Chapter Text
“I think it would be fun to be reborn and find each other again. Fall in love with each other all over again.”
The Present
Rogue parked her work van as close to the motorcycles outside the bar as she could. She grabbed a few essentials and got out. Her client was between the bar and the motorcycles, chatting with a young woman, and both dressed for clubbing. Rogue ignored them both and strode over to the motorcycle she knew belonged to her client. The street light was inadequate for the task at hand, and Rogue pulled out her phone to use it as a torch.
“Hey didn’t you say that was your bike?” said the young woman.
“Hmm?” Gambit glanced over. “Oh, good, Anna’s here.”
The young woman raised her eyebrows. “Your mechanic is a woman? How come I’m not surprised.”
“I have no idea, chere. Most people would be,” Gambit replied smoothly. “It is a male dominated industry.”
“Right.” Her tone edged on accusation.
“Anna’s very, very good at what she does. I trust her with all my vehicles,” Gambit went on cheerfully. “The fact that she’s also very nice to look at is a bonus. Only a small bonus though. It’s not like I get to ogle her while she’s working. Not normally… I should do these house calls more often.”
Rogue lifted the hand holding the phone and twisted it so she could stick her middle finger up at him. He chuckled.
“She must know you pretty well if she thinks she can flip you off,” the woman said.
“She’s been servicing me for years,” Gambit replied with just the faintest hint of suggestion, before continuing: “And a lot of my friends and family use her too. Like I said, she’s a very good mechanic.”
Rogue stood and stepped back from the motorcycle.
“You were right to call me,” Rogue said as she walked over.
“Ah, you found something?” Gambit asked.
“Yup.” Rogue glanced over at the woman, then looked back at Gambit. “Should be an easy fix if you’re right about it happening tonight. I just need to grab another couple of things from my van.”
“Merci.”
Rogue just gave him a nod and strode back to her van. “Anna’s Garage” was boldly written on the side, along with phone number and web address. Rogue slid opened the side door, picked out a few select items, and headed back, closing and locking the van behind her.
The fix was just as quick as she expected.
“And done,” Rogue said, standing up once more. The young woman had disappeared from sight.
“Wonderful,” Gambit replied. “What did she do?”
“Acid trap.” Rogue held out a small contraption with an adhesive on one side. “Every time you braked, acid would squeeze out. It wouldn’t have eaten through it straight away, but it would have soon enough.”
Gambit sighed. “Belle sure likes to keep me on my toes.”
“So it would seem. Anyway, the glue hadn’t fully set yet, so I’d say you’re probably right about it only being planted tonight,” Rogue said. “Feel free to bring it by the garage if you want me to make sure. If you want me specifically, to look at it, it’ll have to be before the end of the week. I’m on vacation for 3 weeks. Todd can handle the inspection too,” and Rogue gave him a smirk, ”but I’m sure he’s not as nice to look at as I am.”
“No one’s as nice to look at as you.”
“Uh huh. What happened to your date? She get tired of you ogling another woman?”
Gambit grinned at her. “Actually, we’d only just met.” He pointed his thumb at the bar. “She’s inside with her friends. So, chere, I believe you just saved my life. Isn’t this my cue to leap into your arms, say ‘my hero’ and kiss you?”
Rogue looked down at the tools and acid trap in her hands. “You could try, but I don’t think I’d recommend it.”
“Hmm, I think I definitely owe you a ‘my hero’ and a wild passionate kiss,” Gambit said as her moved in towards her ever so slightly. “But perhaps you’re right. We should wait until your arms are free. That way I’ll be nice and safe in them after I get knocked into a coma.” He gave her a wink.
“What you owe me, is what’s going to be on the invoice I’m about to write.”
Gambit chuckled as Rogue strode over to her van. She put her things away, carefully packed up the acid trap, and then grabbed the paperwork. As she filled out the usual form on autopilot, her mind mulled over the idea of wildly kissing Gambit. While going through the routine of getting the client to sign and pay, she couldn’t help but think that he’d presented her with a solution to her problem.
“Alright Swamp Rat,” Rogue said as she set the paperwork aside, and then stopped when she saw him swinging his arms in readiness to jump.
“Leaping time?” he asked, his eyes bright with mischief.
“I am so going to call your bluff, Swamp Rat.”
“Who said I was bluffing?”
“That vacation I’m going on? One of my good friends is getting married. I was going to take my boyfriend with me, but he is now my ex for reasons we won’t get into. Would you stop swinging your arms?”
