Chapter 3
"Guten Morgen, Ororo." Kurt called cheerfully as Ororo entered the Danger Room's control center. "Kitty and I finished minutes ago, you just missed her." His tail was swishing unconsciously as he examined the picture on one of the room's monitors.
Ororo nodded, lost in thought, and began absent mindedly running through the program sequences.
"Did you sleep well last night? Das vas a nasty wind storm we had…"
She hesitated slightly, "I am well aware, but was asleep for it, I'm afraid." Ororo settled on a program aimed for ground advantage combat, she needed the practice. In the previous weeks she and Gambit had taken towards a flyer advantage sequence to aid his defense and her offense.
Kurt was well aware she was not in a chatty mood so he took to reading the results of his and Kitty's times on the second monitor once again, wondering what preoccupied Ororo. Without another word, Storm left for the Danger Room to warm up for her exercise.
Ororo bent over her legs, touching her hands to the ground, stretching her muscles, the aching from the motions actually easing her tension. Her body's primary concentration was warming up but her mind kept traversing elsewhere. It was concerning if her control was slipping, brought to her attention by Remy's remark earlier and Kurt's innocent questioning. Her cheeks reddened slightly.
What was happening to her? Never before had she been sexually attracted to her friend and recently, it was all she could do to not envision him ravishing her. Gone were the platonic feelings of a steady friendship and in their place were the crazed fantasies of a lonely woman, she brooded.
Her heart now quickened at the sight of him and even this morning, it was agonizing standing face to face, the scent of his cologne filling her head and his devilish gaze piercing her. She refused to allude anything, at least that part of her control was still intact. No matter how torturous it was to crave him, it was better to suffer in silence than to alienate him.
:Ground advantage training sequence will begin in 2 minutes 30 seconds.: The computer announced flatly.
She couldn't shake the jealous feeling in her when Remy had said he'd been thinking of a woman. And if not Rogue, it was probably some… slut… from the local clubs and taverns. She sighed and began pushups. Lost in her bitterness for her unrequited love, she barely heard the doors open, letting Remy in.
"Y' look like y' just ate a lemon." He jested at her pouty face, leaning over to get full view of her face.
She glared, finishing her reps, and stood, stretching her arms back which he noticed pushed her breasts outward, almost in his face. Up-righting himself, Remy forced his eyes to look at her face as she spoke. It was surprisingly difficult.
"You're late."
:Ground advantage training sequence will begin in 30 seconds.: The android voice punctuated her statement.
"Got caught up wit' Logan. Ground advantage sequen- Ororo, y' sure y' want t' do dat? I t'ought we were just regular sparrin'. Y' know, American Gladiator's style. You're not even dressed fo' it. Y' gonna get de stuffing beat out o' ya if we get serious."
She shook her head, waving his comments away, irritation building as she began to remove her khaki shorts to reveal her more suitable pair underneath. "You said you did not feel like sparring and I am tired of the same old practice."
"I don' want y' complainin' when y' bust your head open and walk away wit' bruises from your whippin' chere."
"Is that a fact? Computer, abort ground advantage sequence, please." She stood tall, hands on her hips, stared him down, ice daggers in her eyes. It was difficult for him to not laugh, seeing her angry with her shorts around her ankles. "I'll have you know I am more than capable at taking you on in any game this room can provide, in any attire, and succeeding." The condescending manner of her words was awkward to her but in a way, they felt satisfying, turning her affection into competition. She enjoyed the confusion on his face, having gained her footing.
Remy appraised her new haughty attitude. Ororo had never outright challenged him in this manner and had never shown the need to prove her superiority. He decided to indulge her although the enjoyment would be all his. "Game o' my choice? My rules?"
"Exactly."
"Ok, chere. I'm game fo' dis. We're goin' t' run t'rough a few sequences dat I haven't used in ages, but yo' more dan capable, if y' can focus dat is."
"That should not be an issue."
"De game is goin' to be theft. Famous items from a particular museum dat I have a soft spot fo'."
She raised a frosty brow, "Is the Professor aware you've used the Danger Room to practice heists?"
"Meh, it's not like I ever used it t' rehearse, it was just t' keep skills sharp, Stormy."
He enjoyed her ensuing cringe at the nickname. "And if one of us fails?"
