Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Darkness lurks about the city, long settled on the buildings throughout the night. It eats away all the light, eagerly swallowing the world. Remy Lebeau stirs as his alarm blares. It shrieks over and over.

Remy groans and hits the alarm clock. As soon as he is awake, he feels all the same feelings that sleep had made vanish with its dreamy fluff.

It feels like the day after a holiday. All extended family has left; no more big feasts to be had. Just a void of emptiness, with mess from presents and food to clean up still lying all around. Hollow and tired. With none of the lingering joy that comes with the holiday.

Remy rubs his chest. It would almost be better if his chest actually hurt. Or if he could feel anything other than numb. It feels like sitting in a pool of water, with everything muffled and hazy all about. If he could, he would likely spend all day asleep. Find something that would knock him out and let him sleep through the day and the night. Never have to wake up and face the day. Never have to face the fact that he is waking up in a foreign bed once again and is still so, so far from home. A majority of his soul wishes to remain lying down in the too firm mattress and waste the day away hiding from the words.

But... He has work to do. A whole cafe is dependent on him. Just him. Omar, who had taught him the ropes of running the cafe down below these small rooms he now lives in, had left over a week ago. Leaving Remy truly alone. Omar had told him everything about running the Bean Vault, a cafe that acted as a money laundering front, safehouse, and at times a storehouse for the items that needed to be taken back to the vault. 

 Remy sits up and shifts out of bed. He sighs. One leg forward, then the next. Out into the darkness of the room. He ignores the shut triptic, not up for morning prayer. He also leaves the rosary behind, heart sagging heavy with guilt and from the belief that he might just have put himself beyond redemption. Out of God's caring hands, where even Mother Mary dare not come to comfort him. 

He drags himself to the bathroom, flicking on the light. He winces at the brightness of the light and averts his eyes from the burning artificial glow. He presses a hand to his worn eyes, exhausted and wishing that he had been able to sleep without the nightmares that had twisted his miserable sin and thrust it into his mind throughout the night. Remy grabs a bottle of Advil after scrubbing his face and stares into the mirror. 

Pale.

Thin.

He looks like a shambling corpse. 

He puts the Advil down. It would make him sleepy, and the siren call of the bed would be impossible to ignore then.

Remy bends his head and twitches a little, demon eyes lingering on the sink top. He brushes out his hair, brushes his teeth, and shaves.  He goes back into the bedroom and dresses, pulling his hair back into a short ponytail. He pauses and then picks up the rosary, the first he had touched it in the month he had been exiled.

Turning on the ovens is almost second nature as he trails through the kitchen. He starts mixing and rolling, prepping muffins and sweet bread. Cinnamon rolls and croissants. Cookies. He finishes prep and lets them cook, slipping to the front of the house to start up the coffee machines. His eyes flick about. 

The Bean Vault is a sturdy little coffee shop that has been run by the Thieves Guild since forever. The floors are a rich, dark wood that Remy keeps immaculately clean. It matches the wood of the tables, chairs, and outlines of the booths. The rich blue walls are decorated in medieval manuscript-inspired paintings and flowers arching across the wall. They loop and wind, interrupted by the booths, counter, and the bookcase. The bookcase is a take a book and share a book library that Remy keeps neat and orderly.

The front windows that frame the door are stained glass; depicting a saint on each side. Remy often spends closing time faithfully wiping away the dust that had formed throughout the day on the scenes. The light coming in clearly through the panes helps just a tiny bit with the empty holes in his soul.

One of the scenes is Saint George artfully bent over the neck of his pale steed, lance inches away from the dragon's neck. Princess Sabrina stands behind him, hands clutching tightly at her wedding regalia.

Sometimes Remy wishes that someone would ride in like Saint George and stab at the internal demons that keep him from being able to feel. And sometimes he wishes that he could be slain like the dragon so that the world would be free of him.

The other stained glass window is a scene of Saint Dismas on the cross, eyes turned up towards heaven. Some less educated in religion thought it was Christ, but it lacked the symbols of Christ the Redeemer. Plus, it had a name plate clear below the man’s feet. Remy wonders if the pentitant thief had ever killed someone.

…

Likely not. But the thought hits him near daily as he cleans the man whose eyes are on heaven.

Both stained glass pieces have the crest of the guild tucked in the corner, a sign to those in the know what this place is at its heart.

There had been a handful of complaints about these scenes over the years, according to Omar. But the building had been secured as a historical landmark, and no one could get the panes of glass removed. Remy is glad. He thinks he may have lost it more completely without the Saints guarding his door.

Remy flicks on the lights, eyes lingering on the saints that defend the door. Remy hopes that he is still worth protecting in the eyes of the saints he often beseeched.

He sighs and flips the sign to open after glancing over the deep blue walls. Remy wipes the counter and settles into cleaning the already spotless areas of the cafe. 

He pulls the chairs down. He straightens the books on the shelves and tucks away the loose odds and ends. 

Regulars come in gentle waves, never a true surge of customers, and rarely anyone new. It had taken forever and a day for the regulars to get used to the new face. Remy knows his eyes did not help.

Dawn starts to creep through to city, while Remy’s little sign on the Bean vault has been flipped to open for a good long while. Dawn stretches out, lingering gold and rosy pink in some areas while leaving others dark and shadowed. 

Remy glances out the window while ringing up a customer, unable to help himself from thinking about how much prettier dawn was at home. Almost like a different angel conducted the business of heralding the day here in Bayville. In New Orleans, the dawn would set the city ablaze in glory and shimmering delight. Here, the dawn slithers and creeps, timidly dropping her colors against the dull, boring buildings and carelessly missing areas. But those shadows are not the friendly ones of home that hid the thieves safely. No, these shadows are lurking, dangerous, and potentially hungry. 

Remy shoves away the thought because it's making his heart clench and his eyes wet. 

Hours pass blankly.

He makes orders, makes coffee, and cleans.

Nothing seems to permeate the hollowness of his chest or heart. Closing time comes right at five, and he gently shuffles out the stragglers before starting his end-of-day clean. 

He wipes the tables, ears full of the music playing from the speaker, puts up the chairs, and scrubs the floors. He then moves to the windows with a rag and pauses for a second on St. George's face.

“I dunno that I be doin’ the right thing. I know I've done wrong. Not been brave enough to get to the confessional. Didnt mean too- mais you probably never killed without meaning it though, non?”

Remy wipes the face. He needs a priest. His soul is so soaked in sin that he can practically taste the sulfur tang of Hell's air. But he is 

But he is not brave enough. 

St. George seems to give him a look. 

“Just… send help. s'il te plaît.”

He finishes wiping both saints and fiddles with his rosary. 

He really should eat.

Should go out.

Get some sun and hair and…

The thought spins his gut. He takes a breath.

He knows his papa would be sad if he just gave up.

So he gets a cup of coffee, a muffin, and goes up to the roof to sit. He stares up at the sky, watching the sky. The clouds drift along slowly across the sky.. He slowly starts to feel a tinge of… something. Slipping throthe hollowness and pure miser that rests in his chest. He breathes deeply. 

Chapter Text

Remy is refilling the display case with cookies when he sees something throug St. Georgesarm that is holding the lanc. Remy blinks.

A teen that he had sseen digging in the the trash before. Remy had debated about going out and helping the kid. However, the teen had vanished before he could make up his mind properly. Now he sees the kid again, this time there are two large teen bearing down on the smaller greasy teen.

Remy scowls and starts to step forward.

…

But what if it is like the last fight?

No.

He cannot watch what looks like a fellow street rat get messed up by what might be some twisted sort of vigilante justice.

He leaves his cafe for the first time in weeks, bolting across the street as he flicks out his bo staff. It uncollapses sliding out to its full length, he swings it. He knocks aside one and kneecaps the other. Remy slides between the two as they yell and positions himself in front of the other teen.

“Bonjour. Remy, not sure what you got against mon ami, mais maybe yo be rethinkin’ your choices.”

He says with no tremor revealing his fear that he might lose control of his powers and blow them sky high. The teens curl their lips, though one pales at the sight of the demon eyes.

“What the hell are you?”

The brunette yelps. 

“Le Diable Blanc. And I ain't afraid of draggin’ you back to Hell with me.”

Remy snarks, twirling his staff.

The blond scowls.

“Just because you're a freak doesn't mean-”

Remy slams his head with the bo staff. The guy goes down with a pained yelp. 

“Maybe that cleared your ears. Leave mon ami here alone. Fightin’ in alleys doesn't look good for all-star football players tryin’ to get into college.”

The brunette nods and grabs the blond. Both hobble away, muttering curses. Remy turns to the other teen who is covered in muck and has wary eyes staring right at Remy.

“Remy Lebeau. At your service, mon ami. Come, I got food for ya.”

“What do you want for saving my hide?”

The kid’s words are clipped, harsh. Remy shrugs.

“Nothin’ ‘cept you comin’ to the cafe.”

“Got no money.”

The teen glares.”

“Didn't say you’d be payin’.”

“... Todd.”

Bonjour, Todd.”

Remy gets Todd to settle at a back table and brings whatever the kid asks for. Todd seems to be trying to test the limits, but it is just about closing time, and everything needed to be eaten by someone.

Remy starts his closing routines, straightening and cleaning the cafe. Sometimes Todd stares at Remy and then looks away.

Shame?

Remy does not reach out to find out, empathy well locked up. That power is too risky to let run rampant all about him.

“You're a mutant too, right??”

That simple question has Remy pausing at his table, wiping halted for a moment.

 Too? 

Too? Remy knows that there are other mutants out there, having faced off with Sabretooth once when he was fourteen. It had taken a fair bit of running around to deal with that job in Paris. 

Plus his papa had mentioned the mutant that he had met during the second world war while running secret missions to counter the Nazi’s hunt for occult artifats. 

Remy is well aware that other mutants exist, he just never had spent much time with them.

But too implies that Tosdd is one. 

“Oui. I am. Been one since birth. Eyes give it away, non?”

He taps under his right eye and then winks jokingly.

“Oh. didnt know that being one since birth was an option. I turned into a freak in puberty.”

Remy snorts through his nose and shakes his head, feeling a flicker of… something.

“Don't go ‘round talkin’ like that, petit. Frea’s not such a nice word.”

Todd huffs and puffs his cheeks up.

“But you are a mutant.”

Todd seems to be trying to puzzle something out. Remy is not sure what the teen is looking for.

“Oui.”

“You don't try to hide your eyes.”

“They are a part of me. Like all of me; knitted in the womb. I could no more be hidin’ them forever than I could hide my fingerprints forever. That much glove wearin’ is tirin’.”

Remy shrugs. Todd snorts.

“Can you do anything else, other than have glowy red eyes?”

Remy hums at the question and flicks out a card, and then pauses. No. Explosions are too dangerous and…. He cannot use them again. Not with how very dangerous they are. His mind tries to fight against the flashbacks, and he gets lucky this time with just the briefest memory of warm blood on his cheek.

“Non. Just my eyes. They let me see better in the dark. Now! Petit. My store be closin’, but you're welcome to stay a bit longer.”

Remy wipes the blood that is not there away.

Todd frowns. 

“What do you want from me?”

The teen asks before cramming another muffin in his mouth. Remy sighs and rubs at his temples. 

“Would you feel better if I wanted something in exchange?”

“... Maybe.”

Todd mutters, picking at his fingernail beds. They bleed a little and the nails have some dirt under them.

Remy scrunches his nose. But… he understands. He understands more than most people. Just being given stuff is often dangerous. He had been hurt a few times trusting too easy in his younger years. Better to see the strings that are attached rather than be tripped up by them later. 

“Fine.”

Remy finds a spare rag and tosses it over. Todd catches it with a leap and a head tilt. Remy ought to ask about the teen’s own powers sometime. 

“Help me with the tables mon ami, and that’ll cover the food.”

Remy says with a shrug. Todd stands up and starts wiping tables with a huff. After finishing, the kid takes a few more muffins and then scurries out into the streets without a thank you, but with a small glance backwards.

Chapter Text

Remy is only a little surprised that Todd comes over the next day. Essentially free food is a siren call to street urchins. 

Todd slips into the cafe and slips into the back corner with eyes that are full of hunger and thought. The kid has the flickering eyes of a thief and of a starving child. Might be both. Remy was both before his papa took him off the street. Remy slips Todd a muffin and a glass of milk and keeps working without slowing down. Todd scarfs down the food after a moment's hesitation. When Remy removes the stragglers around five, he lets Todd stay, simply tossing the teen a rag and pulling out the spare muffins and cookies. Tofd eats a little more and then wipes the tables.

Remy gets to work on the saints and he hears Todd shuffling his feet. 

“Wh- Do you work here alone?”

Another question is lost; swallowed by another. Remy hums.

“Oui. I do. It's a good gig, wakin’ up and bein’ able to walk right into my work.”

Remy shrugs and wipes St. George’s face.

“And you mon ami? What do you do?”

Todd huffs. 

“School.”

The word is groaned and drawn out with a drip of poison. Remy tilts his head. 

“What's school like?”

He asks as he turns. 

“Well, you know. It's school.”

Todd says a little huffily.

“I don't know. Papa never sent me to school. The movies true?”

Remy asks as he starts stacking chairs. Todd scrunches up his nose.

“Wish I didnt have to go to school. But last time I stopped showing up, they came to the trailer.”

Todd scowls. Remy blinks and then hums.

“So you don't like nothin’ about school?”

“Nothing! It all sucks.”

Remy snorts at the emphatic response. 

“I'm sure mon ami. Im sure. Nothin’ good at all. So why bother lookin’ for any good in it.”

The last piece is aimed a little at himself. He feels like there is nothing good about him being here. Being so so far from home… being removed because of the risk he posed to the city and her Guilds… 

He needs to find something good in it. Somehow. 

“How am I supposed to find something good about school ?”

Todd scrunches up his face and twists his tongue over the word. Remy snorts at the sheer disgust.

“Tell you what, you find somethin’ good about school and Ill cook you an actual meal.”

Todd’s eyes light up with interest. Hunger enters those eyes as the teen’s back uncurls in attention.

“Any meal I want?”

“Mmmhmmm. Any meal.”

Remy approaches and offers his hand. Todd looks at it for a second and then shakes it.

“Deal.”

“Bein. Now help me stack the chairs and I'll make you a cup of coffee. Saw you eyein’ up my machines.”

Todd blinks.

“You noticed?”

“Its my job to notice when people want coffee. I run a cafe.”

Remy teases and Todd laughs.

“That's weird dude.”

“Eh, its how I live.”

Remy shrugs finishing up the chairs with Todd’s help and heads to the coffee maker. 

“But like, do you just stare at your customers to see if they want coffee??”

“Normally, they ask.”

Remy points out as Todd settles on a bar stool with the food Remy had given earlier.

“yeah , but you said that you noticed me staring.”

“I also noticed you needin’ help through my window. I think that its been established that Im observant.”

Remy says with a hand wave. He leans against the counter as he passes over the cup of coffee. Todd blinks as remy scooches the sugar and cream to the teen. 

“Yeah. Thats fair. Still kinda wack that you noticed.”

Remy shrugs and starts cleaning out the coffee machine. His fingers ache and so do his feet. He has been standing too long. But… he does not want to kick Todd out. Even street kids need a safe place and from the twitches Todd has, Remy is sure there is not a lot of safe places for him. 

He turns and leans against the counter again as he finishes, fighting back yawns. 

“Ah, you got me petit. Im wack, non?”

“You talk funny. You're not from around here.”

Todd says while gripping the cup and narrowing his eyes at Remy. Remy reaches up and lets his ponytail down.

“From New Orleans, Louisiana. French leaks into the cracks sometimes.”

Remy says with a small shrug. His heart clenches as he thinks of his fair city and he lets out a tired little sigh. Todd blinks at him.  

