X-Men Fan Fiction ❯ Witness ❯ Only Human ( Chapter 17 )

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.

 

More sex. More plot. More character development. A new point of view.

 

Warnings: Sex. Abuse. A little profanity...

 

As always, constructive criticism is welcome.

 

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

 

Chapter Seventeen: Only Human

 

Peter.

 

Tall, strong, serious as a heart attack.

 

Peter.

 

All business…never letting anything personal interfere with the job at hand.

 

Peter.

 

Tin man. Remy made it sound as if the man had no heart…that wasn't true. It was his heart that kept him under Magneto's thumb. Marissa wasn't the only one being held hostage. Peter had a little sister.

 

The coldness was just a shell - to let anyone get close was to give Magneto another hostage. Marissa knew that almost as soon as she met the man. What Remy was asking was wrong…probably cruel. But, his reasoning was sound. Once Peter cracked, he'd stay cracked.

 

“Marissa! Are you listening?” Oops…he'd caught her woolgathering.

 

“I'm sorry. Where were we?” Marissa flipped a few pages, looking for her place.

 

“Here.” He leaned over the desk to point at the passage, his shoulders casting a shadow over the page. She looked at him…his expression was so serious. He tapped at the page impatiently. “Impressionism…” She looked down at the page and started to read it out loud as he sat back down.

 

She kept reading, sneaking glances at him. He looked bored…or maybe annoyed. This couldn't be much fun for him. His blue eyes wandered from her face to the stuffed animals on her bed. Ratty old Oliver and the newer koala bear she'd dubbed “Little John” just for kicks. She'd left them out on purpose…to make him think of his sister.

 

Show time. She thought hard of how much she missed Todd and the others…how tired she was. How Remy had been driving her to exhaustion almost every day.

 

Her voice faltered and she sniffed. A tear splashed on the page in front of her, smudging the ink. She wiped at it with a finger, but it made it worse. Another tear fell, and she faltered again as she wiped at her cheek with the back of her hand.

 

He cleared his throat and she glanced up at him, but didn't stop reading. She sniffed again, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

 

“Marissa…is something wrong?”

 

“I'm…I'm good.” She swiped at another tear and wiped her damp hand against her jeans.

 

“We can take a break.” He shifted in his chair uncomfortably.

 

“No…I…I don't want anybody to think I'm slacking.” She turned the page and looked confused. “I…damn…I lost my page again.” Then she put her face in her hands and sobbed.

 

“I think you need a break.” He stood and walked around the desk to close the book and take it from her.

 

“I'm sorry.” She flinched away from him.

 

“Marissa…I am not angry with you. I will not hurt you.” He was taken aback by her reaction. He crouched beside her chair so that he no longer towered over her. “Look at me.”

 

“I…just…it's too much. I don't think I can do this anymore.” She peered at him through the curls she'd allowed to fall across her eyes. Then she looked away again. “Magneto, John, you…and Remy. I…I don't know what I was thinking when I asked him to teach me more. Nothing's ever good enough for him. It's never enough!”

 

Peter sighed and placed a hand on her knee.

 

“You work too hard…It is not necessary. You need only show Magneto that you try to do what he asks.”

 

“I've done everything he asked…but I'm still here!” She broke into a fresh burst of sobs. “He's never going to let me go home. I'm going to die here…and I'll never see Todd or Wanda or any of my friends again.”

 

“Marissa…” He placed a hand on her shoulder, awkwardly, at a loss for words.

 

“All I want is to go home.” She looked at him again, this time directly. He looked stricken, almost afraid. This was cruel.

 

“I am sorry.” His hand tightened on her shoulder. “You do not deserve this.”

 

“You…you don't belong here, Peter. You're too nice.” She sniffed and swiped at her already wet cheek.

 

“I am not nice. I do nothing to help you when I know this is wrong.” Poor guy was beating himself up already.

 

“Don't do that…I'm nothing, Peter. I'm just some street rat. Worse than that…I'm a whore.”

 

“You should not say such things.”

