[hr][center][h1][color=8dc73f]Naeemah Meskhenet[/color] , [color=#6aa121]Poppy LaRue[/color] & [color=FF4500]Todd Buchanan[/color][/h1]  
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Collab between [@CyanideSweetie] [@beyond visions] and [@13org]
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[color=8dc73f]"Todd sure is taking his time..."[/color] Naeemah said to herself worried. She and Poppy were still waiting for him to get back. 
Sure, she had said that she would trust him and wait for him, but she was getting worried and impatient.
[color=8dc73f]"Poppy, I'm worried... Do you think something happened with him?"[/color] She asked, turning to her. She knew that Poppy was hungry, due to her quick metabolism.
Poppy  opened her mouth to reassure the snake woman but she was interrupted by her growling stomach who was then cut off by a loud buzz.
That was when they heard an announcement over the intercom. It was Dr. Werner Sevier. Naeemah never liked him that much. She never talked with him, but something in that man seemed off... The way he talked, his actions... For Naeemah, trusting that man would be a fatal mistake.
Poppy blinked hard at the announcement, Werner? Sure she had noticed the guy, hell who wouldn't? He was the epitome of tall dark and handsome. All bulky muscles and mysterious scars. But why would he be the one making announcements? No offense, but she hadn't thought that there was a lot going on upstairs for that chunk of hunk; only for him to introduce himself as 'Dr'.
[color=8dc73f]"Don't trust him Poppy... Something is wrong with that man... his words, the way he talk... That overly familiar, soothing tone of voice... It may sound pretty ironic, and even funny, but his voice is full of venom. Trusting him seems to be a fatal mistake."[/color] Naeemah said, her forked tongue getting in and out of her mouth as she said that.

She never had a reason to distrust Dr. Werner, but she also never had a reason to trust him as well. And that was more than enough reason to keep an eye on him. Call it female intuition, maybe it was even because she felt a similar poison than hers on his words, but her intuition almost screamed to not trust that man.
Poppy was surprised by the flashing red light of a warning that Naeemah was clearly giving. She could tell that the womans anxiety was about to choke her, [Color=#6aa121]"Todd's okay, Naeemah. He wouldn't let us down."[/color] She smiled reassuringly.
But before she could even think more about it, she felt a familiar vibrating sensation on her chest. It was her phone ringing again. Immediately, her semblance, mood and voice changed.
[color=8dc73f]"Its Todd! Oh my... I was so worried..."[/color] she said, opening her cellphone.
[color=f26522]"I'm with Troy, we're safe. Where are you guys?"[/color] The message said.
[color=8dc73f][i]"Did he forget about the food he was bringing to her and Poppy's juice? He was the one who told us to wait for him in his room... Did he forget about it? Well... he is safe. This is all that matters."[/i][/color] she thought to herself. Maybe if it was another person, and not Todd, she wouldn't be that careless. She would certainly had taken her thoughts more seriously, but she was relieved that Todd was safe, and ended up dismissing those discrepancies as simple mistakes.
[color=8dc73f]"Why it took you so long?! I was almost going out to search for you!! We're still waiting for you in the same place you left us. You'd better bring us our food! XP"[/color] She texted him back.
[color=8dc73f]"Todd is with Troy. Guess I was getting worried over nothing."[/color] she said, with a small smile on her face.
Poppy grinned at her,[Color=#6aa121] "See? I told ya!" [/color]She rubbed her hands together excitedly. It was almost chow time!
About ten minutes later, Naeemah could spot seven heat signatures beyond the walls of Todd's room. At first, it could be assumed that they were simply passing through the hallway since they were not making any other searches through the rooms prior to Todd's. Though both of the girls could feel their hearts sink as the patrol stopped upon reaching the door they were only a couple of feet away from. The only ounce of hope they could desperately hold onto was the guarantee that Naeemah was picking up on her boyfriend's scent among the crowd of seven. Yet, does that leave the possible doubt that he rattled them out? Could Todd really be that cruel, is there a dark side that Naeemah has not seen in him? Or did he actually turn himself to Dr. Sevier, in blind trust that this mystery man could help them? Todd was optimistic, but not foolishly naive.
Naeemah was calmly waiting with Poppy for Todd. After the message he sent, she was much more calm, as she knew that he was ok.
After ten minutes, she felt a very familiar smell. It was Todd's smell. For a brief second, she opened a smile, before she realized... Six other thermal signatures together with him. She didn't know their smell... She was expecting Todd to be alone, maybe together with Troy...
What was happening? To make things worse, they knew exactly where they were. They didn't even search for them, they went straight to Todd's room.
