I Am Beast Hear Me Roar

"Glad ta see ya Beastie boy. I thought yer weren't going ta show. Pity I didn't get the chance ta have me some fun with the frail. We play by the same rules as before. See if ya can stop me before yer frail gets it,"

It was a shame he hadn't had the chance to kill Trish Tilby. She was still held tight in his grip and he could feel the rapid flutter of her heartbeat. The delicious aroma of mortal terror titillated his nose and he licked his lips savoring the coming kill. How nice it would have been to rip out her throat or thrust his claws in her heart. It would have been beautiful to picture Hank arriving just too late to save her. It would also beautiful to see the look on his face when he came across her lifeless corpse. He could kill her now easily, his arm was across her throat and all he needed to do was squeeze. Too easy though and not enough blood for his liking. Besides he liked to play with his victims and he had a better use for Trish. He could use her to provoke Hank, try and make him realize that at heart he and Creed were the same.

"Ya used ta love this frail Hank; don't ya want ta save her? Oh pardon me; I forgot ya got yerself a new mate now. Well don't ya worry Beastie boy, he'll be next," Creed's voice sank to a throaty purr. Clawed fingers stroked at Trish's brown hair. The purr grew even deeper at her terrified murmur.

"Let her go Creed and I will be merciful to you. I'm giving you a chance to back down and I'd advise you to take it. Maybe though violence is the only language you really can understand. Must I be forced to pummel you to submission before you realize the error of your ways? Please Creed just get out of my life and never return."

Hank sighed almost inaudibly and let his shoulders sag. Claws extended and retracted and yellow eyes gazed listlessly towards the floor. He knew rationally that there could be no negotiating with Creed, no reasoning with the man. Perhaps there had once been some humanity in Creed but he'd surrendered to the beast within long ago. This was a ruthless, cunning predator without compassion or remorse. It was kill or be killed with Creed and that was the problem. Hank wasn't a killer and he preferred violence as the last resort. Better to talk your way out of a fight and work out your differences peacefully. If he had to fight he preferred to subdue his enemy with the minimum of violence and he prided himself that he'd never taken a human life. He wasn't going to start now either even though it seemed so tempting to use those claws.

Hank was under no illusions that he could settle this crisis peacefully. Creed had made it all too clear he wanted to fight with Hank to the death. Hank would just have to resign himself to using violence. He'd made one promise to himself. He wanted Creed to know what it was like to feel mortal terror. He wanted Creed to understand just how his victims had felt. Maybe then he could pity Creed instead of hating him. He was loathe to admit it but he did hate Creed. Hated him for bringing out a side to him he never wanted to see. He hated him for making him realize that perhaps at heart they were more alike than he'd like to think.

"Ya trying ta make me die laughing again Hank? Ya know I ain't going ta back down bub."

"Then it shall have to be a fight then. Stars and garters, I'm ready for you Creed. If you want animals then I'll give you animals."

Yellow eyes glittered brightly and Hank's grin was nearly as savage as Creed's. He had a way he could win this fight after all. Creed wanted him to descend to his level and give in to instinct. Well why not give Creed what he wanted and make him think he was savage and berserk. If he could encourage Creed to lose himself in his own feral rage he could win. He was stronger, faster and more agile than Creed. If he evaded Creed's attack and got to close range the fight would be over. However bestial his looks might be Hank's most important asset would remain his brain. Don't give in to the rage, avoid the urge to fall into predatory instinct and keep his wits about him. If he could do all that he had a chance of survival.

"I'm ready fer ya bub,"

"Stars and garters, so am I"

Hank threw back his head, mane bristling and yellow eyes ablaze with anger. He snarled opening his jaws wide to reveal sharp fangs. He extended his claws slashing at the air in front of him. Finally he gave a mournful howl which was matched by Creed's own. Crouching as though to spring he, suddenly darted to the left avoiding Creed's first sudden charge. Snarling the feral crashed into the sofa and before he could recover Hank was upon him. The fight was only just beginning.

Trish Tilby's apartment, several minutes later

"Just ya stay still so I can gut ya fuzz-ball,"

"I apologize Creed but I find disembowelment most undesirable. Indubitably sir, I like my entrails firmly within my torso."

