Born For Bad Luck

by Peanutbutter1

Rogue has an encounter with someone she thought was dead. Good or bad meeting him will change the course of her life. There is some St. John, a little Rogue, and some Cajun Spice with Remy LeBeau. R&R Rated M for later stuff

16. I Hate To See The Sun Go Down

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing

Title: Born for Bad Luck

By: Peanutbutter

"Boys I'm most done travellin', Lord I'm at my journey's end

B'lieve I'm most done travellin', Lord at my journey's end

Well I been lookin' for me a good partner, bad luck is my best friend..."

(Born for Bad Luck song by Brownie McGhee)

Chapter 16: I Hate To See The Sun Go Down

"I hate to see evenin' sun go down

I hate to see evenin' sun go down

Cause it makes me think, I'm on my last go-round..."

(I hate To See The Sun Go Down from the CD "Hoodoo Lady" in the Columbia Roots 'n' Blues series)

The astral plane was a strange place, one Rogue had never been able to successfully manipulate. Dr. Gray had always been able to. With a wave of her hand, or the astral projection of her hand, the world would shift and bend. She said it was hard manipulating someone else's mind, easier on her own, but for Rogue it had always been impossible. Jean tried to explain that having physical form, giving Jean a form, was a part of it, but she had never been able to grasp it.

Even the Professor had tried to teach her. When her powers had resurfaced after the cure the Professor had helped her sort it out. Her mind had gone crazy when she'd accidentally absorbed her first victim. The way her body had screamed, afraid confused, extra voices in her head adding to the confusion. It was that all over again, except now she was lost. Carol had better control than she had ever had.

Then there was Logan. She had never seen any of the psyches locked in her mind, except for Cody, all of them had been shiftless, bodiless voices. Sometimes Logan had been loud, when she first absorbed him, after Magneto had nearly killed her, he had been nearly uncontrollable, but over the years his voice had been almost non existent. There had been comfort, anger that wasn't hers, and brute force when she felt weak, but never a body to the voice, until now.

The Professor was talking about him and suddenly he was there. She didn't go to him, awed by the appearance of his features. He melted together features coming into focus as she remember them. His scruffy face, broad shoulders, silly grin that stretched on corner of his mouth, materialized within moments.

There had been a time when she wanted nothing more than to be with him. Drawn by his loner attitude, connected by his unknown past, or the past she was unwilling to remember. She had had a crush on him, something that had soon faded into a different kind of longing, something she craved more than a lover's touch, he was the first member of the family she'd constructed for herself.

As reluctant as she had been to admit her need for parental love, connection, control, he was the first to offer it, but he was the first one she accepted it from. She felt abandoned by him when he left, overjoyed when he returned, proud when he was proud of her. His life, no matter how private he tried to keep it, had become intertwined with hers. She secretly hoped that one day he'd think of her in the same why she thought of him. However unwilling she had been at first to have one, she thought of him like a father, and she hoped he would think of her as a daughter.

"Hey stripes."

She bit her lip, emotion flooding her, she was a bit annoyed by it. She had always tried to be strong in front of him. Logan was strong, even when he was dying inside. She thought of Jean, her lifeless body carried by Logan back to the mansion. His tight thin lips as he stared at her grave, dry faced when the rest cried. She could be strong, for him, to be like him.

"Ah didn't know ya were here."

He cocked his head to the side, laughed, short, more like a snort. "Stripes I'm always here for you."

The tears were glistening in her eyes. She swallowed against them. "Ah locked ya up."

He shook his head. "Not a lock in this world that could keep me out. Besides I backed off, gave you room. I understood what I was gettin' into when I touched you."

She lunged for him, unable to be strong, sickened by her weakness, but she'd had enough, needed him, his touch, his comfort. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. His fingers in her hair, they felt real, the breath on her cheek, the smell of him. All of it was too real. He seemed so real.

"Professor?"

