I love you guys. I do. The reaction to the Remy's dating of Kitty startled me –I didn't expect you to care more about that than the state of his soul- but in retrospect, I probably would've felt the same. I agree, whole-heartedly, that Kimy –a name that ever reminds me of DJ Tanner's best friend- is a bizarre pairing. They're not exactly from the same world. I hope you understand that they've had problems; the introduction to their relationship was an argument, after all, and not the fun Romy kind.

Once more, and for the record, I did not create the source of all evil. If he were really an OC, I'm sure the world would be a much, much better place. I did, however, make him a central character in this story. And you can't stop me! Bwahaha.


Chapter Two: The Trouble With Maybe


Remy found the man –the 'old acquaintance'- standing in the middle of the garden, sleeves rolled up and hands buried in his black pants. He didn't turn when Remy stepped outside, just kept his gaze steady on a set of Ororo's tulips. "The flowers never turn out like this where I'm from," the man said, in a clear baritone. "I'm glad of it. These are nice to look at, but they're so… stiff. Rigid. Confined to this little plot of land, in this neat square shape. If I were a flower here, do you know what my greatest wish would be? Freedom."

Remy approached the man and felt suddenly hesitant. It was a peculiar, untraceable reluctance, which he promptly swallowed. "I hear y' tellin' people we're old friends, but I don't believe we've ever met. Care t' explain?"

The man shrugged. "I spent a lot of time in New Orleans. I have close ties to the Guilds. I remember you as a child, getting into so much trouble. You had the most beautiful eyes." Finally, the man looked in his direction and grinned. "I hear you've grown into quite the thief. Your father loves to brag, Remy."

The young Cajun thought of his father. A good man, once, until his pride had grown like a cancer, spreading and demanding that every rival be crushed, every weapon be utilized to achieve that goal, even if it meant the alienation of his son. "My father," Remy said. "His words don't make us friends."

"Don't be difficult. I come in peace. Well," a chuckle, "that's all relative, I suppose. I'm not here to make you angry with me. If you prefer I don't mention LeBeau, then I won't. We can start new, right now. I'd very much like to be your friend, Remy."

"Why?" A suspicious nature was hard to reign in.

"Just because."

"That's all?"

"All I have." The other man confessed.

Remy wasn't convinced of the man completely, but he was enough so to drop his guard… just an inch. He scratched his chin and looked at the tulips. "What about da freedom ta choose structure?"

"They don't want that. It's against their nature. That's why it takes so much work to keep them in this aesthetic form; you're constantly fighting destiny." The man bent forward and snatched one of the tulip heads, breaking it cleanly from the stem. Remy winced internally as he imagined Ororo's reaction, but said nothing. The man ran the dewy petals over his lips. "There's a reason I came to see you, Remy."

"What kind o' reason?"

"Well," the man laughed. "The secret kind since you ask. I can't tell you yet… but soon, I promise. This is an adult secret." Remy blinked. No one called him too young. The idea was absurd. He'd had his first drink when he was ten. He'd done his first major successful heist two years later. He'd tried sex at thirteen, cigars two months after, witnessed his first assassination while he blew out the candles of his fourteenth birthday party, and gotten high to recover from the initial shock of that. There wasn't anything that he hadn't been doing or seeing or feeling for years. People like him didn't have childhoods. But the man patted his shoulder. "Don't take offense. It's just a quirk of mine."

"A quirk." Remy rolled his eyes.

"Exactly. Your birthday is only a few days away, isn't it? That's not a long wait. In the meantime," the man reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, round disk. "Are you interested in helping me do a job? Good help is hard to find and since I'm in the company of the best, I can't resist asking."

"Yo' name is Luc," Remy said.

"It is."

"I'm retired, Luc."

"I understand. I do." Luc sighed, a deep sigh that made his shoulders sink a moment before rising again. "But this would only be one little job, just to keep your feet wet. And the X-Men, if they're the reason for your pulling out of the business, well, they don't have to know. I won't tell. Think of the fun we'd have." He dropped the disk in Remy's hands, along with a calling card. "Think about it. We'll talk again."

