A bottle of milk (Tag: Barricade)

[Gambit]

It was one cold summer night, and the cajun was thirsty. It was almost midnight but for the life of him, he didn't know why he was still inside the lair. Most of the time he'd be out the entire night and be back by morning. Tonight wasn't the case. He felt contented to be just inside the area at this hour. Hopefully, he won't regret being stuck here tonight. For the life of him, he might be on the recieving end of two things.

First, he might get a lecture by the 'other boss' named Alex Summers for always being so 'disorganized'. Gambit scoffed at the thought of the man who liked to play 'leader' while Magneto was away. Second of all, he might get a prank from Medusa. While he enjoyed Medusa doing pranks on Tsunami, he won't do so when it's his turn.

He pulled out a bottle of milk from the fridge and grabbed a glass from the counter. He pulled himself near the table and started to pour the milk onto the glass. Once filled up, the cajun would hold the glass of milk and stare into it. Something bothered him, initially he felt he was alone inside the kitchen. Now, however, he was not. He slowly tilted his head towards his right and he saw a familiar person.

"Almost gave Gambit a scare...", the cajun said lightly to the new arrival to the kitchen. He turned his attention back to the glass and slowly downed the contents.

[Azumi Matsuura]

She couldn't sleep. Insomnia was one of the draw backs to there not being much of a difference between night and day, after all. It didn't hit her too often but tonight it was a visitor she just couldn't shake. Of course, thinking about not so friendly parts of her past didn't help her get any rest either. After having tossed and turned for a couple of hours, she finally gave a kitten like sound borne out of frustration and got up. Pulling on a pair of shorts and a string sleeve shirt, she walked towards the door. The light robe was caught up as she made it to the doorway as it had been hanging on the small hook on the wall and she pulled the robe on as she made her way out into the hallway.

The floor was as cold out in the hall as it was in her room, but she didn't mind. The sense of touch was always a favorite of hers and the chill didn't deter her from that opinion. If anything, it made her unseeing eyes widen and round some in excitement before she adjusted to the temperature.

The kitchen, she was going to the kitchen to get herself a cup of warm tea. It'd start off hot, but she would cool it with a couple of ice cubes and a little milk so not to accidentally burn her sensitive tongue. Her senses were nothing superhuman, but they were amplified to try to make up for the one that was missing.

Azumi followed the map in her head even as she listened out for anyone who might be in the hall. Though some of the Brotherhood knew she was blind, the newer ones hadn't found out yet. It was her goal to seem as normal as possible. Well, normal for a mutant that is. The thought made her half smile as she passed through the doorway of the kitchen and she paused briefly as she thought she heard something. Then the scent came to her. Gambit. He always wore the same after-shave.

As she heard his comment, she bit her lower lip ever so slightly in amusement. Sometimes she forgot that in her attempt to be silent so she could hear her surroundings, she tended to sneak up on people often as they couldn't hear her either.

"It's a good thing you weren't drinking at that exact moment then or we might have had a mess." She commented with a hint of amusement in her tone as she went to walking again.

Azumi stopped at one of the counters then pulled out a box of tea before pulling herself up onto the counter so she could reach the mugs in the higher cabinets.

[Gambit]

A smirk formed upon the lips of the cajun. She was right, had she done it earlier, he would have spilled milk all over the floor. Not only would that be embarassing, but he knew he would be the one who'd be up to clean the mess the next morning. Not that there was something wrong about cleaning, it's just that he didn't think it would be fun for him to say the least. He gently placed his cup down the table and peered over th Azumi's direction.

Gambit slowly rose up once she got hold of the tea leaves. He walked towards the girl's direction and asked, "Somethin to keep you relaxed for de night?: She couldn't see it, but it seemed to Gambit she would be reaching for something a bit higher on the cabinet. He went beside her and reached out for the mug. "Don't worry chere, Gambit got this one for you.", he said with a reassuring voice. She could reach it, but it might risk her getting hit over the head by the same mug she wanted to grab.

He placed the mug beside the box of tea on the counter. The cajun went over to his empty glass of milk and inquired, "So, what is keepin' you up tonight? De others bein too noisy again?" It was nothing unusual. Maybe 1-2 members were bickering against each other, or in some cases, to themselves out loud. With Azumi's condition maybe she can hear a bit better, which could be also a problem if she wanted to sleep. Not that Gambit thought that it was the case, but it was his hunch. With the question thrown at her, he made his way towards the sink and started to rinse his glass.

