…My Heroes have always been Cowboys…
This chapter, however small a tribute it may be, is dedicated with the greatest amount of respect possible to my hero; a man whom I first heard as a child, who motivated me when I first started writing, and whose lyrics continue to move my soul to this very day. The Highwayman, The Man in Black, Johnny Cash…
"… and when I reach the other side, I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can. Perhaps I may become a Highwayman again. Or I may simply be a single drop of rain, but I will remain, and I'll be back again…" ---'The Highwayman' by Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash.
Special thanks to Rogue Star, without whose help this would have never gotten posted.
Remy sat in the hall, balancing his wheelchair on two wheels and rocking back and forth as the seconds passed. He promptly let the chair fall to all four wheels when Jean exited the infirmary, hoping he hadn't been caught. He hated to admit it, but without her approval, he would remain in that damned bed for who knows how long.
"Just don't aggravate that leg anymore than it already is. You need to let it heal." Jean smiled, coming behind and pushing the wheelchair bound Cajun into the elevator.
"Of course." Remy repeated as the double doors closed and the elevator lurched to life. Since he was formally 'discharged' from the med bay, he had been receiving constant instructions on what not to do. Remy wondered if it was any better than being strapped to the bed with McCoy constantly keeping watch over him. "Jean?" He asked, looking back at her with an amused grin.
"Yes Remy?" She asked, looking down at him.
He craned his neck around to look at her, letting his red on black eyes quickly trace up and down her body. "You wear a nurse's uniform next time I come for a checkup?"
Jean giggled. "Now Remy, you know we can't." She played along. "We're both already taken."
Gambit shrugged it off. "Think I can handle Cike."
Jean smiled as the elevator doors opened onto the main floor of the institute. "I was talking about Rogue."
"Merci, you right." Remy slapped a hand to his head as she pushed him outside the doors. "I wouldn't have a chance."
Jean laughed again, tossing a casual smile over her shoulder as she left the hallway to Remy. Sighing, Remy leaned back and pulled back, propping his weight on the two back wheels of the chair again as he idly watched the elevator close behind her.
No sooner than the doors slid closed Gambit got out of the chair, grunting as he experimentally put weight on his bad leg.
"Not so bad." He commented, putting a little more weight on the leg.
Quickly he grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and used it to disperse his weight just as he tried to take a step. "Told me to use the chair, didn't say I had to sit in it." He rationalized, making a slow, steady pace for the kitchen using the wheelchair as a walker. Being fed through a tube for three days had a way of forming an appetite.
His mouth salivated the closer he got to the kitchen, hoping and praying that Fred, Rogue, or even Sam had cooked something recently that may still be stored in some Tupperware container. At this point however, he believed he would even settle for one of Kitty's rumored "Muffins of Death".
"Aren't you pushing yourself too far?"
*Uh oh…* Remy thought. *Busted.* At this point, Remy was wishing Logan had caught him drinking on the institute grounds, instead of Rogue catching him out of the wheelchair. He took a breath to compose himself, formed a cocky grin across his face, and did what he knew best. "Remy used to pushing things too far Chere."
Rogue put down the glass of sweet tea she was drinking and crossed her arms. "Tell me about it."
Gambit pushed the chair fully into the kitchen and right up to her. "Cant tell me you don't find it irresistible."
Rogue rolled her eyes. "You may be right, but that don't give you no reason to go on hurtin yourself on count of your infamous hard head."
Gambit narrowed his eyes accusingly. "Who said Remy got a hard head?"
Rogue gave a knowing smile and leaned back against the countertop. "The voice of reason."
"Piotr eh…" Remy thought aloud. "Well, despite what Piotr says, Remy don't need no wheelchair to get around." He gave a triumphant smile and patted his bound knee, a little too hard, but he tried not to show it. "Be just fine walkin."
Rogue decided to put her foot down. "Remy LeBeau you get your ass back in that chair this instant."
He smiled, shifting his supporting weight from the handles of the wheelchair, to leaning against the kitchen countertop. "Love it when you talk dirty to me Chere."
"Remy…"
"I get it; you like the chair don't you?" Remy deadpanned.
"Remy…"
"Think it makes me look intelligent, like de Professor." He continued, ignoring her monotone protest.
"Remy…"
"Don't tink Remy could pull off de Mr. Clean look though." He commented, taking the opportunity to run his fingers through his hair.
"Arg." Rogue gave up, throwing her hands in the air not in anger, but in attempt to stifle the laugh she was about to break into after picturing a bald Remy sitting in a wheelchair looking sophisticated. "Fine!" She took the chair and walked across the kitchen with it. "Your going to hurt yourself anyway so at least let me watch. Come on then Swamp Rat; let's see you walk over here."
