The Prince of Thieves

Chapter XIII:  Sneaky Little Thief

By:  Michelle

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DISCLAIMER:  I don't own Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, or any other of the Marvel characters in this story.  I just write fanfics for fun.  It wouldn't be pointless to sue me because I don't have shit. 

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"Logan." 

He could hear Xavier calling his name over the speaker in the Danger Room, yet he chose to ignore it.  He hated to argue with Ororo.  She was one of his good friends.  However, there was something about her friend Gambit he didn't trust.  There was something about him that Ororo was hiding.  And that just pissed him off.

"Logan."  Xavier called again, but Logan continued to ignore him.  He has to make this difficult.  He sighed and cut off the Danger Room sequence.

"What the fuck?"  Logan growled, and then looked up at the control room.  "Turn it back on."

"Sorry Logan.  That's not an option."  Xavier replied to Logan's demand.  "I need to talk to you."

"Fuck."  Logan grumbled under his breath as he made his way up the control room.  "What the hell you want?  I ain't in a good mood."

You are never in a good mood.  "Logan, you need to calm yourself down."  Xavier said to him.

"How can I calm myself down?"  Logan replied.  "Ororo insists on bring that Gambit character to the mansion and you are allowing it.  There is something up with that kid.  I just know it." 

"I know Logan."  Xavier replied.  "Gambit is being extremely difficult at this point in time, but Ororo is right.  He needs to gain our trust."

"It works both ways Chuck."  Logan folded his arms.   "And I for one don't trust him."

"What are you getting at Logan?"

"Earlier, before dinner, he was in Kurt's room snooping around."  Logan replied.  "I didn't like it one bit.  And he didn't seem to like the fact that he was caught coming out of there."  He leaned on the wall.  "And you remember the stunt at dinner."

"Yes."  Xavier sighed.  "I remember it." 

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Remy walked back to his room.  He smiled to himself.  He could walk on air.  Chere touched my cheek.  He daydreamed as he walked down the hallway.  He was so far gone that he tripped on a bump in the rug and came crashing down.

Well that's classic.  He thought as he sat up.  I can't believe I tripped like that.  My head needs to get out of the clouds.  He stood back up and stretched.  At least, no one saw me.

Then, he remembered why he originally ventured from his room in the first place.  That disk.  That file I opened.  It had a name on it.  He stood motionless in the hallway and thought for a moment.

Abel Polo Plan.

"…infused with the power of the Ruby Gem of Cyttorak that gives him immeasurable strength and endurance, a massive indestructible body reinforced by an inertia-canceling force field, and an enchantment that renders him virtually unstoppable once in motion…son of a scientist…fought in the Korean War…numerous criminal activity…arrested after an attack at a Westchester school in 1999…currently held in Crimson Cosmos Maximum Security Prison in Herkimer County, New York…"

"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.

Remy smirked to himself.  Cerebro.  He bit down on his lip as he thought about it even more.  Professor ain't going to be the only one to get in it.  

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"Ororo, your room is the other way."  Kurt reminded her as they headed down the hallway towards his room. 

"I know."  Ororo squeezed his hand.  "I just want to check on Gambit before I go to bed."  Our conversation didn't exactly end very well.  "I'm worried about him."

'Oh."  Kurt sighed.  She's gotta check on Gambit.  She's worried about him.  What about me?  I'm your boyfriend, but lately everything has been about Gambit.  Gambit.  Gambit.

Ororo cracked open the door to his room.  "Gambit."  She said as she peeked in.  You better have clothes on.  "Gambit."  Maybe, he's sleeping.  She thought as she opened the door wider.

Kurt's eyes quickly cut through the darkened room.  "He's not in here."

"What do you mean?"  Oh Goddess.  Ororo flipped on the light and looked around.  All of his stuff was still in the room, so she knew he hadn't run off.  She checked in the bathroom, hoping he would be in there.  "Oh shit."  He's snooping.  Damnit.

"Vat?"  Kurt rushed beside her thinking the worst.  I don't see anything.

"He's roaming the mansion."

Kurt listened to the way she replied.  Her voice was full of worry.  "You speak as though that is a bad thing."

"With Gambit."  Ororo said looking into his eyes.  "It is." 

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The elevator door opened and he walked down the hallways of the underground tunnels.  Remy's curiosity would be the death of him one of these days.  And tonight, he was willing to gamble.

