Chapter Six
Rogue awoke the next morning to find herself alone in bed, but Remy had always been up before her so she wasn't surprised. In fact after the revelations of last night, she was kind of relieved. She needed some time to get herself together before facing him.
Not that she regretted telling him, exactly, but she did feel incredibly uncomfortable.
She darted into the bathroom, grateful that it wasn't occupied, then quickly back to the bedroom when she was finished. She felt like a thief, trying not to get caught. She dressed, again in another of the outfits Remy had chosen for her, and sat down at the dressing table. The first thing she noticed was a pair of straighteners, still in their box.
She had tried not to make a fuss about her kinky hair, but she really had missed her straighteners and it felt kinda nice to realise that Remy cared enough to notice. She badly needed a trim too, since it had grown about two inches since her last cut.
Once her hair was sleek and smooth, she set about doing her makeup. She felt like she needed her mask today, but not like she used to wear it. On impulse, she smudged the black khol eyeliner, giving her a smoky look. She liked the change. The rest of her makeup was basically the same, but she wore a little less lipstick than usual, giving her lips a purple sheen rather than a bloc colour.
She thought she looked older, which was fitting because she certainly felt older these days.
She walked into the living room with a confidence that she didn't feel, uncertain exactly how Remy was going to act today. She didn't think Remy was going to be unkind or anything, she just didn't know what to expect. Rogue didn't open up very often and when she did, it was usually only to Logan or the Professor.
She knew exactly what would happen if she ever confided in say, Kitty or Jubilee; they would tell everyone. And it wasn't because they were malicious, they simply couldn't help themselves. And sometimes they had this strange notion that they knew better than Rogue did about what was best for her. And maybe sometimes they did, they were impartial (or very nearly) observers after all. The trouble was they didn't come out and speak to Rogue about their concerns, they would either plot and scheme behind her back until they got their way, or nag her until she gave in. Considering how stubborn Rogue was, neither option was actually very pretty.
She imagined walking into the living room to see Remy bouncing on the balls of his feet, desperate to start nagging Rogue into the crazy idea he'd had since they had talked. Actually the image of Remy behaving like Kitty was pretty hilarious, and she filed it away for a rainy day when she needed cheering up.
Remy however, immediately put her at ease. He was sitting at the dining room table, the printer set up beside him and running while he sorted papers.
"Morning," he said, smiling slightly at her then looking back to his work. "There's fresh coffee in the pot, help yourself."
She did exactly that, thrilled to have a proper morning coffee for a change, then came and sat opposite him.
"These are the police reports," he explained. "I thought it might be easier to just print them out."
"Anything new?"
"Maybe." He set the computer aside and handed her the stack of papers he had been sorting. "Two witness statements claim to have seen a bird of flame right after the mansion blew. The police didn't make anything of it, just wrote it off as people seeing patterns where there aren't any, but these two people weren't related and weren't even in the same place when they saw the blast. I don't think they could have talked to each other about it before they were questioned."
Rogue was silent for a moment as she digested that.
"I... I know he was you friend but... well you don't think that Pyro could have done this, do you?"
"He couldn't have blown the place up, but he was my first thought when I read about the bird of flame too. I already made some calls but it seems he's been back in Australia for the past month. Couldn't have been him."
"You're sure?"
"Positive."
"So we're looking for someone with a combination of yours and Pyro's powers," Rogue said, biting her lip. "It's too much of a coincidence though, it doesn't make any sense."
"No it doesn't," he agreed. "Which is why I think the mutant we're looking for could have some different power that just looks like ours sometimes."
"What kind of power?" Rogue asked.
"Don't know, exactly. I mean a well trained telekinetic could use their power to control flame, maybe even blow molecules apart like an explosion, but it'd have to be one helluva powerful mutant. More powerful than I've encountered before. Could also be a power borrower like you, using two different powers at the same time. Someone like Scott with his laser eyes could surely destroy a mansion, especially if unlike Scott, they have learned to control it. Or maybe it's something we haven't encountered before. Maybe someone out there can... I dunno, make things spontaneously combust or something."
"Maybe we should visit the mansion for ourselves, see exactly what happened."
