JAMIE: *BITCH-SLAPS PAT* MOFO, I AM BACK! On a more anti-climactic note- Medical Mystery= H pylori+ Mononucleosis. It took three months and about a quart of my blood to figure that out.
BAHAHAH! ON TO THE STORY!
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Rogue held her breath, eyes darting across the five people she could see fully. The woman with green hair that was constantly twisting a box of matches around in her fingers to pair with the pack of cigarettes at her hip, the shaved bald man was rubbing at what looked like a burn mark on his forearm, the dark haired woman stay silent and still, and the man with tan hair cocked his head and smirked at her, wheeling the two harpoons in his hands around menacingly. Riptide crouched in the corner. The red eyes bore holes into her.
She ground her teeth together and stuck out her chin defiantly, adopting an aggressively protective body language as she put herself between them and Remy.
This is not a smart plan, kid! Logan informed her.
Don't care. She glared around, begging them to start something- touch her, grab her, anything. She just needed something to work with.
The glowing orbs that could have counted as eyes just as much as portals to hell glistened with amusement, maybe guessing what she was thinking.
"Do you know who I am?" They asked.
I know that I'm gonna kick the shit outta you. Rogue growled deep in her throat, but offered no verbal answer.
Calm yourself! Piotr tried to be diplomatic.
"I didn't think so," The owner of the eyes sighed as if he could hear her thoughts and stepped out of the shadows.
Rogue's eyes went wide.
His hair was black, slicked back. His skin was so pale it almost appeared to be a translucent blue. His smile was sharp and uncaring with eye teeth that looked to be pointed. He was tall, seeming to fill up the room with nothing but his presence. His suit was black. But, the most imprinting thing about him was his eyes, which seethed red.
"I realize this is a rather impromptu meeting." The man spoke in a clipped tone. "But I assure you, our meeting was predicted by fate, my little untouchable."
Rogue shuddered at the way he addressed her. She bit her tongue to choke back a whimper and unconsciously scooted closer to the body next to her.
"Oh, how rude of me, I haven't introduced myself." He chuckled, a dark rumbling sound that sent waves of chills down Rogue's spine. "I'm afraid sometimes time escapes me when I'm caught up in my newest dreams. My name is Mr. Sinister."
Apt. Rogue thought grimly.
Set this asshole on fire. John growled.
"Now tell me," The man stooped down so that he was close to her. In her face. Impossible to ignore or wish away. "What do you want most in this world?"
"For you to back up out of my face." Rogue rumbled.
He smirked. "Oh, I like this one."
"You're gonna like me a lot better once I get outta these cuffs and get mah fingers 'round your neck." She assured him.
"I see why he fell for you," Sinister chuckled. "He would have said the exact same thing."
Rogue pressed her back protectively against Remy's body.
If he touches Remy… She began to grind out more threats.
Collect yourself, child! Erik commanded. If you do something rash it could cost your life as well as his.
Rogue exhaled sharply through her nose at the same instance she became aware of the nightmare thrashing of the man at her back.
"What if I told you I could fix your problems?" Sinister leaned closer to her, distracting her.
Out of the corner of her eye she caught the dark, knowing, smirks of the five others in the room
"W-what do you mean?" She stuttered, unsure of herself for the first time since entering the room.
"I can give you control." His cold breath crashed against her skin. "I can give you touch."
Rogue hesitated.
Touch.
He was offering her the one thing she couldn't resist. She felt herself being wooed by the idea. Even the very concept of free contact with someone else- anyone else-. Her heartbeat slowed and her eyelids drooped as her imagination ran away with her. Sunshine. Shorts. Hugs. Handshakes. Kisses.
She clenched her teeth and pressed herself closer to the body behind her.
"No." She spat.
"Hmm." Sinister pretended to contemplate her answer. "If not touch, then maybe I could-."
"Vous mentez!" Remy woke up violently, the muscles that had been seizing in the spasms of nightmares uncoiled furiously as he lashed out against his restraints, thrashing to the extent of his ability.
The Marauders leaped forward on their tense muscles, weapons and manifestations were held up.
"Everyone stop!" Sinister hissed, standing at full intimidating height. His eyes roared with fire and the room seemed to grow a shade darker.
Remy breathed heavily, his quick mind recovered rapidly from the terror of the memory and was already probing every possibility for escape as his eyes darted around every corner of the room, looking for fault. The walls were solid and the floor was metal, too easy to charge- he'd kill everyone. Five Marauders stood between him and the door. No windows. No other route of egress.
He pushed himself in front of Rogue, taking control of the protective trait now that he was awake. His elbow accidentally grazed her ribs.
"Sorry, chere." He mumbled.
"'S fine." Rogue groaned out, clamping her teeth down on her lip to keep her pained yelps at bay.
"I'll get you out of here." He promised her, eyes back to probing.
She rested her cheek on his shoulder and nodded, laying her trust with him.
"Gambit," Sinister smiled at the newly conscious man. "Good to see you alive and well, wouldn't want any permanent damage to one of my best investments."
Remy's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"What is he talking about?" Rogue breathed.
"You know," Sinister continued leisurely. "The others I've collected were useful for brute work, collections, murders, as you well know- but, you. Never could find another person of your … talents."
"Remy…?" Rogue's confusion overwhelmed her panic, registering in Remy's empathy.
"He's a lair." Remy growled. "Don' listen t' any word he says or promise he makes."
Sinister scoffed good-naturedly, the curve of his lips leaving the smallest of hints that something darker was going on behind his friendly façade, which Remy knew would disappear from existence the moment the contract he was pining for was signed in blood.
"Gambit, Gambit, Gambit," Sinister shook his head. "I always deliver on my promises." Remy was about to spit out some very colorful words on what exactly he thought of Sinister's 'promises' when he was cut off by a few words that made the blood drain from his face and his heart stop dead in his chest. "I was actually about to offer the little untouchable in the corner one before you so rudely interrupted."
Rogue's strained emotions flared with fear and discomfort and he grappled to keep them in the realms of control with his empathy at the same time as his wild eyes searched around the room again for a point of escape. There had to be a way out! There was always a way out!
He could break his wrist and slip the cuffs… They'd notice him wince in pain.
He could charge one of the links and blow the restraints off- worse case scenario he lost a hand, best case he had a few more scars to add to the collection. …Rogue was too close, she'd get hurt.
He could…
Remy's eyes went wider and his search became more frantic.
He could… He could…
His breathing became hard.
He could…
His obvious distress was driving Rogue insane. Her emotions became harder and harder to maintain as she grew more and more distraught.
"So, little one," Sinister crouched down again.
There was a way! There had to be a way!
"If you wont accept the freedom of touch…"
His coat was gone, he didn't have his lock picks, bo, or his cards.
"…what if I offered you something more?…"
The slight weight in his front pocket was completely useless if he couldn't get his hands on it.
"… Another sort of freedom…"
Rogue whimpered and pressed herself closer to him. He didn't even have to look to know that she was biting her lip. Her chin was stuck out as she tried to discourage the idea that she was afraid. She would fight for herself. She would fight for the lying bastard in front of her as well.
Sinister's twisted smile reflected in Rogue's wide eyes."… From the voices, Marie."
Remy's head snapped up.
The voices.
An idea that felt less like an idea and more like a swift and repetitive kick between the legs from his conscience just to remind him that it was still there and disapproved of this 'plan'.
-
*waggly eyebrows*
How was that for a coming-out-of-a-slump chapter?
Vous mentez!- You lie!
(P.S. The ability to resist putting cookies into stories is not one I possess)