Change Of Heart

X-Babies, dozens of them in an endless wave of insidious cuteness, overwhelming them by sheer weight of numbers, for every one electrocuted, clawed, frozen or pummeled two or three more would take their place. In the desperate struggle he'd got separated from the others as he was charged by a miniature Juggernaut while fending off the attentions of Snaggletooth who seemed to have a thing for biting people's ankles. He hadn't noticed his shoelaces being tied together and he tripped falling heavily to the ground. Kicking out desperately he'd pulled free of his boots managing to put an ice wall behind him. He estimated he staggered maybe a dozen yards before collapsing. The last thing he remembered was Misty Q advancing towards him with lips pursed and then nothing but blackness.

"Wake up now Bobby, stars and garters, wake up, you're quite safe now,"

Was that really Hank's voice calling to him, was that really a furry hand he felt gently shaking his shoulder? No it couldn't be his friend, more likely that diabolical Dark Beast X-Baby had him in its clutches. But no the hand was far too large, it could only belong to Hank couldn't it. The gentle shaking was continuing and now he moaned slightly, stirring from his unconscious haze. He reached up blindly, not quite up to opening his eyes yet and his probing fingers brushed across a face. Pointed ears, shaggy sideburns, fangs and most importantly of all the face was covered in soft fur. It was Hank, he was safe.

"You're awake Bobby; oh you don't know how glad this makes me!"

Bobby blinked and opened his eyes looking up into the furry face and with sudden terror he realized he wasn't safe at all. This was Henry McCoy but not the gentle bouncing blue beast but the savage, sadistic scientist known as Dark Beast. The gray fur made him far more like a werewolf than a gorilla and those yellow eyes were gleaming with unholy joy and bloodlust.

"So much more satisfactory to have a conscious victim," low rumbling, McCoy's voice was almost a purr.

"I suppose you're going to torture me to reveal where the Twinkies are kept?"

"No I'm going to kill you Bobby. What better way to gain my revenge on Hank than by taking the life of yet another one of those he holds dear. Oh his heart will surely break when he comes across the lifeless corpse of his best friend, knowing that he arrived too late to save him! Oh stars and garters, I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy inside!" howled McCoy with savage joy.

"Well I'll soon put you on ice Dark Beast, what the heck?" gulped Bobby as he tried to ice up, to no avail.

Dark Beast grinned and reached out with his claws, ripping the sleeve of Bobby's shirt and revealing a small puncture mark in the skin. Glancing from that to the empty hypodermic syringe in McCoy's other claw Bobby realized he must have been injected with some kind of nullifying solution. Without his powers he was helpless against McCoy's superior strength and speed. He struggled frantically but the hand closed inexorably around his throat and began to squeeze.

Logan and Hank were feeling lucky to have got out with their hides intact. Ororo had been the lucky one, little Wolvie had bravely fought off the advancing Blob, Sugar Man, Toad and Sinister X-Babies to save her. Then he'd given her a little bow, kissed her hand and enchanted she'd wandered off with them. By this point Logan and Hank had been back to back, surrounded by heaps of defeated X-Babies, Apocalypse X-Baby had just fallen and now the few survivors led by the Dark Beast X-Baby were running screaming for their lives. They thought the worst was over but the true danger was yet to come. The female X-Babies had arrived charging them en masse, intent not on physical violence but something possibly much worse. The little arms were spread wise to hug, lips pursed to kiss and they were making puppy dog eyes at them.

Poor Hank and Logan were too gentlemanly to hurt women and so could only defend themselves by gently trying to push away the overfriendly X-Babies. Their efforts were to no avail as giggling and squealing with delight the little Mystique, Selene, Candra, Emma Frost, Psylocke, Rogue, Jubilee, Shadowcat, Jean Grey, Storm, Dazzler and Marrow swarmed over them. Logan and Hank were brought to their knees and almost smothered with kisses as the adorable little ladies showed their affection. Eager little hands yanked on hair and furs, pulling out clumps, sideburns were eagerly tugged provoking howls of pain. Finally they were saved as Remy appeared round the corner having come back from his meal with Rogue. The handsome X-Man was forced to flee for his life while Logan and Hank surveyed the damage.

"Stars and garters, I thought you were usually the one who ended up with their shirt ripped in every battle. You know I've always wondered just how many costumes you must have considering the rate you get through them, maybe you have a clothing healing factor," murmured Hank inspecting his now shredded clothing.

Logan simply growled and ignored Hank's babbling the poor furry blue doctor seemed in a state of shock. Logan sighed heavily as he rubbed his muttonchops now sadly desecrated once again; someone must really have it in for his facial hair. He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice Creed's arrival until he heard a startled 'stars and garters' and turned to see Creed grabbing Hank by the throat.

"Yer in fer it now fuzz-ball, I'm going ta pay ya back fer all the humiliation. As ya can see bub I'm not a kitty cat any more, I'm a lion again, king of the freaking jungle and yer going ta bleed," snarled Creed.

"Oh yeah ya think yer tough well let's see how ya like this," growled Logan, slashing his adamantium claws into the most sensitive portion of Creed's anatomy causing the agonized feral to drop Hank.

