Shifting Sands -- The Lone Wolf And
The Goddess
Part
Five
written by Valegra story by
D. Briganti
After spending the entirety
of the afternoon in Ororo Monroe’s presence, Sid was shaking his head and
patting his self on the back. All the training he’d been going through had
finally paid off. All the long weeks and excruciating self discipline, that he
was sure was for naught had finally come in handy. For he’d managed to remain
in the
presence of the white
haired mutant, the siren whose voice made him weak in the knees, whose
seductive scent caused him to lose his concentration, and whose body drove him
wild and hadn’t lost control.
Sitting at the bottom of
the bed finishing off some soup he’d whipped up for dinner, knowing that his
guest wasn’t in any condition to handle anything heavier, he marveled over the
afternoon.
After wrapping Ororo in the
quilt, he’d picked her up and carried her through his home feeling a bit self
conscious at how she seemed to take in everything around her. She hadn’t complained
or made any comment for that matter, which had made him more nervous. He’d
wondered if she liked the sparsely decorated cottage, with it’s deep hearth and
long rug before the fire. He’d wondered if she thought his earth toned
decorating was too plain or if she thought the mural hanging lopsided on one
wall of the main foyer was out of place. He wasn’t very neat as a rule, so
there’d been clothes hanging off the back of his sofa and at the foot of his
comfy chair. He’d wondered if she’d find his kitchen impressive, as he always
kept that room immaculate. But he hadn’t taken her in there.
Outside the sun had been
shining. The air was filled with the fragrance of past rainfall. The grass,
slightly damp, shone from the sun. Sid had taken her directly to the lakes
edge, to a point that he frequently used to dive off of. A small cliff
extending over a portion of the clear water.
The pleasantness of the
area had reminded him of how light and pleasant Ororo had felt in his arms. It
had been hard for him to keep his mind off of the fact that she was half naked
under the quilt and soon she would be fully naked in his lake. Bathing in his
water with him not ten paces away.
"This area is very
beautiful," she’d commented when he set her down near the lake’s edge. Sid
noticed that she held the quilt to her body, but that she didn’t look as if she
was overly concerned if he saw her without. Her eyes were on the lake, her
mouth was curved in a half smile.
"Yes, that’s one of
the reasons why I decided to stay here," Sid replied kneeling beside her.
There was no way in hell he was gonna leave her there. Hell anything could
happen to a young, half clothed woman in the middle of no where, miles and
miles from any civilization. Sid shook his head when he realized he was loosing
it. When he next looked at Ororo, she was looking back at him.
"I noticed that you
did not stop for soap," Ororo mentioned.
Sighing, Sid rose to his
feet. For the first time giving Ororo a stern look that brooked no defiance.
"Promise me you won’t try to go in, Ororo," he commanded using her
given name for the first time.
Sid remembered Ororo
raising a brow and cocking her head to the side as if trying to decide if he
was serious. After a moment, she shrugged. "Of course."
Knowing that that was the
best he was going to get, Sid turned and left to grab some necessary bathing
items. Mainly a set of clothes for her to wear after.
When he returned several
minutes later, it was to the sound of splashing water. Sid remembered cursing
loudly. Rushing to the lakes edge he looked out and spotted the woman
immediately. It hadn’t been hard. She seemed to shine. It was as if the sun was
bathing her in light just as surely as she was bathing in the lake. Not wanting
to intrude but knowing that he couldn’t stay away, as she could and probably
would drown if he did so, Sid sat down heavily on the damp grass.
"I told you not to go
out there," he said disgruntled to the woman frolicking in the clear
liquid.
"It was a temptation
that I could not resist," she’d commented ducking under the water and
rising slowly.
Sid caught his breath. He
could feel his lower region rising with her. Shit. "Don’t stay in there
long," he’d cautioned tossing her the bar of soap he’d picked up the last
time he’d gone into town. It was one of his last, he’d have to plan another
trip soon, or he’d be SOL for lord knew how long.
As Sid watched, Ororo
reached up a hand and slowed the bars descent to her until it hovered just out
of her reach. Another untrained eye wouldn’t have noticed the way the soap hung
there, but Sid did not have untrained eyes. That and the fact that he knew
Ororo’s mutancy was connected with the elements helped him to see the event.
