Skin Trade

It was getting dark, Gambit realised. The other mutants had left hours ago after
training was over for the whole group. But Gambit had stayed, aloof. He was
alone facing the screen that granted observation of the Danger Room. He'd stood watching for
hours--Storm and Rogue battling androids; Cyclops fighting against Beast. And Wolverine: Logan
against machine, man or mutant.

He was still inside. The programme he'd left running was the longest Gambit had
ever seen Wolverine fight. He now watched as sweat dropped off his skin like opaque
pearls, as his arms went everywhere at once, lashing out at the opponents.
Gambit knew of Wolverine's insistence about the programme's difficulty. It
wouldn't be a problem, Wolverine had said to Xavier, and someone needs to test
something like this.

And now he was battling a beast many times his size, with sores for eyes and
spider legs with blades instead of fingers.
Gambit watched without speaking as Wolverine leaped to attack the creature,
going for its eyes and severing as many legs as possible with the sharp blades emerging from
the back of his hands. The legs grew back instantly and lashed at him with renewed force.
Wolverine's breath came out in gasps, his moves slowing down. But he never stopped. That was
Logan, he never quit. Gambit's eyes narrowed as he shuffled his cards and watched
Wolverine stumble--
it almost didn't happen and nobody else would have noticed. Gambit glanced at
the simulator's timer and winced at the sight of the three remaining minutes. He
approached the the glass window that separated him from the Danger Room and
pounded on it helplessly. Stop it now, his mind told him as he watched
Wolverine fall to his knees, his blood raining down.

Gambit's hands flew and his cards found a life of their own, fire and light
crashing against
the monitors. Inside the Danger Room, the creature faded and Wolverine got to
his feet cursing.

- What the --
- Nice going, mon ami, said Gambit through the speakers.
- Did you mess with my routine?
- Did I jus' save your life, you mean? Yes, I did.
- I didn't ask you to. Wolverine's words cut the air. His eyes flashed
dangerously.
- Dose blades, the . . . multiple blades . . . Gambit trailed off. He'd imagined
the creature's limbs around Wolverine, going around his chest and crushing him,
draining his breath. And suddenly it was him, Gambit's own arms around
Wolverine--

- That's none of your business anyway, Wolverine was saying. Now play it from
where it got cut off.
- I won't. Gambit crossed his arms.
- Do I have to go up there? Wolverine growled. Gambit just stared.
- Damn you. Wolverine went up to the control room, pushed Gambit aside
and frowned at the programming switches.
- This should do it. He turned to Gambit. - Push that button when I get back in
there.
- No.
Wolverine glared. - I'll jump in unprepared, then. He walked towards the door,
but Gambit was already there, blocking it.
- Get out of my way. Now.
- No, mon ami, you're not goin' anywhere.
- That's not for you to decide. Wolverine walked past, but Gambit quickly
grabbed his arm.
- I said, you are not goin' anywhere.

Wolverine stared. He saw his own eyes reflected in Gambit's red-black ones, and
for a moment he thought he saw something else, something new. He shook his head,
unsettled.

- I won't let dose . . . things get you. I won't let their limbs choke you or
their blades cut you.
- It won't happen. Wolverine's voice showed his impatience and yet a hint of
something else, unknown to him but as logical as his every thought.
- It won't--because I will stop you from going in there. Gambit's eyes never
left Wolverine's as he ran his hand up and down the other man's forearm.
- I will stop you, Gambit said slowly.

Wolverine didn't speak, he didn't move at all. Gambit leaned in and placed his
free hand on the back of Wolverine's neck, bringing his face close to his own.
And dis is why, Gambit thought. He lifted his face to Wolverine's and
kissed him deeply, kissed him hard. When he broke apart, thinking he'd dreamt
the whole thing, it was Wolverine who spoke.

- I'd battle you over that thing any day . . .
- We have a deal, mon ami. Let's go.

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