└тЄюЁ: Ludi
а
ааааааааааа More than three years had passed since the Destiny
saga.
ааааааааааа Since Rogue had left the X-Men, the group had slowly
undergone more changes, with many of its team members also packing up and
leaving for destinations unknown. аPiotr
and Kitty had set up home together in Chicago, while Jubilee had left to study
engineering in college.а After the
unfortunate death of Lorna Dane, Iceman too had left to go his own separate
way.а Hank had taken up a teaching post
at the Massachusetts academy.а Nightcrawler
had gone to take up a parish in Germany.а
Of the core teamТs original members based at the Westchester Mansion,
only Cyclops, Phoenix, Storm and an ever-transient Logan were left.а Times had changed.а The X-Men were no longer considered outlaws, but heroes.а The mutant СproblemТ, while still far from
being resolved, was now being discussed without the inflammatory rhetoric of
the anti-mutant lobbyists.а While
anti-mutant sentiment was still generally felt on a widespread scale, it was no
longer as vehement.а The X-Men no longer
needed to fight the battles they had once been so accustomed to.
ааааааааааа Remy himself had left the X-Men not long after Rogue
had.а There had been little reason for
him to stay after her departure Ц but he had remained for a while to pick up
the various shattered pieces Destiny had left amongst the teams, as well as out
of a lingering sense of loyalty.а Soon
afterward, there had been a general consensus that RogueТs decision to leave
and start a new life had been an astute one.а
Lives had been changed Ц the call of duty no longer seemed to
apply.а True to his nature, Remy had
been the first to lead the mass exodus from the X-Men.а The Professor had not tried to stop those
who wanted to go from going.а He had
even expected it.а He had quietly
thanked Remy for staying behind to sort things out after the crisis, and had
simply wished him the best of luck in his future endeavours.а Of course, the Professor had always known of
RemyТs wayward nature, and that he had stayed in the mansion under great
sufferance since Rogue was no longer there.а
Besides, Remy had nothing left to offer the X-Men.а He had other things to do with his life Ц
what they were exactly he wasnТt sure; but he figured it was time he found out.
ааааааааааа There was only one thing he was really going to miss
about leaving, and that was Ororo.а For
the longest time she was the only one who he had considered a true friend
amongst the X-Men.а While their
relationship had never been especially deep, there had always been a bond, an
affinity between them that had remained intact despite all the various troubles
over the years.а Sometimes, Remy
pondered, it was easier to tell a real friend from a false one when you didnТt
have to say anything and they would understand you.а That was the bond he shared with Ororo.а And that was why neither of them had been too worried that they
might not see each other again for a considerable while.а Both were secure in the knowledge that when
their paths did cross again, the old friendship would still remain.
ааааааааааа And so Remy had left, heading back for New
Orleans.а With him had come Belladonna,
who had also decided to leave the X-Men Ц feeling, no doubt, that her tenuous
ties there had always rested with Remy anyway.а
Together they set to work unifying the Thieves and Assassins Guilds Ц
Bel taking most of the administrative work, Remy the official mantel of Guild
leader.а The idea of it had never
entirely appealed to him before, but he decided it was time for him to take up
what was rightfully his and make some sort of bash at it.а Strangely Ц once heТd got past the certain
animosities towards him from both the Thieves and the Assassins quarters Ц he
found heТd actually liked it.а It was
certainly a different world from the erratic, risky one heТd always lived in,
the thiefТs life on the edge.а But,
after his ordeal at the hands of Destiny, he found that it was what he needed Ц
some sort of stability, something to work for, something to care about.а It was certainly something he had found
difficulty getting used to at first, and without BelТs partnership he certainly
would have floundered, but somehow he coped and managed to make good.
ааааааааааа As for Bel herself, he could not have asked for what he
might previously have called a better Сpartner in crimeТ.а Once the previous hostility that their split
had conjured up had been passed, they managed to get along like a house on
fire.а Remy knew that Bel still secretly
haboured strong feelings for him and that her hope was that someday they might
get back together again.а Remy himself
had actually entertained the idea on several occasions only to finally decide
against it.а While he still cared deeply
for Bel, his heart was simply no longer in any form of commitment, much less
marriage; and besides, he told himself, his heart already belonged to someone
else Ц a sad state of affairs for a former thief of hearts.
