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OK here comes chapter two. This is mostly a flashback
dream
that reveals how the X-Men found out Remy's secret
Disclaimer. The X-Men and any
recognizable characters belong to
Marvel, Siku is darqstar's, anyone else is mine. Ask first if you want
to
borrow 'em. I'm not making any money off of this, so don't waste your
time,
or mine, suing OK? You wouldn't get anything anyway, I'm flat broke.
~words~ depicts psychic talk
*words* denotes thinking to oneself
Notes: At the end
Revelations: Chapter 2
- He was dreaming again and he knew it. He just couldn't get himself
to wake up. It was the same dream he had been having every night for
almost five months. It was the dream of how his life fell apart,
again.
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
- The sun shines brightly on the mansion grounds on a lovely
mid-April day. The inhabitants of the mansion have decided to take
advantage of the beautiful spring day by having a picnic. As Gambit
looks around at his extended family he finds himself wondering once
again how he was so lucky as to find a family again. When he'd been
banned from ever returning to New Orleans he thought he'd never be
part of a family again. But somehow he has, and he never wants to
loose them. He hopes that they never find out the dark secret he's
been hiding from them. A secret he could never expect them to
forgive him for, because he still hasn't forgiven himself.
- "Unca Remy, watch me," his almost two year old niece
Siku calls out to him. He looks over to the swing set where Siku is
swinging herself higher and higher, and before Remy can stop her she
launches herself into the air.
- "I'm a bird!" she yells out gleefully, until she hits
the ground, turning her laughter to tears.
- Remy chuckles as he walks over to her. He knows she isn't
seriously hurt, they've played this game before. He picks up the
child, now holding her slightly scraped right knee, cradling her
like he did the night he brought her home.
- "It huwts, Unca Remy," she whimpers.
- He smiles softly at her and kisses her knee. "Dat better,
petite," he asks her. He sees a smile begin to form on the
little girl's face. Before she can answer he starts tickling her.
"How about now hun, all better?"
- "Put ... me ... down," she says between hysterical fits
of laughter.
- "What's de magic word, petite?"
- "Pweeeeeaase!"
- He puts her down and watches her run back to the swings. He
chuckles lightly and walks over to the basketball court and shoots
around. Soon he is joined by Logan, Rogue, Hank, Jubilee, and Scott.
Remy looks at Scott with an amused look. "You c'n play?"
he asks dubiously.
- "I guess we'll find out soon enough won't we?" Scott
answers, a sly smile forming on his lips. He has been waiting for an
opportunity such as this for a long time.
- They split into teams; Scott, Hank, and Rogue on one team, and
Logan, Remy and Jubilee on the other.
- "Twenty say's we wipe de floor wit' you."
- "Put your money where your mouth is, Cajun," a
mischievous smile on his face.
- The shock is evident on the others faces. Scott Summers is about
to play Basketball with them, and is betting on the outcome!
- "Dis be easy as takin' candy from a baby," Gambit says,
grinnning. "Here mon ami, we let you have the ball first,"
Remy says, checking the ball in play to Scott, who is standing at
the top of the key.
- "Let's play then." he says and before anyone can react,
he dribbles down the court and goes in for a perfect lay-up. They
stare open mouthed at him as he dribbles back to the free throw
line. "That's two," he says smiling.
- "Whoa ho ho." Logan says.
- "You take me by surprise once homme, dat not happen
again." Remy says, getting over his initial shock.
- "Double or nothing?" Scott asks, grinning inwardly at
the shocked looks on his friends faces.
- "You're on, mon ami."
- Ororo watches in stunned silence as the game progresses. She can't
help but wonder if Jean even knows how good he is, or if this is a
secret he's managed to keep even from her. She turns and walks back
into the kitchen where Jean is putting the finishing touches on the
lunch she and Ororo had been preparing.
- "Jean, I think you should see this. Could you come outside
for a moment, please?"
