(Six)

Almost three weeks after the Central Park Disaster, Kimble and Angel were moved into the new Arizona complex. All their belongings were packed with care into the Lucky Dragon and Fallen flew them over. Fallen had become the new official moving service since she could make the distance in only a few minutes. She loaded up Kimble's stuff and sat him in a seat, watching him nervously as they traveled. She could see he was upset at the move. Kimble was nervous and edgy the whole flight there, chewing on his nails and fidgeting. He had never handled change well on a good day, never mind a move as big as this.

As they began to land, the Lucky Dragon's large viewing screen gave them a good look at their new home. The Complex looked small from the outside. It was a simple two story office building with bright shiny windows. It was a lie, most of the Complex itself was underground and hidden from view. The upper building was located on a large strip of dry land, green grass around the building growing only from the grace of the sprinkler system already in place. They were landing on a large airstrip that had been here when Charles bought the place, it was long enough to accommodate the Blackbirds, mainly because they had the ability to land while hovering. There were some small outbuildings that serviced the airstrip and a large loading dock with some trucks nearby.

Beyond the buildings was a strip of red colored, rocky mountains that gave some shelter to this Industrial Park. Beyond that was a vast scrub desert with nothing else around for miles. This Industrial Park had been designed for its privacy and it gave just that.

Remy and Molly were there at the landing to greet them when they offloaded. Gambit had a lot more stuff to move and he and Molly had come a few days beforehand to get things squared away. They would fly over and spend the day in Arizona and then come back in the late afternoon so that Kimble wasn't left alone too long. They had chosen an apartment with another empty flat across the hallway so Kimble would be very close. After years of sharing a single apartment, Remy was ready to have more privacy and he hoped Kimble wouldn't be too put out about it. Gambit hadn't told Kimble about the changes in their living arrangements, he had decided to wait until the last minute to tell Kimble what was going on, not wanting to have him upset back at the house. He might take off and be hard to find, at least here the place was so new, Kimble wouldn't dare leave his sight.

Remy had asked Karen to be here with him and Molly when Kimble arrived. He had an idea Kimble would be upset with all the changes and he thought her presence might be helpful. She was happy to help out and here she was, a cheerful smile on her face to help set Kimble at ease. She made pleasant small talk as the baggage was off loaded the Dragon and sent on ahead of them by porters to their apartments.

They were also given badges. This place was obsessed with security they were to learn. Each level had its own panels the cards had to be swiped through. The higher your place in the organization, the deeper within the complex you would be allowed to go. New arrivals with almost no clearance were housed within the actual office building itself, while firmly established members like themselves could go all the way down, top clearance. Kimble was all the more pissed to learn that he would be housed three levels down, he would have to travel some distance to get to the outside and sun himself. Remy explained that they were housed the deepest in for the most protection. He was trying to make it sound as if this was the most wonderful place in the world.

Kimble wasn't having any of it. He was cranky and irritable, walking on a razor fine edge of tension. He had been this way since Jael attacked and it was getting worse. He could tell Remy was hiding something and he was instantly distrustful. His mood didn't improve as they made their way to their new apartment. This Complex was huge, many times bigger than the Institute and it seemed to swallow him up. He didn't do well with big spaces and he was getting overwhelmed. Since their quarters were located underground it took some time to get there. Kimble was hopelessly lost, too upset by the changes to try and use his near perfect memory to recall their route.

Angel sensed her Siskan's distress and tried to comfort him, holding his hand in an effort to bring out his defensive nature. It was working, but not the way she had intended. The farther they got, the more he seemed to shrink in on himself, stooping over and growling in fear and anger at every new noise. He kept very close to her, his hands constantly on her as he reacted to his new surroundings. After a few minutes he had Angel up in his arms as if he would just take off with her at the slightest noise. The Complex was still under construction and there was a lot of equipment and supplies being moved about.

Remy didn't like the growl, it was low and deep, something that reminded him of Zander. Kimble was going defensive, hyper-defensive. He hoped that once they got to the apartments, Kimble would calm down. He had so much for Kimble to know and understand, it would be so much harder if he was too angry to listen.

