A long ways from the big easy, Remy. And since when you workin' the side of the angels? Or did I just blow yer latest scam? - Sabretooth

Chapter 2

Sabretooth left the Cajun on the floor of his cabin on top of the bear rug he kept in front of the fireplace. His cabin was really nothing more than a big room. He did most of his cooking outside, but there was a small kitchen area he hardly made use of. A table had been shoved into the corner with two chairs. The spare more for the feral to put his feet up on rather than the expectation of company. On the other side a large chest filled with what little possessions he had. Above that was a large shelf filled with dog eared books and novels he read from time to time when he did not feel in the mood to go roaming about his territory. Shoved into another corner was a large bed with several pillows and an old quilt. The quilt Sabretooth had thrown over the Cajun almost as an afterthought.

He had tended to the younger man's wounds after brining him in. It occurred to him it was all for naught as he would probably end up killing the Cajun in a fit of rage or simply for the hell of it. Yet, out there in the wilderness there was surprisingly little to do. If it was out of the ordinary Sabretooth took to it even if it meant seeing to an enemy surviving a few days longer.

Sabretooth wasn't shy about stripping the clothes off the younger man. He found what he had expected, a large gash on the Cajun's leg. The Cajun had done his best to bind the wound but it seemed as if it had been reopened when he had been fleeing the bear. After cleaning the area with boiled water from the river he rebound the wound. Tearing the Cajun's shirt into strips to use as bandages for the process. Other than the leg wound Gambit was unharmed save for being no doubt in need of food and rest.

Leaving the younger man in the cabin Victor set back out for the ridge with his hunting knife and a sack. He set to cutting the skin from the bear so he could cure the hide. It was not until mid-afternoon after working at the carcass for nearly four hours he thought to check on Gambit. Covered in blood from the grisly work he hauled the meat he had managed to cut away from the carcass along with the hide going back up the ridge towards his cabin again. He swore to himself if the Cajun had decided to try and leave he would hunt him down and kill him.

When he came to the cabin however he found the Cajun fast asleep instead. Gambit bunched up a corner of the quilt thrown over him as a makeshift pillow as he slept. Sabretooth paused wondering if he should wake him. The young man presented no threat to him, and after searching the Cajun's clothes for any tracking devices had concluded the young man was telling the truth. Other than his wallet which had a few twenties in it Gambit had next to nothing. The only thing of interest Sabretooth had come across were the runt's dog tags around the Cajun's neck. Now that had caught his interest. In two months the runt's birthday would be coming up. Which meant the feral would have to be paying him a visit soon. But still, it begged the question why the Cajun had the dog tags?

Did the runt leave to? Is that who the Cajun was lookin for? Sabretooth thought studying the dog tags. After a moment he had put them on the mantle of the fireplace for safekeeping. He didn't see much point in throwing them out and they served little except as a trophy. Still, how Gambit had come to possess them sparked his curiosity.

After a moment Sabretooth decided he would let the Cajun sleep. He still had a lot more work ahead of him in concerns with the bear. He wanted to get the meat set up and smoking into jerky before it began to turn. Not to mention he would have to scrape all the fat off the hide as well to begin with.

It wasn't until nearly late afternoon while Sabretooth was scraping his knife along the inside of the hide he heard movement from inside. It had been bloody work cutting the meat into strips and hanging them in his smoking shack. After burying the body far enough away to dissuade any predators to come sniffing around he had come back to finish his work. In fact, he was almost done with the bear hide and would only have to sprinkle salt to absorb the moisture when he heard movement inside.

Sabretooth had washed himself off in the river of the blood along with his clothes. Discarding his boots he wore nothing but worn brown pants. He didn't see the point of wearing a shirt as he would have to wash that to if he got it dirty. Setting aside the fur and his knife he got up from the bench near his smoking shack and walked back towards the cabin. Pushing the door open as he stepped in his eyes adjusting to the dim light.

Remy had stood up having left the quilt puddled on the fur. Having found a set of clothes from the chest he had put on a worn pair of faded jeans and a plain white short sleeved shirt. Sabretooth quirked a brow at seeing the younger man in his clothes.

