Summary: Book five of my Children of the Gods series. Sometimes the Wild Things just need a place to go. Logan and Kyle need some recovery time after their ordeal.
Rated M for language and some minor sexual content.
Disclaimer : I do not own the X-men or any of their associated villains, but all of the Siskans, the members of the Red Team besides Kyle, any of the characters that are involved with the Twilight dimension are mine. Please do not use them without my permission. Thanks. :)
This is an illustrated work and the art is or will be available soon on my website which you can get to by clicking on my profile. This book will have four chapters when complete, a new one going up every few days if all goes well.
(One)
Remy stepped down the ramp of his small craft, smiling when he felt a blast of warm Arizona air hit his face and blow his hair around a little bit. He had taken off his coat in anticipation of it and had been rewarded. He would take this desert heat over the snows of Maine anytime. Not quite the feel of home, but better.
He was pleased all over again when he saw who was waiting for him. Molly was there minus the twins, but she wasn't alone. Asher stood beside her, a Siskan and another of Kimble's clutch mates. Of course he was Brother Asher these days with his conversion to Christianity and all of the good work he was doing in the Complex helping the lost and forgotten. His reputation was spreading daily through the facility and always in a positive way, something that made the Thief very proud.
Kimble was handsome enough with his blended skin but Asher gave him some real competition for beauty and was very much a showstopper in his own right. He didn't have a long, pretty ponytail or lovely white wings, but he was blessed with a skin just as mystical. He had the body of a sturdy brindle and grey pony but also the torso of a handsome teenaged youth besides - a true centaur at first glance. He was just a simple Siskan though, and one of the most humble persons Remy had ever known. His hair was light grey, almost white, and his lashes were as well, making him look sleepy and safe, a child who would never harm a soul. Always around his neck hung a large shiny silver cross on a leather thong, making his faith well advertised to any who might look.
Asher was one of the newer Siskans to arrive here and because his previous Master, Trishnar, upon his untimely death had made a gift of him to the Thief, Asher considered Gambit his Master. He stubbornly refused to be convinced otherwise no matter how many times Gambit insisted that he was as free as any other person here. Asher preferred servility and since Remy would not have him wait on him, Asher mainly served the community at large instead, working with the orphans and the ones who felt they didn't fit in all that well. He found them housing, saw to it they were enrolled in classes, and were not left to fend for themselves. He was quite valuable, his willingness to devote all of his time to these tasks took a lot of the pressure off of others who had enough work to do on other things.
Now, outside on the tarmac, Asher submissively let Molly have first crack at the Thief, allowing her to throw her arms around his Master tightly without comment, though Asher did smile at it. Molly squeezed Remy tightly, sniffing him over and making a face at his hand. It was bandaged neatly now, Aiden had wrapped it well.
"Ain't nuthin' but a scratch dat a stitch or two won't set right, don't you fret," he was quick to assure her. He had come home from jobs with much worse and they both knew it.
Asher made sure he got his own hug as well. "The Lord brung ya home safe, Nebannon," he whispered happily in Remy's ear as he did so. Nebannon was a Siskan nickname that mean 'beloved' or something highly valued, a moniker that Remy didn't always feel he deserved, but one that Asher refued to give up. "We been mightily blessed."
"Bien sur. Did y'all bring Simone like I asked?"
"He's just over there, he just had to gives his Mistress a call," Asher replied, backing out of the embrace to point to where Simone stood nearby, an iPhone pressed to his ear.
It always struck Remy as odd to see a Siskan on a phone ever since Kimble had developed a fierce aversion to the things after a cruel Master wholloped him good with a leather belt for using one. The others had no such fears and took to technology quickly whenever it was offered. Simone was checking in with his Mistress, Rogue, who was going to be quarantined with the others on board the Lucky Dragon that had just touched down only moments before.
"If he's askin' permission to go on board there he can forget it," Logan growled as he came walking up. "We need a door."
"It ain't the usual time," Asher questioned mildly, not really arguing. He never did. "They won't be expectin' yous."
"Too damn bad."
Asher nodded, taking a submissive step backwards, nervous around Logan's gruff anger. He was as good with the shines as any of his clutch mates and he could see Logan wasn't fooling around. Asher motioned to Simone for him to come and Simone nodded, but he also raised a finger, asking for another moment longer to stay on the phone.
Logan growled through tightly clenched teeth, irritated with the delay. He had watched as Kyle stumbled sleepily down the ramp, the boy was still very weak even after his short nap. Grace had assisted him, but she wasn't as strong and Kyle, skinny though he might be, was heavy. As soon as he came to a stop, Kyle slumped to the ground in a heap, breathing heavily with pain. The nap he had taken on the ride home had helped but he was going to need a much more substantial rest to fully recover from the physical and psychological abuse he had suffered this day. Following closely behind was John, his eyes bright at having a new place to discover and his nose was busy, learning new smells.