Remy hesitated. "Maybe," he finally admitted. "But let's keep that as a last resort."
Just then Sarah came through from her bedroom, dressed for thee day but rubbing her eyes.
"Mornin' petite. You brush your teeth?"
"Yeah," she yawned.
"Let's get some breakfast." To Rogue Remy said, "Tante Anna comes at 9 to give Sarah her lessons, so we can go through the police reports then."
Rogue nodded and followed him through to the kitchen.
By mid afternoon Rogue had skimmed the reports but Remy was still searching the internet. Rogue put the papers down on the coffee table, got up from the couch and stretched.
"Anything?" Remy asked her.
"No, no big ideas. Sorry."
"Don't be."
"What are you looking for?"
"News reports."
"On?"
"Flaming birds, and no, that's not a cocktail."
Rogue smiled and sitting next to him so she could see his screen. "Any luck?"
"Not sure," he confessed. "I've found a couple of reports, but most seem to be written off as hoaxes, UFO's or nutters. This website though," he clicked through to a site he'd saved, "is for paranormal phenomena. They've got a page dedicated to tracking this and, if all the reported sightings are right, it seems to be moving in an almost straight line, heading towards California."
"California?"
"Or somewhere between Bayville and California." He brought up another window, where he'd been tracking the course of the sightings using google maps.
"It's pretty straight," Rogue agreed. "Does the website say anything about causes?"
"Mutant is a pretty popular theory, but a portent of the end of the world is coming in a close second."
"Should we track it?" Rogue asked. "Try and head it off maybe?"
"Not until we know what we're dealing with." He sounded adamant.
"But the X-men could be tracking it too!"
"And they might not be. None of these so called sightings mention anything about metal claws, phasing girls, red lasers or ice slides. If they X-Men are following it, they don't seem to be doing a lot to stop it."
Rogue sighed. "I just wish I had some answers."
"I know, chère." he put an arm around her shoulder. "Tell you what, let's get out for a couple of hours."
"I don't-"
"I got a studio two blocks over where I train. We're both a little out of shape from lack of routine."
"What about Sarah?"
"Tante takes care of her until 5."
Rogue checked her watch, that would give them over an hour and to be honest, she needed to work off some energy. Plus he was right and she was badly out of shape.
Remy's studio was an old dance studio. One third was given over to equipment, such as weight machines and treadmills, the other two thirds had been carpeted with protective matting and was presumably for martial arts practice. Dotted around the walls were also unusual things, thin shelves far too high to be useful, a ladder had been mounted at a 45 degree angle between one wall and the ceiling. Another wall seemed to be for rock climbing, thought the hand and toe holds looked very small.
Rogue was wearing one of the T-shirts that Remy had brought for her to hike in and a borrowed pair of his sweat pants. The waist thankfully had a drawstring but the legs had to be held up with pins.
Remy played some rock music and they both got started, working up a sweat in no time. Remy worked the machines for about half the time. Then he moved out onto the open floor to practice martial arts. She also realised what the odd pieces of equipment were for, which was basically for him to use as he jumped, flipped and climbed around the room.
She found that the rest of her workout flew by as he watched him. He was so lithe and graceful that it was almost like watching a dancer. He reminded her of a big cat that looked bored and almost harmless as it lay under a shady tree, only moments later to be jumping into action, full of power and energy.
She thought that he probably realised that she was watching but she was too mesmerised to care. To her surprise and relief, he didn't say anything when he was done, only grabbed a towel to wipe his sweat away with.
"There's still a girls changing room but I have no idea if the shower in there still works," he said. "You're welcome to share with me if not."
Rogue's typical knee-jerk reaction of insulting him didn't come, and instead she found herself smirking at his gall. Did he ever stop?
"Yeah, thanks but I don't really feel like hauling your unconscious ass all the way back to the apartment and making Sarah cry."
Remy smiled and let it go.
Thankfully the shower in the girls changing room did still work, though she let the water run for a while before getting under it since she had no idea how long it had been sitting in the pipes.
When she heard the door open, she thought that Remy was about to get up to his old tricks, push her too far thanks to his earlier success. Instead only an arm poked through and she saw something fly past the shower curtain.
