Gifts and Curses
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "By the by, this moment is so great that I would cheat on that other moment with it, marry it, and raise a family of tiny little moments"
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Well, have another rule, we can no longer reply to reviews, which is a bit of a bum, because I like answering questions. So, if you have any questions about my fic, please email me, and I can answer them for you. This kinda puts a dumper on the Seren series, don't it? When I get back, I'm going to have to re-submit the lot, without the review answers in them. Drat.
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Chapter 18 – Double curse
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Later that night, in the Danger Room, Hrimhari snarled from where he stalked. around in this new confined space. Luckily, Patronete had arrived before he woke up, and so got him into the Convex-Polarity-Reversal cage in time.
"You can't keep me locked in here", he snarled.
"Oh, but we can", smirked Logan.
"It's kidnapping!", snapped Hrimhari, "I am from a wealthy family, this will not stand!"
"Lemmie put it this way", said Logan, "you stay with Dr. Patronete here, like a good werewolf, an' you don't go to S.H.I.E.L.D an' have a silver bullet shot through your heart for murder"
"It's not like I have much of a choice, is it?", grumbled Hrimhari.
The doors opened as Rahne walked in, her eyes narrowing at the sight of Hrimhari, a growl rising in her throat.
"Easy, Wolfie", said Logan, "I know you want his blood, but he is caged"
"Best place for him", said Rahne, then turned to look at the werewolf, "Why did you do it?"
"He was a rival for you", said Hrimhari then smirked, "you deserved to be with one of your own kind, not some skinny, lanky farm boy…looks like I won"
"Actually", said Rahne with a smirk of her own, "ye didn't. He lived"
"WHAT!", snarled Hrimhari, "impossible! I gutted him, I broke his stupid little hick neck!"
"Turns out, Mr. know-it-all", said Rahne, "Sam's immortal"
"Immortal?"
Hrimhari paused, considering this.
"Immortal", he repeated, "well, there has never been one of us that is completely immortal before, close, but not quite…..this could be interesting"
"What do ye mean?", snarled Rahne.
"Temper, temper", chuckled Hrimhari, "you better read up on your werewolf lore"
"What does he mean?", asked Rahne, looking at Patronete in confusion.
Patronete sighed.
"It is how the werewolf virus is passed on", he explained, "you see, there are two types of werewolf, Alpha and Beta types. The Betas are the main wolf, gaining their abilities through curse, this curse is usually genetic, as in Hrimhari's case, he inherited the curse from his grandfather"
"What does this have to do with Sam?", asked Rahne.
"Alpha types", said Patronete with a frown, "are those that have been bitten by a Beta type werewolf. They aren't as strong as the Beta, nor do they pass on the werewolf virus genetically, but they are still, by all right and purposes, werewolves"
Rahne blinked, trying to take this in.
"You're telling me he's turned Sam into….one of him?"
"If he bit him", nodded Patronete.
"Oh I did", chuckled Hrimhari, "I mauled him"
"Oh goodie", said Logan sarcastically, "that's all we need, Sam turning into a bloodthirsty monster once a month!"
"Well, it's nae going to be any easier on Sam, either, ye know", said Rahne, then sighed, "I'll talk tae him"
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Meanwhile, the rest of Freedom Force were still waiting for Bobby.
"Bored, bored, bored", sighed Terrel, "is it just me, or is it boring here?"
"Hey, just 'cause you're a speedster doesn't mean you can moan about things taking time", said Lila, then sighed, "Bobby's having a hard time"
"Oh yeah, boo-hoo for you man", said Terrel.
"Will you two quit it!", snapped Shan, "you're giving me a headache"
"They sound normal around here", said Tabby with a smirk, walking over, "actually, they're pretty tame"
"Yeah, I gathered", said Shan, then sighed, "I hope that little guy is okay…I didn't mean to upset him"
"Who? Shortpack?", Tabby made a 'phfft' sound, "he'll bounce back, he always does"
She gave a smile, offering a hand.
"I'm Tabitha Smith", she said, then grinned, "and you're Karma, right?"
"You..know me?", asked Shan.
"Sure, heard Icecube talk about you", smiled Tabby, "so, you seeing anyone?"
"That was blunt", commented Terrel, earning a GLARE from Shan
"Well…errr…no", she said, turning to look at Tabby, blushing slightly.
"Cool!", grinned Tabby, "we should go out sometime. I'm always up for a bit of…fun"
Shan coughed, blushing some more, a little taken aback by the much more open to anything Tabby.
"Yeah…sure…okay"
"Shanny's got a daaa-te", smirked Terrel.
"Don't make me hit you", said Shan warningly.
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"I'm a werewolf!"
Rahne winced.
"Sam, Sweetie, it dosnae change the fact of it if ye yell louder", she said.
"Or multiple times", added Bobby, "man, it sucks to be you, don't it?"
"Well, a'h died, came back to life, found out a'hm immortal and found out ah'm a werewolf", said Sam, then added dryly, "this is a super-fun-happy-day for me"
"Oh come on, it's can't be that bad", said Bobby.
"Bobby, every full moon, ah'm gonna turn into a destructive, killing machine, which happens to be immortal", said Sam, "point out the 'not bad' part"
"Well….", Bobby thought, "you can Rahne have something in common, now. Think of the, ahem, fun you guys could get up to on a full moon"
"Assuming a'h don't try to kill her", muttered Sam.
"Ye won't", said Rahne reassuringly.
"How do we know?", asked Rahne, "Hrimhari is off his rocker!"
"He's got a point, said Bobby, then clicked his fingers together, "from what I've seen from those cheesy horror movies, there's a cure…..but you're not gonna like it"
"Try me", said Sam.
