Movie Night
Bib:
In a debate about movie genres, Kitty, Rogue and Kurt realise they don't know what Gambit's favourite movie is. In order to make him feel like he 'fit's in', the three stop at nothing to learn which genre Gambit prefers
Story:
"Face it Kitty. It's totally true!" Kurt said as he walked down the corridors of the X-Men mansion with Kitty Pride.
"Kurt, that's, like, so totally sexist! Not all girls are into chick flicks!" Kitty said, brushing Kurt's comments off. Her eyes rolled and landed on the couple approaching them. Kitty smiled as she spotted them.
"Hey, like Rogue, answer something for me!" Kitty demanded of the Goth resident.
"Allllright," Rogue said, stopping and folding her arms as she looked between the two. "But this better not be something stupid or ah ain't answerin' it!"
"What's your favourite movie genre?" Kitty asked, beaming.
Now Rogue really was dumbstruck by that question. She thought it was quite obvious. Remy thought so too, but as he glanced down at Rogue to watch her react to the question being asked, he wanted confirmation.
"Well duh, horror." Rogue said, referring to herself.
Remy raised his eyebrow at that. Her shoulders were tense and she was bringing them up and scrunching her head down slightly.
"See! I like so totally told you!" Kitty snapped while turning on Kurt.
"Oh come on! Rogue's like the only exception to that rule." Kurt said.
"To what rule?" Rogue asked dangerously.
"Oh ha ha ha, nothing," Kurt said, scratching the back of his head and curling in on himself.
Kitty smirked smugly.
"Kurt thinks that all girls love watching romantic movies and all guys like watching action stuff. Isn't that, like, insulting?" Kitty asked.
Her eyes went from Rogue to Remy and no one noticed how it only seemed to dawn on Kitty then that he was there.
"I mean, not that there's anything wrong with chickflics or whatever. I'd so, like, watch an action film though if a guy was interested," Kitty said.
Rogue shot Kitty's brushing face and her adverted eyes a questioning glance. One look to her right though and Rogue felt like rolling her eyes as she realised what Kitty's shy, blustering look was all about. She did feel a bit disheartened when figuring out what Kitty had become a gushing mess over, but she quickly shifted her attention back onto the conversation.
"It's stupid that's for sure," Rogue said, eyeing her brother. "Besides, who needs ta watch a romance when you've got Scott an' Jean neckin' on each other whichever way you turn?"
"Awww, come on chérie. Y' sayin' you don't like a good romance?" Remy asked her, presenting his half smirk and seeming to step closer to Rogue.
"I do! I love Pretty Woman," Kitty said, but Remy's attention never dropped from Rogue.
"No," Rogue said, her eyes narrowing on him. He was watching how her lips curved for the tell-tale signs that she was lying. "Ah prefer ta watch something that's actually interestin'." Rogue then smirked herself as she glanced at Kurt and Kitty. "In fact, ah feel like watchin' a scary movie with some friends t'night."
"Oh no," Kurt said, shaking his hands in front of him, "No way am I watching another horror movie with you!"
"Yeah, you like, totally freaked us out last time!" Kitty said, coming out of her infatuation.
"Oh?" Remy muttered, glancing at Rogue with a lazy smile on his face. She had that smirk on her face which held something devious and smug behind it.
"Hey, what's your movie genre pick Remy?" Kurt asked, drawing attention onto him.
This peaked Rogue's interest. And Kitty's. They watched him, trying to guess what his favourite type of movie would be. Rogue felt like she should know since she'd absorbed Remy a couple of times and he seemed to always be around, but she couldn't, for the life of her, put her finger on it. Comedy, maybe? Or maybe Kurt was right and it was action.
"Don't really watch movies garcon. I be fine with whatever's on at de time," he said, shrugging Kurt's question off like it was nothing.
"But you must have some preference. Like, when you go into a video store and have to pick something. What do you pick?" Kitty asked.
Remy shrugged his shoulders, "Ain't ever been put in dat situation petite."
He glanced upwards as if listening to something. The other three all knew the signs.
"Best be movin' along. Prof wants a real chief in de kitchen. Á plus tard," Remy said before strolling past them all.
After he turned the corner, Kitty and Kurt turned to face Rogue.
"That was odd," Kurt said.
"Yeah, like, totally. Why didn't he just tell us his favourite movie or something? Everyone's got to have one." Kitty asked.
"That's just the way he is," Rogue said. She knew and accepted that, if Remy wanted them to know something, they'd know it. If not, they'd get the brush off like they just did.
"Wait, so you don't know?" Kitty asked, dumbstruck.
Rogue's attention returned to Kitty.
"Why would ah?" she asked.
"Doesn't it bother you that you don't know?" Kitty asked her.
"Why would it?" Rogue questioned, seeing Kitty struggling with something. Rogue couldn't tell if the girl was annoyed or glad she didn't know Remy's favourite movie.
"Well, we know everyone's favourite movie around here and everyone knows ours," Kitty said, curling in on herself under Rogue's glare.
"Yeah," Kurt said, holding his hands up, "It's almost like he's, well, not fitting in if we don't know. It's not really fair to him."
Kurt and Kitty watched Rogue's face soften as she chewed the inside of her check. They had a point.
"Fair or not, if he doesn't want us to know, he won't tell us. So, what are ya gonna do?" Rogue said, not meaning her question.
