Anna finally worked up the nerve to speak with Remy a few days after they back from Paris. She went right up to him, talking quickly so he couldn't say anything or walk away.
"Remy, I know I messed up sugah, but with what my mother and Emma did. You can't blame me for falling into their trap. It was vicious and manipulative, and we just failed to see it. We love each other...
"It almost didn't matter, did it, Anna?"
"...What?"
"We almost beat them. After the kiss drained me, you decided to call off the wedding. But love changed your mind. You were going to marry me."
"What are you saying?"
"One mistake, just one, and it all fell apart. My insecurity. When Logan went to help you, and I told him to be careful not to touch your skin. In that instant, you realized my fear, that it was just me...So you let...you thought you could touch him and not me...Remy's voice ached of despair, his eyes glistened, he shook his head backing away from her touch.
"Je ne peux plus faire ça Anna."Remy sighed
"I love you, Ça ne changera jamais mais...but this is killing me."
"We can talk about it, we can get together tonight..."
"I am going out tonight, I have a date."
"Wha...?"Anna whispered, utterly stunned.
"I am not doing this to hurt you, I just think we need to move on. Not keep repeating the same thing."
"...You waited for me...Now I'll wait for you."Anna said, tears flowing down her face.
"That is a lonely road, Anna. I do not recommend it."
/
48 days later
She walked through the door to the school. Now she didn't know where she stood. Since he told her he was going to start dating again. She found out from Natasha that it was an informant for SHIELD that had asked Remy out. According to her, she was a prima ballerina and a notorious man-eater. Natasha said she'd usually discarded men after about a month. Anna shook her head, annoyed that Nat thought that'd make her feel better. She figured it'd take her a least an extra week or more to tire of Remy. Anna had cautiously stayed away.
So now there was no telling if he was still being chewed up by the man-eater. Or if he was outright now finding some new hottie to forget his troubles.
"Hi, Anna, what's wrong with you?" Bobby asked as he put a leash on his golden retriever.
She realized she was standing in the doorway, staring at nothing. She came in, slamming the door harder than she meant to.
"Oh nothing, just picturing whatever slut Remy's dating right now."
"Dating? Who's Gambit dating?"
"Last I heard he was going out with that prima ballerina."
"Man, you are out of the loop, he stood her up. Boy was she pissed."
"Wait, so he hasn't been going out?"
"Not unless you count Laura."
"Wait, when did you get a dog?"
/
Those 48 days
Remy headed downstairs, adjusting his black tie. He was about to leave to pick up his date at a hotel. He hurried past the media room when he heard laughter. Pausing to back up, he looked in the media room and saw Logan, Ororo, and Laura.
"Bonjour mon amis."
"Oh, hey, Gumbo."
"Qu'est-ce que tu fais?"
"We're about to watch a movie, we also got a pizza coming."
Remy's phone buzzed. He looked down, clicked it off, and sat down with his friends.
Remy has been sitting with us for an hour.
"Don't ya have a date Gumbo?" Logan takes the words right out of my mouth.
"Yeah." He says walking out the room without a word.
I was offended he left without saying bye, but he came back minutes later.
"Taken care of," Remy says sitting back down with us.
An hour later
I hear Bobby talking to someone I don't know. They are headed this way.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I saw him in here. Right, this way. Remy, there's someone here to..
Humph!
Bobby's eyes went wide as Remy hit the floor.
I jumped up but realized it wasn't a real attack.
"Nobody stands me up."
I reached down to help Remy up as he still clutches his groin.
/
Remy and I have just finished a movie at the theatre and exited the backway into the ally.
"I smell blood."
He looked around. My attention turned to the dumpster as I heard a small noise coming from underneath it. He leaned down then without any concern for his clothes lay down, reaching for something.
"It's ok, don't be afraid."
I walked over curiously, knowing he wasn't talking to me.
"It's ok petit. I got you."
When he got up, he was cradling something in his arms.
I looked up over his shoulder and saw a tiny black and white kitten. It was trembling and definitely the source of the blood.
He cradled it and gently stroked its head. The kitten let out weak mews. It looked so scared and frail I couldn't help but feel bad for it and be reminded.
