(Five)
Remy sat on the roof, his eyes glazing over. He'd had his coffee and a donut for good measure and was now done in every way that counted. Logan looked at him and smiled. He gave the Cajun a nudge and laughed when Gambit gave it up and slumped over to lay down, wiggling a little bit to get to comfortable. He settled down but couldn't fall asleep right away, no matter how tired he was. He couldn't stop thinking about the tunnels.
He had been going the last couple of nights, looking for Jael's hideout. He would come home from his shift on the roof, change clothes and go right back out again. He would take searching a tunnel over sitting on his ass like this any day, it felt more like getting something done. His first trip out had been pretty rough, though. The scent of the place and the familiar sights almost did him in. He heaved up his supper, but wouldn't let this place defeat him. He sucked it up and went inside.
He didn't find much. The Morlock Massacre had pretty much emptied the place and folks weren't in an all fired rush to move back in. There were no bodies, no blood. The Massacre had happened years ago and the bodies long since buried, many of them at Xavier's. They had come looking for help and medical attention. For some, it hadn't been enough.
Gambit prowled the tunnels, looking for clues. They were old sewer pipes and subway expansion tubes built by the city long ago and forgotten. The Morlocks had claimed them for themselves and even added onto them. They were vast and unmapped, though he tried his best to take notes of where he was going. He didn't need a flashlight though he had brought a penlight along to write his notes. His ruby red eyes were well suited for the dark and he saw quite easily. It was one of the things that made him such a good thief, that and his stealth. He made no sound as he traveled and left no trace of his passing.
He still didn't find anything, all technological and biological advantages notwithstanding. It might have been better if he had brought Logan with him as a bloodhound, but he wouldn't be able to look him in the eyes, not in this place. Wolverine had been on the team that came down here and drove the Marauders off. It would have been too much.
Gambit looked for any signs that someone had been coming and going down here, but found nothing. There was a fine layer of dust and grime on everything, nothing was disturbed. Of course, that didn't mean Jael didn't have an area camouflaged off or an addition somewhere else down the line. Still, if they were using this place, they certainly weren't walking in and out. No vehicles could fit and no footprints were found.
Still, something nagged at him. He had gotten the scent of this place when Jael had taken him. It was too much to be coincidence. He just had to keep looking. If he was lucky, he would turn up something. Those thoughts were rumbling around inside of his brain when he finally dropped off to sleep on this boring old rooftop. He was snoring softly a few minutes later and Logan smiled again.
"Yes!"
Wolverine turned and scowled at Fallen's replacement. Max was sitting on his other side, totally engrossed in Gambit's Game Boy. Obviously he had succeeded at something. He was dressed like the teenager he was - jeans, T-shirt, sneakers (untied of course). Funny how he never seemed to trip over his feet. He just smiled and cruised along, never stumbling over those long loose laces trailing behind him. His shirts had been cut to allow for his feathered wings. He was so like Warren and yet not. Both were blonde and feathered, but not related. Warren's bones were hollow so his wings could lift him, Max's were not. He was like Fallen in that he used both his wings and telekinetic ability to fly. Max had the advantage that he could also carry. Warren couldn't, not large passengers anyway. They were simply too heavy.
"How ya hangin' in there, kid?" Logan growled.
"This is so cool!" Max said, beaming. He felt special for having been picked for this. This was like real secret agent stuff!
"Yeah, sure. Whatever ya say," Wolverine said and turned away, not showing his smile. As far as kids went, Max really wasn't that bad. He was easy to please and hadn't complained about being up here. It was a warm day and there were a billion things a kid like Max would probably prefer doing. Logan had picked up some vague rumors about Max being interested in Maylee. He was cool with it, they both seemed like good kids.
Looking at Max was making Logan think. Max and Warren. Molly and Creed. Jeez, what a suck ass thing, to have that monster as your dad. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He had to make sure he had Henry do that test. Best to be sure and prepare for the worst.
