Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters except SwitchBlade
and her family. (So please ask when you want to use them!!) PLEASE do not sue me. I have no money. This story was purely out of curiosity to see how badly people think I write… (Damn!) I wish I owned Gambit… I don't… please don't hurt me for using him too much…
CHAPTER FIVE
NEW YORK, CHARLESTON HOTEL, 11:54 PM, NOV 3
The man that had collapsed on the King sized bed tossed
in his sleep, unusual for him. He could usually crawl up in a corner and fall asleep. He was, after all, a thief. But after the girl had mentioned Sinister he could not stop thinking about him. The experiments… Gambit began to dream.
In his dream his lips were pressed on someone else's… He couldn't see whose… and then there was a scream and his lips were torn from hers. He could hear Sinister laughing but he couldn't see anything. Three words that Sinister said echoed in his mind, Remember our deal? The woman screamed again. "Remy…" A voice wailed. A comic book fluttered in front of his mind and he reached out to grab it, but it was out of his reach as was the woman's face… There was a sharp pain in his neck, like a bullet and then he could see Aphrodite's face… lips parted… blood running down the side of her mouth… eyes wide open and still unseeing.
Gambit screamed.
Not far away, Aphrodite was dreaming also.
In her dream she was having her first kiss.
From who she could not see. And then she was pulled away. She screamed as she felt her ribs crack. The man called Sinister laughed as he pulled Remy's head back and bit into his neck.
His head came dripping with blood and torn skin…
He laughed as he pulled Aphrodite toward him and kissed her viciously… biting at the same time… she pulled away in pain and screamed, then calling Remy's name, fell. She saw him standing over her his lips saying her name softly and then he screamed…
Aphrodite screamed as she sat up in her bed. At first she was confused as she viewed the room's contents and then she relaxed, sinking back into her bed. She couldn't go to sleep. She rubbed her neck and suddenly wished Remy was here.
She got up and went out on the porch. Her oversized T-shirt that she had used for pajamas over her knees. She sat on the rocking chair outside and watched the sun come up in a different time. It was beautiful.
Aphrodite pulled the blanket closer to herself.
"Chere?" Aphrodite fell out of her chair. She looked wildly around until she found the culprit. She sighed in relief as she studied her hands, which she found were sporting blades again. "Oh I'm so glad it's you…" Gambit smiled weakly. "Thank you 'Dite." He helped her off the porch and the sat down on the steps together.
"I'm sorry I talked about him." Aphrodite said suddenly. "I had nightmares." She said simply.
"Are you alright den chere?"
She thought for a second then answered hesitantly. "No. No I'm not."
Gambit put his arm around her and this time she didn't start.
She leaned against him and they watched the city come to life.
When Remy left, it was almost 6:00 and I could here my parents waking up. It was nice just sitting with him there though. We didn't say anything, but it was still nice.
*He's a little to old for you honey…*,I thought as I went into the kitchen to eat breakfast, after putting on my clothes.
"Where were you last night?" Trevor said in a low voice.
I looked up startled. "I'm not gonna tell, but where were you?" his twelve year old face staring at me as I sighed. "Yeah, please don't. I was out with a guy." His eyebrow raised.
"So… finally found a guy who deserves to be in your presence?" He sneered. I did not know what kind of person I was before I came, but I didn't sound nice.
My father stormed into the room, as I finished packing my bag with my textbooks.
"What is the meaning of this?!" He said as he held up Gambit's coat.
*That's not good…* I thought as I stumbled for an answer.
"Uh, I got cold when I walked home so he gave his coat to me?" I guessed.
His face was still angry. "No, this." He said as he pulled out a phone number labeled: Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
"Now that, is the code name for the Xmen's lair. Now what were you doing with a man who has the number for that school? And speaking of which, he is a man! Not a teen like you Aphrodite! A man. And I don't think you should see him anymore." He finished, crossing his arms.
"He's a mutant isn't he? And your going out with a mutant while I'm in such good terms with the F.O.H? I can't believe you."
He growled at me. My mother and Trevor stood in the doorway, watching and waiting for him to finish.
*Uh Oh…*
"Well?" He stepped across the space between us and slapped me. "Tell ME!!!" His eyes seemed to bore into me as I lay on the floor, holding my face. * I just had to be sent forward to be with an abusive father didn't I?* I groaned and the angry man pulled me up off the floor by my hair.
" I can't tell you Daddy." I gasped out. I wasn't going to give away Gambit just like that.
His hand clenched and I could see what was coming. I closed my eyes. SOCK, and I was seeing colors. Actually I wasn't seeing anything cause' he had punched me in the eye. "Well, my girl…" He said surprisingly soft. "You're coming to be useful after all. He'll tell you where he lives. Maybe he already has. But you'll tell me won't you?" I grabbed Remy's coat and stumbled out the door.
