X-Men Fan Fiction ❯ Witness ❯ Divide and Conquer ( Chapter 13 )

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.

 

This has turned into one of my most complex plots yet. As always, constructive criticism is welcome.

 

Warnings: Masturbation and Sexual Tension.

 

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

 

<b>Chapter Thirteen: Divide and Conquer <b>

 

It started barely a week after Magneto's visit. Fred had begun a new job as a dishwasher and part time cook at a diner. When he went outside on his break he found himself barraged with garbage. Voices came out of the darkness taunting him, making vague threats.

 

“We're waiting for you, mutie!”

 

“Where's the whore you fat bastard?”

 

“We'll be watching you!”

 

By the time he had scraped the filth from his eyes, they had vanished into the alleyways. He'd been more embarrassed than angry. His new boss sent him home to change clothes and he'd missed half his shift as a result.

 

Lance had been livid and Pietro looked grim. Todd just worried even more. They didn't tell Wanda - she was already anxious enough about school.

 

Two days later, Lance came home in a tow truck. Somebody had slashed his tires and spray painted his jeep with more anti-mutant slogans while he was at work. They couldn't hide that one from Wanda and she was nearly as pissed as Lance was. Todd offered to pay for the tires just to keep the peace. That night Todd slept alone - an angry Wanda did not make for a restful night's sleep.

 

Now that they all had different schedules, whether due to jobs or classes, they weren't able to buddy up all the time like they had with Marissa. So they concentrated on making sure Wanda was safe. Wanda grumbled at the need for a “baby-sitter” but didn't argue much.

 

Pietro was snappish - he was sure that the harassment was retaliation for the confrontation with Salvador's gang. Salvador apparently didn't realize the girl was gone out of his reach and theirs. Pietro vetoed Wanda's suggestion that they ask their father for more help. It was pretty clear that Magneto considered it a test of their competence as a team and asking for help would just be an admission of defeat. And God only knew what kind of “help” they'd get this time.

 

Todd just tried to stay out of Pietro's way and only went out alone when he had to, nothing new for him. And he continued to worry about Marissa. When would she call again?

 

 

Marissa woke with a jerk…she wasn't alone. Remy was lounging in her desk chair, feet propped up, slowly turning the pages of her journal. She sat up and the koala bear slipped off the bed onto the floor. He looked first at the bear then at her, silently.

 

“Good mornin' petit.” He closed the journal and sat it on the desk.

 

“I thought I locked the door - and that's personal.” Marissa scowled at him, for the moment forgetting the plans she'd made. Thankfully, she'd been very careful as to exactly what she wrote down, code or no code.

 

“You did. And it is.” He shrugged and reached into the pocket of his duster and pulled out a small green box.

 

“What's that?”

 

“Your beau, he ask me to deliver dis.” He held the box out to her. “Funny, you don' talk `bout him much.”

 

Marissa reached for the box slowly and opened it. She pulled out the necklace and held it in her palm. The light glittered off of it…or maybe it was the tears in her eyes. She swallowed against the tears. Such a little thing…She suddenly felt sick.

 

“I'm not one to talk about my feelings much.” Marissa slipped the little silver toad back into its box. “Especially not with the enemy.”

 

“So Remy your enemy den?” He dropped his feet to the floor with a thump and reached down on the floor to snag the koala bear with long fingers. He toyed with the bear for a moment before setting it on the desk.

 

“I…” Marissa hesitated. What was he anyway? Teacher? Possible ally? Definitely not a friend. “Maybe…not exactly. It's been a rough couple of weeks for me.” She shrugged helplessly and scrubbed at her hair irritably, tumbling the curls everywhere. She needed a shower. “How was he?”

 

“Lovesick.” He watched her face. “He say he miss you and want you to come home.”

 

Marissa's chest seemed to tighten and the tears threatened to fall again. She looked down at the little box. Just like Todd to do something like that. Would he forgive her for John…and what she was planning to do next? Hell, would she even get a chance to confess?

 

“I…um…need a shower. Some breakfast.” She carefully closed the box and set it on her pillow. “See you in the gym?”

