Disclaimer: I do not own, nor am I making any money from, the X-Men movie-
verse. Duncan and Hana belong to Corrinth, as does Ilehana Xavier should
she be mentioned. Star owns Golan, should he be mentioned too. All other
OCs belong to me, especially Blaze and Jessie.
A/N: Post X2 spoilers, and spoilers for Corrinth's Guardians of Destiny, which incidentally is excellent so go read it! You'd be right in thinking I've adapted a few song lyrics and titles for this chapter, if anyone wants to know what they are send me an email and I'll explain. Absolute thank yous as always when I write emotional scenes to my wonderful boyfriend, you are my inspiration. Reviews always appreciated.
Scene 10
"Rem, I..." Blaze and Jessica both stood to greet Gambit as he stood like a statue in the soft darkness. Jessie tried to smile, alleviate the sudden well of tension that oozed up to swallow the adults, but they didn't notice her efforts. Never before in her life would Blaze have been so glad to drop dead, be eaten up by the cold earth. But she didn't and wasn't, knowing that with every second that Gambit just stood there cast in stone to her she had to say something. But what in all existence could she say?
"I'll take those..." Jess sidled up to Gambit and took the pizza boxes out of his slipping grip, before heading off into the night calling back "I'll be in the gazebo..."
"Je suis vraiment désolé..." Blaze, Laura apologised sincerely whilst avoiding Remy's eyes. French seemed so much more suitable than English, how they'd conducted their first conversations so many years ago. "Je n'avias pas l'intention de..."
"Don't apologise Laura." There was so much feeling in his tone that he forced her to look at him. The second their eyes met, Blaze felt her breath dragged out of her. Was this how it was to end? Friendship destroyed by the clumsy words of their own daughter?
"But I..." She tried to speak again and so quickly ran out of words. Seventeen years and now she ran out of things to say, of clever replies, easy dismissals, and sharp responses to cover how she felt, to protect the man she loved and was so afraid to lose. The first cut is the deepest, and Gambit was scarred beyond belief even before Blaze had met him. She knew with death-like certainty he could not return her feelings.
"Shush." Remy told her gently, steeling himself to move closer to her, take her shivering hand in his, drink in her deep brown eyes as if for the last time under the cruel starlight. "Don't try an' explain. Don't try an' do anythin'." What now, he thought, stalling for time. Seventeen years and he'd never prepared himself for this night. Sure, they slept together, but it was an infrequent and almost distant affair. Never in so many years had they woken the following morning besides each other as a couple might. Never would they admit how much each had transformed the other. Why? Fear? If so, of what? Men like the deceased Alessandro Jacobi who would try to use their feelings as weapons against them? It had driven them apart when they were so close to a mysterious truth before. But what of now, tonight? What was he afraid of?
Blaze's eyes dropped to the floor and she withdrew her hand from his grasp with practiced ease. Give Remy a second; he'd come up with some reason for him to be leaving. Let him go and she'd never see him again, but what else could she ever do? Become so bitter she'd do anything to destroy him and any girl who ever got close to him again? She wouldn't be the first, second or third to try it. But after a few moments that lasted as long as the earth he was still stood there. So close, almost close enough to hear his heart beating, almost close enough for her to begin to hope... But she couldn't allow herself that luxury.
"If you're leaving, then go." She stuttered, through her mutation always so emotional and now so near to breaking down. "I won't blame you, you owe me nothing. You were always going to find this out sometime, that I love you."
"Chere..." He started, longing that she'd look at him. "Laura, Gambit know for ten years... L'amour pas par degré..." She glanced up as he quoted the words she'd used almost as a weapon against his ex-fiancée Belladonna. Love not by degree. He held her eyes again, captivated her like a frightened deer facing the headlights alone. "But you left then and Gambit never got a chance to reply. All these years since, you bin so hurt I'se thought there nothin' left for me."
"Now you know why." Laura whispered, not able to breathe in the closeness of the night, the nearness of his body, the longing for his kiss.
"Now I know." He echoed in a heartfelt whisper of his own, lowering his lips to hers as she reacted and tilted her head to the stars, eyelashes brushing her cheek, hair so soft to his touch. In the second before his lips brushed hers he admitted so softly "I love you too."
And they understood, for the first time, what was meant to be between them. Falling in love was just part of the plan. A kiss so tender passed between them they half wondered why this had taken them so long. But then all thoughts were lost as his hands stroked her spine and hair, her long elegant fingers found their way to run over the back of his neck. Gasping breath clouded the cold air, ribbons of ardent fire wrapped around both their bodies like ancient magic, demanding they both surrender...
