X-Men Fan Fiction ❯ The Camping Trip ❯ Ch 13 ( Chapter 13 )

See disclaimers in ch 1

Words between ~ ~ are thoughts or mental speak

CH 13

A tickle.

A light touch, whisper soft, on his brow.

In the haze of slumber, he could just feel a wisp of hair shifting out of eyes, teasing under nose.  He wanted to bring his hand up to shove the offensive locks away.  But, his arm refused to move.  Waking slowly, his mind started to register all the pinpricks of ache, the protest of muscles that had long since been taxed, the abnormal heat of skin especially on his back.  An exhaled moan barely registered past his raw throat, through his lips, and his nose scrunched up to wiggle away the irritating strands of hair, snorting at the offense.  It was when a slight chuckle graced his ears that his mind stirred to full consciousness.  Remy's eyelids slid apart thinly, allowing him a miniscule amount of his surroundings to filter through orbs and register in his brain.  At the glimpse of a thumb and forefinger moving a strand of auburn locks above his upper lip, his eyes widened and a fiery glow emanated from his sockets in pure delight.

He moved his head up, his cheek sliding along Logan's chest, until red colored globes met blue.  "Dat you, cher?"

"Yeh, it's me."  Logan beamed down at the face below his chin, one arm curled protectively around Remy's waist while the other stretched across to play with the soft strands of hair.

Struggling to shift his unresponsive body, Remy finally managed to lift himself to a half sitting position, an effort and study in pain as reflected slightly in the contortions on his face and the wincing sound escaping his lips.  Clearing his throat, he croaked "You can move now, Logan?" 

The hope and excitement behind the tone of that one question almost tore Logan apart with guilt.  How to answer?  Yes, he could move.  But, no, not really.  Only the upper portion of his body was responding to his commands.  He could still not move his legs, or contract the muscles in his stomach to allow him to easily sit up.  There was a look that played across his lover's face briefly upon explanation, too quick for him to catch hold and analyze, before being replaced with a lop-sided grin.

"S'all good, mon ami.  Just means you almost got it out your system, neh?"  His lover was protruding an ever positive attitude.  Damned infuriating if you asked Logan.

Remy used his right arm to prop himself against Logan's side, and moved his left hand to cup Logan's cheek, ignoring the throb in the damaged limb.  As the coat slid down his body, exposing his upper torso to the temperatures of the cave, he immediately started shivering despite the heat of fevered skin.  Remy made to stand, ready to dress and start yet another day.  No sooner had he shakily made it to his feet, when he collapsed onto his knees, cursing. 

"REMY" Logan called out, both arms stretched out to futilely attempt catching his young partner. 

"Damn legs.  S'ok, Logan.  Dey just ain't woke yet." Remy replied in a raspy voice.  He calmly started rubbing and massaging his limbs trying to re-establish blood flow, all the while sending soothing reassurances to his lover.  It didn't allay Logan's fear and concern, as Remy could feel. 

He ignored the older man.  He couldn't falter now because Logan still needed him.  As if that was all the encouragement his body needed, the legs responded sending needle sharp sensations  to let the mind know cramped muscles were now awake.  With a grunt, he managed to stand again, this time successfully, and made his way over to the clothes.  It was with great effort in slow motion that he was able to dress himself, all the while being watched earnestly by a pair of concerned eyes. 

As far as Remy was concerned, he had a mission.  Despite thoughts to the contrary by many a fellow team mate, he did not give up when it came to the success and survival of his team.  Such a conviction was multiplied when his lover was involved.  So, duty first, then he could deal with his own health later.  First order of business today was to take care of his lover's needs physically.  Setting the leftover meat on his skewer to place over the fire, along with the remaining water in the stone bowl, he moved over to Logan with hollow log in hand.  Logan made a face, frowning at the obvious failings of his body as well as the stubbornness of his lover, but didn't argue as he complied best he could, the use of his arms now a great help to his steadily weakening partner. 

Remy moved towards the cave entrance to perform the same ritual he had several times already since this nightmare began.  He stared in dismay at the scenery that greeted him.  Outside, a wall of water still poured from the sky, though not as violent as the previous day and night.  The thunder was a distant thing now, no flashes of light to accompany.  And the wind had died to a mere breeze, albeit still quite nippy.  The rain no longer flew in a slanted direction, but rather fell perpendicular to the ground with a sharpness resembling a jackhammer against concrete. 

~ Lovely ~ he thought dismally as he calculated how long he could wait until he was forced to trudge out in search of more food and water.

