POV: Scott
Funny fact.
Gambit is one of the few X-Men characters I wouldn't flee on sight.
Why?
Well, first, he's not a psychopath obsessed with mutants in general.
Like, mutant supremacy over here, coexistence with humans over there, just like 90% of the mutants I know.
Which aren't many, by the way, but the fact that the vast majority are like that? That's a pretty big red flag for me.
Gambit, though?
He's one of those guys who just wants to live one day at a time, and with a little luck, stay alive long enough to see the next payday.
This bastard is so slippery, God knows how I even managed to find him.
Praise be to the plot or Fate, if they exist.
Now, the second reason?
Well...
He's not exactly strong.
Okay, maybe there's some version of him out there strong enough to destroy the universe, since Marvel is full of that kind of bullshit.
But this Gambit here?
Nah, He gives me Loki Vibes, not Thor Vibes.
If that comparison even makes sense.
But to sum it up, I don't feel afraid of fighting him if it comes to that.
Not like I did the first time I ended up in this shitty world.
I can be called a coward for that, but I don't care.
As that bastard Qin says: Don't bite off more than you can chew.
Fighting telepaths who can one-shot you, Omega-level mutants, and the fucking incarnation of an aspect of the universe?
Suicide.
And if you think otherwise, feel free to go over there and die within the first five seconds.
Now, fighting a guy whose only power is electrifying and energizing objects?
Manageable.
That's definitely arrogance talking, but so what? I'm irrational, and I don't give a fuck.
Until my decisions come back to bite me in the ass later, I'm going to act like I'm the only human being on Earth with more than one brain cell.
Scott: "Hey."
Gambit: "Uhh... Hi?"
His expression is the best...
He looks like he just stepped on a Lego while running!
Am I going to hell for finding this funny?
Scott: "Busy?"
Gambit: "Ah, you know how it is, between here and there..."
Scott: "Uh-huh... Wanna grab a drink?"
Gambit: "What?"
Scott: "Come on, I'll give you a ride... But you're paying."
Gambit: "What the fuck—"
Without giving him time to react, I drag him towards Lucy.
I can already tell this is going to be a great night.
_____________________________________________
POV: Gambit
Okay, this is weird.
Very weird.
Have you ever heard that saying?
If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it's a duck.
So, it's kind of like that, but the opposite.
It's like the duck is doing everything it can to not look like a duck.
The Scott I know is a kid who doesn't just follow rules, he lives by them.
Sure, he has his moments of weakness, hobbies, etc...
But he had a very clear limit: no excessive drinking.
Hell, it was a challenge just to get him to drink!
But look at this shit.
Scott: "Huuu! God, I needed this."
I don't think anyone needs three bottles of Jack Daniel's.
May God have mercy on this man's kidneys.
Gambit: "So... mon ami, you wanna tell me what you need?"
Gambit: "After all, it's not every day that the Golden Boy himself comes looking for me."
Scott takes another shot and answers me.
Scott: "First of all, I'm not here on anyone's behalf. Right now, I'm not Cyclops.... I'm just Scott."
No, but you don't even look like Scott.
Scott: "Secondly, I'm not here officially, so tonight, all you did was go to the casino and then have a cold beer... ALONE."
Oh... OOOHHH, I get it.
I smile...
Jean fucked up.
After all, for a guy to look for someone outside his work circle or family just to get drunk?
That probably means things aren't going too well for him.
Look, I'm not gonna lie, this might very well NOT be Scott.
After all, as far as I know, the guy's been missing for almost a year.
And the X-Men haven't shown any sign of concern or that they're looking for him.
But honestly? When you've lived in the underworld for as long as I have, you learn that even if something looks wrong, that doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong for YOU.
So, I have two options.
Leave him here and now.
Or... Keep going and see where this ends up.
Again...
Heads or tails.
Gambit: "Gotcha. I went gambling, came back late, and had a drink at the bar... Alone."
Scott: "Good."
Gambit: "So? What's the deal?"
Scott: "I've been pretty busy during the time I've been gone... It helped me gain a different perspective on things."
Gambit: "Uh-huh."
If it was a doubt before, now it's a certainty.
Jean fucked up monumentally this time.
Scott: "In the meantime, I discovered some rather... Curious things. And I thought, why not take advantage of them?"
Holy shit.
God knows how much I just want to get the hell out of here right now...
This guy is definitely missing a screw.
The effect women have on men is genuinely terrifying.
Thank God I'm single.
Scott: "From there? The idea kept getting refined until I finally came to a conclusion."
Gambit: "Which is?"
Scott: "I'm going to sell it, obviously."
Huh?
Scott: "Yeah, man, look, I don't know about you, but wandering around for a year without a penny in my pocket isn't exactly fun."
Huh????
Scott: "So, what do you think? Interested?"
Gambit: "More like what the fuck—"
Scott: "Hey! No swearing. We're men, not monkeys."
And here I thought he was planning global domination.
But honestly? I don't think he's far from getting to that point.
Gambit: "Look, my friend, that's not how it works."
Scott: "How not?"
Gambit: "You don't just walk up to someone out of nowhere and say: hey, wanna buy some info?"
Gambit: "No, no, no... There's a whole process before that! Not to mention your word has to carry some weight! Make it Double if you don't have any proof to back up what you're saying!"
Scott: "Huh, I admit I didn't think that far ahead."
Hah, amateur.
Gambit: "Yeah, man, and no offense? You're a complete rookie."
Gambit: "Even if you had the codes to a nuke, it's almost impossible for someone to believe you! Much less buy it!"
Scott: "I'm not hearing any advice."
Gambit: "Of course not! If you're good at something, never do it for free!"
Scott: "Are you trying to sell me advice? A Fucking advice?!"
Gambit: "And you're trying to sell information! And yet you Didn't hear me talking shit to you!"
Scott: "Do I need to? Your tone is offensive enough!"
After that, all that remained was an awkward silence...
We barely even know each other, and it feels like we've been friends for decades.
Men really are simple creatures.
Gambit: "Okay, but what's the info you're so eager to sell?"
Scott: "Oh yeah, how does the possible mass extinction of mutants and humans sound?"
What the fuck?