(Thirteen)

A couple of hours later, Kimble woke slowly. His whole head was in a total fog and he groaned. He'd forgotten the golden rule -- "With every good time comes a price". He was hung over badly. Fallen was sitting next to him on the floor, working on one of the larger components. She was lost in thought, working rapidly. He could tell by what she was working on that the repairs would be done soon. The real question was when would her levels be high enough for her to power the ship and get them home.

He rose up slowly and leaned against her. He put his head on her shoulder, hiccuped and groaned again. He rubbed his belly and burped, not being very quiet about it.

"Ugh, you stink!" Fallen complained. Kimble never really had a smell...until now. He reeked of stale whiskey and cigarettes.

"Too fucked up ta stink..." he grumbled cheerfully, feeling better now. His eyes drooped a little and he looked like he might nod off again.

She nudged him. "Wrong! Don't get too comfortable there, buddy. Go have a shower and come back and help us."

He got up slowly, obeying his Mistress, and shuffled off. He was quite a sight with his hair all tangled and sticking up everywhere. He met Gambit in the doorway of the small downstairs lav. The thief had just showered and was on his way out. He was only half dressed and had his shirt over one arm.

Remy whistled at him. "Oh well now, looky 'ere. Ain't dis special. Gambit seen prettier piles of dog shit, mon ami." He opened the door a little wider and waved Kimble in. "Dis way, eh?"

Kimble smiled sheepishly up at him. He could tell that Remy wasn't mad at him for hitting him with the bottle earlier and he was relieved. Of all the men on board, Kimble was developing a special affinity for this one and would have regretted the loss of friendship over something stupid.

Kimble slowly passed him by as he entered the lav, looking over Remy's bare chest with an appreciative grin. Kimble thought the X-man was well built and pretty and didn't try to hide it. Without his shirt, Remy provided Kimble with a nice view. He was lean and cut and had only just a soft light covering of chest hair, still slightly damp from the shower. Kimble had to resist the urge to reach out and touch him, but Remy had made it clear he wouldn't be interested. At least, not yet.

As he walked by, Kimble saw something on his new friend that he'd missed. Remy had five large scars racing thick and silver across his chest and down to his lower belly. At some point long ago, Gambit had been severely clawed by something. It had been a significant injury and Kimble knew enough to understand that Remy must have been close to death at the time. It made the Siskan curious about the adventures of his strange new friend, but he didn't ask. He wanted to play and didn't want to ruin the mood by asking a serious question.

Gambit took Kimble's leering at him in stride like he did everything else, even though he was unused to a man looking at him that way. It didn't creep him out at all, he thought it was hilarious and it just made him laugh. "Don' even t'ink about it, cher, 'specially not in your condition."

"Dinner an' a movie, right?" Kimble mumbled cheerfully.

"Oui, you got dat right. 'Cept for you, you gonna need a shave an a real dark room, man. Dose whiskers!" Remy teased, shivering with mock revulsion.

"Might feel real nice between yer legs, never know?" Kimble teased back, wanting only to shock him and make him laugh. He loved the sound of Remy's laugh, it was so endearing and easily come by. He was rewarded when Gambit flushed madly and beat a hasty retreat down the hall, the first giggles already leaking out.

Remy laughed as he backed away. "Gambit's pretty quick! Gonna 'ave to catch him first!"

"Is that a challenge?" Kimble asked, still wanting to play. "I jus' loves a challenge."

"Me an' my big mouth! Rogue always sayin' it's gonna get me in trouble!"

"I kin thinks of a real good way ta keep that mouth of yers real nice an' quiet, huh?" Kimble said suggestively, reaching for his belt buckle. "Wanna see if Gambit's brave enough ta swallow?"

Gambit burst into startled, embarrassed laughter and covered his ears as he next began singing loudly to cover up whatever Kimble might have to say next. His laughter was heartfelt and wild, he kept screwing up the words to his impromptu little song he walked away. He turned backwards so he could see Kimble's amused expression, enjoying the game as much as the Siskan did.

Kimble just shook his head his head, watching him leave. "Don' be trippin' up them stairs, now. Might force me ta catch ya an' then where would we be? Folks'll talk."

"Hey, you two," Fallen said with a laugh, poking her head out of the Engine Room. She'd heard their noise and was pleased to see someone was happy around here. "Some of us are trying to work!"

"Me, too, darlin'. Me too," Kimble snickered and disappeared into the lav.