Here's some more fluffy one-shots where Rogue and Gambit were happy and content before the events of X-Men '97 started. This one is loosely based on the comics, along with going off a scene I'd written in "His Love For You".
Also, this one was slightly inspired by the song "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter. Been kinda stuck in my head for the last few weeks and kinda loved the teasing/playful nature of the song and video.
Enjoy!
It was finally breaking into some decent, sunny weather in New York state. The long winter and spring that followed after the Professor's departure created an atmosphere amongst the team that was hard to shake off; a feeling that the world would be a much darker and colder place without his guidance.
However, as the seasons always do, they change, and summer was finally arriving; breaking the months-long stint of depression that had clouded the mansion.
Rogue had always enjoyed the warmer weather from down South—though she could do without the humidity—and reveled whenever it was warm enough for her to be reasonably — and justifiably — less covered.
While many of the other X-Men were going to go out for the day, Rogue made some personal plans to enjoy the sun by the pool deck, and get some color back into her pale skin. It was a perfect opportunity; while everyone else was discussing their ideas for the day around breakfast, she was going to capitalize on being alone without having to cover up.
She retreated back to her room to get changed into an emerald green, strapless, sunbathing bikini—designed specifically to show as much skin as possible to avoid tan lines—, grabbing a towel, some sunscreen, and a steamy romance novel before she headed down to the pool deck. As she made her way past the entrance, she watched as everyone else went out for their day, and she breathed a sigh of relief. As much as she loved her fellow X-Men like family, Rogue couldn't pass up an opportunity like this to just enjoy the amenities of the mansion the same way everyone else was able to when she got the chance.
Her last stop before hitting the pool was the kitchen to grab some lemonade for herself.
As she poured herself a glass, breaking out some ice cubes to go with it, she was startled when she heard a long and sharp whistle, recognizing it immediately..
"Mon dieu!"
"Remy!" she hollered back at him, looking over her shoulder and seeing Remy leaning against the door frame of the kitchen, watching as his eyes raked over her in only the way he knew how to do, "Ugh, don't sneak up on me like that! I almost knocked the pitcher ova' 'cause o' you."
Clearly, Remy was enjoying the view, if the smirk on his lips was any indicator, "Désolé, ma chère. Couldn' contain myself. Not e'eryday Gambit gets blessed with a sight as magnifique as you."
Rogue scoffed at his compliment, "Don't mean you can scare a girl half to death."
She turned back to put the lemonade back in the fridge, in hopes to distract herself from how good Remy looked himself; fitted with a tighter than usual black t-shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants, and none of it left anything to the poor girl's imagination. She realized Remy must've been having the same ideas about her in her own bikini.
"Whatcha doin' here, anyways? I thought you were gonna join the others and head into town for the day," she asked casually, grabbing her things and walking to the patio doors to head to the pool, knowing Remy would follow her along the way.
"Gambit decided to fin' out yo' plans first," he answered honestly, "And he glad he did."
She laughed, setting up her towel on the deck chair, "Well, my plans may be mighty borin' for you, Cajun."
"Things never be borin' wit' you, chère," he offered in return, earning him a sweet smile from Rogue.
"Silver-tongued devil. Fine…" she said with a roll of her eyes, sitting down on her chair as she reached for the sunscreen, "You can join me… so long as you keep those paws of yers to yerself; ya hear me?"
"O' course, chère," he answered in a low timbre, "Gambit always respects a lady's boundaries."
She started applying her sunscreen just as Remy turned to head back inside to get his own swim attire on, but she caught him just staring at her before he went inside.
"You gonna pick that jaw up off'a the floor?" she sweetly taunted, massaging the last of the sunscreen over her legs, leaving her skin glistening like a beautiful gemstone in the sunlight.
"Just committin' yo' beauty to memory is all," he teased, making his way into the mansion.