"Weapon X gave me a puppy when I was a kid. Out of nowhere, he was the sweetest thing I'd ever known. He jumped on me and just kept licking my face. When I pet him, he fell asleep in my arms. It was the first time I ever felt love...Then they told me to kill him. When I refused, they said that they would make him suffer unless I did.
I held him in my arms, and when my claws went through him, he let out a cry. He trusted me, and I still made him suffer.
Remy looked at me. The anguish on his face no doubt matched mine. He put his arm around me, kissing my head.
"That was not your fault Laura. They were trying to make you into something you're not. They failed."
He handed me the kitten and his coat to wrap it in.
"He's not going to die, Laura."
Only a few minutes later, a Uber arrived and drove us to a veterinary clinic.
The place was empty. A young woman came up to us her name tag said Dafane.
"We found this Lil guy. He looks pretty bad."
"Ok, let's take him to the back."
We watched as she gently wiped the kitten clean, examined, and applied medicine to his wounds. We were waiting twenty minutes until she spoke with us.
"Well, I've cleaned his wound and given him antibiotics to prevent infection. But in his fragile state, I'm afraid there isn't much more I can do.
/
Hank had finally fallen asleep. All-day long, he'd been helping students with physics and math. He also had papers to grade, so he was beat.
Phone Buzz
He shot up at the sound of his cell phone going off on his bedside table.
"Mmm?" he wondered, fumbling for the phone.
"Yes? Oh no, where? Ok, I'll be right there."
Beast showed up with the stasis bed fifteen minutes later.
"Where's the patient?"
We took Hank to the back and led him to the kitten.
"You brought me here for a cat?" He said with a face, not unlike Logan's resting one.
Remy picked up the small bed, turning it, so Hank was face to face with it. And his expression softened.
"Please, Hank, help us save him sil vous plait."
Hank smiled softly. "Of course, my friend.
/
Back at the med lab, Remy and I shadowed Hank. We were watching him treat our new friend. We asked again and again if we could help. At first, he had us fetch things for him, but soon we were mostly in his way. So he took us over to a corner and told us to sit.
"Don't look so sad, Laura. He's going to make it, and when he does, you and me will make him the most spoiled cat in the world."
"You mean buy him toys and stuff?"
"Yeah, a comfy bed and the best food."
We spent the next ten minutes ordering a bunch of cat stuff. I just hoped he would be able to use it.
"You know we forgot the most important thing."
"I can't imagine there's anything left."
"He needs a name, can you think of a good one?"
I never told Remy about how my mother read Pinocchio to me when I was young. Somehow it came up with Sean, and he showed me the cartoon movie one night.
It had a kitten that looked like this one.
"Figaro."
"Figaro?" Remy considered smiling. "Tres Bien, you like that Lil one?" He said, reaching over and gently petting Figaro with one finger.
For the next week, we practically lived in the med bay. Taking turns feeding Figaro, and making sure he got all the help he needed.
One day we were asleep sitting together on the floor. We were both awakened by movement. Figaro was pawing at Remy's dangling hair, we looked at each other and laughed. I picked up one of the toys we'd ordered and gently shook it, making it jingle. Figaro turned and pounced on it.
A week later.
The Avengers told me to stay here, Wade and Anna are out gathering intel for an upcoming mission. Nessa is here while Wade is gone. She agreed to train with Hope, she says so they'll leave Anna alone. Though I'm pretty sure Anna would just beat the crap out of them. Wade insisted that Hope come here to train with her. We are essentially making sure the Utopians don't try anything on Vanessa like they did to Anna.
Logan and Ororo were having the usual movie night with us, while Figaro moved back and forth from me to Remy. He couldn't seem to pick which one of us he wanted to cuddle.
"Viens ici Figaro." Remy smiled, picking him up.
Then coming over to sit by me, pulling me close. Figaro quickly curled into a ball in the small spot between us.
Halfway through the movie, Remy's cell buzzed. "Oui? Mmhmm." Remy said, trying to be quite.
"Take it outside, Gumbo!" Logan yelled.
Remy sighed and carefully got up.
Figaro lifted his head with his eyes still closed and mewed in protest. I pet his head, and he went back to sleep.
A few minutes later, Remy came and sat back down with us.
"Something important?"
"Oui."
"..."
"Are you going to tell me?"
"Later." He said with a smile.
We drove into the city the next day. He still hadn't told me why. But I recognized the animal clinic where we took Figaro.