“That far south? What are you doing here?”

Remy breathes and rubs at his eyes wearily.

“Runnin’ a cafe petit. Somebody needed to run this place, and I needed a place to be. Not too bad a deal, non? Get a place to sleep and a job. Coulda been worse. Coulda been sent to school.”

Remy teases at the end and puts the rags away. Todd puffs his cheeks.

“School sucks.”

“And you're gonna find at least one good thing about it.”

“How do I know you even cook good?”

Todd says with a scrunched nose.

“You seem to enjoy my bakin’ good enough mon ami.”

Todd blinks and looks down at the muffins.

“You make all of this???”

“Every day, first thing in the morning.” 

Remy stretches up and breathes deeply. His back hurts, along with his feet.

“...”

Todd says nothing but stuffs another muffin into his mouth. Remy runs a hand through his hair and tugs on the strands. 

“So, oui, I can cook.”

Todd nods and swallows. The kid then stuffs a few of the muffins in his pocket. Remy shakes his head and gets a bag and tucks the rest of the muffins inside.

“Don't stuff them in your pocket, petit.”

Todd flushes and takes the bag.

“Thanks. But I don't need pity.”

Remy rolls his eyes.

“It's not pity. You are takin’ away part of my cleanin’ job and eatin’ it. I can't keep all these baked goods for too long. It's you or the trash.”

Remy shakes his head. Todd relaxes and holds the bag closer.

“Then I guess you're welcome.”

Todd says with a grin and Remy smiles back with a laugh feeling a small spark in his hollow heart. Todd then swipes up the bag and trots out of the cafe.

“I'll help you with your cleaning job tomorrow.”

Todd calls over his shoulder and Remy waves.

Chapter Text

Remy stands on the roof, watching a marvelous golden sunrise swirling over the city. He smiles as Henri steps next to him. His brother runs a gentle hand over his hair, tucking the strands behind his ear. Henri whispers something. But Remy cannot hear him. Remy presses his face into his brother’s shoulder and tries to cling. But Henri dissolves.

Remy wakes up to the alarm sound the next day and stares blankly at his ceiling. He groans. He has to get up. He has-

His eyes flutter shut. His chest hurts. The dreams had been horrible last night. Torturing him with visions of home and of her. He sits up, eyes trailing over the room. He has to get up. Todd will likely come by. And food needs to be made. And the store needs to be run. He slips into the bathroom, attempting to shake the haze that holds his chest in a vice-like grip. He finds tears bubbling out as he bakes and longs to just go back to sleep. To go back home, if only in his mind. 

He…

He wishes he could call his brother and father.

But he is so shamefully afraid. He does not want to call and find out for sure that they hate him now. Not calling leaves the option open that they love him still. A similar dilemma that he has with the confessional, he guesses. Leaving open the option that he is still able to be forgiven and loved by… someone. 

He cries into the muffin batter and opens the shop. The rich colors of the Bean Vault feel dull and empty. Remy knows he should be hungry, but… the feeling of hunger never comes. He simply wishes to go back to sleep. 

He stares out the window and shivers and runs a hand through his hair. His stomach twists and he takes a deep breath to try to dispel the nausea that runs through his stomach at the idea of trying to eat. He makes a cup of coffee for himself and sips it between his work. The shop remains relatively empty throughout the day. 

Todd comes in towards the end of the day and Remy finds himself perking up a little bit. Todd trots right up to the counter and Remy passes over some food. Todd grins and leans forwards.

“I figured out something good about school.”

“Oh?”

Remy asks, tilting his head and wiping down the counter. Todd nods emphatically. 

“I like lunch.”

Remy bursts out laughing and gets a few stares from the regulars. 

“That's not what I meant mon ami and you know it!”

Remy says, shaking his head. Todd grins.

“But you didnt put any rules on it.”

Todd bounces a little on his feet and Remy cant help another laugh at the pure glee in Todd’s eyes. 

“Oui. You right, you right. Know what you want for dinner, eh?”

“Yep!! I want spaghetti.”

Remy blinks. 

“You and me gonna have to go to the grocery store after the cafe closes. Don’t got the ingredients for spaghetti in my home.”

Todd pouts but nods.

“Okay. fine.”

“How about you go do some homework while you wait for the time to pass? Ill get you a cup of coffee.”

Todd scrunches up his nose.

“I don't do homework. Do I look like a nerd?”

“You look like a kid who don’t need to get into no trouble in my cafe. Do some homework and I’ll buy you one extra thing at the grocery store.”

Todd narrows his eyes, and Remy offers out his hand. 

“Deal?”

Todd takes his hand and shakes.

“Fine. Deal.”

Todd huffily says and moves to the back table again and pulls out some paper. Remy makes him a cup of coffee and puts it on Todd’s table before he gets back behind the counter to ring up a customer. When the last person leaves, Remy turns and finds Todd already wiping the tables and bouncing.

“Come on! Hurry up, Remy.”

Remy shakes his head at Todd and cleans up. 

“Alright. Alright.”

Remy finishes closing up and slips off his apron and redoes his hair into a tighter ponytail. He gets Todd to lead him out the front door, which Remy locks behind himself. He blinks at the brightness of the world. He looks around and blinks. The last time he had come out was to help Todd. He had not really gone out before or after. Todd grabs his arm and tugs.

“Come on!!!”

“Impatient petit! Okay. okay. So show me the way to the grocery store. Not sure where it is. Most of the stuff is just delivered to the cafe for me to use.”

Todd scowls.

“How do you not know where the grocery store is?!”

“Don't get out much, me.”

Remy says with a shrug, content to allow Todd to keep dragging him forwards. It is nice to have someone around. Todd makes a disgusted noise.

“Well, I'm gonna teach you where the grocery store is, dummy.”

Todd says with a grin.

“Dummy!! Why!! I'll show you, you petit gremlin!!”

He reaches out to ruffle Todd’s hair, and it lasts a second before Todd darts away faster than Remy expects. The teen looks behind with a look of challenge. And then bolts. Remy runs after the teen, ducking between people and hopping over obstructions. Todd is quick, bouncing down an alley and then leaping up a wall. Remy blinks and then jumps up and swings up a fire escape after the kid. 

Todd shoots him a shocked look, eyes wide over the edge of the building. Remy swings up and lands with a smile.

“Bonjour petit.”

Todd blinks at him.

“... yo, dude, what the hell?”

“You jumped up the wall first, petit. You think I wouldn't follow? Tag, by the by.”

Remy taps the kid and Todd blinks at him. 

“That's… fair. Come on. Lets stop screwing around.”

Chapter Text

Remy lets Todd ride in the grocery cart after the teen jumps in. Todd shoots him a look like he thinks Remy is gonna yell or something about him being in there, but… Remy honestly doesn't mind pushing the kid around. Not if it makes Todd smile so giddily. Todd wriggles and grins as he orders Remy about the store. Remy grabs what he needs and consults Todd about where things are and what food Todd likes.

“Anything really.”

“Anythin’? Mm, might need to cook for you more than once, get your palette to narrow some.”

Todd rolls his eyes.

“I don't need food to be fancy.”

“Mais, good food can make your stomach feel more full mon petit.”

“I’ll believe it when I taste it.”

Remy hums. A fine policy to have. He looks over the pasta brands, wishing he had the equipment to effectively make his own pasta. Todd groans and whines.

“Just choose one.”

“I wanna make good tastin’ food! Don't rush it!”

Remy huffs and ruffles Todd's hair.

Todd bats his hand away. 

“Stop messing with my do, man. It takes time to look this good.”

“I'm sure.”

Remy snorts. Todd scowls, and Remy wonders if this is how Henri feels when Remy fought back. It is fun. Remy selects his pasta and then makes his way to the front of the store while Todd hangs over the side of the cart with a groan. 

“You're not nice.”

Todd huffs out.

“Of course I ain't.”

Remy says with a head shake and then walks them to the checkout line. He notes the glare that the cashier shoots Todd and makes sure to do the transaction quickly. 

Then he hauls the groceries back to the small apartment above the cafe. Todd looks around with large eyes, seeming to soak in all the information about the place. Remy starts chopping and cooking, the sound of sizzling meat and vegetables filling the air. Remy grins a little. 

It all comes together rather neatly. Remy bowls some of the pasta for Todd and then a little less for himself. They sit together, and Todd starts shoveling it into his mouth.

“Hey, slow down, petit. I'm not gonna take it from you.”

Remy says, fully understanding the instinct. Todd swallows and then stares.

“You're not?”

“Non. You earned the meal. I won’t take it.”

Remy reassures and Todd narrows his eyes, gaze calculating and long. Then the eating deliberately slows and Remy hums to himself. He eats a little while Todd polishes off his bowl. Remy gets seconds for the smaller teen and grins when Todd hops up for thirds and fourths.

“Wanna make another deal?”

Remy asks and Todd blinks, fork in his mouth and sauce dribbling on his chin. The teen swallows and then nods.

“Maybe.”

“How’s about you do your homework for a week straight, and I'll make you another dinner?”

Remy asks. Todd drums his fingers against the table, puffing his cheeks out. Remy fights the urge to wipe the younger's face with a napkin. The action would likely not be accepted. 

“Okay. Finnneee. But you have to keep giving me muffins even if I don't.”

“Sure petit. I'll even throw in a coffee every once in a while.”

Remy says with a grin.

--

Remy listens to the radio as smoke trickles up into the sky from his cigarette. His papa would kill him if he found out Remy had started smoking any kind of cigarette, much less the ones that were hidden in loose floorboards in the kitchen. The herbal cigarettes had been left behind by omar and remy had not intended to smoke them when he first found them.

But... the idea of feeling warmth in his lungs had been an addictive idea that swirled about his brain for a solid week. And today he had felt so so lonely. Todd had not shown up, and Remy feels stupid for relying on someone coming to him to bring any relief from the oppressive weight of his sin. Now, as he stares at the roof, staring into the sky after the trails, he is glad for the warmth, but knows that he shouldn't be taking slow, even drags, holding in the heat as long as he can stand. He should be stronger than this. He used to be.

He had not been able to find a lighter earlier. He had searched the house top to bottom, desperate not to have to use his powers for a task that would have been easy to do. In the end, he had let a tiny spark escape, the first intentional use since he had murdered a man. It had terrified him. Though, in equal parts, it soothed a part of his soul to see he could control it, even in a small burst. He hopes to not have to use it any time soon.

Remy flicks the ash like he had seen his papa do a million times before the man had quit cold turkey. He curls a little and lets the smoke slip past his lips, warm and something. some sort of feeling in the face of the pit of cold nothing that sits in his chest. He closes his eyes with the next drag, tasting the smoke of different plants burning. A rose's petals. Lavender. And a few other things. The heat curls over his tongue, inviting and warm. He opens his eyes and breathes upwards, letting the heat leave him.

Remy smokes it all the way down to the filter, weary, he has to go to bed soon. Saturdays were not a day off after all. Sundays were though. He just has to make it to sunday. He slips down to his room and curls up in bed. Already, he misses the warmth in his lungs. His chest feels echoey and empty. He presses the heels of his hands into his eyes, trying to dismiss all his thoughts and just sleep. He wants to simply sleep.

Chapter Text

Remy rubs at his eyes as he walks over to unlock the front door. He blinks as he sees Todd there. Oh! The teen came early. Makes sense, given that there is no school on Saturday. Remy opens the door and Todd immediately crinkles his nose. 

"You smell like smokes, dude."

Remy flushes. He had not washed his hair the night before after the roof. What kind of example is he setting? He swallows and runs a hand through his hair.

"Moment of weakness. I'll throw out the pack today.”

He had only smoked one, and there were three left in the mostly empty carton. Todd scrunches his nose further.

"Cigarettes stink.”

Todd says and Remy dips his head a little. He has a rush of embarrassment over his own weakness.

"Désolé, mon ami. Want a muffin?"

He steers the conversation away from his own failure. Todd bounces a little.

"Yes!! Gimme!"

"A please would pair well with that sentence.”

Remy teases as he walks back to the counter. He is happy to see Todd.

Really happy. He wants to ask why Todd had not shown up yesterday, wants to admit to staying open late and waiting for the other teen. Wants to admit that his heart had clenched with thoughts of being abandoned and thinking that he probably deserved it.

He wants to.

But he doesn't.

Dumping all of that onto Todd would be cruel and unfair. Instead, he grabs the freshest muffins and passes them over. Though... Remy will admit one thing. 

"Missed you yesterday. Had no one to take my muffins."

He says with the strongest smile he can manage after yet another night of persistent nightmares. Todd groans.

“I had after-school detention. Then we got a stupid mission. Which sucked 'cause those x-nerds showed. Buncha jerks.”

Todd huffs, shoving a muffin in his face. Remy feels a rush of relief. So nothing to do with him. Of course, it has nothing to do with him. He is just being...

Whatever.

Remy clicks his tongue.

“You bring your homework, petit?"

"Yeah, yeah, I brought it. I want another dinner. The spaghetti was decent.

Remy swats the kid's head.

"I'll show you decent!!"

Todd ducks with a laugh and then moves to his normal table in the very back. Remy gets to work behind the counter as regulars start to flow through. He wipes down the counter, makes coffee, and rings people up. His eyes flick to the Saints that guard his door, and he considers going to mass on Sunday. He hasn't left the cafe since the grocery store trip, but he should. At least to go to church. 

He needs to. 

Even if he ... cannot bear to confess... He needs to enter the house of his father. His heart beats louder.

No.

Even just thinking of leaving makes his head spin. He feels sick. He grips the counter and his body sways as his stomach twists. The room spins.

"Dude, you need to sit down.

Remy blinks at Todd's voice, and there is a hesitant hand on his back, guiding him to a chair. Remy takes a deep breath. He looks at St. Dismas, who seems to be looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

Right.

He nods.

"Got dizzy. Sorry."

"I don't wanna deal with calling 911 or something. "

Todd huffs. Remy sits obediently for a moment and gives a small smile, trying to ward off any potential worrying.

"I'm okay.”

“Sure.”

Todd shoots him a huffy look. Remy tilts his head back and stares at the blue ceiling. 

“If you get hurt, you won't be able to cook later.”

Remy laughs at the reasoning. He shakes his head and leans against the table that Todd had sat him at. 

“Merci. Thank you.”

Remy says, gently patting Todd’s hand. Todd huffs and looks around.

“Where can I get some water?”

Remy starts to rise, and Todd shoves on his shoulders.

“Nuh-uh. I'm grabbing the water.”

Remy settles. 

“Alright, petit, alright. I'll let you take care o’ me.”

Remy points out where to get the water from. He drinks it and slowly feels well enough to rise again. Todd scowls, but Remy ruffles his hair and darts away, back to his work. 

When he closes up for the day, Todd scrubs the tables and stacks chairs with a look of intense concentration. Remy gets to washing the Saints, breathing deeply and slowly. The dizziness has faded. Todd shifts close and Remy smiles at him.

“Merci for the help.”

Remy says while he kneels at the window with St. George. Todd shrugs. 

“Sure, man.”

“Want the muffins?”

Remy asks as he stands and hauls his cleaning supplies with him. Todd glances at the window and then nods.

“Yeah. I'm hungry.”

Remy grins.  

--

Todd bounces up to the cafe after school, book bag laden with books for once. He is determined to get another meal out of Remy. He is on the second to last day and is a little excited. He settles at his typical table, smiling at the little sign that announces that the table is reserved for a VIP. Him. Remy waves to him while mixing together a cup of coffee for someone at the counter. Todd smiles and waves back.

He then sighs to himself and tugs out the homework. Weirdly, he had found that it had gotten easier to do as he did it every afternoon. It also helped not to have a mother sloshing beer and wine everywhere and not dealing with the other teens of the brotherhood yelling and messing around at all hours. The cafe is… calm. Peaceful. 