By the way Kitty and Kurt smirked and their how their eyes sparkled mischievously was scary.
"Oh, I have a few ideas," Kitty said.
Xxxxx
"Are ya sure we're not gonna get caught in here? He is a professional thief after all. He's gonna know someone's been goin' through his things," Rogue said as she glanced at the boxers in Remy's draw. She hadn't meant to open this draw. She wasn't even sure what was in it till now.
Her eyes fell to the corner of the draw where a deck of cards were stacked. She took the first faced down card and flipped it over, guessing what was on the other side. Her lips curved up as the Queen of Hearts smiled back at her. She guessed she did know him a little better than she thought.
"Jean said he went out soon after he fled from the kitchen," Kitty said.
"Yeah, and I checked his bike. It wasn't in the garage." Kurt said.
"If he's took his bike anywhere, then it has to be into town. He should be gone for, at least, an hour tops," Kitty said, summing everything up. "We've got time and we're not taking anything so he won't know it's us. Have you guys found anything yet?" Kitty asked, turning to glance at Rogue.
"Errr, no," Rogue said, trying to hide her blush as she put the card back and shut the draw.
"Ah just don't think this is right! It's not fair to Remy." Rogue said, turning to face the open room and folding her arms. "How would y'all like it if he went through your things?"
"Yeah, you do have a point," Kurt agreed, stopping his search in Remy's wardrobe. He didn't have a lot of clothes in there, Rogue noticed.
"We're just looking for a movie guys. It's no big deal!" Kitty said.
"What's no big deal?" Remy asked.
He stood leaning against his doorway with his arms folded. Kitty shuck and hit her head on Remy's book shelf (which was very empty) as she backed away.
"Ha ha ha, er, hi Remy. When did you, like, get back?" Kitty asked.
Remy had that resting smirk on his face that told them nothing.
"Who says I been anywhere?" he shot back at Kitty. His eyes found Rogue who blushed and put her head down.
"So, what you lookin' for Chérie?" he asked.
Rogue, still with a flushed face, glanced at Kitty and Kurt for help, but they looked more hopeless than she did.
"Erm, Kurt said he saw a mouse run under your door. We were just searchin' for it." Rogue said, realising how lame her lie was. But she was glad how calmly it came out.
"Un souris, huh?" Remy questioned, raising his eyebrow in obvious disbelief.
"Yeah," Rogue said, watching his smirk grow on one side of his face.
"Don't think you'll be findin' it in der, chérie," Remy said, his eyes almost flashing at her suggestively.
Rogue's face had dropped, but she quickly hid it under anger and turned her head away, huffing.
"Finah then! Sleep with a mouse for all ah care. Just don't bring it's fleas anywhere near meh, ya got that swamp breath?" Rogue snapped at him as she stormed towards his door and moved right past him.
Remy couldn't help but hold his smirk. Kitty and Kurt looked awkward as they followed suit and left his room.
Remy shuck his head and then left to go pick up the package that had arrived for him just a short while ago.
Xxxxx
"Right, so everyone's down with the plan?" Kitty asked.
"Ah still don't get why ah have ta be the one ta grab it?" Rogue hissed.
Rogue never got an answer though. The plan was a simple one. Kurt and Kitty convinced Hank to start a game of basketball and roped Remy into playing. Remy had took the bait and, after playing smoothly for a good while, began to take layers of clothes off just like they planned.
While Kitty, Amara, Tabitha and other girls stopped to stand and stare at Remy's abs, Rogue just rolled her eyes, refusing to look and went to work. Remy had put his coat down beside her so it was easy for her to reach over and begin to feel through all his pockets.
"Damn, how many pockets does he need?" Rogue muttered under her breath as she finally found what she had been looking for.
Rogue brought her legs up and hid herself as much as she could behind the book she had claimed to be reading as she looked through Remy's phone. When she pressed the on button, a blank screen came up along with a lock screen.
"Damn it," Rogue muttered. She didn't know his password.
"Something de matter chérie?" Remy asked.
Rogue jumped out of her skin as she glanced up, passed her book to find Remy stood right in front of her.
"Ah, erm. Ah-" Rogue said, stuttering as she tried to think of a way out of this one. Her eyes ended up trailing down and now she saw why the other girls had stopped to stare. He did have a good chest. A chest she'd like to run her bear hand down and feel just how firm the muscle underneath was.
"Like what you see?" Remy questioned, the smugness clear in his voice.
"As if!" Rogue snapped, embarrassed, yet, grateful to have Remy say something to pull her eyes away from his muscular chest.
"Is dat mon portable y' got there?" He asked, glancing down at her lap.
Rogue cleared her throat and looked away from him for a second.
"Yeah, erm, ah was… hopin' ta get Merci's number outta here. Ah've not spoke to her in a long while. It'd be nice ta catch up." Rogue said, knowing she really had to learn how to lie better.
Remy tilted his head to one side as he asked: "Why didn't y' just ask?"
Rogue blushed red a little. She hated how he seemed to be able to make her blush so easily.
"Well, ah, erm, ah didn't know if ya'd mind. Do you?" Rogue asked, going with the conversation.
Remy's resting smile grew into a softer one.
"Non, not at all,"
He reached his hand out for the phone and Rogue gave it to him.
