𝕼𝖚𝖔𝖙𝖍 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕽𝖆𝖛𝖊𝖓 | 𝕸𝖊𝖑𝖆𝖓𝖎𝖊 𝕷𝖊𝖇𝖑𝖆𝖓𝖈 𝕺𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖘, 𝕮𝖍. 𝕾𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓
With Gambit's apology hanging heavy over her, Melanie seeks him out to reconcile. Will they set the record straight in the aftermath of Mystique's treachery?
AO3 link here:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/69018851/chapters/235356081
𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕾𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓: 𝕬 𝕳𝖆𝖕𝖕𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖘 𝖙𝖔 𝕯𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖒
Warnings: Strong language
Gambit was surprised the next afternoon by a knock on his door. Even more so when he opened the door to find Melanie there, a bowl of ramen in each hand.
“Mais, Gambit never expected you t’go and share wit’ him, petite.” He lifted the chopsticks with a grin.
Melanie chuckled. “Well, there was more than enough to share, so.” She sat back, crossing her arms. “Besides. I had to thank you somehow.”
“Aw, petite, it was a gift,” Gambit said. “Wasn’t no need for dat. Just de fact dat Gambit was able to cheer you up was enough.”
His words made her throat constrict a bit, and she had to swallow thickly.
“About that,” Melanie said, her voice somber. “I wanted to talk to you. About the note, I mean. I really do appreciate what you did, but…” She shook her head at him. “Why in the world would you apologize to me when I was ready to tear you a new one? Shouldn’t you be avoiding me like the plague?”
Gambit blinked a moment, and then he sighed. “Melanie,” The way he said her name felt like a jolt. “If dat had really been Gambit talkin’ to you dat way, actin’ dat way, den he would deserve every ounce of your wrath.” He leaned forward, elbows on the table, to look her in the eye. “Ah can’t deny it, Mel. Ah’m a terrible flirt. Spent plenty of nights in a stranger’s bed, plenty more where I hopped between ‘em like it was nothin’. And ah’d be a damn fool to not t’ink dat you’re beautiful.”
She could only listen incredulously, unsure of what to say.
“But Gambit don’t never go where he ain’t invited, petite. Never. And you made dat crystal clear when we first met. And while ah might be a bettin’ man, I know losin’ a friend like you is too high stakes. You too good for anyone to lose, mon ami.”
Melanie stared, shell-shocked. She tried to open her mouth to respond, but her jaw simply wouldn't obey her. She blinked a few times, unsure if her eyes were stinging or not.
“Remy.” He said gently. “Please. Call me Remy.”
“Remy…” Melanie stared down at the table a moment, her nails digging into her palms. She looked back up at him. “Thank you.” She couldn’t help but laugh a bit. “I think…I think I definitely misjudged you.”
Remy laughed. “Mais, chère, Remy can’t say he blame ya,” He chuckled. “He a lot to get used to, non?”
Melanie laughed. “Definitely.” She teased.
“Well ya don’t have to agree so quick!” Remy took another bite of his ramen. “You one to watch out for, ain’t ya?”
“Now you’re catching on,” Melanie laughed.
Remy grinned. “An’ he likes dis side ‘o you, petite.”
By the time lunch was finished and the kitchen cleaned up, the tension of yesterday seemed to have melted into nothingness. Instead, a pervasive sense of new understanding had settled over them both like a comfortable blanket.
“Okay, so, fill me in,” Melanie said. “Why did Mystique turn into you? How did she even know that it would trip me up?”
Remy sighed, leaning against the counter. “I don’ t’ink it was quite s’personal, petite, crazy as dat might sound,” He admitted. “See, me ‘n Mystique got some ol’ beef she ain’t never quite let go of. I used to date–well, date might be a strong word for it–Rogue, an’ her mama didn’t like dat one bit.” He sighed. “So, any time she can, Mystique likes t’make Remy seem like he de worst kinda scoundrel out dere, de kind dat can’t be redeemed.”
Melanie scoffed. “Seriously? God, she’s a bitch!” She laughed, incredulous. “She’s lucky I didn’t take her head off.”
“Mhm, I know dat’s right,” Remy nodded sagely. “Ma petite ain’t nothin’ t’mess wit’.” He smiled at her fondly. Remy looked out the window at the sunny afternoon and his smile became a grin.
“Shoo, it’s a real pretty day out. Whaddya sat you an’ Remy go on a lil stroll? Dere’s some real pretty country out dere, right in de back yard.” He suggested.
Melanie lit up. “That sounds perfect. God knows my pasty ass could use some sun.” She joked. Thus, they made their way outside.
The grounds of the Xavier School were sprawling; many of their friends had set up hammocks or little spots to sit and enjoy the sun. Melanie breathed deep, feeling the warmth sink into her skin. “So nice…”
She stretched, stepping to the side to let her wings out, careful not to hit Remy with them. They were huge, their black feathers flashing iridescent in the sun, tips skyward as Melanie extended them with a contented sound. Remy couldn’t help but stare.
“Mon dieu…c’est très belle, petite.” He said, awed.
Melanie blushed. “Thanks…I didn’t have a lot of chances to let them out in the city because they’re so big. It’s nice to feel the sun on them again.” One look told Remy it was the truth. Some of the feathers were rumpled and dull, a few missing here and there.
Remy tutted. “Well dat’s no good,” He said. “Be a shame t’not get dem all gussied up again. Dey so beautiful.”
“Stooooop,” Melanie whined playfully, laughing. “You’re gonna give me a complex.”
Remy laughed. “What? It’s de truth, petite! M’bbe ol’ Gambit can find a way t’get dem even prettier.”
