MAGNETIC ATTRACTION

Part Twenty

Remy awakened in Rogue's bedroom a little after five am. He'd fallen asleep at the foot of her bed during the play of the film. The television was still on and the DVD screen was still up, showing various scenes from the movie. He reached across to the nearby remote and turned the television off, yawning a little.

He sat up, rolling his neck to loosen the tightness there that had been caused from sleeping without a pillow. He glanced to the top of the bed to see Rogue curled up beneath her covers, her hair frizzy and strewn about her pillows. He smiled just a little at the slight flush of her cheeks as she slept soundly.

He reached into his pocket to check his phone for the time. He realised now would be a good time to slip out and get back to his own bedroom. That way, at least if Wanda came to see if she could awaken him, he would already be up.

The warehouse was silent thankfully; everyone would still be in bed. It seemed to him that Wanda had not come calling for him; when he'd left his room last, he'd caught the end of a belt in the door and it was sticking out slightly between the frame and the door, just between the handle. It was still that way, even though his door had been left unlocked.

Wanda had taken his advice, she had not come looking for sex. He supposed today he should make a little effort to spend some time with her, since he'd made a silent agreement with himself that if she'd hold off, he'd at least try to show he was willing to keep up his end of the bargain too.

He spent a few hours in his own bed trying to sleep, but couldn't. He felt quite well rested considering the time he'd slept couldn't have been more than five hours. He tried entertaining himself by watching youtube videos through his phone, but eventually this got tiring. When seven am came, he realised he wasn't going to fall asleep and so he decided to shower and change for the day. He supposed there was always something constructive he could find to do even at this early hour. There was still Rogue's car to deal with, although he wasn't exactly sure where to begin with it.

As he left the mens showers after having changed, he found Wanda just leaving her bedroom, her hair flat on one side, her black pyjamas not all that different from the ones Rogue had been wearing (except her top was a tanktop).

"Morning," Remy said brightly to her.

"You're in a good mood," Wanda remarked, rubbing one eye tiredly.

"Yeah, I had a good night sleep, best in a while, anyway," he made his way towards the mess hall.

"There's no food," Wanda called out to him. "Or coffee."

Remy stopped in his tracks, "terrific," he uttered.

"No one has had time to do a grocery shop and my dad doesn't even care. I tried bringing it up to him yesterday but all he said was he was too busy...that I should do it."

"So why didn't you?" Remy folded his arms and stood looking at her, waiting for a reasonable explanation.

"Why should I?" she demanded.

"Lets see..." he responded, "other than maybe the first two days of fixing this place up, you haven't lifted a finger since. You don't help us with the projects on hand, you don't clean, you don't cook, and you don't do fuck all except sit and watch television in your room, or read those magazines."

"I'm not good at domestic shit," Wanda responded, "I spent most of my life in an institution with a straight jacket on...you think they took the time to teach me how to clean a toilet or shop for a whole bunch of people and make dinner for eight?"

Remy raised an eyebrow, "You think anyone took me aside and taught me how to do any of that shit?"

Wanda didn't answer, she just stood there, rubbing at her pretty blue eyes. He thought it funny how much more attractive she looked when wearing her not-so-revealing pyjamas, and no makeup. Ironically this made him much harder than when she wore her most revealing clothes.

Self-control, LeBeau.

"Think your dad will be awake?" Remy glanced towards Magneto's office room door.

"Probably. He always gets up at five. You know that."

Remy did know this, but it was a Saturday after all, who knew if the guy ever had an occasional sleep in from time to time just like any other normal person? He didn't normally make a habit of checking on Saturday mornings. "Okay, listen," Remy said, "I'm gonna see him, see if I can get some cash for groceries, and me and you will go and get whatever we need. So go get dressed."

"Okay," Wanda responded, sounding quite grumpy about it.

"Oh, and Wanda..." he called out.

"Hmm?"

"When I say get dressed, I don't mean a PVC bra and a leather skirt that could pass as a belt...you hear me? I'm talking about respectable clothes...that cover you up."

