A.n./ First of all: thank you(!) All my lovely reviewers and subscribers! Thank you for bearing with me through the time this chapter took to write.
Without further ado: on with the show!
Victor was laughing his ass off. He licked the spoon he was currently hefting like a shovel between the carton and his mouth. Apparently his little hellcat had caught on to his idea about providing for one's mate. He'd come home to his apartment to find a bag outside the door. At first sight it had made him wary, but as soon as he caught her scent on it, he relaxed. Once inside, he opened it to find a cooler filled with different kinds of ice cream and a variety of movies.
He had never been the kind to actually care about cartoons. When Victor was young, there wasn't any and later it had just seemed a ridiculous waste of time. But now, indulging in a cartoon marathon complete with chain eating ice cream, he was indeed having a blast. He'd give it to the girl, she had nothing if not humor. The only thing that could have made it better was if she had been there.
It would be typical of him to become impatient but surprisingly he enjoyed the slow hunt. The trip to the cabin had been an excellent idea. He had greatly enjoyed her marking him and this gift from her showed him that she was answering his courting exactly as he had planned. He would bide his time, slowly creeping closer and closer and avoid pressuring her into bolting. If he played his cards right, she would come to him and follow him willingly. X-geeks be damned! What they would do then, he hadn't planned. She probably would want him to get out of the torture and killing business. Being around her had greatly reduced his need for violence, but he wasn't quite ready to quit. They would work something out, he was sure of it.
Then there was the issue of his brother. Her friendship with the runt was strained at best right now and if he could work her fast enough it might even become a non-issue. But he couldn't count on that to be the case. He had to figure out how much to tell her. If Logan still didn't remember who he was, would it really make a difference to tell her? Would she gain anything from knowing that?
It would be a good idea to ask her a few questions about it the next time he saw her. The more he knew about the status of his brother's amnesia, the easier it would be to come up with a plan. And then he might get a better idea of what Marie wanted from their friendship in the future. Victor wasn't entirely against the idea of her staying friends with the Wolverine, but then the idiot had to accept that she was already taken. He could even reach so far as not gloating about it. Much.
Marie was procrastinating. That oh so necessary talk with Logan was postponed over and over. She told herself that she was waiting for an opportunity to snatch those files from Hank but if she was going to be completely honest with herself, she was just chickening out. But she was starting to feel like she needed to move everything along.
That's why she found herself outside Hank's office once again. She knocked with a slight tremble to her hand and a steadying breath, and upon his answer, she entered.
"Oh, hello Marie. I have made some interesting progress, thanks to you."
"Really? I mean that's great. What have you found?" Her voice sounded off in her own ears.
"I still have a lot of work left to do, but I can tell you that you have more changes in your DNA matching Sabretooth than Wolverine. That might actually explain why you had such a hard time controlling your temper and your animal side."
Marie bristled. The presumption that Sabretooth was just a dumb animal. She had to remind herself that the only way the others knew him was through that persona of his. The picture, that he had clearly cultivated with care, of a dumb brute in animal furs, hardly more than an animal himself. Beside a sadistic love for violence.
"Well, we don't really know much about him..." She trailed off. Don't go there. She reminded herself. "Besides, I can testify that Wolverine isn't exactly the picture of perfect self-control."
"Right. I'm sorry about what you have endured."
She waved her hand. Off topic.
"Look here, I'll show you. This is quite fascinating."
Marie joined him by the computer screen as he pulled up two files. One with her DNA sequence compared to Sabretooth's and the other with hers compared to Wolverine's. She couldn't explain why she was relieved that Hank didn't seem to have gotten the idea to match the ferals to each other. It hardly mattered to her situation. But something told her that she should be the one to know first. Maybe it was just greed. She stared at the screen. So close now.
Hank explained with excitement and Marie listened with half an ear, because frankly, she understood about one sixth of what he was saying.
"Can I have copies of those pictures? It's so interesting."
Marie struggled to keep her heart rate, breathing and voice steady. Hank would pick up on her nerves straight away. He was a feral, after all. He looked at her for a second that dragged on.
"Oh, yes. Absolutely! And don't worry, I'll keep working on this to gather as much information as possible about how this impacts you."
"Don't overwork yourself."
