Tournament - Ruby Heart and Gambit and Larcen Tyler vs. Fixer and Juri Han and Swordsman

[Mercenaryblade]

Upper State New York, 1997

It was a warm summer night in upstate New York, the kind that made the stars shine a little brighter and the crickets sing a little louder. At the X-Mansion, the grounds stretched wide and quiet under the moonlight. Remy LeBeau, better known as Gambit, strolled to the edge of the woodline. The faint scent of pine mixed with the distant hum of cicadas. He wore his signature trench coat, unbothered by the heat—it was a far cry from the oppressive humidity of the Louisiana bayous he’d grown up with.

His thoughts, however, weren’t so tranquil. They were fixed on Rogue. His cherie.

Gambit had broken hearts before, countless ones, and he’d had his share of fleeting romances. But Rogue was different. She wasn’t just another conquest or a passing flame. She was someone he wanted to make happy, someone he wanted to be with—for real. But the cruel irony of her powers, of her inability to touch or be touched, hung over him like a storm cloud.

And now, there was someone else. Someone who might be able to touch her. Someone who could give her what he couldn’t.

He sighed, staring up at the stars as the breeze tousled his auburn hair.

“Bonsoir, Monsieur Gambit,” came a lilting voice, tinged with a French accent.

Gambit turned sharply, a glowing card flaring to life in his hand. When he saw the figure standing there, he smirked.

“Well, Ruby Heart,” he said, letting the card extinguish. “What brings a pirate like you to my neck of the woods?”

Ruby Heart sauntered closer, the moonlight glinting off the gold trim of her flamboyant coat. Her eyepatch didn’t diminish the sharpness of her gaze, and her smirk was as enigmatic as ever.

“Looking for you, of course,” she said smoothly. “I need your particular set of skills for a little job I’m planning. A heist, to be precise. Generous cut of the loot. Interested?”

Gambit chuckled and shook his head. “Non. Gambit’s an X-Man now. He don’t do thieving for hire anymore.”

Ruby’s smirk didn’t waver. “Ah, what a shame. A real shame,” she said with a theatrical sigh. She turned as if to leave but paused. “Did I mention the bracelet?”

That got his attention. Gambit folded his arms, watching her warily.

“It’s a magical artifact,” Ruby said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “Said to have the power to siphon and control abilities. Imagine, for instance, being able to touch someone without worrying about... consequences.”

Gambit’s crimson-on-black eyes narrowed. “You seem to know a lot about me, cher.”

“I do my research,” Ruby replied, her smirk widening. “So, what do you say? A grand heist, a little excitement, and the chance to steal from someone who truly deserves it. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

Gambit hesitated. He knew better than to trust Ruby Heart, but the idea of the bracelet, of what it could mean for him and Rogue... It was too tempting to ignore.

“I’m listening,” he said at last.

Chicago, 1928

The smell of smoke and the notes of jazz filled the streets of Chicago, mingling with the faint tang of alcohol seeping from the city’s speakeasies. Larcen Tyler adjusted his fedora as he stepped out of the alley, his trench coat flaring briefly in the evening breeze.

A former boxer turned enforcer for the Chicago Syndicate, Larcen had seen more than his share of the city’s underbelly. But lately, he’d been trying to turn things around, putting his fists to work for those who couldn’t fight for themselves.

Unfortunately, that had made him some powerful enemies.

As he crossed the street, a black car screeched around the corner, its headlights cutting through the foggy night. He barely had time to react before gunfire erupted, bullets ricocheting off the lampposts and pavement.

Ducking into an alley, Larcen cursed under his breath. “Figures,” he muttered, pulling out the brass knuckles he always kept handy.

Before he could plan his next move, a sudden burst of light filled the alley. He turned, expecting more trouble, but instead saw a woman stepping through what looked like a shimmering portal. She wore a coat even flashier than his, with golden trim and an air of command that couldn’t be ignored.

“Bonsoir, Monsieur Tyler,” she said with a grin, drawing her anchor. “Looks like you could use a little help.”

“Who the hell are you?” Larcen demanded, still clutching his brass knuckles.

“Ruby Heart,” she replied, twirling the anchor with a flourish. “Let’s just say I have an eye for talent, and you, my dear, have caught mine. Now, shall we deal with these unpleasant fellows together?”

The car roared closer, when it suddenly careened to the side courtesy of a playing card. lamppost.

Larcen blinked. “What kind of racket is this?”

Onboard the Partenaire

Ruby’s ship was a floating marvel of interdimensional engineering. Gleaming brass pipes snaked along the walls, and the hum of arcane machinery filled the air. The deck was lined with cannons that looked both nautical and otherworldly, while an enormous wheel adorned with glowing runes sat at the helm.

“Welcome aboard,” Ruby said, spreading her arms grandly. “The Partenaire. My home, my sanctuary, and the finest ship to ever sail the multiverse.”

Larcen turned in a slow circle, taking it all in. “This… this is incredible.”