Logan scanned Cameron's rooftop, his thoughts drifting elsewhere. He had a notebook next to him and a fresh pen. He hadn't written in it yet, but he would. He smiled as he thought of Karen and her challenge. Yeah, he would have a few choice things to write about Kimble that was certain. Spoiled rotten little bugger. Sick horny mutherfucker, no fuckin' patience... He closed his eyes as a shiver of anger took him. He had to stay focused. Let the others worry about Kimble. All he had to do was just bring the bastard home. Charlie could get Kimble straightened out. It wasn't his job.
He mulled over Anya's prediction. It seemed as though they weren't going to pick up Kimble anytime soon. He hadn't been seen at all coming and going from this place. Cameron's was like a fortress. They weren't going to get in and out of here easily, that was for sure. If it came down to it, they would have to set up a team at the warehouse Anya had selected.
He knew he shouldn't go, but it bugged him what she had said about him not being able to handle Kimble there. He was a rock, he could do the job. Had been for years. He didn't see how Kimble could possibly learn about Crazy John. That was a nightmare come and gone a long time ago. Kimble would have to be some kind of psychic and that talent hadn't been on Kimble's list last he checked. Anya was just being paranoid.
Crazy John. The thought of that man and what he had done sent a shiver down his spine. No. He wouldn't be thinking about that. It was done, finished. Begone, stupid ghost, fuck you. He did his best to banish the thought, but the next time the breeze ran over his bare arms, gooseflesh rose in spite of the heat.
Max cried out again with pleasure next to him and Wolverine was back in the real world. He blanked out his mind and set his eyes on the target. He would concentrate on the here and now. He would see this through. He would not fuck up. He wouldn't let the team down. He was Wolverine, the best at what he does. Nothing would keep him from doing his job, not some ghost, not even Kimble.
(break)
Later that night, Karen Richards sat at her desk, watching video files on her computer, another coffee cup drained and empty beside her. She had been given a good sized room, fully furnished with an attached private bathroom. She was also provided with all the computer equipment and books she needed to work. It was more than she could have hoped for, she hadn't been prepared for the Professor's generosity. She was a student at the nearby University and this room was easily twice the size of her dorm room at the school and she had it all to herself. It was a little staggering, how quickly she had been accepted and received here. She had only met the Professor a couple of times at the school but they had hit it off very well and she was happy he remembered her and had given her this opportunity to do some real work. This job offer was the best thing to happen to her and she was thrilled and eager to begin.
She had decided to respect the generosity shown to her by getting right to work. She was doing some research on Kimble. She was running a playback of the Danger Room file of Kimble and Gambit dancing. She had no real pictures of Kimble and wanted to see what he was like. She smiled, amused by his antics. He was playful and easily pleased, happy to have the attention of his friend. She could see how much he and Remy cared for each other. She loved the sound of Kimble's laugh.
Henry had also given her some data files of what he little he knew about Kimble. It was almost a story of science fiction and it was hard to believe, but she knew the X-men were real and what they did was quite serious and important. Okay, some of it sounded a little hokey, but she would just gloss over it and do the best she could.
She had read in the file that Henry had given her that at one time, Kimble and Remy had shared some kind of playback of Kimble's memories. A telepathic link had been used and Gambit had been in a kind of shock afterwards. There was also a note that Remy had been ordered to go see her for an evaluation. Henry had been concerned about some residual trauma since there had been a clear indication Kimble had been misused. Remy had blown her off and never rescheduled. Another shy boy. Funny, he didn't seem so shy this morning, not with Molly anyway.
Henry had described the strong bond between Remy and Kimble and that it was important to include Gambit in any form of treatment for Kimble as if he was the pilot's parent or something. Interesting. It was clear Remy was going to be instrumental in getting Kimble straightened out. She played the file over again.
