Summary: Being a peacemaker isn't easy - Remy is caught in the middle of a Siskan lover's spat and does his best to sort it all out. Part nine of the Game.
Rated M for profanity, violence and some sexual content.
Disclaimer : I do not own the X-men or any of their associated villains, but the Siskans, the Dognan, Jael and the Outkasts are mine. Please do not use them without my permission. Thanks. :)
For those of you who are curious or dreading the worst, this series will not be as long as my previous one. Kimble had 27 books, this one will have only 18 as of now. It is my plan to do much smaller, mission based stories after that. Hopefully I won't have bored you all to tears by then. :)
Updated 10-28-13 to add (break)s and the usual. Amazing how many errors I still find...
(One)
The dreams I began to have of David were not pleasant.
I found myself in my black room, looking through that wall of light and seeing the strangest thing. I saw an unfamiliar Dognan man dressed in shimmering body armor, looking down on my precious David who stood before him, his child's eyes wide with fear. They were out on the back lawn and not far from the Master's large swimming pool. I did not recognize this Dognan man - it was not my Master, but someone else I had never seen before. Cruel was he, this stranger. It was there in his shine for someone like me to see. He bent down as if to give David a hug of reassurance, but then I heard the sickening crack of breaking bones, a sound I've known all too well. He stepped away and David's tiny body fell to the ground, broken and lifeless as a rag doll. This Dognan man had murdered David, a child of no more than six, with his bare hands and without a thought or care.
I cannot adequately explain what I felt at that moment. My love for David was so big and so profound by now that I felt my heart just stop. I saw the wall of red come down, something I had not felt in years, not since long before I had been repaired. The killer in me had awakened from a decades long slumber and was all too ready to act.
I would be given a chance. The moment I heard the sound of those tiny little bones breaking, the blue shimmering arrow appeared. Without a moment's consideration, I flung myself through the wall, enraged to the point of madness and eager for revenge. It hadn't even crossed my mind that this would be a mistake, I was too enraged, but my feet had no more than left the ground before I was hit with my "correction".
That flash blur of images smacked my computer driven brain like a sledgehammer – blood and death and burning things, smoke and ash and the screams of the tortured dying, explosions and rumblings and choking gas.
I bolted upright in my bed, choking on a scream as it tried to burst itself free from my throat. David was sleeping beside me and I had long since learned to try and control my shouts from waking him. I had dreamed many dreams and not all of them good ones, I had become quite good at stifling my noise. It was my sudden motion that eventually caused him to stir, but all he did was whimper softly and curl that much tighter against me. I pulled him close, my body now slick with gel sweat. He was real here in my arms and I wasn't going to let him go without a fight. I had been given a vision and was left with the choice - what was I going to do about it?
(break)
Aiden shifted awake on his cot, startled awake from another blurry nightmare. It didn't matter where he was anymore, the dreams and visions always followed, happy scenes or not. He was currently in a holding cell down in Logan's security office. His internal clock was telling him he had been there a while, it had been a couple of hours since he and Kimble had been arrested by Logan for their activities in the Men's Room. He had no idea why he had fallen asleep, the day's excitement should have been enough to keep him awake.
He was in trouble with authority again and he was tired of this constant, reoccurring event. He was shocked at how things had gone so utterly wrong with Kimble like that. Bright hot love one moment, screaming and crying the next. What a fucking nightmare. It could only be that he was cursed, it was impossible for it to be anything else.
You always blame others for things that just simply happen, Father chided, wisping into view and settling down next to him on the floor. You love because it is in your nature to love. You dream because that is what you are meant to do. It just is. Deal with it.
Aiden turned onto his side, getting comfortable, before responding in the Muzla, "I do not wish to dream. Why is it zat I muszt szee disz terrbile war? Ze dreamsz I szee, zey did not 'elp me szave ze life of my David. What good doesz it do for me to szee zem now?"
Father frowned, I don't know. Perhaps they are not dreams or real events so much as simple messages. Maybe you aren't supposed to do anything. Perhaps this time you are simply to know.
