11. SHE DON'T LOVE YOU

Four excruciating long days later, the Thieves Guild -mostly Remy- were still reeling from the fallout of Rogue's betrayal. After awaking from his stupor, Remy had found the card balled up in his fist. He'd read it a million times before he heard a commotion outside the vault and slipped the card into one of his pockets.

Despite the fact that he missed Rogue, Remy was absolutely furious. The only person more livid than him was Jean Luc. His father blamed the entire incident on Remy's "soft spot of a pretty face", as if Jean Luc hadn't attempted to recruit Rogue himself. When Fence had showed up that same evening to transport the collar he was less than thrilled to find his supplier empty handed.

Then there was the client, who was even less enthused when word reached him.

With Congressman Kelly giving the Guild unwanted heat for their shortcoming, Jean-Luc was painted in a corner. It would take an innumerable amount of pay offs and bribes to either earn back Kelly's good graces or turn other politicians against him in favor of the Guild. No matter which way it was spun, the Guild was about to be out a chunk of money.
Thieves don't like to share their spoils.

So, there they were four days later. Remy stood stiffly at the foot of a carpeted alter donned in a freshly pressed tuxedo. Henri stood beside him as his best man, also wearing a suit and an arrogant smirk that had been present since he helped Remy to his feet in the vault. Remy would have been irritated by the ever-present gloat on Henri's face, however he knew if the roles were reversed he would have been a million times more obnoxious about it.

Glancing back a little further, Remy could see Julien standing beside Emil in his place as the final groomsman. Originally he had detested Julien's presence in the wedding party, it was bad enough he was going through with the whole debacle, but he also had to stand next to a man who had made it no secret that he wanted Remy's head on a sliver platter. But since Julien was Belle's kin, Remy was told to shut up. Typical.

The organ began to play the familiar tempo of Here Comes the Bride and the pews full of people stood as Belle and her grandfather entered the church hall. The fact that they were even having this wedding in a Catholic Church had Remy reeling. Between the Bride and Groom alone, they'd broken every single commandment on the tablet, and then some. Yet there he was, about to swear his non-existent love in the eyes of a God he defied on a daily basis. If nothing else, the irony of the situation amused Remy.

Remy was unable to see Belle's face was she slowly walked up the aisle due to the veil over her head. Ah yes, the white veil, the symbol of innocence and purity. Really, the hypocrisy of the whole even was enough to drive Remy into a fit of humorless laughter.

Belle and Marius continued down the aisle in beat with the song. It felt like an eternity to Remy. He passed the time by looking around; he glanced at his father, who stood in the very first pew on the Groom's side. Jean Luc sent him a stern nod. While he was still unhappy with Remy, he recognized that Remy was doing the right thing for the fate of the Guild.

Remy tore his gaze from Jean Luc. Remy couldn't look at him for too long because he was sure his eyes would begin to glow a dangerous red. Jean Luc wasn't the only person unhappy in their father-son relationship.

With every step that Belle took, Remy found himself wishing more and more that Rogue hadn't given him an out with his family. He wished she'd taken him with her, or at the very least, let him escape to his own devices. Instead she'd left him metaphorically naked and with literally only one play.

Rogue. Remy wondered what she was doing right then... His thoughts drifted back to when he woken up in the vault, sans Rogue. He had personally led the man hunt for her. It was a wonder that he'd come up empty handed, the Guild had every two bit criminal in Louisiana on the look out for her. It hadn't been until twelve hours into their search that they received a tip on where Rogue had been staying. The intel led them to an abandoned motel room, the only proof Rogue had been there was the green headband laying haphazardly on the floor. She was gone.

Remy smiled at the thought of her. Sure, he was furious at her and about how it all went down, but it wasn't everyday that a man like him met his match. He was going to find her again one day, if for nothing else than for answers. Reading people was supposed to be his thing, yet her true intentions and motives had slipped under his radar. Remy didn't like not knowing what was going on. He didn't like that he had been the mark in a con he should have seen a mile away... those stupid distracting green eyes. She could have told him she hung the moon and he would have believed her.

