Laying Low

[The Phoenix]

Phoenix's mind had been whirling around everywhere. Just thinking about this whole situation. The whole thing was absurd really. The Phoenix and Victor Creed bringing a child into the world. But then again....yes, it was absurd but it was also terrifying. The offspring of these two would probably destroy cities. Phoenix smiled as she thought about it. She could do this. She could raise this child her way.

Her eyes shot up and stared at Victor as he said this could easily be taken care of. After her little revelation she had a sense of having to protect this child more than anything. Her mothering instincts were kicking in now that she knew what was going on. Phoenix was like a mother lioness now and would do anything to protect her child....even from it's father if she had to.

"No. I want this child, Victor."

She stood up and walked over to where Victor was standing. She wanted him on board with this but she knew it was probably going to take some time. He wasn't really father of the year but maybe if he saw it her way then he would changing his mind. She stood right in front of him and looked up into his eyes.

"Just think about, Victor. We can raise this child how we want it to be raised. You can finally have a child you can be proud of, son, daughter, whatever it is. We can do this."

[Victor Creed]

Victor stared at her as she got that plan in her head. He knew that look, but the last thing he figured that look would be attached to was the concept of a kid. Perhaps it would be easier for him to rationalize having children if it hadn't been for his own childhood.

His first kill had been his own older brother...over a piece of pie. The idiot thought it was funny that he'd deny Victor a piece of the 'birthday pie'. Victor had the last laugh. This was also the first time his mutation really became apparent to his family.

The next years he spent chained up in the basement with sparce visits from his mother and all too often visits from his father. His father whipped and beat him mercilessly as well as literally yanked out Victor's razor sharp canine teeth. And when they inevitably grew back, they were ripped out again. Victor had endured the torture for some time before he finally gave up and chewed his own hand off to get free of the shackles.

Did he think his own children would go through the same thing? No. But there was just a higher probability that he just wouldn't care what happened to the rug rat.

Victor stared down at Phoenix as she locked eyes with him. She was adament wasn't she? "If that's what you want." He really didn't care. But it seemed he was taking on a lot of responsibility lately. The Brotherhood...this woman that he hasn't killed yet, or even tried to...and now this kid? Apparently he was getting soft in his old age...

[The Phoenix]

Phoenix smirked up at him as he agreed. She hadn't expected him to at all. He had expected him to demand she take care of it. That he wasn't going to raise a child. But he had all too easily agreed. She studied his demeanor. Maybe he really was alright with this. Maybe deep down he wanted a child he could be proud of instead of that pathetic excuse for a man, Graydon. Victor had done so much for her. This was the least she could do for him.

She still really couldn't believe that she was actually pregnant. She, The Phoenix, was going to be a mother...She let her hand fall from her stomach and let it rest on Victor's chest. It started out as just a light touch. Then the smirk on her face grew and she pushed him back so he hit the wall. Then she walked forward and pressed her body against him as she took his face in her hands and kissed him fiercely. It wasn't a thank you exactly but it was in her language right now. She wondered how he would take it and then she almost laughed. He would react. he always did. The animal inside him wanted that primal feeling too much.

[Victor Creed]

Why had he agreed so easily? Well he still didn't assume any real responsibility with it. If she wanted to deal with the thing then whatever...more power to her.

He was a little surprised when she pushed him against the wall. Granted she had no power to really move him but he knew that look in her eyes. And he couldn't help the smirk that came to his face as she kissed him so fiercely. There was the Phoenix he adored. Sure most of their relationship was all based on lust, but thats what animals were. Nothing but the basest of instincts. Victor growled to her as he returned that kiss. He pushed forward next, knocking her back off balance just enough so he could grab a hold of her and her legs could wrap around his waist.

He carried her easily over to and up the small set of stairs that held the loft for the 'bedroom'. Normally he would have just dropped her onto the bed but this time he moved down with her, dropping to his knees and laying her down before he broke the kiss to nip at he lower lip.

He really didn't like this whole kid idea...but there was just something about her that kept him interested..

[The Phoenix]

Phoenix smiled as she heard him growl. There he was. The animal she had....had what? Fallen in love with? Was she really capable of love? She had doubted it for so long and now here she was living with a man who seemed to be almost her equal and now having a child with him. She stayed with him through everything. But she had originally told herself that it was for the amazing and passionate nights and sometimes days that they shared. He had shown her things she didn't think were possible.

He knocked her off balance and before she fell his arms were around her and her legs were wrapped around his waist as she was carried off to the bedroom. She was prepared for the throw that usually accompanied this sort of thing. He was always throwing her around. But she was surprised that he just laid her on the bed gently and lowered himself along with her. He nipped her bottom lip and she continued to rip his clothes off of his body. Her nails raking across his skin.

((Fade))

She woke up to the sun shining through a slit in the curtains. She lifted one of the furs to cover her face from the bright light. She didn't want to get up right now. She felt Victor's arm draped around her and holding her close to him. Right now she was content. She just laid there and listened to his breathing. Thinking about everything that was going on. She wondered how far along she was, if it was a boy or a girl, and she even started thinking of names. This was weird for her but deep down she was sort of excited. She was excited to raise a child that would carry on with her work after she was long and gone, if that ever happened. A child she could teach to hate the humans and to help her and Victor with their goal of making them their slaves. She just had to make sure that Victor was still on board with it throughout the months that followed. He could change his mind way too easily sometimes.

