Disclaimer: Marvel owns all names places and stuff, yada yada yada, unless otherwise specified. This is just general humor, mostly short non-continuing stories. Not always action packed or historically accurate. This is all fictional, obviously.

Contact Me: Questions, comments, corrections, death threats, I want them all. Send them to . Also, if you want to use this story elsewhere, that's fine, actually somewhat flattering, but just tell me that you're doing it so I can giggle with foolish pride. And of course, remember the wonderful place you found it and put up their link banner.

Take Two To Tango: Part 2

"So, do you want to go to the prom with me?"

"No, not really." Ah answered. Though I must admit ah was pretty taken aback by Bobby Drake askin' me out of the clear blue sky. He seemed pretty taken aback that ah'd declined.

"C'mon, we'll have fun."

"Bobby, look, can ah be honest with ya?"

"Sure, shoot."

"It's nothin' against you, sugah, but ah just don't think yoah really gonna want to do that ta yoahself."

"What do you mean? Do what to myself?"

"Ah don't need a pity date. Ah still have mah pride. And in the off chance that you haven't been guilted inta this by somebody or another, ah don't wanna see you mistreated on account of me."

"Are you serious? I'd have to think pretty highly of myself to ask a hot girl like you to the prom with me out of pity."

"Don't ya?"

"Well….yeah, I guess I do. But that doesn't mean I'm taking you out of pity."

"That seems very suspicious ta me, especially after you were sayin' just last week that you didn't want to go to the prom at all, cause it was stupid, and there was no one worth goin' with."

"You of all people oughta know how wishy washy I can be. Look, the prom's supposed to be a really special night, and we only get one shot at it…"

"That's of course unless you fail trigonometry, which is lookin' pretty likely."

"Can I just get through this, please?"

Ah sighed. "If ya must, but ah really don't think there's anythin' you can say ta change mah answer."

"Thanks. Look, like I was saying, we only get one shot, and the more I've thought about it, I'd hate to miss it. It's at least a memory to make, you know, and if I'm going to go, I'd like to share that memory with someone special to me. And that means you."

"Oh Bobby puhlease."

"All right, I don't really like you like that, but I don't really like anyone like that right now, and we're gotten to be pretty good friends over the past year, haven't we?"

"Well, yeah, but…"

"So we could just go and have a good time. And I know what hard a time you've been having around here, and that I haven't always been….there, I guess. But maybe this way I could make it up to you."

"You were guilted into this, weren't ya?"

"NO! That's just one thought. I want to go to the prom. And I want you to go with me. And if you say no, then I can't go. And you know what else? I don't think it has anything to do with pride, I think you're just scared of Kitty."

"AH AM NOT SCARED OF KITTY!"

"Then go with me."

"No."

"Why the hell not?"

"Well…ah….um…"

"Exactly. Go with me."

"Ah don't have a dress."

"Borrow one."

"From who?"

"I don't know, Jean Gray. You two are about the same size where it counts…I mean…."

"Yoah a jerk."

"So what? Borrow a dress and go with me. I'm not exactly taking no for an answer. You're supposed to be my friend. Friends don't cheat friends out of their SENIOR PROM."

"Look, ah just…"

"Oh COME ON!!"

Ah took a deep breath. Ah really shoulda said no. Ah shouldn't have let him talk me inta this. But ah really did wanna go.

"All right. Ah'll go with ya."

"Meet you at your room at seven?"

"Fine."

"So what did I say that finally brought you around? Or was it just these cool blues?"

"Oh shut up. I have exactly one week to back out, so don't push your luck."

"Ok, ok, backing off. Look, I gotta be at study hall in a few, so I'd better be heading off."

"All right, I'll see ya later."

"See ya. Oh, and Rogue?"

"Yes?"

"….Thanks." Ah couldn't help but smile at him. He really can be sweet when he wants ta be. And he does have very very blue eyes. After that, he made his exit. That is how ah ended up at the prom.

