"Now if you'll excuse me I've had enough of these insults. Miss Rogue it was a pleasure to met you, shame I can't say the same for you Rem. I'll just go and sort out a waiter to bring you your menus, have a pleasant evening." With that he disappeared into the sea of dining people.
"Was he really that bad?" Rogue asked as she leant forward for her wine.
"He bit me."
"Are ya sure that wasn't just t' get ya off him?" Remy laughed.
"Pretty sure. But he's de only complaint dis Cajun ever got." He winked suggestively at her and watched with satisfaction as her cheeks flushed. "What about ya Cherie, ya ever had any complaints?" Her eyes instantly lowered to her lap where she stared at her gloved fingers. She looked ashamed of herself and it was all he could feel from her.
"Not exactly." She muttered as she raised her eyes and glanced at him unsurely. "The first boy ah ever kissed ah put into a coma for three years." Remy's eyes widened a little but the action was only followed by a smirk.
"Dats some killer kiss ya got dere maybe later ya be kind enough t' show moi." She seemed surprised by his response.
"It doesn't scare ya that ah might hurt ya?" Remy shook his head.
"Remy had trouble wit his power at first, used t' blow stuff up all de time, got a couple o' scars t' prove it t'. Took a long time for me t' get used t' de empathy too, 'm guessin' it a bit like bin' telepathic but wit feelin's instead o' thoughts." Her jaw dropped slightly at the revelation.
"Empathy? Ya been using that on meh swamp rat?" She seemed angry about the revelation and he remembered how openly she had admitted to hating psychics.
"Tried t' the night we met, thing is I can't seem t' do anythin' but sense ya feelin's" She shut her mouth and bit down on her lip realised how stupid she had been. She regretted her accusation more because she knew that the same that no outside influence that tried to break through her 'outer shell' could, her thoughts and feelings were completely closed off from anyone but herself.
"Remy ah'm sorry ah shouldn't have pointed the finger ah already know that mah power counteracts most outside influences. Ah should have known ya couldn't have played with mah emotions." Remy shrugged.
"Been through a lot ya bound t' worry 'bout things like dat." He flashed her a charming smile to show that there were no hard feelings. "Got dis charm power t' dat I've been tryin' t' use on ya since ya first woke up. Ya de only person I ever met dat it didn't have an effect on. It be drivin' moi crazy knowin' dat ya can just push me away so easily." She smiled sympathetically at him.
"It ain't exactly easy sometimes." She admitted, regretting that she had come here just to prove him wrong. Remy slid closer to her and placed his arm on the back of the seat as he leant towards her. He took her hand in his free one and watched as their fingers laced together.
"It easy now?" He asked as he leant closer. Her eyes seemed to drift to his lips of their own accord and she felt her lips part as his breath glided across her cheek.
"No." She whispered as he brushed his lips over hers and she had to fight the urge to force them together. "I'm not a game." She warned him as his lips lingered teasingly before hers.
"Already know dat Cherie but winnin' de game ain't half as important as winnin' you." She wanted so much to believe those words, to believe she was worth so much and she would have, if something hadn't woken her from her dream-like state.
Her eyes were torn from his at an unbelievable speed as they darted around the room. She tried to reason with her mind, tried to convince herself it had been a trick of the eye but she knew better than to give into such temptations. Better a pessimist than a dead optimist. Worry spread like wildfire in her eyes, taking over her facial expression as she slowly removed her hands from Remy's and leant away from him to better survay the area.
"Cherie?" She could hear his voice but did not have the power to respond. Her body shook with fear as breaths escaped her body. "Cherie, what's wrong?" Remy's voice was getting panicked with each new question he asked. Yet still she could not answer. Then she saw it, clear as day. The one thing she had hoped she had misinterpreted the first time. A shadow cast on the floor, of a human figure. Following the light source up to the beautifully lit section of glass roofing she felt her heart stop dead in her chest. Remy followed her gaze and was about to release the longest string of cursing before Rogue's voice cut in.
"Remy put on your sunglasses!" Quickly he did as instructed and removed the sunglasses he had worn earlier from his pocket.
"We have t' get dese people out!" Remy reasoned his natural protective nature shinning through the charming Cajun exterior.
"We don't have time!" She screamed before raising her arms to shield her face from shattering glass. Before she could even lower her arms she could sense the guns on her and heard the one thing she had hoped never to hear again.
"Mutant 007 is in our sights."
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