Chapter Four
The next day dawned as dreary as the previous one but nobody inside the mansion had time to worry about it. Scott had scheduled an early practice session and it was a tired and distracted group that arrived that morning. The atmosphere changed from tense to downright ugly as Remy arrived, late as usual. Most of the time, it was just one of his quirks. Today, however, Betsy suspected it was because he did not really want to be here. Who could blame him? Warren and Rogue glared daggers at the man while Storm very obviously, turned her back on him. Logan did not seem to care and the others seemed unnerved by the tension in the room.
Betsy was not sure how to respond. Should she greet him, allow it to be openly known that she was speaking to him? Should she pretend dislike of him to match Warren's emotions? She would prefer not to do either, to keep it silent for now and avoid the complications trying to help Remy was going to bring. However, she had made the decision to be there for her teammate if he needed her and it would be wrong, not to mention possibly very harmful to him, if she were to back out now.
Her head high and back straight, she began to walk toward him, to greet him. However, before she had taken more than a step, he looked up, catching her eye, and subtly shook his head no. Betsy paused in confusion as he turned away from her and retreated, alone, to a far corner of the room, leaning insolently against the wall as Scott explained the purpose of the exercise. They were to reach the objective, a small sphere in a locked box, retrieve it, and bring it safely to the starting point. It was supposed to be a full team exercise. Betsy mentally predicted it would fail miserably.
She was not wrong. Everyone fulfilled their usual roles, destroying the attacks, covering other's backs...except Remy's. Betsy was disappointed as she saw Warren watch an attack drone line up on Remy and fire, knocking the Cajun to the floor. The winged mutant had a very satisfied smile on his face while the drone lined up for another shot. Betsy cursed silently and quickly lept up to an upper level before launching herself at the drone. The move placed her foolishly at risk but this was a team exercise and a team was built on trust. She trusted her teammates to watch her back. If they failed that trust, it was better to learn it here than in actual battle.
Her foot connected with the drone's gun just in time, causing its force beam to miss Remy by inches. Landing in a crouch, she had to throw herself into a back roll to dodge out of the way as the drone turned its gun on her. It followed her, its programming rating her as more of a threat than Remy and she drew her katana preparing to disable it but the drone's tactical program anticipated the move and fired, knocking the steel from her hand and placing her completely on the defensive. It took aim again but, before it could fire, the drone exploded under the onslaught of several kinetically charged cards. She looked past the smoking metal to see Remy and nodded a thank you. He gave her a mock salute in return before turning back to the exercise, only to hit the ground, again.
Warren's fist had connected firmly with the Cajun's jaw and, now, he stood over Remy's fallen form, yelling at him, "Get up! I saw what you did and you're going to pay for it, you traitor!"
Betsy could hear Scott calling for the danger room to be shut down as she stepped forward and lay a restraining hand on Angel's arm. "Warren, what are you talking about? What did you see him try to do?"
"He attacked you."
Betsy blinked and taking a step back in surprise. "When?"
"Just now, if that drone had not gotten in the way..."
His accusation was interrupted by Scott who came striding over demanding an explanation and Warren immediately responded with his side of the story. "Betsy attacked the drone to save his worthless hide and the Cajun responded with his true colors, attacking her while she was busy. Luckily the drone got in the way and I was able to interfere before he got a second chance."
Betsy was speechless, appalled, and turned to look at the others expecting to see them feel the same. She was unpleasantly shocked to see some of them seemed to buy the winged mutant's version.
Luckily, Scott was not one of those. "Ok, Remy, your turn."
"Remy don't miss. He hit what he aim for." Gambit's voice was harsh and insolent, not asking for understanding or trust and not expecting it.
Betsy could understand and sympathize. Remy felt that he was already judged and saw no reason to explain. Scott was about to say something but Betsy spoke first. "Gambit did not attack me. He was struck by one of the drones and it was moving in for another shot. I intercepted it and lured it away from my fallen teammate. When he was able, Gambit came to my aid and destroyed the drone."
Scott studied her intently, weighing the evidence, and Betsy inwardly sighed as Jean's eyes narrowed in anger. The red-head really needed a reality check.
The leader turned his attention back to the two men. By this time, Remy had regained his feet and was obviously ready if Warren tried anything and Warren was obviously considering just that. "Ok, so it was a misunderstanding. The two of you shake hands and we'll get on with the training."
Warren gave Scott a brief glare. "I'm not shaking his hand. I've never understood why are we even letting him stay here?"
"He's a teammate, Warren."
"He's a traitor, a thief, and a whore!"
Remy did not reply, instead he simply turned his back and walked quickly out of the room.
Warren smiled in triumph and Scott looked like he wanted to say something but Betsy spoke first. "That was uncalled for, Warren."
"It's what he is." Warren turned his glare on her, his eyes sharp, icy blue. "Besides, why are you defending him? For that matter, why did you go after that drone? You were perfectly safe where you were."
"I was helping a teammate in trouble. It is what teammates do. Why didn't you do something about the drone when it attacked?" Betsy intentionally left the question nonspecific. She hoped Warren would realize what he had done.
"If you hadn't put yourself in jeopardy for that traitor..."
Betsy's eyes were as hard and cold as his as she turned and walked out of the room, disgusted with the whole scene.
