Cheshire ... Canuckle ... Spanky ... Retro ... thanks for the reviews (and the patience!)
So Ill admit ... been dragging my feet a little with this. But not to worry, next chapter things start moving and pretty sure it's gonna be moving pretty fast. Got some BIG things planned for all of our favorite ferals.
Apex was in the library reading. Dinner was over ... Greer was spending some time with her friends ... He liked the library. It was quiet. Large enough that even he could sit out of sight while keeping an eye on the few students cramming for tests. No one usually bothered him here ... though that was not the case tonight.
"Can I help you Professor?"
Apex looked up to find Xavier had parked himself at the end of the row of bookshelf closest to him. He had a different look than usual ... his scent ... uneasy.
"Do you think we could talk for a moment? There was a ... matter I was hoping to get your input on."
Apex stared straight into Xavier. Fury ... Scott ... Logan ... Since his mission in Latvaria it seemed his work wasn't so secret anymore. The other mutants had talked about it quietly ... disapproved. Scorned. And yet ... that hadn't stopped any number of them from looking at him differently now. They're unasked questions plain on their faces. Thus far only Scott had been bold enough to simply come right out and ask him. Now it seemed Xavier had joined with his star pupil.
Not that he blamed them. Apex closed his book and placed it carefully on the table, Xavier wheeling up next to him. Sometimes he wondered how much it unnerved the omega-level psychic that he couldn't read his thoughts ...
"What type of matter?"
"And they just ... showed up?"
K sounded skeptical as she took in the half-dozen or so kids getting checked out in the infirmary. Most of them seemed alright ... a few scratches and bruises. Mostly they seemed confused ... and nervous. But not scared. No ... whatever hell the pick-up team had just pulled these kids from, they knew this place was far better. Besides, they were being taken care of by the X-Men. As more than one kept reminding his friends.
"Not what I was told." Kitty was sitting in a chair near the door, K just behind her as she leaned in the doorway. "Rogue said they actually called us in. From some truckstop on I-95."
"So they all escaped?" K raised an eyebrow as she started checking the kids out a bit more carefully. Escaping from an AIM convoy was no small thing ...
"Don't think so. Heard a couple of them telling Scott that some 'shadow' came through, hurt all the 'bad guys' and the next thing they knew the back door was unlocked and the phone was ringing. Scott was on the other end calling the number back."
K had come out of Logan's office at all the commotion and looking around she saw most of the X-Men were playing welcoming committee. Almost everyone ...
"A shadow huh?"
"Yea ... Scott thinks it might have been one of the mutant vigilantee groups. Least that's what it looks like happened ... you know - judging from the lack of bodies anywhere. Though they usually like to make a show of things. Why ... you think - K?"
But when Kitty glanced over her shoulder, the little berserker was gone.
Apex uttered a low growl before picking up his pace as he worked through the simulation. Slowly building up the intensity while he kept his focus on what Psylocke had instructed him. It wasn't working.
The panther released a roar and attacked at full force, the Avengers scrambling to adjust with Iron Man and Hawkeye dead. Thor was next and if he could -
"COLTON!" and he rumbled in frustration as his simulation was suddenly turned off leaving him facing an annoyed looking tigress and an almost equally annoyed Psylocke, though her gaze was fixed on Greer.
The tigress sighed as she watched her boyfriend give her an accusing stare, his shoulders heaving up and down as he struggled to catch his breath. She gave him a careful once over, noticing again, the bits of missing fur and the way too many open wounds for her liking. She waited until he seemed to calm down and less ready to pounce on the next living thing before approaching him.
"I've been yelling from the control booth for the last five minutes…" she said softly and her boyfriend just shook his head.
"I told you not to interrupt." Betsy shot at Greer but she ignored the psychic, her focus on the panther as she walked toward him.
"I'm fine. I'll heal." and Greer grabbed onto him as he made a nodded to Betsy and seemed ready to restart.
"No you're not." she growled.
"He's a big boy Greer. We know his limits."
Greer's eyes narrowed slightly and she looked over her shoulder.
"We're going to talk. Alone."
Betsy seemed ready to argue but she caught the look from Colton and with a huff stalked out of the Danger Room, leaving the two felines alone. It took a few more second before Greer got Colton to look her in the eye.
