Chapter Text
“It’s nice to get out and enjoy ourselves for a change,” Rogue mused, bringing another round of drinks to the table.
It wasn’t often that any of the X-Men were able to have a night out on the town, and she was soaking up every sensation. The deep pulsing of the club music danced through her blood, changing the beat of her heart. The cool gin fizz lifted her spirits, and the voice of her man and her teammates in casual conversation put her at ease in a way she hadn’t felt since coming to the mansion.
“I know the Professor’s been concerned about the team’s level of stress, but this hardly seems a productive outlet. How exactly is a double date a team-building exercise?”
Scott sipped his whiskey sour, savoring the complex flavors. As much as he complained, he also enjoyed getting out of the mansion for a change.
“Nobody gotta tell Gambit twice to take the night off.” He leaned back and stretched his arm across the booth as Rogue sat down beside him.
“Besides,” Jean said, “isn’t it fun to get all dolled up?” She pushed back her sleek hair with a glamorous gesture, exposing the teardrop emerald earrings Scott had given her years ago. “There hasn’t been much downtime since Trask introduced those new Sentinels.”
“Why we gotta talk about Sentinels, chère? We came here to relax and have ourselves a good time. Maybe you be needin’ another drink already.”
Remy shut his eyes for a second and noticed the sensation of the changing lights through closed eyelids. He really did not get out often enough anymore. He did wish that this night were purely for recreation, that he could put his hands wherever he liked over Rogue’s flattering dress, but he wasn’t too keen on Scott’s judgmental glares. He and Rogue would need to come back here alone sometime.
“I never thought you were one for questionin’ the Professor’s orders, Boy Scout. For once, we got an assignment to have fun.”
Rogue pressed her shoulder against her boyfriend. The night was young and she already felt more joy than she had felt in ages. Her second drink was hitting just right, the booth was cozy, and Remy’s chest was even cozier. She loved the pressure from his arm against her back.
Then Jean turned her head to stare down her man. “Now get up and dance with me, Cyclops.”
Scott’s tight lips turned up slightly, and a breathy snicker managed to escape. “Yes, ma’am.” He extended a hand to Jean, which she took with poise before assertively gripping it and dragging him out to the dance floor.
Staring a moment at the highschool sweethearts, Rogue thought they danced more beautifully and more in unison than any couple she had ever seen. It must have been the special psychic connection they had which helped them synchronise their movements so perfectly, as if the two of them really were one. She sighed, and tried to push down the envy she felt, wondering what it must be like to know another person so well.
“You’d look good dancin’ on that floor,” Remy suggested.
“I just sat down, ya fool,” she teased. The truth was, she was just enjoying this physical contact between them. Dancing was nice, but she needed another second to shake off her jealousy. And on the dance floor, he wouldn’t be able to have his arm wrapped around her like this.
Meanwhile, Jean felt herself relaxing and becoming truly free as she moved in rhythm with Scott.
“You don’t know how badly I needed this, darling,” she sighed, as he pulled her close. “It’s been so long since we’ve gotten any time together.”
“I know, Jean, it’s just— with these damn new Sentinels, we can’t afford to let our guard down even for a second.”
Their steps, though imperceptible to any onlookers, fell slightly out of sync.
“Do you really think the Professor would tell us to take time off if he didn’t believe it was safe? It doesn’t have to be you every time,” she said. “You need to trust the other X-Men. The world is not going to end because Scott Summers took a night off.”
She shifted her weight, took the lead, and pulled him closer. Behind his ruby glasses, she could just see the outline of Scott’s lovely eyes. She held his face and kissed him.
“Now, either you dance or you drink, but you and I are going to make the most of this evening.”
“You’re right,” Scott admitted, “and anyway, it is hard to think about Sentinels when you’re wearing that dress.”
“I know.”
—
“Say, chère, zis good time we havin’ got me thinkin’…”
“That’s never a good start,” Rogue said with a laugh. She held his hand, stroking his long, lean fingers with her gloved thumb.
“Non, I mean it, chérie. I been thinkin’, you an’ me oughta get away sometime. Sooner rather den later.”
Remy wasn’t quite sure how they would make it work. He only knew he needed her sleeping beside him, before his actual heart exploded.
“You been takin’ enough away missions… Gambit know the Professor won’t have no problem you takin’ off. And as for Gambit, well, ain’t nothin’ unusual about me slippin’ out for a spell.”
