AN: Just a little something I've been writing on the side while working on The Air That I Breathe. This story takes place well after the events of Wolverine and the X-Men. If you've read the released scripts for the first 8 episodes of season 2, this story also comes after them, but is not directly inspired by them as I was writing this before the scripts were released. (If you're interested in reading the scripts, you can find them on the "1 Million to save WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN" Facebook page, in their photo albums).

This was my first major attempt at writing Deadpool. If he seems OOC at all, I apologise.

Updates will be weekly.

Chapter 1

Rogue lifted her eyes over her cards and glanced up at the three so-called gentlemen at the table with her, wondering how exactly she'd gotten talked into this. Then she remembered: Deadpool, mercenary; Gambit, world-class thief; Logan, former-mercenary; Rogue, X-Man on X-Man salary. Clothes seemed like a cheap alternative to the amounts of money the three men were betting with at the start of the game, now she wasn't so sure.

"You gonna turn those cards over or what?" Logan asked.

Rogue sighed and turned her cards over. She was so sure her Full House had won her the round that she had bet everything. Unfortunately, the Flush Straight Logan just revealed put an end to that idea. Logan gave a grunt as Rogue's cards were revealed, and as they were the only two in that round, he reached into the middle to retrieve his winnings.

"Well, looks like if you wanna stay in the game we get to see some boobies," Deadpool said happily to Rogue. "Please wanna stay in the game."

"Ignore him, chère," Gambit said, throwing a smirk at Deadpool. "He's just sore because the storm's knocked out the cable and he can't watch the 'special interest' channels."

"Just remember, Rogue," Logan said as he sorted out the cash and chips. "You promised these guys that you wouldn't put your clothes back on until the game was over, whether you were still playing or not."

"Yeah, I know," Rogue replied as she considered. "But what else am I gonna spend my time doing while we're waiting for this blizzard to blow itself out? Unless you guys were planning on going back to trying to kill each other again."

A couple of weeks previous, Professor Xavier had informed Logan that there was a mutant in danger in Canada, whose life they needed to save. The future depended on it and all that jazz. The Professor had given a location, but didn't name the mutant. When Logan and Rogue arrived it became obvious why the Professor hadn't named names: Logan was not at all impressed to find out that there was a bounty on Gambit's head; one that Deadpool was pursuing. Of all the mutants in the world they had to "need" why Gambit?

"We are killing each other, chère," Gambit replied while he skilfully shuffled the cards. "We're just measuring our success in cash instead of blood."

The ensuring fight had been bloody and brutal, and only broken up by the weather. They were now all snowbound in Gambit's not-so-safe-anymore-house.

"And nudity," Deadpool added, and Rogue was convinced that his full-face mask was covering up a leer.

"In that case, am I winning or losing?" Rogue asked.

"Guess it depends if you enjoy having men ogle you," Gambit said, lazily dragging his eyes over her all-but-naked body.

Rogue gave a shrug and stood.

"I have to admit, it is a pretty novel experience," she said, reaching around for the hooks at the back of her bra. "I usually start repelling people when I take off clothes, not attracting them."

All three men had their eyes locked on her chest as she pulled her bra off and dropped it on the floor. She was partly embarrassed and partly thrilled by the whole thing. Deciding the best response to their staring was no response, Rogue reached over for the tray of poker chips and pulled out the pre-designated amount they had decided her bra was worth.

"Nipples!" Deadpool said happily.

Logan cleared his throat, realising he was staring and turned his attention quickly to the cards Gambit was dealing.

"I can't imagine you repelling anyone," Gambit said, his eyes on Rogue as he dealt. "Unless... perhaps they're just intimidated because you're too much woman for them."

"Oh," Deadpool said, propping his head up on the table with one arm and looking directly at Rogue while sounding wistful, "I don't think you can ever have too much woman."

Rogue smirked and nodded her head towards Deadpool. "You heard the man. Not possible."