He leans against the table and shuffles his papers, and twirls his pencil. He scowls at the page and focuses on it.  He gnaws at his lip as he scans the pages. 

A little while later, he startles as a coffee cup is placed on the table along with some sort of bready pastry. He looks up at Remy, who salutes him and walks off. He draws the warm cup closer to himself and smiles gently. He sips and then relooks at Remy. The teen continues to look exhausted. He frowns. Remy getting dizzy a few days before had… well it had worried Todd. 

It doesn't seem that Remy has anyone. Not that Todd really had that many people in his life. But Fred would at least notice if he got sick. And Lance would probably notice a bit too. 

What if Remy gets sick? 

Smoking leads to awful hacking of black tar and-

Nope! Not the time to think about it. Time to focus on getting homework so he can get a good meal.

Chapter Text

Remy smiles as Todd watches him stir. 

“It's not that complicated of a dish. I bet you could replicate it if you want.”

Remy taps the side of the pot gently. 

“Mph.”

Todd makes a soft noise and tilts his head.

“I guess. Didnt know that was how you make the cheese sauce.

“Parmesan. The type of cheese is important, mon petit.”

Remy states and then freezes. No. Calling Todd his is not true. And he should not be allowed to be responsible for anyone. Todd looks at the beeping oven.

“I think the bread is done.”

“Oui, you are quite right.”

Remy slips on an oven mitt and gently opens the door.  He pulls out the garlic bread with a small smile.

“You did a great job putting the butter and garlic on this! Good job, Todd.”

Remy compliments, and Todd flushes a bright red before looking away. 

“Sure. Whatever. I just followed your instructions.”

“And you did it so well. I messed up the first garlic bread mon papa tried to teach me to make.”

Remy smiles and then finds it fading. He looks at the pot and finds his heart aching horribly for family. Todd nudges him a little, and Remy straightens. Now is not the time for tears.

“Right, time for plates. Here.”

Remy pulls out everything they need and makes sure Todd gets a heaping bowl.

“Aren't you going to get any?”

Remy pauses at the question and spoons out a small portion for himself. His stomach twists a bit, and sits at the table with Todd. Todd’s eyes are scanning him and there is a small scowl on the kid's face. Todd opens his mouth, seems to think over whatever he is going to say, and then speaks.

“What do you do… like outside of the cafe?”

Remy blinks and looks around the room.

“I clean up my house. And I read sometimes.”

Which is true. He licks his lips and then speaks, hoping to move the focus off of himself.

“What sorts of things are you learning?”

Remy asks, fingers curling tight over the cool metal of his fork and slowly pulling food up to his mouth. Todd groans and leans back.

“Not much that's fun. Well… I guess the history class is sorta intresting. And so is science. We’re learning about habitats in science. Its sorta interesting to learn how everything is interconnected.”

Remy grins and encourages Todd to share more, happy to see any amount of interest in learning from Todd.

--

Remy wakes with a shriek and with his body slamming into another surface at high speed. His hands burn and bleed as he shakes violently. Remy chokes as his body shakes and then arches in pain. He had exploded in his sleep! He had not done that in years. He presses into the wall has his hands bleed and his head spins. The pain swirls over him, sharpening his emotions and his body heaves. 

A horrible thought enters his head.

The pain has removed all the numbness. The fog has lifted and everything is sharp and clear. Tears start burning his cheeks as the thought pounds against his skull. Pain is getting rid of the numbness. But to chase this pain would be a mistake. A horrible, horrible mistake. He bolts up right, snatching up his rosary and a jacket before running out of the house. Blood drips from his broken palms onto the tightly clenched cross. He bolts through the darkened streets, terrified of his own mind and powers. 

He arrives at the church, panting and shaking. He knows the doors will be locked at this hour. He knows. He knows. He shivers and shakes. He finds a bench nearby and presses himself on it and shakes.

His hand drips with blood, the cold night air aggravating the cuts and burns. He presses his hands together and then to his lips. The blood is warm, and the pain is sharp and dangerously enticing. Remy rocks back and forth.

A psalm comes to mind and he hopes beyond hope that he will not be rebuked. He bends his head in the direction of the church. 

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

     He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters;

     he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths

    for his name’s sake.

 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

    I fear no evil;

for you are with me;

    your rod and your staff—

    They comfort me.”

He says not sure if he believes the words. He wants to- He wants to believe that he will be protected and loved. 

But then, why all this pain? 

…

He breathes and grips the rosary tightly. He takes a deep, deep breath as blood falls down to the ground; plip plip pliping against the ground. He shakes and shivers. His eyes stay clenched closed, and he tries to breathe. 

Air slowly slips into his airways, and his body relaxes. He starts to go through the rosary. His mind slowly comes down from the sharp pain and clear emotion. Numbness shifts back in, but it feels less heavy than before. He swallows.  

He needs to get back to his cafe. It's a Saturday. Todd would be coming by right as the cafe opens because Todd likes getting the fresh muffins and chatting with Remy all day. And Remy likes providing a warm, safe place for Todd to come to. The thought pushes away a little more of the numbness inside his chest. Remy gives one last look at the church and nods to himself. He would come to Mass on Sunday. Not confessional. Not yet. So no participating in the Eucharist for him. 

Remy makes it back to the cafe and washes and wraps up his hands. The bandages make baking difficult, and the burns hurt despite the aloe. But he manages. He has to manage. He has to. 

For Todd. 

Todd would be sad if Remy didn't have any muffins for him.

Chapter Text

Todd walks into the cafe on Saturday morning, head tilting slowly. Remy looks like someone had hit him with a truck.  Remy looks broken. Like a a dirty ashtray slung at a wall and hastily glued back to gether. But gluing it was better than having nothing. 

Todd shakes himself and trots up to the counter, rocking back and forth on his feet. 

“Bonjour, Todd. What can I do you for?”

Remy asks while wiping at invisible dust. Todd looks at Remy’s hands. They are bandaged. Todd scowls, going up on his tiptoes, staring. Remy slowly starts to pull his hands back and Todd feels the urge to grab them, to demand to know who did it. But then… Remy might stop talking to him. Or might hit him. People don't like questions about injuries. He knows that himself, so many tiny burns and bruises that he had to hide so they would not get bigger. Maybe… Maybe Remy will tell him who did it. Or if he stays long enough today, he will spot who did it.

“I spilled coffee on myself. I'll be alright.”

A lie. Todd can tell as a liar himself. 

“Okay.”

Todd says, slowly starting to walk over to his table. He then pauses, opening his mouth and then swallowing back the words that threaten to shatter the peace he had found here at the Bean Vault. 

“Can you help… with a project?”

Remy perks up, a light flaring in those normally dull eyes. 

“Of course. What's it on?”

“I have to make a country. I have till next Wednesday but… It's complicated.”

He did need help, but it had not been what he actually wanted to ask. But… no. He's a coward. 

Remy beams at him and Todd feels guilty. He should…

Whatever.

“I'll help! Is there a list o’ requirements or somethin’?”

“Uh, yeah. I'll get the sheet out.”

“I'll wander over in a mo’. I got a few books lyin’ about that might help dependin’ on whatchu need petit!”

Remy says with a lilt of joy that only seems to come when interacting with Todd. When Remy is teaching him cooking or talking him gently, there is joy. Most of the rest of the time, Remy looks like a dull, dirty piece of glass. Fogged over from smoke and filth. 

“Okay.”

Todd responds and settles at his table. He taps his fingers against the bit and twitches. He glances up and looks at Remy who works at the counter, eyes dull rubies flicking over orders. 

Todd focuses as best he can, writing things down as they come to him. He looks up as Remy sits across from him with a half smile.

“Alright, show it to me.

“Well. I gotta make a country with a government, economy stuff, and a whole buncha other stuff.”

Todd says with a huff. He looks imploringly at Remy, who looks through the questions with a gentle frown. 

“I can… mmm. I got a few books on leadership and economy, mais I think this is looking for somethin’ a mite simpler than what I got in books and in my skull.”

“Anything is better than nothin’.”

Todd says with a small whine. Remy grins.

“I didnt say I'd leave you with nothin. I think the point of this project is review. SO! What kinda government can you recall?”

Todd scrunches his nose. He knows he should know the one for the US, but the exact term escapes him.

“King?”

Remy clicks his tongue.

“That's a type of leader. Mais, a monarchy is a very respectable form of government.” Remy grabs a free piece of paper and starts to scribble. “‘Specially with a good king at the helm. Though, a king needs good advisors and a set o’ laws to bind him. They teach you what that’s called?”

Todd flips open the textbook and scans the types of government.

“Constitutional Monarchy.”

“Oui, oui. That’ll suit your needs just fine. So write down the type of government you chose, its definition and how people get appointed or elected to the advisor role.”

“How do you think they should be chosen?”

Todd asks and Remy’s eyes go distant, a shimmer of sadness sneaking up and glimmering.

“I… well. My papa, he liked having people who passed certain tests that were also voted on. Er… in his business.”

Remy tacks on at the end. Todd nods, that would make sense to him. He would want smart people to help him if he was in charge.

“I'll be back around in a bit. Write all that out, with some details on the tests, d’ccord?”

“Alright. Now shoo, dude. You got a guy at your counter.”

Todd waves his hand, not wanting Remy to start thinking that helping him would be a burden to Remy's job. Todd knows what that will lead to.

Remy nods and pops up from the table. 

The day goes on in a similar pattern with Remy coming around and giving some advice or leading questions, and Todd jotting everything down while chewing on whatever food Remy gives him and sipping the coffee carefully. Todd hops up to help with clean up and wipes down the tables. He notes Remy taking care with two dudes on the windows.

“Who are those guys anyways?”

Todd asks, eyes flicking over the colorful windows. Remy pauses and stares at the windows. Something ancient seems to curl over Remy’s frame. The older teen touches the face of the man on the back of a horse.

“These… these are saints. This is St. George the faithful. He slew a dragon that was ravaging a town. And that is St. Dismas, who was forgiven of his sins upon the cross before his death. They offer up examples to follow and hope to the faithful.”

Todd scrunches his face. He had heard of saints in passing before, he is pretty sure. 

“You believe in dragons?”

Is what comes out of his mouth, and he tenses as Remy looks at him. Remy raises an eyebrow.

“I believe in mutants. Mais there is debate if the dragon is more a symbolic thing than a literal one. I take it literally because my upbringin’. Now come on. Let's finish.”

Chapter Text

Remy and Todd end up in Remy’s apartment. Remy is a little embarrassed that he has so little food in the house. He whips up a quick meal and settles beside Todd, who stares at the plate with a frown. 

“What do you want for this?”

Remy blinks and then shakes his head. 

“Aint we talked long enough for me to feed you without strings?”

Todd gives him a small, sharp look. Remy sighs softly, running his hands through his hair. He cannot think of anything to immediately trade. 

“Maybe you… maybe you help me clean up the kitchen?”

Remy asks, taking his hair out of his ponytail. Todd nods and pulls the bowl of food closer to himself. 

“Sounds fine to me. Aren't you gonna eat anything?”

Remy swallows and grabs some of the food for himself. He chews on some of the vegetables in the soup, rolling the flavor over in his mouth. Todd watches him for a little bit and then chows down on the rest of his bowl. Remy gives Todd seconds and then tries to swallow down more of his own meal. His stomach curls in revolt. He slips in a little more food and then picks up his dish.

“Want anymore?”

He asks, and Todd eyes him oddly. Then nods.

“Yeah. Then I’ll clean up.”

“Alright.”

Remy states as he puts his bowl beside the sink. He shifts back to his chair and then pulls the paper that Todd was working on. He flicks through the work with a small hum. He gets another piece of paper and scratches down a few things as his eyes flicker over the work. He then gets up and moves over to the bookshelf against the far wall. Remy runs his eyes over the different spines, thinking through the titles. 

Ah!

There!

He pulls out a book of geography and moves back over to the table. He plops the book down and grins at Todd.

“I think it might be a good idea to think of the topography and geography of your country. It can impact a lotta things. For example, the bayou impacted the cookin’ and jobs back home. Where in the world were you thinkin’ about putting your country?”

Todd swallows the rest of the soup and then shrugs. 

“Not really. I guess I’ll base it on what I know.”

“That works.”

Remy flips the book to the section on North Eastern United states and looks throught the differmin bits of info he book marks the page. 

“You can use this book as a reference.”

Remy says with a smile. This feels like planning a heist. Gathering all sorts of sources and synthasizing the information into a palatable presentation to be able to make a cohesive plan of attack. 

“Thanks man. Got any more books?”

Todd asks and Remy nods moving back to the shelf. Todd gets up and starts cleaning. Remy notes that the teen flinches when soap touches his hands. He moves over to him.

“Todd? Does the soap hurt?”

“Soap makes my skin itch. No big deal.”

Todd shifts away and Remy backs up trying to give the other teen room to breathe.

“I don't want to be hurtin’ you. Don't wanna hurt no one. Do… is it all soap?”

Todd shrugs.

“Yeah. been happening since I got my mutation. Don't worry over it, dude. I can clean the dishes.”

“Mais… you aren't comfortable. Must have somethin’ to do with your sticking oils. Frogs and toads absorb a lot through their skin. Maybe you're just sensitive.”

“Im not!!”

Todd denies with a growl.

“So you don't feel itchy, petit?”

“I-... fine. Whatever. So what?”

“There's more than one kind of soap for dishes. And for skin.”

“Well, I don't have money to test out fancy soaps.”

Todd sounds angry. But in a desperate sort of way. Remy takes another step back, remembering how cornered he always felt when he was first taken from the streets. He sinks to the ground and kneels. His hands rest on his knees.

“I have a few kinds of soap lying about. I can't possibly use them all.”

“You're gonna get tired of giving me stuff. And then you'll get mad at me for always taking and never bein’ of any worth myself.”

Todd accuses. The words seem to be repeated from elsewhere. Remy blinks. He pulls out the rosary and looks at it instead of Todd.

“I told you the name of the Saints down in the shop. St. George. The other man, the one on the cross, his name is St. Dismas. Patron saint of many things. He led a life of strife and sin, mais in his last moments he looked upon Christ and spoke with him. He offered repentance with no excuse, and Jesus told him that they would both be in heaven that day. He did not need to pay for that forgiveness, nor do any act to earn it. 

You don't gotta earn nothin’ from me. I- I dont get sick of giving. I offer what I can. If I didnt want you to have it or it greatly burdened me I wouldn’t offer it.”

Remy says, looking up at the teen. Todd shifts back and forth on his feet. 

“I- Fine, I’ll use your soap. You don't need to get all sappy on me!”

Remy smiles and slowly rises, fingers gliding across the beads of the rosary. He … he ought to get back into daily prayer. It would likely soothe his soul.

“Merci beaucoup. Thank you Todd.”

Todd huffs.

“You really twist my arm when it comes to helping me.”

“You deserve help, Todd.”

Remy says as he moves to the bathroom. 

They end up spending about half an hour testing different soaps. They find one that Remy has a few bars of. Remy writes down the ingredients so he can go to the grocery store and look for shampoo later. He also starts writing out the ingredients of all the ones that caused Todd irritation while Todd gets back to work on his project. 

The hour grows late and Todd falls asleep on the floor. Remy scoops up the gangly teen and deposits him on the couch. He plans on waking the teen sooner over later, but the next thing Remy knows is his normal alarm.

Chapter Text

Todd blinks as Remy shakes him awake.

“Mmph?”

“I'm headin’ out to Mass. I left food for you on the counter. If you leave the door locks automatically.”

“Uh?”

Todd sits up and sees that it is dark outside. Remy looks a bit dressed up and Todd rubs the tiredness from his eyes. He sits up, trying not to show how confused he is. Remy shoots him a soft smile and then repeats himself.

