Written by --RogueChere
Forty thousand feet in the air one of the fastest planes on earth flew carrying the mutant outlaw band known as the X-men. They risked their lives every day in hopes that one day "normal" humans and mutants would live together in harmony. Today, however, the X-men are taking a well needed break from that life style. They are on their way to surprise a certain thief, and have some fun at the same time...
"Ok, when can I take dis t'ing off?" Remy LeBeau asked plaintively, reaching up to remove the black scarf that covered his eyes. He sat completely mystified of the Blackbird's destination, and he didn't like it one
bit.
"Soon, Love, soon... just be patient. Duennae make mae hurt you," Serina answered smacking his hand away from unfastening it, "How much farther, Bets?"
"Oh, I'd say at least a good ten minutes but... it could be more," she smirked knowing that the idea of a long wait would drive the Cajun nuts.
"Y'heard Betsy, we'll take it off when we get theah." Rogue chuckled, "Y'all have no patience f'surprises do ya, sugah?"
"No Gambit, don't say it!" Bobby shouted suddenly, diving to the ground as if a bomb were about to explode.
"Say what?" Gambit asked with a coy grin. He sensed Bobby's alarm-toned voice was a lead to one of his ridiculous jokes. Remy was all but prepared for what followed his question.
Iceman glanced at Rogue, and the two of them chimed together in a mock Cajun accent, "T'ieves don' like surprises, s'pecially when we de ones who be doin' de surprisin'!"
"Ha, ha," Gambit faked a laugh in falsetto tones as the others in the Blackbird broke into a fit of laughter.
"C'mon Gumbo, don'cha tell us ya weren't thinkin' it," Wolverine snickered, watching Gambit squirm ever-so-slightly under the bombardment of the joke.
"Oh, he was," Jean added from her place near the front of the plane.
"Was not," Gambit answered almost childishly, folding his arms across his chest.
"Was TOO!" came the voices of Jean, Psylocke, and Emeryld.
"He is thus defeated," Beast commented from his co-pilot position. "One cannot argue with the talents of three psychic sirens, Remy."
"What I s'posed to t'ink, eh? I wake up dis mornin' t'inking dat I done gone blind in my sleep--"
"Well, Remy, I warned ye about doing that. Always said ye'd wind up blind," Serina cracked, glancing at Rogue and Psylocke who were almost on the floor in tears they were giggling so hard.
"Remy, ah nevah knew!" Rogue gasped between giggles, "With that charm ah didn't think--"
"I knew it." Psylocke accused proudly then dissolved back into laughter.
The remark sent Jean and Serina into joining the riotous laughter. Over their heads Warren and Scott gave each other a look as if to say, "Women, go figure." Storm and Hank only smiled with amusement, meanwhile, Gambit sucked in a breath, and tried to ignore the remark.
He was continuing, "Den you hijack me into de 'Bird not tellin' me where we goin' or why!" His head turned blindly toward Storm's usual seat, and flashed a grin, "Stormy, you'll fill ole Remy in, non?"
"I am sure you can wait a few more minutes, Remy," she answered.
"Pah, you all be plottin' t'kill me!" he exclaimed. Frustrated he slammed his back against his seat and sighed. Everyone smiled, knowing that when they did arrive it would have been well worth all of his complaining.
"Ta-da!" Bobby shouted, gesturing toward an enormous colored building, as Serina ripped the blindfold from Gambit's eyes.
The Cajun stood in silence.
"Ta-DA!" Bobby shouted again. When Gambit still didn't respond, he dropped his Vana White pose and asked, "Something wrong with this picture?"
"Remy?" Rogue asked, flashing Emeryld a concerned gaze.
Gambit looked up, suddenly, his dazed expression broken, "De Orleans? Not t'sound ungrateful but what an' where is dis place?"
"It happens to be the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Known for some of the best Creole dishes this side of the Louisiana," Warren supplied with a grin.
"My God, you sound like a guide book!" Psylocke exclaimed.
Remy still stood looking from the building to the others, "But why?"
"You've been through so much lately, Remy, we felt a brake was deserved," Ororo explained.
"An' we know how bad y'all must miss home... seein' as you can't go back an' all, we just figured--" Rogue paused trying to find the right words.
"Figured we'd let'cha have yer two fav'rite pastimes rolled inta one," Wolverine finished for he.
Serina leaned over Gambit's shoulder then, "So, are we going to stand here all day or go inside?"
