Assets

Stepping into the lobby, Rogue started for the concession counter, when a sudden wave of light-headedness swept over her. She reached out to catch her balance, when a pair of strong arms caught her in mid-fall.
"Whoa, sorry 'bout that, Suh. Ah-ah don't know what came ovah me!" She exclaimed, looking up the middle-aged man with dark, greying hair who had stopped her decent.
"No inconvenience at all," he said with a smile, his grip on her tightening.
Something about the man's smile and the glint in his eyes made Rogue tense. She could have easily thrown him off of her, but she didn't want to add to the scene. A number of people were already crowding around them. Rogue gently broke away from the man's grasp, finding her feet.
"Are you alright, Miss?" a woman asked.
"Ah'm fine--" Rogue began, just as another wave of dizziness hit, causing her to fall back into the man's grasp.
"Vertigo is not usually associated with good health, Rogue," the man whispered in her ear.
Rogue's head snapped up, "How did you...?"
In the crowd Rogue's gaze fell on Ruckus, Brainchild, and Vertigo: Sinister's cronies, better known as the Nasty Boys. Vertigo was the woman causing the dizziness. There were only three-- dressed in civilian clothing-- which meant that Slab and Gorgeous George were most likely hiding near by, and the man that had caught her was...
"SINISTER!" Rogue screamed, tossing the 'man' across the theater and watching him crash into the glass popcorn machine. He morphed, seconds later, into the frightening form she recognized as Sinister.
The crowd began to scream and disperse with the frantic cries of 'Mutants!'
"Aw now y'all gone an' done it," Rogue drawled sarcastically, rising into flight, as the Nasty Boys began to appear around her, "Ah'll probably be kicked outta heah cuz y'all got the munchies!"
Rogue flew at Brainchild, picked him up by the scruff of his neck, and threw him hard, huge head first, into Slab immediately ridding herself of two opponents for the moment. She turned and was overwhelmed by an purple elastic fence.
"Are you sure you're feeling up to a fight, dear?" Vertigo asked, sending Rogue another dizzying wave of energy, just as Gorgeous George formed a holding ring around her. It was soon followed by an ear piercing wail from Ruckus. The attack was more than she could handle. Had the other X-men been with her, she could have beat them, but together there were just too many of them. Rogue fell from the air, trying desperately to cover her painfully ringing ears and fight the waves of dizziness that were overcoming her. There was no way to escape them with Gorgeous George corralling her in.
Rogue thought frantically, or at least tried to-- she was in too much pain to concentrate-- before she began to lose consciousness. The last thing she saw was Sinister's pointed teeth flashing-- laughing at her-- before everything went dark.

Serina shook her head. A mixture of emotions had over-whelmed her in the past few minutes, they ranged from guilty, sad, love, confusion, desperation, to fear. However, the emotions didn't belong to her, they belonged to Rogue. Serina knew better than to confront Rogue directly, knowing that she didn't like to 'burden' others, so Serina had been ignoring the other woman's flood of emotions-- allowing Rogue to deal with them on her own. As much as Serina didn't agree with it, she respected her friend's preference to keep her feelings bottled, but it was beginning to bother her.
A shattering of glass and frightened screams brought Serina back to reality. She knew all too well that the noises were not from the film but from just outside the theater. Without a second thought Emeryld was up and running to the door--Storm and Psylocke at her heels.
As they burst through the doors, chaos met them. People were stampeding in every direction. One woman grabbed Storm by the arm and pulled her toward an exit pleading, "Hurry, there're mutants, you have to get out!"
Storm merely said, patting the woman's arm and releasing herself from her grasp, "Do not worry for me. Go, I will be fine." The woman disappeared back into the throng of frightened people. Storm returned to Psylocke and Emeryld's side. It didn't take long to find the cause of the panic. Vertigo stood on the concession counter.
"So nice that you could join us, dearies. Maybe you can better stand up to me, eh?" she spouted, sending a dizzying wave toward them only to have it deflected by Emeryld's TK shield. However, Serina's attention was barely turned toward Vertigo or the other Nasty Boys-- Psylocke and Storm would take care of them-- she was completely focused on only one.
In the center of the dissipating crowd, Sinister was bent over a figure laying crumpled on the floor. He glanced up, meeting Serina's gaze-- flashing his pointed teeth-- looking more sinister than his namesake.
Serina thought with disgust.
Sinister had moved just enough to reveal the top of a white-streaked auburn head. Serina or anyone who knew Rogue wouldn't miss that tell tale skunk trail that blended so well with her personality. It was as much a signature to Rogue as Serina's red on black hair was to herself. Now Sinister lifted Rogue's limp form from the floor, "Serenity, how good to see you. We have to talk."
"Let-her-go," Emeryld growled, making each word a threat in itself, her nails growing in length as her temper flared. In the back of her mind Serina's mind whispered to herself, but Serina wouldn't think of it now. Psylocke's mental voice whispered in her mind, and Serina allowed it.
"We talk first," Sinister answered.
"So help me Essex, if she's dead you won't live to see another sunrise," Serina knew that she'd attack him anyway, she was tired of Nathaniel Essex always interfering with her life.
"Dead? Oh no, Serenity, I have far too many plans for this beauty," Sinister purred, looking from Rogue's motionless form to Serina, "Shall we talk?"

