*The X-men and their world belongs to Marvel
Just a note, some parts are written from Peter's point of view.
Please review! I'd really appreciate it!
When I came to, I was in my bedroom/prison. It took me a few seconds to realize that it was evening (I must have been out at least a day, since it was night when I went to Creed's room) and that Creed was sitting at my side. His feline eyes watched me carefully as I sit up and took a drink of water from the glass on my bedside table.
Oh crap, does he know what I did? I wondered as I sipped the water. Probably not, since I'm still alive.
"How're doing?" Creed asked, taking the now empty glass from my shaking hand and placing it back down. "Yah were out for nearly two days. What happened? Those egghead doctors couldn't explain it, just said you were comatose."
So they don't know I used my powers, I thought with relief. Even better, he doesn't know I used them on him.
"Yah actually scared me kid. Didn't know when yah come to." Creed told me gruffly, as if embarrassed for being worried about another person.
So its okay to bruise and choke me, but you'll worry about me if I get hurt and you don't cause it. Completely mental.
"Come on, say something. Whatever happened didn't cause brain damage did it?" Creed asked me worriedly, edging closer to me.
"I'm okay." I croaked. Clearing my throat, I tried again. "Uh, I don't know what happened. Maybe Magneto's powers broke loose for a little bit and he made my blood flow the other way?"
I heard about the man doing that sort of thing before and I needed to blame my condition on something. If they didn't have an answer now, they might go looking and find out what really happened. Something that couldn't happen if I wished to continue living.
Creed snarled. "Sounds like something the bastard would do. Well, yah're alright now."
I gave him a weak smile, which made him give a shocked look back at me.
Oh yeah, I guess this would be the first time I smiled at him, I realised. Realising this, I came up with a plan.
With Mystique and Lance going for help and bringing the X-men back here soon, I need to save my strength. I could feel a little bit of my power, as if a well inside of me was filling up slowly after running dry. Once they come, they'll need all the help they can get. If I can just save my strength, I can help them. It could be worth it, even if it means pretending to give in to Sabretooth. I could save a lot of power by not having to heal from him breaking my bones every second day.
Then again, its going to take a lot of power to pretend to love the monster.
"So, um, did you get the Brotherhood?" I asked, trying to make conversation with him and not barf. It was a revolting thought, talking with this beast.
"Yeah, I got em." He grinned, showing his fangs. "Stupid bozos. They could have just done the job and be done with it but because they acted like morons, they're being sedated and tested on. I gave em a chance and they threw it in my face."
"That was so stupid of them." I agreed, nodding while thinking, poor Brotherhood. Even if they're terrorist, no one deserves Stryker's mad scientists doing their cruel experiments on them.
"Yeah," Creed looked a little suspicious at the thought of me agreeing with him, but said nothing. "So, uh, are yah alright?"
"I'm completely fine. Whatever Magneto did, it's not affecting me any more." I answered, trying to keep my poker face.
"So you'll be up to having dinner with me and my men?" I knew what he was doing. He knew how much I despised having to eat with him and the soldiers, but I couldn't turn it down with the excuse that I was still ill.
Forcing a smile and trying to keep my voice calm I answered, "Sure, I think I'm up to that. Course I want to shower and get dressed."
"Alright then," Creed stood, still looking at me suspiciously. "Let's go."
Stiffly I got out of bed and followed Creed to the door while he continued to throw back mistrustful looks back at me.
Turning off my lights and closing the door, I sighed. I'm not sure how long I can keep this act up. I'll just have to hope that the X-men will believe the Brotherhood members and come help us. After all, it's not only my life that is at stake here but all the students at Xavier's, the poor mutants already locked up here, and the Brotherhood.
Come on guys, I thought to them, we really need you.
"So now you're telling me that after all this time of looking for Shadow, all this time of saying that you just haven't done anything because you had no leads, that we have to wait some more time? Shadow doesn't have time!" I hollered. "We need to act now!"
"Peter, sit down!" Scott commanded me. "We can't trust those two, their part of the Brotherhood. Their just trying to lead us into a trap."
