Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Hi everyone who might still be interested in the finish of this story. I can't apologize enough for the extremely long delay in completing this story. But I've finished and finally posting it all today...if the gods be willing.





Chapter 84





Pietro leaned against the convertible and sipped soda from a can. Gazing up at the sky, he strained to see if Mystique was on her way back from her reconnaissance mission. Yet, all he saw were clouds and the sun getting lower on the western horizon.



Another day of following. Another day of nothing to keep his mind from wandering to what else he could be doing if not for Mystique’s sudden obsession with her stupid kid and his dull witted, yet dangerous boyfriend.



But she was paying him and he did need the money.



With a yawn born of boredom rather than lack of sleep, he shifted then pushed up to sit on the hood, sipping again from his drink.



The view was nice up here on one of the pull offs...if a guy liked that sort of stuff, blue colored mountains ranging out and towns far below in the valley. He leaned over the windshield and turned on the radio, but the reception was as bad as his cell phone’s. Meaning lousy.



A dark spot appeared just above a copse of trees, wings picking up the wind current and soaring towards him. The raven landed a few feet away and morphed into Mystique’s newest persona, a exotically beautiful woman with coal black hair and deep blue eyes. She wore a ruby colored dress with thin shoulder straps that hugged her every perfect curve.



A smile pulled at ruby red lips. “I’ve located them...or at least, Logan’s motorcycle.”



“And where you find Logan’s cycle, you’ll find him...and Kurt,” Pietro stated.



“Precisely, my young Pietro. It’s getting dark and we need to see about checking into a rather nice inn.” She moved towards the car and climbed into the passenger side. “I think you’ll find it a step or two up from last nights accommodations.”



**********************



“Gawd! Ah’m starvin’!” Rogue stated. The wind threw her words out behind her and that wind was growing chilly. About time to put the hood up.



“We’re stoppin’, chere. There’s a town up ahead and we’ll pull off and find a place ta eat,” Gambit shouted back.

He took the exit and within half a mile there was a diner, the words ‘good eating’ flashing in neon above a neat little café with a gravel parking lot.



“At least it’s not a McDonalds,” Rogue offered with a skeptical eye. “What the hell, a big juicy hamburger sound delicious.”



“With a heap a fries,” Gambit added.



“Yum.” Rogue climbed from the car, stretching stiff limbs. “I’m beginnin’ to feel like we’ve lost the scent, Cajun. We haven’t seen hide nor hair of Mystique or Logan and Kurt. Where are we gonna go from here?”



Gambit sighed and gently took her elbow, heading them toward the door. “Not sure, Rogue. Right now, this Cajun is tired and hungry. Maybe after some food we can think again. Nights comin’ and we gonna need a place ta get a few hours sleep.”



Rogue matched his sigh and let him open the door for her. She was really gettin’ used to Gambit’s gentlemanly ways...and liking it. She slid a glance sideways while he was looking for a place to sit and the thought that this was her man tickled her insides.



Her man? Was he?



A lady with a name tag reading Annie, swung their way with a tray full of food and smiled. “Sit anywhere ya like, folks and I’ll be right with ya. We’re a bit short on help this evenin’.”



Gambit’s hand touched the small of Rogue’s back, guiding her to a booth that looked out the front window.



Annie met them at the table less than a minute later, menu’s in hand. “Whew! What a day. Been busier than a bee hive.” She handed out the menus and offered them a pleasant smile. “You two look as tired as I feel. What can I get ya ta drink?”



“Might ya have some of that sweet tea so famous ‘round here, cherie?” Gambit asked with that lilt of his magic to the ears.



“We just might, young man,” Annie replied, her smile softening with obvious admiration. “And you, miss? What would you like?”



“The same.”



“Be right back.”



Rogue threw Gambit a smirk.



“What?” he asked.



“Ya just can’t help charmin’ the ladies, can ya?”



A hand went to his heart. “Moi? Can’t a man order some sweet tea without bein’ ‘cused of ulterior motives?”



Rogue just grinned and opened her menu. Yet she already had her stomach set on that big juicy burger with everything on it. And fries....lots and lots of fries. She thought about ordering a salad, but the thought escaped her when Annie passed by with a tray of heaping fries and double cheeseburgers for the next table. The smell nearly sent her crawling after.



Annie was back then, setting down a couple of tall iced teas and flipping open her order book.



