Set when Gambit has just joined the X-Men.
Remy awoke to dull but harsh lighting and found himself stretched out on a hard bed.
For a moment he thought that it could not be right. He had been fighting someone. . . He had been outside and his head had hit the concrete but only for a second. . .
A steady beeping to his right however caused his heart to speed up.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep-beep-beep!
The noise was deafening somehow and he suddenly knew that he was in a very bad place.
Vague memories flitted through his mind. White lights and searing pains. . . He turned his head and saw silver medical equipment and the beeping became faster.
He saw scalpels and syringes and things he didn't have names for.
Terror filled him and he grabbed at the wire attached to his chest and ripped it off, hearing the beeping stop as he forced himself up and over the side of the bed.
Bad place.
Very bad place.
He had to get away.
He had not been with the X-Men long and so far he had done everything possible to avoid the med labs. Hank might have good intentions but he'd be damned before he willingly let someone cut him up and poke around inside him again.
He'd made that mistake before.
Those days were over and yet here in a dimly light room they were very real again.
His legs were slightly shaky as bare feet found cold floor.
White tiles that made him slide and grip the bed for support.
The beeping had turned into a dull buzz.
He wished it would stop and heard a clicking sound behind him that he couldn't identify.
Heart hammering he turned around and saw a large and dark figure.
His guts told him to blow the whole place up. They said boom. Blast it all to dust but he didn't.
"Ah, you're awake."
Beast.
Hank.
He relaxed slightly and leaned against the bed frame for support while his brain accepted where he was and what had happened.
There had been a mission. There had been a fight and he had gotten knocked out.
A sudden rush of shame came at him. Shame for being knocked out and shame for his confusion.
"Are you alright?" Hank asked and the light flicked on, blinding him and making him raise a hand as his eyes struggled to adjust.
He nodded but there was still cold sweat on the back of his neck and in his pits. Still something squirming in his stomach. . .
He looked up and saw Hank watching him and just for a moment he thought of red eyes and an evil face but as soon as his skin had broken into gooseflesh the image was gone and it was just Hank looking at him with worry.
Hank who was kind.
"Am I good to go upstairs?" He asked, voice sticking in his dry mouth.
Hank hesitated and he knew his legs weren't under him. He hoped the other man couldn't see.
"Would you mind if I look you over first?"
He did mind and the memories of Sinister and his labs didn't leave his head.
"'Think I'm okay." He said.
Hank looked at him sadly for a moment. "You look very pale, Remy." He said.
He didn't doubt that but every part of him was screaming to get out of here. He needed to be somewhere with air and windows and maybe grass.
"'m alright." He insisted, wishing the man would believe him.
"Do you need any help getting upstairs?" Hank asked, eyes still unconvinced and he cursed himself for looking so weak.
Remy glanced past him and suddenly didn't know if his legs would carry him. In his haste to get out of this place he hadn't taken a true appraisal of his actual abilities.
"If I asked for help would you call me a liar?" He asked, trying to smile.
Hank gave him a kind look. "No, Remy I wouldn't."
He winced slightly and forced a grin. "I think I might need help upstairs then."
To his credit Hank only held out a blue and furry arm.
He winced and took it, allowing the man to help him upstairs and into the light.
It wasn't much light. The windows were dark but he breathed easier once he was away from the steel and sterilization.
Hank seemed to notice and helped him into a dark sitting room, turning on the light.
Remy sank down weakly onto the couch. "Merci." He muttered. "Don' like hospitals."
It was a half truth, he couldn't remember the last time he'd been to a legitimate hospital for himself but just the same. It was as close to the truth as he was going to get.
Hank nodded like he understood and maybe he did. They all knew about Wolverine.
The nightmares he had.
Remy and everyone else had heard them.
"Would you mind if I still looked you over?" Hank asked.
He hesitated and then nodded.
He was safe here and Hank had helped him up the steps.
He hadn't had to.
He let the man check his pulse and look in his eyes and ears and mouth.
It was uncomfortable but Hank was a good one and he had begun to trust him. This only proved his trust as Hank finished and smiled at him, many teeth showing.
"You're alright by my estimation." He said. "And it is professional."
Remy smiled. "Told you."
"Yes well, let me know when you want help getting up to bed."
He winced at that and grinned sheepishly. "Right. . . oui."
"Oui indeed." Beast gave him a warm look and settled back onto a sofa opposite, taking most of it up.
He felt foolish now for freaking out but the truth was that after Sinister he just didn't want to be around medical equipment.
The memories and the feelings that came with them were still raw and he was only just adjusting to living in the mansion.
Storm was trying to ease him into it but things like this were tough and it would only take time.
Beast however was indulgent and when the time came actually did help him up to bed, something he greatly appreciated.
Living with the X-Men was something new and different but he was starting to like it. There were good things that came with it and good people.
Thanks for reading!