Chapter 3

Some hours later, Gambit opened up the door to the hotel room they'd just rented. The motorcycle had been parked a good distance away, in the event that they had been tracked. Gambit already decided he needed to organise a new vehicle. Rogue shut and locked the door behind them.

"So, you're a thief, huh?" she asked into the silence.

"I did tell yo' I was in the acquiring business," Gambit replied, not looking at her.

Rogue chuckled.

"So ya did," she mused. "Do ya often get caught?"

"First time in ten years, chérie. Must be getting sloppy. Or... he really was just guessing. Sorry yo' got involved chérie."

Rogue shrugged.

"He was still mad at ya about Eleanor, and when he heard ya were in the area after he got robbed..."

"No evidence at the scene of the crime?"

"Uh huh."

"I can work wit' dat."

Rogue chuckled.

"Anyway, Ah'm just glad muh powers aren't back ta full strength yet, otherwise we might be havin' a whole other conversation right now."

"Yeah?" Gambit asked curiously, looking up to meet her eyes.

"Yeah. C'mon, two absorptions in ten minutes? One psyche trying ta vie for possession of muh body is bad enough, but two at the same time? Ya have no idea how much that sucks."

"Vie for possession?" Gambit repeated. "Just what goes on in dat pretty li'l head o' yours?"

"Muh own personal multi-personalities disorder," Rogue grinned at him. "'Cept these voices are real - all the voices of everyone Ah absorb, they stay in muh head permanently. Gettin' a little crowded actually. Never actually been taken over, mind you, it's just ta begin with they're so damned loud it feels like it. Ya don't need ta worry about me trying ta kill ya in your sleep or anthing."

"Well, dat's comforting t' know. Yo' sure you're alright, chérie?"

Rogue shrugged.

"Ah'll be fine. By the way, if Ah ever wake up screaming, that's why. Other psyche induced nightmares."

Gambit frowned and closed the distance between them. She flinched and stepped back a little, but Gambit put his hands on her shoulders and caught her eyes.

"I t'ink I'm beginning t' understand," he said slowly.

"Understand? Understand?" Rogue repeated, an outraged tone filling her voice. "No one understands. No one understands anything except that Ah drain 'em and knock 'em unconscious. Ah've even had telepaths go through muh head, gettin' caught up in the patchwork of memories from everyone Ah've ever touched and even they don't get what it's like - what it's really like. You don't wake up every mornin' wondering who ya are or which memories are yours, because it's only you in your head. Only you, all alone."

She tried to pull away, but Gambit caught her and pulled her closer, pressing her head against his shoulder where she closed her eyes, screwing up her face in an attempt to keep from crying. She was done crying about this. She was done crying about her powers coming back.

"Yo' right, chérie," he said softly. "Dere is no way I will ever appreciate just exactly what yo' go through twenty-four hours a day,and I wouldn't insult yo' by suggesting I did. Just been trying t' figure yo' out chérie, dat's all I meant."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

A short silence followed.

"T'inking t'morrow we stay here for the duration. Bike's parked far enough away shouldn't know which hotel we're at. Any luck dey'll t'ink we abandoned it. Which I'm kinda t'inking o' doin' anyway," he considered. "Might slip out sometime t'morrow and see if I can't get us another ride."

"Gonna steal that too?" Rogue asked, only half teasing.

"Non, got enough trouble on our tail wit'out attacting cops as well. Pity," he mulled it over. "Mebbe I'll report it stolen."

Rogue choked out a laugh.

"A thief reportin' something stolen?"

"Cops gotta come in good fo' somet'ing chérie."

Rogue giggled.

"Yo' wanna use t' shower first or will I?" he inquired.

"Ya can."

"Okay den."

Gambit removed his trench coat and boots and headed into the shower. Rogue sat down on the bed and rubbed her face. What was she doing here? With him? Maybe she should just leave on her own. She closed her eyes. Split ways, less chance of getting caught. She'd absorbed them though, little as it might be, and knew there was little chance of them ignoring her if they saw her alone. After all, they wouldn't know they'd split ways.

