Chapter 8.
Lying
in my bed I hear the clock tick
and think of you
caught up in circles confusion is nothing new
Flashback, warm nights-
almost left behind
Suitcases of memories, time after—
Sometimes you picture me-
I'm walking to far ahead
you're calling to me, I can't hear what you've said
Then you say go slow
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be
waiting
time after time
After my picture fades
a darkness has turned to gray
Watching through windows
you're wondering if I'm okay
Secrets stolen from deep inside
the drum beats out of time
If you're lost you can look and you will find
me
time after time
If you fall I will catch you,
I'll be waiting
time after time
You said go slow
I fall behind
the second hand unwinds
If
you're lost you can look and you will find me
time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
time after time
Jean sat back in her chair and
shook her head. "I don't understand
it, Professor." Xavier frowned,
rubbing his chin.
"Explain what you saw again."
"When I mind-scanned Sabretooth, the basic architecture of his mind was the same, but it's…changed. Before, these images and feelings came at me with no control—it was like a tsunami. Now," she paused. "There is control. Like he can turn it on and off."
"Fascinating," said Xavier. "We must send him to the med lab for a CAT scan…it's entirely possible that when Logan damaged his brain she severed the nerves responsible for his bloodlust urges."
Jean sighed. "All that for Victor Creed? When are the agents from the Vault coming?"
"To tell you the truth," said Xavier. "I have asked them to postpone taking Sabretooth away until we can gain a more complete understanding of him, as a mutant and a foe." Jean pursed her lips.
"Does Scott know about this?"
"I have not relayed the information to Cyclops."
"No offense, Professor, but at the risk of sounding like Wolverine—this is a bad idea. Sabretooth can't be trusted, he's demonstrated that twice. He almost killed Tabitha, and God knows what he'll do if he gets out again."
"I don't trust him, Jean. I wish to study him."
"So we just keep him caged up like a lab animal?" The Professor frowned at her.
"That is my decision, Jean." Jean set her Cerebro helmet back on it's perch.
"Of course, Professor. You know best." She stood to leave. "Should I tell Logan? She's his little bodyguard for the duration of her probation, after all."
"I don't think revealing all the details would be wise—but you may inform her his bloodlust is sated, at least for now. He can be allowed into the Danger Room periodically. Maybe eventually the rest of the mansion. It depends on his behavior."
"Yes, Professor." Jean left to execute his orders.
It was bad enough, Logan thought, that she had to baby-sit Sabretooth in a cell, but now that Xavier had decided she had "cured" him with a claw through the head and allowed him free run of the Danger Room, it was just cruel and unusual. Having to watch Sabretooth tear up holographic ninjas was only marginally better, in Logan's opinion, than having red-hot pokers shoved in her eyes.
"Frail!" Victor shouted at her from the Danger Room floor. "Turn it up another level. This is kid stuff." Logan sighed. It was just common sense not to give Sabretooth voice access to Cerebro, but it gave him an excuse to treat her like a damn lackey. "C'mon, runt!" Victor shouted. "Move yer slow ass!" Logan smiled and waved at him as she turned the Danger Room controls to maximum. She heard Sabretooth give a yell as he was bombarded by the X-Men's worse villains from all sides, and soon collapsed in a smoking heap.
"Had enough for today, honey-buns?" Logan spoke into the comm.. Victor's scorched hand emerged from under his body with the middle finger extended. "Cute, Creed." Logan went down to the outside door and released the lock to escort him back to his cell.
Logan decided this was the worst part of her job as Creed's babysitter—having to be alone with him like this. Sometimes it was all-too like the old days, back with Team X. Back before she knew what he really was.
"Ya know, I coulda taken those punks in the Danger Room."
"It was Apocalypse, Sinister, and Magneto."
Victor shrugged. "That doesn't bother me none. I coulda beaten 'em no problem."
Logan rolled her eyes. "Then why didn't you?"
"'Cause you were leanin' forward over that damn console up there. One look at yer tits, and my mind goes off the battle."
Logan restrained herself from sticking another claw through his head—and holding it until he stopped twitching this time. "You are such a fucking pervert."
"I always thought you liked it dirty."
"Just shut up. I'm sick of listening to you flapping your jaws."
Victor just smirked, slowing down his pace so he could walk behind her.
Logan sighed. "Are you staring at my ass again, Creed?"
"Of course. You sure you won't stay a little while tonight, frail? I get awfully lonely in that dark, cold cell all by my lonesome."