Her relieved little smile had nothing to do with him working to give her answers about her own mutation, or concern for him but Hank took it as such and Marie was thankful for that misdirection.
"Thank you for your concern." He gave her a USB stick with the sequences and Marie left his office.
Now she had to find someone who could compare the data and, fortunately, she had an acquaintance in a CSI lab. A mutant they had worked with a couple of times before. Hopefully he would be able to help her discreetly.
"So. When are you going to talk to Wolverine?" Jubilee asked between bites of her fries.
"Don't know. But I have to do it soon. I just don't know what to tell him." Marie evaded. She was really waiting for the results of the DNA comparison.
"Can't you just say that you are not interested anymore? If you're not..."
"I guess. But I'm not even sure about what I have with..." She trailed off, still not knowing what she should call Victor. Did she need a codename for him?
"I know he hurt you, but do you really think it's OK to string him along? To kind of have him as a backup plan..."
The question wasn't asked with any judgement but it bit nonetheless, because it made Marie realize that what she was doing was even worse than what Logan had done to her. If he had suddenly developed an interest in her. It really seemed like it was time to clear the air, at least some. And definitely time to make up her mind. She needed to have a good, long talk with Victor too. The awkwardness and heavy tasks seemed to pile up on her.
"No. I haven't even thought of it that way. But you are right. I need to put things straight. Even if I lose him as a friend."
As she put it in words, Marie realized that her biggest problem was that she still wanted him in her life. Just not the same way she had wanted before. If Logan and Victor were actually related...well, that opened up opportunities to keep it that way but also a whole different can of worms.
"In the end, I think you can't lose him for good. You both are too close for that to happen. I just don't want to see any of you hurt. I do like you both a lot." Jubes was unusually serious.
"Thanks Jubilee. I like you too."
"Even though you won't tell me anything about the guy who can twist the untouchable girl around his little finger!" And regular Jubes was back.
"Hey! I told you it's complicated! I... I think he's kinda... courting me?" Marie was still a young and inexperienced woman and she needed input from her girlfriend, dammit!
"Courting?"
"Well he is a feral. He kind of...I don't know, shows off."
Jubilee looked intrigued, on the verge of gleeful. "Oh, do go on, chica!"
"It's like, he shows me his assets." Marie glared at her friend who was about to leer something about the behind of her feral. "Places he lives, he has several, hunted a deer and barbecued it to make me a good meal."
"Uhu." Jubilee looked thoughtful. "Isn't that just bragging?"
"I don't think so. To me, it feels like he's trying to show me that he's a good mate." Marie felt sheepish and felt her blush spread. "With my enhanced feral traits."
Jubilee looked thoughtful and Marie hoped that the interrogation would stop there.
"So, this might be really serious. Then why don't you just introduce the guy to everyone and be done with it? If it all goes to hell, then it isn't like anybody expects you to get married or something yet anyway." Jubilee was actually making a lot of sense. From her point of view.
"He and Logan has some kind of bad history. I don't know. And he's... not really a 'socially acceptable' kind of man in our crowd. Sort of." Marie knew she was crawling on very thin ice.
Jubilee looked scandalized. "If he's good enough for you, then he should be good enough for everyone else. I got your back, chica!"
Marie squirmed. It was nice to hear, but that might change with revealing exactly who she was seeing.
"I got your back!" Jubes growled with conviction.
Marie decided to leave it at that.
Marie lifted her hand and hesitated. She turned to leave but froze. Turned back to stare at the door, still trying to muster up the courage.
Victor and Logan were brothers. Without a doubt. She wouldn't tell Logan, and she still hadn't asked Victor about it, but something had to be done. A deep breath to center herself and she knocked the door.
Logan tore it open in that trademark what-the-actual-fuck-are-you-doing-here?! way. Marie flinched but the notoriously sullen Canadian stepped back to let her in. He motioned to his bed, where she mostly sat or laid when she was in here. Normally, it was soothing, her own spot in the Wolverine's lair where she spent time watching movies and relaxing or being quietly supportive when he had a 'Logan moment'. Now it felt more like waiting for her own execution.
She sat down, hesitantly. Logan slumped into his chair, his ever present bottle of whiskey in his hand. He always did drink too much, not that it mattered with his mutation. And he didn't get the effect he wanted anyway. She probably could help him with that, if she pulled energy from him, he might actually get drunk. That might be interesting. Marie shook herself mentally.
