"Lets just say the one who kicked my ass spared my shirt no mercy either," she scowled hearing Logan snicker. Serenity looked over to Logen. "Blink is amazing, if she wanted she could take us to the moon and back, I wouldn't recommend it, but it can be done. Magneto wanted her a while back, but she was rescued by the Morlocks.
She jumped at his instant rise in fury and then calmed once she heard his voice soften. Was Creed opening up to her? She wouldn't push this fabulous luck, even Charles had trouble getting him to crack. "No of the X-men think you're dumb. Blob ? Definately. Juggernaut ? Maybe. But We don't think you're dumb. There was once a time where our bosses worked together. Despite all the things the Brotherhood has put us through, Charles still wanted to offer you help. You don't have ride on being seen as this big dumb killer. I know you're not dumb you've lived a long life. In fact, you can quote me on this but Serenity's called you a 'cunning, coniving, son of a' ...well lets just say you're not the poster villian for stupidity. Yes you have strength. Yes you have agility, but you don't have to solely depend on those. You, Serenity, and Logan are no different. Logan is just as animalistic as you, and Serenity at one point shared your same lust for death and blood. Charles helped them, that's why she spared you. And you've spared her before which proves you're not the monster you like people to believe you to be," She was getting teary eyed. She sounded just like Charles for a moment. Goddess was he needed right now."Even with Charles gone, you're still welcome to the mansion,"
Logan tried very hard to force his face into a serious expression, but was able to nod convincingly at Serenity's description of Blink. "I'm not sayin' I don't believe you," he said, defending himself, "This Blink person sounds serious."
Sabretooth paused for a moment, then shook his head, rolling his eyes.
"If I'd wanted the old geezer's help, I would've come to your little mansion by now. You just said I wasn't stupid - why do you think I've been here this whole time?" He shut up after that, leaning silently against the wall. He knew the girl was trying to evoke some kind of pity or sympathy, but he wasn't going to fall for it.
She smiled. "Blink is a young girl, actually--" "Serenity!!!" A young blue girl with blonde hair hugged her. "You came to see me like you said you would!" Marrow smiled. Serenity looked at her. "You doubted me?" "Marrow said not to hold my breath," "Oh really?" Serenity looked over at Marrow who quickly looked away. "Well I'm here," Looking up at the brawny, rugged man, Blink gulped, tugging Serenity's wrist. "Is that your boyfriend?" The question completely caught her off surprise and she began coughing histerically. "He's hardly a boy," She rubbed her throat which oddly hand't healed from the healers powers. "Oh, so then the other animal man is your boyfriend?" "What?" "The tall blonde one, the one you kneed in groin--" "Okay Marrow that's enough honey," Marrow laughed nervously covering the young girls mouth. Serenity crossed her arms. Someone was doing some serious talking. She didn't even want to imagine the grin that could have been plastered on Logan's face.
Ororo sighed, struggling half-heartedly. "The metal is digging into me,"
"Oh, stop complaining," Sabretooth grumbled, "At least, once Magneto gets back from working on the machine, you'll have something decent to complain about."
Logan watched the reunion nonchalantly - at least, until the girl brought up the topic of him being Serenity's boyfriend. He opened his mouth to say something, but Serenity filled in the gap. Hardly a boy, indeed...
He fought the urge to laugh out loud, and managed a rather weird-looking smirk, although he snickered very pointedly once or twice.
"Me 'n' the wife gotta save a friend of ours, so we needed your help," he said, giving Serenity a "this is completely your fault" look, still supressing his laughter.
Storm sighed. What on earth could Magneto want with her. Evidently it had something to do with the weather. "What do you need my powers for?" She groaned, squirming. "If I was Serenity you'd tighten these binds," she mumbled under her breath, not really knowing if it was true or not, but wanting to annoy him for being so cruel.