“I'm leavin’ the house. You're welcome to stay, mais I’m goin’ to Mass. I left you some breakfast on the counter, mais you can dig through my cabinets if it's not enough food. Leave at any time, cause the door will lock behind you. Okay?”

Remy’s voice is gentle. Todd slowly nods, pulling the blanket closer to himself, a little surprised to feel so warm and safe.

“I'm gonna go back to sleep.”

He mutters, eyes carefully watching Remys reaction.

“I'll put a cover on the food then. See you later, Todd.”

Todd slowly snuggles down, glad to not have seen any anger in Remy’s features at him deciding to stay on the couch. 

--

Remy finds his heart softening at the sight of Todd falling back asleep as he exits the kitchen. Remy throws another blanket over the sleeping teen and then exits the apartment. He walks down the street as the sun slowly starts to rise. He feels… scared. Scared to go back into his father's house. He gnaws on his lip as he slips into the crowd that is amassing in front of the church and slips in with everyone else. 

Remy tucks himself into the back corner and fights back the urge to gnaw on his fingernails and lips. He recites the proper words with the rest of the mass goers and listens as best he can as the priest speaks. He twitches a little but keeps himself mostly still. When the service ends, he slips out of the building and slowly walks home. That… That had not been horrible. It lightens his heart a little. It had felt like going home for a moment. 

He had spent so much time around the Guild’s church. The walls and pews had been his second home and welcomed him at all times of day or night. And… it feels like this church is similar. It gives him a little bit of hope, even as his chest continues to feel icy and hurt. The pews had felt similar, and the echoing off of the walls had seemed similar. The smell of the church certainly was the same.

Remy arrives at the apartment and finds Todd sitting at the table, munching on eggs and bacon. The teen looks at him with wide eyes. Remy waves and walks to his room. He looks at the closed triptych beside his bed, and he slowly opens it up, bending his head in a small apology to the saints within. He then exits back into the kitchen area and sets about cleaning everything. Sundays are apartment cleaning days. 

He starts with scrubbing down the stove and then grabs a broom.

“Remy?”

Todd asks. Remy straightens and smiles.

“If you wanna keep workin’ on your project, that'd be just fine. Ask me if you need any help. I normally scrub on Sundays.”

That had been true back home. And… getting back to the routine should be good. He likes having a clean space. Todd narrows his eyes and then huffs. 

“Fine. I'll work on the project.”

Todd shifts up and moves to the living room. Remy nods and gets back to sweeping. He then pulls out a bucket and mop, scrubbing at the floor with a hum. He moves efficiently through the kitchen and then goes into the living room to straighten. He folds up the blankets and starts dusting the shelves. Thats… That's a lot of dust. He scrunches up his nose, mentally reprimanding himself. He shouldn't have let it get to this state.

“Why are you cleaning?”

Remy startles and turns his head. 

“Quoi? Er… I mean what?”

Todd huffs, crossing his arms.

“There's no one else here. No adult, no parents, nothin’. And this ain't the cafe. So why are you cleaning?”

Remy pauses and blinks. 

“Mmm. It makes me… It makes me feel better for my surroundin’ to be clean. Makes it easier to think, I suppose.”

Remy says, and then tilts his head.

“Have you ever tried to clean your room?”

Remy asks and Todd tenses a little. The teen starts picking at his nails.

“I don't have a room with my ma. And … in the Brotherhood house I haven't cleaned up.”

Remy pauses. Does… Does Todd live in an orphanage? Or in some sort of foster home?

“Best to start small. Choose one thing to straighten up and let that be enough for the day.”

Remy pauses at his own advice. Huh. He should… he should focus on that advice himself. He had done one small step today! Going to mass. He should be a little prouder of himself. Todd blinks.

“What do you think would be a good starting place to start?”

“Laundry. It covers a lot of space and cleaning it gets you set for the week. Does the laundry detergent make your skin itch from the clothing?”

Todd blinks and Remy puts down the duster. He comes over and sits on the couch.

“Todd, does it?”

“Yeah… I guess so. I just thought clothes felt better on the third wear before washing.”

“Todd, we are gonna get you some good detergent.”

Remy says with a huff, heading towards the door.

“But my project!”

“It'll be here when we get back. Come on. You want to start small, mais you need the tools to do it. Come petit. I take care of you.”

Remy grabs up his keys and the list of ingredients in the soap that made Todd itchy. Todd hops up after him and they make their way to the grocery store. Remy chats with Todd about his progress on the project and makes a few recommendations.

Chapter Text

Todd finishes folding the last of his laundry and tucks it in a drawer. He looks around his room and… yeah. He does feel better. Weird. He hides his detergent under his bed and behind some trash that he will worry about later. He then throws on his book bag and heads off the school; with clean skin, hair, and clothes for the first time in years. He's heading out early because he doesn't want to deal with Lance and the others picking at him over his clothes. But it feels nice and he wants to hold on to that good feeling. He slips into his homeroom and sees the teacher raise her eyebrow at him. He ducks his head down and pulls out his project and one of the books that Remy had let him borrow. He then bites his lip. 

He and remy had come across part of the project that he didnt understand and Remy was not sure about. He gnaws and swallows. Nope. Remy told him he would give him a bag of muffins tomorrow morning if he asked the teacher. Todd stands with the rubric and part of his work and walks up to the teacher's desk. Her eyebrow goes even higher.

“I… I don't understand this part. Where it asks for flag symbology. Is there a book I should reference, or can I just make up what the symbols mean?”

He nervously shifts on his feet, ready for the reprimand for bothering her. She blinks and opens her mouth. Then closes it and seems to reconsider.

“It's up to you. You can base it on a set book or make it up.”

“So if I choose red for being rad, then… that's okay?”

He asks and she nods, eyes flicking to his papers.

“Would you like me to look over what you already have down?”

Todd straightens a little at the offer and then nods.

“Yes… Yes, please.”

The please slips out like water and he offers out his materials. She takes them and he watches on nervously, half convinced she is going to rip them up. But she doesnt. She nods and hands them back.

“This is good so far, Todd. Keep up the good work.”

He feels his cheeks warm.

“Uh. Thanks.”

He takes his work back and hurries away to his desk. He feels stares from his peers and keeps his head down. When class starts, he finds himself paying attention in case any of it is related to the project or upcoming tests. Maybe he can convince Remy to teach him better laundry folding techniques if he gets a A on the next test or something. 

--

Todd bounces into the cafe with a grin. Remy looks up from cleaning a table and smiles back.

“Bonjour.”

Remy greats.

“Bon-sure!”

Remy’s eyes crinkle with delight at his attempt to pronounce the foreign word. Todd grins wider.

“I got the answer! I can make up whatever meanin’ I want, dude. Im gonna make the sickest flag!”

Remy’s eyes glow a little.

“Amazing petit! I'll make sure I have a bag of muffins ready to go when you come by before school tomorrow. Now get to your table, Im gonna grab some food and coffee for you.”

“Thanks, dude.”

Todd says and slips over to his table. Todd falls into working, relaxed and… safe. It had been so hard to find safe spaces in his life. 

Home was never safe. Whether it was the drunken yelling or bruising skin. Then there was school, where every day seemed to crack him a little more, making him jagged. He always felt the need to sharpen those jagged edges so they could hurt others before he gets hurt. 

He pauses for a second as he looks at Remy.

Remy is jagged. But… it seems like the other teen has worked to smooth down those edges and rounded them instead of sharpening them. 

Who shattered Remy?

Who hurt his friend's hands?

Who made it so that Remy looks empty and lost at times?

Todd swallows back the building questions. The longer they sit in his chest, the more they press at him. But he holds on fast to them. He has to keep the peace. Or everything will come falling down around his ears.

He swallows and quickly finishes his other homework before focusing on the project. Remy comes over as the number of customers dies down and starts asking about his day. It feels weird answering and feeling like the other is actually listening. 

--

Remy’s hand holds the blade, its balance perfect and weight familiar. He spins it experimentally and then the world lights up. The ground shifts from his papa’s home and to the swamps he had so often run through growing up. He stands on the back of a speeding boat as the world around him burns. Remy swallows as he sees demons with distorted bodies spring from the flame and leap at him. He spins the blade around himself and then begins to fight, defending and slaying the creatures that rock the boat and try to drag him into the water. 

The fire burns hotter and Remy can see his own eyes set in the faces of the creatures that are trying to kill him. The demons howl and shriek like the damned creatures that they are. Remy screams right back, spinning and stabbing and ignoring that they share his eyes. The eyes that got him cast aside to begin with. He cuts one through the neck, but misses another that stabs his side. He swings his sword in pain and his powers flare without permission, and light up the sword he wields. He stabs the demon who suddenly twists and transforms while staring him dead in the eye. 

“J-Julien. I- why?”

Julien Boudreaux grins as his body starts to glow with Remy’s powers. Slow. So so slow. The lines start to spread out like cracks in his skin. Remy sobs.

“Julien! I didnt mean to!”

“Doesn't matter, thief . You did it.”

The words are dark and laced with bitter hatred. Remy cries heavily as the other teen explodes. Blood drips down his face and he falls to the ground. He sobs as the ground glows and-

Remy hits the floor, arms burning. He shrieks and sobs, barely thinking clearly enough to extract himself from the smoldering blankets. He kneels in front of the triptych, looking at Mother Mary and weeping. He begs for Julien’s soul to be at peace. He begs for his own soul to find peace.

All this.

All this pain and horror and death.

Over a kiss.

Chapter Text

Todd grins to himself as he chews on the muffins. Remy is a real friend in Todd's opinion. The guy keeps feeding him and talking to him. And not in the, we live near eachother, so it's an obligation to speak, kinda deal. It feels like Remy genuinely wants to talk to him. Even though Remy is so busy with running that cafe. Todd had been a little shocked to find out that Remy is only a year older than him at seventeen. Remy seems older...

Especially with those bags under his eyes and those expressions that make it seem like the weight of the world is consistently weighing down on the teen. Todd wishes he were braver. That he was willing to risk the flares of anger and pain to ask the person that is quickly becoming his best friend what is wrong and why he seems to always be so dulled and hollow in the eyes. But Todd is a coward. Always has been. It is how he has survived for so long. You can never fall on your face if you never stand for anything.

But sometimes, like right now, he wishes that he were a little braver. A little more willing to take a bold risk. Remy had started showing up injured. This morning his arms had been wrapped up to his shoulders.

 Remy is kind. Kind in a way that doesn't taste of pity or underlying expectations. No. Remy looks after him. Sometimes, Todd wonders if life might have been better if he had met Remy before Mystique. The older teen never objects when Todd stays a little too late and has to spend the night.

Plus... Remy keeps pushing him about school. Mystique and the others don't care as long as he keeps showing up to classes. So no one in the government gets called to check the house. But Remy... Remy seems to think that he can actually pass. And make something of himself. Todd has started thinking about his life after high school. A terrifying, gut-wrenching thing. He swallows and takes another bite. He had not given it much thought; his mind just focused on surviving. However, he is starting to have dreams of more. Of achieving more. Of being more. He wants to rise to the expectations that Remy has and then pass them, no one had ever expected anything from him before.

Not really. His mom assumed he was a failure from what seems like the start. And the never ending carousel of men that came through the house either never gave him a second thought (which he preferred) or treated him like inconvenient pond scum that was in their way. Remy doesn't seem to see him as an inconvenience. Not yet, anyways.

Todd sucks on a finger staring into the distance while balancing on an outside bench. Lunch is too long and too short, giving his mind enough time to wander but not enough time to recover from the previous classes before the next batch comes around. And since he is now trying, he finds that classes are wearing him out because his brain is not used to being so engaged. He wonders if this is normal for slackers, who suddenly were trying to experience this.

Todd shrieks, in a very manly manner, mind you, when he is knocked back and his bag of muffins is snatched. He snaps as he sees Pietro and Lance. Pietro shakes the bag and snatches out a muffin before Lance steals it from him.

"Who’d you steal from?"

Lance accuses while taking a bite of a chocolate muffin. Rage simmers in Todd, but he knows he will not win in a fight with the two of them.

"No one. Didnt steal from no one."

He huffs, stealing back the bag.

Good food is so hard to come by. Always has been. He curls his body protectively around it. 

"Come off it! You're a petty thief, where'd you get these? They're good."

Pietro says while chewing, eyes lighting up from the taste. Todd can see that Lance is also enjoying the flavor, and he scowls.

"I don't owe you two anything. Especially because you stole my lunch! Mine!"

"But where are the muffins from? I can see why you stole them."

Lance says, licking his fingers and ravenously eyeing the bag. Todd hunches over it with a deeper scowl and snaps. He sort of hates the idea of them stealing from Remy, who looks like he is one tragedy away from vanishing into smoke.

"I didn't steal them!!"

"You didn't buy these. I don't believe that you can afford these."

Pietro says while attempting to snatch the bag again. Todd rolls off the table and hops away with a scowl.

"I didn't buy them. They were a gift."

"Who'd be givin' you gifts?"

Lance asks with a snort. Todd flushes an ugly blotchy red.

"Screw you guys."

"A crushhhh???"

Lance teases, which is fair given all Todd's teasing about Kitty. 

Or would be fair if Todd cared about fairness. 

And why should he? The world's never been fair to him. 

Todd jumps up and marches away.

Peitro darts for him, and Todd ducks into the school building. Todd hurriedly stuffs his face with the rest of the muffins and tucks into his next class. He would rather not share Remy. Remy is his safe little sanctuary in this unfair world. 

Todd yelps when he is yanked to the side after school. Lance towers over him and Todd scowls.

“What is up with you, dude. First, you start bathing, then doing laundry, and now you're showing up with seriously good food. What is going on?”

Lance asks and Todd would think he was concerned, if he didnt know better. No one cares about what he does unless there is something in it for them. Except for Remy. Who just feels like the exception to every rule.

“None of your business!! Leave me alone. Don't you have a life?”

“Does it have something to do with where you've been vanishing too?”

Lance asks and Todd shoves him away. Lance keeps a hold of his shirt.

“Again, its not your business. You're not the leader of our stupid group. You're not my friend. You're barely a teammate.”

Lance’s face twists, and the world rumbles.

“Forgive me for taking notice that you might be getting manipulated by someone!”

Todd scowls and tenses up.

“Like you care!”

He yells back and kicks Lance’s kneecap to get him to let go. The ground shakes as Todd scrambles to get away.

“OOHH I gonna rock you!”

Lance snarls. Todd notes that the X-nerds are bolting over.

“Yeah, right! You gotta catch me, idiot!”

He leaps and bolts. He trips a little and scrambles. 

Todd does not look back as he runs. He takes a long, winding path not wanting to be followed. He ends up checking briefly before heading to Remy’s cafe. He is a little terrified. He had just pissed Lance off. Lance is gonna beat him up when he heads back to the Brotherhood house. 

Beat him bloody and leave him bruised.

Chapter Text

Remy looks up as Todd bolts in. Todd has panic lingering all around him. Remy is quick to react and but makes sure to be careful.

“Todd?”

Todd eyes flick out the door and shivers. 

“Yeah?”

“Want to try out a caramel frappe today? Want me to show you how I make it?”

Remy wants to get Todd calm or get him out of danger if there is something coming. Todd lets him guide him behind the counter. Remy keeps a wary eye on the door as he shows how to make the drink. He then passes the drink to Todd as the teen looks at the floor.

“Can I stay here tonight?”

Todd mumbles. Remy straightens and slowly reaches out.

“Sure, Todd. Im happy to have you stay over.”

Hopefully, he wont have any nightmares. He worries why Todd wants to stay with him. He touches Todd’s shoulder. Todd freezes.

“Hey. Are you hurt anywhere?”

