Remy sighed in pleasure as he held Gabrielle closer to him, his hands holding her hips and keeping her against his torso. Gabrielle was sitting in his lap, arms entwined behind his head, lips working furiously on the skin of his face. Remy grinned as she paused to catch her breath, and brought up a hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"Ya know what chère?", he teased, "Let's stay in more often."
"Hmmm, fine with me Remy", she purred into his ear as she nibbled the lobe. "Just promise me it'll be as much fun."
Remy smiled mischievously at her and took the end of her shirt in his hands. He brought them up slowly, tantalizingly, inching her shirt further up her stomach, exposing her radiant skin. He grinned, a little surprised at the look of euphoria on Gabrielle's face, so open and raw. He had never seen such emotion on her face, not even... Well, not even when they had spent the night together. She had mostly kept her face hidden in his shoulder, timid and a little shy. It had driven him wild. But now...
"I would never have guessed you taste so good", Gabrielle's sultry voice cooed. "It's like, spice and sweat mixing together." She smiled satanically down at him. "It's positively yummy."
"Since when do the p'tite use words comme 'yummy'?", Remy asked her, laughing and still puzzled at her strange behaviour.
Gabrielle only laughed gently and pulled on the hem of Remy's black shirt, teasing his flesh with her quick fingers. Remy growled at her, forgetting his game and pulling off her shirt quickly and forcefully. Gabrielle laughed aloud, and clung herself to him. Remy's mouth quickly found her throat and embraced her roughly, passionately. He trailed along her collar bone, tasting the hollow at the base of her neck. But, wait, something.
He paused.
"Oohh, don't stop now Remy", Gabrielle pouted, grinding slightly against him. "Not now..."
"Rielle, where's your necklace?", Remy asked her, suddenly serious.
"Oh", Gabrielle said, uncaring. "I took it off before I came down. I didn't want to risk losing it."
"But Rielle", Remy continued, pulling even further away, "You never take dat thing off. Amelia gave it to you."
"Well, I'm sure she'll get over it Remy", Gabrielle whined, trying to get closer to him.
"No, I don't think she can Rielle", Remy said, suddenly very sober. He pushed Gabrielle unto the bed and sprang up quickly. "She dead."
"Wha..? Oh, of course Remy, you don't have to remind me", Gabrielle said, looking flushed.
"And I know your real name chère", Remy continued, suddenly very cold. "So why are you lettin' Remy call you by t'other one?"
Gabrielle suddenly sat up very straight, and sighed. She took a moment to fix her hair and shake it a little. She looked up at Remy for a moment, almost as though she were bored. Remy was feeling uneasy, something was off here.
"You mean the brat has another name?", Gabrielle suddenly said with a much older voice. "Well, Magneto never knew about it then."
Remy watched in horror as Gabrielle's face suddenly melted away, revealing blue skin and glowing yellow eyes. He flexed his hand, wishing desperately for his staff or his cards, and looked on as Mystique suddenly appeared on his bed.
The changeling rose from his bed slowly and approached him calmly, her pallid flesh resembling scales as she moved under the lights. She smiled coyly at him, and brought a finger to her lips, licking it.
"Ohh, you taste so good Remy", she said suddenly, mimicking Gabrielle's voice. "Oh please,
how pathetic. I never thought you could be such an emotionalist Cajun."
Rage was boiling through Remy's veins as he clenched his fingers into a fist, and he shook as she stepped closer to him. He had, touched her, kissed her... He felt sick and guilty. Why hadn't he been able to tell the woman he loved from this, this, blue skinned acolyte? Then,a thought hit him so suddenly his blood chilled, and he felt as though he would be sick.
"Where is she", he hissed through clenched teeth.
Mystique laughed coldly. "It doesn't matter, you'll never see her again. We did promise after all, and Magneto never breaks his word."
The time for conversation was over, and Remy quickly hit the floor and rolled to where his coat lay unattended as Mystique suddenly lunged at him.
"I think she's finally going to wake-up."
"Well, it's about time. She's been out for over an hour. Exactly how hard did you whack her Toad?"
"Not hard enough I guess. Hey, John, let's knock her out for a little while longer... Let's have a little fun with her before Magneto comes in to check."
The two voices filtered through Gabrielle's head as she struggled to open her eyes. A throbbing pain was splitting her skull in two, and she groaned in pain. Her vision was cloudy and fogged as she finally succeeded in opening them, and she tried to look around.
She brought her hand to her head, and tried to cradle her burning forehead. Although her vision was still a little poor, she couldn't help but notice the slim, black rubber band that was clamped tightly to her wrist. She looked at it, puzzled. What the hell was that thing? And where, she looked around once more, was she?
"Too bad Toad, I guess your fun'll have to wait."
