Title: The House of the Rising Sun, Chapter 11
Author: Goddess Evie
Date: 09/02/04
Genre: Romance (Remy/Rogue, Scott/Jean, Lance/Kitty), Action, Drama, Angst, AU, heck, it's got it all…just not all in one chapter.
Rating: G, and I really don't think this'll get above PG.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own X-Men of any incarnation. I am but a poor, fanatical, poor, college graduate who much enjoys a show so that she writes extensive (and hopefully intriguing, enjoyable, and highly popular) fanfiction to feed her insatiable hunger for anything X-Men and is poor, if I haven't mentioned that already. Also, the song lyric I used as the title doesn't belong to me either. I'm quoting the song "Uninvited" by Alanis Morisette. An absolutely delightful song. But, sadly, I own nothing but the plot so don't sue me cause I need all my money for my mission!
Summary: Rogue and Scott both have run-ins with people they'd rather avoid.
Author's notes: I wanted to have Rogue interact with mutants other than Remy, although he's there as well. I also thought up the idea for Kitty's experiment and wanted to see what I could do with it. It's really quite lame compared to what I wanted, but it gets the general idea across and is still kind of fun. Also, I realized that we hadn't seen Scott in quite some time as well, so I figured a scene with him was a good idea. I wasn't sure what to do at first, but then I figured he needed some conflict in his life, and his new "enemy" will come in handy for what I have planned for later chapters. It's too bad I had to make him a Duncan clone, but that stereotype works so well for an anti-Scott character that I decided to just go with it. The last thing I have to say is be proud of me for updating twice in one week. It doesn't happen often and I'm not sure it'll ever happen again. Now go read!
Review Responses:
Ishandahalf-A little bit more Rogue and Remy mushie. Hope it's enough to tide you over! I really want to be writing in more, so I stick some in wherever I can. I promise more will come as the story progresses, I'm just not quite to that point, yet. It's coming! I promise! Because, look I updated TWICE this week. hopes that was a good enough distraction
Jen1703-I'm very sorry you don't like Remy and Rogue. They really are the best two things about the entire X-Men universe, as you can tell by the way my fic tends to center around them. But fear not. I have included some other mutants in this chapter, including Scott and his two pals Nathan and Brad. I can't let myself forget about them for I have great plans for them in the future of this fic. Yes, big plans. Anyways, you won't be able to see them unless you read the fic, so I shut my mouth now.
Chapter 11: Must be strangely exciting to watch the stoic squirm.
Kitty walked up to the door to the cafeteria, brown bag lunch in hand, and scanned the room for a recognizable face. Fortunately, both Jean's bright red hair and Rogue's white striped auburn locks were easily spotted in a table right in the middle of the room. Smiling in relief, Kitty headed their direction, waving at them as she approached.
Jean spotted her, or maybe sensed her, and waved back. Rogue looked to see who the telepath was waving at, and Kitty noticed Amara and Jubilee also at the table. Looked like an all girl group this semester. None of the boys had arrived, yet, and this close to the bell, Kitty had a feeling that she would be the last one to gather for lunch.
The four girls all greeted Kitty as she took a seat between Jean and Rogue and began to unpack her lunch. Glancing around as she pulled out a sandwich, bag of carrot sticks and a can of lemonade, Kitty noticed that Rogue was looking more sullen than usual and was glaring at the three other girls. Jean, Amara and Jubilee all looked a little bit smug, Jean keeping an interested eye on Rogue.
"Okay, like what's going on?" Kitty asked immediately, not sure she wanted to get into the middle.
"We were discussing Remy," Jean said before Rogue had a chance to say anything.
"Not just Remy. Remy and Rogue," Jubilee cooed."
There's nothin' t'discuss," Rogue assured, eyes narrowed at the Asian American.
"Are you kidding? The way he looks at you. The way he's always around you. And you should have seen how concerned he was about you last night," Kitty immediately jumped into the side against Rogue.
"Not ya too, Kitty!" Rogue groaned, burying her face in her hands.
"The only reason you're fighting it so hard is because you know it's true," Jean pressed in a sing song voice.
Rogue spread her fingers and glared at Jean through them.
"I don't know," came Amara's shy voice. "I think he's really cute and charming and all, but those eyes of his are…creepy. Scary almost. I don't like looking at them."
