Author's Note: So sorry for the late update! Major writer's block and busy schedule. I was almost done with the story when this great idea popped into my head! So it had to rewrite some of it to put it in! Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews! They made me so happy. I don't know if there is a headquarters for the Acolytes. If there is, I don't know where it is so I kinda guessed.
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-men in any way, shape, or form
~*~*~*~
Chapter 11
A Meeting of Tribulation
After the call from Magneto was finished, Gambit left the house without telling Piotr the truth. Knowing that the distraught Russian would worry about the meeting and probably press to accompany him, Gambit said that he was going out to catch a late movie at the theater instead. Besides, it was best the Piotr didn't know that Magneto was back in town so soon. So Gambit went alone.
He got on his motorcycle and quickly drove to the headquarters, a warehouse on the edge of the city. He was a little worried about why Magneto wanted to see him. What was so urgent? Why did Magneto want to see just him? Granted, Piotr and John were just has skilled as he was to some extent. Even though he was nervous, Gambit forced himself to stay calm and cocky on the outside, like the gambler he was. That was critical. If you wear your expressions on your sleeve, so to speak, the game would be up.
In the dark, Gambit pulled up to the old building and slowly steered the bike into the empty garage. No one was around and the silence hung thick like cream in the menacing air. It gave him the creeps but he knew how to hide it. Forcing up a mask of smugness, he went to search for his boss. He quietly stole into the large main chamber of the building, swaggering like a man with brazen confidence and a huge ego.
"Magneto?" he called out. Even with his skilled thief eyes, he had trouble seeing anything with just the dim floodlights on overhead. "Magneto? It's Gambit."
"You're quick as usual," the deep-voiced mutant spoke up. He was standing behind Gambit, clothed in the lush darkness. "Good."
Gambit paused, caught off guard. But he recovered his wits abruptly and he turned to confront Magneto, flashing a saucy grin. Since when would he let someone sneak up on him like that, he admonished himself. Usually Magneto wasn't the one to hide. That made Gambit all the more nervous.
"You know de Gambit," he retorted, shrugging nonchalantly. "Never late for a mission."
"Did you tell the others where you were going?"
"Nah. Lied."
"Good. I wouldn't want them to blunder my plans," Magneto murmured.
"Plans for what?" Gambit queried, enticed. "What are you going to do this time 'round? You want me to steal something?"
Even with the mask shadowing his face, Gambit could sense that Magneto smirked and didn't like it one bit. "Yes, Gambit, I would like for you to steal something," he replied, his voice as smooth like water. "It's very important and very possible for you capable expertise."
Gambit forced a lopsided grin. "What is it then?" he asked. "A precious jewel? Maybe a valuable ancient artifact?"
"No," Magneto answered. "I want you to steal something from the X-men."
Gambit frowned. "What did you have in mind?"
"The usual, Gambit. Access codes, passwords, cerebro documents and files. Anything at all will prove helpful for me to be one step closer to destroy Xavier."
"Not to give you grief, Magneto, but why now?" Gambit asked. "Does it have anything to do with your work in France?"
"No. The time is right for this mission. France can wait."
"Even with my capable expertise, stealing the secrets of that team can't be done alone," Gambit murmured. "They are very…er…secretive. John could easily hack into their computers."
"Hacking into computers is not what I had in mind," Magneto replied. "This just involves you."
"Only me? And just how would I get secrets from them? Steal into the mansion one night and take whatever looks pretty?"
Magneto chuckled softly, but it sounded like a snake's hiss to Gambit. "You should know what to do, Gambit. You were the one who gave me this idea. That's the reason for the girl, Rogue, right, Gambit?"
Gambit hesitated, icy dread slowly making its way into his body to clutch his heart.
Magneto snickered and stepped closer to him. "I really must applaud your dedication for the team, Gambit," the elder mutant announced. "While I was away in France, you still worked unceasingly for me."
Gambit's stomach twisted into a thousand knots. "So you want me to use Rogue to get secrets about the x-men for you?"
"Naturally. It's a perfect plan. She is guileless enough to fall for anything," Magneto replied. "And since you obviously made her trust you, the job will be as simple as taking candy from a baby and easier than hacking into their computers. Xavier wouldn't know what hit him."
Angry suddenly, Gambit stopped himself from defending her just in time. He needed to play it cool.
"Seems like a good plan," he told Magneto. "But what if Rogue won't do it?"
"If she doesn't, force her, Gambit."
"Looks like you gave this some thought," he remarked. "But what if I won't do it? What if I say no?"
"What?" That took the bastard by surprise. "You wouldn't dare…"
Gambit shrugged. "I could."
"You know I can ruin you, Gambit. I tell the authorities of your unfortunate little mishap in New Orleans," he replied, his voice dropping dangerously as he glared at the boy. "You don't want to meet the police do you?"
