28
Gambit had watched Rogue go off towards the X-Men and drag Jean into the living room. He wanted to follow her, but Stacy still had him by the arm and was arguing with Duncan, telling him to leave Gambit alone.
Stacy then began to pull Gambit into the kitchen.
"Just ignore that guy. He's so totally rude and, like, jealous that you're older and hotter!" Stacy said.-
"Don't have to tell me petite. Meet many garcons like him in mon time." Gambit said, feeling uncomfortable for letting Rogue out of his sight.
He was bored with Stacy and just found himself constantly wondering about Rogue. About what she might be doing with that Matthew's boy. He'd slipped away from Stacy when the question got to be too much and what he found he wasn't happy with. Rogue had looked shaken when coming down the stairs. It instantly made him regret taking his eyes off her, fearing the worse. Then, she'd snapped at him which annoyed him. Then, Duncan had turned up, claiming Rogue which had made him see red and forget all his thoughts about Rogue's safety being his top priority even if it was hurting him to still care for her.-
As Stacy went on and on, he found himself replying the scene back in his mind. Rogue kissing Duncan, then brushing him off. Again, here, he found her near running away from him, looking anxious and unnerved. Then she'd just brushed him off again. Something wasn't adding up, Gambit knew. But his emotions were just too great, especially with Stacy and her lust wrapped around his arm. He just couldn't think straight.
Stacy giggled. "You're not that old." She told him, running her finger down his chest.
Gambit grabbed Stacy's hand though and gave it back to her. She looked startled by this. But, honestly, Gambit was becoming impatient. He was supposed to be watching Rogue and he couldn't do that with Stacy wrapped around him all night. Who knew what was happening to her right now? He'd already left her for two seconds and she'd ended up slipping upstairs with Duncan. The thought made him see red, but he was fighting for his logical control. Really, he was.
"I'm gonna go get a drink." Gambit said.
He slipped his way passed many bodies blocking the living room and the kitchen. He stood by the doorway as he watched Rogue talking to Scott on her own. She was leaning on him. Into him. He didn't like it. He felt his emotions flare again. Being around a bunch of drunk teenagers was definitely doing something to his empathy. Heightening his own emotions to the point where they were hard to control. It was hard to control his jealously and think logically. Logically, he guessed she was just doing the task that Magneto had set. When she laughed at something Cyclopes said though, it really pissed him off. He stayed watching her as Duncan caught her by surprise. He didn't like how forceful Duncan was being with her tonight. He decided that he was going to step in when, for some reason, Duncan just walked away from Rogue as fast as he had arrived.
He watched as Summer's was knocked off the balcony and how Duncan made fun of him, getting everyone to run to the edge to see. Unfortunately for him, Stacy appeared again, wrapping her arm around him his shoulders from behind.
"Like, oh my God. Did you like see Scott Summer's fall into the pool! It was hilarious!" Stacy said, laughing as she cuddled up to his side.
Gambit watched Rogue though, seeing how she glared at Risty, then took off outside. She didn't seem to find what was happening amusing. In fact, she looked pissed off. He didn't much like that. He didn't like seeing her upset, but he also didn't like seeing her care for the Summer's guy.
Stacy turned to see what Gambit was watching.
"You really do watch her, huh?" Stacy said, gaining Gambit's attention.
He wanted to follow after Rogue. He guessed she was going to see if she had the chance to touch the One Eye and he wanted to make sure everything went smoothly. But, as soon as Stacy had picked up on him watching Rogue, he became uncomfortable.
"Come again?" he asked.
"You watch her. Like a big brother. You know nothing bad's gonna happen to her, right?" Stacy said.
Gambit turned to see that Rogue had left. No, he didn't know that. He wanted to rush to her side and make sure nothing bad happened. Wanted to steal her away and make her want only him. To make her admit that she didn't care for Duncan or Scott. That she only cared for him. To hear her say she was sorry and that he was the only guy for her.
"You know that you watch her too much right? Almost to the point where it's creepy and kinda stalkerish?" Stacy said, trying her best to get his attention. She was frustrated that Gambit's attention had been away from her all night.
"Ain't a stoker. Just cautious." Gambit said, going to walk after Rogue, but Stacy pulled him back.
"You know that she was slagging you off in school for bein' so overbearing right?" Stacy demanded to know.