"You have been at this since we got back and frankly I think you're wearing yourself down. I mean, look at you…" and Apex ignored the itching feeling that was his open wounds sealing themselves shut soothed slightly by Greer running a gently hand around them…. This wasn't a big deal. He could heal. Psylocke would be back tomorrow and he wanted to work on what they'd discussed.
"You know Hank told you to take it easy. And along with those runs you did ... it's time to take a break. Now c'mon," Greer grabbed his wrist and headed towards the doors but he resisted.
"No." Greer turned around as her tail gave an annoyed flick.
"Would you relax? I just want you to grab some dinner with me. Get some of that energy back and heal before you start this whole-" and Greer paused as she looked around the smoldering room, "Routine all over again." Apex curled his lip but after a look from Greer, relented. She was right. He needed to recuperate his energy before he could go on. Besides, he had been at this for the past three hours on an empty stomach. It was well past dinner but that wasn't going to stop Greer from putting something cooked in front of him.
As they headed upstairs they passed Kitty's computer lab and as usual the door was sealed. Not that either feline needed to guess what was going on in there. Spending the last couple weeks paling around and helping Greer had been ... fun. But even if K wouldn't say it out loud or even admit it to herself, deep down she knew that Logan wouldn't keep waiting and that her ... wedding ... was just about due. K also knew that she could never go through with it until she had Creed dead. And so she'd locked herself back up and aside from classes and Logan's office ... that's where she was.
The panther looked up in surprise as Greer served him a personally cooked steak before taking a seat opposite him. He had thought when she had led them back to their room that she wanted him to take a shower, but instead, she had sat him down handed him a beer, which he had quickly dumped out the window, before returning with their dinner, being careful to shut the door on the way. He looked at the piece of meat and then back to Greer.
"What is this about?" he rumbled carefully and Greer raised an eyebrow.
"What? Can't a girlfriend do something nice for her boyfriend?" she asked sarcastically but he wasn't buying it.
"Greer." and the tigress sighed.
"OK ... fine. You got me …" she muttered before leaning forward, "I want you to consider bringing Logan in on your training."
Apex huffed and took a bite of steak.
"Logan's input is unnecessary. You told me to seek assistance and I did."
Now it was Greer's turn to huff.
"Yea ... with ninja warrior princess. And I'm not such a fan of her brand of 'helping.' and Greer was blaming herself for not intervening sooner. I mean yea she was back to training with the X-Men and she had her classes but still ... She should have seen all this coming when she'd first found out that Betsy had been the one Colton had gone to. The psychic might seem the posh, sophisticated brit to most, but it wasn't that long ago she was ... well a highly wanted assassin in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and hell … nost of China and scarily working with Colton just seemed to let that brutality out.
"I think it's time you got Logan involved." Greer repeated more sternly this time.
Apex closed his eyes and took a breath. These conversation only ever seemed to end one way.
"Why?"
"What do you mean 'why'? Cause it's Logan. Helping ferals controlling their ... well feral side is kind of what he does."
Greer was a bit surprised she had to walk Colton through this. After all, it was him who had suggested the same thing to her a year ago. And as if on cue ...
"You mean like with you?" Apex rumbled quietly.
"Of course like with me. You know damn well that he - oh." Greer stopped herself as she saw the little smirk on the muzzle across from her. "You did that on purpose."
"Not sure what you're talking about."
Greer wrinkled her brow a little as she crossed her arms. He'd gotten her to say it out loud.
"Oh you think you're sooo clever."
Apex shrugged and pushed back his plate. He'd seen the changes in Greer recently and he'd been wondering about them ... and how deep they might go. Greer had gone through phases like this before. Seemed this one was sticking.
"You already know I talked to him ... didn't you?" Greer accused.
"I'd suspected. You can be predictable." Apex tossed the plate into the trash and Greer slid to meet him in the middle of the bed.
"So does that mean you'll get Logan involved?"
Apex turned to better face the tigress.
"I'll think about it. But there are some things I need to do first."
Greer's eyes narrowed.
"What type of things?"
Greer was resolutely not looking toward the giant and as usual, grim looking panther as K and Logan calmly sipped their coffee in silence, the two of them comfortably tucked into each other. It seemed the only time K really took in public with Logan was their meals together ... when they actually sat down to eat.
