Red Witch: Yeah I've wanted to bring her into the story for a while, and I'm glad you found it funny.

slickboy444: Yeah I see your point with that reason too, and I love the fact those two are roomed together for now at least. But one reason for doing something means if it's gone then why do it at all, you'll see what I mean.

Supergirlhv: Glade you liked it, and I hope you do find this one interesting.

TheLegendaryManHimself: Annie in the comics is a nurse that took care of Alex while he was catatonic and he was a john doe. She fell for him even like that and eventually thanks to her son found out who he was, now she and her son are at the Institute (Her son is x-gene positive) and she's a nurse there, and Alex also seems to have feelings for her too.

Xmenfan: You know your right about that, thanks. I wanted to have her 'fleshed' out as you said it's just hard with all the other characters and sometimes other get pushed aside. I'll try it out, and maybe I'll do a one shot with her.

Damn-my-name-was-taken: lol, I had no idea that actually happened. And I've seen people cram vehicles into those bases too when I played on-line.

Uncanny R-Man: Thanks, but I still don't have a clue as to who to pair X-23 up with. Plus don't forget Wanda, Dani, Forge and the adults too, if you got any suggestions please let me know.

Sparky Genocide: Well let's say that Gambit might cross a line in this.

Ruby631: Well I like Annie better at the moment, and I didn't think of making her that but that's interesting. Polaris will show up later on though but not at Xavier's. And that would freak him out I can't wait to see that chapter.

jadestar123: Well you might not after this chapter.

Ldypebsaby: yep it's time to end this, and it won't be pretty.

Thanks to: evil-bunny-leader, DemonRogue13

ADJUSTMENTS

CHAPTER 18: BOILING POINT AND EXPLOSION

Gambit was outside in the shade of one of the trees. It had been a couple of days since he had skipped that training session and after his 'punishment' by Wanda, he got it also from Logan and Xavier. Well Xavier mostly said he was disappointed and gave him a speech about responsibility or something, to tell the truth he was thinking of something else at the time.

Logan however wasn't so easy and had him washing the velocity for two weeks. But luckily he just bribed Jamie to do it. It cost him twenty dollars a job but he could afford it given all that he saved from his thief days. Now he was considering his next move.

Him and Warren were still at odds, especially since Remy kept on taking things of his and hiding them throughout the room. He had to admit it was pretty funny to watch the rich kid go ballistic at times when looking. But now he decided it was time to go back to the main game instead of this little one.

His friend Colossus had warned him yet again not to make trouble, but Gambit couldn't help it. He enjoyed a challenge and this was proving to be the best challenge of his life. He noticed a few of the others outside he tried not to overhear until the words 'Gambit and Rogue were together' caught his attention.

He made it look like he was walking away but as soon as he was out of side snuck up by using the side of the mansion as cover while the other talked. Near by sitting on the ground a few of the others were just laying around, a few were fiddling with the grass or something.

Rahne was laying on the ground, while Sam had an arm around Tabby who was cuddling up next to him happily, Bobby was there sitting next to Jubilee, and Blink too, but she was sitting with her legs under her since she had on one of her skirts. "I'm telling you guys if Rogue and Gambit were together in that other reality." Bobby told them. "I mean I think she liked in him a few of them, you got to wonder what that's like, I mean to see basically you, that's into someone else."

"Man that's got to be weird...although I wish I had gone with you." Jubilee said. "It would have been cool to see another version of me."

"Ah don't know about that." Sam said slightly uncomfortable. "Ah mean you said ah was dating someone else other then Tabby in a couple of those, and ah just don't see it, ah mean she's the only girl for me."

Tabitha smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Good answer Sammy."

"But you got to admit...Gambit is kind of cute though." Jubilee admitted.

"Jubilee!" Bobby said surprised his girlfriend would say something like that.

She patted his arm. "Don't worry I think you're still cuter." Bobby was visibly relieved at that.

"What is it with that guy though, I mean I've noticed a few of you girls giggling at times when he walks by, what is it?" Sam said curious.

"Well I think it's the whole dark and mysterious past." Tabitha said.

"I like th' way he talks personally." Rahne offered.

