Disclaimer: I still own nothing. Also, I've never written Cecilia Reyes before. All I know about her I've read from X-23 and Astonishing X-Men, which isn't much. Any Cece fans out there reading this forgive any oocness but feel free to correct any seriously bad information I have


It's a 'out of the corner of your eye' type of thing. Usually. And quite possibly everybody has their own demon that tags along in the periphery. Just some are more aware of it than others. A certain amount of innocence keeps some people from noticing it at all.

But he wasn't so lucky. He'd never been that lucky.

And right now he was staring at it straight on, chest contracting. Looking at the reflection of it in the television screen. What ought to be his own reflection was instead that disgusting evil thing. Staring out of too-red eyes that made his stomach clench. Reminded him of other, disgusting eyes from a long-ago past. And not so long ago…

Except these ones were a reflection of his own soul. They looked right into his very core and laughed at the fact that he might try to hide from it all. It was time, they said, to just give in…

Remy's grip around his deck of cards was so tight he was starting to lose the feeling to some of his fingers. But what could he do, really? Attack his own television because he didn't like what he saw? Probably just imagining things, his own nightmares playing tricks on him. But he'd been ill at ease all day since his talk with Betsy. Shuffling and fidgeting with his cards like he expected to get attacked all day…

Then he'd noticed it. At first he thought it was a trick of the light. Sometimes the red iris of his eyes shone a little brighter and the television screen was dark. It could make his skin look black…

But after a third pass through the living room, he'd locked eyes with the reflection and it didn't really seem to matter whether he was actually seeing it or not. His insides squirmed enough to know that something about all of this was real enough.

His door burst open, though, and Remy's attention was drawn from his internal turmoil. He had begun to lift a card to charge it, turning to see what danger he was about to deal with. Wasn't unusual for fights to break their way, unannounced, into what was supposed to be private living quarters. Was the sort of thing you got used to, living as an X-Man.

It wasn't, however, some villain breaking down the door or even just a scuffle of disagreeable super beings that took their arguing a bit far. Instead Dr. Cecilia Reyes was storming into the apartment like she owned the place and going immediately for Remy's cabinets. He raised an eyebrow, mostly to himself as the woman in question noticed him about as much as she would the furniture.

Moving slowly, Remy moved over to is front door to shut it properly again. Eyes completely on Cecilia who was pouring herself a drink of Remy's favorite bourbon. Before she could lift it, Remy swooped it and snatched it from her grasp, holding it above his head and giving her a look. Couldn't help but question himself on when he became the responsible one, though…

"Chere," Remy chuckled. "Just because I said y'could use my apartment doesn't mean y'can pilfer my bourbon."

"Give me the glass, Gambit." Cece's eyes flashed. But beneath the anger it was easy to discern the pain and fear it was trying to cover.

"Touchy," Remy said, tapping a finger on the glass. "Bad day at work?"

Whatever it was, Cecilia wasn't talking. But she gave up her attempts on the bourbon, turning from Remy slightly to cross her arms over her stomach, hands grasping her opposite elbows. Something, it seemed, was hurting the woman real bad. But despite a couple of dates, Remy wasn't as of yet as close to the doctor as… well, he wasn't really close to anybody these days. But certainly there were those that knew him better than others, that he'd like to think trusted him.

Could never really be sure. But the simple fact of the matter was that Remy knew how to comfort Rogue, through years of experience and opening up to one another. Even now when they were nothing but 'friends' and she was dating Magneto, Remy knew what to do for her when she was in a mood.

He didn't have that with Cece. Though right now he really wished he did. And he found himself rather hating his closeness with Rogue right then because it did nothing but feed doubts. When he ought to be confident and sure of himself, soothing things over for the woman standing in his kitchen obviously looking for something to soothe the hurt.

Cool, confident, smooth… Remy was the epitome of these things. He ought to be. But in a whirl of other emotions and thoughts it was something Remy actually struggled with. Especially when it came to somebody he cared about. Still, he sighed and set the glass down, walking around the counter to put his arm around the woman's shoulders.