"I don't care about that anymore," Gambit vehemently declared. "Tell the police. Tell anyone you fucking what too. I won't do that to Rogue. She trusts me."
"Are you telling me that girl means more to you than your freedom?" Magneto sneered. "Pathetic."
Gambit scowled and murmured, "I quit, Magneto. I quit the Acolytes and I quit being your goddamn puppet." He turned away, determined to walk back to the garage and leave on his bike. But Magneto stopped him.
"I won't let you go that easy, Gambit," he replied. "Sabertooth?"
A low, dangerous growl from the shadows made Gambit jump out of surprise. Eyes shooting quickly over his shoulder, he saw a large dark shadow loom over him. A large clawed hand reached out from the darkness. Before he could defend himself, a heavy blow was delivered to his head and he blacked out, falling to the ground lifelessly.
~*~*~*~
The deed was done and when it was over, Sabertooth sneered when he looked down at his beloved trench coat.
"The blood's never going to wash away," he growled, despising the dark stains on his clothing and clawed hands. On the cold ground before him was the body of Gambit, unconscious, barely alive, and viciously beaten.
"He's bleeding everywhere," Magneto said from behind. "Dispose of him quickly."
"Where?"
Magneto smirked and said, "To the X-men. Let them take care of Gambit. He won't last the night."
Sabertooth nodded and quickly bend down to pluck the heavy body from the ground and tossed him over his shoulder none to gently. His loathing deepened when he noticed that there would be more dark red blood tainting his clothes. He would smell like that dirty Swamp Rat for weeks. Then he slowly trekked out of the headquarters.
The Xavier Institute was quiet when Sabertooth arrived. The only life was come from within the bright walls of the mansion and ground around it was still and dark, a perfect place to leave Gambit.
Growling, Sabertooth grabbed the boy and gracefully tossed his body over the high fence. There was a sickening thud when Gambit landed on the other side that made him smile.
"You are out of our hands now, boy," he murmured and quickly hurried away, knowing that before long Wolverine would catch his scent.
~*~*~*~
As usual Logan was roaming down the hallways of the mansion on his nightly watch. He was suspicious. It was too damn quiet and calm to be a Saturday night. Usually the kids were run up and down the mansion roughhousing like a pack of wild hyenas. It was damn annoying and nerve grating. But, as Logan noted, he much preferred the spirited noise to the ringing silence. When a sanguine scent in the air caught his full attention, his body tensed, ready for action.
"Not so calm after all," he snarled. Sniffing and concentrating on the smell, he didn't notice when Rogue opened the bathroom door and shot him a baffled look.
"Logan?" she asked, toweling of her damp hair. "What are you doing?"
Logan growled low in his throat and glanced at her in the corner of his eye. "I smell that Swamp Rat."
The girl immediately paled, nervous. Her hands stilled for a moment. "Really?"
"Yeah, and a lot of blood," he continued, his metal claws quickly shooting up from the back of his hands.
"Blood?" Rogue echoed. A look of anxiety rushed to the surface of her face. "Remy's blood? Are you sure?"
Logan dashed to a window and quickly threw to open for better access to the scent. He stuck his head outside and took a deep breath and almost choked. "Coming from outside, from the lawn," he murmured. There's so much damn blood in the air, he noticed. "What's going on?"
Rogue was behind him instantly, trying to look through the window. "Logan, what is it?" she demanded, her voice strained and frightened. "Where's Remy?"
Logan turned around, looking dismal. "Rogue, just go to your room and stay there."
She frowned at him, her eyes flashing with anger and annoyance. "I ain't goin' anywhere," she told him, "unless you tell me what's going on."
"I don't know what's going on," Logan lied. "Just stay behind, will ya?" With that he dashed down the hall towards Ororo's room.
"Ororo!" he called out, banging hard on the door. "Open up."
Looking more than a little irritated, the cool-eyed goddess opened her door and frowned at him from across the doorway. She was dressed in her nightclothes with a thick book in her hand. "What is it, Logan?"
"Get McCoy ready in the med-lab."
The prickly annoyance flew out of her blue eyes and was quickly replaced with concern. "Logan, why? Is some hurt?"
"Hurt is an understatement," he growled. "And turn of the security system, too."
She looked confused but nodded anyway. She moved out of her room quickly and hurried down the hall to alert Beast. Logan frowned and ran downstairs, pushing passed the younger mutants on the way to bed. Surprised, they gawked after him, eyeing his bared claws with caution and curiosity.
"Logan, what's wrong?" Scott called from the foyer as Logan threw the front door open.