- "Uh, sure. What's up 'Ro?" she asks quizzically.
- "I think this is something you need to see for yourself my
friend," she answers with a smile.
- Jean follows her out, wondering what could be going on that's so
shocking that Ororo can't just tell her. When they get to the
basketball court she sees why her friend brought her there. She is
shocked. Her husband, the usually serious, down to business, leader
of the X-Men, is playing basketball! Even more shocking then that
was, not only is he having fun playing, but he is good
at it! Really good. She can't believe what she is seeing. Scott, who
is being guarded by a determined looking Remy, makes a beautiful
no-look pass to Hank who then slam dunks the ball.
- The two women watch in amazed silence as Scott continues to make
amazing plays, either passing or shooting. Then he makes one more
play, Scott dribbles the ball under the basket like he is going for
the shot, instead he passes it to Rogue who passes it to Hank, who
passes it back to Scott who was now heading for the three point
line. He fakes out Remy and puts up the three point shot. They watch
in silence as the ball flys through the air. Gambit makes a last
ditch effort to block it but misses. The ball drops threw the net.
Hank and Rogue go over and congratulate their team mate. They are
joined by the other three players.
- "That's game," Scott said smiling. He turns to Remy, his
smile getting bigger. "I believe you owe me forty bucks,
Gambit." When Gambit makes no immediate attempt to pay up,
Scott holds out his hand. "Cough it up, Gumbo," he says,
using Logan's favorite name for Gambit.
- Remy reluctantly pulls two twenty dollar bills out of his shorts
pocket and hands them to Scott, who puts them in his own pocket.
- "Got any o'her secrets you not tell us yet, homme?" Remy
asks, smiling.
- "That's for me to know and you to find out," Scott
replies, grinning like the cat that ate the canary. He is nearly
knocked over by Jean, who throws herself into him, wrapping her arms
around his neck, as he turns to Remy.
- "You never told me you could play basketball, you were great,
and gambling..." she says, letting her voice drop off.
- "Hey, contrary to popular belief, I do know how to have fun,
you know. Besides, I just couldn't resist. I used to play a lot when
I was younger." he doesn't want to spoil the day with memories
of his time at the orphanage so he doesn't mention that it had been
there, in all the time he spent alone, that he'd taught himself to
play.
- "He really surprised us all with that game, sugah,"
Rogue says.
- "Definitely an awesome game, Scott. Next time I'm on your
team," adds Jubilee
- Logan and Gambit look at her with mock looks of hurt.
- "We not good enough for you no more, petite?" Gambit
asks
- "It's not that, Scott's just better," she says shrugging
her shoulders. Everyone laughs as Remy and Logan give her more mock
looks of hurt.
- "I must confess," Ororo added " I think he
surprised us all with that game."
- Now it is Scott's turn to feign having his feelings hurt. "
What, you think I have no other interest other then my wife and the
X-Men? That I don't know how to have fun? Is that what you all
think?"
- The others look at each other surpressing the urge to laugh, and
say in unison "Yes."
- "You know ," Scott begins, grinning like a Cheshire cat,
" I could always cancel our picnic lunch and schedule a nice
long, hard, Danger Room work out instead. How about
that?"
- "No way, man." Jubilee says quickly. "I don't know
about the others, but I think you gave us enough of a workout
already."
- The others laugh at the look on Jubilees face and nod in
agreement, as they walk over to the tables. Scott takes one last
look at the court and turns towards the table when he feels a tug on
his pant leg. When he looks down he sees Siku standing in front of
him holding the ball.
- "Unca Scott," she asks "will you teach me to pway?
Pweeeease?"
- "Sure, sweetheart. Right after lunch, OK?" She nods in
agreement, and he picks her up and carries her to the tables.
- Lunch is a jovial affair, filled with laughter and jokes. Scott,
good-naturedly, takes the brunt of the jokes. The X-Men rarely have
the opportunity to sit back, relax, and enjoy each others company.