At last they arrived at Remy's apartment and then the thief cautiously dropped his little bombshell. He moved Kimble away from his own door and took him across the hall to the space that would be his and Angel's to share. He dragged Kimble inside and spread his arms expansively, "See, Kim? All dis is yours now."

The apartment was generous for here, a two bedroom flat with a large combined livingroom and kitchen area. Not all the apartments here were as nice as this and he'd had to use all of his negotiating skills to wiggle two such apartments right next to each other. The Complex was filling up and space was being conserved, the apartments could only be so big for now. This apartment was fully furnished and supplied with dishes and everything else Kimble and Angel would need. The boxes that Kimble had brought with him had been delivered and were waiting in the livingroom to be unpacked.

"What?" Kimble asked, choking on the word as he tried to take it all in.

"All dis fo' you an' Angel. She bigger now, it's about time you an' 'er 'ad yo' own space."

Kimble shook his head. "No! This ain't what ya said! You said we wuz all gonna stay together!"

"We are. Me an' Molly just across de way. We right dere."

"B-but what about breakfast an' all the other eatin's? We do everathin' tagether!"

"There ain't no reason that we can't eat together, eh? Just dat me an' Molly, we need more space, comprenez? Dere's other reasons too if you just take a minute to listen -"

Kimble moved away. "No! This ain't hap'nin!"

He started to walk out, to go to Remy's door in a pushy show that he would have his way, but he was gently grabbed by the arm and firmly held in place. "Non, Kim. E'coutez-moi, s'il vous plait. Dis yo' place now," Remy said, being very stern about this. "You just calm down dere now and t'ink on it. Everybody 'ere got deir own space, now you do, too. We just across de hall, not a million miles away."

Kimble jerked away, instantly furious, and used his telekinetic power to move Gambit back a pace. He lashed out with the Kundatesh, his words filled with pain and anger, / You done this on purpose. Yer gittin' rid of me, just like evraone else done! Yer love is a lie! You hates me!

Remy swallowed his anger, instantly pissed that Kimble would say something so cruel. He knew the emotionally immature Siskan didn't mean it, it was just another attempt to manipulate him into giving in. It wasn't going to work. "Kim, why don' you just look de place over, eh?" he asked, an edge of frustration to his voice. "I'll jus' bet Angel wants to see 'er room."

"You bet, Uncle Remy! This place is neat!" she said with her usual enthusiasm and tugged on Kimble, pulling him down the short hallway to the bedrooms. She wanted to see which room was hers. She wasn't oblivious to her father's distress. She knew that her enthusiasm usually cheered him so she was louder than usual, hoping to infect him with her good spirits. Kimble followed obediently, saying nothing as she squealed with happiness when she saw her room. Gambit and Molly had taken a lot of time to pick out her furnishings and the place was full of toys.

"You boys all right?" Karen asked Remy after Kimble had moved away. She hadn't wanted to interfere, knowing their bond was so close, but she could see Kimble was still upset. His body was stiff as he was tugged along, his wings high and tight.

"Oui, chere. He just gonna need to adjust, is all. Dere come a time when de child gotta get off de tit, y' know? Time fo' Kim to grow up."

Molly came up behind him and gave him a squeeze. They had talked about this at length and she had anticipated Kimble's response. None of this was a surprise. Let's just give him a minute, okay?

Remy nodded and said, " 'Ey, Kim. We gonna be across de way. Gonna leave de door open, neh?"

Kimble was slouched in Angel's doorway and didn't even respond even though he had obviously heard him. His face was flushed and his teeth gritted tightly. His arms were crossed and both hands fisted. Kimble was furious but didn't want to make a scene in front of the girls.

Remy sighed with impatience. He turned to Molly. "You an' Karen go. 'Ave a cup of tea. Gambit will be dere in a minute."

"You sure?" Karen asked.

"Oui."

Karen and Molly left, knowing that if anyone would get Kimble to settle down, it would be Remy. This wasn't the first time Kimble had put up a fuss and had to be shown he wasn't going to have his way. At least he was merely sulking, there had been times in the past when he'd become violent. Karen didn't feel nervous about leaving them alone.