As he stopped in front of Cerebro, Remy gazed at it.  He had never encountered anything like it.  There was no lock on it for him to pick and personally, he didn't care.  That just meant more fun for him.  And he loved a good challenge.

He began studying Cerebro carefully.  The door was round with an X across it.  Does everything in this place have an X on it?  He thought as he started observing the round cd shaped middle.  What is that?  Must be some kind of electronic opening system.  As he looked directly at it, a small beam radiated out.  Ah, clever.  It requires a retinal scan.  No matter.  There are other ways to get in.

Remy looked to the sides of the door.  He smiled to himself as he saw the tiny screws in the wall.  Jackpot.  He thought as he dug deep in his pockets for some of his tools.  Now where's that mini screwdriver I have.  He felt around for it.  He knew he had it in there somewhere.  He never went anywhere without his tools, especially when snooping.  Ah, there it is.  He pulled it out and kissed it.  "Un meilleur ami du voleur."  A thief's best friend.  He said and quickly got to work.

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Logan's enhanced hearing caught something briefly, but he pushed it aside.  "That kids trouble Chuck."

"Possibly."  Xavier sighed.  "But he is a young mutant and in trouble.  I cannot just throw him out of here.  Ororo would be furious."  He reminded him.  "Besides, I don't think Gambit is as bad as you think he is."

"Huh."  Logan grumbled.  "Yeah right."

"Logan, you are not being open minded."  Xavier replied.  "I think Gambit is trying to be cautious.  He seems confused and doesn't really know who to trust.  Even Ororo is having difficulty reaching him." 

"What do you think is up with him?"  Logan asked.  "Even without being able to read his mind."

Xavier looked directly at Logan, meeting his eyes.  "I think he crossed paths with the wrong person.  It's the obvious answer to explain his lack of trust."

"It makes sense."  Logan walked over to look out the windows over the Danger Room.  "You think it's anyone we know."

"Possibly."  Xavier replied.  "But I don't know Gambit well enough to know the types of people he associates with.  Ororo has told me that he is social able with anyone until you make him mad.  I think she is one of the few friends he has."

"Wouldn't surprise me."  Logan replied.  "I want to check out that bike tomorrow.  I just have a feeling it was no accident."

"I understand Logan."  Xavier said.  "That's why I wanted you to take a look at it."

"Yeah, well…"  Logan paused when he heard it loud and clear.

"Welcome Professor."

"What's wrong Logan?"  Xavier asked and felt the strong waves of curiosity in the area.

Logan heard the doors open.  "Someone's opened Cerebro."

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BAMF

"I can't find him."  Kurt said to Ororo in the hallway she was in.  "He's not in the boys' dorms or the rec room."

"He's not around the girls dorms either."  Ororo said as she ran her fingers through her hair.  "I hope he hasn't ventured in the secret passages or outside."

"Ja."  Kurt thought for a moment.  "We need to find the Professor.  Maybe he can find him with Cerebro."

"Yeah."  Ororo replied as they headed downstairs. 

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Remy smirked proudly as the doors of Cerebro opened before him.

"Welcome Professor."

Welcome indeed.  Remy smiled and looked in to the Cerebra Chamber.  This place is cool.  He thought as he walked inside the doomed room.  He watched carefully as the lights lit up the platform he was walking across to the heart of Cerebro.

Remy touched the helmet and traced the wires that connected it to mainframe.  I wonder what this does.  Oh who cares?  How you work this thing? 

"It would be in you best interest if you didn't touch that Bub."  Remy heard a voice say as a large hand grabbed his arm and another hand extended three metal claws in his face.  "Now whatcha doing in here?"

"I's just lost."  Remy replied innocently.

"You must think I'm stupid."  Logan said as he spun Gambit around to face him.  "I know damn well you know where your room is."

"Dis be a big place."  Remy replied with an attitude.  "And Gambit don't got dat good of a memory."

"Bullshit."

"Logan let him go."  Professor ordered at the entrance of Cerebro.  "Gambit is new here.  It's pretty easy for him to get lost in the mansion."  I will handle the situation.

You better.  Logan gave Xavier a glare.  Then, he turned to Gambit.  Stupid punk.  He let go of Gambit slightly pushing him. 

Asshole.  Gambit in turn gave him an if-looks-can-kill glare.  I kick his ass yet. 

"Professor."  Ororo said as she and Kurt walked towards Professor.  'I can't find Gambit."

"It's alright Ororo."  Professor replied.  "He was just lost." 

