"Are you nuts?!?" screamed Tom, while the car moved carelessly through the streets.
"It was the only thing I could think of. Leave me alone!!"
"But his pride and joy?!?!?"
"I know," Faye sighed as she pulled onto a stop sign.
She wrapped her hands around the wheel and squeezed. She felt sick to her stomach about what she had just done. It hurt her more than it had Logan, but she really needed to talk to him.
"You know he's going to kill you, right?"
"Perhaps. But he's going to have to listen to me first."
"Logan? Listening before slashing? That's preposterous."
"Tom, comedy doesn't suit you."
"Well, now. Let's change the subject, shall we?"
"And what should we talk about? A way to get rid of this car maybe?"
"Maybe. Or we could talk about the fact that you're using up way too much energy and not replacing any. Your energy is dropping like crazy."
Faye stood silent. She eased the car into a street and sped up. She knew he was right, but she had a mission to fulfill. She parked the jeep somewhere desolate and got out. Using her powers, she headed for the X-mansion, as a worried Tom watched her energy levels drop drastically.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Upon reaching the mansion, Faye waited until night fell or Logan decided to contact her, whichever came first.
As the sun started settling in the west, Faye watched the lights come on inside the immense house. Its shadow dropped with great magnitude; suddenly, Faye understood why this place was so important to Logan. She looked down at her old communicator--the link was still broken.
*What is he waiting _for_?* she thought.
She sighed and transformed her body. She traveled through the soil in order to reach the top of the house.
Faye perched on and kept a look on the perimeters. The sun was going down fast and the sky tinted reddish, as a car stopped in front of the main gates; another car followed. The gate opened to show the X-van, inside it were Roberto, Amara, Rahne, Sam and Rogue. Faye registered their energies with her powers and looked at a distance.
"Who's out there, Tom?" she asked as she looked after the other car.
"Satellite shows a girl. No data can be found on her."
"Describe her."
"Around Rogue's height, purple hair, green eyes. She's registered on Bayville High as Risty Wilde. Says here she's from England."
"Trace her records."
"Can't."
"Why not?"
"Maybe because she has none."
"Tom, don't kid around. You're from England. You might be able to find something that might help."
"Ok. I'll try."
"Do it. I wanna know everything about that girl. And why she's going around with Rogue."
"Aye, aye, captain."
The kids went inside, leaving the premises in utter silence. As Faye started getting used to the crispy night air, fatigue started setting in. Her eyelids were getting heavy and droopy, and her back ached from the long hours she had been standing.
*Focus,* she thought. *Don't forget what you came here to do. It'll be very bad if he gets what he wants.*
Suddenly, a noise behind her made her spin around. Dizzily, she looked for the source of the sound but found nothing. As the world spun rapidly, the floor started getting closer and closer.
*Wake up, Faye,* her head screamed. *You're falling!!!!*
Quickly, she used her powers to change the oncoming soil and her body. It wasn't as good as she had predicted. She wounded her arms, back and legs as she entered the badly transformed soil.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Logan felt a presence and looked behind him. There was nothing there. He moved away from the smell of garbage, which he had been carrying, and sniffed the air. The smell of fresh blood mixed with another scent hit his nostrils like an alarming truck. He knew that smell very well.
"Come out, Faye. I know ye're here."
Faye stayed put on the soil. He came real close to her and she backed up on the wall.
"Or maybe ya'd like if I took ya out of there," he said and extended his claws.
Faye popped her head up from the soil. Slowly, she pushed herself up. She struggled since her powers were failing.
"Ye're weak....and hurt," Logan said, as he helped her get out of the floor and lean against the wall. "But ya still have ta pay for what ya did to my bike."
Faye looked at him, trying to read his features. When she saw an opening, she melted into the wall.
"Don't use yer powers. It ain't gonna be now," Logan reassured her, pulling her out by the collar.
She pushed him off and tried hitting him, but she was still too dizzy to do that.
He easily dodged her blow and pushed her against the wall.
"Stop moving. Ye're gonna hurt yerself. And, for Pete's sake, take that damn mask off."
"It's my burden," she answered.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. Just take it off, it ticks me off."
Logan was still holding her by the collar, so she couldn't turn around. She looked for a way to take her mask off and not let him see it. Finally, she settled on looking away, taking off the mask and quickly brushing her hair on top of her left eye.
