Author's Note: I thought I'd throw this chapter in at the same time as the last one 'cause I'm starting to have a little more of Chris coming into the story. I'm not going to make the story revolve around her, but I have an interesting *twist* that I want to throw in. Hope you like it.
Making a Connection
by, Caliente
Chapter 10 – Old Friends
Chris's POV – In the Danger Room Gym that evening after dinner
Chris grinned widely as she entered the workout room (A/N: she's wearing same workout outfit she was wearing in the earlier chapter). 'Time for a real workout,' she thought smugly. She brought in a boom box and her workout CD. She started the music and began a series of stretches. It was a combination of Yoga and Tai-Chi. The next song was her gymnastics workout routine. She continued to move with the CD. Song after song, each a new workout. She did karate, jazz dance, ballet, Wing Chun Kung Fu and boxing. She used some of the Danger Room weapons in her workout, including a bo staff, throwing stars, and Sais blades. (A/N: Sais is the weapon that Elektra in the movie Daredevil uses.) After a couple of hours, she decided to go for a walk to clear her head and then go to bed. She collected her belongings and headed back to her room. She went out to the balcony and floated herself down to the ground with the energy from the setting sun. 'Wonder how I'm going to get back up,' she contemplated. She headed toward the lake in the forest, exploring the grounds as she walked. Suddenly she heard a twig snap. Her reflexes snapped and she whipped around and grabbed her concealed Sais blades from under her sweat pants. She spun her blades and found herself holding them to the neck of a tall, handsome man with disheveled auburn hair and red on black eyes.
"Remy LeBeau, son of the great Jean-Luc LeBeau leader of the infamous New Orleans Thieves Guild, you must be losing your touch," she stated sarcastically. She gave him the once over before continuing harshly. "Why the hell are you here? I hear you've become one of Magneto's Acolytes. What, Sinister not paying you enough?" Chris's death glare was one to rival Rogue's and there was anger flashing in her pale eyes. Chris's powers caused all of the static electricity near the pair to immediately charge towards Remy but since they were outside, it wasn't that much. (A/N: Besides, Gambit wouldn't feel it 'cause of his biokinetic skin… it is just static electricity after all) She didn't bother to keep up her poker face, with this gambler around, what was the point? Besides, he was the one who taught her in the first place.
"Remy came t' see his chere," Gambit responded nonchalantly even with a blade pressed to his neck. He was surprised that this young one knew of his dealings with Mr. Sinister but he masked his emotions with a brilliant poker face. "Petite, Remy's not sure how y' know Monsieur (Mr.) Sinister, but he'll tell y' de trut'. Sinister helped Gambit wit' his powers so Gambit had t' work off his debt. Remy hates dat madman, so Magneto paid Sinister to let Gambit work fo' him instead."
Chris's face softened slightly and she took a step back. She spun her Sais on her palms before replacing them in their holders. "Tell me something I didn't know," Chris said rolling her eyes. "From one madman to another."
"Don' Remy know it," responded Gambit with a slightly pained look. Then he resumed examining the girl in front of him. "Now Remy has a question fo' y'. Who are y'?"
"Since when is Rogue you're chere? Last I remember it was Bella," Chris laughed though her voice still carried an edge. She deliberately changed the subject, ignoring his question with the hope he would forget about interrogating her back. Gambit looked surprised and that was something you didn't see often. "I can hear you "sneak" into her room sometimes. You're pretty loud on the roof, well at least to a trained ear, and I know your work. After all, it's not like we never worked together before." She looked deep into his red on black eyes and laughed again, this time harshly. "Don't bother trying to charm me or read me, my mutant powers allow me to deflect psionic energy."
"Y' still haven' answered Remy's question," Gambit prodded, his curiosity was immense. "Who are y'?
"You don't remember me? Well, that hurts." Chris feigned a hurt look though her pale eyes still had angry fire in them before continuing, "Mi nombre es (My name is) Christina Isabella Cruz, or Chris." She paused, seeing his blank look and sighed, "But when we worked together, I was known simply as Rea (A/N: Pronounced like the Egyptian Sun God Re with an "ah" sound at the end or Rey-ah)." A pained expression passed over her face as she mentioned this name but she forced it off.
Gambit's eyes widened and he stared at her for a moment. "Ray-Ray," he whispered. Chris grimaced at her old nickname. "It can' be y'. Y' don' look like y', no leather." Remy smirked. "Dey don' know, do dey?"
