Note: Two parts in one day Yippy! I finally got Rogue and Gambit in the same room! Alright everyone how is this progressing for you? Does it seem to fast or just right? Are my characters a bit OOC? Am I simply a Looney who needs to be kept away from the computer so I can never post again?  I'm craving specifics…Please.

Five

Rogue narrowed her eyes and glared through the cigarette smoke as Asli and Gambit talked about everything but the break in.  She couldn't believe how chummy they were-sure, they had been friends while Asli had been an Acolyte-but they were on different sides now.  Every once and a while she could feel Gambit's strange red and black eyes turned towards her but Rogue steadfastly ignored him-after all, he had nearly blown her hand off.  But the way he looked at her made her feel like he wished they were playing footsies under the table.

"You know petite, things just aren't the same without you around," he touched Asli's hand gently and Rogue felt a flash of anger that she would allow him such easy familiarity. 

For her part Asli was unreadable even with a small smile on her lips as she took in her friend's breath-taking eyes, "I see Mags still hasn't gotten you a new image inducer…I suppose I should be sorry for frying your other one."

"Remy was more put out by your bellow the belt kick petite," Rogue took some satisfaction in the grimace that touched his smooth features with this memory.  Imagining giving Gambit a good root in the crotch brought a small smile to her face.

"You probably deserved it swamp rat," Rogue muttered wishing that she would be allowed to recreate the incident but she settled for fidgeting with her gloves meaningfully, "You gonna tell us why you broke into Angel's or am I gonna have to find out for myself?"

Asli shook her head at the girl's readiness to fight, "That's not going to be necessary Rogue.  I know why Remy did it."

Rogue turned her green eyes on her partner wondering just where her loyalties lay; "You planning on telling me?"

"Remy had to get your attention somehow Chère," Gambit smiled smoothly causing Rogue to snort in disgust which only made him smile more, "Ya'll are too beautiful to be so rude Chère."

Rogue glared at him to no avail, "You must be desperate to call me beautiful swamp rat.  Now what did you mean about getting our attention?"

Gambit smirked and leaned back in his chair silently-refusing to answer her question.  Rogue growled in frustration and sincerely yearned to punch the smug look off of the Cajun's face, "What is he talking about Asli?" she ground out restraining herself-barely.

Asli sighed taking a sip of her drink before beginning, "Gambit broke into Angel's as a signal for me to meet him here tonight-we arranged it before I left the Acolytes."

This information took Rogue aback-why would they arrange to meet weeks ago when they didn't know they wouldn't still be teammates.  All the dots connected and Rogue shot out of her seat; her eyes blazing with betrayal, "It was all arranged! Magneto did all of it just so ya'll could switch sides…So you could tap into Cerebro…I can't believe the Professor didn't see it!"

"I'm a telepathic null Rogue, he couldn't get it from me…and Pitor didn't know," Asli continued sitting calmly as if she was talking about the weather instead of her duplicity to those who had taken her in-of betraying even poor love struck Pitor.

Rogue stood quickly searching for her nearest exit, "I'm warning the Professor…I won't let you get away with this."

"I already told him," Asli's voice was even calculated to make Rogue feel like she was overreacting-it almost worked.

Rogue snorted and plastered her most skeptical look on her face, "Like I'd believe that."

"It's true," the hacker shrugged gently; ignoring the venom Rogue was spitting at her, "I told him everything.  You guessed most of it on your own but you didn't get the part about me only giving bucket head the info Professor X wants him to have."

"And why should I believe you?" Rogue reigned in a small measure of her anger-why did everyone who got close to her have so many ulterior motives?

"Why not Chère," Gambit piped up as he languidly rolled another cigarette finally breaking into the conversation, "You think de Acolytes like working for a madman?"

Rogue pushed some of her white hair behind her ears so that she could focus her glare on Gambit uninterrupted, "I think ya'll are a bunch of criminals…"

"Den you're not looking close enough Chère," Gambit looked sad for a minute causing anger to flare through Rogue-how dare he judge her!

"I don't have to look far to see a lyin', thievin', piece of swamp trash-you're sitting right across from me." Rogue shot back heatedly.

 "What about Pitor?" Asli broke in talking so low that Rogue could barely hear her, "Do you think he's a criminal Rogue?"

The younger mutant bit back the next thing she was going to say as she conjured up an image of the quiet Russian.  No, Rogue's instincts told her that he was not a criminal-that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  But she had been so convinced that Asli was on her side as well…and that Risty had been her friend…Rogue had been betrayed by those she trusted too many times to trust her instincts any more.

"Magneto abducted his sick sister and forced him to become an Acolyte Rogue," if Rogue hadn't known better she would have said actual tears were forming in the Hacker's grey eyes, "Pitor was only there to try and protect his little sister…a part of my deal with Xavier was that he rescue the girl and shelter her and Pitor while I returned to Magneto and fed him misinformation."

Rogue shook her head-there was something in Asli's voce that compelled her to listen, to believe it all.  Why would Asli actually follow through with the plan? There was enough metal in her body for Magneto to make the other girl's life a torment if he found out about her perfidy. Why would she risk it simply to save one child? "My gawd, you really do care for the big lug don't you?"

A blush was visible on Asli's cheeks even in the dim lights of the club, "That doesn't matter.  The only way you're ever going to stop Magneto is to erode his power base from the inside.  Gambit and I are working on that but we can't do it alone…and we couldn't worry about liabilities like Illyana getting in the way.  Appealing to Xavier's paternal side was the only solution, now both of them will be safe."

"And you're going back to face Magneto's wrath?" Rogue couldn't hide her doubt, "He's gonna be pissed that you lost Pitor to Xavier."

Asli and Gambit shared a loaded look then turned back to Rogue.  She could see the unasked question in their eyes-it drew a groan from Rogue, "Ya'll want me to come with ya as a peace offerin' doncha?"

"Well Chère, de Bucket-Head would be pleased to think he had lured you away." Gambit's eyes glowed in the dim, "His joy at seeing you might make him forget Petey and save de Petite's hide."

Rogue backed away not liking how much sense it made if they were in fact telling her the truth.  "Why should I trust either of you?  You've been lyin' to me Asli…I just can't forget that."

"Then absorb me." Asli's eyes were calm and serious, "Look into my mind and then if you decide you still don't trust me I'll take my chances with Mags alone."

Dumbfounded Rogue stared at Asli not quite believing her own ears, "What?"

"You heard me Rogue." Asli locked eyes with the younger girl allowing her to see just how far she was willing to go to stop Magneto, "Take off your glove and touch me.  Take whatever you want from my mind and use that to help you decide because the choice is yours.  I won't force you, but don't be too chicken to at least find out if I'm lying to you."

Silence descended as Rogue wrestled with all of the information in front of her.  Making her decision; Rogue slipped off her right glove and brought it to Asli's face.