Disclaimer: Marvel owns all X-Men related things, though I own this fic and the general concept for it.
Rating: Rated M for language and mature subject matter.
Enjoy the chapter!!
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They left early in the morning, before the sun even thought about rising. Every detail to get in and out of the city worked out and planned; including the possibility of bringing back a third party. Both their bikes loaded and ready to go. It was going to be a long two days.
They rarely stopped along the drive down state, rarely ever speaking to anyone when they did, barely to each other. For Logan and Remy, this drive was strictly business, at least until they reached their destination. And until then, they would tolerate each other's company. Luckily, with two motorcycles, there already isn't much room for discussion. The more quiet they were, the less likely they were to be noticed. After all, if Remy's connections were able to track Rogue that far, why couldn't the Assassin's find them? They remained as covert as possible, never staying anywhere long enough for people to remember names or faces. When they slept for the one night, they were in well after midnight and gone before daybreak.
Time was of the essence for these men. As much as they wanted to deny they were worried about Rogue because they knew she was strong on her own, they feared more of the knowledge she now held. An outsider now knew anything that was strictly "need-to-know". The longer she stayed in the city, the more likely she was to be noticed. Even to convince her to leave the state would be enough.
To keep his mind at ease along the trip, Remy kept reminding himself that Rogue knew better to open her mouth about anything like that. Especially if she did have his memories, she would know to lay low in the city. But it only lead to more questions for the young man. What if she knew about things that didn't even concern her safety at the moment? His engagement to Belladonna? Would she know of that? Or Genevieve's death? Maybe the dead body in the river?
It was too much to think about, too much to remember. Most of it, Remy thought he had forgotten. But just thinking of what could have been running through Rogue's head to make her leave like that made all the skeletons from his past come crawling back. Even if the X-Men accepted his past and offered him a new start, it'd be nothing if Rogue thought of him the way he did of himself; a monster.
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Two days later, Logan and Remy arrived in Akers, Louisiana. There was a bridge that connected from Akers to Edgard. However, during the time of the underground railroads, there was a system built under the bridge for slaves that were traveling from Mississippi and into Louisiana. Remy and Henri found it when they were teenagers and began using it for personal reasons, and all that that implied. Only they knew about it.
Remy did a scout out of the area where the tunneling system began. When he was younger, he used to leave tell-all traps that would let him know if anyone had been using the tunnels while him and Henri weren't there. If unused, he and Logan would be able to get in and out of New Orleans without resorting to the Interstate and with over ninety percent chance of making it out undetected. The rest was based on luck. Hopefully, it was with them today.
"I's all clear, mon ami," Remy said, jumping down from the tunnel's cover.
"Then let's move," Logan spoke sharply as the two of them quickly mounted their bikes again, and began the drive into New Orleans.
The trek wasn't long, little over 30 minutes. They emerged in a small park just outside the main city. Remy would still have another 20 minute drive to the address Cerebro gave them.
They looked to the horizon of the city, the sun setting just behind it. It was just as Remy remembered it, and just as beautiful as ever. But once again, he was here under the most uncomfortable circumstances.
"So Cajun, it's all you now."
Remy looked over to Logan, "You ain't comin'? Help give her incentive to come home?" He asked, confused at the deviation from the original plan.
"You guys have some heavy stuff to talk about. She won't talk if I'm there."
Remy looked back to the city and nodded. Logan was right. Rogue had her pride, and the fewer the people, the better.
"Besides," Logan started again, getting Remy's attention, "If having you there to bring her home doesn't give her enough incentive, she isn't coming home at all."
Remy chuckled, humbled, "Le's just hope she don' toss me out befo' I can get a word in."
"Just remember she hides her emotions. Even if she acts like she's happy or tellin' you to leave, get to the problem and get her to talk about it. Once it's out and over with, she may be less reluctant to come back."
"You mean I gotta make her cry," Remy replied, more a statement then a question.
