A/N: disclaimer in first chapter.

Thank you to reviewers and to answer Neko na; I actually do know quite a bit about the Marvel universe but I felt that even though these types of things had happened before they would still be concerned regarding a team mate and their disbelief about the ray working came from them just not believing the guy they were fighting was capable of it. Thanks for giving your opinion though I can see where you were coming from.

~denotes telepathy~

Childs Play

"Oh my!" exclaimed Hank as Remy back away from them baring his teeth in an animal like fashion. Ororo stepped forward her hands outstretched in a placating manner. "Be calm Remy. No one here shall harm you, we will contact your father immediately" The young Remy cut her off with a snorted laughed which was as different from his usual smooth chuckle as caviar from frog spawn. He looked up from under his dirty bangs and muttered "Dat's not funny, I not got a père and you obviously know dat since you de ones who stolt me." His accent was thicker than the adult Remy's but that was not what confused his team mates. Jean moved to stand by Storm, "Now, Remy we-"the boy again interrupted backing up further putting him in the corner of the med lab. "Non! Keep away from me witch! You made me sleep befo so I couldn't escape. I don' like you, I don' like any o' you take me back! Please I won't tell no one..." he trailed off seeming to give up, he sat in the corner where he stood and pulled skinny legs up to his chest. The three adult X Men were at a loss they shared a worried glance. ~Hank, Ororo I think it's best if I go upstairs I'm just making him more upset, I'll see about getting him some clothes~. She silently left the room leaving the others to deal with the boy.

Though he wouldn't want to admit it, Remy was scared. He had been trying to settle down in his sleeping place in the alley behind the shop with the flowers in the window. He had not made enough that day to sleep at Fagin's squat with the other pick pockets so instead he had gone there to sleep with his face still aching from Fagin's hit. The next thing he knew he was opening his eyes to find himself stood amongst a group of strangers in weird clothes that he had never even seen at Mardi gras. He had tried to fight as they took him onto the plane but they had all been stronger than him and then the witch had sent him to sleep. Remy sat in the corner of the strange room where he had woken up watching as the red haired witch left. He was now left alone with the pretty dark women with the white hair and the...man? Who looked like the stuffed animals he had seen in the window of the toy shop. It was all of this which scared Remy but what irked him most was that, they knew his name. Hardly anyone called him by name preferring to label him le Diable Blanc or simply Diable and of course the usual trash, street rat and the ever popular 'freak' that people usually shouted at him as they chased him away from the normal people. But these people knew what he called himself; they knew the name he had apparently always had. When he was younger he had noticed that the other boys in Fagin's 'care' had proper names not just cruel slurs used instead of a name. So, he had asked Fagin and in return he had received a clout to the back of the head and a grumbled "Remy, I t'ink". The big blue one came closer and crouched down in front of him. Remy hugged his knees tighter as the beast spoke. "Remy, my young friend I'm afraid there has been some misunderstanding. We do not wish to hurt you. I am Henry McCoy and being a doctor I have taken an oath to only help people not harm them so I hope we can be friends until we are able to send you home." He held out a paw to the young boy who to Hanks surprise took it tentatively and shook. Hank smiled doing his best not to show his fangs to the child, he had so far taken his strange appearance well but the doctor thought that perhaps for a superstitious young boy, fangs may be pushing it. "Good. Now the lovely lady behind me is Ororo Monroe and the lady who was here before was Jean Grey, who I must point out is not a witch. Jean is a telepath and a mutant like myself, Ororo and the other inhabitants of this house." The boy scrunched up his face obviously not understanding the meaning of the word but Hank decided that now was not the best time for a lecture on the finer points of genomes and the X gene.

After a few more minutes of coaxing the two managed to get Remy to agree to taking a shower in the med lab bathroom. When it had first been mentioned a scared look had crossed his face until Storm had gently clarified that he was expected to see to his bathing alone and that clothes would be provided. With one last suspicious look Remy had closed the door behind him firmly and the doctor and weather witch heard the distinctive click of the lock.

Remy was not a stupid child, he may be illiterate but he was street smart and he was pretty sure he had figured out what had happened. Fagin had done it again. He had threatened to do so but Remy had never really believed he would, not after last time. However when Remy came back to the squat practically empty handed the old man had obviously decided to make money out of his charge with the devil eyes another way. So once again Remy had been rented out, so to speak to a group of strangers for their entertainment and Fagin's profit. Now Remy had been sent to clean himself up he pondered his situation. Sure he knew he wouldn't enjoy whatever they wanted him to do but so far they seemed nice- apart from the witch- he decided that he would behave and thought to himself that as long as he didn't make anyone angry they would continue to be nice and then they would be happy with him and would pay Fagin a lot of money. Then hopefully Remy would get to sleep inside and be fed rather than being banished to the streets hungry. He would do as he was told. He would be good. Well, he would try. When he was finished he put on the large robe they had given him it smelt of cigarette smoke and spice and made him think of the city he called home. He stuck his head out of the bathroom and found the blue man alone. He swallowed mentally preparing himself for what was to come. "Uh, monsieur I'm ready." The man looked up from the heavy text he had been reading and smiled. "Ah, good good." He stood up and made for the door leading out of the room surprising Remy. "Are you hungry? I think dinner must be ready by now. I know it is not usually 'done' to attend a meal in ones dressing gown but I think we can forgive you this once. Jean has seen to getting you something more appropriate to wear but you can change after we've eaten." Remy came forward and placed his hand in the man's offered paw, he thought to himself ah I must be the after dinner entertainment then. He contained a shudder and thought instead of the promise of food. "Oui monsieur, merci, t'ank you I am hungry." He said softly trying to be respectful feeling foolish now for his earlier behaviour. What was the use of fighting back? They were all bigger and stronger than him and he didn't even know where he was so it wasn't like he could run if he did escape.