Sequel to A Promise Fulfilled

A Promise Negotiated

Ch. 2 by Esprit

 

 

Magneto tried to asses the look on Gambit's face as he entered the fortress, but was having trouble as the young man wouldn't look at him.  He stepped in front of the young mutant, barring his path into the office he had been heading for, obviously to drop off a written report.  That, in and of itself, was unusual of the boy.  He had never exercised that option before, preferring verbal reports.

 "What did you find?" he asked in his deep, composed voice.

 "De school was haunted.  De Professor could probably tell," he said with a shrug.

 "Haunted?" he repeated disbelievingly.

 "Yeah, ghosts an' goblin's."  Remy still wouldn't look at him.

 "Why would Charles Xavier believe in anything resembling goblins?"

 "Hell if I know.  He probably jus' thought somethin' weird was goin' on an' he had t' save de world—or save a wayward mutant—oui?" Remy said, regurgitating the canned ideals and motives for the X-Men.

 "Did you see anything?"

 "Jus' dead people," he said dismissively.

 "Your... ghosts."  Remy nodded, eyes still never meeting those of the master of magnetism.  "Why don't I believe you?"

 Remy's eyes finally came up to meet Magnus'.  "Probably 'cause y' unwillin' t' believe dere wasn' anythin' dere dat y' could use t' gain advantage ov' dat crippled man y' can never seem t' beat," he quipped, growling.

 Angry in the first place, Magneto let a blow fly.  Gambit should have known not to piss him off when he was in a mood like this, but he had done it anyway, and thus deserved the punishment.  The young man put a hand up to touch at the blood coming from his nose and glared at Magneto, but didn't strike.  He knew what the man was capable of and wasn't willing to be on the receiving end of more for the sake of privacy.

 Not caring about the blood so much, Gambit handed the folder to Magneto, since he wasn't going to stick around longer, and headed for the exit.  "And where do you think you're going?"

 "Out," he said tersely, knowing that he'd get mad if he didn't get a response.  Magneto always tried to be the father figure to his boys, but there were a few of them that it just didn't work with.  Himself in particular, but he had also noted that he didn't get away with it to Creed.  Remy kept walking toward the door.

Victor Creed stepped into Remy's path just as he was hitting the door.  "I don't think so," Magneto said.  He looked at Gambit, assessing him then Sabertooth.  "Stay here the night... to make sure you are safe from your... ghosts."

 Remy squinted back at Magneto when he said that, then looked to Creed, backing away slowly.  Victor wasn't interested in letting him get very far though.  Leaning in, he whispered, "I can smell him on ya."

 "Can't help which of Xavier's dogs he sends," Remy growled.

 "Makin' a habit o' bestiality, then?"

 Eyes narrowing to slits, Remy became very still, as Creed's hand came up to hold his chin.  "I won't tell the boss man, but you have ta do me the same favor ya did the runt."

First and foremost, Remy knew that this one would not be as painless as the proxy-love that happened between he and Logan that evening.  Second, he simply didn't want to do anything like that.  Third he wasn't a whore.  Fourth, he wasn't interested in men—at least... not the type of man that stood in front of him, clutching his chin slightly tighter to make his point.  The list drew on and Remy could think of no reason that he should grant Sabertooth this favor... except his life.

Not only might Magneto get angry beyond reason if he found out what happened with Logan that evening, but Sabertooth might right then if he didn't cooperate.  That wasn't something he was prepared to face.

Making sure they were alone in the hallway, Remy leaned into the large man and kissed him gingerly on the lips.  His kiss was nothing like Logan’s, even from the instant of contact.  Taking the kiss as acceptance and willingness to do him the favor he sought, Victor physically picked Gambit up and carried him to his room inside the metal fortress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Saints Day wasn’t turning out to be much better than the Halloween Logan had spent mostly alone.  Chuck tried to be out and available to talk to, but Logan didn’t much feel like talking to the man—especially since the conversation seemed to be steered inevitably toward what happened to Logan in the empty Bayville High School building.  He couldn’t blame the Professor’s curiosity, but he really could blame his nosiness if he had been told a million times that he didn’t want to talk about it.

Logan took up classes again just like normal, but everything seemed… clearer today.  More crisp, like the fog in his brain had evaporated.  He didn’t want to believe that it was his possession the evening before that brought out this clarity, but there was nothing else that could really explain it.

It was almost like he was… relieved in a way he hadn’t been for ages and that thought made him pause.  He of course hadn’t gotten laid in forever, but it wasn’t like he wasn’t relieving himself when the pressure built, so why should it have mattered that there was another person involved?

The words spoken by his partner as he left made the whole event flash through his head again with equal intensity.  “It… wasn’t unpleasant,” he had said.  It hadn’t been unpleasant for Logan either. 

Things certainly felt clearer, but he couldn’t keep his mind on anything.  It was like the world was reaching out to distract him… and then he would think about the boy and he would be lost until a student asked him what was wrong and why he stopped lecturing.  Continuing with his lecture, he felt particularly coordinated as he tossed his uke* onto the matt.

By evening, Logan was thinking about nothing but the boy he had encountered the evening before and the way he was still feeling because of it.  He remembered feeling that way when Jean had first responded to his advances.  Those days, he felt like he could fly.  The euphoria of the day before was nothing compared to the time months previous with Jean in his head, but it did remind him of the same sensations.

It was that night that Jean and Scott got back from their trip to Florida and his mood just seemed to plummet.  He felt like he wanted to growl at Scott and crawl away into his den, and lick his wounds. 

Looking at Logan oddly when he came in, Scott set down his duffel bag and wrapped his arm around Jean’s waist possessively, waiting to shake the water droplets off of his coat as claiming Jean was more important.  Logan was in the doorway with his arms crossed.  He glanced at Jean and said, “Welcome home, Jean,” but was then off toward the stairs so he could go to his room and pout, although he would never think of it that way.  He sneered at Scott openly before heading off.

Scott made an offended face at Logan behind his back and leaned in to kiss Jean before turning his attention back to their luggage.  Jean looked at Logan concerned as he plodded off, but then her attention was drawn to the door when a faint, but audible thud emanated from beyond it.

Jean made a perplexed face and detangled herself from Scott to go open the door.  Scott looked to her and asked, “What was that?”  Jean didn’t answer him, perplexed that she couldn’t feel anything from beyond it and when she opened the door, she jumped back in startled fear.  There was a body on their porch!

The body looked tiredly up at her with red eyes and groaned softly.  It was then that Jean realized that this person was in fact alive and she crouched down to him.  “Jean?” Scott asked warily as Jean leaned in to the limp figure propped against their other closed door in the pair of double doors.  Peering over her shoulder, he recognized the man.  “Gambit?  What are you doing here?” he asked angrily.

Logan heard that with sharp ears and was rushing down the stairs to the door.  “Move it, Scott,” he said forcefully and took Scott’s space, pushing him farther out onto the porch.  Logan took a look at Remy and smelled the blood… and other things on him that were not his and that made him growl. 

Seeing the boy’s condition, he wasn’t pleased either.  He was soaking wet with the cold rain and his face was pale which made the contusions and cuts stand out more than they otherwise would have.  “Who did this to ya?” Logan asked.

Looking at Logan, the ghost of a smile lit Remy’s face and the bite on his lip started to bleed more.  “Logan…” he mumbled, obviously worn and sounding barely conscious.  “…I… came to see you….” he whispered and his eyes drooped closed.

Logan’s heart clenched at those words, but he felt no possession.  Jean looked up at Logan who was hovering next to her.  “Why would he want to see you?” she asked.

“Kid’s hurt,” he said.  “I’ll take care of ‘im.  You two go an’ tell the Professor who our visitor is.”

“Logan, this man is dangerous—“ Scott started to object.

“I can handle this guy.  Go on,” he said and leaned in to pick the unconscious man up.

“Logan, he can’t come in!” Scott insisted.

Getting him under the shoulders and knees, Logan carried Gambit into the house, ignoring Scott’s protests.  What was he gonna do?  Shoot Logan and possibly kill the boy in his arms?  The Professor would love that.

Taking the boy up to his room, Logan listened as Jean and Scott contemplated what Gambit had to do with Logan.  They could wonder all they wanted—Logan wasn’t going to talk to them about it.

Setting the boy down on his bed, even though he was soaking, Logan went about undressing him and the more he did, the angrier he got.  He didn’t know whether to be angry at the boy or not, but part of him simply couldn’t believe that he would let someone do this to him.  He saw the claw marks and recognized them.  They were the right hand size and the boy had Victor Creed’s stink all over him. 

Speaking of which—he didn’t need that in his bed.  He got a wash cloth from his adjoining bathroom and got a little soap.  Careful of his cuts and bites, Logan washed the boy so he smelled like himself and soap.

Having undressed him to his waist, Logan swallowed and began unfastening his pants.  He was wearing normal clothing—not his colors, so they were easier to get around, but the smells coming from his nether regions didn’t bode well to him.  Logan wasn’t stupid.  He knew what had happened from the moment he smelled the boy—he just wasn’t sure how bad it was.  The more he moved him, the more blood he smelled.

He was glad that the blood hadn’t been visible from the view Jean and Scott had of him.  He was going to have a tough time of explaining the boy’s presence as it was without having to discuss rape.

Tending to his injuries as best he could, Logan checked him and he seemed to be not too bad off, even when it came to his sphincter—which he had to inspect closely once it was clean.  There were tons of tiny cuts, but none big enough to need stitches.  It would surely smart for a long time though.

Once he was clean, Logan sat back to contemplate why he was there.  He remembered their most recent encounter and Logan couldn’t help but get lost in it with the very naked form he had been touching on Halloween evening in front of him.

Realizing that he was naked, Logan hopped up and threw his covers over him, then went to Scott’s room.  If he found Jean in there with him… he was just going to have to grit his teeth and bear it.  He knocked firmly on the door and listened inside to the sound of Jean’s casual speaking being interrupted.  Scott answered the door and frowned at Logan.  “What is it?” he asked.

“I need a change o’ clothes fer our guest.  He’s about yer size,” he assessed.

“Why does he have to borrow my clothes?”

“Yer up an’ I’m here, so snap to it,” he growled, trying to not even look at Jean.  Scott sighed heavily, expressing how put upon he was and went to grab some clothing for Gambit.

“What is he doing here, anyway?” he asked, indignant that the Professor had said that they would not turn anyone away.

“That’ll be the first question outta my mouth as soon as he wakes up,” Logan assured, although he was sure that it wouldn’t be.  It seemed to appease Scott though, so he took the clothing that was eventually offered to him and tucked it under his arm for the trip back to his room.

Once there, he debated clothing him, but figured that since it was late anyway, he might as well not disturb him—not that he had been disturbed really with Logan’s handling of him before.  He would probably want a real shower in the morning when he woke up too.  Logan also admitted somewhere in the back of his mind that he simply wanted to see the boy naked and to have him in his bed that way.  The thought of waking up with him naked beside him made his heart pick up a little, but he tried to control himself.

He wasn’t going to push himself on the boy.  Getting ready for bed, Logan contemplated him again before crawling into bed with only his boxers on.  He usually slept in less, but he didn’t want to scare Gambit when he woke up.

Their skin slid together and Logan liked how smooth the sleeping boy’s was.  Easing down, he wrapped an arm protectively over him and tried to go to sleep with his smells and sensations right next to him.

 

 

 

 

 

The first question that Logan actually asked when he felt his sleeping charge wake was, “How ya feelin’, kid?”

The kid started in his arms a little, but relaxed when he looked over at Logan and recognized him.  He smiled.  “You weren’ a dream,” he said groggily.

“Sabertooth didn’t go easy on ya,” he observed with sad eyes.  Remy frowned at that.

“Non…”  In fact, the feral had seemed quite angry that Logan was with him, whatever the circumstances might have been.

“Listen… Magneto and his goons… ya shouldn’t be with the likes o’ them, Remy,” Logan said, trying to convince the boy that he had other options.

“Goons?  I am one o’ dose goons, Logan.  Or did y’ forget?”

“Guess I was hopin’ that… Creed knocked some sense inta you at least,” he shrugged.  “Alla them are dangerous.”

“Believe me… I’m aware of dat,” he said, aggrieved, implying that he was painfully aware of the fact that Creed in particular was dangerous.

“Then stay with us…” he said casually, as if it were the natural conclusion of the train of thought.

Remy was quiet for a long moment, just looking at Logan.  He wondered if he would expect them to be lovers if he were to stay.  Not that it would be a bad thing.  It was just that he had heard that Logan had a thing for the red-headed telepath… and Remy wouldn’t want to be just a replacement for a woman.

“You know dey wouldn’ accept me,” he said and made to get up, realizing that he was naked under the covers with Logan.  Remy blushed and drew the covers around himself tighter.

“They’d get used to it,” he said.  “I just… don’t wantcha comin’ back here like this… y’know?”

Brows drawing together, Remy roughly got up from the bed, flinging covers and located clothing on a seat nearby that was obviously meant for him.  He started dressing.  “Den I won’!” he shouted, indignant.

Wait—what?  Logan didn’t understand why the boy was so upset.  “What’d I say?” he asked.

Growling, Remy turned to Logan after he had his borrowed boxers and jeans on and snapped, “If y’ don’ want me here, why’d you take me in, in de first place?!” 