Remy moved down the hallway, taking the other half of the doorway Kimble was sulking in. The Siskan wouldn't look at him, he kept his eyes on Angel who was gleefully looking over her new toys.

Remy bumped Kimble gently with his cane. "Dis ain't so bad as it seem, Kim. You 'ang on, cher. Gonna get Molly and Karen situated across de way, den I come back 'ere wit you. 'Elp you unpack. We got some t'ings to talk about."

"Fuck you!" Kimble snarled softly so that Angel wouldn't hear. He moved away to where Remy couldn't reach him and flashed his teeth as he ordered, "Just git out!"

Gambit sighed and looked at Angel. "Angel, chere? Let's go. Gonna take you 'cross de way to my place. Me an' Kim gotta talk," he said, holding his hand for her. "Big people time now. Grab a coupla toys to take wit you, eh? Dere's a good girl."

Angel looked up at him, her big eyes questioning the situation around her. She saw Kimble's barely restrained fury and chose to obey, the child seeing the wisdom in Remy's face. She grabbed a couple of things and let Remy lead her away across the way to where Molly was waiting.

Remy returned a few minutes later, not sure what to expect. The movers had spread out some of the stuff Kimble had brought into the livingroom and there were boxes everywhere, surprising him at just how much Kimble had been able to cram into the one room he'd had back at the Institute. He saw some boxes labeled "Kimble's art stuff". He knew Kimble still liked to draw and sketch, but hadn't figured the pilot possessed enough stuff to fill a box of that size. It was still sealed shut and Remy respected his Siskan too much to just open it without being asked.

Kimble had moved Angel's boxes of toys and clothes into her room and was standing there in perplexed anger. For years he had shared a room with his daughter, now they would be sleeping separately. Remy had arranged this room and the bunk beds didn't come along with them. Another decision taken out of his hands. In his hands he held a stuffed toy, his fingers around the poor bear's throat, squeezing and releasing in a murderous, unconscious movement.

"Dis ain't so bad as you t'ink, cher," Remy whispered, sensing the Siskan's potential violence. It wasn't true that Kimble's breakdowns were free from ugliness. There had been trouble in the past, but had been mostly directed towards non-sentient objects. On one of the occasions that Logan had removed one of his abusive lovers, Kimble had totally destroyed one of the Professor's large trees. It wasn't clear who had wrecked the large oak so thoroughly until closer inspection revealed several crystalline spikes lodged deep within the wood, a sign of the depth of Kimble's anger. Of all the telekinetics at the Institute, Kimble was the only one who made the spikes. He created the spikes the same way he created his sword and it was as good as a fingerprint, one that earned him a few days stay in the Security holding cell. Once locked up, Kimble was fine. All of his violence and rage had been inflicted on that poor tree. After he had been told how old the tree was and how cherished it had been, Kimble wept, horrified at what he had done. He was unconsolable until Remy had him outside planting ten new saplings in its place, hoping to teach the Siskan that violence only led to more suffering but that redemption was available to those who worked hard to make amends.

Back in the here and now, Remy was concerned. Kimble had no outlet here for any sudden surges in violence. It was best to just get him talking. Once he had heard what he had to say, hopefully Kimble would calm down.

Kimble turned to face him now, his eyes wet but not yet spilling over with angry, resentful tears. His hands clenched tighter around the stuffed animal, threatening to tear it open. "Angel's so far away. Yous are all so far away."

"We be right across de 'all, Molly n' me. Dat's not so far. You yell, we gonna come runnin'."

Remy stepped closer but Kimble jerked away, throwing up a shield to block him. Another low and dangerous rumble left his throat. "You jus' stay back now. You made yer point, dumpin' us."

So pleasant this, arguing with a telekinetic. They could always have the last word if they wanted it. It was rare that Kimble used his power against him and it only proved that Kimble was furious.

