(Four)
Seth sat at the desk inside the construction trailer, rubbing his eyes. He was so tired, but he just couldn't seem to sleep anymore. Fallen was asleep on the sofa behind him. She had been waiting for him to finish up a few last minute things, but it got away from him again and it was now quite late.
Seth was trying to work but his thoughts kept falling back on his brother. Aiden's presence had done Kimble good, that was clear. Kimble was laughing and smiling all of the time now and working hard, they got a lot done today. Aiden was new to this kind of work, but Kimble walked him through it and he picked up what he had to do quickly. He wasn't a technician, just a warm body with the strength to work hard and well.
A warm body...
Seth looked up when he heard a noise from outside. He got up and peeked out the window, trying to see out in the darkness. A flash of white skin and he saw that Kimble and Aiden were running around in the scaffolding, fooling around. Seth glanced at his watch. It was three- thirty in the morning and pitch black out there. Looked like he wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep. They disappeared off into the darkness and were gone. Seth backed up from the window to go back to work, but stopped. He was filled with that strange longing again and couldn't sit still for another minute.
He slipped out of the trailer, being silent. He had no reason for stealth, he told himself. It's not like he was sneaking up on anybody, right? But he couldn't help himself.
Seth could see the guards that had come up with his Siskan kin, they had stopped at the perimeter to chat with the guards already on watch. No one thought anything of leaving Aiden and Kimble on their own out here to work, there was nowhere for them to go and there had been no trouble. Besides, the guards could see that Seth was on hand, he was there waving hello at this very moment. Seth would look after the late night workers.
Seth left the guards behind and moved off the way Kimble and Aiden had gone. There was a clatter and a sharp laugh from off to his right. They were here all right, they were playing and having a merry chase by the sound of it. Seth wandered off towards the noise. He had every reason to call out, to greet them, but he found himself compelled to silence. He crept quietly, being careful not to trip over anything and give himself away.
He found them fooling around inside one of the shell pieces for the main body of the shuttle. It was in the shape of a small room, but was still open to the top. There were no doors or windows in their frames, the piece still had holes all around it to peek through. Seth snuck around a corner and hunkered down to watch them, unable to tear his eyes away. Inside the construction itself, they were now far away enough from the perimeter for privacy, far enough from the guards for these two to relax and play without care.
Kimble and Aiden were playing tag. They had a hydraulic work table in between them now and were seeing who was too chicken to bolt around it first. Aiden was facing the doorway where Seth was crouched and didn't see him. His attention was on Kimble who had his back to the door.
"You awful szlow for a Szizkan, you," Aiden teased. He faked to the right and Kimble fell for it. Aiden grabbed him as he came around and Kimble squealed with laughter as he was snatched and grabbed. Aiden hauled him up off his feet and slammed him down hard on the table. It looked violent and painful and Seth couldn't help a silent gasp of surprise. He need not have worried.
Kimble giggled and squirmed, trying to break free of Aiden's grasp. It wasn't going to happen. Aiden shoved Kimble's knees apart with his body and stood in between his legs, pinning him down. The table was in its lowest position, too low for what he had in mind but he was getting there. He wrestled with Kimble who was still putting up quite a fight. He snatched at the pilot's wrists and caught them, pinning them down to the table at his shoulders. He laughed wickedly and sniffed at Kimble. "What isz disz, eh? You wanna fight? You fight szo nize, you. C'mon, zen. Do it. Break free!"
Kimble squirmed and kicked, but Aiden had him tackled quite nicely.
Seth watched this, bewildered. It looked like they were fighting but Kimble wasn't using his powers. He should be kicking Aiden's butt, but wasn't. He could see Kimble's wrists going red from being held so roughly, Aiden was very strong and his grasp unyielding. Kimble was straining and grunting and getting nowhere.
