Prédestiné

Pale

Two weeks after they made it back from Sinister's Rogue went down to Jean's office in the lab. She must have stepped out for a minute, which was perfect for Rogue. This wasn't a conversation she wanted to happen with anyone right now. She made her way over to the medicine cupboards, and began searching through the bottom drawers. What she was looking for shouldn't need clearance so she doubted it would be in the locked drawers. She cursed, where was a lockpicking thief when you needed one.

"Something I can help you find in there Rogue?" Jean was standing in the doorway holding a coffee mug.

"Oh Jean." Rogue was not happy. "Sorry I needed a band aid, we ran out upstairs."

Jean closed the door behind her as she stepped inside her office. "You want to talk to me about what's really going on? Patient-Doctor confidentiality."

"No, it's fine. Just forget I was in here." She made for the door.

"Rogue!" Jean tried to slow her down. "Try the top left cupboard." She smiled sitting down at her desk.

Rogue paused and slowly turned back to the cabinet and opened the door to find what she had been looking for. "How did you...were you up here?" She tapped her head and was thoroughly unimpressed.

"Of course not, just a hunch. Nobody would come all the way down here for a band-aid. Are you sure you don't want to talk about this?"

Rogue took the pregnancy test from the top shelf and sat down in the chair opposite Jean's desk.

"Not really no. This is dumb."

"How late are you?"

"A few days."

"Look I'm not going to ask how...or...with who, but I am going to make sure it was consensual."

"Jean!"

"Rogue, I'm sorry I have to ask these questions. If you didn't use protection do I need to run tests for anything else?"

"No! Look it's not like that ok...it just happened! Condoms weren't high on the priority list to take to Sinister's clinic."

Jean's face softened.

Rogue continued. "You can't tell anyone! I haven't told Bobby yet and I feel awful and god...if I'm pregnant...I just...god you hear about girls being knocked up when they lose their virginity but you never think..."

"Rogue don't get ahead of yourself; go take the test and I'll be right here to sit with you while you wait."

Rogue thought she might be sick while they waited for the little blue lines to show on the stick. The plan had been to ask for a morning-after pill, but after everything else that had happened to her that night, contraception had become the last thing on Rogue's mind.

Jean tried to reassure her. "Look, if you are pregnant; you aren't alone in this, you have an entire support network here."

Rogue didn't respond she just stared at the desk. Of course Jean would assume it was Gambit, it all seems so obvious to everyone else. Everyone was going to find out and think she was a whore for cheating on her boyfriend.

"It's negative."

Rogue exhaled the breath she had been holding. "Are you sure! Do I need to take another one? How accurate are these things?"

"Rogue, it's fine. You've probably been stressed thinking about this, you can relax and your body will run it's course." She thought carefully before asking her next question. "Have you heard from Gambit yet?"

"How did you...?" Crap. "...Damnit."

"When I was trying to stabilise you I found quite the telltale bruise at the base of your neck. It wasn't hard to put together."

Rogue's hand moved to where her throat met her shoulder. The bruise had long since faded but not the memory of his lips, his teeth, his need to mark her, call her his if only for one night.

"He hasn't contacted me and I'm scared...I think I..." Did she love him? God she was nuts, she can't love him just because he was the first person she slept with. This wasn't high school. "...I just really need to know he's ok."

"We will find him." Jean re-affirmed.

"Please don't tell anyone Jean, please. I'm just not ready to deal with any of this and Bobby needs to hear it from me. I never meant...I never wanted to hurt him. I was always scared he would be the one that cheated and now..."

"Rogue I'm not judging you. There's been a lot of high running emotions lately and things happen. We get close to people when we all live on top of each other. What is important is how you handle things going forward. You need to work out what is going to be the best for you Rogue. They're big boys, both of them. They can handle whatever you decide."

Gambit took a deep breath as he walked up the front path to Xavier's school. He knew things had changed since the last time he was here, and he knew his welcome would be less than warm. Sinister had sowed seeds of mistrust and discord between him and the X-Men. It just meant that he would have to work harder to get back in.

Remy looked smart. He wore black jeans and a purple dress shirt. His hair was cut shorter, but not too short. His chin was clean shaven. Gambit walked up the front steps, pushed open the front doors and began his walk through the main foyer. He had nothing to hide. It wasn't long before he came across Cyclops and Storm.

"What the hell are you doing?" Scott wasn't messing around.

"It's nice to see you too." Remy smiled.

