The Thieves' Guild Hall was more of a compound, but as the main house came into view, it was undoubtedly impressive. Standing in a clearing, the house rose with columns on all sides. A deep double porch, with decorative wrought-iron rails, wrapped the house shading the plaster walls. French doors with shutters on either side opened in every direction. In the distance, she could see other buildings. One side of the house seemed to slope away towards the water, and a dock with what Rogue assumed must be a boathouse. Rogue couldn't help but compare it to Blood Moon Bayou, which had been equally impressive, but clearly in disrepair.
The cars pulled into a detached carriage house which had been converted into a garage. Getting out of the car, she quickly found Remy's side. His eyes found hers as he shot her a questioning look. Rogue frowned back at him. She wasn't cowering — of course not — but this…this was a lot. The second car with Remy's cousins pulled in, and everyone made their way to the main house.
As they got close, Rogue realized that the house's shutters were made of steel, not wood, and the French doors were fitted with bullet-proof glass. The plaster walls were at least a foot thick. This place was a fortress.
Stepping inside, Rogue found herself in a large kitchen, where a large black woman stood at the stove frying something in a pan.
Tante Mattie, whispered Remy.
Madame Baptiste, echoed Julien.
"Tante!" Jean-Luc announced, catching the woman's attention, "We got company. I'd like to introduce you to Rogue. De fille Remy brought down to help with dat Assassin's business a few years ago."
"Hush now. I know who she is," brushing past Jean-Luc, the woman took her by the arms and looked at her, "I'm so happy to finally meet you, Child. I'm sorry about your loss."
Rogue blinked, stunned for the second time that night. Recovering, she smiled, "Thank you, Ma'am. It's very nice to meet you."
"Oh, Honey, don't you start with that. Call me Tante. Everyone else here does."
"Um, yes, Ma- I mean Tante."
"Better give in now, Cher," Remy smiled from where he was leaning against the counter, "Tante always gets her way."
"Speaking of which do you need any help in the kitchen?" Jean-Luc asked, addressing Tante Mattie.
"I'm fine, Jean-Luc. Everything will be ready in about five minutes. Dieu knows you and Henri are more trouble than the two of you are worth, and Remy's got company." Tante shooed a hand at Jean-Luc. Smiling at Rogue she added, "I hope you like fried catfish."
"I love fried catfish," Rogue's eyes lit up and her mouth started watering again before she remembered herself. Pausing, Rogue smiled at the older woman, "And if it tastes half as good as it smells in here, I'd say we're in for a real treat." Rogue knew well that some flattery went a long way with Southern women and getting on their good side. Tante Mattie struck her as someone you wanted to be on the good side of.
"Well, aren't you just as sweet as can be," Tante Mattie beamed.
Before dinner began, Rogue met Mercy, Henri's wife. Standing at five feet six inches, Rogue couldn't help but like the blonde woman, who Rogue had a feeling was as full of brass as she was sweetness. Mercy quickly proved her right when Henri introduced Rogue and announced Remy didn't even have to kidnap her this time.
Mercy's hand flew up, catching Henri on the backside of his head while Rogue laughed.
As the food started coming out, Rogue waited to see where Remy and Mercy were sitting when Jean-Luc pulled out a chair next to him. "Grab a seat, Petite, and we'll get into this food. Tante's catfish is de best in all of Louisiana."
Sliding into the seat Jean-Luc had pulled out, Rogue felt a wave of relief wash over her when Remy immediately planted himself in the seat on her other side. Rogue watched the room. She was struck by the feeling that the dinner table was actually a chessboard where all the pieces had just been set, and the game was about to begin.
"So you said dat you had come into town t' visit your Tante's house, Petite," Jean-Luc started conversationally. "I'm sorry t' hear dat's what brought you down. Where's it located?"
Be careful. He's information gathering, warned Remy.
"Just a little way away from the Po Boy shop. I had been cleaning all day, so I decided to take a walk and stretch my legs." Rogue evaded keeping her tone light, "Do you go to that shop frequently? I can't believe that I ran into all y'all."
"Oh, sometimes. How long are ya going to be in town?"
"Not sure yet. I wasn't sure what condition the house would be in."
"Did you fly?"
"Yeah. Better than taking the train, in my opinion," someone choked at the table. Rogue was pretty sure it was Emil, one of Remy's cousins.
"I can only imagine." Jean-Luc chuckled, before changing the subject, "Do you have any other family down dis way?"
"No, my family is all up North at this point," a platter of catfish was handed to her, and Rogue tried to restrain herself by only taking two pieces.
"Dat's a shame. It's nice to see a friendly face come through our city again."
Rogue smiled but delayed answering by biting into a piece of catfish with remoulade sauce. Sweet Jesus, that was good. Rogue managed to stop herself from moaning outright but couldn't contain the grin that split her face.
"Bon, hein?" grinned Remy, drawing Rogue's attention.
