Chapter 7 

One week. 

Remy remembered his fifteen year old self standing nervously on the front porch of the Boudreaux Mansion with a bouquet of magnolia blossoms, having no idea if the gesture was too much or not enough for an official one-week anniversary. They’d been sweethearts for years, but at last they were both old enough to date. The flowers had garnered him a swoon and a big kiss from Belle, and a death threat from her brother Julien. So apparently the gift had been just right. 

All these years later he still wasn’t sure what was an appropriate way to celebrate seven days together, but there had been an unspoken decision two nights ago between him and Logan that this would be the night they would make love for the first time. For as special an occasion as this, Remy knew magnolias just would not do.

Still, he wondered if maybe he wasn’t doing too much, placing lit candles on every safe surface in their room, spreading rose petals between the sheets of their bed. The tray of fruit and chocolates might be over the top...

“Nah,” Remy chuckled as he scattered the last handful of petals over the pillows. “Dis ain’t too much. It’s jus’ right.” He took a final look around the bedroom to make sure everything was exactly as he wanted it. Seeing that it was, he gleefully stripped off his clothes and got into bed to wait for Logan to return from the liquor store with the bottle of wine that he himself had ‘forgotten’ to pick up when he’d been out earlier in the day. Somehow he doubted that Logan would mind this little bit of trickery.

Remy admitted to himself that he was a tad nervous; he always was the first time. But he knew things would be different with Logan. This wasn’t going to be a matter of a few nights of hot sex, or a few years with the promise of sex, and then finding himself alone and empty again. He and Logan were going to work. Tonight would be just the first of many hot passionate nights.

Moving in together and constantly sharing the same space had strengthened their relationship tenfold. The past several days had been filled with both long talks and times of comfortable silence, when just knowing that the other was there was more than enough. Endless hours of kissing and petting and stroking each other to release, learning each other’s most sensitive spots. Moments of laughter, a few moments of tears, but never another cross word (ignoring “Quit hoggin’ the blankets, Cajun!” and “Why can’t y’ use your own damn razor, cher?”). And they agreed that there was nothing on earth better than waking up together, whether Remy was spooned up behind Logan or slept with his head pillowed by Logan’s warm furry chest.

 The ‘L’-word had yet to be spoken, though. It didn’t help that they were both men and slow to say it by nature. Add that to the facts that the last time Remy had said it he’d been accused of lying, and that every time Logan said it the woman had ended up dead... they both had plenty of reason to be hesitant. But it seemed logical and fitting that tonight would be the night for that as well, an expression of love in both body and words. 

Remy lifted his head to glance at the clock. “Merde, how long’s it take t’ get a bottle of wine?” Restless, he rolled onto his stomach to try to get more comfortable, but that clean cool satin rubbing against his hardening cock was just a little *too * comfortable. He snickered a bit as he returned to lying on his back, the movement releasing more perfume from the rose petals. Maybe setting up the romantic atmosphere in advance hadn’t been such a good idea after all – if Logan didn’t get back soon, he’d have to start the preliminaries without him.

Luckily it was only a few minutes later when Remy at last heard the distinctive CLUNK of Logan’s worn Tony Lama’s coming up the stairs. Remy flipped back the sheets in invitation and propped himself up on one elbow, waiting.

Logan opened the door... and nearly dropped the wine. “Holy fuck, Rem,” he hissed, taking in the erotic sight before him - ivory skin, coppery hair, and pink rose petals in sharp contrast to midnight blue sheets.

“Well, I *was * hoping for somet’ing along dose lines,” Remy grinned. He patted the empty expanse of mattress beside him. “Care to join me?”

“Ya don’t have ta ask me twice,” Logan replied, his voice husky and low. He closed the door, set down the wine, and began peeling off his clothing as he walked toward the bed. “Kinda figured ya had somethin’ up yer sleeve when ya sent me out for that wine.” His jacket hit the floor.

Remy winked. “Had t’ get y’ out of de house somehow.”

