Natalia
Natalia had gotten out of her clothes in the night. They itched, and her back hurt when it rubbed against the cloth. She curled up on the floor again, and sleepily created some violets. Pretty. She blew on one near her face. It nodded gently. Pretty, pretty. She tapped it with a finger to watch it move. Eventually she fell asleep again, honeyblonde hair spread over her like a blanket. The smell of violets lingered in the air as the flowers bloomed, fed by Natalia's talent. The shy flowers were sprinkled through her hair and around her sleeping form.
Gambit
Gambit yawned, feeling the sun coming through the window and shining on his face. Dang cheap places.
He sat up, blinked and looked around. Then he gaped. One of the girls - Natalia - was sleeping naked on the floor. Now Gambit wasn't adverse to sleeping naked - in fact he did it himself when he had an opportunity.
This was not an opportunity.
Gambit picked up a blanket and draped it over Natalia, then he wrote a quick note and went downstairs to get them all some breakfast.
Natalia
Natalia stirred briefly when Gambit draped the blanket over her, but didn't wake up completely. Mouse was still out for the count, having basically gone for two days without sleep and then the accumlated stress had caught up with her in a big crashing ball of fatigue.
Natalia woke up a few moments later and sat up. The blanket puddled around her on the ground and she stretched. Mmm. Good sleep. She looked around. Mouse was in the bed, and the man had gone. She wasn't sure yet if he was a Master or not. She curled up on the floor again using the blanket as a pillow and fell asleep quickly. She was used to snatching moments when she could.
Gambit
Gambit returned sometime later. The girls were still asleep, so he put their food to the side.
Natalia seemed to think she was some sort of porn model obviously. Naked for all the world to see again.
Gambit shook his head and tended to his own stomach. Her choice.
Mouse and Natalia
Mouse woke up to the smell of food and bolted for the toilet, just barely missing stepping on Natalia. She started to throw up violently, her morning sickness back with a vengeance. Natalia blinked as she woke up to see Mouse hurtle over her.
"Wow, you run fast."
"I hate those doctors, and I swear to god I'm going to make them go through the hell that is morning sickness if I ever can." Mouse retched again. "Connards."
Natalia rolled over onto her stomach. "The Masters have their reasons."
"God, Natalia, you don't have to call them that anymore!"
Gambit
"I don' t'ink yo' want people like dat ta breed cheri," Gambit replied. "But I'm sure you'll find some equivalent punishment."
He ate another mouthful of food.
Mouse and Natalia
"Good point." Mouse waited for a few seconds, but when the retches didn't come back, she went and rinsed her mouth out. Natalia was watching Gambit, still trying to make up her mind as to what he was. "Food is good. Natalia, come eat." Mouse sat down at the table and Natalia crept over. "I've told you, you don't have to do that anymore." Her fist clenched. "I swear to God I am going to kill those bastards for making her into this."
Natalia sat at Mouse's feet, and looked up with confusion.
Gambit
"I'm sure yo' will cheri," Gambit replied. "Come on perdy one, eat something. Yo' go' no meat on dem bones of yours."
Gambit took a long swig of his drink. He wondered when Tanya would be getting there.
Mouse and Natalia
"Natalia, would you put some clothes on?" Mouse said wearily. God, she was so tired. Natalia shrugged and went to do as Mouse asked.
"They itch."
"Tes, well, the things one has to do for decency. Grab a chair and sit down."he paro Ewan rummaged in his jacket p
Natalia pulled her top over her head and hesitantly sat next to Mouse.
"Food. Eat it before it gets cold." Mouse started to do as she had told Natalia. "When do you think Tanya will get here?" Natalia started to sort of eat her food, more playing with it then anything else. "I know he had at least ont attack while we were in there, because Blakesley freaked out about."
"Who's Tanya?"
"She's an alien, a telepath."
"Oh, ok."
"You know, actually eating that food may help."
Gambit
Gambit frowned thoughtfully at Natalia. Thinking of something that Mouse had said to her (and hoping he wouldn't make matters worse) he said:
"Good girls eat their food," then he turned to Mouse. "I don' know when Tanya's getting here. Last I heard dey were stuck in traffic - some disaster on the highway."
He sighed.
"Believe me, yo' are not da only ones hoping she'll get here soon. I need to be on da move myself."
Mouse and Natalia
Natalia started to eat obediently.
"What is it, a job?" Mouse asked with interest. "Or just the general I don't like to stay in one place for too long?"
Gambit
"A mix of both, cheri," Gambit replied with a smile.
He noted with relief that Natalia was eating. Not good for people to starve themselves.
Mouse and Natalia
"Sounds cool." Mouse ate more of the breakfast Gambit had brought up. Natalia had created some flowers on the table almost absentmindedly as she ate her breakfast. "I've got to get back to N'Awlins some time. The food is much better there. I don't know why, just is."
Gambit
"Ahh, yes. No food is as good as da food yo' have at home," Gambit agreed. "Well, unless da one cooking it can't cook, but yo' know what I mean."
