Chapter 2
The days passed by peacefully for the X-men, and most of them just lounged around the mansion. As did Gambit.
He didn't seem to worry about the job being at hand at all, and seemed more relaxed than he had been in a long time.
A little over a week after the conversation between Gambit and the professor, the professor entered his bedroom late at night, ready to go to bed.
"Bonne nuit…" a voice sounded suddenly from the dark.
The professor was startled by the sudden voice. Normally he could feel someone's presence long before he could see them, but apparently not this time, and therefore he was completely overtaken by it.
He flicked on the light and his gaze searched the room.
"Gambit!" he called out startled when he saw a dark figure sitting in the windowsill.
"The one and only! Besides the alarm systems leave much to be desired…" Gambit said as an after thougt.
The professor, who was now rapidly getting over his shock, started to get angry and Gambits deadpan attitude didn't help much either.
"What in Gods name are you doing in here at this time! And how did you get in?" the professor yelled.
Gambit wasn't in the least affected by the professor's mood or harsh words and jumped in supple as a cat.
"Getting in here is for a master thief like Gambit a piece of cake…" Gambit started nonchalant. "As far as the reason Gambit is here goes; He has the documents you asked for, and thought you would like to see them straight away." Gambit said calm.
The professor was stunned when Gambit pulled out a folder from his trenchcoat.
"Y..you mean…You already finished the job!" the professor all but whispered unbelievingly.
Gambit smiled slowly and walked over to the desk. There he lazily lowered himself into a chair and stretched his legs out on the desk.
"Oui…" Gambit said calm.
"But I thought you said, you wouldn't be able to do it untill next week!" the professor said surprised.
Gambit laughed cynically "And take the risk of having the entire police force waiting for him?" Gambit said cynic.
Although it stung the professor that Gambit obviously had so little faith in him, he also realised that experience had probably taught him to be distrustful. And that it was probably a necessity in his line of work in order to survive.
"But this fast?! How did you get in there!" the professor asked still bewildered about Gambit's fast work.
"Gambit didn't earn the title of 'Master Thief' for nothing you know…" was Gambit's only comment.
Gambit knew very well that he was the best thief out there, but it didn't matter to him.
The professor looked at him "I'm starting to believe that, yes…" he said softly.
Part of him hadn't expected Gambit to actually manage a job like this. It had been quite a shock to him when he had found out that the young man he thought he knew as a petty thief suddenly turned out to be a master thief with a notable reputation amongst his 'colleagues'.
The fact that he had fulfilled this job this fast only showed what a true master thief Gambit really was, and that made him see the Cajun in a completely different light. He, just as the other x-men, had simply assumed that Gambit just didn't care much for things and was completely indifferent towards almost everything.
But now the professor realised once more that that was just a mask he wore in order to hide his true nature and emotions.
…Although he always leaves the tactics up to Cyclops during missions, he must have an excellent tactical insight. And he sure is a lot more intelligent that we assumed…than he made us assume… the professor thought with a growing respect for the young Cajun.
He still couldn't understand why Gambit had never shown that side of him before though.
…He deliberately let us to believe that he wasn't much more than a smooth talker with explosive cards…But why would he do such a thing?... he thought confused.
… It almost seems as if he doesn't want others to acknowledge him for his talents…
He had the strange feeling that he had just seen the real Gambit for the very first time, and realised that was probably true. Somehow that made him feel rather guilty.
…Maybe I should have tried harder to really get to know him….But I had let me be misguided by his nonchalant and carefree manner… the professor realised with self-reproach.
Gambit didn't have a clue what the professor was thinking about and looked at him awaiting.
The professor quickly looked trough the folder and saw that it indeed contained the information he'd wanted.
Gambit patiently waited till the professor was done.
"Well, everything is here…" the professor said relieved.
Gambit smiled contented.
"Ah, but that's not everything, mon amis…" Gambit said mysteriously.
The professor looked at him confused "What do you mean? I only needed this information…"
Gambit grinned boyishly, something that made him look years younger, and rose elegantly from his chair. He pulled another folder from his trenchcoat.
"Oui, and Gambit was about to leave when his eyes got sight of something very interesting…" Gambit continued leisurely.
"Something interesting?" the professor asked somewhat curious.
Gambit nodded and knew that he had the professor exactly where he wanted him.
"But since that wasn't part of the contract, it will cost you more of course…" Gambit said businesslike.
"But if you might not be interested, Gambit knows some people and authorities who are more than willing to pay Gambit for this…" he added innocently.
The professor sighed …unbelievable, I'm being blackmailed by my own student!...he thought rather frustrated.
"Okay, okay. Just tell me what more you found out!" the professor said impatient.
Gambit's grin widened even more.
"Nice doing business with you, professor!" Gambit said grinning.
The professor didn't think it was funny though and just glared at him.
"Gambit hauled his shoulders indifferently and became serious again.
He threw the folder over the desk to the professor.
"See for yourself, than you'll see it sure is worth the price." Gambit said calm. But this time his voice was serious.
Hesitantly and still rather distrustful the professor picked up the folder and started reading. Within minutes though the professor paled with shock.
"But that is terrible! I had no idea that they would go this far!" the professor exclaimed aghast when he realised what the information held.
"Oui, and it looks like this is only the tip of the iceberg." Gambit said calm, but very serious, and told the professor what more he had seen.