I cried softly on my way to school. My eye hurt like hell and I had two choices.
1. Give away at least five mutants to my father who would die because of me. Including Remy. I would be as bad as my father.
2. I would run away. To where? Who knows.
I wiped my eyes and flinched when my hand grazed my left, swollen eye.
"Owww…"
I had reached the school by this time and I wished for a makeup kit to make this eye look a little better. Probably looking a little blue by now. I looked around in my bag until I found some cover-up and blush.
I heard the bell ring and I hurried into the bathroom. Yup a real black and blue. A dabbed cover-up carefully on top of the really colorful parts.
School was fine, normal if you will. A few curios looks from my friends and teachers, but they didn't ask. My eye still hurt. That asshole. Abusing his own daughter cause' she doesn't wanna kill people.
I walked out on the schoolyard and decided going home wouldn't be fun right now. Or very wise. Gambit's coat was in my bag and so I hoped I would see him again. I leaned against a tree near the school and slid down to sit up against it.
I missed my own school… and my wonderful mother and father who didn't hit their daughters.
I started to rub off the makeup on my eye. When I got home at least he would see what he had done. I started to cry softly as my eye started to bleed from a little cut one of his rings had given me below my eye.
I put my heads in my hands and sobbed, my shoulders heaving.
This was not fair.
Hands came from behind me to massage my shoulders and Remy sat down beside me with his arm sliding around me. " Now chere, why you cryin' petite? I hid my face from him and hoped he wouldn't make me look at him. "Y-your coats in my bag…" I said through my hands.
He used his finger to lift my face to look at him.
He gasped. "Who did dis to you?" He said in horror.
"No one you know." I said, no telling what anyone would do to my dad if they found out he hit his daughter.
"Non, tell Gambit chere." He whispered firmly as he dabbed my eye with a tissue he found in my bag. I didn't care what anyone did to that jerk I called my father.
"M-My Daddy." I couldn't stop the childish word from spilling from my lips but I said it anyway.
"H-He found the number in your coat and he thinks, he knows, you're a m-mutant Remy. He wanted me to make you tell me where you all lived."
Remy looked angry. "You said non petite?"
I nodded miserably. Remy hugged me until I stopped shaking and crying. "I don't know if I should go back or not Remy…I don't know if he hurts my mom and he'll kill me if he knows I'm a mutant… Like all the others…" I started to cry again and Remy shook me softly. "I don't hate you an' I'm not gonna kill you chere. I'll help you."
And I believed him.
CHAPTER SIX
NEW YORK, APHRODITE'S HOUSE, 9:45 PM, NOV 4
We went back to 'dite's place first to pick up all her clothes that she needed and to say goodbye to her mother or brother at least. I almost hoped dat her dad would be dere so I could kick his ass, and show him what he did ta his daughter.
I waited outside her house cause' her dad's car wasn't there and she had ta say goodbye to her brother an' mother privately. All de sudden I hear this shot and a scream. I ran in the house to find 'dite lookin' to tear her daddy's heart out. She had her switchblades out again and was cutting up her daddy's shoulder fine. There was a bullet hole in one of the cupboards and I guessed it was meant for de girl. I didn't stop to think how her father had gotten there until I noticed there were other men in de kitchen also. He must have called the others in de F.O.H to come an' kill 'is daughter.
"Bastard…" I muttered as I took out a few of the men with my cards. "'Dite lets get outta here mon amie!" All I heard from her was an enraged scream as her Dad flung her to the floor and aimed his gun. I wasn't fast enough to stop de bullet from hitting her shoulder. It would have hit her full in the chest but she rolled away. She screamed and blood poured from her shoulder as her daddy aimed to kill.
I slid across the room and grabbed 'Dite to my chest. "I gotcha 'Dite… I said as I ran out of the house with bullets practically skinning my ankles. I slung her across my bike and started off down the street. I heard the sound off cars starting and I knew dey were coming after us. I slid into an alley and waited 'till dey were past before speeding off in de other direction, toward de hotel I was staying in at da moment.
"'Dite? Co'mon mon chere… wake up…" I shook the girl carefully when we had reached the parking lot of the Charleston. "Remy…? My shoulder hurts like hell." I chuckled as I gathered her up in my arms. "It would petite, especially since you've been shot. Now when did you start getting inta trouble like dis?" The girl opened her eyes halfway and looked up at me. "Ever since I talked to… Sinister." I practically dropped her when I heard her whisper that name.
I laid her gently on one of the twin beds and flopped down on de other one before getting up to get bandages from the bathroom.
"Now you okay wit de idea of me checkin you out for cuts chere? You have ta take off your shirt I'm afraid."
She laughed as she peeled her shirt painfully off. "I trust you not to take advantage of me."