"Easy, cher. You worry so much over nuthin'," Remy soothed, hoping that the 'us' meant Kimble and Angel and not a plural reference to himself. Lakotashay had been brutally violent and spoke of herself in the plural. Long ago he had been told that Kimble's repair was tentative at best. So far none of the personalities had showed up on their own and he prayed it wasn't happening now. "Nobody's dumpin' nobody here."

"Eh? Jus' whats we's suppozta thinks? This place ain't safe! It's so big inside! You wants Jael ta takes us, yer sick of us already! You hates us!"

Gambit took a step closer and chose to let Shi'ow-ri speak for him before this got totally out of hand. The nice thing about Kundatesh was the honesty. He let go with a vibration of his own feelings, resentful of Kimble's childish outburst. / How come whenever you don' get yo' way, it's always "Gambit don' love me!" Damn, you so selfish sometimes! Don' you ever say Gambit don' love you! Not now, not ever! 'Ow dare you! Not after eight years of puttin' up wit yo' crap! You ain't no picnic and you know it, but Gambit still 'ere takin' care of you as always! Do you 'ave any idea how much work it took to get two nice flats like dis right next to each other? If I didn' want you around, I'dve put you on de other side of de buildin', dumbass! Get over y'self already!

Kimble shivered and wilted some. The shield he had erected couldn't stop the vibrations and he had heard every word. He also knew that the Kundatesh couldn't lie. He had been too close to Remy for this to be so. He saw himself now as Remy did, a hyper-reactive child who had lost his temper before the thief could fully explain his motivations. He let go of some of that anger with a sob, feeling horrible and stupid now. Sometimes it just seemed like he didn't understand anything anymore.

"You ready to listen to me now, cher?"

"I don't wants to be all alone."

Remy was very much aware of the reason behind Kimble's anger - the Siskan was terrified and had been ever since the Central Park Disaster. He was scared to death of this new place and he just needed reassurance that he would be safe. In a calm, even voice now, Remy tried to soothe once more. "You never alone, Gambit always 'ere wit you."

Kimble desired proof. He stood up and dropped the toy he had been mangling. He dissolved the shield he had raised and turned towards his friend. They met in a kiss, first slow, then growing more passionate. Kimble's hands found Remy's cheeks and he let go with a strong pulse of Kundatesh, his body screaming desire and a strong need for physical comfort. / You say yer not leavin' me? That you still loves me? Proves it! Proves it now!

Gambit couldn't help but accept and grant his wish, this was a dance they had danced many times before. / D'accorde, cher. Gambit's right 'ere. You don' ave to be afraid no more. /

Remy was married now and did his very best to be faithful to Molly, but...but he slipped every now and again. He didn't chase other women, he backslid with Kimble. It wasn't because he desired the company of a man, it was his sense of responsibility that lured him away. He felt ownership and responsibility for Kimble, he had the moment their minds had been locked together so long ago. He felt obligated to take care of this unruly teenager like he would his own child and would do whatever it took to get him back in line. There would be an attack at the house by Jael and Kimble would falter. Rather than leave Kimble to the abuse in the flower field by his mysterious lovers, Remy sometimes broke down and offered his own services, hoping a little honest love would get Kimble's kinks worked out. It had happened only a handful times over the years, it wasn't an everyday event by any means. They had simply meet somewhere private and have one heart busting, mind blowing, passionate collision.

Kimble thrived on these singular encounters, having his desire and taste for his former Master sated. There was no abuse, no beatings, just an explosion of passion that left them both mentally stunned and quaking. It was as if such a large burst of Kundatesh leveled Kimble out much like a grand mal seizure for a epileptic. Unlike the beatings from his mysterious lovers, Remy's offerings were much more lasting and helpful to his stability. He would be calm for weeks, sometimes months.

These passionate sacrifices Remy made were most often unplanned and Remy always felt horrible afterwards. He didn't directly apologize to Molly, but he knew she knew it when he would come in with his eyes glassy and small. He would have no chemical smell, but he would be stoned none the less. Remy would be swamped with guilt and he would be very clingy afterwards, buying her gifts and being more affectionate than usual.

