AN: I don't mind admitting this story terrifies me. It was supposed to be a romantic comedy about a love triangle between Remy/Rogue/Gus and somehow turned into a pentagon with tassels and a lot more serious. In fact I think I stopped writing this halfway through this first chapter. After that point the story took over and started writing itself, hauling me along with it to all sorts of interesting places.
Yes, this is a Romy (as if I'd pair Rogue and Gambit up with anyone else!) All French is done by way of internet translators. Rated M for adult topics rather than adult scenes. Also, the title might seem to be limited to a double meaning, but it's actually a triple meaning, and a surprisingly appropriate title for a sexual innuendo. Who would have thought?
Canon with X1, X2, and mostly X3 - I hate that they named the cannon fodder in X3 so I figure any cannon fodder is free game, haha.
And now may I present: Penetrating the Engine Core as written by Penetrating the Engine Core with introduction by Chellerbelle (yeah I'm taking nooooo credit for this one).
Chapter One: The Triangle
Anyone looking at Gambit would see a young man building a house of cards. A large house of cards at that. What the untrained eye would miss, however, was the way he watched Rogue playing pool.
Rogue, Gambit had decided long ago, was probably the single most attractive woman at Xavier's. For that matter she was probably the most attractive woman he'd ever met in every single way someone could be deemed attractive. She had a body to die for - literally, given the nature of her life-stealing powers. A smile enough to make you melt. She was clever, smart-mouthed, determined and even when she lost her temper she was hot. She was the kind of person who you could rely on when things got bad and you couldn't ask for a better friend.
The only problem with Rogue was in the form of her opponent at the pool table: her boyfriend Pulse.
After the so-called "cure" had worn off, Rogue and her then boyfriend Bobby mutually agreed to part ways. Rogue had gone onto dismissing the idea of her dating again until the day Pulse arrived at Xavier's. Gambit, himself, had arrived after they'd been dating for five months and bitterly regretted not getting there first. Okay, sure, he couldn't touch Rogue skin to skin any more than anyone else at the mansion could, barring Pulse, but that was hardly the point.
He loved her.
Normally stealing other people's girlfriends wasn't really his style. He felt strongly that cheating was wrong. Of course, few people would actually believe that about him, given his tendency to flirt with anyone in a skirt, but it was there nonetheless.
He carefully balanced a pair of cards on top of his house, starting a new layer.
In fact, Gambit had come to the conclusion that Rogue's uncontrollable power just made him want her even more. Worse, the fact that she was dating the only guy around who could touch her screamed 'challenge' at him with flashing neon lights. Seriously, how could he compete with a guy who could give her touch? It was crazy and at the same time, he desperately wanted to try.
Rogue laughed and flirted with Pulse at the pool table, and Gambit looked back down at his house of cards. Even her laugh was beautiful.
"Hi Remy," Betsy said cheerfully, sitting by him. "Looking good."
"Why t'ank yo' cherie," Gambit replied. "And what about mon house o' cards?"
"Dork."
She put her hands on his shoulders and leaned in to kiss him. Gambit kissed back, feeling a little like scum for doing this right after he was salivating over Rogue. Well, at least Betsy couldn't read his mind, courtesy of the static shield his powers provided. Saved him getting slapped.
At the pool table, Pulse's eyes fell on Gambit and Betsy, and he shook his head with a snort.
"What?" Rogue asked.
"The Cajun's at it again."
Rogue glanced over and an amused smile formed as she turned back to the pool table to line up her next shot.
"Well, at least he's consistent."
"Wasn't he with Kitty the other day?"
"Kitty and Pete have gotten back together."
"I can't keep up any more."
Rogue chuckled.
"Get a freakin' room already," Pulse called across the room.
"Ah don't think he has a room, Gus," Rogue joked. "He always seems ta be sharin' with someone."
Gambit and Betsy looked over at him, Gambit's arm around her waist.
"Interesting observation dere, cherie," Gambit grinned at her suggestively. "Perhaps sometime you'd like t' have pity for dis poor Cajun, wit' no room o' his own and share yours wit' him?"
"Sure, if ya don't mind spendin' the night unconscious on the floor," Rogue smirked at him.
"That depends... what were we doing dat put me unconscious?"
"You really have a lot of nerve Gambit," Pulse said, shaking his head. "You've got Betsy hanging over you and you're still flirting with another guy's girl."
"I'm sorry," Betsy spoke up then. "Are you suggesting that Remy should stop flirting? Wouldn't that be asking any normal person to stop breathing?"
"She does raise a good point," Rogue nodded.
Gambit clutched at his chest.
"In fact, I feel an attack coming right now at the very suggestion!" he said melodramatically. "Quick cherie, I need mouth-to-mouth."
Betsy laughed and kissed him thoroughly. Pulse shook his head and turned back to the pool table.