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"Beast!" Jessie laughed out loud as she saw what was happening, exclaiming as positively as she knew how. "But yuk anyway!" Blaze pulled away fractionally first, smiling, honestly happy. Gambit held his eyes closed, savouring her sweet taste, heart pounding and somewhere that small voice he had cultured to protect himself telling him he was a fool. He forcefully shut it up, condemned it to an old life he wanted no more of. He opened his eyes and was rewarded with Laura's so innocent smile, brown eyes so deep he could drown in them...
"Pizza's going cold!" Jessie leaned right over the railing of the gazebo to yell at them. "I'll eat it all if you don't get over here... Wow that was quick!"
"Hey, I haven't eaten yet tonight!" Blaze announced, unable to stop smiling as she wrenched a pizza box off the child and opened it.
"Not since dinner anyways." Gambit offered slyly, reaching over his partner's shoulder to pinch the first slice.
"Eugh!" Blaze exclaimed as Jessica too took a piece. "What with the olives Rem? You know they're about the only food I can't stand."
"It the only way to stop you eatin' it all before anyone else gets some." Gambit offered, smiling as he took a seat, long legs stretched out in front of him. Comfortable, he took and charged a card as a makeshift campfire, placing the glowing ace of hearts in the centre of the gazebo floor and keeping a finger on it to stop it from exploding. Jessie laughed as she sat opposite, leaning on the railing and beginning to pluck the olives off the pizza slice herself. Hesitantly Blaze sat besides Gambit, relieved as he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. He felt it too then, this undeniable need to be close right now? Giving in she leant back against him, enjoying the warmth of his body against hers. The first pizza box on her knee, Blaze took the olives from her slice and added them to a remaining piece.
"You order this icky stuff, you can bloomin' well eat it." Blaze told him, still not able to offer an expression darker than a sweet smile. Jessica was rapt, on the verge of a fit of giggles.
"I can't wait until I can tell everyone!" The child admitted. "This is so the best gossip since I got here!"
"Don't you dare!" Warned Blaze, blushing at the thought of all those pupils finding out about this, let alone all the X-Men...
"Oh yeah?" Countered Remy at the same time, "An' whatcha gonna say about bein' out of bed at this hour? You be grounded 'til forever."
"Oh..." Jessie sulked, pouting just like her Dad, Blaze thought. "Well you better just tell everyone soon anyway, or I don't think I'll be able to keep quiet." There was honesty more than any threat in Jess' voice, for which both her parents were very proud. "And if you ever, you know, get married or anything, I wanna be a bridesmaid, seeing as I set you up and all."
Even as Blaze blushed at the thought, Remy leaned forward and brushed his daughter's cheek with a finger, smiling. They'd waited so long for someone to put them together, how fitting it was their own child...
"That you did, little one. And thank you."
A/N: Post X2 spoilers, and spoilers for Corrinth's Guardians of Destiny, which incidentally is excellent so go read it! You'd be right in thinking I've adapted a few song lyrics and titles for this chapter, if anyone wants to know what they are send me an email and I'll explain. Absolute thank yous as always when I write emotional scenes to my wonderful boyfriend, you are my inspiration. Reviews always appreciated.
Scene 10
"Rem, I..." Blaze and Jessica both stood to greet Gambit as he stood like a statue in the soft darkness. Jessie tried to smile, alleviate the sudden well of tension that oozed up to swallow the adults, but they didn't notice her efforts. Never before in her life would Blaze have been so glad to drop dead, be eaten up by the cold earth. But she didn't and wasn't, knowing that with every second that Gambit just stood there cast in stone to her she had to say something. But what in all existence could she say?
"I'll take those..." Jess sidled up to Gambit and took the pizza boxes out of his slipping grip, before heading off into the night calling back "I'll be in the gazebo..."
"Je suis vraiment désolé..." Blaze, Laura apologised sincerely whilst avoiding Remy's eyes. French seemed so much more suitable than English, how they'd conducted their first conversations so many years ago. "Je n'avias pas l'intention de..."
"Don't apologise Laura." There was so much feeling in his tone that he forced her to look at him. The second their eyes met, Blaze felt her breath dragged out of her. Was this how it was to end? Friendship destroyed by the clumsy words of their own daughter?
"But I..." She tried to speak again and so quickly ran out of words. Seventeen years and now she ran out of things to say, of clever replies, easy dismissals, and sharp responses to cover how she felt, to protect the man she loved and was so afraid to lose. The first cut is the deepest, and Gambit was scarred beyond belief even before Blaze had met him. She knew with death-like certainty he could not return her feelings.
"Shush." Remy told her gently, steeling himself to move closer to her, take her shivering hand in his, drink in her deep brown eyes as if for the last time under the cruel starlight. "Don't try an' explain. Don't try an' do anythin'." What now, he thought, stalling for time. Seventeen years and he'd never prepared himself for this night. Sure, they slept together, but it was an infrequent and almost distant affair. Never in so many years had they woken the following morning besides each other as a couple might. Never would they admit how much each had transformed the other. Why? Fear? If so, of what? Men like the deceased Alessandro Jacobi who would try to use their feelings as weapons against them? It had driven them apart when they were so close to a mysterious truth before. But what of now, tonight? What was he afraid of?
