Chapter 2
He awoke in an almost pitch-black cell chained to a wall. He scanned the room carefully, his red eyes eerie in the dark. They allowed him another purpose besides attracting women. They allowed him clear night- vision in the darkest of places, which gave him the edge in this particular situation.
He was padlocked to the wall by a heavy iron chain. It was a collar, something used on household animals and pets. He frowned in distaste; it went against everything in his very nature as a thief to be bound by anything. He would have to bear it for now though, his powers were blocked most likely from the collar.
He couldn't feel anything, usually before an object lit he felt power run through his mind like a surge of heat. Now there was nothing, not even a slight hum of unleashed explosion.
His sight and hearing had been unaffected though, which was something to be thankful for. Too bad he didn't believe in anything, no deity or god, he relied only on himself.
Gambit's real name was Remy and he had been named by Jean-Luc after being saved from a thieves' auction when he was a child. After a few years of making it alone on the street he was a well-accomplished pickpocket. He could steal a wallet in seconds and a cash bond in less.
After trying to steal the wallet of Jean-Luc, he had been welcomed in the first home he had ever known, the very guild Jean-Luc ran and commanded. He was trained to excel in all sorts of thievery and was considered one of the best.
He was the pride of his adopted father and master of hiding his feelings during a mission, which made him a favorite among the others. His built in charm allowed him to fit in almost anywhere and with that sort of power the opportunity for wealth was endless.
The Guild flourished under the prosperity he brought in and as a result no one questioned his long list of women who had fallen in love with him or his innate ability to sense out danger. He could usually tell when something was going to go wrong or when not to take a risk.
As he knew something was about to happen now. The air was charged with open hostility. Most people were unable to sense such things, the charged particles mirroring the others feelings. Someone was going to be barging in soon; he could almost see it waver in the air.
Just as he had known, the door swung open revealing two men. One was taller, burley with dark brown hair and wide-set blue eyes. The other was Nick, the man who had led the ambush. He held something that looked like a remote control, it was all black except for a green, red, and blue button on its flat surface.
"Ah. The infamous Gambit graces our presence." Nick taunted coming closer to the bars.
"I do what I can." Gambit smiled and his eyes darkened visibly with the force of the anger running through his veins. He knew however that he would have to be careful, while enraging the man would be amusing he had more at stake than just his freedom. Nick snapped his fingers and the second man disappeared. A moment later the lights flickered on.
"Do you know why you're here?" he asked now having a good chance to look his prisoner over.
Gambit wore the tan trench coat and a midnight blue shirt under that. His pants were black and the same for his boots. His hair was tied back in a ponytail and his eyes and expression were mocking. On a closer look Nick could see tension and a small trace of nervousness. That was good, very good. He loved to prey on captive's fear, it made the whole experience so much better.
"I hope I've been brought here as a redecorator, mon frere, the dungeon look went outta style years ago." Gambit was completely comfortable goading Nick, he allowed the fear to show in his expression only to give Nick confidence.
In truth he felt no such thing, utter calm and determination maybe but never fear. He was sure they planned on hurting him somehow but he could endure that too until he found his opportune moment. Then the proverbial table would turn and he'd be back on solid ground.
"We know about your powers and find that they could be quite useful in our activities. We know that you are affiliated with Jean-Luc."
"What about him?" Gambits eyes narrowed slightly in warning. They could do or say anything to him, but the Guild rules were a deeply ingrained part of him. The most remembered was: Protect the Guild Master at all cost. Jean-Luc would stay safe, but not if these men tried to manipulate them.
"Hit a nerve?" Nick asked contemptuously.
"You want something from me, neh? What do you want with. what's his name again?"
"Jean-Luc."
"Yes. Why do you think I would have anything to do with him?"
"You tried to protect him!" Nick said in growing hysteria as he imagined they had gotten the wrong person. "We caught it all on tape. You threw the staff towards him when you fought!"
"So we've come to that I see." Gambit said, he saw the doubts cross over Nick's face and decided to be nice and set him back on the right road again. Anything that would draw his attention away was good. "I pick and choose my jobs as I go. Rather like improvisation, if you will. Never would I work for such a man, a common thief. He was in the wrong place in the wrong time. I believe that is the saying, nein?"
"If it is as you say then we should have no problems with your cooperation. If we have any cause to believe you're lying though, we can get the truth." Then Nick pressed a button on the remote control and sent a bolt of agonizing pain through Gambit.
He bit down on his tongue and refused to cry out or fall to his knees. He stayed steady with the resolve that he had never submit to anyone and wasn't about to start now. The only reaction Nick got to see was Remy's eyes turn a brighter shade of red. He was almost tempted to go to the second stage but didn't want to rush things. This was just a sample of the long days that were about to come.
He snapped his fingers again and both he and the other left. Before the lights went out again Gambit heard his last parting words.
"Think on that while you wait for morning, see if you can come up with a better excuse." Then the door shut leaving him in the darkness that surrounded him like a blanket.