Actually smirking, Logan crawled out of bed toward Remy and stood in front of him, putting his meaty hands over the lithe arms.  “I do wancha here, gumbo—but I wancha here permanently.  I don’t wanchoo ta have ta sneak in here because somebody hurt you.”  And he certainly didn’t want him dead.  How was Logan to know whether or not Sabertooth came close to killing him?  How could he trust that Creed wouldn’t next time?  Or Magneto?  These were all people that they were fighting because they couldn’t trust.

And what made him think he could trust Remy, hunh?

He was one of them, like he pointed out. 

But he was a smart kid—why did he have to be on the wrong side of the tracks like that?  He could become an X-Man if he wanted to.  Heck, the kid had every reason to want to become a part of their team if it was to get away from the creeps that did this to him.

“What?  You wan’ me t’ be an X-Man?  Like you?” he asked, snorting in derision.  Like that would ever happen. 

The sarcastic force of that question made Logan stop and think.  Did he even really know this kid?  No.  They had a strange night together in which they seemed to be in sync with each other… now they were a million miles apart.  Why would he have suspected that the boy even wanted to be an X-Man?  He was on the wrong side of the tracks for a reason, right?  The boy was a thief.

Logan’s arms fell from Remy’s sides.  “You think I’m stupid fer bein’ here?” he asked, wondering if he thought him to be a naïve old man—which would be a first.

“If you were a thief, I’d say, yeah.”

“What’s yer point?”

“Logan… my kind doesn’ belong here,” he stated firmly.

“What, ya think that because ya started out on the wrong side ya can’t turn yer life around?”  That was inexperienced crap. 

“What—your Professor would let me continue to be a thief and be an X-Man?” he said doubtfully.  He looked at Logan from the corner of his eye, evaluating him.  “He’s got too high a’ morals f’ dat,” he observed. 

“And yer such a clepto that you can’t keep yer fingers ta yerself,” he surmised.

“You don’ know anythin’ about me, Logan!  You don’ know about my family, you don’ know about my culture—you know shit, so quit tryin’ ta be de hero an’ pull me outta de gutter!”

Softly, Logan asked, “Why don’cha wanna be pulled from the gutter, kid?  I been there—I know the gutter ain’t pretty.  It can’t be pretty fer you with what happened last night.”

“Logan…” Remy said equally quiet.  “De gutter’s… de only place I ever known.”  It was familiar to him.  He’d be lost in a world where people were sweet and idealistic.  Just glimpsing into it was enough to tell him that.  Logan was the only X-Man to even talk to him. 

“So shackin’ up here’d be an adventure,” Logan shrugged, smiling at Remy.

A faint smile touched Remy’s eyes as he looked at Logan.  “You really wan’ me t’ stay…?” he sort of observed, sort of asked.

“Yeah,” Logan admitted.

“Den ask y’ Professor.  If it’s fine by him… I’ll stay,” he said, a little flutter going through him at the idea of staying there with Logan.

 

 

 

Knocking on the Professor's office door, Logan waited and was welcomed in.  Remy was on his heels practically, unwilling to be there without him.  Logan had to demand that he come down with him before the boy would consider it.  He was technically in enemy territory still—though it seemed like Logan's bedroom was the only real safe place to be.

 The old bald man looked up from his desk, where Remy knew he was sitting in a wheelchair, and eyed Logan and Remy, trying to put together a puzzle that Remy couldn't even see the pieces to.  Remy made sure his shields were tightly in place and gave an extra little energy charge to his body and his surroundings to screw with the telepath.

 "Logan...?" the Professor asked kindly.  "What can I do for you?"

 "I wancha ta think about lettin' Gambit on the team," he said without preamble.

 The old man raised an eyebrow at Logan, then his gaze traveled to Remy and stayed there.  "Do you have any wish to join us?  I was under the impression that your loyalties were to Magneto."

 "My loyalties are t' myself, Professor.  Right now bein' at Magneto's is conflictin' wid dose loyalties," he stated casually, trying to come off like he didn't care one way or another whether the stupid Professor said he could stay or not.

 "I see.  Unfortunately, when I accept a new person into my home, I must be reasonably assured that they will not... open the gate and let the flood in, so to speak."

 "I don' betray people.  Magneto's secrets an' plans are his.  Yours are yours.  Dat don' mean I'm a glutton f' punishment."

 "Can you assure me that you will not simply switch sides again?"

 "Non.  Got no idea what might happen in de future.  Y' gimme hurt, I might jus' find m'self back dere.  Might leave de country instead—who knows."

 The Professor affixed his gaze on Logan.  "Why would you want him on the team, Logan?"  He was very interested in hearing the answer to this.  Logan was one of the more distrustful in the entire school.

 "He'd be good fire power," Logan shrugged.  "Figure since you always tell me this is the right place ta be, it goes fer all mutants, right?"

 Charles looked at Gambit and his casual air.  He couldn't decipher what he was feeling about all of this.  It was a reasonable guess that Remy didn't know himself with the way Charles caught him looking at Logan a few times.  Overall, he wore a poker face, a mask of emotionlessness, but there was turmoil in his eyes, when he glanced at Logan.

 "Gambit... as I understand it, you are a thief."

 Remy's expression was openly accepting of the fact.  "Oui."

 "I can not have any of my students causing problems for the others."

 "Y' expect me t' be a student?" Remy asked, unfolding his arms and coming out of his relaxed and casual posture.

 "Of course.  You are less than eighteen, are you not?"

 Remy glared at the Professor.  "Actually, I am eighteen."  The Professor nodded.  "Then you would be enrolled in the advanced studies if you were accepted.  So, in order for me to accept you, I will require a contract of conduct with you."

 Remy's eyebrow lifted.  "A contract of...  'kay...." he said uncertainly.  "Lemme read dis contract o' yours an' we'll talk."  If Remy couldn't ply his trade, there was no way he was staying.

 "I will have it for you by the end of the day.  In the mean time, feel free to stay here as our guest."

 "Tanks," Remy said, folding his arms again.

 "Oh, and please let our doctor have a look at you.  I was informed that you were injured."

 "Ain' nothin' t' concern y'self over," Remy said, knowing that he must still not look too good with the cuts that were visible from where he felt pain.

 "I concern myself with everyone," he said gently.

 "Jus' a great big busybody," Remy commented, turning toward the door.  Logan lifted an eyebrow at him.  That was a pretty bold comment coming from someone who wanted to stay there as a student.

 "If you like, but I am so for a reason.  Please, see Hank McCoy.  Logan can show you his office."

 "Right," he said and looked back at Logan as he headed from the room.

 Xavier turned to his computer after the young man left with Logan and started typing away, wishing for a telepathic interface to his word processor.

 

 

Logan wasn’t happy about having to show Remy to the doctor’s office, but he had been asked to and it was a good idea for him to get checked out.  The boy growled and finally acquiesced, following Logan down into the Medical Lab.  When he got there, he seemed to be looking around far too often to simply be curious about the place; he was looking for traps and analyzing the layout of the place.  Not a good sign.

“Hey, Hank.  Gambit got into a scuffle last night and has a bunch o’ cuts an’ bruises.  Anything ya got for him?”

“Are you in any pain?” the cheerful doctor asked.  Remy simply shook his head.

“Then we should clean and bandage you up and you should be fine.  Please have a seat,” Hank said referring to the table in the center of the lab.

“Tanks, but if y’ jus’ gimme de antiseptic, I can clean an’ bandage m’ wounds jus’ fine.”  Remy was coming off not friendly at all, which still annoyed Logan, mostly because he knew that he wasn’t always like that.  Why did the kid have to put on a show of distrust all the time?

Perplexed at the attitude he was receiving, Hank cleared his throat and said, “Of course.  Shall I look you over to make sure all is in order?”

“Really, I don’ need all dis attention.  I’m fine.”  Nodding, Hank got a tube of antiseptic and gave it to Remy.  “Merci,” he said, bowing very slightly to Hank and he turned to leave.  Logan looked at Hank, shrugged and followed after Remy figuring he shouldn’t let him out of his sight for the Professor’s peace of mind anyway.

 

 

 

 

It had taken all day, but Charles finally finished that contract he had been working on.  He had to think about every little thing he would want out of the young man and lay it out in plain detail.  He felt that Gambit was the type to find the loophole to exploit and Charles wanted no loopholes.
 
When he was ready, he sent for the young man and when he showed up, Charles could feel Logan waiting outside for him.  He was curious about their relationship, but neither of them were likely to expound.
 
The young man came in and was a mask of ease.  He could practically feel the emotions boiling under the surface and wondered why it was that he could sense it now, but hadn't been able to sense anything earlier.
 
"Please, have a seat," Xavier invited and a frown sunk into the boy's mouth.
 
"Non, thanks, I'll stand."  He stepped over to the desk where a several page document rested and asked, "Dis it?"  Xavier nodded.  Picking up the pages, Gambit looked them over, obviously reading carefully.
 
It took half an hour for him to read it to his satisfaction and he finally looked up at Xavier after the tenth page had been looked at.  "I can't follow dis contract," he said mildly and tossed the paper down on his desk.
 
Looking surprised at him, Charles asked, "Why is that?  There were no unreasonable requests in this contract."
 
"Dere were actually.  Four of note," he explained.
 
"Oh?  Which were they?"
 
"De first is dat you demand dat I not steal from anyone, anywhere.  I can't do dat."
 
"I understand that you are a thief, but I don't understand your need to steal.  Those actions would jeopardize my school if you were to stay here and were caught."
 
"I don't get caught," Remy growled.  He paused for a long moment while Xavier glared back at him.  "I... have an obligation to keep up my skills, Professor."
 
Xavier raised an eyebrow at that.  "An obligation?  To whom?"
 
"My family," he replied simply.
 
Pursing his lips, Xavier thought about it.  "What if I told you that we could simulate situations where you could steal to your heart's content, but no actual theft would take place?"
 
An eyebrow rose and Gambit looked at Xavier with a half smile.  "I'd be interested in seein' how.  Jus' returnin' whatever it was dat was stolen all de time?"
 
"Far less dangerous than even that.  My X-Men use a facility called the Danger Room, which I'm sure you and Magneto know about, to hone their skills.  Any scenario can be simulated and they can be as realistic as desired.  Would that be sufficient?"
 
"I'd have t' see y' set up, but if it's any good, it probably would," he nodded, half smile still in place.
 
"Very well.  You mentioned four problems?"
 
"Well, I suppose dat gamblin' can be simulated as well, non?"
 
"Is it an obligation to gamble for you as well?"
 
"It's part o' de skill set dat I hold—oui."  Remy's voice was serious again.
 
"Then, yes, programs can be made for that."
 
"Don' suppose dey can make good whiskey."
 
"You are not old enough to drink, young man," Xavier admonished.
 
"But I could drink y' under de table," he countered.
 
"That is not the point.  The point is that laws are obeyed in my school and I do not allow minors to drink on campus or off of it.  There is no alcohol on campus.  Even Logan must go into town to seek libations."
 
Rolling his eyes, he thought that was probably one condition he would have to give in on.  Remy nodded, then picked up the paper to look at it again.  "One last thing dough... no sex?"  He looked at the old man full of scorn.  "What—you can't get any so nobody can?"  He was obviously upset about this one.  It didn't seem right.
 
"Gambit, every person in this home is either a teacher or a student.  If you are a student all of my other students are under age and you may not pursue them sexually or romantically.  Also if you are a student, you may not pursue a teacher romantically or sexually.  I won't have those boundaries breached."
 
"So I couldn' be a teacher an' 'pursue romantically' anoder teacher?"
 
"You don't have teaching credentials, so no."
 
"Okay, den," he said with a sigh and leaned over to take a pen from the desk and sign on the line at the bottom of the contract.  "But Logan's gon' have a problem wid dat."
 
"Excuse me?"  Logan was going to have a problem with him not having teaching credentials?  "What is Logan going to be upset about?"
 
"De no sex," he said as he finished signing the form.  He slid the pen slowly back into its cap, staring at Xavier as he did.
 
"That...  Logan wouldn't...."
 
"Logan did, Professor.  Why y' think I ain' sittin'?" he asked, leaning back up and heading out of the office.
 
Xavier sat at his desk thoroughly disturbed.
 
 
 
 
 
**Logan!!!!** 
 
Logan cringed so badly that he actually curled in slightly on himself, then looked at the Professor's door as Remy walked away from him.  The boy had just informed him that he was accepted and just walked away.  Why, he didn't know, but he suspected that it had something to do with why Chuck was shouting in his head just then.
 
Opening the door, Logan looked inside and saw the grave face Charles was wearing.  "What the hell?" he asked indignantly, closing the door behind him.
 
"I should be asking you the same thing," he said, his tone dark as Logan had ever heard it.
 
"Why?"
 
"You slept with him?" he asked, gesturing vaguely to the boy who had left his office a few moments ago.  It had taken Charles that long to gather himself to the point where he could address this issue.  He wasn't pleased with how he was handling it now either, and he sighed and put his head in his hands.
 
Logan blanched and looked at Xavier.  "How do you know that?" he asked accusingly.
 
"That young man just flaunted it at me, that's why."
 
Turning to the office door, Logan glared at it as if he could see the boy beyond, but he couldn't.  He could smell his recent-presence in the room still, and it gave him a perfectly good mental image to glare at.
 
"It wasn't either of our faults, Chuck," Logan defended.
 
This news intrigued Xavier and comforted him at the same time.  He folded his hands and listened to Logan more closely.  "You have my undivided attention."
 