She didn' have anyting too serious. The bullet had merely grazed her shoulder. She flinched as I put de washcloth on her shoulder. "Now what about your hands mon petite?" I asked her turning them over curiously. "Nothing. There's nothing wrong. There only scars." She said quickly, obviously hiding something. I had remembered when she said she was a mutant. I didn' know what her powers were though, other than her switchblades. Her knives and the backs of her hands bleeding had something to do with Sinister. Wolverine's hands didn' bleed when his claws came out. I 'cided to try something.
"Chere… how did you feel when your daddy was 'bout to shoot you?" Her eyes looked up at me in anger. "Now Gambit how do you think I felt? Loved?" She laughed bitterly and I watched her hands. "I wished I could help mutants and now I am one so I have no choice!" Her hands were beginning to bleed from her scars. "I hate my dad. My own father!" Metal was beginning to emerge from the scars on her hands and I could see the switchblades coming from her hand. She stopped talking and seemed to notice were my eyes were going. She glanced down also and gasped at de now fully emerged switchblades on her hands.
She tugged at one with her hand and it didn't come off. They were obviously stuck in her skin, but out 'nouf to do damage ta anyone who decided to hurt her. "Can you make them come out any other place you tink chere?" The switchblades disappeared under her skin. "I dunno. Sorry Remy, Gambit. I'm really tired. I want to thank you though. For saving my life." I smiled. Finally I earn her trust. Usually doesn't take me as long as dat ta win a girl's trust. She's a tough girl though. I looked at her affectionately as I said, "Well, now we're even chere."
I looked at her shoulder wound again before getting up to take a shower. Her daddy was either drunk or de worst shot I may have ever met. As I walked to the bathroom and started the shower I thought about what she had said about Sinister. Everyting had been bad ever since she met Sinister.
Well, he has that way on people.
He's had that way on Gambit ever since he met him eh?
CHAPTER SEVEN
SINISTER'S LAB, 1:00 AM, NOV 4
The tall man by the window stood and put his hands on the sill. He dug his fingers into the wood and dug up a few chunks. "It's time for Aphrodite to repay me for her favor. And Remy, ah my favorite experiment, you my boy, will never leave my side again."
The man laughed maniacally. He turned to the patient on the lab bed.
"Now we'll have to be rid of you soon. These beds will be needed for others. Namely the Xmen." The patient struggled against the bonds that held him.
Sinister leered at him and picked up a shot from the steel table nearby. "We'll see how you like this then won't we?" He laughed quietly.
A tall stout man entered the room and coughed. "Sinister? We've found them."
Sinister smiled. "Good Sabretooth. Where? We'll find them. Or you'll find them won't you? I want the girl and the man alive. Anyone who gets in your way you're free to kill. If the Xmen interfere… I want them dead or alive. Now go."
*My father had hit me all right. * I thought as Gambit dabbed alcohol on my shoulder. Just nicked me though. I winced as I felt the cloth touch an extremely tender part of my shoulder. "You okay dere chere?" "I'm-ow-fine. I've just never been shot before. Kinda an experience you never want to have happen again." Remy chuckled as he bandaged my shoulder with cloth he had gotten from the clerk downstairs.
"You go to sleep 'dite. I'm goin' ta go take a shower, get all clean eh?" He disappeared into the bathroom and I could hear the shower running.
I lay down carefully on the bed and closed my eyes. I didn't need to get changed; I was dead tired already.
As I drifted off my mind went over what had happened at my house. I had gone in to find my parents sitting down at the table, with my little brother looking scared and frightened between them. I sat down with them at the table and started to tell them I had to leave and that I still loved them, the speech I had gone over so many times as I was walking up the front steps.
I could tell something was wrong. By the way my brother kept looking over his shoulder meanfully, to my mother not meeting my gaze.
I looked slowly over my shoulder to find two huge men standing over me, along with my father. I snarled and my blades emerged. My mother, at the last second reached over the table and dragged me to her side. My father being the bastard that he was, hit her to the ground and shot his gun at me. *My own father!*, I remember thinking at that exact moment.
I leapt at him in a rage, screaming, seeing my mother huddled on the floor. And then Gambit came.
He was a fighting machine, trained for action that I seemed to be running into a lot these days. His cards flew around the room, exploding in the men's faces with deadly accuracy. The energy glowed in his eyes like fire. And I was glad he was there.
My father swung me off his back and pounded me into the floor. He raised his gun and I closed my eyes. And rolled out of the way. At least partly. I remember a blinding tearing pain. My first gunshot wound. And then I sort of blanked out. I remember Gambit scooping me up, my knight in a trench coat.
*This never would have happened were it not for Sinister. I never would have endangered Gambit. But then, I never would have met Gambit…*
I shook my head. He was way out of my league. A Xmen, (he had told me a few things last night when we were on the porch.) and an adult. Out of my age group definitely. I burrowed deeper into the pillows as I thought about the dream that I had had and hoped it wouldn't come true.
