May 27th Prompt
Prompt: Crossover: X-Men - Remy, Ororo - Spending time with friends Rating: G Disclaimer: I don't own them, I'm just playing with them. Summary: Remy visits an old friend. Author's Notes: Set way after current X-Men continuity.
“Stormy, chere,” Remy called out in greeting as he settled on one of the cool granite slabs set into the ground of the memorial garden. Some would’ve called it dishonourable, or sacrilegious, but his Stormy never complained.
His greeting got him the same response as always and he smiled as he mouthed almost silently the “Don’t call me Stormy.” She’d never let him get away with that, not once in all their time together, and that was something which would never change, not that he wanted it to. It always brought back so many memories.
The smile turned to a grin as he let his hand fall to trail along the flowers and grasses planted to the side of the slab, and he couldn’t help but chuckle as a breeze buffeted him in silent admonishment. He kept playing though, knowing that she didn’t really mind him doing it. The plants were well tended and his fingers as light as the wind, so there’d be no harm.
“Well? Do I have to ask Remy, or will you fill me in off your own accord?” Her voice was warm and amused, just the way he’d remembered it and he chuckled again. Stretching out and closing his eyes against the sun, he shrugged apologetically.
“Désolé Stormy, know it’s been more than a while since I last came.” It’d been a year, almost to the day, since he’d last visited and he knew it. He didn’t often go back to the Xavier Institute, not after the X-Men had been officially disbanded, but he made a point to be there at least once a year. He owed her that much. “Brought you a birthday present though,” he said, patting the pocket of his jeans with another smile. He’d give it to her once he’d finished catching her up, as always.
“Been busy this year, ‘specially with the Guild. Had t’ oversee twelve Master Thief exams, an’ passed ‘em all. You’d be really proud of Holly, chere, she was one of the best.” Holly. The little street brat they’d rescued on some mission or other, and he’d adopted because Storm’d still been living in Wakanda. She was almost a woman now, and he always made sure to talk about her first.
“She’ll be by t’ visit you later.” Storm knew that he liked to visit her on his own to start, jealous of the time they got together, and he could see the understanding nod even with his eyes closed.
“Everybody else down in New Orleans is doin’ just fine. Things with Fury’re still workin’ out. Called me in half a dozen times f’ various jobs an’ paid real handsome too.” She’d been the one to suggest it, as a way of him gaining a little more legitimacy after a few of the mistakes he’d made, and although he’d been wary at first she’d managed to persuade him. Stormy was always looking out for him.
“Still ain’t found anyone,” he said, expecting the laughter that followed and shaking his head. His love life had been the topic of many a late night discussion between the two of them, but she’d let it be eventually. He kept talking for over an hour, filling her in on this and that which had happened to him over the year, and eventually he turned to talk of the former X-Men.
“Seen much of Logan recently? Last I heard he was in Japan again, doin’ some house cleanin’.” He could practically see the disapproval creasing her face, and he waved his hand apologetically. “I know, y’ don’t want t’ talk about things like that. I know how he is though. No doubt he’ll be by later as well.” He knew his old friend wouldn’t miss the day for the world, especially after hearing of Kitty’s near miss. He’d be back at the mansion faster than a shot.
“By the way, désolé I couldn’t make it to Jubilee an’ Daniel’s christening. Didn’t realise they’d had their second kid already. Think it’s Sarah, or Sandra, or somethin’ like that. Gonna go see ‘em once I’m done talkin’ to you, an’ I brought suitable shiny things to make up for my absence.” They’d forgive him for it, they both knew that, especially since he’d brought presents for them. They all had separate lives now, separate families and friends, unlike all those years ago. How things had changed.
Eventually Remy wound down, and with a sigh pulled himself to his feet. “Well Stormy, that’s all I got. Think it’s time t’ give you your present.” The smile turned bittersweet as he pulled the brightly coloured beads out of his pocket and hung them over the statue that marked her grave. “Happy birthday, chere. I’ll be back again next year, an’ every year after, don’t you worry.”
Leaning slightly, he pressed his lips to the cool surface of the statue, and then set off across the memorial garden, back towards the boisterous noise and energy of the children. He nodded to the others who were there in the garden catching up with their old friends. None of them ever missed a year, no matter how far they had to travel or what they had to interrupt.