WEDDING "Other Side of the World"

[x-gambit.livejournal.com]

Jake and Remy on their stake out in Denver talk about cheery subjects.



It was cold and dark outside, a last gasp of frost before the spring and summer could fully settle in. Their hotel room opened on to a parking lot, partially enclosed and obviously past its best days. The meeting was supposed to take place here, and Remy had planted a cheap sensor at the entrance to warn them of any activity. He hoped it would happen before dawn started, lighting up their post. Remy turned away from the window and sat down in one of the chairs, across from where Jake had been dozing.

Chocolate and oranges. Yes, chocolate and oranges. And marble cake. Jake frowned a little at the sudden disturbance in the air, but continued to determinedly imagine the food that would no doubt be enjoyed by all the wedding guests soon. While he was here, waiting. It wasn't that he wasn't used to it, but it had never been his favorite thing about his job.

"Going to be dawn in a couple of hours. Be nice if dey showed up before den." Remy groused, in part to himself. "Easier to get close under de cover of night." Jake regarded him with a flat stare and flopped back down on the bed. Obviously, even the pie hadn't changed the man's mood much.

If the world had been right side up, Jake'd be down there, waiting for a shipment or trading documents or what have you. Not being bored to death up here. He sighed.

"Fuck it." Remy muttered, and dug out his flask. Normally he never drank on the job, but this was boring enough to warrent something. He hunted up a pair of water glasses and poured a generous tot into both. He put one on the side table by Jake and sat back down.

"Well, I know dat I'm having a great time."

"Oh yes," Jake nodded. "We could be having cake in fine company instead we're having.." he took a sniff off the glass. "Woah."

"Cognac. It's good stuff, so don't swill it." Remy took a small sip and smiled. "Dat's better. 'sides, dat wedding is for family, neh? Not us."

"I'm pretty sure I was invited..."

"So was I. But dat's because de Professor wants a nice happy family, and Moira and Nate are decent people." Remy laughed darkly. "Dat's ironic. Nathan fucking Dayspring as a decent person."

Jake's eyebrows rose. "Or, while we're being paranoid, they could've just invited us for the wedding presents." He eyed his glass. "And Cable's okay. Just a little..." He waved his hand vaguely.

"Changed?" Remy said, nailing the word on the head. "Yeah, he is. He believes, Jake. De school, de new life. Actually," Remy checked the time. "Now is when de wedding should be starting. One big happy group."

"And here we are. With cognac and some seriously ugly pictures. And no cake." Jake was having difficulties letting go of the cake part.

"'pparently." Remy took a reflective sip. "Still, best place for de monsters and de mercenaries, neh?"

"Hey, who are you calling a monster?" Jake sat up at that, frowning at Remy.

"Not you, moron." Remy said sourly. "You get de 'sell out you own mother for pie' award."

"Damn straight. And she's very proud of me too. Although I've heard rumours she feels I'm not cut throat enough," he added thoughtfully. Jake tilted his head to study Remy's dour looking face. "So you're the monster, then?"

"You should know dat better den anyone, Gavin." Remy looked over the rim of his glass. "Heard you use de psychopath comment enough. And you not wrong. Stopping Wisdom is going to cost, so is finding Magneto. Dat's what we're worth."

Things were getting very gloomy here. Jake blinked. It wasn't so much that he disagreed with Remy (not on the psychopath thing, anyway), but... "Lorna and Amanda likes you," he pointed out. "Obviously you have to have something to you." And they would take away his cookies if Remy was still this gloomy when they came back to the mansion.

"Lots of people like us, Jake. Still doesn't change who we are. You'd sell out the mansion for de right price, and I'd kill you without a second thought for it. Dat's why it's better dat we're here." Remy pointed out, no real anger in his voice. "And it's better to not pretend it's anything different. Cake or no cake."

"I wouldn't," Jake protested. After Remy's doubting look. "Well, it doesn't work like that. You know that. Besides, do you think I do this for just anybody?" He waved at the room they were in. It wasn't that pretty.

"You're doing it because you know dat I'd burn you across Europe for using de Professor's name with Infonet. Or maybe you think its fun and your pare likes you close to dis place. But you not doing it out of loyalty, Jake. Remy know dat for sure." Remy put down his glass. "And I'm doing it out of guilt. So that makes us useful; tolerable. But not part of dem."

"Out of guilt?" Jake said in surprise.

"You expect anything else?" Remy checked his watch again. "Torn up enough lives dat my own doesn't mean much any more. Dis place gives me at least enough meaning not to cut my own throat in the morning. 'pose it's selfish, but guess Remy have to live wit' dat. What's the time difference 'tween here and Scotland?"

"Can't remember. Half a day?"

"Think eight, nine hours. Hell, it close enough. Dey getting married 'round now." Remy raised his glass. "To Nathan and Moira."

"To Cable and She of the Sentient Coffee," Jake nodded, raising his glass in return. "May their cake be delicious."

LeRoy says there's something you should know
Not everybody has a place to go
And home is just a place to hang your head
And dream up things to do in Denver when you're dead

'Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead' - Warren Zevon