(Two)
Remy went upstairs, looking for Molly. It was getting late but he knew she was a nightowl like he was and would probably be up. He had checked the gym and the common room where she usually watched television but she wasn't there. He found her room and was surprised to see the door ajar, but she wasn't there, either. Perplexed and a little tired himself, he decided to go up to the widow's peak, get some air, and just go to bed. He would look for Molly tomorrow.
He made his way up the stairs to the widow's peak, stopping to grab his coat and gloves on the way up. He dressed quickly and grabbed a pack of smokes for good measure. He stood now just in front of the door to the widow's peak. He was about to go outside when he was halted by his internal friend.
/ Wait a moment. Molly's there. I can feel her, can't you? Shi'ow-ri whispered. Remy startled a little, this voice was much stronger now - boosted from Aiden's rush of power no doubt. It was the same when he had been with Babette. Her strength was growing as was her intuition. / She's there and she's upset. /
'Course she's upset. Sabretooth killed her sister and she just saw 'im again. She scared.
/ She's not scared, she's angry. Angry at you. /
Me? What I done now?
/ Go ask her and find out. /
Gambit carefully eased the door open and stepped out onto the widow's peak, every nerve jingling. He wasn't going to catch a break today, it seemed. He saw Molly there crouched in a corner and sniffing softly. She was bundled up in a coat and blanket and had clearly been out here for some time. She had been crying and her shine was dark and cloudy. She was upset, hurt and angry.
"Bonjour, chere," he greeted softly. "What you doin' up 'ere?"
She didn't answer but looked up at him, her eyes hard.
Remy walked over, his stride slow and even in spite of his hammering heart. Lord have mercy, she looked so angry. She was so beautiful to him, sitting there. He hadn't realized just how much he had missed her until now. Her suffering filled him with pain and he tried to keep his voice steady as he automatically began to apologize without really knowing what for. "I know Gambit was bad about not checkin' 'is phone. 'E got hung up somewhere fo' a few days. Je suis de'sole, fille. Gambit wasn't blowin' you off. Not on purpose."
Molly didn't respond to his words, not even when he came close and sat down in front of her. He could see now that she had a half empty bottle of Jack Daniels in between her legs and had a pretty good idea where she had gotten it from. She had never been in his room before, but he never locked the door. It wouldn't be hard for her to find it, it would be the room that looked like no one lived in it. Although the framed pictures of Kimble's poor fractured selves might have been a giveaway.
"You okay, chere? You 'ave another nightmare?" he asked a little more quietly.
She raised her hands and began to speak, knowing he would be able to see even in the poor light. When Mason died, I was afraid. When I'm afraid, I get violent, crazy. The police didn't know what to do with me so they tied me up and brought me to a SHIELD detention center for mutants. They weren't gentle and I stayed angry and crazy. While I was there, all tied up and strapped down to a bed, these two guys were brought into the cells across from me. They were being brought from one place to another. They weren't going to stay, they were there to wait. This happened all the time.
She paused and took another hit from the bottle. She was getting better at this, she didn't even flinch as she swallowed it down. What was different was Tommy Jenkins came over to talk to me.
" 'E dat guard you said you 'ad a crush on," Remy said, unable to keep a small smile from teasing his lips.
Molly was feeling neither playful nor humorous. Her hands were stiff with anger as she continued to sign, He was the only one there who was nice to me. The one thing he did for me, the most important thing, was to say this little speech to me. He looked at those guys and said to me, "You see them two? That's Mayhem and Wipeout. Two of the worst guys you ever could meet."
Remy's whole body just froze. He couldn't even breathe. No...not this. Not this. Not right now. He dropped his eyes and reached into his pocket, automatically grabbing for his cigarettes. He had made some honest attempts to quit lately but shit like this just kept getting in his way. He would never escape his past, his responsibilities. He had done much to calm his mind in New Orleans but this one thing, this terrible crime he had committed, it would always unnerve him to hear it spoken of. It might be like that his whole life. He shook a cigarette out of the pack and brought it to his lips, unable to hide his trembling fingers. He knew she could see as well in the dark as he did and that she was waiting for him to finish so he would look at her. He popped a spark from his fingers to light the cigarette, praying she couldn't see the wetness of his eyes. He took a long deep drag and looked at her again.
You know who I'm talking about, don't you?
