Mon Petit Frère

Chapter I:  Ten Years Fly By

By:  Michelle

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

DISCLAIMER:  My fanfic is written for fun only.  I don't own the any of the characters, except the few I create.  Parts of this chapter was based off of The Gambit Series 1-25. 

Also, this chapter does hint rape.  I hope I don't offend anyone.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"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.

"Yes…brother."

*****JUNE 28, 1981*******

"Henri."  Merci LeBeau said to her dazed husband.  "Henri, are you alright?"  She reached out and touched his hand causing him to jump. 

Henri LeBeau snapped from his daze.  "What?  Is the food here?"

"Non."  Merci looked at her husband with worry.  He had been acting extremely strange all night.  "Henri, is something wrong?  Do you want to leave?"

"Non."  He replied.  It was such a rare occasion for them to spend a nice quiet evening alone together.  He was in one of the most expensive restaurants in the Vieux Carre with his beautiful wife.  What more could he ask for?  Nothing.  He hung his head slightly, feeling bad he was ruining the evening.  "I'm sorry, Mercy.  My mind is just wondering."

"Ya look stressed."  She said as she watched him run his fingers through his hair.  "Ya gonna make ya'self go bald."

"Like that will ever happen."  He smiled slightly.  He knew that was a lie.  His hair was already beginning to thinnen.  He took a deep breath and sighed.

"Cher, what's wrong?" 

He was going to answer her, but he was not fast enough.

"Let me guess."  Merci traced the rim of the wine glass with her finger carefully avoiding the look in his eye.  "It has something to do wit ya pere."

"Oui."  Henri sighed.  She knows me to well.  "I swear Merci.  I think the older he gets; the more crazier he gets."

"Well, ya know ya Pere.  Ya should be use to the stuff he does by now."  She reminded his.  She knew quite well how stubborn her father-in-law, Jean-Luc could be.

"Yeah, I know him."  He answered back.  "And I have the feeling he's doing something extremely insane tonight.  And… I bet it has to do with that break in he did with Antiquity two days ago.  Why suppose he gave us the night off.  He's up to something.  I just know it and its driving me crazy just thinking about it."

Not this again.  Mercy sighed.  I hate it when he gets like this.  He just gets so moody.  She smiled to herself knowing a way to get him out of his mood.  "It's alright Cher.  I know a way to relax your mind."  She bit her lip and slid her foot up his pant leg.

"What?"  OH.  He looked into her eyes and smiled knowing exactly what she was talking about.  "Chere, we haven't even had dinner yet and you are offering me dessert."

"Maybe."  She smiled mischievously.  "If ya good."

"Ya know I will be."  He took her hand in his and raised it up to his lips.  He kissed the back of her hand.  "Cuz ya know dis LeBeau's got a sweet tooth."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

They walked hand and hand up the front steps of the porch.  The evening went perfectly after Henri filled his mind with other thoughts.  At the door, he pulled out his keys to unlock it, but Mercy stopped him.

"What?"  Henri turned to his wife wondering why she did that.

"Je'taime."  Merci replied as she wrapped her arms around her husband's neck. 

"Je'taime, aussi."  He replied as he gazed at his wife who was succeeding in seducing him.  Using his skillful fingers, he unclipped her hair allowing it to fall loosely along her back.  He traced his hand down her body.  She was wearing a long sleeveless red dress with a slit up the side and extremely low neckline.  He had already thought about a dozen ways of stripping her of the garment at dinner and was currently adding a few more to the list.  He grabbed her ass and pulled her closer to him. 

Merci smiled as she felt Henri up against her.  "Glad ya in a better mood."

"Moi aussi."  He replied as he crashed his mouth upon hers.  He could feel her run her fingers through his hair with one hand as the other began to explore.  In return, he traced his finger down her spine.  They were so into the moment that they didn't even hear the door open.

"You too are worse than a couple of horny teenagers."

Henri and Mercy separated.  "Bonsoir Uncle Belize.  What are you doing here tonight?  I thought you were with Pere."

"I was."  Belize Marceaux answered.  "Den ya pere went ova da deep end."

Belize was Jean-Luc's best friend and brother-in-law, and the Harvest Master to the Guild of the Thieves. 

"What'd he do now?"  Henri asked dreading the answer.

