Choices Chapter 5, a x-men: evolution fanfic

Sorry for taking so long on this one guys, hopefully next chapter wont take as long

Disclaimer: We all know who owns X-Men...

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As Rogue came to the first thing she noticed was the pain in her back and the stiffness that could only have been caused by the uncomfortable position she was lying in. Groaning, she opened her eyes and found herself enveloped in darkness with her hands tightly bound together. The floor was hard and rough; she tried to pick herself up but pain seared through her body, emanating from her back and thigh. Gasping, she let herself drop back down to the ground, waiting for the pain to release her body. Logan's survival training automatically kicked in and she gazed around trying to figure out where she was.

The night sky was clear and starry above her head, and as more of her surroundings came into focus she realised that she was lying on the ground in a small space left between large metal shipping containers. She pushed herself up into a sitting position; causing the warm trench coat, she noticed only now, to slide from her shoulders and pool at her waist. She tried to move her feet but found that they too were tied together. She growled to herself. This situation was all too familiar, it was the same position she was in the last time she had come into contact with Gambit almost a year ago now.

"Sleep well chèri?" his voice startled her as he silently walked out of the darkness. Without his trench coat on you could see the way the fitted uniform he wore showed off his sleek athletic body. He crossed his arms over his lean chest and Rogue had to force her eyes up to his face, determined not to let her hormones get the better of her this time.

"Kidnapping again, Gambit? Didn't ya learn lesson last year?" She narrowed her eyes at him as he unfolded his arms and came to squat down in front of her.

"I'm a thief, Rogue, jus' doin' what comes natural," he picked up his trench coat, throwing it around his shoulders before pushing his arms through either sleeve.

"And why tha hell have you 'stolen'meh this time?" Ignoring her, he began to untie the ropes that bound her feet, pulling them away with ease.

"Come on petite, our train leaves in 'bout 10 minutes." He gracefully stood and offered a hand to help her up. She glared at his strong outstretched hand then up to his face, which was cast in shadows. His unique eyes glinted red as they reflected what little light there was in the small space they occupied.

"Who said Ah'm going anywhere with you?" Despite the pain that had a hold over her body she pulled her feet beneath herself, pushing her body upwards; bringing her to a standing position.

"Dis is a kidnapping Rogue, y' don't have a choice," a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. Ignoring the throbbing in her thigh, she took a step forward; a frown set into place as she squared her shoulder off in defiance and tilted her head up so her face was close to his. He was quite a bit taller than Rogue but she didn't let that bother her, what did bother her was the fact that he made no attempt to back away as she moved towards him; bringing her skin dangerously close to his. Refusing to show him that she now felt uncomfortable and nervous of the position she had placed herself in, she looked him straight in the eye; her face a mask of pure defiance.

"Well then ya're gonna have t' drag meh kicking and screaming." she spat out as she narrowed her eyes; daring him to try it. His smirk broadened turning into the desirable crooked smile that normally made her feel slightly weak at the knees but she held her ground. There was no way she was willingly going to go anywhere with him.

He captured her gaze with his smouldering devil eyes and closed the small gap between them so that their bodies brushed together softly. Rogue pressed her bound hands against his chest in an attempt to push him away but she found the feeling of his lean muscles beneath her fingers too appealing to resist. The smile slid from his lips but he continued to hold her captive with his eyes; two hungry bottomless pits encased in rings of sparkling rubies that were filled with something Rogue had always had to denied herself; desire.

Her lips slipped open and her heart skipped a beat; all thoughts of rebellion were long forgotten. He brought his hands up to rest on her hips; his fingers softly caressing her through to material of her jeans. He leaned down so that his lips were almost touching hers; his breath once again consuming her. Before she knew what was happening Gambit suddenly lifted her up onto his shoulder and began to make his way through the narrow gaps between the containers.

"What are ya doing? Put meh down!" She squirmed against him but he just tightened his hold on her causing her to gasp in pain as his hand unknowingly gripped the cut on her back.

"Remy will put y' down if y' promise t' walk nicely." She didn't want to agree to this but his shoulder was pressing into her stomach making her feel sick and his hand was still painfully tight on her injured back.

"Fine Ah'll walk just put meh down already," Immediately he stopped and gently dropped her onto her own feet. Not wanting to see the smugness in his face, she turned away from him and began walking in the direct he had been heading. Even though it made her thigh scream out in protest, she did not let herself limp; she didn't want his sympathy or his help.