Her scowl grew tighter at the word 'wife'. Neither one of them was the marrying type. Maybe Logan, in a few years, would find a pretty reincarnation of Jean. But Serenity didn't want to and would never marry. Couples marry to procreate. S.H.E.I.L.D. took that ability from her when she was very young, and they didn't do it in a kind fashion either. The plus side of the act was that she didnt have to worrying about carrying anyone's child, but that (among various other things) made her lose value as a wife. "Yes, Blink, we need you to transport us somewhere, please." The girl looked at a shirtless Serenity. "Going like that?" She broadly placed her hands on her hips, looking down at Blink." I'd take his, but he doesn't like the cold,"
Sabretooth was about to speak up, but was silenced by the arrival of Magneto. "Doing alright in there, Miss Ororo?" the older man spoke, opening the metal door with just a wave of his hand, "Now, of course, if we were dealing with Serenity, we'd keep her much more tied up...but you're more polite than she is, hmm?" The man was clearly happy about something.
"And because you're so polite, I'm offering you a choice. You can stand up and accompany me to the project room, or we can drag you there." This announcement seemed to put Sabretooth into better spirits, and he cracked his knuckles eagerly.
Logan rolled his eyes at Serenity's reaction, and muttered, "I'm kiddin', ya know." Just in case she might have not known. Serenity was sharp, but Logan never wanted to go beyond the limit of teasing her and into the realms of seriously pissing her off.
"I'm sure we can grab a jacket for you or somethin'," he said, glancing over, "You can have my shirt, too." He glanced down at his shirt, with its numerous bloodstains.
"Uh...yeah." He chewed on one of his knuckles in an idle way, "Look, we just gotta get goin'. Shirts ain't really important right now..."
More polite hmm? That was a very nice way of putting. Unable to stand the feel of metal cutting into her no longer, Ororo nodded in defeat. "I'll be a good girl," she gritted her teeth. "Only because I'd feel bad if I put your pet over there out of commission,"
"I guess your right," She turned to blink and leaned down close to her. "Blink I need you to make a portal leading to Magneto's secret lair. Okay?" Oh God, secret lair? What next? Kyrptonite?
"Okay! But you better come back and play with me! And bring your boyfriend too! He can be the Ken dolls," she smiled sweetly before she closed her eyes in concentration.
Magneto smiled appreciatevly, and in a moment, the metal uncurled from around her, dropping to the ground. Sabretooth growled bitterly at Ororo's last comment, but Magneto held up a hand and silenced him.
"If you try to pull anything, let me remind you that there is metal in the walls here, and in the floors, and in your very blood," he spoke, "So I trust you'll behave." He started the way out of the cell, signaling for Sabretooth to follow behind the woman.
Logan pulled a face at this last comment, "No, I am not a doll." But he saw that nobody was paying attention to him, and resigned himself to watching the creation of the portal like the rest of the group, looking a little sour.
Ororo resisted the urge to pout. Magneto had that affect. The same as Charles. They made you feel very infantile when they wanted to, and brought out the characteristics as well. "To where am I being escorted?" She looked around and walked slowly.
Serenity looked back at Logan. "When we get there, what goes on between me and Victor is my business? You handle Magneto," She felt that had to be said because she knew Logan and she also knew he didn't really understand what their feud was. no one did. Mystique did though, but since telling anyone wouldn't benefit her anything she kept her pretty blue lips closed. "Okay Blink, do it,"
"By Serenity! Play nice with the big monster man," With that Blink transported them.
That girl was a prophet if she ever saw one.
Magneto ignored Ororo's question for the moment, before pausing by a set of large steel doors and opening them with a dismissive wave of his hand. Stepping in, he motioned for the others to follow him, before gesturing proudly to the massive chamber spread out before them. Machines of all manner of construction lined the walls, and in the center stood a tall metal tower, rigged with wires and beams.
"What do you think?" he asked with a calm smile, "Not bad for a group of 'mutant fugitives' as the newspapers call us..."
Logan didn't have the chance to speak before the Morlock transported the two. Stumbling slightly upon arrival, he quickly straightened up, trying to get his bearings. Big monster man...right...well, at least he had been called worse.
"Right, I got that you want Vicky to yourself - just don't get your butt kicked again." He didn't relish the thought of fighting Magneto, especially since the man could toss him around like a tin can. Perhaps he could get Ororo to pitch in. Hell, Serenity never made anything easy.
"You good to go?"
"Mutant refugees? Is that all? It seems as if they were a bit nice in their labeling," She stopped. She didn't want to know what waited for her in that room. Her heart was pounding. She had to control her emotions or Magneto would think she was using her abilities on purpose. She concentrated hard. An earthquake would be anything but good at the moment. Logan... Serenity... are you guys okay?
