Author's Note: This takes place several years after the conclusion of the show. Rogue is about 29 years old and Remy is about 31. It takes place a few weeks after part 1. You don't necessarily have to read the first part to understand, but it might make a little more sense if you do.
Please excuse any mistakes in French grammar.
If you would like to leave a comment of either the things you liked or things that could be improved, I would love to hear what you have to say in the reviews. Thanks for reading.
Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, X-men Evolution, or any of its affiliates.
Jealousy, the act of being jealous, to have feelings of hostility toward a rival or toward someone with a perceived advantage. Even the dictionary definition made her sound petty and cold, but it was so much worse in real life. Jealousy wasn't exactly a foreign emotion. She couldn't even claim that it wasn't a close companion. For too many years, the poisonous green-eyed monster slept in her heart, waiting and ready to pounce and rear its ugly head at the most inconvenient moments. She had never been immune to its effects. As she grew up, she felt its regular growing pains as she mercilessly compared herself to other girls, who were prettier or nicer, or more popular than her. However, when she developed her powers, that flickering, guttering candle that came and went just as easily had suddenly roared into a steady, raging inferno, and it was a daily fight to keep it from completely consuming her. Too often, she had felt it surge forward when the other young mutants at Xavier's made steps in gaining and then completely mastering control of their powers after just a few months, while she struggled with hers for years before she could even begin to conquer hers. Casual touches, warm embraces, and loving kisses that all the others took for granted continued to stoke jealousy's power over her. It had taken her years before she could stop grimacing at other people's happy relationships. But, finally, she had learned to smother that monster. She learned how to be comfortable in her own skin, untouchable as it was, and how to be happy for others' success and love. Or, at least, she thought she had smothered it. But, evidently, she was wrong. Insanely, terribly, horridly wrong. The green-eyed monster hissed and snarled within her heart as she watched the scene in front of her. It was a single moment from roaring to life in a display that she would inevitably regret if she didn't get a handle on it, and quickly. She took a shuddering breath and forced herself to look away.
Her reasoning was that perhaps if she tore her gaze away from the tender scene, surely that frustrating, entirely unreasonable emotion would grow bored and dissipate into nothing and leave her in peace. Her brilliant plan bore the fruit of success for exactly two seconds until that achingly familiar, stupid, sexy Cajun voice said, "Chéré, that isn't fair. Now, give your favorite person a kiss to show me you're sorry."
Her already simmering blood spiked to a boiling point within her veins in an instant as her smoldering emerald irises focused back on the scene just as the absolutely beautiful dark auburn-haired girl turned her lips up to his cheek in fulfillment of his request. A soft, proud smile pulled at the corners of his mouth and his raven and crimson eyes crinkled at the corners in a look that was reserved only for the girl in his arms. Remy laid a gentle kiss against his companion's hair, as if he really couldn't help himself, and then the cozy pair simply resumed what had been occupying their interest a few moments before, namely one of Remy's card tricks. Of course, they would act that way, as if there was no one else around as if she wasn't standing ten feet away from them washing dishes from the mess they had made.
The skillet she was scrubbing snapped into two, the handle coming off in her white-knuckled grip, and she bit back a frustrated scream that rose in her throat. She had gained the permanent abilities of flight, super strength, and invincibility a few years ago when a painful, accidental absorption of one Carol Danvers changed her life forever. While the powers certainly had their advantages, in too tense moments like this, she was all too aware of their drawbacks as well.
Though her brain warned her to cease looking, her eyes evidently had a disconnect from her mind as they drifted back to the tender scene playing out in front of her. The strange, almost indefinable pain lanced through her heart once again. Their shared laughter was an echo of their easy joy at being together. Remy pulled the girl closer to him until she was practically in his lap, and he leaned closer to her ear so that he could whisper a secret into her ear. Secrets that Rogue could have no part in.
Rogue forced herself to let out a slow breath. Was it so wrong that she wanted to have that same look of admiration and affection directed toward her? Was it so very terrible that she wanted to be the chosen, ideal companion of that person? Was it such a grave sin that she longed to be considered as the first in their affections?
The growling monster only continued to strengthen itself the longer her eyes remained on the two people across the room until the jealousy that had been snaking through her veins solidified into something cold and ugly, like an unshakable envy. Deep within that same heart that housed that predator was also the warrior that had battled against it day by day, inch by inch. And, that warrior, that part of herself that had caged the stubborn beast, that had learned to celebrate the joy of others, that had fought for her own peace regardless of outside circumstances, that part now plagued her with overwhelming guilt and flooded her system with shame. She knew she was wrong to feel as she did. She knew that she was letting her jealousy control her rather than her being able to control her jealousy. She hated it, but she also couldn't help it. A moment more in that room and that insane jealousy would manifest its claws and sink its teeth into Remy and his companion. Rogue fled before it could happen.
