13
Rogue was pointed towards a private bathroom by the waiter who was heading back to the kitchen. She thanked him and locked herself inside. When she did get in there, she revelled in the silence. A gasp escaped her lips. One she didn't know she'd been holding onto. The same with her tears. A couple escaped her eyes and it was a shock to her. The whole thing was just a big shock to her.
Jean-Luc's words began to come back to her. Maybe he was right. Maybe this was too much for her.
She ended up leaning against a wall and sliding down it, covering her mouth so she didn't make a sound as she did. She just began crying. It felt strange to cry like this. But everything was just becoming too much. Everything was so confusing.
A knock on the bathroom door startled Rogue.
Quickly, she wiped at her eyes and stood up, glancing at herself in the mirror as she guessed it was a member of staff.
"I know y' in there, Rogue," came Remy's voice.
At that, Rogue stopped wiping her tears away and stared at the door for a second. He was the last person she needed to deal with.
"Open up," he said.
"Ya do realise this is the lady's bathroom, right?" Rogue shot back. "Go 'way already!" she said.
"Y' got two choices. First, y' let moi in willingly. Second, I pick de lock an' come in anyway," he said.
Rogue scoffed at that and leaned her body weight against the door.
"Some choice!" Rogue blurted out.
"Well, can't have y' hiddin' out in dere all night. Which it gonna be?" he asked.
"Ah ain't openin' up an' y' ain't comin' in', so neither of the above," Rogue said.
She heard Remy sigh.
"Alright chérie," he said, his voice soft on the other side of the door, "then we do dis here. What really got y' upset?" he asked.
"Ya really have ta ask?" Rogue shot back.
"Stupid little t'ing like what happened back in de car ain't enough t' tip y' over de edge Rogue. I know y'. Must be pretty bad if y' be runnin' away again," he said.
"Again?" Rogue questioned.
"Oui," Remy replied.
Rogue let her head fall back against the door as she ran her hands over her face.
"This another one'a your tricks? Your lures? Start talkin' 'bout somethin' in mah past t' try an' get meh t' do what y' want, then y' clam up faster than Rudolph can fly?" Rogue questioned.
"Right now, I be willin' t' tell y' anyt'in' t' get y' outta there. Trust moi, y' don't want de alternative," Remy said.
Rogue snorted at that.
"Oh yeah, an' what'd that be? Y' gonna threaten t' kick down the door? Drag meh out kickin' an' screamin'?" Rogue asked.
"Worse. Merci be comin' t' check on y' in less dan two minutes an' if she walks in t' dis scene, she'll be sparkin' de place up brighter than Rudolph's nose could ever shine," Remy said.
Rogue stayed quiet for a time, thinking. She didn't doubt that Merci would come to check on her. She'd lost track of the time, but she knew she'd been a while in the ladies. Whether Merci would kick up a fuss though, that wasn't so certain. As if, reading her mind, Remy said: "She already exploded at Eti for makin' dis a fiasco y' didn't want. She t'inks he be de reason y' hidin' in here. I reckon dat idiot did more than dat. So, y' gonna tell moi what dat fou said, or y' gonna make me guess?" Remy asked.
Rogue rubbed her face in her hands. It felt like everything was just spinning out of control.
"Why y' so certain it was Eti?" Rogue asked.
"'cause y' ain't givin' moi much t' go off," Remy said.
Rogue scoffed.
"What's the point'a talkin' when y' don't listen!" she asked.
"I always be listenin' chérie. Question is whether y' be pickin' up on it an' I don't t'ink y' have," Remy said.
That set Rogue off. Before she knew it, she had spun around, opened the door and was poking Remy in the chest with her finger.
"Oh, ah know ya ain't listenin'! Ya right out ignored meh when ah said-"
Remy grabbed Rogue's wrist and began pulling her down the hallway.
"Hey, what are ya doin'!" she demanded to know.
Remy didn't answer, just kept walking, pulling her along with him. Finally, he reached the exit the staff used for cigarette breaks and had them emerge outside. Rogue pulled her hand away and Remy let her go.
"What the hell's the matter with ya!" she snapped.
"Thought we could do wit' some privacy, non?" Remy shot back, turning on her, "An' for de record, I do listen. Y' ever stop t' t'ink dat de questions y' askin' moi, y' might not want an audience knowin'?" Remy shot back.
