Another sleepless night had haunted Gambit and he had got up and ran through the estate grounds before returning and heading to the gym. He was extremely frustrated and tired and stressed and decided to take that anger out on a very unfortunate punching bag.
Grunt after grunt, Gambit punched and kicked the bag as fast as he could. He wanted to tire himself out. He didn't even care if he passed out right here. He just needed sleep.
"Dammit!" He growled as he let his powers crackle to life.
As his fist made impact with the bag, it caused it to charge before it flew off and a boom shook the ground Gambit stood on. Huffing and panting, he knew someone would be down here to see what was going on. They would be on high alert.
Waving the smokey powder in the air away, he went over and sat down on a bench where he put his head in his hands. He was mentally drained from all the thinking his mind had done over the past week. He was physically drained from the lack of sleep, because of his mind.
"Arrêter." He said quietly, shutting his eyes. "Please, stop."
The powder from the bag was beginning to irritate his sinuses. His nose began to burn and his throat started to itch. Standing, he walked out of the gym and headed down the hall.
Imputing the code to the alarm system, he place his hand on the doorknob and turned it. "Gambit?" He turned to see Jean standing at the end of the hall.
She walked closer to him and he lowered his head. "Sorry 'bout de gym." He said, knowing she would've passed it on her way to him. "I take care o' dat."
"I don't care about the gym, Remy." She said, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I care about your well-being. Let me help you."
Gambit stepped back when she put her hand up. "No 'ffense, but I don' like people in m' head."
"I'm not going to pry your mind." She said. "I'm going to calm it."
He shook his head. "No." He said, opening the door and walking outside.
He knew she was only trying to help, but he didn't like the telepathic or telekinetic kind of mutants. They always dug up things he didn't want unburied and that had always caused more problems.
After walking for several minutes, he saw dawn had arrived. Rubbing his face vigorously, he turned and headed back to the mansion. Walking inside, he looked to his right to see mop buckets and brooms outside the gym. He made his way over and looked inside to see several senior staff members cleaning the mess he had made.
"I clean dis up." He said, grabbing a broom.
They paused and looked at each other before they looked at Gambit.
"Go on." He said. "I made dis mess, I clean it up."
After a few moments of offering help, they finally left it for Gambit to clean up. He just wanted more physical activity to wear himself out.
It took about two hours, but he finally swept everything up and wiped the equipment down. Gathering the trash bag, he threw it over his right shoulder and headed to the back where they kept the garbage. Tossing it in the compactor, he dusted his hands off before he headed to the pool house.
He wasn't feeling in the mood to deal with anyone. He was still frustrated beyond his own belief as he headed toward his old solitude. He just wanted to be away from everyone. He needed quiet and with school back in session for their finals week, he hoped he'd get just that.
Opening the door, he looked at everything before walking over and plopping down on the bed. He closed his eyes and placed his hands on the sides of his head, lightly squeezing, as he tried to force his mind to go blank. It wasn't working. His mind was still racing.
A few short moments later, he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Maybe he needed to see Hank. He'd have to know of something that could help. Standing, Gambit decided to head inside to see Beast, as promised.
When he reached the lab, he lightly rapped on the door frame. "Knock, knock." He said, seeing Beast look behind him.
He smiled. "I was just analyzing your blood work." Hank said, noticing Gambit's appearance. "Is something the matter, my friend?"
"Everyt'in' be de matter, homme." He said, walking slowly toward Beast.
"What's wrong?" He asked, motioning for Gambit to come closer.
He did and Hank took his right arm, looking at the place where he drew blood. "I can't sleep." He said. "Been up all night. I got insomnia."
Hank smiled. "Being up one night isn't grounds for diagnosing insomnia." He said, seeing Gambit shake his head.
"I have dis problem all week. Haven' slept since Monday." Gambit said, seeing Beast's brow drop in thought. "Well, I sleep yesterday, but dat did no good. Felt almost like a hang over."
"Interesting." He said, turning and grabbing the blood pressure machine and wheeling it over. "Are you having dilemmas? Thinking about things can cause stress and worrying about them, constantly, can cause this."
Gambit shook his head. "Ain' not'in' dat should be causin' dis." He said, placing his arm in the ring and watching Hank hit the start button.
As the cuff tightened around Gambit's arm, he realized his heart was beating faster than normal. When the machine beeped, the cuff deflated and he took his arm out.
"Your blood pressure is a little on the high side." Hank said, writing it down on a piece of random paper. "Tell me what you've thought about."
"You a t'erapist now, Beast?" He asked, smiling playfully.
