(Two)
Charles Xavier and his people had good reason to worry about security in their new home. The world was beginning to crumble all around them. Just one day after Kimble and Logan moved into their new digs, a new bill was presented to Congress, a Mutant Registration Act bill that for the first time actually had a prayer of passing. Jael's actions in New York had folks worrying more about who their neighbors were than their own rights.
The reaction among mutant peoples was swift and chaotic. Retaliation gangs were formed, political marches made, but mostly members of the mutant community wanted a place to hide. Charles had no choice but to open his doors to whomever was willing to make the trip to his Mansion. No one was turned away but screenings were made. Anyone who was deemed "safe" was eligible to be moved to the new Arizona Complex, making Charles feel all the more justified at having created it. The future he envisioned had him eventually emptying the Mansion if it came down to it. He had so much custom equipment installed in the new Complex he simply felt it was safer there.
SHIELD gave Charles little trouble over all the new influx of people coming his way. Truth be told, the government was happy enough to have the troublesome mutants herded out of the way of those who would harm them. Not because they cared so much as it was that dead mutants made for bad press. The less targets there were, the better it was for everyone.
Fallen was proving to be quite valuable. With the Lucky Dragon able to make the trip across the country in so little time, she was now the chief form of transport for refugees and supplies. She was making regular flights now, twice a day and keeping busy.
Kimble was busy as well. He did his best to settle in over the next couple of weeks. As promised, Remy began taking him to each of the two Clubs on the same secured level where they lived. Remy believed that these places would be safe for Kimble as far as any spies might go. Only those X-men with proper clearance could come in here. To see that Kimble was ready for a good time, Gambit made sure that Kimble had plenty of credits to spend.
Here the monetary system was handled in credits. Any cash that was brought from the outside was converted to credits, this way everything was simpler. Charles then invested the real cash back into the facility and kept the system going. You worked here and got paid in credits. This place had its own grocery stores and malls that took the credits you earned. Kimble was quite rich in the outside world, thanks to Sabretooth's inheritance to him, and Remy had seen to it that a nice chunk of that wealth was converted to credits for Kimble's use here. The Siskan wouldn't have to want for anything.
Kimble loved the Clubs and it showed on him early. There was a sparkle in his eye and gleam in his smile that had been missing for a very long time. Kimble spent most of his time with children, it was a treasure now to be with adults. He danced and laughed, blending right into the crowd here. With so many mutants of all colors, shapes and sizes, Kimble didn't seem out of place or special at all. He was bright and beautiful and it didn't take long for him to get noticed.
This Complex was full of strangers, hardly anyone here knew Kimble personally. He had no reputation to proceed him. Not many here knew of his instability, of his strange deviancies. The second night Kimble was out on the dance floor, Remy went home alone. The Siskan had been snapped up by a beautiful blonde technician and Remy was happy as a clam.
Gambit had watched with happiness as Kimble pursued his prey. Here was the Kimble of old, confident and playful, his body the picture of sensuality and grace. He became walking sex, not the hunched over pilot from back at the house. He moved smoothly through the crowds, smelling them all, reaching out with all of his senses until he selected the one he would pursue. The blonde technician had caught Kimble's eyes early and he zeroed in on her with all the intensity of a hunter who knew exactly what he wanted and how to get it. Remy watched as Kimble danced with her and joked around, turning on the charm.
Just like ridin' a bike, Remy thought to himself with a small amount of jealousy, he missed both the hunt and the feel of those Siskan eyes looking down on him hungrily like that. Look at him go. The change in the Siskan was uncanny, it was if all the crap that had happened to him just didn't matter anymore and he was smooth and witty, knowing all the right things to say and do. It wasn't long before he walked up to Remy, his eyes brimming with anticipation as he asked the thief to go on home without him.
"Sure t'ing, cher. You 'ave a good time," Remy replied, and left him to it.
Away in a corner, hardly noticed by the Siskan was Rogue, watching over all of this with no small amount of disdain. She was here on official business, Logan had asked her to help him keep an eye on Kimble's whereabouts and activities now that he had more freedom. She wasn't so happy with what she had seen.
First had come Remy, leading Kimble along like a father fox, teaching its young cub to hunt. They would come in as a pair and spend a moment or two chatting – she surmised - about what delicacies the current crowd had to offer. Then Gambit would give Kimble a nudge and away the Siskan went, going after his prey with all the charm of a snake in the grass.
