10

Merci had been in Rogue's room, waiting for her as she got out of the shower. Rogue raised her eyebrow at the girl, the penny only just dropping that Merci was in on Henri's plan to use her as a pawn against Remy and Jean-Luc too.

"That man just can't keep his mouth shut!" Merci had snapped when styling Rogue's hair for her. She'd automatically started playing with it as soon as Rogue finished drying it without needing to be asked. "Although, he never did have'a cruel bone in his body. Guess dat be one'a the reasons I fell for dat stupide fou!"

"So tellin' meh y' planin' on use meh was'a dumb idea, huh?" Rogue said, her eyebrow raised as she glanced at Merci in the mirror.

Merci grimaced.

"Not like that chére. Just don't want y' t'inkin' de worst of us, is all," Merci responded, seeming rather guilty as she finished up doing Rogue's hair.

"Trust meh, if ah would'a found out on mah own, then y' would'a been sorry," Rogue said, knowing she was letting Merci go easily.

Rogue shuck her head as Merci finished.

"Ah ain't doin' it," Rogue said, turning in her chair to face Merci. "Ah ain't here t' be a pawn for anyone. Not y', Henri, Remy or Jean-Luc. Ah'm just here 'cause… well, it's where ah feel most safe. Comfortable, even. Ah just wanna figure out who ah am an' not have t' play these mind games y'all seem ta have goin' on."

Merci smiled sadly at Rogue.

"That's one'a the reasons we thought we could use y'," Merci responded. "Don't take no crap offa anyone. An' y' right, shouldn't have t' take it off us either. Although, if y' ask moi, we don't need use y'. Y' ain't no flailing damsel in distress who need guidance from bein' pushed around. Y' be just fine on y' own! Although," Merci said, grabbing a hold of Rogue's shoulders firmly and getting closer to her ear. "Y' ever need help puttin' those two boys in t' line whenever they 'cause y' trouble, y' just let us know an' we'll be there t' help."

"Thanks Merci," Rogue said, feeling as if not much had changed when it came to Henri and Merci's plan, but now they were aware she knew, they might not try manipulating her so much.

Rogue stood up and finished off changing. Merci had suggested a more dresser alfit which Rogue wasn't sure about, but she didn't want to see Merci upset, so put it on anyway. When she came back fully clothed, Rogue took in Merci's appearance. She looked nice and all dressed up.

"So, Henri takin' ya out somewhere nice tonight?" Rogue asked, watching Merci put lipstick on.

"We ain't goin' anywhere special," Merci said, rubbing her lips together to finish her make-up. "Just joinin' the rest'a y' in hitin' the bars. Betcha wonderin' what y' got y'self in for t'night?" Merci said, turning around and eyeing the alfit she'd told Rogue to wear.

"Ah guess," Rogue said, taking a seat on her bed. She tried to keep from blushing as she spoke. "Ah mean, Remy said we'd just talk 'bout a few things over some drinks, but ah don't think ah got anythin' ta be worried about."

"Ah-huh," Merci said, moving to place a clip or two in her hair. "Well, let's hope he be tame t'night. As for the other garcons, I reckon they gona be bounin' off walls like usual."

"Wait," Rogue said, squinting her eyes in confusion. "Others?"

Merci froze in her attempts to place the pin in her hair as she glanced at Rogue for a second.

"Oui," she said. "He did tell y' all de thieves be goin' out t'night, droit?"

Rogue just stared at Merci, giving her the answer.

"He didn't say nuthin' 'bout anyone else joinin' us," Rogue said, frowning.

Merci frowned as she brought her hands down from her hair.

"That sneaky, pas bien-"

Merci began to mutter, but a knock on Rogue's door stopped her.

Both girls glanced from the door to each other.

"Come in," Rogue called out.

Jean-Luc appeared at the door, the resting smirk that was normally on Remy's face, painted on his. His eyes seemed to find Rogue instantly, and then he noticed Merci. As he stepped in further, he said: "Bonsoir Mesdames."

To Merci, he said: "If y' wouldn't mind excusin' y'self for a time, there be somet'in' I'd like t' discuss wit' Rogue.

Merci, having a look of dislike on her face, glanced towards Rogue who nodded her head at Merci; not wanting to annoy the master of the mansion. Merci moved to leave, turning back to look at Rogue before she left.

