Work Text:
Pour Toujours
"Nonc Etienne, you're not supposed to eat the cupcakes yet!" came the voice of a giggling child.
"Mrrr muuurr?" replied—presumably Etienne—with his mouth full of—presumably—delicious cupcake.
"Mama said we're supposed to wait!" another child squealed, also laughing.
"Guess that means more for Nonc Remy-"
"Nooooooo!" the children cried.
Rogue looked up at the sound of the screen door, which slammed behind Mercy, not remotely muffling the sound from inside.
She, Bella, and Mercy had moved to the back porch of the Thieves Guild mansion earlier in the afternoon, having selected it as a—theoretically—quieter place to relax than the nearby kitchen.
"Why'd we marry into this family?" Mercy sighed.
"Ain't married yet, sugar," Rogue said, accepting a bottle of some local beer.
"Still got time to run, petite," said Belladonna, also accepting a bottle.
Mercy raised a brow.
"So do you, chere."
"When them kids o' yours want Tantie Bella at their party?"
"Fair enough."
Mercy held up her beer.
"Santé. To survivin' another year with them kids."
They all clinked bottles.
"Tantie Rogue?" Jolie and Kurt appeared next to her in a cloud of smoke.
"Dieu." Mercy put a hand to her heart. "Thought nothin' startled me anymore."
"Ah yes, but then you met the devil!" Kurt said brightly, beaming at the group.
Mercy looked at him in alarm.
Belladonna snorted.
"If you're the devil, heaven's made o' cupcakes."
"It should be made o' cupcakes," Jolie giggled.
"Got enough cupcakes in that kitchen, petite," Mercy pointed out.
"'Enough' cupcakes?" Kurt gasped, turning to Jolie. "Is that possible?"
Jolie's smile somehow managed to widen.
"Never!" she crowed.
Rogue couldn't help but grin herself. The world had put them all through hell lately, but if the reward was these two little munchkins, it seemed to be worth it.
"Tantie Rogue, did you know 'devil' is 'diable' in French?"
"Sugar, I did know that."
"See, you're learning!" Jolie encouraged.
"I reckon I am," Rogue said, knitting her brow.
"I believe you are forgetting your message," Kurt whispered to Jolie.
"Not to mention a 'hello' for your mama and Tantie Bella," Mercy said pointedly.
Jolie walked over dramatically and held out her arms, accepting a hug from Mercy.
Bella looked like she would rather clink a beer bottle against the girl, but Jolie held out her hand, shook Bella's, and nodded matter-of-factly.
Jolie then turned, diving at Rogue and throwing her arms around her.
"Might pretend your mama's your favorite," Mercy grumbled.
Jolie unapologetically settled herself on Rogue's lap, something she'd done the first time she met Rogue in person one year ago. She and her twin brother Luc were six now, and both were getting bigger, but their delight at being around their newly acquired Tantie Rogue was also continuing to grow.
The twins would probably soon be too heavy for most people to hold, but they would never be too much for her—in many ways. They hadn't been in each other's lives for long, but Rogue hoped they knew that anyway.
"Your Onkle Kurt said you got a message, sugar?"
Jolie fiddled with one of Rogue's curls as she spoke.
"Oui. Nonc Remy told me to ask you somethin'."
Rogue sighed.
Here we go.
"What did your Nonc Remy want you to ask?"
"He said, 'What is the difference between gators and crocodiles?'"
No idea, but both are gonna kill that man.
"What?"
"One will see you later, and one will see you in a while," Jolie said, collapsing into a fit of giggles.
Rogue heard Bella sigh.
"Didn't I say you still got time?" she asked.
Rogue poked Jolie in the side, which made her laugh harder.
"Think it's too late for me, sugar."
"Know the feelin'," Mercy said. "Just don't forget they got insanity in the family."
"Oui, and bein' on this porch means we got insanity in the area," Bella added.
"Nonc Etienne says 'insanity shmanity.'"
Bella looked unimpressed.
"I'll bet he does."
"Plus Nonc Remy's badopted."
Having corrected her aunt, Jolie turned back to Rogue.
"Tantie Rogue, did you know 'gator' is 'cocodri' in French?"
"You know, sugar, I knew that, too."
"D'accord. Good," Jolie said cheerily.
Good?
Kurt held out a hand to Jolie.
"Should we continue to frost the cupcakes?"
She took his hand, nodding and hopping off Rogue's lap.
"Bye, Tantie Rogue!"
Kurt cleared his throat.
"And Mama and Tantie Bella," Jolie added with less enthusiasm.
Kurt seemed to be biting back a smile.
Before they teleported away, Kurt caught Rogue's eye.
"I believe Luc has a joke for you as well."
