Chapter 7 It was just a joke…

A few hours later Remy sighed as he dropped his books on his desk, "What ta do for fun…hmm…" the thief thought for a moment and grumbled as nothing creative came to mind he looked to his bed and smirked as he plopped down and hugged his pillow. He narrowed his eyes when he heard a tap at the door which was already open, seeing Rogue, Remy rolled his eyes and turned to lie on his back, "What ya want chère?" he asked resting his arm over his eyes. "I ain't done nothin' illegal yet wait a few hours will ya…" he drawled releasing a heavy sigh.

"Professor is setting up a program in the danger room and he wants you there…" she answered simply.

Remy lifted his head, "Why'd he send you?"

"I volunteered…" she drawled, "Just get ready will ya…" she sighed heading down the hall.

Remy grumbled as he stood up and headed for his closet, attaching his armor he sighed as he took out a cigarette, lit it and exhaled the smoke from his lungs as he made his way down the stairs, knowing it wasn't allowed to smoke indoors but for some reason the teen was a bit aggravated today and felt like breaking the rules.

Remy found himself grumbling as he walked down the hall and entered the metal doors spotting several X-men standing apparently waiting for him, "Well it's about time…" Bobby whined.

Remy rolled his eyes as he looked to Logan, "What's dis about?" he asked.

"Nothing…we're just testing out a new program…" Logan chuckled.

"That bad?"

"Not really…it was Storm's idea…" he smirked.

"So who we fighting…anyone familiar?" he asked leaning against the wall.

"No…just a usual hide and seek program…" he smirked.

Remy quirked an eye as he looked to everyone within the room whom each had a huge smile on their faces. Remy slumped his shoulders, "An Remy's da one who's hiding…right, what did he do dis time what's wit da punishment?"

"It's not that bad…and it's not punishment…" he assured with a chuckle.

Remy narrowed his eyes a bit and turned to Logan, "Seven against one…not ta mention you bein' here ain't gonna be fair…"

"I ain't playing…" Logan assured.

Remy sighed as he turned to the group and glared at Jean, "Ya bettah watch yaself chère…" he warned.

"Can it Remy…" Scott hissed as he stepped beside the red-head.

Remy rolled his eyes as he leaned against the wall again, took out his cards and began shuffling them. "Whatever one-eye…just keep her on a leash…" Remy smirked.

"Now, now Remy we mustn't be rude…" Charles spoke up as he entered the room with Storm by his side.

"Tell dat ta her…" he grumbled, "An what I do now?"

"Nothing Remy, we're just trying out a new program to match your skills and give them a run for their money…" Charles smirked as he looked to his students.

Remy sighed as he simply shrugged and put his cards away, the Professor smirked as he eyed the group over, "Alright now this program is different then the usual…no powers are to be used…" he warned then chuckled as he immediately began to get protests from his students, lifting his hand to attain silence he continued, "As I've just said this program is to match your skills against Remy's…you have an hour to try and find Gambit…now are there any questions?"

"Yeah is Remy allowed to use his metal stick thingy?" Kitty asked.

"Yeah we can't use our powers so…you shouldn't have your weapons…why do you have weapons anyways?" Rogue smirked.

Charles quirked an eye and looked to Remy, "Ey I nevah leave home without my staff, cards or picks…just like ya nevah leave da mansion without a sweater, hairspray and lip gloss…" Remy drawled. " 'sides I was trained wit da staff before I got my powers River rat…da staff is used to get through obstacles…not used ta blow up stuff…" he sighed.

"Does that answer your questions?" Charles smirked then eyed his students over, "Anyone else?"

Amazingly no one else protested, Charles smiled as he left the room with Storm and Logan and headed towards the control room.

As the students began to talk among themselves Remy sighed as he looked up and stood up straight beginning to walk away from the group, hearing the usual hum which meant that the program was about to begin any minute, Remy smirked as he looked around to find a small clearing when he turned he saw a very familiar place, "Dis suppose ta be for my benefit?" he asked looking around.

