28. The Talk
"Another round, s'il vous plait," Remy said as he and Miguel sat at a table within a hole-in-the-wall biker bar on the outskirts of Bayville.
For the past two hours, the southern mutants had split a basket of chili cheese fries and four beers. Bikers and self-proclaimed tough guys entered and left with full bellies, loose women, liquor, or all of the above. In fact, anyone in their right and sane minds stayed away from Barley's Bar for those reasons. Remy and Miguel however, were hardly ever in their right or sane minds.
"You sure you two can hold your liquor?" the bartender asked as he handed them two more bottles.
"Course we can. In fact, why not give everyone in here a fresh bottle on us." Reaching into his trench coat, Remy pulled out a wad of cash and tossed the small bundle to the bartender. "Until it runs out."
"Lebeau," the burley and tattooed barkeep said with a chuckle. "You are my new favorite customer."
"Of course Ah am. How could anyone hate ol' Remy?"
As the bartender went to serve the other happy bikers, both Remy and Miguel popped the tops off their drinks using the edge of the table. Peanut shells littered the wooden floor around them and were being crunched under heavy boots as women in tight jeans and shirts catered to customer's orders. Smoke swirled in the air, making the dim lights seem dimmer with several games of pool going on to the side of the place, the only area that was brighter than the rest, as the jukebox blared out southern rock songs. Neon signs did little to help brighten things up with some displaying beer logos and others forming outlines of women.
"Feeling any better, Miguel?" Remy asked as he took a swig of his beer.
"Not much." Miguel only turned his bottle around as it rested on the table.
"Look at things this way, mon ami, it could be worse."
"(Pfft) Yeah, right."
"No, it could. You could've had mah problems. Like what Ah went through with Bella Donna."
When Miguel didn't acknowledge him, the Cajun nudged him slightly. When he didn't say or do anything, he was nudged again and again until he let out a frustrated sigh and looked at his fellow X-Man. "Fine, who's Bella Donna?"
"Glad you asked," Remy said as he slapped the back of Miguel. "You see, when Ah was young, Ah met this sweet young girl named Bella Donna. She was like an evil little Shirley temple with knives."
"Hm, sounds lovely."
"Yeah, but you didn't want to cross her. See, she came from the Assassins Guild and was mah guild's rivals. Ah came from the Thieves Guild, just so you know. We were friends and a little more until we became teenagers and our families betrothed us to unite the guilds and make peace between them. Long story short, we didn't want to marry, and on said day, her brother stopped it and we dueled. Ah won but was kicked out of the guild. Bella never forgave meh and Ah…made some bad choices that eventually led meh to where Ah am now."
"And that's supposed to make meh feel better?"
"You're not seein' the big picture." Remy took another swig of his beer. "What happened in your past, should never affect your present. You and Megan may not be together anymore, but if you want her back, go after her."
"Is that a thieves' mentality?" Miguel asked as he sat back in his seat. "Take what you want?"
"Actually, that's just a 'heart wants what the heart wants' mentality. You just described Captain Jack Sparrow's way of thinking."
Miguel rubbed his head then looked up at the red eyed Cajun. "You, mister Lebeau, are a romantic."
"Of course, I'm French."
With a snicker, both clicked their beers together just as the jukebox in the back of the building began playing The Buzzcocks' 'Ever Fallen in Love with Someone'.
"Oh give me a f#$kin' break," Miguel said as he downed about a third of his beer.
"Well I almost got you out of your funk." Remy said as he began nursing his drink. "Can't say I didn't try."
As the two downed the rest of their beers, a large biker sauntered up to them and leaned on the table. "You the ones who bought drinks for the bar?" he asked as he flexed his thick arms.
"Sure, happy to have been of service," Remy replied.
"Well I didn't get a beer."
"Should've been here earlier. I think my generous donation's run out. Maybe next time."
"I want a beer." The man leaned in close enough to Remy where he could smell his rotten teeth. "And you're gonna give me one."
"Why don't you buy one yourself?" Miguel asked. "This ain't no charity."
"I believe my brother wants a beer," another biker said as he and a dozen others joined the first one. "And so would the rest of my friends."
"So what's it gonna be, boys?" the first biker asked. "Buy us a round, or we make you buy us a round?"
Leaning over to Miguel, Remy held a hand up to cover his mouth as he spoke. "What say we paint the bar red tonight, no?"
Miguel could only grin.
Within the room of Megan, she, Kitty, and Marie discussed what had happened over the last two days since Miguel came back. The only one missing from their click was Tabitha who was bouncing around the mid-west on a mission with Jubilee, Beast, and a recently joined Scarlet Witch. Since Remy took Miguel out to clear his head, the girls had retreated upstairs and had been talking for some time.
"That's beautiful," Megan said as Kitty showed off a bracelet Piotr had gotten her.
"I know. And I, like, love the little Star of David charm he had put on it." Kitty made sure to show the small gold trinket as it dangled from the silver band. "He said he wanted to get me the gold one but I said this one was perfect. Besides, I saw how much the other one cost but, like, the amount he spent on it doesn't matter."