"Although," Remy said, still glancing down at his phone, "it gonna cost y'."
"Cost meh?" Rogue questioned.
"Oui. How's 'bout, in return for Merci's number, y' let me use y' face as mon éconmiseur d'écran?" Remy suggested, his smile turning into one of those toothy smirks.
Rogue felt her face pale. Maybe from embarrisment. Maybe from shock. Maybe from the kind gesture Remy was making. But she quickly tried to burry her starlement away and glared daggers at him.
"And what on Gawd's green earth would ya need a picture of meh for?" Rogue asked.
Remy shrugged one of his shoulders.
"You be one belle femme. Be nice t' carry y' beauty 'round with moi wherever I go," he said.
Rogue rolled her eyes at that.
"Yeah, right. Ain't there other girls here whose picture ya can carry around? What 'bout Jean or Storm or, hell, even Kitty? They're all pretty," Rogue said, turning to glance at the bikini and short covered girls gathered in a group, muttering under their breathes, most likely, about Remy. Rogue had been envying them from a far. Had been for years. It made her sad that she couldn't come out in a bikini like them when the weather was nice. "Ah bet they'd even get in a group photo if ya asked," Rogue said, referring to the collected group of girls stood on the side-lines.
"'cause I'm pickin' y'," Remy said simply.
This brought Rogue's attention back to Remy. She wondered if he really was trying to be sweet to her, or if there was an ulterior motive.
"Now, do y' want dat number or what?" he pushed, pressing Rogue for time in hopes it'd make her just accept his deal.
Rogue sighed, glancing all around, but at him.
"Finah! Just don't make meh look fat or nothin', ya hear!" Rogue threatened him, pointing her finger.
Remy let that half smirk crawl on his face.
"Wouldn't dream of it. Now," he said, crouching down in front of her with his phone held up at an angle that would capture her face. Rogue instantly felt on edge and tilted her head down, blushing. "Don't hide y' face chérie," Remy said, reaching up and tilting Rogue's head up with a single gloved finger under her chin. Rogue just refused to meet his eyes. Instead, she glanced around, catching a few eyes watching her. This was embarrassing.
"Will ya hurry up an' just take the photo already? People are starin' at us," Rogue said, now glancing at him with an irritated spark in her eye.
"Then smile pour moi. T'ink back t' when we kicked everyone's butts in dat first danger room session we ran together. No one had beat it 'fore us, oui?" he asked.
He watched a smirk appear on Rogue's face.
"Yeah, ah remember swamp rat," she said, huffing a content sigh. "Wasn't that long ago after all. Had ta find some way ta help ya fit in."
"An' dat was by bestin' all de other mutants here?" Remy questioned, watching her partly through his phone as he smiled with her.
Rogue began to show teeth as she said: "Well, ah also had ta remind em who the best fighter 'round here still is."
"Y' enjoy showin' one eye up like y' did?" he asked.
"Hey, ah told ya not ta call 'em that!" Rogue snapped, shooting a warning look at him. But then, her eyes began to soften and mischief entered her smirk, "Mebbe. He was gettin' a little too big for his boots that day. Someone had ta drag him back down ta earth."
"Sure thing chérie. An' y' helpin' moi back then, why was that?" he asked.
Rogue sighed as she rolled her eyes at him.
"Ya already know why swamp rat," Rogue said.
"Enlighten me," Remy asked, leaning on Rogue's knees as he continued to watch her through the phone.
"Ah was just throwin' ya a bone, alright?" Rogue said, trying not to snap at him.
"Why?"
"Ah just…" Rogue bit her lip and rolled her eyes again before shaking her head and looking back at him. "Ah felt like ah owed ya, 'k? Ya got me away from ma crazy mama an' made sure ah got back home when ah was lost. Ah was just returnin' the favour."
"How so?"
Now Rogue just glared at him. Remy didn't budge though. He just looked up at her. Waiting.
"By gettin' ya away from y' crazy father an', hopefully, givin' ya a place y' can call home," Rogue finally said.
Remy's smile grew as he leaned more onto Rogue's lap.
"An' Remy feels right at home."
Rogue tsked and rolled her eyes yet again at Remy's use of the third person speech. Remy just smiled as he kept watching Rogue through his phone. He began to back away and press a few buttons on his phone. Rogue watched him for a moment.
"Did ya get what ya wanted?" she asked.
"Oui, it be perfect," he replied.
Before Rogue could say anything, her phone vibrated in her pocket. Rogue slipped it out and glanced at the text message Remy had sent her.
"Merci's number. Be seein' ya chérie," Remy said, walking off and leaving Rogue behind on the bench she sat on.
Rogue wanted to call out and ask how he even got her number, but Kurt and Kitty came running up to her to take Remy's spot.
"Like, what happened?" Kitty asked.
"Yeah, did you get the number?" Kurt asked.
"Ah got it," Rogue said, glancing down at the numbers on her phone.
"Well, what are we waitin' for? Let's give them a call now!" Kitty said.
Xxxxx
The number rang out four time before someone answered.
"Bonjour, Julie's Floral Rush services, how many I help?" came the sweet voice of the woman Rogue recognised.
"Merci? It's meh, Rogue," Rogue said into the phone.
"Rogue?" Merci questioned, starting to get excited. Rogue held back a laugh as she heard Merci call for Henri.