"Figured you missed home a little so enjoy gumbo…" Logan spoke through the intercom.

"You feel at home in a swamp?" Rogue asked crossing her arms.

"Course chère dis be N'arleans…" he smirked as everyone turned when they heard something scurrying off in the murky water close to the shore of the river, the moment they turned Remy chuckled softly as he ran off and disappeared within the lush forests.

Scott turned around and sighed, "Damnit…" he groaned, "Alright Bobby you and Evan go left, Rogue, Kurt and Kitty go right, Jean and I will go this way…we have an hour to find the little prick so try and make it quick."

"Yeah like that's going to be easy…" Kurt sighed as he quickly climbed a tree and looked around.

"Not using our powers…man this sucks…" Evan whined as he followed Bobby.

"Quit whining…" Scott ordered as he walked towards where Remy was standing before he allegedly disappeared to try and find any sign as to where he went.

XxXxX

Meanwhile Remy was actually enjoying himself as he ran through the woods, crossing over a few makeshift bridges, jumping over branches and trees that had fallen over, "Dis would be more fun if Lapin was wit me…" he mumbled with a grin at the devious plots the two would always cook up. After running for like fifteen minutes Remy slowed to a walk as he looked around, "Why am I runnin' anyway….So what am I suppose to hide for an hour…jeez dat's boring…" he sighed an evil grin suddenly appearing on his lips, "Survival training at its finest…" he chuckled as he rushed back to the second bridge he had crossed earlier.

XxXxX

Quickly rigging up a few traps, Remy tried his best to hold in his laughter as he spotted his first victim, Jean sighed as she and Scott walked beside each other, "What exactly would be the point in all this?" she asked.

Scott chuckled softly, "Storm thinks that Remy might be homesick…"

"So why do we have to be here?" she asked spotting a footprint in the dirt.

"I don't know maybe Remy was always being chased back home or something?" he snorted following her and frowned when he noticed that the bridge didn't seem to have any sort of support, "Jean…wai…" was all he had time to say as Jean fell through the bridge to land in the murky water below.

When Jean surfaced she gasped out of anger as she looked around, "I take it this might be compliments of that soon to be dead thief…" she growled trudging towards the shore.

"Most definitely…" Scott sighed as he moved a few branches out of the way to help her out of the water the moment she passed beside him he noticed a thin transparent wire his eyes widened when the wire became taut and the branches whacked him in the face, breaking the branch Scott and Jean looked to their right when they heard someone call out for help. Following the sound they found Bobby upside down hanging from a tree, and Evan had apparently gotten his leg stuck in a hole.

Kitty and Rogue ran over to help, Kitty went to help Evan grabbing a nearby branch she pulled on it and found herself showered in mud, Rogue cringed as she went to help Bobby but tripped and found herself diving in the swamp face first, Kurt cringed as he looked at everyone, "This can't be good, I'm the only one that hasn't been messed with…"

Remy chuckled as he jumped down from the tree he was hiding in order to watch the show and landed gracefully beside Kurt, extending his staff he leaned against it and chuckled, "Ah…dis was fun…" he smirked then looked to Kurt, "Boo…" he chuckled as the blue fuzzy elf quickly took a step back, "Apparently ya'll need ta work on ya skills a little more…"

"Oh shut-up…" Scott growled as he helped Rogue to stand up. "This was a hide and seek program…should I simplify the meaning of hide and seek…" he hissed.

"I believe da professor said that ya were ta go against my skills…If ya hadn't noticed by now Remy don't hide…and don't stay in one place dat long…" he smirked.

"What's with all the stupid traps?" Rogue asked running her hand through her hair.

"Ya in da swamps chère…no powers remember wat else ya want me ta do let myself get caught…by you…ahahaha…" he asked with a smile.

"Eh Remy…" Kurt whispered. Remy turned to him, "Um is there a particular reason why I didn't get tagged?"

