Road Trip: Chapter 3

"How was everything?" The waiter asked politely, and not without a hint of amusement.

"Good," Danny choked still looking a bit red in the face. The waiter smiled, his eyes dancing with inner amusement over Danny's predicament. Then again, it was always funny when tourists tried authentic local food thinking they could handle it.

The look on Danny's face when he made that mistake coupled with sheer terror when I added half the contents of the bottle of spice to my own dish was priceless.

"Excellent as always, Bobby," I smiled trying and failing to contain my own amusement. "I forgot to ask earlier, have you heard from your sister Melinda lately?"

Bobby nodded slowly, "Yeah. Very busy lately with her dorm mate though."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Apparently she just broke up with her boyfriend and it wasn't pretty," Bobby explained looking me in the eye.

"That's...unfortunate," I muttered. "They were going out for a while now. Six months if I remember right. What happened?"

"Not sure, but Melinda mentioned that he wasn't happy with current events. She's worried he might come back around again and start trouble."

"He's the type."

"From what I heard, he sounds like it. He also sounded like the kind that doesn't like leaving things to sit too long."

"I see," I said, turning to look out the window.

"Refill?" he asked Danny.

Danny nodded several times making Bobby smile again. "Please."

I was still staring out the window when he came back with Danny's water. I didn't break out of my inner thoughts until Danny touched the back of my hand drawing my attention back to him.

"You okay? You seem to be thinking pretty hard about something," Danny noted.

"Yeah. I get that way when a local crime boss breaks out of jail" I replied dryly. "Especially when I'm the one who put him there."

"Excuse me?" Danny asked looking a bit wide eyed and slightly punch drunk.

"I said…"

"I know what you said. What I meant was where did that come from?"

"You were sitting right there," I chuckled. Okay, it was probably bad of me to enjoy the look of absolute confusion and freakout on Danny's face. But, you had to take what little enjoyments you could, right?

"What? You mean, what the waiter's said about his sister's friend?"

Chuckling, I shook my head, "There is no sister, Danny."

"There isn't?"

"Nope," I said trying my best not to start laughing. "You done?"

"Ah, yeah, I guess?" Danny muttered still looking a little frazzled. "I don't suppose you can make the weirdness of this conversation stop being strange, could you?"

"Bobby's a, good guy," I said carefully looking steadily at Danny.

"Okay...oh. Oh," Danny looked around before whispering, "He works for you?"

"No, but Bobby hears things," I explained while counting bills and putting them on the table. Along with an extra two hundred. "He's a guy in the know, you could say."

Danny easily noticed the extra I added as we got up to leave. "That's a bit excessive, isn't it?"

"You never disrespect a guy in the know, Danny," I muttered low enough for him to hear but not carry. "And I always take care of people who take care of me. Especially when they bring me something like this."

The short walk back to the jeep passed in a silence that was broken the second I started the engine.

"Where are we going?" Danny asked.

"My place," I answered. "I need my other phone as well as some other things."

"Alright. Would you care to explain what all that was about in the restaurant for those of us who are not master thieves?" Danny half joked.

Rolling my eyes, I pulled onto the street. "You mean Bobby?"

"For starters, that would be fantastic," Danny said. "I don't understand how talking about his sister's friend translates as a crime boss broke out of jail."

"Like I said, Danny, Bobby's a guy in the know. He hears things. If it helps, think of him as an information broker."

"Hmm, that's a dangerous line of work. Gangs are tough on snitches and informants, from what I've seen." He paused, thinking for a moment before he came to a realization. "Wait, you said he didn't work for you? Why would he inform you of anything?"

"It's just smart to have your own spies and informants but after awhile, everyone starts figuring out who's reporting to who. I know I make it a priority to know. Once you do, it's easy to pass on false information or even to take them out at that point. Guy's in the know however are neutral. Resources for all of us. Hurt one of them, and words gets around. Suddenly, none of them are willing to share with you. Not to mention it draws the rest of us to retaliate. It's like cutting your own throat."

"So the stuff he told you... Some sort of code, I suppose. Did you develop that yourself, or was there already something in place when you… took over?"

"Little bit of Column A, little bit of Column B," I answered vaguely. "The system was in place long before I woke up here. It's different in every city but I'll admit I helped them change up some things as well as promoted the neutrality thing. Mostly because I work on a similar premise but also because it just benefits me to have more resources than less."

