Woohoo…another chapter in the can! I'm warning everyone now that this is taking a rather dark tack…so if you're not okay with that you'd better turn away now. This took a little longer than I thought it would but then thankfully I had some inspiration. The song that belongs to this one is The Foo Fighter's 'My Hero'.
Roll Call!
Mazdamiatta: Sorry I missed you in the last round. Your review came in when I was already posting. I hope that the last two chapters have kept you captivated.
Ishy: I don't think that's an exaggeration either…you're famous for reading pretty much EVERY Romy fic out there. Hehe. I'm glad you liked my twist. It seemed like something fresh and new and the more I thought about it the more I liked it. Definitely adds a layer or three of complication to the relationship between Belladonna and Remy here. I'll keep in mind that I have your permission for Remy to marry her here. Hope you liked this entry too.
Marajade: I take it you're my new fan? Thanks for your kind words about my other fics despite my having long neglected some of them. Ask any of my long time readers though and you'll find out that I live to make people cry…it was the point of so many of my works. I think I've been kind so far in this one.
Goldylokz: Yep, Belle's as queer as a three dollar bill in this. I can't wait to play with it more in the relationship between her and Remy. Hehe-good old crazy Julien. I can't kill him off yet cause he's just getting started.
Remy's Rose: Lol…It seems like every diehard Romy fan is loving the Belle as a lesbian thing. Gives you a reason to finally admit you like her doesn't it? Woohoo! I feel like giving you a prize for mentioning the music that goes with every chapter. Had you listened to "God's Gonna Cut You Down" before? Look the video up on Youtube…it's positively haunting. Yeah, Remy is definitely a guy who can get into the Man in Black-it's the outlaw kinship I think.
Luce: Thanks again for being such a doll and beta'ing the last chapter. Look…no ellipses in the actual story unless needed for stylistic purposes!
Five: My Hero"This is Trish Tilby reporting live from the sleepy town of Bayville New York…just two hours west of New York City where history is in the making. I'm standing outside of the Xavier Institute for the Gifted – the centre of the so-called 'Mutant Controversy'. A place that has been named by some as a den of potential terrorists while others have touted it as a haven of acceptance and peace."
The reporter's face was animated as she spoke-her dark eyes more alight than the building she gestured to behind her. "Two weeks have past since a group of mysterious pyramids appeared on several continents then disappeared just as inexplicably. In the wake of these events the White House promised a full investigation and it was announced two days ago that the President would give a press conference on the findings live from this controversial school. Channel Five has the exclusive coverage and will have the first interviews with the staff and students of Xavier's while we wait for the President's arrival."
She paused for several beats then gestured to her neck in a sweeping motion to her cameraman, "And cut right there Jimmy." She relaxed her on air persona slightly, "That'll work great mixed with the establishing shots we got of the school and grounds."
He nodded his shaggy head in agreement, "Yeah, the Monroe woman is taking me to get some shots from the gardens." Jimmy set his camera down and shook his head, "I don't know who you had to sleep with to get us this Tilby-but it's a Pulitzer in the making. This place is prettier than any school I ever went to."
"Sorry Jimbo, if I told you who I'd have to kill you. " Trish's smile was a mockery of consolation-over the years they'd been through a lot together as a news team and Trish was comfortable enough to tell him the truth, "I just got lucky that an old college friend of mine is an instructor here now."
A grin lit his bearded face at the tidbit of personal information she'd shared. He'd noticed that while Trish had a knack for getting others to open up to her about things she rarely did the same. It made her seem a little more human. "Which one? And are we talking 'friend' or old boyfriend?"
"A little of both," Trish mumbled as the topic of conversation waved to her and made his way over. She kept her eyes locked with his as he approached with his lumbering gait-his eyes that were the only thing familiar to her about his physical appearance.
"The students are prepared for their interviews Patricia," Hank McCoy smiled and used one of his large paws to push his glasses up on his fuzzy nose. "I shall escort you to them whenever you are ready."
"Sure thing Hank," Trish forced a smile to her lips for him-something she'd never had to do before. Once upon a time everything about Hank had made her smile. They'd both changed since college and there were times that Trish wanted to cry for the changes wrought in her first love. The only thing that kept her from doing so were his eyes unchanged in his blue face and the cadence of his voice; still lilting and at the height of its polysyllabic glory. Blue or not-Hank McCoy was still the only person other than her mother that could call her 'Patricia' without reprisal. "Thanks again for this opportunity."
Hank smiled again the barest hint of fang showing, "It is our pleasure to assist you after all it isn't everyday that we have the opportunity to present a fair and unbiased profile of our endeavours at the Institute. The students are ecstatic to participate in such a landmark occasion."
"Really?" Trish lifted an eyebrow sardonically. "I know your kids here are used to saving the world but…"
"At that age they usually just want to be on TV." Jimmy filled in.
A chuckle of laughter shook Hank's wide shoulders; "I believe that with the majority of our wards that is the case. However there are a select few that have been more disinclined to acquiesce to your questions on camera."
"I'd understand some with more visible mutations not wanting to participate." Trish pushed her hair out of her eyes and felt ashamed for saying the words.
"If only that were the case," Hank shook his head, "However young Master Wagner is perhaps the most enthusiastic participant. Never is a moment missed for the 'Amazing Nightcrawler' to boaster his own praises. I'm afraid that Rogue is the one feeling uncomfortable about the situation. She's always been the most recalcitrant and quiet of our students."