Gambit frowned at that, not liking where Stacy was taking this. Reminding him of a time where Rogue had moved to hurt him like she had today once before. It was making him question himself. Making him question why he should care about her when all he had done was give and give to her and she just continued to spit it back I his face.
"Oui, she told me. We sorted it out." He said, trying to pull his hand away from Stacy, but she was just so clingy. He wouldn't be able to get rid of her without being rough.
"Really? Because you've been running off after her all night rather than just relaxing and enjoying yourself!" Stacy stressed.
Gambit wasn't too sure what to do. Did he pull away from Stacy and go after Rogue, but then, get the reputation for being overbearing? He had a feeling, by the way Stacy was glaring at him, she was already plotting to start spreading some nasty rumours around about him. Rumours that Rogue had worked hard to fix. Rumours that could hurt her while she was in school and he couldn't do anything about. Gambit was really starting to regret entering this party, invited. If he would have just snuck around like usual, then he wouldn't be in this situation. What did he do? Go after Rogue to try and provide her support right now, or stay with Stacy and keep her content so she didn't start spreading rumours and making Rogue's life hell?
Gambit placed his hand on the back of Stacy's back and turned her away, leading her back into the living room.
"Fine petite. I'll relax. But you know, a part of me can never relax unless I be certain Rogue's happy." He said, knowing it was almost the truth.
"Oh relax!" Stacy said again, hitting his hand away as she turned to face him, her chest pressing up against him. "I'll look after her," she said, grabbing Gambit under his chin and pulling him forwards, "And you!" she said just before kissing him.
Gambit was not expecting the kiss. He reached up, taking hold of her hands which were in his hair now. He heard the gasp though before he managed to move Stacy's hands and body off him.
He glanced up just in time to see Rogue turn her back on him and storm out of the front door. Risty chased after Rogue and Duncan stared at him smugly.
"Merde!" Gambit muttered out as he made his way towards the door.
Rogue had definitely walked in at the wrong point.
"Where you rushing off to, huh?" Duncan said, blocking Gambit's way.
Gambit glared at Duncan, but he couldn't see it because of his sun glasses.
"I be leavin' now, just like you asked." Gambit said.
"Remy," Stacy called, pulling on his arm.
Gambit snatched it away as if she burnt him. "I ain't interested, alright?" Gambit snapped at her.
"But… I thought-" she said.
"Well, you thought wrong." Gambit said, then got an idea. He reached out to take Stacy by the shoulders and began pushing her into Duncun's chest. "Here's an idea, why don't you two love birds hook up. Seems like you made for one another."
Duncan opened his folded arms to steady Stacy and himself. While he was doing that, Gambit slipped passed him and outside the house.
He glanced around, managing to see Risty tugging on Rogue's wrist, trying to convince her to stay. Gambit didn't like that. Didn't like the idea of Mystique touching Rogue. But then, he didn't like the idea of Rogue taking off either.
"Rogue!" he called out, walking towards them.
Both glanced at him, Risty's face becoming harsh. Rogue had glanced away from him, not wanting to face him. She just felt so stupid. Why was she in so much pain?
"Rogue, what you saw back there, it weren't what it looked like." Gambit said, reaching out to touch Rogue's arm which made her shiver.
"Ha, you swapping spit with Stacy wasn't what she saw, huh?" Risty said, letting Rogue go and folding her arms as she stepped up closer to Gambit. "Then what were you doing? Giving her the kiss of life?"
Rogue pulled away from both of them and stormed away. Gambit's gaze shifted from glaring at Risty to watching Rogue go. He went to follow her but Risty stepped in front of him.
"I think you've done enough damage." She said, looking pissed at Gambit.
Gambit was losing his temper with the girl in front of him.
"Get outta de way. Dis don't concern you." Gambit said, trying to sidestep her.
"Where it involves Rogue, it does concern me. What? Did you think you could use her? Make her another one of your muppets? She's smarter than that!" Risty said.
Gambit, now realising that Rogue was out of ear shot, moved his head down so his sunglasses began to fall forwards.
"Oui, she is. And she ain't gonna fall for your tricks either, Mystique." Gambit said, his eyes sparking at Risty dangerously. "I know who you really are and you best stay away from her!" he threated.
Rity snorted at that. "Or what? Your gonna follow me around with those hideous eyes of yours? Or, better yet, tell Rogue who I am? In fact, if you know who I am, then why haven't you?" Risty asked, smirking wickedly.
