Love's Past Turmoil

Gambit leaned back against the wall, twirling a single playing card through the fingers of his right hand, the base of his foot on the wall behind him. He was waiting for Wolfsbane to come out of the library. He had wanted to have a chat to Skye about a certain young woman, and when he couldn’t find her he thought a talk to one of Mana’s other close friends would suffice.

~Now where de wolf girl be?~ he thought, pushing himself off the wall and quietly opening the library doors.

He spotted Iceman and Wolfsbane sitting very close together, doing homework of some sort, well, that is what it looked like anyway.

The Cajun rolled his eyes. ~Every person be havin’ romance but me.~

Iceman smiled at Rahne. “See, you’re smarter than you think.” he said, motioning to the math’s homework in front of her.

Rahne chewed on her bottom lip thoughtfully for a moment as she regarded the math work in front of them. "It finally makes sense." she said, giving Bobby a smile. She met his eyes for a brief second and very much knew that she could lose herself in the blue depths. She felt his knee hitting hers under the table and she grinned to herself. She found herself toying with his foot with her own.

Gambit rolled his eyes. “It seems I be interruptin’ ev’ryone where I be goin’ today.” He said, stopping as he reached their table.

Rahne looked up as she picked up a new body scent. "Remy...what are you...doing in a library?" she asked him, her fingers playing with her pencil.

Remy raised an eyebrow, looking around. “It no’ be dat shocking is it? I have been in here before.”

Iceman chuckled. “Yeah. In a combat situation only, Gambit.” he said.

“Good point, Mon’ami.” He looked at Rahne, the look in his eyes suddenly very serious. “I need ta talk t’ yo’, petite.”

Rahne sat back in her chair with a laugh at Bobby's comment. She looked up as Remy's tone and eyes went into a more serious mode. She looked at Bobby. "Do you mind?" She asked him softly as she went to stand up.

“No.” Bobby answered, the look in his eyes saying otherwise, as he stood up. “Call me when you’ve finished.”

She saw the look in Bobby’s eyes and her heart jumped a bit. Was there more to his feelings then she herself knew? Now was not the time to think on it, as much as she wanted to.

She gave him a smile. "I will…"she said, softly before she turned to Remy. "Come on." she said, as she began walking towards a quieter part of the library.

Gambit followed, his eyes roaming the area. If anyone heard what he was about to say his reputation could very well be ruined.

“Yo’ know Mana well, right, petite?’ he asked, stopping and leaning back against one fo the floor to ceiling bookshelves.

"Mana...yeah I guess about as well as most here." she said, running a manicured hand through her hair, brushing it out of her eyes. "Why… what’s up?"

~About as good as anyone else here?~ Remy thought. ~Den maybe I best be waitin’ til I can talk ta Skye.~

"Remy… talk to me." she said.

Gambit looked at Rahne, seemingly studying her. “Yo’ keep ta yoself what I am about to say, got it?!” he warned.

"If you don't want me to tell anyone Remy...I won't." she said, softly.

Remy just nodded, the card still in his hands. "I need yo' ta tell me all yo' know 'bout Mana. Anything. Dat girl has got me so intrigued it isn't funny. De moment I saw her somethin' in me happened."

Rahne gave him a surprised look. "You’ve got a thing for Mana?" she asked him quietly, not wanting any of the others to overhear her.

“Dat’s just it. I don’ know wha’ it be. I saw her from a distance the first time an’ still somethin’ be hapnin. For de first time Remy be confused.” he admitted.

She looked at him. "Wow...I can tell you she’s not one for games, she doesn’t like them and she doesn’t play...so if you’re only looking to get her into bed...it's not gonna work." she said.

Gambit leaned forward, looking her directly in the eye. “For de first time in ma life, Rahne, dat be de last thing from ma mind, an’ I don’ even know de girl!”

"That’s good...I know that she wants commitment...someone that loves her in just that way you know...like she’s the only thing that matters to him...she’s his world...' she said, her words echoing in her head. She wanted that too.

“Yo’ sure we be talkin’ ‘bout her here, Petite?” Remy asked.

"Of course Remy...who else would I be talking about?"