"They'll just take a little bit of time getting used to," Jean went immediately into the "We must accept everybody" speech. "Just like Kurt or Dr. McCoy."
Amara shrugged and looked at the half eaten sandwich she held. "I know, but they're still eerie."
"They're beautiful," Rogue said, her eyes glued on Amara.
The dark skinned princess looked back at the Southerner, but could hold her gaze only for a moment before glancing back down again. Kitty, Jean and Jubilee all looked at Rogue in amazement.
"Are you serious?" Jubilee asked, aghast.
"What's wrong with his eyes?" Rogue asked defensively.
"They're so blank, unreadable," Jean jumped in with an answer. "I'm not saying I don't like them. They're very unique eyes indeed, but even without reading a person's mind I can usually tell what they're feeling by the look in their eyes. But his are so unreadable." She didn't mention that she couldn't sense anything from the Cajun at all, something which unnerved her to no end.
Rogue shook her head. "His eyes tell ev'rythin'. Sometahmes they're th'only way Ah know when he's tellin' the truth or jus' kiddin' me."
Kitty leaned her cheek against a fisted hand and smiled at Rogue. "Prove it," she challenged.
"What?" Rogue's head snapped around to look at her roommate, green eyes wide.
Kitty gestured to the door of the cafeteria with a nod of her head. "He's like right over there."
"Ah can't tell ya what he's thinkin' from all the way ovah there. Ah have t'see his eyes, ya know?" Rogue's reply was sarcastic.
"Like d'uh," Kitty's remark was just as sarcastic. "Wait until he gets over here."
"How?" the question came not from Rogue, but Jean.
"Well, Rogue can like send the information of what she sees in Remy's eyes to Jean and Jean can send what Rogue tells her to the rest of us," Kitty explained.
"Jean nevah agreed t'that," Rogue protested, a glimmer of hope on her side.
"Oh, but I do," Jean betrayed with a grin and a twinkle in her blue eyes. "I think Kitty's experiment is very interesting."
Rogue looked around at her four companions, knowing she was being ganged up on. Kitty and Jean both wore smug greens, excitement in their eyes for this idea Kitty had hatched. Jubilee was so eager she looked like she might start squealing and clapping for the plan at any moment. Even Amara found more interest in this crazy experiment than her own meal. Rogue groaned.
"That totally sounded like you just gave in," Kitty poked Rogue in the arm.
"That's cause ya gave muh no choice," Rogue told her pointedly.
"Gave yo no choice t'what?" Remy's smooth Cajun accent asked from behind her.
Rogue looked over her shoulder at the man standing behind her, scowling. "Why, t'sit next t'you, Swamp Rat," she lied, gesturing to the only empty chair left between herself and Jubilee.
Remy pulled it out and settled into it in one fluid motion, his gaze and smile remaining focused on her. His hand rested on the back of her chair, and Rogue kept a careful eye on it. It wouldn't do to have him trying to put it around her.
"Chère, yo woun' me," his tone of voice sounded hurt, but he was still smiling, his red eyes dancing with mirth.
He's obviously just playin' around at this point, Rogue thought at Jean.
Outwardly, she shrugged, keeping her expression uncaring. "Ah'm jus' bein' honest," she assured.
He leaned back in the chair, getting comfortable, the hand continuing to rest on Rogue's seat back. With the other he pulled an apple seemingly out of nowhere and began to munch on it.
"So, d'I get dis entire table of belle femmes t'myself?" he asked looking around the table.
"It certainly looks like it, doesn't it?" Jean replied politely.
Remy nodded in her direction. "Dat's what un homme like t'hear," he assured with a wink.
"You always this charmin'?" Rogue asked sarcastically.
"You t'ink I'm charmin'?" Remy sounded awed and honored. "Why Rogue, I didn' realize yo hel' such high regar's fo Remy. M'flattered."
"Don' be," she assured. "Ah was jus' wonderin' if Ah'd have to put up with ya behaving lahke that all the tahme."
He leaned in closer to her, so she could smell his wonderfully spicy scent and almost forget what it was she had been badgering him about. That mouth of his had her a little captivated as it moved to speak his next words, but his eyes had her gaze trapped in them for the most part.