Dafne smiled when she saw us.
"So how can we help you?" Remy asked her.
"I help out an animal shelter doing vaccines, spays, and neuters. They are trying to upgrade to a no-kill shelter, but breeders have been flooding the streets with unwanted kittens.
Sometimes they send some here as a stay of execution. To see if they have better luck here where there won't be so much competition. But this little guy is so feisty, he keeps bitting and scratching everyone who tries to touch him. I thought of you two because you were so compassionate with that stray kitten.
Remy and I look at each other.
"Let's see him."
She took us to a room with a couple of cat trees and a couch.
We catch a glimpse of him before he bolts under the couch.
"Mind if we get to know him?"
"Please, take all the time you need."
She said, closing the door as she left. We sat close, trying to coax him over to us. His arm would spring out to scratch us, or he would come out, wrap all his limbs around one of our arms and bite all around it.
Finally, he came out, and we got a good look at him.
He is bigger than Figaro, but also scrawny. He is snow-white, with one vibrant blue eye and the other is green.
Remy and I smile at each other.
"He's quite the little devil. Maybe we should name him Diablo Le Blanc?"
"Bit of a mouth full, Chere. How about Lucifer?"
I nod. "You like that, Lucifer? I say as he comes out, then jump attacks my arm.
"Lucifer, it is."
At this point, Dafne comes back into the room.
"We'll take him."
/
When we get home, and Lucifer sees Figaro, he immediately hisses and makes noises I didn't know cats made. They were in the kitchen, so we separated them. Lucifer made his way over to Figaro. They curiously sniffed each other. In his haste to reward the good behavior, Remy grabbed a plate of sushi. He gave them each a piece. We continued the positive reinforcement, Figaro didn't need it. Lucifer, however, caught on to the fact that if he never attacked Figaro, we would stop giving treats when he was nice. So this went on for a while, to add to Lucifer's attitude when the sushi ran out. So did the good behavior, he did not accept kitten treats as a substitute.
Remy and I sighed.
/
The next week we spent together most of the time. I've been staying at my apartment, which is walking distance to Remy's. We were working on leash training Figaro. He wanted to see what was outside, and Remy and I both felt safer having him on the leash.
Lucifer, of course, wasn't having it. He bit either one of us who tried to put a harness on him. Not even the best sushi could bribe him.
It worked out, though. When we took Figaro for walks, Lucifer liked to perch on Remy's shoulder. He sits there with a judgemental regal attitude, observing the absurdity of us his servants. He doesn't hop down very much, and Remy and I keep treats ready in case he does.
Remy seems to be doing better, the boys have kept us busy, and we have fun taking care of them.
/
We had to take Figaro back to the vet to get another vaccination. The usually empty kennels each had two kittens.
Remy walks over to Dafne, who looks like she hasn't had a break in all day.
"Dafne, what happened?"
"The shelters are beyond capacity. I've taken as many as I can. There are still more at the shelters that have nowhere to go. Do you guys know anyone else who wants to adopt some cats or dogs?"
After renting a truck, we started the unloading, taking the crates to an unused room in the lower levels. Somehow Kitty Pryde figured out what was going on, and she stood. Waiting in a hallway.
"Remy, I know what you're up to, there is no way I'm going to allow you to bring them in here."
The two of us share a look, place the crate down, and then pull out a few kittens."
"Awwww! My God! They are sooo cute."She squealed as they climbed on her licking her face.
/
We had to repeat this scenario again when we returned with larger crates.
"You guys are crazy! Cats were one thing, but a bunch of dogs? No way! No way!"
She yelled even as we pull out a few of the fluffy ones.
"Oh my God, those are soo cute!" Bobby screamed from behind her.
"Come ere, boy! Come ere!"
They eagerly ran over to Bobby, a few of them stopped to jump on Kitty.
"Ahhh!, shoo go on shoo, Ahh, fine! You guys better deal with this!." She turned incorporeal and ran off.
We put the dogs in one room and the cats in another.
Then we unloaded the supplies we bought for them.
Most of the student's faces light up when they see the animals. We let them play with the cats, then take them to meet the dogs. They all agree to help set up the indoor and outdoor areas for them.
