Disclaimer: The main characters are not mine, this is an amateur effort written purely for the fun of it, and no money has exchanged hands, and it is not intended to breach the copyright of Paramount and Pet Fly Publication Or Marvel Entertainment.

 

With thanks to Gail and Chrissie for your input, and for Connie for her beta reading, and for Mary for helping with the French.

All errors are mine.

 

This story takes places in the GDP universe after Blair Sandburg has gained his PhD.

 

Dark Guides are a more powerful and aggressive form of guide, they are soul mates of Dark Sentinels the most powerful and primal form of Sentinel.

 

Warning for adult language and implied adult situation, h/c.

 

Iry Lejeune The Definitive Collection, “Jolie Catin”  (Goldband 1952).

 

Soul Keeper 2

Brotherhood of the Dark Calling.

 

 

Xavier’s School for the gifted had gained a new student.  It was general knowledge that the new student had come in after being discovered by Detective Paul Taylor and his wife; he wasn’t the first and certainly would not be the last. 

 

But what only a few people were privy to was just exactly what had happened since his arrival, the fact that he had been planted at the School to steal information for Dr. Essex, a powerful mutant who’s views on Human and Mutant co-existence differed vastly from those of Professor Charles Xavier.

 

Gambit gave no other name; he was a six foot 2, rangy Cajun, with long auburn hair, and dangerous good looks.  Only 23 years old, but it had been a hard life, and one that had left him with a crippled sense of trust, a loner, he was not a team player, something that the X-Men were now trying to change.

 

 

Unlike most mutants, Gambit had three mutations. He was classed as Alpha, but Xavier was now beginning to believe that he might be an Omega mutant, one of only a handful in the world.  His first and most obvious mutation was his eyes, red on black, and light sensitive.  He had excellent night vision, but so far they had been unable to test his day vision or his ability to see color, usually he wore dark glasses to hide and protect them from the bright glare of the sun.

 

His second mutation was his ability to charm people into doing what he wanted, a gift that had blown up in his face, leaving him bleeding in the alleyways of New Orleans, his home town.  Now known to be empathic, he had been teamed with the resident feral Canadian in an attempt to help shield him. The Professor had been impressed with Gambit’s mental shields, because he had been unable to read the younger man.

 

His final mutation was the most devastating. He could charge an inanimate object with a biokinetic energy that, depending on the amount of power used, could bring a building down.  His favorite weapon of choice was a pack of charged playing cards.  Unlike some mutants, Gambit didn’t just rely on his powers. He was agile as a cat and a formidable fighter, using a Bo-staff to defend himself.

 

 

Logan fingered the gold card that Charles had given him, with firm instructions to get Gambit some things. The Professor knew that if the younger man was going to settle down they had to start his nesting instinct, make the mansion his home.

 

The five foot five, stockily built Canadian leaned against the side of the display window. The two men were as different as chalk and cheese, but Logan had recognized the Cajun as his Guide.  At the time he had not understood the term, or understood the need, just that the Cajun ex-Marauder, one of Dr. Essex’s men, was as important to him as breathing.

 

As an empath, Gambit needed to be able to lower his barriers, and in the past he had paid a price for the shielding he had needed. A price that Logan had seen in the scars, both physical and mental, that the younger man carried.

 

In return for Logan’s shielding, Gambit gave him peace of mind. He could control the feral side of his nature, so he saw it as a mutual need.  Also his need to protect and cherish Gambit was becoming stronger, and that was worrying him on his human side, where as the feral part of his nature embraced that possessive need.

 

The older man watched as his Guide looked through the window of the clothing shop and took a mental deep breath. He got the idea that a few flannel shirts and jeans were not going to be on the shopping list, the kid was already eyeing up the GQ clothes. This, he mused, from someone who’s prize possession was a full length black duster that had seen better days, and which he wore all the time. The kid almost needed surgery to remove it from him. 

 

Setting his shoulders Logan followed him in.

 

Half an hour later he was ready to shred someone with his claws, if that assistant had asked, nod nod, wink wink, one more time about what his significant other would like, he was going to claw the man into carrot sticks.  And of course the kid had played along, winding one arm round him, calling him ‘cher’ and plastering himself against him. 

 

With a huff Logan collected the parcels, and then trailed the Cajun to one of the other shops. Charles had insisted that the younger man get music and books, so that he could make the room his home.  He had understood and explained to Logan that as someone trained by the Thieves Guild, they could not force Gambit to stay, unless they kept him in an inhibitor collar.  Better that Gambit stay because he wanted to. 

 

Although too old for some of the classes, Xavier had still been confident that he could get the younger man to take some of them, and as all his X-Men taught some classes,  he was beginning to believe that Gambit might be suitable as a Student Councilor. He was young enough to connect with the students, and having lived on the street, he could understand them. Also the students were more likely to confide with him.  The Professor still had nightmares about the time that he had talked Logan into teaching Sex Education 101 when Jean had been away. 

 

He had penciled Gambit in. He just had to speak to him about it, but he didn’t want to spook him. So far the Cajun had not even given them his real name, using only his street name, but that would come with time.

 

Gritting his teeth, Logan followed the younger man into the music shop; the kid was flicking through the CD’s and came up holding the four that Charles had allowed him.  Logan tried not to cringe at the thought that, as his roommate, he was going to get to hear them up close and personal.

 

Finally, shopping done, he shepherded his charge back to the jeep, the kid talking a mile a minute in his mixture of English and Cajun French.

 

In the distance the Thieves Guild informer pulled out his cell phone.

 

0-0-0-

 

The music was pumping out full volume the fast jaunty accordion music that was pure Cajun, Logan pushed the door open to find his resident Cajun moving to the music and singing to his heart’s content.

 

He y yaie, chere jolie

Toi, catin, gardez done

Moi jsuis la dans les miseres

Joli je peux pas tavoir

Moi je peux plus dormir le soir

 

 

The song was Jolie Catin, even Logan recognized it as one of the Classic Cajun songs, and resigned himself to hearing more soon.

 

“Come on Gumbo, training time.”