The older mutant didn't answer him and was in the cool outside in less then five seconds. Sniffing the air to follow the scent, he called over his shoulder, "Anyone of you steps outside the mansion and you will have to deal with me!"
The group of kids forming by the front door murmured, interested and a little frightened by what was going on.
Logan, what's happening? Professor Xavier's voice urgently popped into Logan's brain.
I don't have a clue, Charles, he immediately replied. Someone's hurt. Might be Gambit. I smell his blood and Sabertooth.
Sabertooth? Be careful, Logan.
When Xavier was gone, Logan went back to work. He growled when he noticed where the scent was the strongest. He ran off towards it. It was dark but a few moments later he found the body lying facedown on the cold ground, covered in blood. The scent overwhelmed him and disgusted him. Scowling in concentration, he quickly knelt down next to Gambit and looked for any signs of life.
"Oh, God! Remy!" Rogue's shrill scream pierced the air and sent shivers down Logan's spine.
He frown deepened and quickly looked up. She was suddenly only feet away with Ororo by her side. The woman was trying to Rogue to go back to the mansion but she ignored her. The girl was shaking uncontrollably; her green eyes were wide with shock and horror as she stared at the boy's body. She took a step closer to Gambit, her legs barely supporting her.
Logan saw her pause and shudder violently, her trembling hands shooting up to grip the side of her face. Her saw her eyes glow brilliantly white before a strong, icy wind swept across the yard, tearing vivaciously at the slumbering trees. Overhead, a flash of lightening pierced the dark sky, too bright and dangerous for comfort.
"Rogue, don't!" he yelled at her, knowing that seeing the boy had made her lose control over her pilfered powers.
"I can't stop it!" she sobbed back, frightened, her hands pulling her hair angrily. "I can't control it!"
Fearless, Ororo quickly moved forward and grabbed Rogue, pulling her into a tight, protective hug.
"Don't look at him, child," she murmured softly, covering Rogue's eyes. "Don't look. He'll be all right. Try to calm down, child."
Almost immediately, the monstrous wind and the lightening ceased. An eerie silence returned and Rogue was sobbing without sound against the older, composed mutant.
Logan's frown turned grim when he looked over at Ororo. She gave a stiff nod and slowly led the girl back to the mansion. Then Logan stood up and carefully collected the unconscious boy in his arms.
~*~*~*~
Gambit was down in the med-lab under the apprehensive watch of Ororo, Xavier, Logan, and Hank. He was still unconscious as he lay on the firm bed and stripped of his bloody garments and washed clean. Hank had carefully dressed him in a simple cotton gown after the wounds had been bandaged and broken bones set back into place. Gambit looked ungodly pale as Hank hooked him up to countless beeping machines.
"He's in a terrible condition. He has several broken bones," Hank murmured softly to the other adults, "many cuts, bruises, and suffers from a concussion and a coma. But I don't think there are any internal injuries. He's lost a lot of blood and his heartbeat is weak." He glanced at the other adults and confessed, "I'm amazed he's still alive."
"When will he regain consciousness?" Ororo dreaded to inquire.
Hank shook his head sadly, shrugging his broad shoulders. "I don't know. A day? A week? We just have to wait."
Ororo sighed deeply and shook her head, her long white locks gliding to and fro over her back. "How could this have happened?" she murmured, glancing down sadly to look at the comatose boy. "Did Magneto turn on him?"
Logan snarled. "I smell Sabertooth all over him," he replied with prominent disgust. "It's definitely his handiwork."
"We don't know that for sure until I can look inside his mind, Logan" Xavier commented. "But it looks like that's the case."
"Will he be all right?"
"I'll do all I can, Ororo," Hank murmured. "But it's going to be a long night."
"A long night, indeed." In his wheelchair, Xavier turned around and headed for the door. "I am calling the remaining Acolytes to tell them the news of Gambit."
"If you do, don't you think that they will want to see him immediately?" Ororo asked.
"Yes and I won't deny them either," he answered, his voice grave with solemnity. "If Sabertooth did this to Gambit why would he stop? The other two boys are safer here, at the Institute."
"I agree." Ororo placed a mocha-tinged hand on Xavier's shoulder, stopping him before he exited the lab. "Rogue is still waiting out there, Charles," she told him. "Will you let her see Gambit tonight? She almost lost control when she saw him earlier."
Xavier sighed and pressed his fingers against his tired, aching eyes. "So I have been told, Ororo," he replied. "But it's best that I let her see him. Denying her would only upset her."
Ororo nodded silently in accord and assisted Xavier into the hallway. Outside of the med-lab there was quite a crowd of the younger mutants, standing around in pajamas in the thick apprehensive atmosphere. They looked nervously towards the professor for some answers when he appeared.
Scott was the first to speak up. "Professor, what's going on? Is someone hurt?"