"I don't want to know. My goal isz to sztop, not juszt to know. Knowing did not 'elp me sztop what 'appened to David," Aiden complained again, his pain from losing the child still etched deep in his heart.
Perhaps you were never meant to save him.
Aiden nodded, having considered that painful possibility before, but he was thoughtful. This stupid war was becoming more and more complicated by the day, something he did not need.
Worry about saving the world later, Father said. Your first order of business is getting out of here. This cell sucks.
"I 'ope Keemble isz okay," Aiden whispered, feeling a pain that was becoming regretfully familiar. He knew his wish wasn't going to be granted. Logan had chewed them both out the whole way down here, not sparing Kimble in spite of the pilot's tears. Wolverine wanted to make sure this was an event that would not be repeated and went all out in his verbal assault. Aiden had suffered through it well enough just as he had the last time Logan went off on him, but Kimble had crumpled early and even now, Aiden could still hear Kimble whimpering and crying from two cells away. Logan had left them alone already, but Kimble was still suffering. Aiden had tried to send his lover a vibration of love and compassion, but they may as well have been miles apart, Kimble had shut down on him. At least Kimble would be getting some comfort from another source, Aiden had seen Seth walk by just a moment ago, going there to see his brother without sparing Aiden hardly a glance in his rush to get there.
Kimble will be fine, Father insisted, his voice firm on the matter. It's Angel that concerns us. You have to reach her. She will never grow to trust us if she doesn't know who we are.
Aiden nodded. "Yesz, but 'ow? No one will let Aiden near."
Straighten your shit out and maybe they'll at least consider it. You won't get anywhere like this. Time to put up and shut up.
Aiden grumbled about it, but he was listening. He sat up on his bunk, running a hand through his hair and straightening out. He groped in a pocket and found a squashed pack of smokes and a rumpled book of matches. One cigarette out of the bunch wasn't too bad and he smoothed it out, his mind still working as he lit it up. His head perked up when he heard a door open and footsteps coming down the hall towards him.
Karen Logan walked down the isle between the holding cells and stopped outside of Aiden's cell. Two cells down, she could hear Kimble whimpering and crying. Seth was in there with him and Remy was on his way down. A couple of hours ago, something had happened in a public Men's Room that neither Siskan would talk about. She had been told that the Siskans had been sexually involved in there, and that was why they had been arrested, but that wasn't what had upset Kimble. They had argued, though about what, she wasn't sure.
Karen looked in on Aiden and saw him on his cot quietly smoking. "Can I come in and speak with you?"
The Siskan did not immediately reply, in fact he made a point of not looking at her directly. She was to learn that Aiden's standard response when confronted was to simply say nothing and keep perfectly still. It was a passive form of contempt that was as effective as it was irritating.
Karen sighed, scanned her hand and entered, taking a seat on a small stool in the corner. In her hands she held a portion of Kimble's file. "My name is Karen Logan. I'm a social worker here at the Complex and I've worked with Kimble, trying to help him work out his problems. If you'll let me, I could help you, too. I'd like to talk to you about what happened today. You are not obligated to talk to me, but I hope you will because there are some things about Kimble you should know."
Aiden remained as he was, the only movement were soft exhalations of smoke from his lips. He was looking her over now that she had spoken, his eyes roaming over her in that distinctly unsettling Siskan way. Remy had told her that Kimble could read shines, a gift that Aiden most likely shared. It didn't stop her from feeling like she was being examined by some kind of predator. Karen shifted her things and got started.
"I don't know if you know this, but Kimble once suffered from a fractured personality and we have had signs that it's resurfacing again. He's had a troubled past. He's been violent and people were injured. As a Siskan, he hasn't been very lucky in life -"
Karen stopped as Aiden snorted loudly and chuckled a bitter laugh.
"You find that amusing?"
"To be a Szizkan isz to be unlucky in life," Aiden replied softly, his eyes hard.
Karen cocked her head at Aiden's strange accent, this was the first time they had actually met and she had never heard him speak before. His voice caught her attention, it was smooth like Remy's, but his voice had a higher timbre, a pleasant sound. "Explain."