"Oh right," Rogue said, folding her arms over her chest. "'cause y' were fine lettin' em believe that ah took mah top off!"
"Wanted y' t' see just what type'a hommes y' be travellin' wit'," Remy said.
Rogue scoffed at that.
"Ya so full'a yourself!" Rogue snapped. "And ah was right!" she snapped, getting closer to Remy as she kept accusing him, "Y' was doin' it on purpose! Tellin' half stories just ta get a reaction outta people. Well, let meh tell ya this Remy LeBeau!" Rogue said, coming up on her tip toes to match Remy's height as best as possible. "Ah ain't someone ya can just walk all over ta get what ya want! Ya wanna use meh, ta get at other people, well forget it! Find some other dancin' poodle ta work for ya 'cause ah ain't it! Now, if ya'll excuse meh," Rogue said, moving towards the back door, "there be people waitin' on meh."
Rogue slammed the door closed behind her as she went to return to her table. She walked in on Theo breaking up Merci and Etienne from bickering. She was slightly glad the attention was on the heated debate between those two rather than on her returning from the bathroom after quite some time. But the pair were talking about her and that almost felt like the same thing.
At noticing her arrival, Merci and Etienne backed off each other. Theo sat Etienne in the far corner of the booth and Henri did the same for Merci. Henri motioned for Rogue to take the seat next to Merci, but before she could move forwards, Rogue felt an arm around her shoulders, and she was being turned to walk towards the bar.
"Y' be givin' moi a helpin' hand wit' de second 'round'a drinks, non chérie?" Remy said.
Rogue huffed, hearing his voice aloud and went to shove off his arm, but he forced it there and made her move.
"Just trust moi!" Remy hissed into her ear. "We ain't done talkin'," he said.
"Ah said all ah need to," Rogue said, dropping his arm.
Just as she was freed from Remy's arm, Rogue bumped into someone, near knocking them completely over the table.
"Sorrah!" Rogue spat out, stepping backwards.
As she did, she ended up bumping into another person and freaking out about that too. Rogue began to back up, bumping into Remy. Remy kept a steady stance and his arm wrapped around her middle, holding her tight to his body as he continued to move her forwards.
"Just focus on gettin' t' the bar," he muttered in her ear, moving her so she was slightly in front of him.
At the small scare, Rogue let Remy take control. Before she knew it, she was at the bar and Remy seemed to be protecting her from all sides from the crowd surrounding them.
"There," Remy said gently into her ear while stroking her lower back softly. "Easy does it," he said.
Rogue scoffed, not liking where she was or who she was with.
"Whatever it is ya gonna say, ah'm tellin' ya, ah ain't interested," Rogue said.
"Ain't it be de reason y' stayin'? T' find out what it is I know 'bout y'?" Remy asked.
Rogue scrunched her eyebrows up at that, then turned around to face him so her back was to the bar staff.
"Y' right 'bout moi wantin' y' outta here. Y' ain't even been here a full day, an' y' already un gâchis. Y' need t' be wit' people who can help y'. Who know how t' handle y'. Not wit' us. Not wit' idiots pullin' stupid stunts like Eti's t'night," Remy said.
Rogue shuck her head at that.
"What's the real reason you want meh gone?" Rogue asked, a deep bitter frown taking over her face.
"Ain't y' hearin' me girl?" he asked her.
"What ah'm hearin' is ya dodgin' the question," Rogue snapped. "So what's ya next lie gonna be?" she asked.
Remy glared down at her.
"Nothin' I sayin' be a lie Rogue," he said.
"But ya missin' stuff out. Twistin' the truth. Were ya ever gonna tell meh the reason ya want meh out is 'cause ya have daddy issues?" Rogue asked.
Remy just stayed there, glaring at her. Then his attention turned to the bar tender behind her. He spoke to the man in French, quickly placing orders. Rogue just turned her eyes away from Remy, glancing off in another direction. She hated this.
Remy's eyes came back to glancing down at her after placing the order. This time, the anger was gone from behind them and his voice was much gentler.
"Oui, there be reasons passed y'self why I want y' t' go home. But de main reason I got is dat, de thieves, chérie, we ain't nice. Which, I reckon, y' worked out by now. Y' got une famillie back north who be de total opposite of us. They gonna treat y' right. Give y' the help y' need. Not try take advantage of y' memory," Remy said.
