The file drawer was crammed full, and he could not speed through them as he wanted to. He had to painstakingly pull through each one, find the name, and consider it. A few times, he pulled a file and looked inside, only to put it back with a sigh of exasperation. Where was it?

It wasn't in this one, either. He shook his head and then got an idea. Could it be that she wasn't a student? Still, most of the teachers were once students, and it was the best thing he had to go with right now. He turned to the next filing cabinet, which had older papers. He thumbed through them and found one that was possible. He pulled it out, not expecting to find anything special, but then stopped. Was this the one?

Pulling the note from his pocket, he cocked his head and checked the writing. No. Similar to a casual glance, but they were too different. He put the file back and kept searching.

Could this be the one? He opened the cover and grinned. The same T, the same G…oh yeah. Gambit found her. Hm. He wasn't expecting her. Then again, he knew they had some things in common, and she had supported him in the past. The more he thought about it, the more he could see it. It was possible, sure. Now, he could see why he hadn't suspected her; she was so strong on the outside, so confident and certain. But she had never been comfortable with sharing her emotions with others. Wolverine was right, though; the clues were there. Now, the question became what, if anything, to do in response.

Wait a minute…if anything? Non. He couldn't do nothing, stand about and wait. This ol' Cajun might not have expected it, but this was one challenge he couldn't pass up. Time to take the lead and hope this time it works out.

***********************

Her class had been challenging but stimulating this morning, and she went back to her room in a fairly good mood. She opened the door and took a few steps inside before realizing something was wrong. Her pillows were missing, but there was something else in its place.

Her eyes flickered from the windows to the dresser to the closet. Nothing else was disturbed. She advanced and looked more closely. Her eyes narrowed. There was a casually tossed King of Hearts lying atop an old report she had written long ago. "Possible Mutants from Literature." She simultaneously felt relieved and annoyed. So he wasn't rejecting her, but he was challenging her. Fine. Two could play this game.

***********************

Remy was eating lunch when Iceman came beaming into the room, searching the crowd. He saw Remy and his smile broadened. "Hey, Gambit! Come see what I found!"

Gambit felt uneasy. Bobby was too happy, and when Bobby was too happy, something wild was up, usually because Bobby had done it. Somehow he got the feeling that Bobby wasn't responsible but wished he had been. "Un moment, homme," he said, swallowing a bite of his sandwich and taking a gulp of his beer. He knew he'd need it.

Bobby led him toward the men's residential wing, and the feeling grew stronger. He went up the stairs and down the hallway. There was some odd perfume in the air, and when he rounded the corner, he saw where it came from.

Riotous colors met his eyes from the thousands of tropical flowers filling the hall to the ceiling outside his door. A small crowd had gathered, looking at them, and he stopped and stared, gaping.

"LeBeau." He winced and turned. Logan stood there, grim. "They're blocking the hallway. Clean 'em up. Now."

Wolverine wrinkled his nose as he spoke, and Gambit muttered, "Round one to you, chere, but Gambit's takin' round two." He sighed as he turned back and tried to think how to best clear out his "gift."