The Prince of Thieves

Chapter VI: Gambit Wakes Up

By: Michelle

Thursday Morning…

Ororo woke up and did her normal routine. Of course, it was even faster than normal. By the time Kurt came to meet her for breakfast, she was no where to be found.

He thought for a moment. Where could she have gone? Then, he remembered her friend Gambit. He was asleep across the hall from his room. As he made his way back upstairs, he was surprised that he hadn't past her on the way there. She must have taken another route. She was right where he predicted. He froze and watched the scene.

Ororo had a plate with an apple, orange, and banana on it for her friend. Of course, just by the looks of the man, it didn't look like he was going to be waking up anytime soon to eat it. Gambit was in the same position he was in when he laid on the bed the night before. Fully dressed and sprawled out on top of the covers.

From what he could tell, Gambit was in pretty bad shape. OK. He looked like shit and that was putting it nicely. Of course, it didn't stop Ororo from playing mother hen to him.

"Goddess, Remy, you're sweating."

He watched as Ororo took of her friend's trench coat. Gambit, in response, mumbled a few words and returned to his previous position. Kurt couldn't understand what he said, but touring around Europe in the circus gave him a good idea of what language it was in. Sounds like French, but it has a rough accent to it.

Ororo folded the trench coat and held it against her chest. As she studied her friend, he could see the worried look in her eyes.

"Goddess, my brother. What kind of mess have you gotten yourself into?" She whispered softly.

She stood up and walked over to the dresser and placed the trench coat on it. She walked over to the door and jumped when she saw him. "Goddess, Kurt." She said as she placed a hand on her heart. "How long have you been there?"

"A few minutes." And already I feel like I'm invisible. Kurt replied and watched as she took one last glance before she shut the door. "How is he?"

"Dead to the world." She answered as they began walking down the hall. "Professor thinks he's going to be out for another couple of hours."

"True." Kurt replied and to her hand. "But it is good that he rests."

"Yeah. I just wish Professor would have canceled my classes for today like he did for our Danger room practice." Ororo said. "I want to be there when he wakes up. I don't want him to panic or anything when he wakes up in a strange room."

"Ororo, he's going to be fine." Kurt replied. "You're vorrying too much."

"I know." She sighed. "It just feels like this is my fault. I've should have done more to get him here sooner. And now…"

"Accidents happen Ororo." Kurt wrapped his arm around her waist. "It's not your fault."

"Yeah." Ororo leaned her head on his shoulder. Then, why do I feel like it is.

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Rogue sat down at her desk and watched as her friends took their seats by her. It was no surprise what the hot topic was about.

"Like Oh My God." Kitty said to Bobby and Piotr. "When that Gambit guy like walked past our door, I like totally wanted to freak. I swear he looked like Judd Nelson in the Breakfast Club or something."

"You are so right." Jubilee chimed in. "His clothes were so funky and stuff. He definitely could have passed for him, if not his twin."

"Did you see what he was wearing?" Piotr asked. "Besides the trench coat."

"No."

"Na uh."

"His shirt was hot pink." Piotr replied.

"Hot pink."

"I swear the man has got to be gay." Bobby laughed and nudged Rogue. "Chicks wear pink."

"And this is coming from a guy who wears SpongeBob boxers." Rogue added with a hint of attitude. "I swear. You're so immature."

"It was just a joke Rogue." Bobby answered. "There's no need to get bent out of shape about it."

"I'm not bent out of shape about it." Rogue said with her voice rising.

Bobby shook his head. "Then, why are you acting like this?"

"Because my boyfriend is a jerk who acts his IQ level, and not his age." She said in a huff and got up.

Bobby watched as she walked over to desk in the front and slammed her books down. She plopped down in her seat and let out one of those pissed off sighs.

"I wonder what her problem is." Piotr asked. Glad she isn't my girlfriend.

"Hell if I know." Bobby replied and sat down. She's definitely absorbed Logan too many times though.

"Alright class." Ororo said as she walked into the classroom and up to the front. "I'm sure all of you enjoyed your day off as well as the food fight in the cafeteria, but its time to get down to business."

