Casually reclining back against one of the outdoor chairs, his red on black eyes sized up the burly man sitting directly across from him as he eyed the cards in his hands.
"You alright dere Logan?" placing his cards face down he lazily raised his hands above his head as he gave the outdoor pool area a quick look. The weather was nice enough today with many of the students occupying the Xavier institute using this Saturday to kick back, relax, splash and dive into the crystal-clear water they all sat around.
"Don't rush me kid." Logan muttered as he frowned down at his hand.
"Just ain't never seen a man look dis closely at his cards 'fore." He smugly chuckled.
"Damn it!" Regretfully placing his cards down Logan took another pick gulp of his soda. "Guess I'm rustier than I thought."
"And when were you ever good?" Remy raised his brows in mock surprise. "Last I remember you could barely pay to play me to begin with."
"We've played before?" Logan carefully eyed the way Remy's jaw ticked.
"Non, never got de chance." He confessed remembering how the man barely had enough to enter in on one of their games—not to mention they were interrupted by a man he rather forget right now.
"It's probably because I'd make sure to wipe that damn smirk off your face."
"Sore loser never quite suited you Logan." He bristled while shaking his head. "How's 'bout we play again next time, hein?" he reaches his hand out to grab his winnings before Logans claws slammed down on the table right between his bare fingers. "Or we could continue playing Gumbo…" Nervously smiling Remy leaned back in his seat before observing the older man while he began to shuffle.
"What's the matter kid? Afraid of losing?" Logan scoffed.
"Don't bother me much, I ain't de one constantly losin' mon ami." He indignantly scoffed. "But I'll make an exception since I like seein' you lose an' all. I could use de change." he couldn't help but add as Logan shot him a warning glare.
"Always with the smart mouth huh?" Logan Irritatedly tapped the glass table with the end of the deck of cards in his hand. "Anyone ever tell you you can be an ass?"
"Actually, oui monsieur I have..." He gave a small smile at the thought right as his eye caught that familiar two toned hair he grew so fond of walking pass the pool not far from where they were seated. 'Speakin' of my Chérie…'
"Hey gumbo eyes over here." Logan snarled, flinging a card towards his side of the table while Remy reflexively slammed his hand on top to keep it from flying towards him.
-X-
Tilting her head back to try and bask in the sun that this lazy afternoon had to offer them, Rogue sensed a feeling of calmness and peace settled over her. All worries fading into the background as she tried to soak up the sun regardless of the layers of clothing she forced herself to wear right now.
Despite not getting any news yet on the progress of Mr. McCoy's research, she made sure to take his words with caution and ensure that nothing would go wrong in the meantime. With the possible failure of the cure, the Friends Of Humanity out there, Jean's return and Remy's discovery back at the lab had Mr. McCoy constantly busy. Luckily he had Forge around to help ease the burden somewhat but nonetheless felt bad that she couldn't do more to help.
And the anxiousness of waiting was killing her. The growing fear gnawing away in the bit of her stomach constantly reminding her and telling her that something bad was going to happen, especially with what Madam Labossière had said to her.
"I still don't get why you decided against a two piece." Kitty sadly mumbled, languidly stretched out on the lounge chair next to her. "And instead you're all covered up." she gestured her hand out to the sheer green shirt Rogue decided to wear on top of her dark purple swimsuit and jean shorts and gloves.
"Ah'm fine." Rogue lied as she casually shrugged her shoulders. But in all honesty even the way her shirt clung to her sweaty skin made her have second thoughts about being out here not to mention taking a dip in the pool.
"Come on Rogue you're hot!" Kitty removed her sunglasses and sat up. "Why not embrace it? I would love to have killer curves the way you do."
"What? No Ah don't." Rogue uneasily chuckled, absently wrapping her arms around herself.
"Yeah girl I agree with Kitty." Jubilee tried not to trip over the various pool inflatables littering the pool area as she approached them, while the splashing of water from other kids showed how much fun they all seemed to have. "We all think so."