"Mon chére, how y' been? Ain't heard no word from y' since you disappeared up north. Dat garcon of ours behavin' himself?" Merci asked.
Rogue smiled at that. She hadn't actually asked many questions as to what happened between Gambit and his family after he left New Orleans. Whenever she did try to bring it up, he just brushed it off like he had the movie thing. Merci had been the only one to shed a little light on the topic when she wrote a letter to her and had Remy deliever it.
Hearing Merci's voice made Rogue really miss the south. More importantly, the people there like Henri, Merci and Tante. Even though she hadn't wanted to invade Remy's privacy and steal Merci's number, she was now, extremely glad she had it. She guessed she was going to be losing a lot of her evening now that she and Merci had a way to contact each other. She felt like smacking herself upside the head for not asking for Merci's number sooner.
"Oui, he be playin' nice now with all the other boys. But here's the thing, we're plannin' this big old movie night where everyone gets ta put their favourite movie on an' Remy said he'd be fine watchin' whatever. It ain't really fair he'd just be watchin' what everyone else wants ta watch so ah was hopin' ya could tell meh what his favourite movie was." Rogue explained down the phone, realising her accent was getting thicker the more she heard those southern voices. "Oh," Rogue gushed as she met the eyes of an anxious Kitty and Kurt, "an' a couple of mah friends at the mansion are here with meh. Kitty an' Kurt," Rogue warned Merci.
"Favourite movie, huh?" Merci said. "Well I'll be damned. Y' know, I ain't sure. Henri's here, maybe he will."
Rogue heard Henri mutter something in french to Merci. It sounded as if Merci had pulled the phone away from her face for the briefest of seconds before darting it straight back to her hear.
"Oh, 'fore I go handin' y' over t' Henri-"
"We'll catch up later?" Rogue questioned, a gleam clearing shinying through her voice.-
Kitty and Kurt glanced at each other, both quite amused at how jolly Rogue seemed to be.
"Oui! For certin!" Merci called out, just as excited as Rogue.
There was a bit more muttering between Henri and Merci, until Henri finally picked up the phone.
"Rogue chére!" Henri's merry, vibrant voice boomed. "What took y' so long t' call? Tante's gonna have y' hid next time y' end up in Louisiana." Henri warned.
Rogue chuckled at that, even though the idea of a vengeful Tante was terrifying. There was something that struck her about Henri's comment. She'd never really thought about returning to Louisianan. Mainly, because Merci's last letter had warned against it and, besides that, the thought just seemed to slip from her mind. She did wonder though if, maybe, just heading down south sometime to visit Remy's family was ok. She'd have to talk to Merci about it another time and see how Remy would react, but she really did miss the crazy bunch of thieves.
"Sorry Henri. We were just focusin' on gettin' Remy settled in an' ah didn't even think ta ask-"
"Don't sweat it petite. Now, y'a askin' 'bout Remy's favorite movie, non?" Henri asked.
"Yes! Do ya know it?" Rogue asked, feeling herself sinking now. This search for an answer was starting to kill her.
"Non, 'fraid not. Remy always was de odd one among thieves. Used t' keep everyt'in' all hush hush, even from his own famille."
"Oh," Rogue said, feeling herself become deflated at hearing the news. If Henri didn't know then how the hell was she supposed to?
"Here's un thought, why don't y' just ask de homme what be his favourite? Surely he'll tell y'," Henri said.
"Already tried that. It was a no go. Ya sure y' have no suggestions? No hints 'bout what he might like?" Rogue asked.
"Non, 'fraid not petite," Henri said.
Rogue, Merci and Henri kept things brief after that, knowing they had two sets of ears listening into their conversation. None of them wanted to say anything confidental that could possibly be overheard by the pair. Both Henri and Merci were very insistant that Rogue call back when she could, not needing to add the alone part as it was largely implied.
When Rogue got off the phone and found Kitty and Kurt waiting, she told them it was a lost cause. At least, partly, but she kept that last thought to herself.
"Right, then drastic measures call for, like, drastic times." Kitty said.
Rogue and Kurt both looked at Kitty puzzled then.
"What do you mean Kitty?" Kurt asked.
"I mean we're gonna have a movie marathon tonight! We'll go through all the movies we've got if we have to. But we are so totally not leaving the wreck room till we know what Remy's favourite movie type is." Kitty said.
"Oh boy, this is going to be a long night," Kurt said, placing the back of his hand on his head. Rogue couldn't agree more with her step brother.
Xxxxx
Later that night found Rogue scrunched up on the edge of a sofa in the wreck room. Kitty and Kurt had already been in there, bickering over something to do with the remote or videos. Remy was there too, spread out so he was taking a full sofa to himself. When he noticed her, he moved his legs, presenting an open space for her to sit. Since Kitty and Kurt where jumping from sofa to sofa, but stirring clear from the one Remy was sat on, Rogue took up her position at the opposite end from him. She kicked off her army boots and pulled up one of her legs, hugging it to her body as she leaned her head on it, watching Kitty and Kurt run around like hyped kids on suger.
"We watchin' a movie or not?" Rogue asked, haulting the loud duo in their tracks.
Kitty looked a little disappointed. Kurt looked smug.
"Alright then!" Kurt beamed, sitting in front of the video player. "How about a thriller movie?"