"Course dere is…" Remy smirked as he looked to the ground, "Ya not standin' in da right spot…" he chuckled as he pointed up.

Kurt looked up and quirked an eye, "There's nothing there…"

"Course there ain't I didn't have time ta set up da trap yet…" he smirked as the program shut down and headed towards the doors.

Chuckling all the way to his room Remy had a cocky little smile on his face he had actually enjoyed himself entering his room he grabbed a change of clothes and headed for the shower. As he took off his shirt and looked at his old wounds, Remy sighed as he glanced in the mirror stepping back he stared at his eyes, an evil grin graced his lips, "Oh yeah…" he chuckled as a thought popped in his head concerning his eyes a few days earlier.

XxXxX

Early the next day, Rogue sighed as she made her way outside walking passed the garage she quickly doubled back when she heard metal scraping against pavement then heard a tiny curse, entering the garage she spotted Remy picking up a socket wrench, "What the hell are you doing?" she asked.

Remy looked up, "Eh…couldn't sleep…" he sighed rubbing at his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt as he stood up and put away the tools he had used.

Remy yawned as he leaned against a worktable and looked to the door as he heard a few voices, Scott and Jubilee entered the garage and froze in place at the mess the Cajun had apparently made, "I hope you're cleaning this up…" Scott sighed as he headed for his car only to find that it wasn't there, "Where the hell is my car?" he asked glaring at the Cajun.

Remy shrugged, "It's over there…" he pointed towards the driver's side door and a few tires, "And there…and there…few more pieces dere…" he continued to point, Rogue tried her best to keep her laughter in as she lifted her hand to her mouth.

Scott gasped as he looked around, "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?" he asked as he ran his fingers through his hair as he looked at the million pieces of what used to be his car that adorned the garage floor.

"Payback…" Remy answered simply as he wiped his hands on an old rag.

"PAYBACK…FOR WHAT?" Scott hissed apparently about to have a nervous breakdown.

"Ya want me ta respect you…respect my eyes…" Remy smirked.

"WHAT?"

"Fo some dumb ass reason ya keep forgettin dat ya got yourself a roommate now, whom has very sensitive eyes to da light yet ya keep turning dat fucken light on…which in turn gives me a great amount of pain…so…" he sighed holding out his arms to the car. "Voilà…"

"You can't be serious…"

Remy looked at the one eyed wonder for a moment, "I can't be serious…have ya seen ya car homme…"

"I apologized numerous times Remy…" Scott hissed.

"Yeah yet ya can't get it through dat skull of yours to not continue doing it…so maybe dis will make ya tink twice non?" he chuckled as he left the garage to leave their fearless leader to sulk.

Remy yawned as he headed into the kitchen, Logan looked up and eyed the teen over, "What the hell happened to you?"

"Couldn't sleep…" Remy answered as he made a bee line for the coffee and poured himself a cup.

Logan took a whiff, "Is there a reason that you smell like motor oil?"

"Yeah did a little tuning up in da garage…" he yawned again.

"Ahun…something serious I should know about?"

"Not really…c-ya homme…" Remy drawled as he headed upstairs to take a shower and maybe get a few hours sleep.

Logan quirked an eye then shrugged as he continued to read the paper.

XxXxX

Later that day, Scott was sitting on the couch bitching and whining to Jean about his precious little car, and a few of the students would look at Remy a bit awkwardly, Evan watched as Remy casually walked down the stairs, fishing a cigarette from his coat pocket sticking it in his mouth he headed towards the front door and went outside. "Can't believe the Professor lets him stay here knowing that he's a thief…" Evan sighed.

"Come on he doesn't take anything unless it's from Scott and Bobby, you two really piss him off for some reason…" Kurt chuckled, "Besides I think he only does it to get a good laugh you know…"

"Good laugh…he dismantled my car…" Scott reminded.

"Oh will you shut-up…yes we know Scott you've told us a thousand times already, SHUT-UP…" Kitty sighed as she plopped down on the couch.