Aiden just lay over him laughing. He still faced the doorway and Seth could see him clearly. He sniffed at Kimble again and started licking his bare chest, using long slow strokes of his tongue. Kimble groaned with arousal and shuddered again. "What isz disz, eh? You all done now, my preciousz, you? Yesz, you luv what Aiden do for you. Heh, heh. You too easzy."
Kimble bucked and fought some more, but he wasn't going anywhere. Aiden licked him again and again, licking the fight right out of him. His tongue passed over and found a nipple. He bit it and Kimble's whole body convulsed in a huge tremor. He snarled what sounded like a complaint, but wasn't. It was a demand. Aiden relaxed his grip on Kimble's wrists and the pilot grabbed him hastily, hauling him up over his body to be kissed.
Seth didn't understand what he was seeing, only that he was mesmerized by this rough yet playful interaction and couldn't tear his eyes away. He felt a stirring from deep inside of him. One part of him thought Kimble was being abused, but the other knew that this was actually quite the opposite. This was Kimble's idea of foreplay.
It was Aiden's, too. He fumbled at Kimble's shorts and started to unbutton them.
"Wait!" Kimble hissed. "We're outside. Them guards is gonna see us!"
Aiden snorted at him arrogantly. "You live too long wit ze Chuckfet. Deir way of t'inkin' ain't no part of usz. Szo what if szomebody szee? Zey can come join usz. Aiden don' care! Ze more de merrier, 'e szay!"
"Jeez! Yer one crazy fuck, I'll tell ya that fer free."
Aiden kissed him again. "What? You t'ink a Sziszkan can only fuck wit one, eh? What Maszter you ever been wit zat you fuck only one? Zey alwaysz share. Alwaysz. No Sziszkan can ever lay wit jusz one for long, usz. It ain't right, ain't normal. Zey go crazy, get all mad. You t'ink Aiden don' know you gonna lay around on ze szide? He care not. He gonna do ze szame. All dat mattersz isz you comin' 'ome to me. You sztayin' wit me for all time. Dat'sz what fidelity isz to a Sziszkan. Who you come 'ome to."
Seth felt a tremor run right through him. What was this? Aiden's words had come out and hit him like a sledgehammer. It almost felt like Aiden knew he was there and was speaking to him. Like Aiden understood why he was going so crazy and wanted to explain it.
"Yer serious, ain'tcha?" Kimble asked in breathless wonder. His time spent with Babette notwithstanding, he had prepared himself for a lifetime of monogamy. He had made his choice, his singular commitment to Aiden, wondering if he could actually pull it off. He had never done it, it was true. Even with Sheyman, he'd had clients. Now, Aiden was giving him a freedom he hadn't expected. On the other hand, the thought of Aiden in the hands of another was distressing.
Aiden seemed to sense it. "Don' you worry, my preciousz pilot. Zere ain't no one gonna tear me away from you. No one. I luv you too much, me. I alwaysz 'ave an' I alwaysz will." He bent down and was kissing Kimble again, slow at first then harder. One of his hands strayed out of sight between Kimble's legs and the pilot shivered again. Aiden let him have a sip of Kundatesh and the conversation part of this exercise was over.
Aiden pushed him gently back down on the table before adjusting it to a more appropriate height. He had seen this table when they were working earlier in the day and immediately saw a much better use for it than wall framing. He slowly undressed his lover, taking care to kiss him and touch him all over, gentle now. He undressed himself quickly and went to work, making love to Kimble nice and easy, worshiping him first with his mouth, then with his body. Oh, how he loved the taste of this pilot in his mouth and the heat of his body so close. It showed clearly on his face, in the tender way he touched his lover now that the roughhousing was done.
Seth stood in his hiding place, stunned. He watched as Kimble groaned and shivered, unable to keep silent. It was like a strange dance, a passionate interaction that was beautiful to his eyes. This he had never seen, two men at play. It fascinated him because it was so different from what he knew and he couldn't stop himself from smiling and taking it all in. His brother's passion captivated him as well. Kimble was just like himself, not hiding his pleasure but vocalizing it and reaching out with his hands to touch. Seth shivered, fully aroused and aching from the sight of it.