A black flannel shirt got thrown across the back of the desk chair. “You really went all out.”

“Y’ like it, cher?”

“I love it.” Logan pulled his white t-shirt over his head and tossed it in a wad over his shoulder. He paused to lean against the bedpost and pulled off his boots and socks. “I take it that’s for sustenance between rounds?” He nodded toward the tray of goodies.

“Oui, need t’ keep our energy up,” Remy laughed. “’Sides, chocolate an’ strawberries are s’posed t’ be aphrodisiacs.”

“So are oysters,” Logan teased, popping open the button at the waist of his very worn and faded jeans.

“But oysters smell bad,” Remy gasped, watching as one button after another came undone. Logan wasn’t wearing any underwear today.

“That they do,” Logan agreed, sighing in relief when his thick erection was freed from his pants. He quickly stripped the denim off and slid across the sheets to Remy’s side. “Anyway, I’ve got all the aphrodisiac I need right here.” He ran one hand down the center of Remy’s chest.

The motion made the young man purr. “Moi aussi, mon coeur,” he whispered, his arms wrapping around his lover and pulling him close. He moaned as their cocks brushed together. “Glad y’ like de candles an’ everyt’ing.” 

Logan reached up and lovingly brushed Remy’s hair back. “It’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for me, Remy.” Before the Cajun could answer Logan leaned his whole body in for a kiss.

They fought in a heated duel of teeth and tongues for a while, taking their time and enjoying the foreplay. Logan especially loved the simple pleasure of kissing and on occasion was content to do nothing else. But not tonight.

Remy’s whimper of protest when Logan pulled away from his mouth turned into a blissful sigh as those talented lips began nipping at his jaw and then sucking at his neck. “Ohhh, cher...” He arched his neck to give Logan better access but the older man was already moving down Remy’s chest, licking and kissing...all along his scars, Remy realized with a start. “Logan? Wha...?” 

Logan cut him off by pressing a finger to his lips. “Let me finish,” he murmured against Remy’s skin. He carefully, delicately continued his work, not missing a single hard white line. He moved all the way down to the scar that looked suspiciously like one from an appendectomy, then followed the same path back to Remy’s mouth.

The Acadian trembled at Logan’s kiss, and at the still almost-there tingle of Logan’s mouth on his war wounds. “Cher? Why?” he finally asked once he found his voice.

“Because I love you, Remy,” Logan answered softly, his pale blue eyes locked on those of red and black. He lightly traced the contours of Remy’s face with shaking fingers. “I love everything about you, every part of you. Even what you yourself hate.”

/Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry!/ But the tears came anyway. Never had Remy expected that Logan would be the one to say it first, or to say it so completely, so adamantly. And he realized only now just how hungry he’d been to hear those words. “Mon amour, je t’aime. Je t’aime pour tout le temps,” he whispered, hugging Logan tightly to him, never to let him go. 

Logan also held on for dear life to the beautiful creature in his arms, and let a few tears of his own fall. This was perfect, this was heaven. Could it get any better? 

The body beneath him arched and Remy’s dick rubbed against his again. Well, OK, that might make things better... Enough with tears and words. The time had come for action.

Remy moaned when Logan began kissing his chest again, and cried out when he attacked one hard nipple with teeth and tongue, the other with strong, sure fingers. “Oooo... no fair, Logan. Y’ know... uhnnnnn... how sensitive... ahhh!... dey are,” he panted, writhing in pleasure as Logan took turns pleasuring the hard nubs with his mouth and hands.

“Yup,” he smiled, beginning a slow move further south. 

“’Ey! Where y’ going?”

“Down here,” Logan growled. He nestled between Remy’s legs. “Damn, Rem, ya look good enough ta eat.” He buried his nose in the dark auburn hair at the base of Remy’s erection, said erection rubbing against his cheek. “Smell really good, too.”

Remy sighed. “Sweetheart, y’ don’ have to. It’s your first time.” But his body betrayed his words, his hips bucking against Logan’s face.