Bobby looked to the hall when he heard a small ding signaling that the elevator doors were opening, Bobby watched as Hank stepped out a few documents in hand still reading its contents as he headed towards the kitchen, an evil grin made its way on the frigid teen's lips as he stood up and quickly ran to the elevator, "Wonder what little old Gambit's face is going to look like when it falls into his plate…" Bobby chuckled as he headed for med-lab.

Creeping into the lab Bobby made his way into Hank's locked medicine cabinet, "Now how to get in?" he asked himself as he looked around, "Hmmm I wonder?" Bobby chuckled as he picked up a few tools that were being cleaned in alcohol at the moment, using the surgeons tools Bobby tried to fiddle with the lock after a dozen or so tries he smiled when he heard a tiny click, "Hehe let's see how he likes being laughed at…" Bobby chuckled as he looked through the numerous drugs and found what he was looking for.

XxXxX

A few hours later, while everyone was sitting down in the dining room, Charles sat in his usual spot at the head of the table and watched as all his students and teachers chatted amongst themselves, Charles always waited until everyone was seated until telling everyone that they could dig in, Storm entered nudging a laughing Gambit to his seat beside Jubilee and Bobby, Charles smiled when he gestured for everyone that they could start eating.

Bobby waited several minutes until Remy turned his head away the moment he did Bobby reached for a roll and dropped the sedative in Remy's water, Remy took a few bites from his meal and winced when Kitty let out a squeal of laughter as she was talking to Jean and Wanda.

Remy chuckled as he watched her laugh and picked up his glass of water, drinking nearly half the glass Remy looked forward and frowned as he spotted an un-dissolved pill at the bottom of his glass, Remy just seemed to stare at it for what seemed like forever trying to make an explanation as to what he was seeing, 'Why would dey drug me?' he asked himself suddenly beginning to breathe heavily as visions of his past quickly popped in his head, Charles and Logan quirked an eye at the fear they suddenly felt, Remy looked around the room at the students as they chatted and laughed, dropping the glass he quickly stood and ran out of the room heading for the nearest bathroom, he knelt in front of the toilet and made himself throw up.

Logan narrowed his eyes then quickly stood up and followed the thief, Hank looked to Charles for an explanation as to why the Cajun left so quickly but didn't receive one. Jubilee who was sitting beside Remy frowned as she noticed a white substance fizzing within the glass Remy held earlier, "What's that?" she asked.

Hank stood and walked beside Jubes, frowning he lifted the glass with the substance still fizzing within, his eyes widened. "Oh dear…" he whispered as he recognized the dissolving substance as being a pill then looked to everyone in the room. "Who did this?" he asked.

The room became quiet, "Did what?" Kurt asked.

"Who put something in this?" he specified lifting the glass.

Everyone just looked around with confused looks, "What is that?" Jean asked.

"I've no idea unless whoever put it in this tells me where they got it?" he growled out a bit.

"Why is it serious?" Bobby asked giving a tiny grin.

Hank narrowed his eyes a bit as he looked to Bobby sitting on his left, "Where did you get it?"

Bobby sighed, "In the lab…it's just a sedative…" Bobby bowed his head a bit.

Hank sighed as he looked to the Professor whom narrowed his eyes a bit at the frigid teenager, "Do you know where he is?" Hank asked the Professor.

Bathroom in the hall… Charles telepathically told the doctor who sighed and placed the glass on the table and left the room in search of the Cajun.

Bobby looked at the retreating Beast then at Charles and shrugged his shoulders, "What…it was just a joke…"

Charles didn't say anything as he concentrated on the three people in the hall, hoping the emotional damage wasn't too bad for the thief.

Logan was leaning against the sink watching as Remy sat on the floor his back against the wall, his head bowed and took slow deep breaths, "Ya alright pup?" he asked, this was like the seventh time he had asked and still Remy didn't answer. Logan turned to the door as it slowly opened and Hank entered.

