xp_logs | Ororo and Remy | Tuesday afternoon

Ororo heads into the city to meet with Remy, as per their usual arrangement. It's been a while, however, and neither of them are able to focus as well as they usually do. Things stray a bit off-topic.

Well, this was new. Ororo sat on the park bench, legs crossed as she looked around her at the various people wandering through the park. Instead of meeting at a coffeshop or restaurant as was their usual habit, she and Remy had arranged to convene here, at the small park near the brownstone. Perhaps they were both a little skittish and felt more comfortable meeting out in the open, perhaps this seemed less personal and easier to write off as a business meeting and nothing more. Perhaps they just weren't hungry. Whatever the case, Ororo's nervousness only grew as she waited for the Cajun to appear, her tongue tied up with words and apologies and excuses that she didn't know if she had the strength to utter.

There were times that Remy was willing to concede that he could be somewhat creepy. Like now, for example, using his assassin training to find a vantage point to watch Ororo from without her having a chance to see him. He'd been there for ten minutes, just watching her while he questioned whether or not he was willing to see her. The look in her eyes during their last meeting had burned itself into his memory, and he wasn't sure whether he could face that.

With a scowl, he tossed the cigarette from his mouth and crushed it under his toe. He'd hurt her, she hated him for it, and nothing was going to change that. No matter what his reasons. The black mood settled on him, like a comfortable coat which he'd lived in for the last month. Finally, he stepped from his spot and walked purposefully towards her.

He was close before she heard the sound of footsteps that alerted her to his presence. Trying to look nonchalant, she stood hastily, rubbing her palms on her thighs as she waited for him to approach. "Hello, Remy," she greeted him, considering for a moment sticking out a hand to shake but quickly quashing that idea. He looked anything but happy to see her - not that he had any reason for gladness. "Thank you for coming to meet with me today."

He looked around for a moment, hands in his pockets before finally facing her with a half shrug. "It's been a slow week. Wasn't any trouble."
Remy fiddled with his change as he stood there. The CD of material he'd put together for her was in his other pocket, but it didn't seem right to just hand it to her and run. When did he become such a coward, he thought snidely. "Dat was good work wit' Creed. Hopefully dey got a deep hole to drop him in and forget dat he exists."

"Yes, I concur. I would be happy to know that he never bothers another person again." There was another awkward pause, and then Ororo folded her legs and sat back on the bench for lack of a better plan. "I know we have already told her, and likely the government too, but thank Sofia from us once again. She was a great help."

"First time for everything." Remy said, although not with his previous venom. The enforced incarceration in the brownstone over Christmas had at least dulled some of the edges in their working relationship. He pulled the disc out of his pocket. "I've got de information dat you wanted. It's all cross indexed de best dat we could verify. Don't leave it on de train or anything."

"Yes, of course not." Ororo reached for the disc, her lips pressed together in a tight line. Was it over so quickly, then? Far be it for her to want to prolong someone else's suffering, but she had hoped for a few more minutes to get her thoughts in order. "Thank you."

He saw the look on her face change, confirming what he thought. So that was really it. "Not a problem. I needed work to throw at Doug and 'manda, before dey wreck de office." He stuffed his hands back in his pockets, against the chill around him. "You take care getting home."

"Wait, Remy." It burst out before she could stop it, leaving her feeling slightly embarrassed and yet all the more committed to continuing. "Please, if you have a moment. There are things that need saying, mostly by me. And if you are in a hurry, I understand, but if you are not, I would appreciate having a minute of your time in order to say... them." Swallowing, she flicked her eyes to his face for a moment, hoping to see a glimmer of something, anything that would give her the courage to continue.

He stopped as she asked, turning back to her. Her voice didn't contain anger, but he knew it would be there, waiting. The best thing he could do right now is keep walking, make things easier for the both of them. But he couldn't let himself. "Oui? What's dat den?" It wasn't the warmest reply, but the best he could do with every instinct screaming 'flight'.

Taking another deep breath, Ororo steeled herself and plunged onward. "I am sorry for what happened in Africa. I know you came a very long way, and went through very much to track me down. And then to have me respond the way I did... I am sorry. You deserve much more than just that apology, but I do not know what else I can do to make amends."

"Dere's nothing dat you owe me." Remy said, if a little bleakly. "De Professor would have figured it out sooner or later."

"He did," Ororo murmured, folding her hands together. "But that does not negate what you did. I know you came because of the danger my actions posed to people, but I also think... I think you also acted out of friendship, and I did not respond as a friend should have." She stared down at her hands, willing Remy to believe the candor of her words. "And now, I wish I had. Because it seems it may have lost me a good friend, and I regret that deeply."

"Why?" Remy said, suddenly. "Dere might have been a hundred ways to approach dat, and I chose de one dat I knew would hurt you worst. So why would you ever want anything to do wit' dat?"

"Because I happen to believe that intent plays an important part in how you must view another person's actions. And I know your intent was good," she said, lifting her head to glance up at him. Every bone in her body felt heavy; she could not have gotten up to leave even if she had wanted to. "Just as I know that you did not relish what you did... you are not so much of a monster, Remy. I have seen your dark side, but he was not there that day."

"Would you have left if I hadn't come down?" It was really the only question that mattered to him.

Ororo sighed. "I do not know."

Remy closed his eyes for a second, and then opened them. He looked at Ororo before nodding and turning to walk out of the park, leaving her there on the bench as he did so. He needed time and sky to think.