Rogue was disgusted at the sight of it. She still had lingering feelings for Remy, that would never change, but it was Kimble who would forever bear the brunt of her misgivings and jealousy. Kimble had come into their lives from out of nowhere, turning everything in Rogue's life upside down. Kimble had changed Gambit into someone else and she didn't feel it was a positive change, especially as it left her on the outside. Yes, Gambit was with Molly now, but that would never have happened if Kimble hadn't done whatever it was that he had done to Gambit. Remy's enhanced empathy changed the way he felt about everything, including her. Now she was alone. There had never been anyone else for her since she and Remy last broke up all those years ago. Most people, once they realized her touch was so deadly, avoided her. She certainty didn't get asked out on many dates.
She would never approve of Gambit taking Kimble out like this. The pilot was dangerous and unpredictable. His sexual habits were a disaster, or perhaps that was why he appealed to Remy so much. Watching them together reminded her that once Remy had been just as promiscuous. It looked like that hadn't changed insofar that Gambit had no trouble encouraging Kimble to get laid.
Not that Kimble needed much of a push. Rogue watched as Kimble skillfully cut a pony from the herd and began schmoozing the receptive female with all of his charm. He was laughing, touching her oh so gently, no doubt flattering her with all his worth just to get into her bed. It was working, she could see. It wasn't long before Kimble whispered something to Remy and then the pilot and his prize left the Club, leaving little doubt where they were heading.
Rogue sighed in exasperation, bowed her head, and made to follow.
Kimble was too elated to know he was being followed. The girl he was now with was lovely and not a mutant at all. Not all of the X-men were mutants, it wasn't an exclusive club here. Charles had allies from all over and took in anyone who was willing to fight for his cause. The girl's name was Brenda and she took Kimble back to her place. She lived alone in her small room and they had total privacy. She had a thing for mutants, she said. She couldn't keep her hands off of them. Kimble wasn't about to complain.
She took him to bed and he lost himself in play, thanking Remy for this with all his heart. She was very beautiful to him, her shine was glowing bright with happiness from his attention and her body was warm from the oh so real blood rushing through it. Kimble had always desired to be of true flesh and blood. He equated it as being real, something he didn't really feel he was. A lot of his insecurity was based on this, but all of that was forgotten as he was embraced eagerly by his client and allowed to have his way.
Afterwards, they lay in bed and he held her as she drifted off to sleep. Sometimes, this was Kimble's favorite part, the loving after. She was snuggled pleasantly against him, off asleep while his hands brushed back her lovely blonde hair. She's so beautiful, Kimble was thinking. It would be nice to have this forever.
He startled slightly when he heard a tiny soft voice from within. The words were a warning in Lin's tiny Siskan. We cain't haves her for real. You knows what will happen if we do.
The voices from his dream hadn't gone away. He didn't always hear them speak to him directly like this, but he felt their thoughts influencing his. He had been angry at the move and it had been Zander's anger that had pushed him to force the issue with Remy. No more being shoved around, Zander had said. Well, not without an argument anyway. As far as Kimble was concerned, he, the Lover, had won that battle. The lovemaking with Remy had been so good, a taste of the good old days. It would be nice to have more good times like that, maybe with someone else now that Remy was off limits, but Lin was much too fretful for that to happen, at least for now.
Go away, Kimble scolded to the tiny voice inside. He didn't want to be hearing this, not again. I ain't gonna lets ya spoil this fer me. She's so sweet an' fine. I wants her again.
Lin wasn't going to let the Lover have the last word. Kimble shuddered as he saw flashbacks of his former lovers, the ones who had claimed to have loved him for real and wanted to be with him always. They were all dead, except for Remy. He had touched their lives and they perished, one by one, always leaving him alone. We's bad. We's the baddest thing in the world. We cain't have nobodys for real.
Kid's right, you know, came another voice, this one deep and growly. Zander. Fuck who ya want, but they cain't stay. Not a one of 'em. Besides, we gots work to do.
Kimble sat up in the bed, shaking now. This wasn't happening. He was supposed to be fixed, he was cured. Stop it! Go away! I'll tell Remy 'bout yous an' he'll make the Games Master come again. He'll put yous down fer good!
Oh, like he done the last time? Zander cackled bitterly. Give it up, Kim. We're always gonna be here. Besides, you needs us. Or at least me, anaways. I'm gonna make sure that we keep Angel safe.
This place is safe enough, Remy said so.
Is it? I don't think you really believe that. How about you, Lin? You think this place is safe?
