*Are yer a bloody moron, LeBeau? Yer don' sneak up on someone who has the power ter blow yer ter bits, especially when that someone is me and angry!* LeBeau gave a fake gasp of shock, then laughed heartily when I gave him a disapproving look. *Why are yer here, eh? Can't yer see I was trying ter be alone?*
"Oui, oui, but it hard t'ignore dat light show. And I t'ink you upset everyone wit' dat scream o'yours." I raised my eyebrows at that last comment.
*Wotter yer mean, upset everyone?*
"I mean, I t'ink you woke de dead wit' dat scream. Nice and heart-felt. Remy liked it. T'ought I should investigate. An' to my surprise I find you, cher." Embarrassment made me fidget. Not everyone could've heard that. I wasn't that strong of a telepath...was I? Maybe LeBeau was just near, closer ter me than the others. Oh, hell. "What's on yo' mind, mon ami?"
*Nuthin'. Leave me be.* I turned from him, and it suddenly occurred ter me that my bandages were gone. I contained my psi fire, but I still felt exposed, especially with LeBeau standing there, watching me.
"Non, you don' make dat kind of show for not'in. Gambit listen to you." Something hit the ground by my feet. I looked down and saw my discarded bandages. "T'ought you might wan' dose back." I picked them up slowly. LeBeau was certainly considerate, which was needed in my state of animosity. I put the bandages on slowly, keeping my back ter him.
*Why the sudden interest, LeBeau? I've barely talked ter yer before now.* He was quiet fer a while. I turned ter him, thinking maybe he'd walked off ter leave me alone. But he was still there, looking down at the ground thoughtfully. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one with the tip of his finger. The smoke drifted over ter me, parting around me like a stone in water.
"When I heard ya scream, somet'in in me responded to it. You..." he kicked a rock on the ground absently, "you know 'bout what happened back in Antarctica, non?" I nodded. Emma had mentioned that the X Men had left him there because of something he'd done. Something about the death of the Morlocks. I had thought back then that it was a cruel way ter treat someone, ter leave them there ter die. But LeBeau was strong. He came back. Back ter the mansion, back ter those that left him. My respect fer him soared right then. "So, you gonna talk to Gambit now?" I looked away.
*It's not that simple, mate. It's personal.*
"Isn't everyt'ing?" He had a point. But still, did he honestly expect me ter tell him what was going on between me and Wagner? I hardly knew him. I sighed a mental sigh.
*Just 'aving a hard time...with a friend.* LeBeau puffed on his smoke.
"Gonna tell me who?" Should I? I didn't totally trust Gambit, but so far he hadn't given me any reason not ter trust him.
*Kurt.* I tensely waited fer him ter say something.
"You an' Kurt close?"
*We've been talking a lot. And...* Could I tell LeBeau? Would he understand? Yeah, he was no stranger ter sex, that I was sure of, but...sex with another man I wasn't certain he knew about.
"Look, I know what you feel fo'im."
*How do yer know that?* I asked, my eyes narrowing in suspicion. He held up his hands.
"Don' get mad, cher. I'm an empath. Couldn't help but feel some o'dem emotions when dey was pourin' from you. I just didn' know who dey were fo'. But I won't do it again. Dat time was a slip."
*I'm sure,* I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I just shook my head. Well, now LeBeau knew. *It's complicated.* I sat down on the ground and wrapped my arms around my legs. LeBeau followed suit, sitting beside me and extingushing his cigarette.
"I've known Kurt a little longer dan you. He a good man. Betta dan most. He told me when I got back dat if he'd been dere dat day, he would not've left dis sorry Cajun. No one else has eva said not'in like dat to me befo'" I was quiet fer a while. I thought of Kurt and his laugh, his soft fur, and his kind demeanor.
*It's not his kindness I'm upset over, Remy. Kurt and I...*
"I know, cher. I got dose feelin's from you befo'. You care for Kurt." I nodded.