Rogue lifted her head wiping her tears on the back of her hand and releasing Logan's shoulders. She looked toward the questioning voice. It was Jean, barely visible in the world, not nearly as solid as the Professor, or as real as Logan. Rogue knew at once that Jean was a psyche like Logan, but Rogue had only touched Jean once, absorbed her for a second. She was barely there. Rogue stepped away from Logan, curious if he would go to her. He barely glanced at her.

"Jean is here to help me." The Professor started. "In order to get things back in order we must sort out your mind."

Rogue crossed her arms over her chest defiant. "I can't lock her away."

Logan growled, "You're being stubborn."

Rogue ignored him.

"We still need to get things in order. You need to learn to control this plane, your own mind. Everyone is scrambled. The unprepared subjects you absorbed are floating around, bits and pieces of them everywhere. Carol does not know how to control this, can't, but you can. We have to set things right, or you will go mad."

It wasn't killing Carol, nothing to do with her really, at least not yet. She could sort things out. She nodded, unable to speak.

The Professor nodded, "Then we start with the first who touched you, Remy LeBeau. I have gathered most of the memories connected to him."

Rogue wanted to ask what was next, how they were going to do it, but before she could everything was black and suddenly she was filled with light and no longer herself.

0o0

Her name was Belladonna and she was skipping around the grounds picking flowers. Her hair was bright blond and pulled back in a pink bow. Remy narrowed his eyes. She looked stupid, and why was she picking flowers anyway. It was pointless.

"Ya look stupid," he called down at her and smirked happily when she dropped her bouquet.

Remy was expecting tears, but she turned her ice blue eyes on him and Remy almost winced, they said his eyes were scary. This girl, this girl's gaze froze him to his spot.

"Ya t'ink so Remy LeBeau," she hissed his name it he was the scum of the earth.

Remy could only manage to stammer a 'yes' under her gaze, though he was thinking maybe he should retract his comment.

"Come down here and say dat, I'll show you whose stupid."

It was a challenge and Remy had never been one to refuse a challenge.

0o0

There was more, things she couldn't see only flashes, strangled memories, disorganized, violent, sad. She twisted afraid of what lay ahead, but there was a hand on her shoulder. Logan held her, steadied her. She pulled away from the memories, remembering that he wasn't her. She was Rogue.

Remy LeBeau, her kidnapper, the man who ended up saving her was telling her a story, but everything was out of place.

"We need to find the rest put them in order." The Professor was beside her. "Jean, what's next."

The wave rushed over her again, but this time she stayed herself and watched, even though his fears, strong and virile, rushed at her.

0o0

"Remy what's wrong?"

Remy stared at the glowing rock in his palm wondering the same thing. What was going on? They had been skipping stones in the lake when the rock started to glow. It was so hot against his palm. He wondered if he should throw it, but before he could put action to his thoughts the rock exploded in his hand. It hurt too bad to scream, but he could see the blood running down is hands and across his meaty fingers. The flesh had been stripped away with the blast.

Bella was screaming, crying, her hands over her mouth. "Remy, what's going on?"

Remy shook his head and fell to the ground his other hand fisting in the grass. He didn't know it had started to glow until Bella told him. He pulled his hands, suddenly warm, away from the ground and jumped backward as it ignited and exploded as well. Bella screamed again and Remy closed his eyes trying to calm his fears.

"Get mon Pere," he whispered. "Hurry."

0o0

Her lips were sweet and soft against his own. He'd never been kissed before. He liked it very much and it was even better that it was with Bella.

Oblivion, sweet, strong, and complete. She basked in it. Felt it rush over her, calm her even as it calmed him. The delight of acceptance, of a kiss that was so much more than it was supposed to be.

0o0

He was supposed to make a choice. Genevieve or his brother. He didn't want to do it. Didn't what to have to. Henri was silent, Genevieve weeped, Sabertooths, hands fisted on each of them maliciously.

"Times up."

They fell. He could save one. He had to choose. He didn't want to.

Guilt, anger, relief, loathing. He saved his brother lost her, an innocent he had dragged into the fight. The joy of the job was lost. He had completed the mission, yes, but at what cost.