When her hand was wrapped around it her face tightened with pain. Gasping
loudly, she sank beneath the surface. Sid threw off his boots and leaping,
followed her down. The water had been warm, he remembered, ‘course that could
have been because, he’d been fully dressed. With an arm around Ororo, they
resurfaced together. Ororo coughing held onto him for dear life. Sid noticed
that she still held the bar of soap in her hand.
"This wasn’t a good
idea. I’m taking you back inside," Sid decided taking them both back to
the lake’s edge.
Shaking her head
vehemently, Ororo tried to resist. "No, please. Just help me," she
nearly pleaded. Sid could see she was clearly frustrated. He’d suspected that
she wasn’t used to feeling helpless and she didn’t like it much. He also saw
how her eyes, though slightly dilated reflected the sky. Within them was a white
light that he was sure he was imagining. He couldn’t resist her. "I do not
know your name," she said out of the blue.
This made Sid flush. Had he
really neglected to tell her his name. Wasn’t there an etiquette law against
that?
"It’s Sid, Sidney actually
but I prefer Sid," he’d told her. They were both stopped just beyond the
slope leading back up on dry land.
Ororo had smiled and slowly
turned so that her back was to him. Since they weren’t far from the shore both
were able to stand on the dirt covered lake bottom. Cautiously reaching up, as
if she were afraid the simple action would cause her pain, Ororo lifted her
long damp hair from her back. At the sight of her naked skin, Sid swallowed.
"I will need help... Sid, washing my back."
Sid took another deep
breath and proceeded to lather his hands.
Ororo’s bath went a great
deal faster after that. For that at least, Sid was grateful. After washing her
back, Sid had proceeded to lather down her shoulders and arms. From there he’d
moved forward so that he was toughing her chest. Ororo hadn’t been much help he
remembered as she’d leaned back against him, with her eyes closed. It was
several minutes before Sid realized that she was half sleep from exhaustion.
When he did finally realize this, he pulled her to the lakes edge and washed
her hair. After that was done, he’d re-wrapped her in the quilt and carried her
limp form back into the house.
When she was comfortably
tucked in, he’d left her sleep and went downstairs for a long drink.
Sid took the tray off the
bedside table, looking at the empty bowl with growing satisfaction.
Ororo sat against the
headboard finishing off a piece of apple cake. The quilt and comforter were
both tucked around her waist. Sid she noticed had managed to get her into one
of his less gruesome T-shirt’s as she’d slept. By the Goddess, she couldn’t
believe how weak she felt. How long had she been out?
Deciding that it was about
time she found out what was going on, she set the cake dish on the tray that
Sid was removing and crossed her hands in her lap. Her hair was still damp and
was pulled back with a blue ribbon, Ororo hadn’t had the nerve to ask Sid where
he’d come across one of those.
Sid took the tray out of
the room. Ororo waited for his return before striking up the conversation that
was long overdue. As Sid found a comfortable spot at the base of the bed, she
took a deep breath, fighting a small wave of nausea. "You are a very good
cook. It has been quite a time since I have had anything as delicious."
"Ah, and once again
you give me too much credit. Most of what I made came out of a can. You have
Mrs. Smith to thank for the desert," Sid replied with a wink. This made
Ororo smile. He has incredible eyes, she thought suddenly.
All of a sudden his playful
expression turned serious. "So, Ororo, I think there are a few things
needing to be cleared up between us." Ororo nodded slowly not taking her
eyes off him. He seemed to be waiting for this. "First and foremost, who
are you? I saw you fall from the sky," he stated simply. But Ororo knew he
was wanting a lot more than a simple answer.
She hesitated, she didn’t
know why really. She wasn’t ashamed of what she was, nor was she trying to hide
it. She could only imagine the havoc she reaped as she tossed unconscious these
past days, for now she was certain that days had passed since she was accosted.
The man staring at her now was an intelligent man. She’d be crazy to assume
that he didn’t at least suspect what she was. She thought the real reason for
her hesitancy lie with the fact that she didn’t want things to change between
them. They were comfortable together and although she was still weary of him,
she didn’t think he was a part of the F.O.H. But how did she know that he
wasn’t just another mutant hater? What if she told him what she was and he sent
her packing? Not that she couldn’t take care of herself, but... still.
Ororo sighed, her face
turning deadly serious, her decision made. Ororo Monroe was not a coward.