 

“Remy be waitin'.” He rose to leave.

 

“Thanks, Remy.” He waved in answer as he walked through the door.

 

Marissa locked the door behind him and headed for the shower to wash away the traces of what she'd done with John. Remy had surely picked up on that. Shit. She tried to shut out the guilty-sick feeling. It had been way too easy. Lance and Wanda were one thing, Todd had agreed to that, gotten something out of it. Enjoyed it.

 

Fuck. This wasn't helping. The only way this would work was if she could be more disciplined with her emotions than Remy was. Make him think he wanted her for himself. Make him so hot he couldn't think straight. To do that, she'd have to project her own desires at him.

 

She let her hands drift across her wet skin…Think about Todd and his amazing tongue. Feel Lance's breath on her neck, hear his quiet voice in her ear. Taste Wanda's mouth, sweet and hot. Remember the flames in John's eyes and the passion that made the very air heat in response. She moaned as her fingers found her clit and pulled at her nether lips. She bit her lip

 

Think about him…Remy…The smell of him, spicy and exotic. The lean hard body against her at practice. Those long clever fingers and how they had felt on her skin. The exotic sound of his voice, turning the most ordinary comment into something that sent shivers down her spine. Her fingers sped up and she pinched at her nipples. Her legs began to feel shaky and she felt the urgency of an impending orgasm.

 

Then she stopped, body still tingling, groping blindly for the release that wasn't going to come. She hissed a little. Frustrating...but it did the trick.

 

She dried off quickly and yanked the snarls out of her hair before pulling it back with a scrunchie. She slipped the little silver toad with its yellow eyes around her neck before dressing. She made sure it was tucked out of sight beneath her uniform before she headed to the gym.

 

Remy was waiting patiently, one of his collapsible staves in his hand. When she walked in, she let herself look at him…really look at him. Let the attraction she'd been fighting loose. She wasn't sure, but she thought she saw his gaze sharpen a little bit as she accepted the staff gingerly.

 

“We do some `ting a little diff'rent.” He took out another staff and showed her how it worked. Then they began the lesson in earnest. Marissa feigned being a little more clumsy than she was, getting him to touch her, showing her how to hold the thing. Correcting her stance. Each time he got close, she could smell that spicy scent that sent little shivers of lust through her.

 

Then it was time to do some mock fighting. Turned out it was harder than she thought to keep her mind in the gutter and still avoid getting the shit kicked out of her. She managed to brush up against him a few times…nothing obvious. She hoped.

 

“Dat enough…” He stopped the lesson and grabbed a towel for himself and tossed her another. Was he actually sweating? That would be a first. Marissa mopped at her face with the towel. He looked a little thoughtful as he wiped at his own face. Marissa moved closer and touched his arm, breathing in the mingled scents of sweat and spice. God was she horny now. If this didn't work pretty quick she'd wind up dragging John off somewhere.

 

“Hey…about this morning. I was grouchy…that's all. I don't really think you're an enemy. Not sure what you are.” She looked up at him through the curls that had fallen over her eyes and gave him a little smile. “But that was really nice, to do me a favor like that. Thanks, really.” She brushed the back of his hand as she let her hand drop, the brief contact made her fingers tingle.

 

“Don' worry cher. Remy don' take it personal.”

 

“Good. See you later.” She left, feeling his eyes on her until she passed through the door. She resisted the urge to look back. Wouldn't do to ruin a good exit.

 

She showered and changed, then joined John to watch some TV until lunch. He gave her a friendly grin, but didn't push anything. Just offered her a beer. She sipped at it slowly and tried to follow the game. She really wasn't into sports. But, he was right. She did need a “friend.”

 

Lunch was nuked pizza and soda. Then it was lessons with Peter. He was pleasantly surprised at how far ahead she had gotten on her reading. Of course it helped being locked in her room for a day with nothing to do. She didn't say that, however. Instead she tried to get him to tell her about where they had been. Peter refused to discuss anything but the lessons. She wondered idly what he would do if she tried to flirt with him.

