The Boogie Man
Sequel to Kittens Have Claws, Too. Victor, Katherine, Tayla and Mystique discover the secret to helping keep female ferals alive…But will nightmares be the setback for an old friend, or will her personal Boogie Man be the one to save her soul.
I DON'T own them…at this point I wish I did…I would put them all out to pasture and go on with my LIFE…SOMEONE get Victor Creed OUT of my head. Wait, never mind. (Victor muse purring in the background as he throws back the covers on the bed…) I am going to pet the kitty while you guys enjoy the story.
Chapter 4
"Please – my Love, if not for me – than for him. He doesn't deserve this pain." Her soft voice, wracked with the pain of the poison, pleading with him. He closed his eyes; He couldn't look at her, as the claws flashed from his knuckles and deep into her heart.
Blood…dripping down his claws, hot on his hands as it flowed out of her heart, her black eyes pleading – begging him to give her mercy – their child mercy – as they grew cold and lifeless, her life blood dripping from his hands and onto the flower strewn floor. Her last whisper was his name, as he wept into her veil of black hair.
The chaos of battle around them, as he struggled uphill to reach her, her black eyes daring him to come closer as she hit him with all the power contained in that delicate body, her red hair whipping in the wind her power created. He felt the flesh stripped from his bones again and again, each step agony.
"You would die for them?"
"No – not for them. For you." He looked straight into her black eyes "For you."
Her face softened…"Save me!"
"I love you!" He said, then extended his claws and thrust them deep into her heart, her face softening and a peaceful smile crossed her face as her eyes faded to their beautiful green, her plea and peace there, as her eyes closed one last time. He held her cooling body against him and wept into her flame red hair.
The door opened behind himHe could smell Creed and the female – his mate – as they entered the room. He snarled, ready to pop his claws and attack, but the other one…the calm one forced him back…down into the darkness. He memorized their scents. He would not forget…they were keeping him from his mate, and he would not forget.
"What do you want, Creed?" He said, as he shook his head, forcing the Wolverine back into the back of his mind. They had given him incense when he asked for it and the small photo in front of him still brought tears to his eyes. It was too soon, they had been dead only six months. He shook his head again.
"I'll wait outside, Kitten." He heard Creed say softly, as he closed the door.
"What do you want?" He snarled at the woman.
"She's beautiful." Creed's mate said as she sat in the chair next to the dresser he was kneeling in front of, her voice was soft – calm, without the anger from before. "Who is she?"
"My wife." He didn't look at her, just at the picture in front of him.
"Oh my god!" She whispered. "We had no idea. I am so sorry." He could hear true regret in her voice.
"She's dead." It was said calmly, without the rage burning inside him.
"When?"
"Six months ago. Does it make a difference?" He snarled at her, not wanting her sympathy.
"It might." He snapped his head to look at her for the first time since she came into the room.
"What do you want?" He asked again.
"To talk – to try to understand you."
"What do you care?"
"Tayla is my best friend, my partner…I don't want her unhappy." She was looking at her hands in her lap, claws slipping out and back under her fingernails, almost in a nervous habit.
"Then convince her ta talk to me." He said.
"I am trying."
"What's her problem? What's she been told about me?"
"We told you already…you are her boogieman."
"But what's she been told?"
"Besides that you are some kind of monster that gets joy from harming small children and raping young girls." She said sarcastically.
"Kid…that's Creed, not me."
"Really, you should see him with the toddlers. He's a big pussy cat." He was amazed by the look on her face. She was glowing, and it was that fucking 'monster' that gave her that glow. He just shook his head.
"Sorry, can't see it."
"I know…just like Tayla can't see anything but her nightmare." He glared at her a moment, and then nodded his head.
"Got the point – so why won't she talk to me?"
"Fear, mostly. That and she is working every moment she is awake."
"Workin…on what?" He had to admit he was very curious about this woman they had forced on him.
"We have four girls, nearing their cycles, who don't have mates. I don't think Tayla can take burying another one."
"Another one?"
"We have lost five girls over the last two years. Girls we couldn't find mates for. Tayla is usually the one who stays with them, until the end, holds them, and weeps for them and with them. She says I have Victor – to hold me, but they don't have anyone…like her."