"Maybe," Remy whispered, mostly to himself. He held the disk level with his eyes and sighed.


Tried hard as they might to be regular, normal siblings, Rogue and Kurt could never quite make it. They did the brother-sister bit well enough; they took to each other like two people desperate to have family near. As for the normal part… that's where they faltered. Whether it was a basic impossibility, for how could relations between a vampire and a blue elf be anything other than strange, or just a lack of practice on their part, they always wound up navigating through a world of weird. It surprised neither, therefore, when an argument sprang up about Remy's visitor, Luc and the subject fell towards the supernatural.

"He's creepy." Kurt insisted.

"He's not!" Rogue said.

"Have you seen him?"

"Kurt," Rogue chided, "You should be above this kind o' talk. How many times have you had ta deal with words just like the ones you're saying? People callin' you a devil just 'cause ya got pointy ears and a tail. Are you even listenin' ta yourself?"

Kurt flushed as visibly as his blue fur allowed. "It's not that. Did you look in his eyes, Rogue? They're-"

"If ya say they're demon eyes, Ah'm gonna smack ya, brother o' no."

"Look," Kurt sighed, "Vith me and Gambit, it's different. Our looks are obvious. There isn't anything obvious about that man. But there is something wrong vith him. Like he's vearing a skin that doesn't fit."

A sly grin spread across Rogue's face. "It looks like it fits just right," she exclaimed, nudging her brother so that he could the visitor approaching. Luc gave the siblings a friendly wave, like he'd known them for years. When he was closer, he stretched out a pale hand to Kurt. The mutant teen looked at it warily.

"Oh, come on, don't tell me you're not into handshakes. I had you pegged as the nicest one of the whole bunch. I promise I won't bite your hand off." He laughed openly as he said this, and then grabbed Kurt's hand like he'd been invited. Instead of leaving it as a shake, though, he reached around his other arm and pulled him into a big hug. His head by Kurt's ear, he whispered low, "But your friends I'm gonna eat whole." There was laughter as Luc twisted away, but it did not register in Kurt's ear. All he felt a suppressive darkness that stung his eyes like tears.


"You're friend doesn't like me," Luc sighed, as Rogue followed him back to the door he entered from. "I may have spooked him a little. I tease." He licked his lips. "It's kind of a habit I've developed to deal with other people's insecurities," he explained.

"Oh?"

"People always think I'm strange," Luc confessed. "I don't mean to frighten them… I don't know why it happens. I just… I give that impression, I guess.

Like I'm dangerous to be around."

"That sounds real familiar," Rogue sort of grinned.

"Really." Luc reached up like he was going to touch her. He didn't. "I sincerely hope we talk again, Rogue."

"Yeah," she sighed. "Me too." She watched his back until he turned the corner of the gate, and then retreated inside the mansion walls. Remy was waiting for her, arms crossed and eyebrow raised. "What?" She demanded.

"I didn't say nothin'."

"But ya thought it."

"A man can't be tried f' thinkin'."

"Ah was bein' polite." Rogue said.

"Awfully polite." He smirked.

"Ya don't know what you're talkin' about."

"You don't know who yo' talkin' to."

Rogue stuck out her tongue. "Yeah, yeah. Maybe ya haven't noticed, but we're late for a trainin' session in the DR, Remy LeBeau. Ah don't have time for this discussion." He fell into place beside her and together, they walked towards the Danger Room. Jokes passed between them, and for a moment, everything else was forgotten.


Later, Remy discovered he'd been offered the chance for a beautiful job.

He stared at the blue prints like they were naked photographs of Miss America contestants, practically leering at the fine sketches; desire tingled like a poison in his blood. Spread out across his computer screen, they were dirtier than any nude pictures could've been, because of what they represented. When Remy LeBeau joined the X-Men, they'd taken him in like a long lost son, with a single rule –he had to give up his less than legal habits. He skills would be valued in their frequent save-the-world crusades, surely, and he was welcome to utilize them all he needed in such circumstances, but there was to be no more random jewel thefts, no pick-pocketing the clearly wealthy, no extravagant heists to tease the less than brilliant PD's. If he wanted to be an example of mutant-non-mutant cooperation, his dealings had to be honest. But what had that honesty gotten him, besides a lot of frustration?

