Watching Rogue Leave the danger room Gambit couldn't help but feel a little satisfied. He had gotten through to her. He was sure of it. Why else would she kiss him... At the far least he had finally gotten her attention.
He liked the idea of that.
He knew it helped that the man animal Wolverine wasn't there to watch over her. Even with him gone it had taken forever for Gambit to be able to approach her. She could sure make herself hard to find when she wanted.
Gambit looked over everything and saw that most of the water in the room had already been drained due to some holes in the floor. He also heard a fan come on shortly after Rogue left that was drying it even further. He knew the room would be dry by morning. Gambit knew by experience. It wasn't the first time he had made the sprinkler system come on, but he didn't tell Rogue that.
Making his way to the equipment closet he got out a new punching bag which was quite heavy, even for him. But he still managed to disconnect the burnt one and attach the new one. He was glad they kept so much replacement equipment around, after all it was a school of mutants..learning mutants at that, so you had to expect the unexpected.
He picked up Rogue's drenched boxing gloves and put them on a bench on the far right side of the room. Already the room looked better.
He didn't feel like getting another lecture from Professor Xavier or for that matter getting Rogue in trouble. He walked out of the room the doors sliding shut behind him. Leaning against the doors he stopped to think.
Well I definitely can't sleep, don't even feel like changin' my clothes at da moment either.
After all da coat still sorta smells like her even after all da water.
He decided he would go for a nice long ride on his motorcycle. Making his way to the garage, he didn't bump into anyone, not even any of the older students. Which was fine with him. He didn't feel like explaining why he was totally drenched.
Arriving at the garage door he stopped suddenly. He could hear giggling and soft laughter. It was Scott and Jean.
Normally he would burst right in and interrupt whatever they were doing. But tonight he didn't feel like it.
Well looks like Gambit will have ta go for a walk instead. he informed himself.
That thought didn't disturb him as much as it usually would have. Turning around he headed outside. Pausing at the gates he decided he wouldn't open them...attracting unwanted attention. Instead he opened his metal staff, made a running leap and smoothly jumped over the tall gate.
On the other side he retracted his staff and put it back into his pocket. Agility and stealth did have there advantages.
He started walking slowly away from the Xavier mansion not really sure where he was going. Without thinking he took a package of cigarettes out of his pocket took one out and placed it between his lips. It hung there sagging. Opening the box he noticed there were all ruined.
Oh, well da price of a pack of cigarettes was definitely worth it...More dan worth it.
He decided his first stop would be a gas station so that he could get another pack.
Pausing outside the gas station Gambit checked his reflection. For a guy that was still somewhat damp he knew he looked good. Still looking at his refection he took his sunglasses out of one of his pockets and put them on. Entering the store he made his way to the counter. He noticed that he was the only customer.
"Hello dere Jake" he said to the young man who was reading a book.
The kid looked up sleepily, stood up and walked up to the counter.
"The usual Gambit?". He looked Gambit over and then looked past him to the outside window. "I didn't know it was raining."
"It's not. he stated simply not even making an attempt to explain. "Add a twix to that would ya."
"Sure" Jake quickly rounded up a package of his cigarettes and the candy bar and rang it up.
Telling him the price Gambit paid.
"Gambit sees your still reading the same book" Gambit said motioned to the book on the chair.
"Actually the young man started, slight embarrassment making it's way into his words "I am reading it again, didn't quite understand it the first time."
"Dat does happen"
"Yea."
Jake handed Gambit his change. While Gambit was putting it away the door chimed behind him. He knew that if he was Spiderman his spider sense would have started tingling. Gambit knew right away that the man was up to no good.
The man was a couple days unshaved, clothes looked like they hadn't been changed in a while and the most curios thing of all was the thick coat he was wearing even though it was cool outside. Gambit noticed a bulge up near his chest area and knew that the man was caring a weapon. And from the look in the guys eyes filled with desperation, anxiety and clouded over with what was probably some form of drug, he was planning to use it.
Thanking Jake he quickly made his way outside and then around the back way.
Da things I do for people he told himself.
Placing his purchases in his trench coat and pulling out some of his tools which he always carried around with him even though he had "reformed" he quickly picked the lock. Entering in quietly he made his way back to the front of the store.
Sure enough the man had a gun aimed at Jake who was emptying the cash into a paper bag. Gambit assessed the situation speedily and then waited for the right moment to make his move. He was grateful that no one else had entered the store to turn it into less controllable situation.
