(Six)
After another scrumptious meal, Remy joined Trishnar in his study. Babette served them drinks, put the decanter within easy reach, and left them alone. Trishnar lit a cigar and leaned back in his chair. His eyes glittered with amusement as he asked, "So? Did you learn anything for your trouble today?"
Remy snickered softly. "Learned not to teach yo' girls tricks wit cards. Dey'd rather gossip."
"So very true."
"Why don' you tell me some more about de Game?"
"Why don't you tell me how you met my Kimble first?" Trishnar countered instead.
Gambit laughed again and poured some more whiskey into his glass. He opened his mouth to speak when there came a soft knock on the door.
Trishnar looked up. "Come."
The door creaked open and Aiden was there, leaning in the doorway with that ever present smile teasing the corners of his mouth.
Trishnar made a soft noise.
"Klack houst naylaft," Aiden replied. His eyes seemed sad, it wasn't a question.
"Come on in, then."
Aiden entered, his boots never making a sound on the hardwood floor. He closed the door behind him with a soft click and knelt in front of his Master. Aiden next made himself comfortable, he removed his boots and shirt, making Remy wonder if Trishnar was going to be so crass as to have this Siskan perform right in front of him. He need not have worried. Aiden snuggled in between Trishnar's large legs, still on the floor and laying his head on one thigh. He closed his eyes as Trishnar lay a giant furry paw on his back to gently scratch, a caress, a sign of much love and affection.
"You were saying?" Trishnar said to Remy, his eyes merry.
"Oui. You see, it all started one night when me and de other X's were on de job, scopin' out de Rex Club up in de Bronx..."
Remy spent the next two hours telling his tale. He left nothing out. They had been abducted, had a nice little stay in the pens which he was thankfully too sick to remember. They were rescued by the Clan and put to service to fight against the Dognan there. If Trishnar was outraged by the events there taken against his race by the man before him, he gave no sign. He listened with rapt attention, smoking and petting his contented Siskan.
Aiden was quiet. He never moved except for one hand that lay on Trishnar's knee. It would twitch now and again, making Gambit think he was asleep, but then Aiden would smile at something he said. When Remy next began to speak of Kimble, Aiden opened his eyes more than once even though he kept his head turned away. He snickered softly when Remy spoke of how he and Kimble had danced. Gambit was going into detail of how much fun he'd had, how Kimble's memory was so quick, how well he had danced and how Kimble had laughed.
"He sounds like a charmer," Trishnar commented.
" 'E was, oui."
"You speak of him as though he were dead."
"De Kimble I met dat night is real far away from me. Been ruined, broke down 'ard."
"So it was with Aiden, and yet you see him here, quiet and content."
"Quiet, oui. Content? 'Gambit t'ink mebbe, non. 'E don't play."
Aiden closed his eyes and turned his head to his Master.
Trishnar continued to pet him. "He plays."
"De girls all laughin', runnin' t'rough yo' house like little kids. Dis one, he look sad to me. Like he still got a world of pain in 'is heart."
"Aiden has always been solitary."
"A healthy Siskan ain't solitary."
Aiden turned back to look at him, a strange look in his eyes. Was it surprise?
"You said you know little of Siskans," Trishnar challenged. "Yet you say this with some authority."
"Me an' Kimble real close. 'E speak to me wit'out words, 'e so close."
"But he got damaged under your care."
"Non, not my care. 'Is Mistress gave 'im up for another, Gambit missed it. We all did. Gambit made a terrible mistake. One 'e don't know if 'e can ever make up for," Remy replied, his eyes on Aiden.
The Siskan was boldly staring at him now, an unreadable look on his face. Surprise, wonder, outrage? Gambit wasn't sure. He had clearly said something that effected him.
"Well, we all make mistakes," Trishnar said with an offhand gesture. "It's not like they're real or anything. They are just 'grams. Very lifelike 'grams."
A flicker of rage crossed Remy's face and Trishnar paused.
