CC - thanks as always for the review. Yea...Colton has a lot to realize before it's all over.
Cheshire - we lose a nuzzling scene...only to gain I think an even better one ; )
Apex watched her sleep.
Greer never looked as peaceful as when she was sleeping.
It wasn't every night, but sometimes Greer would find a reason to stay in his room long after he knew she usually fell asleep and eventually she would lay down, her eyes on him...until she would fall asleep. He tried asking why but all she said was that she felt safer in here.
Apex stood up from his chair, taking in the sleeping feline one last time. A deep breath.
Without a sound he moved to his window and being careful to close it behind him, jumped down into the moonlit grounds and headed for the forest.
BREAKING NEWS: Explosion at upstate New York research facility, Pegasus Inc., last night. A spokesman from the company said that the explosion was the result of a gas leak. No injuries were reported.
"Ahh...Colton, I'm glad you could join us," Kitty and Amara turned for just a moment before the pair shrunk a little further into their chairs as Apex slowly closed the door to Xavier's office. "Please, take a seat."
Apex had been sitting with Greer and Jean at breakfast when Elizabeth had walked over to let him know that Xavier needed him in his office.
"Not interested." He assumed this was another attempt of Xavier's to win back his trust and had thus far refused his advances. Greer had wondered what their current argument was about but thus far had allowed Colton to leave it at 'him not wanting to join the team.'
"He said it has to do with Kitty?" Betsy said it as if she wasn't quite sure to believe it.
"What do you have to do with Kitty?" Jean asked what Greer was thinking and he wasn't surprised at any of their confusion. Why would Xavier request him with anything to do with Katherine? Apex just leaned back in his seat for a moment to let out a slow breath before getting up from the table.
"I have no idea." With a quiet goodbye to Greer he headed towards Xavier's office, betrayal on his mind.
The other night, he had waited for half-an-hour before deciding that Katherine and Amara would not be coming for their training session. With winter break so close, and finals over, it was possible the two had simply forgotten...or had been too tired from that nights party. Although...Amara had spoken with him at dinner to ensure that they were on for tonight...
But seeing the two girls sitting in front of Xavier was all the answer he needed. Not to mention the amount of sweat they were producing and their increased heart rate at his appearance made their guilt obvious. They had exposed what they had been doing to Xavier...and now he was in trouble.
Apex walked over and ignoring the offered chair, stood a few foot to Katherine's right, who gave him a quick look before returning her eyes to the floor.
"Colton, I was hoping that you could help shed some light on an incident that occurred last night. Ms. Pride and Ms. Aquilla were found wandering the halls well after lights out. Now, when asked what they were doing out of bed at such an hour, their response has thus far been..." Xavier looked over to Kitty and Amara who avoided his gaze.
"We were just walking to the library. Kitty thought she forgot her phone..." Amara tried to sound confident but even without his enhanced senses Apex would have known she was lying. Not to mention she was attempting to do it in front of the world's strongest telepath. But...it appeared they had been attempting to cover what they had been doing. Failing horribly...but attempting.
"Girls...can we pretend for a moment that I don't already know that is not why you were out and give yourselves another chance to -"
"They were coming to meet with me. They were only listening to my instructions...including to not tell anyone what we were doing. I take full responsibility. Any punishment should end with me." Both Kitty and Amara gave him surprised looks before quickly turning their attention back towards Xavier, now eager to see if Colton's admission would get them off the hook.
"And where may I ask were they coming to meet you at close to 1 a.m. in the morning?" Colton tried to keep his growl in check. He knew Xavier was toying with them.
"They -"
"In the gym...He's been training us...we asked him to...Yea, it was our idea." Amara and Kitty finished each others sentence. Colton gave them a look to get them to shut their mouths but they seemed determined to make it clear what had been going on was not Colton's fault alone.
Xavier just pondered the threesome for a moment, looking between the grim feral and the two teenage girls...a small smile on his lips as he addressed Kitty and Amara first.
"Kitty...Amara, we will deal with this once you both return from winter break. But for now...you may go." Both teenagers got up for a moment before slowly sitting back down, sharing a look of concern.