"Dang, that's good. I miss this type of cookin'," Rogue told Tante Mattie, who looked pleased as punch.
"How long have you been North now, Cher?"
"Four years."
"Well," Jean-Luc cut back in seamlessly, "You'll have to come down more frequently now that you have a house down this way. Our family would be happy to show you some proper hospitality. We didn't get the chance last time."
Remy glared at Jean-Luc as Rogue replied evenly, "That's a kind offer, Jean-Luc."
As the conversation flowed, Rogue watched the table, well aware that Jean-Luc was watching her, and Remy was watching Jean-Luc. The older man wanted something, and Rogue had no doubt it had something to do with her powers.
As dinner ended, Rogue offered to help with the dishes, but Tante Mattie waved her off before shooing the younger thieves from the table. "Don't you worry about it, Honey. I do most of the cooking in dis house, but the others do the cleaning...for dinner anyway." Tante Mattie gave Remy a hard look shooing him with her napkin, "You too, Child. She'll be fine for a moment."
Rogue chuckled as Remy dutifully trotted into the kitchen followed by Tante Mattie. It was the same way at Xavier's, except Kitty, who had been permanently removed from dinner duty. Sobering, Rogue realized she was still at the table with Jean-Luc and Remy's uncle, Belize.
"Family's a good t'ing to have, non." Jean-Luc had that cat that ate that canary look again. Rogue nodded, suddenly feeling uncertain without Remy in the room.
"How's your family been, Sir?" Wrong question. Jean-Luc's face shifted in a split second, slipping from warm and friendly to a worn-down look in an instant.
Don't trust it, Cher, warned Remy.
"I'm afraid. We're having some trouble, Petite."
"Oh?"
"Two girls in our family recently died." Jean-Luc sighed.
Rogue softened, leaning forward slightly, "I'm so sorry to hear that."
Sharpen up Stripes, barked Logan. Snapping upright, Rogue focused on Jean-Luc.
"If you don't mind me asking, what happened?" she asked.
"We're not sure, t' be honest, Petite. Two of our girls, Sabine and Cecile, were killed out in de bayous within a month of each other. Dey were both killed the same way too. Had their throat slit. De worst part is de couillon carved them up afterwards."
"Carved them up?" Rogue echoed.
"Oui. Both girls had tarot card symbols carved into their skin."
Rogue sat back again in her seat, head spinning, trying to wrap her head around what Jean-Luc was telling her. Pausing, Rogue looked at the man in front of her knowing she would regret her next words but was unable to stop them. In a measured voice, she asked, "Jean-Luc, that's…that's terrible, but I get the feeling you don't want my condolences. Why are you telling me this?"
Jean-Luc eyed her before replying in an equally measured voice, "I know dat you absorbed Julien to get the security measures for Blood Moon Bayou. I want you t' find out if the Assassins are behind the death of our girls."
"Dis ain't her problem, Jean-Luc," Remy's voice cut in as he stalked into the room. Jean-Luc's face shifted again, glaring at his son. Putting his hand on her shoulder, Rogue found herself maneuvered out of the chair she was sitting in. Keeping his hand on the small of her back as he guided her out of the door, Remy tossed back one final glare over his shoulder, "She ain't Guild."
Rogue couldn't say she was pleased with Remy's high-handedness, but the boy's timing was impeccable.
Pulled into the next room, Rogue saw the rest of Remy's family was already lounging on overstuffed couches, chatting amongst themselves. A few additional Thieves that she hadn't met yet were milling about. Emil was practically bouncing in his seat, a wicked grin stretched across his face.
"Hey Rogue!" he called, "According to Remy, he got you down here last time because you were lookin' to get out of town, and he swept you off your feet. Dere any truth in that?" Rogue swung her eyes towards Remy, who looked like he was considering throttling his cousin before glancing at her trying to adopt an innocent smile. Rogue shot the card-charging Cajun a withering glare before turning back to Emil.
"He drugged me, bound me, gagged me, and threw me on a boxcar for thirty hours to Louisiana. And when he finally untied me, I damn near threw his ass out of that boxcar," she growled.
Emil froze for a moment before bursting into laughter alongside Henri. Mercy turned to Theo and held out a hand, "Pay up."
"You bet on that being the answer," Rogue's eyebrows shot up.
"Non, Sha. But Theo here thought Remy charmed ya into coming down, and I bet that you didn't fall for his lines," Mercy said. Mollified sightly, Rogue joined Mercy on the couch.
"Is it true you laid Julien on his ass?" Emil continued.
"Emil." Mercy admonished him.
"It's okay." Rogue said to Mercy before answering Emil, "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
"And you still got him in your head?" Emil asked. Rogue's eyebrows flew to her hairline.
"I suppose," she answered slowly, "How exactly do you know about that?" her eyes cut to Remy.
"Oh, Shield has a whole file on ya. We pulled it out of their systems," replied Emil.
