Chapter Twenty Eight

"What in the blazes is this?!" Oh yeah, this is meh breaking the major rule in our household – never wake Remy up after work. A have a valid reason, of course. This reason is a carbon card with golden lettering with the following text: Mister Leo Burgess and his wife invite Mister Remy LeBeau and his wife to the gala evening dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Coliseum on the… date, time. What the fuck is this?

Remy gives meh no explanation, he just glances at the card, mumbles something incomprehensible and turns away. The only thing Ah can do is to sit in the kitchen and concentrate all mah anger on Remy's precious coffee machine. Maybe Ah can blow it with his powers? Surely that will wake him up? But I sit and wait; and then Remy finally emerges from the bedroom… only in his boxers. Okay, mah thoughts get sidetracked a bit.

But Ah am strong, Ah resist his charms that he always uses to have an upper hand. Yeah, Ah can, to some degree that is. "So are you going to explain what this gala is about?" Ah question his ass. Because Ah am sitting and he is standing, not because Ah am staring at it.

"Haven't you noticed three free days in a row in your schedule?"

"Well, Ah thought Ah got lucky. Come to think of it, this gala is on the second day! Still Ah don't get a thing!"

"Coliseum was opened fifteen years ago, so there is a celebration. Complete lock down for three days, nobody works. The catering on the gala is voluntarily, triple the pay."

"But why has nobody told meh?! Ah want triple pay too!" Bitches! Ah'll show you!

"Because you are coming with Remy."

Okay, he can have the upper hand for all Ah care, because when he users that serious commanding tone… Ah can only submit. "So what does it all mean?"

"It means we are going shopping."

"What for, sugarh?"

"Remy was not aware you had an evening attire," he remarks with a smirk as if saying, "How can you not have it? It must be in every woman's closet." Jerk, commanding or not.

"You mean to tell meh, you are going to wear a tux?" Now it's mah turn to laugh. Remy in a tux? Impossible!

"Exactly."

What's going on?!

….

The day of the dreaded gala comes faster than Ah want it. But Ah take back words on the account of Remy and the tuxedo. It's far from impossible, since he indeed bought one and, well… with his hair tied up properly for a change and mah black eyeliner around his good eye just for kicks, he looks rather… scrumptious. Will be the head turner even more than usual, but it doesn't bother meh in the slightest since today we are not hiding our rings as we usually do on the job, today everybody will know that Lucky Bastard is taken for good. The looks on those harpies… will be priceless.

Well, enough of the gloating, don't want to spoil the evening Ah know nothing about. Still. Remy is all tightlipped about it. Ah brought the topic on several occasions; while looking for the evening dress, for example. Ah thought Remy would be all annoyed with meh looking through the endless numbers of dressers and be distracted enough to let something slip. Not a chance. He was more interested than Ah was. The result – the most tight and open dress there could be, the emerald color does suit meh well, however.

So we arrive in one of the Coliseum's limousines (Remy must've pulled the nephew card) and enter, for the first time in mah life, through the main doors as guests not as employees. The feeling is… thrilling. The whole place is swarming with people, men in tuxedos and women in diamonds. Well, not all women, meh included. Some couples look, let's say, not particularly rich. We move through the crowd and Ah come to a frightening conclusion – Ah don't see any familiar faces.

"Who are all these people?" Ah ask Remy in a soft voice not to be overheard and make a fool of mahself.

"The management, investors, contributors, partners, loyal clients throughout fifteen years. And the Gamblers' Guild in all its entity," mah companion answers, but doesn't unveil the mystery in the slightest. But as far as Ah can see, the people around us, whoever they are, are quite familiar with Remy and greet him if only with a nod if not words. How long is he going to keep meh in the darkness?!

"Who are those, hunched in the corner and looking as if they suffer form a massive case of constipation?" Ah question, pointing to a group of people, looking strangely ordinary in the mass of mutants of all shapes, sizes and colors.

"Ah, those are the managers from the human part of the Coliseum. Must be their first time seeing so many mutants in one place."

"Is is safe like that?"

"We belong to the same organization, they did as much in these fifteen years as we did."

We did? Does Remy imply that he has been connected to this place longer than the time he is officially employed or Ah am just hearing things?

"And what about that rainbow group?" Ah continue mah interrogation.

"Haven't you heard of the Coliseum's Diadem?" he asks incredulously.

