DISCLAIMER: I do not own marvel or X-Men.
Author's Note: This takes place after the whole Apocalypse thing, but Gambit has never met the X-Men and Cajun Spice never happened. Magneto had his Acolytes but Gambit was never part of them.
Cardsharp
Chapter 2: Nights that Rain II
He had plenty of skeletons in his closet.
His life is full of secrets and darkness.
His fate had been sealed the day Jean-Luc Lebeau had decided to take him in and raise him as his own.
Gambit sped down the highway in the drizzling rain; his brown trench coat flapping behind him in the rapid wind.
Essex had contacted him yesterday telling him to meet him at some abandoned warehouse in Manhattan. It's been a month of no word, the longest he's gone without hearing from Essex. It was funny to think that for a moment Gambit thought that maybe he was free…………….that his debt was paid and the promise for his freedom had actually come true. Too bad reality had to smack him in the face.
If there was one thing about Essex it was that a debt to him was never paid. A payment to Essex was with your life and nothing less. It was a lesson Gambit learned the hard way, but that was the beauty of blackmail.
It's just what happens when you make a deal with the devil.
He came to a stop across the street from a four story, old looking warehouse surrounded by a barb wired fence. The windows were completely boarded up and the building looked very much abandoned.
Gambit parked by a nearby alleyway and got off the bike. Taking off his helmet he took in his surroundings. The neighborhood wasn't much to look at. Apartment buildings surrounded the area and down the street a few stores and bar could be seen. The bar being the only thing open at this time of night.
Ignoring his uneasiness and cigarette crave, he placed his helmet on the bike and walked towards the warehouse eyeing the surrounding area cautiously. He ran his fingers through his wet hair and sighed, deciding the best way in.
He couldn't help but get a horrible feeling in his gut whenever he dealt with Essex, like he was going to be sick………..…or maybe, he thought, it's just a feeling you get when evil stares you in the face.
Lightning flashed in the sky followed by loud thunder. Within seconds the light drizzle turned into heavy rain, splattering against the gravel road. The rain soaked him thoroughly causing his hair to fall lazily over his face and trench coat to lie heavily over his shoulders. The winds picked up and he shuddered slightly pulling his trench coat's collar up around his neck.
He reached the wired fence, the entrance chained and locked. If Essex was in there then there was probably a way in around back. But instead Gambit grasped the large lock in his hand and carefully touched the key hole with a finger. A heating sensation flowed though him and he wasn't cold anymore; he let go of the lock as the keyhole turned into a bright violet sizzling against the rain drops. Then with a squeaked crack of breaking metal, the handle busted open.
He removed it along with the chain and let himself in. He knew that he should have just used a lock pick, but he needed a release of raw power to cool his pounding nerves. He walked towards a side door of the building he could see. He was robotic with his movements and emotionless, like a soldier. A façade he used when around enemies. He reached the door and turned the knob finding that it was not locked and headed inside closing the door silently behind him.
Inside looked like an empty garage. It was murky and smelled of old dead wood. The ground was concrete and the ceiling and walls were made of wood and rusted metal. There was a staircase to his left and a few rooms to his right. It was dark except for the dim light that came from one of the rooms. He walked toward it silently, as the sound of rain water echoed off the roof top.
He stopped at the doorway and there stood Essex, his back to the door, standing eerily still, as if he was thinking. Wanting his presence to be known Gambit cleared his throat.
Slowly Essex turned, wrath like in his movement and stared hard at Gambit.
"You are late", came the voice. It was quiet, intelligent, and calculating.
Gambit was silent, with a devil may care expression.
"Fortunately, you do superior work Mr. Lebeau", stated Essex as he took a piece of paper from his pocket and held it out to Gambit, who couldn't help but mentally cringe at the sight of the clammy, dirty hand clutching it.
Essex was a tall, skinny man with a long narrow face, hooked nose, and sick chalky skin. His pointy teeth were yellow and revealed black gums. His eyes were completely dead on black, along with his greasy hair. He wore an expensive grey suit, black coat and derby hat; the ensemble looked odd on him, completely contrasting with his corpse like appearance.
Gambit quickly took the paper and scanned it over.
"I expect everything to be done in no less than four days starting tomorrow, and you will leave for Seattle tomorrow afternoon." Essex stated walking past Gambit towards the exit.
Before he departed he turned around back to Gambit, "Oh, do bundle up it's raining quite profusely out there."
Then he was gone.
Gambit closed his eyes and took a breath as he felt undeniable rage. He crushed the paper in his hand and stuffed it into his pocket. His eyes glowed dangerously as he headed towards the exit himself.