"I like his eyes." Blink admitted. "I mean I could look into those all day, they're just so strange yet compelling. But then again it's no secret he's got a thing for Rogue." All the others nodded their heads.

"Hey do you think Vince knows about it?" Rahne asked them all as she thought about it.

"I don't know." Bobby said. "But if he doesn't and finds out that won't be pretty, you know how he can get when he actually gets angry."

Gambit however thought he heard enough and decided to see if he could get a little more information out of the others. The trouble was who to ask without letting anyone else know. He asked around about something he heard about them going to other realities from Jamie, with five bucks as incentive. He had to admit the kid was good at haggling.

So far he learned who was involved in that, but couldn't ask any of them. Rogue and Vincent were of course out, Scott was out too since he was obvious that Scott didn't wither like him or trust him, maybe both. Jean was way out since she might read his mind, Amanda was out because she was dating Kurt and might tell him. Kurt was Rogue's sister so that was out too.

The only one left was Jamie and he wasn't sure he could afford the info, or get what he wanted. So now he was back to square one. He was walking the halls thinking about it all when he noticed Blink and Dani talking in the living room and a thought struck him.

He grinned to himself, since maybe he could put the charm on Blink since she said she liked his eyes and all. Wouldn't be the first time he charmed a lady for information, only this wasn't for a robbery this time.

It was later in the day and Blink was enjoying the outdoors. She had always used to spend hours in her garden back home...when she looked normal that is. She had on some gloves and was currently working in a small garden Ororo had said she could start out in on the grounds. She had been ecstatic when she learned that.

Even since she had gotten here she had tried to regain a few of the things that she liked in her old life. She so far had almost all the old CDs she had, and a few other items, gardening was the one of the things she had adored in her old life and was glad to share it with someone like Ororo. She was working up a slight sweet from the hot weather and working the soil that her plants were in, making sure it was just right.

She stopped at the moment and put down her tools and wiped her forehead with her arm, making sure not to wipe the dirt of her gloves onto her face. "Care for something to drink?" Blink jumped at the sudden sound of the voice and turned to see Gambit there smiling kindly at her and holding out a cold water bottle.

"T-thanks." She said nervously and took it. She was still nervous around new people, and was still a little shy too, but in the last month she had been leaning from the others that she didn't have to be that way. She took a sip from the bottle it was really refreshing and just what she needed.

He sat down next to her. "So what are you doing?"

"Just gardening." She said to him. 'Why is he being so nice to me?' She thought. 'He hardly even looked at me before and I though he was after Rogue or something, so why all the sudden is he sitting next to me?'

Remy gave her that charming smile that women seemed to love. "That's nice. You know, Remy just thought dat he doesn't know anyone here dat well, so Remy be thinkin' dat he would like to get to know some of de others more."

"W-w-well why are you talking to me?" She asked even more nervous now. 'He really is cute, especially those eyes.'

Gambit moved closer to her and she swallowed kind of harder then she wanted to. "Remy thought dat would be obvious...Remy would like to get to know you more chere."

Clarice felt her heart increase suddenly. 'No way! No way he's interested in you that way. I mean an older then you boy, whose good looking, and has a lovely accent, is interesting in you...don't go there, he can't be...but...but...why would he get to know me? I mean after all...with the way I look and all...no he just wants to be friends...that has to be it...isn't it?'

"Um...okay...sure." She told him hiding her blush behind her long pinkish hair. She didn't know how long they talked but she started with her life, it was kind of boring and uneventful but he seemed to hang on every word. She talked about what had happened to her with her parents and then Trask. It was still hard to talk about, and she was surprised when he put an arm around her when she got to the hard parts.

She was grateful for that. He asked about all the things that went on here and she told him about some of the pranks and stuff, and of all the strange things like when she first saw Lockheed. Then she got to one of Forge's inventions that went wrong and sent the others into other realities.

Remy grinned on the inside. After listening to this girl for over an hour and a half he was getting to what he needed to know. "Really?" He said faking surprised. "Tell Remy more about dat."

It was later in the day and Rogue was looking forward to tonight. She was going out on a date with Vince tonight and was glad for the distraction from everything. She really needed to get away and have some fun.