 

With one last graceful twirl Gambit picked up his black duster, pulling it on, his hand automatically checking on the packs of cards. “Ready when you are Cher.”

 

 

Logan rolled his eyes, “You know kid, other people have Guides that are well-mannered, shy and retiring, and...”

 

“But y’ wanted Gambit.” He smiled knowing it was the truth.

 

The older man pulled the door open and jerked a thumb towards the corridor. Why did he get the feeling that this was someone’s idea of a cosmic joke.

 

0-0-0-0

 

The Danger Room (training facility)

 

Gambit landed from the drop kick and already had a fan of glowing cards in his hand; he launched them with great accuracy at the approaching paramilitaries, then dived out of the way of a burst of gunfire, and was back in the ruins again.

 

The deadly game of hide-and-seek continued, his progress being monitored from the control room.

 

Scott glanced across at Logan, “He’s good you know, really good.”

 

“The kid’s a natural, he’s got good speed and the agility of a cat,” Logan looked at Hank McCoy, “might want to check that when you do the DNA check on him, he’s got the scent of feral on him.”  When he saw Hank raise an eyebrow he just tapped his nose, “smelt it the first time I met him.”

 

Gambit came out of the flick flack exactly at the right moment, his feet thudding into the face of the nearest thug.  As he went down he avoided the swing of a baseball bat, hitting the floor. Gambit swung so he took the man down from a blow behind the leg, then an elbow to the throat left his attacker out cold.

 

Hearing the ‘snitk’ Scott looked across at Logan, the Canadian was watching the Cajun’s every move, but the slow flexing of the claws told their own story.  The Canadian was not happy; he would have preferred to have been down there protecting his Guide.  But this was Gambit’s assessment, not his.

 

“Don’t worry Logan, he passed about five minutes ago.”

 

“Then why?”

 

“To see what he’s capable of, you’re lucky to have him.”  Scott leaned forward, “deactivating the program Gambit,” he gave the warning and shut down, and the attackers disappeared, leaving only an empty room.

 

The Cajun was leaning on his Bo-staff; the workout had been a good one.

 

He fished out a cigarette and lit it with his finger, a trick he had been doing since he was ten, and inhaled the smoke, savoring it before letting it out in a plume.

 

Watching as Scott Summers and Logan approached him, his red on black eyes flashed as he saw older man reach out towards him.  He flicked the cigarette up and it exploded like a firecracker in front of Logan’s face, a warning not to attempt to touch him in front of the X-Men leader.

 

“Congratulations, you passed your evaluation.”  Scott made sure that Gambit could see that he was pleased.

The Professor had made some rather telling comments about the Cajun, the most important one being Gambit needed to be brought into the X-Men family.  Xavier was unable to breech the Cajun’s shields, to do so would be to mind rape the younger man, and that was never an option, but he’d gotten some ideas of his emotions.

 

“Gambit thought he had already passed de test?”

 

“If an X-Man is injured he has to have an evaluation before he can go active again.”  Scott saw the way that Logan’s eyes never left the Cajun.

 

“Logan, the Professor wants to see you.”

 

“Now you tell me, Cyke.”

 

“That’s what he said, once Gambit passed he wanted you in his office.”

 

Reluctantly Logan pulled himself away from his Guide; the possessive need to be with him was getting stronger.

 

Once he was sure that the Canadian was out of earshot even for him, Scott asked. “Are you all right Gambit?  If Logan’s hurt you, I need to know.”

 

“Gambit bien Cyke.”

 

“The names Scott,” Cyclops put in firmly. “Do we still call you Gambit?”  It was a gentle invite for the Cajun to give him his real name. For a moment Scott saw the look, the younger man was unsure, then he looked down and nodded

 his head.

 

“Gambit don’t have a name.”  He looked up. “Call mon, Gambit or Le Diablo Blanc.”  He trailed off.

 

“White Devil,” Scott translated. “Why?”

 

The reply made the X-Man leader start.  It was a laugh, bitter. “De Devil eyes, Cykes, no one wants de demon, unless dey want to spice up de bed or have something stolen.”  There was a bitter mocking to the Cajun’s voice, and for a split second, Scott saw hurt.

 

0-0-0-0

 

Logan understood what the Professor was telling him, he had already felt there was a problem with his bond to the younger man, but that didn’t mean that he liked the idea of Dr. Sandburg coming to help him.  He would have preferred for nature to take its course. Drag the Cajun somewhere quiet, away from all these people, and then bond, long and slow, with only the sky above their heads.  Somewhere the Wolverine could show Gambit the he could provide for him, protect him.  Winter was coming, and he had to make sure his Guide understood the even if food became short he could keep him fed. In return he would receive the commitment of the bond from the younger man.  But the Professor had ruled that out and informed him that unless the bond settled he would have to call Dr. Sandburg to Westchester.  So it was a thoughtful Wolverine that left the office.

 

Coming out of the study he saw his Guide speaking to a group of students, his eyes narrowed as one of the females put a hand on his Guide’s arm, leaning into him, rubbing her scent on him.  Wolverine strode forward, his face like thunder.

 

Gambit turned as he felt Logan approach, his spatial awareness alerting him.  With a soft promise of meeting later he took off down the corridor to draw the Canadian away from them.  Once clear of the other students he turned on Wolverine.

 

 “Look Homme, Gambit is bien dat y’ like bein wi’t him.  Mais de femmes want Gambit on his own.”

 

Wolverine growled at him.

 

“Back off!”  Gambit snarled back.

 

Wolverine had had enough of all this and tried to grab his wayward Guide.  But Gambit ducked back and threw a handful of low charged cards at their feet, forcing the feral X-Man back.

 

“Cool it Homme, Gambit be back soon.”

 

The Cajun pointedly turned on his heel and started back down the corridor.  He heard only the slightest noise and twisted round, but Wolverine took him down hard.  Gambit landed heavily on his back as he tried to push the older man off.

 

“Get off him!”  Bobby dropped his sandwich and hit Logan with a blast of ice that knocked the feral X-Man off Gambit as Warren caught the Cajun’s arm and pulled him back to his feet.

