Hello everyone, I know sucky summary I may edit it later on, this is a prequel to Hiding the Past and it's much better than the sequel. This story will be longer than my other two and it'll span over two or four years so it'll probably be a bit more fun and lighthearted than my other two. This will be mostly focused on Gambit, I hope y'all like it!

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!

The Grifter and The Thief

A Long New Orleans Night.

1981

The New Orleans street were bustling with people walking up and down bourbon street to the beautiful french quarter, it was 4th of July and the festivities were still going strong, one man though, loved this time of year mostly because it was when business boomed. He had medium length auburn hair, a light tan from being in the bayou in the summer, and he wore grey and purple armor and shin length boots but what made him different from everyone else he had red on black eye's. He was also a mutant, he could 'charge' almost any object he wanted.

His name is Remy LeBeau, and he is a thief, yes that's right, a thief. He enjoyed his job very much, he also belonged to the infamous New Orleans Thieves' Guild, and to add to that, he knew these streets like the back of his hand. He was orphaned as an infant, he grew up on these streets until when he was a child and was than raised by the leader of the guild when he had attempted to steal his wallet. Gambit, as he went by, smiled at the fond memories but his face suddenly went serious as he climbed down the wall and went to work, he walked out of the alleyway and into the busy streets as he walked he pick pocketed every rich man he came across, he smirked how many didn't even notice they were gone until he was out of sight.

Remy came across a man yelling very loudly at a woman, he had assumed the man was drunk, and Remy stopped and watched to see if the conversation escalated but it soon died down and the conversation was over. Remy returned to pickpocketing when he looked up and saw someone sitting on the roof of the building, he smirked and went toward the building, climbed up onto the roof, and he quietly walked up behind them.

" Like the view Chére?" He asked, the woman jumped about ten feet before she spun around and grabbed a knife out of its holster and pointed it at him, she had short blonde hair, violet eye's, and was wearing silver armor and a mint green cloak, she gave him a cold glare.

" Remy! Ya scared me half to death!" She exclaimed but sighed in relief as she saw it was him, she holstered the knife as Remy chuckled.

" My apologies Belle, but I couldn't help it, you looked so beautiful I just couldn't disturb you." Remy said, Belladonna Boudreaux, his fiancé, and daughter to the leader of the Assassin's Guild. She walked up to him, smirking, and wrapped her arms around his neck and she leaned forward and kissed him tenderly. Remy returned the kiss as he wrapped his arms around her waist, Belladonna broke the kiss and she looked up at him.

" So, how's work?" She asked as she turned to look back out at the sea of people Remy shrugged as he crouched down next to her.

" Okay as usual, you?" He glanced over at her and saw her shrugged nonchalantly.

" Slow." She stated, he nodded and they sat there watching all the people come and go, their marriage had been arranged when they were kids, neither one got a say in the matter, but if it was keep a war from happening between the Assassin's and the Thieves' Guilds than both were willing to marry each other. Belladonna sighed and stood up after a while Remy looked up and she had her arms crossed.

" I'm going to a different rooftop, see ya later chére?" She asked and Remy nodded as she turned around, ran, and jumped off the rooftop and landed on the next one. Remy smirked, oh how he loved that woman, he stood and stretched his limbs before slowly climbing down the wall and he landed with a quiet 'thud' on the ground. He walked out into the busy streets and resumed pick pocketing, once the festival had ended he had picked enough pockets to last him till the end of the year.

Remy walked up to the Guild mansion and smirked, the outside was decorated in the French 18th century style, it was surrounded by tree's and landscape, which gave the people that live there loads of privacy, the house itself was a cream color with ten windows, two wings, gravel walk/drive way, and three chimney's. Remy smiled as he walked up the stone steps, opened the door, and walked into the house.

Remy was welcomed by no one, which surprised him, usually he was greeted by Tante Mattie, but he wasn't. He was reminded of that time when he was abducted by Stryker and his goons and taken to that island, a cold chill ran down his spine. He pulled out a couple of cards, along with his bō staff, and walked slowly and quietly to the kitchen.

Remy pushed the door open and saw Tante Mattie sitting there, drinking coffee with his sister-in-law, Mercy. Remy put the cards and bō staff back in his trench coat pockets as he walked inside, Mercy looked up as she, suddenly, noticed him.

