9/12/2013
3:51 am. I . Can't. Sleep. AGAIN! So here's another chapter my sleep resistant mind typed up. . . . .ugh, I need sleep.
...and I can't think of a chapter title. Ah, GOT ONE!
Also, please forgive any point-of-view mishaps you find in this chapter. Again. Sleep deprived. Remember this. Ugh.
...I need hugs.
...and preferably someone (like Sabretooth) to hold me.
(sighs) alas...
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CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!
Victor immediately gave a warning growl to the Frenchman, whipping the covers up over his mate and cub protectively before literally leaping up and landing neatly on the floor at the foot of the bed, blocking his mate and cub from sight. He willed his claws to grow longer, sharper, and felt the appendages obey.
"What the &$*# do ya want, Frenchie. My mate and cub are supposed ta be sleepin' right now."
Steve didn't seem the least bit intimidated as he stood confidently in the doorway, arms loose at his sides. "Nick Fury contacted Xavier. It seems someone has stolen his infinity serum, and he believes it was you."
The only thing that kept Victor from roaring his rage to the heavens was the fact that his cub and mate were right behind him and it would probably frighten them. Instead, he gritted his teeth together so hard he felt one of his pointed fangs break.
He spat the broken tooth out on the floor at Steves feet (the spy made a face of disgust at the bloodied fang, but didn't move away) and ignored the pain as a new tooth grew back instantly. "I didn't take One-eyes serum."
"That is what Xavier told him." Steve said calmly. "However, Nick Fury is loathe to believe him. He has called a meeting of his Avengers and he wishes for you to be there as well as your brother Logan."
Victor couldn't help it, he gave off a low growl, though he made a conscious effort to control the volume. "James stays here." he ordered. "Someone has ta keep an eye on things."
"You'll have to take that up with the Professor and Nick Fury." Steve said calmly.
Victor let out a low, authoritative growl that was completely wasted on the blonde Frenchman.
"Victor?" his mates voice questioned from behind him and he could scent her unease.
"Stay in bed, mate." Victor ordered her. "Everything's fine."
Victors mind raced at a thousand miles a second. Everything was NOTfine. Every instinct in him (and Victor was almost ALL instinct) was telling him to calm his mate and cub and get them back to sleep then deal with this in the morning, but the predator in him knew it was best to start the hunt before the trail went cold.
These two instincts warred briefly in his mind till he managed to reach a compromise. "I'll be there in a bit after I've gotten them back ta sleep." he told Steve, jerking his head in the direction of the bed.
Steve gave a curt nod, but his eyes had gentled ever-so-slightly as he turned to leave.
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CASSIE P.O.V
Growling wasn't good.
Growling was NEVERa good sign. Not even a low growl, I was coming to find. Of course, purring could be considered bad too, I suppose, if you count in the fact that it turned me into a pile of un-thinking pliant 'Cassie-goo'. I looked over and squinted to check on Roddy but the kid is sleeping the sleep of the dead, so no worries there.
I look back up at the big lug I have somehow found myself tied to. And, yes, I am still reconciling myself to this fact.
"I'll be there in a bit after I've gotten them back ta sleep."
With that, my big feral turned around and climbed back onto our bed, somehow managing to not jostle Roddy and I even with his big bulk. I'm going to have to figure out how he does that sometime...no...focus Cassie.
"What's going on, Vic?" I ask lowly, letting my worry and annoyance show, but when his arms are back around me, warm and strong and safe, it's hard not to just drift off into the security, into the sleep that is usually so hard to come by. I force my eyes open. `No! No Sleeping!`
"I'm going to have to take off for a bit, mate."
Despite his gentle nip on my neck, I'm suddenly as aware as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over me. "What's going on, Vic." This time it isn't a question, it's a demand.
"Somebody-" oop, there's that growl again "-stole somethin' from Nick Fury and I've got ta get it back." he tells me.
A thousand and one questions hit me, as usual. "Who's Nick Fury? What was stolen? Where are you goin-OW!" Okay, that bite hurt.
Almost immediately, though, his tongue is lapping at my skin, taking away the sting. It should be gross, I should be completely gagging, but, somehow, it feels...dare I say it...nice.
"I don't have time fer one-hundred questions mate." Victor growls at me. See? What I tell ya? Growling equals bad. "I have ta go and talk to the stupid *&^#$ and find out what happened before the trail goes too cold."
"So you're going hunting." I conclude. "Am I allowed to ask what for? Wait...Uncle Steve said an 'Infinity Serum'? What's that?"
Inside my own brain is whirling. Infinity. That's the word that means forever and forever...It's also what Buzz-Lightyear is always going on about in the movie 'Toy Story'; To Infinity and Beyond!
But, seriously, how can you go ' beyond infinity' if infinity doesn't end? How does that make any sense? Okay, off track again. Hello ADHD.
"What matters right now is what I need you ta do." my big lug pushes. "Stick near Jimmy or Hank when ya can, you got that? He'll know if ya need anything big. Make sure our cub eats. He needs bugs. Yer probably gonna have some trouble sleepin' without me, but I'll get the bluebutt ta give ya a sedative at night. Hopefully, this won't take too long."
I can't help but wonder, is he actually expecting me to remember all this in the morning?
"Jimmy's gonna be runnin' some errands for me while I'm gone, so I need ya ta try ta stay out of trouble when yer not with him."
I have the presence of mind to snort at that. "Vic, it's not like I go LOOKINGfor trouble, it just somehow FINDS ME."
He growls low at me again. "Then minimize the damage. No climb'n trees or jumping off high cliffs or stuff like that."
I snort. I have never purposefully jumped off a cliff. Now, TRIPPEDoff a cliff, that's another story entirely.
He's pinching the bridge of his nose now as if he feels a headache coming on...how cute!
"Stay away from sharp things, slippery floors, motorcycles, razors, high altitudes-"
-what, does he think I'm going to attempt sky-diving?-
"-blenders, kitchen appliances, just avoid the garage entirely."
I'm pretty sure I'm gawking at him. "Why don't you just wrap me up in bubble wrap and have at it?" I ask.
He glares at me. "Don't think I haven't thought about it, frail."
He can't be serious.
Is he serious?
Can you imagine how hard it would be to move around in bubblewrap? Not to mention all the weird noises I would be making. If I farted would it get stuck in the bubblewrap? ...Stinky.
Caught up in the mental image of myself in bubble wrap it takes me a while to realize that my big, feral lug has managed to wrap both me and Roddy up in the blankets and bundled us both into his arms.
"Um...where are we going?" I ask. I don't like that frown on his face. I reach up and gently cup his cheek, wanting to erase that worried look. He just continues to move on...a man with a mission.
"I'm take'n ya ta Jimmys room." he growls. " I'm not leaving you and our cub alone. Plus, there's no way you'd sleep without a purr goin' on."
I think he said that last bit more to himself than to me, but I could be wrong.