Together Again

By Nadja Lee 18/05/01

English is not my native language. Please forgive me my mistakes.

Disclaimer: "X-men" and all the characters here belong to Marvel, 20 Century Fox and I intend no infringement, this is a piece of amateur fan fiction, and I make no money of it.

Only the original idea contained within this work is the property of the author. Please do not copy this story to any website or archive without permission of the author.

Timeline: Set in the Ultimate X-men universe. Months after Ultimate X-men 5.

Pairing: None

Summary: Finally…the reunion of brothers; Remy and Scott are finally together again!

Archiving: Want, ASK, take, have.

Feedback: Yes, please. My e-mail address is [email protected]

For Minisinoo because she inspired me with her story "Chocolate Milk"

Dedicated to: Jemisard. Your words are as beautiful as your mind.

Rating: PG-13

Series: Part 10 in "Running Wild" though it was the first story I wrote and back then titled "Running Wild". It's now rewritten to fit with the earlier 9 pieces. Most likely the last part of this series unless someone writes me and asks me to change my mind *LOL*.

With thanks to Misty for keeping me writing with her gentle words and kind encouragement.

To Estelle for reasons too many to mention. Lov' you lots!

Thanks to Estelle for the Beta.

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Part 1:

This was it. Finally Remy would see his brother again. He had counted the weeks...Hell; he had even counted the days. And today was the day. It hadn't been hard to find Xavier's School in New York; there was the only one of its kind. Its name "Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters" made Remy sure it was a school for mutants just like Magneto had said. It was rather obvious, he couldn't understand why everyone couldn't see it but then maybe Xavier paid those off who got too curious. Remy hadn't stopped worrying for Scott even though he now knew he was at a school. After all what kind of a man would use all his money to build a school? No one did anything for free so he would have a price. Remy just wondered if that price was being in his private army or.....if he ever found out that Xavier had used Scott in any way...beat him...or worse, raped him...he would kill him with his bare hands...slowly!

Forcing himself to take slow breaths Remy fought to get his rage and fear under control. Nothing was certain yet. Nothing. He wasn't even sure how Scott would feel about seeing him again. Would he be happy? Relieved?? Or was he glad to be out? What if he had been brainwashed? What if he had changed? What if....? No, stop it! Remy mentally ordered himself. He was almost there. This worrying was getting him nothing but a headache.

Remy drove his silver Jaguar around a corner and had to admire the beautiful and big mansion Xavier owned. There had to be a lot of good stuff to steal in there.

It had been Hell trying to convince Pierre to stay behind but in the end he had succeeded though his Honour Guards and Pierre had followed him towards Xavier's until there were only five minutes drive to the mansion and John, the leader of his Guard, had reluctantly followed Remy's orders and let him continue on his own. Only after several promises of being careful ....and a reminder of where the line between second in command and friend began and ended.…had Remy succeeded in getting Pierre to stay behind.

He ran his fingers over thesteering wheel, feeling his sweaty palms. He had stolen this great car for just this occasion. Scott had always wanted a silver Jaguar. But then after the news he would have to tell him...their sweet brother Alex.... Innocent Alex...gone.... There wasn't really any point in pretending there would be much joy left in Scott after he had heard the terrible news of their younger brother. The thoughts of the still open wound and pain of Alex's death made Remy frown when he walked up the stairs to the front door of the mansion and rang the bell. He hoped Scott was there. He hoped Scott remembered him. He hoped he hadn't changed....

Part 2:

"Ring, ring."

Scott sighed as he heard the noise. He had been reading a book in one of the Mansion's studies but now stood and went to the front door. Who would come to the Mansion at…he looked at his watch…. 10 o'clock in the evening? He wondered as he walked through the house. The Professor, Ororo, Jean, Hank and Bobby followed him as Scott opened the front door. Outside stood a young man, maybe 17 years old but it was hard to tell. He could be 20 and he could be 16. He wore dark sunglasses, a long black leather jacket and a cigarette was in his hand. Behind him was a silver Jaguar parked. Excitement over seeing the car washed over Scott. He had always dreamt of driving a Jag. Who would know....? He looked closer at the man before him. He was higher, stood with an air of confidence and there was sadness in the lines of his face that made him look much older but he wasn't in doubt. This was the man he had dreamt of seeing for years! It was his brother; Remy. In the years they had been apart Scott had thought, wondered and worried for his brothers' safety. Was Alex well? Did he eat right? What kind of man was he growing into? And Remy...Did the members of the Guild respect him? Had he found someone new to love? Was he happy? So many questions he had thought he would never know the answers to. Now...now, he might actually have a chance of getting those answers and though he feared bad news he still prayed for good. Even though his fears for what Remy and Alex had been through hang on his mind it couldn't overshadow his joy at seeing Remy again. How many times hadn't he wished for this? Hadn't he dreamt this? His only wish since his separation from Remy and Alex had been to see them again. Joy washed through him as sweet spring water. He was here. Remy was actually here! He couldn't believe this. He had to be dreaming.

