xp_logs | backdated - Ororo and Remy

Ororo and Remy 'get away' for an evening. And yes, they really do go antiquing.

"I don't think dat Remy needs an antique bureau, chere." Remy said, half-amused as Ororo looked through the front window of the antique shop. He had been mostly kidding about the antiques, but Ororo was wound so tight he'd imagined he could feel the muscles of her back vibrate under his fingers. "We going to have dinner or dere any other thing dat was made four hundred years ago dat you think I should buy?"

Glancing up at Remy, Ororo made a face, fingers still resting on the sill of the window. "I just think your apartment could use a more personal feel to it. As if someone actually lived there." Though it felt strange in a way to be focusing on such domestic issues after the week that had just passed, in another way it was a very, very welcome change. "And you must admit it is a lovely bureau. They do not make pieces with such attention to detail nowadays."

Remy looked over at the bureau again, obviously not seeing what she did in it. He could talk about art in a distant sense, as part one of his old covers, but he didn't get it really. "It's nice, I guess. 'sides, dere nothing wrong wit' my apartment. It's got... furniture in it. Remy bought from dat place 'round de corner." His apartment was so basically furnished that it could have been an animated setting.

"I think you are a little old to be furnishing your apartment with college-dorm nouveau," she remarked, slipping an arm through his as they turned away from the window and started back down the sidewalk towards the restaurant they had spotted driving past. "But if you do not like that piece, it is fine. I would buy it myself, but it is a bit too fine to risk losing to a demon invasion."

"I like your room. It looks like you." He said warmly, holding her forearm as they went down the street. "Always thought dat in dere, you so much in who you really are. Dere's not Storm or Headmistress Munroe in dere, just 'Ro."

"I think I have had enough of Storm and Headmistress Munroe for one week," Ororo remarked thoughtfully. "Not that I can turn them off or ignore them, but... I would be glad for the chance to let them be for a short while. Which is why I am grateful that you invited me out. Thank you, Remy."

Remy stopped, pulling her around in front of him and kissing the side of her neck with a low growl. "Remy spent two weeks trapped on Muir. To be honest, my intentions for getting you out of de school were not entirely altruistic.

Not bothering to suppress the shiver that ran through her, Ororo smiled, leaning into Remy gratefully. "Then I suppose I will not apologize for my own selfish ambitions."

"Good. Hate to let you think dat Remy gone innocent or something." He said, smiling at her without reservation. "We even going to make it to dinner, you think?"

"I should hope so... I am starving!"

Remy laughed and pushed her lightly back, trapping her hand in his. "I never thought dat hunger would trump you other appetites, Stormy." He said, walking back down the street with her. "I suppose dat letting you eat is de best idea."

"You are too kind, mpenzi," Ororo replied, her eyes dancing now with half-hidden amusement. In Remy's company it was easy to forget about the stress of the past week, the tenseness that had begun to build until her control on her emotions and her powers had felt like tightly-wound rubber bands.

"Looks like seafood den." He said, opening up the door. Remy ushered her in with a slight bow, and followed. "Can't tell you how good it is to see you, 'Ro."

"It is good to see you too, Remy. This past week... I wish that you had not been away," was all she settled for saying in the end.

"I'm here now."

***

It was serendipitous that the small bed and breakfast where they had booked a room for the evening was flanked by a large, well-kept garden. It was less coincidental that Remy and Ororo found themselves wandering through it after dinner, hand-in-hand.

"Dey don't have a patch on you skill, chere." Remy said, looking at the plants while they wandered along the paths. They had lingered through dinner, talking about all manner of things, none of them related to either of their jobs or the recent events. It had been restful, the stress bleeding away slowly. "It's our kind of coincidence dat it would be here, neh?"

"By that you mean... unbelievable except knowing our luck?" Ororo quipped, smirking a bit as she leaned in to inspect a blossom on a low-hanging branch.

"Something like dat." Remy said, taking a moment to look at the flower before moving on, and idly splashing the water in the nearby fountain. "Look at all de work dey put into dis."

"It's very nice. I'm sure they have quite a few happy customers." Ororo sighed, the last bits of tension ebbing away as she listened to the rustling of the breeze through the plans.

"At least two." He said, turning and rubbing the small of her back. It was starting to get cool, but it never got too cold around Ororo. "I think I'm starting to understand why you spend so much time in your garden."

"It is rather relaxing, is it not?" she asked, following the stepping-stone path to stand beside him next to the fountain. With barely a moment's hesitation she slipped her arms around him, leaning a head on his shoulder. Intimacy had a definite appeal right now - if only to keep from thinking too hard about the things that still wanted to distract her. "To be honest, I have not visited it in far too long... it felt like cheating, to be there when the students were missing. I avoided it."

"You know, running youself down doesn't help dem any, 'Ro." Remy traced idle patterns on top of the water, shifting so his arm lay across her waist and she could fully lean into him. "Best thing dat you can do is keep youself healthy and ready. You one of de leaders; de rest of dem look to you, and take dere cues from what you do."

"This, from the man who was shot and then went gallivating off to Scotland for research purposes," Ororo said with a laugh, nipping lightly at Remy's neck. "I will take it easy when you do, mpenzi. Not before."

"De only thing dangerous at Muir is Moira's coffee. I was perfectly safe. I also never gallivant." Remy said calmly, flicking the cold water on her arm and watching the goosebumps raise on her dark skin. "Reminds me, ran into one of yours dere. Crystal. She's thinking 'bout asking Sofia to teach her some tricks wit' de wind."

"Oh? That is good... Crystal is a very hard-working young woman. I am not surprised she is seeking out new ways to expand her mastery of her powers. I am glad." Closing her eyes, Ororo breathed in the heady aroma of the blooming flowers, mixed with Remy's own scent. It was a pleasant perfume.

Remy looked at her, eyes closed and body finally starting to relax. "You're looking tired, chere. Should we call it a night?" He turned his head to whisper next to her ear. "Or would you rather dat Remy take you to bed instead?"

Smiling against Remy's neck, Ororo then pulled back, slipping her hand into his and taking a step back towards the little cottage. "Perhaps I am not too tired yet. Let us go see how the 'bed' of this bed and breakfast measures up."

Remy grinned, remembering the sign in the antique store window. "You break it, you bought it, 'ro."