Rolling his eyes, Logan started, "It happened on Halloween.  He was there in the school when I went ta investigate."
 
"What was he doing there?" Xavier interrupted.
 
"I... didn't have a chance ta ask 'im."
 
"Ah.  Go on."
 
"Soon as we saw each other... there was this... presence that came over both of us.  We each... played a different role.  We were possessed," he continued.
 
"Oh, my—  Logan, I'm sorry."
 
"Don' apologize, Chuck.  It wasn't yer fault.  Heck, it was the fact that it was me who was playin' the teacher in that scene that let the spirits finally rest in peace."
 
"I... see...."  Of course, he was having trouble seeing because of the lack of detail.  "But... where did you... I mean to say... why...."  It was of course the awkward thing that he was most concerned about.
 
"The spirits used our bodies ta sleep tagether.  They aren't gonna bother anybody any more."
 
Charles rested his head in his hands again.  "I am sorry that this has complicated things, Logan."  Logan shrugged at the comment as if to say it wasn't a big deal.  Then something that Gambit said came back to Charles.  "Logan—Gambit said that... you would be disappointed if I put a restriction on his sexual activity."  He wondered what Logan would say to that.
 
Logan bristled.  Why was the Professor putting restrictions on anybody’s sexual activity?  Why was Remy assuming that Logan would want to have sex with him?  Then again... that was a pretty accurate assessment on Remy's part, even if they hadn’t addressed it.  "He's an eighteen year old man, Chuck.  Why're you sayin' he can't do what he wants so far as sex goes?  That's a bit fascist, don't ya think?"
 
"Several reasons, Logan, some of which I expected you to sympathize with.  I need him to be an example for the younger children because as an older student he will be an example whether he likes it or not.  Next, he cannot have sex with any of the students here legally and none of us are ready for that complication if he were to."  Logan growled deep in his throat at the thought of Remy having sex with anyone else.  "He cannot have sex with any of the teachers because he is a student here, Logan.  Legally of age, or not, I simply must preserve the dynamic.  What if the other children found out and started to believe that it was acceptable for them to sleep with a teacher because another student was?  Please try to understand, Logan."  It was partway through the conversation that Charles realized that Logan did want to pursue a relationship with Gambit.  He had to make him see his point of view though.
 
"Fine, Chuck," Logan growled and left the room without letting Xavier say anything more, should he have wanted to.  He didn't know what he was going to do, but he was going to have to try and distance himself emotionally from Remy as much as possible. 
 
If he did that though... he would just alienate him....
 
Damned if he did... damned if he didn't.

 

 

It took Logan downright tracking Remy to find him and when he did the taller man was just walking around the place.  Why, Logan didn’t know.  “Wha’cha doin’, kid?” he asked.

Pausing, Remy looked at Logan and raised an eyebrow at him.  He had hoped that Logan would stop referring to him as a kid, but figured that the Professor talked to him and had persuaded him to believe that it was best for them not to see each other.  “Getting’ m’ bearin’s.”  Logan nodded.

“You hungry?” he asked and if Remy read him right, he was uneasy.  It was time to talk.

“Could eat,” he said, though he was actually quite hungry.  He and Logan had been exercising for pretty much the whole day after Remy had gotten cleaned up because it was a harmless activity that Scott wouldn’t object to while the boy was still… not technically enrolled.  It was around dinner time as Remy had seen from the other students in the dining area, but he had been unwilling to let them see him just yet.

“Come on.  I’ll take ya ta Harry’s,” he said and motioned toward the garage.  Remy followed him and rode with him in his jeep down to the restaurant and bar in town that was one of his favorite hangouts.  They settled into a booth, and the closer they got to talking the more uncomfortable Logan seemed to look.

“The Professor tell y’ we couldn’ have sex?” he asked bluntly.  Logan looked at him a little shocked, wondering if the boy could read minds, but figured he was probably an open book to him by now.  He nodded after a moment.

“Yeah, he did.”

Leaning back on his side of the booth, Remy put his hands behind his head.  “We could jus’ keep it a secret, y’know,” he said.

“Naw, we couldn’t.  Not from him.  He’d smell it.”

“Thought dat was you,” Remy smirked at him. 

Logan snorted shaking his head.  “Still.  He’d find out.”

“Probably if we were t’ do so in de school… but elsewhere?” Remy asked, raising an eyebrow at Logan.

“Where?” Logan asked, not sure there was any place on the grounds they could go that was safe.

Shrugging, Remy suggested, “Hotel room?  Apartment?  Doesn’ matter.  Jus’ somewhere away from pryin’ kiddy-eyes.”

Pondering it, Logan stared into the table as if the faux wood grain held the answer.  “Remy—he’d find out.  We’d act like lovers….”  Logan at least knew that he would.

“We’ll have dat tension between us anyway, Logan.  Dere’s no getting’ around it.  An’ what happens when we start t’ get frustrated like men do, hunh?  If we have a place t’ vent, we might not stare at each oder like pieces o’ meat.”  Remy for one knew that he would start eyeing Logan closely when he started to get frustrated without as much sex as he usually got.  The sensuous memories of Halloween were still strong.

Thinking over the arguments brought up, Logan was starting to agree with him.  He didn’t think that it was a good idea for the Professor to know about it though.  He would be the ultimate test.  If they could fool him, when he knew they had slept together, then they could fool the kids.

“Okay, Remy.  We’ll try it.  We’ll have ta act real platonic while we’re at the school, but I think we could get away with it.”

Remy smiled broadly at the thought of getting to experience what Logan was really like during sex.  At the moment, he wasn’t in any hurry, and he was sure Logan wasn’t either from the scare the Professor probably gave him, but soon—when Remy was healed, they could start—relieving tension when necessary.

 

*uke— in martial arts, the person receiving a technique.

       —in yaoi (Japanese version of slash) the person receiving penetration. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Promise Broken

Chapter 3

 

Remy had his colors and his tools by morning—not having told the Professor about this last act of theft—which wasn’t really theft, since the things belonged to him.  He had snuck into Magneto’s place with Logan’s aid and snuck back to the mansion by early morning.  They were just tossed on his new floor as he slept in the slightly later morning.

He didn’t feel comfortable sleeping in a place that wasn’t Logan’s room, but that could just have been the first night jitters.  The place was entirely unfamiliar and Logan wouldn’t let him stay with him as per their agreement of platonic activity around the mansion.

Gambit had been expecting the knock on the door... now his door, he supposed.  It came a little earlier than he hoped though.  Looking at the door, Remy crawled out of bed in his boxers and answered the door in them and all of his cuts, which still stood out on his skin.

 Scott looked at Remy for the first time since his arrival two days previous and could tell that he had been beaten... and it looked like a certain extinct cat might have been involved.  Glaring with a frown, Scott said, "Training has started already."  Scott was in his uniform and crossed his arms, expecting Remy to snap to get ready like any of his other team mates.

 Making a perplexed, pained face Remy leaned against the doorway and asked, "Y' point?"

 "I was told that you're on the team now."

 "I was told I was a student now," Remy countered.  "I haven' been given a schedule yet," he said placating with a smile.

 "I'll have the Professor make one up for you," Scott growled and stepped back from the doorway to look at Remy's wounds again.  "They really did that to you?"

 Sighing, Remy didn't answer him and slunk from the door jam he'd been braced against and closed the door behind him.  He had almost said that they had done worse, but he wasn't about to give the boy ideas.  Going back to bed, Remy pulled the covers over his head and curled up, noting the discomfort in the place Creed had done the most damage.

 Scott didn't know what to do, so he went down to the Professor's office—which was kind of second nature to him when he didn't know what to do.  The Professor welcomed him in and Scott took a seat in front of his desk with a puzzled look.  "What is it, Scott?  Gambit?"

 "Yeah.  He... says he doesn't have a schedule...."  He wanted to talk to the Professor about his wounds too, but didn't know how to approach the subject really.  He was a little suspicious that they had just made him look beaten and sent him there as a spy.

 "Yes.  We have yet to decide what course of study Mr. LeBeau will be pursuing," Xavier commented.

 "LeBeau?"

 "Remy LeBeau is Gambit's name," he supplied.  He had gleaned this information from his signature, which was legible.  "He is still healing, so don't worry about having him train with the team just yet.  I take it you've seen him this morning."  Scott nodded.  "How was he?"

 "He looked fine to me," he said, looking at the Professor's book case.

 "Fine?" Charles asked for clarification.  He didn't think that Remy looked fine. 

 "Professor... what if he's a spy?  What if he's here to sabotage our team?"

 "Logan would have sensed any betrayal from him as would I.  He means us no harm, Scott."  In an unconscious gesture, Xavier laced his fingers and set his chin on them.  "Why don't we give him some time to settle in and put together his course of study, then when you're more comfortable and he's healed you can start working with him."  He was pretty sure that he was going to have Logan train with him privately for a while.  Sudden integration was probably not the best idea.

 "All right, Professor," Scott said and went to go see how the practice was going.  Storm had taken over while he went to go see about Gambit, their newest member.

  

 

 

 

Practice took its customary hour and the kids were all showered and changed afterward before they went down to the kitchen.  Rogue and Kurt stopped in their tracks and crouched into defensive postures they had just been practicing when they found an enemy in their kitchen with his feet propped up on another chair.

 The red-eyed mutant looked calmly at them, as he always did and sipped the coffee that was in the mug in front of him.  "What are you doin' here?!" Rogue shouted, never taking her eyes from Gambit.

 Clearing his throat, Gambit set his mug down and explained, "I go to school here now."

 "No, ya don't—this is a high school!"  She knew that he was several years older than any of the other students there.

 "Not really of consequence seein' as I never been t' 'low' school t' begin wid," he quipped.

 "Remy, behave," Logan piped up from the corner of the kitchen... in more of a gentle voice than either Rogue or Kurt would have expected from him to be directed at anyone, let alone an enemy.

 Remy shrugged and started sipping his coffee again.  Then they noticed that Logan was cooking.

 "Um... Logan...?  What are ya doin'...?"

 "Cookin'—why?" he asked looking perplexed up at the two students.

 "AAAaaahhh!!!!" Rogue and Kurt both shouted and ran from the kitchen.

 Logan scowled after them and Remy turned to look at Logan.  "Dere somethin' y' should be tellin' me about, cher?"

 "No.  An' ya call me 'cher' again, I'll have ta wup yer ass."  Remy smiled behind his mug.

 "Now, would dat be so bad?"

 "You wait 'til I getcha on the matt."  Remy's smile didn't fade.  He looked forward to being with these people... even if they were less than they boasted being.  Logan, he was sure, would be the exception.  He seemed like a pillar of strength just in his presence and he wouldn’t be surprised if he was often the glue that held people together around here.

 Surely, he offered to be an adhesive for Remy.  Smiling broader at the thought, Remy welcomed another group of students in, these ones less shocked to see him—Scott and Jean.

 "It's good to see you up, Gambit," Jean greeted.

 "Cherie," Remy nodded.  "An' y' can call me Remy now."  He stood from his seat and extended his hand to Jean and she accepted the gesture of a kiss on her hand with a blush.

 A low rumbling growl was heard from Logan across the room and Remy tried to hide the smile on his face.  He really wondered whether it was Jean that Logan was upset about... or Remy.

 "Remy," Logan warned.

 "I know, I know.  Off limits," he said and squeezed Jean's hand gently before giving it back to her.  Scott was glaring at him obviously from behind his glasses and Remy wondered how much of a blast they were trying to keep back.

 

 

 

Logan had to admit that it was hard for him to look at Gambit like a student.  The others it was easy—hell, he had seen Gambit as a boy once... it just seemed like a thought process that was so far away... and thoughts of Halloween always got in the way of it now. 

 Thoughts of Halloween got in the way of a lot now, actually.  They got in the way of his teaching the other students before, but now it was as if he was constantly being bombarded with thoughts of that evening and of Remy in general because his smell was everywhere.

 It was even in the Danger Room.  He had to snap himself out of a daze to keep from nearly being taken by surprise by one of his students that always tried to get the jump on him.  They hadn't succeeded yet, but that time was closer than he would have liked.  He was also thankful that he was wearing a thick, heavy gi top or he might have been in a bit of embarrassing trouble.

  

 

That evening at dinner, Remy was leering at Logan over the table.  Logan glared back angrily and looked away from him and that reminded Remy that they needed to hide things better than this, so he didn't look at Logan again over dinner.  Scott saw at least part of the exchange and wasn't pleased with it.  It almost looked like they had a silent fight while everyone around them enjoyed the small talk and their meal.

 Scott saw the two men avoid each other after the table was cleared and Gambit offered to do the dishes for Rogue.  She was eager to take him up on it, although not so eager to leave his company.  They chatted for a bit about the south, but there was little connection that went on like Scott would have expected.  When he had observed Gambit before, he always seemed to have a hypnotic effect on the women and be very interested in everything they said.  This evening, he seemed detached and a bit rushed even though it was obvious that he was trying to look unhurried.

 Scott finished his coffee and left the kitchen and the newest and least trusted member of their school and team.  Remy watched Scott go and finished with the dishes.  "Thanks for de company, cher... but I should be off to... do some homework," he smirked at her and left the kitchen.

 Rogue was a bit disappointed that he had left for the evening to lock himself in his room, but at least he had done her chore for her.