Gambit stopped. “So, now you’re dateless for the wedding?” he asked. “Why chere? Are you asking me to go with you? I thought you don’t date clients.”
“I don’t date clients,” Rogue replied firmly. “But yes, I am asking you to go with me. Everything’s been booked and paid for already, all you’d need to do is pretend to be my boyfriend of four months. Well, five months, actually, because that’s how long the ex and I should be have been dating by now. You’ll be able to be yourself because I haven’t really told any of my friends about any of my exes. People have a tendency to get a little too interested in my love life, so I prefer to keep details to myself.”
“Huh. That probably means they’ll be very curious about me.”
“Probably.”
“Get a lot of attention.”
“Yeah, that’s one of the reasons why I’m headed there well in advance of the wedding. I don’t want to take the spotlight off the bride and groom. Plus…” Rogue took a deep breath, “I kinda got my powers under control recently and I was really looking forward to messing with everyone’s heads when I get there.”
“Wow, control? That’s awesome, chere,” Gambit said with complete sincerity, and for once free of any flirting or suggestion. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” Rogue replied with a small smile. “I was also particularly looking forward to doing lots of making out with my boyfriend in front of everyone. Especially the other ex that’s going to be there.”
Gambit’s face lit up with utter delight.
“So, all expenses paid vacation, getting to con a bunch of your friends that we’ve been dating for five months, antagonising an old flame, and lots of making out with you,” Gambit said. “I’m in. Sign me up.”
“I had a feeling it wouldn’t be a hard sell.”
A few days later Rogue and Gambit were in Rogue’s little red sports car, speeding off down the highway.
“So, Vale Soleada,” Gambit said as Rogue drove. “Ever been there before?”
“Sure, plenty of times. I have a lot of friends who either live there or have vacation homes there,” Rogue said. “It’s a quiet little coastal town in California. The most exciting thing ever to happen to it is that they used to have a vampire.”
Gambit snorted with laughter. “A vampire?”
Rogue grinned. “Yup! His name was Robert Lord, and he was married to a witch named Marian.”
“Of course.”
“Whose brother was a werewolf.”
“Naturally.”
“The brother’s name was Victor Creed. Victor Creed Junior.”
Gambit frowned. “Wait… Isn’t that Sabretooth’s name?”
“Yup. I wondered if you’d notice that,” Rogue replied. “I looked into it. There was a guy named Victor Creed who married a local girl after getting her knocked up.”
“I can’t see Sabretooth submitting to a shotgun wedding. Hell, I can’t see Sabretooth submitting to any wedding.”
“The family was rich. If it is the same guy, that was probably why. He was a solider, and he wasn’t around much. He fathered two kids on her, and disappeared before they were even teens. The son was named after him in an attempt to get him to stick around. Didn’t work, obviously,” Rogue went on, warming up to her subject. “Victor Snr was basically hated by the family. Marian and Victor Jnr weren’t treated very well. Marian talks about her cousins getting better treatment and presents and stuff. Obviously, that’s not an unbiased account, but we can verify from other sources as well that Marian and Victor Jnr got the short end of the stick.”
Gambit nodded. “So, was there actually any validity behind Victor being a werewolf? Maybe taking a little too much after his father?”
“From the way Marian writes about him in her diaries, I think he might have inherited something from Sabretooth, actually. Maybe. Not sure. Marian does mention that Victor recovers quickly from things, but doesn’t elaborate. And Victor did end up dying from drowning.” Rogue gave a half shrug. “He was also pretty hairy and a bully.”
“What about the witch and vampire stuff?”
“Marian didn’t know when the witch stuff started, but she thinks it was because she used to rescue and adopt black cats. However, there is a formerly hidden garden on the estate that might have been associated with her as well. It’s full of poisonous plants. The garden actually belonged to Robert’s mother, Elizabeth. It’s available for tours now.”
Gambit laughed. “Of course it is.”
“As for the vampire stuff, we think that Robert had albinism. He had white skin and red eyes. Except, red eyes aren’t actually red, they’re a blue so pale they’re transparent and what you’re actually seeing is blood vessels. That lack of protection makes you light sensitive, which Robert was. He didn’t like to go out during the day, so that added to the whole vampire thing.”
“Interesting. You said his last name was Lord? Isn’t the place we’re staying the Lord’s Manor?”
“Yup. The family turned it into a hotel. I stay there every time I visit. The place is amazing. And they really play up the history. Marion’s diaries are on display too. They’re super old though, so if you want to read them, you need to get a copy of the pdfs. They scanned the pages. It’s a fascinating read.”
