Rogue looked around and shook her head.
"Ah forgot how crowded this place gets at the beginnin' of the tournament," she said.
Gambit chuckled.
"It'll get better after da first round."
"No, if Ah recall correctly, it'll get worse aftah the first round is ovah since all the people who lost durin' the first round are tryin' ta get their moneys worth of the food and entertainment. They won't start gettin' bored and leavin' until at least round 3."
"Got dis all figured out, have yo' Cherie?"
Rogue held up her bag.
"There is a reason why Ah brought a book this time."
"What? Don' want to hang out with da socialites?"
"Let's see, socialise with two-faced stuck up bints or find a - relatively - quiet corner and read a trashy romance novel. Hard decision."
"You're right. Dat is a hard decision," Gambit agreed. "Also, I can' believe yo' read da t'ings and still call dem trashy."
"Well, they are."
"And yo' still read them... dis is what I'm getting at here."
Rogue giggled.
"Hey, once upon a time this was as close as Ah was ever going ta get ta the real thing."
"Ahh, nostalgia. Now I understand."
Rogue laughed again, her arm curled around his as they moved away from the door. Normally, she wasn't all that big on the poker tournaments. Too crowded for one, didn't really belong in any of the social cliches, for another, so there was no one to have an intelligent conversation with while Gambit was playing. So she usually ended up spending most of the night being bored or hanging out at the food table, just for something to do. Still, between rounds Gambit would come out for the break, usually grab something to eat and drink, and they'd dance.
Given how awkward things had been between them lately, Rogue found she was actually looking forward to the silly thing this year. He'd even started looking at her again. Ooh and a hug. Today she got a hug. That was very exciting. And of course, now he was actually holding her hand and stuff, so that was nice.
Just when the crowding felt stifling, the bell rang and everyone was (more or less) silent as the annoucement for the paylers to enter the game room was heard. Rogue squeezed Gambit's hand and smiled up at him.
"Good luck," she said.
"Merci, ma Chere," he replied.
He gave her a quick kiss, them started to move off, leaving Rogue feeling foolishly happy.
Rogue
"Rogue, darling, how nice to see you!"
Rogue closed her eyes briefly before opening them up again. Oh hell, Denise. This was all she needed.
"Denise," Rogue greeted with false charm as she stood, feeling like she was being just as two-faced. "How have you been?"
"Oh, good, good. Come, you must simply join us, darling," Denise insisted. "Why I was just saying..."
Rogue suppressed a sigh as she was not so much drawn into conversation, as forced to endure the prattelings of other women who knew a lot more about the subject matter than she did.
"Cynthia, darling!"
Here we go again. Rogue looked at the young woman in sympathy.
"You simply must join us. You know all the girls, of course. Oh, except Rogue. Rogue, this is my niece, Cynthia," Denise chattered. "Cynthia was the belle of the debutante ball last month, weren't you darling?"
"You flatter me, Auntie," Cynthia replied with what Rogue was convinced was false modesty. "Rogue... that's an usual name."
"Why thank you. Ah chose it muhself."
"Chose... oh, are you a mutant then? I did hear that mutants liked to pick little codenames for themselves," Cynthia said with a giggle.
"Now, now," Rogue replied. "Y'all can't tell me that you don't have a little alias for yourself. After all, it's no more unusual than people comin' up with little names for themselves ta use on the internet."
Oh hell she was turning into one of them, with the stupid giggling and the fluffy barbs. Great, just great. She really, really needed to escape before she got any more infected with their disease.
"Oh, but you are a mutant, aren't you Rogue?" said one of the other women.
"My yes, I heard about that bank robbery," cut in another.
"Bank robbery?"
"In the beginning of the year. My Harod couldn't stop talking about it."
"What is your mutation, anyway, darling? I'm just dying to know. Why, I never had any idea, although, you being married to Gambit and all, we should have guessed," inquired a third.
"Oh, I can answer that," Denise said excitedly. "I remember seeing the security footage on TV. She actually got shot. Shot can you believe it? And it didn't phase her one bit. And then she just threw one across the room like he was no lighter than a feather."
"Actually, things as light as feathers don't throw very well," Rogue cut in. "A whole pillow maybe."
"It must have been very exciting."
Rogue looked at her and said nothing. Denise seemed a little put out from the lack of affirmation and went on:
"I mean, there was, oh, a dozen of the robbers, and you just took them out, one by one. You even got shot, and that was... my, my when I saw you on the floor, I swear my heart was in my throat! To see you... but then you got up again! Amazed, I was, truly amazed."