Aiden did not.
Karen sighed and tried again. "Look, Kimble has done very well since your arrival. Remy and I certainly approve of your pairing -"
Aiden snorted again. It was an arrogant, derisive sound and Karen didn't like it at all.
"What's your problem?" she couldn't help but reply to his noise. She wasn't trying to antagonize him, only just get to the root of his anger.
" 'Is problem is dat 'e don' need our approval, n'est ce pas?"
Karen turned and saw Remy slouched in the doorway of the cell, his red eyes twinkling with amusement. "I see you made it," she said, relieved he was here.
"Was in de gym workin' out. Gotta get back in shape if I want to make it back on the team," the thief replied. It wasn't a lie. Since his injury he had been doing his best to work back up to his pre-injury status. He hadn't been invited to join any missions since then, not that the lead players had left on any major calls. The Professor had been sending out the junior teams, but that didn't mean Remy didn't want to caught lagging behind if he should be asked to serve. He looked now at the Dreamer with a mixture of amusement and impatience. "What's goin' on, Aiden? You gettin' my Kimble all in trouble again?"
"You keep Keemble locked up in ze Lab when 'e do not'ing wrong. You deny usz privacy, what you expect?" Aiden challenged.
"Wasn't me dat locked 'im up, so spare me de attitude, buddy. But what does Gambit expect? 'Ow about a little control. A little t'inkin' ahead. Gotta chose yo' places a little better, learn to operate wit'in de rules. Besides, we bot' know dat's not de real issue 'ere. Kimble's cryin', cher. I can 'ear 'im from 'ere and it ain't just about being busted. What's goin' on?"
Aiden looked at Karen, uncomfortable with her presence. He wasn't about to explain anything with her there so he didn't speak but sent silently, / I make a misztake. Keemble isz upset. I am szorry. /
Remy smiled at him, sensing his distress, but couldn't stop himself from gloating just a little bit. Out of respect he spoke his piece in Siskan to ease the sting of it in front of Karen. "Now you understand what Gambit was tryin' to say to you b'fore? Look at dis? You an' Kim finally get down to business and in what? Two days? Kim's blown up in yo' face. It's just like I said. Kimble ain't so easy as you t'ink. 'E got 'is own set of troubles, 'is own set of rules. Dis ain't gonna be yo' last mistake by far if you mean to stick dis out, sumptin' ol' Gambit 'ere learn de 'ard way."
Aiden nodded, but didn't quite apologize. Yeah, he had made a mistake, but he was certain he could rectify it quickly enough if only he could just talk to Kimble and explain. He did take some comfort that Remy wasn't challenging his right to remain Kimble's lover, he was merely passing along advice.
Remy saw that Aiden had taken something from his words and added, "Gambit will take care of dis. Just don' do nuthin' stupid."
Aiden glanced at him and smiled, a little more relaxed now.
"You can speak wit Karen," Remy spoke again in English for her benefit. Knowing Aiden's natural distrust of the human in the room with him, he went on to say, "P'etetre, she don' look it, but she one of us. She 'elp me a lot wit Kimble. You can trust 'er."
Karen blinked in surprise, startled to hear such positive words about her from Kimble's closest ally. They hadn't seen much of each other since she'd had to rip Angel away like that and she wasn't sure what Remy thought of her. He had kept those thoughts to himself until now and she couldn't help but smile at the compliment.
Aiden turned his head away in a deliberate show that he did not believe what Remy had said. Gambit's advice on Kimble he could go along with, but it would take more than words for him to trust a stranger, especially a human one.
His disbelief was plain to the thief. "Fine den, be dat way. I'm gonna go see what you done wit my Kimble. Au revoir." Remy backed up and disappeared down the hall.
Karen returned her gaze to the Siskan across from her. He was frozen, an angry defiance in his posture. He could probably fight his way out of here, she had been told that much about him, but he wasn't resisting, just not exactly co-operating. "I'm sorry you feel this way. I'm not your enemy, none of us are. Here is my number if you wish to speak to me. I made arrangements for Babette to be brought to a nurse's station while you're here."
