Chapter Seven
"This is nice," Rogue said as she looked around the cabin. It wasn't big, just three rooms, but it was homey. Aside from space cleared around it, the cabin was surrounded by forest and Rogue felt like she was miles away from civilization.
Remy smiled, pleased that she was happy. "Make yourself at home. I'm going to go charge up the generator."
Ever since Logan's visit, Rogue had been preoccupied but now that Remy had her alone, with no distractions, he hoped she'd find the answers that she sought.
He found it a little hard to believe that she'd been an X-Man. While they weren't public knowledge, the X-Men were well known among his kind. They were the Special Forces of the mutant world, keeping the peace and making sure that situations didn't get too out of hand. Of course that made them as hated by some as they were loved by others.
Remy had been indifferent to them. He was glad there was someone like the X-Men to keep order, but he didn't really give it too much thought. Plus, even if he had ever thought of joining, he was sure they had no time for a thief. The X-Men were the good guys and good guys didn't hire criminals.
Rogue on the other hand…Remy smiled to himself, yeah, he could see Rogue with them. She was strong, protective and when pissed off, fierce. He sure as hell wouldn't want to face her in a real fight.
Remy realised what all this meant, of course. If she chose to return to her old life, he'd be alone again. The fact that she'd used hotel stationary for her letter told him that she wanted to be found, like Logan had suggested. Maybe he was wrong and it was just an oversight on her part, but the feeling remained.
He finished charging up the batteries and went to get the groceries from the car.
He was sure he that could he talk her into staying with him, he already had a dozen different arguments he could offer her, but his heart sank as he realised he could never present her with those arguments. For the first time in Remy's life, he was putting someone else before himself. He should feel proud that he wanted what was best for her, he should feel good about himself and his decision.
Instead, all he felt was desolate.
He wouldn't stand in Rogue's way but he also didn't know how he'd carry on without her.
Bobby was hurting, that much was clear for anyone to see. Mostly everyone avoided him because the few times any of them had tried to talk to him, Bobby had snapped at them. But Storm couldn't ignore things any longer.
This was her school now, and the cloud hanging over it was Bobby's doing. He was making the atmosphere tense, and that wasn't ideal when you teaching people to control their mutant powers.
"Bobby, a word." Storm beckoned him into her office.
Reluctantly Bobby changed direction and headed into her office.
"I know what you're going to say," he told her as she closed the door.
"Good, then this should be easy."
Bobby sat down and glared at her.
"Snap out of it!" she told him. "Yes, it hurts, yes it's wrong but damn it, Bobby, that's life."
He hadn't been expecting that. "You wouldn't understand."
"You'd be surprised how much I understand, Bobby, but you can't go around shouting at students just because your feelings are hurt."
Tears shone in his eyes and Storm perched on the desk in front of him. She didn't like being cruel but she knew that it was the best way to get him to open up.
"You want to talk about it?" she asked, kindly.
Bobby shook his head, but then talked about it anyway. "If she's too dangerous to be around me, why is it okay to be around him?"
Finally they were getting to the heart of the matter.
"I don't know, maybe he has a gift that makes him immune. Or maybe they're just friends."
Logan hadn't told him they were in a relationship but he had naturally assumed the worst.
"I just don't understand, Storm."
"I know. How would you feel, Bobby, if every time you touched or kissed Rogue you froze her?"
Bobby opened his mouth to protest but Storm held her hand up. "Think about it, honestly."
Bobby did. He would hate to hurt her like that. Maybe he would stay away for her own good, but he wasn't ready to admit that. It sparked a small glimmer of hope in him that maybe she cared more for him than that man she was travelling with.
"Do you think she's coming back?" he asked her.
"Logan does, that's good enough for me."
"If I'd known you could cook like this, I'd have suggested we come up here weeks ago."
Remy smiled. "Aah, but too much of a good thing is never healthy."
"I don't care if I get big as a house, this is worth it." She took a huge bite of food.
To be honest, Remy thought that she could do with some fattening up, because she hadn't been taking good care of herself for a while now.
They'd been at the cabin for four days and Remy thought it was time to broach some difficult subjects, but he waited until after the meal, when they were settled at the table to play a game of cards.
"I'm not playin' poker again," Rogue insisted.
"Why not, cher?"
"Because you always win."
"That's not true."
"Okay, sometimes you let me win."
"So what do you want to play?"
"Gin rummy?"
Remy shuffled then dealt the cards, he didn't care what game they played.
Rogue won the first hand (he hadn't let her win but he had been distracted) and as she dealt the next hand, he bit the bullet.
"Have you thought any more about what your friend said?" he hoped he sounded casual as he arranged his hand.
Rogue sighed. "All the time, but I haven't made any decisions."
"How do you feel about the place?"
Rogue shrugged. "I don't know. I mean it's the first place I ever really fit in, you know? I felt accepted." She sighed, "I wish they'd never made that damn cure."
They played in silence for a few moments.
"I think you should go back," Remy said, keeping his eyes on the cards.
"You want me to leave?"
She sounded upset and Remy looked up, alarmed. "No! No, cher." He decided to be honest. "I want you to stay forever but I know that you aren't happy. I think you need to go back and face your fears. Maybe you'll stay, maybe you won't, but at least you'll have some closure."
Rogue considered his words. He was right, she was being a coward by staying away.
"If I did decide to go back, would you go with me?"
Remy gave her a sad smile. "I don't think I'm the sort of guest they want."
"Of course you are. Why wouldn't they want you?"
"I'm not like you, cher, my life has been lived in the shadows. I'm not exactly a team player."
Rogue laughed. "Oh Remy, neither is Logan and he gets on fine. He hasn't exactly had the most normal life either and they accepted him. And you could teach, I know they need new teachers."
"Teach what?" not that he was seriously considering staying with the X-Men, but it never hurt to explore his options, right?
"Well there are normal lessons like math and English, history and stuff. Then there are mutant lessons, like learning to use your powers and fighting skills."
Remy wasn't making any promises. "If I go with you, will you return to the school?"
Rogue nodded. "And if I choose to stay there, will you?"
"We'll see, cher. But I won't make any decisions without discussing it with you first, okay?"
"Okay. And I promise I'll talk to you before I make my mind up."
Remy didn't sleep well that night because every time he closed his eyes he saw Rogue, happy and laughing with her friends, oblivious to him. He felt like she was slipping away from him and there was absolutely nothing that he could do to stop it.