Chapter 7
When Rogue entered Xavier's office she found he wasn't alone. On the coach sat two women, both looked like they were in their mid thirties. The one on the left was a very skinny and pale blue eyed brunette, who greeted Rogue with a warm smile, and though Rogue wouldn't admit it something made her like the woman. But the lady who sat next to her was a tall very curvy blonde who did not smile at all, Rogue didn't like something about her, but she took a seat on one of the chairs and greeted them both with a small smile.
"Rogue," said the Professor who was still sitting behind his desk. "I'd like you to meet Miss Rachel Steele," he nodded towards the brunette, "and her assistant Jenny Wonder," indicating the blonde. "Rogue, Miss Steele would like to make you a proposition."
"Yes, I would," said Miss Steele speaking for the first time, she had a very sweet and calming voice. "I understand that you have an uncontrollable mutation Rogue, that you absorb people through skin to skin contact, and that you have yet to find that one little trigger in your mind that could allow you to touch. Am I correct?"
Rogue nodded; almost ashamed she had yet to discover her inner strength.
"Well I'm here to help you Rogue," continued Miss Steele. "You see Rogue, we have one thing in common, we spent our youth hiding ourselves, making sure that no one ever touched us, not living life to its fullest." Rogue looked up at that point into the blue eyes that had begun to tear up.
"Ya had meh same power?" asked Rogue whose mouth had gone dry.
"Yes Rogue, till my late twenties, then one day I met someone. She was a wise old healer and a mutant, who had been in the same situation as us, only she had control. When I first met her I got on my hands and knees and begged her to tell me her secret. All she said was, "There is no secret child, and you alone have the power in your mind to take control." But I had no idea how or where to start and so the old women took me in, and for nearly six months I went through painful, nearly mind shattering mind exercises. Then one day when I had pushed myself too far and was about ready to give up the old women took my hand and said, "You've done it daughter."" The brunette took a moment to collect herself as silent tears fell down her face. She took a deep breath and continued, "I'd like to give you the same training she gave me, and hopefully in the end we will find the key to controlling your powers."
Rogue felt her jaw drop and tears seep into her own eyes. This women, this angel, couldn't be standing here offering her the one thing she had craved for her entire life.
Rogue began to speak but Miss Steele cut her off, "Before you agree Rogue I need to tell you that it is painful, sometimes the mental strain, the searching, can have a harsh effect on the body, and I don't want a student who will go halfway and just quite."
Now it was Rogue's turn to let the hot tears fall down her cheeks, and Rogue was someone who rarely ever cried. "I wouldn't," Rogue said barely loud enough for Miss Steele to hear, "I swear, I'll suffer through anything, if I could just…just…."
Miss Steele stood and walked over to Rogue; she wiped a tear from Rogue's cheek with a gloved hand, and then outstretched her arms. Rogue went to her like a child who had gone its whole life never seeing its mother till this one moment. The tears soon turned to sobs and she felt the older woman tighten her hold on her as both women, who both understood what a life without touch was like, stood and cried.
Eventually they pulled apart and turned toward Xavier who was smiling warmly, his own eyes glazed with tears. "Well Rogue, I take it you will accept Miss Steele's offer?"
"Of course," said Rogue, "when can we start?"
"Tomorrow evening, that is if it's o.k. with the Professor," said Miss Steele looking toward the Professor, who nodded. "Then it's settled, I'll come with my assistant around five and we can meet in your room."
"Assistant?" Rogue asked. She had completely forgotten about the blonde, who still just sat there, an empty expression on her face, and an aura of distrust around her.
"Yes, Ms. Wonder is my assistant. At the end of each session we need someone who is willing to make skin to skin contact so we can see how much progress you have made. I believe you will find Ms. Steele an observant and caring subject," Miss Steele said, a wide grin on her face. However, Ms. Wonder only responded with a small forced smile.
The Professor smiled and gave a friendly wink to Rogue, "So sorry to send you away so soon dear, but I want to speak to Miss Steele and Ms. Wonder alone. I take it there are a few people you will be eager to tell."
