-While he understands the history behind it and why so many people hold it dear, Remy gets really uncomfortable around a Confederate flag. Tante Mattie never allowed them in the house and though a big part of the Guild was upset, Jean Luc upheld it out of respect for her. He’s a proud Southerner, but sees it as a symbol of oppression rather than his heritage. If it’s your house, he won’t ask you to take it down, but he’d never fly one himself and he sure as hell wouldn’t let any kids he might have do that or encourage them to.

-Don’t waste food around Remy. Considering that he wouldn’t eat if he didn’t steal enough, there were days, as well as weeks, when he had nothing and was starving. As such, his reaction to it being taken for granted is incredibly visceral. And well, if he goes to the trouble of cooking it all for you and you immediately dismiss it, that’ll only make things worse.

-Remy will actually blame Ororo for storms. When there’s one happening, it’s a guarantee that she’ll get a text either telling her to get her shit together or asking her what’s wrong. Usually, it’s the first and he’ll follow it up by telling her he’ll be careful not to piss her off because she might make it worse. The one time he actually used his nickname for her in a pun, he got a voice mail that left his ears ringing for a couple of hours.

"You know, I always did prefer you with high hair as opposed to long."

Ororo looked up from her holographic chess set to quirk a regal brow at Hank, sat beside her with a similar set hovering in front of him, a large paw supporting his chin as he thought about his next move. He was smiling at her. “Is that so, Henry?” He nodded, moving a piece, and watching as his companion pondered her next move, long fingers taking up a tissue. Hank had to chuckle softly as she managed to make even the task of blowing her nose elegant. “I always thought it suited you more - that you were … hm, I suppose freer. Perhaps it was the hair clips.” They both chuckled, and Ororo made her move. “And you look absolutely resplendent in your new costume, I won’t hesitate to say that.”

She looked up through the glass of her dwelling hovering above the School, rain battering against the dome, absorbed through the filtration system and sprinkled over the plants when the humidity and soil’s water content sensors went off - Hank had put it together, at her request, and her plants were flourishing as a result. “Perhaps not so resplendent today, Henry.” Hank made his move and shook his head firmly. “The common cold will do that to anyone, Ororo, and it’s honestly a shock that it took you this long to come down with one - even Bobby comes down with it more often than you seem to.” He winked at her teasingly. “Perhaps all of the goddess’ creatures show their respect, whether great or small.”

Ororo laughed, making her own move and making Hank quirk a brow, seeming to pick apart every formation and movement in his head in a second. “Do you really mean to keep me company all day? Is there not work to be done?” Already he was shaking his head and taking two of her pieces, making her furrow her brow for a moment. “I set it up to do my weekly back-up today, and as you might imagine, there’s quite a bit of data to be saved over. There’s really no use in me being in the lab today. Check.” The goddess quirked a brow in return, moving out of check and into position. “I thought that was the day you reserved for Commander Brand and yours’ date night.”

[ my immediate thought was, “dammit jubilee” ]

Stormy! Ain't you a sight for sore eyes.

He remembers her insistence upon paying him back when he bought her clothes when they first met. Not that Ororo seemed to care much for the frilly, girly garments; he’d forgotten how picky twelve year olds could be, especially girls. Still, it was the principle of the thing in her eyes. “Think of ‘em as presents from a friend, chère,” he cajoles. “No need t’pay me back fo’ takin’ care of your basic needs. You’re not bein’ ungrateful. Besides—” Remy grins then, blatantly stealing several French fries from her plate where they’re sitting in the mall food court and dodging her swipe at his hand. “Tha’ means I can eat from your plate forever an’ you won’t be able t’say boo about it, will you now, Stormy?”

"Do not call me that!" She huffs angrily and it’s easy to distract her then. Calling her by that nickname she hates and attempting to steal a few more fries does the trick. A few minutes later, it’s hard to tell who’s supposed to be the adult here, but the two are giving each other playful grins and the matter of the clothes is quite clearly forgotten.

When she’s back to herself and he’s been at the mansion for a while, Ororo offers to compensate him again. “Get me a few minutes alone wit’ Rogue an’ we’ll call it even,” he jokes, then shakes his head. “Ain’t no one ever given you a present, Stormy? I know you don’t got much use for ‘em now, but if some kid shows up here wit’out clothes, they can wear ‘em. Pay it forward, so t’speak.”

The corners of her lips quirk up in a smile. “I would not burden any child with your taste in fashion. It would be far too cruel.”

"Ah, you wound me so!" Remy clutches at his heart in mock pain. "Gimme some credit, Stormy. I pick ‘em better than Jubilee."

"Excuse you!" shouts the offended party in question while he gives her a shit-eating grin in an attempt to placate her and the three caught up in banter, the matter is quickly abandoned once again.

 Life, as it often does, gets complicated after that, and as the years go on, even more so. They see each other when they can, but her balancing her dual lives and his duties as an X-Men and whatever trouble he gets himself into get in the way. Needless to say, when they snatch whatever precious moments they can to sit and talk, the matter of reimbursement doesn’t come up at all. The karaoke outing is one of the few times they’ve seen each other outside of work. Really, it’s a much needed night off from duty.

He can’t remember the last time they were all so relaxed and happy. “Fiiiiiire!,” Remy sings along as he gives her a little twirl and he can’t help but laugh along with her. Even when it all goes to hell and they end up fighting, the buzz doesn’t entirely wear off. Ororo gives him a sly look over Jubilee and Logan’s heads as they’re walking to the cars.

"You know, I still owe you for the clothes."

Cecilia looks up at him with a question in her eyes, though it’s not of infidelity; she knows he’d never stray. Remy smiles down at her and with the arm around her shoulders, gives her a gentle squeeze, a silent promise that he’ll explain this in-joke later. “Don’t think you do. You said today was a gift, didn’t you? I was under th’ impression tha’s why they call it th’ present,” he drawls with a shit-eating grin.