(Four)

Later that day, Remy did try to go after Aiden in the hopes of repairing the damage done. He knew by Aiden's body language that Aiden wouldn't approach him again, if he wanted to learn from Aiden, this time he would have to do the asking. He found the Siskan man in one of Trishnar's large libraries. He was seated on a small sofa that faced a large open window, his head down in a book as he was bathed in sunshine. He was alone in this vast room, almost as though he were hiding. It had been a few hours since the shower incident and his shine was glimmering a pale blue - a sign of contentment, Remy had learned.

Babette had taught him about the colors and he remembered it well. The colors of person's shine were very important and he would need to know them if he was to use this power to its fullest. The colors are significant, she had explained – blue for contentment, red for arousal, brown for fear, green for pride and self worth, black for hatred and grey for internal sickness. Just those simple tips made things so much easier for the thief, he could read someone's intentions just by a quick glance at their shine. For the thief and con-man in him, it was an invaluable tool.

Feeling lucky, Gambit decided to take what Babette had taught him and put it to some use. He would to suck it up and try once more to talk to Aiden, the most difficult Siskan he had ever met. It had become something of a challenge now, if he could get Aiden to be reasonable, then Kimble should be all the easier to understand. He took a cautious step forward and cleared his throat.

Aiden looked up at him, his shine clouding up almost instantly, a sign of anger.

Remy held up his hands. "Paisible maintenant, cher. Gambit just want to speak wit you, bien?"

The Siskan didn't reply but turned back into his book, a clear refusal.

Remy sighed with impatience and walked over. He gently tugged the book from Aiden's hands and closed it, setting it aside. He sat next to him on the sofa and turned Aiden's chin to face him. "Babette say you speak de Siskan. Talk to me, Aiden. Dere's so much I would like to learn from you."

Aiden was looking at him deeply now, but no words left his mouth. He was waiting.

What does 'e want, Shi'ow-ri? Remy asked his inner self. 'Elp me!

/Touch him, came her quick reply.

Gambit obeyed and carefully brought his hand to Aiden's face, the movement slow and cautious, something he might have done in his younger, more friskier days to calm a young girl who was intimidated by him and needed to be charmed into giving him what he wanted. Remy then began to gently run his thumb over Aiden's lips, a soft caress in the place of a kiss. At the same time, he tried to vibrate reassurances that Aiden was found acceptable, a beautiful thing in his eyes.

Aiden smiled at him, warmed by the softness of the gesture, and the cloudiness dissipated from his shine. "Luskteck dumask," he repeated.

Remy shook his head and teased gently, "What is dat? Just some words you make up to play?"

Aiden shook his head, laughing now. Inspired by Gambit's relative lack of fear, he leaned in to give Gambit that kiss the thief had been trying so hard to avoid. He was slow and tentative, his eyes open and on Remy's own, waiting to see if the thief would bolt. Gambit did allow it this time, being very brave in the face of getting what he wanted, but as much as he tried to squelch it, instantly began to tremble with uncertainty and fear. Aiden felt it and the contact was brief. The cloud had returned to Aiden's shine - not of anger, but intense frustration and disappointment. He started to get up, to leave again for yet another time, but Remy denied him his exit by grabbing at him and pulling him closer. He slid his arms around the Siskan, not wanting Aiden to get away from him in anger again. He held Aiden as if it were Seth, sending out vibrations of platonic love and affection, petting him gently with his hands. It was the best he could do.

Aiden relaxed and snuggled against him, accepting the compromise for now.

/That's better, Shi'ow-ri whispered. /Just relax and he will relax with you. You can win him over without doing what you don't want to if you just take this easy./

Remy kissed the top of Aiden's head. "See? Gambit can still be yo' friend, hien? 'E don't hate you, 'e can touch you, give you love like dis."

Aiden looked up at him, his pale green eyes happy now. "Luskteck dumask."

"Whatever you say," Remy said with a laugh. "Talk to me, 'elp me understand what's goin' on wit you, s'il vous plait."

Aiden did no such thing. He reached out again instead and kissed Remy once more, bolder now and this time a forceful, passionate kiss. Remy again tried not to fight it, but found himself draped back over the back of the sofa in a position of complete submission, not where he wanted to be. The Siskan was asking him to give in, to just let this happen, but he just couldn't do it. He quailed, his hands outstretched in surprise and his eyes wild. He could feel Aiden's desire seeping into him, but also his attempt to control it. Aiden didn't want to seduce Remy by use of the Kundatesh, he wanted to do it with himself, with who he was. Still the vibration and the need poured from him, spoken in that odd broken voice that seemed to come from all of Aiden's intentional Kundatesh messages. /Be wit' with me. I want you szo badly. What you need, you can only get from me. Zere isz szo much I could show you. Szo much you need to know./

Remy wasn't interested. His anger at being forced won out over his fear and he roughly tossed Aiden away and rose, retreating to the window. He was furious. "Why it got to be dis way wit you, eh? Yes, dere's so much you could tell me but 'ow can I learn from you when all you want is to play some kind of stupid sexual game wit me! I told you no and I meant it!"

