Fic: Reed Richards Explains the Reasons Why Not to Attend a Wedding at the Xavier Mansion
Author: Ashley
Reed Richards Explains the Reasons Why Not to Attend a Wedding at the Xavier Mansion
Written for mylodon, the request being Reed Richards
A slashy crossover with another sci-fi fandom
No explicit scenes.
Disclaimer: Reed Richards, the Fantastic Four, The Xmen, and the Xavier mansion do not belong to me. I just play here.
Warnings: Language, implied slash.
Summary: The Richards have been invited to the wedding of the century at the Xavier mansion. What could go wrong?
Authors notes: I completely screwed with the ‘verses and the timeline and plunked movie!Reed and movie!Sue into the Xmen comic ‘verse, right into Jean Grey’s wedding. Please excuse the wrongness of this move. I enjoyed it way too much. *laughs* Also, the way I spelled some things that a certain character says - I tried to copy the way he's portrayed in the comics. So the spelling is on purpose.
Many thanks to blade_and_roses for the beta.
Feedback would be love.
The sun shone brightly on the gathered assemblage. Reed twisted in his seat; moving only his neck to stare at the number of famous people surrounding him.
He had never felt comfortable being ‘famous.’ Celebrities were people who made movies and sold soft drinks and did things like lip synch while on live television. He was Reed Richards, scientist, husband, and the leader of the Fantastic Four. They were only ‘famous’ by default.
Johnny of course would argue and moan were he to know Reed was thinking in that fashion, but Reed wouldn’t ever repeat the thought to his brother-in-law.
Come to think of it, he generally didn’t repeat any thoughts to his brother-in-law.
“Honey,” Sue whispered in his ear, “turn around. That’s kind of distracting.”
Reed immediately whipped his neck back into the right position, and smiled sheepishly at his wife. “Sorry,” he whispered. “It’s just - well, just look!”
Sue rolled her eyes, and rested her hand on the back of Reed’s new suit. “Reed, you could conceivably include us in the group of ‘just look!’ people.”
Reed shook his head. A small frown crossed his face, and he took Sue’s free hand in his to distract himself from trying to understand just what it was that made people like he and Sue, and the ones that sat around them, so fascinating to the general populace. He was certain there was some sort of mathematical algorithm he could look up that would explain it, but as they’d been rather busy of late with some local vigilantes, he hadn’t had the time -
“Where are you, husband?”
Reed reddened and turned to look at his wife. He never got tired of thinking of her as that. He smiled soppily at her, and she laughed, leaned over, and kissed him briefly. “The wedding’s about to start,” she nudged him, and he turned to face the aisle in front of them. They were in the crowded front row of one side of chairs; the other side was filled as well. The aisle was carpeted with flowers, and ran the length of the lawn they sat on.
The music started, and everyone stood, Reed slightly tempted to just stretch his neck again. He was tired, and really wanted to rest -
“Oh,” Sue sighed happily. “I can’t believe they’re finally going through with this.”
Reed forgot his aching back, and grinned along with everyone else as Jean Grey walked down the center of the lawn, her white gown shining in the sun, her red hair knotted neatly on top of her head. Reed thought he’d never seen a bride as beautiful, but then he caught sight of Sue out of the corner of his eye, and instantly (and guiltily) retracted that thought.
Everyone was murmuring and smiling as Jean reached the end of the aisle. Hank McCoy, wearing his best suit, stepped to the front of the stage that had been set up. He faced the audience, and his large, sharp teeth gleamed as he smiled.
Reed just watched, lost in the image of true love presented when, Professor Charles Xavier, who had been rolling in his chair next to Jean, took her hand and placed it in the hand of her future husband. Reed thought it only appropriate when a small tear fell from behind the red-lensed glasses Cyclops wore.
He also thought he’d always remember the look on Scott Summers’ face when Hank pronounced Scott and Jean husband and wife.
*
The music was loud, filling the ballroom. Reed tried to slouch in a corner, but when he slouched, he inevitably looked weird and saggy, so he sighed and sat up straight. He’d no idea where Sue had gone; he’d seen her a while ago talking with Jean, and then after that, giggling about something with Ororo Munroe. The tall, statuesque woman had glanced at Reed, and he’d waved as she smiled at him.
Of course Sue had blown him a kiss, but then she’d run off with Storm, and he hadn’t seen the two of them since, except for a brief moment as they huddled with Hank and Warren Worthington and someone Reed thought was Bobby Drake.
“Bored?”
Reed turned at the sound of the voice and he smiled. “No, Charles. Just warming my seat while my wife galavants about. How are you?”
Xavier nodded his bald head as he rolled his chair closer to Reed. “I am happy. Happy to see this day come about, finally. And you? How goes the work?”
“Which work? The research, or the one I do for no pay?”