Rogue sighed.
"Also from Remy?"
Kurt grinned.
"Great."
He and Jolie disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"There somethin' worse than insanity?" asked Bella.
"Where's Tantie Rogue?" Luc called cheerily from the kitchen.
Rogue managed to smile through a few more terrible jokes throughout the evening, and Remy managed to survive by virtue of being very charming and very willing to use his niece and nephew as human shields.
"How 'bout you keep your Tantie Rogue company while I take care o' somethin' in the kitchen?"
"D'accord," Luc replied, taking Rogue's hand.
"Wanna see the books we got at the library?" asked Jolie, taking the other.
"Sugar, I would love that," Rogue said to the twins.
Dickhead, her eyes said to Remy.
Your favorite dickhead, Remy's eyes replied to hers.
Rogue followed the twins into their room, and the twins did ro-sham-bo to see which bed Rogue had to sit on.
After a very serious tie-breaker, Jolie harrumphed, and all three of them settled on Luc's bed.
"Alright, how 'bout you show me them books? You get more 'bout Jupiter?"
"Oui, we did," Luc said soberly, clearly about to bring up a topic even more serious than rock-paper-scissors.
Rogue knit her brow.
"Everythin' alright, sugar?"
"Oui," said Jolie. "But we got you a book in case you want to read it some time."
Rogue took the book Jolie held out to her, examining the cover.
"A Dictionary of the Cajun Language by Reverend Jules-" Rogue cut herself off. "This so I can learn French?"
The twins nodded, though not looking particularly optimistic.
"We just thought maybe you could learn."
Rogue narrowed her eyes at them, trying to keep a straight face.
"This y'all sayin' I talk funny?"
"Only a little," Luc admitted.
"It's just so this way you can know it," Jolie explained.
"We're learnin' in school, so we could help you," Luc added.
"Papa says for a long time we weren't allowed to learn in school because people were mean about it, but now we can."
Luc held out his hands.
"So that means you can learn, too!"
"Ain't sure I'm allowed in school, sugar."
Jolie tilted her head.
"We could ask?"
Rogue smiled, patting the bed next to her.
Jolie sat, and Rogue put an arm around each twin.
"I think I'd like to learn from my teachers Mr. Luc and Ms. Jolie."
"Okay, but we're gonna grade you," Luc said seriously.
"And we got a few more books."
"Whew, that mean homework, too?"
"Maybe a little?" Jolie said sheepishly.
Rogue brushed the girl's hair out of her face.
"What made y'all decide to teach me French?"
"Well, Mama and Papa were talkin' 'bout the Guilds doin' an underground camping," Jolie said.
"They said it's so families like ours can pesserve our culture."
"We're not supposed to say, since the Guilds are illegal," Jolie admitted.
"Were you supposed to be listenin' when they were talkin'?" Rogue asked, giving them a sly grin.
"Non, but Nonc Remy showed us where to hide when we do," Luc offered cheerily.
Of course he did.
"He sure is helpful."
"Oui, he is."
"He said maybe you're gonna be in our family," Jolie said. "So you're gonna have to pesserve our culture, too."
Ah.
There it was.
"So y'all thought I better learn French so I can do that?"
"Oui. And it's okay if you don't learn fast, because everyone learns differently," Jolie recited.
Rogue gave them a squeeze.
"You know what? I think y'all are gonna be the best teachers I ever had."
The twins smiled at that.
"And I'd be happy to… pesserve your culture with you."
Remy and the rest of the family were on the porch, talking shit as usual.
Etienne had gone on another beer run, and now that he was back, everyone—even Kurt—was abusing him for his choices.
Kurt took a tentative sip of the beer, making a face.
"They did not have the good kind?"
Remy looked at the label on his bottle.
"Once seen this on a menu labeled 'shitty beer.'"
Etienne rolled his eyes.
"You did not, couillon."
Remy shrugged.
"Should have."
Henri looked toward the door.
"Guess they're busy if you're talkin' like that, Chaoui. Swear jar's been ready and waitin'." [Raccoon; Remy's childhood nickname]
Mercy shot Etienne a look.
"Even more ready since Paon decided to help himself-" she chided. [Peacock; used as a nickname]
Remy's eyebrows went up.
"You really stole-"
"I borrowed," Etienne insisted.
Remy turned to Henri and Mercy.
"You didn't kick his ass?"
Henri shook his head, leaning back comfortably in his chair.
"Tante Mattie's handlin' it," he said simply.
Etienne's eyes widened.
"Handlin' it how?"
Henri snorted, shooting Mercy a look.
"Now he's worried."
Remy grinned, taking another sip of his terrible beer.
