To say that Remy was livid when he emerged from his confinement in the bathroom would be an understatement. He didn't say a word to Marie, but she could see it in his eyes. She'd damaged his pride and he was ready for payback. Those eyes told her he had something devious planned up his sleeve just for her, and that she wouldn't like it. Not one bit. She was a little concerned. He looked dangerous right now.

He looked like Gambit, the dicey man of the shadows. He had on black leather pants and a black T-shirt that fit snuggly like a second skin. It showcased his sculpted muscles perfectly. To complete his ensemble, he wore black leather gloves; encasing his long, slender fingers. He hadn't shaved, whether it was on purpose or whether it was because his stuff was in her bag, she didn't know. Regardless, the stubble brought his whole 'I'm big, scary and bad' look all together. To sum it up, he looked like a mercenary—a very, very angry with her mercenary.

"It's not my fault you're a Peeping Tom," she said simply to him when he refused to say anything to her. She couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire.

"I wasn't peeping! I came out of the bathroom and you were half naked!" he snipped defensively. "How was I to know you'd just take your clothes off?"

He had a point, but still…

"Well, proper decency invokes that you should have just turned right back around and stayed in that bathroom," she answered in disdain. "And if you would have just agreed to stay put, I wouldn't have had to lock you in there in the first place."

"You didn't let me out!"

"You were working so hard at escaping, I thought to myself, 'why ruin it?' It's much more rewarding for all your efforts to come to fruition."

He glowered at her. "I hate you."

"I hate you more."

They stared at each other. Each of them unmoving on the subject.

He spoke first, changing the topic, "Are you ready to go?"

"Depends on where it is we're going."

"That club I pointed out to you earlier. I'm meeting my business colleague there."

"Just let me do my hair and make up."

"How long will that take?"

"About a half hour."

"Okay."

Marie was back in their room doing her hair and make up in front of the bathroom mirror, while Gambit sat patiently on the bed playing solitaire with a deck of cards. She had no idea where the cards even came from. He didn't actually carry a deck with him, did he?

It was strange how minutes ago they were at each other's throats only to fall back into their friendly routine like nothing had happened. Neither had apologized to the other, yet neither was angry with the other anymore. At least not openly.

She suspected he still had something nice and nasty tucked away for her for later. Gambit didn't strike her as the type to just let things go without attempting to even the score. In her opinion, the score was settled. He had seen her undressing, so she locked him in the bathroom. In his opinion, he was locked in the bathroom for no reason at all. But if they were really keeping score, she still was offended by his 'amusing at best' remark.

When she was ready, she stepped out of the bathroom. His eyes were on her instantly. Unreadable, but on her.

"Ready?" he asked.

She nodded.

He got up from the bed and put on his trench coat. "You look good, chere."

"Thanks."

"I'd almost pick you up in a bar."

She raised her eyebrows. "Almost?"

Amusing at best, her mind sang viciously.

He shrugged. "I like blondes, but you'll be believable, if only for the curves."

"What?" she had no idea what he was talking about. At first she thought he was just using veiled insults, but he seemed to be telling her in some obscure way what they were doing. Or at least what she would be doing tonight in regards to his business.

"Oh? Didn't I tell you? You'll be my arm candy this evening." His grin did not meet his snake eyes.

There was no way he'd forgotten to tell her. He was playing with her on purpose.

"And what exactly does arm candy do?" she asked, not really wanting to know the answer.

"All you need to do, cherie, is fawn all over me until I get paid. I'll slip you the cash, and I'll leave you at the bar. I need you to come straight back here, so pay attention to the directions—you don't want to get lost."

"Wait a second," she interrupted. "You want me to pretend I actually like you and throw myself at you?"

"Oui."

"Do I get an Oscar for the performance?" she asked sardonically.

He smiled his wicked little smile. "Oh, Marie! You and I both know you won't need to act very hard. I'm irresistible to you."

Marie ignored that last comment. It was dangerous ground to tread upon. Besides, she had more concerning issues to attend to. "Then you're going to leave me by myself in Mutant Town to find my own way back to this… this place?"

"Oui."

"Isn't that kind of dangerous?"

"I suppose it is for anyone who tries to pick you up," he answered thoughtfully.

"I don't have my mutation," she said anxiously. Powerless and alone in Mutant Town at night was not big on her list.

"So?"

"Well, everyone here does."

Remy sighed as though she was being unreasonable. "Chere, you caught me off guard and kicked me in the face. My reflexes are a hell of lot quicker than anyone's here and you managed to catch me. Like I said, dangerous for anyone but you."