Logan had already raised an eyebrow at the tigress once when she missed his rumbled out greeting as she sat down with them rather than her stoic boyfriend. He'd let out a sigh and looked to K who had shrugged minutely before accepting their silent table partner's presence. True, they'd both rather be alone but ... silence was silence.
Greer's tail was twitching every now and again distracting the little brunette. It was plain to see to anyone even halfway paying attention that the tigress was angry. Which K had to admit was ... at least somewhat interesting.
Finally, Logan glanced at the clock and gave his little fiance a rather extended kiss before resting their foreheads together.
"Don't forget your promise," Logan rumbled. K let out a little bit of a whine but muttered out an 'okay' as he took her jaw in his hand and kissed her again before he gathered himself up to go teach his class. K just rearranged herself and prepared to refill her coffee. She was dragging her feet. She wanted to go to his office ... but after a late night bet gone his direction, she was instead going to spend the morning in the barn. 'Relaxing', as he'd suggested.
As she glanced at the overly focused panther, she knew that it would be time to get to relaxing when she refilled ... convinced that as soon as she vacated her seat, Colton would come to the table . As of now the two ferals could be considered neutral at best ... Colton tolerant at worst. K's attention was directed back towards Greer as she felt more than heard her growl and after glancing at Colton she saw why: Scott was talking to him. Greer suddenly shot up and shot a look at K.
"Are you going out to the barn?"
"Yeah ... I have to. Why?"
"Great. I'll join you."
"Well ... alright. But ... I'd rather not repeat the last time we were in the barn. Wasn't any fun trying to talk you out of that tree. And of course, the time before that left me with hours of scrubbing blood out of the concrete where it cracked."
"Ha ... Ha," glances quickly over at Colton and her ears dropped little, "cmon let's go."
"Gotta go anyhow, might as well do it while Grumpo's pokin' the hornets nest," K mumbled to herself as she secured the top on her travel mug. K tipped her head and gestured grandly for Greer to lead the way, careful to keep out of range of the thrashing tail.
About an hour later in the barn, the chores were done, the animals fed, watered and ready to go out. K was down to three horses left to put out. She'd purposely left these three for last.
"Any chance you wanna give this another try? If you want to ride, I'll keep Jean's horse for you to use. He's quiet," K suggested as she watched Greer carefully.
Greer had spent a fair amount of time pacing and quietly growling to herself until eventually settling quietly on a rafter and now looked down, her hand dropping from where she was rubbing her forehead. "Hmmm - what?" Greer
"I said do you wanna ride?"
"Ride - no. No no ... That's alright," Greer looked warily at Jean's half asleep horse, "I'll just watch. If that's OK ..." None of the answer was that surprising to K. Greer seemed to enjoy watching her work around the barn and getting that girl on a horse after the mare had spooked ... well, that was more of a project than she was willing to take on at the moment. She had much bigger fish to fry. Big ugly fish with big, sharp teeth.
"Absolutely. Just tell me when you get too bored."
K worked the last of the horses but kept catching Greer out of the corner of her eye as she focused on nothing. It was pretty clear she was bouncing between being anxious and upset ... the only question was why. Though from what she'd seen it wasn't too hard to guess.
Eventually the two ferals ended back inside the barn as K brushed out the horses. Greer was back to rubbing her temples and quietly cussing.
"Hand me that brush, please," K asked, pointing to the brush just behind Greer near the wall. The tigress pointed to it, and K nodded, watching out of the corner of her eye for trouble while she retrieved it. When she handed K the brush, K slid her hand up and held onto Greer's wrist.
"Just relax your hand. I want to show you something," K said calmly. Without waiting for a response, K's other hand slid up and pressed a spot on Greer's palm gently. In less than twenty seconds, her headache had started to ebb. "Use that pressure point. Gentle pressure. As often as you need it."
Greer just stood there for a few seconds as K went back to finishing her work. Finally, Greer broke down and said what she'd clearly come down to talk about hours ago.
"Colton's going back out."
"Yeah? And?" K asked distractedly as she swept the aisle. It took Greer a second to realize K had considered that a response.
"And ... I don't want him to."
K paused from her sweeping and turned to look at Greer who had her arms crossed as she seemed deep in thought.
"Why not? That's the guy you fell for, right? Wasn't he doing that stuff before you two got together?" K asked easily.
"Course he was ... Worse probably ..." Greer muttered as her ears drooped.