"Remy. Scott." Ororo tried to defuse.

"I've come to see Xavier."

"He's busy." Cyclops went to put a hand on Gambit to halt him but Storm was quick to step in front.

"I'll take you. Scott leave it alone."

They walked briskly down the hall.

"Nice to see you 'Ro."

"Gambit, you've left quite an impression here, as I'm sure you know."

"What's his problem?"

"I wasn't there so I don't hold an opinion. It is not for me to say, but some here believe you are aligned with our enemy."

"Ah. Makes sense."

Ororo knocked on the door of Xavier's office which was already open.

"Excuse me, Professor, Gambit is here."

Xavier looked up from his desk, his expression was hard to read. "Ah yes. Mr LeBeau, do come in."

"Good luck." Storm went to close the door behind her.

"You can stay if you want to Storm. Gambit got nothing to hide."

She paused in thought for a moment. "Very well." She entered the office and closed the door.

Remy sat in the chair in front of Xavier's desk.

"You have come back." Was all Xavier observed. He was neither accusatory nor welcoming.

"Look, I understand that I probably don't have a place here no more. If I could just grab a couple of things and say goodbye to Rogue, that would be appreciated."

"Do you have a reason for me to exclude you from my home Gambit?"

"I just thought that...well...Cyclops..."

"I understand you helped Rogue and a number of team members escape from Mr Sinister's clinic."

"Yes Sir."

"We both know that your psychic resistance is far too advanced for me to probe the truth from your mind, not to mention that I find the act distasteful. Therefore I trust you will answer me honestly when I ask that you are in no way affiliated with Nathaniel Essex?"

"Of course not." Remy replied naturally. He was a good liar.

"Very good. That will be all I need from you, you may go. Oh Storm, if you could speak to Scott about organising Gambit an official uniform please?"

"Uniform?"

"You have been here long enough that we should make things official. An X-Man requires a uniform."

Gambit was confused. "Don't you want to know where I've been the last few weeks?"

"Would you like to tell me. "

"Not particularly non."

"Then I won't ask. Not unless I have to. Now unless there was anything else?"

Gambit left Xavier's office feeling perplexed and slightly more anxious than when he went in. Cyclops was practically standing at the doors waiting to escort him to the exit.

"I gave Storm my measurements." Remy told him as he walked past.

"Measurements for what?"

"Xavier says I need a uniform."

"Uniform?" Cyclops was incredulous.

"For the X-Men. You know...the team you lead, or had you forgotten?"

Gambit grinned like a Cheshire cat as he made his way to the main staircase. He wanted to go find Rogue. He had missed her. As he got to the second story landing he saw a familiar face approaching; one he had not expected to see.

"Bobby Drake...mon ami, Gambit thought you were 'cross country?"

In lieu of a response; Remy felt a very cold, very hard fist come into contact with his jaw.

He must have already spoken to Rogue. "I deserved that." He pressed his hand to the tender skin that was sure to bruise. "I couldn't trouble you for some ice...?" He tried not to laugh.

"Rogue said you weren't here. I guess she lied about that too."

"Hey. Wait a sec, I just got here. I haven't seen her yet."

"If you cared about her, you'd turn around and walk right back out."

"Look...I get you're angry. You wanna act like an asshole fine! I deserve it, but don't blame her...we didn't plan anything, it just happened."

"Don't insult me by trying to make it better. She could have been shut in a de-powered room with anyone...with Cyclops or Piotr...you're saying she would jump them too just because she could?"

"That's enough." Defending Rogue's honour right now seemed a bit superfluous, but it wouldn't stop him from trying.

"You slept with my girlfriend. Do you know how long we had been together? We had a life planned. She was supposed to be flying over to be with me."

"Some life. You couldn't see how miserable the thought of moving away from her home and her friends was making her."

"But you could, is that it? Remy LeBeau...the ladies man, waiting to pick up the pieces. I bet you couldn't wait for me to leave."

"I told you, we didn't plan it."

"The worst part is Gambit, I thought we were friends. You could have had any girl you wanted, you always bragged about the latest hot piece you got into at the bar. Why her? Why Rogue?"

"Because for the first time in my life, I've found someone that's genuinely happy to see me. Happy that I'm here, or happy that I'm alive. We understand each other."

"And when you get bored? What happens then?"

"Drake, don't push it, I'm warning you."

"We all know your mind is only on one thing."