"Well, perhaps from a spectators point of view it was excitin'," Rogue said blandly, giving her a dark look.
The other women glanced at each other.
"You... don't think so?"
"Ah got shot!"
"But you weren't hurt."
"First Ah get held hostage, and then someone shoots at me. They didn't know they couldn't hurt me. So they deliberately tried ta kill me. Do you even get that?"
"But... you're a mutant..."
"And if it weren't for muh mutation, we wouldn't be having this converstation right now," Rogue replied more loudly than she intended. "Ah got shot eight times. Eight! Times! Maybe, if Ah was really lucky, Ah might have been hospitalised. Maybe. But Ah know exactly where those bullets hit, because Ah felt every single one of them impact. Hell, Ah have holes in muh clothes where they hit and ripped the fabric on the way. It was not excitin'. This is real life, not some stupid movie! Ah was damn well terrified!"
Silence.
"Now, if you're done with the insultin' questions," Rogue said acidly. "Ah'm going to find some more intelligent company ta converse with."
She turned her back and start to walk away.
"Well, I never -" Denise began.
"Evidently!" Rogue called after her, without even looking back.
Gambit and Rogue
Gambit followed the crowd exiting the gaming room. Once someone got cleaned out at the table they were sent out, of course, but naturally Gambit was the winner of his table and there were lots of other winners (and a couple of losers from the few tables still going) all trying to exit at the same time.
Back out into the social room, Gambit looked around for Rogue, who surprised him by being right near the door, a cup and a plate of goodies in her hands.
"Ahh, Cherie," he said. "Dis is a nice surprise."
"Ah figured you'd like ta avoid havin' to fight your way over ta the food."
"Indeed. Merci."
"No problem."
"Something amiss Cherie?"
"Crowds. Denise," Rogue shrugged.
"Ahh."
It was much too crowded for either of them to feel particularily inspired to take to the dance floor, so the two instead found themselves a relatively quiet corner. Different ones approaching them with polite inquires on how the game was going with Gambit, and of course he was onto the next round, and good luck wishes, some of which were even geniune.
All too soon - or perhaps, not soon enough - the bell rang and the call for the second round went out. Gambit took his leave and Rogue observed grimly that the predication about the crowds was not at all incorrect. She pulled out her book and began to read.
"Good book?"
Rogue looked up. Great. First Denise, now Bella Donna.
"Yes, thank you," she replied shortly, looking back at her boom and hoping that Bella Donna would take the hint and go away.
"And Remy? How is he? I haven' had a chance to see him yet."
"He's good too."
"I'm quite impressed actually. You've been married fo', how long now? Two years?"
Rogue didn't bother suppressing this sigh.
"You're not going ta give me another spiel about how lucky Ah am ta have had him this long are you? Because Ah'm really getting tired of the line about Remy gettin' bored and running off."
"And trouble starting," Bella Donna nodded. "Soon as trouble started, off he went. Quite predictable, really."
"Predictable? Funny that you of all people should say that," Rogue replied tartly. "We seem ta have this same coversation every time we meet. Well, since Remy and Ah have been married anyway. While we were engaged you seem ta enjoy tellin' me what a huge mistake Ah was making."
"Mmm, some people never listen."
"And others can't take a hint. Ah am not having this conversation with you again."
"Just don' say I never warned yo'."
"Like there's any chance of that!"
Bella Donna chuckled and left, but perhaps for the first time Rogue actually felt nervous. She knew herself that Gambit had a tendancy to leave whomever he had been dating the moment things started to get tough. But nothing between them had ever been tough, not until now anyway. She shivered and tried getting back into her book again, hoping to wash out the unnerving thoughts with cheesy melodrama.
**********
"Your ex-wife sucks."
Gambit raised his eyebrows as he lead Rogue out onto the dance floor.
"Well, I can' argue with dat," he said mildly. "Dire predictions again?"
"Ah don't usually let her get ta me, but... meh."
Gambit chuckled.
"Yo' have no idea how often I have had moments of sheer gratitude to Julien for ending our marriage. I'm just sorry he had to die in the process."
"Yeah, bummer."
Rogue
"Rogue, I thought I'd find you around here."
Rogue look up. Harry chuckled and pointed to her book.
"Now there's a good idea," he said, sitting down beside her. "Personally, I'm thinking about leaving early."
