to thrill you i'll use any device; seneca (redonblack) wrote in thedepartment, @ 2009-12-14 16:30:00 |
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Entry tags: | gambit, rogue |
sense of a spark (log: rogue and gambit)
Contrary to what many people believed, Gambit was, for now, doing the right thing. He hadn't stolen since Val offered him the deal, and breaking and entering...well. He only did that for two reasons. One, when Val told him to. She knew her team's strengths, and they might not always be legal strengths, but they were still strengths. When the building needed its security tested, or they needed access to some place off limits, he was the go to man. The second reason was simply when he forgot his keys.
Really, why bother with keys when he knew the building like the back of his hands?
So every so often, he had a tendency to wind up sneaking into the building for the DMA in the middle of the night from the glass walkway that connected this building to one across the street. It was their weakness, and he chose his desk specifically for its vantage point. It was located right underneath one of those classic air vents he could just squeeze through. He knocked the cover down, tossed his jacket to the floor, and then with an 'oomph' moved out of the vent and turned in midair to land on his feet. Just like a cat. He still had it, even though he could stand to loose a few pounds.
Brushing his hair out of his eyes, he picked up his jacket as if nothing about this scene was weird.
By the time he stood up, Rogue had already been standing there, watching the entire scene unfold. Seriously? Did he break in everywhere? She'd figured the school thing was just because he wanted the files without anyone knowing he had them. But this was absurd. Surely he had access to the building. And, since the other agents seemed to know him --- and didn't have glowing reviews --- she wasn't questioning whether he was actually a DMA agent.
But...
Looking him up and down, Rogue frowned, crossing her arms and not moving from where she was standing in the doorway. "Are you serious? There's a front door that everyone else uses, you know."
Remy only smiled when he realized Rogue was watching him. He couldn't exactly say that he minded the company, after all. As violent and hostile as she seemed, that only intrigued him.
Flashing her a grin, he stood on the desk to fix the panel into the air vent. At least he was cleaning up his own mess? "Oui, but where's the fun in dat? Besides, I forgot my key." Because the natural option would be to break in instead of calling someone to let him in. But given the not so glowing reviews of the other agents, maybe he was worried that no one else would let him in.
"Isn't it past your bedtime? Or do you always gotta stand watch?"
"Always gotta stand watch," Rogue said, still not moving out from the doorway, as though she was just daring him to try to get past her. She probably was. She was like that.
"You also could have knocked." Not that she knew that there was a very real possibility in no one else would let him in. Hell, she probably wouldn't have let him in. She probably would have slammed the door in his face. ...she was also like that. "So you think breaking and entering is fun?" Now her eyebrows were raised and she looked completely disapproving of that idea. Something told her she'd be completely disapproving of a lot of his ideas.
She was like that. Gambit liked it. Once he finished putting everything aright, he closed the distance between them. He didn't make a move to get past her, he was just getting close to her. "Don't you t'ink you deserve a little fun, too?"
He grinned at the alternative she presented. "Would you have let me in, petite? Breaking and entering...it keeps my skills sharp." He didn't look too put off by her disapproval. He only gave a shrug. "I t'ought you were with de Brotherhood. I'm sure dey do more t'an breaking and entering." He wasn't at all disapproving. Hell, he'd done a lot worse than breaking and entering, too. But it was the point of the matter.
Eyeing him, and the disapproval turning a bit to discomfort, both from him moving closer and his point, Rogue ultimately held her ground. She wasn't going to back up to some shady Cajun. "Yeah, I was, sugar. And then I left. Because they were doing a lot more than breaking and entering." And she hadn't like the way Mystique liked to use her. For example, to take out Ms. Marvel. It wasn't something Rogue liked to revisit in her head.
The school hadn't been perfect, but Emma was the most powerful telepath she knew of. And while working with Emma was hardly something anyone would consider 'fun', if it made even the slightest difference in Rogue's mental state it was worth it.
"Well then, I guess we both be on de better path now." Of course, his reasons weren't entirely honorable. He much preferred government work to jail. However, even his concept of right and wrong wasn't completely off. There were a few things he didn't want to do, some things he might do over, and he could probably claim that he'd been backed into these tough spots. He hadn't exactly asked for his powers or his position in the Thieves' Guild. But he had made his own choices, even the bad ones, and he wasn't going to push all the blame off for those.
But the moment of reflection didn't much change Gambit's demeanor, and he took another step forward slowly. It was less challenging than questioning. "So you really are all work?"
