Disclairmer: I do not own the X-men
They were met with a ghost mansion hall, huge enough to fit all the students of the Institute. The ceiling was high, with many silver and orange balloons, fake bats flying among them and four disco globes positioned above the dance floor which was already full of people dancing to a remix of Thriller. The fog and darkness made it difficult to see very clearly, but it looked magical, with all the disco lights shining here and there nonstop. The walls were black and covered with 'haunted' paintings which moved and glowed in the rhythm of the music, just like the floor tiles in the dance floor. There were many small tables with jack o' lanterns on it, and plates with all kinds of candies. The biggest table was on the further side of the hall, the three floors black, purple and orange cake on it, surrounded by nice looking food such as salad, lasagna, roast beef, and others, made by Ororo and Remy. On the corners, many couples sat on comfy dark red couches and talked lively, making fun of each other's costumes, or just making out in privacy.
Rogue blinked twice trying to get used to the darkness, in the moment a sparkling spot came sliding in her direction, followed by a tall someone who found it more difficult to follow. After blinking once again, she realized the sparkling spot was Kitty, in a sparkling purple and pink fairy dress phasing through people to get to her, followed by Piotr who was dressed as Frankenstein.
"Rogue! You are like the sexiest catwoman I have ever seen." She exclaimed, a big smile on her petite face. Piotr finally arrived to her side and put an arm around her, while smiling to both Rogue and Remy.
"That's a good bet you won comrade." He said to Remy who smiled proudly at Rogue.
"Don't y' tell me."
The song changed and Kitty started jumping. "Come Pete, I love this song so much. Rogue, let's dance! You guys hold my hand." She said and phased them all through the crowd until they reached a nice spot with enough space to dance. Dancing seemed almost too easy to Kitty, but Piotr was a bit out of his comfort zone just like Rogue. Remy crossed his arms and smirked at her mockingly, waiting for a reaction. Rogue took that as a challenge and surprised him with a quite decent dance. She actually liked to dance but not in front of so many people. Jubilee and Kitty were the only ones in the mansion who had already seen her dancing.
Talking about Jubilee, she passed them in a rush, stopped when she realized it was them and came back. Her eyes toured Remy's whole body before she looked at Rogue with her mouth in a perfect O shape. Her hair was all spiky and messy, matching her modern geisha short kimono and high heels. The make up was heavier than Rogue was used to, but it looked great. A scarecrow rushed to Jubilee's side and his voice shook her out of her trance.
"Jubilee, I thought you were only going to the bathroom…" came Sam's voice from behind the mask. "Oh, hello people! Sorry, it's so crazy in here I get kind of lost."
"Sam?" Rogue moved her lips without making any sound while looking at Jubilee, a mix of surprise and fun in her face. The girl shrugged but Rogue could see a blush forming under the white powder all over her face.
"Chica, I told you this outfit would totally blow people's minds. Everyone is talking about you! Well, not as much as they are talking about Logan." She snorted along with Sam, Kitty and Piotr.
"Where is he?!" Rogue and Remy asked simultaneously, looking all around.
"Next to the main table, eating of course. And making sure everyone that looks at him will get growled at." Jubilee laughed.
"I hope we don't have real corpses 'til the end on the party." Piotr said and looked in the direction of the table.
"Let's check it out." Remy took Rogue's hand and dragged her in that direction. Even before they reached the table they were laughing.
Wolverine was standing stiff, a piece of meat in his middle claw, and a murderous look on his face. His clothes were torn to shreds and black fur was covering his arms and chest.
Rogue avoided staring so she wouldn't piss him off even more.
"Hey there, Puppyrine!" Remy said out loud, waving his hand.
"What did you call me Gumbo?!" Logan screamed and came flying in his direction but Rogue got in between them.
"Logan! I told you already: stop fighting with the students!" Ororo's voice came from behind them. "Can't I even go to check my make up?" She was dressed as an Egyptian queen with a long white dress, a gold necklace around her neck, many bracelets on her thin wrists, and a gold tiara on her head. She was looking like a real goddess.
Logan stepped behind and pointed his claws in Remy's direction. "You better watch your mouth, Gumbo."
"Rogue will watch it for me tonight." He answered and Rogue punched him.
"Nice outfit you two." Ororo smiled at them.
