Hit the Floor (Scarab)

[Hellcat]

One minute you’re on top
The next you’re not
Missed your shot
Making your heart stop
You think you won

And then it’s all gone

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Aeval was ready for this.

After months of scrounging around the city, scurrying about and looking, she and Scarab had finally managed to grab a handful of decent men. They weren't the best men, obviously; otherwise they wouldn't be settling for a job in a mutant-run gang. But they were tough, with enough of a head on their shoulder to keep them away from the cops. They had already been through all the tests.

Now it was just time for the initation. Aeval had spent weeks planning this up, thinking about just how they should welcome these guys into their "family." She didn't want it to be something too easy; there were, after all, a few weak links still remaining. But she also didn't want it to be too difficult; they didn't want the new people running off immediately. So instead, she had settled for something in the middle.

She stood in front of them now, her hands on her hips as she observed them. A few were mutants; she could tell that much. But most of them were humans, and still a bit uneasy about her odd appearance. That was why she had taken to her human form. It was still odd-looking, but at least she wasn't a giant cat. Giant cats always seemed to put people off.

"All right, guys," She said, leaning back against a nearby box. Aeval crossed her ankles, putting her hands behind her to support the weight lost by the transfer, "It all comes down to this. You have the address; you have each other. Scarab and I will be there as well, but we're only for back up." She reached up, brushing a blue curl out of her face.

"Snake Eyes, a mob boss, has decided he wants to move in on the turf we claimed a while ago; he's already bought a building on the edge. You guys are going to break in, wreck it up, and steal a few things if you can. Deadly violence is not reccomended, but is an option, if things get bad." Aeval flexed her fingers, claws expanding - though they couldn't be seen thanks to her disguise.

"You guys have three hours to get there, have some fun, and get back here. Bring me a token to show you did something as well, please. Oh!" At this, she looked up, narrowing her eyes, "We're also a family here. If I find out any of you harmed or sabatoged another, I will deal with you personally. And if you don't learn then, well... Then our boss will deal with you. Now... shoo."

The men took off.

[The Scarab]

Scarab was out of sight, but definitely not out of mind. He was concealed very well in the shadows, behind the potential recruits. He, due to his unchangeable appearance, wasn't quite the best pick for addressing the new guys. In fact, only Aeval really saw him face to face. And he'd have liked it to stay that way. Unless of course he was punishing someone.

He smiled; Aeval did a really good job. Then again, she wasn't the only one who put up a tough front when necessary. He emerged only enough so his frame could be seen. "You heard her," he said to the rest of them, dressed in his usual getup. "If there are no questions, let's move."

[Hellcat]

Aeval smiled as the rest of the men scattered, running over each other in an attempt to get out of the door the fastest. A quiet chuckle escaped her throat, along with a purr. She was delighted by this first batch of recruits. They were relatively decent, and Scarab even approved.

Once the last scent had vanished from her nose, Aeval pushed off of the box and slapped her hand lazily against the band around her wrist. Her form shimmered, and then disappeared - giving way to her true form. The cat-girl's tail gave a little twitch.

"They seem anxious, don't you think?" She asked, eyes twinkling as she started towards her dear friend.

[The Scarab]

Once Aeval dropped her disguise, he stepped out of the shadows, meeting her halfway. He smiled, nodding. "Yeah, they do. But that's one thing I like about this batch."

His main arms were folded across his chest; his secondary arms were under his trenchcoat. "Real go-get 'em types. Seem decent enough. Way to keep 'em in line," he complimented with a wink.

"Seems like only yesterday we were just getting started. Now look at us." He looked around before quickly pulling her into a gentle embrace. "How long you think they'll need?"

[Hellcat]

Another purr escaped when Scarab stepped out of the shadows, so she could see him for who he truly was. Unlike most, Aeval wasn't scared of Scarab; in fact, she rather loved him. She was like him, different from the humans and other mutans. They were phyiscally mutated.

But that was okay, because it only made their bond tighter.

When he wrapped his arms around her, Aeval returned the gesture, burying her face in his chest. It was a rare thing for Igs to hug her like this, especially considering they were almost always surrounded by the recruits. Neither of them could afford for others to see the true connection between them. It could be turned against them.

"Maybe we should go after them in about thirty to sixty minutes? Give them enough time to find the place." She and Scarab already knew where it was, after all.

[The Scarab]

He sighed happily, sort of relaxing. No one else could ever know--too dangerous--but they were more than just leader and second in command. He loved her, and he knew she loved him back.

"Makes sense. My thinking's only good for strategy," he chuckled. "You're the real brains of this outfit." He kissed her forehead. "I love you, Aeval," he whispered, jumping on the opportunity for a sweet moment, since with the recruits, they didn't get many of those.

He smiled down at her, though mentally, he was keeping track of the time.