Aiden's face clouded with rage at the insult and he snarled viciously, tossing out the words with a flash of bright white teeth. "Klack house neylaft! Derkrist alay en du shifnesk tudask!"

"C'est assez! Dat's enough!" Remy shouted right back at him, losing control of his own temper as well. It was beyond frustrating just how fast Aiden could bring out that sharp stabbing anger that Babette had so successfully coaxed back down. It had never really disappeared, just gone into hiding. Well, it was out now and back in full force. Aiden seemed to have nullified all of her good work and it only added to Gambit's anger. "Jus' fuckin' talk to me! Why is dat so 'ard, eh? I can't 'urt you!"

Aiden rose, angrily running a hand through his long, wispy hair. He crudely gestured as if to a child, an idiot. When you see me, I will talk to you.

"I do see you! Dis is me lookin' right at you. I see someone fightin' me and I don' understand why. Why is it so important dat I be wit' you!"

Aiden paced a couple of steps, his hands fisting and opening in frustration. He stopped and opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He took one look at Remy's shine and saw something there he didn't like. He shook his head and started to walk out with his hands up, giving up completely.

"Aiden, stop dis!" Remy called after him. "Talk to me, s'il vous plait!"

The Siskan stopped and looked back at him. He bowed and sent out a vibration. /I am szorry. Forgive me. It wasz wrong to try and take you wit'out your permisszion. It isz your great lossz, but I will bother you no more./ The apology had all the warmth of an arctic breeze and was nothing more than a formality, Aiden's eyes were blazing with rage. He was interrupted before he could continue.

"What's going on, this?"

Aiden turned to see Babette in the doorway, her arms crossed in irritation. He dropped his eyes submissively and his shine swirled with humiliation. "Shefnesk tumask tulay. Tedesk juest kalesk."

"As if that would excuse this, you."

"What did 'e say?" Remy asked from the window.

"He said he did a bad thing, him, and now sorry he is."

Remy shivered, he couldn't help it. Lin's words from Aiden's mouth was not the least bit encouraging. " 'E ain't done nuthin'. We just can't communicate worth a damn."

"What a surprise, Dreamer," she replied, looking at Aiden. "Told you, I did. Frighten him you do, with this anger. Now think his Siskan can't be fixed, he will!"

Aiden's face reddened and he defensively blurted out more nonsense in a rush so quickly there was no hope of anyone understanding it. Tears of anger poured from his eyes and made it all worse. He stopped only when she reached for him, putting her hands on his cheeks. "Stop this, Dreamer. Understand you no one can, when all this yelling and fighting you do! Show him that you can be good, that you are kind."

Aiden calmed and looked back at Remy who was now leaning on the window sill, his red eyes filled with frustration. Aiden seemed to fight with himself, with his obvious impatience and bad temper, his face scowling some before he came to a decision. Once he made it, he turned back to Babette and began kissing her, lovingly coming at her in a slow and graceful movement.

At first all Gambit saw was just another attempt at foreplay. There had to be more to this game than sex, he knew it. There had to be or he could leave right now. When Remy had cooled a bit, he watched the play of Aiden's hands on Babette, the way their shines now seemed to bleed into one another. Aiden was less passionate here, mainly because she wasn't fighting him and he wasn't compelled to force the issue. Aiden was gentle, every stoke of his hands on her face a loving caress. There was caring and kindness in every gesture, his affection for her very clear.

Aiden broke away after a moment, laughing playfully now, all of his anger gone. He raised his hands above her like he had over Marielle and closed his eyes, once more casting his magical spell. This Remy had seen before and he found his feet in a rush, not wanting Babette to be taken over as Marielle had been. He found that sort of thing offensive, a perversion of what love should be. There was no worry, Babette was unresistant and alert, her eyes glowing with knowing expectation as Aiden began to shower her with Kundatesh. Remy had to blink his eyes to make sure of what he was seeing, was this a dream? Where Aiden had overpowered Marielle with an invisible force, what Aiden was doing now was fully visible. Remy watched as a cloud of red sparkling glitter poured from Aiden's hands like fairy dust and showered down on her.

