His Rightful Place (June 2012)

Cassian’s home was a huge mansion. Old, painted white on the outside with massive windows. From the road they could see huge chandeliers and the large pillars off the front and the large, white deck gave the house an elegant look. Charlotte pulled up in the small, curved drive near a large, white fountain that was of 2 horses opposing one another up on their hind legs. Guards with sub-machine guns moved up to them as they got out of the car. “Gotta search ya,” They told them. “Hello Charlotte,” One of the men said in greeting.

“He’s expecting you,” The other said to Gambit but did not speak his name or give any sign that he knew who Gambit was. But they obviously did as they were brought inside. The interior of the mansion was alot of white. He didn’t really like an abundance of color and though there were things inside that had color, paintings and the like, most of it was white, or black, or slate or gray. THey were brought all the way through to the back and then let out another door onto a large deck. Beyond the deck was a lush, flat, green lawn and 2 children, a boy and a girl played Crochet with a woman. Cassian sat in a bue lounge chair that sat next to other chairs just like it and up toward the house was a massive grill and other furniture that like was used often for outside entertaining. He did not look at them as they approached.

“Cassian, this is,” Charlotte began but he held up a finger and she stopped. In his hand was what looked like a Mojito and Gambit surely could have gone for one just then. There were more guards positioned around the yard plus the 2 that were now behind them.

“Explain to me Gambit, why I should not just kill you, you’re leaving has done alot of damage broham. Alot of damage,” He said. Gambit’s brow furled. He had had enough of this shit already. He lived the life he wanted, the way he wanted. These people thought that he ‘owed’ them something? Fuck them! He thought. “I don’t owe you nothing ‘broham’. Kill me? Why don’t you just try it and see what that gets you,” He said as he held his cane in his hand. “What, you think I can’t take your goons? I have half a mind to shove this cane up your ass. I’m a LeBeau, and no one talks to me like they are above me,” Gambit said.

Charlotte tried not to smile in the car as she thought of what Serena was going through right now. Served her right for trying to take what rightfully belonged to her. She would have Gambit one way or another. She just hoped that Cassian wouldn't kill him first. She had stuck her neck out to get him this audience. Cassian hated Gambit but she had managed it. He had better not screw this up for her.

She drove up the driveway that led up to the massive old mansion and parked the car in front of the house. There were a couple of guards with sub-machine guns that approached and Charlotte waited patiently as they searched Gambit. After they had properly searched Gambit and found no weapons, they led them through the house to the back. Cassian's wife and children could be seen in the distance playing croquet. Cassian was waiting on a lounge chair with a Mojito in hand.

Charlotte began to introduce Gambit, but was stopped by Cassian. She closed her mouth and listened as Cassian began to question him. She expected Gambit to be respectful in his response, but he was anything but. Charlotte looked sharply at Gambit as he spoke. Her eyes grew wide in surprise at first, but then pure anger set in. Her face began to turn red and she grabbed Gambit's arm and pulled him away to speak to him.

"Are you fucking out of your God damn mind?! What the HELL was that?! I risked my neck bringing you here and you pull this?!"

Gambit was taken by surprise when Charlotte pulled him away to scold him. He was done with all this pandering though he had only just started.

“Take your hand off me! I’m a LeBeau and I will not be treated like some underling!” Gambit growled. He had a plan but it was risky and he knew he couldn’t trust anyone, especially Charlotte.

“If shit happens are you going to back me up? That’s all I need to know from you!” He said.

Cassian was talking to one of his henchmen. His wife, a beautiful, tall redhead named Theresa had finally noticed the newcomers. Her and Charlotte never got along and she suspected her husband had had relations with her on more than one occaision. But...who was this? Someone she hadn’t seen before. Handsome someone by the looks of him. And his eyes...were they red? Was this man a mutant? She wondered.

She sauntered over toward them then rested her hands on her husband’s shoulders. “Whose this darling?” She asked and acted as if Charlotte didn’t exist.