"Ma belle, I could say the same, but I'm mesmerized by a certain catwoman already." Remy joked and Ororo agreed.
"No doubt you are, Remy. Who isn't?"
"But I must say your company is just as… fascinating."
Ororo and Rogue had to get between Logan and Remy again to avoid real blood on the walls.
"Ororo, Ah'll get Remy outta here so y'all can have some fun. See ya." Rogue pulled Remy as fast as she could, heading to a corner. "Are ya crazy, Swamp Rat? Ya got a death wish or what?"
"Mais chérie, I was havin' fun." He pouted. Rogue rolled her eyes and looked around to find a vacant table.
"Oh there are the others." She pointed to a table and dragged Remy with her.
In three tables put together sat Jubilee, Sam, Kitty, Piotr and five more people. Betsy and Warren, dressed as a devil and an angel respectively, Tabitha dressed as a vampire, with fangs and all, Amara, dressed as an Amazon warrior, and Theresa Cassidy, who wasn't looking very happy, as a corpse.
"Actually it's a banshee." She had stated to Kitty, who had previously talked to her.
"Hey guys, can we sit?" Rogue asked.
"Yeah, sure love. Grab a chair." Betsy said.
"Warren, that's a very original outfit you got…did you spend a lot of money?" Jubilee asked. He chuckled and nodded to Betsy.
"It was her idea. I was planning to come as a devil originally. But you know how stubborn she can get, right?"
"Who doesn't?" Jubilee teased and Betsy just ignored them. "So, how is everything? It took all of my energy to organize all this."
"I don't think ten parties like this would take your energy, Jubs." Sam said and the others agreed, among laughter.
"Ha ha, funny scarecrow." She retorted sarcastically.
"Everything is perfect Jubilee, including the DJ." Amara said without taking her eyes off of the place where the DJ was.
"I know; it took me a while to find a DJ perfect like him."
"You should become a promoter Jubilee." Rogue said. "You did a really good job with everything, Amara's right. Though Ah didn't pay much attention to the DJ, honestly."
"With something like this by your side, I didn't expect you to." Jubilee poked Remy's arm and chuckled, making Rogue roll her eyes. She was about to say something when a movement caught her eyes and she froze.
Bobby had just arrived with Lorna by his side. He was dressed as a mummy, and she had a sexy witch dress on, the green matching her hair.
"Rogue, what's…Oh!" Jubilee followed Rogue's gaze and held her breath.
Remy felt Rogue twitch her hand and he held it in his, squeezing it gently. "You ok, chérie?" his concerned eyes met hers and she inhaled slowly.
For a moment she felt a wave of shock wash over her. It didn't take long for him to replace her. She should've known that he was getting someone to come with him to the party, but she couldn't imagine how it'd feel. Now she felt it…and it wasn't that bad, after the first shock. She looked at him and then turned her head to the side when she felt a pressure on her hand. Two rubies were shining for her and her heart rushed, not with anger or jealousy, but with excitement. She took a breath and smiled reassuringly at Remy and then Jubilee. Why was she supposed to get mad for a boy who treated her so poorly all the time when she was in the company of her friends? And yes, Remy was just a friend, she thought.
"Who flushed Iceboy down? There's toilet paper all over him." Remy said in a worried tone and everyone laughed.
"Jubs, Rogue, bathroom now!" Kitty said and Jubilee seemed alarmed by that code. "Come Rogue."
"Ah'll be right back, sugah." She said to Remy and followed the two girls. They left the Danger Room and walked into the dressing rooms.
"Rogue, are you ok?" Kitty asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah."
"C'mon."
"Ah'm serious. Why does everyone find it so hard to believe in meh?" Rogue asked, frustrated that she always had to repeat at least twice that she was fine.
Kitty and Jubilee looked at each other and then back to Rogue.
"You are different." Jubilee whispered and Kitty nodded.
"Ah'm just not dependent of Bobby anymore. Ah guess Ah spent too long in his shadow, just lowering mah head to everything he did and say. That wasn't meh, girls. Yes, it felt weird at first but that's the thing. It didn't feel terrible, just weird." Rogue leaned on the wall and bit her lower lip. "Ah won't say Ah didn't feel lonely… Ah did and sometimes Ah still do. But nobody should date a person if the only reason for that is not wanting to be alone. Ah want more than that."