"As for the code itself," I continued. "Think of it as a variation of street slang or Thieves Cant if you're feeling old school. If you know what means what, you can pass along a lot of information that way. Best of all, if anyone in law enforcement is listening or recording the conversation, it's really hard to use in court against you. Handy when your informant works a steady job in one place."

"Huh. I'd be worried about your informant informing the police the details of your Thieves Cant then."

"Again, it's like cutting your own throat. Being neutral means no sides which is a kind of protection all by itself even if it's a bit flimsy. But that only works as long as you can actually do business without your customer fearing getting picked up. That's not to say that guy's like Bobby don't tell the law enforcement things, they do. Unlike most of the players in the city, I actually encourage them to do so."

"Seriously?" Danny asked. "Isn't that cutting your throat?"

"It ups the difficulty, yeah," I agreed uncaringly. "But it promotes the flow of information. Law enforcement is less likely to hassle them in the same way as they would someone dedicated to one side or another. That gives them more room to maneuver, which means they hear more and make more money promoting more people telling them things to keep it all going."

"And the added difficulty for your own operations?" Danny asked.

I smiled, "That's the game and in the end, my competition has a much harder time dealing with it than I do. But they can't just tear it down because then they wouldn't have access to the network any more either. It a Catch 22 I've exploited like you would not believe in the last year.

"And that's what separates me from the others and what makes the Guild what it is. Quality, over barely adequate quantity. Everyone get's caught, unless they don't exist. That's us, we exist, but we don't, and we make far more money doing less jobs despite all the risk."

Shaking his head, Danny said, "This all sounds very complicated."

"Like you would not believe," I smirked. "But that too is part of the game."

"Where did you learn any of this?" Danny asked. A quick look showed him looking...intrigued? Impressed? Interested maybe but I couldn't really tell without taking my eyes off the road.

"Jess taught me some of it, but books mostly," I answered. "I read a lot. Being homeless without any real responsibilities leaves a lot of dead time on your hands. So, I'd go to the library. Even stole an outfit just for, and only for, that. At first it was to starve off boredom, but then because I wanted more than to live on other people's discards or scraps. The only way I was going to get it was to educate myself because no one was going to help me. So I did. Others liked the direction I was going and joined in."

"And your Thieves Guild was born," Danny chuckled.

I nodded.

"Ah, well of everything you just said, that at least makes sense to me. You always did extremely well in school," Danny said surely, and not without a small bit of pride in his voice. "So, a you put a crime boss in jail, and now he's out."

"Something like that. I beat him unconscious a few months ago and left him for the Protectorate to pick up," I chuckled darkly. "I generally try to avoid the bigger gang's. I stay out of their business, and they stay out of mine. We're thieves, not comic book villains looking to take over the world. But Two Mauls pushed and I had to push back or risk him destroying everything I was building. As to the jail thing, he most likely broke out."

"Two… Mauls. Good lord, the villains are finally running out of names…"

I chuckled. It was clearly an attempt to move away from the topic. That was fine with me, I wasn't exactly all that eager to talk about the guy who was most likely after me. Danny kept to his own thoughts for the rest of the short ride. I let him, delving into my own thoughts about what this recent development was going to mean going forward.

Our destination was an apartment complex. A nice four floor brick building that had probably been around for quite awhile. Yet, despite it's age, it was well maintained. Trees stood proudly out front, there was no graffiti, and best of all, there was a pool. Great for those hot summer nights when I just didn't feel like going to my usual haunts. My apartment was on the fourth floor. Not exactly strategically sound, but it did offer a great view of the city.

I paused fitting the key into the lock. Turning to Danny, I noticed he still had that thoughtful look to him and had been following me pretty much automatically. It was only now that I was here, that I thought about him meeting Penny.

Danny noticed me watching him as his eyes refocused, raising an eyebrow questionably.

Shaking my head, I turned back around saying nothing. A quick twist of the key opened the door letting us in. Habitually I looked around not seeing anything out of place except for a couple of glasses I'd acquired a few months ago sitting on our coffee table mixed with some dirty plates. That was a bit odd. Penny was usually pretty good about at least putting them in the dishwasher. Her clothes on the other hand was a completely different story but strangely I didn't see any of them laying around like usual. Not even the usual bra lying somewhere random.

At least that was one thing I wouldn't have to deal with today.

"Penny," I shouted waving Danny in. "I'm back!"

A thump from her bedroom answered me. Looking at Danny I asked, "Not sure what Penny's stocked while I was gone, but did you want something?"

"No thank you…" Danny started to refuse when Penny's door opened. The rest of whatever he planned to say was lost in some kind of gurgle as his throat locked up.

