Picture's Worth a Thousand Words - REVISED
This is my first fan fic and I don't own any of the Marvel X-Men characters. No profit is being made on this fan fiction and I don't own anything anyway. In my movie verse, Scott, Jean, Deathstrike, John Wraith, and the Professor are all alive and well.
I would also like to give a special thanks to GypsyWitchBaby for letting me borrow her Lupa character. She is a bit different here, but it's the same Lupa you'll all know and love from The Feral and The Dreaming Animal.
Summary: Some sketches catch Rogue's eye from life in the 1800th century. Little is known about the artist, but Rogue is convinced she has seen them. Little does she know that she's found a piece of Logan's forgotten past?
Chapter 11: Meetings and Bondings
Present – Back at the Mansion:
The second Victor and Lupa walked into the Mansion, they were asked to come to the War Room on the sub-level. The Mansion stunk of death and blood. The Ferals wanted nothing more than to retire to their room and sleep. Of course Laser-boy wanted to have a team meeting. Victor's question was why couldn't that take place without him and Lupa? THEY weren't on the TEAM?
When the Ferals entered the room all eyes focused on them. Victor sat in the seat with Lupa on his lap. He didn't have the energy to stand up at this point. He was hungry and tired in that order. It was going to be a long "meeting" the Blue Rug was bouncing. How did Jimmy DEAL with these people?
Laser-boy started the meeting out with some really dumb questions "It's not standard procedure to have a post mission debriefing without all active team members present. When will Deathstrike and Wolverine be joining us? Why didn't you take Wolverine to the Medical Lab? Where did you take Wolverine and where is Deathstrike?" Yadda Yadda Yadda was all that Victor heard. He growled and Laser-boy shut up.
"First of all, Wolf Girl and I ain't part of the team. Second of all, Jimmy and Deathstrike ain't gonna be available for the foreseeable future. Neither of them requires medical attention; what they require and DEMAND at this point is some privacy to complete their business. Third, any attempts to disturb them will result in me ripping out someone's throat with my claws. Are ANY of ya Cubs unclear on what is demanded of ya at this time?" Victor leaned back in his chair. He really didn't expect anything else, but the Blue Rug was now talking.
"Mr. Creed – would it be a correct assumption that James and Deathstrike are a Feral Mates and Bonded pair? It that the reason for the privacy? I've never observed a Bonding before and only have theory to understand it vs practical application. You yourself introduced Mrs. Creed to James as your Mate. While at Alkali Lake I noted that both of James and Deathstrike had Feral Black eyes. If one of them was struck or touched with other reacted as if hit, most noted incident when Stryker shot Deathstrike and Wolverine was slammed into the wall. Both of them were highly sensitive to being touched and lust & arousal coming off the pair was extremely strong. I've didn't know a Soul-Bond could taking place before a Mate-Bond." Both he and Lupa looked incredulously at the Big Blue Rug. He WAS a FERAL for crying out loud! For someone that used very big words, he was very DUMB.
Victor growled out again. "You CUBS, are sticking yur noses in Family business where it doesn't belong. Jimmy and Deathstrike are Mates. What they are doing is NONE of yur business. How long they will be is also NONE of yur business. Coming between a Feral and his Mate will get you killed. Now trying to come between my Brother had his Mate, I'll do the killin' for him. We're not going to have Feral Mating 101 as part of this meeting. You are a bloody Feral yourself, so if you don't' know the basics around how OUR kind Mates and Bonds - I pity you. As for the rest of ya, it AIN'T ya business." He was met with a lot of wide eyed stares. The exception was Jimmy's Pup – Rogue was trying not to laugh. The Pup knew EXACTLY what was going to happen in that Beach House, but she hadn't spilled the beans; his respect for her when up a few notches.
Xaiver cleared his throat, "OK, on an unrelated topic. How are you and James able to link mentally? As Blood Brothers this shouldn't be possible even as biological sibling this isn't the norm. I had always assumed the Elder Brothers' FURAL FURY was nothing more than a myth. After seeing it today, and feeling you psi link, we're very interested in you and Mrs. Creed accepting both teaching position and joining X-Men team here at the school. The knowledge you both have a Mutants that have lived close to two centuries is something the next generation would benefit."
Victor and Lupa both snorted at that one. "Jimmy and I are brothers by blood vs brothers in blood; although we are that as well. If ya think for one minute, we're going to be staying in a school with hormone infested cubs and pups on a daily basis; then ya FRIED what little brain matter you possess Chucky." Victor was interrupted by the Blue Rug.
"My research indicated that James parents were John and Elizabeth Howlett, while you Father is listed as Thomas Logan and your Mother died in childbirth. You don't have the same parents to be Brothers." Victor snorted again.
"Yes, record keeping was SO sophisticated in the 1800. Yes, that is what is on paper. The reality is that Jimmy was the bastard son of Thomas Logan and Elizabeth Howlett. He and I are half Brothers. We had the same Pa. Jimmy killed our Pa at 10 years old after Thomas shot John Howlett's to death in front of his Wife. You see Thomas wanted Jimmy Ma for himself. When Jimmy saw has "Daddy" lying dead, he got mad and his claws literally came out for the first time. He ran his claws threw Thomas Logan and his dear Ma asked him two questions: What was he? And what kinda Monster was he? She then told him, he was no son of hers. Jimmy ran from the Manor in his fancy nightshirt and bare feet. I caught in the wood and we ran together. That Pack stood for over 160 years until William Stryker came between us. That is one of the reasons Stryker was gonna die before this mission of yur was done. Nothing gets in the way of Brothers and if someone is foolish enough to try they will die for it. The FERAL FURY is NONE of yur business. It's something we DO and most people who have seen it done, don't' FUCK with us. Let alone ask personal family questions that are none of their business!" Victor finished his story and several of the X-Men looked very shocked.