"I recall a fiery fille saying 'any attire' so I t'ink it fair y' lose a piece. Only fitting." She was wriggling under his gaze now and to say he savored it was an understatement. "I'll get y', Stormy. Y' gonna slip and admit it sometime," he thought.
Her cheeks became hot and she swallowed her pride. "I did say that so I cannot contest, however, I feel if no powers are used in the theft, an article of clothing should be earned."
He thought it over, "Oui. Fair enough, considering y' seem to be underdressed for de occasion. But if y' powers set de alarm off, dat's -2."
She breathed a sigh of relief, her embarrassment eased. It wasn't that she had ever minded nudity before, but in light of her current feelings toward him, the thought of being naked before him was mortifying. Besides, she didn't count on employing anything other than fog so how could that trip her up?
"An' since I'm such a gentleman, I'll let y' pull dem shorts up from 'round y' ankles, t'ough I admit… I c'n imagine de other pair joinin em by de time we're done…"
Her eyes narrowed and in a huff, she pulled them up, buttoning her shorts up, suddenly aware that she didn't have much to lose. "Hang on to that thought, Gambit because your imagination is the only way you'll ever see that."
"I doubt dat." Gambit said, lighting a cigarette as he instructed the Danger Room, "Computer, initiate mask of mutant signature 'Remy Lebeau' and run program Le Louvre, Evening Set."
:Affirmative:
"Why did you mask yourself?"
He grinned, "I'm gonna watch ya work, chere. What's a game wit'out pressure, neh?"
The lights went out and the darkness was immediately replaced by the soft lighting of a corridor in the main hall of the Louvre. Behind her, through glass doors, she spotted the glass pyramid that adorned the front of the museum. "I'm disappointed Remy, starting inside the building?"
He breathed smoke towards her, daring her to say something. "Dis is homebase. Y' return here, set starts all over fo' a new item. 'Sides, I already know y' can break n' enter, but can y' grab n' run? Let's go find de Ship o' Fools, eh? I t'ink it's down dis way…" He began strolling down the right corridor and Ororo blindly followed, hesitating when she spied the camera aimed towards her.
"Damn you, almost tricking me." Ducking behind a bust of Athena, she observed its sweep and calculated that if she hid behind several conveniently placed sculptures and kiosks along the corridor when the camera looked away, she could make it down the hall undetected. In a pocket room down the way her eyes rested on the painting in question, feeling fortunate he had given her an easy start.
It was an oil panting, just over one foot wide and barely two feet tall, portraying a group of people filling a boat, including a monk and a nun singing over the playing of a lute.
Remy's voice cut through the silence, "You know, it is believed dat dis is a satire wit' many sexual undertones t' it. De people in de water representin' immersing oneself in gluttony an' lust. De cherries and de lute having erotic connotations as well. And de nun n' monk… two dat aren't supposed to associate wit' each other and singin' in de midst of it symbolizes eroticism. What d' you t'ink?"
"I don't, not now at least. I can ponder it later." She said softly, removing the painting from it's perch and began her return to the primary corridor, reaching the main hall undetected. She couldn't help feeling nervous with Remy discussing sex with her, even it was discussing the artwork. "I believe it is your turn. Computer, mask mutant signature Ororo Munroe and unmask signature Remy Lebeau."
:Affirmative.:
"What does Stormy wan' fo' her birthday? What should I steal fo' her… lessee…" He pondered, mocking deep thought. "I know de perfect piece. 'Woman frightened by lightnin' dat has struck de tree beside her.'"
She folded her arms across her chest, "How long windedly cliché."
"If y' t'ink you're getting' de Venus De Milo fo'get it, it's too heavy." He set off, Ororo on his heels, through a maze of cameras, halls, and rooms. They had emerged 2 stories above and she inwardly noticed that it probably hadn't been as long as he said it was since he'd practiced his 'skills' before her eyes fell on the sculpture, drawing her to it.
She was immediately captivated by the terracotta figure on the pedestal before her. Only 2 feet tall, the fright on the woman's delicate face was captured perfectly. Her fear was perfectly balanced with awe at the force of nature displayed mere inches from her body, her scarf caught in the gale of a wind… Ororo wondered why Remy wasn't pouncing on the sculpture when she noticed the camera before her, resting directly on the statuette. "How will you ever manage this one Remy?"