Remy’s eyes glowed slightly, knowingly. “Tell me wha’ yo’ know, Rahne. Please, Cher.” It sounded like Remy was begging. The Cajun did not understand what was wrong with him. No one had ever affected him like this, let alone someone he had never even talked to aside from earlier this afternoon.

Rahne looked at him and bit her lower lip for a moment. "I think...it’s more fun if you find out on your own...excitement of the chase and all." dhe said with a grin. "I’ve told you the most important things...but I’ll tell you something else...if you hurt her...not only will you have John and Skye on your Cajun hide...you’ll have Wolfsbane as well."

Gambit just stared at the young woman, his eyes and face impassive. “I intend ta find out ev’rything, cos if I don’t it’s gonna drive me nuts.” he answered, pushing away from the book shelf and walking off. “Jus’ remember who yo’ are dealin’ wit’ here, Cher. Mana will be mine if the Petite wants ta be or not.”

Rahne growled and moved into his path of movement, her eyes dark. "Mana is her own woman and will make her own choice..." she said, menacingly.

Gambit stopped, his eyes wide and glowing. “Back off, Rahne.” he said, in a low tone. He was deeply impressed by her willingness to protect her friend, but no one stood in Remy’s way. No one!

Rahne growled again. "You...back off Remy…" She threatened. Her heartbeat sped up and her breathing increased.

He stepped back, holding up his hands. “Look, Cher, I don’ want no fight.” he said. “But dis girl is affectin’ me on a level I ‘ave never been affected on before, an’ yo’ know it be like Remy ta find out why, no matter what.”

"Spend time with her...get to know her...I’ve told you what I can."

“Dat be a problem, Petite, as it seems John does no’ want me around her.” Remy explained, curling his hands into fists beside his sides.

"John’s as protective of Mana as he is of Skye…”

Gambit merely nodded. “An’ I am determined ta find out exactly who dis girl is.” He stated, firmly, walking off before Rahne could say or do anything else.

"You do that." she said.

Rahne knew that if Remy stayed himself…he’d have no chance with Mana. She walked back out to the table, hoping that Bobby was still there.

Bobby appeared from among some bookshelves on the other side of the room, smiling at her. “Everything all right, Rahne?” he asked.

"Yeah everything’s fine" she said, as she sat back down. "I’m glad you waited."

“Well, we’re not finished. I wouldn’t up and leave half way through, now would I?’ he asked, his tone cheeky.

"No I hope you’d be the type to finish what you start." She gave him a grin.

Bobby just laughed, sitting back down beside her. “So, where were we?” he asked, leaning in close and looking down at her books.

Rahne looked over at him. ~If you only knew what was on my mind right now.~ she thought to herself before looking back at her work. "Um...right here...I think." she said, taking a finger and trailing down the page.

Iceman glanced at the side of her face, tempted to reach up and touch it. He held back, and for reason he could not fully understand.

Rahne wasn’t sure how much longer she could stand being this close to him and not being able to be with him. She could smell the pheromones pouring off him in waves. She knew that he was attracted to her… so why wasn’t he doing anything about it? She sighed inwardly as she went back to work.

Taking a deep breath Bobby moved a shaky hand to place on top of hers. ~If she doesn’t notice how nervous I am she must be blind. What am I doing?~ he thought.

Rahne stared at their hands for a second before looking at him, her green eyes searching his blue ones. She bit her bottom lip for a moment. "Why...are you so hesitant?"

Bobby looked at her. “I don’t really know.” he admitted. “Maybe, because I don’t want to be hurt again.” he told her.

She looked at him. "Marie..." she said softly. "I wouldn’t do that to you…" she said softly. "If you only knew how long I watched you with her, and knew I was better for you then she was..." she said, her hands packing up her bag quickly, closing the work they had been doing. "Forget I said anything." she said, softly, as she got up and began to leave the library.

She may have wanted to leave but Bobby quickly moved to block her path, taking her hands in his. “You know how I feel, Rahne, just give me some time. Please.” He said, his blue eyes locked onto hers.

"The only thing that I know is that your attracted to me.... a lot of the guys here are...I’m used to that..." she said softly.

Iceman leaned in, kissing her gently on the lips. “There is a big difference between attraction and love, Wolfsbane.” he said. “Remember that.”

She just about died. She kissed him back. "If this is how you remind me...I’ll forget it often…"

Iceman smiled. “Then, in time, I will make sure you never forget.” he promised.