"Forgot to get you a towel," he said. "Just call if you need anything else."
The door closed again and Rogue let out a sigh of relief. Or was it disappointment? Well, either way it didn't matter because while Remy could climb into the shower with her, he would most certainly have to be carried out of it.
Still, as she let the hot water sooth her sore muscles, she couldn't help but close her eyes and imagine that he was in here with her, his hands gently massaging the tension from her muscles, before slipping to much more private areas, and relieving the tension she felt there too.
Thanks to her bout of daydreaming, Remy was dressed and waiting for her when she left the changing room, and he looked like he had been waiting for a while.
"You okay, chère?" he asked.
"Fine," Rogue couldn't help but blush as she remembered what had held her up. "So," Rogue asked as they walked back to the apartment, "did you and your dad ever make up?" Though that wasn't the most tactful question, she didn't want to dwell on her awkward feelings.
"No," he said darkly. "That man will never change. Still, he's not giving me too many hassles."
"What kind of hassles does he usually give you?"
"Oh you know, just Guild crap and guilt trips, that kind of thing," he said lightly, but Rogue thought something was off.
"Does he do that to Henri too?"
"A bit, but Henri knows he'll be leader of the guild one day, so he sticks around to do his duty."
"Is it hard then? Running the Guild?"
"I guess." Remy scratched the back of his neck. "Truth is though, even without Jean-Luc's help Henri is perfect for the job. Don't let his cavalier charm fool you, he's a responsible young man. Besides, he and Mercy still get away fairly regularly to do jobs."
"And what will you do if he does start making demands on you again?"
Remy looked at her for a moment, wondering if he should be truthful.
"Well... I had considered going north and seeing if your professor would take me and Sarah in."
"Really?" she looked surprised.
"Really."
His expression was blank and Rogue didn't know if she'd hurt him or offended him. She had figured out that he only used his poker face when he wanted to hide something.
"So why didn't you come sooner?"
"Sarah. I wasn't sure if you took kids that young."
"The professor will take in anyone in need."
"Maybe, but I still couldn't be sure that I'd be welcome. That girl has nothing stable in her life and never has, I couldn't just dump her at boarding school. I may not be her parent, but she deserves to know that someone cares about her, that someone will always be there for her."
"Remy, you're always welcome at the institute too."
"By you maybe, but what about M'sieu Serval? I don't see him welcoming me with open arms, especially since I kidnapped you."
"He doesn't know that," Rogue said. "I told him that you'd asked for my help and needing to get away for a while, I agreed."
"And he believed you?"
Rogue didn't answer. No, of course he hadn't believed her. Still, she had stuck to her story.
Remy sighed and ran a hand through his damp hair. "Anyway, looks like that's a moot point for a while; there isn't an institute for us to go to."
"But there will be again, and I would love to see you there." She smiled slightly and Remy looked into her eyes for a moment.
"We'll see, chère, we'll see."
They were preparing dinner that evening while Sarah watched some sci-fi show. The kitchen lead into the living room, separated only by a breakfast bar, so they could easily keep an eye on her while they worked.
The sound was on the TV, a machine in the medical bay of the starship or something. The beats were regular but high pitched, designed to alert the fictional medical staff of a problem with a character being treated. Remy thought nothing of it, until Rogue dropped the salad bowl, shattering it into a million pieces. He wasn't mad as he turned to her, just confused but a second later his confusion turned to panic.
Rogue was deathly pale, her eyes wide in terror, her hands were trembling and her breathing shallow and far too fast. He knew those symptoms. He just didn't know the cause.
"Chère?" He took her gloved hands in his, but she didn't seem like she was able to see him. He gripped her hands harder. "Chère!"
She wrenched her hands out of his grip and put them over her ears.
"That sound, stop it, please stop it!"
The only thing making a noise was the TV, so Remy vaulted over the breakfast bar, grabbed the remote from next to Sarah and muted the TV. Sarah too looked scared, so Remy scooped her up in one arm as he returned to Rogue. She was now sitting on the kitchen floor, looking just as pale as before.
