MJK: Nooo, I love Remy, torture is bad for the sweet Cajun…but he always gets better I could never write off that he dies that would make me cry, but I like writing the reactions of the others…
Chapter 3 Fear of the Monster
Charles had returned to the mansion grounds as fast as he could and quickly made his way to the boathouse he could hear yelling within, Storm had arrived a few moments earlier and tried to calm Remy, the sedative Hank had given Remy had long since worn off, oppening the door Charles saw that a few tables where now in pieces as well as a few chairs were tipped over. "I'm in a fucken prison..." Remy yelled out kicking a nearby table overturning it. His anger immediately disappeared now replaced with fear. "A prison..." he whispered, "Needles, straps..." he continued to mumble.
Spotting the Professor, Hank quickly made his way to him, "He panicked when he woke up, just started mumbling nonsense..."
The X-men all looked at the thief trying to understand why he was freaking out, "Blood..." Remy looked around then spotted Xavier, his fear quickly changed into hate as he saw the Professor, "Ya gonna hand me over ta him aren't ya?" Remy stepped back.
"Remy calm down...now what are you talking about?" Charles winced at the sudden emotions the thief was projecting.
"I can't defend myself 'gainst him...can't get away...I'm still too weak..." he groaned as he bowed his head, then cried "...ya still want me ta suffer...I-I...dat's why ya left me in Antarctica ta die isn't it...so I couldn't get away..."
"Remy calm down..." Logan took a step forward, "Defend yourself against who?" he asked.
Remy grabbed his head breathing heavily as he tried to figure out what to do, "Wasn't my fault...I didn't know...I nevah would've..." he paced the room his fingers through his hair, he didn't want to be within a few inches from that monster, quickly turning he spotted it, then calmed a bit. "It so simple..." he whispered as he stared at the television.
"Remy...Remy..." Storm tried again to get his attention, when all of a sudden Remy slammed his elbow in the screen, sparks flew as a puff of smoke filled the air, Remy grabbed a few glass shards cutting his hands and slashed at his arms. Storm looked on horrified, "REMY NO..." she screamed.
Logan quickly grabbed the thief pinning his arms at his back. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he growled as Remy tried desperately to free himself.
"Non...ya gonna let him take me...I know it...ya let me die...ya gonna hand me over ta him. I ain't gonna let ya..." he growled in turn. "I rather be dead..." he hissed. Hank quickly rushed over to the kitchen where he had his bag taking out a syringe, and a first aid kit, he rushed over to the frantic Cajun. "Non...get that shit away from me..." he screamed, as he kicked at the doctor, "Your no fucken doctor..." he hissed then gasped for breath as he started coughing violently.
"Logan restrain him..." Beast ordered, Logan wrapped an arm around Remy's chest pushing him down on his back he unsheathed two claws from each hand, pinning Remy's right arm above his head, and the other went to Remy's neck, putting pressure on his airway to get Remy to stop struggling. He really didn't want to do this but he had no choice. Logan watched at the fear on the boy's face as he gasped for breath, tears were rolling down his cheeks, while Hank injected Remy with something to calm him, and quickly cleaned the wounds on his arms, taking out the pieces of glass, and wrapping them up.
Remy's eyes glazed over as he slowly stopped struggling, Logan sheathed his claws and helped Hank to sit the boy up, leaning him against the couch, Logan still had a hand on him as he sat on his right, Storm kneeled in front of him, Remy stared at the floor passed her, "Remy..." she whispered placing her hand on his left cheek.
Logan looked to Charles, "What the hell just happened?" he asked looking back at Remy and wincing at the blood soaked bandages on his arms.
"I've no idea..." Xavier answered, as he guided his chair beside Remy then laid his hand at the back of Remy's head and closed his eyes in concentration. Storm now stood beside Hank extremely worried. Charles' eyes immediately snapped open as he saw something he wished he hadn't, "My god..." he whispered. As he moved his hand to Remy's back, gently moving it up and down in trying to comfort the thief.
"WHAT?" Logan growled extremely impatient.
Charles took a deep breath and slowly released it, "Sinister..." he whispered, that said Storm and Logan's faces immediately paled.
"No fucken way..." Logan hissed.
"I'm afraid so...What I saw...I'm surprised Remy didn't take his life a long time ago..." he whispered, trying to push back what he witnessed in the back of his mind.
"Professor?" Storm rasped.
