Disclaimer: I own a CD-player that I use too much, I'm musically infected...
Shadow-Spider Had to remember sometime, right? It's his life. He's remembering more now, but I kinda piled it up, because it's not the kind of memories important for the story...
Ima Super Mute Ant You made a little rhyme, just for me. I'm honored. Yay!
Star-of-Chaos Well, resolving, resolving, maybe not so much as 'resolving' but more something along the lines of 'more-or-less-knowing'...Good luck with yours! Naked scene coming up, btw!
RoguesHeart I have a solution. Why don't we just cut Remy in two? That way we can each have half. Great idea don't you think? Now, where did I leave that circle saw...
Rogue14 You got it!
SickmindedSucker The train wagon thing was a reference to the comic Ultimate X-men, he didn't look that bad in that one...Anyway, thanx for not disliking the chapter. :)
Caliente He'll get better, it's just an initial burst. Cannon? I'm assuming that's a good thing. Nah, Rogue has no clue on the Guild and sorry if I insulted your linguistic knowledge in any way ( I don't even speak proper English, so who am I to talk...) And I remember X-men #1, he-he-he...that was fun.
Dark Elf3 #F is for friends who do stuff together, U is for you and me, N is for anywhere and anytime at all. Down here in the deep blue sea.# #musical intermezzo# *voice change into something that sounds like deep evil* #F is for fire that burns down the whole place, U is for uranium bombs, N is for no survivors, when you...# *achem* Sorry i'm getting carried away. It's a song from Sponge-Bob Squarepants, the whole show is very silly, but I kinda like it. I'm sad, I know.
Piotr's Girl Bringing on the clothing right now. And some light music to go along...Indeed the trench has to be there and _only_ Remy may wear one.
Ishandahalf Indeed we cannot. At all. Bunny on crack is trying to make a deal with me...8)
Andi I can't complain on the review thing, can I?...but I will: keep reviewing and i'll keep writing.
Bitrona It's not depressing, it's good. He shaved off that silly pluck of hair that looked more like a misplaced gnome-toupee! How can that be wrong? :) The clothes are getting changed right now...Finally!
Leann Oh, he'll find someone...wait and see...don't get fired, you'll make me feel very guilty and I'll start using crack, you got any left?
Lyrafan Wow, so many reviews! Love it! Bobby as a comic fanatic is essential, just like his Twinkie addiction. Torturing Scott is fun! But he's an okay guy in this story, can't have all fun can I? :) Goatee had to go. Just had to.
Lladyred01 No turning back now, he's gonna remember a whole lot more. And I tried to make Wolverine hate Gambit, but I just can't seem to manage, they're too much alike...:)
Yersi Fanel Well, the not remembering powers is short lived...but we had fun in the process, right? :) Here's more!
A/N Okay, so the only really interesting thing starts at the very end of this chapter, but I just had to involve music and stupid shirts into this story.
Oh and the naked scene was an idea from Star-Of-Chaos, so don't blame me for any disturbing thoughts/ideas you might get. ;)
**********************************************
This is our 'Music from the Bachelors Den'
Fissie
Meanwhile on the field, Remy was encountering certain difficulties. The ball he had charged exploded at impact threw the basket to the floor. He tried to lift it back up again and charged the thing as well. The explosion hurled him onto the floor. He tried to get up and by doing so he accidentally charged a part of the concrete too.
By the time the team reached the basketball court, the whole scene looked more like a combat zone after a nuclear war. In the middle of a small but still crater stood Gambit his hands up in the air, trying not to touch anything, cursing every curse he could come up with. Apparently Remy was quite a creative soul. His ankle was sprained all over again and he had a bloody gash on his face. His arm was hurting too, but he didn't dare touching it, fearing to charge his shirt and possibly even his own arm. So cursing was really his only option right now.
''Calm down.'' Beast tried.
''Calm down? Calm down?! Come down here an' say dat again, 'f y' dare!''