“Either,” Charles laughed. “I see you on the news quite frequently, Dr. Richards. You are making a difference, whether you see it that way or not.”
“Call me Reed, please. And I have to hope we are making some sort of difference - otherwise my colleagues might get a tad angry at me.” He sighed and tugged at his ear, a nervous habit that made his lobe look like it had been stretched by an inexperienced piercer.
Xavier smiled, and Reed’s mouth quirked as well. The professor was a calming presence; the few times Reed had spoken with him, the other man had always seemed capable and kind and smart. He had a very hard job - and Reed often wondered if he could do what Charles Xavier had done, and spend his life constantly fighting for justice for people the majority of the populace seemed to hate.
“They seem to be good partners,” Xavier said plainly. “I’ve had the pleasure to speak with Ben Grimm upon several occasions and he looks to be a responsible, caring man.”
Reed smiled. “Among other traits, yes. He is a good friend.”
A good friend that I owe a huge debt to. No matter what he says.
Xavier was still speaking. “And how does young Johnny fare? Still a ‘hot-head’?”
Trying not to roll his eyes, Reed tilted his head in agreement. “Don’t tell his sister I said so, though. I’d be in all kinds of trouble.” He laughed. “He’s got his heart in the right place, mostly. We’re still learning how to work together - all of us.”
“It can be one of the hardest trials anyone has to face, learning to work with others as a cohesive unit,” Xavier spoke quietly. “But I have every faith in you, Reed. You seem a man of purpose - and a kind one, at that. When you have the time,” he went on, “come see me. I have a few questions about string theory I’d like your opinion on.”
Reed wanted to salivate at the thought of finally finding someone to discuss science with - not that Sue couldn’t, but she got angry too quickly with him when he fell into that deep place in his brain where nothing but equations and formulas and theories lived. “Come out of there,” she’d tell him. “I need my husband around, not just the scientist.”
He felt guilty for not always being able to do that, but pushed it away when Xavier reached for his hand. Reed stood, and shook it.
“Thank you for inviting us,” he told the professor.
“You are always welcome in my home - and in my school. The offer still stands if you ever grow tired of solitary research.” Xavier smiled and began to roll away.
“I doubt it, but thank you just the same, Professor,” Reed called after him.
Xavier waved over his shoulder, but stopped his motion, and turned back to Reed. “Don’t worry about Johnny,” he said suddenly. “He knows you love him.”
Reed cocked his head in surprise, and opened his mouth to reply, but Xavier was gone, and two other people were in front of him.
“Dis de stretchy man?”
A sigh. “Yes, Remy. Although, sugar, I think he’d prefer to be called by his name.”
Reed’s eyes focused on the pair, and he grinned at the woman. “Marie,” he said by way of greeting, and held out his hand for hers.
“Hello, darlin,” Rogue’s glove-covered hand took his. Reed shook it, and then on impulse, hugged her.
She stayed at arms’ length, just like she always did. When Reed pulled back, he noticed she was wearing a high necked shirt and a tiny skirt, her long legs covered with colorful tights and high boots.
No matter how scantily clad Rogue seemed, she was always covered in at least one layer of clothing. Reed shook his head and smiled clumsily at her. Despite his telling Sue the opposite, he was slightly taken aback by her beauty, and her predicament. That was one of the experiments he was working on at present, although he hadn’t told that to anyone but Sue. Luckily for him, she approved of it. In fact, that admission had earned him a nice night of admiration from his wife. He reminded himself to be ‘generous,’ as Sue called it, more often.
“Pleased to meetcha, Mr. Fantastic,” came the slow drawl from the man at Rogue’s side. Reed had a feeling he knew who this was, but turned to face him with a quirked brow.
“Reed Richards,” he corrected. “And you are…”
A laugh. The other man was tall and lean, his hair dark brown and his eyes a strangely piercing red. One lock of hair hung charmingly in his face, and he seemed to be all teeth and square jaw. His hand was fine-boned but strong when Reed shook it. “Remy LeBeau, Dr. Richards,” he said, the accent not quite placeable. “Gambit.”
Reed had heard of this man, the last time he’d talked to Marie. He’d heard quite a lot about him, actually. It seemed as if Marie was taken with him, which was good, in Reed’s eyes. However, getting his first look at the new mutant, he found himself unable to look away from the strange amber and black eyes that seemed to follow him despite the fact that he had moved back somewhat.
Reed jerked his hand back as he felt a slight shock in the other man’s grip. “Ah, yes. You’re the new one.” He rubbed his fingers surreptitiously, but Gambit noticed it, and touched his hand.
“Sorry f’that,” he said, sounding sincere. “New to this power business, me.” He cocked his head and grinned, his hair falling to one side so Reed got a clear look at him.