Jean exclaimed, "That means you both were on your own at age 14 for you and age 10 for James. How on earth did you two survive? Where did you go?" Victor laughed at the foolish Frail, but did reply "We made due; without a fancy School for Mutants no less."
Victor stood up as did Lupa. "We're hungry and tired, feel free to continue this meeting without us." As he and Lupa walked out of the room, he half turned back to the group growling. "Do NOT disturb my Brother under ANY circumstances."
Jean said, "Well that certainly went well. We have no idea what Wolverine and Deathstrike are doing. We have no idea on how the FURAL FURY works. We also don't have any indication Sabertooth and Wolf Girl will be staying. At this point, we don't know if Wolverine will be staying. The only thing Victor did clear up with that James and Victor are very old biological Brothers."
Xavier pinched his nose. "Actually, Mr. Creed said a lot but what he didn't say. James and Deathstryke are Mates but not Mated and Bonded at this time. Ferals require time to develop their Mate-Bond. I had believed the Soul-Bond didn't really exist but clearly it does. Mr. and Mrs. Creed can communicate on a totally mental level. I wasn't aware that being a Feral allows for mental links, but I'm faced with proof of at less three cases: Mr. & Mrs. Creed, James & Mr. Creed, and James & Deathstrike. Also that FURAL FURY takes it out of them. James passed out after doing it and Mr. Creed is tired. It does have its limits.
Beast spoke up, "I know for a fact that James & Deathstrike are Soul-Bonded. It would be the only thing to explain how they shared the injuries they both received at Alkali Lake. The issue I have is; I was unaware that a Soul-Bond could take place before a Mate-Bond. I have NEVER heard that that happening. That might have contributed to James passing out as well."
Present – The Boat House
Yuri lay down with her Mate on the bed and enjoyed being surrounded by his scent. They both slept for two days. When Jimmy woke up, he began to sniff her, starting with her neck. At her purring sounds he bit her neck and they then had too many layers of clothing on for their respective taste. Much later, wrapped with a sheet around his waist; Jimmy got them something to eat and returned to bed with his food offering. They were Mate-Bonded now and the whole experience was something is couldn't believe. His very Soul was singing in the present of his young Mate.
Jimmy had had his share of woman, but they didn't compare to his Mate. Yuri had no experience with men and that pleased in a deeply primal way. He would be the only person to EVER mark his Mate. Yuri was young. She would be 47 years old this year vs his own 177 years. Lupa was 170 years old to Victor's 181 years. His Mate was VERY young, but that really didn't bother him. He would and could help her learn about her Beast and how to deal with certain urges. She had blushed prettily when he told her that most Soul-Bonds don't happen until well after the Mate-Bond had been established. He told her how the Soul-Bond was a reward to the male for being a good Mate and it wasn't a given in a Mate-Bond relationship. He was honored she had Soul-Bonded them and wanted it to continue to grow stronger. He enjoyed her being in the back of his mind and feeling her soul in his heart. He explained that he wasn't angry she bonded them on sight and that he knew it was Stryker fault she had had no self control when they met. Now that he had his own Mate and the Bonds; he couldn't see how he lived without it. He was looking forward to learning new things about being a Mated couple with her.
They would need to have Victor and Lupa over soon, in all that was happening at Alkali Lake – they hadn't given either Lupa or Victor a name to call Yuri. He hadn't missed that his Brother only addressed her as Deathstrike. It was rude on his part on so many levels, but at the time, it was all he could do not to start rutting like a common animal with his Mate. They had started out under a very bad circumstance, but they could repair the damage. He wanted to still be a Pack with his Brother. They needed to clear the air. Jimmy understood why Victor had laid hands on his Mate. The man really had no choice. They would have the formal meeting of Mated Ferals and Pack Mates. Yuri was new to this and so was he to a certain degree. While he knew of other Ferals, most were not Mated, and those that were Mated had non Feral Mates. He now knew having a Feral Mate made the relationship deeper. They both shared their enhanced senses. Life was incredibly sharp and clearer than it had been just a few short days ago. Victor and Lupa would be allowed to call Yuriko, Yuri if they wished. She would be addressed by everyone else is Yuriko. They would follow in his Brother's footsteps and marry as well. He couldn't wait for her to bear his name.
Jimmy accessed his and Victor's Elder Bond and set up a meeting in two days with all four of the Feral at the Boat House. They would all share Family history at this meeting. He didn't know much about Lupa either, so the formal meeting would be good way to go about it. The Feral Females would learn about the Brothers and they would learn about their Mates. A Pack needed to know certain things. He also needed an updated on the status of Family properties, assets, and funds.
Yuri and he still required some more privacy. The fire was still burning between them. Victor was wise to provide them a place to consummate their Bonds away from prying eyes, ears, and minds. He owed Victor for that one. He was impressed. No one had disturbed them in four days. Rogue was the official food runner; the Girl had the tact to leave picnic baskets full of food just inside the Boat House door. She didn't intrude on their Den, but she did make sure the food won't be taken by anyone else.
Victor had left two presents for him and his Mate as well. The matching silk dressing gowns were very expensive and felt wonderful on their flesh, but he knew that was the point. Victor had also given Jimmy back his old journal. He had purchased a brand new Sketch book journal as well. The old flap style he had always preferred with a brand new set of pencils included in the Journal flap. He hadn't drawn anything is 17 years, but he was going to make up for some lost time. Sketching had always brought him peace of mind. It was GOOD to have Victor back in his life.
….To Be Continued?
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