Disclaimer: I own nothing here, just an infinite and undying love for Remy LeBeau.
Chapter Five
Rogue was not happy.
She had barely managed to escape the Danger Room without having to face a lot of awkward questions that she didn't want to answer. Somehow she'd managed to shake Logan, who seemed to understand that she just wasn't ready to talk about it.
Unfortunately Kitty couldn't take a hint, and had been on her trail from the moment she'd practically bolted from the Danger Room.
"Rogue" she squealed as Rogue threw her shoulder against her bedroom door to force it open. "Would you slow down!?"
She didn't bother to close the door behind her, as Kitty had a complete disregard for solid objects.
As she entered the room Jubilee barely glanced up from where she was sprawled across Rogue's bed reading a magazine.
"Where's the fire?" she wanted to know.
Rogue huffed irritably, "Jubilee, what in the hell are ya'll doin' here?"
"Lorna and Alex are making out in my room" Jubilee shrugged nonchalantly and flicked a page of her magazine. "It was distracting."
"From all that important news?" Kitty raised an eyebrow at the magazine.
Jubilee stuck out her tongue but didn't look up.
"Would yah get out?" Rogue yelled, throwing her hands up in the air. "'Cuz Ah sure didn't ask Xavier foar mah own room so Ah could have less privacy!"
"Chill Rogue" Jubilee frowned at her, throwing the magazine across the bed. "What crawled up your ass and died?"
"Remy LeBeau, apparently" Kitty sauntered into the room, settling herself down on the bed beside Jubilee. "She just kissed him."
"Aw hell, girl" Jubilee groaned through the biggest grin Rogue had ever seen. "How long is he gonna be out for?"
"Oh, he's not out" Kitty laughed.
"Unfortunately" Rogue muttered, closing her bedroom door and dropping herself onto the rug in the center of the room. She crossed her legs and sighed, resigning herself to the fact that she was not getting out of this easily or without explanation.
"I'm confused" Jubilee admitted, her eyebrows pulling together. "There's room right here you know, Rogue" she added, patting the bed next to her.
Rogue ignored this, "Remy's mutation is in his skin too" she explained, "Mostly he can jus' charge things full o' energy 'till they explode, but it also gives him like a shield o' energy round him."
"I'm guessing you'll be getting to the point soon?" Jubilee said.
"Jus' means m' mutation don't work on him" Rogue shrugged, "Guess Ah take all that energy, but he don't pass out."
Jubilee laughed, "No way!" she crowed, "The hottest guy in the entire mansion and you can touch him!"
"It ain't mah birthday Jubes" Rogue scowled.
"So why do you hate him so much?" Kitty wanted to know, "Is he an ex-boyfriend of yours?"
"Rogue with an ex-boyfriend!" Jubilee slapped her leg happily, "This has just about made my year."
"Ah don't hate him, an' he ain't mah ex-boyfriend."
"He's your ex-something though, isn't he?" Kitty pressed.
"Why are ya'll so interested?" Rogue wanted to know, this was beginning to more than just annoy her. "What, ah get a sex life and suddenly Ah'm jus' fascinatin'?"
"Don't be like that, Rogue" Jubilee chastised.
"Lahke what?" she bit back, "Lahke Remy bein' somethin' tah meh ain't jus' made yoar year? Lahke ya'll ain't gon' use it as a reason tah make meh wear one of those ridiculous strappy tops ya'll know Ah just hate!" She didn't know where this outburst was coming from, but now she had started she just couldn't seem to stop. "That suddenly Ah'm jus' so easier tah talk tah now Ah've kissed a boy an' he ain't passed out?"
"Rogue" Kitty said quietly, "We're your friends-"
"Then be mah friends!" she hissed, "When Ah tell yah Ah need sleeves it ain't 'cuz Ah'm bein' stubborn, it's 'cuz Ah don't want tah kill yah!"
Her voice wobbled and she stopped to take a deep breath.