Gambit nodded and they headed for the main entrance. When they came to the set of glass doors, he couldn't help but grin at the brass alligator door handles. He almost laughed himself into a stupor as he entered through. In the foyer, three enormous gators dressed in red dixie uniforms towered over him, poised with jazz instruments.
"Oh, Mon Deiu!" Remy gasped, grabbing Scott's shoulder for support, his eyes tearing he found the sight so riotous, "If dey start playing zydeco I t'ink I'll jus' die right here!"
"Great, he's delirious and we haven't even checked in yet," Bobby cracked.
"The alligators are a bit over the top," Warren commented.
"You kiddin' 'Angel? Dis place is like Mardi Gras," Gambit grinned, linking one arm with Emeryld and the other with Rogue, "Everyt'ing is over de top--de creme de la creme!" They then headed for the reception desk.
***
Gambit stood eyeing the card key the receptionist had handed to him, as he stood outside his room. "What 'appened t' good ole fashion keys?"
"Do you realize just how OLD that makes you sound?" Bobby remarked passing him to get through to his own room. He was bent, clutching his lower back, "Confounded newfangled gadgets--when I was young, we had to walk five miles to school, barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways!"
Remy chuckled, "Dat's enough, I get de idea--ya lil' whipper-snapper. Least I ain't as old as Wolverine, eh?"
"I heard that, Cajun," Wolverine's voice filtered out from the next room with a growl.
Shaking his head, Gambit worked the pass-key and entered into his own room. He hadn't packed anything, since he hadn't planned on a trip. As he threw his trench coat on the suitcase stand, he was surprised to find a tuxedo and tails laid out for him on the bed. On the night stand was a plastic box holding a boutonniere and a note. He plucked up the card and opened it. The glossy cardboard read:
Monsieur LeBeau,
Your presence is requested to join our party for an evening of
dinner and gaming. Formal dress is required. Meet in the lobby at
9 o'clock this evening.
Cordially,
Your Company
Gambit shook his head and lifted the plastic box that contained the boutonniere. It was a white rose with a sprig of red-dyed baby's breath to accent it. "Ok," he said to himself, "I'll be dere."
***
Gambit stood in the lobby dressed in white tie and tails, playing with the boutonniere at his lapel. "Well, look at that," Jean voice exclaimed, "Remy, you look like a prince!"
Remy glanced up to see Scott and Jean enter arm-in-arm. Jean smiled and kissed Remy on the cheek, "Hello, Remy, glad you decided to show."
"You were worried?" he replied with a grin, "Jeanie you be so beautiful you make blind men see again."
"So I've heard," Jean playfully pat his cheek a laughed, she was dressed in a peach satin gown, her hair swept up in a classic french twist.
Following not far behind came Betsy and Warren, accompanied by Hank, who was escorting Ororo down the stairs. Ororo wore a deep royal purple gown with gold trim, her hair pulled up in some exotic style. While Betsy sported a traditional short black cocktail dress.
"We are not late I hope?" Ororo said as she and Hank joined the others.
"No, we're still waiting for everyone else," Scott answered, "they're planning for fashionably late, I'd guess."
"Don't you look dapper?" Hank commented to Remy, who had gone back to studying his lapel. Gambit flashed a grin, having missed their entrance.
"You too, M'seiu Henry. Lil'bette, 'Roro, you look tres manufique," Remy stepped forward and bowed. Then taking each woman's hand in turn, he kissed each of them.
"How charming," Betsy commented, "that almost sounded sincere."
"Oui, Lil'bette, dat it was," he replied, looking up at her, then turning to Warren and patting him on the back. "Warren here be lucky to find a lotus flower like y'self, eh? I'd be watchin' out dat no one try an' steal her
away."
Betsy only shook her head as the others laughed.
"Would'ja believe he's got a compliment f'every day of the year?" Rogue's southern patios commented sassily from behind them.
"AND one for every person he knows--not to mention those he doesn't," Bobby finished, guiding her along.
"Evenin' all," Rogue greeted them.
Gambit turned to see Rogue dressed in a crimson Scarlett O'Hara style gown complete with evening gloves. Her hair was pulled into an upside down french braid with ringlets cascading from the top.
"Ello! Look at you, Chere..." Remy remarked letting out a low whistle.
"Aw, then that'd turn all the attention away from mae," Serina's voice purred, as she swayed in with Wolverine by her side.
