Chapter Seven
Scott walked slowly back to his room, feet practically dragging in his reluctance to leave. What could possibly be bothering Kurt so badly that it would have the Professor this concerned and Jean near to tears? Why wouldn't Kurt let him know? He only wanted to help.
He reached his room and slid back under the covers, glaring briefly at the empty bed across from him. How had Gambit known that Kurt was having a nightmare? Was he a telepath? He would have to ask the Professor in the morning as he was sure that he would not get an answer from Gambit. Speaking of Gambit, where was he? He thought that the Professor would have sent him away as well, but as the minutes dragged by Scott realized that he wasn't coming back, was more than likely staying with Kurt. That angered him. He didn't understand how the Professor, or Kurt himself, could be putting so much trust into an acolyte.
Another twenty minutes drug by and still Scott found himself staring up at the ceiling, his mind traveling in endless circles. There was a light knocking at the door and he blinked at it in surprise. Perhaps the Professor had come to speak with him.
"Come in," he said quietly, not wanting to disturb the silence that seemed to hang around him. His door opened silently and Scott was forced to blink in surprise once again as Jean walked into his room. Hearing her sniff and recognizing it as the start of a sob, he was out of the bed and had Jean in his arms in an instant, trying to comfort her. He didn't say anything, waited for her to speak instead.
Eventually she pulled away from him slightly and looked up at him. She seemed to hesitate but after a short moment spoke. "Can I… stay here for a bit?"
"Of course," he whispered to her.
"Thank you." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her to the bed. They lay down, him still holding her so that her head was resting against his shoulder, wondering what she could have seen in Kurt's dream and let the silence descend over them again.
"Do you know what happened to Kurt?" Scott finally asked. He felt her nod against his shoulder. When she did not say anything he spoke again. "Did Gambit-?"
She jerked away from him, angrily wiping tears from her eyes and glaring at him. "Remy did not do anything!" When Scott simply looked at her doubtfully she sighed. "It's not up to me to tell you what happened; you'll just have to wait for Kurt to come to you. But I will tell you that Remy didn't do anything, Kurt wouldn't trust him so much if he had."
"But he was on Magneto's team, how can we trust him?"
"You had better find a way because like it or not Kurt does trust him." She was becoming frustrated again. "You do not want to loose Kurt as a friend just because you are too narrow minded to accept Remy."
"He hasn't given me any reason to accept him."
"You haven't given him the chance! You trust Kurt don't you?"
Scott nodded. "Of course."
"Then trust him in this. He believes that Remy is not a danger to him or any of us and I agree with him."
Scott snorted. "We'll see what happens when he betrays us to Magneto." He knew he had gone to far when he saw Jean's hands clench at her sides and her eyes practically blaze in anger.
"You can be so insensitive sometimes!" She leapt off the bed and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her with the use of her telekinesis.
Scott sighed and slumped back against the pillows. This was just great. Now he and Jean were arguing over Gambit. He was already causing trouble and Scott knew that there could only be more to come. Gambit may have had Jean and Kurt, even the Professor, fooled but he had to slip up eventually and when he did Scott would be there.
#
In the mansions kitchen, Xavier too was awake and pondering the dilemma that was now presented to him. Of all the things that could have happened to one of his students in a world that hated them, he had never once considered rape. He was not sure how to help Kurt deal with this or if indeed he could help at all.
He took comfort, though, in the fact that Kurt did not have to deal with this on his own, had found someone whom he could open up to, even though it was to one of the most unlikely people. Xavier shook his head with a small smile. He had been foolish to think that having those two in separate rooms would work. Kurt could not be alone and Remy was more than willing to take up the responsibility of being the one to look over him. Grabbing a glass to fill with water his thoughts turned momentarily to Gambit.
Seeing Remy coming home with Kurt and then, even more surprising, having him ask if he could stay, had, to say the least, shocked Xavier. He had, of course, said yes, that was what this school was supposed to be about after all. Helping mutants that needed it and who could need that help more than someone who had been duped into going or had even gone willingly with Magneto. Remy's views were probably biased due to that and Xavier hoped that he could make Remy see that it was possible for mutants and humans to live together in peace and dispel whatever other nonsense Magneto had planted in the boy's head.
Before he could even begin to think about Remy, though, he had to help Kurt as best he could. He would suggest tomorrow that Kurt try therapy. Talking about it would, with any luck, help him to move past this. Hopefully Kurt would let him in and confide in him.
