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xp_logsOroro and Remy arrive at his house in France for some much needed recuperation time.
"Careful," Ororo said, putting a hand out to steady Remy as they stepped out of the cab and onto the uneven gravel drive. "Moira only agreed to let you go in the end because I reminded her I had first aid and emergency medical training care of Jean. She would have my head if you came all this way and hurt yourself the first day out of her care." Her hand slipped into his then, her warm smile taking the edge off her words. "And I would hate to have to cut our trip short."
"Moira worries too much." Remy said, as he planted the cane carefully with his other hand. It seemed to could never entirely get away from the damn thing. Despite MacTaggart's fussing, Remy felt stronger; much stronger. He was still a few weeks away from proper health, but the worst of the bone weary exhaustion had finally seeped out, and with it, his body was fully on the mend. He stopped and closed his eyes for a second, smelling the slight salt tang in the air that reminded him again that this was his one safe place. He gave her fingers a squeeze. "And dere's no chance dat we leaving early. De Baron would hound de both of us all de way back to New York."
"So he knows we are coming, then? And why?" she asked, her expression turning slightly coy.
"Every time dat I get hurt, he's got dis radar dat picks it up and he gets demanding." Remy said, nodding to her. "I talked to him over de phone dis morning. He's also gotten de house ready for us." The Cajun waved at the small, neat French house at the end of the drive. "Dis is Chateau LeBeau. Trying saying dat one wit' out giggling."
"I know better than to try," Ororo said with a grin, surveying the house before them. It was as different from their shared apartment as it could be, with a lacy, scrollwork-decorated porch and painted shutters lining the windows. Somehow, though, it felt right - serene, untouched by time or trouble, peaceful. "Oh, Remy, this is perfect. It's just right."
"It's pretty small." Remy said, although that had never mattered to him. The small piece of property was one of the few things from his Gambit days that he hadn't liquidated and funneled into the Snow Valley team. It had never been tainted. Instead, it had been where the few threads of humanity left in the assassin had hidden.
The door opened easily, and he led her through the front room, moving a bit awkwardly with the cane. His powers always made it hard for him to use a cane, wanting to let his natural agility dominate. He forced it back, walking her through the small house. The only electronics that could be seen was a small radio in one corner.
Ororo was more taken with the other touches - the flowers in the delicate glass vase on the windowsill, the simple but timeless furniture placed in just the right spot for a late-afternoon chat in the sunbeams. She had no doubt that if she checked in the refrigerator there would be a pitcher of iced tea just waiting to be consumed.
"Back here is de best part of de place." Remy said, leading her through a pair of glass doors and out into the slate flagstones that made a small patio. Where they ended, sand stretched out as the beach met the chilly Atlantic Ocean. While others preferred the warmer Mediterranean beaches, Remy had always found the brisker north, with its occasionally tempestuous seas and icy winds more to his liking. "What do you think, chere?"
She looked out over the flat gray water, feeling the damp ocean breeze against her cheeks. There was a vast emptiness stretched out in front of them, but instead of feeling daunting it felt soothing, as if all pressures and responsibilities were gone, removed, and in their place was only the room for what was truly important. "I think it is perfect," she said, not for the first time that day. And then, turning to him, "I wish we had come here sooner. When I think about all the things we have missed, the things we have not yet done, the things we may never have the chance to do..."
Remy nodded. "De things dat we did are what led us here, 'ro. De things dat we haven't- well, dat's what de future is for." He suddenly grinned, his restored smile quick. "Us, neh? You and me and wherever dat we end up together."
"Indeed. Though for right now, we are here - shall we make the best of it?" With a matching grin she reached down to undo the buttons of her jeans, shimmying her hips until they dropped to the ground. "A swim will do you good."
"Dis was just a ploy to throw Remy in de ocean, isn't it? I knew it." He eased himself into one of the thin wrought metal deck chairs and started to slip off his shoes, more than happy to enjoy the sight of Ororo disrobing while he did so. The sight of her long, dark legs stirred him with the same intensity as the first time, and he allowed himself a moment to let it spread through him. Any doubts he might have had about coming to Beaumont-Les-Bains quelled quickly.
"Swimming in the ocean has many proven therapeutic benefits," Ororo told him with a smirk, kicking off her sandals. "Don't you want to reap those benefits?"
"Well, who am I to hold up a reaping?" He pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it on to the stone tiles beside his discarded shoes and socks. Pants were going to prove more of an issue, but he'd been on a cane before. Fortunately, despite the raw pink and healing scars from the wounds, the worst were well on the mend. The only bandage he still needed was the one that covered the deep burn wound across his abdomen, but it was carefully sealed behind a polymer sheath by Moira and was water proof.