"Why? Finding hard to keep yourself off of me?" Wanda teased.

"As if you care," he responded. "Go."

He watched Wanda sauntering off and disappearing back into her bedroom before he went to knock on her father's door. It appeared Magneto was indeed awake. Judging by the fact he was wearing the same clothes he'd had on the day before and his face looked quite unshaven, Remy could only guess the man had been up all night. He was sitting folded legged on the floor, working on the side of what looked to be a new invention.

This must be the machine that's going to help Rogue, Remy realized.

"Good morning," Magneto said, his voice dry.

"Wanda just informed me there's no food in the house. At all. No coffee either."

Magneto glanced up, "why does no one ever tell me when the food is running low?"

"Because they're kids and they don't think ahead," Remy walked over. "Wanda said she'd spoken to you but you told her to do it..."

"And she didn't?"

"She is stubborn," Remy responded. "But she'll go with me to the supermarket and she'll help."

"Good. It's time she started participating. Money in that box on my desk, take what you need," Magneto reached into his pocket, pulled a key out and tossed it to Remy casually before turning his attention back to the machine. "Try to shop wisely. Make that money go as far as you can."

"You know," said Remy as he unlocked the money box, "I was thinking it's maybe time we organized something about the food situation here..."

"Oh?"

"We all live on pizza and Chinese food. I'd like to try and make up a schedule to take turns cooking and bringing in the groceries...if that's all right."

"Whatever you need."

"You'll back me up though if they start giving me grief?" Remy asked. He felt slightly irritable around his boss due to the events of Wednesday. He hadn't quite forgiven Magneto for putting Piotr at risk with Rogue's powers.

"Of course. You are leader, do what you must."

"Also," Remy grabbed a handful of twenty dollar bills, "we need uniforms. Proper uniforms, something durable, but maybe water-resistant. And good boots."

"I'm aware of the issue. I would like to see a more organized team," Magneto agreed. "I would also like to see my daughter dressed appropriately."

"Yeah, well that's something I think we both agree on," Remy admitted.

"Get the sizes of the team, and get back to me, we'll discuss something appropriate together."

"Gambit," said Magnet after a moment, just as Remy was about to head out of the door.

"Yes, sir?" Remy asked politely despite his inner anger towards him.

"I would like very much if you would spend some of your free time with Rogue."

"Excuse me?" Remy raised an eyebrow.

"I think she may be lonely."

"What...gives you that impression? Did she say that?"

"Not in so many words," Magneto looked almost distant for a moment, as if he were remembering something. "But I do sense she could use some company...someone her own age."

"There's three years between me and the girl," Remy reminded.

"Never the less...I think it would do her some good if you made more effort to spend time with her."

"If that's what you'd like," Remy nodded, "I'll do my best," he waited until he left the room to smirk. At least now, he had an excuse to spend time with her that Wanda would not be able to argue with.

Rogue sighed as she opened the kitchen cabinet and discovered nothing but emptiness within. That and an old stale cracker that had been there for probably years. She made a face as she picked it up gingerly with her gloved fingers and dangled it in front of her face.

Ah'm hungry, but not that hungry.

"You're wasting your time."

Rogue jumped, the cracker falling from her fingers and landing upon the counter below the cabinet. She turned to find Lance standing there looking at her through the hatch between the kitchen and the mess hall. "Jesus, what are you doin' sneakin' up on me."

"I wasn't sneaking." Lance gave something of a slightly knowing smirk. "You just don't pay very good attention to stuff going on around you is all."

"That's a lie," Rogue responded. "There's seriously no food anywhere in this place?"

"Not as far as I know," Lance shrugged, "Remy and Wanda apparently left an hour ago to go get some stuff from the market in Bayville."

"Ah'm hungry now," Rogue pouted. "No leftovers up in the livin' room? No pizza or anything?"

"It's all gone. You don't eat fast in this place, you don't eat period. Thought you'd have learned that by now."

"Damn."

"So..." Lance casually leaned upon the sill of the hatch, "you had any thoughts yet about what I can give Kitty for her birthday?"