Hank didn't dare. Everything the kid touched turned into an explosive, which he did not find a nice prospect.
''Remy. If you could stop the colorful speech, perhaps you can remember how to control your powers again.''
''Yes,'' Xavier continued. ''Do you remember when they first kicked in? Or any other time that you used them?''
The pink glow returned to Remy's hands. In one instant movement, based completely on instinct Remy grabbed one of the aces he had stuffed in his pocket, charged it and flung it away. It felt good. Familiar, normal. The way it used to be, somehow...
Smiling his most charming smile, he gave her a card. She accepted it. She looked a bit phased, which made her even more sweet. It was an evil move, he knew that, but he loved being evil. It was just one of those simple pleasures in life he could not and did not want to evade. He made a dramatic exit, leaving her stupefied with a card in her hand. She was a really beautiful girl. Too bad she was the enemy, it could've been magic. Somehow he couldn't stop grinning.
~Well, dat was one messed up nonsense mem'ry.~ But it did made him recall every detail of his power. He charged, but was also able to retrieve the charge. That was very useful information, because he had put one hand in his pocket and his trousers were now glowing. Remy concentrated and the glow diminished leaving his pants intact.
''Think I got de hand o' it now.'' He looked around and couldn't help but smile at the mess. ''I'll get y' a new court f'r Christmas.''
''That is quite all right. Accidents like these happen here, it's no problem.''
''Bet y' wouldn' be sayin' dat 'f I charged de library.''
''Probably not.''
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
The following morning
''Come on Cajun! We want to be there _before_ closing time!''
Briefly the question 'Why?' popped in Remy's head, but he wisely decided not to let any one know what he found out about himself yesterday.
''Comin' chere, jus' dryin' m' hair.''
~Great, that's all Ah need: A vain swamp rat.~ She opened the door and stepped in, thinking he had said 'come in' not 'coming'. It's the accent, it's just very confusing...
At that precise moment Remy stepped out of the bathroom, butt-naked. He didn't expect to see anyone in the room, so he jumped back in surprise, tripped over the towel he had been drying himself with, bumped his head on the toilet seat and fell to the ground.
''Ouch.'' He rubbed his head.
Rogue rushed to aid him but stopped when she got closer to the bathroom. ''Oh mah God!'', She said when she saw Remy lying on the floor. ~Naked.~ Indeed.
''Close.'' He grinned pretending not to be startled by her walking in on him, but quickly wrapped a towel around his waist anyway.
''Sorry.'' Rogue said while stepping away from the bathroom and putting a hand on over her eyes
'''S okay.'' He stood up and carefully stepped out of the bathroom to his bed, where he had laid out the clothes he was going to wear today, it's not like he had much choice, but he did it anyway. Habits are hard to beat, even forgotten habits. Rogue was still standing in his room with her hand over her eyes.
''Chere, why you still here?''
''Eh, don't know. Can Ah open mah eyes?''
''Y'r peeking anyway, so why not?''
''Don't flatter yourself.'' Rogue opened her eyes and saw Remy. ~Wow.~ Indeed. ''Ah'll wait downstairs.'' Quickly she left the scenes.
~Dat girl's even nicer when she's blushin'. I can see a new habit comin' up...~
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Mall timeThe first store they entered was a store that had baggy pants, Vans, skateboards and lots of black shirts with text written on them. Kitty thought the place was awful, but Rogue assured them they would find nice clothes for Remy there. And immediately started searching the right size pants for him.
Leaving the girls to the pants, Remy went through the racks with shirts. Not really caring for a shirt like these, but not wanting to disappoint Rouge, he decided to try a few. The first one he took from the rack had the text 'Hello, I see the assassins have failed' on them. Somehow the shirt radiated bad karma. Quickly Remy put it back.
Rogue approached him carrying five pants.
''Do you see anything you like?''
''I see a girl wid my pants in her hands, I like.'' Remy grinned.
''Ah meant the shirts.''