No fuckin' way! Lin said, surprising them both with his language. Such words coming from a child, but Kimble had always loved to swear. It's too big in here. Too many doors and rooms. Too many places fer the bad ones ta hides. Gots ta keep it small. Best ta defend that way.
Couldn't have said it better m'self, Zander agreed.
Kimble sighed. If I checks the place out, will ya leaves me alone?
Shure, Zander said. I knows what yer gonna find out. You'll be thankin' me, just you see.
Good, now leaves me alone. I wants Brenda again after she's slept a little.
Lin wasn't finished. You 'member what I tolds ya. You cain't keeps her, Kim. It ain't safe. We don't wants her ta die.
Kimble didn't respond with his voice, but he shuddered a little at the memories he had. He didn't want any more like those. Brenda stirred from behind him and tugged on him. "You okay? You aren't leaving, are you?"
"Not if ya don't wants me to," he replied, looking on her with the purest adoration. She was a client and the loveliest thing in his eyes at this moment. Just seeing her beauty and her bright shine made him see all the more that Lin was right. He would see no hurt come to this magnificent human creature. It was sure to happen if he held on to her too tightly. He would love her this night, love her well, and then let her go.
"Don't be silly," she teased and playfully pulled him back into the bed. "I could just eat you up like candy!"
Kimble laughed and lost himself in play once more. The private conversation he had just had stayed with him though, and he kept his word.
The next day the change was all over Kimble's face. He had served his first client, he had served the purpose for which he had been made. The edginess was gone from his shine and that old Kimble confidence was back in his stride. Gambit thought for sure Kimble's problems were over. He was certain to meet someone and settle down.
It didn't happen. Kimble cruised all right, was out every night since Remy so thoughtfully watched over Angel for him, but he changed partners all the time, even when he met someone the next day he had been with the night before. You got once with him, that was it. He stuck with no one. When Gambit asked him about it, Kimble just shrugged and made no comment. Remy was hoping Kimble was merely shopping around and didn't press the issue, it was early yet.
Kimble may have been having fun cruising, but he had been given a task and he kept to it. He wasn't really obvious about it, but as he made his trips to the sun and back, as he was taken about by his new clients, his eyes were all over everything. Kimble's inspection was circumspect, he missed nothing, including the slide boxes for the badges. Long ago Gambit had showed Kimble how to bypass security boxes and restraining bracelets, his trust in them was gone. The boxes looked too cheesy, too easily bypassed by someone with the knowledge of such things. The Complex had a lot of exits and Kimble brought home maps and studied each and every one, wanting to learn the total layout of this place.
One afternoon, Kimble made Remy bring him to the shield generators that were now on line. At a moment's notice, the generators could click on and provide a massive shield that covered the whole complex and landing strip. Remy claimed the shield could keep out missiles and other artillery. Kimble did not believe. Lin and Zander were right, this place was too big, it wasn't safe.
Outside the walls, anti-mutant hysteria had reached a fever pitch. There were lynchings and other horrible crimes taking place. Day after day, Fallen was transporting mutant refugees that had swamped the old Institute back in New York. They were being brought here and given succor, but were only allowed down to the lower levels when they had proved themselves. No one wanted to take any chances on Jael or any other faction bringing in spies.
Kimble kept a wary eye on the news. He wasn't supposed to be watching, but he did. He saw a double threat - Jael and the human masses outside. He was obsessive about security. He had the video phone installed as Remy suggested, but had other alarms in place. He had a panic button that could call right down to the closest Security Office, the one where Wolverine had now taken charge. One press of a button and Kimble could have a whole squad of X-guys here to help him. He hoped it would be enough, but the dark whisperings from within spoke otherwise. He would have to be careful.
Kimble escorted his precious Angel back and forth to school. He was worried about her the whole time she was gone from his sight, fussing enough about it that Logan assigned her a bodyguard for when she was in class just to settle the Siskan down.
Wolverine was all put out that Kimble was back in the world again but had no say in the matter. Until Kimble did something violent he had no right to force Kimble into the lockup. He pitched a fit when he learned from Rogue that Kimble had gone active in the Clubs, but both Karen and Remy wore him down, reminding him how a sexually active Siskan is a happy one. Let it be, they said, and Logan was forced to choke it down. But his eyes were ever watchful. One beating, one fuckup and Kimble was locked up, for good this time.