"Why don't you go see fo ya'self?"  Belize said to his nephew as he headed towards his car.  "Den, maybe, just maybe, ya can talk some sense in dat thick skull of his."

"Like that will help."  Mon Dieu.  What has he done now?  Henri sighed as he and Merci walked into the house and closed the door behind them.  "Pere."

"Come see."  His father called from his spot on the couch.

Henri sighed.  I'm afraid too.  He was dreading to see what his father stole this time.  His father was the King of Thieves, a title that suited him well.  The man was capable of stealing anything.  Just a few weeks ago, his father stole Queen Elizabeth II's crown jewels.  He grabbed Mercy's hand for support as he walked over to his father.

His jaw nearly hit the floor.  He couldn't believe his eyes.  His father was holding a small bundle in his arms.  Maybe it's a puppy.  He couldn't make out what it was at first, but had a feeling he already knew.  Please be a puppy.  He could see small movements coming from it, but that wasn't the first clue to figure out it was a baby.  The crying was.  Why couldn't it be a puppy?

"Shh petite."  Jean-Luc rocked the baby in his arms.  "Dat's right, Shh."

Mon Dieu.  He's kidnapping now.  What possessed him to stoop so low?  Henri stood dumbfounded in front of his father.  He didn't know what to say or what to do.

"Fils, what are ya doin' just standing dere like a statue?"  Jean-Luc questioned pretending he was clueless to his son's shocked expression.  "Come see."

Henri, followed by Mercy who was just as shocked as he was, walked slowly to the couch and sat next to him.  Before he could object, Jean-Luc placed the baby in his arms.

The baby was tiny, feeling as light as a feather in his arms.  The he couldn't be more than a few old.  He unwrapped him carefully confirming that he was a boy.  He noticed the birthmark on his inner thigh before quickly covering him up.  He looked more closer at him.  The baby may have had a small amount of hair on his head, but it was the prettiest color he had ever seen.  The auburn curls were as soft as silk and so was his skin. 

Henri didn't quite understand why his father brought him home, until he looked at his eyes.  They weren't like anything he had ever seen before.  They were black sclera with red pupils.  "Le Diable Blanc."  He whispered under his breath and Jean-Luc took the baby from him. 

Mercy grabbed her husband's hand.  She couldn't believe it herself.

"What's the matter wit' you two?"  Jean-Luc said as he looked at their blank expressions.  "Ya thought I made up dose stories."

They didn't answer him. 

His eyes narrowed in on them.  "I may be old, but I ain't senile."

I can argue with that.  "Pere dat's….but he's….why is he here?"  Great arguing Henri.

"Oui, his is Le Diable Blanc.  Oui he is a baby.  And, he is here because I couldn't allow him to grow up as one of Antiquary's slaves."  Jean-Luc answered and turned his attention to the baby.  "Ain't dat right, petite.  Yeah.  Huh."  He played with a teddy bear causing the baby to smile.

Henri took a deep breath as he heard his father talking to the baby.  He silently wondered if his father did that to him. 

"What we gonna call ya, huh?"  Jean-Luc smiled as the baby squirmed happily in his arms.  "How about we call you Remy.  Huh.  Ya like dat petite."  He felt a tiny hand wrap around his finger.   "Den Remy it is."

"Pere."  Henri couldn't believe his ears.  Was his father actually considering keeping him.  "Pere, you can't keep him.  The Thieves Guild went nuts when Marius Boudreaux had his little girl two months back.  Imagine what the Assassins Guild will do if you keep him."

"I know Henri."  Jean-Luc said with a hint of sadness in his voice.  "I'm going to bring him to Fagan in the morning, where he can be safe until it's time." 

******June 29, 1981******

Henri watched as his father moped around.  He hadn't seen him this depressed since his mother died, and that was over 30 years ago.  He couldn't blame him though.  Baby Remy seemed to charm everyone in the household, including the dogs.  It was a shame they had to give him to Fagan for protection.

Fagan was the slime of the earth, a cross between a greasy used car salesman and a lawyer.  His father was a Thief and his mother was an Assassin.  It was a deadly combination, but like the children from mixed Guild marriages, he was rejected by both sides.  So, Fagan was put in charge of the over the children's guild.  Under Fagan's mob, orphans and runaways could find food and shelter.  In return, they were trained to be pickpockets to pay him back.  Depending on age, each child was required to steal a certain amount of valuables per day.  The older children helped the younger children learn how to read and write, as well as become master pickpockets.

