kinetically_charged | Inbox

[Everything else had turned into white noise, a numbness that made everything around him vanish. There was no Hell, no hallway, no person with him. Just the chaos that was going on in his head, and the pain in his heart. He was quickly falling into a very dark place.

Until that touch of her broke through. Almost like shattering a layer of ice that had covered him, bringing Remy out of it enough to hear her words.

But still hesitated.

It was Anna. But not. And he wasn't sure he could look at her right now and not see his wife. And how she may be looking at him.

But it wasn't his wife. It was his friend.

It takes a few unsteady breaths, almost as if getting air in was a struggle, before Remy was able to get his body to move. He let his hand drop before taking an extra beat to lift his gaze to her.

His friend.

Who still needed him right now. This wasn't just about him.] We should get ya 'nside.

[She ached for him in this moment, and even without touching him, felt his guilt radiating from him. As X-Men, they're used to weird things happening to them, the impossible situations cropping up and blindsiding them, but them together in hell from different points of time? Him married to a possible future version of herself and some sort of influence invading them both, driving them to act on their primal urges in ways outside their normal mannerisms? All while her mutation was dampened?

That was never one of them. Not even close to imaginable.

Yet here they both were, reeling from that reality still fresh and hot from the oven.

Her thumb rubbed across his skin, taking advantage of her ability to touch properly to try and comfort him. Though, she didn't expect it would help too much. At his words, she gives him a bit of a squeeze and tugs him off the wall, quiet and thoughtful, struggling with her own demons and complicated feelings.

They weren't far from her suite, and luckily no one was around. Once inside, she's not quite sure what to do. She's still gripping his arm as if it grounded her.] Um, drink?

[It did help him. It gave him a goal. And with a goal you had to work out how to get to the solution. And he could do that. It would mean less time thinking of what he was currently squishing down to not think about, and more on how to help achieve it.

Remy moved along with that pull, before slipping free of her grasp, but it was only so he could take her hand in his.] Yeah, I think that's a good idea. [But right now, something alcoholic didn't feel right, not after that. Less wanting to forget, more wanting to feel warm. Comforted.] Tell ya what, ya got chocolate? I can make us up some hot chocolate while ya get cleaned up. [He really could use a shower too, but it's her place and she was the one needing to get sorted out first.]

[They both needed some sort of resolution, some comfort to their guilt and the emotional reeling. Somehow, him taking her hand regardless of all that helped ground her, and she merely gave it a thankful squeeze.

To be fair, she never said it was to be alcohol, but she agreed with him, offering him a slight ghost of a smile as she glanced his way. He's right. She needed a shower and neither of them needed to dull their wits and feelings with alcohol, even if she wanted to manage this all poorly.] Ah think we do.

[Leaning over, she tugged the key to her suite out (it's amazing she still had it), and without letting go of his hand, unlocked the door and pulled them both inside, gently and quietly. Lucky for them, they're seemingly alone.] Stuff for the hot chocolate's in the cabinets, ah think.

[Maybe it said something about his way of thinking that to deal with something that caused distress was to drink it into oblivion, even if she hadn't actually offered it. It just seemed too easy to fall into as a coping mechanism.

Once inside, Remy returned that squeeze to her hand, but when it felt not enough for what had happened, brought their joint hands up so he could press a kiss to the top of her wrist. It wasn't meant as romantic, hadn't presented it as such, but that of more comfort; that they were together in this.] Go. I'll be here when ya get out.

[Far too easy indeed, which is another reason a quick, hopefully refreshing shower will help with settling her thoughts before she opened her damn mouth, which more often than not got them both in trouble in the end.

He earned a soft smile in return, though it's clearly heavy with other things.] Thanks Remy.

[The gesture was comforting, and she took that with her as she disappeared into that portion of the suite's shared shower. She's not quick about it, but she didn't linger too long, worried he'd be gone when she finally emerged. When she did emerge, her hair's wet and she's in a towel with his trench in hand, which she offered him with a clear of her throat.]

Ah'm glad you're a creature of habit. Else ah would've been walkin' back naked.

[It's not until she's vanished into the bathrooms that Remy let out a long sigh, slumping a shoulder against the wall, hand over his face again and just... needing a moment to push back everything. Then a shorter, more brisk breath out, short and sharp between his lips as he pushed himself off the wall. No, not going to let that happen, not tonight. Right now he needed to be here for her and what she went through, not caught up in his own thoughts. That could be saved for later.