Gambit stood as he was, fixed in place by his confusion and wonder. He could see the glitter cloud now because Aiden wanted him to, Shi'ow-ri was whispering. This wasn't a powerful attack like poor Marielle had been subjected to, this was a cloud of pure bliss.

At Shi'ow-ri's prompting, Remy stood and walked over, coming close so the cloud of sparkling lights drifted down over him as well. He wanted to see what this strange magic was, but was still being cautious. He held out one hand at first, letting only just a few sparkles touch his skin. Immediately he began to laugh and he greedily outstretched his hands all the more - when the glitter fell on him, it felt like a hug and a tickle raining down on him all at the same time. It was magical and lovely without being overtly sexual. Warmth like a kiss from Tante washed into him, making his laughter pour from him without cease. Shi'ow-ri cried out with joy and he was buzzed from it, unresistant as all three of them next clasped hands and began to spin in a circle. Faster and faster now they spun like children, the dizziness enhancing the rush from Aiden's power. They spun and spun until poor Gambit lost all control and tumbled to the floor, pulling the other two down with him into a crazy, giggling pile of tangled limbs.

"Breckset natask framash a'tay!" Aiden giggled happily.

"Dat was easy fo' you to say!" Remy teased. His head was spinning, drunk on the rush. He could stay like this all day, simply drinking up what Aiden had offered. As much as the Kundatesh pleased him, this was even better, like frosting for the cake Kimble had given him. He would have loved to have more, but for the moment Aiden was content with what he had tossed out. It was nice though, Gambit thought, tangled up with these two Siskans. They were warm against him and their vibrations of happiness poured into him. He gave them both a squeeze, making Aiden laugh happily again, a warm lovely sound that filled Remy with joy.

After a moment of playful tickling and laughter, Babette managed to extricate herself gracefully from the pile. She helped the others to their feet. "See? Now that wasn't so difficult," she said to Aiden. She looked next at Remy. "Not so bad he is, when he's not so impatient."

"Now will you talk to me? Please," Remy asked with more patience, his mood light from the playing around.

Aiden smiled at him happily and opened his mouth. "I-"

"Why bother, he never has anything interesting to say," Marielle interrupted, coming into the room. Her disturbance was unfortunate. Aiden's whole demeanor changed and whatever opportunity that might have presented itself was lost.

Aiden's face creased in a sneer of disdain as he snarled at her. "Pri'est chanook tulay!"

"Gobbledy gook gook to you too, asshole!" she replied, her eyes dominating and cold. "Go read a real book and learn how to talk like the rest of us, you pathetic child!"

Aiden gave her a rude shove and stomped past her, taking off in a run, away down the hall.

Remy watched him leave and bowed his head, the frustration overtaking him. Things were falling apart. How was he ever going to get Kimble to talk to him if he couldn't get past any of these barriers with Aiden? Every time he got close, something got in the way. Aiden was hostile. He was shy. He wouldn't even defend himself against his sister when he was clearly more clever and powerful than she.

Marielle took advantage of Aiden's departure and approached Gambit, letting him know she wanted to play. He wasn't in the mood for her wiles. Her disruption had been deliberate and cruel and he found himself disliking a Siskan for the first time. Still, he was polite to her. "Je suis de'sole, chere. Gambit's 'ad enough fun fo' one day, 'e gonna go upstairs an' crash."

"Alone? How lonely."

Gambit glanced up at Babette, waiting to see if she would try to interfere, but she was standing there quiet, letting him decide what he wanted. "Oui, chere. Alone. Already been jumped by a coupla yo' sisters, y'all 're gonna be de death of me."

"Well, you know where to find me."

"Oui, chere. Merci fo' de offer. Gambit's just tired." He bowed at her and left, his hand brushing Babette's in thanks for her efforts with Aiden as he passed her. He went upstairs and lay on his bed. It was early, only about five o' clock, but his brain was hurting from all of his frustrations. He was surrounded by puzzles with missing pieces, how was he ever going to figure all of this out? Tired now, he closed his eyes and slept.

Gambit woke some time later to the crashing of thunder. It was dark out now, evening, and there was an electrical storm just outside, lightning was blazing brightly. Always a fan of such storms, he couldn't resist coming closer to the window to look outside. He was surprised when he saw Aiden outside on the patio and not in the best of moods.

It was pouring rain outside, the thunder and lightning putting on quite a show. Aiden was once more on the stone railing for the pool, but this time was standing precariously on the narrow stone rail, fearlessly screaming curses at the lightning. Again, it was in that strange language and Gambit couldn't make it out. Remy opened his window and called out, shouting in between the thunderclaps.