"That was so completely lame," he said.
Rogue snickered, then snapped her fingers as they turned their attention away from them.
"That reminds me," she said. "Ah'm gonna start spendin' some time in the danger room late at night. Learning Blackbird mechanics."
"I thought you already knew how to maintain the Blackbird," Pulse replied with a slight frown.
"Yeah, but Ah'm not talking simple stuff here. Ah mean major repairs, pull it all apart and put it back together, do major upgrades kinda level here."
"That's a bit of an undertaking."
"Should be fun though."
"I was wondering what your next project was going to be after you finished putting together your sports car."
Rogue chuckled.
A couple of nights later Gambit entered the danger room only to discover it was already in use. Now that was unusual. Usually no one was in here this time of night. Whoever it was was using one of the Blackbird sims. His curiousity peeked, Gambit wandered over and invited himself inside the simulated jet. In the cabin his eyes fell on a familiar pair of legs sticking out from underneath the console. As if to confirm her identity, Gambit spotted a pair of gloves hanging over one of the seats.
"Rogue?"
"Ahh!"
Gambit winced slightly as Rogue banged her head on the underneath of the console. She pushed herself out and rubbed her forehead, giving Gambit a frown.
"Swamp Rat? What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Funny, I was about t' ask yo' the same question."
"Well, you, me, Kitty, Logan and Storm are the only people capable of maintainin' the Blackbird and doing minor repairs. Ah figured it was about time someone learnt how ta take care of her properly, and as resident mechanic Ah seemed ta be the logical choice ta get ta know this baby intimately," Rogue shrugged.
"Intimately?" Gambit repeated.
Rogue immediately winced.
"Why chere, I knew yo' were int' machines, but I didn't realise yo' felt dat way about dem."
"Ah just walked right inta that one huh?" Rogue sighed.
"Oui," he grinned, sitting down beside her. "I'd like t' get t' know yo' intimately..."
Rogue rolled her eyes.
"Ah'm busy, swamp rat... And you never answered muh question. What are you doing here?"
Gambit shrugged.
"Sometimes I run some o' mon t'ieving sims at dis time if the danger room isn't in use," he replied. "Keeping in practice. Yo' planning on doing dis often?"
"Coupla nights a week," Rogue smirked at him. "Don't worry, Ah'm sure you'll still get ta have your thievin' practice."
"Bon," Gambit chuckled. "Mind if I join yo'?"
"Join me?"
"Well, it can't hurt t' have deux people who know the Blackbird... intimately."
"Inimately?" Rogue repeated, batting her eyelids at him. "Why Remy, Ah had no idea ya felt that way about machines."
"O' course! Haven't yo' ever seen Terminator 3? Dat female terminator was hot."
Rogue snorted.
"She can fire my gun any time," Gambit went on, grinning at Rogue. "Or maybe, I'd like t' terminate her."
"Uh huh," Rogue said, giving him a cynical look. "You can join me if ya want, gutter boy, but leave the dirty comments at the door. Ah'm here ta learn."
Gambit chuckled and pulled off his trench coat.
"I'll try t' restrain myself," he said as he dumped his trench coat on the seat. "So, whatcha looking at?"
He laid down on the floor besides her and the two shifted underneath the console. Rogue explained what she'd done so far and Gambit forced himself to concentrate on her words and not on how all of a sudden this didn't seem like such a good idea.
From the other side of the cabin, this seemed like a great opportunity to spend some quality time with the exquisite Rogue. However, the cramped quarters under the console forced their sides to press up against each other and every time he breathed he caught a whiff of her scent. It was intoxicating and distracting. He forced his eyes to stay focused on the engine and not drift off to admire her eyes, the way that white streak of hers framed her face, her luscious lips and how much he'd love to kiss them right about now, her - oookay back to the Blackbird.
Rogue, for her part, had no idea these thoughts were running through his head. She was glad that they were both wearing long sleeves, and made a mental note to make sure their hands didn't accidentally touch while they fiddled around with the simulated engine. She probably should have put her gloves back on, but she hated wearing them while she worked with machines. Well, she'd see how things went.
Some time later, the two decided it was time to finish up. Rogue put her gloves back on as Gambit retrieved his trench coat and the two exited the simulated Blackbird.
"Computer: save restore point 'Rogue and Remy' and end program," Rogue said.
The Blackbird disappeared behind them.
"So, ma chere," Gambit said, his hand resting on the small of her back as they departed the danger room. "Shall I escort yo' t' your room?"
"Because the walk back ta muh bedroom is all so dangerous," Rogue replied cynically.
"Dat's what I thought."
"Get off, swamp rat."
Gambit chuckled as they entered the elevator. There was quiet for a time while the elevator climbed the floors, and it wasn't until they stepped out onto the floor that conversation resumed.
