Title: Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh MY! (3/?)
Author: Leonaria
Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance/Family
Rating: NC-17 (entire story, I'm not going to be careful, this is Creed we are talking about here)
Summary: The plight of mutants just got worse, with the legal recognition of Vampires and Lycanthropes as protected classes in the United States and the European Union, Mutants aren't even third class citizens – they have no status at all. One young mutant becomes active in this new world, and turns to the only haven of safety, the Brotherhood, however the Brotherhood is having growing pains of its own. She turns to the one person who can protect her from the rival factions, but is she safe, or will his claws and fangs rip her to pieces.
XXXXX
Risa looked around the tent. It had been a week since his 'lesson' as he called it. She didn't understand. He practically ignored her during the day, confining her inside the tent, or at least within his personal camp space, while he dealt with camp issues. At night, he'd come into the tent – expecting his 'greeting' and more. If she wasn't ready – either already undressed, or in his hands for him to undress her, he would snarl and growl until she was a trembling pile of nerves.
He kept his word – he never hurt her, although there had been a few times he'd sent her back to her bed still trembling with need, while he rolled over and filled the tent with his self satisfied snores. She was learning – and quickly – that his needs were the most important – but only to him.
She was bored – and tired of looking at the inside of the canvas walls, and the rather dull books inside his little chest. He'd taken off today taking care of the camp, and his instructions hadn't changed. 'Stay in the tent as much as possible, don't leave the camp site unless I can see you leave, and don't roam the camp.' She was tired of those instructions, tired of living inside these canvas walls like a prisoner. The only thing that kept her there – and obedient to his will – was her word, her bargain, and as long as he kept his end – and the others were safe and protected – she would stay quiet and obedient.
She stuck her nose outside the tent to see if she could see him. She was hungry, and lunch was being served. She saw him and he scowled at her, but she made sure he saw her leave the tent and go to the meal tent.
She grabbed a tray and stood in the line for hot food. Her new senses had served her well so far, she knew Predator and his gang were nowhere near the meal tent, and she could relax and eat. She filled her plate quickly and found a quiet table away from everyone. Sabretooth didn't like her talking to anyone. She was really getting TIRED of what Sabretooth liked and didn't like. She felt a low growl starting in her throat and tried to ignore it. Her animal didn't like it either.
"Risa, can we join you." It was Kate and Marrow and a couple of the other girls. She glanced around and nodded. He wasn't anywhere around, and she was tired of only him to talk to.
"How are you doing?" Kate asked as she sat down.
"Bored, mostly." Risa said.
"Really – I mean, we've all heard the…" She hushed as Marrow elbowed her.
"The what?"
"Screams."
"What are you asking?" She snapped.
"Is he hurting you – are you letting him, so he'll protect us?" Marrow ground out.
"No. The only thing I am suffering from is a terminal case of boredom. 'Stay in the tent, Mouse. Don't go outside, Mouse.' I am so SICK of it." She grumbled.
"You are bitching about SARETOOTH!"
"Yeah – he's a jerk – sometimes."
"Just sometimes?"
"I've learned quite a bit about my mutation, he doesn't mind me asking about it, and he knows a lot. He likes to read." They all gave her a strange look. "He really likes strange math shit that makes my head spin." They all giggled.
"I'm sorry but Sabretooth and MATH are not two things I'd ever see together." Kate laughed.
"He's really good at it. He says it relaxes him."
"WEIRD!" They all giggled, and Risa ducked her head as he walked into the tent. He glared at her, but nodded and went to get his own meal.
"Do you have to go?"
"I don't think so." She said, and decided she was staying – she'd deal with him later.
She relaxed and talked with the girls. They all were from different parts of the country, different backgrounds, but surviving together had made them all friends. Suddenly Kate paled.
She was looking at the entrance of the tent, where several new people that Risa hadn't seen before were standing looking half lost. Suddenly one of the women let out a gasp.
"Mom?" Kate said.
"KATHERINE DIANE" The woman shouted and Kate jumped up and ran across the tent, the woman gathered her up in her arms, and both were crying. Risa felt a lump in her throat, and suddenly wondered where her own mother was – and what she was doing? Kate ran back over and grabbed her tray.