"Be glad he's not a thief," Marie told her. "Ah told that to Remy and then had to bust him upside the head after he stole meh that car and jewelry set that one time."
"What ever happened to those?"
"One fantastic week in Vegas, that's what."
After a small laugh, Kitty turned to Megan from her position on the beanbag chair. "So, Megan, has Eric given you anything yet? And if so, how did he do it? Was it all romantic?"
"Kit," Marie chided. "Leave her be. The guy could get her anything she wanted. He is loaded after all."
"He got me this gorgeous white gold ring with diamonds in the band," Megan answered as she sat on her bed and looked the ring over. "He got it from France when he was there last week."
The girls stared at it as it sparkled in the light. Each diamond was like a miniature star locked into the piece of jewelry.
"Guy's got good taste," Marie said as she leaned back.
"Hey, has Miguel gotten you anything?" asked Kitty.
"What?" Megan responded.
"When you were together, did her ever get you anything?"
Thinking back to before Miguel left, Megan thought of the few things he had given her she had cherished. The first of which was his 'FOCK FEAR' shirt after they came back from the lake. While not romantic per say, it was the first thing he had given her. The second was a drawing of her in the air as she flew above the mansion with a blissful look on her face and the stars swirling around her as she spun in the sky. The last was the small leather book he guarded on the night she fixed his laptop and saw it as part of her payment. She had sworn not to tell anyone about it as she was the only other person who knew it existed. Of course, those were the physical things he had given her and not the ones that really mattered.
"I still have the shirt he gave me," she told them, "the one I wore to the concert. And the drawing of me flying."
"That drawing is beautiful," Kitty said as she looked at it hanging on the wall. "So what are you going to do now that he's back?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we didn't get to talk last night, but now Miguel's back, are you, like, gonna go back to him or keep seeing Eric?"
"Kit, leave her alone," Marie told the valley girl as she texted Remy on her phone. "It's her business, not yours."
"It doesn't hurt to ask."
"To be honest, Kitty, I don't know." Letting out a sigh, Megan leaned back with her arms supporting her. "I like Eric but I was with Miguel first. I still have feelings for him. But with the way he went after Eric today…and accusing him of taking me? Then Eric told me Miguel was dangerous to be around after their fight and how he could have been with Justine when he was away…"
"You my friend," Kitty said, "need The List."
"The List?"
"Oh lord, Kitty," Marie groaned as she slapped her hand on her forehead. "Not that stupid thing again."
"It's not stupid," Kitty argued. "It's a scientifically proven list that determines ones chosen love."
"It's a list of dumb questions that only high school girls use to decide to date the quarterback or the captain of the Basketball team."
"Nuh-uh. I should have listened to it when Piotr looked like he liked me instead of wasting my time with Lance. Joined SHIELD only to go back and reform the Brotherhood, the jerk." The last part was said quietly.
"So what is this list?" Megan asked.
"Okay, The List is a list of-"
"Dumb," Marie interrupted.
"Not dumb questions," Kitty lightly kicked the Goth girl in the leg as she went on without stopping, "to help you make a choice over who is, like, best suited for you in the long run. It alternates between shallow and deep questions to make you think harder about these two guys you can't decide over."
"Fine," Megan huffed. "Let's give it a shot."
"Okay, first I need a sheet of paper and a pen to keep track of the score. I have the questions saved to my phone." At that moment, Kitty's phone alerted her to an incoming text, which she answered then slapped Marie on the arm. "That's not nice you southern fried tater head!"
"What did she say?" Megan asked as she pulled a pad and pencil from her nightstand.
"Ah sent her a picture of herself with little devil horns, a goatee, and a pointy tail," Marie answered. "How I love mah phone's drawing feature."
"Whatever," Kitty said as she took the writing materials. "Anyways, I got The List pulled up on my phone right here in my hot little hands. Miguel is on the left side, and Eric is on the right. After each question, one will get a mark and the other won't. At the end, the one with the most points should be the one who's right for you. Ready?"
"Sure," Megan said with a sigh. "I just hope this isn't stupid."
"It's not stupid," Kitty said, a little peeved.
"Megan, think about it this way," Marie offered, "there are dumber things to do on a Saturday night than answer these questions."
"Like what?" Megan asked.
"This is so dumb!" Miguel yelled as a steel chain sailed over his head and shattered a neon sign of a woman dancing.
"Ah know, just enjoy it!" Remy shouted as he ducked a haymaker from a biker and struck back with a right hook to knock him out.
The two started out the night with a few drinks and a late snack. Now they were involved in a in a bar fight of all things. The group of bikers looking for a beer wasted no time in tossing the two mutant's table over after they splashed them with their beers. Fists went flying soon after with weapons being pulled almost at the same time.
"Stand still a$$hole!" taking a wild swing, one of the bikers tried to knock Remy's head off only to have the Cajun counter with a spinning kick to the back of his head.
Near the pool tables, Miguel used one to hoist himself across it and plant both feet in an incoming attacker. The moment he landed, one of the original biker's gang grabbed him by the back and threw him into the jukebox. The track skipped and landed on another. This time, it was Nickleback's 'Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting'.