Aiden lay his head back, standing now as he gave his attention to Kimble. His whole body was busy, his hands never still as he applied all of his skills and knowledge to bringing out the most rapturous cries from Seth's older brother. His eyes were half open and glassy as he worked, but not sightless. He caught sight of Seth's flickering shine from his hiding place and knew he and his lover were no longer alone. Aiden didn't mind in the least - he smiled at Seth boldly now, cocking his head ever so slightly in amusement.
Seth was terrified at being discovered, but unable to move.
"You like what Aiden do, eh? Yesz, I t'ink it'z szo," Aiden asked softly, not being very clear to whom he was addressing. "Jusz wait, eh? It get'sz better."
Seth watched in fascination as the air around the pair became even more charged and then gasped in silent surprise as Aiden's body began to give off a strange sparkling mist. It spread over the body of his lover, raining down sparkling glitter lights all over him.
Apparently, this wasn't new to Kimble, he reacted immediately with pleasure. His cries of happiness increased as the sparkling lights twinkled down on him, a gentle rain of love inspired Kundatesh. The Morrowhiem, it was like a kiss and a touch all over. It was also more than he could take. He laughed once, arched his back and finished with a shudder. He shivered and shook and then shook some more, crying out loudly the whole time. It was like he would never stop and Aiden laughed at him. "Szing for me, eh? Szing for your Aiden, dat'sz right. Uhhnn...!"
Aiden's eyes had glazed over from Kimble's rush and he was doing his best to hold back as long as possible. A time delay here was critical. They had become so intense in their feelings for one another, it simply wasn't safe. The cloud release took the edge off of some of it, but it wasn't enough to stop the blackouts from happening. They had to be careful. He feared they would damage themselves if they gave into the rush with too much fury too often. He held back as long as he could and then let go himself. He didn't shake as hard or for as long, but his rush was no less powerful. Kimble cried out from the pleasure wave and Aiden slumped over him, his legs buckling. Kimble snatched at him as best he could and they lay together, both momentarily dazed.
Seth watched this, both terribly excited and afraid. Their passionate lovemaking had aroused him almost to the point of madness, and the pulse of Kundatesh they released had been powerful enough for him to feel, even from the distance he was apart from them. Some of the sparkles of Morrowhiem had drifted his way, tantalizingly close. He didn't know if it was intentional on Aiden's part or not, but they licked at the corners of his mind, teasing him and calling out to that place inside of him that had been making him so crazy lately. He wanted it. He wanted Aiden's arms around him, drowning him in it.
Seth was still trembling as he watched Aiden awaken first and heave himself up with his arms. The Dreamer was still a little out of it from the passionate rush and wiped some drool from his chin. His legs would not support him so he just leaned against his lover and looked up at Seth. He grinned at him with an arrogant, teasing smile and slurred softly, "It'sz all right. Not szo szcary asz it looksz, thisz."
Seth remained frozen, still mortified that he had been seen, but at the same time, he couldn't keep his eyes off the glitter that continued to drift his way. It alighted on his face, flushing him even more with its heat. He shuddered hard and swooned, dizzy now with an arousal that was sure to drive him insane.
Aiden just chuckled softly with more benevolent arrogance and sent a powerful vibration of invitation, / Don' be szcare' of ze Morrowhiem. It isz for you. Juszt reach out an' touch it. Zere is more...if you will come 'ere and take it. /
Seth shuddered again, his body screaming now for it. Yes, he wanted it as badly as junkie wants a fix, but he knew what the price would be - intimacy. His Siskan self didn't care, but the Seth that had lived with humans and with human rules knew better. / I can't, my Mistress...! his body wailed in complaint as tears of frustration sprung from his eyes.