"Lost."  Ororo said to herself.  Then, she saw Gambit coming out of Cerebro.  "What happened?" 

"Your friend here hot wired Cerebro." Logan grumbled.  "He's lucky he didn't damage anything."

"Gambit."  Ororo gave him a look.  Oh Goddess.  He's been awake for 12 hours and is already in trouble. 

Remy gave her a pouty look.  "I was just being curious."  He said to them innocently.  "I wasn't trying to harm anything."  Then, he turned to Xavier.  "I sorry Professor."

"It's alright Gambit."  Xavier replied.  "Just as long as it doesn't happen again." 

"Oui Monsieur."  Remy smiled.  "I promise."  Then, he turned to Logan.  "I sorry Monsieur Logan."

"It's alright Kid."  Logan said calmly. 

"Well, Ororo why don't you bring Gambit back up to his room."  Xavier ordered.  "Kurt and Logan, help me fix these wires."

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Ororo tucked Remy into bed like he was one of the students.  "What were you thinking snooping around like that?"

"I was only looking Chere."  Remy replied.  "I didn't hurt anything."

"That's not the point."  Ororo replied.  "You shouldn't have been roaming to begin with."

"I was bored."  He said in his defense.  "Besides, if Xavier don't want no one in his t'ings, he needs ta get a better security system.  Especially in a place like dis.  I can see why dis place was broken into so fast by de Stryker guy you told me about." 

Ororo sighed as he rambled on about the security system.  He's always the thief.  She ran her fingers through her hair.

"And dat Logan guy be getting on my nerves."  Remy said to her.  "If he be getting up in my face again, it's on." 

Ororo listened to him patiently.  Why can't he just get along with anyone?   "Remy, why don't you try being friends with everyone instead of being a pain in the ass?"

"I ain't being a pain in the ass."  Remy replied.  "Dat Logan threatened me earlier."

"And why would he threaten you?"  Ororo raised an eyebrow. 

"Cuz he don't like me none."  Remy answered innocently.  'I ain't done nothing to him."

I'm sure.  Ororo sighed.  "It's probably nothing personal Remy.  Logan is like that with everyone."  She said truthfully.  "He was mean to Kurt when he first came here.  They became good friends because they both like to drink beer." 

"Oh."  Remy looked at her for a moment.  "Stormy."

"Don't call me that." 

"Ororo."  He said as stared up into her eyes.  "Dat Kurt guy.  You love him."

Ororo's eyes widened.  She had been waiting for him to make some smart-alecky comment, but he didn't.  She was in total shock and she was unprepared to answer.  "Ummm…"  She ran her fingers thru her hair.  "I'm not sure if I'm at that point yet.  I care about him a lot."

"Oh."  Remy rolled over on his stomach.  She does love him.  I can feel it in my head.  "I's tired.  Wanna get some sleep."

"Alright."  Ororo kissed him on the forehead.  "My room is down on the other end by the girls' dorms if you need me."

"D'accord."  Remy snuggled under the covers.  "I know where it be."

"Alright."  She stood up.  "I'll see you in the morning.  Don't snoop anymore."

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"I can't believe you let him get away with that bullshit back there."  Logan grumbled.  "You knew damn well what he was up to."

"Actually Logan."  Kurt stepped forward.  "You let him off easy as well."

"No I didn't."

"You didn't until he began charming you."  Xavier said to him.  "I let him go to see what he would do.  In return, he thought he sweet talked his way out of the situation, but it only worked on you and Ororo."

"Son of a bitch."  Logan grumbled.  "And you let him too."

'It was necessary."  Xavier replied. 

"My ass."  Logan grumbled as the looked at the wires. 

"So how is Cerebro?"  Ororo asked as she headed back over to them. 

"Cerebro is fine."  Xavier replied.  "But I am still having trouble with closing the door."

"What'd he do to it?"

"I told you earlier."  Logan said cocking an attitude.  "Your friend hot wired it.  And it looks to me he know what he was doing."

"What makes you think that?"  Ororo replied.  Goddess he knows I'm hiding something. 

"Look at these wires Darlin'" Logan pointed.  "How would he know how to do something like these?"

"I don't know."  Ororo said innocently as she began fooling with the wires.  "Maybe he just got lucky."

"Bullshit."

"Logan, mein freund." Kurt said trying to play peacemaker.  "Calm down." 

"Calm down."  Logan snapped.  "She's hiding something from us."  He said as he caught the guilty look in Ororo's eye.  "And she knows it too."

