Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Chapter 21


The sound of a car roaring up out front caught Kurt’s attention and he went to the door and looked out the side window to see Gambit climbing from a convertible Roadster, dressed, not in his “uniform” but in jeans and a tee shirt, a jacket slung over his shoulder like Cary Grant. Shades hid his scarlet eyes.

Someone must have answered the gate intercom and let Gambit in...or someone had given him the code. Maybe someone named Rogue.

Kurt waited until Gambit knocked then opened the door with an expectant expression.

Gambit smiled and he pulled off his sunglasses. “How’s everythin’ goin’, Nightcrawler?”

“Everything is fine...Gambit. Come in. I suppose Rogue is expecting you.”

Gambit came, eyes taking in the foyer as if he’d never been there before and Kurt got the distinct impression that this “casing” was a habit of Gambit’s.

“What sort of plans do you and Rogue have this afternoon?” Kurt asked, following Gambit across the foyer.

Gambit turned that coy smile on him and Kurt knew why Rogue was attracted to this man. He could easily be attracted to him...but he doubted Gambit would have any interest in him. Gambit seemed very much the lady’s man.

“Why, Nightcrawler, ya playin’ big brother today?”

“No. Little brother. Logan usually plays big brother...or there’s Scott or Hank.”

“An’ we don’t want ta get started on all the sisters,” Gambit replied, that smile never leaving his face.

“Oh yes, just as formidable as Rogue’s brothers.”

Gambit laughed and Kurt couldn’t help but smile. The warning was taken good-naturedly.

“So?” Kurt asked.

Another laugh came. “Gambit takin’ the lovely Rogue ta dinner and a movie. That meet with your approval, little brother?”

Kurt pretended to ponder the question then offered a nod of approval.

“Ah’m so glad.” Gambit’s gaze wandered, looking about at the paintings and sculptures around the foyer. “Ah hear you and Logan are...boyfriends.”

“Boyfriends? I have trouble calling Logan that. He’s no boy after all. He’s my lover, if that’s what you mean.”

Gambit turned a look on him Kurt couldn’t discern. “How’d your parents take the news?”

A wave of emotional pain stuck Kurt in the heart. “Not well.”

“Ah’m truly sorry ta hear that. They seemed like nice enough people.”

“They are. They are very religious though. I hope they will come to accept Logan.”

That look again crossed Gambit’s face. “So you two that serious. Ah’d never have thought Logan would swing that way. Just goes to show, ya can’t always tell about people.”

A feeling of uncomfortableness washed over Kurt for Gambit’s scrutiny of him had increased. “I should go tell Rogue you are here. I think she was doing something to her hair.” Kurt turned to head up the stairs.

“Did ya tell your parents the rest, Nightcrawler?”

Kurt whirled around. “The rest of what?”

Gambit’s face was solemn, more serious than Kurt had seen before. “About Trask...and Sabertooth and what they did ta ya?”

Kurt’s breath rushed out of him as if he’d been punched in the gut. “What do you know about any of that?” he demanded, his breath thick in his throat. “What did Rogue tell you?”

Gambit put up his hands. “Don’t go blamin’ Rogue. She cares a whole lot ‘bout ya. And she didn’t tell Gambit much a nothin’. Just that those two hurt ya real bad and that those two are in prison for what they did. Ah could do some guessin’ but Ah won’t. Ah’ve figured out enough. Gambit’s curiosity just got the best of him as ta your parents.”

Kurt’s thoughts swarmed inside his head, his reaction angering him more than Gambit’s guessing game. He had to get over this reactionary behavior or he’d never put this ordeal behind him.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but no. I did not tell them. I don’t want them to know. They’ve been hurt enough. They would blame themselves for allowing me to come to The States. I won’t have them blaming themselves for what people like Bolivar Trask and Sabertooth do.”

Gambit nodded with that same solemn expression. The man hadn’t meant to hurt Kurt. He was actually trying to show empathy and concern though it had come across a little heavy handed for Kurt’s liking.

“Why don’t ya go on and tell Rogue Ah’m here for our dinner date?”

“Right,” Kurt said. “I’ll just do that.” He headed up the stairs and stopped outside the girls’ bathroom. “Rogue? Are you still in there?”

The door swung open and a harried Rogue peered out with an aggravated expression.

“Of course, Ah’m still in here. Look at ma hair. Ah can’t do a thing with it.”

“It looks fine to me,” Kurt replied.

Rogue gave an exasperated huff. “What would you know about it?”

“I have hair and I know what looks good. You look fine. Very nice, Rogue. Anyway, Gambit is here. He’s waiting in the foyer.”

“Oh gawd! Ah’m so not ready for this.”

Kurt reached out to her. “Sis, calm down. Relax.”

“Relax? How can Ah with this traitorous hair of mine?”

“Here,” Kurt said and gently pushed her back into the bathroom. He followed and took the brush away from her. “I’ll help.”

Rogue started to protest, but with a hard look from Kurt she shut up. He drew the brush through her hair, gathering and arranging. He made her turn and using a comb this time, Kurt continued to arrange until he was satisfied. Now, if only Rogue would be satisfied.

He turned her back to the mirror. “There. You look wunderbar.”

Rogue turned her head this way and that, her face scrunching up with scrutiny. “Ah guess it’ll have to do. Thanks, Kurt. You’re the best.”

She started to leave, but Kurt wrapped his fingers around her arm and stopped her.

“Huh?” she asked.

“What did you tell Gambit...about what was done to me...by Trask and...Sabertooth?”

“Oh,” Rogue groaned. “Did that yahoo say somethin’ to ya?”

“Yes. He asked me if I’d told my parents about what they had done to me?”

“Ah’ll kill him,” she growled.

“Rogue.”

“Nothin’ really, bro.” She gave another huffing sigh. “He said somethin’ the other day before we came to the party. Said somethin’ about Sabertooth knowin’ about Logan’s past and Ah lost ma cool. Got up in his face about Sabertooth. By then Ah had to tell ‘im somethin’. Ah just told ‘im they hurt ya real bad. That’s all. No details. If he said otherwise, he’s a liar as well as a thief.”

“No, he said you didn’t tell him much. And...don’t be angry with him. He seemed, I don’t know, concerned. I think he was trying to be kind and it didn’t hit me right. I...still overreact way too much. Maybe in time, it will get better.”

Rogue reached out with a gloved hand and squeezed his arm. “It will, Kurt. Really. Ah know it don’t feel like it right now, but time does help. Ah bet Cassie told ya that, didn’t she?”

Kurt nodded. “Yes. I suppose some day I’ll believe her.” Kurt stepped back and opened the way for Rogue to pass. “Well, you have a date to go on. Have a good time and be careful.”

Rogue grinned. “Careful? Yeah, right. Later, bro.”

Kurt watched her run down the stairs to where Gambit waited for her.