Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Chapter 70


Rogue sat beside Gambit in his Roadster, the top down and the warm summer air blowing her hair back from her face. She turned to watch him, his strong slender fingers maneuvering the car through traffic, his scarlet eyes hidden behind dark shades.

She’d made him dress inconspicuously, his uniform packed just in case there was need. She’d done the same, not really knowing where exactly they were going yet or what they’d run into. But Gambit had thrown his long loose coat and his staff back behind the seats as if he needed the items close...like a security blanket.

Rogue turned her gaze back to the street and Gambit slowed, pulling to the curb in front of the Brotherhood house.

“Ya do know, ya don’t hav’ta do this, don’t ya, Cajun?” Rogue said, putting a restraining hand on his arm. “This is a vendetta that goes way back with Mystique.”

Gambit offered her an easy smile. “Ah know, Rogue. But Ah’ve made this battle ma own...for whatever reasons.”

He started to get out, but Rogue gripped harder and he pulled off his glasses, staring at her with intensity and impatience.

“What?” he asked.

“No,” Rogue shot back. “Why is the question. Why ya doin’ this? What reasons?”

Gambit sat back and huffed a sigh. “Girl, you’ll be the death of Gambit, mark ma words.” He shook his head when she didn’t let go. “Ta prove Ah can be an X-Man. Cause Ah don’t like what Mystique did ta you, and ‘specially whatever she did to Wolverine.”

He reached out and ran the back of his glove covered hand across Rogue’s cheek. “And maybe because Rogue asked for ma help. And maybe Ah want ta help Rogue above all else.”

Rogue’s heart fluttered and ached. “Awh Remy, what ya wanna go and get all mushy about me for? Ya know there can’t be nothin’ physical ‘tween us. Ya know what happens.”

Leaning closer, Gambit carefully ran a hand down her arm, gripping her hand when he reached it. “There’s always a way, Rogue,’ he said, his voice low and soft, lulling her with his drawl. And those scarlet eyes drew her in. Rogue felt like she was floating on air...flying like Storm or Jean. “As long as there’s life, there’s hope,” Gambit continued, his hand roaming back up her arm, its warmth and pressure sending a thrill through her loins. “Maybe sometime soon, the Professor’ll find a way ta help ya control this touchin’ thing. We’ve got lots a time, chere. And Gambit a very resourceful man...creative too.” He offered her a lascivious smile and a waggle of eyebrows.

She grinned at his apparent attempt to lighten the seriousness of their conversation. With a shove, Rogue pushed Gambit away and climbed out of the car. “Come on, swamp rat, we got business with these Brotherhood boys.”

“Mon ami, ya say the sweetest things ta Gambit.”

Rogue flung him a mock glare and grabbed Gambit’s arm, tugging him out of the car.

Striding up the walk, Rogue fought down the giddy feeling running through her body. She needed to keep her head on straight and her feet on the ground or she’d fall for this yahoo like a love struck fool.

And she had more important things to think about than Remy Lebeau.

The door opened before they reached it and Lance stood there with arms crossed and an unreadable expression on his face.

“What the hell do you two want?” Lance said.

“Do ya really have ta ask?” Rogue replied.

Lance stared a moment longer then rolled his eyes with the shake of his head. “How many times do I gotta say I don’t know where Mystique is?” He fixed them with a look again and said, “anyway, you got Logan back. Why you want to go looking for trouble? And that’s what she is, ya know...trouble with a capital T.”

Rogue reached out and poked Lance in the chest. “Ah’ll decide how much trouble She is. What about the rest of the Brotherhood? We haven’t heard from them on the Mystique subject.”

Gambit pushed by Lance and Rogue followed, looking around for the rest of the house’s occupants.

“Hey!” Lance yelled, grabbing Gambit by the arm. “I didn’t invite you in.”

Gambit glanced down at his arm then back up to Lance, piercing him with that scarlet gaze. Lance’s hand fell away and Gambit offered him a smile.

“Now there be no reason not ta be civilized like with each other,” Gambit said in his smooth drawl. “We just lookin’ for the rest of you boys...just ta be sure everybody on the up and up about Mystique’s whereabouts. Where be the other’s, Avalanche?”

Lance flung himself down on the sofa and grabbed up the television remote, clicking on the evening ball game.

“I don’t keep track of anybody else around here. Toad’s probably out catching flies somewhere and Fred’s upstairs playing video games.”

“What about Pietro?” Rogue asked, grabbing the remote from Lance’s hand and clicking off the game.

“If I tell you, will you go away and leave me alone?” Lance said as if that really was all he wanted from them.

“Sure, mon ami,” Gambit offered with an unpleasant smile. “Rogue and Gambit be happy ta leave ya ta yourself...if ya just give us what we want.”

“What if I don’t have what you want?” Lance shoved up off the sofa, hands balling into fists. His eyes narrowed dangerously and Rogue waited for the ground to shake and the walls to rumble. Lance was getting tired of them pushing.

“Come on, Lance,” Rogue said, her tone decidedly more imploring this time. “We can’t let Mystique get away with what she’s done. She’s crossed the line.”

“Like she hasn’t crossed it before? Who are you kidding?”

Rogue said nothing, just offered her most distressed expression. She fought off the desire to plead. That would ruin her reputation.