Jimmy shook his head and hoisted his camera gear back onto his shoulder so that they could start the student interviews, "You're kidding me right? From what we were told the girl saved the world…and now she's playing shy?"
"Rogue has always been a young woman full of contradictions."
"Lose fifteen pounds in one week with…"
Click.
"Come on down! You're the next contestant on..."
Click.
"Oh George. I can't marry you-I'm pregnant and its your evil twin's baby…"
Click.
"Ah've always depended on tha kindness of strangers…"
Click.
The channels flicked by with Lapin never stopping on one despite Remy's growing desire to rip the remote away from his cousin. In his mind's eye Remy could see the offending appliance sailing from the window with a comet's tail of kinetic energy soaring after it heralding the inevitable explosion that would follow. Things however had been hard for Lapin in the month following his little brother's murder and Remy really didn't feel like adding to the young man's stress levels.
Tragedy had bonded the younger thieves together stronger than ever; under all the camaraderie lay a shared desire for revenge. Every moment not taken up by preparing for Henri's wedding to Merci was filled with their plans to neutralize Julien. The deeper they sank into their preparations the more Belle's words began to haunt Remy; if the Thieves did launch an attack on the Assassin's heir it would only get more killed. Burying Etienne had shown Remy that he never wanted to have to live through that again.
"Ah didn't do nothing special. There was no way that we'd let a kid go in there-"
Remy's head snapped up at the sound of the familiar voice and grabbed Lapin's arm slightly, "Leave it here an turn it up."
He couldn't believe his eyes as Lapin complied with his instructions. There she was-Rogue-filling up his TV screen with her beautiful face. "So Ah borrowed Leach's powers and took care of business."
The shot widened to include the reporter conducting the interview-Remy vaguely remembered her from other newscasts while in Bayville. Her name was Toni-or Trish something. "By 'business' you mean Apocalypse correct Rogue?"
Her eyes darkened around the edges at the name-Remy knew she hated hearing it. "Yeah, Ah do."
"And how did you 'borrow' these powers Rogue? I'm sure our viewers are curious about how that works for you."
Lapin's attention snapped to the TV, "Hey ain't that the gal…"
"Shuuush!" Remy desperately quieted the other man so he wouldn't miss a minute of this.
"It's pretty easy really," She drawled and looked down at her gloved hands-her face was naked to the camera as it reflected her self-loathing, fear and resignation. It felt pornographic to be let into such a private moment but the camera pushed deeper and she lifted her head to face it-her eyes blazing against her dark makeup. "Whenever Ah touch someone I absorb their memories-if they're a mutant Ah git their powers too."
"It must be different to have a power with so much potential Rogue." Even before Rogue's face grew cold and still, Remy had known the reporter had said the wrong thing.
Rogue spared another glance at her hands before curling them into fists in her lap. "Ah wouldn't put it that way Trish. Because Ah still can't control mah powahs there's no way for me to touch another person's bare skin with mah own without havin' mah head overrun with their memories. That's why I always wear these here gloves and cover up."
"That must be hard on you." The reporter pushed again and Remy had to clench his hands to stop from throwing something at the TV screen. Couldn't she see how Rogue was reacting to her questions? "Being careful of yourself and everyone around you especially at an age when others are experimenting with dating. It must be hard on you Rogue."
The girl shrugged in response, "Ah git by Ah suppose." She offered a slow smile that almost convinced Remy she wasn't hurting inside-especially with so many people being able to see her vulnerability. "With a name like 'Rogue' though Ah never really expected a normal life. That I wake up every morning, climb inta some spandex and practice savin' tha world just sorta cements the weirdness of it all."
Beside Remy Lapin was laughing along with the reporter at Rogue's joke-the sight of her smile relaxing and becoming more genuine released the twitching of his own lips. "You've said it all Rogue. Thank you so much for your time and openness today on behalf of our viewers and myself. I must say that I'm in awe of your bravery-you are a real hero."
The Goth nodded awkwardly in response to the praise. Not even her pale makeup could hide the blush rising in Rogue's cheeks at the reporter's kind words. The sight caught Remy's breath in his chest violently-he'd almost forgotten how that little bit of colour could take Rogue's beauty and made it more human-touchable even. Remy couldn't explain as Lapin began bombarding him with questions about what they'd just seen why he felt a recognizable ache deep down. How could he be homesick when he was home?
As the TV switched off it left a haze in the darkness-one could have sworn that the outline of the girl remained. Her blistering eyes, the Mississippi drawl-slow as molasses on some words but tinted with years of northern living on others, that deadly porcelain skin. Things about her he'd never forget as long as she lived. It would be so easy to remedy that situation for her-and it tightened parts low on his body to imagine watching the fire in those eyes smother.
She'd evaded him until now simply because he hadn't known who she was. Closing his eyes he envisioned the stately home in Upstate New York where she'd been hiding and laughing about him with all her freak friends. Balling his hands into fists he could almost hear the taunts. He snarled at them focusing instead on feeling that slender neck under his hands-she'd struggle but the idea of her fighting back to no avail stirred him again. He'd take precautions now out of deference to those powers of hers and it saddened part of him that he wouldn't be able to show her just how her resistance would incite him. His hand slipped into his lap to fondle the growing evidence of how deeply the illusion affected him.
Even if he couldn't share that with her Julien Boudreaux was going to show this Rogue that no woman-especially not one of Lebeau's mutie whores-could best him.