Ah'll admit ah was very nervous. Jean Gray had let me borrow the most beautiful and expensive dress ah'd ever laid eyes on, for reasons unknown ta me, and ah was terrified that ah'd do somethin' to it. Not only that, but ah was showin' more skin than Paris Hilton, an' ah was a little wary of that. Jean had a great idea about this body stocking thing that matched mah skin and came down below where mah gloves started. The line on the neck we had covered with a green velvet choker with an emerald charm on it, and the rest was hidden under the dress, so it really didn't look like ah had anything unusual on. She and 'Ro had collaborated on shoes, makeup, and hair, and had been more than accommodating. Ah had actually felt like one of the girls for a minute, with the two of them doting on me like that. It's still one of my favorite memories. 'Ro had given me some strappy shoes that didn't give too much height (she and ah share that problem), and my hair was swept up with tendrils framing mah face. They swore up and down that ah looked beautiful, elegant, womanly, etc., and ah had kinda believed them, until just now, at 7:07 pm, when I was waitin' in mah room foah Bobby. Foah one, even though it wasn't that late, ah had this sneakin' suspicion that Bobby wasn't gonna show, and then ah'd just feel terrible. And if he did show, ah was gonna have to go out there in front of all those people. Ah had just begun to comtemplate havin' a panic attack when there was a knock at the door. Ah did a quick one over in the mirror, winced, considered just pretendin' ah wasn't there, and then reluctantly went over ta the door at the second knock.

Bobby didn't say anythin' ta me. He jus' stared. Ah thought ah'd give him a minute, until it felt like ah'd been standin' there five whole minutes, and he still didn't say anythin'.

"Oh gawd, ya don't like it, do ya?"

"Sweetheart, I was just trying to remember how to breathe. I love it. You look……I mean…..geez Rogue….you look….." Ah felt red to the roots of mah hair. He never did finish that sentence. He just seemed nervous and started rubbin' the back of his head.

"Yoah lookin' pretty handsome yoahself, Bobby." He did look precious in a tux.

"I got this for you." He opened a small plastic box and removed a dark red rose corsage.

"Oh Bobby it's beautiful!" He took mah hand and slipped in onta mah wrist.

"I thought I'd try to do something right, just for one night. Mums the word, got it?"

"My lips are sealed."

"Well, milady….shall we?"

He offered his arm, and led me to the cafeteria. One opportunity for calamity down, just one more to go. Ah tensed up as we neared the door, and ah felt him go tense beside me.

"Look, Bobby, if ya don't really want ta go, ah won't be offended…ah mean, it's not too…"

"Dammit Rogue if you don't quit it I'm signing you up for counseling."

"Yoah such a romantic."

"Look, I'm honored to be here with you, ok? Honored." Ah hate bein' such a sap. Mah eyes almost tried ta mist over, but there was no way ah was gonna let myself ruin mah eyeliner before ah even got in there. So we went in. We made it about three and a half paces befoah 'Ro and Jean spotted us.

"Oh my god, you two look so cute! Hold still, I have to get a picture of this!"

"Wait Jean, wait, Logan's got my camera! Oh! I wish I had looked that beautiful at my prom!"

Then Logan came over with the camera. He gave us both a long, hard look, then walked over and picked a piece of lint off Bobby's jacket. Then he finally smiled at us.

"You're lookin' sharp fer once, kid." he said to Bobby. Ah think that was the first semi-kind thing he'd ever said to him, cause he puffed up just like a rooster. Then Logan looked over at me.

"You look like a million bucks, darlin'. But I didn't need a fancy dress and makeup to figure that out."

"Yoah lookin' like a real gentleman tonight, Logan. Ya pull it off nicely, but ah think ah prefer the gruff manly exterior."

"I feel like a friggen penguin. But you go have some fun. I've got some chaperonin' to do before I can blow this joint." He never was good about takin' compliments.

"So…..what shall we do first? Dancing or drinks?"

"Drinks, if ya don't mind. Ah'm so wound up right now ah think dancin'll just make me fall over."

"Me too, come on."

