Rogue and Isaac
Rogue checked the address again. Somehow this house didn't strike her as somewhere rockstars would live, even if they did have two dogs in the yard.
She walked up the path and knocked on the front door. A few minutes later, Isaac opened it.
"Hi?" Isaac asked.
"Umm, I'm Rogue," Rogue began.
"Oh yes! Been expecting you. Come on in."
Rogue smiled as Isaac moved aside, holding the door open for her to enter.
"Dad! Rogue's here!" Isaac called.
Walker
Walker came downstairs at that moment and smiled in greeting.
"Welcome Marie," he grinned, shaking her hand as he raised his eyebrows, "...Rogue. I'll just go find Taylor."
He turned to Isaac.
"Make her feel welcome. And little Zurinah too."
He winked, then headed upstairs again to Taylor's room.
Isaac and Rogue
"Okay," Isaac said agreeably. "Have a seat. Hungry? Thirsty?"
"A little thirsty, thank you."
"What would you like? We've juice, milk, Dr Pepper..."
"Water will be fine, thank you."
"Water is it then," Isaac said and telekinetically got her said drink.
Rogue raised her eyebrows as the glass floated down onto the coffee table.
"Telekinetic?"
"Yup."
She nodded and opened up the bag that she had brought the fuzzles in. All seven of them bounded out and immediately started exploring this strange new place.
"They couldn't bear the idea of Zurinah getting a trip and not them too," Rogue giggled.
"Ahh," Isaac grinned. "Wow, how do stand seven of them?"
"They're no so bad," Rogue replied. "In any case, I don't know anyone else who would like one, so y'know."
She shrugged.
Walker and Taylor
Walker soon returned, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. He looked back up as Taylor slowly stepped down - the glass tank in his hands and a worried expression on his face.
When he made it to the bottom, he eyed his father before stepping into the livingroom and placing the tank on the coffee table.
"Hi Rogue."
Rogue and Isaac
"Hi," Rogue replied cheerfully, looking at the tank curiously.
"I'll ahh, I'll let you guys get on with it," Isaac said. "Good luck."
And he left.
"Good luck?" Rogue repeated, a little confused.
Taylor and Walker
Taylor managed a small smile, before lifting the lid from the tank.
"What was the name of the white one?" he looked between his father and Rogue.
"Zurina," Walker replied.
"Thanks. Ah... Rogue? Can you just... bring her out? I'm not quite sure how this works."
Rogue
Rogue nodded and scooped up Zurina.
"Not sure how what works?" she asked. "Ah still don't know why you wanted her here..."
Walker and Taylor
"Well you see Rogue..." Walker began, rabbing his hands together and sitting on the edge of the couch across from her.
"We often don't believe in complete evil and... angelic, opposites, do we? But there is such a thing in our fuzzle friends. The reason black and white fuzzles are so rare... well, becomes obvious. White is the angelic side, and I know you will have noticed her excellent behaviour and perhaps courage and protectiveness of you and her kin as she has grown, but of course that comes down to black being the total opposite."
Taylor glanced up at Walker, before Malory bit his hand and Taylor dropped him to the table.
"Dammit," he cursed, slipping his finger in his mouth to stop the bleeding.
Malory looked Zurina over curiously.
Rogue
Rogue nodded slowly.
"I see..." she said, not entirely certain that she did.
Zurina made the fuzzle equivalent of a tsking noise at Malory after his biting of Taylor. That wasn't a very nice thing to do!
Walker
"A battle of good and evil between these two may take some time..." Walker began.
"They are rather young. And I know Malory at least is quite strong already."
Malory blew a raspberry at Zurina, then spat in her direction.
Rogue
"Battle of good and evil," Rogue repeated, trying hard not to smile too broadly, after all it was a serious situation.
Still, it was hard not to laugh.
Zurina eeped, and shook the spit off her person. Why was he being so mean? She bounced over to Malory
Taylor and Walker
Malory growled like a small dog and bared what he could of his teeth.
"What if..." Taylor began.
"Don't worry. She can handle him."
Taylor looked to his father worriedly, but kept himself from intervening.
Rogue
Rogue hoped Walker was right - she'd hate to see anything happen to Zurina.
Zurina had evidently decided that Malory needed a hug, and thus closed the distance between them to give him one.
Taylor and Walker
Malory's growls grew louder, followed by a volley of threats.
This was followed by his biting her - some white fur remaining around his mouth.
"Oh God," Taylor frowned, sitting up a little.
Walker held him back.
Rogue
"Oh muh gosh! Zurina!" Rogue gasped.
Zurina whimpered. All she wanted to do was give him a hug, and he bit her! That wasn't very nice. And now he was threatening her!
He was probably just angry. She would be too if she had been stuck in that tank. Obviously, seeing as hugs were out of the question, she needed to cheer him up another way.
And thus, she started singing fuzzle campfire songs.
Taylor and Walker
Taylor raised his eyebrows.