They sagged on the Cajun's frame as he looked about his surroundings clearly mystified. Hearing the door open the younger man had turned around to see who it was. When he recognized the feral he jerked back even as Victor found himself smirking stepping into the room as he let the door swing shut behind him.

"Honey, I'm home!" Victor mocked as he came closer. Remy stepped back alarmed as he looked about for any weapons. Unfortunately for him the only one to be had was the knife in the feral's hand. Remy glared at him having retreated back near the empty fireplace. Snorting Victor stepped towards him blocking off his escape to the door.

"Cajun, if I wanted to kill you I would've done it while you were sleepin. Piss me off now you won't be wakin up on a bed of furs. I can tell ya that much." Victor scowled frowning at the Cajun. At this Remy only glared at him suspiciously even if he too realized this fact were true. After a moment Victor let out an irritated sigh going to his small kitchen. It was really nothing more than a counter and a gas stove along with a sink. Luckily, he had running water but no electricity. He had to heat water over the fire if he wanted to take a warm bath.

Taking his teakettle he filled it up with water and set it on the stove. Turning the knob as he began to get other fixings for tea. He could feel the Cajun's eyes on him watching his every move. It felt strange having one of his enemies in his house. It made him bristle even as Remy detached himself from the wall sinking back down onto the furs with a sigh. Clearly his leg still troubled him and he didn't seem willing to go past Victor to make use of one of the chairs.

"Why'd you bring me here?" Remy asked after a moment. Victor's golden eyes flicked up to stare at him. The feral had let his hair get long Remy noticed. It cascaded down his shoulders each strand sleek and shining. Whenever Remy had faced the villain Sabretooth had always had his hair cropped short in a military cut.

"I didn't feel like having to dig you a grave." Victor snapped curtly. This earned him a scowl from the Cajun as he drew up his knees into a more comfortable position. Resting his forearms on his knees as he watched the feral.

"How charitable of you, cher." Remy retorted. There was silence except for the clink of silverware as Victor searched for a spoon. Finding one generally clean he took that out along with sugar. After a few minutes the kettle began to whistle. Depositing a tea bag into his cup he poured the boiling water over it.

"So, who were you lookin for?" Victor asked. Remy glared at him sourly clearly distrusting him. How could he not? Victor bared his fangs at the Cajun not feeling up to having to make him talk.

"Logan, cher, if you want to know so badly. And no, Remy has no idea where he is. I thought he might be somewhere out in the wilderness. Didn't expect to run into you out here." Remy explained his heart beginning to pound. He wasn't really revealing sensitive information by telling him as much. Sabretooth frowned as he stirred the sugar watching it dissolve with a hiss in the hot water.

"Just my luck you would show up. You pretty much ended up right on my doorstep. You know that, right?" Sabretooth snapped at the Cajun. Remy shrugged his shoulders too tired to stay up on his guard. Why bother anyhow? Sabretooth could easily kill him any time he wished and he had already told the feral the X-Men had driven him off. In fact, it may have even saved his life because that meant he could provide no information about the team itself.

"Next time I'll call before I visit." Remy said nastily. Sabretooth let out a low growl in warning. Remy fell silent as he watched the feral sniff at his drink. Other than the obvious features of the claws and the prominent canines when Sabretooth spoke he seemed almost human at the moment to the Cajun. It was surreal watching him make tea than drink it. Sipping carefully so he would not burn his tongue.

"No signal out here. Nothing but forest for miles, miles, and miles. You might run across a ranger or two out here, I think this used to be one of their cabins. Other than that, though, no one here but you and me." Sabretooth said calmly. The threat was pretty damn clear. If he killed the Cajun there would be no one around to notice he was missing. They were completely and utterly alone out there.

"What are you doing all the way out here?" Remy asked after a few minutes of silence. When he had woken up he had been surprised he was alive. Let alone his wounds had been cleaned and seen to. Now that he was awake he wondered what would happen to him.

"Hunting." Victor answered. He said nothing else. The Cajun studied him probably able to guess he wasn't showing his whole hand.