"Cleaned out, Ah take it?"
"Last round," Harry shrugged. "I'm more a social player anyway."
"Yeah, same," Rogue nodded. "How's Joey? Ah haven't seen her yet, but Ah suppose she's busy playing hostess?"
"Very. I have some sincere doubts here about actually seeing her again before the night's over."
Rogue chuckled.
"And... Gambit... how is he?"
"Good, good. He hasn't come out yet, so Ah'm guessing he's still in the game."
"Of course he is," Harry said cynically. "He gets to the final table every year. I hate playing with him. No one's that lucky."
Harry leaned over and gave Rogue a mock-suspicious look.
"He hasn't got some sort of mutation that lets him cheat or something does he?"
Rogue giggled.
"Gambit doesn't cheat at poker. Says its more fun that way."
"Of course he would."
"He only cheats when he knows he playing against other cheaters. Y'know, evenin' the score."
"Are you sure he's not just saying that?"
"Yep."
"Such confidence in his honesty."
"Honesty?" Rogue repeated. "Honesty has nothing ta do with it. Gambit loves challenges. Ah think he must get high on them or somethin', muhself."
Harry laughed.
"Well, I should be moving on. Nice speaking to you Rogue."
"You too, Harry," Rogue smiled.
Harry stood and started to move off, then paused and turned around.
"Rogue?"
Rogue looked back up from her book.
"Yes?"
"Umm,' Harry paused, then changed his mind. "Enjoy your book."
"Ah shall."
Gambit
"Calm. Must remain calm," Gambit told himself. "Do not let him see that he's getting to you. This includes fingers as well as face, Remy. Do not grip the cards too tight. One white knuckle and he'll know."
"... all in," Andy grunted.
Gambit resisted even clenching his jaw and moved his hand forward towards his chips. A flicker in his peripheral vision caught his eye and he paused. He had more than enough chips to call the bet. The player next to him - a gentleman whose name he didn't know - also had enough, although he'd be pushing it to stay in the game if he lost. He glanced over at Andy, the second player at the table and noted that he really was all in and that it wasn't just an off-colour, dirty, crude remark he'd been making. This assessment was made in a mere moment and ended with Gambit rappraising his cards. He put his hand face down on the table.
"Fold," he said.
He didn't catch Andy's eyes, didn't need to, the tell was there: He knew Andy has something good. He knew Andy was trying to lure him into doing something rash by getting on his nerves. It was all about the money, and he'd foiled him.
"Call," said the other player, pushing in his cards. "Who is this Rogue anyway? Some hooker?"
The dealer called for the cards to be shown and Andy smugly collected the chips in the centre of the table after his full house was revealed.
"She's my wife," Gambit answered, once he was certain he could do so in a calm and emotionless manner.
"She's your... oh hell I'm sorry," he said while Andy made no attempt at hiding his smirk. "Just the way he was talking - Wait, you let him talk about your wife like that?"
Gambit collected his cards as the dealer dealt.
"Rogue is very beautiful," Gambit said mildly. "And Andy, being less dan a gentleman, and having even less of a vocabulary, has trouble expressing his admiration in a more appropriate manner."
"Don't insult him too much," Gambit reminded himself in warning. "Can't say nothing at all. Can't say too much either or he'll know. Tells aren't always physical."
"You don't fool me Gambit," Andy replied as the game progressed. "You're just as fond of the 'low brow' entertainment as the rest of us."
Gambit ignored him. He was not going to let Andy's crude, so-called conversation put him off guard again. The third player (the others had all been cleaned out already and sent out) folded and it was back to Andy again. He raised, Gambit raised, Andy called. Gambit won, feeling some relief. The game wasn't over yet, but Andy - now - had more value in chips than he did, and he wanted to reduce Andy's margin of error.
The next few hands progessed in a similar manner: the third player folding more than calling. Andy raising frequently, and Gambit winning not so much more hands than Andy was, but certainly more of greater value.
"Personally, I wouldn't let anyone talk about my wife like that."
Gambit allowed himself to shrug non-chalantly.
"Talk is nothing," he replied. "Trying on da other hand... if he's smart he'll keep his hands to himself."
Gambit was rather pleased at the way he managed in inject dubiousness into the possibility of Andy being smart. Two could play the off-balance game.
"Yeah?"
"Rogue has a black belt in jujitsu. She'd have him on da floor before he had time to blink," Gambit said, deliberately giving Andy an opening.