Her mind then drifted to last night. Usually their nights were full of passion and blood and cuts from his claws. But last night was different. The passion was still there, yes, but he had held back from the blood and cuts. She only had one or two small scratches that were already scabbed over. He had been almost gentle with her which was weird for him. He was never gentle. Not with anyone. Maybe he did care for her...

[Victor Creed]

His gentleness was strange, even he wasn't quite sure why he had had been so nice with his actions with her the night before. He was used to using her as a glorified scratching post, but something had seemed wrong with that that night. Perhaps even from every night from now on. It was strange how she seemed to adapt him without himself even realizing it. Perhaps that was what made them work together so well. They worked on a level so base that there was no need for words or anything besides them just being together.

As the sun filtered into the cabin, Victor started to stir. He gave a slight groan while his hand that wrapped over her had pressed against her skin a little more. His claws pressed against her skin just slightly before his hand slowly pulled away from her. He rose up then to sit upight. It was hard to remain in bed out here, there was a lot more to do in the sense of keeping things going. He still would have to hunt and the earlier he got to it the better off the chances were to actually catch something. He glanced over to her as she continued to lay next to him. "I need to go hunting before it gets much later. Can you handle being her by yourself?" It was more of a question of her sanity/getting bored than whether she could take care of herself on her own. He knew she was capable of that but the cabin wasn't exactly full of things to do.

[The Phoenix]

Phoenix felt him stir next to her. His hand pressed against her skin and she felt his claws run along her stomach. It wasn't deep enough to break the skin but it was deep enough to cause her to stir. Shivers ran down her skin as she felt it. She rolled over and looked at him as he sat up. Just looking at him made her shiver a little.

He was something to her now and there was no going back from it. She knew almost nothing about him though. They never talked. Everything was just physical. She wasn't complaining but at the same time if she was going to continue to be around him she was interested to know about him. But she didn't know how to bring it up. She didn't want to seem sentimental now. She wasn't that type of woman. But then why was she wondering about him? It was thing thing growing inside of her. It was changing her.

She looked at him as he mentioned He asked if she would be fine there while he was gone. Maybe this baby was changing him as well. First he had been gentle with her then he was wondering how she was going to be when she was alone. She sat up and leaned in to kiss him before she stood up and walked naked to the shower calling over her shoulder as she walked.

"I'll be fine. Go be manly."

[Victor Creed]

Victor watched as Phoenix got up from the bed and headed to the bathroom. He couldn't help letting his eyes linge upon her form before it disappeared. Why had he even bothered to ask if she would be okay? He hadn't thought about it before he said it and now it seemed almost second nature. What made him so considerate all of the sudden?

He was starting to miss the good old days of throwing women against walls and raping then shredding their bodies to pieces...not necessarily in that order either. He used to be such a darker creature and now...now he seemed to almost be someone else. Someone he couldn't even recognize.

He pushed himself out of the bed and then gathered some clothes. Jeans put on and his usual white shirt was pulled over his head before he started for the door. He was tempted to go out simply in those clothes alone but at the last moment he decided to take his overcoat with him.

* * *

It was hours before he had finally succeeded in his tracking and hunting of a meal that would last them for awhile. He had the large elk hoisted upon his shoulders and carried it with him until he reached the cabin. Victor didn't bother to check on Phoenix while he started to work on the deer. If he wasn't quick about it the beast could spoil before they had the chance to eat it.

He dropped the corpse on the deck before he strung up the back legs and lifted it off the the ground. The large creature was hanging in the air. With how cold it was the air was almost a perfect freezer for the animal already...at least enough that it gave him a little more time to work the kill. He grabbed one of the metal buckets he had laying about and with a quick slice of his claws he cut the jugular of the elk. He needed all of the blood drained first...

[The Phoenix]

The day had been filled with, well, nothing. Phoenix had done nothing but sit around the cabin and think. Her emotions were going everywhere right now. It was all hitting her at once. She had showered and changed into a pair of jeans and a sweater. Her hair was let down along her shoulders and she walked around barefoot. She had put her ipod on a speaker set but it wasn't too loud. Just loud enough to try and drown her thoughts out of her head.

All she thought about was how she didn't know Victor. Not really anyway. She knew every contore in his body and every button to push to make him angry. She even knew just how far to push him before he snapped but knowing when to stop so he wouldn't. But she didn't know him. Where he was from, how he grew up, if he had any family besides Graydon. Why was she even thinking about this right now? Her head turned as she heard Victor return. She slipped her boots on and her jacket and walked outside. She leaned against the side of the cabin and watched him, not saying anything just watching him.

[Victor Creed]

Any normal person would have had some sort of saw and or knife to do this work. But the metal that Victor's claws has been dipped into were far sharper than any knife. He prefered to use his claws alone to clean up a carcass.