"No, of course they don't know. And, you're not gonna tell them either," she snapped suddenly as she whipped out her Sais again, ready to fight. "They wouldn't understand. They just know what my tío and I told them." She spun her Sais and struck an offensive pose ready to strike. "And leather doesn't fit my new "good" image," she half-smiled at her joke. "But Remy LeBeau, you're not off the hook yet. I killed her because of Sinister, and you were working for him." Gambit looked slightly lost at this statement. "Don't you remember? That night, when I came to rescue my parents…" Chris trailed off with tears forming in her eyes. She struggled to hold them back and continue. "You could have saved them, or any of those other mutants. He was experimenting on them and you were his lackey. Well congratulations, I see you managed to save the one person you care about, you." Her voice was shaky but there was discernable anger and resentment.
"Y' were mon ami once petite," replied Remy softly, "so why don' y' try t' understand. I didn' have a choice, I couldn' control my powers an' I was killing people." Remy winced slightly at the memories.
'Wow, he referred to himself in the first person, it must have been really bad,' thought Chris. "I know that you didn't have a choice Rems and that Sinister is an evil hijo de una perra (son of a bitch), but I have to blame somebody…"
Gambit smiled slightly. "Y' called Remy "Rems", does dat mean y' forgive him?"
Chris nodded. "I forgave you long ago, it's just the forgetting I'm having trouble with." She forced a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Y' should tell de institute people. Dey seem like dey would understand," Remy offered.
"Look, if you were me, would you tell them?" she asked frowning. Her face was filled anguish as she thought of her past. He shrugged. "Didn't think so." She sighed. "They wouldn't understand my past." Suddenly she looked really tired and old, older than a fifteen year old should look. Her eyes screamed with hurt and anger. "Obviously you're still hiding from your past too. I mean, why else would you be working for Magneto. So it's not like you're really one to preach to me about telling the truth." She threw him a 'don't bull shit me, I see right through you' look.
"Mebbe dey wouldn' understand," he agreed with a slight look of sadness on his face. Gambit looked at Chris closely and saw tears in her eyes. Tears that had been held back for years. He walked over and gave her a hug. "But y' should still tell dem, dat Professor seems mighty nice." She shook her head violently against his chest. "But den again, mebbe dey would." He stroked her hair slightly. "If y' ever wan' t' talk, Gambit'll listen. He promises. Dat's what old amis are fo'."
Chris took a step back and wiped the tears away. "Thanks Remy," whispered Chris with a small smile as she packed her Sais away once more. "I may just take you up on that offer, even though you are the enemy." She decided to change the subject. "And I won't tell anybody that you love Rogue or that you're seeing her. Although, Mr. Logan, or should I say Wolverine, already knows." It was her turn to smirk at a surprised Gambit.
"De Wolverine knows, merde (shit). Not dat it really matters 'nymore. Rogue don' wan' Remy. She says she don' wan' t' see Gambit again." Remy sighed with sad eyes of his own and a dejected look on his face.
"Oh, stop pitying yourself," Chris cried out of frustration. "Obviously you love her and she loves you. Think about it. She's petrified. She wants to be with you but she can't touch. She's scared that you'll leave her for somebody who can. She doesn't want to get hurt by you or to hurt you. Duh, you need to reassure her." She rolled her eyes.
"Well, how can Gambit reassure if he can' get near her?" the Cajun asked softly.
"Keep doing what you've been doing," Chris answered. "You've already got her heart, just show her that she has yours." She grinned at him. "Now if you don't mind, I've got to sneak back into my room before Mr. Logan's rounds."
They bowed at each other before saying good night in their respective languages.
"Buenos noches." (Good night.)
"Bonne nuit." (Good night.)
Chris made her way back to the mansion silently. She used her gymnastics skills to make it back up to her room. She changed into her pajamas and slid into the sheets. Her digital clock read 11:47. 'Hmm…,' thought Chris, 'Not as late as I had thought. Well, I hope I feel this invigorated in the morning before school. Ha. Like that could happen.' Her thoughts drifted to Sam briefly before she drifted into a restless sleep.
