Prayer of the Refugee
Did I mention this thing was for mature audiences?
Chapter oo8
They heard the helicopter long before they saw it and, irritatingly enough, they had to make a brief ten minute hike to get to a spot where the damn thing could land and pick them up.
"Hello John," Natalya greeted, somewhat fondly, "It is about time you got here."
John was some sort of Spanish mix, dark eyed, dark haired, dark skinned. "I did the best I could, Nat."
"I know, you did well."
He looked around her to Toad. "Who's your friend?"
She smiled at him oddly, "Mortimer Toynbee, but you would know him as Toad I imagine."
She knew his name? Had known his name? Wait, that was right, she had read his file, whatever Stryker knew about him, she would. He looked to the pilot who had removed his goggles to get a better look. A subdued fear was evident on his features which made the mutant smirk. That was something he was used to, liked even in an odd way.
"Are you serious?" he didn't really need to ask, Toad was every bit what he had ever been described to be. (John was not among those that had come into contact with any of the Brotherhood.) "Nat, we can't take him, wh-" Natalya was bearing down on him with all the fierceness of a starving wolf happening upon an injured rabbit.
"What is our mission?" she demanded with firm authority in her voice.
John flinched and sat up a bit straighter. "To give aid to those who need it at whatever expense, no matter who or what they are. To be completely indiscriminate, and to do our best to unite humans and mutants," he quoted obediently.
Toad smirked, what an impossible mission. Oh well, best to aim high. Seeming satisfied, Natalya climbed into the copter, and John turned around respectively, putting his goggles back on but not without first stealing one last look at Toad. The Russian held out her hand to him, realizing he would need help getting in before he did. She patiently held her hand there while he attempted to figure out a way to get in on his own.
One failed attempt and he begrudgingly took her hand. He didn't complain about it which was a first.
The Russian acted more professionally after snapping at John, sat up straighter, spoke with the sound of someone in high authority which he found vexing. She pulled it off well, but it did not become her. Still, he listened to her report intently. It was obvious she was leaving things out. She was probably friends with this guy, but he was not the one she was to report to, it was probably more to ease his mind. Or at least entertain him.
They were met by about seven people when they landed. Three in crisp, white uniforms were clearly medical staff and probably there for him. That unnerved him, he liked nothing about hospitals. Two in the group were obvious mutants, another just a young by clinging to one of their legs, but appearing outwardly human, and the final person stood out from the rest for the sheer sense of power and authority that seemed to drip off of him.
He wasn't physically impressive, he didn't have the amount of muscle Toad did, he was taller, but not all that tall, brown haired, brown eyed. For all appearances he was perfectly… average. His looks weren't at all impressive either.
And yet Natalya leaped into his arms, kissing him fervently. He returned the eager kisses with equal vigor, spinning her around then setting her down gently, their lips hardly leaving each others. They pulled away and looked at each other, eyes full to the brim with happiness and love.
It utterly disgusted Mortimer.
He pried his eyes away from the sickening sight of the pair and climbed out of the copter, landing hard on his good leg. Two of the nurses immediately went to him, the youngest hanging back nervously. Their other three onlookers went over to Natalya, wide eyed and gesturing towards him. One of the women, a portly middle-aged woman, took a grip on his arm that he found akin to an angry nun's. (Look, if you ever went to a Catholic school you'll get it) Out of reflex more than anything he grabbed her arm and twisted it, earning him a surprised shout.
Realizing what he did, he slowly let her go. "Don' touch me," he hissed the warning.
She nodded, rubbing her arm and giving him a very hard look. The other didn't touch him, having heard his warning.
"Michael, call off the hounds," he heard Natalya say.
"Okay, okay, Since you've all gotten to oggle the newcomer, it's time to leave him alone. You all have duties to attend to, get attending," Michael said, making a shooing motion with his free hand. The other was wrapped around Natalya's waist.
To Toad's annoyance the nurses didn't take the command to apply to them.
"He is okay enough ladies. One of you take him to medbay, the other two of you have other things to do and you should do them. This is a strong on, he needs no extra coddling. Tess," the youngest one looked to her, the one that was very obviously scared of him, "I want his leg set properly, x-rays taken, and I want someone to give him some anti-biotics, I don't like the way his lungs are starting to sound. Call me if he requires any sort of serious treatment. Today he is the only top priority in medbay today, understand?" She nodded. "As long as all this is okay with you, Toad."
"Do I really have a choice?" she demanded coldly.
Her eyes gleamed in a way he had not seen before and she was smiling. "Yes."
"Well… I 'cept," he said offhandedly, "But I ain't takin' off none o my clothes, they can do it all as it is."
She was skeptical, how was one to set a leg and put a cast around his leg if he was wearing pants."
"Very well, Tess, answer to his every requirement, overstep none of his boundaries," Michael started to lead her away, but she stopped, "Also, take him down to the supply room and give him whatever he wants and a room. In fact, have someone take what he wants to his room and send him to my room when you are done."
She looked to Michael and grinned, "But take your time." He picked her up bridal style and left the room. Now it was only Toad and the young blonde nurse.
The little blonde stared at her feet, refusing to look at him, "Um… follow me."
He had a cast on his leg now, and it was a damn irritating feeling, and the crutches were killing his arms, but he couldn't continue to hop around on one leg all the time. From what he had seen of the place it was something like a military base; with it's cement floors and cold clinic white walls, but as he was shown to Natalya's room, things got warmer and more homelike.
Natalya lay in bed smoking, clearly naked under the deep, crimson colored sheets. Toad snorted the heavy, musky scent of sex out of his nose; Mystique was always naked so he was nonplused by her state of undress. The room was draped with expensive looking imitation rugs, and cushions, a four poster bed took up most of the free space.
He was surprised at how small a space it was.
His guide seemed unbothered by Natalya too, apparently this wasn't unusual. The shower was running, that was probably where Michael was.
"Michael can not stand it when I smoke, so I have given it up," her eyes smiled at him, "Except after really great sex."
He grunted, shifting his weight on the crutched uncomfortably.
"You can sit down if you like," she said, motioning to an overstuffed armchair by the door. She put the cigarette out on the nightstand and stood, the sheets falling away from her naked body. Perhaps he wasn't as nonplused as he thought.
His body reacted as any mans would have. "Do you think you will stay here for a time? I have no problem with helping you get back to the Brotehrhood."
"After wot 'appened they'll be hidin' for a bit," was his simple reply. He didn't say they wouldn't want him as he was.
She started rummaging through the big oak chest on her side of the bed. He tried not to stare, his attraction to her disgusted him.
"So I will help you contact them later then, perhaps in three weeks when you are fully healed?" she closed the space between them, clothes in one hand, the other trailing down his chest when she was near enough. "Would you ever consider joining us instead? I believe you would enjoy it here if you knew what it was like."
He stared at her large, pert breasts, hardly comprehending what she said. When he processed the words he shook his head; she was trying to seduce him, use her body to get him to join the cause. How many times in the past had she probably done this?
"No," he growled, standing up and pushing her away and getting his crutched.
"I ask that you do not answer until you have spent time with us. I would not ask for an answer before the end of the week."
"Believe me, ya don' want me on yer team." The door slammed shut behind him.
"It doesn't matter what I want, Mortimer Toynbee…"
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