As much as Rogue loved to hear Remy fantasize about living the good life together, she felt her heart sink at his proposition.
“Where would you wanna go?” she asked.
“Someplace warm,” Remy hummed. “You and me, birds of a feather. We ain’t made for zis New York snow. Say we fly down to Rio? Cabo?”
“And what do you propose ah wear? Full-body surf wear while all them other pretty girls are struttin’ around in bikinis?”
“‘Least you don’t gotta worry ‘bout sunburn. ‘Sides, chère, you look beautiful even in a rash guard.”
Rogue had to gently push him away as he leaned in for a kiss. Even after these months together, the consequences sometimes seemed to slip his mind.
“Easy there, sugah. Last thing we need is for this night to end with you in the infirmary.”
“Make for a good story, non?”
She rolled her eyes and shoved him away, half playfully, half for his protection. She feared for him that his joking might not be entirely joking.
Then, Jean and Scott made their way back to the booth, hand in hand. They both looked a little bit flushed, and a whole lot happier after their dance.
“I’m gonna head to the bathroom,” Jean said, as Scott slipped back into their seat. “Rogue?”
Rogue stood up, somewhat relieved for an invitation to leave the conversation. She was afraid that if it went on any longer, she was bound to hurt Remy’s feelings. No one needed hurt feelings, not on such a lovely night.
—
“Remy’s in his element tonight, isn’t he?” Jean said, smoothing down the flyaways that had sprung loose while she was dancing.
“If that boy knows anything, it’s how to have a night out on the town.”
“I only wish it came as naturally to Scott. I think he’s enjoying himself now, but it took so long to draw him out of X-Men mode.”
“Aw, he just needs more practice, sugah.”
“Don’t I know it,” Jean sighed. She stepped behind Rogue to help her zip her dress back up.
“Ya know, ah think Remy could take a page from Scott’s book, too.”
“What do you mean?”
It was the strangest thing Jean had ever heard coming from Rogue’s mouth.
“Ah just wish he’d take things seriously for a change,” Rogue explained. “You know, consider what he’s actually sayin’ before he opens that fool mouth of his.”
Jean noticed how Rogue avoided eye contact with her in the mirror. She appeared fixated on the pattern of the bathroom counter.
“What’s this about, Rogue?”
Jean felt how tense her shoulders were, as she finished clasping up her dress.
“Remy asked me to go on vacation with him.”
Rogue sighed, as though admitting that Remy were about to be sentenced to prison.
Jean furrowed her brows. She wanted to be sympathetic, but it was hard to tell where Rogue’s stress was coming from without prying.
“And that’s a problem, because?” she asked, as gently as she could.
“What’s goin’ to happen, Jean?” She turned around to face her. “Ah spend a week, stressed out and worried about him? It’s hard enough to remind him not to kill hisself while we’re out on a double date. On a vacation?”
Rogue bent over at the waist, letting gravity help her tease her hair up again.
“He wants to be close to me,” she nearly whispered.
“And you?”
“Ah want it, too. I just… Maybe I’m afraid. Maybe.”
“Rogue, he wants to spend time with you. It’s not easy getting to know someone you care about when you’re constantly at risk of being called out on a mission. Believe me, I know. If you’re afraid, just tell him what you’re feeling. He’ll listen if he really wants you, all of you.”
Jean rubbed Rogue’s gloved upper arm.
“Sometimes ah wish ah had your telepathy. Didn’t have to fight my way through with words.”
“Wanna borrow some for tonight?” Jean kidded.
“Nah, girl, you’re enjoyin’ yourself too much for me to knock you unconscious. Ah guess ah’ll just have to use my words like a big girl.”
They each did a final survey of themselves and each other in the mirror. They both really did look killer, in a fun way for once, not in a combat way. Satisfied with their appearances, Jean and Rogue stepped out of the bathroom to return to their men.
“Wait, Rogue— this is weird.”
Rogue’s chest suddenly tightened at the alarm in Jean’s tone.
At their booth were two half-finished drinks, and no sign of their X-Men.
“I can’t sense him— either of them.”
Stepping closer to the table, something caught Rogue’s eye. She lifted Remy’s unfinished Sazerac, gasping when she saw the queen of hearts left underneath.
“C’mon Jean, let's go find our boys.”