Feral Bonds Chapter 19
Inuyasha0001: Appreciate it.
Trunksblue: Thanks, I had to toss a little humor in there at the end, it needed it.
Morgannia: Glad you liked it. As for more Mark interaction, in my mind, I haven't really written him at all yet anywhere in this story. For now, he is an infant, with on one side, the scarcest beginnings of a unique human personality. And on the other, a vicious killer. So previously, he really didn't have any thoughts, at all. However, as Xavier alluded, he will be up to speed enough to attend school soon; hopefully at that point; there will be more real interaction.
AN1: Sorry for the long delay on this. I had some other things going on and to be totally honest, I burned out writing this. That, and I went back through the master copy of the story and fixed the extra words, spelling errors, and did a grammar check. Should I reupload the fixed story or just leave it the way it is and just e-mail the corrected version to people that request it?
AN2: Gonna use [text] for thoughts from now on. It just looks better.
_Kitty's room_
Kitty sighed for the third time in the fact five minutes as she tried to get comfortable on the portable cot she was using as a bed. [Stupid cot. Stupid warehouse. Arrrrggg.] She finally just stood up and shoved the contents of her duffel into the metal dresser while periodically growling and kicking the dresser. Eventually smashing a finger in a drawer, she gave it one last kick and looked at the clock. She saw that she was already late for X23's session. [I hope she isn't like Mr. Logan.] She quickly put on her uniform and phased through the wall into Mark's room.
_Mark's room_
Kitty popped out of the wall and came to a screeching halt. She looked around the dark room and had almost decided he had left when she caught a flutter of motion in a corner. She walked over to the door and was about to flip on the light switch when X23 swung the door open. Kitty froze and waited for the inevitable lecture about being late. To her surprise, it didn't happen. X23 just looked at her for a second before flipping on the switch. Kitty blinked her eyes so they could adjust and saw X23 just staring into the room.
X23 turned and nodded to the room. "He normally do that?"
Kitty looked at her in confusion before looking where X23 had nodded. What she saw almost drove her to tears. And it would have, if a tide of embarrassment hadn't washed over her. In the corner of the room, Mark was naked and curled into a fetal ball, his head tucked under an arm. A position not that dissimilar from what she had seen on the tapes in the Colorado lab. He had pushed the dresser and cot to the opposite corner and was just lying on the cold metal floor. Kitty sputtered for a moment before choking out a strangled "Mark!"
Mark's head popped up at her voice. He just stared at her blankly. Kitty was still trying to form a coherent thought when X23 shoved her to the side and walked by.
X23 walked over to the cot and grabbed the clothes he had been wearing. She went over to Mark and slipping her free hand under his arm, pulled him to his feet. She heard Kitty sputter a bit more behind her, but she ignored it. She pushed the clothes into his chest and looked him square in the eyes. "Get dressed."
Mark and X23 just stared at each other for a minute. She pushed the bundle harder and he grabbed it. Looking down at the bundle for an instant, he quickly started dressing himself. X23 turned back to a still red-faced Kitty. "You never answered my question. Does he do that often?"
Kitty dragged her eyes from Mark to X23 and hesitated for a moment. "I don't like know. The only time I've seen him sleep was when he was in my room." She saw X23's eyebrow rise at that and she realized exactly how what she said could be taken. Her blush grew redder. "It's totally not like that! Mr. Logan put us in there after the Professor did his head job thing." The eyebrow didn't lower. "We were totally unconscious!"
X23 snorted then looked at Mark again. "Come on. Time to start." She then turned and strode out of the room. Kitty looked at Mark, but didn't make eye contact. "Do you normally sleep like that?"
Mark thought about it for a second. "Yes."
Kitty started and looked up. "Why? I mean the cot totally sucks, but it's better than the floor."
Mark looked at her as if she had grown another head. "I have always slept like that."
Kitty blinked at that. That was the most coherent thing he had said yet. Deciding to push a little harder, she asked, "Didn't you ever have a bed?"
Mark shrugged. "No. Only the floor."
Kitty was about to ask him to elaborate when X23 poked her head in. "Get out here. Both of you."