“What can I do ya for?” she said with a grin though her eyes were tired.



“Ah want whatever they’re havin’,” Rogue stated, pointing the direction the cheeseburgers and fries had gone.”



“Make that two, mon ami,” Gambit added.



“Two triple cheeseburgers and two large side of fries.”



“Triple?” Rogue all but swooned. “Ah’ve died and gone ta heaven.”



Annie chuckled. “We’ve got the best food this side the Parkway.”



“Can’t wait to find that out myself,” Rogue said and watched Annie stroll back to put in their orders.



She sat back and stared at nothing, her mind wandering the path they’d taken the last few days and now Rogue wasn’t sure which way to go. The trail had gone cold, sending a chill down her spine. She grimaced involuntarily and snapped back to herself when she felt the gentle weight of Remy’s hand on hers.



Rogue looked up into a concerned gaze, the dark glasses discarded.



“We’ll catch the scent again, chere,” Remy said, reading her mind.



“Will we?” She sighed and turned her hand so she could grasp his. “Ah can’t stand the thought of Her catchin’ Kurt and Logan unaware.”



“Try your cell phone again. Maybe the signal will get through this time.”



“Ah’ve been tryin’, Gumbo,” she retorted, annoyed for no more reason than she was tired and hungry. But she pulled the phone from her jacket pocket and tried Kurt’s number again. “Nothin’.”



“Those things are about as useless ‘round here as a boat in a dry streambed, sweetie,” Annie said, pouring more tea into their glasses from a pitcher. “The mountains just play havoc with the signals.”



“No kiddin’.”



Annie set the pitcher on the table and put one hand on her hip. “Ya know, it’s been a day for accents. You got yourself a right nice Louisiana accent, young man and you missie, must be from way down south in Dixie.”



“Cajun through and through, mon chere,” Remy said with a little smile tugging on his lips.



She started just a little when she noticed his scarlet eyes, her eyebrows rising with interest...not fear, Rogue noted. She glanced over at Remy and a subtle change had come over his expression.



“Accents?” he said with an inquiring tone.



“Yeah, a nice young fellow and his friend were in earlier for lunch. The boy had himself a German accent. It was right nice, kinda pretty sounding coming from him.”



“What did he look like,” Rogue said, her attention now totally focused on Annie.



Annie shifted her weight as if her feet hurt. Rogue slid over and waved her to sit.



“Well,” Annie looked around, making sure none of her customers needed her and slipped into the seat. “Maybe for just a minute. My feet are killing me. Double shifts always do that to my old feet.”



Rogue nodded sympathetically. “And this German guy...what did he look like?”



“Longish black hair, blue eyes. Nice looking boy about five foot seven or eight.”



“And his friend?” Remy asked.



“Oh, he sounded American. Older fellow with the most unruly dark head of hair I’ve ever seen on a man. Real dark eyes. He loved the sweet tea too,” she said with a smile. “I remember them particularly cause the boy had a real bad headache and I gave him my last Ibprofens. Ta be honest, I think more than his head was hurting. I bet they hiked too much in those mountains the day before. That’ll do it to a body. And the older man seemed so concerned about the German boy. I could tell they were very close friends.”



A frown stole across Rogue’s face. What was wrong with Kurt? Had Logan hurt him?



“Were they riding a motorcycle?” Remy asked.



“You bet they were. A real nice older bike. I peaked out the window to see. I just love those big cycles. All that power and sound.” Annie gave them a curious look. “You know them?”



“Yes, they sound like the friends we’ve been trying to catch up with. I can’t seem to get a decent signal long enough to get through to their number though.”



“And I doubt ya will. If one of you can get a signal the other can’t. That’s the way it is ‘round here.”



“Dammit, Remy. We’re so close.”



“I think I know where they were going to stay tonight.”



Remy and Rogue both turned to look at Annie at the same time. “You do?” they chorused.



Annie grinned and pushed herself up to her feet. “I’ll go get your orders and while you take your time eating, I’ll jot down the directions.” She headed towards the kitchen, but Rogue heard Annie say in a congenial tone, “that place oughta give me a commission for all the advertisement I give them.”



Rogue shook her head in amusement and grinned at Remy. “The gods are watching over us, Ah guess.”



“As long as the gods don’t get too interested in the affairs of us mortals, Ah suppose we’d best take the help, chere.”