A/N: Thanks to reviewers and followers as always. This chapter is I guess mostly filler while I work on the following ones where I hope to bring in some more action. I hope you enjoy it anyway though.
R3mythecat: Thanks for the idea, I wasn't planning to make this story too long but now you've mentioned that I might just have to have some Sinister goings on in the following chapters. It would be great if you could turn on your pm so I could reply properly
Child's Play
It took a moment for Remy to remember where he was. He must've fallen asleep at Scott and Jeans house. Surveying the room he had woken up in he decided he liked it better than the one he slept in, in the big house. Although he was grateful for the room and the bed was soft and warm it was also big and dark and when he woke up in the night the shadows cast by the many objects in the room looked too much like creeping spectres. This room however was light and cosy, small but not claustrophobically so. Rogue was still clutched in his arms the little boy was pleased to notice. He could hear faint noises coming from downstairs and the smell of bacon wafted up to greet him. He decided he should probably go and bid good morning to his hosts, and if they gave him some of what they were cooking who was he to complain? Rubbing sleep out of his eyes with small fists he made his way to the kitchen.
Jean hummed as she set the kitchen table for three, watching her fiancé push the sizzling bacon round the pan. There was a pattering of bare feet behind her and she turned to smile at a sleepy looking Remy who stood in the doorway in yesterdays clothes clutching Rogue the alligator in one small hand. She beckoned him over and he trotted to her side happily, "hey sweetie, you sleep ok?" He nodded into her side as she put her arm around him and patted his messy bed hair. The little boy looked up at her and opened his mouth as if to say something then seemed to change his mind as he snapped his jaw shut. She quirked an eyebrow at him. he blushed and smiled sheepishly.
"Was jus' gonna say thanks for letting me stay the night, I uh I like the room you put me in." Jean was slightly puzzled at the strange remark.
"Don't you like your room at the mansion sweetie?" Remy shrugged as he sat at the table, he didn't want to admit to being scared in there at night. He knew how ridiculous it sounded, he slept in alleys and doorways regularly but was frightened by a few shadows in a big room.
"it's real nice, but it's filled with someone's things and I don' t'ink he would like it iffn he came back an' I was sleeping in his room..." He trailed off hoping Jean would see what he was hinting at. He thought Scott and Jean liked him, and maybe if he started sleeping in their small house they would get used to him more and his chances of being thrown back out would lessen, or at least be put off for a while longer. He watched Jeans eyes soften and saw her look to Scott who shrugged and went back to plating up the food. She cleared her throat.
"Well, im sure he wouldn't mind." She saw the dip in his shoulders and disappointment on his face and knew what he wanted. "But, if you feel uncomfortable there, we'd be happy to have you stay here." The smile Remy gave her made her forget for a moment that he wasn't actually a child whom they could keep. She shook the thoughts from her head, Remy wasn't a puppy and he needed to be reverted back to his adult form. That didn't mean however that she couldn't enjoy it while he was still adorable. She sat next to his as Scott brought over the plates. He ruffled Remy's hair as he set his breakfast down in front of him.
"We'll go get your stuff after this buddy and move you in. And then I thought later we could take a trip into the city, see some museums or an art gallery." Remy looked up from his food at that.
"How'd you know I like museums?" Scott drank his coffee and grinned at Jean who knew perfectly well how he knew what Remy liked.
"Oh it was just a hunch; you're a pretty smart little guy. You go to museums often." Remy looked back to his food and speared a sausage with his fork.
"Non. I try to sneak in sometimes, iffn there's a school going in, but I get caught and t'rown out usually. Don' bother no more." his tone said clearly that this conversation was over so Scott just nodded sombrely and told Remy that no one would throw him out this time and that if they tried he would blast them. Jean balked at that and smacked his arm; Remy laughed which had been his intention.
While collecting Remy's clothes, Scott's plans for the day were altered when the professor informed the team that they were needed in the city. Some mad scientist's beast were attacking midtown again. And since Xavier was trying to build the reputation of the X Men as good guys they were going to help the fight and clean up. Although their presence was never requested there were those in the media and super hero community who were quick to point out their absence from disasters not related to mutants. Usually the same people who, when they did come to help, insisted that they were not needed and should stick to mutant affairs only.
With the others gone the mansion was suddenly very quiet to young Remy. He had been left alone with the professor which unnerved him somewhat. He had spent little time in the older man's company and wasn't quite sure what to make of him. Sticking his head through the open doorway of the library Remy found the man in question, reading an old looking book. He looked awfully calm for a man whose entire household had just up and left on a moment's notice and although Remy didn't know exactly where they had gone he was sure it must be something pretty important for Scott to cancel their plans, the man had been so excited about their planned trip and had seemed truly sad when he knelt in front of the young boy to tell him they couldn't go today, that 'something' had come up. The wheelchair bound man looked up from his book when Remy touched the door and made it squeak. He didn't seem angry at the interruption so the boy entered the room and approached him.
Charles smiled at the wary boy as he shuffled towards him. "Hello, Remy." The now almost shy boy replied quietly.
"Bonjour." Charles beckoned him closer and patted him lightly on the shoulder, it was obvious the boy knew something was up but, he didn't wish to pry and have him thinking more about the team's whereabouts. He instead showed him the book he was reading.
"Remy, have you ever heard of a man called Long John Silver?" at the boys shake of the head and questioning look the professors smile widened. "Well, then take a seat and let me read you a story."
Scott was glad to be home. The battle hadn't been particularly strenuous – not when you had faced magneto or Sabretooth anyway – but the guilt of leaving cancelling on Remy had weighed in him throughout, the boy probably thought they had run out on him and were never coming back. At his age Scott would have thought the same. The cloud hanging over him hadn't been helped by having to go through the pleasantries with the other super hero types who had decided to help clear out the strange giant hamster like creatures of midtown. Sure Captain America had shaken his hand and said "good job son." – Which, actually really grated because, really? He may have been frozen in the ice for however long and technically be about ninety but in reality he had live only a couple more years on this earth than Scott- Iron man had been an asshole, which didn't really bother Scott all that much because, hey, at least he was an asshole to everybody, not just mutants. Of course the FF had made an appearance too and bobby had disappeared with the Human Torch and Spidey to God knows where and now he thought about it were they supposed to have waited to give him a ride back to the mansion? Never mind Scott thought to himself as he changed into civilian clothes before heading upstairs his mind focusing on how he was going to make up for deserting poor Remy to a boring day with the professor. He loved the man like a father but, even Scott had to admit he could be pretty dry at times and surely to a little kid it was even worse. He probably had him helping to file their tax return or something. So, yes Scott had expected to return to find a bored Remy who wanted nothing to do with him. He did not expect to return him to find a sheet with a skull and crossbones drawn on it hanging from the banister. And he certainly didn't expect to find his mentor barking orders to raise the sail - while sporting a rakish drawn on goatee and card board captains hat – to their de-aged comrade, who bore a similar drawn on beard along with what he assumed to be a scar drawn on in the same substance.
Rogue couldn't stifle the laugh that came up as Remy raced down the stairs in reply to 'Captain Xavier's' orders shouting a gleeful "aye aye mon capitain!" She especially liked the touch of one of Betsy's scarves tied around the small boys head; she made a note to herself to see if the older Remy also liked to play dress up. Remy stopped in his game for a moment as the team came into his view then bounded toward them with card board sword held aloft. "Avast yea scurvy dogs! Capitain, I t'ink we t'row dese stowaways in de bring, non?"