Quickly closing her door, Penny turned back around trying to close a robe that did absolutely nothing to hide the fact she was naked beneath it. Her flushed face and general disheveled appearance completed a picture that I personally rather didn't want in my head.

"Penny," I whined.

"I'm sorry," she whispered quickly walking toward us completely unembarrassed with how much of her fair skin was on display. "But I wasn't expecting you back for another couple of days."

"But, here?"

"They're generally more generous when they don't have to pay for rooms," Penny explained. Which wasn't the point and she knew it. "Also it gives them a more intimate and memorable New Orleans experience."

"That's sort of my issue with bringing them here, Penny."

"Yeah, I know but Amos has been around twice in the last three days asking about the rent," Penny half whined. "He scares me when he's moody."

"You know I was going to cover this month's rents," I reminded her frowning. "And I'll talk to Amos. Rent's not due for another week. He doesn't need to come around and bother you when he knows we've never been late."

"You shouldn't have to cover for me. I can cover my own half of the bills," Penny said trying to straighten her tangled blond hair before leveling me with her most sorrowful look. "I'm really am sorry Renée. You know I wouldn't have brought my boyfriend here if I'd known you were going to show up."

Sighing, I nodded, "I know."

"I'll make it up to you," she said leadingly with a hopeful smile. "I'll make dinner tonight. All your favorites. Okay?"

"Shrimp creoles and gumbo?" I asked lowly trying to not look too interested.

Penny smiled knowingly, "I'll even throw in some oysters just the way you like them and bread pudding."

"Alright," I sighed.

Playfully shoving my shoulder she laughed, "You love my cooking, don't act all put out."

Giving in, I laughed with her. Satisfied, Penny turned her attention to Danny. "So, who's the hunk?"

"No." I answered instantly.

"What?" She asked innocently while clearly leveraging a sultry look at Danny. "He's cute and he looks...limber."

Red faced and clearly uncomfortable, Danny choked looking anywhere but at me and especially not at Penny.

"Penny. Seriously, no." I said feeling my own cheeks heating up.

Ignoring me, Penny held out her hand, "Hi, I'm Penny."

"Um, Danny…"

Interrupting before this could get any more awkward, I asked, "Don't you have a boyfriend to be getting back too?"

"Oh, right," she nodded as if she completely forgot about the guy in her room. Turning back to me she asked, "Hey, ah, were you going to hang out or…"

"Oh hell no," I muttered. "We're leaving just as soon as I get my phone."

"Okay, so I'll, just, keep him...quiet for bit then if that's okay?" Penny asked hopefully.

"Please," I stressed.

"Thanks, Renée," Penny said winking at Danny. "Looking forward to talking to you later, hon."

Shaking my head, I started walking to my own room. Totally not avoiding looking at Danny. No sir. Hand on the door handle, I turned back to Penny before she vanished back into her own room.

"Hey," I called out softly waiting until she turned back to me. "I've kinda had a lot on my plate lately and forgot to ask. Did you get in? Langlois Culinary?"

Penny's smile widened telling me all I needed to know. "Yeah, and best of all it's being hosted by one of the lead chef's from the Commander's Palace. It's a real opportunity but there's also going to be a lot of people there wanting the same thing I am."

Smiling widely myself, I said, "I'd say good luck, but you're not going to need it."

Her smile dimmed a bit showing her anxiety, "I hope so. Oh, Marcus never showed up to pick up that package you left for him and don't forget I'm making dinner tonight so no running around too late."

"Alright, thanks Penny."

Nodding, she went into her room.

Entering my own room I quickly changed into my armor. Even though New Orleans wasn't as cold as Brockton Bay, I added the coat I picked up there enjoying the addition in the full length mirror. Making sure I had everything and double checking to make sure I had the right phone I left making sure to pick up the thick envelope I'd left for Marcus to handle. I was going to go check in with everyone anyways so it wasn't that big a deal.

Still, Marcus wasn't the type to forget something like this. Not unless something had come up and considering what Bobby said, there might have been more going on than just that.

Giving myself one last look to make sure everything was in place and that I was suitably attired for the day's events, I reentered the living room. Danny still looking a bit flushed was looking at the titles arranged on our book/movie shelf. He looked at me then away quickly.

"I have… never been called a 'hunk' in my entire life," He commented neutrally still looking at the shelf. "Your friend is rather...different than I expected for a roommate."