Was Todd captured? She knew that he would never betray her... Was he tortured? Did they harm him? Naeemah's head was almost bursting with questions, but one thing spoke louder than any thought she could have: her instincts.
She couldn't just run away and leave Todd there, but at the same time, she had to protect Poppy.  And there was not enough time to think about any plan. The only thing she could do now was coil herself protectively around Poppy in the corner of the room, hissing loudly and menacingly, while rattling loudly as they entered the room. Her fangs were dripping with venom, as she hissed menacingly, her forked tongue rapidly getting in and out of her mouth. 
Poppy could tell that shit was going to hit the fan the second Naeemahs smile dropped off her face. The woman hustled her into a far corner and started to coil protectively around her, [color=6aa121] "No!"[/color] she gasped wiggling from her grip,[color=6aa121] "I can help, but I need to be able to move!"[/color]Poppy was no delicate flower. She had bones even Naeemahs iron vice couldn't break. Finally wiggling free she darted into the air and quickly zipped to hover against the wall above the door frame, ready to launch a surprise attack.
With those deep brown eyes of his, Todd glanced back at the soldiers positioned a foot behind him. He would be the first to enter that room, since they would at least recognize his friendly face. First, he turned the door's knob before then kicking it open, though not stepping into the room itself. [color=FF4500]"It's me--,"[/color] he interrupted the creaking of the door as it swung open. "It's me," he repeated, finally now walking into his room. [color=FF4500]"I had very little options, and this was the best one. Trust me."[/color] The last thing Todd wanted was for them to think that he betrayed them. He may have failed them in the sense of getting caught, though Todd will admit with no shame that if he had another chance to save another mutant like Troy, he would do it all over again. 
As Todd walked inside the room, Naeemah was still coiled around herself, in the corner, hissing and rattling loudly. Poppy was ready to attack as well, after escaping Naeemah's protective cuddle.
 It was obvious that she would attack anyone who came near her. She was sure that something had happened with Todd. He wouldn't betray them like that... 
But when he opened the door, kicking it down, her world crashed down...
He was fine...  He wasn't cuffed, wasnt wounded... Not even a scratch, that's what left her even more scared.
Why he was doing that? He wouldn't betray her... would he? She tried her hard to think about what reasons he may have for betraying them, but the situation didn't helped.
[color=8dc73f]"Todd?"[/color] Naeemah asked, confused. Even after knowing that it was him, she still didn't stop hissing and rattling. She was still coiled around herself, ready to strike.
[color=8dc73f]"Have you really betrayed us? You brought them here?"[/color] she asked, looking at him with piercing eyes.
Every second that passed, she was getting even more irritated. It was a huge emotional shock to her when she understood the situation. She wasn't thinking straight, moving and acting only by instinct.
 [color=FF4500]"Wow... Naeemah... Says a lot about how much you trust me,"[/color] he uttered back in a sarcastic tongue, folding his bare arms as he no longer wore the uniform top from since being caught. Instead, the only piece of fabric keeping Todd's hairless chest from being exposed was his grey tank-top.   [color=FF4500]"They took my phone when I got caught trying to save Troy. They were coming to you anyways. Now, let's just...  go..."[/color] 
Naeemah's mind was still a maelstrom of thoughts and feelings. She wanted to believe Todd, she wanted so bad, but there was only one possible reason for that.
[color=8dc73f]"What have they offered you? What have you traded us for?"[/color] she asked, still looking at him. 
 She still loved him so much... She wanted so much to believe him... But her instincts told her otherwise. She was trying so hard to understand the situation... But everything pointed to only one possible reason why Todd brought them there...
 [color=FF4500]"They didn't offer me anything-- I was caught remember! That left me with little choices, but I at least knew my only chance of ever seeing you again was to comply,"[/color] Todd began taking large paces towards Naeemah.  [color=FF4500]"If these [i]Maximation[/i] GI Joes get hostile, I'll break their legs and beat them with their own feet. And you know I don't like getting violent, but I'm not going to let anyone hurt you, Naeemah. Same with you, Poppy."[/color] Taking another step towards his girlfriend,  [color=FF4500]"I'm sure their patience wears thin, so if I have to, I'm dragging you out of here."[/color]  Todd grabbed her wrist.
[color=8dc73f]"Their patience?  You were the one who brought them here without even warning me... Its MY patience that's running thin."[/color] she said, still with her eyes full of anger.
When he grabbed her hand, she hissed to him, showing her fangs.
[color=8dc73f]"You don't understand... It's not that I don't trust you... I don't trust them. I never trusted Werner, not even for a second."[/color] she said, pulling her hand away from him, still hissing and rattling.
