Fox's eyes narrowed darkly at the man. "An why da hell did ya wan me 'ere in da firs' place," he snapped in question.
"You will become very useful to me someday, Fox, once all your powers awake." He smiled a little, leaning back.
Fox tilted his head, confused. "Ah my poweh's" he growled, "ya mean ders moh comin'?" Oh well this was great news, coming from his captor, but, was it true? If so, wouldn't someone at the school have known.. Wouldn't someone have said something?
"Of course... Why do you think Charles was so eager to accommodate you? Give you anything you want? He wanted you to stay, so that he could awaken them and use them at his disposal in his fight for... equal opportunity." He smiled a little.
Fox blinked a bit, stunned, not sure what to think then. Not sure if he believed this man or not, overall not certain of anything. "Buh why didn' 'e tell me dat," he questioned roughly.
"Because they wanted to control you. Control it. You were only staying for the girl. If you and her ever fell out, you wouldn't be inclined to stay. They were trying to build a reason for you to stay, besides her."
Fox shivered, shaking his head somewhat, if he could move his hands his fingers would be going through his hair right now. He was so confused, but he knew he couldn't trust this man either, not after the measures taken to bring him here. It seemed everyone just wanted to use him, and that was it.
Magneto smirked darkly, eyes flashing as the two metal balls slowly swirled like enormous insects here and there throughout the room. "So... Fox... Can I count on you to complete your training under me? Or do I need to take more... drastic measures?"
Fox glared up at the man, silent for a long moment. "Leh Chameleon ga, an' ya cin," he growled softly.
Magneto nodded softly, smiling. Fox heard cried coming from down the hall, but they were so soft and muffled, he couldn't tell who's they were, where they were coming from, or even if they were male or female. None of the other mutants had picked up on it. "Of course," Magneto almost rumbled.
Fox fell utterly silent, eyes narrowing and shifting as he listened, head tilting as he tried to place something...anything about the cries he heard.
As he focused, they became more definite. Which meant louder. They were definitely a females. But before he could listen in, they were suddenly silenced, cut off, almost as in ground out. There was silence. "Then it's settled," Magneto said confidently.
Fox snarled as he listened, realizing what this meant well enough. Chameleon wouldn't be released for his compliance, but hurt when he didn't. "Yeh," Fox growled in answer, eyes blazing, "I dun seem ta 'ave much choice..."
Magneto's smile grew cold. "That's right. You don't." He stood up. "Come with me. You can say your... final farewell... to Chameleon. You won't see her again, until I decide you're ready to fight with your full potential."
Fox shivered at that, moving to follow him, remaining silent because nothing he had to say would be particularly good for him... or Chameleon, at the moment. What they needed was help, from somewhere, anywhere... but... who? Xavier didn't even know they were in trouble, considering the note he himself had left.
Magneto lead him outside the office, the metal balls resting at his shoulders like pets. He led him down the cold halls of the base, heels clicking on steel floor. The cries had stopped entirely. Mystique and Toad were at their heels. Finally, he lead them to a chamber, where Sabertooth was watching guard. Chameleon was attached at the wrists to the ceiling, her clothing torn almost literally to shreds and almost soaked in blood. Her liquid gag had been removed, and replaced with a cloth one. Her head hung low, face wet with tears.
Fox whimpered, teeth going down to his lip painfully, though not hard enough to draw blood. He wanted more then anything to rush to her and help her down, but he didn't exactly have use of his hands. "Chameleon," he said at a soft whimper, his own head dropping, but only for a moment, gaze darting back up and around. He didn't know when or how, but he would make these people pay...
She raised her head at his voice, and murmured into the gag. "Fox..." Magneto smiled a little. "You have five minutes. Say your goodbye's." The brotherhood members left the room and locked the door behind them letting the two say their final farewells.
Fox came closer to Chameleon, not able to say anything for a moment as he swallowed pain and anger. "I'm sa sorry Chameleon, dis wouldna 'appened weh it nah fer me," he said softly.
She shook her head and tried to talk through the gag, but was too choked up to. She tried to slide it off, and it wouldn't come.
Fox tried to pull his hands free so he could help, but only managed to tighten the stuff that was keeping them together. "I love ya Chameleon," he said softly, barely able to bring the words, "an' if I coul' get 'em ta leh ya go I'd da anytin'..."
She leaned forward in the bonds, tears in her eyes. She spoke soft behind the gag, making her words clear. "I love you, Fox..."
Fox closed his eyes, head falling downwards. "I won' fergeh dat, nah matteh wha."
Chameleon sniffed softly, trying to fight tears that just kept coming... kept falling..
As rational thought began once more making it's way into his mind it occurred to him that he didn't really need to actually get loose to pull down Chameleon's gag. Reaching to her face he pulled the gag down and out of her mouth. "Shh," he said softly, "Dun cry, I'll getcha outta dis, some'ow."
She let out a sob, and leaned forward again, brushing her cheek to his, her own wet. Her powers tingled in his stomach. He was so used to them by now... but now, he may never feel them again. "Fox..." she choked, but was unable to speak.
Fox sighed softly, unable to speak either, unable to think of anything worth saying.
She looked into his eyes, taking in the last close look she would get of him. "I won't f-forget you, Fox... I'll m-miss you..." She leaned forward, and softly kissed him. "Don't forget... how much I love you..."
Fox returned her kiss gently before pulling just a bit back. "I won'," he managed softly, unable to continue as his voice caught in his throat.
She gently smiled, weakly. "Hey... Tell y'what... Y'find a way t'get us outta here, and I'll marry you." She smiled weaker as the tears returned.
Fox just blinked at that, stunned, catching the joking, but still too stunned to reply.