"Well, excuse meh for being just a fly on the wall around here! The only diadem Ah've seen around here is the one on mah manager's phone with a row of colored buttons beside it; and she really doesn't like to push any of them."

"Calm down, chere, there is no need to get all worked up about such little things." Now he dares to patronize meh! "And your manager is right to be acting like that, cause one pushes those buttons when one has really messed up. The Diadem is the top executives of the Coliseum. See that woman in bloody red?" Of course, Ah do, the woman surely has a presence, not to mention she is beautiful despite her being close to forty. "She is Ruby, the Red Executive, head of the PR, human and mutant. Former grifter with the power of hypnotism, she is the main barrier between mutants and humans."

"So basically she just hypnotizes the authorities to believe that the Coliseum is an ordinary hotel/casino with totally ordinary human customers," Ah conclude, not without distaste.

"It works, chere. Otherwise, we couldn't just go freely around town. Anyway, next to her is Black Opal, the Black Executive, the head of security and Lucrecia's guardian; next one is Sapphire, the Blue Executive, head of finances; Emerald, the Green Executive, is responsible for the hotel and everything in it, he is also Ruby's husband, and the last one is Diamond, the White Executive, head of human resources, mostly mutant ones."

"Wait a minute, White Executive… Azazel was called that during the hostage escapade. He is the head of human resources? But he is only nineteen!"

"He is still in university, but he is capable, at least the Boss thinks so."

"And Boss's word is law. Yeah, yeah, Ah remember that." Sheesh, Burgess is a tyrant, nothing less, putting a boy into such important position. Or maybe he is preparing the heir already? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Azazel is not a fluffy bunny himself.

"Shall we say hello, chere?"

Ah take a step into the direction of the group in suits of vivid colors, but something makes meh stop. Ah don't like this feeling, but Ah can't deny it either – Ah don't belong with them. Ah am just a waitress. Ah haven't even known about their existence till today. Born for crawling, can't fly. Ah convey mah sentiments to Remy and receive a frown in return.

"You are LeBeau, everything else comes second," he states, sounding as if his pride was hurt or something like it. Who would've thought… Ah know family is important to him, but now what exactly? Does this reaction mean Ah come first? That's good to know, of course, but Ah don't even know what to talk about with those high-ups. And Ah don't have any time to grab mah thoughts and ties them in any semblance of a proper conversation, cause several moments later Remy is introducing his wife to them. Oh, that's meh! Now everybody will know! God, this is so complicated!

Ah wait for the looks of belittlement and remarks about how could Ah possibly make someone like Remy LeBeau marry little plain meh, but nothing of the sort happens. We exchange some polite small talk about the decorations.

"Madam surely outdid herself this time," Sapphire remarks, looking somewhere to the side.

Ah follow his glance and have yet another shock of the evening. Ah thought Lucrecia possessed ideal beauty, but Ah was seriously mistaken. Missis Burgess is not called Venus for nothing. She and Lucrecia are identical twins, so she is also that beautiful, but if Lucrecia is bold, the pride and weapon of the White Widow, the cascade of white hair, makes her look ethereal, especially with that hair made into a contraption of curls and plaids decorated with sparkling stones, which Ah doubt are any less than diamonds. How could such a woman marry such cold-blooded bastard as Burgess? Well, she was an assassin…

"Ah didn't know, hm, Madam actively participated in Coliseum's management," Ah say in a neutral tone, not caring that Ah sound quite stupid not knowing such facts.

"Oh, she does!" Ruby chirps in reply. "She designs everything inside the Coliseum! Interior, uniforms, even chooses plates and napkins. The major work was done in the beginning, but she is relentless to improve continuously."

Now that's surprising. Or not. Both Burgesses are workaholics. How did they manage to bring the son up with all that work? Speaking of Az, he hasn't said a word since Remy and Ah joined the group. Ah start turning towards the lad, but mah neck snaps back hearing a question of Opal addressed to Remy.

"So how is your old man, Jean-Luc? Doesn't give you any trouble?"

"You know Jean-Luc?" Ah blurt out, before Ah can stop mahself.

"Yes, we belonged to the Guild at the same time," the pale man in a black tuxedo answers. "Competition was tough back then, so we parted ways."