Ororo Munroe had never been one for violence but fought only when necessary: she was fighting now. People were threatened and part of her family was in danger-- and according to the tone of Psylocke's statement-- possibly dead.
It had taken Ororo quite some time to trust Rogue or even come to like her, but she had grown to love the woman despite her prior inhibitions. All the other X-men she had accepted almost immediately-- even Gambit, the least trusted member of the team-- but Rogue had still taken some getting used to yet had gained a special place in Ororo's heart. So Storm was not about to sit back and watch a friend die without a fight.
Storm summoned the winds to carry her up above Gorgeous George who was elastically trying to surround her. With a graceful wave of her arms and a gust of wind, Storm called into the air, "I command the ice and snow of the Arctic winds to fall upon our assailants-- You shall not cross the Mistress of the Elements!"
Those who did not know Storm may have called her words over-dramatic; but considering she'd been raised as a weather Goddess, it naturally came to her. Ironically, something Gambit had once said to her, when she was only a child to him, whispered playfully in her mind, .
Vaguely, Storm smiled at the thought-- mind still wandering as she froze Gorgeous George where he stood, ending his purple elastic onslaught. Then she turned a wind storm on Vertigo, who had recovered from Emeryld's TK deflection. She did not take pride in hurting others, but when push came to shove Storm blew them away; however, at the same time Storm silently pleaded with Gambit in her mind. Though she was no telepath, she prayed that the Goddess would send some sign to him.
.

<"Storm, behind you!"> Psylocke shouted both mentally and aloud, from her cat stance in front of Slab. Brainchild had been sneaking behind Storm for a guerilla attack; but with Psylocke's warning, Brainchild had been easily taken care of with a bolt of lightning. Storm's mind had been else where and not on the fight...she had been wondering if Gambit knew what was going on.
Betsy wondered to herself, as her foot kicked Slab in the jaw sending him staggering backwards.
"Slab will crush the X-men," the hulking mutant bellowed, recovering. But he didn't recover fast enough because Psylocke whirled on him stabbing her psyonic blade into the back of his head. It was enough to render the dunderheaded oaf unconscious. All four of Sinister's cronies lay on the ground, and Psylocke looked up to see Serina glaring at Sinister.
"Fine, talk," Serina said in cold calmness.
Psylocke knew that Serina wouldn't let down her guard, but she stepped behind her friend for support just the same. Sinister was using Rogue as some bargaining chip, in a game that they were all growing tired of: Making Remy and Serina LeBeau into enslaved genetic Guinea pigs. A game he'd played with Scott and Jean Summers time and again as well.
"I'd like to request--"
"You call kidnaping one of my friends, requesting?" Serina snapped.
"You're friend? Well, well, I didn't bargain on this. Two birds with one stone..."
"You seem surprised that Rogue is her friend, why?" Psylocke commented.
"Somewhat, more amused actually. You see, Serenity has never been in the habit of befriending, or even mildly liking, anyone that LeBeau has chosen to play Casanova to. She's despised them all: Belladonna, Candra, Alexandra, Gennevive, as well as countless others, yet the questions still stands-- why the exception of this little harlot?" Sinister asked, glancing down at the woman in his arms.
"I guess ye dunnae know mae as well as ye thought."
"Oh I know you far better than you think, my dear, but that doesn't matter in this case. You must realized I am not the terrible monster you seem to see me as, I did ask civilly for your cooperation..."
"A lie! You did not ask Serina for any cooperation, you only captured our friend," Ororo interrupted. Sinister turned toward the regal woman.
"Ah, the fair Storm-- whom Remy also holds in such high regards-- you are wrong. The fact that I never asked Serenity is true, however she has no say in the matter and she knows that. I requested from Remy LeBeau himself, but civilized requests seem to have little importance in his life and he has tried my temper. So in return, all I am guilty off is keeping a promise."
"Call mae Serenity one more time and I'll rip your vocal chords out. I have EVERY say in what happens in my own life but you and Gambit seem to have a problem dealing with that," Serina growled her anger mounting.
Sinister laughed, I can see why he keeps flocking back to you... you look ravishing when you're angry."

