Hearts and Diamonds Chapter 5
Number of words: 1022
Summary: In which Gambit makes use of his sneaky abilities, and Kana gets upset.
Author's comments: Much shorter than usual for some reason. But it's a complete chapter on its own. I will update as soon as I can figure out what goes in the next chapter. I have a giant outline for the story, but the day-to-day mundane chapters escape me. DX
Keep the reviews coming! They helped. =) I was surprised at the response since few people ever read my fics.
Remy LeBeau was a master in sneaking around unnoticed. This was, of course, to be expected; as the adopted son of the infamous Thieves Guild's patriarch, he had to learn many shady skills not often advocated by the average parent. One did not become a master thief without learning the art of sneaking around unnoticed.
There were security cameras in the area, but those were easily avoided, made easier thanks to the cover of darkness and the multitude of trees growing on the grounds. The telepaths had always been the biggest problem with breaking into the Institute. But Remy had figured a way around that. He'd learnt that generating a constant field of static around his body messed with any kind of psychic mumbo jumbo aimed at him. He'd tried it out with Mastermind over and over again until he was confident that it'd worked. The illusionist had complained of a headache for the rest of the day. Yes, Remy LeBeau was brilliant.
He made his way over to the living quarters of the house, scanning the windows, trying to figure out which one belonged to little Kana's room. It helped when she leaned out to open the windows, letting the night breeze into the room.
Ah. He wet his lips. So she was rooming with Rogue. Lovely.
Then Kana spoke. "You can stop hiding now. I know you're out there."
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Kana had sensed the presence outside of her window since he'd perched himself on that tree. She was alone in the rom; Rogue had gone to the rec room to play Mortal Kombat with the guys, and from the sounds of things, wouldn't be back until she had kicked their asses to her satisfaction. But Kana figured she could handle any trespasser on her own.
She opened the bedroom windows and called out. "You can stop hiding now. I know you're out there."
She was completely taken by surprise by the intruder's appearance when he vaulted through the open window. He was tall, dark, and yes, handsome, in a scruffy kind of way; flamboyantly dressed in a black bodysuit, including a black headband pulled at the base of his hair, letting a brown shock of it tumble over the top. And a flapping trench coat, of all things, despite the sweltering heat. And his eyes – she blinked when she saw them, even though she was already used to odd appearances – his eyes were entirely black, with flaming red irises.
"'evening, mademoiselle." He had a slow, easy grin on his face, slow, easy way of walking. Like a cat.
"Care to explain why you're intruding?" Kana asked, folding her arms across her chest. She wasn't going to be intimidated. He was one of those men who oozed sex and charm; she'd seen them a million times before, and she wasn't going to fall for it.
Remy wondered if the girl had any idea what she was doing. If he didn't know any better, he'd say she was being provocative, because merde, the way she'd just crossed her arms was giving him the perfect view of –
No. That wasn't what he was here for. Business was business, and Gambit never mixed business with his love affairs. That was just a shout out to the fates to screw with his life. Hard.
"I'm just part of de welcoming committee." He swept a low bow. "Remy LeBeau. Enchanted to meet y'."
He could feel her roll her eyes before he even got up. So it was going to be like that, huh. He wasn't fazed.
"Why are you here? Really."
Gmbit looked her up and down. She was a tiny thing, and even though there was no physical resemblance, there was something about the way she was holding herself that reminded him of Belladonna; trying so hard to hide any kind of weakness with a tough-girl act. He figured if she was anything like Bella, the romancing wouldn't work very well, and decided to play a card he didn't use often – the truth.
"I was sent here," he said. "By Magneto."
She didn't relax. Clearly, the name meant nothing to her.
"He's a friend of y'r parents. Erik Lensherr."
She bit her lip. "The Professor's friend?"
Gambit laughed. "De Professor and Magneto haven't been friends for years, chér. Something 'bout a disagreement in methods. But t'at's ancient history. De point is," he smiled, trying his best to appear welcoming and not… smirking, "is that Magneto's extending an offer f'r y' to live with him, anytime y' get fed up with dis place. Favour t' y'r parents and all that."
"Uh huh."
"T'ink about it, chér. De Professor's nice and all, but you might realise dat dis ain't t' place f'r y'. and when y' change y'r mind, well." He couldn't help it, his lips curved into a full-blown smirk. "Just let me know."
Kana wouldn't buy it. She wouldn't. But still, she couldn't help but smile at his arrogance. "Two problems with that. One; how am I ever supposed to tell a random mutant that I've never seen before and will never see again that I want to move over to some weird old guy's place, even if he's a friend of my parents? Two; what makes you so sure that I'd move out to said random stranger's place?"
"Dis ain't the place f'r y' girl. I can tell, just talking t' y. Y've got too much spirit f'r this cage. And as f'r the first question, well," he drawled. "Remy always knows when he's wanted."
"Does he?" She thought her heart fluttered, just a little then.
"Well. There hasn't been a girl yet who can resist me," he whispered, leaning in very close towards her. Before she quite knew what was going on, he took her hand and pressed a kiss to it. "Adieu." And then he had bounded out of the window and into the dark.
As Gambit left, he distinctly heard a female voice swear long and hard, in Chinese or Japanese or whatever it was the girl spoke. It didn't matter, its intent was clear.
Oh yes, he was good.