Scar, Friend or Foe p.II

Disclaimer: Nope. Still don’t own AvP. Darn.

Lol. You guys are funny. –blinks- Is… someone stalking me? Or was that a death threat if I don’t continue? Oh wait, it’s just a threat to skin me. I get reviews mixed up sometimes. –shrugs-


Hope you enjoy…


-o-o-o


Lex managed to get her gaping mouth to close as she turned to follow the mostly naked Yautja behind her. She noticed that his form seemed unusually stiff, though when she caught a glimpse of his amber eyes, she noticed a far off look to them. When she finally got back into the main chamber of what looked like Scar’s living quarters, the Ooman paused.


There had to be somewhere else to sit besides the bed.


Unfortunately, the room was as Spartan-style and sparse as you could get. Unless, of course, you were counting the numerous amount of trophies adorning the walls. She noticed a large chest at the foot of the bed, however, that made her nearly sag with relief. Making her way to it, she eased herself slowly down before resting her rump. There was really nothing else to do, so she decided on just watching the nake- I mean, mostly naked Yautja. Though she forced her gaze above the loincloth. Of course, that made her eyes trace those perfectly sculpted abs and those big broad shoulders that she was sure could give her a huge workout in the sa-


Lex cleared her throat as another blush threatened to overtake her, literally tearing her eyes away from Scar. This, however, made the Yautja pause in whatever he was doing to look at her. He had almost forgotten she was there. He could have sworn he had scented the beginning taste of something sweet, but the delectable sense departed before he could pinpoint it. Though he was starting to wonder just why she looked flushed all of a sudden. Had she gotten a fever?


Disregarding whatever previous task he had set for himself, the big Yautja lumbered over to where she sat, wondering why she was sitting on the chest when there was a perfectly good bed behind it. Lex, on the other hand, was feigning a relaxed front, pretending to have her eyes riveted on a particularly large skull on the wall.


When the Young Blood stopped maybe a foot in front of her, close enough for his body heat to tickle hers, Lex compelled herself not to swallow loudly as she slowly brought her gaze up to meet his, “Uh… hi…”


He cocked his head to the side, his dreads swishing on either side of his head as he regarded her.


“Are you unwell?” He trilled inquisitively, drawing up a hand to press against the top of her forehead.


When his slightly rough, reptilian knuckles brushed her skin, Lex couldn’t help but freeze, anticipation halting the spinning cogs of her mind. Of course, she wasn’t exactly sure what it was she was anticipating, but all the same she just sat there. When all Scar received was a deadpan look from the smaller warrior, he blinked, slowly withdrawing his hand. Perhaps she was a bit ill. But then that’s when it struck the Yautja. Of course. She was only Ooman. The environmental settings on the ship were set so the Predators could freely roam the interior of the ship without the use of their thermal netting. To them, 90 degrees Fahrenheit was a relatively cool setting. Grunting in satisfaction at having determined the problem, the Yautja abruptly turned, his dreads swishing to follow the motion as he walked towards the door.


“Come.” Was all he said without a backward glance, his hand calmly clawing the air in the mandatory gesture to get her to follow.


Confused, Lex slowly hopped off the trunk, slightly leaning against it as she demanded some answers, “Wait, what? Where are we going?”


He paused, impatience creeping into his voice as he whipped his head around, “To get you some clothes.”


Lex frowned, “Well, aren’t you gonna get dressed before we head out into whatever the definition of ‘public’ means to your people?”


Darting a glance down at his attire, it was Scar’s turn to twist his features into a frown. He gave her an incredulous look that spoke volumes along the lines of ‘what are you talking about?’ as well as ‘are you incredibly stupid?’. Instead, he merely clicked with slowly as though speaking to a pup, “I AM dressed.”


Having stiffened at his response, she was immediately about to give him a piece of her mind when the implication of his words sent her to an abrupt halt.


