The Hand You're Dealt

9| Caught in a Triangle

Once they hit Pennsylvania, their money had run completely out. Gambit decided to get some money by hustling again.

He chose to set up in a business center to lure gamblers taking a lunch break from work, just like where she met him. She watched him perform his card tricks and various games from afar. Even with her used to his cardistry, he still hypnotized her with his skills. When they had enough money again and had time, they would go get him more cards.

In no time, their money piled up again to where they could pay for food instead of stealing it. They still mostly slept in the car, but did get a motel room occasionally. Lauren guessed they had been too caught up running not to consider Gambit performing on the street for money again.

After a full day of Gambit working, they headed into the Wilton Mall in Saratoga, New York. Even though the food choices in the Food Court were predominately fast-food, they got to sit to enjoy the meal. Remy even purchased a sugar-coated pretzel for them to share for dessert.

They wandered through the mall, moseying through stores for playing cards, but mainly enjoyed the slow pace—the chance for a breather. Lauren loved it that they appeared as a couple with her arm looped through his and walking close. Gambit seemed at ease with the relationship façade they portrayed; his lips brushed her skin when he leaned in to whisper.

She couldn't deny it anymore: she had fallen hard for the mutant. If only he could give her a sign that her love would be returned. Maybe she just needed to take a deep breath and take the first step...

They found a novelty store selling a variety of items, including playing cards. As he checked out, Lauren went back outside to the jewelry store they had passed. She stopped to admire the glittering diamond rings in the display cases.

"Lauren?"

She never should've looked up. But that voice had sounded familiar, and it was instinctual to react to the calling of one's name.

Coming toward her with utter disbelief on his face was Mr. Kavel.

"Mr. Kavel..." Her eyes shot around for any hint of Nitall's men, for Gambit had said she would surely stop by her workplace to ask about her. She also looked for the mutant, hoping he would show up and save her from being a stammering idiot for trying to explain.

"Oh my God, it's really you! You're safe!" He wrapped around her tightly.

"Safe from what?"

He leaned back to hold her by the shoulders. "A woman told me you had been kidnapped."

A chill went down her neck. "Was her name Avaleyn Nitall?"

His forehead scrunched in confusion. "Yes... You know her?"

"I wish I didn't. What did she tell you?"

"That you had been taken by a..." —his voice faltered as he caught sight of something behind her— "a mutant with red eyes."

She knew Gambit had finally reappeared. Before she could explain, Mr. Kavel pulled her behind him. "Stay away from her, you freak!"

Gambit immediately dropped into the defensive, ready to attack. His eyes shifted to her and Mr. Kavel, figuring out what was going on. His outburst and getting in front of her protectively caught some attention from the mall passersby—they were drawing too much attention.

Lauren tried to move around him. "Mr. Kavel, please let me explain!"

He wouldn't let her. "I'm taking you home."

People were starting to get concerned; whispers began as some men moved in preparation for intervening. She had to settle everyone down before someone sent for the cops.

"Gambit didn't take me; that woman did! He saved me from her!"

Mr. Kavel's head whipped around. "What?"

"Avaleyn Nitall is a mutant; her ability is to steal others' powers, and she wants Gambit's. She had me taken because I had met him, and she wanted me to help track him down. She told you Gambit had taken me to make him look like the bad guy; instead, she's it. Please believe me."

He looked back at Gambit and straightened out of his protective position in front of her. "You saved Lauren?"

Gambit nodded. "Oui. It is as she says; Avaleyn Nitall is a dangerous woman. Be careful."

His ability to convince others seemed to work, since Mr. Kavel's tense figure relaxed even more. Odd how it had worked on her headstrong boss and not her.

He turned to her. "But why are you in New York? Where are you going?"

"I'm not going back to Chicago; we're headed... where it's safe." At the last second, she decided not to tell him about Xavier's school—a gut feeling. "Once there, we'll figure out what to do."

Mr. Kavel nodded, possibly understanding her need to keep the location a secret.

"What should I do?" he asked.

"You can't tell anyone that you've seen me, especially Nitall."

His eyes flickered over to Gambit, full of suspicion. "Are you sure about him, Lauren?"

"Yes; I don't think I could be in safer hands. Other than yours, of course."

That brought a smile to his lips. After a second of debating, she did what she had always wanted to do: she kissed him on the cheek. Well, she always dreamed of kissing him on the lips, but this was close enough.

"Thanks for your concern, Mr. Kavel. You truly do care about me."

He looked at her. "I've always cared about you, Lauren Binns." He shocked her by kissing her on the lips.

"How about when you get back home, we see where this relationship goes... What do you think?" he asked when he pulled back.

She was speechless at the fact that he had kissed her and that he wanted to date her. "Me? Are you–are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure; I never had the guts to come out and ask you. I thought I'd lost my shot with you disappearing, so I'm taking my chance now. So...?"

She smiled like a lovesick fool and hugged him. "Sounds good."

"You take care of her, you hear Cajun? I need her returned to me without a hair missing on her head."

"That might be a problem, monsieur," he began.

Lauren looked up in confusion. Something flickered across Gambit's eyes. She had a feeling he didn't like the sight of the kiss.

Mr. Kavel tensed up in preparation for a fight. "And what problem would that be?"

"She sheds like a cat."

She scowled at the mutant. Mr. Kavel chuckled.

"I've been around women long enough to know how much maintenance long hair requires." He ran a hand through her hair. "I can take some of this red hair missing, but not a lot of it."

"That I can do."

With another tight hug and a kiss on the head, Mr. Kavel let Lauren walk back to Gambit and make their way out of the mall.