"I'm gonna go help my mom get settled." She said, and left the table quickly. The other girls were quiet after that, and Risa suddenly wanted to be back inside her little prison.
She dropped her try off at the cleanup station and made sure he saw her leave the tent. She walked straight back to his tent and looked around for something to do. The old chair still needed the back repaired, and when he got back she'd ask if she could go to supply and get some canvas to repair it. She sat down on her bedding, and pulled her knees up to her chin.
She could still see her mother standing on that porch – her father screaming at Risa to go – she was a fucking mutant, no child of his – and her mother screaming at him, him slapping her, hard, knocking her to the boards of the porch floor. She'd wanted to run to her mother – wanted to fight him, stop him from hurting her mother anymore. Instead she'd run like a coward, into the night, leaving her mother there. She didn't know what happened, or if she was alright, but Risa wanted to know.
She didn't even notice the tears, until he stormed into the tent and glared at her.
"What the fuck are you sniveling about?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me."
"It has NOTHING to do with YOU or our deal, I don't BELONG to you; I have some things that are JUST MINE, so FUCK YOU!" She shouted, she didn't know where the courage came from, but he actually backed up a step in surprise.
"Let's get something straight." He snarled, reaching down and dragging her to her feet. "You DO belong to me, and if I want to know exactly what the fuck has your face as wet as a cat in a rainstorm, you are fucking going to tell me."
"No I'm not. It's NONE OF YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS!" She roared – really roared at him, and if the rage hadn't controlled her, she might have laughed at the look of surprise on his face.
He let go of her arm, and stepped back a second. He glanced around, and she was afraid he was looking for a weapon, but why, he had his claws, he didn't need anything else to hurt her with. He reached down and grabbed her bag, yanking the small black phone out of the front pocket.
He hit the power button, and scowled, then threw it at her. She caught it, instinctively.
"Call her."
"What?"
"YOUR FUCKING MOTHER – CALL HER!" He roared. "I thought you would have done it by now."
"What?"
"It's why I bought you the damned phone. You haven't even used it."
"You said only for emergencies."
"No I said my number was programmed in, and only to be called in emergencies." He snarled, and yanked back the door flap. "Just fucking call her, I'm sick of the damned frail sniveling."
He ducked outside and she waited until she heard him walk away before dialing the familiar number. It rang four times, and she was afraid the answering machine would pick up, and then…
"Hello?" She almost cried at the familiar voice.
"Momma."
"MARISSA!" She could hear the tears in her mother's voice.
"Yeah, Mom."
"Where are you?"
"I'm okay. I'm good. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I'm much better now. I've been worried sick; it's been six months since…"
"I know Momma. How's Dad?' She hated asking the question, but somehow she needed to know the answer.
"In jail."
"WHAT?"
"I ended up in the hospital – that night. I pressed charges, filed for divorce."
"YOU DID?"
"Yes. He threw my baby out into the streets; he beat me for trying to protect her. I wasn't going to stay married to him – I wasn't going to protect him, not after what he did."
"Good for you, Momma." She said, meaning every word.
"Can you come home? Your room is ready, and I miss you." Her mother asked, and she felt her heart ache.
"I don't know, Momma, I don't know."
They talked a few more minutes and she promised to call more regularly before hanging up the phone. She curled up on her bedding, and closed her eyes, clinging to the phone as if it were a lifeline.
XXXXXXXXX
He wanted a few minutes with the girl's father. That bastard needed to die. He hurt Risa – and her mother, and deserved to die for it. He'd let her hear him walk away, and then snuck back up to the tent to listen. He wanted to know everything was alright with his Mouse. He'd been feeling twinges in the scar since the meal tent, something he'd learned to mean that she was upset or hurting about something. He was really starting to hate this damned scar.
He slipped away from the tent as he heard her breathing settle into a regular breathing pattern. He needed to think – and to conduct an experiment. He needed to know just how much control over him this scar gave her. He went looking for Callisto.
"Callisto – I need your help." He said when he found her in the Morlock's main tent.
"What is it? Something in camp?"
"No, something else." He led her away from the main part of camp and sat down on a tree stump.
"What do you want, Creed." She snapped.
