Chapter six: I hate JJ
Olivier had a busy schedule the same way as before except that piano was swopped for French torturing. It wasn't a grand gesture but for Rogue it could be compared to getting a new for free. It was hard letting people in her life, even harder when this person was apart of her past. She found the inner strength after watching Olivier toss a pack of cards into a baseball cap with extreme accuracy and better yet Olivier stop asking about Quicksilver. As much as Rogue pretended to hate Remy and deny her heart, she loathed Pietro more.
Remy on the other hand was out to prove himself. Of course Rogue never show him so much of a smile but she laughed mentally at his jokes and corky attitude. Storm was right he was a great person and Olivier turned into a whole new person around him trying model Remy's every mood. Since breakfast between the two was such a success Rogue asked Remy if he wouldn't mind letting Olivier watch as he prepared dinner. She started going to see the Professor again during the time they cooked. It worked for Rogue, she was learning to trust Remy with Olivier and the great food Remy would make was a consolation prize.
The Professor was making good progress with Rogue about her hostility that replaced the feelings that Remy gave her. It was all coming to surface very slow and tantalizing but she was receiving the necessary help she needed. After Rogue was forced to see him everyday hours at time to deal with demons that made her turn to drug and alcohol abuse, she swore that she wouldn't go there again. Being in that burgundy leather chair facing the old bald man that welcomed her into his home wasn't as scary the second time around. And she started valuing the simple things again. The sun on her skin, her son's smile, the crawfish soup Remy made last Sunday. Rogue started to look forward to dinner with Remy. It was a tiny family dinner moment they shared with Olivier, which she never saw herself enjoying. It wasn't long before her fake smiles that forced herself to do in front of Olivier turned real at the dinner table.
"What's cooking Cajun?" Rogue asked peaking over his shoulder, into the bobbling pot.
Remy, eyed Rogue for a minute "Your in a happy mood? Not that I'm complaining I've missed your smile." He lifted the spoon from the pot "Want a taste?"
Leave it to Remy to make a mile with an inch.
"Why do you have to do that?" Her smile faded into tight lips and she sat at the table looking at the flyers.
Remy turned the stove down to simmer. "My intensions were pure." He reassured her.
Rogue knew better, nothing Remy LeBeau ever did was pure.
"I was hoping we would get a chance to talk." Remy advanced the seat next to her at the table.
"What about?" Rogue asked circling things on the flyer.
"For one…Thank you." Rogue paused mid-mark she didn't expect that "And about the future."
"Future?" Rogue looked up in question.
"You still don't believe me that I'm going to be here, I thought we moved past that?"
"I didn't say a thing…" Rogue arched her brow.
"You and Olivier can't stay here forever?"
"Why this is our home?"
"You want to raise him as an X-Man?"
"Didn't say that…" Rogue stopped looking at the flyer and tensed her face as Remy spoke.
"It would be hard for him to make his own choices in a place like this non?"
"And what, is this the part where I beg to move in with you?"
"Why would I ask for something amazing from the woman who wouldn't even tell me I had a son?"
Remy blow up but realized that he was wrong and quieted himself. Rogue knew that she was going down a slippery path that would only push her further back.
"I'm in no mood to fight…"
"Neither am I." he agreed.
"Then what is it you're asking?"
"Not asking simply stating that what ever he needs now and then in the future I got it covered."
"You got it?" Rogue rested her head on her hand "You got it huh? Remy this isn't a dinner tab. I don't want you to get anything I want to be able to provide."
"And you have and will always be number one in his life….Marie I want to be there in some small way that's all." He kissed her hand quickly before she could objet "Please."
She hated it when Remy used her real name it was a tantric word to Rogue's ears, it brought her back to their endless nights of passion.
"I don't get voluntary fathers often."
"I don't want to be a volunteer anymore." Remy held the pen that Rogue was using and crossed out the bread Rogue had circled. "I got all this, this morning Cher."
"You didn't have too…"
"That's what your not getting I do this because I want to, not because there's a gun to my head."
Remy flipped the flyer over allowing Rogue read the list written on the back Remy had made, it was everything she was planning on getting and more. Remy was taking the initiative.
The stove was bubbling up and Remy was stirring the delicious smelling concoction. Looking at Remy as he stood cooking, it was too strange for her, like watching him play with Olivier or picturing him going grocery shopping. It was completely out of character for Remy. Remy was staying focused on his path, working on making a sincere change because he wanted to be a better person and in the end that wasn't the exact same thing Rogue was trying to do. Make a change from her past to be a better person.