''Oh, yeah. How bout dis one?'' The shirt in his hands read 'Please tell your boobs to stop staring at my eyes'.
''Oh, ha-ha.'' Rogue retorted sarcastically.
Remy searched some more and found a shirt with text on the back. 'If you can read this, the bitch fell off'. A typical biker shirt.
The Hell's Angel passed the two youngsters sitting on the sidewalk with amazing speed.
''Wow.'' Remy almost drooled at the sight of the bike.
Lapin was equally stunned. ''I need t' get me dat bike.'' He said obsessed already.
''Didn't you see de man on de bike? He not one t' mess wid.''
''He's not gonna find out who took it.''
''Oui, cos no one's gonna take it.''
''Oh, come on. Please. F'r y'r cousin.''
''Are you poutin'?'' Remy asked incredulously. ''What are y' tryin' t' do? Make m' feel sorry f'r y'?''
''Don' know. Is it workin'?''
''Non.''
''It had a custom made leather seat.'' Lapin whined.
''Yah, custom made f'r his ass, not f'r y'rs.''
''I can adapt. He wen' dat way. Come on!'' Lapin stood up and pulled Remy's arm.
''Dis is gonna be somethin' I'm gonna regret, right?''
''Probably.''
Remy grinned.
''Remy? Are you still with us?'' Kitty asked.
''Yeah, jus' remembered m' first bike.''
The air, the wind, absolute freedom. The bike roared, the wind whirled through his hair. Another turn, and another hill. Absolute freedom. Another sharp turn, he pushed the bike to its limits. He closed his eyes, guided only by his spatial awareness. Another turn...
The lake was particularly cold for a spring day as he swam towards the boarder, seeing his bike slowly sinking to the bottom...
''Remind m' t' get m'self a bike.''
They left the store after buying two pairs of trousers and one shirt.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
The second stop was made to a small second hand store, that Remy had insisted on going to, where they found a trench coat.
He put it on immediately when they left the store.
Kitty looked at it with disgust plain on her face. ''You couldn't possibly find an older, dirtier coat, right?''
He turned to the shop to asses the situation, from her he could see a few more coats. ''Non.''
''Why buy that filthy thing? There's a million better nicer coats in a million better nicer shops, why pick _that_ dirty old one in _that_ store?''
''Look, a shoe store.'' Remy pointed to a shop a few steps away. It only had woman's shoes and boots and the only reason Remy pointed it out was to stop Kitty from nagging.
''Ohh. Those are like totally cool.'' It worked.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
After having bought Kitty a new pair of shoes, which Rogue considered the most horrid shoes in the world, Remy spotted another store. That looked more like it.
''How 'bout dat store?''
''The one with the Armani shirts in the window?'' Rouge said cynically.
''Oui. Look like a place t' get m' some nicer clothes, non?''
''Too expensive.'' Rogue stated, grabbed his arm and dragged him to a more normal clothing store. Briefly Remy looked at one of the black Armani suits inside the store.
''You die now!'' A figure approached him and grabbed his collar.
''Mind gettin' off me? Dis is a new shirt.''
''How dare you make advances on my sister!''
''Me? Advances? What y' talkin' 'bout?''
''You don't fool me, Thief!'' A knife appeared in his hand and the guy aimed it at his heart.
Remy stood still, absolutely petrified. He felt the same fear he had felt back then, whenever 'then' was. ~What de fuck was dat?~
''What's wrong?'' Rogue asked almost kindly.
Remy shook his head. ''Nothin'.''
Rogue didn't belief it at all, but decided not to ask further.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
In between all the clothing stores, Remy entered the small store explaining he needed some things that were even more essential than clothing.
He took a pack of cards and a pack of cigarettes and approached the counter.
''Anything else?'' The girl behind the counter asked.
''Nothin' money can buy.'' He leaned on the counter and gave her a prize-winning smile. Rogue spotted that behavior; it was very similar to the grin he gave her before handing her that damned charged card.
''How bout you an' me go get some dinner t'night, ey?'' He proposed grinning.