Jubilee stood in front of her and took her hands. "And you deserve more than that, Rogue. I only ask that you please, pleeease, remember we are here for you. Of course, it's not the same as a boyfriend, I'm totally aware of that, but you can count on us for anything."
Kitty agreed with a nod of her head. "Yep, anytime."
"Ah know, girls. You've been a real support to me, especially after Bobby and Ah broke up. Believe meh, without y'all, Ah probably wouldn't be so fahne right now."
Jubilee grinned slyly. "Without us and another certain person, you mean."
"Why do ya always have to put Remy in the middle of our conversations?!" Rogue threw her arms up and walked to the other side of the changing room, her back to Jubilee, trying to disguise her blush.
"I never mentioned his name. Who said I was talking about him?" Jubilee raised her eyebrows as Rogue turned to glare at her with narrow eyes.
Kitty giggled and checked her mobile. "Girls, what do you say about going back to the party? I feel like dancing."
"I know exactly what you feel like doing, and it isn't dancing." Jubilee said, checking herself in the mirror. Kitty seemed uncomfortable for a brief second but then shrugged.
"What do you mean?" She asked, trying to sound indifferent but Rogue could distinguish a slight tremble of her lip.
"You and Pete made out on the red couch. I saw it all." Jubilee said, focused on retouching her eyeliner. Kitty just stood, shocked, and the Chinese girl turned to look at her. "What? You seriously thought that nobody had seen you, with this shiny bright purple fairy costume, kissing a boy as tiny as Pete?!"
Rogue snorted at that remark. "When were ya going to tell us?! Ah should have imagined… he couldn't take his eyes off you."
"I was going to tell it… later…" She whispered, admiring the wall tiles and ignoring her friends' gazes. Then their eyes met and she couldn't help but giggle. "Okay, sorry! It was like totally magic in the moment. I'm so happy I feel like I could fly."
"Hey girls." Lorna came in the dressing room and walked to their side. "Rogue, we need to talk." She had a bit of guilt in her eyes, but they couldn't hide her happiness.
"Ah know what you got to say Lorna." Rogue said and Lorna bit her lip and closed her eyes, waiting for an explosion that didn't come. "Ah wish ya good luck. Ah hope it works for you."
"Are you…really, Rogue?" Rogue nodded and Lorna hugged her. "I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you before but Bobby didn't let me and I felt so bad about it. I was scared of your reaction."
"Me too. But Ah reacted better than Ah expected, it seems."
"Better than we all expected, you mean." Jubilee said. "Can we go dance now? I didn't get all dressed up to spend the night in a dressing room… at least not with you girls."
"Saaam!" Kitty teased and Jubilee fired daggers with her eyes.
"Let's go, shall we? I need some of that punch. Betsy did it especially and only for us."
She walked ahead and Kitty, Lorna and Rogue followed her back to the party. They struggled to get to the table, and Lorna went back to the dance floor where she had left Bobby.
"Thank God you are back. I was starting to feel frustrated. There are three of us without partners here, but the girls only ask Remy to join them." Sam said, playing with his punch.
"And I had t' politely decline. I got my partner for t'night already." Remy took Rogue's hand in his and kissed it, making the other girls sigh.
"You're such a charmer." She said, rolling her eyes and smiling.
A jar with what seemed to be juice was over the table. "Girls, here's our punch. Feel free to drink, there's more from where this one came from." Betsy said, pointing to under the table and winking. "Is anyone taking the risk?"
"I am!" Jubilee said and filled her glass, just like Amara, Betsy and Tabitha. Rogue filled half glass only and sipped it slowly.
Kitty gave a suspicious look to the drink and crinkled her nose. "No, I'm fine." She said and took a handful of marshmallows from the plate in front of her.
"Actually, it tastes good!" Rogue licked her lips and poured more into her glass.
"Secret recipe." Betsy said with a grin.
About two hours later of feasting, making jokes, and throwing marshmallows on each other, the girls were laughing easily at anything the boys would say, including "I'll get more food.". Kitty shook her head but couldn't hide her enjoyment when Jubilee all of a sudden stood, took Sam by the arm, and carried him to the dance floor. Rogue was about to take another drink when Remy held her glass.