Logan had wanted Simone to meet them here because while he was talented in many ways, Simone had only one gift that had ever interested Logan – his ability to conjure doors to other worlds. The world in particular that Logan wanted access to was Twilight, the land that his chase after the troublesome Jason Frost had led him to. That particular world was quite small, consisting of a single large island surrounded by an endless fresh water sea, but the X-men had claimed it for themselves. They used it as a separate base of operations and sometimes as a place of rest for those who just needed some time away. It was for the latter reason that Logan wanted to go there. He was thinking of the huge forest and sweet smelling flowers. It was a place that he could take John where Romulus could never find him. John would never be forced to go where he didn't want to ever again. He could be wild there forever if he chose it.
To facilitate travel back and forth to Twilight Simone was asked to open a door at pre-scheduled times, allowing for both supplies and people to be moved without hassle. While it was unusual for Simone to be asked to open a door off schedule, it wasn't unheard of. It shouldn't have been an issue. The problem at the moment of course was Rogue. Simone was worried and annoyed he was being denied access to her.
Asher paid Logan no mind as the feral man grew ever more impatient, but used the delay to look the kids over as the remainder of Remy's Red Team disembarked, his smile growing widest when they passed over Julien. His quick and observant eyes had noted what was missing right away – Julien's restraining collar. Free with his emotions, Asher laughed with genuine pleasure and gave the boy a big squeeze and a sloppy kiss on the top of his head. "Ya done it, kid! I knews ya would someday, praise Jesus. M' so proud of yous."
Julien grunted at being embraced so tightly, but he endured it like a trooper and was grinning broadly. He didn't let many people touch him but Asher and Kimble were the two exceptions. Asher didn't keep him long but let him go, his eyes already going over the others as they passed. He reached out and snagged Izzie next as she came close, leaning forward to whisper something in her ear. She smiled at him, her eyes wet with tears.
"What was that about?" Logan growled, irritated. He still didn't fully trust any of the Siskans, not even Asher who had never harmed a soul.
"Dat's 'tween him and her," Remy replied, his eyes merry. He hadn't needed to hear the words to know that it had been something positive. Her shine alone proved it. She was still feeling shaky over having contributed so little to help but now she was better. That was all he cared about it.
Logan snorted rather than say the nasty comment he wanted to. He was cut short by Simone finally ending his call and coming over.
Remy's ease quickly dissipated when his eyes met those of the dark skinned Siskan as he approached. Simone was pissed and at him particular it seemed. His ebony skin seemed to radiate rage like no one else's could. At first Remy couldn't imagine why Simone would be angry at anyone but then it clicked. With his Mistress being held apart, he wouldn't have access to her and since it had been Remy's distress call that she had answered, Gambit was to blame for their separation. Great. No brownie points for him.
"I need a door," Logan demanded without preamble once Simone was in earshot.
Simone's hard and furious eyes never left Remy's face as he said, "This ain't no reg'lar time an' M' Mistress needs me more."
"Rogue ain't gonna get sick," Wolverine argued, though he couldn't possibly know that as fact. He could see Simone was pissed at Remy and being aware of the Siskan's jealousy could figure out why but he didn't have time for it. "This needs doing first."
Simone finally looked at him and squinted, reading him and his shine without guile. Simone didn't care what anyone thought of him and didn't have the mind to try and hide it though it could be perceived as rude to stare at someone like that. "Fer how long?"
"For however long it takes," Logan snarled, in no mood to deal with petulant Siskans. "Get it done."
Simone gasped softly in angry surprise at being so harshly spoken to, he was no longer used to such things though it had certainly happened before. His hands fisted and he turned his head away, though Logan hadn't even noticed. He was looking at John and Kyle, gesturing for them to come.
"We got people sick dat need to cross over," Remy scrambled to explain to Simone even though he had no ground to stand on with the guy. Either the Siskan would comply or he wouldn't, but it would be easier if he did. "It a favor for dem not fo' us."
Lucky for the Thief, Kyle's shine was bad enough for even a poorly trained Siskan to read and understand. He nodded at Remy, releasing his anger but not quite forgiving him. Gambit didn't care, he was just happy to see all the tension vanish as Simone worked his magic. The air rippled next to them and a very realistic wooden door wisped into view, complete with a frame and golden doorknob.
"After yous," Simone offered as the door swung open. "I'll waits here fer ya."
Remy watched as Logan passed through the door, his arm supporting a very tattered and battered Kyle along the way. John followed at his heels without hesitation, curious as to where they were going. Grace had followed them as well without bothering to ask for permission, not ready to have Kyle out of her sight.
Remy was torn – should he follow or stay here? He had Julien here and it was his responsibility to see to the kids, but Kyle was his more so than Logan's really. He should be the one handling that. Kimble was still injured and in need of care. But Remy couldn't be in three places at once.