"AWWWWW."

"Stop your whining." She said as she got back into her daily routine. "I have some good news. Because of your day off yesterday, I have postponed tomorrow's test until Monday."

"Can't it be Tuesday?" Bobby asked trying to get his teacher to push it back as far as he could.

"No." Ororo replied not giving in. "You are just going to have to take sometime out of the weekend to study. Tomorrow we will have our review, so look over your notes for any questions you want to address before the test. For now, open to page 232 and let's finish up the discussion on the French and Indian War."

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"DAMNIT." Magneto slammed his fists on the table. He thought he had saved everything that was necessary before Gambit made like a bandit. However, he was wrong.

"What's wrong?" Mystique asked as she sat on the end of his desk.

Magneto looked up at her. "Not only did Gambit destroy one of my hideouts, but he also wiped out all of my back up files in my laptop."

Pyro flipped his lighter open and close. "Why would he do that?"

"Gambit's young, but he's not stupid." Mystique explained. "He was trying to keep us from succeeding in our plan." She looked over to Magneto. "He used us like we did him."

Magneto leaned back in his chair and folded his hands. "Yes he did."

"So what are we going to do about it?" Pyro asked.

"Gambit is the type of person who keeps record of his activities, just to cover his own ass." Mystique reminded him. "He has a laptop. He probably made a copy of the information before he destroyed the place. That way, he could access all our information for himself."

"Mystique, take Pyro to the hospital Gambit was in." Magneto ordered. "Find his laptop and copy all the information back out of it." He glared up at Mystique. "If he wants to play games with me, then we will play games with him."

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During her off period, Ororo made her way to Remy's room for a check up. When she got there, she found him in a different position then when she had left.

He's been up. She said to herself as she looked at the eaten fruit on the plate she had left him. He must have been hungry. There was nothing left but an apple core and orange and banana peels.

She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and walked over to the side of his bed. She lightly brushed his bangs out of his eyes.

On the train they stowed away on, he sat down next to her and brushed her hair out of her eyes. That's when he noticed she was crying. "What be wrong Chere?"

"I hate not knowing who I am." Ororo replied. "I feel 13, but I know I'm much older than that."

"It gonna be alright Chere." He replied. "My Tante, she be a healer. She can heal ya. Make ya memories come back."

"And what if she can." She sniffled. "What of me then?"

He was silent for a moment. She could feel his ruby eyes dull from looking at her tear stained face. "I take care of ya." He said softly. "Ain't gonna let nothing happen to ya."

"Really."

"Oui." He replied and kissed her forehead. "Ya mon ami Stormy. Mon voleur de soeur[1]. I always be dere for ya no matter what happens."

Ororo leaned down and kissed his forehead. "It's time for me to be there for you Remy. Mon voleur de frère[2]."

She walked over to the doorway and looked back. He mumbled and rolled over in the bed. She looked at the empty plate in her hand and walked out the door.

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In the elevator of the hospital, Mystique changed her disguise from a visitor to a nurse. As the door opened, she and Pyro stepped out. "Gambit's room is in the left wing. Make sure you bring a lot of attention to the right."

"No problem." Pyro replied and began walking down the hallway. Midway from the elevator, He pulled his lighter out of his pocket. He took out a pack of cigarettes and pulled one out. Right after he lit it, he was being fussed at.

"Son." One of the nurses said to him. "You can't light that in here."

"I'm sorry." He replied and threw the still lit cigarette in the trash. He concentrated hard as he walked away. Sorry my ass.

The garbage can burst into flames sending some of the nurses in a panic. He turned and spread the flames as various doctors and nurses attempted to put it out.

Mystique smiled to him from down the hallway as many of the staff members rushed down the hall to stop the fire.

She walked into Gambit's room to find the room empty. What the hell? I was here just yesterday. She shifted her appearance to a visitor and walked out the room.

She walked over to the front desk. "Hi. My name is Raven Creed. I'm here to visit my friend Remy LeBeau."

The clerk at the desk looked over her files. "Mr. LeBeau left yesterday."

