The Prince of Thieves

Chapter IX:  The Tour

By:  Michelle

Rogue, why don't you give Gambit a tour of the school."  Xavier suggested.  "So Ororo can check on Kurt and Logan and order pizza for dinner tonight."

"Yes Professor."  Rogue replied.  "Come on Gambit.  I'll show you around."

"D'accord Chere."  Remy smiled.

"Gambit."  Ororo said and he turned to look at her.  "Behave." 

"Oui.  Stormy."  But there is a reason I'm called Le Diablo Blanc.  Remy smiled mischievously to her and opened the door for Rogue.  "Lead the way Chere."

Ororo took a deep breath and exhaled.  "Professor, are you sure it's a good idea to have Rogue giving him a tour of the school."

"Ororo, I think it's quite alright. It will give him a chance to warm up to some of the students if he befriends one of them first.  He'll feel more comfortable."  Xavier replied.  "Is there any reason you wouldn't want him to do that?"

"No Professor.  I want him to fit in here."  Ororo sighed.  "It's just that Gambit…is…a little mischievous."

"Ororo, if you are trying to hide the fact that he is a thief, you are failing miserably."  Xavier replied. 

Ororo took a seat.  "How did you know?"

"Jean told me once."  Xavier answered.  "She was a little concerned about your friendship with him, especially your past.  I guess she was afraid he would draw you back to your old ways."

"Professor, I am not ashamed of my past."  Ororo replied.  "But I am not proud of it either.  My days as a thief are over."

"I know."  Xavier smiled, and then his facial expression turned blank.  "Have you ever told Kurt?"

"No."  Ororo answered honestly and got up.  "I never told Kurt about Cairo or my adventures with Gambit."

"Perhaps, that is something you need to talk to him about."  Xavier suggested.  "And your teammates as well."

Ororo hung her head.  "Yeah."  Then, she changed the subject.  "I should go check on Kurt and Logan and order pizza before the students get restless."

"And Ororo."

"Yes Professor." 

"Tell Kurt and Logan there will be a meeting at 10:30 tonight in the War Room."  Xavier said before she walked out the door. 

Ororo paused.  "What is the meeting about?"

"Your friend Gambit."  Xavier replied.  "We need to discuss the results of his tests as well as the accident report I had faxed in by the police."

"Alright."  Ororo answered.  "Is it anything serious?"

"I'm not sure, but we'll discuss this later."

Ororo nodded and walked out the door. 

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Meanwhile during Xavier and Ororo's discussion…

Remy smiled and opened the door for Rogue.  "Lead the way Chere."

"Thanks."  Rogue replied as she walked out the room.  He's a perfect gentleman.  She blushed and got nervous as the door closed and she was left in the hallway with him.   "Ummm…this floor…ummm…that we are on is the…ummm…sub-level of the Xavier Institute."

"Whatcha so nervous 'bout, Chere?"  Remy asked as he placed his hands on her shoulders.  "You never give a tour before."

"Ummm…"  He's too close.  Rogue panicked and quickly got away from him. 

"I sorry."  He replied.  "Didn't mean to scare you?"

"It's alright."  Rogue replied.  "It's just that…"  Don't tell him about your mutation.  Don't tell him about your mutation.  "It's just that you caught me off guard."

"I sorry about dat."  Remy replied and took her hand.  "I promise I ain't gonna do dat again." He said kissing the back of it. "I promise."

"OK."  Rogue said softly.  Can he be anymore sweeter?

"So."  Remy said looking around.  "Dis be de sub-level."

"Yeah."  Rogue answered.  "We are actually underneath the mansion."

"Oh really."  Underneath the mansion.  Registered in thief memory.  Remy looked over to one of the open rooms and let his curiosity guide him.  "What dis room be?"  He asked as he noticed the large round table with several chairs around it and the suits hanging up in glass case on the wall.

"This is the War Room.  It's where the X-men sit down and discuss plans and mutant/human activity in the world."  Rogue explained.  "The suits hanging up are the ones the X-men fight in."

"Oh yeah, de X-men.  Ororo told me bout dat.  Dis one be Ororo's right."  Remy asked as he walked over to the black leather X-suit with matching cape.  He recognized it well.

"Yeah."  Rogue replied.  "And this one is Logan's and this one is Kurt's.  They are X-men too."

Remy looked at the differences between Logan and Kurt's X-suits.  Logan was a long sleeved leather suit with an X on the chest.  Kurt's was similar, except that there was a Y on the chest.  Why is that?  "Why these suits be so different?"

"OH."  Rogue thought for a moment.  "Each suit is designed to fit each X-man individually.  Kurt's has this Y part in the front because of his flexibility.  It makes him able to move freer.  He used to be circus performer you know."

Oh really.  Kurt was a circus performer and he is flexible.  Interesting.  Registered in thief memory.  "Cool."  Remy looked at two other suits hanging up.  "Whose are these?"