"I'm a friend." He said, placing his hand on Gambit's shoulder.
–
Rogue grabbed the test sheets and headed to the room where she filling in for Ororo. She never thought of herself as a teacher, by any means, but she was willing to help these young people any way she could. For so long she had lived with the worst ability and now she could control it. She wanted to give the students hope and to let them know that being a mutant wasn't always a bad thing.
When she entered her room, she hardly noticed that some of the students were already there. "G'morning." She said, walking over to the desk. "Ah'm filling in for Ms. Munroe while she's away."
"Is it true that Mr. LeBeau blew up the gym?" A teenage boy asked.
Setting the papers down on the desk, she looked at the boy and shrugged. "Ah've only heard rumors, too." She said, taking a seat.
"How can you not know?" He asked, sitting down in his seat. "You guys are living together."
"Just because we share a room doesn't mean ah know where he is twenty-four seven." Rogue said. "Now enough. Class is startin' in a bit."
When everyone was in the room, Rogue closed the door and explained that she would be filling in for Storm while she was away. After passing the papers out, she returned and took a seat behind the desk.
"Ah don't wanna hear any talkin', alright?" She said. "Take ya time. It isn't a race."
She watched as the students went to work on their exam paper. Some of them seemed to know the answers right away and were zipping along on the test, others were struggling and wracking their brain trying to remember what they had learned. Storm was a great teacher. She didn't understand how these students couldn't learn anything from her.
Sitting back in the chair, Rogue crossed her right leg over her left and folded her arms across her lap. Her mind wondered off as she looked out the window. It was a beautiful day and she was so glad she could enjoy it after this class. She'd try to convince Gambit to hit the town with her. That is, if she could find him. Rogue started to wonder if Remy had really blew up the gym this morning. If so, why? Was it about his insomnia?
The first student finished their test twenty minutes later and turned it in. After her, more students finished and when the end of the class was over, the remaining students turned their papers in.
"How do ya think ya did?" Rogue asked, straightening the papers and placing them in the folder Storm had given her.
She heard more 'meh' answers than good and it made her smile. Looking at the clock, she saw that it was three minutes until class ended.
"Y'all can go ahead and go on." She said, seeing them stand and gather their things. "Good luck."
The students left, except for one girl, who came up to Rogue. "Anna?" The girl asked.
Rogue could see she was embarrassed about something. "What is it, hun?" She asked.
"Can I talk to you." The girl asked.
"Of course, sugah." She said. "Ah'm all ears."
–
"Everything is normal." Hank said, smiling at Gambit. "You're blood sugars are excellent and your cholesterol is just perfect. I wouldn't worry about anything. All of this will blow over in time."
"Dat be de problem. I gotta wait fo' it." Gambit said, sighing. "Well, maybe I kill over in de next few days. I sleep den."
Beast laughed. "Bad news is, you won't." He said, placing his hand on Gambit's left shoulder. "Just try to stick to a schedule."
"Okay." Gambit said as he gave Beast a wave. "T'anks fo' everyt'in', Hank."
"Of course." Hank said as Gambit walked out of his lab.
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Gambit headed down the hall where the classrooms were. It was completely silent. He loved it.
Continuing to walk, he looked up at the ceiling as he walked by an open classroom to his left and right. "Hey." He stopped and looked to his left to see Rogue. "Ah was just about to come look for ya."
Gambit smiled as he looked her over. "You be lookin' mighty fine today." He said, turning and entering the room. "Why you in Ro's classroom?"
"Ah was filling in for her." She said, facing him. "She had something to do with Wolverine and Iceman."
With Rogue using their code names, Gambit knew they were on a mission. He nodded as she reached out and took his right arm, turning him to the door and walking out.
"Ah've gotta head into town for some things. You wanna join me?" She asked.
"Don' know if I be up fo' dat." He said.
"It's a beautiful day out." She said, looking up at him. "Come on. Ah'll make it worth ya while."
Gambit stopped and raised an eyebrow. "Wha' dat suppose to mean, chère?" He was intrigued.
Rogue smiled, playfully, as she reached up and stroked his cheek with her index finger. "Ya have to come along to find out." She said, pulling away and walking toward the staircase.
Gambit took two leaping steps to catch up to her. "When we leavin'?" He asked, seeing her smile.
"Just gotta grab my purse." She said. "How about ya go get the car started."
"Anyt'in' fo' you." He said, heading off toward the garage.
After starting up the convertible, he put the top down and waited for Rogue to arrive. Once she did, they headed toward town.
"Ah've gotta pick some things up at the convenience store." She said, reaching over and taking his hand.
