Chapter 30
Rogue was bored. The next day had come and now Rogue was sat at the other end of a long table in a chair similar to Jean-Luc's who was opposite hers that was like a thrown. Rogue was listening to Jean-Luc talk about the younger children they were taking on, and who they had tested to see if they were qualified or not. Henri was making sense as to who he would accept and why, but Rogue noticed that Jean-Luc seemed prejudice.
"Non, dat boys too large. He'll be a dead give away."
"But pére, he ranked fifth on de fastest time for stealin outta a pocket. True he's weight might slow em down, but he knows how to handle his weight. Besides, he has a look of innocence and ranked highest in knowin who ta rob and who not. Pére dis boy has brains and already has ideas on how ta get inta places with semi good security." defended Henri.
"Non Henri. We're after skill, not brains. We make de plans. Not dis boy. Besides, he's too young and inexperienced. He won't know bout gettin past high security defences, and he certainly won't be able ta get past dem with his size."
Rogue's eye brow rose. What was this guys problem with chubby children? Rogue thought. Besides, the weight could be lost and from reading his profile, Rogue could see that the kid was actually very smart and very creative. He'd mailed himself to a shop in the afternoon during a busy working hour, but the address on the box was actually for another place. So the owner of the shop didn't open the box as not to be rude and because it was too late to do anything with it, he left it downstairs. The kid got out at night time, got passed all the alarms and stole himself money and food. The next morning the guy shipped him off before opening his shop and realising that he'd been robbed. Now that was pretty smart to Rogue , but then the Gambit inside her head told her how it was too risky for the guild as one of their rules is to get in and get out fast. If the guy would have been nosy and looked then the boy would have been screwed. But still, Rogue thought, it was a cleaver idea, and it appeared that the boy knew all about the security around the shop and the nature of the man. Apparently he'd staked out and watched the shop and shop keeper. He showed determination and patience which was always good qualities.
"De answer is non Henri, so let's move on." Rogue was told by tante that she couldn't really interfere with the guilds decision making, but there didn't seem to be any group decision making happening.
'Rogue .'
That was strange. Rogue was sure she heard a faint voice.
'Rogue .'
Yep, that was a voice, Rogue thought. But she didn't recognise it.
'My treasure, I have been informed you are doing as I thought you would do and are making changes.' Rogue was about to sit up and ask questions to this voice she could hear, but the voice stopped her.
'Do not move. Be still and unnoticed. I wish to speak with you and you alone without an audience. This is a psychic link. I created this link just before I left on our first meeting. Through this link we will be able to talk to each other about guild matters. Whenever you have a question or wish to report something, then contact me through this link. This will work both ways. Now, I was told you were in a meeting with the thieves guild and I sensed your discomfort and displease.'
'External?' she asked in her mind. 'You created a mind link...? Does that mean you've been, errr,-'
'Yes, I have heard and felt some of your thoughts. However I close the link whenever I do not feel your emotions are distressed. As you have only just learnt of this link, you will learn over time to block this link when you wish. However, I would not like you to reveal this link at the present time.'
'Ok,' Rogue thought, a little shocked at this invasion of privacy.
'I do not wish to invade your privacy. As I said, I have been blocking out your thoughts and feelings. I have only entered your mind when I feel your discomfort, whether that personal or business related. For example, your hurt feelings towards the thieves' prince, Remy LeBeau, when you felt his discoursed path from yourself.'
'Oh, yeah, that was kinda private.' Rogue said, rather embarrassed.
Rogue looked to Remy who was sat at the other side of his father at the other end of the table. He wanted to sit next to Rogue but rules made him sit there. He was so far away. She felt his glances, often looking her way and this time, she caught his eye and smiled. He winked. Rogue looked down to her notes with burning checks.
'It, errr, wasn't what ah thought.'
'I understand that. I couldn't help but enter your mind once the king of thieves, Jean-Luc, had upset you with his description of his son. And I must say, I was very touched and pleased with how you handled the situation. You are a natural professional. And I give my blessing for you and the prince of thieves, Remy LeBeau, to wed if or when he proposes properly.'
Rogue chuckled at this which got her a few looks from the thieves. Rogue looked at Gambit who shuck his head in wonderment at her. People saw this exchange of glances and put it down to Gambit having done something.
'Thanks. Ah don't mean ta be rude, but ah woulda said yes, even if you'd said no.'
'That is understandable. You are a being of love. You've cared and took care of others such as your birth family, adoptive family, the X-Men and now the guilds. It is understandable that you wish for some form of happiness for yourself. Now, tell me of what is making you unhappy in this meeting.'
'Oh, it's just...' Rogue paid attention now to the next child Jean-Luc didn't like. It was a girl who had the fastest hands out of all the thieves. He was using that she was a girl. 'Jean-Luc.'
'You do not like how he rules the thieves guild?'
'No, not really. But ah don't agree with a lot he does and says. Ah don't wanna let my options of Jean-Luc get in the way.'
'Then tell me what it is you believe is wrong with his ruling and I shall make the decision for you.'
Rogue nodded her head, and even though she never said the answer out loud or in mind, she knew the External knew.
