10. GONE
Rogue's eyes were squeezed shut.
With the thump-thump-thumping of her heart in her ears, Rogue took a deep breath in attempt to ground herself. When she re-opened her eyes, she was standing over Remy's unconscious slump of a body. Initially she had tried to break his fall, but he had collapsed backwards opposed to forward, like she assumed he would.
Remy's psyche was screaming obscenities in her mind, making it difficult for her to focus. Using Remy's power, Rogue charged the remaining pieces of the collar and tossed them in the air. The collar exploded into dust and ash and for the first time in nearly a month, Rogue let out a relieved sigh.
Her mission was complete.
She gently closed her eyes as she began to reign in Remy's psyche. It was only then that she realized he wasn't screaming obscenities at her, but rather disgruntledly urging her to run. She suddenly knew that it was only a matter of time until Jean-Luc was alerted to their trespassing.
Pursing her lips, Rogue decided her next move. She reached down and felt through Remy's ever present trench coat for the pocket she now knew held a deck of playing cards and another pocket where she remembered she- he had left a pen he'd swiped from a bank teller, because reasons.
Rogue scribbled a message on the face of the card for Remy to find when he woke. With some guilt swelling in her chest, Rogue crumbled up the card and stuffed it into Remy's hand, forcefully balling his fist around it.
The card read, "Tell them I forced you down here, then escaped. Face your fears; running will only cause more problems. Trust me. R"
She glanced at the rest of the deck in her hand, she decided to slip it into her pocket. She had the sneaking suspicion she may need it before dawn broke.
Now it was time to exact her exit strategy: she needed to get back to her room in the Quarter and collect her things. First, however, she needed to get out of the LeBeau Mansion, preferably with no contest from any of the residents.
However, having Remy in her head gave her a huge advantage that she had not had before. She was now equipped with the knowledge of the ins and outs of the mansion, everything from loose window panes to the underground tunnels she currently stood in.
Smirking, Rogue mentally thanked Remy for making her life easier in that moment. It was time to compartmentalize. Rogue shoved down the guilt that was itching her conscience and started to make her escape.
Back tracking out of the vault and up through the tunnel, Rogue made specific turns that she knew would lead her away from the LeBeau property and towards the city. Any obstacle that barred her access, she was able to quickly and easily dismantle using Remy's powers. Apparently the Guild had failed to Remy-proof their defenses. Either they never expected his powers to be used against them, or they never accounted for the probability of a mutant attack- or in her case, escape.
After navigating her way through the tunnels, and a few cobwebs, Rogue ended up under a manhole in the eastern most part of the Quarter. As she climbed the ladder into the street, she tried not to lament her shoes and the muck they were covered in.
Rogue heaved herself out of the hole and onto the street amidst the last round of party goers, no one even spared her a second glance. Not to her strange new eyes, or the ankle high coating of "mud" on her jeans. Aware she had a bit of a trek ahead of her back to her room, Rogue started walking, eyes on the ground to avoid calling any attention to herself.
A little walking would do her some good, she decided... the idea of hot wiring a car lingered in her mind, but she was sure that was more Remy's idea than her own. She shook her head, she had done enough bad things in the past month, there was no need to add grand theft to the list too.
She spotted a pair of star-shapped sunglasses laying on the sidewalk, and quickly grabbed them and slipped them onto her face so that she could hold her head up and feel inconspicuous.
It took about half an hour, but Rogue managed to walk all the way to her motel with a fair amount of effort as she repeatedly doubled back and glanced over her shoulder to ensure she wasn't followed. She ran up the outside staircase of the crappy motel she had been used as a base, she entered her room hastily, slamming the door behind her.
The first thing she did in the cloak of darkness in her room was discard her gloves in disgust, tossing them on the ground. Next, she removed the bandana from her head so that her white streaks were finally free.
"O' all de t'ings I suspected was under dat god awful bandana, gray hair wasn't one o' dem."
Rogue froze and her breath caught as she tried to place the familiar voice. She turned around, doing her best to keep her fear from showing in her face or in her body language as the lamp switched on.
Belladonna was sitting comfortably in the worn chair, her legs crossed and a sinister smile on her lips.
"They're white." Rogue said indignantly.
"Oui, sure, whatever yo' wanna call it." Belle replied casually, inspecting her manicured fingernails.
Rogue's blood ran cold as she started to consider why the blonde bombshell would possibly be doing in her room, in the dark waiting. Remy was screaming for her to run.
"How'd ya find me?" Rogue asked stiffly.
Belle snorted and shrugged, "I have m'ways, cherie."
Rogue stood up straighter and squared her shoulders, "What are ya doin' here? Come ta make good on ya threat?" Rogue said, eying Belle cautiously.
"Oui, I want yo' gone." Belle said, standing from the chair with grace. She way, was about to start closing the distance between them, when Rogue took off the sunglasses. Belle stopped dead. "How do yo' got his eyes?" she whispered.
