Disclaimer: Several new characters are mine, including the plot. X-Men belongs to Marvel and Fox.
Kimenomi: I'll say this now, its not Roxanne no, she is certainly dead. Read on and eventually you will be graced with just who this person is. I'm glad you liked the fight, and you will certainly get some fighting scenes.. there will be a lot of inter-X-Men clashes in the next story P
Sych77: Yup, female! Yes, that is no secret – it is the person who wasn't clapping, also the person Logan got a glimpse of earlier in the crowd of the bar. He still hasn't seen her face. I'd imagine biting your tongue enough to draw blood in excruciating.. certainly major-ouchies! Lol. And Logan's not evil! He's our lil cooie coo! o.o
Omala: Updated!! Hehe. Read on to find out who it is! Glad you liked it – I love writing fights scenes.
SqurrielSlaveDriver: New reviewer! Hello! Lol, I have updated!
Kjl24: Yeah, I liked the fight scene. Hehe, it was a good line wasn't it? Effectively it is true.. kinda..
Blix: Thanks! You'll find out any minute now!
Chapter 45A frown deepened upon Logan's brow when he heard the voice. A female opponent? You gotta be kidding.. Logan's head spun around as he searched through the crowds of audience trying to pinpoint which woman had spoke. All were still waving their arms and cheering, Logan couldn't identify which one had spoke, until he saw a small form manoeuvring through the crowd of people towards the awaiting ringleader who had positioned himself in front of the gate as if to block entry.
Logan's brow immediately lifted when his eyes zoned in upon her. It was the same person who he had seen earlier, slipping in secretively, not applauding like her fellow watchers. He remained at his corner of the cage, one hand half in a coat pocket as he had tried to select a Corona through the bars of the cage. He had stillened in his movement as he stared at the woman.
The cheers appeared genuine enough, but once she had called out to volunteer she could hear hearty laughter mingling in, jeers and mockery. She walked slowly down the steps of the seating area, kicking various rubbish out of her path impassively. The commentary had silenced from the ringleader, who presumably looked on in shock, she did not know, she kept her hooded head bowed. The months were colder; a long coat covered her yet even indoors the hood was slipped over her head, as if shielding herself from something. With one last step she reached the cage side, her head ultimately rising to view the ringleader disdainfully.
"You gotta be kiddin'?" asked the ringleader quietly to the female, microphone moved away from his mouth. But it made no difference; Logan could hear the ringleader just as clearly.
Logan had selected a valuable cigar and had since lit it whilst watching the woman arrive at the cage. He drew on it slowly, watching from his position. When the woman raised her head to the ringleader, Logan inhaled too suddenly, cigar smoke twirling into his nostrils, the sensitivity triggering a few coughs as he stared in utter shock. She was just a kid! Warm chocolate eyes stared up at the ringleader, mouth twitched into an unsure grimace. But her brow was furrowed determinedly, eyes warm, but sneering at the ringleader.
"I'm not kidding," came her voice, denying her innocent appearance. It was sharp and clear.
The ringleader remained blocking her path, "Kid, he'll tear you to pieces.."
"You asked for a volunteer to fight him.." she replied sternly with narrowed eyes, "I volunteer."
Logan remained watching with raised eyebrows. He admired her courage and determination.. but also feared it. Why was she so confident?
"Look, honey. That guy is pretty powerful.."
She shook her head, arms rising to pull back her hood, "Don't worry," she said calmly, her hair spilled from the confinements of her hood, a beautiful gleam of jazzily flicked auburn hair
"Kid!" the ringleader cried, "That guy is the Wolverine! He's gonna slaughter you!"
She turned gently in silence, slipping easily under the man's arm and into the cage, she closed it with a press of her boot's sole, and it clanked heavily. The ringleader spun to the gate, staring at her, "As long as no compensation claims come a foot near me.
The woman rolled her eyes gently, "Whatever you say."
Logan lowed his cigar slowly, resting it in a provided ashtray. He studied the girl from his position, becoming highly suspicious. The ringleader didn't make any energetic comments, he was merely watching intently. Logan looked from the ringleader to his new opponent. When was somebody going to pull her out? They couldn't be serious..
The audience surrounding them seemed to like the idea of such a ridiculous fight, eagerly chanting, "Fight!"
"No way.." murmured Logan as he looked over the chanting crowd. He looked slowly back to the girl, frowning, "No way.." he repeated.
The girl's posture raised elegantly, hands running down the buttons of her long coat that hid most of her torso frumpily. She was serious about this. Her eyes locked upon his as she opened her coat, the slow motion suddenly speeding and she whipped her arms free and spun the coat to one side of the cage floor. Logan's eyes instantly widened.
The innocent demeanour vanished – that young girl was no more.
A tantalising smile overtook her lips as her coat was removed – revealing an unusually tasteful attire of a fitting emerald waistcoat – styled to that of a halter-neck, the front fastened by gold coloured buttons. Hips onwards bore straight-fitting black trousers that held to her waist by a brass buckled belt. Her bare arms bent and flexed slowly as the woman stood in front of him, her head cocked coyly as she watched him with an inquisitive yet derisive expression.
The ringleader eventually began to speak, though less animatedly, "Ladies and gentlemen.. a first here in Laughlin City. A female volunteer.." he made a subtle sigh before continuing, "Wolverine has a new opponent.." he fell quiet as he questioned the woman on her name.
The woman's lips shifted to that of a plush berry-tinted smirk, "Hellion.." she said in a soft tone. But Logan heard it.
