Southern Comfort (Gambit)

[rogue]

It was about 1am in the early morning, nearly everyone at the mansion was catching their sleep. However, the room on the X-men's southern belle was still lit. Soon to be the X-men's ex southern belle. With everything that had been happening concerning Magneto, things had become a bit tense around the mansion. That and...she felt like she hadn't been making any process in controlling her powers. She had bonded with her team mates and it would be hard to face them. Especially knowing that they'd try to convince her to stay other wise. Especially Remy. Fleeting glances they've exchanged since he had arrived, but Rogue could never allow herself to open up and allow herself to be in a relationship. Not after what happened to her first boyfriend, Cody.

She had a small duffel bag packed with basic essentials she'd need for the road. Dressed in a green jogging suit and her hood up, Rogue tossed the bag over her shoulder and shut the light off in her room. Hastily, she made her way out the mansion and walked towards the front gate, not bothering to look back.

[Gambit]

Gambit wasn't one for sleep, must have been some side effect of his powers. He hardly ever felt tired so a bit of sleep here and there usually was enough for him unless he did something strenuous. And he was more of a night person anyway, so despite the time one would find him basking in the moonlight on the roof while gazing up at the stars with his dark orbs.

The atmosphere around here was becoming uncomfortable lately. It was starting to unsettle him. Not even flirting with all girls around the place was enough to ease the tension that was starting to get to him. As his mind wandered to the girls in the mansion one in particular came to mind. The Rogue. Out of all the other ladies, she stood out the most and caught his eye. Strange thing was, not even he was able to point out why she appealed to him so much. She just seemed different that singled her out from the rest.

Maybe it was the mystery she held. He had traded the occasional glance and the passing comment on her beauty in an attempt to start a conversation, sure, but she usually kept to herself. It didn’t take him long to find out why. Her powers were hard for her to control, but that didn’t kill his interest of her. In fact, it only made his interest stronger. The sound of someone leaving the mansion drew him out of his musings. After looking in the direction where the sound had came from, he found that the current subject of his thought was making her way to the exit. In a bit of a hurry might he add.

His coat fluttered as he jumped from the roof and landed lightly on his feet. Where would she be going at this time of night? With quick steps, it didn’t take long for him to catch her as she approached the gate. “Bit late ain’t it, Cher,” he asked as he fell into step next to her.

[rogue]

The coast seemed clear and it would seem she would make a clean escape until she heard the sound of footsteps. It wasn't long until whoever the person was caught up to her, and of all people to catch her...the cajun. "Maybe. Doesn't bother me. I prefer th'moon over th'sun anyway." Rogue replied, not even bothering to give the man a glance. She had plans and she wasn't about to let anybody stop her. Lord knows if anyone could charm her out of leaving, it would be Remy, but not even the cajun would be able to change her mind.

She had reached the gate and a gloved hand clutched a bar so that she could free herself from these grounds. "Y'should prolly be gettin some sleep, darlin. Growin boys need their rest. Be good, ya hear?" she said opening the gate and slipping through.

[Gambit]

The girl didn’t even look at him. If Gambit had been any other guy he might have been a little bit disappointed by it, but he was used to being brushed off. He’d just have to find a way to get past that wall she used to close herself off from everyone. On the bright side, she did speak to him. That meant he had a chance. The question of where she was going still plagued his mind though, there wasn’t much you could do at this hour. Gambit didn’t carry a watch, but judging by the moon it was already past midnight.

The beauty stopped at the gate to open it, but Gambit didn’t. He used the alternative method to get out. With a powerful push off the ground, his legs carried him higher than any normal man could hope to reach. He touched the top of the gate and pulled himself to the other side, where he landed right in front of the girl, blocking her path and hearing her statement.

“Tha same could be said fo’ growin’ girls, eh Cheri,” he said looking into her eyes. He subtly used a little of his charm ability. It might not be that effective in stopping her, but maybe it’d slow her down or make her a bit more responsive to him. “Ya make ‘t sound like ya leavin’ or som’thin’.”

[rogue]

"That's 'cause I am..." She replied. She didn't know what it was but there was something different about Remy from other guys she had met. Ah, besides being devilishly handsome and having that southern charm. Rogue could never figure out why she'd feel vulnerable whenever she looked in his eyes.

"I was hopin ta avoid ev'rybody, but I guess ya caught me. I'm...I'm leavin the institute. Ain't nothin here for me anymore. I'm...still the same as I was when I first got here. There's no reason for me to stay here. So...goin off on my own. Maybe back home. I don't really know. I just need to leave." she spilled it all out. He asked, she told and now she would leave.