"There's more to a relationship than sex! That girl deserves the whole world, she deserves to be touched. Goddamn Bobby that's your problem, why you gotta go and treat her different? Girl doesn't have the fucking plague! I ain't afraid to touch her, and I ain't afraid to be with her."

"Well, it looks like I was wrong about one thing. You are capable of actual feelings."

"Don't you have a plane to catch or something?"

"Are you even sorry?"

"I'm sorry for what it did to her. Afterwards all she could think about is how much she hurt you. After we shared something so intimate and personal, she was thinking about another man and how much it would hurt you, it broke her heart."

Iceman pushed past him and walked down the stairs.

Remy turned around to head towards Rogue's room when he saw her door was already open, and she was leaning casually against the doorframe; arms folded.

"Are ya quite finished?" Rogue's cheeks were puffy and red, her eyes swollen. It was obvious how much she had been crying.

"He didn't take that well." Remy sighed.

"God Gambit, how did ya' think he would take it?"

"Can we talk?" Gambit knew he had a lot of smoothing over to do.

"Sure. I suppose you can come in, now that the whole school has heard your little show of macho bravado." She stepped aside to let him in before closing the door behind them. "You picked a fine time to show your face around here."

"I missed you."

"Oh don't give me that. You've been gone for weeks. I've been worried sick, not to mention fending off all of the rumours and gossip. I might as well be walking around with a giant scarlett A on my forehead."

"Ignore them Chére. This ain't nobody's business 'cept yours and mine."

"Oh that's the least of my worries. I've been too busy defending you to everybody else. They're all convinced that you work for that monster that did...whatever it is that's happened to me. That you were in on the job the whole time. You were the only one of us whose powers came back and I've had to swallow down the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach since I found a file on you in Sinister's office."

Gambit's iris' flared a blaze of crimson. "Did you read it?"

"Did I need to? Would it have told me that you're one of them? A Marauder?"

Remy knew he only had one shot at this so he played the sympathy card. "It would have told you that I was one headache away from my powers going into meltdown. That they were so out of control there was enough energy to catch myself or someone I care about in the crossfire. Or worse, an innocent bystander. I was a walking talking ticking time-bomb. I had no choice." He turned and threw a hand into his hair, ruffling the strands to one side so Rogue could see the scar that ran the length of his skull. "I let Sinister operate to defuse whatever part of my brain was causing the surges."

Rogue's face drained of the little colour it had left. "That's insane, he could have killed you."

"The way I saw it I was a dead man walking. If I didn't do something..."

"What did Essex want in return?"

Shit.

"Nothing." He pulled away from her.

Rogue moved in front of him. "Don't lie to me Remy; what did Sinister want?"

"I did one job for him Rogue. One! I couldn't...I broke it off after I realized what kind of monster he is." Remy pressed his head against hers. "Don't you trust me Chére?"

Rogue searched his eyes as they recalled horrors that weren't meant for her. A tear escaped his left eye and rolled down his cheek. She pressed her gloved hands against his face and brushed it away.

"Of course I do. Rem, I'm sorry." She wished that she could kiss him. Rogue yearned to feel his lips hot on her skin. She knew it would be harder now, to keep a sensible distance. He had touched her in ways no other person had.

"My coat."

"I'm sorry?" Rogue was broken out of her daydream.

"My trench...I left it with you, to keep you warm."

Rogue pointed at her desk chair, it was hanging over the top.

"You goin' somewhere?"

Remy walked over to it and rummaged through the pockets. "Non. I need you to trust me Rogue."

"Please just forget I said anything, I feel terrible."

He pulled out a small device similar to what the Marauders wore at the lab. "This is how I was able to free you with my powers. They must have slipped it in here when they were moving us."

"But why?"

"Because they wanted me back. They wanted me out of Xavier's and if I had nowhere else to go I would have to go back to Sinister. Maybe they thought the X-Men wouldn't trust me no more."

"I trust you." She told him again.

He moved closer to her. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into him.

She inhaled softly. He smelt like home; like whiskey and smoke.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel like that night wasn't special for me, because I felt bad about Bobby."

"Hush Rogue. I was just tryin' to soften the blow is all. Remy meant it when he said he missed you."

"Rem..."

He took her hand and kissed the top of it, before kissing up to where her gloves ended at her elbow.

"What are you doing?" She managed in a breathy whisper.

"What would you like me to do Chére? Gambit at your service."

Rogue spun out of his arms, trying to gain some clarity, just for a moment. "Are you staying?"

