"Come on Leah, focus!" Dad barked at me.
I held back from yelling back a sarcastic remark, knowing I'd just be wasting my breath. I had been in the Danger Room for over four hours with Cap and Dad, but my mind and heart wasn't in it. I couldn't be completely focussed on my training until I saw how Remy was. Not that my wonderful mentors would give me a break to go see him.
I dropped to the ground to avoid Cap's shield as he flung it at a robot.
I wanted to be completely immersed in my lesson. I mean, here I was with two of the world's greatest heroes and they were amazing to watch. Especially together. They were a great team and I had already learned a lot from this one lesson with both of them (plus I bet there were hundreds of fangirls who would kill to be in my place). But my mind kept drifting back to Remy.
Ugh, I am such a teenage girl. I sicken myself.
I didn't notice the huge sentinel about to stomp on me. Dad tackled me to the side just before I got squashed.
Dad gave me a look before he said. "Pause simulation."
Instantly the hologram faded from the vision of the streets of New York being attacked by sentinels of different sizes and to the plain metal walls of the Danger Room.
Both men gave me looks and I sighed. "I know, I know. I'm the worst student ever."
"No you're not." Dad said. "You've just to learn how to prevent your personal life from interfering with your training."
"Well lately it seems like there's no separation between my real life and the superhero world!" I blurted out with frustration. "Its not my fault that I can't turn it off!"
"The superhero world is a part of your real life, and there's nothing that can change that." Cap consoled. "What your Dad meant was you have to not let your emotions rule you."
I shot Dad a look. "Oh, really nice coming from Mr. Cranky Pants."
Dad snorted.
"Can you guys honestly tell me that you'd be completely yourself when someone you lov- I mean, care about is hurt?" I challenged, hoping the men hadn't noticed my slip up.
"During the war, we had to." Cap answered easily. "We never knew who was going to make it to the end of the day. We had friends die at our sides and there was nothing we could do. We had to keep our emotions in check because we could die if we didn't."
I bit my lip, my face turning red. "Okay, so now I just seem like some cliché emotional girl, right?"
"No one blames you for being worried." Cap assured me. "We're just asking that you focus on your lesson because it's important too."
"It would be easier if I could just talk to him, even just for a minute so I can know he's okay." I said weakly. Dad and Cap exchanged looks and I frowned. "What aren't you guys telling me?"
"Leah, Hank already said that the surgery went well and Gambit's gonna recover-" Dad began.
"But that's not good enough! I need to see with my own eyes that he's okay! Dad, if it was Mom or me in the Bay, you'd want to see us even if you had a hundred doctors tell you we're fine!"
Dad didn't have a comeback for that. Chalk one up for the antimutant.
"And what's with Remy saying he wouldn't see anyone?" I demanded. "Remy loves having people around him, he's a social butterfly! Why doesn't he want visitors?"
Dad let out a tired sigh. "Let's just get back to the lesson."
I sat down stubbornly on the metal floor, crossing my arms. "Not until I get some answers."
Dad frowned, "Leah, don't be childish -"
"Either tell me about what you guys know about what's going on with Remy or I'm going to start asking questions about Daken." I interrupted smoothly. I lowered my eyebrows menacingly. "Very awkward questions about Daken."
Dad had a look of a trapped animal.
"Remy's just very upset at the moment Leah, he just had a traumatic experience." Cap told me.
I tried not to roll my eyes, but I did mumble. "This is the X-men, every couple weeks something traumatic happens."
Dad snorted.
"I'm not trying to be insensitive, and I know I sound like a jerk." I apologized.
"Leah, we all know Remy is a little-" Cap struggled to find the word.
"Vain." Dad supplied.
"Well, I guess that can work. He's just very proud of his appearance and he's just learned that he's lost that." Cap continued. "When he woke up this morning, he didn't take it well."
They went on to tell me how Remy threw a fit when he realized what had happened to him. No one could calm him down, not even Mom who they called down to help. There was a lot of swearing in French and a few things were blown up. Finally Jean gave him a sedative to put him to sleep. He woke up again, but only to tell everyone to leave him alone and order his door to stay closed.
"Remy can't be that vain! Who cares if he has a few scars, as long as he's alive!" I argued, furious. I felt my stomach clench as I remembered saying very close to the same thing to Er- Fang a few weeks ago.
"Leah, Remy's a mutant." I turned to see Jean entering the Danger Room. "And he's had a visible mutation his whole life. People have judged him for his appearance since he was born. But most people could over look his eyes because he was handsome. He believes his face gave him a sort of protection from they hatred many face for being a mutant."