 

“It's true Peter…That's what I did with Salvador's gang. That's what I'm doing here...John lets me do things like use his phone. And Remy…he…he made me his apprentice…and I paid for that the same way. Am still paying, actually.” She looked away and pulled one knee up to wrap her arms around, resting her cheek against it.

 

“I…you still do not deserve such treatment.” The hand on her shoulder moved to push back her hair from her face. “And I thought…” He sighed again. “Gambit has such a reputation…”

 

“He's good…but…he's cold.” She closed her eyes and let tears slide down her cheeks as he continued to stroke her hair. She could almost feel the conflict inside him, wanted to look at his face. “I'm sorry, Peter. You don't need to hear all this.” She turned her face away and began to sob again.

 

Then strong hands were pulling her from the chair, holding her against his broad chest, almost like a child. Almost. She resisted for a brief moment, then wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her wet face against the hollow of his neck and shoulder. He rose from his crouch, cradling her in his arms. He carried her the few steps to the bed and sat down on it, settling her on his lap.

 

He stroked her hair and made small soothing sounds, rocking her slightly. Marissa could smell the fresh clean scent of his skin. Felt his heartbeat and the warmth of him through his shirt. She clung to him as he rocked her, letting her tears slowly fade away. She raised her head to rest her forehead against his chin. He turned his head slightly and pressed his lips there and her breath caught with a little sob. An easy mark…she was going to hate herself for this.

 

She tightened her arms around his neck a little and tilted her face up to rub a cheek against his smoothly shaven chin. He was always so clean shaven and smelled of soap when he came for the lessons…no matter what time of day. Did he shower just before coming to see her?

 

He continued to hold her quietly, but she felt his breathing deepen a little. She got a little bolder and moved one hand to touch his cheek as she straightened a little more to rest her cheek against his. He stiffened a little and made a small noise in his throat.

 

“Peter…” She whispered against his cheek, and tentatively brushed her lips against his warm skin. He cleared his throat uncertainly, and she was reminded that he wasn't all that much older than she was…

 

She moved her hand from his cheek to the back of his neck and pulled gently, searching for his lips with her own. His were warm and full and she closed her eyes as she tasted them. His arms tightened around her and he made another of those small noises as his mouth opened under hers. She kissed him slowly exploring his lips and tongue. He responded tentatively to her coaxing for a moment then pulled away.

 

“Marissa…This…you should not.” His accent had thickened and he seemed to be groping for words.

 

“You don't like me?” She tried to look a little hurt.

 

“No…I…It is not that. I …should not take advantage.” He was blushing and he looked away from her.

 

“It's O.K. Peter. Really. I…I do like you. If anyone is taking advantage it's me. I'm…I'm lonely. And you're the only decent human being in this fucked up place, me included.”

 

“Marissa…”

 

“You don't have to if you don't want to. I won't be mad or anything.” She looked up at him again. He was looking at her again, his eyes dark with his boiling thoughts. “I'm sorry…I shouldn't have…” She started to look away from him.

 

Strong hands, gentle and firm, pulled her face back to meet his lips. Warm and full and hungry lips that fed on her mouth. She moaned into his mouth and rested her hands against his chest, feeling the powerful muscles there. There was nothing tentative now about his lips or his touch. His hands stroked her shoulders and arms, and down her back. He lifted her to straddle his legs, so that he could kiss her more deeply.

 

She began to pluck at the buttons of his shirt, wanting to touch his skin. He let her strip it from him, never quite breaking the kiss. She let her fingers roam over his broad chest, following the planes of his muscles, gently pinching his nipples. His hands cupped her ass, slowly kneading, holding her upright. Finally, he pulled away slightly.

 

“I want to make love to you.” His voice was low and quiet, his accent making the simple statement sound exotic to her ears.

 

“Yes…Peter…please…” She kissed his chin, his neck, his shoulders, brushing her lips against the smooth warm skin. Then those strong hands picked her up again, laying her down on the bed, carefully moving the stuffed animals aside.

 

He kissed her again briefly, then began to lift her shirt away. He stripped her slowly and carefully, stopping to kiss each new bit of skin revealed. Until he began to find the bruises. He sat back on the bed and stared, his face hardening with disapproval. Maybe even anger.

 

“Gambit did this.”

