A Thief's Honour

Chapter 2: A debt to settle

It was crappy hotel, but no one cared. Neither did the occupant of room 24. He had just come back from a long night and a shower was definitely in place. He got undressed and when he was just about to enter the bathroom, someone knocked on his door. Sighing heavily, he quickly put the white hotel towel, he had in his hand, around his waist and put on his sunglasses. Then he made his way towards the door. Opening the door, chagrin crept onto his features. He knew sooner or later he'd have to face one of his employer's lackeys. Preferably later, he thought. He didn't even know the name of this… secretly dubbing him Monsieur LeCoq. All in suit and slick, greasy hair. He shuddered.

Against his will he stepped aside and let the man in, closing the door behind him with a bang.

"What d'you want?" he snapped.

The man turned around ever so slowly and looked at him with a smug smile. "You know, Gambit, Dr. Essex isn't exactly pleased that you haven't contacted him after your little 'excursion' last night," he said, ever the smile on his face.

Gambit rolled his eyes. "Maybe if he gives more time, might've done it," he replied, not able to keep the sneer out of his voice. He leaned against the door with his arms crossed, not trying to conceal his annoyance. "What's the real reason?"

"I'm here to claim the disk."

"What disk?" He decided to play it dumb.

The man sighed. "The one with the information you were supposed to get."

"No disk," Gambit said curtly. "Well… not for you."

"What, you didn't get it? I thought you were a professional."

"I am a professional. Can't say about you." Gambit secretly grinned. It was always fun to 'play' word games with dumb people. But only with these kind of dumb people. He was fairly sure Monsieur LeCoq was turning red now.

"Why you… insolent boy! Do you know who you are dealing with?"

"Oui, and so are you."

Seething with anger LeCoq tried to calm down and this time answered with a very calm and positively, intimidating voice.

"Just remember you have a debt to settle. And the Doctor is not one to fool around with."

"Don't tell me 'bout it," Gambit muttered under his breath as he moved away from the door. It was not like he liked the fact that he was indebted to Essex. It was the price he had paid for getting back in control of his powers.

In full control now, LeCoq now pulled a yellow envelope out of his jacket and handed it over to Gambit.

"Your next assignment. You are to break and enter in the Xavier Institute of Higher Learning. Your assignment details are in this envelope." He turned to leave, but halted at the doorway, turning slightly with a grin.

"Don't screw up, now, will you?"

Gambit narrowed his eyes behind his sunglasses. "Try me," he snapped.

"Remember where your loyalties are, my friend."

"Well, it's not with you, homme. Leave now or I may be tempted to put a stick through your brains!" And with that, he slammed the door closed again, while muttering curses in French. He took off his sunglasses again, throwing them, together with the envelope on the bed and strode to the bathroom. A bad ending of a not so bad night.

To be continued…