"What makes you think-"
Gambit was interrupted by the sound of a bike engine. His head shot up as he saw Rogue shot by on his bike.
"Merde!" he swore, ignoring Risty and running to where all the other cars were parked up.
Risty stared after Rogue, feeling a little uneasy that she'd let her drink so much now that she was driving. Soon after, the sounds of another engine started and Risty watched as Gambit drove a stolen car after Rogue. Risty watched him go, thinking about what to do. As she did, she changed her form back to her blue one.
Irene had told her not to force Rogue to come back with them or push her into the decision harshly. If she did that, it would mean that Rogue would continue to run and Mystique knew she couldn't chase her forever. But, she didn't trust that Cajun around her daughter. She could see he'd already had an effect on her and she was scared Rogue would actually fall for his charms. That was why she had changed her form into Rogue's and kissed that disgusting Duncan Matthew's boy in front of Gambit. She needed to do what she could to keep the two a part or she could risk losing Rogue to that stupid Cajun forever.
He was pretty sharp after all, but not sharp enough. Especially since, like a male, he'd gone straight into trying to make Rogue jealous by kissing another girl, Mystique thought. It had only worked in making Rogue push him away further though, which she was gland. She knew Gambit had been watching her. She'd caught him a few times. Plus, she knew Magneto's tactics after working with him for so long. She found it interesting though that not the master of magnetism nor the wild Cajun had told Rogue who she really was. She was sure if they did tell her, Rogue would trust them more and pull away from her. So why were they not using that to their advantage?
"Hello Mystique," came the voice of Magneto.
Mystique smirked, then turned around to face the man himself.
"Late night trip, huh?" Mystique asked, her smirk growing, "Or were you simply doing your own dirty work watching my daughter?" Mystique asked.
"Your daughter came to me of her own free will. A will that wished to be as far away from you as possible. I do not need to watch her as I know she will return to me." Magneto said, enjoying gloating. He knew it was petty, but Mystique had forced his hand in the first place.
"Ha!" Mystique said, folding her arms and still holding her smirk, "That's interesting. If you believe she will run from me then why haven't you told her who I truly am?" Mystique asked.
"I do not need to explain myself to you." Magneto said, raising higher in the sky.
"I think you were watching my daughter. She's a hard one to control, isn't she? I bet you're having trouble keeping her under lock and key more than I did." She said.
Magneto snorted at that, knowing he was blackmailing Rogue into staying, but he did not want to reveal that to Mystique.
"It appears I am handling Rogue better than you ever did. Know this Mystique, the reason why I am here is to warn you. Your daughter is happy with me and her powers are growing tremendously. Do not interfere or I will destroy you!" then, he took to the sky, leaving Mystique in the dust. But something about her, about what she said, just rubbed him the wrong way.
Xxxxx
Gambit was pissed. Not only couldn't he believe that he let her steal his ride, he let her steal it whilst drunk!
Gambit stepped on the gas, seeing her and drove passed her. The tires shrieked against the road as he twisted the car and came to a stop in front of Rogue. Rogue twisted his bike and breaked as well.
Gambit was out of the car and besides Rogue in an instant. His hands slammed down onto the handlebars, stopping her from just driving off.
"What the hell were you thinkin'!" Gambit snapped at Rogue.
Rogue was taken back by this. He was yelling at her? He was the one who'd lead her on then made out with Stacy.
"Me? You're the one-"
"You coulda gotten yourself killed!" Gambit said, getting in Rogue's face and making her back up more.
What he was saying, it was surprising her. Why did he care? She guessed… because she was just a tool for Magneto and the Acolytes.
Rogue took off her helmet, climbed off the bike. She also fell, but Gambit had caught her and stabled her. Rogue snatched her arm away quickly and began walking away, not wanting to be anywhere near him for more than one reason.
"Rogue!" Gambit snapped at her.
"Go back ta ya cheerleaders, Remy!" Rogue said.
"Seriously? That all you gotta say?" Gambit said, jogging up to her, "You were drunk drivin'. You could have seriously hurt yourself!"
"Why do you care!" she snapped back over her shoulder.
"Rogue… you can't be serious?" Gambit said, grabbing Rogue by her shoulders and pulling her back to face him. Rogue huffed and tried pulling out of Gambit's arms. He didn't think that was a good idea. She was drunk and reckless at the moment. He had no idea what she would do if he just let her go.