"This is the part where I agree with Charles and ask if you've talked about it."
Greer refocused her attention on K, her brow dropping just a little.
"It's not something worth focusing on. Besides ... part of of the point of us getting the hell out of that place was so he wouldn't have to do things like that anymore."
"Yeah, it is, actually. If you're upset by it - it's worth bringing up. I gotta tell you though, if you knew what you were getting into from the get go, its' really not fair to change the rules on him mid game."
Greer actually let out a bit of a tired laugh and leaned against the wall.
"I see that but… On the other hand,I'm pretty sure I never really knew what I was getting into. Not really... I mean I basically stopped making long term goals for myself after I got rejected from college."
K tried to keep herself calm and remember that Greer was still young ... clearly.
"And why would you say that?" And Greer shrugged.
"There just didn't seem to be a point. I was gonna stay here and be an X-Man and ... that was about it. And then Colton showed up and a lot of stuff I didn't plan on happened. In fact I wasn't even planning to get together with him. It sort of just happened. And back then, he tried to keep all this X Force stuff a secret from me ... He used to sneak out and if I hadn't tailed him one night, I wouldn't have known anything about … well you know."
"What and that bothers you?" K interjected, her brow raised with interest. She'd wondered how the cheerleader handled being with the commando. She assumed most people just saw the two felines and assumed they'd be together. But having gotten to know Greer she had to admit ... she struggled to see how that really worked.
"Well of course it bothers me. But ... not like it used to. This is for other reasons."
"And those reasons would be ..." and Greer allowed her arms to go slack. Why stop now?
"When I found out that he was still going out and ... killing people, I was horrified. I know you all see my 'inability to kill' as some weakness but … Killing to me is - I just feel there's this consequence ... It's a life and onnce it's gone … it's gone. There's no going back and the finality of it all just seems… evil. And the fact that Colton was going out every night killing people ... well you could see how that might bother me." and then Greer paused expecting K to say something snarky but the brunette just seemed to listen more intently.
"But when I joined X Force -"
"Wait ... you were on X-Force?" K didn't hide her surprise. Greer just made a face at her.
"Yes, I was. And when I saw the things that people did ... well ... lets just say that I suddenly realize that there are things more evil in comparison to just taking a life. So I'm not mad at what he does. Not anymore."
K stopped her brushing and leaned on the broom.
"Then what's the problem? I really didn't expect you to be so ... indirect about feelings."
But Greer just tilted her head towards her chin in a shrug.
"I know he's just trying to protect me ... us ... everyone. But after all this time I - I dunno. I thought he'd be ready for something more ... And then after Colorado I ..." Greer hugged herself a little as she drifted.
"What happened in Colorado?"
Greer raised her eyes back to K's.
"Nothing."
The berserker waited a beat and decided to file it away for another time.
"Alright ... so if you're not pissed at fuzz cause he's going out and doing what he does ... what are you mad about?"
"I'm mad ..." and Greer took a long drawn out breath. I'm mad because the war is supposed to be over. We took care of the last idiot that tried coming after us ... Weapon X hasn't been heard from for months ... Colton should be able to move on. But instead he - he just ... it's like he can't move on. Even without X-Force he's just training himself to death. And now with the first whisper of a mission ... he's ready to head right back out without a second of thinking of himself."
"Of course." Greer's tail twitched at K's question.
"Then if you don't talk about it - and maybe change it? You might as well get comfortable with that holding pattern, cheerleader. Because nothing is going to change unless you make it."
Greer let out chuckle. As if getting Colton to change was that easy.
"Got any suggestions on that?" K shrugged as she got back to finishing up her chores.
"I don't really get off on making people shift to my will. But ... for as upset as you are, it wouldn't kill you to show him you're serious about him. Might get him to weight your opinion of what he does a bit more."
Greer whipped her head so hard she almost hurt herself.
"What do you mean 'serious about him'? Course I'm serious about him!" Greer took a few steps in K's direction but she stayed as relaxed as ever.
"I didn't get that. I mean, yeah, it's obvious you really like him, and he cares for you ... but ... you know ... it just doesn't seem ... serious."
Greer's anger at K's comment was quickly replaced with curiosity as she tilted her head a head. K tried not to smile ... damn if that wasn't one of her barn cats ...
