Chapter Fourteen: Where The Freaks All Come Around
A/N: Sorry that it's been a while, hopefully you can all forgive me. Please do review and let me know what you think :) A bit of Tobi/Alex action in this chapter ;)
"You actually expect me to believe that Charles gave you permission to touch his car?" Tobi sounded doubtful, planting her hands on her hips and glancing meaningfully across at Charles's state-of-the-art sleek black 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz.
Hank glanced across at her with a solemn expression. "Tobi. You do realize that Charles will never be able to drive again, don't you?"
"Oh." Tobi fell silent and stared at her feet, cheeks flaming in embarrassment. For a moment, she'd almost forgotten about Charles's predicament. "Well, alright then. Who's driving?"
"I'm driving there," Alex said in a firm tone that dared them to challenge him, "Depends how smashed I am as to whether I drive back or not."
Tobi shrugged. "What time are we leaving, then?"
Sean grinned across at her. "That's the spirit. Nine-thirty, if you don't spend hours in front of the mirror."
Tobi clamped her hands to her hips. "Sean? I think you're forgetting that I disguised myself as a boy for two years. I bet you need the mirror more than I do."
Nine-thirty swung around and Tobi was already sitting on the bonnet of the Cadillac. Upon Raven's departure, she'd reluctantly taken up possession of the older girl's clothes. She wore a pair of black boots with stiletto heels and a glittery flapper dress that only came down mid-thigh. When Alex appeared in a leather jacket and jeans, he swallowed hard as Tobi smiled a little flirtatiously at him.
Being friends with Raven had its advantages – Tobi was now very much aware of how to use her sexuality as power over the boys and she now did so with alarming regularity. The problem was, when it came to Alex and Sean, a lot of the time they fell for it.
"What's the matter?" she teased. "You look nervous. Do I intimidate you?"
She opened the passenger door with a click and hopping inside as Hank entered the garage. Sean climbed into the back as Alex hopped into the driver's seat, jingling the keys.
"You coming?" Tobi called out to Hank, winding down the window.
"Have you seen what colour I am?" Hank replied, looking significantly down at his blue fur, "No thank you. I'm staying here."
Tobi felt sorry for Hank as he raised a paw in a half-hearted wave. As Alex started the car up and pushed down the handbrake, his hand brushed over Tobi's bare thigh, sending pleasant shivers up her spine. She maintained a stoic expression despite the smug look on Alex's face.
"Oops," he murmured as he pulled out onto the main road.
"I'll kill you," Tobi replied quietly, but there was no real heart in her words.
The Toucan was only fifteen minutes from Charles's mansion. Tobi had no idea how Alex knew the way there and she had the sneaking suspicion that Charles had been to this club several times and had most likely even instructed Alex on how to get there.
"You're still underage," Sean reminded Tobi teasingly.
"Whatever," she responded flippantly. "Nine days out. I don't think it matters that much."
The pulse of the music was audible even from the carpark. As they crossed the road, a whooping group of men in a convertible roared past, holding up bottles triumphantly and yelling incoherently as they turned onto the street and vanished into the night.
Tobi got to the door first and when she yanked it open, the volume of the music hit her almost like a physical blow. A disco ball sparkled on the ceiling, sending fragments of light everywhere. The dancefloor was a maze of neon lights and in Tobi's opinion, this place was probably even better than the Glitzorama Nightclub.
Sean mumbled some excuse under his breath and immediately headed off towards the dancefloor, where a group of girls in sparkly, skimpy outfits were giggling and flirting with any guy that passed them by. Alex shook his head disapprovingly and turned to face Tobi.
"What do you want to drink, then?" He had to raise his voice to be heard over the pulse of the music, the pulse that now seemed to beat in time with Tobi's heart and had worked its way into her very soul.
"Vodka," Tobi grinned, accompanying Alex up to the bar where he ordered two vodkas and pushed the glass across to Tobi. He watched in astonishment as she threw back her head and sculled the entire glass in less than twenty seconds.
"What?" Tobi asked defensively when she saw him staring, "You know what, I think you are intimidated by me."
Alex snorted and quickly knocked back his own drink, slamming the glass down on the counter with a definite clunk. After another few drinks, Tobi grabbed his hand and attempted to steer him towards the dancefloor.
