"Bobby, please, just listen to me," Rogue said desperately, sitting down
beside her boyfriend. "Why won't you hear me out?"
"Because I've heard it already," he answered. They were sitting in the lounge, and for once, it was deserted. A few kids had cleared out once the couple's voices had started to rise.
She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? But back in the alley, he was about to blow you up and-"
"Its not the alley that's bothering me," he interrupted her. "It's the fact that you went back to see him, even though you knew what he might do."
"Was I supposed to know that he was gonna use me to break out!?" So much for the deep breaths, now she was almost shouting.
So was he. "You heard what the Professor said, he's a thief. He's probably got every mind game in the book memorised. And you fell for it!"
At that, Rogue stood up and stormed out. She pushed past a few of the kids and ran out into the gardens. Outside, she paused for a moment and wiped some emerging tears from her eyes. She'd finally decided to talk to Bobby about Gambit, and this was the result. An argument that was going to be the Institute's new gossip topic and both of them even madder than before. It was definitely time for a break.
* * * * * * *
"This is your seventh refill, hun," the waitress commented, as she filled up the coffee cup. "I'm getting worried that in a moment, you'll jump up and start running around like a mad woman."
"Wouldn't want that," Rogue replied, almost inaudible. The waitress just smiled and finished filling up her cup. "Thanks."
"No problem."
When she was alone again, Rogue just stared down into her coffee, stirring it with the spoon. Free refills were a thing of beauty. But the waitress was right, it was her seventh cup, and the novelty had run its course. Sighing, she got up and walked out of the café.
When she stepped out on to the street, Rogue headed towards the bus station. The sun was going in and she didn't want to be wandering around alone at night. She folded her arms and kept her eyes down, hoping no one would give her second look. She was under enough scrutiny back at the mansion, she didn't need it from people who didn't even know her. Once she was out of the centre of town, it was almost dark. Scowling, she quickened her pace.
"Hey Naz, look what we have here," a male voice said from behind her. Rogue continued to walk, but was cut off by another man, who moved straight in front of her. Taking a step back, she bumped into another. She turned round to find herself surrounded by three mean looking thugs.
"Sorry, girl, but this here is our turf," the first one said. "You're gonna have to pay to pass through." He wasn't overly tall, but his build made up for that. The guy looked like he could shove a two ton dumpster without even trying.
"Yeah, and it ain't gonna be cheap either," another added. Rogue looked at him, he wasn't as big as the first, but he still looked like he could frighten the hell out of someone. She looked round at the third. He was thin, but at least six feet tall. He was as much of a problem as the other two.
"I don't have any money," she admitted, trying to keep her eye on all three of them.
"That's too bad," the first one said, moving towards her. "Because you ain't leaving here without giving us something." Rogue backed away, and bumped into the third thug. Once she made contact, she jumped forward and turned to face him.
He had a filthy smile on his face. "Of course, she doesn't have to pay us with money though, does she? I can think of other ways to work off the debt."
That was it, she wasn't going to take anymore of this. Rogue clenched a fist and swung it towards his jaw. He stumbled backwards, and the other two toward her. She looked over her shoulder and kicked one away from her, then ducked a punch from the other. She grabbed hold of his arm, twisted it and flipped him over onto his back. Placing her boot on his chin, she silently congratulated herself. Obviously some of Logan's training had paid off. She didn't notice one of the thugs coming up behind her, with a glass bottle in his hand.
As he brought it down, another hand shot out and stopped him. "Trust me, homme. Not a good idea."
Rogue felt a presence behind her, and quickly got out of harm's way, spinning to face the threat. Someone had stopped one of the guys from breaking a bottle over her head. Gambit.
As she watched, he knocked the bottle from the thug's hand and punched him, once in his face and once in his stomach. Then he swung the guy round and sent him flying into a pile of rubbish. Now all three of them were either unconscious, or too beaten to do anything. Grinning, Gambit pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, as if stopping the thug was nothing. For him, it was probably as easy as stealing candy from a baby.
"Y' should be more careful around these parts, ma chere," he said, coming towards her. "'Lotta bad guys around."
Rogue folded her arms and looked him straight in the eye. "I had it handled," she replied confidently.