Rogue sighed. What was that she'd been thinking earlier that day? The last time she'd hooked a ride with a guy with a motorcycle thing had worked out okay? She snorted. Should have know better than to think history would repeat.

She just wanted to get home.

Rogue paused. Home? Where was home? Not in Mississippi, not any more. Should have known better than to go back to her family, after they all but disowned her after her powers manifested. Xaviers? Maybe. That was where she was headed but would she even still be welcome there? She didn't like to say so aloud, but it had been beyond merely 'awkward' after she go the so-called "Cure". She felt like she was some kind of traitor. A traitor, for wanting to feel and touch? To silence the voices she feared would take over and drive her insane? For wanting to end this curse, this madness?

When was that man ever going to come out of the shower anyway? Only showered this morning... well, she supposed they did have a lot more grime and dirt on them from today's antics anyway. Why'd they have to take their things anyway? Probably going through them for whatever it was that Gambit apparently stole. So needed a change of clothes right now.

Rogue shot up. Oh great. No clothes, that meant no night clothes either. Well, separate beds so that wasn't an issue but her current clothes weren't exactly the most comfortable things to sleep in, so what, underwear? Commando? Rogue wasn't sure she was really comfortable with either dress code whilst in a room with a man she barely knew.

Before she had a chance to contemplate the matter further, Gambit emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in only a towel. Rogue stared, and started to blush heavily when she realised she was staring. This morning he'd been clothed when he was done with the shower, tonight she was getting the opportunity to appreciate exactly how well built his lean body was. No wonder he was able to lift himself up so high with with muscles like that!

"Umm, lost something?" she asked once she could find her voice.

"Oui, now dat yo' mention it," Gambit replied. "I t'ink I'm short a deck o' cards. Don' remember if I had five or four o' dem before."

"Umm, Ah meant your umm, clothes."

"Not lost chérie. Washed. Wit' any luck they'll be dry by morning. Which reminds me, dere's a t'ing fo' room service on the door handle fo' breakfast. Should probably fill that out, no?" Gambit said, retrieving the paper.

"Oh, umm, yeah."

"Save us having t' go out."

"Can't have that. Especially, when, y'know, clothes might not be dry."

"Exactly," Gambit agreed.

He retrieved the pen from the table and sat down next to her on the bed. Rogue swallowed hard, wondering why she was so nervous. Was it the idea of being in the same room with a virtually naked man? Or just the fact that even though he knew all about her power, he had no problems sitting so close to her their arms rubbed together? Both?

"Okay chérie," he said, holding out the paper so they both could read it. "Whatcha like?"

Somehow Rogue managed to hold down an intelligent conversation without babbling or something else equally embarrassing. Once the form was filled out, she opened the door and stuck it out on the handle were it could be collected. They'd checked the times, and it was still before the collection deadline. Gambit set aside the money on the table for the morning.

This done, Rogue pulled off her own shoes and headed into the bathroom. She took in the wet clothes strewn wherever Gambit could find a place to hang them. As she pulled off her own clothes and caught a whiff and noted the large patches of dirt she decided that he probably had the best idea after all. But then, that would involve her working up the nerve to walk out there in nothing but a towel herself. Well, it would solve the "what would she wear to bed" dilemma.

Gambit climbed into bed, dropping the towel on the floor beside him and smirked to himself. He hadn't anticipated Rogue getting so embarrassed. Maybe he should have waited until they'd acquired new clothes, but he didn't really want to waste time with such activity tomorrow and increase the chances of being spotted. Bad enough that he needed to organise a new ride, but he dared not return to his motorcycle, not when they were likely on the look out for it. Two vehicles in one day, now there was an expensive exercise.

He frowned. He would definitely have to avoid being "seen in the area" next time he robbed someone he knew. Especially someone who had reason to hold a grudge. He was a little disgusted that had happened at all. On the other hand, it amused him a little to think that Cooper probably would have blamed him based on that alone even if someone else had accepted the commission.