"I owe you my life and so I will tell you who I am. My name is Ororo
Monroe and I was born different from other human beings... special." Ororo
paused staring the man at the base of the bed down. Silently daring him to
interrupt her, shout at her in rage and scorn. Human’s were the same the world
around, she knew though she tried to forget that fact. Even way out here in the
middle of no where, ‘normal’ humans knew of mutants. They were afraid, and that
fear turned into hate. Almost always.
Sid, she saw only smiled
slightly. His entire manner non-threatening. "Go on," he said when
she would have stopped there.
"When I was young I
received a gift; a gift of power. The ability to manipulate and shape the
forces of nature. I can summon forth a frigid wind, a light frost, an
impressive lightning shower, or the densest of fogs. I can call up a raging
hurricane if I so chose. But this great gift turned out to be an equally great
curse. For I was shunned and feared by the others who do not possess what I
have. People who fear what I can create and hate what they believe I can do to
them. One day, I met a man who was, like me, a man with a gift. He said he had
a dream: a future where the humans and our kind can live together in harmony,
and was recruiting others across the world to teach them to control their own
inborn powers and further our rights in society. I accepted, and became part of
the group that he has forged together." Ororo tone through this was
neutral. She truncated her existence into the simplest terms for a reason. She
didn’t want the man at the base of the bed to know how badly she wanted the
man’s dream to succeed. By exaggerating what she could do, she hoped that he
wouldn’t believe her. And by excluding certain events she wanted him to know
that she did not fully trust him with the truth that was her life. She wanted
him to accept her. After all, he was a good man, a handsome man. He’d saved her
life.
Sid was frowning slightly.
Ororo wasn’t sure he knew what she was talking about. But that was insane,
surely. "Who is this man, Ororo? What group are you a part of?" He
asked.
"The man’s name is
Charles Xavier. And the group that I now call family is known as the
X-Men." When she said this her voice was grave and her expression was
stoic.
Sid shifted trying to make
himself more comfortable. It was easy to understand what Ororo was telling him.
He knew she was a mutant, though she hadn’t actually told him so. Now to find
out that she was part of the mutant terrorist group, the X-men, that as
something to think about. He’d heard about the X-men, and what he’d heard
hadn’t been flattering. Granted he’d heard it out of the mouth of the people
living in the village not far away. It hadn’t taken a rocket scientist to
figure out that they were all set against mutants. The picture they’d painted of
mutants in general had been an ugly one. Unforgiving, willing to do anything to
subjugate ‘normal’ humans. Banning together for the common purpose of
controlling them. The people of the town had described mutants as hideous
creatures twisted with visions of glory and conquest. Hardly the beautiful
woman sitting nervously in his bed. They’d spoken of mutants being ambitious,
wanting to take what normal mutants had; their homes, their jobs, their lives.
But Sid didn’t see that when he looked in Ororo’s eyes. He got the feeling that
she really wanted there to be peace between mutants and humans. Though she
didn’t want him to know how much.
Sid looked at Ororo. She’d
lain back against the headboard, her eyes slightly hooded. Her complexion was
pale. Even though he’d removed the sticks from her side, she rarely used the
left side of her body. Sid suspected that she still hurt. She was also weak
which was evident from her fainting spell earlier. She was waiting for him to
say something or do something. She didn’t trust him. Trust that he wouldn’t
turn on her. In this, Sid thought of her as a hypocrite. She wanted mutants and
humans to live together peacefully. For humans to not fear mutants and begin to
trust them enough to live in peace. Yet, here she was lumping him with all
those others, not willing to believe that there was a ‘normal’ human out there
that would not put a knife through her back.
Well Sid had enough
problems without knifing his lovely houseguest the minute her back was turned.
Besides, her back was much too nice to be cut up. "I don't care for such
things, Ororo," he finally said breaking the silence. "All I cared
about then was that you were in need of help and fast. Now that I know what you
are, It still doesn’t matter, you should know that. When it all comes down to
it, you are a beautiful woman whose found herself in a patch of trouble and I’m
a man willing to lend a hand."
The mutant woman smiled
broadly, sighing with relief. "You know, it is hard to find a person with
unprejudiced views about mutants."
"I would imagine, that
in your line of work it’s rare to find a mutant without prejudiced views
concerning humans," Sid shot back meaningfully.
He was pleased to see that
his statement sunk in. Ororo frowned momentarily and Sid could have sworn he
saw her blush.
"Anyway, speaking of
prejudices, what do you know about giant robots? The one that pursued you down
here said something about mutant-hunting before he blew apart."