"I said 'them' not 'us'," Gambit replied, and then smirked at Logan. "Although Wolverine over here looks like he's going to be sick."

Logan glowered at Gambit. Gambit's grin broadened. Deadpool dropped his opening bet into the middle.

"He's just put out because we work together," Rogue cut in. "Office romances. They never work out."

Logan grunted and added his bet to Deadpool's.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, chère," Gambit said, while Rogue added a few chips to the pile of cash in the middle. "I'd almost consider joining the X-men if it meant I had access to a rack like yours."

Gambit added his bet to the pot and chuckled at Logan's growl.

"One game of partly strip poker does not mean you get access to my 'rack' whenever you feel like it," Rogue replied tolerantly.

"What would?" Gambit asked as he dealt out the first three community cards of their game of Texas Hold 'em poker.

"You may have heard of this thing," Rogue said. "It's called a 'date'. I've never been on one myself, but I'm told they're a pretty important part of having a romantic, sexual relationship with someone."

"Gambit's not going to have time for that," Deadpool declared. "He's going to be too busy being dead. I have a bounty to collect. Me, on the other, hand, my schedule is totally clear after I off him. And I already have the full-body spandex suit. I'm wearing it right now. See how it shows off my girlish figure?"

"I thought we discussed this," Gambit said with a dark glare at Deadpool. "I pay you three times the bounty and you let me live."

"If offing you means I have a chance with that..." Deadpool said with a gesture towards Rogue.

"You planning on paying off everyone else who's after the bounty?" Logan asked.

"I have this short list of assassins I can't beat in a fight," Gambit replied slyly. "Allow me to recite it to you: Deadpool. And that's about it. Oh wait... maybe Sabretooth. Hate that guy."

"Join the club."

"You already asked me that. I haven't decided yet."

"Offing Gambit does not give you a chance with me," Rogue said firmly to Deadpool as the next round of betting commenced. "In fact, offing Gambit gives you the opposite of a chance with me."

"Aw, you do like me," Gambit said, batting his eyes at Rogue.

"What's the opposite of a chance?" Deadpool mused. "Is that like Community Chest or something? When you pick up that one card that says 'Go to Jail. Go Directly to Jail. Do Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect $200.'"

"I like your community chest," Gambit said with a wink at Rogue as he dealt the next card.

"Go back three spaces," Deadpool went on.

"You refer to my chest or any other part of me again as 'community' and I'll rip you a new one," Rogue informed Gambit in no uncertain terms.

"Make repairs on all your properties..."

"They're looking pretty communal at the moment, chère," Gambit replied and Rogue glared at him.

"You have gotten second prize in a beauty contest..." Deadpool said.

"Wow, really," Logan said as he turned over his cards, indicating he was folding. "Whoever won first must be a shocker."

"I think Rogue must have won first," Deadpool said. "She's definitely the hottest one here."

Gambit reached for his beer. "I'll drink to that."

"You'll be drinking something in a minute," Rogue told him direly.

Gambit leaned back in his chair and looked her over slyly. "I can only hope."

Logan muttered something under his breath about not knowing what Professor Xavier was thinking.

"No fair, I saw her first," Deadpool said. "If anyone gets to drink her milkshakes it's me!"

"You did not see her first," Gambit objected, flipping out the final card.

"Did so."

"Did not."

"Did so."

"Did not."

"Did so infinity."

"Did not, infinity plus one."

"Did so, infinity plus one, no returns."

"I'm beginning to think that taking off the bra was a bad idea," Rogue said, looking between them with an amused smile on her face. "It's made you two go silly. Well, it's made Gambit go silly. Deadpool's just gone sillier."

"Boobies are like kryptonite," Deadpool declared, turning over his cards. "If Lois Lane had kryptonite boobies, Superman would be screwed. And not in the good way."

"Hmm, maybe that's why Emma's were always hanging out," Rogue mused. "Strategic advantage."