Marie was shocked. He thought she was tough, even without her mutation. He didn't think of her as weak or needing his protection at all. It was probably the nicest thing he'd ever said to her. He respected her strength and trusted she could look after herself. Nobody at the mansion seemed to think that way about her at all. It was always 'keep a close eye on Marie, make sure she doesn't get into any trouble'.

"I need a wingman," Remy continued. "And right now, you're the only person I want at my back."

She was doubled over in shock again. He trusted her. She didn't trust him as far as she could throw him, but he trusted her. Her opinion of him improved.

"Okay," she said, now brimming with confidence. "Let's do this."

He gave her a puzzled look. "Aren't you going to ask what I'll be doing?"

"Is it legal?"

"No."

"Then ignorance is bliss, Gambit," she said looping her arm through his.

He gave her an odd look, but nodded. He had been expecting another fight with her.

They were halfway down the stairs when he asked her, "Are you any good at writhing all over people?"

Rogue stopped abruptly. "What?"

"I need my colleague convinced you're just there for sex. Nothing more, don't want him suspecting you're my wingman, otherwise things'll get tricky," he said innocently.

There went her good opinion of him.

"How much… writhing?" She forced the word out painfully.

"Borderline dry humping." He smiled deviously.

Marie should have seen this coming. He was getting her back for locking him in the bathroom. She just knew he was.

"You're evil," she answered with narrowed eyes.

"And you love it, or least have to pretend to," he answered back delightfully. "Unless you stay behind, but then you can't really guarantee I'll come back, can you?" His grin only got wider.

He had her.

"I hate you," she said bitterly.

"No, you don't," he answered confidently, holding the door open for her as they stepped out into the night together.

x

"I know you said you didn't want to be disturbed about what Marie was doing, Storm," Emma began as she entered the control room, greeting the team as she stepped into the middle of the room, "But she's at a brothel in Mutant Town."

"What?" both Logan and Bobby exclaimed in unison.

Storm looked a little surprised. "Oh? I wonder what brought her there?"

"That damn Cajun, perhaps?" Logan growled. "You and I both know she wouldn't go near Mutant Town on her own. Someone's convinced her otherwise."

"He'll keep an eye out for her. He's not as stupid as he looks," Storm answered. "He knows if anything happens to Marie, I'll be coming after him."

"You've put a lot of faith in an X-student who didn't quite work out, Storm," Logan said in a low, tense voice.

"I know him, Logan. He may be a bit mischievous and misguided at times, but deep down, he's not a bad guy. Nothing will happen to her. He won't let anything happen to her, and if you don't trust him, at least trust her."

"I don't like it either, Storm," Bobby interrupted. "I think you've carried this mission on far enough. It's not safe for her."

Kitty and Colossus nodded in agreement.

"It'd be different if she still had her mutation," Kitty spoke up. "She could handle herself in Mutant Town no problem then."

Storm looked around the room at her team and Marie's peers. It was not the general consensus she had wanted. A team needed to have faith in all its members. This one didn't.

"You all feel this way?"

Warren and Emma didn't answer. Logan looked undecided. He was trying to leave this mission alone and let Marie be Marie, but it was awfully hard for him when he cared for her like she was his own.

Storm gave a grieved sigh. "It's my call, and I'm not intervening," she answered stubbornly. "It's about time we all stopped treating her like she's vulnerable and fragile. We all know Marie isn't. She may not have her mutation anymore, but that does not make her helpless or any less of a member of the team. None of you would even be questioning this at all if Xavier sent her on this mission."

Silence.

"I'll continue to keep an eye on her with cerebro," Emma sighed. "But I have to agree with Storm. It's hard to keep a psychic lock on Gambit to read his thoughts, but from what I've sensed in Marie, she seems to be fine. A little insecure at times… still, I think she can bring him back."

"What favour are you calling this guy in for anyway?" Kitty asked.

"I'm recruiting him as an X-man," Storm said simply.

"I thought you said he didn't work out at Xavier's?" Kitty replied. "Or at least that's what I gather from what Logan's said."

"He didn't quite fit in under Scott and Xavier's command. But I have different ideas on how to run things, and he fits my team perfectly," Storm answered.

The team looked unsure.

Logan stepped in. "Look, Storm's in command now," he said, straightening up against the wall. "We all knew there would be changes. There has to be changes for us to function now. Anyone who doesn't like it can leave."

It was blunt but to the point.

"I'm in," Kitty sighed in defeat.

Warren nodded in agreement. "Me too."

"And me," Colossus answered.

"So am I," Emma replied.

Bobby hesitated. "Yeah, I'm in."

Storm looked satisfied. They were slowly becoming a team again after the loss of so many mentors and mutants in the last war. The uncertainty would fade with time and the team would be strong once more. If the sentinel movement passed, they would need to be a strong team to go up against it.