Kitty took a seat on the sofa closest to Remy and watched him just shrugged at Kurt's suggestion.
"Just put it on and we'll see if we feel like it," Kitty said to Kurt.
"Alright then," Kurt said, putting the video on, dimming the lights and taking a seat next to Kitty.
Kurt grabbed a bowl of popcorn from somewhere and offered it to Kitty to share. To Rogue's surprise, Remy pulled out his own bowl of popcorn,seemingly, out of thin air and moved closer to her to share it. Rogue accepted the popcorn and ate it while they watched the movie.
Ten minutes into the movie, Kurt leaned over to Kitty and said, "Erm, I don't think its working."
Both glanced at where Remy and Rogue were sat. They both seemed to be zooming out and not really seeing the film. Remy's arm had found it's way around Rogue's shoulders and she didn't seem bothered by this. In fact, she didn't even seem to notice that he was playing with the ends of her hair.
"Maybe thriller movies just isn't his thing." Kitty said to Kurt, then shot straight up off the sofa, getting everyone's attention. "Like, you know what? This movie is so totally boring. Let's change it!" Kitty said, moving to change the thriller movie to a rom com.
Rogue blinked and came to realise how close Remy was to her side. She moved to lean more against the arm of the sofa and further away from him. Remy let his hand slide out of Rogue's hair for the time, leaving her be. Rogue watched out of the corner of her eye as Remy made a show of scoffing the popcorn down after she moved.
Kitty popped in the rom com and just as it was about to start, Scott and Jean entered the wreck room.
"Hey, what you guys watching?" Scott asked.
"Oh, you know, we're just tryna find a good movie to watch." Kitty said.
"Mind if we join you?" Scott asked, his arm wrapping around Jean's shoulders.
"Erm, no." Kitty said, looking at Kurt who looked back at her, shrugging.
"No problems here," Kurt said.
Jean and Scott moved to the spare sofa that wasn't being taken up. All were silent as the movie played. Jean leaned into Scott and he hugged her back. Kitty and Kurt ended up sprawled on the sofa they took up, looking like two siblings having thought over space, until they became comfortable in what looked like an awkward seating position. Remy offered Rogue more popcorn and she found herself needing to reposition herself to reach. When she got irritated by Remy, seemingly, pulling the bowl away from her whenever she reached for it, she took the bowl off him. When she did, Remy took the opening to move himself behind Rogue, so when she went to sit back, she was met with his chest. Since Rogue's hands were now holding the popcorn and their was little she could do to stop him, Remy moved his hands down to Rogue's sides, starting to reposition her against him until they could both be comfortable. Of course, Rogue wasn't too happy about being controlled like a doll. She went to mutter her complaints at him, but he hushed her and told her to watch the movie.
As the two muttered and bickered, Kitty got up once again when she realised Remy's attention wasn't on the film and said: "I've seen this movie, like, soooo many times. How about we try this?" Kitty said, looking pained as she held up Rogue's favourite movie.
"Dracula, you sure Kit?" Rogue asked, smirking greatly as she came to a hault in her mooching around on the sofa.
The two southerns had ended up finally getting comfortable with Remy laying half on his side behind Rogue and Rogue moving to lie down beside him. He was resting his head against his hand that was supported by the same sofa arm that Rogue had her head against. Where Remy was balancing on his side, Rogue had moved to simply lie on her back with the bowl of popcorn in her lap. Of course, Rogue didn't like how close Remy was to her, but they'd figured out this position after he complained about not being able to reach the popcorn.
"Yeah, like, totally." Kitty said, putting the movie in, but not convincing anyone that she was ok with the film chose.
A few minutes into the film and Rogue barely noticed how Remy's arm had gone from gathering popcorn, to lightly wrapping around her waist. She was too interested in the film to notice his arm had been draped around her since the very start of the film.
She felt a warm breath tickling her neck as Remy asked her: "'bout your fav movie chérie, y' sure it be de jump scares y' enjoy? Or do you just like cuddlin' up with un bel inconnu in de dark?"
Of course, the Cajun just had to end up closing the gap on the sofa space between them and whisper that in her ear.
Rogue tsked in response, saying: "You're full of it swamp rat."
She began to sit up, but Remy's arm on her waist kept her down.
"Relax Rogue, I only teasin'. Enjoy your movie, non?" he muttered into her ear.
Rogue wasn't too sure what to do. To move or to lie back down. Something told her to move since they were pretty close together, but another part of her just wanted to return to the comfort she'd become unearthed from. She actually found it strange how much she did enjoy Remy reaching out for her and touching her. She wondered if it had something to do with the time she lost her memories. When she had lost her memories, she had, freely, sort out Remy's touch. Never going to touch his skin, conveniently, but still. And he, even after knowing her powers were there when she did't, had reached out to wrap an arm around her or take her hand. It was almost like he wasn't afraid of her or her powers. It was... charming. And she did miss touch.
She lay back down, hoping not to convey the wrong message to him. She felt a bit mean using him for his touch, but at the same time, she guessed he was using her somehow. She guessed they both liked the touch and, so long as he didn't push it, she felt rather ok with him touching her. Plus, she convinced herself that, if anyone said anything or asked, her excuse would simply be that she let Remy hold her to try and keep him there to watch the movie.