“Oh, but I want to. Have all week,” he grinned, running an experimental tongue up the side of Remy’s shaft and over the tip, lapping up the drops of sticky pre-cum oozing from the slit. Salty, sweet, and oh-so-Remy. “How’m I doin’?” he asked teasingly after hearing his lover’s sharp intake of breath.

“Jus’ fine,” Remy purred, reaching over his head to grasp the headboard. “Y’ sure y’ haven’t done dis before?”

“Positive. Must be beginner’s luck.” He circled the head of Remy’s cock with his tongue, memorizing the texture and taste. He licked up and down every sweet inch, encouraged by Remy’s incoherent sounds of pleasure. He moved a little lower and gently sucked on Remy’s balls one at a time. The Cajun almost screamed at that. Logan filed that away for future reference and came back up to at last take Remy’s dick in his mouth. He held Remy’s hips firmly, making the assault at his own pace, sliding his mouth up and down, teeth scraping, tongue lapping. Logan instantly loved everything about going down on Remy – the taste, the firm heat in his mouth, the exclamations of Creole, the way his own cock throbbed in response. /Wouldn’t mind doin’ this all night./

“Cher, get y’self up here right *now *!” 

There was such a sexy tone of command in Remy’s voice that Logan knew he had to obey. He reluctantly released Remy’s stiff penis and started to crawl up the lean lithe body. “I was just startin’ ta have fun,” he grumbled good-naturedly.

He was stopped by the heel of Remy’s hand against his forehead. The thief laughed, that sweet special giggle used only by the most comfortable of lovers. “Meant de ot’er end, cher.”

It took Logan a moment to catch on. “Oh. OH!” He grinned, then frowned in worry. “Will it work? Height difference an’ all?” 

“Pffft, cher. Remy’s flexible.”

“Damn.”

It took a little maneuvering to get into the position, but less than Logan had expected. Actually, it wouldn’t have taken long at all it they hadn’t had to make sure Logan wasn’t kneeling on Remy’s hair. He was about to make a comment to that effect when a warm wet tongue suddenly teased the slit of his dick. He growled softly in response.

Remy smiled at the sound and blew a hot breath across the tender flesh he’d just tongued. “Dat feel good, cher?”

“Yeah. Here, I’ll show ya.” Logan copied the actions on the pink tipped erection bobbing up against his chin.

“Mmmm, dat does feel good.” Remy ran his hands up the backs of Logan’s thighs to rest on his tight muscular ass and gave a firm squeeze. “I know a few ot’er t’ings dat feel ever better.”

“Then let’s get to ‘em, eh?” Logan chuckled, taking Remy’s cock into his mouth again at the same instant he felt his own engulfed in a moist sucking heat. Logan seriously doubted that he would be able to last long. 

But Remy was a master at prolonging pleasure. He moved leisurely, using long tender licks and grazing nips of the teeth, his talented callused hands stroking and massaging everywhere they could reach. In some ways Logan wished he could be laying back and watching, as he was sure Remy could make a blow job look more elegant and sophisticated than anyone else on earth. Certainly more so than he himself was making it look, he was sure. But the added erotic element of being able to please each other at the same time more than made up for not being able to see some of the action.

Supporting his weight with one hand Logan let the other explore whatever it could of the luscious body beneath him. Strong racehorse thighs, sharp curving hipbones, rippling washboard stomach. He took advantage of the knowledge that Remy’s skin was very sensitive and reveled in making him moan with just a touch. And upon discovering how good a moan felt when the moaner had your penis in his mouth... Logan moaned himself. He briefly let his fingers tangle in the dark red curls at the base of Remy’s cock, then shifted lower to cup Remy’s balls, rolling them back and forth in their velvet sac as he sucked just a little harder on Remy’s erection. He heard and felt a muffled scream, and Remy’s hips bucked up against his hand and mouth. Logan grinned as best he could. Continuing his work with an increased fervor he searched out the sweet spot just behind Remy’s scrotum and pressed hard against it with one fingertip.