Remy turned and froze when he saw her. Serina was dressed in a long white gown (**white of all colors for her to wear** he thought ironically) slit up the sides to her hips, with a matching sheer scarf about her throat. Her hair was in a rare state, left cascading in a mane of onyx and rose. For once in his life, Gambit was at a loss for words.
"Looks like ya lost a bit o' yer charm there, Gumbo," Logan chuckled.
"Glad to see ye've made accepted the invitation, Love." Serina said, moving toward Remy and fixing the boutonniere, which he'd been playing with earlier. She stepped back and patted his chest, her emerald-topaz
cat eyes flashing, "What's the matter, Remy, cat got your tongue?"
"Y'could say dat," he answered finally, staring into her eyes. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, so that only she heard, "But it's what I wan' do to de cat with my tongue dat be a whole 'nother story."
He smiled, caressing the line of her jaw, hearing the soft but quick gasp of breath. He'd taken Serina by surprise--not an easy task, quite far from impossible actually. Remy backed away as if nothing had conspired
between the two of them, "So, where we pr'ared to dine, eh?"
***
Dinner had been an elegant feast, specially prepared for their party. Whole game hens were roasted, gumbo and ettufe was served, as was sausage graced with a spicy creole mustard. Later there was sparkling
dinner conversation over drinks and games. They sat at the roulette table placing bets and conversing.
"You know, I feel like James Bond in this get up, playing high-stakes with the bad guy," Bobby said.
"Anyone else for bets?" the gamer asked.
"Five hundred on deux noir," Gambit said, raising his chips.
"Five hundred?" Jean commented, slightly aghast.
"Remy, is that wise?" Hank added, "I mean it is quite the stake."
"An' I'm quite de gambler--dey not name me Gambit fo' not'ing, non?" Remy answered flashing a grin.
"Complimentary drinks?" a cocktail waitress asked, as she was passing their table.
"Oh, this is too good to be true. I can't help it. I just have to do it," Bobby begged smiling at Hank. Bobby then turned to the waitress in his most serious manner, "Martini, shaken not stirred."
The waitress disappeared with his order. Hank, Scott, and Warren couldn't help but roll their eyes and hide amused smiles over Bobby's callousness.
"One thousand, twenty-two red," Serina said, suddenly placing her chips on the table, "Let's see just how much of a gambler, Ace."
"Do ah detect a challenge?" Rogue said softly with an elegantly arched brow raised.
"Dat you do, Chere. Y'on 'Rena--I'll see you an' raise de stakes--two thousan'."
"Now this is getting to be intriguing," Warren remarked, holding Betsy close.
"Pennies to you millionaire playboys, Worthington," Scott shot to him good naturedly.
The waitress reached around hand handed Bobby his drink.
"Interesting just them same," he answered with a mere shrug.
"Rogue, Chere, if you would be so kine?" Remy asked, raising his chips to her lips, "Fo' luck." Rogue blew lightly on the chips, then he turned and held them up to Ororo's lips, "Stormy?"
Ororo too blew on the chips. Seemingly satisfied, Remy placed his bet on the table and grinned at Serina. In turn, Serina casually reached into the front her dress and drew out her chip, then kissed it lightly, and leaned over the table, reaching across his arm to place her wager. Remy's eyes couldn't help but glance to her low bust-line. Serina looked up at Gambit with a smile of her own, "May the best player win."
"Last call for bets!" the gamer called as he set the wheel to spin. Red and black spun while they awaited the outcome of the game. The wheel began to slow flashing red, black , red, black, red, black...
"Two black," the gamer announced.
Remy arched a brow and flashed him devil-may-care smile, "Looks like I win an'--"
"You lose, Cajun," Wolverine growled, poking a concealed claw near his back bone. It was an empty threat of course, but a warning to behave just the same.
"Don' like y'girl to lose? I wasn' goin' be gloatin', Logan. I'm too much a gentleman. I was jus' goin' to say it wasn' de lovely lady's night."
"Gentleman my foot," Betsy said under her breath. Warren shot her an amused gaze.
"Well, Remy, y'all been on quite the winnin' streak t'night," Rogue said, leaning on the roulette table, resting her head on her hand, while stacking her chips.
"Dat I 'ave," Remy leaned in closer to her, "Lady Luck been at my side--t'anks to you."
Rogue sat up a bit surprised, "Ah'm your lucky charm, am ah?"
"Uh-oh, there he goes again," Bobby commented, swirling his untouched martini, "charm that steals a lady's heart. Well, I'm beat--" he said stretching, "G'night. See you guys in the morning. Or on second thought, I might go check out that bowling alley upstairs."
