The Hearts of Thieves

• Writer - Fabian Nicieza
• Penciler - Andy Kubert
• Inker - Matt Ryan
• Lettering - Bill Oakley
• Colorist - Digital Chameleon
• Editor - Bob Harras
• Editor in Chief - Tom Defalco

Summary

  Rogue asks Sabretooth about Paris (see iss. 28), and he uses a holographic projector Xavier gave him to show his memories:

  Remy is 17 and sees Sabretooth accosting a pretty girl; he protects her. Sabretooth says she stole a pendant, and he's hired to get it back. Remy explodes some cards, and he retreats, for now.

  Remy checks in with his brother Henri, who is sponsoring his passage into the Guild. He had sent Remy to steal the same pendant, The Cheating Star, from the girl, Darceneaux, who stole it from Herzog. Henri tells him to be serious; Remy wants to have some fun before his arranged marriage at age 18.

  Remy steals bread and wine for her, but when he uses his mutant power to explode the cork, they get splattered with wine. Sabretooth stalked them for days, taking Remy's measure, expecting the girl to be betrayed. "Anyone stupid enough to hold that knife called love, 'sgonna get cut by it sooner or later. Cut deep? and hard." He met with Herzog, who was heartbroken over her, his former mistress. Sabretooth says he's a sap. "Getting' involved with a frail never leads anywhere. Only ting you ever get out of it is more proof that no one's worth botherin' with 'cause people are selfish, Herzog. Selfish to the core."

  Remy and Darceneaux fall in love; he leaves her boudoir one night with the pendant, and Sabretooth breaks in to tell her and takes her hostage.

  He holds her and Henri by their feet from the top of Notre Dame and demands the jewel. Remy is shocked: he thought it was just a game. He tosses over the jewel, and Sabretooth lets go, letting him decide which hostage to catch. He catches Henri, and Darceneaux dies on the pavement, professing her love for him.

  Rogue takes a walk on the grounds, and Remy finds her, saying he's a different man now. She's not so sure.

  Hank goes to Sabretooth: he needs information about the Legacy Virus from Sinister. Sabretooth sits in his cell replaying memories of Leni Zauber and their son Graydon, who betrayed him.