Bishop looked out at the expanse of desert in front of him. Heat haze rose and he watched it as it blurred the monotony behind it. With a sigh, he wished it could blur the monotony of Iceman's moaning as well.
"Don't you think it's unfair, man? I mean, he abandoned her-"
Bishop glared at Bobby. "She abandoned him."
"Whatever. And with a kid, too! She's way too good for him. I mean, I thought he was okay before, but we find he worked for Sinister, then he did that to Rogue - leading her on - that was too much. I-"
Standing, Bishop strode up to him and glared, inches away from his face. "Gambit has been many things in the past, but it is what he is now that is important. And he is a hero, and wants to be a father to the child. He has saved the Shi'ar Empire and all the lives in it. Does that not redeem him?"
Iceman's face tightened, and he glared at him, having backed off from the bigger mans fuming face. "Some things can't be forgiven."
Bishop smiled. That had been exactly the thing he'd been hoping Bobby would say. "So Jean can't be forgiven for the atrocities of the Dark Phoenix? The Professor can't be forgiven for his transformation into Onslaught?"
"That's different," Bobby scowled, "They weren't themselves, it wasn't really Jean, and Magneto was in the Prof's head-"
"And Remy was young and foolish. He, however, grew out of it." Bobby glared at him, then looked up as they heard a familiar whine. A transporter! A blue shimmer then a ferocious looking Deathbird appeared, then shrieked in anger and horror as she saw the two X-Men. She glared at Bishop in particular, and swore at him in Shi'ar.
"Traitor!" She screamed at him, and launched herself forward, a sharp pointed Shi'ar staff in her hand. Bobby created a stream of ice to move her away from her target, and walked over to her as he created a lasso around her.
He smiled smugly. "That's what you get for messing with-" The breath was knocked out of him as Bishop pushed him aside, away from Deathbird's claws as she broke the lasso. He backed up, pushing Iceman behind him. He watched his opponent closely, not wanting to be unprepared for any attack. Thanks to his training at the XSE, and the harsh reminder Onslaught had brought, he watched the fighting styles of allies, as well as enemies, should they turn. This may keep him and Iceman alive, if Iceman did not start showing some of the extended abilities he had shown last time Bishop had seen him. Glancing at his young companion, he saw him frown in concentration, and then, out of the corner of his eye, the Shi'ar traitor launch herself at him. He punched her, the force of her own leap added to the blow. She rose quickly though, scratched her talons down Bishop's chest. Wincing at the thankfully shallow cuts, thanks to the armour in the Shi'ar suit, he punched her again, with a wicked left cross. She staggered backing, blinking, and Bishop knew what her next move would be. Whenever she was enraged, Deathbird would highkick while swooping her staff down low, ensuring a painful and bloody end to the fight. Sidestepping, Bishop was out of the way so Iceman could freeze the water in Deathbird's blood long enough for it to affect her.
She fell with a cry like that of a fallen swallow, and Bishop knelt to cradle her in his arms, so like the first time he had seen her. His heart lurched, and gladness of the victory and saved lives warred with a feeling of guilt, and a worry over what would happen to the only woman he had ever cared for. Stroking the purple feathers, he hushed her.
"I do not need 'hushing', Terran. You betrayed me!"
Bishop shook his head, wondering what he could tell her that wouldn't anger her farther. "I merely wanted you to stop trying to hurt innocents."
"There are always civilian casualties in war," she muttered, as the blue shimmer took them up and they were transported up to the ship. A group of security guards took a woozy Deathbird to a cell, and Bishop watched her go, sadness in his eyes. Remy put a hand on his arm as Iceman left the transporter room.
"Lilandra won' let anythin' too bad happen to her," he told her, and Bishop nodded, though he only felt numb. He looked down at Gambit, and asked a question.
"Will you be going back to Earth?"
Stroking a lock of auburn hair from his eyes, Remy nodded. "Oui. I have ev'thing t' go back for. A family, an education." He ignored Bishop's raised eyebrows and unbelieving look at that last. "I wan' t' control' m' powers t' their fullest extent. An' I'd like a chance t' learn, somethin' I never got as a kid."
"Something you can offer your own." Remy nodded, and Bishop gave him a rare smile. They stood in silence for a few moments before Remy looked up at Bishop.
"Y' stayin' here, ain't y'?"
Glancing over, surprised, Bishop realised that he was, indeed going to stay here. It was his home, now. It was where his heart was, he thought, aching for Deathbird in her kinder, more lucid moments. "I am." He agreed, and Remy nodded.
"Promise y'll come home sometime, an' meet Xav? Maybe even come home f' m' weddin'?"
Bishop looked over, shocked, at Remy, then noticed the mischief shining in his eyes, and smiled. "You do not think you are getting ahead of yourself?"
"Jus' hopin', Bish, jus' hopin'." Remy's smile was dreamy, and Bishop didn't doubt his dream would come true. Though Remy had changed, it was in a good way. He was basically the infuriating egotist Rogue had fallen for, though he had grown up enough to mock that part of himself. Bishop had no doubt this LeBeau would be a good father.
"I think I shall become to see... my sister," Bishop said, uncomfortable with the word, then looked up at Remy. "And perhaps I should start calling you 'father'?"
Remy's red-on-black eyes opened wide, and he chuckled. "Mon deiu, please, don't." He smiled. "How 'bout y' jus' call me 'friend'?"
"Alright, Remy. My friend." Surprising the impassive, big man, Remy embraced him.
"It was good t' see you again, Bish. I'll miss y'." Carol walked in behind Remy, and leaned against the door frame. Bishop looked up at her, and realised why she was here.
"You're going already?"
Remy nodded. "Oui. De rest o' de X-Men wanna go home. De Prof's stayin' here wit' Lil a bit, though, so y' won' be de lone Terran again," he grinned. "'Member, y' promised t' come see us," he reminded the bigger man.
For the second time in a day, Remy was graced with a smile. "Yes. Just send me an invitation."