Aiden was disappointed but not a quitter. He was about to offer Seth further encouragement in an attempt to change to his mind when Kimble shivered and groaned, coming out of his love induced stupor. He tried to rise but couldn't, his body numb and uncooperative. Aiden just snickered softly and petted him gently, soothing him with loving caresses. Kimble chuckled happily at his lover's touch, seemingly oblivious that Aiden had just spoken to their third party observer. Aiden kissed him slow and easy. "Reszt eazy now a bit, my luv. My preciousz pilot."
"I loves you," Kimble whispered. He shivered and a tear of joy leaked out of one eye.
Aiden wiped it away, smiling now. "Aiden luv you, too, me. Zere will never be anyone elsze."
Kimble sat up, stronger now, and embraced his lover, resting his head on his shoulder like a sleepy child. Aiden held him and petted him, but his eyes were still on Seth.
The young pilot didn't know what Aiden was trying to say. He was trembling and confused. Seth couldn't take it anymore - he fled, leaving as silently as he had come. He never saw Aiden drop his eyes in frustration and wish him a silent prayer for understanding.
Aiden was thinking this had gone on long enough. Someone was going to have to put an end to Seth's suffering and if no one else stepped up soon, he was just going to have to take care of this himself.
(break)
Seth bolted back to the trailer and went inside. He was clumsy in his heat driven haste and his loud entry awakened Fallen. She sat up in surprise and rubbed at her eyes. "You okay?"
He didn't answer but stood with his back to the door, trembling as tears poured from his rose quickly and went to him. "What's wrong?"
He couldn't answer her, but when her hands reached out to him, he grabbed at her roughly and kissed her. He was overcome with heat from watching the other Siskans at play and was undone. She laughed nervously, but didn't resist as he manhandled her to the couch and lay her down. He couldn't get her clothes off fast enough and he snarled angrily in frustration.
Fallen was instantly concerned. This was not like him at all. She sensed his anger and stripped down quickly, not wanting to get in the way of it. He had never been violent in the past, but he frightened her now in this moment in a way she didn't understand. He took her as soon as she was free and gave vent to his passion. He was rough, but didn't hurt her. It was very different and kind of nice, but it was over way too fast. He was hardly there for a couple of minutes before he cried out and was shaking, shaking and trembling as always. Like Kimble, one good shake was never enough for him. He fell against her, gasping and quivering from head to toe.
"You okay?" she repeated, unable to hide her worry.
He nodded, opting to lie to her once more. He was better now, but not okay. His passion still burned. He felt like he could make love to her all night and it would never be enough to put out this strange fire that flamed within. It was insatiable, this thing consuming him. He kissed her and stroked her, waiting to see if she would be receptive to an encore if he was more gentle.
She was. She lay back, catching her breath and let him have his way. She had no idea what had fired him up so tightly. She had no idea what had wound him up over these past weeks never mind this night. Never had he been so sexually demanding of her. She couldn't explain it and was doing her best to deal with it, but something had to have happened to make this come about, something Seth was not telling her. She had no idea about the codes, she just knew that since they had come here, something was bugging her Seth, something made worse with Aiden's arrival. It was driving her crazy, this thing she couldn't figure out.
They made love, much more slowly and gently this time, his desire to please her utterly soothing her jangled nerves. He wasn't going to be satisfied until he finished her and applied himself to that end with his usual precision. He loved her well until she was trembling and gasping against him, then let go with more of the passion that was driving him. He shook again, climaxing violently, but felt a wellspring of frustration when it still wasn't enough to satisfy him. He felt something shatter and break inside of him and burst into angry tears.
"What's wrong?" Fallen asked, unable to keep the worry from her voice. This was getting to be too much. He was frightening her.
"I don't know! I'm just going crazy and I don't know why!" he sobbed and pulled away from her. He paced restlessly then turned in anger and suddenly slammed his fist into the wall. It was incredibly painful and he cried out, falling to his knees as he gripped his wrist.