"Yesterday." I was here yesterday.

"Yes." The clerk replied. "His sister came yesterday afternoon and checked him out."

His sister. Mystique thought for a moment. Victor never said anything about Gambit having a sister. Only a brother. "Umm…What was her name? So that I can contact her and visit him." She asked innocently. "He just has so many sisters."

The nurse looked over the form. "Ororo Munroe. She stays in Westchester."

"Yes I know." Mystique replied. She walked slowly away from the desk. The Windrider is his sister. Magneto is going to be outraged.

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By the time lunch time came, Remy was stirring in the bed. Ororo's face lit up when she saw him. "Welcome to the land of the living."

Remy looked at her from his sitting position in the bed. He was still half asleep.

"How are you feeling today?" Ororo asked as she brushed away the bangs from his sleepy eyes.

"Better." He looked at his casted arm and felt the bandage on his head.

Ororo disappeared in the bathroom for a moment, and then came back with a damp wash cloth. He carefully removed the bandage and wiped the cut. "They are serving lunch in the cafeteria. Do you want me to bring you up a tray or do you want to come downstairs?"

"You be dere." He asked.

"Of course." Ororo replied and lowered the wash cloth.

"Downstairs."

"Ok." She smiled and helped him up.

"Where be my trench coat?"

"On the dresser."

"Give me."

Ororo grabbed his trench coat and helped him put it on. He's as bad as waking up some of the kids on Saturday morning. "Come on."

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"Well did you get it?" Magneto demanded eagerly.

"No." Mystique replied.

"What do you mean NO?"

"He wasn't there." She explained. "He was checked out yesterday."

Magneto gave her a looked knowing it was something he wanted to know, but not necessarily wanted to hear.

"He was checked by his sister." Mystique replied. "Ororo Munroe."

"Storm." Magneto replied. "Now Charles has him. This puts a damper on our plans." He looked at Mystique practically demanding. "I need the information he stole. Take care of the problem."

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Kurt looked around the lunch room. Where in the world is Ororo? We always have lunch together.

"Problems Elf." Logan asked sensing the uneasiness in his friend.

Kurt sighed and sat down at the table. "I don't know."

"I see." Logan took a sip of his drink. "Relax. There ain't nothing to worry about."

I hope so. "Ja." Kurt smiled when he saw her. All his fears when away when she smiled back. He quickly turned on his image inducer to avoid scary Gambit. For now anyways.

He watched as Ororo practically dragged her friend over to the table. The kid looked uncomfortable to be around so many people. He was wearing his sunglasses and the clothes and the same clothes he was in the night before.

"Sit here." Ororo instructed to him in a motherly tone. Gambit remained silent and took a seat one over from Kurt.

Kurt stood up and kissed Ororo lightly on the lips. He could see the corner of Gambit's mouth sneer at him. Why would he do that? He pulled away and stared into his girlfriend's beautiful sapphire eyes. "Why don't you sit, Ororo, and I'll get you and Gambit something to eat?"

"Ok." She kissed him and sat down.

Gambit eyed him as he walked way. How dare he kiss her? Who the hell does he think he is kissing mon soeur? He does it again and I'll… He hung his head again as Ororo turned to him.

She turned to Gambit to see him giving her a poor helpless look. He flipped up his collar and hid under his trench coat. He's never like this. It's like he is hiding from everybody. Usually, he is such a motor mouth. "Are you alright Gambit?"

"Oui." He replied softly. "Just tired."

"Ok." She replied. "Just eat a little to get something in your stomach. Then, you can go back to bed."

Logan pulled out a cigar and placed it in the corner of his mouth. It just stayed there as he studied Ororo's friend. Kid's full of shit. I'm on to him. Just wait till that little punk makes a move.

"Logan You better not light that thing up in the mansion." Xavier warned him as he wheeled to the head of the teacher's table.

""I know the rules Chuck." Logan replied. "So don't lecture me."

"I wasn't." Xavier turned to Gambit and smiled. "Good afternoon Gambit. I hope you found your room suitable."

