Wolverine's Pipsqueak

1

Fauna Flo had a lovely childhood, loving parents who catered to her needs. They had family outings every weekend, picnics often. It could have been called a 'perfect childhood'. Could have.

It all ended when Fauna Flo was eight, her powers manifested early. It was a faithful Friday morning. Both parents decided to wake their daughter up and treat her. She had suffered greatly when her grandparents died- or should I say were murdered. It was no accident. It was mutants. Clear as day, they were attacked by a mutant.

At least that was what Fauna Flo was told. She was taught to fear mutants like her parents were. That's why Fauna never had the childhood she deserved. Because of the non-sensical fear surrounding mutants.

One morning Fauna's parents opened her bedroom door, to wake her up. But instead of their brown haired, brown eyed little girl. They found a grey tabby cat with violet, pupil-less, eyes. Naturally, they panicked. Calling for their little girl; searching the house from top to bottom. They must have searched the house three times over but found nothing, until they turned into her bedroom again to find her sitting on her bed, a little dazed, now with a grey streak in her luscious brown locks and the same violet, pupil-less, eyes. They approached her like she was a tiger. Without hesitating her parents immediately packed her a small backpack, avoiding her gaze, and drove her into town. Her parents mustered up a fake smile, claiming they were going to find her some new toys. She hopped out the car, under the assumption her parents were following. 

They weren't.

As soon as her parents' car turned the corner, the realisation set in that maybe they weren't coming back. Grief-stricken she roamed the streets, making everyone turn their heads from her striking violet gaze.

She now trudged down roads, begging for money to live, rummaging through the bins to find her next meal. It was essential she learnt how to live off scraps and adapt to the new life she led.  Cardboard boxes served as beds for the rough nights; if she was lucky she could find a mattress that was covered in mysterious markings... Sometimes she would break into buildings and sneak foods from the kitchen. Bars would give her water, at least the ones who accepted mutants. Blind people would often give her change when she asked, they could not see the monster she had become.

Over and over she thought about the fateful night her parents abandoned her. She wondered if they missed her, felt guilty or even if they came back looking for her. She tried to figure out what was wrong with her. 

Luck, however, was on her side tonight as she opened the door to another bar, looking for some water. The bartender gave her a small, pitiful, smile as she took her place at the bar. While she was waiting, she inspected the other patrons. Many of them were men, they all looked like they worked at the local worksites. She noticed a few interesting figures. The tattooed man trying his luck with one of the waitresses, but being refused. The old man sat at a table by himself, sat just him and his thoughts. And the man at the bar with muttonchops and a look on his face that warned everyone to 'leave him alone', an order she was happy to abide by, she had learned to obey this.

The bartender came back with a small glass of milk and a small smile, before attending to his next customer. This man was tall, with defined muscles and a hunting jacket on, still painted with blood from his fresh kill, a thought that sent a shiver through Fauna. She stared at the man wondering if he felt any compassion. And as if he could feel her cold stare he turned towards her, before stammering and backing up. His mouth began moving before any words could form.

"Freak! Get out, you don't belong here. I should call the police." He hollered, pointing his sausage looking finger at her. The small girl trembled in her seat, turning away from his gaze, trying to hide her face.

At this point, the whole bar had stopped mid-conversation to hear what this man was rambling about. No-one dared to move. The air was tense and Fauna began to fear for her life, the exit was now blocked and there was nowhere to run to. A couple of men had now started to make their way towards Fauna. She closed her eyes and prepared for what was to come.

But before anything could happen someone's voice raised above the murmurs of the bar.

"What the Fuck do you think you are doing?" He demanded, ripping the attention away from Fauna.

"She's one of those freak mutants." The man at the bar replied, hate distinct in his voice.

"She's a young girl. So how about you leave her alone?" This was a rhetorical question because before he could even answer a bone-breaking punch was thrown and before anyone could react Fauna was covered and escorted away from the danger.

When they had reached a safe enough distance, the man bent down to Fauna's level.

"Hey, pipsqueak. Are you okay?" He questioned, his voice the complete opposite of what it was in the bar. But Fauna had learnt many things living on the street, one of those things was to never trust anyone. Realising she wasn't going to reply, he continued.

 "I'm Wolverine, I'm not going to hurt you. We're the same," He began, showing Fauna his claws. "See?" Fauna was in awe as she saw his metal claws, that's when she began to trust him.

"So, will you tell me your name then?" He asked, keeping his soft tone.

"Fauna. Fauna Flo." She answered, in a low voice.

"Okay, good now Fauna, where are your parents?" To this, she just gave a shake of her head.

"Well have you at least got somewhere to stay?" He asked the, now calm, child. Again, she shook her head. Tears started to pool in her eyes as she recalled her parents' car driving away. The cold nights spent in the alleyways. The scrounging of food. Fauna allowed herself to be vulnerable at this moment, something she hadn't been able to do for so long. As soon as Logan saw Fauna start to tear up something within him was awakened. He couldn't leave her out by herself to starve, much less deal with her powers. Right in that second he had made his decision, she was to stay with him.

"What about if you came with me? I'll find somewhere safe for you to stay. How does that sound?" Fauna gave a hesitant nod as she figured that this would be better than anything on the cold streets of Canada. Something within her willed herself to trust him. Surely, after saving her from those men, he should be worthy of trust.