Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
It was late that night. Lorette silently cursed her boss for making her work late. Not that she was worried about walking the New Jersey streets alone. She was confident that she could handle a random mugger. Although, after the recent Liberty Island disaster it was dangerous to be a mutant. She shook her head of those thoughts and then heard a groan. She whipped around and sniffed. She smelled salt water and wet hair in a near by alley. Curiosity got the best of her, and she went see what it was. Her eyesight was better than most, so she easily saw the large figure in the darkness.
He was huge! He would easily tower over a normal man. He was dripping wet and appeared to be dead. She went up closer and heard him still breathing, so that meant he was asleep. She saw the claws on his fingers and realized he was a mutant like her. It was dangerous to be a mutant in this part of Jersey, though she had the feeling he could handle the thugs that terrorized mutants in this neighborhood. Still, he looked as if he'd just swam in the Hudson River. Finally deciding, Lorette reached to wake him up.
Before she could a large hand grabbed her wrist like a steel clamp. She looked and saw two black eyes staring at her ready to move.
"Easy. I just came to see if I should call the morgue or not." she said lightly to mask her fear.
A low growl that shook her to her core was her reply.
"Hello to you, too Look it's obvious you've been though a lot and that your a mutant." a growl came again."Calm down. I'm one, too," she said and let her own fangs drop to match his.
He released her wrist,but his eyes never left her.
"Thanks. As I was saying you look like you need a place to crash. I know we just met,but it's better than here." she said rubbing he wrist and getting up. Surprisingly he got up as well.
"Good. My name's Lorette by the way."
"Victor,"he replied. His voice was low, almost like a cat's purr.
The pair started walking down the street, passing house after house. Lorette couldn't help but notice how he dwarfed her,and she was considered tall. Both could hear the water dripping off Victor as they walked down the street. Victor was glad that it was dark. He got enough looks because of his size during the day, he really didn't want to have to snap someone's neck for starring. He looked down at the woman beside him. Her hands were in the pockets of her coat,and she walked as if he weren't there. Something was different about her. He couldn't get a good smell of her,because of all the water clogging his senses, but he could tell she was special.
"Hey!"
A sharp yell pierced his thoughts. He looked back to see her in front of the steps of a house behind him. He easily turned on his heel and walked back. She unlocked the door, but stopped him as he walking in.
"Look you're gonna have to out here until I can get you some clothes."
"Where am supposed ta change, then?"he asked slightly annoyed.
"Go around back. No one will see you, plus there's a back door."
Victor glared at her as she smiled at him cheekily and closed the door. He sat, still wet,on the concrete steps waiting. It was a good thing he was used to the cold. The cool night air along with his soggy state made him feel colder and colder.
Lorette opened the door with a towel, comb, folded pair of jogging pants and a shirt that should fit him. He took them with a nod of thanks and went around back. The buildings protected him from the wind as he dried off and changed. He caught the faint scent of another male on them that was close to hers. Most likely her brother's. Brother. Funny about seeing his again,but they didn't exactly get to speak.
His thought's drifted to their little fight on the Statue of Liberty and the events before it. Damn ya Erik! Not only will he not get the last of his pay, Victor also has to deal with all the hair. The last time he tried to shave it grew right back. There was a reason he'd kept it short, and he'd lost a good coat.
He hears giggling and looks up. Lorette is standing in her window laughing at him pulling with the comb. He looked up and fliped her the bird. It was childish, but he had have some comeback. That, unfortunately, maked her only harder. Victor muttered a string of curses, followed by more laughter that proved she'd heard him. He glared at the window and decides to have payback. He scales the building's side until he was hanging outside her window and tapped on the now closed blinds.
Lorette pulled back the blinds and sees his face and unruly hair and screams. He laughs this time,but remembers to keep hold on the ledge. She opened the window slightly, but not enough for him to enter
"Bastard."
"Aren't ya gonna let me in?" he asks cocking his head to the side. "I am yer guest and all."
"Fine,"she said opening the window all the way. She was shocked to see his big frame fit through the small space. Then clamps her hand over her mouth to stop from laughing. The little climb up the ledge had made his hair worse.
"Stop laughin'."
"It's...funny! I'll...help you...with it...if you want,"she manages to choke out between fits of laughter
"Alright, but quit laughin',it ain't that funny."
"Sure it ain't,"she said mimicking his voice.
She leads him to the bathroom and shows him himself in the mirror. Surprisingly, he starts laughing along with her. She had a nice laugh. Wait,what? I just meet 'er fer God's sake. Once she finds out who I am she's gonna call the police an' I'll have ta kill 'er. I would be nice to keep 'er though.
Sometime during his thoughts she'd gotten a chair set in front of the sink.
"Victor."
"Huh?"
"You really need to stop spacing out like that. Sit down and lean back."
He took a seat sunk low enough for his head to touch the sink. Lorette rummaged in the cabinet before coming out with shampoo and conditioner. She started the water and begins untangling the knotted hair on his head. Lorette noticed how soon after she started he'd closed his eyes and had a smile on his face. He was handsome, big, and a mutant. He might just be Mr. Right.
Little did she know how far and close to the truth she was.
TBC
