11

Gambit fled the apartment as soon as Rogue had uttered those two words. Devastated and broken, his heart had never felt so heavy as if the weight of their words were dragging him down. His legs felt as if they had been dipped in cement and left to dry. His mouth was dry and his hands were trembling as the warm heat of the sun refused to warm his now cold exterior. Both had left the argument with so many unspoken words, attempting to lick their wounds but failing to do so. So many thoughts were running through Gambit's mind, working a mile a minute to figure out how it could all go so wrong in mere minutes.

Dis is complete bullshit, how could da femme think I didn't care. He thought, his anger slowly building up. He couldn't believe that she would question his own feelings as if he hadn't given up so much. As if wasn't willing to give his heart and soul to her.

She might've said she cared but after dat? Whatever we have or had is over now.


Rogue had been left once again. Standing on the hardwood floor, the wind wafting in from the balcony and the sounds of a lively New Orleans down below. However she could no longer hear the laughter from outside, the warmth of the sun refused to warm her now as the only accompaniment she had was the familiar pain aching in her heart. One that echoed her past, repeating the heartbreak, the pain.

I told you this is how it would end Marie. Why did you hope it would be different? History will always repeat itself and you will always be- Rogue tried to tune out Bobby's voice in her head. But that only opened the door to more.

Ah Marie back here again are we? You and your childish problems, always grappling with one small conflict after another but failing to see the bigger picture. How could you ever forget who you- She tried to ignore Mystique's sneer, her narrowed eyes scrutinizing her. Judging her.

However it was too much, she held her head in pain, thrashing and attempting to banish the thoughts of others, the slight hangover she felt also definitely did not help. In the flurry of emotions, she had forgotten about the events of the previous night, of the bold declaration she had been planning to make. The alcohol, the lovely bartender, the determination she had once had to clear the air. Her knees gave in and she sank to the floor welcoming the tears which began to pour. Looking down she focused on the details yet again, noticing only now that she was wearing a pure white nightgown. How poetic as her heart felt blacker than coal.

She had known that she shouldn't have indulged her feelings. Maybe more accurately, that she couldn't. He was a thief and a dangerous man. He was also already in love and engaged but thinking of that made Rogue feel more pain than any physical injury she had. She sat on the hardwood floor for a while before finally mustering up her strength to slowly make her way toward the balcony. She stayed there for hours as nightfall took over the city she continued pondering and sorting through her emotions and through the voices. She no longer cared about Logan or the X-men. She no longer cared about the rest of them about her mission of hiding herself for the comfort of others. Rogue was tired of living her life for everyone else.

She was exhausted from the everlasting internal battle she constantly had to face from every single person she had encountered. She was so lost and so broken, but being with Gambit, no, Remy had somehow made her feel whole. For once she saw a semblance of hope. She exists on her own but somehow he made her not just exist, but live.

He had made her finally feel something in her world of nonexistent touch. Her days filled with only the sun to touch her skin had been replaced with his hidden, yet warm gaze. His smiles and jokes.

Alive. She thought. He made me feel alive.

She silently smiled but then remembered how she had gotten here. When he had finally made her feel alive, made her care, she had also gained something that she could lose. With his warm smiles and light laughter also came the agony. Her whole life she had so far lived for the future, but now it seemed so grim. Her life would forever be looking for a basic need. Touch. She also lacked that connection with others. Because when she put herself out there, finally loved, in the end, she had lost. When she finally came to her conclusion the sun had begun to set and she was now sitting on the banister of the balcony, looking down at a 40ft drop but somehow, no longer caring.


Remy sat on the rooftop of a nearby building. It was one of his favourite spots as it had a great view of New Orleans. He stayed there for hours thinking over his actions but he was still too blind to figure anything out. Consumed with the notion that he was still right, however, there was still a shred of doubt which bothered him to no end. Finally, he gingerly picked up his cell and dialled Henri's number hoping his dear brother would side with him and rebuke his doubts.

"Allo?" Henri said, greeting Remy.

"Bonjour mon frere, I have much to discuss but first is the wedding still on?" He said with exasperation lining his voice.

"I know about it all. Pere ain't too happy about the turn of events. Julian is insisting that you should be punished for cheating on Bella but the rest of da family is firmly against it. They know you meant no harm and technically you and Bella aren't married yet so most see it as pas problem. It's only the real traditionalists who think you shouldn't have done that. But then again what do any of those old coots know? The fact is you've been forced into this and they should have no say. "

Remy had never heard Henri become so heated over a topic and he was oddly honored that it was about him wanting to make his own life choices.

"It's fine Henri, I don't exactly care no more. La femme definitely does not love me back." He responded with a solemn expression.

"Pourquoi mon frere?! How did you discover dis information?" Henri said with distraught.

Remy explained the entire situation and the events that had led up to that moment. The recruitment, the pain, the argument Rogue's powers and everything in between.

Henri stayed silent for a while, he could almost hear the cogs and gears in his brain moving as he contemplated the situation. He himself still felt as if he had handled the situation well.

"Remy you imbécile!" Henri exclaimed over the phone, his voice raised.

Shock and confusion ran through his brain, doubt lining his previous thoughts before anger took over yet again.