Remy tries for gentle. He tries to avoid pure anxiety from leaking in. He thinks that he succeeds in one of those departments. Todd looks at him and swallows. 

“No. Im not.”

Remy ruffles his hair.

“Okay. If you notice anything hurtin’, tell me, okay?”

“Fine. But I'm alright.”

“D’ccord. Wanta muffin?”

“Yeah. That’d be nice.”

Remy nods and guides Todd back to his normal table and gets food. He keeps his eyes on the front door, but no one unusual comes through. Then the closing time comes around and Todd helps him clean up. Remy moves up the stairs right after the smaller teen and gets to work on making dinner. It is a simple turkey sandwich with toasted bread and melted cheese, but Todd seems happy.

“Can I take a shower?”

Todd asks and Remy nods. 

“I got a few oversized shirts if you need something to change into.”

“Oh. Okay. Thanks. I do.”

Remy passes over the clothing and then sets about cleaning his rooms. The phone rings and he tenses up. Who… who could be calling this apartment? The ringing echoes out and he feels his heart smashing into his ribs. He does not want to pick it up and find out. He bites his like and steps backwards away from the ring. He does not have an answering machi attached, so when it has its final ring the apartment is silent. Remy holds his chest with a small whimper. Then the phone rings again and Remy flinches and flees to his bedroom to hide from the noise. He finds himself anxiously wiping down every surface he can reach. 

When Todd comes to find him Remy has calmed down a little bit. Todd raises an eyebrow. But says nothing. Remy is relieved by the lack of questions. They move into the living room and Todd pulls out his project. Remy helps where he can. When Todd starts nodding off, Remy picks him up and tucks him into the couch before packing up Todd’s bag. He then slips to his own bed.

The next morning he tries to not wake Todd up. But he fails. Todd wakes as soon as he passes through the living room.

“You can go back to bed, Im just goin’ down to bake and open up the cafe.”

“Ill help.”

Todd says stretching.

“Get dressed and then come down, oui? Ill make sure everything is set up and ready.”

“Fine. But dont get too far without me!!!”

“Oui, oui, oui, now scoot petit.”

He waves Todd away and then moves downstairs to heat up the oven and pull out his mixing bowls. Todd pops in, and they start working. 

It is…

Pleasant. 

Remy makes sure that Todd has a packed lunch and breakfast when he sends him out the door with a hair ruffle and a smile. 

His day is starting out a lot nicer than it normally does. Maybe it can stay pleasant? 

--

Todd avoids the other members of the Brotherhood while at school, not wanting to deal with their questions. He chews on the food that Remy had given him and a small part of him wonders if this is what kids with moms who cared got. Food, clean clothes, and care. He turns in his project with no small amount of confidence and spends the rest of the day working hard. He wants Remy to be proud of him. 

…

He breathes deeply and adjusts his book bag. He needs to make it home faster than the others if he wants any chance of getting in and out before anyone has a chance to stop him. He… isnt avoiding conflict and being a wimp, hes just not ready to share Remy. 

He will probably never be ready to share Remy. 

Todd is quick when leaving the school, bolting out of the front doors and moving as fast as his lanky limbs will let him. He shifts to all fours the further from school he gets, each spring eating up the distance. He arrives back at the house and hastily packs a bag. He freezes as he sees Lance’s jeep coming up the drive. He bursts out the back door and flees away. He feels 9 all over again, running from the trailer in the direction that he though his grandmother’s house was. Back when he still thought anyone in his family might actually want him when even his own mother didnt. 

This time, he does not get lost. He bursts into the cafe and Remy looks up with worried eyes.

“Tod-”

“Can I stay a few days?”

He asks. He wants to get a few things sorted in his head and would rather not be dodging questions back at the Brotherhood house. He would figure out the perfect answers while staying with Remy. He is sure of it. Remy’s face softens.

“Whatever you need. Mais, problems wont disappear if you are just coming here to hide. Is there… are you not safe at home?”

The last part is whispered as hands gently move through his hair and Remy’s eyes rove over him.

“I- No! Im fine at home. I just… I need a break from the other guys.”

Todd says, flushing. Remy nods. 

“I used to sneak out to get space from my brother. Sometimes being in a new space is good for the soul.”

Todd is glad that Remy had agreed so easily. He relaxes and Remy ruffles his hair.

“Bet you got some homework, petit. Why don't you go get it done, then I show you how to make more drinks.”

“Alright!”

Chapter Text

Remy waves Todd out the door with a happy smile and a relaxed soul. He knows Todd eventually will need to go back to wherever he lives, but he is choosing to enjoy the time that he gets over dwelling on the fact that it will one day have to come to an end. 

Remy starts wiping down the counter as one of his regulars, Alexander, comes in. The man pauses after his order and speaks to Remy a little more. He occasionally did this, but Remy has always struggled a little with his own replies.

“Glad to have seen you at Mass last week. Everyone is welcome, and I was happy you were there. I tried to speak to you afterwards, but you slipped out too fast”

The man says gently, and Remy smiles.

“Merci. I had to get back home to take care of some things. Mais I'll be back.”

“Good. If… let me know if there are any prayers I can uplift for you.”

Remy pauses, having not gotten that offer since leaving home.

“I- for Todd to do well? He's got tests coming up and he be tryin’ mais I know stress can make answers vanish.”

Remy gets more confident as he speaks. Alexander nods. 

“I will. He that teen thats in here most afternoons.”

Remy nods.

“Oui. Hes a good kid. Hes trying real hard.”

Remy says, fiddling with the rag a little. Alexander gives a slight smile.

“Its good that he has someone like you. Everyone needs someone that believes in them. Especially when they are teens.”

Alexander says. Remy swallows and nods.

“I hope… I hope Im helpin’ and not harmin’.”

He fiddles with the rag some more.

“If youre thinking about that, then I think you are doing just fine kid. Dont beat yourself up, okay?”

Remy swallows and nods.

“Merci.”

“Sure thing kid. Do you need anything? Prayers or anything else?”

Remy shakes his head gripping the rag tight. 

“Non. Im okay.”

“Alright kid. Let me know. Im happy to help you if I can.”

Remy smiles and nods. 

“Merci.

Alexander leaves and Remy gets back to straightening. 

--

It takes two days before any of the Brotherhood members manage to catch him to talk. It's Fred who gives Todd a sad look.

“Why did you leave?”

He asks while cornering Todd in the courtyard of the school right after the final bell has rung. Todd bites his lip and kicks the ground. He swallows and drops his shoulders.

“I… I wanted to get my head clear.”

“But sleeping outside?”

“I… I found someone who was willing to let me crash on their couch while I was thinking. Im… Im trying to figure out what I want in life, you know? I… I figured out that I can do well in school. And now I really want to do well. But I don’t know where that’s gonna take me. I didn’t have a plan before. But now I want one.”

He says, trying to sort out his brain as he speaks. He… he could be someone. Remy sure seems to think that he can be something and he wants to meet those expectations. He folds a little under Fred’s scowl.

“Are you sure you're not with another Mystique? Or the person who gave you those cigarette burn scars?”

Todd flinches.

“You promised to not bring those up Fred!! Theyre healed and gone, and I havent been ‘round to moms in a while. Im not stupid enough to keep going to people who hurt me. Remy’s different. I promise. Meet him.”

He says, shifting on his feet. 

“... fine. Im gonna meet him and if I dont like what I see, Im gonna squash him.”

Todd huffs. 

“Glad thats sorted. Now will you move outta my way?”

“Okay.”

Fred says and Todd starts leading him. Then Lance cuts infront of the two of them and Todd simply groans.

“Im taking him to meet the person Ive been crashing with. We dont gotta do the whole song and dance again. Just come with us Lance.”

Lance blinks and slowly closes his mouth. He then shifts to the side.

“Right. Okay. Lets drive there.”

Lance says pulling out his keys. Todd shrugs.

“Whatever.”

Hes not… happy that he has to reveal Remy to them. But he knows that they will not leave him alone until he does so. He mourns his safe time as he gives directions to get to Remy’s cafe. When Lance parks, Todd leaps out of the Jeep and starts moving towards the cafe.

“Hey! Slow down!”

Lance calls out. Todd makes an annoyed noise.

“Keep up then!”

Todd says without a care and marches to the Bean Vault. He slips into the cafe and finds himself relaxing. Remy smiles at him but the smile shifts to worry.

“Todd are you-”

Then the other two enter and Remy’s eyes spark a little. 

“Remy… these are-” 

What are they to him? Not friends. Not really. 

“These are some of the other teens that live at the Brotherhood house. They wanted to… see where Ive been hanging out.”

Remy straightens and smoothes out his apron, tilting his head a little bit. 

“I see. Well then! Welcome to mon cafe! The Bean Vault welcomes all comers. Mon petit has a permanent reservation at the back table to get some work done.” Remy slips out from behind the counter and starts ushering them all to the table. “Come, come mes amis, let Remy feed you somethin’.”

Todd settles down in his chair and Fred slowly sits down beside him. Lance narrows his eyes at Remy gingerly down. 

“Get your homework out. Good grades are how we pay for food.”

Todd hisses out and takes his homework out. Fred blinks slowly and Todd huffs.

“You have a chapter to read. We all do.”

Lance leans back with a frown.

“Why should I?”

Remy glides over with muffins and warm coffee, speaking as he slowly puts down the offerings. 

“Why should you do your work? Ah petit, I can give you fabulous rewards. Todd has gotten several free meals and a few other things. Anythin’ within reason can be yours.”

Hearing him call someone else petit makes Todd frown a little. Todd tries to shrug off the feeling as he speaks.

“If you dont want to do it, then you can leave. I dont need you messing up my deal.”

Todd threatens. Remy’s eyes soften.

“Aww, t’crapaud. Remy never take your deal away so quick.”

Todd blinks and slowly nods. Lance's nose scrunches.

“So he comes here to do homework and you just… feed him for trying. What's the catch?”

Todd tenses at the accusing tone. Remy tilts his head, seeming to genuinely think over the question.

“I suppose the catch is that I get someone to stay and chat in my cafe. Most of my regulars get their order and leave, or sit in silence. And Im… I aint from this city. Not from this state either. Mais, Todd can leave at anytime.”

He says and then shifts back over to the counter.

“Thanks, Rems. I think Lance and Fred will stay today. And not cause problems.”

Todd ends with a threatening look to Lance and Fred, who nod. Fred is already eating a muffin.

Chapter Text

Remy scrubs the counter as he feels Lance's eyes boring into his skull. Kid doesn't trust him. Which is fair. Todd didn't trust him at first either. He just has to prove himself as safe. It will be fine. He hums a little as he goes through a checklist of stock. Hmm.

Almost out of cups. 

He startles a bit as Todd calls to him.

“Remy!!! I need your help!! This book is bein’ dumb!!”

Remy straightens and puts down his checklist. He moves over to the table and sees that Lance and Fred also have homework out. He lifts the book and scans the passage.

“Read aloud or explain?”

He asks.

“Read aloud.”

Todd chirps. Remy takes a breath, rescanning the lines of Hamlet before drawing himself up and beginning to speak. He puts on a voice for each character. Whining and miserable for Hamlet and aching and old for his ghostly father.

Lance and Fred's eyes widen as he finishes the scene. Remy gently puts the book down. 

“His papa is dead, and his body was barely cooled in the grave before his mama done married his uncle!! His papa calls for revenge for the blood spilt at the uncle's hand. Hamlet ain't got no brothers, so he gonna have to do it.”

“Oooh.”

Fred says and scratches something down. Remy tilts his head.

“Need any more help?”

“No, not right now. Thanks, Remy.”

Todd says while working on his paper. 

“More food then? And do all y’all plan to stay for dinner?”

He asks and Todd blinks.

“Yeah, more food would be good. Do you guys want to stay for dinner?”

“Are you planning on coming back tonight?”

Lance asks Todd while Remy shifts on his feet. Todd picks at the table. Lance makes a noise.

“Mystique wont be oblivious to your absence forever, Todd.”

Todd sinks a little in his seat. Remy frowns a little and shifts on his feet. Is Mystique hurting them or… just not paying any attention to them. That's… bad. If there is a house full of teens being ignored by the adult responsible, that will only lead to harm.

“Yeah… you're right. I'll come back today. But Im staying for dinner.”

“Then we will, too.”

Fred cuts in. Remy grins.

“Perfect.”

Remy chirps and then moves away. He brings some more food for them and then moves around his counter to finish his stock checklist. 

When closing time comes, Todd hops up and grabs a rag while Remy sweeps. The other two stare for a moment before Todd passes them rags.

“Come on. The faster and cleaner it is, the quicker Remy will start cooking!!”

Remy smiles a little.

“You don't have to.”

“Yeah, they do. Come on, guys.” 

Todd insists and Remy shrugs.

--

The meal is … weird with the other two here, Todd thinks. Lance is still acting like Remy is worth being suspicious of. And Fred is happily eating the food. Todd eats, but is a little twitchy. Remy seems… well it seems that Remy is happiest when he has someone to take care of. Remy is bustling about the kitchen to pack up food for them and clean up. The older teen had barely eaten anything. That worries Todd. He had not seen Remy ever eat much. Todd knows that it does not take long for bones to start poking through the surface of patch work skin. 

And getting hurt makes hunger come faster. His eyes flicker over the bandages on Remy’s arm. He still has not been able to figure out who might be hurting his friend. There are no obvious contenders. Is Remy hurting himself? Todd hadnt caught him doing so while staying at his house. 

But that doesn't mean anything.

Does…

Does Remy want to die?

The question makes his stomach lurch and he shifts uncomfortably. No. No, that cant be right. Remy is fine. Remy is fine. Fineish. People who want to die don't get up and work hard like Remy. His mama didnt when she had been suicidal after his biofather's insurance money dried up. 

Though, just to be safe, maybe, maybe he should be telling Remy how much he cares. So Remy might think there is something sticking around for.

He gets up and helps with cleanup.

“Oh! Merci. You dont haveta Todd.”

“I want to. Youre… I like your food. You do a good job.”

Boom. 

Complement. 

Remy blinks and then ruffles his hair.

“Aww sweet.”

“Dont mess with my doo man!!”

Todd complains but with no heat. The touch is too friendly to really get mad at it. Lance, surprisingly, gets up and cleans off his own plate.

“Thanks man. For the food, I mean.”

Lance says. Remy smiles and nods.

“Aint no trouble. Come for dinner again anytime. Now here. This is for you to take home. Stick it in the fridge. Itll taste better if you use an oven to reheat it, mais the microwave will do in a pinch.”

Remy passes some to Lance, Todd, and Fred. 

Todd cleans up Fred’s plate. He then quickly gathers up his clothing that he had brough so he could stay over, tucking it neatly away. Remy shifts to sit down beside him.

“Imma miss havin’ you in the house, t’crapaud.”

“What does that mean?”

“Little toad.”

Remy says helping him finish packing the bag. 

“Oh.”

“See you soon.”

Remy says patting his back and then the Brotherhood boys leave. 

“He seems… nice, I guess.”

Lance says, fingers tapping against the wheel. Todd shifts a bit, rubbing his fingers against his clothes.

“Remy is really nice. And if you're not willing to be nice to him, dont come back. I dont think he can handle you bein’ rude with him. So dont.”

Lance shoots him a side look and sighs. 

“Alright. We’ll play nice. His food was… really good. Does he really give you food for free all the time?”

Lance asks and Todd nods.

“Yeah. I mean its a trade for grades and helping clean up sometimes.”

Todd shrugs. 

“Im not entirely sure what he gets out of it, but he does seem to think I can do better in school. And I have been. Im not gonna let him down.”

“Huh.”

Lance gets quiet and shifts a bit, staring forwards.

