Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Argghhh! I made a huge mistake with the last chapter and now I can't get the site to let me edit the problem. Oh, well. No one's mentioned it, so just pretend you didn't see two chapters posted as one. I'll fix it later. Obviously, it's going to late me post a new chapter. Ya know? I'm really beginning to enjoy writing Rogue/Gambit.


Chapter 26


“Haven’t you gotten enough of me yet, Cajun?” Rogue strode up the mansion steps and Gambit kept pace, reaching to open the door for her. She gave him a withering glare, but couldn’t help a smile of pleasure that ruined the effect.

“Gambit can’t never get enough of a beautiful woman like Rogue. At least ask me in for a drink.”

Rogue put her hands on her hips and stared at her companion...her date. Her first real date and she’d had a wonderful time. A fabulous time she hadn’t expected to have.

Gambit had wined and dined her and they hadn’t even bothered with a movie, just sitting out at that lake and talking for hours. He had been the consummate gentleman, opening doors for her and making her feel like a desirable woman.

“Well, come on in and Ah’ll get us some Cokes or somethin’.”

Gambit flashed a smile. “Merci, mon cherie. Gambit is a might thirsty.”

Rolling her eyes, Rogue headed towards the kitchen with Gambit right behind. Voices caught her hearing as she passed one of the parlor rooms.

“This doesn’t make any sense,” Jean stated. “This just isn’t like Logan.”

Rogue hesitated then stopped, cocking her head to hear Jean’s words. Gambit opened his mouth to question her, but she put a finger to her mouth and gripped his arm.

“I agree with Jean,” Hank replied. “Logan can be volatile at times and certainly has a trigger temper, but he’s never threatened to hurt any of the students and he’s shown great gentleness and care towards Kurt.”

“I was there, Hank,” Scott replied. “Kurt said Logan hit him and Logan admitted it. And the things he said to the Professor...and to Kurt were threatening and down right...well...I don’t even have a good word for how Logan acted. He treated Kurt like a possession then left on his bike after threatening Kurt again.”

“Logan needs to answer for his behavior, Charles,” Ororo spoke up. “And he needs to apologize to Kurt. What you’ve told us of Logan’s behavior, I’d say Logan needs further counseling...perhaps someone other than Miss Martin.”

“Cassie’s done a wonderful job counseling Kurt and Logan,” Hank replied, sounding almost defensive. “She’s an excellent therapist and an intelligent woman.”

“I didn’t intend to besmirch Miss Martin’s reputation,” Ororo countered. “But Logan is a handful on a good day...let alone if he’s having some sort of regressive behavior rearing its ugly head.”

Rogue glanced inside the room, scanning for Kurt. Her adoptive brother was nowhere in sight although he and Logan were obviously the topic of discussion. What in the world happened in the half day she’d been gone?

“Rogue,” the Professor said. “And I see Gambit is with you. Please...come in.”

Rogue went, glancing back at Gambit who shrugged and followed her in. “What’s goin’ on, Professor? What’s this talk about Logan hurtin’ Kurt. He’d never hurt Kurt. Never.”

“It appears that assessment is incorrect, my dear,” the Professor replied. “Logan admitted to hitting Kurt. And his behavior was most disturbing.”

Rogue shook her head. “No. Logan wouldn’t do that. After everythin’ that Kurt’s been put through, Logan would never hurt ‘im. There’s gotta be an explanation.”

“Chere,” Gambit said, hand lighting on her shoulder in a comforting gesture. “Ya know, Logan not the most stable guy around.”

“Shut up!” Rogue whirled on him. “What would you know? Logan took care of me. He’s risked his life over and over again for all of us. What would you know about riskin’ your life for somebody?”

“Rogue, that’s enough,” Professor Xavier stated gently. “Gambit has a point and we need to keep an open mind.”

“You keep an open mind, Professor. I’m goin’ ta find Kurt.” She pushed by Gambit, uncaring of anything but finding her brother.

“Ah’m comin’ with ya,” Gambit said, running to catch up with her.

Rogue wondered if the Professor sent Gambit after her and if he did, why. She strode on, heading out the front door and around the side of the house.

“Where’s Nightcrawler likely to go after bein’ treated like crap by his boyfriend?”

“Why do you care?” Rogue tried to control the bitterness in her tone, but the anger gripped her by the heart, squeezing till she thought she’d scream.

Logan, what happened? Why would you hurt Kurt? You wouldn’t. I know you wouldn’t. Then what the hell happened?

“Ah care because you care, chere,” Gambit stated. “Ah don’t know why...but Ah do. That’s all Ah can tell ya.”

Rogue stopped and Gambit had to back peddle to face her. His expression was sincere, but then a con man was good at doing sincere.

“Ah don’t got time for your games, Cajun.”

His scarlet eyes burned brighter. “No games, chere. Just Remy talkin’ to Rogue.”

She stared, trying to hear if he was lying to her or if maybe there was something more than a thieving con man in Remy LeBeau.

Rogue lowered her gaze and nodded. “Okay. Ah don’t got time to worry about your agenda. So when Ah find Kurt, you just keep your mouth shut and let me find out exactly what’s goin’ on around here.”

“Whatever Rogue says, Remy obeys.”

“Be careful of promises like that, Cajun,” Rogue shot back. “Ah just might hold ya to it.”

Gambit gave a low chuckle, but didn’t reply.

Rogue stalked away and Gambit caught up with her without trying, striding along as if they were out for an evening stroll, hands in pockets. If he started whistling she’d lay him out flat.

Heading for the cliffs, Rogue scanned the grounds, but she was certain where she’d find Kurt. The gazebo loomed ahead and just beyond, the jagged cliffs. She’d known Kurt to come here on more than one occasion, just as she did when she needed a quiet place to think...or grieve...or feel sorry for herself.

