An Old Friend

Once the door was closed, Steve in a short burst of anger shoved Gambit up against the door. From outside a loud ‘thud’ could be heard against the closed door. “You have alot of nerve coming here after what you did! Hiring assassins to kill mutants? Are you mad? I heard all about your ‘banishment’. You should have died out there!” Steve said angrily. More angry and uncontrolled than he had ever been as far as Tony had known him. Gambit just held up his hands not wanting to antagonize Steve by doing something they’d both likely regret.

“Steve...can we?” Tony asked in a long sigh. Steve, still holding Gambit against the door huffed and shifted off of the man. Gambit straightened and adjusted his suit.

“I don’t expect you to understand that I had NO IDEA what SInister was going to do with those assassins. None. You can ONLY see what happened. Do you think if I KNEW I’d let them kill my own kind? God I hate your righteousness Steve! All you see are absolutes!” He shouted angrily.

As the two women talked they heard raised voices and they stopped. One of them was Steve’s to their surprise. Isabella looked at Serena. “I know you can make your own decisions but your father asked me to try. You know I trust your judgement Serena. So you do what you want and just be...careful,” She said suggestively. “He’s the kind of guy that can get under your skin and distract you even when your miles away from him,” She said as if she knew too well that kind of feeling. Likely that had happened with her own father more like than not.

‘Why have you come then, what ‘important’ thing could YOU possibly show us!” Steve growled and his blue eyes shone with icey hot anger. Gambit simply plucked the lab journal out of his breast pocket and handed it to Tony. “That is professor Abraham Erskine’s personal lab notes. I found this original in a bedroom safe that belonged to Ophelia Sarkissian,” Gambit said calmly. Natalya did not know that name but the two men’s faces grew pale at hearing it.

Natalya stood off to the side, as she usually did and watched and listened. She was rather surprised to see Steve actually shove Gambit up against the door. However, when she heard what had happened, that mutants had been killed, she believed she knew part of the reason why he was angry. Kate was a mutant and Natalya knew that Steve still loved her very deeply. She had caught him looking at a picture of her one day in his bedroom. His door had been partially open and he didn't know that she had seen that.

She remembered seeing something in his breast pocket earlier in the day when he had first come to the Tower and she had known he had been lying to Logan and Serena. She watched as he pulled out a journal and handed it to Tony. She knew who Ophelia Sarkissian, the Viper or Madam Hydra, but she did not know who Abraham Erskine was. "Who is Professor Erskine?"

Steve and Tony answered her in unison. “He created the super soldier serum,” They said. Gambit nodded. “This was an original and I think maybe it needs to be analyzed to see if it gives the complete formula. Maybe we can figure out how long it might take them to figure the rest out,” Gambit said. Steve turned and gave Natalaya hard gaze. “You know what it would mean if they found that formula I assume?” he said but the question was utter ridiculousness. Ofcourse she knew. Armies of super soldiers that could wipe out humans and mutants alike.

“The question is, can we do this alone?” Tony asked as he looked over at them. What he meant was obvious. Should they inform SHIELD? With the chance of SHIELD getting a hold of the formula themselves? There was no clear, right answer for that. Tony sighed as he looked at the ledger. Gambit had done a very good thing. He most likely risked alot to bring this to Tony and he did still owe him for saving Serena’s life. “Alright, Gambit, take the spare bedroom until we figure all of this out,” Tony said. Steve shook his head as if he thought Tony was crazy but didnt say anything. Gambit nodded and left the office. Serena would see him open the door and step out. He paused to look at her through the open door and then gestured to him going somewhere to the right.

“God you are too much like I was I think,” Isabella said to Serena. “But one never knows when they find a diamond in the rough,” she said affectionately.

Natalya had had her arms crossed over her chest with her hands resting on her arms. When she heard Tony and Steve tell her that Professor Erskine had created the Super Soldier Serum she actually began to dig her nails into her skin and grip her arms so tight that her knuckles turned white. So this was the man she could ultimately blame for her creation. She didn't realize it but she was gritting her teeth and almost growling. She of course knew what terrible things might happen if that formula fell into the wrong hands...or even the right ones. It would be devastating to humanity.