“I may just do that. So, Victor drowned, what happened to Marian and Robert?”
“A few weeks after celebrating their golden anniversary, Robert was murdered. His body was found with a stake through his heart.”
“Ooh. Harsh.”
“And Marian died a few months later of a broken heart.” Rogue gave a sigh, and then threw Gambit a grin. “At least, that’s how the story goes. It’s not too far away from the facts, really. Marian did have a heart condition that she was taking medication for. Some people theorise that she might have stopped taking her meds though.”
“She and Robert were that much in love?”
“Eventually yeah. Their marriage was arranged though, and neither of them were keen on the idea in the beginning.”
The Past
Robert stared at his mother with a great deal of displeasure across the long dining table.
“Marian Creed? Are you joking?” he said. “The Creeds are the biggest monsters there are.”
Elizabeth Lord picked up her glass of red wine. “I admit that young Victor is as uncouth as his father, but Marian is a delightful girl.”
“Yes, I’m sure she’ll be very delighted when she stabs a stake through my heart on our wedding night.” Robert tossed his napkin on the table, put off his food entirely.
“She won’t do that.”
“Mother, I don’t think I’ve ever said even two words to her, but I already know that if Marian Creed was ever confronted with a real vampire, she would definitely drive a stake through its heart.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Of that I have no doubt.”
“Then why would you marry me off to her?”
“Because she has the good sense not to believe that nonsense.”
“Oh really? And how can you possible know that?”
“Because I have spoken more than two words with her. She’s intelligent, outspoken, a little hot-headed, but kind.”
Robert snorted. “Kind? None of the Creeds are kind. Hell, none of the Spensers are kind either. If Marian is kind, she’s the black sheep of the family.”
“Then I suppose she is the black sheep.” Elizabeth sliced off another piece of the fish on her plate. “Eat your dinner, Robert.”
Robert very reluctantly picked up his fork. “You can’t seriously expect me to marry her.”
“I not only expect it, I insist on it. Unless, of course, you had someone else in mind for a wife?” Elizabeth fixed him with a long, hard look.
“You know there isn’t anyone. Even when I do have the chance to meet other people…” he trailed off.
He’d gotten used to being the hidden son. The one whose alabaster white skin and red eyes were a shame and embarrassment to the family. His brother William was supposed to be the heir, but he and their father had died.
“All the more reason why you need a strong wife,” Elizabeth said firmly. “Marian might not be considered the prime choice for a wife by your contemporaries, but she is perfect for you.”
“Ever think my contemporaries might be onto something?”
“No.” There was finality in Elizabeth’s tone.
Excerpts from Marian’s Diary
Today I got married.
I had expected to feel excitement and happiness. I anticipated writing about the small, secret ceremony Max and I had. I wanted to write about how wonderful our wedding night was.
Instead, the only thing of the above that happened, was that the ceremony was small, and secret from myself. They told me the date was set for next week, but no, it happened today, as I found out when Margaret and Clara came into my room and presented me with my wedding gown.
Don’t even get me started on the wedding gown. I’m quite certain they deliberately made something they knew I would hate and look terrible in. I look forward to burning it, preferably in front of them.
We were so close. Just two more days and I would’ve been gone with Max. Just two more days, and I would’ve been Mrs Eisenhardt, and there would’ve been nothing they could’ve done about it.
The only good thing about this whole mess is that I no longer have to interact with the Spensers. I’m sure they’re just as glad to be rid of me as I am of them. Mother will probably try to get in, I expect. I don’t doubt she wants to get her claws into the Lord’s family fortune. Well, she is never moving in, and I’m certainly not going to ever even allow her to visit. I hope she enjoyed the wedding because that’s the last social occasion I ever intend to spend with her. I don’t know if it was her or grandfather who changed the date, but they can both burn in hell.
As for Robert, he hasn’t said a word to me he wasn’t obligated to. And on this our wedding night he hasn’t even bothered to consummate our marriage. He’s ignored me since we got here. Given all the build up to this moment, I don’t know if I’m angry or relieved. I suppose I’m more confused than anything else. Was he against this marriage also? Did they lie to him about the date too? Or perhaps he’s just shy? He has been sheltered his entire life, hardly ever seen in public. Perhaps he doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do.
I suppose I should count my blessings.
Oh Max. I’m so sorry Max. I hope you got my message. I love you.
~*~
It’s officially been a week since Robert last said a word to me. A week. I don’t know what his problem is, but I’ve had enough. I did not get married just to be ignored by my husband. I could’ve been married to Max by now! A man who appreciates me. A man who loves me.