"Pursued? You mean it
got here?" Ororo’s eyes were wide with confusion.
"Yes," Sid
replied with a wry smile, "but he didn’t leave. Let’s just say he put me
in a fowl mood."
A white eyebrow rose.
"You are saying that you destroyed him?" Why the notion was truly
uncanny. The man was only human, how could he have fought such a monstrosity?
"Let's say I have some
useful tricks for emergency situations," Sid answered proud to have
impressed the woman.
"A long time ago, we,
the X-men, went up against a man named Bolivar Trask. He created a series of
androids to protect humanity from mutants. These machines were made of thick
steel and carried everything from machine guns to lasers, with only one
program; to find and execute mutants. Bolivar Trask named these robots,
Sentinels. At the time Trask was waiting for funding to launch a high tech
mobilization, his main targets young mutants who have only recently or had yet
to realize their potential. As it turns out his programming was too good as the
commander of the Sentinels, Mastermold revolted against Trask. He had his own
plan to subjugate humanity by controlling their minds. His way of protecting
humans from themselves. The X-men were in time to intervene but in the process,
Trask died in the explosion that destroyed his secret base. To all extent and
purposes, the Sentinel project was terminated. It was because of some strange
reports about giant flying robot sightings that I came here to investigate this
area. There is a compound located just outside the village north of here. I was
sent to find out what was inside."
"I can only assume you
found what you were looking for," Sid said concerned. What the hell
qualified this slip of a woman to break into a guarded compound? Was this
Xavier guy mad?
"I did. Unfortunately,
in order to get the compound searched and shut down, the officials Xavier has
spoken with require proof. Proof normal officials cannot get. While I was in
the compound I took a series of photos. I have to get the film back to
Westchester. It is the only way to stop the launch of the second wave of
Sentinels," by now Ororo’s head was beginning to spin. Her vision was
beginning to blur but she didn’t want Sid to know that. She didn’t want to be
weak and helpless.
"I take it that you
hid the film?" Sid asked frowning even more fiercely.
"Yes, I have,"
Ororo answered in a whisper.
"Will you tell me
where you’ve hidden it," Sid asked already knowing the answer.
Ororo slowly shook her
head. "I cannot. Discovering that the Sentinels are in fact up and running
has left me hesitant. I am sorry." And Ororo was surprised to discover
that she really was.
Rising to his feet, Sid
approached the head of the bed and settled Ororo so that she was laying down
once again. "Well, I won’t complain, Angel. Having you here is turning out
to be a rather nice occurrence. And if I were you, I wouldn’t be complaining
too much. You are alive, after all."
Ororo smiled in return to
this statement. Yes, she was alive. "Alive and in good company," she
whispered. "Good thing when one cannot get out of bed."
Chuckling, Sid picked up
the bar of soap he’d set on top of the dresser upon entering the room a while
ago. "I’d be lying if I said I was unhappy about the way things turned
out, Angel," Sid replied with a shy look in his eyes. Damn, he thought,
I'm not afraid to fight a three-story tall killing machine, yet I quake at the
prospect of telling this woman how beautiful she is. How much I like her being
here. How much I want her to trust me and give me her problems to solve. If I
keep this up, I’m gonna end up in a Zen sanitarium. But damnit, she’s driving
me crazy!
"Now, take a nap. Now
that you’re awake we’re gonna need a professional tolook at that side of yours.
I’m gonna head into town and see if I can find a doctor who’d be willing to
come out here and check you over."
Ororo's eyes widened and
she grabbed his forearm as he made to leave the bedside. "Please, do not.
If anyone of them finds that I am here... It could put you in grave
danger!"
Sid looked at her with a
puzzled expression. "What do you mean by 'them'? I thought it was just the
machines and the guy controlling them."
"There is a racist
group, called the Friends of Humanity, who promote the extermination of
mutantkind, and the whole village is crawling with them! It was one of them who
shot me before I could escape!"
"That worsens the
situation a lot. We’re still gonna have to have you looked over. Can you
contact any of your family, the X-men?"
"No, not unless I had
my com link. And with it I would only be able to send a signal least the person
controlling the Sentinel intercepts the call. Along with being the creator of
the X-men as I said before, Charles is a mutant, his particular gift is
telepathy. He or another of his students, Jean Gray should be able to track my
whereabouts psionically."
