Marvel owns the x-men……………………………….....................................................still.
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+1 means at the bottom of story it has comic its from since there is some older comics in here.
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Hello I'm sorry it has been so long since an update but as I mentioned before real life gets in the way. But on a side note I have had my computer fixed as of late and it has resurrected like the phoenix. Meaning I now have a working computer again. My only hope is that it doesn't become like the dark phoenix, but only time will tell. Also RemyRogue luver asked if I could e-mail her when I updated. I hadn't thought of this before but I have no problem doing this so if you want me to e-mail you when I update just put it in your review or if you don't want to post it you can e-mail me with it. My e-mail is lovelyaceinthehole@yahoo.com. Thank you for the reviews each one has encouraged me to continue with Conflicting Interest. I hope people are still interested the only way I can know is if people let me know in a review. On a side note this is the longest chapter I've written so far but anyways…ON WITH THE SHOW!!!
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Gambit sat alone waiting in the rec room for Stormy and Cyke to come back and tell him what they had found out. Everyone else had gone to bed earlier before Candra had shown up and none of the currently awake x-men saw the point of waking them until they knew something. Remy had gone to Ororo and told her what had happened with Candra. She had in turn holed up in the war room ever since. She had been running diagnostics test checking the atmospheric pressure's, temperature, and anything else that might help. Now she could compare Candra's entrance into his bedroom with that information which could only be beneficial. On top of that Storm had told him that Henry had contacted her and informed her that the blood on the glove was indeed Rogue's. Remy hadn't really been that surprised by that fact, it was Rogue's glove but that information was far from comforting too, it would take a lot to make Rogue bleed. He knew Candra would have thought that all out anyway.
The other thing that puzzled him was who was working with Candra? It seemed like the last time he had seen Belle she had become more like her old self again and her whole reason for being wasn't to get Rogue or him for that matter. But then again Belle had always been pretty temperamental and her and Candra had worked together before. Gambit thought about other villains that might want to get back at Rogue her being an x-men there were plenty. But even before being an x-men she had her share of enemies many of them flitted by his minds eye but none stuck out.
"You want a wonder maid 3000 bub?" Wolverine asked walking in and promptly dropping into a nearby easy chair and opening a beer.
"It picks up bolts." Gambit said quietly for the first time actually looking at the running television and observing the infomercial.
"Remind me at Christmas then. Whose Candra?" Logan asked.
"That was a nice segue." Gambit responded.
"What is that Cajun for beer?" The confused Canadian asked.
"No. Segue… you know a smooth transition from one subject to another. You hear it a lot in radio." Remy explained absentmindedly.
"So you were being sarcastic. Yeah well you know me I've never been one for chit chat." Logan said flatly.
"Or just chit for that matter." Remy said playfully.
"Huh Segue, I'm gonna use that on Cyke today." Wolverine said deep in thoughtful planning.
"Just make sure I'm there." Gambit said looking forward to something that was to come for a change.
"You still haven't answered my question. Whose Candra?" Logan asked while lighting his cigar.
"Just a crazy ex- girlfriend slash ex-boss slash ex-guild benefactress." Remy said while fishing his cigarettes out of his pocket.
"Well who doesn't have one of those." Wolvie said with smirk.
"Well minus the guild benefactress you have had quite a few ex-crazies yourself." Gambit responded.
"I married Viper didn't I you can't get any crazier than that?" Wolverine said.
"Yeah she is pretty wild. So you had to marry her for honor so the question is did you get any perks?" Gambit asked.
"Well I had to consummate the marriage didn't I." Wolverine said with a feral grin, as Gambit laughed.
"Remy and Logan if I could have you attention." Storm said.
"You got it Stormy. What's a matter besides the obvious?" Remy asked sitting up. Storm sat down letting out a sigh. She leaned the side of her forehead gently against her fingertips and then looked at Remy. She should probably wait until the meeting but he looked at her so genuinely that she couldn't refuse him.