I’m getting angrier even writing about it. I am not going to let him waste my life.
~*~
It felt so good to give Robert a piece of my mind today. I told him exactly what I thought of him. Always skulking around in the dark, acting like I don’t exist. I called to question everything right down to his manhood (which I can only assume he is certainly lacking). Though I did stop short of making a comment about his mother. Elizabeth has only ever been kind to me and doesn’t deserve that.
I did almost slip and mention Max, though. I must be careful to avoid that. I wouldn’t want to cause Max any problems.
Robert did yell a few things back at him, but I wasn’t really listening. He was only making silly excuses about how the marriage wasn’t his idea. It wasn’t mine either! I’m still trying to make the best of it, and he should too.
The Present
Rather than having dinner at one of the numerous take away joints along the way, Rogue and Gambit stopped at a nice, casual restaurant. They ordered their food, but once it arrived, Rogue did more poking at it with her fork than eating.
“Food okay?” Gambit asked after watching her for a time.
“Hmm? Oh yeah, it’s fine,” Rogue replied absently.
“Are you okay?”
Rogue lifted her head slowly to meet his concerned gaze. He watched as her face shifted from melancholy to hesitation, and finally resignation.
“I was supposed to be doing this with my boyfriend. Except now he’s my ex.” She sighed. “I guess it’s just hitting me.”
“Ah. Did you want to talk about it?”
“Not a whole lot to say.” Rogue began prodding at her food again. “I told him I finally had my powers under control. He got pissy. I threw his ass out.”
Gambit frowned. “Why would he get pissy about that?”
“Because I only attract three kinds of guys, Remy. The ones who like a challenge,” and she pointed her fork at him (he couldn’t help but smile). “The ones who hate touch or who are in the closet and think that makes me safe. And the predators who think my situation makes me an ideal victim.” Rogue stabbed her chicken with unnecessary force. “He was the third type. Of course he would get pissy when his ideal victim was not so ideal anymore. Come to think of it. I should’ve seen it coming. None of the kind of guys I attract would be interested in dating me after getting my powers under control.”
“Ma chere, you are an amazing woman; clever, determined, and tough as nails,” Gambit said firmly. “Anyone whose attraction to you starts and ends with your control over your mutation is a fool, and you can definitely do better.”
Rogue met his eyes once more. She studied him silently for a moment, then smiled. “Thanks, Remy.” She started digging into her dinner with more interest in actually eating it.
“You’re always welcome,” he replied. “And for the record, as much as I like a challenge, I would not have been disappointed by you getting your powers under control.”
Rogue smirked at him. “You seem pretty sure about that. But I guess we’ll never know for sure, will we?”
“We absolutely know for sure,” Gambit said firmly. “I’ve had power control issues myself. Believe me, I would’ve been very happy for you, and we would’ve done lots of celebrating. In fact, I see no reason why we can’t do plenty of celebrating right now.”
“Oh yeah?” Rogue reached for her drink. “And what did you have in mind? Making love to every inch of my naked body?”
“Actually, I was thinking something more along the lines of champagne, an extra special dessert, maybe some dancing…” Gambit replied. “But if that’s how you’d like to celebrate, I’d be more than happy to oblige.”
“I’m sure you would.”
An expectant silence fell between them.
“So, what would you like?” Gambit asked. “What would be your preferred way to celebrate? It is your triumph, after all.”
“Hmm…” Rogue smiled at him. “I think we’ll go with your suggestion, only maybe a long walk rather than dancing after. It’s a nice night, and I’d like a proper stretch of my legs after all the sitting down we’ve been doing today.”
“Sounds good.”
“Not disappointed?” she asked teasingly.
“The ‘notch on my belt’ reputation I seem to have picked up is horribly exaggerated.” And for the first time all conversation, Gambit’s cheerful demeanor faded. “Okay, sure, I have a very full sex life, but I prefer having an actual relationship. Five months is pretty good. The only relationship I’ve ever had that was longer than that was Bella Donna, and well, you know Belle.”
“Yeah, five months is pretty good for me too,” Rogue replied softly. “Things were going so well… I should’ve known it was all a farce.”
“I know that feeling.” Gambit looked down at his almost empty plate.
“Do you? What exactly are you looking for in a relationship?”
“Oh, you know, the classics,” Gambit replied, pointedly not looking at Rogue as he scooped his late bite of food. “True love. Getting married. Settling down and having kids.”
Rogue smiled. “I wouldn’t mind that myself. Guess they’re the classics for good reason.”
“Guess so.”