Serina felt the energy building that she so yearned to release in Sinister's ugly face.
"Since when have promises been your forte`?" Psylocke said, stalling for time by changing him back to the subject at hand. She'd touched the alarm on her communicator which she kept in her purse.
"They always have, now if you'll excuse me, I have much interesting work to tend to..."
"Essex, you not goin' nowhere!" came Remy LeBeau's angry voice from the shadows.
"Oh I'm afraid I am."
As Gambit telescoped his bo staff-- charging it with kinetic energy-- jumping out of his place in the shadows, he aimed for the small of Sinister's back-- or the place where is should have been because Sinister had disappeared and Rogue with him. Gambit tumbled to the ground and an echo of Sinister's voice remained, "Another lost love hurt and gone and all in a theater..how very tragic."
"Touche`," Remy grumbled. Three sets of eyes turned to stare at him, as he gathered his feet.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Serina exploded, the dangerously sharp heel of her boot coming within inches of his face. "You chased him off!"
"I chased him off? Look to me like he was leavin' anyway, I tried t'stop him!"
"Oh of course, you tried so hard to stop him. You knew this was going to happen, and you didn't even warn mae!" Serina was seething again. Remy knew better than to fight with her now, because he needed her on his side to get Rogue back. He only stood back and let Serina have her say.
"Seri, calm down. Ripping Gambit to shreds-- good as that may sound-- is not going to do Rogue one damn bit of good. What we have to do is figure out where and why she was taken and then get her out of there in one piece," Psylocke said, thinking on the same terms as Remy. She touched Serina's shoulder. "Ok?"
"Yer right, Bets. Why doesn't even matter now, but finding her does." she sighed then turned menacingly on Gambit, grabbing onto the collar of his coat, "You and me are going t'find her and get her out of this..." With that Serina teleported out of the theater with Gambit, leaving Psylocke and Storm behind.
Psylocke reached out to catch hold of Serina before she vanished, but Storm stopped her.
"They're gone...to who know's where! Why didn't you let me--?"
"Because Serina feel's it is her fault. Let them go. If they need help, they will call for us."
Rogue woke with a throbbing pain pounding in her head. She moved to stretch her equally aching limbs, only to find that she was shackled to some sort of medical examination table. Her first thought was that she had been somehow wounded in battle. but as she opened her eyes, seeing the stark, cold metal surroundings without the familiar clutter that McCoy left around or any of the infirmary equipment, Rogue began to panic.
The memory of Sinister and his cronies ambushing her in the theater came flooding back to her, and she realized that she must be in Sinister's laboratory. The X-men had failed to come to her aide, but then again, they hadn't known she was under attack. It didn't matter to her anyway, Rogue's only thoughts were now bent on escape.
She flexed, pushing on her restraints, expecting them to snap with the slightest amount of her mutant strength. She was mystified when all that resulted were sore wrists and ankles still bounded to the table. She tried again. Rogue began to shift he weight, straining harder at the bonds, not allowing herself to even think of the possibility of remaining trapped.
"You won't be able to break them, they were specifically designed for you. Try as you might, you'll only result in hurting yourself by trying to break free," Sinister's voice filtered in from somewhere around her.
The warning only made Rogue fight harder against the metal cuffs. As her urgency became more obvious, her shifting turned into wild swinging and thrashing. She let out a cry of frustration and pain, as she thrust her weight forward in one last attempt to free herself only to see it fail-- blood began to drip from beneath her shackles.
Of course it was hard to see at first. The blood oozed down, staining the already dark fabrics that covered her hands and arms, but soon Rogue felt the wetness and saw a darker stain growing. Rogue's mind refused to understand what was happening for a moment. Slowly she realized what was happening and began to panic, "Blood? It can't be...ah can't be bleedin'..it's impossible!"
