Alyssa Hamilton is Heaven's soldier. (four_leaves) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2014-03-28 21:56:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, alyssa hamilton, remy lebeau (gambit) |
Who: Alyssa and Remy.
What: 3/26.
When: A few days after the bombing.
Where: A cafe.
Rating/Warnings: PG-13 for discussion of previous character death, the bombing plot, and sexual innuendo.
Status: Complete!
Remy was at the diner near he and Candy’s apartment, nursing a beer along with his dinner. He’d told Candy he needed a little time to himself, and God bless that woman, she’d understood. He’d done some walking around town, just thinking, feeling, trying to make sense of shit.
He hadn’t known Faiza very well, but he knew Scott. He knew Dani, he knew Commander Shepard. And it bothered him - a lot. He’d treated all this as a game before, and he knew it. But he wasn’t Logan. He could get hit. He could leave a widow. It all made him think too damn much.
Alyssa had red eyes. She’d liked Faiza very much, even gone out to tea with her a few times. She was having a cup of coffee, strong and punishingly black, trying to make herself stop feeling sorry for herself. It wasn’t her loss to mourn. Her poor boyfriend.
But she had a big heart for all of her trying to hide it, and as such, she sniffled as she looked into the depths of her mug.
Remy heard the girl sitting next to him sniffle into her coffee. He looked over, and maybe he was a soft touch, but it did break his heart a little. She was very pretty, but also looked small. Sad. Nervous.
He reached into his pocket, taking out a clean handkerchief. “‘Scuse me, but you lookin’ like you need this.”
Looking up at the source of the quiet and sweetly accented voice, Alyssa chuckled. “Thank you,” she murmured, accepting it and dabbing at her eyes in the way that would make her mascara stain the cloth the least. “Of course you carry a hankie.” He was handsome and sounded sort of French. It just seemed appropriate. “I don’t usually come into cafes and weep, really.”
Remy managed a faint smile. “I don’t actually carry one, normally. Just did ‘cause I needed it out in the desert. Was just there for a month or so.” He shook his head. “Bad stuff happenin’ lately; don’t blame nobody for being upset.”
“One of my mates was ... it’s not good,” she murmured. “Thank you.” She handed back the handkerchief, smiling at the man who’d helped her. “It’s nice to know there’s good people around.”
Remy closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Ah, oui? Sorry to hear it. Friends of mine lost somebody too.” He didn’t think it was fair to say he’d lost someone - he hadn’t known her that well. It didn’t seem right.
“I mean, we weren’t super close, but it’s ... I liked her a lot.” Alyssa smiled sadly, looking down at her hands. “She was a doctor who helped me once after I got into a bit of trouble.”
Remy blinked. “Faiza? Was it ... Faiza Hussein?” What were the odds?
Alyssa nodded. “Yeah. You knew her too?” Small world.
“I only ever met her once.” Remy shook his head. “But I know lotta people who knew her real good. They ain’t said nothin’ but good about the femme.” He smiled a little, looking down. “Name’s Remy, by the way.”
“LeBeau? You’re friends with Logan.” Alyssa offered the man her hand. “I’m Alyssa Hamilton,” she smiled. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person.”
“Mais oui. Of course you know Logan,” Remy joked, smiling. He shook the girl’s hand. “He talk about me? Ol’Gambit ain’t done much lately to get talked about.”
“Well, obviously. I’m female, aren’t I?” Alyssa grinned and shook her head. “He mentions you as a friend, which I don’t think he has enough of, to be honest.”
“You got a point there. Logan ain’t much for friends. I think he’s scared of ‘em.” Remy was honest if only because Logan would have admitted that much himself. “My wife likes to tease me that we should just screw.”
“Oh, you probably should.” Alyssa couldn’t help a lopsided smirk. She sniffled a bit, chuckling. “I don’t think Logan’s capable of having a relationship with someone - friendship or no - that isn’t based at least somewhat in sexual tension.”
“You sure do know him.” Remy smirked. “How you meet him?” He didn’t want to assume anything; Logan did meet people in other ways than screwing them.
Pale cheeks immediately streaked bright red. “He saved me from a group of boys who were going to mug me. It was before my bow got here.” Her hands flew to her cheeks. “Bugger, I’m blushing, aren’t I?”
“Bow?” Remy echoed, curious. He did laugh. “You is blushing, mais oui. Issok; Logan does that to people. But that’s his way; for all he grumps around, he got a good heart. I met him not long after I started dreamin’, but I didn’t put it together for a while.”
“From my dreams,” she shrugged, motioning for him to sit. “To be fair, I was the one who broke up with Logan. Don’t let him tell you any differently.”
So this girl had actually dated the hairy one. Would wonders never cease. “Wouldn’t matter t’ me either way. I’m sure he’d be the one tellin’ me our love could never be.” Remy smiled a little, sitting down.
“Only because you’re married,” Alyssa shot back. She grinned at him and took a sip of her coffee. This didn’t make her feel less sad, but it was a nice interlude. A break from feeling upset.
