xp_logs | Log: Remy/Ororo: The Quiet Aftermath

Remy slowly recuperates at Muir, under Ororo's care.

The one amazing thing about summer was that it actually made Muir Island a pleasent place to be. Normally, the island was lashed with bitter North Atlantic winds and regular storms. But for a few months in the summer, the sun drove the clouds away and the rocky island soaked up the warmth of the sun. The cold ocean still provided sharp winds, but they were refreshing instead of icy.

On the wide balcony, Remy lay on the medical building's equivalent of a chaise-lounge. While Moira had won in forcing him into a non-smoking room, even she knew that trying to confine him to a bed for long periods wasn't going to happen. Instead, she arranged for comfortable seats on the balcony and warned him that if he broke his stitches, next time she'd have him restrained to the bed.

He settled the blanket around him a little more comfortably. While it had been a few days since they'd pulled him out of the HYDRA base, he still looked bad; lines of pain still etched in his face, and the crude shaving of his head left tuffs of auburn hair sticking out at random angles.

From inside he heard the clink of metal against ceramic and a moment later Ororo appeared, a tray containing mugs, spoons and teapot in her hands. "They must keep the coffee locked away somewhere safe," she commented in a wry tone, nudging his feet with her knee until there was enough room for her to perch on the edge of the chaise. "In a medicine cabinet - caffeine only to be applied under medical supervision. How annoying."

"Moira doesn't like anyone being able t' compare it t' her coffee. She t'inks dat eventually dey will assume dat coffee is supposed to taste like it was brewed in de belly of a dead bear." Remy said, giving her a wan smile. Replacing the teeth that had been ripped out of his mouth was scheduled for later that week, forcing him to live with the broken, gap-tooth rictus for now.

"Well, who am I to argue with the good doctor? I will just have to smuggle my own supply in later." She reached out and gave his knee a squeeze, her smile as warm and affectionate as ever before turning her attention back to the tray and the teapot. "As well as a new pillow - I don't know how many poor sheep died to make mine, but it is supremely uncomfortable."

"Dere's a lot of sheep up here. I think dat we sleeping on de fate of de surplus." He said, slumping back against the cushion. He wasn't badly hurt physically, but he was extremely drained. The weeks of stress had created a state of nervous exhaustion, and coupled with the shock of his injuries and the slow process of breaking down his reserves, Remy had nothing left inside to draw on. Without Ororo being her, adding her strength in place of his, Remy knew that coming back from what had happened may not have happened. "Remy personally waiting to get out of de damn hospital bed and back in a proper one."

"You are not the only one looking forward to that, mpenzi," she said, glancing up again with a smile. If she seemed at all shaken by his grizzled appearance or muted demeanor she didn't show it; since their arrival at Muir she had been warm and affectionate, betraying none of the violence or blinding anger that she had shown at the HYDRA headquarters a few days before.

"Not exactly at my prettiest, chere." He said, still surprised at how well Ororo had dealt with seeing him. He wondered whether or not it was the honest reaction, or whether she was putting on a brave face until he was better. They had grown to know each other even more deeply since they'd started living together, but both were experts at hiding things from the world when they felt it was necessary.

Ororo chuckled lightly, pouring the steaming tea out into first one mug, then the other. "Mm, I know. But I've already spoken with Moira - she's going to do a bit of cosmetic enhancement when she attends to your teeth... an upgrade, if you will. I'm quite looking forward to it."

"What?" Remy said, slightly startled. "She's going to- what did you tell her to do!"

"Oh, love," Ororo said quickly, her eyebrows drawing together in concern. "It was only a joke, in poor humor. I would not change a thing about you, even as you are now."

Remy shook his head. "Had dis image of de two of you looking through one of dem celebrity magazines, deciding which face to put on me." He tapped down the momentary spike of alarm. After two months, his emotional reactions were completely messed up. He'd caught himself laughing and crying for no reason as his body chemistry tried to dial itself back to normal. "De way I look right now, can't say dat I'd blame you."

The silver-haired woman frowned just slightly, passing Remy a mug, her fingers smooth and warm as they brushed over his. "The only reason I do not like to see you like this is imagining what you have been through," she told him, her voice quiet, intense. "But I would look at you like this, unchanged, every day if it meant that you were safe with me."

"Remy think dat you standards are too low, but since I'm de one dat wins because of dem-" He held on to the mug, feeling the warmth through the ceramic. "Been tortured before. It was worse dis time." Remy said suddenly, softly.

"You were strong, mpenzi. You were." Ororo reached for his hand again. "And you made it through."

"Barely." Remy said, catching her eyes with his red on black stare. "Dis time I was afraid, 'ro. Because I had something t' lose."

He felt her fingers tighten around his; was that fear in her eyes? "Remy..."

"I wanted to live. All I cared 'bout was de chance to see you again. If I hung on long enough." His haggard features echoed the frayed light behind his stare. "I know where Gambit comes from now. Finally."

Now the fear flared higher, though she fought it, mastered it, tamped it down. "You have been searching for that for some time," she murmured. "As long as I have known you."

He nodded silently. He looked at her fingers twined with his, and for a moment, his face lost a bit of the pain that had framed it. "I don't know if you will end up regretting dis one day, but as long as you willing to have me, Remy yours. All de way to de end."

"How could I regret that?" Ororo wanted to know, leaning in to gently place her forehead against his, her free hand cupping the back of his neck lightly. "When that is all I want."

They savoured the moment; the re-establishing of their touch. "Karma is merde. Dere's no way dat I deserve someone like you, 'ro. But I'm awfully glad to have you."

She pulled back, smiling shyly. "As I am glad for you. Now, drink your tea. I do not want Moira lecturing me about 'the importance of hydration' any more today."

"Wit' dat one, she likely t' just throw me into de ocean if we cross her." Remy agreed.