Livid by his choice of words she decided to ignore. She needed a clear head. All the playing grounds were equal. She was healed. Victor had it coming big time. She'd never had the urge to hurt someone the way she wanted to hurt Victor, because he'd hurt her. With her hair in a braid and her mood set on 'pissed'. She was ready. Even though Blink had brought them right into the middle of the facility, no one was here, although what appeared to be a cell was open. Did Logan smell anything?
"Oh, the papers always have to be politically correct," Magneto said matter-of-factly, "Else, someone gets upset and ruins their little business with lawsuits. Human trivialities, really." He stepped over to the central machine and flipped on a switch, which caused several hidden motors to spin into action with a low "whumm".
"Get her into that," Magneto said, jerking his head at the base of the tower, where a small alcove a few feet above the floor held some kind of complex restraining device.
Logan raised his eyebrows at the distant sound of the loud machines, and sniffed the air.
"Oh yeah, we're in the right place," he nodded, jerking a thumb at the cell. "I guess they were keeping 'Roro in here, but a bunch of 'em passed by not too long ago - Vicky and Magneto and the rest." He started off down the metal corridor, being careful to be quiet.
Ororo backed up. "I'm not getting into that!" What did that thing do? It looked like anything but comfortable, but this hideout wasn't exactly hospitible either.
Serenity heard a shout and threw all pre made plans out of the window. Running towards the sound once she arrived into the room she was floored. What in the hell was he going to do to their 'Roro? So much anger flooded her blood. The calming methods Charles had taught her were becoming less and less effective. Then she saw Victor. Her control over plants and wildlife would do her no good here. But she had her pheremones and poisions. She glarred at Victor. "We have unfinished business."
Logan watched Serenity dash off calmly, following behind her at a good enough pace. He stepped into the room after her, not jumping on the revenge line as his companion had.
"What the hell is this, some kind of terrible sci-fi movie?" He waved to Magneto, "Sorry there, metal-head, but we're taking 'Roro back." He began to advance on the group, without his claws for now - Magneto could catch him off-guard at any time, so might as well start easily.
Magneto shot a glare at Sabretooth, "Do nothing until she's in the machine. Go!" He snapped, flinging a hand at the giant device, where the steel manacles clicked open and strained at their pulleys for Ororo's hands and feet.
It was go time. Snapping out of her stupor she managed to avoid the manacles, but just barely. Magneto's craftsman ship always put you through a work out."Goddess!!! It took you two long enough!"
Serenity stood before Victor calmly. Everything he'd done to her, she was going to give it back to him ten fold. "Make a move pussy cat,"
"Hey, this place is underground!" Logan protested, "Good thing Serenity had connections, eh?" He lunged at Magneto, fists extended back for a punch.
Easily flinging Logan aside across the floor, Magneto scowled angrily at Sabretooth, "Don't let your guard down! Get her into the machine!!" Somehow, he couldn't get through to his cohort.
She aimed a strong punch at his jaw that could have unhindged her elbow if she'd swung any harder. Victor and her had been feuding for a while. Who's fault it was it didn't matter. They both did things, but he started it. Did he think his fling with Mystique was funny? That she would just beg him to stop and obey him?! Two could play that game. That's where Logan came in, only... she... she didn't plan to actually grow fond of him. Victor was the only man who could relate to her, or so she thought. Victor was ruthless in his assult.She knew he could smell Logan on her, months old lust.
Storm flipped and jumped trying her damnedest to avoid those metal inventions. But they were getting quicker, almost as if they were learning. "Well why don't one of you work on becoming a transporter yourself!" Maybe they should have asked Kurt to come along.
Victor sidestepped the punch with a growl - if there was one thing he never backed down from, it was an overt threat from someone whom he could easily beat. He tossed Ororo hastily towards the machine and lunged for Serenity, a menacing smile on his face.
"Coming back for more? I didn't thrash you enough the first time?" There was more to his words than could be heard by any other person.
Logan stood up, studying the distance he'd been thrown. "Hey, 'Roro, get outta there!" he shouted, running for the central machine only to be jerked back by Magneto again. After a moment, he realized something; Magneto was only throwing him at the floor - not around the whole room like he was prone to. After a moment of thinking, the idea slid together in Logan's mind, and he dove for the nearest machine, claws sliding out like lightning in preparation to tear it up.
