Disclairmer: I do not own the X-men
"So, any suggestions?" Bobby asked his Russian friend, after explaining why he and Rogue had a small argument after their poker night. They were practicing basketball outside while chatting, enjoying the free Wednesday afternoon.
"First of all, I think you could've been a little more sensitive. 'I'm not well and need to sleep?' That excuse is as old as… I'm not sure, but no one buys that anymore. Why didn't you just go and take a swim with her, keep her company? It wasn't a big deal."
"You know I don't feel comfortable in the pool with both of us wearing nothing but bathing suits. It feels weird, after all we've gone through. It's like going to Burger King while you're on a diet!"
Piotr sighed and blocked Bobby's attack, then took the ball from him. "That sounds really childish, you know? Rogue's not a hamburger. She's got feelings, just like you."
"I know! I'm not saying she doesn't. And that's one of the reasons why we have to avoid those situations. I know it's painful for her as well. It reminds her of… that night." Piotr scored and Bobby groaned.
"I don't get what kind of relationship you're living, then. You're together, but you avoid being together. Confusing, that's the perfect word to describe it." This time, Bobby was quicker than him, jumped and scored. "Damn."
"Are you going to help me or will you just criticize me?"
"I thought that was the same thing…" Piotr muttered, trying to steal the ball from Bobby's hands and succeeding. Bobby crossed his arms and stopped, glaring at his friend. "Ok, ok." He threw the ball aside and sat on the concrete floor. "Have you talked to her about this yet?"
Bobby sat on the floor too and stretched. "No… I wasn't really sure about what to say or do. I tried talking about regular stuff, but she seems distant."
"That's not surprising. You should have tried to apologize, or at least make amends for the way you acted. Talk to her, my friend. Be honest about how you feel, tell her what you just told me… without mentioning Burger King, of course. And then, surprise her with something. You could take her to dinner, just the two of you. Or buy her flowers."
"Yeah, dinner is a nice suggestion. I think there's a nice surprise I could make. Remember what Kitty mentioned about Puerto Rico last night?"
Piotr frowned. "I don't think that's a good idea…"
"Why not? It's perfect. She'll love it, you'll see." He jumped up and shook the dirt from his sweatpants. "You know what? I'll go ask her out right now."
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Betsy and Rogue were busy trying to bake an apple pie. Betsy gave herself the task of cooking the caramelized apples, while Rogue struggled to make a decent crust on the marble kitchen island. She kept checking the recipe book but still something wasn't quite working: she just couldn't get the consistency right and the crust's dough felt almost like glue when she touched it.
"This can't be right, Betsy!" she groaned for the third time, trying to remove a lock of hair from her eyes and getting her face dirty with flour in the process.
"Did you follow the recipe?!" Betsy asked from where she was standing in front of the oven.
"Ah already told ya: word by word. It said that Ah should add ¼ cup of water to the mixture."
On the opposite side of the kitchen, Remy chewed on a sandwich whilst watching the two women cook. He narrowed his eyes and sat straight on the chair when Betsy dropped a wooden spoon and bent down to get it. However, he had to admit that the real entertainment was watching Rogue curse, run around, punch the tabletop, all that with flour on her clothes and face, messy hair and a determined expression on her face. It was too entertaining. It was only when she gave up completely and told Betsy she was starting all over that he actually felt bad for her and decided to help.
Rogue was staring at the dough, feeling hopeless, when she heard Remy's voice right behind her. "Need some help, ma belle?"
'Ah knew he wouldn't just finish that sandwich and leave quietly…' "No, thanks. Everything is under control." She faced him and his gaze drifted from her to the dough in the food processor. She could almost feel how much he was struggling to keep a neutral expression and keep himself from laughing. Rogue risked following his gaze and was not as successful as Remy. She snorted and burst out laughing. That slime looked absolutely pathetic. Seeing her laughing ruined Remy's self control and he let out his laughter too.
"Are you two just going to stand there laughing? The apples are nearly ready." Betsy said.
Both southerners took deep breaths and Remy stepped forward to help Rogue.
"Hmm… honestly, dis looks awful. The good news is that it is very easy to fix it." He proceeded to get more flour on the counter and was about to add it to the mixture in the food processor when Rogue grabbed his sleeve.
"Wait! That's way more flour than in the recipe."
"So? You followed the recipe, didn't y'?"
"Yeah."
"See how well it worked out? Y' can't always live by the rules chérie, trust me on dat."