Mark walked up and waited for Kitty to leave before following. He stopped just outside the door and stood still for a second before turning and closing the door behind him, an action unnoticed by the other two.
_Kitchen_
Kitty and Mark walked into the quickly assembled kitchen. Kitty looked around and took a mental inventory of everything they had. Still going over the list, she missed what X23 had started saying. A hand on her shoulder brought her back to her senses. Blinking quickly, she turned around and faced X23.
X23 gave her a slight frown before shaking her head. "Sit down. Meal training is first."
She led Kitty over to the shaky folding table. Someone, probably X23, had already set three places and had a standard dinner set out. Kitty sat down next to X23 and across the table from Mark. Mark just looked at her with an expectant look. Kitty sighed and grabbed the bowl of salad. She started to serve herself when X23 grabbed her wrist.
X23 glared at her until she put the bowl back down. She nodded and turned to address Mark. "Ok. Most places in this country still say grace before they begin a meal. Dinner is the only time you will really have to worry about it happening, but other meals are possible as well." She folded her hands and bowed her head for a moment before looking at Mark. "This is an acceptable position to take during the grace period. The vast majority of America is Christian, so you really only have to learn this to blend in. Do you understand?"
Mark furrowed his eyes for a moment before nodding and looking at Kitty. He spoke. "It doesn't feel right though."
Kitty looked at him wide-eyed for a second before blurting. "You're getting that from me Mark. I'm Jewish." Mark's brow lowered in thought and Kitty continued. "Don't worry about it; just learn what she is teaching you." Mark nodded.
X23 gave an impatient snort. "Fine. Assume the position, both of you." Kitty and Mark both folded their hands and bowed their heads. X23 continued. "A standard grace will thank a God for the food and a plea for continued good luck. Normally, you will keep your eyes closed until the person speaking the prayer says 'amen', at which time it's permissible to start serving food." She ran through a stock prayer and nodded when Mark waited with his eyes closed until she finished. "Good. Now serve yourself."
Mark looked at the array of bowls and plates between him and Kitty with a blank look. X23 waited a moment before starting to tap her fingers on the table. "Well? At this point, you need to start dishing the food onto your plate."
Mark looked at the bowls and sniffed before looking at her. "Where is the food?"
Kitty blinked before gesturing at everything on the table. "Its right here Mark. Everything on the table is food."
Mark picked up a sliver of chicken with his fingers and sniffed it delicately. "It doesn't smell like food."
X23 narrowed her eyes and spoke. "What does food smell like?"
Mark sat back and thought deeply for a moment before responding. "Like that." He was pointing towards the trashcan on the other side of the room.
X23 snorted and turned to Kitty. "They fed him a mash. It's nutritionally sound, but smells like rotten garbage." Kitty nodded. X23 looked back at Mark. "This is all food. Eat it."
Mark reached out and was about to stick his hand into the bowl of mac&cheese when Kitty reached out and grabbed his wrist. "No Mark. Don't use your hands, use this." She handed him a spoon. He looked between it and Kitty for a moment before spooning it out onto his plate. Kitty served herself the salad and waited for him to finish. Mark kept spooning out more and more of the pasta. X23 finally tapped her hand on the table and got his attention. He stared at her and she spoke. "That's enough for now. Normal portions are smaller than that." Mark looked at his plate and nodded.
They continued with the meal, only rarely stopping for Kitty or X23 to either correct his behavior, or to explain a point. X23 was content with the behavior Mark had learned and seemingly understood. Kitty was still apprehensive about it, but she didn't express her opinion past a frown here and there.
They had just finished and Mark sat on his chair silently. Kitty looked at him and tapped her chin. "Well, I guess that's that. Come on Mark, let's get you back to your room." She stood and reached for his arm to lead him back, but he surprised her by standing and walking out of the kitchen without her. She stood staring for a moment before she bolted out after him. X23 glanced between the now empty doorway and the table before snorting. "Clean up next time."