"De first two, no argument from me," he said, looking down at the ones she had taken out herself. "But dat third one? Good job Remy was here, or you'd be face down on de floor wit' dem."
Rogue sighed in annoyance and turned to continue her journey to the bus station. Gambit hurried to catch up with her.
"Where you goin', cherie?"
"Home," she replied, without even looking at him.
"Without even an au revoir?"
She stopped and turned to look at him. He was still grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Goodbye," she said flatly, before turning to carry on walking.
He still kept up with her. "Wan' a ride?"
She stopped again, and stamped her foot. She'd spent her bus money in the café, and now she couldn't get back to the mansion. Gambit came up beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Is dat a yes?"
Rogue raised her eyes to heaven and silently cursed whoever or whatever was up there. A week ago, she was happier than she'd ever been since her powers became active. She had new home at Xavier's school, she was part of the X-Men and her and Bobby had been going great. Now she was the gossip of the entire school, stranded in the middle of nowhere with her only company being a cocky thief who was working for the bad guys.
She turned to look at Gambit. "Fine," she said. "But try anything, and you'll find yourself in a coma for the next three weeks."
"I could thinka worse fates," he said playfully. Rogue maintained a blank expression, and he just smiled. "C'mon girl, lets fly." He turned and started off in another direction, and she followed closely behind. Eventually, they ended up side by side.
"You're from New Orleans, aren't you?" she said, hating the silence.
"That I am, chere," he replied. "How you know that?"
"When ah touched you, I absorbed some of your memories as well. If I look back at them, I can see New Orleans, people you've met, all sorts of stuff. And an image of John accidentally setting his clothes on fire."
Gambit laughed, and so did she. "Now dat was a moment to treasure, I never wanna forget it."
As they carried on walking, she found herself relaxing. The suspicion that he might suddenly attack her, or kidnap her, faded away, leaving her alone with a drop dead gorgeous guy who she knew a little about already.
"You seem kinda nice for someone working for the bad guys," she said after a long pause.
"The Rogue thinks Gambit is nice? I do believe I just got a full house."
She laughed. "Why are you working for him anyway?"
"You absorbed my mind, you tell me." She sighed in frustration, it was the Infirmary all over again. "It doesn't work like that. I only get bits and pieces, not the whole thing."
"Some power y' got there," he commented, just as they reached a parking lot. He opened a door and stepped aside. "After you, cherie."
Rogue smiled in amusement and stepped through, looking sideward at him. Once they were both inside, Gambit headed towards a Harley motorcycle parked on the other side.
"Nice bike," she commented, as he got on and started it up.
He smiled and threw her the passenger helmet. She caught it, put it on and then climbed on the back of the motorbike. Gambit started it up, and then looked behind him. "Dis ain't gonna work if y' don't hang on, petite."
Rogue grinned, and placed one arm around his waist. She did the same with the other, and looked up at Gambit, who was still watching her with his red and black eyes. She raised her eyebrows playfully, and he grinned back at her. Then he turned back towards the front and took off. She hung on tight to him. and not just for her safety.
* * * * * *
"Stop here," Rogue called out to Gambit, as they neared the school. "I'll walk the rest of the way."
The driver did as he was told, and skidded to a halt. "Sure y' don't want me to drive you all the way home?"
"Can't have the bad guy seeing where I live now, can I?" she said jokingly, getting off the bike.
"Well, Magneto already knows," Gambit commented, as she brushed herself down. "But whatever makes you happy, chere."
Rogue grinned, and they both caught each other's eyes. She stared into his, Logan had told her once that you could tell a lot about a guy from his eyes. Only this time, she wasn't searching his soul for clues, she was staring because it was comforting.
"Well, thanks for the ride," she said, pulling herself back into reality.
"My pleasure," he said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out one of his infamous pack of cards. He shuffled through them for a moment, and then selected one. Smiling, he held it out to her. "Somethin' to remember me by."
She reached out her hand, took the card and looked at it. The Ace of Spades. She looked back up and smiled at him. "Thanks."
"See y' around, cherie." He said, starting up the bike. Then with a roar of the engine, he drove off into the distance. Rogue watched him until he'd completely disappeared from sight, and then headed towards the mansion.
* * * * *
Authors Note: Sorry about the long wait, I hope it was worth it! I have plans to continue, but I'd still appreciate any ideas from you guys!
