Because You Loved Me
Chapter 5: You Saw The Best There Was In Me
by
QMan
As Hank walked down the hall, Remy watched his back and said, "We all feel guilty 'bout our pasts, non?" There were nods of agreement all around. Remy continued, "But I found dat we don't 'ave to be slaves to dee past."
"Logan helped you, didn't he?" Cable asked. It wasn't much of a question, more of a statement.
"Oui." Remy said.
It was right after Gambit's return from Antarctica. He was inconsolable due to Rogue's treatment of him. He'd been walking around in the woods surrounding the mansion, trying to clear his mind. It did no good, his soul was in too much turmoil.
He returned to the mansion and slipped into his room. Still unable to calm his whirling mind he went down to the kitchen for a beer and a possible snack. He walked in and his night vision picked out the form of someone at the table. Turning to leave and hoping they hadn't noticed him and planning to come back later, Remy was stopped by a gruff voice.
"Hello, Cajun."
Remy recognized the voice. Even if he hadn't, there was only one person who'd pick him out in this blackness. With night vision better than Gambits and a nose that could put a bloodhound to shame, it was very hard to hide from Logan.
"'Allow, Logan."
"Wanna beer?" The short Canadian asked.
"Sure. Dat be just da t'ing Remy need."
"I doubt that's all ya need, Gumbo." Logan said as he turned on a small lamp on the counter. In front of him on the table was twelve-pack of Molson. He smiled slightly as he motioned to the chair across from him and pushed a can at Remy.
"Well, a nice warm femme in my bed would be appreciated, non?" The thief said with a smile of his own.
"Can't help ya there."
They sat in silence, just drinking their brews. Gambit leaned back and tilted his head to gaze at the ceiling.
"Couldn't sleep, mon ami?"
"Too many nightmares." Logan confided, "Memories an' feelin's get ta be too much. You?"
"Bout da same t'ing." Gambit drained his beer then returned his gaze to Logan, "Da way everyone be actin' toward Gambit, I 'spect not ta be treated like a part of da team for awhile."
"Look Cajun, just 'cause ya got some nasty shit in yer past don't make ya a bad guy. Sure, we all got upset, but ya know me, I'm all emotion."
"Tell dat ta dee enemies we fight."
"Ya know what I'm sayin'."
"Yeah I do, but --"
"No buts Gumbo." Logan growled, "I know how I am. Ya know how I am, too. But that ain't the issue here. We both know it." Logan drained his beer and popped open another.
"My past be too terrible to accept, even for me." Remy said as he too drained his beer.
"Says who?"
"Says me. Says everybody."
"Everybody bein' Rogue." It wasn't a question. Remy peered into his empty beer can. Logan pushed another at him, "Listen ta me Cajun, if anyone should accept ya, it's the X-Men. They accepted me."
"Dat's different." Remy interjected.
"Sure it is." Logan affirmed as he took a pull from his beer can, "I'm a killer, yer a thief. I'm an animal, yer a man. I'm a hick, yer sophisticated. I'm gruff an' yer suave."
"I done t'ings. . . " He sighed, "T'ings I can't even mention."
"So what?" Logan snorted, "I've done things I can't even remember. Most of the shit I do remember I ain't sure I did." He tapped his head, "Up here is all screwed up. If'n half of it is true, then I really don't deserve happiness. I ain't a religious man, but if I was I wouldn't bank on gettin' inta heaven."
"But you always 'ave dat ta fall back on, non?" Gambit asked, "You can deny you did all dem t'ings, never knowin' if dey be real or not. Gambit don't 'ave dat option, he be stuck with da truth."
"An' ya can face it." Logan replied, "I can't face my demons 'cause I don't know what they are. I don't know which are real and which ain't. 'Sides, I do remember what I've done since Project X an' it ain't pretty either. The team knows that, yet here I am."
"I don't know. . . " Remy said with uncertainty, "Dee udders. . . "
"Will come around. Hell I did. Gumbo, ya know I don't trust nobody. But if my back was ta the wall, I'd want ya there fer me above anyone else on the team."
"Mean it?"
"Damn right." Logan said, "Now let's get drinkin'. The beer's gettin' warm."
***
"He was right." Scott said, "All it took was time and we accepted you back. What you did in the past doesn't matter in regards to what you are now."
There was agreement all around as everyone told Remy that they accepted him, even if they didn't always agree with him.
All references to characters belonging to the X-Men Universe are (c) and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, duplication or distribution of these materials in any form is expressly prohibited. No money is being made from this archive. All images are also (c) and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities; they are not mine. This website, its operators and any content used on this site relating to the X-Men are not authorized by Marvel, Fox, etc. I am not, nor do I claim to be affiliated with any of these entities in any way.