Author Note: Sorry for such a long wait for the third and fourth chapters, It got hard to get internet. But I have it for a little while so I'm going to give you guys the next two chapters. Of course its not like anyone is really reading this. Haha.
Grey Area
"So, why didn't you tell us?" Asked Rogue a few hours after Deirdre returned from talking with Xavier.
Deirdre stood leaning up against a counter in the kitchen, her gaze was intent on watching Gambit as he swept across the kitchen floor searching for their next meal.
"You never asked," she stated. "Every one just assumed that I was simply an empath."
"It would have been nice to know, chère." Gambit announced from within the fridge.
"I didn't think it was necessary," Deirdre sighed. "…Besides, I didn't plan on shifting today in the open."
"You still should have told us," Rogue said sadly as she crossed her arms in front of her and leaned against the little island within the kitchen.
"Sorry?"
Gambit laughed as he pulled himself out from the fridge, "No big deal chère," He began, laughing as he placed an arm full of sandwich meats and cheeses in front of the two girls. "Sandwiches, anyone?" He asked giving the two girls a warm smile.
The two nodded, smiled, and then searched the pile of meats and cheeses for their right blend.
Sandwiches made, the small group of friends sat chatting in the kitchen. Rogue and Gambit sat beside each other, legs underneath the table touching one another.
Deirdre smiled, and shook her head. "You know it really makes me ill when all I feel from you two is that damn lovey-dovey feeling," Deirdre said taking a bite from her honey ham and provolone sandwich.
Gambit grinned up at her, "Jealous?" He asked jokingly.
Deirdre laughed, "Yes and no." She told him leaning slightly back in her chair, "If I've known I would get hit by the love bug every time I hanged out with the two of you, I would have found a single couple to hang out with."
Rogue giggled, "Now darling, you don't really mean that, do you?"
"Of curse not," She said smirking. "You two are the only friends I care to keep."
The couple blinked, looked at each other, and then back to her.
"Keep?" Rogue questioned.
Deirdre smiled and shook her head, "Just my way of saying I'm glade we're friends and I hope it stays that way."
The group fell silent then as they devoured their sandwiches.
Deirdre finished her meal first and found herself leaning fully back in her chair, her gaze lifted up at the ceiling.
"Hey Deir," Rogue began.
"Hmm?"
"What did the professor want to talk to you about?"
Deirdre eyed Rogue and pulled herself back to the table. She placed her chin with in her hands and then spoke, "He asked if I'd like to join the X-Men."
Gambit choked on his last bit of food, "That's awesome!"
Deirdre smirked, "I suppose…"
"What do you mean 'I suppose'?" Gambit asked in shock, "it would be nice if we could work together. Could use more women on the team-Ow!"
Rogue elbowed him in the ribs, "Remy…" She warned glaring in his direction before placing a friendly gaze on Deirdre, "is there something wrong, Deir?"
"No, not really…" she began as she studied her two friends. She sighed, "I hadn't planned to be here for so long is all…"
"What do you mean?" Rogue asked. "Do you not like it here? Or do you not trust us and the others?"
"No, no." Deirdre panicked waving her hands frantically in front of her, "I love you two, you and Gambit are the only friends I have."
"That's kind of sad chère," Two sets of eyes glared in Gambit's direction, "What-OW!" He jumped slightly in his seat, "What? Why?" He stuttered as he rubbed his leg to ease the pain of the two invisible bruises beneath his paints.
Deirdre sighed, "It's just…I'm not really a big group person, and..." She swallowed hard, "my past experiences advise me not to choose sides." She smiled softly, but kept a frown visible beneath her smile.
"If I joined the X-Men it would not be because I wish to help…there would be a selfish reasons to my joining or a hidden motive…and I would not be the most trust worthy person…"
"Though it's not like I'm saying I would betray the two of you, you two are my friends and I would never turn my back on the two of you…" She ended falling silent.
Gambit and Rogue looked on at her, they too kept quiet as their minds ran with what Deirdre had just said. Soon however Gambit let out a long and deep sigh.