Rogue stood there, watching him turn on the food processor and slowly add more flour until the dough finally turned out the way it was supposed to. Then he stepped aside and gestured for her to take his place.
"Can y' take it from here?"
"Sure." She removed the mixture from the processor and formed a ball with it, using her bare hands. "Could ya get meh a piece of waxed paper? It's right there next to Betsy."
"Course'." Remy walked to Betsy and purposely leaned over her to get the roll of waxed paper. "Pardon, belle. Crowded kitchen." He shrugged, making Betsy chuckle, and ran back to Rogue. "Waxed paper."
Rogue put the dough over it and tried to roll it out with a rolling pin dusted with flour.
"Y' are being too gentle." Remy said from behind her, observing her careful movements.
"What do ya mean?"
"Y' need to use a little more strength." He put his (luckily gloved) hands over hers as she used the rolling pin, making her put more pressure on the dough, while standing behind her, almost as an embrace. He lowered his head until his lips were just centimeters away from her ear and whispered: "Like dis..."
Rogue was so taken by surprise at his actions that she didn't even know how to react at first, but the shiver that ran down her spine when his warm breath reached her ear gave her the strength to shove him away.
"Can't ya just keep yer hands to yerself?!" She asked between gritted teeth, taking two more steps back.
"I was just showin' y' how t' do it." Remy lifted his hands, trying to look surprised by her reaction.
"Sure. Do it yerself and Ah'll watch, swamp rat."
"Y' can watch me anytime, chérie. But I still think doin' somethin' with your own hands is much better." He smirked at her but all he got in return was a death glare. "Ok, ok, pardon! I got a little carried away with the cookin' pleasure." He apologized and opened the dough himself, then put it on the pie plate. "Voilà!"
"Ah got to admit it's looking much better now. Isn't it?" She asked while poking the dough.
"Oui." Remy said, leaning on the kitchen's island and facing Rogue. "Lookin' very tasty." He whispered with a husky voice, not giving one single glance at the dough. Instead, his eyes scanned Rogue's body, up and down, making her blush furiously.
"Excuse meh?" She turned her head to him in disbelief.
"Y' heard it." He gave her a wicked grin. Rogue turned completely in his direction, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes dangerously.
That was the scene that Bobby saw as he walked into the kitchen, in search for her. He stopped in his tracks when he saw his girlfriend standing so close to that guy, while he was clearly undressing her with his eyes, not even bothering to disguise it.
"Rogue!" Bobby called and she jumped in alarm. Remy didn't move, except for his eyes, which drifted from Rogue to Bobby, and his smile, that turned from seductive to scornful.
"Bobby! Hey, sugah. Ah was just…"
"Baking a pie!" Betsy completed for her, rushing to her side and filling the pie with the caramelized apple. "I asked Remy to help us, because we couldn't get things right. Warren is terrible in the kitchen, you know." She closed the pie with the crust and clapped. "Remy, could you put it in the oven, please?"
"Yer wish is my command, belle." As Remy turned to do so, Bobby pulled Rogue aside.
"Betsy, I'll steal her for a while, ok?"
"Sure, dear." Betsy smiled confidently and when Bobby walked out of the kitchen with Rogue by his side, the girl looked back and mouthed 'thank you' to her.
Bobby led Rogue to the Rec Room with an angry expression on his face, avoiding eye contact with her.
"What's wrong, sugah?"
"I don't like the way he looks at you. I don't like it at all!" He said, trying to keep his voice calm but failing.
"That's pretty much the same look he gives to most of the girls here."
"But I'm not dating these girls, I'm dating you. Who does he thinks he is, acting like that towards other people's girlfriends?" He asked and stood in front of her. Rogue approached him slowly, with her raised eyebrows demonstrating a mute interest, and played with a button of his shirt.
"Robert Drake, are ya jealous?" she teased.
"Well, yeah!"
"You know, ya look very sexy when you're jealous." She teased further, unable to disguise that she was rather enjoying her boyfriend's attitude.
"Seriously, Rogue. Stay away from that guy. And if he keeps being a jerk to you, let me know and I'll handle it." Bobby straightened his body and clenched his fists, but the only effect it had on Rogue was make her feel like laughing. Now she was positively having fun. He had never sounded so protective over her.
"Don't worry. If he bothers meh again, Ah'll let you know." Deep inside (actually, not so deep), she knew that if it came to the point that she couldn't handle that situation herself, Logan was her first back up option, not Bobby; but he didn't need to know that. She sat down on the couch in front of the television and, pulling Bobby by the wrist, made him sit by her side.