His phone rang then and he snatched it up. He spoke for a minute or two before hanging it up.
"That was Tanya. They're about an hour away," he informed them.
Mouse and Natalia
"Cool." Mouse finished her breakfast and stood up. "I'm going to have a shower before they get here." She disappeared into the bathroom. Natalia stared down at her plate, hair falling down to shield her face.
She didn't know what to do. She wasn't used to this. It didn't fit in with what she knew. He had nice hands, she decided from what she could see of him. What was she meant to do? She didn't want to be bad, she wanted to be a good girl but all the rules had been changed and she didn't know how to be what they wanted. Whatever it was that they wanted. "Do you want me to help clean up?" She asked meekly.
Gambit
"T'is very kind of yo' ta offer, cheri," Gambit replied. "But I'd better be da one to take these plates back down ta da kitchen. Can' afford fo' yo' ta been seen by da wrong folks. I'll take dem down a bit later."
He put his feet up on the table and leaned back in his chair.
Natalia
Natalia nodded slowly. The violets on the table vanished as she let go of them and she stood up. "Makes sense." She moved over to the small window and looked out, leaning her forehead against the smeared glass. She tapped on it with a fingernail, the links on her cuff jingling softly. "You know I'd almost forgotten what colour the sky is. Blue. So blue. Pretty, pretty..." She sighed. "Everything in my head is all jumbled. I know I'veo Ewan rummaged in his jacket p forgotten everything that's important, and I don't know who I am. This doesn't make sense to me. Everything. All confused."
Gambit
Gambit took a thoughtful breath.
"Well, yo' know what dey say. Yo' don' know what you've got 'til it's gone. Don' worry cheri, you'll get everythin' straight again. I'm sure dere are plenty o' people who will be happy ta help yo'. I t'ink Mouse is one of dem. So... yo' make a lot of violets... is dat yo' power den?"
Natalia
"Pretty, pretty flowers, everywhere. Just violets though. Tom used to like it when I made them for him. Then everything came crashing down like cards." Natalia fiddled with the rings on her cuffs, still staring out the window. "The Masters came and everything changed...blood. I always remember the blood. He tried to fight, kept trying. He was a bit of a white knight, but he couldn't defeat the dragons to save the princess. He broke and crumbled and died. So sad. Sad, sad, sad," she chanted softly. "Poor boy. I loved him once. I can't remember what it felt like now."
Gambit
Gambit nodded slowly.
"Ahh, dat is a truly sad t'ing, cheri," he said. "Ta love is a wonderous t'ing, but ta forget how it feels ta love or ta once have loved? Yo' missin' an impor'ant part of what life t'is abou'."
Natalia
"It was cut away with whips and knives, chained down with leather and steel. It hurt too much to remember. Too, too much. Worse then anything. I don't think I'm a person anymore. I had to not be, there, do you see?" Natalia looked out at the people on the street. So happy. Thinking they were safe. She looked back up at the sky, the sun shining and the sky that wonderful shade of blue. "Nothing, nothing, nothing. I was nothing. Still am, really. Just...the good girl. I don't remember how to be anything else."
Gambit
"Nobody is nothin'," Gambit advised. "Don' worry cheri, we'll make you inta somet'ing more than just 'the good girl'. One day dis'll just be a bad memory."
Natalia
"Maybe, maybe. They took her twice, they'll come again. I escaped once...it was worse after that for a bit. They want her children." Natalia blinked slowly. "I don't think this will be a memory. I don't think there's enough of me left to change." She sighed, looking wistfully at the people down below. "I don't remember...it's all broken. Like me. Broken and twisted..."
Gambit
"As long as yo' don' believe yo' can change, yo' won'," Gambit advised. "Have faith in yo'self cheri. I t'ink dere is more o' yo' left dan yo' realise."
He stretched his arms over his head.
"And as fo' dem coming back, well, we'll make sure dey don' succeed. Simple as dat."
Natalia and Mouse
Natalia smiled slightly, finger tracing aimless patterns on the glass. "Promise?"
"Promise what?" Mouse asked as she came out of the bathroom, briskly towelling her hair dry.
"Promise they won't get me again. I don't think I could stand to go under the ground again...not to see the sun, not to see the sky."
"They'll die before they reach you. I have serious problems with people who use collars." Mouse gave her hair a final rub and then raised her head, shaking it briskly. Natalia turned a little bit to look at Mouse, little girl lost look on her face. "It'll be alright, you'll see."
"I don't know whether anything can be alright ever, ever again."
"It will. Life goes on." Mouse went to Natalia and made her lie down on the bed. She stroked Natalia's hair and the girl closed her eyes in enjoyment, laying her head in Mouse's lap. "Always, always, life goes on..."
Gambit and Tanya
"Well den, I'll take dese down and be right back," Gambit said.
He gathered the plates and glasses and then headed downstairs. Despositing them, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Remy, hi," Tanya greeted. "Sorry if I startled you."
"Oh, no problem, cheri," Gambit replied. "Come on, da girls are upstairs."