"A trap where we go and rescue the Brotherhood and all the other mutants at this facility, while the Avengers protect the students? Why would they bother adding the part about this Stryker man attacking the school if it was just a trap? To make sure there would be some more superheroes to run the school once they take out the X-men? By the White Wolf, Scott how could you be this stupid? Глупый идиот" I snarled.
The teachers looked at me in shock, but I only felt ashamed for a moment. Never before have I disrespected my elders and teachers so, but ever since this happened to Shadow and the X-men have done little to help her, I've changed. Sometimes at night I feel her in my dreams, as though our minds were connected and she was reaching out to me for help.
Pushing aside my embarrassment, I stood tall and looked down at the so called heroes.
Shadow was alive but who knew how much longer? She needed me, and I wasn't about to let her down just because the information came from not the most reliable characters. I believed them, I had to. This was the first lead to Shadow we had, and I was going to take it, even if I didn't have the X-men behind me.
"Jean and the Professor are going through Mystique's and Avalanche's minds now, but they are having difficulty. There was something done to their minds that makes it hard from psychics to penetrate and make sense of." Storm supplied.
"Magneto probably made something to cause that, so our psychics couldn't learn the truth about their scheme." Scott said, trying to back up his argument that they were lying.
I gritted my teeth at my teacher. I decided that I had two choices, throw Cyclops through the wall or get out of there before I did. I stormed through the large wooden doors of the meeting room and slammed them shut on my way out making them shatter. I continued down the hallway to the courtyard where I found a stone bench. Sitting down on it, I held my head in my hands and tried to calm myself down.
What was wrong with me? I could hardly control my temper any more, which was dangerous with my strength. I could no longer take peace in my art. These days that I would try to paint I usually ended up tearing it up and half my room. I even had to get my own room because of my rages! I was becoming something I despised, and I couldn't help myself.
I was ashamed of how I've been acting, but the anger strangely helps. I can turn my sadness for Shadow into anger, and its like for that while that I'm in a rage I can't feel her. I don't want to feel her anymore, it just reminds me of how I've been failing her. A reminder that if I stopped her that night this would have never happened.
I don't want to feel her presence of sadness and hurt that I've been sensing in my dreams, I want to feel the real her, all of her, right here beside me safe.
This is crazy. I only knew her for such a short while, but I've never cared for anyone this much in my life. The moment her beautiful silver eyes met mine, I knew I had to be with her. Every time she smiled her perfect smile or laughed, I wanted to just be with her forever. When she was sad, I wanted to comfort her and make her laugh again. Everything about her drew me in. I really believe in love at first sight now.
I sighed, but I've failed her. Whatever horrors she's been through are because I couldn't protect her and because I couldn't save her.
Until now.
"- so we burned down his bar and left his tip with the firefighters who showed up." The captain finished as the soldiers and Creed roared with laughter at the horrid story. I faked a smile and took a drink so I had an excuse not to laugh. So far this evening has been awful. After Sabretooth found us some seats with the men and they discovered that I wasn't being my usually cold withdrawn self, they accepted me as "one of the boys".
Except I don't think they'd flirt this much if I was one of the boys.
"Here darl'n, want a sip of this? Might loosen yah up a bit, we'll have a real good time then." The soldier beside me offered me his beer bottle, waving it in my face.
I tried not to grimace too much when some of it splashed up into my face. "Nah, I'm good thanks." I replied, trying to keep my voice friendly. Sabretooth was having a good time with the men and I didn't want to change his mood by being cold once more to these men.
"Aw, come on. Just a sip for yer old buddy Hank." The drunken man continued, pushing the bottle into my face again.
"Really, I'm fine." I answered more firmly.
"What, the Lioness aint a drinker? Is the Lioness a pussy?" A younger soldier was paying attention to his comrade and me, leaned closer. I tried not to gag when he breathed an over powering stench into my face.
"She already said she didn't want any, yah stupid prick." Creed snarled, backing handing the smaller man with such a force that he flew off the bench and slammed into the wall. A few moments after hitting the wall, the man tried to get up but slumped back down and did not get up again. To my relief, my enhanced sense assured me that Creed didn't kill him, just knocked him out.