The professor paled even more if that was possible.
"Oh my God… We're too late!..." the professor whispered hoarse.
Gambit glanced at the professor wondering if he should tell him of his interference or not. He knew that he was skating on thin ice if he would, and actually didn't want to get involved into it any further. But at seeing the shaken face of the professor he felt he couldn't hold back.
…Merde Gambit!One day this newfound sympathy will be the end of you!... he scolded himself.
"Eh, not quite, professeur…" Gambit started still a bit hesitating.
The professor looked at him confused, and Gambit grinned mischievous.
"What do you mean!" the professor asked impatiently.
"Well, since Gambit was at it anyway, he figured he could just as well pay them a visit, and accidentally installed a little virus on their mainframe computer, and erased all their sources. It would take them months, if not years, before they have regained all their information. But that's not all…. Gambit made some inquerements at the Thieves Guild back home and found their secret location, with matching security codes and passwords. So now it's as easy as pie to get in there now, even for the X-men…" Gambit explained calmly.
The professor was completely dumbfounded "You…you already did all this?...Alone?...Without getting caught?..." the professor asked amazed.
Gambit didn't seem impressed though about what he had done and simple hauled his shoulders.
"What else did you expect from a Master Thief?" Gambit said dryly.
"So..so everything is settled then?.." the professor asked just to be sure.
Gambit nodded "For now. It will take them a long time to regain the information they need for their operation, and when that time comes, all you need to do is to send the x-men to their basis." Gambit said calm.
The professor released his breath, not even realising he had held it.
"Well, it seems I owe you a lot…" the professor said sincere.
Gambit merely hauled his shoulders and headed for the door.
"It was just a business deal, nothing more, and nothing less…" he said nonchalant.
But the professor knew it was so much more. He had seen Gambit's concern, and knew for certain that that was real. He also knew that if really had been a mere business deal, he had never taken the extra risk and trouble.
…Then why doesn't he just admit that? Why is he trying everything in his power to make himself look bad?... he thought confused.
When Gambit was already at the door the professor remembered the payment.
"Oh, Gambit? About your payment, how much do I owe you?" the professor called after him.
Gambit halted and grinned. Then he turned to face the professor, his face serious.
"Well Gambit's usual fee would be 60 percent, and okay, I guess he could cut you off 5 percent. That would be without all other expenses of course…" Gambit started with a deadpan face.
… He usually makes 60 percent of the loot!... the professor thought shocked, realising what the Cajun must have made over the years.
Gambit mumbled an addition sum while the professor frightened waited for the outcome.
"Well, that would make an outcome of say 55 percent, so that would be…half a notebook." Gambit said very seriously with a look at the pile of papers on the desk.
For a moment the professor was stunned. Then he had to laugh.
…That guy…How could I have ever see him for any less?...He really has a good heart... he thought with a lump in his throat.
Gambit had already turned around again when the professor called him back a second time.
"And how much for the extra information?" the professor asked teasingly.
Now it was Gambit's turn to smile. It was highly unlikely for the professor to make a joke, and it amused him to no end to hear him do so.
"Well, since it brought along a lot of risks, that one is going to cost you big time, I'm afraid…" Gambit said just as seriously.
"It will surely cost you a bottle of what you're hiding inthe first drawer of your desk." Gambit said aiming at the bottle of Brandy the professor kept in there.
For a moment the professor was disconcerted by the fact that Gambit knew about the bottle, and for a moment it entered his mind that Gambit must have searched his office.
Gambit smiled cynically at seeing the look on the professor's face.
"Every one knows about that bottle, professor." Gambit said cynic before walking out of the room.
The next evening most of the x-men were watching a movie when it was disrupted by an extra news bulletin. Gambit joined the rest on the couch to see what it was about.
"The Pentagon has just announced that some very important information concerning the mutant registration law was stolen. It concerns some highly protected documents, and therefore it is still a mystery how they could have been stolen. This is the first time in history that the Pentagon has been broken into. The police and FBI couldn't find any traces that could indicate the defender in any way. So far this extra news bulletin…."
Gambit had been watching the extra news bulletin with a smug grin on his face, and exchanged looks with the professor.
Bobby patted Gambit companiable on the back. "Now those are real thieves Cajun! Break into the pentagon and without getting caught even! Ha, now that's something else than pickpocket right!" he said laughing good naturally.
The professor looked at Gambit, afraid the he couldn't pass out on the opportunity to take credit for what he had done.
But Gambit just sighed sadly and hauled his shoulders.
"Ah mon ami, a man can always hope, non?..."
AN
Please leave a review! I'm dying to know what people think of it!
MJK: I totally agree with you, and just because he's a thieve doesn't mean he has to be a bad person, ne? Thanks for reviewing, it really mean a lot to me!
Nicole Wagner: Yes I think he would have killed him too, I just didn't think he would do that with the child still there. I'm glad you feel he is true to his character, for that's what I tried to do.There will be more stories up soon with a lot more Gambit in them, and in them I try to explore his childhood some more. So just bare with me ;P
BJ2 : You are sooo right, I mean, I like Rogue, but just not with Remy:P And yes I thought it would be fun if the professor would actually need Remy's services
Shang: Hahaha Sorry no Rogue in this story though! And I;m glad you thouhgt Gambit was true to his character!
BlackMoonshine: This fast enough for you ? lol :D