"Professor...what about Colton?" Kitty spoke for the two of them. Colton braced himself for the punishment...but Xavier just kept that smile on his face.
"I have something in mind...but I think we can discuss that at another time as well. For now, all of you may go. Have a good break."
All three used the dismissal as a quick escape, in case Professor Xavier suddenly changed his mind. Once out the door, Amara and Kitty tried apologizing but Apex just waved them off.
"This was my fault. I never should have placed you in a position to get in trouble."
"But does this mean...are we done?" Apex turned back to look at the two girls who suddenly seemed more concerned now then they had in Xavier's office. 'Does this really mean that much to them?'
"Let it rest for now. We'll see what Professor Xavier has in store for all of us and go from there," the two of them just kept staring, "alright?"
"Yea...Alright that sounds good." Kitty and Amara seemed to relax a bit. "Colton we gotta go get packed before the party. Thanks for watching out for us!" The two rushed forwards, Apex raising his arms just in time for the two to give him a tight squeeze before rushing off.
He just stood there for a moment with his arms raised looking after them before slowly shaking his head and going off to find Greer.
'And what party?'
BREAKING NEWS: Gang violence in the big city. Members of the suspected anti-mutant hate group Friends of Humanity are suspected of killing a mutant on the F train late last night. The disturbing video shows four men wearing Humanity colors beating an as of yet unidentified male mutant and his girlfriend on a deserted train platform. The police are asking for any witnesses to come forward...both mutants are in critical condition...
Greer took a deep breath, giving herself another quick look in the hallways mirror to fuss over her entirely too short dress, before cautiously entering the room.
'Big mistake...' she thought instantly as the students, especially the younger ones quieted down to stare at her, her ears falling flat. She mentally slapped herself for ever thinking this was a good idea. Colton had been right...this was no place for either of them.
Greer had slipped into the Danger Room just as Colton dispatched the final robot, Greer cringing for a moment at the sound of a snapped neck, before replacing it with a smile as Colton turned to face her.
"I thought you might want some company, maybe head out to the forest for a while before we get ready." The Mansion was a hectic place, as students rushed to pack up their suitcases for the winter break while also getting prepped for the big night. Tonight was the Christmas Party and was about as close to a formal dance as they got. Greer knew first hand that all the chaos could be a bit overbearing, and if she felt that way, escaping with Colton into the forest for the worst of it was the least she could do.
"Get ready?" Colton turned as two more robots attacked, Greer taking a few steps back to give him some space to work.
"For the party...I told you about it a few days ago?"
"Right...that," Colton caught a high kick and displaced the knee cap before shattering the support leg, "I'm not going."
"Colton it's really not a big deal. It's just the holiday party. Everybody goes." She tried to not sound exasperated. She knew this was probably going to happen but she had already picked out her dress and found the perfect heels (not an easy thing to do with claws...) so if Colton thought he was skipping this...he had another thing coming.
"I'm not interested in going to some...party." He felt the remaining adversary's chest cavity cave...he needed to find out if he could upgrade these things...
"Oh come on. It's not like we're even going anywhere. It'll be fun." Greer replied distractedly. She was wondering what she could do with her hair...
"I'm not going." Greer crossed her arms and fought back a growl.
"Well I'm going...and I assumed - don't you want to be the one to take me?" Greer's voice had a testing tone to it.
"You can do whatever you want." Now Greer let loose a low growl that got his attention.
"Is there a problem?"
"You tell me!" Greer's hackles rose, "I'm telling you that I'm going to a party and you're reaction is for me to go by myself. I thought that we -," Greer caught herself...suddenly a little unsure if she was just overthinking as usual..."I assumed you'd want to take me." She muttered.
"Greer...do you honestly think that a high school dance is a place for me?" Colton crushed a persistent robots attempt at grabbing him by crushing its head underfoot, putting an understated exclamation to his point.
"It's - it's not just for the students. All of the teachers go..." Greer tried to regain her sense of conviction. This was supposed to be a fun day...how was it all going so bad so quick?
