"This bed in the Med Lab killed my back," he stretched, "I could go for a hot bath. Care to join me babe? Chere? Rogue?"
He looked around the Med Lab room, he swore he had just seen her a moment before. He spun around again, being met by a small child with wavy, dark brown hair. She looked up at him with big, bright, glowing green eyes. She smiled at him, exposing a row of perfect, small teeth. He smiled back at her, kneeling before her. She held out her hand and he took it without hesitation.
"Do I know you petite," he asked.
She nodded, her hair bouncing around, "Silly Remy, you were just calling me."
He looked at her, confused, "You must be mistaken little one, I was calling for my girlfriend. Wait…how'd you know my name?"
She giggled, "You're mon meilleur ami."
He smirked, "I'm your best friend? Is that so?"
She smiled, "Oui."
She tugged on his hand, urging them forward once more. She couldn't be more than five or six. She was quite smart for her age. She had a thick Mississippi accent. He let her guide his as memories swirled around them. She released his hand as they stopped at the curb of a street that looked all too familiar to him. He watched as the little ran into the middle of the road. The car came by so fast, unable to stop before crashing into the little girl. Remy moved to help her but his hands went straight through her.
"You can't help me. Mommy has to take me to the hospital," the girl appeared behind him.
"Why? Petite we gotta help you," he turned back to her.
"No, no time for help now," she pointed to her eye, "Now you have to watch and learn."
His eyes widened, the girl was about thirteen now, small strips of white hair framing her face. She smiled at him, braces lining her mouth. He stood up straight, gawking at her. She held out her hand for him to take. Again he took it as memories swirled once more. She stood in her room, twirling around in a knee length, spaghetti strapped, black dress. She smiled as she applied her purple eye shadow. A woman came in, smiling at her daughter but not able to actually see her. Remy tilted his head, he knew that woman. He knew that he knew her. Where did he know her?
"Are you ready to see the most important part," her pale hand slid on his shoulder.
He turned around and gasped, "Chere?"
She smiled, "The future is full of surprises. If you're ready to see what the future holds then come with me, though I don't think you'll like it."
He took her hand and held it tight, "I'm ready."
In an instant they were standing in the middle of a battlefield. He ducked as a beam of light flashed in front of him causing her to laugh. He stared as another beam went through him before his attention was directed to a winged being that flew by him. It was beautiful. It was…
"Rogue," he stared as she flew by, "She's fighting. She's facing him…alone. Why is no one helping her?"
"I don't need it," she placed her hand on his shoulder, "I'm supposed to fight him, on my own."
Remy's eyes grew wide, "He's killing you Rogue. You'll die on your own."
"I know," she hung her head, "But it'll save everyone. You can't try to help me or save me."
"Why are you showing me this," his eyes tearing up, "I can't just watch you die. I…I love you."
She embraced him, his head still facing the battlefield. He watched as her wings surrounded his entire body, exposing her bare back. He watched as the flames engulfed them, burning her. Then he watched as she turned around in a fury of power, power that was raw and uncontained. She said something that he couldn't hear then he watched as all that power erupted, heading straight for Apocalypse. He couldn't escape it. The power surge hit him, blasting him into nothing. The sky cleared with the death of Apocalypse. She stayed there in the sky, looking like a goddess. Remy smiled with the rest of the X-men. She turned with a weak smile, a tired smile, then she fell. The wings retracting back into her body.
"No," woke with a start.
"Remy," he looked up into her beautiful, twinkling eyes, "Are you alright?"
He sat up, grabbing her face and kissing it. Her eyes widened in shock. He pulled her to him, kissing all over her face and neck then pulling her into a vice like embrace. She was speechless from both shock and confusion. He released her, staring into those beautiful eyes. So full of life. How could he lose her?
She had concern written all over her face, "Did something happen? What's wrong?"
He blinked a few times, "I think, I think you just showed me the future. But it started," he shook his head, "it started with the past. With my past. Maybe it was just a bad dream and now I'm getting all mixed up."
She watched as he stared at the wall. She knew it was wrong of her but she closed her eyes, focusing on his mind just like she'd been working on with the Professor. She stood watched as a memory from his childhood played out.
She came running towards him, her long brown hair flowing behind her. She was in shorts and a tee shirt. He'd never seen her in a dress, nor did he think he ever would. But he didn't mind, she always looked adorable. He blushed at the thought. It was a secret to everyone that he had a crush on the tom boy with the big, emerald eyes. She stopped in front of him, smiling as usual.
"Hi Remy, wanna go to the park with me," she asked, "I've been practicing my jumping off the swings and I think I can beat you now."
He shook his head, "No way, I always beat you."
She laughed, "But this time you won't. I'll race you there."
He smiled like a devil, "Alright, but if I win you owe me a kiss. It's only fair."
She scrunched her nose, "What if I don't wanna kiss you?"