Logan punched the code to open his cell door. "Very sure." She ushered Victor inside. "Victor?"
He grinned, baring his fangs. "Yeah, frail?"
"How come Xavier didn't detect your bloodlust was gone until now?" Victor snorted, his sarcastic look going bitter.
"Xavier never gave me a chance." The cell door rolled closed, cutting off further conversation.
"So how's Herr Psycho?" Logan groaned.
"Don't ask, Kitty."
"He can't be that bad—Jean said he's all docile now."
"Yeah, docile like an alligator." Kitty sat down next to Logan on the couch where she was reading.
"You're doing a good job—really." Logan sighed as she flipped a page.
"I just wanna pound on his face until he shuts up."
"You only have another week until your probation is over. Cheer up. Rogue and Storm promised we'd start up Lady's Poker Night again as soon as you were free."
"Thanks, Kitty."
"What are friends for? Just keep from killing him for seven more days."
"I'll try real hard." She looked up at the clock and sighed. "It's time for his highness's Danger Room workout. I'll see you later, Shadowcat."
"Later, Logan."
"Seein' you on the other side of my cell is the one bright spot to my day."
Logan rolled her eyes. "Please, Creed, cut the bullshit."
"Who said I was bullshittin' ya."
Logan started a little, but shook her head. If there was one thing Victor Creed was good at, it was his twisted little mind games. "Come on. Let's get this over with so I can put you back behind bars where you belong."
"Actually, there ain't any bars. It's more of a walls and force-fields job."
Logan rolled her eyes. "I was speaking figuratively."
Creed just smirked. "That's a big word for such a little runt."
"Are you insulting my intelligence?"
"How can I? It would have to be there."
Logan grabbed his arm, preparing to drag him from the room. Victor clamped his own hand over hers, digging his talons into the surface of her skin. "Gentle, gentle, frail," he said, leaning forward so she could feel his breath on her skin. "Yer not supposed to be mishandlin' the prisoners."
"Let me go," she said, trying to pull her arm free.
"Why should I?" Victor asked, digging his talons in deeper. "Maybe I like ya this close."
Logan jerked away, freeing herself for a second before Victor grabbed her again. This time, he brought her arm to his lips, licking off the blood from the wounds he'd caused on her wrist. Logan shuddered.
"Ready to watch me get all sweaty?" Victor asked with a wink.
"I hate you so much."
"There's a thin line between love and hate frail. A thin line."
Later, Logan sat outside Victor's cell reading, ignoring the fact that he'd gotten most of his "prisoner clothes" of a sweatshirt and pants burned or ripped off during his workout. She wasn't in the mood to cater to his needs.
"Whatcha got yer nose in, frail?" Logan glanced up.
"Macbeth."
"The Scottish play," said Victor. Logan looked up again.
"You actually know what I'm talking about?"
"Yeah, sure. Macbeth is damn good, but I like Julius Caesar better. Gotta love a power-mad dictator stabbed in the back by his best friend." Logan tried to hide her shock.
"Caesar has its good points I guess."
"Ya don't have to try and impress me now, runt—I didn't even know ya could read." Logan flipped him off.
"Fuck you."
"Whatever you say, frail." He began to remove his shredded clothes as Logan quickly averted her eyes. Victor chuckled. "Afraid ya might see somethin' ya like?"
"More like something that would haunt my nightmares, Creed." Victor wrapped the blanket from his cot around his waist and sat down.
"When yer done with that thing slide it my way. I'm goin' nuts starin' at the walls."
"What do I look like, a library?" Victor frowned.
"No, an' I'm sorry I made the mistake of thinkin' ya had a sympathetic bone in your body."
Logan slapped her book shut and sighed. "Creed, I don't like you. In fact, I despise you. Accept it. You're never gonna be my best friend."
"No shit, frail." Logan growled and got to her feet.
"You know, every time I start to think maybe this guard detail is bearable, you prove once again what a complete asshole you are."
"So ya do have somethin' in there besides hatin' me."
"Don't get any big ideas." Victor smiled.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Logan sighed, then stepped forward and put her book through the food slot.
"It belongs to Beast, so be nice to it or he'll get all pissed off." Victor picked up the small tome as Logan started to walk off.
"Thanks, Logan." Logan stopped.
"Uh…you're welcome, I guess." She looked at him over her shoulder. "Have a good night."
"G'night, darlin'."
"I'm not your darlin'."
"I know, I know. Night."
"Night."