He always felt warm inside when his family gathered around like this. They were idiots, but they were undeniably his idiots, and after being separated from them for so long, every moment with them felt that much more special.
He hoped Rogue would rejoin them soon, since having his arms around her made him feel even warmer inside, though the twins had taken her to their room looking like they meant business.
That could mean anything from wanting to dress her up as a fairy princess to building a fort to reading story after story, so they might be a while.
He loved seeing Rogue with his family. They hadn't been together long—it had only been a year since they'd rejoined the team and each other—but he couldn't remember feeling happy like this before. Rogue had been nervous about her first visit, though it quickly became clear that his family liked her far more than they liked him.
Now, Rogue chatted regularly with Mercy, had weekly video calls with the twins—separate from the calls she and Remy had with them, and was still trying to explain to Henri and Etienne that she did not appreciate the prank gifts they kept mailing her.
Remy was equally pleased by his family's acceptance of Kurt, which he hoped was not entirely due to the thieving potential inherent in the man's powers.
Remy loved seeing that his family had adopted them both so readily, and he smiled dopily as everyone gave Rogue hugs—and laughed with Kurt—when the three of them arrived.
Jolie and Luc were particularly curious about the state of Remy's relationship with Rogue, and their questions occasionally sounded like they were coming from a father asking his daughter's suitor about their intentions.
The twins understood that Tantie Bella and Nonc Remy used to be married but weren't anymore, and because Henri was an asshole, they described Remy as being "in the market."
The twins had also mistakenly—once again because of Henri—told Remy that "Papa says you got to scoop Tantie Rogue out," and Remy was surprised no one had broken a rib trying to keep from laughing.
Mostly, the twins seemed thrilled to have Rogue around, and they intended—apparently—to keep their Nonc Remy from fucking that up.
After he and Rogue had gotten settled in their room, the twins pulled Remy aside to say that they had seen Rogue's favorite flowers at a flower stand by their school.
Luc shared that Mercy told him that he looked "very handsome" when he brushed his hair, and he suggested that Remy also try that.
Jolie shared that Mercy regularly told Henri that if he "got a new f-swear razor" his face wouldn't be so scratchy, and she thought maybe that might help Nonc Remy, too.
The twins also seemed to be doing their best to make Rogue feel comfortable and at home during her stay.
They both hated tea, so they heated up juice and brought it to Rogue in a teacup, since they thought she might like some.
Luc pushed in her chair at dinner and said "dinner is served!"
Jolie didn't know how to get to the flower stand herself, but she picked whatever wildflowers she could find and gave Rogue a small bouquet.
It would have taken a much harder heart than Remy's to keep from melting at all of this.
Remy was a bit concerned about the few moments that seemed more urgent for them, when they appeared to be a little more agitated when they thought something wasn't right.
"You worried your Tantie Rogue gonna be upset, petit?" Remy asked Luc after he spilled a cup of "tea."
"Non. I just want her to like it."
Remy knelt, nodding toward the puddle on the floor.
"Cher, she'd like it like this if it came from you."
"Oui?"
"Or you," Remy added, shooting a look at Jolie, who was pouting in the corner about Luc's clumsiness.
Jolie's face softened a little, though she was clearly trying not to seem interested.
"All Tantie Rogue needs is the two of you. D'accord? Ain't nothin' more special. Don't need anythin' else."
Luc's bottom lip quivered.
"But is she gonna go away?"
Remy furrowed his brow.
"What makes you think that, petit?"
"Mama says you and Tantie Rogue fight bad guys."
"Oui. We do."
"What if you get hurt? Or Tantie Rogue gets hurt."
Remy sighed, pulling Luc under his arm and tugging Jolie toward him.
This was a bigger conversation, one Jean-Luc had needed to have with him, Henri, and Etienne when they were small. One that Mercy and Henri would have to have with the twins. Guild Members lived dangerous lives, and some didn't make it home. X-Men lived dangerous lives, too.
"Ain't gonna lie and say there's no chance we could get hurt. But remember your Papa sayin' the LeBeaus are the best there is?"
"At thievin'?" Luc asked.
"Oui. Your Nonc Remy and Tantie Rogue are really dam- uh- dang powerful. And we some o' the best there is, too."
"'Cause o' your powers?" Jolie asked.
"Oui. And plenty more."
The twins were both looking at him with wide eyes.
"Gonna take a lot more'n bad guys to stop us."
"But what if you and Tantie Rogue don't get married?" Luc said, looking at the floor.
"You suggestin' I ask her, petit?" Remy asked, giving him a sly grin.
"Mama says you should ask when you're ready because that's a big step," Jolie parroted.
Remy grinned.
