Thanks to everyone who's reviewed! Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

P.S Haha, Imaninja41, you're so crazy.

xXx

Cap and I left the Danger Room after our session, wiping the sweat away from our brows (to be honest, I had a lot more perspiration than Cap did, but that's because I'm not juiced up on super soldier serum).

"That was a good lesson Leah, I'm very proud of how far you've come along." Captain America praised.

I ducked my head, smiling. "Thanks Cap, it really means a lot to hear you say that."

"And I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true." Cap continued in an honest tone.

"Are you staying for dinner tonight? Mom's making a lasagne and its kind of to die for." I asked.

Cap stepped into the elevator. "I'd love to but I've already made plans. I'm teaching a group of inner city kids self defense arts this evening."

"Really?" I asked, impressed. "That's good of you."

"Its really nothing." Cap replied modestly. "They're a good group of kids and I'm glad to help them out in any way that I can. A few of them are a bit rough, but they just need a little attention."

"Well, you should ask Dad to come along and help. You know how much he likes to show off his ninja moves." I suggested.

Cap laughed. "Maybe I will. Are you riding up?"

I shook my head. "I'm feeling like going for a swim and the indoor pool is down here."

"Alright then," Cap said, allowing the doors to close. "See you later Leah."

"Bye." I waved as my mentor disappeared behind the metal doors. Whistling a Josh Turner song, I headed for the change room. I had brought down my swimsuit before my lesson (a bright red two piece I bought the last time I went shopping with Kitty) and left it in my locker. I changed into it and wrapped one of the large fluffy towels that were stored in the change room around me to walk down the hallway barefooted.

I entered the pool room and dropped my towel on a bench. This was one of my favourite rooms on the grounds. Dipping a couple toes into the clean water, I smiled. Perfect temperature, as always.

I took a few steps back and then charged at the water, squealing like a kid as I canon balled into the water. I sunk deep into the pool, and just when it felt like my lungs were going to explode, I kicked my legs through the water to surface. Taking deep breaths as I treaded water, I regretted not bringing some music to listen to.

Spreading out my limbs, I allowed myself to float in the water for a few moments, taking the time to clear my mind. The echoing sounds of the water lapping against the sides of the pool were so calming that I thought I might actually fall asleep.

"You look peaceful." A male voice commented, his voice echoing.

I opened my eyes and frowned. "I was until you showed up."

"Ah, don't be like that Logan." Fang said. I began treading water again as I watched him remove his shoes, roll up the hem of his jeans and stick his pale feet in the water.

"You really couldn't have just let me for a couple of hours?" I asked, irritated.

Frowning, he replied. "I just wanted to talk to you. I've missed you."

I rolled my eyes and began to do breast strokes around the pool. Though he watched me, neither of us spoke until I got to thirty five laps and had to stop. I swam to the edge of the pool and hung on to the side to rest.

"Do you still pretend you're a mermaid when you're swimming?" Fang asked.

I looked up at him.

He grinned. Not the cocky, smirk like grin that usually covered his face of late but the charming, pleasant one that I remembered. "When we were kids, you always liked to pretend you were a mermaid. You even duct taped your legs together once so that they'd look like a tail when you were in the water. Course, you couldn't swim like that and your dad had to jump in to save you from drowning, but after you still liked to pretend."

I involuntarily smiled at the childhood memory. "I can't believe you remembered that."

"Course I remembered. You kept trying to get me to be a mermaid too." Fang replied. "Ha, that was just about the only girly thing about you when we were kids. You'd play with trucks, wrestle and play army like the other boys, but you loved mermaids."

"So how'd your session with Captain America go?" Fang asked, kicking at the water gently with his feet.

I regarded him, not sure of the game he was playing. I answered, but kept my guards up. "It was fine."

He nodded, but didn't push further. We were silent for at least five minutes, with him padding at the water and me resting at the side. Finally he stood up and took off his shirt. I looked away as he stripped off his jeans.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

'"Going for a swim." He replied. I heard a splash not too far away from me. "You can look, I kept my underwear on.

"What is with you and taking off your clothes?" I asked with a hint of exasperation as I turned to face him.

"When you spend most of your time as an animal, it doesn't feel so weird to go around naked." He answered. "Want to race?"

I shook my head.

"Ah, come on. Race with me." He pursued, swimming closer to me.

"No, I'm tired." I declined.

"You're just saying no because you know I'm faster than you." He said, laughing.

"You wish buddy." I threw back.

