Chapter 8
Noir universe
Rogue's power kicked in and she absorbed Toad's lifeforce through her bare fingers on the back of his neck.
"Amazing timing there, chere," Gambit said, his eyes on her as he walked over.
Rogue released Toad and he dropped to the ground, his gun clattering on the gravelled ground behind the bar.
"I had a hunch you were in trouble," she said while pulling her glove back on and scanning the area. "I've learned to listen to my gut."
"Good thing for me," Gambit said as he lifted Toad back up to his feet. "How about the pipe?"
"Hmm? Ah, perfect."
Rogue picked up the rusted pipe and bashed Toad over the head with it. Gambit let him drop back down.
"Yeah, that'll leave a good mark," Gambit said approvingly.
"That was the idea," Rogue said, and tossed the pipe into a shallow puddle.
Gambit took her hand and kissed the back of it. "Pick up anything interesting, chere?"
"Not really. He was just completely convinced that you were the one who killed Erik. He remembered seeing you sneak into the house on the day of Erik's murder," Rogue replied as they began to walk off.
"Oui, I remember seeing him too," Gambit said as they approached the alley leading back to the street. "Spying on Wanda again, no doubt."
Rogue stopped in her tracks, a deep frown on her face. "He saw someone else that day too. Pietro!"
"Wasn't he forbidden from coming back home?" Gambit asked.
"Yes, he was."
Rogue and Gambit looked at each other. Then Rogue sighed.
"I suppose I should pass this information on to Bishop," she said.
"May as well get your moneys worth."
1980s Comicverse
18 year old Rogue sat on the rooftop in quiet contemplation of the last day. She'd been afraid of absorbing anyone with a physical mutation, like Angel, because she didn't know what it would do to her. In a way, the fear had been enhanced after absorbing Carol. There was so much about her mutation that she just didn't know.
And then Pyro had melted Colossus' steel form, and she had been asked to absorb him so that Healer could heal him.
She did it. It wasn't to prove anything to the X-Men, who still didn't trust her. She did it to save the life of another. She did it because for once she could actually use her mutation to help someone instead of hurt them. She did it because it was the right thing to do.
It was still the most terrifying experience of her life to date. After being stuck as a metal statue for what felt like forever, borrowing Angel's wings didn't seem so bad.
Movement below caught her eye. A motorcycle drove through the open gates and headed towards the front door. She frowned, not recognising it, and flew off the roof to go investigate.
She landed near the front door just as the rider was getting off his motorcycle. He looked to be about her age, with long brown hair, and red and black eyes. He was so gorgeous it took her breath away.
"Bonjour chere. M'names Remy," he said. "I hear this is where I can find the X-Men?"
Nightmare universe
Gambit sat on a bench with Rogue, watching while their son Olivier played with the other kids. He still couldn't believe that seven births all happened within a few weeks of each other. He didn't know if he was glad he was comatose through all the madness, or disappointed that he missed out on the births and first five years of the lives of his two kids.
His eyes flickered over to Olivier's half-sister, Medea. She was a cute kid, but then, with himself and Storm for parents, that was probably inevitable.
Jean and Scott apparently conceived their son, Nate, after a night of make-up sex. The memory of being told that story brought a smile to Gambit's lips. He could understand their concern about Nate's parentage when Jean became pregnant so soon after.
Kitty had sole custody of her son with Lance. They'd been on and off for awhile, but finally and definitively became off after their baby was born. She and Piotr were dating now, and Piotr had taken on being a father figure.
Tabitha and Jubilee weren't saying who the fathers of their daughters were. Some suspected they didn't know, but no one had pressed them.
On the other side of the playground was Hrimhari, the father of Rahne's six kids. He was sitting with one of their nannies. With six kids, they needed them. Gambit didn't envy them at all.
Gambit squeezed Rogue's bare hand, still marvelling at being able to do so.
"I love you, Roguey," he said.
She smiled back at him. "I love you too."
Swapped universe
Rogue sat in the garden of the Xavier estate, staring at nothing in particular, her mind a million miles away. She knew it was only a matter of time before Mystique came looking for her, and she just didn't know what she was going to say to her. She only knew she didn't want to go back. The things that the Brotherhood did were wearing her down, nagging at her conscience, and making her feel like she was just a store of C4 to her colleagues.
So caught up in her own thoughts, she almost didn't notice the moment when Gambit sat down next to her. She didn't turn her head, but her eyes did flicker to the customary black gloves he always wore. She bet he had the softest hands.
