Note: ok, just seen an opening to add a little more to this story before rogue and gambit can live happily ever after, so just a little more to go.
Chapter 27
Gambit was getting impatient. Straight after dinner, Rogue had been snatched by Merci and Henri and introduced to several hundred thieves. Gambit could sense her nervousness and discomfort, so came by her side and held her hand. Her other hand of which seen a lot of lips kissing the back of it. This made Gambit grew more mad and more jealous with every kiss she got. He was going to make every one of them pay for looking at his girl in that way.
Then, Tante Mattie returned to collect Rogue after going straight to call the higher court in after breakfast and waiting fifteen minutes for them all to come in and set up in the meeting room. Tante snatched Rogue away and told Gambit he had to stay outside for this as it was official and confidential court business. So Gambit had waited on the stairs for Rogue, flicking cards into a bin for target practice. He'd even done sit ups and press ups in the hall way he was that bored, and remembered that he needed to keep in shape. Rogue had been in that court room for all the morning and now it was falling into the afternoon, around twoish.
That's when Gambits father approached.
"Waitin for ya woman, non?"
Gambit gave his pére a glare. He still didn't like or trust his father.
"Oui. She should be out soon."
Jean-Luc chuckled as if he knew something that he didn't know and it made him smug about it.
"What?" Gambit asked.
His father looked down at him after turning his gaze away from the court room.
"She ain't gonna stay with ya Remy. Ya know dat? Ya gonna be the lap dog waitin' in his kennel."
"Dat ain't true."
"Isn't it? From what I'm seein' ya already on de outside waitin' for her. Boy, ya just don't get it. She's outta your league. Dat bell fillie in der, she's beautiful, fun, sweet, kind and she's got power dats gonna keep her busy, and gonna mean she ain't gonna have time ta waste on a useless puppy. She needs someone more up in our leagues."
"Huh, ya mean like ya? What ya did at dat table today was sick. She's twenty two years younger da ya and she dunt even like ya."
"Non, she don't like me cause of de lies ya been sayin' 'bout me."
"Trust me. They ain't lies." Spate Gambit, but his father only grinned.
"De fillie just needs time ta get ta know me. Then, when she realises dat the father is betta den de son, she'll want the real, betta thief. She'll want someone who's grown up and gonna understand her when she's busy and tried anf needs a good back massage. She gonna want someone in power. Des rulers can't just marry any old cheap fling. 'sides, ya weddin' didn't work out de first time did it, when she was simply just a begger-"
"Stop it!" Yelled Gambit who was cringing his teeth and pulling at his hair. He tried to tell himself that it was just his father playing tricks again. That he was just trying to psych him out and rival him to make room for himself, so he can get to know Rogue better.
"She weren't a begger and ya got no chance if ya t'ink just romanci' her and understandin' work loads is gonna get ya de girl. It ain't. Me and Rogue, we share sumthin. Somethin-"
"special? Ya mean ya were there for her when her drunken father tried ta burn her alive? Yeah, ya right, ya do have dat over me. Ya probably got a strong connection with some Otha things too, but listen ta me Remy when I say dis. Havin' power and responsibilities, it changes ya. Changes people. She's gonna move on with her life and she's gonna be thinkin' less of all dat bad stuff she just wants ta forget and move on with her new life. And ya know what Remy. You'll probably become a reminder of dat old life she used ta have. Of what she just escaped from. Who'd want horrible memories hangin' round, huh? I'm tellin' ya boy. Ya way outta your league."
"And your not? Dat girl... Rogue, she'd... Grrr." Gambit spat out, frustrated he couldn't get the right words out.
"She's de queen of de guilds. She's de top ace in ya deck or whatever ya highest card is. She ain't gonna find another ace, so she'll have ta settle for a king, and since Henri's already take and she don't know any of de other guild leaders, I think I got a pretty good chance. 'sides Remy, ya not even gonna be king. Ya a joker. Just the back up. The stupid funny guy who finds his way into des things, but dunt actually belong in de deck. Not much ya can do with a joker in cards is there boy?"
Remy glared at his father. He was so angry and frustrated at what he was saying. But what he was most annoyed at was that some of it was actually sounding true. Just then the door opened. Jean-Luc smiled widely, only Gambit didn't think he could face Rogue now. Or not just yet. Gambit stormed off down the hall just as Rogue stepped out of the room. She looked at Gambit's tail coat whipping the air as he turned sharply and left, then looked to Jean-Luc who seemed to have been waiting for her too.
"What's wrong with Remy?"
"Oh dat boys just impatience. He's cranky ya took so long. Just ignore him. Ya can't help it if des meetin's go on for so long. I should know from experience. Shall we walk?" Jean-Luc said presenting a cheeky grin that Gambit had inherited added and holding out his arm, while slightly bent over. Jean-Luc looked from him, down the hall way, then back to him. She gave a little flattered smile although it was fake.