"It's all right," Xavier assured them. "I will speak to you all in the morning. Unfortunately it's too late to talk about it night."
"But, Professor!" Scott pressed, agitated and insulted that Xavier wouldn't confide in him.
"Please go back to your rooms everyone and rest," Xavier calmly proceeded, disregarding the older boy. "Tomorrow you will have your explanation."
The kids murmured in response, accepting Xavier's words, and gradually began to filter out of the passageway until only Kitty, Kurt, Jean, Scott, and Rogue were left. Rogue was sitting down on the bench, shaken and ghostly pale with her slender legs drawn up to her chin. A peaked Kitty sat beside her, a protective arm wrapped tightly around Rogue's trembling shoulders.
"Professor?" Rogue asked. Her normally strong voice was surprisingly weak and unsure as she looked at him, her big eyes longing for to know the truth but more than a little scared.
"You can come inside and see him, Rogue," he told her. He looked at the other students. "Jean, Scott, please give us some time. Kitty and Kurt, you can stay with Rogue if she wants that."
Sniffing, Rogue nodded her head and stood up with Kitty's help.
"Is he gonna be okay, Professor?"
Xavier sighed and said, "I don't know, Rogue. But when you are in the lab, I want you to try to restrain control over your emotions. If you don't, your powers will go unchecked again."
"Yes, sir," she muttered, frowning through a new wave of tears. She wiped them away and swallowed hard. Sighing, she asked in a soft voice, "What happened to him?"
"We suspect Sabertooth," he admitted grimly.
A small, strangled sob escaped Rogue's throat and she quickly placed a hand over her mouth, brow twined with grief. Kitty frowned, full of pity for the trembling older girl, and gently pulled her closer.
"Come on, Rogue," she whispered gently. "Let's go see Remy. He'll be all right."
Rogue shook her head. "No, he won't, Kitty," she rebutted angrily. "You didn't see him out there. He was so bloody, so still. It was like in some horrible movie…"
"Shh, don't, like, think about it. Try to stay calm, like the professor said," the younger girl urged. "Mr. McCoy's, like, taking really good care of him. You'll see."
Rogue did argue and allowed Kitty to escort her into the utilized med-lab with Kurt slowly trailing after them. Once inside, Ororo, Logan, and Hank quickly made room for the younger mutants. It was warm inside the lab and very bright. Machines were beeping constantly, the noise echoing around the quiet room.
Rogue bit her lower lip when she saw Gambit lying on the bed, feeling her control waver at the harrowing sight. Removing herself from Kitty's arms, she cautiously proceeded towards the bedside. Gambit was so pale as he slept and his skin was so bruised and swollen that she could hardly see the familiar, handsome face. He was bounded to so many machines by slender plastic tubes and covered with so many bandages. It looked like something out of a horror film.
She reached out hesitantly, her leather clad fingers shaking. "He looks so weak," she murmured fearfully. "It is all right if I touch him, Mr. McCoy?"
Hank gave a gentle nod.
Gently, almost scared to touch him, Rogue's fingers grazed Gambit's cheek and brushed his messy hair away from his forehead. Tears quickly formed in her eyes, blurring her vision, and glided down her sullen face.
"When will he wake up?" she asked, wincing as her words pressed painfully through her tight, dry throat.
"I wish I knew, Rogue," Hank replied. His grim words were followed by a cumbersome sigh.
"Will he be all right?"
"I'll try my best, Rogue. I really will."
Slowly her composure melted away and she was trembling, sobbing mess. Shaking with anger and grief, she vehemently exclaimed, "This is all my damn fault! He was hurt because of me! Magneto must have found out…" A dozen of glass beakers around the room shuddered before shattering into pieces but she didn't care. He other mutants jumped back with surprise.
"That's so not true, Rogue, and you know it!" Kitty stepped forward to argue. "We don't even, like, know how did it! It could have, like, been anyone!"
"But he's so tore up!" she cried. "What if he dies?"
"Rogue, Gambit's not going to die. Mr. McCoy will do, like, everything to keep him alive. You know he will!"
"Please try to calm down, Rogue!" Ororo pleaded. Her usually calm voice was laced with concern. "Get control of your emotions."
Rogue frowned, knowing that Ororo was right. She bit her lip, concentrating as she forced all her raging sorrow and rage down, locking it behind a false mask of apathy.
Ephemerally composed again, she brushed her tears away and whispered, "This is all my fault." She gently touched Gambit's face again. "Remy, please don't hate me. I'm so sorry this had to happen to you." Sighing tearfully, she sat down on the chair next to the bed. She held his still hand in hers. Even through the leather glove she could feel how cold he was.
"I'm going to stay with him tonight," she said. "I promise to stay in control. I just don't want to leave him alone."