“Candy ain’t the problem, it’s his fiancee. Who’s gorgeous but ain’t thinkin’ she likes to share.” Remy teased. He had to bring it up, though. “Faiza prob’ly fix him up a lotta times. Wonder if she was going to be the one helping with the bebe.”
“Eh, you’re handsome, you never know.” She would’ve said more, but then he mentioned Faiza. “She was, yeah. Velma’s my best friend, I don’t - “ Faiza knew everyone. It made Alyssa ache. She realized she should go to the site of the bombing, see if anyone was lurking as a ghost. It was the least she could do.
“I’m sorry.” Remy looked abashed. “Sometimes it helps to talk about things like this; I ain’t meant to be impoli.”
“No, no, it’s ... you’re right. And I’ll go down by the site later, check for ghosts.” She couldn’t help a tear slipping down her cheek and she wiped it away. “That’s... from the dreams. I see them.”
Remy handed her the handkerchief again, feeling like an ass. “You can see ghosts?” He had to ask. “That must be so hard.” He wasn’t kissing her ass; he couldn’t fathom being quite so intimate with death.
It was an odd sort of relief to hear a relative stranger say so. She grinned, then huffed a laugh. “Yeah, it’s ... yeah. It’s awful. Helping them cross over is rewarding, but I ... I don’t know.” Sometimes she just wanted a break.
“I ain’t got nothin’ on that level, but I do have the eyes, and the electricity.” He’d been wearing the contacts - just because; who knew what someone might do if they saw his glaring red eyes - and he squinted, taking one out so she could see. “Don’ know if you ever met Scott Summers, but he devotes tout ses temps to the job. I hear he got a girlfriend now so maybe that’ll change, but just ... I don’t know how he does it, and I wish he didn’t feel like he got to.”
Alyssa went beet red once more at the mention of Scott. “I... yeah, I’ve met him. He’s ... very driven.” But Remy’s eyes were a good distraction from thinking about men she’d had sex with, and she leaned forward. “Is it weird if I say they suit you? They’re pretty.”
Remy’s eyebrows shot up, and he bit his lip not to laugh. Thankfully, she changed the subject, and he chose to take it. “Merci bien. Kind of you - but some people think I’m a freak for ‘em.” He shrugged. Same old mutie shit, really.
“Some people are judgemental arseholes,” Alyssa said cheerfully. “That’s hardly your fault.”
He had to laugh. “I think I like you.” That wasn’t even said in a flirty way. Just truth. He held up his drink in a mock toast. “I see why Logan would, too.” And Scott, if he was reading her signals right.
Something made him ask. “Can I ask you a question I think you might slap me for?” He just had to; it was too funny.
“Of course.” She leaned back, thinking she could anticipate what question was coming.
“You tryin’ for some kind’a trifecta?” Remy hoped maybe if he didn’t insinuate anything about himself, he wouldn’t get smacked. “I mean. Logan, Scott ... who else is here?” And yet, she looked way too intelligent to be some kind of superhero groupie.
Alyssa laughed loudly. “Does snogging Kitty count? If so, I already have. Honestly, I fell in love with Logan quite by accident. And I think Scott just slept with me because he was stressed out, I’m a redhead, and he knew he could get one over on Logan... that ... way.” She blinked. “Oh cock. I never told Logan about Scott.”
Remy laughed just as loud. “Might I suggest you not, mam’selle? I didn’t mean to be rude if’n I was, just ain’t met nobody who knows so many of us before.” Romantically, carnally or otherwise. “I can talk to Logan if you want me to?” Logan might not care, or he might threaten to kill Scott. It depended on how he felt about this girl.
“Oh, don’t, he’ll threaten him with something.” Alyssa put her head in her hands. “He’s already threatened to kill my ex, and he growls whenever I mention my male friends.”
“Maybe, but I can talk him down. Or his fiancee can.” Remy was fairly sure that woman had magical powers of persuasion. The women who took up with X-Men usually did. He did raise an eyebrow at the growling bit, though. “I’m fairly sure he just bluffin’, but ... that’s awful possessive when you ain’t dating.”
“He’s kind of ... sometimes I think he thinks of me as a family member or something. Or maybe it’s because he took my virginity.” Alyssa rolled her eyes. “Men are kind of stupid after they do that.”
Remy nodded, not wanting to get into the virginity thing; he’d done that a few times, and well, you did sort of get protective. “For all my wife jokes about me an’ Logan, sometimes I think he an’ Scott need to just grudgefuck et get it over with, vite.” He was fairly sure she was right about the redhead thing, frankly. He’d dreamed about Scott, Jean and Logan.
“You are not wrong,” Alyssa chuckled. “They should just have hatesex on the Blackbird. The zero gravity is amazing.”
“That ain’t fair.” Remy laughed. “Why I ain’t never got to screw on the Blackbird? C’est pas juste.”
“I’m sorry. Maybe you can do that now with your wife.” She nodded her head at the ring on his hand, grinning. “You seem fond of her.”