 

Wolverine lunged back, only to hit a wall of ice that sealed the corridor from floor to ceiling.  Roaring his anger his claws carved into the ice, but Bobby was maintaining the wall, there was no way they could let him get through to them.  Over his shoulder he snapped, “Warren, get him the hell out of here.”

 

“Wolverine.”  Gambit started forward, the link between them coming alive, the need to help his partner kicking in, but Warren would not let him do that. 

 

Angel grabbed a handful of the Cajun’s duster, an arm round his waist, and took off, his wings brushing the sides of the walls.

 

“We need to get you to the Professor.”  Warren was not sure what he had seen back there, but Gambit had been moving right towards the claws, as if drawn like metal filings to a magnet.

 

Wolverine cut through the last of the ice, by then Bobby was already making good his escape.  Wolverine paused and lifted his head. Catching his Guide’s scent he was off and running, the feral creature tracking its prey.

 

He paused outside of the door to the Professor’s study.

 

“Come in Logan,” the voice ran clear in his head.

 

The Professor was behind his desk; he looked calm and unruffled at the thought of facing down Wolverine.

 

Gambit stood to one side, Warren on the other; the Cajun was shuffling a pack of cards, they moved smoothly between his fingers. It gave the first clue to Wolverine of his guides emotional state, Gambit was ready to fight not flee.

 

Wolverine started forward as the spicy scent of his Guide called him. 

 

It was not the sharp command of the Professor that stopped him, he barely recognized the words, it was the scent of fear that flooded off his mate.  He had frightened his Guide.  Wolverine backed off and looked at Professor Xavier, suddenly it was as if a cooling breeze moved through his mind, calming him down, allowing Logan to come through.

 

Logan snarled, “Get out of my head Gumbo, now,” as he realized that Gambit was trying to influence him.

 

Charles Xavier put in, “let him help you Logan.”

 

But the Canadian slammed the mental door shut, forcing the Cajun out.

 

The breath caught in Charles’ throat, as he had to pull his barriers up high to shut out the searing sexual heat of the Cajun.

 

Warren found himself catching the Cajun and forcing him back against the wall as Gambit’s hand landed on his shoulder, the long slender fingers moving soothingly trying to defuse the situation.

 

Logan swore, “Charles, block Warren,” even as he did it, Logan moved to his Guide.  “It’s okay kid,” he reached a hand out and coaxed the Cajun to him, then pulling him close, opening his mind and allowing Gambit in, settling an arm round the taller man’s waist. 

 

The Cajun stank of pheromones, it was a clinging scent that swamped him, and he could even taste Gambit’s scent.  He had to concentrate just on his Guide.  In his mind he felt the other’s fear.

 

“What did I tell you kid,” he chided him gruffly as he raised a hand and lightly turned the Cajun’s face so that he was looking up into the red on black eyes.

 

“Y’ won’t hurt Gambit.”

 

“Right kid.”  Logan smelt the fear slowly begin to fade.

 

Charles could see that the problem had, for the moment, passed, the connection between the two men had activated again, but was still fledgling, it needed to be developed and then sealed. 

 

He was saw the look of horror on Warrens face that was quickly replaced by concern it pleased Charles that Warren’s main concern was that he hadn’t hurt the Cajun, when he had been under the influence of the Cajun’s empathy.  With his mentors help, he managed to raise his barriers higher. It was like taking a mental cold shower, his emotions were is own again.

 

“Warren, make sure that they get to their room, I have a phone call to make.”  He was going to have to see if Dr. Sandburg could come earlier than expected, the situation was starting to spiral out of control.

 

Talking softly to his Guide, Logan escorted him back to their rooms, he helped him off with his duster, then settled the younger man down in the overstuffed armchair, and made sure that he had given him his cards, 52 pieces of cardboard, but Gambit would cling to them like a life raft. 

 

Bending down in front of Gambit so that he could look up into his face, “Sorry I scared you kid, didn’t mean too.  If you want, I’ll get Cyke to move me.”

 

“No, Gambit okay with y’ bein here.  It’s just... don’t go grabbin’ at Gambit.”  He brushed his long hair back so that he could see Logan clearly.

 

The Canadian saw him flinch in the bright light, so he crossed over and picked the dark glasses off the bedside table, and placed them into his Guide’s hand.

 

“We good on this Gambit?”

 

“Gambit bien.”

 

As he walked out of the door, Logan could hear the shuffling of the cards, repeated again and again.

 

His mind made up, he decided to get some food; the kid was way too thin.

 

0-0-0-0

 

Blair Sandburg looked up from his laptop and across at his Sentinel, his relationship with Jim Ellison had been unique in more ways than one.

 

He could not help a smile touching his lips, the original odd couple, the free thinking hippy, and the straight-laced ex-military officer.  Both bonded together because of an accident at birth that made one a Sentinel and the other a Guide. 

 

Blair looked down at a neat pile of cards on the coffee table, each was thick, the printing discreet, and screamed expensive.  Across the center of each card,

 

Dr. Blair Sandburg, BA, MA, PhD.

Rainier University

 

 

The business cards were one of many presents that Jim and his family had given Blair on his graduation.  He still couldn’t believe that William Ellison would have bought him a new car.

 

It was unheard of for a Guide to own a vehicle; the insurance companies would never cover them. A Sentinel that wanted his Guide on his insurance faced crippling costs.  But not William Ellison, who owned his own insurance company, and made it plain that Guides were an untapped resource, and he had been proved right.  Since it became known that the Senior Guide Prime of Cascade and the Northern Territories had been accepted, the applications for coverage had started to come in from across the country, from Sentinels who finally, legally, were giving their Guides the independence they had shielded them from.

 

Jim Ellison and his family had given Blair his life back, and for that he was eternally grateful.  The GDP had undergone some radical changes in the last couple of years since he had started his PhD. 

 

Dr. Claydove, the Director, had begun to implement his changes, and the internal civil wars had been down and dirty, but the old guard had retired leaving the future a much brighter and less frightening place. And from September, Guides would legally be able to vote. 