"Well then I guess it's a good thing I'm not a teacher." Calling out for another wave, Colton was still aware of Greer giving him a hurt look before storming out of the Danger Room. He considered going after her...but the opportunity of the entire Mansion being focused on this party was not something he intended to pass up.
He had his own plans for the evening.
Finishing out his session, Apex exited the Danger Room and made his way upstairs. Greer had been correct about one thing...the Mansion was almost unbearable, the rush of students and noise wearing on his nerves. Looking down he saw Logan just a few steps behind him, likely just making his way from the garage, the smell of motor oil and beer coming off him in waves.
"You comin' to the party tonight?" Logan grumbled.
"No...are you telling me that you are?" Apex asked skeptically.
"Chaperone duty...besides, won't Tigger be expectin' you?" Logan gave a raised eyebrow but Apex just ignored it.
"Greer can handle a party without me."
"Why...you got other plans?" Apex slid his eyes over to Logan for just a moment.
"Of course not."
"Good," Logan started to walk away before pausing to speak to Apex over his shoulder as he turned halfway to face him. "Course, if everybody else is at this shindig and you don't show, some more suspicious types might just get to wonderin' what you might be up to." He paused a moment longer. "Have a nice night."
Apex had come to a complete stop, watching Logan keep marching down the hall. He wasn't sure if what Logan had said was advice...or a warning.
...
When Greer had muttered to Jean through her pillow that she wasn't going to the party, Jean simply wasn't having it.
"No. Nope. Not going to happen. We didn't spend all this time planning for nothing." Jean ripped the pillow off of the glum tigress who only halfheartedly hissed at her in response.
"But Colton -"
"Forget Colton. He wants to go be grim someplace, let him. We are getting made up and you are going to have a great time. Now...get that furry butt in the shower. God only knows how long it takes you to dry off enough for me to do anything with that mane of yours." Greer tried mumbling something but her smile ruined the delivery.
Two hours later, Greer had waved goodbye to Jean as Scott stopped by their room to pick up the stunning red head. Now she wished she had just tagged along as the ballroom turned to take her in before mercifully returning to their dates.
"Woof..." Greer mumbled sarcastically before wrapping her tail around her leg. She didn't want it freaking anyone out as it is…certain the rooms reaction was to seeing someone like her in a dress.
After standing around and feeling incredibly awkward, Greer decided to do something that at least resembled a semblance of normality and trudged towards the table and poured herself a glass of punch, only slightly disappointed none of the students had attempted at spiking it yet.
"Whoever did you hair is a true artist." Greer looked to her left.
"Wish I could say the same for you...just awful." She gave Jean a half-smile as she and Scott came over for some punch. Jean already out of breath from dancing and clearly having a good time.
"Well...despite your lack of gratitude, I believe someone has been waiting to ask you a question..." Quickly scanning the crowd, Greer turned to see who Jean was waving to and saw Peter quickly cutting through the crowd. Greer gave a quick questioning glance at Jean before Peter finally made his way over.
"Peter...look who I found." Greer felt her stomach clench...Jean had that look on her face...
"Yes...Greer. I am glad you came."
"Oh...uh..Hi Peter..." Greer tried to put her awkwardness back in its place.
"It's actually Piotor…" the russian bellowed back, poking fun at her attempt at a Russian accent.
'Slick…' she thought to herself. 'Insult the first person that talks to you… Wonderful just wonderful...' Greer mumbled to herself before flashing the Russian an apologetic closed lip smile. She knew he turned into organic steel and all but that didn't mean he'd be turned off by her…
"Sorry Piotor…Um you wanted asked me something?" she asked uncomfortably, habitually trying to brush a strand of hair behind her ear only to realize she couldn't due to the extravagant knot Jean had managed to get it into…somehow that made her feel even more uncomfortable…
"Yes, I was wondering if you wanted to dance…"
Greer nearly crushed her glass in surprise. Confused, she was certain she had heard incorrectly only to come face to face with the resident's favorite Russian as he looked up expectantly from a rather elaborate bow.
