CH.7
"Should I stay or should I go now? If I stay there will be trouble, but if I go it may be double!"
The X-Men where gathered around in the War Room, some sitting some standing and most yawning as they sipped their early morning coffee. The mood was subdued as they waited for one last teammate before they began. Just as Cyclops was about to call down to the Med lab, Beast bounded into the room with an exuberance they had not seen in months.
"My most sincere apologies for my tardy behavior preventing the proceedings of this most important meeting! Do excuse me my friends!" He smiled cheerfully, squeezing Iceman's shoulders playfully before taking a seat. Charles nodded in acknowledgement.
"How is Gambit doing Hank?" Cyclops asked to the surprise of his teammates who where accustomed to their orderly leader insisting that War Room meetings be structured and specific to the agenda at hand. Hank raised his eyebrows with an amused and appraising smile.
"I am glade you asked oh Fearless Leader. Gambit is still asleep with the assistance of sedatives as his constantly active mind wakes him regularly. His temperature has dropped down to an even 100 and his hands are healing rapidly thanks to the Shiar cellular regenerator I have placed them in on rotations……… I am fully confidant that our Rajun Cajun should be back to his old Zydeco stomping self within the week." Beast smiled as he cleaned his glasses before placing them back on his noise. Storm and Jean both sighed in relief and Rouge just smiled to her self. The others shared similar expressions, Nightcrawler crossing himself in a mumbled prayer and Jubilee wiped tears from her face, Wolverine ruffling her hair.
"Told ya the Cajun would pull through…….. Son of a bitch gets his kicks otta cheating death!" He grunted a laugh.
"Wolverine!........Language." Jean chided as she gestured toward Jubilee.
"What?........ Like I have never heard a curse word before?" The teen huffed, receiving small chuckles from those gathered.
"Alright people, that's enough!" Cyclops sighed, knowing better then to deviate from the purpose of the meeting. "Yesterday Storm led a team composed of Rouge, Phoenix and Iceman to the Mutant Youth Center in Burlington Vermont. What is the situation at the facility and do we need to intervene or assist in anyway?" He asked looking at Storm. All eyes where on the white hair goddess who found herself unable to answer. She looked down for a moment, gathering her thoughts then looked back up.
"I can not answer that question Cyclops, I was………. distracted during the mission and so am unable to give an accurate account of what took place." It was not easy for Storm to admit her short comings, especially in regards to her role as a leader. She did not try to hid her disappointment in herself and received a mental hug from Jean and a physical pat on the back from Rouge.
"Thank you Ororo for your honesty. Being a good leader is not always being right. Sometimes we must recognize are faults and acknowledge other's aptitudes." Charles nodded then turned to Jean who smiled in relief, glade she did not have to defend her position. The meeting progressed as it usually did with an account of what happened, the X-Men's role and what future involvement if any they should be prepared for. Few questions fallowed and suggestions where made before the meeting ended after little over an hour.
Once dismissed, the X-Men went off to pursue their own interests, Storm and Rouge accompanying Jean and the Professor back to the Med lab where Beast would spend several hours until lunch. Upon arrival however, their good nature ended abruptly when they where faced with an empty bed and no sign of Remy. Only slightly surprised, Xavier sent out the message to all his X-men directing them to such the grounds for Gambit. Rouge and Storm both took off immediately leaving Jean, Charles and Beast to sigh in bewilderment.
"He never ceases to amaze me!" Jean sighed in mild irritation.
"I suppose he must have detached the IV feeding him the sedative right after I left, though I would imagine he must still feel the effects. He couldn't have gone far." Beast mused holding up the detached IV needle.
"No, I am sure he hasn't. Why can't he just let himself heal?" Charles sighed shaking his head at the always mysterious Gambit and his foolish behavior.
"Sometimes,……… I swear it's like he has a death wish." Jean mumbled, looking up to Charles. The three where silent for a moment, confirming that each had entertained this thought before. After another moment, they headed to the upper level of the mansion. Stepping from the elevator, they where side swept by Jubilee who was running toward the garage.
"Wolvie said he's in the garage trying to leave!" She shouted in hast as she round the corner.
"Oh dear." Beast sighed as they quickened their pace. Once out in the massive garage they where greeted by a stand off. Wolverine, Cyclops, Bishop and Iceman stood in front of the open garage door, blocking a rather irritated Gambit who sat on his motorcycle, his side bags packed. He was wearing his trench coat, black boots, jeans and a red muscle shirt, his shoulder length hair lose, hiding his face. His hands where re-bandaged sloppily indicating that he had done it himself. He was leaning forward on the bike, elbows resting on the handle bars and a cigarette in his lips, head down.