His eyes were red, yes, but the ‘white’ of his eyes was black. Reed felt himself staring; what had caused this man’s unusual mutation? What were his powers? How had he found out -
“Reed, darlin,” Rogue interrupted his thoughts. “I’m glad to see y’all, but I see your lovely wife waving at me. So, will you take care of this galoot for me for a minute?” She pinched Reed’s cheek with her gloved hand. “Thanks, love.”
Reed looked around for Sue, and she really was waving at Marie, not him. His self-esteem deflated slightly. “Sure,” he began, but Rogue had already moved on, leaving Reed and the new XMan to fend for themselves.
Gambit tried to turn and follow Rogue’s progress, but his booted foot caught the edge of the table leg, and he twisted too quickly, his body arcing toward the ground. Reed’s hand shot out without thinking as he caught the other man before he hit the ground.
From ten feet away.
When Gambit finally righted himself, he raised one eyebrow at Reed. “Mr. Stretchy,” he laughed, the sound low and musical. Reed found him annoyingly interesting.
Gesturing at the chairs, Reed sat, and Remy joined him after a small staring contest which the mutant won easily. Reed felt his cheeks heat, and angrily wondered what it was about this man that was so - fascinating. He’d known Remy for about two minutes, and found he wanted to know more. Everything. He looked at the other man’s eyes, his face, his hands that apparently produced sparks or electricity of some sort, and only raised his gaze when he heard Remy snort.
“You can ask, y’know,” he said, shaking his head. “Doctors. Always want the same t’ing.”
“When did you discover your powers?” Reed said without a pause, since the other man had given him permission. Fascinating - ask him about the shock. And the eyes - what happened? Had he been born that way? How had he decided to come to Xavier’s?
“I was just a pup. M’daddy didn’t like it so much,” Remy answered, his red eyes roving over Reed’s form. Reed unconsciously stuck a finger inside his collar and pulled, swallowing slightly.
“Do that again,” the other man asked him, and Reed made a quizzical face. “Do what?”
“That finger stretch thing.” Remy leaned forward suddenly, and Reed got a whiff of his cologne. He swallowed again.
Why is he bothering me so much? …and why is he so damned interesting?
For science. To help Xavier help his charges. Yes.
“I’m not a performing monkey,” Reed said tetchily. He sighed. “I’m sure you’re used to hearing that, considering your….”
“Mutation?” Reed’s sentence was finished, the word sounding ironic rolling off Remy’s lips. “’s okay, Dr. Richards. You can say the word. I know you’re interested.”
Reed stared at Gambit, considering. Then he raised his hand, and elongated all five fingers, curling each one around a different part of the chair Gambit was sitting on. He pulled, and despite the thin amounts of flesh he was using, Reed moved the chair towards himself easily. Even with the bulk of the larger man sitting on it.
A laughed burst out of the other man, and Reed flushed. They were sitting only a few feet apart now, and Reed caught the red eyes again.
“What I could do wit dat,” Remy sighed, and shook his head, smiling brightly, his hair hiding his eyes momentarily. “Every woman in de palm of m’hand.”
“It’s not a parlor trick,” Reed groused. “I only use it when I have to. To help others. To stop evil people - ”
“I’m sure you don’t use it at night, when you’re in bed wit’ your gorgeous woman.”
Reed’s expression darkened uncharacteristically. “Look. I asked you a question, and you haven’t answered. So, let’s stop talking about me, Mr. LeBeau, and get back to the subject at hand. Which is not my relationship with my wife. And leave her out of it.”
Remy pursed his lips, and made a tch’ing noise. “Now, now, Stretch,” he said, quietly mocking, “don’t get your tights in a twist. It’s just funny t’see it up close after seeing ya on de TV only.”
“You’ve seen me - us, on TV?”
An eyeroll, which looked really strange with the odd colors. “I’m from New Orleans, not Venus. We have TV there.”
The way he said it, the city sounded like “nawwwlins.” Reed leaned forward unconsciously. “Well, we have been around,” he admitted. “It’s still strange to hear that someone knows about you and you’ve no idea what they’re like.”
Remy plastered a charming smile on his face. “What would you like to know?” He crossed his long legs and rested his chin on his hand.
Reed swallowed.
“Uh… you were saying something about your father?”
Gambit’s face darkened slightly. “D’pends on which daddy you’re referring to. I had a most intrestin’ childhood.”
“Well, which one has the most to do with your powers? And how’d you end up in New York? It’s a long way from Cajun country,” Reed asked. He really did want to know. This man was an enigma. An enigma that knew about him, and damn if that wasn’t … an ego trip.
“Xavier,” the other man said slowly. “By chance. Which I’m very good at, by the by.” He winked once, and produced something from his pocket. A playing card, by the looks of it. “And you asked ‘bout de powers.”
As Reed watched, the card in the man’s hand began to glow, first pink, then hot red. In a burst of white light, it incinerated in Gambit’s hand, and Reed brushed ashes off his shirt.