Gabrielle jumped suddenly, and looked around herself desperately. She sat up quickly,
noticing she was on some kind of cot that was placed against a metal wall. She brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around herself, and looked around desperately, trying to locate the source of the voice she had heard.
A face suddenly appeared in front of her own, and Gabrielle gasped as she took in the face of a young man with dark hair, who grinned at her, licking his lips. She didn't think, she simply reacted. She sent the charges to her hands, and held them out before her.
One of her hands made contact with the man's nose, sending him reeling backwards,
clutching a hand to his face as crimson blood rushed forth. Gabrielle heard another laugh, and whirled to face her assailant's companion. She tried to release the charge toward the laughing man that stood a little ways away, but for some reason, she only succeeded in sending the charge back into her body. She fell back with the charge, and stared incredulously at her wrists, for there was in fact a bangle on each arm. Were these things inhibiting her from using her power? And who were these men?
"Little witch", the Toad grumbled as he tried to mop his sopping nose with his sleeve.
"Very well done Rielle", the other man told her, applauding slowly. "You put up more of a fight than I was expecting. But it really is useless you know, your powers are being neutralized by the materials in that rubber band. I think you know the material, I'm sure that Xavier's shown it to you."
It was true, the black substance on her wrists was exactly like the rubber that coated the walls of her training room back at the Institute. The Institute! They would realize she was missing, and they would come for her! Even if Charles was disappointed in her, she doubted he would leave her to these insane men. And if he did, Remy would find her.
"I don't know who you are, or what you want of me", Rielle said strongly as she rose to her feet,
"But my team won't abandon me, they'll come to rescue me, I know it."
"Don't you think we're aware of your team's annoying do-gooder tendencies?", the nameless man asked her, mockingly. "God, I would know better than anyone. It took them such a long time to stop trying to come after me."
"You, you were...", Rielle stared at the man.
"An X-Men? You could say that. Name's John Allerdyce by the way, but you'll call me Pyro,
he answered her. "And the ugly guy with the tongue is Toad."
"The, tongue?", Rielle repeated, unsure she had heard right.
Suddenly, Toad's tongue left from his mouth, shooting over thirteen feet to connect with her cheek. Rielle shuddered as she felt the drooling left on her skin, and quickly reached out and grabbed his tongue before Toad could get it back safely.
"Herrh!", he exclaimed, trying to pull his tongue away from Rielle's grip, "Gerroff my tuungue."
Rielle did as he asked, releasing it suddenly. Pyro laughed as it came back and hit toad in the face, a sharp slapping sound echoing through the little cell. Toad growled at her viciously,
and leapt toward her. Pyro only stood laughing, but Rielle ignored him. She clenched her fists and braced herself. She was ready.
"If you think I'll tell you anything, old man, you're more deluded than I thought."
Charles Xavier sighed and rubbed his temples once more, trying to keep his calm. He looked over his hands at the woman who sat tied to her chair before him. Mystique's sly smile had never left her face, and she winked at Remy who stood a little ways behind the professor.
"Hi there lover boy", she laughed sinisterly, "If you wanted bondage all you had to do was ask."
Remy took a step closer to her chair, fists clenched and teeth clamped shut. He wanted to hit her, to hurt her until she cried out for mercy and told them all where she had taken Gabrielle. He wanted to wipe that stupid grin from her face and transfer into her all the pain he was feeling. How dare she sit there smirking like that, how dare she?
"Shut your mouth femme", Remy said quietly, advancing, "Or Remy shut it for you."
"Remy", Charles reprimanded, "Please, I understand your concern, but you aren't helping the situation."
Turning his attention back to Mystique, Charles tried again.
"Where have they taken the girl Mystique?"
"Do you honestly hope that I'll find it within the good of my heart to tell you where Magneto's hiding her?"
"So she's with Magneto?", Scott cut in, his interest suddenly very capted.
"Of course she is", replied Mystique, sounding bored. "But you're smart Xavier, you already knew that."
"It's what I expected", Charles said gravely. He was quiet for a moment, his eyes closed and he brought his fingertips to his head. Mystique smiled, but squirmed uncomfortably on her chair.
"Get out of there Charles", she said in warning. "You won't like what you find."
Charles suddenly blinked, his eyes opening once more. He sighed, and turned his chair. He wheeled from the room, signalling to the others to follow him as Hank proceeded to transfer Mystique from her chair to a cell within the hospital wing. The others followed without comment. Scott, still excited at the prospect of learning Magneto's location, was kept quiet by Jean's hand that had quickly snaked within his own. Remy glanced at their locked fingers, and his own ached suddenly with cold. He looked down at his gloved palm. He had touched Mystique, kissed her... God, he was going to make love to her! What if he had? What if he hadn't realized... He was suddenly very angry, at Mystique, at Magneto, but mostly at himself. If they did get Rielle back, could she ever look at him the same? Could he?