"Won't be far chére," Merci said, then closed the door behind them.

Jean-Luc strolled further into the room, closer to Rogue.

"So, I be hearin' dat y' wanna go out wit' de rest'a de thieves t'night?" Jean-Luc began.

Rogue swallowed, already feeling irritated that she'd been misled, but not wanting it to show.

"Yeah," she replied. "Ah got asked if ah wanted ta go for drinks an' ah agreed."

Jean-Luc nodded his head, getting ever so closer to Rogue. His slow strides around her room almost made her feel like prey backed into a corner and waiting for the hunter to strike.

Jean-Luc bent down in front of Rogue, looking up into her eyes. From the intensity of his glance, Rogue felt like she couldn't look away.

"Y' tell moi honestly now, y' sure y' feelin' up t' goin' out on a night like dis? Not sure if y' know what it be y' got yourself in for, an' I wanna be certain those voyous ain't mislead y'," Jean-Luc said.

Rogue felt more and more on edge under Jean-Luc's glance.

"Ah…" Rogue said, finding it somewhat difficult to come up with words. "Ah think so. Ah mean, ah didn't really realise that a lotta thieves were gonna come out with us tonight, but more the merrier, right?"

In her mind which was working slowly, Rogue was thinking about how, if she did go, she might still be able to get some answers out of Remy. Where, if she stayed and he left, she'd be sat around an empty mansion, waiting around for him. That didn't sit well with her. Especially if that meant sticking around a mansion with Jean-Luc for company. The man was nice, Rogue thought, but somehow, spending time around Remy just felt easier for her. Less intense.

"If they be misleadin' y' in t' somet'in', y' don't have t' go through wit' it. Just say, an' I'll have those garcons in order," Jean-Luc said.

"Erm," Rogue said, again feeling like she was under quite a bit of pressure. "No, no," she said, shaking her hand and head to emphasise her point. She didn't want to cause any thieves, like Merci or Henri, any grief for something Remy failed to mention to her. "It's finah! It actually sounds like fun," she said, not completely sure if that is what she really believed.

Jean-Luc took the gloved hand Rogue was shaking and held it between his too.

"Y' be certain? Don't want y' doin' anyt'in dat might upset y' o' put y' under more stress then y' already be goin' through," he said, refusing to let her eyes free from his.

"Ah'm sure! Besides, maybe some fun'll be good for meh," Rogue said, thinking on the spot. "Ah'll get ta know everyone a bit more an' it might bring back some kind'a memory. Plus, now ah know ah got the thieves lookin' out for meh, makes meh feel more confident then tryna do this alone."

"Y' ain't alone précieuse," Jean-Luc promised. "We thieves always be watchin' out for y'."

With that, Jean-Luc raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it while still looking intensely into her eyes.

Rogue was squealing uncomfortably on the inside, but when she saw the smile on Jean-Luc's face, she couldn't help but smile back. It seemed like he was trying to be kind after all, and Rogue really couldn't read anything past what he was telling her at face value. She guessed, if there was something beyond that, which she couldn't figure out, it was because he was the master of thieves.

Jean-Luc rose, bringing Rogue up with him off the bed. He held her hand up while glancing down at what she was wearing.

"Y' look stunnin'!" he complimented.

"Oh, thank ya," Rogue said, not being able to help the blush that came.

Jean-Luc's eyes caught hers once more and once again, she found that she couldn't break eye contact from him.

"Any of those garcons, or anyone else f' dat matter, give y' trouble t'night, y' come tell moi, oui?" Jean-Luc said.

Finding herself unable to speak, Rogue simply nodded her head. Jean-Luc released her hand, giving her a little bow before he went to leave.

When he did, Rogue found herself falling backwards and sitting on her bed once again. A shiver ran through her, making her shake. She felt confused and questioned what had just happened. How had she lost her head near completely there?

There was a knock at her open door, and Rogue looked up to see Merci there. Rogue forced a smile and let Merci come back into her room to continue getting ready.

xxxxx

French Translations

Stupide fou - Stupid fools
Chére - Dear
Garcons - Boys
Oui - Yes
Droit - Right
Pas bien - No Good
Bonsoir Mesdames - Good Evening Ladies
Voyous - Thugs
Précieuse - Precious