(Three)

Remy followed Trishnar out, going upstairs to his own room. He lay in the massive bed for a while but just couldn't sleep. His mind was racing with all the things he had been told this day about Aiden and Kimble. He still wasn't so sure about Kimble having been melted before he came to know Sheyman, there was something that told him that wasn't quite right even though he couldn't back that up with fact. He was, however, willing to accept that Kimble might not have any memory of meeting Trishnar at all, his friend's memories were fractured by the Clan, the files not complete. Gambit had been run through the gauntlet of Kimble's poor tortured life, sure, but even he could see there had been some pretty big gaps in there in Kimble's memory files. Parts were missing, big ones. Some of Trishnar's ideas about Sheyman and Fallen begged to be listened to as well.

Frustrated, Remy got up, suddenly wanting some fresh air. He came down the stairs intending to take the patio doors to sit out by the pool. He was surprised to find Trishnar on the large fur rug in front of the big fireplace, a fire dimly lit and on its way down. His head was propped up comfortably against a large overstuffed chair with a couple of large pillows. His large furry body was undressed, covered not with a blanket, but with the naked body of Aiden. The Siskan was sprawled over his Master's belly, his lower half between Trishnar's muscular legs. Whatever they had been doing, they were finished now, both were still and resting at ease. Trishnar turned his brown shaggy head when he heard Remy come down the stairs.

Remy froze. "Uhm... 'Allo?"

Trishnar smiled. "It's quite all right, we're finished now. I trust we didn't wake you?"

"Non, Gambit's head just full of all de junk we was talkin' about."

"You're welcome to come and sit here. No one will mind."

Remy came over and took a seat on the floor across from Trishnar, folding his legs under him comfortably. Aiden was on his belly, warm and drowsy against his Master. He was so small and white there, but seemed as though he belonged just as he was. Remy felt no discomfort looking at him, even though he never imagined he would find himself with two naked men like this. Aiden turned his head and blinked at him, his eyes small and glassy. "Shumask grenast."

"What he say?" Remy asked.

Trishnar snorted wryly. "I have no clue. Either hello or get lost, hard to say with this one," he teased, making Remy smile. "Judging by his present look of contentment, I'd say probably the former."

"He look happy now."

"Yes, but he needs to sleep. He's restless when strangers are about and he's hardly slept since your arrival. He's quite stubborn that way, just like a child."

"Sorry 'bout dat, disruptin' yo' house."

"Don't be, it's not your fault."

"Babette say 'e 'ave nightmares."

"Yes, that's true. He is like that child, frightened by this world. That is why I keep him close to me. He needs great care. He does better with small spaces."

Remy shivered, he couldn't help it.

"What?"

"My Kimble de same way. He got a little one inside 'is head, Lin de Confessor. He say 'e got to keep in de small spaces."

"It's true. They do better sheltered. Once you have Kimble repaired, keep him close to you always. There's no guarantee he won't shatter again."

Remy didn't like the sound of that. "Gambit won't let him out of 'is sight."

"So what's on your mind?"

"How do I keep Kimble safe."

Trishnar considered his answer. "It won't be easy, certainly not with Jael aware of him and looking for him as you say. The best hope you have is that since he's presenting already, he can use the sword to protect himself."

" 'E wish fo' death."

"Then I suggest you run to Yosemite the first of March and stay as long as you have to until the Games Master shows. March is less than a month away, you are an X-man. I'm sure you have resources available."

"Oui. How will Gambit know when de Games Master come?"

Trishnar chuckled softly. "Keep your eyes open. Look for the first camper that looks really out of place. He'll be disguised, but he's never been known for his stealth or originality. I think you'll know it when you see him. Come to think of it, if you do find him, why don't you ask him to read Kimble's codes? If in fact he had been melted or damaged in some way before, it will be there in the codes and he'll see it. I'm quite curious myself. I'd even bet you a thousand dollars I was right."

Remy laughed. "Gambit's a gambling man."

"Hence this name you've chosen for yourself."

"Oui, it is so. I'll take dat bet, just fo' fun."

"Good. Now, relax and sleep. I don't want you to be out of sorts when we play. I intend to keep beating you fair and square."

