(Nine)

Kimble woke slowly and sat up, rubbing his eyes. Fallen was still asleep next to him on the bed. He could tell she was still using the White Lightning and had injected not long before he had come down from the house. She seemed okay, but he wasn't looking forward to the withdrawal process. No matter, she was his Mistress and he would be there for her to do whatever she needed. She had a smile of utter bliss on her lips. His heart swelled with love for her and he was thrilled he'd been able to do this for her.

He was impatient for some of this happy sexual afterglow for himself, but tried to squash it down. Good things come to those who wait, he reminded himself. "Jus' not too much longer, please..." he whispered to no one, feeling a surge of loneliness. He squashed that down, too. He had a job to do. He slid his body away from hers, not wanting to wake her. He got up and picked up the knife, noting that the blade was clean of his hologram gel. How convenient. He chuckled and hung it back up in its place.

Kimble showered to refresh himself and then went into the Storage Room to paw through the bins. He was looking for something, anything he could give to Remy. He appreciated the kindnesses Gambit had showed him the night before more than Remy could ever know. That sunrise was the best thing anyone could have given him. Kimble lived for acceptance and thrived on it, he wanted to give Remy something in return. He sifted through the bins, but most of this stuff was Clan and all but useless here. He paused when he found a small bundle wrapped in oilcloth. He had forgotten about this. Before they left Cerise, Valentin had ordered three restraining collars. Like the meat, it was on the list and the brothers had been forced to accept it. In defense, Kimble had re-organized the list in such a way that the collars had been hopelessly buried in the supplies. He had forgotten about them until now.

Kimble opened the bundle and held the collar. He knew the alphas detested these things, but maybe it could be put to good use here. It might shut off or blunt Rogue's power, perhaps it would be enough that she and Remy could touch. That might help Remy to persuade Rogue to forgive him. He wrapped it up and closed the bin, leaving the other two collars behind and best forgotten.

He made his way back up to the house, not taking the tram. He preferred to fly along the small walkway in place beside the track, wanting now to learn how to use his new powers. He found flying awkward and clumsy, it required a degree of control he hadn't yet acquired. He did little more than hover over the ground and move along slowly. He didn't mind, he would just have to get used to it if he wanted to learn. He would practice.

He prowled around the lower level, looking for Remy. He turned down the main hallway from the far end when Jean walked out of Henry's lab. He cocked his head when their eyes met and he slowly walked towards her, that sly grin fixed firmly in place. His stride changed, becoming more sensual and animal like in its grace. He undressed her with his eyes, not even trying to hide it.

"Hey, baby doll. You seen Remy around?" he purred in his low growl.

She looked at him disdainfully. "My name is Jean, not baby doll, and no I haven't seen Gambit. Perhaps he is in the gym."

Kimble smiled even wider. Her face showed she was offended by his remark, but her shine told him quite another story. He saw how she had tracked him as he had moved closer and even now wouldn't look him directly in the eyes. He moved a little closer, invading her personal space, and sniffed her air.

It was a very Logan like movement and Jean shuddered unconsciously, feeling the gooseflesh rise on her arms. Wolverine never failed to arouse her, it was just something about the way he moved and the low growl of his voice. Kimble was very similar in how he walked and carried himself. His engaging sexual presence had instantly brought a blush to her cheeks even though she tried to conceal it. He was working her and she knew it. It pissed her off even as much as it excited her.

"Sorry, Red," he said, inadvertently using Logan's nickname for her. "I meant no offense. 'S just sumpthin' I calls all the pretty girls."

She walked past him stiffly, but her eyes were still all over him. She couldn't tear them away no matter how hard she tried. He hadn't taken Fallen's example and put on a shirt. His white skin and mischievous grin intrigued her, in spite of her tight self control. She knew he was preening himself for her, flexing his muscles to impress her as Logan had done. The large tattoo was very pretty and only added to his mystery. It was suddenly very warm in here. She wondered just how aware he was of his effect on people. He didn't seem as though he possessed enough self discipline to consciously seduce anyone like this. It was more like part of his personality and would have to be endured.

Like the Professor, Jean was unable to get a lock on Kimble's mental presence. He was there and not there, something maddening. He didn't even have the slight hum that one might have if the presence was somehow shielded, Kimble simply wasn't there as far as a telepath would be concerned. She covered her discomfort with some advice for the Siskan. "Well, I hope you plan on treating the women here with some respect. This is not Kindergarten."

Kimble cocked his head. "What's that?"

"Kindergarten? That's a school for little boys."

Kimble grinned. "Sounds like fun. Gots anathin' ya kin teach me?"

She smiled. "Sure."