“Dat’s for practice,” Remy said. “I can heat up pretty much anyt’ing.”
“Creating explosions is your power?” Reed sputtered. Oh, this was much more interesting than he had imagined. “What else have you tried? Have you been in a lab yet? Have they tested what Kelvin you’re burning at? My building has - ”
“Not ‘creatin’ explosions,’ Doctor,” Remy said. He leaned forward, and pulled Reed’s tie out from between the buttoned panels of his suit jacket. “Electricity. Kinetics. Fire.” The last word was whispered. He stared at Reed, and Reed was unable to break the gaze, until he smelled something funny.
“Hey!” he yelled, and elongated his torso so it bent back from Gambit’s touch. He jerked his burned tie out of the other man’s hands, and examined it, his face pinched with annoyance. Gambit just laughed, and sat back in his seat.
“Damn it,” Reed said and stood, straightening his body and flapping the ends of his tie in the air so it would cool down. “That wasn’t funny. Or necessary. My wife bought me this. She won’t be happy.” That was true. It was ... had been, an expensive silk tie.
Now, it was just so much garbage.
“Well, if you’d be so kind as t’ introduce me, I can explain t’ the lovely lady.”
Reed looked up, a snarl on his face, but dropped it immediately as he noticed it wasn’t just Gambit that stood in front of him.
“Hi, sweetie,” Sue said, and then frowned. “What on earth did you do to your tie? Reed! Can’t you just let the research rest for one day?”
“I … he … this wasn’t me, Sue!” Reed tried to explain, and then stopped as Remy took a few steps and smoothly picked up his wife’s hand.
“Chere,” the cajun accent rolled off the man’s tongue like honey, “allow me to ‘pologize. It was me dat ruined Reed’s nice tie. He asked a simple question, and me, being de swamp rat I be, used it to be a smart mout’. I do humbly beg your indulgence, lady.”
Reed rolled his eyes and hmphed. Gambit’s voice was much more accented than before. Reed slid between Sue and the other man and took her hand in his. “I asked about his powers, and he showed me. So it’s technically both our faults.”
Sue shook her head and dropped Reed’s hand. She stepped around him to speak to Remy. “My husband. ‘Technically.’ Well, Mr. LeBeau, I’m glad to finally meet you, as Marie has said so much about you.”
Reed watched, glowering from behind Sue, as Gambit brightened. “She is t’bee’s knees, her. I hope it’s been all good things. And please, call me Remy.”
Sue laughed, and Reed stepped a little closer to her, his hand stretching out to rest possessively on her waist.
She widened her eyes, but allowed the grip and turned back to Gambit. “Mostly. And please do know that if the Fantastic Four can ever do anything for you, we’d be glad to offer our services. New York can be a scary place when you don’t know too many people.”
Gambit smiled at her charmingly, then kissed her hand. Reed flexed his fingers on Sue’s waist, but kept quiet.
“You are no ‘Invisible Woman,’” he said. “What a silly name f’such a kind and beautiful lady.”
Sue blushed, and Reed held back a groan. “Well, my lovely brother was the one who came up with the names, and it is what I do, so….”
“Remy, isn’t Marie looking for you?” Reed interrupted. He couldn’t stand the smarminess going back and forth between the two of them for much longer. In truth, Rogue had just come up behind Gambit, so Reed had timing on his side.
“LeBeau, are you bothering my friends?” Marie’s southern drawl was strong, and Reed had to hide a smile as her green eyes flashed jealously as she laid her hand on Gambit’s arm.
“M’darlin Rogue, what would give you that impression?”
Rogue began to tug the Cajun man away, muttering something about ‘manners in this day and age.’ Sue laughed and turned in Reed’s arm.
Reed began to face his wife, but suddenly, the other man’s mouth was at his ear.
“C’you really stretch anyt’ing?”
And then Rogue was pulling him away, and Reed was flushing furiously and swearing to wreak unholy havoc on the grinning Xman, who flashed a huge grin at him as he ambled off.
Without thinking, Reed’s arm bowed out, and he plucked the pack of cards from the Cajun’s pocket.
“That’ll teach him to toy with me,” Reed said haughtily, before turning his gaze to Sue, who was watching him with raised eyebrows and an amused smile.
“Honey. That’s the best you could do?”
Reed looked at the cards in his hands, and sighed. “Well, what would you have me do? Reach for him and jerk his trousers down?”
Sue laughed. “Now that I’d pay good money to see. Do you think you boys will wrestle soon? Or maybe you could just challenge him to a day in their danger room. Come on, Reed. Let’s think of something here. How about time in the Baxter Building? Or - wait. Maybe you could pit his and Johnny’s Kelvin power against one another, and then measure them yourself.” She kept on as she picked up her purse and started for the exit.
Reed stared at his wife, then raised his eyes to the heavens.
