Picard to Bridge...
Although he would never admit it, and certainly never show it, rich people always
made Remy LeBeau nervous. Maybe it was because he was homeless as a child, or
maybe it was he was usually trying to steal something from said rich people.
A thief's fear of getting caught. Whatever the reason, Remy was nervous, like
he usually was in these situations, but this time he was actually letting himself
show it. Just a little bit, fidgety movements, shifting in his seat. He had
an impenetrable poker face when he wanted to. That's one of the reasons his
brother started calling him "Gambit." Later, he would find out that
gambit was a term used in chess more than in cards, but by then the name
had stuck.
"Good afternoon, ...Mr. Gordon, is it?" the rich person in question, 'Captain Picard,' inquired as he wheeled in behind a massive mahogany desk. Dark, intimidating, rich people furniture. While Remy actually had a fair amount of money himself, he preferred furnishings that didn't radiate an ominous presence.
"Um..yeah. Most people call me Jimmy," he let the slightest stutter into his sentence as he shifted again in his chair. The man in front of him smiled reassuringly, in the best grandfatherly type way. He seemed like a very nice man, but that was the reason Remy was sitting here, with his new fake identity and slightly nervous habits, to see if that statement was in fact true. Marie wasn't letting go of the idea of Captain Picard- scientist guy, the one behind the massive desk. According to the press, he was kind, compassionate advocate of mutant rights. Almost too good to be true, which made Remy suspicious. According to Marie, everything made Remy suspicious, but that didn't mean he wasn't right.
After the incident at the bus station, the one where he and Marie enacted the final scene of some Julia Roberts movie, they stayed in NewYork for a few days. Showed her some of his favorite places in the city, did not go to the Statue of Liberty, saw some plays, he even sat through 'Lion King' for her; he had to be in love. He brought up the subject of staying again because she seemed to like that idea; and he would do absolutely anything to make her happy. The more they talked about staying for a while, the better it sounded. He had been on the road for a while, it would be nice to rest, "rest" not "settle down." So they found an apartment. A nice, unassuming place without a stitch of mahogany in it. And of course, Marie wanted to find a 'normal' job. A restaurant in Manhattan with more rich people who tipped well. He wasn't sold on the whole nine to five routine yet, but she seemed to like it. With all the trapping of a 'normal' life in place, she started obsessing about her powers again.
"I here you heard some difficulty finding my office," again with the reassuring smile.
He had taken a "wrong turn" following the receptionist directions to headmaster's office. Remy returned with a somewhat sheepish smile, "This place is pretty big."
Marie had latched on to the idea of the Picard-looking guy again, she started finding out more information about him, starting with his real name, Dr. Charles Francis Xavier. The more she found out about him and his 'institute,' the more fixated she became on the idea that he might be able to help her. Remy didn't like that idea one bit and wasn't about to let her waltz up to some stranger and asking for help. Repeatedly, she reminded him that she was more than capable of protecting herself and besides, she had a 'really good feeling,' about this. Whatever that was supposed to mean.
This had become their only serious source of contention in an other wise blissful relationship. Sure they still argued like they used to, epecially about who cooked dinner. For someone fixated on fridges and stoves, she sure didn't know what to do with them. Those arguements never lasted and only provided good excuses to make up. It was strange, he could barely remember the last time he had an actually 'girlfriend' and now he had moved in with a woman without a second thought. Their was no need for second thoughts; he wanted to be with her and that was all that mattered. Life was as close to perfect as he'd ever had. Getting rid of the touching thing, would be nice, but that bothered his cherie a lot more than it bothered him. So this obsession with finding a 'cure' wasn't too big a shock. This was just a bad way to go about it, in his oh-so-humble opinion.
The lastest compromise had been she would look into the institute under a different pretense and check everything out thoroughly before any attempts at 'treatments.' It was then that he pointed out subtly wasn't her strong suit. She wacked him. But it was true, so now he was now sitting across from Xavier and his mahogany desk in his mahogany paneled office. Letting just bit of his nerves show in a very un-Gambit like way. In any game, sometimes there was an advantage in appearing weak.