"I'd like to see her try," Andy said with a suggestive leer.
"Your funeral."
"You know... I think I was wrong about Rogue. I think she's the dom and you're the sub."
"All in," said the third player.
"Well," Gambit thought, if a little uncharitably. "He either has something, or he's bluffing, but he has to do something, because each hand is slowly eating away at his chips."
Andy raised, Gambit considered his cards again and called. The dealer asked for their cards to be shown, and Gambit won, his two pair being of higher value, just.
"Good game, gentlemen," the third player, standing up after he was dismissed. "Good luck."
He shook Gambit's hand, gave him a nod and left the room. Andy glowered at being almost completely ignored and Gambit had to fight to keep the smirk off his face at the implied insult. Well, it was his own fault. He was the one insisting on bringing up Rogue all the time and making crude remarks.
The next hand began and Gambit wondered how the dealer had managed to keep such a straight face throughtout this whole thing. Silent fellow, but then, the dealers were hired to remain neutral and not to get involved with the players beyond the requirements of their job. Andy, of course, kept up with his litany and Gambit largely ignored him. Andy might be included to use conversation as a weapon, but Gambit wasn't going to let him distract him from the game.
"Whips perhaps?" Andy said under the mask of a 'polite inquiry'.
Gambit ignored him and Andy rattled off a casual list of impliments. Some of which surprised Gambit as he hadn't even considered how that could be - okay, nice try, back to poker.
"Leather, of course," Andy continued. "Bet Rogue looks real hot in black leather."
"That's quite a detailed list yo' have dere," Gambit said mildly. "Didn' realise yo' were into that kind of t'ing. Guess the rumours about Tony's mother must be exaggerated."
Andy didn't respond and Gambit scored one for himself for shutting him up, if only briefly.
The game progressed. Slowly but surely, Gambit's chips began to out value Andy's. Then Gambit got a very, very good hand, which, if he played it right...
"So I've been meaning to ask, how are your friends doing?" Gambit asked.
"My friends?"
"Yo' know, da ones involved in da bank robbery at da beginning o' da year. I know some o' dem ended up in da hospital. I shot one of dem."
"Oh, that bank robbery," Andy said shaking his head. "No, not friends of mine. Must have been mistaken."
"Really? Funny I t'ought I recognised a couple o' dem. Oh well," Gambit dismissed as if it didn't really matter. "One had internal bleeding or somet'ing afterwards too, if I recall correctly."
He casually pushed his chips in raising the bet as he spoke, raising his bet.
"And I t'ink another shattered his elbow or somet'ing. Must have happened when Rogue threw him at his friends. Fell down like tin cans."
"Rogue's famous jujitsu at work there huh?" Andy inquired, raising the bet himself.
The tone in Andy's voice alerted Gambit, telling him he was very, very interested exactly what happened at that bank robbery.
"She is very good," Gambit said.
He raised again, pushing in a very specific value of chips.
"You know, I went dere afterwards... dere's actually a dent in the counter."
"A dent?" Andy repeated with a raise of his eyebrows.
Gambit measured the size with his hand.
"I was quite impressed actually," he said. "Dat's a pretty soild counter dey have dere. Must have thrown him harder than I t'ought."
Andy's hand moved towards his chips to call the bet, then his hand paused. His head shot up and he looked suspiciously at Gambit who didn't even bat an eye. To call the bet, he would have to go all in. The difference was exactly how many chips he had left. How'd he... sneaky bastard, using his own tactics against him. So, the question was... did he actually have a good hand, or was he bluffing? Andy narrowed his eyes at Gambit, looking for anything, anything at all that might give him even the slightest clue. Argh, trying to read Gambit was even worse than trying to read Donny.
"All in," Andy said finally, pushing in his chips.
"Gentlemen, show your cards," said the dealer.
"Read 'em and weep, Gambit," said Andy. "Three of a kind."
Gambit said nothing, merely revealed his cards.
"Nine high straight," said the dealer. "Gambit wins. Andy, please leave the table. Gambit, leave your chips here, they shall be moved to the next table for you."
"Merci," Gambit nodded to the dealer, as he stood.
He ignored Andy's swearing and held his hand out to him.
"Good game."
"I hate playing poker with you."
"I hear dat a lot actually," Gambit replied mildly as they left.
"Is there really a dent in the counter?"
Gambit smiled and said nothing. He could have given him a straight answer, but leaving him wondering? That would drive him nuts. Andy swore after him as he exited the gaming room.