The young fighter's arms
crossed as he shook his head. "In that case, I have bad news for you. No
empath or telepath of any sort, no matter how powerful, can track any mind in
this valley."
"Why?" Storm
asked tensing.
"Well...," Sid
began to explain, but the unmistakable sound of a firearm being fired brought
his attention to the window facing the front of the house. Giving Ororo a
confused glance he crossed the room to stand at an angle to the window so he
could see what was outside without whatever was outside seeing him.
A deep male voice yelled
from outside, "Hey you! You’ve got that freak in there, and we want her!
Give us the mutant and we’ll get off your property!"
Hell if they weren’t just
gonna get the hell off my property! Turning from the sight of the gathered men
out front, Sid chanced a look over his shoulder. He saw that Ororo had sat up
slowly and was now pushing the comforter off her legs. "I take it you
recognize the voice?" He asked angrily. "That the guy who shot you,
Angel?"
When Ororo didn’t reply, that
was all the answer Sid needed. Son of a bitch. With a decisive motion, Sid
stepped away from the window and headed to the bedroom door.
"Wait! Sid, what do
you think you are doing?" Storm almost screamed as the man opened the
door.
He turned for a moment,
then stared at her his smile kind. "I'm going out to wipe those jerks
away, of course. Guys gotta show a little more respect for a lady."
"But-but you are alone
and unarmed! You do not even know how many of those fanatics are out
there!" Already Ororo was trying to gain her feet. The unused muscles in
her legs protested so that she winced and had to hang onto the bedpost to avoid
toppling over. A thin film of sweat formed on her brow from the effort. Ororo
could feel her breath catching in her throat. She was going to faint!
Upon seeing Ororo rise, Sid
went back to the bed and gently pushed her back down, holding her shaking hands
in his own. Falling to one knee so that he was at eye level with her, he looked
in her blue eyes. His gaze became filled with sadness. "I assure you, I'm
not unarmed. And as for being alone...well, let's say I'm used to it. Ororo
promise me that you won’t rise from this bed," he asked of her.
"Sid. I cannot let you
go face those men. I could not stand it if any of you were killed," she
replied her voice sad as well. Outside a couple more shots were fired and a
loud shout rent the air. Rex was becoming impatient.
"Angel, I don’t
understand."
"All life, to me, Sid,
is sacred. No matter whose. If I go out, I could avoid a possible bloodletting.
Maybe if I called up a storm, I could scare them away," she suggested
intertwining her fingers with Sid’s, not wanting him to go in her place. Not
wanting him to get hurt because of her.
"If you go out there,
Ororo, you plan to try to scare them not kill them. Those men out there, I know
the type, nothing short of death is going to turn them away."
Ororo shook her head even
though to do so made it pound. "Sid I cannot allow you to go out
there."
"Face it, Angel, you
can’t stop me. Not in your condition, anyway. Let me tell you something. I’ve
discovered that your life is rather sacred to me and I don’t want any one of
those men out there taking it away. In fact, I don’t want any one of them near
you. I know that you don’t trust me, but right now, I’m asking you to put your
life in my hands, Ororo. I won’t let anything happen to you," Sid said
disengaging one hand from hers and hesitantly touching her cheek. When a
smaller, softer hand reached up to cover his own, he knew that he’d just been
given her trust.
She tried to smile.
"Take care. I will be greatly appreciative to see you come back here with
all your limbs!"
Sid chuckled in response
trying to ignore the heat in her complexion, hoping against hope that her
experience in the lake earlier wasn’t causing a relapse. "Was that a joke,
Angel? Hey, after all, there is a small chance that you have some sense of
humor!"
"I got it from
you," Ororo replied flippantly.
The young man sighed,
rising to his feet and quietly headed to the door. Ororo watching him leave
her, prayed to her Goddess that she was making the right decision in letting
him go. She should be the one to face Rex and his gang of mutant hating followers,
not Sid. What if something should happen to him? How would she forgive herself?
When Sid got to the door,
he surprised her by turning around. Ororo saw that he was wearing the same
commanding, determined expression that he’d worn near the lake earlier. "Do
me a favor, Angel. Don’t worry. And promise me you will not leave that
bed," the last he commanded.
In answer, Ororo smiled
sincerely, "Of course."
Nodding arrogantly, Sid
left the room. Ororo, smiling, shook her head in disbelief. Men!
written by Valegra story by
D. Briganti
Valegra2@aol.com
David Briganti