"So, why's Wolverine apparently immune?" Gambit asked slyly as Logan drank some of his beer.

Logan let loose a loud belch.

"I don't think he is," Rogue replied. "I think he just expresses it differently."

"You may have a point there, ma chère," Gambit said as he revealed his winning hand to the table and gathered the money and chips in the pot. "It must be very hard working alongside someone as sexy as you and not be able to do anything about it."

"Well, I'm not usually naked."

"Why not?" asked Deadpool as he retrieved his cards. "If I looked as hot as you, I'd be naked all the time."

"For one thing, it's actually quite chilly," Rogue replied, rubbing her upper arms. "And for another, the voices of all the people touching you either by accident or because they couldn't control themselves would probably get to you after awhile."

"That wouldn't bother him," Gambit said, smirking towards Deadpool. "He's already got voices. He probably thinks they could do with some more company. So, a bit cold, are you, ma chère? Need someone to help warm you up?"

Logan's claws came out with a snikt and he glared at Gambit.

"Now, now, Wolverine," Gambit said mildly. "You can cut the deck next round."

"I don't need any help keeping warm," Rogue replied. "Besides, the only one here who could safely 'help' me would be Deadpool."

The cards Deadpool was shuffling went flicking through the air.

"Yes!" Deadpool exclaimed, scooted his chair away from the table, and patted his lap. "Come sit with me, babe. Say, have you examined your breasts for lumps lately?"

"Oh please tell me that line doesn't actually work?" Gambit demanded with a look of pain on his face.

"Hey, you know I'm a prime example of why you need to check for early signs of cancer," Deadpool replied cheerfully, and then leaned in towards Rogue. "Would you like my professional opinion?"

"You're a professional mercenary, not a doctor," Rogue replied. "And no."

"We could play doctor."

"Deadpool, pick up the cards."

Deadpool saluted. "Yes ma'am!"

"And while he's doing that," Gambit said, standing up. "I might go turn up the heat."

"You don't have to—" Rogue began.

"Rogue, you have goosebumps," Gambit pointed out. "Your nipples are sticking out so far, I could hang a painting on them. I'm turning the heat up."

Rogue chuckled as he headed off.

"Thanks, sugar," she called after him.

Deadpool eyed off Gambit's cash as he picked up the last of the cards. Rogue noticed his gaze.

"Don't even think about it," she told him.

"Who, me?" Deadpool asked innocently.

"Yeah, you."

"You know, the only thief around here is Gambit. Just saying."

"Uh huh."

By the time Gambit returned, which wasn't long, Deadpool had finally gathered up all the cards and was busy shuffling them. He started dealing as Gambit sat down. The ski cabin was two stories with three bedrooms, excellent heating system, and a well stocked kitchen full of tinned foods and anything else that wouldn't perish in a hurry. Gambit maintained that he hated the cold and the snow, and when queried why he would have a ski cabin for a safehouse, he merely responded it was supposed to be the last place anyone would expect to find him. It did take the cabin a little while to warm up, but Rogue's goosebumps eventually did subside, while Logan and Gambit felt the need to take jackets off.

The conversation did eventually move away from Rogue and her naked body, but she noticed that even Logan sneaked peeks at her as the game continued. Rogue even started winning more rounds because she figured out how to use this to distract them from how she was playing and what they were doing. Only Gambit seemed to cotton on, and there was something in his demeanour that suggested to Rogue that he found the whole thing highly amusing.

Despite her winning streak, Rogue ended up losing everything again. By this point, Logan was doing fairly steady, Deadpool was losing, and Gambit was raking it in. Logan kept his eyes firmly on the cards he was gathering and shuffling, Rogue was certain that Deadpool was wearing a gleeful grin under his mask, and Gambit just looked at her with a delighted twinkle in his eye.

"So Roguey—" he started to say.

"Rogue," she corrected firmly.

"—are we going to get to see what's hiding under those cute little pink panties of yours, or are you going to call it a game?"