 

Damn. She was still horny. One thing at a time. She tried to pay attention to Peter. They were about to leave boring old history behind and start on some boring old literature. Hooray! More reading…But she smiled nice for him and did her best to act interested in the lesson.

 

Before he left, he told her Magneto wanted another one of those “dress” dinners. Marissa wondered why.

 

Looking through the small collection of clothes Wanda had left, Marissa picked out a black dress - it was the only one that she hadn't worn already. That and the sandals, and the necklace with its little silver toad. She thought about putting on some of the perfume and makeup she'd found - but the stuff was pretty old and wasn't her style anyway.

 

She was the last to arrive in the dining room and the only seat left was between Peter and Magneto. She took her seat quietly, feeling all of their eyes on her. Something was up - probably had something to do with the argument Pietro had with his father. Magneto acknowledged her with a curt nod before the serving platters began to make their slow rounds.

 

Marissa ate silently, glancing occasionally at her companions. Magneto seemed to be studying her and it made her uneasy. When she was finished eating, she sat quietly, idly toying with her napkin in her lap. When Magneto cleared his throat she jumped nervously.

 

“Marissa…would you say you are close to my daughter?” Magneto's tone was flat and expressionless. Marissa's stomach sank…

 

“Yeah. We're pretty good friends I think. She's sweet.” She shot a glance at his face. He didn't look happy.

 

“My son has informed me that you are perhaps more than `good friends.'”

 

Oh shit!

 

“That's pretty personal.” Marissa looked briefly at Sabertooth who was watching her with interest. He hadn't told Magneto?

 

“I consider it my business to know who is sleeping with my daughter.” His tone was icy with disapproval. “Not only have you taken advantage of a very naïve young man, you have also corrupted my daughter!” The serving platters and the table itself started to shake.

 

“She was `corrupted' before I got there. Wanda came on to me. I've never touched a girl before in my life.” Marissa sat stiffly in her seat. Great…not only did he hate humans, he was a homophobe!

 

“That is…unacceptable. My daughter…it is almost as bad as if she were sharing a bed with that Toad!”

 

Marissa's answer froze in her throat…she looked around, anywhere but at Magneto. Sabertooth was grinning. Peter was staring at his plate, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment and John was toying with his lighter nervously. Remy was looking…at her.

 

“What…what do you have against Todd?” The chair beneath Marissa began to tremble and it groaned as it began to slide across the floor, pivoting to bring her face to face with Magneto. Shitshitshitshitshit!

 

“My daughter…is not…sleeping with Todd Tolansky.” The chair stopped bare inches from his. “Is she?” Marissa swallowed hard and tried not to look as frightened as she was.

 

“We thought you already knew. Since you know so much about what goes on in the Brotherhood.”

 

“What!” The chair moved another fraction of an inch.

 

“Didn't Sabertooth tell you? We know he was in the house.” Magneto turned to glare at his henchman.

 

“I will deal with Sabertooth later.” His gaze fell on the necklace around her neck. “Where did you get that?” The little toad began to rise from her chest. Marissa clamped a hand around it. Big mistake to wear that in the open. Idiot!

 

“I've had it for a little while…” She did not look at Remy…just did her best to meet Magneto's glare without looking like she wanted to run. Which she did. He looked just like Pietro before he bitch-slapped her…only scarier.

 

“It was not in your personal effects. How did you get that?”

 

“You went through my stuff…that's just creepy.” The chair moved another fraction of an inch and she pulled her legs up, fearing he might crush them between the two metal chairs.

 

“Answer me.”

 

“It's mine.” Marissa kept a death grip on the thing, which writhed under her palm. Her heart thudded in her chest.

 

Remy cleared his throat. Magneto's glare turned to the Cajun and the silver toad stopped moving.

 

“De boy…He ask Remy for a favor. No harm done.” Remy shrugged a little and took a sip of his wine. He seemed unconcerned.

 

“More misplaced loyalty?” He turned a grim smile on Marissa. “Any one of these men would kill you without hesitation if I ordered it.”

 

“Hostages are a pain in the ass…you have to keep them alive…keep them under control…be able to prove they're all right every so often. And you can only use them once…” Marissa sat up a little, letting her hand drop from the pendant.