"It's gone," Remy said, kneeling down before Rogue. "Put your head between your knees and try to take deep breaths," he said, gently pushing her into position. He rubbed one hand up and down her back. "It's gone now, chère, you're safe. Just take deep breaths, in... out... in... out. You're okay now, you're safe."
After what seemed like an eternity, Rogue took one final shaky breath and sat up. She didn't know what to say.
"Are you okay?" Sarah asked Rogue.
Rogue nodded.
"You look as white as a ghost," Sarah told her.
"It's okay, petite. She just had a panic attack, like you used to, remember? It's nothing to worry about." Well it could be, but he wasn't about to say that to Sarah or Rogue.
He stood up, taking Sarah with him and offering his free hand to Rogue. She accepted and he led both his girls into his bedroom.
"I want you both to lie down here while I clean up the kitchen, okay? Don't come out until I say, in case there's still glass on the floor."
Remy left them as they both climbed on top of the bed, facing each other. He had a feeling that Sarah would be better company for Rogue right now that he was. Somehow it was easier to appear vulnerable in front of a child than another adult. He could hear them talking softly but couldn't make out what they said. At least Rogue was talking, that was what mattered.
When he was done cleaning the kitchen, he poured a finger of bourbon into a glass and went back into the bedroom.
Rogue was still pale but she looked a little better.
"How are my girls?" he asked.
Both smiled at him but didn't answer.
"Here," he held the glass out to Rogue. "I don't recommend it long term, but it'll help take your shakes away for now."
Rogue hesitated for a few moments, then apparently decided that she would take the drink. What her reasons against it had been, he could only guess. She grimaced as the drink went down in one go but she didn't cough and splutter, so this wasn't her first time.
"I was telling Rogue about when I used to do that and how you got Dr McNeil to make me better." Sarah told him.
"She had PTSD," Remy explained to Rogue. "Nightmares, panic attacks, night sweats, flashbacks, the whole nine yards."
"The doctor was nice though," Sarah said. "Didn't even look at me funny with my bones and stuff."
Remy smiled. "She was a nice lady. Now why don't you set the table for dinner, it won't be much longer. I need to have a quick word with Rogue."
Sarah nodded and headed out of the room.
"And don't put the TV back on!" he called after her, then turned to Rogue, who was now sitting up against the headboard. "You really okay?"
"I'm fine!"
"Rogue, even the most hardened soldiers get PTSD, it's nothing to be ashamed of."
"I'm not ashamed," she said, unable to meet his eyes and looking very shamed right now.
"I know you're used to being this strong, independent woman and I respect that, but you don't always have to be the strong one, and you don't have to do everything alone.
"I'm fine, Remy, it was just a stupid noise, that's all."
"What did it remind you of?"
She looked up at him, then quickly away. He thought that's she wouldn't answer but finally did she.
"The machines they hooked us up to during testing."
"I'm sorry, chère."
"It's nothing."
"It's not nothing, but it is normal."
Rogue sullenly kept her face averted.
"I used to have this little test when I was younger, to help me decide what was acceptable behaviour and what wasn't. Believe me, with a dad like Jean-Luc, it could be hard to tell what was acceptable at times. Anyway, I used to ask myself how I'd feel it it was Henri or Mercy in my place, if they had done or felt the way I did, would I think that was okay. You see, if you'd forgive those you love, then maybe that means you should forgive yourself too. If Kitty or Kurt had been through what you have, would you think them weak for having a panic attack?"
He could tell that's she didn't want to admit it, but finally she sighed. "No."
"Good."
"But sometimes it's easier said that done, you know? I don't like feeling powerless or weak."
"I know." After that she had been through, she would be even less inclined than normal to feel or appear weak. "Just try not to beat yourself up about it, okay?"
Rogue nodded.
"And I will only make this offer once, but it's open ended. I know you'd probably prefer your professor, but if you want to talk to Dr McNeil too, just tell me. She specialises in trauma so she knows what she's doing."
"Thanks," Rogue said, but he knew from her tone of voice that she had no intention of ever asking.
'You can lead a horse to water,' Remy thought, 'but you can't make it drink.'
"Come on, the salad may be beyond repair, but there's plenty of spaghetti and meatballs left."
Rogue nodded sadly and followed him out of the bedroom.