"It is entirely possible when your powers are rendered ineffective, my dear," Sinister purred stepping into the stark light from beyond the shadows. "I warned you that your bonds were specially designed for you. You've been an expected guest for quite some time now, Rogue, and your restraints-- if you care to know-- are made of adamantium, combined with the latest Genosian technology." As he spoke, Sinister moved closer to the table, looking down on her. He pulled a lever--tilting the table into a vertical position.
"What d'ya want with me?" Rogue demanded once she was upright. Sinister only seemed to ignore her demand. He was staring at her in a way that made her want to cringe, but she resisted the temptation.
"Such a beautiful face. One that must have taken generations to perfect, " Sinister commented, his hand tilting Rogue's chin upward-- as if to better examine her features.
Rogue jerked out of his grasp. She refused to be examined and praised like some sort of show dog, but soon enough sinister had ceased her face again, holding tighter this time.
"The contours and bonestructure are exquisite, and blessed with such strength and graceful flight, as well as that phenomenal absorbtion gift. I wonder who is responsible for your creation? I've only seen absorbtion powers as remarkable as yours one other time-- perhaps two." he continued, tracing the line of her jaw and lips with his frigid, apathetic, fingers.
Insulted, Rogue bit him as hard as she could. Hoping, at very least, to keep him from touching her again.
She'd always dreamed of being able to be touched, but nothing like this had ever crossed her mind.
Sinister pulled his hand away for a moment and laughed his mechanical laugh, "You are a spirited one. He always did like the type with a fervent personality..."
"He?" Rogue muttered confused. Sinister was the only one in the room.
Suddenly Rogue began feeling cold and uncommonly light-headed, not to mention frightened.
"Come now, my little tart, you don't mean to say that you don't know who I am referring to, do you? I would have thought you'd extracted it from him already-- he is the secretive sort-- but that is the reason you left him starting after you in the Seattle rain, or was it?"
Rogue was having trouble concentrating, but she had followed the conversation, she was feeling so sleepy, "...Rem- Remy?..."
"Ah you do know. Good, because he is the very reason you are here--" he paused, seemingly quizzical for a moment, but then he jumped into action, as soon as he took note of the pallid color Rogue had been turning throughout the conversation. Her sleeves were soaked and dripping with blood.
"Curran! Dazzo, get in here with your supplies!" he shouted, pushing a number of buttons on the panel next to the table, which unlatched, freeing her wrists. It would have been the perfect opportunity for escape, had she had the strength.
Two attendants came scurrying in, white lab coats flaring after them. One was Dazzo, a tall, lithe man with blonde shoulder-length hair, pulled back into a pony-tail. Through his wire-rimmed glasses stared two intensely violet eyes. The other was a petite woman with aqua-colored hair, pulled up in bun, with deep blue eyes to match: more of Sinister's "research" no doubt. The man Dazzo spoke before her reached the table, "Yes, Mr. Es---"
"Sinister. Dazzo tend to her wounds, I want her healthy-- for the time being. Before he does, Curran, take a blood sample with what you can catch-- why not take some advantage of the open veins."
The aids flew into action. Dazzo pulled off Rogue's gloves and cut away the sleeves of her blouse, so that he could better get at her wounds. He did this precisely and deftly-- his actions as glacial as Sinister's-- but his violet eyes seemed to almost sympathize for her...but she would have been hallucinating. Meanwhile Curran was catching what blood escaped as Dazzo worked. He eyes seemed to laugh at Rogue menacingly. As the two attendants worked Sinister addressed her, "You fool-- with all your thrashing and fighting you've severed the vein. If I hadn't realized your condition, you would have bled to death. Would you rather that happen?"
Rogue tried to focus through the haze that enveloped her, her eyelids were so heavy, she fought the urge to just collapse, "Ah'd...rather be...dead than..be your...lab rat..."
"Such brave words for a child so frightened. That can very well be arranged, but for now I have plans to keep you alive." As Sinister turned to leave he spoke to the attendants, "Dazzo, when you've finished, put her in the cell where she'll cause less harm to herself. Come, Curran, we have tests to run."
Rogue leaned back on the table and surrendered to the shadows that pulled at her consciousness, just as Sinister and Curran disappeared back into the shadows from which they came.

