Disclaimer: The characters and events depicted in this story are fictional. Any similarity to any actual person, living or dead, or to any actual events, firms and institutions and other entities is coincidental and unintentional. The story is based on Dokyusei written by Nana to which permission to use its plot has been granted by the author. All characters used are the legal property of Marvel and its constituents.
Attitudes & Feelings, Both Desirable & Sometimes Secretive
Chapter X : Satisfaction
"Ah've hit him…"
With that one phrase, Rogue let go a torrent of words, "Ah can't believe ah did it! Ah don't know HOW ah did it, but it just happened!"
"Rogue," said Kitty faintly, realizing the full impact of what Rogue had done. It was totally unprecedented.
"Ah decked a SENIOR! Ah didn't mean to-well, ah guess ah must have meant it at the time, but ah mean ah didn't…Kitty, what am ah goin' ta DO??! What if he tells Scott!"
"Why did you hit him?"
"Because!" Rogue sighed and her accent began to thicken as she began to babble in a very un-like Rogue way. "His--his hand was…an'…ah freaked out okay?!"
"Okay, Rogue…no, don't…like…calm down. It's going to be okay. Why don't you start at the beginning?" Kitty suggested, hoping it would help Rogue put things in perspective.
"O-okay," she said, taking a deep breath. "Okay…do yah remember our conversation durin' homeroom? Well, ah was thinkin' about that when ah made my way over ta the practice field, and ah thought yah had a point…"
Of course Kitty had a point back there. 'Admit it, Rogue. Of course you were bothered.'
But why???
As she made her way to the track oval that afternoon, she wondered unhappily why she was getting affected by a lecherous swamp rat who meant absolutely nothing to her.
It was just hard for her to shake off the habit of letting her displeasure show. Rogue had always been an open, honest person. And she did not believe in hiding what she thought of people from them.
Unfortunately, Remy Lebeau just happened to embody everything she found distasteful in a guy. So there really was no way for her to think of him in a good light.
Funny…she thought. When she had first arrived in this school, a long, long time ago, it seemed, she even thought he looked cute. [Of course, she would never admit it to anyone, not even Kitty, but that was how it was.
He would pass by her in the corridor, either with a huge flock from the debate team or by himself, his gaze (of course) never meeting hers, and she would catch herself staring at him surreptitiously after he had his back to her.
Maybe it had been the earrings, two on the left and one on the right, which had caught her attention at the very beginning. Or was it the small ponytail? Or maybe it had something to do with the even planes of his serene face, or was it his voice? Rogue could not really remember, because that period of innocent admiration was over all too quickly when she learned of his unsavory reputation.
Rogue could still remember how she learned of it. What was weird about the whole thing was the girl who told her he had a reputation did not find it one bit shocking. In fact, she thought it was thrilling.
Rogue was not quite sure she wanted to believe it, until she got to see him personally in action a few days later by springing THE question on a girl who was surely just an acquaintance in the corridor. She had to admit, the sight of him clutching the girl's hands in his had stopped her dead in her tracks.
She did not know what was more revolting: the fact that he could breezily do something like that to a stranger, or the fact that the girl was flattered enough to accept.
And whatever remained of her initial admiration vanished quickly when she found out he sprang the question on every pretty girl in sight.
Well, thank goodness he never found her pretty, because he had never bothered her, nor for that matter, gave any indication that he was even aware she existed.
Until now, that was.
And even now, she doubted very much if the motive behind his pursuing her had anything to do with his thinking she was pretty.
Hah.
Far from it.
What he was after was her total and unconditional humiliation, plain and simple.
Well, she wasn't going to let him succeed.
She finally reached the track oval to find Scott already dressed and waiting for her. Only, for the second straight day at practice, he was not alone.
Despite all her brave words and thoughts, her heart sank horribly at the familiar figure beside her practice partner. Seeing him again here, in what was supposedly her territory, her space, was enough to make her want to run away.
He had taken off his black school jacket and had the first two buttons of his crisp, white shirt undone, revealing the graceful lines of his throat. The rolled sleeves of his shirt showed a quantity of forearm and elbow, filled with wiry strength not unlike her own.