 

“The only thing more inconvenient than a live hostage is a dead one. Your leverage is gone…and you have an enemy that can't be bargained with.” She shot a glance over her shoulder at Peter, who was now staring at her.

 

When she turned back, Magneto was glaring at her. And her chair was trembling again.

 

“In that case…perhaps I should send one of these men to dispose of your...boyfriend. For such a pathetic excuse for a mutant, he is becoming quite the nuisance.”

 

“You won't touch Todd.” Marissa sat up further, resting her feet against the edge Magneto's chair. “Todd is much more valuable than you think.” She gave a little shove, putting some distance between them. The chair scraped loudly across the floor.

 

“How is it that…Toad…is valuable?”

 

“As much as I adore Wanda…she's not all that stable…is she? How many times do you think you can take away someone she cares about before her little fantasyland crumbles? And she cares about Todd…probably more than she cares about me. After all…he did rescue her from you…on his own. She remembers that…just not why she needed rescuing. I wonder what she'd do if she did remember?”

 

Marissa gave him a glittering smile, doing her best to squash the sickening whirl of fear in her belly. The plan had seemed so solid back at the Boarding House…

 

“There's more than one way to take a hostage. You don't really think the only reason Salvador kept me around was sex, do you?”

 

For a moment Magneto glared at her, hands balled into fists. Then suddenly he laughed, the sound ringing harshly off the walls. He looked at her and smiled.

 

“Do you play chess my dear?”

 

“No. But I'm willing to learn.”

 

Disaster averted…for the moment. And she'd managed to stir things up a bit…make Magneto question the loyalty of his men. Maybe make them question their own. Peter certainly looked thoughtful.

 

“We done here?”

 

“For now.”

 

“Good. See you in the lab.” She rose and dropped her napkin on the table and left before she lost her nerve. Oh my God that was scary…but it felt good. Really good.

 

The next few days were a roller coaster of nerves for her. Sabertooth seemed more curious than ever about her and she was dying to know why he hadn't narced on the Brotherhood's sexual adventures. But, she wouldn't ask - she knew her limits.

 

Peter was prone to thoughtful silences during their tutoring sessions, looking as if he wanted to question her. But, he didn't.

 

John was friendly and only broke into his creepy puppet shows occasionally, dropping them at the first hint of disapproval on her part. And she was developing a taste for beer.

 

Magneto was teaching her chess in the evenings…funny thing that. When he wasn't playing supreme ruler over everything he was actually a good instructor. Sometimes he even asked her opinions about his children and the Brotherhood. She was starting to think he might actually care about them - in a sort of off hand manner. Sometimes the conversation turned more philosophical.

 

“You know…what that Professor is doing over there at the Institute is pretty important.” She moved a piece, taking one of his bishops with a well placed pawn. She was playing white, of course. “Now that I've thought about it.”

 

“Charles is a fool. Humans will never accept us with the open arms he expects.” Magneto studied the board, then put her king in check with a knight.

 

“Oh…I'm not talking about that stuff.” Marissa bit her lip, searching for some advantage. She hesitated, then took the knight with one of her rooks. Too late, she saw her mistake, Magneto smiled as he took her queen.

 

“What do you mean, then?” Marissa tapped a finger thoughtfully on the table as she considered her next move. This game was probably a lost cause. She sighed.

 

“Well…you know what I said about mutants being spread so thin that they might not find `mates' to pass their genes on with? Think about it.” She started to reach for a bishop, then settled on a pawn. “He brings together young mutants from all over the world…bringing them face to face. Hormones should do the rest.”

 

“Hormones? How romantic…Check…And mate I believe.”

 

“I think you're right. You win again…That's me…Miss Romance.” They began to set up the board for another game.

 

“An interesting notion.”

 

“What? Me being romantic?”

 

“No…the `hormones' factor. I wonder if Charles thinks of it that way.”

 

“Wouldn't know, haven't met the man.” Marissa rested a chin on her hand and gave him a thoughtful look. “You really should get off the Brotherhood's backs…what good is it to save mutant kind and rule the world if you can't watch your little grand-mutants running around in the castle courtyard?”

