(Four)
Kimble and his new friends were still out on the lawn when Jean came and collected them. They went back into the house, Kimble most reluctantly. Once inside he was again overwhelmed by the beauty of the place and then again by the most marvelous smells coming from the kitchen. He was led to a large dining room where a large, long table had been set. It was larger than Fallen's galley table by far and had many place settings and lit candles. More freshly cut flowers were placed along the middle of the table in among the many different kinds of food. Kimble had never seen so much food in one place, certainly not on the Lucky Dragon. Food was often scarce outside of the Clan Stations.
Remy took in the room with a knowing eye. The X-team was huge, too big to seat in one room even as large as this. The table here was only partway set, about a squad's worth. This was to be a semi-private gathering then. He had expected Rogue to follow him closely, but she had crossed the room, taking a seat across the table from him instead of at his side, just another sign that something was definitely amiss. Maddingly and just like a girl, she wasn't coming out and saying anything, leaving him to suffer silently and on his own. Remy's distress was increasing by the minute though you wouldn't know it to look at him. He looked the picture of calm, smiling just slightly as he watched Rogue sit, so close and yet so far.
Fallen was already seated with Maylee at the table and Kimble took his place next to his Mistress. He noticed that she had put on a modified bikini top, covering her breasts. It looked strange to him because he'd never seen her with a shirt. He had no idea she even owned one and it occurred to him that she may have had to borrow it from someone else here. He guessed that she did it to be polite, all the women here were fully dressed. How disappointing, Kimble thought to himself. He would have loved to see their beautiful bodies, Storm especially. He'd never seen a woman with such dark skin before, he wanted to smell her and lick her skin to see if she tasted differently from other women. She could see his eyes roaming over her and she shifted uncomfortably. He sensed her discomfort and he lowered his eyes, sorry he had disturbed her.
Fallen turned and sniffed at him, smelling on him the glorious night time air. "You went outside?"
"Oh, Fallen!" He almost started to weep again.
"Easy, now. I understand, believe me. The skies of Cerise do not compare with those of Earth."
"Kin we stay?"
"Shhh, now. We have much to talk about. For now, just relax and eat. Isn't this wonderful?"
Kimble didn't know where to begin. He was uncomfortable because he didn't know the customs here. He watched everyone, trying to learn quickly. He couldn't eat that much at one time so he just took a spoonful of whatever caught his fancy and passed the dishes on. There was a nice variety of items - roasted chicken, steak, bowls of various vegetables, mashed potatoes and rice. He was careful not to take too much and never put any meat on his plate, even though it all looked so good. He was next to Fallen and didn't want a repeat performance of his last time eating meat. He nibbled at his samples, surprised by the variety of flavors he found. Clan food was so very bland and it had been ages since he'd eaten real food like this.
Gambit was seated next to Kimble. He had done this on purpose, wanting to watch Kimble's reactions to everything. He needed the distraction really. He wasn't sure what to about his reluctant girlfriend and he was more than willing to let Kimble's happiness wash away some of his unease. About half way through the meal, he left the table and returned with a small sliver of chocolate fudge cake on a bright white plate. " 'Ey, little brother. Before you get too full, you gotta try dis."
Kimble smiled up at him and picked up his fork to sample the treasure his new friend had placed before him. He closed his eyes and shivered with obvious pleasure as the chocolate melted in his mouth. He almost moaned from the joy of it, he'd never tasted anything like this. "Oh, god!" he mumbled happily with his mouth full.
Fallen leaned in close to him. "Don't cum in your pants!" she whispered in Siskan with a giggle.
Remy understood her comment and laughed with her.
"Does evrathin' here taste this good?" Kimble wanted to know. He looked at the dishes of food around him with renewed interest, with his limited appetite he hadn't sampled them all.
"Je suis de'sole, mon ami. Non," Gambit said with mock sadness. "Unfortunately, dere is de evil broccoli and Brussels sprouts, too."
"Those were two of my favorites, silly!" Fallen teased him, laughing.
The Professor observed his new guests with rapt curiosity. He was especially interested in Kimble. He reminded the Professor of a young child experiencing new things for the first time. Being around someone so innocent and new made anyone realize it was so was easy to take the small pleasures of life for granted. The Siskan was quick to laugh and enjoyed all that was placed before him, not intimidated to try new things. He was vibrant and alive and it was impossible to detect that he was anything less than real or human, his pilot skin not withstanding. The Professor couldn't sense Kimble's thoughts but was aware of how Kimble had looked over the women with obvious sexual interest. He could see how it had already caused some tension at the table and that Kimble had been sensitive enough to pick up on it. He wondered just how empathic Kimble was or if he was merely very observant.