Rogue couldn't help the smile that graced her lips as she slipped on a pair of stylish sunglasses, embarking on her day of relaxation. That was until Remy returned about five minutes later, and Rogue should have known he'd try something. She pulled down her shades as she watched the man who was a living, breathing, sweet-talking version of a marble statue joined her on the deck chair beside hers.
If Rogue had thought his clothing from earlier left little to the imagination, then he was nearly as naked as a nudist at a clothing optional beach. Of course Remy would wear a speedo.
"How very European of you," she giggled playfully.
He gave her a wink as he pulled his own shades down, "See somethin' y' like, chère?"
Rogue chuckled to herself as she placed her sunglasses back in their usual position, pulling out her romance novel as she drawled out sarcastically, "Not in the slightest."
Their back and forth flirtations had become something of a routine for them, and were intrinsically tied to Rogue and Gambit's dynamic. They both played into it and Rogue had always wondered if that was because it was likely the furthest it would ever go.
When you're unlikely to ever have skin to skin contact with someone, barring any physical intimacy, what else is there to do, but enjoy the sweet romantic advances that were being offered to her? It certainly was a lovely ego-boost for them both. Did it really cause either of them any harm, so long as they both knew there was only so far it could go?
Remy was just as aware of their limitations, and always let her take the lead in how… risqué things got. At the end of the day, Rogue was the one who held all the cards.
After a short while of sunbathing and leisurely reading, Remy turned and asked, "Care for a swim?"
Rogue took a sip of her lemonade as she continued to read her novel, "Help yerself."
He smirked, standing from his chair as he sauntered towards the pool's edge. Rogue allowed herself the small indulgence as she watched him stretch his arms and torso, letting every cut of muscle under his golden skin to be highlighted. She was silently thanking her past self for remembering to bring her sunglasses, allowing her to gaze unabashedly—though she doubted Remy would have any issue with her looking.
She watched as he effortlessly dove into the water with incredible form, as he casually swam a few laps before letting himself float across the water.
"How's the temperature?" she asked.
"Très bien," he replied, "Like a secret watering hole in the peak of summer."
That tempted her. She put down her book as she got up from her deck chair, standing beside the pool as she dipped a toe in. He wasn't lying; it was refreshing without being too warm or cold. She could see Remy watching her eagerly, smoothing his hair back out of his face in a way that always made him look good enough to eat.
Rogue decided to play the game as she delicately floated herself down into the water, "Mind yerself, Cajun."
"Always, chère…" he drawled, moving to the side of the pool and sitting on a step to let her have her space.
She swam a few breast strokes as she moved further to the deep end, enjoying the feel of the cool water on her skin, "Mmmm, it feels like it's been forever since we've been able to relax like this."
"Oui," Remy agreed, "T'ings been different, but don' mean we shouldn't enjoy ourselves when we can."
Rogue nodded as she took a breath and dropped below the surface, letting the water cover her entirely.
She stayed underwater for a little while, just letting it consume her. When she resurfaced, she smoothed back her own hair, and swam back to the shallow end.
"Remy?" she asked, looking up and realizing he'd disappeared. She stood up, wondering if maybe he'd gone back inside. Had he already gotten bored of her?, "Remy?"
"Ki-yay!" was the only warning she got when suddenly there was a huge splash behind her where Gambit had dropped into the pool.
"Aahhhh!" she screamed in shock, getting absolutely waterlogged by his tsunami wave.
Remy popped his head back up, eager to see if he managed to get under her skin, which, of course… he did. Her cheeks were already getting fiery red, and he loved to see that near-murderous look in her eye that said he was a dead man.
"Remy LeBeau!" she shouted before getting a devious look on her face.
Remy was too preoccupied laughing to notice, "Ma cherie, you know Gambit loves it when you say his name like that."
Rogue wandered right up close to him, and Remy nearly jumped back at the lack of space between them, "Uh…"
"What's the matt'a, Swamp Rat?" she rolled off her lips, doing her best to come off as genuinely seductive.