Remy was quiet, considering his answer. Shi'ow-ri didn't let him wait long. / If you love her, tell her the truth. Don't you dare lie. Don't make the same mistake you did with Rogue. /
"Oui, chere. Gambit knows," he whispered to the girl in front of him.
Mayhem and Wipeout were two of the Marauders that had followed him down into the tunnels on that horrible day when he became damned for all time. He could still see their dark, serious faces in his mind's eye, these men had frightened him as badly as Sabretooth had. Somehow Molly had found out about his role in the Massacre and he had an idea who it was that had told her. He didn't know what was stronger, his fear that Molly would reject and hate him like half the people here, or his anger towards the one person who would dare to use this against him.
Molly continued, Tommy said to me. "You're young and I'm guessing maybe you're just scared and unsure about what's going to happen to you. You'd best calm down, girl. Just take a nice deep breath. If you let your anger get to you...if you let it take you over...you just might end up like those two losers over there." Tommy spent the next ten minutes telling me what they had done.
I remember thinking at the time, "Who would do such a thing?" I mean, it just wasn't possible that someone could be that evil and yet look so human. Only monsters were capable of that kind of evil, not ordinary men who could so easily be your friend and talk to you like nothing had ever happened. I know now what kind of man can do such a thing. I found out three days after you left.
Molly stopped signing. She broke down into more soft sobs, tears streaming down her face.
Remy couldn't speak. He was shaking so hard he could hardly keep the cigarette in his hand. He didn't know what to do. Should he break down and cry or just harden up and walk away? He could do both right now so easily. Her shine was so dark and angry. / I hate you for doing that. How can you be my friend and be that man at the same time? it was asking.
His internal response was turbulent. He was furious - Why do I 'ave to keep defending myself over dis time and time again? I was a kid den, I made a terrible, 'orrible mistake. Why can't I be judged for who I am now? For all de good I've done?
He was fearful - She gonna 'ate dis boy for good now. She 'urt an' scared. She love me. She gonna do sumptin' stupid an' 'urt 'erself 'less I do sumptin' to make dis all right again.
He was filled with despair - Remy, you de worse kind of scum dere is. You was den, y' are now, an' you always will be. You gotta let 'er walk away b'fore you 'urt 'er any more dan you 'ave already.
He was in agony - Mercy, I love dis girl. I love 'er as much as Kimble. What am I gonna do?
/ Tell her the truth. /
Gambit took a deep breath and tried reaching out to touch Molly but she stopped his hand in between them, blocking him. Is it true? Did you do that horrible thing?
"Oui, chere," he replied in a whisper so soft, she hardly heard it in spite of her enhanced hearing.
Why?
"Give Gambit de bottle, chere, and 'e'll tell you."
I can drink if I want to, she signed defiantly, misunderstanding.
"Oui, Molly, you can drink. But it's Gambit dat needs de courage, not you."
She heard the quiet desperation in his voice and gave up custody of the whiskey. He took a big hit off the bottle and shifted, getting comfortable. He took another deep breath and told her everything. He explained some about his childhood and how he had been exiled. He was living on the streets when Sinister found him and later took advantage of him. Remy felt more comfortable as he spoke, he could see the change in Molly's shine as she calmed down and simply listened to what he was trying to say. He explained that he wasn't trying to excuse himself, that he took all the blame for everything. He wasn't running away from it anymore. He was here with the X-men to try and make up for what he had done. When he said that, he saw her shine change even more. It became brighter, happier. She was understanding him better now. It encouraged him, but there was enough doubt in her to tell him he wasn't going to get off too easily.
He was right. Molly wasn't done, she just moved down to the next item on her list. Why do you call all the girls 'share'?
Remy couldn't help but chuckle softly. He responded automatically, " 'Cause you all so beautiful, 'e want to share 'is love wit you, petite."
Molly scowled at him, still not joking around.
He sighed, lamenting her lack of humor, and answered, "Gambit grew up in a great big ol' 'ouse full of kids. Dere was so many of us, my poor Tante couldn't keep none of us straight so she always call us 'cher' or 'chere'. It French fo' 'dear', an endearment fo' someone you cherish or love. You get it said to you over an' over again fo' eight years, it kinda get stuck in yo 'ead, bien? Dat's why Gambit say 'chere'. Why you askin'?"
Rogue said you use that word because you run with so many girls at once it's easier to call them that than to try and remember their names.