"Oui." He replied and stared at the table. "Merci beaucoup."

Xavier looked at him for a moment. Ororo is everything alright with him.

I don't know. Ororo replied in her mind. He's barely said anything to me since he woke up. This isn't like him. I'm extremely worried.

I know you are. Xavier nodded and addressed him. "Gambit, if it's alright with you, I would like to examine you later in the med lab."

Lab. Lab. Gambit looked over to Ororo almost in a panic. "Non."

"Gambit, Professor isn't going to hurt you." Ororo assured him. "He just is needs to do a check up on you."

Xavier could feel an enormous amount of fear and panic coming from him. "Gambit, I assure you it is nothing that will harm you. If you want, Ororo can stay in there with you if you feel uncomfortable."

Gambit glanced at Xavier then at Ororo. "D'accord, but only if Stormy dere."

"Agreed."

"Here you go Liebling." Kurt smiled as he handed her a salad. "And for you Gambit." He said and placed the plate in front of him.

"Thank you Kurt." Ororo smiled and turned her attention to her boyfriend.

Logan looked over to Xavier. Did you feel that Chuck?

Feel what? Xavier replied telepathically.

Jealousy…and before that Fear. Logan answered back.

I did. Xavier thought for a moment. But I thought I was the only one who felt it.

Well you were wrong. Logan glanced over at Gambit inhaling the food. Something is up with that kid. I can sense it.

I know what you mean Logan, but Gambit is a guest here, as well as Ororo's friend. Xavier replied. Don't do anything.

I won't. Logan glared at Gambit hard. But like I said before, if the kid tries anything, I won't be held responsible for my actions.

Gambit looked down at his plate. Food real food. He thought as he picked up his sandwich. He began scarfing it down, when he realized he was being stared at by dozens of students.

The emotions projecting off of them were extremely powerful. They were so curious of him. He hid in his trench coat and took a look around. He was younger than the teachers, but older than the kids. And like him, they each had their own unique talent.

He saw a ditzy girl in a pink cardigan walk through a group of students to meet her friends. Another girl chatted away while obnoxiously blowing bubbles with her gum in the middle of the conversation. Some stupid kid stuck their lizard tongue at him. Then, he saw five of the same kid merge into one and began eating their lunch. One teenage boy froze his friend's lunch and began laughing. And I thought I was weird.

He looked at his empty plate. He looked around the room being nosey. Eyes and Ears. He could almost here his Poppa say. That's when he spotted her.

She walked towards him with her plate in her hands. Her long hair was pulled into a wild and curly ponytail. She wore a pair of black jeans, a black tank top covered by a red mesh shirt, and black gloves that went up her elbow. She reminded him of Amy Lee from Evanescence. And he knew already he had Fallen badly for her.

"Hi." She smiled at him as she walked by.

He followed her with his eyes as she greeted her two friends: the ditzy girl and obnoxious bubble blower. He debated talking to her but was content at staring.

"You finished." Ororo asked noticing his empty plate. "You want to go back upstairs."

"Oui." He replied and stood up.

Ororo excused herself and escorted him to his room. "Are you alright Gambit?"

"Oui." He answered and walked into the bathroom. "Just feel funky."

"I have two more classes to teach." She said and came to stand beside him. "Why don't you take a shower and lay down" she suggested and showed him where the shampoo, soap, and towels were. "And when I get back, I'll clean you up. Ok. Oh." She pulled out a small trash bag from under the sink. "Put this over your cast so it doesn't get wet. Ok."

"Ok."

"I'll be back in a little while."

He stared into the mirror as she walked out the room. He could barely make out the reflection before him. It was him, but then it wasn't.

His long auburn hair was messy and knotted. Usually, he was a tad lazy when it came to shaving, but he had never let himself grow a beard before. He could smell and feel how disgusting he was, especially since he hadn't bathed or changed clothes in almost a week. How could I let myself get this way?

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Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. I'll try not to let it go so long next time.

Anyways. Thanks for the Reviews. I'll see you next chapter.

Michelle


[1] My sister thief

[2] My brother thief