Now is the part where ah had to actually walk through the group of people ta the far side of the room where the refreshment table was. The crowd parted when they saw me comin', just like always, and stared. Normally, ah didn't even notice things like that anymore. But the thought had crossed mah mind that this was more than anyone had ever seen of me before, and it sort of emphasized everything. Mostly, ah felt like ah was just askin' foah it, and ah knew it would be a matter of time befoah the assault and the dramatic exit that ah was known foah. By the time we got our drinks, mah hands were shakin' somethin' fierce.

"Chill, Rogue. It's ok." Bobby whispered. It was sweet that he was payin' attention, but ah really didn't think he understood the situation from mah perspective. See, it's one thing when folks find fault with ya when yoah not really tryin' all that hard ta make an impression, but it was pretty obvious that ah had given it mah best shot, so ah was feelin' very vulnerable. If mah best wasn't good enough, then that was really gonna be a blow. Not only that, but ah'd embarrass Bobby, have totally wasted all Jean and 'Ro's efforts, and have to face everyone involved come Monday. Almost without thinkin' about it, ah began ta look foah Remy. Somethin' about him bein' there meant everything would turn out right. When ah realized what ah'd done, ah mentally kicked mahself, and decided ah'd better answer Bobby befoah he gets suspicious. Besides, he wasn't there anyway.

"Ah'm fine Bobby, it's just a little cold in here, don'tcha think?"

"I'm wearing about five layers of formal manly hotness, so I wouldn't know. But there's a quick way to remedy that."

With that, he took mah hand and led me on to the dance floor. They opened the night with a great oldie, "Time After Time". It was nice cause ah didn't have ta think about what ah was doin', but it was fast enough that it wasn't awkward. And, while we were dancin' we didn' have ta talk so much, so it gave me a little time ta pull mahself together. One thing ah got to notice was how nice it was to not be entirely covered all the time. Ah could actually feel Bobby's hand on mah back, feel every little sensation that brushed by me. It was sending shivers up mah spine. So ah decided to relax and just enjoy the moment. If it was gonna get ruined, then there was really very little ah could do about it. So we danced through a few songs, when from the entrance someone called.

"Bobby! Hey dude! I didn't think you were gonna show!" Jubilee bounced in, dragging Pyro behind her, wearing a short burgundy strapless, four inch heals, and a lot of body gems. It was a great outfit on her. It fit her personality. Finally they made it over to where we were.

"Never thought I'd see ol' popsicle dressed up. You clean up nice."

"Gee, thanks Jubes."

"Was that a note of sarcasm I detected? Not like it matters. So are ya gonna introduce me to your date or what?"

"I didn't think I'd need to."

"What, are you trying to say I'm not good enough to be introduced as 'this is my friend Jubilee'? What's the deal?"

"Hi Jubilee. Ya look really great tonight." Ah guess mah accent gave it away. Cause she jumped about ten feet backwards and landed on John's foot.

"Holy sht! Rogue? I didn't even recognize you!"

"Oh? Ah couldn't tell."

"Hey, look, I didn't realize I was on the episode of Extreme Makeover where the queen of sweats turns into prom queen, cut me a break will ya?"

"Ah was only jokin'. Ah like yoah gems. That must have taken hours."

"Well, only like three, and I think I've already lost a couple."

"Ah think it looks really good on ya. Very Hollywood style."

"That's exactly what I was going for! Thanks. Gah, it's kinda hot in here, isn't it?"

"A little, ah'd be happy ta get a drink foah ya."

"You? No way." Ouch. But then she continued. "What do you think we have dates for, anyway? Run along, gentlemen, we'll be here. So anyway, where did you get that dress? It's soooo classic."

Ah was so happy ah coulda died and not been bothered. Of course, it wasn't that she was tryin' ta be nice, necessarily, just that Jubilee will latch herself onto anyone that will let her talk foah a while. Ah'd take what ah could get. After a few minutes, the boys got back.

"Well, I'd better get some dancing done before the night is over. I didn't get all dressed up for nothing. Seriously though, you're lucky to be tall, cause you can pull off that whole elegant look. A long dress on someone as short as me just looks like an oxymoron. Anyway, Bobby, save the next dance for me, will ya? I don't want to wear John out. If that's all right with you, Rogue?" Crap. That means ah'll have to fly solo for a bit. But thus far ah was feelin' pretty comfortable.

