9

The other thieves in the gym didn't stand by for much longer. When they noticed Rogue and Henri watching them, a few approached her. One of them, Theodor, Henri introduced, asked if her combate skills were as good as they were rumoured. Rogue raised her eyebrow at that, not sure of the answer.

Somehow, she found herself on the mat with Theo (as he'd asked her to call him) trading punches and moves. Rogue had been nervous about fighting seeing as she couldn't remember any training, but Theo said they'd start off easy, which they did. That was, until Rogue ended up wiping the floor with the man. She floored him two times before he got serious seeing as everyone could see how much more confident Rogue was with her skill set now.

Rogue had no idea how it was happening, but her body just seemed trained to react. She remembered her moves from fighting the Rippers off yesterday and she was remembering every new move she made against Theo now.

After another few rounds of Theo being floored, he tagged out and Etienne took over. Another cousin. He didn't have much luck against her either, although, he was definetly a lot more talkative than Theo and liked to make comments about certain holds she put him in.

There was an uproar of cheers when Rogue floored Etienne for the third time. Rogue herself was beaming, reaching up and collecting a round of high fives with her palms wrapped in bandages. It had been Henri's idea just to give her some protection and she didn't argue with him seeing as she didn't know what she was doing at the beginning. She did wonder though if, maybe, one of Etienne or Theo's blows earlier had done a number on her head and body. When she claimed a few high fives, she felt dizzy and like a zap of electricity had run through her. Maybe it was just static electricity seeing as a couple of other thieves went a little dizzy after her high fives as well. She was too infatuated with how well she was doing though. It was like she could almost feel everyone's joy and praise for her. She was wondering how she now knew about a secret bet that had been made earlier when it came to her facing Theo, but she let that slide.

"Bravo chérie," came a deep voice and clapping from behind her.

Rogue felt her face fall as she turned around to confirm the voice. Remy was approaching and his presence was taking away her fun.

Remy had been around, watching her. He'd found Henri outside of her room when she was changing and he explained his plan for her to blow off steam. Henri had suggested Remy give Rogue some breathing space, which he did, but that time had passed. When he walked into the gym to find her pinning quite a few of his cousins, well, he couldn't help but be amused. He guessed Henri's plan had been a gooden. Well, he knew it was, otherwise, he would have said different.

Although, Rogue's face turning sour the way it did, Remy couldn't help but wonder more why she seemed so irritated by his presence. He guessed Henri's plan wasn't one hudred percent all solving.

"Mind if I dance wit' y' next?" Remy asked, raising his eyebrow at her with his resting smirk set on his face.

Rogue swallowed something nasty, her eyes seeming to glance in Henri's direction. She guessed this was one of the things he wanted her to say no to, but she couldn't get her answer. Henri was too busy chatting away with the other thieves to notice. But Remy did. He now had a bad feeling about Henri's motives.

"Ain't dancin' Cajun," she said, dropping her eyes from Henri and walking away towards the water fountain. Her irritation levels were back to being high, not liking one bit how she was second guessing herself now that Henri had run his mouth. She also wanted to know why she'd even care about what Henri wanted. Sure, having his and Merci's protection was good, but being used as a pawn against someone else? Something about that just rattled her up.

"Y' took moi too literal," Remy said from behind her. "What? I ain't good enough for y' t' be y' partner?"

Rogue choked at that last word and straightened up. She was glad he couldn't see her eyes bulge out of their sockets when he said that. Her mind had wondered back to questions she had last night. Henri had said the best lies were close to the truth and that all thieves tell them. Did that mean that Remy might have lied to her last night? Maybe just telling her what she thought she wanted to hear so she'd do what he wanted? But why lie? Plus, Henri also said the best lies told were the one's closest to the truth. This was all becoming too confusing and frustrating for Rogue who turned to face Remy when she was ready.

"Ya really want meh t' wipe the floor wit' ya?" She asked, hoping he'd back off. And if he didn't, well, a second wave of anger had just come back for her.

His smirk only got larger.