"Fo yo, Rogue, I be charmin' twenty four seven," he vowed.
He winked then, and pulled back, chewing on his apple again and releasing Rogue from the daze he had put her in. Damn that man for what he did to her!
"Please, Ah don't need no snake charmer following me around," she told him with a roll of her eyes.
He was actually tryin' t'be sincere,there, she remembered to send Jean at the last minute.
"So, how do you like Bayville High so far?" Kitty jumped in, hoping to stall anymore bickering from the pair.
"S'alright. Plen'y o' belles vues to keep un homme occupied when t'ings get too dull," his words were nonchalant, but his wink said he was only joking. "An m'classes don' seem too hard, yet."
"Taking anything interesting?" Jean questioned.
Remy shrugged as he inspected his apple then looked at Jean over it. "Science, English, Math. De usual string o'classes any student has t'take."
Rogue opened her mouth to lay another steaming remark on the Cajun when something caught her eye. She glanced at the three people passing behind Jubilee and Amara, and continued to stare, seething with anger and unable to turn away. Beside her she could feel Remy tense as he caught what she was looking at so intensely. The other occupants of the table looked as well, watching with varying degrees of unease. The three objects of everyone's attention stared back.
No words were spoken between the two groups, although Rogue caught slight surprise from Pietro, Fred and Todd when they noticed Remy was part of the group. Lance must have warned them from when they had bumped into him in the store the day before. Both sides continued to stare, knowing this wasn't the place for a standoff, as much as Rogue wished to give them a piece of her mind.
Within a few moments they passed and were lost in the crowd of the cafeteria. It wasn't until they were out of sight that Rogue found she could breath easier, though not by much. She also discovered her hand resting on Remy's arm, and she could feel how taut the muscles were beneath his trademark trench coat. His fingers worked and Rogue knew he had ached to take them on as much as she had.
Looking up to his face she saw only a concerned expression, his beautiful eyes looking at her with nothing but offered care and comfort. In them she could see that he would have protected her no matter what, that she didn't have to worry as long as he was around. Rogue couldn't recall anyone ever promising her that before. Not with as much as conviction as Remy was doing now, and with only his eyes.
"Ah'm fahne," her words were soft but assuring. "Jus' leave it."
He nodded once, the severe look on his face finally softening. His muscles relaxed beneath her hand and she pulled away, an action she had to force finding she rather enjoyed the physical contact, even if layers of clothing kept them from truly touching.
Kitty and Jean also had concerned looks on their faces, and Amara and Jubilee looked somewhat scared. Under the table, Rogue patted Kitty's knee briefly to let her know she was alright and the girl sighed and put her peppy smile back on her face.
Nothin' to worry about, Jean, Rogue then sent to the telepath, adding, An' yes, Remy was genuinely concerned.
She was glad for that small distraction to take her thoughts off the brief encounter…the entire summer. Fodder for their "experiment", right?
"Don' worry," Rogue addressed the youngest members of the group. "Ya'll don' have nothin' to worry about from them."
"I've just never been that close to any of them," Jubilee admitted. "We hear about your run-ins with them all the time, sure…"
"But you don't get the full affect until you see them for yourself," Amara supplied where Jubilee had trouble.
"They're really not all that scary. I mean, we've like totally kicked their butts plenty of times," Kitty reminded.
"Exactly. They're more annoying than trouble," Jean pressed.
Remy chuckled. "Remy could take em'all on his own, no problem. An' he would, too, so none o'y'all would have t'break a nail."
That made the two younger girls smile and blush and laugh a bit. Rogue actually found herself being grateful for the Cajun's charm for once.
He was serious there, even if he wanted it to come off as a jest, she sent to Jean.
The bell rang signaling the end of the lunch period. Rogue was glad for it. She just wanted out of the same room as those three creeps. If she saw them again she wasn't sure if she'd be able to hold herself back a second time.
"Well, I'm off to Home Economics," Kitty said none too enthusiastically as she rose and gathered her trash. "Wish me luck."
Jean laughed, also rising. "Good luck," she intoned good naturedly.
"Don't burn the school down," Amara joined in.
"I'd prefer you did," Jubilee chimed, following the other three to dispose of the remains of her of her lunch.