"You want to dance with me?" she asked uncertainly, not sure if she heard that correctly.
"Yes…"
"But why?" Greer wondered before she realized she has said that aloud. She noticed him give a quick look over to Jean, causing her to let out a low growl that was covered by the blaring music. Jean however heard Greer's thoughts loud and clear.
"Jean..." Peter quickly realized his mistake, quickly placing himself in Greer's way as Jean grabbed Scott's arm and led them far away from her.
"It's fine Peter, you played your part. Now just let me get that meddling ginger..."
"No, Greer. I want to dance with you...honest." The huge Piotor seemed to lower his head, his eyes betraying his stoic appearance…
'An almost Colton thing to do…' Greer noted with some amusement and a little fondness before smiling sympathetically.
"Alright Piotor, I'll dance with you…" she said cheerfully before instantly regretting it as Piotor literally yanked her to the center of the dance floor, Greer noting a seething Kitty glaring furiously from behind Illiyana.
Meanwhile, Apex rumbled in anticipation as he gracefully clambered onto the rooftop, breathing in the cold night air and basking in the silence. Just a simple run and a jump over the Mansion's fence and he'd be in the woods…unseen and undetected. Everyone preoccupied with their...party.
Slinking into the shadows, Apex ran silently along the rooftop, his mind 100% focused on his objective...when it wasn't attempting to decipher what Logan had been talking about. No one was thinking about him...or what he might be doing. As far as anyone was concerned, he was still patrolling the grounds. On one of the few nights that Greer needed him, he would simply wait for her to fall to sleep and slip out...back before she ever awakened.
However catching sight of a familiar face in one of the lower windows, he skidded to an abrupt halt. It was Greer…at the party…she looked...
Almost in a trance, Apex found himself kneeling down to take a closer look at her. All of the female students were in dresses and gowns, the boys dressed in suits ranging from ill-fitting to almost dignified. The teachers were of course as ravishing and gallant as always...but Apex's attention was solely on the tigress. She wore an elegant dark green dress, one that brought out the emerald in her eyes. And her hair…he cocked his head to a side. It was nice to see Greer's face when she didn't obstruct it…taking note of the two stripes that decorated her cheeks, usually covered by her hair. He rarely noticed those...
But he wondered why she looked so nervous. This was after all what she had been pestering him about.
But he knew now how to see through Greer's smiles. Though everything about her looked perfect, he could see the slight drooping of her ears, the arm wrapped around her stomach and how her tail draped around her leg…Greer wasn't having the fun she said she'd be having. Apex stole a glance towards the woods and then back at Greer…Maybe he could...
Apex snarled and shook his head, "Objective first." Colton grumbled before turning towards the woods only to snap back when he
saw something that made his hackles rise, a deep rumble filling the air.
"This is fun no?"
"Yea absolutely…" Greer replied uncomfortably, practically panting after being maneuvered by Piotor across every centimeter of the dance floor. Her tail working overtime to keep herself upright in these heels. They had almost crashed into several people and Greer practically cried for joy when the song came to an end. Peter may have been the strongest member of the X-Men...but he was certainly not the most graceful. Looking for an escape route, she settled for ducking through the crowd to get back to her room safely…
"Well that was fun…But I think I'm going to…"
"Ah no! Another!" Piotor exclaimed, refusing to let go of her arm. Greer sighed… Fine… One more… Just to please a housemate…who she was going to murder.
"Enjoying the party?" rumbled a familiar voice. Greer couldn't resist the smile that crept onto her face.
"Colton!" she exclaimed, turning around and wrapping her arms around him, taking in his familiar scent before looking up at him.
"So you came after all…" she teased, getting a shrug from him. Greer couldn't care less though, even overlooking the t-shirt (she was going shopping this week...with or without him), she was just glad that he changed his mind.
"Greer?" she heard Piotor call and she winced… Right…One more dance…
"I'm sorry, Peter. But I think I'm all danced out." Peter looked disappointed but caught the look Colton was giving him and the way Greer had slipped herself around him, a different sort of smile on her face.