"Chérie, maybe y' should stop for a while, non?"
She nodded, a sleazy smile creeping up her lips. "Yes, ma'am." She stuck her tongue at him and picked up her plate.
"Don't show me dat tongue unless y' plan t' use it, ma belle." Remy whispered and Warren snorted. Rogue shot them a glare but made no comments.
"Ah'll get more lasagna. Be back in a second." She stood and made her way to the main table, trying to dodge the dancers and boys calling her, slightly tripping on her own feet. Rogue was finishing filling her plate when someone poked her shoulder. She turned and found herself face to face with Bobby.
"Hey, Rogue."
"Bobby." Was all she said with no expression on her face.
"Wow, you are looking… different. I mean, you're looking great."
"So is Lorna. Where is she?" She asked sharply.
Bobby scratched his head, visibly embarrassed by her question. "She is sitting at our table, I guess." His eyes stopped on her skirt and he swallowed hard. "I really like your costume. Who convinced you to wear this?"
"Jubilee suggested, but it was mah decision to wear it. It seems every one expected meh to wear something like a long gown, isn't it?" 'Although there was some one hoping for a red baby doll.' She smirked to Bobby and again the guilt was printed on his face.
"I'm sorry you had to come with him." He muttered, taking a step closer.
"Are ya?" Rogue asked ironically. 'Cause Ah'm not.'
"Yes, it's a real waste. I know how annoying he is. But maybe we… maybe we could dance?" He asked and Rogue stared at him in disbelief. Someone tutted behind him and he turned around to see Remy standing there grinning.
"Dat wasn't our deal, Iceboy. Tonight Rogue dances only wit' me, remember?"
"And what makes you think she wants to dance with you, huh?" Bobby glared at Remy and put a hand on Rogue's shoulder.
"And what makes you think Ah want to dance with you?" Rogue asked, untangling herself from Bobby's grip. He looked at her with wide eyes. "Go dance with yer date, Bobby. Ah got mine already. Come, Remy." She took Remy's hand, forgetting her plate on the table, and disappeared from Bobby's sight.
"Chérie?" Remy asked, his voice a bit uncertain.
"What?! I mean, what is it Remy?" She apologized for her attitude and turned. 'Damn punch.' She thought.
"Is this a date?" The malice poured in his voice and his smirk.
Rogue rolled her eyes. "You know Ah only said that so he would shut up."
"Hmm, so maybe we could go on a real date one o' dese days, what do ya' think?" Remy wiggled his eyebrows and Rogue chuckled.
"Get a life, swamp rat." She turned to leave for their table but Remy called her name again.
"What is it now sugah?"
"Do y' want t' dance?" He asked with an innocent look which didn't match his eyes, reaching out his hand. Rogue looked at it for a second and then took it.
"Ah guess your bet included dancing."
"Dat's right." He said and the innocence disappeared. One more time she took the lead, swaying her hips as she danced her way to the middle of the dance floor, which was some kind of easy since people would move out of her way. There was no fear in their faces though, just amazement, and in the case of most girls, jealousy. She danced in a fast pace, eyes closed and a bright smile on her face, which Remy took his time admiring, before moving on to the rest of her body, which moved sensually to the rhythm of the music. They danced during four songs, maybe five… honestly, he had lost all sense of time.
Sleazy as she was, she seemed to be more careless than he had ever seen her. She wasn't worried about avoiding touching other people, and that included him. In an attitude that surprised him, she put his hands on her hips. He quirked an eyebrow to her but her only response was dancing even more. Remy could feel she was purposely teasing him moving that way. She spun around, turning her back to him, and glanced behind with a smile.
"You lahke what you see, sugah?" She teased further.
"Ya' just can't imagine how much, ma chérie." Remy took her hand, spun her around twice, and pulled her close, making their bodies bump against each other. Rogue just laughed and pushed him, stepping back and losing her balance, nearly falling on the floor. Luckily Remy was faster, catching her by the arm and pulling her to him again, only stronger this time. "Careful." He whispered with a husky voice, staring to her lips that were just a breath away, no smile to be seen in his face. They stood frozen like that, neither daring to break the contact, each enjoying the sudden closeness. The first one to go back to their senses was Rogue, fully aware of his hungry gaze and realizing how close they were to touching. She pushed him gently and he didn't fight it.
