Disclaimer: I own nothing, Marvel owns everything, so don't sue the poor shmuck who borrows the awesome characters they have created.

Setting: During the X-Men movie (first one).

All reviews are welcome, even the flames (which I will subsequently burn and send Jubilee after you, to annoy the hell out of you until you come to your senses).

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Chapter 1. Musings...

Sabertooth sat listlessly on the edge of the metal bunk, staring out between the metal bars that passed for the door to his room. He was the only one Magneto shut in at night, but he was never given an explanation why. Although he was feral and may look more like an animal than human, he was neither. He was a mutant, and belonged to a different race of people. However, regardless of what he was, he resented being caged. Perhaps that was why Magneto did it.

Looking around cautiously as if afraid of being caught, Sabertooth reached down his shirt and pulled out the dog tag that he kept hidden around his neck, and close to his heart. Removing it, he fingered the small metal rectangle. It was well worn, and any sharp edges it may have once had were now smooth. WOLVERINE was written in faded letting, as well as some serial number. For the hundredth time Sabertooth brought it up and smelled it, the scent impregnated into the metal was very faint, put still present. Very masculine, and very Wolverine.

It was cold in his room, but he did not feel it on his skin. He lay back down on his narrow bunk, the dog tag still held in his fist.

Sabertooth remembered the first time he came across Wolverine in the remote Canadian mountains of Alberta. He had been ordered to bring back the girl known as Rogue, who happened to be a passenger in Logan's truck. Sabertooth waited patiently in the cold, until he spotted the approaching camper. In order to immobilize the vehicle, he pushed down a tree in its path, effectively destroying the truck and sending Logan flying out through the front windshield. At the time Sabertooth did not care whether Wolverine lived or died, as that was not his concern. In his astonishment that he saw the Canadian stand up, shaking off what would have normally killed any other human, or mutant. A bit shaken, but recovering faster by the second, Wolverine came after him.

When Wolverine unsheathed his claws, and started after Sabertooth, he finally understood what it meant to have a worthy adversary. For the first time in perhaps his whole life, Sabertooth had met someone who could match him skill for skill, blow for blow, healing factor for healing factor. He craved a good challenge, especially with someone who could match him in his own element - the wilds of the forest.

Sabertooth sighed, lowering his fist with the dog tag still clutched in it, until it rested on his chest. Gravity pulled the silver chain down, and it snaked along his side before dangling there, swaying back and forth. Sabertooth felt somewhat embarrassed about keeping the dog tag. He picked it up during the fight with Wolverine, as a keepsake, and to prove to Magneto that he had tried to capture Rogue. If anyone caught him, and questioned why he still kept it, Sabertooth was not too sure he would know what to say. It was a reminder of a worthy adversary? Of a mutant he respected? Of a man he lusted after? Nobody would ever believe that of him, Sabertooth. He would be considered weak, and laughed out of the Brotherhood. Not to mention there was not the slightest chance in hell that Logan would ever have those types of feelings towards him. Sabertooth sighed, feeling foolish for having romantic feelings towards the short Canadian. What was he going to do, walk over the Xavier's school, knock on the door and ask Logan if he wanted to go out on a date?

Sabertooth rolled over onto his side, still clutching the tag in his fist. The bars once again reminded him that he was caged in here, a prisoner to Magneto's powers. In many ways he resented his decision to join Magneto and the Brotherhood. Magneto was arguably one of the most powerful mutants of his time, however he was someone Sabertooth could never relate to. Aside from the fact that they were both mutants, the shared no common interests. Mystique was more agile then even he was, however she could never survive in the cold forests the way Sabertooth thrived in the challenging element. Her shape-shifting talents were best suited for the city, where she could merge into anyone or anything without being noticed. Toad - well he was just Toad. Useful, but shallow, and too awed by Magneto to ever consider shifting alliances, or leaving the Brotherhood altogether.

No, Sabertooth realized he was on his own with this group, and it saddened him. Even though he was feral, it did not mean he was without feelings and emotions. He still longed for companionship and craved affection - especially physical affection. The only person he knew that could survive in the environment and way that Sabertooth wanted to live in, was Wolverine. Sabertooth realized there was very little chance the Canadian would consider a physical relationship with someone like Sabertooth. However, he would be happy just living, roaming and playing in the environment he was born to thrive in, even if it was with a companion rather than a mate.

Sabertooth realized there was no way Logan would ever consider leaving Xavier and joining Magneto. Well then, that left just two options. Either Sabertooth had to wait for Logan to get restless and lake off on his own before Sabertooth followed, or else Sabertooth had to leave Magneto and join Xavier. None of these options seemed possible at the moment, so Sabertooth decided to wait and see what would happen in the next few weeks. Magneto had a plan that was slowly unfolding, and Sabertooth knew it involved the X-Men and Wolverine. And that made Sabertooth very happy.