2.1
Years, far too many to want to count, had passed. Wars come and gone with the decades, Countries had been born and grown. Early on in life Rayne had realized that she had an extraordinary ability to heal but she hadn't known the extent of that until WWII. She'd signed on as a nurse, nowhere near the action she'd wanted to be in on but the military was the easiest life choice of someone that may need to disappear at a moment's notice. If she was discovered for anything other than perfectly normal she could skip town and have it written off as a relocation. Not to mention nurses had a reason to wear gloves, which kept people from asking questions. In May 1941 she relocated to Pearl Harbor, not the worst place to be, she'd admit. Although the climate made wearing gloves out difficult to explain. The job was good, the people were nice. When the attacks started she ran out to help. She was kneeling over a wounded man when a second blast went off behind her. The car that took the majority of the impact exploded into a million projectiles of glass and metal that sunk into her back. She woke up a few hours later, lined up with the others dead from the attack, looking no worse for the wear if you didn't count that the back of her uniform was in tatters. She'd always known she could heal, never having broken anything as a child, barely even bruising, but she didn't know until that day that she was virtually unkillable.
She hopped around the continental U.S. for about a decade during world war II, hating that according to government record nurse 'Liz Bastion' was killed before the war had even begun. In 1955 the Vietnam war was big news and She had grown tired of sitting on the sidelines. She knew that as a woman her helpfulness would be limited but doing nothing would drive her mad. In 1967 she changed her name and became a typist for the war effort. Writing the emotionless letters home about the fallen solders didn't quell her want to be part of the action, but being around the officers and listening when they thought no one else was...It made her feel like she at least knew something more than the civilians of the country were being told. January 1975, she heard her name among the whispers amongst the officers. When she listened closer she realized they weren't talking about her, but of the man that she'd taken her new name from. Creed. He and another man were scheduled to be executed for turning against their fellow troops and officers in the field. She was willing to be money that the other man was Jimmy, although she had a hard time seeing him turning on anyone. She couldn't let herself think she knew either of them anymore. It'd been too long. There was no way to get to them before the execution date, it wasn't possible. All she could do was type at her desk and hope that one of two things happened. They escape, or they die quickly.
The firing squad, well let's just say that was an experience. It wasn't the first time Victor had been shot and he was sure it wouldn't be the last either. It hurt like a son of a bitch but it was almost worth it to see the looks on the faces of the men when he and Jimmy were still standing afterward. They'd been in this cell for almost a week now, Victor making friends with the rats that wandered in, letting them think this was a safe place. Really he just wanted to know they'd be there when he got hungry enough. The voices from outside never seemed to stop, 'freaks, animals, monsters'. He supposed they weren't wrong. The latch on the cell door clicked, Jimmy and Victor looked at each other wondering who it could be when an officer opened the door. Victor looked away, the light hurting his eyes. He waited a second for his pupils to adjust. Jimmy just wondered why this man was in the middle of nowhere, talking to two prisoners in his suit. That's a lot of fancy to put on just to get it dirty. He supposed he was trying to make an impression, Jimmy's impression was that this man was a moron. The moron spoke.
"My name is Major William Stryker. You've been charged with killing a senior officer." Victor was starting to think he was a moron too, why was he telling them what they already knew?"Is that correct?"he asked. It was Victor who answered.
"Apparently we have some issues with authority..."
"just keep a lid on it" Jimmy interrupted.
"...sir" Victor added.
"The warden tells me that your sentence was carried out by a firing squad at 1000 hours. How'd that go?"
"It tickled." Victor answered, one of the rats crawling onto his hand. The major took off his glasses and smiled.
"You boys tired of running? Tired of denying your true nature?"
"What do you care." Victor growled.
"Oh, I care. I care because I Know how special you are, how valuable." He had Victor's attention as knelt to their level," Look, you can stay here locked up like freaks of nature, or you can join me. I'm putting together a special team, with special privileges...Now tell me, how would you like to really serve your country?"
A month or so after the news of the execution there was a new face in the office where she worked. He was an average looking man but he had a spark of viciousness hiding behind his muddy eyes. He was called in because of a complication in the execution of two prisoners. She listened closer. No, they hadn't escaped. They had gone through with the execution and had survived. The new man in the room was going over secrecy and how no one can know about this, he had handled it. She can't help but glance his way when she hears him say that. she wonders what he did to 'handle it' when she notices that he's looking back at her. She looks quickly back at her typing. She makes herself not listen to any more of the conversation but she can feel his eyes on the back of her neck. He knows, somehow he knows that she can hear them. Hours that seem to stretch for days pass before the man comes out of that room. He walks up to her and clears his throat.
"Can I help you with something sir?" Rayne asks, hoping he lets her looking his way earlier slide. write it off as coincidence that she was looking up when he did. Somehow she didn't think he was a 'coincidence' kind of man.
"Yes ma'am, I was wondering if I could talk to you privately."
"Yes sir."
He walked her into the officers room, it was just the two of them in here. She knows that none of the other women could hear anything that was said in this room, not that they were hard of hearing but that was the point of the sound proofing. Rayne just had better ears than most. he motioned for her to take a seat on one of the chairs, she balanced herself on the edge as though she was expecting to need to get up in a hurry.
"My name is Major Stryker. What's yours?"
"Rayne Creed, sir." He gave her an odd glance,'no relation to the man you were discussing I'm sure. Not that I heard your private conversation Major.' she thinks to herself
"Ah, well Ms. Creed. I was just wondering if you'd like the opportunity for...let's say 'career advancement'." He spoke slowly, the words dripping off his tongue like Kerosene off a fresh wick.
"Sir, I'm always looking for a way to move up in life, but only if I get there because I deserve it."
"Oh, no. I'm afraid you misunderstand me. I'm merely proposing you apply to work in a similar position with higher security clearance. Under my supervision of course. I couldn't help but notice you listening in on our private conversation, and before you tell me you weren't I saw the look in your eye. you heard every word. I have great use for people with special talents such as yours." He finished as Rayne cast him a concerning look, "Don't you trust me?"
"Sir, no disrespect but I don't trust anyone." She replied.
"And that, is why you would do wonderfully at the position I'm proposing."
