Victor closed the gates, then walked to where I stood, running my fingers through my hair. He put his hands on my shoulders and murmured, "Elena."

"What else haven't you told me?" I asked.

He looked up at the ceiling as if trying to recall. "I haven't told you my favorite color."

I rolled my eyes and turned to face him. "It's black," I said. "Now, seriously. What am I missing? Kayla. If she's not dead, where is she?"

"Oh, probably around here somewhere."

"Here?"

"Her sister was in one of those cages. Kayla's a mutant too. Didn't you know?"

"No! What's Kayla's mutation?"

"Tactohypnosis. She can influence people if she touches them."

"So, nothing with Logan…was real?"

"Oh, I dunno about that. I don't think he can be influenced to love someone. Too thick-headed."

"Reminds me of someone else I know," I muttered.

He raised and eyebrow and moved on. "Let me show you around." He took my hand and led me off. "Down here is sleeping quarters. I'm in the first on the left. You can have whichever you want."

"What, I can't stay with you?"

"I assumed you wouldn't want to."

"I haven't decided. I'm feeling very torn right now."

He shrugged. "Whatever you decide is fine with me." Discreetly, I scowled. He wasn't trying very hard to keep me close. "The showers are down that hall, and the kitchen is at the far end of that one."

"Do I get any clothes besides the ones on my back?"

"I'll go out and buy you some tomorrow. Stryker probably won't let you leave for a few days. Until tomorrow, you can borrow some of mine."

I stared at him. "You're kidding me."

"What?! It's not like I don't wash my clothes!"

"Well, no, but…"

"Speaking of, the washer and dryer are at the end of the shower hall."

"It's just, I'll look like I'm wearing the canvas of a hot air balloon in you stuff."

"I am NOT that thick!"

"Just in the head," I chuckled quietly. He growled playfully and grabbed me around the waist with one arm, spinning me around. I wriggled loose and ran towards the showers calling, "Bring me some clothes!"

"Yes, you majesty," he answered.

I got in the bathroom and shut the door, but I didn't lock it. I leaned my back against the cold metal and tried to take everything in. A part of me enjoyed this. Time with Victor. But the majority of me hated it. My time with him was going to be spent hunting down kids for Stryker to use in his sick experiments…but if it kept Nesha safe…I would endure. I jumped when Victor knocked. I got off the door and opened it. He held out a pair of black sweatpants and a black wife-beater. "I told you your favorite color was black," I said as I took the clothes from him.

"And you were right."

"Do I get socks?"

"Oh yeah. You probably don't want mine. Give me yours, I'll wash them while you're in the shower."

"In that case, take everything. I'll eventually have to wash it all anyway." I started tugging my pants and socks off. I stepped out of them and pulled my shirt off, adding it to the pile. I moved to my bra, and with an annoyed sigh, remembered that it was the one I always had trouble with. "Victor, unhook that, would you?"

"Oh, come on! I'll never be able to make myself leave if I get involved now!"

"No, seriously! I can't get it off!"

"Oh! In that case, here." I put my back to him and let him fight with the damn thing. "Geez! What's this thing made of? Glue?"

"You picked a bad day to kill Bradley. Or I picked a bad day to wear this bra." I gasped when I felt his teeth graze my back. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Biting it off," he answered, muffled by the strap in his mouth.

"Victor! If I wanted it broken, I would've done it myself!" It was too late.

I took it off and shoved it at his as he cried, "AHA! Feel the wrath of my teeth, stupid plastic thing!"

I slipped out of my underwear, then handed him the rest of my clothes. "You're pathetic," I said.

He chuckled and kissed me. "I love you too." Then he left. I smiled and got in the shower. I didn't take long. Time was wasting away. I got out and found a towel under the sink and dried off, then I reached for Victor's clothes and slid them on. I felt very self-conscious that I was without undergarments, but his stuff was loose enough that it wasn't obvious. I was without a brush, so I struck out to find one. I tentatively walked out into the hallway, the cement cold on my bare feet. Victor was nowhere in sight or sound, so I tracked him out by smell. It led me to his room. I knocked quietly. "Yeah?" he called. I pushed the door open and slid in, letting it swing shut behind me. He was sprawled out on his bed, his coat and boots in a pile on the floor. When he saw me, he sat up. "Hey, babe. You ok?"

"Uh, yeah. I was just wondering if you knew where I could find a brush."

"Well, I don't have one."

"No," I dragged out sarcastically.

He smirked up at me. "Go ask Stryker. He might have some stashed around here somewhere."

"You are really going to make me go ask that man for a hairbrush?"

"Why are you still standing here?"

"I hate you."

"I know," he said with a grin. "The sex is always better when you're mad."

I scoffed and marched back out of the room. I found my way up to the lab which was one floor above everything else. You could see it from the warehouse room. There was a wall of windows exposing people walking around in white coats and such. I meandered in and was surprised by its emptiness. I figured I should come back, but then I saw a file with Victor's name on it. I glanced around, and then quickly opened it. It looked like stuff pertaining to the adamantium. Test of some sort. They all said negative in big red letters on the bottom. "Looks like Victor won't be getting the adamantium," Stryker said from behind me.

I slapped the folder shut and whipped around. "Have you told him?"

"What do you think? I'm not about to lose my best hunter."

"I should go tell him right now. That's the only reason he hasn't killed you yet," I snarled.

"Have you forgotten our deal already, Elena? Think of Nesha every time you make a decision around here." I closed my eyes to calm down. "Can I help you with something, my dear?"

"I need a hairbrush," I forced out.

"Oh, well, I have a comb. Victor can go out and get you some thing tomorrow."

"Yeah, he said he would. Do you pay us money too? How do we afford our necessities?"

"You get a weekly allowance."

I nodded. "Can I borrow that comb?"

"Yes. Here."

I took it from him and yanked the comb through my black hair. Once the knots were gone, I handed it back. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Now remember," he touched Victor's folder, "this is our little secret."

"Yes, sir. I understand."

"Good girl."

I got out of there before I attacked the man. I jogged back to Victor's room and barged in. "You find one?" he asked without looking up.

"I had to use his personal comb."

"EWW! Is that why you smell weird?"

"Probably." I sniffed my hair. "Ugh! Fix this!"

"How?"

I walked over and climbed on the bed beside him. "Like this," I answered as I jumped atop him, straddling his stomach. I leaned down and kissed him, long and passionate. Instinctively, his hands held my face closer, and eventually started running through my hair. I sat up and sniffed it again. "Much better," I sighed. He put his hands on my hips and gently rubbed my stomach with his thumbs. I glanced down. "What?"

He puckered his lips and said, "Tease."

I smiled warmly. "Who said we were done?" I got about halfway back down to him, then sat back up again. "Is there a security camera in here?"

"I think so." I immediately scrambled off him and looked around for the light switch. When I found it, I jumped up and switched them off. Then, with a seductive purr, I leapt back into the bed.