[Azumi Matsuura]

She heard his footsteps as he drew closer and the scent of his after-shave became stronger. She didn't change up her movements though, there being no need for it. As he asked her on if the tea was something to keep her relaxed for the night, she gave a brief nod.

"Just one of those nights." She commented.

Closer still, a moment before she could almost feel his movements beside and a little over her. He was reaching for something. Either he had decided he wanted some tea too, or he was getting her a mug for her. At his next comment, it became clear that he was helping her. She hated that feeling. Hated not knowing if someone was helping her just because they were there or because of her blindness. The fact that he was one of the few people who knew about her condition didn't help either.

As she heard the mug being set on the counter top, Azumi lowered herself down from the counter and onto her feet on the floor.

"Thanks, but I could have gotten that."

She would have added the part of her not being helpless, but she knew he was one of those types who tried to show some manners and chivalry and all that. There was a chance that it was personality and not pity that had been the fuel for his action.

When the question came on what might have been keeping her up, she gave a soft sigh and shook her head at his guess.

"I just get like this sometimes, it's just that no one usually catches me up and around. As far as I could tell on my way here, most of the others are asleep or out." She said, placing the kettle on the stove.

It still had some water in it from the last user and it felt like there was enough for her tea and a little more.

[Gambit]

He just gave a nod once she explained it was just one of those nights. The cajun could relate. In fact, tonight was one of those off nights he was stuck at the house in the first place. He looked out at the window and had a blank look on his face. Tonight wasn't that active inside the house. Maybe it was just him, but he was not used to something so 'stationary' for one night. Gambit turned his attention back at Azumi who told him that most of the people inside are either asleep or gone.

"Hmmm...well, just hopin' de others won't be wakin up soon", the cajun said under his breath before he laughed. There were only a few people he could tolerate in this team so his comment really did hold water. Azumi was just one of the few members he knew he could talk to properly, without getting into an arguement. Once the glass was cleaned up, he placed it along with the other recently washed dishes and mugs.

"How has it been for you dese past few days?", the cajun asked Azumi as he sat a few feet near her. He watched as she was boiling some water for her tea. Gambit was not useful the peaceful conversation inside here, so this was a welcomed change.

[Azumi Matsuura]

"They're not that bad once you get to know how to deal with each one individually. I mean, with you, you're alright when you're not trying to blush someone to death with your flirting. Clover's good as long as you don't have anything disorganized. She's a good listener. Let's see... Medusa, well she keeps things interesting around here Alex, I'm not really too sure about yet seeing how he's new but I'm sure he's got a trait that's endearing. Zyne is a little shy, but he's easy to get along with as long as you're not too touchy feely... And so on." She commented with a slight shrug.

She hummed, though only very softly as she thought over the other members of the Brotherhood. Then, her thoughts began to wander on how well she actually fit in, in a place like this. She didn't want to kill anyone, she didn't like the terrorism.... But what could she really do? The alternative she knew about was way too kiss-ass when it came to humans.

As she heard Gambit speak again, she turned her head to make it seem like she was looking over at him.

"It's been... somewhat complicated. I've just been having some thoughts lately I've been having trouble shaking but it'll pass. It's happened before and it's passed before so I'm not too worried about it. They're just thoughts, after all..... So what about you? Break any hearts lately?" She asked, teasing him a little at the end part of that.

[Gambit]

"Well...Gambit didn't need any descriptions to any other member in de house.", the cajun said with a light chuckle. He knew he can deal with the personalities within this house, and even be entertained in the process. But she conveniently put out one character out of the list. The same man he didn't wish she'd mention. Wish granted. He assured her, "Don't worry, Gambit knows how to deal with most people here. Just don't want em awake right now. Das all. B'sides, it not every night we get to talk dis much."

Once the cajun said those words, he did a backtrack in his mind. He was right, he rarely talked in lenght with Azumi until tonight. There was the usual 'hi' and 'how are yous' beore he would leave a couple of minutes from the conversation due to something else. The other reason, she was mostly inside the brotherhood lair. Gambit, on the other hand, was usually outside of the lair.

Remy slowly made his way nearer to Azumi while she talked. He looked towards the window while she told him about her thoughts. "Thoughts may just be thoughts, but some really stick into one's head y'know?", the cajun stated before he faced her. He grinned at her question about him.