"Tell me more."
The job that Stryker offered her was simple enough. It was a high security clearance job that would involve taking Stryker's dictation on paper, occasionally assisting and documenting medical procedures and potentially some field work. A couple months passed after his initial offer and she wondered if the offer had just come too late. the war had been declared over in April so Rayne didn't know why she would still be needed. She received a call from Stryker with a time and location if she was still interested. She told him she was and once again Rayne packed up her home and left. The location was nondescript, a no where kind of place in a no place kind of town. She wasn't met there by Stryker, instead a very tall man stood there. He was holding so still Rayne would have mistaken him for a small building had he not spoken. his voice was the low slow kind of drawl you'd expect from someone who was fathered by a house. He introduced himself as Fred Dukes. After that he didn't talk much. He drove her somewhere else, there weren't enough landmarks or street signs to know where she was or where she was going but it didn't really bother her. She didn't even mind the lack of conversation from Fred. Stryker greeted them at the door of a warehouse looking building. He thanked Fred and walked her inside, explaining what they would be doing here. He told her that to see if she was the right person for the job her and 3 other candidates will be given information. Each person will be interrogated and whoever keeps the secret qualifies. She wasn't sure what kind of job she was getting into but it certainly seemed more exciting than typing. She wondered briefly if she was being picked to be a spy but laughed off the idea shortly.
Rayne sat in a cold metal chair, Stryker had her handcuffed to it, which he explained made the interrogation more realistic. He sat across the table from her and began to talk.
"I'm going to tell you what it is your interrogator will be trying to learn from you. It is of the utmost importance that you do not tell him this. Your life may depend on it." Rayne wasn't sure if that was so make things more realistic or not." Your interrogator has been instructed not to hold anything back. It is his job to get this information from you. You are not to let him know that you are a mutant."
Her heart skipped a beat. Did he just say what she thought he said?
"I've looked back at your records, you clearly didn't die at pearl harbor. Although having nursing experience will put you ahead of the game should you pass the interrogation. Your senses are impressively heightened, also a plus. Don't worry Ms. Creed, or is it Bastion?, Being a mutant won't keep you from this job, as a matter of fact it's a requirement. We just need to know that you are as concerned with protecting our animosity as we are. " He stood slowly and walked out of the room.
Rayne felt like she hadn't exhaled since he started talking and for all she knew she hadn't. It was stupid to think that no one in the government had discovered mutants before. It was even more stupid to think that no one would ever be able to pick her out as one. She heard footsteps outside the door, the knob turned and a tall shadow filled the room, followed by a slight man in a suit. A voice from outside the door said what sounded like 'no guns zero' before the man turned back to pass something out the doorway. The man, who she assumed was her interrogator was of Asian descent, maybe late twenties or thirties. She was terrible at guessing age. He took off his suit coat and hung it on the back of his chair, revealing his suspenders and empty holsters. he sat down facing her and smiled, his too straight teeth making a chill run up her spine. before she could blink the back of his hand came across her face with a crack. Rayne straightened herself in her seat and looked back at him. This was going to be an interesting job interview. Most of the 'interrogation' was the suited man hitting her, it hurt but she sat stoically waiting for the next blow. HIs questions were randomly shouted between blows, most of the time he only asked 'what are you?' a question she'd heard more than a few times in her life. The first time she'd been asked that question she was corned by a group of boys her own age, 14 at the time. She'd fought back and a boy died, her father had paid the price for the blood on her hands that time. This time she'd take whatever he gave her. She wasn't going to tell him what he must have already known. Stryker knew she had healing abilities, he had to. this was probably more a test of her limits that of her resolve. The man sat in his chair, rubbing the hand that had been making contact with her face. it was red and swollen, Rayne thought that more than a couple bones were probably fractured at least. Her face was healing faster than his hand, the thought made her smile and she felt blood run through her teeth and down her chin when she did. She must look crazy, she thought to herself. The man asked her again, what was she. She was tired of the one sided conversation so she decided to answer.
"I suppose I'm Just a woman who likes it rough. Frankly you're not quite doing it for me. Is that why they call you Zero?"
She smiled at him again, not the nice smile she flashed at people to get them to leave her alone but the twisted bloody smile of a woman who wants a fight and hasn't gotten into one for far too long. The man stood so fast the chair fell over from under him, he kicked out and knocked hers over on its side, the jolt put her arms in an awkward position but at a good angle, as he was kneeling over her she pulled one hand free of the cuffs, she could feel the skin tearing off but it would grow back. The Man propped her chair up a bit and started to undo his pants.
"Fuckin bitch," he said through gritted teeth. "you like it rough, I'll..."
He didn't get to finish his sentence, before he'd even made it to the zipper Rayne had leaned into him and bitten a chunk out of his hip before swinging her chair around and into his head. The chair was closely followed by a petite clawed hand that caught him across his high cheek bone, barely missing his eye. She got to her feet as he laid on the floor, bleeding from several small head wounds. She gave him one good hard kick in the groin before putting her foot on his windpipe and yelling "WHAT ARE YOU!"
Stryker was watching the interrogation, the woman could certainly take a punch, that was for sure. She'd sat quietly for the last hour of so of beating but when she finally spoke he knew it would not end well for someone. Zero hated that no one on the team respected him, their sarcastic banter drove the straight shooter mad and Stryker knew that while he may tolerate that talk from the team he wouldn't take that from a woman. What Stryker didn't know was how fast Zero would be put in his place if he started more than he could finish with the woman in his interrogation room. Stryker ran into the room, her foot was on zero's throat and she was yelling the only question she'd heard for the last hour back at him. Stryker wasn't sure if she'd snapped or if she just wanted to show Zero that she knew that he knew already. That the beating was a test. When she saw him walk in she backed away to let Zero up. She knew the test was over now she just wasn't sure if she'd passed or not.
"Zero get up, you're embarrassing yourself" Stryker barked before turning to her. "I'll take you to you your things so you can get cleaned up. Welcome to the team."