Rogue swore inwardly, "Ah forgot...Ah'm sorry."

"Shit," Lance muttered.

"Ah've...Ah've had a lot on my mind," Rogue admitted, "college, and trainin' and stuff. Ah've got a lot on my plate right now...besides...Ah'm really not good at shopping for presents for people."

"You've absorbed her though, you must have some idea of what to get," Lance lamented.

Rogue thought about this, "Ah don't know. Earrings? Or a nice necklace."

"You wanna come help me pick somethin' out?" he asked hopefully.

Rogue blinked, "you want...me...to come with you to pick something out."

"I suck at this. I don't know what kind of shit she likes. And we're...on the same team. We should get used to this working together thing. That is...if you are staying," he shrugged.

"Of course Ah'm stayin'," she picked the cracker up and tossed it into the trash can next to the fridge.

"So you'll come then?"

"Ah guess Ah could take some time out to help you. But Ah want a favour from you in return," she warned as she left the kitchen to meet him in the mess hall.

"Depends what it is," Lance responded.

"Remy says you're good with cars, and mine is fucked. Remy always says he's gonna take a look and fix it, but-"

"Yeah, like most guys he doesn't keep his promises, right?"

"In a nutshell," Rogue followed him through the warehouse. "So...if Ah help you find somethin' for her, then will you at least take a look and see if you can fix the car? Ah really need it to get to college..."

"Yeah, okay, I'll look, but you might have to shell out for parts..."

"That's fine," Rogue assured.

"So..." Lance said casually as they stepped outside into the rainy yard. "Are you and Gambit a thing now?"

Rogue gave a sudden laugh, "what?"

"Dating?"

"No..." Rogue made a face, "what the hell would make you ask somethin' like that?"

"Kitty thought you guys looked pretty cosy in the diner. Like you were goin' out and had been for a while."

"No it's not like that," Rogue answered, "And anyway...does it seem to you like Ah'm in any position to have a relationship with anyone she pointed out.

"I guess not," Lance shrugged casually.

"Besides...isn't he already seein' some girl?"

"Really? He's seein' someone?" asked Lance, raising an eyebrow, "he never leaves, when does he have the time to go out with girls these days?"

"He goes out every now and then," Rogue shrugged. "Ah didn't ask. Ah always thought he did that when Ah was at college."

"When you're at college, he's home workin' on the gymnasium project...and bossin' us around like he owns the place. The only time I ever see him go out anywhere is when he goes to the hardware store with Piotr...and I'm pretty sure Piotr isn't his type," Lance remarked with a smirk. "Although who knows...there's a lot of room in the back of that van for...stuff to happen."

"Ah doubt it. Like you said, Piotr isn't Remy's type."

"You don't think he could be a swings both ways kinda guy?" Lance teased.

"Ah doubt it," Rogue responded, "he talks too much about sex with girls. Besides, Ah've absorbed his thoughts...never got any indication that he had the vaguest attraction towards any other guy."

"Makes you wonder though. If he isn't fooling around with that big Russian boy scout, then who is he fooling around with?"

As they climbed into Lance's jeep (luckily the top was up), Rogue found herself wondering the same thing Lance was. Who was it that he had been seeing?

It's not my business, she told herself. He's a grown man, what right do Ah have to know who he decides to sleep with in his personal life?

Her mind drifted to last night, in her bedroom. His smelling her hair and telling her how much he liked it, his touching her back, massaging her, their wrestling on the bed. For a few brief moments, it'd been almost as if there was a relationship between them. Something more than friendship. It had been nice just to feel what it might be like to have someone.

What does Remy think about last night? Was he being serious? Was he trying to really flirt or was it just pretend? Ah don't even know the difference. Maybe he isn't havin' sex with someone. Maybe he just made it up to sound like he's a player?

She tried to force it out of her mind and pushed herself to focus on the task at hand. Kitty's birthday. She too would have to find a present for the girl and make an effort to visit on Monday. It was time to stop avoiding her former home.

