CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR:
Nic, Vic, and Bunny …..(for lack of a better idea for a title)
AN: WHOOOO HOOOO! MY 100th REVIEWER! Chocolates, Flowers, Tea, and love to 'Sephira Vanya Estelwen'
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THE HELLICARRIER:
NICK FURY
Nick Fury paced the deck of his hellicarrier, thoughts flying through his head.
Sabretooth was coming.
For him.
The question was, what was he going to do about it? He was a military expert, there were thousands of scenarios he could picture, thousands of things he could do, but the most basic choice he had to make first was whether or not to let Sabretooth onto his 'ship'.
He could easily station men with guns (supplied with adamantium bullets) to tear into the 'Der Schlater' the instant he managed to board, but he wanted to keep the loss of his soldiers to a minimum, and there was no doubt there would be considerable blood-shed if he attacked the feral head-on. . . . . Alright, so another plan…..
…..what if he let the feral onto his ship (with an armed guard, of course) and onto the main deck to 'talk'. Maybe something could be worked out, some kind of arrangement. Victor Creed didn't know for certain about the Infinity Serum…..at least, Fury didn't think he did, he only knew that he (Nick Fury) with no mutation, didn't age. So did he mislead him? If only the fleabag wasn't as intelligent as he was beginning to find! And he had no doubt that if he didn't manage to lie convincingly to the feral, and if he was ever found out, he would be dead.
What about this mate of his? Was she happy with her situation? Could she be persuaded to come into 'his protection'? Surely the Sabretooth hadn't exactly 'wooed' her. He narrowed his eyes. That was an option he could pursue once this original confrontation was over with.
Alright then.
"Listen up!" he barked the order, addressing his soldiers. "We are about to have a visitor! A certain Victor Creed. I'm sure you all know how dangerous this beast is by now. I want no offensive moves to be made! We don't want any blood-shed…..yet.
Turn on the sensors and prepare for The Blackbird to be landing. I want Agent Coulson to meet him, bring him down here. I'm going to try to reason with him…at least, at first. There will be NO ATTACKING! Do I make myself clear!?"
A unamious shout of "YES SIR!" was given and he nodded and turned, staring out into the clouds of the sky that were lit with sunset.
"Alright. Come on, kitty-cat, time to begin a little game of cat and mouse…..only I'm not the mouse you'd expect…..
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XAVIERS SCHOOL FOR GIFTED CHILDREN
After Logan had convinced Cassie to give 'the Sabretooth' a second chance, the sound of growling stomachs had him sitting up ramrod-straight and taking notice.
"What the *&^%, didn't you guys eat!?" Logan growled.
"Logan!" Rogue snorted, slapping the feral on the shoulder. "There are kids here!"
The Wolverine gave her a dominating snarl, startling her.
Clarisse rolled her eyes, putting away her pencil. "There wasn't exactly TIME to eat, Logan, not with all the drama."
Logan gritted his teeth. "Alright, all of ya, back to the cafeteria. Come on! Move!" he hustled all of them up, Rogue rolling her eyes, Jubilee fighting a fit of giggles and Cassie looking like she just wanted to collapse in a bed and pull the covers over her eyes.
"We DO have other classes, Wolvie." Jubilee reminded him as they entered the hallways.
Logan glanced at his wrist-watch. "They're almost done anyways. I'll make sure you're teachers know you have an excuse for tonight, and with everything going on, I don't think Chuck'll mind too much."
Cassie frowned at the ferals watch. "What time is it anyway?"
"Seven-thirty," Logan answered gruffly, "come on, guys, move it!"
Cassie bit her lower lip and looked around for a window to see the state of the sky. The sun was indeed just beginning to set, turning the clouds into pink and purple cotton-candy. `Man, I hope Victor gets back in time for bed.`
The thought startled her and even scared her a little. `What does it matter whether or not he gets back in time!?` she exclaimed to herself. But still, she didn't have her sleeping meds and the thought of trying to sleep without the ferals strong arms around her was distressing.
Logan sniffed the air, obviously scenting her worry and looked to her, starting up 'the Purr' (add as many bright lights and neon-colors as needed to the term). "Don't worry, darlin'. I'm sure Vic will be back in time ta hold ya tonight."
She felt blood rush to her face in embarrassment, but 'The Purr' was lessening the feeling.
Jubilee giggled as they moved down the hall at a slightly fast pace, urged on by Logan. "You gotta tell me, chica, do Sabretooths arms feel as strong as they look?" she turned around to walk backwards and Logan snarled, reaching out to stop her from backing into another student.
"Face forward, Jubilee!" Logan scolded and Jubilee rolled her eyes, but turned to face front.