Rubbing at his forehead one more time with another sigh, Remy shifted towards where she had indicated items were, poking around the kitchen unit enough to get everything together to cook up a couple of mugs worth of drink for them. Being able to do something with his hands helped as a distraction, keeping his attention just focused on getting it done that he's not aware of the passing time until she reappears and speaks up again.] Gotta keep on brand, non? [Filling up one a cup and holding it out in one hand as he reaches for his coat with the other.]

[At this point, modesty felt both necessary and perhaps a bit strange given their very recent experience, but the kitchen smelled of hot chocolate and she's starving, probably thirsty too. Truth be told, it's the comfort it brought that she's craving, hot and sweet, with memories of cold mansion nights tied to the steaming mug of chocolate.

His comment prompted a gentle smile of appreciation as she took the offered mug, letting her fingertips brush over his curiously, to see if her mutation was still inactive. She exhaled a sigh, unsure of whether to be relieved or worried, the hand free of his coat shifting to rest over the corner of towel tucked into the other end. Just in case.

Blowing on the hot chocolate, she let the silence sit around them for a few moments. There's so much to say and honestly she didn't know how to process most of it, let alone say it. She also had some personal questions that this whole thing has surfaced. Eventually, she nodded towards her room.]

C'mon. We can drink in private. [Before he could really weigh in on the decision, she turned and disappeared into her room, sipping at the drink while mulling over the situation.]

[That slight touch didn't go unnoticed to Remy, he was always super aware of her touch for when they were able to have it, but he let it go unmentioned, instead moving to drape his coat over his arm as he filled up a cup for himself. Part of him was ready to just go now she was sorted out, but he had made enough for two.

And it felt wrong to leave. Even if they weren't together, with what just happened, he could never just walk out on her afterwards. She wasn't a one night stand. A date to have a bit of fun with and not see again. She was Anna Marie, and he wouldn't do that to her. Couldn't.

She had never been just some random girl.

Even then her suggestion came as a bit of a surprise, a moment of pause before Remy had gone to answer her.

And then she left.

That gets a huff out of Remy, but also a smile, all too used to that attitude from her. Stubborn girl. A shake of his head before he took a sip at his own cup, Remy moved to follow her into her room, closing the door quietly behind him.]

[Touching him now, even in the simplest of ways, resonated in her, a jump of energy and a flow of calm. He's always been a source of intense emotions for her, a well of them that still ran deep, and even more so now that she's had a chance to canonball right back into them.

She'd say it'd been against her better judgment, but in reality, whatever affected them broke down all those emotional barriers and walls she put in place, all her precautions and their rules given the additional situation of their points on each of their timelines. In the end, it's the lack of control in the ultimate decision that bothered her the most.

But in this moment, she was her entire, complicated self again. And, she could still touch. The weight of that was not lost on her. It occupied the bulk of her thoughts even as he entered the room.

She sipped her coffee, more for something to do with her mouth and her hands than actual thirst. It's still a bit too hot.]

Ah'm sorry Remy. [Seemed like a good place to start.] Sorry it's a mess for you more than me. [She quieted, voice breaking a bit.] Ah'm real sorry it wasn't us. Ah mean, it was an' it wasn't, you know? Just... [She sighed forcefully.] Ah hate mind control.

[That's the worst of it. They both had a history with it, together and separately over the years. It always robbed something from the experiences.]

[Remy looked around for a moment, finding a spot to put his coat down neatly before shifting his cup from one hand to the other to hold, watching her carefully as she started to speak. His expression softened even more as she spoke, with what she was saying, but the instant he heard that break in her voice, that tone shift, Remy instantly moved to cross the distance between them. He moved to wrap an arm around her shoulder, giving her a squeeze and a slight bump of the side of his head against hers, staying there for the moment.] Hey, don't ya go soundin' like that. Ya did nothin' wrong, wasn't in ya control.

[The thing was... it did help to hear, even if it didn't feel fully right for her to have to say it. It hadn't been something under her control, she shouldn't have to apologize, even if it did help sooth some of those sharper spikes of his guilt over this all. It didn't heal them fully, but it helped.] May not had been 'us', but out of all the chances, am glad it was with ya, Anna. If it had been someone else I had stumbled 'cross... I donno. [Remy didn't want to think about it. It was all too much. If it had been the other way around, if her, his Rogue, had been the one caught up in this, with a past him, would he be upset at her?