2.2
Rayne had showered, changed and still hadn't figured out what being part of the team meant. Stryker had told her that she wasn't going into the field with them, that she would be staying behind at the base of operations, only interacting with any team members if they needed medical attention. Which Stryker had told her most of them do not, or when she's taking reports about what the missions entail. On this note Stryker had explained that there will be two sets of reports, the ones for his personal use and the ones for the government. The ones for the government will leave out and international incidents that are dealt with in the field unless absolutely unavoidable.
Once she was dressed, she hoped appropriately, she met Stryker in the hall. He had told her that she was going to met the team, she wasn't sure if there were going to be more tests so she opted for boots, simple jeans and a loose top that didn't hinder her movement. All black in case the test went bad and she needed to make a getaway. Once they were in the jeep Stryker told her that the members of the team are all men, so to prepare for some crude humor, especially from the youngest member of the team named Wade. Some were recently recruited so he wasn't sure what to warn her about there but he ensured her that they were all good soldiers.
This building was lighter than the others, it looked more like a hospital than a warehouse. off white walls and an off white floor reflected the too white lights onto the even whiter ceiling, although the ceiling was browning in spots where water was coming into the building. Stryker walked her into a large room, people dotting the area in small groups of two or three. She looked around, the room smelled like dust and water damage, which was trying to be covered with the smell of bleach. Her mind registered something familiar, something good, but she couldn't place it. then she saw him.
In the far corner of the room black eyes watched her, eyes that she'd recognize anywhere, despite being in a face that was much older looking than she remembered. He looked away from her as Stryker addressed the group, telling them to come up and meet Rayne. She wondered if this was a test. After Stryker had called her out on listening to hit officer conversation he'd asked if she knew the man they were talking about. She'd told Stryker that she didn't, was he trying to catch her in a lie or was he honestly seeing if they knew each other? What would Victor think when Stryker introduced her with his last name? So many questions were running through her mind before they were cut short by introductions.
"You've met Fred already" Stryker said, motioning to the mountain of a man to his left," And of course Zero. " He pointed to where the interrogator was sulking on a chair, icing his swollen hand. "This is Bradley"
"how do you do" This man was small, with a mousey face and large doe brown eyes that looked back at her in wonder. She thought that he must have heard what she'd done to Zero to have a face like that while looking at her. The next man in line cut off Stryker before he even began to speak, he was tall, handsome, and young. He introduced himself as Wade, although Rayne could have guessed from Stryker's description of him. Stryker pushed Wade aside to keep the introductions moving along.
"This is Logan, he's one of our newer recruits," Rayne reached out to shake the new man's hand, when she looked to his face to say it was nice to met him she realized that Victor was not the only one from her past in the room. Jimmy, all grown up, was staring her straight in the face. He exchanged good to met yous and moved along, him pretending not to know her made her think more and more that this was a test to see if she'd been lying about Creed. The last man in line was Rayne's height, if you count his cowboy hat. He had a friendly smile and a southern draw to his voice, Rayne thought he was also the only stranger there that sounded like he was genuinely glad to meet her. Rayne barely registered that he's said his name was John before Stryker yelled across the room at the one person who hadn't stepped up to greet her.
"Victor, come up and meet our newest recruit, you're the one I want her to met the most." Rayne thought to herself that either Stryker was playing matchmaker or this was defiantly a test. The man in the corner stood up, Rayne couldn't help but notice that he was a man, much more so than the boy from so long ago. He walked to her in his long black coat and she couldn't help but think that this was just the shadow of a ghost that wasn't really there. He stuck out his hand to shake as Stryker spoke for the both of them.
"Victor, this is Rayne Creed. Same last names, isn't that funny? Stryker said, eyeing the exchange between the two of them, looking for a glimmer of recognition that he didn't get. Rayne hoped Stryker couldn't see the jolt of electricity she felt when she shook his hand. She felt like every hair on her body was standing on end with excitement. She made sure her face showed none of that.
"Really, isn't that a coincidence." Victor spoke. his voice was much deeper than she remembered, it had a gravely undertone that made her spine tingle.
"It really is, seeing as you both have a similar...condition as well." Stryker hinted." Are you sure you aren't related?"
"Oh, I'm positive we aren't related" Creed answered. "Everyone in my family is dead but Jimmy, you know that Major."
"I know that Victor, it was just such a coincidence I thought I'd look into it, the DNA comparison will tell us for sure."
"I promise you Sir, I never knew a Rayne Creed as long as I've lived. It's a damn Shame too." He said that looking her up and down with hungry eyes, he noticed how much the same she looked, her stormy eyes, her autumn hair. She'd grown up too of course, and filled out nicely. She wasn't the slender teen she'd been so long ago. She was very much a woman and had the curves to prove it. While he looked her over she remembered the last time she'd seen him, how rough his hands were, how warm his kiss was, how he'd told her that she would never be able to wish him away. She began to wonder what she could wish for.
Stryker saw the look that Victor gave the girl, but it was nothing new. He was honestly surprised she didn't get more of those looks from the men, she was a very attractive woman.
A few weeks went by, routine training for the men, learning the ropes for Rayne. Then months passed. There wasn't a moment when Stryker wasn't on her tail, she would have given anything to just have a minute alone with Victor. There was so much time that they needed to catch up on. She didn't let it distract her, she tried to not even look his way too often for fear that Stryker would suspect something. One day on their ride from where Rayne was staying in town Stryker started up a conversation that Rayne hadn't expected.
"The DNA Test, it came back. You are not related to Victor. I find It curious that two people with the same last name and the same genetic mutations aren't related." He seemed to be speaking to himself at first, She wasn't sure if she should answer or not until he looked at her expectantly.
"Well sir, you know I changed my name after they pronounced me dead in 41. My last name isn't actually Creed."
"Yes but what made you pick that as a surname?"
"Well sir, my mother took me to church as a child, I'd always heard about the apostle's creed, and I knew that a creed was a statement of your beliefs, or faith. I guess I just always liked the word Sir."
"As good a reason as any I suppose. So what do you think of him?"
"Of who sir?"
"Of Victor, of course."
"Oh..."She thought for a moment, what did he want her to say?" He seems very quiet sir."
"That he is. He doesn't socialize with the rest of the group really, I'm sure if he had the chance he'd kill Wade. He only really sticks by his brother and when they're here it's work all the time. It's healthy for the men to take a break every now and then, you know. let off some steam, not go into the field so high strung."