Rogue chewed her bottom lip. Decisions, decisions. On the one hand, she was enjoying the attention she was getting. On the other hand, she wasn't really sure she wanted to be completely naked in front of two men she hardly knew and one she considered to be family. On the third hand, she was having fun playing, even if she was losing more than winning and did want to continue. On the fourth hand, there was some definite evidence of her enjoyment on her briefs at the moment, and it would be mortifying if it happened to transfer to the cushioned chair she was sitting on (or if any of the guys realised at all). On the fifth hand, since she spent most of the time sitting down, the guys wouldn't actually get to see much more for the rest of the game than they were at the moment. On the sixth hand (did she absorb Spiral recently or something?), what were the odds of her ever playing any form of strip poker again? Well, she supposed if Gambit did join the X-Men that might end up being a possibility...

"Call it a game, Rogue," Logan advised.

"Noooo, don't say that," Deadpool objected. "I wanna know what kind of bikini wax she has."

"Oookay, things just got weird," Rogue said. "I think I'll call it a game."

"Alright then, chère," Gambit replied with a flicker of disappointment in his red eyes. "You just sit there and look sexy then."

"Well, I did promise whatever I took off would stay off until the end of the game," Rogue said in acknowledgement. "May as well stay and watch."

"And you can always change your mind later," Gambit went on. "Buy back in any time."

"'Cause there's nothing self-serving in that," Rogue replied with a smirk.

"Not at all. People do that in poker all the time. It's not like it's a tournament or anything."

"You enter a lot of tournaments, Gambit?" Logan inquired as he dealt the cards.

Gambit shrugged. "Once or twice. Curiosity mainly."

The round commenced and Rogue found herself drifting between boredom, and trying to figure out if she could identify their tells. Numerable rounds in, she headed off to the kitchen with their empty bottles and brought back more drinks for the group. She had a vague idea that there was something missing near her seat when she got back, but thought nothing of it as Gambit chose that moment to remark on just how sexy she looked and how much he'd just love to lick her breasts. Logan growled at Gambit for this, while Deadpool chimed in with what he'd like to do, leaving Rogue rather red-faced with the graphic imagery.

"Really, Deadpool?" Gambit asked, raising an eyebrow at him. "Really?"

"Of course! Who wouldn't?" Deadpool replied cheerfully. "Well, a gay man might not want to. And a straight woman probably wouldn't want to either. And a lesbian might want to, but I'm not sure how she'd pull half that stuff off."

Gambit stared at him, and then turned his attention back to Rogue.

"I apologise for getting him started, ma chère," he said. "I only wanted to tell you just how turned on I am by you right now. I had no desire to cause you any embarrassment."

"Oh, it's okay," Rogue said quickly, determined to push the blushing away. "If he gets out of hand, we can always throw him into the blizzard. That should cool him off."

Gambit laughed.

"Oughta throw both of ya into the blizzard," Logan muttered.

"And you too," Gambit said with a smirk at Logan. "Co-worker or not, you find Rogue just as attractive as we do. I saw you sneaking peeks when you thought we wouldn't notice."

"Don't know what you're talking about," Logan replied, renewing his interest in his cards.

Rogue covered her mouth to hide her laugh.

"So, Roguey," Gambit went on, checking his own cards. "I think you should give me some sort of spiel on why I should join the X-Men. 'Cause right now the only incentive I have is to be around you all day."

"Well, for one thing, we don't send assassins after former employees," Rogue replied.

Gambit's eyes narrowed. "You know who ordered the hit?"

"You don't?" Rogue asked in surprise.

Gambit shook his head. "Only got a tip off that there was one. And by tip, I mean people started trying to kill me. Not even the ones that babble during a fight were being forthcoming with that information. Deadpool."

"I cannot name my source," Deadpool replied grandiosely, and brandished a fistful of cash into the middle.