"I'm done fer the night." Creed mumbled to the soldiers who were staring at him with fearful looks. He stood up and looked down at me. "Come on Lioness."
Deciding that I really didn't have a choice in the matter, I followed him out of the mess and into the hall. Though he must have drunken no less than a keg, the alcohol had little affect on him. He didn't swagger as he walked down the hall or slur his words. The only signs that he had been drinking were the awful smell. I guess his size and healing factor prevented him from getting really drunk. So why does he do it? He can't actually like the awful beer they offered on the base (I constantly hear how bad it is from the soldiers).
Strange…
"Yer welcome." Creed murmured as he led me through a door (after using a card to unlock the door) and outside. I raised a questioning eyebrow, wondering both of what he meant and where he was leading me. He continued to walk across the grounds, nodding at soldiers on watch.
"Pardon?" I asked, not sure if I had heard right.
"Fer back there, with the soldier. Yer welcome." He repeated. He finally stopped walking to look down at me. What? Is he looking for a pat on the back for using what he thinks to be manners? I thought shrewdly. I must have been wrong; that he has to be drunk to be saying things like "yer welcome".
I was about to tell him that I didn't need his 'help' when dealing with these animals, that I've had enough practice since he kidnapped me and held me captive here. But I thought better of it.
"Oh, right. Thanks." I said. He gave a curt nod and began walking again. He didn't say anything more or stopped walking until we got to the end of the woods that surrounded the base.
"Yer like yer mum." He mumbled. "Stubborn, beautiful, and gots spirit. She was the only one who wasn't afraid of me, yah know? Guess she saw me as a challenge, that's why she started running with me in the first place."
Okay, that was random… I thought. Maybe he really was affected by the alcohol.
"But then she started changing me, yah know? Made me feel ashamed of who I was. I couldn't kill anyone; just couldn't bring myself to do it because of her. She didn't catch on that I figured out that she was using her damn powers to mind meddle my head. She was so clueless that when she found out she was pregnant, she actually thought that we could settle down and raise yah. I had to show her that I wasn't some pet…I went too far…" He was looking up at the starry night, not letting me see his face. I might be crazy, but I could have sworn I heard remorse in the Sabretooth's gruff voice. "But than I found about yah, saw yah in that vision. I asked her to stay, told her that I really did want yah and her. But she wouldn't. She tried to leave me. But I couldn't let her take yah away, fer her to go away…"
"She didn't do well in captivity." He finally looked down at me, and for a moment I thought I saw crystal blue human eyes instead of the golden feline ones that I despised. "She withdrew herself from the world, from me. She kept trying to get away, but I stopped her every time. Until eventually she just…stopped. Wouldn't leave her room, wouldn't shower, wouldn't turn on the lights. She never stopped eating though or do anything to hurt herself, guess that was because of you. But once you were born and she held yah, her light came back. I thought she changed her mind about us as a family."
"But then she tried to get away again, this time she actually did. She took yah and I couldn't allow that. Yah were my kit . Mine." Creed didn't say anything more for moments that felt like years. I stood still and silent, not sure what I was feeling. Hearing all this scared me, angered me, saddened me…but I couldn't feel any of those emotions for more than a moment before another took its place.
Why is he telling me all this? I wondered, tortured by a horrid past I couldn't remember. That first night that I was here , he made it seem like my biological mother meant nothing to him. I felt sick knowing that I came from a woman who would be with the monster, but now I was confused. She was trying to change him for the better, stop his killing sprees. But still, what kind of woman
would love a monster like Victor Creed?
"Yer my kit." Creed sighed, pulling off his shirt and throwing onto the ground. With that he got on all fours and sprinted into the woods, like an animal.
I was left standing there, more confused than I have ever been in my life.
"-and these two know where to find Shadow." I whispered to my friends. I had asked a few trusted friends of Shadow to meet me at midnight by the school's orchard. They listened in silence as I told them about that Lance guy and Mystique, and what they have said about Shadow, the military base that experiments on mutants and the planned attack on the school.
"Whao, this is pretty heavy." John scratched his head, and let out a breath.
"I don't know, Peter. How do we know that they aren't ly-" Jubilee asked.