When such an opportunity does present itself, the X-Men don't
hesitate to jump on it.
- After lunch Jean, Ororo, Jubilee, and Rogue clear the table while
engaging in "girl talk". Remy pulls out a deck of cards
and starts a game of poker with Logan and Hank.
- Scott takes Siku back to the basketball court. He watches with
amusement as she tries to dribble the ball, smacking at it with both
hands.
- "Aim for the basket and throw it," he tells her as he
picks her up. She does as Scott tells her and the ball smacks off
the backboard and bounces down the court. Siku wiggles out of his
arms and runs after it, giggling. He chuckles as he watches her. She
runs back to him.
- "Again," she says raising her arms again, her tiny blue
hands clutching the ball.
- Scott is amazed by her boundless energy as they repeat the cycle
over and over again. It suddenly dawns on him that this is the first
time he's actually spent any time alone with his niece. Sure he'd
changed her diapers and put her to bed a few times, had even given
her her bath once last year, but this is the first time he's played
with her for more then a few minutes. He is thoroughly enjoying
himself. He watchs as Siku runs up to him again. Suddenly she stops
about three feet from him.
- "Who's dat, Unca Scott?" She asks.
- Scott turns around and is shocked to see the Juggernaut and
Sabertooth walking into the backyard. He quickly grabs Siku,
surprising the little girl and causing her to drop the basketball.
He holds her tight to his chest and turns back to the intruders.
Sabertooth looks at the little girl and shows his sharp teeth,
scaring little Siku who then begins to cry. Scott whispers quietly
in her ear and her crying slows to soft sobs as she buries her face
in Scott's shoulder and wraps her arms tightly around his neck.
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
- "I don't believe you picked up the correct amount of cards,
Remy" Hank says.
- "Remy don' need to cheat to beat you homme," he
replies.
- "Awww what's a matter Blue," Logan asks chuckling
"lose to much money on that last hand?"
- "I was simply making ... Oh my stars and garters!" he
suddenly exclaimes. The other guys look at Hank then over to where
he is pointing. Their mouths drop open in shock as they see
Juggernaut and Sabertooth at the court talking to Scott, who is
clutching Siku tightly. They rush over to Scott.
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
- "Oh he..." Jean stops in mid sentence as she receives
the telepathic message through her rapport with Scott.
- ~ Jean, come quick, and bring the others. We've got trouble.~ Jean
looks to Jubilee, Ororo, and Rogue. "Let's go, we have some
uninvited guests at the basketball court." She sees the guys
rushing over as she and the other X-women go over.
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
- "You get off on scarring little girls Creed?" Scott asks
menacingly.
- "Maybe," he replies flippantly. "Whatcha gonna do
about it One-Eye?"
- Siku clings tighter to Scott at the sound of Creed's voice. He
frightens most adults, and Scott can only imagine how much he is
frightening the little girl. He gently rubs her back to assure her
he will protect her. "It's all right," he whispers softly
so only she can hear "I won't let them hurt you." With
that, she loosens her grip on Scott's neck, but only slightly. Scott
looks up as the others come up on either side of him.
- "Jubilee, take Siku to the safe room," Scott says,
gently prying the little girl's fingers from his neck.
- Jubilee goes over to Scott, gently puts her hands on Siku's waist,
and attempts to take her from Scott. Siku tightens her grip on
Scott's neck.
- ~ It's all right sweetheart. It's only Jubilee. She's going to
take you to your special play room. ~
- Siku quickly leapt into Jubilee's arms as she heard her Aunt
Jean's voice in her mind. "I'm scared Ju bee." She
whispered into Jubilee's ear.
- "I know kiddo. I know," she whispered back, in her
bravest voice. She didn't let Siku see it, but Creed scares her to.