She had not realized he was this slender. Slender but well built. Standing there with Scott with the afternoon sun shining down on his laughing face, his jacket slung casually on one shoulder, he looked…so very…
'STOP IT!!!' Rogue screamed to herself as she desperately tried to gather her scattered senses about her. She tore her gaze away.
"Ah! Rogue!" Scott called when he finally saw her. "Good timing! Lebeau, here says he's got a question for you."
Acting on impulse borne from sheer desperation, Rogue forced herself to smile brightly at Scott, making sure not to break eye contact until the last minute. She slid her gaze toward Remy for just a fraction of a second as way of acknowledging that he even existed before she fixed her attention back to Scott.
It had the desired effect. Remy's smile waned a little and Scott blinked at her, as if confused.
Okay, swamp rat, she thought grimly. You want tactics? You've got them…
But Remy recovered quickly. Without missing a beat, he said, "Summers an' Remy were just havin' dis argument about what ta give a fille durin' our first date. Remy was plannin' ta ask a fille out dis weekend, but it seems she's not exactly de type who would settle fo' flowers an' such. And Summers here says Remy shouldn't be makin' a move dat quickly. We thought maybe a fille's point o' view would help settle de matter once an' for all. What do yah dink, cherie?"
Yet another goading tactic, huh? How long was he going to do this?
Her first impulse was to tell him she couldn't possibly care less, but Scott seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say.
Rogue allowed a look of speculation to cross her face so that she appeared to be seriously considering his stupid question.
"All in all, ah'd say guys who would brin' anythin' on a first date are not ta be trusted," she said a bit loftily. "Too much of a' overkill. Anyway, bringin' presents on a first date is passe."
A snort of laughter from Scott.
Remy grinned good-naturedly at her remark "Remy gathers you're speakin' from experience, non?" he asked, his brows lifted, managing to imply that opinion based only on theory did not count.
"Of course," Rogue said, widening her eyes innocently. "Ask Scott."
Was it her imagination, or did she actually see him go still for a moment? Certainly there was nothing in his expression to show her that he was surprised. He would not even grant her this small satisfaction. With his slight smile still in place, he turned leisurely to look at a surprised Scott, as if he had stumbled on something mildly interesting.
The moment passed.
"Ah'd better go change," she murmured, turning away before her bravado disappeared completely.
When she was safely inside the girls' changing room, Rogue could feel her legs slowly giving way and she sat down heavily on the long bench before her.
What…did you think you were DOING??? Her mind screamed at her. How could you possibly drag Scott into it???
She couldn't help it. For some strange reason she felt bitterly offended that he would even allow Remy ask her a question like that.
Rogue sighed.
As a rule, boys were really horrible creatures. If they were not too cheeky, they were too clueless.
She changed into her practice clothes as slowly as she could. When she emerged from the dressing room, she found, much to her relief, that Remy had gone.
"We're doing this article for the school paper concerning the various school clubs," was Scott's explanation to Rogue's cautious inquiry as to why Remy was suddenly popping up all over the place.
"Oh."
Scott turned to look at Rogue. "You don't mind him asking that question earlier, do you Rogue?" he asked unexpectedly.
Rogue did not try to hide her surprise.
"Lebeau might be a little too straightforward sometimes, and he could be…well…inappropriate, but he's actually cool most of the time," said Scott. "Don't mind him. At any rate you gave him such an eyeful with your answer I doubt if he would ever come back for more advice."
So they really are good friends, thought Rogue miserably, taking her cue from his light statement.
"Sorry, Scott, about…yah know…" Rogue trailed off, not sure how she was going to say it.
"What?"
Rogue gestured vaguely. "Ah'm sorry about draggin' yah in lahke that…"
"Oh, that." Scott laughed. "That was nothing. Don't worry about it."
Scott's response left Rogue even more miserable, if that was possible. She desperately wanted to know if Remy had asked him anything about her, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
So she finally let it go.
Kitty sat back on her bed upon hearing this narrative (more or less edited where Rogue deemed it necessary). "Well, that was a good move," she said into the phone. "You did very, very well, Rogue."