"Goes with him," Kimble's voice came to him, still raspy with pain. "We's home now and Aiden kin takes care of me and Ash them others. Molly got her kiss. It's Kyle what needs you now."
Remy looked at him, his most favored Siskan. It pleased him to hear Kimble's voice and see his personal shine, knowing that now that they were home Zander would be put aside, sleeping until called for again. Hopefully, anyhow. But poor Kimble's hands... they were still so mushy and burnt.
"Zere isz sztill an hour or szo of szun, mebbe more," Aiden answered in agreement, seeing where his Team Leader's eyes had gone. "Zey will 'eal faszter 'ere zan over dere, non?"
Remy knew this to be true. Twilight was not a dark place, but it wasn't particularly bright. It was always cloudy with hazy clouds that kept its one sun from full brightness. He also knew that Aiden was giving him an out. He could follow Logan and be reassured that Kimble would be looked after.
"I won't be long," Remy promised, making his decision. It was an easy promise to make, there was a difference in time between the two worlds. An hour over there was like twenty minutes over here. He gave Molly a quick kiss and another promise, home for dinner.
I will wait right here for you, she signed.
Gambit nodded at her and then turned to the door. He wasn't alone. Throughout that whole tense conversation with Logan and Simone Hercules had lingered, letting his teammates pass him by but not willing to leave Remy alone just yet. He was smart enough to sense that there might be trouble and was willing to hang out, just in case. Remy had to admit that he was grateful for it. He couldn't be sure what might happen on the other side. Not that he was expecting anything violent, but with Kyle so trashed and John being new to him, anything funky could occur. He could appreciate Hercules' difficulty with this, he had been one of the kids rescued from Frost's clutches. Returning to Twilight was no easy task but the lad seemed willing enough.
This wasn't Gambit's first trip through these doors that Simone could make and while they might be odd to someone else, they didn't faze him at all now. He was more concerned with getting Kyle settled and then getting back home again.
Logan had witnessed none of what had transpired on the tarmac, of course, but he could have cared less if the Thief came along or not. He had other concerns and just wanted to get this finished. As soon as it had been made Logan had passed through Simone's doorway first, holding Kyle up. He smiled as soon as the scent of Honey hit his sensitized nostrils. It brought back some vivid memories of his last trip out here, but that was then, this was now.
John came through after him, more slowly now. He could tell by the others' lack of fear that the others had been here before but not him. He was feral enough to be cautious of any new environment in spite of Logan's calm. He relaxed when he saw the trees and finally fully understood what his younger brother had promised. This was much more like it. The desert had never been his home. Even he had nose enough to smell how clean the air was here, it was a place where no industry had touched. He could smell cookfires close by, they were not alone here.
"There's a campground not far from here," Logan said, confirming what John had already guessed. "But no one is going to trouble you once we let them know you're here."
John looked up at Logan. "You brung me here sos Romulus can never takes me back."
"That's right. I told you I would bring you somewhere safe and here it is. This place is special, not everyone can get to it. If you ever decide you want to come back home, folks up at the camp can get in touch with us. Or Grace can do it."
"Me?" Grace questioned. She had been to Twilight before as one of Jason Frost's kidnapped kids, but hadn't come back since she was freed. She was only here now because Logan had assisted Kyle's passage through the door. She hadn't thought it was intentional before, but now her eyes were growing big with understanding. John wasn't the only one who would be staying.
Logan looked at her with meaning. "Kyle's gonna need a kind of medicine that don't come from the sun or a bottle of pills. He needs the trees and the quiet."
Grace's face went white with undisguised alarm. She had been thinking Kyle would be better off with her at home. She hadn't guessed what had been on Logan's mind until now. "No! He needs to be with me!"
" 'E can be," Gambit was quick to promise. He hadn't been so far behind that he missed the conversation, he had heard every word. He had been anticipating this anyhow. "You can come here as often as you need to check in on him or you can even stay on at the camp if you want, d'accorde? Me an' Wolvy don't often agree on t'ings, but I t'ink he got de smart play on dis one, chere. Po' Kyle need a rest fo' real."
Grace's eyes were shiny with tears. She could usually roll with things, but she wasn't happy with this at all. She looked down at Kyle, a disheveled lump at Logan's feet. "Is this what you want?"
He looked up at her and then at John who if he had a tail to wag, would have been wagging it right quick. John could hardly contain his excitement at having all those glorious trees to run through. So many smells, so little time. It was a bit infectious and Kyle was more than a little tempted to go along. "Mrr! Maybe for just... a little while."
Grace tried not to cry but the words broke her heart just a little. She thought they had made some real progress in their relationship, even if it had been played out in front of everyone to hear. To be separated now might set them back again. Nothing could be more horrible.
"It ain't no permanent t'ing," Remy offered, though with Kyle nothing was certain.
"Whatever he needs," she answered robotically, her voice rough with emotion. They were expecting her to be going along with this, she knew. She was trying to be brave but her shine was a wreck.
