A/N: Here is Chapter 12! Thank you so much to those who left a review, glad you guys are enjoying the story! If you haven't already, I have two other stories up, one completed and one new one!
If you want to check out my other fanfics, they're called X-men Evolution: Days of Future Past and Sinister Trap!
Anyway! Onto the story!
I DO NOT OWN X-MEN Evolution!
Chapter 12: Leaving Things Behind
Waking up to the distant sounds of other voices was the first thing Rogue noticed as she came to. Her head was pounding, her body shaking and sore, everything was a blur and so were her memories. She felt strong arms around her frame as she slowly blinks awake, grimacing at the banging headache her head was slamming her with. Rogue moves her body a little bit, her limbs crying out, but she pushes herself so she could sit up. Her eyes notice Remy coming to, his own expression confused but then snaps into focus on her once his red on black eyes notice her awake. "Rogue! Y' okay?" He asks, his voice ringing in her ears.
Rogue blinks, a hand going to her head. "What… what happened?" She asks, looking around and noticing Logan rushing towards them. "Where are we?"
"You don't remember?" Logan asks, stopping in front of them.
Rogue shakes her head, her gaze down. "Last thing ah remember… was fightin' Lance with Kitty and Kurt…"
"Mesmero took over y' mind…" Remy says, his voice hard and bitter, sending a chill down Rogue's spine as she stared wide eyed at him. "He and Mystique used y' t' absorb us all t' wake up Apocalypse."
"No…." Rogue whispers. "Don't… Don't tell meh ah-"
She covers her mouth, her wide eyes looking around her surroundings while her stomach drops. The solemn looks Logan and Remy had made her body tremble, her own deep fear coming to realization. Her chest felt heavy and tight as her mind wrapped around the fact that she absorbed everyone to feed to Apocalypse and now he is loose and it is unknown to what his next move is. The questions that were running through her mind made her feel even worse, her hands trembling as they run through her hair while her breath came out rapidly and tears pricked the corners of her eyes. "No, no, no…" She whispers to herself.
"Chère?" Remy places his hands on her wrists, his eyes showing deep concern. "Rogue.. 's okay. 'S not y' fault."
Rogue glances up to her boyfriend, eyes wide like saucers. "It is, though! None of this would have happened if ah had just had us keep goin' on our lil' road trip we were on!" Her voice trembled as spoke, her mind thinking of what Apocalypse might do to the rest of mutant-kind, or the world even.
Remy's felt a pang in his chest, his arms wrapping Rogue's frame, feeling a bit of guilt as he can feel his girlfriend fall apart from knowing she has awoken the most powerful mutant on Earth while under mind control. Rogue grips his shirt and jacket, her chest hurting from her rapid breathing and tears streaming down her face as it hid in his chest. Logan frowns, his hand gently going on her back. "Stripes…." Logan began, his own voice soft and void of hardness. "There was nothing you could have done to prevent this. Don't blame yourself for something that Mystique and Mesmero did."
Rogue just stays quiet, her lip quivering as soft sobs came out while her head was buried in Remy's chest. Logan sighs, getting up and cracking some spots on his body from the soreness, then he tells Remy he'll be back as he leaves to go up to the main chamber to check on the others. Remy just silently nods, a hand smoothing Rogue's hair while his other hand was on her lower back. "Rogue…" Remy's voice was soft as he had lowered his head to her ear. "'S okay, no one 'll be mad."
Rogue peeks up at him very slightly, her eyes puffy. She could tell Remy was hurting just by seeing her blame herself. "Ah… ah wish we never came back ta Bayville. Ah wish we coulda just… stayed on the road." She sniffs, her voice hoarse.
Remy breathes out a small sigh, frowning as he could feel her pain. He places a light kiss on her head, her head resting under his chin as she tries to calm her breathing. After sitting for a while, the voices of the others up the stairs could be heard, Remy looking down to Rogue. "We gotta go up at some point, chère. Gotta get home." He says softly, his voice a murmur as he felt her face burying into his chest again. "'Ll be heah wit' y'."
Rogue shakes her head wordlessly, Remy slowly getting up and helping her up to her feet. The duo slowly make their way up the stairs, hearing all the voices talking to each other and checking on injuries. Rogue stayed close to Remy, head down, while he had his arms around her protectively. The two didn't speak to anyone much, but when they were spoken to, Remy would mostly talk while Rogue kept her head down, afraid of seeing her teammates faces.