"Rogue!" Gambit yelled in her face, becoming somewhat rough with her and shaking her as she tried to escape him again. "For de love of God, Rogue, will you just stop runnin' away from me for one second and talk!"
Gambit was breathing heavily. Rogue had stopped struggling. As Gambit began to take deep breaths and clam down he noticed that Rogue refused to meet his eyes. There were tears in hers. Seeing those tears made him think that yelling at her wasn't doing either of them any good.
"Rogue…" he said, but wasn't too sure what else to say after that.
"Please," Rogue whispered, although, it came out sounding like she was begging, "Let me go." She asked.
This made Gambit's anger spike. She was avoiding him again. He held on to her tighter, scared that any second she was going to do a runner and she'd be gone forever. He had to take a couple of deep breaths through his nose to calm down and close his eyes. He opened them again this time though and looked her directly in the eyes.
"Non, you keep runnin' away from moi. Pushin' me away. I want to know why Rogue. Why you keep pushin' me away? Why'd you…" Gambit felt like beginning sick at just the thought of mentioning Rogue and Duncan's kiss, "run off to Duncan."
"I never ran off ta Duncan." Rogue snorted. She shuck her head then, "I don't have ta answer to you! As soon as I told ya no, you ran off and found the next woman ya could ta try and sleep with."
"Mon dieu, Rogue! How many times I gotta tell you? There be more to it than touch!" Gambit said.
"It always comes down to touch, Remy." Rogue said, shaking her head.
Gambit was trying not to let his anger get the best of him, otherwise, he would have been digging his fingernails into Rogue's shoulders.
He snorted, "Yeah, touch." He scoffed, dropping his hands off Rogue's shoulders. He couldn't even look her in the eyes. "You seemed pretty cosy sharin' a kiss with Duncan earlier."
Rogue's eyebrows came together, confused. "What?" she asked.
Now, Gambit glared at her. Was she really going to play the clueless card?
"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talkin' 'bout! You kissed Duncan! Right in front of me! What? Was that what Mystique taught you to do, huh? Lead a man on. Let him take you on a date then destroy 'em by makin' out with another man right in front of him? Oh, only after you ignore him and push him away so he feels that much more worthless?" Gambit practically hissed at Rogue.
Gambit was taken with his anger. Finally! He was getting to say what he wanted to Rogue and she just looked clueless. He kept watching her. There was no tell-tale signs of her knowing what he was talking about. But she must have known. She kissed Duncan Matthews. He saw it.
"Remy… I haven't… I can't-"
"Can't what? Huh, Rogue? Can't touch? You been caught out in your lie." Gambit then took Rogue's hand and raised it up so it was in front of both of them. He felt Rogue go stiff and try and pull away from him, but he wouldn't let her. He pulled her glove off and held her bare hand in front of their faces, "I know you can control it! You can touch if you want to!" he said, shaking her hand in front of them.
Rogue's eyes were wide in shock and fear coursed through her. She was scared. Really really scared. So much of her bare skin was near Gambit's face and she felt herself just become frozen with fear.
"You could touch me anytime you wanted. But instead you lied to me! To all of us! Told us you couldn't control it and for what? To keep us away? To keep me away? All those things you been sayin' 'bout Mystique, how she forced you to do all those things, was that even true or was that all an act? Has dis whole thing just been one enormous lie?" Gambit demanded to know. He had been given the chance to finally let out all of his anger and frustration from the past two days out and he was taking advantage of that.
"Tell me!" he snapped at Rogue. It was killing him having her just quither and not answer him. Looking scared and confused under his hold. "Tell me!" he snapped again, shaking her hand before them.
That made Rogue's eyes widen further. The fear of him shaking her bare hand and moving it closer to his bare cheek loosened her stiff jaw. "I can't control it! I can't control them! I didn't lie! I've never lied! I can't control them! Please, let me go! Stop!" Rogue said, trying to pull her hand away from Gambit.
Gambit didn't let her go. He pulled her in towards his chest, wrapping his arm around her back, making it harder for her to escape.
"Stop liein'! I saw you with Duncan. Tell me de truth!" he said.
"I am! I am! I have no idea what you're talkin' about! I ain't kissed no one! I can't control ma powers, Remy. Please, I don't want to hurt you." Rogue snapped, a tear rolling down her eye.
