Unstoppable - Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men: Evolution, or any other X-Men verse for that matter. If i use specific quotes or what not during the progress of this story that do not belong to me, I will give you the name of who they belong to.
~*-Chapter Four-*~
“Marie, darling! How was school?” A regal voice asked.
The young girl in question lifted her head to glance at the woman by the garden before shaking her head and ducking it back down. She walked straight to the door, opening it and shutting it quietly. Behind him, Remy heard the woman heave a sigh. He turned to watch her enter the house too, just as quietly as the girl before had done.
He had to see where this would take him. He didn’t bother with the door, opting instead to walk through it. He followed the noise to the stairs, taking them two at a time before reaching the landing. He looked around him for a moment, realizing this was a perfect house to hit for a job. Expensive knick-knacks lined the walls along with paintings. A couple of small tables were against the walls on either side of him, holding what appeared to be school pictures and small plants as decoration.
His eyes froze on a family picture.
Better yet…might wanna stay away from dis place…may just get killed for walkin’ on the sidewalk in fron’ o’ it.
There, sitting in the beautiful pewter frame, was a family photograph consisting of what appeared to be the Weather Witch, the Wolverine and a young Rogue. They were all close together with Wolverine in the middle and his arms around the sitting figure of the Witch and the standing Rogue. Wolverine had pasted a grin on his face, while Rogue and Storm both had gentle, yet beaming smiles.
Remy didn’t think the man capable of giving a true smile. He chuckled at that. His eyes scanned over The Witch first, taking in her appearance. It didn’t seem to be much different than how he knew her to be in his world. Her hair was long and flowing around her, every tendril in place. Her eyes were a shocking blue in contrast to the smooth mocha of her skin and her smile was surely the envy of every woman in the neighborhood.
His eyes shifted to Wolverine, his gruff appearance softened slightly by the company he kept in the picture. His eyes didn’t have that hard glare that he’d seen while in battle or when he had been trying to dismantle Remy’s head from his torso. His eyes held a distinct glow in them in the picture. Remy had no doubt in his mind what was going through the man’s head as they took the picture.
“Yeah! That’s right! They’re mine! And I’m damn proud of my family!”
Remy let his eyes travel to the last person in the photo. She looked so much like his own Rogue, he couldn’t say it wasn’t her. Her pale green eyes were shining, the childish smile coming through completely. Her fair complexion was contrasted by her dark hair, pulled back slightly by small silver combs. Her lips were tilted up just so in to a beautiful smile that he was sure would be breathtaking on her older counterpart. He wished he could see it more often. She wore a dark green turtle neck tank top, a silver chain dangling over the top with a small butterfly as a charm. In her eyes he saw the same pride and love in them as the other two occupants held.
She was in a happy family, for a change. In this world, she didn’t have to worry about a horrible mother who wanted to use her; didn’t have to worry about poison skin or voices talking to her when no one was around. Seeing the Wolverine’s bare hand on her pale shoulder was a testament to that.
She was young, normal and she seemed so happy here, with these people.
He heard someone knocking on a door down the hall to his right, so he tilted his head to look past the wall. Storm was standing in front of a plain white door, knocking gently and asking politely if she could be let in.
Finally the door opened, slowly creaking. He saw a shadow make its way away from the door, presumably back to the other side of the room. The Witch disappeared through the door, shutting it behind her.
He took one last glance at the picture before making his way to the door, again walking through it instead of turning the knob. His heart was wrenching once again as he stopped to look at the scene in front of him.
The little girl was standing next to the window, her arms wrapped tightly around her figure, gazing longingly out the window.
“Marie, my dear, what’s wrong? Did something happen at school today?”
He watched a silent tear slip from Marie’s eye. Her hand came up quickly to remove it as she nodded. Storm took a couple more steps towards the girl, her arms held out. Marie moved quietly but quickly to the woman, wrapping her own arms around the woman’s legs. She buried her face in the woman’s stomach as her shoulders shook with sobs. But they were silent. She was making no noise except the quick intakes of breath.
Storm bent to wrap her arms tightly around the girl, swaying back and forth, gently murmuring kind words to her.