“This is Gambit dearest, Jean Luc’s son,” Cassian said and Theresa’s attitude changed toward him. She smiled but it never touched her eyes and she stepped around her husband. “Gambit...I’ve heard so much about you,” she said almost seductively and held out her hand for him to take. As he did he suddenly saw black flecks in his vision and realized that she had hit him with her other fist. Her face warped into an angry scowl.

“How DARE you come to MY home!” She growled and shook her fist at him. “Leon...kill him!” She commanded and Leon shifted but looked at Cassian who gestured for him to stand down.

“You run away and leave the responsibility of running the guild to my husband! You coward!” She said angrily but Charlotte knew a performance of she ever saw one. “That’s enough dearest,” Cassian said in a low, dangerous tone. Theresa stares daggers at Gambit as he tested his lip for blood.

“You have a lot to answer for boy,” he said and then stepped toward a Gambit. He smiled and playfully slapped his face. “If you show me any more disrespect...I will kill you,” he said. Charlotte caught Theresa looking at Gambit with a hungry look on her eyes. Gambit just stood there and said nothing as Cassian continued.

“All I wanted was to love my wife and raise my children in peace Gambit but what am I doing? Running one of the largest crime organizations in the world. You owe me blood boy for the years I’ve lost,” he said.

Charlotte crossed her arms over her chest as Theresa, Cassian's wife, approached them. Gambit may have noticed that Charlotte didn't respond to his question. To be honest, she didn't know what the hell she was going to do. This was a HUGE mess all of a sudden. She worked for Cassian. If she choose the wrong side and Gambit lost then she was dead. Cassian would kill her without a second thought.

Charlotte listened to Therea's theatrical performance and had to actively stop herself from rolling her eyes at this woman. Theresa was attracted to Gambit, that much was very clear to Charlotte, and she was trying to hide that fact from Cassian.

As Cassian began to question Gambit again, Charlotte's phone began to vibrate. She stepped away from the group when she saw it was Belor.

"Did you get Serena?"

“Does a bear shit in the woods? I lost...2 men Charlotte. One of them was Flynn, He said. “Cyris wants a blood debt from her but I didn’t allow it. You didn’t tell me she’s a Stark and a mutant,” He said, “What do you want me to do with her?” He asked.

Charlotte had shared time with Flynn. He really liked her and she really liked him but it never went much past the physical stuff for the most part.

“No one asked me what I wanted. I was a LeBeau and then everyone assumed who and what I was. I am not Jean Luc. And I don’t want to be the head of the guild,” Gambit said. “You talk like a selfish little brat,” Cassian said. “Fuck you Cassian, you’ve had years to prepare for this. What did I have? A father that was never a father,” Gambit said. “Oh...thats so sad,” Cassian said sarcastically and Charlotte would see Gambit’s demeanor deteriorating quickly.

“Elemir wants a LeBeau back onto the throne Gambit and I’m ready to retire. Give me one reason why I should continue on when I don’t want to?” Cassian said. “Belor wants to be leader, or has that changed?” Gambit asked. Cassian smiled. “Belor wants you dead and for me to stand for him. The council however, wants things to go back to the way they were, they do not like change,” Cassian said. “Then I want a meeting with Elemir, can you arrange that?” Gambit asked. Cassian chuckled. “Why would I help you do anything Gambit?” Cassian asked and Gambit’s mood darkened. “Because if you don’t, I will do my best to tear this whole, fuckin, thing down Cassian and take everyone with me,” Gambit said. Cassian’s eyes narrowed and Charlotte knew she needed to get Gambit out of here, fast.

Charlotte became rather upset when she learned that Flynn was dead. She had not loved Flynn, but he had been a good friend. Knowing that Serena had killed him angered her, but she knew that they needed to hold on to her for a while longer.

"Just keep her there. We might have to use her as leverage."

She looked over and saw that the situation was deteriorating fast. Cassian and Gambit were loudly arguing and judging by the look in Cassian's eye he might actually kill Gambit if she didn't get him out of there.

"Shit, I need to go," she said quickly and hung up.

