"Wow, so this is where you work?" Rogue asked.
"Yep," Gambit beamed.
"Very cool," she said as they walked into the bar and casino.
"Good evening, Gambit," said the bouncer. "ID please, miss."
"She's wit' me," Gambit said firmly.
"Uh huh... well, by all means..."
Gambit grinned and, taking Rogue's hand, lead her inside.
"That was smooth," Rogue teased.
"Why t'ank yo'."
Gambit, much pleased at his success in his new job, had been able to move into a new apartment, and buy some new clothes, although his style was pretty much the same. He had adopted a new pair of dark sunglasses to hide his red eyes from people his boss wanted to keep at a disadvantage. Surprising, Johnny seemed to have a few mutants on staff. Not only did he endeavour to keep their mutantations hidden as much as possible, but also pretended to be completely anti-mutant in order to maintain the element of surprise.
"Gambit! You're here," Johnny said. "Come, join us in the back. Oh, and bring your lady friend with you."
"Lady friend?" Rogue giggled.
"He doesn't know who yo' are," Gambit shrugged. "Come on."
They followed Johnny into the back where a game of poker was beginning.
"Care to join us?" asked one of the players.
Gambit looked at Rogue.
"If you want," Rogue shrugged.
"Okay, den," Gambit said, taking a seat and putting the ante into the middle.
The cards were dealt and Gambit showed Rogue his hand, then he caught Johnny's eye and he pointed with his head nonchalantly at one of the other players. So, he wanted him taken down.
"I'll take three," said one othe the players.
And so the game progressed. At first Gambit, Johnny, and another player on Johnny's payroll dummy lost a bit, luring Johnny's target into a false sense of secuirty. Then the players started to drop out, leaving Gambit, Johnny and his mark.
"Well," Johnny said. "I think that's about done it for me."
"You're not gonna give up now, are you? Look at all the chips you have left. What are you, chicken?"
"Afraid of losing to you? Not likely."
"Then put in the ante."
The three players did so, and thus the final round started. Johnny had to fold after the replacement cards were given out, much to Gambit annoyance. He had a feeling this would be the last round, and he had a lousy hand. He had been trying for a flush straight, but typically, just one card was out of sync.
"Aww, have to leave so soon?" the other player taunted.
"I know when I'm out," Johnny shrugged. "But Gambit's still in."
Gambit's expression gave away nothing, but from Rogue's vantage point she could see perfectly well what he cards he had. Non-challantly, he threw in his chips. With any luck, he could bluff him.
"May Ah hold the cards?" Rogue asked, taking them from Gambit's hand before he could say yay or nay.
Gambit hid his curiousity beneath a soft smile for her, as their mark raised the bet significantly. Rogue leant over Gambit's chair, holding the cards where he could see them - and see her change the eight of clubs into a seven of hearts. Gambit was glad he was wearing his glasses, because he was sure there was no way even his poker face could hide the astonishment he felt at that moment. Well, well, well, this certainly changed things. Gambit raised the bet. The mark raised as well, and this continued until both parties went "all in".
Betting completed, the other player threw down his cards triumphantly on the table.
"Full house, Jack high."
"And this is a... please correct me if Ah'm wrong," Rogue said, inoocently placing the cards on the table. "A ten high straight?"
"No... it's a flush straight," Johnny said. "The difference is, my dear, a flush straight is when the cards are all the same suit, and in order, and it's the best thing you can get on the table. If it were just a straight, or just a flush, the full house would win."
"Ahh," Rogue nodded. "So... Gambit wins?"
"Gambit wins."
"Congratulations!"
"T'ank yo'," Gambit replied.
He collected the chip whilst the other player cursed. As he left, Johnny congratulated him on a job well done and Rogue (who had taken it upon herself to collect the cards) changed the seven of hearts back into the eight of clubs.
"How'd yo' do that Cherie?" he asked her when they had a moment alone. "Atom manipulation?"
"Uh huh."
"Yo' didn' have to."
Rogue shrugged.
"Ah wanted to help. Ah could see things weren't going as well as you hoped," she grinned at him mischeviously. "Don't worry Shugah, Ah'm not plannin' on makin' a habit of it."
"Cheating takes all the fun outta it. But tonight wasn't about fun," Gambit nodded.
"Nope, fun is when Ah lose everythin' and then watch you win it all back," Rogue giggled.
Gambit laughed.