Lori McDonald
April 1997
They drank to his health that night. "To Remy LeBeau!" Kurt called as everyone lifted their glasses. "For his bravery in getting close enough to attack Magneto by allowing himself to be captured."
"Oh, yeah," he muttered. "Like I had DAT planned."
Everyone laughed. They were sitting on couches and chairs, laughing and talking while they drank wine and ate snack food. Everyone seemed to think he was some kind of hero, but he was just confused by the whole day and its events. He didn't understand why Magneto had to be locked up and he didn't know what was wrong with Rogue. After her earlier worry, she'd started avoiding him again. She was at the party, but she sat in a corner and seemed generally embarrassed. He didn't know what to say to her, nor did he get the chance. Everyone wanted to shake his hand, especially the X-Men, who were used to him turning skittish and bolting if they got within five feet of him.
Logan suddenly leaned over his shoulder from behind. "So, you get over bein' spooked easy, Cajun?" He asked with an evil grin.
In answer, he grabbed his nose between his first two fingers.
"I guess I deserved dat," Logan said nasally.
He smiled.
Kurt chuckled. "Well, you certainly proved yourself useful to Excalibur today, Remy. I guess we'll have to pick you a codename after all."
Jean perked up. "Remy needs a codename?" Her eyes sparkled. "Oh, this should be fun. Have you thought of any?"
He remembered the name he'd used in a different life, before Sinister. "Uh, n-no," he stammered.
"Well, let's see what we can come up with." The others gathered to watch as Jean thought. "It has to be something that suits you."
"Gumbo," Wolverine said.
Jean glared at him fondly. "Perhaps something more closely linked to his personality and powers."
"'Ow 'bout American Express?" Pete suggested. "'E c'n charge anything, but 'e's rarely accepted."
He shrank into himself as everyone groaned and Kitty cuffed Pete gently on the back of the head.
Logan growled. "Not funny, englishman." He looked at him. "What name do YOU want, kid?"
Depressed, he said one word. "Dregs."
Jean's eyes softened and she moved to sit on the coffee table before him. He sat with shoulders hunched and arms crossed, so she put her hands on his knees.
"I don't think that name suits you very well," she said softly.
"It's what I am."
"Maybe we should do this later," Scott said.
"No." It was Rogue's voice. "Ya can't let him wallow or he never snaps outta it." Excalibur nodded knowingly. They'd gotten in the habit of ignoring his bouts of depression and continuing on as if everything was normal. "Besides," Rogue continued. "There ain't no way ah'm gonna let ya get away with namin' yaself after Moira's coffee."
"Och! What's wrong wi' me coffee?!"
"Ya got any suggestions, darlin'?" Logan grinned.
Arms crossed, Rogue looked at the little man, then at him and blushed. Defiance filled her eyes. "Cute Buns," she decided.
"That ain't exactly gonna strike fear into th' hearts o' his enemies, darlin'."
"Oh, I don't know," Jean smiled. "I think that depends on how homophobic they are."
"Jean!" Scott gasped.
Laughter echoed around the room, and even he smiled, though Rogue had retreated back to her corner. She did give him a shy smile though, and his heart soared. Then she turned away and it sank in confusion.
Bishop cleared his throat. "If you want an intimidating name, 'Demon' would be highly effective."
Rahne gasped. "Ye cannae go wi' such a horrible name! Ye'd surely be riskin' yuir immortal soul. How aboot Cirrus? Or Coyote?"
Brian chuckled. "I'm detecting a definite animal theme here, Rahne."
"So, what's wrong wi' that? How aboot Ferret?"
"Oh," Meggan gasped. "I got one. Shadowskin."
"Nah, too close ter Shadowcat."
He grinned, his depression lifting off him as quickly as it'd come. Charger, Corser, Echo, Super Guy, Napalm, Freeman, Card Shark (from Wolverine, who remembered playing poker with him), Boom-Boom (from Pete, who wouldn't believe it'd been used already), Kali, FireEye, and dozens of others. None of them really sang to him until Lockheed rolled out of Kitty's lap, crawled up onto the back of the couch and stuck his snout in his ear.
"Ash," he whispered.
He blinked. "Ash," he said experimentally, testing out the sound of it.
Jean heard him. "Ash? I like it."
Moira's eyes narrowed. "And what brought aboot this choice?"
He frowned, thinking, then began to speak, not looking at Pete as he did so. "Ash is all dat's left of de man I was. But t'ings can grow out of ashes, neh? Dat's me. All burned t' ash, but wit' somet'ing growin' inside." He smiled. "'Sides, dat's all I'm gonna leave of my en'mies."
The assembled mutants cheered, then laughed. Logan clapped him on the shoulder. "Good choice, kid, or I guess I should say Ash."
"Everyone!" Kurt called. "A toast to Ash!"
"To Ash!" They all drank.
He smiled. The name didn't feel as though it fully belonged to him yet, as if it were completely his, but already it was more comfortable than #713, or Remy LeBeau.
Or Gambit.
~~~~~~~~~~End of Part Four~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to Ruby Lis, Martha (and Cat) and everyone else who suggested the names I used here. And especially Valerie Jones, who came up with the winner. :)