Already dressed? If that was what he would be wearing then that meant she… would… be…


Oh… HELL no.


“I am not going to be running around this strange place half-naked.” Lex stated, eyebrow raised.


Scar’s frown deepened at the tone of her voice. It had been a no-nonsense one that commanded others to obey. Well, Scar wasn’t in the mood for it. Especially when it came from one who was, at most, the same rank as him. Growling in warning, he closed the distance between them with a deadly grace, crouching lower so he could look her eye to eye, “You think to order me around, Ooman?”


Having seen him charge a hard meat and twist its ugly little head off, Lex realized she knew what it must have been feeling moments before its end. Her heart quickened at his approach, his every muscle screaming that he was straining to attack. But to his credit, he had great control. But then again, so did she.


Forcing a calm she did not feel, along with the hope that he had not helped her survive that hellhole only to kill her in his Clan’s ship, she pitted her brown eyes against his amber as she replied, “I am merely stating my opinion. However you take it is your business. But I would rather strip your hide and wear it before willingly prancing around this ship with barely anything on.”


The black woman braced herself, ready to hold her own should this behemoth decide to end their little indecision with a brawl. Despite everything they’ve been through, if this was what they had to do before he realized she was serious, then there was nothing else to think about.


He moved. Lex waited for the hit that she would counter. But surprisingly, none came.


Scar had moved, but it wasn’t to attack. He had thrown his head back to release a burst of roaring laughter, his clawed hand clutching his stomach. Immediately it was as if all tension in the room had been chucked out. Lex wasn’t really sure what had amused him so much, but at least she didn’t have to fight him. Because she would really hate to have to kick his ass. After a short time, the Predator calmed and caught her gazing at him with a look that demanded explanation.


Chuckling as he shook his head, Scar admitted, “You have guts. Which is rare, since you are Ooman.” He ignored Lex’s scoff at that fact as he continued, “However, you will change your mind if you follow me.”


Not quite sure what reason could possibly change her mind, Lex asked, “Oh yeah, and why is that?”


The reason was quite simply that Scar preferred the cooler climate of 80 degrees Fahrenheit within his own dwelling. But throughout certain habitual places within the ship the temperature was much, much higher.


Snorting at her stubborn posture, Scar clicked his mandibles thoughtfully. Perhaps it was just better to show her. Heading towards the wall next to the door, he punched the panel beside it before she could ask more questions. Immediately a large gush of intense, tropical heat flooded the room as the door spiraled open.


Lex blanched at the sudden shift in temperature, perspiration immediately dotting her brow since she still sported layers of human clothing. Clothing which had been designed to protect her from extreme artic temperatures. Which this, most decidedly, was not. It was as if someone had tossed a bunch of coals on the ground and poured enough water to make the very air as thick as a warm wool blanket. Even the simple act of breathing became more difficult.


With a sinking feeling in her gut, she realized that Scar had been right. Trying the best to console her hurt pride, she brought her gaze back to rest with Scar’s smug one. Begrudgingly, she admitted, “Fine.” Waving her hand forward in whatever direction Scar had been about to take earlier, she sighed, “Lead the way.”


With nothing more than an amused trill, the yellowish-brownish Yautja turned and headed out the door. Once she was sure he wasn’t looking, the small woman hastily discarded her parka and her unnecessary outer layers as if they had been on fire. How she hadn’t noticed the warmer climate within the vessel earlier was a mystery, because right now she wanted nothing more than to turn the huge space ship around and dunk herself into the Antarctic Ocean. Naked.


Resigned to her fate, Lex followed him out.


-o-o-o-


Scar gave another amused snort when he turned to see if the Ooman was, indeed, following him. She seemed even more fragile with the mysterious disappearance of some of her Ooman articles of clothing. Now she only wore a close-fitting gray t-shirt and some slim black pants. Her boots were no where to be found.


