Thick as T¡¦ieves: Part 2

By Nails

Part Two: A Long Walk

The man known to the world at large as Gambit stood outside the gates of Xavier¡¦s Institute of Higher Learning.  He folded his arms, still unused to the coolness of spring in the north.  He strode up to the gate and wondered, not for the first time, why he had actually come here. 

He had to admit that it had been good to see ¡¦Ro again.  He hadn¡¦t seen her since they had parted ways, right here outside this gate.  It had taken him a while to get over that and to get used to being alone again.  But he had chalked it up to Cest La Vie and carried on.  Like always.

¡¦Nut¡¦in¡¦ can keep ole Remy down.¡¦ He said.  But there was no conviction behind the words.

He pushed the button on the call box and waited for a reply.

A gruff voice issued from the box. ¡¦Whaddaya want?¡¦

Gambit raised an eyebrow.  What kind ¡¦o people is ¡¦Ro workin¡¦ wit¡¦?

¡¦I¡¦m here t¡¦ see Ms. Monroe.  Tell her it be Gambit.¡¦

¡¦Hold on.¡¦

He stepped back and waited.  Finally the great wrought iron gates started to roll back.  He hefted the old duffel bag that held all his belongings and started the long walk up the driveway. 

¡¦Ro was waiting for him at the front door.

¡¦G¡¦mornin¡¦ Stormy.¡¦

¡¦I told you¡¦ Never mind.  Good morning Remy.  Come in.  The professor would like to speak with you.¡¦ She motioned for him to step inside.

He smiled and stepped inside.  ¡¦Point de way ¡¦Ro.¡¦

She shook her head.  ¡¦This way.¡¦

He followed her through the large hallways and rooms.  She named off the rooms as the passed them and he internalized the information.  He caught himself looking at small, easily removed items.  He shook his head to clear the thoughts of theft.  Merde.  Ten minutes an¡¦ I¡¦m casin¡¦ de joint.  I been stealin¡¦ too long.

¡¦And this is the professor¡¦s office.  Remy?  Remy are you listening?¡¦

¡¦Huh?  Oh.  Of course I¡¦m lis¡¦nen¡¦ ¡¦Ro.  You said dat dis be de professor¡¦s office.¡¦ He flashed his most charming smile.

¡¦Would you quit looking around like a child in a candy store?  I suppose I¡¦ll have to count the silverware after you leave.¡¦  She smirked, trying not to laugh.

¡¦Ha. Ha.  Dat not funny chere¡¦ You know you gonna have to count de silverware.¡¦ His hand snaked out and caught hers and with a practiced suaveness he brought her hand to his lips for a soft kiss.  ¡¦I might also steal some hearts while I¡¦m at it.¡¦

¡¦You are incorrigible.¡¦ She smiled as she removed her hand from his.  ¡¦Now let us go in.  The professor is expecting us.¡¦

*****

A few hours later He was walking around the mansion grounds.  Smoke drifted lazily from the cigarette that was dangling from the corner of his mouth.  The   professor had made him a good offer and had given him as long as he wanted to think about it.  He could stay here and he didn¡¦t have to teach, he just had to help save the world on occasion. 

¡¦Hmm.  Never t¡¦ought I¡¦d be de type to be savin¡¦ de world.¡¦  He mused to himself as he walked toward the pond at the edge of the property.  Dis place has everythin¡¦.  Got a lot ¡¦o kiddies though.

Not that the children bothered him.  Far from it.  They reminded him of his youth in New Orleans, the adopted child of Jean Luc LeBeau.  He¡¦d had some great carefree days in the big easy.  But all that had ended¡¦ Non.  I ain¡¦t gonna t¡¦ink about it.

He crested the hill before the pond and took in the scene.  It was deserted.  The water was still too cold to be swimming or anything and it was too far out of the way to be on the jogging circuit.  He glanced around again and spotted a dot of bright yellow at the foot of an old oak tree.  Not quite deserted.