As if sensing his dilemma Ororo approached, the shirt she still wore doing little to hide the fact that she was clearly wearing little else beneath it. Her hands went to his belt, making quick work of it while he balanced on his cane, and then moving on to the fly of his trousers. "Of course, there are certain benefits to staying on land as well," she murmured, snaking the zip down with agonizing slowness.
"First you want to throw me in de water, and now you want to throw me into bed." There was a slight hitch in his breath, especially as the breeze flattened her shirt against her body and outlined it intimately in a way that nudity never could.
"I would not want to throw you anywhere... you are still in delicate condition, mpenzi." Her fingers slid under the waistband of his trousers, her short nails scratching ever so lightly over the sensitive skin of his lower abdomen.
His hand traced the light fabric of her shirt were it moulded against the long muscles of her torso, enjoying the firmness of her body under his touch. Her touch, teasing and close, had the desired effect, despite his physical condition.
Smiling, Ororo leaned in to kiss him, though she was careful not to press too closely to him for fear of putting too much weight upon his injured leg. Though they had shared a bed during the latter part of their stay at Muir Island it had been in a strictly platonic sense, as she could've sworn the doctor had secret cameras installed in order to monitor any behavior that might put her patient's healing at risk. Though she was happy to let things be for the sake of mending, it had made her impatient for a time when they might be intimate once again, and what better place than the isolated 'chateau' that Remy called home?
It was a long moment before Remy broke the kiss. "Maybe swimming can wait, neh?" He knew it would have to be one of the most careful lovemakings of their relationship, but after the horror of the last few months, seeing her, tasting her and feeling her next to him had swamped any other thoughts.
"The ocean will still be there later," Ororo agreed, sounding almost relieved. "It has waited for millions of years, it can wait a bit longer."
"Bein. Because I don't want to." He reached out for the cane, ignoring the discarded clothing, and nudged her back into the house. A thought suddenly hit him. He had never been with anyone in this place. Even with Lorna, they had stopped before going very far, to let her process what had happened. Then her arms were around him, her lips were on his, and all thoughts of other times and other people slipped away until all that was left was the here, and now.
"Careful," Ororo said, putting a hand out to steady Remy as they stepped out of the cab and onto the uneven gravel drive. "Moira only agreed to let you go in the end because I reminded her I had first aid and emergency medical training care of Jean. She would have my head if you came all this way and hurt yourself the first day out of her care." Her hand slipped into his then, her warm smile taking the edge off her words. "And I would hate to have to cut our trip short."
"Moira worries too much." Remy said, as he planted the cane carefully with his other hand. It seemed to could never entirely get away from the damn thing. Despite MacTaggart's fussing, Remy felt stronger; much stronger. He was still a few weeks away from proper health, but the worst of the bone weary exhaustion had finally seeped out, and with it, his body was fully on the mend. He stopped and closed his eyes for a second, smelling the slight salt tang in the air that reminded him again that this was his one safe place. He gave her fingers a squeeze. "And dere's no chance dat we leaving early. De Baron would hound de both of us all de way back to New York."
"So he knows we are coming, then? And why?" she asked, her expression turning slightly coy.
"Every time dat I get hurt, he's got dis radar dat picks it up and he gets demanding." Remy said, nodding to her. "I talked to him over de phone dis morning. He's also gotten de house ready for us." The Cajun waved at the small, neat French house at the end of the drive. "Dis is Chateau LeBeau. Trying saying dat one wit' out giggling."
"I know better than to try," Ororo said with a grin, surveying the house before them. It was as different from their shared apartment as it could be, with a lacy, scrollwork-decorated porch and painted shutters lining the windows. Somehow, though, it felt right - serene, untouched by time or trouble, peaceful. "Oh, Remy, this is perfect. It's just right."
"It's pretty small." Remy said, although that had never mattered to him. The small piece of property was one of the few things from his Gambit days that he hadn't liquidated and funneled into the Snow Valley team. It had never been tainted. Instead, it had been where the few threads of humanity left in the assassin had hidden.
The door opened easily, and he led her through the front room, moving a bit awkwardly with the cane. His powers always made it hard for him to use a cane, wanting to let his natural agility dominate. He forced it back, walking her through the small house. The only electronics that could be seen was a small radio in one corner.
