Thanks again to everyone who reviewed. I love it and appreciate it. I never knew how giddy it could make me feel. I hope all of you are enjoying the story. Please let me know if you can give any advice on writing. Adulation and praise are also accepted. :)

Once again, I own nothing. It all belongs to people more creative and talented than I.



Chapter 3

He had carefully crafted his schedule so that he had at least one class with each of the X-Men. In this way he could keep track of them and get to know them all, insinuating himself into their lives. He would have to be careful so as not to be found out, but his employer had put him on a deadline. Gambit hated deadlines, but this job had been too sweet to pass up.

By the end of the period he had the naïve telepath wrapped around his finger. His charm, which was actually a subtle, low-level hypnosis, was extremely useful, more so even than his other abilities at times. He didn't like to use it if he could help it, priding himself on his ability to win almost anyone over without resorting to his mutant abilities, but sometimes it was necessary. Telepaths, for example, seemed to be more resistant to his overtures and required a more direct contact. Thankfully the combination of his charm and ability to kinetically charge objects seemed to render him almost invisible to 'spooks.' This had been one of the major reasons his employer had been so insistent on obtaining his services.

Gambit absently rubbed his left shoulder. Insistent enough to send that brute, Sabertooth, to track him down. How they had known where to even start looking for him disturbed Remy more than a little, but that was a moot point now he reminded himself. The only thing that mattered right now was doing the job right. That and having as much fun as you could while doing it.

As he exited the classroom with Jean on his arm, several people were staring at them in shock, not the least of whom was Rogue. She had taken a little longer than usual leaving her classroom and had decided to show Remy to his next class if he needed it. When she saw Jean laughing at some witty observation though her expression changed from shock to consternation to a dull anger. Remy looked up just in time to see her turn on her heel and stalk down the hall clutching her book bag. He felt a momentary pang of regret, which he quickly shrugged off. He hadn't done anything yet.

He talked Jean into taking him to his next class, where he met Kurt Wagner. They were able to bond about both being foreign students. Kurt asked the rather awkward question of where he was staying at the time, but Remy was able to change the subject quickly. It simply wouldn't do to let them know that he routinely broke into one of the hotels in town and appropriated a room, considerately not bothering the night desk keeper with his presence. Gambit is always the soul of courtesy.

In his next class he became acquainted with Katherine Pryde. He was able to capture her attentions without even having to use anything beyond a little French. He was able to become privy to all the gossip of the school, as well as much of the personal lives of the institute residents when he politely asked her if she knew any of the others he had already met. This one be a gold mine of information, he thought to himself.

Kitty excitedly invited him to lunch. "C'mon, you can sit with me and my friends. I know you'll, like, love it. You already know most of them now. You just have to, like, meet Scott and Evan." She finally ran out of breath at the end of the fastest sentence Remy had ever heard.

"I feel like I already know them, chere. You've told me a lot about your friends." He bowed his head, appearing endearingly shy to her. "I hope they will like me."

"Oh don't worry about that. I know that Jean already thinks your cool, and I'm like sure that Scott and Evan will. Don't pay too much attention to Rogue, she doesn't, like, warm up to very many people," she said with a wave of her hand.

"Hey, Kitty." She turned to wave at a boy that Gambit didn't know yet. He was walking their way looking at Remy with something just this side of a glare. "Who's this?" He asked when he reached them.

"Lance, this is Remy. Remy, this is Lance," she said. She looked back and forth between them nervously as Lance stared hard at Remy and Remy gazed coolly back. It was hard to see his expression behind his sunglasses, but she got the feeling he wasn't the least bit intimidated by the Brotherhood leader.

"Hello, mon ami," Gambit greeted him, offering his hand to Lance. When the other boy took it, he squeezed perhaps a bit more than was necessary. Dis boy got a good grip, he thought good naturedly. When he noticed how Lance hovered protectively over Kitty he almost cracked up. Don' worry mon ami. You'll have plenty of chances to protect your precious kitten. For a moment his expression took on a bitter cast as he remembered the one person he had tried to protect when he was younger. She had been hit on the head and hadn't even known her own name. Even though she had been older than him, he had felt like her big brother, protecting her from the dangers of the New Orleans streets. Then one night she had just disappeared, and he never knew what happened to her. He had been a loner ever since, even among the other thieves on the street Le Diabla Blanc had been an enigma.