The ride home felt excruciatingly long to Rogue, her gaze looking out the window as she sat next to Remy who was shuffling his cards. He would peer over to her and give her hand a squeeze that was resting on her thigh, to which he would smile a bit when he felt her hand squeeze back.
The weeks after the incident were hard on Rogue. She'd distant herself from the others, except Remy, not wanting to talk to any of her friends or Logan. She'd mostly be in her room, Remy bringing her food to eat with her. He'd be able to cheer her up for a short period, trying anything he could to get her to give him a smile. One evening, the two were sitting in her bed wrapped in each others arms, Rogue putting Remy's hands across her collarbone and stomach as she leaned her body against his. He rests his head on her shoulder, pressing a kiss to her neck. "I don' t'ink y' friends are holdin' any grudges on y' fo' wakin' up Apoclaypse, chère." He says lowly into her ear.
"Ah can't help but feel lahke they are talkin' crap about meh behind ma back." Rogue lets out a soft sigh. "Ah wish we stayed on the road… it was much moar fun just going ta different places. Ah feel lahke home is wherever ya are."
Remy smiles lightly, his arms tightening around her body a bit as he presses her more against him. "Y' home t' me t'."
Rogue turns to look up at him, her emerald eyes looking into his red on black ones. "Then lets leave." She says as she flips herself to sit in his lap.
Remy looks at her. "What? Rogue, de Professor told everyone t' stay heah until dis Apocalypse situation is taken care of. Even if I wanted t' take y' from 'er, we can't right now, especially wit' de the mutant protests dat's been happenin' since last week."
The Professor ordered his students to remain at the mansion ever since they returned, mutant protests becoming more and more frequent since Apocalypse's awakening. Rogue and the others had trouble getting home from school one day as there were some protesters at the high school. Rogue looks down, a small pout on her face, as her hands fidget with themselves in her lap. "Ah just want things ta go back ta what they used ta be befor' all this craziness happened… Ah lahked it when it was just us."
Remy gives her a sympathetic smile, his hands going to her hips. "It's jus' us right now." He says lowly, his face inching closer to hers.
Rogue looks at him, her hands going in his hair and on his shoulder while he moves one to her cheek and lower waist. His lips crash into hers, pressing her close to his body as he deepens the kiss, Rogue pressing herself against him. Remy moved his hands, the one on her cheek moving to her back while his other went to her butt. Rogue draws back a bit, panting but also aware of how long she can go without her powers absorbing him. Remy looks at her, eyed lidded as he catches his breath. Wanting to forget about everything at the moment, Rogue dove back down, tugging Remy towards her, but he saw this and pinned her down to the bed, feeling her hands fumbling with his shirt and remove it. Remy grunts, removing hers, then he starts to unzip her pants.
Before they could continue any further, Remy's phone goes off, him making a face as he pulls back and takes it out of his pocket. The screen read Henri, Rogue looking up at him curiously. "Who is it?" She asks.
"'S my brot'er…." Remy's eyebrows furrow as he looks at the screen, letting it ring. "Don' know why he'd be callin'."
Rogue tilts her head to the side. "Does he usually call?"
Remy shakes his head. "Not unless it was important."
Remy continued to look at his phone, Rogue watching, as he finally shuts it off. He puts his phone on her dresser, not wanting to think of it, then he turns to Rogue who was looking at him curiously. "Why didn't ya take the call?" Rogue asks.
"Whatever it is he has t' say t' me, won' make me want t' go back home. 'Sides, I want t' finish what we started." Remy looks at her, Rogue noticing the hungry look in his eyes.
Rogue bites her lip as she was leaning back on the bed, Remy immediately going over her and kissing her deeply while getting back to what he was doing. Rogue lets out soft sounds, feeling her body being pinned back against the bed again. She pulls back when she knew her powers were about to kick in, her control getting better after their practicing but still not yet mastered. Remy looks at her, panting a bit, his eyes gazing into hers intensely. Rogue pants as she gazes up at him, one of her gloved hands cupping his cheek. "Ah'd want the collar on if we want ta continue." She breathes out.
"Y' sure?" Remy asks.
Rogue nods. "Ah'm soah."
Logan sighs as he and Storm exit the danger room, the younger group of X-men emerging while holding their arms or sides from a brutal session, the weather witch catching his bad mood. "What is it, Logan?" She asks.
Logan glances to her. "I'm just worried about Rogue. Ever since the Apocalypse incident she's been shutting everyone out. She thinks it's all her fault when it was Mystique and Mesmero making her do those things."