 Remy was annoyed that Logan's room was on a completely different floor from his own, so if he was caught, he would have to have an excuse for going to see him, but one could be come up with easily enough.  He headed there instead of his own room, a little wary of young, prying eyes.  He didn't feel any on him as he walked and tapped quietly on Logan's door.

 When the door was answered, Remy just looked at him for a few minutes.  "Hey... homme.  Wanna go out for some pool?"

 Logan looked at Remy for an instant and his eyes drifted over the dress shirt he was wearing that was open just a little too much at the top.  "You up for it?" he asked.  "'Cause I'll kick yer butt."

 "You never seen me play pool before, have you?" he smirked.

 "Not you... no," he said, thinking that if pool were going to be the euphemism they were going to use that he had seen someone in his place 'play the game.'  While it was an experience they got to remember... and a pleasant one at that, it was not who they each were.

 "Den gimme a chance t' surprise y'."

 Logan paused and considered Remy's words.  "Okay, kid...  Yer on."

 

 

 

 

The place wasn't run down, but it wasn't fancy either.  A nondescript sort of place that middle class citizens wouldn't mind going.  It wasn't anonymous either, but unless the Professor went sniffing with the knowledge of several of Remy's aliases, he wasn't going to find a pattern.

 Of course, the plan had been worked out by Remy long before they arrived at their little motel and it wasn't even on his mind as he signed in.  Logan was.  He made sure not to write Logan's name instead, but caught himself about to and smiled at how off balance the man had been able to get him.

 They were in the room and they were both looking at each other like they had when Remy first showed up at Logan's room.  Logan reached out and tentatively unbuttoned Remy's shirt, feeling a strong tingling in his stomach that told him that this was something he wasn't supposed to be doing... that he could get fired for it... but did that matter? 

Wasn’t that one of the things that had separated Ethan and Charlie?  Look what keeping themselves apart had gotten them—nothing but death and heartache.  He knew he didn’t want to end up like that.

 Fine thief hands caressed at Logan's chest, moving his tank top out of the way to feel his hair covered skin.  He found nipples under the patches of fur and flicked his thumbs over them.  A throaty growl traveled to Remy's ears and he wanted to see what other sorts of sounds could be coaxed from the Wolverine.

 He had to be honest—he hadn't ever thought about any of his former enemies like this.  He had considered throwing off a few of the femmes and having some fun in the process, but he hadn't thought about the thrill of causing them pleasure... the men in particular, and certainly never Logan.

 To think that he was there about to make magic with him... and he wondered if he was falling in love.  He scoffed silently at the thought, hiding it deep within himself.  They were only there together because they were both frustrated men who had been with each other before—nothing more.  He wasn't sure that he could ever love a man.  He had barely loved his wife.

 God, his wife...  He wondered what she would think if she ever found out about this.

 Logan brought his attention back to him as he started biting at one of his nipples and Remy arched into the mouth, certain that even if he didn't fall in love with this man—he would become addicted to him quickly.

 The graze of teeth sent electricity through Remy, zinging bolts of thrill to his fast rising manhood.  His heart picked up and he started to purr heavily in his throat.

 Logan mistook this for a growl, which it nearly was, and bit a little before licking up his chest to his neck where he started to leave a pretty mark at the very base.  Easing Logan away from him, he gently said, "No marks... no marks, cher...  Wouldn' wanna get in trouble."

 Frowning, Logan nodded to him, then leaned in to bite him without suction—there would be no mark from that.  He felt this inexplicable urge to make Remy his own and he wondered if it weren't because of their previous experience of being possessed.

 It didn't matter—the boy and he were attracted to each other and not even Charles Xavier was going to keep them apart... no matter how good of a friend he was to Logan.  It hadn't been right of him to put that restriction up in the first place and Logan found himself rebelling at the idea of Remy not getting to have sex with him.

 His hands tightened in Remy's shirt material as he got the fabric off his shoulders and then the shirt fell easily to the floor when he released it.  Remy liked being exposed in front of Logan... mostly because of the way he looked at him. 

He was eager to get his jeans off and be even more exposed in front of Logan, and he found a shiver running up his spine as Logan put his hands over Remy’s as they eased his pants down together, Remy hooking his shorts as they passed and carrying them down too.  Logan’s eyes were fixed to Remy’s body and Remy couldn’t help but be hard at all the attention.  Remy’s clothing slid down his body and Logan’s hands caressed his hips.

Stepping out of his garments, Remy stood in front of Logan, feeling his gaze like a caress over his skin.  He tingled with anticipation as Logan’s hands glided lightly over his skin.  Logan remembered touching this skin… but it wasn’t him who was touching it, so for Logan, this was a new experience.  His hands traveled up Remy’s side and to his pecs and his nipples stood out at attention, as if begging for more consideration.

Leaning into Logan a little, Remy grasped at the edge of his shirt and tugged it up so it could be lifted out of the way.  He didn’t think he could wait any longer to crush his lips against he older man’s and he pressed his body close to him.  Logan’s hands found their way to his hips and caressed his bare ass as Remy worked at getting Logan’s jeans off.  The heavy fabric fell and Logan got out of them and his boots at the same time, enjoying that their nakedness let their sensitive flesh brush together.

Crouching in front of Logan, Remy licked at him lightly, tasting him a bit before diving on him completely making Logan grunt.  Thick hands quickly tangled in his hair and encouraged what he was doing for him.  Remy hummed loudly against Logan making everything vibrate and Logan thrust his hips forward.  “Awe… kid,” he moaned.

Pulling off him, Remy looked up to Logan with his bright red eyes and said, “Don’ call me kid… not here,” he said and rose to kiss him deeply.

“Sorry,” he said once the kiss was let go and kissed him again.

Remy smirked at him and pressed him back onto the bed.  Falling over him, straddling the man, Remy kissed him again and ground his hardness into Logan’s.  Scooting up on the bed, Logan grabbed Remy’s hips and Remy seemed to produce a small bottle of something out of nowhere and Logan raised an eyebrow at him.  Remy smirked at him.  He wasn’t going to tell him all his secrets and he opened the bottle to let the fluid run over his extended fingers.

Smirking, Remy let the cold fluid run over Logan’s erection and Logan hissed at the sudden change in temperature, but Remy’s hands were there to rub it in and make it warmer.  His slick hands disappeared for a moment and then he rose over Logan, his hands now caressing his chest, playing with his nipples as he lowered himself onto his thick shaft.

Remy moaned as the man was thicker than he remembered, but even that was more of a turn on than Remy expected it would be.  When the head of Logan’s shaft was buried inside Remy’s body, Logan let out a gasp and gripped Remy’s arms.  The kid was going slow and he was trying to control himself to keep from thrusting up into him.  The kid had just healed; he didn’t need to be re-injured. 

Once Remy was fully enveloping Logan, he smiled at him wickedly.  “What was dat ‘bout, ‘kickin’ my butt?’”

“God…  I don’t wanna hurt ya, Remy,” he said, catching himself to not call him kid.

“I’ll let y’ know if y’ gonna…  Right now, I jus’ wan’ y’ to let go,” he purred at him.  He wanted a ride.

Logan thrust his hips up into his lover, looking at his oh so young body as it rose and fell on him.  After the first thrust Remy’s head was thrown back and he absolutely loved the way his body felt when he fell back onto Logan’s cock, jarring his body.  When Remy thought it was getting hard on Logan’s muscles, he lifted himself on his knees, his legs still spread wide over him and he let the man thrust up into him without having to lift Remy’s weight.  Remy stayed above him and let Logan’s cock thrust into him and his hips fall back down to the bed.

Grunting, Logan gripped Remy’s hips above him because his hands needed something to dig into.  His fingers dug with bruising pressure into Remy’s flesh and Remy moaned and shook.  “Y’ gon’ make me cum all ov’ y’,” Remy whispered huskily, face still aimed at the ceiling, neck barred to Logan, the cords of his neck standing out.  God, he was hot and Logan started humping up into him faster.

That was all Remy needed to tremble his release and squeeze hard over Logan’s manhood, crying out Logan’s name loudly.  Logan wasn’t able to hold off—didn’t want to hold off after that and he came right when Remy started to squeeze him and call his name.  That was something… to have such a beautiful boy calling out his name in the throes of passion.

That satisfied smirk was on his face after he made a mess all over Logan’s chest and Logan grinned at him too.  “You look pretty pleased with yerself,” he commented.

“Oh, oui.  Y’ feel real good when y’ cum inside me, cher,” he purred.

“You… you can feel that?” he asked.

Smirking at him, Remy nodded.  “Y’ shouldn’ underestimate y’self.  Y’ got some dynamite behind dat load, cher,” and Remy winked at him. 

Logan didn’t think it was like him to blush, but his face got hot as he smiled at Remy and brushed his cheek.  “Awe, yer just sayin’ that.”

“No, I ain’,” he purred and got up off Logan, causing an aftershock to go through the man at the movement from him.  Remy went and got a tissue to clean up Logan with as it wouldn’t do for them to take a shower and show up at the mansion all wet.  Coming back to the bed, Remy curled into Logan’s offered embrace and they were both sated enough to fall casually into a slumber.  Logan’s arms were strong and Remy could smell their scents mingling and he actually wrapped a leg over Logan’s.  Part of him wanted to be in the man’s arms… and have him between his legs forever.

 

 

 

 

It had to be something like one in the morning when Remy woke himself up and swallowed.  They had fallen asleep.  He wondered if they could get back into the mansion easily, or if he would have to get them in the sneaky way.  He caressed Logan's arm that was wrapped around his waist gently and that woke the sleeping feral up.

 When he woke up, he realized the same thing that Remy had.  They needed to be back, probably before they had woken up.  Logan had an access code, so they would be able to get in... but it would show on their entry records that they had gone out and stayed out until all hours of the morning.  That would of course set the Professor's suspicions off.

 Logan eased off the bed first and leaned in to kiss Remy.  When he pulled away, he looked him in his exotic eyes.  Staring back, the younger man didn't think he had ever seen a look like the one Logan gave him.  It was full of so many different things... or perhaps he interpreted the look as having many different facets when it was simple, but he doubted that anything in their relationship was ever going to be simple again.

They had gone from the attraction that wasn't their fault, the memory of a night of inadvertent passion, to the purposeful possession of each other.

 Remy didn't say anything.  He didn't feel the need to.  They both knew what needed to happen and Logan was going to need every moment between then and when they got to the mansion to distance himself from Remy.  Putting on his clothing methodically, he tried not to think about the moments when Remy was taking them off or what had happened when the clothing was scattered across the floor where he picked them up from.

 When they got in the car, Remy went to the liquor store and got Logan a fifth of whiskey.  "Pour some on y' clothin' an' drink some so y' reek," he smirked, though he was a little sad that they had to hide to this extent.  "Dey ask, I drove y' to de bar an' was designated driver on de way back... d'accord?"

 "Sure, kid...."  Logan took a swig from the bottle.

 Remy swallowed and tried to not let the 'kid' thing get to him.  He knew that they had to hide and that Logan did that so that he could remind them both of their respective places.  Sighing, he started the car up again and was off to the mansion.

 

 

 

 

The two of them were quiet as they crept through the mansion halls.  They stopped in front of Logan's room and shared a long look before Remy pulled himself away from him and went silently up to his own room to try and sleep before he had to wake up in five hours.

 Logan ran a hand through his hair after he stepped inside his room and sighed.  He looked around the room asking himself what he was getting into... and when memories of Remy's naked and writhing body came to him, he forced them down so he could maintain the calm he strived for.

 It wasn't going to be easy facing Remy tomorrow, but at least he wasn't in any of his classes with other students.  Logan had a training session with Remy that would be observed by Scott and the Professor, but that was later in the day so Logan was pretty sure that he would be able to get himself together by then.

 Laying on his bed, he tried to get his mind off the young man he had just been sleeping with... more comfortably than any night he had spent in the mansion... because all of those nights... he'd been alone.

 

 

 

 

Breakfast wasn't the ordeal Logan thought it was going to be.  In fact... he was beginning to think that Remy didn't care for him—he was so... indifferent.  He wasn't looking at Logan, wasn't smiling at him—wasn't acknowledging his existence!  The young man was however, flirting with all of the women at the table, even Ororo and that made Logan growl low in his throat.

 Remy looked up at him when he heard the sound and stared at Logan with such a stern face that it drove Logan to growl louder.  Then Remy looked away from him, as if nothing had happened—sweet faced, and Logan felt hurt and confused.  Scott stopped what he was saying to Jean when the growling became loud enough for everyone at the table to hear and the rest of the conversations died. 

 Continuing his conversation with Rogue, as if he'd only been momentarily distracted, Remy tapped Logan's foot under the table as they sat across from each other signaling him however he could to stop.

 The covertness of the action jarred Logan back to their situation and he cleared his throat and stopped staring at Remy.  Instead he stared at his plate and made like it was nothing, fighting desperately to keep the blush from his face.  He had forgotten somehow that they were both supposed to be keeping up appearances, and that socializing with the other students was supposed to be a part of that.

 "Is there something wrong, Logan?" Charles asked from the head of the table.

 "Naw, Chuck.  I'm fine," he said and the conversations picked up after a moment.

 Scott didn't really believe that it was nothing since his glaring had been directed at Gambit and they had seemed angry at each other the evening before as well.  Something was going on and he wasn't so sure that it was the nothing Logan passed it off as.

