Author's note: Thank you to magistrafarris, NotMarge, partygirl98, Luna von Rae, NicoleR85, kmj1989, SoNotYourAverageGirl, ZabuzasGirl, Jedi DC of Marvel, and musicjunkie1996 for the reviews! I won't waste your time up here because I know you guys want to see what happens!

Worth Fighting For

"H-hank-"

Zoey's voice, barely above a whisper, cracked on my name. I could smell her fear, a sharp painful scent in my nose. Another shiver went through her body, and I knew this time it wasn't from cold.

I hated those men just for frightening her- I wanted to rip them apart simply for that reason. But getting Zoey to safety was of the utmost importance.

I quickly considered our options.

The alleyway we were trapped in was barely wide enough for a car to pass through, and the smooth stucco buildings on either side were four stories tall and windowless. No escape that way.

I debated whether I could clear the men in one jump carrying Zoey, but was afraid to risk it. I wasn't sure if I could make a big leap like that while holding someone, not unless I was Beast. What if I lost my balance, or dropped her? I could hurt Zoey and our baby.

The baby. I knew I couldn't ask Zoey to dissociate herself into heat, either. We'd talked about it and decided it wasn't safe while she was pregnant, for fear that our child hadn't inherited Zoey's immunity to her ability. So that option was out, too.

My observations had taken place within the space of two seconds, but my conclusion was bleak. We were well and truly cornered.

A snarl of frustration tried to fight its way out of my throat, but I clamped it down. My nerves were stretched like a piano wire- just the sight of those knives in the proximity of my wife made the edges of my vision shimmer and a white-hot rage pool deep in my abdomen.

These men had no idea what they were dealing with, cornering a feral mutant with his pregnant mate at his back. I could feel Beast scratching at the back of my head, trying to force his way out.

Calm. Stay calm, McCoy. Try to talk your way out of this.

"Can I help you gentlemen?" I somehow managed to ask politely.

I angled my body so I could see all five of them at once, pulling Zoey slightly behind me with our backs towards the wall. I knew my movements telegraphed a certainty that this would come to a physical altercation, but fight or no, her safety was my first priority.

"We can start with your wallets," one of them drawled, stepping closer. I couldn't see his face- they were all wearing nylon over their heads- but he sounded like he could still be in his late teens.

It would be just our luck to find the one set of trouble-making muggers in the entire sleepy town of Salem Center on our way home one night. I just wanted us out of there as quickly as possible.

"Have them," I said coolly. I took my wallet out and tossed it to the boy's feet. "Sweetheart?"

Zoey followed suit, throwing hers down with a tad more force than necessary to indicate her displeasure. I decided I was lucky she hadn't chucked it at the guy's face.

"If that's all, we'd like to be going now," I calmly stated. "We don't want any trouble."

I took a tentative step forward, to see if they would budge. The moment any of them did I planned to scoop Zoey up and make a break for it.

But no. The man who'd spoken before brought his knife up higher, and the others followed suit.

"We're not done here," he retorted, with a humorless laugh. "My friends and I want a taste of that little redheaded piece of ass. You can have what's left of her after we're done."

"You can go to hell and stay there," Zoey hissed, making our assailants chuckle.

"Oooh, a feisty one!" one of them jeered.

Two of the other men took a step forward, knives still in hand, and it was at that point that I snapped. By threatening Zoey, they had done the one thing guaranteed to make me lose control of myself. The all-consuming fury I experienced now, with Zoey- and our baby- in danger, made the jealous anger I'd felt towards Jim the slimy salesman seem puny and inconsequential.

A warning snarl ripped itself out of my throat and my vision turned red for a second as the change into Beast swept over me. It felt like liquid nitrogen searing my veins, the burn matching that of my rage.

Our foes jumped back in horror, but I didn't care. I wanted to rip them apart. I would enjoy it. It would feel like justice served after they threatened harm to my wife and unborn child.

"What the hell is that?" one of the men squeaked.

"Just kill him!" Goon Number One snapped.

"Kill him?" We've skipped some levels here.

The first attacker came at me with his knife at the ready. I was able to block his arm before he could make a downward stabbing motion, and then in the same movement I hit him in the solar plexus with the heel of my other hand. It knocked him to the ground, and there he stayed.