"Gambit, I have told you before do not call me that." Storm said in mock sternness. Remy inwardly wavered usually this was an ongoing joke between them but after overhearing the hate trio he doubted and wondered if it wasn't said in jest. Storm however being unaware of this continued on with the news. "But on to more important matters. Well the good news is after comparing all of the information I have located the coordinates to the portal. The bad news is it appears to be in another dimension. On top of this I have been unable to locate any of our friends who can teleport. I either haven't been able to get them on the phone or they are off somewhere fighting the good fight I suppose." Storm said with a weak smile. Gambit and Wolverine digested the information before Wolverine grunted and then spoke, "So they're off vacationing in another dimension and here we were worried about them. No more complaining about time off."
"That's why Jean and Betsy couldn't find Rogue because she was in another dimension it didn't make sense that with all that searching they couldn't find her. Even knowing Candra is involved she wouldn't have been enough of a telepath against them and Cerebro." Gambit said thoughtfully. Storm and Wolverine nodded quietly in agreement.
"Any idea which dimension it is?" Wolverine asked.
"No, its not one I am aware of." Storm said.
"So were not going to show up in Mojo world and end up in the wizard of oz again are we? (+1) I had the worst rash from my bat wings." Gambit said in such a way that you weren't entirely sure he was joking or not. Storm smiled before answering, "No it isn't mojo world." Gambit grinned and started laughing and said while pointing at Wolverine, "You were the cowardly lion." Wolverine looked indignantly at Gambit and said, "We all said we would never talk about that day again. Remember?" Gambit shrugged in response and quipped, "I say a lot of things. So what now Ororo?"
"I will have to call a meeting but without teleporters I do not know how we will get there." Storm said.
"So were gonna have to wait around here until some teleporter calls back? That's crazy Rogue has already been there long enough and Betsy needs Warren she's getting cranky without their nightly fucking." Wolverine said irritatedly.
"She was looking at me earlier and we all know how she feels about me." Gambit said with a smirk. Storm smiled inwardly remembering one very drunk girls night out where the question was posed if you had no boyfriend or husband in Jean's case and no personal conflicts between you and the other x-men and you could pick one of the x-men to fuck which one would it be and Gambit of course won hands down. Which was quite the honor if you really thought about it they certainly weren't lacking when it came to good looking men in the mansion. But naturally everyone was sworn to secrecy, and as she recalled Jean wouldn't look Remy in the eye for a week. Jean had had a rather kinky fantasy involving him its always the quiet ones Storm smiled.
"There is tension between you too, Remy. Perhaps with time she can know you the way I do one day." Storm said seriously. Remy tilted his head looking Storm in the eye trying decide if she meant it meaning she didn't have a problem with him being there or maybe it was her compassion talking again he didn't like being a charity case or someone's project. He was gonna have to talk to her about it but not now there was too much going on.
"Well you say you need a teleporter and we are desperate right?" Gambit paused looking between Storm and Wolverine and continued after seeing them nod, "Well I know a guy. He is seedy, but he can do the job." Remy finished.
"He is a criminal I take it that is why you are hesitant?" Storm questioned. Remy nodded silently.
"Cyke won't like it." Wolverine said before swigging some beer.
"It would appear we have no other choice. We have certainly teamed up with worse I'm sure. I will speak to Cyclops and although he will be wary I am sure he will see the importance of speedily getting to this dimension to return our fellow x-men as quickly as possible." Storm said while getting up.
"Oh and one more thing you should mention to Cyclops its gonna cost some money but it will be worth it." Gambit said. Storm nodded and headed off down the hall.
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I feel like I been hit by a truck, make that two trucks, Rogue woke up thinking for the thousandth time.
Rogue laid still thinking back to what had led up to her being here. She had received a letter from Gambit asking her to meet him at a club without telling anyone. She did as he asked and they met at the club argued as usual but he seemed not up to his natural flare but she supposed that was from the abandonment in Antarctica. They had gone outside to a secluded area because of the looks they were getting from everyone because of the scene they were causing. After getting outside Gambit did something that wasn't at all usual he slipped a mutant power suppressor collar around her neck when they had hugged while making up. Instantly Rogue felt her powers drawn away from her and she stepped back unsure of his motives. Suddenly behind her she heard something but it was too late a cloth soaked in chloroform was covering her mouth and nose as she was being held in place. Remy stood in front of her with a taunting smirk on his face and watched her struggle. She then realized how foolish she had been to come here she had abandoned him in Antarctica but she had been so happy he was alive and just wanted to see him. She never thought he would hurt her but here he was and there was no telling what he had planned for her. As she succumbed to unconsciousness she could just imagine Mystique chastising her for putting herself in this position.