"Because I've heard it already," he answered. They were sitting in the lounge, and for once, it was deserted. A few kids had cleared out once the couple's voices had started to rise.
She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? But back in the alley, he was about to blow you up and-"
"Its not the alley that's bothering me," he interrupted her. "It's the fact that you went back to see him, even though you knew what he might do."
"Was I supposed to know that he was gonna use me to break out!?" So much for the deep breaths, now she was almost shouting.
So was he. "You heard what the Professor said, he's a thief. He's probably got every mind game in the book memorised. And you fell for it!"
At that, Rogue stood up and stormed out. She pushed past a few of the kids and ran out into the gardens. Outside, she paused for a moment and wiped some emerging tears from her eyes. She'd finally decided to talk to Bobby about Gambit, and this was the result. An argument that was going to be the Institute's new gossip topic and both of them even madder than before. It was definitely time for a break.
* * * * * * *
"This is your seventh refill, hun," the waitress commented, as she filled up the coffee cup. "I'm getting worried that in a moment, you'll jump up and start running around like a mad woman."
"Wouldn't want that," Rogue replied, almost inaudible. The waitress just smiled and finished filling up her cup. "Thanks."
"No problem."
When she was alone again, Rogue just stared down into her coffee, stirring it with the spoon. Free refills were a thing of beauty. But the waitress was right, it was her seventh cup, and the novelty had run its course. Sighing, she got up and walked out of the café.
When she stepped out on to the street, Rogue headed towards the bus station. The sun was going in and she didn't want to be wandering around alone at night. She folded her arms and kept her eyes down, hoping no one would give her second look. She was under enough scrutiny back at the mansion, she didn't need it from people who didn't even know her. Once she was out of the centre of town, it was almost dark. Scowling, she quickened her pace.
"Hey Naz, look what we have here," a male voice said from behind her. Rogue continued to walk, but was cut off by another man, who moved straight in front of her. Taking a step back, she bumped into another. She turned round to find herself surrounded by three mean looking thugs.
"Sorry, girl, but this here is our turf," the first one said. "You're gonna have to pay to pass through." He wasn't overly tall, but his build made up for that. The guy looked like he could shove a two ton dumpster without even trying.
"Yeah, and it ain't gonna be cheap either," another added. Rogue looked at him, he wasn't as big as the first, but he still looked like he could frighten the hell out of someone. She looked round at the third. He was thin, but at least six feet tall. He was as much of a problem as the other two.
"I don't have any money," she admitted, trying to keep her eye on all three of them.
"That's too bad," the first one said, moving towards her. "Because you ain't leaving here without giving us something." Rogue backed away, and bumped into the third thug. Once she made contact, she jumped forward and turned to face him.
He had a filthy smile on his face. "Of course, she doesn't have to pay us with money though, does she? I can think of other ways to work off the debt."
That was it, she wasn't going to take anymore of this. Rogue clenched a fist and swung it towards his jaw. He stumbled backwards, and the other two toward her. She looked over her shoulder and kicked one away from her, then ducked a punch from the other. She grabbed hold of his arm, twisted it and flipped him over onto his back. Placing her boot on his chin, she silently congratulated herself. Obviously some of Logan's training had paid off. She didn't notice one of the thugs coming up behind her, with a glass bottle in his hand.
As he brought it down, another hand shot out and stopped him. "Trust me, homme. Not a good idea."
Rogue felt a presence behind her, and quickly got out of harm's way, spinning to face the threat. Someone had stopped one of the guys from breaking a bottle over her head. Gambit.
As she watched, he knocked the bottle from the thug's hand and punched him, once in his face and once in his stomach. Then he swung the guy round and sent him flying into a pile of rubbish. Now all three of them were either unconscious, or too beaten to do anything. Grinning, Gambit pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, as if stopping the thug was nothing. For him, it was probably as easy as stealing candy from a baby.
"Y' should be more careful around these parts, ma chere," he said, coming towards her. "'Lotta bad guys around."
Rogue folded her arms and looked him straight in the eye. "I had it handled," she replied confidently.
"De first two, no argument from me," he said, looking down at the ones she had taken out herself. "But dat third one? Good job Remy was here, or you'd be face down on de floor wit' dem."