"What are you suggesting sir?"She asked, wondering if he was meaning to imply what she was inferring.
"Nothing concrete dear, I'm merely suggesting that when the boys go into town tonight you go with them. dress up, look nice. Maybe pay a little attention to Victor. The other men have no problem getting female attention, Victor on the other hand can come off as a little...abrasive."
"And I'm sure most women are thrown off by the nails."She'd noticed that he's stopped cutting them when he shook her hand, he wasn't trying to hide them anymore. She wondered if he noticed that she didn't bother to wear gloves since Stryker had called her out on what she was.
"Yes, his hands do make an impression don't they...So, will you do it?"
"Is it an order sir?"
"No, Rayne, I can't order you to flirt with someone."
"In that case, I'll do it. So long as you know that if I didn't want to I wouldn't be. And I won't do anything I don't want to do."
"Yes Rayne you made that perfectly clear when you took a bite out of Zero in the interrogation room."
Rayne wasn't sure what to think about Stryker's proposal, she would have thought that fraternizing amongst each other would be frowned upon. Especially with only one woman in the group. What was he playing at? She wondered as she got dressed for the night. They were all riding into town together in a hummer where they'd pick up Rayne and continue on a half hour drive to the nearest bar/restaurant. it wasn't any place fancy but Rayne figured this was the only excuse she was going to get to dress up for a while. It was early fall, so still warm enough for her to wear a light weight top, it was red and sleeveless with a scoop neck and low cut back. With that she wore a black mid calf skirt with boots. The skirt had a slit on both sides to above her knee so if there was trouble she could still move, not that she was expecting trouble. To finish off the look she pulled her hair half up, in a bright red ribbon, like she hadn't since she was 16 years old.
The wind had picked up since the sun had gone down, Rayne was grateful that she'd thought to pick up a light jacket as well but the breeze tickling the exposed parts of her leg were chilling her to the bone. Her ride finally arrive and Wade jumped out to open the door for her before the vehicle even fully stopped. He bowed a sarcastic bow as she got into the seat before he climbed back in. All Rayne could think was that she didn't know how she'd get a moment alone with Victor as long as Wade was around. Didn't he know she was much too old for him?
It was crowded in the hummer, the air was stuffy from everyone being in the back together, the ride was a long one. She noticed that Zero wasn't in the hummer, although she didn't remember if he was supposed to be or not. She didn't mind him not being there, he was Stryker's little kiss ass, he'd probably report every word, blink and nod back to Stryker verbatim. Wade talked the entire half hour. When did this kid breathe? They got to the bar, no one else was really there yet but it was still early. They all took seats at the same table, Wade sitting beside Rayne before he could be stopped, She gave Victor a pleading look of apology but she couldn't ask Wade to move. Being too eager to spend time with Victor may look suspicious. Wade talked about everything, anything and nothing all at the same time. Rayne spared a glance at Victor who was carving at the table with his fingernails. John saw her watching and made a quick nodding gesture to get her attention, he motioned for her to go to the bar with him. She excused herself and met him a few feet from the table.
"Hey, sorry Wade's slobbering all on ya like that. When we go back to the table take my seat. I know you'd rather sit with tall, dark and quiet anyhow." He laughed.
"What makes you think that?" she asked, just out of curiosity.
"We all know Major's tryin to play cupid with you two, it's eatin Wade up inside knowin he don't get the girl. Hell even if I didn't know I see the way you lookin at him."Rayne got a panicked look on her face for a millisecond but he caught it."Don't worry, I won't go tellin nobody. I seen it in your face soon as you saw him. you two got a lot to talk about so quit standin like a fool over here with me and get on it. "
She started walked to the table and got to the chair before turning around to whisper 'thank you.'
She took the seat beside Victor, he didn't notice at first, thinking that John had just sat back down. He didn't look up from the table until she took off her coat, the movement seeming an odd thing for John to do. He turned toward her, her back was to him as she hung her coat on the chair rail. He'd noticed when they'd picked her up that her hair was in a ribbon, he'd lost the one he'd taken from her somewhere around the end of the civil war. Her shoulders were bare in the red top she was wearing, there were a pale cream contrast to the dark rose of the shirt. Her back too, smooth and beautiful. He looked back at his hands. When Rayne turned back to the table Wade was pouting about John sitting beside him. He mumbled something about 'if she prefers a man with bag lady fingernails.' Rayne spoke up above the chatter at the table.
"I'm sorry Wade, I didn't catch that last part." she said, acting as though she heard her name and nothing more, knowing full well that she and at least two other people at the table heard every word he'd said.
"I said if you wanna get felt up by bag lady hands over here, have at it."
Rayne reached across the table for her glass that she'd left at her previous seat, making sure to stretch out her nails for him to see as she pulled the drink to her. She turned to face Victor, relieved to finally get a moment to talk to him when she noticed the table. She had thought he'd been absently scratching at it, annoyed by Wade, but now she saw that he'd carved a picture into it, a picture of a smiling face. He saw her looking and leaned over so only she could hear.
"It's the only thing I ever learned to draw."
2.3
One by one the men wandered away from the table, suddenly Rayne, Logan and Victor were alone. Logan leaned over to her and whispered.
"I'm glad to see you again Ray but I think Victor may kill me if I don't give him a minute with you soon."
She couldn't hold back the giggle that bubbled up in her, as grown up as he looked he was still Jimmy when it came to Victor. Once they were alone Victor spoke.
"I meant what I said to Stryker, about it being a shame I never knew a Rayne Creed...I came back for you once, a few years after that last time I saw you. I wanted you to know that Jimmy and I were going to America. I wanted you to come with us, but the house was empty, you were gone. I found this." He pulled a small leather bound book out of his coat pocket, some of the binding was loose and the leather was faded but she could still see shadows of the cougar on the cover. He opened it to the last page, her handwriting scribbled across it. "You told me not to look for you. I didn't know what to think of that."
"I didn't mean that I didn't want you to find me Victor. I only meant that I didn't want you to think that's all you could do with your life."