The hairs on the back of her neck rose suddenly and she turned quickly. She startled when she saw Gambit leaning in the doorway watching her. Speak of the devil. She had no idea how long he had been standing there. He was dressed for working, wearing dark clothes and the obligatory, rumpled trench coat. It was now quite late, but he looked like he had just come in from somewhere and he smelled of damp, musty places. He was looking at her with a smile of wry amusement. She couldn't help herself but laugh at him. "Can I help you?"
"De Professor say you lookin' after Kimble now, n'est ce pas?"
"When he gets back, yes."
She paused the file and rolled her chair away from the desk so she could turn and face him. She had met him this morning but hadn't been properly introduced. He was an outsider like Logan and was never among the main group of people she saw every day. She was curious why he should seek her out now. He looked her over with his glittering red eyes, that wry grin teasing the corners of his mouth. He was quite handsome and she liked the way he spoke. He lounged against her doorframe as though he owned it, his arms casually crossed over his chest.
She extended her hand. "I'm Karen Richards. We met this morning."
He stayed where he was, enjoying the view. "I 'member you well enough. You wit de Molly girl, eh? Now dey got you checkin' out my Kimble. What dey tell you 'bout 'im, ey? Dey tell you what a bad boy 'e is?" He said this in such a way that she knew being a bad boy was just fine with him, preferable actually to the stiff Inner Circle.
She gestured at the file paused on her computer. It had stopped on a frame showing Kimble's beaming smile. "He likes you."
Remy shrugged and ran a hand through his hair, showing off. "Dat's 'cause I'm too cool. 'E know class when he see it."
"I'll bet. Logan said he was bisexual. You and him ever...you know?"
Remy laughed heartily, not the least bit put off by the question. She couldn't help but laugh a little herself at the sound. It was playful, full of fun and passion and she loved the way his whole body shook with it. It was a trait both he and Kimble seemed to share.
"Oh, you real smooth, chere. You all right...you all right." He wiped at his eyes and then turned serious. "Who tol' you 'e was bisexual, eh? Dat fool Logan? Bet he tol' you all kinda fine stories 'bout 'ow Kimble couldn' control his'self. Kimble jus' love to fuck, eh? Too bad ol' Wolvie never saw past de outside of Kimble. You really wanna know why de Kimble couldn't hang up here wit de great an' wonderful, perfect little X-men?" He reached into one of his deep pockets and tossed her a CD in a slim black case. "You be careful now, you didn' get dat from me."
"What's this?"
"De truth. You see 'im for real, you'll understand everyt'ing."
"You going to stay with me while I watch this? I might have some questions."
"Gambit seen dat already. He knows what's dere. You look wit your eyes, look wit your heart, you'll see what you need, bien?" He grinned at her flirtatiously and walked away, blending into the darkness of the hallway as if he hadn't really been there at all.
Karen grinned, shaking her head, and turned back to her computer. It hadn't failed to amaze her yet, all the posturing going on this house. First Logan with his big bruiser image, now Gambit as the mysterious thief in the night. Oh, yes. It was going to be so much fun living here.
Karen put the disc in her computer. Remy had recovered the Danger Room file of Kimble playing around with the Jean hologram and had just given her a copy of it. Karen was happy to have this second glimpse of Kimble, she had never gotten a chance to meet him and it was helpful to have as many chances as she could to put a face to the name. As she watched, she found it interesting that first hologram file Kimble called up was Remy's. She watched how tenderly Kimble kissed him and knew what that was all about. Kimble had asked and Remy had respectfully declined.
Kimble moved onto the Jean hologram and she now knew what Remy was saying. Kimble was frisky, very open minded in his options. He looked at Jean with the same amount of interest as he had Remy. Karen chuckled as she watched Kimble fool around with this ersatz Jean Grey. Every man's dream. A fantasy girl that did what ever he wanted. According to some of the paperwork Henry had given her, that's what Kimble was supposed to be only he was more sentient than the Siskans normally wanted in a hologram. Funny now how Kimble was seeking the same thing here. He must be awful lonely, to want to use a hologram like that. She recalled the notation about Kimble having been mishandled and wondered if it would come into play here.