Shaking off his reverie he followed Kitty to the table with the other X-Men and got his first good look at them as a group. It was obvious that Scott Summers was the leader of the group. They all seemed to naturally defer to him in most matters. He seemed a bit uptight, but Gambit knew that came from trying to make sure that his friends, his family was safe. Dat's why it better to be alone. At least den you only got to worry about yourself.

He greeted them all politely and sat down next to Jean and Kitty. Across the table Rogue was alternating between glaring at him and looking wistfully at Scott and Jean while picking at her food. Gambit noticed her looks and catching her eye, winked slyly at her. She gave a start and looked down at her food quickly, so she almost missed what happened next. Remy simply reached out and took Jeans hand. She broke off her conversation with Scott and turned around with a puzzled expression on her face.

"I don't mean to interrupt," Remy said in his painfully correct French accent, "but I was wondering if you would be willing to show me around town after school." He smiled charmingly at her as all around the table mouths dropped in disbelief.

For a moment Jean seemed unable to answer as Remy kept smiling at her. Then she blushed and pulled her hand away. "Uh... sure, I don't see why not. I have to get permission from the professor and it will have to be after soccer practice..." she stopped rambling and took a deep breath. "Sure." Everyone at the table continued to stare, and Scott's teeth ground almost audibly.

"Jean," Scott said sternly, "you know you can't do that. We have " he broke off abruptly, realizing he had almost mentioned the danger room in front of an almost total stranger. "You don't have a car," he finished lamely.

"Perhaps she can borrow your car, mon ami," Remy suggested ingeniously. Scott was suddenly very grateful for his ruby quartz glasses that hid his glare.

"No," Scott said almost triumphantly. "I have to give everyone else a ride back to the institute."

Remy sighed in mock resignation. "That is too bad. Now we will just have to use my motorcycle. I hope you do not mind Jean."

Rogue almost giggled at the shocked look on Scott's face as he realized he had just been outsmarted. Then Remy got up from the table. "I must go now so I will be able to find my next class." With a jaunty wave he exited the cafeteria.

As soon as he was gone the table exploded with conversation. "Jean, I can't believe you agreed to go off with a stranger," From Scott. "Wow, you are so lucky, he is like, so cute," from Kitty. "C'mon Scott, he ees not a bad guy," from Kurt. "Cool, a motorcycle," from Evan.

Rogue was silent as the conversation roiled around her. She couldn't understand it. On one hand she was glad that Remy had asked Jean out. That meant that she wouldn't have to watch Scott fawning over her. On the other hand it irritated her that Jean was once again getting all the attention. Not that she wanted him, or any guy for that matter, to pay attention to her; it was just that Jean got more than her fair share. That's all.



By the end of the school day Gambit was starting to lose it. He had forgotten how petty and stupid high school could be. When he had left the lunchroom he had been accosted by three football jocks led by Duncan Mathews. Duncan had seen him flirting with Jean and had made it clear that he would "break your face" if it continued. When Remy had yawned in his face they had dragged him outside for a preview. Gambit thought that he had been quite lenient with them. Only one of them had anything broken and the bruises weren't anywhere that would be visible. He had then informed them that if anyone found out about the little incident they would be kicked off of the team and would be receiving a late night visit from him. This had quelled any threats of retaliation from them.

His last two classes had gone well, except for the period he had with Scott. That would have been awkward had he cared at all what Scott thought of him. As it was he knew that his plan was going perfectly. He had apologized to Scott and told him that if he was going out with Jean then that evening was off. Scott, of course, was quick to say that they weren't going out, they were just friends. Remy had smiled broadly and said that he was glad to hear that; and that had been the end of their conversation.

Deciding to amuse himself, he walked over to where Rogue was sitting in the front seat of Scott's sports car. "Hello, chere," he greeted her, accidentally letting just a hint of his Cajun accent slip through. It was exhausting to keep up a phony accent all day. "Looks like your riding in style today. Hope you don't mind me taking out the competition."

"What competition? I ain't competin' with Jean over Scott." She said defensively, glaring up at him as he leaned against the side of the red car.

I never said you were," he replied smoothly. "I jus' thought you might like to ride in the front seat for once."

She glared up at him for a few moments longer then sighed. "I do get tired of sittin' back there and watchin' him make goo goo eyes ovah her," she said softly. "I guess it might even be nice to have someone look at me like that. Not much chance o' that, though."