Gambit and Rogue
Gambit found Rogue by the food table.
"How'd it go?" she asked.
"Good news, onto the next round."
"Like Ah'd expect otherwise."
"Bad news, Andy was at my table, so dat means he's probably going to be gunning for yo' during da break."
"Oh great. Somethin' ta look forward to."
"Perhaps yo' should try hiding in the ladies?" Gambit teased.
"Maybe, but that would also increase the risk of bumping into Denise or Bella Donna again. Ah wonder which is the greater evil?" Rogue considered seriously.
"Hmm, good question. By the way, I suspect he's very, very interested in a certain incident six months ago."
"Oh?"
"He was a little too casual about da whole thing."
"Hmm."
"He also knows you're a jujitsu black belt."
Rogue giggled as Gambit led her out to the dance floor.
"And Ah'm guessing he's under the misconception that a black belt means Ah'm a master?"
"Well, he decided to make a suggestive comment when I mentioned it, so it's hard to tell whether it made him nervous or non, but I t'ink so."
"Suggestive comments?"
"Oui, he was using you to try and distract me from da game," Gambit nodded. "I was seriously considering reaching across da table, putting my hand in his mouth, charging every filling in his face and blowing his head off."
Rogue raised her eyebrows.
"Wow, he must have really made you mad if you were willing ta get Andy spit on you. What if he didn't have any fillings?"
"I would have been even more pissed off. Because I t'ink teeth count as being organic, so I don' t'ink I can charge those."
"Yeah, Ah think they would be."
"On the bright side, I told him about the dent in the counter."
"Ah still can't believe Ah did that."
"I t'ink it's hilarious," Gambit grinned at her. "Although, I didn' tell him about dat until da end, so he's not actually sure if I was telling the truth or just making something up to unnerve him. I decided not to enlighten him. I bet it's driving him crazy wondering."
"Ah love it."
Rogue
As predicted, during the next round, Andy did manage to track Rogue down (which was easier now that the crowd had thinned out some).
"Join me for a dance, Rogue?"
"Nah," Rogue replied, not even looking at him. "Ah doubt you could keep up with me."
"Try me," Andy said, taking her gloved hand and pulled her over. "I insist."
"Of course you do."
They moved out onto the floor as a vigourous song commenced, and Andy, being Andy, made use of every opportunity to hold her just that little bit closer, just that little bit longer, but not enough for Rogue to reasonably tell him off about it. This was a man who had gotten this kind of inappropriate behaviour down to a fine art.
At the end of the song, when Rogue would have really liked to leave, a slower song began and Andy blatantly refused to let her go, pulling her close instead. Her eyes narrowed at him, while he smiled lazily back. Once their breathing slowed from the effort of the previous dance, he began to engaged her in conversation. Mostly flattery, suggestive, and none of the crudeness that Gambit had experienced. But beneath it all Rogue noticed what Gambit had warned her about: a definite interest in the bank robbery and her part in it.
At the conclusion, Rogue tried to pull away again.
"Now Rogue, if I didn't know better, I'd say you didn't like me."
"Two is enough," she insisted.
Andy moved his head forward, breathing softly on her neck.
"What are you going to do?" he whispered, almost challengingly. "Throw me across the room like a bowling ball?"
Rogue's eyes glinted as she appraised the room.
"Naw," she replied. "With this many people it'll be more like dominos. And Ah wouldn't even need ta pick you up."
Andy pulled back slowly and caught her eyes. The he removed his hand from the small of her back (where it had been resting just a little too low, but not quite low enough for her to object). With his other hand lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it softly. Rogue was glad she was wearing her gloves.
"A break for now then, beautiful," he said. "But you will, of course, do me the pleasure of another dance later on."
"Not if Ah can avoid it," Rogue muttered as she finally broke away.
With Ms Marvel's strength, Rogue supposed she could have broken away during both her earlier attempts quite easily, but she didn't want the attention. Attention would have been inevitable once she broke his wrist, crushing it between her thumb and forefinger. It was tempting though. So very tempting.
Rogue, Gambit and Joey
"This close," Rogue said, holding her index finger and thumb one inch apart. "This close to doing it, Ah swear."
Gambit chuckled.
"Salaud," she added. ("Bastard")
Gambit raised his eyebrows at her unexpected use of French, but any response he would have made was cut off as Joey joined them.
"Gambit," she greeted. "Hey, heard you've been going great. Last round, huh?"