Shaking her head Rogue couldn't very well agree with them since she was sadly used to people constantly keeping their distance from her before to a point that they would only see the untouchable girl that could put you in a coma rather than the woman she was. And ever since then she had to wear that lapel until it felt only natural. Even after the cure and years later…she would still always be seeing that way. So she couldn't understand her friends at times as she shook her head. "You guys-"
"Don't even argue with us." Kitty pointed her finger as she took a big sip of her nearby water.
"Well it makes it kind hard not to when Ah have no idea what ya'll are talkin' about."
"Oh really?" Jubilee tilted her sunglasses enough to tilt her head sideways. "Then why am I getting the distinct impression that if he could, that boy would just eat you up."
"Huh?" Following her line of view both Rogue and Kitty could see Remy lazily grinning before he turned to listen to whatever Logan was saying to him. She didn't know what convinced her to listen to the two girls since the very idea seemed just ridiculous.
"I seriously don't know how you did it Rogue. I couldn't even imagine keeping my hands to myself the whole time on that trip." Jubilee listlessly hummed before pulling up a chair and settling down next to her two friends just as another thought occurred to her. "Wait, did you guys share a room?"
"Jubes-" Rogue began to try and dismiss the topic by laying back down.
"I don't need details just you know—oh you know what scratch that give me all the juicy gossip you want!" Jubilee's grin widened.
"Jubilee that's…" Whatever Kitty was about to say died on her lips as she slowly grinned back. "Oh screw that we need the details Rogue."
"You guys!" Rogue quickly sat up.
"I'm sorry but just look at him will ya!" Jubilee brazenly waved her hand in Remy's direction, not at all embarrassed about how obvious they were being now.
"Didn't your momma ever tell you not to point?" Rogue whisper shouted as her face began to warm up at the sudden attention.
"If she did, I chose to ignore it."
"Great Jubes now we've got the whole mansion starin' at us like we're crazy." Rogue sadly pursed her lips while they heard some of the younger students giggling.
"Well what else is new." She simply shrugged.
-X-
"I'm not going to tell you again gumbo to keep those shifty eyes of yours on the game." Logan lowly growled as he disapprovingly looked down at his cards again. "Damn it…"
Arrogantly smiling, Remy nonchalantly leaned back knowing that despite his current distraction he knew Logan was even more angry at the fact that Remy was still winning. "An' how would you know where dis one be lookin' mon ami?" He curiously asked from behind his own shades since the sun was still bothering his eyes.
"I know." Logan mockingly smiled before throwing his cards down. "I need a damn beer to deal with the likes of you, not this." He growled as he finished off his soda.
"Dat hurts." Remy playfully pouted before gesturing for the Wolverine to take his leave. "But by all means…"
"Nice try." He vehemently smiled. "Just because the professor decided to give everyone a day off doesn't mean I ain't keeping my eyes off you."
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you didn't trust me."
"What gave me away?" he sarcastically replied.
Clicking his tongue the young mutant only nodded.
"Look as far as I know, Rogue and everyone here I can count on." Logan pointed a stern finger at him. "You on the other hand I don't."
"Seems fair." He quickly shrugged off Logans comment like it was second nature since the man was smart in not immediately trusting everyone he came across. One of the things that still was true about Logan. But he couldn't help but wonder what the feral man would do if he found out about that enticing little number his precious little trustworthy southern girl had performed for him. "Is dat right? Care to make a wager on dat little trust you speak of?"
"Alright, I will match your offer and raise you a perfectly good fuck you." Logan raised a challenging brow as Remy's grin only widened before he parted his lips.
"Remy!"
Rogue's voice next to him nearly made Remy jump in alarm.
"Rogue?" Warily eyeing her, Logan's eyes bounced between her and the way she was currently glaring at the Cajun.
"Excuse us for a minute." She forced a sweet smile before grabbing Remy by the arm and hauling him away just as Logan raised a puzzled brow at the two.
"Why Chere, if I didn't know any better I'd say you wanted me all to yourself." His eyes danced with mischief while hers turned serious as she released him.