No more anything at the Xavier mansion. Ever.
~
Reed Richards Explains the Reasons Why Not to Attend a Wedding at the Xavier Mansion
Written for mylodon, the request being Reed Richards
A slashy crossover with another sci-fi fandom
No explicit scenes.
Disclaimer: Reed Richards, the Fantastic Four, The Xmen, and the Xavier mansion do not belong to me. I just play here.
Warnings: Language, implied slash.
Summary: The Richards have been invited to the wedding of the century at the Xavier mansion. What could go wrong?
Authors notes: I completely screwed with the ‘verses and the timeline and plunked movie!Reed and movie!Sue into the Xmen comic ‘verse, right into Jean Grey’s wedding. Please excuse the wrongness of this move. I enjoyed it way too much. *laughs* Also, the way I spelled some things that a certain character says - I tried to copy the way he's portrayed in the comics. So the spelling is on purpose.
Many thanks to blade_and_roses for the beta.
Feedback would be love.
The sun shone brightly on the gathered assemblage. Reed twisted in his seat; moving only his neck to stare at the number of famous people surrounding him.
He had never felt comfortable being ‘famous.’ Celebrities were people who made movies and sold soft drinks and did things like lip synch while on live television. He was Reed Richards, scientist, husband, and the leader of the Fantastic Four. They were only ‘famous’ by default.
Johnny of course would argue and moan were he to know Reed was thinking in that fashion, but Reed wouldn’t ever repeat the thought to his brother-in-law.
Come to think of it, he generally didn’t repeat any thoughts to his brother-in-law.
“Honey,” Sue whispered in his ear, “turn around. That’s kind of distracting.”
Reed immediately whipped his neck back into the right position, and smiled sheepishly at his wife. “Sorry,” he whispered. “It’s just - well, just look!”
Sue rolled her eyes, and rested her hand on the back of Reed’s new suit. “Reed, you could conceivably include us in the group of ‘just look!’ people.”
Reed shook his head. A small frown crossed his face, and he took Sue’s free hand in his to distract himself from trying to understand just what it was that made people like he and Sue, and the ones that sat around them, so fascinating to the general populace. He was certain there was some sort of mathematical algorithm he could look up that would explain it, but as they’d been rather busy of late with some local vigilantes, he hadn’t had the time -
“Where are you, husband?”
Reed reddened and turned to look at his wife. He never got tired of thinking of her as that. He smiled soppily at her, and she laughed, leaned over, and kissed him briefly. “The wedding’s about to start,” she nudged him, and he turned to face the aisle in front of them. They were in the crowded front row of one side of chairs; the other side was filled as well. The aisle was carpeted with flowers, and ran the length of the lawn they sat on.
The music started, and everyone stood, Reed slightly tempted to just stretch his neck again. He was tired, and really wanted to rest -
“Oh,” Sue sighed happily. “I can’t believe they’re finally going through with this.”
Reed forgot his aching back, and grinned along with everyone else as Jean Grey walked down the center of the lawn, her white gown shining in the sun, her red hair knotted neatly on top of her head. Reed thought he’d never seen a bride as beautiful, but then he caught sight of Sue out of the corner of his eye, and instantly (and guiltily) retracted that thought.
Everyone was murmuring and smiling as Jean reached the end of the aisle. Hank McCoy, wearing his best suit, stepped to the front of the stage that had been set up. He faced the audience, and his large, sharp teeth gleamed as he smiled.
Reed just watched, lost in the image of true love presented when, Professor Charles Xavier, who had been rolling in his chair next to Jean, took her hand and placed it in the hand of her future husband. Reed thought it only appropriate when a small tear fell from behind the red-lensed glasses Cyclops wore.
He also thought he’d always remember the look on Scott Summers’ face when Hank pronounced Scott and Jean husband and wife.
*
The music was loud, filling the ballroom. Reed tried to slouch in a corner, but when he slouched, he inevitably looked weird and saggy, so he sighed and sat up straight. He’d no idea where Sue had gone; he’d seen her a while ago talking with Jean, and then after that, giggling about something with Ororo Munroe. The tall, statuesque woman had glanced at Reed, and he’d waved as she smiled at him.
Of course Sue had blown him a kiss, but then she’d run off with Storm, and he hadn’t seen the two of them since, except for a brief moment as they huddled with Hank and Warren Worthington and someone Reed thought was Bobby Drake.
“Bored?”
Reed turned at the sound of the voice and he smiled. “No, Charles. Just warming my seat while my wife galavants about. How are you?”
Xavier nodded his bald head as he rolled his chair closer to Reed. “I am happy. Happy to see this day come about, finally. And you? How goes the work?”
“Which work? The research, or the one I do for no pay?”
“Either,” Charles laughed. “I see you on the news quite frequently, Dr. Richards. You are making a difference, whether you see it that way or not.”