Creed was howling in frustration now as slash after slash of his claws found only empty air. Somehow he'd been expecting Beast to be awkward and slow. His new feline form looked so bulky at first, but it was deceptive. See him in battle and he was transformed, sleek and graceful and immensely powerful. Hank was twisting, weaving with a minimum of effort easily dodging Creed's blows. As Creed's frustration grew he became more reckless, swinging wildly and leaving himself wide open. Hank's strong right hook caught Creed right on the jaw whipping his head round and stunning him. Then a grunt as air was expelled from Creed's lungs as he was sent flying, the table slamming into his chest like a battering ram.

"Stars and garters, looks like extensive collateral damage to furnishings. Still furniture can be replaced, human life cannot."

Hank took advantage of the momentary respite to check himself for injury. His wounded left arm was beginning to bleed again since his healing factor still hadn't really kicked in. Aside from that he had a number of small gashed from Creed's claws, a shredded jacket and shirt and chunks missing from his fur. All in all he'd gotten off lightly so far.

Trish's apartment was a different story; it looked as though a bomb had gone off inside it. Trish was cowering behind the sofa which was the only relatively intact piece of furniture left in the apartment. Cracks ran along the walls where combatants had slammed against them while Hank's fur was speckled by plaster dust. Just about every item of furniture was smashed, used as shields or missiles by the combatants or demolished by stray blows. Hank sighed; he could worry about the mess after the fight was over.

"Do you yield Creed? I really don't want to get nasty with you. Believe me I'm trying to hold back here,"

Creed was still slumped in the corner of the room struggling to rise. Predictably enraged by Hank's words he snarled and spat blood in Hank's direction. Growling he crouched and hurled himself on Hank slashing with his claws and sinking his fangs agonizingly into Hank's thigh. Yelping with pain Hank shook himself managing to flick Creed off and send him crashing back into the wall. This time as Creed began to rise again Hank was ready for him. Pulling back his fist he slammed him in the jaw as hard as he could, wincing at the crack of bone. With a last weak defiant growl Creed slumped to his knees.

"I didn't know ya had it in ya Beast. I underestimated ya and I ain't going ta make the same mistake again. Ya got yer licks in this time but next time I'll be ready fer ya. Next time I'll go after Bobby again,"

"Your best course of action at present Creed is to stay down and surrender. I ask again, do you yield?"

"Never," snarled Creed gathering his strength and leaping.

Claws extended, he roared and leapt only to be suddenly arrested in mid air. Coughing and choking he gaped in astonishment at the blue-furred fist wrapped around his throat. Trying to slash with his claws he realized his wrists were firmly immobilized by the second paw. He was helpless, no he couldn't be helpless. Sabretooth couldn't be at an enemy's mercy like this. At any second he expected the fist to close and snap his neck. He'd survive but it would take his healing factor a long time to repair that wound. He'd be left crippled and helpless for weeks and that fate he couldn't stand. The fist didn't close though and instead those yellow eyes glared at him with a mixture of contempt, anger and worst of all pity.

"Do you yield Creed? This is your final chance."

"Are ya deaf or something bub? I said never. Go ahead and do ya worst," Creed's voice came out as a strangled yelp when it should have been a snarl.

"Stars and garters, still if it's what you wish for."

Three strides took him over to the window. Then it was just a matter of shoving Creed through the open window and plummeting helplessly towards the ground. Fortunately he had a soft landing in the garbage dumpster right below the window. Hank smiled for the first time, he'd hurt Creed where it mattered most. He'd humiliated him.

"Hank, oh god, you were magnificent. I don't think I can ever thank you enough. Is he dead? Are you hurt?" babbled a grateful Trish emerging from behind the sofa.

"Creed will live but he's where he belongs now. As for my fantabulous feline self I'm not too hurt. Now the important thing is the fact I've just wrecked your apartment. My apologies but saving your life was a more important concern at the time."

Alleyway

Creed lay groaning in the dumpsters, each deep gasping breath pure agony with his fractured ribs. He alternately spat blood and teeth and finally gathered his courage to push his shattered jaw back together. Already he could feel his healing factor beginning to mend his wounds. Within a few hours at most he'd be fully healed and ready to fight again. His broken ego would take a lot longer to mend and the sheer humiliation of his defeat was as bad as anything Wolverine had done to him. Hank didn't even have the runt's decency to finish him. He could have had the respect to snap his neck not just dropped him in a dumpster like a piece of trash. Creed snarled to himself and listened in to snatches of conversation.