 

It didn’t mean that it was a Utopian world. Just because discrimination was illegal didn’t mean that it didn’t happen every day in hundreds of small ways, but it was a start.

 

Now Blair was saddened to see that a new bigotry had taken shape in the GDP’s sister organization, the fledgling MDP, or Mutant Development Programme. 

 

The two organizations had grown apart, and it sometimes got nasty, especially where mutant empaths were concerned.  The GDP claimed them, as did the MDP. At least parents were now running to the GDP, knowing they would get protection for their offspring.  So maybe the GDP could finally live up to there name as a protector of Guides, developing them to the best of their abilities. 

 

Looking at the email that has arrived on his laptop, Blair was thoughtful; Dr. Charles Xavier had consulted with him and then sent an outline of what he believed was happening. This would be the first time that Blair had ever met a mutant empath, and mutant Sentinel.  It was going to be sooo interesting.

 

0-0-0-0

 

The Mansion was impressive, as was the security system, if Jim was anything to go by.  Sitting near him in the car Blair could feel the subtle change in his Sentinel, as the man moved into Blessed Protector mode.  Blair rested his hand against his arm, “easy big guy, we’re here to help, no need to go to war.”

 

“Mine.”

 

“Yours Sentinel.”  As he spoke Blair allowed his mind to caress against Jim’s, reassuring him on the most basic level that he was his Guide and only his.

 

By the time they had been shown into the office of Professor Charles Xavier Blair was bouncing, the vibes in the place were amazing.  He gave Jim a nudge when the older man seemed to slip deeper into the Blessed Protector persona.

 

The Professor turned out to be straightforward and welcoming.  Waving the newcomers to a seat he launched straight into the problem, showing none of the embarrassment that normally accompanied a ‘normals’ attempt to understand the bond.

 

“First let me thank you both for coming so quickly, the bonding problem has not resolved itself, and I believe it will need your expertise to help them.”

 

Thoughtfully Blair leaned forward, “bonding is always delicate, the connection between Guide and Sentinel is one of co-dependence, each giving something to the partnership, because that is what it is Professor, its taken nearly a quarter of a century, but the GDP has finally realized it.  The Guide has the ability to calm the Sentinel and keep him focused to prevent a zone out; he is in fact the safety net.  The Sentinel’s job is to protect his Guide, shield him from the emotions of the people around him, and in return he can use his senses without being crippled by outside forces.  But Sentinel and Guide have to trust and acknowledge each other, a forced bond is a disaster waiting to happen.”

 

“Yet yours was successful,” the Professor put in gently.

 

Jim started to his feet, a low growl rolling from his lips.

 

“Jim no,” Blair caught his wrist.  “It’s okay man, it’s okay.  I should have expected that Professor.  The truth of our bonding is that it started long before our official bonding, not unlike Logan and Gambit,” he tapped his forehead, “but then you already know that don’t you.”

 

“Not that way Doctor, I would never breech another’s mind, but the GDP is like a group of old women, they gossip, and you have featured high in their list of stories.”

 

“I was thrown into a room, and Jim was lost in the primal needs of a Sentinel to bond, he would have died without our connection, and we bonded,” Blair met the Professors eyes levelly, “and I have never regretted a single day since then.”  His voice and eyes shone with the pride that he felt in his bond to James Ellison.  “But I get a feeling that you brought it up for a reason.”

 

Charles nodded, “Gambit was in a situation where he was brought into connection with a mutant Sentinel, he’s more primal than your Detective Ellison, and a connection was made between them.  When the Sentinel found him at the Mansion, he had arrived on his own, purely by chance.  The Sentinel sought him out, they fought, and the two bonded.  But then problems seem to have developed.”

 

“You said a mutant Sentinel.”

 

“Logan isn’t a Sentinel in the truest sense of the word,” Charles smiled, “sorry no pun intended.  He is primal, his enhanced sense are more animalistic, his whole body language changes, in that persona he is extremely dangerous.  It was hoped that Gambit could calm and focus him.  As for zone outs, I do not believe that he suffers them in the conventional form.” 

 

“What kind of empath is Gambit?  Is he not strong enough to form the link?”

 

“Very strong, he has formidable telepathic barriers, and as yet I have been unable to get him to trust us enough to test him.  Gambit doesn’t trust easily.”

 

0-0-0-0

 

Jim was only listening with half an ear to the conversation as it became more technical, he could not shake off a feeling that something was coming.  It started as a shiver across his mind, like the rustle of leaves in the fall, but it was becoming stronger.  The thump, thump of a heart beat, then the scent, he seemed to lock in on it, it was spicy, musk.  Suddenly the Dark Sentinel pushed through, and Jim was on his feet, ignoring the Professor’s question.

 

Charles had been in the middle of talking to Blair Sandburg when he noticed the younger man was drifting, his responses becoming more automatic.  Then he felt the change click into place, as in Blair’s mind another overlaid him, the two personas coming together as one. He stood, moving closer to his Sentinel, his eyes fixed on the door.

 

The door opened and Gambit walked in. 

 

Dark Guide and Dark Sentinel started at him, as they acknowledged another of their kind, only the second Dark Guide ever found, young, strong, and not fully bonded as of yet, but a Dark Guide all the same.

 

Charles felt two words projected by both the visitors.  “What is a Dark Guide gentlemen, and how does that concern Gambit?”

 

Jim answered, “He is a Dark Guide, and they are the most powerful of their kind.”

 

The Dark Sentinel was looking at him in wonder, he had never met a second Dark Guide in his lifetime, but his memories from the dreams of the ancients, if they had taught him anything, was that one Dark Guide was trouble, but two was like pulling a tiger by the tail, dangerous as it comes, and this one looked headstrong, and all piss and vinegar.

 

Charles took over, “Gambit this is Jim and Blair, they’re going to try and help you with your bonding.”

 

With a look of total distain, Gambit sank into one of the chairs, facing the door and keeping Jim and Blair in plain sight.  With a sigh Charles realized that Gambit was keeping his escape routes open.