Friendship, an annoying voice pointed out. Sincere affection.

Not everyone followed the rules, though. No one briefed the X-Men on what Wolverine did on his days off, when he tore out on his bike and came home smelling like alcohol, blood, and aggression. Wolverine was hardly a poster boy for good relations.

Of course Wolverine wasn't anywhere near underage, either, and Xavier had said the rules would be more lax once he'd proven himself an able adult. He glowered a bit. He shouldn't do it. He should shut off his computer screen, eject the disk, and drop it into the trashcan at his feet. If Luc stopped by again, he should explain that he was trying to stand for something, and he while he appreciated the man's offer, he had to turn it down. He should.

He would.

Except…

If he took it…

It'd just be one job. Just one, and that would be enough to sustain him the rest of the year; the memories would keep him going. No one would know and nothing would change except the itching in his heart. Who'd be hurt?

Just one time. When he looked at his hand, it was already wrapped around his cell. His teeth bore down on the soft flesh of his bottom lip as he imagined dialing the number, accepting the offer, and escaping through his window back into the world that raised him. How sick was it, he wondered, that the thought of a new job excited him more than his girlfriend ever had? And his father declared him undedicated.

No!

Maybe…

Maybe he could call Luc and inform him via phone that he wasn't interested. That way, he wouldn't have to deal with seeing the man in person again. He could end it swiftly. That was a good idea. He could do it. Yes. He'd go with that solution. But even as his fingers tapped out the number, even while he prepared the words that would disappoint Luc, Remy knew he wasn't going to use them. He was an opportunist; that part of him couldn't be denied. It was why he'd been taken into the Guild, it was why he'd signed with Magneto, it was even why he currently wore an 'X' in the corner of his uniform. He was an opportunist and a thief, and this was a perfect opportunity and a perfect job.

Luc answered on the third ring. "I knew you'd accept," he laughed, not wasting their time on pleasantries like hello and how are you. "You can't escape what you are."

Remy dropped his face into the hand that wasn't carrying the phone. The other man's words bit into him, but how could he hold that against him? How could he blame anyone else for his faults? His weakness. He let silence dance across the line for a moment before squaring his shoulders and asking, "When?"

"Like the file says. Tonight."

Just one more time.


Remy was running from someone. At first, he thought his pursuers were the police, and that thought made him giddy. His feet moved faster in response, while his eyes scanned the foggy backdrop for any place to hide. But all the walls were solid, not a window or small corner in sight. Never mind. Remy chewed on the corner of his lip and indulged himself with a sharp grin. He could outrun them. He was bursting with energy and adrenaline; this was the sensation he'd been missing.

But then, he passed them, and nearly tripped over their bodies. He had to jump to avoid the boys in blue, who lay scattered and far from consciousness. The giddy feeling left him, and a newfound sense of dread crept in to fill the empty space. If the police weren't after him, who was?

He dared a peek over his shoulder and saw only a deed lying on the floor. He fell out of his run and went to pick it up. The scribbling was small, red, and he didn't bother reading it because it seemed insignificant to property being signed away: himself. The signature at the bottom was unfamiliar to him, but he memorized it anyway. John Black, it read. Whoever that was.

"Remy?" He turned, and saw Luc, all concern and worry. The older man walked up to him and tossed an arm over his shoulder. Luc gave him a brief, comforting squeeze. "You're not alone, you know. I'm here with you. I'll always be here. This," and he snatched the deed away, "isn't anything you should fear."

"I don't understand it," Remy said.

"You do," Luc assured him. "Trust me."

Mirrors suddenly surrounded them. If he squinted, Remy could make out the shape of a-


Remy sat up with a start and instinctively glanced at his watch. His mind was blurry. If he'd been having a dream, he couldn't remember it. What he did remember was that he was almost due to meet Luc. He stole away from the mansion in the black of night.