"Thanks for catching meh." She said and focused on checking her ponytail, hoping he wouldn't make any comment on the tension that had grown to incredible heights a second before.
"Any time y' need." He joked, trying to break the…he didn't know what to call it, a trance, maybe, he had been in while staring at those red lips. He sighed in relief when he heard the DJ's excited voice in the speakers.
"Hello beautiful people! Now we will announce the costumes of the night! The winner couple will get coupons for the hottest restaurant in town, the Pomme's Bistro, and of course, the traditional first dance here. And now, to announce the winners, the organizer of the party: Miss Jubilation Lee." Everyone clapped and cheered when Jubilee ran to the stage and took an envelope from the DJ's hand.
"First of all, I want to thank you all for coming! And not breaking anything, which is amazing." The DJ whispered something in her ear and she looked disappointed. "Nevermind. Rahne and Paul, I'll talk to you later. Second, thanks for your votes! And now, on with the show. The winner for best female costume this year is…of course, ROGUE!" she bounced and waved to her friend. A spotlight fixed itself on Rogue and on her mouth gaping. She stood there until Remy poked her side, and she realized she had to walk to the stage. Everyone clapped just like they had for Jubilee, or maybe even louder. When she got to her friend's side, she hissed "Did you do this?!"
"No, I swear! You really won. Isn't it great?" her sparkling smile was contagious and Rogue couldn't help but smile too. Jubilee put a sash on Rogue and moved on to announce the male winner. There was a silence of expectation and Jubilee's hilarious expression seemed to say it all. "LOGAN, our favorite werewolf." Everyone burst into laughter and the spotlight focused on Logan, who was just leaving the room. "Logan, will you come up here?" Jubilee asked.
"Hell I won't!" He yelled to her, punched the control button to open the door, and left. There was a death silence for a brief second and then everyone burst into laugher.
"Ok, ok…" Jubilee sighed and went on. "So, I guess the fair thing to do is announce the second place. REMY, come up here now." She winked at him, and he strolled down the room like it belonged to him, getting sighs from every girl he passed by. Rogue looked down to see Bobby fuming in the back of the room, glaring at Remy as if it could make him trip and break his face. That didn't happen (of course) and Jubilee proceeded to put the sash on him too, and give him the coupons. Everyone clapped and screamed again and Remy bowed, winking to Rogue. She could still feel Bobby's death glare and waved at him, a devious smile on her face. "Congratulations, you two! Now, the first dance."
Rogue looked at Jubilee, then at Remy, back to Jubilee and then to the DJ, pleading with her eyes he wouldn't put any slow song. It didn't work either. Just as the song started, Remy took her hand and led her to the middle of the dance floor, which was now empty so that they could dance. Rogue saw many people smiling at her, but there were some girls whispering to each other and frowning. The DJ started playing a cheesy slow song but Rogue wasn't even listening to it while Remy put her hand on his shoulder and put his own hands around her waist, slowly leading the dance.
"Congratulations, ma belle. To be honest, I'm not surprised." He whispered and she smiled at him. One by one, more couples started dancing, and soon the place was again filled with people slow dancing.
"Ah'm not surprised Logan won either." She said, feeling Remy's laugh roll in his chest where her other hand was resting. She felt more relaxed by that sound and put her arms around his neck, just as the song changed to a song Rogue recognized as Fade into You, by Mazzy Star. Remy's hand crept up her back, while the other still rested on her waist.
I wanna hold the hand inside you
I wanna take the breath that's true
His thumb traced circles on her back and she closed her eyes to enjoy the feeling of his touch. She was definitely not used to being so close to someone, and even less used to someone wanting to be this close to her without any shadow of apprehension.
I look to you and I see nothing
I look to you to see the truth
It was a feeling different from anything he had ever felt in his life, standing there with that girl, in the middle of a crowd, but only able to focus on her. Remy could feel her heartbeat, her breath, the delicate rise and fall of her chest. Everyone around, it didn't matter. His mistakes, his sins, it didn't matter. The real reason for being there in first place, it didn't matter either. It scared the hell out of him but when he saw her peaceful face with closed eyes, trusting he would not touch her or do anything she wouldn't want, it loosened the strings inside him.