She closed her eyes and leaned forward again, touching their foreheads together as the door opened. "I love you, Fox, with all my heart and all my soul," she whispered, and he felt Magneto touch him.
"Time's up."
Fox spun on Magneto, a dark light in his eyes as he had to utilize all of his will-power to prevent himself from slamming bound fists at the man's face.
Magneto visibly flinched and staggered back a step, looking shocked. He almost did look like Fox had punched him in the face. His eyes narrowed. Looks like the boys powers were waking already. Sabertooth growled angrily. "Follow me," Erik growled, and led Fox out of the cell with Mystique.
Fox blinked in shock for a moment, trying to figure out what had just happened as he followed Magneto. He shivered slightly in fear that Chameleon would be hurt more for that, when he couldn't even figure out what exactly that was.
After Fox was out of site, Sabertooth smirked, staying behind, and pulling her gag back on. "Let's... play..." He smirked as he extended his claws.
Magneto let Fox down a long corridor, and finally into a wide open room. "This is our training grounds... and I can guarantee, your training won't be nearly as soft as it was with the X-men."
Fox looked around the room, nodding softly in response, refusing, for the moment, to speak. Right now he didn't care how much pain he ended up feeling, he just wanted to vent some of his anger. Ok, so he wanted to kill this idiot and all the others that followed him, but venting would have to do for now...
He smiled a bit, and lo and behold, who should appear, but Pyro. The teen smirked from the other side of the room, and lit his lighter, taking the ball of fire in hand. "Don't got your gun this time, kid," he smirked.
Fox's eyes narrowed as a small growl rose in his throat, his eyes suddenly darting down to bound hands. "Hell," he murmured under his breath, looking back upwards at Pyro. He might be able to get this gunk off, but it would involve getting off the gloves it covered, which. He gulped, maybe if he was lucky.... he was never lucky. He held his gaze at the teenager with the fireball, proceeding to pop his thumbs out of place--a trick which had proved much less painful before he had developed his powers--and slide his hand from the gloves, still glaring at Pyro as the gloves hit ground. "Dun need mah gun dis time," he quipped impishly, sounding much more confident then he felt.
He smirked, and the fireball blazed bigger. "You're gonna become a scorched little chunk of charcoal when I'm done with you, little boy." He grinned wider. "If you don't prove amusing enough... I'll just have to go find your little girl." His smirk got sick. "I'm sure I could figure out a lot of fun things to do with her."
Fox's eyes narrowed. "Ya may wanna getcher foot outta yer mout befoh it en's up der permanen' like... kapeesh?" He held his ground though, muscles braced and ready, he would not be the one to make the first move, but he sure as hell planned on making the last one.
Pyro's eyes flashed sharply red, and he laughed as he took hold of the ball and made it two. With a laughing cry of fury, he swung, and sent several balls of fire, swirling and roaring through the air towards the smaller mutant. "Eat this, Fox boy!" he howled as they got closer.
Fox darted straight towards the fireballs then, seemingly heedless, but his senses keeping track of just how far from the fireballs he was, and suddenly as he was near enough to feel the heat on his sensitive skin he shifted, using the cover of that to dart away from the fireballs still moving towards Pyro, while he was shifted, pulling the knife from his boot and pushing it into the front pocket of his hoodie, before shifting back, grinning. "Dat de bes' ya got?"
Pyro laughed again. "I'm just getting started, small stuff!!" He slammed his hands forward, sending a pillar of fire out at Fox with more than impressive swiftness.
Fox didn't dodge away in time to avoid getting burnt or tossed back a good bit, fortunately, he was more sideswiped then anything else and wasn't burned as badly as he could have been, but it still hurt... a lot. He narrowed his eyes, darting in almost a circle as he neared Pyro, wishing he could figure out whatever it was that had effected Magneto earlier, had it been him, if so.. how?! He was getting far too close to Pyro, and though he was fast, he knew that the closer he got, the less he'd be able to maneuver away, but there was no other way to attack, and he doubted his opponent would stop. Just as he didn't intend to, not with this bastard.
The fireballs began to grow as he paused, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Yer little girl is a sweet thing... so pretty and innocent... I wonder what she'll look like with burn scars... everywhere... in the shape of my hands." He smirked wider and laughed as the fireballs seemed to shatter, and he swung his arms, sending them flying at Fox.
Fox cried out, in fury stemmed both by fear for Chameleon and his own pain, but didn't even shrink from the attack, instead lunging into it and toward Pyro, shifting as he pulled the long knife and thrusting it fully at his stomach with the power of his lunge.
Pyro saw the flash, and although he wasn't able to move away, he did grab the blade with both hands, only the tip slightly getting into his stomach. All went silent, blood dripping down the hilt of the blade. Pyro looked up at Fox, his hair wet with sweat, and the fire still burning in his hands. He suddenly smirked, wide, then began to laugh as the hilt got hotter... and hotter. Without his gloves, it would be impossible for him to hold it much longer. "Give up, boy... You can't beat me. You... and your girl... are mine."
Fox screamed, the pain so intense he was going numb, hands blistering as he pushed hard on the blade one last time before forcing his scorched hands to release it. He was blinded by pain and anger, and even though the blade wasn't in his hand anymore he lunged again, wanting nothing more then to kill the other, to turn his own flame against him with such intensity that he felt exactly what he did. He didn't know it, but there were tears on his cheek, and he was shaking in his pained fury.
Pyro's teeth suddenly gritted as his eyes clenched open, and he practically caught Fox in his hands, burning him, but getting burned as well. Fox felt the intense heat of the blade against his stomach, and realized that their chests were touching. Pyro's hands went tight around Fox's arms, pain shooting through his body from not only his stomach, but his mind. He shook, staring. "... What the h-hell are y-you d-doin' t-t'me...?" he gurgled.
