Birthday Dash
Bib:
Jean's birthday is right around the corner and all the X-Men are heading out to the mall to do some last minute shopping. Only, two particular residants are finding it quite difficult to find a gift.
Story:
Rogue swore under her breath as she realised the time. Jumping straight up out of her bed, she rushed to throw some clothes and make-up on. As she dashed out of her room, Rogue gasped, almost screaming as she ran straight into Remy.
Remy had put his arms out beside her in order to catch her encase she fell.
"Jez, what've ah told ya 'bout sneakin'!" Rogue snapped at him.
"Well, bonne matin t' y' to-" Remy went to say, but Rogue cut him off.
"Forget it, ah'm late," she said, taking off down the hallway, leaving him behind.
Of course, Remy followed her, curious.
When Rogue got down to the garage, she realised all of the cars had been taken.
"Awww, great!" she muttered, running her hands through her hair.
"Probleme, chérie?" Remy asked.
Rogue jumped once again, spinning to glare at Remy.
"Ah told y' not t'-"
"Didn't realise I had t' announce it when I walk in une communal area," he said, raising his eyebrow at her.
Rogue just huffed and glanced away from him.
"Y' were supposed t' be goin' out wit' dem all, non?" he asked, glancing past Rogue at the near empty garage.
"Yeah. Ah slept in an' they took off without meh," Rogue said.
"An' that's why y' be in a mood?" Remy asked.
"Ah'm not in a mood!" Rogue snapped at him.
Remy just stared at her.
"Alright, finah! Ah'm mad that they left without meh!" Rogue said, folding her arms over her chest. "They knew ah needed help figurin' out Jean's birthday present, but no one bothered ta wake meh up."
"Well standin' here ain't gonna get y' any closer t' findin' de gift," Remy said, moving past Rogue and over to his bike.
Rogue watched Remy straddle his ride and hold out a helmet to her.
"Allons-nous voler?" he asked.
Rogue tried to hold back her snort, but moved to take the helmet and jumped on the back of his bike.
Xxxxx
"Where are they?" Rogue muttered under her breath as she glanced around the mall rapidly.
"Maybe up der?" Remy said, pointing at a shop that had a bright pink display up.
Rogue growned, knowing why Remy had suggested that shop, but approached it nonetheless. As Rogue stormed off in a hurry towards the shop, Remy slowly made his way after her. The bright pink shop was exactly where Rogue found Kitty.
Kitty was laughing with Jubilee just as she was leaving the store. One turn of her head as she stepped foot outside of the store and a very annoyed, very irritated Rogue was stood before her.
"Rogue?" Kitty choaked out, seeming rather stunned to see her. "Like, it's about time you got here." She recovered. "Where were you?"
"Someone didn't wake meh up an' took off without meh," Rogue said, arms folded, her glare still locked on Kitty who chuckled nerviously.
"Oopse, my bad," Kitty said.
"Nevah mind," Rogue said, rolling her eyes. "Now, what can ah get Jean for her birthday?"
Rogue's face dropped as Kitty's face went blank.
"Oh, yeah, erm," Kitty said, scratching the back of her head and glancing at Jubilee who looked just as guilty. "Well, we kinda finished our shopping already."
"That's finah. Just tell meh what ta get her," Rogue said.
"Erm," Kitty said, her eyes looking everywhere but at Rogue. "Well, you see…"
"We've gone through all the stores and there's really not much in at this time," Jubilee said, filling in for Kitty.
"Yeah," Kitty said. "And, like, whenever we did find something good, Kurt or Amara or someone would pick it up and buy it for themselves."
"So, what are ya sayin'?" Rogue asked, staring at Kitty confused.
"Well, I guess the best thing you can do at this point is just shop around," Kitty said.
"Shop around?" Rogue questioned. "Ain't there anythin' specific ya can suggested ta get Jean?"
"I'm sorry Rogue, but I'm, like, all out of ideas. I struggled to even help Jubs find something." Kitty said.