Gambit's stare was so cold. She had no idea where he had got this idea that she could touch. That she had kissed Duncan. He just seemed so mad. So unpredictable at this moment that it was terrifying her. Where was the cool, calculating and comforting Gambit she remembered? Who was this man?
"You really don't want to touch me dat bad, huh?" Gambit said coldly. He glanced from Rogue to her hand then back. He snorted, shaking his head in disbelief, "Well, if you really don't wanna hurt me Cherie, then turn them off." Gambit said, moving Rogue's bare hand slowly towards his face.
Rogue began to freak out. She struggled furiously, pushing and pulling against Gambit to try and free her hand.
"No please! Please! I can't control it! Please, please Remy. I don't want to hurt you. No! Stop!" Rogue begged.
Rogue's legs came out from under her as she misplaced her foot while trying to escape from Gambit's hold. She was hysterical. Crying out as if she was in anguish. She'd gone limp in Gambit's hold as she soon gave into the idea that there was nothing she could do to stop him. She was going to absorb him and put him in a coma. Another man she cared about would be gone. Killed by her touch. All she could do was hang there and cry as her monstrous skin killed the man she was falling for.
Gambit had watched Rogue freak out. As soon as she had begun to freak out and panic the way she had he'd stopped moving her hand closer to his face. He just held it in place where it was. He watched her basically fall to her knees, crying. Her reaction… it didn't feel like a lie. He could feel her emotions through his empathy. She was scared. Terrified even. All she had been saying, what she had been saying, none of it seemed to be a lie. None of the emotions she gave off as she told him she couldn't touch seemed like a lie.
He bent down, letting Rogue come more easily to her knees. He still held onto her wrist as she hung her head and wept. This reaction, it wasn't one of a liar. He was confused. It seemed Rogue truly believed she couldn't touch. But… earlier. It just made no sense.
He couldn't stand to see Rogue cry and in as much pain as she was. He let her hand go and touched her shoulders.
"Hey," he said gently, trying to get her attention, "hey, Rogue… look, I'm sorry. I would never force you. Was never gonna. I just needed to know-"
"I-I've never lied to you Remy!" Rogue said through gasps. "I-I've never lied a-about my skin."
Gambit, again, just watched her eye. He felt… sad. Confused. Nothing seemed to be making sense. All he knew was that Rogue was upset and he didn't like it. He wanted to comfort her. But then… she had hurt him.
"How did you kiss Duncan?" Gambit found himself asking.
"I-I never kissed him. I-I can't. I…" Rogue said, choking almost on her tears.
Gambit thought and thought about it. He just didn't believe Rogue was lying to him. Something didn't add up, but he just couldn't believe she was lying.
"Why'd you push me away?" Gambit asked, seeing how Rogue was really struggling to answer his other question. He hoped, maybe he could get an answer to that one.
He heard Rogue take in a breath through her nose to calm herself down. It wasn't an attractive sound, but he didn't care as long as he could get some answers as to why she had hurt him. Why she had pushed him away and chose Duncan over him.
"I…I wasn't ready to… to deal with you… I pushed you away 'cause, well, I couldn't kiss you good night and, I don't know, it felt strange." Rogue said.
Gambit put together where it was Rogue was starting from. He moved his hand back on Rogue's shoulder and said,
"Did you see me get upset when I didn't get a kiss good night? Have you ever seen me be anything, but happy when you even look mon way?" Gambit demanded to know.
Rogue closed her eyes and shuck her head, no.
"I just… I guess it was me." She said.
Gambit took that in. Rogue was upset because she couldn't kiss him, was that what she was saying? If so, that could only be a good thing, right?
"I just needed some time. I just… I had a few things that I needed to figure out and I needed to do it on my own. Then…" Rogue trailed off.
She had moved on the floor so her legs were wrapped up against her chest and she was hugging them. She was rubbing at her watery eyes, trying to stop the tears, but it looked like fresh ones were starting.
"Then what chere?" Gambit asked.
Rogue shuck her head and wiped at her tears. She snorted. "'fore I could even come ta ma senses ya'd moved on ta datin' Stacy." Rogue said, almost spitting Stacy's name out. She felt embarrassed. Humiliated that she'd broke down crying in front of Gambit. She wondered if this was some plan of his to humiliate her. She wouldn't be surprised if he snapped pictures of her while she was an emotional wreck to show to the guys later.
