Shout Outs!
Ishy : You've been reading my work pretty much since I started in this fandom. You should know better than anyone by now that I like to do the unexpected… to shoot for (pun intended) the most dramatic or shocking things I can. Hehehe. I just didn't see the use in drawing out Etienne's death. I'd decided as soon as I'd typed his name, and I'm trying to make sure I can get this done in ten or so chapters… So no time to waste. Plus it ties in well with this idea I had. I think you might like this Belle.
MidniteAngelGoth: Glad you're enjoying this so far…hope you continue to be excited about my new chapters.
Luce: Like I said to Ishy…no time like the present eh? I have a plan for Henri…and if things keep coming to me the way I want then it'll be okay. He's actually one of my favourite thieves to write next to Lapin. Agreed though… it's fun to look at who'd have to die before Remy'd be in charge. Yeah, Julien always struck me as the Tybalt in the R&J that is Remy and Belle. One of the more obvious allusions to that classic piece. Though, I think I've twisted things enough to pull it away from that theme… I think. In regards to Romy…this is probably the darkest I've taken them, but I usually don't let them get together easy. I like writing them as bickering friends who don't want to admit to feeling more. It seems realistic to me. My condolences on the finals. My mom lived in Louisiana for a year and while I was happy to live in Canada during that time, I loved visiting. The food was amazing, so much more than gumbo or jambalaya. I've got a wicked shellfish allergy and couldn't eat the etouffee, but damn, it smelled good. I'm a huge fan of red beans and rice though… Yum…Squishes Glad you liked that…I'm trying to show that in his natural habitat Remy isn't as cold as he seems in Evo. Hope you liked this addition.Goldylokz: I'm well aware of how evil the site's been lately trust me. But I'm glad you enjoyed tease and all. Hopefully this keeps things going.
Four: All ApologiesHouses have souls; they reflect the personalities and mores of the people that fill them. Some houses are filled with darkness and despair – people rarely leaving it; while others are filled with laughter and life –its residents a never-ending tide of humanity. Living history breathing around you; every creaky step and floorboard, faded wallpaper and chipped paint – even the occasional squall of childhood graffiti – all serving to measure a resident's life from cradle to grave.
The Lebeau Mansion, Headquarters of the New Orleans Thieves Guild for two centuries, had always been a vibrant home. As lively and throbbing with the life and laughter of its children the city it called home. The smell of glorious Cajun and Creole food prepared lovingly in the kitchen wafting through every hall; colouring every memory of the Maison and filling it with warmth. One could wrap themselves in that feeling of family and security any day of the week and lessen the slings of the harsh world outside its walls.
Everyday except today.
Lying in his bed, Remy folded the pack of cards back in on themselves as he shuffled, trying to burn off his agitation despite being trapped. He might have been able to stand it if the house hadn't been as quiet as a church; the people below in the salon speaking in hushed tones. It only reminded him that they'd buried Etienne earlier.
Tante Mattie had allowed Remy out of bed for the service and burial, but the bandages on his wounded side had bled through and resulted in her banishing him to bed rest. If any one could have convinced Remy Lebeau to stay put and do as he was told, it was Mattie Baptiste– the septuagenarian caretaker for three generations of Thieves. It helped, of course, that Remy really didn't feel like facing the others downstairs.
No one had said anything –not from the moment he and his cousins had carried Etienne's body back to the Maison. That bullet had been Remy's, and selfishly, Etienne had taken it. Remy knew it with every fibre of his being. He felt as if everyone else thought similarly as well. For the life of him, Remy couldn't figure out why this had happened… Why Etienne had been taken instead of him? Remy wasn't foolish enough to believe in a greater plan or destiny. In his better moments he chalked it up to a grand cosmic joke. A sign from old Lady Luck that she was growing tired of him and looking for a new boy toy to coddle once she was done playing with him. In his worst moments, Remy was certain it was Julien's plan to kill everyone Remy cared about, leaving the mutant as alone as he was before the fateful day he'd picked Jean-Luc's pocket.
Scraping up the cards from his lap, Remy hurled them against the wall with an inarticulate growl. The pain and rage Remy felt about being left alive when someone as innocent as Etienne was killed boiled to the surface and spilling over in a hot rush. Grabbing the lamp from his bedside table, Remy threw it as well. The crash and tinkle of the metal and glass hitting the ground smoothed his jangled nerves ever so slightly. Silence rushed in like air filling a vacuum as Remy took several deep breaths. His chest burned with the desire to cry, but his pride wouldn't allow the tears to fall. He'd promised himself long ago that he'd never cry again… It was the one promise he'd ever made to anyone and kept.
A gentle knock against his window snapped Remy's head around as the glass slid up. He didn't bother moving or trying to cover his bare chest; only one person had the balls to sneak into the Thieves' Maison. The familiar blonde head rose above the window frame. Her face carried a sad expression more suitable to Remy's mood than the bright blue sky behind her. "Allo cher."
"I ain't in the mood, Belle," Remy snapped, wishing that he could roll over and avoid her.
Ignoring him, she climbed through the window and dusted off her fitted jeans as she rose from the floor. "Je sais… Mais…" She lifted her big blue eyes and met his without flinching, "Remy, Je suis desolé…"
"Sorry won't bring Etienne back." Remy's jaw clenched, and somehow the flicker of sadness in her eyes made him feel a little bit better.