Remy watched as Wanda walked ahead of the shopping cart, her fingers lightly trailing the food shelves in the cereal aisle.

"Generic," Remy reminded her, "always buy generic brands."

"Christ, the generic shit tastes like crap."

"I don't care, Wanda. We're on a budget," Remy reminded, "your dad says we have to make this money go as far as we can."

"Why? He's a goddamn millionaire!"

"I don't know, why don't you take it up with him? I sure as hell ain't gonna."

"I have no clue why we aren't living like the X-Men...all luxury and nice bedrooms and stuff," Wanda sighed as she grabbed a box of cereal from a shelf and tossed into the cart behind her.

"Because we ain't earned it, I guess," Remy shrugged. "Besides, we aren't living so bad. We have a big ass flatscreen tv, our own rooms, and we get paid well."

"You get paid well. He doesn't give Pietro or I the same he gives you, I'm sure," Wanda remarked, she hooked her thumbs into the pockets of her low-ride black jeans, "how much do you get paid anyway?"

"None of your business," Remy remarked. "Rule number one of the workplace; never discuss your wage with anyone."

"You're still rich though," Wanda noted. "I don't get it, you have the same old clothes you always have, you drive an old Harley, where is all your money going?" she asked curiously.

"Where does yours go?" Remy asked pointedly.

She frowned, but did not respond. The lights above flickered momentarily and the air conditioning made an odd sound. Remy sighed.

"Control it."

"I'm trying," she remarked.

"Just breathe, try to relax."

"I'm trying!"

"Try harder."

They turned as a box of Cheerios on the opposite shelf exploded, sending cereal spraying over them.

"Good goin'," Remy brushed the cereal away from his shoulder. "Hope no one saw that...'cause I sure as hell ain't cleanin' this up," he looked around the empty aisle, glad they'd come first thing in the morning. Most people were probably still in bed. "You need to practice harder with your powers."

"I'm trying," she reiterated. "It's not easy, goddamn it."

"Don't use that excuse. You ain't tryin' at all. I used to blow up everythin' I ever touched before I learned to control my power. It took hard work and determination. If I can do that, you can do this."

"It's not easy," she said again.

"Put more effort in then."

"Shut up. You don't know what you're talking about."

"It'd be easy if you'd stop getting so worked up over the tiniest little thing. Your issue is that every time you get mad, the powers start going out of control. Simple solution is...stop getting so mad. Anger management classes or something might help."

"What would help is if you'd just have sex with me," she picked up a box of pop tarts and threw them into the cart, her temper flaring. "I always find it easier controlling these powers when I've burned myself out a little."

"Yeah, well, that ain't happenin'. Least not until we figure out if we can stand bein' in the same room together without arguing. And so far? Not goin' too good," he pointed out.

"It's been six days, Remy. We've never gone this long without it. I know it must be drivin' you insane. I know it's drivin' me insane."

"I'm doing fine," he lied. This morning he'd almost considered giving in, especially seeing how good those pyjamas looked on her.

No, Remy, stick to your guns. You're trying to break this off, not encourage it. Sleep with her now, you may as well just kiss your freedom goodbye. You'll never shake her off your goddamn back.

"What if we just fool around a little?" Wanda asked casually.

"No. We have to stay abstinent if we expect this to go anywhere," he explained firmly, trying to focus on the shopping list he'd written up while Wanda had been getting dressed.

"If you don't start compromising just a little..." Wanda began, getting quite irritable.

"What? You gonna teach me a lesson?" Remy snorted. "Gonna fuck someone else?" he dared.

"Maybe," she retorted, testing him. "I have needs, Remy, and if you don't start taking care of them..." she trailed off.

"You do that, Wanda, and we are so through. I don't share."

Wanda rolled her eyes at him, "I don't like these rules."

"Yeah, I don't like them either, but I'm pretty sure it'll bring us together, just like you want," Remy explained. Actually, I'm pretty sure you are gonna get pissed off and fuck someone else, then I'm off the hook. Just hopefully you don't go and fuck Piotr. That guy doesn't deserve your kind of crazy. You'd destroy him, Remy thought at her.

