Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Chapter 54


Running to catch up with Kurt, Rogue slid her arm through Kurt’s and turned a smile on him continuing to walk as she did so. “How ya doin’, bro?”

Kurt shrugged and headed towards the stairway. “I need a full night’s sleep and so far I don’t see one in my near future.”

Rogue’s smile dropped away and turned to a frown. “That bad, huh? Logan not comin’ to the meetin’?”

“No,” Kurt replied. “He’s...not up to seeing anyone. And I’m really getting tired of saying that, but it’s the truth. He’s...not himself right now, Rogue. He’s...I don’t know. I think he’s humiliated by whatever Mystique did to him. He won’t talk to me about it.”

“Damn her,” Rogue all but spat. “Ah wish ya had choked her ta death. Now we’re gonna have ta go find her and make her pay for what she did ta him.”

A visible shudder ran through Kurt. “Don’t say that. I don’t want to kill anyone. Not even her.”

“Ah know. Ah’m sorry. Do ya have any idea what this meetin’s about?”

“No idea. Unless the Professor has something to tell us about Her.”

Bobby zipped around them on the steps and threw a grin their way. “We’re gonna be late. Come on.”

“Always late Bobby carin’ whether we make this meetin’ on time?” Rogue offered.

“Yeah, what’s the world coming too,” Kurt replied with a hint of a smile.

That’s it, Kurt. Lightin’ up.

Rogue stole a glance at her adoptive brother, the depth of her worry for him and Logan sending an ache through her heart.

What she’d give to see the old Kurt back, the fun loving and seldom serious kid he’d been before Trask and Sabertooth...and even this relationship with Logan had stolen it away.

Oh, sometimes she saw it, the mischievous grin and the sparkle in golden eyes. But that spontaneous eruption of laughter and good natured teasing just wasn’t there anymore. Too much crap had dampened Kurt’s enthusiasm for the lighter side of life.

Everyone who was still at the mansion were already there when Rogue and Kurt entered the room. Everyone but Logan. His absence was conspicuous considering what an important member of the team he was.

“Everyone take a seat, please,” the Professor said, pitching his voice over conversation. “I have an important announcement to make.”

“Ya know where Mystique is?” Rogue asked, her anxiousness apparent to everyone in the room.

“No, Rogue. I’m afraid not. Mystique will be dealt with. Have no fear. But right now we have other business to consider.”

“What sort of business, Professor?” Scott asked. The tone of Scott’s voice held an edge, like he anticipated something unpleasant. “And Logan’s not going to attend?”

“He’s not up to seeing anyone right now,” Kurt injected. Rogue heard an edge in Kurt’s voice as well.

“Come on, Kurt” Scott stated, sounding impatient. “We’re talking about Logan. What the heck did Mystique do to him that he can’t even come down for an important meeting? That’s not like Logan.”

Kurt shoved to his feet and leaned toward Scott. “You’re right, it’s not. But I guess you’ll just have to live with that, won’t you?”

“Hey, it’s okay, buddy,” Scott replied, holding his hands out in placation. His tone had gone soothing, finally catching on that Kurt wasn’t in the mood to filter unanswerable questions. “I’m not judging.”

Kurt dropped into his chair. “Yes you were. Now leave it alone, please.”

“Okay.” Scott shot a glance over to Jean and got a shrug from her.

“So, what’s this meeting about then,” Bobby asked eagerly. He didn’t seem at all interested in going back home for summer vacation, obviously hoping for a mission of some sort to delay his departure. Rogue wondered if Bobby had problems at home...parent problems. Parents maybe who were uncomfortable with having a mutant son.

The Professor glanced around, his gaze touching each team member’s. “I”ve offered Gambit a trial membership with the X-Men.”

Rogue’s heart did a flip flop, bounding up into her throat then bouncing down to her stomach. A giddy feeling rolled over her and she felt Kurt’s hand grip her arm and squeeze.

Why hadn’t Gambit said anything to her?

She turned a grin on Kurt, but then the fireworks started.

“What?!” Scott shoved up to his feet. “You can’t be serious, Professor!”

Professor Xavier took a long breath, letting it out slowly. “I’m quite serious, Scott. Gambit has given me reason to believe he wishes to change sides, so to speak. He likes what he sees in the X-Men. He’s had no contact with Magneto for several months and has no interest in aligning himself with his former employer. And he helped us find Logan and rescue him. Gambit has proven himself enough to offer him a place with us.”

“He hasn’t proven himself enough for me. He was our enemy not so long ago. He tried to ruin us, hurt us.”

“But we have learned to work with him and he with us. He would prove an asset to the team.”

“Not if we don’t trust him.”

“Ah trust him,” Rogue stated, chin up in defiance. “He had every chance to turn on me yesterday and last night and he didn’t do it. He saved ma ass a couple of times. Defended me against Mystique’s attacks. Ah trust him.”

Scott let out a sighing breath. “Rogue. You’re infatuated with him. You’ve fallen for Gambit like a rock.”