"How he could have lived through all that pain..." Charles continued, then grasped Remy's face looking at his eyes, "Remy listen to me...Sinister will never lay a hand on you again..." he tried to assure him.
The moment that name was mentioned Remy's eyes went wide now totally petrified, "Where..." he whispered looking around for the psychotic doctor.
Storm quickly sat beside him wrapping her arms around his shoulders, cradling him to her. "Shhhh, you're safe Remy..." she whispered as she held on to his trembling form, tears rolling down her cheeks. Charles again concentrated in trying to help Remy strenghten his shields. Logan fisted his hands at the sight, now extremely furious at how much the boy had to have suffered.
"That son of a bitch..." Logan growled, as he sat in a chair watching as Remy tried to get away from Storm to try and hide, but she held on to the Cajun keeping a firm grip on him, Hank covered them both with a huge blanket and turned on the heat lamp, Remy slowly started to calm down. Closing his eyes he fell asleep, still in Storm's embrace. Waiting half an hour to make sure the thief wouldn't wake and have another panic attack. Hank assured the Professor that Remy would probably not wake until morning. Logan stood and made his way back to the mansion ignoring the students who approached him for news on Gambit heading to the danger room he ran a program unsheathed his claws and killed off a few imaginary Nathaniel Essex's.
The next morning Remy groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, he lay on his stomach and turned to lay on his side, his eyes went wide went he felt pain shoot up his arms, "Son of a..." he cursed quickly lifting the blanket and gasped his arms were heavily bandaged, "What da?" he whispered clawing at the blood stained wraps to take them off. Unraveling them as fast as he could he gasped at the numerous deep gashes, slowly tilting his head as he sensed someone standing behind the couch, "What ya do ta me?" he whispered.
"You don't remember what happened last night?" Logan asked walking around the couch to face Remy, and sat on the coffee table.
Remy looked at him obviously pissed. "What ya thought I needed ta experience some other kind a pain or something?"
"Rem you did that to yourself...you started freaking out said you were in a prison, that we were going to hand you over to someone, that you'd rather die first...so you looked at the tv..." Logan moved a bit to give Gambit a view at the broken tube, "...rammed your elbow in it, grabbed the shards and did that to yourself..." Remy remained silent as he tried to remember. "There's something else too...Chuck went inta your head..." Remy's head snapped up, before he could protest, Logan continued. "He had to...your shields were gone you were loosing it...Why didn't you tell us Sinister had control over you?" Remy looked down ashamed at the thought. Then stood and looked around the room, walking over to the kitchen to get a drink of anything he instead leaned against the counter and slid down to the floor, grasping his head in his hands Logan rushed over to him, "You all right?"
Remy sighed, and chuckled softly, "That's a very stupid question..."
Logan chuckled soflty, then sighed. "Chuck should be here any minute. You do know he's gonna want ta talk about this..." Remy groaned as he leaned his head back and took slow deep breaths. "Ya hungry...'Ro made pancakes..." Amazingly Remy nodded his head, Logan stood and helped Remy up, sitting him down at the table. Remy held his head up with his hands staring at the table. Never hearing Storm as she came down from the rooms upstairs, placing a kiss at the top of Remy's head she helped Logan set the table.
XXX
Charles had just finished eating breakfast with Hank when most of the students crammed into the kitchen, "Is it true Professor…is Gambit really alive?" Kurt asked, amazingly everyone kept quiet to hear the Professor's answer.
"That it is Kurt…" Charles answered plainly.
"You were able to fix his shields right?" Jean asked.
"Yes…although there was a lot of damage…" he answered.
"Why keep him hidden?" Kitty asked.
Charles looked at her and quirked an eyebrow, "Because he was left to die in Antarctica that is why, I can still sense the hatred from many of you. Althought I could not bring myself to suspend any of you, you are still being punished for what you have done, you still have a lot of work to do to regain my trust…which will not come easily." he eyed Rogue and a few others who simply looked away. "It was made clear when I found out that you had left a fellow X-men to die in such a cruel manner, that the day your schooling is over and done with you will leave this mansion and never return…"
Most of everyone bowed their heads as they were suddenly reminded that they could no longer call the mansion home. "H-how is Remy Professor?" Rogue asked a bit shyly.
"I highly doubt any of you deserve to know the answer to that question…" Charles answered and turned his chair to leave Hank following close behind, all the students sighed as they all left the kitchen knowing they wouldn't get much out of the Professor when it came to Remy and went back to what they were doing before they all rushed into the kitchen to try and get some news on the thief.