Fox could barely register the teenager's words, didn't care what he was saying anyway, so blinded by anger, and driven to a point of almost madness in agony. All he knew was that he was hurting the other, and pushed harder on the blade that seemed almost a brand of burning metal, driving it in, still focused on nothing but bringing the other pain, no matter how much it hurt him. "Die," he hissed sharply through his teeth, his narrowed eyes a brilliant blue that seemed to burn and freeze at once, piercing through the entire being.
The grip on his arms slowly began to release, and Pyro stumbled to the ground, his head slamming into the ground, and pulling Fox down on top of him. His teeth gritted, but his eyes began to glaze over. Blood began to drip from his mouth and nose... and ears. "P-Please," he whispered, his grip completely releasing as he fell limp. "Please... mmmercy...."
Fox blinked as the grip released, pushing himself to his knees, pulling the blade from his stomach, and pinning Pyro's arms with his knees. "Why basta'd, would ya 'ave gi'en ih ta me?" He knew full well the knife hadn't done this, knew that his wanting it to happen so desperately, had caused it...somehow, and finishing him off would be as easy as that. He hurt... bad, so badly that he was ready to collapse and only sheer adrenaline keeping him from doing so.
Tears fell down his cheeks as he looked up at Fox, a wet pant in his throat. "Of course... I would have... This... is a t-training s-session... n-not a battle," he rumbled. His eyes were red, and not with fire. He blinked, and teared blood, leaving red trails down his cheeks. "I wouldn't a given y-ya anyth-thin' I knew y'-y'couldn't h-handle."
Fox's eyes shut for just a moment, and when they opened there was guilt in them, along with an odd resolve. He pulled the knife towards Pyro's face, tracing the point in a line along his cheek, just hard enough that he knew it would scar. "Ne'er t'reaten Chameleon," he snarled softly. Standing to his feet he sheathed the knife back in his boot before he kicked Pyro in the temple, hard enough to knock him out, but not hard enough to kill. "Ya lose basta'd..." Fox brought his hand across his face, though it only added to the pain to do so, wiping away sweat, and suddenly realizing that his face was more wet from tears then sweat, and now, as the adrenaline suddenly seemed to fall away he was shaking hard, pain overwhelming him to the point his knees buckled and slammed back to the floor.
------------------------
When Fox woke, he found himself in a dank, cold infirmary. Mystique was hovering over him, and when he opened his eyes, she slowly cocked her head fully to one side. Cold steel locked his arms and legs in place, but the pain wasn't as bad as he remembered it. Mystique looked up. "He is waking," she said, probably to Magneto.
Fox blinked shaking his head, trying to clear it as he did his best to pull loose, color shifting slightly in sheer nervousness at being trapped like this, forcing himself to swallow down the nervousness and remain calm.
Magneto appeared over him, and there was no sign of a smile anywhere. "Well, boy... You have proved to be more than meets the eyes." He motioned to the right, inviting him to turn his head.
Fox did turn his head, curious as to what the man meant.
Pyro hovered in a tank of water, tinted red. The bleeding hadn't even stopped. His body was covered in burns and bruises, and a huge gash in his stomach. It wasn't patched so that the solution could reach him. A small machine, however, was slowly working at it. "Your powers mystify me," Eric said. "A blade doesn't make a man bleed from his ears or eyes. But you, somehow, made him anyway."
Fox turned his head away, closing his eyes. "I didn' mean ta, weh', daz not entihely true... I wan'ed ta 'urt 'im, bad, buh I dunno wha' I did." He gulped, shutting himself up with the swallow. Now that he was thinking clearly, seeing... that, made him almost feel sick with guilt. He just hoped the man wouldn't chose to hurt Chameleon for his his having done that...
"I think I know exactly what you have done." Magneto smiled a little bit, but only for a moment. "Your telepathic and telekinetic powers are waking, Fox. At first, they will rage out of control. You'll crush things on a whim, send people into walls at the slightest hint of anger, even kill people because you don't like how they prepared your lunch.: He smiled a little again. "You'll become a cold hearted murderer with a trigger finger if you continue your current path." His eyes flashed. "I've seen it before. This stage, that is, and the one beyond it."
Fox closed his eyes, shaking his head, "Nah, dat ain't righ, I... nah," but it was himself he was trying to convince, and not doing well, needing only look at the tank to wipe away all the words he had said.
Magneto nodded slowly. "I'll teach you how to channel it. Control it. Use it. You'll be more powerful than Xavier when I am done with you."
Fox let his eyes slide open again. He still didn't trust this man, but, as ever, it seemed he had no choice, and now for more reasons then one. "'Ow," he questioned roughly.
"Try not to move around too much... Your burns are still severe. They blistered you up fairly badly." He smirked slightly, and disappeared. Mystique left him alone as well, leaving him with Pyro, in the cold steel room. In the intense silence, the sounds bounced so well... He could hear Chameleon's cries. She was much nearer than before.
Fox closed his eyes at the sound, whimpering softly, wishing that with all this power springing up inside him he could set her free, and yet he felt so weak, and so pathetic for doing nothing. He'd kill the one that was hurting her, so help... Oh hell... he shook his head, tears gathering in his eyes. It seemed the man was right about him.
------------------------
Chameleon shivered sharply as she watched Sabertooth slink slightly back, only to come forward and grab her chin, forcing her to look back at him. Her cheeks were wet with tears, sobs in her throat. What was left of her clothing hung like rags around her, soaked in blood. "No more... no more..." she whimpered, sobbing.
