Chapter 8 Gamble
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.
….
Tick tock. Tick tock.
Remy sat in the kitchen trying to eat in peace but it seemed that his unappetizing dinner was to be disturbed. The greasy concoction they called hamburger and fries from some strange pop up fast food place did nothing but cause him sadness. He tasted all kinds of delectables around the world and yet he found it cruel to now being subjected to the nastiness of the heart attack on a bun. He opened his mouth to bite one of his fries when he heard the giggling again.
"Well if Remy knew he waz so popular dis evenin, he would at least dressed up fo' da occasion?!" Remy stated as he looked over at the two entering into the kitchen. Ororo leaned against the sink on her elbows as Jean sat went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water.
"Remy, is there something you want to tell your old good friend?" Ororo asked staring into his eyes with her blue gems.
Remy just eyed the two curiously knowing well that this wasn't a light conversation they were easing into. For Ororo to open up the conversation in such a way was a giveaway in itself. Ororo had been his friend since he was a teen in the Thieves' Guild. She was his oldest friend here at the institute which meant that she could read him better than anyone else and vice versa. He quickly took a bite of his fries before placing everything back into the greasy bag that it came from.
"Now Stormy, yo' are never one to beat around the bush. What ave' dis Cajun done to capture your attentions and yours as well Jean." He got up and threw a way the bag and made his way to Storm. He leaned next to her on the countertop and looked between the concerned Jean and the smirking Ororo.
"Always a charmer you are." Ororo said as she just eyed him warily with still a broad smile. "Anyway, I was informed that you took a midnight stroll. With a fellow female friend."
Remy shrugged and moved to sit in a kitchen chair. He pulled it up to a table and leaned back with a smirk. "An' informed yo' mean Jean told you." He spoke watching as Jean stood straighter clearly going into defense. "Anyway, yes I was encouraged and enjoyed my evening."
Ororo smiled seeing the beginnings of something beautiful develop. She knew her good friend was long overdue for real companionship without complications and baggage. Lord knows he had been through more than anyone could imagine. "Well anything you want to tell."
Remy and Ororo shared a look of silent communication as Jean looked between the two. Remy stood up from his chair and pushed it underneath the table. "Who else knows? Does Rogue know about you and Nicole?"
Remy stopped at this and looked to her hard. "Does it matter? And beside yo' are jumpin' way ahead. There is nuting between us at the moment. She wanted to get out of the room and we made a deal was all it was that yo' saw."
"Well Remy, we only have your best interest at heart. Ever since you know…." Jean trailed off. "Well let's just say you reverted back to the Remy we met a long time ago."
"Yo' tread o' dangerous' waters Cher." Gambit warned his eyes getting a little bit darker and his voice dropping a bit.
Ororo held her hand up in front of Jean. "Stop it Jean. Remy I trust you with my life and I hope that this turns into something beautiful. I encourage you two not to sneak around though despite any rough feedback you may receive. You expressed you are just friends but excuse your old friend when I say that I can't help but wish greatness for you. She would be lovely."
Remy ran his fingers through his hair and strolled over to Ororo. He quickly kissed her on the cheek and moved away. "Oui, Stormy. Same with you and the big man." He said as she looked at him with wide eyes. "We'll talk later, non?" He stated paying Jean no attention and strolling out of the kitchen. He waved and walked away making a trail to the porch to smoke a cigarette he could feel burning a hole in his coat pocket. He pulled out his cigarette and right when he passed the door to the living room, he saw the T.V. on with a weird sight on the sofa.
Nicole had her body draped on the couch, upside down. Her head was barely touching the floor with her long hair spilt across the floor in tangles. Her pink t-shirt and silver athletic shorts covered her form leaving her bandaged arms and legs visible. Her legs were bent over the back of the sofa dangling and kicking. He looked on the floor to see her dressings for her legs lying on the floor. She seemed upset as she looked at the T.V. in disdain. The remote was held in her hand flipping madly from channel to channel.
"Stupid T.V! You are so boring!" He leaned against the door frame with a smile as she sat up with her back to him and threw the remote on the other sofa. The private TV room was for adults but was clearly taken over by Nicole. Soon as it landed it had the misfortune of bouncing on towards the floor and landing on the off button. The television went to a black screen giving her nothing to look at.
"Ugh!" Nicole said exasperated. He watched her wiggle her body upright to where she sat Indian style on the couch. She sighed and out her head in her hands.