After reliving all this her green eyes opened and she quietly glanced around the tiny cage she was being held in. Another thought she had constantly was how long had she been here. There were no windows so she had no way of knowing how many days had passed. She could kick herself for not telling anyone where she was going all the x-men were blissfully unaware that she was in danger. She fearfully thought this could be how she spent the rest of her days. She glanced down at the chains holding her still even inside the cage. Rogue pulled on the collar trying to get some air to her neck where the flesh had been rubbed raw. She glanced at her various injuries endured over time here.
Her party dress was ruined it had caked old blood, her blood all over them not to mention all the sweat, dirt and grime too. When she got back her and the girls would have to go shopping for a new one. It was these kind of thoughts that kept her going imagining what she would do when she got away from here. Rogue remembered back to when she packed up this dress to head to the club. She had carefully picked this dress because Remy had said it really brought out her eyes. Not that he even seemed to notice at the club.
She looked down at her hands which were missing gloves that she normally would have worn. One had been taken from her the other one she had tied around her arm where a huge gash had been inflicted. They were her special gloves the one's Remy had gotten her. It was such a thoughtful gift he had surprised her with for no reason. She still remembered the day he gave them to her he knocked on her open door upbeatly. She looked up from her book where she was lying in her bed smiling and had said, "Doors open."
"Aren't you wondering why I'm standing here knocking on your open door?" Remy asked playfully.
"To dispel that nasty rumor you were born in a barn?" Rogue quipped with a smile.
"Jesus was born in a barn. But no, try again." Remy said while pretending to be hurt.
"Too annoy me?" Rogue said acting like she was thinking real hard.
"Well kinda, but heres a hint." Remy held up a wrapped package. Rogue sat up excitedly dropping the forgotten book and clapped her hands in glee.
"Well you got my attention." Rogue said.
"What I didn't say it was for you." Remy said mischievously. Rogue's lip stuck out in a major pout in response.
"Sorry about the barn comment." Rogue said in fake exasperation.
"Its your Christmas present." Remy said excitedly.
"Christmas is ten months away." Rogue said genuinely upset know. Remy grinned and said, "Well then you better be really good then. I'm joking I got it for you today to open today. Now calm down that vein in your forehead is pulsating again."
"Only you can make veins pulsate in my forehead sugar." Rogue said with a smile.
"Aah, now your just saying that." Remy said returning the smile.
"So I can open it?" Rogue asked.
"Yeah." Remy said.
"Because if you don't want me to I won't." Rogue said returning the tease.
"You can open it." Remy said. Rogue immediately tore the wrapping paper off revealing a medium sized
silver box underneath. She opened it and pulled out the exquisite leather gloves underneath.
"Oh there beautiful." Rogue said.
"Feel inside them." Remy said excitedly.
"They're so soft." Rogue said looking up at Remy.
"I figured if I couldn't run my hands across your skin giving you chills at least your silky in lined gloves could." Remy said jokingly.
"This is so sweat! Where did you find them?" Rogue asked smiling.
"Oh I had them made. None of the material they had on hand at the store was soft enough." Remy explained.
"Wow I can't believe you did this." Rogue said.
"You like them?" Remy asked.
"I love them! In fact these are officially my special occasion gloves. Whenever we go anywhere nice these are it." Rogue said affectionately.
"Is that a hint to take you somewhere nice?" Remy asked with a grin.
"Kinda, this is so sweat Remy. Thank you, thank you so much." Rogue said hugging Remy. Remy returned the embrace affectionately and said, "You deserve it."
Rogue sighed at the memory of his love and how she had turned him to hate her. That embrace had been full of love but the last embrace they had shared when he had slipped the collar on her neck had been full of hate.
