X-Men Fan Fiction ❯ Witness ❯ Secrets Revealed ( Chapter 6 )

Authors Note/Disclaimer:

 

I do not own XMen Evolution, its characters, or the universe they live in. I intend no disrespect or copyright infringement. This is a work of adult fan fiction and is intended only for entertainment purposes. I make no money from this work.

 

Welcome back. I know the story has taken a serious turn...it'll probably stay that way. Frankly, it amuses me to put Pietro in the hot seat now and then. Warnings: More sex, some profanity. More talk about things that shouldn't happen between foster-siblings.

 

Please see the first chapter for complete warnings for this piece.

 

<b>Chapter Six: Secrets Revealed. </b>

 

One moment Marissa was struggling for air, Todd's observation that it took about five minutes to suffocate kept running through her mind. In the next, Salvador was gone, and the belt dangled free in her hands. She yanked at it, throwing it to the ground, knees weak and lungs burning. She sank down, back against the wall, groping for something to use as a weapon, not quite seeing the chaos around her.

 

Pietro had hit Salvador hard, knocking the larger man to the ground and continued his dash to take out two more thugs before turning to check on Rahne. The wolf was snapping and growling at a small knot of men who slashed at her randomly with their pocket knives and switchblades. A few more lightning fast punches and she was free.

 

Rahne growled and continued her push toward Marissa and the remaining thugs fled. Pietro turned back to Marissa, belatedly remembering that the leader had a gun, but the man had already vanished from sight. He cursed as he approached Marissa.

 

Marissa's groping fingers had found the switchblade and she held it tightly, crouching with her back to the wall. Where was Salvador? Her eyes were wide and she wasn't really seeing what was in front of her. But she heard Pietro's angry voice and she shrank further away, tugging at the remains of her t-shirt.

 

“Marissa!” Pietro stopped a few feet away. She held the knife in front of her, her knuckles white on the hilt. “Hey! Snap out of it. It's me. Pietro.” Marissa didn't answer him.

 

“Is she all right?” Rahne shifted back to human form and turned around on her heel slowly, looking carefully for any stragglers.

 

“Shit. I don't think so.” Pietro knelt down slowly. “Rissa. Come on. I'm not going to hurt you.”

 

“Pietro.” Marissa seemed to see him now, but she didn't relax. Damn. He knew she had no reason to trust him.

 

“Put the knife down.” Pietro reached a tentative hand for it. He could snatch it from her if he needed to, but one of them might get hurt. “Let me help you.”

 

“Go to hell.” Her tone was expressionless and her eyes were strangely vacant. Damn he wished Todd were here. Or better yet, Lance. Todd would probably hold him responsible. There was a commotion behind him as the first of Rahne's friends found them. Rahne moved to greet them.

 

“Why didn't you call for help?” The word responsible stuck in his mind. When had he become responsible for this girl? This human girl?

 

“I didn't think you'd come.” The knife wavered. He studied her face for a minute.

 

“You're one of us now. The Brotherhood takes care of its own.” He could hear voices behind him, Rahne's voice sharp with anxiety and the gruff voice of one of her teachers. He knew without looking that it was Wolverine and he wasn't too pleased at what he saw.

 

“What the hell is going on here?” The man loomed over him and laid a heavy hand on his shoulder. Pietro shrugged it off as Marissa shrank away from the newcomer.

 

“Logan! The lass is frightened enough as it is! You shouldna go on so.”

 

“Butt out. She's one of my people.” Pietro glared up at him.

 

“Don't look too happy to see you. Maybe you should get lost, punk.” Logan added, but backed away, dropping his hand. He turned and started issuing orders to the assembled teenagers. Pietro was relieved to see that it was Rahne's teammates who had answered the call, rather than Pryde and her friends. Rahne joined them in searching for stragglers.

 

“Rissa.” Pietro moved closer. “Come on. Tell me what happened. Who were those guys?” Why had he never actually questioned the girl? Come to think of it, she'd never left the Boardinghouse alone, at least not that he knew of.

 

“You don't know?” She licked her lips and retracted the switchblade, resting it on her knee.