Rogue sighed, feeling her day become even more stressful.
"Finah! Then we'll shop around. What is it that everyone else has bought Jean anyway? Ya gonna have ta point em out so ah don't go buyin' the same thing." Rogue said.
Kitty turned to glance at Jubilee again as if they were having a private conversation between each other.
"What?" Rogue growled.
"Well, we already promised to grab a bite with everyone and see a movie," Jubilee said.
"You can do that later," Rogue said. "Right now, ah need ya help."
"I'm sorry Rogue, but I promised to go. Plus, I really want to see this movie before the mall closes, you know?" Kitty said.
For a time, Rogue just stared at Kitty, then she blinked and her anger bubbled.
"Finah then!" she snapped. "Go see ya stupid movie. Who needs ya," And with that, Rogue stormed off and left Kitty and Jubilee behind.
Both Jubilee and Kitty watched Rogue storm away. It was only as she did that they noticed Remy had been leaning against the shop wall, arms folded, seeming at ease as he watched their whole conversation play out. Only, his face spoke different volumes in comparison to his body. His resting smirk had gone as he watched Rogue storm past him. His eyes went back to linger on the pair, disappointment clearly within them before he straightened up and followed after Rogue.
Jubilee and Kitty turned to each other, both looking uneasy and upset at the look they'd just received off the guy they had a crush on.
Xxxxx
"Doesn't seem like t'ings be goin' your way," Remy said, as he came to walk beside Rogue.
"Really? Whatever gave ya that idea?" Rogue asked bitterly.
"Y' know, I t'ink I might have une idée 'bout who can help y'," Remy said.
This made Rogue stop in her tracks and turn to face him with a sceptical look.
"Ah-huh, an' who might that be? You?" she asked.
Remy's smirk only grew as he took a step closer to Rogue.
"Now now chérie, it gonna cost y'," he said.
Rogue snorted at that.
"Seriously?"
Remy said nothing, just stared at her, waiting. Sighing, Rogue glanced away, looking at all the possible shops around her that she could go in. But it was getting late and they would all be closing soon. She didn't have time to shop in all of them and she also had to figure out what the other's had bought Jean so she didn't buy the same thing. Realising she was running out of options, she turned back to look at Remy.
"Finah. What's it gonna cost?" she asked.
Remy struggled, "Didn't know Jean's birthday be comin' up moi même. I share dis source wit' y', then y' gonna wrap mon gift for Jeanie, make it look all nice an' such."
"That's it?" Rogue asked, raising her eyebrow at him.
"Well, if mon source dun't come through, then we both gonna struggle through. We either help each other o' we sink, non?" Remy said, taking out his phone and pressing a few buttons.
Rogue still stared at Remy in disbelief as he typed in his phone. Shaking her head though, she thought anything was better than nothing at this point.
"Finah. Ya got a deal swamp rat. Now who's ya source?" Rogue asked as she watched Remy lift his phone up to his ear.
He smiled as he heard something on the other end and then passed the phone over to her.
"See for y'self," he said.
Rogue took the phone off Remy, glancing at him questioningly as she lifted the phone up to her ear and said hello.
"Been a while, non, chére?" came Merci's honey voice on the other end of the phone.
"Merci?" Rogue called out, eyes wide with surprise as the southern voice came down the line.
"One an' only. So what y' an' dat coquin be up t' now? Somethin' tell moi dis ain't just a catch up call," Merci said.
Rogue's beaming smile began to faulter a little bit. She had felt a slight ting of guilt that she had forgotten all about Merci and her shopping skills, but she was also extactic once she realised she had a saviour. Then, when Merci brough up Remy, that was when her smile started to dip slightly.
She glanced at him from out of the corner of her eyes, guessing what she'd see and, low and behold, their was Remy, looking smug as ever as he watched her hold the phone to her ear. At seeing his cocky, smug face, Rogue couldn't help but let out a snort. Her smile grew large once more as she shuck her head. She guessed he had every right to be cocky. How the heck could she have forgot about Merci.