When Rogue lay back down, Remy became quite chuffed. His arm tightened around her waist and he pulled her in closer to his chest, removing any little gap between them. Rogue acted as if she didn't notice or care. She just forced her attention back on the movie while enjoying the rising and falling of Remy's chest beside her.
"O.K. so it seems no one's really interested in a horror tonight. What else we got? Kurt?" Kitty demanded to know.
Kurt got down before the box of video tapes before him and looked through them.
"How about an thriller movie?" Scott suggested.
"We already tried action," Kitty snapped, glancing back at Remy and Rogue. They looked comfy together, simply watching Kurt look through the box of movies. It was rather strange, Kitty thought, to see them acting like this. Strange not seeing Rogue lose her cool. Although, Kitty wasn't too sure if it was strange to see Remy holding on to her the way he was. Kitty questioned if he could hold any girl like that. Any girl, including her. But she honestly wasn't sure. She had no idea what to make of Remy and Rogue together like that so turned her attention back to the films as well.
"Then what about a comedy?" Scott asked.
"We already tried that too with the rom com," Kitty said. "How about Sci fi?" Kitty asked, glancing back at Remy.
"Look, why don't you just pick something you know you wanna watch," Scott said, not understanding why Kitty was looking at Remy for permission. He seemed a lot more interested in toying with Rogue then he did with watching a movie. He did find it strange himself that Rogue was lay against the criminal's chest in part. He wanted to address that, but first, Kitty was diving him a insane.
"We'll try a sci-fi movie," Kitty said.
"You sure you don't like romances?" Remy ended up whispering in Rogue's ear.
Rogue had just gotten comfortable again when he spoke and made the hairs on the back of her neck shiver.
Remy heard Rogue's small gasp and he tried not to chuckle. He couldn't help his growing smile. He was surprised Rogue was relaxing into him so easily, but he wasn't complaining.
"I'm sure," Rogue muttered back, grumily at being disturbed.
"Prefer t' live the real thing, huh?" Remy asked , glancing down at her.
"Yeah, always fun zappin' whatever idiot tries it with meh," Rogue said, feeling like she was spitting out vinegar.
"Always did like a romance where de lead fille be no damsel in distress. Strong femmes be a turn on, non?" he said in reply.
"Well, if a girl with super strength joins the X-Men, ah'll point ya in her direction," Rogue said, continuing to eat the popcorn in her lap.
She felt a burning sensation to shoot up right and start yelling at him out of habit, but she really didn't want to get up. It was so comfortable where she was. So she just tried to ignore him and find whatever Kitty and Scott were debating interesting.
Remy watched Rogue carfully. He reckoned she was trying not to show an inch of interest, but he didn't buy her act. He let the fist that was supporting his head fall loose and move towards Rogue slowly. Gently, he took a piece of her white hair that always seemed to fall in her face and keep her hidden from him. He brushed it back behind her ear, feeling her tense at his gesture and become stone under his grasp. When he could see one half of Rogue's face fully, he returned his fist to supporting his head.
"There already be some strong femmes here, Cherie," he said.
After Remy had moved his hand and spoke those words, Rogue felt the blush rush up her neck furiously. She felt the butteries do their fire dance again in her stomach. She wasn't sure what to do. It was hard to even think of a come back or someway to brush off what Remy had just,especially with the heat turning her brain to mush.
"Guess sci-fi isn't it either," Kitty ended up huffing.
Scott scoffed and said: "Can we please just chose one thing to watch?"
"That's what we're, like, trying to do!" Kitty snapped, glancing back over at Rogue and Remy.
"You're putting movies on, then not watching them! You keep picking something else without giving the other movie a try. Just pick one and stick with it!" Scott stressed.
Jean was trying to sooth Scott but he was irritated by Kitty's constant switching between movies.
Just then, Rogue felt a vibration against her side.
"That better not be what ah think it is," Rogue muttered.
Remy chuckled at where Rogue's mind headed before pulling out his phone. He glanced at it and saw what he'd been waiting for. As much as he didn't want to let the warmth of Rogue's body go, he pulled his hand off her waist and placed it on her shoulder, indicating for her to move forwards. Rogue didn't need to be told and sat up.
"'fraid your gonna have t' watch de movie wit'out mon," Remy said, still reading his phone.
After Remy stood, he turned slightly to face Rogue and let his eyes fall on her.
"I be seein' y' later, non?" he said before leaving.
"Well that's just great! Way to go Scott!" Kitty huffed, folding her arms and glaring at him with her cheeks puffed out.
"What?" Scott asked, confused as to what was happening.
Rogue lay back on the sofa, trying to enjoy the fading warmth where Remy's body had been, but it wasn't the same as having his chest for a pillow. She'd never really used anyone as a pillow before. He didn't seem to mind her somehow leaning more into him till she was near lying on him rather than the actual sofa.
"So, you decided to watch every movie genre possible in the space of an hour?" Scott asked, having now been filled in by Kurt and Kitty as to what they were up to.
"Well duh! It's not, like, we can just ask him what he likes." Kitty said.
Scott actually laughed at that. "Well that's dumb. Of course you can ask him."
"We tried asking him before and the dude totally gave us the brush off!" Kurt said.
"Yeah," Kitty backed up.