"Hurry up!" the man said gruffly looking around him nervously and then back at Jake.
Jake handed him the bag filled with cash and the man started toward the exit. Grabbing a large beef stick off one of the shelves Gambit charged it up then threw it to the right of the man. The beef stick exploded spraying the man with the salty meat. It also made the man turn toward the sound- in the wrong direction-away from Gambit and Jake.
Just what Gambit wanted.
Taking out his metal stick Gambit quickly released it to it's full length and then rolled softly. Gambit Jumped to his feet and the gunman turned around shocked at seeing someone else in the store, let alone someone so close to him. He Tried to aim the gun at Gambit but his reflexes were to slow, halfway up Gambit had already knocked it out of his hand. It went flying across the store.
"You son of a b.." The man started to say but didn't get to finish since Gambit hit him in the stomach with hisstaff, this time sending him hurling off where he crashed into the front door and then slumped down unconscious. Gambit looked over the unconscious man and saw he was a little younger than he first thought.
Probably a college kid in need of money for drugs or something. he told himself
Gambit pressed the button on his staff watched as it retracted itself and then he placed it back in his pocket. Pulling a jump rope of a rack near him hethem tied the man up.
Turing around he saw Jake huddled behind the counter shaking.
"You ok man?" Gambit asked him. He made his way behind the counter and waitedpatiently for him to speak. He crouched down and lightly touched Jake's shoulder.
"Ddddid you gget him?" Jake looked up at Gambit still shaking.
"Yea Gambit got 'im. You might want t'call da police."
Jake didn't show any sign of moving.
"Sometime tonight would be a good time" he told him. ..."Look Gambit would love t'call dem for you but Gambit don't want t'be here when de arrive."
After a couple minutes of waiting in silence Gambit watched as Jake stood up slowly. His shaking had subsided and his breathing had evened out somewhat.
"You can leave I'll be ok." He noticed that the guy was tied up. "Will that thing hold.?"
"You can be sure of dat. Oh, you might want t'replace your back door lock, its seemed t'have somehow become damaged."
With that Gambit made his way slowly outside after he heard Jake call the police. Anybody seeing him wouldn't have believed that he just stopped a robbery in progress. But Gambit was used to those sort of things. Between growing up a thief, Being a mutant and now being part of the X-men Team.
Things just didn't phase him like they would normal people. He took of his sunglasses put them back in his pocket and noticed that It was still a beautiful night. And the fight, even thought it was pretty one sided had raised his adrenaline and left him feeling naturally high.
Although not nearly as high as he had felt when he was kissing Rogue.
Pulling out his twix he bit down into the chocolate which tasted even better than usual. He quickly stuffed the candy bar down his appetite now increased since the fight. Hearing sirens in the distance he picked up his pace knowing that Jake would be fine..Gambit started back to the mansion.
Gambit found himself lost in thought.
Wonder what Rogue be doin' right now. He looked at his watch and saw that it was past eleven.
Probably sleeping.
Wonder if she will stop avoiding Gambit now or if she will start avoiding Gambit even further. If dat is even possible.
Hope Jean and Scott aren't still in da garage.
Although now that his clothes were dry he knew he didn't have to avoid them.
Want to get my bike. Maybe head inta town. Get a drink. See how many woman chase after Gambit tonight. Gambit never tire of that kind of attention.
Although He knew he wouldn't act on it. He hadn't acted on it ever since that day he saw Rogue again when he arrived at Xavier's school for the gifted.
Not like Gambit to not play da field. He told himself.
He knew it was because none of the women seemed to add up to that one certain southern belle who seemed to always smell like strawberries.
And tasted like...like
What did she taste like? he questioned himself.
Heaven.-Da closest Gambit will ever come to it anyway. he told himself
Halfway back to the school a car raced past him going way past the speed limit. He barely evennoticed it due to all his thinking.Although when he did it still wasn't of much interest to him.Gambit didn't even register the fact that it seemed to slow down a little as it passed him.
Taking out his new package of cigarettes he opened it and put one in his mouth, lighting it with his finger. Inhaling and then exhaling he blew the smoke out of his mouth appreciating the soothing experience.