Emeryld and Gambit appeared in the darkness of a supply closet. As soon as they materialized Serina threw Gambit away from her. She didn't want to touch him any longer than was necessary-- she was already feeling somewhat disorientated from being so close to him. She needed to be strong. She needed to focus and think in order to save Rogue.
"Where are we?" he asked, giving his wife a dirty look for pushing him away.
"Shh!" Serina said, quietly reaching for the door.
"I won' 'shh' til you tell me where we are," Remy retorted almost childishly. His patience was warring thin and he was trying hard not to risk fighting with Serina.
Exasperated, Serina sighed and glared at him-- yellow-green eyes flashing-- sometimes she wondered if she was Remy's mother rather than his wife, "Where d'ye think, Ace? We're in Sinister's laboratory. Now quiet!"
"How did--?"
"Did ye not just hear mae say shut up?!" she hissed. {If ye have somethin' to say just think it-- if you remember how, genius. You're the thief d'ye want t'get us caught?}
{Tres funny, Shema, you a regular barrel o' laughs. Now you gonna answer de question or not?} Serina tensed, and almost cringed when Remy had mentioned the name Shema. No one had called her that in years, and now she was about to make sure no one called her by that name again. But instead of getting caught or killing Gambit, Serina ignored him. She knew that he was trying to get on her nerves. He was succeeding, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of letting him know it. So Emeryld focused on scanning the hallway for anyone that might be out there. {Shema!}
A number of unpleasant memories came with the name itself and Serina was in no mood to see them. Now was not the time..not now, not ever. She gritted her teeth and slid deftly into the open. Emeryld stayed close to the shadows, out of plain view of anyone who might wander down the hallway. Then she crooked a finger, gesturing for Gambit to follow. He only stood there stubbornly. {Well, come on!} she shouted psychically, with a touch of her suggestion powers to move him along.
{Not 'less you answer me, S'renity.}he said stepping forward, then backward, as he tried to fight her powers.
{Serenity? Oh, I must be in trouble now!} Came her sarcastic thought with a mental chuckle. {Call mae by the right name and maybe I'll tell you. Now come on!}
Gambit was yanked forward by the 'suggestion'. Remy sighed and thought to himself absently, {Bein' led like some hungry pup by de nose...}
{That's right, pup, now come t'Momma} Serina teased.
Remy glanced at her in surprise, forgetting how she could read his thoughts. Putting his pride behind him, he finally fell into step behind Serina under his own power. It was time to stop annoying her and get down to business. After all they were here because of him. Taking a deep breath, Gambit finally thought, {'Rena, please?} He watched as she smiled and tossed something back at him: a piece of navy blue cloth-- or more precisely, a piece of Sinister's costume. Gambit grinned, then whispered aloud, "Dat's my 'Rena. You be t'ief's dream come true, using tricks an' psychometry t'get us 'ere." He hadn't thought that Serina would have used her powers like that, knowing how much she hated them--thinking them a curse. But then again, this was a dire situation.
"You expected anything less?" Serina asked, almost smiling in spite of herself.
"Oh no Serenity, I've always known your full potential. As a matter of fact, I counted on it," An all-too-familiar voice stated that did not belong to Gambit.
Emeryld's eyes narrowed and her smile disappeared, "Essex."

