Uncanny X Men #266 by Chris Claremont

Gambit

In New Orleans, a de-aged Storm survives as a street thief until a charismatic mutant with explosive powers intervenes, initially hired to capture her but ultimately choosing to protect her from a ruthless criminal ring exploiting runaways. Their uneasy alliance leads to daring escapes and kinetic showdowns, hints at his ties to the city’s underworld, and sets them on a path back toward the X-Men.