Chapter Text

Remy wakes from another nightmare, but no explosions. He lets out a long breath to self-sooth. He… he feels a little more hollow knowing that Todd is not in the living room anymore. But that was never going to last forever. He gets into the shower and lets the water swirl down his head and back. He closes his eyes and takes a deep, long breath, the steam clinging to his throat. The hot water drums against him, slowly hitting his back.

His lips slowly begin a prayer of intercession. 

“St George, a faithful servant of God and invincible martyr, you were favoured by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ. You fought valiantly against pride, falsehood, and deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part you from the love of Christ. I fervently implore you to help me by your intercession to bear bravely the trials and temptations that oppress me, so that I may patiently carry the cross which is placed upon me. Let neither distress nor difficulties separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Valiant champion of our faith, assist me in the fight against all evil.

… St George, Pray for Us.”

He slowly lifts his head, feeling just a little lighter. He moves out of the shower and changes into fresh clothing. He picks up his rosary, nods his head at the tryptic of saints and then heads down stairs. A little earlier than normal, but it's alright.

He is alright.

His mind swirls a bit as he goes through the motions of making the bakery items for the day.  He looks at the old radio that he had not bothered to touch in the kitchen. He flicks it on and the hymns swirling out around him soothe his shaky hands and aching mind. It sounds like home. Its missing a little of the jazz and the softer whispered edges of Louisiana, but it is close enough that he just can relax and breathe. 

He clicks off the radio and moves to the main room of the cafe. He stocks the glass case and hums to himself. After pulling the chairs down, he flips the sign to open. He sings softly to himself as he straightens books. 

Alexander comes in and leans against the counter for a little bit, talking. It's pleasant. Alexander chatters about his mechanics shop and the latest car challenge. Remy chats about his motorcycle that he … hasn't ridden in a while. Alexander invites him to come use his garage if he ever needs a tune up. Remy smiles a bit at the offer.

After Alexander leaves, his day falls back into normal routines. Serving, cleaning, and straightening. He finds a little bit of calm in the repeated movements.

Remy is delighted at the sight of Todd walking in with the two other boys from the day previous, and one new face.

“T’craupod! Petits! Bonjour!!”

“What?”

Lance asks, head tilting and hands in his pockets. 

“Hello! And welcome. The usual?”

Remy chirps, straightening with a grin. Todd grabs the arm of the new kid and drags him to the front. 

“This is Pietro. Hes… Pietro.”

“Thanks.”

Pietro says with no small amount of sarcasm. Remy snorts. 

“Ah, another petit. All be welcome here. Come, sit.”

He gestures to the normal table while grabbing food and starting drinks. Todd slips behind the counter, mixing his own coffee and helping move food to the teens. Remy ruffles his hair and gets the normal huffy groan. 

“My do!”

“Hush, hush chile, it ain't any worse than before. Now do we got any pressin’ questions or needs? Or can I mosey back to the counter?”

Todd scrunches his nose and then looks beseeching.

“Help us with more Hamlet?”

Remy grins.

“Of course. Though I don't know why you're bein' made to read it. It's not written to be read.”

Remy says with a huff.

“Well, it's not like we can watch it.”

Lance says with a scowl and a tap of his pencil.

Remy frowns and shakes his head. 

“Is there a video rental store around? Sometimes they’ll have copies. And I have a player tucked away upstairs.”

Fred slowly nods

“I would find that helpful.”

“Delightful. We can go after the cafe closes, but for now I’ll read it out and explain it.”

Remy does just that and then gets back to work.

--

Todd finds himself redirecting the other teens to focus on their work. He is… not fully sure why. He guesses part of it is not wanting to disappoint Remy. He wants to do well and the other boys getting distracted away from homework would distract him. Plus he had made them swear up and down to actually do work to be allowed to come with him. He doesn't need the cafe disturbed. 

Remy is nice, like always, making sure they always have a plate of something on the table. Suspiciously, not all of it is stuff that the cafe seems to actually serve, and it seems to be specialized snacks for them. Which…

It shouldn't feel so important and special for someone to care.

But no one else had bothered to before. 

He sees a few adults who come in eyeing their table when they walk in, and they probably know them as the local hoodlums. Or something. The eyes are sharp and ready to judge, till they slip to the open notebooks and scratching pencils. Then confusion flicks through them and Todd finds a flare of delight in the confused faces. 

Serves them right.

They have no idea what is going on in any of the teens' lives. He marks down the next answer with a flourish.

“So… what's with the weird guys in the windows?”

Pietro asks, eyes narrowed. Todd scowls. Those guys were apparently important to Remy. And sure… they look a little odd, calling them weird is rude.

“Those are saints. St. George and St. Dismas. Be nice. Remy likes them.”

“So he's a catholic?”

Lance says, squishing his cheek with the heel of his hand. His math homework is half done, and Lance seems to be looking for distraction.

“Cath-what?”

“You know, like… weird fancy Christians.”

Lance says with a hand wave. Fred narrows his eyes and then shrugs, seeming to not know what Lance is talking about. Pietro huffs. 

“Yeah, just one of so many categories of Christians. They are basically all the same.”

Pietro says with a hand wave.

“Like Judaism doesn't have its own categories.”

Lance says with an eye roll.

“One, they are called branches, two, shut up.”

Pietro says. 

“Why are we talking about Judaism?”

Todd asks, seeing a shared look of confusion on Fred’s face. 

“... Dude, Im Jewish.”

Pietro says slowly. Todd blinks. Huh. He… honestly hadn't known. 

“Oh. Well, Remy likes the Saints, so don't be rude. Okay? He's feedin’ us.”

“Fine.”

Lance says while the others nod. 

Chapter Text

Remy closes up the shop, and all the teens help him. It is very sweet and makes Remy fill with a strange warmth. Remy smiles and wipes his hands off on a rag. 

“Still up for going to the video store?”

“Yep!”

Todd chirps. Remy grins and takes off his apron.

“Alright. Let's get movin’ then.”

He says, ushering them out and locking the door behind them. Stepping out onto the street feels… odd. And nice. Todd walks beside him, chattering about what they are learning in science. Remy listens without interrupting. Fred walks quietly on Todd's other side while Lance and Pietro lead. 

Arriving at the shop, Remy gives the building a glance over. Luckily, it is not a chain Blockbuster. He disliked their blue logo and disruptive marketing practices. No. This is a local video store, with hazy light and red walls. The worker waves at them before flicking to the next page of her novel. Remy relaxes and starts to wander the shelves with the other teens. He spots a lot of movies that he has watched before with family and plenty he's never heard of. He finds a taping of Hamlet and holds it carefully as he peruses with the rest of the teens. 

 “I found it, whenever you guys are ready.”

He says and gets a few noises of affirmation. Remy shifts over towards the counter and waits for the rest to be done, looking around. He taps his fingers against the VHS, mind drifting a bit.

Papa used to take them to stores like this every Friday. They got to each pick out a movie and then watch it that night. Popcorn, jokes, and blankets filled those evenings along with love and care. They had shifted to once a month as both boys got older, but it had always been a nice tradition. Remy finds his heart aching for it. 

Remy snaps out of memories when Todd approaches. 

“Time to go?”

Remy asks and Todd nods. Remy quickly pays to rent the movie and the whole group heads back to Remy's.

He is… nervous and excited to have them over to watch Shakespeare. He throws together a quick meal and then turns on the movie. The teens all pile on the couch, food in hand, eyes narrowed at the square tv as it hums to life. Remy presses play on the VHS player and settles in a spare chair. Exhaustion bites at him and brings a great heaviness to his eyelids.  He quietly listens to the play and the reactions of the teens, smiling a bit to himself. They let out small noises of shock and irritation at all the right moments. He smiles softly to himself, glad that they seem to be having a good time. 

Yes. Watching it is definitely better than just reading it. He finds himself drifting and his eyes slip closed. He breathes deeply and then he is gone.

--

Todd looks over to Remy as the play ends, ready to say something. But then he sees that the older teen is asleep. Oh. Remy looks so so peaceful. He does not want to disturb him. He turns to the others. 

“Let's clean up and go. He's got an early morning.”

Lance gives him a small look full of confusion and analysis.

“Since when have you ever cared about other people?”

The question is genuine. 

Todd huffs.

“Since when has anyone cared about us? At all?”

He asks while scooping up the dishes. That shuts Lance up. Fred helps Todd clean up, and then they start to head towards the door. Todd pauses and then throws the blanket over Remy. Sue him, Remy looks cold.

Remy shifts a little, one glowing eye cracking open. The red makes Todd freeze.

“Hmm?”

“We cleaned up and we’re going home. You can keep sleeping, Remy.”

“Merci.”

Remy slurs out, eye shutting again. The glow vanishes with the closing of his eye.  Todd nods to himself and firmly shuts the door behind himself. The Brotherhood heads home, and Todd knows that they will be regulars at the cafe now. And…

He's okay with it.

Sort of.

It feels like they are a little more connected and calm. Just a little. So maybe being around Remy would make all of the Brotherhood kids chill out. Todd takes care of cleaning up a few places around his bedroom. 

--

Remy grins as Todd hops in ahead of the other teens who seem to have decided to keep coming. Remy is glad. It is nice to have more people around. 

“T’craupod! Petits! Bonjour!!”

He calls out. Pietro darts up to the counter, and Remy is sure that is some sort of super speed. None of his business if Pietro does not want to mention it. 

“Food?”

Pietro asks and Todd huffs.

“We have to show our grades first. And get started on our work.”

Pietro pouts and Remy snorts.

“Here, a muffin to tide you over lapereau.”

He passes over a muffin and Pietro darts to the table. Remy passes out muffins to the rest of them with a smile. They all shuffle over to their table and open up their bags to get to work. Remy continues to work behind his counter, puttering away while occasionally putting food on the teen's table. When it comes to closing time, Todd hops up and starts cleaning. And gradually so do the other teens. Remy chats with them about any subject they bring up, happy to have voices around. He invites them to stay for dinner and after a tiny pause, they agree.

Chapter Text

Remy feels a bit better as each day passes. Prayers are easier and so is actually leaving the building. Todd has dragged him out to a nearby hang out spot that the teens enjoyed that they liked practicing their powers in semi-private. He also finds it easier to go to mass. He still has not entered the confessional, but he almost has enough bravery to go and admit to his sin. 

Remy is currently on the couch, stitching a hole in Lance’s preferred vest while the teens lounge about his living room, complaining and gossiping. Girls, school and powers are all complained about and discussed. Remy is content to sit and listen as he stitches.

“What about you, Remy? You ever have a girl?”

Lance asks and Remy stabs his finger, surprised at being pulled into the conversation. He sucks on the blood bubbling from his finger and tries to think of an honest reply he is comfortable with.

“I… dated once. Had a friend that I knew since childhood. We tried one date. We both agreed that we didnt really feel any romance between us and we mutually broke it off.”

The boys all silently stare at him and he goes back to stitching. He sighs and addresses the staring.

“Girls like it more when you take their feelings into account. Having a girlfriend just to have the status of having a girlfriend is a fast ticket to mutual misery.”

He says and Todd slowly nods.

“I… yeah makes sense dude. Mom likes bringing just about anyone home just so she doesn't have to be single. But they don't really care about her. Or what's best for her life.”

Todd states, rubbing his arms. Fred slowly pats his back. Remy frowns and ties off the thread as he finishes repairing the hole.

“Desole t’craupod”

Remy says apologetically. Todd shrugs.

“Im not the only kid to ever have a sucky parent. Look at Pietro’s dad for-”

“Shut it.”

Pietro says while chucking a pencil at him. Todd yelps and ducks. Remy shakes his head.

“If Pierto wants his family to be a point of discussion, that's his choice. Now! Do any of you know how to pick pockets well?”

He decides to change the topic and gets interested looks from all three. He grins and starts instructing them in some of the ways that his family had. The teens all really get into it and they make perfect students. Willing and eager to learn and quick studies. 

--

Remy hears mewing outside of his cafe in the alley. He blinks and opens the door. He spots a grey cat sitting there paw stuck in a bit of garbage. He moves forwards slowly and the cat hisses, kicks and gets more entangled.

Remy slowly sinks down to his knees, humming softly and gently. 

“It's okay. It's okay, sweetheart. Minou, minou, its okay.”

He moves his hand slowly, oh so slowly. The cat stills. Its eyes focus on him, intense and scared. He slowly begins to untangle the garbage. He gets its leg free and it springs away with a yowl and hiss of warning. Remy stays still. It pauses and slowly de-fluffs, and starts to lick itself. Remy smiles and slowly rises and shifts backwards. 

The cat looks at him again and mews. Remy blinks and shakes his head.

“I dunno whatchu want. See you around, sweetheart.”

He tucks back into the cafe and starts to work again. When the teens show up he i is ready for them with coffee and soup. He feeds them and he happily listens as they chatter. He works slowly and helps out with homework when they ask. He offers to them dinner and they quickly agree. Remy is thrilled. He feeds them and teaches them some more pick-pocketing before they head back home.

The next morning, Remy hears scratching and mewing at the door after he has already opened the shop. He opens the door and the grey cat marches in like she owns the place. Remy clicks his tongue.

“Darlin’ you can't be in my kitchen. Food safety is important. Come come.”

Remy offers out scraps of bacon to get her to come upstairs. He leaves a window open so she can flee once she has had enough of his home. He then moves back downstairs to run his cafe, not thinking about the cat anymore. 

His petits come in the afternoon and he smiles happily. There is a major test coming up and their vip table is littered with flash cards and heated debates over the correct answers. Alexander comes in while Remy is flipping through a book to try and find the answer to one of the questions. Alexander waves him off from coming to the counter.

“Finish up your work kid. I can wait.”

Remy grins and gets back to searching. He finds the answer and passes the book to Lance as he heads to the counter.

“I see your circle has gotten larger.”

Alexander says as Remy makes his drink. Remy smiles happily. 

“Oui. Im… Im glad to have them.”

He looks over at the teens who are busily prepping for their test.

“What's all the commotion about?”

Alexander asks and Remy grins.

“They got a test and I promised to bake a huge cake if they all get better grades than their last test. I am happy to see them taking it seriously.”

Alexander nods.

“I don't normally see such dedicated scholars.”

Alexander says with a deep, serious voice that just has the edges of a joke. Remy grins.

“They are some of the brightest I've ever met.”

Remy says genuinely. 

Todd and Lance glance upwards, eyes narrowing at Remy, seeming to look for any lies. Remy simply smiles back at them. He means the words that had come out of his mouth.

“Good. I expect an update after Mass Sunday. See you, squirt.”

Alexander pats his head and then walks out with his coffee. Remy returns to the group of teens and they keep working. 

When they start cleaning up the shop, Todd touches Remy’s arm. 

“Did you mean it?”

“About y'all being bright?”

“Yeah, dude.”

“Yes. I did. Every word of it, mon bright petit spark.”

Remy ruffles his hair, and Todd leans into the touch for a moment. Then he shifts away.

Chapter Text

The grey cat stays and sleeps in Remy’s bed at night. Remy names her Sweetheart and does his best to get everything she needs. She ignores the other teens when they come over, unless its Pietro, who she likes to plop down on. Occasionally, she comes down to the cafe and sits on the bookshelves or in the window. 

Remy lets her do as she pleases as long as she stays out of the kitchen. 

He is currently on his way to church when he hears someone shout.

“Hey! Rems! Where you off to?”

Todd is leaning out the side of Lance’s jeep, and the other teens are looking at him curiously. The remind Remy of eager kittens, eyes wide and heads tilting with interest.

“It's Sunday t’crapoud.  Im off to Mass at church. Mais, I'll be free later if you needed me…?”

Lance grins. 

“We're heading to the junk yard to practice our powers away from the x-nerds. Come join us later? Your pickpocketing advice has been… pretty good.”

His voice is chipper. 

“It would be cool to have you teach us some fighting moves; Todd’s been bragging!”