 

“No.”

 

“I thought…” She looked at her skinned knees. “Nevermind.”

 

“You thought I set you up?” Pietro looked at her in disbelief. She shrugged.

 

“That was Salvador and his boys.” She tapped the knife handle against her thigh nervously. “He used to be my foster brother. He … thinks he owns me. I keep running and he keeps finding me. He's bad news. Last time … I turned him in and he did some time.” She bit her lip and tugged her torn shirt across her chest. “Not enough time.”

 

“Turned him in for what?”

 

“A lot of shit…the only thing that stuck was the dealing. First time offender and all that crap.” She still looked at him warily.

 

“I didn't set you up.” He glanced back at the others, looked like they weren't having much luck. The punks had scattered like leaves on the wind. Logan approached slowly, her jeans bundled in his fist.

 

“You wanted me gone.” She swiped a bruised hand against her nose and sniffed.

 

“Not that bad.”

 

“This hers?” Logan's voice was a little softer as he shoved the clothing at Pietro.

 

“Yeah.” Pietro took it and handed the bundle to her, her shoes were still tangled in the fabric.

 

“You want us to call the cops, kid?” Logan crouched down behind Pietro.

 

“No cops.” Marissa reached slowly for her clothes.

 

“She looks pretty banged up. Should get her to a doctor.”

 

“I just want to go home.”

 

“No he's right.” Pietro could see the bruising on her ribs and neck. He suddenly had a vision of her passing out and falling off his motorcycle. “You could have internal injuries or a broken rib or something.”

 

“Bullshit.” Marissa stood up painfully, using the wall for support. “He's done worse and I walked away.”

 

“You don't look like your walking anywhere's, kid.” Logan stood up.

 

“Not going to the hospital.” Marissa began to slowly untangle her jeans, shaking the shoes loose to the ground.

 

“Then let us take you back to the school. Just to check you out. No cops.” Logan scowled as she bent over to pull on her jeans and nearly fell over. Pietro caught her and steadied her.

 

“You're just trying to get rid of me.” Her eyes were accusing.

 

“Just long enough to check you out.” Pietro reached carefully to pluck the switchblade from her fingers. “I don't want you falling off my bike or something.”

 

“Get her dressed. Sam'll take her. Faster that way.” Logan walked off to find the kid.

 

“Need help?” Pietro watched her fumbling with her clothes, her ribs obviously causing her a lot of pain as she tried to bend over.

 

“No.” She sniffed and tried again. “Unnggh…yes…” He put her arm around his shoulder and reached down to tug her jeans over her hips. A glance at her face showed him that tears had begun to trace their way down her cheeks. He fastened them for her then pulled the ripped hem of her shirt together to tie it over her midriff.

 

“Why are you being nice to me?” Her voice was suspicious. “Are you trying to impress your girlfriend? `Cause I don't think she's looking.”

 

“You really think I'm a total asshole, don't you?” He tugged the ragged edges of her shirt, trying to cover her chest.

 

“You're not so bad.” She shrugged and started shuffling her feet trying to slip her shoes on without bending over. Pietro knelt to help slip them on. “At least you let me pick.”

 

“What?” He looked up at her, her dark eyes peering down at him through the wild halo of curls. “You think I'm like him.” His stomach lurched at the thought - at what she thought about him. And why she thought it.

 

“I didn't say that.” She shifted her weight to her other foot as he slipped her shoe on.

 

“You didn't have to.” He looked up at the sound of someone clearing his throat. “Here's your ride.” The lanky blonde guy was Sam, otherwise known as “Cannonball.” She'd be there in moments.

 

“I'll follow you as soon as I call the others. You'll be safe with them.” He'd nearly forgotten about his father and Sabertooth. He didn't want any of them walking into a trap.

 

“Wait.” Marissa put a hand on his shoulder. “Don't tell Todd.”

 

“You can't hide this, `Rissa.”

 

“Think about it, Pietro. He's not bulletproof.” Pietro thought about it. Yes, best to wait until they were all home safe and sound.