 

Jim studied the new Dark Guide, he felt the protective surge that all Sentinels felt in the presence of a Guide, the same feeling that was magnified a 100 times for their own Guide.  He would be careful not to frighten Gambit, who looked even younger than his own Guide.

 

The young Dark Guide was dressed in skin-tight jeans, ratty sneakers, the sides of which were slit, and a red silk shirt that hung outside of his jeans and came down to his thighs, the sleeves un-buttoned and folded back from his wrists, his eyes were hidden by dark glasses.

 

Blair lowered his barriers trying to get a reading on the newcomer, only to have his emotions turned back on him.  In reflex Blair threw up his own barriers to protect himself, and it was his dark persona that threw the emotions back at the newcomer, emotions sharp as barbs.

 

Charles felt the battle increasing and put a damper field round both men.  “This stops now gentlemen,” there was a snap to his voice that made them both stop, but it didn’t stop them glaring at him.

 

Jim moved behind his Guide, dropping a hand onto his shoulder. He felt the jolt as if he was mainlining electric, as his mind tapped into Blair, “Easy Chief.”  He glared at the newcomer, Gambit, knowing that he had something to do with this. 

 

Before Charles could tell him the door to the study open as Logan burst in, the Wolverine in control, his eyes feral yellow, flashing round the room, his lips pulled back in a snarl, his shoulders dropped forward, hands held ready to attack, the claws extended.

 

When he moved, it was fast, getting between Gambit and the others, his eyes fixed on Jim, seeing him as a threat.  His head tilted and he openly scented, when he spoke it was a deep throated growl, as the man started to take control again.

 

“Hello Ranger.”

 

“Weapon X.”  Jim said the name, but even as it was uttered he pulled Blair behind him and fisted his gun. He had seen what Weapon X could do, and the carnage it left in its wake.  He also knew that he didn’t have a chance in hell of stopping it if it attacked. He had seen someone empty a full clip into Weapon X and it hadn’t even slowed him down. The shooter had been ripped apart by those claws.

 

Blair’s eyes went wide; the emotions coming off the smaller man were raw and feral to an extent that even surpassed Jim when he went primal.  He found it hard to pin all the emotions down, but one that came blazing through was protect and cherish the Guide.

 

Charles had been shocked that Ellison had recognized Logan.  Few of the  people that met Weapon X lived to speak about their encounter, as Logan was one of the most dangerous killers in the world.

 

Before anything could happen Gambit was on his feet, resting a hand on a broad shoulder, “It’s ok-ay Mon Amie, Gambit is bien, he can handle dem.” 

 

He looked at the gun, and stance, “Y’ a cop?”

 

“Cascade PD, Detective Ellison.”  Jim grated out.

 

Logan growled louder, no cop was going to take his Guide; he would gut the man first.

 

Blair stepped round his Sentinel, not an easy task, forcing the gun down.  “Look man we got off to a bad start, an empathic pissing contest.  You stand yours down and I’ll stand mine down, and we can talk Guide to Guide.”

 

Gambit nodded and moved with an almost sensual grace round Logan, keeping in contact all the time, until he faced him.  Looking down into the feral man’s face he brought a hand up and lightly stroked the contours of the strong features.  “Put de hardware away Cher,” he ran his hand down the older man’s arm now, his fingers ghosting over the dangerous claws.   His voice took on that warm smoky tone that Logan had to listen to. “Come on Cher, no threat, nothing we can’t handle.”

 

Logan retracted the claws, tilting his head slightly, and removed Gambit’s dark glasses so that he could look into the red on black eyes of his Guide, he could drown himself in them.  Gradually his yellow eyes turned back to hazel with old gold flecks in them.  Only then did he rest his arm round Gambit’s waist, waiting a heartbeat before lightly pulling him close, giving his young Guide a chance to pull away, Gambit usually rejected his touch in front of others, but his time he didn’t, he allowed Logan to pull him near. 

 

The empath leaned forward as he lowered his barriers, caressing Logan’s mind, but he felt fear that he would be thrown out of Logan’s mind, a soft sigh escaped Gambit’s lips as he felt Logan’s mind open and accept him.  Allowing him through all the formidable Weapon X shielding. 

 

Held tethered by an arm round his waist, Gambit felt Logan rub his back and shoulder, all the time talking low, reassuring him.

 

Time seemed to stand still for them, finally Gambit straightened up and moved to flank his Sentinel.

 

All the time Logan had been comforting his Guide he had kept the Ranger and his Guide under surveillance, any move towards Gambit would have resulted in their deaths.

 

“Chuck, you want to tell me what’s going on?”

 

Charles ignored the Chuck, he knew what it meant, that Logan was pissed off because he had allowed Gambit into a situation where he had been threatened, and the kid had not known he was going to face another strong empath.

 

“Logan, your bond has not strengthened, you need help,” he held up a hand to stop him before he could cut in.  “Blair Sandburg and Jim Ellison are here to help you. For both of your sakes you have to let them help.”

 

“We are here as Sentinel and Guide, we know what you have gone through.” Jim put in.

 

Blair, with a small nod to his Sentinel, took over.  “No Sentinel and Guide like to talk about what goes on in the bond with an outsider, its private.  But we can help you, I promise.”  He looked toward the Professor, “If you could leave us now.”

 

A smile touched Jim’s lips, // His Guide, the Dark Guide has dismissed Professor Charles Xavier. It was a command not a request, perhaps realizing that it would be a lot easier without a none bond in the room, and the fact he was a telepath would have gotten in the way, no one wanted their mind read in the bond. It was way too intimate//.

 

Once the Professor had gone, Blair coaxed them into chairs, but noticed the way that Logan moved his so that he was between them and his Guide.

 

“How often have you bonded?”  Blair asked the question straightforward, no good beating round the bushes.

 

Gambit shifted in his chair, “Once.”

 

Blair shook his head, “the need to bond is paramount to a Sentinel and Guide.”

 

“I am not a Sentinel,” Logan almost spat the words.

 

Blair didn’t bat an eye, “you’re near enough to one for it not to matter.”  His voice lifted slightly. “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck, live with it Logan.”