"Who's going to cook all this food anyway?" Wanda asked as she gestured to the shopping cart.

"You are," Remy responded.

"Excuse me?" she asked, stopping in her tracks and folding her arms stubbornly. "I'm not a slave."

"You better start pulling your weight at home, Wanda. Don't care about your special ties to the boss, don't care that you think you might chip one of those talons you call fingernails, and I don't care if you think that housework is beneath you. Either you start pulling your weight..."

"Or what? You gonna threaten me like you did my brother?"

"If that's what you want," Remy responded.

"Threats don't scare me. They turn me on," Wanda remarked, a smirk playing about her painted red lips.

"You really want your daddy to put you back in an institution, don't you?" Remy pushed the cart right past her, she ran to keep up with him.

"What?"

"You heard. You keep actin' like this, mixed with the fact your powers are still destroyin' half our electronics on a near daily basis, and the fact you have these complete fits of crazy with anyone who gets on your bad side...he's going to put you away."

"He wouldn't do that," Wanda assured, "he's different now."

"All it's going to take is for him to find out what you and me been doing behind his back, and for him to find out about that little incident at the nightclub..."

"And what?" Wanda asked, "You think I'm scared if he finds out I've been fucking you? I'm an adult, he has no control over my sex life! Anyway...when he finds out how we feel about each other-"

"All he'll see," Remy turned to look at her, "is that you're on some kind of deliberate path of self-destruction. He won't tolerate it. He'll either send you to an institution, or he'll move you somewhere else, away from us...away from me."

If he did decide to send her away, it wouldn't be so much of a hardship, Remy thought. Be better for both of us, really.

Wanda looked down to the floor, her cheeks slightly growing pale. She didn't like the thought of this, clearly, and for all her bravado she was still afraid of disappointing her father also, although she'd never admit to it.

"Things need to change. I'm gonna turn you into a good fighter, and we're gonna work on this control issue you have...as well as...whatever this sex thing you have..."

"I took a test from a magazine, and it says I show classic signs of nymphomania."

"You sound so...proud about that."

"A lot of guys would love to have a nymphomaniac for a girlfriend," Wanda admitted almost enthusiastically.

"No...not really. It might be a novelty at first," Remy admitted, thinking that for him, it had definitely been a novelty in the beginning. "But then it becomes work. And some nymphomaniacs – the true ones – don't even have it in them to be with just one person."

"And you don't share," she teased.

"Right."

"I bet you'd share if it was another girl," Wanda responded, "you'd be more than willing for that, wouldn't you?"

"No," he responded. He had to momentarily ask if he were kidding himself.

"It's every man's fantasy," Wanda reminded. "And...I've always kind of wondered what it'd be like. We could always...you know...bring in a third."

Remy paused, looking at her through squinted eyes, "nice try. Try to coax me into giving in by offering up a three way?" he laughed, "sneaky. But I ain't fallin' for it."

"Oh come on!"

"No. Now stop buggin' me about it or I just won't talk to you any more. We have a lot of stuff to still get and talkin' about sex isn't going to help us find it."

Rogue leaned over the display of pretty silver necklaces at the jewellery store in the mall, her eyes scanning over the sparkling pendants of blue, green, red and purple. She was having a hard time helping Lance pick a suitable gift. Everything was nice in Lance's opinion, but nothing seemed that extraordinarily special.

Ah can't believe Ah'm wastin' my Saturday helpin' Lance Alvers pick a birthday present for Kitty, Rogue thought dully.

Lance stood beside her, and pointed to a rather attractive cross pendant. "How about that?"

Rogue blinked, "seriously? Are you kidding me?"

"Hmm?"

"You know she's Jewish, right?"

"Uhm..." Lance raised an eyebrow, "she might have mentioned it...but...so?"

Rogue folded her arms, "so...she can't wear that."

"Why?"

"Why don't you ask her?" Rogue shrugged.

"Because I'm asking you."