Ororo was more taken with the other touches - the flowers in the delicate glass vase on the windowsill, the simple but timeless furniture placed in just the right spot for a late-afternoon chat in the sunbeams. She had no doubt that if she checked in the refrigerator there would be a pitcher of iced tea just waiting to be consumed.
"Back here is de best part of de place." Remy said, leading her through a pair of glass doors and out into the slate flagstones that made a small patio. Where they ended, sand stretched out as the beach met the chilly Atlantic Ocean. While others preferred the warmer Mediterranean beaches, Remy had always found the brisker north, with its occasionally tempestuous seas and icy winds more to his liking. "What do you think, chere?"
She looked out over the flat gray water, feeling the damp ocean breeze against her cheeks. There was a vast emptiness stretched out in front of them, but instead of feeling daunting it felt soothing, as if all pressures and responsibilities were gone, removed, and in their place was only the room for what was truly important. "I think it is perfect," she said, not for the first time that day. And then, turning to him, "I wish we had come here sooner. When I think about all the things we have missed, the things we have not yet done, the things we may never have the chance to do..."
Remy nodded. "De things dat we did are what led us here, 'ro. De things dat we haven't- well, dat's what de future is for." He suddenly grinned, his restored smile quick. "Us, neh? You and me and wherever dat we end up together."
"Indeed. Though for right now, we are here - shall we make the best of it?" With a matching grin she reached down to undo the buttons of her jeans, shimmying her hips until they dropped to the ground. "A swim will do you good."
"Dis was just a ploy to throw Remy in de ocean, isn't it? I knew it." He eased himself into one of the thin wrought metal deck chairs and started to slip off his shoes, more than happy to enjoy the sight of Ororo disrobing while he did so. The sight of her long, dark legs stirred him with the same intensity as the first time, and he allowed himself a moment to let it spread through him. Any doubts he might have had about coming to Beaumont-Les-Bains quelled quickly.
"Swimming in the ocean has many proven therapeutic benefits," Ororo told him with a smirk, kicking off her sandals. "Don't you want to reap those benefits?"
"Well, who am I to hold up a reaping?" He pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it on to the stone tiles beside his discarded shoes and socks. Pants were going to prove more of an issue, but he'd been on a cane before. Fortunately, despite the raw pink and healing scars from the wounds, the worst were well on the mend. The only bandage he still needed was the one that covered the deep burn wound across his abdomen, but it was carefully sealed behind a polymer sheath by Moira and was water proof.
As if sensing his dilemma Ororo approached, the shirt she still wore doing little to hide the fact that she was clearly wearing little else beneath it. Her hands went to his belt, making quick work of it while he balanced on his cane, and then moving on to the fly of his trousers. "Of course, there are certain benefits to staying on land as well," she murmured, snaking the zip down with agonizing slowness.
"First you want to throw me in de water, and now you want to throw me into bed." There was a slight hitch in his breath, especially as the breeze flattened her shirt against her body and outlined it intimately in a way that nudity never could.
"I would not want to throw you anywhere... you are still in delicate condition, mpenzi." Her fingers slid under the waistband of his trousers, her short nails scratching ever so lightly over the sensitive skin of his lower abdomen.
His hand traced the light fabric of her shirt were it moulded against the long muscles of her torso, enjoying the firmness of her body under his touch. Her touch, teasing and close, had the desired effect, despite his physical condition.
Smiling, Ororo leaned in to kiss him, though she was careful not to press too closely to him for fear of putting too much weight upon his injured leg. Though they had shared a bed during the latter part of their stay at Muir Island it had been in a strictly platonic sense, as she could've sworn the doctor had secret cameras installed in order to monitor any behavior that might put her patient's healing at risk. Though she was happy to let things be for the sake of mending, it had made her impatient for a time when they might be intimate once again, and what better place than the isolated 'chateau' that Remy called home?
It was a long moment before Remy broke the kiss. "Maybe swimming can wait, neh?" He knew it would have to be one of the most careful lovemakings of their relationship, but after the horror of the last few months, seeing her, tasting her and feeling her next to him had swamped any other thoughts.
"The ocean will still be there later," Ororo agreed, sounding almost relieved. "It has waited for millions of years, it can wait a bit longer."
"Bein. Because I don't want to." He reached out for the cane, ignoring the discarded clothing, and nudged her back into the house. A thought suddenly hit him. He had never been with anyone in this place. Even with Lorna, they had stopped before going very far, to let her process what had happened. Then her arms were around him, her lips were on his, and all thoughts of other times and other people slipped away until all that was left was the here, and now.
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