1. First Encounter
Her music was blasting, she was sweating, and in another second this damn robot would be down.
Alexis wiped her forehead as it finally disappeared. Then a movement in the corner of her eye made her straighten up. She must have counted wrong. She had thought she had destroyed the final robot for her workout, but here was another one.
It looked different--more human--but that didn't surprise her. It was short and heavily muscled and wore a weird blue and gold outfit. It opened its mouth to speak.
"This is shitty music. Turn it off."
No robot had ever spoken before. But Alexis had just destroyed six robots and one more, especially one that insulted her music, wouldn't make a difference. Someone must have programmed it to say that.
"Jubilee, I'm going to get you for that!" she shouted and rushed towards it.
The two circled. Alexis made a fake rush, just to see what its reaction would be. It looked like it was smart enough to wait for a real attack.
"You're the first one that's ever talked," she told it as they continued circling each other. "Can you say anything else besides insulting my musical taste? Would you prefer some synthesizer music instead?"
Alexis almost laughed at her own bad joke but just then it roared and dove at her.
She would have rather thrown kicks and punches since it was obviously stronger, but it seemed to be content with wrestling. Alexis grabbed it arms in case it changed its mind about hitting.
It was a lot stronger and she groaned trying to keep from being thrown to the floor.
"What's the matter?" she gasped. "Cat got your tongue? Maybe it was a mouse!"
His hot breath hit her face as he replied, "I ain't a robot!"
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"You're real? Who--who are you?"
She was still struggling against him.
"Wolverine," he said.
"Wolverine?" Alexis stopped and stared at him. "Wolver--"
Her voice cut off as his fist slammed into her nose. It broke with an audible 'pop!'. Alexis stumbled backward in shock, holding her hand to her face. When she pulled it away, blood ran down to her chin.
"You hit me!"
"Don't ever stop in the middle of a fight," he replied. "You're lucky this ain't a real one."
She was still shocked. Carefully she wiped the blood from her face.
"And git rid of the music. It's got no place in here. What's your name, anyway?"
Alexis glared at him. "I'm Alexis Abernathy."
"Whatta 'bout your code name?"
She paused. Softly she replied, "Cutthroat."
She missed the amused look in his eyes. "You earn that name?"
Alexis looked back up and narrowed her eyes.
Wolverine half-shrugged. "You'll learn ta scrap better. Once you stop yakkin' while you're fightin' and git rid of the music."
He ignored her look of disbelief and turned to walk away.
Almost immediately he was tripped. He hit the floor with rigid arms, but her sudden weight on his back knocked him all the way to the ground. Her knee pressed behind his head to pin him there.
"You should know to never turn your back on an opponent," she said.
Wolverine grinned. Alexis got off his back and stood up. He turned over.
"You gonna give me a hand up?" he asked in an amused tone.
"So you can get a grip on me?" she asked in reply.
His grin widened. "No--I'll call a truce. We're tied--one ta one."
Alexis narrowed her eyes and slowly extended her hand.
Wolverine grasped it and she helped pull him up. She watched to muscles in his legs tense and relax as he stood. X-Men uniforms didn't leave much to the imagination.
"Well," she said as he stepped back," shall we see who scores the winning point?"
He glanced at her in surprise.
"It's got to be better than beating up robots," Alexis continued.
"Yeah . . . "
She nodded. "Then let's do it!"
Wolverine smiled again and pulled off his gloves, then his helmet. He proceeded to strip out of his shirt.
"Are you planning on going au natural?"
He glanced at her again. She stood in front of him with a small smile. This woman joked in a slightly hopeful sexual way, wanted to fight, and smelled so . . . inviting . . . Wolverine had to swallow before he answered.
"You ain't wearin' an X-Man outfit. I want it ta be fair."
"That's nice."
He kicked his shirt behind him. "Ready ta start?"
"Yes," Alexis replied, and without warning, sprung at him.
It caught him half by surprise. He managed to deflect most of her attack. She spun around to face him again.
This time it was more intense. Wolverine noticed Alexis was more determined. He held himself back, but each time she surprised him with a move of a sudden burst of speed, he lost a little more control.
At first when she managed to tap his head or face it had been like a controlled karate strike, but now it was more like a caress. Her fingers would swiftly brush his cheek or sideburns, and a smile would flit in her eyes.
Wolverine matched her style with restrained hits for awhile . . . he remained relatively stationary as she danced around him. This wasn't an exertion. Why was he sweating? Her smell was almost intoxicating . . .
His fist flashed by her face. Alexis turned her head quickly to snap at it. She missed, but her mouth left a wet mark on wrist. Instantly Wolverine changed. Taking her by surprise, he jumped at her. His quickness startled her and he knocked her to the floor, straddling her effortlessly. One hand held down her shoulder, and the other positioned blades at her throat.