In a nutshell, placing Remy in Fagan's care was not the greatest idea in the world, but they had no other choice.  Jean-Luc planned to check on him as much as he could.  Plus, if anything happened to Remy while in Fagan's care, Jean-Luc would kill Fagan in a seconds notice.  For now, they just had to wait until it was time.

******August 12, 1984*******

Henri looked over to his nephew in the high chair.  Etienne Marceaux was having his first birthday.  Currently, the little blonde hair boy was covered with cake.  He succeeded in getting more on himself than in his mouth.  Celeste, Henri's aunt and Etienne's mother, couldn't help but laugh and take a few pictures before she went to clean him up.

He sighed as he thought a bout Remy.  That poor boy didn't even get a first birthday party…or a second…or a third.  Mon Dieu, has it been that many years already.  He knew his father was thinking of the same thing, but there was nothing they could do about it.  It was still to dangerous. 

"Here's the birthday boy."  Celeste said as she handed the cleaned up Etienne to her husband.  "He's all cleaned up for his pere."

"That's my boy."  Belize said as he took his youngest son into his arms.  Then, he looked up to his wife.  "Where's Theoren?"

"He's playing that Atari thing you got him last week."

"Again."  Belize laughed and looked over to his friends.  "Ya don't know how much he begged me for dat thing.  So, I stole it de last time we went to the electronic store.  I bring it home and he knew how to hook de thing up.  I felt so stupid.  Times have certainly changed since I was a kid 90 something years ago."

"Are we really that old?"  Jean-Luc thought for a moment.  The Elixir they took every seven years prolonged their life.  He may have looked in his 40s, but he was actually 104 years old.  He has seen the world change before his eyes.  He wouldn't trade it for anything.

"We're not."  Henri smiled as he pulled Merci onto his lap.  They were some of the youngest ones in the Guild who had taken the Elixir. They may have looked 25, but Henri was 41 and Mercy was 38.   "Just ya'll."

"Very funny fils."  Jean-Luc replied.

"You know."  Belize addressed Jean-Luc.  "I won't be surprised when dese kids outdo us one day.  Maybe it's time we start changing our ways before dese kids pass us up."

"Let's not have this discussion anymore."  Jean-Luc replied getting highly offended with the topic of change.  He knew Belize was talking about changing the ways of the Guild again and it really was starting to work his nerves.

"Oh come on Jean."  Belize began to argue as always.  "You know I'm right.  Times are changing and so should the Guild.  The ways of the Old Kingdom are in the past.  This is the 20th century, not the 19th."

"Belize."  He gave him one of those if looks could kill glares.  "Let's change the subject."

Henri watched as his uncle fought back to speak what he felt about the situation.  He knew Belize was the only one brave enough to challenge his father on the issue of change.  One day, it would be the death of him.

Belize sighed in defeat as he hugged Etienne.  Time to change the subject.  "So, ya think LSU is going to go to the Sugar bowl this year?"

Wise move Uncle.  Wise move.  Henri thought as he kissed Mercy on the back of the neck.

******Lundi Gras 1988******

Remy and his friend Conner looked into the crowd from their hiding place in the alley.  Bourbon Street was packed with people celebrating the festivities before Mardi Gras.

"Do ya th'nk we can out due yesterday?"  Conner asked eagerly.

"Are ya kiddin' me?"  Remy replied as he eyed up his targets through his sunglasses.  "Look at all dem stupid drunk tourists out dere.  It's gonna be like takin' candy from a baby." 

^^^^

The day proved to be very fruitful for the young pickpockets.  They were so wrapped up in their work that they didn't realize it was dark outside. 

"We cleaned up real good today.'  Conner said stuffing the rest of his pickings into his pockets. 

"Yeah."  Remy admitted.  "But if we don't be getting' back soon, Fagan will have our hides."

As they began to walk back to Fagan's place, they didn't realize they were being followed.  The man behind them studied them closely.  What are such pretty little boys doing out at this time of night, and all alone?  He bit his lip as the dirty thoughts that ran through his mind.  He was so lost in thought; he accidentally gave away himself by stumbling over a pile of beer cans. 

The two boys turned around to see the figure staring at them. 