Both occupants of the hotel room were having dreams. In fact, dreams about the same person.
In the first twin bed the girl tossed and turned, as The dark man demanded to be repaid for his services. She screamed out in her dream as he showed her the things that would happen if she did not obey. In her bed silent tears ran down her face as she witnessed murder.
In the second bed, The man clenched and unclenched his fists, his body taut and rigid. His dreams took him back to a lab, where his life was with Sinister. All the needles and electric shocks were there. As was he, Sinister. He advanced toward Remy with his arms outstretched as if greeting a lost son. Gambit recoiled as he felt those hands on his shoulders and electricity pass through him.
Both sleepers screamed out loud and jolted up in bed, feeling each other's pain and fear.
The sound of heavy breathing and soft crying filled the room for a few seconds before the crying stopped, and the girl slid out of her bed.
She padded over to the other bed and sat down on the edge.
"Remy, it's okay…" He seemed to need a hug more than anyone she had ever known. She rubbed his back and hugged him. His breathing became slower and he relaxed visibly. "You okay chere?" The girl smiled in the dark and took his hand. "Mmhm. I should ask the same for you but I know even if you weren't, you would say you were."
The man chuckled softly. "Your right. Dat's exactly what I would do." The girl stood up and looked out the window. "Well, this is the second time in my life I have ever seen the sun rise. I'm not tired but you can go back to sleep if you can." She clicked on the light and gathered up her shoes and pants. She went into the bathroom and when she emerged fully dressed, Remy was up and changed. And was already drinking coffee he had made at the hotel room bar.
He sipped it as he watched the girl make her bed and the turning to him say "I'm going down outside, to the pool." She smiled, turned and walked out of the hotel room. Gambit's eyes followed her until she was out of his sight and then sat down on the bad. *You know, dat girl not so dangerous after all. Not ta Gambit at least. * He frowned shaking his head. *Now don't you go tinkin' 'bout dat Remy. Dat's not even funny. She's smaller, younger and you jus' met her. It would only scare her or make her tink you real interested in her if you kissed her or anyting.*
He gazed out the window, down at the pool where she was dipping her feet in the water and smiled thoughtfully.
*But it don't matter how old she is.*
CHAPTER EIGHT
DENNY'S DINER, 4:00, NOV 5
After I had packed my stuff, Gambit and I hit the road again. We were stopped at a diner for now, resting and eating a late lunch.
The F.O.H were far from my mind as I concentrated on my burger. But obviously, I thought as six men approached my table, not so far from me in reality.
Gambit stood up quickly. Practically tipping over the table, he whipped out some of his cards.
The rest of the people at the bar were not very surprised. Things like this happened all the time and no one wanted to be known as a mutant lover. Who else would the F.O.H want to pick fights with?
One of the men who was standing behind me pressed his gun against my head and stared at Gambit menacingly and nodded toward the door. The other men stood behind Gambit as he walked slowly toward the door.
I felt the blades slip silently out of my hands, which were in my coat pockets. I looked at Remy and smiled. He looked confused for a second and then he slowly nodded.
The men looked at each other.
At that moment I pulled my hands out of my pockets and pounded my fists into the man's calf.
"You little bitch!" He snarled and pulled the trigger. But not before I had ducked and rammed my fist into his stomach, forgetting that they had blades attached to them.
He groaned and slid to the ground as Gambit knocked another out with his foot.
A man punched me in the jaw and I swayed under the impact before returning with a quick slash.
Gambit had finished off two with his cards and he pulled me out the door to the motorcycle.
"We got to hurry chere. De be comin' after us soon." I nodded and he pulled the motorcycle out of the parking lot with a screech.
I looked back to see the men tumbling into their cars and pursuing us. "C'mon Gambit! Can this thing go any faster? 'Cause if it can, this would be a time to use it!" Gambit grunted in response and sped up, down the freeway.
As I looked back I practically laughed. A cop had pulled in beside the F.O.H and had stopped them. I saw the officers pull the men out of the car and hand them a ticket. By the time they were done, we would be miles away.
"Whoo hoo!" I yelled and gripped Gambit tighter around the waist. As I rested my chin on his shoulder he turned to look at me. I smiled and closed my eyes.
Suddenly, a thought struck me and I frowned. "Remy?"
"Yeah chere?" I licked my lips nervously. "Did I-I kill him?" Gambit was quiet for a while and then he sighed. "I not quite sure 'bout dat chere. But I'm not goin' back to ask how he's feelin. You do know he woulda killed us." I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder again.
I felt his hand reach up and stroke my hair for a second, then Remy went back to driving. I leaned my head against him, feeling the bristle of his not yet shaved face.