The girl smiled back at him seductively. She took a small note wrote something on it and handed it to him. ''Call me.''
Remy took the note, folded it, placed it in his pocket and smiled. ''Sure will, chere.'' He turned around and elegantly walked out of the store.
Having seen this display of repulsive mushiness, Rogue felt the need to throw up as she walked out of the store behind him. Then a thought struck her. He hadn't paid.
''Hey, Swamp Rat! You forgot to pay.''
Remy continued walking, not shocked by this revelation.
''She didn' ask m' f'r m' money.'' He shrugged.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
When did Remy loose control over the situation? They were shopping for him and yet he still found himself more time sitting and waiting outside fitting-rooms than actually fitting clothes inside fitting-rooms.
''Damn!'' Came the Southern sweet voice from within one of the rooms.
''Need help, chere?''
''In your dreams!''
Remy raised his hands. ''Jus' askin'.''
Kitty came out of another room, wearing a white shirt. Again.
''I don't know...what do you think?'' She asked Remy.
''For de fifth time: it looks great on y'.'' ~An' here we go again.~
''But don't you think it makes my...''
''Non.''
''And my...''
''Non.''
''And the...''
''Non.''
''But...''
''Non. It's perfect.''
''And the color?''
Remy sighed, again. ''De color? Chere, it's a _white_ _shirt_.''
''Its a blouse. And its pearl.'' Kitty answered annoyed.
''Whatever.''
Kitty decided to ignore the comments of the fashion-neglect sitting there and turned to the fitting-room Rogue was in. ''Rogue? Are you ready?''
''Yeah.'' Was the short answer.
''Well?''
''What?''
''Aren't you going to show us?'' Kitty insisted.
''No.''
''Oh, come on! I want to see it!'' Kitty whined.
She stepped out of the room wearing a sort of black Japanese gown with hints of red. She knew it was a bit too much, but she really liked it and was thinking of buying it to keep it for a special occasion.
''Wow! That looks, like, so great!'' Kitty screeched.
Rogue smiled. ''Cajun? You're drooling.'' She said amused that the smart-ass Cajun had absolutely nothing to say and was openly staring at her. She knew she should've been annoyed, but somehow she didn't mind the attention he was giving her.
Remy passed a hand under his mouth, pretending to wipe the drool away. ''Chere, you lookin' fine.'' Yup, he really had nothing witty to remark.
''Ah know. Take a cold shower.''
''Only 'f y' join m'.'' Rogue sighed. Well, it couldn't last forever could it?
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
After more, many more stores Kitty came up with a brilliant idea. ''Maybe we can find your interest in music!'' She said excited and started pushing Remy towards a CD store.
''Yay!'' Remy said in a little girly screechy voice. He wanted to go home.
They went passed the rap, hiphop and R&B section pretty fast, due to the fact that Rogue pushed them out of it as fast as she could. Remy didn't mind, it didn't seem like his music.
---------
The pop section was equally rapidly passed, which Remy did mind, because there were posters there of certain blond singers that probably didn't sing that well but who cares? So, a bit annoyed, Remy decided to ask. ''What music you like, chere?''
''This, mostly.'' She said as they entered the metal/gothic section.
Remy looked around to the dark posters and darker persons on them. ''Well, dey look like very happy people.'' Remy gave a fake smile while looking into a CD-cover that had too just much blood on it.
''Ah just like it. It has good lyrics.''
Remy opened a case and read the lyrics out loud. ''No locked doors, no windows barred, no things t' make m' brain seem scarred? How cheerful.''
''Doesn't have to be.'' Rogue said slightly bothered with the remarks toward her taste in music.
---------
Another section was entered. Remy flipped through the racks. He lifted a CD. ''Dis looks nice.'' It was a CD from Pulp, called 'this is hardcore'. It had a picture of a naked woman on the cover. Not very explicit, but naked non the less. His mind wondered off ...
She closed in on him as his hands trailed down her...