 

“I got you. Don't worry. We'll let these guys handle Salvador. We've got bigger fish to fry.” He pushed her firmly toward the waiting Sam.

 

“Don't worry. I am bulletproof. At least while I'm blasting.” The young man opened his arms and smiled reassuringly as Marissa hesitated. Uncertainly she moved closer and Sam wrapped her arms around his shoulders and wrapped his arms around her waist. Then they were gone in a blast of energy.

 

Pietro pulled out his cell and called Lance.

 

“Get everybody back to the Boardinghouse as quick as you can. And buddy up. I don't want anybody on their own.”

 

“What's going on?” Lance sounded distracted.

 

“I'll tell you when we get back.”

 

“We?”

 

“Yeah. I'll be bringing Marissa back with me.”

 

“Wait a minute. What's she doing out with you?” Lance's tone was suspicious.

 

“I'll explain later. We've got trouble. Don't say anything to Todd or Wanda, but she was attacked. She's at the Institute getting patched up. I gotta go.” Pietro hung up before Lance could ask any more questions.

 

“Start explaining, punk.” Wolverine was back and he stood chewing on a cigar as he waited for Pietro to answer.

 

“I don't really have the time.” Pietro started to walk around the older man.

 

“Make the time.” The older man blocked his path with an outstretched arm.

 

“Marissa has some issues with her foster brother that she failed to tell us about.” Pietro sidestepped him, trying to avoid a confrontation.

 

“Issues, huh?” Logan sniffed. “She your girlfriend?”

 

“No. She's Todd's girl.”

 

“She's not a mutant is she?” Logan moved lazily to block his path again.

 

“No.” He ran a nervous hand through his hair. He was tempted to zip past the man, but that would leave Rahne to take the heat. The older man sniffed again. Damn, the man could probably smell her on him.

 

“How did Rahne get mixed up in this?” Logan's eyes narrowed.

 

“What did she say?”

 

“She didn't.”

 

“Oh.” Just bite the bullet. “She was here to see me.”

 

Logan scowled at him fiercely and chewed on his cigar. He growled.

 

“Rahne's too good for a weasel like you.”

 

“What are you going to do about it?” Pietro looked around nervously as Rahne and her teammates began to trickle back into the alley.

 

“Nothing. For now.” He waved the teens over. “But if anything happens to her, I'll gut you.”

 

“I'll keep that in mind.”

 

In the end, Rahne rode back to the Institute with him, her arms wrapped around his waist and her body pressed against his. If he hadn't had so much to worry about, he'd have enjoyed the stunned looks on her friends' faces. The ride was too short and he was sorry to feel her warmth withdraw as they dismounted in the courtyard.

 

Marissa was waiting anxiously for him in the infirmary. Someone had loaned her a shirt and she moved stiffly. Her ribs were only bruised and they had been wrapped firmly for support. Livid bruises were beginning to show on her neck.

 

“There were no internal injuries, just some scrapes and bruises.” Jean was waiting next to where Marissa perched on the edge of the bed, looking ready to bolt. “I wish you would consider making a report to the police.”

 

“No thanks.” She looked at Pietro pleadingly. “Can we please go home now?”

 

“You're sure she's O.K?” Pietro looked at Jean, who nodded reluctantly.

 

“She could stay here until we find this Salvador character. I've already asked the Professor.”

 

Marissa shook her head.

 

“Give us a minute, would you?”

 

“Yeah. Sure.” Jean walked out, leaving them alone.

 

“You should really consider staying here a while. They can protect you better than we can.” He stepped forward and spoke quietly. “We can protect you from Salvador, but my father's a different story.”

 

“I just want to go home.” Marissa rose from the bed slowly and pushed her hair back impatiently.

 

“All right. Let's go.” Pietro fished the scrunchie from his pocket and handed it to her.

 

A few minutes later, they were climbing onto Pietro's bike. They took off quickly, leaving the crowd of curious students in their wake. Rahne waved to him as he passed by.

 

 

When they walked into the living room, Marissa's appearance was enough to start a shouting match. Lance wanted to go out and find Marissa's attacker immediately, Todd wanted to kill Pietro, Wanda wanted to call their father, and Fred just wanted to know what was going on.