"Well, you see", said Bobby, "you have to kill the werewolf that bit you…and…err..eat his heart"
"WHAT!"
"I told you, you weren't going to like it", said Bobby, "it's not like the silver bullet thing would work on you"
"Great, just great!", said Sam, "so a'hm stuck with this!"
"Bein' a wolf is nae that bad, Sam", said Rahne, "it's quite an eye-opener, actually, tae just let go to the whole animal instinct thing"
"Bow chica wow", smirked Bobby.
"Shut up, Bobby", the pair said in unison.
"Sorr-ieee", said Bobby, then smirked, "Well Sammy, looks like they're going to have to give you a new codename. 'Wolfsbane II' is too cheesy. How 'bout 'Cannonwolf'? Nah, too '80s. How about...no, you need a G-rated codename. 'Howling Projectile'? Nah, too complicated. Codenames should be simple. Or maybe..." (1)
"….You're hilarious, Bobby, no really, you are", said Sam dryly.
"Thank you", grinned Bobby, taking a bow, 'I also do weddings, anniversaries and birthday parties"
Rahne chuckled, shaking her head in amusement.
"Still got a sense of humor hidden beneath that cold exterior I see", she smirked.
"Yeah, but don't go spreading it around", smirked Bobby, "I have a reputation to keep"
He sighed, standing up.
"I better talk to Xavier before I leave", he said, "..I feel kinda lousy for snapping at him"
"Good luck", said Rahne with a smile, "and…thanks, Bobby."
"Yeah, it was great seeing you again", said Sam, "…a'h mean it"
"Yeah…I know", said Bobby quietly, heading back into the mansion.
He took a deep breath as he knocked on the door, opening it up.
"Professor?"
Instead of Xavier, he found Toby sitting quietly in one of the chairs. The five year old turned his head to the door.
"You're new", he said, "….who are you?"
Bobby blinked.
"…Well…I haven't been here for a long time, if that's what you mean", he paused, "…how did you do that"
"I can tell people by their footsteps and breathing", said Toby simply, "I don't recognize your voice"
"Oh..sorry", said Bobby, "I'm…err…Bobby"
"Oh, you're Bobby", said Toby.
"Yeah", Bobby cleared his throat, "sorry for, y'know…the crazy stuff"
"I was one", said Toby, "I don't remember it. No worries, no permanent damage done"
"Oh…good", Bobby blinked, "you seen the Professor?"
"I don't see anyone", said Toby with a fanged smirk, "he's out, he said he'd be back in a few minutes"
"Ok", Bobby arched a brow, "it's three in the morning, isn't it a bit past your bedtime?"
"I was asleep", said Toby, "but I'm blind, not deaf, you guys made enough noise to wake the dead"
"Oh…yeah", Bobby chuckled, sitting next to him, "guess so, sorry about that"
"Gives me an excuse to be nosey anyway", shrugged Toby, then turned his head in Bobby's direction, "why'd you come back? I thought the others didn't like you"
"Most of them still don't", sighed Bobby, "but I dunno why, really…I was helping Rahne"
"That was ages ago", said Toby, "you could have left when you brought her but you didn't"
He smiled.
"I think you cam here to clear you conscience", he said, "maybe even just get things off your chest. Try to mend things that have been broken"
Bobby arched a brow.
"….You're incredibly insightful for a five year old blind kid", said Bobby, "and you use a lot of big words".
"I know", said Toby with a shrug, "Dad says it's never to early to gain a good vocabulary"
"….Yeah", Bobby chuckled, "I can see Mr. McCoy saying that"
"You know Hank, he likes things to remain articulate"
Bobby turned as Xavier wheeled in. Toby got up unfolding his cane and heading for the door.
"I'm getting out of the line of fire"
Xavier chuckled watching the youngster leave.
"He's quite a remarkable Boy, I have to admit", he said, "and full of spirit, nothing seems to upset him"
"Yeah", sighed Bobby, then glanced at his once-mentor, "I'm sorry…for snapping at you. I was just…I had a lot of anger still left, you know? I was just..tired and.."
"I understand, Bobby", said Xavier, "it's okay, you were right, perhaps I should have found a better way of dealing with you after the incident with Nightshift. I thought, perhaps, it would have been better for me to leave you, and let you find your own path"
"I'm glad you did", said Bobby quietly, "sure, I had a lot of rage and then there was S..Sapphire Twilight"
The Iceman frowned.
"But I found Freedom Force", he smiled, "and I'm happy there in L.A. I found Lila, who I love, and the rest of the team, who are like a family to me. I felt…needed. It was like a calling, y'know? Where I was meant to be"
Xavier smiled, giving a nod.
"I understand, Bobby, I'm glad you're happy where you are"
"I am", said Bobby with a small smile, "I really am"
He sighed, wincing as Terrel started making wolf whistles.
"I should go", he said, "before something crazy happens"
"I this house", chuckled Xavier, "never!"
Bobby smirked, heading out, rolling his eyes as he saw Tabby pinning Shan against the wall, kissing her passionately.
"Come on, Shan, it's home time"
Tabby pouted, pulling away.
"But…"
"We really should be getting back", said Shan, a little giddily.
"Come on, Bobby", said Lila, taking his arm, "lets go home"
"Yeah", smiled Bobby as they headed to the door, "home"
"Well, 'aint this a night fer revelations", snapped Logan, after they'd left "does anybody else feel like sharin' tonight, or can we go to godamn bed!"
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(1) – From the mind of L1701E, give him a hand!
Well, this is my last update for a week, as I'm heading off to the caravan with 7 members of my family for a week…one of us may come back dead. Do review. Until next time…