The woman who answered the door stared at Remy and Roe for a long moment. "Can I help you?"
"I have an appointment with Charles Xavier."
The red-head nodded. "This way."
Remy took stock of the woman in front of them. Her hair was cut in a chin-length bob with no bangs. She wore a pair of red-lensed sunglasses that hid the color of her eyes. A white scar ran along the edge of her jaw on the left. She was a trained fighter to judge by her movements and muscles. She wore a black leather vest over a black long-sleeved blouse and a long black skirt that brushed across the top of black leather combat boots. The sharp raps of her heels could be heard faintly over the patter of scrambling sneakers and laughter.
"Here." She opened the professor's door. She turned to leave.
"Moment. What is your name?"
"Jean Grey."
"A pleasure, Madam." Remy offered her a hand wanting to get a better read on her. She took it and smiled faintly. She seemed more brittle than anything at that moment, but her most basic feel was stubborn belief. Belle would love her. Remy dropped a gallant kiss on the back of her hand. A flash of humor made Jean drop a curtsey. Roe laughed at them both.
"Mr. LeBeau?" Xavier said.
"Boudreaux-LeBeau, sil vous plait." Xavier raised a brow. The young man was completely unreadable and his younger companion was no better. Jean closed the door and left them.
"My apologies. I thought only your wife used both names. The government is desperate to find the two of you guilty of something."
"And your point would be? If they had any evidence against us we would already be dead, but they haven't got a thing. Mystique indicated you were looking for a broker?"
"She recommended you. I was surprised to see your companion. I was unaware that Storm had a daughter?"
"Storm? Oh, one of your X-men? She may well have. I found Roe in Illinois." Roe sat primly in the second visitor's chair, despite the fact that she wore jeans and sneakers. She watched the professor with painfully familiar blue cat eyes. Her long white hair was in a mass of tiny braids with red, green, and black beads at the ends.
Her "father" wore green jeans and a black tee-shirt with a red vest under a fairly ragged brown duster. Xavier wasn't quite sure what to make of them. This child had gotten Jean to truly smile, however briefly, for the first time since Scott's execution.
"Interesting. As you know, large organizations require more than simply working capital. We also need time, space, and intelligence."
"Oui." The young man pushed his dark glasses to the top of his head, holding back his tumble of auburn bangs. Red on black eyes seemed to glow as they studied the professor.
The band on the boy's arm declared that he was a gamma, and his companion an alpha. It was a dangerous game to play. LeBeau was listed as an alpha. "Let us speak plainly, Docteur. What are you looking for?"
"Your unique talents for making the impossible come to pass, for getting information, and for providing security."
Remy nodded. "Our services aren't free. We have our own people to care for. You understand."
"I estimate we'll require a few months of your time. Your… daughter is more than welcome to attend classes here." The red eyes narrowed and the boy canted his head to the side. Xavier realized his hesitation had been ill-timed.
"Was that meant to be an insult, sir?"
"No."
Roe steepled her fingers. "Do you have a botany class? Or a garden? For classes, I could easily return to Crow's Bluff," she informed him.
"We have a large garden and a greenhouse. Most of the students take turns in caring for the plants. We also have a plant biology seminar."
"We will discuss the options with your mother," Remy told her.
"Mama never wants me away from one of you or that bodyguard."
"I thought you got along well with Singing Wolf." She rolled her eyes.
"He's so conservative. You'd never guess he's only twenty-three."
"Or that all the girls have a crush on him? Your mother worries about your safety. So do I. Or did you like the Shadow King and his pets?" She pursed her lips.
"You've made your point. But you would think I'm royalty the way you two carry on."
"You are." Remy squeezed her hand. Roe smiled at him. "Let me speak with my wife."
"Of course. Do you have a room in town?"
The young man sighed. "Non. There's only t'ree places that rent t' mutants. We haven't checked them."
"You are welcome to stay in Ororo's old quarters with Jean and Jubilee. I'll have Jean show you to a room."
****
"Chere, c'est moi."
"Hello, Remy," Belle answered. She put her feet up on her desk. "How is Lightening?"
"She's okay. They've got a garden here."
"Are we taking the contract?"
"Perhaps."
"What's the road block?"
"Xavier's under a lot of scrutiny."
"But he has a team. And if we convince them to take care of some things, we can divert suspicion."
"Make the enemy fight on the wrong front? Oui, that could work. I'll do their security at the very least. Are you coming out?"
"I'll be there as soon as the taxes are paid."
"I'll be waiting. There's a girl here…"
"Remy," Belle purred, "what exactly are you thinking?"
"That I've found us the partner to go with the apprentice."
"You remember that conversation?" Belle laughed. "What's she like?"
"About your height, red-hair, great curves, an attitude, and a thirst for revenge, cleverly hidden as depression and business. She's ready for some training."
"What's she like in bed?"
"It's only been four hours, chere," Remy laughed.
"Must be a tough one to crack."
"Belladonna!"
"It usually doesn't take you that long to get a woman to open up."
"She's married. Her husband is missing. She's the only one that believes he's still alive. No one will talk about him. They won't even say his name. There aren't any pictures either. I think it's deliberate."
"But you hate mysteries. So?"
"Give me some time. I'll be waiting."
"I'll see you, Husband."
"I love you, Belle."
"I love you to, Remy. Give my love to Roe."
"I will."
"Next we hang up the phone."
"That's the next step."
"I miss you."
"I'll light a candle for you."
Belle smiled. "Watch your back, Honey."
"Goodbye, Sweetheart." She hung up first this time.
"Saints protect him, please," she murmured softly.
****
"Skipper, we've got trouble. One of our ships is being boarded by the US."
"We have nothing to hide."
"Except a weapons shipment."
"There's nothing illegal in the papers at all. There's no embargos on our territory. And there's a merchant here who has purchased them wholesale. They don't dare do anything so long as the paperwork is in order. They're looking for drugs."
"They might be there."
"Let them look. They won't find anything. The companies wouldn't dare cross me. There's much more money available if they do not and they know it."
"Oh?'
"I've met with each of them. They know that if they cross us, they won't make it to the next week."
Lee shook her head. "I didn't think you were that violent of a man."
"Oh, I'm that and much more, my dear. Much more."
****
TBC