XXX
After a quiet breakfast Hank and Charles finally entered the boathouse, "How are you feeling today Remy?" Xavier asked.
"When can I get out of here?" Remy whispered.
"Why do you want to leave?" Charles asked trying to catch a glimpse of the thief's eyes.
"Whole mansion knows I'm here...don' wan ta be no where near them..." Remy answered staring at his plate.
"No one will come here Remy you are here to recuperate..." Charles answered, Remy just looked at the man and glared.
"No offense Professor but if Remy needs rest he'd rather do it somewhere else, where he actually feel safe...and not wake up strugglin ta breathe cause one of da kids think I didn't suffer enough..."
Xavier sighed, "You have my word no one will come here except the three of us...now will you tell me about Sinister?" Remy quickly shook his head no, talking about it meant remembering it.
Storm laid a comforting hand, on his shoulder. "You might feel better...if you talk about it..."
"Yeah pup ya know get it off your chest..." Logan spoke up.
Remy groaned as he looked at the floor, Xavier sighed, "Very well what about, the Maurauders and the Morlocks?"
Remy frowned, after a few moments Charles was about to suggest another topic that is until the thief spoke up, "Said he wasn't gonna hurt them that he just wanted a few samples, blood, hair, whatever...everytime I said no my head would feel like it would explode...couldn't move...kept sticking me with those fucken needles, I kept refusin' then he gave me a choice said if I didn't do it that he..." Remy choked trying to hold back.
Charles could sense his frustration, "He'd go after your father..." he finished.
Remy
looked up in question, "When we thought you dead, I received a call
from your father wanting to know where you were since he hadn't heard
from you in a while, we had a long chat...you two are very close?" he
asked knowing the answer.
Remy looked back at the table and nodded, "Don' care what Essex does ta me, he not gonna kill me but...can't lose mon père...not ta dat bastard..." he whispered.
"Damn pup...why didn't you speak up..." Logan ground out.
Remy smirked, "And who da hell'd listen, I'm a good fo nothin' tief remember...besides no one knows bout my past, and it gonna stay dat way..."
"We're listening now Rem..." Logan leaned back in his chair.
Remy rolled his eyes, "Right...aftah da damage already been done..."
"You will heal Remy you just need time..." Hank tried to assure the thief.
Remy snorted, "Time...like what ten, twenty years?" he hissed.
"You were always a fast healer Remy...now what about your father?" Hank sat down, leaning his arms on the table very interrested in the Cajun's life.
"Yeah 'used to' be a fast healer..." Remy took a deep breath, "He don't know bout Essex...the fuck's da reason why I never stay in one place too long..."
"Yet you stayed with the X-men for over two years..." Storm smiled.
"Figured I was safe with you guys at least for a little while, was kinda tired of hiding...Sinister wouldn't do anything if I stayed...but he cornered me on one of ya missions...he found out bout ma famille..." he scowled.
"Remy...when I helped you to strenghten your shields I saw a few things that quite frankly frightened me...you were so young how on earth did you manage to..." Xavier was lost for words.
"Why didn't I kill myself back then?" Remy smirked, as he saw that Xavier didn't really approve of the words he had chosen, "Mon père...he always worry about me too much...as you said Professor, we be very close...he was never scared of me, never raised a hand to hurt me."
"Never scared, why cause you're a mutant?" Logan asked getting angry.
"What da hell are you so pissed about...he didn't care I was a mutant...when père took me in he and Tante always obsessed that I stay healthy..."
Logan looked at the thief confused.
Charles smiled, "Logan, Remy was adopted..."
"Yeah Wolfie didn't ya know I used ta live off da streets?" Remy drawled, quirking an eyebrow.
Logan stared at Remy in awe, then shook his head. "No..." he whispered, then smirked, "That where you learn your thieving skills?"
Remy chuckled, "Non...mon père taught me those..."
"Your father taught you how to steal?" Hank asked. "What kind of a role model is that?"
Remy actually laughed, "A great one...ya'll know nothing bout my life, and as I said before it's gonna stay dat way..."
"Why so secretive?" Hank asked curiously.
"Cause it's none of ya damn business..." Remy growled.
"Very well Remy, let's change the subject..." Charles thought for a moment.