She watched as Gambit left and she looked at Steve. "You do know that we need her, right?" She was of course talking about Kate.

Serena actually smiled a little when her mother said that she was a lot like her. She took that as a compliment since she looked up to her mother. She looked up and saw Gambit as he paused at her door. She saw him gesture to the right subtly and gave him a little smile.

"Well, I'm going to go see what he and Dad talked about," she said as she got up. She paused and then hugged her mother. "Thank you...for everything." She followed her out of the room and then turned to follow Gambit down the hallway.

Gambit was checking out his room. It was very similar in size to the others but spartan do to no one occupying it at the moment. It had a mini fridge and microwave and a small sink next to a very spacious bathroom. He bounced up and down on the bed with his bottom to see how comfortable the bed really was. ‘Obviously The Starks know how to take care of their guests’ He mused to himself as he waited for Serena. When he saw her he smiled.

“Well Sher, it seems you are not rid of me to soon. Though if Steve had any say about it, he’d like to drop me from the top floor I think,” He smiled at her but she’d be able to see that that bothered him as well. “Can’t please everyone I guess,” he said and then tilted his head. “Did I pass the ‘don’t go out’ with him speech? I really want to see you dance,” he said honestly though it was clear by the way he said it that he now hoped for more as well.

Serena walked in to the guestroom, which was now clearly Gambit's room and she smiled as she watched him testing out the bed. As he stood up she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. She slowly pulled back and grinned at him. "She actually said that I reminded her of herself when she was younger. I take that as a compliment. I think quite a few people told her to stay away from Dad, but clearly that didn't happen."

Gambit smiled when he saw Serena come into his room and he nearly threw her hands off of his neck but before he could he felt her lips on his. He smiled at what she said but still wasn’t certain if someone was going to barge in and pummel him. Finally he just threw caution to the wind since Serena had and pulled her to him and kiss her quite thoroughly and rubbed her bottom with his right hand as he did so. “Now that is what I call a warm welcome,” he whispered and then kissed her several more times. “Now, shall we go have some fun sher?” he asked softly.

Seeing Serena in her red dress made Gambit’s blood boil. It was revealing and yet classy at the same time. He was already dressed for such occasions and Logan waved to them as they moved up onto the elevator. “I know the perfect place sher, do ya trust me?” he asked.

Serena felt Gambit hesitate at first when she kissed him, but then he pulled her to him and kissed her rather passionately. Feeling his hand on her bottom caused her cheeks to flush and grow warm. She grinned when he suggested they go out and have some fun and she went and changed into the red dress she had decided to wear. It was short, without being too short and showed off her toned legs. It hugged her curves and showed just enough cleavage. She had matching red, heels and had also put on some red lipstick. She saw Gambit's eyes widen when he saw her and she smiled to herself for being able to make him look at her like that. She stepped onto the elevator with him and smiled.

"I trust you Gambit."

Gambit hailed a cab and because she had just put on lipstick he refrained from kissing her but it was clear he wanted to. She had given him back his hat and it made him look like some kind of rockstar though he looked like that without it to. The cab stopped at a place called ‘Elsewhere’ an eclectic nightclub that played ll kinds of music. It had a very large bar decked out in neon colors with all kinds of bottles of alcohol that lined the mirror. The bar and dancefloor was loud but the lounging area which had loungers with coffee tables, standing tables and smaller plush chairs with smaller tables for people to sit, have their drinks and eat small plate dishes.

“I found this place the last time I was in new york. Doesn’t seem that it has changed much he said as they stepped through the lounge. “Do you want a drink first or get right at it?” he asked and he made it purposefully ambiguous to what he was actually referring to. “Personally, I think a cocktail to calm our nerves then we’ll be right as rain cherie,” He said and flagged down a waiter. He slipped him a hundred dollar bill and whispered what they wanted. He didn’t ask her what she wanted he just ordered for her.