" Where've ya been Remy, Tante's been worried sick about you." Mercy said, Tante Mattie nodded as she grabbed her cup of coffee, walked up to him, and wagged her finger at him.

" Ya about made me a nervous wreck, boy, I swear one of these days ya gonna give me a heart attack!" She exclaimed worriedly, but relief was written all over her face. Remy chuckled and held his hands up in mock surrender as he walked toward the fridge, grabbed himself a bottle of water, and sat down at the kitchen table. Tante Mattie shook her head as she poured herself one last cup of coffee, she sat herself down across from Remy and cut him a look.

" What?" He asked innocently and Tante Mattie smiled and she shook her head.

" Ya was out with Belladonna, don't even try to lie, I'm assuming y'all were out for Fourth of July." Remy shook his head as he took a sip of water.

" Nah, I mean yeah we met while I was out on the street but, no, we didn't go on a date or anything." He shrugged and Mercy nodded before she gave him a serious look, that she usually gave to Henri.

" Remy, ya getting married to her tomorrow! Ya shouldn't even had seen her today, ya know it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding day!" She exclaimed quickly, Remy frowned slightly.

" I thought that was looking at the bride in her wedding dress?" He said, confused. Mercy just rolled her eye's as Tante Mattie's shoulder's moved up and down with silent laughter.

" Oh whatever, I'm so tired I'm a little scatter brained." She excused herself from the table, kissed Remy and Tante's cheeks, and she put her coffee mug in the sink before heading off to bed. It was only Tante Mattie and Remy.

" Remy, I hope you're not only marrying Belle because your father said so." Tante Mattie said, Remy took a swig of his water before he sighed.

" You worry too much sometimes Tante," Remy said as he leaned back in his chair, Tante just rolled her eye's as a hint of a smile graced her lips.

" I have a reason to worry about you, you're alway's reckless and bull headed, ya do the opposite of what anyone tells you." She said pointing a finger at him.

" I won't deny I'm a little reckless, but bull headed? I highly doubt that." He crossed his arms over his chest and Tante Mattie scoffed.

" I don't."

" Anyway, I think I'm gonna go to bed." Remy stood up, threw his half empty bottle of water away, and he walked over to Tante Mattie.

" And before you say I'm ignoring your earlier question, no, I'm not only marrying her because pére said so, I'm doing it because I love her." He kissed Tante Mattie on the cheek before he left the kitchen and went up to his room.

Once he walked into his room he took off his trench coat, threw it over a chair, and collapsed on his bed. It had been a very long day and tomorrow was going to be an even longer days, He stood up slowly and went into his bathroom and took a shower. When he had gotten out of the shower, put on a t-shirt and some shorts, he was about to get into bed when he heard someone knock on his door, he walked over to it and when he opened it to reveal his brother, Henri.

" What'd ya want Henri?" Remy asked tiredly, Henri smiled and walked inside the room. " Oh no, please, do come in won't ya!" Remy added annoyed.

" Okay I will." Henri said as he sat down in Remy's desk chair, Remy sat on the edge of his bed and looked at Henri.

" Why are you here?"

" Can't I come and see if my brother is excited about his wedding tomorrow?" Remy rolled his eye's and rubbed his face with his palms.

" Not you too." Henri chuckled and shook his head.

" What? Tante scared you're not marrying Belladonna out of love?" Henri asked and Remy nodded.

" And she thinks I'm only doing it because of pére." Henri nodded as he leaned back in his chair.

" And are you?"

" Am I what?"

" Are you marrying Belladonna just because Pére had arranged it?" Remy blinked than shrugged.

" No, Yes, Maybe, I don't know." Remy said, exasperated. Henri nodded sympathetically as he stood and head to the door.

" Get some sleep Remy, you have a big day tomorrow." With that he walked out the door and Remy nodded, tomorrow was going to be a life changing day, for better or worse he didn't know yet. He crawled into bed and fell smooth asleep.

Far away a woman began planning her next move, she wanted... Revenge.

" I'm coming for you, Remy LeBeau."

Wonder who the woman is? I still have writer's block for the sequel but I'm hoping it'll go away soon, also I'm setting it in the early 80's because it seemed to fit the story a little better and sorry it's short. Please don't forget to review and I hope y'all enjoyed!