"I know ya hate it as much as I do, but then she'll have nothin' to run from and any problems ya got between you two will be dealt with."
Nodding again, Remy revved his bike, "I'll be back within 12 hours. Anyt'in' past dat, there's a problem."
"I'll bring the back up," Logan replied, holding his fist and unsheathing his claws. Remy chucked again and sped off out of the tunnel and into the city. Until then, Logan was sure he could keep himself occupied. After all, he wasn't the one exiled.
xxx
Remy pulled up to the house and he was in awe of the size. When had Rogue had the time or finances to get a place like it? It even rivaled the Guild house in size, only smaller because of the lack of land around it. And at least his home housed numerous thieves at a time. As far as he knew, Rogue was on her own. Why would she have a place this expansive and, most likely, expensive?
Sliding off his bike, Remy removed his helmet and got a better look at the outside; shrubbery surrounded the house and colors of various flowers, all obviously taken care of recently, made it feel like you were in the Land of Oz. Remy moved up the walkway and admired the subtleties around him. He was never a man to stop and smell the roses, but he might just become one.
However, there wasn't much time to ponder much else as Remy remembered why he was there in the first place. Near as he could tell, Rogue wasn't home. It was just dark enough outside now that she would have turned on a few lights, and none were visible. Though new looking, there was no new security system installed – he would have to talk to Rogue about that too. Remy got to work on picking the lock to the front door and was in within fifteen seconds. He relocked the door and began exploring the space. It looked well lived in; not messy, but definitely used. In the kitchen, dishes in the sink, dish washer finished and waiting to be emptied, loafs of bread quickly twirled and tucked as if someone in a rush to get breakfast for the day, some crumbs and open butter tray as evidence. He couldn't help but chuckle a little at the thought, seeing Rogue run around in the morning. She was always so smooth at the Institute, mainly because everyone else was in such chaos. Rogue was getting sloppy… but he still wished he could have seen it all.
Remy moved around a bit more, making sure to leave everything they way it was. In the living room, a few photos lined the side table; some of Rogue when she was younger, with pigtails. Remy had to pick it up to look at it better. Her smile was just as beautiful back then as it was then. He carefully placed it back down, looking over more photos. He was surprised to not find any of the X-Men in the photos. Though there weren't many, Remy would have thought she would have one of the girls, maybe Logan or the Professor. Heck maybe even one of the two of them. But nothing. Looked like she wanted to forget about that part of her life.
The house held more truth about Rogue then Remy really knew about her. Without the influence of everyone else's opinion of her, she was able to be whoever she wanted to be. And this house was amplifying it, loud and clear. She was nostalgic, carefree; things she couldn't be as the Goth girl or an X-Man.
By the time Remy reached the second level of the house (which was a long time), night had well set in and he began to wonder what Rogue could be doing on a Tuesday night that late.
Remy wandered along the hallway when he walked by a slightly open door. His interest perked as he quietly moved into the room. It was the master bedroom, clearly obvious that Rogue slept there. The vanity in use, littered with various make-up and hair products, but fairly organized. The dresser was filled with clothes that you would have never guessed to be Rogue's. The bed was made, but also in a hurry, the edges pulled in various ways in a few quick tugs. Remy gently sat on the bed and stared out the window as he thought.
"Come on, chere. Where are y'?" Remy asked silently.
He let out a long held sigh, running his hand through his hair and over his face. Maybe he should have shaved, taken a shower, at least, before coming to see her. Two days worth of scruff lay across his jaw and his hair molding easily with the grease accumulated.
But as he contemplated a shave, Remy could remember one of the various occasions where Rogue made the point of telling him to keep the scruff.
"Ah lahke mah men a little rough…"
Suddenly… Remy didn't think he needed to clean up much. He stood from the bed, making sure it appeared untouched, and moved to window, opening it to the humid Louisiana evening. The breeze was welcoming and felt like home. How he wished he could just stay in New Orleans with Rogue.