Cassie was sure she was blushing. She covered her cheeks with her hands automatically. "Yeah, his arms are really strong…..and really safe feeling." At the last bit she gasped and covered her mouth, mumbling through her hands. "I didn't' mean to say that."
Both Logan and Rogue smirked at her. "I told ya he'd protect ya, darlin. Everyone, careful on the stairs! JUBILEE!" he yelled at the young X-man when she started to skip down the stairs two at a time.
"Good grief, Wolvie, don't bust a vein!" Jubilee retorted.
As Logan had Jonesy back in his arms, he merely snarled at her impressively as Jubilee giggled. Cassie took hold of the stairway-rail and tried to be careful (she had fallen down stairs more times than she could count but, thankfully, had never really hurt herself.)
Logan hustled his little 'pack' plus his brothers 'pack additions' into the now almost empty cafeteria, relieved that the kitchen help hadn't yet put away the food, though they were beginning too. Logan put a quick stop to that.
"Hey, don't put that stuff away and fire up the stoves again, will ya Paul?" Logan ordered in the pretense of asking, still carrying Jonesy on his hip.
Paul, a red-headed member of the kitchen staff, arched an eyebrow but shrugged. "Yeah, okay."
"You still got that fish I caught?" Logan asked.
"Yeah, I've got it on ice right here." The red-head reached under the counter and pulled out the container of trout that Logan had caught, kept cold on ice-cubes.
Logan gave the man an approving nod. "Great, put it on a plate, will ya?" he turned to his pack. "Clarisse! Get over here and eat this stuff!"
Clarisse quietly walked up and took the plate, muttering a shy thank you to the red-headed cook who looked over the moon at her smile.
Logan scented the cooks arousal right away and let out a threatening, low growl, making the mans eyes dart up to his. Now, normally Logan and Paul were on good enough terms, so the cook was surprised to see 'the Wolverine' glaring at him like he would like to gut him.
"What's wrong, man?" Paul asked, the scent of his arousal now tainted with fear.
Logan extended one claw and pointed it at the man. "She's a student here, Paul, and underage, don't you forget it."
Paul put both hands up in a 'surrender' position. "Right, Logan, I know that man."
Logans one extended claw slid back in. "Good. Now get out some more of the meat I brought in and heat up some vegetables."
Cassie walked up, holding Roddy's hand and frowning, gently poking the Wolverine to get his attention.
Logan turned to look at her, amusement and annoyance warring on his face. "What is it, kid?" He was amused when she snarled at him.
"I'm not a kid, Logan, I'm twenty-years old." She chastised. "And, anways, what's Roddy going it? Somehow, I don't think they have 'Fly Pie' on the menu here."
Logan smelled her entrance before she spoke, the scent of white jasmine. "Fly pie? Sounds interesting."
They all turned their heads. There stood a young Native American, looking to be Cassie's age, about 5'4 with her long black hair with flame tints tied back into one, long braid. She wore a black t-shirt with the picture of a flaming red dragon on the front and green camo pants. At her waist was a belt hooked with—Logan did a double-take—a hatchet and a couple of knives.
Immediately, Cassie let go of Roddys small hand and launched herself at the young woman, crying out; "BUNNY!"
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VICTOR CREED
Even though 'The Blackbird' could go to Mach 5, it still felt like forever till Victor spotted the flying contraption known as Nick Fury's 'Hellicarrier'. The feral gave a predatory smirk, slowing the jet. It was then that he noticed the setting sun and frowned.
`I'll have ta make this quick and to the point.` Victor thought before smiling, a smile that was so genuine that Nick Fury would probably have fallen over dead from a heart-attack on seeing it. `I've got a frail and a cub to hold tonight. Gotta make sure they get some sleep.`
Then he remembered his mates penchant for falling and managing to hurt herself and gave a low growl. `Jimmy better keep her safe.` He had no idea that his mates 'Onee-san' had arrived at the school. No idea of what was in store.
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THE HELLICARRIER
"Captain! We've spotted the Blackbird!"
"Alright, men. Stay alert. Agent Coulson, to the top. Don't be worried, we'll have eyes on you the entire time." Nick Fury ordered.
Agent Coulson offered him a smile. "It's fine, Captain. I've babysat Tony Stark after all."
Nick Fury winced at the thought and gave the man a nod. If it was up to him, Agent Phil Coulson would have won the Nobel Peace Prize for dealing with the brilliant billionaire Tony Stark. "Alright, get to it."
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LOGAN
Logan watched his 'brothers' mate embrace the other woman and felt his headache growing. "Ah *&^%."
Rogue slapped him on the shoulder. "LOGAN!"