“You’re a beautiful person, Marie. The others just don’t understand; that’s all. Children can be so cruel, my darling, I know. Shhh. Shhh. Everything will be alright, my darling child. We love you.”
Remy took a moment to look around. He felt he was intruding upon a personal moment not meant for anyone to see. That and he just couldn’t take seeing more tears from Rogue. Apparently things weren’t as normal here as he’d initially thought.
Storm gently pushed Rogue away from her, the movement causing Remy’s gaze to stray back to their figures.
“Marie. Darling. Tell me what happened.”
Storm led Marie to the edge of a bed, pulling her down to sit on the light blue comforter.
Marie took a moment to catch her breath and Remy waited to hear what was wrong.
He was surprised when her hands started flying around, making gestures as her fingers bent and twisted to form words. He didn’t catch any of it, but Storm seemed to understand it all as she nodded knowingly at her daughter. That was when it really hit Remy:
Rogue was mute.
He took more steps until he was standing in front of the two ladies on the bed. He watched her hands move, his eyes caught in utter fascination. Her hands were moving so fast…and yet, the Weather Witch seemed to understand every bit of it.
“Cher? Marie?! What’s wrong?”
Remy jumped and turned, shock freezing him in his place.
What appeared before him was something he thought he’d never see again: A ten-year old Remy Etienne LeBeau. His form was still lanky, not yet grown in to his own body still. His mousy brown hair was short and wind-strewn, evidence of how fast and hard he had run to get to the house.
Must be a neighbor…
His thin boy’s form was clothed in normal young boy attire: blue t-shirt, a pair of blue jean shorts and a pair of sneakers, his white socks bunched at his ankles.
Remy looked to the boy’s face for the first time to really look at him.
It looked just as his own had when he was younger, except...his eyes. They weren’t the Devil’s eyes. They were a bright hazel, and currently full of worry and confusion.
I bet so, little guy. It’s not everyday ya see a girl cryin’ like dis is it?
If this boy was anything like him, Remy was certain the boy’s heart was breaking just at the sight. He moved to take a step closer to the child as the boy ran to Marie’s side, grabbing her hands in his own.
“Marie? Marie! What happened? Did Bobby make fun o’ ya again? I told ya! Next time he does, I’ll beat him up fo’ ya! Don’ no body mess wit’ ya!”
The child hoisted himself on to Marie’s bed, wrapping a bony arm around her trembling shoulders. He leaned close to her ear, cooing soft words to encourage her.
I understand all too well, little man. Ya just wan’em t’ stop, don’ya? I hate t’ tell ya dis, but…it don’ really get any easier.
“Tu est tres belle, ma Marie. Bobby jus’…Bobby…He’s jus’ stupid! So what?! You can’ talk! Well, apparently I can’ talk eit’er! Dey gonn’ make fun o’ bot’ o’ us den!”
Storm seemed to appreciate the boy’s enthusiasm, though he appeared to be going about it the wrong way. Rogue started crying harder. Little Remy was horrified.
“What?! Wha’d I say? Marie? Wha’d I do now? I…I’m sorry Marie!”
Remy watched the Witch give the boy a soft smile before patting him on the shoulder. She spoke calmly yet not without an edge of wisdom.
“Remy, dear child. She worries for you now. She doesn’t want anyone to make fun of you either, you know? You are her best friend, after all. She just wants to look out for you.”
Young Remy seemed to soak that in, letting it run through his head as his thoughts gathered over a plan. Remy recognized that scheming look. He’d held it quite often himself as a child. Hell…even now he’d catch himself using it. It must be that “Old habits…” quote in its truest form.
What’s eatin’ at ya, little kid?
Storm seemed to notice the look as well, for her face held an inexplicable form of dread, though it was slight. She knew that whatever Remy was planning, it had to involve injuries on someone’s part; and if it didn’t directly involve pain, then injury would become a side-effect. The boy was just a magnet for those sorts of scuffs and fights.
“So…Mrs. Howell…what if…what if I jus’ happen’d t’ be dere when Bobby was skatin’ in de cul de sac? What if he jus’ happen’d t’ trip on a stick?”