The Professor was also aware of Wolverine's close scrutiny of Kimble. Logan didn't laugh or smile at Kimble's explorations of the food and drink placed before him. He behaved as if Kimble was his spoiled rotten younger brother being indulged while he as forced to do without. He, too, was painfully aware of Kimble's roaming eyes, especially when they strayed over Jean.
The Professor was well aware of Logan's feelings for her. The feeling had been mutual but things just never actually materialized between the two of them. Jean had made her choice with Scott and Logan was left on the outside where he usually ended up. There was always a kind of tension between the three of them, but it was dealt with like everything else. The team was quite large and there would always be a changing dynamic within it. Even though she wasn't his, Logan was still jealous of any competition outside of her husband.
Still, the Professor could sense Logan's dislike ran deeper than simple jealousy and competition. Obviously, something ugly had passed between these two. Whatever it was, it was far from over. Logan could never let anything go. The Professor also knew Logan well enough to know that if he was that intense over Kimble, the Siskan was not as innocent or as harmless as he appeared.
The Professor also noted Remy's interest in Kimble. Remy had something of a bad reputation and like Logan, hovered in the outside circles of the team. He didn't have many friends here at the Mansion mainly from being so outwardly shunned by many members of the senior staff. If it was that Gambit embraced this newcomer, the Professor hoped that Kimble wouldn't have trouble being accepted here because of Remy's friendship.
After everyone had eaten, the newly returned spent a long time talking about their adventures on Cerise. Fallen spoke in great length about Kimble and Seth and their history. She told them how Kimble had saved her life and sacrificed himself for Maylee. She paused when Logan grunted and shook his head. He said to her, "You tell a nice tale, butcha left out some of the best parts. Why don'tcha tell them about Zander?"
Fallen was galled by the arrogance of this man. "Kimble saved all of our lives, including yours, when he revived me. Have you even taken the time to thank him for it? Now would be a great time," she challenged, locking him with her eyes. They battled for dominance silently, filling the room with their heat and silencing the others around them.
"Why don' we all just talks about sumpthin' else," Kimble growled irritably. It didn't escape his notice how Logan was silent and didn't honor her request. For a moment it was back, all the hate and rage. It was there in Kimble's eyes for all to see and it shattered any impression the Siskan may have given that he was harmless or passive. He smoothly reached for his wine glass and drained it, swallowing all of his emotion with the dark red liquid as he emptied the glass. His face evened out and he looked down at his plate, saying nothing more.
"How did you make Logan's claws come out of your hands?" Bobby asked, changing the subject and easing the tensions in the room. Bobby was a young man in his mid-twenties and had bright shining eyes and a teasing smile. He had an excellent sense of humor and had the reputation of being the house joker. Being naturally playful, he was also quite inquisitive and his question spoke for the whole group, he hadn't been the only one who had been curious about Kimble's earlier display of shape shifting ability.
Kimble regarded the young man with a teasing smile, losing his dark mood instantly now that he had someone's attention who wanted to play. Kimble thought this X-man was pretty with his blonde spiked hair and fuzzy chin. Bobby was the first man he'd ever seen who shaved his whole face except for his chin. The Siskan looked him over, licking his lips with anticipation, and said, "Like Fallen said, I'm a hologram. I kin change my skin some if I have a mind to."
"Show me."
Jean poked him. "Bobby, don't be rude!"
" 'S all right. You wants ta see what I kin do, huh?" Kimble said, his sly grin getting wider.
"Be gentle on him," Fallen said with a laugh.
Kimble shivered and shifted into his woman skin.
Bobby gasped in surprise, but then laughed and clapped his hands. "Oh, this is good!"
Kimble leaned back, putting one arm on the back of the chair, to better show off her breasts. She was naked now of course and just as blonde and lovely as Remy remembered. He was working hard to hide the blush that had come unbidden to his cheeks at the sight of her so close to him.
Almost immediately the air around this new version of Kimble became charged with a sexual energy that was felt by everyone in the room. Kimble flicked her wrist and conjured a cigarette from what looked like thin air. It had actually come from her fingers but she made it so quickly her slight of hand was easily missed. She snapped to light it and took a deep drag. She didn't blow smoke rings this time, just let the smoke drift from her parted lips in a gentle seductive stream.