All of the others, with the exception of the group's unofficial spokesman, then tried to jump me at once. It made me frantic to get to Zoey, having that last imbecile unaccounted for.

I easily dodged their attacks- my reflexes were much too fast for them. I disarmed one man by grabbing his wrist and twisting (the bones made a rather satisfying crunching sound), while ducking another's attempt to tackle me, knife out-stretched.

The first I then flung into the alley wall, where he crumpled like a rag doll. The other ended up landing face-first on the ground as his momentum carried him over my back. I saw some of his teeth go flying.

I took the last assailant out by knocking the knife out of his hand and then just outright punching him in the face. He collapsed like a sack of potatoes.

While I was dealing with my three versus one situation, Goon Number One tried to attack Zoey.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw her shoot a fireball out of her palm right at his chest before he got less than a few feet away. It was an instinctive action, if the startled look on her face was any indication. The man's shirt caught fire.

That's my girl.

He screamed and immediately fell to the ground, obviously trying to do the classic "stop, drop, and roll." I finished with my assailants just in time to see Zoey kick him right in the crotch.

Usually I'm not a proponent of kicking a man when he's down (or in the jewels), but today I'll make an exception.

I hurriedly grabbed our wallets off the ground. Then I snatched Zoey up- before she'd even recovered balance from her kick- and ran, without looking back.

There were few people out on this chilly evening, so I hopefully wouldn't have to read about a blue, miniature version of King Kong carrying his very own Ann Darrow and roaming the streets of Salem Center in the morning papers.

Even if someone saw us, I didn't care. I didn't stop running until I'd flown up the stairs and slammed the door to our apartment shut behind us.

I crossed our living room in three strides and set Zoey down on the couch. I knelt in front of her, cradling her beautiful, precious face and trying to assess for damage or shock.

It took me a moment to realize her hands were brushing along my face, too. Like she was as worried about me as I was for her.

"Are you ok?" We both asked at the exact same time.

I think we both would've laughed in any other circumstance. As it was, we gave each other wan smiles.

"Hank, I'm fine," Zoey assured me. One of her hands went to her stomach. "Both of us. I promise."

I let out a sigh of relief and sank down on the floor, my head in her lap. Her fingers started to stroke my hair while I tried to calm myself down. It was difficult, because every time I closed my eyes I saw Zoey encircled by armed men, knives raised. What could have happened, if I hadn't been able to protect her-

I'd never been so glad for what I was than in that moment. My powers as a feral mutant gave me the ability to defend the woman I loved from harm, for which I was profoundly grateful.

"You let them see you," Zoey murmured suddenly. "And I used my powers, too."

"I don't think we need to worry about those hoodlums going to the authorities," I mused. "Not unless they want to explain why they were attacking random passerby in the first place."

Of course, they didn't have to go to the police to get us in trouble. The Friends of Humanity would be thrilled to hear of this escapade, and wouldn't care that the mutants in this incident weren't the aggressors. The FOH just wanted to punish mutant kind for the crime of existing.

Those buffoons didn't know who we are, I reasoned to myself. We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If we're careful we'll never see them again, and it won't matter if they go to the FOH or not. They won't find us. They can't find us.

"No more walking to the cafe, ok?" I said quietly. "We'll drive from now on."

"Ok," Zoey agreed.

"I won't let anything happen to you," I promised her earnestly after a moment, lifting my head so I could see her eyes.

She smiled beatifically and raised one of my hands to her lips to kiss the palm. "I know. You're my 'knight in shining armor' and 'Prince Charming' all in one."

Her complete trust in me was humbling. I would do anything to make sure her faith in me wasn't misplaced, to ensure her safety. I knew without a doubt that I would protect Zoey and our child to my last breath. I would go down fighting if I had to.

The irony of a fervent pacifist and unassuming, mild-mannered nerd calmly contemplating violence did not escape me.

Perhaps I was never a pacifist at all, I thought as I pulled Zoey in for a kiss. My lips drifted down and pressed against her tummy. Maybe... maybe I was just waiting for something worth fighting for.