"Oui. In fact, Remy has no intention of leaving this here room until tomorrow mornin'." He reached for her again but she was persistent in keeping the distance.

"No! I mean, here; at Xavier's."

"Rogue, you ain't gonna believe this. You are lookin' at Xavier's newest X-Man."

"What? You're joking."

"With a uniform an' everytin'."

Rogue laughed, and for the first time in a while, she felt like everything was going to be ok.

Bobby Drake walked out of Xavier's Institute For Gifted Youngsters that day and never looked back. He was moving across the country to start a new education, meet new people, and surround himself with a new family.

Kitty and Rogue's friendship would take time to recover. She couldn't get past the lies that Rogue had told her and the constant denial of anything going on with Gambit. Bobby was her best friend, and she was angry for him.

Rogue and Gambit tried to downplay their relationship, at least for a short while, but they only lasted a few days. They endured stares and glances from almost everybody in the mansion that it wasn't long before they decided not to hide anymore.

Two weeks after arriving home Remy slept over in Rogue's room and then never left. He had calmed her fears, convinced her that he was trustworthy and that she was safe with him. He held her every night, and when Rogue was feeling bold they would explore the parameters of their physical relationship. Gambit worked hard to prove to the other X-Men that he could be trusted and that he was worthy of being there. Rogue trained hard to harness her new abilities of flight, super strength and invulnerability. Xavier worked closely with her to quieten the voice in her head that would whisper to her, the one that belonged to the previous owner of these abilities.

The final time Remy spoke to Sinister, he warned him that if he came looking for either him or Rogue or any of the X-Men again; he would rain a shit storm down upon him, that was a promise. Sinister simply smirked and responded by remarking that a time would most certainly come when Gambit would return to him, and that was his promise.

Before they knew it weeks had flown by, it had been almost six months since Remy had come back to Xavier's and back to Rogue. They were happy. Life was finally feeling normal again. That was until Gambit came to her one night and told her that his family was in town, up from Nu'Orlins. If he didn't go to see them they would make things difficult for him. When he arrived home from visiting his dad he packed a bag and asked for a few days leave. The needed him down in the Bayou and he took off on his bike. Logan had offered to ride with him but Remy insisted that everything was fine.

Rogue lay in bed, she had gotten so used to Remy's arms and body curled around her that she didn't sleep soundly without him. She stirred to the sound of a motorcycle coming up the drive but trusted he would wake her.

Remy pushed open the door to their bedroom and slipped in like a cat. Peeling off his trench; he winced as he shimmied out. Gambit made for the bathroom, hand pressed against his side trying to stem the flow of blood, not get any telltale signs on the carpet. His hand brushed over the light switch for the bathroom, leaving the bedroom shrouded in darkness.

"Rem, is that you?" Her voice was croaky, barely awake.

Merde.

"Go back to sleep Chére, I'll be in after I shower."

Running the shower faucet to make it believable, Gambit set to work. Using a combination of a sewing needle and thread, alcohol and bandages he was able to stitch his wound. It wasn't his finest work, but Gambit knew how to get through to survive another day. He ran his bloodied black t shirt under the water until it ran clear and then threw it into the hamper. He cleaned up the bloodied gauze and wrapped it in tissue paper and shoved it into the pocket of his jeans. He couldn't leave any trace of his injuries. Using just the light seeping in from the bathroom, Remy padded over to his set of drawers and rifled around for a fresh t shirt and gingerly pulled it over his head. He made for his coat; knowing it was in everyone's best interests if he wasn't seen here tonight. Rogue would think she had dreamed him coming home.

"Remy, everythin' ok Shug? How were your folks?" Her voice had come from behind him.

He turned to find her sitting up in bed, only the light from the bathroom illuminating her features. Remy moved closer to the bed. "I'm sorry I woke you."

Rogue moved onto her knees, stretching up and carefully slipping her arms around his middle, her face burrowing into the soft cotton of his t shirt. She made sure not to touch his bare arms. He used every ounce of willpower he possessed not to stiffen or gasp as the contact pulled at the fresh wound in his abdomen.

"Don't be sorry. I'm just glad you're home."

"Remy missed you too Rogue. It's late though. We can talk in the mornin'? I need to get some shut-eye. It was a long drive."