“So?” Rogue shot to her feet, a flush heating her face. “Maybe Ah have, but Ah know what Gambit did and didn’t do last night. And he didn’t betray me. That’s good enough for me.”

“Scott, please sit down,” The Professor said. “Rogue, you as well.”

She settled back down into her chair after she saw Scott complying. Leaning back, Rogue crossed her arms against her chest, foot tapping on the floor in irritation.

How could she have fallen for Scott Summers way back when? He could be such an asshole sometimes.

“Has Gambit accepted the offer, Professor?” Jean asked.

“Not yet. I believe he doesn’t want to appear too eager, but I think he will.” The Professor glanced around once again. “I know this may seem sudden, but with so many of you about to leave for the summer, I needed to act now. If Gambit accepts, this time would give me a chance to train him for teaching and educate him on what is expected of a member of this team.”

“What exactly would Gambit be teaching, Charles?” Ororo asked, neutral as usual.

A smile touched the Professor’s lips. “The skills he has to offer.”

“In other words, how to be a thief and a con man,” Scott snorted.

“Knowing how to defuse traps and open locks without blowing a hole in a door, would prove useful to all of you. Sometimes stealth is the best method.” The Professor leaned forward, fingers twining together on the table. “I need all of you to cooperate in this new venture. We have a unique opportunity to draw a talented young man back from the darker side of life. We can be the influence that turns Remy Lebeau into a useful citizen with skills that could benefit humanity. I need each of you to try your best to help him...nurture him into the man he has the potential to be. Can I count on you to, at least, try?”

A long moment of silence drew out, the question laying heavy on the air.

“I’m willing to try, Professor,” Kurt said, breaking through the silence. “I have to admit, I’ve had my doubts, but he helped bring Logan back to me and that’s worth more to me than gold. I’ll give him a chance.” Kurt glanced over to Kitty and the girl’s face lit up, flushing with Kurt’s blatantly unasked question.

“Sure,” Kitty said. “I kind of like him. We should give him a chance. Bobby?”

Bobby shrugged. “I don’t have a problem with it. Gambit seems pretty cool. If he screws up...he’s out. That simple. Right?”

“Nothing’s ever that simple, Bobby,” Ororo stated. “But close enough. Yes, we should give the man a chance. Hank?”

The big man stroked his chin and glanced at his watch as if he had more pressing issues on his mind. Perhaps he did. Cassie Martin came to mind.

“I’m always open to giving a fellow a chance to prove himself. Absolutely.”

“Jean?” The Professor said, turning his attention to the only one yet to voice an opinion.

Jean glanced over to Scott, reaching to pat his arm. “I’m sorry, Scott, but I have to disagree with you. Of course we should give Gambit a chance.”

Scott’s shoulders slumped. “This is all a mute point, isn’t it Professor? You’ve already offered Gambit a place with us.”

“That’s true, Scott,” The Professor said with a nod. “There are some decisions that are mine to make. I just need to know the majority of you are willing to cooperate.”

Scott’s mouth went thin, the stubborn side of him struggling with his respect for Professor Xavier. “I suppose we should,” Scott finally said. “But I don’t like it that he’s going to have access to all parts of The Institute with only a few here to keep an eye on him.”

Realization finally seeped into Rogue’s brain. “Wait a minute,” she said. “Call me slow, but ya’ll can’t go off for summer vacation. We’ve got work ta do. We’ve gotta track down Mystique and hang her hide up ta dry.”

Scott and Jean looked at each other then down at the table, refusing to answer Rogue. She shot out of her chair, the scraping of wood harsh to her ears.

“We are gonna track her down first...aren’t we?”

Kurt’s fingers wrapped around her arm and tried to tug her down to her seat. She jerked away and turned an incredulous expression on him. “Kurt?! Don’t ya want her caught? Don’t ya want her ta pay for what she did ta Logan? Ta you?”

“Of course I do, Rogue,” Kurt replied. “But the others, they have lives. They’ve done nothing for the last nine months, but coddle me and Logan. They deserve a vacation. You all deserve a vacation. We’ll find Mystique. It doesn’t matter whether it’s now or later.”

“It matters ta me!”

“Rogue,” Jean said in that reasonable calm tone of hers. “It matters to us too. But I haven’t seen my parents in months. And Scott needs time to spend with Alex. We’ll be back in a month or so and then we’ll concentrate on finding Mystique. I promise. A month isn’t going to make any difference.”

Staring around the table at her fellow team mates, Rogue shook her head. “In a month she could be anywhere.”

“She could be anywhere now,” Ororo injected. “Whether we start now or later won’t make the task of tracking down Mystique any easier. Allow yourself time to rest, Rogue. We’ve all been on a roller coaster the last several months, as Kurt pointed out. The last thing we need is for any of you, still so young, to burn out.”

Rogue shook her head again, her gaze falling to the table. “Fine. Whatever. Is this meetin’ over?”

“I have nothing else at this time,” The Professor replied. “Anyone else?”

Murmurs of decent went around the room and Rogue shoved away from the table and stalked out the door.