A/N: It's me with another Evo fic. This one's another post Apocalypse fic (gasp What a shocker, I know.) This one's set about 6 months after Ascension. It's kind of my take on the Acolytes joining the X-Men.
Ages:
Gambit-21
Colussus, Pyro, Jean, Scott, Lance-19
Rogue, Wanda, Pietro, Blob-18
Kitty, Kurt, Toad-17
Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men: Evolution or any of the characters from it.
Logan landed the Blackbird in the park where the debate was being held. The X-Men all filed off, all in uniform. Piotr and Hank accompanied the Professor while the other five went off to find the FoH headquarters.
Remy took command as soon as they had gotten away from the Blackbird. He led them to a wooded area to explain his plan. He pulled the blueprints out from his trench coat and pointed to the room he had shown Rogue earlier. "This is where all their information is stored."
"Shouldn't we be getting ready to move in, bub?"
Remy shook his head. "Non. Not yet. The debate hasn't started yet, which means that there might still be people in the building. Chére, I need you to do something for me."
Rogue looked at him for a second. "What d'ya need?"
"I need you to focus on Kitty's powers."
Rogue closed her eyes and focused on Kitty's psyche. She could feel a strange tingling feeling run through her body.
"Are you focused?" Rogue nodded her response. Remy reached out a hand to touch her. The others gasped when his hand ran straight through her arm. He pulled his hand back. "Thanks, chére. That's all I needed to know."
"What are you talkin about?"
"Rogue, his hand just went through you." Jean looked torn between confusion, awe, and disgust.
Rogue looked at Remy with a glint in her eyes. "You mean Ah can use the powers Ah've absorbed."
Remy nodded and went back to explaining the plan. "Wolvie and Cyclops, you two stand watch and let us know if anyone enters the building. Jean, I'll need you to scan the area and find anyone inside. Then I'll need you to keep track of them and let us know if hey come anywhere near the room. Stormy, we'll need a little bit of cover to get in."
"I believe some fog shall do nicely."
"What about me?"
"Your job is to get both of us in with your borrowed powers."
"Wait. Why are you two going in?" Scott had already looked put out at the thought of Gambit calling the shots. Now he looked halfway pissed that he was nothing more than a lookout.
"If you need to ask why I'm going in, you're dumber than I thought. As for Rogue, if she can use any power she's absorbed, like I think she can, than she'll be better off in a fight than any of ya. Now let's go."
Storm lifted into the sky and surrounded the area in a slight fog, just enough to obscure someone's vision without raising any suspicion that something was up. The other X-Men followed Gambit out of the woods. He led them into an alley next to the building. He nodded to Logan and Scott and they took their position in a spot where they could watch the coming and going of anyone near the building.
"Petit?"
At his request, Jean quickly did a mind scan of the area. "It's empty. There are a few people in the building next door, but as long as there isn't anything suspicious, I believe that they won't notice us here."
Remy looked over at Rogue. "Ready?"
Rogue nodded and focused on Shadowcat. She grabbed Remy's hand and phased them through the wall. They ended up in a small room that was lined with file cabinets. A computer sat in one corner.
"Merde. This is gonna be harder than I thought." Remy immediately went over to the computer and started to hack into it. With his previous training, it didn't take any time. He copied all the files to a disk before looking back at Rogue. She was going through the filing cabinets, removing any files about the X-Men, Brotherhood, or ex-Acolytes.
"We can't take them all. There's way too many. But we can get rid of their info on us." Remy nodded and helped her locate files on the Morlocks to add to the pile. They piled the folders into a large duffel bag before Rogue phased them back out.
They had no sooner gotten to the other side of the wall before Jean called out to them telepathically. There's someone coming. Get out of there!
"Already done, Jeannie." Jean turned around and smiled. "Let's get out of here." Remy led the group back to the park. They stashed the duffel bag and changed into civilian clothes before heading off to watch the rest of the debate.
Rogue caught Remy looking at her after they had changed. She was back in her layered shirts, black pants, boots, and studded belt. "What're you starin at me for?"