"We do need to talk. And I need you to listen. Like, properly." Marie hated the way she managed to sound like the kid he still saw.
"I guess." He grunted. Never one to admit his own shortcomings.
"I still love you, in a way. You're the closest friend I've ever had. I still want you in my life."
"And I'll never leave! I told you I would take care of you."
"I appreciate that. But you need to back off. I think you've made it abundantly clear that you will never see me the way I want you to see me. And that made you lose all claims on me."
There was a surprised silence.
"I couldn't see you as anything else! You were to young! An then stuff came up..." Logan was angry now.
"Stuff being Jean. The already taken, evil woman you rubbed in my face over and over. I was never good enough for you and I was kept certain about it." Marie spoke through clenched teeth, long suppressed feelings aching to get out.
"It wasn't about that, never about you not being good enough. I refuse to let you make me the bad guy because I'm not a pedophile!" Logan's voice was increasing in volume.
"But I grew up! I'm not a little girl with a crush anymore. But you never saw me. Until I found someone else."
"I was grieving!"
"You don't think I know?! How many nights didn't I spend on this very bed, patiently listening to you crying your eyes out over her? Wasn't I behaving grown up way beyond my years then? Didn't I when I cleaned your clothes and your wounds and waited up late in a motelroom while you were out fighting? Or when I made sure you ate regularly and somewhat healthy all that time we spent on the road? Wasn't I basically your perfect girlfriend, just without being physical?" Marie blinked furiously, trying to press back the tears threatening to spill.
"Oh, honey..." All the angry tension bled out of Wolverine's body. He reached for her, but Marie got up from his bed, moving away.
"It doesn't matter now. I think I have proven myself over and over but you never saw it. You took me for granted. I waited for you but I'm tired of waiting, Logan. You had your chance. I have something new, something good. I won't have you destroying it. I truly hope you can accept this because I still want you in my life. As a friend. But if you can't, I will be forced to go." She sounded so old and tired, worn out.
"I..." Logan exhaled sharply. "I'll try. I don't want you to leave. But this is hard. I woke up too late, didn't realise what you mean to me until you were..." He trailed off.
"You make it work then. I would be sad and regretful to walk out that door but I would do it without hesitation."
It was the harshest things that had ever left her mouth. But it was necessary, she'd laid down the law and fully intended to follow through. No more last chances. No matter what awaited if she left, if it all went to hell, at least she could always look back at her life and feel like she did what she believed in.
"You know, it would feel better if I knew the dude I'll be silently hating." He glowered.
Rogue snorted. "I'm not sure that's really a good idea." Hell no, Wolverine definitely would not be feeling any better if he knew who she was seeing. "I don't think that is anyone's business until I decide that it's official." She said out loud. Diplomacy 'n all...
"How can I keep you safe if I don't know?"
"Start by not going easy on me when we spar. You know, I could put myself in real danger if I'm led to believe that I'm a better fighter than I am in reality. Or how about stopping those bullying me when you know it isn't just goading for the sake of a training fight."
He actually looked ashamed. "Well, I figured it was better for you to believe that he was just messing with you, that if you thought he didn't mean it your confidence wouldn't take a hit."
Marie's face fell. "Oh, ghee. Thanks for sticking up for me and considering me strong enough to handle a dimwitted asshole. Newsflash, genius: you could've supported me through to strengthen me. Or offer to gut him, or hold him while I did it myself. Any-fucking-thing!" The harsh sarcasm sounded odd even to her own ears. Was she getting bitter? Not the point! she told herself.
Logan stared at her in disbelief, but she couldn't tell what confused him the most. There was too many new layers to her and to much dont-give-a-fuck in her new repertoire.
"What happened to you? You weren't like this before. Mouthy. Bloodthirsty. Angry."
She couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. Seriously?!
"Life happened. Have you not heard a single fucking thing I just told you? Isn't that enough to justify my anger? You're testing my patience, Logan."
"I heard you. But there is anger and there is turning from a quiet, shy girl to frothing at the mouth. I know you're partially feral but not all ferals are this...snappy."
She sneered at him. "Well, I have absorbed you, for one..."
"That's not all though. How is the bas...boy you're seeing? Does he have a bad temper too?"