"Hello chere." Gambit said seemingly to come out of nowhere.

Rogue groaned inward. 'Doesn't this guy give up? I mean it was kind of flattering at first but this is getting kind of stalker like.' She turned to face the Cajun with a look of annoyance on her face. "What the Hell do ya want NOW?"

He just grinned at her. "You know, Gambit was wondering if those feelings you had for Remy were stronger then you care to admit." He leaned in closer and his voice dropped slightly. "Maybe all dey need is a little something to help dem to de surface."

Then he suddenly pressed up against her and kissed her hard, she was surprised at the sudden movement but after a second she pushed him back easily with her strength and then angrily punched him in the face. Gambit was send back a few feet into the opposite wall and he groaned a little as he slowly got up.

"What is wrong with ya?" She shouted angrily at him, wiping her mouth. "What part of 'no' and 'ah'm taken' do ya not understand?"

Gambit leaned back on the far wall. "Gambit knows dat dere is a chance for us working out chere, I heard about that little trip you and de others took, and I know there are versions of us out der already together."

Rogue was shocked at that, she also made a mental note to find who told him that and get them for it. "First off those don't apply here since this reality is different. And when we first met what did ya do? YA tried to blow up mah hand!" Gambit was about to say something but she stopped him.

"Oh no, you're goin' ta let meh finish! Then ya used meh for your own gains, coverin' it up as tryin' ta help meh, when we went to New Orleans."

She took a few angry steps forward then. "Do ya know how much that hurt me? Do ya? Ah mean do ya know what's it's like to be used constantly by others? Do ya know how much it hurts?" Gambit was struck silent by that. He did use her, but he never mean to hurt her, and it was apparent he had hurt her deeply by his deception.

Rogue went on after she made sure he wasn't going to say anything. "Besides ya think ah could just throw everything ah got away for you? What do you even know about meh? Do ya know my favorite color, music or anything about meh? And I don't know a thing about you."

Then she stepped right up to him and started to poke him in the chest. "Ah mean...where were ya when ah still couldn't control mah powers? Where you there ta make meh feel good? Ta make meh laugh, to comfort meh? Ah mean where were ya when I was worried sick about Kurt? Was that you that made meh feel better?"

Gambit couldn't respond to her questions.

"No you weren't." Rogue said evenly. "But he was...he's been there for meh...and ah love him...get that through your head." As she poked him on his forehead with the finger she had used on his chest earlier. "Ah-Love-him. Ah mean it when ah say it, have you ever said that about someone and meant it?"

When he didn't respond she took that as a no. "Now ah'm goin' ta pretend that kiss never happened." She moved closer to him and poked him in the chest. "But if ya ever force yourelf on meh like that again." She said dangerously. "Ah will break every bone in your body." With that she walked off leaving Gambit against the wall.

He just stood there more a moment watching her walk away and he knew at that moment, he didn't stand a chance at her. He normally didn't fail to get what he wanted but considering everything she had just told him, he knew there was no way to make her chose him. None of his charm could do anything for once in his life.

He walked off trying to ignore the slight pain in his back from hitting that wall and decided to think on things. He had some decisions to make especially since the one reason he had chosen to stay here was no longer his one reason.

He walked off in a bad mood. He knew the only reason he couldn't get anywhere was because on a certain obstacle. He walked on in a dark mood until he decided to walk outside and get some air. He found a nice quiet spot to think.

He leaned against a tree on his shoulder staring into the distance, he never heard him coming until he actually spoke. "What the Hell did you do to her?" Came a cold voice with a dangerous tone in it. Gambit was startled and turned to see Vincent there with a not so pleasant look on his face.

"I just saw her and not only is she upset and won't tell me why, but she couldn't seem to look at me in the face." He said angrily, slowly moving towards him. "Now I know her well enough to know when she's upset and hiding it, and I know it's not the normal kind like Bobby pulling a prank on her, cause she would have gone after him. Now I KNOW you've been going after her, so you better tell me what you did to her."