"No thank ya. Ah really just wanna find Remy and talk ta em." She said before taking off, with rolls of maps and other documents all under her arms.
XXXXX
Rogue had been exhausted and, at first, crashed out on Gambit's bed for a small while. Then, after half an hours sleep she woke up feeling cold. So she wrapped a coat around her and saw Gambit wasn't back yet. Rogue searched the house, asking if anyone had seen him which she didn't much enjoy asking as her hand got a load of kisses in return. She'd looked inside and out skittle by the swamps surrounding the house, but was forced back in by the guards. So in the end Rogue ended up going back to Gambit's room alone and feeling abandoned. Rogue thought to keep her mind busy so opened up the plans and maps of where all the guilds were and files of all the different types of guilds. Rogue gave a small smile, but it was laced with upset. She knew tomorrow was another long and busy day which she wanted to just get over with then spend time with Remy. But tonight, she wanted to talk to Gambit desperately. She wanted to figure out how, all of a sudden, she could touch him and she also wanted to map out their plans for traveling.
Eight hours later, when it had turned elevens clock Rogue was really worried about gambit. She'd told the guards and they were on the look out. At eleven thirty, there was a knock at the door. Rogue rushed to it, hoping it was him. She wondered why he was knocking on his own door, but she didn't care. She just wanted to see him.
"Rem-oh... Sorrah, errr, what can ah do for ya?" Rogue asked the very tall body guard.
"I'm just here ta let ya know dat the prince of thieves, Remy LeBeau, isn't answering is phone at de moment, but there has been a sight of him in town."
"In town? Rogue asked with an eyebrow raised. "Where?"
"Not exactly sure where Ms, errr, treasure, errr-"
"Please, Rogue's finah. Where is he?"
"He's moving around into and out of shops in New Orleans Ms Rogue. It's very hard to keep track of him."
"Finah." Rogue said, seeing that there was no other way to hand this. She moved to Gambit's wardrobe, where dug out some of her borrowed clothes from Merci had leant her. Merci had made Rogue promise earlier that she would go shopping with her tomorrow and warned her it would take all day as they were buying a full wardrobe for her. Rogue stepped inside Gambit's walk in wardrobe, changed her slippers into her Docs, and pulled on a black leather jacket of Gambit's, which she wrapped around her tightly. Rogue came out of the wardrobe, still having jogging pants and a tank top on as her pyjamas as she faced the guard.
"Alright, ah want ya to take meh to where ya last seen em."
"Errr, treasure, I mean Ms Rogue, I-"
"Look, ya either gonna take meh there or ah'm gonna go out in ta a dark city ah hardly know where anythin' could happen ta meh ta find em, so what's it gonna be?"
The big guy let out a sigh, and Rogue felt bad, but it got her what she wanted. A ride into town and a lead to Gambit.
XXXXX
Rogue looked disgusted at the night club Remy had supposedly gone into.
"A strip club. Really?" Rogue asked out loud to no one in particular, but big guy from her door was there guarding her. He didn't reply. The poor guy was shy and nervous of being in the presence of her. She'd figured that out all on her own. And she also noticed he was uncomfortable around all the naked girls dancing on poles by booths. The club was a mix between a nightclub and a strip club as their was a bar at the far side from where they stood at the entrance and a dance floor with loads of dancing people dancing upon it.
So Rogue entered the club and couldn't believe what she saw. Remy LeBeau sat at the bar with a half naked girl sat close by next to him, trying to chat him up. The girl was beautiful. She had a body of a supermodel with a beautiful long main of mousy brown hair. This stung Rogue just as it had stung her on her wedding day. A tear came to her eye but she forced it away. This time she wasn't going to break down in tears. This time she got angry. The big guy was going to say something to try and comfort her on realising a little slowly on what was going on, but didn't say anything when he saw Rogue's angry face. Rogue stormed a rooted the dance floor and approached.
As she was getting closer, the mousey brown haired girl pushed herself up against Gambit then whispered something into his ear. Rogue was fuming at seeing this and moved faster through the crowds as the girl started kissing his ear. But, as she got closer and in hearing range, she saw Gambit push the girl away in disgust and slur his words as he said, "Non, thank ya."