ааааааааааа That of course, didnТt stop him from having short-lived
affairs of his own, much to BelladonnaТs chagrin.
а
ааааааааааа It was one thing for Remy to keep up his boyish
philandering; it was another entirely for him to attend to Guild business.а Usually Remy had no problems attending to
both at the same time Ц it was, he always insisted, a talent born from his
natural flare for style.а How he managed
to win womenТs hearts while attempting to get himself out of precarious
situations had always been instinctive to him and yet at the same time rather
beyond him.а HeТd always avoided
questioning it for fear that one day he might lose his charm.а Today though, the ability to mix pleasure
with business seemed to have eluded him.а
It was, to say the least, rather distressing to him.
ааааааааааа He had been in London two days, on what he had always
liked to call СfamТly businessТ during his days with the X-Men.а One night, and heТd wrapped everything up
rather nicely but also rather abruptly.а
The СtroubleТ heТd been expecting hadnТt turned out to be a trouble
after all, and so he was left with a full day doing nothing before he had to
catch his flight back to the US the following afternoon.а He had been unable to sleep the night
before.а Early in the morning heТd left
his hotel room, dressed in a casual suit yet still unshaved and bleary eyed, to
wander about the city, have some coffee and read a newspaper.а HeТd ended up going on a cafe-crawl, finding
that heТd needed more caffeine than heТd previously thought, and realising that
he was in dire need of some cheering up.а
His surroundings werenТt exactly helping.а It wasnТt that London was an ugly place Ц on the contrary it was
quite the opposite.а There was something
about it though, that made him feel nostalgic.а
The old, ostentatious grey buildings, the relatively narrow, winding
streets, the pokey little alleyways and the quaint little parks.а One could get lost in this city, lost in
maze of roads and antiquated architecture and never know where one was, nor
even care.а And though there was
something romantic and compelling about the whole idea, it was not something
that Remy needed at the present moment in time.
ааааааааааа He had decided to plug himself firmly into the
cosmopolitan core of the city, finding a small park to find refuge in, sitting
down on a bench that faced the fountain in the squareТs center.а It was an odd place, an encapsulated world
of its own, noisy, surrounded by the bustling streets of Central London, yet at
the same time strangely divorced from it.а
In the center pigeons were happily taking a morning bath in the
fountain; a line of ducks were waddling across a patch of grass towards God
knew where.а In the corner was a cafe Ц
a large migration of dark suited commuters were making their way there to grab
their morning coffee before heading on to work.а Remy had sat there watching them idly, the faces coming and
going, nameless, mindless, each one indistinguishable from the last.а He didnТt know why he was feeling this
way.а It was a form of displacement, and
that he wasnТt following this herd made him feel even more alienated.а Still, he was content to watch them, while
he chewed on a cigarette and considered the previous eveningТs events.а Even better, the fact that this time
tomorrow heТd be preparing to leave the damned place for home.а Spring in New Orleans was temperate.а Spring in London was bloody freezing.
ааааааааааа He was just considering getting up and catching a cab
back to his hotel room for warmth, that something caught his eye.а Amidst the flock of faceless commuters was a
single person walking against the tide.а
It was like watching a fish swimming against a current, and he sat for a
moment, oddly entranced and not even knowing why.а It was a woman, walking with such a free easiness and against such
adversity that at once he felt drawn to and envious of her.а It was only as she walked past him, and the
crowd parted for that one split second that he saw the streak of white in her
long flowing hair.а At once he was on
his feet, his heart racing at an impossibly wild pace Ц but already she was
lost again amongst the throng.
ааааааааааа For a moment he stood there, reasoning with himself,
telling himself that it could have been any old girl with any old white streak
in her hair.а But it was a futile battle,
because, without a shred of doubt, he somehow knew it was her.а He now realised that every single movement
she had made had belonged to her, and had been displayed there as though just
for him Ц her gait as she walked, the tilt of her head, even the way her hair
had flowed behind her, he had all been able to read them like some secret
prearranged message.
ааааааааааа Suddenly breathless he plunged into the crowd after
her, desperation welling in him, fighting against the tide, unable to catch
sight of her again.а Stopping he
searched again, scanning the crowds intently before that glimpse of white
amongst brown shown out like a beacon to him.а
This time he didnТt waste a moment, hurrying through the myriad
conspiracy of heads and bodies and elbows towards that single streak of
white.а And suddenly he was behind her,
a blaze of red and brown and orange amongst the blacks and blues and navys, and
once more he knew, without a shred of doubt, that it was her.