'Well, for example, ah don't like how he judges these new kid thieves. Like, because a kid's too fat he can't be a thief or because she's a girl she can't be one either. He does have some good arguments though.'
'But do you think they are good enough excuses?'
'Ah... Well, not all of em are that bad. What will happen to the kids if they don't get chosen?'
'They are left to go back to their old life's.'
'You mean, you just kick em out? Throw them away on the streets if they're not good enough?'
'Yes.'
'Why? They know of the guild. Where it is and it's secrets? They'll die on the streets. Ah mean, they might be good pick pockets, but they couldn't possibly make something of their life's by just pick pocketing. Ah thought the guilds were there to help the poor? And why can't they just get out through training and learn how to be a better thief? Or why can't the thieves set up a charity and give the pick pockets food and water and a place to live? Education and stuff? That way, they can make a better life for themselves and pay the thieves back when they're makin money.'
'This is not a bad idea. It covers the guild's purpose and money issues. And you have a valid point about the children learning to be better thieves. Very well then. Present this idea to the courts and have this children's home created. Is there anything else?'
'Yeah. Ah don't like how the other thieves here aren't bein asked what they think or want.'
'They are not being involved?'
'No. They're just sat there daydreaming.'
'Then speak your mind treasure.'
'Do ah have power to suggest or change things!'
'Yes.'
Rogue nodded her head then looked up at Jean-Luc as he finished with the girl. Rogue sat up straighter with a small smile on her face as she pulled the girl's records forwards.
"Alright, now that we've got rid of her-"
"Wait Jean-Luc," Rogue interrupted.
All the thieves looked at her and Gambit was intrigued by that cheeky grin.
"Shouldn't we put if she gets in to a vote?"
Jean-Luc looked taken back.
"Non, why should we vote when a decision has already been made."
"Your decision, not there's." Rogue pointed to the other thieves. "Isn't it in the rules to come to a vote on a diction?"
Jean-Luc looked darkly at Rogue from across the table, where as, Henri looked revealed and amused at Rogue .
"A diction has already-"
"All those who wish to keep the girl on the thieves' training course, raise hands."
Henri and Gambit raised their hands. And so did most of the thieves. Rogue raised her hand too. Rogue felt the External's happiness and approval.
"Then it's decided. The girl stays."
"Now just wait a minute." Jean-Luc stood up in a furry. Rogue felt the External's awareness raise.
"I am king here. Dis guild is run under my control and I decide who is apart of dis guild and who isn't."
Rogue didn't know what she was doing, but before she knew it, she had stood up to meet Jean-Luc.
"Enough Jean-Luc. Your role as king of the thieves is, indeed, to take on young thieves with talent, improve them then have them do heists. However, you are also there to set an example of the guild's reason for being created. One of those reasons is to help those who need it and these children need a home! They need an education. They need more training then just being collected, put through a test, then thrown out on the streets if they fail. What if none of the men in this room here didn't pass that test? Then we would be lacking a great thief or two that we may not have been able to live without." Rogue eyed Gambit as she said this. But went straight back to Jean-Luc. She was in business mode. "You do have the power to take people in and also to get rid of them. But you must have good reason for rejectin' those who need help and I find, just because a child is too big or is a girl, not good enough reasons."
"You don't understand! Your not a thief. You have no idea how to recruit at all. I've been doing dis job since before you were born. I know what I'm doing. Clearly, you don't."
An idea came to Rogue's mind as her eyes fell on Henri. 'Proceed.' Said the External in her head, feeling quite surprised by Rogue's thoughts. Rogue smiled.
"Your right. Ah don't know much about the thieves guild. But ah have enough common sense to see that your being prejudice towards these children. And as you say, you've been doing this ya whole life for a long time. So mah understandin' is you've been rejecting possibly good thieves to benefit the thieves guild. To an outsider, it really does look like bad leadership. But maybe ya right," Rogue said, throwing her hands up into the air and then taking a seat. "Maybe ah am too new to this ta know what's right and what's wrong. But, ya know," Rogue said, getting a gleam in her eye. "Ah think one of the reasons ah was brought in was because ah didn't know this stuff and ta see things from a whole load of new, different angles. So that's why, right now, ah'd like ta see Henri lead this meetin' and see how he handles this situation."
There was a round of gasps and a lot of open mouths. Rogue just ignored them and focused soloy on Jean-Luc who stood up and looked as mad as a cat locked in a cage.
"Not just continue the meetin' though. Ah wanna see him lead this meetin' right from the very start. That means, going through all the kids ya rejected and accepted. Let's see what happens when someone else, besides ya, leads this guild for a change." Rogue said.
"This is appealin'! I am de king of thieves. Not my son. Ya have no right or power to crown him king!"
"Your right, ah don't. But that doesn't mean Henri can't take over this meeting. 'sides, ya time as king's runnin' out. Soon Henri will be takin' the thrown. Maybe even sooner if you carry on the way ya doin'. Now Henri, ah'd like ya ta start from the beginnin' and do this right." Rogue said, glancing Henri's way and dismissing Jean-Luc.