Unknown to Rogue, behind her Gambit was studying her stiff movements with concerned curiosity when he noticed something wet on his hand. He looked down to see what it was; it appeared black in the darkness so he brought it closer to his eyes, rubbing his fingers together. It seemed to be blood but that was impossible; he wasn't hurt. He snapped his head up and studied Rogue as she slowly made her way between the containers. She had been slow all night, her movements stiff and unusually sloppy. Even now she was walking like someone trying to hide that they were in pain. - Merde Remy, why didn't y' notice that before? - Hoping that he was wrong he jogged to catch up with her so he could get a closer look, but when he was just a few steps behind her he noticed a dark patch on the back of her sweater that could only be one thing. Blood.

"Rogue, y' bleeding." She stopped and turned to look at him thinking she had misheard what he had said.

"What?"

"Y' back is bleeding," he stepped closer to her and pulled her arm up, trying to get a better look at her back but she snatched herself out of his grip. Her mind was racing, she had not wanted this. – Why'd he have t' be so observant -

"It's nothin'," She tried to brush it off; pretend that it wasn't bothering her but he didn't seem to buy it. He brought his face down so he was eye to eye with her, putting his hands on her shoulders preventing her from pulling away again.

"Not'ing? Rogue y' sweater is soaked, Remy wouldn't call dat not'ing." She studied his face for a moment, shocked by this sudden show of compassion.

"Why do ya even care?" she turned her head to the side, unable to hold his concerned gaze. He stepped back, letting his hands drop from her shoulders.

"Remy didn't want t' hurt you." He said it so quietly it was almost a whisper. Rogue turned to look at him; his face was blank as usual but, just like with Logan, if she looked close enough she could see an emotion breaking through at the edges. Guilt seeped through her body; she dropped her gaze to the floor and cleared her throat before she did anything she knew she would regret.

"Well don't beat yourself up, it wasn't your fault. Ah did it in Danger Room earlier."

"Let m' see." She smacked his hand away from the hem of her sweater and started walking down the passageway again but he caught her by the elbow, pulling her back to face him, " Believe m' Rogue, it'll be worse if y' don't let Remy look."

"Don't we have a train t' catch?" she stated glaring up at him, attempting to take his mind away from her injuries but he didn't budge an inch.

" All de more reason for y' t' let Remy decide if y' need medical attention or not." He continued to stare at her, his face lacking all emotions except the practical concern of a stranger. She held his gaze for a minute before deciding that he wasn't going to give up till she allowed him to inspect her injured back. Sighing, she turned and folded her arms over her chest allowing him access to her back. He tilted his head to the side and studied her for a moment before reaching, once more, for the hem of her sweater.

He lifted it up slowly, causing it to glide across her body softly; inch by inch the pale skin of her back was revealed to his probing eyes. Knowing that he would find the tiny cuts that currently littered her back she glanced at him from the corner of her eye; wanting to gauge his reaction to her ruin skin. She watched his eyes as they darted from cut to cut; a slight frown growing as he discovered more and more scratches. Eventually he came across the blood stained bandage that was loosely taped over her main injury, with his free hand he pulled it free at the bottom and lifted it up exposing the cut. Rogue gasped as the cool night air breezed across the wound causing a fresh wave of pain to hit her.

"Merde." Her eyes snapped back to his; the frown was now fully developed and his mouth was a thin grim line set across his face. His expression caused a great knot in her stomach to twist uncomfortably; panic crept into the edges of her mind.

"What?" surely it couldn't be that bad; he must be over-reacting but Rogue didn't think he was the queasy type. He put the bandage back over the cut and let her sweater fall back into place.

"Stay here, don't even t'ink 'bout moving." He pointed at the floor as if to emphasize where he meant before jogging away, back in the direction they had just come from.

"Where are y' goin'?" she called after him but he was already out of sight. She stood alone in the darkness. A cold breeze swirled around her, causing her to shiver. She hugged her arms around her body in an attempt to keep warm but the motion caused the skin on her back to pull tight making the cut scream out in agony. She thought back to the look on Gambits face before he left, the knot in her stomach twisted again making her feel nauseous. She chewed on her bottom lip nervously while she waited for him to return.

- Kid what are ya waiting for, an invitation? Get yourself outta there! –It was Logan, his voice was a quiet echo at the back of her mind but she knew it was him; well not the real Logan but the psyche Logan she keep locked up in her mind along with the psyches of every other person she had ever touched. She looked back to where Gambit had disappeared and as of yet not returned. – Why am Ah waiting for him? – She shook her head to herself. Looking around she could see a large light in the distance; she figured it must be above the station platform so she began weaving her way through the maze of shipping containers heading in the direction of the light.

Thoughts, questions? please R&R ^.^

Aza x