Remy chuckled softly, "Hard ta think of a subject that's worth talkin' about hun Professor, when everything ya'll say is either insulting or has somethin ta do with me freezin ta death, or maybe how shitty a childhood I had..." Remy paused, "Ooh or trying ta kill myself..." he laughed.
Xavier gave a small smile, "That is not funny..." he scolded, "Although I'm afraid your quite right about that Remy..." he sighed, "What would you like to talk about?"
"Honestly?" Remy asked quirking an eyebrow, and chuckled when Xavier nodded his head, "Not a damn thing..." he answered about ready to stand.
"Aw come on pup...ya gotta talk about something..."
"Like what da fucken weather...I ain't talkin bout the massacre or fucken Antarctica, my past and absolutely not Essex, so forget about it...it's hard enough ta get a decent night's sleep, last thing I need is ta remember all that crap..." he hissed, throwing his chair back and storming out of the kitchen, heading upstairs, Remy entered one of the rooms slamming the door shut, glancing at the window which was covered Remy groaned as he saw a bright light showing through the cracks of the shade that was pulled down. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand which read 11:27 am. He so wanted out of here, knowing he was safe for at least a little while, Xavier might think he'd need a couple hours to cool off, so they'd leave him alone for now.
"Well that went well..." Storm sighed as she picked up the dishes and brought them to the sink.
"I was hoping he'd talk a little more about his family..." Hank groaned.
"Yes I was hoping that as well, especially before the reunion..."
"Reunion?" both Hank and Logan turned to the Professor.
"Yes I contacted his father last night before Remy had his panic attack with the television...he should arrive in a few hours..."
"So according to Gumbo is pops coming here a good thing or a bad thing?" Logan titled his head.
Xavier sighed, "Hopefully good, even though Remy may not want to worry his father, it might do him good to talk with him. Jean-Luc might be able to convince Remy to accept our help."
Half an hour later Charles had received a call from Jean-Luc his flight had been delayed, he'd only arrive later on that night. Hearing this Xavier insisted that Jean-Luc be picked up by Jean and Scott who would fly over to New Orleans. Meanwhile Remy had stayed cooped up in the room upstairs, Storm had decided to go see how her brother was doing, gently knocking on the door, she waited patiently for an answer, when she hadn't received one she had tried the door, opening it slowly Storm smiled then frowned Remy was nowhere in sight, checking the room she panicked as she noticed the open window, since the house was so dark no one had noticed the dark clouds, or the rain as it drizzled down. "Remy's gone..." she yelled rushing down the stairs.
"What?" Logan growled rushing upstairs in the room and went to the open window. "Fuck..." he hissed, "Chuck we're in deep shit, it's raining outside and the temperature dropped some...I'll start tracking him down but I'll need some help..."
"Can some of the students be trusted?" Hank asked.
Charles sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "Perhaps, since Jean and Scott have left to get Jean-Luc I'd have to say Kurt, Kitty, Jubilee and Bobby...maybe Rogue she seemed fearful this morning and a few others...they seemed quite worried when they felt Remy's emotions last night."
Charles concentrated and called those five to get ready for a mission and to meet him outside the boathouse, ten minutes later the X-men assembled a little curious as to why they were all summoned here when they were all warned to stay away. Logan and Storm were already long gone. "Is Remy alright Professor?" Rogue asked a bit worried.
"No he's very sick, and he just left the grounds without our knowing, you need to find him, he is injured, keep in mind that his shields are not very strong at the moment, when you find him do not approach him if he spots you he will run, his body might not be able to handle the exertion call for Storm, Hank or Logan...is that clear?" All five nodded, "Good start searching for him in the city..." Charles ordered as he dismissed them then headed for the mansion.
"Professor..." Bobby spoke up stepping forward, "He helped kill off the Morlocks I know this question might sound bad coming from me but why are we helping him?"
Charles sighed getting impatient, "Remy didn't kill anyone, he refused at first numerous times, but in the end was forced to."
"What do you mean..." Rogue asked.
"Forced to...yeah probably to save his own hide right?" Bobby seethed, his fists clenched at the thought of the Morlocks being torn to shreds.
"No I've seen the truth...he refused to lead the Marauders even under their's and Sinister's torture, he wasn't given a choice in the end he did it to save his father..." Xavier looked at their faces they all seemed ashamed, "Now go...you haven't much time..." he ordered.
With a new determination they all rushed off in search of the missing Gambit.