Aiden must have heard him because he turned and looked up. He raised his fist at him and shouted something, his face a contorted mask of rage. Gambit stepped back as he felt a tickle of the man's Kundatesh in his mind. It was mild because of the distance, but he could taste Aiden's anger. More than that was Aiden's intense fear of whatever it was that was tormenting him. The Siskan was terrified. Gambit reeled back, stunned that Aiden's empathy could still reach him from so far away.

He caught his breath after a moment and cautiously crept back to the window. Trishnar was now outside, trying to talk his Siskan down. It wasn't so easily done as the other night. Aiden wouldn't let him come close and the Dognan King had to wait patently while the Siskan ranted a few more minutes before he settled down. Trishnar opened his arms and Aiden came to him slowly, crying and rubbing at his eyes. Trishnar took him and they came into the house.

Gambit had to come down, he couldn't stop himself. He crept down the stairs and saw them in the livingroom. Babette had come down with Trishnar and she wrapped a blanket around Aiden's shoulders. She set him down in front of the massive fireplace, she had built a fire as well and was trying to warm him.

Aiden rocked and sobbed, saying over and over. "Kar'ask tulay! Mishnan areck na'mask!"

"Yes, Aiden. Know this I do. It's okay, really. It's okay," Babette soothed in Siskan, coming to sit down beside him. He fell against her and clutched at her arms, begging her to hold him. She kissed him, a deep lover's kiss, and put her arms around him.

Trishnar came around them, a towel wrapped around his large shaggy head. He went to the mantle and pressed one of the stones. It flipped down, revealing a tiny cubby hole. Trishnar took out a small bottle and poured a shot into a whiskey glass. He held it at Aiden. "Drink this," he demanded, unable to hide his impatience.

Aiden turned away. "Nah. Shalesk tre'desk nadat!"

"It wasn't a suggestion. You've hardly slept in two days. Drink this and pass out!"

Aiden hung his head and bawled, covering his ears. Babette took the glass from Trishnar's hand and brought it to Aiden's lips. He didn't want it but drank it anyway. He drank it for her. Trishnar grunted, satisfied now, and closed up the tiny cubicle. He made to leave, but paused when he saw Remy standing in the doorway.

"Well, Aiden. I hope you're happy. It seems you've roused the whole house."

"Non, it's okay. I was already awake, mon ami," Remy lied smoothly, not wanting to get Aiden into further trouble.

"Well, good night then, what's left of it," Trishnar said and left.

Remy came further in the room, closer to the fire. He sat next to Babette, wanting to help. Aiden was drenched and shivering so Remy carefully took one of his slender white hands in his own to warm him. He wanted to take advantage of their previous breakthrough to try and get to know the guy a little better. The Siskan was so wrecked, this was probably the only time this wouldn't turn into another sexual misunderstanding. He grasped Aiden's hand, feeling the ice cold of his fingers. He used both hands now to hold it and gently rubbed it, blowing warm air onto his fingers.

Aiden smiled at the heat, his shine sparkly bright with happiness. "Lucktesk dumask."

"Okay, den," Remy replied playfully, not having a clue what those words meant. "You know I 'ave a Siskan back home?"

Aiden nodded.

"He all broken up, just like you, cher. 'E mean a lot to me, it's why I come 'ere. I wanted to understand 'im a little better, learn all I could so I could 'elp 'im. I see yo' pain an' I gotta tell you, you doin' a real good job of scarin' me. Are you okay? I mean fo' real?"

Aiden still didn't speak but held Remy's hand tightly now. He brought Gambit's hand to his lips and kissed it. His eyes locked Gambit's as he continued to press his lips against his skin, planting soft kisses until he came to Gambit's fingertips. He closed his eyes and took a finger into his mouth, sliding it all the way in before Remy could stop him.

Gambit shook with arousal, the movement had been so gentle and sensual, his body wanted it even if his brain didn't. He felt Aiden's power touch him with warmth and pleasant invitation. Shi'ow-ri was there, translating for him in her soft whisper, /I 'ave what you need. You won't get it from anyone elsze. Be wit' me. I guarantee, I'll be ze beszt you ever have./

Remy gasped in angry surprise and instinctively jerked back, yanking his hand away. "I tol' you no, Aiden. I meant it."

Aiden scowled and snapped, "Chuckfet! Pri'est chanook tulay!"