Remy laughed and rose. He felt a bit better now and bent to gently kiss Aiden's forehead as he passed by, making the Siskan smile at him. Gambit did his best to send out a vibration of peace and affection as he often did with Seth, hoping to form some kind of connection with this Siskan. It worked and silent words passed into Gambit as they touched. /I like you, Remy, very much. Be wit' me, pleasze./

Remy shivered, but not from fear, it was the strange sound of Aiden's inner voice. Apparently what he had heard the first time was no fluke, this voice was accented, not normal, though easy on the ears. It wasn't like Kimble's, it was its own creature. Gambit wondered what it would be like to hear the Siskan speak for real. There was a smile on his face as he replied, /I like you, too, Aiden, very much, though it might not look dat way. But I'm not ready for you like dis. Don't be mad, s'il vous plait. Dis Gambit's problem, not yours./

/Aiden will wait, but not too long, me. I 'ave szumpting you need. You won't get it from anyone elsze./

Remy sighed, still not so sure what it was that Aiden was being so insistent about. What could he possibly have besides more information or worse.. another stupid mind game? He wanted so much to have the air cleared between them, no misunderstandings. /Dis ain't gonna change. Don't wait for me, you'll just be disappointed. Je suis de'sole. It ain't yo' fault./

"Jumask tulay," Aiden said softly and closed his eyes. He had felt his Master's love this night and was too content to argue at the moment.

Remy snickered. "If dat's goodnight, den 'goodnight."

"Goodnight," Trishnar rumbled and closed his eyes.

Remy slipped away back up to his room. He could feel Aiden's eyes on him as he left. "I will wait, but not too long" ? What de fuck was that supposed to mean? He wasn't sure he wanted to know. Maybe he hadn't heard that right. A soft chuckle from Shi'ow-ri told him otherwise. He lay back down on his bed, restless and tired. He closed his eyes, but couldn't fall asleep. He smiled when he heard his door softly open and the slip of silk as someone entered. He didn't have to turn to know that Babette had come. He was in tune to her spirit and could "feel" her as she moved about now. She came to his bed and wrapped herself around him. She came not for play, but for comfort. He was grateful, his body was getting more than he had bargained for here. It was nice just to have her close and hold him. He smiled and slipped away.

(break)

On the morning of his third day at Trishnar's mansion, Remy woke a bit early. His mind was still filled with the things Trishnar had told him, enough for him not to sleep too late. Babette was asleep beside him, curled up silky and pretty in his sheets. She had come to him late in the night, wishing only to sleep by his side and he was all too happy to let her. He rose carefully, trying not to disturb her, and went to his window, intending to smoke. He had cut way back, but when he was tense and thoughtful, felt better with one of these traitorous cancer sticks in his hand. He had kept his window cracked for just such times.

He looked out as he neared the widow and he glimpsed the shadowy figure of Aiden out on the large stone patio. It was very early in the morning, the sun was just beginning to wake. The Siskan wasn't in distress this time, no, merely out for some air. He was still naked and stretching his back and arms, bathed in orange from the sunrise. He was sleek and beautiful, exotic and magical as he moved, unaware he was being spied upon. He made Gambit think of Kimble. It seemed these two had a lot in common, including an appreciation for a glorious new day. The morning was cool and a small puff of warm air left Aiden's mouth as he began to dance, making the slow liquid motions of an Asian ritual exercise. He was beautiful to watch, all fluid grace and rippling muscles. Gambit had seen Logan do this many times in the early morning while the Mansion was still asleep. Aiden was calm and passive, relaxed as he made his graceful motions, the picture of contentment.

"Beautiful he is."

Remy turned. Babette was awake and looking at him from the bed, her eyes soft from sleep.

"Who's dat, chere?"

"Aiden, of course. Every morning, there he is."

"Oui, he beautiful, chere. Not so pretty as you."

"Flatterer."

"Bien sur, mon jolie. It's my job," he replied with a grin and an arrogant toss of his head.

"A game you have with Trishnar?"

"Oui."

"Then suggest I do, you come back here and get some more rest. Beat you for sure he will."

" 'E beat me every time anyways. Dat's just not Gambit's game, I guess."

"Then come be here with me. Feel better you will."

He obeyed and let her touch him. She used her hands on him and her power, coaxing him back to sleep. He woke a couple of hours later, well rested and ready for play. He dressed and made his way down to the racquetball court. He was a bit late and Trishnar and Aiden were there already, working hard and fast. Aiden was swift and powerful, more than a match for Trishnar in spite of his small size. The Siskan smiled at him when he approached, happy to see him. It seemed that whatever discomfort they might have had with each other, it had passed.

Of course Aiden and Trishnar trounced Gambit quite nicely. Remy was getting better, but wasn't quite good enough. The game got a little rough, both he and Aiden were playing around and showing off their acrobatic moves to make impossible hits. Both were soon laughing and stood giggling while Trishnar just shook his shaggy head at them in good humor.

They played for a couple of hours, trading partners to spare each other, before Trishnar excused himself for work. Remy headed to the showers, choosing to use the locker room this time instead of going back up to his room. He was drenched in sweat and didn't want to be gross when he headed back to the house, he had seen the girls looking him over already as he had come down to the gym, he was sure to be jumped when he returned.