Scared as she is, she doesn't want to go. She wants to stay and help
the X-Men, but she knows from the tone of Scott's voice, there is no
room for argument. Besides someone has to make sure Siku is safe,
and she isn't a X-Man right now, she is just visiting. She walks
quickly into the mansion and to the safe room. When he had decided
to adopt Siku, Hank had turned one of the rooms in the basement into
a safe room for Siku, just for instances such as this.
- Scott watches the two girls go into the mansion. Once they were in
he turns his attention back to the two men before him. "What
are you doing here Marko, Creed? How did you get in without setting
off the alarms," Scott asks as the others arrived.
- "One question at a time One-Eye," Marko says. "We
came here looking for my whimpy stepbrother, since he ain't here,
Creed here thought it'd be a good idea to see what you X-Geeks were
up to. As for the security system ... well I don't think we'll let
you in on that little secret yet."
- "What do you want with Charley, bub?" Logan asks in a
growl, claws extended.
- "None of your business little man," Sabertooth answers.
- Logan is ready to attack him then, but Scott stops him. "Not
yet Logan," he says sternly.
- Logan reluctantly lowered his claws, leaving them out, and stepped
back. He is still growling softly.
- "Any time little man, any time."
- "You obviously know Charles isn't here right now, so why are you
still here?" Jean asks, her dislike for the two intruders
evident in her voice.
- "We'll, Creed thought it'd be nice to drop in on his old
buddy, Remy. They go way back ya know," Juggernaut says.
- "Yeah, way back. Just thought I'd see how you're doing. By
the way, how's your side Remy?" Sabertooth asks, pointing to
Remy's right side.
- "Remy NOT you're friend, not then, not now, not ever,"
Gambit says, practically yelling as he steps beside Scott. "Why
don' you jus' leave me an' my friends alone?"
- "Do you really think they'd still be your friends if they
knew the truth?" Sabretooth asked smiling menacingly.
- Scott watches as the color drains from Remy's face. The others
stand in stunned silence.
- Creed turns to Hank. "That's a real cute little girl ya got
there fur ball. Maybe I'll come back soon and get to know her a
little better. Whatdya say?" Without waiting for an answer he
and the Juggernaught turn and leave.
- Hank starts to go after Creed, a murderous look on his face.
Scott, seeing the remark for what is was, an attempt to get them all
riled and not an acuall threat, puts a restraining hand on his
friends shoulder.
- "Don't Hank. He is just trying to start a fight. He isn't
worth it."
- Hank takes a deep breath. Then he and the other X-Men turn to
Gambit. They begin firing questions at him all at once.
- "What was he talking about, Gambit?" Scott asks.
- "How do you know Creed?" Logan asks in a low growl.
"The truth about what?" Rogue and Storm asks at the same
time. Remy feels his heart sink as he looks at his friends. He knows
it is time to tell them about his past. About working for Sinister,
and his role in the Morlock massacre. He has the sinking feeling he
is about to lose his family again.
- "Meet me in de War Room in half an hour," he says as he
walks, shoulders slumped, into the mansion. The others watch
silently as he walks away, wondering if they really want to know
what Remy is about to tell them.
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
- Scott and Jean are the first to enter. They see Gambit sitting on
a chair turned backwards, with his fingers clasped behind his neck,
apparently deep in thought. He looked up as the others walked into
the room. His heart sunk even more as he saw Warren walk in at the
end of the group. Apparently he'd come for a visit and one of the
others had filled him in on what had happened. Bobby came in last,
apparently his date had ended early. Remy looks to Jubilee.
- "Where's Siku?" he asks her.
- "Scott kinda wore her out. I gave her a bath and put her down
for a nap. She's out like a light."
- "Good," he says quietly.
- "Now, tell us what that little scene was all about,
Gambit," Scott says in a somber voice.
- "Yeah Cajun, enlighten us." Logan adds.
- "I t'ink you'd all better 'ave a seat, you ain' gonna like
what you hear," Gambit says.