"Of course," Hank replied. Logan and Storm nodded and quietly withdrew from the room.
"Rogue, if you need anything just, like, ask, okay?" Kitty said before she left with Kurt. "I'll phase down here as quickly as I, like, can."
"It's okay," Rogue told her, not looking at the other girl. "You don't need to do that. I just want to be alone."
Kitty sighed, her delicate face contorted as she kept her tears in check, and exited with Kurt before she started to cry her eyes out.
For an hour, Rogue did nothing but watch Gambit sleep in his death-like coma, sometimes crying softly and sometimes feeling as numb as if she had been walking around into the snow with nothing on. Hank moved around the silent lab, checking the machines attached to Gambit as quietly and discreetly as possible with his large blue form. It was late in the night when the door to the lab opened and John and Piotr rushed inside along with Logan. Rogue looked up in surprise.
"Holy shit!" John exclaimed, pausing momentarily to stare of Gambit. "What the fuck happened to him?" (a/n: oh, John. Ever the comic relief ^^;)
"John, Piotr, what are you guys doing here?"
Moving pass John, Piotr silently joined Rogue by the bedside. He rested a large but gentle hand on her shoulder. "We came as soon as Xavier called us, Rogue," he told her.
"He told us that we oughta come by because Gambit was hurt. Fuck, I didn't think it was this bad!" John's voice cracked ad he looked away, his eyes glassy under the white light.
Piotr shot him a sympathetic look before turning back to Rogue and asking, "How are you?"
"I've been better," she replied, wiping away her tears. She looked up into his poised face, her heart breaking when she saw his silent anguish. She reached up and touched his hand. "I'm so sorry this happened especially since your mama just passed away."
Piotr gave a heavy sigh and glanced towards Gambit. "I am sorry too, Rogue. I know how much he means to you."
"So, what happened to him?" John tentatively asked.
"This was not an accident. Gambit's too smart to let himself be overpowered, John," Piotr murmured darkly. "It had to be someone bigger and stronger."
John frowned and asked, "Sabertooth? That's whack, mate! Him and Magneto are in France."
Piotr shook his head. "Gambit went someplace tonight. Some place secret. He lied to me, I knew it, but I didn't question him. Besides, it does look like something Sabertooth is capable of."
John sighed and cautiously moved closer to the bed. "Fucking bastard," he muttered fiercely. "I'll kill him."
"Me too," Rogue murmured softly to herself, her voice hard and stoic.
John looked over at Rogue, his anger replaced with compassion. "How's the Swamp Rat doin'?"
"Not so good," Rogue murmured. "Mr. McCoy said that he's in a coma and has a couple of broken bones."
Piotr shook his head. "I cannot believe this. Magneto will pay for what he's done no matter what."
"Hell, yes, he's gonna pay!" John shouted, furious. "He just can't get way with this shit!"
"But can't Magneto retaliate against y'all or something?"
John shook his head, a grim smile on his face. "Not after this. Piotr, it can't wait. The plan's going to happen tonight."
"Of course."
"Just what are you talking about, kid?" Logan asked from the doorway.
"We can't be on Magneto's side anymore," John told him. "And I have a way that we can get away scot-free and we're going to do it tonight. It can't wait anymore."
"We're? Meaning just you too?" Rogue asked. "If you are going to confront Magneto, it's too dangerous to go by yourselves."
"Yeah, it will be," John replied, glancing down at his inanimate friend. "That's why were taking Wolvie too."
"Excuse me?" Logan queried, frowning.
"Him and whatever other people you can spare."
Logan growled and murmured, "I'll get Storm."
"I'm going too," Rogue spoke up.
Logan looked back at her and shook his head. "Not this time, Stripes. There might be a confrontation and you're in no condition to fight. You could lose control and hurt yourself."
Rogue frowned. "I can handle it. I want Sabertooth and Magneto to pay for what they did to Remy!"
"I know you do," he replied, sighing. "But I can't let you go. Just leave this to us."
Seething with anger, she watched as he left with the Acolytes. Hank sighed when he heard the air around Rogue simmer with electricity, her eyes glowing faintly white.
I might have to give her some sleeping pills before too long, he mused, walking out of the lab to get more bandages for the boy.
Rogue watched as Beast left and quickly jumped to her feet, unsheathing her toxic hand. She flexed it in the bright light, the pallid skin almost porcelain. Glancing towards the door, she made sure that no one was around to barge in and see what she was doing. No one was coming.
"Sorry about this, Remy," she murmured, extending her exposed hand over his face. "If they won't let be go, I'll go my own way."