"Alright Remy will." Gambit said as he slowly straitened up and began to walk with a limp, his teeth biting down on his bottom lip in an attempt to concentrate away from the pain in his knee. Rogue watched his pitiful display as he half walked, half hobbled and laughed. "Remy just need some practice that's all." He pointed out.
"What Remy needs to do is sit his butt down in that wheelchair." She kicked the wheelchair for emphasis, causing it to roll a little further away from Remy and come to a rest against the refrigerator.
"Nope." Remy said between breaths as he continued his hobble.
"Hey LeBeau, what are you doing up mate?" John asked walking into the kitchen past Remy and standing next to Rogue.
"Remy's all better." He lied as he finally reached the counter Rogue leaned upon and used it as a crutch to stand up straight.
"Hah!" Rogue sounded as she shot Remy a skeptic look. John just blinked as he looked at the two.
"Am I interrupting something?" John asked Rogue, but his question fell upon a pair of deaf ears.
"John, will you please tell him that he needs to take it easy." Rogue ordered as she never broke her piercing glance at Remy.
John opened his mouth…
"John, will you please tell Rogue dat Remy be just fine." Remy shot back.
John opened his mouth…
"John, tell him he is being a stubborn pig-headed fool."
"And tell her she is bein' controllin'." Remy shot back immediately, knowing he was in far too deep to back out now.
John kept his mouth shut this time, waiting on Rogue's reaction.
"I'm being controlling? Well someone's got to keep you from hurting yourself more." Rogue fumed as the argument escalated, both participants forgetting about John in the room.
"Uh, look fella's all I wanted was a coke." John said after a few minutes of listening to them argue. Hadn't they just gotten back together? "Hello…" John tried as his words were ignored. "You Guys!" He tried to call their attention again, but let out a sigh as they continued. "That's right, just ignore me. Don't mind me I'm not here, I'm not important at all. I'm just the poor little old redheaded stepchild that no one wants. Go ahead, talk amongst yourselves, just go about your little argument and pretend I'm not even here. You know one of these days I'm just going to up and leave and you're going to regret the way you treated me and say 'Oh, why did we mistreat and abuse St. John. He was just a great stand up guy and…"
"John will you shut up!" Both Remy and Rogue yelled in unison, temporarily pausing their argument. John jumped back a bit in shock and fear as they both glared at him, then back at each other.
"Don't tell him to shut up." Rogue yelled at Remy.
"He's ma ami." Remy shot back. Now it seemed they were just arguing for the sake of arguing.
"He's my friend too."
"Uh, guys…" John tried to but in.
"Remy's known him longer." Remy argued back ignoring John.
"Ah treat him better." Rogue countered.
"Uh Remy… Sheila…" John tried again to get their attention.
"Stay out of this!" Both shot back at him. John sighed and took a deep breath.
"I get no respect, even when people are arguing over me I get ignored. I swear one of these days's I'm seriously going to leave and then where will you be?" John ranted rather loudly as he walked back out of the kitchen, without his coke.
"What's with him?" Rogue asked, looking to the doorway where John had just disappeared through.
Remy shrugged. "Got me Chere."
"Bloody Southerners…" John mumbled to himself as he stomped loudly through the halls of the Xavier institute. The day just continued to get worse for the Aussie, pretty much anything that happened this morning after he discovered his Zippo was out of fuel was ruined before it even started. Bad karma…
"You look mad enough to eat grass."
John looked up, noticing that he had somehow managed to get to the commons room of the institute, which was actually across the entire building from the kitchen, before he noticed it. He began to wonder exactly who all he had passed in his oblivious ranting state, but found relief when Amara was the only one in the room.
"I swear, they treat me like a dog!" John yelled, stamping his foot to emphasize the point.
Amara giggled, marking her page and setting the book down on the couch. "Well, I like dogs."
John exhaled as he took a seat beside her and leaned his head back. "Wha'ca doing?"
"Nothing, just trying to plot my revenge on Bobby."
John arched an eyebrow up in a silent question.
"Went to the bathroom this morning." Amara filled in. "Bobby had iced down all of the toilet seats."
John clenched a fist in front of his face in mock anger. "Why that frosty bastard…"
Amara grinned evilly, fire showing in her eyes. "Care to help me pay him back?"
~~~:*:~~~
Bobby wasn't sure when the toilet seat idea first came to him. Perhaps it was last Christmas. Of course, there had been a 'Christmas Story' marathon on, and the constant repeating of: tongue + flag pole = humor must have imbedded itself in the young mutants mind. So he altered the formula, butt + toilet seat = the mother of all pranks. His only fear: Logan would be his victim.