- They all sit down. Gambit sighs heavily as he looks at them and
begins his story. He tells them about how he got involved with
Sinister. He sighs again as he watches their expressions, a mixture
of surprise, anger, disappointment, and, from some of them, pure
hate. He tells them of some of the jobs he did for Sinister. Then he
tells them about his involvement with the Marauders.
- "After de las' job I tol' him I want not'in more to do wit
him. He said he had one more job for me. I tol' him no, but he said
he had some information I was lookin' for and he'd give it to me if
I did what he asked. He want'd me to gather a bunch of men for him
to take out some people who had double crossed him. Said all I had
to do was to lead them to the tunnel entrance. I had a feeling there
was more to it, but I didn' care. I was young and stupid and all I
cared about was the information. I didn't know what they really had
planned or I never would 'ave lead dem there." Remy
seems to be pleading with them to believe him. He looks about ready
to cry. He recomposes himself and continues with the story.
- "I did what he asked, but when we got to the beginin' of de
tunnel Sabretooth said dey needed me to take dem all de way in.
Somethin' tol' me to turn aroun' right den and dere, but I didn'. De
damn info seemed so important den." he says the last part more
to himself then the others.
- I showed dem all de way in. When we got all de way in I realized
I'd jus' made de most horrible mistake in my life. I didn' know dey
where gonna kill dem, I swear. Dey weren't who he said they
where. Dey ... dey ... dey were jus' tryi' to live in peace.
Sabretooth and de ot'ers started killin' before I realized I'd been
suckered. I tried to stop dem, but dere was not'in I could
do. Den I see her. One little girl, sitting in a tight ball in de
corner, amongst so much death, tryin' to make herself disappear. I
ran over an' picked her up. She put her arms 'round my neck so tight
I t'ought she was gonna choke me to death. I started runnin' back
towards the beginin' of de tunnel, when Sabretooth grabbed for me.
He missed, or so I t'ought. I jus' kep' runnin' 'till I got to a
friends house. I knocked on de door, when he opened it I handed him
de girl an' collapsed."
- "When I woke up I was lyin' on a bed wit my shirt off. Dere
was gauze or somethin' wrapped around my waist. He took off de
dressin' an I saw four long jagged lines runnin' parellel to my
ribs." The others had all seen the scars on his ribs but he
hadn't wanted to talk about them and they hadn't pressed the issue.
Logan knew that if it weren't for his accelerated healing, he'd have
a couple like them himself.
- "Dat's when I realized Creed hadn't missed me, dat I passed
out from blood loss also, not jus' exhaustion. He rewrapped de
wounds an asked me if I wanted to tell him how I got dem. I said no
and he dropped it, he didn' ask me again. I foun' out I had been out
for almos' four days. I asked him 'bout the girl. He said she was in
shock but she was safe an' would be fine. He asked if I wanted to
see her. I tol' him I t'ough it'd be better for her if I didn' see
her again. Truth was I didn't 'ave de guts to face her again. I
caused so her so much pain, even tough I didn' mean to hurt anyone.
I didn' want to see de hurt in her eyes again. I lef' his house two
days later. I wanted to forget what had happened, but I couldn't.
Then I meet Ororo." He didn't think it would be a good idea to
call her Stormy just then.
- "Den I meet de X-Men, I t'ought I could put de pas' behind
me. I never wanted dem to get hurt. I'm so sorry." He turned
his chair the right way and sat down, suddenly feeling like he had
no energy at all. They all stare at him in stunned silence.
- Warren is the first to break the silence and shocks them even
more. "You ... lying ... murdering ... BASTARD," he
yells as he literally flies across the table and into Remy, knocking
him off the chair. He wraps his fingers around Gambit's neck. "
You're responsible for their deaths, for THIS," he yells
again, expanding his metal wings. "You think you can just say
"I'm Sorry" and that'll make everything OK? That we'll all
just forget that you lead a bunch of killers into those tunnels to
murder a bunch of innocent people?"