"No need to say it Charles, we get the picture", Logan said gruffly, bringing Remy back to Earth. "Standard rescue mission, nothing we haven't done before."
"We'll have to decide who goes", Storm added, being careful to avoid Remy's piercing gaze.
Xavier nodded, taking all their words into consideration. He was silent for a moment,
before looking at them each in turn and calling out their names.
"Jean, Scott, Ororo and Logan", he stated, going from face to face. "Take Kurt and Kitty with you. Rogue and Bobby, I think, should stay behind."
"You heard him guys, let's get suited up", said Scott, always the ready leader.
"Ya can't expect Remy ta stay behind Charles", Remy said casually, his voice hiding the turmoil within. "He's goin' too."
"I think it could be unwise for you Remy, and dangerous", Charles explained slowly, "You're too emotionally attached."
"The professor's right Remy", Jean told him soothingly.
Remy simply took out his cards and shuffled them.
"You'd be first on the jet", he said to Jean, "If Scott be t'one missing."
"But...", Jean started.
"Professor?", Remy asked, more to allow the prof to save face than asking for actual permission.
Charles exhaled slowly.
"He goes."
"Just try it you creepy lizard", Gabrielle challenged, her tone mocking and haughty.
"Don't they teach you anything up at that Institute?", Toad replied, carefuly circling her. "We toads are am..amphi..amphibibi..."
"Amphibians?", John offered, bored.
"You know what I meant", Toad spat out as Gabrielle laughed. "And you, shut-it. You'll be lucky if you can manage to smirk when I'm through with you."
"Are you about done talking yet?", Gabrielle taunted, "Or are we going to chitter-chatter all day?"
Toad swore as he lunged toward her, leaping and shooting out his tongue as he did so. Gabrielle suddenly recognized where she had already seen him. This was the man that she had fought, well, as a hologram. This was perfect, she was already familiar with his fighting techniques. The X-Men had trained her well.
Gabrielle dodged him easily, and turned sharply to face him as he spat out some green substance at her. She tried to move out of the way but the stuff hit her shoulder, seizing up her muscles and making it hard to move her elbow. Grinning victoriously at her, Toad leapt forward. Timing her attack, Gabrielle waited for Toad to be close enough before she raised her leg and delivered a well-aimed kick into his mouth. Toad fell backwards, his cut lips bleeding. Gabrielle got into her defence stance, prepared and capable to rely solely on her legs if she was not able to regain control of her arm. John, however, was still watching calmly, seeming to enjoy the display. Gabrielle kept him within eyesight as well. She still didn't know what that one could do.
"That will be quite enough Todd", a grave voice suddenly called out.
Toad stopped pacing and backed away from her, suddenly standing tall and going to stand next to John. Gabrielle swirled quickly, careful not to present her back to the Toad and his partner. A tall, elderly man was suddenly standing in the room. Gabrielle could only guess his age, with his wrinkled brow and silver hair. He seemed intimidating and cold, not the typical image of a warm grandfather. Gabrielle knew right away who was in charge here. It was this man's doing that she had been stolen away, that she had been imprisoned here.
Standing at his side was a giant of a man. Standing at a good 6'5" was a corse looking blond man with a very hairy face. Squinty, feline eyes glared at her from beneath bushy brows,
and as he growled at her, Gabrielle noticed his very pointed eye-teeth. Was this a man or a beast? And she wondered, with a touch of humour, if he was related somehow to Logan.
The man suddenly peered at her, and sniffed the air. He looked at her again, his cruel face expressionless, and bent over to whisper something into the older man's ear. The grey-
haired man smiled widely, looking overjoyed for some reason. His smile, far from being comforting, made Gabrielle's blood run cold.
"You don't say? Really Sabertooth, are you sure?"
The hairy one nodded mutely.
"Well, that does change things around a little then doesn't it?", the grey-haired man asked.
"Who are you", Gabrielle demanded. "Who are you and what do you want of me?"
"Well, now that I know that, well, now that you're... All, I suppose, shall be explained in due time."
"Why have you brought me here?", she asked, her voice breaking a little as thoughts of Remy crept into her mind.
"Just rest assured", he told her as he swept from her room, with his three henchmen following,
"That you're chances of being kept alive have just doubled."
He was suddenly gone, sweeping through a metal door that slammed closed as he stepped through. Raging, Gabrielle chased after them, running into the door and banging her fists against it in vain. She struggled to keep her tears in check. She wiped her moist eyes with her hand,
shaking her head. She refused to give them the satisfaction of making her tear. She would get out of this, she would. She had to, Remy... Remy and the others were waiting.
Dark thoughts suddenly clouded her mind.
"What if", she whispered to the nothingness of her cell, "The X-Menwanted me here all along?"