Rogue turned to back to Remy as she explained the problem to Merci as best and as quickly as she could since she was aware all the shops were going to close. She then explained Jean's personality.
"So, ya think ya can help us out?" Rogue asked.
"Hmmm, I t'ink I might have somethin' so long as y' famille ain't bought it," Merci said.
Rogue sighed, knowing that would be the issue, especially if Kitty had been struggling with the same issue.
"There be dis coat I saw which I actually been eyein' up for a while. Mais alors, I found a better one. Dis coat I be t'inkin' of, it be tres glamour wit' a fur collar dat makes y' feel like royalty. Do y' have une Chut Boutique 'round y'?" Merci asked.
"Errr, ah don't think ah've ever heard of it," Rogue said.
She saw Remy reach out his hand and signal for the phone.
"Where it be?" he asked Merci. "Oui, there be one. One'a your ladies down dis way? Bien, dat'll do. Thanks," Remy said before hanging up the phone and putting it in his pocket.
"Well?" Rogue snapped, feeling herself becoming more stressed as she watched one of the shutters come down on a store behind him.
"We be headin' outta here chérie," Remy said, turning and walking away.
"Headin' out?" Rogue questioned. "What'd ya mean headin' out? Where we goin'?"
"The place we need ain't in here. We best hurry though. It ain't gonna stay open much longer dan dis place," Remy said, continuing to walk off and expecting Rogue to follow after him, which she did.
Xxxxx
Rogue was a little confused when she noticed the streets Remy was driving them around. She knew the area, but didn't have much experience in it since there was nothing she ever needed from this side of town.
"Just where is it we're goin'?" Rogue called out to Remy just as he began to pull over.
"We be here," he said, taking off his helmet.
Rogue followed suit, climbing off the bike and following him as he approached a store with large glass windows with manikins in it. Rogue watched him head straight to the door which had a closed sign on it. Rogue sighed as she watched Remy peer in.
"It's closed Remy," Rogue said, frowning and folding her arms. Remy began knocking on the door. "Face it, we just missed our shot at getting' Jean anythin'," Rogue said.
But Remy kept a smile on his face as he watched one of the three women approach the front door. Rogue watched too as the woman opened to door and smiled at him.
"Well I'll be," the woman said, her Cajun accident surprising Rogue. "Whatcha doin' down these parts Remy LeBeau?"
Then it made sense for Rogue. Remy dodged the woman's question and went straight into asking her for a favour; to keep the store open a little longer for them. That was when he brought her into the conversation. This woman, Delphine, had eyed Rogue up and down with some sort of wicked humour behind her eyes. But she reached out to shake Rogue's gloved hand and told them they had ten minutes before they closed shop. This brought a smile to Rogue's face.
As they entered the shop though, Rogue remembered why she hardly ever visited this part of Bayville.
"Erm, Remy. Ah might have forgot ta mention ta Merci that ah have a budget," she whispered to him.
"Don't sweat it chérie," Remy said, smiling down at her.
His response, however, only made Rogue's eyes go sharp.
"Oh no," she whispered angrily. "Ya not stealin'! It's supposed t' be a gift you're gettin'. When it comes to a gift, ya make sacrifices an' save up ta get someone somethin' ta show em that they actually mean somethin' to ya. That an' then stealin' from a woman who's just saved our butts ain't right" Rogue said.
"Weren't talkin' 'bout de five finger discount," Remy said, losing his smile.
Rogue wondered why Remy's glance had suddenly become a little harsh, but it was gone within a flash.
"I more be t'inkin' dat we go halves on a gift, non?" he said.
Rogue blinked a couple of times before what Remy said hit home. She glanced around at the visible price tags, seeing everything was double or more over her budget. But it was the only shop that was going to be open and Jean's birthday was tomorrow.
Sighing, Rogue said "That seems fair."