"Let's dance," she whispered and Alex's mind offered no resistance. The beat was fearlessly loud and wild. Sean was chatting up a black-haired girl near the bar. Tobi slid her arms around Alex's neck as comfortably as if they belonged there. Alex's arms snaked around her waist and she rested her head on his shoulders. Her bronze hair tickled his chin.
Everything was a haze of colour and sound. Tobi looked up at Alex, tilting her head back so that he could see clearly into her mischievous green eyes. Then she pressed her lips insistently to his and Alex found his arms automatically tightening around her waist, pulling her closer to him until she was pressed right against his chest. It was heated and fast, but neither of them cared. Tobi's hands unclasped from around Alex's neck, sliding over his shoulder and then moving down to slowly trace the muscles of his biceps. She tried to deepen the kiss, but Alex pulled away.
"Let's go outside," he suggested, his voice husky and his eyes shining like the disco ball above their heads.
Tobi was all too happy to comply, taking Alex's hand and following him back across to the Cadillac. The weird thing was, she wasn't totally smashed. She was actually aware of what she and Alex were doing…and she wanted it. She stood so that her back was pressed against the boot of the car and grabbed Alex by the front of his leather jacket, pulling him to her so that their lips slammed together in a forceful collision.
Tobi ran her cool hands underneath the jacket, underneath the shirt, over Alex's toned chest. He growled deep in his throat as Tobi's tongue invaded his mouth and her hands moved up and down from his chest to his stomach. Alex reached for the zipper at the front of Tobi's dress, pulling it down to her waist so that her bra was the only thing covering her. Alex pressed his body hard against her, pushing her into the Cadillac. He started to bite at her bottom lip. His hips pinned her in place as his hands roved up from her waist to the lacy fabric of her bra. Tobi threw back her head, moaning softly as Alex's hands slithered in and grasped her breasts.
She was tingling all over and she felt light-headed. She hissed in pleasure as Alex peppered kisses down her slender neck, then across her shoulders and dangerously lower still. Alex's lips had reached the curve of her breasts when the sinister presence of another mutant pierced Tobi like a spear. With a gasp, she pushed Alex away from her and zipped up her dress. She couldn't see anyone in the shadows of the carpark, but she knew someone was there, watching her and Alex getting it on at the back of the Cadillac.
"Is something wrong?" Alex asked, his voice hoarse as he looked at Tobi's shocked face, "Am I going too fast? You can just tell me to stop if…"
Tobi shook her head fervently, eyes still darting around the carpark. That presence was there, she could feel it, but she still couldn't see who it was. Who was there to fear? It was a mutant that was alien to her, yet also strangely familiar.
Cold amusement…overpowering hatred …KILL KILL KILL…
"No. It's not you. There…there was someone else here."
Alex's eyes narrowed as he looked around, but all he could see was darkness. The pulsating music of the club was no longer appealing for some reason, especially when Tobi seemed so afraid. She had obviously sensed the person's emotions and they hadn't been positive.
"I'll go and get Sean," Alex decided, gripping Tobi by the shoulders and staring into her frightened eyes. He didn't think he'd seen her so troubled. "Will you be alright out here on your own for just a minute?"
It would have been childish to cling to Alex's arm and insist to go with him. Tobi wasn't that girl. She could defend herself and despite the disturbing presence of a fellow mutant, they hadn't attacked so far. She nodded fervently and watched as Alex hurried across the carpark and disappeared into the club.
"I know you're out there," Tobi whispered, unsure if the other mutant could hear her as she folded her arms protectively over herself and shivered for reasons that had nothing to do with cold.
They said The Toucan was often a hangout for mutants. Bishop had managed to recruit Ghost, but getting to Shaw's contacts would be a problem. Apparently they were located in the mansion of a telepath named Charles Xavier, who had been crippled and lost the use of his legs during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Bishop knew from experience that people tended to talk while under the influence of alcohol. All he needed was the location of Charles Xavier's mansion, which he could infiltrate and steal the list of contacts from. Considering it was now an Academy for young mutants, he might even be able to gain more allies.