"Is that all ya wanted to talk about?"
"No. I got distracted, sorry. I wanted to know if you would like to have dinner with me Friday night at some nice restaurant. I guess maybe we should take some time for us."
"Oh! Of course Ah want to, Bobby!" She smiled wide and carefully held him. His body tensed for a second but then he held her back, glad he finally got something right.
Betsy was happy she was nearly done cleaning the kitchen's island, thanks to Remy's help. Not to mention that his presence was really pleasant too… every once in a while she would give him a quick glance. 'Man, he's hot!' she thought when he stretched to put the flour pack on the highest shelf.
"The boy is pretty hotheaded for a popsicle, ain't he?" Remy said out of nowhere.
"Yeah, he can be." Betsy was a little uncertain of what to answer. "Remy… I'm not really sure about how to say this but… I think you should take it a little easier with Rogue. I know you are just joking, and I think it's natural, nothing against it, but my advice is: don't play around with Rogue, in particular."
Remy gave her a side long glance and then scratched his chin. "You are the second person t' tell me dat. What's wrong with her? Is she ultra sensitive or what? She looks grown up enough t' not need people t' speak for her."
"Yes, don't get me wrong. She is my friend and I'm just worried. You shouldn't get so close to her so recklessly. Not only because it's disturbing to her but mainly for your own safety."
Remy snorted. "Is her boyfriend goin' t' come after me?"
Betsy sighed and put her hands in her pockets. "No. Or maybe yes. That's not the point. It's because you are risking going into a coma..." That seemed to gain Remy's attention, at last. "Because of her powers. She can drain people's life force, memories, and powers through skin contact. Basically, if she touches you for more than brief seconds, she drains you and you faint. If the contact lasts longer, you go into a coma. If it goes on for more time…" She didn't need to conclude for him to understand.
In the evening, Rogue rushed to the Danger Room, afraid she was late. The usual group of that day (Bobby, Sam, and Lorna) was there already, with an unpleasant surprise: Remy. Bobby was chatting cheerfully with Sam and Lorna, and waved at her when he saw her coming in. While she walked to his side, she could feel Remy's eyes checking her out, and suddenly she felt the uniform was showing more than she would like the Cajun to see. He smirked at her and licked his lips slowly, clearly trying to piss her off and succeeding. Gladly, Bobby wasn't looking.
Logan came into the Danger Room and stood in front of them.
"Ok, so today I have to deal with you five. Since I'm still testing Remy's abilities as a fighter, I will ask you to do something simple but that will prove to be a little more difficult than it seems. Act as a team, with one goal in common: take the Cajun down."
Everyone's eyebrows raised and Bobby seemed to be looking forward to start. Rogue changed a glance with Sam and she could tell he didn't feel comfortable with four people attacking one. She looked back at Remy and his smile was even larger, and his hands were shuffling a deck of cards that appeared out of nowhere.
"Are you sure this will be fair?" Lorna asked.
"Unfortunately it is. Are you ready?" Logan looked at each of them enthusiastically.
"Wait. What is this guy's power anyways?" Bobby asked, not even bothering to look at Remy.
"You'll soon find out, kid. Get ready!"
All of them formed a circle around Remy, who just kept standing coolly shuffling his deck and smirking. Rogue's adrenaline started to rush through her. She didn't really mind beating that damn smirk off his face.
"Fight!"
Bobby was the first one to run into Remy's direction and moving in to punch him while freezing his own fist. Before he could get much closer though, Remy turned and gave him a side kick on the chest, and then dodged out of Sam's way, who came flying like a missile in his direction. Bobby attacked again, seeming to get angrier and pay less attention to his technique at each dodged or blocked blow.
Rogue snapped her mouth shut, realizing she had been standing there watching Remy fight Sam and Bobby without much effort. She was about to kick him on the kidneys when he swept her off her feet and then landed on top of her. Right in that second, Sam passed over their heads and hit Bobby straight in the chest, taking him down.
"What…?" she didn't have time to finish the sentence since Lorna sent a few metal training equipment flying in Remy's direction. He dodged most of them but a heavy metal bar hit him hard and he fell back. Lorna smiled and two metal boxes came in his direction again. He stood up and charged a handful of cards that exploded when they hit the boxes. The explosion sent Lorna flying onto the wall and she lost consciousness. Rogue took advantage of the dust and crawled until she was close enough to Remy's leg, diving and grabbing his legs. He stumbled and fell with a surprised look on his face. Rogue tried to use some basic judo moves to immobilize him but Remy extended his bo staff and grinned at her.