Storm’s melodious laughter filled the room as she saw her daughter’s mouth turn up in a grin behind her tears.
“Am I to assume it was a conveniently placed stick, Remy?”
He turned red and looked down to his remaining hand that had busied it self with Marie’s fingers.
“I’m jus’ sayin’. If he tripped…den…I wouldn’ get in t’ trouble, right?”
Storm laughed some more, placing one of her hands against the back of his neck. She pulled him closer to place a comforting kiss on his head. He blushed even harder, clasping Marie’s little hand tightly in his own.
“Remy. I had better not hear of Bobby Drake’s next accident being from a stick in the road, do you understand? I might have to tell your Father about it next time I see him.”
She stood and stretched her long arms above her head. She sighed happily, turning back to the children to place a comforting hand on their shoulders. She gave them both a smile that radiated from her being to their own little bodies. Her eyes rested on Remy with a wink.
“However…I don’t believe anyone will say anything to you if you…just happened to be chasing after something in his path. After all, if you were focused on, say…Marie’s hat blown by the wind, you wouldn’t notice someone in the streets. A collision would be inevitable.”
Both Young Remy and Older Remy stared in shock at the Weather Witch.
She’s…she’s so cool! I…wow…my respect for dat woman jus’ jumped up a few notches.
She sent the children a wave, unknowingly walking through Remy as she left the kids to play while she fixed them a snack.
Remy watched the kids in her stead. Young Remy turned his awed gaze back to Marie.
“Marie, cher, have I tol’ ya dat I jus’ love yo’ momma?”
Marie giggled silently, hiding her mouth behind her hand. This made both boys smile.
“Hey! Garcon? You done in here yet? We gotta get goin’!”
Remy turned his gaze to the doorway, seeing Gambit standing in the doorway. He nodded, turning to give one last wistful gaze back at the two children who sat on Marie’s bed; Remy was teaching her how to play “Go Fish” with the cards he’d had in his back pocket.
“Oui, mon ami. I’m ready.”
With that, Remy turned his back to the kids, walking out the door and through the little blue door neither child could see in the hallway.
With a quiet click of the latch, both men were gone.
~*-End Chapter Four-*~
~*-Chapter Four-*~
“Marie, darling! How was school?” A regal voice asked.
The young girl in question lifted her head to glance at the woman by the garden before shaking her head and ducking it back down. She walked straight to the door, opening it and shutting it quietly. Behind him, Remy heard the woman heave a sigh. He turned to watch her enter the house too, just as quietly as the girl before had done.
He had to see where this would take him. He didn’t bother with the door, opting instead to walk through it. He followed the noise to the stairs, taking them two at a time before reaching the landing. He looked around him for a moment, realizing this was a perfect house to hit for a job. Expensive knick-knacks lined the walls along with paintings. A couple of small tables were against the walls on either side of him, holding what appeared to be school pictures and small plants as decoration.
His eyes froze on a family picture.
Better yet…might wanna stay away from dis place…may just get killed for walkin’ on the sidewalk in fron’ o’ it.
There, sitting in the beautiful pewter frame, was a family photograph consisting of what appeared to be the Weather Witch, the Wolverine and a young Rogue. They were all close together with Wolverine in the middle and his arms around the sitting figure of the Witch and the standing Rogue. Wolverine had pasted a grin on his face, while Rogue and Storm both had gentle, yet beaming smiles.
Remy didn’t think the man capable of giving a true smile. He chuckled at that. His eyes scanned over The Witch first, taking in her appearance. It didn’t seem to be much different than how he knew her to be in his world. Her hair was long and flowing around her, every tendril in place. Her eyes were a shocking blue in contrast to the smooth mocha of her skin and her smile was surely the envy of every woman in the neighborhood.
His eyes shifted to Wolverine, his gruff appearance softened slightly by the company he kept in the picture. His eyes didn’t have that hard glare that he’d seen while in battle or when he had been trying to dismantle Remy’s head from his torso. His eyes held a distinct glow in them in the picture. Remy had no doubt in his mind what was going through the man’s head as they took the picture.
“Yeah! That’s right! They’re mine! And I’m damn proud of my family!”
