WARNING: It's been a long time since I've had to speak French, so I may be a little rusty.
Chapter Sixteen
Territorial
"I don't like this," Logan grumbled, strapping into his leather X-man suit. "In fact, one-eye, I hate it." He thrust his feet into his boots and then his hands into his gloves. "How can we believe a word he says? He's an admitted thief for Christ sake!"
Scott shook his head solemnly. "I don't like it either, Logan. But for now, he's all we've got." He followed the uptight Wolverine out the door and the down ramp into the docking bay. "Besides, he's got our bargaining chip."
"Why help us? That's what I want to know. This Remy LeBleau, or whatever, risks it all to steal the disc. And to what? Turn around and hand it off in order to save a woman he's never met? That's just damn suspicious…and too damn convenient." Logan marched up the stairs of the jet.
Inside, he found the arrogant thief sitting in his seat. "Beat it," Logan growled.
Gambit tossed his hands in the air. "Cool it, mon ami. Gambit don't wanna start a fight." He casually got up, his mouth forming into a conceited smirk. "Unless the big-bad-wolf wants to fight. Gambit will kick your ass."
"Watch it, bub," Logan snarled dangerously low and quiet. "I'm begging for you to give me a reason to carve your ugly face off your skull."
"Children," Storm admonished from her pilot seat. "Can we save our energy to fight the real battle?"
Fifteen minutes into the flight, Logan sneered back at the Cajun who was buckled beside him in Rogue's seat. Seeing the man overtaking Rogue's place grated hotly on Wolverine's nerves. "What's your deal?"
Gambit shrugged. "Can't un homme just be un ami? Gambit only want to help."
Logan growled, irritated with Gambit's French and need to refer to himself in the third-person. "A man can't just want to be a friend. There's always a catch. And I'm going to figure out what you're really up to, bub."
Gambit grinned. "You speak French, non?"
Logan grunted. "Enough to get by."
"Where you from, mon ami?"
"Quit calling me your friend," Logan hissed. "I don't like you anymore than I trust you."
Gambit narrowed his eyes. "Then we've got a problem, non? Gambit peut epargner votre petite amante. You need Gambit." He smirked, leaning back into the seat. "So don't mess with Gambit, compris?"
The French swirled around in Logan's brain. He struggled to make sense of it. What the hell did he say? Having lived the first fifteen years of his known-memory in Canada, he'd picked up a handful of French. Now he wished he had paid a little more attention.
By the time they landed in the clearing of trees, Logan had pieced together the prick's sentence: 'Gambit can save your little lover'. Seething, he glared at Gambit's back as the thief trotted off the jet in front of him. She's not my lover, he thought surly; not that he was going to tell Remy. Not that he suddenly pictured Rogue standing in front of him, her soothing voice washing over him; her soft, cool hands caressing his face; her crystal green eyes gazing at him…
He shook himself out of it, annoyed with his onslaught of emotions. Just because he loved her didn't mean he had to act on it. Damn it, Wolverine, pull yourself together. She's a twenty-one year old kid. A kid who wants her own kids. He glanced at Gambit, oddly feeling a sense of need to protect his territory. Back off, asshole. Rogue's mine. He came up short. Mine? No. She'll never be mine. He glowered at the thief. But she certainly won't be his.
End Chapter Sixteen
NOTE: I hope you all don't mind, but I've started to abbreviate names. Responding to individual reviews takes a while, so I'm trying to make it easier on myself.
Snoob: I'm glad you liked Chapter 15. I wasn't too sure if people would. And I always adored Gambit, too (at least from the original cartoon). I hope I can live up to your expectations of his character. I'm warning you now, though, he won't be exactly like Marvel had him.
Krypt: I read a couple of your stories only to discover you've got writer's block. What's up with that? Dust off the keyboard, rub your hands together, and get started!
RogCher: I don't think anyone was expecting him to show up! Anyway, no problem with answering your question: if you ever have one then ask away!
Wapps: Thanks a lot! I try to keep him in character as much as possible.
PomeQueen: Yeah, but will you love my version of his character? Lol.
BoredReal: I've added you onto my AOL IM. And don't worry; in the movie-version I'll only accept a Rog/Log pairing. But in the cartoon, I only accept a Rog/Gam pairing…be thankful this is based off the movies.
Gumball: Since you asked so nicely: I guess I can provide you more.
Cassandra: Hey, as long as I'm keeping you interested then I know I'm doing my job.
Goldensnidget: Gambit hasn't officially been introduced into the movies, yet. He'll be in the third one, though (they showed his name on the computer screen). He's the Cajun dude who throws playing cards and spikes that he charges with kinetic energy. He was once part of a band of thieves called the Thieves' Guild of New Orleans because he was the adoptive son of the leader. I never read the comics, but in the cartoon he was obsessed with Rogue.