"What's that mean? Further along ... you mean like ... wait you don't mean engaged do you?" Greer suddenly sounded frightful as her hackles rose and K actually dropped her broom with a clatter as she tossed her hands up.
"I am the last person to push anyone into that. If you want pressure for a ring, talk to Jean. Not my kick. At ALL. It - I'm not sure how to explain it gently to you without freaking you out. So just ... accept my apology for my misunderstanding."
"Explain what?"
But K left the broom where it was and looked to make a quick exit but Greer was faster and the smaller feral found herself looking up at the tigress.
"Explain what?"
"Nu - uh. Not gonna go chasing you up some tree again. No thank you."
Greer rolled her eyes a little as she crossed her arms.
"That was one time and I promise not to freak out. OK? No trees."
K gave Greer a slow look over and just as Greer shifted her weight, K was suddenly passed her and headed back towards the Mansion.
"Sorry Tigger. Maybe when you're older."
Greer growled a little as she watched K go. She considered chasing after her but it was pretty clear that when K didn't want to tell you something ... few things short of bribery or torture would get it out of her.
"Fine! I'll just figure it out myself!"
K simply waved over her shoulder. She had other things to worry about than Greer's love life. Though there were a few things she'd heard that she had her thinking she hadn't heard the last of it.
Despite the session only supposing to last an hour, Greer was touched that all the girls offered to stay back and simply… chat… And pretty soon, they were all sitting in a circle laughing and joking… Just like her old squad back in high school…
"So Sophia… Why are you at the mansion? I thought your dad was super loaded." Zoe grinned, a scandalous look on her face but stopped when Sophia's expression hardened all of a sudden.
"My father doesn't want to acknowledge I exist… That's why I'm here…" and Greer looked up… That sounded familiar… But she didn't expect Sophia of all people to…
"Oh I'm sorry." Zoe said quickly but Sophia just shrugged it off.
"It's ok, I totally trashed one of the stores he owned… So… I guess I've kind of had my revenge…"
"You think that's bad? My dad only used my mum for money… The worst thing is… He's a mutant too… And he has the same powers as I do… And sometimes I… Sometimes I can't control my powers… and… Sometimes I feel like… I don't know if people really like me… Or if its just my powers…" Laurie suddenly said darkly causing Greer to turn and look at her…
"Oh…" Chloe said uncomfortable. "Well … How about you Cessily?" she asked brightly, trying to divert the morbid mood but Cessily seemed to refuse to look at anyone at the moment.
"Well… I was fifteen and… heading to cheer practice. Typical Saturday you know…" and Greer blinked… Why did this sound so familiar…
"And then my powers just… They came you know… And back then I didn't know how to control them so I kind of became this… This puddle and my parents got so freaked out… They kept me locked in the basement until Xavier showed up to well… Get me out of their hands…" and Greer, looking around at the suddenly sullen group of girls realized something… All of them… Physically mutated or not… They all really weren't that different… And she recognized that look on their faces… The tone of their voices… The fear of rejection and abandonment No… No… She had to do something about this…
"Hey…" she said softly, getting all the girls to slowly look at her…
"I know you all are new here… and that what some of you went through some… truly horrible things…and I'm guessing some of you really wish you weren't here and that you hate your powers…"and Greer noted how most of the girls nodded.
"But you have to learn to come to terms with it and as cliché as that sounds" the tigress said quickly before any of the girls could argue.
"How would you know this? You don't know how its like to be abandoned" Sophia mumbled bitterly and Greer just smiled sadly.
"Trust me, I do… and believe me… If you don't come to learn to appreciate your powers… You're going to have some real problems in the future… Sophia, you were there at the barn yesterday right?"
"Yeah…"
"And you thought I was scary didn't you…" and the teen looked down guiltily… "Yeah maybe a little…"
"Yeah…. I lost control then because… Well when I first came here I did everything to avoid learning about my powers because I thought they were well… scary and as you can I see… Its not a smart decision…" and Greer took a deep breath.
"So what I'm trying to tell you girls is that… No matter how alone you feel, or angry… You guys are not alone. All of us have our own problems, no matter how long we've been here so please, I want you to know… Don't be mad at yourselves for what happened… None of it was your fault in any shape or form… Your powers… They make you special… and if you guys ever want to vent that anger you have… you know, if you want to talk about it … I'll be here."