She held her breath as she touched her fingers to his forehead. Immediately she felt his life forced flow into her body and she automatically wanted to recoil, her body rebelling against the life and memories that were not hers and still burrowing their way inside. She forced herself to stay put and tried not to faint. Concentrating, she willed his memories to wash over her brain, willing herself to rob his mind.
Even with her eyes closed tightly she saw fragmented pieces of his childhood in the bayou, his grueling years as a thief, and even the murder. She saw her own face in his memories, absentmindedly recalling his feelings during their first kiss. She felt his desire, his aching love for her, and the fright that she might find out about his past and hate him for it. Then she saw the old warehouse at the edge of the town. She saw the shadowy figure of Magneto, felt Gambit's apprehension. She glimpsed Sabertooth, his large hand shooting out of the darkness. She felt his punch deep inside her brain. Pain shot throughout her body like a white-hot bolt of lightening.
Rogue moaned as she wrenched her hand away from Gambit. She was weak and trembling to the point where she almost thought she would pass out. Panting, she pulled her glove back on and glanced at Gambit. He was still asleep, tranquil and undisturbed like before.
"I won't let him get away, Remy," she murmured, stepping away from the bedside. She placed her hands over her eyes and concentrated hard on Mystic's power. She felt the shape-shifting power merged to the surface and immediately pictured the fast, silver-headed Pietro.
I want to be Pietro.
She felt her body shift and when she opened her eyes she saw Pietro's hands, his uniform, felt his speed coursing through her body. She didn't waste anytime. Faster than the speed out sound, she ran out of the Institute. She knew where that warehouse was. She hoped that Sabertooth would still be there and that she made it before Logan showed up.
The old warehouse stood at the edge of town, lonely in the surrounding shadows. Rogue stopped it front of it and quickly morphed into herself. It was silent out too and the long rode was empty. No sign of the others. Frowning, she walked up to it, easily finding and opening the garage door with the help of Gambit's memories.
Inside, she saw his red and black bike. But she pressed on until she entered the main part of the warehouse. Shadows were everywhere and that made it easy for Rogue to stay hidden until she saw Sabertooth or Magneto. As quietly as she could, she walked along in the darkness, staying close to the wall. Around the corner of a huge pile of boxes, Rogue peeked passed them and found Sabertooth. At the sight of him, her poisonous anger quickly swelling up in her body like a balloon.
He was frowning and growling loudly as he sloshed the floor with a dirty mop. Rogue looked closer and saw that the ground, as well as Sabertooth himself, was covered in dark red blood. Remy's blood.
"You're all mine now, you fucking bastard!" she yelled, jumping out of the darkness, and immediately blasted Sabertooth with raw laser vision.
The larger mutant didn't have time to protect himself. Roaring angrily, he was shot off his feet by the mere force of the searing beams and flew through the air until he smashed into several large boxes. Rogue continued to blast, stepping closer and closer. Sabertooth was pinned between the boxes and the beams, unable to get free of such extreme energy as she poured all she had into it.
"Don't like to be caught off guard to ya?" she asked. "Don't like being attacked without warning."
Sabertooth growled and finally summoned enough strength to jumped away from the laser beams. Badly burnt, he quickly climbed up the boxes and made his way to the rafters. Rogue saw him pull at one, easily tearing it free from the roof, before hurling it down at her. She conjured up Kitty's powers and the metal rafter phased right through her body.
"You're gonna have to try more than that to take me down!" she told him, levitating high into the air as she recalled Jean's telekinesis, her hair fluttering against her face. "Don't forget that I have everyone's power! Everyone's ability! You don't stand a chance in hell against me, Sabertooth!"
From the darkness, she heard his throaty chuckle. "I'm so scared. You here to defend your worthless boyfriend? How romantic." From the shadows, another beam was thrown towards her as well as several boxes. She worked quickly to blast a wind strong enough to knock them away before they hit her. "Tell me something. Is he dead yet?"
"I won't let you get away with what you did!" she retorted, now using Jean's mind powers to locate him in the dimness. When she did she held him there. Sabertooth growled angrily as he struggled against her grip as she flew towards him, as fast as a missile. Mustering up Blob's strength as well as Mystic's agility, she hurled her fist into the side of his face, breaking his solid jaw.
Sabertooth howled in pain as his head snapped back from the blow. Rogue pulled back and viciously kicked him in the stomach. She spun around in the air and kicked him once more in the face. Then she released her hold on him and he plunged to the ground. He was quick enough to fall on his hands and feet like a cat but he couldn't dodge the sharp wooden spiked that poured down like rain afterwards. Several pierced his skin as they darted by while a couple sliced into his back, sticking deep into his skin and drawing blood. His roar of pain resonated throughout the empty warehouse.