Like a professional Remy attended to the stove stirring in a blend of spices into the pot, completely devoted to his cooking a fragile hand spooked him for a second it. Rogue was gently trailing her fingers down his hand to the stirring spoon.
Tenderly Rogue spoke into the side of his cheek "I would like a taste…"
Rogue curved Remy's hand holding the spoon and bringing it up to her trembling lips.
"Gah!"
The front door slammed, trigging a shiver in Rogue's body making her drop the spoon and Remy's hand. The hot tick sauce splattered all over the floor and on their socks. Rogue's toes went numb, she didn't know why but her heart rate fluttered at the thought of someone catching her alone with Remy.
It was Olivier at the door and he was less then impressed with his play date. Rogue had organized a play date with another mother and close friend of Charles. Having friends that weren't mutants was important for Olivier to understand.
"Hey honey…." Rogue didn't get to finish her statement Olivier kicked off his bag back and threw his shoes at the closet door.
"Hey, Hey attitude!" Rogue yelled grabbing Olivier's hand before he tried to do it again. "What's the matter with you!"
Olivier snatched his hand away and crossed his arms crossed his chest. "Nothing…"
"Don't nothing me…" she moved "Hey look at he me when I'm speaking to you."
Olivier's brows were narrow and his lips squeezed light, while his arms remained crossed.
"What is the matter?"
Rogue repeated slower, in her best disappointed mom tone. Remy was watching was the distance by the kitchen door. Rogue and Olivier were at a stand still and he thought it best to break the tension.
"Dinner is ready" Remy invited himself over. "You should wash up Oli" he said placing a hand on Rogue's shoulder. Olivier wasted no time and ran off to the washroom.
Rogue got off her knees "Do not interrupt when I'm talking to him again." She warned.
"Yelling at him two feet into the door won't help."
Rogue didn't realize that Remy was hurting for Olivier alone, seeing any little kid being yelled twist Remy's heart. Re-surfing memories of the degrading time when his father used to do the same to him. It almost escaped Rogue's memory.
"Ok." Rogue took a deep breath "I'll talk to him after dinner."
"A little soul food is what the boy needs Petite." There it was Remy's killer hundred watt smile, it only came out for special occasion, when Remy wanted to mask his pain.
Dinner was a different to say the least, the small triad sat in silence of one another. Olivier wasn't in his chipper mood and didn't have any stories or question to share. Remy's comments went unnoticed and Rogue grew more impatient. She felt like a fool with Remy earlier and lost her temper with Olivier in of spite of it.
"Olivier when you done here we are going to talk."
"No!"
"Olivier!"
"I don't want to talk to you ever!" He declared his feelings of hatred toward mother and ran from the table knocking over his plate and glass. Rogue dropped her fork, her sudden happy mood was no more. She braced herself on the on the table to stand.
"Please let me?" Remy didn't leave time to interject by time she blinked he was half way up the stairs.
'Knock, Knock' Remy tapped his room door softly before entering. He saw Olivier seated on his bed facing his wide window.
"Oli…" Remy closed the door behind him as he got closer Olivier would shift his body so Remy couldn't see his face. "Oli…" Olivier quickly wiped his faced and shuffled to the top of the bed.
Olivier's red on black eyes were fuzzy with water. He tried avoiding Remy's gaze by not keeping his head steady and not blinking, it broke his father's heart.
"Oli why are you crying?"
"I'm not!"
"Looks like your crying to me want to tell me why?"
"No."
"Does it have to do with your friends house today?"
"Maybe?"
"Tell me about it…" Olivier didn't respond "I thought you and JJ were best friends?"
"No!" He threw a pillow off his bed "I hate him, I hate him! I hate him!" Olivier kicked the bed and slammed his fits into his bed.
"Oli, Oli," Remy held his down spoke in a strict tone "What, why do you hate him?"
"Because…"
"Because what."
"He gets to go to the basketball game tomorrow…" Tears ran down Olivier's cheek while his hands flapped everywhere. "He always gets to go to games and stuff I never get to go."
"Oli being jel…"
"Its dad and son Sunday…. I have lots of uncles but no dad…" he looked up at Remy with quivering lips and fluttering lashes.
"He always gets do cool things I never get to... I wish I had a dad."
Remy chin trembled at that what he heard come out of Olivier's shaking lips. He was suffering as much more then Rogue realized. If she wanted to lie to herself she could try but she couldn't cover up that amount of pain.
"Ah…" utterance of words came out of Remy's mouth but nothing complete.
He did all he knew how, he lunged forward and hugged Olivier tight in his arms. Olivier cried as Remy rubbed his back.
