Combusting Hearts
Chapter 15
Today was my second day on the couch. Luckily, I actually had clothes on now. I had flipped out when I had woken up with Gambit sitting there, me under the blankets with no clothes, save for my bra and underwear. It was so embarrassing! I was glad to have so many blankets to cover me.
At the moment, I was just sitting here with Gambit, a crochet hook in my hand, and thick yarn in my lap. I was making something for Kurt and I was having Gambit help me by lending me his hand. I had to have a reference for a shape to make a proper pair of mittens for Kurt. I nearly laughed as I sat there watching Gambit. He actually had a grin on his face, trying to hold in his own laugh at the moment.
"Is this really so amusing to you Remy?" I questioned, continuing to crochet the chain of yarn around his hand.
"Only slightly, cheri," he said, but I knew better.
He found this hilarious at the moment and I could easily tell.
"Or is it that you'd rather prefer me make you a pair instead?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow at him curiously.
"Maybe. You t'ink you could make me one when you done wit' his?" he asked, making me smile.
"Of course Remy," I told him, continuing with my work.
I was actually having fun with this, not to mention, I was also enjoying his company. I had frowned though upon waking up for the first time, finding him sitting there with me with a black eye and swollen cheek. In fact, his left eye had been swollen shut just about. It was rather frightening when I saw it. Poor Remy, he didn't deserve to get hit like that. In fact, he hadn't deserved to get hit at all. My brows furrowed slightly upon thinking about it.
"Somet'ing wrong, cheri?" he asked.
I shook my head no before turning my eyes toward him.
"No, nothing's wrong Remy. I was just thinking is all," I told him, going back to working on the mittens.
I had to keep his hand still a few times because he kept moving it deliberately. For some reason he just loved playing around, trying to see what he could get away with before I decided to correct him. To be honest, it was rather entertaining at times. He would move this way and that, then I'd have to grab his hand and stop him in an attempt to keep him still. He enjoyed pushing my buttons a bit here and there, but it was all in good fun for the most part. Although, when I grabbed his ear, he knew to stay still. That has officially become my secret weapon. In order to get him to listen or stop doing something, all I have to do is grab him by the ear and pull a bit. Granted, not too hard. I mean, I didn't want to actually hurt him or anything, I just wanted him to stop at times.
"Would you stay still?" I asked, making to grab for his ear, causing him to stop immediately.
See, what did I tell you, secret weapon. Although, when I was finally done with the first one, he decided to get up and play around a bit.
I laughed when he started pecking at me with the thing, pretending that his hand was a bird. I swatted at it when he tried gently pecking at my head, grabbing his hand to stop him, but that didn't seem to work. He just kept right with it for a good five minutes before I decided to try and get up. That was a BIG mistake. I ended up collapsing and falling to the floor on my knees. I didn't think that my body would be that weak, but I guess that I was wrong about that one.
Gambit came running over to me immediately, helping me back up and onto the couch.
"You alright, cheri?" his voice was one of concern as he knelt in front of me, his hands resting on my shoulders.
"I didn't think I'd be that weak," I whispered quietly, not exactly realizing that I had even said it in the first place.
"You're not weak, cheri, ya just sick is all," he said, bringing his hand to rest on my cheek.
I stared at him for a moment as he did this. His hand felt so good against my cheek, nice and warm, calming too for some reason or another. I didn't really know what the reason was though.
"Maybe Gambit should let ya rest for now," he said, making to get up.
I grabbed his hand though before he could walk off.
"Wait…it…it's still early. Besides…we still have one more mitten to finish," I said, not wanting him to leave.
I didn't want to be alone, nor did I truly want to sleep at the moment. He looked down at me, unsure as I still held onto his hand. After a moments thought, he sat down next to me on the couch, picking up the yarn and crochet hook for me.
"Alright, cheri, but ya gonna have ta go ta bed some time though," he said with a light chuckle.
I smiled at him, glad that he had decided to stay for a while longer. I needed the company more than he or anyone else realized at the moment.
"Thank you…" I whispered, taking the yarn and crochet hook from him.
