A Common Enemy

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Things wasn't exactly easy being one of the most wanted men in the world, but Magneto was used to the status. Ever since the missiles in Cuba, he was well aware that his future entailed a mission that was deemed illegal by the homo sapien race. Though he had been found guilty of a crime he had not committed, all others that followed . . . well, technically he did not consider them crimes. He was fighting a war against the human race. It seemed to be alright for humans to commit crimes against mutants and not get punished for them -- Trask being a prime example -- yet the moment a mutant opposed them, they became a criminal. Further proof that mutants were living in an oppressed society. An oppressed world really. And that needed to significantly change. That was precisely what Magneto and The Brotherhood was fighting for: mutant rights.

Currently, Magneto was on the dark streets of the city in a disguise to conceal his true identity. He wore regular attire -- taking enough pride in his appearance to go for a rather sophisticated look -- as well as a hat and sunglasses, despite it being night time. While he did not fear capture or discovery -- for his hubris allowed him the confidence to know he was able to over power homo sapiens with ease -- it was an avoidable hindrance. After all, Magneto's current objective in the city was to gather supplies for The Brotherhood. Though it seemed that fate had brought him here for another reason. For as he walked along, he noticed in a darkened alley, a small gathering of people. No more than 5. Though it was the imbalance of power he was witnessing that caused him to pause.Four men surrounded one other, and the out numbered one caught Magneto's attention. For the man's appearance differed from the societal norm. He had protruding spikes all over his face and it was rather easy to recognize him as a mutant.

Though it seemed that his mutation was what was causing the harassment from others. Particularly when one of the attackers pulled out a blade. This was Magneto's cue. Without a change in his stride, he casually and confidently approached the group of men. "Gentleman," he greeted, as he drew closer, causing the others to pause. "It seems I am a witness to a rather unfortunate sight." Unfortunate for the humans. "This don't concern you. Get lost!" Magneto returned their threatening words with a slight smile. "I believe it does. For that man you are unjustly attacking, is my brother." For he was a mutant. And Magneto considered all mutants his brothers and sisters. The men did not seem to understand this concept, and perhaps took his words more literally. Two of them -- including the one with the blade -- turned toward Magneto, and began to approach him. Magneto did not move. He remained perfectly still, unfazed by their rather pathetic idea of a threat. He actually rather enjoyed witnessing their stupidity, so allowed them to grow closer, feeling the metal they held -- something they were soon going to lose control of.

Tag Gambit

[skullofbalerion]

"Ah do apologise, mon ami. I thought that this was my sports bag. Ah musta' left mine some place else..."

On the ground was a large sports bag, obviously jam-packed due to the bulge right along the zip, where standing above it were two men, seemingly confused about who owned said sports bag. The younger man, also the taller of the two, draped in a long, brown trenchcoat with well-kept dark hair protruding from underneath a black hat, was scratching his head with an expression on his face that screamed confused. The smaller, older gentleman, carrying a tennis racquet and wearing full-on working-out gym gear, complete with sweat bands on both wrists, seemed eager to get out of the mysterious, tall man's face as quickly as possible.

"It's okay, young man, I'll just be on my way now if you'd just..."

"But, y'know," the young man leaned in towards the other man's ear, carefully slipping his arm around the back of his temporary acquaintance's back. "Ah could'a sworn ah placed it jus' over here..?" The smaller man looked up and into the eyes of his detainee, when he noticed how black they were, dark, black eyes with red pupils glowing in the shadow of his dark hat.

"You, you're one of them, aren't you?!" The older gents' own eyes were now wider than the spectacle frames hanging on his nose. "Get away from me, get away! Take the bag, just take it!"

Pulling away from his younger and more athletic associate, the man turned and ran, shouting for help as he went.

"An' ah didn't even get his watch. Damn, ah'm outta practice!" Remy LeBeau shook his head in disappointment, speaking out loud to himself, before picking up the sports bag and darting into the shadows of the nearby gymnasium building. After hurdling a few fences, scaling a couple of walls, and running across several streets, Remy found a nice quiet location so he could check out what was in the bag. Strolling nonchalantly down the alley, the Cajun thief unzipped the bag and began pulling out item after item; first a pair of trousers, followed by a leather shoe, another shirt, a pair of scrunched up socks, another shoe... Behind him, a path of expensive laundry slowly got longer.