"So, ya bein' an arse 'cause ya think it'll send meh runnin' back north as fast as mah legs can take meh?" Rogue asked.
"What'd you t'ink?" Remy asked her.
Rogue took in a deep breath. She was still annoyed at him. Annoyed at what he'd said in the car. Annoyed that he'd been avoiding answering her questions. Yes, maybe Etienne interfere tonight, but he hadn't made much effort to correct things. That and what kept coming to her mind was how she was a pawn piece for him. Something to use against his father just like Henri explained. At least, that was the only thing that seemed to make sense at the moment. Everything else was just a mess and that was part of the problem because only he could help her get things straight.
Maybe he was right. Maybe she did need to go back home, but not like this. Not while she felt like there were just so many unanswered questioned that only he seemed to be able to answer. She wasn't ready to leave. Not yet. Not like this.
"Ah t'ink, that if ya tryna get rid'a meh, ya goin' 'bout it completely the wrong way," Rogue said.
Remy's poker face was unreadable. He glanced behind her for a second, then returned to looking at her with that easy glance.
"Y' tellin' moi," he said.
Rogue's lips sat in a firm line and she began chewing her cheek. She wanted to open up. Wanted to talk to him. To explain things, but a huge part of her just told her he wouldn't listen and it was a waste of energy. Going against her better judgement, she opened her mouth.
"Ah ain't just stickin' 'round 'cause'a you, Remy." Rogue said, her eyes glancing anywhere but at him. Looking at him while explaining this just seemed too hard.
Her eyes landed back on the booth where she saw Henri trying to calm Merci down. It looked like she was still worked up over Etienne's interference and that brought a tiny smile to Rogue's face knowing she had someone watching her back.
"Ya might think that the thieves are terrible, an' ah'm not completely disagreein' with ya there. Some definitely are, but… There's some really good ones here. Tante, Merci, Henri. They make meh feel safe. They care," Rogue said, now glancing up at Remy, willing him to see how she truly felt. "If ya ever wonder out of a swamp with all ya memories missin' an' find a group'a people willin' ta shift heaven an' earth ta try helpin' ya out rather than just passin' the book like ya some kind'a problem that could easily be booted aside, then ya'd understand."
Remy said nothing, just looked thoughtful.
"What? Ya gonna try tellin' meh they're out ta get meh now? That Tante's really a voodoo queen who's planin' ta skin meh alive in mah sleep an' feed meh to her cats?" Rogue asked, getting a smirk and chuckle out of Remy.
"Non," he said. "They be lookin' out 'fore y' alright… They just doin' it in a different way from moi."
"Well, encase ya haven't noticed, your way ain't workin'," Rogue said, raising her eyebrow.
"Oh, I noticed," Remy said.
"Ah ain't leavin' Remy," Rogue said firmly, making her decision as she said those words. "Not 'cause ya might embarrass meh every chance y' get. Not cause y' might blackmail meh or try gettin' meh ta do stuff with the promise of tellin' meh somethin' from mah past. It ain't goin' down like that. Ah ain't scared of ya an' ah ain't fallin' for whatever tricks y' wanna play. Ah ain't walkin' away from people who've been good ta meh just because ya don't want meh here." She said, hoping he'd actually listen this time and take her seriously.
"I hear y'," Remy said, as if responding to her mental thought.
"And?" she questioned.
"Thought it didn't matter what I said?" Remy questioned.
Rogue's eyes grew with warning.
"Don't toy with meh now," she said.
"How 'bout a deal? Dat is, if y' be willin' t' make one?" Remy asked, glancing down at her again.
Rogue raised her eyebrow at this.
"A deal?" she questioned.
"Oui," he said.
"Ya ain't really been forthcomin' on y' promises," Rogue said.
Remy just glanced away again, not denying it nor admitting it.
"De deal be dis. I'll tell y' what it is y' want t' know, no dodgin' question, unless, I think it be best left t' y' famille t' answer, or for another good reason," he said.
Rogue scowled at that.
"So, ah'd be gettin' no answers since ya already t'ink mah family up north'll be better at answerin' them all," Rogue said.
Remy shuck his head.
"I give y' de reason why I'm dodgin' or why I can't answer. For example, when it comes t' you an' your Badger gettin' closer t' each other than any other student at de institute, I can't answer dat. Badger be de best one t' ask 'cause it be your relation," Remy said.