"...And then they disappeared," Psylocke finished explaining the situation to Beast and Wolverine.
"That would explain Gambit's unusual behavior earlier," Beast pondered aloud scratching at his chin.
"Yeah, well while you sit there analyzin' the Cajun's behavior patterns...I'm goin' t'find 'em," Wolverine growled, about to stalk out of the room. He was not about to allow himself to find out what Sinister planned on doin' to his daughter again. He knew what Sinister had planned. The good ole exchange the captive for what he really wanted. Well, Logan wasn't about to let that happen.
Storm stopped him, standing before him and placing a hand on his chest, "Logan, please wait."
"What for? Gumbo's trouble in general an' Serina's a magnet for it-- or haven'cha noticed?" he responded.
"I agree that they will need us for reinforcements, but we must think rationally first. Agreed?" Ororo asked, when there was no response from Logan she repeated, "Agreed?"
Wolverine just stood silent for a moment, not agreeing to the orders but pausing to hear Storm out.
"Now Sinister, must have given Remy some sort of clue, right? Because he couldn't have showed up that fast, without knowing something was up," Psylocke murmured.

"The song." Henry said.
"What song?" Betsy and Ororo repeated in confused unison.
"The Cajun was mumblin' some mumbo jumbo to himself. Somethin' about love an' not ownin' somethin'. Said it was a song he'd heard," Wolverine explained, trying to avoid a complex and lengthy explanation from Beast, "Sinister must'a warned him what he was up to."
"Only not soon enough," Storm finished."
"So Seri was right. He did know!" Psylocke said growing angrier with her realization.
"Elizabeth, please, calm down," Hank chided, "Don't you see that Sinister had his information hidden in some sort of riddle for Gambit to figure out? He'd only just solved it--"
"When he went dartin' outta here. So just one question: where's Sinister hidin'?"
"We don't know."
"I'll find it," Wolverine said, beginning to leave again.
"Logan..."
He barely glanced back at Ororo, "You wanna help keep Rogue from becomin a genetic science project? Or do ya wanna sit here an' figure out a damn riddle? I'm goin'." With that he stalked out of the room.
Psylocke, Storm, and Beast took a moment to look between them; and with a silent agreement, they followed Wolverine.

"M'seiu Sinister, jus' de man I was lookin' fo'," Gambit said, turning one of his most charming smiles on Sinister.

"I thought you two would show up. You need not look any farther. Have you thought about my request, LeBeau?" Sinister asked almost conversationally.

"I have. An' I realized my 'assets', d'jou call it?"

"Yes, Rogue is a lovely one at that."

"Mus' mean I got good taste, eh?"

"As a matter of fact, for some odd reason, you do. Now if you please, your answer?" Sinister coaxed.

"Rogue is not a possession-- Sinister said it himself. She is not, and dunnae need t'be treated as one--" Serina hissed only to be cut off by Gambit.

"On de other hand, chere, YOU ARE a possession. MY possession, an' if you know what be good for you, you best be shuttin' your lips," Gambit barked harshly. His quick agility allowed him to grab Emeryld by her hair and kiss her roughly on the mouth, before she could react. When Remy released her, he tossed her to the other end of the hall then answered Sinister, "I'll help you."

"You'll what!?" Serina shouted, her rage and pride getting the best of her. The shock of Remy's touch was the only thing holding her back from lashing out totally. Surprisingly, Gambit didn't even glance at her and only continued his conversation with Sinister as if she wasn't even there.

"I'll help youif you jus' answer one question, Fair 'nough?"

"How could ye?!" Serina whispered, disgusted with the idea that Remy was willing to trade sides and sacrifice a friend just to save his own hide. But he'd done it before. Remy LeBeau was not stranger to the memory of Benedict Arnold.

Suddenly, without hesitation Gambit turned around and slapped Serina hard. "Silence, SERENITY," Remy rapped out, his eyes had a cold poisonous glow to them. He stalked toward Emeryld in a fashion she'd only seen once~ the time he'd raped her. It frightened her, but she stubbornly stood her ground glaring at him defiantly. At this moment all Serina wanted was to free Rogue and watch both Sinister and Gambit die a slow painful death. He was continuing, "I been too leanient wit' you, an' now you gone an' started t'inkin' dat you have some kind'a say in de matter. Well, you don'-- I am your uno vato [only man] an' you listen an' obey me or I'm gonna have Sinister be doin' it fo' me. An' I'm sure whatever he got planned fo' you is worse dan anythin' I can t'ink up...I guarantee it." Gambit turned back to address Sinister, "Pardonnez moi, now where was I?"