His eyes shifted, a little more hooded and curious, "Chère, you get any closer, and Gambit not gon' be responsible for what happens next."
"Hmmm… you're right," she agreed, confusing Remy for a second as Rogue then used her full super-powered strength to reach back and brush a huge wave of water, splashing Remy so hard, he got pushed back to the opposite end of the pool.
"Like I said; don't scare me, Cajun!" she laughed.
He coughed for a moment before he smirked back, "Still worth it."
She scoffed with a smile at his antics, deciding it was time for her to get out. She floated out of the pool just as easily as she got in, and Remy cried, "Y' done already?"
She nodded, "I think I'm gonna finish my book inside… where there ain't any Swamp Rats tryin' t' drown me."
He casually teased, "T'ink it was the River Rat who was close to drownin' Gambit."
She laughed as she retreated inside, leaving Gambit to enjoy the pool on his own.
After a few more hours, with dry hair and a fresh oversized t-shirt and leggings, Rogue was curled up on her bed, reading the last few pages of her book when she heard a knock at the door.
"Come in," she called, not lifting her head as Remy opened her door, "What's up?"
"Y' hungry?" he asked.
Rogue had gotten so distracted by her book that she hadn't even noticed how hungry she'd gotten. She closed her book, leaving it as she looked up at Remy with a glowing smile, "Famished."
He clearly had some kind of plan, she could tell, "Bon!"
Rogue stood up, joining Remy as they walked down to the kitchen. Rogue had half-expected he'd made some extra batches of something—likely chili or a jambalaya—and was offering her some.
In reality, she was left confused when Remy kept walking back to the back door, "Uh… I thought we were eatin'...?"
"Oui, we are, chère," he answered in a coy voice.
She squinted her eyes at him, curiocity in her look, "What're you up to, Cajun?" she asked as she followed him out into the grounds of the mansion, towards the lake.
"Can't a man have his surprises?" he asked teasingly, leading her back towards a small picnic blanket he'd set up just under a tree, overlooking the lake and the mansion in the distance. Decorated with wine and a charcuterie dotted with some of her favorites, she was left speechless.
"Oh…" she gasped, her hands covering her lips in surprise, "Remy…"
"I wanted to make it up to ya… fo' ruinin' your day," he explained, causing Rogue to look back at him.
"You didn't ruin it, Remy. Why would you think y' did?" she asked quietly, wondering if she'd gone too far with their teasing earlier.
"Gambit always sees y' keepin' to yo'self in your room; readin' yo' books and avoiding bein' 'round the others on days like these. He t'inks he crashed yo' day to enjoy yo'self like everyone else does," he elaborated as he delicately took a hold of her gloved hand in his.
Her heart melted, "You didn't crash it. I just don't get too often to enjoy bein'... a little more myself. When you always have to stay covered up and keep yer distance, sometimes… it's just easier to not participate. So when I can be on my own and not have to be covered…"
"I understand, chère," he said, "You don' gotta explain yo'self."
"That bein' said…" she continued, "I always feel like I can be myself 'round you, Remy."
That brought the charming smirk back onto Remy's face, the one she always loved to see.
She cocked her head to side, playing demure, "Now, whatcha got ov'a there?"
They spent hours together, enjoying their food and wine, and reminiscing about their younger lives down in the South.
After a short while, Remy decided to lay back on the blanket when Rogue offered with a small blush, "Need a pillow?"
Remy threw her a confused look before she patted her lap with a welcoming smile, immediately communicating what she meant.
"Merci beaucoup, chère," he replied appreciatively, adjusting himself to lay back on her soft thighs, and Remy knew this was what heaven must've felt like.
He looked up at her as she rested back on her hands, the view unmistakably the best thing the Cajun had ever been grateful enough to witness. In that moment, Rogue tempted lifting one of her hands to his hair, gently raking her fingers through his shaggy but luscious locks. It was enough to lull him into a haze; one that loosened his lips, maybe a little more than he would've if he were also sober.