 

Jim had to suppress a grin at Blair, standing up to Weapon X, but then the kid had never seen what the guy could do in a berserker rage.  He felt a new respect for Gambit; if this kid shared a bonding bed with Weapon X he was made of the same tempered steel as his own Guide, a true Dark Guide.

 

“Do you sleep together?”

 

Gambit was on his feet, a card glowing in his hand.  “What y’ say about Gambit and Logan.  Come on cher, out of here.”

 

“Take the charge back kid, he didn’t mean it like that, did you bud?”  Logan’s voice had an edge to it.

 

“No, we have suffered from the same misunderstanding.  Half the PD, hell half the city, thinks that I am either on all fours or on my back serving my Sentinel.” 

 

There was a sadness Logan heard in Blair’s voice that hadn’t been there before. “But while the bond is being established you need to be really close to each other, and sleeping together helps.  The Sentinel will search for his Guide in his sleep, which can lead to problems with zone out, and will sleep better if he is close by.  For the Guide, it lets them lower all barriers and just bask in the protective shielding of the Sentinel.  It’s what we do.  Now what we have to do is make sure Logan that you have imprinted Gambit fully, and Gambit you need to learn to control what you’re projecting, Could you lower your barriers just for a moment.” 

 

Blair flushed bright red, and moved uncomfortably in his seat, as he breathed, “Different.”

 

But Logan was already taking control, he caught Gambit and pulled him close into his lap, talking softly and calming him down.  It was a good sign that Logan was tuned in to his Guide’s feeling. 

 

Blair had never felt an empath that projected such a sexual pull; that was not natural.  Gambit had been trained, and he hated to think what kind of training that had been like to get it that strong.  Gambit needed help. On the plus side Logan seemed to have been unaffected, had blocked it with his shield and was now reassuring  the young Dark Guide.

 

Pulling the Cajun close Logan let him into his mind and closed the formidable Weapon X barriers round him, but instead of suffocating Gambit, they had given the younger man strength and security.

 

Jim had felt Gambit through Blair and was puzzled. “Blair, your empathy is not like that.”

 

“Empathy is emotions, sex or sensuality is an emotion.”  The Sentinel understood, he had seen Blair in the Dark Guide persona and he had radiated the same sensuality, but Blair had control, Gambit didn’t, or rather had been trained to project that emotion.

 

“Who trained you?”  Blair put in bluntly, better to ask than to dance round the question.  Blair felt the fear coming off the younger Dark Guide, and Logan reacted, tucking his Guide’s head under his chin, anchoring the tall mutant to him.

 

Gambit buried his face against Logan’s neck, his long slender fingers gripping Logan’s flannel shirt.   “De Antiquarian, my master.”  The words were that quiet that Blair barely heard them, but he could feel the fear behind the words, a world of hurt. 

 

“Where was this?”

 

“Naw’lins.”

 

“Where?”  Blair glanced at Jim and Logan.  It was the Canadian that answered, “New Orleans, he’s from the French Quarter.”

 

He felt the nod against his chest.   

 

Jim would follow up the lead.

 

“Okay Gambit, I need you to project to me, fix on my emotions.”

 

“Non!”

 

Logan dropped his voice so that only Gambit could hear him, “It’s all right, I am here kiddo, won’t let them hurt you.”

 

“Promise.”

 

“Yeah, promise.”

 

Blair reached and claimed Jim’s hand and placed it on his shoulder, then opened his mind.  Gambit was very powerful, but unfocused. 

 

Someone had done that to him, forced a limit on what he could do, Gambit was a crippled Dark Guide and he was going to free him. 

 

Whatever was happening between the Guides, neither Sentinel was privy to the empathic exchange, but Jim pulled Blair back when he felt Blair leaning into him.  A look at Logan showed he had his own hands full with Gambit. Dark Guides had a passionate, sensual nature, which when bonded focused completely on their sentinel, which made them hard to deal with, if they became  lost  in their emotions.

 

Professor Xavier waited patiently for the men to come out of his study.

When they did emerge Jim Ellison had an arm round Blair Sandburg, and the smaller man was being held close, almost plastering himself to his sentinel, one arm under Jim’s jacket wrapped round his sentinel’s chest, as if frightened that someone would try to part them. 

Logan came out with Gambit held close, his whole attention focused on the young Cajun.

 

Charles cursed a society that branded as wrong any intimate touch between people of the same sex, as he noticed the look his students gave the four men.  This was not sex this was a much older need between sentinel and guide.  And in the case of the young Cajun, Gambit needed the physical contact, in fact he craved it, but at the same time was scared of it.  Charles mused they had a long way to go with him. Gambit was a psychological minefield at the moment, and with his volatile nature, made him very dangerous. But he would not lose this young man on his watch.

 

Seeing Bobby, Charles asked him to escort their guests to the room one floor above Logan and Gambit’s in the guest wing. Better not to put two territorial males on the same landing.

 

 

0-0-0-0

 

As they when to their room, Jim’s mind went over what he had heard about Gambit, they had a couple of starting points, New Orleans and the Antiquarian, but first he had to cool off a Dark Guide, like this Blair needed to bond, and could be aggressive at it.

 

At the door to the room, the Sentinel halted, his senses ranging out, checking for any threat on the other side of the door, only then did he open it, though blocking his Guide’s entrance until he had scanned the inside of the room.  Now Guide safe, he allowed Blair to enter.

 

Jim crossed to the bed, frowned, turned, and nearly lost his balance because Blair was that close to him. Blair pushed him and he fell backwards.  Even as his body bounced on the bed his Guide was on top of him, looming over him as he pinned him to the bed, the smile on his face pure Dark Guide, leaning in so that he was nose to nose with him, “Sentinel, claim your Guide.”

 

The blue in Jim’s eyes shifted slightly, deepening as the Dark Sentinel responded to the challenge of his Guide.  Moving quickly he gripped his Guide and flipped him over so the smaller man was under him, using his bigger size and body weight to keep the struggling Guide in place, then with a growl he bit down on his throat, marking his Guide. 