"Tell me about her…not her work…her." He said softly.
"I've known her my whole life. Our dads worked for Vic. She's about six months older than I am, we were close as kids, but when her mom died when she was about ten, her dad – well he kinda lost it for a while. Kept her close, wouldn't let her play with her friends, hardly let her out of the house. That's when the nightmares started, or at least got worse. I didn't see much of her until we were seniors in High School, after I married Vic. Her mutation hadn't developed yet, but I guess when I married Vic, her dad decided we could protect her, so he let her spend time with us. She was at our house when her claws popped the first time. She was so scared…and her father went nuts."
"What did he do?"
"He threw her out. She ended up living with us until graduation. He told her 'The Wolverine had her, and that she was no child of his.' Told her she was an 'animal' a 'monster' – I remember one day he came to the house…ripped off his shirt and showed her the scars on his chest…said she would do that to people, she wouldn't be able to control it, it was the monster that had her. She didn't sleep for a week after he left. She hasn't spoken to him since."
"What'd she do?"
"At first, when we started college she was obsessed with trying to find a way to reverse her mutation, she even tried the cure when it came out, but her body burned it off faster than it could work. She was depressed after that…the whole news coverage of Alcatraz and what happened there didn't help. She didn't watch television for months, avoiding anything that mentioned you or the X-Men. Then one day, she threw herself into what we were doing here, started working with the girls, helping develop the formulas that match the ferals by genetic type. She worked constantly; I don't think she slept for months. That year we lost our first girl. Tayla lost it…she wouldn't let us take her…bury her. It was kind of like that scene in Gone With the Wind, where Rhett won't let Bonnie go."
"Shit."
"After that it got worse. I think she had decided she was going to die, and wanted to get as much work done as possible before she did."
"What changed her mind?"
"The four girls we have. She needed more time to find them mates, and she doesn't – well she's a bit of a perfectionist, and I think she would have died feeling guilty – feeling like she had condemned them – because she lacked the courage."
"When…I mean – when did she decide?"
"Four weeks ago." He closed his eyes. They hadn't wasted any time. Mystique had called exactly four weeks ago, the first time.
"Why didn't anyone let me know something sooner?"
"You mean besides the fact that most of the people here are your enemies, or at least that's how you see us. Tayla threatened to leave…to go into hiding, if anyone contacted you. Victor threatened to lock her in her room at one point, but she reminded him that he was the one who taught her to pick locks. Myst threatened a time or two, but Tayla – well Tayla can even keep Myst in line."
"That's got ta be hard…what happened with her anyway…I thought she was Cured."
"It's temporary."
"I know that. She just disappeared after the Cure…and frankly no one has heard from her since. Her callin four weeks ago nearly scared the hell out of Ro."
"She's been here…helping with these kids. She and Vic have pretty much single handedly funded this place. It was like, after Erik betrayed her, she needed something to give herself to. She went back to him for a while, but they had a huge fight because she wouldn't tell him about us. She's afraid – afraid he will try to use us, use our kids, and after what he put her through, well she isn't going to let him hurt any of her children again."
"Her children?" He didn't know Mystique had any kids.
"Well, I was shocked when I found out Myst and Vic have a child – and she has another one. He doesn't know she's his mother, and she refuses to tell him. Says he's happy the way he is, and it would just mess him up if he knew. She sees the children here, especially the little ones as her children. Believe it or not, she's a really good mother."
"What about you?"
"Not one yet. Vic – well he wants a cub, bad. He's so silly about the little ones, he spends hours in with them, letting them crawl all over him, pull his hair, and he's always sad when he leaves them, I think because he can't take them with him. It's strange, but I think he NEEDS a cub more than I do. It's kind of like watching a pride of lions. The females are off working, and the male is taking care of the kids."
"Never would have thought Creed liked kids."
She just gave a little smile. "Never would have thought you could have a civilized conversation." He glared at her, a little of the hostility was back in her voice.
"Well, I can…Creed can like kids, and be a good husband, evidently. Shocking – but hey, not any of my business." He looked back at the picture on the dresser. Mariko had wanted the baby so badly. So had he. He could still feel their blood on his hands. He looked down at the clenched fists in his lap.