"Okay, Ah've booked the danger room in for next Thursday night at nine-thirty, if ya wanted ta join me," Rogue told him.
"Sure, I'll be dere."
"Cool."
"And dis is where we bid adieu," Gambit said, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles softly.
"'Night Remy," Rogue replied with a slight smirk as she took her hand back.
"Sweet dreams," Gambit answered with a cocky salute.
The two parted ways, Rogue to the girls' wing, Remy to the boys. He mentally kicked himself on the way to his room. He knew he should probably tone down the flirting with Rogue, before she got it into her head to hit him again, but he really couldn't help himself.
"She's dating Pulse," he muttered to himself. "Yo' might be falling fo' her, but she ain't interested in yo' LeBeau."
It was a depressing, yet sobering thought that saw him into his room. Maybe he should cancel Thursday instead of tempting fate.
Nah.
The following day at lunch, Gambit was in the dining hall when Pulse came storming up to him.
"Gambit! What's this about you joining Rogue in the danger room?" he demanded.
Gambit casually looked up at Rogue's irate boyfriend.
"Learning about the Blackbird, o'course, homme," he replied. "What else?"
"Listen here Cajun," Pulse said, grabbing hold of Gambit's collar and hauling him up off the chair. "I don't want you alone anywhere with my girlfriend. Got that?"
Gambit regarded him in amusement.
"Why would dat be?" he inquired. "Just what do yo' t'ink is gonna happen, Pulsey? I might pass her a screwdriver?"
Behind him Tabitha snickered.
"Maybe turn on her lights?" Gambit went on. ""And sooner or later we'd have t' get on top t' get t' the access panel."
Pulse clenched his jaw and glared at him as he dropped his hands.
"What about realigning the communications systems? Or maybe you're concerned about us testing the landing gear?"
Tabitha was not the only one giggling now.
"And while we're learning t' service the Blackbird we'll also have t' go over the thrusters, the stabilisers, ignition, fuel and flight controls, no?"
It was at that moment that Rogue arrived, and seeing everyone chuckling away and looking in Pulse and Gambit's general direction, turned to the nearest person next to her.
"What's going on?"
"Gus tried the macho act on Remy," Bobby replied.
"Personally, I'm looking forward t' penetrating the engine core," Gambit said with a smirk and then noticed Rogue's approach. "Hi cherie."
"Hey," Rogue replied dryly, then glanced at Pulse. "Gus?"
Pulse opened his mouth to reply, but Gambit interrupted him.
"Pulsey's a little worried about us being aloooooonnne t'gether in the danger room," he said with a smirk. "He t'inks I'm gonna hand you the wrong screwdriver."
Gambit thrust his pelvis forward suggestively. Rogue winced, although not without a slight smile, and then hit Pulse upside the head.
"Hey," Pulse objected.
"Ya just had ta get him started, didn't ya?" Rogue said, then glared at Gambit. "You had better have all these dirty comments out of your system by tomorrow night, Swamp Rat, or it won't be the Blackbird I'm gonna be fixing, got it?"
"Loud and clear," Gambit grinned at her.
"Good," Rogue paused, looked around, and made her way back out of the dining hall. Skipping lunch today seemed like a great idea.
Rogue hadn't gotten too far when she realised that someone was right behind her and turned to see Pulse trying to catch up.
"What was that all about?" she asked. "Ah told ya about Remy joining me in the danger room as a courtesy. Not so ya could confront him about it."
"I'm sorry Rogue," Pulse replied apologetically. "I just worry about you, y'know? Gambit's a player."
"So, what? Ya think we're going ta have wild passionate sex inbetween pulling apart the navigation system?"
"No, but I -"
"Just admit you're being stupid, and maybe Ah'll forgive ya for not trusting me."
"It's Gambit I don't trust."
"Okay this may be hard for you ta believe, Gus, but Remy is perfectly capable of being professional about things. While we were working last night he behaved himself rather well."
"And when you weren't?"
"He went back ta being his usual annoying self, of course. Relax okay? Paranoia doesn't suit you, and it is paranoia. Let's face it Gus, even if Ah was attracted ta him - which Ah'm not - Ah couldn't do anything about it anyway. You're the only one who can get around muh mutation."
Pulse sighed.
"Yeah, I know, I'm sorry. But y'know, that doesn't mean he couldn't still, y'know, put his hands where they don't belong. Or you couldn't absorb him or something. I'd hate for you to end up with that womaniser in your head."
"Thanks for your concern, sugah, but Ah'll be fine."
Back in the dining hall, Gambit returned to his lunch. Tabitha complimented him on his suggestive comments and the group laughed about the whole thing. Still, the confrontation with Pulse left him curious. He and Pulse never did get along, so was it just that Pulse didn't like him? Or was there trouble in paradise after all?