Remy let his eyes travel to the last person in the photo. She looked so much like his own Rogue, he couldn’t say it wasn’t her. Her pale green eyes were shining, the childish smile coming through completely. Her fair complexion was contrasted by her dark hair, pulled back slightly by small silver combs. Her lips were tilted up just so in to a beautiful smile that he was sure would be breathtaking on her older counterpart. He wished he could see it more often. She wore a dark green turtle neck tank top, a silver chain dangling over the top with a small butterfly as a charm. In her eyes he saw the same pride and love in them as the other two occupants held.
She was in a happy family, for a change. In this world, she didn’t have to worry about a horrible mother who wanted to use her; didn’t have to worry about poison skin or voices talking to her when no one was around. Seeing the Wolverine’s bare hand on her pale shoulder was a testament to that.
She was young, normal and she seemed so happy here, with these people.
He heard someone knocking on a door down the hall to his right, so he tilted his head to look past the wall. Storm was standing in front of a plain white door, knocking gently and asking politely if she could be let in.
Finally the door opened, slowly creaking. He saw a shadow make its way away from the door, presumably back to the other side of the room. The Witch disappeared through the door, shutting it behind her.
He took one last glance at the picture before making his way to the door, again walking through it instead of turning the knob. His heart was wrenching once again as he stopped to look at the scene in front of him.
The little girl was standing next to the window, her arms wrapped tightly around her figure, gazing longingly out the window.
“Marie, my dear, what’s wrong? Did something happen at school today?”
He watched a silent tear slip from Marie’s eye. Her hand came up quickly to remove it as she nodded. Storm took a couple more steps towards the girl, her arms held out. Marie moved quietly but quickly to the woman, wrapping her own arms around the woman’s legs. She buried her face in the woman’s stomach as her shoulders shook with sobs. But they were silent. She was making no noise except the quick intakes of breath.
Storm bent to wrap her arms tightly around the girl, swaying back and forth, gently murmuring kind words to her.
“You’re a beautiful person, Marie. The others just don’t understand; that’s all. Children can be so cruel, my darling, I know. Shhh. Shhh. Everything will be alright, my darling child. We love you.”
Remy took a moment to look around. He felt he was intruding upon a personal moment not meant for anyone to see. That and he just couldn’t take seeing more tears from Rogue. Apparently things weren’t as normal here as he’d initially thought.
Storm gently pushed Rogue away from her, the movement causing Remy’s gaze to stray back to their figures.
“Marie. Darling. Tell me what happened.”
Storm led Marie to the edge of a bed, pulling her down to sit on the light blue comforter.
Marie took a moment to catch her breath and Remy waited to hear what was wrong.
He was surprised when her hands started flying around, making gestures as her fingers bent and twisted to form words. He didn’t catch any of it, but Storm seemed to understand it all as she nodded knowingly at her daughter. That was when it really hit Remy:
Rogue was mute.
He took more steps until he was standing in front of the two ladies on the bed. He watched her hands move, his eyes caught in utter fascination. Her hands were moving so fast…and yet, the Weather Witch seemed to understand every bit of it.
“Cher? Marie?! What’s wrong?”
Remy jumped and turned, shock freezing him in his place.
What appeared before him was something he thought he’d never see again: A ten-year old Remy Etienne LeBeau. His form was still lanky, not yet grown in to his own body still. His mousy brown hair was short and wind-strewn, evidence of how fast and hard he had run to get to the house.
Must be a neighbor…
His thin boy’s form was clothed in normal young boy attire: blue t-shirt, a pair of blue jean shorts and a pair of sneakers, his white socks bunched at his ankles.
Remy looked to the boy’s face for the first time to really look at him.
It looked just as his own had when he was younger, except...his eyes. They weren’t the Devil’s eyes. They were a bright hazel, and currently full of worry and confusion.
I bet so, little guy. It’s not everyday ya see a girl cryin’ like dis is it?
If this boy was anything like him, Remy was certain the boy’s heart was breaking just at the sight. He moved to take a step closer to the child as the boy ran to Marie’s side, grabbing her hands in his own.
