(Eight)
After they returned from Anya's, Fallen, Logan and Remy checked in with Charles to see if there had been any news of Kimble. The Professor had sent two teams out to spy on Cameron's penthouse as Remy had suggested - Jean and Rogue, and Warren and Kurt. They had camped out on opposite sides of the building on adjacent roofs. So far there had been no word, but it was still early. Logan gave Charles a quick run down on what Anya had said. He left out her remarks about Crazy John and Remy was silent on the matter. He didn't have a clue what all that had been about but he had a feeling they would all find out sooner or later. It wasn't really his business, not just yet.
After the information was shared, Charles dismissed the others but held Remy back. "I can see you are worried, Remy. Can I help?"
Gambit stood pensively at the Professor's window, looking out at the driveway as if he expected Kimble to pull up in his Jeep, apologetic for an unplanned joyride. "Non. It's jus' dat 'e's out dere wit no one lookin' out for 'im."
"Why didn't you tell me he was sneaking out?"
" 'Cause I knew you wouldn't understand," Remy replied without facing him.
"You never turned in your report on Kimble like I asked. Please, talk to me. Tell me about him so I can understand. Tell me who you think he is."
Gambit turned and looked back at his mentor, his eyes tired and sad. He took a deep breath and told the Professor everything. He explained about Kimble's playful and flirtatious manner before they had even left Cerise, how he had been upset at Fallen's mistreatment by Valentin and how he looked after Seth. Kimble had reacted badly on the ship, the violence between the people on board and the shock from being jerked out of the system were probably to blame. Kimble needed to be happy to okay. He had to be played with and used properly, he had to be loved and cared for as if he were a real live creature, not a machine or a dead end hologram like they had in the Danger Room. Kimble was very real. Remy hoped the Professor understood and tried to be clear about it. The Professor nodded and Remy continued.
He told him about Kimble being stabbed when he tried to save Maylee's life and how he had come to Kimble's rescue, never expecting the trip through Wonderland that followed. He went through Kimble's memories, glossing over his sexual romp with Young Kimble, but doing his best to describe Kimble's empathic gifts and how he went out of his way to help the Siskans who had been sick and suffering. Kimble needed the constant use and intimate contact with others. He fed off of it and was lost and lonely while he had basically been ignored by everyone here. Fallen's neglect of him had been particularly painful and Remy's platonic love for him hadn't been enough to make up for it. This is why Kimble had gotten into trouble and Remy had covered for him while he was sneaking out. He never would have let Kimble go if he had known how much danger the pilot was in.
Remy felt lost now, responsible. He understood how those parents felt who's kids had been kidnapped. Kimble was out there somewhere, hurt or damaged somehow. He didn't have his big brother Remy with him to make sure he was safe and free from harm. Kimble was like an innocent child and Gambit's biggest fear was Anya's prediction of Kimble's corruption. Remy was already concerned enough about Kimble's mental state before he had left, the last thing he wanted was for Kimble to be wrecked any further.
He didn't always say these things directly, but the Professor knew what he meant. Charles was inwardly impressed with Remy's concern. It showed a maturity that Remy had been hiding, evidence of personal growth. The man before him now was not the boy who had first come here four years ago, full of piss and vinegar and little more than a punk looking for his next thrill. Gambit had come a long way and had traveled some of those miles very hard.
Charles remembered well when Gambit first came to be with them. Storm had found him and brought him into their little fold. Gambit had come for the adventure of it, but later embraced Charles' dream for reasons of his own. Charles felt horrible when he learned that Rogue had dumped Gambit and left him behind in Antarctica. He wasn't traveling with the team at the time and had been unable to stop her from leaving him. He had been furious when he found out. He had spent a lot of time preaching tolerance and she had blown all of that off in her anger. Later when they went back in a feeble attempt to rescue him, Remy was gone. The thief had been rescued by some Russian sledders and returned to New York after a year of self imposed exile, thin, worn out and hardly alive from his soul being ripped apart. He snuck into the Professor's office and came to him on his knees, crying and begging for forgiveness. He felt horrible about his terrible crime and wanted only to make up for it somehow. He had to do something to stop the screaming in his soul. He was a walking dead man, an empty shell with nothing left to keep him together.
Of course Charles had taken him back, how could he not? This man was young, his crime committed as a teenager. Gambit wouldn't give up his reasons for what he had done, but was clearly in need of redemption. Gambit had come to him that first day of his return, down on his knees, and lay his head in the Professor's lap like a child. He cried and cried, a shattered child begging for help, while his mentor gently soothed him. Charles told Gambit how to save himself. He could stay here and work for peace, he could save lives. Lives saved for the lives lost, he had said and Remy never forgot, it was a constant hum in his mind ever since. Remy had cried then for a while longer until he got all of it out and then slept there with his head still in the Professor's lap. He felt secure and wanted for the first time in a year. When he woke a short time later, they never spoke of it. Gambit just went back up to his old room, his head down and his eyes low, submissive and contrite.
