Chapter Nine: Complications
"You have no new mail," the computer said in its mechanized way as Raven Darkholme scrolled through her inbox. Rogue hadn't written her in several days, and she was very worried about her daughter. Had Magneto caught on to their plan despite their cautions? Or perhaps Rogue felt discouraged and gave up...
She opened up a new message and quickly asked, "Is everything going okay there?". She sent it quickly and without ceremony.
"Yo boss lady!" Toad yelled from the kitchen. "What are we havin' for dinner?"
Groaning, Mystique realized that she still had to baby-sit the cretin until Rogue lined their pieces in the right order. Not wanting to cook, she picked up the phone and ordered five pizzas, certain that Blob would eat at least three of them. "Pizza!" she called after hanging up.
"All right!" Lance cried. "My favorite!"
The phone rang suddenly and Mystique turned over to grab the receiver from it's cradle. "Hello, Darkholme residence," she said coolly into the speaker.
Their was a pause until the speaker finally asked, "Raven, is that you?"
"Irene?" she breathed incredulously. "How long has it been?"
"Too long, my dear," she responded sadly
A twinge of guilt socked Raven in the gut. It was partly her fault, given the fact that ever since she began to work with Rogue on their plan she never made any time for Irene Adler anymore. She used to be an intricate part of the family. Years passed, however, and the two women began to float away from each other. Though the precognitive knew all regardless, it must have hurt her feelings to stumble upon visions about a plan that she barely had any hand in. However, it wasn't as though Irene had any use to Rogue or Mystique besides her cryptic visions.
"I'm calling about Rogue."
"Rogue?" she repeated, alarmed. "Is she okay?" Magneto wouldn't dare touch her daughter... would he?
"Calm down," Irene instructed, detached. She was always so collected and cold with Mystique. Their conversations were very unnerving to the shape-shifter. "It's not for certain, as I see many pathways."
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, probabilities and all of that bullshit I already know... why don't you stop beating around the bush and tell me what you saw?"
"Well you must promise me to not overreact," she tested.
"I can't promise you anything and you know that." She coiled her finger around the phone's cord impatiently.
"Well, as a direct result of your plan going accordingly, Rogue... will die."
"What!"
"Or," she continued, ignoring the outburst, "if another path is chosen... you will die."
Mystique couldn't be hearing things right. Magneto was the only one dying from their plan. When had it been switched around? "You're certain?" she asked after several minutes of gathering her thoughts.
"I can never be certain, my dear."
It was that precise fact that always frustrated Mystique. Half of the time Irene's visions never came to pass. The other half... they did, and she never expected the events to be true. You could never ignore one of her visions, and yet you could never really take them seriously. She gritted her teeth in annoyance and responded, "Ugh, then what good are you?"
She regretted the words, truthful though they were, immediately. "'Reney, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that."
Irene knew when to bite back. "And what good are you, my dear shape-shifter, when you can't even impersonate someone without your daughter's aid?" she responded just as icily.
Always getting the last word... she thought angrily. "Are you trying to call me a murderer?" she snarled. "Are you accusing me of knowingly sending my own- my own, Destiny, because I'm the one who adopted her- child to her death?"
"Then why don't you call the whole thing off?" she suggested. "Either path is a lose-lose situation. Either way I at least end up losing either one of my most cherished family."
Mystique heaved a large sigh. "You don't understand. I can't just give up now. Not after Rogue and I have gone so far. Soon enough we'll have Magnus and his base and our whole dream with come into fruition."
"Soon enough either one of you will be dead."
"Says a woman with only a hunch!"
Irene couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Remember when I warned you about Rogue's absorption of Carol? Hadn't you said then that if you could take it back you would? Now is your chance to take something back before someone gets hurt."
"Some one has to get hurt. It's just the way terrorism goes. Don't become Rosa Parks. You're smarter than that."
"So that's how cold and calculated you've become?" Irene asked in disbelief. "I thought somewhere inside of you was a human heart that I could love. I guess I was wrong, because you'll risk your own and, more importantly, your daughter's life for the sake of mutant kind's salvation."
"She hung up!" Mystique growled and threw the phone into the nearest wall.
"Table for two, Mr. LeBeau," the host said with a smile, seating the two mutants underneath a large, crystal chandelier. Gambit pulled out a chair that Rogue squeezed into before taking his own seat. He sat down the napkins and silverware. "Your server, John, will be right with you."
"This is nice," Rogue appraised with a grin. "Ah didn't think ya had it in ya, Swamp Rat."
He smiled slyly in reply. "Comin' from a Mississippi River rat, I hardly take it as an insult."
"Touché," she replied, sipping her water.
"Call it like I see it," he explained with a shrug. Scanning the menu he asked, "What you gonna have, chere?"