Rogue shifted in the cage and winced as her broken leg shot pain up all through her. But this pain was nothing to compare to the betrayal she felt by Remy causing her to be here. But at the same time she argued inwardly it wasn't any less than she deserved hadn't she left Remy to the same fate, to die alone.
Not that she was always alone, her cage was in a large room where she was visited and punished as her keepers put it. Just some other people she had wronged too she supposed. Rogue laid her head wearily
back against the bars and closed her eyes again. She didn't know how much longer she could take this.
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After two more infomercials Cyclops and Storm announced that everyone was going to this associate of Gambit's. They arrived in a dilapidated area of town with trash strewn everywhere. Gambit led the way silently as he stepped over a transient passed out on the sidewalk and headed up a side alley towards the house. Gambit took a deep breathe pushing memories aside from when he was a kid on the street now wasn't the time to think about those horrors that he still had nightmares from. He walked up to the door recognizing it and then rapped on the door. Gambit was about to knock again when the door opened and the man stood before him. He had on a dirty wife beater and low slung pants with a beer belly pushing them down. The man looked Remy over instantly recognizing him, "Little Remy LeBeau I don't believe it. Your all grown up."
"Suppose to be." Remy smiled and hid a wince as the smell of alcohol washed over him.
"Well whose that you have with you?" The guy asked leaning forward and falling into Gambit.
"Their friends, their with me." Remy answered as he propped him back up.
"A few of them look like cops." The man said taking a step back. Remy glanced back at the likes of Scott and thought they do look like cops.
"Well I can vouch for them. They won't cause you any trouble." Remy said.
"Well if you'll vouch for them come on in." The man stepped back and they headed into the light. Remy made a quick glance around the house and it was a wreck. The sofa in the middle of the room was missing a bottom cushion and an unrecognizable stain was on the other. Beer bottles and drug paraphernalia was strung out all over the place and stuffing stuck out of an easy chair propped up against the wall.
"Have a seat." The host said with a lot of concentration.
"No, thanks I'll stand." Betsy said as she glared at Gambit for bringing her to a place like this. Remy smiled in return thinking she'll kill me later. Remy refocused his attention on their host. His name was Jim Lackey and he was an Alabama native. He also was a far cry from the last time he had seen him. Jim worked for the mob and the guilds specifically the New Orleans thieves guild using his teleporting abilities to dispose of any unnecessary evidence but specifically any bodies of the deceased that needed getting rid of. Remy was ten years old and had just been adopted by Jean-Luc when he had met Jim. Jim was one of the first mutants he had met and seemed like a cool guy. But he was debonair not this. He had heard he had moved to New York but he didn't realize he was in this kind of shape.
"Wanta drink?" Jim asked.
"No, thanks." Remy answered rather quickly judging by the cleanliness of the room.
"Nonsense have a drink." Jim said.
"No, really no thanks." Remy said again.
"I won't talk any business until you have a shot with me." Jim insisted as he poured a shot for himself and Remy. Remy eyed the shot glass as he handed it to him. Remy mentally prepared himself to drink from the shot glass telling himself that the alcohol would burn away any disease. Jim wobbly held up his shot glass and Remy did the same.
"Bottoms up." Jim said a little too cheerfully. Remy thought God I definitely love you Rogue as he threw the liquid in the shot glass back into his throat and swallowed. After setting the glass down he almost laughed as he looked over at the very green looking x-men. Jean looked the most disgusted he thought she was for sure gonna puke. Wolverine seemed to sense this standing in front of her and took a step to the side just so he wouldn't be a general target. Remy grinned to himself and then focused on the situation at hand.
"So what have you been up to?" Remy asked cautiously.
"You don't mind if I just have another do you?" Jim said while pouring himself another shot.
"Well actually---" Remy started and then the guy threw it back.
"What was that girls name you ran around with?" Jim questioned.
"What?" Gambit asked caught off guard with the question.
"It was real strange of a name--- after a poison… what was it arsenic?" Jim asked.
"Belladonna, her name was Belladonna." Remy said trying not to laugh at his drunkenness.
"That's right….. How old are you getting to now?" Jim asked.
"Twenty-four." Remy replied trying to get through the drunken chatter.