"Hey. Remy!" Miguel yelled as he blocked an incoming switchblade and belted its wielder across the jaw for throwing him into the music machine as well as trying to stab him.
Blocking an incoming punch, Remy grabbed his foe by the hair and slammed him face first into a table. "Yeah?"
"Now this track Ah like."
"Okay, question one of one hundred," Kitty said as she sat in Megan's computer chair. "Upon first glance, did you find…um, I guess we'll start with Miguel. Did you find Miguel cute upon first glance?"
"Um," Megan said as she thought back to when he first arrived at the mansion.
"Kitty," Marie huffed. "This is-"
"It's not stupid, Marie so shut up! Megan, answer the question."
"Well, yeah," the pink and blue haired girl said.
"Okay, that's one for Miguel," Kitty placed a point under Miguel's name. "Now Eric."
"Yes."
"And a point for Eric. Now, who did you flirt with first?"
"I would have to go with Miguel on that one."
Kitty placed another mark by his name. "Who makes you feel safe when around?"
"Um, Eric. But only because he doesn't have a temper on him."
"Who makes you think more?"
"Eric."
"Of the two, which one excites you, in a non-sexual way, more?"
"Miguel. Never know what he's gonna do."
"Sexual?"
A blush flamed on Megan's face. "Same." Her answer caused the other girls to laugh slightly.
"Who do you have more in common with?"
"I would have to go with Eric."
"Why?" Marie asked.
"Well, he's more cultured for one. He's also more sophisticated, less temperamental, and is always a perfect gentleman."
"So in other words, boring." Marie rolled her eyes as she said the word.
"Well," Megan said as she shifted in her place. "With Eric, I at least know he'll think things through before charging in. With Miguel…he just…well…"
"Get over here!" Using one of the fallen chains, Miguel managed to wrap it around a biker's leg and drag him back. He delivered a kick to the man's face, knocking him out when he was rushed by another one and sent through the restroom door. A moment later, he emerged from the room and clotheslined the same biker.
"Who wants to play a round?" Grabbing a pool cue, Remy jabbed a biker in the gut then brought it up to break his jaw. "Hey, Miguel, toss me a pitch!"
Grabbing a pool ball, Miguel tossed it at Remy who used his cue as a bat. He smacked the round object at the head of another biker, bouncing it off his skull, and hit the jukebox. The track once again skipped to play Moterhead's 'Ace of Spades.'
"Now this is a song Ah can fight to," Remy said with a grin.
"Okay, question ninety eight," Kitty said as she placed another mark on the pad. "Of the two, who gives you the most butterflies?"
"Butterflies?" Marie asked.
"You know, twitterpated."
"Ugh, this is so stupid," Marie groaned.
"Quit putting down The List! Megan, answer the question."
Letting out a sigh, Megan gave her answer. "Miguel."
"Okay, now, who has the best body?" Kitty asked.
Blushing, Megan bit her lip. "M…Miguel."
Giggling, Kitty put a mark by his name. "Last one. And it's the most important one. Of the two, who do you see yourself having a future with?"
The question had Megan grow quiet and the other two X-Women waiting for her answer.
"This should take care of the damages." Handing the bar owner a wad of cash, Remy flashed his most trusting smile at the man. It would have been better if he didn't have a large bruise on his cheek.
"Lebeau," the bar owner said as he flipped through the money. "I would ban and hate you if it weren't for your damn restitutions."
"Like Ah said earlier, who could ever hate good ol' Remy?"
After shaking hands and parting ways, the Cajun made his way over to the Hispanic mutant and laughed. "Had fun getting your ya ya's out?"
Letting out a huff and grinning, Miguel nodded. "Yeah, that was pretty good." He had a bloody nose that was just about healed along with a busted lip he received from a biker catching him off guard with a barstool to the face. They would be fully healed by morning.
Flinging an arm around Miguel's shoulders, Remy walked by his side to their waiting motorcycles. "Glad to hear it. Every one should have a friend like meh. We talk, we drink, we kick ass, and we steal baddie's bikes. Hope you don't lose this one, mon ami."
"Ah'll try not to."
Climbing aboard the bike of the biker responsible for starting all the trouble, Miguel started it up and was rewarded with the loud signature sound of a Harley engine. "Hey, Remy."
"Oui?"
"Thanks."
"No problem. Oh, one more thing, that money Ah paid with? You should be glad to know it was Eric's. He has so much, Ah don't think he'll miss any."
Miguel began to laugh as the two took off for the mansion.
In the room of Megan, Kitty went over the total score of The List as Marie read a text from Remy about him coming back soon. For something she wasn't taking seriously, Megan found herself to be extremely nervous of the final score and was close to ripping the pad from Kitty's hands.
"Okay," Kitty announced. "Are you sure you want to know the score?"
"Yes!" Megan blurted out by accident. "I mean, sure."
"What was the score?" Marie asked. "Not that Ah care. It's dumb anyways."
"Well, the score was close." Kitty showed Marie the results and turned to Megan. "The final scores were forty three to fifty seven, in favor of…Eric."