Marie snorted and Logan scowled at the reaction.
"That's one way to put it. I'm perfectly safe with him, though. In fact, I seem to recall you laying hands on me several times against my will. He hasn't ever done anything I haven't asked for or given my consent to."
Logan made an ugly face but didn't answer. Marie crowed inwardly at the temporary victory. She steamed on like a freight train.
"What about the sparring then? You know it could be dangerous if I overestimate myself. Why did you hold back?"
"Well I couldn't beat you into the floor, right? It isn't exactly easy to keep my strength in check enough and still teach you. Didn't want you to end up looking like you got run over by a horse."
"Bruises heal, so does cuts and scrapes. Broken necks and evisceration mostly don't and that's where I could've ended up, thinking I could handle a situation when in reality I had no clue about the level of danger." She was getting dangerously close to the truth. How lucky she'd been that Victor had been more curious and amused than murderous that night.
Logan just grunted for a non-answer. Marie started moving to the door.
"So, do we have an agreement? Will you try to be honest with me? Can you try to let me live my life?"
"I'll always try my best to protect you."
It wasn't the answer she wanted. Marie sighed, weary.
"Wolverine..."
"Alright, I'll try. I can't promise I won't freak out sometime, but I'll do my best. And when I fuck up, you're free to yell at me until my ears bleed. That's the best I can give you right now."
She looked him in the eyes for long moments, trying to see a will to fight for this. She dipped her head once, to acknowledge his promise, and stepped out the door, hurrying back to her room. Marie slammed the door shut and pressed her back to it, sinking to the floor as the tension finally left her. She had never thought she'd be able to do this. Yet she did it and survived. As soon as her heart stopped pounding in relief, she'd be really proud of herself.
"So, it's done?" Jubilee poked her head up from among the pillows they had built a nest of.
Marie just nodded, still unable to speak.
"Well come on then, chica! Don't just sit there! Details, puuleas!"
Marie nodded and got up, plopping down on the bed. A movie was on, providing them with background noise as Marie told Jubes everything about the conversation she had just had. It was really good to have her friend back.
"Thank you so much for your help." Marie hung up.
Finally, she knew. Logan and Victor were really related. Closely related, possibly brothers or cousins. She couldn't tell if it would change her situation, really, but somehow it should. It was hard to know how to use the information. Logan might not remember or the animosity between them was the actual reason for the Wolverine's failure to mention it. She might approach Victor about it but that could be walking on thin ice with stilettos. Still, if they were going to become more seriously involved, it was an issue that needed to be addressed. To Victor's credit, he was always blunt and honest and he would probably be upfront about the situation, even if only to say he didn't want to go into details. She could live with that.
He probably wouldn't explode into a fit if she asked but Marie knew she could be cunning about it and put him in a good mood. He always was more talkative when he'd blown off the worst steam, she'd learned quite quickly.
So, she had plans to make.
The training session had been good. She was getting better quickly, holding her own for quite a while now.
The following sex had been mindblowing. As usual after a fight, no matter it wasn't a serious fight, it started out rough and heated and turned slow and sweet as they came down from the adrenaline.
But nerves drove her out of Victor's possessive arms and she sat up on the bed, her back to him. She leaned her elbows on her knees, hunching over, as she fretted over the coming conversation. As usual, he read her like an open book.
"So, moody. Care to share what's chewing you?"
"I have found out some... stuff. The kind of things that can make or break a lot. Or maybe it's inconsequential. I don't know." She hedged.
Victor crawled closer, curling around her.
"So what are you gonna do? The way I see it, you can either let it go or face it head on. No point in letting it eat you." Victor wasn't one to encourage stewing. "It's better to let me eat you." He added with that trademark lascivious grin of his.
Marie took a deep breath and exhaled sharply. No point in trying to cover how nervous she was, he would know anyway.
"We have never talked about our families. Do you have any relatives?"
She felt him tense behind her for a fraction of a second but it was gone so quickly she wondered if she had imagined it.
"Yeah. But we don't stay in touch."
He didn't elaborate, but Marie felt him waiting for her to make the next move.
"I know you and Wolverine are related."
"Hmh." He answered noncommittally.
He didn't explode and Marie let him mull over the situation. Frankly, she didn't know how to continue this conversation, she had just been anxious to get this off her chest. He was quite for so long she thought he might not say anything.