"Remy…" he whispered, "It was just a sedative…" he answered kneeling down to the thief to place a hand on his shoulder but Remy quickly slapped it away and shied to a corner holding his head in his hands. Logan frowned as the boy began to shake in fear. "Remy…" Hank sighed sitting down beside the thief.

"What's the matter?" Logan asked.

Hank sighed he didn't know how to handle this unless he told Remy that he knew his little secret, which the doctor wasn't supposed to, "Perhaps a bit of fresh air might help with the nausea…" Hank suggested trying to get the thief to think about something else rather than his shady past and not giving any hint that he knew why Remy had freaked out.

Remy looked up and glared at the men then quickly looked away, "Just leave me alone…" he whispered.

Logan frowned a bit, "O-kay, don't tell me you're embarrassed that you got sick?"

Remy just stared at the floor, then at the door slowly standing he walked out of the bathroom not even giving a tiny glance to the two men, Remy slowly walked up the stairs and went to his room deep in thought, "Just a sedative…" he whispered and paced his room, "Was just a sedative…" he repeated, "Dat can' hurt me…I didn't swallow it, whatever I did is out of my system…I be safe here…père said so…" he breathed now finding himself beginning to sweat, looking through his trench coat. Remy began to panic as he couldn't find what he was looking for, taking off the coat he draped it on his bed and searched every pocket thoroughly, finding his pack of cigarettes, Remy shakily took one out and lit it inhaling the smoke he then exhaled it from his lungs. "I've got to get the hell out of here…" he whispered.

Finishing his cigarette Remy rushed out of the room and ran down the stairs and out the door, Rogue frowned as she saw him run out, 'Where the hell is he going?' she thought to herself as she headed upstairs, finding it strange that he wasn't wearing his beloved trench coat.

XxXxX

After running through the woods and leaping over the wall, Remy was now walking down the streets of the city, he had been walking for over three hours seeing a can on the ground Remy kicked it and sighed as he tried to clear his mind of the haunting images still lurking in his head, hearing something scrape against the wall, Remy looked up wondering where the hell he was since he didn't recognize the place.

He was now in a building that was under construction at the moment, he then heard a small chuckle, "Well well what have we here…" he heard, not liking the sound of the voice Remy took a step back his hands automatically going for his cards, his eyes widened when he realized he wasn't wearing his trench coat with his entire arsenal hidden within the pockets. Since he was in the safety of the mansion, Remy hadn't strapped on his bo-staff and cards to his body instead he hid them within his coat pockets.

"Merde…Well looks like I be havin a shitty day…Stupid distractions…" Remy mumbled as he looked around and seeing a few rocks at his feet he quickly picked them up.

"You think you can defend yourself with those little pebbles?" the voice asked with a chuckle.

Remy didn't give off any emotion, yet he was a bit nervous every part of his body told him that he had to get out of there right now, but Remy couldn't seem to make his legs move, "Who are ya…what ya want?" he asked with a smirk.

Remy could hear the man sniff around, "You smell like Wolverine ya know that…and those little bastard X-men too…I guess you walked into the wrong part of the neighborhood…" Sabertooth chuckled as he stepped forward eyeing the teen from head to toe. An evil grin graced his lips, "Wonder how loud you'll scream when I tear you apart?" he asked himself.

Remy quirked an eyebrow, "O-kay…um did ya just say tear me apart?" he asked scratching his chin.

Creed chuckled as he took another step forward, showing off the claw like hands he had, "Yeah I did…" he laughed as he began to run towards his prey.

"Nuh-uh…Gambit ain't no scratching post…" Remy warned as he charged the rocks and launched them at Creed.

Creed chuckled then frowned when he was thrown back when the rocks hit him but the cat like man did not fall to the ground, looking around he growled as he had lost sight of his prey, hearing a small grunt he turned his head to the left to see Remy climb a wall, he smirked when the teen launched himself on a pipe, twirling himself a few times he let go of the pipe and flipped to the beam on the top floor of the building Remy who was now four stories up looked down at Creed. "Seems I underestimated ya runt…" Creed chuckled as he ran up the steps to follow the Cajun.

