(Eight)
Gambit barely had a chance to catch his breath before the file abruptly ended and he was suddenly back outside the flower bush again. The separation of his psyche from Young Kimble's had been abrupt and painful and it was too much for his poor overloaded mind. He jerked like a spastic as his legs gave way from the shock and he fell down on his ass hard and without an ounce of his usual grace. He was in shock and still reeling from Young Kimble's backwash of ecstacy and emotions. He tried to find his feet again but his legs wouldn't obey. He collapsed back on the grass, gasping for air and moaning softly. "Merde! What de fuck was dat! Mon dieu!"
Soft colored petals from the flower bush drifted around him and touched him lightly on his face. His senses were heightened now from his experience in the pleasure room and he could still feel everything. He covered his eyes as a means to limit the sensory overload and tried his best to regain some sense of himself. This was unexpected and frightening as if someone had slipped him some kind of terrible drug that left him just conscious enough to know he was screwed up but helpless to do anything about it. It would have been a lot worse if he hadn't enjoyed the pleasure room experience, that he could say at least. It could have been much worse. Finally, the leftovers from Young Kimble faded away and became only memories for him now. He wouldn't be quick to forget them.
The pilot Kimble sensed his distress and crouched down next to him. He reached out to try to soothe his trembling friend. "See? It ain't so bad. 'S only fuckin', huh? Sorry ya turned me down b'fore?" he teased, gently brushing Gambit's hair back from his eyes.
"Dat's a little more fuckin' dan Gambit is used to, mon ami!" he wheezed, breathless. He shivered from remembered pleasure, he just couldn't help it. What he had felt there had been too strong.
The pilot Kimble closed his eyes and lay a gentle hand on Remy's heaving chest, 'feeling' him. Remy relaxed as soothing, calm thoughts flooded into him, blanketing him in bliss. This was much better, like hot chocolate on a snowy day and a soft feather bed. He understood what was happening now, they were now connected, this pilot Kimble and himself. The vibrations he was receiving from Kimble now were very pleasant and not the least bit frightening. It was like getting a nice big hug when he really needed it, now being one of those times. It gave him what he needed to regain some kind of control over what he was feeling, enough to get a grip on himself.
"Better?" Kimble asked, his bright eyes twinkling.
"Oui, a little bit. Merci."
"No problem. Are ya scared a me now?" Kimble asked, a touch of insecurity making his voice sound sad. He brushed his hand against Remy's cheek and let his fingers linger there, taking in Gambit's mood.
Remy shook his head slowly and opened his eyes. He could feel Kimble's warm hand and sensed Kimble's love for him as a vibration coming off of the pilot's body in a warm gentle wave. It was stronger than he would have expected, they didn't know each other well, though that was certainly changing by the minute here. The love was beautiful and fine, finding a place in Remy's heart, the place where that tiny orphan lived, the one that constantly craved a love as pure as this. It made him feel stronger, better now that the worst of this had passed.
The love was trickling into him along with wisps of Kimble's shimmer which he could still see. Remy could now sense Kimble as he truly was, a genderless being of pure energy that simply loved most living creatures he could physically interact with. Kimble loved him a little more than others on the Lucky Dragon because Remy had never turned him away and had always accepted him just as he was.
"What?" Remy asked when he saw Kimble smile.
"I wanted ta feels ya just like this. I knows ya loves me some. I wants ta feel it now while it's all strong an' powerful. Don' know if it's still gonna be there when alla this is done."
"Why? 'Ow much is left?" Remy dared to ask, trying to quell a rush of fear.
Kimble shook his head. "Don' really know. I'm kinda goin' through this all blind like you. I jus' know how it ends."
" 'Ow does it end, Kim?"
Kimble put his head down and took his hand from Remy's face. He didn't want his friend to feel his pain and sorrow. "It's time ta gos home. Sheyman is waitin' fer me."
Gambit turned his head as Young Kimble came out from under the bush. She had tiny green leaves and bright flower petals all stuck in her hair, looking so very pretty and fragile there with the petals and tears clinging to her cheeks. She wiped her face and smoothed out her hair, trying to recover from her fright.
"Time ta go, Cajun. Better hurry," the pilot Kimble joked sadly as he pulled Remy back up to his feet. "I always wuz a fast runner."
(break)
"What are they saying?" Henry complained to the room. Like the others, he could see the two ghosts talking through Young Kimble's perspective but that was all. Their strange behavior perplexed him, it was frustrating him that he couldn't hear what was being said. He was intently curious about why Remy was letting the pilot touch him so intimately without trying to fight him off. It made no sense. Gambit was sociable and flirtatious, but not always physically affectionate with members of the same sex. Not like that. Interesting.
"Can you hear them?" Fallen asked Seth.
"Sorry, Fallen. Guess were just going to have to ask them when they come out."
"How are we supposed to know what's going on if we don't see and hear everything?" Maylee complained.
"Have patience," Fallen said. "I'm guessing we're going to see more than we want to anyways."