"Really D?" He began giving her a gentle smile. "You sound as if you're afraid of betraying us one day."
She frowned, that was exactly what she feared she would do, or may have to do. She was a very loyal creature by nature, making it her job to protect those she cared for, and by doing that she may one day have to fight others she swore to also protect. Deirdre sighed as she thought on this.
"That is exactly what I fear…" She finally said. "I don't want to hurt you, but I'm a freelancer, I only hold loyalties to those I care for."
"You care for us, right?" Rogue asked shyly.
Deirdre nodded, "Of curse I do…"
"Then we have nothing to worry about."
"But…"
"Besides," Gambit interrupted, grinning slyly. "There is a certain fuzzy elf that is also an X-Men."
Deirdre blushed, but did not say a word.
Gambit chuckled proudly as he watched her fluster in her seat.
Deirdre's hands went up to her face as she hid behind them, "is it that obvious?" She asked.
"At first, no. How long had you had a crush on Nightcrawler?"
"Since I first met him…"
"That's long, wow." Gambit whistled, "then no, it wasn't obvious at all. I just found out today, and I think half the school saw you sitting on him out side."
Deirdre flustered and buried her head in her arms, she moaned.
"Don't feel bad," Rogue comforted, placing a gloved hand on the top of the other woman's head. "I think the two of you would make a cute couple."
"If not strange," Gambit added, once again receiving an elbow to the ribs and a kick to the shin. He yelped and then whimpered mumbling a 'I should learn to keep my mouth shout' to himself.
Deirdre smiled and stood up from the table, "Well…" she began glancing sadly down at her friends, "I should go, I need to give my answer to the professor soon…"
"Just don't forget that we are your friends D," Gambit said as Rogue nodded along with him.
Deirdre smiled, nodded, and then turned to leave her friends alone in the kitchen. As she walked out of the kitchen her mind began to swirl with thoughts on what she should do. Was there an actual reason for her to stay and join the X-Men? No, there was not… Except...
Kurt…
XXX
She walked down the hall of the institute, her feet guided her toward Charles Xavier's office. She sighed and halted only ten feet from the Professor office. Staring at the room's door she found herself exhaling once more. A confliction fought within her. She tried to tell herself that she had to do, tell him no, tell him that she was leaving the institute and going off. That she would help them when the need arisen, but she would not join the X-Men, she would not choose a side. The woman sighed, shook her head and then turned around. She spun on her toes and pushed forward only to walk into the arms of someone else. A familiar comfort swept over her, startling her from her uncertain thoughts. She felt a gentle grip on her shoulders, causing her to look up and met the yellow gaze of a wounded creature. She gazed up at him, blinked, and then blushed.
"I'm sorry Kurt, I…" She could not think of what to say.
Kurt smiled and allowed his hands to slowly slide from her shoulders. He took a step back, "It's alright, I vasn't looking vhere I was going…" He explained, rubbing the back of his head while he took a step back.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
Kurt blushed, "I…" He sighed, "I heard that the Professor had offered you a spot on the X-Men team. Are you planning on taking his offer?"
Deirdre hesitated, and then sighed. "I wasn't sure…" She said truthfully, "I never planned on staying here so long, but…" She met Kurt's gaze, "I think my plans have changed." She smiled and gently placed her hand on his arm. "So, I think I will take the Professor's offer and join."
Kurt smiled, "that's good." He began, "gives us more time to spend together." He blushed, "I-I mean." He stammered, "It'll give me more time to help you with your German."
Deirdre smiled and giggled lightly before nodding her head, "That it would." She pulled her hand away from his arm, "well I better report to the Professor."
She took a step away from Kurt, turned and began to walk a few steps forward, but then she stopped and turned to face the man once more. She smiled at the azure demon, lifted her hand, and curled her fingers in a simple gesture of goodbye.
"See you later Kurt." She said softly, before dropping her hand and entering the Professor's office.