She sought refuge in the sanctuary of her bedroom, barely refraining from taking the door off its hinges as she slammed it shut behind her. She wondered if the people she had just left would hear it. She wondered if they would even care. After all, they were much too absorbed in each other to notice her frustrations. She threw herself onto her bed, wrapping her arms around a pillow and holding it tight against her chest as if that might make up for who she really wanted in her arms. She allowed herself one carefully muffled scream of frustration into that same pillow before allowing it to go limp in her arms as all the fight drained from her. She was as angry at herself as she was at the scene she just left. Rogue was aware enough to recognize that she most definitely should not be feeling this way. It was, after all, only natural that those two should get along so well together.
It had been love at first sight. Everyone had seen that. From the very moment he had laid eyes on her, something had changed within Remy, and she had captivated him more than any gemstone, banknote, or even Rogue ever could. And, it was clear the girl mirrored his feelings, being under the impression that Remy could perform no wrong. It certainly helped that Remy was putty in her hands, and his malleability at granting her requests was always taken advantage of. And, if Rogue were being honest with herself, she knew two people had never been so suited to each other. They were cut from the same cloth, two peas in a pod, one soul divided into two bodies. And they loved each other.
Rogue knew that she should be happy for them, that she should share in their joy, and treasure their relationship almost as much as they did. And, most days, she could. When they smiled at each other or walked off hand in hand, she felt her heart warm at the sight of seeing two people she adored and who were so dear to her enjoying those simple pleasures. But, other times, like today, when they were so open in their love for one another when it was clear she had no part in their little world and that was how they preferred it, when she felt like she was on the outside looking in, she couldn't stop the unreasonable side of her brain from using her emotions as a plaything and wreaking havoc on her mental state.
The whole situation was ridiculous. Absurd. Absolutely preposterous. But, whether she liked it or not, there it was. She was fighting her inner demon of jealousy because of a two-year-old!
From the moment she had been born, Rebecca had always had a favorite parent, and Rogue was all too aware that it wasn't her. Her traitorous mind decided it would be productive to show her a highlight reel of all the times their daughter preferred her father. She had been contemplating these things in her mind's eye (i.e. sulking) for nearly half an hour before Remy made an appearance, sneaking in like the thief he was and shutting the door softly behind him.
A relieved smile pulled at his mouth as he sighed, "She finally went down for her nap."
Rogue was not in a sympathetic enough frame of mind to commiserate with him about the difficulties of keeping the little girl on her scheduled naptime.
"Well, of course, she did. You were the one putting her down, after all," Rogue snapped, and even she winced at the obvious bitterness in her voice.
Remy raised an eyebrow at her tone, but very wisely refrained from opening his mouth. Throughout the years and plenty of trial and error, Remy had learned all of Rogue's proverbial buttons, and though sometimes he delighted in pressing all of them, he also recognized when he should refrain from doing so. He knew when commenting on anything would result in an explosive argument or when she wanted him to tell her what was on his mind. As he took in his wife's defeated posture, from the death grip she had on the pillow to the tightness she carried in her shoulders to the way she wouldn't quite meet his gaze, Remy simply silently went around the bed and curled his body around hers, effectively spooning her. Rogue didn't shove him away, even though her anger simmered under the surface. A long sigh escaped the barrier of her lips. She knew she shouldn't blame him, that none of this was his fault or his problem, really. It was her own irrational emotions and stupid insecurities that were ravaging her, but she couldn't quite let them go long enough not to snap at her husband.
Remy slowly began rubbing her arms up and down in soothing circles. A minute later, he was massaging her shoulders, taking his time to work out the knots without saying anything. She sighed as the tension slowly began to ease out of her body. He had always had a talent for using his hands. He was a very tactile person, and even when she had no control over her powers, he had always been touching her, small touches at first, always deliberate and respectful, but meaningful nonetheless. At first, she had pushed him away, hurling insults at him and threatening him within an inch of his life if he tried it again. It was lucky for her that he had persisted anyway. His touch had always pushed her boundaries, without breaking them, but instead waiting for her to unlock them herself and let him in. It was his patient insistence and expert balance of knowing when and how he should touch her that eventually helped her to gain the confidence she needed to gain control over her unruly powers.
Even now, Remy knew just how to make her melt beneath his skillful fingers. Each touch conveyed a message. "I see you," it seemed to say. "You can trust me." "Let me help you." "It's ok."