Gambit huffed, glancing away from Rogue.
"I ain't with Stacy, Rogue." He said.
Rogue scoffed, "Yeah, right."
"I'm serious." Gambit said, tilting Rogue's chin so she was looking him right in the eye. "She pounced on me. I was mainly just usin' her to get into de party."
"What was the other reason?" she asked.
Gambit dropped his hand. He was feeling shame himself. "I knew de fillie was interested in moi… I wanted your attention. So, I turned into a stupid teenage boy again and thought showin' another girl off on mon arm would get you to leave Duncan and come back to me." He said.
"I ain't with Duncan." Rogue said.
Gambit closed his eyes at that. It felt blissful to hear those words. Although, pain still lingered.
"You ain't with me either." He said, not meeting her eye.
Rogue looked away now, feeling pained.
"I… doubt I'll ever be with anyone, Remy." She said.
"'cause of your powers?" he asked.
Rogue nodded her head. Gambit stared down at her bare hand.
"You could learn to touch. To control em." He said.
Rogue shuck her head, no. "I've been tryna learn how ta control em for near three years. Nothin's changed. And… Gawd, I don't even wanna use em anymore." Rogue said, covering her face. She was thinking of him again. Of Cody.
Gambit could see how upset Rogue was. But he knew the bitter truth too.
"Your gonna have to use them, Cherie. Magneto ain't gonna let you not use em." He said, now thinking how they'd lost their shot at touching an X-Men tonight. Magneto was going to have his head. Especially if he found out that Mystique had gotten close to Rogue yesterday without him or Colossus knowing. He'd have all their heads.
"I know… but I really don't want to… I'm scared, Remy." Rogue said, glancing down at her bare hands now that were shaking. This was the first time she was admitting this out loud. "I'm scared of em. Of ma powers… I don't wanna hurt anybody." She said.
Gambit reached out and rubbed Rogue's back.
"You might knock em out for a petite while Rogue. That's all. It be just like takin' a short nap. At least, that's what Pete told me." He said.
Rogue closed her eyes. Gambit felt anguish pour through her into him. She was in so much pain. So upset. How could he have thought that Rogue could do something to him so cruel when this is the emotions she was feeling?
"It isn't always so short." Rogue said.
"What'd you mean?" Gambit asked.
"I just found out… the first boy I ever kissed, before I knew I was a mutant… he's been in a coma for almost three years." She said.
Gambit was silent then. He wasn't too sure what to say. He guessed she meant that her mutation kicked in when she kissed this boy. He felt almost jealous of this garcon.
"You didn't know?" Gambit asked, paying attention to her first words. He gave her time, seeing how hard this was for her to open up to about.
She squeezed her eyes closed tightly.
"I was told that he came outta his coma two weeks after I kissed him. I… I knew ma powers were dangerous, but… three years… I've stolen three years of his life from him." Rogue said.
Gambit put his eyes down, thinking. He'd figured out that it must have been Mystique who told Rogue that this boy had been in the coma for two weeks. He wasn't too sure why she'd done that, but he guessed it was so she could manipulate Rogue in some way.
"How'd you find 'bout him still bein' in a coma?" Gambit asked.
He heard Rogue take in a deep breath and exhale before answering.
"I… ran into Mystique yesterday." Rogue said.
This made Gambit go stiff. When had that happened? He and Colossus had been watching her and Risty all day! There were only certain times they let them out of their sight. How stupid could he have been! Why didn't he clock onto it? How hadn't he noticed?
"She cornered me in the bathroom and told me that she wasn't there to drag me back. She just wanted to warn me… She's been watchin' meh. Knows that I'm goin' ta school… I think she told meh 'bout Cody 'cause she didn't want meh ta get too close ta someone and hurt them like I did him." Rogue said, now crying.
"Rogue, Mystique's a liar!" Gambit said, placing his hand on Rogue's shoulder now. She tried pulling away, but he kept his hand firm on her shoulder. "She coulda just made dat whole thing up 'bout dis boy, Cody, still bein' in a coma and all. She's probably just tryna mess with you. Get in your head-"
Rogue pushed Gambit's hand off.
"She's not liein' Remy! She gave meh the number for the hospital Cody's in and they confirmed it-"
Gambit still reached out for Rogue, grasping at her arms, trying to make her see sense. Rogue sat further up and kept pushing him away.