_Hallway outside Mark's Room_
Kitty trailed a few feet behind Mark as he walked down the hallway. She wanted to ask him if everything was all right, but his unusual display of independence threw her off and she couldn't form a coherent sentence. She started to reach out to grab his arm a few times, but never went as far as making contact with him. Mark stopped next to his door and glanced over his shoulder at Kitty before opening his door and stepping inside. Kitty went to follow him, but was stopped abruptly when the door swung shut and almost hit her. She jerked back a step and stared at the door. [He slammed a door in my face!]
She scowled at the offending door for a moment before knocking. She was greeted by nothing but silence. She knocked at the door again not getting a response. "Mark! Open the door or I'm coming in!"
A few seconds later Mark opened the door and stared at her. Kitty just stood silently, momentarily taken aback by the intense expression on his face. Mark's eyebrow rose in question and that broke Kitty out of her stupor. "Like, what is going on with you today? It's totally rude to shut the door in someone's face like that."
Mark's eyebrow lowered and his face became blank again. Kitty was about to start her lecturing again when Mark cut in. "It's privacy. Correct?"
Kitty gaped again, still unused to Mark showing anything besides rage and utter submission. She finally pulled her thoughts back together. "Yes, it is. But it's still rude to close a door in my face." She huffed and crossed her arms.
Mark stood there, face crunched up in concentration for a moment before looking her right in the eyes. "Ok." With that, he turned and walked back into the room, leaving Kitty standing in front of an open door.
Kitty blinked once then shrugged and walked in the room, closing the door behind her.
_Mark's Room_
Kitty reached out and flipped on the light switch, bathing the small room in what she considered to be a hellish fluorescent light. Mark had walked over to the corner and had begun pulling his shirt over his head. Kitty 'eeped' and blurted out. "Stop that!"
Mark half turned and looked at her expectantly, his shirt still half pulled off. Kitty Walked forward, grabbed the hem of the shirt, and pulled it back down. A loud sigh escaped her as she looked at Mark as if he was a broken toy. "Ok. Listen. That." She pointed to the cot. ".is where you sleep. Not on the floor, not in the corner, in that bed." She pointed at the cot again for emphasis.
Mark looked at the cot for a second before shrugging again. He stepped forward and started stripping again, this time starting on his jeans. Kitty clenched her fists for a moment in frustration. "Mark. Don't take off your clothes."
Mark blinked. "Why?"
Kitty blinked herself. She could feel that this was the first time he had really questioned 'why' he should do something she said to, not just asking why as a request for more information. Looking him right in the eyes, she spoke. "Because I told you to. You 'never' take your clothes off in front of someone else. Understand me?"
Mark's eyes clouded over for a second before he responded. "Why?"
Kitty ground her teeth before speaking. "Because, you just don't."
Mark continued to stare at her. "But why?"
Kitty's vision started to mist red. She dug her nails into her palm in an attempt to calm herself before responding.
Needless to say, she failed. Rather impressively to be honest.
Kitty blew up. "BECAUSE I TOLD YOU TO THAT'S WHY!"
Mark cocked his head to the side, looking at her with an unreadable expression. Kitty wasn't done though. "Well? Do you understand me or not?" Mark just stood there. "Well? Answer me dammit!"
Mark had opened his mouth to say something when the door opened behind her. Kitty whipped her head around and stared daggers at X23. She bit out. "What?"
X23 glanced between her and Mark for a second before the corner of her mouth twitched upwards. "Lover's spat?"
Kitty's face turned crimson and she started visibly quaking. She screamed, "IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT! AND YOU KNOW IT GOD DAMMIT!" before spinning on her heal and stomping out of the room. A few seconds later, a door was slammed closed down the hall.
X23 face twisted into a full-blown smile for an instant before she willed it back into her 'operative' mode and lost any hint of amusement. She turned to Mark. "Tomorrow is going to be a long day, get some sleep."
Mark nodded and laid down on the cot. X23 looked at him for a second before speaking. "It's really not a good idea to sleep in your clothes."
Mark opened his eyes and looked at her. "Kitty told me to keep my pants on."
X23 let a single chuckle escape before turning and walking to the door. She looked over her shoulder and was quiet for a moment before looking back out the door. "Good night." With that, she flipped the lights off and closed the door behind her.