The next few days proceeded in a similar fashion. While Sarah was being schooled, Remy and Rogue searched the internet for signs of the flame-bird, or signs of the X-Men using their powers.
Sightings of the bird continued to come fairly regularly, about one a day, but no pattern could be found in it's actions, other than that it was still heading towards California.
There were also plenty of reports of mutants with powers similar to X-men, but none combined (like someone vanishing and the use of red laser eyes). Also, none of the reports they found came from anywhere near the bird, and surely the X-Men would be trailing the thing that had destroyed their mansion, wouldn't they?
Remy's brother and sister in law came to dinner one evening and Rogue finally got to meet Mercy, who was exactly as Remy described her. She had a tough attitude, but Rogue could tell that underneath that she had a heart of gold, and would probably do anything for those she loved. Rogue instantly liked her.
Henri was on the receiving end of a few of her put-downs throughout the evening, but he seemed to court them and actually enjoyed it when she put him in his place. Mercy also didn't seem to be truly offended when he retaliated, it was more like this was a ritual, a tradition.
Mercy also wasn't afraid to put Remy in his place, but he didn't seem to enjoy getting a rise out of her like his brother did.
In turn, Remy and Henri shared a similar relationship, ridiculing and teasing each other at every opportunity. Rogue knew it was childish but it was also comforting in a way. She and Kurt, and to a lesser extend Kitty, shared a similar relationship, always bantering, threatening things they would never follow through on and generally just acting like siblings.
Rogue found that she liked them both very much. She tried to thank him for his help with getting out of Argentina but he brushed her thanks aside.
She helped carry the dishes in from the terrace, then visited the bathroom and on her way back, she paused by the doorway as she heard her name from the kitchen. The old jazz record that had been playing had finished (seriously, who used records any more?) so she could hear them perfectly. She knew it wasn't polite to eavesdrop but she couldn't help it. They were talking about her, after all, she had a right to know what they were saying.
"So you like this Rogue, no?" Mercy asked.
"I like her fine," Remy answered, his voice giving nothing away.
"Oh come on, you think I don't know you well enough to tell when you're in love?"
"I'm not in love!"
"Yeah, sure, you always risk life and limb for a fille you hardly know, then open your home to her and invite your family over to meet her."
Rogue could imagine Mercy rolling her eyes as she said that.
"So come on, spill," Mercy urged.
"What do you want to know? That she captivated me from the moment I saw her?"
"Did she?"
"Oui," Remy sighed. "We met in battle actually, and I went easy on her. I never go easy on anyone in a fight."
Having seen his other exploding cards that day, Rogue had often wondered if the smaller charge on the card he'd given her was intentional or accidental. Now she had her answer. She remembered seeing him that first time too and in fact, just the sight of him had rendered her so useless that she hadn't even tried to attack him. Well, unless you counted her somewhat ill thought out plan to kiss him, although those thoughts had nothing to do with trying to disable him.
"Wow," Mercy said sarcastically. "Remy LeBeau going easy on someone while in the middle of a job, it must be love."
"Chère, don't be like that, okay. She's different, special. I don't know how but I knew that the first time I saw her, and everything since just confirms it."
"So jump her already! I know you want to, you can cut the sexual tension between you two with a knife!"
"Mercy, it's not like that! We're not like that." He sighed and she could picture him rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to explain. "Besides, Rogue's mutation, it means that she can't touch."
Rogue bowed her head. Of course, it always came back to that.
"So? That's just one part of a relationship, you know better than anyone that sex is not love."
"Yeah, but I don't think that she believes that. Anyway it's not just her mutation, we have similar backgrounds but if possible, I think she's even less trusting than I am. Given my reputation, I don't think there's anyway she would ever trust me, at least not in that way."
"So have you said anything to her?"
"No!" He sounded appalled by the idea and Rogue's temper flared as she felt insulted by his vehemence. "If I say anything to her I'll frighten her and she'll leave, I know she will. It's better to stay her friend."
That appeased her temper slightly.
"She might not, you know. I know a little something about women, Remy, and that girl is into you."
'Am I?' Rogue wondered.