It wasn't as bad as Kyle's though. Remy could see he had hit rock bottom. Yes, he and Grace were good, but the rest of him was exhausted above and beyond. Remy gestured towards the trees, but at the same time he cautioned, "You go on now, Kyle, but just you remember. Don' be killin' no people, 'specially dat little ole goat man, you 'ear?" It wasn't a joke, Kyle had killed and partially consumed one of Jason Frost's men here. The goat man was in reference to a local man that the X-men had befriended the last time they were here, a faun like creature named Leroy. "De townfolk will see to it you got plenty to eat, je promets."
The X-men's nearby camp was always well supplied and before he returned home Remy would be sure to let them know they might have to put out some food for the guys. He knew there wasn't enough game in the woods for them. The island just wasn't that big.
His decision made easy for him, Kyle grunted and moved off into the trees, stripping off his borrowed and ill fitting clothing as he went. A wild thing had no need for such things.
Grace stood there, numb, watching him go. He hadn't even said goodbye, he had simply walked away from her. It was as if the way he had clung to her the whole ride home hadn't even mattered a bit.
"Just like that," Grace said softly, still hoarse.
Remy had watched Kyle go, unable to help feeling just a little proud of the guy. He had handled himself well through the whole thing and couldn't begrudge him this time of rest and healing. Remy knew just what an achievement this day had been. Kyle's information jacket had contained some semi-detailed background information. His horrible childhood, the forced mutation. It also included the fact that Kyle had been born a normal human with certain disabilities. He had difficulty processing sensory input. He might even have been mildly Autistic, possibly Aspergers. He had been severely ADD at the very least. The forced mutation he had endured hadn't cured that, only made it more pronounced as he struggled through the military regimen they forced him through afterwards.
You wouldn't have known any of that from what Remy had seen today and in the careful and moderated training he had gone through these past months. If Weapon X had considered Kyle to be weak and inferior, poor quality, the Thief couldn't help but wonder what was their best? Logan? Sabes? He shuddered at the thought, knowing those guys had had their share of troubles as well. That was all right. Weapon X's loss had been Remy's gain.
Remy put his arm around Grace's shoulders and leaned in close to whisper, "He gone but he ain't gone, comprenez? You go on back t'rough dat door now and pack y'self a bag. Get some sleep and de next door Simone make, he goan make it fo' you. Kyle will be rested up better den, den you see what you see, eh?"
She looked into his red and black eyes and smiled her Jester's smile. "How did you get so smart?"
"Ain't no fool get to be boss, eh? You go on now."
She nodded and slipped away back to Simone's open door, still sad but better than she had been.
"You know as well as I do she's better off never comin' back here," Logan growled. "That boy just ain't worth it."
Remy nodded but it wasn't in agreement. It was simple acknowledgment of the perpetual lie - folks never seeing past Kyle's skin to what was underneath. Logan and Kyle had made peace, true, but it wasn't the same as the older man seeing the boy as having true value. Right now, the Thief was simply too tired to argue.
Logan wasn't done. "If she insists on coming back, you make her read his jacket first. I mean it. Not to mention the fact he's old enough to be her dad three times over."
"Je sais, I know. Don't worry about it." Remy's tone was curt and dismissive, he simply didn't t want to fight about it.
Wolverine didn't either. He turned to John but the man had already followed Kyle half the distance to the trees. John did pause and look back, blinking at Logan in a strange child like way. "You comin'?"
"This is for you, buddy. I've got a family," Logan offered as an excuse but he was wavering, considering it.
John could see it. "They'll wait fer ya. Been doin' it already."
Logan took a step but hesitated, looking back at Gambit as if asking permission.
Remy wasn't the last bit surprised by the offer. He had an idea Logan might run, for a short time at least. "I'll let Karen know where you at," Remy promised. "She a good girl, she'll understand."
Logan grumbled. "Will she? I'm so sick of people wanting me to take sides or tryin' to get me to do stuff I don't wanna do. Charles, Romulus, Butch, and now you. You guys can all go fuck yourselves. This is such bullshit."
"It ain't so bad as all dat, patron. You just a paranoid old man."
"Is that so?"
Remy cocked his head in confusion and Logan began to explain. For the first time, Logan told someone the full truth of that mission that Charles had given him. Of how their fearless leader had knowingly sent him to murder a child to save the lives of millions of people. It was to a certain degree justifiable, but it hadn't been without cost on Wolverine. His words had been spare and with brutal honesty. He didn't give intimate details, he just spat it all out like a dying man his sickness, a telling in of itself of just how much this had wounded the man in places that could never be seen.
Remy gave him his full attention and listened without interrupting, his eyes darkening with anger and sadness. One of the gifts that had come with the empathy was the understanding that sometimes it was better to listen than to talk and it served him well here as Logan unloaded all of his pain. Didn't mean the words didn't hurt. Remy had suspected that Logan had been sent to do something bad, the man didn't just run off like that afterwards without good reason. But this was just too heartbreaking, especially now that the Thief had kids of his own. It didn't mean he would abandon Xavier's cause, though. That at least still had merit. More than someone like Butch Madison and the Outkasts had to offer.