"One question?" Sinister said with a jagged smile of satisfaction.

"Yeah, what you got planned?"

"Oh, my dear boy, you shall see, you shall see."
Rogue sat huddled in the corner of her cell. Her legs were drawn up, arms clasped around them, forehead resting on her knees-- it was as if she were trying to disappear inside of herself. Which in all truth, she was. She was frightened, but even more so, feeling terribly guilty.
What did ah do t'desurve this? her mind begged for an answer. She wanted to find a scapegote; Sinister, Gambit, Serina anyone but the one person she knew was really to blame: herself.
How long's it gonna be b'fore ya learn, gal? Is someone gonna have t'kill ya for ya t'understand that love ain't your thing? Please. In all your life you've only had three men who ya really cared for; four if ya wanna count flirtin' with Bobby, and what happend every time? That's right. Somethin' always got in the way...YOU.
Just look at 'em. Y'killed Cody. Now don't go sayin' that it was Belle or Candra that killed him, cuz that's a lie an' you know it. He died b'cause you just HAD t'kiss him didn'cha? He died from the coma you left him in...
Then o'course there was Erik, Magneto. You actually got close t'him b'fore ya realized what ya really wanted t'fight for, or so ya said-- face it, girl, ya got scared. 'Sides he's not the same man now, anyhow. So ya came back to the X-men and then what happened?
There was Remy, waitin' on the shores of Muir Island. A man who did everythin' to sweep ya off'a your feet with that
irresistable charm of his. Someone who kept after ya, despite those soul-suckin' powers of yours. A man who risked his life so he could kiss ya just once. An' what do you do? Ya run away: AGAIN! An' then ya get jealous, when someone who makes him happy-- who he can touch an' have a future with-- comes back into his life.
Face it, gal, you got a problem. Maybe it's bettah that Sinister wants you dead, but then again, you're too scared of death. All cuz ya never had t'face it this up close an' personal b'fore. A sob escaped Rogue's lips, Ah just wanna go home...
Rogue's head snapped up as she heard a sound at the cell door. There in the shadows stood a dark figure, whose eyes seemed to glow in the darkness, and a familiat trench coat hung about his frame.
"G-gambit?" she asked cautiously, wondering if it was only a hallucination caused by the amount of blood she'd lost.
"It's me, ma chere," his accented voice softly purred. The lock snapped open; and there stood Gambit, half in shadow, with his arms held open toward her.
Stumbling to her feet, Rogue blinked, still uncertain if he was real or an illusion. She reached a hand out toward him-- he grabbed it and quickly pulled her in, holding her close to his chest, their faces only inches apart. Rogue held tight to Gambit, trying desperately to hide in his shoulder; and not daring to let go for fear he might vanish all together, "Oh God, Remy, ah was so terrifed."
"No need t'be scared, ma amour. Remy's here-- you trust Remy don' you?" he asked. As he spoke, his lips brushed against hers. Then gently he began to kiss those lips and her face where her tears had fallen.
Rogue's breath caught at the touch of his bare lips on her skin. She was in awe, not able to find the words to answer, so she nodded. Her emerald eyes still shining with tears as she looked up at him.
"Oh Rogue, I'm so sorry..." he whispered, his kisses traveling down her neck to her shoulder. His voice sounded so sad, so full of dispare.
She felt his warm breath on her skin as he spoke. She closed her eyes-- forgetting, for a moment, where they were and the danger the two of them were probably in. All that she could think of was the fact that Remy LeBeau was touching her...and he wasn't lying unconscious because of it.
"...so very sorry..." he repeated, now kissing her bandaged wrists.
Rogue winced at the pain that stabbed at her when he touched the tender area. The sensation knocked her back to reality. She blinked and backed away, only to have him hold to her tighter, "This ain't right. We're playin' with fire here, Remy."
"Always have been. Dis fire, inside me, been let to burn way too long. You set my whole world ablaze, an' only you can save me, Rogue."
"Save ya from what?" she asked confused.
"From bein' consumed by de flames," with that, Remy lifted her off of her feet and kissed her full on the mouth. He carried her over to the corner of the cell and laid her on the bed. As he tossed his coat to the floor, Rogue began to sit up, only to be gently guided back down. Gambit then lay the length of her, languidly untying the black ribbons of her bodice-like blouse.