The next day dawned as dreary as the previous one but nobody inside the mansion had time to worry about it. Scott had scheduled an early practice session and it was a tired and distracted group that arrived that morning. The atmosphere changed from tense to downright ugly as Remy arrived, late as usual. Most of the time, it was just one of his quirks. Today, however, Betsy suspected it was because he did not really want to be here. Who could blame him? Warren and Rogue glared daggers at the man while Storm very obviously, turned her back on him. Logan did not seem to care and the others seemed unnerved by the tension in the room.
Betsy was not sure how to respond. Should she greet him, allow it to be openly known that she was speaking to him? Should she pretend dislike of him to match Warren's emotions? She would prefer not to do either, to keep it silent for now and avoid the complications trying to help Remy was going to bring. However, she had made the decision to be there for her teammate if he needed her and it would be wrong, not to mention possibly very harmful to him, if she were to back out now.
Her head high and back straight, she began to walk toward him, to greet him. However, before she had taken more than a step, he looked up, catching her eye, and subtly shook his head no. Betsy paused in confusion as he turned away from her and retreated, alone, to a far corner of the room, leaning insolently against the wall as Scott explained the purpose of the exercise. They were to reach the objective, a small sphere in a locked box, retrieve it, and bring it safely to the starting point. It was supposed to be a full team exercise. Betsy mentally predicted it would fail miserably.
She was not wrong. Everyone fulfilled their usual roles, destroying the attacks, covering other's backs...except Remy's. Betsy was disappointed as she saw Warren watch an attack drone line up on Remy and fire, knocking the Cajun to the floor. The winged mutant had a very satisfied smile on his face while the drone lined up for another shot. Betsy cursed silently and quickly lept up to an upper level before launching herself at the drone. The move placed her foolishly at risk but this was a team exercise and a team was built on trust. She trusted her teammates to watch her back. If they failed that trust, it was better to learn it here than in actual battle.
Her foot connected with the drone's gun just in time, causing its force beam to miss Remy by inches. Landing in a crouch, she had to throw herself into a back roll to dodge out of the way as the drone turned its gun on her. It followed her, its programming rating her as more of a threat than Remy and she drew her katana preparing to disable it but the drone's tactical program anticipated the move and fired, knocking the steel from her hand and placing her completely on the defensive. It took aim again but, before it could fire, the drone exploded under the onslaught of several kinetically charged cards. She looked past the smoking metal to see Remy and nodded a thank you. He gave her a mock salute in return before turning back to the exercise, only to hit the ground, again.
Warren's fist had connected firmly with the Cajun's jaw and, now, he stood over Remy's fallen form, yelling at him, "Get up! I saw what you did and you're going to pay for it, you traitor!"
Betsy could hear Scott calling for the danger room to be shut down as she stepped forward and lay a restraining hand on Angel's arm. "Warren, what are you talking about? What did you see him try to do?"
"He attacked you."
Betsy blinked and taking a step back in surprise. "When?"
"Just now, if that drone had not gotten in the way..."
His accusation was interrupted by Scott who came striding over demanding an explanation and Warren immediately responded with his side of the story. "Betsy attacked the drone to save his worthless hide and the Cajun responded with his true colors, attacking her while she was busy. Luckily the drone got in the way and I was able to interfere before he got a second chance."
Betsy was speechless, appalled, and turned to look at the others expecting to see them feel the same. She was unpleasantly shocked to see some of them seemed to buy the winged mutant's version.
Luckily, Scott was not one of those. "Ok, Remy, your turn."
"Remy don't miss. He hit what he aim for." Gambit's voice was harsh and insolent, not asking for understanding or trust and not expecting it.
Betsy could understand and sympathize. Remy felt that he was already judged and saw no reason to explain. Scott was about to say something but Betsy spoke first. "Gambit did not attack me. He was struck by one of the drones and it was moving in for another shot. I intercepted it and lured it away from my fallen teammate. When he was able, Gambit came to my aid and destroyed the drone."
Scott studied her intently, weighing the evidence, and Betsy inwardly sighed as Jean's eyes narrowed in anger. The red-head really needed a reality check.
The leader turned his attention back to the two men. By this time, Remy had regained his feet and was obviously ready if Warren tried anything and Warren was obviously considering just that. "Ok, so it was a misunderstanding. The two of you shake hands and we'll get on with the training."
Warren gave Scott a brief glare. "I'm not shaking his hand. I've never understood why are we even letting him stay here?"
"He's a teammate, Warren."
"He's a traitor, a thief, and a whore!"
Remy did not reply, instead he simply turned his back and walked quickly out of the room.
Warren smiled in triumph and Scott looked like he wanted to say something but Betsy spoke first. "That was uncalled for, Warren."
"It's what he is." Warren turned his glare on her, his eyes sharp, icy blue. "Besides, why are you defending him? For that matter, why did you go after that drone? You were perfectly safe where you were."
"I was helping a teammate in trouble. It is what teammates do. Why didn't you do something about the drone when it attacked?" Betsy intentionally left the question nonspecific. She hoped Warren would realize what he had done.
"If you hadn't put yourself in jeopardy for that traitor..."
Betsy's eyes were as hard and cold as his as she turned and walked out of the room, disgusted with the whole scene.