Wolverine wasn't the only one concerned about Kimble's safety and that of those around him. Just for precaution, Kimble was outfitted with a special tracking device. Beast had long since given up on bracelets, Kimble had shown time and time again that he could hack through them given enough time. Thinking only of Kimble's security, Henry had gone to Seth and the two of them had put their minds together on how to keep a locating device on Kimble without his being able to remove it. They had come up with a device that was swallowed, a modified sensor probe. It was well known that Siskans had a significant weakness, they didn't stand up well to a strong electrical charge. The device was outfitted with a smartdrive battery that would give Kimble a good sized zap if he tried to remove the device himself with his telekinetic power. It would burn out the tracker if it did zap him, but hopefully the Siskan would be knocked out long enough to be restrained and taken back into custody for his transgression. The device was also keyed into the security boxes located throughout the facility and would set off an alarm if he passed into an area where he wasn't allowed. "Lo-Jack" for Siskans, Remy teased, though Kimble found little humor in it. No one wanted to take a chance with Kimble taking off or worse - being taken unawares. Kimble hadn't been happy at being made to swallow the device, it was a kind of surrender, but Seth did his best to take the sting out of it by swallowing a device himself, putting them on an even standing.
Wolverine and others had good reason to be wary of Kimble's state of mind in this new place. In spite of his happy and playful nightlife, Kimble's daytime life struggled along. He had some trouble adapting to the new environment. He had a whole series of changes to get used to, not just his new living arrangements. This was a well established Complex that had its own daycare center already in place. Another wasn't needed. The one here was happy to receive him as a helper, but he wasn't in charge and running the show like he had been back at the Mansion. Things were done differently here and he didn't always agree. With the emphasis on physical fitness the Xavier Institute had, Charles saw to it that there were plenty of large jungle gyms and play equipment for the children, but it was all inside. The desert heat outside was just too brutal, but Kimble didn't want to accept that. He found the inside gyms closed in and suffocating. It just wasn't as much fun to play. He missed the outdoors. The class sizes were bigger here and the teaching methods had to be changed to accommodate. He was used to a much more one on one environment. That wasn't going to happen here. Kimble's naturally submissive posture in a new environment kept him from voicing his complaints and disappointments, both at work and at home.
He still wasn't happy about living on his own. Sure he and Angel shared some meals with Remy, but it wasn't the same communal atmosphere as before. Logan's family full of kids was further away and didn't join them like he had before. Kimble missed all the children and the camaraderie. It was too quiet at home. Too easy for him to hear those voices from within.
He also had to do things that Molly had done automatically for him back home. Kimble could now do his own shopping and pick out those things he wanted. It was a simple thing, but Kimble had never had to shop for himself. Before, food was given to him and he had made do with it, now he had to choose for himself. The stores were too big inside for him and he had a hard time deciding what he wanted. The large amount of variety only confused and frustrated him, he was overwhelmed by it all. He just didn't know what he wanted.
The credits Kimble had also meant that he didn't have to work unless he wanted to and he found himself withdrawing from the children's center, uncomfortable with the new atmosphere and way of doing things. His absence went unnoticed and no one questioned it when he just stopped showing up.
Kimble retreated to his apartment and stopped venturing out during the day unless he absolutely had to. The world out there was just too big and the apartment just felt safer. Unfortunately, he had too little to do there and now the privacy he hadn't wanted brought him the time and the space to practice his defensive skills.
Zander couldn't be more pleased. Kimble now spent hours at a time conjuring his sword and refreshing his memory on how to use it properly. He had been well trained, but that was years ago and buried under a lot of hard times and quiet living. Those files got dusted off and put back into use.
Zander spoke to him often, his advice strong enough to keep Kimble's attention. Use the sword, trust no one. Have your lovers, but no one stays. You remember all those times you took in someone, what happened? It all got fucked up. Stay single, stay safe. Watch over yer Angel, watch over yer Remy, yer Molly, too. That is your priority. Keep it simple, keep it safe. Kimble only prayed that those words would stay true.
Kimble would practice and he would dream. He enacted out scenarios where he was the great warrior, using his sword to wipe out the evil plague that was Jael. Working out with sword again reminded him of his power, of his ability to do more than just babysit. It boosted his self confidence and he walked a little taller, his head a little higher.
It didn't go unnoticed. Gambit didn't know Kimble had resumed his practice with his Channeler's weapon. He thought it was the steady stream of new clients that had put the swing back in Kimble's stride. It was so much nicer to see this than the stale version of Kimble that had been hovering listlessly about the apartment all these years. He patted Kimble on the back and congratulated himself on a job well done. He'd shown everyone just how right he'd been about Kimble's ability to fit in here. He had no idea that all of that was about to blow up in his face, literally.