"How'd it go?" she asked.
"I just got the most amazing news," Gambit said, his voice matching his words. "The wedding has been cancelled."
Rogue jerked her head up and caught his gaze. There was no mistaking the delight in them.
"Cancelled?" she asked. "Guild war?"
Gambit shook his head. "They've been working on a contingency plan, just in case I didn't get control by the deadline. They've decided that the contingency plan is a better plan than the wedding, so they're going to move forward with that."
"That's incredible. Why didn't they do that in the first place?"
He shrugged. "Didn't occur to them? At this point, I don't care. I'm just relieved the pressure is finally off." He gave a huge sigh.
"Yeah, I bet you are," Rogue replied, and slid across the bench to close the gap. "Plus, it's nice to know you're officially back on the market, sugar."
Gambit paused and looked down at the total lack of a gap between them. "Chere, haven't I absorbed you enough already?"
"Oh, probably. But I think I wouldn't mind finding some more creative ways to be absorbed. We don't always have to be fighting, you know."
"I don't want to hurt you anymore," he said, pulling away from her. "I didn't even know when you'd wake up from that last coma."
"I'm not saying we have to start on the first date. A lady wants to be wooed first."
"Chere—"
"I expect the gentleman wants to be wooed too."
Rockstar & Hatred's universe
Rogue sat in the rehearsal studio, listening carefully as Thieves Guild played their music.
She didn't think that when she first arrived in New Orleans for college that she would end up where she was now: assistant audio engineer for a major band, barely out of graduation. She'd been taking every gig she could get for years, and was pretty sure that was the only reason why the senior audio engineer hadn't vetoed her getting the job. As it was, she was pretty sure she was going to have to work extra hard to make sure no one else thought she only got the job because she was Remy LeBeau's girlfriend.
It felt good to know they were finally dating. They'd met shortly after she moved to New Orleans, and gradually became friends with increased contact over time. She admitted to a bit of a crush on him, and had a great deal of mixed feelings about him never making a move on her after he'd gone into his "slut period". Part of her was disappointed and wondering if she just wasn't attractive to him, and the rest of her was relieved, knowing that he wasn't serious about any of the other women.
The rehearsal came to an end, and Remy sat down beside her.
"Sounding good," she said.
"Thanks," he replied. "So um," he looked around as Henri, Theo, and Etienne left. "I got a call from Ali. It turns out that Dazzler's decided to write a song about me."
"Okay?"
"It's called 'I Slept With Remy LeBeau (And Damn If I Wouldn't Do it Again)', and they kinda wanna put it on their next album," he said, looking bashful. "They sent it to me. It's kinda, y'know, funny and raunchy at the same time."
"Right." Rogue had no idea how she felt about that.
"Did you want to listen to it?"
"Part of me thinks no, and the rest of me knows I'm absolutely going to listen to it," Rogue replied with a sigh.
Remy chuckled. "Look, um it's up to us. If we don't want them to go further with it, they won't. They'll understand, it's the whole reason why they're sharing it with us."
"Us or you?"
"I'm saying 'us', I don't care what they think," Remy said firmly. "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."
Rogue was silent for a moment. "Oh, what the hell? Why not have a song to commemorate the end of your slut period."
Remy chuckled and took her hand in is. "Have I told you how happy I am that part of my life is over?"
She smiled. "Yes, but it's still nice to hear."
He kissed her.
Pirate & Merfolk universe
Rogue looked around, and then peered over the railing to the water below. There, her new merman friend, Gambit, was swimming alongside the ship. She waved to him, and he waved back.
With another look around, Rogue carefully climbed over the side. Using her telekinesis to remain attached to the Mystique, she clambered down the side.
"Hey," Gambit greeted her. "How you doing?"
"Good, how be you?"
"All the better for seeing you again."
"Flatterer."
He grinned at her. "So, where you headed now?"
"We've got some business to attend to in Tortuga. What about you?"
Gambit opened his mouth to reply, when Captain Darkholme's voice cut in loud and clear: "Rogue! Stop talking to the merfolk! It only encourages them."
Rogue looked up to see her mother glaring down at her.
"Whoops, I should be going," she said.
"I'll see you in Tortuga," Gambit promised her.
Rogue smiled back shyly even as she floated back up on the deck. Captain Darkholme glared at her.
"I believe you have some decks to swab," Captain Darkholme said.
"Aye captain."
The Legacy of Dark Cerebro universe
There was a burst of magenta light, enormous pressure and noise. Then it passed, and dust drifted to the ground.