"Ah ha, now dis is what ah've been lookin' for..." stopping for a moment, Remy dropped the bag on the floor and unveiled what looked like a small jewelry box. Opening the box, Remy smiled as he took out a pair of large diamond earrings, definitely expensive and well worth a few dollar. Earlier that day, Remy had been scoping out a jewelry store in the city and had heard his target loudly revealing to the attractive young lady jeweler that he could easily afford the $2000 earrings, and bragging about how he 'worked out' every other day at the special VIP members gym Mesa's Gym. The rest had been too easy for the young thief, and now he had his prize, which he placed in a special hidden pocket in his trenchcoat.

Moments later, and Remy heard the sounds of a ruckus coming from a nearby alleyway. Altering his direction, Remy sneaked over to a wall, looking over to find a group of men standing in front of a small, spiky kid, facing off with a rather impressive looking man in a hat and sunglasses. Listening in closer, Remy could just about make out the end of what the man in the hat was saying to the gang, one of which was gripping a pretty big knife in tightly in his hand.

"... For that man you are unjustly attacking, is my brother."

'His brother? They don't look like brothers...' Remy thought to himself as he peered on from his hiding place. Whatever was happening here, it didn't look pretty. And Remy much preferred it when things were pretty. Standing up on the wall to make himself visible, the Cajun's eyes glowing red in the shadows, Remy decided to find out for himself what was going on. 'Ah mean, why not?' he reasoned with himself. He hadn't had a fight for at least twelve hours, and when the Cajun's fingers were itching, he just had to scratch them.

"Well, looks like ah'm missin' the party right here, wouldn't you fellers agree?" Remy jumped down from the top of the wall and into the fray in the alleyway.

"So, what kinda' party is this anyway? Can anyone jus' join in?"

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Magneto kept his eyes on the enemy, the urge to pull the metal from their weak grasps filling his body. It was as if he was an addict and he needed his fix. For wherever there was metal near, he felt power. However, there came a distraction that caused him to avert his gaze as he noticed a figure in the distance. It wasn't so much the darkened silhouette of the man he saw, but rather, the glowing of his eyes that caused Magneto to pause as fixate his gaze on him. As if he had silently heard Magneto's interest, the man joined the scene, confidently approaching them and even teasingly asking if he could join. From his gesture, gait, and words, Magneto quickly assessed him. He was undoubtedly a mutant. One who had not afraid to expose himself and that granted the mutant Magneto's immediate respect. The composed way he entered the scene also showed that he was confident in his mutant abilities. Enough to feel no threat of being overpowered.

Yes This man was indeed impressive. And he sure knew how to make an entrance. Magneto himself was a man who had a flare for the dramatics and histrionics -- moving an entire stadium being just one example -- so he could certainly appreciate this mutant's own grand entrance. Magneto liked him already. Unlike the humans who now grew more afraid, Magneto's reaction was that of a bit of a smirk as he watched the new mutant join the soon to be fight. One that would be over quite quickly for humans were far too weak to stand a chance against a mutant. It was within the mutant's capability however to realize that, acknowledge it, and embrace it. "The more the merrier, my friend," he answered, using his latter words with sincerity. For the man was a mutant; one who had not turned away from a clear fight. One who had consciously walked up to it. Magneto would make a point to talk to him after this current situation was handled. "I was just explaining to these gentleman of my intolerance for their unjustly attack toward my kin." His mutant brother. As was this man before him.