"Well, it ain't true. Just spend some time down in N'awlins wit me, you'll see all de LeBeaus use dat word, same as me. It's just de way we was brought up, just like all de other French words we use. None of us really speak French in full. De Cajun, it like two languages all smashed up together. Guess we all kinda like de sound of it so we never learned no English proper, hien?"
I'll bet, Molly signed, unable to hide the sarcasm in the soft grunt that came with it. She wasn't quite finished. What about all the girls you know? Rogue said that everywhere you go the girls all know you. She said all the whores in Salem Center know you by name.
Remy's anger surged. Was there no end to Rogue's treachery? Good lord, just how much did she say? How far was she willing to go to kill his friendship with this girl?
/ Rogue must want you bad,/ Shi'ow-ri snickered.
That statement gave him pause. Was that what she was doing this for? How did she think he would ever forgive her for it?
/ You took her back every time she ever spanked you with who you are. Why should she think this time would be any different?
Because my love for Molly is real. It ain't no crush, no conquest forgotten in a day. Molly mean de worl' to me.
/ Then prove it. Prove it right now. /
Remy sniffed and smiled slightly, he couldn't help it. "You know Gambit a playful guy. He like to fool around, have fun. Gambit learn quick on de streets dat de ladies of de night, well, dey a lot like 'im. Most of dem come from real bad 'omes, some of dem molested by deir fathers, deir brothers. No girl ever ask to be a whore, dey do it 'cause dey ain't got nuthin' else, just like some of us turn into t'ieves. We all in pain and de best way to kill dat pain is to 'ave fun. We drink, we play, we joke around. Gambit wasn't wit no steady girl, if one of de filles want to do more dan just dance, Gambit's always willin', always careful. Knows how to use a condom. Now I'm sure dat rascal Rogue was quick to tell you 'bout all de girls Gambit knows, but did she tell you 'ow Gambit was always fait'ful to 'er when we was datin'?"
No. She said you were always running around.
"Gambit run around when she say we was quits. She'd do dat every coupla months or so. We'd 'ave some big ol' fight an' she'd boot Gambit out on 'is sorrowful ass. Soon as Gambit was free, sure, he run around. Gambit chase de firs' girl dat didn't t'row stuff at him or say, ' 'Ey you miserable t'ief, what you lie about dis day, hien?' "
So you never cheated on her?
"Non. Not de way she mean. Not when we was together. Soon as she took him back, Gambit kept 'is paws off. 'E stay at 'ome, leave de whores in town. He cook for 'is girl, take 'er dancin', keep it fun. She tell you dat when me and Logan an' 'Enry got carted off to Cerise by dem Dognan assholes dat Gambit never touch another girl out dere? 'E could 'ave. No one would be de wiser — 'cept me. Gambit wouldn't do it because 'e would know and dat was just as bad, comprenez?"
Rogue never said anything about that.
"Bien sur. 'Course not. Just like she didn't say dat when Gambit come back he find out she be doin' de Mississippi Two Step wit some other guy she met when 'e was gone."
It was Molly's turn to be quiet.
"Gambit ain't tellin' you dese t'ings 'cause 'e wanna get into some kinda 'he said, she said' t'ing wit you. He tellin' you dis 'cause 'e care about you. You an' me, we ain't datin'. I don't have to justify what I do wit my social life to you, but I am 'cause you sittin' 'ere all full of tears. It just rips dis poor boy's 'eart to shreds, chere. Dat's de God's honest truth, fille. It really is."
He reached out to her again and she blocked him, but this time she took his hand. She placed it on her knee, the furthest she was going to allow.
Where did you go in New Orleans? Why didn't you answer my calls?
"Gambit got angry, smashed up his phone when m' Kimble wouldn't talk to me. I took off for a few days, looking for a friend of mine."
A girl?
Merde! Remy snarled inside, his anger surging again.
/ Easy, killer,/ Shi'ow-ri said with a soft snicker. / Just answer her. You're doing good. Don't stop now, she's listening to you. /
Gambit relented. "Oui. Her name Babette. She a Siskan like Kimble only not all broken. She took me to see 'er Master and 'e told me a lot about de Siskans. 'E told me how to fix my Kimble."
I remember you talking about Babette at the meeting when you came back from New Orleans the first time. You said you were going back there to look for her. You're back but Kimble's not fixed.