I smiled. *Maybe I'm not too young. And he's certainly not to old.*
and her family. (So please ask when you want to use them!!) PLEASE do not sue me. I have no money. This story was purely out of curiosity to see how badly people think I write… (Damn!) I wish I owned Gambit… I don't… please don't hurt me for using him too much…
CHAPTER FIVE
NEW YORK, CHARLESTON HOTEL, 11:54 PM, NOV 3
The man that had collapsed on the King sized bed tossed
in his sleep, unusual for him. He could usually crawl up in a corner and fall asleep. He was, after all, a thief. But after the girl had mentioned Sinister he could not stop thinking about him. The experiments… Gambit began to dream.
In his dream his lips were pressed on someone else's… He couldn't see whose… and then there was a scream and his lips were torn from hers. He could hear Sinister laughing but he couldn't see anything. Three words that Sinister said echoed in his mind, Remember our deal? The woman screamed again. "Remy…" A voice wailed. A comic book fluttered in front of his mind and he reached out to grab it, but it was out of his reach as was the woman's face… There was a sharp pain in his neck, like a bullet and then he could see Aphrodite's face… lips parted… blood running down the side of her mouth… eyes wide open and still unseeing.
Gambit screamed.
Not far away, Aphrodite was dreaming also.
In her dream she was having her first kiss.
From who she could not see. And then she was pulled away. She screamed as she felt her ribs crack. The man called Sinister laughed as he pulled Remy's head back and bit into his neck.
His head came dripping with blood and torn skin…
He laughed as he pulled Aphrodite toward him and kissed her viciously… biting at the same time… she pulled away in pain and screamed, then calling Remy's name, fell. She saw him standing over her his lips saying her name softly and then he screamed…
Aphrodite screamed as she sat up in her bed. At first she was confused as she viewed the room's contents and then she relaxed, sinking back into her bed. She couldn't go to sleep. She rubbed her neck and suddenly wished Remy was here.
She got up and went out on the porch. Her oversized T-shirt that she had used for pajamas over her knees. She sat on the rocking chair outside and watched the sun come up in a different time. It was beautiful.
Aphrodite pulled the blanket closer to herself.
"Chere?" Aphrodite fell out of her chair. She looked wildly around until she found the culprit. She sighed in relief as she studied her hands, which she found were sporting blades again. "Oh I'm so glad it's you…" Gambit smiled weakly. "Thank you 'Dite." He helped her off the porch and the sat down on the steps together.
"I'm sorry I talked about him." Aphrodite said suddenly. "I had nightmares." She said simply.
"Are you alright den chere?"
She thought for a second then answered hesitantly. "No. No I'm not."
Gambit put his arm around her and this time she didn't start.
She leaned against him and they watched the city come to life.
When Remy left, it was almost 6:00 and I could here my parents waking up. It was nice just sitting with him there though. We didn't say anything, but it was still nice.
*He's a little to old for you honey…*,I thought as I went into the kitchen to eat breakfast, after putting on my clothes.
"Where were you last night?" Trevor said in a low voice.
I looked up startled. "I'm not gonna tell, but where were you?" his twelve year old face staring at me as I sighed. "Yeah, please don't. I was out with a guy." His eyebrow raised.
"So… finally found a guy who deserves to be in your presence?" He sneered. I did not know what kind of person I was before I came, but I didn't sound nice.
My father stormed into the room, as I finished packing my bag with my textbooks.
"What is the meaning of this?!" He said as he held up Gambit's coat.
*That's not good…* I thought as I stumbled for an answer.
"Uh, I got cold when I walked home so he gave his coat to me?" I guessed.
His face was still angry. "No, this." He said as he pulled out a phone number labeled: Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
"Now that, is the code name for the Xmen's lair. Now what were you doing with a man who has the number for that school? And speaking of which, he is a man! Not a teen like you Aphrodite! A man. And I don't think you should see him anymore." He finished, crossing his arms.
"He's a mutant isn't he? And your going out with a mutant while I'm in such good terms with the F.O.H? I can't believe you."
He growled at me. My mother and Trevor stood in the doorway, watching and waiting for him to finish.
*Uh Oh…*
"Well?" He stepped across the space between us and slapped me. "Tell ME!!!" His eyes seemed to bore into me as I lay on the floor, holding my face. * I just had to be sent forward to be with an abusive father didn't I?* I groaned and the angry man pulled me up off the floor by my hair.
" I can't tell you Daddy." I gasped out. I wasn't going to give away Gambit just like that.
His hand clenched and I could see what was coming. I closed my eyes. SOCK, and I was seeing colors. Actually I wasn't seeing anything cause' he had punched me in the eye. "Well, my girl…" He said surprisingly soft. "You're coming to be useful after all. He'll tell you where he lives. Maybe he already has. But you'll tell me won't you?" I grabbed Remy's coat and stumbled out the door.