Sabertooth smiled wickedly, leaned forward, and whispered. "That, my dear.. was only the beginning." He full out licked her cheek, and she screamed as she yanked her head away.
"Fox!" she howled, but Sabertooth silenced her, biting hard on her lower lip till she sobbed.
"... Can't help y'now, girl... No one can help you now."
The response came by way of the sound of metal on metal, like a knife being drawn from a sheath, but it didn't come from the girl, but rather, from behind Sabertooth. "I wouldn' be so sure about that, bub..."
Victor yanked back, drawing a cry from Chamille as he sucked in a breath. He cursed himself. He'd missed him enter the room entirely! Too intent on his prey at hand. He smirked a little. "And how do you plan to stop me, Logan?" He turned to him, claws shining. "Huh, runt?"
Logan snarled, almost smiling, the grin feral and dangerous, "C'mon, ya wanna trash somethin', bub, take a shot at me." He brought his claws together with the familiar ringing of metal, his arms flying apart and open wide. "I always been theh best..."
He smirked and spread his arms, claws glittering with Chameleon's blood. "Not always, runt..." he growled. Chameleon turned her head. When he spread his arms like that, his claws were mere inches from his face.
With a feral growl Wolverine charged, intent, not just on the assault of his old 'friend', but also on getting the brawl away from Chameleon who was already hurt badly enough.
Sabretooth and Wolverine began to fight like wild cats pitted against each other, tearing, clawing, even biting when they got close enough. Chameleon sqirmed and whimpered, gritting her teeth as she struggled.
Another figure appeared in the doorway, his form shadowed, the outline his trench coat just showing, along with a smug grin, red eyes gleaming out like fire. In his hand was a card, the ace of spades showing faintly as it began to glow. "Dis is how ih works Mon Ami, first ya charge deh card," he tossed the card, which flew across the room exploding and taking with it the bonds that had held Chameleon's arms up, "den ya blow it up."
She fell to her knees, and looked up. "Gambit!" she cried, and tried desperately to get to her feet. "Remy... Where's Fox?? Did you and Logan come alone?"
"Nah Petite, de X-Men are heh wid us, dey ah lookin' fer Fox, but Wolvie heh smelled ya an' de fur-ball."
She smiled at him a little, though it was weak. "Sounds like a total blast," she said weakly, but was grinning a bit.
Gambit tossed the card, followed by a veritable storm others into the fray, an almost mischievous sparkle hitting his red on black eyes as each card blew up. If that didn't get their attention, he didn't know what would.
Sabretrooth slammed his fist forward, but instead of catching Wolverine, it caught a card. He howled sharply and recoiled as he clutched his hand, broken buy the small explosion. Both males looked up as the frey of cards rained down on them.
Wolverine snarled, "Thaz enough Cajun!"
"Awww, buh Gambit, he was jus' gettin' warmed up Mon Ami," whined Gambit, wincing slightly as Wolverine flashed his fist... and three rather long claws... at him, before slicing them towards Sabertooth's throat. "I t'ink maybe we should leave dem alone, no, petite?"
She nodded a little, leaning on her tutor. "Yes... That would be a very good idea."
Gambit supported Chamille, leading out the door and leaving the two ferals behind. "C'mon, lets get ya ta de Blackbird Petite," he said softly when they entered the hallway.
As soon as they came into the hallway, Chameleon cried as something hit her back but hard! And Gambit was momentarily shoved away from her as Toad slammed down on Chamille's back. He spun towards Gambit and spit hard at him.
Gambit spun, tossing a glowing card at the gunk that was flying towards him. "Oh... ya wanna play ta? Heh, leh Gambit deal ya in," he quipped, grinning, as he began hailing Toad with cards, careful in his aim so that none would hit Chameleon.
Like an expert, Toad 'popped' all of them with his tongue long before they for near his body. He smirked, and spit again. "I think yer bluffin', old man," he quipped as Chameleon slowly raised her head.
Gambit, dodged the last spit, putting his hand to the wall, starting to charge it, "Gonna call dat?"
Toad crouched, and pulled a gun from his waist belt. "Can't solve everythin' with words, now can we?" He pointed it at Chameleon. "You gonna call dis one? Hmm?" Chameleon put her head back down, too exhausted from the whole ordeal to move.
Gambit took his hand from the wall, the glow of which died down. "Nah, I t'ink dat one will go uncalled chere." Now... really seemed like a good time for one of the others to appear, very much so.
Toad's face fell when the rumbling of thunder filled... the hallway? Slowly, he turned when he felt a raindrop touch his cheek, and his eyes narrowed. Chameleon lifted her head again. "... Ororo..."
Gambit held his hands up somewhat as the rain began, and suddenly almost out of nowhere, a glowing card flew directly at Toad's gun, most of the rest of a deck flying towards his face as flipped them out of the deck almost simultaneously.
He screamed at the hit, then howled as they pushed him to the ground, curling up as the blankess overcame him. Ororo tucked her hands behind her back, and rose a white eyebrow at Gambit. "Really... Was that necessary?"
Gambit shrugged just slightly, his grin just a bit playful. "I'm nah suh, buh Gambit suh enjoyed it..."
She laughed a little. "Get Chamille out of here. Robert and Henry are looking for Fox, and Rouge is keeping watch over the ship."
Gambit nodded, picking up Chamille. "T'ink ya can try ta convince Wolverine ta come ta? I tried buh he didn' seem t'rilled." Gambit said, not even awaiting a response as carried Chamille to the Blackbird.
Just then there was a crash as the two feral's banged into a wall in their fight...
