Mon Petit Frère[1]

Prologue

By:  Michelle

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DISCLAIMER:  My fanfic is written for fun only.  I don't own the any of the characters, except the few I create.  For this Prologue, I used quotes from the Gambit LS Part 1 of 4 to introduce my story.  I don't own any of them.

This is my first attempt at a comic X-men fanfic.  I hope everyone enjoys.

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My name is Henri LeBeau.  I'm a thief on a mission. 

At the gate of the mansion, I look up at the moon as it slips behind a cloud.  It makes it even darker out here, allowing the navy uniform I'm wearing to blend in the shadows perfectly as I move past the security like a thief in the night. 

I have to admit though; the security in this place is heavy duty.  Not many would make it past the first line of defense, but I managed rather well.  Of course, I hope to God that my next job is less taxing.  I have to hand it to him.  He designed the security of this place extremely good, but not good enough to stop one of the top thieves in the world.

As I reach one of the windows of the mansion, I can't help but admire the place.  It was definitely larger up close.  What really surprises me is that this place is a school.  To me, kings of men could live here. 

I slip into the mansion; I sneak around, not ready for my presence to be known yet.  I should be excited, but yet I am quite nervous.  It had been many years since I have seen him last.  Sure, I have talked to him on the phone and read his letters, but seeing him face to face again was an entirely different matter.  It's so much more personal. 

"Tsk!  Tsk!"

I knew it was him by the sound of his voice.  No.  That is a lie.  I knew it was him because of the glowing card digging into my neck.  I had been caught.

"Not good enough m'friend."  He says to me.  "No moves.  Wouldn't want you to lose you head, neh?"

"Put da card away, Remy!"  I know his power and though I had never officially told him, I am scared what he is capable of doing with it.  "You still a thief, I hope…"  More like I pray.  "…not an assassin!"

"Henri?"  I could tell by the tone in his voice that he was shocked to see me.  "HENRI!"  He embraces me in a hug so tight that I can hardly breathe.  I smiled, still amused to the fact that he has to bend down to hug me.  "You son of a thief?  It's been too long!"

He's right.  It has been way too long.  He lets go of his embrace and turns to assure his friends that everything is fine. 

The grumpy man in yellow spandex doesn't seem to understand how I got past the security system.  Honestly, I could have made it through with my eyes closed. 

The young woman the long brown hair with the distinctive white stripe is trying to figure out how he knew I was even here.  She must be Rogue, his girlfriend.  She is even more beautiful than he has described. 

The other woman with long white hair remains quiet like she understands something the others do not.  She must be Stormy, the one considers a sister. 

He excuses us both to catch up on old times.  As we walk to the railing, I can't help but notice his appearance. 

His hair, as always, is wild and crazy.  I can't help by envy him since I'm bald.  He had a part in causing that.  I just shave the rest off so no one can tell the difference. At least I can still grow a mustache.  

He covers his body armor with that long trench coat of his.  What made him chose fuchsia and black as part of his suit is beyond me.  To me, it makes him more noticeable.  Of course, I can't say anything.  My wife, Merci, wears red and our father wears green.

"Talk to me, Henri."

He lights up a cigarette using his fingertips as I begin to tell him about the tithing and the assassins.  I can tell by the way he takes a drag that he does quite understand.  The last he heard, the peace was still in effect. 

"But the peace?"

"Broken.  After your last trip down to the Big Easy, t'ings have been getting' ugly."  I hate telling him the next part.  "The stinkin' brudda o' ya wife has stirred t'ings up again."

"JULIEN?!"  His eyes widen and blaze red.  I don't know if he is more shocked or afraid at the fact.  He was always so hard to read.  "He's dead.  I saw him die!"

Denial.  I was expecting that.  "Not all t'ings are as dey seem bro'.  You know dat!"  I explain to him.  "Come home, Remy.  It's family.  Ain't nothin' more important than that!"

Before I got an answer from him, it him me.  An arrow in my heart.

"HENRI!"

I feel his arms catch me as I fall to the ground.  "It's them, Remy……….the Assassin's Guild……..They don't want the tithing to take place…..….You're needed.  You know dere ways………Don't let dem get it……..It's ours………We've earned it………use what you know………find out what you don't.!

"What I knew of the Assassins died with Bella Donna, Henri."  He replies to me.  "I'm sorry."

"Not all t'ings are as dey seem bro'."  I grind down on my teeth as the pain shoots through my body.  I don't know if I am in more pain from the arrow or his reply. "Go see for yourself."

His next words are a blur to me.  I know if it was because I didn't want to here them or because I couldn't. 

"Take me……..home Remy."  I can barely say.  "Take me to our father…"

I squint through my eyes as I look up in his watery eyes.  I didn't think this would be the last time I saw him.  My life flashes slowly before my eyes.  I can't remember anything more clearly than the images of him.  The images of Remy LeBeau, mon petit frère.



[1] My little brother