I cried softly on my way to school. My eye hurt like hell and I had two choices.
1. Give away at least five mutants to my father who would die because of me. Including Remy. I would be as bad as my father.
2. I would run away. To where? Who knows.
I wiped my eyes and flinched when my hand grazed my left, swollen eye.
"Owww…"
I had reached the school by this time and I wished for a makeup kit to make this eye look a little better. Probably looking a little blue by now. I looked around in my bag until I found some cover-up and blush.
I heard the bell ring and I hurried into the bathroom. Yup a real black and blue. A dabbed cover-up carefully on top of the really colorful parts.
School was fine, normal if you will. A few curios looks from my friends and teachers, but they didn't ask. My eye still hurt. That asshole. Abusing his own daughter cause' she doesn't wanna kill people.
I walked out on the schoolyard and decided going home wouldn't be fun right now. Or very wise. Gambit's coat was in my bag and so I hoped I would see him again. I leaned against a tree near the school and slid down to sit up against it.
I missed my own school… and my wonderful mother and father who didn't hit their daughters.
I started to rub off the makeup on my eye. When I got home at least he would see what he had done. I started to cry softly as my eye started to bleed from a little cut one of his rings had given me below my eye.
I put my heads in my hands and sobbed, my shoulders heaving.
This was not fair.
Hands came from behind me to massage my shoulders and Remy sat down beside me with his arm sliding around me. " Now chere, why you cryin' petite? I hid my face from him and hoped he wouldn't make me look at him. "Y-your coats in my bag…" I said through my hands.
He used his finger to lift my face to look at him.
He gasped. "Who did dis to you?" He said in horror.
"No one you know." I said, no telling what anyone would do to my dad if they found out he hit his daughter.
"Non, tell Gambit chere." He whispered firmly as he dabbed my eye with a tissue he found in my bag. I didn't care what anyone did to that jerk I called my father.
"M-My Daddy." I couldn't stop the childish word from spilling from my lips but I said it anyway.
"H-He found the number in your coat and he thinks, he knows, you're a m-mutant Remy. He wanted me to make you tell me where you all lived."
Remy looked angry. "You said non petite?"
I nodded miserably. Remy hugged me until I stopped shaking and crying. "I don't know if I should go back or not Remy…I don't know if he hurts my mom and he'll kill me if he knows I'm a mutant… Like all the others…" I started to cry again and Remy shook me softly. "I don't hate you an' I'm not gonna kill you chere. I'll help you."
And I believed him.
CHAPTER SIX
NEW YORK, APHRODITE'S HOUSE, 9:45 PM, NOV 4
We went back to 'dite's place first to pick up all her clothes that she needed and to say goodbye to her mother or brother at least. I almost hoped dat her dad would be dere so I could kick his ass, and show him what he did ta his daughter.
I waited outside her house cause' her dad's car wasn't there and she had ta say goodbye to her brother an' mother privately. All de sudden I hear this shot and a scream. I ran in the house to find 'dite lookin' to tear her daddy's heart out. She had her switchblades out again and was cutting up her daddy's shoulder fine. There was a bullet hole in one of the cupboards and I guessed it was meant for de girl. I didn't stop to think how her father had gotten there until I noticed there were other men in de kitchen also. He must have called the others in de F.O.H to come an' kill 'is daughter.
"Bastard…" I muttered as I took out a few of the men with my cards. "'Dite lets get outta here mon amie!" All I heard from her was an enraged scream as her Dad flung her to the floor and aimed his gun. I wasn't fast enough to stop de bullet from hitting her shoulder. It would have hit her full in the chest but she rolled away. She screamed and blood poured from her shoulder as her daddy aimed to kill.
I slid across the room and grabbed 'Dite to my chest. "I gotcha 'Dite… I said as I ran out of the house with bullets practically skinning my ankles. I slung her across my bike and started off down the street. I heard the sound off cars starting and I knew dey were coming after us. I slid into an alley and waited 'till dey were past before speeding off in de other direction, toward de hotel I was staying in at da moment.
"'Dite? Co'mon mon chere… wake up…" I shook the girl carefully when we had reached the parking lot of the Charleston. "Remy…? My shoulder hurts like hell." I chuckled as I gathered her up in my arms. "It would petite, especially since you've been shot. Now when did you start getting inta trouble like dis?" The girl opened her eyes halfway and looked up at me. "Ever since I talked to… Sinister." I practically dropped her when I heard her whisper that name.
I laid her gently on one of the twin beds and flopped down on de other one before getting up to get bandages from the bathroom.
"Now you okay wit de idea of me checkin you out for cuts chere? You have ta take off your shirt I'm afraid."
She laughed as she peeled her shirt painfully off. "I trust you not to take advantage of me."
