Who: Remy and Rogue Where: Argentina What: Vacation When: 12/17 Warnings: not really? Status: Started in Docs, Continue in Comments
When Rogue had suggested they go away, he’d been a little skeptical. Yes, they’d slowly been working on their friendship, and he’d been respecting any and all boundaries she put up...but he’d honestly worried about what would actually happen on the trip. Remy couldn’t remember the last time he’d gone a vacation and nothing bad happened. And did he really want that?
In fact, he didn’t think it had ever occurred.
But this? This was nice. Excelente , even.
It was easy enough to make the money quickly to set up hotel reservations at a very nice, elegant and private place. He made sure they had their own balcony, an amazing view, and he very pointedly refused to tell Rogue how much any of it cost. During the day, they hiked up the Falls, taking their time, looking at everything, and the best part? The talking. He’d always enjoyed bantering with her, enjoyed flirting with her but the actual conversation, talking about anything reminded him how much he loved her.
This evening, they had opted to order in, and they were lounging on patio chairs, platters of meat, cheese, fruits and vegetables on the table between them. Having taken his shirt off a while before, Remy was lounging in linen shorts, sunglasses on while he read his latest book, The Silent Patient . It wasn’t as fulfilling as he’d hoped so he sighed and put it on his lap, lacing his hands behind his head as he peeked a glance at Rogue.
“You gon’ burn if you don’t put on more sunscreen. Want help?”
Rogue had been a little surprised at herself too. Things were warming slowly between them. Not the best, not perfect, not back to normal but getting there. Which was fine. She was happy to let things roll as they did. But she was also feeling spontaneous. Which meant she suggested they get out of town for a few days for themselves.
Maybe find a footing that didn’t leave her wary all the time. She pestered him about the money, how he was affording to give them this but she also knew him well enough to know better. She kept her lips shut about it too much, but she would eventually poke again and try. For now she was enjoying the hikes, the nature, the world around them that wasn’t as confining as the Dome.
Sure, they couldn’t go that far, the Dome had it’s fingers in their travels too, but they had a much bigger range than the city of Madison Valley. It felt much more freeing and it was making her much more at ease. Relaxed even. She mostly updated him on the things the town did to them, the basic boring day to day stuff, and kind of starting to open up a bit more.
A smidge. “Remy.” she scolded lightly as she cracked one eye to look at him, “you don’t want to get zapped do ya?”
She knew he didn’t care, though.
“Be the most action I’ve gotten in weeks,” he teased. Moving his book to the table, he flopped to his side and picked at piece of pineapple. “An’ dere’s gloves too, y’know. It ain’t always gotta be you, coverin’ up. Remy can do that too.”
Sometimes he hated how she took on the responsibility of her powers. Sure, it was hers, and hers alone but at the same time, he was happy to take on some of that. Cover up, so that she could be free. It seemed only fair.
“You supposed to be on vacation, not worryin’ ‘bout not’ing. I told you, cherie -- lemme do it all for you. All o’ it. D’accord? ”
She made a noncommittal noise at his teasing, then sighed and gave a lot of ground up - “Alright alright.” she waved a hand lazily, “though you do remember a sunburn isn’t going to do much after like, an hour, right?” she teased back before letting some of the tension in her shoulders out with a sigh.
“Did you by any chance get any gloves for this purpose?” she asked, knowing him he probably did. She wouldn’t let any good gloves get damaged by something as simple as sunscreen but if he came prepared, well, she could only protest a little, right? She firmly believed her powers were her responsibility - to keep everyone else safe. Though she would admit it sucked being that responsible sometimes.
“Ah am a little curious as to why. Ain’t like ah’ve been nice ta ya this whole time. Arm’s length, cold shoulders and all that while ah’m trying to find my own footing. Why? All this?” she was sitting up now, head tilted at him, part of her wanting to believe that his only motive was to make her happy. Part of her not wanting anyone to go this far for her of all people.
“Mebbe Remy likes the abuse.” He grinned and sat up. He actually HAD bought gloves, nice ones really, but for this? He had gone downstairs to the spa, batted his eyes and managed to get some of the latex ones they used for their own purposes. Sometimes, he hated wearing contacts, but if it got him what he wanted … well, who was he to argue? Even he knew when he didn’t need to be ‘himself’.