"Cheese tortellini sounds good."
"Boring," he taunted with a cocky grin. "T'ink I'll have the Cajun shrimp scampi. Lil' moh flavor in dat one."
"Oh please, that is so lame. Put a few sprinkles on shrimp an then ya call it 'Cajun'. Mine is a little more dignified. And it doesn't have to be dressed up with some lame seasonin' to make it good." She stopped herself from saying anymore. "Oh, Jesus, here we are, arguin' 'bout God damned food like it's some contest. Everyone has their own taste."
"'Less it's you, cause you ain't got no taste," he countered.
She threw a napkin at him. "Remember, y'r makin' me go on this date. Ah can just leave any time Ah want. So you bettah behave."
"You folks ready to order?" John asked.
The two looked up and broke into laughter. "Pyro, dis where you work?" Remy asked.
"Bloody hell!" he exclaimed, surprised. "What are you two doin' here?"
"Ah thought Magneto paid well enough," Rogue said.
Pyro shrugged. "Well, not good enough to pay off my Jaguar payments. I'm working double now."
She rolled her eyes. "Over a stupid car. Men."
"Dat's not just a car!" Remy objected.
"What do you guys want?" he repeated, impatiently. "I've got lots of tables to serve. Some time today would be nice."
"You talk dat way t' all your customers, Monsieur? We'll have a bottle of de house Merlot an' an order of cheese tortellini an' an order of Cajun shrimp scampi."
"You both are going to get me fired," John mumbled, taking their menus.
"The apron looks good on ya!" Rogue called as he walked away.
"Dat dress looks good on you," Gambit purred, his eyes roaming over her barely there outfit.
She looked down and blushed, wishing she had put something more sensible on. She felt practically naked. "Well, Ah do try to impress."
"You wanna tell me what went on b'fore we got here?" he questioned.
"Oh, that?" She played with the metal chain around her neck. "Just somethin' Magneto gave me."
"So he's done with the collar?"
She nodded. "It made me feel a lil' ill at first, but after Ah put it on Ah had every say in what mah powers did. Ah can call on previous people Ah've absorbed, an Ah can absorb people only when Ah want to. It's pretty liberatin'."
"So that means Carol's outta yoh head, too?"
"Ah don't really know," she answered truthfully. "Hasn't bothered me all day since the incident in the trainin' room."
John returned with a bottle of wine and poured the couple two glasses. "Your food should be ready in about twenty minutes."
Rogue took a sip of her wine and observed Gambit slowly. As much as she hated to admit it, he was definitely handsome. Perhaps that was why she had the awful urge to kiss him earlier. He was tall and muscular with longish brown hair that shadowed his cat eyes. Those eyes were the most striking feature about him. She remembered what he looked like the first time they met at school. He had brown contacts on then. Tonight was a much better improvement. However, he did reek of cigarettes, and she abhorred cigarettes. Smoking was unhealthy and annoying. She wondered if his mouth tasted like them. She never had a cigarette. She'd never kissed anyone like that, either. Did she want to?
"Ain't you Mystique's daughter?"
She blinked and met his eyes. "Yeah. Are you tryin' t' tell me that Ah'm not trustworthy or somethin'?"
"Jumpin' t' conclusions, are we, chere?" He smiled. "Remy was just curious, dat's all."
"Livin' with Magneto's a lot better than livin' in that house," she mused, sipping some more wine.
"Porquoi?"
She snorted. "Well f'r one thang, Ah had t' live with the Brotherhood. Enough said."
"Why'd you leave?"
She drained the rest of the glass. "She kicked me out cause Ah blamed her f'r Carol bein' in mah mind. She's very loyal. She pretty much disowned me then and there."
"Don' sound like a pleasant family. Remy can relate." He poured more wine into her glass. "There ya go, chere."
"Tryin' t' get me drunk?" She didn't care, actually. Some part of her would be happy if Gambit decided to go to bed with her- sober or not sober. It was such a confusing feeling. She was so attracted to a man that absolutely disgusted her. He was so cocky and arrogant and slimy and... gorgeous. And a little intimidating. Remy more than his share of women. How could she stack up to all the girls he'd been with? Rogue was absolutely inexperienced and, up until that day, was not even attainable. Perhaps now that the chase was called off he was less dazzled with the prize.
Gambit chose to focus on the previous topic. "Mon pere- well, he's not even my papa, he helped me escape the police when I stole food one day and adopted me ever since- he's 'bout the same 'bout loyalty. Our family is part o' de t'ieves guild, an' it's pretty tight-knit. Once Remy dated a girl, Belladonna, from de rival guild, de assassin's guild, an 'bout had my head chopped off. We were supposed t' bring peace t' the guild me an' her- but Magneto found me an offered t' use my abilities foh a hefty price. Ain't been back home since."