Remy had to release his hold on Logan’s dick for a moment to cry out in sweet agony. “Mon Dieu! Oh cher, dat’s...oooo,” he groaned, aching to thrust deeper into the warm nirvana of Logan’s mouth, but not wanting to do anything that would make his new lover uncomfortable. /Mmmm, maybe I’ll do something to make him extra comfy, then./ He quickly slicked a finger with saliva before sucking Logan’s erection deep into his throat.

Logan froze for a moment, a carnal growl escaping him, upon realizing that Remy’s nose was pressed against his sac. He struggled to breathe with the sensation of liquid fire surrounding him, the Cajun’s tongue lapping like the hottest and most dangerous of flames. What a naughty lustful heaven this was. Between whimpers and groans Logan tried to keep up with his end of the bargain. Just when he thought he was getting himself back under control a wet finger pressed against his entrance and all hope was lost.

“Jesus...fucking...Christ, Remy!” He let Remy’s cock go, not trusting himself not to bite down. And it was a good thing he’d come to that decision, as only seconds later he was screaming through clenched teeth as Remy’s finger worked past the tight ring of muscle and eased inside. It hurt a little. He hadn’t expected it to, not just one finger, but it did. Then Remy began thrusting that finger in and out and the hurt turned good. Very good. Logan howled, nearly drowning in all the sweet hot sensations. Somehow he gathered enough of his senses to begin fisting Remy and dimly heard (and definitely felt) the Acadian moan. After that he was aware of nothing except what Remy was doing to him, that knowing finger crooking slightly to brush against the hard sweet spot deep inside...

...And suddenly he was roaring Remy’s name as orgasm finally struck him, the hardest one he’d had in years. He could feel Remy swallowing, yet at the same time it felt like a strong hand was stroking him. /Empath. Duh./ Remy was bucking hard into Logan’s hand, wantonly begging for release. With the sharp edge gone Logan was able to pull his wits about him and took Remy into his mouth again, starting the wild ride anew as almost instantly he found himself hungrily drinking down Remy’s sweet spicy seed.

Eventually they both caught their breath and drifted back down to earth. Logan moved and turned around and lay down next to Remy, curled up under one finely muscled arm with his head resting on the thief’s lovely chest. They stayed like that for a while, relishing the afterglow. The musky tones of sex mixed with the perfume of the roses to create an aroma Logan knew he would never forget. He lifted his head to look at his lover and discovered Remy watching him with warm loving eyes. “Hey, darlin’.”

Remy smiled. “Hey, cher. C’mer.” He pulled Logan up for a kiss.

Logan sighed as he tasted himself on Remy’s lips. “God, I love you, Remy,” he whispered hoarsely. 

“I love you too, Logan,” Remy said softly. “Damn, cher. Dat was wonderful, non?”

“Yeah, definitely!” Logan chuckled. He stretched as much as Remy’s embrace would allow, then licked his dry lips. “Sure could go for a glass o’ that wine I had to make a special trip for. 

An unexpected smack on the ass from Remy. “Me too. Go on an’ get it, den.”

“Hmph. Ain’t you a bossy little thing in the bedroom.” Logan eased himself off the bed and walked on wobbly legs to retrieve the bottle of Merlot.

“Y’ haven’t even seen de half of it, mon coeur,” Remy beamed from ear to ear while he rummaged through the top nightstand drawer. “Damn, coulda sworn I had a corkscrew in here.”

SNIKT SQUEAK POP. “Who needs a corkscrew?” 

Remy laughed and got two wine glasses out of the bottom drawer. “I can see already dat you’re gonna be handy t’ keep around.” 

“I’ll be the best investment you’ve ever made.” Logan nodded toward the nightstand as he took one of the goblets from Remy and filled it. “What all ya got in there, darlin’?”

Empty glass exchanged for full. “Dat’s for me t’ know and you t’ find out, cher.” Remy flashed a Cheshire cat grin.