Remy stepped into the large communal shower, happy when the warm spray struck his skin. He was alone here and had the whole room to himself to enjoy. He was the most contented and at peace with himself the more active he was, and he was certainly getting plenty of activity here. The thought of the girls made him shiver with remembered pleasure, he couldn't help it, but he was a little surprised he was even aroused at all, as sexually active as he had been on the outside, he had never played as hard as this or for as long. He'd hardly had a chance to catch his breath.

"Dey goan' be de deat' of me," he chuckled softly to himself, closing his eyes and leaning forward with one hand to the wall, all the better to let the water pour down his back and his shoulders. He thought of the girls again, growing even more aroused in the heat and wet.

He knew that their Siskan-ness had a lot to do with what he was feeling, he doubted even the prettiest human female could continue to get him as fired up as they had, not after he had gotten off so many times so quickly. They were special and his body was reacting just to them, to the way they made him feel. The blackouts no longer worried him, no they had become the point instead. He was growing just as addicted to that as anything else. No ordinary lover could do that to him, he wanted more, and he was coming to think of this as normal love.

It didn't take him long to move from thoughts of them to thoughts of Kimble. He had loved them without fear or question, could he love Kimble that way as well? His eyes still closed, he pictured just for a moment what that might be like, to reach out and touch and find not the silky softness of a female persuasion, but the hard firmness of a masculine partner. He had been curious about men before, certainly, but never enough to even realistically consider acting on it. Kimble had changed all that, the bond they now shared had him considering crossing that line with more than just a passing fancy. He could see, in his mind, Kimble looking at him with that slight, teasing smile, his pale blue eyes flashing at him in playful invitation, the lovely music of his laughter. He knew Kimble could love him well, the filesharing vision of the Siskan pleasure room had seen to that. Remy shivered hard then, a flash memory hitting him hot and hard, of just what Young Kimble had felt there in the middle, in one partner and the other in him at the same time. Just for a moment, still in his mind, he looked down and saw not Carnya, but Kimble there, moaning with the pleasure of having him, of being ravished by him.

Remy growled and shifted his feet, feeling that a little more intensely than he had expected. He was fully aroused now and a little uncomfortable with just how easily the thoughts of being with Kimble sexually had roused him. Exasperated and now a little frustrated, he tossed his back and reached for the soap. If he hurried this along, he might be able to find someone to help him work this off without too much trouble.

Be careful what you ask for, he had been told so many times, and indeed it was true. The thought had no more than passed through his mind when he caught sight of Aiden openly staring at him from the doorway. The Siskan had been silent, once more going unnoticed until he wanted to be, Remy'd had no idea how long the Siskan had been there watching him.

Gambit startled with a loud gasp, laughing nervously and holding a hand to his chest in mockery of having a heart attack, hoping to make light of such an unnerving situation. It was hard to remain calm, there was some anger as it occurred to him that last little fantasy he had been having might have been psychically induced by his little observer. He didn't think it was coincidence at all that it was the Dreamer he had found first, not with thoughts of Kimble on his mind. He turned to face Aiden defensively under his disguise of laughter, unsure what Aiden was really after, and the Siskan smiled at him wryly, appreciating the view the fully aroused and naked thief now presented.

Aiden was nude and wet from his own shower only moments before, every bit as beautiful as he knew himself to be. He was visibly aroused from watching Gambit have his little daydream and stroked himself gently, quirking an eyebrow at him in invitation. Clearly he was hoping that Remy had appreciated his little game in the window enough to want more, especially since the thief seemed to have more than a simple shower on his mind.

/I 'ave szumpting you need. I want szo much to give it to you. You won't get it from anyone elsze, Aiden vibrated again, his intent obvious.

Remy stepped back defensively and raised his fists automatically, not sure if he was going to get jumped here or taken over like Marielle had been. It was one thing to watch Aiden play his game at a safe distance, it was quite another to be here now with this naked man so ready to make it happen for real. While Remy's arousal was fading fast from his fear and the resentment at possibly being manipulated, Aiden's wasn't. The creator of Aiden's skin had been sexually generous, the man may have been small but the rest of him wasn't, he would be the envy of most men. Well, at least not the one he was pursuing. Remy didn't want what Aiden was offering anywhere near him.

Aiden saw those hands come up and his playful smile fizzled out. He snarled and raised his own fists, going right back into that fighter's stance from before, unsure if Remy was going to retaliate with violence or not.

