Flashback

He woke up panting, sweat dripping down his face. He looked next to him. A random woman lay there. He pulled on his clothes and left as he had done countless nights before. He was eighteen and found that he could be quite the charmer. Jean Luc's plan to have him marry Belladonna had come to a screeching halt when the teens decided that even the sex wasn't good enough to stop them from tearing each other apart. Remy had been in love once or at the very least what he thought was love, an extremely long time ago. But that girl was gone, time and head injuries erasing her name from his mind. He gripped the dog tag around his neck as he hopped into the elevator. He flipped it over to see the word BEST engraved in it. He'd been wearing that necklace since he was at least eight or nine. He never took it off, keeping it close to his heart. He laughed to himself. He wondered what she'd look like now, all these years later. Was she even alive? He wished he could remember her name.

He walked into the warm Louisiana air. He checked his watch, two in the morning. Late enough for the drunks to be home or making their way there. Also late enough for him to take his sunglasses off. He placed them in the pocket of his trench coat. He looked up at the sky as he walked, not paying attention to the street in front of him. He felt something hit his lean, muscular body followed by an ugf sound. He looked at the girl now sitting on the ground in front of him. He extended his hand, pulling her back on her feet. She was a beautiful girl with interesting brown hair, white strands framing her face and the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen. She stood there gazing at him; her eyes seemingly transfixed on his. Instinctively, he reached back into his pocket to pull out his glasses once more. She placed a gloved hand on his arm as he lifted the glasses to his face.

"Don't, you shouldn't need to hide something so beautiful," she said, still gazing into his eyes, "I'm sorry for bumping into you and disturbing your night. I should have been paying more attention."

"On the contrary, bumping into someone as beautiful as you made it that much better," he grabbed her hand and kissed it.

She pulled her hand away, a slight blush across her face, "No offense, I'm flattered and you are extremely easy on the eyes, but you don't want to waste your lines on someone like me."

He stepped closer to her, "It's not a line if it's true. You got a boyfriend waiting on you or something?"

She backed away, "Or something. Again, I'm sorry for bumping into you."

"Can I at least get your name," he called as she walked away,

She paused for a moment, looking back at him, "No."

With that she walked away, leaving him standing alone in wonder. There was something so familiar about those eyes. It couldn't be, fortune would never smile on him like that. No, that girl was long gone, alive or otherwise. He'd never see her again, except in his dreams. He continued to walk, something else catching his eye. He sighed as Henry emerged from the shadows. He'd made more than his quota today so what was with the look on Henry's face.

"What'd I do this time," he asked, irritation in his voice.

Henry walked towards him, "It's a school night, you can sow your oats on the weekends."

Remy rolled his eye but followed behind none the less. They climbed into the boat, drifting back to headquarters so Remy could drop off his earnings. She had awoken something inside of him and it shook him to his core. Her face was slowly etching itself into his mind. Every beautiful feature and those eyes, God those eyes. He mentally kicked himself for not trying to press her for her name.

"What do you hope to accomplish sleeping with all these women," Henry questioned, "you think one of them will magically end up being her?"

Remy gripped his dog tag, "Did it ever occur to you that I just enjoy sex? That there isn't some bigger, deeper meaning to it."

Henry looked at him, "You wouldn't cling to that necklace if there wasn't. She was the first person to treat you decent, it's ok to miss her but what you are doing is boarding insanity. It's been years, Remy. You can't hold on to all this sadness, this guilt. At some point you have to move on."

"For the millionth time, his irises were red, but the rest of his eyes were black," she told everyone.

They'd just gotten back from their vacation in New Orleans. The girls had flaunted all the beads they'd received from Marti Gras, much to the boy chagrin. Kitty shot her friend and roommate a worried look. She'd been talking about this mysterious mutant since the last day of their trip. They'd seen a lot of things but an attractive mutant with demon eyes seemed unlikely to even them. Especially one that could hold the interest of Rogue. Professor gestured for her to come sit in front of him. He placed both hands on the side of her head. He watched as the boy took her hand to kiss it, all but inviting her to spend the night with him. He was almost certain he'd seen this boy in Rogue's mind before, buried deep in her subconscious. His unique eyes an uncommon trait, even in the mutant community. He thought to ask Rogue about this strange boy but doubted her conscious mind would even remember. The boy was locked away, as were many of the memories from before she was eight. The accident must have been too traumatic for her to try and regain them.

"How strange," Professor mused, "but she is telling the truth. I have a feeling this isn't the last you've seen of this one."

Magneto's new and improved team was a force to be reckoned with. Rogue and Jean were barely handling Pyro when a card came flying towards her. Rogue barely dodged it as she looked up and glared at Gambit, who was casually sitting on a bunch of crates. He gave her a half salute, winking before throwing three more cards in her direction. She leaped, rolled and flipped out of the way, calling to Jean that she would take care of their new guest. Gambit watched as she moved with catlike grace. She caught him off guard as he let his mind wander to all the things he'd like to do to that lithe body of hers. He jumped to the side as she tried to land a blow. He took a few steps back to put some space between them.

He bowed, "And how is my favorite X-Man doing this fine day?"

She ran at him, "I'd be better if you'd leave us alone for once."

They moved as if it was a well-rehearsed dance, each dodging the others blows while neither held back, "I'd say I was sorry but that would mean spending less time together. What fun would that be?"

"Your lines didn't work in New Orleans and they won't work now," she grunted as she blocked a kick.

He dodged a punch, "And here I was worried you'd forgotten about me," he wiggled his eyebrows, "Cause since that night I've been think all kinds of things about you."

"Pig," she grabbed his bow staff as he swung it towards her, using it to push him.

He smirked and she became all too aware of what his real goal was. They were now completely alone. He used her moment of confusion to push her against the crates. He dropped his staff, using his hand to grab both of hers and pin them over her head. He placed his leg in between hers, using his hips and chest to keep her in place. She gasped as he ran his free hand down her side, gripping her waist. He ground his hips into hers, earning him a moan. He released her hands, moving his free hand to her neck. She gripped his shoulders as he ground into her again. He knew he was pushing his luck, but he dripped his head down, placing he lips next to her ear.

"You have no idea how badly I want you," he whispered then looked around, "But sadly it'll have to wait."

He pulled away from her and grabbed his bow staff from the ground. She stared as he gave her another small salute before taking his leave. She braced herself against the crates as she tried to compose herself, her legs feeling a little more than shaky. Why was he always affecting her in this way? She collected her thoughts as she crept back to her team, unaware of him watching her from a distance. Each time they fought he was able to pull her further from her teammates. This time, however, was the first time he was able to get so close. He didn't know why but she was simply intoxicating. He looked back as his own teammates began their retreat. He'd see her again soon. Magneto had made Remy's mission very clear, find a way to get close to her and he intended to make good on that mission.