"Course yo' welcome to relax here, Chere," Remy murmured, leading her to the couch. "Just let me get some music going and find somet'in bit more appropriate for the occasion den bourbon."

He topped it all off with a wink. Cecilia rolled her eyes at the act but didn't push or argue against the entire thing. She spoke up only to turn down the first two artists Remy tried to play before giving in with an indifferent 'hmph' to the third. The whole thing actually brought a chuckle to Remy and he'd quite forgotten about his reflection in the television by the time he was returning with two glasses of wine. He didn't usually drink the stuff, but it seemed like the thing to do tonight.

After a few sips, conversation flowed quite easily out of Cecilia. She began talking about work, in fact, going on about a few repeat patients and some nurse gossip. By now Remy even recognized some of the names and asked follow up questions on some stories he'd heard before. He let the atmosphere get cozy, and actually found himself refilling their drinks. Hadn't realized he'd actually drunk that much, caught up as he was in paying attention to Cece.

Midway through her telling a story about one of the nurse's getting caught making out with a patient's husband, Remy pulled her legs into his lap. It put a slight hitch in her exuberant story telling but she otherwise continued. Letting Remy rest his hand slightly above one of her knees, though he kept rapt attention on her story.

"And then there was the girl…"

Her tone dropped and with it came Remy's frown. He was hardly aware of it and didn't do anything to mask the concern in his eyes as he waited for Cece to continue. This, he was sure, connected to the reason why she was here in the first place.

But her eyes drifted down away from Remy and soon she was reaching out to pour out a third glass of wine. He, in turn, set down his mostly finished second glass, debating for a moment whether to push. If Cece didn't want to tell him, he ought to respect that. And he would. But sometimes people needed to be asked. To know that they were settling their problems on unwanting ears.

Remy reached out and cupped Cecilia's chin and turn her head to look at him. The red of his eyes dulling into the black as he searched for words to let her know this was a safe place. But before he could, warm lips were claiming his and Cece's inviting body was pressing in closer. After an initial heartbeat of surprise, Remy responded in kind, arm wrapping around her waist while deepening the kiss. It went on for awhile, their limbs tangling together while both were only simply aware of a rising heat.

Then pure red eyes flashed in Remy's mind and he turned his head away with a bit of a hiss.

"Did I hurt you?" Cece asked, her voice still breathy from the kiss.

"Non…"

"Then am I really that terrible of a kisser? Because I didn't think—"

Remy raised a hand to cut her off, regaining his own breath before he looked back up at her. Like a serpent, something rose up inside of him demanding to return to what had been started and Remy shifted back on the couch, trying to shut it out.

"It's not dat," Remy said tightly. And he couldn't quite explain what it actually was that was keeping him from continuing. There was just a general feeling of wrongness to it. "Desole."

"Hmph…"

Cecelia turned on the couch to sit on it properly, legs leaving Remy's immediate vicinity altogether as she went back to her glass of wine. Back hunching as she stared at the table disgustedly. It cause a small spike of guilt in Remy's gut, that he was probably the cause of a bit of that look. Though he probably deserved it. Still, it seemed strange to be getting revulsion for pulling away when often times he received it for going too far.

How the tables had turned in his life.

He became aware that the music had stopped playing at some point in the silence. Probably because the lack of it caused the pounding of his headache to intensify. Though he couldn't pinpoint when exactly that had started… He had a feeling it was before Cecilia had arrived, however. He just hadn't had space to noticed and examine it until now.

"Why are y'here, Chere?" Remy asked. Breaking into the silence and hoping he could fix at least one part of this mess. Since it certainly wasn't going to be his headache anytime soon.

"Your apartment is close to the hospital," Cece started out, sounding reasonable enough. "And I could use a distraction. A safe place to be… And… you're you…" She actually looked up at that last bit, giving him a suggestive look and waving a hand to take in his chest.

Right. That sort of distraction.