"I need you to look at something, I can't see it clearly in the mirror, and I want to double check that it isn't infected." He said, pulling back the collar of his shirt to show her the scar.
"What the HELL! I've been with you in a lot of fights Creed, seen you take a lot of damage, hell dealt you some of that damage, and I've NEVER seen you scar."
"I know." He braced himself as she walked behind him and started probing the scar. He waited for that sensory rush that he got every time Risa touched it – but nothing, no reaction at all. He felt her poking it, even almost caressing his shoulder, but no reaction.
"It looks like it's fully healed, if that's your question."
"It was. It's been twinging a bit, I wanted someone who'd actually seen scars to look at it, and the Mouse just doesn't know what to look for." He said.
"Bullshit." Callisto snapped at him.
"What?" He glared at the woman.
"You wanted something – but that wasn't it." She glared and stormed off, but turned back. "One more thing – you better find that 'Mouse' of yours something to do. She's getting bored and the only thing worse than bored teenage boys – is bored teenage girls."
He glared at the scarred Morlock, and quietly nodded. Mouse was getting bored.
He finished his patrols of the camp – inwardly cringing at the increase in numbers in the last few days. They were going to have to find a way to keep this organized, and the changes he'd made were only going so far. He glanced at Toad and nodded toward his tent. He'd been working on some ideas, but he needed the other mutant to look them over.
Risa had woken up from her little nap and was sitting in the corner when they walked in.
"Go to the supply tent and get a table, Toad." He snapped, and Toad glared, but went to obey.
"Everything alright?" He asked her after the other man left.
"Yeah – and thanks." She said it softly.
"Come here." She stood up and dusted her hands off on her jeans before walking to him. He pulled her close against his chest, and purred softly into her hair.
"I had no idea you hadn't called her. I'd expected it. I made sure you could."
"I guess I just didn't understand." She whispered, leaning against his chest. He grinned into her hair as he wrapped his arms around her. She had a long way to go, and he'd never tell her just how damned pleased he'd been at her standing up to him, but something was starting eat at his contentment with this situation.
"How sweet." Toad said with a grin as he walked in, carrying a small folding table.
"Shut the fuck up, and let's look at this. Don't you have something to do, Mouse?"
"No." She said.
"Alright, then just be quiet." He didn't want her to, he wanted to see if she'd rise to the bait, and find a way to become useful, but there was no way in HELL he was just going to ask her.
"Ok, Toad, here's the camp as it is now. With these new arrivals we are going to have to expand again, but that's going to tax patrols and sentries. We either need to start turning people away, or find a way to house them more efficiently."
"Well – we've been talkin' about it for days, Tooth. We can split the main camp area here, divide things out, and that'd give us a few more beds because we'll be splitting up groups but I don't like it."
Risa was standing looking at the map, the Mouse was taking the bait.
"If you move the meal tent, supply tent, medical tent and shower tents along a central path, that will make more room here and here." She said quietly pointing to two spots on the map. "If you split the camps into unattached men and women and put those camps on either end of the central corridor, it will give a privacy buffer between them, but they will still be able to socialize. That leaves these open areas here for either people who have already paired off or families."
He was surprised. She had been paying attention this week, and had been listening and thinking things through.
"Thought I told you to be quiet." He snapped, trying not to let is pleasure at her observations show.
"Sorry."
"No, Tooth, the kid's right." Toad said, falling right into his trap.
"She's MY kid, Toad."
"Yeah – and everyone fuckin' knows it. Now let the girl talk for a damned change, I've got a feelin she's just a bit smarter than you." HE growled at Toad, that last dig almost hurt.
"I'll get out of the way."
"No, Risa, Tooth's beein' an ass, it's a good idea, and I for one want ta hear more." He growled, but gestured her to continue.
"I've just been thinking about what happened and why and what could be done to help prevent it from happening again. That and – have you noticed how many families are showing up lately, not just individuals, but whole families. That husband and wife with the baby, where are we going to get formula and diapers for them?"
Shit – she HAD been thinking about this, and seen a problem he hadn't even noticed yet. Families were going to be a problem. They just didn't have the supplies to handle it.
"And like Kate and her Mom, I KNOW there are family members in camp that went days or weeks until they found each other, I mean we need to do what we can to help."