She rushed over and grabbed Gambit's arm. "Gambit, let's go," she said as she began to pull Gambit away and back towards the house.

In the car Gambit looked...distant. As if his thoughts were a million miles away. He looked...vulnerable like he needed to talk but he wasn’t talking. He just sat there like a lump. “Take me back to the hotel please,” He said and then looked over at her.

“You know these people Charlotte. You’ve been around them while I haven’t. I will not be leader. I’ll let them kill me first,” He said. “Is that what you want?” He asked.

Charlotte glanced at Gambit as she started to drive. "You know, it's weird. I don't think anyone would believe that two men were fighting to NOT be the leader of the Guild. What I want is for you to take your rightful place as leader and for me to be by your side...like it was meant to be. Now, everything is screwed up and you screwed me too Gambit. I risked my neck to get you before Cassian now my place is likely in jeopardy."

Gambit scowled and crossed his arms over his chest. He didn’t know why he was so angry. Maybe because he never had a chance to say goodbye to his father. Maybe because his father hadn’t been there when he needed him. Maybe because, in a moment of weakness, he told Serena everything.

“I don’t mean to fuck you over Charlotte,” He said and looked at her. He was sincere. “And I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye,” He said. He knew if he stayed, he’d likely still be with her. And maybe she knew that too. “I’m...in unchartered territory here,” He said. “And I have no idea which way is up,” He added.

Charlotte glanced at Gambit. "Well, I do still wish you would fuck me." Charlotte now knew that Gambit was not ever going to take his rightful place as the leader of the Guild. Belor wanted to be leader and deserved it in her mind after all he had done. He had more than proved himself, but the Council was still stuck on having Gambit that they weren't considering him. In order to make this work she was going to have to get Cassian to back up Belor to Elemir and convince Elemir to release Gambit. Then, she could get Serena out of the way and worm her way back into Gambit's bed. Once all the stress was off his shoulders he would come to his senses.

Charlotte had no choice but to drive Gambit back to the hotel. Otherwise, he was going to get suspicious. They took the elevator up and as they neared his room she could see that the door had been broken down.

Gambit rushed up to his room when he saw the repair grew. “What the fuck?” He asked and he pinned one of the workers against the wall with his arm. “You have 30 seconds to tell me where the woman is that was in this room,” Gambit said. “I..I...I didn’t see any woman. We were just sent to fix a door man!” He said worriedly. He narrowed his eyes at him then released the man and went inside. His things seemed to still be there. He began to look around for signs of a struggle and they were not difficult to find. There was a scorched part of the carpet, blood, and charred pieces of black leather. The problem was alot of people in the guild wore that kind of leather. ‘Not Serena, no!’ He thought.

As Charlotte watched him look around she noticed one of the repair crew was watching her. As she turned back toward Gambit she just felt as if someone was behind her. When she turned the man she was suspicious about held out his pistol and got a bead on Gambit with his laser sights. He was going to shoot Gambit!

Charlotte of course knew where Serena was, but she wasn't about to tell Gambit that. She kept her expression neutral as she looked around the room. She saw the scorched part of the carpet and the blood. She felt sick as she though about Flynn. This girl had killed him and she wanted her dead. She would help Gambit get what he wanted and then kill Serena. Then, she would provide Gambit with the comfort he needed.

She glanced over at one of the repair crew and saw he was watching her. She turned her back towards Gambit and then the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She turned back around and saw the same repair man that had been looking at her now with a pistol in his hand. He had it aimed at Gambit and was prepared to fire if she didn't do something. In the blink of an eye she rushed at Gambit and pushed him to the ground. The bullet hit the wall behind them.

The repair man continued to fire and Gambit rolled then tipped over the large desk. The man came into the room and had no interest in Charlotte at all. He continued to fire at Gambit until his magazine was empty. He dropped the magazine and began to load another. As he did Gambit charged a card, the 8 of hearts, and then tossed it at the man. It landed near him and then exploded. Force and fire blew the man back against the wall he was near. He fell to the floor in a smoldering heap. Gambit stood up and moved up to him and turned the man over

“Who hired you!?” He asked. Charlotte had never seen the man before but lots of people were angry with Gambit. The man grinned for a moment and then his expression became blank as he fell unconscious. Gambit left him and moved to retrieve his hat. “Lets go, whomever took her will reveal themselves eventually,” He said. Now this was the Gambit she knew. A cold heart and nerves of cold steel. “I’m hungry,” Gambit said and it was getting late.