 

When the house began to tremble, Marissa went pale. And when Todd's eyes began to film over and he advanced on Pietro, Marissa moved between them. She threw her arms around Todd's neck and sobbed into his shoulder.

 

One by one, they fell silent until the only sound was the girl's quiet sobbing. The house stopped trembling and Todd's eyes cleared as he held her gingerly. He awkwardly moved her with him to sit on the couch.

 

“She's O.K. See?” Pietro cleared his throat. He silently thanked her for diffusing the situation, wondering if it was calculated or not. “We're going to let the X-Geeks handle what happened to Marissa, at least for now.” He raised his hand as Lance and Wanda opened their mouths to protest. He pulled out his father's letter. “And this is why.”

 

Pietro had to explain the day's events twice before Fred understood. Wanda still wanted to call their father. But Lance and Todd looked grim. At least someone besides himself finally understood the danger of keeping a human under their roof.

 

“So what do we do, yo?” Todd asked quietly.

 

“For now, we make sure nobody gets caught alone. Especially, Marissa.”

 

“We should buy new furniture.” Marissa spoke softly. “That's what he said to do with the money, right?”

 

Pietro nodded thoughtfully. “Probably the best thing to do. Be cooperative, and not give Sabertooth or anyone else ammunition against us or Marissa. At least until we find out what he's up to.”

 

 

That evening Todd and Marissa had their first real fight. While they were technically alone in Todd's room, their voices carried easily through the thin walls.

 

“Why didn't you tell me about your brother?” Todd paced the room angrily; his movements made it seem smaller. Marissa sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, hands clasped tightly in her lap.

 

“He's not my brother. He's just some bastard that lived in the same house I did.”

 

“Shit. He almost killed you today! What the fuck were you thinking?”

 

“I was thinking he wasn't supposed to get out for another damn year, that's what.”

 

“Were you going to tell me next year? Because that makes so much more sense, yo!”

 

“You didn't ask very many questions, you know. I don't remember anyone asking me if I wanted to come here in the first place.”

 

“So why didn't you stay with the X-Geeks then? Did you just stay here so you could hide out? `Cause I was really starting think you actually cared!” Todd's voice started out angry but cracked on the last sentence.

 

“I belong with you.”

 

“Do you?”

 

“Yeah. I do.”

 

“Then you better start talking. `Cause I still don't know why you didn't tell me. And if you don't, you can just fuck off.”

 

“Todd…” Marissa studied his face anxiously for a moment. “You really mean it, don't you?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“I didn't want you to know about him. About what he made me do…I just want to forget it all. I told the fucking cops when I turned him in, and all that happened was he got slapped with some drug charges and now he's out to do it again.”

 

“Tell me.”

 

“He used me. I was his little fuck toy and when he got bored with me, he passed me around to his buddies. Sometimes he even got paid for it. I tried to run and they kept dragging me right back to him. This isn't the worst beating I've taken from him. Not even close. Happy?”

 

“No.” Todd stood staring at her for a long moment. “But I'm still listening. Are you just fucking me so you have a place to crash or what?”

 

“The only reason I'm in this town at all is because I wanted to be with you.” She sniffed and scrubbed irritably at her face, trying to wipe away the tears that had started to fall again. “Salvador scares the shit out of me.”

 

“Oh God, `Riss.” Todd let his breath out with an audible sigh and sat down beside her. “Don't cry, babe. That's not fair.” He reached up to brush a tear away.

 

“Sorry.” She sniffed and turned her face away.

 

“You scare me, `Riss. I can't believe you're here half the time.” He turned her face back to him. “And the other half I can't seem to remember what it was like before.”

 

“I don't want to remember before.”

 

Todd leaned forward for a gentle kiss, tasting salty tears on her lips. He'd meant to stop there, but Marissa drew him in closer, clutching his t-shirt in her fists. Then her hands began to wander, tugging at his shirt and as she continued to kiss him hungrily. He broke the kiss and caught her hands.