"Perhaps you would like to join me in executing a lesson in justice?" His offer to the man to make the first strike. Which, it seemed would be coming soon for the man with the dagger who had just been advancing toward Magneto, now turned and charged at the newcomer. Magneto knew he could stop it, quite easily at that. But instead, he watched. He watched to see what the mutant could do. Though was prepared to intervene if they dared harm the mutant. Despite Magneto's unfamiliarity with him, the strong protectiveness that Erik felt toward other mutant's was what made him fight for them. And he would not stand by and watch them be harmed. But nor did he underestimate a mutant's gift and right now, Magneto had a strong feeling that this latest addition to the scene was quite capable of handing himself. Hence, the reason Magneto just watched for the moment, to see how the mutant would handle the immediate threat that was charging at him, the strong anticipation of seeing the mutant's unknown powers causing him to watch intently and excitedly.

[skullofbalerion]

"The more the merrier, my friend."

Remy continued to strut over towards the group ahead of him slowly, but confidently. His right hand was ready to reach into his inside coat pocket for his pack of cards in case he had to move quickly. Although his powers had continued to flare up and out of control, recent events had enabled him to calm himself down, so as not to overblow his charging technique.

From the moment Remy had peered over the wall and seen what was unfolding, his red eyes had checked out the whole scene. The master thief was always sizing things up, his knack of being able to converse whilst making plans in his head of all possible outcomes was one picked up from years living on the streets as an orphan. In his career as a thief, this was one ability that was definitely all human. 

"I was just explaining to these gentleman of my intolerance for their unjustly attack toward my kin."

As the young Cajun got nearer to the person behind the voice, he thought he recognised his face. He couldn't quite work out where he knew the man from, but Remy was sure he had seen him before. His apparent control of the situation and confident demeanour suggested the possibility of a man of real power. His voice, the accent, Remy searched in his mind who this man could be. He was a mutant, Remy worked that out from his valiant defence of the poor boy caught up in the middle of all this. Looking over at the boy, Remy caught sight of him looking back, a petrified tear in his eye.

"Perhaps you would like to join me in executing a lesson in justice?"

Looking back to his 'kin' in the hat, Remy stopped as he had gotten close enough to all parties for a possible combat situation. As the man with the accent spoke, it began to come into Remy's head just who he was. The Cajun's eyes widened as he realised he was in the company of one of the most dangerous mutants in the world. For this man in front of Remy was none other but...

All of a sudden, the man with the dagger let out a hated scream and charged at Remy. On the back foot, the Cajun flipped himself backwards in a somersault motion, and landed squarely on all fours. Glancing at the man in the hat, for a split second amongst the commotion, Remy caught glimpse of his lips slowly turning into a smile. But Remy didn't have time to think, for the human bully-boy with the dagger had stumbled forwards after Remy had jumped back, but now he was joined by his rather large friend, who had one hell of a scar on his right eye, and another of the men, smaller but meaner looking. The fourth man turned to face the situation too, and made a move forward. Remy saw an opportunity.

"Hey kid, get the hell outta here!" Remy shouted to the teenage mutant cowering behind the fourth man, who turned sharply to grab hold of him. The boy sharply saw the chance to get away and managed to wriggle loose of his kidnappers grasp, just as Remy felt the hard thud of a boot right on his jaw. The force of the kick sent Remy backwards on to the ground, and he shook his head, slightly dazed for a moment.

"Get ready to feel my boot again, you little prick!" spat the man with the blade as he stepped forwards, henchmen in tow, spitting on the ground as they neared their target.

Having landed on his back, Remy quickly reached into his pocket and produced a playing card, just as the three assailants had begun to bare down on him. Remy, in his nervous haste, hurriedly charged the card, but charged it too much too soon, and he had barely enough time to flick it from his fingertips at the oncoming attackers before it blew up in their faces with bright pink explosive energy. The force of the blast hurled all three men backwards and up into the air, head first, and across ten metres of alleyway, before landing in between several garbage cans full to their brims with empty glass beer bottles. The sound as the men hit the cans was immense, glass smashing beneath their weight, bones cracking on the impact, and cries of pain bellowing in the evening air not long after. Remy, still lying back from the overbearing feeling he experienced from losing control of his powers, looked over to the man in the hat, who had not moved during the entire episode.