She locked Bobby with her eyes, probing him. She seemed to see something there, shook her head and then the blonde became a dark haired beauty, this Kimble could change her hair color at will. Satisfied now that she had established Bobby's preference, she began to speak to him in slow and deliberate Siskan, describing in exquisite detail what amazing things she could do to his anatomy. She spoke in this language, not because she didn't want him to understand, but because it sounded better. Siskan was a musical, flowing language seductive in its own right. Bobby understood it well enough to get the gist of it and shifted uncomfortably in his seat as his pants became suddenly too tight.
Jean handed Bobby a napkin with a snicker. His mouth was hanging open.
"Of course," Kimble continued in English as he shifted back to his pilot skin, "I kin show you a thing 'r two...jus' like this." The pilot continued to stare Bobby down, his eyes hungry with real desire.
Iceman sat back, a little shaken by Kimble's bold proposition, and laughed uncomfortably. He had never had a guy look at him like he was something to eat and it unnerved him.
Kimble just grunted with arrogant amusement. "If ya don' b'lieve me, just ask Logan. He used a 'gram like me on Nine. 'Course I'm better than Lanlin ever was, he wasn't anywhere as talented with the boys as me," he teased, giving Logan a meaningful glance. He had referred to Lanlin as male on purpose.
It had the desired effect. Kimble's suggestion that his tryst with Lanlin had been done in a homosexual manner was more than Logan could stand. A locked door in his mind labeled 'Do not enter' - only one of many - crashed open with a mighty jerk, letting out a cloud of deep black rage. It came off of him in wave of anger so potent, both Kimble and Remy jerked in pain and the two telepaths at the table went on instant alert.
Logan stood slowly and popped the claws on one hand without realizing it. "What did you just say, pup?" he growled.
Remy stood impatiently and pulled Kimble from his chair. "Nuthin'. 'E was just leavin', hien?"
Kimble had recovered from Logan's painful vibration and met the man's furious stare with an indignant one of his own. "What're you so afraid of, furball, huh? Gots sumpthin' ya wanna confess?"
Logan roared and started to vault across the table. He growled in surprise when he was frozen in mid-air, Jean had lifted him telekinetically and denied him his momentum. She shoved him back down in his chair. "He's playing you. You know better than that. What's wrong with you?" she scolded him sharply, making him cringe a little.
"People, please!" Charles interrupted in exasperation. He had watched the whole strange series of events with the controlled curiosity it had taken him years to attain. This wasn't the first fight to break out at his table, but he wasn't about to allow it to continue. "Calm down. I'm sure you're all tired from your journey and nothing was meant that was said here today. Please, everyone just relax."
Fallen had put her head down and covered her face, now hopelessly embarrassed. Maylee put her arms around her mother and gave Kimble a hard look. Fallen sighed, standing up, and grabbed Kimble's arm to lead him away. He was her possession and her responsibility, she wasn't about to let him make this any worse than he already had. "Let's go."
"Sorry, Fallen," he apologized, feeling bad for humiliating her. He had gotten out of control again and ruined everything. His eyes were lowered and his wings slumped down in submission, he knew his place and would do as he was told.
"Non, Fallen. It's all right. 'E's nuthin more'n a little kid, just like you said. Both of dem," Remy said, giving Logan a hard look as well. "Dis one's comin' wit me, s'il vous plait. Gambit's gonna take care of him. You stay here and talk. Have a good time." He yanked on Kimble roughly and dragged him to the door. He tossed him out into the hall with a shove and began to berate him in Siskan. They left.
Rogue shrugged, "Boys will be boys."
Logan stayed in his seat, but kept his eyes down and said nothing more.
The Professor cleared his throat and in an effort to clear the air, and spoke of things that had happened while here while they were gone. Of greatest concern was an increase in anti-human terrorism by some of the more powerful mutant militant factions. One the more prominent terrorists was Jael. He was new on the scene, but proving to be very powerful and destructive. In his cadre were mutants unafraid to sacrifice themselves in Jael's cause for mutant supremacy. There had been several bombings in the New York area and Xavier's new task was to take this new player down. It was to be the first order of business now that the team had been reunited.
Fallen stayed a few minutes longer, then she and Maylee retired back down to the ship. They walked slowly, arm in arm and talking softly as they took in all the new things around them. The Professor walked them down, showing them around a little before wishing them good night. Back in the Lucky Dragon, Fallen tucked in her daughter and then made her way down to the shop. She filled Seth in on what he'd missed, glossing over the details of the small squabble that had taken place.
Seth wasn't about to be fooled. He knew Kimble could be a handful. He just hoped Kimble didn't get so out of hand they might be forced to leave. He loved his brother, but knew him well enough to know it was a real possibility. When Kimble returned, he would be sure to sit down with his twin and try to make him see how important this was.