"Ah wonder why Emma had t' leave so soon..." Rogue mused aloud, looking at the bright, sunny sky curiously. She and the blonde had been chatting casually by the pool while sunbathing when suddenly the blonde claimed she forgot to do something important and ran off, ignoring Rogue's questioning.
"Chere!" Remy crowed, seeing Rogue lying by the poolside in nothing but a bikini. His eyes roved over her body, taking in all the lovely curves. No one could deny Rogue was a developed woman and certainly worth a twice-over, even a thrice-over.
"Eh, Swampy!" Rogue greeted, sitting up. She blushed when she realized he was only wearing swim trunks, a towel slung casually over his shoulder. "What're you doin' here?"
"Remy t'ought he'd take a swim, dat alright wit' you?"
Rogue snorted and laid back in her chair, closing her eyes as she pulled the sunglasses back down. She gestured in the general direction of the pool, as though she couldn't care less.
"It's a free country, ain't it?"
Remy smirked and dumped his towel in the recently vacated chair next to Rogue's. He was a bit disappointed she hadn't admired his body more, it was a blow to his ego, but he noticed the blush and felt proud of himself for the small accomplishment.
He could hardly say he was in love, as Remy didn't really understand the deep emotion. He knew it existed, thought it was a wonderful thing, it just wasn't for him. What he felt for Rogue, though, what he'd begun to feel, he thought might come pretty damn close.
Never before had a woman made him want to change his playboy ways. Sure, he still flirted with girls in bars, but there was no real interest there. Every girl he saw didn't come close to his Roguey, waiting back home for her precious Joe.
The name sent unpleasant shivers down Remy's spine. He didn't like the white-haired (because it was white, however much Joseph might argue it was silver) bastard too much. It seemed obvious to him that he was the unfaithful type, the kind that you wouldn't expect capable of such a thing until it was brought to light. Remy had experience as a playboy though, and he could recognize the signs easily enough.
Personally, he was shocked Rogue didn't see it. She'd recognized him as a flirt right away, and she seemed pretty good with noticing details like that on anyone. Yet, she appeared to have no idea of Joseph's activities, and if she did have an idea, then Remy couldn't see her as one to sit idly by and let it happen.
Maybe that's why he didn't think he'd ever look at another woman, at least not with any intention of doing more than looking, if he was with her. He wasn't stupid, he'd seen her punch through metal contraptions and pick up those mechanical boulders in the Danger Room. Those things had to weigh twice as much as the real thing too. Anyone who would cheat on a superstrong beauty like Rogue had to be stupid or insane.
"Ah thought ya were goin' for a swim, sugah," Rogue spoke up, breaking Remy from his reverie. He looked at her, smirking as he stretched his arms above his head.
"Well, Remy t'ought he'd give y' da chance t' admire his bod a li'l more."
Rogue raised a brow, lifting her sunglasses just enough he could see the dark emeralds she called eyes. A look of disbelief mixed with amusement warred for dominance in her gaze; she settled on amusement.
"Ah know yo' jokin', Swampy. Ain't no one 'round here that wants t' see yo' ugly 'bod'."
"Remy have y' know plenty o' femmes be interested in Remy's body!" Remy pouted, sounding truly indignant at the thought of being ugly.
Rogue chuckled and laid back again. "That's why Ah said no one around here, sugah."
Her laughter was cut short by a squeak of surprise when she felt herself being lifted. The sunglasses fell to the ground as she struggled against Remy's hold, lightly banging on his shoulders and chest.
"Let meh go!" she cried, half laughing and half shrieking indignantly. Remy merely chuckled.
"As cherie wishes," he said, and dropped Rogue right into the pool.
"Ah, SWAMP RAT!" Rogue shouted, sputtering as water managed to get into her mouth. She glared up at him, though it didn't hold the same fire as when she was truly angry. "You bettah be damn glad Ah know how t' swim! What are you doin'?"
Rogue swam backwards when she saw Remy smirking at her. He stepped closer to the edge, making her more and more nervous as the seconds ticked by.
"Remy?"
And he executed a perfect backwards somersault in midair, landing with a loud splash in the pool. Rogue shrieked as more water covered her, causing her nose to burn and her throat to ache. She gasped when she felt hands on her ankles, pulling her under, and she tried to kick Remy loose.
However, not using her super strength for fear she might send him flying to his death, Rogue found herself unwillingly pulled under. She slapped him, though the water slowed her movements and kept out any sting. Remy shot her a mocking glance and swam to the surface, gasping for air.
His gasps turned into coughs when water made its way into his mouth and down his throat. He glared at the woman who'd splashed water in his direction. Rogue shot him a mocking stare and swam out of reach when he attempted to dunk her under.
"Gotta catch meh first, Swampy!"
"Oh, y' on, cherie!"
Emma chuckled as she watched them splash around before heading inside the mansion again. She'd give them this time to themselves. The professor just announced Storm was heading their way, and she had to prepare Joey's outing. Nothing could go wrong, and soon there'd be a new southern couple in Xavier's Institute.
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"Who's Monique?" Rogue asked, raising a brow in Emma's direction. The blonde raised her hands in a placating manner, smiling innocently at her friend. This, of course, only set Rogue further on edge.
"Relax, Roguey, I just want to play a little game with his head!" Emma practically begged. She smirked to herself when she noticed Joseph's photographs were still in the trash bin and Rogue hadn't noticed. A good sign.
"Why would Ah help ya play a game like this on mah boyfriend?" Rogue asked suspiciously. "And since when do you call meh Roguey?"
"Sorry, your little southern friend must be rubbing off on me," Emma said slyly. Rogue blushed dark red and scowled at the blonde woman.
"Remy an' Ah are just friends, Ah told ya that!"
"Hey, hey!" Emma threw her hands in front of her face, as though Rogue was about to hit her. "I didn't say you were anything more. Though, it makes me wonder about your defensiveness."
"Ah'm not defensive," Rogue mumbled, crossing her arms. "An' ya stressed the word enough it sounded like more."
"I didn't realize," Emma told her dryly. It was obvious she was lying, but Rogue didn't bother calling her on it. If Emma didn't want someone to know she was lying, then they damn well wouldn't know. She obviously didn't care either way with Rogue.
"So, why Monique?" Rogue asked curiously. "Ah mean if ya want meh t' tell Joe that some gal called fo' him, why Monique?"
"Because Monique sounds rich," Emma explained as though that were obvious. Rogue rolled her eyes at the rather shallow explanation. Leave it to Emma to use a name just because it sounded "rich".
"Fine," Rogue grumbled in compliance. "But if Joe gets mad, it's all yo' idea!"
"I will take full responsibility," Emma reassured. She turned to leave the room but stopped, once again smirking in Rogue's direction. "Oh, and Rogue?"
"Yeah, Em?"
"Call him Joey at the end." Rogue shot her another suspicious look. "I just want to see his reaction is all."
Rogue sighed and nodded her agreement. Emma grinned and closed the door behind her, looking every bit like the cat that ate the canary. Inside her room, Rogue was shaking her head at the ceiling.
"Ah'll nevah understand that woman."
232323
The jet came in for a landing, and Joseph could feel his nerves straining again. What if one of the girls had called? Would Rogue be upset with him? Well, of course she would, but he had pretty much reassured himself that with time, he could convince her to forgive him. He didn't want to go through all that trouble though, not to mention the drama that would certainly follow.
Well, he was about to find out, he supposed. The door to the Blackbird opened, and he followed Storm into the underground garage of the X-mansion.
Stepping foot on the cement ground, Joseph couldn't help the smile that lit his face. He was finally home.