MAGNETIC ATTRACTION
Part Thirty-Seven
Remy LeBeau felt strange waking up in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar house. It wasn't the first time he'd awakened in unfamiliar territory, but waking up in the X-Men's home was a different experience from that altogether.
The guest room he'd been put in was an attic room, and it was painted magnolia and the bed linens were crisp white and clean and incredibly soft to the touch. Even the pillows were good quality and down, not the flat cotton fibre that he'd been sleeping on at the warehouse.
There was dull wintery morning sunlight sifting through the window blinds, yet even then the room seemed bright and cheery. A warm, inviting room that someone would want to wake up in, not four damp brick walls with no window and a stone floor. A huge comparison to the warehouse.
Sitting up, Remy stared around the room, his mind reeling from the night before.
I should have never walked out without a fight, he told himself, for what felt like the thousandth time. Even though he had barely drank at all the night before, his head was pounding this morning as if he'd spent the entire night drinking. Another stress related headache, he presumed.
He dressed slowly, and although he had ever rarely done so at the warehouse, he made the bed neatly, going so far as to even straighten out the sheet he'd slept on top of, and making sure the covers were perfectly straight. He wasn't sure why this felt so important, as they'd probably strip the bed and wash the sheets the moment his ass was out the door.
Yeah, minute I'm out of this place, those sheets are probably gonna be in a boil wash with bleach, he reckoned. A precaution in case I brought in anything with me like pubic lice or some shit, he mused.
In a mirror above a plain pine dresser, his reflection stared back at him, unshaven, hair unkempt, and his ear blistered and slightly bloody where a scab had accidentally been knocked off during his sleep. He wondered if he'd bled on their pillows, and thought it in poor taste if he had.
It was odd, he thought, how in this dull morning light in an unfamiliar room he looked so very different to how he'd always thought he looked. He was known to be an exceptionally good looking young man, but as he stared at himself there now, eyes dark beneath, face slightly pale from just waking, the creases of the pillowcase leaving dents on his left cheek, and a his eyelids puffy and slightly pink, he thought he looked older and sickly, just as he felt on the inside.
This is what being in that godforsaken place has done to you, Remy LeBeau. You let the people and the job drain the life and light right out of you and all that's left is this old looking asshole in the mirror.
He sniffed, feeling quite upset with this and he looked away from the reflection, it making him quite queasy. It was hard looking at himself good and hard and seeing himself in a different way. He supposed he was going to have to get used to that from now on. He'd always seen himself the same as he had when he was in his teens, but now, he saw a man there, and not the man he'd ever wanted to be.
But who did he want to be? All he knew was who he didn't want to be. The asshole in the mirror looked too damn close to that guy.
A loud knock at the bedroom door disturbed him from his dark thoughts, and he turned to stare at the panelled door, sighed and responded, "yeah?"
The door opened, and Wolverine was standing there, he looked much more awake than Remy felt. Despite he'd obviously shaved since last night, the man already had an impressive growth that Remy wondered was partly due to his healing factor and the regeneration of hair and tissue. He made a mental note to perhaps ask him if this horrible ordeal ever passed. It didn't seem quite fitting to ask it now.
"Charles wants to see you."
Remy pushed himself away from the dresser, and stretched a little, "I thought you'd have filled him in on everything there was," he admitted as he followed Wolverine out of the room, and down a narrow staircase which led into an incredibly tiny room which was filled with nothing but coats on hangers.
"Already have, but he wants to go over some things with you," explained Wolverine casually.
Remy frowned as Wolverine opened the door to lead out into a hallway further along, "is this a closet?" he asked, patting a hand against the wall next to a rail a few coats were dangling from.
"Yeah," Wolverine shrugged, "used to be servants living quarters up in the attic rooms...had to go through the closets to get to them. Staff in those days were always tucked away up in tiny little rooms, never to be seen or heard...long as they did their jobs."