Remy looked at her in surprise. She wasn't supposed to confide in him. In spite of himself, he felt a connection with this unusual girl. Maybe it was because they both tried so hard to be strong, so hard to not need anybody else, and yet in the end they were only human. And humans need to belong, to be loved. Through long years of practice he didn't let any of this show on his face, but it shook him. "Now why would chere say that. You're at least as pretty as any of your friends, and a whole lot more interesting." Without realizing it, Gambit spoke the first pure truth he had in a long time.

Rogue looked up at him and smiled bitterly. "Ya don't understand, Remy. It just won't work out for me." She looked down at her gloved hand in her lap. "All I do is hurt people," she whispered.

Well, everyone knows how Gambit loves a challenge, he thought to himself, desperately trying to think of something to cheer up the depressed Goth. "Well chere, you might as well enjoy life while you got it. Why don't you ride home in some real style." He pointed across the parking lot to a shiny black Harley sitting out of the way.

Rogue looked up at him in astonishment then over to his Harley. "Ya can't be serious. You got that date with Jean tonight."

"But that isn't until tonight, chere. She'll be practicing for two more hours. Plenty of time for me to run you home. You can give me a tour of your institute."

"I don't know... I don't think I should..." she said doubtfully."

"Why not chere? It's not like you have anything to hide, is it?" He smiled playfully at her, cringing inside at using her like this to get inside the mansion. He had to get the security system mapped out, but he hated to do this to Rogue. She was just too much like him. I have to r'member to stay away from her after dis. Must be losin' my touch.

"No! Of course we don't have nothin' to hide," she nearly shouted, looking up at him in consternation.

"Well then, let's get going before your dad can talk you out of it," he said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder to indicate Scott, who was walking their way with a frown on his face.

Rogue took one look at his disapproving expression and her face hardened. "Alright, let's get outa here." She jumped out of the car and followed Gambit to his bike, completely ignoring Scott as he called after her. Once she had climbed on Remy gave a mock salute to leader of the X-Men and peeled out leaving the parking lot.

They sped down the highway, Rogue having to shout almost in Remy's ear as she called directions to him, the wind whipping her words away as it tangled in her hair. He deftly wove in and out of traffic, only occasionally obeying traffic laws. Rogue clung to him tightly, enjoying the sensation of wild abandon and the feel of holding someone so close.

All too soon they were at the gates of the institute. Rogue swung her leg over the back of the bike to dismount and stood shuffling her feet, refusing to look at Remy. "Ah really don't think it would be a good idea for ya to come in right now. Maybe another day would work." She tried not to sound too hopeful. She had had a great time on the ride up and was still exhilarated. She was trying hard to convince herself that it was only adrenaline."

"Don' worry 'bout it chere. Remy'll take a rain check." Rogue looked up at him sharply. His voice had changed, becoming tense and wary. More than that, his accent had changed. It was no longer the smooth French lilt, but something much closer to her own southern drawl. She noticed him looking hard at the mansion steps and turned to see what had so unnerved him.

There coming down the drive was Wolverine. He was dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt. She could clearly see the scowl on his stubbled face as he stalked toward them. She turned back to tell Remy that it was only Logan just in time to see him tear off down the road back to town. Looking confused, she turned to make her way to the institute."

"Who was that?" Logan growled as he fell in beside her.

"Just a new kid at school. Wanted to give me a ride home."

"Not smart, kid. Remember the mutant the professor's been trying to find? What if that was him. You just led him right to us."

"He wasn't a mutant. He's an exchange student from France. Can I go now dad?" She threw her hands up in disgust and headed to the danger room. Stopping by the professor's office on the way she got permission to practice alone for an hour. Now would be as good a time as any to test out the new powers she was supposed to have.



Gambit rode away from the mansion, cursing himself for nine kinds of a fool. Idiot, he thought to himself. Idiot, idiot. You know betta than to trust in someone else's scout. Dey tell you 'bout the kids and the wheelchair spook, but not the other adult. Gonna have to take a closer look around and find out what I'm really up against. Mebbe tonight I'll stop by, say 'Hi' to my new friends. He grinned with growing excitement at the thought. This was why he was a thief, the thrill was better than anything he could imaging.

He thought back to the quick motorcycle ride up to the mansion with Rogue clutching to him and yelling in his ear. Almost anything.