Disclaimer: Still don't own them, still wish I did… Have fun reading!
"Raaurgh!" The sound of shredding metal and snaps from broken electrical wires filled the Danger Room as opponent after opponent fell before the adamantium onslaught. Wolverine stood, electrical entrails dangling from his razor sharp claws, chest heaving, body gleaming with a fine sheen of perspiration, his face a dark scowl. "C'mon, is that all ya got!" His graveled voice hung in the air. He was angry. Angrier than he'd been in a while. Two months! She'd been gone two months and not a word. No letter, not a phone call, not even a damn e-mail, not that he used a computer anyway, but that wasn't the friggin' point. He growled and cut his mechanical opponent wide open.
"Geez, shugah. You gonna leave anything for us to play with?" Wolverine's friend and fellow X-Man asked as she plowed through two of their android opposition. Despite her delicate features and southern belle drawl, Rogue was as tough as they came. Her dark brows drew together and she planted her fist firmly into the metal skull of the android attempting to rise. "Ya seem a bit…ugh…intense," she grunted, tearing the head off the clearly defeated bot.
Wolverine raised a brow. "And I'm intense?"
Before she could respond a beam of pure red energy sent her flying into the far wall with a zing and thwap. "On your toes, People. This is a training exercise. Not a play date!"
"Aw, c'mon, Slim," Wolverine bared his teeth. "Dontchya wanna play tag?" He gestured with his claws.
Scott Summers, leader of he X-men, was not a man easily intimidated and Logan was catching him on a bad day. He and Jean had been arguing again, and his temper was dangerously close to the surface. "All right, let's play. Computer, end program. Run training session eighteen- partner me with…Storm."
The illusionary, interactive environment of the Danger Room blurred and where their had once been the layout of an empty warehouse, the scenery changed into a lush forest complete with animals and natural smells. A visage of Storm appeared and simulated thunder shook the room.
"Figures." Wolverine grumbled.
"Ah got Cyke," Rogue said as she flew past him, her dark brown hair blowing behind her. "Ah owe him fer that cheap shot, you take Storm."
"Yeah, yeah. Go team." Wolverine crouched, running fast and low in the direction the simulated Storm had flown off. The Danger Room opponents were fast and deadly, as close to the real thing as you could get. Each member of the team, as well as several of their enemies traits had been uploaded into the system, making the training sessions as real and as accurate as possible. Often this gave the X-Men a tactical edge in battle, but made for some hard sessions. Wolverine had faced the computer generated Storm countless times over the years, even squared off against himself from time to time, but he had not faced her since he discovered his feelings ran deeper than he cared to admit.
Crouching, still as a stone, he listened for any movement. Storm was one of the stronger and more dangerous simulations, and he was taking no chances. He'd wait her out.
He didn't have to wait long. The Storm-opponent was directly overhead. "Come to Papa!" He lunged, but she quickly whirled to her left, unleashing an electric bolt directly at him. Wolverine tucked and rolled. His speed and agility made him a very difficult target to hit with her lightening bolts, but the simulated Storm wasn't out of ideas yet. The wind accelerated, forming a small funnel over head, lifting him off the ground and knocking him on his ass. She threw another bolt of electricity at him, but again he easily dodged the hit and grabbed one of her long, outstretched legs. He gave a hard yank and she came tumbling to the ground. The Storm-opponent glared up at him from her back. Although her eyes were as defiant as the real Ororo's they were not nearly as bright, nor as engaging. Wolverine drew back snikt and faltered. He couldn't do it. He knew this was only a simulation-- hell the damn thing didn't even smell like 'Ro, but he just couldn't do it. He couldn't bring himself to slash those goddess-like features, to harm her in any way.
"Son of a-" He drove his claws into the soil just beside her head. "Tag." The simulation shimmered and her image faded, leaving instead the shell of the droid duplicate. Wolverine quickly rose to his feet and headed for the door. He listened for a moment catching the sounds of Cyke's optic blasts and Rogue's unladylike cussing, before snatching up his towel and duffle. "I need a beer."