Remy eyed his surroundings for a quick way out, glancing over his shoulder he found that Creed was now below him, 'Merde…' he sighed as he walked across the beam to get away from the cat-man he then looked down and smirked when he saw that he was well out of reach from Sabertooth, Remy's smirk quickly disappeared when Creed leapt up to the Cajun and literally pounced on him pushing Remy off the beam to land hard on the floor, Creed landed on top of the thief knocking the breath out of Remy. Creed's claws were now digging in Remy's arms piercing the skin. Since Remy was wearing only a pair of khaki pants, boots and a black t-shirt he didn't have much protection from anything.

Remy yelled out as he bent his knees and kicked Creed off him feeling the skin on his arms rip, quickly standing Remy tried to run but Creed only plowed into him making them both crash through a wall, groaning out in pain Remy tried to stand again as he took a breath, he yelled out as Creed slashed his claws at Remy's left side Creed laughed, "I see they haven't taught you much at that pathetic little school…"

Remy's eyes narrowed as he slowly stood up and stumbling over to a nearby beam, "If I weren't havin such a shitty day…I'd prove ya wrong kittykat…but since I not in da mood ta talk or in any shape ta fight, how bout we just call it a draw…" Remy chuckled as he charged the beam. Creed watched as the beam now glowed a bright red, "Does da kitty like havin singed fur?" Remy asked as he ran to the nearest window and grabbing the top part flipped himself up launching himself onto the roof of the building with a groan Remy rolled and got on his feet.

Hearing the boom and feeling the roof move and begin to buckle Remy took three deep breaths spotting a door on the building next to the one he was on Remy took a running start and jumped to the next building. Grunting at the pain he felt when he landed and rolled. Remy ignored it and headed to the door jerking it open he then entered the building.

"Okay if he be like Wolfie he can smell blood anywhere…" he whispered clutching his arms, "Ah dis sucks…" he growled as he rushed through the empty offices spotting the door to the stairs, Remy nearly broke it from it's hinges as he slammed his shoulder in it forcing it to open, running down the steps wanting to get the hell out of here as fast as possible.

Remy was nearly jumping down the stairs to get to the first floor he screeched to a halt when he burst out of the door and met with a caped man wearing a helmet, Remy stood up straight, "What da hell are you supposed ta be?" Remy asked now clutching his side, looking into the stairway to see if Creed had followed him. Hearing quick footsteps and a growl Remy sighed as he turned to the caped man again. "Okay nevah mind Gambit don' have time ta talk…" he breathed.

"I'm terribly sorry but a small battle needs to be started with Charles and you are my only martyr at the moment…"

Remy's eyes widened as he took several steps back, "Whoa ya wanna sacrifice dis Cajun ta start a fight with the Professor?"

"Exactly…" Magneto chuckled. "It's nothing personal really…"

"Eh…Gambit don't tink so…" Remy smirked as he rushed to the elevators down the hall.

"It's fruitless you can't escape child…" Magneto sighed as he levitated and followed the thief as Creed walked out of the stairwell watching as Magneto approached Remy.

"Fruitless…Ha apparently ya nevah messed wit dis boy…" Remy chuckled as he entered the elevator, and pushed the top floor button. After going up three floors the elevator jerked to a stop, "Great now I be stuck in an elevator…Oh no what ever shall Remy do?" the thief sighed suddenly feeling light headed. He frowned when he heard a creak and felt the elevator jerk again deciding to follow his instincts he climbed up the top with a wince and a tiny cry, seeing the wires holding up the elevator unravel and about to snap Remy quickly looked around seeing a ladder and an air duct he winced as he did his best to ignore the pain he felt at the moment as he climbed in the duct, he heard the elevator crash to the floor, breathing heavily Remy continued to crawl through the air duct after about several minutes he then passed out.