But Remy was quickly shaken from the thought when he heard an echoing sound, approaching quickly. It sounded like… sobs?
Remy hid back in the house, taking careful looks around the windowsill. It was Rogue. She was… flying? And crying…
She flew out of his view, downward to the front door of the house. Remy quickly hid in a crook between the bedroom and the bathroom as he heard the door open and the sobs only becoming louder, a loud smack of a bag being thrown and springs in the couch squeaking under pressure. Then, it was silent in the house except for the muffled sobs he could hear. For over twenty minutes, Remy had to sit and endure listening to her cry. He wanted to go and comfort her to make it stop, then crack open whoever it was that made her cry. But if he made his presence known while she was upset, she would never listen to him. She would only get more upset. He knew he could last, but it didn't make it any easier to hear.
After a while, the sobs faded to sniffles and Remy heard the couch springs squeak again, along with footsteps against the hardwood floors. Remy had to move if he didn't want to be seen. Rogue was walking up the stairs and… striping. Though Remy was not distracted, he quickly found another hiding spot in the guest bedroom at the other side of the bathroom. He made there without a sound and out of Rogue's sight. She walked down the hall and into the bathroom, nearly completely nude except for her underwear, closing the door behind her.
Remy let out a held breathe as he heard music beginning to play from the bathroom and saw steam seeping through the cracks. He waited anxiously for her to leave, though he didn't wait long. Rogue was in and out of the bathroom in ten minutes, dressed for bed and wrapping her hair into a messy bun. Remy couldn't help but watch her from the shadows of the opposite room. She sat on her bed with a sigh, running her hands over her cleaned face and taking a few deep breaths. Meditation maybe? She stayed quiet, but began looking at something in the closet. Remy couldn't tell what it was from the angle, but watched with interest as she smiled, a sight he sorely missed seeing, and stood from bed. He could hear the clatter of hangers as something was removed and finally saw what she was getting. His duster; repaired and all the bloodstains removed. Remy stood shocked as Rogue ran a hand down the coat and quietly crawled back into the oversized bed, cuddling up to the coat.
Remy could no longer stay where he was, convinced Rogue would not be upset with his presence. As only a thief could, Remy moved silently into the room and crouched by the side of the bed closer to the window, never taking his eyes of Rogue. The closer he got to her, the more we wanted to just crawl into the bed with her like they had so many times before. She was still the beauty he remembered. Her hair may have been curlier then before, and her lips less stained by darker colors, but her skin was still as flawless as it always was. Remy only wished he could see those emeralds again and he would have been in Heaven.
As if his prayers were answered, Rogue turned towards the window and slowly lifted her eyes open, looking directly at Remy. He stiffened for a moment, both mesmerized by the eyes of who's brightness he sorely missed and unsure of what to do now that Rogue had seen him after so long.
There wasn't long to wonder as Rogue's smile returned and she spoke softly, "Ah missed you, Remy."
The moment didn't last long, her eyes dewing a little before they closed once again, letting the tears spill down her cheeks and onto his duster. Remy knew there was nothing to be done or said. He simply reached over the bed and gently wiped away the tears he could not bare to see on his chere's face. As much as Remy loved hearing her sweet southern drawl again and as badly as he wanted to kiss her right at that moment, he knew he couldn't.
Still… he wanted to.
For now, he would let her sleep. She looked exhausted and he would not disturb Rogue when she looked too peaceful as she slept. Remy sat back against the wall below the window and took up a post, refusing to fall asleep, though being exhausted from the long drive. He would wait. Two months out of his reach, he could wait one more night.
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Woot! Another one up! So now that Remy in New Orleans and face-to-face with Rogue again, you know what the next chapter is gonna be right? Riiiight! ;)
But many of you were thinking that it was Remy and Logan that was following Rogue… hmm… interesting twist. Then who was it following her that night? We'll soon find out!
Until then, PLEASE keep reviewing and reading! I appreciate the comments and critiques!
Say tuned!
Until next time…