"Non. Gambit 'as to wait fo' de Games Master. He's some Dognan guy just like Jael, 'e ain't from around 'ere. 'E gonna come visit Earth next month. I gotta go campin' out where he stays, wait for 'im to come so I can ask 'im to fix Kimble."
You were gone a long time.
"Gambit 'ad a lot to learn."
This Trishnar guy have a lot of Siskans?
"Oui. 'E 'ave six."
They all girls?
"Five of dem, oui."
Siskans love their Master. They're like lovers, right? Like Seth and Fallen.
Gambit could see where this was going. "Dat's right."
Did he share them with you?
He cringed, he couldn't help it.
/ Don't you dare lie, /Shi'ow-ri was quick to warn.
Why I gotta justify my sex life, Shi'ow-ri? Dis girl ain't my lover!
/ She will be. Shut up and answer her. /
She ain't gonna be my lover. She just a little kid.
/ She won't be anything to you if you keep stalling. Now answer the fucking question, you moron!
"Oui, Trishnar share dem wit me."
They were your lovers.
"Oui."
Is Kimble your lover?
"Non. We never got dat far."
Are you going to?
Remy startled a little. That one he hadn't expected from her. "I don't know," he replied honestly. He was tired now. Tired of this, tired of trying to answer this same question over and over again. Once more he opted for complete truth and said, " 'E wants me to be, or 'e did b'fore 'e got so smashed. Someone tol' me dat it would 'elp 'im, but Gambit ain't so sure. Ain't gonna decide nuthin' just yet."
Molly sniffed and rubbed her cheeks. She was done crying, but her face was still a little wet. She was trying to digest everything he had told her, it was a lot. I have to think about what you've said.
Remy nodded. His hand was still on her knee, she hadn't tossed it off. He could see she wasn't angry anymore, just tired like he was. "Gambit ain't goin' nowhere. Not for a couple of weeks. You take yo' time, he'll be around any time you want 'im. You just say de word."
Okay. Thanks. She got up to leave, but he took her hand as she passed him.
"Just one t'ing, chere, 'fore you go. 'Enry tell me y'all 'ad a visitor while Gambit was gone. 'E say you saw de Lion Man."
Molly shivered and made a soft wheeze, her version of a whimper.
"C'est bien. Gambit just need to know if you all right."
She crouched back down in front of him, seeking something from him. I'm okay. Thanks for asking. It's nice to know you care.
"Gambit's always gonna care, fille. You sure it was him?"
Yes.
"You tried to call me an' I wasn't dere fo' you. Je suis de'sole, mon ador'ee. Dere ain't nuthin' Gambit can say."
It's okay.
"Non. It ain't. It ain't never gonna 'appen again, comprenez?"
Rogue said the Lion Man is the one that cut you, Molly said, laying her hand on his chest just as Kimble and Aiden had. The parallel wasn't lost on him, his being touched so similarly by those whom he loved. He still wasn't so sure he deserved any of it, this love that seemed to follow him whereever he went these days.
"Dat's right. He mark me fo' de t'ievin' piece of Cajun trash I am," he replied, a surge of bitterness and anger making him speak sharply.
Then the Lion Man marked us both as trash.
"You ain't no trash, chere," Gambit insisted, tugging on her. "Don't you ever t'ink dat. P'etetre, all he done is mark us official "Lion Man Rejects Club" members. See? Even Kimble got a mark. It just real deep on de inside where it ain't so obvious. We a team, de t'ree of us, d'accorde?"
Molly couldn't help but smile, she liked the sound of that. Maybe.
Gambit shivered and almost lost control when she next leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. She could have given him no greater gift, this affirmation her love and the forgiveness that would surely follow. She grunted goodnight at him and walked away, all the darkness gone from her shine. She would think about what he had said, and yes, she would forgive him. The moment she was gone the tears burst from his eyes and he was shaking worse than a Crack addict without a fix.
Remy was real good at putting up a front as a tough guy no one could ever touch, the cocky little scoundrel that all the girls drooled over. But that's all it was, a front. Deep inside he was still that orphaned little boy, a tiny mutant reject that was never quite good enough no matter what he did. He was insecure and driven by reckless, wild emotions. They swamped him now, drowning him. All I ever wanted was fo' someone to just love me fo' me. Why dat so 'ard, eh? Why? Everybody make mistakes, why mine always gotta be worse dan everyone else's?
