To Love A Swamp Rat

Gambit's first thought was that maybe that wasn't such a good place to be right now. But then, he was always ready to take a risk. "Slow down, cher. What's de rush?"

She glared at him. "Didn't you see the Do Not Disturb sign, swamp rat? Ah put it there so everyone would keep out, especially you."

He shrugged, moving to block her as she tried to stalk past him. "Easy, petit. Ain't nobody s'posed to be in dere wit'out supervision. Wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Well, Ah'm fahn." Her tone suggested otherwise. He wasn't sure whether she was going to cry or hit him. He hoped it was neither; both options would be painful. "Ah'd be even better if you'd stayed out of what you shouldn't have seen!"

He caught her arm, smiling charmingly. "Don't Remy have de right if you usin' his image like dat? Only wish it coulda been me for real."

Rogue scowled darkly at him, but didn't pull away. "Don't let that head o' yours get any bigger. Ah've got programs lahk that for all the male X-men except Hank and Charles."

Gambit raised an eyebrow at that. "Dat so, cher? But which one yo' favorite?"

His smug look only infuriated her further. Because she knew it would hurt him, she immediately responded, "Warren, 'cause we do it flyin'." His eyes widened, and she took the opportunity to pull free and stalk away.

Remy closed his eyes briefly, waiting for the sting of her barb to fade. That he knew she was lying helped, a bit. Not for the first time, he cursed the luck that caused the thief of hearts to lose his own to a woman whose very touch was deadly. And he couldn't tell her that. Not yet; maybe not ever. Silver-tongued as he was, those words stuck in his throat. He opened his eyes, a smirk forming on his lips. A wonderful idea was shaping itself in his head. If he could just get the right cooperation...