Ororo sighed and looked at Professor Xavier for help. 

You have to tell them. 

Oh goddess.  Ororo sighed nervously and ran his fingers thru her hair.  "Gambit is a professional thief."

"What?"  Logan eyes widened. 

Kurt looked at her with disbelief.  "You can't be serious."

"I am."  Ororo replied.  "Gambit is a thief.  He is skilled at lock picking, pick pocketing, car theft, safe cracking; basically you name it and he can do it.  It's what he does for a living."

"You brought a thief here."  Logan said.  "he can't stay here."

"And whys that."  Ororo asked.

"He's a thief."  Kurt reminded her.  "Think of the children."

"So he's a thief."  Ororo said.  "So were many of the students."

"Oh yeah."  Logan folded his arms.  "Name one."

"Alright."  Ororo said proudly know she was right.  "Rogue, Jubilee.  Do you need anymore?"

"That's different."  Logan answered.  "They were young and trying to survive."

"So is Gambit." 

"It's not the same Ororo."  Kurt replied.  "He's a professional."

"So."  Professor help me here.  Ororo pleaded in her mind. 

Ororo you need to spill.  Xavier replied mentally.  They need to know.

Ororo sighed.  "People change."

"Change."  Logan said to her.  "He's been awake for 12 hours and already he's been snooping around and breaking into things.  And you call that a change."

"People do change."  Ororo held her head high.  "What would the two of you do if I said I was a thief?"

"I'd tell you that you were losing your mind."  Kurt replied. 

Ororo gave him a look.  Then, she turned around and began fiddling with the wires.  A few seconds later, all the wires were back to normal and the door to Cerebro closed.  When she turned back around, Professor Xavier was still silent and Logan and Kurt were still in the state of denial. 

She shook her head.  "You two still don't believe me do you?"  She said and walked past them, bumping into them on purpose.  "How about now?"  She said as she turned around with their wallets in her hands. 

Logan felt around his pockets.  "Well damn."

Kurt looked at her as he realized his wallet was missing too.  "Holy Shit."  Do I even know the woman I'm dating?  

Ororo tossed them back their wallets.  "It's obvious you aren't going to change your minds about Gambit."  She said.  "He's my responsibility not yours.  I'll keep an eye on him."  She looked at Xavier.  "Goodnight."

Kurt watched as she walked down the hallway. He didn't know what to do.  Then, the next thing he knew he was running after her.  "Ororo."

Ororo ignored his calls all the way up to her room.  When she opened the door, he had BAMFED inside.  "What Kurt?  It's late and I want to go to bed."

"Why didn't you tell me?"  Kurt demanded. 

"Because I knew you wouldn't understand."  She replied. 

Kurt thought for a moment.  "You thought I wouldn't want you if I knew."

Ororo sighed.  "Something like that."

"When did you use to be a thief?"

"When I was five, after my parents died.  It was the only way I could survive."  She answered honestly.  "Then, for a short while with Gambit.  When I lost my memory.  Those were the only times."

"You're not perfect Ororo."  Kurt answered as raised a hand to her tear streaked face.  "I care for you just the same."

"Even though you know."  Ororo leaned into his caressing hand.

"Ja."  Kurt said as he leaned forward.  "Even though I know."  He said and kissed her softly. 

Ororo wrapped her arms around his neck as the kiss began to deepen.  When they finally broke apart, she found herself breathless. 

"I'll see you in the morning."  Kurt kissed her again.  "For breakfast."

"Yeah."  She replied and watched as he walked down the hallway to his room.  She felt like a burden was lifted off her shoulders as well as love in the air.

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Another Chapter done.  Yeah.

FYI:  Ororo's parents died when she was five from a plane crashing into their home in Cairo.  Ororo took to the streets and began pick pocketing in order to survive.  At one point, she tried to pick pocket Professor Xavier but he used his telepathy to stop her.  When she was thirteen, she left Cairo to return to her ancestral roots in Kenya.  Her powers developed and the people thought she was a goddess.  Later, Xavier explained to her that she was a mutant and asked her to join the X-men.  She joined on the second time he asked her.

            When Ororo was trapped in her thirteen year old body and didn't know who she was, Gambit saved her from her adversary.  Together, they thieved up and down the GulfCoast.  At one point, she even framed his family for one of the robberies (but Gambit didn't know about it) causing the Thieves and Assassins Guilds to fight. 

Well it's on to a new chapter.  Thanks for the reviews.

Michelle