Jubilee cast a sideways glance at Kitty before sliding down off the bed to sit beside her, "Rogue, I'm really sorry" she said, placing her hand on Rogue's shoulder. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, I was just trying not to treat you differently because of your mutation."
"An' Ah love yah foar that, sugah" she said, smiling up at her. "But sometimes Ah have tah be treated different."
"And sometimes you don't" Kitty pointed out, slipping off the bed to join the other two on the floor. "We're your friends Rogue, we want you to talk to us because we care about you, not because we're dying for another piece of mansion gossip."
Rogue took a deep breath and looked from clear, blue eyes to deep chocolate brown ones.
Maybe it was time to talk to them, to share the secrets of her past.
The only person that she talked to about her past was Logan, and that was mostly due to the fact that he had been the one to find her. She didn't like to talk about the person she had been or the things she had done because she just hated herself for it. People already looked down on her for being a member of the Brotherhood or felt sorry for her because of her mutation, their opinion of her would only be worse once they knew some of the things she had done or that she had honestly believed a man like Remy LeBeau wanted to be with her.
But Jubilee and Kitty were right, they were her friends.
They deserved to know the truth.
"So Kitty, yah remember when Ah first got here an' Ah was a real mess" Rogue started, rubbing her hand up and down her arm awkwardly. "Logan kept me hidden foar a long time?"
"Sure" Kitty shrugged, "We figured it was because of your time at the Brotherhood, that Logan was afraid of what would happen if you mixed with us."
"Mebe a little" Rogue agreed, "But what Ah told yah about Logan rescuing meh from thah Brotherhood, it weren't exactly true."
"What do you mean?" Jubilee asked.
"When Remy came tah thah Brotherhood, it was foar a mission" Rogue said, "Only it weren't foar mah momma that he was workin', it was foar his daddy."
"I don't see what this has to do with-"
Rogue held her hand up to stop the interruption, "We thought he was with us 'cuz Momma was payin' him, truth was he was with us 'cuz his daddy wanted him tah steal somethin'. Only what he had to steal was information, an' not many people knew it."
"Were you one of those people?" Kitty asked quietly.
"Momma trusted meh tha most" Rogue sighed, pushing her hair off her face. "An' she didn't let me outta her sight much, so weren't likely Ah was gonna tell people. Only she didn't count on Remy, she didn't know how close we was really. She didn't know he could touch meh 'cuz Ah never told her, Ah was a naive sixteen year old that was jus' starved f'r touch. Gambit sure used that tah his advantage."
"He seduced you" Jubilee summarized.
"Ah made it jus' too easy for him" Rogue said, casting her eyes down. "Told him everything he wanted tah know."
"Guessing your mother wasn't best pleased?" Kitty whispered.
"She kicked me outta tha family, an' sent her best guard dawg after meh" Rogue smiled wryly, "By thah time he was done wit' me Ah had a dozen broken bones, a busted knee cap, a collapsed lung and a severe concussion. Ah was sure Ah was about tah die, that's when Logan found meh."
"What did she do to Remy?" Kitty wanted to know.
"Oh he left, soon as he got what he wanted" Rogue laughed bitterly, "Almost glad Ah cain't have sex, knowin' Ah'll never wake up alone in someone else's bed again."
"No wonder you hate him" Jubilee said harshly, her face twisted as though she had bitten into a lemon.
"Ah don't hate him, he was jus' followin' orders" Rogue shrugged, "That's what we were trained tah do."
"But Rogue-"
"It don't matter, that's what happened" Rogue sighed, "Jus' wish he would stop pretendin' now, ain't lahke he needs nothin' else from meh."
"But the way he looks at you now, it's not like he wants something" Kitty countered.
"Except maybe to get you naked again" Jubilee teased.
Rogue glared at her.
"Are you sure he didn't care about you really?" Kitty pressed, "Maybe he just didn't have a choice."
"Ah'm sure he didn't" Rogue agreed, standing up and moving over to her bathroom. "Don't mean he cares for me."
"Then he's a really good actor" Kitty pressed.