Rogue untangled herself from his chest and settled back down into the sheets while Gambit switched the bathroom light off. He lay down fully clothed above the covers and Rogue curled in beside him. They knew each other's boundaries by now and Rogue comfortably lay her head on his chest. He knew it wouldn't be long until she was sound asleep, he was counting on it in fact. When her soft laboured breathing had transitioned into a steady rhythm he kissed the top of her head. Once she had rolled over onto her side he slipped off of the mattress, making sure he didn't wake her again. Trench in hand he was gone into the night, as quickly as he had arrived.

A few short hours later Rogue stretched and opened her eyes. Lazily she turned her head hoping to see Remy lying there peacefully; only to find crinkled bedsheets in his place. She listened for the shower; it was silent. She walked into the bathroom, there was no steam. Had she imagined he came home last night? Spying something fresh in her otherwise empty laundry hamper she reached in to find one of Remy's black t-shirts, damp; sitting in the bottom. He had been here. Opening the mirror cabinet everything was where it should be. She re-entered the bedroom and looked around, his trench was gone, staff was gone. Where the hell was he?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the phone on her bedside drawer.

"This had better be good, you know how early it is?" Rogue was not in the mood for an early morning training session.

Logan's voice was gruff on the other end. "Rogue you'd better get down to the front foyer. Now."

"What's goin' on?"

"Just do it."

Rogue pulled on some black leggings and a grey oversized hoodie with Xavier's Institute branding on the front. Her hair was a mess but something told her she didn't have time to make herself presentable. In the front foyer was Ororo standing in the open doorway debating with a pair of police detectives.

"We'd just like to ask you a few questions pertaining to his whereabouts?"

"And I'm afraid that you'll have to come back once you have a search warrant." Storm was being remarkably calm considering the very real threat that law enforcement posed the mutant community.

Rogue stood next to Logan. "What's going on?"

"They want to talk to the Cajun." He replied gruffly.

Rogue moved to the door and slipped out onto the front step from behind Ororo.

"What's this about please?"

"Rogue..." Storm's voice was hesitant; warning her to be very careful.

"We are looking for Remy LeBeau." The first detective stated.

"And you are? Miss?" The second was ready with his notebook.

"I'm his better half. What's he gone and done now?"

"Was he here last night?"

"Yes." Rogue didn't hesitate for a second. "He's been home the last couple of days. Was with me all last night too." It was a shitty alibi, but it was better than nothing.

"I see. Could we speak to him then?"

"Remy left about an hour ago. Didn't say when he'd be back."

"Is that usual behaviour, not telling you his plans?"

"You still haven't told me why you wanna talk to him."

"Perhaps you'd like to come down to the station to answer a few more questions?"

Logan was in the doorway now. "Unless she's under arrest, she's not going anywhere with you."

"I'd be a lot more helpful if I knew what you wanted to know." She wished they would just spit it out.

"Mister LeBeau is wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of his wife. A Ms. Belladonna Bordreaux. A native of New Orleans. She was found butchered in the early hours of yesterday morning."

Rogue's face had turned a whiter shade of pale. "There has to be some mistake, Remy's not married."

Logan was calm; but stern. "Rogue, not another word. I think we're done here Detective."

"Well if you think of anything, or happen to speak to him, we'd appreciate you getting in touch." The detectives handed over a card and turned to leave. They were sure to stake out the entrance waiting for Gambit's motorcycle to return.

Once the front door was safely closed Rogue had to forcefully stop herself from shaking. "What the hell is going on?"

"Rogue have you seen him?" Wolverine was already reaching for his keys.

"He came home this morning. In the middle of the night. He said he was tired, he just wanted to go to sleep, but I woke up and he was gone. I thought maybe I'd dreamt the whole thing but he's runnin' from something. He has a wife? Remy's married, that son-of-a-bitch!"

Storm thought about going with them, but gave them a stern warning instead. "Find him, bring him back home safely. If it's too risky call for backup. I'll keep this quiet around the Institute for as long as I can."

Logan nodded. "We'd better get going, we'll take one of the cars and use the back exit through the woods, that way the cops stationed out front won't follow us."

Rogue was furious. "Oh trust me, they are the least of his worries right now. When we find him I'm gonna kill that swamp rat with my own two hands!"

Down the hall; inside the Headmaster's office sat two teenagers. A girl and a boy; brother and sister. Twins. Around fifteen years of age. They shifted nervously in their seats, both wondering how on Earth they were going to pull this off. The soft purr of a motorised wheelchair made them both turn and look at the doors leading out to the corridor.

"Luke, Matilda; I'm Charles Xavier. Welcome to my school. You're both a very long way away from home; or would that be when?"