Rogue was ready to summon Scott's laser beams again when suddenly a wall of fire was in front off her, cutting her off from Sabertooth. She screamed her frustration. Too close to the intense heat, Rogue was blinded by the light and didn't see Logan hurling through the air to grab her. When he did, she lost focus and they both fell to the ground. She landed on him and before she could get away, his hands were holding her arms.
"Let me go!" she cried, struggling to get out of Logan's grasp. "Let me go!"
"No way," he replied, tightening his hold. "What the hell were you doing?"
"I was gonna kill him! He deserves to die!"
A look of faint disbelief passed through his face. "Get a hold of yourself, Stripes," he told her. "This ain't like you!"
Rogue froze, his words running deep into her brain. She had lost control just like Gambit had before, lost control and let all her emotions dominate her, making her mindless to anything else.
"Oh, god," she hissed, closing her eyes. She felt all her strength rush out of her like water, leaving her tremendously exhausted. "God, I wasn't thinking…" She felt sick to her stomach. "I need to sit down."
Logan helped her to the ground. There she pulled her knees up to her chest, trembling as the tears came. "I didn't mean to lose control," she told him. "I just wanted him to pay. I think I'm gonna faint. I feel so weak. So tired. Help me, Logan."
He caught her before she hit the ground.
"Is she all right?" Ororo was suddenly at his side, looking down at Rogue's pale face.
"Don't know," he muttered, turning around to place the girl in Ororo's arms. "Take her back to the Institute, will ya? We'll deal with Sabertooth and Magneto."
Ororo nodded and quickly left.
~*~*~*~
Rogue felt incredibly weak when she stirred from her heavy sleep.
"Hey, mate, I think she's coming 'round!" a hushed whisper murmured.
She opened her eyes and drowsily looked up. At first she could only see blurry shapes but once her vision cleared she saw the bright orange hair and the quirky smile.
"John?"
He nodded. "How ya feelin'?"
"Where am I?"
"The institute."
Her mind was so groggy as she tried to piece together what happened. But she could hardly think straight. "What happened?"
John looked shocked. "You don't remember? You went after Sabertooth. Beat him pretty senseless when Logan, Piotr and I got there. You fainted, remember?"
"Barely." Rogue frowned and struggled to sit up. She saw that she was lying on an extra bed close to Gambit. Piotr was close by, a look of melancholy fatigue on his face. "How long have been out?"
"Only about an hour."
"Is Sabertooth dead?"
"Nah just a little insulted that a girl beat him up so badly," John replied. "Man, you can hold your own in battle! Remind me never to get you angry, okay?"
"Sure. Where's Logan?"
"Think he's havin' a nice little chat with Xavier, mate"
Rogue groaned. "I'm gonna be so in much trouble!" she said, burying her face in her hands.
"Don't worry 'bout it, all right?" John muttered. "You did what John and Piotr would have done in any case."
"What happened after I fainted, John? Is it over?"
Piotr gave a nod from where he stood and murmured, "We free men now."
"That's great," she told him, forcing a weak smile. "How did you guys to it?"
"Magneto showed up after you passed out. Piotr and me confronted him, threatened to leak some info to the press if he tried to spill about our…circumstances."
"You blackmailed him?"
"We learned from the best. Then we told Sabertooth to watch his back," John continued. "Would have liked to fight him then and there but Logan said that it wasn't a good idea. You whipped Sabertooth pretty good already, mate."
Rogue sighed and looked over at Gambit. "Has anything changed with Remy?" she asked.
John shrugged. "Big blue guy said that if he makes it to tomorrow night, he should be fine."
Rogue sighed and murmured, "I hope so."
"He will, Rogue. Do not worry."
"Thanks, Piotr. What are you guys going to do now?"
"Xavier offered to put us up for the night and however long we want since we can't go back home," John said. "He's a nice guy, that Xavier. Bloody shame we were his enemy for so long."
"John and I have been thinking about joining the x-men," Piotr told her.
Rogue smiled, genuinely thrilled despite her fatigue, and said, "I hope you do."
"But before I do," he continued softly. "I need to go back to Russia and take care of some things."
"Of course. Are you going back to Australia?"
John shook his head. "And see a family that despises me because I'm a mutant? Fat chance, mate."
"What? Your family hates you? Why did you protect them from Magneto then?"
John smiled and said, "They are my family. Are you going to stay down here for the rest of the night?"
"Yeah. Don't feel right leavin' him alone down here."
John sighed and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and gave her a quick, friendly hug. "Try to get some sleep, okay, mate? You look like you really need it. Gambit's a strong guy. He'll make it."
"Thanks, John."
"No problem." With that, he and Piotr walked out of the lab.
When they were gone, Rogue sighed and turned her attention back to Gambit. She was close enough to reach out and clasp his hand in hers.