"Mon ami," the Cajun uttered quietly. "You're Magneto."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Magneto silently watched the entire scene unfold before him. There were moments where he was braced to intervene, but the way in which the man fought off the numerous assailants, was brilliant. It started with a mere flip in the air to create distance between him and the attacker. That act alone already had Magneto considering the possibility that it was done with the aid of his powers. But his powers still had yet to be defined, so for the time being, it was only a possibility. Perhaps the man was just a skilled gymnast. Magneto was not one to dismiss any possible variable. The man then took the time to inform the mutant who had been the first attacked in all this to escape. This revealed the man's intentions of joining the scene. It was not just about the thrill of the fight, even if that was what had initially intrigued him. The time he took to tell the other to make a run for it showed that he was concerned with the mutant's safety. This gained the man Magneto's respect. To know that he had noble intentions when it came to the protection and defending of a fellow mutant. But the warning had cost the man for he was kicked by one of the humans. Magneto did not move.

He considered raising his hand to interject but at the same time, wanted to see just how capable this man was. So he remained still. Completely stationary. He felt his disdain for the men grow as he voiced a threat, one that Magneto had a strong feeling would be quite futile. But to the degree it was, Magneto could not predict. What happened next was actually Magneto's favorite part of this well put on show. The man reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a playing card. What he did with it was incredible. This was undoubtedly part of his mutation and Magneto watched with clear admiration as the card caused the three attackers to fly back into the dumpsters. He had somehow charged the card to create what appeared to be an explosion of sorts. It was utterly remarkable, and caused a smile to spread on Magneto's lips. The men's sounds of pain did not evoke an ounce of sympathy from Magneto. In fact, he found they rather irritating. So as he walked forward to approach the man, he fisted his hand which caused the covers of the dumpsters to fly over the men, crushing them deeper into the garbage and cutting off their ability to breathe, suffocating them. As Magneto did so, he did not even glance at the men. The act was as effortless to him as breathing.

He continued to walk forward until he stood before his fellow mutant. At which point, he revealed the fact that he knew exactly who Magneto was, referring to him as his friend. His tone was not one filled with fear or anger toward Magneto. Perhaps it was mere acknowledgment and realization? Regardless of the tone, Magneto kept a smile on his lips. He then extended his hand toward the mutant to help him onto his feet. "A most impressive display, my friend," Magneto said, using the man's same words, only this time in the English language. The mutant's accent was slightly difficult to place, but that was not of the utmost importance right now. "Your powers and use of them are beyond incredible," he further praised, each compliment filled with genuineness. He did not say it to suck up; he said it because it was the absolute truth. For not only did the man possess such remarkable powers, he used them with great control and maximized their use. "But it seems you have the advantage, for you know my name and I am completely unaware of yours," he said, a not so subtle encouragement for the man to offer his name. "May I suggest we rectify that?" He asked, ensuring he made it an option for the man so that the mutant did not feel pressured to reveal his name to Magneto. Magneto just wished to refer to this mutant with the proper respect, for he most certainly deserved it.

[skullofbalerion]

Remy was still in a defensive position; down on his behind, his arms out behind him holding his body up, his body weak from the expulsion of so much of the energy coarsing through Remy's veins. He felt exhausted, as if he had just done an hour's work out. Sweat was beading down his brow, his fingers were occasionally shaking, little mini sparks of pink kinetic energy springing forth from odd areas if his body. His eyes had lost that bright ruby-red glow, now replaced with a dimmer, more crimson tone. Wiping a droplet of sweat from his forehead, Remy watched as Magneto effortlessly inflicted more damage on the assailants, restricting them from being able to breathe, their screams replaced with tight squeaks of air being gasped. Magneto's face was unnervingly calm.

Remy's heart began to beat a little faster, nerves tingling his body, as the master of magnetism made his way toward the young Cajun mutant, reaching out with his hand to offer help to stand.

"A most impressive display, my friend," Magneto spoke with a commanding yet calming voice, confident and sincere, with a hint of the European somewhere in his accent. Taking Magneto's hand, Remy got himself to his feet and brushed down the dust from his knees and his behind, whilst trying to maintain a level of coolness in front of this legend of the mutant world.