Remy then proceeded to walk off towards Delphine who had placed herself behind the counter. Rogue followed behind him, feeling a little guilty about what she had said since it felt like he was now giving her the cold shoulder.
Remy talked with Delphine about the coat Merci had been describing. Delphine seemed to know which coat he was talking about and had to go to the back to fetch it.
"Why don't y' take a look around?" he said to Rogue, finally giving her attention again. "See if there be anyt'in' y' like."
Rogue wanted to snort at that, but held it. Hesitantly, she went to look at some of the clothes hung up on the rackes. Remy stayed where he was by the counter, waiting for Delphine.
"Here we are," Delphine said, coming back with the coat drapped over her arm. "She gonna look étourdissante in dis. Let's see it on her," she said, going to move from behind the counter towards Rogue.
Remy put his hand up to stop her from moving.
"It ain't be for her. Need y' t' do moi one last favour, petite. Remove de tag an' don't tell her de price," he said.
Delphine raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow at him and had a grim line set upon her lips.
"Y' shoppin' for another femme wit' de woman y' interested in? I'd be. Seem like y' romancin' skills be goin' down de drain sharply, garcon," Delphine said.
"It's a gift for her ami." Remy explained, glancing over his shoulder at Rogue to make sure she was still out of ear shot. "She been strugglin' t' find anyt'in' all day. Tell her it come t' forty wit' discount. I'll pay de rest."
Delphine's sharp brow turned soft as he began to put the pieces together.
"Y' couldn't care less 'bout dis friend'a hers, could y'?" Delphine asked.
Remy shrugged his shoulders.
"She be une personne gentile," Remy said.
Delphine shuck her head as she began to price in the coat. Rogue, noticing Delphine, came back to the counter.
"See anyt'in' y' like?" Remy asked her.
"Erm, no, not really. Ah mean, everythin' in here's nice, but not really mah style," Rogue said, blushing as she glanced from Delphine to the floor.
"Der y' are. Dat be forty bucks," Delphine said.
Rogue raised her eyebrow at this as she glanced down at the coat in her arms.
"Forty?" Rogue question.
"Oui, Merci gets une discount here an' she wants y' t' use it," Delphine said.
"Oh," Rogue muttered, glancing at Remy who seemed at ease.
"Twenty each be alright?" he asked her.
"Erm, yeah," Rogue said, reaching for her bag and handling over her money.
Remy paid his part last, handing his card over to Delphine, letting her charge whatever amount she wanted on his card.
"There y' are. All set," Delphine said, handing the bag over to Rogue.
Rogue smiled and took the bag from her. Delphine was insistant that Rogue and Remy pay her a visit again soon before she headed back to New Orleans later than month. Rogue found herself agreeing to go for coffee and a meal with Delphine and Remy, even though she barely knew the woman.
When they were out of the store, Rogue glanced down into the bag, a large smile appearing on her face as she properly took in the coat.
"Everyt'in' alright?" Remy asked her.
"Yeah, finah. Everything's finah." Rogue said, showing Remy her smile.
"Ah doubt anyone would'a bought Jean something like this." Rogue said, looking smug as she took the helmet Remy offered her.
"Non, they didn't seem t' look past dat mall of there's. Y' t'ink Jeanie's gonna like it?" he asked, waiting for Rogue to climb on the back of his bike.
"She'll love it. Ah just hope no one figures out where we got it from or there's gonna be a lot of questions asked which ah don't think either of us wants ta answer," Rogue said.
"Oh, how so?" Remy asked.
"Well for one, if Kitty knew how much ah just spent on Jean's present, she'd be expectin' the same amount spent on her. If not, more. Ah ain't made'a money swamp rat. An' ah certainly don't think Kitty's earned as nice a present as Jean has."
Remy chuckled at that as he felt Rogue's arms wrap around him.
"There anyone else y' t'ink deservin' of a gift like Jeanie's?" Remy asked her.