Finishing off his water, he dropped the empty glass in the sink and headed back to his room. For now, the questions would have to remain unanswered. Tomorrow he would speak with Kurt.
#
The morning came far sooner than he would have liked, the sun streaming in through the window. Kurt burrowed his head deeper against Remy's chest in an effort to block it out. He did not want to wake up yet and face the day. Were it up to him, he would much rather prefer to hide from the world and the rest of this house, spending the day cuddled in bed with Remy.
Remy made no move to wake, though he did tighten his arms instinctually around Kurt. Kurt felt safe in his arms and he hoped that the Professor would let Remy stay in his room permanently and not go back to Scott's.
It had taken him some time to finally fall asleep again last night, too scared of the images to even close his eyes. Remy had been like a rock, though, holding him and shushing him, telling him it would be okay because no one would ever be able to get near Kurt while he was here. So he had fallen asleep in Remy's protective embrace and the nightmares had not bothered him anymore that night.
He still did not want to leave that embrace but a loud growl from Remy's stomach told him that Remy would probably appreciate it if he was awakened so that they could eat, as well as reminding Kurt of how hungry he was himself. He shook Remy by the shoulder gently, trying to wake him. Remy nearly growled at him and cracked one eye open to peer over at him.
"An' why are y' waking me at dis ungodly hour?"
"Its 10:00," Kurt was amused. Remy was definitely not a morning person. He would absolutely hate the morning training sessions when they started, if he ever decided to show up to them. Kurt wouldn't put it past Remy to skip them altogether.
Remy glared and buried his face into the crook of Kurt's neck. "Too early…sleep…," he murmured, closing his eyes again. Kurt could feel Remy's breath tickling out across his fur and was once again tempted to just stay there all day but now his own stomach had begun to make its demand for food.
"Come on, Remy, we need food, I'm going to starve." Both of them had faster metabolisms than normal humans due to their mutant powers and neither of them had eaten all that much yesterday due to the nervousness they felt in coming to the mansion. Now, though, Kurt was hungry and nothing was going to stop him from getting to the kitchen. On second thought, maybe he could convince Remy to bring him breakfast in bed. He knew that he shouldn't though, not because Remy wouldn't do it for him, but because he couldn't hide from everyone in the mansion forever. So, he shook Remy again.
Remy didn't respond other than to pull Kurt closer to him, trapping Kurt's arms between them so that he couldn't move them. That didn't bother Kurt though as he brought his tail around and whacked Remy in the head with it. Remy jerked his head back to glare at him.
"Food," was all Kurt said.
Remy rolled his eyes. "Fine, we'll go eat." Remy's stomach growled, agreeing with him. It took a few moments but they both managed to get untangled from the sheets and dressed in presentable clothes to head downstairs.
Walking into the kitchen Kurt could hear no voices and was momentarily thankful that there was nobody there. When he walked in, however, he was less than happy to see Logan lounging in one of the chairs, drinking coffee. Logan looked up briefly at their entrance, glaring at Remy and looking almost concerned at Kurt before turning his attention back to his coffee.
Kurt paused for a moment hesitantly, not sure if he wanted to walk by the man. Remy seemed not to notice his hesitance though and walked by Wolverine without even a glance. Opening the fridge, he began rooting around inside it for something edible.
"What did y' want t' eat, cher?" Remy looked over his shoulder at Kurt who was still standing on the other side of the kitchen. Wolverine let out a low growl and stood, dropping off his glass in the sink before walking out of the room.
"Good to see you back, elf," he said as he passed Kurt by the door. Kurt nodded to him with a small smile and Logan walked out.
"Cher?" Kurt looked over at him. "Y' okay?" Remy had stopped looking through the fridge and was now watching him intently.
"Uh, yeah, fine."
Remy looked at him skeptically. "Uh huh." He sighed. "When will y' learn dat y' can' lie t' me, cher?" Kurt looked down. "Y' can' hide from dem forever. Dese are y' friends an' dey won' hurt y'."
"I know but it's still hard and Logan...he isn't exactly an easy person to be comfortable around normally."