Storm shook her head. "Oh, Logan..." She smiled a bit, then went to find her team mates.
"You will become very useful to me someday, Fox, once all your powers awake." He smiled a little, leaning back.
Fox tilted his head, confused. "Ah my poweh's" he growled, "ya mean ders moh comin'?" Oh well this was great news, coming from his captor, but, was it true? If so, wouldn't someone at the school have known.. Wouldn't someone have said something?
"Of course... Why do you think Charles was so eager to accommodate you? Give you anything you want? He wanted you to stay, so that he could awaken them and use them at his disposal in his fight for... equal opportunity." He smiled a little.
Fox blinked a bit, stunned, not sure what to think then. Not sure if he believed this man or not, overall not certain of anything. "Buh why didn' 'e tell me dat," he questioned roughly.
"Because they wanted to control you. Control it. You were only staying for the girl. If you and her ever fell out, you wouldn't be inclined to stay. They were trying to build a reason for you to stay, besides her."
Fox shivered, shaking his head somewhat, if he could move his hands his fingers would be going through his hair right now. He was so confused, but he knew he couldn't trust this man either, not after the measures taken to bring him here. It seemed everyone just wanted to use him, and that was it.
Magneto smirked darkly, eyes flashing as the two metal balls slowly swirled like enormous insects here and there throughout the room. "So... Fox... Can I count on you to complete your training under me? Or do I need to take more... drastic measures?"
Fox glared up at the man, silent for a long moment. "Leh Chameleon ga, an' ya cin," he growled softly.
Magneto nodded softly, smiling. Fox heard cried coming from down the hall, but they were so soft and muffled, he couldn't tell who's they were, where they were coming from, or even if they were male or female. None of the other mutants had picked up on it. "Of course," Magneto almost rumbled.
Fox fell utterly silent, eyes narrowing and shifting as he listened, head tilting as he tried to place something...anything about the cries he heard.
As he focused, they became more definite. Which meant louder. They were definitely a females. But before he could listen in, they were suddenly silenced, cut off, almost as in ground out. There was silence. "Then it's settled," Magneto said confidently.
Fox snarled as he listened, realizing what this meant well enough. Chameleon wouldn't be released for his compliance, but hurt when he didn't. "Yeh," Fox growled in answer, eyes blazing, "I dun seem ta 'ave much choice..."
Magneto's smile grew cold. "That's right. You don't." He stood up. "Come with me. You can say your... final farewell... to Chameleon. You won't see her again, until I decide you're ready to fight with your full potential."
Fox shivered at that, moving to follow him, remaining silent because nothing he had to say would be particularly good for him... or Chameleon, at the moment. What they needed was help, from somewhere, anywhere... but... who? Xavier didn't even know they were in trouble, considering the note he himself had left.
Magneto lead him outside the office, the metal balls resting at his shoulders like pets. He led him down the cold halls of the base, heels clicking on steel floor. The cries had stopped entirely. Mystique and Toad were at their heels. Finally, he lead them to a chamber, where Sabertooth was watching guard. Chameleon was attached at the wrists to the ceiling, her clothing torn almost literally to shreds and almost soaked in blood. Her liquid gag had been removed, and replaced with a cloth one. Her head hung low, face wet with tears.
Fox whimpered, teeth going down to his lip painfully, though not hard enough to draw blood. He wanted more then anything to rush to her and help her down, but he didn't exactly have use of his hands. "Chameleon," he said at a soft whimper, his own head dropping, but only for a moment, gaze darting back up and around. He didn't know when or how, but he would make these people pay...
She raised her head at his voice, and murmured into the gag. "Fox..." Magneto smiled a little. "You have five minutes. Say your goodbye's." The brotherhood members left the room and locked the door behind them letting the two say their final farewells.
Fox came closer to Chameleon, not able to say anything for a moment as he swallowed pain and anger. "I'm sa sorry Chameleon, dis wouldna 'appened weh it nah fer me," he said softly.
She shook her head and tried to talk through the gag, but was too choked up to. She tried to slide it off, and it wouldn't come.
Fox tried to pull his hands free so he could help, but only managed to tighten the stuff that was keeping them together. "I love ya Chameleon," he said softly, barely able to bring the words, "an' if I coul' get 'em ta leh ya go I'd da anytin'..."
She leaned forward in the bonds, tears in her eyes. She spoke soft behind the gag, making her words clear. "I love you, Fox..."
Fox closed his eyes, head falling downwards. "I won' fergeh dat, nah matteh wha."
Chameleon sniffed softly, trying to fight tears that just kept coming... kept falling..
As rational thought began once more making it's way into his mind it occurred to him that he didn't really need to actually get loose to pull down Chameleon's gag. Reaching to her face he pulled the gag down and out of her mouth. "Shh," he said softly, "Dun cry, I'll getcha outta dis, some'ow."
She let out a sob, and leaned forward again, brushing her cheek to his, her own wet. Her powers tingled in his stomach. He was so used to them by now... but now, he may never feel them again. "Fox..." she choked, but was unable to speak.
Fox sighed softly, unable to speak either, unable to think of anything worth saying.
She looked into his eyes, taking in the last close look she would get of him. "I won't f-forget you, Fox... I'll m-miss you..." She leaned forward, and softly kissed him. "Don't forget... how much I love you..."
Fox returned her kiss gently before pulling just a bit back. "I won'," he managed softly, unable to continue as his voice caught in his throat.
She gently smiled, weakly. "Hey... Tell y'what... Y'find a way t'get us outta here, and I'll marry you." She smiled weaker as the tears returned.
Fox just blinked at that, stunned, catching the joking, but still too stunned to reply.