Gambit didn't know why he said what he said, maybe he wanted to get even, maybe he just wanted to see his reaction, but he knew as soon as he said it, that it was the wrong thing to say. "I kissed her." The next thing he knew he was laying a few feet away with a very sore jaw.

He looked up to see a very pissed off guy not too far from him. He saw his eyes had taken on that eerie crimson glow and his face was a mask of anger. Now he knew he was in trouble, so he figured he would do what he always did, fight dirty.

He slowly got to his knees and turned slightly with his hand that was hidden he took one of his cards and was about to put a charge into it. Vincent walked right up to him furious he grabbed him by the back of his shirt but he realized too late that he let his anger take over.

He didn't see the charged card until it was too late. Gambit managed to quickly get out of his grip and throw the card right into his face. The card exploded and Vincent then was blinded by the force of the explosion and he let out a small yell as he covered his eyes.

He staggered back and Gambit knowing that this was one of those fights where you can't let up since he could come back at him with more force then Gambit could send out at him. So he took out several of his cards, charged them and threw them at him. They all hit home and he heard the other guy grunt but other then that there was no effect.

"Oh non." He said as he saw the other boy stand up. He still had his eyes closed with some black on his face from the explosion. He figured without any sight the fight was over. Big mistake on his part, as soon as he took a few steps he saw his head move slightly as if listening and suddenly Gambit was suddenly tackled very quickly by Vincent.

To Gambit it felt like he was just flattened by a truck but he wasn't one to give up. He rolled away and then both boys went at it some more. Not long someone had seen the fight and had found Beast. He charged to the scene as fast as possible and saw Gambit in a headlock by Vincent.

"Alright that's enough both of you!" Best shouted to the two boys, they both seemed to pull apart from each other. Beast saw some bruises on Gambit and notice Vincent had his eye closed with some black residue and some singed and ruined clothing.

"What's wrong with your eyes?" He asked still mad at the two of them.

"You ever get something stuck in your eye?" He said with a harsh tone. "Think that only worse."

Beast sighed to himself and had to help him to the medical room and he had to take a look at him and Gambit. Remy's injuries were superficial and when Beast asked him if he wanted Gale to fix them he said no. So Beast sent him to his room while he looked over Vincent's eyes.

Gambit went straight to his room, luckily Warren wasn't there and he was glad, he needed time to think on things. He stretched out on his bed and thought about everything. He thought about how his life he always did was he was told to by others, how he blindly followed orders, most of those times he had hated his work...but there were also times he enjoyed it. In fact he missed some of what he used to do. He missed the challenges, the freedom, the rush.

Here at the Institute he only had one friend in Colossus, just like in the Acolytes. He thought about the three groups he had joined in his life. The Thieves Guild had been his family, they trained him, but he never felt like he was completely accepted with his mutation. Plus he was just being used.

When Magneto had busted him out of that jail after he had been sold out by his 'brothers' in the guild, he had owed Magneto. Plus he sure wasn't planning on going back after that. But even though he had been among other mutants, but he didn't like Magneto's ideas or the way he went about them, but he had nowhere else to go at the time.

Now he was at Xavier's. The place was built on the ideals that humans and mutants could co-exist. After everything Gambit had seen in life he wasn't so sure it was possible. But there had been one reason he stayed. He had been infatuated with the girl since he first saw her, but it was apparent that she would never like him more then that other guy.

Strange. He thought to himself. He had never failed to get a girl to fall for him but this was a first for him, and even though he didn't like the feeling, he wasn't as crushed as he thought. Then her words sunk in again. He thought about them. What DID he know about the girl? Not much, was his answer, and besides her looks, what was it he liked about her.

Okay she was a strong willed girl, had some troubles with her past but what else? He tried to think of anything but nothing relevant came to mind. Was he chasing her because he cared for her or was it just another challenge for him? Did he love her or was it just a mere physical attraction? He wasn't sure and he got the feeling that if he didn't know that wasn't a good sigh.

He got up and sat up on his bed and looked out the large window. He looked outside and thought about everything. "What the hell am I even doin' here?" He asked himself. What was the point for him to be here if there was no real reason. Besides he felt like he had lost himself, that he didn't know who he was anymore.