He clicked to himself again as he observed her frown slightly, her bottom lip pushing into her upper lip tersely as she steadfastly ignored him. He turned straight again as a grin twisted his mandibles. He had never met an Ooman like her before.


He received another surprise as she appeared beside him. But when he gave her a look, she merely said, “What? You didn’t think I was just going to trail behind you like some lost pup, did you?”


Grunting in acknowledgement, he turned forward once more, on the lookout for what he knew must be coming next.


-o-o-o-


Lex sighed as the Predator beside her continued in silence. At least he wasn’t laughing at her anymore. However, before she could simply ignore him as well, she noticed something about his gait. It seemed… tense.


Almost expectant. But for what?


Almost in answer, a greenish Predator stood directly in her path. Expecting him to move along any minute, Lex paused. Except that he didn’t move. But the black woman didn’t know what irritated her more: the previous fact, or that he stood there not even attempting to acknowledge her presence. The edge of Lex’s mouth tightened and she peered around the Yautja to see that Scar was still walking and was a good dozen feet away already.


Politeness be damned.


Lex continued walking as well, ‘accidentally’ bumping into the stranger with enough force to send him stumbling a little to the side. The Ooman woman may not be as strong as a Yautja, but she knew tricks around that little handicap.


“Hey.” An angry growl came from behind her.


Taking her cue from Scar’s still walking figure ahead of her, Lex ignored the brute and kept doing the same. Besides, he had not so much as glanced in her direction. Why exactly shouldn’t she give him the same consideration? But the angry Yautja was not so easily deterred. She heard big stomping footsteps following behind her, the strides bigger and faster than her own. Of course, she simply pretended nonchalance, continuing her easy gait.


“Hey!” The unknown Predator barked louder.


Lex had just seen Scar actually coming to a stop far ahead when an unwelcome hand gripped her by the shoulder, forcefully stopping her steps even as it spun her around.


“Look at me when I speak, ugly Ooman child bearer!” The greenish brute clicked insultingly, his large hand squeezing her shoulder painfully for added emphasis.


Lex’s lip twitched at the burst of agony that originated from the spot, but that was all she allowed herself to show. NOW he notices her, huh? Turning her livid brown gaze upwards, Lex said in a dangerously low voice, “Get. Your hand. OFF. ME.”


“Or what, puny soft meat?” The Predator growled, his brows furrowing deeper in anger as he realized not only was she standing up to him, but this puny Ooman was threatening him as well.


Lex didn’t give him another second to think about it. Grabbing his wrist with one hand, she lunged forward, surprising the muscled warrior at the mere fact that she was attempting to come closer to her demise. But she smoothly transitioned the step as she dipped below his arm so that when she pivoted and spun her torso just so, she was able to easily break his grip. Hand still on his wrist, back now to her opponent, Lex quickly took the opportunity to yank his arm forward with her as she took a giant step. The Yaujta now off balance, Lex’s back foot quickly slid out further as she followed through with the move to swipe the ten-foot-tall Predator’s feet from beneath him.


If any of the Predators in the corridor hadn’t been watching before, they looked now as a resounding crash thundered by the warrior’s collision with the floor.


BOOM!


When silence filled the hall once more, Scar finally turned around stiffly to view the outcome. Managing to see despite the gathering crowd, he couldn’t help the grunt of surprised approval that escaped his maw. The Ooman was standing on top of the fallen Yautja’s back, one heel digging into the back of his skull as the other put pressure on the shoulder blade of the arm she continued twisting. He could just barely hear the warrior’s grunts of pain.


“Do you yield?” Lex hissed, straining to keep the arm angled at an agonizing position. She could feel the heat starting to affect her and she desperately hoped this was enough to calm the other down. Her sore ribs began to throb painfully. Sweat dripped slowly down her temple as she forced out even breaths, not wishing to show any sign of weakness.


The stubborn Yautja growled between grunts, refusing to acknowledge defeat.