"POURQUOI!?" He responded, throwing his arms.

"Remy you act so mature and think with your brain in every other situation except the one femme you truly love. Mon dieu, vie will be hard for you mon frere." Henri said, slightly chucking.

"Henri I am not in da mood for your teasing right now," Remy responded angrily.

"Remy, did you ever think about how she felt? You never truly gave her a chance to explain herself nor did you fully explain to her your side. I understand that it might've been difficult but you should have made her listen. The femme was already confused and your refusal to explain the situation did not help. She has walked into a whole new world full of thieves and guilds, of course, she knows no better. It definitely does not help that she still thinks you played her and that you love Bella. Of course, she still made mistakes but that's how relationships work. If you want to develop or move further arguments are bound to happen. That's just how life works, but it's how you handle these situations which make or break what you have. " Henri said exasperated.

Remy was stunned and speechless. He had yet to consider this

"Look Remy, I know this is hard for you and I've never been able to say thank you. I know that you are in love with this Rogue girl but the fact dat you are still even considering going through with this whole Bella thing shows your true character. Since the start you've always been one of the most loyal to the guild mais frere, you don have to do this. If I had a choice between Mercy and the family I already know what my choice would be."

"Mais, what do I even do now?" He was confused as to what his next plan of action would be.

He was met with a slight chuckle before Henri's tone became deadly serious.

" Remy you have spent yer entire life not caring for anyone else. You spend your days living for the highs and you make everyone believe the facade of a debaucherous life but everyone truly close to you knows. We know that underneath the reason why you pretend is because you used to care too much. Your empathic abilities made you think and only account for everyone else except yourself. Mais, our line of work makes dat dangerous so you pushed them away, closing your feelings to the world and also closing the world to yerself. Remy you need to open yourself up. Open up to yer own emotions and also share them with her. It might hurt more maybe, but at least you know you did everything you could for the one you loved." Henri paused for a second before moving forwards.

"So mon frere be free. Tell the femme dat she is your amour. Our lives are too short to not."

Henri then proceeded to hang up the phone leaving Remy stunned. His brother had never been one for expression of feelings or emotions but this had made him more sure than ever of what he needed to do.

I need to tell her. Was his singular thought as he raced back to the apartment, the setting sun illuminating his path.


The air was warm and a gust of wind was blowing as Rogue sat on the bannister looking down. It was a long way down but realistically she would lose consciousness by the drop in blood pressure.

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING STRIPES, WHY WOULD YOU EVEN- Logan's voice cut short as Rogue mentally made him shut up.

In fact, she did this to every single one of her other voices which were all screaming at her to stop. It's strange she never thought that they cared. That even in the deep crevices of their minds, so many didn't want her to die. This nearly was enough to make her step back but then a familiar voice rang loud and clear. One she had almost forgotten.

You killed me Rogue. You destroyed my life, so why do you think you deserve a happy ending? Cody's childlike voice echoed in her head. Quiet at first but he began repeating himself slowly getting louder and louder.

"Ah'm sorry Cody, ah really didn't mean to" She responded in anguish, but his voice only grew.

YOU KILLED ME, ROGUE, YOU DESTROYED MY LIFE, SO WHY DO YOU THINK YOU DESERVE A HAPPY ENDING?!

"St-stop, please no more, please no more," Rogue said pleading with him, his sweet childlike memory slowly morphing into a dismembered voice.

Her head was pounding with confusion and suddenly all the voices came screaming out, betraying her.

YOU'RE NOTHING! Bobby yelled at her.

YOU FOOLISH CHILD! Mystique screamed

All at once, the voices screamed in perfect unison.

HOW COULD ANYONE

EVER. LOVE. YOU.

Her ears began to ring loudly taking over all of her senses, She let out a bloodcurdling scream and in the confusion, she felt a push behind her, and suddenly- she was falling. She saw a shadowy figure quickly making a swift exit but she held no resentment. If they hadn't pushed her she surely would've jumped anyways. As she turned midair her heart stopped though. Right there standing on the rooftop adjacent to the balcony she saw Remy. Time seemed to stop as she saw him reaching out toward her. She could feel him even with hidden eyes, she could feel him looking at her with complete and utter devastation.

Ah'm sorry. She thought staring straight into his soul, before she was yet again enveloped with the familiar feeling of darkness.


French Vocab Translation:

-Mon chérie:My Darling

-Mon amis: My friend

-Mon bijou: My gem

-Mon dieu:My goodness

-La dame: Lady

-Petite:Small or little

-Cracheur de feu: Spitfire

-Maison:House

-Mon coeur:My sweetheart

-Mon trésor: My treasure

-Famille:Family

-Madame:Mrs.

-Moi:Me

-Oui: Yes

-Bonne: Good

-Nuit:Night

-D'accord:Ok

-Merde:Shit

-Très:Very

-Femme: Woman

-Homme: Man

-Un/Une: A

-Belle/Beau: Beautiful

-Frère: Brother

-Mon dieu: My god

-Désolé/Désolée: Sorry

-Pardon: Excuse me

-Ecoutez: Listen

-Fils de pute: Son of a bitch

-Beaucoup: Very much

-Mais:But

-Amour: Love