"Gambit? You think he breakin' hearts of de ladies. Quite the opposite don't you think?", he said with his usual suave voice before through his grinning face. He looked over to his side and recalled his recent meeting with a girl who controlled fire. The cajun looked back at Azumi and answered, "None. But some girl did try to burn Gambit's trenchcoat." He placed a hand on his chin and slowly rubbed it. It made him have the grin stay on his face a little while as he told Azumi, "Y'know dat aint a good reward after saving a damsel from distress...let alone giving Gambit's own trenchcoat after she lost her clothes due to, well, her own powers."

He paused for a few seconds and darted his eyes towards Azumi to inform her, "Gambit ain't makin dat up, it was due to her own powers she lost her clothes, not Gambit's". The cajun had to add that little information up to the girl before she would think it was the cajun's usual MO in play.

[Azumi Matsuura]

"Well, with how often you're here at the domain, you never know how much of a description you might need." She replied in a tease.

It was just minor teasing, she wasn't making a crack on him or trying ot make him feel strange about having an active life outside of the Brotherhood activities. Just because they were Brotherhood, it didn't mean that it consumed their whole lives.

Azumi actually got out a lot herself, though she never told anyone where she was going. It was to spend time with her family. They weren't mutants, thus the secret. One she intended to keep the best that she could. Neither of her lives knew about the other. As far as her family was concerned, she was spending time with friends or helping some people out. Yes, they knew she was a mutant, but they didn't have a problem with it.... And as far as the Brotherhood... Well, they didn't really dig that deeply into her business so that saved her right there. Azumi couldn't imagine what might or might not happen if the Brotherhood found out about her family and her relationship with them.

As Gambit began speaking again, Azumi was grateful for it as it pulled her out of her thoughts. She shook her head a little in agreement when he mentioned that they didn't really talk much.

"A little hard to talk when we barely see each other." She said, teasing him again.

It wasn't flirting. Oh no. Azumi actually had a bit of a fear about relationships or attractions to someone. Even if she wasn't one of those easy girls, it didn't mean that she hadn't had her share of boyfriends... And each one had been so much worse than the last. The most recent one had actually pushed her out of a moving car because she had slapped him for trying to force the issue of sex. It had been after that, that she had told herself she was giving up on relationships. It still hurt..... Not the damage from when she hit the road, but the things he had said. The way he had told her that he would have assumed a blind girl would put out easier as she needed all the help she could get...

"Thoughts may just be thoughts, but some really stick into one's head y'know?"

Again, Gambit saved her from her own contemplations.

"You're telling me." She commented as she went to turning the stove off and pouring the hot water into the now prepared mug of tea. Azumi listened to figure out how full the mug was before stopping then putting the kettle down. She then went to getting the sugar, milk, and ice even while Gambit went to defending his honor when it came to heart breaking.

"Her powers took her clothes off... Suuuuure." Azumi commented with a small soft laugh.

That was followed by him trying to further explain which made her actually giggle some.

[Gambit]

A grin came across Gambit's face, he realized the hilarity of the situation. There he was trying to prove his innocence in a deed that left a woman naked. Given his reputation here and outside, how can they NOT laugh at this situation, true or not. A small chuckle was let out of the cajun's mouth as he walked away from Azumi to head near the window.

"So...", Gambit said to Azumi's direction while he kept his gaze on the outside. "You headin back to sleep after tea? Or you got somethin else to do after bein here in d kitchen?" After he asked, he slowly turned his gaze towards the girl.

On Gambit's end, he was not too sure. He had yet to feel sleepy and was looking to go somewhere. Maybe a small stroll with his bike, around the nearby streets, would be a good thing to do. If not, he can always head up to the roof and watch the sky from there. On the shortlist of things to do, sleeping wasn't in any of it as of now.

[Azumi Matsuura]

Her giggles melted to just a somewhat cheeky half smirk as she turned to be resting her lower back against the edge of the counter and holding the mug in her hand. Azumi listed to him speaking as she stirred the contents of her cup, her being careful not to clang the spoon against the sides as the clanging wasn't exactly relaxing. Relaxing had been the purpose of her making the tea int he first place and getting tense over the sound was kind of counterproductive.

"Well, I was going to try to go to sleep again. But, despite the smell and warmth of the tea, I doubt it's going to really work. The most it might do is give me something to do in about an hour besides laying in my bed staring at the ceiling." She commented with a soft sigh.

"Why, did you have something in mind? She asked, batting her lashes at him.

Azumi knew that she was more or less safe from his flirting as he more than likely gave up by now. But then again, he was full of surprises so sometimes it was hard to tell what he might be up to next.