Gambit had hoped that by moving Kimble into his own place, the temptation to fall back on this method of treatment would be easier to resist. He hadn't anticipated Kimble's slow acceptance of the extra room, the space the Siskan had shared with Angel back home would have been considered cramped by most folk's standards. Not even the first day here and already Kimble was shaking with that same old fear of abandonment. It should have been firmly established that he would never leave his friend behind, but here was the same persistent insecurity. Maybe this was some kind of payback for Grendel's removal, a reminder that all things in Kimble's life seemed to be so painfully temporary. Gambit knew he would have to give in to Kimble, it was the only way to set the Siskan's mind at ease. Remy closed his eyes and let Kimble take him, surrendering to the pilot's need.

Gambit allowed himself to be dragged back to the kitchen, a slow process where they would pause to kiss and grope some more. He was losing clothing along the way, leaving a guilty trail of evidence of his crime. He was stripped down completely by the time Kimble had him where he wanted, the Siskan still mindful enough of his injury to keep this gentle. Kimble was using his telekinetic power as well to give him support for his leg, Remy was amazed that Kimble had the concentration to prop him up and make love at the same time, but then Kimble had always been good at multi-tasking. Gambit was nervous and thrilled by all this, the kitchen was part of the livingroom, one big space, and anyone who might barge in would catch them for sure.

It had taken less time than he had ever dreamed of to become used to this way of lovemaking. Growing up a practicing Catholic, he had perceived gay sex as painful or dirty, but Kimble had cured him of that notion in a single session. These collisions they had were almost always the same. Kimble would be wrecked, usually angry more than sad just as he was now, demanding some verification that he was still accepted, that he wasn't the worthless piece of garbage he so often perceived himself to be. Gambit would come to him and surrender himself, giving up his body for Kimble to use. Kimble was fully aware that Remy had never given himself to another man before or since. This was a re-enactment of that very first time he would let Kimble take him, showing the depth of his love and trust. The surrender was that important - if he hadn't seen Kimble as desirable or worthy, it never would have happened.

Remy might protest that he was merely doing his duty, fulfilling his obligation to his strange brother, but that wasn't the only reason. When Kimble gave him the excuse he was all over it, offering minimal resistance when it really came down to it. These workouts were a blast for himself as well, nothing could come close to the way Kimble made him feel. The Kundatesh was magical, penetrating, and a mystery all to itself. These times he crossed over the border back into Kimble's territory were small blessings he cherished, gifts to himself as well. The love they shared was vast and once in while it was a trip to visit it again and let his power flow freely, making them both drunk and stupid from the rush. Almost always one or both of them would black out from the intensity of it. Once Remy had described being with Kimble as having an orgasm on Crack, the Kundatesh was that wild and crazy once released. It was intoxicating and highly addictive. He had been an intensely sexual creature even before he and Kimble had met, promiscuous enough to worry that he would never survive monogamy. The Kundatesh had merely become an extension of that deviancy. Surprising himself and many others, he hadn't strayed far from Molly, Kimble was his only weakness. Deep inside he still wanted Kimble and always would, none of the Siskan's childish little fits had changed that.

Kimble was still a little angry and it fueled his passion, but he touched Gambit with great care. This Siskan was gentle and kind, always willing to see that Remy's his needs were met, that he was shown his sacrifice was appreciated. As it was, Kimble's desire for him was so powerful this day, they weren't going to be at this long.

Remy felt the pilot's love for him crash into him in a single blinding wave of Kundatesh, staggering him at how powerful it was. He wasn't sure if Molly loved him this much, it was obsessive and borderline insane, the depth of it. How could Kimble cope with never having him for real? He had no time to ponder that question for long. He shook hard with earth shattering orgasmic pleasure, rattling the cabinets and inviting a protest from the neighbor's next door with the noise of it. Good thing he had chosen an apartment for Kimble across the hall and not next door, this he didn't want to have to explain this to Molly, especially since Karen was there. He was barely aware of Kimble's cries behind him as the darkness took him and they were falling, drifting down to the floor in drunken slow motion, the Kundatesh almost stopping time as it swamped them both.