She closed her eyes and leaned forward again, touching their foreheads together as the door opened. "I love you, Fox, with all my heart and all my soul," she whispered, and he felt Magneto touch him.
"Time's up."
Fox spun on Magneto, a dark light in his eyes as he had to utilize all of his will-power to prevent himself from slamming bound fists at the man's face.
Magneto visibly flinched and staggered back a step, looking shocked. He almost did look like Fox had punched him in the face. His eyes narrowed. Looks like the boys powers were waking already. Sabertooth growled angrily. "Follow me," Erik growled, and led Fox out of the cell with Mystique.
Fox blinked in shock for a moment, trying to figure out what had just happened as he followed Magneto. He shivered slightly in fear that Chameleon would be hurt more for that, when he couldn't even figure out what exactly that was.
After Fox was out of site, Sabertooth smirked, staying behind, and pulling her gag back on. "Let's... play..." He smirked as he extended his claws.
Magneto let Fox down a long corridor, and finally into a wide open room. "This is our training grounds... and I can guarantee, your training won't be nearly as soft as it was with the X-men."
Fox looked around the room, nodding softly in response, refusing, for the moment, to speak. Right now he didn't care how much pain he ended up feeling, he just wanted to vent some of his anger. Ok, so he wanted to kill this idiot and all the others that followed him, but venting would have to do for now...
He smiled a bit, and lo and behold, who should appear, but Pyro. The teen smirked from the other side of the room, and lit his lighter, taking the ball of fire in hand. "Don't got your gun this time, kid," he smirked.
Fox's eyes narrowed as a small growl rose in his throat, his eyes suddenly darting down to bound hands. "Hell," he murmured under his breath, looking back upwards at Pyro. He might be able to get this gunk off, but it would involve getting off the gloves it covered, which. He gulped, maybe if he was lucky.... he was never lucky. He held his gaze at the teenager with the fireball, proceeding to pop his thumbs out of place--a trick which had proved much less painful before he had developed his powers--and slide his hand from the gloves, still glaring at Pyro as the gloves hit ground. "Dun need mah gun dis time," he quipped impishly, sounding much more confident then he felt.
He smirked, and the fireball blazed bigger. "You're gonna become a scorched little chunk of charcoal when I'm done with you, little boy." He grinned wider. "If you don't prove amusing enough... I'll just have to go find your little girl." His smirk got sick. "I'm sure I could figure out a lot of fun things to do with her."
Fox's eyes narrowed. "Ya may wanna getcher foot outta yer mout befoh it en's up der permanen' like... kapeesh?" He held his ground though, muscles braced and ready, he would not be the one to make the first move, but he sure as hell planned on making the last one.
Pyro's eyes flashed sharply red, and he laughed as he took hold of the ball and made it two. With a laughing cry of fury, he swung, and sent several balls of fire, swirling and roaring through the air towards the smaller mutant. "Eat this, Fox boy!" he howled as they got closer.
Fox darted straight towards the fireballs then, seemingly heedless, but his senses keeping track of just how far from the fireballs he was, and suddenly as he was near enough to feel the heat on his sensitive skin he shifted, using the cover of that to dart away from the fireballs still moving towards Pyro, while he was shifted, pulling the knife from his boot and pushing it into the front pocket of his hoodie, before shifting back, grinning. "Dat de bes' ya got?"
Pyro laughed again. "I'm just getting started, small stuff!!" He slammed his hands forward, sending a pillar of fire out at Fox with more than impressive swiftness.
Fox didn't dodge away in time to avoid getting burnt or tossed back a good bit, fortunately, he was more sideswiped then anything else and wasn't burned as badly as he could have been, but it still hurt... a lot. He narrowed his eyes, darting in almost a circle as he neared Pyro, wishing he could figure out whatever it was that had effected Magneto earlier, had it been him, if so.. how?! He was getting far too close to Pyro, and though he was fast, he knew that the closer he got, the less he'd be able to maneuver away, but there was no other way to attack, and he doubted his opponent would stop. Just as he didn't intend to, not with this bastard.
The fireballs began to grow as he paused, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Yer little girl is a sweet thing... so pretty and innocent... I wonder what she'll look like with burn scars... everywhere... in the shape of my hands." He smirked wider and laughed as the fireballs seemed to shatter, and he swung his arms, sending them flying at Fox.
Fox cried out, in fury stemmed both by fear for Chameleon and his own pain, but didn't even shrink from the attack, instead lunging into it and toward Pyro, shifting as he pulled the long knife and thrusting it fully at his stomach with the power of his lunge.
Pyro saw the flash, and although he wasn't able to move away, he did grab the blade with both hands, only the tip slightly getting into his stomach. All went silent, blood dripping down the hilt of the blade. Pyro looked up at Fox, his hair wet with sweat, and the fire still burning in his hands. He suddenly smirked, wide, then began to laugh as the hilt got hotter... and hotter. Without his gloves, it would be impossible for him to hold it much longer. "Give up, boy... You can't beat me. You... and your girl... are mine."
Fox screamed, the pain so intense he was going numb, hands blistering as he pushed hard on the blade one last time before forcing his scorched hands to release it. He was blinded by pain and anger, and even though the blade wasn't in his hand anymore he lunged again, wanting nothing more then to kill the other, to turn his own flame against him with such intensity that he felt exactly what he did. He didn't know it, but there were tears on his cheek, and he was shaking in his pained fury.
Pyro's teeth suddenly gritted as his eyes clenched open, and he practically caught Fox in his hands, burning him, but getting burned as well. Fox felt the intense heat of the blade against his stomach, and realized that their chests were touching. Pyro's hands went tight around Fox's arms, pain shooting through his body from not only his stomach, but his mind. He shook, staring. "... What the h-hell are y-you d-doin' t-t'me...?" he gurgled.