"Good to know," Rogue muttered darkly, making a mental note to sic Logan on Nick Fury. After all they had done for the man, Logan would be pissed to know he was keeping tabs on the kids at Xavier's.
"So you got voices in your head, fille? You some kind of schizo?" a voice cut in.
Rogue turned to take in the man in front of her. Average height with an athletic build and dark blond hair, the man in question would be attractive if it wasn't for the shit-smirk on his face.
"Quite the opposite, Honey," Rogue replied with a tight-lipped smile. Turning back to Mercy, she tried to change the subject. "How long have you and Henri been—"
"But you got voices in your head, don't ya?" the man pressed.
"Leave her be, homme," Remy replied from an armchair.
"It's fine" Rogue replied lightly, tossing a smile in Remy's direction, before narrowing her eyes at the man across the room. She really didn't want to get into this in front of Remy's family, but it was better to do it on her terms than let rumors fly.
"I do, but unlike what you're talkin' about, the voices in my head are real. They're mental clones of the people I absorb." Rogue paused and gave the man before her a saccharine smile, "I'm sorry, Honey. I didn't get your name."
The thief in question sat lounging in an overstuffed armchair, still wearing a smirk, "The name's Emeric, fille."
"Charmed."
"You got Remy in ya head?"
"Emeric," Remy started again.
"I do, but I don't see how it's any of your concern," Rogue's eyes narrowed again.
"Makes sense. LeBeaus never did know when to leave well enough alone. What ya get from him?" Emeric asked.
"That's none of your business," Rogue snapped, her guard up. This guy was an ass, and she was just about fed up with him. Emeric opened his mouth again, no doubt to make another obnoxious comment, but Herni cut him off.
"Emeric, leave her alone." He ordered before looking at Rogue, "Rogue, we're about to play poker. You want to join?"
"Nah, I'm good, Sugah. Like I said, I absorbed Remy. It's probably better that there aren't two of him at the table." Rogue smiled coyly as she slid from her seat. After the run-in with Emeric, she wanted to step outside anyway.
Something about the man made her want to hit something…hard.
Slipping out the door and onto the porch, Rogue leaned against the railing. In the distance, frogs and crickets sang as fireflies flashed in the trees. Breathing in the heat, it felt good. It felt familiar. Rogue wouldn't give up the X-Men for anything, they were her family, but the South was home. It's hard when your family and your home aren't in the same place.
The creak of floorboards interrupted her train of thought. Jean-Luc came around the corner. Rogue rolled her eyes. She was sure the man had purposely made noise to let her know he was there.
"Petite."
"Jean-Luc."
"Enjoying da night?"
Rogue nodded but didn't say anything more. Whatever Jean-Luc wanted to say, she could wait him out.
"I need to apologize, Petite. Mon fils is right. What's going on here ain't your fight," Jean-Luc paused, eyeing Rogue, "I didn't lie when I said I wanted your help. Tensions between the Assassins and Thieves are running high. Seems like everything is a powder keg waitin' for a match.
Dere's also been tensions with some of the other Thieves makin' trouble. Dat's never been good news for the leading family. I don't want to see my family hurt." Jean-Luc paused to light a clove cigarette.
Silence reigned as Rogue looked at the man standing next to her. Finally, she asked, "Why do you think it's the Assassins?" Flicking the ash from his cigarette, Jean-Luc sighed.
"Dere's been problems with the Assassins since you left last time. Fractions within their Guild. Some support Marius while others support Julien, with Marius being open to alliances with the Thieves and Julien against it. Julien's right-hand man is an assassin named Gris-Gris. He knows Voodoo," Jean-Luc paused, "and tarot."
Wouldn't do it without the Guild's support, hissed Julien.
Rogue looked at Jean-Luc before hedging, "Seems like a bold move for just the two of them unless others were supporting them."
"Dey may have dat," Jean-Luc muttered darkly, pulling another drag off his cigarette, "Dere are lots of people that would like to see the Thieves fall, Petite."
Jean-Luc shifted, smiling, and flicking his cigarette bud into the bushes, "All that to say, mon fils is right. I shouldn't press you into our problems. Désolé, Petite." Jean-Luc grasped her hand and kissed the back of her glove with a charming grin. Turning, he gestured to the French doors and the living room beyond.
Rogue stepped back into the room, troubled by her conversation with the Guildmaster. She already liked Remy's family, and the idea that they could be in danger didn't sit well with her, especially if she could do something about it. Sighing, Rogue rubbed the bridge of her nose. Looking back up, she caught Remy's eye, who had been watching her entrance with Jean-Luc with a frown on his face.
Jean-Luc excused himself as Belize caught his attention on the other side of the room. Remy slid into the empty space beside her, "You okay, Cher?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, Swamp Rat,"
"Are you—"
"Se taire!" silence fell over the room. Jean-Luc stepped forward, "We just got news out of the Quarter. An Assassin's girl is dead. She had a Five of Swords carved into her."