 

“It's OK, Peter. It's from the lessons…combat practice. You get hit…you get a bruise.”

 

“He has seen these.”

 

“Yeah. I'm all right. It looks worse than it is, that's all.”

 

“This…this is a beating. Not practice.”

 

“Peter…I asked for the extra lessons. Honest. Please…”

 

“I will talk to him. I will tell Magneto. He said…that we were not to hurt you.”

 

“Don't! Don't tell Magneto.” She sat up and threw her arms around his neck. “Please Peter.” Damn it…she hadn't expected that much of a reaction. Just a little sympathy.

 

“Gambit is abusing you. This is not right.”

 

“Please Peter…I'll talk to him, later. Honest. Don't be angry. Please.” She clung to him tightly. He reached up to carefully pry her hands loose. He held them tightly.

 

“And Pyro…has he seen these too?”

 

“Yes. He was upset too, until I explained how I got them. Combat practice. Honest.” She pulled against his grip on her wrists and scowled. “Salvador will *never* touch me again.” She growled.

 

“That is why you let him beat you?”

 

“I'm not a mutant Peter. I need an edge. Remy can give me that edge.” She twisted free of his grasp and backed away. “If…If you don't want to continue this…then…I want you to leave. I've had enough humiliation for one day.” Sonovabitch…

 

“Marissa…I am sorry.” He looked down at his empty hands. “I did not mean to upset you.”

 

“I'm not a china doll. I don't break that easily, Peter. I did…I do want you to make love to me. If the bruises bother you…then turn out the lights.”

 

“That is…ridiculous.”

 

“Is it?”

 

“Yes.” Now he was smiling, lopsided and self-conscious. But, a real smile nonetheless. It transformed his face, made him look younger. Almost innocent.

 

Marissa began to pull off the rest of her clothes, tired of talking. His smile faded a bit and became less innocent. He brushed her hands away and took over the task himself, gently caressing her as he went. She tried to reach for his belt but he moved away, waving a scolding finger at her. His caresses were beginning to chase away the tension of their argument.

 

Soon she was naked before him. He took a moment to caress her gently from neck to ankle before standing to quickly strip the rest of his clothing away. Marissa's breath caught at the sight of him. Solidly packed muscle from head to toe, if he'd been any more muscular, he'd have looked inhuman. Any less and he would not have been the young god he was. He sat on the bed beside her and began to caress her again.

 

“Oh my god, Peter!”

 

“Hmm?” He looked at her with a questioning look. He was engrossed in his slow exploration of her body.

 

“You are…Wow. Like one of those Greek statutes.”

 

He blushed a little. She reached to stroke his thigh, trailing teasing fingers along its contours upwards toward his already hard cock. His eyes closed as her fingertips brushed his balls and trailed upwards to the base of the shaft. She ran a teasing fingertip along the underside and around the head before trailing it downwards again. When she reached the base, she wrapped her hand around it and stroked it lightly.

 

He sighed heavily and opened his eyes. He lay down beside her, kissing her while his hands kneaded her breasts, squeezing carefully. She continued to tease him slowly, enjoying the way his kisses grew more urgent with his excitement. He moved downward to take each breast in his mouth, sucking and licking at them while his hands moved lower to stroke the insides of her thighs and trail lightly across her wet lips and sensitive clit. She sighed and moaned, moving her hips against the gentle caresses.

 

“More please, Peter.”

 

His hands grew more confident, rubbing harder now, a finger dipping between the wet lips. She moaned and bucked her hips in response. She could feel his hard cock against her thigh and she rubbed against it. He pressed a second finger inside her and she groaned as he began to thrust them in and out. His other hand rubbed across her clit and soon she was shuddering and bucking against him, calling his name as she came.

 

She pulled him upwards, fingers laced in his hair. She kissed him hungrily and pressed herself against his body, moaning into his mouth.

 

“I want you inside me, Peter.” He groaned and shifted his weight above her, sliding her thighs upwards. He reached downwards to guide his cock to her entrance, parting the lips. Then he pressed forward, carefully lowering himself. She moaned again as she felt him entering her, filling her. When their bodies met fully he rested against her for a moment, kissing her deeply.