"Yes, of course," said Rogue, whose mind immediately thought of Remy. "Thank you again Miss Steele, I'm so excited about tomorrow!" Rogue exclaimed before she took off out of the office, a joyful prance in her run.
The Professor was left alone with Miss Steele and Ms. Wonder. Miss Steele he completely trusted as he searched her thoughts, knew that she truly wanted to help Rogue. But Ms. Wonder worried Charles, she had up strong mind barriers, and even though he couldn't say what was hiding behind the, there was something about her that didn't seem right.
Remy fell far and almost hit the ground, but he managed to grab one of the bottom branches before the painful collapse. He paused a moment, trying to get his bearings, he had a good idea of whose voice it had been but his mind was unable to grasp the how and why of the situation.
When he heard the figure continuing its way down the tree Remy jumped to the ground and pulled out a few spare cards, ready to charge them, knowing Belladonna had either a gun or a sword.
Gambit was too shocked and so was unaware that Belle had made her way to one of the branches above his head. She smiled her usual cruel smile as she looked down at her fiancé in the dark, remembering that he had always looked his sexiest while in battle. But her smile faded as she remembered why she came, and jumped.
Remy felt the weight of Belle on his shoulders and couldn't help but fall to his knees. He responded by grabbing her knees and sent her flying off his back, but Belladonna was like a cat and always landed on all fours.
"Now Remy, dats no way to greet your loving and loyal fiancé!" Belle said, pretending to be wounded.
But Remy saw past her act and scowled, "Whad ya doin' here Belle? Couldn' cause enough trouble back at da bayou?"
Belle puffed her lip into a pout, "Why you think I out gettin' into trouble? Besides, it too hard to have any fun when I always havin' to look for your sorry ass."
"Maybe da reason you had to look was cause I didn' wanna be found!" snarled Remy, losing his patience.
"But Remy, dis fille miss ya! We suppose to be married by now!" shouted Belle.
"Ain't Remy's fault you decided to go out an have a lil fun, killin' my cousin on da way? And don give me dat sorry excuse about "he was mockin us!""
"But Remy he was!" cried Belle as she took one step close to Remy, "I was drinkin' when the swamp crud decided to ruin my bachelorette party by sayin' I ain't good enough for ya an dat I make you miserable!"
"Well maybe it was da truth!" shouted Remy.
Both went silent and it was then that Remy got a good look at her in the moonlight. He hadn't seen her in over two years, but she still had the same long blonde hair and rough facial features. She was beautiful yes, but underneath it all she was the ugliest soul on the planet.
Remy finally broke the silence. "Ya did make meh unhappy Belle. Never standin' up for mah powers, always naggin me about everythin', watchin' you insult mah family to mah face. It was too much for me. When I saw you walkin' up dat isle I didn' see a happy blissful future ahead, I only saw your murderess hungry eyes waitin' to have meh wrapped around yah finger."
"An dat," said Belle bitterly, "is why you gave up peace between deh guilds. You stupid cocky merde! We coulda worked it out!"
"No we couldn't," said Remy with just as much bitterness in his own voice. "I never really loved you Belle, de guilds tried to make us think we are, but I knew deep down I'd never be your husband."
"Is dat so Remy!" said Belle with a bitter wicked laugh, "Well bad news for you, I've been searchin for two long damn years and now dat I find you your comin back wit me to Ne'Orleans and we gonna get married!"
"Not in one piece Belle!" snarled Remy who charged one of the cards in his hand.
Belle smirked and pulled out a long sword that was hanging on her belt. "I remembered dat you always did like it rough Remy."
"Bite me bitch!" said Remy before he threw a card in her direction. He had it miss on purpose but he was hoping she'd at least be on the ground and he could get away. But she jumped the card and lunged toward Remy with the sword.
Remy moved just as she would've gotten his shoulder and she went to the ground. Her sword was stuck in the earth, but Belle wasn't giving up.