"You are right, Mouse. Toad – get started on those changes in the morning. And get an extra large tent from supply; we are setting up a processing tent for new people coming to camp." He said.
"We don't have the man power to run it, Tooth."
"Yeah we do – I have eleven volunteers, don't I, Risa?"
"What?"
"You kept them alive out there, you know what they can do, organize them, get me a new comer processing center where people can check for family members, check in, know where everything is, have some kind of camp orientation where the rules are explained."
"I'm fifteen – I can't do that?"
"Figure it out, I'm tired of you lazing around the tent all day, it's time you had something to do." He snarled.
Toad glared at him as he left the tent with the annotated map. The weather was going to be cold tonight, and there was no way in hell his Mouse was sleeping on the ground – she just didn't know it yet.
"Go find your friends, tell them what they are going to be doing tomorrow, and be back here after dinner, I have an idea for some new lessons." She surprised him by slipping into his arms for her kiss.
"Thank you." She whispered as she kissed him, her tongue tracing along his lips. He considered fighting her, but her scent was so welcoming – and her taste so sweet, he relaxed and let her deepen the kiss. He'd taught her well, she knew exactly what he liked, and his hands were kneading the muscles at the small of her back when she lifted her lips from his.
"Get moving." He whispered. "And don't be late."
"I won't I'm looking forward to it." She blushed – but he could smell that she definitely was looking forward to it. She slipped out of the tent and he grinned. Yep she was coming along well. He glanced at the sturdy camp table, several ideas running through his head. That particular piece of furniture wasn't going back to supply. He left the tent, and went looking for Avalanche. He had a project for him.
XXXXXX
She found Kate and her Mom in one of the women's tents.
"Risa."
"Hey – Sabretooth has a project for us – he wants us to set up some kind of in processing center or something."
"Us – you men US us?"
"Yeah – he said he had eleven volunteers."
"You are kidding – we're just KIDS!"
"Well – how about a twelfth volunteer." Her mother said.
"What do you mean?"
"I have a little experience with training new people with the company I worked for, and with the paperwork, I can help get it set up."
"That would be great!" Risa said, with a grin. "I won't be bored anymore, I guess."
They talked a few more minutes and decided to meet up in the meal tent. Kate went one way, Risa the other to gather all the girls.
She'd just found Marrow and was heading for the medical tent her mind spinning with ideas to discuss with the others when she felt a hand on her arm, dragging her back behind a tent. She spun around, barely missing Predator with her claws. She hadn't been paying attention - or she would have smelled him.
"Well well, what have we here?" He sneered at her as two of his 'friends' grabbed her arms and held them behind her. Predator looked up and down her body like he owned it.
"Let go of me – if Sabretooth finds out about this…" She snarled.
"Oh – he'll find out – the same way he did about Shana." Predator said, grabbing the front of her shirt and ripping it straight down. "Hold her boys; I want to see if she screams for me, too." His hands were gripping her breasts, bruising them, but she could feel her body healing as he hurt her.
The sudden explosion of sound and motion stunned her as she dropped to the ground, blood pooling behind her near her face. She looked around and watched the pool growing, and realized it was from the severed neck of one of the 'boys' that had been holding her. She saw his head laying about three feet away.
"I warned you." His voice was deceptively calm; she could smell the pure animal rage pouring off him in waves. "Risa is MINE – hands off."
"You are the one who let her out to play, Old Man." Predator said with a grin.
"I warned you, boy, I was going to enjoy skinning you alive – TAKE him." A hand grabbed her arm, dragging her to her feet.
"RISA!" He roared into her face. She shook her head and looked at him.
"I'm alright."
"I know that – Callisto – take her, this one is going to be public." She felt the woman grab her arm and drag her along. The natural amphitheater had a new addition, ropes hanging from the thick branch of the tree over the platform they used for announcements. Toad and Avalanche were tying Predator's arms to the ropes. They pulled the ropes tight, until his toes were no longer touching the ground.
"I'll kill you Old Man." Predator was hissing. "No piece of ass is worth what this will do for you. NO one will trust you after this."
Sabretooth glared, and she watched him hit the sound on the bullhorn.