Definitely needed to get Rogue to New York, Gambit decided. Sooner the better. Cooper had used her against him once, and he had no doubt they'd do it again, given the opportunity. And he had to give him points for his method of preventing him from using his power. Creative. Never wanted to be in that situation ever, ever again, but definitely creative.

Gambit laid back on the bed, tucking his hands behind his head. Rogue was certainly a very intriguing young woman and tonight's revelation had sure helped him fit some of the pieces together. Certainly if her absorptions of the last two days where any indication of the calibre of voices in her head, it was little wonder she was so jumpy. He hoped she had some good folks in there too.

He grinned then, remembering the expression on her face when he'd stepped out of the bathroom. So precious. You'd think she'd never seen - oh. Well, she possibly had seen, but not being able to touch? Probably never went swimming, or when she did, made sure it wasn't crowded or something.

Gambit shook his head, struggling to comprehend this. He was a tactile kind of guy and the idea of not being able to touch anyone was foreign to him. He'd always been able to touch people without fear of hurting them, and did so frequently. He frowned. Rogue's parting shot to her assailant the other night after she kissed him, what was that? Something about washing his mouth out with soap? Gambit thought she was just being funny, but now it seemed more like a bitter mockery and a cruel joke. A kiss wasted on a man who could never - would never - appreciate the woman behind the lips.

The bathroom door opened then and Rogue stepped out, wrapped in only a towel. She didn't look in his direction. Gambit decided that a wolf whistle was in order and he grinned as her face went bright red. She scurried to her own bed, and got under the covers before dumping the towel and kept her eyes firmly fixed anywhere but in his direction. Gambit rolled over on his side to face her, propping himself up on one arm.

"Yo' have a very nice set o' legs there, chérie."

"Uhh, thanks."

"Yo' welcome," he grinned, then decided he wasn't quite done yet: "I'm not embarrassing yo' am I?"

Rogue made a non-committal grunt. Gambit chuckled.

"Sorry, chére. And I'm sorry, again, for t'day. If I had any idea dey was on my tail I wouldn't have suggested dis."

"It's... it's okay," she said softly.

Silence.

"So, uhh, you always been a thief?"

"All my life," Gambit replied.

He paused, considered that this was the second time tonight she'd brought the matter up and went on to ask:

"Does it bother yo' chérie? Travelling wit' a master t'ief?"

"Master thief?" Rogue repeated. "So modest."

"Just saying it like it is, chére."

Rogue considered, then rolled over on her side so she could face him too, the arm on top making sure the covers stay firmly in place. She tried not to notice that the covers were only pulled up to his waist.

"Ah've done muh share of thievery," she said finally. "Besides, who am Ah ta criticise, really? Ya steal material things, Ah steal lives."

Why was it conversations with Rogue always ended up about her powers? It wasn't like her entire life revolved around - oh wait, it probably did.

"Yo' always wanted ta be a t'ief chére?"

Rogue giggled.

"Ah always wanted t' travel anyway. Air hostess maybe. Hadn't really decided. Ah was plannin' this huge trip for when Ah finished high school. Ended up going on it two years earlier than Ah'd planned with nowhere near enough money."

"Hence da t'ieving?"

"Yeah. It was either that or starve."

"How'd yo' end up at dis mutant school o' yours?"

Rogue paused, then grinned impishly at him.

"Ah got a lift with a man who owned a motorcycle."

Gambit laughed.

"His name's Logan, and Ah kinda stowed away in his trailer. Caught me, thought he was gonna leave me on the side of the road at first but he relented," Rogue mused. "Had a car accident, kinda. Sabretooth blocked the road on us and we didn't notice until it was too late -"

"Sabretooth?" Gambit repeated, a little startled.

"You know the name?"

"I've met him myself. On multiple occasions no less."

"You have muh sympathies. Anyway, Storm and Cyclops -"

"Storm?" Gambit interrupted again. "White hair? Eyes go completely white when she uses her powers?"