"Bien sūr" Gambit grinned. ("Of course")
"Did you expect anything less?" Rogue chuckled.
"No, not really. Oh! Rogue I heard about what happened earlier."
"What happened earlier?"
"Oh, how you mortally insulted Denise," Joey nodded.
"Excuse me? Hey, Ah'm the one who should be insulted. 'Was it excitin' getting shot?' she asks!" Rogue glowered. "Oh yes, because Ah love it when people shoot at me. Yeah, people trying ta murder me? That's a turn on."
"Really?" Andy asked, inviting himself to the party. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Ignore him," Joey dismissed. "Seriously, Rogue, I love you right now. I wish I'd been there to see the look on her face, ha! In fact I'm even going to check the security tapes to see if there's a good shot."
"Oh... okay..." Rogue replied, looking a little startled.
"I've been waiting to put her in her place for... oh I don't know, since I met her."
"Now that was a long time ago," Andy mused.
"But it's not exactly very politic for me to tell her what I really think of her - oh but you! You are totally my hero, Rogue," Joey nodded. "I mean, what they gonna do? Serve you last at their little dinner party?"
"What dinner party?"
"Exactly! You don't socialise with their kind, so all they can do is bitch and moan and complain to their husbands, who have even less to do with you than they do," Joey rubbed her hands together with glee.
Rogue giggled.
"Ahh, Joey, there you are," said Donny, joining the group.
"Donny," Joey said pleasantly. "I saw you got cleaned out last round, I'm sorry."
"Ahh, well, next year," Donny shrugged. "I just came around to say I'm off. Early meeting tomorrow, you know how it is."
"Of course. Talk to you later then."
"Of course," Donny then paused, and without even looking at his brother added: "Andy if Dad were alive to see what you're doing to Rogue, he'd kick your ass."
Rogue started slighty. She hadn't even noticed he was siding up to her.
"Well, he's not is he?" Andy replied cooly, daring to put his hand on her lower back.
Gambit glared at him, and Andy pretended not to notice.
"Kindly remove your hand, Andy, or Ah'll kick your ass muhself," Rogue said more calmly than she felt, continuing to look straight ahead.
"Yeah?" Andy said with a leer. "Maybe I want you to."
"Ah doubt it, as Ah would rip off your own leg with muh bare hands and use that ta do the kicking."
Rogue hid a smile as she noticed Andy stiffen.
"You can't do that," he said finally.
Slowly, Rogue turned her head to meet his eyes.
"Try me," she said cooly.
Silence. Then Joey started laughing and pointed to Gambit. (Andy used the distraction to move his hand away).
"You have so been teaching her your poker face. Damn you. I hate your poker face! It's too damned good."
"That would be the idea," Gambit replied smoothly.
Inwardly Rogue winced. Of all the things Joey had to say, why'd she have to go and say that?
"You're onto the last round, of course?" Donny inquired.
"Oui."
"Have to admit, kinda glad I don't have to deal with you again this year," Donny chuckled. "Last year, I thought we'd be there all night."
Gambit chuckled.
"Anyway, I really should be off. Joey. Gambit. Rogue. Andy," Donny said, giving them all a nod and departing.
Gambit turned to Rogue, and Rogue tried not to notice the look in his eyes.
"Dance Cherie?" he asked.
"Certainly," Rogue replied, hoping she sounded more cheerful than she felt.
The couple moved onto the floor, and once they had a moment, Gambit spoke.
"So... how long have you been speaking French, Cherie?" he asked softly.
"Oh, well, y'know," Rogue stammered a little. "Ah do live with you so, y'know... picked up a few words here and there."
"Rogue."
Rogue sighed.
"Okay fine," she said tersely. "That is true... but Ah... Ah seem ta have picked up your knowledge - if not your fluentcy - in French, okay? Or maybe it's just Ms Marvel, Ah'm not sure. Can't tell: she knew some French too, but Ah don't think she was quite as proficient as you."
"Uh huh. Just how much of me have yo' absorbed, Rogue? Y'know, aside from my poker face."
Gambit caught a wince flicker across Rogue's face. Great. This was worse than he thought.
"Ah don't know."
"My powers?"