 

“Grand-mutants?” Magneto snorted at the choice of word.

 

“Yeah…If this is what they can expect when they try to date.” Marissa laid a hand against her chest. “I wouldn't expect any grand kids.” Magneto looked at her sharply.

 

“Hmm…Pietro made a similar point.”

 

“Did he?” Marissa. “He's smart, that one.” She smiled and rose from the table. “It's getting late, same time tomorrow?”

 

“Of course. Good night, Marissa.”

 

“Good night, sir.”

 

 

Then there was Remy. After three days of pouring lustful thoughts in his direction, she was about ready to explode, having to take cold showers after practice before she could settle down and listen to Peter drone on about art and literature.

 

But, it seemed to be working. Remy began to lose his train of thought every so often during their lessons. She'd even had to prompt him once or twice. Not like him.

 

On the fourth morning, he'd appeared at her door to walk with her to the kitchen and offered to cook for her. Now that was new. She accepted the offer with a smile, but insisted on making the toast, managing to brush against him in the process. He'd almost dropped the plate of eggs. No, definitely not like him at all.

 

“What's the plan this morning?” Marissa pushed a bit of egg around her place with a piece of toast.

 

“We use de staves, maybe do some hand to hand.” He watched her eat with interest. “Good eggs, no?”

 

“Yep. Pretty good. Better than mine.” Marissa winked at him. “I think I'm done.”

 

They cleaned up quickly and headed to the gym. A few minutes into their session, Marissa could tell that something was different. She was keeping her feelings at a steady simmer as they began to exchange blows, Remy pressing his advantage of height and weight aggressively. Marissa kept finding herself pinned again and again.

 

Against the mirror. She wriggled free.

 

Against the wall. She squirmed away.

 

Against the practice dummy. She twisted in his grip and kicked him. He lost his hold and she escaped.

 

On the floor…back pressed against the mat. His lean body pressed against hers, strong fingers clamped around her wrists. Long muscular legs straddled her thighs, clamped tight enough she could only wriggle. She struggled a moment panting, his red on black eyes watching her face and his lips forming a small smile.

 

“Got you little eel.”

 

She stopped resisting and instead molded her body to his, letting herself feel all the lust, all the longing, all the frustration that had been building the last four days.

 

He blinked.

 

She shifted slightly, moving against him. Sending another wave of lust his way.

 

He closed his eyes and swallowed. Then he opened them again.

 

“What is `dis, cher?” His brows furrowed and he seemed a little confused as Marissa's desire continued to wash over him. “Remy `tinking you not interested.”

 

“I didn't say I wasn't interested in you…Just not interested in following Magneto's script.”

 

“Ah…” Remy's grip on her wrists tightened a little, he leaned closer. “You `tink Remy interested now.”

 

“Maybe…” Marissa licked her lips unconsciously. His eyes followed the movement. “I was thinking…you could teach me more than this…a lot more.”

 

“More?” His eyebrows rose in surprise. “What `ting Remy teach you?”

 

“Everything.” Marissa breathed in his scent, making her senses reel. Her body seemed to move of its own will beneath him. She could feel a growing hardness where there hadn't been one before…he was interested.

 

“Everything?” He leaned even closer and brushed her lips with his, teasing them open. He began to kiss her slowly, his tongue slipping inside, tickling the soft underside of her lip. She moaned softly and strained against his grip on her wrists, wanting to touch him. He pulled back leaving her nearly breathless. “And what do Remy get? De boss, he not going to like it.”

 

“Me. Body and mind.” Marissa shifted against him, rubbing herself along the length of his body.

 

“Not your soul, cher?” He chuckled, his breath tickling her cheek.

 

“No…not that…it's not mine to give.”

 

“Fair enough.” Then his mouth was on hers again, demanding and hungry. Her heart pounded in her ears and her body tingled everywhere it touched him. When he broke the kiss she was panting. He rose, pulling her up with him.

 

“Come den…Remy has more lessons to teach.”