"Don't even think about it bub!........... Your still sick Cajun, ya ain't in any shape for a road trip. Now get back in bed!" Wolverine barked, his patients wearing thin. Rouge and Storm landed outside the garage and walked through the barricade of teammates toward the target of their attention.
"Remy Sugar, where in tarnation do you think your going?!" Rouge asked with her hand on her hip stopping a few feet away. Everyone was silent; the only sound the autumn wind outside and slow, deep smoky breath from Gambit. He raised his head slowly and leaned back, his glazed eyes looked board and mildly annoyed, one eyebrow cocked. He had a dark blue bandanna tied around his neck that he used on the open road to keep the dust out of his mouth, a gold crucifix peaking out from beneath. His eyes lazily drifted across the assembled faces, reading their expressions of worry, uneasiness, frustration and determination. He took a long drag from his cigarette, removing it from his mouth as he blew a smoke ring then rolled his eyes and mumbled a few curses in French. He tilted his head and fixed Cyclops with a questioning glare.
"Mon Captain," His voice echoed loudly in the silence. "Woulda thought you be glade tah get rid of dis ol'boy……….. Ain't caused you no'ting but trouble since de dey I arrived on your door step like an unwanted bastard." Gambit's eyes where on Cyclops but his gaze was distant, as if he was speaking to someone else, a man with a distinguished face and a goatee, grey eyes able to sooth like the ocean or hard like steel, piercing to the very core.
"Gambit, I don't know what you are talking about but clearly you are still suffering from the effects of the poison. Beast told us you are getting better but unless you comply with his orders,……" Cyclops was cut of by loud, abrasive laughter that seemed completely out of place.
"Comply!......Comply?............. Cyke, don't even know de meaning of de word!.............. Now if you 'scuse me, Dis Cajun got some day light to kill." He turned the key in the ignition, revving the engine but when he looked back up it died suddenly, the key switching off with the slightest telekinetic gesture from Jean. Remy looked down in surprise then jerked his head toward Jean, narrow eyes shooting daggers.
"Please my friend,…….. no one is ordering you to do anything." Storm closed the distance between them, and rest a hand on his face. "We are asking you to let us care for you and provided you a self place to recover." His eyes locked with hers and for a moment she thought he might actually listen, his shoulders sagging and his tried eyes relenting. However once Remy made up his mind, even in a delusional state, he was determined. He smiled at his beautiful sister, her eyes begging him to stay. It was hard for him to turn her down, to say no to those exotic blue orbs that held him in their gaze. He sighed and turned away shaking his head and rubbing his weary eyes.
"M'sorry Stormy." He looked back up at her with an apologetic smile. "I can't stay here,….not right now." He whispered, using the back of his fingertips to caress her jaw line.
"Where will you go Remy?" Charles asked from his place by the door, receiving surprised looks from his X-men. Gambit did not look at the Professor, or anyone else for that matter. His eyes where fixed strait ahead outside, the wind blowing the colors of fall across the driveway that lead to anywhere else.
"Everywhere,………..nowhere." His voice carried a dreamy quality, but the dream was not a pleasant one. He looked down at his spent cigarette swallowing hard as he closed his eyes against a mild bout of nausea. He took a few breaths stubbing out the butt on the bottom of his boot then, opening his eyes he flicked it with perfect accuracy at the trash bin 20 feet to his left, eyes remaining strait ahead.
"Everywhere and nowhere…….. Well sorry Sugar, but that just ain't good 'nough." Rouge said with a degree of sympathy, the pity in her eyes making him feel even worse. He looked at her, eyes darting up and down viewing her more as a potential threat then as the woman who had stolen his heart. He smirked at her statement and turned his focus back outside.
"Never is for you, ehe Chere?" His voice was harsh with bitter resentment that he didn't attempt to bite back. "Too tired to care right now,………too tired to even try and care." He admitted placing sunglasses over his blurry eyes.
"Remy,…….As your Physician I must insist that you return to the med lab,….or your own bed at least and rest until your temperature has returned to normal and the poison has completely run it's course." The normally calm and patient Hank McCoy spoke with a stern and slightly threatening tone, inciting the other X-Men to advance a few steps forward. Gambit shook his head and his bandaged fists in pure frustration.