A grifter for PR, a thief for security, Ah bet the accountant is a former embezzler and the hotel manager is some real estate con-man. The whole organization is run by crooks. Marvelous. And an assassin and a professional gambler as CEOs. Just marvelous. It's good to be just a waitress at times.

"I wonder if he will cause trouble, I doubt he was invited," Opal adds rather indifferently, not like speaking of a possible crisis which will definitely follow of Jean-Luc decided to pay a visit to his 'dear' step-brother.

Ah throw a glance at Remy just to check his reaction, but he looks as relaxed as ever. Seems that part of his life is in the past. Or at least hidden somewhere deep in the closet with other skeletons he tells meh nothing about.

"You seem to be unnaturally quiet today, boy. Not that you talk much anyway." The somewhat insulting remark is obviously addressed to Azazel who looks at his mobile for the umpteenth time and then bolts into the crowd without as much as an excuse.

"Youth," Emerald states, shaking his head in disapproval. He doesn't however say something like "And he is supposed to be our future."

So Azazel actually has a more or less equal position with the people twice his age. Impressive. So where did he run off to? The riddle is solved rather quickly upon Azazel's reappearance with his date which is quite a familiar face to meh. Ah watch as the protective brother grinds his teeth while Angie is introduced to the gathering.

Ah don't know if Ah should feel insulted or not by the fact that nobody commented on mah dress as they did on Angie's. Well, Ah admit Angie looks gorgeous as usual, especially in that ivory dress that makes her look like a bride. And no woman is more beautiful than while being a bride. Ah wonder if the resemblance is the reason of Remy's displeasure.

"So will we see your date, Opal?" Ruby teases the reserved man.

"She may come down for a bit," he mumbles, looking at the floor. Is he blushing? Security Chief and thief to boot is blushing about something so trivial? Now this is interesting.

Remy and Angie greet each other neutrally, implying acquaintance but nothing more. Seriously! How long is he going to hide the fact that they are blood relatives? Ah mean, if Angie is going to marry then he will be the one to give here away. So what's the point of dragging the issue?

What if she marries Azazel? The Burgesses will sit on one side of the chapel, and we – on the other. On equal grounds. That will be the day. But Ah am getting ahead of mahself.

"You doing good, Angie?"

"I am doing great, Marie!" the bride-looking girl answers with overflowing excitement. Ah don't know much about such things, but the girl shines with love and not sisterly one. "So it's serious, huh?"

"What do you mean, Marie?" she asks looking totally innocent. As if Ah don't know you, LeBeaus.

"Well, Ah don't particularly care, but keep your head straight, okay? And Ah am not going to break news to your beloved and caring brother."

Angie just shrugs, but the devilish sparks in her azure eyes betray her attempt at innocent demeanor. While Ah am… gossiping with Angie the topic of the conversation shifts, not surprisingly, to gambling.

"So will we see Lucky Bastard dealing at the Gamblers' Guild initiation tonight, or, should I say, will you play?" one of the men asks, don't see if it's Sapphire or Emerald. Weird names, hah. Corresponding calf-links are even more so.

"Remy is not getting even near that room," the apprentice of the Guild Head answers with surprising hostility. "Excuse us, we need to greet the hosts."

Before Ah even know what happened Ah am pulled away into the mass of people. Fortunately, there is no problem with meh and the crowds anymore.

"What was that about?" Ah question, pulling Remy back, because he is hurting mah arm with all the dragging he is doing. "Don't you like to play cards? Come to think of it, Ah haven't seen you play since that night at the bar. That's more than a year ago."

"Remy plays to win."

"Ah, you mean if you win you'll get into the Guild? But the temptation is strong, isn't?" Ah tease the gambler, but his face, constricted in pain, makes meh regret it. "Ah am sorry, Ah was out of line."

"Remy avoided it for years, he can do it this year too." The tightness of his jaw tells meh another story.

We move rather slowly since the Burgesses are the center of attention and getting to them requires pushing through a lot of rich people.

"Is it what you were talking about back then? About Angie getting involved with people of high class? Cause Ah definitely feel out of place here. Doesn't look like she has any problems though," Ah remark, noticing from the corner of mah eye Angie's animated conversation with Ruby.

"We will see in the long run, chere."

"Oh, so you consent to the long run?!"

"As if Remy has a choice. Seems that we will have that family dinner after all. Just like you predicted, chere. The Coliseum is thriving, the Hell must have frozen over."