"Man that makes me feel old." Jim said as he stared off into emptiness.
"What happened to you?" Remy asked. Jim looked at him, blinked and said, "What do you mean?"
"When I was a kid you were cool. All the kids wanted to be you. You weren't a …drunk. You had it all together no matter what. I remember the cops came to the house after you and you convinced them to leave you alone." Gambit said.
"Actually I made them disappear. That's just what we told you kids." Jim said remembering. Remy sat back digesting that new information and then said, "Well they had to keep sending more. They wouldn't just forget about you."
"They eventually quit sending them…after awhile." Jim said seriously.
"Where did you send them?" Remy asked cautiously. Jim shrugged his shoulders, "It doesn't matter. That was a long time ago." Remy eyed Jim for awhile and then said, "You still haven't answered my question."
"My wife left me." Jim said. Remy thought he should of known only a women could leave a broken shell of a man behind like this. Jim started sobbing uncontrollably and put his head in his hands. Remy froze uncomfortably now that the old time mobster cried in front of him. Remy patted Jim on the back with two fingers and said, "Well I'm sure you'll find someone else."
"You think so." Jim said solemnly into his lap.
"Yeah I sure do." Remy said nodding for emphasis. Not that he didn't feel sympathy for his hero from his youth but he really needed to find Rogue and Angel.
"You know any ladies for me." Jim said sitting up and looking over the lovely x-ladies. Remy looked in the direction Jim was looking and saw where he was going with this and said, "No, there all married. But if I think of someone I'll let you know."
"I'll hold you to it." Jim said in seemingly good spirits again.
"Oh I know you will." Remy answered with a smile.
"So what matter of business can I help you with?" Jim asked curiously.
"Well two friends of ours have been kidnapped and taken to another dimension. We have the coordinates but no way to get there right now. Do you feel up to it?" Gambit asked.
"Yes, I could send you." Jim answered.
"What about all of us?" Gambit questioned.
"All of you?" Jim said incredulously.
"Yeah we have the money." Remy said.
"Even when you were a little guy you were always prepared." Jim said thoughtfully.
"Well can you do it?" Remy asked.
"Yeah I can do it. I took out a whole squad for your Dad once." Jim said.
"Can you do it now?" Remy pressed.
"Sure let me see those coordinates." Jim said. Storm leaned forward passing the note up to Jim who began to read over them.
"Can you bring us back?" Remy questioned.
"Yeah no problem. If I know your ready to come back." Jim said.
"We could leave one of the extra communicators with…Jim here." Cyclops said not quite so sure that was a good idea.
"Yep, that would work." Jim nodded. Cyclops looked at Gambit to see if he thought that was a good idea. Gambit shrugged and then asked Jim, "You think you can get us all there in one piece."
"Sure, sure." Jim answered.
"Well Gambit why don't you come help me find the communicator." Scott said looking at Remy.
"Gambit? That a new nickname? When he was a kid they all called him scrappy." Laughter broke out around the room as Remy turned beet red.
"Yeah I'll go with you Scott." Remy said turning towards the door.
"Only if you want to Scrappy." Scott said unable to control himself. He thought part of the fun was just finding out some background information on Remy they knew so little. Remy simply glared in response as he headed out the door. After they dug out the extra communicator Cyclops asked Gambit, "So do you really think he can get us there and back safely?" Remy sighed as he closed the case back and then said, "I know he could before. But I think he could now."
"You think?" Cyclops questioned.
"Look Candra will move them the moment she thinks we know where she is. It's a big game to her and in the meantime we don't know what shape Rogue and Angel are in, time is of the essence." Gambit finished looking Cyclops directly in the eye. Cyclops nodded and said, "Well we better head back and get teleporting." Remy and Scott walked up to the house and opened the door and heard undying laughter. Remy stepped through and saw Jim had a riveted audience sitting in a half circle in front of him.
"….So then Remy tells him that---" Jim was interrupted by Remy.
"Jim your not suppose to tell all my secrets. Besides its time to go." Remy said. The group looked kinda sad when Betsy said with a wink, "We will have to talk more later Jim."
"You sold me out for a pretty face." Remy said only half serious. Jim merely started laughing and then said, "I guess we better ship you guys off."