Rogue scratched the back of her neck, "it's just not the done thing. You don't wear another religion's symbol. It's kind of, you know...blasphemous."

"I didn't know."

"You need to pay attention more," Rogue commented, "you have to be careful. You could have really offended her."

"Sorry. So...what would I get her?"

"Star of David, Ah guess...Ah know she doesn't wear one. She used to have one she wore all the time, and Ah think it got lost durin' a fight with you guys."

"Oh," Lance said. "You know, she was right about you."

"Hmm?" Rogue asked.

"I used to think you were a bitch," he admitted, "but...you're...actually not as bad as I thought you were."

"What makes you think Ah'm not?" she gave a strange awkward laugh.

"Well...you could have just gotten me in a lot of shit. I'd have bought that cross...and not thought anything about it. You could have just kept quiet and not said anything just to fuck with me so that Kitty got mad at me. And you didn't."

"Ah'm not a vindictive person," Rogue shrugged.

"I guess having been...enemies...for so long," Lance responded, "you kind of get to thinking that the people against you must all be vindictive and mean, even if they're all goodie-two-shoes."

Rogue smirked, "Am Ah supposed to take that as a compliment?"

"Take it how you like," Lance responded, his eyes scanning the display of necklaces. "Can I ask you another favour?"

"Depends how much effort you're going to make in fixing my car," Rogue answered simply.

"You're...friends with Gambit...right? I mean...you spend time with him out of your own choice?"

Rogue shrugged, "Ah guess. Why?"

"Any chance you can maybe get him to back the fuck off a little? He's on our backs all the time."

She wasn't sure how to respond, because although instinctively she wanted to defend him, she also knew Lance's words to be partially true. Remy had been on their backs.

"All he's done since he became leader is bitch and moan. Get on our backs about stupid shit. Act like we're goddamn slaves."

"You know he doesn't think that," Rogue responded quickly, "He's workin' just as hard as everyone else, maybe even harder six in the mornin' til midnight, that boy is on the go, building, planning, doin' supply runs, alterin' the obstacle course, helpin' train us. All that and he still finds the time to work out, shower, shit and shave," Rogue pointed out.

"I'm not sayin' he's making us do all the work," Lance admitted, "I know he's busting his ass just like the rest of us, but...he's out of control. Gambit has always been...you know, kind of a hard ass but he was cool, and he was laid back. Now he's...just a total dick. You saw what he did with Quicksilver...the guy just completely lost it. He's never been like that before."

Rogue wasn't sure she was comfortable talking about Remy with Lance. Uneasily, she spoke up, "Bein' a leader puts a lot of strain on a person. Especially with this team. Lets face...you guys mess around a lot. He asks you to do something, and you do it half-assed. You're not even tryin'."

"We try," Lance made a face.

"Not hard enough though. He'd admit if you did a good job, or if you at least showed you were trying. Believe me, he's not the kind of guy who just goes looking for fault."

"Seems like he is now," Lance uttered.

"Ah'll talk to him," Rogue said after a moment of contemplation, "but if you'll take my advice, you'll just...do what he says, and try your best. If you want him to respect you and be nicer to you, then at least show him you earned it. There's a reason he doesn't get bitchy with Piotr or myself," she pointed out.

"Yeah, because he actually likes you guys."

"No. It's because we listen, we do what he asks, and we don't give him grief. We don't go making trouble for him. The way to get someone to leave you alone isn't provoking them."

"If you say so."

"Ah say so. Like Ah said, Ah'll do my best and talk to him, but you better make sure my car is runnin' by Monday."

"Deal."

End of Part Twenty

Not a very exciting chapter, but I thought it was time to show both Remy and Rogue both interacting with people other than each other lmao. As always, I'm very grateful for the reviews, and I'm so glad to see so many people are really enjoying the story and adding it to their favourites, and alert list. It makes my day. Glad to see also some people are tickled pink to see a little Magneto and Rogue interaction lol. Wasn't sure if I was going to be flamed for that one or not! Anyway, off to bed for me now. 3 you all.