"Didn't it happen when you of all men got hitched?" Ah tease mercilessly.

"Isn't it backwards, cherie?" Oh that scoundrel and his cocky smirk! But he does have a point. Ah've never thought of the possibility of meh having somebody close to meh to such a degree, to have a family, to have a lover… Having a power like mahne, Ah was sure to be only able to hurt people. But reality is different – a have a family now. Maybe we should visit Stacy. Or maybe not, there'll be no end to her telling meh how right she was about us.

So let's forget about the possible future and return to the unavoidable present – seeing the Burgesses once again. Breathing the same air is already enough for meh to have a bad mood, but conversing with them in a polite way? Impossible.

"Remy! How wonderful of you to join us!" Okay Ah was wrong: Valencia and Lucrecia are not identical twins, Madam's eyes are silver as is her voice. Ah don't know if she is just acting like a good hostess, but that greeting sounded just too warm for mah liking. And Remy just has to kiss her hand.

Ah just can't understand Remy's… disposition towards, well, his claimed family. His unshakable loyalty to Jean-Luc, even if he hates to be associated with his step-father, but he doesn't deny their relation since Jean-Luc made Remy the skillful thief that he is; his submission to Burgess, another LeBeau, even if he fears him and doesn't like ways the Boss does his business, still Remy will do everything to make that business thrive; Remy's obvious respect towards Missis Burgess, she must possess something that makes her the woman, why Remy, the Cajun Casanova, could not dare to put his claim on. Could it be that their example made it possible for him to escape from the Guild? But he didn't change the name, he remained LeBeau.

A complicated family indeed. So how do Ah fit into this picture? What does it mean to be LeBeau first and everything else second?

"What a wonderful dress you are wearing."

A pinch on mah arse makes meh realize that the remark is addressed to meh. "Thank you, hm, Madam," Ah can't help but stammer in response. The shine of those silver eyes is unnerving in the least. "Mah husband chose it." Let's set some borders here, stammering or not.

"Oh, yes, Remy has always had a fine taste in everything female," she states in a tone that screams superiority.

So now Ah am a thing chosen on the market?! Don't just stand there, say something, husband of mahne!

Rem must've heard mah screams of humiliation since he responses with, "Marie is not simply a fine woman, Madam, she is Remy's ideal."

Okay, that is a bit over the top, but who am Ah to complain, since that puts that over-decorated siren in place? Beautiful she may be, but a woman always regards another one as her enemy. What Ah want to know, how she survives with the lying detector? Conclusion – one should not mess with Burgess's Venus. So, Marie, just smile politely and let's get out of here. And obviously no luck with that.

"The girl… is interesting," the Boss drawls lazily. Can't even say here name, the cold-blooded, high and mighty bastard. "You raised them well, Mister LeBeau." And again the distance of the family name. Missis Burgess seems to share mah opinion since she squeezes her husband's forearm much tighter than it is appropriate to show affection.

"Well, you didn't bother," Ah mutter under mah breath, unable to hold it in. Ah, mean, who in their right mind tosses an uneducated mutant at the lap of a guy who is barely over twenty himself?

Ah am still heard nevertheless. "I didn't want to repeat Erik and Charles's mistakes. It was better for the boy to be trained by someone who had no personal interest."

And what is this supposed to mean? And who are Erik and Charles? Wait a minute… Burgess addresses Magneto and Professor Xavier by their first names? Well, yeah, Juggernaut was totally crazy, and Magneto did put Wanda into asylum. Pietro, well, you know Pietro. So what were those mistakes Burgess wanted to avoid with Azazel? Forcing his doctrines onto him and failing since they have totally different powers? He couldn't give him to Xavier either with an overwhelming power like that. Azazel's mother was with the boy, that must've been enough for expression of parental care.

And no personal interest, mah ass, Remy and Az are as close as brothers, even with the usual conflicts. The way Remy rushed into the Valentine's Day mess… as if his own life was on the line. Yes, Angie was in the building too, but definitely in less danger than Azazel in the control room. And as far as Ah can understand the three of them – Burgess, Remy and Azazel – will maintain the picture of no personal interest involved in their relationship. Just in case. An insurance policy against possible attack. What can Ah say, twisted, but practical.

Thankfully the official part of the celebration is about to start, so we bid the bossy couple adieu and take our seats at the assigned table.