".. by the name of.. Hellion!" his voice had rose slightly, he had to keep the money coming in, "Carlos has been coming round for the bets.. is everybody ready? Righto.." He then added in undertone, "Kid, are you sure? He's never lost a match!"
"Well tonight.." she said softly, "that's about to change."
He still couldn't do this.. he couldn't fight her. Logan straightened his posture slowly; stretching his torso lightly, bare chest gleaming in the beams of light that spilled over the cage. He walked slowly towards the woman, intending to talk her out of this. The women stepped forward out of the shadows and into the main focus of light, her appearance becoming clearer, eyes glinting, "Darlin'," he murmured quietly as he crept towards her, "You're mad. I don't wanna hurt you."
The audience continued to scream their chant of bloodthirsty approval, hands and feet slapping in an ominous beat.
The commotion to his senses was luring him into the fight. The continuous reign of the mantra spinning around his brain, the stomping in time with his heartbeat. The smell of blood and sweat was sending his adrenaline into a frenzy, desperate to cause bloodshed. His seemingly weaker opponent ensnaring him and spinning his hormonal urges into a terrific whirlwind of testosterone.
He was very close to her now, too close to even throw a decent punch. But he didn't want to hurt her, he wanted her to see sense.
But her eyes softened as if paying attention; before she let out a sly laugh and sprung back from him into an alarmingly sudden and careful back flip. The tip of her right boot struck him on the jaw. Logan made an incoherent grunt as he stumbled a little, blinking in surprise at the slight pang of pain at his jaw line. Hellion, again to his surprise had landed neatly in her original position by the cage gate, she was smirking widely, nimble hands settling on her hips, "Come on.." she said playfully, a finger beckoning him.
Logan almost felt like drifting over to her side, following the woman's every order. He stopped halfway in a flirtatious smile before he frowned again, "I cannot fight you," he hissed.
"Very well, but I can fight you,"
Logan kept alert eyes upon her, expecting her to run towards him in some form of charges, but instead she ran to the left hand side of the cage. She leapt from the floor, hands clasping the bars as she scurried to the top of the vertical wall and shuffled elegantly along using hands and feet. She came closer she dropped down via two hands, swinging her lower torso towards him to strike a double kick at his face. Logan had been watching in a puzzled way at her unusual ability to scour vertical slopes so easily, so the strikes caught him by surprise and he staggered again, this time giving a growl.
I must not hit her. I must not hurt her.
Hellion jumped from the bars and grabbed Logan by the back of his neck, wheeling him round to throw him into the bars of the cage. Logan did indeed fall that way before his gaze hardened and he suddenly spun, a hand grabbing her next punch, arm then blocking an intended kick rising to his face. With an annoyed growl her leg lowered back to the floor after merely striking his arm. Her other foot rose and pressed into his gut to prise him from her limbs.
Logan eventually let her go and dropped back a little, shaking his arms as he clenched his fists. She was pushing his anger levels. Continuing with the plot to not actually hurt her but amend to her wishes, he threw light-hearted punches at her, speedily done, but slowed greatly when they actually made contact with her.
Just gentle. I must not hurt her.
As Hellion hopped lightly from foot to foot to adjust balance, her expression changed to a dark scowl. She could see his gentle methods, and she didn't like him going easy on her. With a sudden twist she sprung back along the cage bars, sprinting along expertly before spinning down to grab Logan around the neck by a thigh, knee bent and trapped his neck between her thigh and calf. She held onto the roof of the bars by two hands, expression showing she was using little effort.
With a surprised cough Logan found his throat becoming crushed by strong muscle. His hands rose to the leg that trapped him, trying to pull her away before he was driven into unconsciousness. But Hellion dropped away, just as he felt his vision dotting by unusual sparkles. He stumbled a little as the dizziness swam around his brain. He dazedly took a slap to the face, a kick to the gut, which caused him to double over with heave of a grunt. The blood began seeping from his lip again, trickling out of his mouth and along the side of his chin.
Shit.. Don't make me react.. please..
Once he was doubled over Hellion grabbed him by the neck, striking him down to the floor and pinning him. As Logan's vision slowly focused into clarity he stared up at a pair of warm brown eyes staring down at him, fleck of a mysterious green dotting the shade. He felt himself inhale sharply before pushing her off. She didn't go far and struck his face again, pinning him down by the neck. Logan felt his eyes draw back to hers, but he didn't retaliate to the pressure at his neck, he just focused on her gaze.
His attention spun back to the reality as he heard the ringleader suddenly shout ecstatically, "Can it be true? The Wolverine has been grounded for 10 seconds, and that makes a new champion. Hellion is the winner!!!"
Logan felt her weight leave him, her footsteps moving away. Remaining on his back on the floor he turned to watch her walk away to collect her coat. He eventually lifted his head from the floor with a quiet groan; he could hear the jeers already.
"He lost to a girl!"
"Oh my God, this is just incredible."
"And that's the guy who beat Hacksaw?"
"Jeez, what a wimp."
At least he hadn't injured her.. he felt compelled to not injure women unless in genuine defence.
Logan slowly stood to his feet. He hadn't lost.. he just.. became entranced. The woman.. what was her name? Hellion? That woman had an advantage over men. The Wolverine never became entranced by males that were for sure. Damn animalistic mind. Women were dangerous..
But at least he hadn't hurt her. That spun around his mind continuously to console his defeat. Although he didn't fight back.. if he had have done.. he would have regretted it.
www(dot)freewebs(dot)com/tpftp