Today he wasn't Gambit, he was James Gordon, down-on-his-luck average (meaning no powers) mutant looking for work. He wouldn't say right away that he was a mutant, he'd fidget with his sunglasses and shy away from the lights, letting Xavier figure it out himself. Then he would ask if it was really true, what they say on the news, that Mr. Xavier thought mutants could live normal people. He wanted to gauge Xavier's reaction to that, see just how far his 'compassion' extended. Being identified wasn't a concern. It was a particular point of pride with Gambit that he had never been caught. Anyone who would recognize him, wouldn't be the type of person Xavier would know. And if Xavier did know, that in and of itself would be a very interesting development.
His ultimate goal, thought, was to make the good doctor believe he was harmless. If he thought that, Remy would be able to observe the situation at the Institute with being watched himself. Already he had found some other interesting things. While wandering the hallways after getting 'lost,' he'd noticed a couple of odd things about the architecture of the huge mansion that was the Xavier Institute. Things normal people wouldn't notice, but a thief trained to find hidden rooms and safes, would. His thief skills, another thing he had pointed out to Marie when they were discussing this 'plan.' But he remembered to duck that time.
The biggest revelation of the afternoon; when Xavier started talking, Remy felt
the annoying scratching in his brain that signaled a telepath. This wasn't a
good development for someone trying to lie. Gambit hoped that whatever it was
about him that kept telepaths from reading his mind held up. The telepathy,
though, would explain why Xavier was so unbelievable supportive of mutants.
And the hidden rooms or passages could be hundreds of years old. But it showed
there was more to the 'institute' then is let on publicly. All the more reason
to be cautious in his mind. A silent inward sigh, figuring out this place would
take longer than Marie wanted. His beloved would not be happy.
Bonding moments...
"This would be perfect on you," Raven held up a fluttery looking blouse
to show her daughter, who eyed it suspiciously. The jade green color was pretty,
unfortunately all of the fluttery slits in the sleeves would leave a lot of
skin exposed.
"It's nice, but since you never liked Remy anyway, you probably want
me to put him in a coma."
"I never said I didn't like that glorified purse snatcher," was the response, seemingly without a trace of malice. Mother/daughter bonding time at the mall. Marie could only assume that Raven wanted to make up for lost time. The lost time being the mall obsession all girls in junior high go through. So they were re-living those days now.
Not that Marie didn't like shopping, she was merely surprised when Raven mentioned it. Momma didn't seem the "mall" type. Surprisingly, but in a good way, Raven had lived up to her word. No more crazy destructive stunts or psychotic friends. They had talked several times over the phone and then met for lunch one day. Remy had insisted on going along. If it came down to a fight, she would have be fine on her own and would probably end up protecting him. But never try logic on an overprotective male.
These outings had started to become semi-regular, and it was fun. Except for the times Raven would get bored and go through a store pretending to be Marie's fourteen year old sister. Guess she couldn't help it really, being a shapeshifter it was hard for her to keep the same form to long.
"Mother..." Calling her 'mother' had come surprisingly naturally. The more time they were together, the more she remembered from when she was little. Even things about her adopted mother, which the girl did not readily tell Raven.
"Have I ever said I didn't like him?" all innocence.
"No..."
"Besides, he's been around you long enough, he knows the rules. If he gets zapped, it would be his own fault." She shoved the blouse over the rack, determined that Marie at least try it on. The face Mystique was wearing today looked a lot like Marie twenty years older. A very good twenty years older. In all honesty more like ten or fifteen years older.
"You sound just like him when you say that," which was true, but her mother did not look pleased to hear it. "I think he likes getting zapped, I don't want to encourage him." The only reason he took any precautions around her was because she didn't like it when she absorbed him. He wasn't bothered by it at all.
"I would have thought he'd be more creative about your problem. I'm less worried about him getting zapped than in becoming a grandmother before my time."
Turning several shades of red, Marie ducked her head, pretending to closely examine the shirt in her hand. "I'm going to pretend I don't understand what you're talking about."
"You're the one living with him." Mystique still didn't trust him, but if ever forced, she would admit LeBeau wasn't entirely bad. Her daughter could do so much better, but it was pointless to argue.
"You know it's not like that, Momma." Marie's head was still ducked, as she vainly tried to hide the crimson palette that was her face. She did not want to be talking about this with her mother and for a brief second contemplated crawling under the clothes rack. Only that would bring a fresh round of "How could my daughter be such a prude?" looks from Raven. Her mother might be very 'open,' but Marie considered such things extremely private.