"You're right. We're family. By blood, at least." Something bitter crept into his voice.
His grip on her tightened possessively and Marie turned to look at him, but his face was unreadable.
"Does it change anything?" He asked.
"Not for me. I just...I don't know, wanted you to know that I know." She massaged his arm with slow and deliberate movements, soothing him.
"We're half-brothers. But we parted ways a long time ago."
Marie was curious but didn't push, knowing he could clam up and that would be the end of this conversation for the foreseeable future.
"You can tell me as much or as little you want." Then another thought struck her. "How long is 'a long time ago'? I don't even know how old you are."
Victor snorted. "He left me way before he lost his memory. My age is unimportant, I've been around long enough to have seen the invention of the car. Wolverine is a couple of years younger than me."
Marie rummaged on that morsel. So she really was a kid compared to them. Still, Victor never rubbed it in her face.
"Whatever you wish to do, I accept that. But in return I hope you will respect that I hope to keep Wolverine in my life. As a friend.'
"I have no real issue with him, except that he was a lot like me for years and then he estranged me, considered himself better than me for lying to himself about what he is. Then he lost his memory and it all morphed into the hatred he holds against me, even though now he doesn't know why... He tried to change, but when he lost his memory he went back to fighting. We're not so different, really, it's just he won't see it that way."
He seemed sad for it and it broke Marie's heart a little. She of all people knew that Wolverine wasn't just fighting for money; the man was so closely entwined with the violence it was hard to tell if it was embedded in the very core of his being or not. Victor might be slightly worse, but on the other hand he never cared for trying to pretend he was a better person, that he didn't enjoy it, and she loved him even more for it. If he didn't lie about that, Marie couldn't even think up a situation where he would be dishonest with her. It brought her comfort, in a slightly disturbing way. Victor always made her push her own boundaries for what was acceptable and when the line was irrevocably crossed.
"I talked to him a few days ago. I didn't tell him anything about this, I figure it isn't my story to tell. I want to try to keep him as a friend, but I won't let him get between us." Marie clarified.
"Sounds fair. He'll throw a bitchfit of unimaginable magnitude the second he realizes who's been fucking you into the floor, though."
The leer on his face signalled that the serious talk was over and Marie slapped him playfully on the arm. The man was hopeless.
Marie just wanted to have some fun. And that's why she wasn't planning on staying in Victor's bed all night. Maybe she was getting a bit wreckless because Logan had held his part of their truce for a couple of weeks. And she had not snuck out, keeping her dates to reasonable hours and telling people when she left.
But right now, she was up for some more rebellion. And so she climbed out of her window again, dressed to impress. Low rise, tight jeans and a top leaving most of her back bare.
Victor waited for her in the usual spot, black pick up polished to perfection. He liked keeping his stuff clean and Marie had nothing to object about that little fact. Especially not when they were in the shower and he was cleaning her...
Marie shook her head. The man was incredibly distracting. She climbed in, sinking comfortably into the seat.
"So, kitten, what we doing tonight?"
"We're going drinking."
Victor raised an amused eyebrow.
"You do remember that I don't really get drunk?"
"Well, I think I have an idea..."
Marie smirked, she was very proud of this particular idea, feeling very smug.
"What if I grope you all night?" She leered just a little bit at her double meaning.
Victor clicked his tongue, then he realized what she meant and he grinned.
"Clever girl. That's a good idea. Where to?"
"Same place as usual?"
Might be the only place that don't ask me for id. Marie hadn't told Victor that she still was six months shy of drinking legally and Victor never asked. Age seemed unimportant to him, but that wasn't really strange, considering everyone was younger than him.
This time, there were no wracked nerves when she enter the bar, just anticipation. Victor was a steady presence behind her and she knew she was a better fighter than ever. No matter what lowlifes frequented this place, she was pretty sure she could handle them. Except they wouldn't even get that far. Not with Sabertooth winding his arm possessively around her shoulders.
He nodded and made a gesture to the bartender and dragged her to his favorite booth in the corner. A bottle of bourbon and two classes was put before them almost instantly.
Victor kept his hand on the bare skin on her back and they sat in comfortable silence for a while, Rogue curiously glancing at the people scattered in the shabby room. She knew not to let her eyes linger on anyone for too long, but she couldn't refuse to look just a little. This place was so far from the school, it could be different planets. But Rogue wasn't some spoiled brat, she had been through hardships and seen the ugly side of life.