"She'll come around. Besides, she has Remy. If he wasn't here I don't think anyone would be able to keep her here." Storm gives him a sympathetic look, but the short man just grunts.
Logan knows Remy's intentions with Rogue are good, it's true he has been helping her a lot. He just hopes she doesn't do anything drastic to herself.
Rogue was curled up asleep in Remy's arms, them wrapped around her frame as she slept soundly while he was awake. His mind, however, kept wondering why Henri was calling him earlier. Remy hopes he doesn't have to go back down to New Orleans, knowing Rogue would follow him in a heart beat, but after the incident with Julian he does not want her stepping foot in New Orleans again.
Remy glances down to Rogue's sleeping form, placing a light kiss in her hair, then he nuzzles her and brings her body closer to his as he starts to fall asleep.
Rogue woke up that morning feeling sore but also with her body held against her sleeping boyfriends naked body. She yawns as she stretches slightly, nuzzling her head into his chest as a soft sigh escapes her. She knew they would have to get up eventually to go get breakfast and eventually see everyone else but Rogue would rather still avoid people. She must've been deep in thought as Remy had woken up and seen the look on her face. He tugs her towards him with a sleepy smirk, receiving a surprised sound from Rogue. "Mornin' sugah." Rogue smiles down.
"Mornin' chère," Remy places a kiss on her lips. "Whatcha thinkin' 'bout?"
"Whether or not ah should sneak down ta get food an' come back up heah ta avoid everyone." Rogue admits.
Remy gives her a sympathetic smile, knowing she was still wanting to avoid everyone. "Eventually we'll have t' go down an' be around de ot'ers."
Rogue sighs, laying her head on his chest. "Ah know…. Ah just… don't want ta hurt anyone…."
"'S okay, no one will force y' t' use y' powers, cher." Remy rubs her cheek with his thumb.
Rogue looks up at him, but before she could speak, the Professor requested the X-men for a danger room session. Remy could see the pain in Rogue's eyes as she begrudgingly sits up, holding her blanket to her body. "Hey, don' worry 'bout de danger room session. Jus' use y' combat skills." Remy says as he sits up, trying to reassure her.
Rogue gives him a small smile, placing a kiss on his lips. "Thanks Rems."
She pulls one of her blankets around her as she gets up and grabs her uniform, Remy getting up and putting his on as he had left it in her room ever since they got home from Tibet. He can feel how she felt- knowing the conflict that she was going through. He hoped the danger room session was something easy on her.
Once dressed, the two exit her room, Rogue having taken off her collar before exiting. Kitty noticed the two and jogs up to them. "Hey, Rogue! You, like, okay?" Kitty asks, smiling but showing concern.
Rogue gives her a fake smile. "Ah'm fahne Kitty, thanks."
Remy knew she was faking her smile, but kept his arm around her. Kitty gives Rogue a small smirk as she glanced at Rogue's neck, Rogue raising in brow in question. "What?" She asks.
"Oh, nothing. Just, like, don't let Logan see any of those hickeys." Kitty chuckles a bit to which Remy looks innocently at his girlfriend.
"Crap!" Rogue tugs her turtleneck higher up on her neck, her cheeks red. "Swamp rat!"
She hissed under her breath, but Remy just chuckles.
The trio reach the elevator, going down to the lower level to find Kurt, Scott and Jean there with Logan, Storm and Hank. "Alright. Everybody's here." Logan says. "Cyke, brief 'em in."
"Today's a team building exercise, work as a team to get the flag. Use your powers to fight off obstacles." Scott instructs, his hands behind his back as looks at everyone. "Wolverine has the setting to high, so stay vigilant."
Everyone gets ready as Logan opens the doors, then they all walk inside and the session begins. It started out smoothly at first, everyone perfectly dodging obstacles and deflecting objects-it soon progressed into a difficult challenge. Rogue pulled Kitty out of the way of a sweeping arm, Kitty phasing them when another snuck up behind them, then they started running again.
Scott blasts a wall down, Jean using her powers to move them aside to make a clear path. Remy throws cards at several spiked cones coming up from the ground, jumping over them with ease.
The course got worse as they were three quarters the way, the stress weighing down on everyone. Kitty looks to Rogue who was struggling a bit as she saw she was only using hand to hand combat and dodging. "Rogue! You can, like, absorb some of my power." Kitty offers.
