Disclaimer: Don't own Gambit; do own Blaze

The Tokyo Job 07

A phone rang. Gambit rolled over. Maybe it would stop ringing if he ignored it. After a while, it still hadn't given up. Slowly Remy got out of bed and crossed the room to get the handset. Flicking the flip phone open he put it on loudspeaker and said hello.

"Gambit! Long time no see!" The voice was a familiar one, making Remy grin. Studd was in his own words an information maestro, and a good friend at that. "Where the hell are you buddy? I've a party in three days and I've not heard anything from you to say you're up for making your usual unmistakable appearance!"

"Bin busy mon Ami." Gambit offered in his usual blasé manner. "Down in Switzerland takin' a break right now."

At that moment, the outside door of the little wooden chalet opened. Outside the Jacuzzi steamed in the clean alpine air with pine trees crusted in snow beyond. The girl who came in smiled at Remy, blushing. Blaze was wearing only a small bikini, dripping water onto the chalet floor. Remy lost track of what Studd was saying as Blaze ditched the bikini and put on a much warmer white bathrobe. She kissed Gambit softly as she perched on the arm of the sofa he'd taken over.

"Anybody there?" Studd sounded a little lonely on the other end of the line.

"Hiya Studd!" Blaze chirruped. "How are you?"

"Hey Blaze, why on earth is hot prospect like you still hanging around with a two-bit loser like the Cajun?" Studd asked with humour in his voice.

"I dunno." Blaze answered, looking sideways at Remy and smiling. "Charity."

"Freebies." Remy translated, ducking a playful slap from Blaze and wrapping his arms around her waist. A quick tug was all it took for her to fall on top of him, smiling as they lay down on the sofa together.

"You guys in the market for work?" Studd was still pestering, the phone on the table by the sofa. "I know I man in Berlin is looking to have a racehorse 'napped…"

"Don't do livestock." Remy decreed, making Blaze burst out coughing. Just 'cause she'd joined the ranks of Remy's girlfriends didn't mean she'd suddenly developed respect for the ones who'd gone before her. Remy looked at her sternly for using such foul language disguised by her coughs, then kissed her quickly.

"Ah fair enough." Studd replied. "Look are you coming to the party or not?"

"Party?" Blaze's ears pricked up like an eager puppy. "Where? When?"

"Madrid, hon." Studd replied, knowing now that both thieves would be present and correct. Very few men could refuse Blaze when she decided she wanted to party. "Three days. I'll see you lovebirds there…"

He hung up. Embarrassed Blaze pulled away from Gambit as he avoided her eyes. This wasn't love. Both of them were dead set against that weakness. They took what they needed from each other to keep themselves sane. The rest of the time, they just worked together. And that was how it was going to stay. It didn't matter that every time Gambit so much as looked at her; Blaze thought her heart would burst. If it was love, they were both doomed…

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After Studd's party…

"You've never been romantic in your life, Remy le Beau, I know, I was there! I've watched your love-starved girlfriends dream of roses and chocolates."

"Oui Chere, but maybe I just waitin' for d'right woman………" He smiled at her as they walked down the busy street, dodging the other pedestrians and weaving through pavement cafes. "Maybe I……… What the?"

A long, sleek black car pulled across into a side street just in front of them. The doors opened and two men climbed out. The driver rippled with muscle as he slammed one oversize fist into his other palm. The passenger was obviously the one in charge, dressed in an exquisite blue suit and with an air of command. It was he who addressed Gambit.

"Remy le Beau? I have heard that you are the best independent thief in the business." The man's accent was British, his eyes cold green and empty. He didn't seem to care that the street was crowded with people who might not take to kindly to a thief in their midst.

"Maybe I am. What's it to you?" Replied Gambit as Blaze took up her wingman position behind his left shoulder.

"Gambit, this isn't the place for business." She whispered, uncomfortable as a little grey old woman bustled past with her weekly shopping.

"My name is Alessandro Jacobi. I'm a businessman of sorts and I have an offer for you, Monsieur le Beau. Crush," Jacobi spoke to his driver, "Give the good man my card."

Grudgingly, Gambit took the small slip of card off the driver. It showed only the usual name, address and phone number. Gambit dropped it in a pocket as Jacobi continued to address him.

"I'd like to offer you work of the most challenging variety. Take up my offer, and I can promise you a whole variety of, shall we say union benefits."

"Union? Sound like a guild to me, Jacobi………" Remy's red-on-black eyes narrowed at the thought. Who did this imbécile think he was, tryin' to recruit Gambit?

"You said it yourself, Mister Jacobi," Blaze was annoyed, who was this Jacobi to try steal Gambit away from her? "Remy's the best independent………He's not gonna join you now is he? Now if you don't mind, we've got reservations."

Jacobi physically wrinkled his nose in disgust as Blaze spoke to him, and his reply was equally as degrading to her as he spoke only to Gambit.

"Your expertise would be well paid, I can assure you. But I need an answer now."

"You heard the lady, Jacobi. Gambit ain't joinin' nobody."

"Fine. I'm a patient man, Remy my friend. I can wait until you are ready." And with that Jacobi and Crush climbed back into their car, and reversed back into the flow of traffic and away. Frowning Gambit turned to the livid Blaze.

"Why'd them last words sound so much like a threat………"

#The End#