(A/N: ok. I called it behind the mask cuz it's showing wut they're all like when they're not in public being all perfectly good or evil or whichever they are. Our first look: the Acolytes and Magneto. –they are my faves.- P.S. the book I said Eric's reading is the one from X-2… when he's in the prison thing. I'm pretty sure that's wut it's called, but I don't have the movie with me to reference or nething. If I got it wrong, let me kno and I'll change it.)

"You boys ready for dis?" The Cajun asked with a grin, "You are all about to be beaten by me, Remy Lebeau, card master extraordinaire."

John smiled a little and said in a mocking voice, "Nice poker face, Gambit."

Remy laughed, "I don' need a poker face, Pyro, all I need is skill."

"Too bad he doesn't have much of that either." Piotr said with a chuckle, "There is no way you can win while I'm playing against you. I never lose. And I don't intend to; especially in a small game of cards."

"It's not just a game, mon ami, it's a passion; it takes a special air; it's life."

"Nice speech, Gambit." Victor Creed said with an exaggerated yawn, "Just lay the cards down."

Remy laid his cards on the table with a defiant laugh, "t'ree aces and two jacks."

John laid his cards down next, "two queens and a ten and an ace."

"Pathetic." Remy said quietly.

But John's attention was turned to Piotr, who put his cards down, "an ace, king, queen, jack, and ten."

Remy crossed his arms, bragging silenced, and turned to Creed, "What 'bout you, Sabretooth?"

Victor's brow furrowed as he looked at his cards and over to Piotr's and Remy's. He put his cards on the table, "Two aces and two tens."

John and Piotr looked at Victor's hand, then to Piotr's, then to Remy's. How could this be possible? They were only playing with one deck of cards. All turned on Remy.

"No wonder you're such a big talker, Cajun. You don't need luck, you need to cheat!" Victor said, face furious.

Remy looked stubbornly across at Sabretooth, "Prove it." He said with an air of defiance, "Any o' you could'a cheated. Just because I'm the master o' cards doesn't mean I'd be the first to cheat."

"Oh yes it does!" John retorted, standing quickly. "Let's see up your sleeves!"

Remy stood and took a hasty step backwards, "What makes you t'ink somebody like me needs to hide cards up his sleeves? A master trickster like me has better methods o' cheating. I don' need this attitude for you guys. I'm-"

Victor had grabbed onto his arm and Piotr his other. Victor shook his sleeve and pulled it up. Four more aces flew from his sleeves and Remy's face turned from cool confidence to panicked worry.

"You're in for it, Lebeau." Victor growled, his grip tightening on Remy. The Cajun hastily yanked his hands from both Colossus' and Sabretooth's grip and took a few more hasty steps backwards. "Well, dat was fun. Some other time then. Later boys." He turned and ran down the hall; with Victor right behind him, Piotr on his tail, and Pyro taking up the rear.

Eric came out of his study when he heard his Acolytes in the hall. He could see Remy disappearing into a hall further back, with the other three chasing behind him, calling him a cheater. Eric looked down at the main room, where the four boys had been sitting before and saw the cards lying on the table and others spread about on the floor. Eric Magnus Lensherr hardly ever showed his emotions openly; it was a sign of weakness. Yet, the scene seemed comical to him and he couldn't help but chuckle under his breath, a small smile creeping onto his face.

He walked back into his study, still able to hear the boys running about, having fun. He had been planning on coming out of his study to yell at them and tell them they had to train more. But, when they seemed so happy, he could hardly find the iron hand and straight face he needed to order them about. They could afford some time to relax, Eric comforted himself, they might not be human, but it's okay for them to act it every once in a while.

This thought planted in his head, Eric sat back down to read The Once and Future King again. It was his favorite book; it taught him about many things he still needed to know. The book inspired him and helped him move on in his goal for mutant's to be place in the rank they deserved; the highest rank. They were born superior (they were not called homo-superior for nothing). Some day, Erik knew he would be the one to bring mutants to their true justice. Maybe by then, his old friend, Charles Xavior would have come to his senses and decided to help Magneto.

Charles was a fool for not realizing that mutants deserved to be on the top. But, for some reason, his want to have a world where humans and mutants lived in peace was also inspiring. Charles was one of the greatest mind and most sensible man Eric knew. The two got along for many reasons. Even though Eric knew Charles' dream would never come true, he could not help but wish it would. He just wanted his friend to be happy, for him to be successful. But Eric knew it wasn't true and it would never be true. There was no way humans would accept mutants in any way, so the only way to get them to leave mutants alone was to be above them.

Eric smiled to himself and opened his book to the place he had left of. He could here Remy's triumphant cry as he stormed back up the hallway and chuckled to himself again. That boy was such a free spirit. Eric started at the top of the page and his grin grew as he realized he was at his favorite part. This time of peace was good for him, he realized with a small sigh, maybe he could finish his book without any unwanted interruptions.