Logan attempted a pout but gave up quickly. He set the bottle down and curled up beside Remy on the pillows. “Anything I’ll find out about tonight?”

“Mebbe,” the thief winked. He held up his glass. “To us?”

CLINK. “To us.” 

They cuddled together, savoring their wine and watching the flickering candlelight throw shadows across the room, a tender lovers’ silence between them. Eventually Logan set down his empty glass and relieved Remy of his. “Remy?”

“Mmmm?”

“Make love to me? Make me yours?”

Remy blinked. /Is he asking what I think he’s asking?/

Logan actually blushed a little. “Sorry, Rem, that came out pretty romance-novel-ish, eh? I was hopin’ fer somethin’ a little more dignified than, ‘Gimme a good hard fuck’, but I ended up soundin’ like Scarlett O’Hara or somethin’.”

Remy couldn’t help it, he started giggling. “Nah, cher, t’ do Scarlett it woulda had t’ been more like dis:” He tossed his hair back and put the back of one hand to his forehead, feigning faint. “Remy! Remy!” he swooned in his best breathy Vivian Leigh voice. He then gave Logan a very wide grin. “An’ dat’s somet’ing I’d pay t’ see, cher.”

The Canadian tried to hide a smile behind a snarl. “You are such and insufferable little brat sometimes.”

“Moi?! You started it!”

“Maybe. Whatcha gonna do about it?” 

Suddenly Logan found himself pinned, much as he had been that first morning they’d woken up together. This time, though, they were both naked, and the urge in his groin had nothing to do with his bladder. He looked up into those mystical eyes, glowing hot. “Gonna give y’ a good hard fuck, dat’s what.” The eyes turned softer in their expression. “Provided dat *is * really what y’ want, mon coeur.” 

“Yeah, darlin’, it is,” Logan sighed, bravado gone, replaced by want and need. “Christ, Rem, don’t make me beg.”

Remy immediately released his grip on Logan’s wrists and began sliding his hands down the strong hairy chest beneath him. “Only begging you’ll have t’ do tonight is begging for more, cher,” he whispered as he bent down to kiss Logan once ever-so-softly before moving down to settle between Logan’s legs. He blew a hot breath over his lover’s hardening cock and across his sac before going further down and slowly, gently flicking the tip of his tongue against Logan’s tightly puckered hole.

Logan nearly leapt off the bed at the touch of that warm wetness against his most private of spots. Remy took advantage of his elevated position and slid his hands under Logan’s rear to hold him still while he continued his attack.

And as Remy had predicted, Logan was begging for more – if a low, aching growl could be considered a beg, anyway. Remy pushed his tongue deep inside, learning the contours of his lover’s body and committing his smell and flavor to memory. When Logan began grinding down against his face Remy took that as a sign to take things a step further. 

Logan whimpered in disappointment at the lost of Remy’s tongue inside him. “Remy... please, don’t stop...” 

“Not stopping, cher, jus’ pausing,” Remy assured him, crawling up along the stocky tight body and letting their cocks brush together for a moment, the delicious friction drawing a gasp from both of them. The thief reached out and opened the top drawer of the nightstand. There was no rummaging or fumbling this time; the bottle of lube was right where he’d left it. He poured a liberal amount on the fingers of his right hand, then leaned forward to capture Logan’s lips as he slid one slippery finger inside.

Logan groaned into Remy’s mouth and bucked against his hand. If he’d had any idea this would feel so fucking good... He tangled his fingers in that gorgeous cinnamon mane, wanting Remy as close to him as possible. In response the Acadian straddled Logan’s thigh, rubbed his groin against the curve of Logan’s hipbone, and pushed a second finger into his body. 

When the third finger was added Logan finally had to break away from Remy’s kiss. “Oh...god! Goddamnit, yes!” He rocked his hips wantonly, grunting with each touch to his prostate. “Jesus, Remy, fuck me! I want you! *Need * you!”