[color=8dc73f]"My patience is wearing thin, Todd. And you should know very well who is scarier and more dangerous between me and them..."[/color]
[color=8dc73f]"If you want me to at least listen to what they have to say, you'd better to tell me [i]everything[/i]. Give me a good reason why I shouldn't break their bones one by one and sink my fangs into their necks."[/color] Naeemah said, hissing to the soldiers.
 [color=FF4500]"Because [i]where[/i] would that get you? Where?"[/color] Todd did not have claws nor fangs nor even fur. On the outside, he did not look like much. But on the inside, charisma and the art of persuasion was his specialized field. Though he did not use his words to manipulate Naeemah, but he spoke of rhetoric that held all sincerity in his sensitive heart. [color=FF4500]"I cooperated with them and you see where that brought me-- to you, just what I want when every bloody nose reminds me of my pending death."[/color] 
After hearing those words, especially the last phrase, Naeemah stopped hissing, breathing deeply and calming herself down. That wasn't her. The only reason why she was so emotive was Todd. She was always too emotive when he was included. She knew that, and hated it. A few seconds passed with her completely silent.
Todd indeed had a point about that. He was still alive, and fine. She still didn't trust Werner, but if they were willing to let Todd free, then the most probable reason was that they would use them to hunt the other mutants. She had two choices: either continue that game of cat and mouse, or become the hunter herself.
When Naeemah opened her eyes again, she was almost another person. Her cold, calculating demeanor was back, as she analyzed the soldiers under her freezing stare.
Naeemah darted on his direction in the blink of one's eyes hugging him far too tightly to be confortable. He could see that she was still very confused about all that, but she had already made a decision.
[color=8dc73f]"I hate you Todd... You simply came in and made a mess inside my heart... I need to keep my emotions in check on every situation that you're included"[/color] she said, still hugging him a bit too tightly.
[color=8dc73f]"But I love you by that same reason..."[/color] she said, kissing him aggressively. He could see that she was a bit mad, but she finally understood the situation.
The kiss was unexcepted, but so was the [i]I hate you[/i]. Naeemah could really let her emotions  unfurl sometimes. Though even as she does, Todd cannot help while being bundled  up in her warmth, to notice that he does the very opposite of her. Without the humor he forces in himself, Todd would seems to be a stoic man. Laughter acted as the distraction from his feelings of weakness and memories of his dead brother and his suicidal father. It was strange how aggression and passion seem to almost mend together. In that very moment with Naeemah, that Todd felt that fine line between aggresion and passion, and it was like a breath of fresh air being pumped right into his lungs with each kiss she gave him before pulling back. 
[color=8dc73f]"You guys are using us, right?"[/color] she asked, facing the soldiers.
[color=8dc73f]"It's the only reasonable move that Werner could make against the mutants. To fight fire against fire. After all, we're disposable, right?"[/color] she asked, looking at them with a cold stare.
[color=8dc73f]"I can see why you would do that. All in all, it's not a bad strategy, and considering out situation, Its something that will benefit both of us. We will have to worry only about the other mutants, and you won't have to worry about us, while at the same time, having better chances against the other mutants... Very well... I will cooperate, but that doesn't mean that I trust you."[/color]
[color=8dc73f]"Poppy, its ok, come down."[/color] she said, calling her.
[color=FF4500]"Yeah, I've got your back too, Poptart,"[/color] Todd reassured Poppy right after Naeemah spoke to her. The  three of them were like a team, and as soon as Sevier knows that, the stronger they will be, even if that means them ultimately working for him. 
Poppy watched the interaction with her hackles rose, the couple was so engrossed in each other it was like they forgot everyone else in the room but Poppy was all too aware. She eyed the soldiers who were definitely more focused on the large dangerous snake woman than her own small perched figure, she scanned the men, seeking out Werner. It seemed to her that he was the boss man, so if she could take him out then the GI jar heads would have a harder time regrouping. She gritted her teeth when she realized he wasn't there. Guess the[i] doctor[/i] didn't want to get his own hands dirty. Instead she targeted the man who was incorrectly leading the group though she didn't recognize him. She took a deep breath, psyching herself up to attack the large trained soldier. She could do this. Fast like a hummingbird, sting like a, er...hummingbird... Whatever. She narrowed her focus on the man and just as her muscles were tensing to attack Naeemah addressed her. She was going to ask her if she had lost her shit, but then Todd spoke up using her pet name and she knew she was a goner. [color=6aa121]"Fine,"[/color] she hissed, shooting a glare in  the general direction of the men with guns, she fluttered down landing near the couple. [color=6aa121] "but let it go on record saying that I do NOT think this is a good idea."[/color]
[color=8dc73f]"Don't worry Poppy... I'm going to keep my eyes on them. Although its relatively safe to say that they need us as much as we need them... You know the drill... As long as we remain useful to them, we're ok..."[/color] Naeemah said, as Poppy came down.