The carpark was empty apart from a couple making up against a black Cadillac. Both were younger than him and Bishop couldn't help but smirk rather contemptuously as the blond boy kissed down the girl's neck, moving down until his head was almost buried in her cleavage.
The girl tilted her head back, bronze hair falling down nearly to her waist. Her dress was unzipped to the waist and Bishop inspected her with a critical eye.
The girl tensed suddenly, shoving the boy away from her. The blond looked dejected and asked her something in a low voice, but the girl shook her head, looking around the carpark as if searching someone out…Bishop suddenly had the feeling that the girl knew he was here, and his suspicions were only confirmed when she spoke.
"No. It's not you. There…there was someone else here."
Her voice was somewhat familiar and Bishop wondered if he'd seen her around before. She was younger than he was, perhaps eighteen, maybe even a little younger. Did he know her?
"I'll go get Sean," the blond boy replied, sounding very business-like in a way that was rather amusing considering he and the girl had been all but having sex just a few moments ago, "Will you be alright out here on your own for just a minute?"
The girl nodded and as the blond boy disappeared back into the club, Bishop briefly toyed with the idea of going up and scaring the girl, but then her eyes narrowed and she whispered: "I know you're out there."
Alex scooped a sleeping Tobi from the back seat, hoisting her up and carrying her into the mansion. Sean offered a mumbled goodnight before he headed off to his room. Alex carried Tobi to hers, pulling back the blankets and feeling oddly protective as he pulled off her boots. He might have started on her clothes, but he supposed he'd already got his hands on her enough tonight. Tobi gasped and sat bolt up, making Alex nearly jump out of his skin. There was a glazed look in her green eyes and he guessed that she was actually still asleep. She grabbed his arm hard.
"He's coming for me," she whispered, her voice full of terror, "I felt his emotions…I know who he is…what he's going to do…why is he after me? Please, don't let him hurt me…he's hurt me enough…"
Alex was aware that she was only babbling nonsense from her nightmares, but a chill ran down his spine nonetheless. Could Tobi be unconsciously referring to the sinister person she had felt in the carpark when they'd been making out? Alex wasn't sure, and he didn't want to delve in too deep. He cleared his throat.
"Night, Tobi."
"You don't understand…" Tobi's voice was hoarse, as though she might cry.
Alex frowned. Feeling glum for reasons he didn't understand, he pried his arm from Tobi's grasp, kissed her on the forehead and left the room.
"You little brat."
Tobi squirmed as Bishop pinned her down to the floor, Digit snickering behind him. Bishop's face was contorted with fury and he struck Tobi across the face with a closed fist. Her head spun but her biggest concern was whether the beanie was still on her head. She tried to fight free of Bishop's grasp, but at eighteen, he was much bigger and stronger than her.
"You don't steal from me!" Bishop hissed at her, eyes alight with rage, "You might be Fiddler's pet, but I'm not taking shit from you, get it?"
Tobi didn't answer, defying him. Bishop sneered and smacked her harder. She tasted warm, metallic blood in her mouth. Digit was beginning to look concerned – which was just typical. Bishop was the biggest bully, and Digit was just a coward.
"I think he's had enough, man," he muttered to Bishop.
Bishop turned to glower at Digit, who immediately held his hands up in defense and backed up.
"I'll say when he's had enough, imbecile. I don't think Tobi here really gets the big picture. You don't steal from your fellow thieves. I think we need to teach him a lesson."
Digit lingered uncertainly and Tobi was flooded with dread. Oh God, what did Bishop have planned now? He turned to face Digit and jerked his head towards Tobi.
"Go on. A good clean broken arm should do it. Make yourself useful."
Tobi lay very still, as though that would make her invisible to Bishop. Digit's eyes widened, but Bishop raised his eyebrows – and Digit didn't like to defy Bishop. He lifted his foot and stamped down hard on Tobi's arm.
Bishop grinned sadistically, expecting Tobi to scream piercingly as his arm made a snapping sound like a carrot – but he didn't. Tobi's green eyes were narrowed and it was almost as if he couldn't feel the pain at all. This scared Digit.
"Freak," Digit spat, taking a few steps back.
Bishop on the other hand, stared down at Tobi with his eyes shining, shining with something a lot like glee.