Disclaimer: Not making any money from this. A/U to X3!
Knife in the Dark: Scene 09It took Blaze forever to decide she had nothing to wear to go out in. In a last minute dash around the Trafford Centre, she decided on black knee high boots with stiletto heels. She also chose a halter neck top in warm dark claret, and a short pleated black skirt. Then she got lost trying to find her way back to where she'd parked the Mini Cooper. She found herself strolling through a mock-up of a New Orleans French Quarter street above the food court. I wonder, she thought, on a scale of one to ten just how much Gambit would hate this? Blaze suddenly missed her best friend deeply. What was he doing right now?
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The house Gambit took Logan to was not exactly what Wolverine had been expecting. He'd thought any association of the Cajun thief would live in some crummy roach-infested pad. You know, genuine criminal stuff. Instead this detached house was verging on a small mansion. The wooden exterior walls gleamed with a fresh coat of sky blue paint, the lawn had been recently mowed, and a sprinkler chuntered away to itself happily. At the wrought iron gates Gambit looked up at the security camera whilst holding down the button on the intercom.
"Get the damn gates open before I blow 'em open Studd." Gambit griped into the speaker. Sure enough, the gate slowly eased itself open all on its own. Wolverine and Remy entered, then glanced behind them as the gate closed again.
"Spooky." Wolverine breathed. "You sure about this Gumbo?"
Gambit didn't dignify the question with a reply. He walked straight to the front door and let himself inside. The interior was as bizarre as the outside was stately. Solid marble floors were teamed with pale painted walls and fine drapes, which was all well and good. But the framed posters of punk bands going way back, the life-size cardboard cut out of Lara Croft and the horror film memorabilia everywhere didn't seem to make any sense. None of the doorways had doors in them, they were all arches, and it was though one of these that Gambit's acquaintance appeared.
Studd was a small guy in his late twenties and unfortunately confined to a wheelchair. His dyed black hair was spiked with gel and highlighted in snot green. He had chubby cheeks like a hamster and thick glasses in black frames. He wore a Green Day t-shirt and torn black jeans. But most startling was that Studd had maybe a hundred piercings or chunky rings or silver chains dangling from his person. His nose, eyebrows, lips and ears were all pierced numerous times. Sheesh, Logan thought, if Magneto were here he'd think it was his birthday or somethin'.
"Remy!" Studd grinned, flashing straight white teeth. "Great to see you my friend!"
"You too Studd, how's it goin' Ami?" Gambit seemed as genuinely happy to see this guy as Studd did to see him.
"Nothin' to complain about. What's happened to my favourite fire-starter? Don't tell me you pissed her off again?"
"We were kinda hopin' you could tell us." Logan interrupted. "We need some information…"
"And you are?" Studd inquired, turning cat's eyes on Wolverine. So this guy was a mutant after all. Logan replied arrogantly, folding his arms. "Its Wolverine, Bub."
"Right…" Studd didn't seem convinced. He then proceeded to blank Logan and address only Gambit. As he spoke, he led his guests into a large and airy kitchen. "I've not seen anything of you for ages Gambit, and I have to say I'm disappointed. I never thought it'd be Blaze that kept in touch and you that didn't."
"I consider my wrist slapped." Gambit drawled, going to the fridge and lifting three beers.
"Seriously man, can you even remember the last time you came to one of my infamous parties?" Studd continued to moan as he cracked open his can of lager. "It was in Madrid, centuries ago. Back when you and Blaze were the hottest item around, remember?"
"Studd shut up." Gambit said frankly, as Logan butted in again. "So you and Blaze did actually date then? Poor Firefly, no wonder she's screwed up…"
"Mind your mouth Wolverine." Gambit told him, gesturing with his beer can. "Studd, we bin told the X-Men all captured. Can you check for us?"
"It'll cost you." Studd pointed out with an impish grin. "I don't work for free Gambit."
"I know de price." Gambit returned. Blaze had used Studd not very long ago to keep tabs on someone. The cost had been her returning to thievery to do a job for Studd. The price Studd put on his services today would be the same, but Gambit could live with that. "If you can wait 'til after all dis gone blown over Ami?"
"I can wait." Studd agreed, and shook Gambit's hand on the deal. "This way gentlemen. Come into my cave of wonders…"
Studd's den was a windowless room packed floor to ceiling with technology mounted on black scaffold frames. Plasma screen TVs showed news feeds from different countries, though they were muted. Matrix style screen savers blanked out whatever the banks of TFT computer monitors were looking at. Studd went straight to a station that was linked to what looked like an old radio. He put on a pair of large headphones, covering only his left ear. Beginning to twiddle dials and punch keys, he got himself organised before speaking again.
""I happened on a channel these new GRSO guys are using for their Intel. If they've got your friends, that's how we'll find out."