“Je sais,” Remy gasped as all of Logan’s genuine lust and love and desire and *hunger * sliced through his shields like a hot knife through butter. He slowly pulled his fingers out and repositioned himself between Logan’s legs. With shaking hands he grabbed the lube again and slicked a palmful over his aching erection, then guided the head to just barely nudge into Logan’s opening. “Y’ ready, cher?”

Trembling with anticipation, Logan nodded and closed his eyes. And with one smooth motion, Remy was in. 

“Oh...fuck,” Logan grunted, his hands scrambling for purchase in empty air before finally finding a hold at Remy’s waist. He felt so painfully, heavenly full and at long last *whole *. He forced his eyes open to look at his lover and his breath drew short at the sight: Remy Etienne LeBeau, Grand Master of All Things Sexual, sweaty body strung tight as a high wire, eyes squinted tightly shut, jaw clenched, breathing harshly through his nose... struggling for control. Somewhere deep in the back of his mind a little voice reminded him that Gambit had experienced an even longer dry spell than he had. Logan marveled at Remy’s self-restraint; if their roles had been reversed he was sure he would have been fucking like a crazed mink by now.

Gradually Remy’s breathing slowed and he opened his eyes. “Mmmm, Logan, y’ feel so damn good,” he purred, a lazy smile playing at his lips. “Bet it would feel even better t’ fuck y’, n’est-ce pas?” He ever-so-slightly rocked his hips against Logan’s body. 

Just that one tiny movement made Logan arch his back and growl in delight. Remy chuckled a rather devilish little laugh. “Guess so, neh? 

“Remy...”

“Oui, cher?”

Logan didn’t say another word, but wrapped his legs around Remy’s hips and pulled him in even deeper, groaning in the process. Remy got the message: Quit talking and start fucking. He was more than happy to oblige and slowly began thrusting into the hot velvet vise of Logan’s body.

Things were fairly silent at first, just the sounds of labored breathing, skin sliding against satin, the occasional moan or sigh. Then Remy reached between them, found Logan’s cock and began fisting it in time with his thrusts, and the room quickly became much noisier. Headboard banging against the wall. Bedframe creaking. Hot sweaty flesh slapping against hot sweaty flesh. Broken French. Grunts, growls, and groans. Sex in C Major. Mozart couldn’t have written a finer symphony.

Remy had lost all sense of time and had no idea how long they’d been keeping up this rhythm, but he for one would not be able to maintain it much longer. Ecstasy was too close, almost in his grasp, the point of no return rapidly approaching. But he wanted his lover to come first. He knowingly changed his angle until he could feel the head of his dick hitting the hard sweet spot deep inside. That should speed things along. “C’mon, cher, come for Remy,” he commanded, his voice low and ragged. 

Until Remy changed positions Logan had been seeing stars with each thrust. Now it was like lightning flashing across his eyes, and the need for release was almost overwhelming. He dug his fingers deeper into Remy’s sides, dimly aware that his nails were cutting into the tender skin and that he was surely leaving bruises but yet unable to stop. “Remy... arrrrh... mmmm... just... a little... harder... OH FUCK YES! Right... there... oh... oh... oh god.....”

And then there was nothing but a loud triumphant roar as Logan’s orgasm was at last mercifully ripped from him, his hot cum pumping out over Remy’s fist. He felt his inner muscles clench around Remy’s erection and a second later heard a haunting, keening wail as Remy pounded into him hard and deep one last time.

There was an almost audible click when Remy dropped his shields. Suddenly they were one, climaxes intertwining to the point of no distinction between them. Neither man was sure which orgasm was his, who was making which cries or screams, only that this was better than either of them had ever dreamed of. 

Moments, minutes, hours later, who knew, they snuggled in a wet sticky heap on sweat-soaked sheets, respiration returning to normal levels. Logan ran one trembling hand down the Cajun’s long, lean back. “I love you, Remy.”

Remy lifted his head off Logan’s chest. He was wearing the most genuine, happy smile Logan had ever seen. “Mon Dieu, I love you too, Logan.” With a blissful sigh he dropped his head back down and rubbed his nose in Logan’s chest hair. “Y’ want some more wine?” 