You live your life, you'll go in shadows
You'll come apart and you'll go blind
Rogue tangled his hair around her fingers, still not opening her eyes. For some reason, she wasn't scared of this proximity. She trusted him. She barely knew anything about him, and still she trusted him.
Some kind of light into your darkness
Colors your eyes with what's not there
'Open your eyes. Open your eyes, chérie.' He kept repeating in his mind, longing to see her sparkling emeralds that made him forget all his sins and the pain. As if she heard him, she opened her eyes, reflecting all the lights around them. He could feel that pull coming again, tying him to her.
Fade into you
Strange you never knew
Her stomach chilled when his red on black eyes pierced hers, deeper than she remembered. 'Just like rubies.' There was a dim glow inside them that made her incapable of looking away. She sighed, unaware her lips slowly parted.
Fade into you
I think it's strange you never knew
Remy's mouth felt dry and he tried swallowing but couldn't. Her lips seemed to invite his, slightly parted the way they were. His heart raced when he felt her hand firmly hold his hair. Was she pulling him to her?
A stranger's light comes on slowly
A stranger's heart without a home
Rogue could feel his heart rushing to keep up with hers, her breathing unsteady. She had never realized how handsome he looked when he was serious, maybe because he had never looked this serious around her. His cocky grin was nowhere to be seen but his lips looked beautiful either way. 'What am Ah doing?' she thought in the back of her head, moving closer to him.
You put your hands into your head
And then smiles cover your heart
Remy couldn't really put his finger on the moment he had lost it, but he did. To hell with her powers, with the people around, with whatever else that was yelling in the back of his head. He didn't want to listen to it. He couldn't listen to it. All he could hear was the pump of his heart on his ears, making him dizzy. He wasn't in control anymore. The pull was stronger than him and he leaned to Rogue.
Fade into you
Strange you never knew
'Rogue, stop it. You will hurt him.' She heard herself think. She saw his eyes glowing even brighter than before. 'Ah can't hurt him.' Sadness grew inside as she turned her face, an effort that took all of her will, and put her head on his shoulder, tightening the hold around him, afraid he would turn and leave.
Fade into you
I think strange you never knew
He felt an unknown sting in his chest when he saw her eyes darken with sorrow, a moment before she turned her face. She held onto him and he could feel her apologizing. Remy held onto her, letting her know everything was ok. 'I'm not goin' anywhere, Rogue.'
Fade into you
She closed her eyes once more, sighing with relief he was still there. He was holding her so tight but she didn't complain. She liked it. She felt she could fade away in his arms and it would all be ok.
Strange you never knew
Remy pressed his cheek on her head, enjoying the smell of her hair, closing his eyes. He wanted to hold her tight enough so she would disappear inside of him. They stayed like that, not saying anything until the end of the song, and then for another whole song, and another one.
It was only when Rogue started yawning and leaning more and more to him that Remy thought it was time to go.
"Chérie, come, I'll take y' to your room.' He whispered but she shook her head.
"No, Jubilee will take meh." Remy looked around and spotted Jubilee, who was frantically kissing Sam.
"I think she's busy right now. Come." He put his arm around her and got them out of the crowd. He took the rose he gave Rogue from the now empty table and lead the way to the exit.
"Remy, Ah'm tired." She yawned again, probably a side effect of the punch. He chuckled at her childish line and waited for the elevator to take them to the main level.
"Y' think y' can handle the stairs?"
"Ah…Ah guess so."
Remy purposely bumped onto her and she lost her balance. "No y' can't." She squealed when he took her in his arms bride style and climbed the stairs, but her inquietude left her as soon as it came, and soon her head fell on Remy's chest. By the time they reached her room, she was clearly asleep. Remy closed the door behind him and put Rogue carefully on her bed.
"Chérie?"
"Hmmm." She mumbled half asleep.
"Y' need anythin' else?" He whispered while covering her with a blanket. She didn't answer. "I guess not. Good night, ma belle." He put the rose on her side table, along with something that was in his pocket, then looked at her a bit uncertainly, leaned in, and gave her a quick peck on the forehead.
"Remy…" She mumbled again but said nothing else. Remy smiled fondly and left through her balcony.