After taking care of his needs, he moved back over to the fire quickly, already chilled by his now wet forearms, and removed the water and meat to cool a few moments before serving.  Although Logan had use of his arms, he still needed help to sit up.  He asked Remy to help him put his shirt and boxers back on, and help him over to the side wall so that he may sit upright.  Assisting his older partner to dress was relatively easy.  Using strength he did not have to spare to move the man over to the cave wall was not.  After propping him up, Remy took a few moments to breathe deeply and gather energy before moving back to the flames.  The Cajun grabbed some of the leftover rabbit for both of them and sat beside his lover, setting the bowl of water between them so that he could help himself.  The small amount of water left brought a frown to Remy's face at the thought of heading outside, even to catch the rain.

Logan ate his food while watching the profile of the young man sitting at an angle from him.  The boy was only nibbling at the meat, making a slight face with each swallow as if it pained him to do so, which in retrospect it probably did.  He had been paying close attention to Remy for a while now, noting the lack of gracefulness in each movement.  Rather, the young thief seemed to be unsteady and moving in slow motion, like someone four times his age.  And the feel of the boy's skin was like touching a furnace, yet Remy was shaking as if cold.  Logan smelled the pain as well, despite the Cajun's efforts to conceal it.  But, what truly concerned the older man the most was what he was feeling from his thief.  To feel everything Remy was feeling, and his own emotions magnified, only meant the boy was not shielding himself.  Most likely, the young man couldn't.  The disturbing nature of that revelation was significant in light of the extremely powerful shields the kid usually had without trying.  Even the Professor had commented on many occasions at his inability to easily slide into Gambit's mind due to immense blocks in place. 

And now, to top this sundae with a cherry, Remy was intently contemplating the floor of the cave with glazed over eyes, completely oblivious to everything.  Logan decided it was time to end the farce.

"How bad is it Remy?"

Startled at the sudden intrusion of noise in the previously quiet moment, Remy refocused his eyes and canted his head towards Logan.  It took him several breaths to understand exactly what the older man was asking.  Shifting his gaze back to the floor of the cave, allowing his hair to hide his face from his partner, he decided to play dumb.

"What you gon' on 'bout, Logan?"

Almost he snarled, his anger beginning to flare.  But the slight flinching of the form in front of him reminded Logan to keep his emotions in check.  "Ya know what I mean.  How bad is the pain, boy?"

Remy sighed.  "It be fine, cher.  I can handle it.  Won't be much longer for de rest of de team send out a search party."  Lifting his face towards the feral man again, he planted a disarming grin on himself.  "I can do dis, you know.  Been through worse." 

Logan laid his head back against the wall, closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them to look on his lover again.  "I know Rems.  It's just I…"

"Non, beb.  Don' need to say it.  Remy can feel it."  He cut Logan off, raising his hand to point to his head and giving the older man a genuine, award-winning smile.   

Logan snorted.  "Is that so?"  He cocked a brow at his young partner and with a lecherous gleam in his eye, he replied "Well, then, can ya feel this?"

Remy's eyes widened and breath hitched at the sudden influx of erotic, sensual emotions.  "Oooh, mais oui, mon amour" he purred as he seductively licked his lips.  About to return the favor, he suddenly stopped and turned his head towards the cave entrance, all traces of his smile vanishing.  Noting the move, Logan's nostrils flared attempting to gain any scents, but he was at a disadvantage being stuck in a cave, partially disabled, with the rain squelching any potential smells. 

"What is it Remy?  What are ya sensing?"          

He turned back towards the older man with his brows drawn in worry.  "De soldiers, Logan.  De be near."  Logan frowned.  Damn.

Remy moved to stand and grabbed his remaining stack of cards.  He looked at his coat, and then threw a questioning glance to Logan.  Seeing the older man's nod, he donned the coat and busied filling the pockets with rocks and cards.  Moving over to his lover's side, Remy knelt down and stroked the thick, black mane with his right hand.  He leaned in and gently brushed his lips against the older man's, expressing and sending as much tenderness and love as he felt for the man.  He stood and walked towards the cave entrance only to pause at the sound of his name being called. 

Turning back, red orbs locked with blue.  "Qui?" 

Logan was speechless, his power to utter any sound completely gone as too many emotions glittered in his eyes and a sinking feeling ate at his soul.  But, in that intense gaze, he said everything. 

Slowly, a Mona Lisa smile appeared on Remy's face and he shifted his right hand up to cover his heart.  "Je t'aime gros, Logan.  Always have, always will." 

And then Remy was gone.

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