A sweet sensual voice brought him back to earth. ''Snap out of it, Cajun!''
---------
The section with seventies music was next.
''I know dis.'' He raised a CD-cover with a banana on it.
Kitty raised an eyebrow. ''It's a banana.''
''Andy Warhol's banana.'' Remy said knowingly. ''It's art. Very expensive, an' dat makes it a very tasty banana.''
Suddenly more things started coming back to him. His family. Being a thief, apparently ran in the family. He smiled at the wave of memories invading his mind. There were still many gaps to be filled, but he was fairly sure his father, his family, raised him as a thief. He stood there for a few minutes, placing everything. Somehow the memories stopped when he was eighteen. He didn't know why.
''Go.'' A stern voice said.
''But, pere...'' Remy tried.
''Now.'' He sounded pained but his expression tried to remain firm.
''When can I come back?'' Remy asked defeated.
''Don' know.'' His father's voice broke. '' 'M sorry, fils.''
''So am I.'' Remy answered with anger in his voice as he took his bag and left.
~'Kay, so I was kicked out.~ But why?
---------
Music blared from the boxes in the punk and rock section.
# I'm incurable, but durable, it's easy to see... # It was a punk song.
Remy flipped through the CD-racks.
#I know, that others postpone, frustration, see the lack of motivation...#
Unconsciously he started tapping his foot on the floor rhythmically.
#Can't stop, can't stop it. Can't stop, it's shocking but I just can't stop it!#
''Hey, you're mouthing the words.'' Kitty noticed.
Remy noticed it too and he continued aloud. ''Uncontrolable, I'm inconsolable, m' pleasure center is the shelter f'r a reptile.'' He grinned. ''I remember hearin' dat before.'' His mind wondered again...
She closed in on him as his hands trailed down her...
Someone slapped him on the head.
''Ouch chere...'' For a girl, Rouge had a pretty hard hand.
---------
And so they reached the blues and jazz section.
''Dis seems more like my kinda music.''
''Jazz? That's so cliché.'' Kitty remarked.
''Could've been worse. Could've liked Zydeco.'' Zydeco?
She closed in on him as his hands trailed down her...
Rogue sighed and snapped her fingers in front of Gambit's eyes. ''Could you at least wait until we're home?''
~'M I dat obvious?~ Remy wondered.
''Yes, you're practically drooling.''
~Didn' know dat girl was a telepath.~
''Ah just know jerks when Ah see them.''
~Dis is scary.~ Remy started to doubt.
''Let's go.''
Rogue turned her back to him and started walking towards the exit. Remy decided to have a little test to see if the girl was really a telepath. Just to be on the save side. ~Rogue, chere, y' got de nicest ass in de world.~
Rogue turned around highly irritated and Remy flinched visibly. ~Dieu! She is!~
''Kitty! Are you coming?''
Remy sighed in relief, the glare wasn't directed to him.
''Be right there.'' Kitty hurried towards them and they left the mall.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Rogue and Kitty entered the umpteenth clothes store. Remy wisely decided to stay outside, on a bench facing a jewelry store. Maybe he could come back tonight and see if he remembered just how the whole breaking and entering worked. Yeah, that might be a good idea. Picking locks, dodging cameras, he needed practice. A voice startled his thoughts.
''Gambit? Gambit! Mate! You're alive!''
***********************************************
A/N Oh-oh.
Review or I'll put 'the End' under this chapter...
A/N This is our Music from the Bachelors Den Pulp, lyrics from the song 'The fear', from the album 'This is hardcore'
Cover with too much blood Pick one, there's a lot of those.
No locked doors, no windows barred, no things t' make m' brain seem scarred Metallica, lyrics from the song 'Welcome home', from the album 'Master of Puppets'
Banana album The Velvet Underground & Nico, the album 'Andy Warhol'
The punk song Bad Religion, lyrics from the song 'Can't stop it', from the album 'The process of Belief'
Just so you know, though I doubt you care...:)