Aiden turned his head then. It hadn't occurred to him the consequences of his detainment. He and Babette now shared an apartment and he was taking care of her. She was still depressed and low, he didn't like to leave her for long. He had been neglecting her for Kimble and now he felt guilty. " 'Ow long isz Aiden to be in 'ere?"
"Logan has the right to detain you for at least twenty-four hours on the indecency charge. Remy is trying to get some leniency for you. He says that you had been living in an unrestrained environment with your former Master and that you didn't know any better. It's a pretty good excuse, I suggest you take advantage of it. Remy's quite clever you know, but not smart enough to come up with another if you keep playing your stupid games. I'm not that naive, I know you know perfectly well what you're doing, but for Kimble's sake I'm willing to overlook that for now and work with you. We have rules here, Aiden. They are in place for your safety and the safety of others. I suggest you obey them."
Aiden snorted again and turned away.
"Others are depending on you, Aiden. Babette in particular. I've suggested that you be put to work. You will earn credits which the two of you will need to survive here, plus it will help keep you busy. Your restriction badge doesn't give you much access so you only have a couple of choices. We have openings on the loading dock or in the food kitchen."
He looked up at her, his face distorted with disgust. He had known it would come down to this eventually, his having to work. Now was as good a time as any, he and Kimble needed some space. He just wasn't happy with the choices she was offering. "Aiden isz good fighter, eh? Make 'im policzeman like Wolv'rine. Aiden can buszt szome 'eadsz, chasze szome queersz out of toiletsz. If not, mebbe ze 'ousze whore? Asz a Sziszkan, Aiden isz more zan qualified."
"Loading docks it is," she said, unamused, scribbling on a piece of paper. "Chances are you'll be released tonight or in the morning. Report here at nine on the first morning you're out." She handed him the scrap of paper. "This is your work release. Do not tear this up. Please, just show up. Do it for Babette."
Aiden took the paper and nodded at her in relent. She had put him down quite nicely with her sensibility and lack of humor. Out of politeness he felt compelled to add, "T'anksz for lookin' after Babette."
"It was my pleasure. When you get out you can go pick her up." Karen rose and took a step towards the door. "I hope you will consider changing your attitude, Aiden. This is a good place. A safe place. Kimble adores you. Work with us, not against us. Remember, you came to us for help, no one dragged you here."
He didn't reply and she left him alone, locking the door behind her. She moved down the hall to where Seth was now waiting outside of Kimble's cell. He had backed off, letting Remy have a try with comforting his miserable brother. Karen was surprised to see him here at all, considering how limited Seth's access to Kimble had been before. Logan must have let him in. "How is he?"
"I don't know. He's not crying anymore," he replied softly, nervously chewing on a fingernail.
Because Fallen kept Seth isolated most of the time, Karen never really gotten to know Kimble's younger brother well over the years. They had hardly spoken and Seth was much too shy around her to reveal anything personal. Judging by the fact that she had never been called to interview him for anything troublesome, she assumed that as far as emotions went, Seth seemed much more stable. Still, she could see his apprehension and sinking spirits that once again Kimble was in trouble and locked away.
She came closer and bumped his shoulder gently in a show of support. "Did he say what happened?"
He smiled at her in appreciation of her attempt to comfort him and left his nails alone. "Aiden told him he loved him. I don't understand why that was so bad, but Kimble's all freaked out. I don't get it."
"It's probably too soon for him. They've only just met. I'm sure Remy will get him straightened out and back in hand."
It was a misplaced hope. Inside the cell, Kimble wasn't co-operating at all. He was sitting on his cot, curled up with a blanket wrapped up high over his shoulders. Remy was in front of him, doing his best to soothe. "What's dis, eh? Aiden say 'e love you, dat a good t'ing."
"He'll die!" Kimble spat out, his voice cracked and broken.
