Chapter Text
Anna-Marie didn't understand her relationship with Remy LeBeau; Her love for him had only grown stronger ever since she absorbed the memories of Belladonna, but her confused emotions only complicated everything more. Even so, anything that she could ever dream of having with Gambit was only ever that: a dream. Her powers left her isolated, and alone. Any sort of relationship was already labelled as off-limits.
Remy had been missing for days; the last person to see him was Scott, who said that he left to tidy up some unfinished business. That could only mean one place in Rogue's mind- The Thieves Guild. Ever since he had joined the X-men, Remy's eyes had held a haunting past, one that no one truly knew the story to, not even Rogue herself. So for him to be absent for this long, especially without telling anyone...it was concerning at the very least. The only thing she could do was round up the rest of the team to go look for him, starting at the closest known base of the Thieves Guild.
Piling out of the Blackbird, the team was met with a small army awaiting them on the large field that lay before an old, abandoned warehouse. But she knew they were nothing more than distractions. If they wanted to go all out just for the X-men, then there must be a reason why.
''Can you guys handle this? I can fly past to look for Gambit.'' Rogue asked. Her worry was only building up more as she surveyed their surroundings, but she hoped it wasn't obvious on her face.
''Yeah go on! We'll catch you up once these guys have been dealt with!'' Logan shouted back, claws already armed.
As Anna-Marie flew above the chaos, her mind raced with all the possibilities of what could have happened to Gambit: had they killed him? Tortured him? What if they decided to invite him back to the Guild? Would he accept? No, she couldn't think like this- she knew Remy, he would never give in to his past. But that meant they wouldn't be so kind to him, as well. The small dots on the floor dashed about, unaware of Rogue right above them. The warehouse was approaching, and before Rogue could think of a real plan, she dove head-first into the outer walls of the building, causing a 'kaboom!' to echo all around the desolate halls. Looking around the warehouse, she couldn't see Remy anywhere, and her stomach began to twist in on itself, feeling her worst fears were going to come true. her desperation only grew, and every wall ended up with a rogue-sized hole in it as she scoured the building for the slightest glimpse of Remy.
''Remy! Are you here?'' She could hear her own desperation in her voice, but she didn't have it in her to care right now.
''Right over here chère, now don't you be worrying about old gambit, eh?'' His voice came across as smooth, and uncaring, but the pain he was in was more than blatant. His forehead was beaded in sweat from the struggle of just trying to walk, and his entire weight leaned against the wall like his life depended on it. His hand was wrapped around his chest, cupping his ribs, with every breath coming out laboured and heavy.
''You've been gone for days! What even happened to ya, sugah?'' He looked like he was going to drop dead. What did they do to him?
''Ah well that story is a long one, ya see? How about you get me patch'd up first?'' She wasn't thinking straight, obviously. Ask questions later, and get Gambit stable first and foremost. Scooping him up, Anna-Marie flew them both out of a hole in the roof and back towards the Blackbird. The flight back had Rogue's mind somewhere else, however; Gambit was in such a bad state, and she couldn't do anything about it. If only she had came sooner, or went with him, maybe he would've been okay. And if he had died, It would've been her fault, and she would never get to tell him.
''Ah found him Hank,but he's been hurt...''
Rogue watched on as Hank bandaged Remy's ribs, and cleaning his wounds. She needed to help somehow, but yet again, there was nothing she could do. She needed to do something, anything, but watching Remy lie gasping for air. This couldn't wait any longer; she had to tell him. Before it was too late. She had to tell him that she loves him.