(Five)
The room fell suddenly silent.
"Helps ya with what?" Zander asked, his eyes gleaming with interest.
Remy paused, hearing the sound of distant sirens. There was no time for this! He took a deep sigh and relaxed, letting go of all of his frustration. He had to tell the truth here so Kimble would come home. He would sacrifice it all for this. " 'Life a funny t'ing', I 'eard Kimble say once an' it's true. You t'ink fo' one minute you got it all figured out, den it all jus' turn around an' bite ya in de ass. Gambit 'ad a real big problem. 'Is power more dan 'e can control. 'E be walkin' down de street, y'know? 'Fore 'e know it, shit be blowin' up all around. De energy be poppin' outta 'im all over wit'out 'is meanin' it. Got a little angry once, 'ad a score dat didn't go down quite so good as I planned. Standin' right nex' to a great big ol' car, you know? Fuckin' t'ing jus' exploded right den an' dere. Fuckin' flew up in de air. Missed some little kid by jus' an inch. An inch, dere, Zandy. I seen dat po' kid's face, 'e was shittin' 'imself a brick or two sideways, just standin' dere too scared ta move. Gambit, he a fool for de kids, non? He come over, 'Oh, it's all right dere, mon petit fils. Gambit didn' mean it'. Dat kid jus' turn tail an' run away screamin'. What's a boy ta do, eh?"
Kyle stood by quiet. He hadn't expected Remy to actually spill his guts like this. He knew then that Kimble had been right when he said Gambit was really his friend. He could see how upset Gambit was to be doing this and saw from the look on Logan and Rogue's face that he hadn't told anyone this before. Maybe Remy had been woefully misjudged by a great many people.
"So Sinister, he say, 'Gambit my good an' trusted t'ief. You been so good fo' me, doin' dis and doin' dat so good. How 'bout we do each other an exchange, eh? You bring dese freaks down to de tunnels, I'll fix it so you don' be droppin' no more cars on little kids 'eads? Que dites-vous, neh?' What do you know 'bout dat?" he finished, demanding Zander's attention with the catch phrase.
"Jesus, Remy..." Logan breathed in a whisper. He'd had no idea. This simple job of snatch and grab was turning out to be more than any of them had bargained for. The only thing that gave him some comfort was the look of quiet calm on Remy's face. The thief had tuned everyone else out. Right now, Zander was all he saw.
Remy continued to explain. "See dat's de funny t'ing, eh? Gambit, he don' trust Sinny any more dan 'e trus' anyone else. 'E make de man do 'is part firs'. He lay down on de table, let de good doctor do 'is t'ing. Make sure he done it right."
"Did it work?" Zander wanted to know.
"Sure. You seen any cars go flyin' at no kids 'round me, neh? See Sinny was countin' on de boy askin' fo' just dat. 'E knew dat Gambit wasn't no killer. Dis damn fool boy let de man disarm 'im 'fore 'e ever go down in de tunnels. Gambit prob'ly coulda stopped it if 'e 'ad all de power. Now it gone. Jus' like Sinny wanted. 'E knew Gambit would never sit by an' let alla dem women an' kids get killed. 'E prob'ly figured Saby would finish off de boy, too. No witnesses. Didn't figure on Gambit being so unlucky as ta live t'rough bein' sliced open like dat."
The sirens grew louder and stopped out front. The rest of the cops had arrived. It sounded like an army had gathered out there. "Time!" Kyle shouted to the back.
"One minute!" Michael shouted.
"We don't have a minute!"
"See, Zandy? All dere is, is folks just tryin' ta use de one who too scare' ta face what dey are. Dese folks you wit, dey just usin' you. Dey wanna take your Angel, use her power ta 'urt people. Don' let dese suckers play you for a fool like Sinny done wit me. Don' tell me you cool wit 'Shay killin' folks like she been doin'," Gambit challenged, determined to turn this around on the Quitter.
"Fair enough," Zander replied, raising both guns to his shoulders, taking them away from everyone. He jerked as Lakotashay wrenched control from him violently.
"Liar! You're the one who uses!" she snarled.
Gambit just smiled at her. "You tell me one time dis boy ever use you, neh?"
The Quitter had no answer.
"Remy?"
Gambit startled and began to instantly tremble. Kimble had spoken. It was soft and quiet, little more than a whisper. "Yeah, little brother?"
"I wants ta go home!" Kimble sobbed, coming to the fore.
Even Kyle couldn't help but feel a tremble of pain. It was the first time Kimble had spoken since 'Shay had thrown her little fit. He could hear the pain and longing in the Lover's voice and he knew he would let Kimble go with the X-men if that's what he really wanted. He didn't have the heart to hold him back. "Kimble, thank God...!" he breathed, shaken.
Remy ignored him. He held out his arms in invitation to Kimble, begging him to come and be hugged. "Gambit's gonna take care of you, Kim, jus' like always. You come on over 'ere. We gonna get outta 'ere an' go on home. Gonna 'ave some chocolate an' you gonna see yo' brother. He miss you like not'ing else. He cry every time somebody say yo' name."
