Never Let Go

Remy headed north, toward where the fight had taken place, in rural Maine. Remy drove the back roads as he sorted through his thoughts and the who, what and where’s of the whole sordid mess.



Who held Creed’s leash this time? Was he acting on his own insanity or was there a pattern here? A thought kept niggling at the back of his head but he wasn’t ready to look at it.

Everyone knew the hatred and bloodlust between the two ferals and it was not a surprise that Creed would set a trap for Logan. What was surprising was that Logan had been caught off guard.

Archlight’s presence made the background thought more prominent and Remy felt a chill run down his spine as it had every time he considered that thought.



NO!



He shook his head and pushed the bike harder. He didn’t want to consider that possibility until he had more proof. That might be more then Remy could bare. He slowed his bike as he reached in his jacket for his sunglasses.

The sun was just peeking over the horizon and the light sensitive mutant was not going to stop just to put them on. With a movement that spoke of lots of practice, Remy pulled them out and flicked the arms open. The shades slid onto his head and the boy gave a slight sigh as the tinted lenses gave his eyes relief.



The air held the cool crispness of early fall and Gambit shivered a little. There were very few people on the face of the planet he would drive north in cooling weather for. Logan was at the top of the list. As the scenery slipped by in a blur Remy let his mind wander to the last ‘moment’ he had with Logan. The last time the ‘chance’ had been there to say or act on what he felt so keenly.



It was right before the incident.



****

The team was spending a leisurely afternoon on the back lawn having a picnic and getting the last of summer before the students returned for fall semester. But the picnic had been bustled inside when the blue sky clouded up and rain fell in torrents. True, Ororo could have sent it on it’s way but she was always unwilling to tamper with the natural flow unless it was absolutely necessary.



Remy wasn’t part of the group that scampered inside. He’d pulled his now soaked tee shirt off and tossed it on the lawn chair as he sauntered down to the garden wall and perched himself on the edge. Pulling one long leg up to his chest and letting the other dangle the boy turned his face up to the rain and let it cascade over him. His wet jeans clung to his lean form like a second skin and curved around his rounded butt.



Auburn hair turned a dark garnet as the silken strands grew wet. His enjoyment of the simple storm was evident. With the others safe inside Remy let his shields down a little and breathed in the fresh washed air. It was a liberating feeling and how he had missed the summer rains of the south.



He was aware of Logan approaching and slowly eased his shield back. Before he was closed again he caught a pulse of Logan’s emotions. There was curiosity, admiration and a heavy dose of lust. Blushing despite the cooling rain Remy turned his head to look at the feral as he walked up and leaned on the wall.



“You like getting soaked, Gumbo?” Logan asked shaking his head making droplets fly off his shaggy hair. Remy looked at the man beside him with an amused expression in his ruby and ebony eyes.

“Oui, ‘tis refreshin’.” he said and tilted his head back opening his lips to the falling rain.



Logan hadn’t been able to hide the way he stared, watching the boy’s throat ripple and how his golden skin glistened with the moister. Drops hung on his long lashes making them seem jeweled. The feeling of lust increased making Gambit have to lower his gaze.

Their eyes locked and the moment seemed to stand still. A heat passed between them, almost palpable. Remy wished he were brave enough to reach out and pull the large man to him. To crush their mouths together in a kiss more hungry then any either had ever known.



His gaze was distracted by a bead of water running from Logan’s sideburns and trekked down the strong neck only to dissapear into the soft coils of dark hair at the neck of his tee shirt. A white wife beater that Remy noticed was now almost translucent with the rain. He could make out every dip and valley of the strong man’s magnificent form.



Logan’s lips parted to speak but before he could muster the air the back door was flung open and Bobby’s voice carried to them.

“Food’s ready! Better get here quick, Hank may eat it all!” he said, laughter clear in his voice. Behind him they could hear the blue doctor protesting the Iceman’s taunt. With a smile that was a little sad Logan shrugged his shoulders.

“We better go eat.” he said and paused a second before turning away. As Logan left, Remy let out a sigh that seemed to come from his toes and cursed himself for a coward. Hopping down from the wall he sauntered into the mansion and found a towel waiting by the door. Smiling Remy brought it up to his face.



****



Shaking off the memory Remy gunned the bike faster taking the curves at dangerous speeds. He had to find the feral mutant, there was not other option as he saw it.



At mid afternoon he stopped for fuel and something to make his stomach stop grumbling. Keeping his shades on he paid for the items and asked how far it was to the next freeway. The old grizzled man behind the counter eyed him up and down and then begrudgingly gave him directions. With a 'thank you’ Gambit left and got back on the road.



The sun was just starting to slide down the sky as Remy made it to the ‘scene of the crime’. Parking his bike he stretched the stiffness from his limbs and just listened It was the calm quiet of the woods just before sundown. Remy took a moment and let his shields down so he could sense if anyone was trying to sneak up on him.



Sensing nothing human he gave a dejected shrug and began to walk the parameters again. The team had gone over it all, they had searched and came up with nothing. For a moment the boy wondered what he was thinking. What did he think he was going to find that the X-men hadn’t? Who did he think he was? Sherlock Holmes? Fox Mulder?



Sighing in disgust he kicked at the dry leaves still stained with his friend’s blood.

“Damnit Logan WHY?” he said and his voice lifted to echo through the wooded area. “Why did you come here alone? Where are you?” He shouted into the stillness. Nothing responded.



He cursed in several languages and kicked at the leaves more violently. His boot struck something heavy and he heard a metallic ‘tink’ as it flew across the clearing and struck a rock on the other side.



Remy’s heartbeat spiked and he dashed across the leaves. Going to his knees he fumbled for the item. Nimble fingers wrapped around the metal and he lifted it from the underbrush.



His breath caught in his throat.



It was the inhibitor cuff Creed had used to defeat Logan. The latch seemed to be broken now and there was dried blood on the shiny surface making the boy almost drop the damned thing. Taking a deep breath he turned it in his fingers looking for a clue. It was smooth, most likely adamantium. There was a fine bundle of wires running through the alloy and the electrical lock had a complicated mechanism.



The orange setting sunlight reflected off a point in the smooth surface. It was a maker’s mark. Remy’s felt his blood run ice cold, so fast he actually shivered. His niggling voice became a shout as the proof lay right in his hands.



There was only one person Remy LeBeau knew of who used such a mark to denote his handiwork. Sagging on his heels Remy let out a horse shout of denial. His head fell back as he knew this was what he had feared.

Could he do this? Could he face this demon? Steeling himself he thought of Logan and knew he couldn’t back away. The Wolverine wouldn’t were the tables turned. Logan would walk into Hell it’s self to save a teammate and friend. Remy couldn't let his fear cloud things.



Getting to his feet, he began to amble back to his bike. He sat on the leather seat and stared at the cuff a moment more before slipping it into his duster and pulling out his cell phone. The number was one he’d never forget, it was carved into his memory.

His fingers trembled as he dialed and waited while the line rang, his heart in his throat. If this was true he was taking the biggest chance making this call.



There was click and a beat of silence before a silky and sibilant voice broke over the line.



“Remy. How nice of you to call.” the voice sent a pang of revulsion to the thief's stomach and he almost gagged. Taking a deep breath he scowled.



“Just tell me what you want, Essex.” Remy’s voice almost didn’t shake as his thumb ran over the diamond etched into the metal.