"Students?" she questioned. "What, did ah live at some kinda boredin' school or somethin'?" Rogue asked.
"Nice try, but we be comin' up with de terms, non?" Remy shot back at her.
Rogue rolled her eyes but nodded her head.
"So, ya agreein' ta answer any questions ah have?" Rogue said.
"Oui, under de terms already set an' one more. Dere be t'ings in y' life y' don't want others knowin'. If we be back at de mansion or in a place where I t'ink we'd be overheard, I ain't sayin' jack," Remy said.
"So, what? Does this mean we're gonna have ta go outta the mansion? Spend time together alone?" Rogue asked, gulping at the idea of that.
"If y' didn't noticed, dat was the plan t'night," Remy said, shooting a glare over at a certain person. "It be de only way y'll be gettin' most'a y' answers, so y' best stop bein' so impatient an' give moi some time t' arrange it," Remy said.
Rogue nodded, guessing she had been quite hasty and not giving Remy a lot of time to answer all her questions.
"An' what if ya go outta ya way ta avoid meetin' meh? Or ta make sure there's other's present? Why ya even agreein' ta do this?" Rogue questioned.
"'cause of what you're gonna give moi in return," Remy said.
Rogue raised her eyebrow at this, not liking that response.
"And what's that?"
"When I tell y' it be time t' go home, y' go," he said.
Rogue's eyes became sharp slits as she looked at him.
"Really? Ya really think ah'm gonna agree t' that-"
"Well, if de deal be I tell y' all I know 'bout y' den y' run along home, gives more motive t' talk, non?" Remy shot back at her.
Rogue pouted her lips, not liking her side of the deal.
"An' what if ya ain't tellin' meh all that you know? What if you just tell me a few things t'night, then tomorrow, ya tell meh ta head on home?" Rogue asked.
All Remy could do was shrug his shoulders.
"It ain't safe for y' t' be 'round here. If I t'ink t'ings are gettin' too outta hand an' y' need t' leave, y' leave. Probably, y' find out dat dis be waste'a y' time any how when y' back up north," Remy said.
Rogue snorted at that, folding her arms.
"So, we have a deal?" he asked.
"Ah ain't scared'a the Rippers an' ah ain't a push over either," Rogue said, still not completely happy with her half of the deal.
"I know," Remy said, a small smile coming on to his face.
He waited, watching Rogue pout as she debated the deal.
"Ah'll agree, but only if ya explain why it is ya sendin' meh away. If it's somethin' ah reckon we can handle together, then we'll handle it. Ah ain't just gonna agree ta that then have ya send meh home whenever ya feel like it. There has ta be a good reason," Rogue said.
Remy nodded his head, "It be settled then?"
"One more thing. Ya don't end up keepin' your side'a the bargain, ah have every right ta drop mine," Rogue said.
"Ain't dat normally how deals work?" Remy asked, his smile growing larger.
"True, but ah'm tryna make sure nothin's left out. Wouldn't put it past ya ta try an' weasel ya way out. Just wanna make sure we're on equal grounds," Rogue said.
"Wise woman," Remy replied.
Rogue glanced away.
"We best be gettin' des drinks back t' de tables, non?" Remy said, reaching behind her to collect a tray of drinks.
Rogue muttered an "oh," feeling awfully less comfortable when Remy's arms no longer barricaded her at the bar. She glanced from side to side at the people stood beside her. It felt like they were flooding in towards her as soon as Remy had moved his arm.
That's when she felt his arm wrap around her waist.
"Stay close t' moi an' we be outta here shortly," Remy said, turning around and beginning to guide them back to their booths.
This time, Rogue didn't mind the hand he placed on her. He was helping her, whether he knew it or not. When they did manage to get back to the booths, another round of thieves had seemed to appear and the spare seats at Merci's booth had been taken up. Rogue noticed that Etienne was talking to Emil. As soon as he saw her approaching, he began to tell Emil to move.
"There be a space free here, princesse," Etienne said, waving at her.
"Errr, thanks," Rogue said, glancing up at Remy.
He glanced back down at her, his smirk gone, leaving behind a face that seemed unreadable. Rogue chewed the inside of her lip, thinking. She wanted to get moving on this deal she'd just made with Remy. A part of her was afraid that, if she didn't, it would fall through, and they'd be back to where they were two minutes ago.