ааааааааааа УRogue?Ф
ааааааааааа He was too far to reach out for her, but not for his
suddenly weakened voice to carry.а She
paused and turned, and for a moment he thought that it wasnТt her and that he
had only been imagining things in his nostalgic state.а But as she finally faced him, all doubt was
swept away.а Those same familiar green
eyes looked back into his from that same familiar round face Ц a little older,
a little wiser, but still the same.а And
he canТt have looked much different too, because the eyes grew wide with
recognition, the wind-bitten cheeks grew pink, the soft red lips opened in
amazement.
ааааааааааа УRemy?Ф she spoke, and it was the same familiar voice
with that same familiar old Southern accent, tempered only slightly by British
tones. УIs that you?Ф
ааааааааааа He took in a sharp breath, his mind reeling.
ааааааааааа УMon Dieu, Rogue, it is you.Ф
ааааааааааа They stared at one another for one split second before
she suddenly gave out a cry, the lips widened into a broad smile and she
laughed out loud in delight.
аааааааа аааУMah God, mah
God, mah God!Ф she cried, hardly able to contain her excitement and flinging
her arms about him. УRemy LeBeau, Remy!Ф
ааааааааааа She hugged him fiercely, and he could only contain his
wits just in time to return the embrace.а
She called his name a few more times, deliriously almost, as though this
were a dream she could not quite wake up from; then she let go of him, stepping
back to take him in, her smile so big he didnТt even know how it could fit on
her face.
ааааааааааа УWell, of all the places to meet up!Ф she cried
breathlessly. УWhat in tarnation are you doinТ here?Ф
ааааааааааа УI was gonna ask de same tТing of you,Ф he spoke,
equally bemused, looking her over once or twice.а He realised now why it had been so easy to spot her out Ц dressed
as she was, she had stood out from the businessmen and women like a sore (but
very beautiful, he mentally added) thumb.а
Her ensemble was more bohemian than he remembered it Ц flared red pants,
an orange crop top, and only a thick, long crimson cardigan and a soft brown
scarf to ward off the cold.а He hadnТt
remembered since when sheТd been into knitwear, but then again, who knew what
kind of British fashions might be rubbing off onto her nowadays?
ааааааааааа УYou lookЕgreat,Ф he added instinctively, despite the
fortuitous and unexpected manner of their meeting.а She laughed.а God, how
heТd missed that laugh Ц and that smile.
ааааааааааа УYou never change,Ф she commented slyly.
ааааааааааа УWhat, dis cajun?а
Change his spots?а You know me
better, chere.Ф He grinned.
ааааааааааа УGood enough to know when not to fall for that smile,
sugah.Ф She grinned back.
ааааааааааа Here we go, he thought wryly, two minutes into meetinТ
each other again anТ weТre already flirtinТ like there be no tomorrow.
ааааааааааа УSo whatТre you doinТ here,Ф he asked, feeling he
should make normal conversation. УI mean, sТbeen, what, three years sinceЕФ
ааааааааааа УThree years and two months,Ф she interjected, a little
too quickly.а He caught the minutest of
blushes on her cheeks. УAhТm studyinТ at Birkbeck College.а DoinТ a degree in Psychology.а AhТd always been kinda interested in it, anТ
wellЕafter everythinТЕФ She paused, a little uncertain of what to say, УЕAh
figured maybe ahТd be good at it.Ф
ааааааааааа УCame to England to study Psychology?Ф he asked,
raising an eyebrow.