Remy snorted, "sounds like working for Magneto," he admitted. "Never to be seen or heard, just do the shit you're told to do and keep out of the goddamn way."
"I wouldn't doubt it."
They walked through the winding halls of the mansion, down staircases, and along halls with deep mahogany wainscotting and immaculately painted walls. Hardwood floors gleamed underfoot, slightly creaking under the weight of Wolverine's adamantium skeleton. Remy admired the original Tiffany wall lamps, and the brass doorknobs. It took his mind only briefly off of his woes before he arrived to Xavier's office.
Wolverine didn't even knock on the door, but opened it and gestured for Remy to step in first. A real wood fire crackled in an old hearth, and the office was completely panelled in rosewood. The room smelled like beeswax polish, and reminded him of stealing from manor houses and mansions during his days as a thief.
It's funny how a smell can take you back in time, he thought as he sneakily ran a hand along the top of a console table as he passed by, noting there wasn't a speck of dust to be found. He wondered how this place stayed so immaculately clean. Were there staff here or did the kids do all the chores?
Professor Xavier was sat behind a beautiful old mahogany desk, the thing was carved extensively, a true example of impeccable craftsmanship. There was something comforting and warm about old furniture that Remy had always appreciated, and it made this place feel rather warm and inviting, just as all the other areas in the mansion he'd seen were. Xavier gestured to a chair on the other side of the desk, a chair that almost matched the desk (except Remy was trained enough to spot that it was reproduction, as there was no way an antique would ever have castors like this (they were designed to be kind to the real wood floors).
"Good morning, Gambit," said Professor Xavier warmly.
Remy sat down slowly and stared across at the older man. He was sharp looking, impeccably dressed, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through him. Remy wondered, with the telepathic skills this man possessed, whether he could really do so or not. Instead of responding with the same greeting, Remy vaguely nodded.
Hearing the door shut behind him, Remy turned to look and found that Wolverine had left him in the office alone with the Professor. Thanks for ditching me, asshole, thought Remy at Wolverine in disdain. He turned back to the Professor, and just to be curious he thought at him Hello.
The Professor raised an eyebrow at him, "is something wrong?"
Can't read my thoughts? Remy wondered.
"Gambit?"
"Sorry," Remy blinked, "I just thought you'd be able to read my mind."
"I'm not in the habit of invading peoples thoughts without permission," said the Professor seeming slightly agitated by the assumption. "Unless you would rather I just do so and save yourself the explanation."
Remy leaned forward a little, resting his elbows on his knees, "go for it," he dared. He was curious. Just how powerful was this man?
The Professor took a moment, and frowned, "You're blocking me," he responded.
"Not on purpose," Remy confessed, he sat up straight.
"How did you sleep?" asked the Professor casually, changing the subject.
"Fine...I guess..." Remy said, feeling slightly unsure of this, "but I'm guessing that's not really what you want to know, is it?"
"I have been filled in on what you and Logan discussed last night," explained the Professor coolly, "But I would like to hear in your own words what did happen before I attempt to contact Magnus and ask him what is going on."
Remy sighed, "fine."
"How did this all start?"
"It started with Wanda and her...psychotic mood swings, I guess," Remy responded, "she's..."
"Having issues," said the Professor, trying to be polite about it.
"I was going to say batshit crazy, but 'issues' works fine too," Remy frowned. "How honest do you want me to be?" he asked carefully.
"How honest do you wish to be?" asked Charles Xavier, his eyes penetrating Remy's. Remy had the distinct impression the man was trying to dare him to be as honest as he possibly could.
Remy folded his arms across himself casually, he leaned back and sighed, "I've been sleeping with Wanda for about a month...I was, anyway. I knew she was...mentally ill...or disturbed...whatever you'd want to call it. I didn't know she was that disturbed. Not until we started getting into...a lot of crazy stuff."
"Crazy stuff," repeated the Professor, seeming quite concerned.
"Stuff that no normal eighteen year old girl I ever been with wants to get up to. I'm talkin' the stuff that even older and liberated women would feel offended by..."