But Lex had other plans. Like following Scar so she could get outfitted properly in this heated environment. She couldn’t have herself passing out from heat stroke now. Even walking had slowly taken its toll from this strange, humid atmosphere. Not to mention she basically felt naked without a weapon or some type of blade on her. She had stupidly left Rave’s knife holstered back in her boot in Scar’s quarters. She didn’t have time to waste on this lowlife.


Forcing the Yautja’s head into the floor beneath them with more pressure from her heel, Lex simultaneously began a tug of war with his arm and its socket. Now it was true that Predators had incredibly high tolerances for pain when it came to the Hunts. Wounds and scars were like honorable medals to parade around. But to receive such a thing from a challenge done onboard the ship with a fellow Clan member, that did not have the same kind of honor.


Just as she felt his arm was about to pop out, Lex heard what she was waiting for. It was mumbled, but in her relief she felt as though it was spoken loud and clear.


“I… yield…” The Yautja assented, not sounding too happy about it.


Immediately dropping the arm, Lex stepped off of the greenish Predator’s back and made her way to where Scar stood. She could feel the eyes of all the other Yautja’s on her, but she just ignored them. All looked surprised, but many were unfriendly. It seems just being marked and brought onboard were not immediate qualifications for acceptance. This thought turned sour in the brown-skinned woman’s mind, but she pushed it aside for later.


Right now she wanted to gloat to Scar about her speedy victory. She eagerly tried to cover the distance between them while he simply stood there, thick arms crossed over his broad chest. She could almost swear there was a slight smirk to his mandibles.


Just as she was about to open her mouth to speak, she saw Scar’s eyes and mandibles widen in shock. At the same moment, she realized those loud thumps she had heard a split second before were the sounds of an enraged warrior coming for revenge. Before she could blink, turn, or even think, there was a large hand grabbing roughly at her hair. She made a slightly strangled sound as it pulled none-too-gently on her head. Yanked backwards, her face was upturned enough to see the extended wristblades hanging ominously overhead.


They slashed down.


His grip on her hair was too tight. She didn’t have enough time. The only thing Lex managed to do was twist away. Narrowly missing her skull, the claws dug down into her shoulder instead. Her teeth clenched tightly at the explosion of pain. She was unable to refrain the small choked cry that slipped past her defenses. The blades stopped. However, they had cleaved down with enough force to carve small notches into the bone. At least she hadn’t given him the pleasure of screaming outright. That or getting to split her skull open like a melon. Wondering if he hadn’t sliced all the way through her in an attempt to carry out her torture, Lex opened eyes she hadn’t realized were closed.


What she saw, though, was enough to make her gasp.


Scar was there in front of her, so close his dreads hung around her head as she looked at the heaving chest inches away. She followed the chest to the arm suspended beside her head, his yellowish-brownish fist wrapped around the bladed wrist of the sore loser in a death-like grip. THAT was what stopped the psycho from cleaving her in half, the strain of the two opposing arms visible in the trembling wristblade. Lex couldn’t help flinching slightly as the shaking allowed the sharp blades to further shred her tissue and muscle.


Despite their close proximity, Scar noticed the flinch and a deep growl clicked from within his chest. Inch by inch, he managed to push the opponent’s arm and its wristblade up and out of Lex’s shoulder; to which the Ooman female let out a strained breath in relief. Mandibles twitching in anger, Scar leveled the greenish Yautja with a deadly look before twisting his arm. The snap of broken bones sounded off at the same time the offending Yautja cried out. But the Ooman didn’t have time to absorb any of this as the losing Predator tossed her to the side by his grip on her hair, blind in his agony.


Lex let out a small, pained sound as her shredded shoulder made impact with the wall, a bloody splatter leaving its mark before she dropped, achingly, to the floor. Still holding the other’s broken arm, Scar took a brief moment to whip his head to look at her before turning back to his opponent. His chest pushing forward as his free arm pulled back, the yellowish-brownish Yautja’s mandibles spread wide open as he let loose a deafening roar. That’s when the other Predator realized the trouble he had gotten himself into. He wasn’t even a blooded warrior, after all, but a hot-headed unblooded Yautja out to prove something.