"Tell me what's wrong, chéré," the last one was spoken aloud, whispered against the shell of her ear.
Rogue had to take a moment to remember why she was upset in the first place, and when she did, she bit her lip in embarrassment. She didn't want to speak up. Remy would think she was being incredibly petty, or worse would laugh at her for how ridiculous she was being. So, she remained stubbornly silent.
But her husband was still as annoyingly persistent as he had ever been, and it was clear he wasn't going to leave until the issue had been resolved, so he simply waited in charged silence until it became too much for Rogue, as he knew it would. Her anger returned in full force at the situation, and she turned over so that she could look him in the eye as she growled through gritted teeth, "She likes you better than me!"
"Who?" he questioned, the confusion evident in his voice as he tried to follow the thread of the conversation, but as he observed his wife's angry expression, it clicked in his brain, "Becca?"
Now that the topic had been broached, Rogue felt the past hour of her jealousy flare to life again against her will, "And, don't you even dare say that it's not true, because you know you are her favorite! And don't do me the discourtesy of pretending like you don't lap up every minute of it, Swamp Rat!"
His answering smile wasn't as smug as she expected, but it did convey the genuine and almost unexpected happiness he felt because of being the father to their little girl. "Becca loves you, mon amour," he reassured her.
"But not the way she loves you!" she countered. "I mean, she adores you! It's always Papa this and Papa that. And, when is Papa coming? And, no, I want Papa to do it. And, all I am is a glorified PB&J maker."
"Rogue," he started slowly, carefully, but she was spiraling too quickly now, consumed by her own thoughts and she didn't even hear him.
She sat up suddenly, feeling the need to give herself some advantage, even if it was only a rudimentary height one as she exclaimed, "And, you certainly don't help when you give into every single little thing that she asks for!"
"Not true! I don't give into everything she asks for!" he declared.
Rogue gave him a searing look that might as well have asked when was the last time he ever denied their daughter anything, and he squirmed beneath her gaze. "She wanted to touch the hot stove the other day, and I refused to let her!" he said proudly.
Rogue tried and failed to swallow a smile at that. He really was too adorable for his own good sometimes. "And?" she prompted.
He let out a sigh of defeat, knowing when he was beaten, "And, my little ange cried and had big ol' tears rolling down her face, and it broke dis ol' Cajun's heart."
Evidently tired of having to look up at his wife, he scooted himself into a sitting position against the headboard, so that they could be more eye-level with each other. Then, he said quietly, "Desolé, chéré. I really can't help it."
From the moment he had first held their daughter in his arms, Remy's ability to say no to the little girl had been completely wiped off the map. While sometimes it put him into some truly ridiculous situations and the fact that the two-year-old was clearly the boss of her big, strong daddy had become a running, inside joke amongst the other X-men, Rogue couldn't always laugh about it either. Because quite frankly, it left her to be forced to step into the role of disciplinarian and be the one to deny Becca's requests at times.
Remy, thankfully, wasn't blind to the distress it caused her and grasped her hand in his as he told her sincerely, "I'll try to do better, really, chéré. I promise."
He meant it, she knew he did, that is until the next time their toddler flashed her big, green eyes up at him, and his willpower dissolved to dust.
Rogue didn't quite know how to respond, so she remained silent. She looked over at Remy and noticed his Adam's apple bob up and down in a painful swallow. His next words were slow, careful, and deliberate as if he were working past a physical injury in order to get them out of his mouth, "Do you want me to spend less time with her?"
Rogue crumpled, the guilt and shame of his words washing away the remaining vestiges of that green-eyed monster that had been prowling around in her mind. Her hand immediately went to his cheek, and he leaned into her touch like he always did. Her thumb traced circles against the smooth skin in a reassuring manner.
"No! Oh no, Remy, of course not!" she cried adamantly. She felt his stark breath of relief fan against her face. She had been so wrapped up in her own insecurities and anger that she hadn't even considered how her words might make him feel. She felt awful for even putting those horrible thoughts in his mind. She continued passionately, "I love how much you love our daughter and how much she loves you. I think you are an absolutely amazing father!"
Rogue let her eyes drift down to the bed, picking at a loose thread on the duvet, unable to look him in the eye as she admitted quietly, "I just wish she wanted to spend as much time with me as she obviously wants to spend with you."
His fingers found her jaw, caressing it for a moment before he tilted her chin up, forcing her gaze to meet his as he replied softly, "She does want to spend time with you, Rogue."
"I know. It's silly. But, whenever she is in your arms, I want her to be in mine. I feel that way when anybody but me is holding her. I know it's ridiculous, but I can't help but be jealous."