The Jean hologram wasn't co-operating. Kimble had gotten her down to the floor and ripped off her clothes. Even though Kimble had snuck in here for his own gratification, Kimble still touched this artificial woman with real care and affection. Interesting.
Karen jumped in her chair when the hologram suddenly changed. Kimble leapt back and she saw his terror. She watched in horror as Kimble tried to flee. She didn't understand why he kept flying into the walls until she remembered that he supposedly knew how to phase. It wasn't working now. It also hadn't escaped her notice that it sounded like Kimble was talking to someone in his panic but he had supposedly been alone.
Karen was stunned at the ferocity of Wolverine's attack. She had been told Logan had claws and was a savage fighter. It hadn't prepared her for what she was seeing. Now she was seeing him at his worst, in full berserker mode. A snarling, bristling killing machine, hell bent on destroying the target. It was horrifying and made her seriously consider her attraction to the man. It was so much like the stories she had heard about Sabretooth. How would she fare in an argument with this guy? Did he lash out at others like this frequently? She hoped not. He had seemed passive enough the few times they had spoken. Kimble had her full sympathy now as she watched how well this simulation hunted Kimble down with relentless fury.
She started to get an idea. Kimble hadn't expected this. Someone else had deliberately changed the hologram, setting it to attack him on purpose. She had been told Kimble was a troublemaker, but what she saw earlier she now recognized as a call for help. Kimble was having trouble integrating and the only one helping him was Remy. Supposedly Remy had even snuck him off the grounds, taking Kimble to get laid in an effort to calm him down. Probably as an apology for refusing him, if she had to guess. That's not exactly what Henry had put down in the notes, but that's what he meant. Remy wasn't supposed to do that and had been punished somehow.
Now, in the file, someone was voicing their disapproval of Kimble's flirtatious and playful nature. There were no notes on this encounter, only a vague reference to a Danger Room mishap. Henry hadn't been fully informed, someone had kept this from him. Kimble had stayed overnight in the infirmary, recovering from the shock. He wasn't quite the same after. There was no mention of who had done this to him. She speculated it must be someone who knew him well, they chose the one person who clearly terrified him most. Kimble had a fear of Logan and now someone had used that fear to make things worse.
Kimble screamed in terror and tacked the artificial Wolverine against the wall. Karen couldn't help but shiver at his form of self defense. She had to keep reminding herself that the hologram of Wolverine wasn't real. Kimble's terror was, though, and she could see him start to break down and go into shock. The doors to the room finally opened. Karen watched as Remy didn't hesitate to come to Kimble's aid. Logan did not and didn't even seem fazed at what Kimble had done. He growled his sharp command to the computer and the file ended.
Karen played the file back a few times then paused it on a view of Kimble kissing Remy. She couldn't help but see the love that was there. It touched her. She recalled the way Remy had laughed at her question. She wondered if Gambit regretted his decision to turn Kimble down and if he had already given himself to Kimble. There was something there in his eyes. No, she decided. If he had, Kimble would have stayed. Perhaps what she saw was Gambit feeling somehow responsible by refusing him. She would love to talk to him about it, but she could already see he was someone who kept his secrets. Men were so silly. They never wanted to admit they had feelings and always got squeamish about sex. Not that it stopped them from doing it, she laughed. Maybe she could draw some more details out of Remy given enough time.
She found Gambit intriguing and decided to pull up his personnel file. Henry had given her access to some of the files on his Mainframe. It made for some interesting reading. His powers didn't interest her so much as his past crime and his once being booted off the team. The Morlock Massacre wasn't fully detailed, nor was his involvement. All that was mentioned was that Remy was responsible for bringing the killers down there, something he had never explained the reason for. Gambit was never going to be an Inner Circle associate, neither would Kimble. Two peas in a pod, these. Both fun loving, playful, flirtatious (or obnoxious depending on your point of view). It was easy to see why they would become friends. When one is an outcast, there was safety in numbers.