"Hey boys."  The man said.  "I didn't mean to frighten ya.  I was wondering if you two know how to get to the Saenger Theatre."

Remy cringed at the feeling he was getting from the man as Conner began talking to him.  For a split second, he thought he could feel the lust them man had for them as he noticed the man slowly backed them up into a corner.

"What's the matter?"  The man asked eying his prey.  "I'm not gonna hurt ya.  Just gonna play some games."  He said innocently.  "That's all." 

"No."

^^^^^^^^

Remy returned back to Fagan's the next morning all alone.  His face was streaked with tears and his whole body hurt.  He felt so violated.

He walked passed everyone ashamed of himself.  In one night, he lost all his money, his friend, his innocence, and his self-esteem.  He never felt lower than he did at this moment. 

He found his bear he hid, grabbed a blanket and pillow, and curled up in the corner of the room.  Why do bad things happen to me?  Why doesn't anybody want to love me?  Why do they only want to hurt me?  He tighten his eyes let a few tear roll down.  You can't show anybody that they hurt you.  You have to be strong.  Mask you real feelings

Jean-Luc is going to kill me.  Fagan though as the looked over to Remy curled up in a little ball.  He knew what had happened.  I can't let Jean-Luc find out about this. 

******May 5, 1991******

"Everything is gonna be alright, Celeste."  Jean-Luc assured his grieving sister.

"How can ya say everything is gonna be alright?"  Celeste cried as she pushed her brother away from her.  "Belize is dead.  Those fuckin' Assassins took my husband away from me and left my boys fatherless."

"I'll make sure they pay."  Jean-Luc said feeling guilty that he was actually the one took his brother-in-law out, but his sister didn't need to know that fact.  "I promise."

"What am I gonna do Jean?"  Celeste cried against his shoulder.  "I don't know if I am goin' ta be able ta make it without Belize.  How am I goin' ta raise my boys without him?"

"Celeste, it's gonna be alright."  Jean-Luc comforted her.  "I'm goin' ta make sure ya boys git a good education and have food in deir bellies.  Don't be worryin' 'bout de bills, Soeur, I'll take care of dem.  Ya gonna make it through dis.  D'accord.  Ya not alone."

"Merci, Frère."  Celeste held him tight.  "I don't know what I'd do without a brother like you."

^^^^^^^

Henri felt like he was going to hurl at his uncle's funeral.  He hated seeing his family and friends being buried.  It's not easy being a thief.  The Elixir may have prolonged their lives, but nothing could save them from an Assassins death blow. 

He felt so bad for his Aunt Celeste.  She begged his father to give her the Elixir so she could never leave Belize's side.  They had been inseperatable since they were introduced to each other.  It must be hard for her to lose the only man she ever loved.  I don't know what I'd do without Mercy.  He thought as he squeezed her hand.

His eyes turned their attention to his young cousins.  It took so long for Celeste to get Belize to start a family with her especially since his father had him running around on jobs all the time.  It was a shame they lost their father.  They are still young.

Etienne looked as confused as ever.  Poor thing doesn't know what to think.  He's not even eight and already he lost his father.  Henri took a deep breath at the thought.  Most Thieves' children lost their mothers at an early age, not their fathers.  Henri, himself, lost his mother when he was six, but Tante Matte was always there to fill in that emptiness. 

Henri watched as Theoren fought the tears in his eyes as he looked at his father's lifeless body in the casket.  He's only fourteen and now he's the head of the house.  He's a smart as a whip.  He's going to become a good Harvest Master when he is old enough. 

Henri sighed not sure how to comfort the two of them.  He loved children, but he and Mercy were not able to have any of their own.  He felt so helpless.

^^^^^^^^

Later that night, while in bed, Henri pulled Mercy closer to him.  She cuddled against him and played with his chest hair.  She knew something was wrong.

"Mercy."  Henry spoke softly as he grabbed her hand.

"Oui m'amour." 

"What would you do if I died?"  He asked. 

Mercy looked up at him wondering why he would ask such a question.  Is this a joke?  "Henri, don't scare me with questions like that?"

"I'm serious."  He sat up and looked at her.  "What would you do?"

"Henri."  I'm stronger than this.  Her eyes filled with tears knowing he really was serious about the question.  "I don't know."  She hung her head.  "I guess I'd leave."

"Why?"