She didn' have anyting too serious. The bullet had merely grazed her shoulder. She flinched as I put de washcloth on her shoulder. "Now what about your hands mon petite?" I asked her turning them over curiously. "Nothing. There's nothing wrong. There only scars." She said quickly, obviously hiding something. I had remembered when she said she was a mutant. I didn' know what her powers were though, other than her switchblades. Her knives and the backs of her hands bleeding had something to do with Sinister. Wolverine's hands didn' bleed when his claws came out. I 'cided to try something.
"Chere… how did you feel when your daddy was 'bout to shoot you?" Her eyes looked up at me in anger. "Now Gambit how do you think I felt? Loved?" She laughed bitterly and I watched her hands. "I wished I could help mutants and now I am one so I have no choice!" Her hands were beginning to bleed from her scars. "I hate my dad. My own father!" Metal was beginning to emerge from the scars on her hands and I could see the switchblades coming from her hand. She stopped talking and seemed to notice were my eyes were going. She glanced down also and gasped at de now fully emerged switchblades on her hands.
She tugged at one with her hand and it didn't come off. They were obviously stuck in her skin, but out 'nouf to do damage ta anyone who decided to hurt her. "Can you make them come out any other place you tink chere?" The switchblades disappeared under her skin. "I dunno. Sorry Remy, Gambit. I'm really tired. I want to thank you though. For saving my life." I smiled. Finally I earn her trust. Usually doesn't take me as long as dat ta win a girl's trust. She's a tough girl though. I looked at her affectionately as I said, "Well, now we're even chere."
I looked at her shoulder wound again before getting up to take a shower. Her daddy was either drunk or de worst shot I may have ever met. As I walked to the bathroom and started the shower I thought about what she had said about Sinister. Everyting had been bad ever since she met Sinister.
Well, he has that way on people.
He's had that way on Gambit ever since he met him eh?
CHAPTER SEVEN
SINISTER'S LAB, 1:00 AM, NOV 4
The tall man by the window stood and put his hands on the sill. He dug his fingers into the wood and dug up a few chunks. "It's time for Aphrodite to repay me for her favor. And Remy, ah my favorite experiment, you my boy, will never leave my side again."
The man laughed maniacally. He turned to the patient on the lab bed.
"Now we'll have to be rid of you soon. These beds will be needed for others. Namely the Xmen." The patient struggled against the bonds that held him.
Sinister leered at him and picked up a shot from the steel table nearby. "We'll see how you like this then won't we?" He laughed quietly.
A tall stout man entered the room and coughed. "Sinister? We've found them."
Sinister smiled. "Good Sabretooth. Where? We'll find them. Or you'll find them won't you? I want the girl and the man alive. Anyone who gets in your way you're free to kill. If the Xmen interfere… I want them dead or alive. Now go."
*My father had hit me all right. * I thought as Gambit dabbed alcohol on my shoulder. Just nicked me though. I winced as I felt the cloth touch an extremely tender part of my shoulder. "You okay dere chere?" "I'm-ow-fine. I've just never been shot before. Kinda an experience you never want to have happen again." Remy chuckled as he bandaged my shoulder with cloth he had gotten from the clerk downstairs.
"You go to sleep 'dite. I'm goin' ta go take a shower, get all clean eh?" He disappeared into the bathroom and I could hear the shower running.
I lay down carefully on the bed and closed my eyes. I didn't need to get changed; I was dead tired already.
As I drifted off my mind went over what had happened at my house. I had gone in to find my parents sitting down at the table, with my little brother looking scared and frightened between them. I sat down with them at the table and started to tell them I had to leave and that I still loved them, the speech I had gone over so many times as I was walking up the front steps.
I could tell something was wrong. By the way my brother kept looking over his shoulder meanfully, to my mother not meeting my gaze.
I looked slowly over my shoulder to find two huge men standing over me, along with my father. I snarled and my blades emerged. My mother, at the last second reached over the table and dragged me to her side. My father being the bastard that he was, hit her to the ground and shot his gun at me. *My own father!*, I remember thinking at that exact moment.
I leapt at him in a rage, screaming, seeing my mother huddled on the floor. And then Gambit came.
He was a fighting machine, trained for action that I seemed to be running into a lot these days. His cards flew around the room, exploding in the men's faces with deadly accuracy. The energy glowed in his eyes like fire. And I was glad he was there.
My father swung me off his back and pounded me into the floor. He raised his gun and I closed my eyes. And rolled out of the way. At least partly. I remember a blinding tearing pain. My first gunshot wound. And then I sort of blanked out. I remember Gambit scooping me up, my knight in a trench coat.
*This never would have happened were it not for Sinister. I never would have endangered Gambit. But then, I never would have met Gambit…*
I shook my head. He was way out of my league. A Xmen, (he had told me a few things last night when we were on the porch.) and an adult. Out of my age group definitely. I burrowed deeper into the pillows as I thought about the dream that I had had and hoped it wouldn't come true.