 

The bite went straight to the heart of the Dark Guide; so primal it ignited in him the heat of the ancient bond.  His hands tore at his Sentinel’s clothing, only needing one thing, skin to skin bonding.  The clothing was like cord against his skin, as he linked into this Sentinel’s gifts, feeling what he was feeling, the rough clothing, smelling his own scent, thick, heavy and clinging, then he began to lose himself and he felt himself spiraling down, until a hard bit to his throat brought him back.  Blurred eyes focused slowly onto Jim’s face.

 

“Greedy little one, a little at a time.” The voice roughed by need chilled him.  Jim started to pull back only to have a leg hook round his and pull him down, the need in Blair’s face that of the Dark Guide still.

 

“Too heavy.”

 

“Need to feel you, all of you,” the Dark Guide’s teeth cut into his neck.

 

0-0-0-0-0

 

Charles pulled back from his scan of the Mansion.  He had long established a psi link with all his students, a small surface link that meant he could check up on them.  All had been as it should be, when he had touched the minds of his guests the raw power generated between them both was searing, he had pulled back quickly to avoid intruding on the bond.  If that were the full bond, then he would have to train Logan and Gambit to shield them from the rest of the Mansion’ s telepaths, some were too young to be subjected to those mental images.  Carefully he built his own walls round the two men, cutting their emotions from the rest of the residence.

 

0-0-0-0

 

As much as  Logan craved the bond, he had decided that Gambit was not in any condition to bond, what he needed was to be safe, and the meeting with Blair had shaken him badly.  So, after making sure that his young Guide was comfortable, he left him to get some food. Jean had been cooking, so it should mean that they were in for a good meal.  His guide was too thin and needed fattening up, he was only 175 soaking wet, to Logan food meant comfort and getting his guide to eat was paramount on his list of thing to do.

 

When he got back with the tray he found Gambit curled in the armchair in the Canadian’s room, showing a need to be close, a battered paperback book in his hand.  He was not surprised to see that he had donned the black duster, and had it pulled round him. The Cajuns version of a security blanket.

 

While setting out the meal Logan noticed that Gambit had spent about ten minutes on just a couple of the pages, his lips moving as he read, each page was turned with great reverence.

 

It was the first time Logan, had seen his guide with any type of book, but instinct told him that the book was treasured, and when he moved closer, Gambit clutched the book to him as if frightened that it would be taken away from him

 

“Can I see it?  I won’t’ damage it.”  Logan crouched down so that he was looking up into the Cajun’s face.

 

For a moment Gambit never moved, and then slowly he put it into Logan’s hands, his slender fingers easing back, almost caressing the pages.

 

With a great show of taking care, Logan turned it over and read the title, not allowing any adverse emotion to show in his face.

 

“Good book.”  He smiled as he handed it back, the Cajun was treating it as if it was the Holy Grail.

 

“Lunch, hope you’re hungry, Jean cooked it.”

 

Logan watched him nod and then put the book back into one of the inner pockets of his duster, giving it a gentle pat to make sure that it was still there.

 

It was then Logan remembered the shopping trip from hell.  The younger man had not looked at any books.  CD’s sure, but not books.

 

The kid was smart, give him a security system and he would get past it, but for all that Logan was beginning to think that the kid was barely literate, and with that knowledge another piece of the puzzle that was Gambit slotted into place. 

 

The Thieves Guild had a good educational framework, and it was known that most of the children passed through it, so how did Gambit miss that?

 

Logan was lost in thought when he realized that Gambit had moved over to the table and was looking at a copy of the Sentinel report, with one finger he flicked the cover open and was peering down at the words frowning.  “Blair wrote dis?”

 

“The kid’s a PhD, hard to imagine, don’t look like he should be out of his freshman year, but yeah kid, he wrote it.”  He paused. “What do you think of them?”

 

“Blair he’s ok-ay.  Mais Jim, he’s a cop, Gambit don’t like cops.”

 

Logan could feel the need to bond riding him like an addiction, but to force the bond would feel like rape, Gambit had to come to him willingly, but the frustration was building in him.  Instead he turned back to the meal on the table, “eat it before it’s cold.”  For a second his eyes burned bright yellow, but he clamped back on the Wolverine, eat first, then bond.

 

0-0-0-0-0

 

Blair rolled off the bed, avoiding the hand that tried to grab and pull him back; he pushed his hair back from his face.  “Wow, man, that was...” he trailed off.

 

“Wow!”  Jim said, a smug smile on his lips, it was not often Blair was lost for words, but this was one of those times.  The bonding had been intense, sweeping them both away with the emotions.

 

“Must be Logan and Gambit, having another dark pair is fueling the bonding.”

 

Jim rolled onto his back, his fingertips stroking across Blair’s thigh, still needing contact with his Guide, unwilling to give that up yet, the connection between them humming.

 

“We have to check up on them, make sure they’re okay.”

 

“Chief, interrupting a bonding is a sure way to get gutted.  Believe me, Logan is going to be royally pissed if we stop him in the middle of his bond.”

 

“And if they have been unable to connect again.”

 

“Okay, okay,” Jim swung his legs off the bed and began to pull on his shoes.  “But you keep behind me, and only go in when I tell you too.”  When he didn’t get a reply he snapped, “Guide, you hear me?”

 

Blair rolled his eyes to the heaven, “sure Jim, I heard you.”

 

0-0-0-0

 

The door to Logan’s room was yanked opened before Jim’s hand could hit the wood, and Blair had to hide a smile at the look on his Sentinel’s face, he had not appreciated it.  One thing was sure, and he was no expert, but he would bet his years salary that no bonding had taken place.

 

“Blair,” his Guide had slipped past and was in the room, and was ignoring him, but Jim was keeping a close eye on Logan, as he saw the tips of the claws sliding in and out through the flesh of his hands.  As the skin was not getting a chance to heal, blood was dripping onto the floor.

 

Blair looked from Sentinel to Guide; they were going to need practical help.

 

“Jim I need you to help me show them how to bond,” he added, “please,” on a breath that only his Sentinel would hear. 