0o0

"Why ya always flirtin' wi't dose girls," she was near tears her blue eyes brimming with sorrow.

Remy shrugged. He hadn't meant to hurt her, but it was interesting to be loved, even if part of it was a little 'charm' he'd projected onto them. He'd spent most of his life being loathed and ignored, that was until Jean-Luc took him in and even then he was second class. He was just adopted, not really the heir, not really a son, a burden to most; a freak to nearly everyone.

"Gawd, LeBeau," she turned away from him him, "If you don' know I love you. You' a bigger idiot dan I t'oug't." She was so angry she was shaking.

Remy reached for her and was surprised when she leaned into his touch. "Je t'aime." Remy breathed and pulled her closer, "I'm sorry, Bella."

The thief had fallen in love.

0o0

"I won' do it!"

"You will, Remy LeBeau, dis will stop de fighten' dis will end a war!" Jean-Luc pushed away from his desk and turned toward his window and gazed across the grounds. His voice was soft when he spoke again, "You love her, non?

Remy was fuming his anger near out of control. "Love or not, dis should be my decision, it should be her's. Dis my life Pere, and I don' like people makin' decisions for me!"

"You will marry Belladona and you will succeed me in the guild. You will end dis war, dere's no discussion."

0o0

Bella turned in her veil her eyes sparkling with happiness. Remy hated to crush her enthusiasm. He did love her, had always loved her, but it was his life. He wanted to choose what he did with it.

"Bella, mon couer, I can' marry ya, no' now."

0o0

He should have known it was going to happen. He shouldn't have run, but it was too late. Julien had always been a problem, but he'd ignored the threat, even pushed the rival between them. He'd never given any thought to how dangerous Bella's brother could be. It wouldn't do any good to tell him he was going to run, that he wasn't going to marry Bella anyway.

0o0

The blood was everywhere. His fingers permanently stained. He could still see her face. Vacant eyes, fat tears rolling down her perfectly made up cheeks, the way the blood rushed over the white satin of her wedding dress. The betrayal in bright blue eyes that hardened into hatred.

He tried to wash it off but the shower didn't do it. The water wasn't hot enough, his fingers couldn't rub hard enough. Every time he looked down it was still there. The scream built in his throat begging to escape, but he pushed it down, screamed inside and pushed the faucet to hot and the cold to off. Stream filled the room, his skin burned, but it still wasn't enough.

0o0

"You were to marry her ta save dis Guild," Jean-Luc paused for a moment head still turned toward the window. He refused to look Remy in the eye. "Dey demand a life for a life. Dey want revenge. It will be war."

"Dis not my fault," Remy pleaded. "He was goin' ta kill me."

"You were going to marry dat girl ta save us, now you gonna leave to do de same."

"I don'..."

"Dis exile Remy, you no longer a t'ief and N'Orlean is no longer your home."

0o0

Lost, alone, betrayed, and angry control slipped.

He was tired. His eyes were bright red and blood shot, his skin pale, and his body suffering from lack of sleep, anxiety. He couldn't sleep not when he awoke with his bed glowing, when his hands, volatile and uncontrollable, failed him. His powers were going haywire.

0o0

The images sped up, clearer longer than before. She saw him talking to Essex. She felt his apprehension, his fear, and his the waves of desperation that washed over him. He felt he had no other choice. He needed that control. She understood. She understood him. Suddenly the stranger didn't seem like such a stranger anymore.

The images faded. Bits rushed in disjointed, words, faces, names she couldn't place and she was back with the Professor, and Logan to her right. She blinked the astral plane was taking on color, blues rushing through the white. Her feet were on solid ground. He appeared in front of her, Remy LeBeau grinned and winked.

"Bonjour, chere."

0o0o0

"Yes, yes that's an excellent bit of slight of hand. I didn't even see it!" Hank let out a laugh. Remy grinned and started to deal another hand.

John turned away shaking his head. Only Remy could make friends with his enemies. He had been making Hank laugh for near forty minutes.

"Mr. Allerdyce do you wish to join that game?"