Several hours later
"Thought I'd find you out here."
Logan turned away from the railing and faced the woman he had once believed to be the love of his life. Her fiery red hair was piled neatly atop her head and she wore a dark sweater and jeans. "Jeannie."
"You seem a million miles away. Care to talk about it?" She leaned against the railing next to him.
"Not particularly." His eyes slid over her curves in the same lazy way they always did, but they reflected no interest, no animal lust, merely male appreciation for a truly beautiful specimen.
"A word of advice then." Her gaze lifted to the stars, a faraway look in her eyes as well.
"Shoot, Red."
"She'll never know unless you tell her."
Logan gave her a startled look. She tapped her forehead. "You're projecting. Rather loudly I might add." Her tone was mild but he could smell the tension that shimmered around her like a second skin.
"Red?"
Jean shrugged, her eyes still on the sky. "I can still feel it you know."
"What?"
"The awesome power of the cosmos. Creation…Destruction. At my fingertips. I lie awake at night and try not to think of what it felt like. The power, the lust, the absoluteness of it all. You helped me through that time Logan. You and Storm and… Scott." She hugged herself tighter. "I can feel him slipping away. He's been so strong, such a constant. Never letting me fall, always with me. My best friend, you know?" She finally turned and looked at him. "My greatest love. And I feel him slipping away from me. Don't let that happen to you, Logan. I can sense your true feelings, have for a while. But she can't. You need to let her know, or you'll lose Ororo forever. Like I am afraid I am losing Scott." She touched his grizzled cheek. Her green gaze warm and tender. "She deserves to be loved, Logan. As do you. Good night."
New Orleans, Louisiana
Bourbon Street
Mardi Gras
"Aahhh…Smell dat, chere? Ain't nattin' smell like New Orleans," Gambit held his arms wide, turning in a circle, inhaling the welcome scents of his home city. "It's good t'be back, eh, Stormy?" He and Storm were walking around the city, enjoying the festivities, and the memories that being in this place brought to them both.
Ororo Munroe gave her tall, handsome companion a patient smile. "I have warned you before about calling me that horrid name." She gracefully stepped around a couple leaning against a lamp post, in heated 'conversation'.
"But you will always be Stormy to me, padnat." He gave her long cloud colored braid a playful tug.
"Gambit." Ororo's eyes faded from deep cerulean blue to electric white in silent warning, but the corners of her mouth were turned up.
"Hoo, I sure 'ave missed that spark in you, Stormy. Been too long since I seen it. You always so serious back at Xavier's. Makes me regret ever bringing you back, seeing you shut yerself off. Been too long since we had any time for us,chere. Gambit misses his padnat." He wrapped one brawny arm across her bare shoulders, pulling her close and jostling her. "We had some fun, oui?"
Ororo felt her lips twitch. "Yes, Remy. We had some wonderful times, but I do not believe you have brought me all the way to New Orleans just to relive old times. Time for the truth, Remy. What exactly have you gotten me into?"
They had reached an open restaurant and Gambit lead her towards the nearest patio table, pulling out her chair and seating himself across from her. "Merci," she murmured causing him to fling a hand over his heart dramatically.
"To 'ear my language brush across those beautiful," his tone deepened, "luscious lips. Take care, chere. I may 'ave a 'eart attack before we get to discussing the matters at hand."
"Flirt," she chided, blushing. Absently she caressed the lilting carnation setting between them. To Gambit the flower appeared to gain strength from her touch, seemed less wilted-- brighter somehow. "I am waiting." She was staring at him with those eyes that seemed to peer into your soul. He was grateful for the shield his sunglasses gave him against her close scrutiny.
"Truth is I owe some people, big, Stormy. Real big. And dese are bad people. Real bad."
"Who are these bad people, Remy? And what is it they want from you?"
Gambit shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He had never lied to Storm and if he could avoid it he wouldn't start now, but the truth…the truth was complicated. He was saved from having to answer as a petite waitress approached, a wide grin on her face. She was an attractive woman in her early thirties, with golden hair and wide hazel eyes. Her lips were thin, and she had a tendency to chew on them, Remy recalled.