Fox could barely register the teenager's words, didn't care what he was saying anyway, so blinded by anger, and driven to a point of almost madness in agony. All he knew was that he was hurting the other, and pushed harder on the blade that seemed almost a brand of burning metal, driving it in, still focused on nothing but bringing the other pain, no matter how much it hurt him. "Die," he hissed sharply through his teeth, his narrowed eyes a brilliant blue that seemed to burn and freeze at once, piercing through the entire being.
The grip on his arms slowly began to release, and Pyro stumbled to the ground, his head slamming into the ground, and pulling Fox down on top of him. His teeth gritted, but his eyes began to glaze over. Blood began to drip from his mouth and nose... and ears. "P-Please," he whispered, his grip completely releasing as he fell limp. "Please... mmmercy...."
Fox blinked as the grip released, pushing himself to his knees, pulling the blade from his stomach, and pinning Pyro's arms with his knees. "Why basta'd, would ya 'ave gi'en ih ta me?" He knew full well the knife hadn't done this, knew that his wanting it to happen so desperately, had caused it...somehow, and finishing him off would be as easy as that. He hurt... bad, so badly that he was ready to collapse and only sheer adrenaline keeping him from doing so.
Tears fell down his cheeks as he looked up at Fox, a wet pant in his throat. "Of course... I would have... This... is a t-training s-session... n-not a battle," he rumbled. His eyes were red, and not with fire. He blinked, and teared blood, leaving red trails down his cheeks. "I wouldn't a given y-ya anyth-thin' I knew y'-y'couldn't h-handle."
Fox's eyes shut for just a moment, and when they opened there was guilt in them, along with an odd resolve. He pulled the knife towards Pyro's face, tracing the point in a line along his cheek, just hard enough that he knew it would scar. "Ne'er t'reaten Chameleon," he snarled softly. Standing to his feet he sheathed the knife back in his boot before he kicked Pyro in the temple, hard enough to knock him out, but not hard enough to kill. "Ya lose basta'd..." Fox brought his hand across his face, though it only added to the pain to do so, wiping away sweat, and suddenly realizing that his face was more wet from tears then sweat, and now, as the adrenaline suddenly seemed to fall away he was shaking hard, pain overwhelming him to the point his knees buckled and slammed back to the floor.
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When Fox woke, he found himself in a dank, cold infirmary. Mystique was hovering over him, and when he opened his eyes, she slowly cocked her head fully to one side. Cold steel locked his arms and legs in place, but the pain wasn't as bad as he remembered it. Mystique looked up. "He is waking," she said, probably to Magneto.
Fox blinked shaking his head, trying to clear it as he did his best to pull loose, color shifting slightly in sheer nervousness at being trapped like this, forcing himself to swallow down the nervousness and remain calm.
Magneto appeared over him, and there was no sign of a smile anywhere. "Well, boy... You have proved to be more than meets the eyes." He motioned to the right, inviting him to turn his head.
Fox did turn his head, curious as to what the man meant.
Pyro hovered in a tank of water, tinted red. The bleeding hadn't even stopped. His body was covered in burns and bruises, and a huge gash in his stomach. It wasn't patched so that the solution could reach him. A small machine, however, was slowly working at it. "Your powers mystify me," Eric said. "A blade doesn't make a man bleed from his ears or eyes. But you, somehow, made him anyway."
Fox turned his head away, closing his eyes. "I didn' mean ta, weh', daz not entihely true... I wan'ed ta 'urt 'im, bad, buh I dunno wha' I did." He gulped, shutting himself up with the swallow. Now that he was thinking clearly, seeing... that, made him almost feel sick with guilt. He just hoped the man wouldn't chose to hurt Chameleon for his his having done that...
"I think I know exactly what you have done." Magneto smiled a little bit, but only for a moment. "Your telepathic and telekinetic powers are waking, Fox. At first, they will rage out of control. You'll crush things on a whim, send people into walls at the slightest hint of anger, even kill people because you don't like how they prepared your lunch.: He smiled a little again. "You'll become a cold hearted murderer with a trigger finger if you continue your current path." His eyes flashed. "I've seen it before. This stage, that is, and the one beyond it."
Fox closed his eyes, shaking his head, "Nah, dat ain't righ, I... nah," but it was himself he was trying to convince, and not doing well, needing only look at the tank to wipe away all the words he had said.
Magneto nodded slowly. "I'll teach you how to channel it. Control it. Use it. You'll be more powerful than Xavier when I am done with you."
Fox let his eyes slide open again. He still didn't trust this man, but, as ever, it seemed he had no choice, and now for more reasons then one. "'Ow," he questioned roughly.
"Try not to move around too much... Your burns are still severe. They blistered you up fairly badly." He smirked slightly, and disappeared. Mystique left him alone as well, leaving him with Pyro, in the cold steel room. In the intense silence, the sounds bounced so well... He could hear Chameleon's cries. She was much nearer than before.
Fox closed his eyes at the sound, whimpering softly, wishing that with all this power springing up inside him he could set her free, and yet he felt so weak, and so pathetic for doing nothing. He'd kill the one that was hurting her, so help... Oh hell... he shook his head, tears gathering in his eyes. It seemed the man was right about him.
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Chameleon shivered sharply as she watched Sabertooth slink slightly back, only to come forward and grab her chin, forcing her to look back at him. Her cheeks were wet with tears, sobs in her throat. What was left of her clothing hung like rags around her, soaked in blood. "No more... no more..." she whimpered, sobbing.