Serena could already feel the sexual tension rising between Gambit and herself as they got into the cab. At one point their hands brushed up against one another's and their eyes met. She had to bite the inside of her lip to keep herself from throwing herself at him. When they arrived at the nightclub Serena was overwhelmed by it at first. However, that feeling quickly gave way to one of excitement. The place was incredible and she and Gambit both got looks as they walked in together. She looked over at Gambit and gave him a little grin when he asked if she wanted a drink first or to just get right at it. She knew what he really meant. She agreed to a drink first though and followed him to a table. She was rather surprised when she saw Gambit slip him a hundred dollar bill. When the waiter left she looked at Gambit and gave him a little grin as she leaned in towards him. "So, how exactly do you make your money?"

“I’m a gambler cherie mwen,” he said and smiled at her. He produced a deck of cards then another in his offhand then used his fingers and shuffled them simultaneously like that and never looking at the decks at all. His eyes focused on her and the smile she wore on her face. “Its a living,” he said and placed the decks back into his pockets. He actually had several thousand dollars left from his last high stakes poker game he won. Poker was his favorite but he was also excellent at black jack.

“I could teach you how sometime, if you want,” he said though of all the women he had been with Serena most likely was the least likely to need to gamble. He did because he could never hold down a 9 to 5. That kind of life just want for him. He lived how he chose to live and he made no excuses.

Finally their drinks came and hers came on a tray. The waiter dropped down something that looked like a cross between champaign and a martini but without anything in it. Then he slid in berries and then dropped pieces of dry ice. The dry ice made it smoke and bubble and the berries smelled wonderful. He had something she knew. An old fashioned with orange rind and a cherry. “Cheers cherie mwen,” He said and clinked her glass with his.

The place was decked out with bright colors. The lounge had alot of pink with silver guilt all over the place. From their angle where they stood she could see the dancefloor. It was wooden with thousands of tiny lights that hung down from the ceiling. The music tonight sounded older, like big band but more contemporary with modern instruments. There were alot of people dancing though most of them looked to be about their age.

“If we get to cutting it up pretty good in there...I need to know if you’re...you know, wearing much underneath,” he said softly. “I’d hate to start tossing you about and everyone seeing your lady bits before I do,” he said.

Hearing that Gambit was a gambler only made him that much more mysterious and fascinating to her and somehow even more attractive. She loved the way he looked at her. It was a look that made her feel like her knees would turn to jelly. She grinned at him when he offered to teach her how to play poker. "I would love that."

A moment later their drinks came, but Serena was confused for a moment. Her glass was empty, but then the waiter slid in some berries and then dropped in some pieces of dry ice. It began to smoke and bubble. Her eyes lit up at how magical it seemed, although she knew the mechanics of dry ice. It was still special and she clinked her glass with his. She took a sip of her drink and looked out at the dance floor. There were a lot of people dancing and she couldn't wait to get out there with him.

She glanced over at him with a little grin tugging at the corner of her lips when he asked what she was wearing underneath her dress and rather boldly suggested that they would be sleeping together. Of course she knew this was true, but she liked playing this little cat and mouse game.
"I am wearing...something," she replied in a seductively that suggested it wasn't very much though.

‘Alright then we’ll be, cautious,” he suggested though he said the word as if he never spoke it before which he probably hadn’t. When she finished he pulled her forward. By then there was a bit more room to move and as the music started he slid away from her, tilted his hat and stood poised with his cane. As the music began he swayed at the knees, twirled his cane and then came toward her somehow making the cane disappear as he took her hand.