Hank winced in sympathy at Creed's pain and wisely decided to make his escape while Logan and Creed were locked in mortal combat. His ears twitched as his keen hearing picked up a desperate cry for help coming from some distance away. Bobby, it was Bobby. Hank dropped to all fours ready to bound into action to save the one who meant so much to him.

Dark Beast was grinning savagely as slowly, terribly slowly he closed his hand millimeter by millimeter inexorably tightening his grip around Bobby's tender throat. He was taking his time enjoying the gurgling and desperate gasps for breath, the look of mortal terror in Bobby's eyes. He'd let him scream knowing that nobody would hear him. He would keep on squeezing until the last drop of life had been choked out of Bobby's body and then he'd keep on squeezing. He wouldn't stop until the vertebrae were ground to powder and the head lolled limply to the chest.

"I've got a crush on you Bobby, say what, Aiiiiieeeee!" howled McCoy as something large, blue and furry plowed into him knocking him flying into a wall.

Bobby groaned rubbing his bruised throat and too weak to stand just lay their panting and watching the vicious fight taking place between the two Beasts. If not for the fur he would have been hard pressed to tell the two Beasts apart. For once he could find no trace of Hank McCoy in his blue furred friend, no there was simply the Beast. Blue eyes holding no trace of warmth simply rage and hatred for his foe, this time there would be no mercy for McCoy. He was growling, snarling like an animal revealing those sharp fangs and the claws were extended ready to rip through fur and flesh. Bobby knew that little of this was down to Hank's present feral tendencies; this was rage at his enemy for daring to hurt his friend.

"You will bleed Dark Beast; I owe you great pain for trying to kill my friend. I'm going to leave you bloodied and broken, wounded cowering and defenseless and pleading for your life. Then I'll leave it up to Bobby whether he wants mercy for you or not."

"Oh this fight may actually be interesting for a change. Come then, let's see what you've got," chuckled McCoy.

They charged each other, blurs of gray and blue and red, for their was blood already spurting as the claws came into play. Bobby winced seeing Hank slashed across the ribs but McCoy was already staggering from a gash to his thigh. They danced at range cautiously circling and looking for an opening, sledgehammer blows raining down on each other too fast for the eyes to follow. A fist to Hank's face broke his nose and nearly shattered his jaw and for a moment he was helplessly coughing blood. Then he was fighting back, punishing blows to McCoy's ribs trying to reduce them to broken jagged things. McCoy was gasping able to do little more than squeak as the breath was knocked out of him. Mercilessly Hank continued to bludgeon him until his opponent was at last pummeled to submission. A final blow to the jaw stunned Dark Beast and he lay helpless. Hank grabbed his enemy by the throat and for a moment considered twisting. He quickly banished the thought and grinned, he would show mercy of a sort.

"Open wide Dark Beast. Since you're so interested in my experimental Twinkies why don't you find out for yourself," growled Hank tilting McCoy's head back and forcing him to swallow.

Bobby shuddered as he saw the look of terror in Dark Beast's eyes and his mouth open in a silent scream of agony. What private hell was McCoy going through?

Hundreds of the purple singing dinosaurs were chasing McCoy, arms spread wide to hug him as they sung, "I love you, you love me, and we're one big happy family."

"Oh man, Hank you're hurt, I can't bear to see it when you get beat up so bad. Oh man you saved my life and oh Hank, I never thought I'd see you again," whispered Bobby eyes filling with tears.

Hank coughed a little blood and spat out a loose molar. One eye was already swelling shut, his nose was broken and probably so were a couple of ribs, he was limping but none of that mattered. He'd saved Bobby and that was all that mattered now. Seeing Bobby like that realizing that the Iceman was about to die had made him realize something now. He didn't think he could live in a world without Bobby, he hadn't realized this before but now something had changed. Now he just wanted to hug Bobby, never let him go, just keep him close to his heart, keep him safe.

"Oh Bobby, I don't think life would be worth living without you in it. Stars and garters, Bobby I need a hug," whispered Hank.

Bobby embraced Hank, burying his face in the furry chest and sobbing, tears soaking the blue fur. He felt Hank shudder with the pain and he loosened the grip, just hugging him lightly and holding him. Seeking to soothe the pain he gently stroked the fur, fingers digging deep into the luxuriant blue fur, down to the skin. Hank was comforting him too, stroking his hair gently with one of those clawed hands. Gentle blue eyes gazed deep into Bobby's and they saw something stir deep within each other's hearts.

Sometimes things can all of a sudden change in a friendship making you more than friends, sometimes bitter enemies and sometimes the friendship becomes something much more.

"Stars and garters, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Yeah I think I am and you know what, I do, I love you fur-ball."

"I love you too Bobby but are you sure this is what you want?"

Bobby said no words but simply leaned forward and kissed Hank on the cheek, the fur was soft and warm under his lips. Hank gave a little purr and kissed Bobby back. Then they were embracing again heedless of the pain of Hank's ribs. Bobby chuckled as Hank scraped his claws gently down his ribs tickling him and then Hank was purring, lost in bliss as Bobby scratched him behind his ears. Sighing, they just gazed into each others eyes.

"Hank."

"Bobby."

They kissed again, deep and tenderly and it seemed as though it could go on forever.

"Are ya freakin kidding me, if it wasn't fer my healing factor, I'd have a heart attack right now," growled Logan.

The arrival of the feral put an unfortunate dampener on Hank and Bobby's blossoming romance.