In the morning, he felt a million times better. The world was new. When he washed his face in his bathroom mirror, he found the smug smile of satisfaction was back on his lips, and maybe there was a sparkle to his eyes, too. His muscles were a little sore, but he didn't mind; the slightly painful pull beneath his legs was like a badge of success. He'd been right in accepting the offer. He was born again, better than ever. He clapped Scott on the shoulder as they passed each other in the hall, winked at Jean when he noticed her swimming laps in the pool. He found Rogue in the kitchen, eating burnt toast and half a grapefruit, and couldn't resist tugging at the ends of her still-tangled hair. She slapped his hands.

"What is goin' on with you?"

He grinned. "I had da best night."

She studied him, her green eyes narrowed and uncertain. At length, though, she softened her gaze and returned the smile. "Ya look happy, Remy." She looked down to her breakfast and donned a strange smile. "Is this about you an' Kit-Kat finally settlin' things?"

"Well, no. But I'll get t' it, t'day." He seized her grapefruit and licked the top. The tangy flavor tightened his jaw, but even that was a pleasant sensation. Nothing could ruin this. "Some stuff I had lingerin' turned t' be all right is all. A weight has been lifted off m' shoulders."

"That was mine," Rogue stated, gesturing towards the fruit, when he licked at it again.

"Want it back?"

"Now that you're tongue has made it all gross? No."

He was about to make some comment, about how her obvious obsession with his tongue was getting way out of hand, when the kitchen doors were pulled open and Kitty stepped inside, escorting Jubilee through. It wasn't so much the presence of his girlfriend that brought him to silence, but the state of the younger mutant. Jubilee's face, usually bright and playful, was instead darkened with tears. He'd never seen her so distraught. "What's goin' on?"

"Last night, someone broke into the safety deposit box where she kept some of her parent's stuff," Kitty sighed. "It was kind of all she had of them since they died." The Lee family had taken Jubilee out of mansion and back home when news of the mutants broke out, but the Californian had returned after the murdering of her two parents. The killers had left behind a present for the girl, too: a fire that ravaged her home and left her with nothing but the few articles she'd forgotten at Xavier's. He didn't know she'd put the stuff in a safety deposit box upon her return.

"Oh my God," Rogue said. She turned to him, and he knew why. He had the gift of comfort. He had a way with people. A charm. He wanted, suddenly desperately, to be the man Rogue was looking for. For the briefest second, he thought maybe she'd miss the welling of guilt in his heart. After all, Remy LeBeau knew how to sell a lie. But not, apparently, to Rogue. He watched her step back, just a fraction of an inch. He caught the change came. "Oh no," she breathed, some mixture of sorrow and fury swirling in her tone.

He hadn't known. The name had read: J.L. Just J.L. That could've been anybody. It could've stood for James Little. Joel Laurie. Jane Lincoln. Joseph Long. Julie Lyon. The possibilities were near endless. How was he supposed to guess that J.L. was Jubilation Lee? The thought had never crossed him mind.

He really hadn't known.

But maybe he should've.


Well, it stinks to find out you've just unwittingly robbed a friend, don't it. I know it didn't take too much for Remy to take the job, but he was raised a thief, right? He gave up stealing because the X-Men wanted him to, not because of his conscience. What teenager doesn't try to break the rules? Besides me, I mean, but I was a loser. Stay tuned for more Luc (pretty much everyone's figured out what that's short for, though a cookie goes to Lady MR and Rogue14 for actually saying it), Rogue's reaction, Remy's handling of the situation, and other stuff I haven't thought of yet. No reviews mean I quit the story, and Remy stays with Kit-Kat forever. Send comments, questions, and coconuts to Eileenblzr at Yahoo.
On A Personal Note:

Crash Slayer, Demon Flame, lelann, Rogue14, kyo-kitty: In the words of the King of Rock Roll, Thank you, thank you very much. See, I read this paper that said saying 'thank you very much' doesn't sound as good as saying, 'wow! Thanks!' but I don't believe it. How could Elvis be wrong? Either way, you guys get both, but I really do adore you all.