Belladonna... she thought with envy. Even more, he said he dated her, but he never said if he was in love with her or whether they had broken up. Besides, just the thought of someone else touching him first made her itch. After all, Gambit was the first boy to touch her since Cody. She gave that away to some slime ball who was probably still fucking that girl! And really-
Hold up, there, Sparky, Carol interrupted her racing thoughts. You're getting a little carried away here.
Why do you care? Rogue asked, massaging her temples. And furthermore, why are ya even in mah head? This collar's supposed t' make ya go away.
Afraid not, sweetheart. I'm right on time. You can't get rid of me.
Point?
Not that I care about you and Romeo, but you're being a conniving bitch. And jumping to far too many conclusions. You're over-analyzing everything, and that's no way to get a man.
And Ah suppose you know all about that?
They don't call me Miss Marvel for nothing.
Rogue felt like she was going to vomit.
"You okay, Roguey?"
"Rogue," she corrected. "Just thinkin'."
"Ya jealous?"
She snorted. "Fat chance. Ah could talk all about mah old boyfriends, but Ah'll save mahself the trouble and you the worry." If she only had any boyfriends in her lifetime.
The food arrived, just in time to break the tension, and Rogue was grateful for that. She dug into her tortellini almost immediately to have the excuse not to speak. She already made a fool of herself and Carol was bent on adding more humiliation.
What, are you jealous that I have more skills than little ol' Roguey? Carol taunted.
Rogue. And you know what? Ah'd prefer not to be an uber slut like you. Ah'd rather have some dignity left.
Harsh words from a virgin.
"Food good?"
She looked up and smiled, taking a sip of wine. "Yeah. Really good."
He popped a shrimp into his mouth. "Mine too." His brow furrowed in concern. "Did I say somet'ing t' upset you?"
"Oh, no, it's just... Carol." She smiled apologetically.
The two ate in silence the rest of the night.
Rogue collapsed on her bed, ready to call it a night even though it was only nine o'clock. Of course, being an insomniac made the night so early. Usually memories from people who she absorbed kept her awake. Of course, now she was sure that her collar would keep that under control. Except for Carol, that is.
Sighing, she pulled on a tee shirt and matching pajama bottoms. There was a knock on the door. "Yes?"
Gambit poked his head into the doorway. "Hey. Me and John gonna play some pool. Ya wanna join us?"
She sat on the edge of her bed demurely. "You know... Ah don't really know. Ah'm kinda tired."
"Well den I'll let you go t' sleep." He towered over her with a sly grin. "Just wanted t' t'ank you foh such a wonderful night."
Suddenly he was a little too close for comfort. She could smell the aftershave and cologne on his skin. He was so close to her, but yet, held out like a tease and smiled. She closed her eyes expectantly, hoping he wouldn't find her too eager or too easy. Gambit, who wasn't one to disappoint, delivered a kiss on her full lips. He parted his lips to explore beyond the hedge of their teeth, which caught Rogue off-guard. She'd never experienced anything like it before, and she gasped as he placed him warm hands on the swell of her hips.
He recaptured her lips hungrily, his warm hands caressing the soft skin under her tee shirt. She shivered at the touch, molten lava underneath his fingertips. It felt so strange, yet so wonderful to be touched by Gambit. His hands traveled further up and his lips wandered to her ivory neck. Alarmed by this new sensation, she pulled away quickly.
"What's wrong-"
"Good night, Remy," she said between heavy breaths.
He shot her a concerned look. "G'night, chere."
Just like that he was gone. Part of Rogue was relieved, the other part disappointed. She didn't want to move that fast. She kissed him even before the date started. If that wasn't sleazy, she didn't know what was. He's got you right where you want him, she thought angrily. Maybe on y'r second date you can just fuck him.
You're just excited because you've never experienced it before, Carol observed. You wouldn't move so fast if you weren't afraid that it will be gone and you'll miss your chance.
Ah'm not a slut like you, okay?
Please. You're eager as a beaver to have sex with Gambit and we both know it. The only thing you've ever come close to my memories.
Rogue blushed, partly embarrassed that she remembered them and partly embarrassed that she had enjoyed them. Carol used to torture her with those memories, knowing that she would never ever have the chances she had. Carol knew how much those memories bothered her. Cody's fantasies with her, Mystique's various lovers, Jean and Scott- they all teased her with their memories. She tried to ignore them, but the images kept growing worse. She savored them knowing that she would never experience those acts. Yet now because of Magneto she could. The man she was sent to kill had given her a key to happiness. Why had he shown compassion for Rogue? One thing was for sure, though. Her assignment was to become a little difficult. How could she kill a man whose gift was so generous?