- Scott was the first to get over the shock. "Warren, get off
him, NOW," he said.
- He didn't move.
- Scott went over to Warren and grabbed him by what was left of the
shirt he'd been wearing, and bodily threw him off Gambit, which
shocked the X-Men even more.
- "Why'd you stop him, Scotty?" Bobby asked "You
should've let him kill the son of a bitch."
- "Shut up, Robert."
- Bobby clamped his mouth shut. In all the years he'd known Scott,
Scott had never called him Robert. He had never sounded so
angry before, either. Gambit, still gasping for air, clumsily got
back into his chair. No one made any attempt to help him. The other
X-Men were standing now, having recovered from their shock, and
began talking loudly, and all at once.
- "Sit down and shut-up, all of you. This is not a free for
all." They all quieted down and sat down, surprised at the
anger in Scott's voice.
- Then Remy surprised them all as he stood up, still rubbing his
sore, red neck. "Remy understand if you don't want me here no
more. I'll leave now."
- "Bye," Warren said. He has gotten up from where Scott
had thrown him and is back in his seat.
- "Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out,"
Bobby adds sarcastically.
- "Both of you shut up, now. I won't tell you
again." The anger in his voice makes them clamp their mouths
shut again. They sit quietly, most of them glaring at Gambit.
- "Gambit's not going any were unless he wants to, at least not
yet. He is still a part of this team. If the Professor wants to kick
him out that's up to him, but untill he returns and makes his
decision, Gambit stays. Understand?"
- They all, especially Gambit, are surprised by what Scott has said.
They all nod and get up to leave, some of them glaring at Gambit on
the way out.
- "Traitor," Bobby and Warren spat.
- "How could ya lie ta us like that?" Rogue asks, fighting
back the tears that are threatening to come out.
- Hank and Jubilee just walk past without saying anything, a sad
look in their eyes.
- Jean puts her hand on his shoulder and gives a light squeze, then
walks out.
- Logan follows, shaking his head.
- Ororo is the last to leave. She stares at him, tears welling up in
her eyes.
- "'Ro I ..." he doesn't get to finish what he is saying.
She runs past him, eyes covered as the tears run freely down her
cheeks.
- Gambit drops his head to his chest and his shoulders slump. When
he looked up he was surprised to see Scott still standing in the
room. There was so many question he wanted to ask Scott, but only
one came out. "Why?"
- "This is the Professor's house and therefore your staying or
leaving is up to him. I believe you're sincere in you're regret.
You're still an X-Man, whether or not you remain one is your choice.
What happened can't be totally blamed on you. But I was there,
Gambit. I saw what those monsters did," Scott said, his voice
nearly trembling with anger, and pain at the memory of the
atrocities he'd seen that day, and the helplessness he'd felt.
"What Warren just did wasn't right, but his anger is justified.
The loss of his wings hit him extremely hard." Scott told him,
pushing aside the painful memories of that time. "You can't
really blame any of us for our anger. Ororo is the one you should
ask for forgiveness from, if that's what you're looking for. She
trusted you the most, and was hurt the most by that massacre, and
that little girl. I still don't completely trust you, Gambit. I'll
never forget what I saw that day. Make no mistake, if you ever do
anything to betray the X-Men, or hurt any of us, I swear
Bobby and Warren will be the least of your problems. Got
it?" Without waiting for an answer he walks out the door.
- Gambit stands silently as he watches Scott leave the War Room. He
does understand Scott and the others' anger all to well. He doesn't
hold it against them.
- For the first time in his life Gambit feels completely and utterly
alone.
- Ok That's chapter 2 what do you think? Notes: OK, I know many of
you are wondering why Creed and Marko left without a fight. Well ...
that will be explained in another story. Some of you are probably
thinking that I wrote Bobby a little out of character as well. That
too will be explained in another story. Believe me, there IS a
reason why I did it that way. So you'll just have to wait. Aren't I
just the evil little writter? :-)
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