Pietro cuts in. Remy grins. 

“I'll figure out where the junk yard is after Mass, then. Love y’all. See you later.”

He starts walking again, not aware of the impact of his loose tongue as he trots off towards the church. 

The teens all stare at each other as Remy leaves their sight bewildered but… touched.

--

Todd stares after Remy, whose voice had not held a hint of a lie or scorn. His mother would occasionally say that she loved him. Mostly, it is said right before a request or a demand. It cheapened the words and made them useless with how much the tactic had been used. 

But Remy just… said it and darted off.

“Todd?”

Fredd seems a bit concerned. 

“Nothin’. Just… Remy is nice.”

He says with a shrug and spots similar looks of shock on the other teens' faces. Lance and Pietro quickly recover.

“Yeah. Maybe too nice. Someone's gonna swindle him.”

Pietro states with a frown that is laced with concern. His fingers tap against the side of the Jeep as Lance starts driving again. Their rhythm is quick and uneven. Worried. Todd is worried too. He likes Remy. Remy is nice and no one nice like that should get mangled by the world. 

“Then we make sure no one does. He's basically part of the Brotherhood, even if he don’t live with us.”

Todd states firmly. Lance nods with a frown and a tightening of his hands around the wheel.

“Yep. He is. No one messes with the Brotherhood and gets away with it.”

Todd relaxes a bit at the declaration and makes positive noises with the rest of the teens. 

They arrive at the junkyard, a place where no one will bother them, and they won't destroy their own home. Todd shifts to start trying to lift up some stuff with his tongue and fling it away. He tries to get larger and larger stuff flung through the air. He had been working on it for a while and had noticed some improvement slowly.

A while later he hears a yell. 

“T’crapoud?!! Petits?!! Where are you??”

Remy calls out. Everyone stops till they see him to keep from harming him. Todd grins as Remy rounds the corner. 

“Rems!! You came!”

“Oui. I did. Gotta admit Im curious to see other mutants in action.”

“Show them the stick thing!”

Todd says, bouncing on his feet a little. Remy nods and flicks out the metal pole.

“This is a bo staff. My papa taught me how to fight with it. New Orleans can get dangerous in the wrong parts.”

Todd watches as it spins, light glinting off of it.  Lance asks to use it, and Remy gives instructions. Remy then offers to show how to do hand to hand combat, and the other boys jump on the opportunity.

Remy shows them how to block first.

“It's important to block. If you block and don't get knocked down and hurt, you can keep fighting. So blocking comes first. Here. Move your arm this way.”

Remy repositions Pietro’s arm. He then shows how to move their arms for the different blocks. He then shows hits that would help in a fight. Todd appreciates the instructions. Mystique never bothered to show them how to fight, but expected them not to lose to the X-Men all the time. Remy lets them try to hit him and shows how to go through a fight with minimal injury to themselves. 

After a little bit Remy requests that they all start showing off their powers. Remy lights up at each of them and gives ideas for how to use them in a fight. Todd preens a little when Remy says how impressed he is by Todd’s throwing ability. The hand ruffle to his hair is accepted without complaint. 

When normal breathing turns into panting and limbs start to shake with weariness, Remy suggests they go back to the cafe and offers dinner. The teenagers all eagerly head towards the car so they can get to the cafe. 

Todd tenses up as he sees Evan Daniels. If there's one x kid there is normally more and… he doesn't want Remy anywhere near them. He shifts closer to Remy and so does Fredd. Remy freezes. Suddenly, his hand is grabbing Pietro before the teen can dart forward. Pietro yelps, not expecting the quick tug.

“We don't charge at people t’lapin.”

Remy says softly. Evan stares at them.

“What are you guys doing here???”

Evan asks. Lance hisses.

“None of your business.”

“Who is he?”

Evan points at Remy and the whole Brotherhood tenses up. Remy clicks his tongue, causing them to jump. Todd nervously shifts on his feet. 

“Someone who needs to get back to his stove. Gentlemen, shall we? Good day homme.”

Remy nods to Evan and walks passed him. The Brotherhood scrambles to follow quickly. Todd glances back and Evan looks so confused and… suspicious. Todd hurries up, not liking that any X kid had seen Remy. He just hopes that Remy will be left alone. Remy does not need to be dragged into this. Remy looks tired too often already.

Remy gets them to follow him upstairs and Todd helps cook the dinner, eager to learn some of Remy’s cooking tricks. He starts to forget about the encounter, happy enough to be hanging out with Remy. But… he can see that Lance is still thinking about it. He just hopes nothing happens.

Chapter Text

Remy wakes up as he smashes into the wall. The heat of the explosion sticks to his skin and makes him shake. He gags and sobs as he clutches his arm, blood dripping down steadily from a thin cut. Not too bad, but bloody. He coughs and sobs. His alarm goes off. He is supposed to be getting up and working. But… 

He hurts so much and he feels sick. He throws up in the toilet. He slips back to his bed and closes his eyes. His body shivers and he tries desperately to go back to sleep. Sweetheart mews and curls against his chest as he shudders and cries at the horrible nightmare. 

He had killed. Not just once but many many times. All of New Orleans had burnt in that dream and it had been his fault.

Remy does not want to face the world. Not today. Not right now. He knows that he is letting down his petits who he knows will come. But he cannot get the energy to even wrap his wounds. He curls up tighter with a whimper and sob. Remy closes his eyes and pets Sweetheart; petting and soothing himself at the softness of the cat. 

The phone rings.

Long. Echoy. 

Remy whimpers and curls up even tighter.

--

Todd stares at the locked door of the cafe. It is never locked and closed. Not during the week. He shifts his weight as the other teens stare at the closed sign.

“Do … do you think that he got hurt?”

Todd asks Lance. Lance scowls and grips his hands into fists. 

“No one better have messed with him.”

Lance growls out and the earth shivers in reply. Todd yelps. 

“I hope not. Or someone is gonna die.”

Pietro says with a scowl. Todd shifts his weight. 

“We need to get in there.”

Todd says, feeling unusually determined. They need to make sure Remy is alright. Remy would do the same if it was any of them. Todd is sure of that.

He starts off towards the alley, planning to scale the wall. The rest follow him and they immediately spot a partially open window up above that has a ledge right underneath it. Remy’s cat pokes its head out of the window, mewing down at them. They need to go up there. Todd gets Fred to hoist him up and toss him upwards. He then jumps, catches his hand on the window and slips in. 

He knows he needs to get the doors open for the others, but first he needs to find Remy. He moves quickly, hoping his friend is okay.

He smells burnt wood and fabric as he moves through to the bedroom and sees a dented wall and burnt sheets.

Todd finds Remy in bed, still as a rock. He slips over to Remy, slowly touching the teens shoulder. Remy whimpers lightly and Todd panics.

He dashes down the stairs, throwing the doors wide. He gets the rest of the teens to follow him upstairs. Lance flips on the light while Todd gets back to Remy’s side. He touches Remy again, afraid.

Remy shifts and coughs, sounding like his lungs are full of gunk. Todd makes a noise when Pietro pops up beside him. Remy’s glowing eyes open slowly, hazy and unfocused.

“Petits?”

Remy asks, voice coated in mucus. Todd whines.

“Todd?”

“Remy?? Why are you bleeding??”

Todd had spotted the blood on the sheets and is panicking.

“T’craupod. It's not so bad. Hush.”

“Not so bad!!! You have blood on your sheets and burns on the walls!!”

Lance yells out. Remy flinches back and Todd turns on Lance.

“Don't yell at him!! He is already dealing with getting attacked or something, dude!!”

Todd snarls out. Remy grips Todd’s arm tight. 

“Please. My head poundin’. Please.”

Everyone freezes. Lance shuffles closer. Pietro ducks out of the room into the bathroom and Fred plops down where he is.

“Remy… what happened, dude?”

“Sick.”

Remy says and then sneezes loudly.  Todd makes a noise of worry.

“That doesn't explain the dent in your wall or the blood.”

Remy looks away, eyes unsteady. His cheeks are red and Todd tries to think about what fictional mothers in movies did for sick teens. Pietro returns before Todd can think more.

“Cold medicine.”

Pietro says offering out DayQuil that has already poured out. Remy takes it with a grimace.

“Merci.”

“Now explain the wall.”

Lance says with a scowl. Remy shifts and runs his fingers across the blankets. Todd can now see that Remys blood had come out of his left arm.

“I … i… I can't.”

“Cant?!”

Lance snaps and Remy flinches. Todd scowls and shoves Lance.

“Don't be mean to him!”

“Dont shove me!!”

Remy covers his ears, eyes shut tight. Fred grabs them both and yanks them to the living room.

“He's clearly in pain and don't need you two fighting on his bed.”

Fred says harshly. Todd feels embarrassed. He rubs his arms.

“Okay. But what do we do?”

 Todd begs, wanting someone to take charge and fix this!

“I just want to know if we need to be looking for someone who might be attack again!’

Lance hisses out. Fred shakes his head.

“We can stay alert for attacks. But we make sure he is okay before we demand info.”

Pietro pops in. 

“Im getting him some water. We need to make sure he eats something. Soup probably.”

Pietro says and Lance breathes in deeply.

“Alright. Alright. We’ll get started on soup. I think Remy has some cans we can warm up. Todd, you and Fred be defense. Me and Pietro are going to cook. Lets go.”

Lance nods to himself as he speaks. Todd is happy enough to go back to Remy’s side. He finds Remy in bed, one hand resting on the cat’s purring side as the cat sits on Remy’s chest. The other hand is aimlessly reaching.

…

No.

It's not aimless. Remy is reaching to the bedside table and Todd sees the odd necklace thing with a cross that Remy seems to always have on him. Todd picks it up and presses it into Remy’s empty palm.

“Merci.”

Remy murmurs fingers curling over the cold beads Todd settles on the bed beside him. 

“W-we’re getting some food and water for you. So you better get better, okay dude.”

Todd feels his voice tremble at the end. Remy immediately narrows his focus onto him and lifts the arm that is not petting the cat up.

“Hug? Im not… not well.”

Remy says in a reedy, weak voice. Todd huffs.

“If it makes you feel better, then I guess so.”

Todd will deny to his dying day, but curling up against Remy made him feel 100 percent better.

Chapter Text

Remy slowly wakes when there is prodding to his side. He peaks out and finds all the teens staring, with soup ready for him. He slowly takes it and sips. Warmth fills his chest. 

He is so embarrassed that he had been exposed like this. How is he going to explain the burn marks without stating plainly that he has another mutation outside of his eyes? He does not want to admit to a power he never wishes to use again. 

But how to explain??? 

How??

Hes too afraid to even tell a priest his sin. How can he hope to tell these teens?

He closes his eyes and leans his head back. Todd makes a noise.

“You need to finish.”

“Will… in a bit. Lance… there was no attacker. Just nightmares. Rest.”

Remy says and he hears the boys all shift a bit.

“Remy… what does that mean?”

Remy hears Todd ask. The teen is curled into Remy’s side, fingers fluttering over Remy’s arm. Remy looks to the cross that dangles over his fingers as his palm squeezes against the rosary’s beads. 

“I … it is difficult. To talk about it. I…”

The words twist and tie his tongue winning a war he should not have entered. He should never have attempted to try and explain himself. Not with his head so fuzzy. He sucks in air and lets it drift out and then sucks in some more. Words filter in. 

“I… I blew myself up because I had a nightmare. It happens mais Im always mostly okay. I think bein’ sick made it worse. I aint gonna say anythin’ more.”

He closes his eyes against the questioning looks and the torrent of questioning words that increase in noise, irritation, and worry the longer he remains silent. Remy finally opens his eyes. He shifts lower in the bed and tugs on the blankets.

“Have I not suffered enough?”

His words are directed to God but the other teens flinch.

“I… sorry Remy. We’ll let you sleep. Talkin’ can wait till you feel better.”

Todd says. The gangly teen then pulls the blankets up and around Remy, and then shoos out the rest of the teens. Remy feels bad and begins to cry, not really knowing what to do. 

He mourns himself, he cries over how his head feels so fuzzy, over the pains in his limbs, and that he cant seem to keep a secret. His eyes press closed and he hides his face in his pillow that feels wet with his own sick sweat. He presses into the pillow and tries to escape from himself. 

But… something whispers in the back of his mind.

You cant hide from things forever.

Sins always come to light. Whether that is other people finding out or it gnawing its way out of the veins and bones and leaving the perpetrator violently hollow and broken. It is better to face and admit to them before they consume the soul. He swallows. 

He knows he cannot possibly speak to the other teens about anything before he makes himself right with God.

He feels a hand rest unsure on his scalp and he knows it is Todd. Remy feels like the monster he has often been accused of being.

 He prays through the rosary and falls asleep. 

--

Todd… Todd is scared. He is not used to seeing other boys near his age cry. Sure. Hed seen girls scream and cry around school and borne witness to his mother's howls more than once. But seeing silent tears and shaking greif like this??

He… hasnt. It reminds him of himself hiding under her bed and crying when he was 11, just wishing his skin stopped itching and buring all the time and that his mother would love him. 

He's not sure what to do. No one had been there when he was breaking down alone in his room. But patting Remy’s head feels nice. 

He wonders why Remy is crying. And what had happened. Remy had said a nightmare. And that he blew himself up. But then said he wouldnt say more. Lance walks back in the room looking serious. Todd looks up.

“He fell asleep. He's… warm.”

Remy’s forehead is warm and sweaty. Lance frowns and then runs a hand through his hair.

“You should stay. Fred's staying too. Me and Peitro are heading back to the house for a change of clothes so we can sleep over and we’ll figure out who will skip school tomorrow to watch out for him. Did… did he say anything else?”

“I think… I think he was praying. But not talking to me.”

Lance tilts his head and sighs. 

“I think… I think he’s keeping another mutant ability from us.”

Todd picks at the blankets. 

“I… I think hes afraid of it. Terrified. Whatever it is exactly. He… He was crying.”

Todd feels awkward saying it. Lance looks at Remy and frowns harder. 

“If its something that blows him up in his sleep… then it has to be something dangerous. I… hmm.”

Lance runs a self-comforting hand over his arm and swallows.

“Do you have any specific clothes you want?”

“Anything's fine, dude.”

“Alright. We’ll be back soon.”

Lance walks out of the room and Todd decides to be useful. He goes to the bathroom, wets a rag and returns to his post. He wipes Remy’s forehead as he hears noises in other parts of the apartment. Must be Fred. 

Fred comes in the bedroom and gathers the dishes. He and Todd share a look. They are both worried. They both want things to go back to normal. He puts his hand back on Remy’s head. 

“I… I hope it's just a cold.”

Todd bites his lip. Fred shifts closer.

“Me too. He looks… thin.”

Fred notes. Todd nods.

“You noticed it too?”

“Yeah.”

Todd slowly moves his hand and breathes. 

“I… He dont each much, Fred. He never has. And being sick is not going to help.”

Fred and Todd sit in silence for a little bit. Todd finds himself curling back into Remy’s side and Remy pulls him closer while still sleeping. He shifts a little and listens to Remy’s pulse.

Chapter Text

Remy wakes up to the sound of idle chatter. 

“Ill skip today. I know more about cooking than the rest of you. Just… grab my missing work would you?”

Thats… That's Lance. Remy fights off the urge to fall back asleep. 

“Non.”

He cant let any of them skip school for him. He forces his eyes open and spots all of his petits sitting around him on the bed. Sweetheart rests on his chest purring loudly. Remy struggles and all the teens start making worried noises.

“Remy, stay down you're not-”

Remy interrupts Todd.

“Aint no one missin’ school cause o’ me. I aint gonna have it!!”

He says, throat clogging and a rattling cough coming out of his chest.

Lance huffs.

