Children Of The Past

"Ever since I was little, my daddy was de only t'ing I could ever count on. Still is, but de past few years I've barely seen him, 'e's off savin' de world while I sit here and pick locks. Exciting? I know. Really de adrenaline pumping t'rough me when I'm doin' a pinch, I mean de chances of bein' caught are few and far apart but what can I say it's still dere. You know what I mean Tony?"

The dog happily barked in reply, making Gabal's smile flash. Walking New Orleans streets at the dead of night was considered dangerous, especially by one's self. Gabal didn't mind it; he had faith in his special skills. Besides, he thought I'm here on a job f'r Mama. Turning in the alley beside a large brick building, Gabal commanded for Tony to stand watch. The dog sat itself at the mouth of the alley growling at anyone that dared pass him.

It took a few minutes to find the back door, and soon opened. Gabal placed his lock pick back into the black leather jacket that he was wearing and continued inside. Taking the route he had planned on his visit earlier today, passing the control booth with Carl the sleeping guard. Gabal smiled at the site and went on coming to the visiting exhibit. He carefully dodged the heat sensors, and finding himself at the jewel of his eye.

My stupid powers better be workin' last job I did I almost got caught. Focusing any potential acid in the glass that surrounded the large diamond, Gabal's 'acid touch' went to work. Slowly the glass began to melt, dripping down the sides of the display case. Gingerly he reached over the melted glass and grabbed the Kings Eye, the only multi colored and one of the most rare diamonds in the country second only to the Hope diamond. Placing it in his pocket he slowly started to back away, half way back to the control room Tony's howl startled him, causing the junior thief to trip into one of the beams. Sending deafening sirens blaring throughout the building.

"Man." Gabal slipped his ski mask on that he had brought just in case something like this happened. Carl woke up just in time to see Gabal's figure flash past the door. Years of unexercised muscles couldn't even keep up with the younger one. Carl not knowing what the thief had called for him to stop and pulled out his gun and started shooting. Firing off numerous rounds into what he thought was the boy's back. After five minutes of no movement Carl walked over to the dark cloth that hung in shreds on a spear. Carl's screams couldn't be heard over the sirens.

"Dat was close!" Gabal breathed out between gasps of air, he watched as thirty or so cop cars pulled up to the museum, with twice as many cops. Ducking lower and deeper into the alleyway across the street Gabal removed the ski mask while he pulled out his new prize, a glittering, forty-carat diamond that filled the palm of his hand. Tony was no where to be found, Gabal didn't care. The Thieves Guild and Assassin's had hundreds of dogs trained to do exactly what Tony did. Stand guard and attack anyone that they didn't come with.

"I'll be, where ever an alarm's goin' off you can bet it's a LeBeau." A low gruff voice spook out from the shadows in front of him. Before his mind could think of anything to do a pair of hands slipped under his arms and had taken to the sky. Cursing to himself he shoved the diamond into his pants pocket. Soaring past many of the streets, Gabal started to take hold of what was happening.

Finally landing on a hotel down town, Gabal hit his knees gasping for air.

"Not use to flyin' hon?" The southern accent sent a small chill through his spine. Looking over his shoulder the women's hair caught his eye, auburn with a white streak just like the women who took his daddy away from his mama. When she flashed her smile, he knew without a doubt, it was she. Flipping over he started to scoot backwards, still breathing deep he whispered her name.

"Rouge"

"Well the little punk knows ya. Don't you feel that warm feeling comin' over ya?" The same gruff voice from the alley growled, stepping out of his hiding spot, Gabal had a full view of the short man with a cigar hanging out of his mouth. Gabal automatically started coughing, trying to decoy them from seeing the small tracker, pressing the main button on the back the black plastic lit up. That indicated that help was underway.

"Gabal?" Rouge asked in a quivering voice," Are you really him?" With a nod of his head her arms wrapped around him sobbing loudly. Gabal was in shock a complete stranger was on their knees hugging him, crying. "Oh muh gawd Ah thought you died! Muh sha!"

Pulling her away quickly he found his footing and managed to slip the tracker into his pocket with out them noticing, or so he thought. "No one ever call me sha, but Daddy. What you want X-Men?" Fury rising they had taken his dad away from him, now that Remy had returned to his home town Gabal didn't want him to leave. He loved his father, they hurt him and now they wanted to be nice to Gabal? Shuttering at the thought of being left alone once again, to fend for himself against the cancer, the thieves and the world. No chance in hell were they getting Gambit ever again.

"Ah knew your father, he--was a good man. But he's not the reason were here, your comin' with us."

Paniced Gabal reached out for the acid in their bodies and made them stop thinking, moving and everything else. Taking this opportunity he ran, jumping down to the fire escape, down the ladders to the hard concrete. He didn't stop running until he'd gotten to the River Walk, a crowded place through out any time of day.