"Yah haven't heard the rest of the story yet," said Rogue, miserably.
It was nearly six pm when they finished their practice. After a few words from their coach, everyone had gone off to change and hurry home.
Scott had gone ahead, saying he had things to take care of (meaning, of course, he was off to pick up Jean), leaving Rogue to walk alone past the back of the botany garden out to the side gates of the school, which were the only ones left open at this late hour. She trailed behind her other teammates, hearing the girls giggle and discuss plans for the weekend.
She herself was planning to go out on Saturday so she could have time to study all day Sunday for the upcoming English exam.
Then she heard someone calling her name from behind.
"Rogue."
There was no mistaking that voice, no mistaking the meaningful inflection on the last syllable of her name which only one person was capable of doing- -which only one person would ever THINK of doing.
And this time, she did something she rarely did, she panicked. She picked up her pace, not bothering to look back or even stop.
A mistake.
She jumped back in alarm when she felt his warm fingers brush her arm, finally forcing her to turn to him.
"What--! What do yah think yah're doin'?!!" she gasped, snatching her arm away as though it had been burned.
He was standing beside her, though how he could have sneaked up this close without her knowing was a mystery to Rogue.
"From yahr reaction, not what yo' dink," Remy said dryly taking off his sunglasses. "What's de matter, chère? Yah didn't hear me callin' yah?"
But looking into his amused, red on black gaze, Rogue could tell he knew she had heard him perfectly.
Rogue chose not to answer. Instead, she looked onto the direction where her teammates had gone. Even now, it would not be too late if she called out…
She heard him chuckle, and she turned back to see he had read her thoughts correctly.
"Yo' seem nervous, chère," he said, softly, and Rogue could almost catch his train of thought.
Of course he knew he made her nervous, and the next logical step from there would be to ask WHY…
"Ah'm not yahr chère."
But he did not. Instead, he continued to look at her, a strange expression gradually crossing his face, wiping away the smirk.
"What do yah want, swamp rat?" asked Rogue, sharply.
A corner of his mouth lifted a fraction.
"Satisfaction."
Kitty let out a squeal. "Oh my GAAAAAAAAD!!!! He said that?!" Kitty screamed into the phone.
"He did! Can yah imagine?!"
"But it's like so…corny!"
"Ah know!"
"Then what?"
"Then ah got mad…"
Rogue could feel the anger slowly coursing through her, dispelling the numbing fear she had felt earlier.
"Why you…you…" She sputtered, her face finally turning red. "You PERVERT!"
Remy threw up his hands in mock terror. "You completely misunderstand. Before yahr imagination runs away wit yah," he said, a grin slowly spreading across his lips, effectively making her stop, "Remy just wants ta ask yo' a question. Indulge Remy, non?."
Huh?
He turned serious again. "What you said befor'. What did yah mean by 'ask Scott'?" he said.
Rogue blinked.
HAH!!! Hahahahaha…!
So that was it…!!!
"Why do yah want ta know, swamp rat?" Rogue threw at him a bit triumphantly, even as the laughter threatened to overflow inside.
She couldn't believe it!
She scored one! She was actually, finally able to score one against Remy!
Had he really waited for her until 6 pm just to ask her that silly question?
But the laughter died down soon enough as he continued to look at her seriously, his brows creased in a faint frown. There was something in his expression that she could not quite fathom.
"I don't know," he answered softly, almost inaudibly.
He continued to look…disturbed.
'What????'
Before Rogue could say anything, he slowly, almost reluctantly, lifted his right hand up to her face.
Rogue froze, forgetting the use of hands or legs as she stood transfixed, finding that she could not tear her eyes off his.
She felt gentle, tentative fingers graze her cheek in the lightest of touches, barely making contact with her sensitive skin, gliding down slowly, hesitantly, to follow the curve of her face.
When his thumb brushed over her slightly parted lips, she felt she had forgotten how to breathe as well. His irises had darkened to a rich crimson red as he followed the motions of his thumb, fascinated in spite of himself.
