PART 3
To Rogue's surprise, Hank opens the door. As she hurries
past, he quickens his stride to follow. After several attempts,
he finally gains her attention long enough to hand her the
results of his preliminary exam of Remy. Impatiently, Rogue
flips through the chart. Her lips tighten into a thin line
as she reaches the final page.
With a sigh, she leans against the infirmary corridor. For
the first time, she notices the strain in Hank's blue-furred
face. She squeezes his hand in appreciation. Hank returns
the squeeze, and takes this moment, now that he has her full
attention, to press his concerns.
"Professor Xavier and I are not completely convinced
that your proposed course of action is in the best interests
of either you or Remy."
He holds up his palm to stall her attempted interruption.
"Please, allow me to continue. Be assured that I have
read Dr. McTaggert's reports concerning your achievements
with similar victims."
His eyes gleam with pride.
"Quite impressive. However, given your more, ah-- intimate--involvement
in this case, there are serious concerns which must be addressed
before we continue."
"Meanin' ah don't have any say in what y'all
do to Remy?"
"Not at all, my dear. In fact, Professor Xavier considered
your suggestion to involve Magneto particularly insightful.
He has renewed hope that the contact between Eric and Remy
may prove to be mutually beneficial."
"Has it helped?"
"Our tempestuous Cajun does exhibit a marked change
in behavior during Magneto's presence. Not that they are on
friendly terms, mind you, but Remy appears to be willing to
tolerate his presence."
He hesitates. Rogue, sensing his thoughts, supplies the words
he lacks.
"Ah expect he might not be so willin' to tolerate me,
though, right? Ah know that Hank. Ah just gotta see for mahself
that he's here in one piece."
Hank nods as he leads Rogue into one of the infirmary's private
rooms. She's surprised to see Magneto patiently changing the
linens. It seems so at odds with his past. Yet, when he glances
up, there is a look of placid serenity on his face that she
has never seen before. He is a man at peace. Finally.
So unlike the painfully thin man lying in the bed. Remy Etienne
LeBeau. The mutant Cajun known as Gambit. The impossibility
of their love for each other led to Rogue's departure from
the X-men. The impossibility of her life without him brought
her home. As she approaches the bed, she sees no trace of
his previous affections.
"Remy, ah know--"
"You don' know nothin', girl."
His spit strikes her cheek, ending the conversation before
it even begins. He rolls over onto his side. Rogue stares
wordlessly at his scarred back. Dimly, she's aware of Eric
wiping her cheek, then escorting her to the door with his
promises to talk to Gambit. She hesitates, but one look into
Eric's shadowed eyes convinces her that he understands on
a level the X-men cannot imagine.
Continued in Chapter
4.
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