Meanwhile, in reality, dread welled up inside Remy's stomach when Belle and Marius reached the end of the isle. Marius gave Remy a faux hundred watt smile as he gave Remy Belle's hand. Remy took it as Marius made his leave. Remy escorted Belle up the three steps to the alter and stopped so that they faced each other.

Remy could hardly see Belle's face through the mesh of veil, but that didn't stop him from attempting to find her eyes so she could see the dead look in his.

"Welcome, brothers and sisters!" said Father Benedict, "Welcome as we celebrate his wonderful day as we bond these two beautiful souls together in holy matrimony. But first, let us pray."

Belle and Remy bowed their heads with the rest of the procession as Father Benedict let the congregation in the Our Father.

"Amen," Father Benedict finished and then looked up and out to the pews. "Brothers and Sisters, there is nothing I am more passionate about than the seven sacraments! I could drone on and on about the wonders that is matrimony, about the great adventure that these two wonderful people are about to embark upon, but I shall restrain myself."

Remy, on the other-hand, restrained himself from rolling his eyes. Father Benedict couldn't have been fuller of shit if he were constipated. Benedict was well aware of the ongoing in New Orleans and the blessed Father knew who Remy and Belle were and what they represented. Remy also knew that Jean Luc and Marius had slipped the balding priest a thick envelop to allow the wedding to occur in his church.

Everyone could be bought, even a man of the cloth.

"Let us begin the ceremony with the declaration of intent." Father Benedict turned to Remy and said, "Do you, Remy LeBeau, take this woman to be your loftily wedded wife?"

Remy wanted to say no. Every fiber in his being screamed for him to say no. Everyone around him could see that, it was practically secreting from him. In this split second, Remy had a choice.

"I do." the words stung in his throat.

Father Benedict turned to Belle, "Do you, Belladonna Bourdreaux, take this man to be your loftily wedded husband?"

Belle hesitated. Her silence lasted even longer than Remy's. It was only about five seconds time wise, but to everyone in attendance, it felt like hours. Father Benedict repeated his question anxiously. When Belle still failed to answer him, Remy began to glance around. Surely the Assassins were messing with him.

Belle flipped the veil back so that her face was finally revealed. Had it been years earlier, Remy would have been breathless at the sight of her. Belle bit her lip and her brow furrowed together.

Taking a deep breath she said, "No. No I do not." she shook her head. A gasp ran through the attendees. She faced her grandfather, "I will not marry a man dat don't love me. I will not be forced int' a marriage simply 'cause it's de convenient way t'not have t'work out issues in a modern an' civilized manner. I will not marry a man dat I don't love. I've done a lotta t'ings fo' m'family, a lotta terrbile t'ings, but dis... dis I will not do."

Remy did his best to swallow his smirk when he caught sight of the reprehensible looks on Jean Luc and Marius' faces. There wasn't a dollar amount in the world anyone could offer him to have not witnessed it.

Apparently, a thief in the midst of passive aggressive revenge was the only man who couldn't be bought.

"Belle," Remy said once he'd composed himself.

Belle held up her hand, "Non, Remy. Don't say nothin'. I'm jus' doin' what both o' us have wanted all along. I loved yo' once, an' yo' loved me once. But dose days have long past. I am loyal t' m'Guild, but I have t'be able t'live wit' m'self. I wouldn't be able t'do dat if I was trapped in a sham o' a marriage wit' yo'. I thought... mebbe we'd be able to revert t'how we used t'be, but I know dat ain' possible. I'm sorry I waited dis long t'say somet'ing, an' I'm sorry dat yo' an' me have ended up resentin' each other. I'm sorry, Remy, Pepe, but I ain't sorry at all."

Remy ran a nervous hand through his hair, "Where all dis comin' from?" He was terrified she would take her words back.

"Someone pointed t'ings out t'me dat I'd been tryin' t'deny fo' a long time." She replied softly.

Remy inhaled softly like it was the first time in a long time he could really breath, "Never t'ought I'd see a bride object t' her own weddin'." he mused.

Giving him a small smile, Belle said, "Well, yo' never did like ordinary Femmes, didja LeBeau?"

Remy returned her smile, "Non. I don't."

With that, Belle ripped the veil from her hair without even flinching and threw it to the ground. Making sharp eye contact with her grandfather, Belle gathered up the train of her dress and began her assent back down the aisle. A small part of Remy hoped that the organist would play Here Comes the Bride backwards.