Inuyasha0001: Appreciate it.
Trunksblue: Thanks, I had to toss a little humor in there at the end, it needed it.
Morgannia: Glad you liked it. As for more Mark interaction, in my mind, I haven't really written him at all yet anywhere in this story. For now, he is an infant, with on one side, the scarcest beginnings of a unique human personality. And on the other, a vicious killer. So previously, he really didn't have any thoughts, at all. However, as Xavier alluded, he will be up to speed enough to attend school soon; hopefully at that point; there will be more real interaction.
AN1: Sorry for the long delay on this. I had some other things going on and to be totally honest, I burned out writing this. That, and I went back through the master copy of the story and fixed the extra words, spelling errors, and did a grammar check. Should I reupload the fixed story or just leave it the way it is and just e-mail the corrected version to people that request it?
AN2: Gonna use [text] for thoughts from now on. It just looks better.
_Kitty's room_
Kitty sighed for the third time in the fact five minutes as she tried to get comfortable on the portable cot she was using as a bed. [Stupid cot. Stupid warehouse. Arrrrggg.] She finally just stood up and shoved the contents of her duffel into the metal dresser while periodically growling and kicking the dresser. Eventually smashing a finger in a drawer, she gave it one last kick and looked at the clock. She saw that she was already late for X23's session. [I hope she isn't like Mr. Logan.] She quickly put on her uniform and phased through the wall into Mark's room.
_Mark's room_
Kitty popped out of the wall and came to a screeching halt. She looked around the dark room and had almost decided he had left when she caught a flutter of motion in a corner. She walked over to the door and was about to flip on the light switch when X23 swung the door open. Kitty froze and waited for the inevitable lecture about being late. To her surprise, it didn't happen. X23 just looked at her for a second before flipping on the switch. Kitty blinked her eyes so they could adjust and saw X23 just staring into the room.
X23 turned and nodded to the room. "He normally do that?"
Kitty looked at her in confusion before looking where X23 had nodded. What she saw almost drove her to tears. And it would have, if a tide of embarrassment hadn't washed over her. In the corner of the room, Mark was naked and curled into a fetal ball, his head tucked under an arm. A position not that dissimilar from what she had seen on the tapes in the Colorado lab. He had pushed the dresser and cot to the opposite corner and was just lying on the cold metal floor. Kitty sputtered for a moment before choking out a strangled "Mark!"
Mark's head popped up at her voice. He just stared at her blankly. Kitty was still trying to form a coherent thought when X23 shoved her to the side and walked by.
X23 walked over to the cot and grabbed the clothes he had been wearing. She went over to Mark and slipping her free hand under his arm, pulled him to his feet. She heard Kitty sputter a bit more behind her, but she ignored it. She pushed the clothes into his chest and looked him square in the eyes. "Get dressed."
Mark and X23 just stared at each other for a minute. She pushed the bundle harder and he grabbed it. Looking down at the bundle for an instant, he quickly started dressing himself. X23 turned back to a still red-faced Kitty. "You never answered my question. Does he do that often?"
Kitty dragged her eyes from Mark to X23 and hesitated for a moment. "I don't like know. The only time I've seen him sleep was when he was in my room." She saw X23's eyebrow rise at that and she realized exactly how what she said could be taken. Her blush grew redder. "It's totally not like that! Mr. Logan put us in there after the Professor did his head job thing." The eyebrow didn't lower. "We were totally unconscious!"
X23 snorted then looked at Mark again. "Come on. Time to start." She then turned and strode out of the room. Kitty looked at Mark, but didn't make eye contact. "Do you normally sleep like that?"
Mark thought about it for a second. "Yes."
Kitty started and looked up. "Why? I mean the cot totally sucks, but it's better than the floor."
Mark looked at her as if she had grown another head. "I have always slept like that."
Kitty blinked at that. That was the most coherent thing he had said yet. Deciding to push a little harder, she asked, "Didn't you ever have a bed?"
Mark shrugged. "No. Only the floor."
Kitty was about to ask him to elaborate when X23 poked her head in. "Get out here. Both of you."
