Tyger Stripes

I don't own Victor Creed, thank god. I am not sure I would want to own his sick mind. Marvel Entertainment, Inc and Fox Entertainment can have him. I just want him to get out of my head.

Chapter 7 Promises and Complications

The new class wasn't set up anything like Mr. Williams'. The chairs were in a circle, not straight lines, there was no seating chart, and everyone was encouraged to speak up for themselves. Ms. McGrath was FUN in class. Victoria was actually happy, and she liked school in the first place, but now she loved it.

Ms. McGrath still smelled a little strange, something that was bothering Victoria. She was just getting used to this whole sense of smell thing, and having someone smelling off bothered her.

"Students, today we will be discussing the attack on Worthington Laboratories, or the Alcatraz incident, as it is called in popular culture."

"Why would the mutants attack the place that was making the cure for mutation?" One of the other students asked.

"Good question? Any ideas?"

"Maybe they didn't see mutation as something that needed to be cured; or be ashamed of." Victoria said.

"But doesn't everyone want to be normal."

"But what is normal?" Ms. McGrath asked.

The discussion went on, about half of the students supporting the idea of being "normal" at all cost; the others supporting the idea of individuality and mutants being proud of what they were. There was no clear cut end to the discussion, but it was civil and it was informative and it made them all think.

She had a lot to think about that night. Victor was gone again, she didn't know where, he didn't say. She did her homework, and watched a movie on the big TV downstairs. One thing about Victor, he didn't scrimp on ANYTHING. They had gone to the biggest department store in town and he had bought her a whole new wardrobe, her room was furnished in what SHE wanted, painted how she wanted, and there wasn't much that she couldn't have if she just asked. Well, just one thing…and even HE couldn't bring her mom back.

The movie was interrupted by a news flash.

"We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news. An explosion at the Worthington Industries Complex in New York City left fifteen dead and over two hundred wounded. Warren Worthington stated they will support and assist NYPD in the investigation of the explosion. In related news, Erik Lensherr, AKA Magneto was seen near the site of the explosion. He is wanted for questioning in relation to the explosion. Anyone with any information concerning his or any of his known associates' whereabouts should contact this station or the New York City Police Department."

SHIT! He better not be involved in that, she didn't want to have to move again. She heard the front door open. He was dressed in a suit and tie.

"Vic…there was an explosion in New York, they are looking for Erik and his known associates." She said.

"I know, kid, I heard it on the radio on the way in."

"Were you…?"

"No…I was in Atlanta, and have ticket stubs and hotel receipts to prove it. Erik did this without me, this time."

"GOOD! I don't want to move again."

"Kid, I told ya I am stayin out of trouble…at least until you get through school. It ain't fair you havin ta move because I screw up."

The phone rang…and then rang again…they both looked at it and Victoria reached over and picked it up. It was someone looking for Victor. She just handed him the phone.

"Creed."

"Where were you last night, Sabretooth?" A tired male voice said on the other end of the phone. Vicky shook her head. This enhanced hearing was going to get on her nerves.

"No, I was in Atlanta."

"Do you have any proof of that?"

"Yes I have witnesses and receipts."

"There was an explosion in New York; your old friends were involved. Are you sheltering any of them? Who was that who answered the phone?

"None of your fuckin business…"

"Mr. Creed, if you don't cooperate, we will send officers to your house and search it room by room."

"If you must know it was my KID!" She could tell he was getting really angry.

"You don't strike me as a family man, Mr. Creed. Do you have any proof that it is your child, maybe the mother lied to you?"

"Very funny, asshole."

"It is a legitimate question. With your reputation, well it had to be asked. There's no need to get vulgar or angry."

"Hey, you are the one callin me, accusin me of things I ain't involved in, I got a right ta get pissed."

"You are the one who is KNOWN to be involved in these types of things, and you DON'T have a right to get pissed, you better get civil quick, or I am sending in the uniforms."

"That's right. Let me talk ta your supervisor, asshole, NOW!"

There was a long pause on the phone, and she could hear another voice on the other end.

"I want that asshole's job."

"Mr. Creed. I apologize for his rudeness, but you DO have reputation."

"He's got no right questioning my daughter's parentage, and I DO have a right ta get pissed at being accused of something I ain't involved in. YOU of all people should know if I was involved, I'd be braggin about it, Nick."

"You're right, Victor. I will deal with it."

"You better. Want me ta fax you my 'proof' that I wasn't involved, or is my word enough."

"Your word is enough for me…thanks again for that South American deal."

"Just don't call me in the middle of the night again; I have ta make arrangements for the kid."

"I'll remember that, and we will get the APB called off."

"You better."

The phone was disconnected from the other end. He handed her the handset.

"Who was that?"

"Don't worry about it. How was school today?

"Great, I really like this new teacher."

"Any homework?"

"Already done."

"It's gettin late, better get ta bed."

"Okay. Glad you are home, Vic." She climbed the stairs and went to her room.

XXXXXXXXXX

Damn, the kid was questioning him now. He was going to have to break that habit quick. She didn't need to know what he was involved in. Luckily today had been real business, Creed Industries business, and not his usual line of work. That Atlanta acquisition would make sure the kid was taken care of for the rest of her life. He could take a couple years off, get her through High School anyway, and THEN get back to his life.

He loosened his tie and slipped off the jacket. His study was dark, and he flipped on the light switch. The less she knew the better. She was a good kid, he had to give Amy credit, and she'd done a really good job of raising her. He was doing his best not to screw it up.

He wiped a clawed hand across his face. This was getting hard, Fury wanted him to drop and run at a moment's notice, as payment for the pardon, every time Mags did ANYTHING, they were calling him…couldn't a guy go straight, without everyone and their grandpa giving him hell. The damned X-Men had been in Atlanta, making noise about him being there. It had taken every bit of self control not to knock the smirk off that damned Ice boy's face. He was half expecting them to show up here and cause problems, and that was something the kid didn't need.