Wolverine saw it and he grinned harshly, showing a bit of fang. "You can't trust that old man. You can't trust nobody, boy. Best be watchin' yer back."
"You ain't de first man to give me dat advice, patron. You know Gambit always got one eye lookin' behind, de other in de front."
Logan grunted, still unconvinced. He was looking at the trees though.
Remy just smiled, seeing that in spite of all the bluster, Logan had made up his mind already. Gambit chose to be reasonable and offered, "So don't choose nuthin' permanent, at least not right now. Take some time, some real time this go around. I'll tell Karen it ain't no big deal."
"Come, brother," John invited and this time Logan could not refuse. Kyle had shucked off his borrowed clothing, not needing it here, and so Logan did as well. They were bloody and ripped up, no good for anything but burning. He slipped into the trees and then the three of them were gone.
Remy gathered up their mess and then nodded at Hercules who had been surprisingly patient and quiet all of this time. Simone's doors most often opened up onto a dirt road that led to the island's single town and so it was today. The two of them followed it to the town to inform the camp of the new arrivals. The distance was short so Remy took the opportunity to ask, "You feelin' okay? It was a rough day."
Hercules shrugged, trying to seem as though as he was stronger than everyone. His shine was swirling though. Remy couldn't recall if Hercules had ever made a trip back here since being rescued from Frost, so it might have simply been just being back here again. Hercules then said the most surprising thing. "Judas and the collar, huh? That was something. Ballsy."
Remy started to snap something, a knee jerk reaction to the use of the nickname he hated so much. He paused when he realized that Hercules had actually slip a compliment Julien's way. " 'E ain't so bad once you get to know him."
"Yeah, if you can get past the part where he's a complete dick, anyhow," Hercules replied to that.
Remy scowled but then realized Hercules was smiling at him, his eyes merry. He had only been joking.
"Yeah, well it ain't my fault if de LeBeau charm skip a generation," Remy teased as well, happy to have this moment. As much as Hercules had been a pain in the ass, he was here now and it wasn't just to kiss ass with the boss. He was making sure that the job was finished to the last. Something good leaders did.
(break)
Minutes later and his chores in Twilight finally done, Remy stepped back into the Arizona heat, blinking at bit. Going back and forth like that was a bit off putting, though he suspected he might be making more trips now. Trips enough that the change would feel like nothing. Well, temperature wise, but maybe not so with time. As if to emphasize the time difference between the two worlds, he could see Grace just going down the stairwell. He could tell by the stiff, brisk pace of her stride that in her grief she hadn't lingered long outside the door at all.
Simone, his duties now over, turned away from the Thief, stiff necked and still angry. He didn't say goodbye, he just stalked away, already reaching for his phone again. Remy doubted the guy would get permission to join his Mistress on the Lucky Dragon and he was going to be even more angry. Same shit, different day.
Hercules was ready to be done as well. He gave his Team Leader and nod and then made for the stairs and a hot meal.
Molly was still there for Remy as she had promised, waiting ever so patiently, her smile gaining wattage as soon as she saw him pass through the door. That was what he loved best about her, he supposed. Even after all this time together, she was always so happy to see him. That unconditional love was all that he craved. Her shine was extra sparkly bright, more beautiful to him now that he knew what it meant. Being feral, she might have already sensed the change in her own body, but if not he wasn't one to keep secrets from her, especially when he knew that she would be just as happy about the pregnancy as he was.
Kimble and Aiden were not far away, they had simply moved just out of earshot so that he and Molly could have some privacy when he returned. They had hunkered down on the warm pavement near the shade of the Dragon 2, shoulder to shoulder. Aiden had a lit cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth and was talking rapidly. Kimble was listening intently, his arms leaned over his bent knees, his poor ruined hands soaking up the bright sun. It wouldn't be an instant healing, but the injury wouldn't take long and for that Remy was grateful. Kimble flexed his fingers from time to time as he listened to his lover ramble on, testing them.
Remy watched Kimble working his hands and he couldn't help but wonder if the child like aspects of the Siskan that he loved so well – his precious innocence – would continue to fade with each new mission. With every time Zander took him over. Remy hated to see to see Kimble deteriorate ever so slightly each time, but couldn't deny he enjoyed having him so close at hand. Their lives would be forever intertwined, they were bonded much too tightly for that to change. Kimble's shine was bright and healthy now in the middle but was still dark along the edges. If the residual pain was from his injury or something else hurting him deep inside, Remy couldn't be sure.
