Haha, sorry to leave you with that cliffie, darlings. But here is the next chapter! I worked very hard so you wouldn't have to wait too long to see what happens. Aren't you proud? Just nod and smile.
Also, some of you may have noticed that I did not think that last chapter through. Now I have to deal with my silliness. Oh goodie.
One last note before we begin: it's getting to be exam time, and this will probably be the last update for a couple weeks. I wanted to get something up before my brief hiatus, so it's a bit shorter than usual. I'm super duper sorry. But the next chapter will be doubley long! Yay!
Enjoy!
-Forbala-
CHAPTER FOUR: ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Gambit was racing Sabretooth to get to Rogue. She lay prone on the floor, wrapped only in a towel, her hair still dripping from the shower.
Gambit's heart dropped. Sabretooth got to the girl first. But he didn't let it get him down. After all, Rogue was almost naked, and her skin was poison. To kidnap her Sabretooth had to touch her, and that would at least knock him unconscious.
This didn't seem to occur to Sabretooth. He leant down to take the girl, when she suddenly jumped up. She clutched her towel in one hand, to keep it from falling off, and with the other she punched Sabretooth in the diaphragm. He bent double and groaned. Gambit dashed into his room and grabbed his bow staff. When he returned, Rogue was attempting to dodge Sabretooth and keep her towel on, while the feral man was lunging (quite stupidly) at her, bare hands outstretched.
Smack!
Gambit hit Sabretooth over the head with his extended bowstaff and the feral man staggered, letting go of Rogue's hair. Sabretooth turned to face Gambit and the thief used his bowstaff to hit the wild man's shoulders, hips, knees, head, and junk, then pushed him back in the stomach. It was a Tai Kwon Do move he'd leanred, and it was highly effective.
"Grab 'im, chere," Gambit said, smacking Sabretooth once more in the head. Rogue stretched out her free hand and held onto her enemy's face for several long seconds, until he collapsed on the floor, immobile. Gambit looked up at her, eyes moving up her bare legs, up the towel draping over her, up her bare neck, and to her soft face. Her cheeks were flushed from the adrenaline, her (mostly) dark hair mussed but still beautiful. He looked into her emerald green eyes and saw the fire there.
He also saw fear and worry.
He kicked into survival mode again and told Rogue to get dressed and get her things, while he did the same. Moments later, they met again in the front room, fully dressed and carrying all their things. Rogue was wearing a dark blue knit sweater that made her fair skin glow and her hair was still wet. Gambit grabbed her gloved hand and led her to the staircase, down nine floors, and out the front door without checking out of the hotel.
"We need to disappear completely, chere," he said as he gunned the car to life. "I know a man who can give us new faces. We got t' get to New Orleans."
"Gambit?" Rogue asked over the roaring wind—they were way speeding, even for the highway. "You think it's safe to call Logan?"
"I don' know, chere. We need t' hide somet'ing fierce."
"I just want him to know I'm okay."
Gambit looked at her briefly, then sighed. "Okay, okay. One quick phone call."
Rogue smiled and pulled her cell phone from her bag, pulling up Logan's number immediately on speed dial.
"Rogue?" The voice that picked up was fierce and on the edge of rage, but Rogue could also hear the concern in it. And it was definitely Logan.
"Hey, Logan," she responded timidly. Boy, was he going to chew her out. "I'm okay."
"Ya damn well better be, Stripes! Where the hell have you been? We've been worried sick! Mystique and Sabretooth have both broken in looking for you. What the hell have you gotten yourself into?" he ranted.
"I don't know, Logan. I'm on the run and this is probably the last time I'll call you for a while. I just wanted to let you know I'm okay. Gambit's takin' good care of me."
"The Cajun? Dammit, I'll rip his fucking head off! How dare he kidnap you again! Tell me where you are and I'll be there as soon as possible."
"No, Logan. I can't get you involved. I'll call you as soon as it's safe. I promise."
"Rogue—!" But the line was already dead.
"Y' know we need t' get rid o' dat, chere. Dey can track us."
"Oh, yeah. I guess you're right," she said despondently. She pulled a pen and paper from her backpack and scribbled down a few important numbers, shoved the paper in her bag, then tossed the phone out of the car. "Adios, technology."
X
Logan ran into Professor X's office and slammed his phone on the table. "She called me, Chuck. I almost had her."
"What did she say?" Professor X asked, looking up from his papers.
"She's okay—thank god—and that the damned Cajun is 'takin' good care of her.' Dammnit! He had to have forced her."
"Did she sound distressed? Did she use any emergency words?"
"Well, no, but Chuck! She wouldn't go with her willingly!"
"We can only assume she went willingly. She obviously packed a bag before leaving, and it's not odd that she would go with him. He is the only person who doesn't seem to care about her dangerous powers and shows romantic interest in her regardless. It is only natural that she would feel a connection with him."
"This ain't right, Chuck. We have to go find her. She's in trouble."
"She apparently does not want to be found, Logan. You have to accept that possibility. And if she doesn't want to be found, we won't be able to find her."
Logan roared and stormed out.
Well, that went well, Charles Xavier thought.
X
Gambit and Rogue walked onto the bright street in downtown Atlanta. They had been in a salon and now looked quite different. Rogue had gotten extensions until her hair could grow out naturally, but had left her white streaks at chin-length to frame her face, at Gambit's suggestion.
As for Gambit, he had shaved his face and gotten a close hair cut, much to both his and Rogue's dismay. After the salon they went shopping, and then it was time for their final trip.
"Gambit, are you sure this guy is trustworthy?" Rogue asked as they approached a sketchy apartment building.
"Well, as much as can be expected, chere. But he knows I can hurt him in the worst ways. I doubt he'll try an' cross us."
Rogue grabbed hold of Gambit's arm instinctively, nervous as she was, and Gambit smiled with genuine happiness. Even through her gloves and his sleeves, it was a touch. Gambit could handle that for now.