"Remy...please, ah can't. N-no," Rogue whispered nervously as he slipped the clothing off of her shoulder.
"O'couse you can, chere. You said you trusted, Remy, non? Don' you love me, Rogue?" he asked pausing, a seemingly bewildered look crossed his face.
"You know ah do. Ah've loved you from the moment ah set eyes on ya. You know that."
"Do I?" Remy asked, sitting back on his heals and watching the sad, confused expression on her face as she searched for the words to answer.
"Ah thought you knew. Remy, it's not that ah don't want-- that ah don't love you. It has nothin' t'do with that," Rogue exlpained with a soft smile and a conserned look, as she reached up to touch his cheek, for the first time, with her bare hand. "Ah love you so much that it's a physical pain sometimes. You're the theif that stole mah heart an' soul away from me," She leaned over and kissed him tenderly on the lips, then pulled away slightly, "But even though ah can finally touch ya, this ain't the time or the place. F'heavens sake, we're in some cell trapped in Sinister's laboratory! You understand, sugah?"
Gambit leaned toward Rogue, his hand caressing the line of her jaw, as he spoke, "Ah but chere, what is life wit' out a gamble? Let's say we have ourselves a li'l tet'a tet gamble right here, neh? Why not live for de moment?"
Rogue closed her eyes, cherishing his gentle touch for a moment; then with reluctance, she took his hand in hers and guided it away. She looked up into his eyes which were fully dialated--mostly red where a normal man's would be mostly black. She couldn't let him do this without thinking, "What about Serina?"
"What 'bout her?" he answered coldly.
"What about her feelin's? What about yours? Ah know ya love her, Remy-- y'gonna throw all that away?" Rogue asked, watching those eyes for a flicker of remorse.
Gambit seemed to pause and think for a moment, muttering, "F'give me--" then he flashed one of his signature smiles, "You haven't figured out what she is have you?"
"A very special--"
"No," Remy pulled her face close, staring down at her lips intently and longingly, "She's not'ing more dan a substitute fo' de one t'ing I could never touch-- you."
He leaned in to kiss her again, but Rogue pushed him away, disgusted. She stood up and moved to stand in a secluded corner of the cell, pulling her blouse back up over her shoulder. She refused to look at him, "That's a joke right?"
"Gambit doesn't joke about matters of de heart, ma amant."
"Don't you go callin' me any of those endearin' French names o' yours, you no good...Gator trash!" The hurt, along with a trace of guilt was evident in her voice. It shook with the threat of tears. "Remy Lebeau, that is the coldest thing ah have evah heard cross your lips! An' they call Bobby the Iceman-- you know Serina loves y--"
"Dat don' mean a damn t'ing t'me," Gambit said appearing in the corner to grab Rogue by the shoulders, turning her to face him once again. Suddenly his whole demeanor changed, and Rogue no longer recognized the man that stood before her.
"Y'made one big mistake, Chere, an' if you EVER mention Rena's name again, you gonna be real sorry dat you did. So jus' to remind you..." Gambit seized Rogue's wrists, his grip tightening--cutting into the already wounded flesh.
Rogue began to struggle against him, but without her powers she did little more than send him dragging her back a few paces. Finally she cried out, falling to her knees, "Remy please...stop-- you're HURTING me!?" the surprise echoed in her voice.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk...po' little Rogue. Chere wit'out your powers you jus' so fragile-- like dose magnolias you like so much-- not so untouchable after all..." he purred, mocking her.
"Remy please..." she gasped, "why are you doin' this?"
Rogue leaned back trying to break free of his grasp, and in that moment she saw something flicker in the eyes of the stranger before her. The real Remy spoke to her, the sadness, grief, guilt, and self-hatred eminent in his eyes-- "You don' understan'-- I HAVE to..."
"This ain't you, Remy. Ah don't know what Sinister's done t'ya, or what this secret your hidin' is, but ya don't have to do this--"
"I'm so sorry Rogue. I never wanted t'hurt you...but yes, I do..."

To Be Continued..................

Assets 2

Emeryld's Dream Chamber

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