"This one is Mr. Scott's.  He went to visit his brother in Alaska."  Rogue replied motioning to the X-suit with the specially made visor.  "And this one is one of Dr. Grey's."  She said seeing the bouquet of flowers at the bottom of it.  "She passed away a few months ago.  I don't think anyone has the heart to take it down."  Besides, Logan might kill them for trying.

"Jeannie's."  Remy sighed.  He remembered meeting her a few times.  She was such a nice woman.  He also remembered the hurt in Ororo's voice when he called a few days after she died.  The good always die young.  "So Chere, where's yours?"

"What do you mean?" 

"Ya suit."  Remy asked as they walked out the door.  "Ya be an X-man too, huh?"

"Not exactly."  Rogue replied.  "Me and some of my friends have been training, but Ororo doesn't think we are ready.  I think she thinks we are too irresponsible and immature to handle ourselves in a battle."

"Dems de breaks."  Remy replied.  "Ya still young and inexperienced."

"Yeah."  Rogue sighed.  That doesn't mean we aren't capable of fighting.  "Can you fight?"

"Of course Chere." 

"How good?"

Remy pulled out his bo staff, extended it, and spun it around faster than Rogue could blink.  He lifted her chin with the end.  "Extremely good."  He smiled. 

Wow.  As she stood there speechless, Rogue's eyes widened feeling the bo staff lift her chin.  Never saw that coming. 

He retracted it and slipped it back in his pocket and flashed her a smile.  "Maybe I show ya sometime."

"Maybe."  Rogue replied with her cheeks burning red.

"So where to now."  Remy asked as he looked around the hallway. 

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Kurt's eyes lit up as he saw Ororo walk into the rec room.  He rushed over to her and pulled her into a long and deep kiss.  He nearly took her breath away.

When her release her, Ororo bit on the bottom of her lip and smiled.  "I'm assuming you missed me."

"Ja."  Kurt replied and kissed her again.  "So vhere is your friend?" 

"Rogue is giving him a tour of the school."  She replied. 

"Oh."  Kurt answered.  At least he isn't alone with Ororo anymore, but is this a good thing or a bad thing.  "So how did his tests go?"

"I'm not sure yet.  Professor wants to have a meeting at 10:30 tonight to talk about it."  Ororo said as she tucked her hair behind her ears.  "I'm sort of worried.'

Kurt pulled her into an embrace.  "I'm sure he's alright.  Don't stress yourself so much."

"I know."  Ororo replied.  "But he is being so difficult.  It was a nightmare trying to get him to answer any questions.  I didn't even bother to ask him about the accident."

"Maybe he's hiding something."  Kurt replied.  "Maybe you don't know him as vell as you thought."

Ororo got out of his embrace.  "How can you say something like that?"

"Ororo, just think about it."

"Kurt, I know him."  Ororo snapped.  "And something is wrong."

"Then, he should tell you."  Kurt answered back.  "It shouldn't be this difficult to get answers from him.  And, you know I'm right."

Ororo remained silent.  Kurt was right on the money.  Remy was always open with her.  She didn't know why he was acting the way he was, but it was scaring her.  "I know."  She replied softly. 

"Look Ororo, I'm sorry."  Kurt said and caressed her face with his hand.  "But if he is hiding something from you, it is a possibility that he did something serious.  And having him here could put the school at risk."

"I know."  Ororo nodded.  "Maybe I can talk to him tonight, before the meeting.  Maybe by then, he will feel more relaxed and comfortable talking."

"Ja."  Kurt answered.  "You going to be alright."

"I'll be fine."  She replied and kissed his cheek.  "Now, let me get.  I need to order some dinner for tonight."

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Damn this place has a lot of shit in it.  Remy thought to himself.  They have a jet.  They have this thing called the Danger Room where they fight simulations and shit.  I wonder if they can make one with Magneto for me to beat up.  Then, they got that lab.  Shivers ran down his spine.  I hate labs.  Plus, they have holding cells.  Of course, after seeing all that, there was something that they missed.  "What that room be?"  He pointed as they stopped in front of the elevator.

"Oh, that's Cerebro."  Rogue replied as he walked towards it.  "Professor uses it to locate mutants in danger and to locate possible threats.  It's also a database of all the mutants Professor encountered."

Oh really.  "So how ya git in?" 

"Only Professor Xavier can get in."  She answered. 

"Only Professor Xavier can get in."  Remy repeated her words.  Yeah right.  Give me about five minutes and I can crack this son of a bitch open.

"We need to get going."  Rogue said as she watched him snoop around.  That can't be good.  "I still have to show you around the school."

I'll get in later.  Remy walked back over to her.  "That's right.  You ain't showed me de top floors yet."  He smiled innocently.  "Lead de way Chere."

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Bobby took a deep breath and looked at the scattered balls on the pool table.  "Do you think she mad at me?"