"Just drive swamp rat. Ah still got ta wrap the thing for us an' sneak it in ta the mansion without anyone seein'," Rogue said.
"Dat second part won't be une problem, chérie. Y' be wit' de prince'a thieves after all," Remy said, before taking off.
Xxxxx
Jean's birthday rolled around like clockwork. Rogue was sat on the far side of the living room, watching people give their gifts to Jean. So far, no coats had appeared.
"Hey, Rogue," Kitty said, catching Rogue's attention.
Rogue glanced up at Kitty, seeing her stood with her head slightly down and an uncomfortable look on her face.
"I'm, like, really sorry about yesterday. I totally didn't mean to ditch you and all," Kitty said.
Rogue watched Kitty scratch the back of her head and turn away from meeting her eyes. Rogue sighed inwardly to herself, going over what actually happened yesterday.
"Don't worry 'bout it," Rogue finally said.
This brought a chipper smile to Kitty's face.
"So, like, did you manage to find anything?" she asked.
"Yeah, Remy's supposed ta be bringin' it down soon," Rogue said, glancing around the living room, noticing that Remy still hadn't arrived.
"Oh?" Kitty said. Rogue didn't notice that Kitty's face had paled quite a bit and her bottom lip had fallen open. "Why does he have your gift for Jean?"
Rogue shrugged, turning her attention back to Kitty.
"He said he'd keep it safe, an' who bettah than a thief?" Rogue said, taking a sip of her drink.
"I guess," Kitty said, trailing off and giving Rogue an odd look.
Remy then slipped onto the sofa beside Rogue, his arm finding it's way around Rogue's waist as he said: "Sorry I'm late. What's de verdic so far?" he asked.
Rogue glanced back at where Jean had been opening her presents to see Bobby's gift for her. It was lipstick which was a nice gift, but it looked like Bobby said something that made Jean unsteady and Scott look pissed.
"So far, so good," Rogue replied.
Kitty had been glancing from Rogue to Remy, back and forth, as if something wasn't making sense. Then, she glanced down at the large bag Remy had brought with him and placed between himself and Rogue.
"Wait, are you two, like, sharing a gift?" Kitty asked, her voice becoming higher in pitch.
Both set of eyes glanced her way.
"We found somethin', but we had ta go halfs on it," Rogue explained.
"Probleme, petite?" Remy asked Kitty, looking as if he had made himself at home beside Rogue.
"Oh, erm," Kitty said, glancing between Rogue and Remy who seemed to be missing what it was Kitty was getting at. "No, not at all. I, erm, I best go find Jubs. I think we're up next," she said before walking away.
"Well that was weird," Rogue said as she watched Kitty go to Jubilee.
"Oui. Was she tryna catch a glimpse o' what we got?" Remy asked Rogue, having a good idea as to what was really going through Kitty's mind when it came to her questioning them. What she might have been thinking when it came to her realising they were giving their gift together as a couple didn't bother Remy in the slightest. He wasn't sure if Rogue would agree, but, either way, it'd be fun to watch the fireworks go off if that rumour did spread. He was rather surprised it hadn't already. And if canonfire wasn't sounded by Rogue, then, he reckoned that would be even more interesting.
"Ah don't think so. She neva really asked," Rogue said, watching Kitty mutter something into Jubilee's ear that shocked her. Jubilee glanced their way, then made a show of trying to look like she hadn't been caught staring at them.
Rogue decided to drop figuring out whatever was going on with the two girls. They'd been distant and acting strangly towards her ever since they visited the arcade that one time. She wondered if them tagging along with Remy during that time had somehow changed something between them and her.
Rogue turned to glance at Remy, wondering what hand he might have played when it came to the other girl's giving her a wide berth. He just smiled at her, his face giving nothing away. And, as she knew by now, his words wouldn't tell her anything either.
Rogue sat back into the sofa and into Remy's arm, folding hers over her chest as they watched Jubilee and Kitty present their gift to Jean.