"You guys!" Kitty wailed as the four headed away.
Rogue and Remy took more time getting themselves into motion. Rogue felt like the rest of her day had just been ruined. Even from such a short and uneventful run in, she felt emotionally drained. She wondered if Xavier would let her off the rest of the day… Nah, it wasn't worth it.
"What class you got next?" Remy asked her, still watching her intensely.
"What does it mattah t'you?" Rogue asked, hoping her bickering would take both their minds off the mishap.
"Cause a propah gentleman escorts a lady t'her destination," he told her, the smile sliding back into his mouth.
"Ah don't see any propah gentlemen 'round here," she replied with a raised eyebrow, looking at him with a side glance.
Remy stood and offered his hand as he made his reply. "Y'must be havin' trouble wit' yo eyesight, cause dere's one standin' right in front of yo."
Even as she wanted to brush it off, Rogue saw how tender the gesture was. Even now, after the three Brotherhood boys were gone he was still worried for her, wanting to stay near and make sure nothing else happened. It was really sweet of him, and Rogue decided this once to give in.
I got that, Jean's voice popped into her mind and it took all of Rogue's control not to react to it physically. She'd just have to get the pesky red head back later.
Rogue didn't accept Remy's hand, but she did tell him that her next class happened to be French III with Madame Bertrand as she rose on her own. She saw his eyes light up at that revelation and could guess what that meant before he spoke.
"How nice. Moi aussi," he purred, staying by her side as she headed out of the cafeteria.
He stayed there all the way to her locker, and then into French. The class was small, as most upper level language classes were. A few kids had already arrived before Remy and Rogue, and only about five more appeared after them. Rogue chose a seat near the back, and Remy took the seat next to hers.
She watched as he scanned the room, taking in every detail as well as noting the other students with those encompassing eyes of his. She really didn't understand the girls uneasiness about them. There were no eyes more beautiful, more expressive, more worth gazing into.
Ya startin' to sound lahke some love sick puppy. Or Kitty, she thought to herself scoldingly.
"Yo' seem t'be starin' pretty har' at dis pretty face," the smugness in Remy's words made her look away and shuffle her notebook and pens around on her desk.
She'd been caught. He wasn't going to let her live this down.
"Ah was not," she objected bluntly.
"Sho' yo were," he plied. "Can' blame yo."
"Shut up."
Remy chuckled deeply. "Love it when I'm right an' yo can't do anything about it."
"Ah said-"
"Remy be quiet. Almost time fo' de bell, anyway," he finished for her.
It rang on cue, which annoyed Rogue to no end.
"You know, Scottie ol' boy, I really don't see why you just don't ask that beautiful red head out," Brad commented as he stretched muscles cramped and sluggish from sitting in a movie theater for a couple of hours.
"Me neither. She's gorgeous and nice and perfect, from what you tell us about her, and you really dig her," Nathan jumped in right away, standing on the other side of the Mutant as they walked together back to campus.
Scott rolled his eyes, although that couldn't be seen behind his ruby glasses, and shook his head. "Well," he began, "let's start with the fact that I'd have to drive for a couple of hours just to pick her up for any kind of outing."
"It's not just an outing, it's a date," Nathan corrected him.
"You know? Dinner, a movie, a walk along the beach," Brad reminded as if Scott had no idea what 'date' meant.
"Except there are no beaches around here," Nathan reached around Scott in an attempt to smack Brad up the head. Brad easily dodged.
"It's a nothing. It's not going to happen. She's probably busy with school, and we have that coming up in a week as well. We're both just going to be too busy," Scott explained for what felt like-and probably was-the fiftieth time.
"Sorry, but that's not a good enough excuse, Scott. Any college student could come up with better," Brad told him seriously.
"Why are you guys so obsessed with me asking her out, anyways? Or is it that neither of you have any semblance of a life and thus need to butt into mine?" Scott felt smug for his dig at the two.
"No, Scott, it's not that. I certainly have plenty of women falling over me, and I let Brad take the leftovers," Nathan assured, grinning mischievously and receiving a nasty glare from Brad. "It's just that we care about you, and we want to see you happy."
"I'm touched," Scott deadpanned. "How did I ever deserve such wonderful friends?"
"You're just a lucky guy," Brad replied.