"This is public, boy. Everyone will see what YOU did – what you intended to do – to MY property." She cringed at that statement. "Risa is MINE – under my protection – and you fucked up." He glanced at Toad who handed him something Risa had only ever seen in movies – a bullwhip.
"I thought about skinning you with my claws, but this will be more effective." He cracked the whip in the air. The crowd was gathering, and Toad took center stage on the platform.
"In violation of camp and Brotherhood policies and rules – Predator attacked and attempted to rape Marissa – who is under the protection of Sabretooth. As is his right, he has opted for public punishment of the offender. Predator will receive thirty lashes with the whip, and be left to hang overnight." She trembled; he was going to KILL Predator. "The victim will be present, to witness the punishment."
Callisto whispered "See what he's doing for you, do you deserve it?"
She tried not to flinch as the first lash hit the boy's back. He didn't scream, didn't make a sound. Sabretooth's massive arm pulled back, and the whip cracked again, this time blood dripped onto the boards of the platform, but Predator still didn't make a sound. She cringed with the third crack, as the muscle across his back was sliced open by the buckskin whip's tip. It took fifteen lashes to break him – until he started screaming with the pain. It took twenty for her to become numb to the sound of the whip, and at the thirtieth lash, Callisto wasn't even hanging onto her arm anymore.
She waited until he looked at her, his eyes flat, black, and cold. She just nodded, she could smell his disgust at the sight of her, and she just turned and walked back to his tent. She took the torn shirt off, and was looking for a clean one out when he walked in.
"Don't you have something to do?"
"I'm just changing my shirt, and then I'll be out of the way."
"What?"
"Do you want me to leave these things you bought; they don't really belong to me." She was digging around for the patched shirt she'd gotten from supply.
"What are you talking about?" He snarled, dropping the bloodstained whip on the table.
"I could smell you – when you looked at me. I didn't encourage him, I know you don't believe that, but I didn't. I don't know why you…" Suddenly his mouth was on hers, his hands unfastening her bra, his claws scraping her back. She was confused - but her body responded to the raw scent of his arousal, as well as the rough touch.
"YOU are MINE!" He snarled against her mouth. His hands made short work of her jeans – they were a shredded pile of rags on the floor of the tent as he picked her up and carried her to his bed. He dropped her onto her back and she stared as he quickly ripped his shirt off, and unbuckled his pants sliding them to the floor, where they pooled around his boots as he kicked them off. She moaned at the feel of his bare skin as he covered her body with his, her body stretching to hold as much of him as she could as he plunged inside her.
She just whimpered at the invasion, her body unready for him, but trying to please. His claws dug into her hips as he held her still. He leaned on her shoulder, his mouth gently brushing the scar he'd given her, and suddenly his movement was easier, as her body welcomed him.
"Risa – you are mine, I take care of what's mine. You are NOT going anywhere, this is where you belong." He moaned as he moved inside her, and her body rose to meet him with each thrust. "No one – NO ONE – hurts what's mine." He ground the words out against her mouth before capturing her mouth in a bruising kiss.
She moaned, and his lips trailed down her cheek and back to that spot on her shoulder, and she forgot everything but the feel of his mouth – and his body. Suddenly he stopped, just as she was teetering on the brink.
"Who do you belong to?"
"You."
"WHO DO YOU BELONG TO?!" He roared.
"YOU!"
"MY name, say my NAME!" He roared again.
"Sabretooth." She moaned.
"NO – my NAME!"
"VICTOR!" She didn't even remember knowing it – he'd never let her use it before, and suddenly he was crashing over her, dragging her over that brink with him. He collapsed on top of her, and rolled to his side. She moaned, more at the cool evening air, it was promising to be a cold night, and started to climb out of bed.
"Where are you goin?"
"To my bed." She whispered. "You're done with me, right?"
"NO!" He pulled her against him, and reached for the blankets piled at the end of the bed. "Tonight you sleep here."
Neither one of them paid any attention to the noises outside the tent – if they had they would have heard sighs of relief. Those who knew him had seen the killing rage in his eyes, that cold black stare that meant someone was going to die, but she'd tamed that beast, turned that rage to something else, and everyone in the camp was relieved.