"Hank you just saved my life you lovable blue furry lug. I won't hear of you paying the bill, my apartment's fully insured and anyway everything can be replaced. Look I know you probably despise but you can't hate me completely can you? Look please can we have another chance together, maybe one last chance?"

"The trouble is Trish much as I'd like us to get back together I know it wouldn't last. How long before you decided I was bad for your career? I remember what you said about being with me being like bestiality. That hurt me deeply Trish and while I may forgive you that I can't forget it. Nor can I trust you, I told you I thought I might be gay and you make it into a front page headline. This would be a great headline wouldn't it, my saving you from Sabretooth. That seems to be all that's important to you the headline. You've broken my heart too many times and I think now you only took me back out of pity. No I'm sorry Trish you had your last chance."

"Hank can't even a part of you still care for me?"

"Trish don't mistake my saving you for love. It's just that nobody deserves to die at the hands of a monster like Sabretooth. I don't hate you and I think I can forgive you, maybe even one day we can be friends. However I can never trust you and I can never love you. I will find someone special again maybe even a man. Goodbye Trish and thanks for waiving the bill."

"Hank please-"

"Goodbye Trish, have a nice life."

Creed growled again as he saw Hank leaving, walking off into the darkness shoulders slumped and looking thoroughly dejected. Trish was still standing in the doorway crying her eyes out. Creed wondered about putting her out of her misery but he was just too weak and tired to bother. Suddenly polite applause caught his attention.

"I suppose I really should congratulate you on your breathtaking prowess in fighting Beast. To snatch defeat from the jaws of victory like that takes real skill. Yes I believe you're where you belong Creed. Scum like you seeking to kill the innocent, bastards like you deserve what you get. I spit on you Creed," growled a deep throaty voice.

"Puma," hissed Creed, voice icy with cold hatred.

Puma leaned close, a broad grin splitting his fury face as he sneered at Creed. Yellow eyes mocked him, far too much like Hank's for comfort. A clawed hand reached out and patted him condescendingly on the head. Puma favored him with a look of mock sorrow.

"Poor little Sabretooth, you get some rest now buddy. Leave it to the experts and go back to pulling the wings of flies. It would be a real tragedy to see you get hurt."

Xavier Institute for Higher Learning

"You did it Hank, you beat him. I knew you could do it buddy. Aw come here and let me give you a hug,"

Hank found himself purring as Bobby embraced him. He knelt down so that Bobby could scratch him behind the ears. Purring even louder he lost himself in the ecstasy and gently rubbed his head against Bobby's shoulder. He lost himself in the sybaritic delight of being stroked, not caring if he was allowing his animal side to dominate now. He just let Bobby ease away the tension and gradually he forgot the terror, the pain and the guilt.

"Yeah Hank you did the right thing to tell her what you really thought. You said you might find a special someone, maybe even a man? I wonder who that might be."

"Well Bobby you never know, it might even be you?" Hank chuckled having intended it as a joke. Still he had to wonder at Creed's comments. Maybe Creed had been trying to find a way to bait him or enrage him. Or maybe Creed had picked up something that Hank didn't know himself yet. It would be like Creed to tell the truth and use it as a weapon to hurt his enemies. Hank would have to do some serious thinking.

Now though it was time for celebration of his first real victory over Sabretooth. A minor one to be sure, Creed would be angry at his humiliation and back for revenge very soon. Still he'd defeated Creed and hadn't given in to the animal. No he'd more than defeated Creed, he'd crushed him completely. He'd also finally made up in his mind that Trish and him were over. So there was time to forget his woes even for a little while. It was time for the Beast to get his bounce back.

"Hank aren't you going to give me a hug? Please Beastie?"

"Of course Jubilee, how can I or Wolverine ever deny you anything?"

But as he hugged Jubilee he worried about whether she might be the next target in Creed's vendetta. Would he be able to protect her as he had Trish? He banished these thoughts as quickly as they came and forced himself to smile.

"Hank mon ami, Remy know dat you are worried and have dis suggestion. How about I train you mon ami since Creed and I are old enemies. I know all of de furry fellow's moves and how to beat him. What do you say mon ami?"

"I say let the training commence Remy since I'll need all the help I can get against Creed. Stars and garters, let's forget him for now and just try and enjoy ourselves. Let's party!"

So they did.