Logan saw her movements and let go of the cape. He grabbed her face and turned it towards him. As he raised his hand, she placed her right hand on her belt and her left up. Slowly, she watched as his hand brushed her silky hair away to reveal yet another burden.
As the moonlight lit up her face, Logan looked in horror at the four scratch marks coming from her eyebrow all the way to her cheek. He followed the marks with his finger and closed his fist as he reached the bottom. In a flash of rage, he extended his claws on a fast *SNIKT*; it startled Faye.
"Sabertooth," he murmured through his gritted teeth.
Faye tried to pull away, but he caught her arm and held her tight.
"Ya were with that maniac?!?" he screamed.
"Keep your voice down," she shushed him. "I had no choice."
"How many times have I toldya ta keep away from him??"
"I know. I had to."
"Why?"
"Because.....," she trailed off.
"Why?" he screamed again.
"I have my own reasons."
He pushed her closer against the wall and held his claw to the base of her collarbone and, angrily, said: "Why?"
"Because I was looking for you." She paused and pushed him away. "Damn it!!!! Ever since you left Japan I've been searching the world for you."
Logan opened his mouth to answer but only a small, quiet "eh" came out. He looked at her tenderly now; she looked away. Pity was something she hated.
*He could at least punch me. I hate it when he looks at me like that. I've been a horrible person to him, he shouldn't look at me like that,* she thought.
"I've been all over the world looking for you, as well as trying to get away from Zhar--and, lately, Weapon X," she said aloud.
He sensed her change in attitude and let her go. She moved away.
"Weapons X?" he asked and then thought: *She still hasn't recovered from last time. Damn it, I was the one who got left behind, not the other way around. I wish she wasn't so hard on herself.*
"Yeah, that's how I found Creed. I was sort of supposed to replace you. They added adamantium to my bones as well. Tom thinks it was at Zhar's request that they did it."
"Did they?" he looked down. "I know how that feels. It ain't pretty."
"Yeah, so do I. One more thing we have to share."
"And they placed a chip on yer head?"
"Nope. They did, however, wipe out some of my memories. The better ones."
*The ones we made together,* she thought.
"And Creed...?"
"...helped me get out," she completed. "I knew that if I stuck around with him I'd find you in a second. And I have. I've been watching you for a long time now," she looked at him.
"The scar is from when...," he trailed off.
"...Daniel took over. Creed had to attack me to save himself."
"Or so he says," Tom butted in.
"I agree," said Logan.
"Oh, stop it. I know Sabertooth isn't the best person in the world, but he never gave me any reasons to doubt him."
"Until now," said Tom and Logan at once.
Faye chuckled. Her body started hurting again, but she wasn't going to back down.
"Ya ain't eating right, are ya?" asked Logan, changing the subject as he sensed her pain.
"Well, I was going to, but someone chased me off a restaurant today."
"Tom?"
"She hasn't eaten in three days, hasn't slept in four. Frankly, I'm concerned. I'm looking at levels of 35 and 12."
"What???" Logan gasped.
"I'm fine, really. I have to get back to my watch."
"Not tonight, ya ain't," said Logan reaching for her hand.
"You don't know the kind of thing that's coming to threat the Institute," Faye said.
"And I'm sure ya ain't gonna tell me. Don't worry. Everyone is tired and they ain't gonna be around the kitchen today."
"Logan, I'm telling you. It's too risky."
"Ya go around with Sabertooth and now this is too risky? Ye're eating, then ye're gonna go to sleep on one of the guest rooms. There's one right next ta mine. This way I'll be around ta take care of ya."
"I don't wanna be a burden."
"Would ya rush about the burdens? I have ta do this. I wasn't around when Weapon X took ya, I have to protect ya now, darlin'."
It felt weird to say those words so freely to her now, but somehow he had to say them--after all, it all happened such a long time ago; it was time to let it all go. Logan didn't know if he could but he was going to try.
"And the kids?"
"They'll be up early. Just get out the same way ya got in. Ye're fast, I'm sure ya can do it. I'm even willing ta forget about whatcha did ta my bike, eh?"
"Really?!?" Faye asked astonished.