"Seth!" Fallen shouted and ran over, putting her arms around him. "What are you doing?"
"Help me, Fallen!" he cried and fell against her. "Help me, please!"
She gripped him tightly and tried to fight the tears that spilled down her cheeks. "Tell me what to do and I'll do it."
"I don't know. I'm so scared!"
"It'll be okay," she soothed, petting him. "I'll hold you and it'll all go away."
She pulled him to his feet and back to the couch. They lay down together and wrapped up the blanket there. He clung to her as he sobbed and let her gently pet him until he fell asleep.
Fallen had never been so frightened. She had no idea what was going on with him. Her worst fear was that he was going to shatter as Kimble had. She would have to talk to Henry about this. He knew Seth best and was the one most likely to know this secret Seth was keeping. Perhaps if she went to him, he might be compelled to divulge it. If not, at least he might know some way to help.
(break)
Three levels down, Henry was working on his own problems. He was in the Complex's version of the Danger Room, using a little exercise to work off an overload of stress. This had not been a good day. Just that morning, he had lost one of the victims of the Massachusetts Academy disaster and an hour ago, nearly lost another. This war was becoming far too costly.
The Danger Room was exclusive to only the top brass, though it was starting to be used to train some of the intermediate teams. It was not to be taken lightly, it could be used to train, but there was always the risk of injury or death. Elaborate holograms were used to create sets and artificial opponents, monsters and tricky environments to better prepare the users for any contingency. This late at night, the room was easily available and the blue furred doctor had snagged it for his own use.
Beast had the program up to one of the highest levels, a Wolverine routine, and was sweating furiously. He had fur so sweating was problematic, the fur on his sides was plastered flat and he was panting, doing his best to cool down. It didn't mean he wasn't coping well with this program, on the contrary he had completed it to his satisfaction, pleased that despite growing a year older, he could still keep up with the team if he had been called for. Like most of the senior staff, it was a matter of pride to be able to keep up.
Henry stopped, the program done, and took a minute to stand there and simply breathe, enjoying the rush of blood through his veins, the thunder of his own powerful heartbeat. Alive. He was very much alive and strong. Yes. Alive.
Wolverine watched this from the small control room that looked down on the room. No, he hadn't been invited, but when he had seen the room running this late and who was in it, couldn't resist coming in for a peek. He couldn't help but be impressed. It was easy to forget just what the acrobatic and muscular Beast was capable of, the man had run through one of his more strenuous programs and completed it without being killed.
Logan was not unaware that Henry was stressed out. They all were walking on a fine hair trigger edge these days, knowing that Jael could descend on them at any time. Beast's worries were somewhat more because as a doctor, he was down in the trenches, seeing the damage up close and bleeding. Logan had heard of the day's loss and understood that Henry would be hurting from it. Even as a physician, there was no way to insulate yourself from feeling the loss, not when the ones taken by Death's greedy hand were friends and coworkers.
Logan lit a cigarette, contemplating his complex friend. Beast was supremely intelligent, spending his spare time in the company of test tubes and computer programs, spending a lot of that time figuring things out. No one could argue the team hadn't benefitted from it. They had complex diagnostic machines that would be the envy of any hospital. They had a fairly qualified surgeon on hand at all times. It was rare that Henry called for outside assistance and even then, stood by to learn as much as he could.
The man hardly slept. Many times one team or another had come in during the wee hours of the night, cut up and bleeding from a disastrous mission gone wrong. Beast was always there, seemingly fresh enough to work and remained on duty however long it took to see that all the wounded had been cared for. More than once, Logan himself had been in a bind, injured beyond a quick recovery. Henry might not opt to stitch and sew knowing the healing capabilities of his teammate, but there had always been a warm bed and soothing comfort mumbled softly in his ear. Even Henry had seen to it that Logan had his dignity and kept that private, but Logan had been thankful for every whispered word and gentle touch. No matter the situation, Beast was on hand and ready, always dependable.