"Jubilee? Where's Alexis?"
"Hi Scott," the girl said, looking up from her magazine. "She's down in the Danger Room."
"You know, you're supposed to be monitoring people when you're in the observation booth. Take your feet off the computer."
She sighed but removed her feet. "You're worse than Professor Xavier. Why'd you want Alexis?"
"Logan's back. I want her to meet him."
"I think she did--he went down to the floor while she was in there."
"What? You let him--"
Scott hurried to the window. Jubilee joined him.
"Oh my god!" he cried as he saw what was happening.
Jubilee gasped too.
They saw Logan leap at Alexis and knock her violently to the ground. They could see he was shaking and panting and his blades were digging into her throat.
"Quick Jube--call Charles and Remy and Rogue--tell them to get here now! Wolverine's out of control!"
Scott rushed to the door leading to the Danger Room floor. Remy, who happened to be walking by at the moment, ran in and joined Scott.
"Gambit--charge a card with enough energy to get him off her!" Scott cried. "He'll kill her!"
Without a word Remy complied and pitched the glowing pink card at Wolverine as they ran closer.
Wolverine hadn't heard them enter. Nothing existed but the struggling woman beneath him. His sharp pants only made her scent more intense.
He cried out in surprise and pain as the card struck the back of his neck. He was thrown off of Alexis.
He was shaking his head groggily as Scott ran up and grabbed his arm.
"Logan!" he shouted. "What do you think you're doing?! You know the rules--no one interrupts a Danger Room session! And Alexis isn't an enemy, she's one of us! You could have killed her!"
Wolverine was still a little shaken, but his eyes blazed as he stood up to confront Scott. He bared his teeth.
"Scott, what's your problem?" Alexis exploded.
Remy had helped her up. "Cherie--"
She shook off his hand. She too, was panting and sweating. Scott and Wolverine watched her in surprise.
"Alexis, are you all right?" Scott asked quickly.
"Yes I'm all right! Who invited you? What the hell's the deal? Wolverine and I were having a workout, Scott! Isn't one of your rules not to interrupt a workout?"
Remy watched in amusement. Logan wore a slight smile. Scott still looked shocked.
"But, but Alexis . . . Logan was out of control! He could have killed you!"
"I think Logan can judge when he's out of control!"
Logan glanced at her.
"I can't believe you stopped us--"
Professor Xavier and Rogue rushed into the room.
"What has happened?" he asked quickly.
Scott hurried to explain. "Logan and Alexis were having an unscheduled workout--"
"Good bye," Logan spit. He pushed passed Scott to get his shirt.
"Logan! Come back here!"
He scooped up his shirt and stomped out of the room ignoring Scott.
Alexis was glaring at Scott. "There aren't any rules against inviting people to workout with, Scott! You don't have any right to stop--"
"Logan was crazy, Alexis," he tried to explain patiently. "I've known him longer--he would have--"
"Shut up, Scott. I'm sorry, Professor," Alexis said. "I'm going to go take a shower."
And she stormed out of the room as well.
Charles looked to Scott, who was alternately angry, confused, and shocked. The Professor waited for his halting explanation before he reprimanded him.
Alexis sat with a book on her lap, staring out the window. She had tried to read, but after repeating the same paragraph four times she gave up.
She looked outside but didn't really see anything. Images of today flashed through her head. Wolverine's startling blue eyes, the way the muscles rippled in his back, how heavy he was straddling her . . . .
"It was a good fight taday, Cutthroat," he said, making her jump.
She turned quickly. Wolverine was leaning on the door frame. She smiled.
"Why'd you stick up for me the Danger Room?" he asked softly.
Alexis shrugged. "I knew what I was getting into. I thought I could handle it. And if not . . . well, you won fair and square anyway. Besides, Scott was being an asshole."
Wolverine half-smiled. That smell . . . he could always tell when other women were having their periods too, but why was hers so strong? He wanted to go right over to her and just give into the urges--rip off those damn clothes and take her there, on the floor, on the chair, anywhere--he felt heat build up in his groin and spread to his legs and stomach, and creep up his chest . . . .
He swallowed quickly.
"We could continue the fight tomorrow if you'd like," Alexis was saying. She smiled. "After we 'schedule it properly' and all."
"Maybe," Wolverine said weakly. "I could have killed you, you know. I'll . . . I'll see you around, Cutthroat."
And he was gone.
Startled, Alexis stood up and went to the door to call after him. She looked down the hall both directions, but Wolverine was nowhere in sight. Alexis looked for him the next morning too but didn't find him. She asked Ororo about him at lunch.
"Logan? He left again early this morning. He must still have unfinished business in Canada to attend to. That's why he hasn't been here. I assume he must have driven back," Storm explained.
"Thanks, Storm," Alexis replied, but was still left wondering and puzzled.