Rogue sighed in annoyance and turned to continue her journey to the bus station. Gambit hurried to catch up with her.
"Where you goin', cherie?"
"Home," she replied, without even looking at him.
"Without even an au revoir?"
She stopped and turned to look at him. He was still grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Goodbye," she said flatly, before turning to carry on walking.
He still kept up with her. "Wan' a ride?"
She stopped again, and stamped her foot. She'd spent her bus money in the café, and now she couldn't get back to the mansion. Gambit came up beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Is dat a yes?"
Rogue raised her eyes to heaven and silently cursed whoever or whatever was up there. A week ago, she was happier than she'd ever been since her powers became active. She had new home at Xavier's school, she was part of the X-Men and her and Bobby had been going great. Now she was the gossip of the entire school, stranded in the middle of nowhere with her only company being a cocky thief who was working for the bad guys.
She turned to look at Gambit. "Fine," she said. "But try anything, and you'll find yourself in a coma for the next three weeks."
"I could thinka worse fates," he said playfully. Rogue maintained a blank expression, and he just smiled. "C'mon girl, lets fly." He turned and started off in another direction, and she followed closely behind. Eventually, they ended up side by side.
"You're from New Orleans, aren't you?" she said, hating the silence.
"That I am, chere," he replied. "How you know that?"
"When ah touched you, I absorbed some of your memories as well. If I look back at them, I can see New Orleans, people you've met, all sorts of stuff. And an image of John accidentally setting his clothes on fire."
Gambit laughed, and so did she. "Now dat was a moment to treasure, I never wanna forget it."
As they carried on walking, she found herself relaxing. The suspicion that he might suddenly attack her, or kidnap her, faded away, leaving her alone with a drop dead gorgeous guy who she knew a little about already.
"You seem kinda nice for someone working for the bad guys," she said after a long pause.
"The Rogue thinks Gambit is nice? I do believe I just got a full house."
She laughed. "Why are you working for him anyway?"
"You absorbed my mind, you tell me." She sighed in frustration, it was the Infirmary all over again. "It doesn't work like that. I only get bits and pieces, not the whole thing."
"Some power y' got there," he commented, just as they reached a parking lot. He opened a door and stepped aside. "After you, cherie."
Rogue smiled in amusement and stepped through, looking sideward at him. Once they were both inside, Gambit headed towards a Harley motorcycle parked on the other side.
"Nice bike," she commented, as he got on and started it up.
He smiled and threw her the passenger helmet. She caught it, put it on and then climbed on the back of the motorbike. Gambit started it up, and then looked behind him. "Dis ain't gonna work if y' don't hang on, petite."
Rogue grinned, and placed one arm around his waist. She did the same with the other, and looked up at Gambit, who was still watching her with his red and black eyes. She raised her eyebrows playfully, and he grinned back at her. Then he turned back towards the front and took off. She hung on tight to him. and not just for her safety.
* * * * * *
"Stop here," Rogue called out to Gambit, as they neared the school. "I'll walk the rest of the way."
The driver did as he was told, and skidded to a halt. "Sure y' don't want me to drive you all the way home?"
"Can't have the bad guy seeing where I live now, can I?" she said jokingly, getting off the bike.
"Well, Magneto already knows," Gambit commented, as she brushed herself down. "But whatever makes you happy, chere."
Rogue grinned, and they both caught each other's eyes. She stared into his, Logan had told her once that you could tell a lot about a guy from his eyes. Only this time, she wasn't searching his soul for clues, she was staring because it was comforting.
"Well, thanks for the ride," she said, pulling herself back into reality.
"My pleasure," he said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out one of his infamous pack of cards. He shuffled through them for a moment, and then selected one. Smiling, he held it out to her. "Somethin' to remember me by."
She reached out her hand, took the card and looked at it. The Ace of Spades. She looked back up and smiled at him. "Thanks."
"See y' around, cherie." He said, starting up the bike. Then with a roar of the engine, he drove off into the distance. Rogue watched him until he'd completely disappeared from sight, and then headed towards the mansion.
* * * * *
Authors Note: Sorry about the long wait, I hope it was worth it! I have plans to continue, but I'd still appreciate any ideas from you guys!