Her frown only deepened. She really didn't like people like Gambit. People who were too smooth and suave for their own good. It might have had something to do with her own frustration at not being able to touch anyone. Because it certainly wasn't because he was unattractive. Physically. Him continuing to move in on her? That made her want to punch him in the face.
"That's what I'm here for," Rogue said, as though she was daring him to object. "Last time I checked, we were recruited to work. Not play."
Gambit was of the belief that all challenges could be overcome. Rogue was definitely a challenge.
"Who says you can't do both?" Okay, probably a lot of people if you asked them. But Gambit actually didn't mean that they should goof off at their jobs. "Nobody can work all de time." That was definitely a challenge to her. "But maybe we can agree to disagree." He offered her his hand to shake.
Rogue glanced at his hand with raised eyebrows. "Do you think this is some sort of truce?" Because, truth be told, she didn't trust the guy. She wasn't about to play nice with him just so he could feel good about himself or think he had a chance of getting in her pants or... whatever. "We're clear about the fact that I think something's a little off with you, right?" No one was ever going to say she wasn't blunt and straight to the point. Although that part of her personality had come out more after absorbing Carol Danvers. So it might not have been her as much as Carol.
As it was, she wasn't offering to shake his hand in return.
"I get dat a lot." He shrugged. "But you must like me a little bit." He waggled his hand. "Everyone knows you got deadly skin. You missed your chance." He didn't seem particularly bothered by her powers or the details of them, however. There really was no obstacle too great.
"You could still try t' smile more. A little less severe could go a long way." It was slightly hard to tell if he was trying to flirt with her or goad her into a fight. Possibly both, or at least one or the other. He'd take what he could get with her, even if that was being tossed through a window.
"Missed my chance for what?" Rogue said, eyes narrowing. Her expression spoke volumes: disdain, annoyance, and that brief sprinkle of hurt at the mention of her skin. That was a huge contributor to the chip on her shoulder. "To shake your hand? I think I'll live.
"And I smile plenty." Which was said with a scowl. "Just because I don't bat my eyelashes at you and feign fainting doesn't mean that I don't smile."
Missed her chance for a free offer to use her powers against him. Obviously. But Rogue seemed a wee bit touchy here. For his part, Gambit looked unconvinced. "Roguey, I'm just trying t' look out for your health," he said, attempting to put an arm around her shoulder in open camaraderie. That would probably get his arm broken, but it was worth the risk.
"No one said nothing about fainting. Southern belles have their places, but I prefer a woman with a bit more bite to her." He grinned.
"Are you crazy?" Seriously. It was entirely possible that he was out of his mind crazy. Grabbing his arm with her gloved hands, she put a little bit of pressure behind her grip, which was still a lot of pressure to anyone else. "You want a broken arm?"
She only looked more irritated at his comment about women with a bit more bite. The last thing she needed -- or wanted -- was some Rico Suave coming onto her with his guy lines. "I get it. You see the challenge. It's interesting. Let's get something straight, Cajun. Even if I liked you, which I don't, you touch me, you die. It's that simple. So what you're looking for? You'd better go find someone else to get it from."
She definitely was a bit of a challenge, but frankly, it was more because of her personality than her powers. He honestly thought that she could benefit a lot from a little relaxation and maybe someone who didn't frighten very easily.
He leaned forward, way too close for probably any other person's comfort, much less Rogue's. It probably almost looked like he was going to kiss her on the cheek, but he didn't. He stayed away from going that far. "Doesn't mean I can't get close, cherie. We've both just got t' be very still." He was a thief. He trusted his balance enough to not accidentally brush up against anyone. It was hard to say why he was pushing Rogue in particular like this, however. Maybe it was her past, maybe it was her powers, or maybe it was how much she didn't like him.
For a second, she actually felt her breath catch, and then immediately kicked herself for it. Goddamn it. This was the sort of crap guys like him did. Rogue figured that he got off on making her uncomfortable as much as anything else. "I will break your arm." It sounded like a serious threat, although there was an untone that said she wouldn't actually go through with it.
"I'm sure you don't hear this much, with your pretty face, but not everyone wants you close to them." Even if that wasn't entirely true. But what she wanted and what was even remotely reasonable were separate things. Rogue had the most prickly exterior and for good reason. It was because of shit like this. This wouldn't be the first time someone saw her as the ultimate challenge. It probably wouldn't be the last. And that was the sort of thing she never wanted to get involved in.
"I can live with a broken arm," he whispered. It wasn't quite forceful enough to be a real challenge to her, and he actually pulled back slightly. Resisting the urge to kiss her. She really did just need to lighten up, with him or without him. A good, strong kiss would really do her some good. Perhaps another night.