He never felt it when they hit the deck, the fall had been cushioned telekinetically by his ever cautious pilot. He only knew they had been out for a while when he woke later, Kimble's arms warm around him. There was a pleasant buzzing in his head, the aftereffects of an orgasmic blackout, a dreamy hangover from a trip Molly could never take him on. No matter how intense their lovemaking, Molly did not possess the Kundatesh. She couldn't send him around the world and black him out. She couldn't fill his veins with this liquid energy that was now coursing through him. She couldn't make him as high as this, only a Lushna-esk 'gram had this power and Kimble was that and more. He was a Rogue, a Kintay du Lushna-esk whose powers had never been fully explored.

Remy turned to his Siskan and they kissed leisurely again, the contact allowing him to read Kimble's now whitewashed mind. Kimble felt better now, he had gotten his reassurance that he was still loved and wanted and was happy for now. He had gotten his fix and was just as dreamy drunk as his lover. Kimble's hands touched him in gentle thanks, apologizing for his weakness, for his need to be shown time and time again.

"S'okay, cher," Remy mumbled softly, cozy here with Kimble next to him. He had laid out his clothes and his long duster jacket beneath them to keep them from the floor and it was like being in a nice warm bed. " 'S my pleasure."

Kimble rubbed his chin against Remy's chest, feeling the smooth skin there, marred as it was. Gambit was scarred there, five long deep grooves of white, a leftover from his younger, wilder days. A mark of his sinful past. He had once led a band of killers into a cold dark place, Sabretooth had been one of them. Not content to slaughter those he targeted, Creed had turned on Remy as well, delivering a blow with his claws that should have killed the Cajun thief. By curse or justice, Remy was still alive to tell the tale. They had shrunk in thickness and faded considerably over the past few years, no longer so bold and grey as they had been when Kimble first met him. The scars marked Gambit's crime, his terrible shame. He had overcome it and Kimble didn't see those marks now as he gently rubbed them, he was only thinking of how great his lover smelled and how fine he was feeling now.

"Why's it so important thatcha wants me here in this place?" Kimble asked after a moment.

Happy now that Kimble was finally willing to really listen, Remy began to explain. " 'Cause dis ain't de Mansion. Gambit been 'ere a few days, got a good look around. It's big-"

"Too big!" Kimble interrupted.

"Non, non. Listen up, cher. It like a small town, it got places to go have fun dat de Mansion didn't. Dere's some places 'ere to go dancin' like you like."

"Dancin'?"

It had been a long while since Kimble had been anywhere, but Remy had not forgotten what a social creature Kimble was supposed to be. All Siskans desired constant company and use and Kimble was no exception. "Dat's right. Dere's two club's 'ere on de lower level where it's safe. All dese folks, dey X-men like us. Dey safe. Dey wouldn't 'ave clearance if dey weren't okay."

"What about SHIELD? I'm suppozta stay aways from everybody."

"De rules be changed, cher. Dis is a little like hidin' out. You been paroled, fils. Enjoy."

"You gonna come with me?"

"Mebbe de first coupla times, but listen, dis is important. Dere's folks here you can dance wit, make friends wit, play wit, eh?"

Kimble blinked down at him in confusion.

Remy smoothed a stray lock of Kimble's hair back into place. "Dat's right. Don't you t'ink it's time you gone out on a real date?"

"B-but I'm all fucked up. Sometimes I still feel all broked up inside."

"You dat way cause you 'angin' on to me just a little too tight, cher. Some of dat my fault. Je suis de'sole, dis our last time, cher. It has to be. Molly gonna kill me. But enough of dat, it's time for you to go out an' explore. Go dancin', 'ave fun. Fall in love - an' I don't mean wit somebody dat's gonna beat you all to shit neither. You need a lover bad, fils. One for real."

Kimble closed his eyes and shivered. "B-but-"

"Let me go, cher. You an' me, we bot' know what a Siskan need. He need someone dere all de time. Angel, she yo' Mistress, but not like you need. Like you want. You need dis place, dis flat. You gonna go out dere and you gonna find some friends and you gonna want a place to go where it private. Me an' Molly gonna watch over yo' Angel for you, anytime you need it. We dat close, our door is less dan six feet from yours. We put in a phone, it'll be all right."