 

The bond was the most private and sacred ritual between Sentinel and Guide, and to even start to bond in front of another went against everything that Jim Ellison believed in.  But he could see that Blair wanted this.

 

He closed the distance to Blair, and then reaching out collected his Guide’s hands, brought them to his face and scented his palms, inhaling the scent deeply, then touched them to his heart, before placing them at his waist. 

 

Jim felt self-conscious as he then leaned in and scented his Guide’s throat, but deep down he knew this was the only way for Logan and Gambit to see there was nothing wrong with intimate touching between Sentinel and Guide.

 

Slowly and reluctantly Jim pulled back, he could feel Blair’s mind caressing his, and it took all of his will power not to throw his Guide down and complete the bond.

 

Blair took a deep breath, and then looked at the other pairing.  Logan looked embarrassed, the Cajun’s expression was hard to read, the cards that somehow had appeared in his hands were moving back and forward faster then Blair could  follow..

 

“Okay, first put those down.”  Blair paused, “Gambit you don’t need them, and no one is going to hurt you.”

 

The young man came to his feet with the smooth agility of a cat Jim noted, then mentally added ‘and the sensual grace of a Dark Guide’, there was no mistaking it.

 

Gambit’s eyes never left Logan face as taking a steadying breath, he stepped into the Canadians  personal space.  Looking down at the smaller feral man, his hands were trembling slightly as he offered them to his Sentinel.

 

Logan took them with great care, and then, his eyes never leaving his Guide, scented his hands, his eyes becoming the color of old gold as the Wolverine came forward.  But instead of aggression the Wolverine was purring as he basked in the scent of his Guide.  He turned Gambit’s hands in his, reveling in the spicy scent of the younger man.  Tracing the long slender fingers he frowned, not liking their coldness.  Finally he moved them to his heart, then down, before reaching, one hand sliding round the back of Gambit’s neck as he guided the Guide’s head down to rest on his shoulder as he scented, his other arm going round Gambit’s waist.

 

Gambit suddenly twisted away, moving clear of the Canadian, dropping into a defensive position, ready to fight or flee.  Logan moved to block the window, cutting off that avenue of escape, his lips pulling back to show the elongated canine teeth of the Wolverine.

 

Blair dived in between them, “Chill out, this is not going to happen. Logan, Gambit, quit it!”  It was snapped with the roar of a Dark Guide.

 

Gambit snarled back, in Cajun French, the Dark Guide in him resenting the other’s interference.

 

Blair allowed the smile to remain hidden, // that’s my boy, showing your true colors, you don’t like anyone interfering with your Sentinel//.

 

“We will work this out, and you will bond,” Blair turned his back on Logan, a very dangerous practice when the Wolverine was out of it’s cage, but he knew that Jim was watching his back, “Gambit, you’re with me.”  He took the other Guide through to the Cajun’s bedroom and closed the door.

 

Jim only just managed to block Logan, “Back off them Logan, you can’t force a Dark Guide, you can only coax them.  Once bonded you’ll be okay, believe me.”

 

Logan tapped his own neck, and a smug smile touched his lips as Jim Ellison colored, “Little love bite?”

 

“Primal bonding Logan, you’re going to love it, but it’s hard on the body, and believe me a Dark Guide takes a lot of handling.  Do yourself a favor and cut the love bite cracks,” Jim’s voice had taken a harder tone. “Blair’s been through too much for me to find it funny.”

 

“So what do we do?”  Logan suddenly swore and jumped forward towards the door, only to be pulled back. 

 

Jim froze as the claws framed his face.

 

“It’s a white note generator, Blair’s using it so that he can have a heart to heart with Gambit on his own, and knows that we can’t help but listen in on their conversation. This is for Guides only, so lose the claws.”  All the time Jim’s eyes hadn’t left Logan’s.  With a soft snitk the claws retracted.

 

“He’s got a hour and in the mean time tell me about this Dark Guide business.”

 

Logan walked over to the wardrobe; inside was a small refrigerator and he threw a beer to Ellison.

 

Jim took a seat and stretched out his long legs.  “Okay, here is the deal. Blair is what is known as a Dark Guide, they are the most powerful empaths around, a real throwback to a time when Dark Guides were assassins, they bonded only to Dark Sentinels or gifted sentinels.”

 

“You’re a Dark Sentinel, so what’s the difference?”

 

“I kinda go primal, a while back someone tried to break our bond, and I killed them, the body count got high, but I couldn’t stop, they had to pay for hurting him. It’s hard to control, there are no longer any gray area’s, only black and white, them and us.”  He paused, “you understand.”

 

Logan only nodded, and took a deep pull on his beer.

 

“When Blair goes back to the Dark Guide persona that is the person he becomes, his body language changes, his very being changes, he has skills that he never had before.  I’ve seen him throw a knife 15 yards and take his target right through the heart, killed him without batting an eyelid.  And believe me that isn’t my Blair.”

 

“Split personality?”

 

“Not really, hell, I don’t know, it’s beyond me, but all I know is that he’s linked, we’re both linked to our previous lives that tightly that it’s a destiny we can’t avoid.”

 

“And Gambit is a Dark Guide.”

 

“Yeah, only the second I have ever seen, and the moment he came in I could feel it.  Believe me Logan, you’re going to have your hands full, and the bond...” he allowed a smile, “it’s going to blow your mind.”  He knocked his beer can to Logan’s then settled down to wait, leaving a very thoughtful Canadian.

 

0-0-0-0-0

 

The hands on the clock seemed to take an age to turn through the hour.  Jim knocked lightly on the door, opened it, and stopped dead in his tracks.  The two Dark Guides were curled up like puppies on the bed, their bodies intertwined, and the whole room seemed to be vibrating with the empathic connection.  Jim closed the door and left them, and was surprised when he didn’t get an argument from Logan.

 

Blair cracked and eye open as the door closed, then hugged Gambit closer and turned back to the emotions that were flowing between them. 

 

This was just the start, he was determined that when he left to return to Cascade he would leave behind him a fully functioning Dark Guide.