"Big words from someone who couldn't remember her combat trainin' two minutes ago," he teased.

Rogue huffed at that, again, becoming irritated by him. It was like she couldn't control herself as she stepped up to him and pointed in his face.

"Look Remy, ah might not be able ta remember where ah got ma trainin', but ah sure as hell know how t' use it," she said.

"Then how's 'bout dis, y' win 'gainst moi, I tell y' where y' learnt those flashy moves'a yours," he said, his eyes sparkling with mirth as he said it.

Rogue took her hand back, thinking. She did want to know, but this was clear manipulation just like Henri had warned her. Again, she was wondering if she should back off so she didn't give Remy what he wanted. But, as much as Remy had annoyed her last night with the story of their past, she was still glad she knew something now. She wanted to know things about herself. Wanted to know how she knew how to fight without remembering any training. Henri had told her to do what she wanted, well, that decided it. She was just hoping that her training would have nothing to do with him. Sighing, Rogue nodded her head.

"Finah!" she snapped out.

One side of Remy's lips crept upwards as he smirked.

"Then we have'a deal. No stolen kisses dis time tho' chérie," he said as he turned his back to her. Rogue's mouth had dropped open at that. They had kissed? "Least, not unless I be doin' de stealin'," he finished, glancing at her over his shoulder.

Rogue was in utter disbelief. This Cajun, he really did mess with her head more than the memory loss. All of them did, and it was really starting to make her mad.

Rogue stormed over on to the mat, waiting impatiently for him to join her. Remy took his time, slandering onto the mat only when he was ready. His resting smirk was just so irritating, Rogue found it hard to control herself and not just beat that smug look off his face.

Emil (yet, abother cousin) took up his position as referee again. When he shouted go, Rogue went straight for Remy's face. When he blocked her first two punches, she used her legs to reach up and to try and kick him. He blocked those too. For a good amount of time, Remy took the blows, defending rather than attacking. When he was sure Rogue was wearing down, he went on the attack. He underestimated her though. She'd definitely improved since the last time he fought her, evening throwing in some of Theo's and Etienne's moves here and there. The pair seemed to be evenly matched for the longest time. At one point, Remy had Rogue down and pinned, but she'd wormed her way out and reversed the pin. Remy took some of Rogue's moves to get out of her hold and Rogue took some of his moves to counter the moves of hers he used against her.

"Do y' t'ink we should stop em?" Emil asked Henri, "They been goin' at it for near half an hour."

"Nar, let em work it out for themselves," Henri said, enjoying the show.

Much to the on lookers dismay, it didn't look like their fight was going to end any time soon. Some called it quits for the night, others took up a seat and ended up going off into conversation none related to Remy and Rogue's fight.

Eventually, after one of them had thrown the other over their shoulder and onto their backs, both stayed down on the mat, panting for air.

"We callin' it quits yet?" Remy asked.

"Ain't got a winner yet, Cajun," Rogue explained.

Remy chuckled at that. "Five minute break then?" he asked.

"Y' quitin' on meh? Ya quit, ya lose," Rogue said.

"Never said dat. Ain't nice t' put words in other people's mouths, chérie," he said.

"Ha!" Rogue exclaimed, "Ah'm the one doin' that?"

"Y' are now," Remy said.

Rogue frowned at that, then threw herself up, grunting in pain at the hurried movement.

"Please! You're the one whose tryna get rid'a meh an' tryna pass it off as mah choice!" Rogue snapped, looking over her shoulder at Remy. She'd decided she'd had enough of playing these games of the thieves. If they wanted her to do something for a certain reason, then they'd better start talking and explaining things instead of trying to use her.

Remy turned on his side to make it easier to look up at her.

"Never once did I say it be your idea. I'm just doin' what I know be right," he said.

"What? By pushin' meh out? How's that right? 'cause it'll give ya some sorta edge over ya father? Is that really what all this is about?" Rogue demanded to know.

"That ain't got nothin' to do with it," Remy said, falling back on his back. He was going to kill Henri later for whatever he'd said to Rogue to make her this defencive. "Seems we be goin' round in circles," he said.