"Where do you want us?" Storm questioned.
"Just group all together in the center of the room." Jim said motioning with his hands. The x-men did as he said and then Cyclops asked, "Now you are going to have the communicator on you at all times right? I don't have to remind you of the importance of this we may need to leave in a hurry. We could have wounded and need medical attention immediately."
"I have it right here." Jim said holding it up for everyone to see. Cyclops nodded seemingly satisfied.
"Last chance for a bathroom break." Bobby said trying to alleviate the pressure. Laughs went around the room and then Jim asked, "Everyone ready?" Nods were his answer and he said, "I'm going to send you two at a time just to not press my luck."
"Your luck?" Wolverine said a little incredulously.
"Your not gonna drink anymore before we need transported back in case you have to transport us all at once right?" Remy stressed he had no desire to be trapped on the proverbial desert island with Candra.
"Absolutely Remy, I swear on my Mama's grave." Jim said solemnly.
"Ok then shoot us off." Remy said slapping his hands together.
"Everyone take a breathe and relax." Jim put his hands up in the hair and then Scott and Jean disappeared. Remy watched silently hoping Jim was sending them to the right place. Cyclops and Storm had decided the order they would go earlier. Remy supposed they spaced out the bosses, fighters, and telepaths. Suddenly Betsy turned to Remy and whispered, "This better not be a trap, it better work." Remy simply shrugged in reply as Bobby and Logan vanished into thin air. "Look if it does and we save Warren I owe you. If not your gonna pay." Then she and Ororo disappeared leaving Remy as the straggler.
"I'm counting on you." Remy said grimly to Jim.
"I know you don't do that lightly. I won't let you down." Jim said seriously and then Remy too vanished. It was a strange feeling to be teleported in an instant everything went black and you seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once and then just as suddenly everything came into focus and Remy was deposited with the rest of the x-men in another world. Remy looked around at the assembled waiting x-men from the looks of things everyone had made it here as long as here was where Rogue and Angel was.
They seemed to be in a long red hallway that went on as far as the eye could see in each direction.
"Were splitting up into two teams Phoenix, Wolverine, you and myself on a team and Storm, Psylocke and Iceman on a team." Cyclops said directly to Gambit. Gambit nodded and realized it must have been decided before he had teleported to this world.
"East or West Cyclops?" Storm questioned.
"You call it." Cyclops said.
"The east seems to be calling our team I think." Storm said smiling.
"Be careful and keep your eyes peeled." Cyclops said.
"Nice segue Cyke." Wolverine grunted looking over at Gambit when he said it.
"What?" Cyclops asked. Gambit responded by laughing hysterically.
"Segue, a smooth transition from one subject to another." Betsy explained.
"Why is that so funny?" Jean asked curiously realizing there was an inside joke going on here.
"Never mind, we better get going." Wolverine said getting serious again.
"Why do I get the feeling you have something to do with this?" Cyclops asked Gambit with a hint of a smile on his face. Gambit responded by shrugging non committally.
"Because he always does." Iceman said.
"You got me there." Gambit said with a grin plastered against his face.
"Well lets segue down the hallway." Cyclops said attempting humor.
"I don't think that's proper English." Gambit said teasingly.
"Your one to be talking about 'dat English." Iceman said good naturedly.
"I knew I was setting myself up for that one. Just so you know English was my first language. I just happened to learn it in the bayou." Remy said sniffing pretending to be offended.
"For real guys lets get going." Cyclops ordered. The team instantly became serious and it was then that the two teams separated and went their respective destinations after Rogue, Angel and whatever danger may come there way.
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+1 x-men second series # 10
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Thank you those who have reviewed you have encouraged me to begin writing on this again. You guys are great! Just to reiterate from earlier please let me know if people are still interested in this. (which I only know if people review *cough cough*) Also if you want to be notified when Conflicting Interest is updated just let me know by posting in your review or by sending me an e-mail requesting it. My e-mail again (so you don't have to scroll to the top of the page…gasp or if you fight being sucked into my world and skipped the author's notes *g*) is lovelyaceinthehole@yahoo.com