"Oh dear," said the Professor, Remy thought for just a moment that the older man's cheeks turned strangely red. It might have just been the flickering of light from the fire though.
"I guess that should have been my first clue. But..." he shrugged, "you know...I'm...a guy..."
"Indeed."
"So...I went along with it...then Rogue came along and joined us," Remy continued.
The Professor leaned forward looking almost alarmed.
"Wait, I don't mean it like that," Remy corrected himself, he rubbed his throbbing head, "sorry...my head is pounding...I can't think straight..."
"Take your time..." the Professor said gently.
"Rogue came to join the team is what I meant...things were fine, but I could tell...you know, something was off about the reason why she was there...which I'm sure you knew."
"Yes," the Professor nodded.
"Me and Wanda were still sleeping together, and things were getting...messed up. I didn't want to be with her. I thought you know...taper off, just be friends, but Wanda wasn't interested in that kind of relationship. I just kept the peace with her because...she started acting really jealous with Rogue and I could tell something was gonna kick off. And it did...when she nearly killed Rogue in one of her crazed power rages."
"Yes, I'm aware of that incident," the Professor nodded. "Wolverine told me all he could about it."
"So...after that happened I made even more effort to keep the peace, tried to be there for Wanda...be her boyfriend, not just her lay but take things real slow. But she wasn't satisfied...I don't know if you know that Wanda is...uhm..." Remy tried to search for the words. "Persistent?"
"I'm somewhat aware of the issue."
"So...I broke it off with her...and she started acting more crazy. Well...crazy...that's an understatement. She got so strung out she just plain out attacked me...threatened to attack Rogue...then it all comes out from Magneto that this machine he's been building is for Wanda, not Rogue."
Professor Xavier was listening, his expression dark.
"I told Rogue...and she's not really interested..." Remy rubbed his head. "Then to make matters worse, Wanda has this...I don't know...very bad day and tries to attack Rogue...it ends up bad, arguing with Rogue and Magneto...and somehow she ends up a wreck sobbing and having this panic attack thing which Rogue had to help her through because Magneto didn't even care enough to try and take care of her."
"Not at all?" asked the Professor.
"Accordin' to Rogue, the girl was curled up on the floor sobbin' her heart out and he wouldn't even try to comfort her or...tell her everythin' was all right..." Remy admitted, feeling strangely emotional himself at the thought of it. It must have been devastating for the girl, as much as he hated Wanda right now, he couldn't deny he felt quite sympathetic about this.
"I see," Charles responded, looking quite angry.
"Apparently Magneto tried to call the institution where he'd sent her before to have her sent back."
"He's getting desperate," commented the Professor, looking strangely saddened by this. "Was she refused re-admittance?"
"No. Rogue begged him to not send the girl back to that place – because that's probably what fucked her up so much in the first place. So Wanda was left in her room, and me and Rogue went off to try and chill out and calm down from what happened over that past few days. Early next morning, I wake up to go take a leak and find puke all over the warehouse and Wanda in a coma from an overdose – she took all these stupid anti-psych medications that she had in her room..."
Charles Xavier blinked, "Magneto allowed her to medicate herself?"
Remy snorted, "don't think I didn't ask the same thing," he retorted. "You just don't do that with a girl that psychotic."
Xavier gave a sigh and shook his head slightly in disgust, still listening, "what then?"
She was barely in the hospital a day and a half and her dad drags her ass out of there giving excuses about how she's not stable enough to be in there."
"Magneto brought her home?!" the Professor blinked, his expression full if distress.
"Yes...he has her doped up...she don't look well...she isn't well enough to be out of twenty-four hour care yet and he brought her out!"
"Did you confront him?"
"Before we even could, Magneto comes to me and Rogue and says that this is what's gonna happen; he's gonna rush to build this evolution machine, that Rogue is gonna be the test subject. I disagree, Rogue agrees with Magneto that this is the right thing to do. I get kicked out...I end up on the streets until Wolverine found me, and that led me here..."