“You're sick, we all want to stay here. But we decided that just one of us needs to stay here. Be happy all of us arent skipping. We want to. But…”

“I told them you really wouldn't like that. And… I agree. Lance is the best option.”

Todd says, rubbing his knees. Remy can see the nerves in the teen. He reaches out and takes Todd’s hand.

“Okay. D’ccord. I… do good today. Come back when school's over. Mais do good.”

He says and Todd nods. 

“Will do.”

Remy looks at the rest of them and sees them nodding. He relaxes.

“And now you need to drink water, take some medicine, and sleep.”

Lance says, holding out water. Remy sips it. Sips the medicine and then settles back down and waves the teens goodbye. 

Lance putters about and Remy finds a part of his soul relaxed hearing someone else in his home. He had missed having Todd moving about. He misses home where he constantly heard people moving throughout the house. He slips back to sleep.

Later he is shaken awake and Lance makes him eat and take more medicine. Sweetheart is gone and Remy misses the weight.  Lance sits in a chair nearby reading a textbook and scratching out answers. Remy watches through heavy-lidded eyes. He is not looking for anything. Not really. Just watching and …

Thinking.

He feels a bubble of warmth in his chest. These teens care about him. He tries to temper the feeling. He knows they dont know all hes done…

But neither does he know every detail of their pasts. And he cares about them. He coughs and Lance looks at him.

“Remy? Water?”

“Mm. Oui.”

He accepts the water and then closes his eyes. A hand presses to his forehead.

“You got warmer.”

Lance looks him over, teeth worrying his lip. Remy reaches up and touches the wrist.

“No worry.”

He says softly and Lance huffs.

“Im going to worry. I don't want to go back to never getting dinner. You make good food and you help with school work.”

Remy smiles weakly.

“Glad to be so important, me.”

“Go back to sleep Remy. … get better.”

Remy hums and nods slightly.

“Remy try.”

Remy closes his eyes and surrenders back to the dark.

--

Todd bolts up the stairs as soon as they arrive back at the cafe, worry filling each rushing step. He had worried and struggled to focus all day. He feels like a storm, unable to stop whirling and flicking about. He swallows as he bursts into the bedroom and finds Remy safely asleep in the bed. 

Lance raises an eyebrow at him, and Todd flushes.

“I… I couldn't stop thinking about it. Is he any better?”

“He's cooled down a little, but it does spike. Did you get my homework?”

“I did. Here.”

He digs out the papers from his bag and then shifts closer to Remy. He sits on the bed, and then he presses into Remy’s side. Lance makes a noise, and Todd flips him off. He had felt so safe last time he had curled into Remy’s side, and he wants that feeling back. He doesnt care to hear any other opinions on the matter. Remy shifts in his sleep to loop his arm around Todd’s shoulder.

Todd pulls his homework out and starts working on it in his new position. Remy’s heart thuds close. Alive. Strong. Not skipping or slowing or stopping. Just one steady pace. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The rythm keeps Todd focused even as the others get into the room and take up places all around to work. Fred on the floor, Pietro on Remy’s other side and Lance in the chair. The sound of scratching pencils and crinckling pages whisper through the air as the boys work. Waiting.

Waiting for Remy to return, awake and aware. Awake and kind with ruby eyes that are sometimes too dull, but seem to light up whenever looking after them. Awake and helping, letting Todd think that he can be something, anything. 

Todd wants the wait to be over soon. He already misses how easy it is to ask Remy questions and how it feels for Remy to mess up his hair. He misses Remy catching the small things, like soap hurting Todd’s skin. He misses and waits and…

Todd curls a little more into Remy and looks to Lance, voice a shivering mess of emotion that refuses to settle and sort itself out into nameable feelings.

“Is he going to be okay?”

He feels the other teens tense, the air of the room suddenly thickening as they all look at Remy. Lance clears his throat in the echoing silence and then mutters out.

“Yeah. he is. Its just a cold. He'll get better. He has to get better.”

There is no other option. 

That last bit is left unsaid but is understood by everyone. They need Remy awake and functioning. Todd nods his reply, not trusting his voice again with how wriggly and trembly it had been the first time. He swallows, fighting down the urge to sob bitterly. No. He wont cry. The only one who has a reason to cry is Remy and Todd desperately hopes not to see Remy cry again.

Chapter Text

Two days into Remy being sick, Todd goes down to the cafe to clean. He knows Remy wont like coming back to dust and disrepair. And… Todd wants to think. In peace for a little bit. 

He wipes down the tables and then the shelves. Todd thinks about how worried he is about Remy. The teen seems to be geting better. Remy had trued to get up and cook breakfast this morning but they managed to get him to lay back down.  Todd swallows down the cascading seems unable to go away. 

He then approaches the windows. He pauses, fearful to touch and disrespect. Todd can see a bit of dust on the figures that Remy would want them clean. But if he damages them??

He hesitates. He stares. He looks at the rag in his hand and swallows. Todd jumps at the knock on the door. He looks and see the man who often spoke with Remy at the count. Who remy often told of the brotherhood's successes. Todd slowly pushes open the door and nods at him.

“Hey.”

The man waves slightly.

“Where's Remy, sport?”

Todd crosses his arms and bites his lip. 

“He's resting. He got sick.”

The man frowns. Todd grips the rag a little tighter. 

“It's not our fault.”

Todd says defensively. The man blinks and shakes his head.

“Never thought it was, kid. Does he need anything brought over? Im sure you and your crew are doing a great job, but I'd love to help if I can.”

Todd blinks and shifts on his feet.

“I … we've been feeding him soup and medicine.”

He is not sure what to ask for.

“Would you like help cleaning?”

Todd slowly nods and lets the man in. 

“Im Alexander. And your name kid?”

The man asks while taking the rag. Todd swallows.

“Todd. I dont know how to clean the windows.”

“Ahh, Saint Dismass and Saint George. I can help. A little bit of water and gentle motions will do the trick.”

Todd nods and works with the man. They straighten everything up. And then Alexander passes over a note with two numbers.

“Top one is for my shop. The bottom is for my house. Lemme know if you need anything. And tell the other boys they can call too. All you guys seem like kids that just need a break.”

Alexander pats Todd on the back. Todd relaxes and smiles.

“Thanks. I'll tell them.”

--

Remy feels well on the third day and demands to be allowed to work. Todd sides with him on the condition that Todd gets to stay with him during the day. Remy groans at the skipping but concedes. He hears the kids muttering about having to avoid X-nerds at school but does not have much time to dwell on it while making sure they all take a lunch and get a hair ruffle. Todd helps him cook and then curls up in the corner at the table with a book to work on some late work. Remy sits on a stool that Todd had insisted upon. The regulars flow in and out, some pausing a little longer than normal to check on Remy.

Remy gives smiles and praises to the group of teenms that had helped him recover. 

…

He needs to tell them what really happened. he looks to Todd and sighs.

Not yet.

A priest first. 

Then…

Then he can try to form the words to admit that he has another power that he is terrified of. 

Todd looks up at him. No one else is in the cafe. Todd tilts his head.

“Remy?”

“If… if I was dangerous, would you still come around?”

Remy asks, unable to help himself. Todd sits a little straighter and grips the book tight.

“Are you planning to hurt me?”

Its a question that is given in a tone that implies that Todd has been hurt many times.

“Non. Not on purpose, t’croapod. I… I care too much to plan to hurt you.”

Remy grips the counter, sadness coiled in his gut. Todd looks around and then sighs. 

“My mom hurts on purpose. I don't think you're like her. Everyone is dangerous, in one way or another. I dont think… … You feed me man.”

Todd says like that last sentence explains everything. And… to a fellow street kid, it does. 

“I will continue to feed you, even if you don't like me.”

Remy says softly. Todd nods.

“I trust that.”

Remy relaxes and smiles a little.

“Bein.” 

Remy says and busys himself with straightening. Remy senses Todd watching him, but they dont really speak too much further on that topic again. 

Remy feels even better as the end of the day arrives and knows he will be insisting that all of the boys go back to school the next day. Sweetheart mews from the table Todd is at as the other teens come into the cafe. All three of them look over Remy carefully and greet him before going to sit down. Remy is just as happy to see them as they are to see him. 

He plans to tell them… some things. Tomorrow. After he sees a priest for confession. 

That night all the teens insist on staying and Remy is thankful for the sound of a full house. It makes it easier not to dwell on past mistakes and missteps. 

He just hopes they will keep coming around if he tells them more. Gives them pieces of himself that he is terrified of and feels guilt chewing on his bones from. He worries and fidgets and Todd notices. Remy shakes his head and waves the sweet kid away. Not yet. Not yet. But soon he would speak and find out his fate one way or another.

That night there are tears slipping out from him into his pillow. He startles a little as a new weight makes the bed sag a little. 

“Nightmare. Im sleeping here.”

Todd’s voice clips out and Remy reaches out and pats him. Sleep comes easily after that.

Chapter Text

Remy clutches his hands together, looking up at the little confession booth. He swallows and slowly steps into the anonymous booth. He settled down on the bench after gently shutting the door. He closes his eyes as he wraps his arms tight around himself.

“B-bless me father for I have… sinned.”

Remy chokes a bit, tears streaming down already. He forces himself to finish the statement.

“It has been three months since my last confession. I… i killed a man. Another teen.”

“What happened?”

The priest asks gently and Remy sobs, squeezing himself.

“I… it all started when I agreed to go on a date with my best friend, Bella Donna. We had known each other since forever and we wanted to see if maybe we could date and be together. We had one date and had a kiss and both agreed that it didn't feel right and we made vetter friends. It was mutual, and I have no anger over it. Mais… mais her brother saw.

And he…

He hated my family. He hated it so, so much. He came at me and we dueled with blades. I was just trying to disarm him and get him to back down. To stop. No one needed to die. No one was supposed to!”

Remy hiccups and then sobs, shivering and shaking. He hears the priest breathe but there is no interruption. He closes his eyes and then speaks the rest.

“He cut my chest. I pushed the blade back and then I… I slipped, and lost control of my sparks, and I killed him. And since killing him and being tried… I had a period where praying was so, so hard. And I still am unable to speak to my father and brother, who are calling, and I know ignoring them is wrong. Mais, I can't. The phone rings and I know I need to pick up. Mais I don't. Im sorry for these sins and all that I cannot remember.”

Remy shivers and wipes at his eyes. He knows that the Seal will keep the priest from speaking to others about this. He scrubs at his face.

“... It is not a mortal sin to have accidentally killed another if it was truly unintentional. Pray the Our Father thrice. And… Repair the bridge between you and your family. Speak with them. Listen to the lord and let your guilt go. It will become a sin within itself if you let it rule your life.”

Remy swallows and makes a soft noise of agreement. He then prays through the Act of Contrition, soul becoming less heavy with each word and listens as the priest prays through absolution.

“Go in peace.”

The priest says gently and Remy nods, feeling lighter. Yes there is still lingering guilt and sorrow, but he does not feel as damned as he felt in the morning. 

“Thanks be to God.”

He says, wiping his face clear. He breathes deeply and slips out, heading back towards his cafe.  

He has things to do and teens to look after. 

--

Todd is jumpy and wants to get back to Remy right this minute. But Remy would be disappointed if they miss more school and they need to dodge the X nerds. The other group of teens had tried to corner or follow them multiple times, presumably about Remy, because of Daniels seeing them at the junkyard. Todd does not want them to follow them. 

Todd already had enough stress sharing Remy with people he tolerates.  

…

He will admit it was useful having them to help when Remy was sick. 

And it has been more pleasant working together with them on homework, which has translated to working around the house together a little bit too. 

Todd ducks into class as he spots Kurt narrowing in on him. He does not want to talk to that blue elf. He plops down into his chair and pulls his work. 

That afternoon he spots Scott and Daniels cornering Lance. He darts there in time to see Lance getting pissed.

“Back off four eyes.”

Todd snarls shoving at Scott who scowls at him.

“We just want to know about the new mutant that you were with.”

“Youre not recruiting him to your stupid exclusive goody good club. Hes one of us.”

Todd says puffing up a bit. Lance nods firmly.

“So buzz off, Scott. Remy doesnt need you up in his business. And neither to we.”

Lance states, shifting into more of a threatening stance. Then Fred rocks up and grinds his fist in his hand. The two X nerds realize that they are outnumbered and back off. Todd gives an irritated grumble and then hops to Lance’s car. The other brotherhood teens get in and they drive off. They arrive at the cafe not too long later and find Remy working behind the counter. Todd notes that there is a new kind of shimmer to Remy’s eyes, glinting and glimmering like a coin that had just a small bit of it polished. Todd hesitates and then decides to be brave. He likes Remy too much to not be a little brave. 

“Hey Remy… Are you alright?”

He asks looking the other teen in the eyes. Remy lets out a soft breath.

“Oui. got a burden offa my heart today. Gonna remove it from my soul later… and I hope that you guys wont…”

Remy bites his lip and looks at the counter. Lance clears his throat. 

“Nothin’ at this point could make us stop coming here Remy.”

Lance says while leaning forwards. Remy shakes his head. 

“Make such promises after you listen, non? After the cafe closes, d’ccord? Now here is some food for you.”

Remy passes over a few muffins and sandwiches. Todd is a little worried about, Remy has to say to them. He sits down and tries to focus, not wanting to fall behind.

--+

Remy swallows harshly as he has them all sit down. He has to tell them. He cant let them stay around if he doesnt tell them now, and he does not want to send them away for what would appear to be no reason to them. 

He sits alone, curling into himself. He grips his rosary, fingers wound tight around the cross and beads. His heartbeat is as fast as a humming bird’s wingbeat. He sucks in air and feels tears pricking at his eyes as fear consumes him. But…

Fear is the work of the devil. And courage is the better option.

He looks at Todd and sees that the kid looks nervous. Oh. He is scaring Todd. No. that wont do.

“I… I have a mutation beyond my eyes. Mais, I dont use it. Not intentionally. Not anymore.”

His voice shakes as he lifts an empty hand and then clenches it. No. He explains first. Then shows it.

“I can make things explode with my hands. Anything inorganic. And… it can get pretty big. I used to use it all the time.”

Remy lowers his fist, scared. He swallows.

“What happened?”
Lance asks. 

“My family… has a rivalry with another family. I got into a fight with their eldest child and while fighting I accidentally lit him up. I blew him into pieces. Blood went everywhere. I had to leave home for my own safety after that. I didnt mean to kill him. His blood… everywhere.”

Remy touches his own cheek, remembering the droplets there. He tries to wipe it off. But it doesn't come off. Its not there to wipe off. He looks to the teens and finds wide eyes looking back at him. He flinches a little and he swallows. His eyes go down to the hands in his lap.

“I understand if you think Im too dangerous to be around anymore. I wont be offended if you choose to-”

“Shut the f*ck up.”

He startles a little at the swear coming out of Todd. He looks up when Todd stands and walks over. Todd hesitates for a second and then ruffles his hair.

“Im sticking with you no matter what. You didnt mean to. And youve been nothin’ but good to us. Being mutants is… dangerous. Heck, Lance has alomst smooshed me with his earth shaking, pietro’s hide speed punches hurt, and Fred could hurt me without thinking about it. Dont act like we should or would leave. We wont. No! I like it too much here! I like you too much to go!”

Todd says with an angry growl. Remy looks up at the teen and Todd ruffles his hair again, aggressively. It brings a cracked smile to Remy’s face. Lance huffs. 

“So thats what happened when you were sick? You blew up? Is it because youve stopped blowing things up?”

Lance asks standing and coming to sit beside Remy, leaning against him. 

“I- I think so.”

“Then we need to find another way for you to let those powers loose. But right now… maybe we should eat or something… you seem upset.” 

Remy smiles a bit.

“I was worried…”

“We arent leaving.”

Todd says and Remy feels secure for the first time in forever.