"I nibble you anywhere you want cher," she said throwing herself back up and threw a good kick into Remy's stomach. Remy's back hit hard against the tree. By then Belle had retrieved her sword and was running toward him, her main target his neck. But belle was stopped mid way by a hard pull of her hair.
Belle cried out as she dropped her sword and fell to the ground, getting an all too clear vision of her attacker and a hard kick in the ribs.
"What do ya think ya are doin swamp witch?" asked Rogue taking another kick into Belle's side.
"You!" Belle snarled, unable to get up, "dah lil vampire pussy!"
"What was that?" asked Rogue pulling Belle up by her collar so their faces were only inches apart. "I'm sorry you'll have to say that again, I don't speak whore!"
Belle cried again, her face as red as an apple from anger, grabbing Rogue by her shoulders and pushing her somewhat back.
"Ah' don look dat ugly when ah'm angry do ah' sugah?" Rogue asked, looking to Gambit, who leaned himself against the tree and watched happily.
"Non, cherie, you much more beautiful," he replied smirking.
"Ya southern white trash!" screeched Belle taking a punch at Rogue's jaw. But Rogue, use to training sessions with Logan, saw the punch from a mile away and clenched Belle's hand in her own and used her other hand to send a hard punch right into Belle's nose.
Belle went flying backwards, screaming and hollering cuss words in both French and English. She managed to get herself up "Merde! You just started something you good for nothin' Mississippi skunk head. I'm gonna get ya!"
Rogue walked over to Remy and let him wrap one arm around her waist, " I'm standin' right here, come n' get me," Rogue said rather mildly, letting Remy's hand around her waist inflict the intended pain.
Belle groaned and gave Remy one last cold stare before she ran away into the darkness as fast as she could.
Rogue couldn't help but laugh, "Ya o.k swamp rat?"
"I'm fine cherie, I'm more worried bout you," said Remy pulling her gently in front of him to see if Belle had left any serious damage.
"Don worry bout me sug, dat swamp witch is just all talk," said Rogue wrapping her arms around Remy's chest and cuddling her head against his neck. She felt his arms wrap around her, then she heard his heart beat faster as he took in a deep breath.
"How much did you hear cherie?" he asked very seriously.
"Most of it. When ya didn' come back to the Institute ah got worried and when ah saw ya and Belle standin there ready to fight ah couldn't help but over hear the conversation."
"Rogue," began Remy but was silenced by Rogue two gloved fingers touching his lips.
"It's o.k sugah, two years is a long time, ah can forgive ya for dat. But don't think ah don't wanna hear the story, an if ah think ya liying ah'll beat the shit oughta ya ."
Remy chuckled and buried his face into her hair, "Your amazin' Rogue."
"Ah' know," she replied a sly smirk crossing her face as she pulled back from him so she could look into his read eyes. After a moment she pulled away putting her hand in his and they began to walk towards the Institute. "Now ah wanna hear the whole thing from the start, but first ah wanna tell ya what the Professor jus told me."
Kitty was sitting in her room looking out the window; she had a box of Kleenexes and the song Behind These Hazel Eyes blasting out of her stereo. "Fuck Amber!" Kitty finally said out loud. "I miss Lance, I miss him so much," she said feeling a new rush of tears burn her eyes. She grabbed the phone but before she dialed Kitty could see a couple strolling across the lawn. When she saw the red eyes she knew it was Gambit and she just sensed that Rogue was there beside him.
She had said something starling because Gambit stopped mid stride and just stared.
"What did you say cherie?" Kitty could barely hear him say.
"Ah' said that Miss Steele is gonna help me control my powers."
There was a moment of silence before Kitty could see Gambit wrap Rogue in his arms and begin to twirl her around. Rogue's sweet and rare laugh flooded into Kitty's room sending a cringe of hate through her. Lance and I use to be that happy, she thought, well I'm not just gonna sit here and watch Rogue be happy while I'm miserable!
Kitty stood up form her seat, let a new wave of tears come, then she headed for Logan's room.