Like a whirlwind he took her up the dance floor then back again as if they had been dancing together for years. He knew several different styles and dances and as they continued more and more people stepped to the side to watch them and clap. At one point he had her leading them and it made the entire place explode with clapping and laughter. He ducked under her leg like the woman usually would and then had her spin him in an unsupported cartwheel. As he spun he drew his hat off. As he angled his arm the guy leading in this dance, ‘her’ bent down to the ‘ladies’ his hand. As she did his hat flipped end over end until it landed squarely on her head. When she straightened and raised her arms those that were watching exploded once more. It was not a short dance but one that got them taking deep breaths at the end. He took his hat back and led her back to the lounge with the sound of applause in their wake.

“Wow, you were awesome,’ He said honestly. He had never had a partner that could keep up with him and learn like that on the fly. “You were hilarious leading,” he said and chuckled. He raised his hand and the waiter came over again. “Champaign I think, we’re celebrating,” He said. “Uh, Celebrating...what sir?” The waiter asked. “Well...Life, is there anything better?” Gambit said and pushed another hundred that suddenly appeared in his fingers down into the man's breast pocket. “The bottle,” he said and slapped the waiters shoulder. He drew up a clean, white handkerchief and handed it to Serena. He had another that he used on his forehead and neck and he was all smiles.

Serena had never danced with anyone the way Gambit danced with her. She forgot about everyone watching them and focused just on him. He made her feel...incredible. She felt like they had known each other for years. They moved perfectly together and she felt no awkwardness between them...just a growing heat and passion.

As they left the dance floor she couldn’t help but grin at him. “That was amazing,” she told him. She couldn’t stop smiling and looked incredibly happy. After the bottle of champagne appeared they both filled up a glass and began to drink and flirt more. They then ended up back on the dance floor but this time the music was slow and seductive and they were dancing very close to one another.

Gambit twirled Serena slowly and when he brought her back to face him he let go of her hand and touched her face. Once again he wanted to kiss her. Well, more than that but she just looked...to perfect. His right hand rubbed the edge of her jawline while his left was in the small of her back and pressed her up against him. The sexual tension between them, the passion that threatened to spill out was flooding right then. He smiled down at her as their bodies moved together. Each in their own way trying to seduce the other, though it was not at all required. She already had him in her pocket. Her own Ace of Spades that she only needed to pull to win the hand.

He turned her around and lifted her arms over her head then, as he pressed his middle up against  her bottom he traced his fingers down the sides of her arms sensually then down the sides of her body to her hips. Once they arrived there he took hold of her and jerked her firmly up against him. “Tonight cherie mwen, all bets are off,” he whispered in his thick creole accent  then turned her back to face him once more.

They eventually went back to the table for one more glass of champagne and they were announcing last call at the bar which meant that it was likely 2 in the morning. The time had just flew by but it was clear that they could have danced all night if the club would stay open. “If I ‘were’ more like Tony, I’d just buy this place just so I could dance with you all night,” he said. “And, if im being very honest I think we best get back to the tower before I set you up on this table to see what you taste like,” he said and he wasn’t talking about her lips.

They managed to make it out of the club and getting into a cab before their passions became too much to handle and they practically attacked each other. They wrapped their arms around each other and kissed so passionately that the cab driver had to actually clear his throat to let them know that they were back at the Tower. Serena was a little drunk but not so much that she didn’t know what she was doing.

The guard spotted them as they entered. Gambit had his arm around her and as soon as they entered the elevator he pressed her up against the elevator wall and began to kiss her again. When they exited the elevator at the penthouse everything was dark and quiet. They were having a difficult time getting to her room because they kept kissing and were nearly running into walls.

Finally, they got to her room and as soon as the door was closed they began to attack each other again...

He helped her get her dress off by unzipping it in the back. He didn’t want to destroy it and he felt he might if it didn’t come off soon enough for his liking. He dropped his own clothes where they fell and before they even reclined into her bed his right hand was between her legs. She was soaking wet and he felt her hands on his hardness and he had already been hard since they hit the elevator. She didn’t require any more help to get herself ready but he shoved her back anyway and forced her legs open. He looked at her middle for a moment and then attacked her there with his mouth and his tongue.