John turned his good eye toward the bit of desk Hank had cleared off for the card game. Remy was grinning lopsidedly and shuffling his cards.

"I think I'll pass. If you know he's cheating what's the fun?"

Hank smiled, "That is the best part. If I can catch him, he's not allowed to use the same trick again. I rule out enough and he'll be unable to win."

"Ah, but de still de skill, mon amie. I can still win de game usin' not'ing but mon own skill."

John turned away, ignoring Hanks enthusiastic comments and Remy's bravado. A night of rest really had done a lot for him. He felt better and with the pills the pain was minimal. The scratches on his face were healing, but he'd have one hell of a scar, lucky for him chicks dug scars, or at one time they used to. Remy wasn't faring as well. He faked the good walk the easy breathing, but John could see him wince when he laughed, hesitate before he climbed a set of stairs, sat down, he was a master at hiding how he was really feeling.

"Excellent, really!"

John rolled his eyes. He turned back toward the door just in time to see Bobby walking past. He was talking with Logan something about Rogue. He looked at his knees trying to fray indifference and set his ears to listening. They had been tight lipped on her and besides the two of them might let the prisoners futures slip.

"...I don't understand why I can't see her. I just want, I want to help!"

"I get that kid, but there isn't anything you can do. The Professor's got in under control."

Bobby crossed his arms, frost blowing from his mouth. He was pissed.

"And them," he spat.

John turned toward Remy and Hank, hoping they would ignore him, ignore that he was so close, and obviously listening. He was sure they were looking at him eyes boring into the back of his head.

"It's all their fault and we're helping them! Are we just going to let them go?"

Well that was a little loud. Was he supposed to ignore that. He scratched his head. Remy was still playing but his posture was rigid. He was listening too.

"Things are complicated." Logan said the sentence in a growl, apparently his opinion was set.

"They always are but we know who our enemies are.!"

Good old Bobby, everything was black and white, not a gray area in sight.

"Don't like 'em any more than you do, but we're not sending them off, not like this. We'll let 'em heal, get Rogue better and then we'll deal with it."

"That LeBeau guy's a criminal and John, John..." Bobby trailed off.

John wished he could turn around, his neck was cramping. He was afraid to move and stop their talking.

"John's just..."

Bobby didn't get to finish his sentence. Kitty walked into the hall.

"Hey guys. Can we see her?"

John turned back around. They weren't talking about him anymore at least not now. Kitty had ruined that bit. They rehashed everything on Rogue. Finally the conversation circled back to the inmates. Kitty looked into the room when she asked the question.

John smiled, mocking her as she glared. He winked again, enjoying the angry pink twinge that rushed over her cheeks and neck. Bobby grabbed her elbow and John didn't need to look up to know he was making that face, that back-off-if-you-know-whats-good-for-you face. The three disappeared down the hall.

"I need a cigarette!" John announced and stretched his arms over his head and turned to Remy. "How 'bout you."

"Oui, what do you say Hank?"

"I have tried to discourage Logan from a similar habit," Hank started, "but it will get you outside, and it may be good for a bit of fresh air."

"Dat nice of ya," Remy shuffled his cards a final time and dropped them into his pocket, which Hank promptly plucked out and laid on the desk.

"I do warn if you try to run, you will not escape me. Being your doctor I know exactly where to hit to take you down most effectively and most painfully."

John cringed, "You've been around Logan too long."

"Perhaps that is true, but it makes the statement no less menacing. I mean it."

"Right, so don' run from de fluffy blue beast, got it." Remy stretched, grabbed his side and started for the door, trailing Hank.

0o0o0

Remy wasn't the last to appear. He stayed on the bright white area that was slowly taking form, becoming something more than empty space. There was a ground a sky was taking form and under her feet, she was sure, there was grass.

Kim Il Sung, Scrambler, took form next, not quiet like Remy. He was loud, sneering, full of hate. His memories were like shifting through a pit of tar. Each one was dirty, full of blood and mayhem. The snippets of his childhood tore at her and buried her in fear and misery. The more recent ones were painted in blood.