"Sorry chérie, but it's not y'r turn yet." With those words, he charged the staff just enough to cause an impact and get her off him. He stood and pulled her to him. "I like the uniform. By the way, don't get mad at me, ok?" he whispered and got a confused look from her. She finally got what he meant when he immobilized her, turning her back to him and holding her arm. She was about to back kick him when he took off her glove and she froze.
"Remy?!" she sounded a bit hysterical and he nearly gave up on his plan but Sam was already flying in his direction again. Too late to turn back.
When Sam was only a few seconds away, he stepped to the side taking Rogue with him, but raised her hand high enough so it brushed against Sam's bare cheek. It wasn't enough to knock him out but he lost his focus for a second and ended up hitting the metal wall, crumbling to the ground.
Rogue stood there trying to get what had just happened.
"Ya didn't just do that! This ain't fair!"
"Actually it was, Rogue. He used your powers against each other. That is fair in a fight." Logan stated.
She glared at him and then turned to glare at Remy, who looked as if nothing had happened.
"You're going to pay fer that, swamp rat." She growled and took a jab at his chin. He barely had time to dodge and she double kicked him. Her furious attacks caught him off guard since he didn't expect such a reaction from a girl who looked so soft and delicate.
But Remy wasn't one to accept being hit. He grabbed his bo staff again and used it to block her moves.
"Y' know chérie, I was looking forward to have this private session with you."
"I'm-not-your-chérie!" she had managed to punch him twice before he finally grabbed her fist.
"Now y' should calm down chérie. It wasn't dat bad. In fights sometimes we need to make dirty moves."
"Oh yeah?!" she grabbed his coat and raised her knee to meet his groin. He fell to his knees, out of breath. "Thanks for the advice, swamp rat."
Logan smiled proudly at her.
"Good job Rogue. You're free from tomorrow's training."
She gave him a wink, took her glove from the floor and went to the changing rooms. She was in the middle of her shower when Lorna came in.
"Is your head ok?" Rogue asked.
"Yes, I think I just need to put some ice on it. But Logan insisted I went to see Mr. McCoy just to make sure. By the way, he mentioned something about you beating Remy at his own game. How was that?"
"Oh." She chuckled. "Let's say he won't be able to walk properly for a while... Ah think Ah hurt his ego."
Lorna's mouth dropped and she started laughing. "You didn't just do what I think you did."
"Yep, Ah did. Put that arrogant Cajun in his proper place." Rogue said while drying herself and putting her casual clothes on. "Ah'll catch up with ya later."
Rogue stood in front of the elevator when she heard uncertain footsteps behind her. She snorted when she turned to find Remy coming in her direction, walking in an awkward way.
"Feeling better?" she asked with a wicked smile on her face.
"Chérie, dat was a very dirty move, y' know? But don't worry; dere won't be any permanent damage t' the fun park."
Rogue rolled her eyes. "Since when did ya know about mah powers?" she asked, trying to make it sound like a casual question.
"Since today." He grinned. "You don't look dat dangerous."
"Ya don't look very dangerous either." She mocked as he got in the elevator with her with uneven steps.
"Touché."
Rogue stood as far from him as possible, certain that now that he knew about her powers he would prefer to keep a distance. Every one but Logan preferred it that way. 'At least now he'll leave meh alone.' She sighed at the thought.
"Do y' want t' go out for dinner?"
Her head snapped up and she turned to him, absolutely sure she had misheard. "What?!"
"Do y' want t' have dinner wit' me? Tonight?" He said slowly and clearly, as if she was a confused child.
Rogue just stood there with a gaping mouth until the elevator's door opened. "You are insane." She said over her shoulder, striding to the main hall. 'What's he doing?'
"It's the least y' can do after hurtin' my pride." Remy said, catching up with her.
"Next time you'll think twice before playing dirty with meh." Rogue shot back, climbing the stairs.
"I'd love to play dirty wit' y' anytime chérie. Y' know where my room is, don't ya'?"
She turned and glared at him. "Mind to tell meh where it is?"
"Will y' show up?"
"No, Ah'll just avoid getting near it as much as possible." They got to the top of the stairs and Remy bowed to her.
"I'm sure you'll change y'r mind, chérie. Tell me when dat happens." He grinned and left. Rogue just sighed at that and went to her room to finish her homework.