*Students…* Xavier's voice sounded in his head. *I would like all of you to report to the Living room.*
"Uh oh…" Bobby said aloud as he rose from his bed. Did they find out it was him? *Of course they did you idiot, who else would ICE down anything.* He smacked a hand to his forehead.
"Well." He shrugged. "What's another month of waxing the Blackbird?" He asked himself as he opened his door.
"BOOGA BOOGA BOOGA!!!!!!!!!" The two monsters, a Werewolf and the creature from the Black Lagoon, roared and burst into the room.
Bobby screamed rushing backwards and tripping over his bed, accidentally icing his ceiling. The water molecules in the air condensed and solidified against the roof, forming crystal stalactites the size of people directly over his bed.
John and Amara, never the ones to miss an opportunity, shared an evil glance.
"Sheila…" John prompted, twisting his hollow-watch and dispensing the Werewolf's image. "A light if you please." He prompted, holding an open hand out to his accomplice.
Amara smiled, turning off her own watch and rubbing her hands together. "Certainly good sir."
Ray was minding his own business walking down the hall when a certain red hared Acolyte nearly knocked him down as he burst from Bobby's room.
"Scuse me." John apologized as he continued to sprint down the hall.
"Hey Ray." Amara called out as she followed suit, catching up to the fleeing John.
"Uh… hey Amara." Ray greeted as he scratched his head. "Bobby, you in there man?" He tapped on the door, still a little miffed at the recent events. "Bobby?" He asked as the door creaked open. "What the Hell?"
Ray looked at the good inch of water on the floor, and the corresponding dripping trailing off the ceiling and down the wall. Bobby sat on his soaked bed, head in hands.
"That's it man." He looked up to Ray as another piece of melted slush fell from the ceiling and hit him on the head. "I'm done, no more pranks for me."
~Meanwhile, in the Living Room.~
"Like, what's going on?"
Kurt looked over at Kitty as she stood by him. "Didn't you hear? Ve have a new student."
"Really?" She asked, suddenly more interested as she tried to look over the top of Jamie's head. "Is that him?" She asked, looking at the young man standing behind the professor.
Kurt started to confirm her suspicion, but was cut off my Rogue's sharp tone as she entered the room, pushing a chair-bound and none too happy Gambit. A panting Amara and John following soon after.
"Will you shut up!" The exasperated Rogue complained.
Gambit kept his arms crossed over his chest as he was parked at the end of the line of students. "Remy just sayin, he coulda walked in here all by himself."
*Ahem* The professor cleared his throat, or rather his mind, causing the students to quite down.
"Well, now that most of us are here." Charles looked around at his students. "Except for Mr. Drake I see."
"Bobby said he's be down in a minute." Ray covered. "He... uh… just got out of the shower." Well, it was the truth, but Ray never felt comfortable lying to a man who could read your thoughts. Amara and John just tried not to laugh.
If Xavier knew he was lying, he didn't show it. "I see." He dismissed, and cleared his throat. "I would like you all to meet our new student, Gabriel Christianson."
The young man standing behind Xavier stepped forward and gave a half-nod, looking at the number of students who had come to see his arrival. He appeared average, average height, average build. His hair was dyed in an odd combination, the bulk of it silver and drawn back into a ponytail, with two brown bangs framing his face. His green eyes looked around at the students standing before him, and he seemed to have no intention of leaving the Professor's side being the only stranger in the room.
"Gabe will be starting his senior year at Bayville next year along with Kurt and Rogue." Xavier spoke warmly, indicating the two students out to Gabe, in the hopes it would ease some of the tension involved with meeting a group of strangers. "I will leave all of you to get acquainted, when you wish I'm sure someone will show you to your room."
"Thanks." Gabe said, looking down at the Professor who smiled and wheeled over to a waiting Logan. No sooner than the Xavier excused himself, the horde of students rushed him.
"Hi, I'm Jean…"
"Amara…"
"Rahne…"
"Kitty…"
"Jubilee, wow, cool hair."
"What just happened?" Scott looked over at Kurt as they watched the girls crowd around the new guy.
"I don't know…" Kurt scratched his head, watching the spectacle. "American girls are veard."
Logan watched the students introduce themselves. He absently sniffed the air; all the while letting his stare bore itself into the back of the young man's head. "So where did you find him?" He finally asked once the Professor reached his side.
"Actually Logan, he found me." Xavier looked up at his friend. "He showed up on the steps of the mansion this morning, a runaway."
Logan briefly looked up and down Gabe's figure. "Pretty well dressed for a runaway."
Xavier raised an eyebrow. "You expect me to turn him away because he is well dressed?"