"Can't say I won't miss ya, 'cause I will. Maybe I'll see ya again someday." she said before walking around him.

[Gambit]

Gambit wasn’t really expecting the answer he got. She was leaving? A bit of worry flashed in his eyes. He didn’t understand. Why? As she poured her heart to him all he could do was stand there and look into her eyes. She looked so vulnerable to him. She needed comfort, support. As she moved around him, he caught her lightly by the arm careful as not to seem forceful. He wasn’t even sure why, but he didn’t want her to leave. And he’d do his damnest to keep her here before he let her just walk away. He walked with her and wrapped his arms around her stomach, gathering her in a hug from behind.

"Wait Cheri, Ah don’ undastand," he said softly, slowly swaying from side to side in an attempt to calm her. The playful flirting was gone from his voice, replaced by something else. A gentle honesty? A despirate need? An unknown pain? He didn't even know anymore because it was so different from his normally carefree and playful nature.

He turned her around to face him and brought her eyes up to meet his once more, but strangely he didn’t bother to use any charm. It felt wrong to toy with her mind and emotions while she was so fragile. "Ya looked happy here, Cheri." He was able to see the difference after she came here. She was lonely at first, but people soon befriended her and she lightened up a bit even though she was still wary among them. Why would she want to run away from that? Was it because of her powers? So she couldn’t control her powers, plenty of them couldn’t, that is why they were here.

He just kept talking, saying whatever came to mind."Why ya wanna run from dat? No one's givin' up on ya. Ah 'no fo' a fact tha' most would do anythin' to help ya...at least...Ah 'no Ah would..." he paused and trailed off. Then his eyes lowered to mee the ground, hiding his dark orbs from view. Maybe that was too much? But the words had just came out. It was surely one of the most honest statements he had ever made in his life. Great, now he was becoming vulnerable as well.

He steeled his nerve incase of rejection and looked up at her, caressing her cheek with the back of his gloved hand. "Ah'd miss ya if just walked away, Cheri..."

[rogue]

Caught by surprise again, Rogue found herself in a sudden embrace from behind. Strange thing was that she didn't fight to escape. Her bag dropped to the grown and her eyes closed as she was swayed in his arms. He didn't understand...of course he didn't understand. No one at the place could understand what she was going through...except for Bobby, but even still. At least he could still touch people. She couldn't and she wanted to so bad, especially the person who was holding her now. True she was happy that she finally had people who cared about her...but she was never truly happy. On the inside she was the lonely girl she had always been.

"I don't want to. I have to..." Rogue sighed bring her hands around his to hold it gently. She looked back up at him....this was exactly why she had chosen to try and leave in the middle of the night. So she wouldn't have anyone to plead for her to stay. "I don't wanna hurt anyone...'specially you, so please understand my feelins. I gotta go. At least until I get myself under control."

[Gambit]

Gambit couldn't help but be reminded of how beautiful the woman looking up at him was. He could have gotten lost in those eyes of hers if he hadn't been in danger of losing her. As her hands closed around his, he listened to her words intently. Looking for something that would help him come up with a way to make her rethink the decision she was so set on.

"Ah undastand, Cheri," he said slipping his hand out of hers. However, he was far from giving up on her. "But right now," he wrapped his arms around her once more. "Nothin' would hurt everyone more than you leavin'...'specially me."

Gambit could feel his emotions starting to get the best of him. He moved in for a kiss only to stop right before their lips touched. All he wanted to do is kiss away her pain, to show her he cared, to show her she wasn't as alone as she thought. But he couldn't he still needed to change her mind and he wouldn't be able to do that if he passed out. "Let dis Cajun help, Cheri. Let 'im show ya that ya not alone..."

[rogue]

"...Why'd ya stop?" she asked bluntly. Less than an inch of space between their lips. Of course she knew why he stopped. That was the exact reason why she wanted to leave in the first place. She knew he was just trying to help her, but he was only making her feel worse. It was frustrating and depressing to know that this was as close as they could get without her hurting him.

"I-I know I'm not alone..." she said bringing a hand up to wipe a tear forming in her eyes. As much as she tried to stay strong, the southern belle collapsed into his arms. Her face buried in his chest and soft sobs could be heard. "I can't deal with this anymore...I hate it....I hate living like this...sometimes..I don't even know why I bother to wake up in the mornin. And I see others....it just...." her voice cracked and words were replaced with more sobs.