"Remy Lebeau, you dog. When did you get back?" Her voice was high and light. Her smile vanished when she noticed the woman Remy was dining with. High cheekbones, wide, lush lips, caramel skin, and the most amazing eyes, framed by long raven black lashes, which made no sense because her hair was as white as freshly fallen snow. "Haven't seen you in years," she trailed still staring at Storm.
"Yeah, well you know me, keepin' busy." He gave a nod in Storm's direction. "Dis is my fiancé, Ororo." He ignored the stunned expression of the waitress and the more dumbfounded look Stormy was giving him. He placed his hand discreetly over her left hand across the table. "Chere, dis is an old acquaintance of mine…" Gambit paused and for the life of him he couldn't put a name to the face.
"Meggan Murphy." the waitress supplied, her back stiffening.
"It is always a pleasure to meet a friend of Remy's," Storm said. She squeezed his hand, sending a subtle electric current up his arm.
"Same here." Meggan pulled out her notepad. "What can I get you lovebirds?"
"What say you, Chere?" Gambit lifted Ororo's hand to his lips. "What're you in da mood for?" He kissed each finger lazily, and flicked his tongue across her thumb. He almost lost it at Storm's expression. Her eyes were flashing, and her brows were so furrowed they created lines across her smooth forehead.
"I will leave the decision in your capable hands, Remy." She pulled her hand away and stood. "If you will excuse me, I must make a phone call." As she rounded the corner to the payphone she had seen when they were walking down the street earlier she sent a small rain cloud across the patio and over Gambit's head. She chuckled at his facial expression when the first drops of rain hit his dark red/brown hair.
Cradling the phone in her hand she sent a small current through the receiver, giving her a dial tone. Her index finger hovered over the first digit of the number she was about to dial. "Get a hold of yourself, woman." She sighed. Goddess, how she missed him. She pictured his dark eyes and felt her heart lurch. Deep down she had hoped this time away would clear her head and help sort out the confusing emotions she had been feeling lately. Control was of the utmost importance to her. She knew at times it made her seem cold-- indifferent to the events around her. But when the slightest shift in your mood can turn a sunny day into an F-5 tornado, you learn to keep yourself in check. Under normal circumstances Logan's presence comforted her, kept her calm and sane, but lately she found herself restless under his intense gaze. Flushed whenever he would press a little too close. Just a few months ago she had nearly taken out the mansion during their heated argument over her position as leader of the X-men and her loyalty to Gambit. Ororo punched the numbers that would connect her to her home in New York, and held her breath.
"Hello?"
Exhale. "Hello, Scott."
"Storm, it is good to hear from you. How's everything going?"
"Slowly. How is everyone back home?" She listened to Scott as he told her that the team was doing well, her friends missed her, life was just fine. She turned her face towards the sky, momentarily distracted by the unusual shift in air current. Odd.
"Storm, are you still there?" Scott's voice was breaking up on the line.
"Sorry, Scott, there seems to be a bad connection. I will be in touch soon." She replaced the phone to its cradle, her eyes glowing white. Something was wrong. The colors of the wind were angry reds and oranges, not the sapphire and yellow they should be. A bolt of lightening split the air, sending passerby's screaming, running into the protection of the buildings around them. The air rumbled and another large bolt crashed into the telephone pole directly beside her. Heavy rain began pouring from the sky.
"Gambit!"
Storm sent a powerful gust of wind directly to the ground, lifting herself above the panicked citizens. She held her hands out, running them back and forth across the sky, soothing the air, calming…taming….
Gambit appeared before his name was completely out of her mouth. He stared at his padnat in fascination. She was remarkable! With her hair whipped loose from it's braid and her eyes blazing bright against the dark sky she looked every inch the Goddess. She turned towards him, her mouth a grim line of determination.
"There is something dark here, Remy." A blast of wind lifted him so that he was flung next to her, her hands catching the front of his tailored shirt. Flecks of lightening escaped her bright orbs as she gave him a snarl that would have done the Wolverine proud. "Start talking."