"NO! Now go!!!" he said and grinned. They went inside.
"It was the only thing I could think of. Leave me alone!!"
"But his pride and joy?!?!?"
"I know," Faye sighed as she pulled onto a stop sign.
She wrapped her hands around the wheel and squeezed. She felt sick to her stomach about what she had just done. It hurt her more than it had Logan, but she really needed to talk to him.
"You know he's going to kill you, right?"
"Perhaps. But he's going to have to listen to me first."
"Logan? Listening before slashing? That's preposterous."
"Tom, comedy doesn't suit you."
"Well, now. Let's change the subject, shall we?"
"And what should we talk about? A way to get rid of this car maybe?"
"Maybe. Or we could talk about the fact that you're using up way too much energy and not replacing any. Your energy is dropping like crazy."
Faye stood silent. She eased the car into a street and sped up. She knew he was right, but she had a mission to fulfill. She parked the jeep somewhere desolate and got out. Using her powers, she headed for the X-mansion, as a worried Tom watched her energy levels drop drastically.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Upon reaching the mansion, Faye waited until night fell or Logan decided to contact her, whichever came first.
As the sun started settling in the west, Faye watched the lights come on inside the immense house. Its shadow dropped with great magnitude; suddenly, Faye understood why this place was so important to Logan. She looked down at her old communicator--the link was still broken.
*What is he waiting _for_?* she thought.
She sighed and transformed her body. She traveled through the soil in order to reach the top of the house.
Faye perched on and kept a look on the perimeters. The sun was going down fast and the sky tinted reddish, as a car stopped in front of the main gates; another car followed. The gate opened to show the X-van, inside it were Roberto, Amara, Rahne, Sam and Rogue. Faye registered their energies with her powers and looked at a distance.
"Who's out there, Tom?" she asked as she looked after the other car.
"Satellite shows a girl. No data can be found on her."
"Describe her."
"Around Rogue's height, purple hair, green eyes. She's registered on Bayville High as Risty Wilde. Says here she's from England."
"Trace her records."
"Can't."
"Why not?"
"Maybe because she has none."
"Tom, don't kid around. You're from England. You might be able to find something that might help."
"Ok. I'll try."
"Do it. I wanna know everything about that girl. And why she's going around with Rogue."
"Aye, aye, captain."
The kids went inside, leaving the premises in utter silence. As Faye started getting used to the crispy night air, fatigue started setting in. Her eyelids were getting heavy and droopy, and her back ached from the long hours she had been standing.
*Focus,* she thought. *Don't forget what you came here to do. It'll be very bad if he gets what he wants.*
Suddenly, a noise behind her made her spin around. Dizzily, she looked for the source of the sound but found nothing. As the world spun rapidly, the floor started getting closer and closer.
*Wake up, Faye,* her head screamed. *You're falling!!!!*
Quickly, she used her powers to change the oncoming soil and her body. It wasn't as good as she had predicted. She wounded her arms, back and legs as she entered the badly transformed soil.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Logan felt a presence and looked behind him. There was nothing there. He moved away from the smell of garbage, which he had been carrying, and sniffed the air. The smell of fresh blood mixed with another scent hit his nostrils like an alarming truck. He knew that smell very well.
"Come out, Faye. I know ye're here."
Faye stayed put on the soil. He came real close to her and she backed up on the wall.
"Or maybe ya'd like if I took ya out of there," he said and extended his claws.
Faye popped her head up from the soil. Slowly, she pushed herself up. She struggled since her powers were failing.
"Ye're weak....and hurt," Logan said, as he helped her get out of the floor and lean against the wall. "But ya still have ta pay for what ya did to my bike."
Faye looked at him, trying to read his features. When she saw an opening, she melted into the wall.
"Don't use yer powers. It ain't gonna be now," Logan reassured her, pulling her out by the collar.
She pushed him off and tried hitting him, but she was still too dizzy to do that.
He easily dodged her blow and pushed her against the wall.
"Stop moving. Ye're gonna hurt yerself. And, for Pete's sake, take that damn mask off."
"It's my burden," she answered.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. Just take it off, it ticks me off."
Logan was still holding her by the collar, so she couldn't turn around. She looked for a way to take her mask off and not let him see it. Finally, she settled on looking away, taking off the mask and quickly brushing her hair on top of her left eye.