 Remy didn't look at Logan again until they were in the Danger Room together, being observed by the two leaders in the house.  Logan swallowed when Remy looked at him casually and Logan wondered if he could keep his face stone enough to pass for not being attracted to the young man.

 Their training started and was the second they had.  The first was the other day after Remy was well enough to handle the type of physical exertion and Logan was wondering if Remy would be up for their fight that afternoon, but Remy didn't show any sign of weakness or discomfort.  That was going to be convenient for them.

 Logan hadn't slept well that night, so Remy actually kicked his butt, but the kid didn't seem to be holding back.  He hoped that the Professor and Scott would see the odd aggression they had toward each other as a fight as opposed to a ruse.

 "Professor," Scott asked up in the control room, "did Gambit and Logan have a falling out?"  Both of the men noticed how hard Gambit was fighting and that Logan was a little off balance.

 "I'm not sure, Scott...  I wouldn't have expected it from them.  After all, Logan is the only person here that Gambit truly seems to trust.  He sponsored his acceptance to the school."

 "I know, it's just... they look mad at each other."

 "Friendships like theirs will not easily be broken by anger, Scott.  Perhaps this is merely... a mutual purging of frustration."

 Scott looked oddly at the Professor.  "I wasn't aware that they were that close...."  Although, he should have been.  Logan had acted very protective of him the night he showed up on their doorstep.  "How is it that they know each other, Professor?  I thought they were enemies just like the rest of us...."

 "You would have to ask them what their relationship is, Scott."

 The tone in which Xavier said that made Scott suspicious. 

 Charles was having his own, private suspicions about why the two men were being so aggressive toward each other at that point, but he wasn't going to bring his worries up to either of them.  He would let their relationship run its course, since it didn't seem to be headed in the direction Charles feared.

 "Gambit seems proficient when he wants to be," Scott observed, directing the conversation back to business.

 "I dare say he's a talented young man.  If he keeps to his contract, we'll be lucky to have him."

 "I'm not so certain that I'm comfortable with these 'thieving programs' you're allowing him to make, Professor.  They're not useful for us and they're... amoral."

 "They were a compromise, Scott.  You won't need to be present for them—I'll have Logan observe those."

 Nodding, Scott crossed his arms as Gambit delivered a final blow that threw Logan off of the platform they were holding combat on.  "If Logan is willing to after this.  I don't think anyone has ever beaten him," Scott observed, not as happy about that as he thought he would have been. 

 He had thought to himself before that if anyone ever beat Logan he'd give them a week of chore-free duty, but Gambit beating Logan seemed... more like a dangerous warning than anything else and Scott found an urge inside him to lecture Logan about his performance against their enemy....

 But wasn't Gambit a student now, not an enemy?  Maybe Scott hadn't digested the idea that Gambit was on their side now, but all the same, Scott was determined to give Logan a piece of his mind.

 The simulation stopped and Logan didn't have as far to fall as it looked and he was grateful for that.  Pulling himself up, he looked at Gambit who was headed toward the door.  That wasn't good.  Logan was actually thinking that he'd made the young man mad, but... why would he be mad?

 When Remy was gone, the comm. came on and Logan heard Scott’s voice.  "What was that?" he asked mockingly.

 "Kid, you want to see the boy wupped—you face 'im next time."  Logan had to swallow a lot of blood from that final blow that he felt like knocked his tongue back into his throat.

 "You're our top fighter, Logan.  What are we supposed to do if you can't beat one of our enemies?"

 "Let Remy handle 'em," Logan smirked.

 Scott saw the point Logan was trying to make—that Gambit was a member of their team now so if they had any enemies stronger, the strongest of them should go and be primary aggressor toward them.  Of course, Scott was trying to point out that Gambit was still on 'probation' as a team member and it wasn't certain that he wasn't a plant from Magneto.  "You know what I mean, Logan."

 "No, Scott, I don't think I do," Logan growled.

 Gambit had just beaten up Logan—disgraced him and he was still defending him?  "I'm saying that Gambit might not be as dedicated to this team as you are, Logan."

 "He beat me up.  Heck, that takes guts if you live here, no matter how strong you are.  He risked makin' me pissed fer you, Scott.  Don't knock him."

 Sighing, Scott saw that Logan was obviously too trusting of Gambit to see the possibility that he would defect again or sell information, or betray them in their sleep.  "Fine," he said tersely.  "I still want you to work on being able to beat him consistently."

 Logan shook his head, snorting softly.  "Whatever," he said and just after that, he thought to himself how he'd been hanging around teenagers too much.

 

 

 

Logan went to the kitchen after he had taken a shower and found that it was also the place Remy was headed.  "Hey, kid—nice tussle today," he said casually.

 "Thanks," he said shortly and ignored Logan as he tried to eat.

 "Look... Remy... did I do somethin' ta piss you off?" he asked.

 Remy looked up at Logan like he was insane, then his expression of tense distance melted and was replaced by a warm smile.  "Logan, I'm sorry dat I've been actin' a little cold... but I... it's de only way...." he explained sadly.

 "I just... it's kinda... weird... right after... ya know."

 "I know.  I can' think of any oder way.  Lemme know if you come up wid somethin'," he said and smiled brightly for Logan.  He wanted him to know that he was happy with him and their relationship, even if he had to hide it.

 "We could... Remy, I'm sensitive to the way ya look at me... if you could just... when there ain' nobody else around... let me know how ya feel... it'd make me feel better."  Remy nodded and smiled at him brightly again.

 "I'll do dat... but I still tink it'd be risky t'... y'know..."

 "I know," Logan said without need to have it elaborated on.  They both felt like they were walking on egg shells, afraid of anyone finding them out.  They were feeling the stress already.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

A Promise Kept

 

Magneto’s plans had always involved taking mutants and separating them from the rest of humanity so they could grow by themselves in a community that they created in peace.  He saw the fate of that community as being the inheritors of the world by whatever means it would turn out—mutants would overcome homo sapiens.  But in order for that to happen, mutants would need a place to grow undisturbed—away from the evils of mankind.

This was why when Magneto began gathering mutants on a small island off the coast of Madagascar called Genosha, Charles got suspicious.  His first attempt had been an asteroid called Asteroid M.  He had yet to move his son and his team… but Charles was under the impression that the reason the Brotherhood of Mutants were left in Bayville was to deal with the X-Men.

Scott wanted to get some answers from the Brotherhood because of what the Professor had told him that morning before he went to school.  Pietro was, of course, the person to ask; he would have the most knowledge, as the Professor said that Gambit wasn’t going to give them any information about Magneto.  It was simply his ‘policy.’

“Pietro,” Scott called in the school hallways and the speedy mutant stood still for a moment with his hands on his hips, waiting for whatever Summers wanted.  He wasn’t too pleased, but he knew that his father wanted him to keep an eye on the X-Men and if he knew he wasn’t going to give anything away about his father’s plans, he might be able to glean something of the X-Men’s plans from Scott—which would get him in good with his father again.  His father had been dealing with the boys directly ever since the disappearance of Gambit, his liaison.

“What do you want, Summers?” he asked.

“Why hasn’t your dad taken you with him to his little tropical island paradise?” Scott asked, trying to be provoking so he could get something out of Pietro.

“We’ll get to go soon enough, Summers,” he sneered.  “Right now, we have to keep an eye on you pip-squeaks.”

“If we were such pip-squeaks, why did he have to send a spy to keep an eye on us?”

“I don’t spy on you, Summers,” Pietro said, kind of offended.  Well—he didn’t spy on them any place other than at school.  He didn’t waste his time.

“I wasn’t talking about you—I was talking about Gambit!”

Pietro blinked at Scott a few times, then pointed at him, leaning forward slightly.  “You mean Gambit is with you guys??”

Scott was a little taken aback that Pietro wasn’t aware of that.  “Uh… yeah.  He’s been living at the mansion for six months….”

“That’s just after he left my dad’s place….”

“It doesn’t matter.  You tell your dad that I’m onto his little spy and that if he makes one slip I’m going to nail him to the wall,” he threatened.

Pietro shrugged.  “Hey, no skin off my nose.  I never liked the guy in the first place.”  Not that he knew him very well.  The guy was always trying to pull one over on people and it kind of annoyed him.

Growling at Pietro, Scott marched off to school once the bell rang.  Pietro, however, was going to ditch in order to go give his father a phone call.  He pulled out his cell in the forest just outside the school building and dialed his father.  “Yeah, Dad?  Hey, you’re never gonna believe this, but I found out where Gambit went.”  He smiled evilly.  “He’s with the X-Men.”

 

 

 

Remy didn’t think either he or Logan had taken into consideration how often they would want to ‘play pool’ once they got a taste of it.  Remy had told himself that he would only use the game as a last resort for when he was feeling frustrated… but that seemed to happen so quickly, especially with Logan walking around as dangerous and cool as he always did.  God, he was a hot man.

Remy caught himself staring at Logan with predatory eyes that held a sexual smolder to them more often than he would have been comfortable with had he all of his faculties, instead of being clouded over by the lust he felt constantly tugging at him.  After their workouts Remy felt it particularly hard to keep his eyes off Logan because the man was sweaty and Remy wanted to feel their sweat mixing on each other’s skin as they slid around with their bodies.

He had kept it under control enough that he wasn’t showing anything but glances for months.  Logan had come close to kissing him a few times, but every time they were in danger of it, Remy would surprise him by a faint and they would start tussling.  It fooled the children… but the Professor saw it for what it was.  There was so much tension between the two men that Charles felt he could cut it with a knife.

 The debate was of course going to be whether or not he should talk to the men about their behavior, but he didn’t know how Gambit would react to the contract being breeched.  If Xavier gave away that he was going to be lenient with him, he didn’t know what other agreements might be broken—some of which he truly couldn’t afford.  Sighing, he kept putting off talking to them about it for his own fears as much as his wanting to give the men the benefit of the doubt.

 

 

Logan smirked as he walked to his room with Remy.  They always seemed to make a habit of walking to their doors together before separating for the night.  “You were some hot stuff in the Danger Room today, kid.  You shouldda seen the look on Scott’s face.”  Logan chuckled at how shocked Scott had been at Remy’s acrobatic feats; Remy had just recently started participating in Danger Room practices with the rest of the team.  This was mostly because up until then, the other children had a hard time getting used to Gambit being there.

“Yeah?” he asked, smiling cockily.  “How ‘bout I show you what kinda hot stuff I can be in your room?”  Getting close enough that they could feel each other’s breath, Remy looked hungrily down at Logan.

Logan swallowed and felt the tug from his body that urged him to ravage the young man in front of him.  He was so sexy when he could feel the want pouring off of him; it was so strong.  “Remy… we can’t…” he said, knowing that Charles might pick up on something if they had sex right under his nose.

“I don’ wanna go all de way outta town t’ play, cher,” Remy purred leaning into his lover.  “I’m hot now.”  Remy’s face was so close to Logan’s that they touched on accident and that thrill was what brought Logan’s hand up to grasp at the back of Remy’s neck, fingers tangling in his long hair, and pulled him into a heated kiss in front of his door.  Fumbling for the door knob, Logan found it and when the door was open, he yanked Remy inside by the back of his head, tossing him into the room. He followed after him, eyes never leaving the boy.

When the door closed, Kitty let her hands drop from her mouth and phased back through the wall she had come out of.  She had just been taking a short cut to the library but when she saw Gambit so… menacingly close to Logan, she paused to watch because… they had always seemed like such good friends—even though they fought all the time.  She thought she might get some insights into their relationship…  Boy did she ever!  She had only been watching them a second when Logan reached up and pulled Gambit down to kiss him!

Kitty’s hands had flown over her mouth to keep from gasping at what she was witnessing.  She had never seen two men kiss!  They obviously were attracted to each other, but… she didn’t understand it.  She thought Gambit was cute, but Logan…?  She didn’t get what Gambit could see in Logan.  And then how could Logan possibly find Gambit attractive when he had been all about Jean a few months ago?

Distraught, Kitty didn’t know what to do.  She went to her room and tried not to let on that anything was wrong to Rogue, her book forgotten.  It wasn’t like she was going to be able to concentrate on reading with images of Logan kissing Gambit.  She knew that she couldn’t say anything to Rogue—she knew that she was sweet on Gambit.  Not that she would be able to have any sort of relationship with the guy anyway, but still… she was trying to be considerate of her feelings.

 

 

When morning came and Kitty was getting breakfast with everyone else, she watched Logan and Gambit, trying to be subtle about it.  With her new knowledge though, she couldn’t help but see things so differently.  They acted like they always did, but this time… she saw different things.  How long had this been going on between the two men? 

Logan caught her staring at them and she blushed before she looked away.  He raised an eyebrow at her, but other than that ignored that he was being watched.

As Kitty watched them, out of the corner of her eye this time, she could see when they were actually being affectionate toward each other… even though it was couched in roughness and banter.  Remy paused and said something stupid to Logan and Logan snorted at him… but Kitty could tell that if they had been alone, they would have kissed again.  It would probably not be so passionate a kiss as the night before, but an affectionate one nonetheless.

All their signaling was… different than she would have expected.  She wondered how involved they were.  She had no idea what gay men did together and it perplexed her.  She knew what sex was and knew that she wasn’t ready for it, but… how could guys have sex?  Were they even having sex, or was it just kissing?

This time it was Gambit who caught her staring at them and she blushed brightly and excused herself abruptly from the table and rushed from the room.  Logan looked over at Remy.  “You wanna go see what you did to offend the girl?” Logan chided.