“Candy’s ... amazing.” Remy smiled, knowing it was doofy. “She reminds me a lotta you, to be honest - not tryin’ to come on, by the way.” He grinned. “Just, she’s a li’l younger than me, she’s pretty, but she don’t take no crap. I get the feeling you don’t neither.” If she could manage Logan? No way.
Alyssa chuckled at that. “Honestly, I think if a girl’s going to be with someone from your ... dream club, shall we call it? She’s got to be a little stronger than usual.” Sitting up straighter, Alyssa attempted - and failed - to do Logan’s accent. “Darlin’, it’s a hard life and I’m so very sad. Sex now. Beer, maple syrup, and angst.” Leaning back against the booth, she grinned. “I still love him, but it’s the platonic sort now. I think he’s the same way.” She knew Logan had loved her and still did, but it was different. Which was good for both of them.
Remy laughed delightedly. “You right there, I think. Ah, that’s great, though.” He liked this girl, yes. “Beer, maple syrup, and angst. I gonna use that one.” He liked poking fun at Logan anyway.
“Not in that order, though. I think he likes maple syrup last out of those. I mean, the man uses beer instead of milk.” Alyssa rolled her eyes. “He’s mental, but I adore him.” She liked Remy very much as well, if only because it was so obvious how good of a person he was.
“That’s pretty much how most of us feel about that homme, so you got good instincts.” Remy smiled a little. “And I know you don’t wanna think about Faiza, but let me just say: thank you for what you doin’. For her, and all the people at the site, and everything.” He hoped she didn’t cry. “I mean it.”
She cried. It wasn’t bawling, but just a few tears. “I have to, it’s just what’s right. I feel awful feeling so awful, though. She and I weren’t all that close.”
“Hey. There ain’t nothing wrong feeling sad to lose somebody.” Remy shook his head. “Means they touched you somehow. Your heart. You know what I mean.” Dammit. “Can’t imagine there’s any spirit who’d be upset to be mourned more.”
Smiling, Alyssa nodded. “Do you and your wife have any little ones? I get the feeling you’ll be a lovely father.”
“Nah, not yet. Candy still gettin’ her degree. Also, our place is too small. Gotta dog, though.” Remy totally had a photo of his dog on his phone - yes, he was that type - and held it out to show Alyssa. It was him and Candy with Ruby on their laps.
“That’s adorable,” Alyssa cooed. “See? Daddy practice. You’re probably a good one now, you know.” She chuckled, wondering how some girls had all the luck. She couldn’t even get the man she was in love with to think of her in non-friend with benefits terms.
“Enh. I try my best.” Remy smiled. “What ‘bout you, you got anybody?”
Alyssa shook her head, her hair hanging a bit in her face. “I ... no. I mean, he has me. I just don’t have him.” She smiled sheepishly, wondering if she was making any sense at all.
“Ah.” Remy got that well enough. Not like he hadn’t gone through it. “Well, hope he sees sense or you find somebody better. Didn’t mean t’bring up un awkward moment.”
“My life is a series of awkward moments, it’s fine. Like this one time Logan and I were shagging against his motorbike, and a car came up and it ended up being the police. We had to run down a hill to hide, but of course, he tried to keep shagging. It was funny then, and it’s hysterical now.” Alyssa wrinkled her nose a bit before bursting into giggles.
Remy did have to laugh delightedly. “Yup! Sounds like Logan.” To be honest, he’d probably have tried to keep going himself - he was a heterosexual man - but still. “I hope you ain’t never had un p’tit ami who tripped over his own two feet and landed in your lap. I did that once, and I was even sober.”
“That’s a bit cute, really.” Alyssa smiled. “I like moments when people are vulnerable. When blokes can laugh about themselves, it’s really sexy.”
“I’d have to laugh, otherwise I’d just curl up in on m’self and never do nothin’.” Remy smiled a little. “I embarrass m’self a lot, mam’selle.”
“Oh, I’m the same way,” Alyssa laughed. She crossed her legs, smiling and looking down at her hands. “I just sort of blurt things out like an idiot.”
“Well, you ain’t alone.” He held out a hand to shake, mostly to make her smile. “I should probably get goin’, but do you know, is there gonna be any service for her?” It sounded stupid, but not saying her name made it a little better.
“I don’t know. If I do, I’ll tell you.” Alyssa reached out and took a napkin, jotting down her name and phone number onto it. Then she thought better of it, and added her last name. Flirty girls never did that.
“Merci.” Remy took it, pocketing it. “I shouldn’t keep you. But it’s been nice t’meet you, mam’selle. I’ll pass on your regards to Logan, should I see him first.”
“It’s been nice to meet you too,” Alyssa grinned. She stood up and waved a little, pulling out some money to pay for her drink.
“I got it.” Remy waved her off. “Ain’t no worry.” He smiled. “You have a good one.”
“You too, Remy.” Alyssa waved and moved to hug him once, gently, before going off.