Lady MR: You led me astray! You said Kitty/Remy was an awesome turn of events, and then I was attacked by my other reviews! Aah! You are indeed correct regarding the name, wise one. K/R have been dating for two and a half months. Thanks!

Keirin-Sama: I feel much smarter now that I can say your name. Not that I've said it. But if I wanted to, I could. Ha. Thanks much for reviewing!

Rogue238: I'm quite thankful you've seen past the pairing and liked the story anyway. And hey, if reviewers keep reviewing, anything could happen! Thanks!

Silverbells: Astute, aren't we. You've taken quite mature route in dealing with the pairing, and you make me happy. Yay. I shall update my other stuff soon. Hopefully. You are so understanding! clings to reviewer

Banadapanda: One of my favorite compliments is that I've managed something that feels original. Thank you v. much!

Alara: Hi! How are you? I'm really glad you like this so far! I tend to watch things for your opinion. Psst. Update.

Rogue4787: I saw the midnight show too! Of the prequels, it was a definite favorite. Hayden was a lot hotter in this one, except for that scene with the funky hair, though I tended to favor Obi-Wan. Yay! I inspired. Can't wait to see ya again!

Nettlez: Aww, shucks. Ya make me blush! Thanks a bunch.

The Sinister Bra: Um, let's kindly refrain from all painful bashing/cracking etc, please? I loved you suggestion of Remy/Kurt. I find the thought intensely amusing.

Ishandafiftydollarbill: I couldn't stop laughing when I read your review. I read it again, and it was still fun. I don't know what to say, except… I thought you'd have a little faith. But hey, if you want to play THAT game, Joe's still looking for love in WMB, and yes, Gambit is still partnered with Bella in SS. And if it comes to that, I have this one fic that actually starts off with something that could be interpreted as Scott/Remy. I won't give you advance warning and you'll stumble on it by accident! Ha ha! Er… please don't abandon me forever now…who will call me droll?

Rogue Gal: Hey, so long as you reviewed, now I'll still love you forever! Thanks so very much.

Kitsu LeBeau: I chose Kurt because of all the X-Men, he strikes me as being most in-touch with his religious self, and therefore would be the first to see Luc not as a guest, but as, you know, the devil in disguise. Sometimes, it's hard to be the only one who can see. Thanks for the review! Hope ta see you again!

Cat2fan900: Alas, I don't think Remy's padre had the squirrels option. Too bad. But, thanks so very much for reviewing!

Jade: Your review amused me. I assure you, I am a dedicated member of the Romy community! I have my card and everything! Rogue and Remy are in good hands. Well, sort of mediocre hands…but anywho, thanks!

Heartsyhawk: I'd like to thank you for bringing up the subject of Remy's parents and how they must be feeling, knowing that it's almost time for his soul to be collected. I didn't even think…that will be addressed. Thanks for the review, too! BTW, turns out your neighbor doesn't have a soul and thus, cannot be traded. Sad sad.

Elle457: I made up the name, but if you know of a cool fact or connection, I must know more! Tell me and there may be prizes involved! Thanks for the review!

Roguechere: I'm glad you liked the friendship angle! Everyone wants to know about Luc and Rogue… well, except for me, since I do know what happens. But I'll never tell! Thanks.

IvyZoe: You seem quite adamant that I must break up the Kimy. Which, unfortunately, makes me only want to drag out the relationship more. How about this: I promise you there will be trouble in Kimyland. Severe trouble. Thanks!

Takimiromy: Thank you, oh so very much! I'm glad you're on board with this friendship deal. Ha ha!

Shira's Song: You know what I loved about your review? Besides that it exists? You actually had reservations about sticking Rogue with Luc when you realized he was creepy. Thank you! Apparently, most people don't care! I care, thank you very much. Doesn't mean I won't do it, but still! And YES with the breathing moment! Dude…Super awesome!

Lace123: Hi! I wasn't expecting a reveiw from you! It's been a while, hasn't it? Wow. Great to see you. Thanks!