“I didn’ do nothin’!” Remy objected, but he was curious about why she ran off, so he headed to find the ghost-girl, hoping she hadn’t phased through any walls to get where she was going.

She might have phased through a wall to get there, but she had stopped outside, so Remy went outside, having seen her through a window.  Stepping over to her on the grounds, he sat beside her on a bench.  “Hey, peti’… you okay?”

“Oh, um… I guess,” she said, looking very uncomfortable that Remy was there.

“I know I can look pretty bad in de mornin’s ‘fore I’ve had m’ coffee, but I didn’ mean t’ scare ya,” he joked self-deprecatingly.

“Oh… no, you didn’t scare me,” she assured, although her voice trembled a bit, so she was obviously still nervous.

“Peti’… I know I’m still kinda new here, an’ I might not even be y’ favorite guy… but I have a good ear… an’ sometimes de ears of a stranger’s are even better, oui?”

“Yeah, I guess… but it’s not something I really feel I can talk about, you know?  I mean… all these weird thoughts—“ she interrupted herself and blushed away from Remy.

“Weird thoughts, hunh?  Sounds like it might be better f’ y’ t’ offload ‘em on me.  I certainly ain’t gonna look at y’ any different.”

Biting her bottom lip, Kitty looked at him consideringly, then shook her head and looked down.  “No…  They’re… about you,” she said.

“Oh.  Well, y’ don’ have t’ worry ‘bout insultin’ me—I been called everythin’ in de book.”

“Even… gay?” she asked, bracing herself to phase.

“Um… I ain’ sure I ever been called it…  Why?” he asked, probing, a bit worried.

“I… what do you and Logan do?” she asked, curious and not really knowing how else to put it.

Remy’s mouth formed an ‘o’ that was trying to get something out, but his vocal cords were being uncooperative for the moment in his shock.  “Um… I ain’ sure what y’ mean, peti’…”  God, he was going to be in such shit if she knew!

“Nevermind.  I shouldn’t have asked,” and she got up to leave.

“Wait—peti’!” he said and grasped hold of her still corporeal wrist, thankful she hadn’t phased.  “I ain’ unwillin’ t’ answer y’ question… it’s jus’ dat… y’ gon’ have t’ be kinda specific wid y’ phrasin’.”

“I saw you kissing Logan last night,” she admitted quietly and Remy let her hand go.

“Oh…” he said and kicked himself.  Logan was, of course, right—they shouldn’t have done that.  “So… y’ question was… ‘bout sex?”

Kitty blushed furiously.  “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

“Non, peti’, I think we better have a long talk,” he explained.  “Y’ see… de Professor don’ ‘xactly know ‘bout… or agree wid what Logan an’ I are doin’.”

“But… the Professor doesn’t hate gay people,” she said and sat beside Remy, looking at him in a new light.

“It ain’ dat Logan an’ I are gay dat he’s uncomfortable wid.  It’s dat… technically, I’m still a student here—even dough I don’ feel like one.  Logan’s a teacher, which means he’s off limits,” he explained.

“Oh…  But you guys are still… um—seeing each other?”

“Oui,” Remy said quietly.  “Which is why I’m gon’… ask y’… t’ please… keep dis li’l conversation t’ y’self?”

Kitty nodded.  “Yeah, I can do that.”

“Thanks,” he said and sighed.  This was getting complicated.

“So… I um… I guess I’m just curious…  You guys… you have sex, then?”  Remy nodded, then looked at her.  “How?”

Remy slowly smiled and put a hand over his face.  “Oh… y’ don’…”  He chuckled to himself.  “Y’ don’ understan’ how two men could have sex, do y’?”  Biting her lip again, Kitty shook her head.  “I’m sorry, peti’…  Guess I thought it was common knowledge.”

“Well… it’s not,” she said.

Rubbing at his chin, Remy looked at her in thought, then he sighed.  “Y’ wanna siddown?  I don’ bite unless asked.”

Kitty looked at him weird, but sat down next to him on the bench.  “So…?”

“Tryin’ ta think o’ how to explain dis.  Lot o’ people… think it’s gross,” he said.  He didn’t want to freak her out and have her running off to Xavier.

“Oh… is that why people don’t like gays?  They thing they’re gross?”

“Most of ‘em, oui,” Remy confirmed.  There were also other, more complicated reasons for their hate, but he thought most of those complicated reasons stemmed from the fact that they thought it was disgusting.

“Well… I mean, lots of people think mutants are gross, so it can’t be that different, right?” she shrugged, trying to be optimistic about how it actually was.

“Suppose so.  Well, y’ wan’ de birds an’ de bees f’ boys—here goes.”  Remy took a deep breath.  “Y’ know how sex is normally, right?”  At her nod, he continued, “I… Sometimes I… go down on Logan…” he paused, “D’ you even know what dat is?” he asked, thinking he might actually be using terminology she was unfamiliar with.  She shook her head.  Remy sighed and started over.  “I sometimes suck on Logan…”  Kitty’s expression became perplexed, but she didn’t say anything.  “An’ oder times… I take him inside me….”

“Wait… if one way is sucking, then… the other—“

“Anal sex, peti’… we have anal sex,” he explained, finally being blunt about it.  He sighed.  It wasn’t like he cared what the girl thought… but having a confidant—someone who knew about he and Logan would be nice.  And… he didn’t really want to have her thinking he was gross.  It would also make her more likely to tell the Professor about it, which would stink.

“But… doesn’t that… hurt?”

Remy shrugged.  “Not usually.  Logan’s more…” he smiled, “skilled dan dat.”

Kitty blushed furiously.  “Oh…  I guess that… answers my questions…”

“Dat was all y’ were curious ‘bout?” he asked.  He still saw questions behind her eyes despite what she said.

She shrugged and looked at Remy again.  “Does it… feel good?”  After all, not hurting and feeling good were two opposites of a wide spectrum.

“Extraordinarily,” he smiled brightly.

Kitty smiled back, relieved.  “Well… I have to go to school, but thanks for talking to me about this… um… I couldn’t talk to you about it later, could I?” she asked.

“Any time, peti’—jus’… alone,” he smiled sheepishly and she nodded and waved goodbye to him as she hurried off.  Remy waved back and thought that he was going to have an interesting conversation with Logan, that was for sure.

 

 

 

All the kids had gone to school and Remy was always glad for the time he got to be alone with Logan.  It meant that the glances full of emotion were more common and Remy felt more relaxed.  Of course, it was rare that they got to be completely alone since the Professor didn’t often go anywhere.  Still—it was safe to talk. 

“You get what the half-pint was upset about?” Logan asked when Remy came back inside and they were finally alone.

“Oui…” he said uncomfortably.

Raising an eyebrow at Remy this time, Logan looked expectantly at him.  “Well?”

“You… were right… last night….” He said awkwardly.  “We shouldn’a done dat.”

Logan’s fists clenched.  “She see?” he asked, his heartbeat picking up.  At Remy’s nod, Logan punched a hole into the wall beside them.  When Logan extracted his fist, there were three deeper holes inside the dent in the sheetrock as his claws had gone much deeper.  “What did I tell ya, hunh?!” he shouted angrily, glaring back at Remy.  Now the Professor was going to ask Remy to leave… and he was going to have to make a very tough choice about what to do with him.

“Logan, calm down.  De peti’ is fine about it.  She’s gon’ stay quiet.”

“You don’t get it, do ya?  You can’t keep stuff like this from Chuck.  Especially if Kitty knows.  She’s just as much of an open book ta him as the rest of ‘em.”

Remy bowed his head and frowned.  “I’m sorry, Logan…”

Sighing, Logan looked back at Remy with a grimace.  “Knew it’d happen some time…  Guess I just thought… hoped… ta keep it at bay….”  Remy nodded, looking at the floor.

“When do y’ s’pose he’ll ask me t’ leave?” he asked quietly.

“Soon as he finds out.  He’ll want it kept real quiet, too.” 

Remy nodded and looked at Logan, then swallowed.  “I’m… gon’ miss y’, Logan…”

Logan frowned.  “I’m gonna miss you too, Remy.”  Stepping over to him, he let his hand brush through his hair and along the side of his face before he pulled him down for a gentle kiss.  “Come on… the kids aren’t home…” he said and lead the way to Logan’s room.  Their daily chores could wait.

Once in the room, Remy tried not to think of just how much he was going to miss Logan… because if he did… he didn’t trust himself not to cry.  It was ridiculous—he hadn’t cried since he was a pup.  On the other hand… he didn’t think he had had a relationship that was as fulfilling as this one.  Logan was his friend, his lover, his team mate… much as he thought of them all as optimistic fools… he still found himself getting caught up in their enthusiasm for the betterment of the world.

He didn’t want to leave.

“Shhhh,” Logan cooed to him as he felt the boy’s breathing change.  He wanted to comfort him as much as he could… but he knew it was a futile effort.  Kissing him, Logan didn’t know that this kind of love was possible with the boy.  He had been all steam earlier… not soft and warm and fragile.

Easing Remy onto the bed, Logan slowly removed his clothing, peppering soft kisses along his skin as he encountered it.  Remy’s hands were removing Logan’s clothes as best he could or tangling in his hair and he occasionally brought Logan’s mouth from his skin back up to his lips because he just needed his lips there.  His kisses were demanding… but more like they demanded emotion rather than demanding heat and tongue.

The realization that this was their last time made all the difference in the world and Remy was shocked at how different he felt about the love as they were making it.  Logan was gentle with his fingers as he poured gobs of lube onto them and opened Remy with them.

It was so… incongruous to feel aroused and heartbroken at the very same moment.  It was like he was letting himself go… finally expressing to Logan how he felt about him… in a way that used no words.  His eyes didn’t leave the man’s body, his muscles and his movements so fine…

He felt like his heart was breaking apart, grasping for any straws he could that might hold together as he accepted Logan into his body… for the last time.  If anything, the realization made it all the more intense, and that was a thought that made his heart crack through.  Would he have been more passionate… more loving with Logan if he had known that he would lose him imminently? 

It was at that moment that Remy knew… what the spirits of Charlie and Ethan had felt when they coupled finally.  He knew the regret, and the longing for more… and the strong emotion that he dared not put a word to.  If he did… if he admitted that he loved Logan… there would be no way he could leave.

Remy had had no idea that… emotion could factor in so strongly to an orgasm.  He had loved his wife and had sex with her, but… never like this.  Seeing Logan’s beautiful eyes with a soft expression of love on his face as he was gently pressing that place inside him that drove his body insane drove Remy to let go and explode all over Logan’s chest.  He wasn’t able to keep Logan’s eyes—his head tossed back into the pillow on its own and his whole body clenched around Logan, his arms and legs clasping him as he shook in ecstasy.

As he saw his lover bare his throat to him and spasm from release, Logan leaned down to his neck and bit at him, marking him passionately, but not roughly as he thrust into his trembling channel and came hard.  Remy was his!  He didn’t want to have to lose him… and part of him wanted to fight with Xavier over whether or not the boy stayed.

Holding him firmly, Logan caressed Remy’s hair as his breath shuddered out of him in tearless sobs.  He wasn’t going to let him go until they were both ready… and Logan didn’t feel he was going to be ready for a long while.

Laying there for what seemed like hours, neither of them talked and Remy drifted off to sleep a few times.  Logan felt them stick together at the skin after he tried to shift over him and he smiled at that.  He had slipped from Remy’s body at some point, but he was hardly paying attention to his dick any more.  He was watching Remy, stroking a hand through his hair occasionally as he dozed.

It was well past noon when Remy finally woke for good, having calmed down quite a bit.  His breath was even, though he looked at Logan sadly.  Looking back at him, Logan eased off of him, feeling the stickiness pull at their skin before peeling apart.  Stepping over to the shower, Logan welcomed Remy in with him and Remy smiled faintly as he got up and went to kiss Logan before entering the shower with him.

Cleaning each other with the same kind of attention they had given each other in bed, they were in a nearly constant lip-lock for their entire shower.  When the water started to get cold, they were forced out of the shower and they dried off, slowly starting to think about their clothing as they enjoyed being naked in the other’s presence.

Logan fished out some new clothing and Remy put on his clean clothing from earlier that day.  There didn’t seem to be any words that either of them had to express what they were feeling… and maybe they didn’t need them, because Remy understood that the same look that was on his face… was on Logan’s.

Stepping out into the halls, Remy looked at Logan, the pain so visible over his features and he leaned down to kiss Logan deeply again, his heart wrenching as he did.

“Logan?”  They both heard the Professor’s worried voice as he approached them and Remy leaned up from the kiss slowly.  “I couldn’t… find you…” he said, not knowing until that moment why he had been unable to reach him telepathically.

“I’ll go get my stuff,” Remy said softly and full of hurt, but loudly enough that the Professor would be able to hear.  He turned and cast a disgusted glance at Xavier as he went.

“Remy, you stay right there,” Logan said sternly, although he glared at Xavier as he said it.  Remy paused, looking back at Logan and his determined face.

“I take it, Remy, that you understand that you have breeched your contract,” Xavier said to the boy who was nearly at the stairs.

Looking to the man in the wheelchair, Remy nodded.  “I ain’ stupid.”

“The kid stays, Chuck,” Logan growled and Remy looked at Logan like he’d gone crazy.