ааааааааааа She bit her lip, looking down at her feet. УAh needed a
change in scene.а AhТd heard London was
a pretty cool place. AnТ ahТm not just talkinТ Сbout the weather,Ф she joked, a
little awkwardly. УCoulda gone to Paris, but wellЕAh guess ah kinda preferred
to speak my own native language.Ф
ааааааааааа УI see,Ф he nodded. УAnТ howТs it goinТ?а The degree I mean?Ф
ааааааааааа УGreat,Ф she smiled. УThis is mah last year.а Hopefully ah graduate in the summer.Ф
ааааааааааа УCool.Ф
ааааааааааа УYeah.Ф
ааааааааааа There was a silence.а
Remy fumbled desperately for something to say.а They had been apart for too long.а Now he felt the palpable gulf between them, the awkwardness that
time and distance had put between them.а
Upon first meeting her, the sparks had flown both ways.а And nowЕNow he was left feeling strangely
cold, apprehensive, even.а Why was it
always so easy for them to flirt but never to get down to talking about real
things?а
ааааааааааа УSo,Ф he began again, after a short moment. УYou goinТ
to class?Ф
ааааааааааа УNah,Ф she shook her head. УI donТt start for another
two hours or so.а Ah was gonna meet a
friend for breakfast.Ф
ааааааааааа УOh.Ф
ааааааааааа УBut hey!а If
youТre hanginТ round, then we should definitely meet up sometime.а How does that sound?Ф
ааааааааааа УIТm leavinТ tomorrow.Ф
ааааааааааа УOh. WellЕHow Сbout ah cancel breakfast with mah friend
and we can have a coffee together?Ф
ааааааааааа Coffee?а If he
had another coffee heТd probably die.а He
was wired enough as it was.
аааааааа аааУIТd love to,
chere,Ф he answered quickly, before he had time to think about it. УBut your
friendЕ?Ф
ааааааааааа She made a brushing off motion with one hand, reaching
into her bag for her cellphone with the other. УDonТt worry, he wonТt
mind.а Ah mean, ah get tТ see him
practicТly every day, and when was the last time I saw you?Ф
ааааааааааа She dialled a number quickly on her phone, while Remy
chewed on this new bit of information, unable to stop himself from feeling
jealous even though he knew it was irrational.а
So what if she had a male friend?а
So what if she was having breakfast with him?а It was a free country, right?а
And besides, the two of them hadnТt been together for over three
years.а Still, he couldnТt help but feel
envious when he heard her talk to her friend with such casual familiarity.
ааааааааааа УPete?а Hey,
sugah!а Yeah, ahТm fine.а Yeah, the tube was hell, but ah made
it.а Huh, Don't ah know itЕHey
lissen.а DТ you mind if we pass on the
breakfast this morninТ?а See, I met an
old friend from the States, havenТt seen him for three years anТ heТs leavinТ
tomorrow soЕIs that okay?а Sure?а Okay, thanks Pete, ah owe you one.а Yeah, ah know, only kiddinТ.а Okay, see you soon then.а Take care.а
Bye!Ф
ааааааааааа She switched off the phone, beaming up at him.
ааааааааааа УSorted!Ф
ааааааааааа УPete?Ф he repeated darkly.
ааааааааааа УClassmate,Ф she explained, before smiling coyly at
him. УRemy LeBeau, are you jealous?Ф
ааааааааааа УWitТ you, belle, who wouldnТt be?Ф he answered
innocently.
ааааааааааа УAhТm flattered,Ф she smiled, linking her arm in his
and leading him away at a slow pace. УBut ahТm also footloose anТ fancy free at
the moment, so you donТt need to worry.Ф
ааааааааааа УWho says IТm worryinТ, chere?Ф he played along, but
inwardly frowning.
ааааааааааа УEvery part of you but your own mouth, sugah,Ф she
replied playfully, but there was an undercurrent to her voice. УAnТ by the
way,Ф she lowered her voice conspiratorially. УDo you still go by the codename
Gambit?Ф
ааааааааааа УOn the odd occasion,Ф he replied with mock
seriousness. УAnТ do you still go by de codename Rogue in dese backwater
parts?Ф
ааааааааааа She laughed. УMy name round here is Anna,Ф she
answered. УNo one here knows ah was ever the Rogue.а Can you imagine the butterflies ah got when ah heard you call me
by that name?а That was some blast from
the past yТ gave me there, cajun.а Ah
thought it was the cops or somethinТ.Ф
ааааааааааа УI still give you butterflies, chere?Ф he asked
smoothly, gazing at her and raising an eyebrow suggestively. She retaliated by
elbowing him playfully in the side.
ааааааааааа УAhТll give you butterflies, mistah,Ф she levelled at
him.