Neither is he, but I don't really give a damn anymore. Who the fuck cares if he's lookin for the runt? A place like this out in the middle of nowhere would suit him. Cajun got that much right. Victor thought distractedly. Despite himself he didn't feel in the mood of murdering Gambit. In truth, he had moved out there into the Yukon in order to be left alone. The only people he had seen since moving out there had been the poachers, and it had been because he sought them out.

Question is, what happens with him now though? I'm in the perfect position to kill him. Not like he's gonna fight back. Kid already gave-up anyhow it seems. He knows that I know he can't fight in his condition. He'd be dead if it weren't for me. Still the feral was hesitant to act on the thought. Slitting a person's throat out in the middle of the woods was hardly something he had not done before time and again. The circumstances however surrounding how he had come by the Cajun were what puzzled him.

"Why'd you save me from the bear?" Remy asked after a while. By then Victor had almost finished his tea and began to wonder if he should make another cup. Already he was low on teabags and other supplies, which meant he would have to go into the town one hundred miles from the cabin. Putting it off would buy him more time, but eventually he would have to go there whether he liked or not.

"Don't flatter yourself, kid. I needed the extra meat and wanted the pelt. Since you were the bait thought I might as well help myself." Victor snapped. Remy scowled at him yet said nothing. Probably deciding it was best to be silent.

"Anyone else come with you?"

"Non, no one else. And before you ask, no, other than you no one else knows I'm here." Remy answered bitterly. Sabretooth frowned wondering why his unexpected prisoner was being so compliant.

"You could at least act like you're resisting me."

"You're just gonna kill me anyway, aren't you cher? Might as well get it over with. No sense you going out searching for people who aren't there and killing others who have nothing to do with me anymore." Remy explained.

Before he could blink Sabretooth was in front of him. His claws buried in the shirt as he lifted the injured man to his feet. Snarling Remy found himself almost nose to nose with the feral amber eyes glaring straight into his own. Burning with fury as his breath washed over the Cajun's face as he talked smelling of fresh meat and smoke.

"You wanna die so badly, Cajun? I've been hospitable with you up until now. Fine, you can die. Should I break your neck, make it quick like? Or maybe I should drag it out and have myself a bit of fun. Slit your belly, let your entrails spread across the floor? How about I just dig my claws into your sorry hide and drag them down and watch you bleed out? That's one of my favorite ways to do it. Especially those who thought they had power over me when I'm caged." Sabretooth ground out lifting the younger man off his feet. He was almost a foot taller than the Cajun and nearly twice as wide. Where Gambit was all taut muscle and slim allowing for him to be quick Sabretooth was built like a linebacker. With wide shoulders and thick corded muscle he could easily crush anyone with brute strength alone.

Gambit struggled in his grasp trying to pry the fist from his shirt. It was cutting off his air as he choked trying to respond. After a moment Sabretooth let him go letting him drop to the floor. Even though it had only been a few inches Gambit gasped when his bad leg hit the ground. A queer hacking sound came from him as he sank to the floor and Sabretooth had only a second before he realized what was about to happen as he began to backpedal just as the younger man threw up on his floor.

Cursing up a storm Sabretooth grabbed the Cajun back the back of his shirt as if he were nothing more than a dog. Dragging him across the floor as he went to his door and bodily tossed the man out like a sack of trash. Gambit managed to regain his feet but his face had gone completely pale a gasp of pain leaving him when he set weight on his left leg. Growling Sabretooth pointed North where the town was.

"One hundred miles that way is the closest town. Have fun walkin through the woods, Cajun. Bye." Sabretooth said before slamming the door to his cabin shut. Seeing the mess on the floor he cursed up another storm fit to make a sailorman blush as he went to retrieve some rags and reheat some water on the stove. Throwing the windows open to air out the smell. If he moved fast he might be able save his rug.

The rest of the day Victor stayed locked in the cabin sullen and angry. Even with hard scrubbing and copious amounts of white vinegar to take out the worst of the vomit he could still smell the disgusting odor. As night began to fall all was silent outside. He imagined the Cajun limping in the direction he had pointed. No doubt some wolf or even another grizzly would catch up to the man, he was far to weak to put up much of a fight.