No. Not with that mind control. Without that mind control? Hmm, he still doubted it, because it was still 'them'. Then again, since when had Remy ever been good at taking his own advice? He could easily tell her she wasn't at fault without a second thought, but for himself?

He was still going to be blaming himself over this for awhile.]

I know ya do, that why we can't agree on when our first kiss was.

[She leaned into him and his touch while she could act so casually, while she still had her mutation dampened. These were cherished moments, even if they were complicated. Still, she shifted her head back so that she could sip her hot chocolate, to put distance enough between them to think clearly. Otherwise she might just give into the ever growing desire to put the lack of mind influence and quelled mutation to good use in answering a few questions she maintained.

Except he’s married (to a future her), which confused the matter of both his feelings as her own. How broken and self-loathing he appeared to feel knowing that he did something against his wife reflected a dedication that she’d only just experienced in his promises of home and harbor. To see his devotion in action, unwavering and deep, well it’s quite stirring even to her walled and stubborn heart.

His words hit home, and she sighed with a dip of her head, a mix between a nod and resignation to the truth of it all, of more than he’s simply stating. Her eyes raised to his when he moved to the hypothetical, and she hummed her disapproval of that line of thought. If she’s not allowed to think poorly of herself, neither was he.

She couldn’t help but think that if he’d been her husband, which still remains nearly unfathomable for her, and he’d been mind controlled into sleeping with an identical version of herself? Well that’s not exactly a new scenario (thanks mother dearest), and now that she’s ankle deep in his shoes, Rogue didn’t see how she could hold something like this against him. Mind control clouded everything, tainted it to a degree.

It wasn’t them, and yet it was, unequivocally. The connection had been deeper, if possible, and she still felt that now.

His comment had her scoff in laughter.] Not that again.

[That there usually would have been enough to start an argument. Now, it gave her thought, and a bit of a push. She set the mug down and turned towards him, placing a hand on his chest as though to feel his heartbeat, her own gaze full of questions, of silent permission, of a different sort of need.]

Remy...? [She wanted to know, maybe even needed the reassurance, the confirmation. What would she do with it after? Well she still hadn’t thought that far ahead yet, not wanting to lose what nerve she’s collected.]

[Remy smiled a little at her hum, knowing what it meant, before it widening at her laugh at his comment, glad that she took it that way. It was always going to be a point for them, and if Remy can turn it into a joke as needed for situations where they needed a laugh, something to help recenter them, then he would.

Also, mind control or not, it had been an amazing moment for him. He really had given up on anything romantically long term after Bella, and he's very glad Rogue proved that all wrong.

And it had been an amazing kiss.

Watching her shift, moving towards him, his smile slipped a little, instantly feeling that change in the mood, a sudden heaviness appearing that he was not quite sure where it would lead to. Remy can make a guess, almost feel that she may ask... but not willing to recognize those thoughts until she confirmed it. And even then, how he would feel if she did say it.

Trust it to be her that makes him feel unsure and confused about himself. At least that felt normal.] Anna?

[Honestly, she didn't have the energy for a fight on the matter. That can wait for another day, one where she could again prove her correctness on the matter.

Though, speaking of mind control not counting, there's the matter at hand, literally and figuratively. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt as her other hand shifted to trail fingertips along his jaw, tender even as she tugged him down for a kiss that's both languid and confident in their need for this, to reclaim themselves together and as individuals in their right (enough) minds.

It's not a long kiss, enough to set intentions and verify his own, but there's a lot of emotion in it, a spark she felt that lights her blood on fire even after everything, starting deep in her chest. When she leaned back to break the kiss, lips still parted as her eyes searched into his dark ones for her answer to the still unasked question.

Wordlessly, as a silent amendment to her inquiry, the hand against his jaw dropped to loosen the tucked corner of the towel enough to let gravity claim it entirely, leaving her bare before him once again. This time, however, her stance remained confident rather than needy or submissive, a smirking curl of her lips and cock of her hip.

Take her or leave her Cajun, she's not about to beg this time.]