Ruby grinned. “Now, let’s get down to business. We’ve got a heist to plan, and both of you have roles to play.”

Larcen crossed his arms. “What exactly are we stealing?”

Ruby’s grin widened, a glint of mischief in her eye. “Let’s just say a treasure trove of artifacts that will change the game for all of us. And it’s locked away in a place most people wouldn’t dare tread.”

“And where is that?” Gambit asked.

Ruby leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “A little place called Latveria.”

Gambit shook his head, his expression serious. "Latveria? You are crazy. Dat, Doom's territory. Ain't nobody mess with Doom and walk away smiling."

Larcen frowned, glancing between Gambit and Ruby. "Doctor who?"

Ruby burst into laughter, a melodic sound that only added to Larcen’s confusion. “No, dear, not that doctor. This isn’t a flying blue police box.”

Larcen raised an eyebrow, his confusion deepening. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Ruby patted him on the shoulder, still smirking. “Don’t worry about it, darling. What matters is that Doom isn’t home. He’s off gallivanting on some diplomatic tour, probably scheming another plot to deal with the Fantastic Four. But don’t let that fool you—his castle is far from unguarded.”

Gambit folded his arms and leaned back against a brass console, his glowing red eyes narrowing. “Even if Doom’s gone, dat place will be locked tighter than a crawfish trap. You sure you know what you’re doing, cher?”

Ruby tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eye. “When do I ever not know what I’m doing?”

Gambit raised a brow. “Want a list?”

Larcen cleared his throat, stepping forward. “Alright, I might not know who this Doom guy is, but I’ve broken into places before. How bad can it be?”

Gambit and Ruby exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.

“Mon ami,” Gambit said, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye, “you don’t know Doom. But you will.”

Ruby waved a hand dismissively. “Enough chatter. We’ll need to move fast. I’ve got the coordinates locked in, and the ship will take us straight to the outskirts of Castle Doom. But once we’re there, it’s up to us to get inside, grab the artifact, and get out before anyone realizes we’re even there.”

Larcen nodded, adjusting his hat. “Fine. Just point me where you need me.”

Ruby stepped to the helm and grasped the glowing wheel, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. “Hold on to something, boys. This is going to be a bumpy ride.”

Latveria

Deep within Doom’s castle, the tension was palpable.

Fixer sat hunched over a console, his fingers flying across the keyboard as streams of data scrolled across the screen. “I don’t know why Doom assigned me to babysit you two,” he muttered. “I could be building something useful right now.”

Juri leaned casually against a pillar, her arms crossed, eyes half-lidded but far from bored. “Relax, tech boy. Maybe Doom figured you needed a little fresh air. Or maybe you’re just not as important as you think.” She grinned, the faint glow of her Feng Shui Engine flickering ominously.

Fixer glared at her. “I am important. Doom values intellect, not mindless violence.”

“Mindless?” Juri’s grin twisted into something sharper. “I call it fun. Maybe I should show you how much fun I can be.” She took a deliberate step toward him, her predatory gaze locking on his.

Before the tension could escalate further, Swordsman stepped between them, his blade resting lightly on his shoulder. “Both of you, stop. We have a job to do. Doom left us in charge, and I doubt he’d be impressed if we tore each other apart before the intruders even show up.”

Juri rolled her eyes. “Fine, Captain Buzzkill. But if I don’t get to kick someone’s head in soon, I’m turning on you.”

Fixer snorted. “As if you could,” the villain tilted his head, “Hmm?”

Swordsman sheathed his blade and turned toward the console Fixer had been working on. “What is it?”

Fixer’s scowl deepened. “Doombot down in North corridor. Someone tripped the secondary perimeter defenses, and they’ve already bypassed two locks. If they keep this up, they’ll reach the trove.”

Juri stretched languidly. “Good. Let them get close. That way, I won’t have to hunt them down.”

Swordsman sighed. “We stick to the plan. We intercept them before they reach the vault. No improvising.” He shot a pointed look at Juri.

She smirked. “No promises.”

Fixer cracked his neck, “I’m redirecting all DoomBot patrols, no sense in having them spoil our fun.”  
 

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Gambit
Read more about Gambit at Wikipedia
Official Site: Marvel Comics Links: Wikipedia: Gambit Uncannyxmen.net: Gambit Marvel.com: Gambit

Ruby Heart
Read more about Ruby Heart at Wikipedia
Official Site: Capcom Links: Wikipedia Giant Bomb Marvel vs. Capcom wiki

Larcen Tyler
Read more about Larcen Tyler at Wikipedia
Official Site: SEGA Links: Wikipedia

Swordsman
Read more about Swordsman at Wikipedia
Official Site: Marvel Entertainment Links: Wikipedia Comic Vine Marvel.com

Juri Han
Read more about Juri Han at Wikipedia
Official Site: Capcom Links: Wikipedia- SSF4 Street Fighter Wiki Fighter's Generation

Fixer
Official Site: Marvel Links: Wikipedia