Aiden's smile grew wider, his eyes glassy. Wet, as though he might cry.
"Dey real in deir hearts. Dat makes dem real as good as you an' me," Remy replied firmly, his red on black eyes stern and brooking no argument.
Trishnar laughed suddenly, his hand now patting Aiden's head. "Oh, just when I thought a human could never surprise me! You're in love with Kimble, aren't you?"
Remy rolled his eyes and turned away, flushing madly. "Look, why is dat just 'cause you love sumptin' deep in yo' heart, it mean you in love wit it? He mean a lot to me, oui, but not like dat. He belong to me now. Gambit took 'im from a Mistress dat could never love 'im right and gave 'im sumptin' 'e never have — a Master dat understand what a commitment and responsibility it is to have him, to give 'im what 'e needs."
"Whether any sexual intimacy comes from you or not?" Trishnar asked around a snicker.
"Dat's right. 'Cause havin' a Siskan ain't just about makin' love. It's about Aiden comin' in here an' sittin' at yo' feet wit dat big ol' paw of yours scratchin' 'is back. It's about de rooms you got upstairs wit pretty pictures on de walls and all de clothes dey could ever wear. It's about how whenever Gambit ever seen you wit one of dem, you always got one hand on 'im, touchin' 'em all gentle. Dey need de love, de attention. It more important dan de sex."
Trishnar was thoughtful, considering Remy's words. "I've owned my Siskans for many years, Mr. LeBeau. I've seen more 'grams than anyone else I know of besides the Games Master himself. In all that time, I've only known two people that know the absolute truth of what you've just said."
"An' who's dat, patron?"
Trishnar smiled. "You and me."
/ Well done, Remy. Well done, / Shi'ow-ri whispered to him. She'd been quiet all this time, making him wonder where she had gone. / There's some hope for you yet. /
Remy tried to hide his elation. He had just been tested and had passed. The truth had scored him his points, not his cunning. Was it coincidence that Aiden had come in here? Surely this Siskan could read his shine, determine the truth from his body itself. Had he been here as a spy?
"Well, I've had enough for one night," Trishnar said, rising. He was careful as he moved around his Siskan who remained as he was on the floor. "We'll have the rest of your tale for tomorrow."
"You'll tell me of de Game, s'il vous plait. Gambit came 'ere to learn of dat as well," Remy countered with the least amount of rudeness he could muster.
Trishnar smiled indulgently at him. "Yes, of course." He moved to the door, but paused, looking back at Aiden who hadn't yet made a move to leave. "Enjoy this good Siskan, Remy. I assure you, you have nothing to fear and everything to gain. Babette may be my favorite, but this one is quite good at his craft, a treasure. He's lonely, once more my officers have chosen others."
"Why's dat?" Remy asked, delaying his answer. He was petrified, there was no possible way he could do as Trishnar suggested.
"He won't shift. He's been provided with one of the most beautiful woman skins I've ever seen and yet, he refuses to use it."
"Tomask nejed krioust," Aiden muttered softly in anger, his eyes down.
"What is dat language? It ain't Dognan," Remy wanted to know.
Trishnar ignored his Siskan to speak to his guest. "I have no clue. He is very stubborn. He can speak seven languages yet chooses the one I have no hope of deciphering. He has many skins yet wears the one most displeasing to my officers. Perhaps since you are so knowledgeable of Siskans, you can help me. I love him dearly, but this one perplexes me beyond belief. I assume he thinks it's charming...which of course it is. Good night, Mr. LeBeau." Trishnar closed the door and the two of them were alone.
Remy swallowed nervously and looked at Aiden. "Seven languages?"
Aiden nodded.
"Any of dem French? 'Course I can't speak it full, just know de rough of it."
Aiden shook his head, but he was smiling now, a real one and one meant to put the thief at ease. He slowly rose from the floor, flexing his muscles and trying to seduce with his body, with his beauty. He was handsome in a way Remy couldn't hope to describe, it was just in the liquid way he moved. Earlier Remy had noticed Aiden's eyes were a pale green to Kimble's sky blue and as always, filled with some kind of amusement like he was the only one in the room who got the joke. As he stood over Gambit where he was still sitting, he reached out to Remy not with his power, but with one hand as if to touch his face.
