Ava dropped down from the train, not missing a beat this time as she smiled at the new change of scenery. They were finally in New Orleans and for a couple of minutes, she forgot about her troubles and took it all in. The air was different, that was for sure, even the train's looked like they belonged in the marsh as the trees had curtains of their own. Ava wished she had her camera as she wanted to take more pictures of her number one destination on her bucket list. She didn't even know where she should go but she knew she didn't want to go to a hotel just to sleep off her drive.
Gambit called to her, "You comin?"
"Yes" Ava turned breathlessly, "Can you believe we're in New Orleans?"
"Home sweet home"
"Gosh, you were so lucky" Ava glanced around.
"You wouldn't be saying that if you knew what kind of life I lived" Gambit mumbled before he urged, "Come on!"
"Alright, already" Ava turned back to him, "What's the rush?"
"Hidden cameras are everywhere" Gambit said.
Ava jogged up to Gambit's dark silhouette as he rushed in the shadows. She felt a hand grab onto hers and laced his fingers in between hers, making Ava blush. She thought back to the ride here when Gambit sat next to her and held her close while playing with her hand. Ava couldn't help but wonder what he saw in her and if this were true feelings he was developing.
"How far out is the nearest hotel?" Ava asked.
"We're not going to the nearest hotel" Gambit said, "We'll need to walk a good mile before going to a safe place"
"Why?" Ava asked.
Gambit hesitated before he said, "Because it's dangerous to be seen with me"
"What are you talking about?" Ava asked, "Are there mutant hunters here looking for you too?"
"Not exactly"
With his hand in hers, Gambit could feel Ava's grip lessen as she wanted to pull her hand out of it. In the week that he's known her, he's figured out that she won't stop until she got an answer that would satisfy her. Gambit sighed as he knew that the only answer she wanted was the truth.
"Gambit…"
"I grew up in a street thieves group called the Thieves Guild" Gambit explained, "They have a rival gang called the Assassin's Guild"
"Assassin's?" Ava asked from behind him.
"Yeah, but they're not really assassin's" Gambit said, "Just pains in the asses"
"So what happened?" Ava ventured.
"I was set to marry the granddaughter" Gambit sighed, "But her brother objected the marriage, challenged me, and I killed him. I was exiled from this place to keep the peace between the guilds"
Ava felt a gasp hitch in the back of her throat, looking at the side of Gambit's face. He looked deep in thought with his head down low and his trenchcoat high.
"I haven't been back since" Gambit finished.
"You should've told me" Ava said, "I wouldn't have asked for you to come with me"
"You didn't ask" Gambit smirked, "I volunteered, remember?"
"What would happen if they figured out that you were here?"
Gambit shrugged, "Dunno, maybe kill me"
"And that doesn't scare you?"
"Nah, I don't fear death" Gambit smirked, mischievously.
Ava bit her lip nervously as for once she wasn't thinking about her own safety making Gambit stop and turn to her.
"Don't worry about me, mon cherie" Gambit traced her cheek, "I'll be fine"
"Easy for you to say" Ava said, "Do they know about your powers"
"Yeah"
"Great"
"But they don't know yours" Gambit urged, "We'll go out at night if it makes you feel better so at least we'll have the moon on our side"
Ava glanced up to him, "You promise?"
"Of course" Gambit smiled, "If it makes you feel any better"
"Fine" Ava nodded, "Not until the sunsets"
"Whatever my Queen of Hearts suggests" Gambit lifted up her hand and kissed it.
Ava giggled, "What am I going to do with you?"
"I dunno" Gambit turned, "Fall in love with me?"
Ava just rolled her eyes as Gambit continued his own little teasing here and there with her. His mood lightened up a little bit after telling her about his past. She was glad that Gambit told her about it so for one, she wouldn't be blindsided by an attack but also that she learned something more about him. He perked up when he noticed a Bed & Breakfast not too far off with its front porch light on. He let go of her hand, fixed his coat before he walked into the building where a man was leaned over a book.
"My, my, my!" the man let out with a thick Cajun accent, "Lil Remy back in New Orleans! Couldn't keep away, could ya?"
"Not if I can help it" Gambit walked up to the desk, "How are you, Nicky?"
"Never better ever since I got myself out of the Guild" Nicky said in a booming voice, "What can I do for ya?"
"We need a room" Gambit looked over to Ava and winked at her, "We got some unfinished business here"
"Well, ain't she pretty" Nicky turned to Ava, "The name's Nicky, darlin, how do you do?"
"Hi" Ava said shyly.
"I'm guessing one bed then" Nicky turned to Gambit.
"You guessed right" Gambit responded.
Ava felt her cheeks were on fire as Nicky typed into his small laptop in contrast to his big build. Gambit sneaked back a look to her as she tried to tell him through her facial features that she didn't want to sleep in the same bed with him. He got the message, but he just smirked and turned back to his old friend as he turned to his wall of keys. Nicky handed Gambit a key with a smile on his face.
"Can't guarantee it has a good view" Nicky said, "Since you're not supposed to be here and all"
Gambit nodded, "Thanks, Nicky. I owe you one"
Gambit picked up his duffel bag from the ground as Ava followed him. He walked up the creaky stairs and went down the hall, seeming to already know which one to go to. Once he got to a door and opened it to a beautiful vintage room, Ava turned back to him.
"I thought we were moving forward with our relationship" Gambit said before she could say anything.
"What happened to two beds?" Ava asked.
"Cher, most B & B's have single beds, especially on this side of the country" Gambit tossed his duffel bag to the couch, "Call us intimate"
"Then we could've gotten separate rooms" Ava folded her arms over her chest.
"Then we'd both be vulnerable" Gambit said, "Me to the Assassin's Guild and you to the mutant hunters"
"True" Ava said in a deadpan voice.
Upon hearing this, Gambit beamed as he jumped down onto the bed, making it loudly creak. He placed his hands over his head as Ava sat on the other side and pulled off her boots.
"Make sure to stay on your side" Gambit teased.
"Shut up!"
"Whatever you say, firecracker" Gambit smiled, "We sleep until… whenever"
"How are we going to find the hunters?" Ava asked.
"I'm sure they'll find you, just gotta sit and wait" Gambit responded.
"Good, the sooner we get to them, the better" Ava said.
She turned off the light and slipped into bed as she heard Gambit sigh loudly before undressing to go to sleep as well.