So engrossed with his pondering and the enjoyment of his cigarette that he didn't even notice the car that was now blocking his path and most of the road he was walking on. But when he finally did he was about five feet away. He stopped sharply and looked up.
There were three shady looking men standing outside of it, leaning against it looking as if they had been waiting for him.
He didn't like the idea of that.
Gambit quickly put his cigarette out and threw it on the ground. Tensing he waiting to see what was going to happen. Whatever it was he didn't think it was going to be good. Fun maybe, but not good.
"I told ya man, look his eyes are glowing red for Pete sakes! He Has to be a mutant!" A skinny man said with a closely shaved head and pale skin.
"Your right! won't Joe be proud of us when we bring this freak to him!" his friend said excitedly his large gut heaving in and out.
"Gambit don't tink you be taking him anywhere!"
"Who be Gambit?" the 3rd man said calmly a lit cigar hanging from his large mouth.
"Dat be me. And when Gambit be done wit you, you will remember his name."
"Oh is that so." the calm man said, taking his cigar out of his mouth and throwing it behind his back.
Gambit watched as the man started reaching inside his coat pocket and knew he was going for his gun. At that moment time seemed to slow down, it wasn't because the man was going for a weapon it was for the fact that when the man had moved aside his coat to get to his gun Gambit noticed his shirt. It had the initials F.O.H. largely printed on it. It made Gambits blood run cold.
Friends of Humanity. An anti mutant terrorist group who had just sprung up around the world over the last couple of months. He knew that somehow they were being supplied with advanced weaponry and information about certain mutants. He wondered if them finding him was a coincidence or just fate laughing in his face.
Either way the odds were good for him.3 to 1. He had been in worse odds on some missions with the X men, and that was against power enabled mutants. These were just self righteous human being who could use a kick in the head.
During those seconds of thinking Gambit had already rolled out of the way and at the same time managed to grab some cards out of his pockets. As the man started to aim at him- his friends standing by him looking amused and sadistically happy--
Gambit charged a card and threw it at the mans hand. A small explosion knocked the gun out of the now not so calm man's hand giving him some nice burns at the same time also. The man started cursing loudly as he dropped down on the ground he then started motioning for the other 2 men to go after Gambit.
Neither seemed to be carrying any weapons like the first.
The man with the huge gut came at him first- trying to ram Gambit in the head with his fist. Gambit easily avoided him and managed to trip him at the same time. The man fell over and landed partially on his hand. Gambit heard something crack and knew the man had just broken some of his fingers. Big gut man started howling in pain grabbing at his hand.
"You be next" Gambit said smugly motioning to the last man standing.
But there was no need to say that for the skinny man was already coming after him. He was quicker than the other two and Gambit knew that the skinny man probably had some sort of training. But he was still no problem, not even a challenge. After only 30 seconds Gambit already knocked the guy to the ground with a punch to the stomach and then a quick jab to the back of the neck which sent the man falling to the ground unconscious.
Gambit surveyed his surroundings. The calm/not so calm one was crawling slowly over to his gun, Gambit rushed over and kicked it further out of the mans way.
"Gambit tink you have a learnin' problem"He was about to punch the man in the face when he was shoved roughly to the ground.
He knew it wasn't the large gut man or the skinny man. Jumping to his feet he turned to see who it was. He wished that he hadn't..
This man who came out of nowhere and was standing directly behind Gambit was smiling broadly at him. It was a smile of a man who knew he was in complete control of a situation. Gambit had been so absorbed in keeping the gun away from the guy on the ground that he didn't here him come up behind him.
Merde how did dis man sneak up on me without me hearing him.
"On the contrary" the man said aiming at Gambit with what looked to be a phaser straight from a star trek film. "We Learn very quickly"
Gambit knew he was in trouble. He tried to jump in the air to kick the object out of the mans hands, but for once he knew he had been caught off guard.
Immediately He felt a sharp sting that started in his stomach where the weird energy weapon had made contact and then the pain made its way through out his entire body. He then started to feel numb and was glad for that when he felt his body crash to the ground.
Gambit managed to kick someones feet out from under them but then found he could no longer move. They then started to beat on Gambit. The kicks and punches making his body thrash on the ground.
Dats going to leave a mark he told himself.
He heard someone shout from above him. Gambit tried to see but could barely make anything out anymore.
"That's enough! Joe's going to want him in one piece"
The beating stopped. But it didn't matter as the lights went dim for Gambit.