"I want to talk to her."
"I am trying to talk her into it. She says it's a waste of her work time."
"Tell her, if she'll talk to me, I will find a way for you to access the Institute database. We have a fairly large catalog of mutants with their genetic information. Maybe she can find mates for your girls there."
"You'd do that?" She looked at him in shock.
"Listen, Katherine – she's my mate. She's goin' ta have ta get used to me, I don't understand everything you guys are doin here, but it seems ta be helpin…I don't see why we can't help ya, but not until I can talk ta her."
"Don't you think you should discuss this with your 'team'?" She asked.
"I'll take care of that. You get my mate ta talk ta me."
"I'll try."
He just nodded, his eyes focusing on the picture again. He took a deep breath and let his body relax. She stood and walked to the door.
"I am truly sorry for your loss, Logan. It might make a difference to Tayla…help her see you as something other than the monster she grew up on."
He didn't say anything; he didn't even hear the door open or close. Mariko's voice filled his mind.
"Please – my Love, if not for me – than for him. He doesn't deserve this pain." Her soft voice, wracked with the pain of the poison, pleading with him. He closed his eyes; He couldn't look at her, as the claws flashed from his knuckles and deep into her heart.
Blood…dripping down his claws, hot on his hands as it flowed out of her heart, her black eyes pleading – begging him to give her mercy – their child mercy – as they grew cold and lifeless, her life blood dripping from his hands and onto the flower strewn floor. Her last whisper was his name, as he wept into her veil of black hair.
The chaos of battle around them, as he struggled uphill to reach her, her black eyes daring him to come closer as she hit him with all the power contained in that delicate body, her red hair whipping in the wind her power created. He felt the flesh stripped from his bones again and again, each step agony.
"You would die for them?"
"No – not for them. For you." He looked straight into her black eyes "For you."
Her face softened…"Save me!"
"I love you!" He said, then extended his claws and thrust them deep into her heart, her face softening and a peaceful smile crossed her face as her eyes faded to their beautiful green, her plea and peace there, as her eyes closed one last time. He held her cooling body against him and wept into her flame red hair.
Her green eyes stared up at him, terror filled and pleading, begging him to stop.
"Mark me – please. Let me save you." He whispered.
She screamed, her claws piercing his side, as her eyes rolled back inside her head and she collapsed. He could feel her body responding, but she wasn't there. She was so beautiful, her dark skin contrasting with her silken red hair and green eyes. He collapsed on top of her unconscious body, spent, tears rolling into her sea of red hair on the pillow..
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Kitten came out of the room. He slipped his arms around her, and just let her rest against him.
"What'd he say?"
"He wanted to talk to her, finally." She said.
"Who's the woman?"
"What woman?"
"In the picture."
"His wife."
"WHAT!" Runt was married. Well that threw a wrinkle into things.
"She's dead. She died six months ago."
"Fuck. Damn it, Kitten, ya got me feelin sorry for the damned Runt."
She just leaned against him. Something else was bothering her, but she would tell him in time. He just stroked her back, and let her rest. They had so few of these moments of peace, he wasn't going to take it away until she was ready to move.
"Well, we can't have that, now can we?" She finally asked, looking up at him, mischief in her eyes.
"Have what?"
"You feeing sorry for the Runt."
"It'll pass, but you OWE me for it."
"What do I owe you?"
"I don't know, we'll think of something." He leered down at her. He liked it when she got playful like this.
"I was thinking…a cub."
"WHAT! Are you serious?" Playful nothing…she was offering him what he needed most.
"Victor!" He could see the surprise in her face. She hadn't expected him to become so serious.
"Baby…more than anything I want a baby…a part of you and me, I know it's supposed to be you that gets this parental instinct but damn it, I dream about it."
"You never told me. You have teased, and asked but never told me that." She leaned against his chest again, her arms tightening around his waist.
"You were so set against it, I didn't want ta push." He whispered against her hair. One of the girls walked by, a silly grin on her face as she watched them cuddle in the hall. He just smiled back at her.
"I am just so scared. What if it's a girl? What if we can't find her a mate? I couldn't bear to watch my own child die. It's hard enough watching these girls, I love every one of them, but my own…it would kill me Victor."
