Disclaimer: I do not own, nor am I making any money from, the X-Men
characters. Thank you to Corrinth for the loan of Ilehana Xavier. Blaze is,
always has been, and forever will be mine, so there!
A/N: Don't forget to review!
Scene 3
Madrid, Spain, five years previous...
"You've never been romantic in your life, Remy le Beau, I know, I was there! I've watched your love-starved girlfriends dream of roses and chocolates."
"Oui Chere, but maybe I just waitin' for d'right woman..." He smiled at her as they walked down the busy street, dodging the other pedestrians and weaving through pavement cafes. "Maybe I... What the?"
A long, sleek black car pulled across into a side street just in front of them. The doors opened and two men climbed out. The driver rippled with muscle as he slammed one oversize fist into his other palm. The passenger was obviously the one in charge, dressed in an exquisite blue suit and with an air of command. It was he who addressed Gambit.
"Remy le Beau? I have heard that you are the best independent thief in the business." The man's accent was British, his eyes cold green and empty. He didn't seem to care that the street was crowded with people who might not take to kindly to a thief in their midst.
"Maybe I am. What's it to you?" Replied Gambit as Blaze took up her wingman position behind his left shoulder.
"Gambit, this isn't the place for business." She whispered, uncomfortable as a little grey old woman bustled past with her weekly shopping.
"My name is Alessandro Jacobi. I'm a businessman of sorts and I have an offer for you, Monsieur le Beau. Crush," Jacobi spoke to his driver, "Give the good man my card."
Grudgingly, Gambit took the small slip of card off the driver. It showed only the usual name, address and phone number. Gambit dropped it in a pocket as Jacobi continued to address him.
"I'd like to offer you work of the most challenging variety. Take up my offer, and I can promise you a whole variety of, shall we say union benefits."
"Union? Sound like a guild to me, Jacobi..." Remy's red-on-black eyes narrowed at the thought. Who did this imbécile think he was, tryin' to recruit Gambit?
"You said it yourself, Mister Jacobi," Blaze was annoyed, who was this Jacobi to try steal Gambit away from her? "Remy's the best independent...He's not gonna join you now is he? Now if you don't mind, we've got reservations."
Jacobi physically wrinkled his nose in disgust as Blaze spoke to him, and his reply was equally as degrading to her as he spoke only to Gambit.
"Your expertise would be well paid, I can assure you. But I need an answer now."
"You heard the lady, Jacobi. Gambit ain't joinin' nobody."
"Fine. I'm a patient man, Remy my friend. I can wait until you are ready." And with that Jacobi and Crush climbed back into their car, and reversed back into the flow of traffic and away. Frowning Gambit turned to the livid Blaze.
"Why'd them last words sound so much like a threat..."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Xavier Mansion, present day...
"And to repeat tonight's main headlines," The news channel front man spoke over the dramatic background music. "All over the country violence is erupting as the activists known as the Friends of Humanity promote attacks against mutants in an effort to force the government to commit to the mutant registration act..."
Sadly shaking his head, Charles Xavier touched a finger to his temple and called out to a friend.
**Kitty? A moment of your time please? **
**Professor? ** The young female mutant sat cross-legged on her small university bed, work spread around her as her roommate made coffee. **What's wrong? **
**I'm afraid I need to call on your services, Shadowcat. There is a family of mutants living not far from your campus. I'm afraid they are under siege in their own home by the Friends of Humanity...**
**FoH? We got some of those losers on campus. Are they like stupid or what? Don't worry Professor; I'll get this family out. **
**Very well. ** The Professor's pleasure at Kitty's bravery was obvious through the telepathic bond. **But do not put yourself in danger. Make sure you are not seen, Kitty, the Friends of Humanity are very dangerous. **
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It didn't take long for Shadowcat to arrive at the street Xavier had directed her to. It wasn't hard to spot the right house on the street either, the mob was huge and in fine voice, shouting and pelting the house with stones and rotten fruit. The police did nothing; scared for their own welfare they simply contained the mob, keeping them in the one street. Past the hastily erected barriers, TV crews fought for position as they gave their pieces to camera. Suddenly nervous, Kitty brushed a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear and touched her fingers to the X-insignia on the collar of her uniform. If Charles Xavier thought she could do this, then she could.
She walked back the way she had come, round the corner of the row of houses. Then, taking a deep breath she plunged through the pristine white fence of the end house's back garden. Somehow everything seemed much more peaceful on this side of the seven foot barricade. The house under siege was the fifth one along, so Kitty set off at a run through the fences, each equally pristine and tall as the first. It was ironic, Shadowcat thought, that these fences were meant to protect the families who lived in these houses. Guess they never realised they'd be trapped in if they couldn't get out the front door.