Gambit was up for it, if he was going to be raped, he wasn't going to go down with a fight. It wasn't until he took a look at Aiden's shine that he realized he had just made a terrible mistake. He wasn't sure just how he knew it, but he did - he hadn't induced Remy's little daydream, Aiden had just been drawn to it, by those strong vibrations of lust. They were back to this again, fists raised, ready to fight, and poor Aiden had done nothing wrong.

Remy took a step back, opening his hands and letting out his breath in a long sigh. "Easy, cher. Easy. We don' need to do dis."

Aiden lowered his fists and backed up himself, his chin going down with disappointment. He turned half way away, leaning against the doorjamb of the shower, his face finally softening into sadness. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily, thumping his head against the wood in frustration.

"Look, Aiden. It don' need to be like dis 'tween us. Let's just talk, d'accorde?"

Aiden snorted at him and gave him the look, his eyes hard. Remy had seen that one before, Rogue had shown it to him more times than he can count. You blew it Mistah, it said in Rogue's voice. That's the last time Ah'll be askin'.

Aiden turned and left with an arrogant toss of his head, one that spoke of pride but was nothing more than Kimble's reiteration of the humiliation of being found wanting. Just like the Siskan back home, Aiden had been refused, not good enough for play like everyone else, but unlike Kimble, Aiden wasn't about to wait around for Remy to refuse him a third time. He was done with this and gone.

Remy stood there, dripping water and now quite upset with himself, unsure of what to do. It used to be so easy, coercing people into giving up what they wanted. A little flattery there, some flirtation there. It wasn't working at all, not with Aiden. He was pushing the Siskan away, not drawing him closer.

/Go after him, Shi'ow-ri advised, ever so helpful.

I can't. I just can't.

/You're running out of time./

It's already too late.

He was interested in Aiden because he had been so badly damaged, but there was no way he could bring himself to lay with a man. He just knew that would be the price for knowledge, it had been so with all the Siskans here, really. He had been jumped every which way every day he had been here in Trishnar's large house. No one seemed to pay him any mind as he would wake in a drunken stupor from the backwashes that popped him out every time. They would just dust him off and dress him, always with smiles and laughter. The Siskans were eating him up like a new toy. He casually wondered if he could fuck himself sterile.

Remy saw Aiden had retreated for good and finished his shower. He made his way back to the house and sure enough, was nabbed passing through. These girls were impossible to resist. They touched him and drove him mad with desire, their Kundatesh voices driving him past all refusal. Never had his libido been so high, they were drawing it out of him, feeding him with their own passions. Even so, this day he couldn't stop his thoughts from drifting back to Aiden standing there in the shower, his eyes so playful one moment, then wounded and angry the next, rejected.

Gambit was thoughtful once the girls were through with him and once more paced the house, watching the Siskans as they romped happily though the halls. It had been gradually sinking in that this way of life was exactly what Kimble had been seeking. Watching them made Remy realize why Kimble had been so miserable at the Xavier Mansion. Compared to these Siskans, his level of neglect there had been shameful. It no longer surprised him that Kimble had settled in with Creed. The fact that the closest Kimble had come to happiness was in the lair of Sabretooth had been a crime. This is why Kimble had put up with the abuse dished out to him by his domineering Master, only there had he received the attention and the level of possession he had craved. The thought of it made Gambit want to puke.

Gambit watched the Siskans interact with one another and tried to educate himself on their behavior as much as he could, bewildering as it all was. Some of it made sense in Kimble's case. Courtesans wanted to be possessed, and needed to be touched and used as much as possible. In return, they would give you their purest devotion. The Siskans maintained the house and saw to all of Trishnar's personal needs. They cooked, they cleaned, and still found time for fun and games. The house was filled with laughter and seemed like a paradise or a small slice of heaven. Kimble would have been happy here and more than once Remy considered just taking him here. Problem was, he was much too fond of the pilot to give him up so easily. He wished only to learn as much as possible about the Siskans and do his best to repair Kimble while keeping him at the Mansion.

Remy tried not to worry about things he couldn't change. He focused on learning what he could and the rest of his time was spent in play. He was tumbled and loved well by all the female Siskans, learning all the time how to use Kimble's gift with them to enhance the lovemaking. It was great and the last of his fears in that area dissipated once he learned better how to control it.

Babette spent some more time teaching him how to block out the vibrations he didn't want. This was the most priceless thing she ever could have given him. She also taught him how to read the shines. Different colors meant different moods and she instructed him on those as well. He could read minds in a sense, just by paying better attention to what he was seeing. She also helped him to master his new gift. He had a kind of on/off switch in his mind. He only had to concentrate and he could see those shines he wanted to and block out those he didn't. For these things he was eternally grateful. He was at peace now and happy.