"Bobby, you called her a vampire."  Piotr replied as made a shot.  "You're lucky Rogue didn't drain you dry."

"I didn't mean for it to come out that way."  Bobby said in his defense.  "It just happened."  He sighed.  "How could I be so stupid?"

"Is that a rhetorical question or do you really want me to answer that?"

Bobby gave him a look.

"I was just asking."  Piotr replied.  "But if Rogue was my girlfriend, I would know better to keep my mouth shut.  I mean, you seen how she acts.  She gets upset over every little thing." 

"I know."  Bobby sighed.  "I don't know what's wrong with her."

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Remy eyed up the hallways of the school as Rogue gave him a tour.  This is like a thief's paradise.  He thought as he noticed the various paintings on the wall and the expensive stuff in the rooms.  I could have a field day in this place.  Then, he thought about Ororo.  Stormy would kill me.

"And down the end of this hallway is Ms. Munroe's greenhouse."  Rogue said catching his attention again.  "God forbid if you go in there and touch one of her plants."

Remy looked at her curiously.  "Why?"

"Ms. Munroe is real territorial about her plants."  Rogue explained.  "I thought you knew that."

"Knew what?"

"That she loves to garden."

"Oh."  Remy replied.  "She never tell me dat."  But that would explain why she nearly freaked out when I bought her flowers one time.  "So dere be more classrooms down dat dere hallway too?"

"Yeah."

"Dis placed be bigger dan it looks."  Remy said feeling like the tour would never end.

"Yeah. It is."

"How long ya be here, Chere?"  He asked.

Rogue thought for a moment.  "About a year."

"Ya like it here?"  Remy asked curiously.

"Yeah."  Rogue replied as they walked down the hallway.  "This is the only place I'm proud to call home."  She admitted honestly.  "Are you going to stay here?"

Maybe.  "Non."  Remy replied.  "When Story stop worrying like a crazy woman, den I gonna go."

"But wouldn't that make her worry about her even more?"  Rogue stated the obvious.

"Nah."  Remy answered.  "She know I old enough ta take care of myself."

"Oh."

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"I need that disk Mystique."  Magneto said to her.  "And I want Gambit to suffer.  No one betrays me and gets away with it."

"So what do you want me to do?"  Mystique asked.

"If Gambit and Storm consider each other as brother and sister, then Storm will know exactly how he operates."  Magneto reminded them.

Pyro flipped open and close his lighter.  "What do you mean by that?"

"It means, the Windrider is not likely to let him out of her sight."  Mystique answered for him.  "She knows he will be tempted to snoop around and steal something."

"Of course, that can be used to our advantage."  Magneto thought out loud. 

Mystique smiled.  "So, you want me to frame him."

"Well since you put it that way."  Magneto smiled.

Mystique's body altered her appearance.  "Laissez les bon temps rouler."

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"Well."  Rogue said as she thought for a moment.  "I think there is nothing else for me to show you."

"So dat it."  Remy asked.  You haven't showed me your room yet.

"Yeah."  Rogue replied.  "Except for outside, but that's it."

"Alright."  Remy smiled and took her hand.  "Remercie pour la tournée."  Thanks for the tour.  He said and kissed her hand.  "Et votre compagnie."  And your company.

Rogue was speechless.  The only thing she could do was blush. 

"Hey Rogue." 

She snapped from her drool session as she heard a familiar voice calling from down the hall.  "Hey…Bobby."

"Hey."  Bobby said as he looked at her and the new guy.  Is he hitting on my girlfriend?

"Oh Gambit."  Rogue said as he let go of her hand.  "This is Bobby.  He's my…"

"I'm her boyfriend."  Bobby stated clearly.  "Call me Iceman."  He glared at Gambit and extended his hand.

Chere has a boyfriend.  Gambit kept a straight face.  Iceman.  Oh please little boy.  He thought as he took his hand.  Damn that's cold.  He looked down at his hand turning blue.  Oh and he is doing that on purpose too.  Well I'll show him.  He smiled as he tightened his grip on Bobby's hand.

Damn.  His hand is hot.  Bobby thought as water dripped off his hand.  It's like he is burning me.  He pulled away his hand. 

Remy just smiled at him.  Yeah, don't mess with me Iceboy.  He looked at his hand.  Damn, I burned a hole in my glove. 

"Umm…Rogue."  Bobby said pulling her gaze away from Gambit.  "I want to talk to you about earlier."

"Ok."  She replied.  "I'll see you at dinner Gambit."

"Au revoir Chere."  Remy smiled at her.  I'll make sure I'll see you later.

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Yeah.  Another chapter.  I guess I gotta work on Chapter 10 now.

FYI:  If Gambit holds on to an object long enough, he can make it incinerate.  For my last scene, he actually incinerated a hole into the palm of his glove. 

Thanks for all the reviews.  I've never had that many reviews for one chapter before.  I guess I should let my dirty little mind write more often. 

Anyways, I'll see you next chapter.

Michelle