I didn't reply. After a long moment of silence, Danny turned. By his blinking eyes, he obviously didn't expect what he saw. He straightened, looking me over. Understandable, I supposed. This was the first time he'd seen me as I usually dressed when I was working or tending to business.

I could practically see his perception of reality shifting as he took in my costume, and how it changed me from a regular girl to someone that moved the underground. Until now, everything had just been words. Oh, he knew I was a cape; our little confrontation at his house was more than enough to get that message across. But until now, I don't think he realized exactly what that meant. Until now I was pretty sure part of him just ignored what it didn't want to know. Now, Danny had visual context and it apparently shook him.

"Penny's good people," I stated flatly. "And she's my friend."

He sighed. "Why do you sound so defensive? You… seem to have this opinion of me. That I'm judging you, thinking rudely behind your back about everything you do. I've seen a lot worse than your friend Penny, and I could tell she was good people the moment I laid eyes on her. You have to give me at least a little benefit of the doubt here Tay… dammit. Renée."

I twitched. He was right. I was treating him like he had no idea how the world worked. Like… like one of the people I stole from just because he'd never been homeless like me. That was unfair.

"I probably wasn't quite as prepared to see you as a cape as I'd thought, but I'm not going to suddenly decide to crucify you. Okay? Can you trust me that far?" He asked, sincerely, his eyes forcing me to feel a little guilty.

"I… yeah. You've been really good so far but..." I started to say before changing my mind. This was something we could deal with later. "If you're coming with me, Ground rules. Unless you want to stay here? I'm pretty sure Penny wouldn't mind."

"No, that's alright." Danny quickly said looking a little panicked. I kind of didn't blame him. He didn't know Penny very well, but at times she could be a bit...much. "Ground rules?"

I nodded blandly. "I need to check on some things. Especially with Two Mauls back in play. If you're coming with me then yes, a few simple ground rules."

Seeing I had his attention, I continued, "To my friends, I go by Renée, but most of Guild prefers to call me Gambit. You're a new face, so if you have to say something around the others, Gambit would probably be for the best."

"On that line of thinking," I said once he nodded. "I don't know how much experience you have with capes, gangs, or things like this. But I have a reputation to maintain. That reputation keeps things spinning the right way."

"What are you trying to say?"

"That when I'm talking to my people, don't. Don't interrupt, don't contribute, and most especially, do not contradict me," I clarified.

"Because it would make you look weak?" Danny asked with a raised eyebrow and neutral expression that made me think he was trying hard to understand, but had his own thoughts on the subject.

"Because it's rude," I countered. "But mostly disrespectful. The Guild is a fairly loosely structured organization by necessity, but everyone in the know, knows me. That means they know that when I'm involved, there are certain expectations. While I'm generally easy going, Danny, this is a business and it's a cutthroat one where we all stand to lose a lot more than money if things go wrong. People trust certain key personnel to keep that from happening. That includes me."

"Out there, there is no question if I am your daughter. I'm not some teenage cape. I'm Renée LeBeau. Gambit. I'm the woman who no one has been able to pin for a crime since her debut. The reason why rich people buy elaborate safes, locks, and security because they're afraid I'm going to steal their shinies."

"And no one disrespects the boss," Danny solemnly agreed.

"And no one disrespects the boss," I said allowing a slight grin on my face before I squashed it. "I don't like this stuff, Danny, but this is how the game is played. I can cheat with the best of them, but ultimately, I have to play by the same rules as everyone else. I just decided to play it on a higher level. I already know you're not going to like a lot of what you see but keep it to yourself. At least in front of them. I'll listen to anything you have to say or any questions you have, but don't bring up anything in front of others."

Danny sighed, nodding slowly to whatever he was thinking. After a moment, he gave me a wry smile. "Twenty years."

"Twenty years?" I asked.

"That's how long I made it. For the last twenty years I managed to stay out of the cape scene. Now I'm a henchmen. Worse, I'm my daughter's henchmen."

"Every man has a price," I said feeling my own lips twitch and ignoring the daughter bit. "But you need more muscles to really pull that off a henchmen look. I'd say minion would suit you better. One of the guys with skills to exploit."

"There's a difference?" Danny asked playing along.

"Of course," I cocking an eyebrow as I answered. "Henchmen are expendable. Minions are not. They also get paid more and usually have henchmen of their own."

"You're going to give me my own henchmen?" A sort of giddy light, came over his features, and it was a tad difficult to tell if he was having me on or not.

"Don't be silly," I replied smirking. "Around here we work for a living."

"Haha!" Danny couldn't hold back a laugh. "That… is painfully ironic."