Issue 3: The Collector
Scene 1: (Early morning at the mansion.)
"What you doin' up so early chere?" Gambit asked, yawning as he walked into the kitchen.
"I never sleep in late," she said looking up, "but it gave me time to cook you guys a good breakfast." She smiled at him. His whole body ached from lack of sleep and spending most of the night in the danger room, but that one smile seemed to lift everything away.
"So, what kinda food you make for us dis mornin', eh?" he asked stepping around behind her and looking over her shoulder.
"You name it, we got it. I made a little bit of everything, something that should suit everyone's taste. Even a little cajun home cooking for you," she said looking up at him and then quickly turning back to her cooking.
"Oh, you too kind chere," he whispered softly by her ear, his voice making her heart skip a beat.
"Yeah, I had to go to about ten different stores to find everything I needed," Traveller said. Gambit was so close to her that she could feel his breath on the back of her neck, sending chills up her spine. She felt him wrap his arms around her waist.
"Yeah, good thing I was there with her to make sure she didn't run into any trouble," Wolverine said leaning against the doorway to the kitchen. He had timed his entrance perfectly. Right as Gambit was about to make a move, he entered, making sure the cajun didn't get the chance.
Gambit's eyes turned bright red as he looked at Wolverine who was smiling smugly across the room. He slowly slid his hands off Traveller and walked to the door leading out to the back of the mansion.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Traveller asked looking at him.
"Nah. Gambit suddenly lost his appetite. T'ink I'll go for a little walk," he said looking over at Wolverine and then back at her, "I see you later chere."
"Mmmm. What is that delicious smell?" Storm asked walking into the kitchen just as Gambit left. She was soon followed by the rest of the X-men.
Soon they were all sitting down eating one of the best meals they had ever had in a long time.
"How did you learn to cook like this?" Cyclops asked between bites.
"My mother taught me," Traveller said watching as they all ate and wondering how Gambit was.
"Well god bless your mother," Bobby (Iceman) said kissing Traveller lightly on the cheek to thank her for the meal and then left down the hall back towards his room.
"Where is he off to?" Jean asked watching as Bobby left, "He's been in his room a lot lately. Normally he's off flirting with Storm or someone."
"Yeah, I don't know what's up with him lately," Cyclops said, "As soon as everyone's done I need everyone to come to the meeting room. We got a lot of work to do today."
About a half an hour later everyone had gathered in the meeting room, awaiting to see what "work" Cyclops had for them. Gambit had returned from his walk and Iceman had come out of his room, very reluctantly though.
"So what do you got in mind for us today oh fearless leader," Wolverine said, mocking Cyclops.
"Well, if this Vertigo is as strong as he seems to be then I figured we need to spend a lot of time practicing and fine tuning our powers. We've all been "out of commission" so to say for quite some time and I think it'd be best to get the old schedule for the danger room back up and running. I'm assuming you know how to work everything Beast," he said looking over at the blue creature.
"Of course, who do you think helped build it?" he said smiling behind his wire frame glasses.
"Well then, let us take a trip to the danger room," Cyclops said leading everyone out of the room and to the place they had already spent so many hours of their life in.