Remy smirked at her "No reason, chére." He turned to follow Scott and Jean toward the large crowd.
"He botherin ya, Stripes?" Logan's voice rang out behind her.
"Naw. He's ain't botherin me."
"If he does, let me know." Rogue smiled at the older man before following her teammates to the debate.
Rogue took the time to look Remy over as he walked ahead of her. Dark jeans, black tee that showed off his toned body, the same boots he usually wore. A pair of dark sunglasses hid his eyes, since it more or less was an anti-mutant rally. Rogue pulled her own sunglasses down as the sun reflected off the glass buildings across the road.
"We must keep track of these mutants. They are a danger to our society. They desire to control the world." Logan winced at the voice that boomed through the speakers. He hated loud places.
"Mr. Creed, you are basing your claims off the actions of a few mutants."
"These 'few mutants' are powerful enough to take out much of the population."
"Do you judge the entire human race based on the fact that some are criminals contained to jail for a part of their lives?"
"That is a completely different matter, Xavier."
"How so?"
"Normal humans do not have the power to destroy the jails that they are contained in with a thought."
"Mr. Creed that is a dramatic generalization. You are basing your viewpoint of all mutants on a few misguided souls."
"What else do I have to base my viewpoints off of? Even your team has been involved in some circumstances like these."
"We were there to stop the rogue mutants, not to help them. My team is based on the belief that mutants and humans can coexist peacefully."
"This is makin me sick. Ah'm goin back to the jet," Rogue whispered to Logan.
"Not by yourself, you're not. Gumbo, go with her." Remy raised an eyebrow at the nickname, but followed Logan's orders. He didn't really want to listen to much more anyway. He was probably one of the 'misguided' that the Professor was talking about.
"Does what he was saying bother you that much, chére?" Remy asked after they were away from the crowd.
Rogue sent him a surprised look. "Doesn't it bother you?"
Remy shrugged as he waited for the ramp to open on the jet. "It used to. But I've heard it all so many times, I just ignore it all."
"So you don't care?"
"Chére, you try growing up with people calling you Le Diable Blanc. Then ask me again." Remy climbed aboard the jet without another word.
"Remy, Ah'm sorry. Ah didn't know."
"Don't worry bout it." He flopped into one of the seats aboard the jet. His eyes landed on the duffel bag. "Let's see how much they know bout me."
"Maybe we should wait."
"Chére, I know that you don't always follow the rules. I'm not gonna look through all the files, just a few of interest. Besides, I want to know something bout my new teammates." Rogue sighed and sat in the seat next to him as he began going through the bag.
"Aha." Remy pulled out a folder with his name on it. He opened it and began reading through the information they had collected on him. "Merde. They've got more on me than old Buckethead did."
"Really?" Rogue looked through the bag to find her folder. She frowned as soon as she saw the name inside. "You're right. They've got at least as much as Xavier in here."
"How can you figure that out by looking at the first page?"
"There's some info that Ah don't tell people on it."
"Really? Like what?"
"You really think Ah'll tell you?"
"Maybe." He gave her a pleading smile.
Rogue rolled her eyes. "My name."
"Rogue?"
"No, Ah mean my real name."
"And what would that be, chére?"
"Ah'm not telling you."
"I'll get it out of you eventually."
"Cocky, aren't we?" Remy shrugged and went back to looking through the files. Rogue sighed and tossed her file back in the bag. "Ah know Ah already asked, but what's your actual reason for joinin the X-Men?"
Remy glanced at her in surprise. He really hadn't expected that question. "I already told you."
Rogue shook her head. "Not really. All ya told me was that your father had something to do with it."
"Can we talk bout something else?"
"Not until I get an answer, Gambit."
Her use of his codename let him know how serious she was. "Fine, but it's a long story, chére."
"We've got time. Ah'm sure that debate'll go on for a while." Rogue pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, facing him. She settled her chin on top of her knees and waited.