“I understand your desire for him to stay, Logan, but it isn’t safe for any of the children to find out about your relationship.  I simply will not have it.”  Logan glowered at Charles.

“The kid stays, or I go with ‘im,” Logan threatened.  He didn’t want to have to use that, but it was how he felt.

Both Xavier and Remy looked shocked at Logan.  Remy was just as horrified as he was touched.  He didn’t think that Logan could live the kind of life he did outside the school—he didn’t understand it… and he might not agree with it.  That just made it all the more forcefully clear to Remy that he didn’t belong there.

“Logan… I will allow him to stay if you both would simply abide by the contract I gave you.  If you cannot… I must think of the other students.”

Logan looked over at Remy who was looking lost.  “Wha’do ya say, kid?  Think we can keep our hands to ourselves?”

Breathing uneasily, Remy nodded.  “Can try,” he said, not looking at either one of them… because he didn’t know how successful they were going to be.

“Very well.  Now, Logan if I could speak to you?” he asked.  He had been looking for him earlier in order to talk about an unrelated matter and Remy went to do his chores for the day, feeling kind of shaky as he performed them.

 

 

 

Logan hadn’t thought when he agreed to this that he would go crazy.  He thought that he was going to masturbate a whole lot more, but he didn’t think he would go absolutely insane.  It wasn’t the release that was the problem though.  It was the affection.  He wanted to give affection to Remy and wanted to get it from him, but he knew they couldn’t.  He had promised Xavier that he wouldn’t even steal kisses from the boy when no one was around.  It set in quietly and grew inside him until it was getting ready to burst—this need to touch what was his.  He lasted a few weeks before he started to notice himself being overly sensitive and ill-tempered.

Remy on the other hand, went bonkers within that time.  He was snappy at people as opposed to the relaxed, cool Cajun they were all used to.  Within two weeks, Scott was giving him lectures daily for his behavior.

Slamming the door to Xavier’s office as he entered, Remy marched up to the headmaster of the school and glared at him with his hands placed wide on Charles’ desk.  “You said I couldn’ have sex wid Logan,” he growled.

“I will not retract my rules, Remy—I’m sorry that I can’t be more accomoda—“

“I can have sex wid someone not at de school,” he assumed stiffly.

“That is correct,” Xavier said, steepling his fingers above his desk, a bit disappointed in the young man.  Didn’t he have more control than that?

“Fine,” he grumbled, pushing himself off the desk, rounding on his heel and heading out of the room in one smooth motion.  A few moments later, Xavier heard one of the bikes being driven off and he sighed, hoping that when Gambit came back that he would be in a more pleasant mood.  Scott had been complaining to him often about Gambit’s attitude becoming more problematic as the days went by, although his performance was just as good as always.  The man had firm possession of his skills.

At dinner that night, Logan was unusually calm, although he kept looking at Remy’s empty place across from him.  “Anybody seen the Cajun?” Logan asked during a lull in conversation.

“I saw him earlier today, Logan,” Charles volunteered.  “He rode out on his bike.  I assume he hasn’t returned yet,” he finished.

Logan was quiet and looked at his plate.  “Thanks,” he mumbled.  Kitty looked sympathetically at Logan, but kept quiet.  She didn’t know what was going on, but it looked like the two of them were probably having a fight; they had both been so irritable lately.

Long after dinner was finished, the front doors of the mansion slammed open and Logan was out in the hallways to intercept whoever was making a ruckus, expecting that it was Remy… and he paused when he found the state that the Cajun was in.  “Where ya been, kid?” he asked.  Remy stunk of a bar.

“Get ‘way, Logan,” he grumbled as he passed Logan, looking like he was going to stagger any moment.  His expression was sad and Logan could smell other people’s pheromones clinging to his skin still.

“What the hell were you doin’?” he asked.  He didn’t smell of sex though….

“Tryin’ ta get laid,” he growled at Logan.

Logan felt the rumble deep in his chest that complimented the feelings of anger that flashed through his heart at being cheated on.  “You were cheatin’—“  As soon as Logan said it, he knew that he shouldn’t have.  Remy wasn’t his any more.  Chuck had enforced that pretty well.  They didn’t have a commitment to each other… so why did he feel so betrayed?

“I didn’ cheat nothin’!” Remy shouted in the empty hall.  “I tried t’ get laid—I tried t’ have sex...!  But I couldn’…” he said shakily.  “I couldn’ do it, Logan…  Every time a man’d hit on me I’d think o’ how much I wanted you….”  Remy let himself fall into Logan’s arms and Logan felt his entire body stiffen, not with just the new weight to handle. 

No one was as good as Logan.  Remy couldn’t have sex with anyone else… he couldn’t do that to Logan.  It wasn’t that he wasn’t attracted to others… it was that he remembered how he felt about the older man every single time and he had refused every man who made advances on him within a matter of minutes of talking to them.

“Shhh, it’s okay, baby…” he soothed.

“I love you, Logan,” he whispered into Logan’s neck.  Logan hugged him harder when he heard that.

“Love you too, Remy,” he said quietly into his hair after making sure the halls were deserted.  Hoisting him a bit, Logan helped Remy up the stairs to his room and tucked him into bed.  He figured the kid would have a hangover in the morning, but he would try to run interference for him.

 

 

Remy got out of half a day of doing anything due to Logan’s advocacy, but after that he was expected to do his chores and report to Xavier for a talk.  Remy was putting it off for as long as possible though.  He managed to do so until after the kids got home from school and Kitty came up to Remy and asked to talk outside.  Going with her, Remy was dragged through a wall to the outside and he grimaced at her, shielding his eyes from the sun. 

“Did… did you and Logan get into a fight?” Kitty asked, worriedly.

“Non, peti’… it’s just…  De Professor found out about Logan an’ I… an’ he told us we had t’ stop… if I wanted t’ stay here.”  And Logan wanted to stay there, so he wanted to stay there.

Kitty frowned.  “That’s not right for him to ask,” she observed.

“I think he understands dat, peti’… it’s jus’ dat he don’ want you tykes getting’ de idea it’s okay from Logan an’ me…”  He sighed and looked at her.

“I guess I get that, but it’s not like we won’t understand if it’s explained to us.  We’re not kids—well, I mean, we are, but we can understand stuff when it’s explained.  I mean, if I can understand algebra, I can understand why it’s okay for you to date Logan but not me….”

“Wish he had dat much faith in y’, peti’…” he sighed shaking his head.

“I wish there was something I could do to help…” she said.

“Thanks, peti’…” he said and leaned in for a hug.  “I’ll let y’ know if things change.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 5

A Promise Amended

 

Remy wasn’t able to put off going to see Xavier forever.  When he went into his office, he was clearly bracing himself.  “I heard you came back last night intoxicated.”

“I wasn’ drinkin’ on de school premises,” he defended weakly.  He knew he was in trouble.

“Yes, but had you been arrested, my school would have faced unpleasant consequences.  Remy, I understand that you’ve been under more stress lately—“

“More stress?  Dat’s puttin’ it mildly,” he declared, folding his arms.  He had been going crazy, and was still feeling rather irritable.  Only the threat of possible expulsion kept Remy from being angrier at the man behind the desk.

“I don’t understand the level of upset both you and Logan seem to have with this one small thing that I’ve asked of you.”

“It’s upsettin’ because we love each oder, Charles,” he said, emphasizing his name so the man might get it into his head that they were equals.

Charles was quiet for a moment and he stared at Remy.  “If you truly love Logan you should understand how important it is for him to be here.  Think about that the next time this urge overtakes you.”

Remy’s fists and teeth clenched hard, but he nodded and left Xavier’s office to go do the chores that had been assigned to him.

 

 

 

 

“How’s yer head?” Remy heard from behind him and he looked over his shoulder to find his… ex-lover? behind him. 

“A little dizzy, but oderwise fine, cher,” he said.

Logan sighed.  He tried to get Remy to stop calling him that, but there were still intermittent slips that the boy didn’t seem to be able to avoid.  “And yer talk with the Professor?  How’d it go?”

“Narrowly avoided getting’ kicked out, yet again,” he sighed.  “Logan… dis ain’t workin’, cher,” he said and turned to face Logan.  “Why don’ y’ jus’ come wid me?  We could leave dese two little boys t’ play wid deir live-chess game until dey’re blue in de face, non?”

Logan looked at the floor at Remy’s offer to basically run away with him.  He liked the idea of being with Remy… but he just… he couldn’t leave.  It wasn’t that he felt like he needed the place to keep his head straight—not so much any more.  He needed the feeling of purpose—like he was doing something to keep people like Weapon X from experimenting on mutants again.  He was keeping the kids safe—helping them learn about themselves…  He enjoyed that too much.

“I… I can’t, Remy,” he said softly.  “You know I don’t wanna be apart from ya, but… I can’t leave here.  This place means a lot to me.  It’s… become a part o’ who I am.”  He didn’t know if Remy could understand that, but he hoped….

“Je comprendre, cher…  Just had t’ ask,” he smiled shyly at him.  He didn’t think he would have been able to run away with his wife if she had asked him to leave the Thieves’ Guild.  Clearing his throat, Remy turned to go back to his chore at the kitchen sink.

“Need any help there?” Logan asked. 

“You wanna dry?” he asked.  He would have liked to be able to caress Logan’s hands under the cover of suds, but if there weren’t allowed to steal kisses, they certainly wouldn’t be allowed to steal romantic brushes.

“Sure,” he said and went to grab a towel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 6

A Promise Renewed

 

The Planning Room was a place Gambit had been in a few times since being with the X-Men.  They’d had a few things they went out and did, mostly trying to deal with Mystique.  Scott typically led the briefings, mostly because Xavier was obviously grooming him to take over leadership of the team once he was old enough.  He was playing ‘team captain’ right now and Remy got the impression that he wanted Scott to be able to be the new coach someday.

“We’ve learned that Magneto’s little island is a little different than his last attempts to build a mutant paradise,” he said gravely.  “But he’s still keeping mutants there against their will.  We’re going to go in with an attack to the rear of the installation,” he explained.

“I wouldn’ do dat… ‘f I were you,” Remy said casually from one end of the table.

“And why not?” Scott asked defensively.

“Because it wouldn’t work,” Remy emphasized.

“How do you know that?” Scott challenged.

“’Cause I have information ‘bout his set up I said I wouldn’t give you.”

Enraged, Scott leapt at him and Rogue and Kurt had to try and stop him from getting across the table to throttle the other man as he shouted, “You little—plant!!”

Raising an eyebrow at that, Remy looked down at himself, examining his body, then to Logan.  “I look green to you?”

“Naw, kid.  Ya don’t.  And Cyke should shut his yap about people who’re part of this team and playin’ by the rules that were laid down a long time ago.”  Gambit had been with them for seven months already.

“Scott… please,” the Professor interrupted soothingly.  “That’s enough.  What did you have in mind, Gambit?”

“Lemme get in by m’ lonesome an’ I’ll let y’ in from de inside.  Will be lots more effective.”

“I thought you said you couldn’t give us this ‘information’ you had,” Scott growled.

“Never said I wouldn’ use it against de man, but de info doesn’t leave me.”

“How do we even know you’ll let us in once you’re inside?”

“He’ll let us in, Cyke,” Logan objected.

“I don’t know that!  And I’m not about to send my team into a dangerous situation with someone who’s going to betray us!”

Staring evenly at Scott, Remy crossed his arms over his chest and said calmly, “What is it about me you can’t deal wid, Cyclops?  Is it cause I’m a thief, or because I happen t’ve worked f’ Magneto?  You’ve worked wid Mystique knowin’ she’d betray you if she got de chance.  What makes you so unwillin’ t’ work wid me, hunh?  Rightfully, I should be one o’ you by now.”

“You’re not one of us.  You sell out to the highest bidder, who happens to be Magneto because, I don’t know if you got the memo—we don’t pay!”

Remy snorted at Scott derisively.  “One o’ you I might not be…”  Remy sensed Logan shift uncomfortably next to him and he smiled.  “But dere is somethin’ here dat will make me never betray you.”  Remy paused to let Scott think about that before he said, “My friend.  So long as Logan is here wid you self-righteous bastards… you got not’in’ t’ fear from me.”

Clearing his throat, the Professor spoke up.  “While I appreciate your… assurance, I really must insist that you tone down the swearing, whatever your opinion of us might be.”

“Sorry, Professor.  Dat wasn’ in de contract,” he smirked.

“No,” he said, acknowledging. “But, please… consider it a verbal amendment.”

“Done.”

“Quit bein’ an ass, Scott.  Let the kid get us in.”

“On one condition,” Scott said.  Remy lifted an eyebrow at Scott, waiting.  “Logan goes with you.”

Remy’s look became incredulous.  “Not t’ be rude t’ Logan er nothin’,” he said, not even glancing at his lover.  “But de man would not only slow me down, but he’d give away m’ position, which would not only not get y’ in, but might get us killed.  Not to mention dat he’s too damn heavy.”

Logan growled in his throat at Remy.  The boy had never said anything regarding Logan’s heft during their trysts before.  “Just let the man go, Cyke.  Kid betrays us that just means I’ll have ta break us in the old fashioned way an’ hunt ‘im down like a dog.”

“Awe, Logan, y’ so sweet.”  Logan growled harder at him because Remy was practically flirting with him and it made him nervous… and excited.  Deep growling was one of Logan’s forms of flirting—thankfully unbeknownst to the children in the room.  They mistook his leer for irritation.

