Greetings from The Lady Mage! This is a short chappie but it is kinda transitional so, yeah... Read, enjoy, review!
The Lady Mage
Disclaimer: There is no disclaimer. I've nothing to hide... no, really.
Ferity: (fehr-ih-tee) - noun - 1. The state of being wild or untamed. 2. The state of being savage; Ferocity.
He wasn't sure how long he had sat there, clutching his two precious treasures in his hands, but the mud had began to dry and flake away on his body. It itched like Hell on his skin, prompting him to decide on cleaning up. There was just enough water left in the bottom of the tub for a cold sponge bath, and he quickly scrubbed himself clean. A clean pair of boxers and jeans felt like silk on his skin after the irritating clay, and pulling his favorite maroon hoodie over his head was like diving into a sea of warm blanket. Warm, clean, and dressed, he checked his cellphone.
'12:07? Shit!' Victor blanched.
Walking into the living room, clutching his mementos in one hand, he dialed Zoe's number with the other and put it to his ear. He hoped she hadn't already gone to bed-the sound of her voice was something he needed to hear tonight. He needed to know that she and Sari were safe and well, and happy-not going through all the stupid shit that he had gone through that day. Sitting in front of the fireplace where his bedroll rested against the swept floor, he enjoyed the warmth that his meager fire provided.
*-Kiss me- k-k-kiss me- Infect me with your lovin'- fill me with your poison- Take me- t-t-take me- Wanna be a victim- Ready for abduction- Boy, you're an alien- Your touch so-*
Zoe had just settled Sari down beside Ororo on the bed when the phone rang. The weather witch had fallen asleep an hour or so earlier, but the feral had yet to shake enough of her leftover frustration to become sleepy.
The little blue phone was snatched up and flipped open. "Hello?"
"Zee." She could tell by his voice that he was tired and frustrated.
"Victor, my love." she all but purred back, a big smile overtaking her face. She took a seat in her rocking chair. "How I have missed your voice."
"Yes." he murmured with a sigh. "The same."
"It's been so long already, or at least has seemed so." she lowered her voice so as not to wake her bed partners. "I was beginning to think you had already forgotten about me."
"Never." His voice was hard, driving the point home. "I will never forget you."
She could hear the rustle of a sleeping bag in the background as she began to gently rock her chair. "It is still so long until the spring. I can't wait to see you again- to be with you again. Sari has already seemed to grow so much in just this short time."
"Had hoped the time would fly by faster than this."
"We miss you so much, Victor."
"...I miss you both. Very much."
A pale hand went to the braided necklace around her neck, gently caressing the leather and hair. "I found the necklace you made me today." Zoe smiled. "Did you find the bundle at the bottom of your bag, too?"
"Holding it right now." 'And clutching it for dear life...'
"Are you all right, my love? You sound so strained."
He'd poured his day out to her, cussing like a mad sailor while she sat quietly and listened to him vent his frustrations to her. Now and then he would hear her chuckle softly or murmur soft words to calm him. It took a good ten minutes to get it all out, beginning with the chair on the porch and ending with his mudbath. Before he could tell her about how he had found her gifts to him, he was cut off by a quiet but serious baby's cry.
There was a sound of shuffling fabric, the creak of a wooden rocking chair, and the baby's cry softened into quiet whimpers. Zoe softly shushed the baby, but he could hear Sari grunt, coo, and make all those little baby sounds that he hadn't ever cared to hear until he had met her in person. He shut his mouth, listening to his mate whisper to his cub.
"Maman's petite fille... Je'taime, mon cherie..." Zoe whispered.
His chest ached dully over his heart, hearing his family going on without him there. "What is she... what is she doing?" 'What do babies do besides suck tit and sleep?'
"Trying to make her Maman come to bed." answered his mate, "She doesn't want to sleep with Ororo- she wants her Maman." Zoe chuckled softly, a soft sound that calmed his raging nerves. "She's so hungry today. I don't think I've put her down more than twice."