"Well now, yo' shouldn' be takin yo' frustration out on da remote gal." Remy said as he put his cigarette back in his jacket pocket. Nicole turned sharply at his voice. Once she saw her visitor her eyes glared.
"YOU!" Nicole said darkly.
"Oui! Meeeeee!" He said as he made his way over to her and sat down beside her.
"What do you want? I'm behaving!" Remy then looked back at the remote that was on the floor. Nicole followed his gaze and then she added seeing the remote on the floor, "Somewhat!"
"I see! Remy jus' passed by to' see you 'behaving'." Remy stated with a smirk.
"You are enjoying this aren't you?" Nicole said sizing him up. "Stop smirking like that before I wipe it off of you." She threatened.
His smirk turned into a full Cheshire smile. "Yo' can try Cher! Jus' lean in an see what ole Remy will give you in return."
Nicole just scooted farther from him and put a pillow between them as a physical barrier. She huffed and instead focused on a new way of entertainment.
"Hahahaha Chere! What's da matter? Cat got yo' tongue? " Remy asked as he laughed watching her turn to face him again.
"No! I'm just choosing my battles." She said stretching her leg and wincing a little from the movement. They were both sore along with the other wounds on her body.
"How's your injuries?" Gambit asked as he looked at her dressings on her body. He saw some redness and a little swelling but the discoloration was gone.
"it could be worst, I suppose. My back hurts a little and walking hurts but at least I can stand a minute or two before falling." She let her legs dangle off the couch. Remy noticed she was so small her feet couldn't reach the floor when she set herself upright on the couch. There was a definite heavy silence in the air.
"Ororo and Jean said I suffered from minor injuries. The Professor called and he'll be coming tomorrow to look at them himself." Nicole stated softly followed by a soft yawn as her eyes grew droopy. "And the meds are working in case you were wondering."
"Well I would lik' t' hope so petite. Yo' gonna need to get better so yo' can travel as a companion." Gambit said as he stood up and stretched. "But, I see ole Gambit must have wore yo' out last night."
She laughed and rubbed her eyes. "I've had better." She responded playfully. "I should go now. I feel it starting." Another yawn racked through her and she covered her mouth a bit embarrassed.
"I know what you're t'inkin', ma petite. Dat Gambit...still de suave one, no?"Remy bent down to pick her up and her arms went up around his neck accustomed to her new mode of travel. He walked forward out of the room avoiding the bodies of little ones and teens walking and running about. She held onto him tightly making his way to the grand staircase.
"Nicole, yo' are so lucky yo' are tiny otherwise, I would let go." Remy said as he made his way towards the elevator instead. "What flo'?" Remy asked.
She just raised three fingers in his face before placing her arm back where it was. The elevator opened up and they got on silently. He pressed three and waited till the doors closed. His hold on her was tight just as before. The smell of his cologne and his bathing soap was fresh as well wrapping her in safety and care.
Soon the elevator reached their stop. "Where t' now?"
"330." She spoke pointing down the hallway towards the right.
He made his way to her room noting it was almost at the very end of the hall. He turned the knob and opened the door. He cut on the lights to have his eyes look around at her room décor. The walls were a beige color with white and gold embroidered bordered ceiling. Her ceiling spawned a canopy of white sheer fabric that engulfed her white bed mattress. On her bed lied piles of royal blue, emerald, white and purple pillows. Some had gold and white embroidery on them as if they were imported from India. The sheets on her bed were white and the comforter was a large fluffy colorful patched quilt of the colors of her pillows. On the floor were two Moroccan black floor lamps with candles inside. He made his way over to her bed and pulled back the gossamer curtains with his hands. He leaned down and placed her on the bed. She let go and scooted back to settle down. He backed up as she got comfortable under her sheets. He looked around the room at her other contents the scent of mango and pineapple lingered in her room. In the corner near the window was a beige quilted chaise chair with a few books on top and a golden emerald throw blanket laying across it.
"Thanks Remy." He looked back at her to find her sitting up looking at him with a smile.
"Tis nutin'. Besides, how else were you expecting to get back up here?" Remy said as he walked to her window and opened it.
"Logan brought me down but I didn't see him afterwards." Nicole stated as she leaned back and crossed her arms with a sigh. "Something odd with him is happening. It's like he comes into the room but then leaves like I have a virus."