As if to assuage Remy's fears, Kimble interrupted his chatty lover by leaning in close to whisper something that made the smaller Siskan laugh. Kimble used the opportunity to snag Aiden's loosened cigarette, using two sloppy and burnt knuckles as a vise, but managing it just the same. He took a nice deep drag on his stolen prize suggestively in a way that was as erotic as any kiss. That simple gesture told Remy that the boys were going to be all right. It was nice to know at least someone was going to walk away from this in one piece.
The thought made his hand throb and he winced a little. Molly barked at him softly and he shook his head. "Hank's stuck in Lucky. Hope Maylee ain't so tired of stickin' me wit stitches."
Maylee was the Complex's resident nurse and doctor and training. She was more than capable of this simple repair job, but he was starting to feel just how tried he was. He wished he could just put it off, but he knew that delaying having it looked at would only make it worse. Better to just get it over with.
So Logan decided to stay in Twilight? Molly signed as they began to walk back towards the stairwell that would take them below and down to the medical bay.
"Oui, de vacation 'e took at de cabin wasn't near good enough fo' de pain 'e carry. Kyle goan stay a bit, too, maybe permanent. Only time will tell."
At the bottom of the stairs, Molly gave his arm a squeeze, sensitive enough to his moods to know the idea of losing Kyle made him sad. He paused and gave her another loving kiss, not needing a crowd to show how deep his affection ran for her. She was the most caring person he knew and losing her would devastate him, he knew that.
He broke off the kiss and palmed her face before saying, "You can go on home and wait fo' me if you like. I know you ain't no fan of the medical bay." He knew she hated watching him get patched up, she had been there too many times and all it did was fill her with worry she didn't need. It was always a painful reminder of how risky being married to him was.
I should get back to the twins anyhow, she signed back, relieved some at his thoughtful offer. Don't be long. I have plans for you later.
Remy smiled broadly now, always happy to hear that, and gave her another squeeze before letting her go. The medical bay wasn't far from the stairs so he didn't have far to go. The emergency area was empty, always a good sign. He found Maylee relaxing in Hank's office and raised his bandaged hand at her. "You free? Goan need a stitch or two."
"Again?" she teased. "Good thing you get good medical coverage here."
Maylee led Remy to one of the beds and got him comfortable. She was considered Fallen's daughter but she was only a foster child and they looked nothing alike. Maylee looked more like Hank these days having a lovely cat face and clawed hands. She was of a brown fur as opposed to Hank's brilliant blue so there was that difference between them. She was young, only about twenty five or so but had been medically trained from a young age and Hank was glad to have her helping him out. If there was one thing the Complex was short on it was a qualified medical staff. Her shine was also quite bright. Like Molly's recent adjustment it reminded Remy that Maylee was also pregnant though much further along. In a month or so, the Complex would be having a new member.
Once Remy was settled Maylee peeled back Aiden's bandage to have a peek. "What happened here? Or is it better not to ask...?" she teased.
"Got stabbed through by a big man wit' claws. Seems Sabes still 'olds a grudge even after all dese years."
"At least this was wrapped well," she praised. "Tell me this was washed out first."
"Aiden done de best he could on de fly."
"He did a nice job, but this looks messy. Can you flex it at all?"
Remy winced at the thought of it, knowing why she was asking. If he had broken bones he wouldn't be able to move it much, but the idea of wiggling his fingers even just a little wasn't something he relished. He managed a twitch or two, but didn't dare attempting a fist. As it was a bit of sweat beaded his forehead some from the pain. This hurt like a bitch though he was doing his manly best not to let it show. It could have been a lot worse, he knew. He had worn gloves with some armor plating on them, if not for that, Sabretooth's claws would have shredded his hand into a useless ruin.
Maylee went along with his pretense, not commenting on his obvious pain. "I think you're okay, but I'll have to do a quick X-ray just to make sure."
"You de boss," he replied agreeably, happier still when she plopped a thick white pill into his good hand. He didn't need to ask what it was, he had taken plenty enough pain killers to identify this old friend. Vicodin, his favorite. It might make him a bit fuzzy, but right now he couldn't have cared less.
By the time the X-ray was done and he was returned to his nice comfy bed, he was feeling just fine. His eyes had a nice glassy sheen and he was pleasantly compliant with anything Maylee had in store for him.
She couldn't have been more pleased, he wasn't the best patient even on a good day. She scanned his films, smiling happily. "Well, the good news is you have no broken bones. Bad news is, I can't be sure about nerve damage. I'm not even close to being qualified to judge that. I'll stitch it up and Hank can look at it later when he's been cleared."
"Merci," the Thief slurred dreamily and she laughed at him, amused.
Maylee next brought out an impressive looking needle and looked at him with sympathy. "I'm going to flush this again so I'll give you a local first. Close your eyes and relax."
He leaned back and obeyed, too high to worry about it. He had a high tolerance for pain – especially when blissfully intoxicated - but wasn't a fan of needles. He had gotten enough that he wouldn't flinch but this wasn't going to be any fun.