Remy did his best to stay seated, to will himself to indulge this new Siskan in the effort to pry information from him. There was so much he wanted to know and he had been a thief long enough to know that all things came with a price. He was good until he sensed a vibration come at him, one from the man in front of him.
/ I 'ave szumpt'ing you need. /
Remy flinched, not at the words, but at what was left unsaid. The vibration was slightly garbled, like he wasn't getting all of it. It sounded too much like his own voice and Gambit could only guess that it was due to the absolute weirdness of all of this. He couldn't help but be afraid, given the present circumstances, there was only one way he was going to interpret that boldly stated message and it was leaning towards a direction he just didn't want to go.
Aiden scowled and backed up a step, his frustration obvious. It was clear he just didn't get the fact that Remy just wasn't going to jump right into the game like he had with the girls.
"Look, Aiden," Remy tried, fumbling through an explanation. Nothing had ever unnerved him the way Aiden seemed to. "It ain't you, it's me. Yo' Master say you 'ave a girl skin. Just shift fo' me, all right? It's de only way I can do for you."
Aiden shook his head, a patient yet clear refusal to Remy's request. Instead he released another gentle vibration that begged for a little indulgence and came forward again. It was obvious he wanted Remy to relax and just let this flow, if only the thief would just allow it. His hands embraced Remy's cheeks, finally making contact, but when he opened his mouth for a kiss, Gambit jerked in revulsion and pulled back.
Aiden's reaction was violent and swift. It wasn't even the rejection that had wounded him so deeply, it was the revulsion that had done it. Aiden was "guy pretty" in a Travis Fimmel sort of way, he even resembled the famous Calvin Klien model to a degree. He knew he was beautiful and Remy's disgust was an insult his Siskan vanity couldn't tolerate, the idea that he was so revolting to his guest. Instantly furious, he hawked and spit in Gambit's face, his eyes all rage and hurt as he retreated. "Kumast denaft luckset!"
/ And another winning move by our contestant, / Shi'ow-ri chimed. / Now for his next trick... /
Gambit's rage suddenly spiked, betraying whatever assurance he had been giving himself that his roller coaster mood swings were a thing of the past. He could be hit, slapped, whatever, but there was nothing he hated more than being spat upon. He stood abruptly, one hand fisting as the chair nearly fell over from his violence, the other wiping at his face, never noticing as the Siskan's saliva shimmered away on his fingers.
Aiden retreated further in a quick step as Remy rose, his eyes never leaving Gambit's own. He wasn't backing down, only backing up. His movements were smooth, well practiced, even as both fists came up to his chin defensively in a perfect fighter's stance. His posture said a lot - Aiden knew how to fight but it said more as well. He was unafraid, yet at the same time it was obvious he had been hurt before by violence and had no desire to be hurt by it again.
The suggestion of prior abuse was enough to check Remy's rage. This hadn't been what he had wanted. First they had been talking, now they were moments away from fighting. This was ridiculous and absurd. Remy opened his hands and took a deep breath, showing he didn't want this to get any worse than it already was. He addressed the man before him, his voice bitter. "You an' me, we got off on de wrong foot 'ere. No skin change fo' me? Den dis discussion is over. Dere just ain't no way I'm gonna do it fo' you, no offense. Not like dis. Wouldn't 'ave no skill wit a man anyhow, just de t'ought of it make dis boy cringe." He took a step, his movement putting him right up front to the Siskan that had so rudely insulted him. He locked eyes with Aiden, refusing to be submissive to the Siskan's anger. "I want to get to know you better, fils, I really do, but it ain't gonna be done like dis, comprenez? You come talk to me, Gambit will be yo' friend. He love all Siskans, knows dem for de real creatures dat you are. Dis one t'ing, don't hold it against 'im, bien? Night, y'all."