He awoke in an almost pitch-black cell chained to a wall. He scanned the room carefully, his red eyes eerie in the dark. They allowed him another purpose besides attracting women. They allowed him clear night- vision in the darkest of places, which gave him the edge in this particular situation.
He was padlocked to the wall by a heavy iron chain. It was a collar, something used on household animals and pets. He frowned in distaste; it went against everything in his very nature as a thief to be bound by anything. He would have to bear it for now though, his powers were blocked most likely from the collar.
He couldn't feel anything, usually before an object lit he felt power run through his mind like a surge of heat. Now there was nothing, not even a slight hum of unleashed explosion.
His sight and hearing had been unaffected though, which was something to be thankful for. Too bad he didn't believe in anything, no deity or god, he relied only on himself.
Gambit's real name was Remy and he had been named by Jean-Luc after being saved from a thieves' auction when he was a child. After a few years of making it alone on the street he was a well-accomplished pickpocket. He could steal a wallet in seconds and a cash bond in less.
After trying to steal the wallet of Jean-Luc, he had been welcomed in the first home he had ever known, the very guild Jean-Luc ran and commanded. He was trained to excel in all sorts of thievery and was considered one of the best.
He was the pride of his adopted father and master of hiding his feelings during a mission, which made him a favorite among the others. His built in charm allowed him to fit in almost anywhere and with that sort of power the opportunity for wealth was endless.
The Guild flourished under the prosperity he brought in and as a result no one questioned his long list of women who had fallen in love with him or his innate ability to sense out danger. He could usually tell when something was going to go wrong or when not to take a risk.
As he knew something was about to happen now. The air was charged with open hostility. Most people were unable to sense such things, the charged particles mirroring the others feelings. Someone was going to be barging in soon; he could almost see it waver in the air.
Just as he had known, the door swung open revealing two men. One was taller, burley with dark brown hair and wide-set blue eyes. The other was Nick, the man who had led the ambush. He held something that looked like a remote control, it was all black except for a green, red, and blue button on its flat surface.
"Ah. The infamous Gambit graces our presence." Nick taunted coming closer to the bars.
"I do what I can." Gambit smiled and his eyes darkened visibly with the force of the anger running through his veins. He knew however that he would have to be careful, while enraging the man would be amusing he had more at stake than just his freedom. Nick snapped his fingers and the second man disappeared. A moment later the lights flickered on.
"Do you know why you're here?" he asked now having a good chance to look his prisoner over.
Gambit wore the tan trench coat and a midnight blue shirt under that. His pants were black and the same for his boots. His hair was tied back in a ponytail and his eyes and expression were mocking. On a closer look Nick could see tension and a small trace of nervousness. That was good, very good. He loved to prey on captive's fear, it made the whole experience so much better.
"I hope I've been brought here as a redecorator, mon frere, the dungeon look went outta style years ago." Gambit was completely comfortable goading Nick, he allowed the fear to show in his expression only to give Nick confidence.
In truth he felt no such thing, utter calm and determination maybe but never fear. He was sure they planned on hurting him somehow but he could endure that too until he found his opportune moment. Then the proverbial table would turn and he'd be back on solid ground.
"We know about your powers and find that they could be quite useful in our activities. We know that you are affiliated with Jean-Luc."
"What about him?" Gambits eyes narrowed slightly in warning. They could do or say anything to him, but the Guild rules were a deeply ingrained part of him. The most remembered was: Protect the Guild Master at all cost. Jean-Luc would stay safe, but not if these men tried to manipulate them.
"Hit a nerve?" Nick asked contemptuously.
"You want something from me, neh? What do you want with. what's his name again?"
"Jean-Luc."
"Yes. Why do you think I would have anything to do with him?"
"You tried to protect him!" Nick said in growing hysteria as he imagined they had gotten the wrong person. "We caught it all on tape. You threw the staff towards him when you fought!"
"So we've come to that I see." Gambit said, he saw the doubts cross over Nick's face and decided to be nice and set him back on the right road again. Anything that would draw his attention away was good. "I pick and choose my jobs as I go. Rather like improvisation, if you will. Never would I work for such a man, a common thief. He was in the wrong place in the wrong time. I believe that is the saying, nein?"
"If it is as you say then we should have no problems with your cooperation. If we have any cause to believe you're lying though, we can get the truth." Then Nick pressed a button on the remote control and sent a bolt of agonizing pain through Gambit.
He bit down on his tongue and refused to cry out or fall to his knees. He stayed steady with the resolve that he had never submit to anyone and wasn't about to start now. The only reaction Nick got to see was Remy's eyes turn a brighter shade of red. He was almost tempted to go to the second stage but didn't want to rush things. This was just a sample of the long days that were about to come.
He snapped his fingers again and both he and the other left. Before the lights went out again Gambit heard his last parting words.
"Think on that while you wait for morning, see if you can come up with a better excuse." Then the door shut leaving him in the darkness that surrounded him like a blanket.