Remy smiled at him and walked across the kitchen to wrap him in a hug. Kurt felt the tension leave him and relaxed against Remy. A throat was cleared behind them and, though Kurt tried to jerk away. Remy simply looked up still holding Kurt to him. Jean looked back at them and offered up a small smile. Kurt blushed at having Jean catch him snuggled up to Remy even though he knew that she would not care. He shouldn't care either, he knew. He certainly wasn't ashamed of Remy but he was afraid of what Remy would think of having Jean catch them in an obvious embrace. It was clear that he didn't care, though, since he gave Kurt a final squeeze before letting go and turning to Jean.
"Are you two hungry? I was just about to make a late breakfast for myself but I don't mind making something for you as well," she offered. Kurt smiled at her.
"Thanks Jean." Kurt sat himself at the table, trying his best to appear confident. She smiled at him and began moving around the kitchen, preparing to make a simple breakfast for the three of them. As she was cooking, Remy prepared a new pot of coffee seeing as Logan had drunk the last of the previous batch.
"Have you spoken with Scott yet," she asked Kurt after a short while. Remy snorted.
"I haven't really had the chance to talk to anyone yet."
"He was really worried about you." She set the bowls of oatmeal on the table and took a seat next to Kurt. "I think that it would put his mind at ease if you were to speak with him and show him that you are all right."
"I'll do that." She smiled and nodded at him.
#
Remy watched the interaction between the two silently. Kurt was trying to be confident but he was still nervous. Remy felt his anger growing, unable or unwilling to hold it back like he had been doing since he first found Kurt in that alley. He needed something or someone to take his anger out on.
Standing he told them both that he would see them later; he had something he needed to do. He left the kitchen and headed in a random direction. Maybe a walk would help to clear his mind. He turned a corner and found himself at the main entrance. He walked outside into the hot air. He slowly made his way over to the garage, thinking that he would see what vehicles they had here.
Logan was there, working on his bike and looked up when Remy stepped in. Remy nodded to him in silent greeting and Logan stood. Remy watched warily as Logan came over to him.
"Can I help y', homme," Remy asked when Logan was standing in front of him. Logan studied him for a moment.
"I don't know what happened with you and Kurt but it's obvious that Kurt likes ya."
"So?" Remy asked, unimpressed with Logan's intimidation tactics.
"So, ya had better not hurt him, Cajun, or I'll be introducing you ta the sharp end of my claws. Got it?" Logan snarled out. Remy sighed, what was this the third time he had been threatened now?
"I wouldn' do anyt'ing t' hurt him, Logan. I swear it, rat'er die first," he said seriously. Logan watched him for a moment before nodding.
"Good." Again he paused to study Remy and Remy got the distinct impression that Logan was sniffing him. He remembered Logan's powers and realized that Logan must be able to tell what he was feeling from scent. It made him uneasy that Logan was able to read him so easily. "You look like ya need ta blow off some steam, Gumbo. Come with me." Logan turned and walked away, not bothering to see if Remy would follow him. After a moments pause, wondering where Logan was taking him, Remy shrugged and followed.
They walked silently back into the mansion and into one of the elevators. Logan hit the button for one of the lower levels and turned back to Remy.
"Charles told me that ya planned on staying with the X-Men?"
"Oui." Remy didn't see the need for further explanation and Logan didn't ask for one.
"Then I guess now's as good a time as any to see just how much training ya got at Magneto's."
Remy raised an eyebrow and they stepped out of the elevator as it came to a stop and the doors slid open. "Y' takin' me t' de Danger Room?" He had heard about that room, as well as a few other interesting things the X-Men had including Cerebro, from Magneto. The prospect of going to the Danger Room thrilled him.
"Yep." Remy couldn't help the grin as he thought of the destruction he could do in there. "Don't get excited kid; we're not doing any simulations, just a little one on one."
"Wit' y'?"
Logan snorted. "What's the matter, boy? Y' scared?"
Remy glared at him. "Of y', old man?" He grinned and Wolverine led the way into the Danger Room. A pair of practice mats lay in the middle of the room but otherwise it was metal and barren. Still, Remy looked around him in awe. He had never seen anything like this before and wished that he could be training in it right now. "Dis place is magnifique."
Logan practically rolled his eyes. "Quit yer gawking an' get over here," he growled. Remy turned to Logan, already on the practice mats looking at him with impatience, and walked over to him. A few quick stretches and they were facing each other, taking on defensive stances. "No powers," Logan stated. Remy agreed easily.