“Looks like a pretty serious drop off ahead,” Gambit offered, his tone casual but curious.

“Ah know. Ah live here.”

They came to the edge and Rogue looked down, scanning the outcroppings for Kurt. Far down below, near the waters edge Kurt sat, looking small among the huge boulders, hunched over as if in pain. Rogue imagined Kurt was hurting if any of what the others had said was true.

“Kurt!” Rogue yelled. “Hey bro!”

Kurt turned and looked up, but Rogue couldn’t see the details of his face, the shadows of nightfall obscuring much of Kurt...all accept his yellow gaze turned up to her. He turned back and she thought she saw him take a deep breath and let it out, a sigh of significant proportion. Then he stood and in a puff of smoke appeared beside Rogue.

“Kurt.” Rogue reached for him, but Kurt drew back, just short of a flinch. “Are you okay? What happened?”

Kurt’s head was bent and Rogue couldn’t get a look at his face. But he shook his head at her question. “No Rogue. I’m not okay.” Kurt’s voice sounded desolate. “I...don’t know what has happened...to Logan. Why...he’s acting...strangely.”

Gambit reached out and cupped Kurt’s face, holding on with a firm grip when Kurt tried to retreat. “Logan do that to ya? Bust your lip like that?”

Kurt jerked away. “Leave me alone. It’s none of your business what goes on between me and Logan. Why won’t anyone let me deal with Logan myself? Everyone wants to tell me what to do.”

“That’s not what’s goin’ on, bro.” Rogue kept her voice soothing, as disturbed by Kurt’s behavior as she was with Logan’s. “Ah’m just concerned. The others were talking about somethin’ happenin’ and Ah just wanted to get it straight from you.”

Kurt’s expression turned anguished, his eyes bright with unshed tears. “Rogue. He said terrible things to me. He hit me. Logan’s never hit me...ever. I don’t know what I did to make him act this way.”

“What makes you think ya did somethin’?” Rogue asked, frowning at Kurt’s words. She reached out again and this time Kurt allowed her to comfort him. “There’s never a good reason for what he did. But it don’t make no sense.”

“I know.” Kurt stepped back and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve been trying to make sense of what happened since Logan left. I don’t know what I’m going to do when he comes back. I don’t know what I should say.” Kurt’s expression turned alarmed. “Rogue! Have I made a terrible mistake? I defied my parents for Logan. What if...what if....” Kurt glanced away. “What if Logan doesn’t really love me?”

“Oh Kurt.” Rogue’s heart hurt. It ached as if her own heart was broken. “There’s gotta be an explanation.”

Anger and disgust registered on Kurt’s face. “An explanation? But what if the explanation is that I’ve been an idiot...a naive fool?! I’ve lost the respect of my parents for him! I’ve given him everything he’s wanted from me! What if I’ve just been nothing but a possession to him and he’s bored now?!”

“Kurt. You don’t believe that----”

“I don’t know what I believe right now. Nothing makes sense to me.” He turned away, arms crossed tight against his chest. “I feel like....”

“Like what?” Rogue said, stepping close behind him, a gloved hand going to Kurt’s shoulder and squeezing gently.

“Like I’m losing my mind.” The desolation was back in Kurt’s voice and Rogue remembered the days after Kurt’s second kidnapping, the months of recovery, reminding her of how fragile Kurt’s state of mind still was. “Rogue. I can’t...I can’t deal with...one more thing. I can’t....”

“Oh Kurt. We’re gonna find out what’s goin’ on with Logan. Ah swear there’s somethin’ we just don’t know about...some explanation why he’s actin’ this way.”

Kurt turned and the expression on his face alarmed Rogue. She’d never seen anyone so on the verge of breaking down. But then a sad smile came to his lips. He glanced over to Gambit then back to Rogue. “You are a wonderful sister, Rogue. Thank you for trying to help me...thank you for everything...you’ve done, but I need to deal with Logan. Please let me.”

“Kurt.”

“Please, sis.”

Rogue swallowed down a lump in her throat and she nodded. “But Ah’m here for you. Ya hear?”

That sad smile came again. “I hear.” Then Kurt disappeared.

“That boy’s hurtin’ bad,” Gambit offered after a moment. “Logan don’t know what he got, do he?”

“Ah don’t know. Ah’m about as confused as Kurt right now. Nothin’ makes sense.”

She began walking back towards the house and Gambit matched his long stride to her shorter pace.

“So,” Gambit said. “What happens if ya’ll find out Logan’s gone off that deep end? What happens with you X-men? Is he kicked out? Is he sent to counselin’? Ya’ll go to group therapy?”

There was a hint of sarcasm in Gambit’s tone, but Rogue couldn’t blame him for it. Here she was trying to show him what a great family she had here with the X-men and right off the bat Logan shows his ass. They weren’t the perfect family by any means, but they’d always managed to get through the rough times together. This, Logan’s treatment of Kurt, would put a big wedge in that togetherness factor.

“Ah don’t know,” Rogue stated, beginning to hate those three words. “Ah don’t have any answers for ya. Ah’ve never seen Logan act like this. His ways can be rough, but he’s always been there for us.”

“Somethin’ don’t smell right, chere. Somethin’ smell rotten.”

She turned to him, stopping him with a grip. “What’dya mean?”

Gambit’s gaze darkened and a frown creased the skin between his brow. He gave a shrug and quirked a grin at her. “Looks like Ah don’t know anymore than you. But then maybe that just mean you and me need to put our heads together and try ta figure this thing out.”

Rogue looked up into that scarlet gaze and felt her heart start thumping hard. She slid her arm through his and started walking again. “Maybe we should just do that, Cajun.”