[Remy didn't bother to hide his confusion at her touch, almost sinking into concerned, until her fingers danced over his jaw, closing his eyes to the touch as he realized what this was, his expression softening and relaxing as he answered that kiss. Not asking for more in it, just a sweet moment of reassurance; that this was real, that this was in their control, and that it was their choice.

His gaze stayed on hers as she moved away, not needing to verbally answer that question, only dropping once that towel did, taking her all in. Another thing so different to what they had just been through. Before had just been satisfying a forced need. It hadn't been a chance to enjoy each other, just to take what they had been made to want. It was hollow. Just something to satiate a physical need, but left empty an emotional one.

Not breaking his gaze from her, Remy moved to place his own mug down before pulling his shirt off over his head. Letting it drop to the ground, he toed off one shoe, then the other, as he stepped towards her, before wrapping an arm around her to pull her close. His hand came up to her chin, but this time around it was less to direct her into a kiss, more a request, his touch soft against her skin instead of demanding. As was the kiss that followed. Letting her know she was his partner, an equal, not what that hunger had forced her to be.

Remy knew she wasn't that.]

[This felt right, more like the them she remembered and always hoped for in the end, a chance at rectifying the narrative, replacing the memory of something rooted solely in carnal urges. They were husks of themselves then, and she needed it to be more than a muddy situation of mind control.

Besides, she still loved him through the mess of everything, and while she’s in no place to admit that outloud or even to herself, the feeling remained deeply rooted.

There’s no shying away from his gaze, from that emotional hunger and need they both wanted satiated, and she’s not ashamed of her body, especially in front of a man that’s seen the worst of her and somehow still married the mess of it all. Somehow a different her did too.

She watched him set aside the mug out of the corner of her sight, but dropped her focus appreciatively as he pulled his shirt off and tossed it aside. An appreciative noise followed, fingertips and palms smoothing over his stomach and up his chest as he brought her closer, leaning into him without hesitation or teasing, just in that Southern way that things take the time they take. It’s not rushed, nor delayed. It’s just right, just them. It felt like home and she wanted to lose herself in the comfort of him.

Her hands kept the contact even as she dragged her own torso snug with his, shifting along his side and then over his back, always against bare skin. This was a luxury, they both knew, and she planned on taking full advantage as she leaned up to agree with his statement in her kiss, deeping it without accelerating the pace any.

Consequences could come later. For now, everything was right in their world.]

[What remained of the night was a stark contrast to where this had all began in the club. Now it was at their own pace, and certain within their own control. Even with whatever differences they had between their times, being with her always felt right. Like fitting the piece that was missing from him.

It also helped to sooth some of the wounds their forced time had created, even ones Remy hadn't been aware were there; those questions and insecurities about him betraying his wife, whether within his power or not to had stopped. He would still need some time to think it over after this, to roll it around in his mind once alone, but being with her here and now, it helped.

Afterwards didn't mean it was over, more than happy to cuddle up with her and just have them be together. It was just as important, maybe even more so, than being together. That it was never just physical with them, though that was certainly always an attraction, it was that chance to be together as themselves, and really themselves. Able to show each other sides of them that didn't get seen by others. And to feel safe to do so.

He may had said he was her harbor, but she had always been his home.]

[It felt right. The happenings at the club, the differences in time, and her baggage fell away in favor of the chance to be them again, at least for a little while. A relative little, not a literal one. They'd have to deal with the reality of the situation at some point, but Rogue's always been one to avoid serious conversations about their relationship or their lack of relationship, both of which were the case with each of them.

The important matter was that the evening was theirs to rewrite their narrative. To find home and harbor and enough pleasure to drown themselves. Enough that she even lacked the energy to throw on clothes before falling asleep, not even gloves. The sheet was a satisfactory enough makeshift barrier between their skin, a lazy precaution against her powers returning in the wee hours of the morning.

It's long since past the early hours when consciousness starts to prick at the edge of her dreams, having slept long and hard, which ironically mirrored the activities of her last handful of days. In that mostly dream state she stirred, just enough to shift against the form tucked behind her, familiar and comfortable.]

[How they fell asleep was almost a case of muscle memory, even within sleep; knowing the limitations and working with that thin fabric barrier, but also able to 'touch' through them and stay cuddled up to each other. And Remy does adore being able to just hold her, to lay with an arm over her, almost like a reassurance she was still there. Even more so with 'their' time apart since he has been here.