“Or mebbe Remy jus’ want you to smile more, Rogue. You look too sad dese days. Not dat you don’t look pretty wit’out a smile,” he added quickly. “You can frown all you want. I jus’ wanna see you ...happy.”
Like on their wedding day … god, he really needed to stop thinking about those memories. This wasn’t his reality here. At all.
“Or mebbe,” he continued, getting up, “you jus’ need to relax and stop over t’inkin’ t’ings. Why can’t you jus’ accept t’ings as dey are? Remy has. Dis be his life right now. Why stress?”
Rogue laughed gently, “Maybe he does.” she rolled her eyes, he was awful. Incorrigible. But what could she really do? He had thought everything out. Then she gave him a Look. “ah ain’t sad, Remy, jes tired. Ah work hard, keeps me busy, but also tires me out.” even she got tired after all.
More or less. She could ignore that though if she needed to.
A brow arched, “As if Ah just ever accept and go. Really? Nah, ah worry because it’s my job to worry, Remy. Ah don’t want anyone getting hurt on my account, and Madison is full of people who ignore warnings. Hard to let my guard down, you know?”
Remy nodded while he listened to her talk. Stepping into the room to get the gloves and sunscreen was much needed -- he’d almost forgotten how she used to be, how guarded she was. It took years to work with that, to get her to realize she could trust him … only for him to break that trust over and over again.
No wonder things were like this.
Still. If nothing else, Remy liked a challenge and what was more challenging than himself?
“All people ignore t’ings if’n it don’t make dem feel good.” This was true of almost anyone really. “Tired is okay. Burnt out … dat’s a problem. You work too much, chere.” And this was an on-going discussion point from him. He didn’t see why she had to keep herself so busy. It wasn’t a money thing -- she seemed to be living a good life. Was it to keep her mind occupied? What was it that had her doing this?
Nudging her leg with a gloved hand, he sat down at the end of her chair and reached for the lotion. He wasn’t going to turn this into something she probably didn’t want so again -- best behaviour. He rubbed the lotion between his hands to warm it up and then started with her legs. “Surprised you suggested a vacation. Never t’ought dat would hapen. Not complain’. Remy happy to be wit’ you, away from everyone.”
Rogue was guarded. Had been for a long time. And really, she had let him in to trust a few times and then…. He broke it over and over again. It was hard to let go of all that and just be. Johanna had earned her trust and hadn’t broken it yet, so that was nice. But she was protective of Rogue, too. It gave Rogue a little more confidence to try to trust Remy again.
“Ah do.” she agreed lightly, she had two jobs and both were demanding. But she needed to keep her mind occupied - this place offered very little stimulation for someone like her. She didn’t have anyone to rescue or anyone to really fight. It was hard to be left alone with your thoughts.
Especially when your thoughts were accompanied by a few hundred other peoples’ thoughts.
Being busy meant her brain didn’t have time to wander.
“It’s a luxury the Dome gives us and ah will take it when ah can. Ah… ah’m trying, Remy, ah really really am.” she relaxed a hair under his touch, he was being good and that was good. Smart even.
“ Je sais, mon coeur. ” Remy was thankful that she was giving him this chance. He always had been. Maybe a few years ago, or another lifetime, he would have bristled that she was essentially ‘throwing him a bone’ but now?
No. This was good. The pace was good. Even if all he wanted to do was trail kisses down her spine, pulling away just as he felt the pull from her skin on his lips. Remy had always wanted to live dangerously and this? This was as dangerous as it got.
But so worth it.
Instead, he focused on slowly massaging her legs, trying to relax the muscles in her calves, her feet, before moving up to the small of her back.
“De dome.. It a strange t’ing in dat .. Remy don’t find it strange. Is dat weird? Feels normal t’ me, really. Jus’ anot’er day in my crazy life. At least you here..”
Rogue was trying, which wasn't easy for her when she was ready to just run again and leave it behind. Not that she could run far, she couldn't, but that was okay. It was the thought that counted in this matter. More or less.
She was used to him living dangerously even if it grated on her last nerve sometimes. she did not need him getting hurt or worse because of her. It was not something she ever liked having on her mind. Ever. Even now she had nightmares of all the ones she'd taken for good.
She was a hard sell to relax but she eventually gave in and started to relax under his touch. "Eh, it could be worse. People get used to the life the Dome's given us, too, so it's really no big deal anymore to accept it and move on"