Rahne smiled, a soft blush coming to her cheeks. “If you need time...I’ll still be here." she said, softly.

“And so will I.” he said.

“Oh no!” came Mana’s voice, as she came through the library doors. “I’m sorry. Oh shoot!” she said, turning away.

Rahne had just leaned in and was about to kiss Bobby again, when Mana's voice flooded her ears. She flushed harder and pulled back. She looked at Mana. "Timing...but it’s ok…what’s up Mana?"

“Nothing, actually.” Mana said, turning back around, and grinning at Bobby. “I just came in here to get a book. But, there was something I felt before.” She looked back at Rahne. “Were you okay? I mean I felt your emotions heighten?”

Bobby looked away from Mana’s gaze; smiling as his he moved back to Rahne’s side and gripped her hand tightly, squeezing it to remind her time was all he needed.

Rahne looked at Mana. "Yeah I was ok...just a slight word with Remy…" she said to the healer. "Nothing to worry about.” She felt Bobby slide his hand into hers and she looked at him and smiled.

“Oh, okay. I’ll get that book and head back to my room. Sorry guys.” Mana said, walking further into the library.

"It’s all right, Mana." Rahne said, her cheeks still tinged pink from a few minutes prior.

Bobby leaned in to whisper, “I am sorry we can’t be together now, Rahne.” Letting go of her hand, he gave her one of those looks that could make one’s knees buckle. “And I promise I won’t need that much time, just…” His voice trailed off as Mana reappeared, walking past them and waving as she left the library. “Know that I do love you.” he finished, gently kissing her on the cheek. “Now, I have to go have a shower. The training Logan and Scott gave some of us this afternoon has tired me out. My body is so sore.”

He reluctantly turned away. “See you later, Rahne.” he said, walking through the doors.

**

Mana opened the door to her room, walking in and placing the book on her desk. “Trust me to interrupt my friends when they were like in the middle of something major.” she said, softly.

To her amazement she had been given a room of her own. There wasn’t even an extra bed tor two in it, which could have suggested it was merely temporary.

She felt the presence only milliseconds before he spoke, tha hairs on the back of her neck standing on end.

“Yo’ be mighty pretty, Cherie.” Gambit said, from the shadows of the large, bay window.

Mana spun around, glaring at him.

“Who…? Remy? What in the world are you doing in my room?!” she demanded, her eyes glowing with the anger building up inside.

Gambit smiled. “Seems ta me ta be de only way ta get yo alone, Petite.” He said, jumping off the window seat, covering the distance til he was standing right in front of her.

Mana stepped back, instinctively, her blades merely inches from unsheathing. “Get out of my room!” she hissed.

“Come now, Cher.” Remy said, looking into her eyes. “Do yo’ really wan’ Gambit to go?”

Mana felt some sort of psionic pull, her mental shields rising without her even having to think about it.

She stepped back further. “Whatever you are trying to do, it won’t work.” she warned.

Remy reached out and grabbed her by the wrist. “Yo’ be stayin’ ta let me talk.” he basically ordered.

The wrist Remy was holding suddenly felt strange momentarily as three, perfectly sharp blades slowly extended from between the girl’s elegant knuckles.

“Let go of me!” Mana hissed again.

Gambit smiled, somewhat antagonistically. “Dose don’t scare me, Mon Cher. Is nothin’ Remy hasn’t seen before.”

Mana brought up her other hand, the blades flicking out more quickly, but Gambit caught her wrist before she could reach him.

Skye had walked to Mana's quarters, wanting to ask her something. She went to knock but the door was slightly open. She pushed it further and stopped. "Mana!" she cried, as she walked in. "Remy...don’t touch her." she warned, as she raised her hand and the Cajun lifted into the air and flew to the opposite wall, and stayed there. "We warned you didn’t we LeBeau?" she said. "I believe that Wolfsbane warned you as well...didn’t she...are you really that stupid?"

Remy eyed the telepath, a slight look of anger on his face, but he was clearly impressed. “Well, I guess I be underestimatin’ yo’ friends, Mana.”

The growl left Mana’s throat. “How dare you…?” Her voice trailed off, as she advanced on him, lines of electricity playing over her hands and on up through her blades. Her anger was fuelled by the times she had been attacked, and held by arrogant men such as Magneto; by the times she had been helpless to defend herself.