Rogue shrugged, "Ah told him not ta trust me. Now get outta my way, ya wish is comin' true. Ah'm leavin'."
Belle tisked her tongue, "see de kinda gone I was referin' t' don' involve yo' catchin' a bus outta town." she said with a laugh as she cracked her knuckles.
Rogue rolled her eyes; everyone in this town was so damn dramatic. Pulling out the deck of cards she'd stolen from Remy, Rogue took a single card between her index and middle fingers so that she was sure Belle could see it glow with Remy's signature magenta. "It'd be ah shame if ya face was all mangled fo' ya weddin' pictures."
Belle scoffed, "Yo' t'ink I'm afraid o' a few scratches."
Rogue lowered the card and shook her head, "No, Ah don't. Ya know what Ah do think ya're ah-fraid of? Bein' alone. Ah think ya're ah-fraid ta let go. At think ya're ah valiant and fearless soldier but ah scared lil' girl when it comes ta ya actual life."
Belle's eyes widened and her nostrils flailed, "How dare you." she seethed.
Holding out her arms, Rogue opened herself to an attack from Belle, "Tell me Ah'm wrong." with her right hand she tapped her temple, "Ah got Remy in m'head, tellin' me all there is ta know 'bout'cha. Ah know everything, Belle. Ah know ya pretend ta favor ya right side ta confuse enemies when ya suddenly come at 'em harder from the left. 'Cause ya're left handed. Ah know you ain't always been like this, ya used ta laugh, ta dream, ta hope. An' Ah know this," She motioned to the two of them, "is ah fight ya won't win... So walk away Belle. If we don't fight there can't be ah loser."
"Yo' challenge m'honor?" Belle growled.
Rogue did her best not to scoff or roll her eyes, least she incite Belle. What would an assassin for hire know about honor?
"No." Rogue settled for exasperation. "Ah'm challengin' ya courage. Ya courage ta be tha bigger woman right here an' now. Ah challange ya courage ta stand up fo' what'ca really want in regards ta what'ca Guild wants."
Belle's lips curled as she considered Rogue's words, she didn't like them, but she knew they were spoken with candor. With a sharp sigh, Belle said in resignation, "Ya've got twelve hours. If yo' still here then I'll consider yo' presence in m'city as a act of defiance an' will deal wit' it accordingly."
Rogue smiled, she wanted to ask Belle what the hell that meant, but thought better of it. Belle, having said her peace, brushed past Rogue on her way to leave.
"Belle." Rogue called after her, not turning around so that her back still faced Belle, "Besides tha whole murderin' people for money thing, ya're ah strong woman worthy o' admiration. Don't let anyone snuff ya out. Not Remy. Not Julien. Not even Marius. Take charge."
Belle missed a few beats before replying darkly, "You wouldn't understand. A traitor t' every team she's ever been a part o' would never be able to understand duty." Belle huffed out a laugh, "The most ironic t'ing though? He loved yo', I could see it in his eyes. And yo' betrayed him." Her last addition was a sad after thought, "But come tomorrow, I'll still be de villain."
With that said, Belle exited the room. Rogue, facing the dim glow of the lamp next to the corner chair, closed her eyes in relief, and rubbed a stray hand down her face. She had no time to process what Belle had said to her. She didn't want to.
That was the last time Rogue ever saw Belladonna.
When Rogue was sure she was alone, she darted to the air vent that she'd stashed her burner phone in during her stay with the LeBeau clan. She flipped the phone open and pressed the first speed dial.
One ring, two rings.
"Hello?" said the voice on the other line.
"Tha Gumbo's cooked." Rogue reported, "tha package is destroyed. Mission was ah success an' Ah'm comin' out hot. Need ah lift outta here, pronto."
"Meet at the extraction point in one hour."
The line went dead and Rogue charged the phone using Remy's power. After doing so, Rogue felt a but strained. She realized that Remy's powers were beginning to wane. She opened the door to the outside and tossed the phone out into the air, where it blew up with a loud BANG.
Rogue pulled her Go-ba out from under the bed, she grabbed a clean pair of jeans from the bag and shed the baggy LSU tee-shirt in favor of a plain black V-neck. Once she was freshly changed, she stuffed her old clothes into the backpack and shouldered it.
It was time to leave.
As Rogue walked away from the motel she didn't even bother looking back.
It was time for her to go home.
A/N: I'm super pumped you guys were surprised by the ending of the last chapter. I thought everyone was going to see that coming.
As for this chapter, I wanted Rogue and Belle to have a faceoff per say when Remy wasn't around and because I really tried to cut the fat off this story and include as little filler as possible, this was the only place I felt that it fit for the two to have their exchange. Plus their convo weighs into an instrumental part of the next chapter.
NEXT WEEK: Remy gets married!