"Who cares what the world thinks, as long as the people who matter to him see who he really is?" I muttered.
"We've been trying to explain that to him." Jean said softly. "Just give him some time Leah, he'll realize it soon enough."
I knew Remy was hurting and I could understand why. But why was it when men were hurting, they just push us away?
The adults were looking at me with a mixture or worry and mistrust. That look they give teenagers when they think we're going to do something stupid.
I sighed, knowing I had to reassure them. "Okay, I'll stop being a whiny teenager and go back to training."
Besides, I thought privately, if the Brotherhood really does want me dead it would probably be a good idea to prevent myself from getting rusty.
xXx
I spent almost the whole day with Dad and Cap. I couldn't stop worrying about Remy, but I was able to force myself into focussing on my lesson. I even almost enjoyed myself when we stopped for lunch and Dad and Cap told me stories about their combined adventures. I listened with awe and envy, wishing one day I'd be at least half the heroes they were.
Around dinner time, Cap got a message from Ms. Marvel requesting him to come back to the Avengers Mansion. While Dad walked him out to his bike, I broke away from them and snuck down to the MedBay. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, I crept towards Remy's room. I almost had my hand on the door when Hanks large furry around turned me around.
"Aw, Hank-"
"I know you want to see Remy," Hank said sympathetically. "But we have to respect his wishes. Now, let's go get you some supper, shall we? You can tell me all about your training today."
And that's how it went for the rest of the week. I'd try to get in to see Remy but someone would stop me.
Finally, some kid broke his arm while trying to backflip off the main stairway's banister and Hank had to rush out to help him. I took the opportunity.
I knew Remy was still refusing to see people, so I had to convince him to talk to me. I opened his door to reveal a pitch black room.
"Ah said Ah don't wanna see no one," Remy growled from his bed.
"I figured you'd say that. But would this change your mind?" I called back softly. I turned on my iPod and 'Do You Wanna Touch Me' blasted out. I tossed my hair and thrusted out my chest and moved to what I hoped to be in a sexy manner. I danced in rhythm
It was meant to make him laugh, but instead he just turned away from the door. "Ah ain't good company right now, petite."
His voice was so dejected my heart squeezed painfully. I turned of the music.
"Remy, I just wanted to see if you were oka-"
"Ah said Ah want ta be alone! Why don't yah get that?" Remy interrupted harshly. His words were like a sharp slap. He had never raised his voice with me.
I stepped into the dark room. "I'm not going to let you push me away."
I saw Remy's body tense up. "Just leave me alone, petite. Please."
"I know you said that and that you're hurting right now." I said gently. "But I also know you need people and I'm not going to let you become this tragic shut in because you're scared."
When he didn't respond, I took a step towards his bed. Instantly he put his hands over his face. With his back still to me he said, "Don't come any closer!"
I disregarded his command and walked all the way to his bed. I stayed on the side where his back would still be to me but I placed a calm hand on his shoulder.
"Hank told me that you're recovering well and he's not even worried about infection anymore. He thinks that soon you'll be able to start physio and you can get out of bed any day now."
Remy gave a short, humourless laugh. "Yeah? And what da point of dat when my face look like mystery meat?"
"Don't say that." I ordered, shaking. "Don't ever think life isn't important. Nobody cares what you look like, all we care about is you getting better."
"Dat so, petite? You dink de girls are gonna be lining up ta date Freddy Krueger?" Remy said coolly.
My face flushed. "The one girl who should matter would."
Remy sighed. "Yah say'n dat now, when Ah'm all lying in bed and pathetic. Ah don't dink yah'd be so happy if we were tagether in public. 'Sides, you ain't even seen mah face."
"You really think I'm that shallow?" I asked. Remy didn't answer. I gave an annoyed sigh and sat on the bed. Remy almost turned his head towards me to see what I was doing, but he stopped himself. Boldly I laid down beside the Cajun and pressed myself up against his back (making sure he was under the covers and myself on top, to keep things PG).
"Leah, what are yah do'n?" Remy asked, his voice almost sounding like his old self.
"Spooning." I said simply, draping my arm over him (minding his wounds). "You're having a hard time right now but one day you're going to be okay. And I'm not going to rest until you're your old self again. And to start, I'm going to make you the little spoon."
Remy didn't say anything and I got nervous, wondering if I had made a huge mistake.
"Um, is this too uncomfortable for you?" I asked, my face burning.
"Nah, it…kinda nice." Remy answered, and I could almost hear a smile in his voice.
I smiled, tucking my nose into his soft long hair and closing my eyes.
Of course its kind of nice, I thought proudly. Who doesn't feel better being the little spoon?