Scott ground his teeth and clenched his fists.  “Fine.  The rest of the operation will go like this—“ Scott continued to explain about their goal in the place and while Remy paid attention, he was also noting that Logan was getting antsy beside him.  He couldn’t say he wasn’t in similar straits, but they had a mission to deal with and it would require their best work, which meant Remy had to ignore the rumblings next to him that were turning him on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The place was made out of nothing but metal.  It made sense for several reasons, one of which was that Magneto could sense the metal around him.  Remy knew that he would have to stress the metal as little as possible, but he thought that could probably be accomplished.  He had gotten into one of Magneto’s fortresses once before… but the man was probably asleep at the time.  Now he wasn’t sure if he would be or not.

 He knew the building type that Magneto usually used.  He used to live in a place very much like it, only thousands of miles away. 

 The hatch he was working through was moved and replaced as discretely as possible, and he hoped that Magneto's attention was simply elsewhere.  Slipping along the ducts, Remy hoped the others were hiding all right from any sensors Magneto had.  He told them to stay behind the rocks and he hoped they were complying.  He knew that Logan would at least try to make them listen to him.

 Keeping quiet, Remy knew that he couldn’t keep silent enough for Creed's ears, so he would have to pray that the lug didn't hear him.  Checking around as best he could for other acolytes, Remy slipped into the main halls and headed toward the controls for the main doors.

 He was within reach when he felt himself become weightless and he cursed Magnus.  "There you are.  Certainly, you know I was expecting you."

 "Hoped I might take y' by surprise, salaud," he said.

 "Oh, no.  You see—this entire set up was for you.  You should feel honored.  I am not often angered to such a level that I will go to great lengths to obtain revenge... but I believe this will be well worth my efforts, traitor."

 "Wha' do y' think y' gon' do?  Monologue me t' death 'bout y' plans t' get de X-Men?"  He knew anything Magneto would try would fail against them.  They were too well organized and they had heart and determination—things that Magneto's people simply didn’t have.

“No… but you do get to watch,” he explained.  Remy’s face twisted in a frown.

“Watch y’ fail, ya mean,” he said with a flippant smirk, hoping he could actually get him to talk about what it was he was planning for his teammates out of anger at Remy’s rooting for the other side.

“No, you see—that’s where you come in.  I am well aware of how well trained the X-Men are, but even the best trained team will crumble under the emotional stress of betrayal.”

“Sorry t’ disappoint ya, but Cyclops has already concluded dat I’m gonna betray dem.”  Even though he hadn’t—which still irked Remy.

“Surely.  But Logan hasn’t.”

“Logan would never believe I betrayed him!”  Their faith in each other was stronger than that.

“Will he really when he sees you doing it?”  Remy swallowed nervously.

“Y’ can’t expect dat y’d actually get me ta betray dem.  What a hair-brained plan,” he growled at Magneto.

“It’s truly easier than that,” he smiled.  “But I won’t monologue you to death over the matter.  You just get to watch,” he said as he turned on a screen to the side with some manipulation of the metals within the circuitry.  The monitor showed a view of the X-Men with weapons opening fire on them.  They scattered and dove for cover, with those that could destroying what weapons were near.

Hearing his own voice over the loudspeaker, Remy’s eyes widened. 

“Gambit think he have an announcement for ya,” he heard with a malicious tone.  Remy remembered saying that!  He had said, ‘Gambit think he have an announcement for ya, Creed—bang, y’ dead!’ during one of their rare trainings.  It was just before he had rapped a scoring point on Creed with his adamantium staff.  They had just been fooling around for the most part and Remy had been in a bantering mood.  He didn’t think that it would come back to haunt him though!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title possibilities for each chapter

A Promise        broken

                        Kept—proff finds out because the guys start showing their feelings as they become deeper and makes Remy and Logan abide by his rules—the men go crazy

                        Amended—prof sees the craziness and their strong attraction to one another and affection for one another and amends the deal saying as long as the kids don’t find out, it’s okay for them to keep seeing each other… which is good because they weren’t able to stand it and went off to ‘play pool’ and when they got back, the prof told them they could see each other.  They didn’t tell him they had gone ahead and done it anyway after trying to torture themselves for several weeks.

                        Renewed—the boys go on the mission that was planned to get into magnetos’ installation but Magneto was setting a trap for Gambit in the first place.  He grabs him once he gets inside before he can let the others in and Magneto makes him watch the monitor as the X-Men are attacked by surprise with weapons that Remy wasn’t aware Magneto had.  Mags beats him up for his betrayal.  Logan goes ballistic when Mags says Remy betrayed them because he doesn’t believe him and he tears the place up and finds Remy.  Magneto can control Logan’s skeleton, but the other X-Men come in and save the day, seeing Remy all tied up.  Scott doesn’t trust that he’s still not a spy that was trussed up to look kidnapped and beaten but Logan doesn’t listen to him as he takes Remy out of the building that is set for self destruct and gets him on the blackbird.  Seeing the role Remy played, and how Logan reacted to Remy being in trouble (dead giveaway that they’re in love), Xavier tells Remy privately that he needs to go back to their original agreement.

                        Vowed—the boys get back to the mansion, and they pretty much announce that they’re in love by the kiss they share on the Blackbird as soon as they’re safe and on their way home.  Once home they rip each other’s clothes off, not caring that the kids know they’re both alone in Logan’s room together.  The promise shifts in this case and becomes a promise that Logan and Remy make to each other to never leave or try to separate themselves.  “Chuck’s gonna have ta live with it… or he can kiss my hairy butt good-bye.”

                       

 

 

************

Alt paragraph

 

 

"Yer culture?" Logan asked perplexed.  What did his culture have to do with being an X-Man or not?  "Remy... I know I don't know shit about you—but you trusted us enough ta come here when you were bleedin'—doesn't that say somethin' about us... an' the people yer with now?"

 "Sure it does.  But it also says a lot about me, Logan."  Remy looked at the floor.  "Says I ain' good enough t' be here."

 "Yer lyin' ta yerself, kid."

 "Maybe.  Might be de truth dough."

 "Let's ask the Professor."

 "What—is he de arbiter of good 'roun' here?"

 "Only in that he gets ta say who can and can't be here 'cause it's his place.  He says you can stay, then you can stay.  Cyke'll get used to ya."   Logan was anxious to get to the Professor so he could cement the boy here with promises of a better life.

 "Logan... I'm bound t' cause trouble...."

 The feral could almost smell that the kid was trying to get out of it.  "It'll be trouble worth it."

 "Worth?"  Remy stepped close to Logan and got in his face.  "What am I worth?  What am I worth t' you, hunh?  Y' jus' tryin' t' keep me here 'cause y' think y' can have sex wid me?"

 The words, phrased like that made Logan actually flinch.  "I... Remy, I won't touch ya...."  He backed away to emphasize his resolve.  "Not if ya don't want me to...."  Hadn't it been Remy who said that it wasn't unpleasant?  Hadn't he looked like he wanted to tell Logan it was good before he left the principal's office?

 Seeing how much Logan had been hurt by that, Remy's whole demeanor softened and he closed the space between them and melted against Logan's form, embracing him.  "No... I... much prefer it wid you... dan wid Creed."

 "Then come with me ta the Professor's an' we'll see what we can work out," he coaxed and Remy broke the embrace to follow, sticking on the shirt Logan had laid out for him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Remy… I never got a chance ta ask ya… about Creed,” he said.

 

Remy glared at Logan.  “What about ‘im?”

 

“Why… did he do that…?”  Even now, he didn’t think he could say it.  He didn’t particularly think Remy wanted to hear it either.  Even the word was dirty.

 

Looking at Logan evenly for a few moments, Remy tried to figure out what Logan wanted to hear.  Logan was beginning to think that Remy wasn’t going to answer him when he said, “He smelled y’ on me.”  And it was as simple as that.  He wasn’t able to escape it because Magneto decided that he wanted to punish Gambit thoroughly.  That just meant Creed was allowed to have his fun with him.

 

“I just… can’t imagine you not fightin’ back…”  Hell, he had kicked Logan’s butt enough times for him to know that if the kid really wanted out of a bad situation… he’d get out of it.  He had decided to go to the X-Men for help after that… why wait until it was all over to defect?

 

Remy was quiet for a long moment.  “Me neider.”  For the first time since they had become friends, Remy walked away from Logan with a frown.  It reminded him so much of Halloween night that it gave him a shudder.  On Halloween though… Remy had been telling him something that was uncomfortable… but a compliment.  It wasn’… unpleasant, he had said just before taking off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES FOR REMAINING CHAPTERS

 

During a ‘Planning’ Room meeting, Scott is explaining about the tactic they’re going to use to infiltrate Magneto’s facility and Remy objects to them because he knows it wouldn’t work and they’d get caught. 

“I wouldn’ do dat… ‘f I were you,” Remy said casually from one end of the table.

“And why not?” Scott asked defensively.

“Because it wouldn’t work,” Remy emphasized.

“How do you know that?” Scott challenged.

“’Cause I have information ‘bout his set up I said I wouldn’t give you.”

Enraged, Scott leapt at him and Rogue and Kurt had to try and stop him from getting across the table to throttle the other man as he shouted, “You little—plant!!”

Raising an eyebrow at that, Remy looked down at himself, examining his body, then to Logan.  “I look green to you?”

“Naw, kid.  Ya don’t.  And Cyke should shut his yap about people who’re part of his team and playin’ by the rules that were laid down a long time ago.”  Gambit had been with them for six months already.

“Scott… please,” the Professor interrupted soothingly.  “That’s enough.  What did you have in mind, Gambit?”

“Lemme get in by m’ lonesome an’ I’ll let y’ in from de inside.  Will be lots more effective.”

“I thought you said you couldn’t give us this ‘information’ you had,” Scott growled.

“Never said I wouldn’ use it against de man, but de info doesn’t leave me.”

“How do we even know you’ll let us in once you’re inside?”

“He’ll let us in, Cyke,” Logan objected.

“I don’t know that!  And I’m not about to send my team into a dangerous situation with someone who’s going to betray us!”

Staring evenly at Scott, Remy crossed his arms over his chest and said calmly, “What is it about me you can’t deal wid, Cyclops?  Is it cause I’m a thief, or because I happen t’ve worked f’ Magneto?  You’ve worked wid Mystique knowin’ she’d betray you if she got de chance an’ it was t’ her benefit.  What makes you so unwillin’ t’ work wid me, hunh?  Rightfully, I should be one o’ you by now.”

“You’re not one of us.  You sell out to the highest bidder, who happens to be Magneto because, I don’t know if you got the memo—we don’t pay!”

Remy snorted at Scott derisively.  “One o’ you I might not be…”  Remy sensed Logan shift uncomfortably next to him and he smiled.  “But dere is somethin’ here dat will make me never betray you.”  Remy paused to let Scott think about that before he said, “My friend.  So long as Logan is here wid you self-righteous bastards… you got not’in’ t’ fear from me.”

Clearing his throat, the Professor spoke up.  “While I appreciate your… assurance, I really must insist that you tone down the swearing, whatever your opinion of us might be.”

“Sorry, Professor.  Dat wasn’ in de contract,” he smirked.

“No,” he said, acknowledging. “But, please… consider it a verbal amendment.”

“Done.”

“Quit bein’ an ass, Scott.  Let the kid get us in.”

“On one condition,” Scott said.  Remy lifted an eyebrow at Scott, waiting.  “Logan goes with you.”

Remy’s look became incredulous.  “Not t’ be rude t’ Logan er nothin’,” he said, not even glancing at his lover.  “But de man would not only slow me down, but he’d give away m’ position, which would not only not get y’ in, but might get us killed.  Not to mention dat he’s too damn heavy.”

Logan growled in his throat at Remy.  The boy had never said anything regarding Logan’s heft during their trysts before.  “Just let the man go, Cyke.  Kid betrays us that just means I’ll have ta break us in the old fashioned way an’ hunt ‘im down like a dog.”

“Awe, Logan, y’ so sweet.”  Logan growled harder at him because Remy was practically flirting with him and it made him nervous… and excited.  Deep growling was Logan’s form of flirting—thankfully unbeknownst to the children in the room.  They mistook his leer for anger.

Scott ground his teeth and clenched his fists.  “Fine.  The rest of the operation will go like this—“ Scott continued to explain about their goal in the place and while Remy paid attention, he was also noting that Logan was getting antsy beside him.  He couldn’t say he wasn’t in similar straits, but they had a mission to deal with and it would require their best work, which meant Remy had to ignore the rumblings next to him that were turning him on.

 

 

 

 

Notes for ‘Amended’:  Magneto set a trap for the X-Men leaking rumors that he had mutants there against their will.  When Gambit breaks in, Magneto captures him and beats him, telling him that it was just a trap—monologuing—and saying that this was the perfect time to get rid of the X-Men—when they were fractured and hurt.  Remy knows the X-Men are going to think he betrayed them.

 

Logan finds Remy when the X-Men are attacked and gets him out with everyone else.

 

It takes a scan from the Professor to get them all to believe that Remy is telling the truth, and it also gets Charles to realize how much he loves Logan and just how.  With new sympathy, he amends the stipulation that they not have sex and said that they couldn’t have sex on campus and he would like them to keep their PDA to a minimum, but that if other students found out, it would just be explained to them.  They tell him about Kitty.

 

Possible—Remy becomes a teacher?  Or… at least tries to be. ;)