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The morning after the heavy drinking, it might surprise Jessica to find that she was a bit mistaken that Remy LeBeau would not be able to wake himself. He's up rather early, preparing some sort of breakfast, surprising given that it is presumable that Jessica Jones has absolutely nothing in the way of groceries.
The Cajun is wearing a white dress shirt, unbuttoned down a few places, pair of blue jeans, and boots. His trench coat is hung over the chair.
*
Heavy drinking doesn't typically effect Jessica Jones. In fact, Jones has been known to drink men twice her size under the table. Mornings, however? Mornings are the bane of Jessica's existence.
Shuffling into her kitchen wearing a long men's oversized shirt that falls just above her knees, the dark haired beauty rubs her eyes and gapes. "Please tell me you're not a morning person," she murmurs irritably before attempting to see either through or around Remy's work. With a small shake of her head, she pads to the cupboard nearest the sink. She opens the rickety cupboard and pushes herself to her tiptoes to reach a really cheap canister of instant coffee.
Cheap whiskey. Cheap coffee.
*
"Spend as much time as I needin' to make fast getaways in the morning, chere, you fixin' to become a mornin' person." Paper plate. Crab and Eggs Benedict. The juxtaposition isn't lost on Remy Le Beau.
"Ah can drive first, iffen you wanna. Give you some time t'sleep." He tilts his head as he sits down quickly with a disposable fork. "Should probably get goin' early." Mostly on account that he just stole a car.
*
The crappy coffee is mixed in a styrofoam cup with tap water — a truly revolting thing, but Jessica can't be bothered to boil a pot of water in order to make coffee. She's just not that person. Her eyebrows draw together as she looks at breakfast. "I swear the only thing edible in my kitchen was a weeks old can of soup."
She slides into the seat across from him and stares at him a few beats. "You're not even a little off from all the liquor?" This warrants a smirk. "Impressive."
*
"Went to the store and had mahself a busy morning," Remy replies with a wink. His somewhat offputting black and red eyes are for once on full display. "Y'got a thermos?" Usually Remy is as cool as the other side of the pillow. Either he wants to get going or he wants to get going. "Figure none of the liqu-er even goes to de liver no more, chere. Just bypass right on through like one of dem interstates."
*
"Uh… yeah… I think," Jessica's nose wrinkles as she slips back towards the cupboards. This time she opens several cupboards, one after another, looking for a thermos and coming up unsuccessful. She takes a step back, twists her lips tot he side contemplatively, and then stares at the cupboard over the fridge. A glance is cast over her shoulder, and she waits a few beats.
Again she opens the cupboard and there it is in all of its glory: a large thermos. She pushes onto her tiptoes, but her fingers merely graze the metal, not able to truly grip it from this vantage point, causing her to fall back flat-footed onto her heels. "Well, we can get rolling in a couple. I gotta change. Already packed last night, but I should maybe wear real clothes." She shrugs.
Her eyebrows furrow for a moment and she slowly elevates to the cupboard's height, grasps the thermos, and sets it down on the counter. A glance is given Gambit before she starts trailing back to the bedroom, "Seriously. I'll be dressed in two minutes or less — "
*
"S'fine. Was gonna offer to grab dat for ya, chere, but you dun strike me as the kind of gal who enjoys gettin' help from men," Gambit says. He puts some of the food into his mouth, and while Jessica departs he quickly scrubs the dishes in a 'good enough' sort of way.
*
Two minutes Jessica said, and two minutes Jessica needed. She steps out of the bedroom, fully dressed in a pair of black slacks and a purple cable knit sweater. Her fingers comb through her hair, drawing it into a ponytail only to twist it and pin it with a pencil from the countertop. "I'm ready," she declares easily before glancing at the apartment so as to note if she forgot anything.
"Let's hit the road. I'd like to be in New Orleans as early as possible so we can talk to people right away and get a beat on the trail — "
A single bag is tugged over her shoulder, a simple overnight (that's likely overfilled). She ticks her head towards the door, "Shall we?"
*
"Bien sur," Remy says as he locks the door and pulls it closed behind them. When they get to the street they come upon a cherry red, 1963 Corvette. The Cajun moves towards the back and fumbles way too long with the keys before finding the proper one for the trunk. "Your bag, mademoiselle?"
*
A wry eyebrow is lifted at the car before Jessica cants her head to watch Remy a few beats. "So. How fast will we have to be going?" because she's already deduced this is likely stolen. But rather than question things further, she passes her bag to Remy and helps herself to the front passenger seat. "You volunteered just so you could drive this beaut." Her head shakes.
*
"Well, de trip takes nearly twenty hours. We either take turns driving and do it in one go, or p'haps we stay the night in Atlanta. I know one hell of a hotel. Far as how fast we go, well that's all equal to the lead in yo foot, cherie."
Gambit opens the door for her, but doesn't bother to shut it as he saunters around towards the driver's side. It's the 1960s, of course. She can shut her own door.