Of course, this meant that Beast was often times alone. What time was there for a love life if the man was always here? Logan wasn't on the team when Henry had experimented on himself and turned himself blue in his arrogance but he had seen pictures of the man before it had happened though, and honestly Henry McCoy had once been a handsome man. Wolverine was sure the kid had had no shortage of dates. But in all the time since he'd known the doctor personally, there had been no companionship on that level, male or female. Yes, he had heard some cruel offhand jokes that Henry was gay or just generally neutered by what he had done to himself. Somehow Logan doubted any of that was true. If Henry was so insensitive to his own heart, he wouldn't be down there now, working out so dangerously close to that edge. No, Henry's current pain was mirroring his own at those times of extreme stress.
The program stopped, Henry had finished, and was now panting, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
Logan couldn't help but smile. He clicked the intercom and asked, "You okay, old man? Maybe I could find something a little less strenuous fer ya."
Beast startled, he hadn't known he was being observed, but glanced up to the control room with a toothy smile. "I'm fine, dear friend. Don't let my gasping breaths fool you. It is merely a ruse."
"Fer what? To fool me inta thinkin' yer all done? I can see that from here."
Beast shook his head, still grinning. "A dollar a hoop says otherwise."
Wolverine couldn't help but laugh at the challenge. He did as commanded and ran a basketball program, changing the image in the room to a street court. He stripped off his jacket and came down the stairs to the room, joining Henry who wasn't looking nearly as tired as he had only a minute ago. Still, Logan had to tease, "Ain't really fair, takin' yer money. I'm fresh and yer lookin' a bit peaked."
"Peaked?" Henry laughed, running a hand through his sweat soaked hair, smoothing it back and out of his eyes. "My friend, it is you who will be buying the beer on this one, rest assured."
"Uh huh," Logan grunted and picked up the ball, bouncing it playfully. He moved to enter the court and found himself well guarded, Henry's large body covering his easily. He ducked and twisted, but Henry shoved him, well within legal limits of course, and the ball was snatched from him. Henry took his prize and jumped and shot, making the basket with ease.
Wolverine laughed, pleased that Beast wasn't holding back. It had happened to him often, that an opponent wouldn't play to their ability, fearful of his temper. There was always an element of danger when playing with a man who was permanently armed. Logan took the ball back and they played well, the feral man evening up the score soon enough. They were nearly done when the door to the room opened and a tall lean figure entered, leaving a long shadow from the light outside. "Well now, ain't dis special."
Henry had the ball, but he paused now to greet their guest. "Good evening, Master Remy. Care to join us?"
"Now, wait a minute," Logan complained merrily. "We were almost done."
"Hmm, yes. A tie game. Eight to eight of a score of ten."
Gambit came closer, slipping off his long coat to drape it over a holographic park bench. He was already rolling up his sleeves even as Logan was complaining. "C'est bien. Don' worry, I'll catch up," he boasted with an easy arrogance. "Shouldn't take long."
Logan glanced at Beast, an eyebrow playfully raised. "You hear this punk? Boy needs a dressing down, if ya ask me."
"Undoubtedly," Henry said in agreement and the game resumed in earnest.
True to his boast, the boy did gain some ground quickly. Beast couldn't help but be somewhat impressed. Remy still retained a bit of a limp and he had lost a fraction of his usual grace, but he was still liquid and feline, bending and twisting around to make impossible moves, his targeting eye on the basket impeccable. There was no room for doubt in Henry's mind, Kimble had had a hand in the boy's recovery, there simply was no way he would have healed so fast and so well otherwise.
The game grew a bit rougher, Logan testing Remy's limits in his own way. Gambit suffered only when cornered, Wolverine simply could not be moved when he had a mind to stay in one place. Beast was Remy's equal in agility and height, he was only slightly slower in speed and reaction time. The three complimented each other and fell into their old places, finding that earlier teammate camaraderie as though it hadn't been months since they had worked together on a mission.