"Sibyl Zane," Rogue said to Gambit. "That's who ordered the hit."

Gambit gave a low whistle, leaned back in his chair and turned his cards over. "Senator Kelly cleaning house, hein? I hate it when people do that. Maybe I should take a page out of Elektra's book and go kill them."

"Or for a modest fee, I could go kill them for you," Deadpool said.

"And by 'modest fee' you mean 'on top of what I'm already paying you not to kill me'," Gambit replied.

"Exactly."

Gambit thought about it, then shook his head. "Nah, don't worry about it. Elektra was always pretty screwed in the head anyway. Great body though."

"Good in bed too," Deadpool added, then nudged Logan. "Am I right?"

"Uh, sure," Logan replied awkwardly.

"Why, Logan, you sly dog," Rogue said batting her eyes at him.

Logan grunted, then said: "She ain't that screwed in the head."

Gambit shrugged. "Assassins are always screwed in the head. It's like an occupational hazard or something."

"Actually come to think of it," Rogue said thoughtfully, leaning back in her chair. "I haven't met that many assassins, but the ones I have met are all a bit nuts. You might be onto something there, Gambit."

"And that's what the X-Men want on their team, right?" Gambit said as Logan and Deadpool finished up the round. "The thief who points out how screwed up murderers are."

"Nah, we already have one of those," Rogue replied. "Well, she's a former thief. And Storm doesn't so much point out how screwed up murderers are as she does play moral compass. But close enough, right?"

Gambit smiled. "So, what do you want me for?"

Rogue thought fast. Until Gambit committed to the X-Men, they were not telling him about Professor Xavier communicating with them from twenty years in the future, and until they got into the middle of the fight between him and Deadpool, they didn't even know who they were after. With no real explanation of why they wanted him on the team to give, Rogue opted to take a page out of Gambit's book. She leaned back in her chair so she had the best view of Gambit and raked her eyes over his body.

"I can think of a few reasons," she said flirtatiously.

Gambit grinned at her as he gathered up the cards after Logan won the round. "Name one that doesn't involved you getting laid."

"Well, there's your skills—"

"You just said you already have a thief. Former thief."

"And your contacts."

"Hmm."

"And the mansion is in dire need of some decent eye candy... Oh I did say that one out loud?"

Gambit smirked at her. Logan frowned.

"Rogue," Logan admonished.

"What?" Rogue asked, batting her eyes at him.

"You'll both excuse me if I'm a little dubious about your reasoning," Gambit said as he shuffled the cards. "Since every time we've crossed paths before, we've been on opposite sides, more or less."

'Yeah, and we figure the best way to stop that from happening again, is for you to join us," Logan replied.

Gambit shook his head. "Not buying it. What's really going on here?"

"Nothing," Rogue replied, finally figuring out an appropriate response. "It's a no-pressure, open-ended invitation, and we're shamelessly taking advantage of the fact that your former employer is trying to have you killed to extend it. The Xavier Institute—and the X-Men—has always been open to mutants seeking sanctuary, or wanting to start a new life, and who believe—or are open to believing—in Professor Xavier's dream that one day mutants and humans can co-exist peacefully."

"Ah, so it's more of a general invitation and less of a specifically wanting me thing," Gambit said.

"Exactly. Although Logan is telling the truth when he says he wants you where he can keep an eye on you," Rogue added with a grin.

"I think I'd prefer it if you were the one keeping an eye on me, chère," Gambit replied as he began to deal the cards.

"I'm sure we can arrange something."

The men only played a few more rounds before everyone decided that they'd had their fill for the night (or the morning, the lighting hadn't changed at all, so no one knew what time it was without looking at a clock), and decided to head to bed. Which brought up the next bone of contention:

"Only got three beds," Gambit told them as they all gathered up their winnings and Rogue got up to retrieve her clothes. "So that means someone's taking the couch, or two of us are sharing."

"Dibs sharing with Rogue!" Deadpool announced.