Just enjoying the chance to be near her again.

And while it is unusual for him to wake first out of them, Remy starts to do so as she shifts and moves against him, starting with lifting into a more hazy form of sleep, before becoming more aware of this all. That there was someone here compared to his bed where he's been alone since coming here, how they were situated, aches and pains of muscles that, honestly, he was not expecting, before memories of what had happened start to invade his waking brain. There's a moment where he just holds still, replaying it all over in his mind, before moving to nuzzles his face into the back of her hair, his arm tightening around her waist to pull her close.

Ok, yeah, that all happened. But for now, just enjoying the moment.]

[Unfortunately for Rogue, she’s yet to wake up enough to feel the degree of just how sore from the past several days full of mostly rough, animalistic sex. Last night with Remy had been the exception to the rule, as it had been a choice as much as an unfaltering need.

A soft, mumbling noise leaves her lips as he shifts and pulls her closer, but it turns into a bit of a groan when an ache of mostly angry body parts cuts through her sleep brain, dragging her awake. She exhales and tries to ignore the light that existed on the other side of her eyelids, but it’s no use.

With him it’s easy to fall into old comforts, and this certainly counts as creature comforts, perhaps even as indulgent. That being said, she’s not so keen on bringing serious words and reality back into the forefront of her mind quite yet, and instead turns just enough to nuzzle him a bit through her mess of hair.]

Hope you slept well Cajun.

[Because she fears trying to walk at this point.]

Best sleep since got here. [An open and honest answer that maybe felt a little too real after he said it, so adding on a bit of a joke afterwards.] But considerin' where here be... [Remy taking a moment to clear his throat after that, trying to remove the grumble that sleep had added to his tone.

He hadn't yet opened his eyes yet to the day, having just felt her out and wanting those few extra moments to just lie there and just be. That morning comfort that made it so you didn't want to get out of bed and face the day yet, hoping could just hit pause on everything and stay put.] Ya sleep well?

[So much for nothing serious blooming into the forefront of her mind. The mention of this being the best sleep he’s had since arriving was sincere, she could hear it in his voice, and no doubt it’s connected to the fact that he’s wrapped up in his ‘wife.’ Nevermind that she wasn’t his wife or that she might never be his wife in her future, the body and mind felt that deep connection that they shared and in that, she was the same.

She’s still uncomfortable admitting such a thing, even after yesterday, after last night. So, she made a sleepy noise that’s partially a yawn as her body did a bit of a half-stretch in her shoulders and torso. Yep, she’s sore.]

Mn, we exerted quite a bit of effort yesterday. A knocked right out.

[No nightmares and no wee hour of the morning wake ups. She could maybe get used to this sleeping through the night business.]

[There's a deep inhale from him, almost acting as an answer at first, before a groan as he moved his arm from resting over her, rolling to lie on his back and stretching out. Oooh yeah, aches and pains.] Mon Dieu, that all was... [A shake of his head after arching his back this way and that in those stretches, before relaxing back against the bed.] It was such a thing.

I donno if to be 'mpressed with m' performance, or worried 'm drastically dehydrated. Maybe both. [On this side of the morning, if it was still even morning... they were waking up, so it was 'morning', but on this side... it was easier to joke about, and he hoped she would be able to laugh at it too. For all the mess it had been.]

[She couldn't help but shift along with him, moving enough so that she can watch him go through his cat-like stretches with a bit of an amused smile. There's a fondness there too. It hits her right in the nostalgia, from when they were together. He usually hated mornings and getting him out of bed was a chore in it of itself. Absently, she wondered if that's going to be the case today as well. Until then, she enjoyed the view.]

Ah'm afraid to move. [And she's not about to talk about the other reasons why that's the case, focusing on him and them instead. Physically at least. Emotionally was very much still a minefield.]

Both. [She confirmed.] But remember you're only as good as your dance partner before you go takin' all the credit.

I wouldn't dream of it. [Being with her just... it as magical, every time. He knows he has more of a history than she does, a lot more to compare to, but no one had come close to her.

However any thoughts about that were distracted as his brows furrowed a bit, gaze moving back to her.] Sore? [Which, honestly, made sense after, well, all of that, let alone whatever was happening before he had stumbled across her. Dieu this place was weird...] Ya got painkillers stored somewhere I can get ya?

Inbox - Penance

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