As it began to grow darker Victor started up a fire to fight the chill. Even though spring had begun to come about the nights were still freezing. Despite the warmth of the flames and glancing at the spot where he had managed to get the vomit out of the fur of his bear rug his thoughts turned back to the Cajun. How far had he managed to go? By the way he had fallen apparently his leg was still bothering. Having been tired as he had been exhaustion may have made Gambit numb to the pain in his leg.

Unable to get the Cajun out of his thoughts he retrieved a novel from the shelf and began to read. He wasn't much of a reader but it helped to pass a time. Even then after not really seeing what was in front of him for five minutes he put the book back on the shelf irritated. To satisfy his curiosity he would go out to see where Gambit had got to.

Still half naked save for his pants Victor walked outside sniffing the air. Gambit's scent came to him immediately in the still air, but instead of heading North it went around behind the cabin. With a sigh he walked around and noticed not only was his bear pelt was gone, but the door to his smoke shack was wide open. He frowned as he walked over to it hoping an animal had not managed to sneak in. At night his vision was just as sharp as it was in the day. When he peered into the shack he could clearly see Gambit on the floor of it. Huddled under the uncured bear pelt of the grizzly that had tried to kill him earlier shivering in the cold. As it became later it would only become colder, and Victor could smell rain on the air as well.

"Didn't get to far, did you?" Victor asked the Cajun. There was no response from the other man. As Victor came closer he noticed the younger man's lips were blue from the cold. If he walked away and just left him there he would die in the night saving Victor the trouble.

Even so Victor felt annoyed at the idea of Gambit dying on him. He was the most excitement he'd had all day. Even if the Cajun was an enemy it had been good to hear another voice. Despite what others thought even Victor needed to remember some part of him was human. No matter how distant it was or how little he used it. He could think.

Could keep him around for a while, I suppose. When he gets better I can always just dump out in the woods somewhere and let the animals finish him off. They'll even eat the bones and gnaw those to pieces. Even if someone comes lookin for him they'll never be able to recognize him. Hell, I could just tear off one of his legs if I want him to stay to keep me company. Victor pondered as he gazed down at the Cajun. The idea of dismemberment though put a sour taste in his mouth. That had never been his style unless he meant to kill the person who had wronged him.

Already rescued him, whether I wanted to or not. Guess I can see this through to the end and see how this shit turns out. His mind made up Victor grabbed the bear pelt and tossed it to the side letting it puddle on the ground. He could sprinkle the salt on it tomorrow. The cold would keep it fresh until then.

Sliding his hands under the limp body he lifted the Cajun up and took him back to his cabin. Once again depositing him in front of the fire and setting aside some deer jerky next to the Cajun's head for when he woke up along with a jug of water.

Insane. I'm gonna end up regretting this afterwards. I just know it. Victor thought even as he tore at a piece of jerky with his teeth. He had meant to cook some bear meat but Gambit had ruined his appetite after throwing up.

Shoulda made the damn Cajun eat his own mess out of spite. Now that would have been hilarious.

As the night dragged on Victor finished the jerky not even really feeling hungry. From the table he could see color had crept back into the Cajun's cheeks but still he slept. Along with the blood loss he may have caught a fever in his weakened state. Victor sighed glad he never had to worry about such things. He would have been dead by now if not for his healing factor.

Retrieving his book from earlier Victor began to read. For some reason having the Cajun inside his cabin brought a sense of calmness to him. Soon he was able to focus on what was in front of him every now and again raising his eyes to check on the man on the rug. It was not until late Victor folded down a corner of the page and closed the book to put back on the shelf. Soon he would have to find some type of bookmark. A feather or something because corners of the pages had begun to fall off the books.

As the fire went low Victor retreated to his bed. He had left the quilt over the Cajun to keep him warm. Besides, the feral had no use of it with the room warm. As he slipped into an easy sleep he wondering what sort of madness had possessed him to take a stranger into his home.