Remy was trying his best to keep Kimble calm, but it didn't take a shrink to hear that Gambit was weary of this, of everything. Kimble's rigidity in his mistaken beliefs was wearing him thin. "No, he won't. Dat an irrational fear, cher. You gotta get over it."
"I cain't sees him no more. It's the only way ta keeps him safe," Kimble said firmly, refusing to be swayed by his friend's persuasion.
"Den why you even bother goin' out to de Clubs? What's de point?" Gambit snapped in exasperation, his voice growing sharper.
"Cuz I feels better when I serves clients. I didn't ever say I wuz lookin' fer nobody, Remy," Kimble argued, backing away. He turned his face, not looking the thief in the eyes as he said, "That wuz yer thinkin', not mine. When Aiden tol' me...when he tol' me...that he loved me ...then he wuzn't just a client no more. I gots ta let him go."
"Don't do dis, Kim," Remy insisted, shaking his head at Kimble's stubbornness. He was sick to death of this. Maybe Aiden wasn't the best choice as lover for his friend, but he was beyond frustrated that Kimble wouldn't even try. Anyone could see how happy Aiden had made him these past days, it was beyond frustrating that all of that had been for nothing.
The pilot turned back to face him, his pale blue eyes rimmed red with pain as he said with emphasis, "Sometimes... when ya loves sumpthin' enough, ya haves ta lets it go. Even if ya loves it more 'n the whole world. To keeps it safe and perfect and beautiful just as it wuz when ya first seen it and fell in loves with it."
Remy blinked, hearing more than Kimble simply repeating himself. There was meaning in that woeful look. Kimble was letting Aiden go, the same way he let Remy go. Gambit was no fool. In spite of Kimble being all passive about it, their own breakup had to have hurt Kimble deeply inside. But Kimble, the Lover, had let him go because all he had ever wanted was Remy's happiness. It hurt to think of it now, what Kimble had so bravely and selflessly done. Gambit's voice was a little raw as he replied, "You don't have to wit Aiden. It don't have to be dat way every time you love someone, cher."
"I won't see him 'r anaone else dead, Remy. I seen it once, I ain't never seein' it again!"
Remy gave an internal sigh and closed his eyes for a moment. Gail. He often forgot about her. Many years ago, Kimble had loved her once. She had been more lizard than woman but that hadn't mattered much to this Siskan who saw past all that. Sabretooth had shot her dead right in front of Kimble, a fact that Kimble again also seemed to keep overlooking in regards to his former Master. Gambit hadn't been there to see it, but he heard about it. He couldn't imagine how much that had hurt his friend and it was something he hoped never to see himself. "Just 'cause it happen once don't mean it'll happen again, fils."
"It won't happen again cuz I won't lets it," Kimble replied, firm on the matter. He didn't wait for Remy's response, he asked instead, "Where's Angel?"
Remy was confused by the change in tack, but then recognized it as Kimble simply avoiding the subject. The pilot was done discussing something he felt no one would ever understand. "She wit Molly."
"Wh-when kin I gits out?"
" 'Opefully tonight. Den you gotta go back to de Lab, be a good boy."
Kimble nodded and pulled the blanket around himself more tightly. He had gotten over the worst of his shock and the Zander side of him was taking over. He'd had a near miss, that was all. This could be easily fixed. No more Aiden, no more fear. Simple. He could do this. His breaking heart didn't matter. It would hurt much much worse if Aiden were to die. A little pain now to avoid bigger pain later. So much better to think of the world with Aiden still in it, safe and unharmed, lovely and so terribly beautiful.
"About Aiden, cher-"
"I just wants ta sleeps now. I'm tired," Kimble interrupted, all done with this conversation.
Remy sighed. He had gotten nowhere the whole time he had been in here, something he just wasn't used to. Kimble had made up his mind and that was it. "You gonna blow dis, Kim. 'E de best t'ing you 'ave in a long while an' you gonna blow it. Now I know you crazy."
Kimble turned away and lay down, pushing himself up against the wall, making it small. All Remy could do was walk away and hope that Kimble would come to his senses after he had some time to think about it.