Tanya nodded and followed him back to the room.
"Hi girls," Tanya said to them.
Mouse and Natalia
Natalia cringed back until Mouse projected a soothing wave of emotion. She nodded at the Ga'Revali master. "Hey, Tanya."
Natalia's eyes were barely cracked open, gleaming purple irises showing through. "He called for her when he fell down and screamed. His head was broken, I think."
"Yeah, you could put it that way. Can we get going as soon as possible? Every second means that Blakesley has his torturing hands on my Pack that much longer. Trust me when I say it's not a good thing."
^^^MOTHERWHEREFATHER???!!!^^^
Mouse put a hand on her stomach. "We;re going to get him back, I promise," she whispered to the children in her stomach.
Gambit and Tanya
"Yes, yes we are," Tanya agreed.
"Dis is Natalia," Gambit said.
Tanya nodded in her direction, and continued:
"I've arranged for transport for you girls back to Tulsa," she told them. "Lauren is waiting to heal you and then we'll be on our way. Mouse can you give us some directions?"
MOuse and Natalia
"I'm coming with you." The look in Mouse's eyes brooked no arguements. "I have...issues to address. There is blood to be paid. The Way of the Pack demands it. If you leave me here, I will go myself. If you try to stop me, you'll find you can't. I'm prefectly willing to take a backseat but I am coming to get my Taylor back."
Natalia cringed.
Tanya and Gambit
"No, you're not," Tanya replied. "And I am more than capable of stopping you, Mouse. Please don't make me use my powers against you. I want you as far away as possible. These are dangerous people, and I have no intention of allowing them any more hostages than neccesary. I will knock you out if I have to."
"Tanya," Gambit said. "I t'ink dese girls need closure."
Tanya looked at him, lips pressed together. There was silence for a moment.
"Fine," she said reluctantly. "But only because I'm such a nice person. Mark my words, you two, I could get in serious trouble for letting you come along, so if you cause me any trouble, directly or not, I'll..."
She let the threat haning.
"Let's go."
MOuse and Natalia
"Thank you." Mouse looked down at Natalia. "Do you want to come?"
"Oh nononono! I don;t want to go back, I don't, don't make me!"
"Ok. I'm sure Tanya will be glad that you're not coming." Mouse got up. "Can we go now?"
Tanya
"Didn't I just say that?" Tanya replied. "Hup two!"
Tanya walked out of the hotel room, expecting everyone to follow, and headed down tot he car park where her team was waiting.
Mouse and Natalia
Mouse stuck her tongue out at Tanya's back.
^^^MEANIE!^^^
"You got that right."
^^^BADBADBADLADY!Threenolikeher.Eather?^^^
Mouse giggled. Now, that was a new reaction. "Can't eat her. Why do you want to eat her?"
^Badlady.Threenolike.Eather.Growstrongifweeather.YUM!^ ^Probablytastebad.Won'tmakemothereather.WouldLIKEtoeatherbutthreewon't makemother.^ ^Lovelovelovemother.^ ^Drinkherbloodanddanceonhergrave.^
Bloodthirsty little tykes. Mouse shook her head grinning.
Natalia slunk along behind, eyes huge in her face. Ohohoh. This was not good. Not good at all. She whined softly, retreating beyond words. Mouse reached back and ruffled her hair. Natalia moved her head into the palm of Mouse's hand, seeking reassurance. Mouse gave it. It was really starting to freak her out, how Natalia was transfering her submissive behaviour to her but she wasn;t about to tell the poor girl no. Not now.
Tanya and Gambit
"Lauren!" Tanya called.
Lauren popped her head out of the van. Tanya made a come hither gesture, and Lauren got out.
"Who's first?" she asked.
"I would suggest Mouse first cheri," Gambit replied. "Natalia is worse off, but she may trust yo' better this way."
Lauren nodded.
"Makes sense... if you don't mind Mouse?" Lauren asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Mouse and Natalia
"Not at all," Mouse said politely and let Lauren heal her bruised and battered face. Natalia sighed in awe. Soon Lauren turned to Natalia who stepped away and hunched her shoulders in preparation for a blow. "She'll help you, Natalia. Promise." Natalia still looked ready to bolt. "Natalia." The tone of command did it. Natalia stood still and let the woman heal her, shaking almost convulsively.
"Doesn't hurt, anymore..." Natalia said softly.
"I think that was the point. Can we go now?" Mouse asked Tanya. "Blakesley had a lot of toys. I don't want to find out how many of them he can use on Taylor."
Tanya and Gambit
"Well," Tanya replied. "That's what the van's here for."
Gambit got into the back and Lauren followed, while Tanya got into thr front.
Mouse and Natalia
Mouse rolled her eyes at Tanya's behaviour and got into the van. Natalia stood outside, shaking.
"I can't, I can't."
"Get in, Natalia." Slowly Natalia got in and Mouse reached around her and closed the door. The violet eyed mutant settled to shivering in her seat, eyes wide with fear as they drove off.
Mouse stared out the window. Hang on, Tay.