[Hellcat]

He kissed her forehead, and Aeval's stomach flipped. It was a good feeling, a sort of butterflies feeling. It was enough to make her smile; her tail moved to wrap around him as best it could.

"Strategy is just as important as planning, Igs. In fact, I think they're one in the same," she murmured, looking up at him. A smile curved her lips upwards, revealing two sharp, white fangs.

"I love you, too, Igs," she murmured, rubbing her head lightly against his chest. Yet again her cat instincts were getting the best of her, urging to spread her scent all over him. If any of the other members of the gang had enhanced senses, they would be able to smell that Aeval had claimed him as hers, but... She highly doubted any of them did. She made sure to screen them all.

[The Scarab]

He felt so peaceful with her. He knew they had to get going soon, but he chose to just enjoy this while waiting. He knew by now what she was doing, but it didn't bother him.

"Maybe. But the bottom line is, I couldn't do this without you." He snuggled against her, not wanting the moment to end. But unfortunately...

"....Well, we should probably get going. Just in case." He spoke with a hint of 'I don't want to do this right now' in his voice. He reluctantly let go of the hug.

[Hellcat]

Aeval purred softly, rubbing her head against his, and then broke away. Her ears pinned back, but she gave a nod. She knew he was right; those poor recruits were going to need backup. At least, that was what Aeval had figured. Odds were they going to get caught, and then...

And then calvery would arrive.

She reached over, tapping the band around her wrist, and shivered as her body reverted to the human disguise she wore. She pushed a light blue curl behind her ear. "The recruits are going to need some backup, I'm thinking." She nodded.

[The Scarab]

He nodded, slipping off his trenchcoat and letting his pincers out. He stretched his extra arms.

"That they will. And I'm the meaning of the word backup," he said with a wink. "Vamanos, mi amora," he said. He knew she knew he said, 'Let's go, my love.' He'd taught her what words like that meant after the day they got together.

He gave a grin and started to the place.

[Hellcat]

The words, spoken in his own language, warmed her heart, and she gave him a smile. Her tail twitched, touching his leg gently, and then she forced it to wrap around her waist. "And I'm... the distraction." She said, grinning.

When they arrived, the recruites were up against a small group of Snake Eye's gang. No one had been majorly hurt, just a few scrapes, but it was enough to make Aeval angry. She didn't mind getting onto the recruits; sometimes they needed it. But for someone else to harm them, even trying to kill them...

She hissed, fur standing on end.

[The Scarab]

"And a very cute one at that," he answered.

He didn't go all the way to the scene; there was no need to. He would recieve a signal when needed. Otherwise, he was just....overkill. He was just down the street, in an alley, hidden by shadows.

He could tell there was a struggle going on, but the boys seemed to be doing pretty well for themselves. Snake Eyes thought he could ease in on Scarab's turf? Big mistake. VERY big mistake...

[Hellcat]

Aeval let out a yeowl, the same sound a lioness makes upon seeing her prey. With one flick of her tail, she sent the boys back to the headquarters, making mental notes of who she saw. Even if those men didn't return with something, she would know they were there. They would become a part of her family.

Even those who were injured.

With the boys running, Aeval ran as well - just in the other direction. She started towards where Snake Eyes was standing, watching his men as they attacked hers. They didn't scare her; nothing scared her anymore. But when he turned his eyes on her, she knew he was scared of her. Still, she had to bait him.

Instead, she stopped near an alleyway, gave Snake Eyes a wink. "Hope you like your present, big boy," she grinned. "Wish I could have wrapped it for ya, but... Well, you weren't really worth the ribbon."

Her eyes twinkled.

[The Scarab]

Snake Eyes watched as his men fought back Scarab's, then they ran. They were retreating! Piece of cake. He smirked.

"Alright boys, it's over. Clear out." They did, except for four large humans. They were his bodyguards, his elite forces. Then, she appeared, and he spun, glaring at her.

"Present? How nice...well, I've got a...present of my own." Then, he transformed, green scaly skin covering his body as his eyes turned yellow. His neck grew longer as his body became more snake-like and sprouted a tail. His arms and legs grew longer, then sprouted claws. His head was snake-shaped, only he had a mouth full of razor-teeth along with the forked tongue.

They didn't call him Snake Eyes for nothing. "Sssssurprissssse....."

[Hellcat]

Aeval tensed as soon as she saw the man transforming. Shit. Shit! No one had told her he was a mutant; all her informants had said he was a simple human. That wasn't good. That wasn't good at all.

She hissed, fur bristling, and took a step back. "No wonder you're such a coward. You're a literal snake," she snarled, clicking her claws together. "Cold-blooded monster." Her eyes flicked to the alleyway just to her left, then back to the man. A smile formed.

"Too bad you couldn't stop a bunch of humans from destroying your precious new hole in the ground." And with that, she took off, down the alleyway.