Sabertooth smiled wickedly, leaned forward, and whispered. "That, my dear.. was only the beginning." He full out licked her cheek, and she screamed as she yanked her head away.
"Fox!" she howled, but Sabertooth silenced her, biting hard on her lower lip till she sobbed.
"... Can't help y'now, girl... No one can help you now."
The response came by way of the sound of metal on metal, like a knife being drawn from a sheath, but it didn't come from the girl, but rather, from behind Sabertooth. "I wouldn' be so sure about that, bub..."
Victor yanked back, drawing a cry from Chamille as he sucked in a breath. He cursed himself. He'd missed him enter the room entirely! Too intent on his prey at hand. He smirked a little. "And how do you plan to stop me, Logan?" He turned to him, claws shining. "Huh, runt?"
Logan snarled, almost smiling, the grin feral and dangerous, "C'mon, ya wanna trash somethin', bub, take a shot at me." He brought his claws together with the familiar ringing of metal, his arms flying apart and open wide. "I always been theh best..."
He smirked and spread his arms, claws glittering with Chameleon's blood. "Not always, runt..." he growled. Chameleon turned her head. When he spread his arms like that, his claws were mere inches from his face.
With a feral growl Wolverine charged, intent, not just on the assault of his old 'friend', but also on getting the brawl away from Chameleon who was already hurt badly enough.
Sabretooth and Wolverine began to fight like wild cats pitted against each other, tearing, clawing, even biting when they got close enough. Chameleon sqirmed and whimpered, gritting her teeth as she struggled.
Another figure appeared in the doorway, his form shadowed, the outline his trench coat just showing, along with a smug grin, red eyes gleaming out like fire. In his hand was a card, the ace of spades showing faintly as it began to glow. "Dis is how ih works Mon Ami, first ya charge deh card," he tossed the card, which flew across the room exploding and taking with it the bonds that had held Chameleon's arms up, "den ya blow it up."
She fell to her knees, and looked up. "Gambit!" she cried, and tried desperately to get to her feet. "Remy... Where's Fox?? Did you and Logan come alone?"
"Nah Petite, de X-Men are heh wid us, dey ah lookin' fer Fox, but Wolvie heh smelled ya an' de fur-ball."
She smiled at him a little, though it was weak. "Sounds like a total blast," she said weakly, but was grinning a bit.
Gambit tossed the card, followed by a veritable storm others into the fray, an almost mischievous sparkle hitting his red on black eyes as each card blew up. If that didn't get their attention, he didn't know what would.
Sabretrooth slammed his fist forward, but instead of catching Wolverine, it caught a card. He howled sharply and recoiled as he clutched his hand, broken buy the small explosion. Both males looked up as the frey of cards rained down on them.
Wolverine snarled, "Thaz enough Cajun!"
"Awww, buh Gambit, he was jus' gettin' warmed up Mon Ami," whined Gambit, wincing slightly as Wolverine flashed his fist... and three rather long claws... at him, before slicing them towards Sabertooth's throat. "I t'ink maybe we should leave dem alone, no, petite?"
She nodded a little, leaning on her tutor. "Yes... That would be a very good idea."
Gambit supported Chamille, leading out the door and leaving the two ferals behind. "C'mon, lets get ya ta de Blackbird Petite," he said softly when they entered the hallway.
As soon as they came into the hallway, Chameleon cried as something hit her back but hard! And Gambit was momentarily shoved away from her as Toad slammed down on Chamille's back. He spun towards Gambit and spit hard at him.
Gambit spun, tossing a glowing card at the gunk that was flying towards him. "Oh... ya wanna play ta? Heh, leh Gambit deal ya in," he quipped, grinning, as he began hailing Toad with cards, careful in his aim so that none would hit Chameleon.
Like an expert, Toad 'popped' all of them with his tongue long before they for near his body. He smirked, and spit again. "I think yer bluffin', old man," he quipped as Chameleon slowly raised her head.
Gambit, dodged the last spit, putting his hand to the wall, starting to charge it, "Gonna call dat?"
Toad crouched, and pulled a gun from his waist belt. "Can't solve everythin' with words, now can we?" He pointed it at Chameleon. "You gonna call dis one? Hmm?" Chameleon put her head back down, too exhausted from the whole ordeal to move.
Gambit took his hand from the wall, the glow of which died down. "Nah, I t'ink dat one will go uncalled chere." Now... really seemed like a good time for one of the others to appear, very much so.
Toad's face fell when the rumbling of thunder filled... the hallway? Slowly, he turned when he felt a raindrop touch his cheek, and his eyes narrowed. Chameleon lifted her head again. "... Ororo..."
Gambit held his hands up somewhat as the rain began, and suddenly almost out of nowhere, a glowing card flew directly at Toad's gun, most of the rest of a deck flying towards his face as flipped them out of the deck almost simultaneously.
He screamed at the hit, then howled as they pushed him to the ground, curling up as the blankess overcame him. Ororo tucked her hands behind her back, and rose a white eyebrow at Gambit. "Really... Was that necessary?"
Gambit shrugged just slightly, his grin just a bit playful. "I'm nah suh, buh Gambit suh enjoyed it..."
She laughed a little. "Get Chamille out of here. Robert and Henry are looking for Fox, and Rouge is keeping watch over the ship."
Gambit nodded, picking up Chamille. "T'ink ya can try ta convince Wolverine ta come ta? I tried buh he didn' seem t'rilled." Gambit said, not even awaiting a response as carried Chamille to the Blackbird.
Just then there was a crash as the two feral's banged into a wall in their fight...
Storm shook her head. "Oh, Logan..." She smiled a bit, then went to find her team mates.