The Professor took a moment to think about these things, then admitted, "Magneto does not like defiance. Especially not when it interferes with his plans."
Remy snorted, "yeah, tell me about it."
"The problem is that with Rogue's consent, there is very little I can do to talk him out of this idea. Rogue is the one that needs convincing that this step would be a foolish one to make."
"I've tried," Remy sighed, "I have tried so hard...and she doesn't want to listen. I got into a relationship with her, told her how I feel about her, tried to show her that there is a relationship that can go beyond without us needin' to be one hundred percent physical, but she's so determined to have what she wants that she ain't listening. She's too eager to jump the gun and isn't giving it the patience a decision like this really needs. I don't know what else to do. Magneto is manipulatin' her and I can't do anything to stop it...he has her wrapped around his goddamn finger."
"Manipulation has always been one of his talents," the Professor agreed, "and once he has gotten under a persons skin, it is very hard to get him out. I don't know if it is possible to get him out from under Rogue's skin..."
"Can't you use your powers on her?"
"It'd be unethical," the Professor sighed, "and even I did lack those ethics, Rogue is extremely hard to manipulate with my powers, within her psyche there are walls which are incredibly hard to penetrate. It is one of the reasons why I have always been unable to help her control her powers."
"So there's nothing. I'm here for nothing," Remy despaired.
"I'm going to visit tomorrow afternoon and attempt to talk him out of rushing the build on this machine."
"You're waiting until tomorrow?" Remy asked incredulously, "we can't afford to sit on our hands and wait until tomorrow!"
"I feel it is important that we allow the situation to settle first. I know my old friend, Gambit, and if I rush in too soon to interfere, he will be defensive, angry and unwilling to listen."
"Fine, so...what can I do?"
"I am hoping that while I go to speak with him, you can speak with Rogue privately and try to talk her out of her plans."
"It hasn't worked so far," Remy uttered.
"If Rogue cares for you then she will at least listen to you...at least enough to consider what you ask of her."
"I can't go near that place though," Remy reminded coolly, "I was practically exiled."
"You won't need to return, and I would not recommend you even attempt to," Professor Xavier opened a drawer in his desk, searched momentarily then drew out a piece of paper and placed it in front of Remy, "Here."
Remy curiously picked up the piece of paper, "What is this?"
"A schedule of Rogue's classes at college. You can catch her there without any interference from Magneto," the Professor explained, "this gives you the times of her classes, what time they end and which buildings the classes are in. On the back there is a map of the campus. With this, you should be able to find her."
"How very...thorough..." Remy said.
"She photocopied it and passed it to me for emergencies. There would often be times when situations would arise and we would need her assistance. This made it much easier to find her in those instances."
"And you kept it even though she's no longer one of you," Remy thought aloud.
"She never thought to ask for it back when she left," Professor Xavier explained simply. "And regardless of her leaving to join the Acolytes, she will always be considered one of us."
Remy thought that almost touching. Rogue would never be anything over than one of the X-Men to them. He wondered if that was how his Guild saw things too.
"Okay, fine, I'll chase her up at school..." Remy finally agreed.
"Do be careful to not cause any scenes in public with her. While I realise the situation is distressing, please be mindful that she has to attend the school. You are able to walk away, but any of her class mates will notice any odd behaviour."
"In other words, I shouldn't be loud about our being mutants," Remy remarked irritably.
"Being mutant is nothing to be ashamed of, of course. But most of the student population at Bayville Community College are not, and some of their fathers are campaigning for mutant registration laws to be passed in this state. Any kind of attention you draw to yourself or Rogue could make Rogue's education there incredibly difficult."
"I understand. I'll be discrete," Remy assured, "as long as someone here can loan me a pair of sunglasses, I'm set."
"We'll find something for you."
Remy rubbed the back of his neck, "But what would I say to her...after walking out last night, I'm not sure she's gonna want to listen to me..."