"So why was gettin' little miss sunshine over there a gift so important?" Remy asked Rogue, getting closer to her ear. "Dun't seem like she be y' favourite person."
"Ah guess not," Rogue said, dropping her eyes from Jean when she saw what Kitty and Jubilee had got her. "It's just, well, even though we're completely different an' don't always see eye ta eye, she's always there for meh if ah need her. Always makes sure ah get somethin' on mah birthday. Always tries ta make sure ah have a good time. Just feels wrong not ta repay her when she tries her best ta reach out ta meh."
"Point taken," Remy said, his soft smile rising as Rogue returned it. He began to draw circles into her side, her top lifting ever slightly and making him feel tempted to experience what touching that smooth, untouched part of her would feel like. "T'ink we best not keep de lady waitin' then, non?" Remy said, moving his arm out from behind Rogue and reaching towards the gift bag he placed in her lap.
Rogue was a little taken back by the abupt movement, but Remy needed to move away, knowing what he was like and knowing he really would take that risk if he let his hand continue their wanderings of Rogue's side. He stood up and held his hand out to Rogue. Rogue raised her eyebrow at him and stood up with the bag without taking his hand.
As they approached Jean, Remy couldn't resist reaching out and placing his hand on the small of Rogue's back. He felt her spin go stiff but, as they were stood in front of Jean, she didn't say anything.
"Hey Jean," Rogue said, capturing Jean's attention from Scott who was sat right beside her. "This is from me and Remy," she said, holding the bag out.
"Joyeux anniversaire beauté," Remy said, forcing a smile.
Scott didn't hide his dismay at Remy calling his girlfriend beautiful and gaining her attention.
"Oh, thank you," Jean said, taking the present and glancing between the two, almost in question.
She opened the bag and pulled out the coat.
"Oh whoa," Jean muttered as she continued to pull the lengthy coat out of the bag and stand up with it. "It's beautiful!" Jean said, holding the coat up against her body. "Where did you get this?" Jean asked the pair.
Quite a few eyes had turned their way and were staring at the coat that looked very rich.
"You didn't steal it, did you?" Scott asked, placing his head on his hand and frowning deeply as he glanced at Remy
"Scott!" Jean muttered in a high, warning voice.
"No, we didn't!" Rogue said, folding her arms and glaring at Scott. "An' just from this market place we found. Ah'm not too sure if it's really your style with the fur an' all, but at least it'll keep ya warm durin' winter if ya need a bigger coat."
"I love it! Thank you both," Jean said, putting the coat on and getting a feel for it.
"No probs," Rogue said, lifting her arm as if to wave. "Well, enjoy your birthday. Ah'm sure Scott's got somethin' up his sleeve for ya, so we'll leave ya's be."
And with that, Rogue began walking away with Remy right behind her, his hand still on the small of her back.
"Y' managed t' do un excellent travail removin' de label. Y' sure you don't want her knowin' it's designer?" Remy whispered in Rogue's ear.
"Ah'm certain. Oh, an' Remy," Rogue said.
"Oui," Remy said.
In response to his acknowledgement, Rogue elbowed him in the gut which made him drop his hand. "Thank Merci for meh," Rogue said before walking off out of the room with a lot of eyes on her.
Remy just smirked, revealing his teeth as he followed after her.
xxxxx
French Translations
Bonne Matin - Good Morning
Probleme Chérie? - Problem Darling?
Non - No
Allons-nous voler - Let's go Flying
Une idée - An Idea
Moi même - Myself
Chére - Dear
Coquin - Rascul
Famille - Family
Mais alors - But then
Tres glamour - Very glamourous
Oui - Yes
Bien - Good
Étourdissante - Stunning
Petite - Small One
Femme - Woman
Garcon - Boy
Ami - Friend
Une personne gentile - A Nice Person
Joyeux anniversaire beauté - Happy Birthday Beautiful
un excellent travail removin' - A Great Job Removing