Remy's face seemed to light up when he saw Scott and some of the lines in his face melted away. For the first time since last he had seen Remy Scott smiled, a warm and genuine smile. He wanted nothing more than to hug Remy close and never let him go but he couldn't. He had never trusted Xavier; it had been a deal, a trade. His loyalty and work as a soldier for the safety Xavier's money would bring. All things fair he had felt a sense of...gratitude towards Xavier for helping him out of a life on the streets and giving him back a purpose but he had still disagreed so much with his methods he had eventually joined Magneto only to leave when he found that Xavier was the lesser of two evils after all. However Xavier didn't trust him, if he ever had and Scott trusted him even less. He had to be careful. The last thing he needed was for Remy to be caught in a web none of them could get out from. That was what had started all this; their debt to the Thieves Guild. He couldn't let Xavier and the others know who Remy was. His name was already well known and he feared someone might do his or her 'civil duty' and try and turn Remy in and if that happened...Scott didn't want more blood on his hands but he wouldn't see his brother in jail...ever.

" Pierre! How good to see you," Scott said warmly, thinking quickly and hoping Remy would play along. For the slightest flicker of a second Remy's face fell and Scott feared he hadn't caught on but then he went up and kissed Scott on each cheek in French manner. Only Scott could feel how Remy trembled, barely holding himself together and Scott gave his hand a reassuring squeeze before they drew apart.

" You too, Mon Ami," he answered, his voice thick with emotions and Scott gestured him inside, ignoring his teammates curious looks.

" Come, we can talk in the livingroom," Xavier said, curiosity in his voice and all went to the livingroom after Xavier.

Part 3:

" So, from where do you know Scott?" Xavier asked as they had exchanged the usual greetings and Remy was busy flirting with both Ororo and Jean.

" From…" Remy began, searching for a good answer and wondering how much Scott wanted to remain hidden. His eyes found Scott who almost unnoticeably shook his head. " From…back in the days," Remy settled with, a bit lamely.

" Was that your wheels I saw outside?" Ororo asked with a smile. A Jaguar was a car she really liked; she could sell them for a handsome sum.

" It sure was, ma petite," Remy said seductively, playing along in this polite game but itching to have a chance to talk with Scott alone.

"Volée [French for 'Stolen']?" Scott asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Qu'est-ce que tu vas penser là? [French for 'What do you think']?" Remy asked with a smile.

"J'espère que c'est pas trop chaud [French for 'I hope it isn't hot']," Scott mumbled as he remembered a time just a few weeks after Scott had taken over leadership of the Guild when Remy had just wanted to "take the car for a drive" and the police had chased them for miles.

" So, what is Pierre to you?" Jean asked, getting tired of understanding nothing. Why couldn't the French speak English like normal people anyway?

Scott wondered what to say. Should he say the truth? Why not? Pierre Summers wasn't wanted for anything because he didn't exist. Besides, he had learned that when telling lies it was best to stick as close to the truth as possible. And then he wouldn't feel right denying the thing he was most proud of; calling Remy and Alex his brothers.

" He is my brother," Scott explained shortly and Remy lit up in a smile, happy that Scott hadn't denied it.

" Makes sense," Ororo remarked. They both had brown hair and about the same built and height. Sure, could happen.

" Really?" Jean asked coldly. Something didn't seem right. It was just a...feeling she had but still. Something seemed...wrong. She got some strange feelings of Pierre.

" Well, we think so. Our mom never was quite sure which father went with who," Remy teased. The red-haired chick might dress street smart but he could spot a middleclass white girl when he saw one. She had probably been spoon feed with daddy's credit card until, horror; she had started to show those ugly mutant tendencies. What wouldn't the neighbors say? He shook his head. He had little respect for girls raised nice who wanted to try life on the wild side...but who had never actually been down and dirty...who had never lived the life they thought so cool.

He removed his glasses and all could see that his eyes were red on black; he was obviously a mutant.

" How nice," Jean said sarcastically.

" No doubt these two are related," Bobby mumbled, connecting Remy's eyes with Scott's.

"Je dois vraiment te parler, mon frère [French for 'I really need to speak to you, brother']" Remy said, a hint of desperation in his voice and Scott nodded.

" We need to talk for a while. Alone," Scott said to the others, a hint of worry in his voice as he left with Remy. Something had gone wrong, why else would Remy seek him out? Something terrible had happened; Scott could feel it in his heart.

" When you left…" Remy began as they walked through the mansion but Scott covered his mouth with his hand.

" Not here," he whispered and looked over his shoulder at the seemly empty hallway. Scott guided Remy outside the Mansion, and they walked to stand a few feet from Remy's car, both on instinct standing close to the escape opportunity it represented. " Okay, here we can talk."