The second that Belle exited the church doors in true runaway bride fashion, Remy was tackled to the ground from behind. Remy was caught so off guard that he didn't have enough time to attempt to break his fall.

With his face shoved to the ground, Remy did his best to squirm away from the unseen attack. Suddenly the weight was lifted off him and Remy quickly rolled over on his back to get a look at what was going on. He saw a furious Julien being held back by an irritated Henri, but Henri was too large of a man with training that equaled the Assassin heir's. Julien was stuck.

Remy scrambled to his feet and gave Julien a reprehensible look, "An' what de hell was dat?" he hissed.

"Yo've embarrassed m'sister, m'family an' m'Guild!" Julien snarled, incidentally spitting in Remy's face.

Remy blanched, "She jus' left ME at de alter." he reminded him.

"Yo' drove her t'dis! Cheatin' an' mistreatin' her!" Julien growled. "In de name o' de Xternals, I challenge yo' Remy LeBeau t'jeu de la mort! I challange yo' on yo're honor as a LeBeau!"

Remy's jaw clenched as Henri's eyes widened. That was a duel. A challenge Remy could not deny, he was bound by Guild Law.

"NON!" Jean Luc objected, standing up and slamming his hand off the banister in front of his pew, "Yo' got no right t'challenge Remy. He ain' wronged you!"

Marius placed a hand on Jean Luc's shoulder, "Don't matter, LeBeau. De challenge had been issued in de name o' de Xternal. If Remy objects, he forfeits. Derefore, he dies."

"I know de rules." Jean Luc snarled, shrugging off Marius' hand. "Yo' boy is outta line! Yo petite-fille jus' spit in de face o' m'Guild, yo' family ain' got no right t'question our honor!"

As Jean Luc continued to throw a fit, Remy weighed his options. Either Julien killed him or he killed Julien then suffered the wrath of the Assassins Guild. Or he was executed by default. Anyway he spun it, Remy doubted he'd live to see the morrow, so why not take Julien with him?

"I accept." Remy's words shut Jean Luc up. Henri's face fell as he let go of Julien. As Julien brushed himself off, a heinous smirk crossed his lips. He stopped short of Remy and with happiest tone he'd ever regarded Remy with he said "Name yo' venue?"

"De cellar. Dusk." Remy replied stiffly, his breath becoming labored once more.

Remy sat at the bar with a whiskey in hand. Peirce was behind the bar, wiping the surface down with a damp cloth. Remy didn't pay him any mind as he continued to stare into his drink, rolling the glass against the counter. Remy was dressed for a fight, he wore his standard armor and his trench coat.

He didn't bother to carry cards with him, as he knew that his powers would be outlawed. The rules for a jeu de la mort were very strict. He had been given the choice of one weapon. He knew Julien would have a sword, if not two, so Remy had brought along a sharp weapon most like what he was used to fighting with. A two pronged spear leant on the bar beside him as Remy waited for the rest of the mob to show.

Pierce eyed him warily as he poured him another drink, "Y'think it wise t'fight half drunk?" anxiety colored his words.

Remy shrugged, "Prolly not. Y'right, half drunk is unacceptable, get me somet'ing stronger."

Pierce snatched the glass from Remy's grasp. "Non, I will not help yo' commit suicide." Pierce poured the glass out in the sink and left it there. "Get yo' shit t'gether LeBeau."

Remy regarded Pierce in amusement, "Didn't realize yo' gave a damn 'bout me."

"Well, yo' do sign m'paychecks. Technically." Pierce chuckled.

"Oui," Remy nodded. "Why yo' still here anyway? Yo' really wanna be around when de Assassins come out t'play?"

Pierce scoffed, "What, jus' 'cause I'm outta de game means I don' know how t'hold m'own? Been dealin' wit' dose pesky Assassin's since 'fore yo' were born boy."

"Oui, I know." Remy waved a dismissive hand, "Tell moi again, what was it like t'fight Assassins while ridin' yo' velociraptor 'gain?" Remy quipped.

Pierce glared at him, "On second t'ought, lemme pour yo' another drink."