“Marie? Marie! What happened? Did Bobby make fun o’ ya again? I told ya! Next time he does, I’ll beat him up fo’ ya! Don’ no body mess wit’ ya!”
The child hoisted himself on to Marie’s bed, wrapping a bony arm around her trembling shoulders. He leaned close to her ear, cooing soft words to encourage her.
I understand all too well, little man. Ya just wan’em t’ stop, don’ya? I hate t’ tell ya dis, but…it don’ really get any easier.
“Tu est tres belle, ma Marie. Bobby jus’…Bobby…He’s jus’ stupid! So what?! You can’ talk! Well, apparently I can’ talk eit’er! Dey gonn’ make fun o’ bot’ o’ us den!”
Storm seemed to appreciate the boy’s enthusiasm, though he appeared to be going about it the wrong way. Rogue started crying harder. Little Remy was horrified.
“What?! Wha’d I say? Marie? Wha’d I do now? I…I’m sorry Marie!”
Remy watched the Witch give the boy a soft smile before patting him on the shoulder. She spoke calmly yet not without an edge of wisdom.
“Remy, dear child. She worries for you now. She doesn’t want anyone to make fun of you either, you know? You are her best friend, after all. She just wants to look out for you.”
Young Remy seemed to soak that in, letting it run through his head as his thoughts gathered over a plan. Remy recognized that scheming look. He’d held it quite often himself as a child. Hell…even now he’d catch himself using it. It must be that “Old habits…” quote in its truest form.
What’s eatin’ at ya, little kid?
Storm seemed to notice the look as well, for her face held an inexplicable form of dread, though it was slight. She knew that whatever Remy was planning, it had to involve injuries on someone’s part; and if it didn’t directly involve pain, then injury would become a side-effect. The boy was just a magnet for those sorts of scuffs and fights.
“So…Mrs. Howell…what if…what if I jus’ happen’d t’ be dere when Bobby was skatin’ in de cul de sac? What if he jus’ happen’d t’ trip on a stick?”
Storm’s melodious laughter filled the room as she saw her daughter’s mouth turn up in a grin behind her tears.
“Am I to assume it was a conveniently placed stick, Remy?”
He turned red and looked down to his remaining hand that had busied it self with Marie’s fingers.
“I’m jus’ sayin’. If he tripped…den…I wouldn’ get in t’ trouble, right?”
Storm laughed some more, placing one of her hands against the back of his neck. She pulled him closer to place a comforting kiss on his head. He blushed even harder, clasping Marie’s little hand tightly in his own.
“Remy. I had better not hear of Bobby Drake’s next accident being from a stick in the road, do you understand? I might have to tell your Father about it next time I see him.”
She stood and stretched her long arms above her head. She sighed happily, turning back to the children to place a comforting hand on their shoulders. She gave them both a smile that radiated from her being to their own little bodies. Her eyes rested on Remy with a wink.
“However…I don’t believe anyone will say anything to you if you…just happened to be chasing after something in his path. After all, if you were focused on, say…Marie’s hat blown by the wind, you wouldn’t notice someone in the streets. A collision would be inevitable.”
Both Young Remy and Older Remy stared in shock at the Weather Witch.
She’s…she’s so cool! I…wow…my respect for dat woman jus’ jumped up a few notches.
She sent the children a wave, unknowingly walking through Remy as she left the kids to play while she fixed them a snack.
Remy watched the kids in her stead. Young Remy turned his awed gaze back to Marie.
“Marie, cher, have I tol’ ya dat I jus’ love yo’ momma?”
Marie giggled silently, hiding her mouth behind her hand. This made both boys smile.
“Hey! Garcon? You done in here yet? We gotta get goin’!”
Remy turned his gaze to the doorway, seeing Gambit standing in the doorway. He nodded, turning to give one last wistful gaze back at the two children who sat on Marie’s bed; Remy was teaching her how to play “Go Fish” with the cards he’d had in his back pocket.
“Oui, mon ami. I’m ready.”
With that, Remy turned his back to the kids, walking out the door and through the little blue door neither child could see in the hallway.
With a quiet click of the latch, both men were gone.
~*-End Chapter Four-*~