Mark walked up and waited for Kitty to leave before following. He stopped just outside the door and stood still for a second before turning and closing the door behind him, an action unnoticed by the other two.
_Kitchen_
Kitty and Mark walked into the quickly assembled kitchen. Kitty looked around and took a mental inventory of everything they had. Still going over the list, she missed what X23 had started saying. A hand on her shoulder brought her back to her senses. Blinking quickly, she turned around and faced X23.
X23 gave her a slight frown before shaking her head. "Sit down. Meal training is first."
She led Kitty over to the shaky folding table. Someone, probably X23, had already set three places and had a standard dinner set out. Kitty sat down next to X23 and across the table from Mark. Mark just looked at her with an expectant look. Kitty sighed and grabbed the bowl of salad. She started to serve herself when X23 grabbed her wrist.
X23 glared at her until she put the bowl back down. She nodded and turned to address Mark. "Ok. Most places in this country still say grace before they begin a meal. Dinner is the only time you will really have to worry about it happening, but other meals are possible as well." She folded her hands and bowed her head for a moment before looking at Mark. "This is an acceptable position to take during the grace period. The vast majority of America is Christian, so you really only have to learn this to blend in. Do you understand?"
Mark furrowed his eyes for a moment before nodding and looking at Kitty. He spoke. "It doesn't feel right though."
Kitty looked at him wide-eyed for a second before blurting. "You're getting that from me Mark. I'm Jewish." Mark's brow lowered in thought and Kitty continued. "Don't worry about it; just learn what she is teaching you." Mark nodded.
X23 gave an impatient snort. "Fine. Assume the position, both of you." Kitty and Mark both folded their hands and bowed their heads. X23 continued. "A standard grace will thank a God for the food and a plea for continued good luck. Normally, you will keep your eyes closed until the person speaking the prayer says 'amen', at which time it's permissible to start serving food." She ran through a stock prayer and nodded when Mark waited with his eyes closed until she finished. "Good. Now serve yourself."
Mark looked at the array of bowls and plates between him and Kitty with a blank look. X23 waited a moment before starting to tap her fingers on the table. "Well? At this point, you need to start dishing the food onto your plate."
Mark looked at the bowls and sniffed before looking at her. "Where is the food?"
Kitty blinked before gesturing at everything on the table. "Its right here Mark. Everything on the table is food."
Mark picked up a sliver of chicken with his fingers and sniffed it delicately. "It doesn't smell like food."
X23 narrowed her eyes and spoke. "What does food smell like?"
Mark sat back and thought deeply for a moment before responding. "Like that." He was pointing towards the trashcan on the other side of the room.
X23 snorted and turned to Kitty. "They fed him a mash. It's nutritionally sound, but smells like rotten garbage." Kitty nodded. X23 looked back at Mark. "This is all food. Eat it."
Mark reached out and was about to stick his hand into the bowl of mac&cheese when Kitty reached out and grabbed his wrist. "No Mark. Don't use your hands, use this." She handed him a spoon. He looked between it and Kitty for a moment before spooning it out onto his plate. Kitty served herself the salad and waited for him to finish. Mark kept spooning out more and more of the pasta. X23 finally tapped her hand on the table and got his attention. He stared at her and she spoke. "That's enough for now. Normal portions are smaller than that." Mark looked at his plate and nodded.
They continued with the meal, only rarely stopping for Kitty or X23 to either correct his behavior, or to explain a point. X23 was content with the behavior Mark had learned and seemingly understood. Kitty was still apprehensive about it, but she didn't express her opinion past a frown here and there.
They had just finished and Mark sat on his chair silently. Kitty looked at him and tapped her chin. "Well, I guess that's that. Come on Mark, let's get you back to your room." She stood and reached for his arm to lead him back, but he surprised her by standing and walking out of the kitchen without her. She stood staring for a moment before she bolted out after him. X23 glanced between the now empty doorway and the table before snorting. "Clean up next time."
