Chapter Three: The New Recruits

Remy woke up the next morning with a bit of a hangover. He could take alcohol better than the average guy, but he still had a dull pounding in his head. It was 6:15 in the morning, and he remembered what Piotr had said to him the night before. Thank goodness he wanted to meet in the coffee house. That's what he needed on a morning like this, some strong black coffee.

He staggered out of bed and took a quick shower. After his was done he put on his black jeans and black t-shirt that left little to the imagination. He was most likely to see a certain femme today and he wanted to give her something to look at. He wondered if she had changed much from the last time he saw her. Perhaps she filled out a little more, not that her body wasn't perfect from what he remembered, but more importantly he liked her spirit.

Sure he had kidnapped her, but she didn't take it lying down. She fought him every step of the way. Nothing got by his little Goth Goddess, and he was anxious to see her again. He combed his hair back into a pony-tail and put on his leather jacket and picked up his sunglasses off the dresser and dumped a handful of playing cards into his pocket. Destiny was calling and it was just fine with him if it was the sweet southern drawl of his beautiful Goth Goddess.

As he locked up his apartment and looked down the hall, he noticed something peculiar. It was his old friend Pyro in the lip lock with that insatiable Scarlet Witch. Well, what do you know? He thought. Flame boy was telling to truth... for once.

"Well, Well, Homme, dis looks cozy," Remy said giving his old friend Pyro a look of satisfaction. Once Wanda realized that they had an audience, she pushed Pyro away from her.

"John, I told you we should have waited until we got in the apartment," she said as she unlocked the door.

"Oh, come now, love," he said with his hands on his waist. "You know I can't resist those luscious lips." She just gave him a scowl that made Remy laugh.

"So, it's true," Remy said, leaning in the doorway as John entered the apartment after his girlfriend. "You two are livin' t'gether?"

"As of today," Wanda said as she looked around the room that had a few pieces of furniture and several cardboard boxes thrown around. "I'm seriously reconsidering."

"Come now, love, don't be like that," John said and snaked his arms around her waist and nibbled on her neck. A high-pitched squeal came out of her. Remy couldn't think of any other man who could make her do that. Must be love, he thought.

"I'll see you two later," he said and walked down the hall to the elevator. He was in search of his own romantic pursuits, and when he wanted something, especially a , he always got it.

Before long, Remy LeBeau was off on his motorcycle. His slight detour at John and Wanda's only put him a little behind schedule. He sent Piotr a text that he was on his way, so he knew his old friend would wait. Coming down the street he could already smell that sweet scent of coffee waiting to be consumed. He parked his bike in front and could see his old friend through the window. He was sitting at the corner table already sipping a cup.

He parked his bike in front of the coffee house and soon entered and quickly approached Piotr's table and sat down. "I knew you would be here soon, my friend," Piotr said.

"Did you doubt it?" Remy asked as the waitress approached.

"Well, hello there, handsome," the blonde waitress said with a smile. She wore a 1950's style waitress uniform with her hair in a high ponytail. "It's not very often we get two gorgeous guys in here this early in the morning. So what can I get you?" As she asked the question, she batted her eyes at Remy.

"Coffee... black," Remy said and sat back in the booth.

"Whatever your pleasure," she said as she turned, giving Remy a clear view of her ass. If he didn't have someone else on his mind he wouldn't have minded a hook up with her. She looked down at Piotr's empty cup. "Can I get you a refill?"

"Yes, please, thank you," he said.

"So, polite," she said and attempted to flirt with him too, but Piotr took no notice. He had other things on his mind as well.

"So, what were we talking about before?" Piotr started again. "I gave a call to Xavier and spoke about you."

"Let me guess," Remy said rolling his eyes. "No way in hell."

"On the contrary my friend, Professor Xavier wants to welcome you."

"And Claws?" Remy asked still not convinced.

"If you are referring to Logan, I do not know," Piotr said as the waitress came back with two more coffees.

"You're the black coffee, straight up, and you're the cream and sugar man," she said, placing the coffees in front of the right patrons. "Now, if you gentleman need anything else don't hesitate," she said putting a special emphasis on the word gentlemen. She sauntered off behind the counter but still keeping her eye on them.

"She likes you," Piotr said and took a sip of her second cup.

"Naw, the femme she likes de Tin Man," Remy said and took a sip of his coffee as they both chuckled at the girl's antics. He needed the coffee even more so this morning. Had he known he would be joining the X-Men today, he wouldn't have gone out drinking last night.

After nursing their coffees for the better of a half hour, they both figured it was time to go. Piotr seemed excited about the prospect of joining the X-Men, while Remy was a bit nervous. He had made enemies with basically the entire lot of them in one way or another, and it was going to take a lot to prove himself to them. He really didn't care what any of them thought of him except for one. If it wasn't for her, he highly doubted that he would be making this move.

Remy got on his bike while Piotr opted to take his car, but Colossus wasn't really a motorcycle guy. He'd rather take a nice leisurely drive in a nice comfortable car. Neither of them needed any directions to the Institute, because both had known where it was, and Gambit even spent a few nights in and around the property. At first he was just there for kicks, but then it had been to just catch a glimpse of Rogue, but he never seemed to catch her alone. She was always with one of the girls or training with Logan.

That man he was sure was going to be a problem when it came to Rogue, but he was determined to spend as much time with her as possible.

To Be Continued...