“Call me Reed, please. And I have to hope we are making some sort of difference - otherwise my colleagues might get a tad angry at me.” He sighed and tugged at his ear, a nervous habit that made his lobe look like it had been stretched by an inexperienced piercer.
Xavier smiled, and Reed’s mouth quirked as well. The professor was a calming presence; the few times Reed had spoken with him, the other man had always seemed capable and kind and smart. He had a very hard job - and Reed often wondered if he could do what Charles Xavier had done, and spend his life constantly fighting for justice for people the majority of the populace seemed to hate.
“They seem to be good partners,” Xavier said plainly. “I’ve had the pleasure to speak with Ben Grimm upon several occasions and he looks to be a responsible, caring man.”
Reed smiled. “Among other traits, yes. He is a good friend.”
A good friend that I owe a huge debt to. No matter what he says.
Xavier was still speaking. “And how does young Johnny fare? Still a ‘hot-head’?”
Trying not to roll his eyes, Reed tilted his head in agreement. “Don’t tell his sister I said so, though. I’d be in all kinds of trouble.” He laughed. “He’s got his heart in the right place, mostly. We’re still learning how to work together - all of us.”
“It can be one of the hardest trials anyone has to face, learning to work with others as a cohesive unit,” Xavier spoke quietly. “But I have every faith in you, Reed. You seem a man of purpose - and a kind one, at that. When you have the time,” he went on, “come see me. I have a few questions about string theory I’d like your opinion on.”
Reed wanted to salivate at the thought of finally finding someone to discuss science with - not that Sue couldn’t, but she got angry too quickly with him when he fell into that deep place in his brain where nothing but equations and formulas and theories lived. “Come out of there,” she’d tell him. “I need my husband around, not just the scientist.”
He felt guilty for not always being able to do that, but pushed it away when Xavier reached for his hand. Reed stood, and shook it.
“Thank you for inviting us,” he told the professor.
“You are always welcome in my home - and in my school. The offer still stands if you ever grow tired of solitary research.” Xavier smiled and began to roll away.
“I doubt it, but thank you just the same, Professor,” Reed called after him.
Xavier waved over his shoulder, but stopped his motion, and turned back to Reed. “Don’t worry about Johnny,” he said suddenly. “He knows you love him.”
Reed cocked his head in surprise, and opened his mouth to reply, but Xavier was gone, and two other people were in front of him.
“Dis de stretchy man?”
A sigh. “Yes, Remy. Although, sugar, I think he’d prefer to be called by his name.”
Reed’s eyes focused on the pair, and he grinned at the woman. “Marie,” he said by way of greeting, and held out his hand for hers.
“Hello, darlin,” Rogue’s glove-covered hand took his. Reed shook it, and then on impulse, hugged her.
She stayed at arms’ length, just like she always did. When Reed pulled back, he noticed she was wearing a high necked shirt and a tiny skirt, her long legs covered with colorful tights and high boots.
No matter how scantily clad Rogue seemed, she was always covered in at least one layer of clothing. Reed shook his head and smiled clumsily at her. Despite his telling Sue the opposite, he was slightly taken aback by her beauty, and her predicament. That was one of the experiments he was working on at present, although he hadn’t told that to anyone but Sue. Luckily for him, she approved of it. In fact, that admission had earned him a nice night of admiration from his wife. He reminded himself to be ‘generous,’ as Sue called it, more often.
“Pleased to meetcha, Mr. Fantastic,” came the slow drawl from the man at Rogue’s side. Reed had a feeling he knew who this was, but turned to face him with a quirked brow.
“Reed Richards,” he corrected. “And you are…”
A laugh. The other man was tall and lean, his hair dark brown and his eyes a strangely piercing red. One lock of hair hung charmingly in his face, and he seemed to be all teeth and square jaw. His hand was fine-boned but strong when Reed shook it. “Remy LeBeau, Dr. Richards,” he said, the accent not quite placeable. “Gambit.”
Reed had heard of this man, the last time he’d talked to Marie. He’d heard quite a lot about him, actually. It seemed as if Marie was taken with him, which was good, in Reed’s eyes. However, getting his first look at the new mutant, he found himself unable to look away from the strange amber and black eyes that seemed to follow him despite the fact that he had moved back somewhat.
Reed jerked his hand back as he felt a slight shock in the other man’s grip. “Ah, yes. You’re the new one.” He rubbed his fingers surreptitiously, but Gambit noticed it, and touched his hand.
“Sorry f’that,” he said, sounding sincere. “New to this power business, me.” He cocked his head and grinned, his hair falling to one side so Reed got a clear look at him.