[Gambit]

As she fell into his arms crying he kept berating himself mentally. This wasn’t what he planned, this wasn’t what he wanted. He was trying to comfort her not make her miserable. The sound of her sad sobs tore up his heart. Thoughts and emotions ran rampant inside of him as he hugged her and ran his fingers through her hair. There had to be something that he could do to get through to her. Touch was out so that only left him with words.

“Don’ give up on me, Cher. I’m here for ya.” He didn’t want her to end it before they even tried having a chance together. A sudden thought occurred to him. “Look,” he said gently bringer her tearful face to look at him. He then wiped a tear from her cheek and brought it to his lips. “Ah can kiss your tears. Ah can taste your sadness. Ah’m willin’ to find a way for us ta touch body and soul if you are…” Call Remy what you will. A corny flirt, a hopeless romantic, or just another Cajun, but don’t say he didn’t have a way with words. The emotions in his voice were real and the look in his eyes conveyed nothing but honestly. He'd do everything in his power to show this girl he could love her, that he wasn't afraid of her powers.

[rogue]

She was really in awe about the man holding her right now. She'd made great friends at the mansion and while she knew they'd all comfort her when she needed it, no one had gone though such lengths as the cajun did. Not to mention, she hadn't even had a relationship since her powers had awoken. Could she even be in one? It seemed like it would be possible with Gambit. He really did seem to want to help her....to be with her, despite her problem. Yes, she wanted to find a way for her to be able to touch. Body and Soul. Remy came off as a flirt from the swamp, but Rogue never ran into a guy who was as compassionate as he was. Must have been good in bed....like she could have something to compare it too.

"I'm willin'...I've been searchin' since my powers showed up..." she said wiping her eyes. "I just don't think I'll find it here. I need to go away for awhile..."

[Gambit]

Gambit hadn’t even realized that he was holding his breath in anticipation of her answer. Then when her words came, he felt all the tension rush out of him. For a moment, Remy was worried that he wouldn’t be able to get through to her or to even have a chance with her. He still wasn’t sure just why he cared so much, why he was trying so hard, but he had to be honest with himself. If he had let her slip through his fingers he was sure that the regret would have plagued him for a long time if not the rest of his life.

She was still set on leaving, but oddly enough it didn’t bother him as much as it used to. Now he could simply follow her and be there whenever she needed someone. And now that she had let him in, he wouldn't be taking no for an answer. But he needed to try one more time.

"Maybe ya just need someone ta help ya find it. So how 'bout we try ta find the answer here together," he said softly. "Then if we can't. If you're sure that the answer ain't here. Then we can go away for a while..."

[rogue]

"Thank you..." Rogue nodded looking back at him and laying her head back on his chest. As much as he pleaded for her to stay, her mind was still set on leaving, but it was definitely nice to know that if she did, she wouldn't have to go alone. However, as she stood there her mind drifted to a conversation she had with Magneto a couple months ago before he had flipped out. When she opened up about her insecurities about her powers to him and he assured that one day she would gain control. Maybe it was time for Rogue to pay her old professor a visit. For now, she just wanted to stay with Gambit

"Ain't nobody else I'd rather be 'wit, Cajun. I don't wanna brin no harm ta' ya. But if you willin' ta take the risk, who am I to deny you?" she said placing a gloved hand over his lips and kissing it. "Hopefully someday, we can share a real kiss, but until then, that's all I can give you."

[Gambit]

So what now? Was she going to leave or stay? The decision was hers. He wasn't going to pressure her, he'd just let her choose. Whichever choice she made he'd stay with her. He almost sighed at himself. He was such a sucker for a woman in need and he had sure fallen hard for this beauty. With her tears gone and her insecurities put to rest, Gambit allowed himself to just enjoy holding her.

The silence was broken by her voice. A gloved hand was placed over his lips and kissed as a meaningful gesture. He understood, but while most would have been put down or discouraged he could only give a sly smile. Taking her hand in his once more he just said, "Witout risks life would be borin', no?"

[rogue]

"Ta love is ta risk not bein' loved in return. Ta hope is ta risk pain. Ta try is ta risk failure, but risk must be taken 'cause the greatest hazard in life is ta risk nothin'..." Rogue replied lacing her fingers between Gambit's.

"That's a quote that stays glued in my head, and it's kinda true. Though 'part of me can't figure out why you'd waste ya time on little old me when you have other girls to pick from. Ya kinda popular wit'em. Ain't much to be gained wit a girl ya can't even kiss, though I 'ppreciate you bein here for me." she smiled.