ааааааааааа УNot a problem, chere,Ф he muttered under his breath,
rubbing his side comically. УYТ still do.Ф
*
ааааааааааа She led him to some quiet cafe in some unknown back
street, all the while chatting to him with the easy confidence of a woman who
had found her place in the world and saw no reason to deviate from the path she
had laid out for herself.а He was
content to listen to her for most of the time, amused as well as comforted by
the familiar huskiness of that voice he knew so well, softened ever so slightly
by the more moderate English tones.а She
spoke with an exuberance that he almost envied Ц he felt almost embarrassed to
admit that while she had been seeing and doing things she had always dreamed
of, heТd somehow come to be stuck in what he considered a very deep rut.
ааааааааааа УSo, you never answered me,Ф she spoke up, once sheТd
settled down to a cup of coffee and he, wisely, to a simple glass of orange
juice. УWhatТre you doinТ over here?Ф
ааааааааааа УFamТly business, chere,Ф he replied, checking for a
no-smoking sign before lighting up. УYou know how it goes.Ф
ааааааааааа УStill with the Guild then, ah take itФ she mused,
staring at him. УAinТt you given that up by now?Ф
ааааааааааа It took him a moment to realise she was talking about
the smoking.
ааааааааааа УAh, non.а One
day, perhaps.Ф
ааааааааааа УThatТs what you always said,Ф she remarked archly.
ааааааааааа УIТm Сfraid dis fool ainТt changed much,Ф he admitted
in a blase tone, nevertheless feeling a little embarrassed by the admission.
ааа ааааааааУAh can see
that.Ф The corner of her mouth twisted into a smile.
ааааааааааа УYou, on the other handЕФ
ааааааааааа УAhТd be lyinТ if ah said ah hadnТt,Ф she shrugged, her
tone airy; but it was not hard for him to catch the deeper, edgy note to her
voice.а Rapidly she changed the subject.
УSo if youТre on СbusinessТ, how comes ah find you sittinТ in Russell Square
all by your lonesome?Ф
ааааааааааа УI wrapped up earlier den expected,Ф he replied,
exhaling smoke a little absently from his mouth. УDecided to take an early
morninТ wander round, yТknow, see de sights.Ф
ааааааааааа УOh yeah?а
WhatТd you see?Ф
ааааааааааа УHm,Ф He frowned momentarily. УNot much.а I got lost.Ф
ааааааааааа She chuckled. УAh hear that.а LondonТs all curves and nooks and crannies.а Easy to get lost, unless you know your way
round.Ф
ааааааааааа УSounds like a woman,Ф he remarked, unable to help
himself, and not really regretting that he had said it.
ааааааааааа УThought youТd be used to it, what with NТawlins anТ
all,Ф she replied smoothly, and he wasnТt sure whether she was talking about
the women or the streets.
ааааааааааа УTТank God for de grid system,Ф he answered, thinking
it was safer to pursue that trail of conversation.
ааааааааааа УAh dunno,Ф she smiled. УItТs kinda nice
sometimes.а You can start somewhere anТ
explore a bit, anТ end up finding yourself somewhere you never thought youТd
end up.а Somewhere fun.а SomewhereЕexciting.Ф
ааааааааааа He stared at her, wondering in some consternation
whether she was making innuendoes at him or not.а For the first time he found it difficult to read her.
ааааааааааа УSuch asЕ?Ф
ааааааааааа It was a moment before she answered, during which she
gazed at him as innocuously as she could. УLike for instanceЕThe karaoke!Ф She
grinned.
ааааааааааа УYou havenТt!Ф he exclaimed.
ааааааааааа УAh have!Ф Her eyes sparkled. УAh know you wonТt
believe me, but itТs actually fun.а The
woman in the flat next to me, sheТs Japanese.а
Took me there once, kickinТ anТ screaminТ.а But ah liked it.а AnТ,Ф
she winked at him, Уah can actually sing.Ф
ааааааааааа УNow datТs somethinТ I gotta hear,Ф he commented slyly.
ааааааааааа УWell, why not?Ф she paused, thinking for a moment. УHey!а Ah got a great idea!а Since you got lost anТ all, why donТt ah
take you round for a tour?а Ah know all
the good places tТ see round here.а The
British MuseumТs just round the corner, yТknow.Ф
ааааааааааа УMuseum?Ф he repeated sarcastically. УUnless dey got
somethinТ I can be stealinТ, dis tТiefs not never been interested in lookinТ at
antiques.Ф
ааааааааааа УNot even the Greek statues?Ф she asked in mock
surprise.