"Just thinking out loud." Logan scratched his nose.
"How did you hurt your leg?" Gabe asked, looking at the mutant in the wheelchair.
"Huh?" Gambit asked, apparently startled out of his sulking at being forced to sit back in the wheelchair.
Gabe walked over to him. "What happened to your leg?" He asked, indicating the bandaging and soft cast that covered Remy's knee.
"Oh dat." Remy smiled, leaning back in the chair. "Well, I was walking down the street when a bus full of blind orphans ran through an intersection and OW!" He exclaimed as Rogue tapped his knee.
Rogue gave Remy a brief 'Death Glare' before looking back up at the new arrival. "What Remy means to say is he had a motorcycle accident."
"May I?" Gabriel asked, kneeling down and indicating Remy's knee.
Remy raised an eyebrow in question, and watched as Gabe knelt down to his level. The students all formed a circle around the two mutants, watching intently as Gabe removed one of his gloves. Gable gently laid a bare hand on Remy's leg just below the bandages and closed his eyes.
It felt warm. Not hot, nothing close to burning, just a forming warmth that took the place of the pain that previously occupied Remy's torn knee. The warmth spread, up his leg and into his body. His ribs, his shoulder, the cut on his arm, even the headache between his eyes were washed away by the calming warmth.
Gambit shuddered. It felt too good, too easy, almost like something was messing with his mind. But all suspicion was washed away as Gabe removed his hand, and nothing remained, no pain at all.
"Better?" Gabe asked as he smiled and pulled his glove back on.
Remy stamped his leg on the floor a bit, before rising out of the chair and giving a little jump. "Seems good to me Mon ami." Remy reported, looking to Gabe for an explanation.
Logan leaned over to the professor as Gambit began to remove the bandage on his arm, reveling the healed cut. "Powers?"
Xavier smiled wittily. "I would think you could have figured that out by now." He looked back up to Logan to judge the reaction to his light sarcasm, but found the Wolverine's stare remaining on the young man is question. "His powers are odd, and very hard to detect. But they seem similar to Rogue's."
"Don't seem too similar to me, Gumbo's still conscious." Logan commented, suddenly much more interested in their newest arrival.
"No, quite the opposite, it seems that Mr. Christianson possesses the power to give, rather than take, a person life by touching them."
Logan nodded, although his head barely moved, and his eyes remained locked on the silver and brown haired mutant.
Rogue Star1: ROGUE STAR SPECIAL, ROGUE STAR SPECIAL, YAAAAAAA!!!!!! Glad you liked the last chapter, and this one is all you! I heard that 'Cruse Control' was actually supposed to air before 'X23', but the WB decided to move it around. Why? No one knows…
Alwaysright1: Mags ain't dead! Mags ain't dead! He's mixin tracks with Tupac and Elvis in the Arizona desert. I seriously hope Mags ain't dead, jus biding his time for a dramatic re-entry into Evo. As for Mystique, it was a fitting end for her, but I do hope she comes back. Best episode of Evo so far.
keebler-elmo: Drugs are bad mmmmkay… But I guess if this story is the only 'drug' you take I can overlook that. Glad you like it.
Kurtfan5678: I'm sorry, were you trying to tell me something there!?!?! Oh, I see… How about you write this fic if you think you can do a better job! Lol, just kidding. I know Remy's awake pretty soon, but I have to confess the only reason he was in that accident was 1: Get Rogue to admit she really loved him. And 2: So I could show off Gabe's powers in an act of good faith.
Weeble Wobble Chic: Hey, the knob turning really helped. But honestly, bisquick slave? Dough girl? You got some issues… lol
Isahandahalf: Ooooo a Gold star! I'm so proud. And another happy dance, man, should have brought some one's… Crack Bunny Away!
cool-chick-rae: Yeah, the Mystique thing surprised me too. But I was glad, as of late it has been easy to predict things in Evo, glad they still got some things hidden up their sleeves.
Legna_und_so: Thank you for pointing that out. I used one of those free translation sited on the internet and I was expecting some errors. And thanks for the translation offer, I think I'm done with German for now, but if I have a question I'll give you a holler.
Epona: Your parents are supposed to think you're insane; it's all a part of growing up.
Almicene: Best fic on FF.net? You haven't been reading much have you? Seriously, thanks for the complement, but there are much better fics out there than mine, I'm just a reader who writes what I want to read every once and a while. I'll let the X-Men writers do their own thing, they did create characters that have stood the test of time, but if they did somehow come to me for X-Men 3… Anyway, as for Rogue and Remy touching, we'll see…
Man, responding to reviews is hard work, but I love every second of it.
Until next time…