"So your powers. Dey uncontrollable? Instantaneous?" He could actually sympathize with that. His own powers used to be quite more powerful and self-destructive, before he had taken a deal he never should have taken. But that wasn't something he ever talked about.
That was something she probably didn't want to know about. And probably why she got the inkling that he was dangerous. Or, at the very least, very, very shady.
"Got it in two." She didn't look happy about it; she also didn't look happy about him moving away and she actually released her grip on his arm. "I've heard it hurts like hell. Go figure, God has a sick sense of humor."
Very, very shady was probably more correct than outright dangerous. There were just some parts of his past even he didn't like. But at the time, it had seemed like desperate times called for very desperate measures.
But looking back, he would never recommend Rogue do anything like that ever.
"The Lord works in mysterious ways, non?" He smirked, since he was about the most irreligious person ever. "I'll keep that in mind. Since we're working on the same team and all, we got to know each other very well." And he did his very best to make that sound dirty.
Ugh. It was exactly guys like him. "Listen, Gambit. Keep it up and about the only thing you're going to get to know very well is my fist." Because it was easier to threaten him than to take anything he said seriously. Especially since common sense and experience told her that one touch and he'd be running in the opposite direction as fast as he could go.
Unfortunately, for her, she actually felt this stupid urge to kiss him. Both to prove him wrong and... just because she wanted to kiss him. Which only served to irritate her more.
At least she hadn't thrown him through a wall yet.
"Maybe we can start with discussing something a bit more interesting before you punch me?" He came on strong. He was pretty sure he was going to end up through a wall sooner or later. But he was actually sincere in how curious he was about her. Attracted to her was a given, of course, even with the deadly skin. Really, a brief kiss couldn't hurt that much, right? Although she did need a hard one and not a brief one. What a dilemma.
"Or I could at least buy you dinner, right?" Because the set-up for a big fight and sex were clearly the same.
Sure they were. At least in this case he was actually right.
"You're trying to get me to go on a date with you." It was said flatly, not even a question. Just a very annoyed statement. "You're. Not. Listening. To. Me." Even if she wanted to sleep with him -- and the little voice in the back of her head that said that she did, in fact, want to could shut the hell up -- she couldn't. And even if she could, she wouldn't, because she knew his type. She was not interested in his type. His type was the kind that deserved a swift kick in the ass.
"You're not really getting that trying to get me into bed isn't going to happen. I think that's where we're having the communication breakdown. I don't care how many glasses of wine you try to get me to drink."
"I'm trying t' get you t' go out and enjoy yourself," he corrected. "M'not expecting more than dat." He wanted more than that, he could always hope for more than that, but he didn't actually expect her to just roll over and take it.
"Jus' keep it in mind. If you ever want t' get out and not stay as the company guard dog." There were so many better things that she could be doing with her time. It was a waste to the world!
"Sure you're not," Rogue said critically. And very suspiciously. "If you can keep your hands to yourself..."
Was she crazy? Actually thinking about agreeing to this absurdity. She was going to end up breaking a chair over his head in public. "Look. If I let you take me out to dinner, you have to leave me alone after." See? There was a perfect compromise.
Gambit's face lit up just a bit. "I don't know if dat's quite fair. Only one dinner? Maybe after the dinner you could reconsider your side of the arrangement." He was sort of hoping that she'd have a good enough time to at least not hate him. He wasn't going to hold his breath for a miracle.
"How about a little gamble?" He did like his wagering, and a wager would probably make a more fair outcome. "I take you out t' dinner. I make you smile once, and you stop threatening to punch me. But if I don't entertain you, I won't bother you."
Gamble. Gambit. Oh. All so very clear. Wonderful, on top of that, he was probably a card shark. "You really think you're that entertaining?" Rogue somehow doubted it. She figured she'd be spending the entire time trying not to slap him. "Fine, fine. If you can get me to smile, I'll stop threatening to punch you. But if you can't, I might actually punch you."
Really, it worked out for her since she wasn't banking him winning this bet.
Hey, there was nothing wrong with being a card shark. But it meant that he always won his bets. He'd get her to smile at some point.
"Now that sounds fair." Gambit smiled. This night was already looking better. "We'll be going somewhere nice, so be sure t' dress up, petite. I'll see you tomorrow night." Because she didn't get any say in where they went or when. Who knew why he was evening bothering to try to get on her good side at this point.
Rogue grumbled under her breath, but she moved out of the way to let him pass. "Great. Looking forward to it." Not really, and she didn't really like being told when and where she was supposed to be without asking for her input. But if it would put an end to all this, that would be plenty.
"Try not to break any other laws before then, swamp rat."