*
"A night might not be a bad idea. Depends how much trouble you think your ex wife is in," Jessica slams the passenger door and then issues Gambit a smile of satisfaction. Super strength has its merits.
There's a smirk at the thought of lead in her feet, "You're the one with the first round of lead. And the speed is more a question f whether anyone tailed you." Her nose wrinkles. "When we get there we should swap this out for something more subdued thug." She frowns slightly. "I'm pretty sure red cars get all the attention."
*
Gambit says, "Relax. The fuzz aint ever caught ole Remy Le Beau yet."
RURAL VIRGINIA
FOUR HOURS LATER
Gambit lets out a sigh as the vehicle is pulled over to the side of the road. He's wearing sunglasses but it's clear he's peeking in the rearview to try and get a bead on the cop who just flashed his lights and ran his siren on them. This is probably not good."
*
Jessica stares at Remy hard before shaking her head. "Let me do the talking. Please." Even as she makes the request, she begins pinching her face, causing just a hint of rouge to line the apples of her cheeks. She then proceeds to rub her eyes and sniffle hard. Oh dear.
*
"License and registration," the officer says as Remy reaches over to the glove box. He says nothing, figuring that Jessica must have a plan. He sure hopes so because he has neither a license or registration.
*
Jessica lets out a loud sob in response. She sniffles hard again, and rubs her now-reddened eyes that almost look like she's been crying. "Officer, please it's all my fault!" there's an outright exasperated edge to her tone. "We borrowed this car from a friend of a friend of a friend of mine to get to my father's funeral halfway across the country and I just needed someone to drive me — " she blinks hard, as if holding back tears. "And my friend here," she motions towards Remy, "didn't have time to get his wallet because the funeral is in three hours and I don't know if we'll make it as it stands — " she buries her face into her hands. " — I just wanted to say goodbye — "
*
"That's aw…Ma'am, I sure am sorry. Here. Young man, this is a warning, but y'all need to get back on the road right away. Terribly sorry for your loss, ma'am."
The officer is all with the submissive hands and apologetic looks as Gambit tears off, heading for Atlanta.
*
"Bon travaille, m'lady," Gambit says with a grin. "Wonder what he'd think if he knew he just let a mutant go."
*
As the car speeds back into motion, and the pair are safely on their way once again, Jessica giggles lightly, "I knew I had to just swing for the fences." Her eyebrows arch and she shoots Gambit a sidelong grin. "Honestly, I get way more done exploiting other people's good graces than on my own resources and merit." She clucks her tongue, "Told you I wasn't a hero."
*
"Hell, you're Remy LeBeau's hero right about now," he replies as he goes even faster.
Back in the squad car, the sheriff's deputy shakes his head, "Sure do hope that gal gets to her funeral okay."
*
"I don't know. You seem pretty resourceful," Jessica glances at her reflection in the side mirror and hmms, "At least puffy morning eyes mirror teary ones." She swallows hard and absently chews her bottom lip. "So, ever been caught? The gal that asked me to find you implied you kept giving the police the slip…"
*
"I lied. I got caught in South America. Part of the reason I think that Bella Donna thought we should call it quits. She went back to Nawlins, I went to New York. Jails down dere, dey definitely a weaker breed."
*
"What's it like" Pause. "In jail?" Jessica's lips hitch up on one side and she hmms quietly. "Never been. Don't plan to either. Of course, I guess no one plans to do time." She hmms quietly again. "You talked to her since it all happened?"
*
"If you're askin' if a man got behind ole Remy the answer is no. Got a power y'aint seen, yet, and lemme tell ya somethin' it's a real fire cracker," LeBeau laughs as he replies. "But it aint bad. Wasn't dere long. No cell gonna hold Remy LeBeau!"
Remy nods his head, "Talk to Bella Donna quite a bit. We aint in love no more, but we still friends now and again."
*
Jessica's eyebrows arch upwards, "That wasn't what I was asking, but good to know.. I guess?" She shakes her head. "No, more like the day to day stuff. I thought about it when I was — " she lifts a hand and opts not to describe when she considered jail. "But it seemed like a lot of sitting around. Which doesn't make sense. Like what's even the point? Someone once told me it was about making people better or something. But I don't go to the hospital and magically come out better by sitting on a bed for awhile." She shrugs. "Doesn't make sense."
*
"Dere you go, gettin' philosphical 'gain." Remy shrugs his shoulders. "Jail be dere so the good folks can feel like they can control a situation. Dey don't even know what dey want out of jail. Dose inside can't pretend to answer for dem neither."
*
"Maybe," Jessica offers, leaving it at that before simply shaking her head. "Seems ridiculous." And it does. Which is why she doesn't push the thoughts any further. "You got many enemies in New Orleans? Seems like it'd be useful to know as we're going to end up on their doorstep soon."