"But that's all I wanted to do with it...I didn't, because of this" he said holding up the book," but everywhere we went I looked for you. Never thought it'd be here that I found you...Never thought to look for a woman with my name...Why did you do that anyway?"
She smile "I'm not sure really, I guess when it came time to change my name...I missed you. Maybe I was trying to make it easier to find me, guess it sort of worked."
"It's so good to see you Ray." he sighed, it was like he'd been holding that breath since the last time he saw her and he could finally breathe again.
"I just wish we didn't have to pretend we didn't know each other...I just want to..." she trailed off, not wanting to say anything out loud, he kept looking at her, waiting patiently for her to finish."...I just feel like this is all so...I'm so relieved to see you again, I feel like any second now I'm going to wake up or you're going to disappear into a puff a smoke...it's like I can't convince myself your real, that you're really there."
"I'm really here" he said, his hand brushing hers, she wanted him to touch her again. she needed it.
"Do you think that Stryker would find it strange if we went off on our own...got out of this bar, away from everyone for a moment?"
"Honestly he probably expects it..."she looked at him questioningly," After a while I gave up on finding you, Joined in every fight I could get in, from bar fights to world wars...I stopped caring what I did, I let the animal instincts take over, the only three things I cared about were the base necessities, If jimmy hadn't been around to stop me every now and then I'm sure I'd have done much worse than I know I did but you should know I haven't been a saint all this time. The last time the animal took over it got me here."
"What got you and Jimmy scheduled for execution?"
"Yea, I...There was a woman, I tried to...rape her. and when the other soldiers tried to stop me I just started killing them all..."he got quiet and looked away from her, he wasn't ashamed of his actions, the animal took over sometimes, it happened. He was ashamed to have to tell Rayne.
" When my mother sent...when I went away. it was a much less civilized way of life, I didn't have my mother correcting my every moment of the day. I did what I felt like doing. I let the instincts take over Feeding, fighting and...I don't have to tell you. Being a woman it's a lot more frowned upon to act that way. I got really good at holding it all in, every now and then I'd snap...start a fight, do...some things I'm not proud of, and have to leave town. I moved around a lot...There's nothing that you can tell me you did that I haven't done or thought about doing. It's what we are Victor, we can't help that the animal inside gets the best of us sometime. That's a fact I came to terms with a long time ago."
"It makes me wonder what Stryker expects out of this. Something tells me he doesn't expect this to be anything more than two animals acting on instinct...He told us what you did to Zero, "a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth," I've been wanting to kill him since I got here. I'm glad someone got a good shot in."
"Maybe that's what he wants...to see how we'll handle the situation, to see which side wins out. To be honest, at the moment the animal really wants to be winning."
He laughed, the first time he'd done that in a long time," the way I see it we have two options. One, we act like civilized adults, we take things slow and catch up on the past. Or two, "he leaned in closer, she could feel his breath on her cheek," we can leave this place right now and let instinct decide."
A chill of pleasure ran up her spine, every fiber of her being wanted option two, she didn't care what was the right choice here, that's what she wanted, that's what she needed. She needed him to be touching her, to be holding her, to be kissing her, to be fucking her. She wanted to feel his strong warm body against her, talking to her in that low gravelly voice that she could only imagine would sound even sexier through ragged panting breaths. She was sure by now he could smell the pheromones coming off her in waves, hell she could smell herself. She had been looking him over while she thought over her options but she hadn't looked at his face again until now. His eyes were closed and he was leaning his head back, breathing in the scent of her. The smell of lavender touched by a sweet layer of arousal. The way his neck arched upward she wanted nothing more than to run her tongue across it. His body felt tight all over, he wanted to get out of here, to get her out of here. He was about to say so when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.
"Hey man," Victor opened his eyes when he heard Wade's voice," look. I'm sorry I called you a bag lady...but really, who wants those hands all over them, really." Rayne couldn't tell if Wade was drunk or stupid, he wasn't slurring his words or off balance so Rayne guessed it was a combination of the latter mixed with the want to pick a fight. Rayne didn't really care, all she knew was if he was looking for a fight he'd get one. And she wouldn't be left out. Her conversation with Victor had her wound up inside and if she wasn't going to get to work off that energy in bed, she was going to punch it out of Wade's face. Victor stood, towering over Wade. He should have taken a step back but his powers of preservation were apparently lacking. Logan stepped between them.
"Victor, we don't want to draw attention. Wade, back off." he growled.
Victor took a step back and put his hand on Rayne's shoulder, "Let's go, I'm tired of listening to his mouth." Rayne couldn't disagree. They walked to the door, and almost made it out before Wade decided he wasn't letting them off so easily.
"That's right!," he yelled across the bar, "Leave, take her. She's no better than a dog anyway. Fuckin animals..."
Before anyone could stop her Rayne leapt across the room, landing feet first on wade's chest, pushing him backwards over a table as she swiped a clawed hand across his face. She stayed crouched there on his chest, top lip brought up into a snarl. He hadn't expected her to be the one to pounce.
"If you're going to call me an animal, get it right," She hissed, extending her claws and holding them out for him to see, "I'm a cat person."
Zero walked into the Bar when he heard Wade yell an insult followed by a loud crash. He was Sure Victor was tearing him a new ass. "Alright break it up, shows over. Back to the Vehicle." Rayne looked up, it seemed that Zero was here after all, just not for a relaxing night off. He was the chaperone. Great. He eyed Rayne as she helped Wade off the ground.
"you know Zero, I think you should thank me. I really added some character to your face." His expression began to color with anger, making the healing pink scratches on his face less noticeable."You and Wade will have something to talk about now, you've both been beaten by a girl." She laughed.
"You didn't beat me," Wade said dusting himself off, " You just caught me off guard is all, if this had been a fair fight I would have..."
"shut up Wade" Zero, Victor and Rayne all said at once. At least they all agreed on that, she thought to herself. They all piled back into their ride and took off. The trip was unexpectedly quiet. they dropped Rayne off first. She walked up the steps to her small apartment, it wasn't much, just a bedroom and a bathroom with a kitchenette. It worked. When she came in the door there was something new in her apartment, Major Stryker.
"Good evening Ms. Bastion." he'd started calling her by her real last name after the DNA tests had come back. He said it was to avoid confusion."How was our outing this evening?"