"Well we know that, Kitty" Jubilee rolled her eyes, "He got Rogue to go to bed with him just for some information."
"I'm sure plenty of women would go to bed with him for less" Kitty was relentless, "I don't see him chasing after them like he chases after you."
"What are yah sayin'?"
"That maybe you should ease up and let him explain himself" Kitty said softly, "You've absorbed Logan so much, it's making you stubborn and cranky."
"Ain't that the truth" Jubilee laughed.
"Ah'll think about it" Rogue relented, because it was easier than the argument. "Can Ah get a hot shower now?"
"Yes" Kitty said easily, standing up and flipping her ponytail down her back. "I better get one too if we're heading out for drinks."
"Drinks?" Jubilee screeched, "Why is this the first I'm hearing of it?"
"Bobby mentioned it down in the Danger Room."
"Right, well that settles it" Jubilee said, finally standing herself. "I'm choosing an outfit for you."
"Jubes" Rogue groaned.
"You just go and get yourself a nice hot shower and leave the rest to me" Jubilee said easily, "Every girl needs to look hot in front of her ex."
Rogue decided the hot water was much more tempting than an argument, so she relented and headed for the shower inwardly praying that Jubilee wasn't considering putting her in anything that bared too much skin.
Thankfully the younger girl seemed to have taken some of Rogue's outburst on board, and her outfit was as revealing as one could be for a girl that couldn't show any skin.
"Told you I'd make you hot" Jubilee laughed, slapping her behind as she past through the door of the local bar.
"She always looks hot, Jubilee" Kitty rolled her eyes.
"At least Ah won't kill anyone" Rogue agreed.
"Unless Remy gets within strangling distance" Jubilee teased.
Rogue shook her head as the three of them headed towards the bar. She hated to admit it, but Jubilee had taste. She had forced Rogue into the tiniest, nude coloured tube top that Rogue had spluttered at and fought against until she had slipped a sheer, nude kimono over the top with a rising phoenix detailed into the back. The sheer material was floaty and paired with her black leather trousers made her look almost normal.
"What will we have, girls?" Jubilee asked, glancing down at the menu.
"A Shirley Temple for the minor" Kitty said, plucking the menu out of Jubilee's hands and eyeing the bartender.
"You're no fun" Jubilee huffed.
"An' two martinis" Rogue added with a wink.
"Allow me" a voice said from behind them, and Remy LeBeau slid in between her and Jubilee. "Always t'hought yo' was a Bourbon girl, chere."
"Rogue was only sixteen when you met" Kitty frowned.
"Ah was poorly influenced" Rogue drawled, taking a sip of her martini and allowing the alcohol to warm a path to her stomach.
"How 'bout it, chere" Remy said softly, passing his card to the bartender and glancing at her with his warm, red eyes. "Feel like dancin'?"
"Ah-" she hesitated, glancing up at her friends. Kitty was nodding with enthusiasm but Jubilee had opened her mouth as though she was about to protest.
"Come on, Jubes" Kitty spoke before she could, grabbing hold of her elbow. "I feel like dancing too."
Before Jubilee could utter a word of objection she had been dragged off into the sea of pulsing bodies.
Rogue turned back to Remy, who was still watching her closely. She always loved his eyes in the dark, the red would almost glow and it called out to her.
"Sho' Cajun" she heard herself agreeing, "Ah'll dance with yah."
Remy took hold of her gloved hand and led her over to the dance floor. The minute they reached the edge of the crowd he pulled her into his body.
"After dat beatin' down earlier, sho' I weren't gonna be allowed within eye contact distance wit' yo'" he said, sliding his hands around her back and pulling her closer into his chest.
He was so warm, she had forgotten that about him. Part of Remy's mutation seemed to be that he was constantly giving off heat, and as Rogue's hands always seemed to be cold she just couldn't resist reaching out to hold him. If it wasn't an involuntary part of his mutation she would accuse him for doing it just to bribe her into touching him.