"Did you hear that, Remy?" she asked him, her voice trembling. "John and Piotr know that you will be okay. You wanna disappoint them by dyin'? You can do whatever the hell you want now. You're free. Just don't die on me, okay?"
~*~*~*~
Gambit had no idea where he was when he woke up. All he knew was that his body ached something fierce and that the beeping in the air caused his head to throb. He wondered how he ever managed to sleep at all! He felt something wrapped around his hand. It was warm and gentle. He wanted to know who it was. Someone touched his face gently, leaned close to him, and he could smell a sweet fragrance of shampoo lingering in the still air.
"Gambit?"
He knew that voice. It was beautiful, deep, and full of the South. That brought make memories that made him smile even though the aches in his body were damn annoying.
Slowly Gambit managed to open his eyes. "Rogue?" he asked. His voice sounded hoarse and unused to him.
Blurry shapes and fuzzy outlines were all he could see. He blinked and soon his vision sharpened until he could see her pale face looking down at him. Rogue was smiling sweetly and tenderly and there were tears in her green eyes. She looked pale and thin but happy too see him.
"What a face to wake up to," he murmured, cracking a weak smile.
"Hey, there," she whispered softly, tightening her hold on his hand. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired," he murmured drowsily. "Where am I?"
"The med-lab at the institute."
Gambit frowned, his mind still sleepy. "How long have I been out?"
"You were in a coma for about two weeks, Remy."
That shocked him. "Two weeks. Damn!"
"You were beat up pretty badly," Rogue told him, her green eyes glazing over with pain. "I thought that you might not make it."
"Don't cry, chere," Gambit urged when he saw some tears start to fall. "I'm okay now. Just feels like I was ran over by a train a couple of times. That's all." Seeing her distress, he opened his arms. "Get over here, petite. Three weeks is too damn long to stay away from you."
Sniffing, she stood up and gingerly sat down on the edge of the bed. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her down closer until she was resting on her side, snuggled comfortably next to him. He felt the tension in her body evaporate immediately.
"You'll get better," she murmured firmly, leaving no room for argument or doubt, her hands resting on his chest. "You'll be okay now. I was so worried about you, Remy. We all were. The professor even looked into your mind and saw what happened to you."
"Really? Sounds a bit creepy," he muttered, to distracted with Rogue in his arms. "Did anyone go after Sabertooth or Magneto?"
Rogue nodded. "I did."
"Chere…"
"Don't worry. I wasn't hurt."
"What about John and Piotr?"
"John, Piotr, and you are all free from Magneto now," Rogue told him. "They found him the night you were attack and blackmail Magneto to let you guys go. They have been staying here all along and they really want to join the x-men but decided to wait until you woke up. Piotr just got back from Russia, too."
Gambit was amazed. "So much has happened, chère. What else did I miss?"
Rogue offered a small smile. "One time while you were still out, you accidentally charged the machines. They almost blew up before you calmed down. Made Beast half crazy."
Running his fingers gently down her back, Gambit chuckled softly. "Sorry about that, chère."
"Don't worry, Remy. I lost control a couple of times, too," she murmured softly. "I had to take lessons form Ororo to control some of my stronger emotions so I didn't make it storm or blow anything up."
"Really? Which one are those?" he teased.
"Anger and sadness," she replied.
"You don't have to sad anymore, petite. I'm right here and I'm gonna get better," Gambit told her.
Struggling to keep the tears at bay in her beautiful tears, Rogue slowly leaned forward and placed a warm, heartfelt kiss on the tip of his chin. "God, you put me through hell, Remy. If I wasn't so in love with you, I'd so kick your goddamn ass."
She moved away and settled against him again. But Gambit was still reeling from the kiss.
"Um, chère?"
"Yeah?"
"You just kissed me."
Her smile was sheepish, a blushing tainting her wan cheeks. "Yeah."
He was lost. "Skin on skin."
"I've also been taking lessons to control my power," she confessed, her smile widening. "Give me your hand."
Wanting to see where this led, Gambit held up his hand. Rogue smiled when she held up her own hand, small and naked, and pressed her palm against his. Her skin felt warm and soft. Smiling, Gambit entwined their fingers and brought them close to his lips, kissing them.
"Looks like it's a perfect fit to me, chère."
Rogue shared his smile and placed a tender kiss on his lips. "That's what you get," she whispered softly, laughing, "when you get a goth girl from Mississippi and the Cajun swamp rat walking around in the rain."
♥ The End ♥
Author's note: Ah, the cheesy romance is killing me!!! **dies** BTW I lied. This isn't the last chapter! Hee hee. Epilogues are a great thing! ^___^ Sorry for the slow update. I've been so busy with homework and such. Anyway, I really hope you like this chapter and the story! Watch out for the epilogue!