"No problem, ah'll probably need a break by then anyway."

"Cool. Well John, ask me to dance or something. Be romantic why don'tcha?"

"Jubilee, when a pyromaniac asks a girl to the prom, chances are that act alone cleaned them out of romance."

She put on a pout accentuated by shiny red lips, and stepped a little closer to him, batting long, false eyelashes. An' that little dress was setting off her well toned little figure quite nicely. He sighed.

"Jubes, would ya like to dance with me?"

"Why John, I would looooooove to!" She giggled an' waved back at us one last time, before joining him. Ah couldn' help but smile. She can be a handful, but ya can't really help but like Jubilee sometimes.

"So….you're having a good time, right?" Ah turned back ta Bobby.

"Sugah, ah'm havin' the time of my life. Ah still feel like ah can hear a time bomb tickin' somewhere in the distance, but Cinderella probably felt the same way. An' no one's ever had a better Prince Charmin'."

He struck a pose. "Oh STOP." He always made a joke when he didn' know what else ta do. He offered his hand again, an' we danced, but it was a little more relaxed now. Foah just a few seconds there, ah almost felt normal. When ah couldn' see Jean and 'Ro gigglin' in the background anyway. But finally, Jubes returned to claim her promised dance with Bobby, an' that gave me a few moments ta step back from the fantasy. Ah did a quick time check, 11:03pm. Dang. Ah had no idea that had happened. Ah looked around an' watched a room almost filled ta breakin' with people who durin' de day seemed like monsters waitin' ta strike, but foah a moment everythin' was just beautiful. Then came the kicker. Warm breath against my exposed throat.

"Now what's a nice girl like you doin' in a place like dis?" Unh. Ah turned ta face him, mainly so he wouldn't see the goosebumps runnin' up an' down mah spine.

"Hello Remy."

"Ah, so it's Remy fo' de evenin'. Very classy o' ya, ma chere." Red eyes traced mah every outline, an' it did funny things ta mah breathin'. Ya see, the whole atmosphere of this evening had been surreal, like foah just a few moments you could have everything ya ever wanted, be everything ya ever wanted to be, minus the army recruiter. An' ah will confess, here was one o mah biggest fantasies, mah biggest secrets, even ta me sometimes, dressed in a three piece suit with his hair slicked back.

"May I say somet'in?" Cause ah could stop him. Riiiiight.

"Shoah."

He started takin' slow, calculated steps toward me. Oh gawd.

"Remy's seen a lot of women at dere best, and sometime' dere worst. But dere has never been one wit' de magic ta make a man wan' so badly jus' ta be a little closer." He stopped too close. If ah pass out right now ah'll never forgive mahself.

"Don' supposed you'd care ta join me fo' jus' one dance, Rogue?" He breathed mah name at me just like the serpent in the Garden o' Eden. What was a girl ta do? No thanks, maybe some other time, end chapter? What kinda story would that be?

"If ya'd like…"

"Well, I would like." He offered his hand, an' when ah gave him mine, he laced his fingers so tightly with mine that ah could feel his pulse drummin' a steady, almos' hypnotic rhythm. His scent washed over me with such casual allure that ah was afraid ta breathe. Ta tell the truth ah wasn't havin' too many rational thought processes. He placed a hand on the curve of mah back, an' ever so gently but firmly pulled me closer ta him. Bobby hadn't done that. Thank God foah small mercies. Once ah was pressed against him, he ran his fingertips lightly along mah spine, giving me yet another case of the shivers.