/ Easy now. It's over,/ Shi'ow-ri tried to soothe. / You did what you had to do and it's okay now. It's better, really. You unloaded all this junk early, now Molly can see you for who you are. It upset her, but you know what? Maybe she'll love you that much more for it. When she's older, when she's ready for you, she'll know all this already. No secrets can come between you. /
Remy was listening, but he was still upset. His grief turned to frustration and next to furious outrage. Sure, Gambit will let it go. After 'e finish one last piece of business.
He got up and dropped off the side of the house.
(break)
Rogue jerked awake in her bed when she felt the weight of a body sink down on top of her and a pair of gloved hands come to her throat, choking off her air. She was invulnerable, she even knew how to fly. She was one of the most physically powerful mutants in this house, but before she could even try to defend herself, she was blasted with a vibration of intense hurt and rage. The emotions were so powerful they paralyzed her with terror and left her unable to act, to even move. She knew instantly who it was who was here in her room. "Remy...!" she gasped, hardly able to breathe.
Gambit hadn't been quite prepared for just how powerful his emotions were, but now that they were loose, he had no desire to restrain them. He knew he was hurting her, Aiden's own rage had been painful and it hadn't been flung at him with as much fury as he was using against Rogue now. The Kundatesh was powerful and as much as it could be used for pleasure, it could also be used as a weapon. He was wielding it now.
When Remy began to speak it was in two voices. One came from the vibration of his fury and it came to Rogue first. / 'Ow dare you try and turn Molly against me! 'Ow dare you make 'er cry! I 'ate you! I'll 'ate you for dis forever!
His own whiskey and cinnamon voice leaked around it, thick with rage. "You remember when Gambit took you down to New Orleans? He tell you all about de town when we was dere, hien? How dere's two Guilds dere, workin' side by side?"
Shi'ow-ri's voice came at her again, speaking Gambit's words, / Listen up, bitch. Dis time I mean business and you best be payin' real good attention. You brought dis on y'self, playing yo' stupid games. You baked dis cake, now you gonna eat every slice, chere. 'Ope you enjoy it. /
"You have a good ol' time tellin' Molly 'ow Gambit like de whores? C'est bien. Dat's all right. It's true and Gambit told 'er so. De best whores? Dey come from de Assassins Guild. Met a real talented one named Nancy. She got a real busy mouth, oui. When she wasn't too busy usin' it to go down on me ten times better dan a bon a' rien, morceau de merde, putain like you ever will, she was runnin' off wit it, tellin' me all 'er secrets. Guess she trusted me. Imagine dat."
Rogue trembled helplessly in his grasp, unable to speak. He was sitting next to her, pinning her down with his upper body draped over her, his elbows on her chest. His weight on her was heavy and she couldn't breathe from his fierce grip on her throat. He had snuck silently into her room through the window, amazing her that she never heard it. He would have had to climb down from the roof and then open a window from the outside that she had locked closed. It told her many things. He's a true thief, a criminal on a real level and he's living here in our house. He could have done this at any time but he never has until now.
Remy's two voices came at her again, one wrapping around the other until they came at her in unison with a message so clear it could never be mistaken for anything else.
/ I wasted four years of m' life on you, you stinkin' little cunt! /
"Now, you might be invulnerable..."
/ You can't trust me? Mebbe it's you dat can't be trusted!
"...but dat don't mean Gambit can't get to you one way or de other, chere."
/ I gave you everyt'ing and you still toss me aside, demandin' more! My best wasn't good enough for you, it never would be, but you still wouldn't let Gambit go. /
"You wanna play yo' stupid bullshit games wit Gambit, dat's fine. I'll go toe to toe wit you, fille, and come up winnin', aces high every time."
/ I told you I loved you, fille. You left me to die and still I came crawlin' back to you, only to get another plateful of yo' pathetic, twisted mind games. /
"But you even t'ink about fuckin' around wit Molly — / My girl/ — again? / I will kill you. / I will kill you, je promets." He leaned in real close, his lips to her ear. "You 'earin' me...Sugah?"