Remy was about to reply when the doors to the bar flew open and a crowd of Assassins, lead by Julien, flocked into the bar.

"Good luck, fere." Pierce said seriously, offering out his hand. Remy smiled and took it. "Don't worry, if by chance he does yo' in, I'll finish 'em off." Pierce added with a wink.

"T'anks." Remy said dryly.

"OOHH LEBEAU!" Julien cried gleefully as he swept around the large room.

Remy turned around to face Julien in irritation. The first thing he noticed was the two katana blades at either side of his hips. Julien was flanked by Fifolet and Gris Gris. By the door, Marius stood with an upset looking Belladonna and various other members of his Guild.

"Where is yo' Pere?" Marius demanded, peering around suspiciously.

"Behind yo'." Jean Luc snapped from behind Marius. "Now get outta de way so I can get inside. It's rainin' fo' christ sakes."

Marius removed himself from the doorway more out of surprise than compliance. Jean Luc stalked past him with Henri and Mercy close by. The line of thieves didn't end there, Etienne, Emil, Theo, Marcel and other higher ranking members made their way into the bar.

Grabbing his spear, Remy made his way over to the middle of bar where the majority of both Guilds had congregated. He stood next to his father, his eyes fixed downward. Julien stood in a similar position next to Marius.

"De rules are simple. No out assistance is allowed. All parties involved are not allowed to manipulate de outcome o' de duel." Jean Luc recited wearily.

"Oui..." Marius seconded, "However dere are extenuating circumstances, no mutant ability allowed." he added callously.

"Accepted." Remy yawned.

"Dis duel only send when un o' yo' is dead." Marius continued, "Remy, Julien, please make yo' way t'de arena."

Julien and Remy slowly walked toward the iron fence that was used to fight nights at the club. Once they were inside the hellish cage, Jean Luc shut the door and locked it.

Taking a deep breath, Marius said his final peace, "De loser o' de battle forfeits his soul t'de possession o' de great an' powerful Xternal. Be warned an' may God have mercy on yo' souls."

That was the end of the formal talking. The two Guilds surrounded the fence in preparation to watch the battle that had been building up for the better part of two and a half decades. Julien unsheathed his katanas and scraped them together threateningly. Not to be outdone, Remy twisted the bo staff esque spear around his body in an impressive show. When he was finished he caught the staff expertly in his hand.

"Looks like one o' us is 'bout t'get what we've always wanted." Remy said wistfully.

"Oui, luckily I still got m'tux t'wear durin' yo' funeral." Julien spat.

Remy scoffed, "Un," he held up his middle finger, "Yo' ain' invited to m'funeral. Duex," he held up his index finger, "Yo' suck at banter.

With that, the sad excuse for banter was over. Julien lunged toward him, brandishing his katanas as he went. Remy dodged the blows easily, and fluidly moved behind Julien. Remy swung his spear and swept Julien's feet out from under him. Julien fell to his ass as Remy smirked and backed up to let him back to his feet.

Julien was furious at Remy's "childish" move. Julien hopped back to his feet and came at Remy again with a hellish growl escaping from his throat.

Remy caught Julien's next attacking blow with his spear. Leveraging his strength, Remy pushed the blades back away from him. Julien spun around to keep his balance and kept his swords out wide to get a swipe at Remy. His katana cut into Remy's chest plate, but caused his body no damage.

Reeling back, Remy started to calculate his next move. Julien knew his playbook. He was going to have to infuriate his not-brother-in-law so that he would lose his focus and become sloppy. Luckily, this was not a difficult task for Remy.

Running at Julien, Remy waited until the last possible second to slam his spear down into the ground and using it to pole vault himself over Julien. Once behind Julien, Remy used the spear head to slash a nice cut along Julien's backside. Julien yelped and quickly turned to face Remy. His ears were beginning to turn a dark red and Remy knew that his plan was working.

Julien, in his rage, swung with great force and little control. Remy had an easier time deflecting every blow that came his way. Now he just had to wait for Julien to make an error, a real error.

Soon enough, that time came. Julien swung with too much force and Remy met his down coming strike with an up going blow from the middle of his staff. His staff hit Julien's wrist and loosened his grip on the sword so that it fell to the ground. Remy wasted no time in kicking it away. With Julien down to one sword, Remy could breathe a little easier.

