(Three)
That same night, Seth sat at his computer in the lab, his face glowing blue. He was exhausted, tired from spending so much time on the translation of Aiden's journal. What an impossible life of pain and misery the poor Siskan had gone through. Seth almost wished the book was a lie. If not, it was difficult to explain why Aiden wasn't stark raving mad.
Seth took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He heard someone knock softly on the wall and come in. "Nobody's home!" he grumbled irritably. He was tired and aggravated. He had found no peace for the restlessness that had been driving at him since he had altered his codes. What a ripoff, he had thought. All that work and his unco-ordination was as bad as it ever was. Now he had all these stupid vibrations nagging at him, making him hard to please, nothing seemed to stop this strange burning that was growing inside of him. He was almost constantly on edge now, grouchy and miserable. No food, no drink, no amount of relaxation had been able to soothe him. He had hoped that the task of translating the journal would be a good distraction, but it hadn't broken this feeling of unease. It had only exhausted him more with all the pain and horror in it.
There came the smell of chocolate and the soft Cajun lilt, "Je suis de'sole, dat's too bad. Guess Gambit's gonna hafta drink dis by his'self. What a shame. After he spend hours slavin' over de stove."
Seth laughed softly and looked up at him. "Sorry. It wasn't you I was expecting."
Remy came closer and set a cup of hot chocolate down next to Seth's mouse pad, noting the young pilot's wry smile over the fact that his "homemade" cocoa had the Bistro restaurant label on its cardboard surface. The smile drew attention to the fact that Seth's eyes were bare, something that reminded him of the days when Seth was still in the computer system on the Lucky Dragon. Seth had looked younger then, more fragile, yet in some ways, happier than he seemed to be now. Both brothers had changed so very much in all that time, some of that innocence had been lost.
"What?" Seth asked, seeing the odd expression on Remy's face.
"You diff'rent witout yo' glasses."
"I only just had them off. My eyes are tired."
Remy nodded, noticing that Seth was more than simply tired. He still had that strangeness in his shine, like he was exhausted deeply inside where sleep wouldn't get to it. The thief was disappointed to see it there, he was hoping that since Seth and Fallen had patched things up that that flickering would have vanished. Maybe he could get Seth to confess something if he was patient enough, but first things first.
"What happened to your face?" Seth asked with a soft laugh. He had noted the old yellowing bruise on Remy's left eye. It was a lot better than it had been, but it was painfully obvious he had been pounded.
Gambit snickered softly. "Aiden happened. 'E not de easiest boy for talkin'."
"Everything okay?" Seth's voice was bit more sympathetic here, something that caught Remy's attention.
"Oui, c'est bien. Me and Aiden work it out. No worries. What's dis you workin' on?" Gambit asked, gesturing to the computer. He knew the answer already, he had come here to get some information and the fact that Seth was working on the very thing he was seeking made this all the easier.
"Aiden's diary. I typed up the original Siskan document, now I'm working on the translation. It's not really pleasant. He's... he's had a rough life. He makes me sad."
"Why you feel bad for Aiden?"
Seth gestured to the screen. "I can't help it. It's what's written here. I want to think it's a lie, I've been hoping so...but my heart tells me it's the truth. Aiden's been through a lot. He's been melted a bunch of times, beaten, whipped, tortured, raped. It's awful."
"Can I read it?" Remy asked, trying to minimize the hopeful expectation in his voice.
"You can read what I've translated. So far, he's written it kind of like a book. It has a summary and then the details. It's the details I struggle with...so much pain. It's horrible what a Siskan can suffer. It reminds me of Kimble...when he had all that trouble so long ago."
Way back, before Kimble had been repaired, he had spent some time in the custody of Sabretooth and his men. It hadn't been pleasant. There was one ugly incident that had been videotaped. Seth had seen it and it was possibly the most chilling thing he had ever seen. Seth had obtained the file, he was almost sorry he had. He watched as his brother had been brutally raped and abused. The men had rubbed shit all over him and made him eat it. It had left a scar on Seth that had never healed. He had seen how cruel people could be and deep down inside, most human men terrified him. It was part of the reason he had never fought Fallen's isolation of him all that vigorously. He didn't feel safe out here in the world.