His eyes were red, yes, but the ‘white’ of his eyes was black. Reed felt himself staring; what had caused this man’s unusual mutation? What were his powers? How had he found out -
“Reed, darlin,” Rogue interrupted his thoughts. “I’m glad to see y’all, but I see your lovely wife waving at me. So, will you take care of this galoot for me for a minute?” She pinched Reed’s cheek with her gloved hand. “Thanks, love.”
Reed looked around for Sue, and she really was waving at Marie, not him. His self-esteem deflated slightly. “Sure,” he began, but Rogue had already moved on, leaving Reed and the new XMan to fend for themselves.
Gambit tried to turn and follow Rogue’s progress, but his booted foot caught the edge of the table leg, and he twisted too quickly, his body arcing toward the ground. Reed’s hand shot out without thinking as he caught the other man before he hit the ground.
From ten feet away.
When Gambit finally righted himself, he raised one eyebrow at Reed. “Mr. Stretchy,” he laughed, the sound low and musical. Reed found him annoyingly interesting.
Gesturing at the chairs, Reed sat, and Remy joined him after a small staring contest which the mutant won easily. Reed felt his cheeks heat, and angrily wondered what it was about this man that was so - fascinating. He’d known Remy for about two minutes, and found he wanted to know more. Everything. He looked at the other man’s eyes, his face, his hands that apparently produced sparks or electricity of some sort, and only raised his gaze when he heard Remy snort.
“You can ask, y’know,” he said, shaking his head. “Doctors. Always want the same t’ing.”
“When did you discover your powers?” Reed said without a pause, since the other man had given him permission. Fascinating - ask him about the shock. And the eyes - what happened? Had he been born that way? How had he decided to come to Xavier’s?
“I was just a pup. M’daddy didn’t like it so much,” Remy answered, his red eyes roving over Reed’s form. Reed unconsciously stuck a finger inside his collar and pulled, swallowing slightly.
“Do that again,” the other man asked him, and Reed made a quizzical face. “Do what?”
“That finger stretch thing.” Remy leaned forward suddenly, and Reed got a whiff of his cologne. He swallowed again.
Why is he bothering me so much? …and why is he so damned interesting?
For science. To help Xavier help his charges. Yes.
“I’m not a performing monkey,” Reed said tetchily. He sighed. “I’m sure you’re used to hearing that, considering your….”
“Mutation?” Reed’s sentence was finished, the word sounding ironic rolling off Remy’s lips. “’s okay, Dr. Richards. You can say the word. I know you’re interested.”
Reed stared at Gambit, considering. Then he raised his hand, and elongated all five fingers, curling each one around a different part of the chair Gambit was sitting on. He pulled, and despite the thin amounts of flesh he was using, Reed moved the chair towards himself easily. Even with the bulk of the larger man sitting on it.
A laughed burst out of the other man, and Reed flushed. They were sitting only a few feet apart now, and Reed caught the red eyes again.
“What I could do wit dat,” Remy sighed, and shook his head, smiling brightly, his hair hiding his eyes momentarily. “Every woman in de palm of m’hand.”
“It’s not a parlor trick,” Reed groused. “I only use it when I have to. To help others. To stop evil people - ”
“I’m sure you don’t use it at night, when you’re in bed wit’ your gorgeous woman.”
Reed’s expression darkened uncharacteristically. “Look. I asked you a question, and you haven’t answered. So, let’s stop talking about me, Mr. LeBeau, and get back to the subject at hand. Which is not my relationship with my wife. And leave her out of it.”
Remy pursed his lips, and made a tch’ing noise. “Now, now, Stretch,” he said, quietly mocking, “don’t get your tights in a twist. It’s just funny t’see it up close after seeing ya on de TV only.”
“You’ve seen me - us, on TV?”
An eyeroll, which looked really strange with the odd colors. “I’m from New Orleans, not Venus. We have TV there.”
The way he said it, the city sounded like “nawwwlins.” Reed leaned forward unconsciously. “Well, we have been around,” he admitted. “It’s still strange to hear that someone knows about you and you’ve no idea what they’re like.”
Remy plastered a charming smile on his face. “What would you like to know?” He crossed his long legs and rested his chin on his hand.
Reed swallowed.
“Uh… you were saying something about your father?”
Gambit’s face darkened slightly. “D’pends on which daddy you’re referring to. I had a most intrestin’ childhood.”
“Well, which one has the most to do with your powers? And how’d you end up in New York? It’s a long way from Cajun country,” Reed asked. He really did want to know. This man was an enigma. An enigma that knew about him, and damn if that wasn’t … an ego trip.
“Xavier,” the other man said slowly. “By chance. Which I’m very good at, by the by.” He winked once, and produced something from his pocket. A playing card, by the looks of it. “And you asked ‘bout de powers.”
As Reed watched, the card in the man’s hand began to glow, first pink, then hot red. In a burst of white light, it incinerated in Gambit’s hand, and Reed brushed ashes off his shirt.