 

Then he wrapped his arms around her and began to thrust slowly, pulling her tight with each motion. She lifted her legs to wrap around his hips and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Soon his rhythm began to speed up and she felt another orgasm building quickly. He muttered something in Russian. The only word she understood was her name, but his tone sent shivers down her spine.

 

“Oh God…Peter…Oh…” She was coming again and he was groaning in her ear. His thrusts grew harder and less controlled and he pulled her even tighter.

 

“Marissa…” He hissed in her ear as his hips jerked against her and she felt his cock twitch inside her. He moaned and his hips thrust again and again. Then he laid still, his grip loosening a little as his mouth sought hers again. She held him inside her as long as she could, enjoying the kiss and the closeness.

 

Peter…He was so sweet. This was so wrong. She felt his cock slip from her body and she dropped her legs from his hips, letting him roll over beside her. He pulled her close, resting her head on his shoulder comfortably. His lips pressed against her forehead again.

 

She snuggled up against him, and sighed. Don't get attached…you're not staying here. You're going home. To the Brotherhood. To Todd…just as sweet as Peter…he didn't deserve this either. To Wanda with those dark eyes and soft lips.

 

She was beginning to understand what Magneto was doing…the lessons were an excuse to keep her close to Remy and Peter. The strange hands-off approach…so out of character for a control freak like him. He wanted her to choose one of them. Forget Todd. Or maybe Wanda. She still didn't get the why…there were a million girls he could pluck off the street if all he wanted was someone to breed mutant babies.

 

They made love again…and that's what it was with Peter. Making love. Damn. She was going to hurt him. If she ever got out of here…she'd make it up to him, somehow. They fell asleep afterwards, and when they woke in the morning, they did it again. Afterwards they talked quietly, still snuggled together. She didn't hear the soft click of the door latch opening…

 

“Thank you for being so sweet to me, Peter.” She traced the bones of his face slowly with a curious finger, when she reached his lips he kissed it. Her heart ached a little at the tenderness of the moment. This was a guy she could fall for.

 

“You are lovely…warm. I do not understand how Gambit does not care for you. Do you care for him?” He brushed her hair back from her face with gentle fingers.

 

“He…goes through the motions, but…He gives nothing of himself. If the man has a heart, I haven't seen it.”

 

They started at the sound of the door closing firmly. Peter sat up, throwing a protective arm around her. She turned to see Remy standing just inside the door, his fiery eyes locked on hers. He looked…angry. He couldn't possibly be jealous, could he?

 

“Gambit…I…” Peter spoke first. Remy raised a hand to silence him.

 

“You are late.” His tone was cold and flat. She'd done what he asked…He must have been listening. How much had he heard? And why should he care what she told Peter?

 

“I'm sorry…I lost track of time. Just give me a few minutes.”

 

“Ten minutes.” He turned on his heel and left, pulling the door closed behind him.

 

“He is angry.” Peter pulled her closer but she pulled away.

 

“I'm not sure what his problem is…but I'll deal with it.” She slipped from the bed and began to dress hurriedly.

 

“Marissa…” He sat on the edge of the bed looking worried, his hair mussed.

 

She sat down to try to tame her hair, now hopelessly snarled after the night they'd spent together. She winced as she yanked out a few hairs in her haste.

 

“It's all right Peter. Really. I can handle him.” She shrugged, then pulled her hair back tight with a scrunchie. She needed a trim soon or it would be completely unmanageable. “I am late.”

 

“Marissa…wait…I will go with you.” He was searching for his clothes, forgotten on the floor.

 

“I think it's better if you don't, Peter.” She stamped her feet to settle her boots. “Time to go take my lumps.” She stood on tiptoe to give him a quick kiss, then dashed out the door before he could respond. Whatever was going on with Remy, she didn't want him to get caught in the middle of it.

 

 

He was waiting, staff in hand. He tossed another one to her without a word. He gave her no time to prepare herself, coming after her with an all out attack. He wasn't holding back and she was immediately on the defensive, trying desperately to block his blows.

 

Now this was the beating Peter had accused him of. Her arm went numb as he struck her hard enough to knock the staff from her fingers. She didn't even try to retrieve it, just did her best to dodge his next strike.