Gambit's return didn't go well with some of the others. Angel had been especially vocal, he held Gambit responsible for the loss of his wings and wasn't about to have him back without a fight. Warren's original wings had been replaced by then with Shi'ar prosthetics and he was relearning how to fly, but that wasn't the point. He had suffered horribly and complained vigorously.
The biggest surprise in the whole mess had been Wolverine. The man had stood by while the others complained and bickered, but he was oddly silent. What do you have to say about this? Charles had asked, using telepathy for privacy.
There ain't gonna be no peace in this world without fergiveness, Chuck. You taught me that an' I figure it's true, Logan had replied. Gambit's saved my ass more'n once when he could've just walked away with none the wiser. Best ta keep him here anyways, keep 'im outta trouble. We got enough enemies without addin' this one to their teams. Don't worry about the others, I'll look after him. And the man had kept his word. He stood in Angel's way, not letting Warren hurt the thief. Warren had just been released from the hospital then and still deep in therapy. Gambit's return hadn't helped. Things got ugly and Warren moved out to stay in one of the other houses abutting the property. It was only just recently that Warren had returned to live under the same roof as the thief he despised.
Since Gambit's return from exile, Charles watched as Remy recovered from his ordeal and attempted to regain some normalcy. Gambit often volunteered for risky missions, putting his life on the line willingly to save others regardless of the outcome. Lives saved for the lives lost, yes. Gambit would never forget. He had become responsible in the sense that he would do anything to help the team, even if it was recklessness with his own life. He had become someone who genuinely cared about other people. The boy had become a man.
Charles didn't have to be a mind reader to see Remy's pain and guilt over Kimble's abduction. Gambit was concerned about Anya's prediction which led the Professor to believe the woman had some credibility. They would have to be careful.
Gambit looked at him now, his eyes teasing. "What you t'inkin' now, patron, ey? Surprised dis boy even care 'bout sumptin' other dan 'is next score?"
Charles laughed. "I know you better than you think, my Cajun friend. There's hope for you, yet."
Remy playfully raised a confidential finger against his lips. "Si bien. Dis jus' be our secret, oui? Don' want it gettin' around Gambit's gone soft."
"No worries."
Gambit just grunted another laugh and walked out. Scott passed him by on the way in.
Charles regarded his new arrival with the same thoughtfulness as his last. Scott was one of his first students. Kimble thought of him as the Professor's Second and that wasn't too far off the mark. Scott Summers was the team captain, the one making the big decisions out in the field. He was trustworthy and dependable, but unfortunately a little cold and stern on the outside. That was a result of always having to be in control of his power. Without his glasses, Cyclops could easily kill and maim. That kind of destructive power demanded constant vigilance.
"They have anything of value to report?" Cyclops asked, trying to sound casual.
"Yes. It seems that Kimble is not as harmless or worthless as we may have thought. He is being sought out by others. They think he has a valuable power and they will stop at nothing to take it for themselves. What worries me is Jael. He is seeking only the violent destruction of everything around him. I fear what Kimble could become in his hands."
Scott scowled.
Charles turned his chair slightly to better look at his team leader. "What?"
"I still find it awfully hard to believe Kimble could be anything that anyone wants. He's like a little kid. This has to be some kind of mix up, a case of mistaken identity."
"I realize that you don't approve of Kimble's rambunctious nature, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't go after him with any less enthusiasm."
"Maybe he's better off where he's at. He wasn't happy here." Scott remembered how Kimble had been before he left, all low and skulking about. It had made him feel a little guilty for yelling at him earlier, but the pilot simply had to learn that rules were necessary and important in a facility with so many other people in it.
"That may have been so, but he's in danger, Scott. Remy is very worried and that concerns me more than anything. He must be brought back."
"Is Gambit hiding something?"
"Only his great affection for the pilot. The two of them share a kind of bond that neither one of them truly understands, I think. Remy's fear is real enough, though. I think we may have carelessly let Kimble slip away from us and I wish to put that to rights. Besides, anything that interests Jael enough to send Sabretooth out looking worries me greatly, indeed. Gambit said Anya told them there was some kind of Game involved and that Jael is an active player. We need to learn more about this. I want you to gather as many of our people as you can. I want Cameron Bishop's building covered from all sides at all times."
"We have two teams out there watching now already."
"They must be relieved. If Kimble doesn't show up, we may have to take more drastic measures, but for the moment, all I want is surveillance. Work it out with Wolverine."
"Yes, Professor."
Cyclops left and the Professor was left alone with his thoughts. He felt a sense of terrible dread. The idea of some game being played out there in his world frightened him. So many times he had sent his teams out to wage war against these idiots playing stupid games of power, always trampling over innocents in their wake. So unnecessary. So stupid. So horrifying in that it kept happening. What would this world have become if he hadn't intervened so many times. Was this his role, a mutant policeman? If the real people knew what he had sacrificed on their behalf would they thank him or lock him up?
Enough of these thoughts, old man. They accomplish nothing.
Charles rolled away from the window and returned to his desk, planning his next move.