Remy twirled the spear around his body to distract Julien then went in for the strike. Julien dodged Remy's spear, but missed the swift the kick to the gut that Remy delivered shortly after. Julien fell to the ground and Remy held his spear to the assassin's throat. Julien didn't even look phased in the face of death. His eyes shone as he mutely dared Remy to do it. Remy pushed the jagged end into Julien's throat, drawing blood.

He couldn't do it. He couldn't kill Julien in cold blood as he lay defenseless on the floor.

"Bang yo' dead." Remy muttered as he removed the spear from Julien's neck and started to walk away. There was a unanimous hiss from the crowd of thieves as they screamed he couldn't do that. Remy didn't hear any of it though. The only person he heard was Henri, who grabbed the chainmesh, shook it and shouted,

"REMY LOOK OUT!"

Remy turned on his heel, spear out at the ready. As he did so, he thrust out the spear in hopes of meeting any sucker attack Julien tried to pull while his back was turned. What Remy managed to do, was win. As he thrust out the spear, he caught Julien completely off guard and impaled him through the chest.

Distantly, Remy heard Belladonna shriek as he stared wide eyed at Julien. Remy let go of the spear like it burned and Julien fell backward to the ground, choking on his own blood. Remy ran a disbelieving hand through his hair. Remy stood there, his heart in his throat, his legs frozen beneath him.

Remy felt someone grab him and pull him out of the caged arena. He just kept staring at Julien. He watched Belle fight through the crowd, screaming incoherently as she fell over her brother, crying. Remy was pulled again, his legs complying with the force's wishes. He heard a distant screaming match.

Marius screaming about interference.

Jean-Luc rebutting with Julien's sneak attack.

Marius demanding Remy's head as collateral for Henri's intrusion.

Remy heard no more as he was pulled into the back room where he used to play poker. Pierce grabbed Remy's face, forcing Remy to see him.

"Boy, look at me!" Peirce shouted in desperation. When Remy was still non compliant, Pierce slapped him.

Remy shook his head and glared at Pierce. "What de fuck?" he snapped.

"Listen," Pierce said urgently, "Marius is gonna be out fo' yo' blood. Henri warned yo', Henri broke de rules an' it caused Julien's death. Jean-Luc will give it to him. Yo' hear me. Yo' burned, yo' ain' useful t'him no more. Y'gotta run Remy. Y'gotta run an' never come back."

"But-"

"But Nothing!" Pierce roared. "Jean-Luc will hand yo' over 'cause yo'll suit him better dead den alive. Go, hotwire a vehicle and drive till its outta gas, den steal a new car an' run it dry too."

Remy nodded slowly as Pierce lead him out the back door into the alley way. Giving him a shove out the door. Remy took to the darkness, pulling up the collar of his trench coat. Before he disappeared into the darkness, he turned and said to Pierce,

"Merci, fere."

A/N: (A Lengthy/Insightful Note Ahead): I tried to put a bit of a spin of the infamous Wedding fiasco that any Gambit fan knows all-too-well. That said, here we see the Belladonna character growth I eluded to in a previous note. Somehow, throughout writing this story I became a bit of a Belladonna advocate (I wouldn't go as far to say fan). I used to hate her, probably because I became a Romy fan when I was a preteen and she was often a obstacle for them in so many stories I read. As I got older, I realized there are plenty of reasons to hate Belladonna (she's kind of a shit person) but being involved with Remy before Rogue is not one of them.

Moreover, the song this chapter is named after I think beautifully represents the mindset I had when planning out Belladonna's actions/character in this particular story (give it a listen with this in mind). She doesn't love Remy (anymore), she's lonely, she's scared, she's holding onto more than just Remy, she's holding onto the version of herself that she was when she was with him (young and innocent). She's grown up in a rough environment, taught to kill for money, taught to dehumanize her victims, to strip away her own humanity to get the job done. And she wasn't like that once upon a time, but she can't continue to lie (mostly to herself). AND that is why she calls off the wedding. Also because an accidental theme of this story is Remy making poor decisions.

NEXT WEEK: The Penultimate Chapter: Rogue's rationale revealed.