"Ah don't think so. Mostly... Ah have a few memories, ones that were inportant ta you, Ah guess, that stick out almost as sharply as some of Ms Marvel's. Ah don't know," Rogue shook her head. "Ah didn't... Ah didn't even notice it was happening! Ah can't tell. Ah have a hard enough time figuring out what's mine and what's Ms Marvel's. Ah wake up some mornings fretting about some stupid maths test because that was what Jamie was worryin' about that day. Sometimes when a large truck pulls up behind me while Ah'm driving I have to fight a panic attack because that's what put Emma in the hospital. Ah can't even eat pig any more because of some Jewish guy Ah absorbed by accident and even the smell makes me nauseous. It's damn well crowded in there, Remy, and while for the most part Ah can shut them up, even thoughts from the quietest voices can slip through. It's hard enough trying ta figure out what's me without trying to figure out what's you as well."
"Well, I'm sorry. But dere's somet'ing just a little narcistic about being in love with someone who's turning into me."
Gambit regretted the words as soon as they came out of his mouth. Rogue glared at him fiercely.
"Ah am not turning into you. That could never happen."
"I know," Gambit said immediately. "I know, I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean... it' s just... it feels like it sometimes. Like now."
Rogue shook her head and sighed.
"It's okay. It's just been a long night."
She moved her head to put it on his shoulder, but he jerked backward at the last moment. She lifted her head and stared at him, catching a brief expression of horror on Gambit's face at his own reaction.
"Rogue, I'm -"
"Sorry. Ah know," Rogue said coldly. "Whatever. It's fine. Used to be you were one of the few people who never did that. Must be making up for lost time."
"Rogue -"
"Ah'm not having this conversation right now."
"Fine."
They continued to dance, but in silence. They went through the motions until the bell and the annoucement signalling for Gambit and the last four players to enter the gaming room for the final round.
Gambit and Rogue
Gambit stood, shook the hands of the remaining players, wished them good luck and departed the gaming room. First one to leave the table: that was slightly embarrassing. First time that had ever happened. Albiet, only once he'd ever actually won the tournament, but he was usually one of the last three players.
He looked around the social room, trying to see if he could spot Rogue. He didn't need that stupid argument before the last round. Too distracted to concentrate on the game. Damn it all, he'd been looking forward to this.
He didn't see Rogue, but he did see Andy. Hanging around outside the toilets as a matter of fact. Well, if anyone would have seen Rogue it was probably that preverted sleeze bag.
"Well, you're out early," Andy commented, seeing him. "Looking for Rogue?"
"Have you seen her?"
"In there," Andy said, thumbing at the ladies door. "I can go in there for you, if you'd like."
Gambit ignored the question and looked around.
"Excuse me, mam'zelle?" Gambit said, intercepting a young woman and catching her eyes. "Could yo' do me a favour and see if Rogue is in the ladies? Please, let her know that her husband is waiting for her."
"Oh... oh sure," she said.
The young woman headed inside, wondering why she had agreed to do this. Andy watched and shook his head.
"How do you do that?" he asked.
Gambit ignored that question too. His hypnotic charm was subtle, and he generally prefered not to overuse it. Besides, it didn't always work very well on people who knew he could do it. A few moments later the door opened and the young woman came out.
"She'll be out in a moment," she said.
"Merci mam'zelle," Gambit nodded.
She smiled and went on her way. The door opened again a moment as predicted and Rogue came out. Gambit knew Andy noticed just as he did how red and puffy her eyes was - she'd obviously been crying.
"Ahh, Cherie," Gambit greeted. "Would yo' like to go home?"
Rogue caught his eyes and managed a weak smile.
"Sure," she said. "You're out early."
Gambit shrugged and put his arm around her waist.
"Ahh, well, dese t'ings happen," he dismissed.
Neither said anything more until they got outside, where Gambit organised for the valet to retrive their car. It soon arrived, they got in and departed. Neither said a word all the way home, although Gambit knew he could hear Rogue sniffling every now and then, trying to suppress the urge to start crying again. He didn't know what to say to her.
Finally they arrived home.
"Well," Rogue ventured. "It's late, and Ah'm off ta bed."
"Bien sūr," said Gambit. "I t'ink I shall stay up a little longer."
"Okay."
There was a short slience between them, then Gambit leant forward and kissed her softly, although he knew fully well that she had seen his moments' hesitation.
"Good night, Cherie," he said.
"Night Sugah."
Rogue turned on her heel and started up the stairs, telling herself not to cry. Gambit watched from below, wanting so much to follow her. To wipe away the tears, hold her in his arms and assure her that everything would be okay.
But he couldn't.
Rogue cried herself to sleep.