Generation Next (X-Men fanfic)

Sixteen

As Ziva charged across the lawn toward the army, she saw a mutant that loosely resembled a cat running toward her. Loosely being the operative word.

Pointy little kitty ears stuck up through the long white furry hair atop his head. The soft-looking, long fur covered his head completely. It was spotty at best over the rest of his body, giving him the appearance of an alley cat who lost one too many fights. His facial features had the pushed in qualities of a Persian. It was a little disturbing on a human. When he came at her, he was all snarls and claws. She grinned, allowing herself to picture A'Cadia for a moment.

She snapped her eyes over to Stevie where he ran beside her. "Ball, Stevie, our new friend needs a toy to play with!"

With a wicked little grin, he shoved a finger up his nose and came out with the most disgusting looking little cat toy one would ever want to witness. He lobbed the golf ball-sized booger at the cat man.

Ziva let loose with a whoop when kitty boy chased after his new booger kitty toy. She hollered again when he dropped to the ground and began rolling around on his back trying to dislodge the booger ball from his front paws, or hands, she wasn't certain. It was a no-go; the booger ball was stuck fast. When he kicked at it with his back paws they also became stuck.

Stevie gave her a fat grin. "He isn't getting out of that one. I made sure it was extra sticky."

"Gross, but highly effective," she replied with a smirk.

Up ahead she saw two mutants go down for no apparent reason. Must be Craig with Mellissa by his side, she decided. A'Cadia swept through her line of sight, Angela clinging to her back like a little tick. As they watched, A'Cadia held up a hand, claws out, Angela let free with a blast that ricocheted off the three adamantium claws and blasted anyone standing nearby. Effective. A'Cadia's idea certainly helped Angela with her ability to properly aim her blasts.

"Ziva!" Stevie screamed.

She spun and found herself face-to-face with ... she stopped and blinked. "You?"

Buck sighed, stacked a hand on one hip, and glared at her. He couldn't pull off the hand on the hip thing without appearing girly. "Yes, me. What am I not worthy of being scared of?"

She blinked again. Wannabe? A mutant. She couldn't figure out why her mutant radar hadn't told her he was a mutant. Craig. She wanted to curse him. With his hands all over her at the school, she'd been distracted and confused.

"You're a mutant?"

He gave an exasperated sigh. "Why is that so hard to believe?"

Beside her, Stevie rolled his eyes. "Can I play his theme song now?"

"Not now, Stevie!" She waved a hand at him. "Wait, you knew he was a mutant?" She glared at Stevie.

"No, but you mentioned he was at the high school with the gang." He shrugged. "We picked out a song, ya know just in the event and all." He shrugged again.

Buck glowered at them. "Hello, still here. Are you two done?"

Ziva shook her head at Stevie and turned back to Buck. "Right so, mutant. What exactly is your power?"

He waggled his eyebrows at her. "Oh, baby, you are going to love my power."

"Doubt it, but hit me with your best shot," she told him.

He took a step toward her and simply looked her in the eye.

Stevie frowned and looked from Buck to Ziva and back. Nothing. Nada. Zip. He frowned as Buck took a step back with a grin. "Don't get it," Stevie said.