They had been back for two weeks, recovering from the strenuous events that had taken place in Antarctica. Jean and Scott left for a week in New York, Bobby had gone to visit the GenX kids, Remy was missing but Rogue assured them that he was fine and Logan was currently in Madapor which had left Charles, Warren, Betsy and Rogue alone in the mansion to watch over things until the others got back.
Rogue was unnaturally cheerful during this all, putting on a smile for the current occupants of the mansion whenever they asked if something was wrong and dismissing it with a laugh.
"No, nothings wrong, why d' ya ask Bets? Rogue asked with a smile during one of these sessions.
"No reason at all, you just seemed.. a little different recently. That's all"
"Oh, ok, just wondering" Rogue nodded. Seeing this as an end to the conversation she walked off to the kitchen for breakfast. Later that evening Xavier asked her into his office to talk.
"You know Rogue," He started off. "I am worried about how recent events might have affected members of this team. I am most concerned about you and Gambit. I would like it if we could discuss it, that is if you feel it wouldn't be a problem to."
"No it wouldn' proffesah' what would yah like ta talk about?" She asked, taking a seat in the nearest chair facing his desk. He looked at her and motioned for her to move the chair and herself closer.
"Well frankly, the absence of Gambit has me worried that he might be hiding something or that he could be hurt and doesn't want to come to us for help."
Rogue looked uncomfortable about this line of discussion but didn't motion to stop. . "He mahd his decisions. He felt that he needed ta leave th' X-men and find his own way." She said straight faced. The professor looked up in interest.
" Did he tell you where he was going?" He asked.
"Ah'm afraid not proffesah' he just said that he was goin' off somewhere."
" Do you know if he will be back any time soon?"
"No, now if yah please Ah'd like ta get ta bed, ah'm tired and its been long day. Ah hope yah understand"
"Yes, of course I understand. You are dismissed."
Rogue got up and left, heading for her room. Thoughts of a hot shower ran through her head so she quickly undressed, wrapped herself in a towel and headed off for the showers. She came and went so quickly that she failed to notice the window slowly opening.
The water came down in a powerful spray but she didn't feel the force, either from her powers or because she felt empty inside. The thoughts and memories of her last encounter with Gambit flooded her mind and she sifted through them, looking for the worst ones, the ones that would justify her actions. Not that she needed to justify herself, she believed that she was completely in the right. And any idea that formed about her leaving a man to die because of something that had happened years ago and she herself had matched were pushed firmly out of her head with a shrug. So what?She thought. Even if it was wrong its to late to do anything about it. And anyways, no-one really liked him to begin with, with the exception of Storm, Logan, Me and Xavier. Not even me anymore.
The water dripped to a stop, as the shower curtain was pulled away. Rogue stepped out and dried herself of briskly and then walked to her room. Didn't I leave this door open when I left? Pushing it open she entered. And stopped. In her tracks. In the middle of the doorway.
"Cherie, come on in, I hope you don' min' dis. Its just cold out dere and recent like I developed a phobia o' sorts about de' cold. I hope you understand."
Gambit was there, sitting on her bed leaning on one hand. He looked no worse for wear and appeared quite healthy. In fact he seemed happy to see her.
"Ah want yah ta leave Remy. Now." Rogue pointed to the door.
"I really don' give a damn what you want. Cherie." This was added with a sneer. " You don' get a chance. You'll listen to what I got to say or I'll call for da' proffes. to come in here and we can explain what happened in Antarctica to him. So be quiet and listen." He motioned for her to sit down in the chair in a corner of the room facing the bed.
"Remy" She started but Gambit cut her off.
"Stop. Now. And listen. Dis will prove to be an interestin' time." He struck a match and lit a cigarette. "You are a cold blooded killer." Looking at her now. "You left me to die. Because I hid my sins from you."
"Yah lied ta me." She pointed out. "How? How did I lie to you? Did I say "Rogue, I did not help cause the Morlock massacre"? No, I didn't. I never lied. Nor did I hide it from you. Because since you've know me not once did you ask if I was involved or if I was dere. No, I never lied. I just didn't tell you. So why did you leave me to die?"
"Ya're a killer and ya never loved me." She yelled at him.
"Not once have I killed. I didn't when I was a 'tief an I didn't when I lead the marauders to the tunnels. So how am I a killer. Because people died from my mistake? Because I was mislead? No, try again. I'm no killer. And I did love you. You just never loved me." He sucked back on his cigarette and blew it in her face.
"Ah loved Yah!"
"How? How did you love me? By leaving me to die? Is dat how you love people? 'Cause if it is I rather not be loved by you. You never loved me. You were maybe in love of my image, but you never loved me. I loved who you were not what you seemed to be. But I don' love you now." He leaned back and flipped his butt at her. "You took everything away from me. My sins were my own. My sins were all I had and you took them from me and made them your poison. What fucking RIGHT did you have to take them away, to use dat against me? Who gave you permission to leave me to die alone, afraid, unwanted. Who let you be God." He turned away from her and spat. All Rogue could do was stare. "But I'm glad for one thing. I'm glad that you gave me back the card I gave to you. The Queen of Hearts is not an appropriate card for this. I have a new card for you though. Here. Take it."
He reached out and handed her a card. She took it and stared at in uncomperhendingly. "Ah don't get it, what does it mean.?" She asked.
"The Ace of Spades?" He grinned. "Very symbolic. Just Like the Queen. Only this isn't meant for love. No, this means death." Gambit rose from the bed carefully and left the mansion through the window. He didn't explain what he was supposed to mean by it, wether it was a threat, warning or prophecy, he just left. Rogue looked down at the card held by her hand. This was no weapon, no charged projectile, but it scared her none the less. She placed it on the dresser and lay down. On the bed Gambit had sat on. For half an hour. With one of his hands hidden. She lay down on the mattress he had secretly charged for thirty minutes, hidden by the light, and by his words. A bed so filled by energy that the explosion took the slightest pressure from her weight as enough to detonate. A bed so deadly that it could have killed Rogue five times over despite her powers went off underneath her. The resulting force erased everything in that room. Nothing but ashes were found. Not even a body was located.
Not even a card.
The end.