"I think Bobby has the right idea," Jean added, glancing at Scott's watch.
"You want to go bowling?" Scott asked abashed.
Jean only smiles and shook her head, "You ready to call it a night, oh husband of mine?"
"I think so," Scott agreed. "Good night, it was a wonderful evening--even if I am flat broke."
"It's alight," Warren said, rising from his stool, "I can spot you, Slym."
"That, my friend," Hank commented, "is not necessary. M'sieu LeBeau will be paying for everything from now on."
Remy glanced up, "All o' you leavin' me so soon?"
"Too rich for my blood," Scott said as he and Jean headed out.
"Dawn dost approach," Hank said. "Ororo, shall I escort you to your room?"
"Thank you , Henry, but I think I will remain here for a bit."
"Of course, enjoy yourself. As for this man, I quote the infamous Macbeth, 'tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow'."
"Night Hank," Wolverine said, stalking off as well, his cigar clenched between his teeth.
That left Remy with Serina, Rogue, Ororo, Elizabeth, and Warren.
"Bets?"
Betsy glanced up, "Yes, lover?"
"You coming with me or am I to leave you with this rogue of hearts? I may toss and turn all night wondering if he's stealing you away..."
"Toss and turn all you want. You know I'd never fall for him, but I do intend to stay for a while," she answered, kissing Warren.
"I will keep an eye on her for you, Warren," Ororo offered.
"Thank's 'Ro, now I may just get a little sleep," With that Warren also parted their company, "Good night."
"Looks t'me like my luck is holdin'," Remy remarked then, looking to the remainder of his female company.
"What d'ya mean, sugah?" Rogue inquired.
"Well, four lovely ladies been left in my wake... what's a man t'do?"
"Ye still feeling lucky, are ye, Ace?" Serina asked with a coy grin and a glance to the other women.
"Why, Rena, you got somethin' cookin' in dat mind o' yours?"
"Care for another wager?" Serina purred, her bare leg revealed through the slit in her leg as she crossed her legs--her cat-eyes staring into his.
Remy swallowed, "What sort o' wager you 'ad in mind?"
"Somethin' a lil' risque," Rogue whispered, her gloves removed, the cloth stoking his cheek.
"Something exotic," Ororo continued, shaking out her beautiful snow-white hair.
"Something with high risk," Betsy continued, brazenly adjusting her stockings.
"Something a true gambler wouldn't refuse," Serina finished, her eyes half-mast as she lightly drew her silver nail across the soft flesh beneath his chin.
"Up for it, Swamp rat?" Rogue purred softly in his hear.
"Gambit's game," Remy responded his curiosity not the only thing aroused. He rose with them and let them lead him out of the casino.
***
Remy stared down, expressionless, at his cards. He only had a pair of deuces, his only play was a bluff.
<
Out of the corner of his eye, Remy watched the flickering lights of the Genoshian collars each of them had agreed to wear. It was a precaution to be sure none of them cheated. With two telepaths, one of them could have easily cheated. It was also protection, strip poker could be considered deadly with Rogue's powers.
"Well, Remy, the time of truth," Psylocke said, having folded and as of yet, only lost her shoes and stockings.
"Please, Remy, this game is beginning to drag on," Storm said from her place on the bed. She'd lost a bit more of her clothing and was dressed only in her white silk slip.
"Sugah," Rogue said in her red bodice, panties, and heels, as she leaned over Serina's chair. She peered at Emeryld's hand, and placed her glass of champagne on the table, "Lay 'em flat--ah'm callin' your bluff."
Gambit's eyes shot daggers at Rogue, "You can' do dat. You ain't even in de game any mo'!"
"Ah'm callin' it on behalf o' Seri then!" she said, leaning over farther to snatch the cards from his hand and dropping them onto the table revealing his two pair to all. At the same time, a fully clothed Serina revealed
her cards:
"Royal Flush, read 'em and weep," Serina said with a wicked grin.
"An' just as ah thought. The Swap rat's got nothin' but a pair o' deuces."
Serina glanced up at Rogue with a look of mild surprise, "How'd ye know he was bluffing? I've been playing him since we were children an I never knew--that is unless I cheated."
Rogue pushed herself off of Emeryld's chair, picking up her glass and sipping it, "Ah didn't know--ah guessed."
"You guessed!?" Remy asked incredulously, standing abruptly.