Even as she pushed him away he clung to her, tendrils of his angry psyche sticking to her mind. Her eyes flew open, falling on his full form. He stood beside the card shuffling Remy LeBeau.

"You soul sucking vampire," he hissed.

0o0o0

John face was hurting like a bitch. He reached up fingers splayed over the wound like the contact alone would siphon the pain away. He suppressed the groan building in his chest. Remy was worse off, shot, though not too badly, and cracked ribs he was the worse for wear and he hardly made a sound about it. He was also palming his pain pills. The sedatives that John had been relying on to sleep, he was dropping in his pocket. Remy had suggested they both skip their evening dose. John didn't mention that he knew Remy had been skipping all along. He wondered why, but couldn't find a moment to ask, between, Hank's exams and the shuffling of people in and out of the medical bay. They never had a moment alone until it was time to sleep and John didn't feel much like talking by then. He knew the jist of it anyway, keep your head clear, by being in excruciating pain. Remy had been spouting crap all day, bravado that Remy tried to get John to participate in. Given it had allowed them to stake out the front of the mansion in the guise of a cigarette break, but he still wasn't enthusiastic about joining Remy's psycho pep squad of one.

"De security, it's tight."

John rolled onto his side, pressing his bad eye against the pillow. The cloth pulled on the scabs forming on the scratches, but he ignored it as Remy swam into view from behind a black wall. The damn bandage was really getting on his nerves, he almost figured he'd be better off without it.

"Anything we should be worried about?"

"Dere was a camera on each corner, laser sensors in de yard, inferred, 'bout de same as las' time but," Remy paused. "Dey have ta be crazy not ta change somet'ing."

"We weren't out there that long. We'll probably get another look." John rolled back over. His face was protesting and he was sure the antiseptic was running into his eye despite the patch made of gauze they'd put over it. "You can only stretch out a cigarette break for so long." He fingered the pain pill and pulled his hand from his pocket.

"You thinkin' we'll get out of here soon?"

Remy shrugged.

John blinked his good eye, then his bad. His face really hurt like a bitch.

"De security codes are gonna be de hard t'ing to get."

"We just gotta get one look." They just needed a little good luck, but considering their track record it wasn't going to happen any time soon.

All done and guess what a sneak peek. I am begging for forgiveness from the huge delay, but things are done other than a few little re-reads and such, but there are five more chapters. Yeah it's finished and I've even been thinking of the sequel which I won't post till I'm mostly done, but yeah me, and sorry, sorry, sorry, it was such a long wait.

From Chapter 17

0o0o0o0o0

"Pyro."

John had known there was someone outside the door long before it opened, long before Bobby stepped into the room. Remy was dozing in the corner, eyes shut, they flew open when Bobby walked in.

The mention of his name didn't warrant a response, at least not a verbal one. He raised a brow. The bandage tape stuck to the other brow forcing it down when he raised the other. It pulled on the hair on his forehead and he suppressed the wince that resulted from his calculated non nonchalance.

"I need to talk to you."

Right another lecture on trust. Just what he needed, how it was all his fault, how he was an idiot and it was his fault that Rogue was still out. He'd done enough talking for one day. He would pass on that, but then again, refusing would force him to speak. He got up, despite his promise not to and walked out the door.

Bobby leaned against the wall, calm, or at least calmer than John had seen him since he came asking for help. "They sent me to talk to you."

"Who?" John asked verging on laughter, who would want to talk to him.

Bobby sighed, slicked hair falling out of place as he bounced against the wall, breaking the defensive posture of his clasped arms. "I'm not going to lie," he rolled his eyes and met John's for the first time. "I'm supposed to say that we voted on it, came to a decision, but really it was the Professor, and Logan always votes the way the Professor does, so it's two to like five."

"What the hell are you talking about?" John spat, annoyed that he was being discussed at all.

"They want you to consider staying here."

John couldn't help it. He laughed, a snort that ended in a gruff laugh, but a true laugh. He had to force it back for appearance's sake. "Are you all crazy." What had the Professor gotten from their conversation that made him think that he would want to stay.