Besides which, I'm not sure I can stop myself from going off at her after how she told Magneto what Wanda did to me, Remy added in thought, feeling still quite angry.
"I'm sure you'll know what to say when the time comes. Just...tell her what's on your mind. Speak your feelings...Rogue has always appreciated the truth. Be honest with her."
How can you be honest? Being honest with her is only more likely to drive her to using that machine than make her forget her plans for it. Everything at this point just feels hopeless.
"Is there anything else concerning you?" asked the Professor thoughtfully.
"Yeah," Remy drew his breath, "I want you to do me a favour...if Rogue comes lookin' here today...you tell her I ain't here. If she calls, you ain't seen me."
"You wish me to lie?" Professor Xavier raised an eyebrow.
"I need some time to get my head around all this...to think of what I'm gonna say to her..." Remy explained, he frowned as he stared at the floor, trying to figure out how he would quite be able to face her.
"You seem angry."
"It's nothin'," said Remy.
"If there is something wrong, it is better to admit to it than to hold it in."
"I just...I'm pissed off with all this crap, is all," Remy stood up and moved to the window so he could check the weather outside. It looked a little frosty out.
"I understand it is frustrating," said the Professor, watching him. "It is difficult being in your position."
"I just don't understand how she could...trust him," Remy uttered coldly. And betray me, he added in thought.
"Rogue's decision is irrational to us, but in her own mind is the most rational decision she's ever made. I do not agree with it, but I understand it...I can understand why she believes it will be everything she wants it to be."
"I understand it," Remy responded, "believe me, I get it. It's frustratin'. Especially for a girl who's enterin' into adulthood and bein' prevented from havin' an life because of her powers. But riskin' her life over it?"
"I do not believe there is a risk of her life," said Professor Xavier after a moment, "I do however, believe that there are many complications that could arise from this machine, one of which could be utter devastation of her power. If her powers are accelerated at an unnatural rate, then they could be more unpredictable and uncontrollable. There could be a risk of other lives."
Remy stared to the floor, "she's afraid that some day she'll be able to absorb people's powers and thoughts without even touching them..."
"If she risks this evolution, that may still happen. There is no predicting what the outcome will be..."
Remy sighed, "I feel so fucking..." he clenched his fists, "helpless. Like ain't a damn thing I can do any more."
"Try to keep your spirits up, going in with a negative attitude will do nothing to help Rogue or yourself."
Feeling defeated, Remy shrugged, "fine, I'll try. Ain't gonna promise though."
Rogue hadn't slept. All night she hadn't been able to fall asleep regardless of how absolutely exhausted she felt and how close she felt to it. Just as she would find herself starting to drift off, the thoughts of how badly the night had panned out kept coming to batter her and it would seem to arouse her exhausted mind into a state of absolute alertness.
She couldn't get that very hurt and betrayed look of Remy's face out of her mind. It was haunting her. She'd never imagined him looking quite that hurt. Stabbing him couldn't have made him look that hurt.
"It's no wonder he walked out," she said to herself as she sat up and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was a strange silhouette in the pale sunlight coming through long shoebox window. "Ah should have kept my yap shut," she shook her head at herself as she got up and paced the room a little.
If she could do the whole conversation over again, she would change everything. She'd go back further, and never tell Magneto a goddamn thing. Except, turning back time wasn't a power she possessed. There was no point in thinking up the way things could have been handled better. Nothing could be changed now. There were no second-chances. All she could do was move on...find a way to fix the damage. She couldn't hit the load button and re-write history.
What could Ah say to him to make him know Ah'm sorry? She wondered as she glanced towards her phone. She contemplated calling him. She was sure he would be awake at this time of the morning. He'd always been an early riser. First up, last to go to bed, that'd always been his way. The boy seemed to rarely sleep – one of many problems they seemed to share as of late.