"It's not ridiculous, chéré," he reassured her, brushing a kiss against her forehead, "We both know she is growing up so fast. We'll blink and she will be a teenager. The moments we have left to cuddle and love on her without being her being embarrassed are slipping through our fingers faster than either of us would like. It's only natural you want to take advantage of the moments we still have. It just shows how much you love her. And, Rogue, you're her Momma. Not me, nor nobody else can ever claim to have 'dat privilege, and Becca is lucky to have a mother who cares about her so much." He finished his statement by gently wiping a stray tear away from her cheek with his thumb.
Rogue felt herself smile, and Remy felt his breath catch at the sight of it and the way her emerald eyes lit up with it. Even after all these years, she still could steal his breath away without any effort. She snuggled deeper into his embrace, burying her face against the soft fabric of his shirt.
"Thanks, Sugah. I really needed that," came her muffled voice.
"Always and anytime, mon amour," he chuckled, and Rogue enjoyed the pleasant rumble of his chest as he did so. He ran his hands up and down her spine, and after a moment, said, "Wanna know a secret?"
She glanced up at him curiously. What was he up to now? His lips formed a smirk she was far too familiar with, and then he put his mouth close to her ear in anticipation of whispering the secret to her, even though they were the only two in the room and his theatrics were completely unnecessary. He lingered another moment, his warm breath ghosting against her neck. A shiver raced down her spine at the sensation. Stupid Swamp Rat! He wasn't playing fair, and he knew it!
It was another agonizing moment before he finally whispered, "Sometimes, I feel the same way."
She didn't know what exactly she had expected to hear, but it hadn't been that. Remy had always been a wonderful father, but he had never seemed to begrudge anyone else spending time with their little girl. She pulled away enough to look him in the eye to see if he was being serious or just further trying to console her.
"Really?" she asked.
"Oui, but that never leaves this room, and if it does, expect me to deny it," he said with a devious grin.
"Your secret is safe with me, Swamp Rat," she smiled.
"Bon," he said and then continued to elaborate, "For me, it doesn't really bother me when other people hold her. But, whenever, anybody but me makes her laugh, I swear I go a little bit crazy. I think to myself, 'dat is my job!"
Rogue felt a laugh burble up from her chest, melting away all the negative emotions she had been feeling for the past hour. At least, she knew that they were both ridiculous. "We certainly are a mess, aren't we, Sugah?"
"Not sure why you expected any better from a river rat and swamp rat," he replied mock sternly, but the effect was ruined by the giant grin he wore. She shoved him playfully.
"Thank ya, Remy. You always know just what to say and do to make me feel better."
"You know," he purred, his ruby midnight eyes dancing with a familiar wickedness that still managed to scorch her soul. He placed a featherlight kiss against the sensitive spot below her ear, and then slowly began working his way down her jaw in a similar manner. "I could make you feel a lot better."
"Oh, is that so?" she asked, proud her voice conveyed the challenge she meant for it to, rather than the breathiness he was trying to encourage. She raised an elegant eyebrow at him in a teasing manner.
He growled at her in response, and in another moment too quick to comprehend, he had pinned her against the bed and was straddling her. "Oui," he breathed victoriously, a look of pure triumph glittering in his eyes.
It was a losing battle, Rogue already knew that, one she was all too willing to give in to, but she couldn't help herself from asking, "And, just how do you plan on doin' that?"
In response, he captured her lips with his own, and she supposed surrender really wasn't so bad. She had just pulled him closer to her, deepening the kiss as she threaded her fingers through his hair when a little voice called out from somewhere in the apartment, "Papa!"
Remy broke the kiss with a groan. He never yelled at their daughter, but it was clear he was struggling to keep the frustration at the interruption out of his tone as he called back over his shoulder, "Go back to sleep, petite!"
He scowled at his wife when he turned back to her because it was clear she was biting her lip in a futile attempt to keep from grinning.
Their daughter, however, had never shied away from showing her frustrations, and was very persistent and very loud as she called back "Papa! Have to go potty! Poop!"
Remy bit back another groan. Potty training was not going as well as he would have liked. He looked at his wife for some sign of sympathy, but Rogue merely shrugged innocently as she said, "Not my name she's callin', Sugah."
He glared at her and grumbled a few expletives under his breath in French as he moved off her.
"Papa, hurry! Poop!" Becca squealed.
The urgency in their daughter's voice had Remy racing out of the room like a bat out of Hell, and Rogue couldn't hold back the full-bellied laugh anymore. And she decided there were some things that she wasn't jealous of.
The End