Charlotte grinned as she followed after Gambit. She could work with this version of him. This was much more like the Gambit she knew. They went to a local restaurant and sat down. The place was certainly not somewhere that the tourists went. Only the locals really knew about it. In fact, there wasn't even a sign outside.

"So, if you get the freedom you are looking for, what will you do with your life?"

Gambit snapped off the head of a crawfish then sucked out the spicy meat. “I’m not certain, likely go back with the X-men,” He said as he picked up another one and repeated the process. “I met Serena there,” He said as the band began to play again. He paused though as he listened. He liked the music, he had danced with Charlotte to it several times.

“I...owe ya one, for saving my ass back there,” Gambit said. He was very worried about Serena but there was nothing to gain by hurting her. Her abduction had a purpose behind it, he just needed to be patient. He also needed to get Charlotte on his side. Well, she seemed like she was now but he thought that there was a plan brewing behind those blue eyes. No, he needed her to empathize with him. He set down his hat on a chair next to him

“Wanna dance?” He asked as he stood up and extended his hand toward her. It felt odd to be thinking about this when Serena could be...well anywhere but he needed to focus on the now. Solve the most immediate problem first and that was Charlotte right now.

Charlotte didn't like Gambit's answer. She didn't want him to go back to the X-Men. She wanted him to remain here...where he belonged. She grinned when she heard the music. She knew the song well and knew that she and Gambit had danced to it several times. Her grin widened when he asked her to dance. She playfully picked up his hat and put it on her head and grinned at him.

"Sure."

She took his hand and got up and they went out to the dance floor and began to dance. "So...what exactly do you see in that girl anyway?"

Gambit shifted and slid almost seductively and moved his feet in time with Charlotte as they danced. “She’s extremely smart, funny, beautiful, kind...And I feel like a different person when I’m with her. What that meant was he really wasn’t a fan of his normal self though that was the Gambit Charlotte really liked.

“What about you? You’ve been the Envoy for years. You must be rich by now, your gorgeous, you can get any man you want. And you can leave whenever you want. The Original contract is no longer valid. I don’t know why you stay,” He said.

Charlotte swayed with Gambit. If she was going to get him into bed with her, this was the way to do it. Gambit was a man of seduction and passion and dancing like they were was certainly both. She slid her arms around his neck and rested her forehead against his.

"There is only one man I want and I'm trying to get him," she said in a sexy whisper. "I mean, that girl can't really do anything for you sexually...can she?"

“Serena..its now about what she can do, and the sex is great, let me tell you. Its ‘how’ she does what she does, I guess,” He said as he spun Charlotte around then they came back together. He allowed their faces to linger close and he didn’t have to talk that loudly to be heard. “She likes to please and be pleased. Everythings still, more or less meat and potatoes right now. And I’m ok with that,” Gambit said. He couldn't believe he was talking about another woman to Charlotte. “Hey, lets get a drink or three,” Gambit said. He had a plan to get Charlotte so sloshed then take her home. He’d undress her, touch her enough to where she’d think they had sex when she woke up. That was his plan anyway. Gambit didn’t get drunk easily. His energy level was like having a red bull every few minutes.

Charlotte liked to drink and Gambit knew that she got drunk quite easily. She lost count of the number of drinks she had had and she began to whisper dirty things into Gambit's ear. She didn't remember how they got back to her place and everything after that was a bit of a blur.

The next morning when she awoke she discovered she was in her bed and her clothes were on the floor. Gambit was up and getting dressed. She remembered him undressing her and touching her quite a bit. They must have had sex. She didn't want Gambit to think she didn't remember it though.

"Last night was...amazing. You are still incredible."