"Cain't have no phone!"

Remy squeezed him tightly as he swallowed Kimble's vibration of pain, sighing softly in exasperation. Long ago, when Kimble was in the possession of that monster Sabretooth, a phone call had caused him the worst beating in his life. It never left Kimble and even after all this time, Kimble wouldn't come close to a phone or anything like it. "You gonna let dat go, too, cher. Dis a new place, a new start fo' you. If it make you feel better, we can put in a video phone, one wit a screen. Was gonna get one for me and Molly anyway, you know how I like dat techno junk. If we do dat, you gonna try it?"

Kimble trembled again, frightened, but Remy's offer of future freedom to play was starting to win him over. It was true the Mansion had offered him no social life at all as a sexual creature, the few times he'd gone out were all done sneaky like and it wasn't the same as serving clients for real, not like the way he was designed for. A Siskan Courtesan is little more than a private prostitute, a sentient one even more so. Kimble thought of partners as clients, lovers as Masters. A return to that life, even a partial one, appealed to the trapped Courtesan inside of him, the one that had been clambering to come out now for some time. "O-okay. If ya shows me how ta use it."

"Bien," Remy said, pleased. His relief was overpowering and he couldn't help but give Kimble another squeeze. "Now, you gotta 'elp me up and let's start unpackin'. Molly's gonna whup Gambit's ass if 'e stay 'ere alone wit you too long."

Remy was at peace now, but it was tinged with guilt. It was always this way after he had gone and crossed the line again. He hoped Molly would forgive him, she always had before — or at least it was never discussed. It was like it never happened, but he knew Molly better than that. It hurt her every time, but she loved him too much to force the issue. He prayed that love would carry him through this transgression as well. He meant it when he told Kimble this was the last time, he couldn't take the guilt anymore. He loved Kimble, but he loved Molly more.

They rose and dressed, covering up the signs of their crime. Kimble started to unpack a little and Remy opened up the fridge, grabbing a beer. He had seen to it that Kimble's larder was well stocked. Kimble was generously supplied with Kimble's precious Cokes and Angel's favorite Mac and Cheese. He had worked hard to get as many familiar things as he could to help put Kimble at ease.

While he drank, Gambit explained as much about this new complex as he could, wanting Kimble to understand just how safe it was here. He spoke of the protective shield generator that would be on-line in a few days and the badge system here. He promised Kimble that he would take him back up topside in the morning to charge in the sun and that he would show him around a little more. The nearest elevator and stairway system going up went to the airstrip. That had also been part of Remy's master plan. The airstrip was where Fallen and Seth would be if they chose to continue living in the Lucky Dragon. It was also the most private and Kimble would have a place to sun himself where he didn't feel conspicuous or exposed.

Kimble grew more and more relaxed as Remy spoke, loving the sound of his voice more than taking any real comfort from his words. He would be sure to explore this place and evaluate its strengths for himself. Right now he was mellowing, passive from Remy's Kundatesh injection and the love that still sparkled between them. He wasn't angry anymore and was regretful that he'd been so quick to push Remy's buttons like that. He kept his musings to himself, letting Remy finish up his drink and then saying goodnight. Gambit promised to bring Angel back and get them settled in.

Kimble waited patiently for his friend, taking the time to unpack their other traveling companion. Princess the cat had been brought along on this trip as well. A patient creature, she had been curled up asleep in her carrier while Kimble had his fit and was comforted. She was now happy to be free and set about exploring the place, coming back often to rub against Kimble's legs as she purred her constant rumble.

Remy returned quickly, smiling when he saw the large feline. He had forgotten about her as well, but was happy to see she was settling in fine now. Kimble was settled down, too. He offered no more complaints or worrisome thoughts as he and Angel were tucked into bed. This being the first night, Kimble insisted Angel sleep with him and Remy wasn't going to argue. Princess jumped up on the bed and claimed her portion of space next to Kimble's head. Remy smiled and gave her fur a quick ruff before slipping away.