Games: A Cajun's Love

"Claire, I'll see you tomorrow," Sally Jenkins said as she grabbed her coat from the rack.

Claire DeLuc waved goodbye as she put up another chair. She owned the small diner now so she always seemed to be here well after closing. Cleaning up and getting ready for the next day. Today however she just wanted to go home and rest her feet. She'd been working since 5 am and was tired. She walked into the kitchen and turned off the lights. She was about to leave when she heard the bell ring. The only time it rung was when the front door opened.

She walked out of the kitchen to the counter. She reached under it feeling for the gun she kept under it. She found it and clutched it with her hand. She saw a dark figure standing by the door. "We're closed. Your gonna have to come back tomorrow," she said. She gripped the gun tightly.

"No need for de gun chere," the figure said. "Don't t'ink dats how friends greet each other, non?"

"REMY, Is that you?" Claire asked remembering the Cajuns voice. She reached over and turned on the lights. "You look like hell."

"Haven't slept f' a couple of days," he said lighting a cigarette. "Could I bother y' for somethin' t'eat?"

"Have a seat," Claire said. "It'll be a couple of minutes."

"I'm not goin' anywhere," Gambit said taking a stool down and sitting at the bar. Not till I meet wit' one of dem.

Rogue moaned as she opened her eyes. She felt horrible and her head was pounding. No good, dirty rotten ... have ta remember ta punch Sinister next time ah see him. She sat up slowly trying to ignore the pain. Where am ah?

Rogue looked around to see that she was definitely trapped. Glowing bars blocked her escape from all for corners. They reached up to the ceiling. Her hand reached t'soothe the tension in her neck when she felt something metallic. Damn, Genoshan collar. She let her eyes adjust to the darkness and saw beyond her 'cage' some computers, computer screens, a table, and chairs. It reminded her of the war room.

A SWOOSH was heard behind her. All of the pain and drowsiness escaped her as she turned around ready to fight. The lights suddenly came on making her squint at the sudden brightness. Her eyes adjusted and she saw a young girl walking over to her. "Your awake!" she heard the surprise in the voice.

The girl was holding a tray with some food on it. Rogue watched as a small opening opened through the bars and the girl placed the tray through it. "You should eat. It'll help you get your strength back," the girl said as the opening closed.

Rogue looked at the tray, then at the girl, and back at the tray. She kicked it and the contents spilled over. The girl looked at it then at Rogue. " I don't blame you for not trusting me but there's nothing wrong with the food. Sinister doesn't want you hurt. You're his bargaining chip to keep Remy in line," the girl said.

"Remy," Rogue said surprised that it came out almost as a squeak.

"Mhm," the girl said brushing her brown hair from her face. Rogue looked at her closely. She couldn't be much older than 16. "I don't want to keep you here but I have to. Sinister says so. I have to go. I'll bring you something else to eat later."

Rogue watched the young woman leave and the lights went off. Rogue hugged her knees close to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "Oh Remy, What's going on," she said crying softly.

Remy ate the hamburger happily. He hadn't eaten in all those days either. He gave Claire a smile. He knew she was going to ask him what was going on but he didn't want her or any one else involved. "Remy?" Claire asked.

"No chere. I ain't lettin' anyone else get involved. I'll just finish dis and den be meetin' someone," Remy said.

"Are you going to meet the man you met last time?" she asked.

Remy nodded and took another bite of the hamburger. He'd worked here with Claire and Grey Cow for a couple of months. Things were going great until he got into a fight with a biker. That's when he met Jon. Saved my butt. Took over here for a bite to eat. He told me he knew someone who could help me wit' my power. Stupid ol' me believed 'im. I was a stupid pup. Claire refilled his glass. He watched her go into the kitchen to put the pitcher away. The next thing he heard was the sound of glass splashing over the floor.

"Claire," he said. He walked around the counter hands glowing. He saw the glass on the floor and Claire being held by a man with a night. "Let her go Jon."

The man released Claire who walked away from him. "Let's take dis outside mon frere," Remy said.

The man nodded and walked outside Remy following. "T'anks for de meal," he told Claire.

"Anytime," Claire said. I need to get some sleep.

"So a woman was at the blackbird when you all returned?" Professor Xavier asked.

"Yep Chuck. Gumbo called her Switchback. Seemed ta know her from his past," Wolverine said.

"Do you know her Professor?" Storm asked.

"I'm not sure," Xavier said. "I'll check my files. Until then everyone is on alert in case we get any new information."

The X-men nodded and left. Storm stayed in her seat, a worried expression plastered on her face. Wolverine turned to Storm. "Whatcha thinkin' 'bout darlin'?" he asked.

"Do you think I was wise to bring Gambit back to the mansion?" she asked him.

Wolverine looked at her seriously. "Why what's bothering you?"

"I'm worried Logan. What if . . .?" she said.

" 'Ro, gumbo'd never do anything to hurt Rogue or the X-men. We're all the family he has left," Wolverine said.

"I hope your right," Storm said.

So do I Storm. So do I, was all that Wolverine could think.

"What's he want Jon?" I asked leaning against de wall of de diner.

Jon turned t' me. I noticed dat he'd hardly changed. Short black hair and brown eyes. He still carried de scar on his right cheek. He still had dat mean look. "He wants you to remember Remy. He wants you to remember all the things he did for you," Jon said. "When that's done he wants you to pay off your debt."

"What do I have to do," I asked.

"Do you remember where we found Sarah. Go there," Jon said.

"If I don't?" I asked.

"The girl dies," Jon said. He turned t' leave then turned around. "Oh yeah this is for leavin' me on my own in Wisconsin." He punched me in de stomach makin' me fall to de ground.

"Very manly of you," I said through gritted teeth.

"Like you were when you left," Jon said.

I let a card drop from my sleeve and charge it. I throw it at him. He barely had time t' duck. "Ever t'ink I had reasons f' leavin'?" I ask.

"You're a dead man Le Beau," He yells and lunges at me.

"I t'ink not Jon," I said rolling away with a couple more charged cards in my hands.

Jon stood up. "Fine maybe I won't kill you but how about the girl. Rogue, ain't it. Such a pretty little thing," Jo said. "Love to have her."

My eyes glow redder than usual. I lunged at him grabbing his collar. "If I find out you so much as look at her funny I'll kill you," I told him.

"You said the same thing about Sarah," he said pushing me off of him with an electromagnetic shield. "Look where she is."

"Dat was low," I said. "I had no way t' help her. She was almost dead when I got t' her."

Jon just smiles at me and disappears. I slink down to the ground. Sarah was only nine. She was at the safe house. I kept her dere while I did my job. She was suppose t'be safe. She was safe. Or so I thought. Came back wit' Rashelle and she was laying dere in a pool of blood. Held her as she died. "It's not what it seems Mr. Le Boo. It's not what it seems," was all she said before she died. She killed by de gang known as de Thunderbirds. Killed her for a couple of bucks. Dey didn't live much longer. After I lost her t'ings weren't de same anymore. Couldn't stay wit' dem anymore had t'go. Debt or no debt t'Sinister.

Rain began to fall. "Bah," I said. "Better get goin'. Maybe I can get t'California by nightfall. Hold on Rogue, mi amour."

I ran t'wards de road. "Remy wait," I heard. I turned t'see Claire behind me.

"Take my car," she said throwing me her keys. "You'll get there faster."

"T'anks chere," I said. "I bring it back." She nodded and walked back t' de diner. I hope it'd be in one piece.