A familiar scent hit him. SHIT! Didn't take them long either and they HAD to bring the Runt. He looked around his newly furnished home, dreading the cost of repairs. He stood up and walked to the front door, and stepped out on the porch.

"I know you are there, and I ain't in the mood ta have ta put out money on repairs, so let's just talk…Runt."

Logan stepped out of the darkness, followed by that damned poison girl and the one that could walk through walls. They were all in their "cute" leather uniforms.

"Creed…what happened in New York?"

"No clue…I was in Atlanta, remember." He leaned on the door frame. The kid's light was still on; upstairs and he knew she was listening.

"Nice place…" The skunk haired girl said. "Not tha cave I was expectin."

"Cheap shots don't bother me…kid."

"Damn…you have mellowed." Logan said.

"What do you want? I ain't in the mood for longwinded conversations."

He could smell the metal kid and that new one, the one that blew things up, behind the house. They weren't getting in, and if they did, well they'd have a surprise upstairs. Victoria could take care of herself. He could hear her in her room; she was being quiet, listening to what was going on. He felt another one of those strange surges of emotion, pride.

"Who else is here, Creed? I can smell 'em" Those damned adamantium claws popped out of his hands, as Logan sniffed the air.

"None of your business." He heard her on the stairs. SHIT he didn't want them to know about her if he could help it, especially not the Runt. He knew what he'd do if it was Logan in this situation, and it wouldn't be good for the kid.

"Victor…is everything ok?" She said as she came down the stairs. She was wearing one of her night shirts, her blonde hair pulled up in a pony tail, and toothpaste still on the corner of her mouth.

"YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!" Logan launched himself straight at Victor. "I OUGHT TA RIP YOUR THROAT OUT!" Victor ducked, kicking the Runt back into the yard. "She's JUST a FUCKING KID. THERE'S laws against that shit now…just cuz you were born a century ago don't mean you can still fuck like it."

"Stay the FUCK out of my house…I AIN'T in tha mood to remodel. VICKY get your ass back upstairs." He shouted, looking back over his shoulder.

"DAD LOOK OUT!" She screamed…Logan hit him hard, grabbing him around the hips, claws poised to plunge into his chest.

"Dad?" The look on Logan's face was priceless. Suddenly Victor realized exactly what Logan had been thinking, and saw red.

"YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE…she's my KID for GOD'S SAKE…EVEN I AM NOT THAT PERVERTED!" He dug one set claws into the startled Wolverine's face, ripping across it, the other set digging into his back trying to cut his spine. Suddenly the two combatants were encased in ice.

"Now CALM down, both of ya…" Rogue said. Only their heads were sticking out of the ice. "Logan, ya have got ta stop jumpin ta conclusions, hell Ah'm on Sabretooth's side on this one and YOU know how much Ah hate that."

Victor looked down at Logan "You better tell your gutterslut to shut the fuck up."

"Hey…Ah'm on YOUR side ya asshole." She reared back her naked hand to slap him but the Iceprick grabbed her leather covered arm

"You don't want HIM in your head, baby."

"I can smell ya all over her…you pervert." Logan snarled.

"THAT'S 'CUZ she's my KID, ASSWIPE, She's GONNA smell like me…not like you and SILVER FOX…what was she thirteen?"

"YOU LEAVE FOX OUT OF THIS…That was fuckin one hundred years ago!"

"Dad, please, don't get blood on the porch, Mrs. Frederick will complain for a week if she has to clean it up." He turned his head to glare at Vicky.

"I thought we agreed that DAD wasn't in your vocabulary." He snarled at her.

"Well it seemed like the right thing to say at the TIME!"

Logan suddenly started guffawing…"You…DAD…do you fucking read her bed time stories…curl up with her stuffed animals...Where's your Mommy, Kid?"

Victor felt a blast of cold water down his back…and it wasn't from the melting ice.

"She's dead you fucking asshole." Victoria's voice was calm, too calm. He didn't have to see her to know her claws were out and her eyes black.

"GET YOUR ASS BACK TO YOUR ROOM, YOUNG LADY! I'll deal with you LATER!" She scampered back up the stairs. "AND WASH YOUR FACE…!" her answering snarl told him she was still upset.

The ice around them finally melted and he and Logan separated, slowly, both on guard for a continued attack.

"Dead…huh…you kill her?"

"No…not that it's any of your business," he looked at this man who was the closest thing he had to any kind of family for over a century. They fought…but he was still the only person Victor could count on. "She was murdered about two months ago…Vicky didn't even know about me, well she did, but I didn't want her to know about me. Her mom didn't listen so good, 'least about that part, which now is probably a good thing or the kid'd be scared shitless."

"Sorry…I didn't know."

Victor stepped back onto the porch, glaring at Logan and the rest of the X Geeks on his front lawn. "Just get the HELL off my yard, I am so tempted right now ta kill all of ya, you are lucky I promised the kid ta go straight, 'least till she's out of school."

"Well I know just how well you keep your promises." Logan snarled at him. His claws were still out but he'd backed up and was standing next to Rogue.

"Well, she's my flesh and blood…and you keep away from her, all of ya." He turned to walk into the door and caught a glimpse of the tin man and the Cajun coming around the corner of the house. "Take your pets and leave, Runt. I got my own problems ta deal with."

He stepped into the front door, and started to close it.

"If ya need anything, Creed, don't call me…but there's always space at the school." Logan said as he disappeared into the dark. FUCK! The damned Runt was feeling sorry for him. He shut the door on the night.