"Aiden's been t'rough a lot, cher. But ya gotta take some good from it. 'E's tough, 'e a survivor. 'E knows so much, seen many t'ings, neh? Some of dat could 'elp us."
"You're right. He said some things..." Seth started to say, but hesitated. "I don't know."
"What kind of t'ings, fils?"
Seth shook his head. "I don't want to say just yet. I think I would like to read some more before I say anything. It's just that he knows a lot. More than Kimble does. He said some things... some things that might have to do with me."
Remy quirked an eyebrow at that. What did Aiden have to do with Seth? "Really?"
Seth nodded, but didn't elaborate. Instead, he motioned to the computer in invitation.
Gambit grabbed a nearby chair, took over the mouse and scrolled the file Seth was working on back to the beginning. He began to read, his eyes roaming across the words, hungry for knowledge. He wanted to know Aiden better, was greedy for it. There was so much he wanted to understand.
Seth sat next to him quietly sipping his cocoa, leaning slightly so his shoulder lay against Remy's and waited patiently. He smiled when he saw Remy make a couple of corrections but made no move to stop him.
Seth was a Siskan Courtesan, but he hadn't exactly been born that way. He was actually a living fragment of Kimble's splintered psyche. He had some knowledge of Siskan life, but wasn't formerly educated in it. His knowledge of the language was rudimentary and basic. Because Remy had shared files with Kimble after he had been restored, he had been imprinted with a complete dictionary and the nuances involved with actually speaking it. He had been imprinted with Kimble's complete understanding and so knew Siskan better than anyone else in the Complex right now, except for Babette and Aiden himself.
Remy frowned as he read more and more. The writings backed up some of the things he had been told about Aiden, but in much greater detail. "Can I print out what you've done, s'il vous plait?"
"I don't know if Logan will allow it."
"You trust Gambit?"
"Yes. Yes, of course."
"Bien. It will be our secret, d'accorde?"
Seth laughed softly. "All right, but maybe I should just upload the files to you, shevra a' tay," Seth said, using the Siskan word for secret. It was a code between them that Seth would encrypt the files thoroughly enough that they could not be traced back to him. "I'll send the Siskan original text and what I've translated so far."
"Merci," Remy nodded, happy to get his hands on the journal in any form. He gave Seth a quick ruff of his hair and made to leave.
"I love you," Seth said, his eyes filled with the truth of his words.
The sound of those words always made Gambit shiver a little, especially when they were ringing with some kind of need that Remy had yet to identify. It was so much like Kimble. These expressions of affection came very easy to the two brothers, unlike their human companions around them. It had taken Gambit time to get used to it, now he had simply come to accept it and it was second nature for him to reply in kind.
It didn't stop him from still wondering what was going on with Kimble's younger brother. "Gambit loves you, too, fils. You an' Fallen gettin' on okay?" he asked, brushing a hand over Seth's bare shoulder. The Siskan's skin was very warm, but it might have been the cocoa.
"Yeah, we're good," Seth replied honestly. Well, they were. It hadn't stopped the horrible cravings he couldn't satisfy, but she was doing her best to help him. Not that they were discussing it, Seth still kept his secrets, but even she was sensing he wasn't quite right.
Remy nodded, satisfied with Seth's response for the moment. He wasn't lying and his vibrations were happier since he had come in the door. "Well, all right, den. Now you take care. Don' work too 'ard. Gambit can only read so fast, eh?"
Seth laughed softly and rose to embrace him, wanting so much to feel those happy vibrations of love. Gambit was quick to oblige, always eager to do what was needed. As his arms enfolded his charge, he reached out with his senses, using the Kundatesh to do a quick read. Is he okay, Shi'ow-ri? he asked his internal advisor, taking advantage of the situation.
/ I'm not sure. He's disturbed, but in what way, I'm not certain. Perhaps it's all of Kimble's troubles. Keep watch./
Damn, Gambit's plate is so full!
/ Know that he loves you. His Mistress will care for him, his love for her is solid, and more than Kimble has ever had. /
Oui, chere.
