Yay…another update…after only twenty-four hours…it's a Krac record!

Four

"You sure you want to do this?" Asli dragged herself into the elaborate gym built in Magneto's secret hideout dressed in a black, long sleeved shirt and black pants-brand spanking new sneakers on her feet. 

Despite the 'Pink Dress Incident' Asli had enjoyed settling in and getting to know her new team-not all of them were as bad as they could have been.  Sabertooth was the only total nut in the bunch.  It had only taken Asli a day and a half to categorize all of Gambit's looks-the particular one he was giving her was 'Mischievous- number 5'. 

"Mais oui petite…De boss man said Cypher must learn self defence…so poor Remy must be de teacher."  He studied her critically, "Mebbe we start with de basics…"

Before Asli had a chance to answer Remy was striking out with a fist towards her face using his extra reach to his advantage.  Ducking she glared at her team-mate, "Hey!"

"Come on petite," Remy looked bored as he threw another punch at Asli-this time going low towards her ribs-again Asli moved out of the way, "How is Remy gonna know how ya fight if ya won't fight?"

Taking what she could recall as a defensive stance Asli blocked a few more of the rapid fire punches Remy was dealing out to her but she didn't hit back.  Sweeping downwards Remy tried to knock Asli's legs out from under her and she was barely able to jump over the attack before he was moving towards her with a new flurry of fists.  Every time Remy attacked, Asli defended using her smaller size as an advantage.

Just as suddenly as he had started Remy stopped and smiled at his student-using 'Interested number 8', "Dat's enough for now…" he wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead brushing his brown hair out of the way, "Ya'll forgot to tell ole Remy how fast ya are."

Using the lull fully to her advantage Asli took a deep breath and sat down heavily, "You didn't ask.  I don't like talking about it."

"Nothing to do with your mutation?" an eyebrow rose in question, "Or somthin' to do with you keeping yer arms covered all de time?"

Asli tried to look innocent but gave up quickly-she really hadn't thought anyone had noticed her tendency to hide her body, "I don't like talking about it."

""Well Petite de be lots of things Remy don like talkin' bout but sometimes ya need to."  His brown eyes looked concerned-Asli couldn't help thinking about how long it had been since anyone had cared.

A sigh ripped it's way out of Asli's throat as she lifted her sleeve to reveal the scars that cris-crossed the pale skin, "A government agency used me as an experiment when I was a kid…they put all kinds of implants inside me to make me a better solider…I got away eventually but it's all still there."

"And here Remy thought Bucket-head was payin' ya to fetch and carry for him." Gambit frowned.

"Nope." Asli pushed herself up not liking the turn the conversation had taken; if there was one thing Asli hated more than the colour pink it was talking about her past, "Is the Hallmark moment over yet?  I'd much rather be trying not to let you kick my ass than talk about my feelings."

"So much for you bein' the sensitive one," Remy smirked, "Guess ole Tinny is de we got to a vrai fille around here…"

Asli frowned and punched Remy lightly in the shoulder, "Leave Pitor alone.  Just because he doesn't suffer the same over abundance of testosterone that the rest of you do-doesn't make him a girl…"

"Over abundance of testosterone?" The smile on Remy's face didn't dim, "Remy likes that…is it terminal? 'Cause the ladies like to heal a poor sick man…"

"You're sick alright….But I wouldn't heal you," Asli couldn't help but return his smile, "I'd leave you to rot."

"That's because you aren't a girl Petite," Remy wisely moved out of Asli's reach as her grey eyes narrowed, "You are one o' de boys…But Remy will say he would rather see you in spandex than de chat…"

"Niet," Remy and Asli turned to see Pitor standing at the gym door shaking his head trying to dislodge that unpretty mental image, "I would not wish that sight on anyone Gambit."

Asli smiled, "I could think of a few who'd deserve it."

"I would hope for a chance to apologize before I angered you that much Cypher." Pitor replied gravely.

"Asli."

"Pardon?" the Russian giant looked down at her confusion on his face.

"You can use my name Pitor," Asli shrugged, "It's not like it's a state secret anymore.  You don't have to use my codename if you don't want to."

He nodded his dark head, a ghost of a smile played around his lips, "Are you finished here Gambit?  Magneto wanted to see Asli."

"Oui Petey," Gambit pulled out 'Pouty number six' to Asli's immense amusement, "De girl is all yours.  From now on you train with Remy every morning hein Petite?"

"Got it-morning equals torture." Asli nodded and followed Pitor's incredibly large back to the door grateful to get away as lightly as she had for her first lesson.

They walked side by side in silence; Pitor slowing his pace to match Asli's much shorter legs.  "I hope you are not angry about your arrival…" he began quietly with his textbook English.

"I'd almost forgotten about you helping to kidnap me." Asli snapped sounding bitter even to her own ears, "Nah, you don't have much choice about it do you?"

Sadness creased his even features, "Niet, I do not." He gave Asli a sideways look, "And neither do you."

Unable to stop herself Asli laughed-she had been sure he had been listening to her conversation with Remy but now she knew.  "You heard that?"

"Я сожалею о вашей боли." His voice was soft.

"You said that to me when I woke up in your arms."  Asli recognized the soft words he had murmured to ease her mind, "What does it mean?"

He stopped and looked as sheepish as a man standing nearly seven feet tall could, "I'm sorry for your pain."

Asli stared up into his deep blue eyes and offered a small smile-it was all she could do not to run away from his display of pity, "That's too much for you to be sorry for my friend. Let's find out what Prince Charming wants."