"Very well. Take good care of her kot…" he chuckled before nodding to Greer and retreating back towards Illiyana and a positively ecstatic Kitty who shot Greer one last look of contempt. 'What's her problem?'
"We don't have to dance...do we?" Greer fought back a laugh and guided Colton off the obviously intimidating dance floor.
"No, I think Peter crushed all the dance out of me." A companionable silence soon formed between the two as Greer took Colton's arm, the two content to stand back and allow the students their night. The smile on Greer's face grew as she kept catching Colton taking in her dress.
Now she remembered how Ororo had talked her into buying it. The confident tigress slowly reappearing as the night wore on, neither she nor Colton ever fully separating from the other.
"Ready to call it a night?" Greer whispered, noticing most of the students had started heading elsewhere, to their rooms...or whatever hideaway they thought would keep them hidden longest until Scott yelled at them that this wasn't a brothel.
Apex just nodded his head, happy the evening was finally over. Had it not been for Greer pressed against him, he would have made an escape an hour ago.
The two headed upstairs, Apex a little surprised when Greer led towards his room...he had thought after a night like tonight Greer would have no problem falling asleep. But no...instead she just prowled towards his room and once inside, closed the door behind them.
Assuming Greer simply wanted to sleep in his room as usual, went to rest in his chair, wanting to give her the privacy she always fiercely protected. But Greer grabbed his hand, stopping him. Keeping her emerald eyes locked on his amber, Greer took a small step back and reached behind to unzip her dress, letting it fall to the floor as she stepped out of her heels, leaving her in just her black essentials.
It took almost a minute for Colton to accept that Greer just did that… She… She barely dared to wear a skirt that went above her knees and yet here she was standing calmly in front of him… Her tail uncurling and curling from behind her…he counted the stripes on her hips...her stomach...
"Greer...what -"
"The dress's expensive, I don't want to ruin the fabric…" Greer replied silkily, though he was pretty sure she had just came up with that excuse on the fly.
As if in a trance, Apex approached a smiling Greer… He suddenly had the urge to wrap his arms around a waist…but, he stopped himself halfway… Suddenly hesitant… What was he doing?
Apex stopped thinking as Greer gently placed his arms around her and then he rumbled a little as she started to rub soothing circles on his back, getting the tense muscles to loosen and relax. In turn, he followed silently as Greer led him to the bed, where they calmly both got into. At first, Apex just lay there rigidly, not daring to even move just in case it bothered the curled up tigress next to him only to turn on his side in surprise as Greer suddenly cuddled up next to him and lay in a way that her back rested against his chest, her head resting on his arm while pulling his other hand so that his arm rested across her, her hand clasping into his, tracing a pattern on his thumb.
"Goodnight Colton…" he heard her whisper , her long hair gently caressing his face… Colton blinked, his senses being assaulted… It was like she was everywhere and all he could register was her scent, her body pressed against his. He had never felt this before...this feeling that he never wanted to be anyplace else. And for once...the prospect of not knowing something didn't bother him.
For once, he didn't care and he found himself pulling Greer a little closer, who turned over in surprise but proceeded to purr lovingly and her purrs all he wanted to hear…
BREAKING NEWS: More fires in upstate New York last night. Officials are not ruling out arson, but believe these last fires to be drug related. Large trace amounts of the street drug knows as 'Banshee' were found at the sites of each fire. It is believed the highly volatile drug making process may be to blame. Police are not reporting any casualties although witnesses claimed to have scene a number of bodies at the scene...
"Logan? What are you doing in here?" Logan looked up from the computer to see Ororo standing in the doorway, her white dress making it clear she had just left the party.
"Just goin' over some things." Logan had minimized the windows that showed the reports he had been reading through once he had caught wind of Ororo's perfume coming down the hall.
"Well we need you on roundup duty. And please...leave the flask behind." Ororo waved a goodnight and headed upstairs.
"Sure thing 'Ro." Logan muttered as he slid the flask back into his suit pocket.
Giving the screen one last look, Logan closed the browser and wiped the memory, before turning off the lights.