They walked further, until they hit the treeline that led into the nearby woods.
“Oh, there’s a trail!” Melanie exclaimed, peering down the dirt pathway.
“Mhm. Remy come down here a lot when he need some fresh air,” He said. Remy stepped onto the path, extending a hand to her. “Shall we?”
There was a time Melanie would’ve hesitated. Or even run in the other direction. But this was now.
She took his hand with a smile. “Lead the way, Cajun.”
They walked through the dappled sunlight of the woods, the sound of insects and birds clamoring around them. Melanie looked around in wonder.
“Can’t get this in the city,” She chuckled. “Central Park, maybe, but that’s it. And I’m not going to Manhattan, anyway.”
Remy chuckled. “Oui, dis here is ‘bout de best place t’get away from it all in dis town.”
They rounded a corner, Remy sure-footed and knowing.
“Where are you taking us?” Melanie asked.
“Remy know a spot, petite,” He explained. “T’ink ya gonna like it.”
They rounded a bend, and the tunnel of the forest canopy opened into a clearing, bright and sunny. A meadow swayed in the breeze, thick with flowers, a small creek gurgling nearby. Remy had strung a hammock between two trees.
“Oh, it’s beautiful!” Melanie jogged ahead into the meadow, butterflies taking wing in her wake. She sneezed from the pollen, but smiled. “Thank you for bringing me. This is amazing.”
Remy leaned against a tree, eyes soft. “Pas probleme, petite. What’s Remy’s is yours, non?”
Melanie giggled. She turned, wings beating slightly in the breeze. Then, setting off at a jog, she flapped her wings hard and took to the air.
Melanie let out a triumphant laugh, circling the clearing. The wind rushed through her hair, tangling it, buffeting against her cheeks. The flight pulled old feathers from her wings, drifting like black snow to the earth.
Below, Remy watched her with a smile. As a feather drifted down, he picked it up, studying it fondly. “Mind if Remy keep dis?” He called up to her.
“Go nuts!” Melanie called back, looking more awake and alive than Remy had ever seen her.
Remy tucked the feather into his pocket. “Merci, petite! Dieu, look at you up dere! You a regular flyin’ ace!”
Melanie laughed, barrel-rolling for him. “One of my many talents!”
With a sweeping bank, Melanie headed down into the clearing. She struck the ground at a run, and Remy was there to catch her. She smiled up at him.
“Not bad? Petite, ya could give Roro a run for ‘er money!” Remy laughed. Once again, his eyes drifted to her wings, and he frowned at the sorry state of them. “But first, we gotta get dese beauties nice ‘n shiny again. I can’t let ya show off without lookin’ ya best!” He took her hand, leading her to the creek.
“O-oh! Remy, you really don’t have to–”
“No, Remy insist! Please, petite, lemme take care ‘a ya.”
Melanie felt her face flush a bit. “Alright.”
She sat down on a blanket Remy had retrieved from the hammock, spreading her wings out just so, so that it would be easier to clean them. Remy produced a kerchief from his pocket and dipped it in the cool, clear water.
“Wish we had some soap out here, but de water will hafta do fo’ now,” He said, sitting behind her. “Dis gon’ be cold, petite.”
Even with the warning, Melanie couldn’t help but gasp when the cold, wet cloth met her feathers. They puffed out in response, before settling back down. It got a laugh out of Remy.
“Mais, you like a cat dat got spooked, petite!” He joked, scrubbing gently through the sleek black softness of her wings. “Shoo, dese already lookin’ so much better…all dat grime comin’ off jus’ like a dream.”
Melanie hummed in response, the tension in her back loosening as he worked. It felt wonderful.
“Thanks for this,” She said with a smile, still red-faced. “I guess I needed it more than I realized.”
“S’no trouble at all, petite,” Remy said fondly. His fingers deftly plucked old, crumpled feathers away, helping a few stunted ones out of their sheaths. Melanie beat her wings on instinct.
As she settled them, Remy’s hand was caught under them, and he shifted to move it back.
“Ah!” Melanie clapped a hand over her mouth, face burning and eyes wide with embarrassment.
“Petite, are you okay?” Remy asked, instantly worried. “Remy didn’t mean t—”
“N-no, it’s okay,” Melanie said, taking a deep breath. “You didn’t know. The underside of my wings are just…very sensitive.”
A slight pause as Remy filed that tidbit away.
Melanie felt her face get redder.
“Duly noted, petite. Don’ touch ‘em dere. Got it.” He said fondly.
After more careful scrubbing, Melanie’s wings seemingly felt three times lighter. She stood up, extending them, seeing how the sheen of her feathers shone that much brighter in the sun. She beamed.
“Thank you,” She said, turning to Remy.
“Anytime, mon corbeau. Anytime.” He said with a crooked smile.
By the time they got back to the mansion, it was nearly evening. The day had slipped into that hazy slump before dinner, heat haze glazing the horizon over the trees.
“Whew, I’m ready for a nap now,” Melanie said with a yawn as they made their way back onto the grounds. “That and a shower. It’s hot as hell out.”
Remy grinned mischievously. “You don’ gotta tell Remy dat, petite. He got eyes.” He said with a wink.
“Oh my god, that was corny.” Melanie laughed, rolling her eyes. “You can do way better than that, Cajun. At least, I hope so.”
Remy’s smile only widened. “Stick around long enough, an’ Remy gonn’ show you alllll his tricks, petite.”
Melanie elbowed him playfully, and he laughed.
“In your dreams, LeBeau.”
“An’ in ya heart, petite.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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