"After that thing in Louisiana, I went back with my -Jean Luc- because I really didn't have anywhere else to go. I didn't want to get involved with the Guild again and I told him that. But he never listens. Next thing I know, he's got me engaged to the daughter of Marius Boudreaux, the leader of the Rippers."
"Julian's father?"
Remy nodded. "Jean Luc told me how it would bring peace to the Guilds and all this other crap. But there was a snowball's chance in hell that I was marryin this girl. I've known her since I was little and she's not all there, if you know what I mean. Long story short, I really pissed off both families when I ruined the weddin."
"You left her?"
"I wasn't marrying her anyway, but no, I didn't leave her. It was really Julian's fault. He stood up at the wedding and said that there was no way that I was marryin Bella. Then he pulled a sword on me. We fought."
"What happened?" Rogue's voice was quiet. She could see the range of emotions that ran across Remy's face, even though he tried to hide them.
"We were fighting and he came at me. He ran into my sword. It went through his heart. He was dead within seconds." Remy watched heard Rogue gasp.
"After that, all hell broke loose. The Rippers wanted me dead. A life for a life. But they had to follow Guild protocol. They met with Jean Luc and he convinced them that it really was an accident. They decided on exile, but dropped the whole thing within a week. But I couldn't stick around there with everyone knowing what I had done. I killed a man in cold blood."
"Oh my gawd." Rogue was stunned. She hadn't expected this answer.
Remy was staring at the floor, not wanting to meet her eyes. He was afraid of what he'd see there. He jumped when she placed a hand on his arm.
"It's not ya fault."
He met her eyes. There was no disgust in the pools of green like he had been expecting. No anger, no pity, just sympathy.
"Ah'm serious, Rem. It was an accident."
"How can you be so understanding?"
"Ah've dealt with it before, when Ah thought Ah killed Mystique. Ah felt guilty that Ah'd done it, but at the same time, Ah couldn't let go of all the anger and hurt. She'd spent my whole life waiting to use me for her sick purposes. That's why Ah helped you in New Orleans."
Remy carefully reached out to wipe the tears off her face. She didn't pull away, like he was expecting.
"Remy, can Ah tell you a secret?" Rogue was looking into his eyes.
"Sure, chére." He returned her gaze.
Rogue took off a glove and reached out to brush her fingers against Remy's cheek.
"Ah haven't told anyone yet."
"When?"
"A week or so ago. Ah accidentally brushed against Jamie when Ah wasn't wearin gloves and nothing happened."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"You trusted me. Ah figured Ah'd return the favor." Rogue put her glove back on and smiled at him.
"Thanks, chére." They sat in silence before Remy grinned and picked up her folder. "Let's find out what the Rogue's name is."
"Swamp Rat, don't you dare." Rogue dropped her feet to the floor and tried to grab the folder. Remy held it out of her reach and opened it.
"Anna Marie. Very pretty name, chére." Rogue sat back and glared at him. Remy laughed. "Come on, it's not that bad. At least you don't have some awful name."
"It's not the name that bothers me. It's who gave me the name."
"Oh. Mystique?"
Rogue nodded. She sat quietly for a minute, then dove for the file. She caught Remy off guard and ended up knocking him onto the floor. Rogue landed on top of him and the file slid across the floor.
Rogue jumped up to get the file. She fell to the floor when Remy grabbed her ankle. He pinned her with his body and grabbed the file from her.
Rogue glared at him. Her glare softened as she looked into his eyes. He grinned and leaned towards her. The next second, Rogue was sitting on him with the file in her hand.
"You lose, Swamp Rat." Rogue stood up and offered a hand to Remy. He took it and picked himself up off the jet floor.
"Is that what you think?" Remy asked as he pulled her toward him, not letting go of her hand. He smiled down at her and leaned in. Rogue didn't notice him taking the file from her other hand as his lips met hers in a quick kiss.
He pulled away and let her go, holding the folder behind his back. Rogue frowned at him. Her frown turned to a smirk as she wrapped her arms around him.