Sari made soft sucking sounds as she resumed her late-night snack, swallowing hard enough for him to pick up on his end. The blonde feral could picture the cub in his mind. The picture had come to him only hours before, but it wasn't the same thing as being there with them, sitting with them, touching them, smelling them. The ache doubled, and his mate could sense his shift in mood. Zoe spoke to him in gentle, loving tones, telling him everything about the school, the students, Ororo, Rogue, and Jubilee. He listened, laid out on his bedding, letting her voice relax him as he half paid attention and half drifted off into thought.
He'd never done his rounds so fast or so thoroughly before. The feral didn't think it had taken him ten minutes to circle the island to sniff out anyone who may be lurking about. Like an idiot he had looked in leafless trees, searched under rocks no human could dream of moving, and kicked through suspicious drifts of snow that had obviously been stationary for days. If there had been anyone that was even remotely a threat, they would have been found. As usual, there was no one, so he hurried back into their lair and to the new family he had left inside it.
The rocking chair was empy when he returned. The covers were thrown back across the bed, empty and cold. He sniffed the air in their doorway, and followed her scent to the little opened bathroom door.
The pretty feral was sitting in the deep metalic silver bathtub. The water was filled up to her ribs, and tinged pink with the blood she'd washed from her body and the tiny body in her arms. She held their cub protectively- possessively- in her arms, gently running a washcloth over the newborn's back. When he stepped inside the door, she glanced up at him.
"Hello, Papa." she murmured, flashing him her his favorite secretive, sexy smile.
He gave her a smirk as he walked to the edge of the tub, and quietly crouched down against its side- as close to them as he could get without joining them in the water. "Hi, Maman." he said softly. Not caring if they got dirty on the floor, he shrugged out of his furs and leather until he was shirtless beside them. With bare arms unrestricted, he crossed them on the tub's edge, and then leaned in to her. She gave him a quick kiss, and he gently tucked a strand of her curly red hair behind her ear.
"You worked fast." she teased.
"I had good reasons to hurry back." The baby sighed in her sleep, gaining his attention. "She cleans up nice."
Like the little kitten she was, their cub lay curled up against her mother. He couldn't remember ever seeing a baby this young- only hours old- and found himself fascinated by the tiny cub. She let our another tiny sigh in her sleep, her little pink lips parted. Back in their bedroom, even after she'd been cleaned up a bit, the cub had looked more like a little murder victim than a living child. Now that his mate had properly bathed her, he could see her true features. Her skin was mottled and blushed pink, and the hair on her tiny head was curly and red. He ran his thumb gently over one tiny cheekbone, then lifted one little clawed hand for his inspection. "She's beautiful, Zee."
Zoe shifted enough to ease their cub into the crook of her arm. The baby's face- her nose, her brows, and her long eyelashes- were all from his mate. Only one feature was his, and it was the tiny dimple in the baby's chin. With a smile, he leaned down, pressing his lips to the cub's forehead, then playfully kissing the swell of his mate's breast.
"Vic." she laughed softly, gently swatting him back. "She's perfect."
"She is." he agreed, looking down at his daughter. Absently, he wondered if she looked anything like he had as an infant, but he quickly banished the thought from his mind. "You'll have everything I never had, Kitten." he whispered down to her. "Everything and more."
"My Victor?"
He opened his eyes as though she stood over him. "Hmm?"
"Did you fall asleep on me?"
"No, dear." He yawned audibly. "I'm just laying here. Listening."
"Shall I let you go?" she purred, teasing.
"No, no." he returned. "Purr for me."
Her laughter was light, soft, and rang in his ears before travelling its way up and down his spine. Then, appeasingly, he heard her move the phone down to her chest before hearing a soft purr rambling through the phone. While she couldn't hear him, he quickly set his phone to record the quiet sound.
After a few moments, she brought the phone back to her ear. "Your turn."
"We never said anything about taking turns." He sighed in mock annoyance, but returned the favor, holding the phone to his throat as he let out the closest sound to a purr he could make. He pulled the phone back up to his ear. "I may take a job..." He said softly. "Down in Albany."
"Would you come to see us?" She didn't hide the excitement in her voice.
"If I can." he answered. "I won't come if I think there are cops right on my ass... I'll call you if I can."
"Call me if you can't come, too. I miss the sound of your voice in my ears." she murmured. "I miss you. Je'taime."
"Je'taime. Je m'ennuie de toi, aussi. You don't know how much."
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Lady Mage