"Easy, just bide my time like you did fo' de other one. Jus' dis one moves once, fo' 30 seconds every 5 minutes is all. Y' may not be worth de Venus De Milo but I can hold five minutes fo' ya." In his arrogance, waiting for the moment to strike and snatch the sculpture, he lit up a cigarette which immediately set off the smoke alarm in the building. Cursing, he jumped up as the sequence restarted with them in the main hall once again.
Ororo couldn't stifle her laughter and her whole body shook with amusement. "Did you really include smoke alarms on this thing? Honestly!"
He scowled, "I did not. I guess its included wit de security package. Merde!" He ripped his coat off and threw it at her, it landing at her feet with the resulting rush of air carrying his scent to her. "Y' happy?" he exhaled a plume of smoke, obviously put out.
"Your rules, not mine. And yes, I am quite satisfied."
Over the next 40 minutes, they competed for top spot in thievery. Ororo said more than a few unpleasant words when Remy told her that taking off one shoe did not count. Since they were 'shoes' after all and same went for socks. So far, she had only managed to succeed 2/3 of the time and was down to only her black spandex shorts and sports bra, amplifying how rusty her thieving skills were. She avoided removing her tank top by citing the powerless acquisition of the Ship of Fools from earlier, which was stretching it, but he had allowed it, reminding her he was "a gentleman n' all." It was only 3 minutes before she lost it again, in a botched attempt to climb the stairs to the Egyptian exhibit to retrieve a Canoptic Jar.
She was frustrated that he had managed to only lose his coat and gloves. Chalking it up to his familiarity with the program, her pride would not let her mention it, not after the stubborn streak she exhibited earlier. Sweat dotted her forehead and her nerves were taught, she had the final challenge that was going to prove most difficult: The Mona Lisa.
"Y' could just give up now and surrender dose pants o' yours…" His teasing, although grating, made her ponder his motives. Ororo was not about to give up yet, there was no way he was going to get a free peep show out of her. "Dis ones de most heavily protected, behind alarmed, sealed, bullet proof glass n' all…"
"Watch me." With a flash of silver hair, Ororo ran for the nearest hallway, stopping just inches from the edge to peek around the corner. At the end of the corridor she spied a staircase and the tell tale red light of a security beam just above the railing. There were no cameras in sight so she sprinted for it, crouching under the minute security threat, and carefully ascended the staircase, Remy walking irritatingly slow behind her, obviously immune to the hologram's sensors.
She summoned a fog to reveal a short maze of knee high security beams and simply flew over them. There was one final camera on her right which was easily avoided as it swept to the opposite direction, she ran forward and hid underneath it until it looked to where she had just come from, and continued on her way up another staircase.
It was down the hallway to her left she spied the coy smile in the soft light of a display case: The Mona Lisa. She almost stepped forward and was immediately paused by an approaching shadow and heavy footsteps.
Remy sat casually on the stairs, "Ro, I forgot t' mention dat a guard patrols de floor, passing de paintin' every 3 min. Whoops. Silly me."
"Convenient." She hissed, crouched down on the stairs, avoiding the beam of the man's flashlight. Patience paid off and the man turned to continue his route. Wasting no time, Ororo flew to the case and began examining it. It appeared air tight and had a climate control sensor. However, in the back there was a numeric key pad with greek symbols on it, a subtle security feature, obviously the average thief would not understand it. Ororo Munroe resigned she was not average, and knowing the Danger Room would not have access to the real codes of the Louvre, it was obvious the code was something assigned by Gambit. "Remy, how many numbers are on here?"
"Aw, Stormy… dat woul' be cheatin'. T'ink long an hard about what's valuable t' me. How much time we got?" he glanced at his watch. "Just over 2 minutes left? Ah, what de hell. It's 6 numbers."
Ororo's breath began to quicken as the seconds ticked by. 6 digits were enough for a date. She immediately thought of Rogue's birthday but decided that was an outdated choice. Remy would not dare use his own birthday. "Important dates…Valuables… Important dates… Valuables…" It struck her with 40 seconds to spare. She frantically typed the numbers and the case opened with a hiss, much to Remy's astonishment. Within seconds, the painting was gone and she sprinted down the hallway, praying she would make it without the guard arriving. Turning the corner, relief set in that she avoided the confrontation. She was descending the final stairway, feet from the main hall when the sequence rebooted and the Mona Lisa disappeared, leaving her floating in midair, empty handed.
"What just happened?" she demanded, heart racing from the doomed exploit.