"fine." she answered, laying her jacket across the edge of her bed.
"Zero told me about the...incident."
"Which one sir, the one where Wade tried to pick a fight or the one where Wade wouldn't let me walk away from one." She quipped.
"Both, and the one where you got the best of one of my better soldiers."
"Sorry sir, his mouth irks me."
Stryker laughed, "Yes well. It happens to the best of us. My intentions here were not to reprimand you my dear, I had wanted to be here regardless of incident. I wanted to know how things went with Victor."
"They went..." She wasn't sure what to say, did he want her to tell him that when he spoke she got knots in her stomach and the barely controllable urge to jump him right there in the bar? Did she lie and say that they didn't get anywhere?" it was nice. Nice to have someone to talk to that's had...similar life experiences to mine. Similar challenges."
"So it went well then? You'd like to continue this?"
once again Rayne wasn't sure what the Major was asking.
"Sir, I hate to ask this out of turn but...where do you want this to go? Where do you want it to stop? How much is too much and what's not enough?"
"I'm afraid I don't get your meaning." He spoke as though he did and just wanted her to needlessly elaborate.
"Sir, I'll be honest. I do enjoy talking to Victor, and he is an attractive man. But I don't want to continue this if it's a game to you. If you just want me to give him a buddy to talk to but don't want it to go any further than that. I don't want you to want it to go any further than a friendship and it not go there. I need to know, professionally, what boundaries your setting for us up front, sir."
"take it wherever it needs to go Ms. Bastion, I'll leave that judgments up to you and Victor. I wouldn't have suggested this if I'd have wanted to set boundaries, I know that Victor has trouble staying in those boundaries. if it gets to be too much for you I will understand."
"thank you sir."She said quietly, he got up and started for the door.
"Just don't let what's happening between the two of you interfere with his missions, I'm trying to improve his performance, not hinder it. " He smiled over his shoulder at her.
"yes sir."She answered as he shut the door. She still didn't trust him, but he was no longer standing in her way.
Rayne hadn't seen Victor or Stryker since the night at the bar, she'd been paired with John to prepare for a mission somewhere in Nigeria. She never thought she'd be taken into the field with them but the last mission she'd had to report on had so many conflicting stories she hadn't even been able to get Stryker's file straight, let alone the official copy. Stryker wanted to bring her on as an observer, John was explaining what she'd be doing.
"We will clear a way up, you will get to the top of this building," he pointed to the grainy satellite image" You'll just be observing, One of us will be up there with you. We know you can take care of yourself but we're not really sure what we're dropping in on. The rest of us will be inside, you won't be about to see what's happening but you should be able to hear enough to get the rest of our recounting straight, and see who is just makin shit up."
"wade." she mumbled.
"yea, wade. he...embellishes the facts a bit. "
"So I won't be doing anything but sitting with my thumb up my ass while you all have all the fun?"
"He he, pretty much sister. Unless there's a roof exit we don't know about, then some strays may come your way."
"I'll just hope for that then. Can't let you guys have all the fun."
Lagos, Nigeria. That's where Stryker had said they were headed. With the exception of some insults from Wade to Victor the plane ride was uneventful, Rayne rode in the front with Bradley and Stryker, Wade talked the whole time and Logan looked like he'd be sick. Once they were on the ground Logan was the only one who thought to ask why they were there. They didn't get an answer, instead Stryker directed Zero to the gate. Men inside began to shout thinks like 'intruder, man the weapons' Zero walked calmly to the gate, men lined the perimeter and weapons were loaded as they told him to put his hands on his head. Rayne knew it was imperative to the mission that he clear the gate but part of her wanted to see that bastard get shot. He complied with their demands, putting his hands behind his head. Before she could even blink his weapons were drawn. Weapons were firing from every direction, men falling faster than shell casings, Zero firing and reloading faster than she could track, he jumped the gate and didn't stop shooting until everyone in sight was down. Victor leaned over to where she was standing with Logan.
"Having fun yet?" he whispered. His pupils wide with excitement. She knew her part of this was easy but her adrenaline was pumping all the same, heightening her senses even more than normal. She could smell that Victor was excited, Bradley smelled like he was a loud noise away from pissing himself. Stryker smelled happy, like he knew that he was about to get whatever it was we came here for.
Victor took off to the rooftop first, it had been decided by Stryker that he'd clear the roof and She would follow. He scaled the side of the building in great effortless leaps, Rayne found it strange that she found the way he moved like that sexy, but to each her own she supposed. Stryker directed Fred to disarm the tank as Rayne made her way to the building. Scaling it took a few seconds longer for her than it had Victor but he had over a foot of height over her. the tank exploded as she reached the top, Victor smiled down at her as she climbed over the edge.
"Glad you could make it." He chuckled. She looked down to see the rest of the men go inside."There isn't an escape up here, we're in for a boring night." he said, looking disappointed. She listened to the building below her, she could hear the elevator cable whirring and knew they had a few minutes before any shooting would start.
"It doesn't have to be an uneventful night." she said, walking closer to him. She wasn't sure if it was the adrenalin or if she really thought this was a good idea but she was done arguing with herself. She laid her hand softly on Victor's check and leaned toward him, her eyes passing between his eyes and his lips, not knowing which to look at. He pulled away from her, taking her hand in his.
"Victor?" She didn't know what to say, she felt hurt and looked confused, it was all he could do to look back into her eyes and tell himself it was better this way, he dropped his gaze to her lips, soft pink and pouting before she spoke."Damn it Creed, why won't you just kiss me already?"
" I don't want to hurt you." Looking at his face she knew that he really thought that if he kissed her something would happen and he would hurt her. At the same time, she knew that she could handle herself, and him if she had to.
"I'm not afraid." She slid her arms around his neck, below her she heard the elevator stop, then start back up again. Victor closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. she leaned into him, the tip of her nose brushing his, she could feel his hot breath on her lips, feel his body tighten as she pulled her closer. He whispered, "You should be."