Then, his tone changed to a casual drunk one. "I got... I gotta woman... Fillie at home. -a tres bell fillie... Ma tres bell femme. Ma très beau, très gentille femme extrêmement étonnant, que j'aime de tout mon cœur et de l'âme et se donner ma vie pour. (my very beautiful, very kind, extremely amazing wife that I love with my heart and soul and would give my life up for)...I love her-Je l'aime de tout mon coeur. (I love her with all my heart). I just... I wish-I wish... I just." Gambit struggled as he looked away from the slut off into the distance. "I love her... Je l'aime...I'd never betray her. I love her too much. I would never cheat on ma tres bell femme... Where is mon femme? Rogue? Rogue? Where's-" Then Gambit began looking around to see if he could spot herm. A tear of happiness was in her eye. He was referring to her as his wife? He was defending her to this hot stranger. Picking her over that. Rogue felt touched.
But the supermodel caught his chin just as he was about to see her and turned him to face her.
"Now ya listen ta me, ya wife ain't got anythin' on me, and I ain't one ta be stood up or stopped of gettin' what I want." She said, growing closer to Gambit so their lips were inches away from each other.
It pissed Rogue off when the slut just didn't get the message. Rogue stormed up in-between the two, stopping the kiss.
"Excuse me, but we are ya doin'? I'm in de middle of makin out-"
"With mah husband."
The girl looked taken back at first, then went evil.
"Oh really? Your this... Perfect wife, are ya?"
"Yes, ah am."
"Oh really. Then tell me somethin' sweet heart, why,s ya husband here pissed and lookin' for somethin' new and hotter than you? Now, ta any Otha normal person," The model said, flicking her white pieces of hair. "that means ya husband's not happy with ya in some way. So what is it? You a stump in bed or sumthin'?"
Rogue had lost it. She grabbed Gambit's glass of Bour Bon and threw it over the girl. Her bright orange top stuck to her chest showing her bra. Rogue got an idea as they were in a strip club and as the girl had her eyes closed from shock. Rogue pushed the girl into the dance floor and yelled, "WET T-SHIRT CONTEST!" There was a loud yell of excitement from across the dance floor as drinks were thrown everywhere at all the girls. Lucky for Rogue, the big guy covered her so she wouldn't get wet or washed up like that model had in the crowd.
Rogue turned around to face Gambit, seeing his eyes side in a dreamily like state and surprise.
"Remy?"
Slowly, confusingly, swaying, Gambit looked up at Rogue and he grinned goofily.
"R-Rogue... C-chére. W-what are ya d-doin here?"
"Ah could ask ya tha same thing. Sugar, why ya here? What's wrong?" Rogue asked, her heart breaking and sympathy in her voice. The slut had walked off and the big guy had his back to them to give them privacy, but was stood close. Rogue never expected Gambit's reaction.
His eyes were as wide as a child's who was just getting told off and looked close to tears. Then, the next thing Rogue knew, he had, quick as a thief, wrapped his arms around her waist, locking her in a teddy bear hold and squeezing her tight in his arms. He began to cry while mutterin. "I'm sorry. Je suis désolé. I'm so sorry. P-please... Please d-don't leave me. P-please. Please don't leave me... I-I love you Rogue . I-I. Je l'aime Rogue." He wept.
Rogue was unsure what to do with him. Unsure how to handle him when drunk like this. She tried hushing him and saying: "There there, stop it now. I'm here, aren't ah? Ah'm not goin' anywhere. Stop ya cry now. Please. Stop it." But he didn't stop. Desperate for help, she asked big guy to help her get Gambit to the car and drive them it was hard with Gambit refusing to let go of her and clinging to her like his life depended on it. The big guy had to practically carry the two out of there to get them out of the club.
Luckily, Gambit fell asleep in Rogue's lap in the car and Rogue was able to convince the big guy to carry Gambit upstairs to his room for her, without being seen or without telling anyone what had happened. He agreed and Rogue gave him a small smile, but she could not hide her depression. Big guy understood this and nodded his head as Rogue thanked him for all his help tonight and wished him sweet dreams.
Gambit was completely out like a light and sprawled across the bed. Rogue had to put a hand to her mouth to try to hold back the sobs. She knew Gambit had been completely loyal to her tonight which she should have been proud of and happy about, but she just couldn't help but feel a little hurt and betrayed. She didn't understand. He'd been fine when the meting started, then disappeared for hours, and it turns out he went to a club. Why? Just why? Why would he go out, get wasted and have other girls flirt with him, just so he could tell them he had a woman instead of staying with her at the house? Tears slipped from her eyes, but she wiped them away and picked herself up. She began underdressing Gambit by his shoes and coat, and tucking him under the covers. Rogue even opened a window he stuck that bad. For a while, she just stood their looking down at his troubled, angel face. What had she done to make him walk off on her again? She didn't know, but decided it was time for sleep for her too. She hung up his jacket and took off her boots. From the wardrobe, she pulled out a blanket, and slept on the sofa that was fluffy, but not as comfortable as sleeping with Gambit had been the other night. She closed her eyes, crying silent tears until she feel asleep.