"Uh-huh. An' if ah'm correct, ah guessed right, now didn't ah? So, y'all know what that means," Rogue said silkily, moving to stand behind him. She reached around his waist and tugged playfully at his belt. "Take 'em off, sugah, an' show us what'cha got."
Serina arched a brow and sat back in her chair, arms folded in waiting. Ororo sat up on the bed, and Betsy took her feet off the table and leaned forward.
Serina leaned forward when he hesitated, "Tsk, tsk, tsk... Never seen a Cajun want to win so badly and lose so often... Drop 'em Romeo."
Rogue laughed playfully in Gambit's ear, and he cast a mischievous glance at Serina, before purring to Rogue, "Care t'elp me out of dem, petit'?" he asked, leaning his head back on her shoulder and kissing the line of her jaw.
"Mah pleasure," Rogue whispered with another laugh. Rogue slid down to her knees and pulled Gambit backward over her to unzip his pants with her teeth, then she sat back on her heels to watch him take care of the rest.
Serina, finding the scene utterly amusing, sat back to sip the strawberry champagne and watch. She cast a look to the other women to see Psylocke vaguely surprised to see Rogue act in such a manner, and Ororo only smiled before lowering her gaze. As Remy stepped out of his clothing Emeryld stretched, extending her legs, she watched him fall to his knees before her.
Placing her glass to the side, Serina cocked her head and cooed, "Aw, did the suave gambler, lose?"
"I ain't lost yet Rena. How come you ain't even lost a earring yet, eh?"
"Lucky I guess... why you want to play another game?"
Gambit looked up at her with his smokey red-black eyes and kissed her stockinged foot and travelled up her leg to kiss her descreetly behind her knee and sliding a hand under her skirt lightly to caress her inner thigh before pulling back to answer.
"Stormy was right, de game is b'ginin' to drag on. Oui, I wan' to play another game an' dis time I get t'choose: 21 Blackjack an' Gambit deals."
***
Within the next half hour, four out of the five players were completely naked. One wore a single article of clothing: a pair of silver stiletto heels, which were propped up casually on the table. Remy's gaze had followed from the silver toe up the long leg until his eyes met Serina's cocky grin.
***
Remy fixed the white towel around his waist and padded out of the bathroom. His rust colored hair hung damp around his shoulders as he left another towel to hand about his neck. He stopped for a moment to look at the sleeping women who had gone to such lengths to give him a memorable evening.
Psylocke lay with her arm draped across the table, her purple tresses fanned out on the table top. She was dressed in the hotel's complimentary white terry cloth bathrobe. Storm's slender form was outlined beneath the sheets of the bed. Remy smiled in remembrance of the times he had spent with her in New Orleans. He approached the bed and pulled the sheets up farther around her shoulders.
As he glances up his eyes could not help but fall on the two women who were curled into hotel chairs fast asleep. Serina and Rogue looked like delicate angels to him. He watched the rise and fall of their breasts with each breath they took, standing entranced by their naked forms.
Strewn on the floor were the red and white dresses they had donned for the evening. Red and white... the colors of the flower that had been left for him to wear over his heart. They had been the ones behind this holiday. They had been the two who had planned it all out and hijacked him in to coming here. He smiled at the thought of them working together.
Two women he'd be torn between loved him so much to go to so much trouble over him. So much trouble to make him happy: which they had in so many accounts. Gambit turned to the closet and pulled out two blankets, piling them into his arms. He quietly put them down beside the chairs and took one last look at their vulnerable beauty.
He leaned over Rogue touching her cheek lightly, he kissed her softly on the lips. She sighed in her sleep and snuggled deeper into the upholstery, a serene smile on her lips. Gambit smiled at her content expression, before carefully removing the Genoshian collar that still blinked about her throat. Setting it aside he picked up one of the blankets and draped it over her.
Then he moved to Serina, the woman who never ceased to amaze him. He smiled and brushed a strand of rose colored hair from her face kissing her gently on the forehead then her lips. He stood for a moment holding her hand in his, stroking the gold band on her forth finger. His eyes roamed over her one last time before he pulled the second blanket up over her.
"Merci, ma amant. C'est tres fomidable..." he whispered, touching her chin as he backed away.
A smile graced Serina's lips, but her eyes never opened. He pulled another chair up and sat there watching them sleep. They were so calm and content, mirroring the emotion that flooded him. They truly loved him. They had to in order to go to so much trouble for him. Soon, he too surrendered to the sleep that pulled at him, and for the first time since he could remember, his dreams weren't haunted with fear and worry... they
were flooded with serenity.
End