"She coulda made dat number up. Set the whole thing up-"
"Remy, just stop!" Rogue snapped, her hand placed on Gambit's chest where she was trying to push him back.
Gambit realised from the tears that were flowing from Rogue's eyes that pushing her more wasn't going to help things, so he eased up on her a bit.
"I put the man I love in a coma for three years! Three years, Remy… A part of meh always knew it. Knew he was still in a coma… His psyche, it's just so different from all the others… I've killed the man I loved Remy. 'cause of ma powers…" she shuck her head, "And I don't wanna hurt you too."
Gambit watched her cry harder and he couldn't take it. He forced himself closer to Rogue, wrapping his arm around her waist and guiding the back of her head onto his shoulder. Rogue tried to push him away, but she was just too emotional. Gambit held Rogue against him as she cried, shhing her.
"You won't hurt me cher. I know you're scared, but I promise you. So long as you don't push moi away, you won't hurt me." Gambit said.
"But, C-Cody-"
"Dat be an unfortunate accident. Ya powers had just manifested. They weren't as stable as they are now. Cher, you've been able to absorb many people without puttin' em into a coma." Gambit said.
"But what if I do?" Rogue questioned.
"Then we'll figure something out. Work on your control. But till then, just let moi hold ya." Gambit said.
He felt Rogue pushing against him again. "I don't wanna hurt you."
Gambit just shhhed her, holding onto her tighter. "You won't cher. You ain't hurt me yet and I still be careful, non?"
Rogue, eventually, gave in. It had been hard learning that she'd put her first love in a coma. Hard to watch Gambit flirt with the cheerleader. Hard to know that she could never kiss Gambit like Stacy had. It was all just so stressful and she didn't want to face it anymore. Not alone, anyway. Having Gambit reach out to hold her after learning what it is she had done. What it is she could do, but still insisting that he hold her… well, she just couldn't keep fighting. Rogue gave into Gambit and enjoyed the warm embrace surrounding her cold body. He was just so warm and conforming. She felt safe in his arms. At home. She felt as if, so long as she was in Gambit's arms, nothing could hurt her and she could just be ok. Happy, even. Rogue breathed in Gambit's scent and just let it came her.
He felt terrible for her. It had hurt him to hear her admit that she had loved someone before him, but he felt even worse that she felt so guilty over what happened to him. A part of him wondered if this was the reason why Rogue refused to be with him. It wasn't something he should have been thinking about, he knew, but he couldn't help it. He had no idea just how emotionally unstable Rogue was when it came to relationships. His hate for Mystique only grew when he thought of her making Rogue flirt with other men, kiss and absorb them when she was clearly devastated as to what had happened with her first love. Mystique had done more damage than good and here was the evidence. She'd showed up once again in Rogue's life and completely ruined the girl. No wonder Rogue jumped at Magneto's offer to get out of there. Mystique was making her live through so much misery. Magneto was no better, but at least he wasn't playing with her heart. Well, that was a lie. He'd blackmailed her after all, using Colossus as her weak spot. Gambit sighed as he held Rogue closer. The poor girl. Too scared to get close to anyone, but, at the same time, wanting a normal life just so she didn't feel like a monster. Rogue was definitely a complicated mess, he realised. But a mess he was willing to wait for.
He realised she was cold and shivering. He moved to take his trench coat off. He found it amusing that Rogue still grasp at him as if her life depended on it. She seemed to dislike his move away from her which made him feel one million bucks richer again. He felt like he had his Rogue back. It was just a shame it always seemed to be after a downer for her.
He wrapped his trench coat around Rogue's shoulders, then moved his arms back around her, lifting her bridal style as he walked her over to the car. Rogue still grasped onto him for dear life. It amused him when he had to pry her hands off him so he could close her door and move to the driver's side.
When Gambit got in and hotwired the car again, he noticed that Rogue had curled up against the car door where she'd last held him. Gambit reached out and stroked the side of Rogue's head. Rogue moved automatically closer towards him. Her eyes were closed and she seemed half asleep. He didn't blame her. The girl had had a jam packed two days of just plan hell and misery. He had to move his hand away from her as he drove them back. But every now and again, he would reach out for her thigh or hand once she put her gloves back on. Rogue was near asleep when they got back to the base.