Gambit walked out, holding his breath and trying to act brave. He had no idea how Aiden was going to react. As he closed the study door behind him, he heard a snarl of frustration and rage and then the sound of breaking glass as something was thrown against the wall, Trishnar's lovely glass wine decanter no doubt. He was about to turn back when a gentle hand touched his shoulder. It was Babette.
"Let him alone, Remy," she whispered, her voice gentle.
Remy's reply reflected his disappointment. This wasn't how he had wanted this to go. "He real pissed at me, chere."
"It's okay. Take care of him I will. Go on up to your room. Join you later, me, if you wish."
"Dat'd be nice."
He watched her enter Trishnar's study, her movements cautious and slow. She whispered Aiden's name and shut the door. Remy started to leave, but paused when he heard them talking. He was stealthy, he was a thief, he couldn't stop himself from listening to them through the door. There was so much he wanted to learn and if he had to do it covertly, then he would. He listened as Aiden angrily garbled something at Babette in that weird language, the one no seemed to understand, but she kept soothing him in Siskan.
"Come here, now, you. Come to me, yes. That's better. Not so bad, now, huh? Just needing some love, are you. Shh..shh... Yes. Sorry he wasn't what you expected, am I. But won't get you what you want, your anger will. Frightens and confuses him it does."
"Numask kriesk nadect!" Aiden bawled, his throat choked in an angry sob, only increasing Remy's confusion. Why would his refusal upset Aiden this much? There were others in this house, why was he so special that this Siskan would be so angry? Gambit wasn't going to get a simple answer to that question, not this night.
"Doesn't think you are ugly, does he," Babette continued to soothe. "Only your anger. Learn to be more patient - more friendly, you must be. Just try talking to him, you must."
"Nayesk! Numask kriesk nadect."
"So stubborn, you," she said with affectionate impatience. "Silly Dreamer. Fight so hard for nothing you do. Like it would kill you to shift. He sees us. Told you this I did. He really sees."
"Numerialay domo shriesta dect." His tone was softer now, calmer. He was sniffling and Remy could almost picture the poor stricken Siskan wiping at his face like a child calmed from a temper tantrum, which of course was exactly what had happened. Babette was speaking to him just as a mother would.
"Good. Have patience. Be kind. He's a good human. As good as you thought he might be, him. You'll get the chance you want with him, if patient you are."
What de 'ell does dat mean? Remy couldn't help but wonder, not really liking the sound of that. What on earth would Aiden want with him that he should be this upset? Was a tumble with the new guy that important? Some sort of status thing? Did Aiden think it was the only way he would measure up to the others?
Remy didn't get to ponder those questions long. He heard them coming to the door and he took off at a fast trot for the stairs and up to his room, his feet swift and silent from long practice at a stealthy get away. Once he was safely in his room, he undressed quickly and then lay on his bed, letting the moonlight from the large windows wash over him. He didn't know what to make of Aiden's anger and frustration. Here Babette had been saying he should get to know Aiden because he had been damaged and repaired, yet all he was seeing was a 'gram that was hostile and unaccommodating.
/ He just wants acceptance, / Shi'ow-ri advised.
Non. He want a piece of my virgin ass. 'E ain't gettin' it!
/ Would that be such a high price to pay? I mean, how bad could it be? she teased, her voice merry in his mind.
Uhmm, now let me t'ink about dat some. Not! Jeez, chere. I t'ought you knew me!
/ You've considered it with Kimble. /
Dat don't count, Remy said evasively. He was squirming. Kimble's my friend.
/ Aiden could be, too. He was damaged and repaired. He's functioning much better than Kimble is right now. /
If he was supposed to gain hope from that, it was hard in coming. He couldn't get Aiden's hostility nor his little hissy fit out of his mind so easily. He stretched to get comfortable, his head tired now from all these thoughts. He was more tired than he had thought and never felt it when he dropped off to a deep, blissful sleep.