"I'm Remy LeBeau, all the girls wanna kiss me," he said proudly.
"Well I don't," she said stubbornly, "I'll race you there and if you win I'll give you half my pack of gummy bear."
He held out his hand, "Deal."
She opened her eyes, "Who is that little girl? Why is she so important to you?"
He blinked, "First of all, next time you want into my head you ask first. And I don't know. She was one of my best friends growing up. Merci used to joke that she was my first love. I took it pretty hard when she was gone. Spent years trying to find her before just losing hope."
"What would you do if you found her," she asked again.
"I don't know," he shrugged, "At this point I doubt she would even remember me. You remember me of her though, you both have the same eyes."
She held his gaze for a moment before helping him up. She held him for a moment as he buried his face in her hair, the scent of strawberries filling his nose. She broke their embrace and pulled him out of the Med Lab. She tried to ignore the feeling in her chest after seeing his memory. There was something so familiar about it but she couldn't figure out what. He happily followed her back to his room, pausing at the door. He mentally kicked himself as he looked at the calendar pinned to the side of his desk. Rogue's birthday was in a few days and he still hadn't gotten her a gift. Not that he thought she'd hold it against him, being in the Med Lab and all.
"As fate would have it we missed the Halloween dance at school," she pulled him further into his room, "So I decided to bring the Halloween dance to you."
He chuckled as he noticed the decorations hung around his room, "Have I mentioned today just how wonderful you are?"
She closed the door behind him, "Not yet, but I'll happily accept your praise."
"Oh believe me, I have every intention of worshiping you," he looked at her, eyes filled with lust, "But are we supposed to dance with no music?"
"Ye of little patience," she blushed past him, "Did you really think I'd forget such a key item?"
She stopped in front of his desk, clicking his laptop. He closed his eyes as the melody filled the air around them. He smiled at just how fitting the song seemed at the current moment. He extended his hand out to her, pulling her close as her hand met his. She rested her head against his chest as they began to sway to the music.
When I see your smile
Tears run down my face
I can't replace
He rubbed her back, running his fingers along her spine. His other hand held hers tight, placing it over his heart. She let out a small sigh, content to stay in this moment forever.
And now that I'm strong I have figured out
How this world turns cold
And it breaks through my soul and I know
I'll find deep inside me
I can be the one
He rested his head on top of hers. Maybe it was just a dream, something his mind came up with due to the pain meds he'd been given. There was no way that was the future because a future without her didn't seem possible, couldn't be possible.
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven
He blinked a few times, feeling tears threatening to fall. Something in his gut told him that it wasn't just a dream. It was her way of intentionally or unintentionally preparing him for what was to come. His hands trembled as he pulled her closer, held her tighter. He looked up at the ceiling as he felt her hand rub the back of his neck.
It's okay
It's okay
It's okay
She did her best to soothe him as she felt his grip on her tighten. She knew, as soon as he'd mentioned seeing the future she knew that he'd seen. She looked to the floor. It was her fault for unintentionally projecting her fear and casting them into his mind. Let his own subconscious guide him to the truth.
Seasons are changing and waves are crashing and
Stars are falling all for us
Days grow longer and nights grow shorter
I can show you I'll be the one
He buried his face into her hair, "It was real, wasn't it? What I saw, the future?"
She felt a lump grow in her throat, "Yes."
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven
"Oh god," his voice began to quiver, "I can't, you can't. I can't do this without…"
She felt her heart breaking as they stopped swaying. He wrapped both of his arms around him, his shoulders shaking. She wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling his legs begin to buckle. She'd seen him upset before, but never this. This wasn't sadness, this was pure devastation as reality slowly set in for him. She'd had some time, privately going from denial to grief to acceptance of her fate.
'Cause you're my
You're my, my
My true love
My whole heart
Please don't throw that away
"You can't die," he choked out, barely above a whisper, "I love you."
'Cause I'm here for you
Please don't walk away and
Please tell me you'll stay, yeah
Whoa
Stay, whoa, whoa
The weight of his words sank deep into her chest. She had always thought that he might, but he'd never told her. She stumbled as his legs finally gave out, bringing them both to the floor. She stayed quiet and still as she felt wet against her shoulder and neck.
Use me as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill
And I know I'll be okay
Though my skies are turning grey (grey)
He mentally scolded himself for being so weak, but he couldn't control the tears as they flowed so freely from his eyes. He could tell that she was doing her best to comfort him, his declaration of love leaving her temporarily speechless. His head sunk into her chest as they sat there on the floor. She wrapped both arms around it, running her fingers through his hair. He wrapped his arms around her waist.
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven
His hands gripped the back of her shirt as he willed himself to regain some sense of composure. There had to be another way. They'd figure something out together, they had to.
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you send me to heaven
She kissed the top of his head as the music faded out, "I love you too."