 

“What the hell, Remy? Are you trying to teach me something…Or are you just punishing me? `Cause I'd really like to know why the fuck you're trying to kill me.” He'd backed her into a corner now, pinning her with his staff under her chin. The staff began to glow with red energy.

 

Oh shit. He'd never…ever…used his powers in practice before. She swallowed hard as the metal pressed into her neck.

 

“You…” His jaw clenched on the word and he glared at her. “You play Remy de fool. Magneto say you have no active power…But, you make Remy lose control…do what you want. How?” He pressed harder and she brought her hands up to push against the staff, fighting for breath.

 

“Remy…please…” Oh shit. He was going to kill her…she'd been caught. How?

 

“You share my bed for two month and you feel nothing for me?” He ground out. “One night with Piotr and you…you are…How?” But the pressure receded just enough to let her speak.

 

“How could I feel anything for you when this is the first time I've seen anything from you that wasn't just my own shit mirrored back at me?”

 

“Mirrored back?” His eyes narrowed dangerously. Come clean…and quick.

 

“You…you're an empath. That makes you…vulnerable to other people's emotions. I just…made myself feel what I wanted you to feel. As strong as I could. That's all.”

 

“You...manipulated me.” His jaw clenched, the muscles jumping.

 

“Isn't that what you did when you tried to seduce me?”

 

“No. Remy only read emotions, he don't force dem on you!”

 

“I don't believe you.”

 

“Remy could make you feel tings…make you fear him. Love him. Hate him. He don' do those tings.”

 

“Don't you?”

 

“No.” The red energy began to fade from the staff. “You tink Remy feel nothing…How can he know what he feel if you do dat to him?” He collapsed the staff and tossed it aside.

 

“You tink Remy have no heart.”

 

“I was just talking…telling Peter what he needed to hear.”

 

“No. Remy was listening…you believe dat.”

 

“You can't be jealous. I did what you asked me to do. You…can't possibly want to play house with me and raise little mutant babies for Magneto!”

 

“You have no idea what Remy want.” He took her face in both hands and held her face still. “You have not seen Remy's heart. But, you will.”

 

Then she was caught in the glare of those fiery eyes and it hit her like a crushing blow to the chest. A rushing tidal wave of emotions washed over her, drowning her. Her mouth opened in silent protest and her knees would have buckled if he hadn't held her upright. Loneliness, anger, despair, frustration, lust. A fierce tender possessiveness for her and a terrible aching longing for someone else…Betrayal, sharp and fresh and painful. More emotions too fleeting and complex to name. She was tumbled and tossed in the fluid landscape of his emotions and she wondered how she ever thought he was cold…

 

Then it began to recede a little as he pulled his hands away, dimming, but still there. She crumpled to the floor, sobbing and almost senseless. Her mind and body felt bruised and tender. She was only human and her brain was not meant for such things…

 

“I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't think I could…”

 

Remy looked down at her shaking form. What had possessed him to do that? What did it matter if she knew him that way? She'd followed his orders, had never promised him more than obedience. But, it had hurt to find she felt nothing for him all the same.

 

Body and mind. That was the deal. But, not the soul. It was not hers to give she said. She hadn't meant her heart…she'd obviously been willing to give that to Piotr…at least temporarily. She'd manipulated him with cold calculation.

 

So the question remained…Who owned Marissa's soul? Who had sent her to corrupt Magneto and his acolytes with such precision? Because there was no doubt that was what she was doing. The old man was nearly as smitten with her as John and Peter. Did she even understand what she was doing?

 

She was only human. She should be dead.

 

He knelt in front of her and took her face in his hands again. His stomach churned with disgust at what he was about to do. He could see her confusion as she felt the emotion too. Strike now while the bond was still fresh and wide open.

 

“Marissa…Who owns your soul?” He leaned into her mind squashing her will and sweeping aside her fragile emotions. She fought him, both mentally and physically, kicking at him and clawing at his hands, her mind recoiling from the new onslaught. Blood dripped from her nose to pool on her chest and she screamed. He held on tightly.

 

“Tell me.”