Logan saw her movements and let go of the cape. He grabbed her face and turned it towards him. As he raised his hand, she placed her right hand on her belt and her left up. Slowly, she watched as his hand brushed her silky hair away to reveal yet another burden.
As the moonlight lit up her face, Logan looked in horror at the four scratch marks coming from her eyebrow all the way to her cheek. He followed the marks with his finger and closed his fist as he reached the bottom. In a flash of rage, he extended his claws on a fast *SNIKT*; it startled Faye.
"Sabertooth," he murmured through his gritted teeth.
Faye tried to pull away, but he caught her arm and held her tight.
"Ya were with that maniac?!?" he screamed.
"Keep your voice down," she shushed him. "I had no choice."
"How many times have I toldya ta keep away from him??"
"I know. I had to."
"Why?"
"Because.....," she trailed off.
"Why?" he screamed again.
"I have my own reasons."
He pushed her closer against the wall and held his claw to the base of her collarbone and, angrily, said: "Why?"
"Because I was looking for you." She paused and pushed him away. "Damn it!!!! Ever since you left Japan I've been searching the world for you."
Logan opened his mouth to answer but only a small, quiet "eh" came out. He looked at her tenderly now; she looked away. Pity was something she hated.
*He could at least punch me. I hate it when he looks at me like that. I've been a horrible person to him, he shouldn't look at me like that,* she thought.
"I've been all over the world looking for you, as well as trying to get away from Zhar--and, lately, Weapon X," she said aloud.
He sensed her change in attitude and let her go. She moved away.
"Weapons X?" he asked and then thought: *She still hasn't recovered from last time. Damn it, I was the one who got left behind, not the other way around. I wish she wasn't so hard on herself.*
"Yeah, that's how I found Creed. I was sort of supposed to replace you. They added adamantium to my bones as well. Tom thinks it was at Zhar's request that they did it."
"Did they?" he looked down. "I know how that feels. It ain't pretty."
"Yeah, so do I. One more thing we have to share."
"And they placed a chip on yer head?"
"Nope. They did, however, wipe out some of my memories. The better ones."
*The ones we made together,* she thought.
"And Creed...?"
"...helped me get out," she completed. "I knew that if I stuck around with him I'd find you in a second. And I have. I've been watching you for a long time now," she looked at him.
"The scar is from when...," he trailed off.
"...Daniel took over. Creed had to attack me to save himself."
"Or so he says," Tom butted in.
"I agree," said Logan.
"Oh, stop it. I know Sabertooth isn't the best person in the world, but he never gave me any reasons to doubt him."
"Until now," said Tom and Logan at once.
Faye chuckled. Her body started hurting again, but she wasn't going to back down.
"Ya ain't eating right, are ya?" asked Logan, changing the subject as he sensed her pain.
"Well, I was going to, but someone chased me off a restaurant today."
"Tom?"
"She hasn't eaten in three days, hasn't slept in four. Frankly, I'm concerned. I'm looking at levels of 35 and 12."
"What???" Logan gasped.
"I'm fine, really. I have to get back to my watch."
"Not tonight, ya ain't," said Logan reaching for her hand.
"You don't know the kind of thing that's coming to threat the Institute," Faye said.
"And I'm sure ya ain't gonna tell me. Don't worry. Everyone is tired and they ain't gonna be around the kitchen today."
"Logan, I'm telling you. It's too risky."
"Ya go around with Sabertooth and now this is too risky? Ye're eating, then ye're gonna go to sleep on one of the guest rooms. There's one right next ta mine. This way I'll be around ta take care of ya."
"I don't wanna be a burden."
"Would ya rush about the burdens? I have ta do this. I wasn't around when Weapon X took ya, I have to protect ya now, darlin'."
It felt weird to say those words so freely to her now, but somehow he had to say them--after all, it all happened such a long time ago; it was time to let it all go. Logan didn't know if he could but he was going to try.
"And the kids?"
"They'll be up early. Just get out the same way ya got in. Ye're fast, I'm sure ya can do it. I'm even willing ta forget about whatcha did ta my bike, eh?"
"Really?!?" Faye asked astonished.
"NO! Now go!!!" he said and grinned. They went inside.