"Oui. A real big step. But you're worryin' what'll happen if she and I split up?"
The twins nodded.
"Your Tantie Bella's here all the time, non?"
They nodded again.
"You think Tantie Rogue wouldn't come, too?"
The twins smiled.
The screen door opened suddenly, and heads turned to meet two smiling twins and an unusually anxious-looking Rogue.
Remy felt his eyebrows go up.
The twins didn't appear to have dressed her in anything, and it didn't look like they intended to give a performance, so he couldn't account for Rogue's nervousness.
He tried to make eye contact with her, but she wouldn't look his way.
Hmm.
"Been up there a while, petits," Mercy said.
The twins nodded.
"We had school," Jolie said simply.
"School?" Henri asked.
"Oui," Luc replied, offering no more information.
"Did your Tantie Rogue teach you anything interesting?" Kurt asked.
Jolie gave him a look.
"We were teaching her," she explained, like it was obvious.
Remy's eyebrows somehow went up even further.
"Teachin' her what, petits?" he asked.
Rogue clenched her jaw, finally looking his way to shoot him a glare.
"Remy," she warned.
The twins both whispered something at her, and she huffed out a breath.
"Remy, may I speak to you in the kitchen?"
More eyebrows went up around him.
"Oui… Everythin' alright?"
"Yes!" Rogue hissed.
Remy shrugged, standing.
He started walking toward the kitchen, grinning as the twins tugged Rogue inside ahead of him.
Whatever this was, he was going to fucking love it.
The twins deposited Rogue in the middle of the kitchen and disappeared, though Remy suspected that they had just relocated to one of his favorite hiding places—all of which had been shared with them during his last visit.
"You sure everythin's alright?" he asked.
Rogue nodded, her fists now clenched as well.
She snuck a glance toward the hallway.
"I…" She blew out a breath. "I been practicin' some things."
He grinned.
"What things…?"
She glared at him again.
"Go on!" one of the twins whisper-shouted from the hallway.
"Fuck," she ground out.
"F-swear!" the twins shouted, forgetting to whisper.
Rogue palmed her forehead.
"Shit."
"S-swear!"
"Think Tantie Rogue and Nonc Remy gotta talk alone, petits."
The twins still weren't well-trained in walking quietly, but they did their best to walk down the hall and pretend not to sneak back.
Remy turned back to Rogue.
"That what you wanted to say?"
"Remy, shut up."
Rogue looked toward the hallway one more time.
"They thought I should learn some French."
Remy's eyebrows rose once again.
"Guess it's, uh, important for the family. Know I ain't really family-"
"You're family," he said firmly. "Don't need a piece o' paper for that."
Rogue nodded.
"Though if you wanna fly us to Vegas…" he began, giving her a cheeky grin.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
He walked toward her, taking one of her hands. A hand that was—after blood, sweat, and tears—finally safely bare.
He kissed the back of her hand.
"Just jokin'."
She nodded.
"Don't have to be, though," he said more softly.
She nodded again.
Something occurred to him.
"Un petit moment- They wanted you to learn some French?"
She sighed.
"Yes."
"You supposed to say somethin'?" he asked wickedly.
Rogue gave him a look, now seemed to be grinding her molars.
"What're you supposed to say?"
"Remy," she warned.
"They're probably still listenin'."
He wondered if he sounded as delighted as he felt.
"C'mon. Just say it real quick."
"They… I'm supposed to say…"
She huffed out an annoyed breath.
"Juhtempoortoojoor," she said quickly.
Remy had to fight back a smile like his life depended on it.
"Je what?"
"Je I'm gonna punch you in the face!"
"C'mon. One more time."
Rogue glared at him for the millionth time.
"Juh tem poor toojoor," she finally said.
Remy pressed his lips together, was probably going to break a rib.
"Je t'aime pour toujours?" [I love you forever]
"That's what I said."
Sure isn't.
Remy finally couldn't keep from smiling.
"They taught you that?"
"Yes."
"It true?"
Rogue's ire seemed to disappear.
"Remy," she gasped. "You know it is."
He nodded.
"Oui, I do."
"Know I'm shit at-"
"S-swear!"
"Bad at sayin' it. In a few ways, now," she said wryly.
"It was perfect, mon amour."
He cupped her face, giving her a slow, tender kiss.
"Je t'aime pour toujours," Remy said again.
Rogue gave him a look, but he just grinned in response.
She sighed, rolling her eyes.
"You're lucky you're charmin'."
"Trust me, I know."
He kissed her again.
"J'adore."
"Love you, too."
Audio/Podfic Version
(read aloud by me!)
Length: 24:07 (file is really 25:07, but it will not let me trim it)
Listen: Pour Toujours mp3