“Dat’s for practice,” Remy said. “I can heat up pretty much anyt’ing.”
“Creating explosions is your power?” Reed sputtered. Oh, this was much more interesting than he had imagined. “What else have you tried? Have you been in a lab yet? Have they tested what Kelvin you’re burning at? My building has - ”
“Not ‘creatin’ explosions,’ Doctor,” Remy said. He leaned forward, and pulled Reed’s tie out from between the buttoned panels of his suit jacket. “Electricity. Kinetics. Fire.” The last word was whispered. He stared at Reed, and Reed was unable to break the gaze, until he smelled something funny.
“Hey!” he yelled, and elongated his torso so it bent back from Gambit’s touch. He jerked his burned tie out of the other man’s hands, and examined it, his face pinched with annoyance. Gambit just laughed, and sat back in his seat.
“Damn it,” Reed said and stood, straightening his body and flapping the ends of his tie in the air so it would cool down. “That wasn’t funny. Or necessary. My wife bought me this. She won’t be happy.” That was true. It was ... had been, an expensive silk tie.
Now, it was just so much garbage.
“Well, if you’d be so kind as t’ introduce me, I can explain t’ the lovely lady.”
Reed looked up, a snarl on his face, but dropped it immediately as he noticed it wasn’t just Gambit that stood in front of him.
“Hi, sweetie,” Sue said, and then frowned. “What on earth did you do to your tie? Reed! Can’t you just let the research rest for one day?”
“I … he … this wasn’t me, Sue!” Reed tried to explain, and then stopped as Remy took a few steps and smoothly picked up his wife’s hand.
“Chere,” the cajun accent rolled off the man’s tongue like honey, “allow me to ‘pologize. It was me dat ruined Reed’s nice tie. He asked a simple question, and me, being de swamp rat I be, used it to be a smart mout’. I do humbly beg your indulgence, lady.”
Reed rolled his eyes and hmphed. Gambit’s voice was much more accented than before. Reed slid between Sue and the other man and took her hand in his. “I asked about his powers, and he showed me. So it’s technically both our faults.”
Sue shook her head and dropped Reed’s hand. She stepped around him to speak to Remy. “My husband. ‘Technically.’ Well, Mr. LeBeau, I’m glad to finally meet you, as Marie has said so much about you.”
Reed watched, glowering from behind Sue, as Gambit brightened. “She is t’bee’s knees, her. I hope it’s been all good things. And please, call me Remy.”
Sue laughed, and Reed stepped a little closer to her, his hand stretching out to rest possessively on her waist.
She widened her eyes, but allowed the grip and turned back to Gambit. “Mostly. And please do know that if the Fantastic Four can ever do anything for you, we’d be glad to offer our services. New York can be a scary place when you don’t know too many people.”
Gambit smiled at her charmingly, then kissed her hand. Reed flexed his fingers on Sue’s waist, but kept quiet.
“You are no ‘Invisible Woman,’” he said. “What a silly name f’such a kind and beautiful lady.”
Sue blushed, and Reed held back a groan. “Well, my lovely brother was the one who came up with the names, and it is what I do, so….”
“Remy, isn’t Marie looking for you?” Reed interrupted. He couldn’t stand the smarminess going back and forth between the two of them for much longer. In truth, Rogue had just come up behind Gambit, so Reed had timing on his side.
“LeBeau, are you bothering my friends?” Marie’s southern drawl was strong, and Reed had to hide a smile as her green eyes flashed jealously as she laid her hand on Gambit’s arm.
“M’darlin Rogue, what would give you that impression?”
Rogue began to tug the Cajun man away, muttering something about ‘manners in this day and age.’ Sue laughed and turned in Reed’s arm.
Reed began to face his wife, but suddenly, the other man’s mouth was at his ear.
“C’you really stretch anyt’ing?”
And then Rogue was pulling him away, and Reed was flushing furiously and swearing to wreak unholy havoc on the grinning Xman, who flashed a huge grin at him as he ambled off.
Without thinking, Reed’s arm bowed out, and he plucked the pack of cards from the Cajun’s pocket.
“That’ll teach him to toy with me,” Reed said haughtily, before turning his gaze to Sue, who was watching him with raised eyebrows and an amused smile.
“Honey. That’s the best you could do?”
Reed looked at the cards in his hands, and sighed. “Well, what would you have me do? Reach for him and jerk his trousers down?”
Sue laughed. “Now that I’d pay good money to see. Do you think you boys will wrestle soon? Or maybe you could just challenge him to a day in their danger room. Come on, Reed. Let’s think of something here. How about time in the Baxter Building? Or - wait. Maybe you could pit his and Johnny’s Kelvin power against one another, and then measure them yourself.” She kept on as she picked up her purse and started for the exit.
Reed stared at his wife, then raised his eyes to the heavens.
No more anything at the Xavier mansion. Ever.
~