Phasing through the back wall of the house, she found everything in darkness. Curtains were drawn over the windows, and the only sound was the dull thud of missiles being thrown at the glass. It was creepy.
"Hello?" Kitty called softly, walking forward into the room on creaking floorboards "Anybody here?"
"Stay where you are!" A male voice called out from the shadows. Kitty froze, listening. A child whimpered quietly, before being shushed by his mother. The man spoke again. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"
"My name's Shadowcat, and I'm like you, a mutant. I got in through the walls, and I can get you out of here..."
"We're not going anywhere!" A panicky female voice with a hint of feline called out. "This is our home, why should we go anywhere?"
Slowly Kitty approached the voices, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. In a corner for the entire world like terrified rabbits, the family crouched together. They were obviously mutants, easy targets for the FoH. The woman was long, lean and cat-like with a bush of fine white hair, turned up nose and elongated ears. Her husband's eyes were scaled round the edges, and green scales ran shimmering up his bare arms. Shadowcat moved to try and see the child's face, but he just sobbed some more and buried his face in his mother's arms.
"You have to leave, don't you see? Those people want you dead. You can get a new house somewhere else, or come back here later. But right now you gotta get out of here!" Kitty paused for breath and effect, watched as the man and woman exchanged glances. She couldn't blame them for not wanting to leave, what was happening to them wasn't fair, but it was too dangerous for them to stay.
"Alright." The woman's sigh sounded like a purr. "We'll go. Just give us a minute to pack a few things."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
**They were scared, Professor, really terrified. And the FoH? They were organised, they knew exactly what they were doing. When they chased us with those guns, I was sure they were going to kill us! **
**You did very well, Kitty, I'm very proud of what you did. The family is safe now, and if you are sure the FoH didn't get a good look at you... **
**They don't know who I am, Professor, I'm fine. **
**Then I will let you get back to your studies, and thank you again my X- Man.**
Kitty smiled, folding up her now broken-in uniform and hiding it in its box under her bed. Maybe it wasn't how she had imagined her first mission as an X-Man, no team, no gadgets and actually quite terrifying, but she'd really helped someone today. And wasn't that what it was all about?
A/N: Don't forget to review!
Scene 3
Madrid, Spain, five years previous...
"You've never been romantic in your life, Remy le Beau, I know, I was there! I've watched your love-starved girlfriends dream of roses and chocolates."
"Oui Chere, but maybe I just waitin' for d'right woman..." He smiled at her as they walked down the busy street, dodging the other pedestrians and weaving through pavement cafes. "Maybe I... What the?"
A long, sleek black car pulled across into a side street just in front of them. The doors opened and two men climbed out. The driver rippled with muscle as he slammed one oversize fist into his other palm. The passenger was obviously the one in charge, dressed in an exquisite blue suit and with an air of command. It was he who addressed Gambit.
"Remy le Beau? I have heard that you are the best independent thief in the business." The man's accent was British, his eyes cold green and empty. He didn't seem to care that the street was crowded with people who might not take to kindly to a thief in their midst.
"Maybe I am. What's it to you?" Replied Gambit as Blaze took up her wingman position behind his left shoulder.
"Gambit, this isn't the place for business." She whispered, uncomfortable as a little grey old woman bustled past with her weekly shopping.
"My name is Alessandro Jacobi. I'm a businessman of sorts and I have an offer for you, Monsieur le Beau. Crush," Jacobi spoke to his driver, "Give the good man my card."
Grudgingly, Gambit took the small slip of card off the driver. It showed only the usual name, address and phone number. Gambit dropped it in a pocket as Jacobi continued to address him.
"I'd like to offer you work of the most challenging variety. Take up my offer, and I can promise you a whole variety of, shall we say union benefits."
"Union? Sound like a guild to me, Jacobi..." Remy's red-on-black eyes narrowed at the thought. Who did this imbécile think he was, tryin' to recruit Gambit?
"You said it yourself, Mister Jacobi," Blaze was annoyed, who was this Jacobi to try steal Gambit away from her? "Remy's the best independent...He's not gonna join you now is he? Now if you don't mind, we've got reservations."
Jacobi physically wrinkled his nose in disgust as Blaze spoke to him, and his reply was equally as degrading to her as he spoke only to Gambit.
"Your expertise would be well paid, I can assure you. But I need an answer now."