"Remy, Ah have a question." Rogue stood on tiptoe, brushing his ear with her lips. "Can you help me with something?" Rogue carefully took the file from him while he was distracted.
"Sure, chére." Remy looked down into her eyes.
"Can you…"
"Does he even know what the hell he's talkin about?" Rogue and Remy jumped at Logan's voice. Rogue blushed and pulled away from Remy. She had the folder in her hand.
The X-Men filed onto the jet. Logan was obviously pissed about something. Ororo and Beast looked worn. The Professor seemed to be his usual self.
"His whole purpose is to make people think that we are monsters, Logan. He'll use whatever he can to make people see that."
"What's wrong?"
Jean turned at Rogue's voice to look at her and Remy. They were standing in the middle of the aisle, looking at the group that had just come in. She noticed the pink tinge to Rogue's cheeks. "Are you feeling alright? You look flushed."
"Ah'm fine. What's Logan and the Professor talkin about?"
"Just some things that Creed said. Nothing to worry about. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, Ah'm fine." Rogue went back to her seat as everyone sat down.
"So, chére, what was that question?"
"Ah'm doin a school project on the French influence in New Orleans. Think you can help?"
"Oui. I'm sure I can."
"Good." Rogue leaned back as the plane took off. "Ah don't have to go back to school today, do Ah?"
"Petit, by the time we get back, you'd be almost done anyway."
Rogue glanced at her watch. "You're right."
"I know." Rogue rolled her eyes and looked out the window. She watched as the crowded city gave way to the suburbs. It seemed like they had just taken off when Wolverine started preparing to land the jet.
As soon as the jet touched down, everyone was out of their seats. They all wanted to relax after hearing the debate. Wolverine headed to the danger room to unwind. Ororo went to her garden. Beast and Professor X disappeared to their offices, leaving Scott, Jean, Rogue, Remy, and Piotr to find something to do.
"Any ideas while it's still quiet?" Piotr asked.
"Movie?" Remy suggested.
"Sounds good." Rogue followed the boys. Scott and Jean went upstairs, supposedly to work on homework.
"Which one you wanna watch?" Remy asked as Rogue flopped on the couch. Piotr sat in an armchair next to the couch.
"Doesn't matter, comrade."
"Somethin funny. Ah need a good laugh." Rogue rolled onto her side to watch Remy go through the large collection of movies. He picked one and popped it in before grabbing the remote.
"Move over, Rogue."
"Sorry. Not gonna happen." Remy shrugged and shoved her legs off the couch. Rogue shot him a dirty look as he sat down where her feet had been. Remy grinned at her and Rogue returned the smile before putting her legs across his lap.
"Told ya that the couch was my spot." They got quiet as the movie started. Rogue let her eyes drift closed as the actors names played across the screen. She had seen the movie plenty of times, so she didn't really need to pay attention.
"Rogue?" Rogue woke up to Remy gently shaking her shoulder.
"Lemme sleep."
"Sorry. Not gonna happen." Rogue opened one eye to see the smirk across his face.
"What time is it?"
"Time for the kiddies to be getting home. That's why I was wakin you up. I figured that it'd be nicer to be woken up by me than by them."
Rogue yawned and stretched. "Thanks for your consideration, but Ah don't think they'd risk wakin me up. Now Ah'm goin to my room to go back to sleep." Rogue stumbled as she walked across the room.
"I'll walk you up there."
"Ah'll make it."
"I don't want you to fall down the steps."
"Ah'm fine." Rogue nearly ran into a doorway. "Maybe ya should follow me."
Okay, here's the next chapter. I hope you like it. Thanks reviewers (all 3 of you). Let me know what you think. I don't care if it's good or bad, just let me know. And if any of the events mentioned in the story (like the Julian thing) differ from the comics, it's cause I'm not a big comic book reader. Also, I know that in most fics, Remy is a player or whatever, but this is an Evo fic, and he's not really a player in Evo. The only girls you ever really see him around are the X-Girls (mainly Rogue) and he smiles at one in New Orleans, so I'm going off that impression of him. So if he seems out of character, that's why.