She hadn't even told Raven about her attempts to control her power. Barely mentioned it to Remy even. He thought she was only thinking about that doctor. Which she was, but she didn't want to leave that as her only option, especially since his institute was looking more suspicious everyday according to her undercover boyfriend. It didn't really matter though, as all she had managed was to do was continue to fail miserably. She didn't want to think of 'creativity,' she wanted his touch. Was too much to ask? They loved each other, didn't love conquer all? Whenever he was around, she had much less trouble with the voices. Why couldn't that apply to her poison skin?
"Anyways," desperately changing the subject, "I told Casey we'd meet her at the food court 'round two. She wants to check out Macy's and then she'll give me a ride to work."
Graciously allowing her daughter to wiggle anyway from the topic of her love life, "Is she the one with the kid?"
"No, Annie has the little boy. Casey is the one who can never find a decent boyfriend."
Nodded and feigning an interest in Marie's insipid human friends, "Well, that's because most men are stupid," she calmly observed and Marie stifled a laugh. Erik was one of the only men she'd ever able to stand. She still needed to figure out a way to get him out of prison. It would take time, he understood that. When that time did come, they may have some extra help. "By the way, if you ever get tired a carrying drinks to rich people, I could find you something-,"
Cutting her off quickly, "No, Momma. I don't want to get involved-,"
A somewhat defensive reply, "I have a lots of legitimate contacts, too, Marie. Some in the government even." Her daughter still needed a lot of convincing, but was coming around, slowly...Marie was still very much against her mother's line of "work," but at least she understood why Raven did it, and didn't hate her for it. The 'old' Rogue would have, and also would have turned to her own mother over to the cops by now. The 'new' Rogue had a much greater appreciation of gray areas. Falling in love with a criminal undoubtedly helped in that respect, though Raven was loath to admitt it.
Her daughter would remember Xavier and his brats eventually. It was unavoidable. When that happened Mystique had to have changed her mind just enough to keep Marie from running back to them, and out of her life forever. One day she might be able to convince her daughter to come home, to her real home. That day was very far off, but conveicable. She could even bring the swamp rat boyfriend with her. It would be worth it, to her family back. "I just think you are going to get bored of being a waitress eventually. You're probably trying to get Remy to take a 'normal' job as a janitor, or some nonsense."
There was mumbled reply, "...groundskeeper."
"What?"
A large economy sized sigh, "Groundskeeper. He's working as a groundskeeper." She left out the undercover and trying to find a cure part, knowing Raven would start in on how Marie just needed to 'practice' more.
Biting her lip and trying very hard not to laugh, Marie wouldn't like if she laughed. That was a terribly funny image. Mystique lamented the fact that her daughter was selling herself short, but it was almost worth it to think of that picture. The master thief reduced to mowing lawns and raking leaves.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was on vacation, I actually have an excuse this time. The story's still in
transition working into the second half. Well, everyone gets their answer on
if Marie will see the X-Men. You know it gotta be coming now. Everyone think
of how many different ways this could end really badly. :)
ishandahalf- I promise I'll get tough with that pesky plot. It is ironic about Mystique. But no one every said her mind worked logically. :) She has a "cause," sort of, so that make everything she does OK. I didn't know ladybug's could bite. My sister had a ladybug collection in the first grade. She kept them in her desk at school and made furniture out of easers and paperclips for them. Other kids would bring her ones they caught on the playground. She probably had at least a hundred. Until the day the teacher inspected everyone's desks. She screamed really loud. My sister couldn't figure out why her teacher was so upset.
Caliente- Chapter nine is here with less of a delay than I usually have. The rest of the story is going to pick up after this point.
SeaWench-Thanks for the review. I love the psychological conflict in Rogue's character. There is so much potential there. I'm going to keep playing with it.
Alwaysright- I'm really glad you didn't mind the last chapter. I was a little worried about it. This one's a little the same, but the action will pick up soon. As if you can't tell. :) Gambit #12, another Star Trek joke, I had forgotten about that one, that's a good one too. Yes, New York is a big state, but it really is a small world after all. :) Ok, act surprised, you've just seen Gambit in Xavier's office. Think of what could possibly come next. Sorry about the bad timing for the blackout, at least you had a very memorable birthday. :)