Next the elk's chest and abdomen was cut open, a nice long cut down the middle. This provided the opening for the intestines and other organs to fall from the animal. He had to make a few cuts to completely empty the cavity but soon only bones and meat were left behind.

Meanwhile he knew Phoenix was behind him. Not only did he hear her leave the cabin but it was hard to miss that scent of hers. He didn't say anything fo the time being as his claws set to work again, this time helping peal back the skin of the Elk. It was a fairly slow process but as soon as the Elk was skinned he placed the skin over one of the porch railings. Sitting there it could dry slowly and eventually Victor would find a use for it. While he was known as the Butcher..for other reasons...Victor didn't see the point in wasting anything from his kill.

[The Phoenix]

Phoenix watched him as he ripped the animal apart. He was very precise in his movements and was sure to use everything the animal had to offer. Instead of using a knife he used his claws. Those amazing claws. She watched them as they were covered in blood. The red of it bright and vibrant against the snow that laid on the ground. She kicked a little away with her boot as she shivered.

Phoenix didn't really like the snow. Yes it was beautiful but it was cold and wet. Phoenix hated being cold which was why most of her powers materialized as fire. It kept her warm and if she had any of her powers right now she wouldn't be this cold. They would have kept her warm. But right now she was powerless and cold. She looked back at Victor.

"I'm bored. How long do we have to stay here?"

She really wanted to know. Yes it had only been one night but if she was this bored now how was she going to be at the end of the week? Or even in a month? She looked over and saw that the Sabre toothed Cat had shown up again and had walked over to her. It sniffed her hand and she lifted it to rest it on it's head. It was a beautiful creature.

[Victor Creed]

He heard her but seemed to ignore her question for awhile as his concentration was upon the elk infront of him. The deer's head was removed then and placed upon the ground, followed by the front legs. He tossed one of the legs towards the sabretooth tiger that was enjoying her attention. Usually Victor kept his kills to himself but for some reason decided the Cat could use a 'treat'.

It wasn't until then that he finally addressed the question Phoenix had asked. "Hard to say. Depends on how long it takes for things to settle." Victor could spend the rest of his life out here but she seemed rather irritated at the moment. Not that he really cared..if she wanted to leave she could go right ahead, but he doubted that she would survive the trip.

He waited for a moment while he contemplated how he would separate the deer's carcass. "How about this..? We stay here for two weeks. Then we can go back to the base." He still wasn't going step foot in New York anytime soon, at least the Brotherhood base would be a little more...modern for her maintained tastes.

[The Phoenix]

She watched him as he dismembered the skinned carcass. The cat she had been petting was now preoccupied with the leg that Victor has thrown him. She watched it for a second. It's long teeth glinted in the sunlight. The blonde woman leaned on the railing of the porch and thought about what he offered. Two weeks. She could survive two weeks. But then she would be stuck in the base underground for who knew how long. Truth was she really did think this place was beautiful.

The scenery was amazing and she had watched the wildlife all morning. They came so close she could have killed them if she wanted to. But she would leave that to Victor right now. She pulled the jacket tighter around her as she moved to the steps on the front porch and sat down. Her eyes scanned the surroundings outside the cabin. It really was secluded. A perfect place to hide. She wondered if Graydon was still alive. How they had left him he should have been dead by now from the blood loss alone. But more surprising things had happened. She glanced at Victor then back to the cat who sat next to her.

"That still doesn't help that fact that I'm bored now. Where did you get him anyways?"

[Victor Creed]

While she moved about the porch he had passed her and walked inside. He ditched his overcoat on one of the chairs and returned outside with a few metal trays. They were perfect for the slabs of meat that he would be cutting. He had already started cutting steaks and placing them onto the metal 'plates' he had. "You will just have to find yourself something to occupy yourself with. Take a walk, I could teach you how to track..." He really couldn't think of much that she might have been interested in doing for their time here. Her question had diverted his mind for a moment, not sure what she was refering to until he realized she was talking about the large cat.
"I found him alone as a cub in the Savage Lands. I was chasing after Logan and found him held up in a crevice of a rock on my way home. He's lived here ever since." Luckily for the cub he had been weened already so it wasn't until the cat was full grown before victor stopped sharing his kills with him. But they still hunted together, the cat was a good scout for kills and intruders.

[The Phoenix]

She listened to him talk about the cat. She absentmindedly pet the cat as he chewed on the elk leg Victor had thrown at him. It was cute in a way that Victor had taken him in when he was a cub. It showed that he actually had a heart. She pet the cat and watched it chew on the leg.

He mentioned Logan. She had always wondered about those two. Why they hated each othr so much. They had chased each other trying to kill one another for so long but they had to have started somewhere. Something had to have ticked one of them off. She knew it might irritate him if she asked but she honestly couldn't care right now. She wanted to get to know him right now. Why now she didn't know.

"What happened with you and Logan?"

This might have been her way of entertaining herself but she wasn't really aware of it at all. She was just talking. Her eyes kept flicking to him though as she watched him filet the elk. There was just something sexy about it and she wanted those clothes off once again.