 

“Why do you do that?” He looked at her puzzled. She couldn't really want to do this, not after the attack. Not with all those bruises.

 

“What?” Marissa looked at him confused. “I…”

 

“Anytime I try to talk to you…really talk to you…we end up screwing instead.”

 

“Todd…” She tried to kiss him again, but he pulled back.

 

“I'm serious, `Riss.” He folded her hands in his and rested them on his knee, stroking her palms with his thumbs thoughtfully. “Why?”

 

“I don't know.” She glanced away from him. “When you…we…talk like that. I get scared.”

 

“Scared of what?”

 

“That I'm what Pietro said. Street trash. One day you'll get tired of me and you'll see it too.”

 

“You aren't street trash. Pietro's a dick. You shouldn't take him seriously. I don't.” He reached up to tug at her curls. “And I can't see me getting tired of you anytime soon.”

 

“I just want to…I don't know how to explain it…be with you.” She looked down at her hands and tears began to leak from her eyes again. Todd watched her thoughtfully.

 

“You know. All the stuff we've done together, you and me. The stuff with Lance and Wanda. All of this time, we've been fucking. It's fun, don't get me wrong.” Marissa looked up at him quizzically. “But, in all this time we've never made love.”

 

“I always thought that was just a smarmy way of saying `sex.'”

 

“I don't think so. At least it shouldn't be.” Todd brought one of her hands to his lips and kissed the bruised knuckles gently. He turned her hand over and kissed the palm as well. He was rewarded with a little gasp. He released her hand and leaned in carefully for a slow gentle kiss. When he backed away, Marissa sighed and tried to follow. Then she drew back with a hiss as a warning stab of pain shot through her side.

 

“We don't have to do anything tonight, Riss.”

 

“No. I want to. I'll be OK.”

 

Todd kissed her again, then began to undress her slowly and carefully. Each scrape and bruise was greeted with a gentle kiss or a careful caress. By the time Todd pulled off his own clothes, Marissa's eyes were dark with desire and her sighs were breathless. He lay beside her kissed and caressed her slowly, memorizing each place that was too tender to touch.

 

When he was satisfied that he knew each bruise and scrape by heart, he moved to cover her body with his, careful to put no pressure on her ribs. He lowered his mouth to gently suckle at her breasts, one at a time and she moved languidly underneath him, her fingers slowly stroking through his hair. Then he kissed his way up across her neck and collar bones to claim her lips again. They trembled under his and when he drew back, she seemed almost frightened.

 

“You O.K. Riss?”

 

“I'm fine…this is just…so different.” He kissed her again, taking his time. Then he pulled away regretfully to fish a condom out of the nightstand. Her fingers traced lazy trails across his skin as he opened it and slipped it on.

 

He moved to lie beside her and reached a gentle hand to stroke across her clit and caress her wet folds. She bit her lip and moaned quietly, sighing when he slipped a finger inside. He stroked her slowly until her hips began to move with his hand. Then he withdrew his hand and moved to cover her body again. He kissed her again carefully as he nudged her thighs a little farther apart. Marissa moaned into his mouth and he pushed slowly inside her.

 

When he could push no further he paused to kiss her more deeply. Then he began to thrust with long slow strokes, each movement bringing a small gasp or groan from the girl beneath him. He concentrated on holding himself up and maintaining a slow steady pace that would not jar her ribs. Marissa's moans became deeper and her body began to shiver under him as she got closer and closer. He watched her face as he felt her tense around him. Her eyes were closed as she moaned open mouthed, her face was flushed and her head pressed back against the pillow. After a final shudder, she opened her eyes and smiled at him.

 

He kissed her before beginning to thrust again. He knew he couldn't hold back much longer and began to move faster. Marissa moaned under him and whispered his name. Todd felt her shiver and clench around him one more time and it sent him spinning over the edge. She made a small gasp as he thrust one last time, burying himself inside her.

 

He then rolled off of her carefully to lie beside her. She turned to him and he brushed the hair from her face.

 

“That was making love?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“You're right. It's not the same.” She smiled at him sleepily. “It's better.”