"What is she doing?" Walker asked.
"Ah... singing? And by any guess he doesn't like it."
Malory was spitting insults, and jumping up and down. The fuzzle squinted, and began trying to drain Zurina's power.
Rogue
"Singing?" Rogue repeated.
Zurina paused in her songs for a moment. What did he think he was doing? Zurina scolded Malory. It just wasn't nice of him to try and drain her power.
"Not singing now..." Rogue giggled, never seen Zurina upset before.
Taylor and Walker
Taylor just shook his head.
"Malory is almost in battle mode, and the white one's just not taking the hint by the look of it."
"That's because she's not supposed to," Walker amended, "fighting should always be the last thing on her mind."
Rogue
"Int'resting," Rogue said thoughtfully.
Zurina decided she was done scolding, and tried to think of other ways to make Malory not so angry anymore. Hugging didn't work, and singing didn't seem to work either. Ohh! What about a game?
Walker and Taylor
Malory snarled again, still working on draining Zurina's power. It shouldn't take long... then he could kill her for good.
"She'll have to fight eventually though, right?" Taylor raised his eyebrows.
"Of course," Walker amended, "she'll have to defend herself eventually."
Rogue
Rogue chewed her lip. She hoped Zurina wouldn't get too badly hurt.
Zurina wriggled.
"Why are you being so mean?" she seemed to ask.
Taylor and Walker
"Evil little badass white mother****er," Malory spat.
Taylor swallowed and turned away.
"This could take a while," Walker folded his arms and sat back into the chair.
Rogue
Rogue looked at Walker, then at Zurina and decided to sit down too.
Zurina quivered. That wasn't a nice thing to say at all! And he was still trying to drain her power. What was wrong with him? She bounced uncertainly on the spot for a moment, then decided he needed to vent some energy.
"How about a race?" she suggested eagerly.
Taylor
"I'm racing you already, you just don't seem to get it," Malory sneered.
Taylor's eyes darted between the two, wondering if he should leave the room.
Rogue
Malory was right. Zurina didn't get it. What did he mean he was racing her?
"You're silly," she giggled.
Rogue glanced at Taylor, then back at the fuzzles.
Taylor
Malory snarled even louder, then finally punced on her.
His teeth ripped into the other fuzzle as he forced her to roll over.
"Oh man," Taylor looked away.
Rogue
"Zurina!" Rogue cried as her fuzzle wailed.
Zurina wriggled, trying to get out of Malory's grip. Why was he hurting her?
Walker and Taylor
"It's ok Rogue," Walker insisted as Taylor kept his eyes away.
"She will learn to respond. My only hope is that Malory does not become bored and turn on us in the meantime."
Taylor gulped.
Rogue
Rogue chewed her lip and hoped Zurina would be all right.
Zurina continued to struggle, trying to get away from this horribly mean fuzzle. Somehow she managed to rollover, but Malory's grip on her was so tight that she was forced to beat him in her efforts to get away.
Taylor
Malory snapped at Zurina in an effort to keep control. Her blood was beginning to show, and it was making Taylor sick.
"I'll... be right back," he said softly, taking one last glance at the creatures before going to get a drink of water.
Rogue
Rogue chewed her lip, wanting to rescue her poor little fuzzle, who was crying out in the pain.
Zurina recolied from Malory's jaws and scratched at him.
"Let go! Let go of me!" she wailed.
Malory
"You die!" Malory spat venomously.
"An den your lil' girly-wirly too!"
Zurina
"No!" Zurina objected.
She beat him as hard as her little fists (or fuzzle equivalent anyway) could pummel.
Malory
Malory hissed as he backed off, deciding to concentrate on draining her power instead.
She was considerably younger, which is possibly any other case might have meant he was stronger than her. Unfortunately...
He licked the blood off his lips as he concentrated.
Zurina
"Stop it! Stop it!" Zurina cried.
She kicked him and stratched him and effectively was so upset and panicky that she started pulling out fur.
Taylor
Malory yelped, before slashing back at her.
Taylor cringed in the kitchen, but he didn't want to get any further away. He sat at the table and covered his ears.
Zurina
"Why are you being so mean?" Zurina shouted. "I only wanted to cheer you up!"
She hit him some more, wondering why he was being so voilent and trying to drain her. If this went on much longer, he would kill her. And Roguey too. Maybe... maybe... maybe she should try draining his power? The very idea mad her feel so guilty, but she was already feeling guilty from all the beating up she was doing.
Walker
"Don't NEED cherrup!" Malory exclaimed, continuing to completely attack her.
Walker had been watching solemnly the whole time.
Zurina
"You still didn't need to attack me!"
Zurina, reluctantly, made her decision and tentatively started to drain Malory's power.
Malory
Malory growled. If he didn't spee dup, she was going to overtake him. Then he'd lose.
And he couldn't lose.
Mustering all his energy, he started draining faster.
Rogue
Zurina felt the drain increase and whimpered before increasing he own efforts. The feeling of guilt swelled up inside her.