Skye took her other hand into the air and stopped Mana in her footsteps. "Mana… no." she said. She looked at Remy. "You... will...leave...her...alone…" she said slowly, drilling the thought into his brain with her mind as well as her words. "Get out, and do not come back, unless you are invited." she told him.

“Although your attempts at protectin’ your friend are commendable, Petite,” Gambit started, looking straight at Skye. “Your attempts at forcing anything inta ma head are futile.” He tapped the side of his face. “Ma power protects me from da likes of yo’.”

Mana growled again, glaring at him.

“An’ yo’, Mon Cher.” he said, his eyes roaming over the purple glowing mutant. “Are more impressive dan Gambit first thought.”

Skye let Mana loose. "Ok girl...you get him." she said, her mental concentration breaking down each second. She was still new to the telekinesis and it wore her down quickly.

Mana walked up to the Cajun, his smile merely angering her further. “What right do you have to come into my room and grab me like that?” she demanded, her anger cooling somewhat, as her common sense kicked in.

“Dere be a good…” As the words left his mouth, the kinetic energy glowed uncontrollably in his hands. Looking down at it, he said, “Dere, see. Yo’ do dis ta me, Petite, an I wanna know why!”

Skye looked at Mana and Remy, trying very hard to maintain herself and not pass out as she thought she might. "Mana… he’s all yours." she said, as she let Remy fall from the wall. She made her way to the door. "I have to go lay down." she said, her hand on the doorhandle.

She opened the door, and blackness engulfed her. She fell to the ground.

Mana, sensing her friend was about to pass out, was at her side, catching her before she hit the polished wood, ignoring the intruder in her room for now. “Remy, help me get her over to the bed.” But when she looked around at him he was gone. ~Just who in the world does he think he is?!~ Mana thought, angrily.

*John.* Mana called, via their link.

*I’m already on my way, Mana.* he answered. *And I am going to kill that Cajun!*

*That will accomplish nothing. Just help me with Skye.*

“On it.” Pyro’s voice could be heard as he reached her, leaning down to help Mana pull the girl to her feet. His burrow was creased with concern. ~Pyro’s here, Baby.~ he thought.

Skye moaned softly in the arms of her friend, and love. She felt his thought like the flutter of tiny butterfly wings, but she was unable to pull herself from the arms of unconsciousness.

Already, Mana’s power had begun it’s work, passing into Swann and searching for injury, or in this case, the fatigue; and gently, slowly, it started to reverse the affect.

Dark lashes fluttered open, revealing dark emerald green eyes. "Oh…" She breathed slowly. "I guess my bed was too far off."

Pyro grinned. “Yeah, I guess it was.” His face suddenly turned serious. “You have to be careful, Skye. Your telekinesis is only new.” He narrowed his eyes, looking at Mana. “And that Cajun is going to pay. I told him to stay away from you earlier this afternoon, and now he brings Skye into this too.”

It was clear the fire manipulator wasn’t happy, and it was also clear, neither was his foster sister.

"Ok enough talk about Remy, please...that guy makes my blood boil." Skye said, as she sat up carefully.

Mana suddenly looked stricken. “It wasn’t you he bailed up in your room.” she said. “If you hadn’t of come in who knows what would have happened.” Her eyes widened. “I mean, like, he could have, like…” her words tailed off.

“That is something he wouldn’t have done.” Pyro tried to assure her. “He’s not like that.”

Mana just looked away. “If he does it again and no one is there to stop me…”

"No he really isn’t like tha Mana...he’s usually a really good guy...I think that something’s going on and he’s confused and it scares him." she said to them.

“You have no idea.” Remy whispered, from his position, balanced on the windowsill to the right of Mana window.

“Skye’s right, Mana.” Pyro said. “He’s normally not that bad.”

~Oh well, at least yo’ admit dat now.~ Gambit thought. ~After I go an’ completely blow any chance wit’ dis girl.~

Skye immediately picked up on the thoughts of someone else in the area. She put a finger to her lips, asking Pyro and Mana to be quiet as she walked towards the windowsill. She looked out the window, gave Remy a smirk as she pulled him off the sill and let him fall to the grass below. She then shut the window and the curtains as well. "Much better." She grinned at the others.