"It's always nice to hug you," Seth whispered, his innocence making him speak boldly and without shame. He had felt Remy's use of power, understood that Gambit was concerned. It made him feel loved and there was no pain, only love.
"Always nice to be hugged by you, too, fils," Remy replied, stepping back. Seth's shine was sparkling happily with contentment now and Gambit was sure he was feeling better. "Night, y'all."
"Good night," Seth said and returned back to the computer, happy now. Remy smiled at him and slipped out, eager to get started.
Remy wasn't three steps out of the door from the Lab when he bumped into his favorite big blue doctor. "Bonjour, 'Enry. Everyt'ing all right?"
Beast scratched his head in irritation. "Not really. Kimble is late from furlough. Since he's not with you I can assume he is elsewhere."
Remy grunted a laugh. "Je suis de'sole, I push Kimble Aiden's way. Had to do sumptin', dose boys was self destructin'. I seen Jerry outside Aiden's door on de way 'ere, didn't know de boy was late or I'd 'ave dragged 'is ass back wit me. Look like Kim got a little sidetracked."
"Yes, well. I appreciate that Kimble and Aiden have apparently made peace, but it won't help Kimble's case if he keeps coming back late. So far Logan hasn't called me on it, but he has to know Kimble is there."
"Bien sur, I understand. I'll go bring him 'ome."
"Thanks."
Remy walked out and made his way down the hall, heading to where he saw the two guards standing outside Aiden's door. They greeted him with knowing smiles, almost a little too eager to see Kimble in trouble.
The guards were not empathic, but nor were they deaf. They were very much aware of what had gone on inside, though not on the scale that one poor Cajun thief now was. Even from outside the door he was being affected by lingering vibrations of the Kundatesh passion that were still seeping out from the apartment like a heady perfume that only he could smell. He could see that he wasn't the only one touched - the nonempathic, simply human guards were standing there, dimly affected. They were semi aroused even if they didn't realize it, but Gambit could see the red streaking in their shines. No doubt they were thinking of their off duty hours, of how they might spend it once freed. Maybe their significant others were in for a gleeful, passionate surprise.
Remy could see why Kimble hadn't made it back to the Lab on time, with his Siskan kin there were powerful distractions here, a draw he obviously hadn't been able to resist.
Gambit sighed with impatience and rubbed a hand over his scalp, he had no idea what to expect beyond this door. He could already feel the Kundatesh licking at his mind, tempting him with promises of pleasures that could only lead him into some kind of trouble. He took a deep breath, braced his mental shields, and knocked, not the least bit surprised when there was no reply. He had been given a spare key to the apartment and he used it now to enter, grumbling softly in complaint.
Not one step in the door and he was immediately halted as his shields were blasted away like nothing. So much for being prepared. As bad as the vibrations had been outside, inside they were ten times worse. It was like walking into a restaurant and not realizing you were starving until the smells hit you. His Kundatesh addicted mind reeled, becoming intoxicated immediately. It was hard to think, his thoughts muddled instantly with a sickening arousal that had come out of nowhere. Shi'ow-ri began chattering away, crying out for more, begging him to find the source of this and drink from it, to drown himself in the pure bliss of it.
Damn, he had forgotten how powerful Aiden's magic was. He could almost see the Morrowhiem glitter still floating in the air, it was so thick in here with Kundatesh. These Siskans must have had quite the wild time.
Filled with a sudden unwanted, aching jealousy at being left out, Remy almost growled in complaint before he could regain control of himself. He shut the door behind him with a drunken hand, not wanting to call any more attention to himself - the guards were peeking in from behind him, curious about what had stopped him so suddenly.
The room was dimly lit, but the shines of the three sleeping Siskans were bright enough to guide him easily. He moved across the room, intending to give Kimble a nudge and drag him away as quickly as possible. There was no way he was sticking around here for long, it was too dangerous. He had to get outside, back where he could think straight again. He got as far as the bed, but was forced to stop as another surge of jealousy froze him in his tracks.