~Chris's Nightmare~
She was standing inside a horrible lab. The room was dark and dank and reeked of torture and death. There were lab tables and test tubes and people suspended in big tanks filled with liquid. And other people were in cages, clearly suffering in pain. Many were screaming and crying. Some shouted pleas to her, for her to help them. Chris let out an involuntary shudder as she made her way inside. She tried to ignore them and their pain.
"Senior (Mister) Sinister!" she shouted angrily, her calm face betraying her true hatred. "I've brought what you wanted, now free mis padres."
An awful man covered with silver scales entered the room. His eyes were red and he had a red gem embedded in his forehead. He smiled evilly at the young girl. "Give me the crystal child."
"Show me my parents first, I need to make sure you held up your end of the bargain," Chris responded bravely. "I will not have you backing out. And know that I will destroy the crystal if you do not comply." She smirked confidently at him trying to push down her fears.
"Fine," he snapped. He turned to two of the mutants standing behind him. "Bring them," he ordered sternly.
Chris watched them walk out obediently before turning back to the evil man before her. She stared into him angrily and she could feel the heat of her hatred. Her eyes flared with fire but her face remained calm. Then she noticed a glimpse of behind him. A familiar red glow, red on black. Her brow furrowed in confusion, 'Where have I seen that before?'
Sinister took notice of her slight change in attitude. "Ah, I see you recognize your old friend. Gambit, come forward."
Sinister watched as Chris's confused eyes widened with shock at the mention of Gambit. Remy LeBeau came out of the shadows cautiously. "Evenin' petite," he said calmly, his eyes begging her forgiveness.
Chris chose not to answer or even make a move like she recognized the Cajun man before her. Sinister laughed his evil laugh. "What, no kind words for your old friend?" Chris just looked coldly at both of the men. "No matter, Gambit belongs to me now."
Chris kept the calm look on her face as she listened to Sinister. She glanced briefly at Remy before he was ordered back. That's when her parents were dragged in. Her father was severely bruised and beaten. He was thrown on the floor and was unable to stand on his own. Chris rushed over to him and helped him up, leaning him against the wall. Her mother was carried in and laid on a med table. Her once vibrant skin was now pale and bruised. Her long, dark hair was messy and greasy. She appeared so pale and lifeless that she turned to her evil captor. "Is she…" somehow Chris couldn't bring herself to say the words.
"No, she is not dead," Sinister responded. "My attempts to remove the X-Gene took a toll on her though. However, she proved one of my more resilient lab rats."
Chris felt her whole body tense with anger but she never lost her calm face. She made her way to her mother who opened her eyes. They were so lifeless and dull, though they had once been full of fire and determination. She gave her daughter a weak smile. "Mi hija, te amo. (My daughter, I love you.)" She carefully removed her wedding band and placed it into her daughters' hand and closed her hand around it. She continued to hold onto Chris's closed hand. "Bella, nunca olvídese de lo que le he enseñado. Y nunca dé para arriba. (Bella, never forget what I have taught you. And never give up.)" (A/N: Chris's parent's nickname for her is Bella because her middle name is Isabella.)
"No me olvidaré. Prometo. (I won't forget. I promise.)"Chris responded with tears filing her eyes.
"Adiós mi hija. (Good-bye my daughter.)" Her mother's eyes looked tired and pleaded with her. Chris knew what she must do.
Chris drew out one of her Sais blades and raised it high above her mother's chest. Tears now flowed freely down her face. "Adiós mamá. Te amo. (Good-bye mom. I love you.)"
"Nooo!" Chris gasped sitting strait up in bed. She was covered in sweat and panting slightly as she wiped away her tears. She grabbed the ring on the chain around her neck and gripped it tightly in her hand. She choked her tears back and took some deep breaths. After she calmed herself, she glanced over at the clock on her nightstand. It read 2:52. 'Great,' Chris thought to herself. 'It's almost 3 am but I know I won't be able to get back to sleep. This blows.' She sighed and got out of bed. 'Maybe I'll have a little impromptu Danger Room session, I mean, nobody's using it. I'm sure I can be out before Logan has Kitty and Rogue in there. Yeah, that'll tire me out and get rid of my nerves.' Chris smiled to herself as she began to root through her closet for something to wear. 'This'll be fun.'
Did you see that coming? Some character development for Chris. Anyway, just thought I'd add an extra chappy for y'all. Please review. You know you want to. You know you do. Don't you? Yes, yes you do.