The game finished with Henry in the lead and the others tied. They all collapsed on the ersatz pavement, laughing now like kids as they gasped for air, all of them tired but all the better for the exercise.
Wolverine lay on Remy's left, his sensitive nose informing him whether he wanted it to or not. All throughout the game there had been the soft air of Molly's scent wrapped around the boy, the tantalizing undertone of sex always present. "So, how's Molly doin'?' he couldn't help but ask.
"She's good. Ol' 'Enry's been lookin' after 'er."
"So the nausea has stopped?" Henry piped in, falling into the role of doctor without even thinking about it.
Remy slanted a hand in the air. "Sometimes oui, sometimes non. Good today, mebbe not so good tomorrow. We were outside almost all day workin' on de site, did 'er some good, I t'ink. Gonna pester 'er, make sure she come tomorrow."
"And yer kids?" Logan wanted to know.
Remy smiled at that, understanding that the man was asking about the gaggle of Siskans. "De boys workin' out fine, if dat's what you askin'. De Dragon's gonna be done fast, fast. Mebbe only a coupla weeks dey keep up de pace. Set' couldn't be 'appier."
"Really?" Henry said more so than asking. The question was thoughtful and musing.
Remy sat up to look at him. "Sumptin' on yo' mind?"
"Seth has been acting strangely. Don't tell me you haven't noticed, my perceptive friend?"
"Sure, but it's gotta be stress, right? 'E got a lot on 'is mind wit buildin' de Dragon an' all."
"Probably," Henry replied in a nonanswer answer. He had kept Seth's secret, but he wasn't sure for how much longer. Seth's troubles were becoming more and more obvious and it was painful to watch. Something would have to be done, but since it was most likely a matter of programming, Henry was at a bit of a loss. No magical pill was going to fix poor Seth's woes.
"I'll keep watch," Gambit promised, laying back down to relax.
During the exchange, Logan was quiet, listening. He had noted that Seth was on edge, there was a kind of shakiness in his hands and a wariness in his eyes. Seth was hiding something, there was no scent required to spell that out. Wolverine wasn't particularly worried about it, Seth's world was so small, how important could it be to him? Besides, the doctor and the thief were looking out for the boy. There was nothing to worry about there.
He grunted and lazily scratched his belly with one hand. "So? Who wants a beer? Looks like Remy's buyin'."
" Espe're, hold up dere, folks. We was tied!" Gambit protested with mock offense.
"Yeah, but you come in late and yer a young punk. Seems fair ta me."
"All de more you should pay. I caught up to you quick enough."
Wolverine nodded, giving in. "All right, we split. Fair enough?"
"Bien. Fine by me," Remy answered and rose stiffly, stretching his back. "Don't know who's open dis late, though. What time is it?"
Logan glanced at this watch. "Huh, three 'o clock. Guess it is kinda late."
"I have some Molsen in my apartment," Henry offered cheerfully.
"Sounds good ta me," Logan chirped happily, that being enough to get him to rise to his feet.
"Uh, why you drink dat Canadian crap?" Gambit tossed out, playfully antagonizing Wolverine on purpose.
"Not to worry, it's not all I have," Beast said, getting in the way of any hostilities.
Remy grinned. " 'Enry, you sly dog. You 'oldin' out on us?"
"Just because I am a doctor doesn't mean I am not allowed the liberty of a few pleasures. I have some Rum and Schnapps as well."
"Tsk," Remy teased. "When you all done playin' doctor, at least you can always sideline as a bartender, neh?"
"I make a mean Martini," Beast promised. "Shall we?" he asked, gesturing to the door.
"Don't have to ask me twice," Logan said with a grin, taking the lead. And so they went, three old friends taking some time to savor this calm before the storm. It wouldn't be long before the next round of trouble started. Why, it only took one day.