[hr] As the three of them rode down the elevator among the crowd of soldiers, Todd let his eyes drop down to the floor, staring. He was beginning to feel a bit dazed, and unable to think properly due to the sinus pressure building up within the nasal cavity. In his left hand, Todd wrapped his fingers around Naeemah's palm, while in his right, Todd massaged the bridge of his nose, trying to ease the splitting headache. At the end of the day, they were all still sick. If it is not Maximation that kills them, perhaps it is the cancer they were injected with in the first place. 
Naeemah was visibly agitated and uncomfortable as they rode down the elevator. She was the one who said that they wouldn't kill them, but she couldn't help it. Probably, every single soldier on the elevator there wouldn't hesitate to shoot them if their superiors gave them the order. Furthermore... She could feel that it was time to shed her skin. It wasn't a pretty or comfortable thing to do, and Todd knew that. It wasn't just an annoyance. It was painful, stressful and extenuating. Every single one of the mutants who lived with her until now knew that they should not enter her room when she was shedding her skin, under any circumstance, because she would probably attack them.
She wrapped her fingers around Todd's hand, maybe trying to ward off the dark and grim thoughts by being close to her loved one, but the truth was far from pleasing, and there was no denying or running away from it...
Continuing in his eye contact downwards, Todd noticed drops of blood hitting against the surface of the metal floor. He slid his right hand off he bridge of his nose and placed his fingers against the nostrils-- yes, it was another nosebleed. They have been happening for weeks now, and yet Todd has tried hiding them from Naeemah. He did not want to worry her. Though now, it seems he has no choice. 
[color=FF4500]"Shit, not now,"[/color] he muttered under his breath, knowing that there were no tissues around to clog up the soon-to-be outpour of blood. So what does Todd do? He peels off his gray tank-top. Now shirtless with his ex-lightweight-boxer muscles exposed, Todd cups a ball of fabric in both of his hands, pressing it against his nose. 
Poppy glanced over as Todd was shrugging off his shirt, her eyes quickly shot  to the ceiling. Knowing that if the snake woman noticed her getting an eye full Poppy would become snake chow.Naeemahs possessive nature was the thing of legends. This didn't mean that Poppy didn't notice the blood. She slid out of her jacket and handed it to him., she usually kept it on at all times to keep from getting chilly, but she didn't think his tank top was going to last him long. The blood scared her, she knew it wasn't dry air causing this flood. They were all terminal. She let out a long sigh, this blew.
Todd looked down at Poppy's jacket, he honestly did not wish to drench it in his blood. In fact, he really did not enjoy how grim the entire situation became because of him and his bloody nose. Thus, trying to bring light to the situation, Todd resorted to jokes, like he always did. [color=FF4500]"Nah, I'm good, Pops... I'm totally not having a bloody nose or anything,"[/color] Todd covered up the drops of blood on the floor with the sole of his shoe. [color=FF4500]"I just like taking off my shirt when ever I want to get freaky. We do this all the time, don't we, Naeemah?"[/color] Todd chuckled, giving a light nudge to Naeemah's shoulder.
[color=8dc73f]"A nosebleed? But I didn't even take my clothes off yet!"[/color] she said, with a mischievous grin.
[color=8dc73f]"Don't worry Poppy. Todd knows very well who is the one in charge here when things get [i]freaky[/i]"[/color]
[color=8dc73f]"So it would be better for you to behave yourself, ok?"[/color] she said, trying to hide her agitation due to the skin shedding.
The several times that those nosebleed happened that week was strangely high. She knew that it wasn't normal. The way how Todd tried to hide that from her... She had never seen it herself, not even once. Sure, she could taste the blood on his clothes when that happened but still...
[color=8dc73f]"Todd, we will have a room for ourselves, right?"[/color] she asked him.
[color=8dc73f]"You know that it's not very comfortable when I 'hug' someone while I'm sleeping, right? So... Will I have a room for myself?"[/color] she said with a smile, trying to hide how uncomfortable she was.
But if Todd or Poppy paid enough attention, they would realize how her tail was unnaturally coiled around itself as they waited on the elevator, almost like she was trying to hide her own tail. Todd probably already knew what was happening.