"We can't really. I heard Storm and Scott talking in the hall about that the Professor still couldn't get through some new people's minds. I didn't know what they were talking about though." Kitty told the others quietly. "But what they said is too important to just push away. This is the first thing we've heard about Shadow, our first lead. Plus, if they're right about the school, we can't just let it happen."
I grinned at my oldest friend that I made since coming to this country, I knew I could always count on her.
"This is all so crazy. It doesn't matter if we believe them, it's the X-men that have to if something is going to be done." Jubilee said stubbornly.
"Actually, that's not true." Rogue's eyes met mine. "Petey asked us here not only ta tell us what's been on the teachers' minds, but for volunteers. Isn't that right?"
I nodded. "I propose that we do something to save Shadow and protect the school. I'm going after her, with you guys or not, but I needed to know that you guys were at least warned."
"That is very bold and romantic, mon ami," Remy drawled. I didn't invite him here tonight, but I guess I sort of did by asking Rogue. The two have been inseparatable since that night Shadow was taken. "But yah won't have to do dis alone. It is Gambit's fault for her been taken, so I will help get her back."
He and I shared a look. He knows that I have partially blamed him for her being taken, not any more than I blame myself though. I have not talked to him since she was taken, not even been in the same room in fear that I'd lose my temper and hurt him. But the moment he said he would help save her, I felt a new respect and forgiveness for the former thief.
"Ah'm coming too." Rogue said boldly.
"Rogue, I don't want you to be in dang-" Remy frown and started to tell her not to go, but Rogue interrupted him.
"Ah owe it to her. She's my friend and has given me something that Ah thought Ah'd never have again. Ah need to do whateve Ah can ta help her." Rogue said firmly. She held the Cajun's eyes until he sighed in defeat and pulled her close to him once more, taking care not to have skin contact.
"Me too. My power can be useful, help her get out of any prison they have her in." Kitty said, meeting the eyes of everyone, daring them to tell her she couldn't go. No one took on the challenge.
"I'll help as well." Rahne said, coming to stand beside me. She put a gentle hand on my shoulder and gave me a comforting look. "She'll be okay Peter."
I was beginning to feel a swell of hope within my chest as my other friends volunteered for the mission. Everyone made a vow to help until it was only John and Jubilee left unspoken.
"Listen, Shadow is a nice girl and all, but I just don't think I'm ready to go on some wild goose chase that might end up killing me." Jubilee said, crossing her arms.
"We can't all go." Bobby said rationally. "Remember what Peter said about the attack on the school?"
"That's right." I admitted. As much as I wanted as many people as I could find to go save Shadow, I still had to think of all the other students. "We need people to stay and help defend the school."
After much argument, we decided that Gambit, Rogue, Rahne, Kitty, Bobby, Robert and I would go while Paige, John, Jubilee, and the others would stay. Not only would they be ready if the attack did come, but they were going to secretly ask the Avengers to keep an eye out for the school as well as warn the older students that took they Danger Room sessions.
"I really appreciate all this." I said thankfully. "Now come on, we don't have much time."
We broke into two groups. While everyone rushed off to get supplies, prepare the X-jet that we were going to steal, get Lance to help find the base, or just say their goodbyes; I went directly to the hanger. I had already prepared my supplies, knowing that I was leaving to find her tonight, with or without the other's help.
"You're all nuts, you know that?" I heard a gruff voice say behind me.
I spun around to see Logan lighting a cigar. I scowled, not sure if I'd have to fight him (which I could probably not do, despite my super strength and steal skin).
"So are you going to try to stop us?" I said calmly, preparing myself for a fight. Shadow's waited more than three months, and I wasn't going to make her wait any more because of Logan.
'No." Logan admitted, taking a puff from his cigar. "But I'm coming with you kids. Gumbo isn't going to be much help, and you kids need adult supervision. And someone to fly the X-jet."
That's right, I remembered. Shadow was one of his "kits". Plus more of his litter were coming on this mission. He can't just let them go alone.
He took one more puff before extinguishing the cigar in his hand.
"Come one, lets go save the damsel." He muttered before leading me to the hanger.
Don't worry Shadow! I thought, we're coming for you!