Scott just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Just explain why you want to know. It's not like having a favourite movie genre is a big deal. Well, not unless it's embarrassing."
"Maybe try asking him again," Jean suggested.
Rogue chewed the inside of her cheek as she thought about what Jean and Scott were saying. Henri had the same advice. Rogue decided what the hell, got up off the sofa and left the room almost unnoticed.
Rogue made her way up to Remy's room and stood in front of his door. For some reason, she felt nervous. Kicking herself for being so stupid, Rogue knocked on his door and waited for it to open. It didn't take long for him to answer. Remy opened the door, smiling down at her.
"Bonsoir, an' what do I owe de pleasure?" he asked.
"Actually, ah'm just here ta ask ya a question," Rogue said, folding her arms and trying to build up her courage to ask one small, stupid question.
She didn't like how Remy's half smirk appeared on his face.
"Then ask away, but make it snappy. I was just 'bout t' put on a movie," he said, stepping aside so Rogue could enter his room.
"Movie?" Rogue questioned with a raised eyebrow. She took a step into Remy's room and then noticed a TV at the end of his bed on a stand. That wasn't there before when they were checking out his room.
"Oui," he said, closing the door behind her and moving over to his bed where he took a seat and pulled the bowl of popcorn he had on his bedside table onto his lap. He picked up the remote and started to play the video. "Y' wanna join?" he asked Rogue, glancing her way.
"Ah, erm," Rogue said, staring at the TV screen, waiting for a movie to play. The screen was just black at the moment.
"Were you gonna ask a question, cherie?" Remy asked her.
Rogue ended up finding herself sat on the edge of Remy's bed, still trying to watch the screen.
"Oh yeah, right. Ah was just wondering, well, erm… is that Henri?" Rogue questioned as something finally popped onto the screen. It looked like an old video recording of two boys sat playing in front of the LeBeau manor house. The boy with long brown hair and a bit of chub to his cheeks just looked so much like Henri, it was uncanny.
"Oui, dat be him. We be 'round eight and six," Remy said.
"We?" Rogue questioned.
Then, the other little boy turned his head around and Rogue recognised the black and red eyes instantly. Remy watched Rogue from where he lay against his pillows. Slowly, Rogue's lips curved upwards and a sparkle entered her eye as she watched the younger version of himself get up off the grass and make his way over to Tante Mattie who was holding the camera.
"Is that you?" Rogue questioned in disbelief, already knowing the answer.
"Oui, I be one charmin' garcon back then, non?" he said, his resting smirk increasing.
"Ah-huh. So what happened? Ya lose your charm at a bus stop or somethin'?" Rogue teased, kicking her boots off once more that day and curling her legs up under her as she reached for some popcorn. She was definitely going to enjoy this movie.
He just chuckled at her wit as she made herself comfortable and resumed her concentration on the movie.
"Never lost it. Y' had somet'in' y' wanted to ask, cherie?" Remy asked once again.
"Actually, it was a dumb question," Rogue said, never turning away from the screen.
It was an unspoken conversation, but Rogue had worked out what his favourite type of movie was and why he was so reluctant to tell anyone. She actually felt privileged to be invited in to see what she did. To learn what she now knew.
Rogue was completely submerged in watching the clown at Remy's tenth birthday party. She watched many things happen in his past, like when he visited Paris for the first time and when he, Henri and his cousin's played a prank on Tante they'd soon live to regret. Rogue had seen glimpses of these memories in her head, but it was nice to see them so clearly like this. When she'd absorbed Remy in the past, it had just been a whisper of a voice from one memory, or a brief image of a balloon from another or a strong smell of liquor from yet another. It was never as clear an image as this, probably because she'd never held on to him that long when she did absorb him.
By the time Rogue was onto watching Remy's first major heist as a junior, she noticed how she'd ended up sat right beside Remy rather than a few inches in front of him. Her back was against the pillows with his and their sides were pressed together even with the popcorn in-between them. Remy had been taking popcorn every so often and the interruption of his searching hands must have driven her backwards. They both knew being this close was dangerous, but again, Remy seemed comfortable and relaxed being this close. Rogue just figured why should she care if he didn't and went back to watching the home movies.
The next clip that appeared though took her by surprise.
"Wait," Rogue said, sitting up straight now as the person's face started to come into focus on the video, "is that meh?"
"Keep watchin' and you'll see, non?" Remy breathed in her ear.
Rogue shivered under his words, not realising he'd sat up to watch this part with her. She was so fixated on watching herself on Remy's tv, she hardly reacted to Remy wrapping his arms around her lower waist and locking them together over her stomach. After whispering in her ear, Remy placed his on her shoulder, letting it rest there.
"Then smile for me," Remy's voice said off camera as he had it facing the side of her face. "T'ink back t' when we kicked everyone's butts in dat first danger room session we ran together. Logan's run. No one had beat it 'fore us, 'member?" he said off camera.
They both watched Rogue smirk like a temptress on video.
"Yeah, ah remember swamp rat," she said, huffing. "Wasn't that long ago after all. Had ta find a way ta help ya fit in somehow."
"Why'd ya have a video of meh in here?" the real Rogue asked him.
Remy turned his head slightly to glance at the real Rogue before him.
"Y' be part of mon past, cherie. An' mon present. And I very much expect y' gonna be part of mon future, non? Why not have a video with you in here?" he asked.