"This is ridicules! You can't-"
"Your dismissed Jean-Luc. Henri." Rogue motioned to Henri. Henri stood up and, for a moment, there was a awkward silence between the thieves. Then Jean-Luc LeBeau took off out of the meeting glaring daggers at Rogue as he left.
'He hates you chére.' Said the essence of Gambit in her head. Rogue only smiled more as she caught eyes with the real Gambit who was smiling at her. Henri led the meeting, letting the others vote, and Rogue felt herself take a backseat as she watched the External's reactions to Rogue's choices. And Rogue had been right. Henri did lead better than Jean-Luc ever had in one single meeting.
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"Rogue, what were ya doin' in der?" Gambit asked as he pulled her to the side as they got out of the meeting room. Gambit looked a little mad at her now and she didn't understand.
"Ah was just doin mah job."
"You showed him up Rogue. He's gonna be after revenge for dat."
Rogue hadn't thought of that and looked down at her toes.
"Well, he can't touch meh." Rogue said, looking up at Gambit. "Can he?"
"No. He can't. But mon pére always was good at findin' a way around the rules." Rogue raised her eyebrow.
The way he described Jean-Luc reminded her of someone else she knew.
"Well, what do ah do?" She asked him.
Gambit's face turned hard as he looked around as if looking for an answer. Then he met Rogue's eyes seeing a little bit of fear in them. He couldn't see his woman with that fear in his eyes. He'd do whatever he could to stop whatever was making her scared.
"Don't worry," he said, reaching out to grab hold and rub Rogue's arm. "I'll watch em and make sure ya safe, but next time ya come up with somethin' dat big, tell me, won't ya?"
"How could ah tell ya when ya were half way cross tha room from meh." she asked.
Gambit frowned.
"I won't be next time. Just," Gambit said, grabbing both her arms and holding her tight. "Anything you wanna do or say, tell me before ya do it please. I just didn't want you getting hurt."
"Ah know." Rogue said, raising her hand to stroke Gambit's check. He smiled and pulled Rogue into a kiss.
They embraced for a time, Rogue enjoying the little circles Gambit made on her back.
"So how 'bout we get out of here and go get somethin' to eat before we have ta go ta de rippers meetin', non? You've never tried my cookin have you?"
Rogue giggled.
"You cook?"
"Oui." Gambit said as he led her towards the kitchen.
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Gambit was right to expect something. Straight after he'd set Rogue up with food, leaving her with Merci and Tante, he went in search for his father. He couldn't find him anywhere around the house, and it was reported that Jean-Luc had left in a car. Gambit had followed him into town on his motor bike after Jean-Luc, looking to all the places he expected him to be. It took an hour, but he finally, he found Jean-Luc in a coffee shop on the outskirts of New Orleans. Gambit watched him as he wasn't alone. There were three people with him, and Gambit recognised them as assassins. One, however, he recognised as Marcus, leader of the assassins guild. He'd missed what had been said, but he noticed they seemed a little shocked at what Jean-Luc was saying. They stood up and the assassins left first. Gambit waited for his pére to come out. At first Jean-Luc didn't notice Gambit, but then he did notice someone grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and dragging him along so he'd be pinned against a side ally street.
"Remy, what-"
"What you playin' at Jean-Luc?"
"Remy." Jean-Luc said with that mischievous grin and his hands raised in surrender. "I don't know what ya talkin bout."
"Don't lie to me Jean-Luc. What were ya doin' with de assassins?"
Jean-Luc chuckled.
"Remy, are ya accusin' me of treason?"
"Maybe. Is dat why ya were meetin' up with em?"
"Non. Quite de opposite. Ya see, ever since dis feud is ova, de thieves and assassins have been gettin' on."
"Funny, dat aint what it looked like to me. Looked like Marcus had back up with em just encase. And why'd ya suddenly decided ta meet em straight afta ya walked outta de guild meetin? Ya couldn't of known when it was gonna end. What ya hidin Jean-Luc?"
"Nuthin. Dat is, nuthin ya won't find out bout in due time. Or ya fillie. Ya wanna know what it was bout. It was bout keepin de peace tween guilds. I was just sortin out some details so when de assassins meet with ya fillie they can reveal de news ta her. "
"And what news may dat be."
"Now Remy." Jean-Luc said moving Gambit's hands away from his collar. "If I tell you now, den it'll ruin de surprise for ya fillie. And afta all de trouble de guilds and dat fillie have gone throw. Do ya really wanna ruin a surprise for-"
Gambit pinned Jean-Luc up against the wall again, this time charging his shirt and making him uncomfortable.
"What kinda surprise Jean-Luc?"
"Remy, what de fuck are ya doin?"
"Ya gotta tell me bout dis surprise ya got saved up for mon femme, or else ya gonna be in a lotta pain."
"Oh Remy." Jean-Luc chuckled. "Ya wouldn't hurt ya own pére now, we both know that."
As Jean-Luc struggled to get out of Gambit's hold, Gambit throw Jean-Luc back against the wall again, this time though Jean-Luc hissed in pain at Gambit charging his clothing. "Try me."