"ENNNNGHHHHHH!..............ENOUGH!............. YOU CAN NOT KEEP GAMBIT HERE!............HE NOT YER PRISONER!" He spat the words with genuine hatred, the oppressive feeling of being held against his will tight in his chest. Everyone stopped in their tracks at the sudden out burst that carried with it a powerful empathetic wave of anger underlined with a dark fear, the likes of which only a few of the X-Men had ever experienced first hand.
"Jezz,……..what the hell was that!" Bobby exclaimed gripping his heart with a gasp. Everyone was breathing hard, eyes wide and mouths open. Wolverine was leaning against his jeep, growling as he shook his head and looked up at Remy who was folded over his bike panting, eyes shut tight. The Canadian X-Man looked over toward Bishop and Cyclops, who where equally blown back by the intensity of the blast. They shared a look, a silent knowledge of why their Cajun teammate was afraid of being locked up, of being a prisoner. They glanced over to Xavier, who with a weary sigh and a subtle nod, confirmed what they had suspected.
"You ain't a prisoner Gumbo,……….yer an X-Man!" Wolverine straitened his posture, walking toward Gambit slowly. "X-Men look out for one another. Watch each other's back and keep each other safe." He stopped next to the slouched man, who watched him with doubtful eyes, beads of sweat decorating his forehead. "Ya ain't gotta run kid." Logan whispered low, pushing the younger man's shades up, steel blue eyes locked with Remy's hellfire gaze, as he rest a hand on the other man's shoulder. For not the first time that day, Logan surprised himself, treating the Cajun like a friend instead of a two-bit piece of Bayou trash. His heart felt for the Kid, knowing that Remy was his own worst enemy. It was for that reason Wolverine had decided to cut the Cajun some slack and give his pain in the ass behavior a little consideration.
"Mercy Logan………. Mais Remy just need some time away, non?........... You understand dat don't-cha Mon amie?" His voice was a mix of calm reassurance and subtle pleading, his eyes darting from the man next to him to the others as if asking Wolverine to convince the X-Men to let him go.
"Remy,…… ya ain't right in the head." Logan sighed with frustration as he rubbed his eyes.
"Never have been,…….. never will be." He snickered. "But ya gotta let Gambit go." Remy swallowed hard, brow furled as he once again faced forward, looking like he couldn't stay still another minute. "Remy gotta be on de open road,……. can't breath,……… head so full of bull shit I can taste it!" Gambit grimaced and again fought the urge to become violently ill. Wolverine watched him with an appraising eye then sighed and turned away tossing up his hands in resignation.
"Gambit,……….What if ya get sick, or have one of em fits and we ain't around to help ya?" Rouge asked still feeling hurt from his earlier comment.
"Big boy, me……Remy can take care of his self Chere." He said softly, offering her a gentle smile as if apologizing for his remark. He turned the key in the ignition and fixed his gaze on Xavier, knowing that only on his say so was he free to go.
*You will contact us by tomorrow, just to let us know you are safe!* The projection was a mandate not a question. Charles arched his brow, fingers steepled. Remy nodded his consent understanding that if he didn't he would have a team of mutants tracking him down.
"D'accord." He smirked again turning toward Cyclops and Bishop who still held their ground. " Exscusie et Moi Mon amies." He half smiled and placed his sunglasses back on, then with a flip of the hand, gestured for them to move aside. The team leader and his protégée looked to Charles who reluctantly nodded, instantly receiving protest from Jean and Hank. Be grudgingly the X-Men stepped aside, arms crossed with a skeptical look. Gambit turned to Storm and gave her a winning grin then blew a kiss at Rouge who bit her lip and shook her head with worry, eyes begging him not to go. He looked away revving his engine again then bowed his head and was out the gauge and down the drive. Rouge ran out and took to the air to watch him go, the combination of quiet rage and heart break dragging her back to the ground where she stood with her teammates in silent dismay.
"Hope you know what yer doing Cajun!" Wolverine grunted as he chewed on his cigar, the X-men all around him on the drive way listening as the roar of Remy's Harley died away. The only sound that remained, the atum wind and the crackle of thunder as Storms eyes grew white.
"May the goddess keep you my wondering brother." Ororo whispered then turned away heading back inside, the others soon to fallow.
FIN
Hope you enjoyed the story. I am a sucker for Remy angst and X-Men love.