"Looks like y' flew int' dat first security beam on de stairs, chere… which means…"
Ororo wanted to kick herself. It was such an amateur mistake. A mistake that… "Oh no." She moaned, her hands dropping to her sides limply in defeat. Her flight counted as using her mutant power… which cost her double, leaving her with nothing.
"It's no big deal 'Ro. I seen ya in yo' skivvies before."
"I…" she bit her lower lip and almost as if she were afraid someone would overhear, she walked over to him and whispered into his ear, "I am not, um, wearing underwear."
"Y' playin'?" His eyes narrowed in interest.
She shook her head nervously as he brought a hand up to her bare stomach and carefully eyeing her reaction, he playfully dipped a finger under the top hem of her black shorts, running it over her hip and causing her to gasp and confirming the cause of her reluctance. "Fo' shame, 'Ro. I might start getting' de wrong idea…" he whispered, enjoying having finally gotten her veneer to crumble.
Her breath caught in her throat, the sound of her heart filled her ears again. He hooked a hand around her back and said, "As I said, Remy Lebeau is a gentleman so, I'll settle fo' a kiss den." He leaned in closer to her, his mouth inches from hers, teasing her. "Unless de lady has objections…"
Wide eyed, she shook her head slowly, almost in shock. She wanted to meet his mouth, with hers, unleashing all of her desire for him right then and there, yet the reserved side of herself demanded she not acknowledge his afterthought. All this tugging within her between her heart and head, he was driving her crazy, dangerously tempting her, and she almost wrapped herself around him, dropping her stubborn pride right there and vowing to give him the kiss of his life...
"Danger Room Sequence Terminated." They both squinted in the light flooding the room, the computer inadvertently driving them apart as Wolverine and Psylocke entered the Danger Room, taking in the whole scene before them. Ororo pulled away from him as if he were on fire, mortified at her situation.
"Session's over." Logan said gruffly, giving Gambit the evil eye. "What a friggin' punk…" he thought.
The Cajun shook it off and unashamed, gathered his things and handed Ororo her clothes. "10 o'clock already mes amis?"
Psylocke winked at Ororo, her British voice cutting the tension with gentle humor. "Finding new uses for the Danger Room, are you? Logan, I might fancy what they're playin' instead. How about it?"
"It was just hot in here," Ororo muttered, slipping her feet into her shoes, not bothering to put her socks on.
"I can see that." Wolverine answered, eyes still piercing Remy.
"Ororo, I meant to ask you, what was up with that windstorm last night?" Betsy called sweetly, biting her lower lip for Ororo's reaction. Being a telepath, she had her suspicions. It did not go unnoticed the wincing from both men in her presence.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that!" Ororo demanded before stalking off, white hair waving to them.
"I can think of one good reason…" Besty muttered, amused.
"I think it was rhetorical, darlin'." As soon as Ororo was out of earshot, he called out to Gambit, who was sneaking after her, "I'm watching you, gumbo. Remember what we talked about, don't toy with this one."
Gambit waved him goodbye without words or turning his head. Who was Logan to accuse him of playing his best friend? He would never dream of hurting Ororo. He punched the keypad forcefully, shutting the doors behind him and headed for the showers, angry with Logan and Betsy's untimely intrusion.
--------------
"What do you know?" Psylocke prodded.
"Nothin'. Let's get started." He began stretching.
"I'm not bloody blind, Logan. Anyone can put two and two together. You know something's going on between the two of them. Share it." She hid her suspicions of Ororo to herself. She knew what loneliness would do to a woman, especially one as pent up as Ororo. However, she didn't know something could be going on between the two "friends."
He ignored her, continuing to warm up. It had been none of his business to begin with and the Cajun dumped his problems on him. Speaking of which, since when did Gambit trust him?
"If you ask me, it's taken him too long if that's what's goin' on. 'Ro's always had a soft spot for the scoundrel and for him to pass a top totty like her for that fussy lass…"
Logan growled, irritated. "It's none of yer business, Betsy. As far as I know they're just friends." It wasn't a total lie. Gambit made no indication he felt the same for Ororo which angered him. How could a man claim to be friends with a woman and use her to quell his boredom in the bedroom?
She sighed. "This big brother routine isn't necessary, Logan. Ororo's a big girl, love. If he tries to pull anything on her, it'll be his mangled carcass that needs scraped off the ceiling."
British terms:
lass girl
Top totty very attractive woman