_Hallway outside Mark's Room_
Kitty trailed a few feet behind Mark as he walked down the hallway. She wanted to ask him if everything was all right, but his unusual display of independence threw her off and she couldn't form a coherent sentence. She started to reach out to grab his arm a few times, but never went as far as making contact with him. Mark stopped next to his door and glanced over his shoulder at Kitty before opening his door and stepping inside. Kitty went to follow him, but was stopped abruptly when the door swung shut and almost hit her. She jerked back a step and stared at the door. [He slammed a door in my face!]
She scowled at the offending door for a moment before knocking. She was greeted by nothing but silence. She knocked at the door again not getting a response. "Mark! Open the door or I'm coming in!"
A few seconds later Mark opened the door and stared at her. Kitty just stood silently, momentarily taken aback by the intense expression on his face. Mark's eyebrow rose in question and that broke Kitty out of her stupor. "Like, what is going on with you today? It's totally rude to shut the door in someone's face like that."
Mark's eyebrow lowered and his face became blank again. Kitty was about to start her lecturing again when Mark cut in. "It's privacy. Correct?"
Kitty gaped again, still unused to Mark showing anything besides rage and utter submission. She finally pulled her thoughts back together. "Yes, it is. But it's still rude to close a door in my face." She huffed and crossed her arms.
Mark stood there, face crunched up in concentration for a moment before looking her right in the eyes. "Ok." With that, he turned and walked back into the room, leaving Kitty standing in front of an open door.
Kitty blinked once then shrugged and walked in the room, closing the door behind her.
_Mark's Room_
Kitty reached out and flipped on the light switch, bathing the small room in what she considered to be a hellish fluorescent light. Mark had walked over to the corner and had begun pulling his shirt over his head. Kitty 'eeped' and blurted out. "Stop that!"
Mark half turned and looked at her expectantly, his shirt still half pulled off. Kitty Walked forward, grabbed the hem of the shirt, and pulled it back down. A loud sigh escaped her as she looked at Mark as if he was a broken toy. "Ok. Listen. That." She pointed to the cot. ".is where you sleep. Not on the floor, not in the corner, in that bed." She pointed at the cot again for emphasis.
Mark looked at the cot for a second before shrugging again. He stepped forward and started stripping again, this time starting on his jeans. Kitty clenched her fists for a moment in frustration. "Mark. Don't take off your clothes."
Mark blinked. "Why?"
Kitty blinked herself. She could feel that this was the first time he had really questioned 'why' he should do something she said to, not just asking why as a request for more information. Looking him right in the eyes, she spoke. "Because I told you to. You 'never' take your clothes off in front of someone else. Understand me?"
Mark's eyes clouded over for a second before he responded. "Why?"
Kitty ground her teeth before speaking. "Because, you just don't."
Mark continued to stare at her. "But why?"
Kitty's vision started to mist red. She dug her nails into her palm in an attempt to calm herself before responding.
Needless to say, she failed. Rather impressively to be honest.
Kitty blew up. "BECAUSE I TOLD YOU TO THAT'S WHY!"
Mark cocked his head to the side, looking at her with an unreadable expression. Kitty wasn't done though. "Well? Do you understand me or not?" Mark just stood there. "Well? Answer me dammit!"
Mark had opened his mouth to say something when the door opened behind her. Kitty whipped her head around and stared daggers at X23. She bit out. "What?"
X23 glanced between her and Mark for a second before the corner of her mouth twitched upwards. "Lover's spat?"
Kitty's face turned crimson and she started visibly quaking. She screamed, "IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT! AND YOU KNOW IT GOD DAMMIT!" before spinning on her heal and stomping out of the room. A few seconds later, a door was slammed closed down the hall.
X23 face twisted into a full-blown smile for an instant before she willed it back into her 'operative' mode and lost any hint of amusement. She turned to Mark. "Tomorrow is going to be a long day, get some sleep."
Mark nodded and laid down on the cot. X23 looked at him for a second before speaking. "It's really not a good idea to sleep in your clothes."
Mark opened his eyes and looked at her. "Kitty told me to keep my pants on."
X23 let a single chuckle escape before turning and walking to the door. She looked over her shoulder and was quiet for a moment before looking back out the door. "Good night." With that, she flipped the lights off and closed the door behind her.