Kimble was in the middle of the pile, the bodies of his Siskan kin pressed tightly against him, blanketing him with their heat. All of them glistened with the sparkles that only came from extreme joy and fun, hinting at a round of play that would make any pleasure seeking lustful thief wish he had been included as well. Kimble's shine was the brightest of the three, it was the brightest sparkling blue Remy had ever seen it. Never in all their time had he been able to make Kimble's shine sparkle as brightly as this. He couldn't stop the powerful conflict of emotions it brought out in him. His Siskan self was wounded by it, he was angry in a way he couldn't really understand.
/ You can make up for it, Remy, Shi'ow-ri was whispering, this time not entirely his friend. She could be swayed by Kundatesh so easily. /Wake them, they won't refuse you. Imagine the light in Kimble's eyes then. Let's play, play like we've never done before. It'll feel like nothing else. Please! You know you want to. We belong here, too./
Remy shivered, yeah he wanted to. He wanted to so badly he could taste their kisses in his mouth just by thinking of it. He remembered the Siskan taste of them all, that sugar sweet taste of Kundatesh love, of flying higher than the sky itself. He shuddered and looked away. Can't do it, chere. Molly would never understand. It ain't right.
/ She doesn't have to know. /
Don't matter. Gambit will know. Won't 'urt 'er like dis, not no more. Gotta get Kim up an' outta 'ere. Dis is trouble Gambit don't need.
Shi'ow-ri wasn't going to give up so easily. / See how his shine shimmers? You couldn't do that to him before, but you could do it now. Here in this place. Can't you feel it? They've changed this place, this room, into a slice of Siska. You could be a part of that if you just let go. I'll bet you could shimmer Kimble more brightly than this. You're better than Aiden is. Kimble loves you more, / she said, trying to tempt him with his pride.
Remy shivered hard and closed his eyes tightly, at war with himself. Did he think he could love Kimble better? Absolutely. But just because he thought he could didn't mean he should. He had too much to lose to change his mind over a decision made long ago. He was paying the price now, being tested. It wasn't just that Molly was finally pregnant, his love for her was too deep for even that matter. He thought of his wife and grasped his love for her tightly, holding it with invisible hands like a talisman against evil. He was human, not Siskan. He would not give in to this.
"What'z you trouble, neh?" rasped a soft voice, forcing Remy open his eyes. Soft green eyes met his own. Aiden had sensed his arrival and was now looking up at him with the strangest expression on his face. "Keemble isz 'appy. Don' you approve?"
Remy shrugged, reining in those pesky emotions. "Bien sur. All I ever wanted was for 'im to be 'appy. To be loved."
Aiden shifted, holding Kimble a little more possessively. "You juszt wanted to be ze one. You szorry Aiden win after all."
"Non. Gambit walked away. 'M 'appy for you boys," Remy replied defensively. The last thing he had expected was to walk in here and be psychoanalyzed. He didn't like it. "Time for 'im to go."
"What differencze it make? You know where 'e isz. Let 'im sztay."
" 'S not up to me. Come on, Kim." Gambit gave the pilot a nudge.
Kimble squirmed and tucked his head deeper into Babette's hair, shivering off a vibration of affection for her strong enough to rouse Gambit's jealousy even more. "S-sl-sleepins now. Go 'way."
Remy nudged harder. "Come on. Get up."
Kimble half opened one eye. One look at the disturbance in Remy's shine had him instantly more awake. "Am I in trouble again?"
Gambit softened the expression on his face. "Non. But you will be, you don't get yo' ass up. Come on, buddy."
Kimble complied, his movements slow and confused. He was aware now that something had passed between Remy and Aiden, but years of loyal companionship had him favoring his former Master. Kimble moved faster to ease the tension, trying to find his clothes. They weren't by the bed.
"In ze bat'room, preciousz," Aiden replied helpfully, not rising from the bed. He pulled Babette closer, using her to fill the void that Kimble had made in leaving.