"You heard the lady, Jacobi. Gambit ain't joinin' nobody."
"Fine. I'm a patient man, Remy my friend. I can wait until you are ready." And with that Jacobi and Crush climbed back into their car, and reversed back into the flow of traffic and away. Frowning Gambit turned to the livid Blaze.
"Why'd them last words sound so much like a threat..."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Xavier Mansion, present day...
"And to repeat tonight's main headlines," The news channel front man spoke over the dramatic background music. "All over the country violence is erupting as the activists known as the Friends of Humanity promote attacks against mutants in an effort to force the government to commit to the mutant registration act..."
Sadly shaking his head, Charles Xavier touched a finger to his temple and called out to a friend.
**Kitty? A moment of your time please? **
**Professor? ** The young female mutant sat cross-legged on her small university bed, work spread around her as her roommate made coffee. **What's wrong? **
**I'm afraid I need to call on your services, Shadowcat. There is a family of mutants living not far from your campus. I'm afraid they are under siege in their own home by the Friends of Humanity...**
**FoH? We got some of those losers on campus. Are they like stupid or what? Don't worry Professor; I'll get this family out. **
**Very well. ** The Professor's pleasure at Kitty's bravery was obvious through the telepathic bond. **But do not put yourself in danger. Make sure you are not seen, Kitty, the Friends of Humanity are very dangerous. **
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It didn't take long for Shadowcat to arrive at the street Xavier had directed her to. It wasn't hard to spot the right house on the street either, the mob was huge and in fine voice, shouting and pelting the house with stones and rotten fruit. The police did nothing; scared for their own welfare they simply contained the mob, keeping them in the one street. Past the hastily erected barriers, TV crews fought for position as they gave their pieces to camera. Suddenly nervous, Kitty brushed a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear and touched her fingers to the X-insignia on the collar of her uniform. If Charles Xavier thought she could do this, then she could.
She walked back the way she had come, round the corner of the row of houses. Then, taking a deep breath she plunged through the pristine white fence of the end house's back garden. Somehow everything seemed much more peaceful on this side of the seven foot barricade. The house under siege was the fifth one along, so Kitty set off at a run through the fences, each equally pristine and tall as the first. It was ironic, Shadowcat thought, that these fences were meant to protect the families who lived in these houses. Guess they never realised they'd be trapped in if they couldn't get out the front door.
Phasing through the back wall of the house, she found everything in darkness. Curtains were drawn over the windows, and the only sound was the dull thud of missiles being thrown at the glass. It was creepy.
"Hello?" Kitty called softly, walking forward into the room on creaking floorboards "Anybody here?"
"Stay where you are!" A male voice called out from the shadows. Kitty froze, listening. A child whimpered quietly, before being shushed by his mother. The man spoke again. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"
"My name's Shadowcat, and I'm like you, a mutant. I got in through the walls, and I can get you out of here..."
"We're not going anywhere!" A panicky female voice with a hint of feline called out. "This is our home, why should we go anywhere?"
Slowly Kitty approached the voices, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. In a corner for the entire world like terrified rabbits, the family crouched together. They were obviously mutants, easy targets for the FoH. The woman was long, lean and cat-like with a bush of fine white hair, turned up nose and elongated ears. Her husband's eyes were scaled round the edges, and green scales ran shimmering up his bare arms. Shadowcat moved to try and see the child's face, but he just sobbed some more and buried his face in his mother's arms.
"You have to leave, don't you see? Those people want you dead. You can get a new house somewhere else, or come back here later. But right now you gotta get out of here!" Kitty paused for breath and effect, watched as the man and woman exchanged glances. She couldn't blame them for not wanting to leave, what was happening to them wasn't fair, but it was too dangerous for them to stay.
"Alright." The woman's sigh sounded like a purr. "We'll go. Just give us a minute to pack a few things."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
**They were scared, Professor, really terrified. And the FoH? They were organised, they knew exactly what they were doing. When they chased us with those guns, I was sure they were going to kill us! **
**You did very well, Kitty, I'm very proud of what you did. The family is safe now, and if you are sure the FoH didn't get a good look at you... **
**They don't know who I am, Professor, I'm fine. **
**Then I will let you get back to your studies, and thank you again my X- Man.**
Kitty smiled, folding up her now broken-in uniform and hiding it in its box under her bed. Maybe it wasn't how she had imagined her first mission as an X-Man, no team, no gadgets and actually quite terrifying, but she'd really helped someone today. And wasn't that what it was all about?