"Relax chere." Ah didn' realize it, but ah was holdin' mah breath an' at some point had gone entirely rigid. Mah automatic pilot was tryin' ta activate the last bit of mah resistance, but ah couldn' hold it. Mah hand was in his, his breath was soft against mah neck, an' fingertips were making small circles against mah skin, all o' which mah senses were painfully aware of. Ah spend most o' mah life tryin' not to lose control, an' foah once ah was gonna give it up voluntarily. Ah melted inta him, an' he enveloped me in such a way as that ah couldn' be aware of anythin' outside o' this small gap in time an' space. He moved with a confidence, a smoothness, a surety that they only have in the movies after a sufficient amount of editing. The feel of him so close ta me was like a sedative. Mah mind, always tortured with worry an' thought an' fear an' uncertainty was still for jus' one precious moment. Ah coulda stayed there forever. But alas, it wasn't ta be. Ah don't know what it was that made me lift mah head. It just seemed like a natural thing ta do. An' he seemed to expect it. Ah caught those eyes, an' ah didn't know how anyone could be afraid of them. They were so soft, so searching, even with such danger lurkin' underneath. He was just so close. So very very close. Closer than ah had been to anybody not tryin' ta hurt me since ah had been a small child. An' still ah wanted him closer. This may sound strange, but ah had honestly forgotten everythin', including mah little power dilemma, everythin' except this searing want. This is really embarrassing ta try an' explain, ta try an' remember. Sometimes there really just aren't words. But, as though ah had asked, he leaned closer ta me, breathlessly close ta mah face. He waited there foah hardly a second, and that was mah last chance. During that second reality made it's last final attempt ta return. Somethin' about pain. His pain. The pain ah would cause him. It was like wakin' up an' havin' the last whispers of a dream in yoah ears that ya can't quite grasp. But he felt it. His eyes started ta lose their intensity, the clouds removed, an' the vision began ta pass. He released me so abruptly ah almos' fell. An' once ah was apart from him ah became very small an' vulnerable. It was such a strange feelin', ta be so afraid all of the sudden.

"Rogue..." He didn't finish, an' ah didn' answer.

"I think I'll cut in if ya don't mind, Cajun." Nice save there Logan. He grabbed me somewhat gruffly an' Remy made his escape. Ah had too many systems runnin' at once an' it occurred ta me that we hadn't been alone in this room all this time, however long that might have been. Ah had no choice but ta follow Logan as quickly as ah dared in these shoes ta the other side of the room where he had a significantly grumpy demeanor about him.

"All right, we're gonna dance now. And yer not gonna make any comments about my lack of grace in exchange for the little rescue."

"Were you watching me?"

"I'm always watching you, you know that."

"What just happened?"

"You had a momentary lapse in judgment under the circumstances. And my boots just won a roundway trip to assville, courtesy of Gambit Airlines."

"Oh."

"You all right, kid?"

"I'll get right back with you on that. Have your people call my people."

"I'm not into bureaucracy."

"Does it ever get easier? To not be normal?"

"If you were normal, would you still want him? Or are you just looking at him as your only chance? You can only blame so much on oddity, kid. Everybody's an oddball to somebody. And easier doesn't always mean better."

"Ya don't like him, do ya?"

"Actually, I do, and that's how I know he's bad news."

"But you like me, don't ya?"

"Different story darlin'."

"How so?"

"I like you cause yer a sweetheart, without being an idiot. I think the world could use more of that. I like him cause we've got a lot in common. Except I have a slightly better grasp on morals."

"But ah like you."

"That's cause you have bad taste."

"Logan, ah…."

"Yer shakin', and you should try ta relax and forget this happened. Sides, I think ol' popsicle over there is startin' ta miss ya."

"Thanks foah savin' me." He looked up at me.

"Yoah always the one who flies ta mah rescue, and it ain't wasted on me. Sometimes sugah, yoah the best thing that could happen to a girl." And then ah gave him the biggest hug ah had ever been comfortable enough to give him. An' he hugged me back.

So we finished our song, and despite what Logan may ever tell ya, he's really not a bad dancer at all. Ah made the conscious decision to graciously stop all thought processes until the night was over, which was only another hour or so. Remy was gone, and didn't reappear. Bobby was suspicious but not curious enough to bother findin' out. An' fortunately Jubilee stayed close by for the rest of the night so nobody else had ta do much talkin'. Ah thanked Bobby profusely foah a lovely evenin', and then at some point returned ta mah room still slightly dazed, only ta find there was no way to sleep that night.