I soon started working on the second mitten, the chain of yarn weaving around his wrist, and slowly up his hand. It took a little while, but I eventually got it finished. It was then that I decided to work on a pair for Gambit. He smiled at this, actually deciding to stay still for once. I guess he figured that since they were for him, that he had a reason to stay still this time. It didn't take too long though before I started to grow tired. I started nodding off at random points, quickly shaking myself awake. Gambit found this to be rather amusing to watch. Eventually though, I ended up falling asleep on him, my head resting on his lap much like I had done with Logan before.
T
Gambit sat there watching her as she slept. After countless times of nearly falling asleep on him, he decided to rest her head in his lap. She laid there for a few moments, desperately fighting to keep her eyes open, before she no longer could. He was surprised though when she had curled into him, trying to absorb as much warmth as possible. It made him smile though, a true and genuine smile.
She was growing more comfortable around him each and every day, growing to trust him just a little bit more. He rather liked being in her company and tried to do it as much as possible. In a way, it seemed to lift somewhat of a weight off of him that he hadn't realized was there. Well, actually, that was a lie. He knew that it was there, and had been there for years, he just never knew how to fix it. That is, until now.
Gambit realized that she seemed to have an effect on everyone in the mansion or at least those that knew her anyway. For instance, he knew from experience that Scott was a major asshole, and yet he was starting to lighten up a bit because of Elaine. And Wolverine…Lord have mercy, Wolverine. Gambit had known that man for a long time, and he wasn't easily tamed. Depending on what it was, Logan just didn't give a damn, but that wasn't the case here. There was even something about the Professor that Gambit just couldn't put his finger on, but he knew that it was there.
Unfortunately, he also knew that she had caught Magneto's eye without even trying to. He never did like that man, for he had tried to get Gambit to join him before, but he turned him down saying that his place belonged with the X-Men. With the X-Men was the only place that he truly belonged and he was sure of that. Though he still feared for Elaine. No doubt, it would only be a matter of time before Magneto tried something again, another attempt to take her. Although, he'd never lay a finger on her if Gambit had anything to say about it. He knew how cruel that man could be. Yes, he's all for mutants, but the way that he goes about it is all wrong. The only thing that the man is proving to do is start a war between humans and mutants, and a nasty one at that.
"So much ridin' on one t'ing, cheri," he whispered quietly as he looked down at her.
The other problem that he had come to realize was her powers. Her powers were far greater than she or anyone else realized. Although, Gambit could see it, for they were like his. Still, hers were a bit different. She had more to her powers, more variations that exceeded what she currently used. This is why she was classified as being a class 5 mutant, one of the strongest mutants you could come up against. He just prayed that he would never have to truly fight against her. He wouldn't be able to bare it, knowing that he would hurt her, but he knew that if he had to…that he would have to go through with it. Still, he would try with all his power to avoid such a happening as that at all costs.
"How's she doing?" came a voice from behind him.
He turned his head to find Logan standing there. He seemed a bit on edge as he addressed the Cajun, but Gambit knew why. The events from the other day were still plaguing his mind.
"She doin' a bit better. She tired though…nearly hurt herself," he breathed, shifting his eyes back to Elaine as she continued to lay there with her head in his lap.
"How's your eye?" Logan asked suddenly, startling him a bit.
"Doesn' hurt as much," he told him, glancing at him for a moment with his good eye.
"I really am…sorry about that Gumbo," Logan had a bit of a hard time getting those words out of his mouth, since he wasn't used to apologizing to him.
It kind of shocked Gambit for a moment, but just a moment.
"No you're not, ya just sorry you didn' land d'e punch when we was sparring," he said, giving a very faint laugh.
He could hear Logan grumble something under his breath before walking away. He could hear the sound of Logan's fist slamming against something once he was out of the room.
"Well, cheri, looks like we made d'e Wolverine mad," he chuckled quietly as he brushed a bit of hair out of her face.
He had to admit that in the glow of the fire, she really was pretty. Then again, she had always held a current charm in his eyes. It was in mid thought that he realized she was shifting around a bit, her hand clutching his pants leg. He frowned as he looked down at her, a thin layer of sweat slowly forming on her skin. When he felt her forehead, he found it to be quite hot, making him withdraw his hand. Her pain was obvious to him and he knew that he had to help her.
Ok, that was chapter 15. I hope that everyone liked it? Please remember to REVIEW? I love hearing everyones feedback, since it's rather encouraging and helps me write. Remember, any comments are welcome. Thanks everyone. -looks around carefully for any sign of the rabid ninja hamster-