They started off easily enough, both of them trying to get a feel for the other's fighting style. A few minutes into the fighting and Logan began to attack faster. Still Remy managed to dodge or counter the blows and, grinning, Logan attacked with even more fury. Remy grimaced as one strike connected with his shoulder, the adamantium making it feel like a brick had been slammed into him. He grunted and stumbled back. Logan pressed his advantage and Remy now fought desperately to ward off the attacks that were thrown at him. It wasn't long before Logan had him flat on his back, one knee jammed into his throat keeping him down. Logan grinned and got off him, offering him a hand up which Remy took.
"Again?" Logan asked. Remy didn't answer, just took on another defensive stance and waited for Logan to come at him again.
#
Bobby looked around at those who were gathered in the room with him. They were looking back at him slightly stunned. He enjoyed the attention and the effect that his words had had on everyone.
"Are you sure?" Amara asked.
"Yeah, you're probably reading too much into this," Kitty agreed.
Bobby shook his head enthusiastically. "No, I'm telling you. When they came out of the Professor's office Remy looked like he was comforting Kurt and Kurt was leaning back into him, tail wrapped around his leg and everything. I'm telling you they're together."
"What's the big deal anyway? Who cares if they're together?" Roberto finally spoke up.
Bobby looked at him in horror. "Have you no idea what great gossip this is?"
"I doubt that they want us talking about it to other people." Bobby just glared at him.
Kitty looked down at the bed she was sitting on, ignoring everyone else and playing with a loose thread on the quilt. Jubilee leaned over her and smiled.
"What's the matter Kitty? Jealous," she teased. Kitty looked up at her, indignant, and brushed her bangs aside.
"No," she denied. She played with the thread some more. "But, I never knew that he was… interested in guys. I thought he liked, well, me."
Jubilee barked out laughter. "I knew it! You want all of Kurt's attention to yourself."
"I do not."
"Deny it all you want, you know it's the truth." Bobby and Roberto, sensing that this was going to turn into some female conversation, quickly got up and left the room. The fact that Amara and Jubilee had started glaring at them helped them to get the hint that they were no longer wanted, never mind that it was Bobby's room they were in. Once they were gone, Amara and Jubilee sat down in front of Kitty on Bobby's bed. They stared at her silently and eventually she got frustrated and looked up at them with a huffed out breath.
"Fine. Maybe I am jealous… a little."
"But why? I thought you liked Lance," Amara said, confused.
Kitty smiled momentarily but it disappeared. "I do. I'm just going to miss having Kurt's attention, I guess."
"Well as long as you don't do anything stupid like try to break them up," Jubilee commented, trying to be serious.
Kitty looked at her in surprise. "I wouldn't! Kurt is still my friend." Kitty began to get angry. "I wouldn't hurt him like that."
"All right, calm down." Jubilee tried to dispel the anger that was now radiating from Kitty. Kitty glared for a moment but the defensive posture she had taken relaxed. A knocking at the door distracted them all. Bobby and Sam stuck their heads in, Roberto having left for his own room.
"What do you want?"
"This is my room you know. I want it back." Bobby crossed his arms and stepped in the room.
"Fine. We were done here anyway." Jubilee got up and walked out of the room, Kitty and Amara following her. Bobby and Sam walked further into their shared room and flopped down on their separate beds.
"What were they doing in here anyway?"
"I was telling them that Kurt and Gambit are together."
Sam looked shocked, if not slightly disturbed. "They're gay?"
Bobby looked over at Sam, who was now sitting up on his bed. "Uh, yes? I think so anyway."
"Oh." Sam sat silently for a moment and Bobby studied him.
"You got a problem with that?" Bobby sat up as well and glared angrily at Sam.
"Well, I don't know, I mean..."
"Forget it," Bobby said with a disgusted shake of his head. He stood and began to walk out of the room. "You know, I never thought that a mutant of all people could be prejudiced," Bobby spat over his shoulder as he walked out. Sam watched after him for a moment before dropping his head with a heavy sigh.
A/N: Apparently I am just no good at fast updating, ey? But think of it this way, which would you prefer, for me to update really fast and probably end up doing a crappy job or for me to take my time and do a good job so that you all can actually enjoy the story? Yeah, that's what I thought. Sigh, it probably wouldn't take so long if I actually knew where I wanted to go with this story… I had some ideas but now I'm not sure what I'm doing. Anyway, next chapter Scott and Kurt talk and more Logan and Remy. Probably a bit of Rogue in there to.