Suddenly, horribly, a memory came floating up in her mind. Of another hand…in another time…
"Rogue…" he said. It was but a breath, a caress, but it was enough to bring Rogue out from her trance. Suddenly, her hand remembered its myriad functions.
CRRRAAAAAACCKKK!!!!
The sound of her fist connecting to his face was as sharp as the crack of a whip, shocking in the stillness of the garden.
Horrified, she realized, too late, the full consequences of her action as Remy's head swiveled from the force of her retaliation, forcing him to take a step back.
Breathing quickly, not bothering to look back, Rogue turned and fled.
After listening to Rogue's account (again edited), Kitty found that she could not say anything for a moment.
"Well…" she finally said.
"What am ah goin' ta do?!"
"It's--it's not as bad as it sounds, really!" Kitty tried to assure her. "What was he expecting, right?"
"Ah hit a senior!" This seemed to worry Rogue more than anything. "Ah'm gonna get suspended…Irene will pitch a fit…she'll call mah parents…"
"He got nothing more than he deserved," said Kitty soothingly. "And nobody was there, anyway. It's not going to become public knowledge unless he himself will talk about it."
Raogue let out a groan. "Knowing him," she said, "he will DEFINITELY talk about it."
"Listen, would you like to go out for a while tomorrow? Let's talk about it some more then, okay?"
"Okay…"
"We'll call Wanda. I'm sure this has happened to her before. Get some sleep."
Kitty replaced the receiver and decided it was time for some drastic action for both of them.
To be continued…
Read & review!
- Swing
Chapter Track: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones (Out of Our Heads)
Many thanks to the reviewers so far…anyone interested in being my beta for the story? The position is up for grabs.
cooltangarine – Bien, je te donne plus ROMY en masse, ma chère. J'adore St. John et Wanda, sont tellement chouette. Je suis entrain de craquer! Voici une autre chapitre. J'encourage de voir Transformers à tous…mais pas en français…s'est vraiment ennuyeuse…en tous cas!
Deathgirl997 – Love/hate is the sweetest thing. Thanks for the support…more cliffhangers to come…
PetiteDiable – Merci beaucoup! Je pense c'est de l'Allemand? Languages were never my thing…well I am pretty good at swearing in about seven…the update is here…good thing for Canada Day.
Josie – Yay! You spotted a quote! Thanks for the support.
Mimi The Witch – Tough luck on the movie side…I resort to begging and some of them have no resolve but they do complain a lot during the movie. I love the banter. Jubes and Rogue make me laugh…I have friends who act the same way…there mutual hatred has become friendship…it is a beautiful thing. And OMG I saw Transformers and was like: Bumblebee I love you! I'm seeing it again next week after the week from hell that's coming…never take summer classes…urg.
Valoofle – Sorry about the déjà vu on the Jonda moment, unintentional. Kitty gets the short-end of the stick in most stories…partly because of her characterization in X-men Evolution. I don't even think she's from the valley…unless Deerfield, Illinois has a valley…This is my first time writing an X-Men fanfic and most are just Romy with the off chance of some other couple getting together. Glad my accents aren't too horrible.
Goldylokz – I am horrible at keeping track where I get things…probably why I never felt the urge to go into the Arts…but the footnote has been added. My Jonda won't be as angsty as yours…I like the shiny happy people…but Wanda had issues…so who knows the twists and turns it will take when your first date is based on extortion and death threats…true love, is what it is. lol A car? Damn…that would be very Stephanie Plum-like but a hit and run would be too bad for our powerless Remy… :D The saturation point of Romy in fanfiction has gotten extreme but it is a necessary evil…Kitty and Pete…a daring combo but nowhere as volatile as Wanda and St. John, you don't go to juvie for nothing…or do you?
Kool-Wolf – Thanks! Updates will come slowly cause of school…big presentation coming soon.
NaijaStrawberrie– Thanks!
rubic-cube – I just needed to get that raincoat into the scene…I've notice that there is an obscene amount of X-Men who wear trench coats. Its
melissarxy1 – It was either Lockheed as a cat or Widget…