NOVEMBER '09 – If some may notice, I've done a little editing! Some small changes have been made to certain details so keep an eye out if you've already read this! -Thanks!

Hello faithful readers! I know it's been ages but honestly, I'm either too busy to write at all, or too iffy when it comes to updating my stories. I know, that's called laziness but don't worry I WILL finish (hopefully) the others at some point. Just not now haha. Life's too short! I've had this story buzzing around my head for a while now. It needed to be brought to life.

Okay, this story is slightly AU. There will be no X-men, just Rogue and few selected others. There ARE powers and some greater forces at work in this.

By the way, to any Twilight fans out there, I did NOT get this idea from it. (oh yeah, sure. NOW you'll believe me!) it simply came from a thought. Love-at-first-sight is mythical, so what if I made it physical and toss in a little bit of dark magic?

Should be interesting!

-Gams

Disclaimer: Don't own X-men, they are Marvel property.

A Bond Which Binds Us

By UltimateGammy91

Prologue

The city was a clash of lights, music and laughter. The multicoloured lights shone through the intricate fringes of the old building balconies while the creatures of the night chattered, laughed and swayed to the beat of the French Quarter's heart. It was a night like any other in the streets of New Orleans. While the regulars went about their business for the night, the few night-tourists stopped and gaped at the lights and the many precarious creatures that hung about the streets like it was their own backyard. It wasn't so much a figure of speech to say it was. The smell of Creole foods and second-hand smoke thickened the air and hung like an invisible mist. As the air become intoxicated with the night life, laughter and music rained not from the sky but the open doors of the clubs and late-night restaurants.

'Magic' was what new-comers described such a place. For Remy LeBeau however, it was simply 'home.' The pavement echoed under the fall of his shoes as he passed the lively bars and jazz clubs. The French Quarter's heartbeat drummed through his ears and coursed through his body like a second pulse. He was attuned to the music wafting through the streets, the smell of spiced Gumbo and Jambalaya so strong that he could practically taste it on his tongue. It spoke a language to him that only a man who has spent his entire life on these streets could understand. And hell, he'd done more than just spend his life on these streets. His mind drifted to a time of his childhood where he had nothing but the streets for comfort. Up North, the streets could be cold and frightening to a young child. For him, at least on those good days, the streets of the French Quarter could be just as warm and comforting as a bed and night light. Yes, he understood these streets better than most men. A private smirk played across the young man's lips as his eyes travelled over old paths of his childhood. There truly was no place like home.

As Remy turned the corner, like clock-work his feet pulled him towards the familiar doorway on the corner's bend. The Rosalie bar and restaurant was an old favourite since he was a mere pup and it called his name with a welcoming smile. As he passed the open seating area a few people (ehem, women) called greetings and invitations to join them but he respectfully declined as he made his way to one of the tall windows by the doorway. With a tap of the glass, the man standing on the other side jerked his head up only to grin when he caught his friend's unusual gaze. The man's hair was streaked gray with age but nothing could age the devil-may-care smirk across his face as he stepped outside to greet the young man.

"Well if it isn't Remy LeBeau! Dieu, what y' doin' 'roud here t' night mon ami? Ain't you supposed t' be at some soirée?" (party)

Remy merely smirked as he leant casually against the doorframe. He raised a cancer stick from between his fingers to his lips and took a long drag. The smoke eased from his nostrils as he replied with a twinge of irritation to his causal tone.

"Oui mais it clashed wit' some very important engagements so I t'ink dey will have t' forgive moi f' not attending."

His sarcasm was barely masked with a confident cockiness only the youngest Prince of Thieves could master. He took another drag from his cigarette as his friend gave an amused, hearty chuckle.

"Somet'ing more important dan y' own engagement party? I wonder what dat fiancée o' yours has t' say bout dat homme." (man)

Remy shrugged. That tell-tale smirk remained locked in place as he replied in the same casualness.

"Whatever Bella 'as t' say, it can wait till mornin'. Right now t'ough. Remy needs a drink."

His friend shook his head in meek disapproval but nonetheless clapped him on the back as he led him into the depths of the bar. Who was he to judge the young man? The language of alcohol and good company was the only language Remy wanted to understand tonight.

The engagement party was a blurred memory tucked into the furthest reaches of his mind.

Meanwhile....

The glass case came away without so much as a sound as the figure's gloved hands pried it away from its single charge. A soft chuckle of admiration escaped the lithe figure's lips as she observed the delicate jewel before her. Encased in gold, the ruby pendant caught the spot-light above at certain angles as she picked it up and began to turn it between her thumb and her index. With another breath of a chuckle, the dark-encased woman returned the glass case to its former place and slipped the jewel around her neck. She couldn't help but hold it between her fingers and admire it one last time. A gentle sigh escaped her lips while a flicker of disappointment spread across her brow.

"Mah, mah. Ya are a beautiful one. Too bad ya spoken for."

Smirking at her little joke, the woman let the jewel fall back against her collarbone as she made her way carefully across the room of jewels. Spot-lights focused on the encased treasures of the museum acted as map markers. She followed them towards her exit; the window.

Her gloved hand had barely touched the glass when a voice broke across the room.

"Tut-tut ma belle. Didn't y' Mére ever tell y' it was wrong t' take what don't belong t' y'?"

The young woman paused a moment. She was so swept up in her own game of fun that she had hardly noticed the presence of another in the room. She damned her moment of ignorance as she felt the cool sting of a blade against the centre of her spine. She sighed irritably.

"Didn't ya Mama ever tell ya its impolite t' sneak up on a gal?"

The voice chuckled amusedly. The cold tip of the blade traced further up her spine in a fluid movement, causing a slight chill to run up her covered back. She tried not to shudder as his breath caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end. He whispered roughly into her ear.

"Y' knew ma Mére, Anna-Marie. Y' remember her sayin' dat when we were enfants, non?" (children, no?)

Marie gritted her teeth as she felt his free hand trace one of her hips with an inappropriate tone of gesture. She took in his face for the first time in years. She managed to contain her anger as she growled back.

"All ah remember was a spoilt lil' brat who cried t' his Mama when he didn't get his way."

As her words compelled it, the man made to turn her around but she was quick to turn it to her advantage. With an expert litheness, she pushed the dagger away and forced her knee upwards, causing him to bend over in pain before she aimed a kick to his head. Marie wasted no time as he toppled to the floor. Forgetting stealth, she pushed the glass window open and with a gust of wind and a sinking sensation in her gut, soon found herself two stories below. Her feet had barely touched the pavement when she heard it; the hiss of unsheathed swords.

She broke out into a run.

Well? Are we interested?

REVIEW!

-Gams