Disclaimer: Gambit and Rogue belong to Marvel and Stan Lee. Thank you finally for putting Gambit into a film, I have to say he was worth the wait.

AN: Mild spoilers for the X-Men Origins: Wolverine film - my Gambit is based off the one from the film as is Rogue from the films. Set after X3, with future references to Origins. Please read and review, enjoy :D

The Poker Player

Rogue walked into the New Orleans casino not knowing what to expect. She had little money, not even enough to get her next plane ticket. This was where she would make it or break it. She approached the teller who would exchange her $100 for some chips and asked, " 'Scuse me miss, what's the entry level bet on that table over there?"

"The poker table? Your $100 there will get you in, but Honey, take my advice, that's the high rollers over there, I'd try another game unless you wanna leave here with less money than when you came in."

"I'll take my chances. Thank you."

"Good luck honey."

Rogue wasn't sure why, but the high rollers table seemed the way to go. She was either going to be extremely lucky or leave here with nothing.

She slid in at the empty seat.

"You boys mind if I join?" She asked the table.

"Not at all." The man who had the largest pile of chips in front of him looked over at Rogue and smiled. "You know poker miss?" He was eying up her small amount of chips.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't." She looked into his eyes, they were so dark, almost black.

The dark-haired stranger looked over at the dealer. "Game on." He then looked at the table. "Anti-up."

The game went round the table a couple of times, and Rouge found she'd put in all her chips just to stay in the game. She hoped her hand would be enough, but she doubted it. The other players folded and it came down to her and the dark-eyed stranger.

"You better hope you're lucky miss, or that I'm just bluffing. Wouldn't want to take all your money too soon."

"Show your cards." The dealer told them.

The man lay down his hand of five cards revealing a pair of jacks and a pair of kings.

"Two pairs. Well done sir, and your hand miss?" The dealer asked.

Rogue breathed a sigh of relief, she didn't know all of the poker rules off by heart but she was sure three-of-a-kind won out against two-pair. She lay down three queens.

"Three-of-a-kind beats your hand. Bad luck sir." The dealer told him while pushing the chips across to Rogue.

"Now that's just beginners luck."

The game carried on for a while, Rogue was smart enough to know when she should fold and when to call this man on his bluffs, although it was clear that he was very skilled at poker.

The other players slowly diminished leaving only these two. Rogue's chip pile was growing smaller, when the other player said to her. "I'll tell you what, I'll go all in on this hand, if you do the same."

Rogue analysed her cards, she had a very good hand, but how good was his?

"Deal."

They both pushed all of their chips into the middle of the table, winner take all.

"Reveal your cards please." The dealer said.

Rogue lay down her straight of A, 2, 3, 4, 5.

"Very nice hand Chere, but not good enough." He layed down a straight of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

"8-high straight. I'm terribly sorry miss." The dealer told her while pushing all of the chips across to the man.

He picked up a $200 chip and flicked it across to Rogue. "Thanks for being such a good sport, it's been a while since I've had much competition."

Rogue looked at him and smiled. "Well that's me out. Enjoy yourself." She left the table to cash in her chip and she could feel his eyes follow her. As she stood at the cashier, Rogue turned her head to look back at the poker table, but the mysterious man had already left.

Rogue left the casino so she could hail a cab to the airport. She wasn't sure where she was going, but anywhere seemed better than here.

"I already told you mon ami, I don't play with dirty money, give me my cut!"

Rogue heard raised voices coming from around the side of the building. Her better instincts told her to keep walking, then again she wouldn't have her ride out of New Orleans without the goodwill of the mysterious poker player. She recognized his voice and started to walk slowly down the alley. He was there, surrounded by four large men.

"You know the deal gumbo, we lend you money, you triple it for us and then we give you what you're given."

"And I don't play with blood money, I made that clear, so deal's off, I'm keeping the lot."

The largest of the three men grabbed him by the collar, lifting him up off the ground.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He said angrily.

Rogue stepped forward. "Let him go!"