Reputations. They bit you in the ass every time. Though how that one managed to get to Remy, he might never know. But today it just simply sat wrong. He didn't want it like that with Cecilia.

Remy reached out and put a gentle hand over hers. "Y'can take de bed," he said quietly. "I don't mind sleepin on de couch. Tomorrow be a new day."

She threw his hand off, though he half expected it and withdrew at pretty much the same time. Though the woman lost her vehement attitude almost immediately. It was an act. An act to save her pride. Because when had anybody ever heard of Remy LeBeau turning down a beautiful woman practically throwing herself at him.

But Cece was a friend and he couldn't in good conscious do that to a person who was obviously hurt. It didn't seem right.

"Cece," Remy spoke up again. Cautiously, not sure if it was safe to bring it up, but it had piqued his curiosity. "What about de girl?"

"Not tonight Remy," Cecilia whispered, looking down at the table darkly as she stood up. She finished her glass of wine and set it down as she walked around the coffee table toward the bedroom. "Just tonight I'd like to pretend I can leave this job without it catching up with me."

The frown Remy had been using on and off all night came back deeper than before. He had a feeling that they weren't talking about being a doctor. Not in the usual, mundane sense. More than that, he didn't like seeing the effects whatever this was had on his friend. He wanted to be able to comfort her but was at a loss of how to do so without coming off as… well, his usual self.

He eventually settled on standing up and walked closer to her. Putting a comfortable distance between them before reaching out to grasp Cecilia's hand, rubbing his thumb over the back of it. Cece's eyes shut as the two people stood in silence, gently holding hands. There was a strange intimacy in the slight touch. More in the way they knew it drew them closer together even if they stood apart.

Then Remy lifted her hand and brushed a soft kiss to the back of it. Feeling her soft kiss and glad that the softly burning fire it sparked in his chest was his alone. No damn demons lurking inside.

"I be here when y'wake up," Remy said softly, dropping her hand finally.

A small smile crept on the woman's face before she entered the room and shut the door. And for a second a hint of playfulness caught Remy, and he leaned against the door. Making out the sounds of her removing clothing and making a game of guessing which items were being shed. Closing his eyes to picture the blankets of his bed being pulled back and her slender body slipping down into them. He imagined her placing her nose to the pillow and grinning at the scent of him before rolling over to sleep comfortably.

Then Remy pulled back, remembering the far more serious matter unfolding. He looked around the apartment quickly, like he expected something to be lurking in a corner. Then grabbing up his trench coat, he slipped out his own window and climbed gracefully to the alley below. He straightened up from his landing and put his coat on, starting to head in the direction of the hospital.

He'd save Cecilia from having to share whatever horrible thing made her flee the sight. If Remy couldn't sneak into a hospital and find what he needed then he ought to renounce his title of Prince of Thieves.

Besides, he had this sinking suspicion it was dreadfully important. And rather attached to some terrible dreams he – and likely Betsy as well – had been having as of late…


AN: So I tried to start this chapter off with that sort of vague, almost creep-esque style that the last two started out with almost accidentally. But didn't really have very good inspiration. I only really have a vague sense of where I'm taking this fanfic... I guess you could say this is in part just a huge character study.

Also want to apologize for my mistypes galore. I really am a great speller and quite versed in grammar... I've just been suffering from huge bouts of insomnia, the main reason why I'm writing a fanfic. Gives me something to do with my brain.

Thanks for the reviews so far guys! JasmineBella, Alisx123 - GambitRemy, and PsyKnight thanks for the praise.

Marigab: I also like the idea of it just being a part of Remy so likely that will end up coming into play in the fanfic. But I don't know yet so I don't think I'm really spoiling anything. And likely this won't be a full out Romy fic, but I can't deny their history and chemistry. So with the way I see the plot going, they're going to be forced into the same room together eventually and I will actually acknowledge these things with the characters.

Tim: I'm glad you think I keep people in character. I try rather hard and, yes, I too am dissapointed with recent comics that put people ooc.

Keep reading and reviewing guys! They please the Goddess of Destiny greatly