"Well, thank you very much, mon ami..." Remy smiled, half blushing, as he offered his response to Magneto's kind appraisal. Remy knew of Magneto; ever since the Cajun had discovered about his own powers, he had been interested in finding out about other mutants living on the Earth. He wanted to find out about them, as by doing so it might help him find out about himself.

"But it seems you have the advantage, for you know my name and I am completely unaware of yours," Remy nodded, realising he hadn't yet introduced himself. "May I suggest we rectify that?"

"Sure, sorry abou' that," Remy slowly raised his nervous hand to offer a handshake to his mighty acquaintance. "The name's Remy LeBeau, but ah've been goin' by the name of Gambit." Remy had picked up the moniker from his impressive displays in poker and other card games. It had been meant as an offensive term originally, but the Cajun had come to like it. "Ah'm very pleased ta make your acquaintance..." As Remy finished his sentence, a wave of exhaustion came over him, his temperature rose dramatically, and Remy felt rather faint.

"Ah'm sorry, ah don't feel too well..." Remy dribbled his words as he felt like he was losing consciousness, his body beginning to fall to the ground. He had no energy left at all, and he felt remarkably weak, his hands trembling as he reached out to the ground to catch himself from falling. And then blackness.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Magneto was watching the mutant carefully. He seemed on the brink of exhaustion, a clear fatigue sweeping over him. But still, he raised himself and offered his name. His introduction caused even more respect from Magneto toward the mutant for he not only told him his human name, but rather, his mutant name. "Gambit," he repeated, a small smile on his lips. "The pleasure is all mine," Magneto returned as he took his hand in his own, taking the offer that Gambit ha provided him with. What a remarkable mutant he was, possessing such incredible gifts and displaying them in the most productive and meaningful of ways tonight. Magneto was going to carry on with the conversation, when Gambit stated that he was not feeling well and the disorientation he felt consumed him as he began to fall to the floor. Magneto's reflexes acted quickly as he half caught the mutant's upper body and gently lay him on the ground before he had fallen too hard and may have otherwise hit his head. It would create far more of a dizziness when he woke up. With an unconscious Gambit now lying there, Magneto knew he could not leave his brother in the middle of an alley. Mutants were so accustomed to feeling alone and abandoned, and he would not perpetuate this unfair state that mutants were forced to ensure in this society -- all because of humans.

Magneto stood, facing one end of the alleyway. He extended his hand in front of him, feeling the surrounding metal. Using his powers he pulled a car toward the entrance, but as the alley was too narrow to bring a car into, it merely remained there, awaiting their presence. Magneto obviously did not bother himself with who's car it was. It had merely been a convenience to have it there, so that he could take Gambit somewhere more comfortable so that when he awoke, he would not find himself lying on the cold hard ground of an alley. Magneto then turned toward the garbage where the humans now lay lifeless in. One again utilizing his powers, he pulled off the lid and expanded it to make it a bit longer, a little more than the length of Gambit's body. He slid it under the mutant, knowing it would be quicker and more efficient this way rather than Magneto carrying him. As Magneto walked toward the car, the makeshift stretcher carrying Gambit moved behind him, until they reached the car at which point, Magneto moved Gambit into the passenger's seat, before getting into the driver's seat. Keys were not needed so instead, Magneto used his powers to move the car on the road, an effortless action that would eventually lead them to a motel.

Leaving a still unconscious Gambit in the car, Magneto made his way into the main area to get a room. Motel's had less security, asked less questions, and easily accepted cash. While Gambit may not be a wanted man, Magneto certainly was as he would not compromise another mutant's safety -- one who was not in the Brotherhood -- but not taking necessary precautions. Once he got a room, he returned to the car, and moving Gambit's arm he draped it around his shoulder and half dragged, half carried him to the motel room. He moved him onto the bed, leaving him there once again as he quickly went to a nearby pharmacy to get some medication for when the mutant awoke, for he was fairly certain there would be a strong pounding in his head -- to say the least. With this last errand, Magneto returned to the room, deciding to wait until the mutant woke up before he left. He set the bottle of medicine and a glass of water at the side table, putting aside the reasons he had entered the city for now, his focus remained on Gambit and ensuring he was well when he awoke.