Screaming, Ororo hit the mass of metal with a thuddish clank. Her vision went double and her head ached. She tried to snap herself out of it but her responses were still slow.
She scowled. "You never could get the job done!" She aimed a roundhouse kick at this creature who angered her so.
Sabretooth jumped at the bait, ducking the roundhouse and aiming a low kick for Serenity's legs, no more willing to mess around. He was going to kick this girl's ungrateful butt if it was the last thing he ever did, and he wanted her to suffer for it.
Magneto, on the other hand, just barely saved one of his machines from Logan, flinging the man aside again. "You always have to be a nuisance, don't you?" he asked bitterly.
Logan leapt to his feet and made another run for the machines. I must look like some kind of brainless idiot for doin' this... he thought to himself, but in reality, he was setting up a decoy. He could see Ororo struggling by the main machine.
C'mon, get up...just hang in there...
Using her quick reflexes she countered the attack by jumping on. She pressed her lips against his, giving him some of the strong posions she could summon, flooding her tongue in his mouth. Most would be dead on contact. But he had that healing factor, so this would only slow him down.
She rubbed her head and stood up. Her sight improved, but not by much. Where where the manacles?
Sabretooth broke away as quickly as he could, falling to the floor and coughing violently, "You...damn...bitch..." He struggled to his feet, angry at himself for forgetting her powers. Yet, until his own powers kicked in, he'd just have to defend. That had been some potent poison.
Out of the corner of his eye, Logan caught Serenity and Sabretooth's fight, and slowed a bit, looking confused and a little peeved at the outcome.
Taking advantage of Logan's apparant distractedness, Magneto spun around to Ororo, levitating the manacles towards her once more, "I warned you about not fighting, my dear - now, let's get this over with..."
Shaking himself mentally, Logan sprinted for one of the machines, making Magneto's plan backfire. The man turned to stop him but not before he'd removed a good hunk of metal and wires from the device with his claws.
She braced herself for the offensive. Victor was smart enough to know what was going on. Everything Pai Mae taught her. Strength. Endurance. Ambivolence. "I think we both know who your bitch is," she scowled.
Seeing that Logan had bought her some time she avoided the now flailing metal manacles. Fog wouldn't help her right now. Water wouldn't. What about wind? She raised her arms. Her eyes glossed over.
Magneto's gaze jerked to the high metal ceiling above the machines as the air began to turn with Ororo's efforts. He didn't like being the only one against both Logan and the weather witch, but with Sabretooth's apparant disdain, he had no choice. The man would be punished later, of course. A box of heavy tools slid across the floor to Magneto and began to hurl themselves at Ororo at unbelievable speed.
Sabretooth ignored Serenity's comment, sending a vicious snarl in her direction before forcing himself to move. He circled her slowly, letting the poison leave his body. This way, he might be able to catch her by suprise if she believed he was still injured.
Logan waited until he was certain Magneto's attention had been fully absorbed by Ororo before gleefully tearing into the machine he'd already managed to mangle. Metal shrieked as it ripped and flew under Logan's claws. He pulled out some kind of complicated motor and eyed it with interest, "What the hell does this thing do?"
She aimed a back-kick right at his chin. No doubt he was already getting it out of his system. It'd be harder and harder to keep landing kisses if he kept recovering so quickly. Kisses...? God she had some uncool abilities. She'd break every bone in his body. This time he'd really have to kill her to get her to stop.
The room began to shake and a shield of lightning surrounded her as she floated in the air, making sure her sheild touched nothing. She had to hurry. Eventually Magneto's powers would exceed her own.
Sabretooth dipped low, grabbing the kick she'd aimed and twisted her leg violently in an attempt to throw her. Already he could feel his strength returning quickly, and a malicious glint grew in his eyes. If she was going to be like this, then he was going to make it miserable for her.
Magneto gave up on Ororo for the time being and concentrated on Logan, ripping the man away from the machine he'd dissected and slamming him hard against the wall. He then flung Logan straight towards the shield of lightning Ororo had generated in the underground chamber, his frustration and anger obvious on his face. All his hard work, ruined...