His attempt at calm was disrupted by a new distraction – the soft whir of motorized wheels announced the arrival of Charles Xavier, the man in charge. Really, Remy shouldn't have been surprised by the visit. Normally Scott or Logan would be the one to give the debrief of the day's mission, but both were no longer available. Not that Remy minded the visit. Charles was most often too busy to see the Thief as much as they would have liked so this was an unexpected pleasure.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," Charles offered as a greeting though he knew very well that he was. He also knew neither the Thief or his nurse minded, that was the plus side of being one of the most powerful telepaths on the planet. As good as Jean was, Charles was ten times better.
"Looks worse dan it is," Remy replied, shrugging it off. "Kyle was de one got de worst of de day."
"I understand you left him at Twilight?"
"Oui. He runnin' with Logan. Dey bot' need de time."
I'll let Karen know he is there, you have your hands full here, so to speak."
Remy chuckled a bit at Charles' joke but shifted with some discomfort as Maylee flushed his hand, bringing with it stinging pain in spite of the local. Neither having Charles here or the drugs were enough of a distraction for him not to feel it. He didn't let it show by saying, "De kids really stepped up out dere today. Dey 'eld deir own, wouldn't 'ave traded a single one of them."
"I knew you'd be good at this," Charles praised, though honestly he wondered how much of this conversation Remy would remember. He could tell the man was good and decently stoned. "Once you gave it a chance. Have you considered raising them up a level?"
"Still haven't rounded out my team," Remy protested vaguely though it wasn't exactly true. Even high, he could easily recall that on the ride home he had pretty much decided that every one of the kids who had showed up for the scramble was guaranteed a spot. He might even bring them up a level, from simple ones to level twos. How could he deny any of them after they had all done so well? But it would be awkward to raise some of the team and not the rest, especially when he hadn't finalized the last remaining members. On the other hand, you snooze, you lose. Next time they would be sure to answer any scramble that was sent out.
Charles smiled, not needing to read minds to figure out the thoughts that had just run through the Thief's head. "Care to give me the debrief? My usual suspects are indisposed."
Remy smiled at the joke. He disliked doing this as much as filling out those darn field reports but he gave his mentor the rundown on the day's events as best he could. He was sure to praise not only Kyle's efforts but Julien's as well. He knew Charles might take that last bit with a grain of salt, knowing Remy's personal bias, but damn, the kid really had done well, braving the removal of his collar like that. It hadn't been an easy thing.
Charles nodded and listened intently, a bit surprised that even high, Remy was able to give him a decent narrative and didn't go off track or ramble. It was only the occasional slurred word and the unfocused glaze of his eyes that gave away that he wasn't quite straight.
"Are you ready for me?" Maylee asked, holding up a suture.
As if he would refuse her. He chuckled and replied, "Stitch away, chere." The sooner she finished the sooner her could run out of here.
Remy's hand had received no more than the first stitch when he heard the sharp staccato of military boots stomping down the hallway towards the medical lab. This he should have also expected, considering that he had all but invited the head of SHIELD to come on over for that last chat.
"Damn, that looks nasty," Fury said by way of greeting.
"Ain't nuthin' but a scratch," Remy lied glibly, a matter of habit when dealing with this man. There was no trust. His eyes were fully open now, focused, or at least appearing so.
"We need to have a conversation."
"Not like I'm goan anywhere." As he spoke, his words became sharper, clearer. The man was killing his pleasant high, something he didn't much appreciate.
"So what happened today?"
"Met a petite connard name of Romulus. You ever 'ear of im?"
"No," came the curt reply, but the Thief was much too perceptive, even high, not to see the lie.
"Well, dis dude you claim not to know even though we all know you do, dis fella 'ere say de Claw People is t'inkin' of takin' over de worl'. He got himself an army of de Clawed and Furry to 'elp out wit' dat and he didn't seem afraid to use us fo' de test run. He even got ole Sabes wit 'im."
"I thought Sabes was with you."
"He got took after we shut down Frost. Didn't Logan tell you?"
"No, he did not," came the sharp and irritated reply. He hadn't liked the Thief's tone. "Where's Logan? I'd like to ask him about that myself."
" 'E ain't 'ere."
Fury ground his teeth, a sound the Thief could hear. "Where is he, then?"
"Twilight."
"That's convenient."
"Is it?" Remy challenged a bit sharply. "Dat boy's been run hard. Not convenient at all."
"I want a door."
"Not going to 'appen," came the quick refusal. It wasn't that Remy was trying to be difficult on purpose – though it was amusing him to no end to be so – it was that Simone's identity was being kept secret from SHIELD lest they try and steal him away. Gambit wouldn't betray any Siskan, even those who hated him as much as Simone did.
"He is taking a much deserved rest," Charles interrupted, finally taking charge. He had been happy to let Remy do most of the talking until now. He hadn't liked how tense things were growing, so he was hoping to calm them down some. "As you know he was instrumental in eliminating the Flush threat. He's earned some time off."