Lance stared a moment longer then threw up his hands. “I give up. You’re all crazy messing with Mystique. She’s nuts. I told Pietro that and now I’m telling you two that. The woman is crazy.”

“Ah know that,” Rogue flung back. “What about Pietro?”

Letting out a sigh, Lance dropped to the sofa again. “I think he’s going to help her. Do what, I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure he was talking to her on the phone earlier today. He packed a bag and said he had to pick up a car and meet a beautiful woman. I think he was talking about her.”

“Beautiful, my ass,” Rogue muttered. “That bitch.”

“Did Pietro say what he was doin’ for Mystique or where she might be?” Gambit asked.

Lance shook his head and picked up the remote again, already bored with them. “Nope. Didn’t care then. Don’t care now. I’ve told you all I know. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

Rogue wanted more and thought she’d feel better if she could hit something. But she sensed Lance had nothing else to tell them and hitting him would get them no where. Kitty wouldn’t be too happy with her either.

“Alvers,” Gambit said in an ominous tone, not yet ready to give up.

“Never mind, Cajun. He’s got nothin’ else to tell us.” She wrapped her fingers around his wrist and tugged a reluctant Gambit towards the door.

“That’s right, folks,” Lance called after them. “And the next X-Man I see around here better be five foot two with a brown haired ponytail and go by the name of Kitty Pryde.”

Rogue strolled back down the walk, her mind working at what Pietro might be doing for Mystique and if whatever he was doing had anything to do with Kurt and Logan’s sudden departure.

“He said Pietro was pickin’ up a car, chere,” Gambit said, his hand at her back and helping her into the passenger side of the Roadster. “So where does that put Mystique, that she need a ride from that boy?”

She glanced up at Gambit’s question and shook her head. “Ah don’t know, but Ah got a bad feelin’ ‘bout it.”

Gambit climbed in and looked over at her. “Where to now, chere?”

Rogue wrinkled her nose and chewed her lower lip. “Drive around and we’ll look for Pietro.”

Gambit’s expression turned skeptical. “We don’t even know what kinda car he be driven.”

“Do it! And give me some time ta think.”

“Whatever Rogue command, Gambit obey.” He started the Roadster up and pulled away with screeching tires, working their way through the streets of Bayville. After an hour of futile searching, Gambit looked over at Rogue and said, “chere? This be hopeless.”

“Ah know! Ah know!” Rogue gripped the sides of her head, desperation pulling and tugging at her mind. Finally, she met Gambit’s gaze. “Head back ta the mansion.”

A frown line formed between Gambit’s eyes. “We not givin’ up yet, are we?”

Rogue shook her head. “Not hardly, Cajun. But it looks like the Professor may be our best way to figure which way Pietro’s headin’.”

Gambit nodded and made a quick u-turn, horns blaring from the cars he’d cut off and nearly ran off the road.

Rogue slapped his arm, but a grin pulled at her mouth. “Watch it, bayou boy. We need ta stay in one piece.”

Gambit laughed and floored the vehicle once they’d hit the edge of town, the Roadster doing seventy in a matter of seconds. The gate opened on command and again, Gambit sped up the drive at a reckless speed. He pulled up in front of the mansion and hopped out, running around to open the door before Rogue had caught her breath.

“Yer gonna get tired of keepin’ up this act, Cajun,” Rogue stated, allowing him to take her gloved hand and help her out of the car.

“It no act, mon ami,” Gambit replied with his signature smirk.

Rogue shook her head and ran up the front steps, Gambit close behind. Professor Xavier met them in the foyer, a knowing expression on his face.

She faced her mentor with a lift of the chin, her mind made up. “Ya know what we need from you, don’tcha, Professor?”

He nodded sagely. “Mystique is dangerous, Rogue. I wish you’d wait for the others to return before going after her.”

“Can’t wait any longer,” Rogue stated, hating to defy the Professor. “This is somethin’ Ah gotta do. Please understand. Please don’t try ta talk me out of it.”

The Professor’s gaze swept over to Gambit. “And you intend to help Rogue with this folly, Gambit?”

Gambit shrugged. “Ah believe Ah do, sir. If Rogue goin’ after Mystique then Gambit goin’ with her. Ah won’t let her take that on alone.”

The Professor looked away. “I can’t tell you where Mystique is. She cloaks herself too well even for my abilities. But....”

“Pietro is meeting up with her somewhere,” Rogue said, stepping closer and going to her knees. If we track Pietro, we’ll find Mystique. Ah just know it.”

The Professor’s gaze bore into Rogue’s, accessing her strength of will, her resolve and determination. She hoped he didn’t find her wanting.

With a sigh he said, “I’ll see if I can locate him.” He put his fingers to his temples, brow furrowing and eyes closing.

Rogue watched anxiously and with sudden realization, she knew this wasn’t just about revenge. What else it was about, she wasn’t yet certain. But something was driving her to do this. Fear, anger, justice? Her hands clenched into fists with impatience until she felt a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently.

The Professor’s hands dropped to his lap and his gaze moved to meet Rogue’s.

“Well?” she said. “Did ya find ‘im?”

Another deep breath came as if the Professor thought better of what he was about to say, but intended to say it any way. “Indeed, I did.”