"Don't get upset." He stated as he searched his pockets for the cigarette he had earlier. His fingers found it and popped it on the side of his mouth. His fingers began a new search for the lighter. She watched him take off his jacket and search but still to no avail. He laid his jacket on her chair and searched his pants pockets.
"Ug….Come here." He looked at her sideways before he made his way to her. She took his cigarette from his mouth and she held it to her other hand. She snapped her fingers and a flame appeared right above her fingertips. She held the cigarette to the flame watching as it caught on. "I'm not upset, it's just annoying now. He's supposed to help me get around."
Remy watched in fascination as she closed the hand with the flame and she held the cancerous stick back to him. He took it and nodded at her. He then stuck it in his mouth and went towards the open window. He puffed out the air toward the window he stood at. "Is Ororo around when he does this?" He turned to her and regarded her for a minute. She was now positioned forward.
She held a finger to her lip in contemplation. "Well now that you mention it…yeah."
He nodded and smirked flicking the ashes out of the window. The day had gone pretty quickly with him only seeing her this once since last night. The air outside felt cool and refreshing against his skin. He looked again around the room taking everything in. Her dresser was neat as a pin and had photos, makeup, and other personal items along its length sat in a clearly organized manner. Next to it was a picture of her and Chantel together in a hug with broad smiles. He could tell she was younger by the look at their faces. She was very outgoing and her room spoke of such a vibrant personality. She shared with him her stories about her life and he was shocked to have met someone so…normal. Well as normal as a mutant could get. She had family that supported her and no tragedy really to speak of. It was refreshing to say the least.
"Girl yo' are truly differen'." Remy said as he drew from the stick again.
"Why is that Mr. Lebeau?" She asked as she snuggled down into her bed feeling content with Cajun being there watching after her like a silent protector.
He laughed before he took the cigarette out his mouth and he tapped it on her window cell. He rubbed it down to extinguish its fire. He made sure it was out before he tossed it into the trash bin she had by her dresser. He walked over to her and sat down causing the bed to creek and dip a little. "Yo' see tings' an' judge little. You are always so light never really lettin' anytin' get yo' down."
She stared back at him and blinked with a blush on her cheeks. "Well, I'm happy and I have everything I need. Besides, I wouldn't give anyone the satisfaction of controlling me in any type of way." She offered sitting up to look at him properly.
"Oh I believ' yo'. Dat I kno' iz true. If only de rest of us could be dis way." He spoke looking at the wall in front of him before looking down at her with a smile.
"It's never too late to try." Nicole stated looking up at him hopefully. She didn't like how dark the conversation turned and so she tried her best to add a bit of lightness to it. "Besides, that would go against everything about you, Remy. You always try at least."
Remy looked at her and reached out to rub his fingers through her curly locks. "You know so much, amor." He whispered watching her eyes droop again from the calming motion. She leaned into his palm and moved forward.
"I'm still learning." She responded humming a bit. "I am learning more about Gambit but I wish to understand Remy too."
Remy said this time moving closer till he was almost touching her lips. "Now he's a gent that man is. I heard also that he is a very hard character to get close to."
"I'm willing to try." Nicole whispered as she suddenly got caught up in his scent and proximity of their position.
He blew so that she felt closeness of his mouth to hers before answering. "Da name is Gambit to my enemies, employers, and victims. To those I care for I'm Remy Lebeau." He then kissed her full on the lips. She responded immediately and his hand caught in her hair held her to him while her arms moved up around his neck. They shared a passionate kiss before pulling back and he moved towards her ear. "I'm a t'ief when all else fails... an' right now Amor, all else failed." He pulled back to see that his words affected her immediately.
She looked at him caught between and daze and drowsiness. "What? What failed?"
He kissed her again quickly before rubbing his hands in her hair and releasing her curls. "You aren't exactly easy to woo." He spoke laughing as she smiled. She laughed and laid back down committing this moment to memory. Sleep wouldn't stay back for much longer. He stood up reluctantly and walked towards the door to exit.
"So what are you gonna steal, Gambit?" She questioned lightly.
He stopped in his tracks and looked at her with a fire in his eyes. "I'm gonna' steal somethin' dats so protected dat it jus' maybe t' most protected thing I hav' e'va pursued."
"Which is…." She asked watching him open the door.
"Well it's no fun if I tell yo' Nicole. Jus kno' dat I'm da best t'ief dis side of da Western world. An' I neva lost a gamble." He said. "Night, mi petite." He finished cutting off her lights and closing the door behind him.