"Ya know her too?"

"I rescued dat particular 'damsel in distress' when she was about twelve."

Rogue laughed.

"Now I really have t' visit dis school o' yours," Gambit said merrily. "It'll be great t' see Stormy again."

"Stormy?"

"She always hates it when I call her dat."

"Ah can see Ah really have ta be there when ya catch up," Rogue giggled. "So Storm and Cyclops rescue us and next thing Ah know Ah'm attending Xaviers School for Gifted Youngsters."

"Gifted Youngsters, code for Mutants, no?"

"Exactly. Anyway, Logan and Ah've been friends ever since. Ah mean, he doesn't stay at the school all the time, he's always going off and seein' something but it's cool. He's the one who taught me how ta ride," Rogue smiled shyly. "Actually, for awhile Ah kinda had a crush on him but y'know... He treats me like a person, doesn't even flinch when Ah come near. Hell, even saved muh life once, so Ah figure Ah'm allowed ta indulge in a crush."

Gambit chuckled softly and Rogue considered her last sentence. She gave Gambit a mock-suspicious look.

"That's the real reason why ya inta the damsel in distress thing isn't it?"

"How'd he save yo' life chérie?" he asked, refusing to rise to the bait.

Rogue chewed her lip as she considered.

"Ya hear about the Ellis Island thing a few years ago? With the UN Summit?"

"Yeah that funky-looking cloud t'ing no one could explain afterward except t' blame it on mutants? Magneto was involved..." Gambit raised his eyebrow. "Yo' were dere too chérie?"

Rogue nodded.

"Magneto had an aversion to dyin' himself, and since he knew the machine would kill him, he decided to transfer his power ta me. Which was why Sabretooth was after us."

"That guy sure gets around," Gambit muttered.

"Yeah, well," Rogue said, not entirely understanding what he meant by that. "Anyway, Logan, and Storm, Scott and Jean all came ta rescue me. But Logan... Ah was already powerin' the machine before they could stop it, and when they finally did Ah was unconscious and dyin'. Anyway, Logan has this healing factor. We're talkin' amazingly rapid self regeneration here. He touched me and, well, brought me back ta life."

She chewed her bottom lip.

"Thing is, when people touch me, they can't let go. Ah have ta be the one ta do the lettin' go. If Ah hadn't regained consciousness when Ah did, Ah coulda killed him. He was comatose for days afterwards as it was."

"Healing factor, huh? He wouldn't happen to have claws too, would he?"

"Don't tell me you've met him too? Made outta adamantium?"

"That's the guy. Well, well, chérie, dis is a small world. I was dere when he lost his memory. He regain any o' dat?"

"Yes and no," Rogue shrugged. "More from y'know, takin' the time ta do his own investigations than actual rememberin', Ah think. Though, he's not really lookin' much inta it these days after what happened with Striker."

"Now there's another name I haven't heard in years," Gambit shook his head. "Logan, Stormy, so glad I bumped int' yo' chére. Is Logan still afraid o' flyin'?"

"Afraid of..." Rogue laughed. "Umm, not that Ah've noticed, given the number o' times we've flown in the Blackbird."

"The Blackbird?"

"It's our jet. Ah've only had a few lessons though. First time Ah tried to fly it? No lessons at all. Just me and Bobby, getting tired o' waitin' fo' everyone ta come back. All the winds and stuff, it was just... so hard ta control and everythin'. Totally freaked out."

"Ha, I know what yo' mean. A couple o' mes amis and I broke int' a military compound and hot wired a jet when we were twelve. It was awesome."

"You hot wired a jet? A military jet? Why?"

"Just t' see if we could," Gambit replied boyishly. "Even got it off the ground. Crash landed. No one got hurt, though. Or caught."

Rogue giggled.

"Y'know it's just occurred to me. Both times Ah got lifts with guys who own motorcycles Ah got attacked."

"Coincidence?"

"Either that or Ah have a secondary mutation that attracts attacks."

Gambit chuckled with her.