"Ta git away from the pain."  She looked up at him.  "Why ya asking me dis?"

"I didn't mean ta upset ya."  Henri pulled her close.  "I don't want ya ta hurt if something happened ta me.  I'd want ya ta move on.  Start a new life."

"Easier said dan done."  Merci replied.  "You are my life."

******July 16, 1991*******

Jean-Luc signed for some of his hired men to move in on a young blonde haired girl walking out of the ice cream shop.  She was brave to be walking alone, especially in the streets and alley ways of New Orleans, but she was no ordinary girl.  She was Bella Donna Boudreaux, daughter of Marius Boudreaux the Patriarch of the Premiere clan of the Assassin's Guild. 

"Where are you?"  Jean-Luc whispered under his breath as he watched his plan set in motion.  "There you are."

Remy looked down at the alley below him seeing the young girl being surrounded by thugs.  From past experiences, he eyed the two men with hatred.  He wasn't going to let someone else be a victim if he could stop it.  He pulled out two sledge hammers from a hiding spot on the roof and slowly climbed down the ladder.

Bella licked her ice cream sensing something was wrong.  She slowly pulled a dagger out of her jacket ready to kill when out of nowhere a young boy ambushed her assailants.  He stood proudly seeing the two men knocked unconscious.

"Whatcha did dat for?"  Bella fussed at him. 

"Cuz ya needed my help."  The boy answered as he balanced one of the sledge hammers on his finger. 

"No I didn't."  Bella threw her dagger as the sledge hammer.  Then, she folded her arms.

Remy looked at the dagger stick in the handle of the sledge hammer.  "Where'd ya learn ta do dat?"

"My Daddy taught me."  She answered proudly.

Must be nice.  He looked at the beautiful girl before him.  She's pretty.  "What's ya name?"

"Bella, Bella Donna Boudreaux."  She answered holding her head high.  "What's yours?"

"Remy."

"Nice to meet ya."  She said coming closer to him getting a better look at him.  "Are dose ya real eyes?"

Remy closed his eyes just realizing he didn't have his sunglasses on.  He nodded waiting for her to run and scream from him.

"De're pretty."  She admitted honestly. 

Remy opened his eyes.  No one's ever told me that before.  "So are yours."  He replied noting her violet ones.

Jean-Luc smiled as the meeting went according to plan as the two left the alley way together.  Time for phase two. 

^^^^^^^

Henri watched as his father strolled around the house like he was king of the world.  "You're in a good mood today.  Do I dare ask why?"

Jean-Luc laughed.  "It's time."

"Time for what?"

Jean-Luc just smiled at him and left the room. 

Henri thought for a moment.  What was that all about?  He took a sip of his drink.  Crazy old fool.  Then, it hit him and he spit out his drink.  "Pere!!!"

******July 18, 1991******

Boy is this guy dumb.  Remy thought as he eyed up his target.  The man exchanged a piece of jewelry for a wad of bills.  His mouth drooled as he took guesses at what the amount was.

The man shoved the money in his wallet then in his long black trench coat.  Remy thought it looked rather suspicious though.  It was way to hot to be wearing that in New Orleans in the middle of the summer. 

Remy pushed up his sunglasses from his hiding spot as he looked the man over again.  His hair was long and pulled into a ponytail.  He had a mustache and a small tuff of hair under his lower lip.  Besides the big wad of bills the man just received, he looked rich. 

As the man turned around, Remy decided to make his move.  He made no sound as he snuck up on the man and reached carefully in his pocket.  He bit down on his lip as his hand grabbed a hold of the wallet.  Yes.  I got it.  He pulled his hand slowly out.  Boy is this man going to be surprised when he gets home and finds himself poor.

Remy turned around ready to make a run when he felt a large hand grab a hold of his hair.  His sunglasses felt to the floor as felt his head jerk back.  He had been caught. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

AUTHOR'S NOTES:           

Yes, I changed Belize Marceaux's story to fit my fanfic.  Jean-Luc had to kill him after he had his two sons in order to have them.  It doesn't make much sense in the comics that he was killed in the 1930s or 1940s, but had children around the age of Remy.

Oh.  I'll try do as much of the accents as I can.  It's just so hard with the spell checker.  And, I apologize if I write any French words or sayings wrong.  I blame it all on my French teacher in high school that talked more about her boyfriends than French lessons.