Logan twisted in midair, trying to avoid the lightning. "Don't drop your guard!" he shouted above the din to Ororo, "He'll throw somethin' at ya right when you stop with the lightning!"
"Are you crazy Logan?! I'm not going to let you fry!!!" She hesitated, floating back somewhat. What should she do? Logan had been through worse. He knew what he was talking about. She kept up her shield, closing her eyes.
Serenity yelped at his sudden counter. Damn it! Was she losing her touch?! Or was he evolving? Landing on her feet a little roughly, a rouge wrench collided with the back of her head, flipping her onto her back.
Sabretooth took immediate advantage of Serenity's fall, leaping across the distance to grab her arms and try to pin her to the floor.
"I'm not falling for your little kiss trick again," he grinned snidely in her face, kneeing her in the side as he did so.
Logan braced himself, but the jolt from hitting the lightning shield still knocked him fiercly down. He fell to the floor for a moment, lying still and smoking slightly, before struggling to his hands and knees. Ororo certainly didn't pull any punches, although whether he admired or hated this at the moment, he couldn't tell.
Magneto sneered at Logan, "Playing the self-sacrificing hero, hmm?" He'd have to get the man out of the way if he was going to get a chance at defeating the girl. Taking no chances, he ripped one of the large machines from the floor, something that looked like a modified turbine, and dropped it heavily on Logan.
"Recover from that while I deal with your friend." Stretching out his hands towards the top of the chamber, Magneto focused on the top of the machine, bending the magnetic waves in the metal. Nothing visible occured until bolts of Ororo's lightning began to stray, affected by the changing fields of polarity in the room.
"Logan!!!!" No.. She clinched her eyes shut struggling to fight it. But this was his field now. Screaming in defeat she let down her shield and hit the floor. Anything caught in her whirlwind dropped to the floor immediately. He was angry now. That was never good.
Her ears were ringing. Whoever threw that wrench was going to get it. Right after she stopped seeing triple. She shook her head trying to make sense of where Victor's voice was coming from and what had her pinned to the floor.
Magneto smiled as Ororo returned to the group - the advantage had turned in his favor just a tiny bit. "Are you giving up?" he asked, voice laden with superiority, "Or do you have something more to throw at me?" Two metal plates from the ruined machines hovered in the air around him, acting as moving shields. Years of practice, and Magneto had completely mastered his craft.
Seeing the girl shake her head, Sabretooth grinned and hit her across the face.
"What's the matter, huh?" he teased, "Something wrong, little girl?" The position of superiority made him feel ten times better - he felt electrified by the fight, completely ignoring the last lingering effects of the poison.
Logan pushed up against the machine pinning him to the ground, then fell back after a moment. He tried to catch his breath, then gritted his teeth and shoved again. This time, the effect was more noticable - the machine wobbled, rolling a little to the side.
Storm rose to her feet. She watched him closely, paying attention to her surroundings. He's was only warming up. The entire X-men as a team had trouble being him down to his feet so how in the blue heavens could she do this by herself? She thought for a minute. Snow. Clouds began to form and a cyclone engulfed her, acting a bit of protection.
Serenity groaned feeling as if her face had been broken. Victor always was rough. "Get off me!" she head butted him hard enough to make her ears ring again. His hit cut her lip, she could taste the coppery liquid.
Magneto eyed the snow with amusement, ignoring the sudden change in temperature. Ororo, it seemed, could only fight in defense for now. Some of the tools from before floated back beside him, and morphed themselves into brutally sharp spears, slicing through the odd weather straight for the cyclone in the middle. Magneto had no doubt his own powers could trump the woman's any day.
Sabretooth growled in response to the headbutt - it had been powerful, but not enough to fell him completely. He hit her again, keeping her pinned solidly to the floor.
"Maybe we can bury you in the snow here," he suggested, shaking beads of sweat from his face, "How would you like that?" He was back to toying with her again.
Logan finally managed to shove the heavy machine off him, and waited on the ground for a few moments for the worst of his wounds to heal. He stood and glanced around the room - who to help, Ororo or Serenity? Serenity had told him not to butt in, but she didn't look in a place for arguments...but Magneto was the mastermind - without him, Sabretooth would go down easier - He darted off towards Magneto, using the snow as a cover, again hoping for distraction.