"No, it won't," she agreed, and gestured towards the mess on his floor. "You t'ink t'rowin' shit around is gunna do much more?" Her shoulders slumped as her anger deflated. "Ah don wanna fight, Remy. That ain't why Ah came here."
"Den why did ya come, Belle?" Remy ground out, feeling more tired than he had before she'd shown up… Emptier.
Moving forward silently on sneakered feet, Belladonna Boudreaux perched on the edge of Remy's bed and looked him straight in the eye, unafraid. It was one of the things he'd always admired about her. Bella was fearless, something she had in common with another woman in Remy's life. Up close, it was easy to get sucked in by her beauty – the tanned skin, fit body, blue eyes and blonde hair that could have walked straight out of a teen magazine. Even dressed down for her climb up the side of the building, Belle shone like a daytime goddess.
Daylight had always hurt Remy's sensitive eyes; the moonlight was much more forgiving for him.
"Ah came because Etienne was my friend." She breathed out, still keeping her distance from him. "Because if Ah had to be around Julien any longer, Ah'd kill him for what he's done."
Her hand snaked towards Remy's and captured it in her firm grip. "Ah came because you're my friend too, and Ah missed you. Didn't t'ink you'd be fou enough to come back here."
Shifting in his bed, Remy looked at their hands entwined – a symbol of his conflicting feelings for her. "Julien et ton père had Jean-Luc. Remy had ta come."
"If ya'd given me more time –" She shook her head in frustration. "Ah could have found out where dey were at and told Henri…Ya didn't have to –"
"Thought ya said ya missed Remy, chére?" He lifted an eyebrow, and a smirk curved his lips slightly.
Lightning quick, her hand snapped out and slapped Remy's arm softly, showing that she didn't want to hurt him. She couldn't help the laughter that crept into her voice, "Bon rien! I'm gonna pass ya de slap if ya keep dat up."
Just as quickly as the mirth hit them, it disappeared and tears appeared in her crystalline eyes. Reaching out, Remy pulled Belle to him and held her against his chest, letting her cry for both of them.
"Ah don't know how ta stop him from coming after ya Remy." Her voice was soft through the tears, "Julien's beyond fou, neh? Not even mon père can control him any more. Dis war has got ta stop."
His breath hissing out between his teeth, Remy pulled away from her ever so slightly and examined Belle's face. This had been what he'd been afraid of; why he'd taken Magneto's offer. Remy hated not feeling like he had a choice. "Ya'll know what we'd have ta do ta stop it, Belle. Is it worth it?"
"Remy…" Emotions warred openly across her face. "Je t'aime… Since we was petits we've been bon amis… Mebbe we could make it work; make dis place safer for our other amis… for everyone."
"Mais, Belle…" Remy grasped for any straw that would show her just how bad an idea it would be for them to marry. Even if it would be a marriage of convenience. "How does ton amour feel 'bout dis?"
Belle's pretty face screwed up in an expression of pain. Just like Remy, she'd hurt some one no matter what she did. It was difficult walking this knife's edge, and the darkness bellow was more than happy to swallow them both if they fell. He'd known as he said the words that they'd be a low blow to the girl, but Remy hadn't been able to control himself. Finally a curtain of determination swept across Belle's face and Remy knew the argument was closed. Belle wore the same expression when she killed.
"Ah'll have ta make Josette understand." She offered him a sad smile. "Besides, if Ah have ta marry a homme, who better than de King of Hearts?"
Remy didn't know what to say. He was almost as shocked as he'd been four years ago when Belle had confided her secret to him. It had been a lot for Remy to take that his girlfriend, his childhood sweetheart – and if their parents had their way, future wife – wasn't interested in men.
At first he'd been angry and avoided Belle, but then he'd seen how hard she'd tried to hide it… How she'd strove to be normal no matter what it cost her. It had reminded Remy of the way he'd struggled with being a mutant, and after the initial awkwardness, it had lead to a friendship double forged. He loved Belle too, but he knew they could never be in love.
"Ah heard you brought a femme with ya; dat she beat mon frère…" Belle wiped her tears away. "Ya'll find yaself a Yankee gal while you was gone?"
"Non," Remy grunted, not knowing why it felt wrong to talk to Belle about Rogue. "She be a river rat from 'round Caledcott way."
Belle nodded. "Is she why you don't wanna do this?"
The words froze Remy; but then Belle always had known how to get down to the matter with him. "Peut-être."
"Den she must be quite de fille." Belle sighed and lifted herself from Remy's bed, jerking her head towards the window. "T'ink about it Remy. It's de only way for us ta make sure no one else gets hurt. Ah wouldn't prevent ya from lovin' someone else. Dat wouldn't be fair of me ta ask, considerin'… Mais, if anyone could make it work, it'd be you and me."
Silent like the killer she was, Belladonna slipped away again, leaving Remy to his thoughts. Turning over on his good side Remy wrapped himself in the cool embrace of his guilt. It didn't seem to matter what he did…he'd always end up hurting someone he cared about, having to apologise. He was beginning to think that all he had to offer anyone were apologies.