Yet she couldn't feel bitter about it, because every single thing that had happened had all added up to make the path leading her here. And she found that this was exactly where she wanted to be. Living a little on the edge, but mostly with Sabertooth by her side.
She sipped her bourbon and looked up at him.
"What made you refrain from killing me that first time I came here."
He was silent for so long, she thought he wouldn't answer.
"You called me Creed. Nobody has made a point of knowing me by human name in a very long time."
He shrugged, as if he trying to smooth over the fact that he must've been lonely back then. After all, Sabertooth was an invincible, cold blooded psychopath.
"And I was intrigued what would bring you to search me out. Considering our...differences."
She mulled it over, the alcohol slowly warming her, a pleasurable numbness spreading through her. Rogue looked up at him. His eyes were a bit glazed.
"Starting to feel the effect?" She asked, amused.
"Mhm." He smiled slowly. "And it's quite...nice."
It still took a good amount of liquor to get him more than just slightly tipsy. He had excused himself to go to the bathroom when trouble walked through the door. Rogue spotted them just before they reached her table.
"You, young lady, are going to explain yourself." Scott exclaimed, furiously glaring at the bottle on the table.
Rogue felt unnaturally calm. Where she would have stuttered and blushed just months ago, now she was almost...amused. She tilted her head, sizing him up. Her tongue peeked out to drag over one fang.
"I'm on a date." She smirked.
"Seriously?! Here?!"
"Isn't it obvious?"
She was getting under his skin and she could smell the incoming tantrum. Scott schooled himself, though, clamping down on his temper.
"If he can't take you anyplace nicer , why even bother?" He ground out.
"He can bring me anywhere actually." She said it with a noncommittal, airy voice. "I asked to come here."
"Why?" Hank asked.
"Oh, I don't know, how about some rebellion? Living a little dangerous? Or how about nostalgia? Take your pick."
"You've been drinking. You're underage!" Scott hissed.
"Is there a problem here?"
Sabertooth towered over the two men, leisurely standing just a little too close for comfort. With a low rumble, just a hint of a barely audible warning, he slipped past them and into the booth, giving them his back in a blatant display of how little he thought them a threat.
Even drunk and relaxed he has that smooth power that reeks of danger. Rogue noted and fully approved.
Scott's jaw worked a few times before he snapped it shut with an audible click.
Sabertooth quirked a mocking brow.
"You didn't answer my question. Is. There. A. Problem?"
He wound an arm around Rogue, lacing the fingers of his other hand through her's and with a grin that showed oh so much sharp teeth, he kissed the palm of her hand gently.
Scott sputtered. Rogue repressed a grin at his expense.
"You took her here?! For a date?!"
Rogue realized that Scott hadn't recognized Sabertooth. It was nothing short of impossible that he would see that as the biggest issue if he had. Sabertooth shrugged, a cocky grin stretching his lips.
"Lady's wishes. And I do take care of all my woman's...needs."
Oh, the leer on his face! Rogue was getting suddenly hot with the implication. Scott looked like he wanted to tear someone apart. Hank just looked incredibly awkward.
"She's underage! She's not even allowed to drink!" Scott growled at Sabertooth.
"'She' is sitting right here!" Rogue snapped at Scott. How dare he turn to Sabertooth as if he was her keeper?! Sabertooth slowly turned to her.
"Is that so? You're engaging in illegal activities?"
Still that cool calculating rumble, not a trace of the uncontrolled, snarling beast craving blood and violence. It made him seem all the more dangerous. Like a cat, toying with his prey. Rogue's heart skipped a beat. Or ten. She swallowed audibly.
"I think someone is a bad girl..." Dark amusement glittered in his eyes.
Rogue shivered, memory of their audience completely wiped out. He leaned in, nipping her neck. A scandalized sound from Scott jerked them back to reality.
And that's when Logan walked into the bar, his eyes finding them immediately.
"Hello, Jimmy." Sabertooth said, smirk firmly in place.
Rogue could spot the exact moment when Wolverine recognized who the man pressed against Rogue was. She caught the dilation of pupils, the gasp and the tension of his body.
Then all hell broke loose.