" 'Shay!" Leon barked. "Remember your promise to the Master!"
Kimble squealed in pain and the pilot's body shook violently. A pulse of telekinetic power left him in a circle, pushing everyone back. Kimble's ass slid off the desk and he stood like a drunk having a seizure. The hostages at his feet shuffled away as best they could in spite of their restraints, not sure if they would be hurt by what was happening. The pilot shook and twisted, sending out more pulses of power though not as strong as the first. There was a moment of doubt of who was going to win as the violent confrontation was taking place from within. It didn't last.
When the pilot next opened his eyes, the Quitter looked back at them. "Nice try, Remy. Real nice. You gots some nice charm power jus' like us. Well, guess what? I ain't bein' fooled by you! This is what we wuz meant for! If it wuzn't, it wouldn't keep happ'nin' ta us! We kill an' we rape cuz we ain't no good fer nuthin' else!"
"Now dat's a lie if I ever 'eard it, le Quitter. De only t'ing gonna 'appen is we gonna take you 'ome. Gonna take alla dat pain of yours an' put it in a great big ol' box. Gonna bury it in de yard like de trash it is. Gambit's got a great big heart, chere. He got room for a little sister, too. 'E's got room for all t'ree of you!"
Lakotashay blinked at him in surprise. She was startled by his free acknowledgment of the existence of the three of them. How did he even know?
Remy just grinned his best charming smile. "What's dat, eh? Yeah, Gambit knows all about you, chere. Gambit knows all about each an' every one. 'E knows what you are. You a Siskan Courtesan, made fo' 'avin' fun, playin' games and makin' love. Not dis stupid bullshit. Not dis fuckin' around. If Kyle gave one shit about you, 'e'd know dis already!"
"Hey!" Leon complained. "You guys shoved him away!"
"Gambit didn' do not'ing, ain't dat right, chere? Who took you out dancin'? Taught you 'ow to play pool an' poker, too? Who was dere fo' you every time, givin' you chocolate fo' your pain? Gambit was dere for Kimble, he gonna be dere fo' you, 'Shay. He gonna be dere for ol' Zandy, too. Dere ain't no space 'tween you an' me, dere ain't never gonna be. Come home." He held out his arms again, pleading with his eyes.
'Shay's resolve started to waver. Kimble desperately wanted out and she couldn't hold back the whine of pain he was causing her as he struggled to break free. She raised her guns away from the X-men and started to speak, but Kimble's words bolted from her mouth. "Stops her! I don' wanna hurt nobody!"
Remy's hopes soared at the sound of his friend's voice again and he took a step forward. "You can fight dis, I know it! You stronger dan her!"
"No I cain't! She's too fuckin' strong! It's too late!"
Kyle jerked noticeably at the loud switch of voices. He found Kimble's loose marbles alarming. "Lakotashay? What's going on?"
Remy had her attention. Her and Kimble both. "Non, it never too late. You can beat dis! You 'ave to try! Come back wit me!"
Lakotashay staggered back, fighting for control. Gambit's proximity had caused a revolt she was desperate to contain. Kimble loved him so much and that love was making him stronger. She withdrew her guns, returning them to her shoulders in a sort of compromise. "Jus' go. Leaves here or I'll kill you!" she snarled. Kimble's body had broken out in a sweat and he shivered as the war inside was waged.
Remy took another step, he was now only a couple of paces away. He used Siskan in another desperate bid to persuade. "Uh uh. Not wit'out you. You listen, you listen good. Since you been gone, dere ain't nuthin' been right fo' either one of us. You been melted, fuckin' exploded! Dese folks don' 'ave no clue 'ow to take care of you! When Gambit t'ought you were dead, 'is whole world just filled up wit a pain he don' ever wanna feel again. You come back wit me, I swear I'll make you mine. I'll do whatever it takes!" Gambit blurted out, for that one moment believing he could actually follow through with it. Lakotashay's cold dead face was more than he could bear.
Kimble shuddered and burst into tears, Lakotashay's cold facade breaking away for just a moment and leaving him horribly exposed. He lowered the guns, the tears streaming down his cheeks. " 'Shay, we gots ta go. I wants ta go so bad!"
"No! He's a liar, just like everyone else! We ain't goin' nowheres!" 'Shay shouted as she brought her guns back in line with Remy's face. She wanted him gone, wanted him dead. Damn him for making this so hard for her!
Kimble slipped out and pleaded with Remy. "Help me!"
"What did he say to you, 'Shay?" Leon shouted before the Cajun could speak and make this thing worse. "Did he say he'd be your lover, huh? It's all lies! What did I tell you about that?"
"God won' let me die if I fuck," 'Shay said, struggling for control. "It's a sin an' I'll be punished."
"That's right. You'll never get what you want if you go with him!" he snarled, willing Lakotashay to obey him. "God'll keep you alive forever!"