She placed both hands on his shoulders and frowned at him.
"Still as dramatic as ever" she said, rolling her eyes. "Kitteh thinks Ah should go easier on yah."
"Be sho' t' buy dat gal a drink" he grinned down at her, his liquid red eyes warm with humor. "Yo' gonna listen?"
"Jus' gotta keep tellin' mahself that it weren't yoar fault" she shrugged, "An' that maybe mah constant absorption of Logan is makin' meh stubborn."
"T'ink yo' were always dat, chere" Remy teased.
"But Ah meant what Ah said" she said sternly, "Ah can't go through all that again."
"Chere-"
"We shoulda always jus' stayed friends" she said, moving even closer to link her arms around his neck. "Ah shoulda known betta than tah get involved with yah."
"Come on now, Rogue" he tightened his grip on her back, pressing her against him. "Yo' know I did more f'r yo' dan any udder girl I ever knew."
She stopped moving and stepped away from him, "Why was that?"
"Yo' know why" he answered, trying to pull her against him again.
"Sho' are a good mercenary, ain't cha Remy?" she said, pulling back until he was forced to take hold of her wrist.
"Terrible liar though."
"This ain't a joke, Swamp Rat" she sighed, failing in her attempt to get her wrist back.
"Yo' see me laughin'?" he murmured, reeling her wrist back towards him and hooking his arm around her waist again. "'Least I get t' see yo' an' make yo' smile."
"Yah ain't never made me smile, Remy LeBeau" she said, relinquishing her wrist and falling back into step with him. "Could never deliver the punch line."
"P'shaw who yo' talkin' wit' girl?" He smiled, his red eyes warming again. "I be de King of comedy."
"King of runnin' that mouth, mebe" she teased.
"I'm serious, chere" he said, pushing back so he could look her in the eye. "Before all de games an' de job, we were friends, non?"
"That was before" she pointed out, "Yah can't turn back time."
"Not askin' t' go back, jus' t' start over."
She hesitated, pulling back again and glancing down at her shoes.
"Remy Ah ain't sure-"
"Yo' said no flirtin' chere" he said, leaning down to try and look her in the eye. "Didn't say nothin' 'bout bein' friends."
"All the stuff that happened" she stuttered, "Me tellin' yo' that Ah loved-"
"Ain't askin' t' go back, chere" he repeated softly, "Jus' askin' t' start over."
Rogue paused again, taking a deep breath. A week ago she wouldn't have even considered holding a conversation with Remy LeBeau, now she was acting mulling over the idea of being his friend?
It seemed nothing but dangerous to her.
"Come on, chere" Remy pulled against her hips, those red eyes just winking with mischief. "Come out an' play."
She opened her mouth to tell him that she didn't want to play with him, that the last thing she wanted to do with get tangled up in the dangerous and mysterious world of Remy LeBeau. But she couldn't quite get it out, because at the same time all she could think was how much she had missed him, the only man in the world that could make her feel the way he did.
"You two sure look cosy."
She jumped and turned to see Bobby stood beside them, holding two beers and his eyebrows pulled down.
"Hey there Bobby" she said breathily, stepping back to put some space between her and Remy.
"I brought your drink, man" he said, passing one of the beers to Remy before turning to Rogue. "Kitty got you another cocktail, we've got a table back there" he indicated with his thumb.
"Sure" Rogue said, nodding. "Ah should get back to those gals."
She turned her back on Remy and headed straight over to the table before he could even try and call her back, shaking her head to clear it. Unfortunately he stayed close behind her, seemingly determined to cloud her thought and her better judgement.
Rogue slipped onto the seat beside Kitty and smiled as she pushed a fresh glass towards her, "Are you okay?" she mouthed.
Rogue nodded in response and Remy took the seat beside her.
"So, Remy" Jubilee pounced as soon as he took his seat, leaning across the table on her elbows. "Tell us a little about yourself."
"What yo' want t' know, petite?" Remy asked, placing a hand on the back of Rogue's chair.