Both occupants of the hotel room were having dreams. In fact, dreams about the same person.
In the first twin bed the girl tossed and turned, as The dark man demanded to be repaid for his services. She screamed out in her dream as he showed her the things that would happen if she did not obey. In her bed silent tears ran down her face as she witnessed murder.
In the second bed, The man clenched and unclenched his fists, his body taut and rigid. His dreams took him back to a lab, where his life was with Sinister. All the needles and electric shocks were there. As was he, Sinister. He advanced toward Remy with his arms outstretched as if greeting a lost son. Gambit recoiled as he felt those hands on his shoulders and electricity pass through him.
Both sleepers screamed out loud and jolted up in bed, feeling each other's pain and fear.
The sound of heavy breathing and soft crying filled the room for a few seconds before the crying stopped, and the girl slid out of her bed.
She padded over to the other bed and sat down on the edge.
"Remy, it's okay…" He seemed to need a hug more than anyone she had ever known. She rubbed his back and hugged him. His breathing became slower and he relaxed visibly. "You okay chere?" The girl smiled in the dark and took his hand. "Mmhm. I should ask the same for you but I know even if you weren't, you would say you were."
The man chuckled softly. "Your right. Dat's exactly what I would do." The girl stood up and looked out the window. "Well, this is the second time in my life I have ever seen the sun rise. I'm not tired but you can go back to sleep if you can." She clicked on the light and gathered up her shoes and pants. She went into the bathroom and when she emerged fully dressed, Remy was up and changed. And was already drinking coffee he had made at the hotel room bar.
He sipped it as he watched the girl make her bed and the turning to him say "I'm going down outside, to the pool." She smiled, turned and walked out of the hotel room. Gambit's eyes followed her until she was out of his sight and then sat down on the bad. *You know, dat girl not so dangerous after all. Not ta Gambit at least. * He frowned shaking his head. *Now don't you go tinkin' 'bout dat Remy. Dat's not even funny. She's smaller, younger and you jus' met her. It would only scare her or make her tink you real interested in her if you kissed her or anyting.*
He gazed out the window, down at the pool where she was dipping her feet in the water and smiled thoughtfully.
*But it don't matter how old she is.*
CHAPTER EIGHT
DENNY'S DINER, 4:00, NOV 5
After I had packed my stuff, Gambit and I hit the road again. We were stopped at a diner for now, resting and eating a late lunch.
The F.O.H were far from my mind as I concentrated on my burger. But obviously, I thought as six men approached my table, not so far from me in reality.
Gambit stood up quickly. Practically tipping over the table, he whipped out some of his cards.
The rest of the people at the bar were not very surprised. Things like this happened all the time and no one wanted to be known as a mutant lover. Who else would the F.O.H want to pick fights with?
One of the men who was standing behind me pressed his gun against my head and stared at Gambit menacingly and nodded toward the door. The other men stood behind Gambit as he walked slowly toward the door.
I felt the blades slip silently out of my hands, which were in my coat pockets. I looked at Remy and smiled. He looked confused for a second and then he slowly nodded.
The men looked at each other.
At that moment I pulled my hands out of my pockets and pounded my fists into the man's calf.
"You little bitch!" He snarled and pulled the trigger. But not before I had ducked and rammed my fist into his stomach, forgetting that they had blades attached to them.
He groaned and slid to the ground as Gambit knocked another out with his foot.
A man punched me in the jaw and I swayed under the impact before returning with a quick slash.
Gambit had finished off two with his cards and he pulled me out the door to the motorcycle.
"We got to hurry chere. De be comin' after us soon." I nodded and he pulled the motorcycle out of the parking lot with a screech.
I looked back to see the men tumbling into their cars and pursuing us. "C'mon Gambit! Can this thing go any faster? 'Cause if it can, this would be a time to use it!" Gambit grunted in response and sped up, down the freeway.
As I looked back I practically laughed. A cop had pulled in beside the F.O.H and had stopped them. I saw the officers pull the men out of the car and hand them a ticket. By the time they were done, we would be miles away.
"Whoo hoo!" I yelled and gripped Gambit tighter around the waist. As I rested my chin on his shoulder he turned to look at me. I smiled and closed my eyes.
Suddenly, a thought struck me and I frowned. "Remy?"
"Yeah chere?" I licked my lips nervously. "Did I-I kill him?" Gambit was quiet for a while and then he sighed. "I not quite sure 'bout dat chere. But I'm not goin' back to ask how he's feelin. You do know he woulda killed us." I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder again.
I felt his hand reach up and stroke my hair for a second, then Remy went back to driving. I leaned my head against him, feeling the bristle of his not yet shaved face.
I smiled. *Maybe I'm not too young. And he's certainly not to old.*