Blaze's eyes dropped to the floor and she withdrew her hand from his grasp with practiced ease. Give Remy a second; he'd come up with some reason for him to be leaving. Let him go and she'd never see him again, but what else could she ever do? Become so bitter she'd do anything to destroy him and any girl who ever got close to him again? She wouldn't be the first, second or third to try it. But after a few moments that lasted as long as the earth he was still stood there. So close, almost close enough to hear his heart beating, almost close enough for her to begin to hope... But she couldn't allow herself that luxury.
"If you're leaving, then go." She stuttered, through her mutation always so emotional and now so near to breaking down. "I won't blame you, you owe me nothing. You were always going to find this out sometime, that I love you."
"Chere..." He started, longing that she'd look at him. "Laura, Gambit know for ten years... L'amour pas par degré..." She glanced up as he quoted the words she'd used almost as a weapon against his ex-fiancée Belladonna. Love not by degree. He held her eyes again, captivated her like a frightened deer facing the headlights alone. "But you left then and Gambit never got a chance to reply. All these years since, you bin so hurt I'se thought there nothin' left for me."
"Now you know why." Laura whispered, not able to breathe in the closeness of the night, the nearness of his body, the longing for his kiss.
"Now I know." He echoed in a heartfelt whisper of his own, lowering his lips to hers as she reacted and tilted her head to the stars, eyelashes brushing her cheek, hair so soft to his touch. In the second before his lips brushed hers he admitted so softly "I love you too."
And they understood, for the first time, what was meant to be between them. Falling in love was just part of the plan. A kiss so tender passed between them they half wondered why this had taken them so long. But then all thoughts were lost as his hands stroked her spine and hair, her long elegant fingers found their way to run over the back of his neck. Gasping breath clouded the cold air, ribbons of ardent fire wrapped around both their bodies like ancient magic, demanding they both surrender...
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Beast!" Jessie laughed out loud as she saw what was happening, exclaiming as positively as she knew how. "But yuk anyway!" Blaze pulled away fractionally first, smiling, honestly happy. Gambit held his eyes closed, savouring her sweet taste, heart pounding and somewhere that small voice he had cultured to protect himself telling him he was a fool. He forcefully shut it up, condemned it to an old life he wanted no more of. He opened his eyes and was rewarded with Laura's so innocent smile, brown eyes so deep he could drown in them...
"Pizza's going cold!" Jessie leaned right over the railing of the gazebo to yell at them. "I'll eat it all if you don't get over here... Wow that was quick!"
"Hey, I haven't eaten yet tonight!" Blaze announced, unable to stop smiling as she wrenched a pizza box off the child and opened it.
"Not since dinner anyways." Gambit offered slyly, reaching over his partner's shoulder to pinch the first slice.
"Eugh!" Blaze exclaimed as Jessica too took a piece. "What with the olives Rem? You know they're about the only food I can't stand."
"It the only way to stop you eatin' it all before anyone else gets some." Gambit offered, smiling as he took a seat, long legs stretched out in front of him. Comfortable, he took and charged a card as a makeshift campfire, placing the glowing ace of hearts in the centre of the gazebo floor and keeping a finger on it to stop it from exploding. Jessie laughed as she sat opposite, leaning on the railing and beginning to pluck the olives off the pizza slice herself. Hesitantly Blaze sat besides Gambit, relieved as he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. He felt it too then, this undeniable need to be close right now? Giving in she leant back against him, enjoying the warmth of his body against hers. The first pizza box on her knee, Blaze took the olives from her slice and added them to a remaining piece.
"You order this icky stuff, you can bloomin' well eat it." Blaze told him, still not able to offer an expression darker than a sweet smile. Jessica was rapt, on the verge of a fit of giggles.
"I can't wait until I can tell everyone!" The child admitted. "This is so the best gossip since I got here!"
"Don't you dare!" Warned Blaze, blushing at the thought of all those pupils finding out about this, let alone all the X-Men...
"Oh yeah?" Countered Remy at the same time, "An' whatcha gonna say about bein' out of bed at this hour? You be grounded 'til forever."
"Oh..." Jessie sulked, pouting just like her Dad, Blaze thought. "Well you better just tell everyone soon anyway, or I don't think I'll be able to keep quiet." There was honesty more than any threat in Jess' voice, for which both her parents were very proud. "And if you ever, you know, get married or anything, I wanna be a bridesmaid, seeing as I set you up and all."
Even as Blaze blushed at the thought, Remy leaned forward and brushed his daughter's cheek with a finger, smiling. They'd waited so long for someone to put them together, how fitting it was their own child...
"That you did, little one. And thank you."