"We'll find her a mate, and it could be a boy. I can hope for a girl…who looks like her mother…and I'll find her a mate if it kills me, and gut him if he touches her before she's ready." He felt Katherine chuckle against his chest.
"You are insane, Victor Creed."
"Maybe…but you made me that way." She snuggled against his chest a few more minutes.
"I need to go talk to Tayla, try to get her to talk to him."
"Hey…can't we practice for that cub you promised."
"Not now…besides my cycles should start in a day or so…you will get lots of practice then."
"But I want to practice NOW!"
"Victor! Later, right now – well let's just say he has an offer I don't think she can refuse." She slipped out of his arms and started down the hall. He watched her, joy building in his chest. She said yes. They would try for a cub this time. He whistled as he walked down the hall the other way, he wanted to check on the littles, they should be getting up from their naptime and want to play with 'Uncle Vic.'
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Katherine walked in the door. Tayla looked up from her computer screen. She watched as her friend came and leaned against the desk.
"How's it going? Is the new formula working?"
"No, still no matches. It's not the formula, not the math. It's the database. We just don't have enough reptile and amphibian males registered." She wiped her hand across her face. She knew the strain of the last few days was showing, but she just had to endure a little more.
"He wants to talk to you."
"I don't have time for him. I have to find a way to save these girls. I HAVE to." She looked at Katherine.
"He will give you access to Xavier's database, if you talk to him."
"WHAT! That's blackmail."
"No, it's a bribe."
"He could do it, without talking to me."
"TAYLA! He's your MATE!"
"Ok, so I have to let him fuck me, once every ten years, that doesn't mean I have to see him or talk to him the rest of the time." Tayla looked back at her screen.
"Tay…he's not a monster."
"Bullshit."
"He's grieving. His wife died six months ago."
"His…wife?" She looked up at Katherine, shocked. He had been married – probably loved her still, and he was still doing this. "Did he kill her?"
"TAYLA! How could you ask such a thing?"
"I don't know…I just…"
"Tayla…he's hurting, not just having to do this, but so soon after his loss, did you know he's been ill – after."
"No."
"Will you at least talk to him, if for nothing else than to get access to their database?"
"Alright, but not before a cycle, I am going to need time to psych up for it. I will see him two hours after the next cycle…for one hour."
"So in about four hours? Why not NOW!?"
"I can't…Kat…he scares the shit out of me."
"Then get it over with."
"NO! My cycle is too close…I need to get through that first, please."
"Fine…at least you will talk to him. You are so damned STUBBORN. Almost as stubborn as Vic, I can't believe I agreed to a baby."
"WHAT!" Tayla felt a thrill through her. She knew how much Victor wanted a baby, and just how scared Kat was about having to watch her child die.
"Yea...don't make a fuss…" She grumbled.
Tayla grinned at Katherine. "Guess you get to put a charm on that bracelet."
Katherine grinned, and flashed her bracelet, "Yea…it's kind of bare." The diamonds flashed just as bright as the day he gave it to her. Tayla grinned. Victor spoiled his Kitten, and dared anyone to say anything about it. This facility was proof of that.
"Go on, let me get some work done."
"No, what you are going to do is get some REST! You can't do anything more until you have the new database to work with." Kat pushed her toward the bed.
"But…"
"No buts get in bed and get a little sleep. I won't send him in until you are ready, but YOU need some real sleep." The thought was tempting. She lay down, thinking to only rest a moment. She didn't even hear the door close.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Katherine looked in the door. He was still kneeling at the dresser. He looked up at the sound of the door opening.
"She will see you, two hours after this next cycle, when she has time to prepare – mentally to face you." She said quietly into the room. He just nodded, a low growl escaping his lips. She pulled the door closed, locking it until it was time for him to go to Tayla.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
The lock clicked. Creed's mate said she would see him. – damn straight she would see him. She BELONGED to him. The other one, Logan, wouldn't let him out, not yet. He growled again. He refused to look at the picture in front of him. She had been Logan's woman. He had enjoyed her body, but she wasn't his mate. His MATE was down the hall, and they were keeping him away from her…Logan was helping them. Soon – soon he was going to take over, and then not even Creed would keep him from her. TAYLA!