Kimble gasped in surprise when she telekinetically knocked his feet out from under him and he was sprawled out on his ass. He went down hard, but burst into giddy laughter. His whole body shook with it, making him lose that seductive posture and he was a child again, amused by simple things.

She stood over him, perplexed by his strange reaction. "What's so funny?"

"Fergot how feisty alla you redheads are. It's been a while."

"Learn anything yet?"

He giggled some more and wiped at his eyes. "Not really. Wants ta try again?"

"You're hopeless," she mumbled and gave him her hand.

He took it and let her pull him up. Instantly, his air changed back to what it once was and he was a man again. The contact with his skin made his spell even harder for Jean to resist and for the first time, she realized what he was doing. He had some kind of seductive power and it seemed like it was far more powerful when he was right up close and in physical contact with her. It was too easy to mistake it for flirtation, but she was a telepath and had come under the assault of many other mind persuaders. She might not be able to sense his mental presence, but she could feel his intense desire well enough and was so tempted to give into it.

His skin was warm and felt real even though she had been told he was a hologram. He seemed to glow a little bit with a strange energy and was very beautiful. He looked intensely into her eyes on the way up and she felt him brush his fingers over her breast as he left her. It was no accident and he snickered a little as she flushed even further. Jean tried to control her body, will it into submission. She was married after all. Kimble was a mystery to her and the way he affected her not something she appreciated.

She was confused and intrigued by him because she was telepathic as well as telekinetic and couldn't sense his thoughts at all, only his desire. Logan's mental defenses were just as strong and she could never fully grasp his thoughts either. She was struck by the similarity between the two men, how they both gave off an air of animal sexuality that was hard to ignore. It didn't help her resolve that they resembled each other slightly. She had always found Logan very attractive in an animal sort of way even though she had never once given into it. As with Logan, she was unable to read Kimble telepathically and was forced to rely on his body language but there was no mistaking what the Siskan had in mind. Now that she knew Kimble was trying to seduce her, his thrall over her was gone.

"You'd best be running along," she said, backing away. She wanted to talk to the Professor about Kimble and how best to deal with him. As she moved away, she could see Kimble really had no idea what he had done to her and that his power was not something he could control.

"Shure." He already realized he was getting nowhere here. He could see she was intrigued by him, but wasn't going to give it up for him. At least, not yet. "Maybe I'll sees ya around."

"Maybe." She started to walk away, but noticed him following her. She stopped and pointed the opposite direction. "The gym is that way."

He turned and grinned sheepishly. "Right. See ya round...baby doll."

She gave him a dirty look, but her lips were already smiling. Kimble winked at her and got moving. He knew when to quit.

He checked the doors and but didn't find Remy in the gym. Kimble prowled around the locker room and discovered his friend soaking in a large hot tub that was recessed into the floor. He had his head back and was out cold asleep, the warm water and his exhaustion knocking him out. Kimble crouched down low next to him and smiled sadly when he saw the large red welt on his face and the puffiness of his eyes. One of them was bruising slightly. He reached out and gently brushed Remy's cheek where the welt was, using his empathic power to 'feel' him, making sure he was okay.

The moment Kimble touched him, Remy startled awake with a jerk, splashing water everywhere. He grasped Kimble's hand defensively and yanked on it, spilling Kimble into the tub. The pilot was unprepared for the assault and couldn't even think, nevermind defend himself. He gasped out the last of his air underwater as an arm snaked around his neck and choked him. Remy's grip was tight and Kimble was too frightened to phase his way out of it. He thrashed, but his opponent was too strong. Remy had acted on instinct and didn't even realize who was there. Kimble was brought roughly up to the surface and released before being shoved away.

"What de 'ell you t'ink you doin', man, sneakin' up on me like dat!" Remy snarled, panting from being so freaked out. "Baises! Fuck!"

Kimble crawled out of the large tub and shook himself off like a dog, spraying water everywhere, adding to the mess. He flapped his wings, giving Remy a shower to go with his bath. Gambit backed up, holding his hands over his face and laughing now, Kimble's antics lightening his mood. He was sorry he had attacked Kimble like that, but he had been caught unawares and his natural defenses kicked right in.

" 'Scuze me, man. I didn' mean nuthin'. Sheesh, you shure are paranoid!" Kimble said with a sheepish smile, swallowing away the soreness in his throat. He was trying to joke around, hoping Remy wasn't truly mad.

"Well, you got to be more careful, 'specially around dis place. D'accorde?" Gambit admonished, settling down and relaxing back into the warm water.

"I gotcha," Kimble said with a wink. He slicked off the rest of the water from his 'skin' with the side of his hand and tossed his soaked ponytail behind him. Good thing his pants weren't real. It wouldn't take long for him to dry off. He crept to the edge of the tub and gingerly reached down into the water to retrieve the package he had brought with him. He hoped it was waterproof.