Rogue swept her hand through her hair and with her other hand grabbed for the phone. She gave a sigh as she quickly sifted through the contacts list to find his name and she hit the call button before putting the thing on speaker phone. She didn't even think about what she was going to say. Ah'll know what to say when he answers, she decided. Soon as Ah hear his voice, Ah'll know exactly what Ah need to say.
Unfortunately for Rogue, the call wouldn't connect. The number didn't exist. Had he gotten his number changed?
He wouldn't do that, would he? Rogue wondered as she stared at the phone. The contact had a picture of him attached; she'd taken the picture without his knowledge over a week ago when he'd been watching a movie with her. His profile was slightly highlighted by the light from the television in the photo, and his nose seemed sharper, but perfect and delicate, almost feminine. She ran her gloved fingers unhappily against the digital photo, wondering if she'd ever see him again.
If Ah don't it's my own goddamn fault, she thought miserably. But Ah had to make the choice...there wasn't any other way. Why doesn't he just get this could be a good thing for everyone includin' him. He won't be happy unless he has a relationship like he's used to havin'. Holdin' my hand would never be enough for him and Ah can't go through havin' him just to lose him quickly because of the limitations.
Angrily she tossed the phone, and it hit the wall. She had expected it to break but instead the back merely came off and the battery popped out and flipped onto the rug with a soft thump. Grunting in disapproval, she got onto her knees and picked up the pieces, putting them together to see if it still actually worked. It seemed that the phone was in the same order it had been other than the time and date having been set back to default. She went to check her contacts, to see if they too, had wiped back to the default state the phone had been in. They had not.
Maybe Ah should just...delete his number? Rogue wondered, feeling that perhaps his walking out had really been the ultimate breakup. Besides, the number didn't exist, it was no good keeping it anyway. With a sigh, she clicked on the contact for him and pushed on the edit number button.
It was then she noticed that Remy LeBeau's number in the phone seemed wrong. While most of the number remained hidden, the last three digits showed as 666 which she was almost positive it hadn't been.
His number ended with 56...Ah know that, Ah remember putting it in there myself weeks ago. It wasn't 666, she thought curiously as she selected the contact details to find that the address for Remy LeBeau was listed as 666 Evil Lane. The email address – which he'd claimed he'd never had – was listed as RemyLeBeau666 at a ' ' address.
"Goddamn it!" she hissed under her breath. "Either Remy's made a pact with the fuckin' devil or Wanda did this..."
Unfortunately there was no tangible version of his phone number in Rogue's possession. She hadn't memorized it or written it down. She'd simply put it in there one day so she'd know if it was him calling should any emergencies during class occur.
He may have tried to call me and she's probably did the same thing to his phone, Rogue realised, she tossed the phone onto the bed and rubbed her face frustratedly. She wanted to slap the girl regardless of the bad condition she was in at the moment. Ah suppose if Ah'd ever thought to try to call him before now Ah might have noticed this. How long has it been like this? How long have Ah had a load of 666's in my phone and never even known about it? She wondered. Ah should have listened better when Remy said he thought all the phone problems we'd had lately had been Wanda.
She supposed there was no way to get back in touch with Remy now. He's probably far out of town now. He said he'd been wonderin' why he'd stayed all this time, but now he has no reason to. He's probably halfway back to the south by now. And it's my own goddamn fault.
End of Part Thirty-Seven
A short part this time but the next few parts are somewhat longer by several pages so it should even out. I did intend for this to be finished in forty parts, but I think it might go to about forty-four, the way it's looking at the moment (hard to determine these things sometimes).
As always thanks for the awesome reviews. I love how there's a little debate going on with how rational/irrational Rogue's intentions with this evolution are. I love that there's differing opinions on the subject :D. As for the questions whether I intend to have Rogue change her mind or not, everyone will find out at the end of the story ;) I've had the ending written out in my head for some time, but I'm not going to give it away (I do love suspense and all). Can't wait to get the next few parts up soon. :) Hope you're all having an awesome Summer :)