Bobby, Ororo, and Logan help, so it does not take long. Then we work on getting them all used to each other. Some of the cats don't like dogs, but they didn't fight. Some of the students pick out pets, Bobby tries to take three, but Kitty insists he just takes one.
When we were going to head back to Remy's apartment, Lucifer and Figaro were asleep cuddled with an orange kitten. We picked them up, and he got up, walking after us meowing frantically.
Lucifer jumped out of my hands and started playing with the orange kitten. Remy sighed and picked them both up.
"So, what should we name this one?"
"You pick."
"I've always liked Oliver."
With that, the five of us went home.
/
Remy sleeps more than usual, and still only picks at his food. It started to worry me, so I stopped and picked something up on the way to his apartment one night.
"Hey, Laura." He greets me with a hug.
"I picked something up for you, come here," I say, deciding there is no good way to do this.
He smiles until I pull the scale out of my bag.
"Really?"He complains.
"I just think you should check."
"I knew you smelled them."
"What?"
"The Oreos I binged last week, I bought the bags intending to make them last until Sunday. And they were gone by Wednesday. Merdre, I didn't think it'd be noticeable." He pouts, running his hands over his toned abs.
"No jackass, despite your cookie binge, I think you've lost weight again. How much did you weight after you suit fitting?" I ask, avoiding the word wedding."
"172"
"Ok, so get on, let's see."
He stood, looking irritated with me until the cats ganged up on his leg, wanting their dinner.
"Sigh, You are such a pain."
"tu m'aimes de toute façon."
"Yeah, yeah."He mumbles stepping on the scale."161!?"
"See?"
"Merde!" He exclaimed, realizing how much his clothes hung on him.
He walked away, discarding his shirt, he went to his room to look in a mirror.
"I'm scrawny."He sighs.
"Don't be ridiculous, you're fine," I say, looking at him, he really is too. His muscles have not lessened much, he does look a bit too thin if he lost more then I think he might look "scrawny."
He sighs I hate trying to gain weight, I have to eat so much."
"Go on you make the boys their dinner, and I'll make ours."
"You're gonna co..."
I cut him off by holding up my cell.
"Ah."He laughs.
/
I ordered enough Chinese food for ten, Wade is back and coming over with the others, I am told he can be a pig.
The six of us sit together at the table.
"So Dumbass how'd the mission go."
"Well, first off Logan I would appreciate it if you would call me by my given name. Wade, but since you are so hostile you can call me Agent Wilson, or my notorious name Deadpool aka Merc with a mouth. Or my sex name Multi French Tickler, or my porn name Ryan Reynolds.
"Wade!"
"Yes Logan, what was the question again?"
"The mission."
"Oh yes, that's classified until tomorrow when you're when you and Laura are briefed. Sorry, babe you and the other ladies aren't going on this one."
Remy was about to say something but started to cough.
"I was kidding, come down jeez. They didn't want you to go, but Anna stood up for you so you'll be on her team."
Remy went and got a glass of water.
"Anything else you can tell us, Bub?"
"Hmm? Dammit! No nothing else..."
Remy spit out his water coughing more violently.
"Jeez learn to breathe Remy it's not that hard anyway what were we talking about?"
"The mission."
"Right."
40 minutes later.
"So that's it in a nutshell."
Nessa sat next to him, head in hands. Then looked up at him shaking her head.
"Wade."
"Yes, my sexy smurf?"
She said nothing just smiled slyly at him.
"God Dammit!"
/
With Wade here the couch is crowded, Remy and I are squished together. He leans back, putting his arm around me, and I am resting in the curve of his shoulder and chest. For a brief moment, discomfort hits me. But it is quickly abandoned as the warmth from his body covers my own. I hear his relaxed breathing, I feel his heartbeat against my face—the need to move away completely gone. No one could move me if they tried.
The movie Wade and Nessa picked starts up. My eyes are heavy, and I feel like I'm watching a dream. But I try to watch.
It's about a young woman. She doesn't like her life, A mysterious man takes her away to a fantasy world, and of course, she wants back to her original one. There is a scene where a soft song plays, and they dance, I don't remember anymore.
/
I wake up to tickling on my nose. It's Figaro's tail, he's lying on Remy snuggled next to me. I look around the movies over. Everyone has left, Remy is asleep under me. I slowly raise my head, carefully removing myself from the couch. Trying not to make a sound or disturb Figaro just as I am sitting up.
