Memories

X-Man

Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men or any of their characters. Tora and Weapon X-ii are my own though.

Logan was exhausted. It had been a false trail and he'd not slept. As he walked into the living room, he gaped.

"What happened?"

The outer wall was covered in a tarp and the opposite wall had a huge dent in it, like someone had been thrown across the room.

"Charles."

"I am here Logan."

The other X-Men entered the room.

"Mein Gott. Vas…?"

"We were attacked tonight."

"Where's Tora?"

If something had happened to her… She was so unsure. Just a kid really.

"I think she went to bed."

"What?"

"She said something about fighting murderous maniacs making her feel tired."

"WHAT?"

"Suffice to say, I would not have survived tonight without her."

He took the stairs three at a time, the other X-Men following. When he got there, Kitty stuck her head out of the door. She'd obviously gone straight up.

"She's not there!"

They dived through the door. The windows were open and the bed unslept in.

"Where is she?"

He sniffed. Then grinned.

"Shh. She's still here."

"Where?"

Still grinning he went over to the bed and pull up the heavy quilt. Curled up cat-like under the wooden slats, Tora slept.

"Didn't think she slept in the bed."

Old habits die hard. After the first night when she'd tried and failed to sleep on the bed she'd found that under it was comfortable enough and darker. It was easier to stay with her own methods of sleep. She'd sunk into the mattress and decided the floor was a better option.

It was dark. The room seemed empty. Typical. First real mission with the X-Men and she managed to get herself captured. OK, the others were captured as well. But not the most auspicious start to a career. But the chains. Wait. They weren't too strong. She twisted her arms, hoping against hope. There. Claws free, now to break the chains. It didn't take long. The idiots had used steel. Steel didn't hold her. She massaged her wrists, getting the feeling back in her hands. Then she walked to the door and slid the smooth metal claws down the sides, cutting neatly though the hinges. She stood back, letting the door fall towards her. Now to bust the others out. She calmed down. Slowed her breathing until her heartbeat slowed to a steady pace. No need to panic. Scent. Logan was two doors on her right. He'd be the best in this situation. But Scott was leader. Finally she chose Logan. It was easier. Claws gently edging up the sides of the door. The door fell in, almost crushing a now unchained Logan.

"Beat me to it."

She laughed.

"Help me get Scott out."

"Why don't we leave him?"

"Tempting. But I have an idea. You get Kurt and Peter. I'll get Scott and 'Ro."

"I still can't see why we have to rescue him."

She ran down the corridor, scenting the air. There. Scott. The claw approach again. Once she was in, it was a moment's work to shatter the metal visor that stopped him from firing his optic blasts.

"Good work Tora."

Under the mask she blushed. She wasn't used to being complimented. She'd gone for an almost full-face mask, leaving only her mouth and lower nose uncovered. She'd also insisted on the solid piece of burnished black metal that acted as protection to her nose and around the eyes and jawbone, as well as pinning her hair back. She'd done a single drawing and that had been it. Uniform awarded. She hadn't wanted talks. She'd just wanted to be in the field. Who cared if she wore yellow and red or orange with black stripes. All that mattered was she helping her friends- because they were friends- fight for what they believed in. Now to rescue Storm. When she got there, she realized what they'd done. She was in a tiny space. She knew about Ororo's claustrophobia. How could she not? It was something she in part shared. She preferred the outdoors. But if she was out there and found a small cranny, she felt safe in it. That's why she still didn't sleep in the bed. She liked the area under it. It was safe and small and warm. So all she could do was hold Ororo close, whisper words of comfort until she stopped shaking. Then they had fought. Fought for their lives. And she had loved it. Every second. The adrenalin rushed, giving her reflexes, already fast, a boost. There wasn't fear there. Just enjoyment and the thrill of fighting.

They turned to leave. Scott glanced at her.

"Good work…Tigress."

The name had just been there. Like the name she now took as her own. Tora. Tiger. With her red and black hair, golden eyes and graceful claws, it was who she had become. The claws. Thin. Thinner than Logan's. A full three inches shorter. But she'd soon learn that fighting wasn't the thrill she thought it was.

She could see why Logan had wanted to bring her here. He'd said she hadn't lived until she'd seen a Noh performance. He'd tried to get the others to come but they wouldn't. Kurt had a date with Amanda, Charles had work to do, Scott didn't want to go anywhere with Logan, 'Roro was doing something in her attic that meant water was coming through the ceiling again and Peter and Kitty just didn't want to go out. So it had just been her and Logan. She now knew the word that she felt about him. He was like a father. Overprotective, watching out for her. Dragging her off to see performances. But he'd been right this time. She'd loved every minute of it. Now they were leaving. The good point of there only being two of them was that they were able to travel on the bike. She didn't like the cars. They enclosed her, but not safe enclosure. Cage enclosure. The bike gave her a freedom not usually allowed. Logan still wouldn't let her drive though. Fine, she didn't have a license but she could drive. She was trying to get a license but she couldn't. Not with only one name and no proper ID. How had Logan managed it? But then he'd had a past before hand. He just couldn't remember it. She moved towards the bike outside, so intent on hearing about other plays Logan had seen, guard down as it rarely was, she didn't see the garbage truck coming. The first thing she knew was Logan trying to push her out the way and then the gas filling her lungs and blackness swirling as she reached out and caught his hand and he tried to tell her she'd be fine, that she'd be out soon. But the confinement terrified her. She was meant for the wilderness, not a dark space. Chains were her greatest fear. And they were chaining her with sleep.

That was very like her. Her whole life she'd want, need freedom. The freedom the X-Men gave her was an example of that. She was wild at heart, needing freedom like an animal does. Some animals can't survive in captivity. She was one of those. To thrive she needed space and room to roam. She'd survived as a child because she didn't know anything else. Now she breathed freedom.