[Gambit]

Gambit's lips formed a huge grin, thankfully Azumi couldn't see it. He actually found her statement about staring at the ceiling somewhat funny. He didn't know whether or not she meant it as a bad joke directed to herself. It was painfully obvious to the cajun she can't even see but the 'staring' part really got him. Remy supressed any funny bone that would've been caught by that statement.

The cajun did have something in mind, for himself maybe. He looked at Azumi who actually batted her lashes at him. He just shook his head lightly and smirked at her direction. Did the girl actually think that would work on Gambit? Looking back at the door he replied, "Maybe a stroll down the streets wth de bike. Dat or maybe just sittin' on de roof, watchin de skies. It might help Gambit feel sleepy."

He paced around the kitchen for a few good seconds while he informed her, "Would be lovely if Gambit had some company....you d'know dat right?" Slowly, Gambit made his way towards the girl and asked her, "Would you do de honors of accompanying me in either of those activities?" A small smile appeared on his lips. Since she had an hour or two before she would get sleepy, Gambit thought it might be nice for her to get some fresh air in any way possible.

[Azumi Matsuura]

As he spoke about the ride he would be taking or the possible star gazing he might do up on the roof, it reminded her even more so of how often he seemed to get out. She got out too, she just happened to come back and had the timing of being here in a way where people would often see her around the domain. If they saw her here, then they didn't wonder where she we went off to. Which in turn kept them from finding out about her family and how often she visited them.

"Well, I've got a.... thing... when it comes to cars and bikes, but I figure if you drop me I could drop you too so I might just take you up on that." She said.

When she commented on the dropping part, she tried to make a joke of it. She didn't want to seem like she was attacking him or anything. Azumi wasn't known for being the aggressive one. She was the more.... calmer one out of the bunch. And even the ones that didn't know about her blindness tended to think of her as not being a risk to them. Which was the majority of the members seeing how it wasn't exactly easy to tell that she was vision impaired.

[Gambit]

"Y'know, Gambit don't drop women off his bikes. He too much of a gentleman to do dat. Furthermore, he a safe driver." The cajun replied to her in those words with a very assuring tone. He may have no knowledge about Azumi getting thrown out of the car, but the joke she threw at him seemed too 'dark' for his own humor. He pulled up a chair and sat a few feet away from her.

Curiously, he asked her, "So Gambit takes it you chose a bike ride around town rather dan hangin out of de rooftop non?" He had a small grin on his face before he added, "So, ready to go with Gambit soon? Or shall he wait a few moments before he drives you 'round town?"

If Azumi will be part of his bike ride tonight, Gambit would be a bit more considerate in his driving. Usually, when alone, he would go full speed on his bike and risk an accident. Right now, he'd take it a bit slow. But for the cajun, slow didn't mean the minimum speed required on the road, it's probably what the speed limit would give him, plus a notch higher.

[Azumi Matsuura]

At his first statement, Azumi wondered for a moment if he had caught offense. Well, he was the gentleman type, she supposed. Though, at the same time he countered that with shameless flirting from what she'd heard. But, it wouldn't really be him without the flirting now would it. It came with the package when it came to Gambit. If it were to come from someone like Alex or Zyne, the same couldn't be said of them.

"I'm up for either or on the plans, I was just trying to tell you that I was open even if I'm, well iffy about the riding around choice." She told him, sipping on her tea and smiling with her eyes over the edge of the cup for a moment.

"I'm definitely going to have to get changed if we're going on that ride around town though. Pajamas aren't exactly motorcycle wear. It won't take me long though, seeing how I usually have my outfits already set up on the hangers." She added after she put the cup down again.

[Gambit]

"Now dat's more like it" Gambit replied to her upon the girl telling him she was up for either activities. Maybe he didn't need to charm this one to get her to ride with him after all. Besides, while he did find her cute, he knew better than just try to get into bed with a team mate. That would be another challenge for another day, but not tonight. When he thought about it, the brotherhood had a collection of 1-2 attractive women. Sadly, they don't have the right frame of mind.

"Dat sounds good to Gambit." The cajun gave the reply as he slowly rose from his seat. He watched as she placed her cup down, she was heading up it seems. The cajun slowly made his way towards the door and knew he needed his trenchcoat for tonight. Once he reached the doorway, he glanced back at Azumi to inform her, "Meet up at de garage in 20 minutes alright? Gambit'll be there, waitin' for ya."

Slowly, he turned to the doorway again and headed out. Tonight was going to be an interesting night.

[EXIT GAMBIT]