"I warned you," Gambit wept from where he sat amongst the ruins. "I said I couldn't control..."
"Yes, I should've taken the warning more seriously," Rogue replied, and Gambit jerked his head up to see her standing there, completely naked. "I don't suppose you have a change of clothes anywhere?"
He stared at her, completely and utterly shocked she was still alive. "How?"
"My powers let me borrow the powers of other mutants," Rogue replied. "Usually it's temporary, but there are two powersets I seem to have absorbed permanently. One of them is invulnerability."
"Oh!"
"No clothes?"
"Oh, uh, no, sorry," and he sounded much like he had only just registered her question. "Uh, I should have a blanket here somewhere, if I haven't blown that up too.. ah, here we go."
He grabbed the blanket and held it out to her, keeping his gaze averted.
"Thanks, sugar," she replied.
Rogue wrapped the blanket around herself and then sat down beside him.
"Why have you come here?" Gambit asked.
"The X-Men are looking to expand to new territory. We need more farmland. I'm part of the scouting mission. Frankly," Rogue said as she shifted where she sat on the ground to make herself feel more comfortable, "we weren't interested in the city at all, but we heard some explosions and I figured I should check it out."
"I can't control my powers."
"So I gathered. Neither can I," Rogue replied. "I can't have skin contact with anyone without absorbing them and knocking them into a coma."
"Oh." He thought about this for a moment. "Do they ever wake?"
"Most of the time. I try not to hold on too long. I definitely could kill someone if I did that."
Gambit nodded slowly.
"So, I'm guessing you're out here trying not to blow people up."
"Pretty much."
"I don't blame ya. I'd probably do the same. Must get lonely, though."
"It's the way it has to be."
"Not any more." Rogue gave him a smile. "You can't blow me up."
"No... I can't..."
He closed his eyes as tears started to form. They sparkled magenta and fizzled off his skin in teeny tiny little explosions.
"I can hang around a little longer, but then I'd better assure everyone that everything's okay," Rogue said. "Do you mind if I visit you again?"
Gambit gave her a fizziling, tearful smile. "No. I'd like that very much."
"Great. Do you mind if I return the blanket then?" Rogue asked. "I have this thing about the rest of the scouting crew seeing me starkers."
"Heh, sure, return it whenever. Heh I..." He shook his head. "There was a time when I would've savoured the sight of a naked woman, and here you are and I barely even noticed."
"In fairness, you thought you'd killed me."
"I'm so happy I didn't."
"Me too. Now I get to make a new friend."
"I... I don't think..."
"And I think you could use a new friend too."
Gambit's hands shook as magenta light fed into the ground. "I'm sorry, I... I..."
"Nothing to be sorry for, sugar," Rogue said firmly. "If you can't control your powers, you can't control them."
"They all died because of me."
Rogue was silent, them after a moment: "Who died?"
"My daughters."
"Oh!"
"First Belle killed Abby. My back was turned for just a moment, and she killed her." More exploding tears came. "And then, that was it for me. I lost it. I completely lost it and killed everyone, including Sarah."
"I see."
"I'm a mass murderer. You... you shouldn't be friends with me."
Rogue gave a shrug. "Aw sugar, I don't think I introduced myself. My name's Rogue, and I don't care what other people think I shouldn't do."
Leverage universe
Kurt looked devastated as his bride was pulled away in handcuffs, the train of her gown catching on everything as the police led her away. He slumped where he stood by the alter, everyone in the congregation rendered awkward and nervously chatting.
"I'm sorry, sugar," Rogue said.
"You tried to warn me," Kurt replied bleakly.
"I would've preferred to have been wrong," she said, grateful that she'd gotten her team on this the moment Kurt's now ex-fiancee had gotten her hackles up.
"Me too." He sighed, and reached for a hug. "Thanks for looking out for me, sis."
"Always, bro," she replied, and hugged him tight.
He smiled at her as they pulled back, his hand feeling the five day old engagement ring on her finger. The sudden engagement had come as a surprise to him but not to Rogue. She and Gambit fully remembered their entire experience at the multiverse node, and decided they were ready to move to the next stage.
"You two still planning on that courthouse wedding?" Kurt asked, seeing Gambit over Rogue's shoulder.
"After all this drama? Definitely," Rogue replied. "But we can—"
"Because," Kurt cut in, looking directly at Gambit, "I thought for sure I saw some LeBeaus around."
Gambit grinned slyly at Kurt. "Mebbe we're just working the wedding, mon frere."