Gunfire a few feet below them snapped them to attention, Stryker and the team had reached the top floor, once the shooting stop they hear Wade announce the coast is clear in own annoying way. the sound of something rapidly compressing and decompression let Rayne know that John just teleported. She hears an unfamiliar voice offer Stryker diamonds before he tells the man that is not what he came for. Rayne doesn't know what it is he did come for, Stryker is no doubt showing the man but Rayne can't see what 'this' is from the roof top. The man tells Stryker about a village, somewhere she's never heard of. Stryker thanks him with a gunshot to the head.
2.4
Rayne was alone in her apartment. Stryker was in a hurry to follow his Lagos lead and the team took off shortly after they dropped Rayne off to start filing her reports. She had Stryker's documents done and was just waiting for him to get back to approve the 'official' document. He and the team had left 6 days ago, She wasn't sure when they'd be back. She didn't even know where they were. She was putting her typewriter away when there was a knock at her door.
"Who's there?" she yelled, tucking the typewriter under her bed, she hoped it wasn't Stryker, she'd been planning to go to bed after she finished the reports and had typed them up in her sleep attire, which was just a long shirt and panties. If Stryker was at her door he'd have to wait while she found some pants.
"It's me." The voice on the other side of the door was Victor's but he sounded strange, like he was tired or hurt. She opened the door without hesitation, once he was inside she motioned for him to sit on her bed. She locked the door and turned to him, he was sitting with his head in his hands.
"What is it Victor. What's wrong?"
"It's Jimmy...He's gone." he didn't look up when he spoke, he just shook his head in his hands.
"what do you mean he's gone?"
"He...we went to this village, Stryker was trying to find out where this damn rock came from. The man wouldn't tell us so Stryker gave me the order to kill him. When he did a woman in the crowd panicked and ran, Zero shot her. The rest of the crowd began to scatter, Wade pulled his sword. Bradley just stood there...Jimmy was yelling to stop, he was saving people from us...when the people stopped running he said that this isn't what he signed up for...and he walked out."
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know, but I think it means that you should leave too."She wasn't expecting that, and when she didn't answer, he looked up at her."Jimmy has always been around, no matter how bad things got. If it's bad enough for him to go then you shouldn't be here either."
"Fine, we'll go..."
"No Ray, just you."
"No. I'm not going anywhere without you, I just found you again so you can pretty much count on that not happening unless you're coming with me."
"I can't, this is where I belong. It's the only thing I'd good for."
"What, killing people cause some guy and a suit says too?"
"yes..."
"Fine, let that be who you are, but I'm not leaving. If this is where you belong, this is where I belong." He looked at her and she could tell by his face that he didn't think she'd fight him so hard to stay." you can't wish me away that easily." She whispered, leaning into him, pressing her mouth softly over his, half expecting him to pull away again. He didn't, he slid one hand behind her neck and pressed her closer to him. His other hand pulling her body down onto his. She sat, straddling him on the edge of her bed, kissing him, tasting him, touching him, running her hands over his broad shoulders, feeling the heat of his body so close to hers. She felt like she couldn't get close enough, she moved her hands under his coat and slid it off his shoulders, once he was free of it he brought his hands to her hips and pulled her even closer to him as his tongue dove between her lips. She could feel the length of him against her naked thigh, pulsing with every beat of his racing heart. She needed this, she needed to lose herself to him and he needed to lose himself in her. They'd both been waiting for this for far too long. His hands moved down her hips to the edge of her night shirt, working their way under in moments. his touch against her bare skin was intoxicating, she could feel burning trails of desire everywhere they grazed. They slid up, past her hips, feeling the curves of her waist. Stopping only for a second on her ribs to again pull her closer before moving onto her breasts. One warm, skilled hand lingered there, teasing her while the other pulled the shirt free of her body. She lifted herself off his lap, his hands sliding back to her hips as his mouth took their place on her chest. She reached between them to undo Victor's pants, gasping when his canine grazed her nipple making her miss the button she'd been reaching for, instead her hand caught his shirt. She pulled at the cloth until it was free of his jeans, she kept pulling until it caught under his arms. He pulled away from her long enough for her to slip the shirt over his head. As soon as he was free his arms closed around her, pulling her against him. With nothing between them from the waist up the skin on skin contact was invigorating. His body was hot and solid pressed against her. Her thoughts were no longer cognitive. Her mind was a fuzzy blur of want, she pushed him back onto the bed, crouching over him. She brought her mouth to his in a kiss rough enough to split her lip. It healed as Victor ran his tongue out to taste her. Her mouth opening to let him explore, his tongue was sweet and tinted with the copper flavor of her blood. He rolled so that her back was on the mattress before getting to his feet. She started to reach for him but he stopped her.
"Lay back" he said. It was almost a whisper between ragged pants, it was all he could do to control himself. He'd never even tried to control himself before, everything before now was primal instinct. This was, to a point. He needed her. He needed her to his core, the bulge in the front of his pants hindering his ability to undo his zipper was proving that. But this was different, this wasn't the animal seeing wanting and taking what it told his body he needed, this was the human side of him, seeing her, wanting her. Wanting to be with her because she was his, She'd always been his.
She reached her arms above her, watching him slowly undo his pants before sliding them over his hips. His eyes glazed as she stretched, arching her back off the bed, as she finished undressing herself. She did as he asked, laying still as he undressed, letting her take in the full view of him. She would have never guess that boy from so long ago could have grown into the bulk of a man standing before her. He was tall, handsome. His broad shoulders and strong chest topping off a sleek muscular physique, not the cut toned muscles that wade bragged of having but the tightly wound muscles that lurked just below the surface of the skin, waiting. Her breath caught as she gazed lower, a smile touched the corner of his mouth when he saw her looking. He knelt on the edge of the bed, a warm hand resting on her thigh as he brought his mouth to her knee, laying a tender kiss there before traveling further up her leg. He kissed the soft skin of her inner thigh, closing his eyes to inhale the scent of her as he rested his cheek where he'd kissed. She felt the hair on his face brushing her thigh, sending tingles up her body. He moved again, placing his lips in the tight skin where her leg met her torso, he felt her shake as he did so. He'd never done this before, he'd never cared about making any woman he was with happy, instinct told him to get what he needed and cast her aside, with Rayne it was different, his mind told him that he needed to taste every inch of her and who was he to argue with himself.