Remy stood there, shivering with powerful emotions at the sight of it. He had no right to feel them, but they were there just the same - jealousy, anger, frustration, hurt, a profound sense of having been left out. He wasn't sure just what he was upset about. Was it Kimble and Aiden? Was it Aiden and Babette? Was it Babette and Kimble? Was it everything? He had emotional ties to all three, ties he was doing his best to ignore. Why did it even matter? These Siskans were all happy with whatever bizarre ritual that had taken place here, more than satisfied. It didn't stop the hurt, the fact that at this moment he wished desperately that he had been along for the ride. His addiction to the Kundatesh rush was never so painful to bear as it was now, it made him think irrational things, thoughts that did not belong in his head. He was not supposed to feel those things. He was married, he was gone. This part of his life, the one that included intimacy with these Siskans, was over. He had made his choice, had walked away. He stepped back, cursing his sensitivity. It had to be all the Kundatesh floating in this room driving him mad. He had to get Kimble and get out of here.
Aiden laughed softly, reading Remy's shine like an open book. "Szo 'ard, isz it not? To be Chuckfet, to be 'uman. To be szo much Sziszkan, and yet, szo much flesh. Tell me, which one make you ze moszt 'appy? Which one make you feel ze moszt alive?"
Remy did not reply, not even wanting to go there. The truths were simply best avoided. "Kim. Move yo ass, buddy. Let's go!"
Aiden softened his face, hearing the edge in Remy's voice. Yeah, he had wanted to gloat a little, but the truth was he was indebted to the thief and didn't really want to hurt him. "Let Keemble sztay."
Remy just glared at him, having already answered this.
"Let usz all sztay at Keemble's zen. We all szo cloze. We need to sztay toged'er, ze t'ree of usz. It better for usz all. Zey could leave usz extra guardsz, camerasz if dat'sz what it takesz. You can make disz 'appen. Aiden 'asz fait' in you."
Gambit shifted, considering. He agreed with Aiden of course, they were on the same side after all. "I'll try talkin' to de boss again. Just don't be 'oldin' yo' breat'."
"T'anksz," Aiden replied, smiling now.
Kimble stumbled out of the bathroom, he had found his clothes as directed and was dressed after a fashion. His pants were on, but he was still wrestling with a shirt sleeve that had gotten twisted behind him. Gambit grabbed him carefully, corrected his shirt with a playful yank, and dragged him to the door, just wanting to leave. Kimble was looking back at Aiden, laughing softly at the mistreatment. "Bye, Aiden. See ya in a bit. I promise."
"Not too long, my szweet."
The door shut and they were out in the hallway, out in the bright light of the real world. Kimble shivered and blinked in the harshness of it. He was aware that Gambit was still disturbed, but said nothing as he was towed along, giving Remy time to settle down. He waited until the thief had him back in the Lab before asking, "Are ya mad at me?"
It was late now and Remy had steered him to the closest bed. "Non."
Kimble touched him, offering no fight as Remy pulled the blankets back and sat him down. He thought he should be back in his cell, but didn't argue. He had improved enough that he was more worried about Remy's shine then where he was sleeping tonight. "Then why's you all upset? I thoughtcha wanted me an' Aiden ta be's friends again."
" 'M not upset. You done good today. M' proud of you. Go back to sleep."
Kimble was confused, Remy's shine was better, but there was that lingering streak of black. He grabbed at Remy and looked him in the eyes. "What's wrong witcha? Cain't I never do anathin' right?"
Remy couldn't hold up under the scrutiny. He couldn't exactly articulate what he was feeling, but the vibrations that came from him were enough. / I love you. Deep inside dat ain't never gonna change. Sumpt'in 'appen when I seen you all 'appy like dat. I- I wished it was me dat made you feel dat way. It's wrong, I've got my Molly. I'm not suppose' to feel dat way, but I do. It 'urts. I jus' need a little time. All I want is for you to be 'appy. Jus' give me some time to adjust, is all. /
Gambit took Kimble's hands and held them to his face. "It ain't you, cher. Believe me. You done nuthin' wrong. Not one little t'ing. D'accorde?"
"Okay," Kimble replied, touching his fingers to Remy's lips in a kiss.
"You feelin' better now?" Remy asked, changing the subject as he lay Kimble down and tucked him in.
Kimble smiled, all dreamy now. "Yeah."
Remy brushed a hand over Kimble's head. "Aiden loves you."
"I loves him, too."
"Den all is good, neh? Bon nuit."
"G'night," Kimble replied, his eyes closing. He was asleep before Remy even had the privacy curtain drawn around the bed.