"Chère, I know you mean well, but just leave it alone, okay. This is not the relationship for you to meddle in."
"I won't say anything to her, Remy, but you should. You two would be great together."
"I know," he sounded forlorn and Rogue didn't like that. "But right now she trusts me. If I ask her for anything more, I could lose that."
Mercy sighed. "Okay. I'm not going to browbeat you into anything, Remy, but don't wait too long before you say something or she'll think you're just not interested, and then you'll find yourself forever relegated to the friend zone while she waltzes off into the sunset with Mr That-Coulda-Been-Me."
Rogue had heard enough and closed the bathroom door with a slight bang. By the time she made it to the kitchen, they were silently loading up five bowels with ice cream and sauce. Rogue helped carry them out to the terrace where they ate their desert. Rogue was quiet, but then being an outsider, she had been fairly quiet even before she had overheard Remy and Mercy.
She volunteered to put Sarah to bed when the time came and after reading her a little more of her story, she kissed her hair and left the room. She headed to the kitchen, getting herself a glass of water so that it didn't look like she was stalling, and listened the the chatter and laughter that she could just make out from the terrace.
Remy's feelings for her hadn't come as a total surprise, although she had hoped more than known that he liked her. Still though, she had no idea how she felt about the idea of a relationship, not just with him but with anyone.
Remy did come with his own, unique set of complications however.
She knew Bobby was interested in her, and Bobby was sweet, uncomplicated and as innocent as she in matters of the heart. She wasn't attracted to him but she felt that she could have trusted him with her heart.
But Remy? Well he practically had heart breaker stamped on his forehead. He could have almost any woman he wanted, and she had seen him receive quite a few interested looks as they walked about town, especially after a workout when his hair was still damp from the shower.
On the other hand, he knew exactly what being with her would mean, or more specifically, what it meant giving up.
But then was he really interested or had he been humouring Mercy?
She just didn't know.
She didn't know if Weapon X were still after her and how close they might be, she didn't know what had happened to the mansion, she didn't know where her friends were and she really didn't know what to do about Remy.
"Chère, you okay?"
She turned to see Remy behind her, carrying a pile of bowls and looking concerned.
"Yeah."
"Sarah go down okay?"
"I think so. I wanted some water, that's all."
He gave her an odd look but didn't question her further.
"We thought we'd have some coffee and liqueurs then call it a night. You interested?"
"Um..."
"You can stay in here if you're tired, or go to bed, you won't offend anyone."
"No, it's fine. It sounds nice actually."
"You go on out, I'll be there in a minute."
Rogue settled down with Henri and Mercy and answered their questions about New York and the institute. Thankfully they didn't ask anything that she was uncomfortable answering. Remy came out after a few minutes with a tray. He poured everyone a coffee and although he hadn't made Rogue a coffee before, he made it sweet and creamy, just how she liked it. She smiled as she accepted, pleased that he would care enough to notice how she took her coffee.
Then he poured everyone a shot glass of something green.
"What is this?" Rogue asked.
"Chartreuse," he answered. "Be careful, it's strong."
"And what is it?" she repeated.
"It's made by French monks from 130 herbs. It's an acquired taste though so if you don't like it, I can make you a Shirley Temple."
Rogue just glared and tried a sip. It was an unusual flavour, rather sweet but not unpleasant. She could feel the sip as it burned a path down her throat, warming her.
"That'll put hair on your chest!" Henri exclaimed.
Rogue almost didn't answer but she just couldn't hold her quip inside. "Didn't work for Remy."
Henri and Mercy smiled while Remy chuckled.
"That must mean you've been looking, chère. Did you see anything you like?"
"As a matter of fact, I did." She smiled and leaned forward seductively. "I've been eyeing it longingly for a while now. So tell me, Remy, where did you get that bo staff?"
Mercy and Henri burst out laughing while Remy grinned at Rogue.
"Just dying to get your hands on my staff, ain't ya chère?"
She should have guessed that he would find some way to turn her attack around.
Unfortunately all her retorts involved threats if bodily harm, which weren't appropriate for the mood at the moment so she let him win that round.
She was vaguely aware that she was playing a dangerous game, but she couldn't seem to help herself.