The smell of her was tantalizing, pheromones and her arousal tickled his senses as his longue slid into her. He was greeted with a warm, silky wetness that surprised him. She gasped, her nails digging into the sheets below her, his hands gripping her hips on either side of his head as he tasted her. His mouth moving against her wetness as effectively as they had her mouth moments before. Her hips lifted in a natural reaction, his nails digging into her legs to hold her to him. A puff of air escaped her lips as his nails dug in. No one had ever been able to hurt her during sex before, she didn't mind it one bit. He lifted his head to look her in the eye, she reached for him. His bottom lip glistened from her increasing wetness and she felt she wanted nothing more than to taste herself on him. her hand grasped at the back of his head, pulling his face to hers. His body sliding between her legs, the rigid part of him grazing her wetness. She kissed him, slow and hard, letting her mouth cover his. her arms reached around his back as she pulled him flat against her on the bed, her hips positioning themselves below him, allowing him access to her. The tip of his flesh rested against her, she arched into it, aching to feel him inside her. A gruff noise escaped him as he slid in, teasingly slow, she thought she would burst with anticipation before he'd fully sheathed himself in her. Once he was there he didn't move, he laid his full weight on her to keep her hips still, he just wanted a moment, one last moment of control, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep it much longer as he felt himself inside her. Rayne looked into his face, him looking down at her, both of them frozen in this moment so long in the making. She felt full with him inside her, like she was whole. He pulled out of her slowly as he lifted his weight onto his elbows, her hands tightened behind his back. Her body moved towards him instinctively, pulling him inside her again as her nails extended, dragging through the skin of his back. He moaned as she moved against him, his control loosening with every thrust, every movement against her, every gasping breath that escaped her in ecstasy. Her eyes closed as her head tilted up, his mouth resting on the pulse it found on her neck. She hadn't felt like this before. She'd had sex out of need, but nothing was as satisfying as his body moving against her, the familiar smell of his skin filling her nose. She'd been missing this all her life, the connection people in relationships talk about. Sex had never been anything more than sex before, this was something new, something nice, Something that she hoped wasn't temporary. She knew she couldn't lose him again. Her body shook as a wave of orgasm washed over her, she pulled his face to hers, kissing him desperately before she whispered his name between breaths.
"Victor" It was barely a whisper, she hadn't wanted him to stop what he was doing but this needed to be said, "Victor" She said a little louder, he made a sound to let her know that he'd heard her but didn't make a move to talk. "Victor, I'm not leaving."
He stopped, motionless inside her, "What?"
"I'm not leaving you" she pressed against him, a breathy grunt escaped him as she continued, "I'm not leaving here unless you come with me."
"I..."She moved against him again, as though not stopping for this conversation would make it end in her favor. He knew she wasn't bluffing, he knew that she wasn't going to go without him and he knew that she couldn't let her stay here. He pressed himself completely inside her, her head leaning back in response, he put her mouth against her ear, making sure that his breath tickled her as he said "okay."
She woke up slowly, her body throbbing and tender from the night before. She stretched and rolled over. The bed was empty, the sheets spotted with blood. Rayne bolted upright looking around the room to make sure that she really was where she thought she was. It wasn't the first time she'd woken to a bloody bed, satisfied from the night before, usually it meant she got carried away and there was a body in the room. She smelled the air, the room was tinged with the metallic scent of blood and sex. Victor's scent still clung to the pillow beside her but she was alone in the room. She saw her old notebook on the small table by her bed, she flipped thought it, recalling the memories behind each sketch. When she came to the last page she saw the note she'd left for him and below it a note he'd left for her. It told her that he'd gone to get his things, that she should pack up and they'd leave as soon as they could. She closed the little book with a smile, walking into the bathroom to start a shower.
She stepped into the hot Stream of water, letting it was over her. Her body hadn't felt so relaxed. usually she was wound up tight, her instincts pulling against everything her mind told her body to do. she let out a long breath, letting her mind relax as much as her body.
Stryker knew that Logan deciding that he had a conscience all the sudden wouldn't bode well for his plans. Victor was a different story, he was an unknown factor. He saw the way he watched the girl, but he didn't know if that was enough to keep Victor from following his brother. Zero had followed Victor to her apartment and seen them together, at least that much of his plan was going smoothly. As soon as the tests confirmed that there was no relation between the two Stryker had been curious about the outcome if two genetic anomalies procreated, would it result in a duplication of both parent's mutation or would an entirely new mutation form in the next generation. It wasn't Stryker's priority as far as research went but any new knowledge on these monsters was useful. For now he'd just have to find a way to keep Victor from leaving with his brother, his healing wasn't as fast as Logan's but it would still useful for studying, the girl also had admirable skills healing herself but took significantly longer with serious injuries. In no way fast enough for his intentions.
He thought a moment, yes. He knew what he had to do. There were serious possibilities of this plan not working but he could afford some casualties. He called together a team and sent them out, Zero leading the pack.
She'd packed everything she cared about into one bag after her shower, clothes laid on the bed beside her. She hadn't dressed yet, instead she laid on the bed, face down in the pillow that smelled like Victor. the shower had washed his scent off her skin and she wanted it back. She heard heavy footfall in the hallway.
"Victor?" she sat up as the doorknob turned. The door swung open and guns began to fire, she rolled off the bed, the bullets barely missing her. She recognized Zero at the head of a team of men. She wondered briefly what she'd done when he shot again and she didn't move fast enough this time, the bullet tore through her ribs, when he walked closer she dove on him, clawing and punching at every inch of him, not even caring that the rest of the team was surrounding her, she knew there were more men in the hall, she could hear them now. She wasn't getting away from here but she was going to do as much damage as she could on the way out. Zero wasn't moving anymore, she jumped on the man closest and tried to make it to the door, instinct telling her that was the way to go. As she made it through the door frame several men grabber her arms and legs, she struggled against them, kicking one in the face, it only took seconds for a new man to replace him, Zero limped into view, spitting on her and putting his gun to her temple before speaking.
"I know you won't come easily, you'll fight the whole way. Stryker told me to be gentle...but you'll heal."
Only the sound of the gun firing registered before everything went black.