"Let this fool take you out, Rogue?" he asked in a way that mimicked a pilgrim seeking a divine answer. He reached up for her hand, pulling it to his lips as he kissed her knuckles, saying, "Let Gambit show you how a lady like you deserves to be treated."
Rogue was a little taken aback, though she wasn't shocked. She sighed, "Remy… I dunno…"
It was one thing for them to have their flirtations, play coy, and indulge in a daydream of possibly more in their futures; but Rogue was too much of a realist, "We shouldn't kid ourselves into thinkin' there can be anythin' more than this between us."
She tried to take her hand back, but Remy held it — not aggressively. His grasp was tender, like holding a delicate bird.
He spoke softly, "There's always gon' be more fo' us, chère. I feel it… in my bones. And even if this is all we can have, then Gambit can die a blessed man, knowin' the most beautiful women to ever exist felt charitable enough to give this sinner any kind o' affection."
Rogue's eyes became glassy at his admission as she breathed out his name.
Remy reached his own gloved hand to her face, brushing his thumb over her cheek as she let a tear slip down of its own accord, "Gambit don' do any o' this without intention, Rogue… not wit' you. Don' want everythin' between us to just be talk. Gambit wanna show you just how much y' mean to him."
Rogue could feel her breath catch.
"I love you, chère," he said plainly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "And this Cajun's heart only beats for you."
Her voice shuddered as she let out a strangled, involuntary laugh, which Remy decided to take as a good sign.
"Yer such a hopeless fool, y' know that, Remy?" she said with a smile.
"For you, chère?" his voice was like butter as he sweetly said, "Always".
"Guess we can be hopeless together then," she said as she leaned down to place a kiss through his hair just over his brow, "'Cause I love y' too. Since the first time I laid eyes on ya, sugah."
He smiled up at her like a lovesick puppy, finally hearing those few words drip from her lips and sending him into a tizzy, "That a 'yes' fo' that date then?"
She laughed at his ability to always lighten the mood, "It is, ya mangy Swamp Rat."
It wasn't long after that the others seemed to have returned home for their own excursion, with some coming outside to enjoy the last of the day and the gorgeous sunset that radiated a full spectrum of color across the early evening sky.
As night settled in, Storm approached them with an adoring look on her face, seeing the two of them cuddled up together on the blanket and being affectionate with one another. She made a small cough to interject, "Dinner is almost ready, if you two are interested in joining us?"
Remy asked, only barely pulling his attention away from Rogue, "On one condition; who did the cookin'?"
Storm laughed, "Jean did."
Remy looked back up at Rogue with a smirk, who was just as aware of Jean's previous attempts at cooking, and laughed, "Gambit thinks we'll pass this time, Stormy. But give our condolences to the rest o' the team."
Ororo shook her head, "Don't be shocked when Jean berates you for insulting her cooking."
"No worries, Storm," Remy replied, before looking back up to his beloved, "Gambit can live off o' Rogue fo' the rest of eternity."
Ororo scoffed at his blatant affection for the young woman as she said while turning back to head inside, "Be careful, Rogue. You may have the poor man wrapped around your finger in no time."
"She already do," Remy smirked.
Rogue mutually shook her head at his corny lines as she pushed Remy playfully, "You are the absolute worst!"
Remy chuckled, "Ah, but you chose to stay wit' Gambit, ma chère—which means he must be the better choice over Jeanie's cookin'."
Rogue lifted her hand, holding her thumb and index finger out with a small space between them as she said teasingly, "Only by a hair, Cajun."
He laid a hand over his heart as he feigned hurt, "Y' wound me, chère."
I hope you all enjoyed this fluffy lovey-dovey romance. It's kind of a riff on the comics when Rogue and Gambit have a picnic and Rogue gets a pie in her face. But replace the pie with the pool, and add in some conversations about their feelings for one another, and this is what you get.
Let me know if you enjoyed it, either with a comment or a like/kudos!
Until Next Time…