Finally releasing the other’s useless arm, Scar clenched a fist as he stepped back. Rooted to the spot, the greenish Yautja could only watch as the Blooded Warrior threw his fist forward with a short bark. From Lex’s vantage point, she could see it had the same effect of getting hit by a bullet train. The sore loser’s head jerked back with an audible ‘crack’, his mandibles twisted in agony as green florescent blood sprayed out. The punch was enough to lift the colossal Predator into the air, throwing him a few dozen feet backwards before he finally hit the ground with a resounding crash.


The brown-skinned Ooman had watched it all from her front row seat on the floor, back pressing precariously against the wall, careful not to disturb the newly pulsing wound on her shoulder. With her other hand, fingers placed pressure as well as kept her arm immobile against her side. With the offending Yautja down, Scar heaved a final large breath, before whipping his head to meticulously go over Lex’s wounds with his gaze. With low clicks, he started to head towards her.


Realizing his intent, Lex gave a short, brief shake of her head.


Pausing, he frowned slightly before taking another step.

Lex shook her head again, mouthing the word ‘no’ silently on her lips.


Though he did defend her honor by defeating the Yautja that had dared attack her from behind, Lex couldn’t afford to be seen as weak. She couldn’t.


Scar had realized this. Knew this was what she had to do. But he didn’t like it. And he voiced it verbally with low, muttered growls. Thankfully, however, he did listen to her and stood where he had stopped. His mandibles flexed slowly with his distaste over the issue, though.


Something else Lex was thankful for was how everyone had been too busy looking at the fallen warrior to see the silent exchange between her and Scar. Unfortunately, now she felt the weight of many gazes burdening her more than her own wounds, both recently old and achingly new. Releasing her arm, Lex reigned in her expression as she reached behind her for the wall. Her hand found it with a small ‘smack’, the fresh sheen of blood being responsible for the sound. She made sure she only anchored herself against the wall for a breath before she pushed herself up to her feet.


She ignored the heavy looks she was receiving, not sure she wanted to interpret them then and there. Instead, she looked directly towards Scar, forcing her body not to tremble as a wave of pain rolled over her.


Perceptive as ever, the yellowish-brown Yautja barely stifled a growl as he caught the flash of anguish in her chocolate-colored eyes. Surprisingly, the Ooman veiled the look quickly as she recovered, nodding once.


Without a glance back, Lex forced out an even breath as she continued walking down the hall. She feared the others wouldn’t part before her. But before she could find out if they would resist, a strained second passed and they moved, letting her through. Behind her, Scar took his time to look at the unconscious Unblooded warrior on the ground. With a short growl, he turned his head to observe the Ooman female walking away. A small spurt of pride growing in his chest, Scar gave a small grunt of approval and followed. Along the way, some of the others caught his attention before giving barely perceptible nods.


Apparently, some of them agreed.


-o-o-o-

By the time they reached their destination, it felt as if Lex had traversed across half the ship, fighting what felt like at least a quarter of its occupants. There were some that had chosen the more subtle way as the first greenish one, pretending not to notice as they obstructed her in some demeaning way; and others, who simply charged right in with the same tact as a blind rhino.


Needless to say, Lex ended up barely managing not to limp into the room, Scar on the bare edges of sanity as he held himself back from simply grabbing Lex and carrying her into the threshold himself. He had had to fight himself since the very first dumbass challenged her. Noting that there were a couple Yautja milling about outside the entrance, Lex eyed Scar warily beside her. She didn’t like that look in his eyes.


Half the time it seemed she was fighting Scar during their whole trip. After each fight he would worry, growling with growing concern and dislike as she would come away with some new ache to torment her. She was just thankful that not all were bleeders like the one on the top of her shoulder. It stung every time she shifted her upper torso, the old blood cracking along the thin exterior layer that had hardened and dried.