*
"Enemies? Remy LeBeau? Woman, you know how charmin' dis Cajun can be. How many enemies do you think ole Remy got?"
FAST FORWARD A HANDFUL OF HOURS
Remy reaches out his hand for Jessica as they both duck behind a car. Le Beau because he has to but Jones because he yanked on her arm. The stucco wall behind them explodes in a dusty mess as the first volley of gunfire crosses the French Quarter street.
*
"What the hell!?" Jessica hisses in a hushed tone. She shakes her dark hair hard to loose any stucco dust before peeking around the car. "Charming, he said. No enemies, he declared," she mutters. "Believe nothing. Ever."
"I've never tried bullets before," she murmurs as she presses further against the car more to herself than Remy. It's possible she's not bulletproof, and she's certainly not dying to test the theory. "I can fly us out of here, but it won't be quick. I don't have the whole speed thing down — just a getaway."
*
"You fly?" Remy says as his eyebrows go up. "Dat might be an option because I tink we're surrounded." From their perch on the pavement, Remy points up to some men on the roofs across the street. "Assassin's Guild. I did tell you 'bout de Romeo and Juliet ting, n'est-ce pas?"
*
"Right! But you also insisted you had no enemies!" Jessica counters as she tugs on his arm now. Her head cants to catch the men on the rooftop, and her eyes scan the horizon to consider a relative trajectory. "Alright. This is not going to be my best work, but — "
Strength alone wouldn't have yielded a getaway. Flight would've just provided Jones an exit. Both? Well, in two motions the pair are flying away from the foray. The first has Jessica tightly wrapping her arms around Remy. The second sees her kicking off from the ground, using it as a source of momentum before quite literally taking flight away from the mess.
*
Remy oofs as Jessica squeezes him and then, boom, they're airborne. "Ain't eva seen Nawlins quite like dis!" A few shots are squeezed off in their direction, one coming close enough to put a hole through Remy's jacket, but the pair are safe all things considered.
"Just can't get a good bite to eat in dat part of town no mo'," Remy says and then tilts his head, coming way too close face to face with Jessica. "Remy may have a few more dan one or two enemies."
*
Despite herself, there's a flicker of a smile at the mention of the view; it's something that's become all too normal since Jessica tried her hand at the hero stint. "It's amazing," she agrees. "Sometimes I forget," her eyes scan the skyline, finally opting for a building some distance from the trouble. Slowly, she sets down on the rooftop.
While in flight, Jones didn't really notice the closeness, but once her feet make purchase with the rooftop, her throat clears and her lips edge upwards twice. "You think?" she asks rhetorically back to him. "Would've been nice to know to expect that. Just sayin'."
*
"Yeah well, I tink if you knew how many people in dis town din like me, you wunt've come. And if you din come, dey likely to get to ole Remy. See, the Assassin's Guild and de Tiefs Guild are like two football teams." Remy uses his hands to explain this. "Errytime dey go at one another dey go full out." His hands crunch together. "Den, one day one of de Assassin's Guild and one of de Tiefs Guild got hitched. Was supposed to unite de families. Well, d'en tings got bad."
*
Jessica's nose wrinkles at the thought. "How did they possibly get worse? After all of that, it doesn't even make sense. Weddings are meant to unite families and bond enemies. Right?"
*
"Well, sorta kinda killed her brother," Remy says quietly with a shrug of his shoulders. "He had it comin'"
Remy points off into the distance, "My house is 'bout two miles that way. Can either stay dere or do de hotel. Up to you. Your expense account."
*
"That's one way to spend your honeymoon," Jessica offers wryly. "I can see how that would be a strain on the relationship." She nods slightly. "Will your enemies come to your door? Because if that's likely, I vote for hotel. If not? Well. Your place it is. You've seen the hole I live in, so…"
*
"On Tief turf. Nuttin' to worry about. Come on," Remy says as he leads the way. Dark stroll through the old parts of Nawlins until they come to an old white house with weeping willows in the yard and overgrown bushes and weeds that brush up against the gate. Remy flips a brick towards the front the fence, producing a key and literally hops up on the step. From there, the door opens with a creak.
*
The walk wouldn't inspire confidence in most, but Jessica doesn't shy away. Dark alleys have no power over her, but then strength has its merits. "Haven't visited in awhile, I guess," she observes after noting the state of the yard. When the door opens, she curiously steps inside, eyes scanning the front for potential signs of danger. Already she's been caught off-guard. She's not likely to let it happen so easily again.
*
"Home sweet h—" Remy stops abruptly as he hears something upstairs. A creak of a door. Pad-pad-pad-pad. Le Beau tilts his head, coming down the stairs now. Pad-pad-pad-pad.
And in front of them, just in the moonlight, a wisp of hair. Silently, Remy LeBeau reaches for the light and when he turns on, in front of them both stand Bella Donna Boudreaux.
TO BE CONTINUED…