It didnt take long to hear her orgasm and he smiled as he felt her trying to pull him up. When he did come up he turned so he was on his back. He wanted the same from her but he wasn’t certain if she knew what to do. “I want your mouth on me,” he said. Unembarrassed by what he wanted her to do to him.

Serena wasn’t sure what to do at first but she wanted to give Gambit as much pleasure as he had just given her. She was a little hesitant but with a little coaching from Gambit she slowly figured it out. She had never done this with Peter, but she could already tell that sex with Gambit was going to be very different. Gambit was clearly very experienced and she wanted to learn what she could from him.

After a while Gambit stopped her and had her get on top. This was different for her as well but she quickly figured it out. She moaned from the waves of pleasure that spread through her.

Serena was a quick learner and though he could tell she was hesitant with a little urging and support she did anything he asked her to do. He loved on her breasts while she was on top and even got behind her which she really seemed to like. Finally he was on top of her, his hands propping himself up and hers holding her legs so he could get as deep as possible. She felt him orgasm in a flood of warmth then he felt her again and her body shuttered and it had taken her real effort to keep herself from bellowing to loudly. Finally they collapsed together in a heap of damp, reddened flesh. With her head on his chest he felt her shutter once more as an aftershock of pleasure hit her and he smiled as she looked up at him. He reached up and held her chin then bent forward and kissed her lips. He didnt ask her if she was satisfied. He was confident, by the very warm look she gave him that she was.

“Hard to say if the dancing or the sex was better. But I’m willing to do it all again to find out,” Gambit said and they both chuckled at his joke. It was wonderful to hear her laugh he thought.

Serena lay in Gambit’s arms on her bed in a tangle of sheets. Their clothes were strewn around the room. Her skin glistened and her heart beat was slowly coming down. She grinned and laughed at his comment and then kissed his chest a few times.

“I’m really glad you’re here,” she told him affectionately.

The next morning, they both had slept in Serena had gone to the kitchen to get fruit, coffee and she made some toast for them. She was in her robe that she had never really worn until today and Logan, Natalya and Steve were sitting at the breakfast nook with Pharoah. Logan and Natalya looked sweaty and they both had blood on their faces and bruises on their hands as if they had had a very rigorous training session. Logan’s eyebrows drew up when he was what Serena was getting and Steve just rolled his eyes at her. Natalya said nothing but she almost never did when it came to things like this.

“So I see Gambit has..made an impression upon ya,” Logan said looking at the tray and then looked at Natalya. “I don’t recall you ever bringing me my breakfast,” He said and Natalya found it difficult not to look amused by what was happening right then. Logan ofcourse did not hide his amusement at all. As luck would have it Isabella had just come out of her office to get a freshen up on her coffee. When she saw Serena her eyebrows rose as well and her ‘knowing’ eyes glanced briefly at the tray that clearly was meant for two people. The toaster popped up just then and they all watched her intently as she buttered 4 pieces of toast.

In truth Isabella ad done that with Tony. Their first night was in her apartment. She learned very quickly why he had the reputation he had and getting out of bed while he was still in it had taken real effort. It had been a long time since she had been with a man, she had focused on her career. She would never admit it but that first night with him had frazzled her brain and he made her feel like a schoolgirl again. That and she liked feeling like that to.

As she stepped away back toward her room Isabella smiled at her and gave her an approving nod.

Serena fell asleep in Gambit’s arms. Her head was resting on his chest and the sound of his heart beat was comforting and put her to sleep. When she woke up she found she was still in his arms. She slipped out of bed and put on her robe, which she had never really worn but she wasn’t sure she was ready to get dressed yet. She walked out and into the kitchen to get them something to eat. She found Logan, Natalya, Steve, and Pharoah up and they all looked over at her as she gathered some fruit and coffee. She put some bread in to toast. She glanced at Logan and just gave him a little smile.

Her mother had just walked in when she was buttering the toast. She didn’t say anything but the two women did look at each other and at first she thought her mother was going to say something since what had happened was rather obvious but when she smiled at her Serena smiled back. She took the tray and walked back into her bedroom where she found Gambit awake.