Remy watched him suspiciously. "Whatcha got dere?"

"I found this. Thoughtcha could use it." Kimble handed him the now waterlogged bundle.

Remy took what he was given and unraveled it slowly. He looked up at Kimble puzzled, not sure what Kimble was getting at. "Why you givin' me dis?"

"I meant no offense. It's fer you an' Rogue. Maybe you kin use it ta, you know...Do right fer her. Love her proper, I mean," he finished lamely. He wasn't sure if Remy was happy or offended. "I knows ya said ya didn't want no help from me, but when I sawr this, I thought maybe you would change yer mind. Maybe it could helps ya, you know, lures her back."

Remy's eyes opened wide as he realized what Kimble was saying. Gambit already knew this would work. Remy knew Rogue pretty well. She'd had sex twice before using a collar such as this. The first time wasn't pleasant - she had lost her virginity to a prison guard in a Genoshan security facility during a mission in that tiny island country. Some of the X-men had been captured while trying to free some mutants there. She had been viciously raped before she could be rescued and the scars remained until this day. She had issues with trust that still haunted her.

Her second encounter was with him. Just before the Antarctica fiasco, both he and Rogue had been captured by yet another mutant villain and restraining collars used. Huddled together in fear in a prison cell and thinking it would be their last day alive, they had finally physically expressed their love for one another. It had been rushed and more than a little uncertain because of their surroundings, but explosively passionate and well worth the risk they had taken. The restraining collars weren't handed out as parting gifts when they broke free. Since then, Gambit had been forced to become a lot more resourceful and creative. Not that Gambit minded all that much, he had a very good imagination. The black velvet bag contained more than just cigarettes, it held his thievery tools just for her.

Gambit was a master thief and very skilled, but these collars were very rare here and almost impossible to find. He had never held one in his hands, free to use like this. He honestly didn't know if Rogue would agree to wear it. He remembered Manny and figured it didn't matter now anyways.

"Are ya mad?" Kimble asked nervously. He was disturbed by Remy's lack of response.

"Non, no. I ain't mad, just surprised. Where did you get dis?"

"Vally ordered it before we left. I made shure he never found it. I fergots about it actually. When I sawr it, I wuz thinkin' maybe you could do sumpthin' nice with it. Make it not such a bad thing ta have. If ya don' wants it, gives it ta Henry or sumpthin', jus' don' say ya got it from me. I don' want no trouble."

"Non, I won't say anyt'ing." He smiled reassuringly up at Kimble, truly appreciating the thought. Of course, Kimble would be thoughtful like this. "Merci. I'll be keepin' dis. Save it for a special occasion, hien?"

Kimble cocked his head at him and touched his face. "You an Rogue had a fight."

"Not exactly. Just dat I know it might be over fo' good dis time."

Gambit didn't move away from Kimble this time. It was getting through that Kimble touched him to better read his mood, not necessarily because he was trying to push himself on him, although he knew Kimble would be all over him given the chance. He could see Kimble was reading his residual frustration and pain, his friend had scowled in quiet concern.

"What happened?" Kimble asked softly.

Remy sniffed and shrugged. "Oh, you know de femmes. Dey never know what dey want. Gambit leaves, she find sumptin better."

Kimble smiled sadly and kept his hand on Remy's face. "Is that what she told you?"

"No, but it's what she meant."

"You gonna be okay?"

"Bien entendu. She ain't de only girl in de world."

"Naw, jus' the one ya loves the most," Kimble replied sadly.

"Well, we all gotta live wit disappointments. Dis ain't Gambit's first one, not by far. But dat's all right...dat's all right. 'E a survivor, jus' like you. 'E'll get by." Gambit sniffed and shrugged again. "Gambit gonna go see some old friends in de City. He ain't gonna waste no time hangin' round here, pinin' for no petite dat don' appreciate 'is good Cajun lovin'."

Kimble grinned excitedly. "Since we're such good friends an all, yer gonna take yer good buddy Kimble witcha, right?"

Gambit grunted a laugh. "When Gambit go see 'Nessa, he take you for sure. Gambit may be a t'ief an a scoundrel, but he keeps 'is promises. Don't you worry."

He looked up into Kimble's excited eyes. He had planned on taking off after a nice long nap, packing a bag for a few days as was his usual tactic after a blowout with Rogue. Seeing Kimble's happiness made him reconsider. Kimble would need some looking after and right now, Remy felt like he was the best choice for that. Besides, running away now would only make Rogue see his weakness. If he stuck around, maybe he could fool her into thinking she hadn't hurt him as deeply as she had.