"Wouldn't have that problem if ya just spat out what ya problem is with meh, but ya seem reluctant ta tell meh anythin'," Rogue said, pulling her knees up to her chest.

"Y' mad when I do tell y', an' mad when I don't. Might wanna try throwin' a guy a bone an' figurin' out which it be y' wanna know," he said, now moving to sit up himself.

"Ah wanna know the answers ta t'ings ah ask!" Rogue explained. "Ah just don't wanna be told t'ings ah would an' wouldn't want when ah don't even know why'd ah'd want em or not. Bein' dictated to, it's somethin' ah don't want an' ah won't stand for."

She heard a huff from Remy at that. She turned slightly, wanting to know why he'd huffed, but decided to let it go.

"Y' wanna know who taught y' t' fight?" Remy asked.

Now he had Rogue's full attention. She twisted her body around more to face him, but all she got was the sight of his back.

"Y' family, well, y' be a lot like us in a sense. Not a lot made up by blood, but a group'a people who came t'gether for similar reasons. One'a them, Badger, well, he might act all grouchy an' uncarin', but he wants t' know y' be alright if ever he ain't around. Y' an' him, y' seemed to have bonded over somethin'. Somethin' more than any of the other kids there. He taught y' how t' fight. Even gave y' private lessons."

Rogue glanced down at the floor, listening to Remy's story about this guy, Badger, who taught her how to fight. She wasn't too sure about the things surrounding her life that lead her to see these strangers as family, but it did seem a bit more clear now what Remy had meant about them caring for her.

"That what y' wanna know?" Remy asked, glancing back at her.

Rogue nodded her head. Then meet his eyes. For a moment, they just looked at each other. Something seemed to pass between them. Between their fists and their words. Something that just made everything lighter. Easier between them.

"Is… the guy who taught meh how ta fight an' look out for mahself, is his name really Badger?" Rogue asked.

Remy laughed at that, climbing up on to his feet.

"Non, just a nickname. Y' wanna call it quits an' go get a drink?" he asked while extending his half gloved hand down to her.

Rogue stared at his hand for a second. Then, a small smile crossed her face as she took it. Seeing his gesture as a sign of acceptance. When he told her the reason he wanted her to leave wasn't because of his father, she wasn't sure if she really believed him or not. But she figured a person could have more than one motif and, from the look in those woren down crimson eyes, she had a feeling that, whatever was going on between him and his father, he generally didn't want to hurt her.

"Hey, who won?" Etienne demanded to know as he noticed the pair leaving.

Rogue huffed then said; "Go place y' bets on somethin' else."

Remy let out a belter of a laugh as they left together, his hand landing on the shoulder farest away from him. Rogue felt her spin go stiff as he touched her. The friendly gesture was just so suprising to her.

"So, y' clocked on t' dat, huh?" he asked.

"Ah ain't stupid," Rogue said.

She was tempted to remove his hand, but, since it was the first time they seemed to be getting on well, she let him keep it there.

"We best be takin' a quick shower first, non?" Remy asked as they walked along the corridors.

He watched Rogue's checks go pale and pale run up her neck. She was now regretting letting him keep his arm wrapped around her shoulders and moved to remove it.

"Erm, you can go first. Ah can wait," Rogue said.

She didn't even need to say the words for Remy to understand how they had been received. Half the time, when she didn't completely take something he said or did the wrong way, it really was amusing watching her create scenarios in her head. He'd observed the questioning uncertainty about their relationship the first night he saw her here. It was almost too easy to tease her.

"Or, y' can use de shower opposite y' room. We do have more than one, chérie," Remy said.

"Oh, right," Rogue had said, her face beginning to turn as bright as a tomato.

Remy turned off and pushed open a door that would lead him to the gym showers. He stopped though, not being able to resist.

"That be unless y' care t' keep moi company?" he asked, raising his eyebrow at her.

Rogue huffed and stormed away down the hallway.

xxxxx

French Translations

Chérie - Darling
Moi - Me
Non- No