"Umm, where have my clothes gone?" Rogue asked, looking around the floor with a frown and not seeing a stitch of her clothing anywhere.

"Yeah, Gumbo—" Logan began to say, the same time Deadpool added: "Double dibs on sharing with Rogue!"

"Right here, ma chère," Gambit said, gesturing to the pile of clothes on the floor between himself and Deadpool. He then gestured to the chips in front of him. "Looks like I won them all."

With her arms firmly folded across her chest, Rogue frowned at the chips. The chips were financially valueless, and as such everyone tended to use them first when betting because it meant they weren't really at any risk of losing anything. It was only at that moment that Rogue realised she hadn't actually seen Gambit bet with any.

"So it does," she said tersely. "Can I have them back?"

"Sure," Gambit replied smoothly. "Can I ask a favour?"

"You can ask," Rogue said irritably as she walked around to retrieve her clothes.

"Will you actually consider it?"

"What do you want?" she demanded while quickly locating her bra.

"I haven't gotten that far yet," Gambit replied with a shrug as he watched. "Just wanted to know if you'd consider granting me a request as a reward for my awesomeness in winning all your clothes."

Rogue shot him a Look. He grinned back at her. Logan growled at him.

"I'll consider it," Rogue replied stonily. "That's all I'll do."

"Merci," Gambit replied, and turned back to the room. "Now, back to sleeping arrangements..."

"I'll take the couch," Logan said with a dark glare at Deadpool. "No one is sharing with Rogue."

"Well, that should go without saying," Rogue said.

"Aww," Deadpool said, and they could practically hear him pouting.

Gambit chuckled. "Well, only my bed is made up, so we'll have to grab some sheets out of the cupboard. I'm sure there'll be an extra pillow and blankets around you can use, Wolverine. 'Pool, why don't I take you to your room first?"

Deadpool agreed, and Rogue continued dressing as they headed off. Logan didn't look at her, but half sat on the edge of the table. Rogue glanced over at him.

"You're annoyed I agreed to strip, aren't you?" she said.

"Just a bit, yeah," Logan replied. "But you're a grown woman and free to make your own decisions."

"I'm so glad you feel that way," Rogue replied cynically.

Logan grunted. Rogue pulled on the first of her two shirts and then grinned at him.

"It was fun though," she said. "I mean, yeah, things got a little perverted, and there were times when it felt awkward and weird, but it was still fun."

She didn't add that it was nice to hang out with a bunch of guys and not be just "one of the guys" for once. Not that she didn't appreciate being able to do that, but it was nice to know that men could look at her and see a woman occasionally.

"Sure, it's fun now," Logan said. "Don't want to see you get hurt later."

"I'm sure I'll manage."

Logan only grunted in reply, and Rogue finished dressing in silence. Gambit shortly returned, loaded up with a pillow and a couple of blankets.

"Here you go, mon ami," he said to Logan as he handed the bundle to him. "Ought to keep you nice and toasty tonight."

"Thanks," Logan replied dryly.

Gambit offered his arm to Rogue. "And if I may escort you to your room, ma chère?"

Rogue smirked at him and took his offered arm. "Sure."

The walk didn't take them far or long; just up a flight of stairs and down a hallway. Gambit took her to the room at the end. Rogue raised her eyebrows when she saw in. It was fully furnished and the bed was both made and looked like it had been slept in.

"This is my room," Gambit said, and went on quickly before Rogue could respond. "You can sleep here tonight, and I'll take the other room."

Rogue's cross expression shifted into a confused one. "Okay... why? Why not take your own room?"

Gambit gestured to the sliding door off to the side. "This is the only room with an ensuite. I figure you'd probably like your privacy."

Rogue glanced at the door, and then smiled appreciatively at Gambit.

"Thanks," she said. "I would, in fact."

He smiled back at her, and then kissed the back of her gloved hand. "Have a good sleep, ma chère."

"You too."