Rogue chewed her lip some more, her brow wrinkled.
Walker and Taylor
Noticing that the curses and vile threats had ceased, Taylor finished his glass of water and headed back into the livingroom. He sat where he had been before and watched the fuzzles intently.
"There's a lot of concentration going on," he said in soft English, eyes darting between the two.
"I imagine they are each each working at draining the others' power," Walker raised his eyebrows.
Rogue
"Draining power?" Rogue asked curiously.
Zurina felt so guilty about this. But she didn't know what else to do!
Walker
"Yes, it is the only way to actually kill an either black or white," Walker nodded.
"Without their power they become mortal. Malory is a little more excersized in this area - being older - but Zurina should be a little stronger. Simply because she is younger."
Rogue
"Oh," Rogue said, watching the fuzzles intently. "Wait... kill?"
Zurina made an effort to block everything out. Everything other than draining Malory's power. And it got so much harder, feeling her own power being sapped away.
Taylor
"The only way to kill a black fuzzle is... well, by a white one," Taylor explained sullenly.
"And I'm guessing vice-versa."
Malory grunted a little, realizing he was - slowly - losing.
Rogue
"So... so this is a fight to the death?" Rogue gulped, here eys wide. "You never told me anything about that!"
She watched, now in fear of Zurina's life.
Zurina trembled, now finding a way to use the power she drained from Malory to suppliment her own.
Walker
"If you realized the seriousness of the situation I'm sure you would understand," Walker reassured.
"Malory's purpose in life is to murder those he is closest to, then branch out to their family and friends from there. Both Taylor and Jane have already had some extremely close calls, and I am not sure for how much longer we could contain him."
Rogue
"But... but why?" Rogue asked.
She chewed her lip, her eyes not moving from Zurina. Oh please, please, please live!
Taylor and Walker
"Because black fuzzles are the ultimate evil," Taylor looked up at her.
"And white are the ultimate good."
"That they can be," Walker amended.
Rogue
"So... this is quite litahrally a bat'le between good and evil?" Rogue asked.
Zurina whimpered slightly as she started draining the last of Malory's power.
Taylor
Taylor nodded.
"Quite literally," Walker agreed, eyeing the fuzzles' progress.
Malory began to pant with the effort.
Rogue
Rogue chewed her lip.
"Who... who's winning?" she dared to ask.
Zurina saw Malory struggling and almost ceased her efforts - she didn't want to hurt anyone. But she also didn't want Malory to hurt anyone. And she knew that if she stopped he would hurt people.
Taylor & Walker
Taylor slid off the couch to get a closer look.
Walker smiled.
"I think it's working out just as we'd had planned," he said.
Rogue
Rogue briefly looked up at Walker hopefully.
"I'm sorry," Zurina whimpered.
Taylor
"Don't be," Taylor said softly in fuzzle.
"Don't be sorry. You know what you have to do."
Rogue
Rogue gave Taylor a curious glance.
"I dooooo... but I don't wanna..." Zurina sniffed.
Reluctantly, she stared draining the last wisps of Malory's power.
Taylor
"You know what he'll do if you don't," Taylor insisted, staring intently.
"It's up to you to save us. You know you can. It's part of your existence. Come on girl..."
Rogue
Zurina sobbed loudly. Rogue's forehead wrinkled in concern as she heard her beloved pet's distress.
"I'm sorrrrryyy..." Zurina cried as she took the last of Malory's power.
The unhappy white fuzzle nuzzled Malory's body, all life gone.
Taylor & Walker
Taylor closed his eyes and hung his head as his father leant forward and placed two fingers over the dark fur of Malory's body.
Satisfied, he pulled back.
Before their eyes, Malory's body slowly began to descend into dust.
Rogue
Rogue reached over and picked up the sobbing Zurina. She stroked her fur tenderly.
"I... I guess... I guess she won..."
Walker & Taylor
"Yes, yes she did," Walker amended, before standing.
Taylor looked up again after a moment, resting his chin on his hands.
"I shall over you dinner, Rogue. And if you wish to stay the night before returning to Xavier's, you're very welcome to."
Rogue
Rogue nodded, hugging Zurina.
"Thank you," she said. "Ah think Ah will take you up on that offer."
She glanced at the dust that was all that was left of Malory.
Taylor
"Don't worry about Malory," Walker insisted, indicating for her to stand, "can I offer you a drink?"
Taylor took a deep breath, just staring at the dust.
He knew it was Malory - who'd tried to kill him numerous times - but he still hated the death of anything.
Rogue
"Yes please," Rogue nodded.
"I didn't want to kill him," Zurina sniffed. "But I did. I killed him. I killed someone."
She fell into another round of tears.
Taylor & Walker
Taylor gulped at Zurina's cries, wishing that she hadn't have had to do it.
If only there'd been another way...
Walker led Rogue into the kitchen, and proceeded to fetch that drink.