What was that Pyro said once? That thing the tribes did in his homeland? A walkabout wasn't it? Going out into the world to try and find your self. To find himself...yeah that sounded like what he needed to do.

THE NEXT MORNING

After a quick breakfast Gambit went straight to the Professor. He was at his desk waiting for him since the events of yesterday. "Remy, I can understand that adjusting to new environments can be hard, but I need to know what that fight yesterday was about. Luckily Vincent suffered no permanent damage to his eyes and is fine now, but he's not saying anything about what caused the fight in the first place."

Gambit shrugged. "It does not matter anymore. It's settled."

Xavier grew stern and more forceful. "If you wish to continue living under this roof young man you should learn that certain actions are not permitted. Vincent is already going to be grounded to the mansion for the week and will be helping out around the mansion, as for you I would like to know what this was about before I hand down your own punishment."

"Well den I guess you won't know, and I won't be punished." He said with a smile. Xavier's head was raised back and he was surprised at this. "You see Gambit is leaving."

Xavier was shocked by this. "Gambit just because you had a fight and-"

But Gambit interrupted him. "I told you that business is finished and has nothing to do with my decision. Remy no longer know where I belong in dis world and Remy feels he needs to go and find out. Remy does appreciate your kindness, but Remy just doesn't feel this place is for him...at least...not in dis stage of his life."

Xavier didn't know what to say, he had hoped that Gambit would reconsider and he tried to talk to the young man about it but it soon became apparent that he couldn't change his mind. "So then...when are you leaving?"

"Gambit thinks dat the sooner de better, so Gambit will be packing all his stuff and leaving today."

An hour later the entire mansion knew about his decision. The reactions varied. Piotr was of course sadden that his only friend from the Acolytes was leaving while other like Scott who didn't really like him to begin with were not that sad to see him leave.

Rogue was actually a little grateful, since the events of yesterday she wasn't sure she wanted to be around him. Blink on the other hand felt a little crushed. She had learned that Gambit was leaving and also heard the fight between him and Vincent.

She sat in her room wondering why the fight. Then Amanda had told her, what Kurt had told her that Rogue had confessed to him. That Remy had kissed Rogue forcefully, Amanda told her that Kurt was ready to actually hurt Remy for what he did to his sister, but Rogue made him promise not to do anything. Blink had listened in to the story only with half an ear.

'See told you he didn't like you that way.' Her inner voice scolded her. She felt so embarrassed that she thought he had an interest in her. She also felt slightly crushed.

Amada was still talking about how she had to help keep Kurt calm and not to break his promise to his sister about not getting back at Remy. "You know what started it too? I mean apparently someone told him about how in those other realities Remy and her were a couple and he took that as a sign or something that they were meant to be together."

After that Blink didn't hear a word. The same horrible thought kept going through her mind. 'He used me.' Over and over again. Now she felt even worse, she felt betrayed, used, and wanted to crawl away somewhere to die. When Amanda asked what was wrong seeing the look on her roommate and friend's face Blink just made up some excuse and quickly made a portal to green house.

While there she checked that she was alone. She sat on one of the stools looking at the plants and trying to forget today, but she couldn't. Instead she rested her elbows on one of the tables held her head in her hands and started to cry. 'Told you no one would like you like that.' Said that familiar inner voice.

LATER

It took Gambit an hour to pack up his clothing in his traveling sack. His ex-roommate Warren looked like he was struggling between you that he wasn't going to be his roommate anymore and slightly sad about they way he was leaving. He didn't say anything to him, or helped him he just stayed out of his way and frankly Gambit preferred that.

He walked to the garage where his bike was and strapped his stuff to the back. He walked his bike out of the garage, he had avoided all the goodbyes, he hated those. He preferred to leave without a trace, kind of a habit he picked up by being a thief.

As he got out he saw Piotr at the entrance to the mansion. Gambit smiled and gave the big guy a salute and hoped on his bike and started the engine. He left the grounds without looking back and as the wind blew through his hair he had to admit...he felt free for the first time in years.

NEXT UP CHAPTER 19: SERIOUS TALKS

Don't worry Remy fans, I got a story that deals with what happens to him after he leaves called Gambit's Story sometime in the future.