ааааааааааа УI prefer my women live and walkinТ tТanks very much.Ф
а ааааааааааУWell this woman
is.а AinТt that enough for yah?Ф She
didnТt give him the chance to answer. УCТmon Remy, itТll be fun.а You canТt come here anТ not see the sights!Ф
ааааааааааа УWhat about school?Ф
ааааааааааа She waved a hand dismissively. УSod school.а Ah havenТt seen you in years, Remy!а YТ think one day of classes matters to
me?а Ah wanna know Сbout everythinТ
thatТs happened to you since ah saw you last!Ф
ааааааааааа УRogue, you are tres, tres touchinТ, chere,Ф he replied
comically, placing a hand over his heart. УWho else but you would give dis
cajun de time of day?Ф
ааааааааааа УCall me naive,Ф she joked, bringing her cup to her
lips. УMaybe Ц just maybe Ц one day ahТll learn that you really are the
low-life swamp snake ah always knew you were.Ф
ааааааааааа УNot before I get to hear you croon tТ me, I hope,Ф he
answered, lifting up his own glass and winking.
*
ааааааааааа She took him to so many places that in the end he had
no conception of where he actually was in the city.а Museums, bars, cafes, shops, galleries, historical sites; Big
Ben, Trafalgar Square, lunch in Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace Ц she took him to
them all; not to mention the karaoke.а She
wove in and out of streets like a snake, on and off of subways like a circus
monkey, and with all the enthusiasm of one at that.а By the time afternoon had come, he had got the distinct
impression that she was showing off and was enjoying things far more than he
was himself.а He didnТt say anything
though Ц for one thing he felt it his duty to see the sites; for another, it
pleased him to see her in her element.а Most
of the time he was far more interested in watching her rather than the city,
and after a while it didnТt even occur to him to feel guilty about it.а She was so much more outgoing, so much more
bright-eyed, so much more involved in everyone and everything about her.а It was a change he found refreshing as well
as oddly disconcerting.а Rogue had never
lacked confidence; but she had always lacked certainty in standing on her own
two feet in a world that she had never truly felt welcome in.а Now, with her powers under control and
finally able to acquaint herself with the outside world, she had blossomed from
the fragile bloom of a personality that she had always been into some big,
sunny flower.а He wondered, fleetingly,
whether he had been worthy of such changes himself.
ааааааааааа It was pushing on evening by the time Rogue had decided
to call it a day.а RemyТs exhaustion had
not been lost on her, but she had driven him as hard as she had dared, knowing
that he would let her get away with it.а
Remy had insisted on going back to his hotel room, but she would have
none of it, accusing him of attempting to avoid her company even after all this
time.а That had not entirely been his
intention.а Since they had parted three
years before, he had not wanted to impinge on her own private life, assuming
that if he stayed overly long in her company she might take offence and think
he was taking advantage of her.а TheyТd
spent most of the day so far casually flirting, which under normal
circumstances would have been fine, if not for the fact that most of their
СfriendshipТ had been spent flirting, fencing, making a go at relationships,
only for them usually to explode disastrously in their faces.а The flirting almost always led to one thing;
and that was the inherent danger that they would both get embroiled in some
chaotic Ц if passionate Ц attempt to work things out.а And right now, considering the circumstances, he was pretty sure
it was something neither of them needed.а
What they wanted though, was a different matter, and as always,
tantalisingly ambiguous.
ааааааааааа As it turned out, despite all his misgivings, Remy had
found himself taking a bus back to RogueТs apartment.а It would, he concluded, have been rude for him to leave her after
they had only just met and with so little time to spare.а But, he warned himself as well as her, heТd
need to get back early that night to pack away his things.а A lie, since heТd always travelled lightly,
especially when on СbusinessТ; and an empty lie at that, because he also knew
that she also knew that he travelled light.а
By that time though, both of them knew that they were both playing
dangerously close to the edge.а But what
could one do, when the etiquette of friendship demanded one thing from them and
that of romance demanded another?а First
and foremost, Remy said to himself, weТre friends, not ex-lovers.а And so heТd decided there was no harm in
hanging out together, just as long as they knew when to cut things short.