*****
Logan's eventual conclusions on the matter were that it had been another of his periodic lapses of sanity, notable only in the uncharacteristic lack of bloodshed or fatalities, and that he had better not do it again. His resolve was only strengthened by Remy's reaction. Aside from a private attempt to initiate a repeat session a few days later (which Logan refused with a snarl), the little pest had begun acting differently around him in public.
Remy had always refused to show what the Wolverine considered to be only the proper respect due to an individual who could carve a person limb from limb between one breath and the next. But in the past the kid had at least displayed the minimal degree of caution one shows around those of uncertain temper. Following the Incident, however, Remy seemed to have reclassified Logan into the category of "not so bad once you get to know them," and began reacting to his characteristic displays of hostility with not-so-hidden amusement.
Worse yet, Gambit now seemed to be under the impression that the two of them were, God forbid, *lovers* or something. There was one alarming episode in which Remy became almost overtly flirtatious — in front of the ever-observant Storm and the mindreading Betsy, no less — but Logan managed to glare the little punk into circumspection after the incautious smirk and wink. At least he was quick enough on the uptake to obviously conclude that Logan wasn't keen on having any hint of their "relationship" to become public knowledge — but it made Logan wince on Marie's behalf to see how unworried Remy seemed to be about her hearing of him flirting with someone else.
It was a tricky position to be in, no mistake. On the one hand, he loathed the little prick and wanted him *gone* — from Marie's bed, from the X-Mansion, from the planet even — but on the other hand he wanted Marie to be happy...
And right now what made her happy was that Cajun dickhead. So Gumbo got to make her squeal while Logan had only his nightmares for company.
Which was where matters stood about a week and a half later, when Logan once again passed Remy in the hall with that irresistible aroma of sex and Marie wafting about him.
It wasn't just the smell, Logan mused in a distant still-thinking segment of his mind while the Wolverine grabbed the punk by the "Louisiana State University" sweatshirt and shoved him back against the wall. [It's that damned cocky *look* on his face, like he knows that he's got the best- looking girl in the whole damned place, and she's *still* not enough to keep him satisfied...]
And satisfied with Rogue he clearly wasn't, as he happily responded to the mouth hungrily covering his. Logan regained control enough to pull away and check the hall — nope, no witnesses, and Remy's room was *that* way...
Gambit happily followed the grip on his upper arm, letting the two of them into his room. Logan began stripping the kid as soon as the door was closed behind them, and Remy not only cooperated but began working on removing Logan's clothes as well. Wolverine tolerated the removal of his shirts before hustling Gumbo to the bed. Remy insisted on pulling the covers back before allowing himself to be pushed down onto the sheets, which — dear lord! — also smelled of Marie. Pressing his rival to the mattress and once again running his tongue over the Marie- scented skin, Logan absently allowed the kid to fumble with his belt and open his jeans.
When Remy began stroking him through his boxers, and then reached inside to rub his already- sizeable erection, it was enough to make the Wolverine change gears. Halting his path across the kid's chest at one tautened nipple, he peeled off his own jeans and undies and then rolled Remy onto his side.
"Wait," Remy panted, "In the nightstand, there's some — "
"Shut up," Logan told him brusquely, grabbing him by the narrow hips and penetrating him without further preamble. The kid whimpered low in his throat but didn't fight, putting his hands atop the older man's and gripping tightly.
Logan wasn't gentle with him, but he wasn't deliberately rough, either. When he finished, he remained clinging to Remy's hips for a panting moment before rolling him back over. Resuming the work of erasing Marie's scent from that smooth young skin, he scrubbed deliberately but almost gently with his tongue. Remy relaxed under the attentions, and Logan took his time, once again leaving his penis for last. As he started at the base and gradually worked his way up to the tip, now working on one side and now another, Remy worked his fingers into Logan's hair, breathing rapidly.
Once he finally took the kid into his mouth, he lasted about a minute. Logan took his mouth away when he felt Remy going limp and leaned his face against his lower belly for a moment, noting how the ever-maddening feminine scent had been eradicated by his and Remy's own.
Pulling away with a sigh, he collected his own clothes from the tangle on the floor and headed for the bathroom, leaving the younger man where he lay. Getting himself cleaned and dressed — and remembering to rinse his mouth out this time while he was at it — he considered matters. [Shit. This is getting complicated...]
When he came back into the main room, Remy hadn't bothered to find his own clothing, or even to pull a sheet over himself. Lying draped across the bed in a decent imitation of statuary of the Classical Greek variety, he raked a hand through his ruddy hair while blinking lazily. "Leavin' so soon?" he murmured in a seductively disappointed tone.
"Yes," Logan said shortly, heading for the door. This time he had enough foresight to pause and listen for nearby footsteps, breathing, heartbeats, before letting himself out into the hall.
*****