Before Remy could say a word Scott gave him a big hug that Remy returned in kind. For a long while neither of them said anything. Then reluctantly Scott drew back and noticed tears on both his and Remy's cheeks; tears of joy.

"It's so good to see you, Remy. I've missed you. A lot," Scott admitted huskily and wiped his tears away with the back of his hand.

"I've missed you too," Remy said softly. That was the understatement of the year, he thought as he dried his tears. He had spent the better part of a year searching only for Scott. They smiled, for a while happy and content just being together again until reality came back to them and Remy grew grim.

" What is going on here, bro? Why did you call me Pierre?" Remy asked worried and looked around. They were seemly alone.

" I haven't told them about my past, Remy," Scott explained, running a hand through his brown hair.

" They can't be trusted?" Remy asked insightfully.

" No, they can't but it is the best hideout I can get," Scott said and frowned as he remembered something. He hadn't thought of it before, he had told himself he was seeing things he wanted to see but still.... " Was it just me or did I see you at Magneto's place?"

" You did," Remy admitted.

" Why?" Scott asked sharply, fear making his tone sharp. " I thought we had agreed that Thieves Guild doesn't choose sides in wars not our own."

" I didn't choose a side for our people, Scott. I went there to buy weapons," Remy admitted softly, the pain of Alex's death flashing through him.

" We need weapons? Why?" Scott demanded to know, his heart pumping wildly in his chest in fear. Oh, no....something bad had happened. He knew it.

" That is why I had to see you. Assassins Guild has moved in on our territory. A war is unenviable," Remy said, his voice weak. He looked away, couldn't bear to look into Scott's eyes when he told him of Alex. He still blamed himself for his death and he feared Scott might blame him too.

" What else?" Scott demanded sharply. There was more. He could see it in his brother's face. Something in the way his face fell, something in the pure agony he could read there made his heart freeze to ice. Dear God, no. Not....

" They killed Alex," Remy admitted. " They killed our brother as a warning to us."

Oh, God. Alex was dead?! He didn't want to believe it, he wanted to scream at Remy that he was lying but the pure agony and sorrow in his face told Scott it was the truth. But Alex...? Sweet Alex who wouldn't hurt a fly? Alex who they had looked after, who they had had such hopes for? Alex who should have lived the peaceful and perfect life neither Remy nor himself would ever have? Now it was all too late. God...Alex.

"I'm .... so sorry," Remy got out and broke down crying, taking Scott's silence as a placing of blame.

"There is nothing to forgive," Scott said softy, tears in his voice as he drew his brother into a hug. They stood like that for a long while, taking comfort in each other's nearness until Scott drew gently away.

" How did this happen?" Scott wanted to know. He needed to know. He prayed it had been quick and painless but somehow he knew it hadn't been. Rage mixed with his pain and sorrow. Someone would pay for this. He swore to it.

" They beat him to death…and then hang him up on a fence," Remy admitted and winced. He had found him there, blooded and bruised almost beyond recognition. The sight would haunt his every waking hours till the day he died.

" We will make them pay for our brother's life!" Scott vowed hotly, wiping away tears and Remy nodded agreement. They would pay. They would make them regret they had ever taken this war to Alex's grave.

" Will you come back with me? We need you," Remy asked softly, though he was pretty sure he would. He could see the agony and the rage and need for revenge in Scott's face. In the last few minutes Scott had seemed to age at least 20 years before Remy's eyes and he wondered if he had too after the full reality of Alex's death had hit him.

" Of course I will. And whatever deal you have with Magneto…finish it with his people…" Scott said grimly. " We are going to war."

" What about you? We will be wanted men for sure after this; from all sides save our own," Remy warned.

" We have all done something that someone wants to kill us for. You and I…that is the life we have led and we still lead. Alex was pure and young; he was our hope...now I see none. No, we can run from what we are but it'll always find us. Live strong and die young. Someone will get us one day; the cops or an enemy…either way, we have always lived on borrowed time," Scott admitted and suddenly sounded sad....old and tired. Life had had few rays of sunlight and warmth for him but the few precious moments he had had, he had had with his brothers. That alone was reason enough for him to avenge one of them's brutal death.

" Don't worry, mon frère [French for 'my brother']. We WILL win this war," Remy said with a confidence he didn't feel. " We owe it to Alex," he finished softly.

" Yes," Scott agreed and tears glimmered in the corner of his eyes, threatening to fall again. " We owe it to Alex."

The two brothers walked towards Remy's silver Jaguar and drove away, back towards New Orleans and their destiny. Scott didn't look back.

They had a war to fight and a brother to avenge. Scott was sure they wouldn't find peace on the path they had chosen but maybe they could find peace in each other on their way. All they had left now was each other and they would stay together, fight together...and in the end die together...as brothers of blood, heart and arms do.

The End