Remy froze, reading an awful lot in so short a sentence. When Logan had explained about that horrible mission, Remy hadn't wanted to believe it had actually happened. Since then the Thief hadn't had a chance to fully digest what the man had told him. Well, that and his most pleasant high that was now dissipating had helped him to forget that conversation. The confirmation on Fury's face brought it all home again for Remy now. Remy closed his eyes a moment, resting his head back in exasperation.
Gambit had always had the highest regard for his mentor but this reminder of that ugly truth was a serious blow to that notion. He was never a fan of a kill mission though he understood sometimes it just had to be done. But to send Logan out to eliminate a child, a deed that had ended up making him go half mad, was something else. There was no way that a telepath like Charles could argue that he wouldn't have appreciated the effect it would have. And to think that sending Remy and his Siskans out to Maine to comfort him was going to fix that was even more deluded and outright demeaning in a way – that Charles would have had so simple an out after commanding such a horrible thing.
"I know that mission was a shitty deal," Fury agreed solemnly. He was deliberately evasive, uncomfortable with not knowing how much Remy knew. "But he's a soldier and soldiers know the risks of what they do, especially when it's for the greater good."
Remy grit his teeth, he couldn't help it. These two seemed to be talking about Logan like it had been a simple in and out mission he had been sent on. It was like they didn't take Logan's suffering that seriously.
Xavier lay a hand on Remy's arm, wordlessly letting him know that wasn't the case at all. But it was Fury he spoke to when he asked, "What do you want, Nicholas?"
"I still need that door or I'll have you arrested for obstruction." It annoyed Fury to no end that he had to beg for doorways to a place he felt his agency should have full access to. He could think of many possible threats from such an unguarded – in his opinion – place.
Remy just snorted in derision, though he was glad for the change in topic. "You just got handed a base of operations ready to move in, you should be t'ankin' us. Or mebbe it be Butch you should be grateful to. You an' me bot' know de only reason you come all dis way is on account dat we available for askin' what you already know an' he ain't."
"Like you don't have Butch on speed dial?" Fury retorted angrily. The childish reply seemed so incongruous with his starched, stiff uniform. It was beneath him but he was angry at being denied those things he felt entitled to. "I thought all you mutant types were chummy."
Remy shrugged, inwardly pleased at scoring such an irritated response. He felt he had the upper hand here and it made him confident enough to reply, "Ain't no Blue Sheet folks 'ere, homme. Just us regular guys. On de subject of suspicious associations, mebbe we should be askin' you if Romulus – dis fella you say you don' even know – on yo' payroll, seein' as 'ow he got one or two of your fancy ass trains."
"Those were reported stolen."
"Bien sur. 'Course dey was," Remy snorted. "And dis Flush gun Logan saw? 'Suppose you don' know nuthin' 'bout Stark weaponizin' a disease you just saw de end of de source of, eh? Dat was convenient. Now you got it all to y'own self."
Fury didn't reply to the questions, but Remy knew the truth in the man's shine as he evasively changed the subject. "Why were your people there, LeBeau? It was a little out of your way."
"Romulus stole ole Short and Disagreeable for a chat. We took 'im back. You caught de ass end of an extraction is all."
" 'An extraction'," Fury repeated dubiously. He didn't believe the Thief any more than the Thief did him and they both knew it.
"Oui. Dat's all dere is."
"You should let him rest," Maylee said to Fury, taking charge. Even she could see they were doing more poking at each other than actually talking. "You guys can take this up later."
"Sure," Fury replied curtly. It was hard to argue with a girl who had just had sutures in her hand. He didn't bother to say goodbye, he simply turned on his heel and stalked out as frustrated as he had been when he came in.
"Maybe you shoulda gave him a Vicodin 'stead of me," Remy teased, though he was pleased enough at how things had gone.
"It's not wise to argue with that man," Charles cautioned. Still, he couldn't disagree that Remy hadn't handled himself well enough, given the circumstances. "I'll set up a meeting with him myself, once all the field reports are in."
Remy winced at that, the thought of all that paperwork was worse than all of the stitches Maylee had just put in combined. "D'accorde," he agreed anyway, happy enough to pass the buck on that one.
"Get some rest," Charles advised, patting Remy's knee before departing himself.
Gambit sat up and swooned at bit, dizzy from the meds and laying down for so long.
Maylee eyed him warily. "You going to be okay to walk home? I can get someone to bring you a wheelchair."
Remy brushed her off with a raised hand. "M fine. Just need a minute is all."
Maylee handed him a prescription bottle with a couple of pills rattling around inside. "Some more Vicodin if your hand gets too sore."
"Merci," he replied to her, happy to have them. He was going to sleep well tonight. Well, after the sweet surprise his loving wife had in store for him that was. He smiled at the thought and slid to his feet, happy when they held him well enough. He had one more thing he wanted to do before heading home.
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