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Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men characters. All rights belong to Marvel Entertainment and I am not making any money off this story.
Dance With Me In Heaven by BookwormDoll
Inspired by “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon and “Heaven” by Bryan Adams
“What’chu doin’ out here, Chère?” Remy asks from behind me.
“Tryin’ to get some fresh air. And you?”
“Checkin’ on you, mon amour.”
“Well, Ah’m fine.”
“You don’t sound fine.”
Dang this man for knowing me so well he can read my moods. Made it hard for a girl to keep to herself.
“When I need a thought to cheer me up,” he glances to the auditorium behind the balcony door, “I just think of our first night in that room.”
“Oh? And when was that?”
“Awww, c’mon, Chère? Say that you remember dancin’ in September?”
I smile and stare at the stars, twinkling just as much as Remy’s eyes did that night.
3 months after Remy joined the X-Men
6 months after Rogue joined
I sat at one of the tables set up for Jubilee’s party, celebrating her arrival last week. She was fitting in just fine, in the party sure, but the team as well. I’d been here for 6 months and I still wasn’t sure if it was the right place for me. I pulled my dress sleeves closer to my wrist so they would meet my gloves. Everyone told me to dress up fancy and so I’d chosen a long-sleeved green satin dress that fell at my ankles. It was hard to go to busy events when the slightest bit of skin-to-skin contact could make someone pass out…or worse. You see, my powers aren’t so much gifts as they are a curse. Through touch, I can drain a person’s life force, memories, and powers if they have them within seconds. Carol Danvers was still in the hospital because of it. Cody Robins had been comatose for days after our first kiss. These powers sure taught a girl how to build walls. And those walls worked until one man joined the team. I glance across the room to our newest recruit (next to Jubilee of course). His name was Gambit. Now, I know that isn’t his real name, but it’s the only name he’ll give us. Part of me is secretly drawn to him. Something about him just…fits. Course, it only makes it harder to reject him every time he flirts with me. Storm is the reason he’s here, but otherwise, he keeps mostly to himself. He refused to tell us anything about his past, where he came from. Xavier was the only one who knew everything and he was very serious about confidentiality. When Gambit had first arrived, he had barely stepped foot outside his bedroom. Storm had to coax him out. Then he met me for the first time and it was like he’d flipped a switch. He came to every meal, every Danger Room session, and attempted to interact with me every chance he got. I shut it down every time. No point in getting romantically involved with anyone when you could never give them what they needed.
It didn’t stop the rebellious surge of jealousy when Gambit got up to dance with Storm; didn’t stop me from imagining that I was the one he was twirling around right now. I frowned. Storm is someone a man deserves. Plus, she and Gambit already know each other, so they…worked. But when Storm left to get a drink (I guess), Gambit just stood there like he didn’t know what to do. I faintly registered a new song playing [A/N If you want a really immersive experience, play “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon now].
I didn’t even notice Jubilee walking to me until she spoke, “Come one Rogue! He’s just standing there!”
She then proceeds to drag me out of my seat despite my protests.
She starts pushing me closer to Gambit, “Jubilee, Ah really don’t think this is the best idea.”
“Nonsense!” She then gives one final shove. I almost catch myself but then trip on my dress. I’m about to eat floor when a pair of strong arms catches me.
“Well, well. Bonjour, Chère.”
I look up and find Gambit smiling, red-on-black eyes scanning me as he holds me in a dip.
“Wanna dance?” he asks.
And before I can say no, I see a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Well…maybe it wouldn’t hurt for one night. I smile, “Sure.”
The smile that he gives me in that moment is priceless. He pulls me up and twirls me.
“Don’t you dare hold back, just keep your eyes on me,” I purposefully quote the song.
Gambit catches on immediately, “You’re holding back, Chère.”
“Shut up and dance with me.”
He then leads me in a series of dances I’d never known, not stepping on my toes once, despite the few times I’d stepped on his. One dance became two, two became three, and before I knew it, the D.J. we’d hired announced he was playing a few slow songs to end the night.
Gambit stepped back at that. As the last fast song came to a close, he took my hand, kissed it, and said, “Adieu, Chère.”
But even though it was him who left, I still caught the note of longing in his farewell. Did he think that…he wasn’t worthy of me? Heck, it should be the other way around.
“Wait!” I say as he walks away.
He turns around and I wonder if I made a mistake as he raises his brow in question.
“One more?” I ask, holding out my hand.
For a split second, he seems surprised, then it disappears as he takes my hand.
[Play “Heaven” by Bryan Adams now]
I rest my hands on his shoulders and he cups my waist with his. We just sway and stare into each other’s eyes. I never understood why everyone was so scared of his eyes. They were so…alluring to me. His withdrawal and secrecy certainly must’ve been born of a difficult past, whatever that past may be, and I wondered why something in my gut ached thinking about it. I wrap my arms around his neck and rest my head on his shoulder.
“Baby, you’re all that I want,” I hear him sing softly into my ear, “when you’re lyin’ here in my arms.”
I lift my head and stare into his eyes. He smiles and continues singing. His voice sounded…amazing. I smile back and again rest my head on his shoulder. When the main song finishes, the DJ played an instrumental version. That’s when reality hit me.
I stepped back and Gambit paused, looking at me in confusion, “Thanks for the dance, Sugah…but mama was right…no point in makin’ promises Ah cain’t keep.”
I walk to the balcony, leaving Gambit there. I was only there for a minute or two when he walked onto the balcony, closing the odor behind him.
“Hey,” he says, folding his arms and resting them on the railing beside me, “Wha’s wrong, Chère?”
I look down at my hands, “You shouldn’t have followed me, Gambit.”
“Remy.”
“What?” I look to him.
He looks back, a kind gentleness in his eyes, “My name is Remy…Remy LeBeau.”
He hadn’t told anyone else (except maybe Storm) what his real name was.
“Remy,” I echo.
“And to answer you. Yes. I did need to follow you.”
“Why?”
“Because I could tell something was wrong. Couldn’t jus’ leave you out here alone, could I?”
“Ya’ really shouda.”
It was his turn to ask, “Why?”
“Because Ah cain’t touch you, Remy! So please, don’t let your heart beat for me…Ah’ll never be able to feel it.”
“Chère, some t’ings go deeper than skin.”
“Even this? Love?”
“Especially love,” he smiles.
I smile back, “Thanks…Remy.”
“Any time, Rogue.”
“Anna Marie.”
He grins, “Anna Marie.”
Then he looks me over and mutters, “Beautiful.”
Present time
I try to hide my blush as I tell him, “Yeah, Ah remember dancin’ in September.”
He smiles, “So you gonna tell me what’s botherin’ you?”
“Just ponderin’ the future, what’s gonna happen.”
Remy grabs my waist and pulls me closer, leaning down to kiss me. I savor the warmth of his lips on mine. Apparently, I’m not the only one doing flips over Remy’s touch.
“Remy.”
“Mmm?” he pulls back slightly, lips still hovering against mine.
“She’s kickin’.”
His eyes light up as he gets down to one knee and presses both of his hands along with one ear against my large stomach.
He kisses it, “T’morrow, p’tite. We’ll see you t’morrow.”