"Well, cause ah'm not… Ah'm not really, well…"
"Y' really t'ink Tante would buy what y' be t'inkin' there? Or how's 'bout Henri, hmmm?" Remy questioned.
Rogue pulled forwards away from him, but he still kept his grip around her waist. She didn't much care about his arms. She wanted to see his face.
"They've barely known meh five seconds. An' you, ya don't know me at all!" Rogue snapped at him.
Remy tilted his head to the side, exposing his neck to Rogue as he said, "Then that just means we get time t' learn 'bout one another, non?"
Rogue kept his gaze as their voices sounded off in the background. She wasn't too sure what to say or do with that information. Although, she did wonder if it could been seen in her face how just how touched and comforted she was to hear him say that.
"Mon famile like y' an' want t' get t' know y'. You really gonna tell Tante no?" he questioned.
He watched Rogue search for an answer, but was sure she was fighting a losing battle.
"Even if they did, it doesn't feel right havin' meh in your home movies 'bout your family," Rogue said, glancing at herself smiling a little at Remy behind the camera.
"It be mon home movie, chérie. I put in it what I want an' take out what I don't," he said, knowing by how Rogue refused to meet his eyes that he'd won.
"So, you like makin' home movies? Watchin' em?" Rogue asked, wanting the attention to be off her as she slowly eased back into Remy's chest.
"Oui," Remy said, turning back to watch the same video she was. He was rather glad Rogue repositioned herself the way she had. It was much more comfortable this way. "Mon life be tres excitin'. Ain't really got no time f' movies or stuff. 'sides, if I want t' see an action movie, so t' speak, then I could just look back at des videos. Least I know I'm gonna love de lead performer," he said, his own chuckle tapping against Rogue's back.
He heard Rogue snort at that.
Remy slowly leaned back, taking Rogue with him, so his back could oonce again be supported the pillows. He reckoned, because he moved slowly, that was once of the reasons why Rogue didn't kick up a fuss. Slow and steady seemed to be her pace when it came to physical contact. Fast and heated seemed to have her jumping away faster than a dog could chase a bone.
"Hold up, what was that!" Rogue demanded to know sitting up straighter, out of his arms.
Remy grimaced as she moved. Then, his eyes flickered over to the tv to see what caused her reaction. He chuckled as he reached out for the remote control. As he began to rewind it, he sat up and let once arm slip back around Rogue's mid section.
"Y' don't remember dis?" he whispered in her ear, unable to stop himself from teasing her.
The video played again. It was a video of the two of them taken from a high angle. Remy had just tossed Rogue over him and was looking around for her, when she just seemed to walk up behind him and kiss him till he fell to the floor. Rogue's mouth had dropped open.
"No! No, ah don't remember this! When the heck did this happen?" she demanded to know.
"When Mesmero took control over y' mind. Everyone else, y' tapped with ya pinky, but me, y' kissed." Remy said, then pressed a rather harsh kiss into her shoulder so she could feel it through the fabric of her clothes.
When he glanced back up at her, her eyes were still wide and her mouth dropped open from shock.
"Y' sure y' don't remember what be goin' through your mind?" he whispered close to her ear.
"Obviously not!" Rogue snapped, grabbing and ripping Remy's hands from around her waist so she could move. "It looks like ah just took the openin' ya so clearly left open swamp rat. Ya might wanna work on your defence there."
"You gonna teach mon?" he teased.
Rogue tsked as she rolled her eyes at him and went to leave his room.
Remy got a hold of her gloved hand, haulting her before she could run off.
"Gonna have t' teach mon how t' give a knock out kiss like dat too," he said, raising a suggestive eyebrow.
At this point, he really did have no control over his teasing.
Rogue actually smirked. "Ha, guess ya either got it or ya don't swamp breath. Now," she said, pulling her hand free from his hold, "let meh go 'fore ah make ya see stars."
"Movie ain't over yet chérie. Unless you wanna add more to it?" Remy suggested.
Rogue shuck her head at him as she scooped up her boots.
"Ah think there's been enough recordin' for one day," sh said. When Rogue was by his door, she stopped to say, "Oh an' as long as ya keep that footage of us secret an' warn meh when ya recordin', ah'll keep your secret."
"Secret, huh? And what secret be that?" Remy asked.
Rogue's smile just grew as she shuck her head and left the room. Of course Remy would make it seem like his favourite type of movie wasn't a guilty pleasure.
Xxxxx
"So, did you, like, ask him?" Kitty questioned Rogue as she caught her in the kitchen cleaning a glass.
"Ask who what?" Rogue said, lost in her own thoughts.
"Remy! Of course. Did you ask him what kind of movie he likes or what?" Kitty questioned.
Rogue blushed a little before filling the glass with water and saying: "Nope an' at this point, ah don't think anyone will ever know if they don't already," before taking her glass and leaving a dissatisfied Kitty behind.
xxxxx
French Traslation:
Chérie - Darling
Garcon - Boy
Á plus tard - See you Later
Un Souris - A Mouse
Mon portable - My Phone
Oui - Yes
Mon éconmiseur d'écran - My Screensaver
Belle Femme - Beautiful Woman
Pour Moi - For Me
Bonjour - Hello
Petite - Small One
Famille - Family
Tres - Very