She nodded quickly, her eyes wide with terror. She knew he meant it, that he was capable of it. She recalled all those times he had come to her in a fight out in the field, when they were working. No matter what she said to Molly about him being unreliable and untrustworthy, he had always been there for her. He always managed to situate himself close to her just so he could watch her back without being pigheaded about it. Every time he thought she had been hurt, something dark and twisted crossed his face. Call it fear, an intense drive to protect and keep her safe. On one the hand it had angered her, she was fiercely independent, always would be. She vowed never to rely on a man to save her from anything. On the other hand, it revealed just how much he loved her. He would fling himself at her enemies, holding nothing back in his desire to punish anyone who had ever caused her pain. Now the role was reversed. He was here on behalf of Molly, threatening her with the same intensity he had once given to her own enemies. It chilled her down to the bone, sending a bright lance of pain right through her heart.
"Bien. Night, y'all."
He released her and just like that he was gone, out through the window like a ghost. She bolted upright, unable to stop a twisted scream of horror and pain that ripped from her throat. A moment later, Jean was next to her and Wolverine not a second behind. Scott was a tall shadow in the hallway. Jean's arms came around her, promising safety and security. "What's wrong, Rogue? You okay?"
Rogue sobbed, too distraught to answer.
Logan paced to the window and stood there, silent. He had his own senses, a voice that spoke to him, too. He didn't give it a name as Gambit had, but it spoke to him just the same. This room was filled with smells only he could detect in spite of the window still being open. He could smell Gambit strongly here and the message he had brought with him. / I hate you! You hurt me! I hate you! Hurt you! Kill you! Gambit's scent wasn't the only one here. He had only just left Molly and her smell was still all over him. It carried a message, too. / I was upset, but I'm okay now. You made me feel better. /
Wolverine already knew this. He had passed Molly coming down from the widow's peak only a few minutes before. She reeked of whiskey and Gambit's cigarettes, but her smell had said the same thing. / I was upset, but I'm okay now. I'm tired and I just want to go to bed. Gambit was close to me, but he didn't fuck with me. You don't have to beat him to a bloody pulp, Mr. Logan. /
Wolverine knew that Molly had been upset the past few days, he just figured it was from seeing Sabretooth. Now he wasn't so sure. It was true he had smelled Rogue on Molly the other day. It had caught his attention because these two rarely spoke to each other. If Gambit was this angry, maybe he had a good reason. Logan waited a moment and looked up at Rogue, meeting her with his eyes. "You have a bad dream?"
Rogue was a bit calmer now, warm with Jean's arms around her. She sniffed and wiped at her eyes. "Yeah. Silly, ain't it? How a girl can be invulnerable and still be frightened by a stupid ol' dream?"
Logan nodded and shut the window. Remy's scent was all over it and Logan couldn't help but be amazed. The window was in perfect condition as if it had been opened from the inside, but he knew better. He had no idea how Remy had opened it and wasn't quite sure he wanted to know. He did know by Rogue's response that something ugly had just passed between the two of them, but that it was over now. Gambit had come in here angry enough to kill her and had backed off, giving her a warning instead. Judging by the way Molly smelled, Rogue had wound her up and Gambit had calmed her down. That's what his instincts were telling him and they were often right.
Jean looked at Wolverine, perplexed. She knew something had passed between him and Rogue, some kind of understanding that she wasn't going to be allowed in on. She was a telepath but all of the X-men had rigorous training against mental intrusion and she certainly wasn't so crass as to violently invade their minds, especially when she clearly wasn't going to be invited.
Logan said nothing more, but grunted at them and walked out. He passed by Cyclops in the hallway without a word, but didn't head back to his own room. He didn't have a problem with Remy and Rogue fighting, Lord knows they did all the goddamned time, but there was no way he was going to let one X-man break into another's room, threatening murder, without having something to say about it. He made his way to Gambit's door and sniffed. He was there. Without knocking, he entered, not the least bit surprised to find Remy standing by another open window. He had removed his coat and shirt and was tugging on his boots, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips. Gambit didn't even flinch at the intrusion, he merely smiled a bit more broadly as if he had expected this visitor.
Wolverine walked right up to him and boldly backed him up against the wall, popping his claws on one hand and pinning Gambit back with the other on his throat. Logan spoke in a firm, clear voice. "I don't know what went on tonight an' I don't much care. But whatever it was, it ends now. You hearin' me?"
"Oui. Me and de chere, we clear now. Real clear."
"I hope so. Cuz if you ain't, I'll kick both of yer asses, understand? You touch her again, you won't walk away from it, I don't care how justified ya think ya are. More'n that you stay away from Molly. I won't have her caught up in whatever sick, twisted game the two of you are playin'!"
"Non."