"Uh huh," Kurt said, and looked towards the congregation. "Thanks everyone for coming. Sorry about all the drama. There's been a change of plans. If you're on the brides side, it's time for you to leave. Please feel free to take your gifts on the way out. Grooms side, you're now the new brides side. The new grooms side will be here shortly."
The brides guests had already started to leave, but did so with more haste now that attention had been brought to them.
"Kurt," Rogue hissed, then glared at Remy. "What did you do?"
"I'm nothing if not an opportunist, chere," he said with a wink.
"You… you…" Looking extremely embarrassed, she looked at Kurt. "You don't have to do this. You just got… This has been a shock and—"
"And, we've already spent all the money, no need for it to go to waste," Kurt assured her. "Besides, nothing would make me happier than to see you two get married."
"As long as it's what you actually want. You've already been hurt enough, I don't want to rub salt in the wound."
"Quite the opposite. Right now I can't think of a better pick-me-up than a reminder that people do actually still marry for love," Kurt said, his eyes flickered over to Gambit who'd started making calls. "Besides, I suspect that Remy's just itching to steal a wedding."
"It's not stealing if you consent."
"I'm pretty sure he had things in motion before I consented."
"Fair point."
New Sun & Legacy's universe
Legacy and New Sun found themselves in the ritual chamber, ruined much in the same way that they had ruined so many others. The ritual to release the power of the last Kings would never work here now.
"No, nonononono," Jean-Luc said, distressed as he looked around. "How could this be? How could this happen?"
Legacy and New Sun looked at each other. Legacy turned and headed out of the chamber.
"I think it's better if some powers aren't released," New Sun said to Jean-Luc.
Jean-Luc scowled. "The prophecy—"
"Maybe it wasn't a prophecy. Maybe it was just a warning," New Sun said, and turned towards the exit. "Either way, it doesn't matter. The power of the Last Kings isn't getting released.
He walked away, leaving Jean-Luc to his misery.
Outside, on the side of a mountain in Turkey, Legacy looked out at the world beyond. Tears pricked at her eyes, and she felt herself choke up inside. She reached out telepathically and sensed the minds of so many people she had absorbed.
New Sun joined her.
"They're all here," she said, tears dripping down her cheeks. "They're all alive. Everyone, everyone we killed, everyone I absorbed. They're all here."
New Sun wrapped his arm around her and held her close. For once he had no words, only gratitude that they had a second chance.
Soulverse
Mystique blinked.
The golden soulmate bond was gone. The vice held nothing.
She pulled off the ethereal glasses, looked at them critically, and put them back on again. The golden soulmate bond was still gone, but she could see other things through the ethereal glasses that she wouldn't normally be able so see.
Muffled voices came from the back room. Mystique lost no time getting there, since the Scarlet Witch should have been alone. She threw open the door.
Rainbow was there, and through the ethereal glasses, Mystique could see the golden soulmate bond that linked her to a boy of around the same 13 years. The pair were busy untying the Scarlet Witch.
"What is going on here?" Mystique demanded. "Don't untie her! Rainbow, how did you get here? Who's this? I told you to stay put and not to untie her!"
"Sorry, Mystique," Rainbow said as she continuing untying the Scarlet Witch, "but I can't let you cut our soulmate bond. It will destroy the universe again."
"Oh don't tell me you've fallen for her nonsense," Mystique replied in utter disgust.
She moved in to stop Rainbow, but it was already too late. The Scarlet Witch had a hand free and with it she called up a hex bolt to immobilise Mystique.
"I don't know what she's told you," Rainbow replied firmly. "I only know what I've lived through. You succeeded, Mystique. You cut the soulmate bond. And you destroyed the universe. Not just ours, but others, many, many others. Some, like ours, could be recreated. New ones were created with mismatches of others. And others still will never exist again." She sighed. "But you don't believe me."
"And I don't see how you could possibly expect me to," Mystique replied contemptuously.
"Fortunately," the Scarlet Witch said Remy extracted the last of the bonds tying her to the chair, "she doesn't have to convince you."
Magic swirled up around her and slammed into Mystique. Rainbow looked away, not wishing Mystique any harm, but also knowing this couldn't be allowed to happen a second time. Remy took her hand in his, even as he watched with fascination.
"There," the Scarlet Witch said as the ethereal glasses floated from Mystique's face and into the rightful owner's hand. "You are cursed, Mystique. You can now no longer touch any implement that can damage a soulmate bond, not for the rest of your days, in this body or another."