"Well, Rogue is just so elusive about her time with the Brotherhood" Jubilee continued, "Maybe you could tell us some things?"
"Was only wit' dem f'r a year, way back when I was jus' a pup" he said, waving his hand dismissively, "Was a long time ago."
"So what you did there doesn't matter?" Jubilee continued.
"Jubes" Rogue hissed.
"Yeah Jubilee, this isn't an interrogation" Bobby said, "You're starting to sound like Logan."
"I'm just taking an interest" Jubilee said haughtily.
"Weren't that interestin'" Rogue muttered, taking a chug of her drink in an attempt to steady her nerves.
"Ain't dat de truth" Remy agreed, "Never played so much poker."
"Poker?" Kitty laughed.
"Needed a way t' pass de time" Remy nodded.
"Rogue knows how to play poker?" Bobby snorted.
All attention turned to Remy who was now grinning at the subject change, "O' course" he said, tipping his head in her direction, "Who do yo' thi'k taught her?"
"You taught Rogue how to play poker?" Bobby demanded.
"Well at least we now have a firm grasp of the obvious" Jubilee muttered, rolling her eyes.
"What did you bet?" Kitty wanted to know.
"Clothes" Remy grinned.
"Got tah play high stakes with the Cajun" Rogue said, rolling her eyes.
"Seriously?" Jubilee squealed, looking scandalised. "What happened?"
"Was our first mission together, ain't dat right chere?" Remy grinned.
"First an' last" Rogue said, shaking her head.
"We were stayin' is dis God awful motel, it was an overnight job but I won't bore yo' wit de details" Remy started.
"Please, bore us" Jubilee insisted, all hostility seemingly forgotten in the haste to hear some gossip.
"B&E, theft an' some minor undercover work" Rogue filled in, "At least, that's what momma told us."
"Dat woman is de Queen of de understatement, non?" Remy smiled, "Anyway, so we were bored an' I snuck into Rogue's room."
"No, yah snuck into mah hotel room 'cos yah were bored."
"Got t' pass de time somehow" Remy winked, "So I catch her up wit' de basics an' we start playin', an' obviously I'm winnin'."
"Never trust a thief" Rogue muttered.
"Don't b' sore, chere" Remy teased, "So Rogue is wearin' a bra an' her jeans and she looks at me an' says in that sweet as southern voice o' hers, Yo' cheatin yo' no good dirty Swamp Rat!"
The entire group burst out laughing, even Rogue failed to hide her smile.
"O' course I was goin' t' compliment her on her flattery, but de chere is hard t' distract when dose massive lungs o' hers start workin'" Remy grinned at Rogue as she reached out to thump him on the arm, he deftly dodged her hit and continued, "So I went t' kiss her, distraction is as good as de rest."
"What happened?" Kitty asked, her eyes wide as she sat on the edge of her seat.
"John walked in" Remy laughed, "Yo' remember his face chere? What a picture."
"Oh Gawd" Rogue groaned, putting her face into her hands. "Never been so embarrassed in mah entre life."
"Yo'd t'ink he'd walked on meh wit' his sister" Remy shook his head.
"John, as in Pyro?" Bobby qualified.
"Ah told ya'll he was in tha Brotherhood" Rogue said, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"You didn't say you were close" Bobby accused.
"Ah don't see why that matters."
"I don't care about that!" Jubilee interrupted, "What did he do?"
"Set de curtains a light fr'm what I remember" Remy shrugged, "Den went an' tol' Mysty what had happened."
"An' she stopped meh from runnin' missions with Remy" Rogue rolled her eyes.
"I ain't trusted 'round de fine gems and delicate items" Remy said, grinning away like the cat that got the canary. "Got a bad thieving habit."
"Sticky fingers" Rogue muttered, throwing him a glare.
"Sticky skin" Remy countered, looking her up and down with warm red eyes.
She watched him steadily as the others broke into an argument over who would win at a game of strip poker, remembering all the reasons why being friends with Remy LeBeau would be so dangerous.