Remy gasped again and then yelped in real pain when he was hit with a blast of Kundatesh, this one not in the least bit pleasant. It came at him like a slap and stung his heart. /What ze fuck isz you problem?! How dare you be repulszed by me after what I showed you? the message of that blast was spoken to him. /I am beautiful. It isz you who are ugly, you closzed minded, ignorant, pathetic, human creature! Fuck you! Leave me alone! I hate you!

"Oh! Uh...Damn!" Gambit wheezed helplessly, stunned by the pain and resentment that had come his way. Yes, he had seen Aiden use this to punish Marielle, but that had been done with pleasure. This was something entirely different and far more frightening. Never had this power been directed at him in anger and it was more painful than he could have imagined. He had no idea this power could be used this way, Aiden was wielding it like a weapon.

"Aiden! Stop that, you!" Babette scolded, forcing Aiden to back down. "Not ready is he. May never be and so be it. Just give it up, we could all use the rest!"

Aiden backed off, but his eyes were still wounded and angry at the rejection. Whatever it was that he wanted so desperately to give, Remy wasn't just going to take it freely, not the way Aiden wanted him to. He sobbed a little, the perfect picture of an agonized child. Trishnar had warned him of the infantile nature of these creatures – not that Gambit had needed it with Kimble around – but here he was seeing it, those tears that summoned the worst kind of guilt from deep within.

"Je suis de'sole, Aiden. I'm sorry, but I explained all dis already. Nuthin's changed since den," Remy stammered lamely, unable to hide his discomfort. So much for this not becoming a matter of sex. He felt a surge of irritation and hopelessness at Aiden's stubbornness. Really, he should have known better, none of their conversations had ever gone well.

Aiden snorted in anger and once more tried to rise, he couldn't even look at Remy, he was so disgusted. Babette wouldn't release him, even resorting to using her power to hold him down. He couldn't offer much resistance, the drought Trishnar had given him was already taking effect and he was growing sleepy. "Calm down now, you," Babette scolded not unkindly, and pushed him back against her. "Get so angry over such little things, Dreamer, you do."

Aiden did as he was told and lay still, his eyes growing glassy.

Gambit folded his legs under him and stayed, sorry he had reacted so fearfully. He had blown what was probably the last opportunity he would get to speak with Aiden. He knew he had to go back home soon. No one knew where he was and he hadn't even called back at the Mansion in days.

"I'm sorry, it's just...well..." Gambit tried again and trailed off, seeing in Aiden's eyes he wasn't going to listen.

"Okay it is, Remy. Not used to being turned down, Aiden is. Not from someone he's pursued so vigorously. Frustrated some is he. Good for him, is this, really. Must learn how to take 'no' for an answer, him," Babette said in Remy's familiar English, not wanting him to feel bad just because Aiden was acting so childishly.

Aiden's eyes fluttered closed and he went limp, now soundly asleep.

"He 'ave another nightmare?"

"Yes. Bad these past days have been. The dreams come so soon, no real sleep gets he. Exhausted he has become. Worse the dreams sometimes are, when so angry gets he."

"I'm sorry, chere," Remy repeated, feeling guilty all over again.

"Don't be," she replied with a laugh, petting Aiden's rain soaked hair. "His fault it is. Lets the others get to him some. Marielle not always so kind. Lets too much bother him, Aiden does. Sleeps too little, paints too much. Been a while it has, since he's gone this long without sleeping. Freaks out a little when gets too tired, him. Sleep most of the day tomorrow he will, and wake up his usual chipper self."

" 'E ever chipper? Don' seem like it to me."

Babette laughed. "Yes, actually quite playful, Aiden is. When he's with someone he's comfortable with. Quite good at pillow fights, is he."

Remy laughed, still feeling sorry he had jerked away. Aiden looked so peaceful now. He was smiling as if he could feel Babette's hands on him and his fingers twitched just a little.

"Back to bed you should go," Babette said. "Okay, Aiden is. For now."

"All right, chere," he said and leaned in to kiss her. Their lips touched and he felt her love pour into him. She had grown quite fond of him and he felt her shiver a bit as he returned some of that love with a soft pulse of his power. "Bon nuit, mon amante."

She smiled at him and he left her, returning to his bed. He lay for a long while, quietly thinking. He was concerned about Aiden. All along, Babette and Trishnar had pointed Aiden out to him as something positive, but all he saw was a 'gram not even close to being rational or sane. Whatever they had expected him to find, he surely wasn't seeing it. If this Siskan was reacting so poorly, was it possible Kimble could never recover? Babette seemed okay, but was she the norm for a shattered and repaired Siskan, or was Aiden? Whatever the answer was, he wasn't going to find it out tonight. He closed his eyes and sleep once more claimed him, giving him a respite from all of his questions.