"I be followin' you." He said, lifting her hand and kissing it. "Wha' kind o' t'ings you be buyin'?"
"Just personal items." Rogue said, seeing him nod.
"No more fun for a week?" Gambit asked, looking at her. "Dat time o' de month?"
Rogue chuckled. "It ain't time for that, sugah." She said. "Not yet."
"Good." He said, flashing her a seductive smile.
Pulling into the convenience store, Rogue told him that she'd be right back. He kept the car running as she went inside and returned five minutes later with a small plastic bag. He could see a water bottle, but there was a small box in there as well. He couldn't tell what it was, due to the bag being colored dark gray. He didn't bother to ask as they went by and stopped for ice cream.
After ordering and getting their cup of ice cream, they went and sat down at a booth that sat two. Reaching out, Rogue traced a circle on the back of his hand with her middle finger.
"Ah heard ya blew the gym up this morning." She said, seeing him chuckle.
"Not de whole gym." He said, watching her finger. "Just a punchin' bag."
"Well, the kids were saying the gym." Rogue said. "Ya know now kids are."
"Sure do." He said, taking a bite of ice cream.
"Are ya alright?" Rogue asked. "Did that have to do with the insomnia?"
She could see his eyes glance up at her from underneath his shades. "Didn' sleep at all last night." He said, feeling her hand clench his.
"Tell me what's bothering ya, hun." She said. "It can't be anything ah don't already know about ya."
"Dis be somet'in' new." He said. "Somet'in' dat just happened."
"What is it?" Rogue asked. "Remy, you can tell me anything."
"I know dat." He said, flipping his hand over and holding her hand in his. "Dis just be somet'in' I gotta deal wit'. Ain' nobody can help Remy with dis, but me."
Rogue's face went serious. "Are ya...dying?" She asked.
Gambit dipped his brows in offense. "No, chère." He said. "It ain' not'in' like dat."
He smiled when he saw her put her hand on her chest. "Thank the lord." She said.
Looking around the ice cream shop, Gambit looked over the brim of his sun glasses. "Let's get outta here." He said, seeing her nod.
Grabbing the cup, they left and got back in the car to head back to the mansion. They finished the ice cream on the way and after parking the car, Rogue got out and threw the cup away in the trash that was by the door.
Gambit smiled, seeing she left the things she bought sitting on the middle compartment. Grabbing the bag, he stood up and shut the car door before glancing down inside the bag. There was definitely a water bottle but there was also something else very alarming.
"Uh, chère?" Gambit asked as he stopped walking.
"Yeah?" Rogue asked, turning around.
"Remy don' always jump to conclusions." He said with wide eyes as he held up the pregnancy test. "But, you got somet'in' to say to me?"
Rogue laughed as she walked over and took the box out of his hand and placed it back in the bag. "Ah'm not pregnant." She said, still laughing. "My god, Remy, ya face was priceless."
Gambit forced himself to chuckle. "You got Remy worked up." He said watching her wipe her eyes before she walked closer to him.
"You're adorable." She said, kissing him before walking inside. "It's not for me."
"Den who be pregnant?" He asked as they walked upstairs to their room.
Rogue kept quiet until the shut the door. "A girl in Ororo's class, Abby." She saw Gambit raise an eyebrow. "She wanted to talk to me after class. Her and Neil have been hooking up. Ah'm not sure how or when, but they've hooked up about four times and now Abby's 'late'."
"Wow." Gambit said, taking a seat on the bed.
"Yeah." Rogue said, taking the box out and looking down at it. "Ah told her to tell me tha results, whether positive or negative."
"She tell Neil?" Gambit asked.
Rogue shook her head. "She's too afraid. Ah practically had to coax it outta her." She said, looking at him. "Ah feel sorry for her."
Gambit shrugged as he stood and stepped closer to her. "Dat be de consequences." He said. "You play wit' fire, you gonna get burned."
"That's a little harsh." Rogue said, looking up at him.
"Well, how you t'ink babies be made?" He asked.
"Touché" Rogue said, seeing Gambit smile.
"Yo' accent made dat de most precious t'ing I ever hear." He said, cupping her face and kissing her softly.
Rogue smiled. "Even though ah ruined it?" She asked.
"You not ruin it." He said, watching her tie the bag up.
"Ah'm gonna deliver this right quick. Where are ya gonna be? Ah'm not finished with ya for today." She said, winking at him.
"Remy be right here." He said, sitting down on the bed.
"Alright. Ah'll be right back." Rogue said, disappearing out of the room.