Rogue froze, looking up in shock at her best friend. "Ah… ah…."
Kitty gasps as a sweeping arm was making its way to Rogue behind her, her feet about to move forward to help her, but Remy quickly shoves her and himself out of the way. "Come on you guys! We're almost there!" Scott yells.
Remy looks down to Rogue, concern in his eyes. "Y' okay?" He asks.
Rogue shakes her head, both getting up and running to catch up with the others, holding each others hand. They all make it to the flag, the simulation stopping and the danger room going back to normal. Scott looks to Rogue. "Rogue, why didn't you use your powers?" He asks.
Rogue snaps her head up. "Ah didn't feel lahke ah had to."
"We're all to use our powers in a team exercise to help each other." Scott frowns.
Rogue makes a face, Remy feeling her hand tightening around his. "Well maybe ah don't want anyone in mah head raght now! Especially not after ah absorbed everyone to wake Apocalypse!"
She lets go of Remy's hand, rushing out of the danger room, hearing Logan call her nickname, but she ignores him. Remy sends a glare to Scott. "Y' know she's still not okay after dat incident. Shouldn't force 'er t' do anyt'in' she ain' comfortable wit'."
"Eventually she'll have to use her powers again, Gambit. She can't always rely on hand to hand combat." Scott retorts.
"Eventually, but not right now." Remy growls, then turns to go after Rogue.
Logan sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose, Kurt frowning at Kitty who was biting her lip. "That's enough for today. Cyke, I think we should give Rogue some space and time."
"But, Logan, she's been like this for months now. Eventually she's gonna have to-"
"Not another word." Logan growls, then exits to go get some fresh air.
Rogue slams her door shut, stomping towards her bed and flopping down in frustration, a huff leaving her. She hears a small knock on her door, knowing it was Remy when it silently opened and closed and his footsteps going towards her. "Chère?" He says as he gently sits on her bed.
"Ah wish ah didn't hafta do that danger room session." Rogue mumbles.
Remy gives her a sympathetic look, his hand going to her back. "Maybe dey'll give y' a break till y' ready. Dough it seems t' me that Cyclops has a stick shoved up his ass. Has he always been like dat?"
Rogue cracks a smile and a little chuckle. "Yeah. He's always been lahke that, it's infuriating. Especially durin' danger room sessions."
Remy grins. "Dere's dat smile."
Rogue smiles a little more, feeling a little better. She sits up and rests her head on his shoulder, her hand going to his free hand that wasn't on her back. They enjoy the silence until Remy hears his phone buzzing again where he left it, Rogue noticing him make a face as he got up and looked at it. He answers it this time, a bit if an annoyed tone in his voice. "Dis better be important."
Rogue watches as his stance changed as he listened to who was on the other end of the phone. "When did dis happen?"
"…."
"Y' know I can' come back. Especially not after dat run in wit' 'im."
"…."
"He can figure out how t' save 'imself."
"…."
Remy sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. But after dat, 'im not stayin', 'im goin' back t' Bayville, Henri. 'M not gon' let 'im use m' fo' my powers, not ever again. 'Ll be dere as fast as I can."
Remy hangs up, rubbing the bridge of his nose as his mind was trying to think of what he was going to do. Rogue gets up and walks over slowly. "Ya okay?"
He looks at her, clearly trying to decide whether or not to tell her. "Dat was 'm brot'er. He says m' "fatha" was kidnapped by de Assassin's Guild an' he wants me t' go save 'im."
"Alright, then lets go." Rogue says.
Remy looks at her, eyes widening. "What? No, Rogue, 'm goin'. I don' want y' gettin' hurt."
"An' ah don't need ya killed by that asshole, ah'm comin'." Rogue puts her hands on her hips, determined.
"I can' risk Julian hurtin' y' again. It'd be better t' have y' stay 'ere till I get back." Remy tries arguing, but Rogue makes a face.
"But ah can help ya. Ya gonna need help, swamp rat. Ah'm comin' whether ya lahke it or not."
Remy looks at his girlfriend, seeing how determined she was, letting out a bit of a groan and rubbing his eyes. Then he lets out a sigh. "Fine. But we're leavin' once everyone goes t' bed."
"Sounds good." Rogue smiles as she turns to pack a light bag, Remy already feeling like he might regret taking her, but just brushes it off and goes to pack his own light bag as they'd be driving.
End of chapter
A/N: Of course Remy isn't going to be happy about Rogue tagging along, especially with what happened last time. Till next time!