As her gaze dropped from Remy's face while she was thinking, she noticed something.
"Looks like there's a free booth that's less crowded so we'll just sit there. Thanks anyway," Rogue said, waving Etienne away.
Rogue quickly went in search for the arm that Remy had wrapped around her to guide her through the bar. Once she found it, she let her hand follow his arm, down to his hand. Remy released his grip on her back and moved his arm so Rogue could lace her fingers in between his like she was attempting to.
He couldn't help but smirk at what Rogue had just done. If only she had her memories, she would understand why he found what she just did so humorous too. He was sure to glance back at Etienne and wink at him as Rogue pulled him over the booth farthest away from all the other thieves.
Remy let Rogue take the window seat and he moved to sit right next to her, placing the tray of drinks down as he did. He wasn't normally a one for gathering drinks, but this time, it had worked in his favour. He took one of the glasses on the tray and placed it in front of Rogue.
"Here, y' wanna try this?" he asked.
"What is it?" Rogue asked, questioning the near clear liquid with bubbles in it.
"Prosecco. It be un vin d'acidité. Bonne for startin' off wit'" he said.
Rogue moved a little closer to Remy as she whispered: "Erm, ya don't happen ta know if ah like this, do you?"
Remy's smirk grew.
"Wouldn't know. Never seen y' drink," he replied.
"Well, that ain't all suprisin'," Rogue said, smirking as she glanced down at the fizzy drink before her.
"Y' don't have t' drink it. Just thought I give y' de option. Here," Remy said, picking up another drink and placing it in front of Rogue.
"It's pink," Rogue said, raising her eyebrow.
"An'?" Remy asked.
"Never really been a big fan of the colour," Rogue said.
Remy openly laughed.
"Well, glad t' know somet'ings don't change," he said.
"What?" Rogue asked, folding her arms and leaning back in her seat. "Ah didn't like pink before?"
"T'ink dat be a solid, non," he said.
"What colours did ah like?" Rogue asked.
"What colours do y' t'ink y' liked?" Remy asked her.
"Hey, stop deflectin'!" Rogue said, her eyes widening as she sat up and pointed at him. "We agreed-"
"I know chérie. Je sais. Just t'ink it'd be interestin' t' see what it is y' t'ink y' favourite colours are. Compare it, non?" Remy said, leaning on his hand as he glanced up at her.
Rogue squinted her eyes at him but leaned back once more.
"So dis be de princesse, non?"
Both Rogue and Remy turned to see two thieves who had approached. They were smirking and eyeing Rogue.
"Nar, il ne s'installe pas," the second one said. His attention shifted to Remy as he went to sit down. "Are y'?" he asked.
Rogue's face fell greatly as these two thieves interrupted them. She wasn't too sure what these two thieves were saying or why they were eyeing her, but she was sure she wasn't going to get any answers out of Remy now, even after that heart to heart they'd shared. Though, when she glanced at Remy and saw his murderous gaze, she did start second guessing herself.
Remy said something in French to respond to the two thieves who just joined them. The two thieves seemed to find something humorous, but the second got up and left. Rogue was rather shocked by this, and relieved. For the first time, it felt like Remy really was taking her seriously and she was intrigued to know the answers she was going to receive.
Although, when she did turn her attentions to Remy, he seemed to be glancing outside the booth, his attention elsewhere. She wondered what was troubling him.
"What was that about?" Rogue asked.
"Nothin' t' worry 'bout," Remy said, retuning his attention to Rogue.
Rogue raised her eyebrow, not buying that.
"So, what colours?" he asked.
Rogue frowned, not liking how he had just ignored her question. Although, from the way the pair had been looking at her, she wasn't too sure if she wanted to know what had been said. And the fact that Remy had jumped straight back to the conversation they were having made her turn her body towards him to answer.
"Ah guess, if ah had ta chose right now, purple or green would be mah favourite," Rogue said.
"What a coincidence," he said, his smirk infectious.
xxxxx
French Translation
Cherie - Darling
Moi - Me
Mon - My
Idiot -Idiot
Fou - Fool
Non - No
Hommes - Men
Un gâchis - A Mess
Famillie - Family
Princesse -Princess
Un vin d'acidité - An acidy Wine
Bonne - Good
Je sais-I know
Nar, il ne s'installe pas - Nar, he does not settle down