“Good morning,” she said to him with a little smile.

Gambit’s hair was a mess and he smoothed it back as she came back into the room. He was sitting on the side of the bed with his feet on the floor and he was decidedly very naked. He smiled at her when he heard her. “And good morning to you cherie mwen,” he said affectionately. “What do you have there, it looks pretty good and so does the food you brought,” He joked. He accepted the cup of coffee and appeared quite comfortable in his nakedness. He leaned back onto the bed and rested his head on his hand that was supported by his elbow. Now that she could get a better look at him she saw alot of muscles. Not quite as tightly packed as Peter had been but he looked strong and quick and she knew he was very quick.

He patted the bed near him and he waited for her to come lay with him. When she did she brought a bowl of fruit and her coffee and he helped with the fruit so she could lay next to him. He took up a grape into his fingers then fed it to her and rubbed her lips with his thumb. He leaned forward and kissed her lips. So he could taste the sweetness from the fruit on her tongue. “I cant seem to get enough of you Serena,” he whispered into her mouth and felt her kissing him back. Reluctantly he leaned back to let her eat and drink her coffee since she had made the effort to bring it. He did pull on her robe tie though to unloosen it. “I want to enjoy the view while I enjoy my coffee,” he said then took a sip as he openly looked at her exposed body.

“I’d like to spend more time with you Serena but now that I’ve done what I came here to do I don’t know how long I’ll be welcome here,” he said and hoped she knew what he meant. “Its not right for me to upset things and Steve I know would rather me not be here,” He said. “Your father has been...gracious but I’m not certain its pleasant for him to know that we’re sleeping together,” He said in all seriousness. “I find myself...respecting him more than I thought I would and I don’t mean to take advantage,” he said, but didn’t say more. Gable didn’t want Serena to think that she was just another young piece of ass for him. He really liked her but wondered if she would feel the same about him if he told her everything. He had made so many mistakes and let people manipulate him. He was a thief and a murderer and an assassin. He was a Gambler, a letcher and manipulated women into giving him what they really didn't want to give him. He could say that that wasn’t how it was with Serena though and he noticed her smile fade likely do to the seriousness of his expression right then.

Serena’s smile slowly faded as she listened to Gambit. She didn’t know exactly why he had come back, but she didn’t want him to leave. She looked at him and took his hand into her own. “Please don’t leave Gambit. I...I need you. I haven’t been this happy since Peter. We can figure this out. Don’t let Steve push you away. Steve has been unhappy and grumpy since Kate left. I want you here with me. Please...stay.”

Gambit was quite taken aback by Serena’s words and the raw emotion behind them. “Then I think I need to tell you everything,” he said and began with his days as a thief in the streets.

His history was sorted but it could have easily been anyone thrown into that life. The Morlock massacre had been the hardest to tell. All of those underground mutants slaughtered by the very assassins he himself had gathered. Sinister had been the father of that though, and Gambit just a pawn. And had paid alot for his involvement in it all. Clearly he was still ashamed by what he had done but just like Natalya he wanted to transcend the person that he had been. Be something more, greater, better.

“There isn’t a day, a moment that I don’t think about those people that died. And how stupid I had been, so nieve that it makes me sick to think about it, sometimes,” he told her with a wince. He had no tears in his eyes. He had cried all he possibly could for the evils that he had done. Now was not a time for tears. He liberated gambit from Remy Lebeau and he would never go back. His story had taken a good deal of the morning and all of their food and coffee was gone. He looked up at her and he wondered if she still felt the same about him now. “I will understand if you want me to go Serena. I won’t hold it against you if you do,” he said. By now he had put on just his shirt and was sitting in her bed with a sheet over his legs and middle. As he sat cross-legged in front of her in her robe. “I...don’t want to go, I want to be here, with you,” He said softly and they were honest words. Serena was special, he knew that now and he was not a fool.