"You can't fuck or you'll stay alive forever? What's de matter wit you?" Remy said, stunned by the twisted logic that had just come from her mouth. This was escalating by the minute, Kimble was all over the place and not headed in any kind of direction that suggested sanity. "Fuckin's all you was made to do, not dis crap! Don' let dem break you, Kimble. Don' you give up on me," he pleaded, his eyes growing shiny. Now that he had Kimble in front of him, he was determined not to let him go. If they didn't bring Kimble home, SHIELD was certain to kill him. "I meant what I said!"
"It wuzn't ever your way. Leon sez that kinda love is a sin. All fuckin' is a sin. All our lovers are dead. We killed them all," 'Shay said, her voice going soft as she regained her senses. The guns were lowered to the hostage once more, an endless game of tug of war.
"Dere ain't no sin in love. That's what Sheyman say and it's true."
"Sheyman lied!" 'Shay bellowed suddenly in pain, her anger making even more of a mess of things. "Love kills! Anaone what ever loved us fer real is dead!"
"Ju suis bien, chere. Gambit still 'ere last I checked. He's right as rain, chere. Dere ain't no lyin' goin' on here, not by me. Not by Sheyman neither. Your Father loved you. Leon an' dese fools de liars. Dey twistin' up your mind! Dey want your Angel for demselves and dey gonna say whatever it takes to break you down! Dat's what all of dis is about! Come back wit me!"
"If you go, I'll tell them what you did, 'Shay!" Leon shouted. "I'll tell them what you've done and they'll hate you forever!"
"What are you talking about?" Kyle replied, his voice ringed with frustration. The police presence outside was loud and it was just a matter of moments before someone came in here, guns blazing.
"Meow," Leon said and laughed when he saw Lakotashay tremble. "I'll tell them the rest, too."
"Gambit don' care about none of dat!" Remy shouted. He had no clue what Leon was talking about and didn't care. There was no more time left.
'Shay remembered the way Remy had looked at her when she had first turned to look at him. She had seen the love on his face and felt the call of his shimmer, it was so much like Father. She didn't want Gambit to know what she had done, she couldn't bear the shame he would feel. Lakotashay burst into tears and wailed in pain. If she thought she had suffered before, it was nothing compared to this vicious shredding of her heart. "Don't you say nuthin'!" she snarled at Leon with a sob.
"Then get your Siskan ass moving! Michael! Franklin!"
"Easy, 'Shay..." Kyle coaxed, not liking the way this was going. 'Shay rarely cried, when she did, things usually got incredibly violent. He just wanted to get the money and leave before this got any uglier than it already was. "We're bailing now!" he shouted towards the two guys who were holding this up. If he had known they were going to bag money this slowly, he would have done it himself. "We don't go now, we ain't leavin'!"
"We'll be right there!" came the reply from the vault.
Gambit stepped forward. " 'Shay! Don' be goin' wit dese losers! We already know about de guard an' Gambit' still 'ere beggin' you to come back! Dere ain't nuthin' you could do dat would make me hate you! It just ain't possible!"
"Yes, there is," she said softly, turning away. All she could see was the face of that tiny baby Leon had given her. It hadn't bothered her at the time to kill it, but Remy's presence here changed all that. She couldn't bear the pain of his knowing. She was damned, hopelessly damned.
"C'mon 'Shay, let's bail!" Zander shouted in protest, pissed off. "The X-men are our only chance ta be happy again! We learned all we can from the Kings! Let's go home! C'mon you guys! Don' be stupid!"
"Get over it," 'Shay growled at him and shoved him down.
"Guess we're all done now," Zander grumbled unhappily as he struggled in vain. He was furious. Kimble had fled, leaving Lakotashay once more in power. It was all out of his hands now. He felt a surge of bitter anger at Wolverine. This was all his fault. If he hadn't smashed Kimble's soul down so far with his accusations back in the warehouse, he might have been strong enough to throw Lakotashay down now. Who knew what she'd do next? This was all Wolverine's fault and he wasn't going to leave here without making the bastard pay. That much he could manage.
"Kimble, 'Shay's gonna take dat Angel and wreck it. Is dat what you want?" Gambit said, playing his last card. He knew it was useless even as the words left his mouth.
"I'm not sure no angel's ever gonna come ta me anaways..." Kimble said, his voice betraying just how tired of life and of this whole affair he had become. "Wuz a fool ta ever believe my father. He lied to me about evrathin'," he whimpered and retreated for good, the pain just too great to bear anymore.
"Kimble, please..." Remy whispered, hardly able to hold his pain in check. He was devastated that Kimble had let go. He had come so close. "Gambit ain't leavin' you wit'out a fight!" He blurted out his cell phone number in the hope that Kimble would hear it and remember. "You call me, little brother! Gambit come an' get you anytime you done messin' wit dese losers!" He had lost faith in their pulling this off. It was the warehouse all over again.
Logan glanced over at his teammate and saw Remy's broken heart there, open and bleeding, and felt his own heart break a little. He knew instinctively Kimble had already given up, quitting as it were, and they were going home empty handed. Their only hope was for a fight to break out and they dragged the pilot back home to a nice padded cell, kicking and screaming.
"You done yet!" Kyle repeated, shouting back to Michael. This was already taking too long and he was afraid Lakotashay would crash. He jumped as SHIELD agents came streaming in.