He shrugged, apparently giving up. But suddenly, he threw down his hands, sending a wave at me. Unprepared, I didn't have time to prevent the water from hitting my face. Spurting, I wiped the water out of my eyes.

"What is wrong with-" I started to shriek but more water hit me. "Stop splashing me!"

Fang laughed loudly and splashed me again. "Then race me!"

I scowled as he took off. "You are so immature!"

"I know!" He called back.

With an aggravated sigh, I took off after him. Just as I was about to catch up to him, he morphed into a twelve foot long leopard seal. With ease he out distanced me. I yelled, calling him a cheater, but he just responded by slapping his tail in the water to splash me more and letting out a barking laugh. He teased me by letting me get almost within arms' reach and then taking off again. Eventually I came up with a plan, knowing that I couldn't catch him while he was a seal by swimming after him. I got out of the pool, as if giving up and walked away slowly. He swam up to the slide to watch me, and opened his mouth to call me back. While he was unprepared, I spun on my heel and leapt into the water. I grabbed his slick body and held on as he attempted to swim away.

From his back I called triumphantly. "Ha! I got you!"

"Yah certainly did, cher." Remy called from the pool deck.

I looked over at him. "Remy, hey! We were just-"

"Just two old friends having fun, Cajun, no need to get jealous." Fang interrupted calmly. I hadn't noticed him shift back into a human. Realizing I was still on his back, I let go and began to swim towards the pool's edge, embarrassed.

"Ah was no such thing." Remy answered in an equally calm voice. "Ah know there's noth'n and will never be noth'n 'tween you and Leah."

I pushed myself out of the water and onto the deck. Remy took my hand to help me to my feet before wrapping me in my towel.

"It almost five petite," He said to me. "Ah showed up at yo' apartment fo' dinner, but Storm say you weren't dere yet. Ah figured Ah'd come get yah."

" Sorry to keep everyone waiting, I lost track of time." I apologized. "Just let me get dressed and I'll be right up."

"Yah could just come wear'n yo bath'n suit." Remy suggested, kissing the top of my head. "Yah look very good in it."

I snorted and elbowed him in the ribs gently. "I'd be dripping on the table."

Remy laughed and began to say something about his bike. I glanced over my shoulder to see Fang sitting on the edge of the pool. His rippled torso was bare and he morphed his lower half to the tail of a silver fish. He was a perfect image of a merman. He flashed me a wink and waved with his tail.

I turned away and paid attention to Remy's story.

He's psychotic Leah, remember that! I scolded myself. He's the very definition of a psychopath! He may be charming and fun at times, but it's just an act. You can't trust him and you can't allow yourself to like him because he's dangerous!

But it's still hard to think of the little boy I played with as a child as someone who would rip out a man's throat.

xXx

Remy and I walked down the hallway in silence. I tried to start conversations, but he only responded with nods and grunts.

"Hey," I turned him to look at me. "Are you mad at me?"

He let out a breath. "Ah don't know. Ah walk in on yah on some odther guy's back. Not jus' any'buddy either. De guy who ripped my face up!"

I kept my face calm as I said, "You don't trust me?"

"Ah don't trust him!" Remy responded furiously.

"But you also don't trust me. You think I'm fooling around with him."

Remy looked away. "Ah heard you two were-"

"Were what?" I said coldly.

Instead of answering, he asked. "Do you love him?"

I was taken back. "What?"

"Do you love him?" Remy asked again.

"No, of course I don't!" I gasped. When he didn't look convinced, I added, "We used to be friends, best friends, when we were kids. We hadn't seen each other in almost ten years when I came here. We were starting to get closer, but then he…said some stuff and I said some stuff, and then I thought he was dead and then he turned into a psyho. There's nothing between us, there will never be anything between us. And you should trust me."

Remy exhaled, "Cher, Ah just meant-"

"That you thought I would fool around with a terrorist." I supplied, beginning to walk again.

"Leah-"

"You should know how much you mean to me." I interrupted. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, but you don't have to worry."

"Ah just-"

I unlocked and opened the door to the apartment and went in, closing the door on Remy.

Mom looked over from the kitchen with shock, "Did you just shut the door on Remy?"

"Yes," I answered, coming into the kitchen and taking a seat. "And I hate men."

"Leah, I'm a men!" Benny said indignantly from the chair he was standing on to reach the counter so he could reach for a glass.

I smiled and came over to set the table. "Well, you don't have to worry Benny. Even if you're a 'men', I'll always love you."