"Who needs to ask out a certain red head," Nathan didn't fail to add.
"I really wish you two would just drop it," Scott demanded.
"We will when you finally find the guts to take Jean out on a date," Brad's tone was just as serious as Scott's had been, and the look the poor X-Man was getting from the two told him they weren't giving up until he did get a date with his crush.
Scott's mouth opened, ready to give more reasons why he couldn't ask Jean out, when a familiar figure up ahead of them caught his eye and he frowned instead. Brad and Nathan looked to see what had stopped him and both groaned at the sight.
Andrew Simpson had made himself the bane of Scott's college existence from the first day. Not only was Andrew attractive, well liked and attending the college on a full ride scholarship to play football, but he was also arrogant, egocentric and a bully. Scott had thought he had left that behind in high school with Duncan, but apparently some people didn't grow up.
"Why don't we take a detour?" Nathan suggested, pointing around the corner.
"Because the dorms are right there and there's no need to make our trip any longer than it has to be," Scott reasoned, unwilling to yield for the hot headed jerk.
Brad and Nathan sighed. They had learned quickly that although Scott avoided any real confrontation as much as possible, he also didn't run and hide whenever trouble reared its ugly head. Even in the form of Andrew Simpson.
Standing up straight to his full height, Scott continued along towards the dorms that were only a block away, as well as Andrew and his two football buddies. Nathan and Brad watched him for a moment before jogging to catch up to their friend in case he needed their support. They didn't agree with Scott's stubbornness, but that didn't mean they wouldn't support him anyways.
"Summers!" Andrew had finally spotted Scott heading towards him, and the way the athlete called out to him showed he was pleased for a chance to torment him.
"Don't say a word, Andrew. I'm really not in the mood," Scott shot back before Andrew could think up some insult.
"Ah, I was just wondering if you had an extra pair of shades I could borrow. It is pretty bright out here," Andrew cooed mockingly.
Scott decided such a comment wasn't worth a reply. Andrew had found Scott's incessant need to wear the glasses a good target for his mean spirited jibing, despite Scott's explanation of highly sensitive eyes.
"Or maybe I'll just borrow the ones you're wearing," Andrew's hand shot toward Scott, trying to snatch them from his face.
Scott's reflexes were quicker, swaying expertly out of the way before Andrew could lay a finger on his precious sunglasses. His instincts and training also told him to grab the hand and the arm it was attached to and twist into a position that not only was uncomfortable, but would allow Scott to break it at any moment, should he decided. Logan's training was impeccable. But Scott was also a quick thinker, and he knew such an action would do more harm than good. He didn't need to get himself into a fight with the Neanderthal. He could save it for the off chance he'd have some kind of run in with some nasty mutants. Not likely, but Scott knew better to be safe than sorry.
Instead, Scott took a step back from Andrew in order to get himself out of the football player's reach. He knew all he needed was to keep a safe distance from Andrew and get past him so that he could make it back to the dorms.
"I've told you before. Don't touch my glasses," Scott reminded icily.
"Yeah, yeah, sensitive eyes," Andrew sneered. "You wear them even at night."
"It's not like I asked for them to be that way," Scott said, talking about things Andrew couldn't even begin to fathom.
"Andrew, why don't you just leave him alone and let's get going. I'm hungry," one of Andrews pals suggested.
Andrew looked at the guy, and Scott wondered if he would treat the guy like some brainless lackey. But instead he shrugged and agreed.
"Anh, you're right. I'm too hungry to be wasting energy on ol' four eyes," Andrew decided.
"Original. And all the way from the fourth grade," Scott muttered.
"See you later, Summers," Andrew called as he walked away with his team mates, the promise of encounters to come in his voice.
"Man, you have to be more careful around him. He could kick your ass," Nathan said when Andrew was far enough out of ear shot.
Scott rolled his eyes, but smiled. "He's just a show off."
"He's a football player. He's in really good shape," Brad reminded.
"I could take him." Scott said with assurance. "He's more talk than fight. He just needs to make himself feel better by picking on those he deems 'lesser beings'."
"Big talk for a guy who doesn't even have the guts to ask out the girl he likes," Nathan cajoled.
Scott groaned as he headed through the front doors of the dormitory. Would these two never give up?