"You shouldn't hate him because his gets to go to the game on Sunday, you have a mom she loves you so much she doesn't want to share you with anybody else. She wants to be your mommy and daddy." He was telling the truth Rogue didn't want to share him at all. Remy brought Olivier up and wiped away his tears.
"Plus you have this big family who are X-Men." Remy widen his eyes trying to get Remy excited again. "Come on what does JJ have, a dog?"
"You have 'The Wolverine' down the hall trust me that bets a dog any day." He tickled Olivier's tummy and managed to get a little giggle out of him.
"Yeah." Olivier used his sleeve to wipe his runny nose.
"Yeah." Remy agreed and gave him a fist pump it finally got Olivier to smile.
"JJ isn't that cool."
"Nope." Remy playfully shook his in horror.
"My house is more fun…" Olivier crossed his legs face off Remy. "Do you have a dad?"
"Oui" Remy tackled him "But not as bon as you!" and Remy started tickling him.
When Remy took off after Olivier, Rogue followed to join Remy. Despite what he thought Rogue was still in the driver seat, she needed to remain in control at all times.
As Remy was closing the door Rogue was directly behind him. First she was appalled that he shut her out, so she went in her room and went threw the adjoining washroom but as her hand reached for the door knob to Olivier's room she heard the gut wrenching sound of her baby crying. She welted up instantly and the tears came in buckets after that. She fell by the crack in the door listening to her son talk about emotions she didn't know he had. She placed her selfish ego and pride above Olivier's breaking heart. Rogue didn't know what she would have said to make him feel better if she was in there, but never in her life had she been so glad to have Remy. He was amazing in there and didn't stutter at any of the questions he was asked, a lesser man would have fumbled at the opportunity to make the moment positive.
Remy and Olivier had a glorious tickle fight after Olivier got comfy and asked Remy if he could read his Magic Guy comics. Naturally Remy was overjoyed to do it. He used different voices for each character big theatrical arm moments for the big scary fight scenes. Remy read the last few pages left in issue one-thirty-four in a lower tone it was getting late the sun had gone down. Time had escaped them with all the fun they were having.
"Remy…" Rogue whispered from washroom doorway. "He's sleeping." She pointed to Olivier curled up.
Moving like the talented thief he was Remy pealed over to see Olivier who was passed out halfway on his sheets. He tucked him in his blanket and followed Rogue threw the bathroom to her room.
"What's the…"
Rogue flew to Remy and enclosed her arms around his lean figure. Her forehead rested on his shoulder, her breathing was out of control and her tears soaked Remy's sweater he had on. He ran the tip of his fingers down the curve of back. Surprised by the greeting Remy movements were graceful ones he didn't jeopardize the tender moment
It was his aroma that was soothing Rogue the most. His warm well crafted body that pressed up tightly against her was luxury that she missed almost as much of as his lips. Remy LeBeau was Rogue's personal kryptonite. She drank in more of his scent as she stroked her hands down his arm one last time before rejecting Remy again.
Brushing her tears away so Remy couldn't see her pain, Rogue stood independently and looked at the perfection that she carved. "Wrinkled your shirt…" she broke out thin smile.
"There always be more shirts chere." Remy ran his finger across her jaw.
Rogue turned her back to Remy, she didn't want to see the victory in his face "I want to go shopping on Sunday with Storm and Kitty you know a girls day. Olivier would like staying with you. If you're free…" she ran her hand in her auburn hair.
"I'm free now." He turned her and kissed the inside of her hand. "Bonne Nuit ma reine douce" (goodnight my sweet queen) he told her. Remyleft for the door when Rogue's reaction was that of a deer in headlights.
"Remy wait…" Rogue called out, her voice got a head of her. She didn't know what she said until Remy froze in the doorway looking back at her. She bit her tongue to keep herself from saying what was on her heart. Placing her two fore-fingers over her lips to make sure no words would come out. Rogue shook her head like a nervous wreck holding back another set of tears.
After the good day he had with Rogue and Olivier Remy assumed he pushed for to much by calling her his queen. He didn't think he put his aim too high or was hoping for to much by wanting Rogue to say it back it was right moment both of them allowing themselves to show raw affection for each other. Was it sad that after it all Remy cared her as much as he did Olivier? He closed the door behind him and went to his room longing for her to join him.
"Le bon prince du soir de vole (Good night prince of thieves)" It slipped out of Rogue's mouth when Remy left it took all her strength to hold it in, in front of him.
Ok i used a google translator for the french part, the person who said they would help didn't so sorry if its off in anyway.