“Was he still out there?” Mana asked, visibly shuddering. There was a part of her though that wanted to see him again; a part of her that was as drawn to him as he was to her.

"Yeah, though he’s gone now, so don’t worry." Skye smirked. "I’ll give him credit however...he’s persistent. He knows what he wants and goes after it." she said, as she walked over to Pyro and rested her head on his shoulder lightly.

Pyro wrapped his arms around his girlfriend, softly kissing her cheek. “You sure you are okay, Swann?’ he asked.

Mana’s skin was still glowing with purple lines of electricity and she couldn’t stop the power as it continued to grow around her. The clap of thunder directly over her room made her jump six feet. “What?! I never called that up!” she cried, the confusion clear on her face.

Skye leaned into his embrace and closed her eyes. "Yea I think I’m ok...I just need to lay down for a bit." she said. "Why don’t we go cuddle on the couch in the day room? Maybe watch some TV?" She looked at Mana. "What in the world...you know what...I think that your powers and Remy’s...affect each others...but how and why…I don’t know."

Mana turned to look out the window at the raging storm cell.

John watched her over Skye’s shoulder. “Do you think it’s wise to leave her alone?” he asked her.

"Yeah I think so...I think I made my point to Remy…he won’t approach her again tonight.” she said to John.

“I’m going out there.” Mana said, brushing past her friends, disappearing out the door before either of them could say another word.

**

He stepped out of the small alcove in front of her as she rounded the south corner of the mansion.

Mana stopped, staring at him. “What are you doing?!” she hissed. “Get away from me!”

“I can’t, Cher.” he responded.

He stepped closer to her, and she instantly took a step back, controlling the urge to lose it.

”Ya don’ ‘ave ta be scared o’ me, Cher.”

Mana’s eyes caught his as the clap of thunder overhead caused the already evident lines of electricity to spark around her.

Remy felt the pull of her energy, closing his eyes, his own power darkening around him. “Don’ ya get it, Petite? Somethin’ be hapnin between us.” He opened his eyes, taking in a confused look that mirrored his own. “Ma intention was never to hurt or scare yo’, Mana. I jus’ need ta know wha’ be goin’…”

“Do you think I know anything more than you do?!” Mana cried.

Lightning crisscrossed the clouds, claps of thunder coming at almost even intervals.

“I can’t stop it and I never even called it up!” she told him, motioning to the sky with intensely glowing hands.

Gambit glanced up at the storm cell, the reddish-purple glow of his eyes more evident than it had ever been.

The lightning bolt snaked down so quickly all Remy saw was it hit Mana in the left shoulder forcing her back against the wall of the mansion, and barely a half blink later the second bolt hit her in the chest, pinning her in place.

Gambit’s mouth fell slightly open, the incident over before it even began, watching the girl he was drawn to slide to the ground, wrapping her arms around her knees, fear in her eyes.

“Get away from me.” she said, her voice trembling.

The Cajun ignored the request, crouching down where he stood. “Wha’ was dat?” he asked, failing to notice the pebbles beneath his feet begin to glow with kinetic energy.

The young woman, who had just experienced a side of her electrical based energy she had never seen before, noticed only moments before he reached over, pulled her to her feet, and twisted them sideways into the alcove, the sound of the pebbles exploding behind them.

Mana’s back was against the wall, the Cajun’s body protecting her from what could have been a disastrous outcome. He never backed off, looking down into her still glowing eyes.

“Dere, ya see?” he said, his right hand moving to gently grasp her chin. “De bes’ t’ing we could be doin’ right now is stayin’ away from each other.” For Remy, the temptation to kiss her was almost too much to bear, however, something held him back. “But, Cher,” he continued. “I don’ t’ink it matter whether we be together or apart. Somethin’ be causin’ me ta be drawn t’ yo’. Somethin’ be causin’ Remy t’ lose control of powers he has had control of f’r years.” He ran his finger down her cheek, moving a loose strand of black hair back behind her ear, as he leaned forward and whispered, “Remy be leavin’ yo’ alone now, Petite. Come find me when de same t’ing be hapnin t’ yo’.”

And with those words he was gone leaving Mana standing there with her mouth slightly agape and only one thought rolling around in her head, ~But it’s already happening to me.~