"It's late, Petite, you don't have to leave," Remy says without opening his eyes. He reaches out, hugging me as he yawns. "You can sleep in my bed. I stay here."
Even though he said this, he continued holding me, and soon my eyes became heavy again.
/
This became our normal, taking the kittens to the school. Helping the students groom and train the rest of the animals.
At night we either stayed at the school with the boys having our movie night there. Or we took them home, and the others came over here.
After that one night, I have continued to stay over. Remy always tells me I can take his room, but we always crash on the couch together with the kittens.
/
After a long day of taking care of the animals with the students, we decide to stay at the school. It is still early and we have finished cleaning the indoor playroom.
"What should we do now?"
He lunges back a step extending his hand to me."Let's dance."
The boys are all snuggled together, sleeping with their new brother.
The music starts and I hesitantly take Remy's hand again.
He dances as if it's a natural as walking, I have difficulty following him at first. But soon it just becomes fun. We move in exaggerated haughtiness for the tango, slither around one another for the samba, and I am thrown, flipped, and swung around as we swing.
The playlist stops. We've been at it for hours.
"What now?" I ask
"I'll put it on random." He says, heading over to his phone.
My heart crashes, the song that fate picked, I hadn't heard it in almost a year. After Remy took me to see this band, I listened to it several times. It always made me think of Remy and how I truly felt about him. So I took it off my phone and forgot about it.
I almost shake as Remy takes my hands and pulls me to him. A slow dance is really the only way you can dance to this song.
I now understand the frustration Remy has been experiencing with music. It's almost as if some maniacal being has been selecting appropriate songs for our situations just to torture and manipulate us.
I don't want to be your friend
I just want to be your lover
No matter how it ends
No matter how it starts
Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
Fall off the table
Get swept under
Denial, denial
I look up at Remy,
There's something there,...he feels it...what I'm feeling. Somehow...
...I can tell.
His hand comes up, the back of it gently brushes against my cheek. He leans down closer to me. His hair spills over one side of his face.
I began to shake losing all strength in my legs, which almost fall out from under me when soft, warm lips press against mine.
My eyes flutter closed against my will after I notice his have as well.
We stay this way as the song continues, or maybe it's over. I could care less. The tender caress of his lips against mine ends. He is pulling back, my eyes open, his remain closed.
He sighs, and his eyes open as if he's waking from a dream.
He looks at me, his eyes wandering over my face. I still can't bring myself to move, I am frozen by the intensity of those crimson orbs.
He leans forward once again both our lips parting...
"Hey Laura, you parked your bike behind my..."Logan stops without finishing. He backs up out the door.
My eyes are wide, and I look back over at Remy. His gentle demon eyes have a hint of confusion.
"Go ahead, Laura, I'm going to take the kittens up."
He backs away towards the kittens.
/
Logan sat with his back toward the door, he no longer had the desire to go anywhere.
He heard the steps stomping in his direction, he ignored his involuntary defensive sense.
Whack!
"Oww."Logan said, his apprehension fading as he slowly realized he was not going to be destroyed.
/
Remy sighed, Laura had gone to the Avengers Tower, to prepare for the upcoming mission.
They hadn't talked about...the other day, he didn't know what he could say. He hadn't meant to kiss her. Well, he had, but it was initially just a kiss to show he appreciated her, loved having her with him. Working together, hanging out with friends to watch films. Watching her enjoy things, taking care of the cats together.
But when he felt her lips against his, something changed.
He didn't want to let her go. It was not that he felt a passionate urge from the kiss. Dancing with her, seeing the light behind her jade eyes, watching her smile. The kiss simply felt right.
He knew he loved her. But could he be in love with her?
After Halloween, he realized that he could have been happy with her. Two things kept those thoughts "what ifs." First, obviously Anna. Though as much as he did still love her, he had been all in for the wedding. That was the last hand he had left to play.
Second...Remy leaned down to give the kittens their food. A wave of dizziness hit him when he stood, so he grabbed the counter.
The second was Laura's age, she was still so young, and he wasn't.
She loved him but...could...that mean...'
THUD!
Figaro jumped at the sound, Lucifer and Oliver both stopped eating. Lucifer walked over to Remy lying on the floor, the others followed and rubbed up against him.
Trying to get his attention...But he wouldn't move.