She flinched as she turned a little too fast to observe the scene behind her.


Scar clicked low and in frustration.


Lex looked briefly in his direction before turning forward once more. She had just been checking for more possible candidates to fight. But none had looked that pissed off. Or interested, in that matter. On the other hand, Scar looked like he was just about ready to knock a few heads. If he could stop himself from completely ripping them off, that is.


The door had barely spiraled closed behind them when Lex found herself being backed against the nearest wall. The minute the door had closed, Scar had whirled to stalk towards her, a seriousness coming off him in waves. Unconsciously, her feet led her in a slow backward retreat. Feeling the proximity of the barrier behind her, Lex stopped. Despite the need to cower before the immense and dangerous figure before her, who only halted a foot or so away from her, Lex held her ground.


She began to demand, “Just what the hell is your prob-”


But Scar interrupted her with a brief part growl and part bark, one arm shooting out to press against the wall beside her head. Without warning, he leaned further in, his locks and reptilian-skinned face much closer than she found comfortable.


“What are you do-” She started to ask, trying to step away.


But the stubborn Yautja trapped her in as his other arm shot out to the wall as well, the Ooman feeling very much like what sardines must feel in a tin can. He trilled his displeasure at her attempt to move away and continued his close inspection. Understanding his intent, Lex sighed in exasperation, “I don’t need a babysitter.”


Scar growled, his head snapping back up to glare his intense amber gaze inches from her face, before returning where he left off; which was somewhere along her ribs. Lex frowned and turned her own gaze away, relenting. She was fine with just ignoring her over-worried companion before his locks brushed against her collar bone, sending a shiver to travel through her.


Blinking in surprise, Lex turned her sights to the Yautja that was now crouching before her, meticulously raking his gaze over her legs. Once again, Lex found her eyes tracing his impressive physique, some muscles bulging even when they weren’t in use. Not sure exactly why, she found herself trying to imagine what it would feel like with his muscled form on top of her. Under her. IN her.


Lex felt a healthy flush running through her veins. What was she thinking? ‘Stop it, silly girl.’ She berated herself inwardly, ‘What makes you think Scar even sees you in that way?’ Sure, she was a beautiful woman. But that was in human standards. What’s to say she was just as pretty in Yautja standards as well?


‘And what am I thinking? He’s not exactly within my category of species either. Hell, who’s to say we even have the right parts?’ Lex argued with herself.


That’s when she realized Scar was done and standing. How she missed that, she would never know. But he was staring at her.


Embarrassed, Lex felt a whole new rush of blood fill her face, praying to God he didn’t know what she was just thinking.


Moments earlier, Scar had finished his observations to catch a faint whiff of something. It was sweet. His mandibles flared as he attempted to discern what it was and where it came from. When he had straightened to look at the small Ooman warrior before him, he realized where it had come from. And as he watched her brown gaze tracing his relaxed form, he was burning with curiosity as to what the scent meant. It was so alien…


Yet so familiar…


He heard a faint purring in the room. With a start, he realized it was coming from him.


Lex herself was surprised when the purring rumbled softly from within the muscular chest before her, the very sound vibrating softly through her bones. It was… pleasant. She was just raising her brown gaze to stare curiously into Scar’s amber when her vision started to become distorted.


Hair plastered to the sides of her face with sweat, reality came crashing down on Lex. The heat. The wounds. The exertion. It all took its toll on her body. Swaying slightly on her feet, Lex reached out for Scar with one hand, only to miss as she pitched sideways. But as always, the Yautja was there. His big arms enclosed around her slender form even before she could begin her uncontrolled fall.


Worried, Scar heard the Ooman mumble something before she passed out. His brow was furrowed until her realized what she had said.


“…mmm… FINE…”


Shaking his head, Scar snorted. Stubborn woman.