"You can't do this," Mystique snarled.
"I just did." The Scarlet Witch flicked her hand, and Mystique flew from the house, screaming.
Then it was still.
"I'm sorry," Rainbow said, looking down at the floor.
The Scarlet Witch turned to look at the two young people who had freed her, and had just told her a very short version of a very interesting story.
"What was done happened in another world," the Scarlet Witch replied gently. "I would very much like to hear more about it when we have time. For now, anyway, I think it would be best if I took you in as my apprentice. I think that you, soul thief that you are, will benefit far more from my tutorlege as a soulcerer than you would from Mystique."
"Will she be okay?" Rainbow asked. "What if she comes back here?"
"She can't come back here. I made sure of that too," the Scarlet Witch replied, and then looked at Remy.
"Can I learn magic too?" Remy asked eagerly.
The Scarlet Witch put the ethereal glasses on, and looked at the golden cord between the two young people for herself. Then she she them aside.
"I think it would be best if you two stayed together," the Scarlet Witch said. "So, yes, I'll teach you soulcery too, if you prove your have the aptitude for it."
Remy cheered.
Reaper Prime sighed and sat by the node, which was becoming more and more like its original special self. There were only a relatively small number of Rogues and Gambits left, and all were outnumbered by the number of Reapers.
"Thanks for all the help, node friend," Reaper Prime said softly.
"YOU ARE WELCOME, HUMAN FRIEND."
"Oh!" Reaper Prime never, ever expected the node to reply to her.
"THANK YOU FOR RESTORING ME."
"You're more than welcome. I'm so happy to have been able to help," Reaper Prime could feel tears pricking at her eyes, her response only amplified by the hivemind.
"YOU HELP MUCH ALREADY."
And with those words, Reaper Prime got the distinct impression that she did a lot more good than she realised ridding the multiverse of the murderous New Suns.
"YOU ARE TRUE GUARDIAN OF THE MULTIVERSE."
Reaper Prime found herself crying, overwhelmed with the knowledge the node gave her: other problems just as bad if not worse than the New Suns. Other desolated nodes in need of help.
New purpose found her. Her clothes rippled and become a rich red that matched the power of the M'Kraan Crystal. Her hair lengthened, now neatly reaching her shoulders. These changes flowed from her, through the hivemind, transforming all of them.
"I am Guardian," they all said, and as they went their separate ways, the hivemind dissolved.
The node was all but empty. The Workshop Deck was the only deck that remained. In addition to the Zenith's Majesty, there was also a spaceship and a magical airship that were busy preparing to leave.
"Permission to come aboard?" asked one of the new Guardians.
Steampunk Rogue glared at her. "We're exploring the multiverse. We're not pairing off."
"I know."
"And I don't want you trying to force us—"
"I'm not planning on forcing you to do anything," she cut in. "But I am aware, as you should also be, having served on ships, that members of crews will creating bonds with each other. Socialisation and close quarters are going to create bonds between all of you. I simply want to make sure that, if any of you happen to forge a soulmate bond, that the universe that will inevitably be created will suit you."
Steampunk Rogue fell silent.
"I'm not trying to talk you into erasing your Remy," Guardian said gently, though still loud enough to be heard. "Believe it or not, I actually want to help you. Besides, you know very little about the multiverse, and I know more than you could ever learn in your lifetime."
"Oh?" Steampunk Rogue replied. "Sounds like a challenge, Guardian."
Guardian smiled up at her. "You're welcome to take it as such."
Steampunk Rogue stared hard at her. "Permission to come aboard, granted."
Shortly thereafter, everyone was ready to go. The new crew pushed off, and they headed out into the great beyond.
Below decks, Coffee Shop Gambit got the next pot of coffee going. As he turned his head over his shoulder, he saw his armband vanish. He looked around the mess and noticed that all the armband had vanished. A wave of relief flowed over him. The pressure he'd felt before to go pair up with another Rogue disappeared.
In the engine room, Irony Rogue and Steampunk Gambit were busy assisting. Only Guardian could see the thin gold thread that spun between them.
End!
I really wanted to write a "briefing" scene, like they have in episodes of Leverage for the Leverage Rogue & Gambit's final scene. Unfortunately, I was completely stumped on what they should be briefed on. So that's why we got something less Robin Hood and more "my preferred way to steal a wedding". No bait & switch, and legally binding. Not that I'm complaining about Rogue & Gambit finally marrying in the comics, but there are too many logistical plotholes! Also, baiting & switching is mean.