The poker player's head turned swiftly to look at her.

"You ask your little girlfriend to come help you?" The leader of the gang asked.

"I appreciate the sentiment miss, but I would get your pretty behind away from here."

"No…..stay." The leader said, circling her. "She can help compensate us for your low takings tonight." He reached out and gripped her arm.

"Don't touch me!" Rogue said more frightened than she wanted to.

The stranger used this opportunity to reach into his jacket pocket and pull out some cards. Flicking them into his captor's face they exploded like fireworks rapidly one after the other. Dropping to the ground he withdrew his bo-staff taking the feet out from under the other three men with rapid succession. Grabbing Rogue's gloved hand he began running down the alley. "Come on Chere; lets get outta here."

Rogue didn't say a word instead running as fast as she could next to him. He turned and flicked almost a whole deck of cards behind them to buy them some time. They ran out of the alley and down a side street.

"This way." He pulled Rogue up as he jumped into a nearby building's fire escape and climbed up a couple of flights. He sat hunched in the darkness, putting his gloved fingers across Rogue's mouth to signal to be quiet.

Her eyes were wide as he came so close to touching her bare skin with his. They sat there silent for almost two minutes while their pursuers ran underneath them and away. He withdrew his hand from her face.

"We should be safe now. You crazy trying to help a total stranger like that? You don't know what you could get yourself into, this town is dangerous."

"You could at least say thank you, I gave you the distraction you needed." Rogue replied stubbornly.

"You could have been hurt." He told her.

"So could you." Rogue didn't just mean by the thugs.

"I can look after myself, looks like I've blown my cover. You ain't scared by the big bad mutant?"

"Not exactly. You and I might have more in common than just poker."

"I never would have guessed. A pretty thing like you a mutant? I go by the name Gambit by the way."

"I'm Rogue."

"Well Rogue you've just involved yourself in my business, which means Nu' Orleans ain't a safe place for you, or for me. I've pissed off some very powerful people. I need to get out of town and I suggest you do the same." Gambit ran his fingers through his unkempt hair. "You have a place to go?"

"I go where I please." She replied.

"So that would be a no." He commented.

"I'm new in town." Rogue shrugged.

"I have a loft up town, it not much, but there's a bed and a hot shower. Stay with me tonight and I'll work out where we go in the morning." He offered.

"Where we're going?" She asked. Rogue wanted to trust this man, but they were virtually strangers.

"Sure, I got you into this mess; I can help you get out of it. Unless you don't trust me?"

"So these guys are going to come after us?"

"Most definitely." Gambit's eyes burned a deep red.

Rogue breathed a sigh of relief as the hot water cascaded onto her tired skin. The shower felt like a safe haven, a sign of comfort in the mess she had landed herself in. After washing away her weariness she stepped out and wrapped herself in a fluffy towel. Reaching into her bag she pulled out her black nightgown. It only had thin straps which would not normally be an issue, but tonight she was not alone. She wondered if this Cajun expected anything from her, if he did, he would be disappointed. She didn't want to reveal her power to him, but if it came down to it, Rogue thought she might not have a choice.

Stepping out of the steamy bathroom in nothing but her nightgown, Rogue received an appreciative whistle from the man on the couch. She blushed.

"Well I was going to be a gentleman and offer to sleep on the couch, but the nights can get awful cold here. I could always keep you warm."

Rogue almost couldn't believe it, he was coming onto her. "That won't be necessary." She smiled at his effort and sat down on the edge of the double bed and began to tie her hair up.

He looked at her from the couch. "You play your cards awful close to your chest Rogue, what tricks have you got up your sleeve anyway?" He was asking about her powers.

"Can't a girl keep any secrets of her own?"

"Fine, play it your way. Sleep tight Chere, I'll see you in the morning." He rolled over on the couch.

Rogue couldn't believe what she'd gotten herself mixed up in; she only hoped this Cajun poker player wasn't going to make life any more difficult for her than it already was.