(Six)
Logan was drunk, more drunk than he could ever remember. It had taken quite an effort, but he had finally achieved his goal. He sat on his bike in the garage, wondering for the first time if he was actually too drunk to drive out of here. He barely registered that he wasn't alone, Karen had slipped into the garage from the house.
"Don't go," she whispered.
He responded by firing up the bike. It was monstrously loud after the quiet stillness of the early morning.
She came to him anyway, not the least bit frightened by his condition. "If you must go, don't stay away long." She leaned in and kissed him, the first time she had been brave enough to try.
Logan tore away from her, unable to stop a tear that leaked out of one eye. He didn't dignify it by wiping it away, but said in a raspy, dry voice, "I ain't nuthin' but trash, darlin'. I'm the worst there is. I fuckin' kill people and hurt anyone who's ever come close to me. I don't know what's goin' round that pretty little head of yours but I don't love you! I ain't capable of it! Forget about me!" He gunned the bike and took off in a cloud of exhaust and rage.
"Liar," she whispered softly, wrapping her arms around herself.
She had grown to know Logan pretty well over the past few days. Knew him well enough to see his pain. She had read his writings in the notebook he had given her, surprised by the intelligence there. He was a perceptive man and expressed himself easily, at least on paper. The most informative notes had been the ones he had written the night they had returned from the warehouse. He had given her the book just an hour ago and she had skipped all the way to the back, hoping to learn what had happened there. He gave no details, but she found this note he left for her.
Kimble's all broken now, smashed down from my words and my anger. I didn't mean for it to happen, it's just that once he got me started, I just couldn't stop this sick anger that's been trapped up inside of me for so long. He's not bad, he ain't a monster though I called him that. He found out about me, just like Anya said. I gave him my rage and watched him die. Whatever happens now, this is all my fault. I ain't gonna try and hide from it. I'm leavin' cause I just can't stay no more. I can't. It ain't safe ta be around me. I'm gonna hurt somebody and I've caused too much pain around here already. Don't know when I'll be back. I know ya like me. Save it fer someone who deserves that kind of carin'. I'm the freak and the monster. Death and claws, that's all I'm about. All I'm ever gonna be. Good luck to ya, darlin'.
Logan.
Karen wasn't about to be fooled by his request, that was the pain talking. When he returned, they would talk. No more fooling around, she was in love, no doubt. Clearly the guy needed some work, but she was up to it. She was patient.
(break)
Karen shut off the light and left the garage, never seeing the shadow of a man who eased himself around her location with stealth and cunning. He had been hiding under one of the cars, waiting for them to leave. Logan was too drunk and angry to smell him when he came in here before. Joseph watched her leave and then bolted out the open garage door, smiling now with excitement.
He had snuck out of the Mansion with an ease he hadn't expected. It seemed the residents of the house had been distracted by other things and the security panel being taken out by Wolverine was an unexpected gift. He was weak from starvation and more than a little mad, but he had known an opportunity when it was hand delivered like that. There had to be something better out there than a holding cell. If it was death, so be it. He cared not. Henry had underestimated his ability to work the restraints. It hadn't taken him long to unfasten them telekinetically and slip away.
It was still quite dark out and he bolted across the lawn, exhilarated by his new found freedom. He wouldn't have gotten far, there were motion sensors and cameras in place all over the yard to detect intruders, but it didn't matter, he never got out far enough to set off any of the alarms. He had no time to duck as he was grabbed roughly from behind by a winged man he didn't recognize. He wouldn't have anyway. This was no X-man, this one belonged to Jael. Jael was no fool, he had the house watched as soon as he had learned of Kimble's affiliation with Xavier. He had wanted information and grabbed the first unprotected unfortunate to leave the house.
Joseph snarled and tried to fight but he was no match for this warrior of the sky. He dangled at this man's mercy for a few harrowing minutes as they traveled rapidly into town. He was rudely dumped onto the roof of a Salem Center warehouse. He fell hard on his ass and tried to move away.
"Nice catch, Marcus," Shakra purred, coming into the light. She was here with a couple of friends. They had been expecting an X-man a little higher up on the totem pole, but this one would do.
"Thanks, baby," he answered, ruffling his brown feathered wings with happiness. Joseph looked up at him, seeing his captor more clearly now. Marcus was tall and lean, dressed sharply in a navy cavalry shirt. He was odd looking, having grown a Mohawk with a long ponytail for fun. Joseph had never seen anyone who looked like him.
Razel leered at Joseph and recognized his tattoos for the Clan markings they were. He had never been to Cerise but Jael spoke of it often, usually as an object lesson of how mutants keep getting the shaft. Jael would never get over being passed by for a normal human. Razel took a step closer and teased, "Little mouse, little mouse, do tell? Have you seen any pilots lately? You know, ones with really big tattoos? Don't be lying now, we've got girls here who can bite."
Joseph trembled, unable to move. He was woefully outclassed and he was here all by himself. Valentin was gone, he was unprotected. "Yeah. So what? Kimble's nothin' but a freak and a loser!" he shouted as all of his fear left him. He was going to die. So what? He would not be denied the warrior's death his Master had lost. He scrambled to his feet and held up his fists, unable to hide his intense trembling and fear.
Shakra stepped closer, freaking him out by her ghastly appearance. As odd looking as the winged Marcus had been, Shakra was like nothing else. She was covered with soft purple spikes and not even close to human. She circled him, licking her lips. "So pretty, this mouse. Want some cheese?"
He bolted and she spiked him with her needle like barbs, watching him tumble bonelessly down to the ground with satisfaction, another prize for Jael. Marcus gathered him up and they all collected around Razel, touching him with their hands. Razel's only weakness was that he could teleport only those things in contact with his body. He laughed and they winked out of view as if they never had been.