“Mmmm, nah.” 

“A snack?”

“Tempting, but I’ll pass.”

“Sleep, den?”

“Sounds good.” He sighed. “What about th’ candles?”

Remy groaned and sat up reluctantly. “Shoulda t’ought about dat when I lit dem all.”

Logan chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll help ya blow ‘em out.” As he sat up he noticed the hand shaped bruises darkening about Remy’s waist. “Didn’t hurt ya, did I?” he asked, voice full of worry.

“Mmmm, mon amour, dat’s de best kind of hurt in de world,” Remy promised, kissing Logan’s frown away. “C’mon, lets’ get dese candles out.”

It didn’t take long before all of the candles had been extinguished save for the one on the nightstand. The lovers settled into bed, Logan on his back, Remy tucked snug and secure under his arm, head on his chest. Logan lifted his head off the pillow and kissed the top of Remy’s head. “Ready for lights out, darlin’?”

“Mais oui, cher,” Remy yawned, scooting up for one last kiss. He paused there, just looking at Logan for a moment, his fiery eyes warming Logan to the very depths of his soul. “Je t’aime,” he finally whispered as he brought his mouth down on Logan’s.

Logan drew out the kiss for a bit before lightly licking Remy’s lips and pulling back. “Je t’aime aussi.” He then tucked the purring Cajun back under his arm and pinched out the last candle’s flame between thumb and forefinger. And then they fell into a sweet sated sleep. 

* * *

Logan awoke with a start when he reached out for Remy and he wasn’t there. Panic threatened to wash over him before his sleepy mind fuzzily recollected the thief nudging him awake to tell him he was heading down to the comms room to check the messages. With a sigh of relief he burrowed deeper under the covers and dozed off again.

“Cher? Wake up, honey, we got a problem.”

Logan was instantly awake this time at the worried tone of Remy’s voice. He untangled himself from the sheets and rolled over to find Remy sitting on the edge of the bed in a pair of sweats and Logan’s black flannel shirt, unbuttoned and hanging open. “Rem? What’s wrong?”

“Cyke didn’t check in today.”

“Shit.”

“My t’oughts exactly.”

Logan sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. “Ya tried callin’ him? 

“No signal. Wouldn’t connect.”

“That’s not good.”

“Non.”

Logan scratched one scruffy sideburn in thought. “Well, I guess the next thing would be to activate th’ tracking on the Blackbird.”

Remy sighed. “Tried. No response.”

“No response?”

“No response.”

“And we have no fucking clue where they went?”

“Nope.”

“Flamin’ hell.”

“Mmmm hmmm.”

They were quiet for a moment, Logan staring through Remy’s print of Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” (or was it an original?), Remy idly shuffling a deck of cards. Logan finally let out a ragged sigh. “Ya know, part o’ me thinks after the shitty way Cyke’s treated us, we just oughtta let him get the team outta whatever trouble they’ve gotten into.”

“Oui. Dat’s what Remy t’inks too.” The Cajun then pulled the ace of diamonds from the deck and charged it. “But Gambit t’inks different.”

“So does Wolverine.” Logan tossed the covers back and stretched. “Guess the honeymoon’s over, eh?”

“Non, never over, jus’ on ‘pause’,” Remy grinned as he drew the charge back from the ace. “Could be worse, cher. At least we work together.”

Logan laughed in spite of the situation. “Yup, yer stuck with me 24-7, Rem. Hope ya don’t get sick of me.”

Remy stripped off the borrowed shirt and held it to his nose for a moment, loving the woodsy Logan smell that permeated it. “Nah, don’ t’ink dat’s gonna happen, mon amour.” He tossed the shirt on the bed and stood to take off his sweatpants. “All dis sweet talk ain’t finding de X-Men, t’ough.”

“Noted.” Logan got out of bed and headed for the shower. So much for the lazy morning after...