"Look…" She lowered her voice to a whisper, trying to conceal her frustration that he might have been on the verge of telling Logan of all people about her little dance moves! "Whatever it is that you're plannin' on tellin' Logan-"
Shooting his brows up he nodded in understand. So that was the reason behind their spontaneous departure from a rather interesting game of beating Logan. "Oh you mean 'bout-"
"Yes!" she swiftly cut in, not needing to be reminded of it. "It's emberassin' enough without you mentionin' it."
"Emberassin'?" he disbelievingly scoffed. "More like impressed." He reminded her with a smug smile.
"Whatever you wanna call it." She dismissively shook her head trying to hide the small incoming blush on her cheeks. "Just don't, ok?"
"Why? Afraid Logan might not see his little Roguey as so innocent anymore?" he playfully teased which only resulted in her stubbornly folding her arms over chest which made him have to force his eyes not to linger on the way it made her breasts look beneath that translucent shirt.
"Remy!"
"Alright look…" Frustratedly running his hand through his hair he nodded his head in greeting at a couple of boys that walked by them before turning back to her. "Believe it or not Chere, I don't make it a habit to parade around an' tell everyone my business."
"Except when there's money involved." She fired back, watching the way he briefly looked away, so she took this time to grab his hand and place a good amount of money in his palm. "Here."
"What's dis?" he surprisingly looked down his hand before removing his sunglasses. The thought that Rogue would think so little of him made him offensively stare back at this girl. "Chere I already told you-"
"It's for the trip idiot." She disgustedly narrowed her eyes. "I know you won't say anythin' about the bar and this is just payin' you back for everythin' you paid for—regardless of how you may have paid it."
"Still don't change anythin'." He smiled.
"I'll give you the rest later."
He was about to tell her to keep it when another thought occurred to him as he playfully wiggled his brows. "Wait, is dis from…?"
"No!" she indignantly scoffed. "It's money Ah've earned and saved since livin' here at the mansion."
"I don't want your money Rogue." He reached over and placed it back in her gloved hand realizing that this outfit of hers didn't allow her room for much. "Where did you even put it Chere?"
Rolling her eyes she attempted to walk away before he moved in front of her. "Remy-"
"As I've said before…" he murmured giving her a slow seductive once over. "Pretty keen on gettin' yourself in dangerous situations 'round me Rogue."
"Oh really? And why's that?" she narrowed her eyes.
"Because you're playin' a dangerous game wearin' dat 'round me Chere. If dis one didn't know I'd say you be wearin' dis for me." He let his eyes trail down the curve of her waist before his glowing red eyes raised back to hers "…only to have me take it off."
Holly shit! She could literally feel her knees buckle under his gaze and had to force herself to keep calm and seem unaffected since she knew he was only teasing her. But regardless it took everything she had to bite down a whimper as his eyes lingered on hers the way a wolf eyed his next meal.
"W-what?" She stuttered which only made his lips curve into a half smile.
"You know…if it makes you feel any better, I was holdin' on by a thread." He admitted referring to her little dance performance that night. "Just be lucky I didn't snap."
"Why's that?" she nervously swallowed unsure if she even wanted to hear his answer.
He secretly smiled to himself before deciding to take a careful step back and turn to leave. "You could say I prefer it to be our little secret." He said over his shoulder until he stopped after realizing what she'd said before. "Hey Rogue?"
"Hmm?" She was still trying to catch up with her sanity by this point.
"How do you know dis one won't say anythin' 'bout it?" he curiously tilted his head back. Did she finally trust him enough to keep quiet about it?
"Ah know because if you so much as tell Logan or anyone else…" she quietly watched the man in question finish talking to a couple of small kids before he began walking over. "He'll be mad about it sure…probably won't talk to me for a bit, but he'll be even more pissed off that you were there and watched me without doin' a thing to stop it."
The way his jaw dropped made anything she felt only seconds ago vanish, replaced by one of her triumphant smiles before she walked back to her seat and waved at Bobby as he swam closer to where the lounge chairs were.
"Here you go Cajun, you're long overdue for a cold dip in the pool I'd say. Let me help you with that." Without so much as a second thought Logan shoved him back by the shoulder, only smiling when he heard the delicious sound of a loud splash behind him before he went in search of some beer.