"What was that?" Logan growled, coming closer.
Remy showed no sign of fear even though Wolverine was a hell of a lot closer than he would have liked. "You ain't keepin' me from Molly, patron. I wasn't de one invited 'er to play Rogue's game, I just made sure it don't 'appen again."
"I ain't the least bit interested in yer stupid excuses. Yer a sneak. Yer dangerous and ya can't be trusted."
"You really t'ink dat way, Wolvie? You wound me."
Logan's growl became louder. "You keep away from Molly. Not even two hours ago yer saying you might be taking Kimble on, now you got your sights on Molly? I don't think so, pal. I won't see her hurt by yer two timin'. No way."
Remy fixed him with his eyes. "I ain't gonna two time 'er. Dat's a promise. If I choose 'er, it'll be her an no one else."
Logan continued to growl, "I don't believe you. Not for one red hot second, boy. You might have grown up some, but you ain't grown up enough, not by what I'm seein' tonight. You hurt Molly an' you ain't gonna walk away from it, that's a promise."
I ain't gonna 'urt 'er," Remy repeated firmly, not budging an inch.
They locked wills, not for the first time and certainly not the last.
/ I know a secret,/ Shi'ow-ri whispered. / Do you see it?
Remy squinted as Logan's shine clicked on and almost blinded him. He could see Logan's protection gears whirling again in hyper-drive. He could feel the vibration coming off of him. / You stay away from Molly. You stay away from her, she's my... /
What?
/ She's my family. /
"What is Molly to you, Logan?" Remy said, his tone gentle.
Logan retreated slightly. "She's like Karen's daughter. She's like my daughter."
"Gambit's t'inkin'...p'etetre, she more dan dat."
"She's my niece."
The words were out of Logan's mouth before he had a chance to stop them. It wouldn't have mattered anyway. Gambit was going to find out, just like he had his dark secret. Remy had a new power, one spooky and irritating like every telepath he had ever known. It made him that much more dangerous.
Gambit's mind was working quickly, chewing on what Wolverine had let slip. Shi'ow-ri was, too, speaking to him as always. / And Victor Creed, the Lion Man, is her father. He's blonde, she's blonde. He has claws, she has claws. Everybody's always wondered about Logan and Creed, the way they always fight, the way they can heal. They aren't all that different from one another. Not a big reach for them to be brothers. You know Sabretooth almost as well as Logan does. He kills his kids. He killed Greydon and that's why he killed Molly's mother and sister. /
Shi'ow-ri's thoughts tumbled into his brain, making him dizzy. How could she possibly know all these things from a glance, from a vibration? Just how powerful was this gift that Kimble had given him? It had definitely been boosted from his time spent at Trishnar's. It seemed like Shi'ow-ri was talking louder and louder as each new day passed.
Remy swallowed. "Does she know?"
"Nope, and I'm keepin' it that way," Logan replied warily. He could see Gambit's brain working again, just like it had back at the stadium. He was being read and once more, Remy had just learned something. Damnit! It was like he was an open book.
The thief didn't even try to hide it. "Gambit won't say nuthin', but 'e won't stay away. Don't t'ink you gonna hold Molly back from me, anyway. She a tete dure, a stubborn girl, just like 'er dad."
Logan squinted in surprise and let his growl trickle forth again. The light from Remy's tiny lamp glinted off of his sharp metal claws. "How did ya know?"
" 'Cause you just told me."
"I didn't say anything!"
"Oui, Logan. You did. It's right dere in yo' eyes, in yo' shine."
"Well, you just keep quiet about it. Nobody knows 'cept Chuck, Henry and Karen. That's it."
"It ain't gonna be a secret fo' long, de way you telegraphin' it, but it ain't Gambit's secret to tell. 'E say nuthin', patron. 'E might be a sneak and a t'ief, but 'e knows when to keep 'is mouth shut."
Logan opted for compromise. "You keep Molly outta you an' Rogue."
Remy accepted. "Absolument, mon ami."
Logan backed up, releasing him and sheathing his claws. "If you an' me have ta have this conversation again -"
"Oui, you gonna rip Gambit a new one. Gonna give 'im a haircut from de neck up. Gonna stick dem metal claws up 'is ass so far, it gonna look like 'e got braces. Bien sur, Gambit understands."
Wolverine grunted in irritation, but his eyes were smiling. "Night, then."
"Night, y'all."