  He moved quietly up behind the girl sitting under the tree.  A smile came to his face when he realized it was Jubilee.  But something was wrong.  Most of the other children seemed happy to be here, but not her.  She sat cross-legged and stared out at the pond.  A small ball of light slowly wound its way around her hands.  She looked much older than she was.

¡¦G¡¦aftanoon p¡¦tite.¡¦  He said, putting on his charming smile.

The girl jumped, let out a small cry and spun around, throwing the little blue ball.  He hit the dirt and it burst behind him with a sound reminiscent of fireworks.  Then she realized who he was.

¡¦Geez.  I¡¦m sorry Gambit.¡¦ She held out a hand to help him up.

¡¦Non.  It alright p¡¦tite.¡¦ He said, chuckling. ¡¦I shoulda known better den to spook ya.¡¦

¡¦So watcha doin way out here Gambit?¡¦  All of a sudden she was back to being young and bubbly.

¡¦Gambit was jus¡¦ about to ask you de same t¡¦ing.¡¦ 

She looked sheepish. ¡¦Oh, you know.  Thinkin¡¦¡¦¡¦

¡¦Trying to f¡¦get some t¡¦ings?¡¦

 She shrugged. ¡¦So when did you get here?¡¦

He raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in topic.  ¡¦Dis mornin¡¦.¡¦

She nodded. ¡¦Cool¡¦ Uh, so how long are ya stayin¡¦?¡¦

He shrugged.  ¡¦Don¡¦ know.  Could be a couple weeks, could be longer.¡¦

¡¦So the prof. offered you a job as a teacher?¡¦

¡¦Not ¡¦xactly.¡¦

¡¦Oh¡¦¡¦  The silence strung out until he had to say something. 

¡¦Dem was some nice fireworks.¡¦ He grinned.

She shrugged. ¡¦I guess.  Not as cool as controlling the weather or something though.¡¦

Gambit looked around to see if anyone was watching. 

¡¦You wanna see a card trick?  It¡¦s a good one.¡¦

She rolled her eyes. ¡¦Puh-leez.  Don¡¦t you think I¡¦m a bit old for parlor tricks.¡¦
                        He just chuckled.  ¡¦I don¡¦ t¡¦ink so.  No one¡¦s ever to old for dis trick.¡¦  He flicked his wrist and a card appeared in his hand.

¡¦Impressive.¡¦ She said, dryly.  But there was an edge of humor there.

¡¦Dat not de trick, p¡¦tite.¡¦  Suddenly the card started to glow.  Soon there was a red haze surrounding it.  ¡¦Watch de pond.¡¦

She nodded and he flung the card toward the center of the pond.  As soon as it his the surface of the water it exploded, sending a column of water high in the air.  The water came down soaking the Cajun and the mall-rat.

¡¦Dat was de trick.¡¦  He smiled.

Jubilee looked at him, wanting to be pissed.  But when she saw the mischievous smile on his face all she could do was laugh.  As son as she started laughing he did too. 

¡¦That was some trick Gumbo.¡¦ She said between laughing jags.

¡¦I tol¡¦ you it was a good one.  Wait a minute¡¦ Gumbo?¡¦

She shrugged.  ¡¦Sounded good at the time.¡¦

He sighed, that was a name that would stick.  ¡¦Jus¡¦ don¡¦ call me dat aroun¡¦ anyone else.¡¦

¡¦Sure thing Gumbo.¡¦

He shook his head, grinning. ¡¦C¡¦mon Jubes, lets go get us some dry clothes.¡¦

He started toward the mansion and she followed.  This time the walk to the mansion didn¡¦t seem so long.

*****

Storm watched the two from her vantage point, riding the winds.  It was good that Remy had found Jubilee.  They could really help each other.  They could connect the way she had connected with him years before.  She shook her head.  She could no longer feel that connection.  She had been living a straight life for too long.  He was certainly still her friend, but no longer her partner.  Now he was something else¡¦ but what?